Star Trek Voyager: The Loving Game

Star Trek Voyager: The Loving Game (Chapter 52)

A/n: The telepathic thoughts between Borg in this chapter are written in bold italics.

“Mama…” Celeste whined as she abandoned the toys spread across Astrometrics’ floor and toddled over to her mother, stubbornly wrapping her arms around Seven’s legs and gazing up at her pleadingly, “Mama…”

Seven sighed as she bent down to carefully free her legs, “Just a little longer baby. Why don’t you play with your blocks, okay?”

“No…” Celeste began to complain but reluctantly wandered back to her toys when she saw her mother’s set expression and plonked herself down on the floor with a soft “Hmph!”

Seven choked back a laugh at her daughter’s antics and turned back to her console with a feeling of guilt, she knew the child was bored, and probably had a right to be since like her mother she’d spent most of the last two days in their quarters or Astrometrics… Seven bit her lip unhappily, she should have been allowing the influx of a crowd of strangers from the Maconian station change her routine, she certainly didn’t want Celeste growing up to be as socially awkward and crowd shy as she herself was…

The soft swish of the doors broke through her thoughts, followed immediately by the sound of a slightly indignant voice, “Seven, its 12:45! We were supposed to have lunch fifteen minutes ago, aren’t you coming?”

Shame and guilt filled Seven as she turned to face an excited Naomi Wildman and wished she’d never arranged anything with the girl as she said lamely, “I have a great deal of work to complete Naomi…”

Hurt and disappointment flooded Naomi’s young face. “But you promised me Seven!”

Celeste chose that moment to back her friend up, “Nami!” she exclaimed happily, stumbling as she always did over the name as she ran enthusiastically up to the older girl and began to tug her impatiently towards the door, obviously expecting fun.

Naomi giggled and patted the toddler on the head while looking teasingly over at Seven, “See, Celeste wants to go too! And you did promise me.”

Seven sighed again as she stepped away from the console, scooping up Celeste as she did so. “Well, it seems the two of you have succeeded in convincing me to keep that promise.”

Naomi grinned up at her. ”Let’s go!”

As the three of them stepped into the crush of people surging up and down the corridor, Seven couldn’t help but tense up, overwhelmed by the raucous roar of strange voices and the press of unknown bodies around her as she struggled through, fighting panic as an overexcited Celeste wriggled in her arms. Naomi, although smaller, was having almost as much trouble pushing through the tide of people, “Excuse me!” she called out politely to multiple people, “Excuse me, we’re just trying to get through to the turbolift. Excuse…”

A bulky man, his arms laden with purchases, unknowingly bumped Naomi against the wall and Seven stiffened protectively, stating loudly in her most commanding Borg influenced tone, “Step aside!”

The sea of people parted almost instantaneously, leaving Seven and Celeste standing conspicuously in the middle. Seven flushed slightly at the inappropriateness of what she’d just done as she felt curious eyes burning into her, both upset and oddly relieved that people were still so nervous of her presence. Naomi ended the awkward moment by returning to her side with a quick murmur of “Thank you.” Seven nodded hurriedly and walked with unnatural speed towards the Mess Hall, already longing for peace and quiet.

“So have you and Commander Chakotay decided when you’re going to get married yet?” Naomi asked curiously as they weaved through the Mess Hall looking for an empty table.