Star Trek Voyager: Their Human Errors

Star Trek Voyager: Their Human Errors (Chapter 2)

“Well, it’s certainly minimalist…” A hologram of Neelix commented carefully as he looked around Seven of Nine’s new quarters. Chakotay, the silent observer in this scene, couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Seven certainly hadn’t been overly ambitious in the design of her holographic quarters; they were just as empty as any of the unoccupied sets of quarters on the real ship and decorated in the same uniform grey carpets and walls he recognised from his own.

“Yes.” Seven agreed, standing proudly in the centre of the room in her new Starfleet uniform, which Chakotay acknowledged she pulled off wearing better than most. She gave the Neelix hologram a flash of a knowing smile, “I am inexperienced in interior decoration, I was hoping you would be able to assist me.”

Neelix beamed at her, immediately taking in the space again with the new light of inspiration in his amber eyes. “Of course! You’ll need a desk to be able to work comfortably…” He paused to catch Seven’s accepting nod, then began to pace the size of the room, “Yes, a good sized table would fit there…” He grinned at his friend infectiously, “Then when you’ve got the basic furnishings arranged, you can start putting up art and sprinkling around some knick-knacks…”

Seven’s brow furrowed questioningly in the way Chakotay had known it would. “Knick-knacks?” she queried inquisitively.

“Oh…” Neelix took a deep breath as he visibly struggled to find a way to explain the concept, “Knick-knacks are things that have sentimental value or they just like to look at. They help personalise a space. Think of the wood carvings in Harry Kim’s quarters.”

“I have never been in Ensign Kim’s quarters.” Seven informed him honestly, making Chakotay flinch as he wondered if she’d ever been in anyone’s quarters. Did everyone really keep her at such a distance, intentionally or not? He was pulled out of these unsettling thoughts by Seven continuing on thoughtfully, “There is a photograph of my parents’ in the ship’s database, perhaps I should replicate a copy and frame it…” To Chakotay’s ears her voice sounded uncertain and the glance she gave Neelix, almost one of seeking permission, saddened him. He knew Seven’s feelings about her parents were complex and he was glad to hear her speak of them affectionately, but her nearly apologetic tone worried him. She was probably too used to the Doctor and the Captain’s undercurrent of animosity when the Hansens were brought up, Seven’s guardians hadn’t forgiven them for the assimilation, that she was apprehensive over expressing herself about them.

The Neelix hologram’s reply however, to Chakotay’s relief, was warm and encouraging. “That’s exactly what I mean.” He told her emphatically before frowning up at the bare walls around them, “You’ll need something up on these walls too…”

Seven studied the wall for a moment. “A star chart may be aesthetically pleasing…”

Neelix cringed slightly, “I was thinking of paintings…” He suggested diplomatically.

Seven looked at the Talaxian with an endearing mix of eagerness and incredulity, “A painting of a star chart?”

“Perhaps, but I was thinking more along the lines of injecting some colour. Blue and orange striped rugs would look great in here…” Chakotay let himself chuckle loudly when he saw Seven’s dubious expression, she’d certainly programmed Neelix’s character to perfection. In fact, when he’d checked with the Computer earlier he’d found that Seven had based her holograms entirely on the crew’s real psychological profiles, if he hadn’t known he was in the holodeck he knew he wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference in anyone but Seven, who was more relaxed here than he’d ever seen her before. On one hand he was pleased she was discovering that part of herself, but on the other he remained upset that she felt she needed the holodeck to do it.