Star Trek Voyager: Their Human Errors

Star Trek Voyager: Their Human Errors (Chapter 3)

“Computer, how long have I been running this recording?” Chakotay grimaced as he heard the hoarseness of exhaustion in his voice.

“16 hours and 33 minutes.” The Computer answered unconcernedly.

Chakotay’s loud exhale of surprise and disbelief whistled through his tightly clenched teeth as he rubbed his itching eyes to stare resignedly around the projection of Seven of Nine’s imaginary quarters where he sat on the sofa and again considered what the hell he was doing there. He’d seen enough of Seven’s simulations to know that he’d have to lie to the Captain just to cover what he’d already witnessed, so why was he embroiling himself even further by continuing to sit here? Yes, he had to reluctantly agree with the voice in his head, which had been growing louder by the hour, that it was a curious fascination with Seven’s fantasy that kept him here, a realisation which made him ashamed of himself and embarrassed for her. Even more uncomfortably, he had started to wonder if that would’ve been the case if the object of her fantasy had been anyone but him…

Seven’s voice led him away from his thoughts, bringing his attention from himself and back to her as she announced, “Computer, implement designated changes to programme Seven of Nine Beta 3.” Chakotay barely had time to blink before the uniform Seven had been wearing was replaced by a dress, and, his mind couldn’t help but focus on, a revealing red dress at that. Now, Chakotay had always been aware of his attraction to Seven, he didn’t think there was a man on the ship who didn’t at least admire her occasionally, it was human nature after all, but this was a different kettle of fish. Even the shock his senses had received when he’d first seen her after being restored by the Doctor didn’t compare to the surge running through him right now. Seven didn’t help by walking right past him to stand in front of the full-length mirror that had appeared in the programme along with Seven’s costume change. He stood up to be able to see her face, hastily wiping his palms on his trousers as he did so, and was struck by how ill-at-ease she looked. His mother had once jokingly told him that what a woman saw of herself in the mirror was the opposite of what a man would see, but Seven took this to an extreme. Instead of the confidence the screen siren like ensemble should have been inspiring, apprehension was all that was exuded by Seven’s face and posture as she pulled at the dress’ slender shoulder straps and tugged at the straight hem which barely brushed her knees. Chakotay was beside her as she, after obviously internally disciplining her behaviour, straightened her back as if it were an unbending steel rod and inhaled a deep strengthening breath Chakotay found himself taking with her. She then swiftly loosened the golden helmet of a hairdo she worn without variation everyday he’d worked with her, and let the surprisingly long locks fall over her shoulders and down her back. Chakotay had never noticed before that her hair had a definite wave to it, curling softly at the ends in a way that seemed to him to be at odds with her unyielding self-control. Even now he could practically hear the Borg Queen’s taunts and reproaches that were, judging from her uncertain expression and bitten lip, most likely running through her mind. The thought of that aggravated him enough on her behalf to almost put an encouraging hand on her shoulder before he remembered she wasn’t really there, not on this holodeck anyway.

“You look perfect.” The soft words of his hologram made Chakotay as well as Seven jump; although Chakotay caught a shy flush of pleasure fill Seven’s cheeks in the mirror before she quickly spun around to face the hologram.

“You’re early…” She greeted shakily, smiling broadly but with her gaze averted as if she were afraid he’d retract the compliment if she looked at him fully. This made her observer wonder how unused she was to compliments, surely one of her professed at admirers had given her as little as a simple compliment at some point? Although, with Harry’s nerves and the Doctor’s hyperbolic tendencies he sadly supposed it was very possible…