Gateways 07_ What Lay Beyond - Diane Carey [73]
Janeway knew who that someone was. “Of course. You may transport over here at once.”
Unexpectedly, Marisha shook her head. “No. Thank you. I would simply like to speak to her.”
“Harry, route Marisha to Astrometrics.” She turned to face the screen. “Best of luck with this brave new world you’re creating, Marisha. No one deserves peace more than you and your crew.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Hello, Seven.”
The unexpected voice startled Seven. She turned to see Marisha on the small viewscreen. She didn’t know what to say.
“Marisha,” she replied at length.
“I’ve just finished talking with your captain.” Marisha told Seven of the decision to stay on the planet. Seven agreed with the logic of the decision, but was surprised to hear that the Ones Who Will Not Be Named had also offered to stay and assist them. When Marisha had finished, she hesitated. “Seven, I wanted to thank you.”
Seven frowned. “I did very little.”
“That’s not true. It was one thing to hear whispers of an uprising, a promise of freedom, from me. The V’enah were used to that. It was quite another thing for them to meet a member of another species who agreed with me. Who could see clearly the injustice being done, without having her vision being clouded.” Seven thought about it. “I do see your point. I am gratified that I was able to be of assistance. Was there anything else you wanted?”
Even as she spoke the words, hearing them cold, crisp, and precise in her own ears, she wished she dared speak what she really felt. She wanted to thank Marisha too, for the gift the V’enah woman had given her. It had felt good to be passionate about something, to want to fight for a cause that was so obviously the right one. The sensation Seven felt inside was an exquisite, heady one. She understood now why revolutionaries were so often willing to give their lives for what they believed in. Somehow, the cost seemed infinitesimal compared to what was at stake.
She was glad Marisha had not had to perform such drastic action, however. She longed to say how much Marisha had meant to her, even though they had known one another for such a brief time. Her mind went back to the first time they had met, when Marisha had tossed aside the posture of a submissive slave like an old coat, lifting her head and meeting Seven’s gaze with a fire Seven had never before encountered but to which she responded immediately. Something had ripped through Seven at that moment, and she would never be the same. Seven of Nine felt again that sensation of righteous anger sweeping through her like a tide, tempered now by the knowledge that that goal, that dream of freedom, had been achieved.
How quickly Marisha had learned. She was intelligent and compassionate. She and the enlightened Sook would make a fine leader of this blended group of adventurers.
Marisha searched her gaze, seemed about to speak, then merely shook her head.
“No, I suppose there isn’t. Good-bye, Seven.” She extended a slender hand to terminate the conversation.
“Wait,” Seven said, urgency flooding her voice. Marisha glanced up sharply. “Marisha… it is not logical, but it is true… I feel a connection with you.”
Her face softened. “I feel it too, Seven. As if we were somehow kin, though that cannot be possible.”
“There is a kinship that transcends blood,” said Seven, knowing deep in her heart that the words were true. “We have that kinship. The common bond of an unjust imprisonment and a painful liberation.”
“I wish you could come with us,” Marisha blurted. For the briefest instant, Seven considered it. She knew Janeway would let her go, if Seven truly felt this was where she wanted to be. But she could not leave Voyager. She belonged here now. It was home.
“I cannot,” she said, regretfully. “Nor can you come with us.”
Sadly, Marisha shook her dark head. “We need to plant our feet somewhere solid. Most of the V’enah have never seen the sky, or walked on soil. Including me. I want that, Seven. I can’t tell you how much.”
“You don’t have to,” said Seven.