Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [124]
“You intend to continue our sessions to satisfy your own curiosity?” Seven asked, displeased at the thought.
“Don’t be ridiculous. No one is that interesting,” he insisted. “I intend to continue our sessions until I am satisfied that you have fully integrated these experiences into a more complete sense of self.”
“I believe I have already made significant progress in that regard,” Seven said a little defiantly.
“Did I miss the part in your service record where you achieved advanced degrees in psychology?” When Seven didn’t immediately answer he continued, “As I told you several weeks ago, I can only be as helpful to you as you are willing to allow. I still do not believe that you have really made peace with the circumstances that led to your assimilation, or your subsequent transition from Borg to human. At the very least, you have to grant me this much. You were offered perfection. You turned it down and even now, you can’t tell me why.”
“I had my reasons,” Seven stated.
“I don’t doubt it,” Cambridge concurred. “I think we should go looking for them together.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Yucky, yuck, yuck,” Miral said, shoving the last of her string beans to the edge of her plate.
“Miral, you used to love string beans,” B’Elanna said, finishing her last bite with a flourish to encourage the little girl. “Mmmm,” she continued, overdoing her enjoyment a little just for effect. “If you want to grow up big and strong like your mommy and daddy, you have to eat your vegetables.”
Miral’s bottom lip poked out and she glared at B’Elanna defiantly. “Ganana,” she requested as the glare transitioned to pleading.
“When you finish your string beans,” B’Elanna insisted.
The little girl’s eyes flashed back and forth as she considered her mother’s proposal.
Tom, who had hurried to their quarters to enjoy lunch with his two favorite women, winked at B’Elanna mischievously and picked up one of Miral’s unwanted beans. “Shuttlebay Miral , this is Shuttle String Bean One requesting clearance to dock.” Tom held the bean high between his thumb and forefinger, bringing it in on a wobbly trajectory toward Miral’s mouth. “Shuttle String Bean One,” he continued, altering his voice to a higher pitch and creating fake static to blur the transmission, “the shuttlebay doors are malfunctioning. Do not approach! Repeat, do not approach!”
Miral’s face broke into a delighted smile but that smile left no room to insert the bean.
“Shuttlebay Miral, we have taken heavy fire,” Tom went on, allowing the bean to sputter along on its course. “We must land now. Please, Shuttlebay Miral!”
“Miral, open the bay doors!” B’Elanna encouraged her. “You don’t want that shuttle to crash.”
Tom brought the bean to a stop just a few inches from Miral’s mouth. “Can’t … maintain … position … all hands will be … lost. Please, save us …” he said, taking the bean into a nosedive toward Miral’s chin.
Fascinated, Miral watched the bean’s progress and just before it “crashed” opened her mouth wide to eat it. Once it was inside she chewed hungrily.
“Whew, that was close,” Tom said. “Shuttle String Bean One is in your debt, Miral Paris.”
Miral clapped her hands together and commanded, “Do it again, Daddy.”
“Shuttle String Bean Two,” Tom began obligingly as the door to their quarters chimed. B’Elanna planted a quick, congratulatory kiss on his cheek before crossing to the door to greet their visitor. She was surprised to see Captain Eden waiting.
“Good afternoon, Commander Torres,” she said congenially. “May I come in?”
“Of course,” B’Elanna replied, stepping aside.
Tom quickly came to his feet, saying, “Captain.”
“Please, as you were,” Eden said with a smile. She hesitated only a moment before crossing a little closer to Miral and staring at her affectionately. “Our littlest crew member appears to be fully recovered.”
“She’s doing very well. Thank you, Captain,” Tom said.
“We were just finishing lunch, but if you’d care to join us,” B’Elanna offered.
“Thank you, but no. I actually stopped by hoping to speak to you, Commander,