Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [32]
Seven, obviously growing weary of everyone present talking about her rather than to her, said, “Captain Eden has insisted that you monitor me until such time as my condition has been resolved.”
Turning to Chakotay and the Doctor, Cambridge asked, “Gentlemen, would you excuse us for a moment?”
Once they had stepped out, the counselor planted himself directly before Seven, crossing his arms at his chest.
“And I’m guessing you find the prospect of my participation in this process utterly distasteful,” Cambridge allowed.
“I will abide by the captain’s request,” Seven acknowledged.
“But not willingly,” Cambridge noted, “which is going to be a problem.”
Seven’s gaze hardened, a feat the counselor hadn’t actually suspected was possible until he actually witnessed it.
“I do not know what you require of me, Counselor,” she replied. “But if it is in my power, I will do my best to comply.”
“Prior to this transformation the Doctor described, do you believe you had fully recovered from the trauma of having once been a Borg drone? Put it this way, is there a reason you never chose to refer to yourself as Annika Hansen before this presence began making its troubling demands?”
“I have been referred to as Seven, Annika, and Professor Hansen, depending on the party addressing me,” Seven replied, “and though I have found it annoying to correct people over an insignificant matter, what I am experiencing now is different.”
“You consider your identity insignificant?” Cambridge asked.
“Until now, I have never had cause to question my identity. I considered my designation irrelevant,” Seven corrected him.
“Until now?”
Seven paused briefly before asking, “Are you attempting to be helpful?”
“No,” the counselor replied. “At this point I’m just trying to figure out how much help you’re actually going to need.”
“If my concerns are a burden to you—” Seven began.
“Not in the least,” Cambridge assured her. “But here’s the bottom line. If you don’t want my help, then I can’t help you. The good Doctor here may be able to address your most troubling symptom. My job will be to address the underlying cause, which I’m not convinced began only five months ago. Unless you are willing to explore that possibility, and agree to participate fully in the process, there’s really nothing I can do for you.”
Seven’s face flushed as she bit back the desire to tell him exactly where he could shove his help.
“Very well. I will comply,” she finally replied.
“Then we’ll begin first thing in the morning,” Cambridge said. “Do you know where my office is aboard Voyager ?”
“I will find it.”
“Excellent. Eight hundred hours.” Cambridge smiled. “I look forward to it.”
Cambridge left her to consider his words, which he had no doubt would disturb Seven sufficiently through the night. Quickly he poked his head into the Doctor’s office where he was waiting with Chakotay.
“You never bring me easy problems, do you, Chakotay?” he quipped lightly.
“There wouldn’t be any fun in that,” Chakotay replied.
“Should I assume that you are going to be with us for a while?” Cambridge asked.
Chakotay nodded.
“I’d have given anything to see the look on Montgomery’s face when you told him you were leaving Starfleet,” the counselor said, smiling conspiratorially.
“So would I,” Chakotay agreed. “Unfortunately, circumstances didn’t permit that. I submitted my resignation in writing.”
“Pity.”
“I must say, Chakotay,” the Doctor interrupted, “it seems an extreme measure to take. Even if they weren’t prepared to give you command of Voyager again, I’m certain Admiral Montgomery would have found another post for you.”
“I’m sure he would have gotten around to it eventually. I just couldn’t wait, and neither could Seven,” Chakotay replied. “If the Caeliar are still out there, this fleet will be the first to find them. Seven needs to know what happened to her.”
“But it could take years,” the Doctor worried.
“And in the meantime, she will have the most capable support I know of, yours, the counselor’s, and mine.”
“Of course,” the