Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Seven left Ensign Turner's room. She touched her hair as she strode down the hallway to the turbolift. She slid her hands over her jumpsuit just to be sure everything was where it was supposed to be.
Safe in her own quarters, she let out a deep breath. Her body was still, almost frozen where she stood. She closed her eyes. It hadn't gone well. He had been such a good choice–handsome, kind, a little shy and soft spoken, but overall a good choice. While he had been kind during their encounter, she hadn't felt anything–nothing that compared to the dreams.
Ever since she'd started sleeping instead of regenerating in her alcove, curled on a small white sofa, she'd been having the dreams, or nightmares. Ensign Turner was supposed to be the key to curing the nightmares! She didn't much care for the feelings it caused her, yet, as she curled up on the couch once again, the answer she'd been pushing away crept back into her brain like a worm. No, she told herself, stop. Stop thinking. As she focused her mind on naming minerals alphabetically, she sunk into sleep.
The walls around her were soft white, the furniture black. There was a terrace. The door open. Black curtains billowed in a warm breeze. She could taste salt in the air, something she'd never experienced in real life.
"Are you coming?" A voice called from the terrace. Seven could feel her heart beginning to pound as she walked slowly toward the door. She knew what she would find but she couldn't stop her feet. She caught a glimpse of herself in a standing mirror, her jumpsuit had gone and she wore an oversized plaid button down, nothing she'd wear in real life. She examined her hair, down and on her shoulders.
The curtain whipped around, blocking the view. She caught glimpses of a sea, bluest blue. She spotted a metal coffee cup on a sleek black table. Steam rose from the mug.
Then suddenly, as the curtain snapped backward and clung to the door frame, Kathryn stood before her, smiling devilishly as she always did in the nightmare.
"I see you found my favorite," Kathryn said as she moved forward and touched the lapels of the flannel. Seven caught her breath in her throat. Her arms filled with goosebumps. Her heart skipped a few beats.
"I will return it to you," she said.
Kathryn laughed as she leaned against the door frame, "No. It looks good on you." She gazed at Seven.
"Is there something the matter?" Seven asked, though she knew there was. She couldn't move her feet, she was glued to the floor. She knew what came next and she felt a lurch of excitement, even though she tried to feel nothing. Her heart began to beat in her ears.
Kathryn approached her and touched her hand to Seven's hair.
Seven hated her hair down. The looks she got from others made her uncomfortable. Still, she felt a different kind of sensation when Kathryn touched her–anxiety of some kind, but not bad–they were unlike any feelings she'd felt with the Borg.
Kathryn let her fingers fall down Seven's cheek, across her lips. She slipped her hand inside the flannel and felt Seven's bare chest. Seven shivered.
Kathryn smiled again, then leaned in. She lightly touched her lips to Seven's.
Seven shot up on the sofa. She rubbed her face with her hands. She was so tired of the same nightmare night after night. And she was angry with Ensign Turner–he was supposed to fix this issue! She grabbed a metal scrap from her work bench and crushed it in her hand. She paced the room, anger and frustration pulsing through every step. She glanced at the time-0200 hours. She shook her head. She was done standing around.