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Janeway/Seven Advent Calendar Story 2007
Janeway’s Odyssey
By Gun Brooke
14
The forlorn and defeated tone in Seven’s voice made Janeway ache inside. “What do you mean, Seven?” She squeezed Seven’s hand and stepped closer again. She could tell that Seven was not comfortable with their close proximity and small twitches in her hand indicated that she’d rather let go. Janeway would have none of that. She held on to Seven’s hand and waited. “I ran 4,384 scans for your biological signature before we broke orbit. When I couldn’t find you, and Captain Chakotay, together with Commander Tuvok, declared that you had died in a transporter malfunction, I…I became destructive.” “What happened?” “I destroyed the screen in astrometrics.” Seven closed her eyes for a moment. “I was ready to continue taking my anger out on inanimate objects, heading for cargo bay two, when Tuvok caught up with me and placed me in the brig.” “You were incarcerated?” Janeway was shocked. “Yes, but only until Lt. Torres had adjusted my alcove. They brought me to it after she had created a new cycle that allowed me to regenerate for two full weeks. Once I came out of regeneration, the rage was gone.” Seven shrugged, a mere twitch of one shoulder. “Two days later, Captain Chakotay held a memorial service, and when I felt how the rest of the crew mourned you…it helped me in my own grief. I think I can speak both for myself and the rest of the crew when I say that we were never the same. We never recovered from losing you.” Tears burned the corners of Janeway’s eyes. “And now that I’m back?” she whispered. “I am struggling to merge the image of you standing here before me, with the four years of mourning and loss.” “So am I.” Janeway drew a deep, trembling breath. “It is so surreal, Seven. I expect to wake up any minute, because I’ve dreamed of this day…and been disappointed so many times when I’ve woken up to reality aboard one alien ship after another. I think I need to feel your arms around me. Please?” _______________________________________________________________
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