Strange New Worlds 2016 (44 page)

A few days later, the door signal chimed in Chakotay’s quarters. He opened the doors,
surprised to see Seven on the other side, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

“Come in, Seven,” he said, stepping aside so she could enter. “How are you feeling?”

“I am well, Commander. Thank you.” She stood awkwardly in the center of his living
space, uncertain. “I am sorry, I should not have come. I am disturbing you.”

“Not at all, Seven. Please, sit down.”

She sat on the edge of a chair and looked at him, then took a steadying breath. “I
reviewed the reports of the past few days, and I know more of what happened, though
I still have no memory of . . . any of it. But I wanted to say thank you for helping
me. With the vision quest, I mean.”

“You’re welcome,” he said simply.

“I do not agree with Captain Janeway’s decision. She should have attempted to extract
the data needed to get
Voyager
home. I am only one person. She should not have put my life above the needs of the
rest of the crew.”

“She didn’t, Seven.”

“I do not understand.”

“If she was willing to sacrifice you just to get information that
might
be helpful in getting us home, then she would have lost her way as a human being.
She would have been disregarding the needs of the crew by doing that.”

“I am still not certain I understand.”

“You will.”

Seven looked about the room, and her gaze landed on Chakotay’s medicine bundle. “Actually,
I came here to ask if it would be inappropriate for you to continue teaching me about
your vision quests?”

His eyes opened wide in surprise. “Not at all. But before—”

“The Doctor has assured me they will not have any similar negative effects on me,
now that he has neutralized the influence of the Lynnrali implant.”

“In that case, I would be honored. And your medicine bundle is still here. I kept
it safe for you.” He considered her thoughtfully. “Not that I am going to turn you
away from seeking a vision quest, but why do you want to do this? You were so skeptical
before.”

Seven considered her words carefully. “I am uncertain, only that it feels appropriate.
The woman, Eilara, was the last being I assimilated as a drone. I was the last being
she saw as a free person. I cannot explain it, but perhaps there is a way that I can
remember her, respect her with your ritual. It seems like the right thing to do.”

Chakotay smiled gently at her and prepared his ritual space in silence. Soon, he and
Seven settled comfortably on the deck of his living room, their hands gently touching
the
akoonah
.

“
A-koo-chee-moya
,” Chakotay chanted softly. “We are far from the sacred places of our grandfathers.
We are far from the bones of our people. But perhaps there is one spirit who will
embrace this woman and give her guidance.”

Seven opened her eyes and looked at herself.
No, it is not me, but she looks very much like me.
The woman was taller, with green eyes instead of blue, and hair a shade or two lighter.
She was singing with a young girl and handsome man in a sunny, green park. She looked
up as Seven approached her, and she smiled. She held out a hand and Seven took it.
Chakotay would swear to the end of his days that the spirits of the two women spiraled
about one another into one cohesive whole. His tears trickled unashamedly down his
cheeks as he watched Seven walk toward them, a smile as bright as the sun lighting
her from within.

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ISBN 978-1-5011-6158-2