What's a Borg to Do?

Lt. Vectra adjusts his tie and suit in the mirror of his bedroom. After deeming himself suitably attired, he goes to the replicator and get a box of chocolates, and a dozen red roses. Vec. knows that Ariell had asked him to stay in his quarters but he NEEDED to see Jen and ask her to come. After closing his eyes for a second, and taking a deep breath, he leaves his quarters and goes to the turbolift. "Computer, Lt. Jen Lee's deck, please." The computer chirps, and the turbolift moves.

Sitting in her quarters, reading a PADD, Jen settles into her couch a little farther, tucking her feet underneath one of the cushions. "Hmm. They've made a lot of advancements in the detection of miniature life forms..." She continues reading her PADD, containing several recent reports about cutting edge science.

Lt. Vectra reaches Jen's door, and rings the doorbell. Jen jumps a bit, frowning at her PADD. "This PADD isn't supposed to beep... " She bangs it on her leg a few times to be sure it's working right, never supposing that the beep she heard was actually the doorbell. She settles back into reading the report, when she hears Vec's voice inside her head.

"Jen?"

"Vec?"

"No, it's Lt. Murphy."

She giggles softly. "Where are you?"

Suddenly, one of the ceiling tiles comes off, and Vec jumps into the room. "ACK! Oh Goddess! You scared me half to death!"

Vectra hands her the candy and flowers he brought for her. "Here, umm, these are for you."

Jen accepts the gifts, smiling, and asks, "What are these for? Whatever did I do to deserve this?"

"They, well, they're just for being you. You've done so much to help me, it's the least I could do."

Blushing, she says, "Why, thank you!" She heads over to the replicator, "Computer, One large glass vase, please." The vase materializes, and she takes it over to the table and begins arranging the flowers. "Vec?"

"Yes?"

"I couldn't help but notice ... is there something wrong? Do you need to talk?"

"Umm, yeah. I ... I ... I want you to be there."

She turns and looks at him, "Be where?"

"I'm having an operation."

"An operation? What's wrong?"

"They are going to take the Borg implants out of me."

"What? Why? I mean, are they forcing you into this?"

"They are taking out the implants so I don't have any more problems with them popping out without my control. And, no, no one's forcing me to do this. I want to be done with the Borg side of me."

She walks over to him, places her hand on his shoulder. "I don't understand how I can help, but if you want me there, I'll be there for you, of course. Do you know when it is?"

"I would just feel better knowing that a friend was there. No, the time hasn't been set yet for the operation."

"Oh, OK. Well, when you know, please, tell me. In case I'm scheduled to work, I've got to ask Lt. Kal. for time off to be there for you."

"You'll be the first to know."

"Thanks."

Vectra opens up the box of chocolates, and says, "Open your mouth, and tilt your head back."

She looks at him quizzically, then sees what he has in mind. With a smile, she complies. "Close your eyes, too."

She slowly closes her eyes, and waits. Suddenly, she feels a chocolate hit her in the nose, and as her eyes pop open and her head tilts back to the correct posture, the chocolate pops into her mouth. She bites down. "Ooh. These are good! Where did you get them?"

"In a little bakery on a planet far, far away."

"Hmm. You're going to have to introduce me to it someday!"Smiling, she finishes chewing and looks around. She realizes that they are still standing in the middle of the room. "I've been a bad hostess! Would you like to sit down? Anything to drink?"

Vectra jumps onto the couch, making himself at home. "No, no. I'm stuffed and perfectly comfortable, thank you."

Giggling, she goes around to the front of the couch, and sits. "Alrighty, then!"

Vectra looks up at the ceiling, "Computer, Vectra sequence 47." A musical rhythm starts to play, and two cold drinks appear.

"This is very nice! What kind of music is this? I don't think I've ever heard it before."

Handing her a drink, he says in a computer-like monotone, "Earth, classical, surprise symphony."

She accepts the drink, and takes a small sip. "Do you still have something you need to tell me? You didn't quite sound yourself there."

"I bet I sounded kinda like a computer."

"Yes ... you did, in a way..."

"I memorized all of this stuff."

"Oh ... but, you DO enjoy the music, right?"

"Yes. Very much so. I just stated it like I memorized it, is all."

Leaning back into the couch, "All right, then. After this operation, how will your life be different? I mean, other than no implants?"

"It shouldn't be. Just no unexpected Borg implants. I will be the same person, just short a half pound of metal."

"Well, I'll just have to replicate you a nice, fattening meal then, to help you gain back that half pound!" She said, smiling.

Taking note of the medium low light level and the stack of PADDs lying around, Vec says, "Is there anything you need to tell me?"

Looking around for herself, she says, "Hmm? Like what? Oh ... these PADDs? I'm doing some research - I've got to stay up on the latest, you know."

Raising one eyebrow, he responds, "Oh please. More like ... why have you been cooped up in here for days except for duty and our two or three meetings?"

"Well ... I enjoy it here, in my quarters ... I don't know ... I really don't have any friends ... well, except for you, now."

"I think I'm a good start."

Smiling in return, "A definite good start!"

Straining to see her in the low light, he says, "Computer, raise light level by 15% please."

Squinting as her eyes adjust to the increased light, she says, "I guess even with the Borg optical implant, you need more light, hmm?"

While Jen can't see due to her eyes adjusting, Vec sneaks up behind her and places a crown of roses on her head. She squeals when she feels something on her head. He chuckles, runs in front of her, and takes a third holo-picture. "Smile!"

She reaches up to feel what it is on her head, just as he snaps the picture. "Hey!"

The camera spits out two copies of the picture, and he tosses her a copy. "Here's your copy."

She snatches it and looks down at it. "Oh Goddess! I look horrible! Why'd you go and do that for? My picture is terrible!"

Holding his copy in front of her, "Because. You looked soooo cute!" Moving toward the door, "I think I will get an enlargement of this, and post it on the bridge!"

"Cute? You call this cute?" She runs toward him. "Computer! Lock the door! Open only under my authorization!"

"Computer! Override, Tac/Sec Clearance Vec 8675309." The door slides open.

"Hey!"

"You forget, I can override door locks if I have to! I am going to the photo lab," he says, while holding the picture up above her arm's reach.

With her hands on her hips, and her crown of roses drooping to one side, she replies, "Oh no you aren't, mister!" She tries to lunge for the picture.

He runs for the turbolift, yelling, "Computer, open door NOW!" He waits for a moment, and the turbolift shows up. "Computer, Deck 6."

Jen runs down the hallway after him, bare foot, drooping crown of roses and all. She reaches the turbolift, just as the doors close, and she yells out just before the doors completely close, "I'll get you back for this!"

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