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“Captain…I think it’s for you.”
Harry Kim swallowed. The crewmembers manning their consoles looked to him for reassurance as Voyager’s bridge was bathed in an ominous green glow from the viewscreen. From across the void of space, the Queen of the Borg stared out at him with her hard, metallic eyes.
Harry fought an urge to avert his gaze. That was what she wanted, wasn’t it? It was a sort of dominance display? Well, he wasn’t going to give in to her! He would stare right back at her! How do you like that, Borg Queen!?
Unless…maybe that was what she wanted? She couldn’t assimilate him through the viewscreen. That was just silly. But maybe she could hypnotize him…
This isn’t Captain Proton, you idiot, this is real life!
Even so: subliminal messages were a thing. Psychological warfare was a thing, and the Borg were probably good at it. Should he shut it off before the captain saw it? Where the hell is she anyway…
“Harry Kim, isn’t it?”
SHIT!
That was the Borg Queen who said that! The fucking Borg Queen had just called him by name—
Calm down, man; calm down. The captain will be here soon enough. She’ll know what to do. Just sit tight, don’t stare, and whatever you do, don’t scratch yourself…
“It is Harry Kim?” asked the Borg Queen again. “The one who was partially digested by Species 8472 on board one of our ships?”
Don’t say anything. Do not say anything.
“Saved by our nanoprobes.” She tilted her head. “Did you enjoy having them inside you, Harry?”
Harry coughed in discomfort. “The, uh…the captain will be with you in a moment, your majesty.”
He kicked himself. DON’T call her ‘your majesty’!
“Still an Ensign, we note.”
Oh, she went there.
Harry felt his grips tighten around the arms of the command chair. He looked studiously away. What was keeping Janeway!?
“Pity. Seven of Nine thought you’d have made Junior Lieutenant by now.”
“There’s…only so many positions available,” he muttered. Why am I talking?
“One of the downsides of living in an archaic hierarchical society, I suppose.”
Harry felt his toes twitching inside his boot. "Better than the alternative,” he replied quietly.
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, Harry.”
She paused. “Incidentally, please convey our congratulations to your friend Mr. Paris. We understand that there was a promotion available for him.”
Harry’s teeth set on edge. “I’ll tell him you said hi.”
“Please do. Such a wonderful meritocracy, the world of individuals.”
He paid a quick glance towards the turbolift doors, which remained steadfastly shut. Come on, Captain; where the hell are you!?
“Still, if you ever feel like pursuing opportunities elsewhere, don’t hesitate to drop us a hail. We can always use another maintenance drone.”
“…I think I’ll pass, if it’s all the same to you.”
“It’s not.”
Harry pursed his lips. Suddenly, he heard the whir of the turbolift approaching up its shaft, and he all but threw himself out of the command chair. “Well, it’s been fun chatting, but I think the captain’s here.”
The Queen nodded. “Any time, Harry.”
With that, the turbolift doors opened and Janeway and Chakotay emerged onto the Bridge.