"What the hell is that?", Hon'Tihl looked at Tania as she walked into Engineering.
James Washington was slowly slinking around. His hideous white skin had healed some since coming aboard the Retarnee Station and now Tev Medara but she still looked very eerie. His slinking style was that of a zombie in an old Earth movie.
"This is Captain James Washington. James is a survivor of the Tanxian. He is more than 200 years old. He works here.", Tania looked at Hon'Tihl.
"Someone should put him out of his misery. A warrior should not have to live this life.", Hon'Tihl unholstered her weapon.
Tania jumped in front of the Klingon, "No! You can't shoot him."
James slinked over, "The cool... The caaa. The coolant tanks are struggling with the heat from the re... the red... the resh... the red shale."
Tania rushed over and made some adjustments. Hon'Tihl looked at James and Tania, "This is no way for a man to live."
Tania stepped in front of James, "If he goes, I go and this station exploded and the Klingon access to the red shale is lost."
Hon'Tihl shook her head, "You are Borg. You have lost the collective. This has made you stupid."
The Klingon stormed from engineering.
James looked at Tania, "I... I shhh.... I shhhhhhhhh... I should have died. I am a waste her."
"You did not die, James. You were meant to be here somehow, some way. I was with the collective for 20 years. I was meant to come back to see Nancy and Nicole. I was meant to come here. You have to know that you are important in some way.", Tania put her hand on the shoulder of the survivor.
"What possible purpose could I have?", James mumbled.
"You give us all reason to go on. You were alone in that pod forever and you still kept going. You are a symbol of who we are.", Tania leaned in and kissed James on the cheek.
His skin was cold. Tania's lips were cold. The Borg had done that to her. She had no idea what had done that to James.
James thought about the reason for existence. He knew of the imperative to pair bond. He thought that would never be a reality for him again but she had kissed him on the cheek.
James followed Tania around. Finally Tania turned, "What are you doing, Captain?'
"I am staying close to you.", James looked at Tania.
"Closeness breeds familiarity and possibly companionship.", James quoted from the Chinese-North American Space Agency handbook. Astronauts were told to change shifts, to change work projects to prevent pair bonding.
Tania turned to James. His affection was very sweet and very innocent. She had been courted by Dr. Georgia Todd, by Vash Enranet, by so many in her life. Their courtship was always aggressive and with a single goal, to see her naked. James was so innocent. He just wanted to be close to her. He had been alone so long that sex was far from his mind. He just wanted to be near someone. Tania loved the affection. She loved to have James follow her around engineering and for now she was content to just have that and a little kiss on the cheek.
Posted by:
Commander Tania Branson
Chief Engineer - King's Fleet Observer
Tev Medara
Klingon Empire
