Seven of Nine accessed the Holo-Program that had been recommended to her. Concerns such as she had would trouble almost anyone. To a former Borg, these feelings were completely unacceptable. Before her appeared a young man of approximately 20 years of age. He regarded her.

"What species are you?"

"I am called Seven of Nine. I am Human, however much of my life was spent in the Borg Collective. I still retain my nanoprobes, and much of my conditioning."

"Apparently. So how can I help you?"

"In fact, I am almost certain you can not."

"Try me."

"I shall. But first, a question. Why do you appear approximately 2 to 3 years older than your file image dating from your service aboard the Enterprise?"

"Oh, that. Well, this holo is the result of some public service I had to perform. Apparently, StarFleet wanted a gesture of good faith that my leaving the Academy was not going to be followed by defection to the Maquis. So, at the Traveller's behest, I agreed to a month's worth of questions, so that this program would be able to accurately re-create the depth of my StarFleet experience, brief though it was."

"I see. Before my main query, another side issue. That of your near-expulsion from the Academy. I find it an odd parallel to the experiences of myself as an Ex-Borg learning the vagaries of human behavior and many on this crew who are former Maquis, sometimes still confounded by StarFleet strictures."

"Not much to say. I forgot my common sense, ignored what I knew to be right, and allowed a charismatic squadron leader to lead me into a dangerous-and for one cadet, fatal-situation. Whatever I accomplish in life, that will stay with me. Again, I'm not excusing myself, but our squadron leader could have talked us into taking Romulus with a shuttle. Part of me has wondered why I didn't question him more often and more strongly. I mean, hell, I challenged Captain Picard in battle, and on his Bridge, BEFORE I was made Acting Ensign. So why couldn't I just say no to a fellow cadet?"

"The Collective urge is strong, even among humans. When that rare cohesion is found, the most remarkable and the most monstrous of events soon follow. As to your squadron leader, he is First Cousin to our own Mister Paris, who has regaled us with stories of pranks he was talked into on many occasions. It would seem his cousin had a talent for leading people into trouble. Oddly, his confessions of responsibility raised him up in the eyes of his Uncle, Admiral Owen Paris. This, too, was a source of consternation to Mister Paris in his parental relations."

"Seven, what was your main question for me? This program's main user will be here, soon enough."

"Yes, of course. Just a few days ago, an overlarge organic creature caused the crew to believe that it was a portal back to the Alpha Quadrant. It further caused them to believe that their fondest wishes lay waiting for them on Earth. As I stood between them and a rush to judgement, they became quite aggressive, even to the point of what humans call obnoxiousness. I and our Doctor, who is an enhanced EMH, were summarily shut down."

"Well, well. It rains in the Delta Quadrant, too. I know, I know. It’s a turn of phrase. Now let me guess. You snapped them out of it, beat the creature, and you think all should be well, but it isn't."

"Not the precise pattern of events, but basically accurate. As I have wandered the ship, I have found my dealings with the crew to be marked by an unreasoning tension. I have noted this before, but now this tension comes not from them, but from myself. I was told you can explain this feeling."

"Actually, this is pretty easy. For a time, your friends were your enemies, and none of them would listen to you. You got to see firsthand just how terrifying they can be in action, no matter how clever you yourself were. Its just like The Game Commander Riker brought back from Risa. For once, not even my own Mother's voice was a comfort. When I saw Worf coming after me, I suddenly remembered that my old friend is a REALLY big Klingon, and that Captain Picard and Commander Riker are unrelenting in the pursuit of a foe. They got me, but by that point I had reactivated Data, so he snapped them out of it. Still, I resented them all, in my thoughts."

"Resented them? Despite demonstrative proof of an alien narcotic influence?"

"Sure. I don't care what StarFleet tells you, or Borg detachment says is supposed to happen. When the people you care about turn on you, however valid or outside their control the reason might be, you feel it in your heart. Seven, have you accessed the files on a Doctor Richard Kimble? Despite everything, he was never able to forgive neighbors who sat on the jury that wrongly convicted him. Or perhaps the Kirk program, and the crew abandonment on the 'Paradise' of Omicron Ceti 3. His logs indicate a man just this side of assaulting his entire crew, despite his resilience."

I shall look up this Kimble. As to the Kirk program, it made a pass at me."

The holo-Wesley Crusher laughed.

"Sorry. I think someone must have played with its parameters, maybe as a prank on you."

"Chief Engineer Torres I shall speak to later. How, then, did you resolve your feelings of resentment toward those whom you held dear?"

"I...went in a holo-chamber, back at the Academy, and beat them all up. Not my Mom, though. I just slapped her across the face. Crude, I know, but it worked. I won't ever do it again, but I had to let it out. I mean, I heard Captain Picard recording his log, before I left, saying getting me off would get things back to normal."

"But it was Riker who brought the Game on board. Intriguing. Perhaps he knew you were listening?"

"Maybe. But the whole thing threw me off my mark more than I knew. The next time I was on board, and I had Geordi-my pal-shouting "CADET" right straight in my ear half the time, I realized that StarFleet was a place where you're supposed to let those things go, and I couldn't. Irrational, Illogical, yeah. But definitely real."

Just then, in walked Naomi Wildman, the program's main user.

"Hey, Seven. Wes, are you ready?"

"In a second, kiddo. Anything else, Seven?"

"No. But this has been most informative and enlightening. I fail to see why it is said that your application skills are lacking."

"Seven? Who says my application skills are lacking?"

With that, Seven departed.

"What's today's lesson, Wes?"

"First rule of shipboard life for kids, Naomi. Never save the day too often--no matter what they say later, they just don't like it in the slightest."

Later, Seven returned to the holodeck.

"Computer. Access Seven-A, Torres/Engineering."

Both subject and setting shimmered into existence. Be'lanna snarled.

"What do you want, BORG?!"

Seven balled her hand into a fist, and sent Torres flying into the Warp Core with one punch. Later, she dealt with Tuvok by throwing him through the deck above, and the Captain by causing a hull breach in her ready room. After all was done, she stared at her fist, and lightly smiled.

"Fascinating."