B'Elanna sensed something was wrong with Seven of Nine in Engineering. She didn't trust it though. The Borg drone may have gotten more human but she was still a Borg. At the end of her shift, however, the cyborg spoke to the chief engineer. "B'Elanna Torres..."

"Just B'Elanna, Seven. I told you before,"

"As you wish. B'Elanna, I desire to speak with you when you are off duty."

"All right, I'll come to your cargo bay later," the engineer said.

The Borg female replied, "It would be better if we spoke in your quarters."

"Why is that?" the half-Klingon asked, although she knew the answer.

The blonde, blue-eyed Borg answered, "Because Harry Kim may be waiting for me near my alcove."

* * *

The engineer said, "Enter" as her door chimed, and as expected Seven of Nine stood there, her beautiful pale face, calm as always. She opened her mouth to speak when Harry came up and roughly grabbed her.

"Stay out of this, B'Elanna...it's between us!' Holding her arm tightly he pulled the Borg away. Seven of Nine allowed it for a moment then touched Harry with her prosthetic hand and he gave a shout and jumped away from her.

"You cannot treat me that way," she said evenly.

B'Elanna came up quickly. "Get out of here, Harry. Seven of Nine came to see me."

"I told you to stay out of this, B'Elanna!" he growled at her.

The engineer felt her Klingon temper flare. "Make me, Kim!"

Harry looked at her then made another grab for Seven of Nine, who shocked him again the same instant the engineer pushed him. She jumped from the same shock.

"I am sorry, B'Elanna. That was unintentional," the Borg said.

The engineer, furious but controlling herself, said, "ENSIGN Kim. Get out of here right now before I call Security." He looked with disbelief at the two woman, then stalked off.

Inside B'Elanna's quarters Seven of Nine said, "Thank you for your assistance. Harry Kim appears to be malfunctioning. I am concerned for his welfare. He is delusional and thinks I am his possession. Harry Kim also wishes to formalize this ownership by marrying me. He has also accused me of copulating with Tom Paris and almost any other male crew member he has seen me speak with."

B'Elanna whistled. The Borg looked curiously at her and B'Elanna said, "A nonspecific exclamation of interest."

The Borg continued, "I informed him he did not own me and that I would not marry someone who treated me like that. He left, returned and apologized, saying he would never act like that again if I forgave him."

"So you took him back," B'Elanna said.

"Yes."

"And the same thing has happened several more times."

"Yes. How did you know? Is it a common malfunction?"

"That's exactly what it is, Seven," B'Elanna said with sad resignation. "Seven, you might have to end things with Harry. Jealousy like this...it just...it's this human poison that infects everything. Read Othello by Shakespeare, a human playwright, to see just how sick it can get."

The Borg looked at her then looked away. B'Elanna had never seen her do that before. She seemed ashamed. The Borg said, "I intended to do that after the second incident, but found I could not. Following the third incident, it was I who called Harry...just to tell him I wouldn't take him back. He came right over, of course, as I intended...I am malfunctioning myself."

B'Elanna sat down. The Borg was more human than she had dreamed. She saw something she never would've imagined: a tear running down the Borg's face from her organic eye. She still wasn't looking at B'Elanna, like she couldn't.

"B'Elanna, I must confess something to you...I accused Harry of copulating with you. I was delusional that perhaps he was trying to end our relationship but was too cowardly to simply do it." She turned back and looked B'Elanna in the eyes. "Please forgive me."

The engineer was so depressed by this turn of events she just put her head in her hands. The two most naive members of the crew had fallen into the most dangerous cycle humans could get into--and were pulling her and Tom into it as well as unwilling actors. Seven and Harry were almost like teenagers in certain ways. Everybody knew how extreme that could get. Romeo and Juliet was another Shakespearean example. People could wind up dead in these kinds of situations. It happened all the time with humans.

* * *

Tom Paris was just sitting down to eat in the mess hall when B'Elanna came up and sat down. "We have a problem, Tom."

"Harry and Seven?" he said.

She stared at him. "If you knew, why didn't you say something to me?"

"Like what? That Harry tried to punch my lights out because I said good morning to his girlfriend? Or that Seven asked me if I thought you were screwing Harry? She practically scared Megan Delaney to death--told her to stop making eyes at her boyfriend. I sure wouldn't want a jealous Borg on my case. I feel as bad as you do but there's nothing either of us can do. I hoped maybe it would clear up."

B'Elanna sneered at him. "Typical human male: there's no problem if we don't talk about it. Okay, Tom, I'm mad at you for not telling me but more importantly what about Harry and Seven?"

"Typical female: wanting to butt in, thinking you can fix people's lives. There's nothing for us to do. If I was captain maybe I'd put one or both in cryo just so they don't kill each other, or one of us. That's my only thought on it."

"This really sucks!" B'Elanna said. "They're dangerous, Tom. You just admitted it. Harry's bad enough just as a jealous guy but we don't even know what Seven is capable of if she goes off the deep end. We have to tell Chakotay and the captain."

Tom sighed. "This really sucks."

* * *

Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay looked at each other after Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres left the Readyroom.

"This really sucks, Commander," the captain said, rubbing her forehead.

Chakotay said, "I knew something was wrong with Harry. I can't read Seven of Nine well enough to tell. What did you think of that suggestion B'Elanna dragged out of Tom? Cryo one or both of them."

She grimaced. "If we did one we'd have to do both or the active one would try to break the other out. I sure would if I was in that situation."

"Me too," Chakotay said.

Janeway said, "The very thought is abhorrent to me. They haven't done anything. We're all assuming the worst. It's not the first instance of jealousy on the ship. That comes with love affairs, when humans are the parties at least. The ship needs them anyway. Harry is a bridge officer and Seven has proven invaluable in Astrometrics."

Chakotay knew his place was to play devil's advocate here no matter what he felt. "This is more than jealousy, Captain. It's already escalated to violence from Harry with Tom. I knew something had happened with Crewman Delaney; she seemed frightened for days but wouldn't tell me what was wrong. Now we know. Seven of Nine."

"I wouldn't want her thinking of me like that," the Captain said. "Not after seeing the way she destroyed those V'dians." After a moment's reflection she said, "Well, all we can do is get them in here and tell them what our concerns are. Oh, and thank you, Commander. I know you find the idea of just putting them in cryo as a preventive measure as repugnant as I do."

"You're welcome, Captain."

* * *

Harry was sitting alone in the dark in his quarters. The door opened without announcement and Seven of Nine stepped in, the door closing behind her. Harry didn't move but just quietly said, "I'm sorry, Seven. I think I'm going crazy."

She came to stand in front of him, then got on her knees in front of him, reached forward with her organic hand and began massaging his crotch. A moment later Harry groaned as she took his hard dick into her mouth. She brought her prosthetic hand close and as her mouth went up and down a blue spark began playing over the shaft of his penis. When she began licking it her tongue was clearly the origin of the dancing blue spark.

"Turn around," Harry said hoarsely. Seven stood and looked at him and peeled her skintight uniform off in an instant. Harry looked at her perfect ass and reached to stroke it for a second before guiding her down onto his erect member. She squeezed him tightly inside her. His hands moved around in front of her, taking her large full breasts. The Borg began making small sounds which were like bursts of static. As their movements together became more and more urgent the static sounds became more ragged and loud.

Harry's com badge beeped. He didn't answer at first. It beeped more urgently followed by a voice, "Ensign Kim, can you respond?" It was Tuvok.

Harry patted his com badge as Seven of Nine continued rhythmically riding him. "Kim here," he choked out.

"Are you all right, Ensign? You sound out of breath."

"Um, I'm fine, sir."

"Very well, Ensign. Report to the Readyroom at once. We have been unable to raise Seven of Nine. If you see her, have her come with you."

"Aye, aye, aye, aye!!! Aye sir."

"Ensign?" Tuvok said.

"I'll be there, sir. Kim out," Harry said. He looked at Seven of Nine who had twisted around and was looking at him with a barely perceptible smile. "Pretty goddam funny aren't you? You knew he'd call."

"Thank you, Harry," the Borg said as she lifted herself off of him. "I have been studying humor." She began pulling her uniform back on. "Timing is everything."

* * *

As Harry and Seven entered the Readyroom they saw Captain Janeway, Commander Chakotay and Commander Tuvok waiting for them. Harry felt apprehensive, having an idea of what it might be about.

"Please sit down," the captain said.

Seven replied, "I prefer to stand."

"So do I," Harry said. The senior officers all caught each others' eyes.

"Very well," Janeway said. "Ensign Kim...Seven of Nine, it is not my policy or wish to interfere in the personal lives of my crew. However, you have left me no choice. Your...relationship...has become disruptive to the ship and potentially dangerous not only to yourselves but to other crew members. We must deal with this."

Harry looked down at the floor his face red, then looked over at Seven and saw she was vibrating slightly. She was furious and ready to explode. No one else could read her as well as he could. He reached and touched her arm and said softly, "Seven...Seven..."

Janeway was carefully watching them. She instantly understood that Seven was capable of attacking her. Tuvok had a phaser ready she knew. She had told him that would not be necessary but now she recognized the prudence of being prepared. However, Harry's words seemed to calm the Borg.

"Captain...I know there have been problems. But we can work it out. Believe me," Harry said.

Seven then said, "I concur with Ensign Kim. This is a personal matter between he and I and need not concern you, Captain."

Janeway looked seriously at them. "I'm sorry, Seven, but it does concern me. Anything relating to the well being of Voyager and its crew concerns me."

Seven didn't answer.

Harry said, "Captain..." but his voice trailed off.

Chakotay said, "You are both highly valued members of this crew. However, if this disruptive behavior continues you will both be placed in cryogenic suspension for the safety of yourself and Voyager. Is that understood?"

"Unacceptable!" Seven said angrily. Harry took her arm again but she pulled it away. "This is unacceptable. You have encouraged me to be human! Well, I am acting human and now you say I must stop. I will not. I cannot. You cannot do this to me and Harry Kim!"

Janeway said, "Seven, you are dismissed. I want you to return to your alcove before you say something you shouldn't."

Harry, nodded at the officers and pulled the outraged Borg out of the room, wanting to get her away before she said something that would get her thrown in the brig--or both of them put in cryo.

As the door closed behind the two lovers Janeway and Chakotay looked grimly at each other.

Tuvok said, "A most unfortunate situation."

"That's an understatement," the captain said sadly, rubbing her eyes.