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Progress
By Katrina

 

"Now?"

The lift went up one floor and stopped and hung there.

"No."

There was a clicking noise, the light fluttered on and off. The two women were on opposite sides of the turbolift. There were panels open and wires pulled out. B'Elanna made another connection. "Now?"

The lift went up one floor, stopped, and hung there.

"No."

"Argh." There were more clicking sounds, a plinking noise, and then the lights fluttered on and stayed on. "Oh. This will be much better." B'Elanna wiped her brow. "Next time remind me to carry around a light in kit. I can't believe I forgot it."

"Why wasn't it in your kit this time?"

B'Elanna flushed a little and said, "Uhm. No reason. Just forgot it, is all."

Seven of Nine turned to look closely at B'Elanna. "B'Elanna Torres, I believe you have just... fibbed."

"Fibbed?"

"A small white lie. Usually harmless, but often designed to delay or confuse conversation on a topic one is not willing to pursue - reasons for such vary."

"Uh. Can we have this conversation later?

"Of course."

There was a sigh. "Seven, I lost it, okay?"

"I understand." There was a pause as B'Elanna and Seven worked on a series of wires. There were more mechanical noises and then a whirring. The lift moved up, then down, then up again, but not very far.

"I think we're getting closer," commented B'Elanna.

"You do not have to fib to me, B'Elanna."

"Beg Pardon?" The Klingon said with a tool gripped in her teeth.

"I said," Seven turned, holding wires in both hands, "You do not have to fib to me. I am not one to..." She searched for the correct concept. "I am not one to judge another person."

"Are you kidding me? Do you know how many times you've pointed out errors to me."

"One thousand five hundred twelve times and counting."

B'Elanna gave Sevena wide eyed glare. Then she turned back to her work. "You're missing the point."

"On the contrary, I understand the point, but you are incorrect."

"Grah. See, right there."

"B'Elanna Torres, I was not judging you. There is a difference between pointing out an error and judging another person."

There was silence, except for the sound of wires being melded together.

"Did I fail to communicate?"

"No Seven. I was just thinking about what you said." B'Elanna tried a new line. "Let me see if I understand. You are telling me you are not judging me when correcting my errors."

"Correct."

There was a longer silence.

"B'Elanna?"

"What? Oh. Try it now."

Seven of Nine connected the two lines in her hands. The lift started moving up and kept moving up, until she pulled them apart at the floor they'd been trying to get to.

Then the lights went out.

"Seven?"

"Yes, B'Elanna?"

"I'm sorry I judged you."

"You are forgiven, B'Elanna. I am sorry if you thought I judged you."

"You're forgiven, Seven." There was more quiet between them. The B'Elanna said. "I think we should try to get the door open now. What do you say, Seven?"

"I agree."

There was a click. The lights flickered on, then off, and the door opened a crack, then slammed shut.

"Seems we have our work cut out for us."

"Yes. But we are making progress."

The End

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