The next morning, in sickbay

You walk into sickbay, a bit annoyed, having been woken up an hour early by the Doctor. You just had your physical a month ago, and sickbay was NOT on your list of things to do.

"Morning, Doc. To what do I--"

"What did you DO!?!" he asks, melodramatically, even for him.

"Doc, what are you--"

"Seven! What did you do to SEVEN!?!" His eyes are wide, frantic.

"Nothing!" you exclaim. "I made a standard diagnostic in the cargo bay. Then, when I noticed the anomalous brainwaves, I brought her here, and was going to repair the overloaded circuit, but...but I didn't. I was about to open it up, and she woke up. Seemed fine. I ran a standard diagnostic, and--"

The Doctor is sitting in his chair, shaking his head, looking defeated. "You touched it, didn't you? The Borg implant above her pelvis. You...you actually touched it."

"I guess so, yeah. But like I said, I didn't even open it--"

"It doesn't matter," he says. "All you had to do was touch it..."

You take a seat opposite him, trying to understand, but not able to. "Doc, I don't follow. Did I damage her somehow?"

"Yes! Well, no! Not really..." The Doctor sighs. "The Borg made it a point of suppressing emotional responses in their drones. When we liberated Seven, I tried to remove it, but it was too deeply embedded in her. Only a series of high-risk, painful surgeries could do it. The technology accounts for her distinct sense of humor and complete lack of a...of her natural biological urges."

"Oh..." you say, understanding the Doc's implication. "But what does this--?"

"Apparently, the Borg were experimenting with sexual reproduction. I suppose they reasoned that if nearly every species reproduces that way, perhaps the Borg should consider it. Anyway, a few drones were apparently singled out, and their emotion-suppressing hardware was...modified. The implant you touched? It was designed to biologically link that drone to her mate. In this case...you."

"What!?!"

"I know..." The Doctor sighs. "As a control, only the paired drones were able to activate each others' emotional centers, to...stimulate one another. And while you have no such restrictions, Seven--"

"What are you saying."

"I'm saying that you are the only one physically capable of stimulating Seven, and now that she's had her first taste, she's likely to come back. In ****."

You lean back, slack-jawed, trying to let it all sink in. "It's imperative that you're careful with her. Seven has NEVER had these emotions before; her body has always kept them in check. Too much, too fast, and she might get seriously hurt."

"Doc, slow down. I never said I--"

"Crewman, you're not in a position to have a choice. The implant sampled your DNA. It will only respond to your touch, but that doesn't mean Seven won't seek it."

"The implant will?"

"Think of it...as a volume control. You can increase or decrease sensitivity, pleasure, even attitude asa you see fit. At least, in theory. As I said, it's never been activated."

"Seven of Nine to the Doctor."

The Doctor raises his eyebrows. "Go ahead, Seven."

"I'm feeling...a bit flushed, unable to concentrate. Are you free?"

"Of course," he says. "Come down at your pleasure." Turning to you, he looks at you intently. "Now, I'm not telling Seven. Not exactly. She might be prone to think that this was some kind of...violation if--"

"It wasn't!"

"I know," he says. "But if these feelings continue to manifest themselves, naturally, as far as she knows, then there's no need to bring ti up, is there?"

You pause, considering. "I guess not."

"Good. Then go. Before she gets here."

You leave sickbay, heading off to your assignment, considering what you've just learned.