Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine at all. I just play with them and make them do my evil, twisted bidding.

Author's Notes: You know those ideas that get into your head and just won't go away? This was one of those.

The Cat-Suit

"Seven?"

"Yes, Lieutenant Torres?"

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

-pause- "You may ask, Lt."

"Seven, something has really been bothering me ever since you became a member of the crew." –pause- "What is up with you and that cat-suit?"

"I do not grasp your meaning."

"Is that all you ever wear? I've never seen you in anything else, even off-duty. Why don't you wear- I don't know- slacks and a t-shirt for once?"

"What I wear is irrelevant, Lt."

-pause- "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"It is the truth. My choice of dress has no point but to be functional."

-mutters- "Oh, so you'll wear anything as long as it's 'functional'? You could walk around naked and call it 'functional'. It's not like that suit isn't skintight anyway."

"Quite the opposite, Lt. My breasts could quite easily create a health-hazard by either getting in my way or distracting those around me. Nudity, in general, could create even more problems. Therefore, nudity would not be a functional outfit."

-dead silence- "That was a little too much information, Seven."

"You did ask, Lt."
-pause- "But if what you wear is irrelevant, why does the color of your cat-suit change? Do you have to change it to wash it or something? Can you even take it off?"

"It comes off, Lt. It's quite a simple procedure. Shall I demonstrate?"

-quickly- "Oh, no, that's all right. Anyway..."

"My nanoprobes clean my skin, Lt."

"So you never have to take if off?"

"No, I do not. However, when I came aboard, the Doctor suggested that changing the color of my outfit might help to reconnect me with human habits and my own humanity. With that thought in mind, he programmed it to do so."

"Wait- he programmed it? Seven, what exactly is your suit made of?"

-long pause- "..."

"Seven?"

"Lt. Torres, this conversation is irrelevant. We should return to work."

"No, tell me."

-long pause- "Lt., did you ever notice how many more holographic image emitters were installed all over the ship after I joined the crew?"

-silence- "..."

"Lt. Torres?"

"Do you mean that...?"

"Yes."

"And so if we lost power to all the holographic systems then you'd suddenly end up naked, no matter where you were or what you were doing?"

"My nanoprobes could support the image for a short while, but after that, yes."

-silence- "Seven?"

"Yes?"

"Never tell anyone else that, all right?"

"Why, Lt?"

"We have too many horny males on this ship as it is, and we have enough problems without someone trying to sabotage the holographic systems just to see our resident Borg naked."

-pause- "All right, Lt. I will keep that in mind during future socialization exercises."

"Oh, and Seven?"

"Yes?"

"I think that I'm scarred for life."

-pause- "I believe that I need to regenerate. Can you handle it from here, Lt.?"

"Yes. Good... regeneration, Seven."

"Goodnight, Lt."