Don't Fear The Reaper
Final Chapters
Chapter Seventeen
Will was in his Ready Room the next morning. The night before had been the first night in a while that it had been peaceful. Will had lost track of how many days and nights they had battled the Borg and Species 8472.
He hoped they would never have to do battle with them ever again, but some how, deep down, he knew they had not seen the last of either one. One thing that was for certain, was he did not have to worry about Species 8472. At least for now, but the Borg were like bees. They could find them another queen as easily as assimulating one. They built new drones every day and it was no surprise that they had found themselves another queen.
For now though, that was not his concern. His concern was what he had to tell Geordi LaForge. He was not sure how Geordi would take the news, but he was going to find out soon.
Then there was Admiral Picard. Over the past couple days, Will noticed that Picard missed having a ship of his own. They had fallen into their old roles or was it just a natural occurrence with Picard being an admiral and he being a captain. Either way, they did fall into their old roles of Will being second in command.
Will was in deep thought when he heard the chime ring. It made him jump, but then he realized that it must have been Geordi arriving. "Come in."
"You wanted to talk to me?" Geordi asked.
"Yes, I did." Will stated. "I want to tell you something you probably already know and make you an offer."
"What is it?" Geordi asked.
"The Valiant, as you have probably heard, was destroyed during one of our battles with the Borg and Species 8472. All hands were lost."
Geordi looked stunned. "So, the rumours are true?"
"I'm afraid so, Geordi." Will informed him. "I'm sorry you had to hear about your ship that way."
"No, it's alright." Geordi replied. "I just couldn't believe it though. Not until now."
"You had to have official comfirmation." Will sympathized with a nod.
"Yeah, I guess that's it."
"Well, I can offer you good news." Will informed him. "Starfleet will be offering you another ship in a few months. It's still being tested to make sure it is up to code and standards. In the meantime, while you wait, you have two choices."
"What are they?" Geordi asked out of curiosity.
"You and Mriana may go on shoreleave or you can stay aboard the Titan and take the night watch." Will informed him. "Starfleet agreed to me offering you the night watch here, if you want it. I could sure use the assistance of an experienced captain on night watch."
"That's a lot to think about."
"Take your time." Will stated. "It will be a while before we get back to space dock for repairs. Starfleet is letting you stay here to make sure we get to space dock, besides having Voyager escort us."
"I'll give it some serious thought." Geordi replied. "May I talk it over with my wife?"
"Sure." Will said. "If you two stay, she can give Deanna assistance also."
Geordi nodded. "It would almost be like old times."
There was a brief pause in their conversation as they thought about old times on the Enterprise together.
"Well." Geordi said breaking the silence. "I guess I'll go and talk to Mriana."
"You do that. Let me know what you two decide." Will replied. Then as an after thought, he stopped Geordi from leaving for a moment. "Oh, Geordi. It's not too often that a captain gets to share a ship with one of his closest friends, nor is it very often that they are willing. You don't know how much it would mean to Deanna and me if you stayed on until you got a ship of your own again."
"I'm not sure what to say." Geordi replied.
"You don't have to say anything now." Will stated. "Go spend some time with your wife and give it some thought."
Geordi nodded and left Will's Ready Room. Will picked up his comm PADD to finish a report. He knew it was highly unusual for a captain to share a ship with another captain, but he hated to see Geordi leave without having something to take his mind off his ship. Geordi's ship went down without the captain and Will knew that had to be just devastating for any captain. The whole crew lost and not a thing the captain of the Valiant could do about it because he was helping on the Titan in Engineering. Will felt just as much to blame.
"You need not blame yourself, Imzadi." He heard Deanna send to him, just before she walked into his Ready Room. Once inside she spoke aloud. "We needed help to get the engines running again, before we were attacked again. Geordi was already aboard and he wanted to help. It was not like you dragged him off his ship. The Valiant was in the capable hands of his First Officer. What happened could have happened even if Geordi had been on the Valiant."
"I know, but we were the ones who invited everyone back for a reunion." Will stated. "If we hadn't, the Valiant might be still here now."
"If we hadn't and the Borg and Species 8472 had attacked as they had, we might not be seeing Geordi right now." Deanna insisted. "After all, the Valiant was answering our call for assistance."
Will threw the comp PADD he had in his hand down on the desk and exhaled loudly. "Maybe you're right, Deanna. I don't know."
"Well, you must not blame yourself for the Valiant being lost." Deanna asserted. "Neither should Geordi."
Will stood and walked over to his wife. "Maybe you're right." He said as he wrapped his arms around her to hug her.
She accepted his loving hug and returned it with all her love in return. They were both very thankful they still had each other. They were thankful for everything they shared with each other. They were each other's rock in hard times and this last bout was no exeption. They made it through another ordeal together.
Beverly had been up late the night before and had to be up early to make her rounds. She felt overwhelmed with the patients they had and felt even more disturbed about the loss of life on Voyager.
There were thirty-eight Borg individuals lost on Voyager. To her that was an unacceptable loss. That left forty-six out of over a hundred. Most were lost in what she considered a bloody war. A war that should have never happened on any Starfleet ship.
However, they were also at war with the Borg Collective and at the time, defending themselves from a species they did not know a lot about.
Picard walked in to visit with her and find out how things were going in Sickbay. He was hoping Beverly was in better spirits, only to find a cold reception as she lead him into the office.
"Thirty-eight lost on Voyager!" Beverly told him without even a greeting. "That is an abhorance!"
"Hello, Beverly." He replied.
"I'm sorry, Jean-Luc." She said. "I just can't take all of this. Now, if they are conscious and able to speak, we talk to them before surgery on their wounds to find out if they also want the implants removed. If they're not, we remove only the implants that were damaged. We just have to wait for their consent on the rest. However, that know it all Admiral on Voyager is deciding for them and having the EMH remove all the implants possible on every Borg that he works on while he tries to save their lives! It's just not right, Jean-Luc!"
"Beverly, have you ever thought, that maybe they don't entirely know what is best at the moment?"
"That's a little presumptuous of you." She accused.
"Maybe Janeway does know what she is doing." Picard stated. "Maybe they have lived with these implants so long, that they don't know any differently or they are afraid to have them removed. Once the implants are removed, they maybe more appreciative over time. Seven was."
"They are not Seven. How can we know what they want without asking them?"
"I don't think you are fully understanding the situation." Picard stated. "I think you are just looking at the ethics. I'm not saying we know for sure what they want, but in the long run."
"We don't. That's the point." Beverly insisted. "And now, she's trying to order me, the head of Starfleet Medical, to do the same. How dare she! Then she sends the order to the staff here on the Titan. As Head of Starfleet Medical, I'm in charge here. Not her! How dare she try to order this staff around also!"
"She is an admiral."
"Yes, but in this situation, I out rank her."
"Do you?" He asked. "These people are casualties of war. Currently, they have no rights, except medical care, food, water, clothing, and shelter. Basic necessities."
"They're not prisoners of war, Jean-Luc!" Beverly insisted. "They are individuals who were rescued!"
"Are they?" He asked. "How do you think Starfleet currently sees them? Are they Borg, thus prisoners of war, or are they people who need medical care and rehabilitation? In either case, what is the best care allotted to them?"
Beverly shook her head in sadness. "I don't know, anymore."
"How many, who were able to give consent, agreed to have all possible implants removed?"
"Nearly all of them." She stated. "With a little nug on Seven's and our part. Seven was more of an example though."
"Then what do you think the others who can't give consent would say?"
Beverly shook her head.
"I suggest that admiral you are so upset with, may know what she is doing by ordering that all rescued Borg have their implants removed, regardless of consent." Picard insisted.
Are you ordering me to follow her orders?"
"No, I'm saying, you did not ask me my consent and you removed the implants."
"I knew what you wanted." Beverly insisted. "I did not have to ask you."
"Oh, no. At the time, I wanted you to kill me. Not bring me back on board the Enterprise." Picard stated. "In my opinion, at the time, that was the only way to end the Borg terror I was enduring."
"So, we made the decision for you even then." She stated.
"Yes, and it was the right decision."
Beverly sat and contemplated the situation. "I see your point. I guess I'll stop arguing with Admiral Janeway about this and just continue removing implants from all the Borg. I'll also have the staff here do the same, but I'm not sure if I like the idea."
"Beverly, you know as well as I do that as long as they have the Borg implants in them, they are in danger of being reassimulated." Picard stated. "We are also in danger. I am sure they have been severed from the Collective and are individual drones again, but if the homing beacon is ever reactivated again, we are all in danger."
"Alright. I understand. I won't wait to talk to any of them about removing the implants." She stated. "I'll just remove them without talking to them first."
"That's all Admiral Janeway and I ask." Picard stated. "We'll deal with their feelings later."
"Deanna may have her work cut out for her."
"I agree, but I hear she may be getting some assistance on that."
"Really? How so?" Beverly asked.
"Will asked for Geordi to stay on here until he gets another ship." Picard informed her. "I can only assume, Mriana will stay on as well."
"She'll need an interpreter."
Picard nodded. "I'm sure if they stay aboard for a while, Starfleet will see to the accommodations."
"What about the communicators and the door to her quarters and her office."
"It will all be taken care of. Now stop being a mother hen." Picard insisted with a smile. "You see them as I do don't you."
"I have no idea what you are talking about." She denied.
"They are like the children you never had."
"Really, Deanna is just a few years younger than I am."
"Yes, but still."
"OK, maybe I do worry about them too much, but what about you?"
"I don't worry."
"Oh, really." Beverly stated with a smile. "What about the time, when Will."
"OK. Maybe I do a little."
"That's better." There was a brief moment of silence as they gazed into each other's eyes. "Well, I have to get back to work."
"As do I." Picard replied.
Janeway was in her Ready Room. She did not really want to go back to her desk job, but yet she was feeling a little too old for fighting Borg and other Species. She just wanted to retire. Do a little traveling. See things from a tourists point of view for a change instead of a captain's or an admiral's point of view.
She was tired of arguing with doctors, especially those in charge of medical. She was tired of arguing with other captains and admirals. Giving orders and trying settle disputes.
She was just plain tired, but there was one person she could never tire of and right now she wondered if he was going to check on her like he usually does when she spent too much time in her quarters or her Ready Room. She felt he should have arrived by now.
Sure enough, like clockwork, he rang the chime to her Ready Room. "Come in, Chakotay."
"How did you know it was me?"
"You don't get to know someone over the years and not know when they are coming to see how you are doing." She replied.
"Am I that predictable?"
"Yes."
"To bad we are too busy with our separate lives."
"What's the suppose to mean?" She asked.
"Oh, nothing."
"You meant something."
"I was just thinking we could be more than just friends."
"Or lovers for that matter?" She asked.
"Well, yes."
"Are you trying to propose?"
"Are you asking?"
"This game again." She stated as she rolled her eyes. "Oh, Chakotay. When are we going to stop playing the games. I'm getting too old."
"No you're not." He teased.
"Yes, I am. I want to retire. Stop fighting Borg and alike." She told him. "I definitely don't want to be pushing a pencil."
"I'm sorry?"
"Figure of speech." She said. "I'm tired of sitting at a desk getting middle age spread."
"Oh, you hardly have middle age spread."
"You do flatter."
"Glad the ordeal is over?" He asked.
"Yes." She sighed. "But I don't want to go back to Starfleet and sit behind a desk."
"Then don't."
"What? I can't just quit."
"I didn't say that." He informed her. "You were the one talking retirement."
"True."
"Then what's stopping you?"
"Oh, I don't know, Chakotay."
"If you are afraid you will miss everyone, I'm sure they will take timeout to visit you."
"You know, Chakotay, this crew has become like family to me." She stated. "How do I leave that."
He had no answer for her. Even he had come to look upon the crew of Voyager as family. He sympathized with her plight.
They sat and talk for a while. Reminisced about old times and all the adventures they had had. All the strange new worlds they had seen together and new people they had met.
Janeway even bared her most deepest fears to Chakotay and thanked him for being there for her when she needed him most. He was always there to pick her up when she was at her lowest and never allowed her to give up on anything. He helped her find her inner strength to go on, even when times were at their worst.
Before they left the Ready Room, they embraced each other. Then Admiral Kathryn Janeway returned to the Bridge with her strong demeanor once again.
"Take us home, Harry."
"Aye, Admiral."
Chapter Eighteen
Later that same day, Seven entered the Sickbay of Voyager. She was a little unsure about visiting her old friend at this time, but the EMH reassured her that it was alright to visit him. The doctor thought it would do him good to have a visitor, especially Seven.
The EMH showed Seven where her friend was. He was awake, but slightly groggy from just waking up from surgery.
"Axum?" She said cautiously. He looked different without his implants, yet she knew it was him from Uni-Matrix Zero. He looked just as he appeared when he was there with her the last time.
"Annika." He replied. "It's nice to see you. What has happened? Am I back in Uni-Matrix Zero?"
"No, you are on Voyager." She informed him.
"Where are the Borg implants?"
"They have been removed." She informed him. "You are physically no longer Borg."
He gave a weak smile. "That is good."
She was glad to see that he was taking it well. She was afraid he would not take it well.
"What do you mean physically?" He asked. "I am no longer Borg in all ways now, right?"
"Technically, yes. You may need to go through some rehabilitation, so that mentally you do not think of yourself as Borg." She informed him.
"I have not thought of myself as a true Borg since I was separated from the Collective." He told her. "I felt Borg physically, but mentally, I did not."
"That is good." She stated. "Do you still feel like Borg physically?"
"I feel," He paused. "Different. Like something is missing, other than that, no."
"Is that all you feel?"
"I feel." He paused to find the words again. "Emancipated."
Seven remembered when she first had had the implants removed. Her feelings were ambiguous to say the least. A part of her was still Borg or at least she felt as though it was. She also had the feelings of something was missing, but over time she had gotten over that feeling. As far as feelings of freedom, that did not come until later. She was still Borg inside and did not feel otherwise until a few years later. Her discription of herself changed slight within the first year from "We are Borg." to "I am Borg.", but it was not until later, she truly did not feel as though she was Borg. She was glad the change was seemly less dramatic for her friend.
The one thing that bothered her was just as with her, Janeway made the decision for him. She did not appreciate it at first, but now that she looked back on it, she was glad Janeway did that for her. She was thankful Janeway took the time to acclamate her to humans again. She realized Janeway's heart was in the right place, but she was not sure about the ethics of her motives.
However, watching her friend, she was begining to think that it was not such a bad idea. She was glad to see her friend was happy with the removal of the implants and returned to his formal self.
"Annika?"
She was brought out of her thoughts and returned to her present surroundings. "Yes?"
"When I am able to leave here, could we have a meal together?" He asked. "It has been a long time since I ate with others. I don't know if I can do it without someone I know."
Once again, he was reaching out for her. This time it was more than just friendship. More than just desire. It was also for companionship and guidance.
"That would be acceptable." She replied.
"Thank you."
On the Titan, a similar situation was happening. Hugh woke up from his surgery. Only he had been asked and he had agreed. He was uncertain, but he had referred to Seven before making a decision and noticed that Seven seemed satified with the removal of the Borg implants.
"I am no longer Borg?" He asked.
"No." Beverly smiled at him. "Would you like to see yourself in a mirror?"
"Yes, but first, my eye? Why is the one that had an optical implant different?"
Beverly was not sure how to answer him. She decided honesty was the best answer. "We had to give you an artifical eye."
"An implant?"
"No, not exactly. Not how you are thinking." She explained. "It's you. It is not connected to anything or anyone, but you and your optical nerves."
"I believe I understand." Hugh replied. "I am ready to see myself."
Beverly got a mirror so he could see himself and handed it to him. He looked into the mirror and began to touch the various areas of his face.
"It is new." He stated. "I have hair again. Nice soft hair. I have two eyes. I have brown hair and eyes. I have a fuzzy feeling on my face."
Beverly smiled. She realized Hugh was very young when he was assimulated, so he probably had not begun to grow facial hair until now. "I think you look like a very handsome young man."
"I do?" He asked as he continued to feel the peach fuzz on his face. It was a face that had been untouched by a razor.
"You don't have to take my word for it." She stated, still smiling. "Just watch the reactions of the young women around here."
He handed the mirror back to Beverly. "My hands are hands again." He said observing them like an infant would study their hands.
Beverly could not help but contain a laugh as she watch the young man study his new features. She was very happy that he was intrigued by how he looked. It had apparently been a long time since he had seen himself as completely organic. Due to his emotional maturaty she guessed it had not been since childhood that he saw himself as all human.
"This is a new experience for me." Hugh stated. "Forgive me if I seem, what is the word, in awe of my new form."
"Don't worry about it." She replied. "I am just glad you are happy about it."
"I am." Hugh stated. "It is like freedom for me."
"Well, you need some rest." She told him. "If all goes well, you may leave Sickbay tomorrow."
"Thank you, Doctor Beverly Picard." Hugh said greatfully.
"You are very welcome." Then she left him to rest from his surgery to check on Korok.
When she got to his biobed she over heard him talking to the nurse. "Where are the implants?" He asked.
"They were removed. You are a complete individual again." The nurse explained to him.
"I am completely Klingon again?"
"Yes."
"Kayless seems to have seen favour in me." Korok stated. "I am whole again. Maybe now I can one day die with honour."
"Hopefully, that is not anytime soon." Beverly said.
"Agreed." Korok stated. "I want to live the full gusto of life again. Find me a mate and have children of my own one day."
"I hope you wishes are fulfilled." Beverly told him.
"Yes, it is not every day, a warrior gets to relive life again." He told her. "I thank you for giving me back a whole life again."
Now, everything was falling into place for Beverly. Maybe Janeway's ethics were not so bad, but then, she remembered, these people were Individual Borg. Borg who did not wish to be Borg, but were forced to be Borg against their will. These were people that had experienced what it was like to be an individual at one time or another in their life and remembered what it was like. Their greatest desire had just been fulfilled. With Janeway's and Picard's insistance, she had given them back their lives. The lives they had once had and had never forgotten. Except for Hugh, these were people of Uni-matrix Zero. They never forgot what it was like to be free of Borg implants and held on to the dream of being free from their oppressor one day.
Each person she talked to that day had been apart of Uni-matrix Zero and were thankful to be as they once were. They had never forgotten what it was like to be free from being Borg. They never forgot what it was like to be an individual. It was though she was their emancipator and they were happy to be free once again.
After she finished her shift, she went to see her husband, who was waiting for her in Ten-Forward. They had planned to have dinner there.
"Jean-Luc." She greeted. "I am so sorry for the things I said. You were right."
Jean-Luc looked confused. "I'm not sure I understand."
"The ones who were apart of Uni-matrix Zero are so thankful to not have the Borg implants anymore." She told him. "Now I wish I never doubted you. I'm sorry."
"You did not know." He stated. "I didn't know myself, but I am glad they are happy to not have the Borg implants."
"I said some horrible things to you lately and I am so sorry." She stated. "Can you forgive me?"
"What's there to forgive?"
She smiled at him and the love she had for him sparkled in her eyes. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
"Not today at least." He teased.
"Well, I do love you, Jean-Luc."
"I love you too, Doctor Crusher-Picard." Then he rosed and went to where she sat across from him. Then he kissed her lovingly. "Well, are we ready to eat?" He said after he kissed her.
"Yes." She replied. "I'm famished."
Geordi and Mriana were having dinner with their daughters in their quarters. The meal was mostly silent except for Laura and Geordi speaking aloud to each other.
"It's so nice to be here with my family again." Mriana signed.
"I'm glad to have you back."
"I'm surprised we made a treaty with them. They are so cruel." She told him in sign. "They thrive on implanting the notion of fear in their captives minds. They use mental torture on telepaths. I hope to never go through that experience again."
"I hope you don't either. I was scared I would never see you again." He signed. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Their hands became silent as they remembered the past few days. Days that Mriana would prefer to forget.
"Will gave me an offer today." Geordi signed, trying to change the subject.
Mriana was puzzled. "An offer?" She asked in sign.
"Well." He began to explain in sign language to her. "You have heard about the Valiant, right?"
She nodded her head.
"Well, it will be a few months until we get a new ship. So, Will offered me command of the night watch here on the Titan."
Mriana was confused and her facial expression showed it. "Two captains on one ship?" She asked aloud.
"Well, yes." He continued to sign for Mriana. "That's what it would be for a while. I told him I would discuss it with you."
"I would get to spend time with Deanna." She signed in thought.
Geordi nodded. "And you could give her a hand also."
"Work as a team again?" Mriana asked him in signed.
"Yes. I would assume so." Geordi replied. "What do you think about it or would you rather take a few months shoreleave? Starfleet has already approved either one we choose to do."
"I think I would enjoy spending more time with Deanna." She replied. "It would be nice, but of course, if you prefer to go on shoreleave..."
"No, I was thinking about accepting Will's offer." He told her in sign. "It would be like old times."
"Yes, it would." Mriana smiled. The thought of family being on the same ship again, dispelled the demons of the last few days.
"So, shall I tell him we will stay on until Starfleet has another ship ready for us?" Geordi asked.
"Yes." She nodded and signed.
Not only were they one again, but a feeling of peace flowed through them as they made the final decision to accept Will's offer. The four of them had stuck together to fight the demons of space and they were going to continue to stay together a while longer to fight off anything else that may come their way. They were going to be together to share the wonders of space and meet friends old and new together once again.
They finally reached Starbase nine and repairs were finally under way on the Titan. The crew of the Titan were saying their goodbyes before Voyager departed for Earth.
"We're going to miss you, Sir." Will stated.
"Will, you know you can call me Jean-Luc now."
"Habit and comfort, I guess." Will replied as his excuse.
"We'll miss you, also Beverly." Deanna stated. "It won't be the same without you. It's been so nice seeing you again."
"Even with all we've been through the last several days?" Beverly asked with a smile.
"Yes, it was." Deanna reassured.
"And you two." Picard said as he placed a hand on Mriana and Geordi's shoulder. "Take care of these two. They always seem to find the dark side of space."
They laughed.
"Next time you decide to do battle with the Reaper, do invite us again." Worf joked in his deep Klingon voice. "It will be an honour to help you battle again."
Will chuckled. "Your Klingon humour never ceases to astound me, Worf."
"Well, I guess it's time we boarded Voyager and go home." Picard stated.
"You going back to Starfleet?" Deanna asked.
"Actually, I was thinking about seeing if I could command a ship of my own again." He stated. "Being on the Titan made me remember what it was like to command one. If Starfleet is against the idea of an admiral having just one ship outside a time of war, I believe I'll threaten to retire. I'm not cut out for a desk job."
"Why one?" Geordi asked. "As an admiral, you can have a whole fleet of ships."
"No." Picard replied. "I only want one."
They all laughed again.
"Well, good luck with that, Sir." Will stated with a smile.
"Stay in touch." Mriana said aloud.
Then Jean-Luc bent kneeled down to talk to the children. He smiled as he spoke. "Not too many people know this, but I have a special place in my heart for your parents." He told them. "I guess that makes all of you like my grandchildren. I'm not good with kids, but I think the four of you are great kids. Take care of your parents for me." Then he gave them each a hug.
"We will." Three out of four replied.
"Oh, Lydia." He said. "Um, Laura. You tell your sister what I said. OK?"
"I will, Grandpa."
Jean-Luc looked a little shocked and Laura noticed the quietness of the adults.
"Well, he said we were like grandchildren to him." Laura reminded them.
They all broke out in laughter.
"You asked for that one." Will stated teasingly.
"Yes, I guess I did." Picard said.
"Out of the mouths of babes." Beverly said.
When the laughter died, they said their final goodbyes. Beverly and Jean-Luc went to board Voyager. As they walked Picard took Beverly's hand. Worf depart with his son onto the Krosis.
As they watched them leave, Will wrapt his arm around Deanna and pulled her close. Mriana wrapt her arm around Geordi's arm and held him close to her. In each of the adults' free hands was a small hand holding on to them. Two families, with a lot of love and friendship to share. Together, they knew they had nothing to fear and were once again ready to fly off onto their next journey.