Don't Fear The Reaper
Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen
Chapter Thirteen
The EMH was on screen talking to Janeway. He was very disgruntled and as usual speaking very frankly about how he felt.
"Doctor Crusher-Picard and I are very insulted." He stated very infactically. "We should have been consulted about this meeting. Not only will they want to exam Seven and Admiral Picard, but they will want medical proof. I, for one, do not want them poking and prodding on my patients. Doctor Crusher-Picard would more than likely feel the same way."
"So, you don't know if she is insulted for certain." Janeway replied.
"Not personally, but don't change the subject." The EMH insisted. "I insist, for Seven and Picard's own medical protection, that I and Doctor Crusher-Picard, be at this meeting!"
"What makes you so certain that they will want to exam them medically?"
"How else can they gain proof for themselves than in a scientific manner." He stated. "They are very intellegent people and therefore may not take anything on face value. I would like to be there to supervise if they start to poke and prod on them."
"I understand your concern, Doctor." Janeway informed him. "If they decide they want to do any medical examination, I'll make sure you and Doctor Crusher-Picard, if she likes, are there to supervise the procedure."
"Fair enough." The EMH stated as though he were successful in some manner. "I'll be happy with that much assurance. EMH out."
"He's still protective of all us, isn't he?" Chakotay said as he leaned over in her direction to speak to her.
"That he is." Janeway said with a smile. "But you know, I think I'd rather have a doctor that's overly concerned than one that's not concerned at all."
"I agree."
"How are our guests doing?" She asked Chakotay.
"They are in the guest quarters and are getting very anxious to meet Picard and Seven."
"Very well." She stated. "Let's see if we can get this meeting under way, before that Borg ship out there decides they want to attack. No telling how long they will be willing to just talk."
"I agree." Chakotay stated. "What are your orders, Admiral, if they decide they don't want to discuss the situation any longer?"
"Fire all weapons at them."
"Yes, Admiral."
The Titan was not doing as well as Voyager though. They were now facing a new Borg Queen on their viewscreen and she was just as disturbing as the one who proceeded her, if not more so.
*They are in chaos. We want to bring order to their lives.*
Where have I heard that one before, Will thought. "They do not wish to be assimulated and now they want to kill those who use to be Borg."
*We will reassimulate them too and bring order back to their lives as well as you.*
"The queen before you did not succeed and neither will you." Picard informed her.
*Oh, Locutus. Your mind is in such chaos. Wouldn't you rather stand beside me and rule over several drones, with even more power than you have now?*
The Borg queen that spoke to them on the screen seemed a lot younger than the one he killed several years ago with Data's help. Her skin was even more pale than the previous even one's. This queen look like death itself.
"No, I do not."
*Irrelevant!* The Borg Queen screamed. *You will be assimulated and you Locutus will stand beside me! Everyone will be assimulated and your technology will be added to our own!*
Could it be that this queen was more evil than any other Borg Queen they had ever dealt with? Was the woman insane even for a Borg?
*Species 8472 and all of you will be assimulated and the Individual Borg will be reassimulated.* She stated. *And you and I, Locutus, will rule the galaxy!*
Picard was almost certain, that this Borg Queen was insane. Not by human standards, but possibly even by Borg standards. Then again, he also thought, assimulation by any means is what Borg do. He was unsure what to think.
"We have defeated you before and we will do it again." Picard stated. "We will not be assimulated. Not today nor tomorrow."
*Your resistance if futile!* She growled. *Your people, Species 8472, and the Individual Borg will be assimulated and you will stand at my side, Locutus!*
The screen flashed back to a view of space with a new Borg cube setting just outside the ship. They were down to two ships and Picard was not sure that if this Borg cube chose to fire upon them if they would defeat them.
What they needed was time. Time to talk to Species 8472 and time to converse with the Individual Borg. The question was, what was the Borg cube's next move. So far it sat quietly waiting for something not too far away from them. Would they sit there long enough to give them time negotiate something with Species 8472? Time to regroup?
However, Picard was not so sure they were going to get the time they needed. One thing he did know for sure, the fifty Borg they had aboard currently, were not the same Borg as he just viewed on the screen. That thought did not give him much reassurance though and he felt like time was running out and very soon at that.
If the Borg Queen tried to trigger their homing devices in the drones, both Voyager and the Titan could be in great danger. The question was, how did he help the Borg who wish to be free on board both ships, without them assimulating the ships.
For that matter, was Seven in danger of the same predicament? Picard did not know. He did not know what this queen was able to do. She seemed more sinister than the last one.
"Sir?" Will pulled Picard out of his thoughts. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, Will. I'm fine." He replied.
"It's time for you to beam back over to Voyager." Will informed him. "The representives from Species 8472 will be expecting you soon."
"No, I can't leave just yet." Picard stated as he stared at the large cube outside their view port.
"We can handle the Borg."
"Will, the Titan has taken quite a bit of damage." Picard stated. "How do you expect to take them if they attack."
"And you staying on the Titan is going to change that?"
"No, Will." Picard stated. "I guess you're right."
"Besides, with Species 8472 not too far away." Will began. "I have a feeling our unwanted guests will either depart or we will do battle again, with Species 8472's help this time."
Picard patted Will on the shoulder. "I believe you maybe right. Let's hope you are."
"For now, we need to convince them that you and Seven are not Borg." Will insisted. "Then we maybe able to establish better relations with them. As for convincing them that the Borg we harbour on our ships are individuals." Will tilted his head in a manner that stated uncertainty. "That maybe another matter. We can't even try if they are not first convinced you and Seven are not Borg."
"Again, you are right, Will, but convincing them that the Individual Borg are harmless, maybe another story." Picard stated. "I'm not completely convinced they are harmless myself yet and I may not be until all this is over."
Now Will had an eery feeling crawl up his spine. "Admiral, is there something I need to know?"
"I'm not even sure if I know. Will." Picard stated. "What I do know is, we have two separate Borg factions. How strong the individual Borg are in resisting The Borg, time will only tell."
"They've made it this far without being reassimulated." Will stated.
"This much is true, but with that Borg ship not too far from us, how much longer can they resist?"
"Are you regretting your decision to help the individual Borg we rescued, Admiral?"
"Let's just hope I don't." Picard replied. "For now, I guess I will entrust them to you. Is Seven ready to return to Voyager?"
"I can inform her that you are ready to beam over to Voyager if you like?"
"No, I'll go down and inform her." He said. "Besides, I'd like to see what is happening to the cargo bay. That is, if it's alright with you, Captain?"
Will smiled. "That's alright with me, Admiral."
Picard left the Bridge of the Titan and headed for the cargo bay that was being turned into a make shift Borg home. He was still unsure if he had made a mistake. One that could cost him his career, the life of the people aboard Voyager and the Titan. As well as his own life.
Picard arrived at the cargo bay. Everywhere he looked was a Borg alcove. Alcoves that were created with the assistance of Seven of Nine, but yet, it still gave him an ominous feeling.
"Admiral." Seven spoke to him. "All is running efficiently here."
"Good. Good." He replied still staring at the alcoves.
"Something wrong, Admiral?"
"No. Everything is fine."
"Sir." Axum approached him. "We all want to thank you for assisting us."
"You're welcome." He said, then he thought, 'Let's just hope it was not a mistake.'
Chapter Fourteen
The Borg Queen was making plans to assimulate all the people on Voyager and the Titan. She was planning, in her mind, the perfect method of assimulation. No one would be left untouch by the Borg if she could help it.
The beauty of the plan was that she would not have to send any Borg on her cube to either ship. She was going to do it right from where she stood.
Unbeknowst to anyone else, she was watching every movement of the people on Voyager and the Titan. She smiled a broad grin when she saw two people from Species 8472. She watched as they observed Picard and Seven.
"You say they are no longer Borg?" The Janeway look alike asked.
Picard was getting very frustrated. He felt like a specimen in a labouratory. "I am not Borg!" He stated angerly. "I do not care much for the Borg nor will I allow myself or anyone else to be assimulated by them. What more do you want?"
"Jean-Luc." Janeway said. "May I remind you, we are trying to be diplomatic here and establish some trust."
"Kathryn, I understand what we are doing here, but I do not appreciate being scrutinized like a labouratory rat!" Picard replied. "There must be some way to convince them that Seven and I are not Borg without treating us like science rats."
"Do you have any better ideas?" Kathryn asked.
"This Borg implant above Seven's eye, is it still functional?" Species 8472 asked.
"As far as I know, no it's not." Kathryn replied. "We can ask the doctors who attended them to provide any information you may need to confirm that, if you like."
"I would." The alias Janeway replied.
Janeway proceeded to call the EMH and Doctor Crusher-Picard to the meeting. They both confirmed they would join them momentarily.
In the cargo bays on both Voyager and the Titan, the individual Borg were begining to argue among themselves. It was like they were dividing into two separate groups again.
"I am not Borg!" One of them shouted.
"We are the Borg!" Another replied. "We can not resist."
Deanna sensed something was wrong. Very wrong. She went to check on the Borg and as she entered the cargo bay she was shocked to see them arguing with each other.
"Axum?" She called. "What's going on?"
"We have trouble."
"What kind of trouble?" Deanna asked.
"I can't say. I do not wish to alarm you."
"I am Hugh." Hugh approached her.
"Yes, I know." Deanna stared at him. He looked as though he were trying to fight something. Something that was in his mind.
"Hugh, are you alright?" She asked.
"My friend, Deanna, must leave now." Hugh informed her urgently.
"I am not Borg!" Korok growled at one of the others who were insisting they were all Borg. Then he attacked the other person.
"We are Borg! We must assimulate!" Insisted the one who was attacked.
Deanna's eyes widen. She sensed that things were more than just very wrong. They were all in danger.
"Deanna must leave now!" Hugh reemphasised.
She did not have to be told again. She rushed out of the cargo bay as fast as she could. "Computer, seal off this door now!"
The computer bleeped it's compliance. Deanna then began running towards the Bridge as fast as she could. "Counsellor Troi-Riker to the Bridge!"
*Bridge here.* Came her husband's concerned voice.
"We've got trouble in the cargo bay. Evacuate this section now!"
*Deanna?* He heard her distressed voice and became even more concerned.
"Just do it!" She demanded as she jumped onto a turbolift. "I'll explain when I get there."
Deanna's heart rushed as she tried to get as far away from the cargo bay as she possibly could. She did not know exactly what was happening, but she did know one thing. It was the one thing that scared her most.
"I am no longer Borg." Seven stated. "I was Borg, but I am no longer Borg."
Janeway noticed Seven was acting very peculiar. It was then she remembered Jean-Luc's reaction a few minutes ago. They were not acting like themselves.
She pulled Jean-Luc aside to talk to him, while the doctors were discussing Seven and him with them.
"What's going on?" She asked him.
"It's nothing." He insisted.
"Oh, no. I'm not going to let you out of this that easy." She stated. "If I know one thing about you, Jean-Luc, deplomacy is your middle name. That was not like you. Now tell me, what's going on."
"I'm not sure, but it appears the Borg Queen is sending messages again." He stated.
"Could this affect Seven?" Kathryn asked.
"I don't know." Jean-Luc replied. "Can her homing device be triggered."
"No, the doctor disabled it years ago."
"Are you certain?" He asked.
"As certain as I can be."
"Then I think we need to check out cargo bay three." Jean-Luc suggested.
Kathryn walked over to the doctors and Species 8472. "The three of us need to attend to something, is there anyway you three can manage for a few minutes without us?"
Boothby and the alias Janeway studied them. The real Janeway seemed calm and collected. She did not let on anything was out of the ordinary. Seven and Jean-Luc seemed to be just as composed as they were before the decision to go to cargo bay three.
"As far as I am concerned, we can do just fine until you get back." Doctor Crusher-Picard stated. She was getting a feeling something was wrong. It was not like Jean-Luc to leave in a middle of a meeting unless there was some sort of problem. She could not imagine Janeway leaving a meeting either. Even so, she did not let on that she felt something was out of the ordinary.
"How long will this take?" The alias Janeway asked defensively.
"I certainly hope not long." Kathryn replied.
"Is there a problem?" Boothby asked.
"Nothing we can't handle." Kathryn tried to reassure them.
"Alright, but return as soon as possible." The alias Janeway demanded.
Kathryn did not like her look alike one bit. She was too demanding, rude, and down right cruel in nature. However, she was not about to worry about her double's personality at the moment.
"Seven, you're with us."
"Yes, Admiral." She replied to Kathryn.
As soon as they exited the conference room, Kathryn Janeway turned to Jean-Luc. "Alright, you tell me what is going on."
"Admiral." Seven replied. "It's the Borg or rather the Queen. She trying to communicate."
Seven could not or would not say what she was hearing. This made Kathryn even more concerned.
"We have to get down to cargo bay three." Jean-Luc insisted as he began to rush to the nearest turbolift.
Kathryn was almost running after him. "Why?"
Seven followed closed behind them.
"The Borg."
Kathryn Janeway gave up pressing the matter and decided to follow Jean-Luc and find out for herself. She somehow had a feeling she was not going to get a straight answer. At least not until they arrived at cargo bay three.
They exited the turbolift and Jean-Luc was still at a run. He openned the door to the cargo bay.
What they saw shocked them. The Borg were fighting each other.
"We must assimulate!" One insisted.
"No, we will not listen to the Queen!" The one they knew as Carlos replied as he tried to defend himself.
"We are Borg!" It was one they knew as Johnathan, but he was walking and talking very mechanically. He was no longer an individual again.
"Ahhhh!" An individual child Borg screamed and ran towards Seven.
"No!" Jean-Luc ordered as Seven tried to reach out and rescue the Borg child. "Seal off this door now!"
Seven quickly became erect again and moved away from the doors. The doors to the cargo bay closed quickly in front of her. Blocking any escape the child may have had.
Janeway punched in some command codes into the counsole on the wall beside the door. Thus sealing it shut in hopes none of the Borg escaped the cargo bay.
"She has not been reassimulated." Seven stated. She was puzzled as to why Jean-Luc would not allow her to rescue the child.
"She is Borg." Picard stated firmly. "If the Borg Queen has not activated her homing device, it soon will be activated."
"And what if it is not?" Seven insisted.
"Then we may never know." Jean-Luc said firmly. "But for now, we must assume they are all Borg and their homing devices have been activated or soon will be."
"Let's get to the Bridge and contact the Titan." Janeway suggested.
"Agreed." Picard replied.
The three of them made it to the Bridge of Voyager and were now conferring with Captain Will Riker.
*"According to Deanna, they seemed split."* Will informed Picard and Janeway. *"Some still individuals and others becoming part of the collective again."*
Picard nodded. "That's what we were seeing."
*"Hugh, Axum, and a few others seemed unaffected."* Deanna informed Picard.
"Yes, but for how long?" Picard asked.
*"What if they are not affected at all?"* Deanna asked. *"What will happen to them trapped with those that are?"*
"I'm afraid we will have to cross that bridge when we get to it." Janeway replied. "We have no way of telling who will are will not be affected."
*"Admiral Janeway is right."* Captain Riker agreed. *"Hugh was doing you a favour by telling you to leave. He may have stayed for the same reason or because he is trying to protect us by fighting them for us. It's hard to say."*
"Hugh told her to leave?" Picard asked.
*"Yes, he did, Sir."* Deanna confirmed. *"At the time, he was fighting something he was mentally hearing, but nothing had triggered in him at that time. He genuinely seemed to be trying to protect me."*
Picard was puzzled. How many will become Borg again and how many who perhaps do not become Borg again survive? He had no clue. Only that he knew the Borg Queen was behind it all.
"We need to put an end to this meeting and get them back to their ship, before the stand off ends." Picard stated.
"Agreed." Janeway stated. "We can't let them know we have Borg aboard this ship. It may ruin everything we worked for thus far."
Picard nodded. "Will, continue to keep a comm link open to Voyager. In the meantime, we'll return to the meeting and see what we can do from here."
*"Aye, Sir. Riker out."*