Darkness.
Opening his eyes really meant nothing. He could see the stars in the distance but he knew he would never reach them. Besides, he was far too injured to do anything except float in the blackness, the utter emptiness of space.
Coldness.
Already, the fluid within his joints and his nutrient transporting system were having trouble. His internal heat source couldn't keep out the life-robbing cold of interstellar space. With at least one leg severed and his left arm almost completely non-functional, it would only be a short while before his entire systems froze up. Shutting off completely seemed to be the best option. With luck, in forty thousand years or so, he could drift close enough to a star to thaw and perhaps, his self-repair systems can begin to heal the injuries inflicted on his form that is, except for his legs. The thalaron radiation had done its job, turning them to solid stone. He had stayed awake long enough, but then again, what is that feeling.
Warmth?
Was it some form of energy? He could see, in the vast distance of space, something was approaching and scanning him; then another beam, pulling him in. A tractor beam?
It was best to shut down now and wipe his memories, but he can't. The damage is too great. He can't help himself except to turn off the emotion chip. Data was about to be found; now he could only hope they were friendly. He could even hear their transmissions, almost the android equivalent of telepathy. Strange.
"We are the Borg, resistance if futile."
Picard couldn't help but think that the Enterprise was like a house with all the children gone. First, Data died. He gave his life to save him and the entire ship from Shinzon. The Captain Riker and Counselor Troi left to set up their new lives and new missions on the USS Titan. A good number of the crew left with him, handpicked by Riker to join him and his new crew. Now, Picard couldn't help but feel like a schoolmaster with an entirely new class of students on their first day of school. All throughout the corridors, as he walked through the ship, various crewmembers would wave and greet him and we would wave back, engage in small talk and chide himself for not knowing their name or department or assignment on the Enterprise.
"Bridge to Picard."
Finally, there was something to break the monotony of ignorance.
"Picard here."
"We're picking up some unusual radiation, coming from somewhere in the Neutral Zone."
Picard smiled to himself. I seemed like nothing, but anything was better than this self-defeating mood he was feeling. The Enterprise has been on support duty just inside the Neutral Zone since the Titan received orders to go to Romulus and assist in their re-building efforts after Shinzon and the destruction of the Scimitar. Of course, the Enterprise was still undergoing repairs and didn't arrive for weeks. Still, any mission, even a mundane one, was better than just sitting on your hands.
"Thank God for unusual radiation in the Neutral Zone," he thought aloud.
"I'll be right there."
The turbo-lift had him there in mere moments. He sat down in his chair before asking anyone about the radiation.
"What do you have?"
The new relief Science Officer turned from her station on the raised platform. It was now Gamma Shift. The regular crew wouldn't be on-duty for another six hours.
"Captain, long range sensors are picking up what appears to be some type of trans-warp signature. The library computer identified it as a Borg signature."
That brought a shiver to Picard. He only hoped nobody saw it. Locutus was still a part of him, no matter how much time he spent in a counselor's chair. He turned to face the young officer.
"What course are they following?"
"None, sir, they appear to be just sitting there, possibly scanning the surrounding systems. Presently, there are near a system about 1.3 light-years away from the site the Romulans call the 'Great Bloom'. Admiral Nechayev is waiting on sub-space to speak to you."
That put another damper on Picard's blossoming good mood. First, the Borg, then Admiral Nechayev, the only thing he needed now would be Shinzon returning from the dead. Still, he had better speak to her.
"Put her on the main viewer."
Admiral Nechayev's blonde form soon filled the screen with her usual no-nonsense expression. She was beginning to show the effects of age, though he was certainly not brave enough to mention to her that maybe a little trip to the hair salon for some dye to hide the wisps of gray that was appearing. She was the iron woman of Starfleet and Picard has had more than one disagreement with her and more often than not, she either had won because of her rank, or because he just gave in. Even Picard had to admit that when it came to covert missions and security matters, she was one of the best in the business. Picard stood to speak to her.
"Greetings, Captain Picard" she started.
"At least she's trying to be civil," Picard, thought to himself, "I will do the same."
He stepped closer to the screen and stood with his hands clasped tightly behind him as he adapted a good approximation of an attention stance.
"My compliments, Admiral Nechayev" he responded.
"Captain, we have reports that a Borg trans-warp signature has been detected in the Neutral Zone."
Picard was amazed with how quickly she found out.
"Yes sir," he again responded, using the military formal method of addressing a superior officer and "sir", despite what gender they may be. "We detected that as well. Now at least, they seem to be staying still. I would be worried that they might have discovered the problems in the Romulan Empire and decided to launch an offensive."
Nechayev smiled a somewhat off-kilter smile, something that said, "No kidding".
"Captain," the young ensign behind him called. "The Borg signature is moving."
"Moving where?" both Nechayev and Picard asked in unison.
"They seem to be assuming an orbit around a planet in the neighboring star system. If fact, they seemed to be powering down. I think they're waiting for something."
Picard nodded his head. He hated to think that this was the vanguard for another huge offensive by the Borg. One cube was bad enough, ten or a hundred would be catastrophic, especially with the Starfleet forces spread so thin right now. Hell, he couldn't even count on Wil right now with the Titan because they were busy at Romulus.
"Captain," Nechayev spoke up, "I want you to take the Enterprise to the Borg and assess the situation. I'll send whatever ships I can to the Neutral Zone border to assist if needed. Good luck" and with that, the Admiral's image disappeared. It was the 24th century version of cutting the conversation short and hanging up the phone. Picard looked around at the crew, but then decided not to pursue the matter. He simply turned to his Conn. officer.
"Set a course for the coordinates of the Borg ship and engage at warp 4. Be prepared to increase speed and course if the Borg show signs of moving to intercept."
"Aye, sir," his Conn. officer replied and Picard sat down in time for the ship to leap into warp.