Wish Upon A Star.
"We are the Borg."
Kathryn restlessly shifted her position amid the tusseled sheets, trying to shake off yet another approaching nightmare.
"You will be assimilated."
Kathryn felt something tugging at the covers, this dream was getting too realistic for her liking.
"Resistance is futile."
Cold hands gripped her arm. This was no dream, there was a drone in her quarters attempting to pull her out of bed.
She reached for her comm badge.
"Intruder alert captains cabin"
Tuvok acknowledged that he was on his way.
Kathryn's heart was racing, pumping adrenalin, activating receptors, preparing her body for fight or flight.
How many drones on board, why no red alert, how many crew members already infected, how did the cube get near the ship undetected, why was she not alerted ?
Questions needing answers ran through her mind at warp speed. She had to get away from this damn drone first, stuggling to pull her arm free, until she could hear gales of muffled laughter coming from the cabin next to hers.
"Alyx there's a borg in my room" Kathryn exclaimed suspiciously.
"I know" came the reply with a further burst of giggles.
"Cancel the intruder alert." Janeway instructed her comm badge, heaving an annoyed sigh.
"Captain?" Tuvok responded questioningly.
"My neighbour sent a mobile alarm call to my quarters."
"Do you require assistence Captain ?" He asked somberly.
"No thank you Tuvok. I can deal with the matter, although you might care to get the brig ready for an annoying occupant."
"Oh come on KT, where is your sense of humour? You can't lock my new masterpiece in the brig."
"I was thinking more for you actually. Now get this damn thing off me you little imp, I'm in no mood for your antics this time of night."
"Ha ha very funny. Don't Starfleet captains have any idea of fun?"
Alyx flicked a switch on the remote, the drone let go of Kathryn's arm and dissappeared. She entered the captains cabin through the connecting door and ordered the replicator to produce hot black coffee and toast.
"You got fifteen minutes to dress and eat, then meet me at the Delta Flyer or we will be late. If you're not ready in time, I'll transport you, dressed or otherwise."
Alyx handed Kathryn her breakfast while jabbing a dermal hypo to her neck.
"Hey what was that for? Kathryn asked rubbing the patch of skin that tingled from the concoction she had been injected with.
"Late for what ?" she asked out loud to an empty room.
"Computer time? O four hundred hours came the reply.
Kathryn shook her head and rolled her eyes. This is a mad house of mayhem since the I.D.A cadets had taken up temporary residence on board, but as much as she tried, she could not be angry with any of them for long. Alyx was small in stature, ten years of age in human standard calculations, but was far from childlike, genetically engineered, mentally and pysically in a maturation pod til the age of five, just like all the other cadets she came with, created and designed specifically for war.
She and the others from I.D.A. had improved I.Q., stamina, vision, hearing, hand eye co-ordination and reflexes, they were created to be adaptive, inventive and efficient in battle. There were many species, some pure, some mixed, but all made for the same purpose, to protect the Alliance, expendable, easily replaceable and leaving no grieving family behind, at least that's how the Dragonis creators explained their existence. After so many years of conflict, this was the only way to meet the constant demand for reinforcements without depleting the populations of the Alliance, which had already been decimated by the Borg.
Kathryn recognised several species from the Alpha quadrant, Trill, Vulcan, Klingon, Cardassian and Bajoran to name but a few, they had all been created in the Delta quadrant and knew nothing of their species or origins. Their DNA had been taken from the Borg and adapted by genetic enhancement scientists to suit the needs of the Dragonis Alliance and war effort, without having to assign countless thousands of their own people into battle. This way I.D.A. was able to patrol all sectors under its jurisdiction and expand, without having to rely on volunteers and conscripts.
Kathryn's mind had digressed from the task at hand, better get into uniform fast before she found herself on the flyer with just her night dress on. Alyx had ment what she said.
"Hope you're part way here KT, as just popping in your transport co-ordinates now."
"I'm nearly there, Kathryn responded as she left her cabin adjusting her jacket. "Where exactly are we going?" She asked hopefully.
"Can't say. It's supposed to be a suprise, you will just have to wait and see. Oh and can you please have a word with Mr Stiff and Meatshield, they don't seem to want to let you off this barge without a security escort tagging along to baby sit you.
Kathryn cringed at the derogatory description Alyx used for Tuvok and Chakotay. Seems her last chat re the respect of senior officers and the chain of command had not sunk in yet, maybe she would have to use a mallet next time for more emphasis.
"Thats Starfleet regulations, they are just following protocol"
"Dont you trust me? I'm hardly going to kidnap you, sell you off to slave traders or what ever it is they think i am going to do with you."
"Well to be honest Alyx, you set a drone on me this morning, you're taking me to an undesclosed destination, you hypo'd me with some unknown substance and you're not overly fond of captains in general. How do i know you're not going to trade me off? I hear we sell at a good price on the Korinax slave market."
"Oh KT, do you serioulsy think i would put you in any danger?
"Do I have to answer that right now, or can i wait till we reach our destination? The captain replied with a smile.
Alyx pouted looking hurt.
"Now who does not have a sense of humour? Kathryn asked laughing.
"I'm just teasing." She put her hand lightly on Alyx's shoulder to reasure her and tapping her comm badge.
"Captain to the bridge"
"Yes Captain!" Chakotay responded
"Alyx and i will be taking the Delta Flyer for a few hours, open the forcefield in shuttle bay two.
"Captain! May i remind you, Starfleet directive clearly states that you take..."
Tuvok did not get the chance to finish, Alyx piped in saying in no uncertain terms where he could stuff his Starfleet rules.
The Captain covered Alyx's mouth in mid flow of her tirade.
"It's all right Tuvok, I'm aware of the procedures but I'm not exactly going alone, I have a military liason with me."
Chakotay started to object but Kathryn cut him short.
Alyx pulled the Captain's hand away.
"If you don't open the hanger doors I'm just going to have to blast a hole through it Kimi. Don't think for a minute I won't.
Harry Kim looked from Chakotay to Tuvok, shrugged and proceeded to open the shuttle bay forcefield.
"Hey Alyx!" Paris said trying to ease the tension and worry he was sensing oozing off Chakotay.
"Make sure you bring back the Flyer in one piece."
"Don't worry conn man, it's in safe hands. Better me than the Wrecker Commander.
Kathryn was curious as to what and where she was being taken, but knew it was pointless to ask, it was obvious though that this was an organised escapade, Neelix had packed a fresh food hamper and the Doctor's holoimager was sitting on the co-pilots seat.
"You young lady. Kathryn waved her finger at her. Are bang out of order. I will be going over protocols yet again, and how to address senior officers when we get back, you are severely lacking in decorum and respect."
"What the heck is decorum?
"Precisely why we will go over it. Now lets get going before I change my mind about tagging along on this mysterious trip of yours
"Alyx laughed and casually asked. "So the Korinax would pay a good price for you would they? How much exactly?" She asked with a mischievious grin.
Kathryn waggled her finger at her. "Don't even think it, I'd shoot you before we ever get near their ship and sell you off as Targ food."
Alyx laughed.
"As if i would. Honestly KT. I was just curious, buuuut we could always sell the Iceborg and her little dronettes, get a better price."
"You're incorrigable, Seven and the children are part of the crew now, and family, they are no longer Borg.
"Ok ok relax, it was just a thought, now go ahead and do your science stuff, I know you're itching to scan the area for clues. It will keep your mind off your phaser and Targ, what ever that is.
Kathryn laughed and sat down at the science console, even more curious to know what they were heading for.
"Are you not even going to give me a hint?" Kathryn asked hopefully.
"No of course not, don't be silly, that would spoil all my fun in being able to tease and keep you guessing, but I will say that it's something you have never seen or heard of before.
Kathryn was more intrigued than ever now, her inquisitive scientific mind was getting hyped up into overdrive. She anticipated that what ever Alyx was taking her to see would be well worth being dragged out of bed at four in the morning.
"What's our E.T.A?" Kathryn asked.
"Another hour and forty two minutes yet so lets eat. Neelix has packed a few speacial treats to appetize your taste buds." They sat picnic style on the deck , tasting the delights Neelix had gone out of his way to prepare for the two pickiest bad eaters he had ever met in his entire life as he put it.
Kathryn would try to throw in a question hoping to catch Alyx off guard and gleen a clue or two, while they talked about encounters with the Borg and species 8472 temporal mechanics, the Alpha quadrant and Bloomington Indiana. The time past very quickly.