Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners, particularly the characters taken from the animated series, Code Lyoko and the television series Star Trek. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Earth, 3006
Sakura Rachael Stern had a problem, one that threatened relations between the United Federation of Planets and the Borg Collective.
Three weeks ago, nine year old Sakura started feeling ill. She had trouble eating, became listless, and her already pale skin started getting even paler. Then, implants started popping out of her. When the first star shaped device bloomed on her right temple, her parents called the authorities. Starfleet sent over two investigators familiar with Borg technology and confirmed the worst; Sakura was indeed being assimilated into the Collective.
It had been six hundred years since the Borg last attempted to assimilate humanity, in the twenty-fourth century, and the Truce between the Collective and the Federation had been in place for well over five hundred years. Both groups benefited from the relationship, so why would the Borg suddenly break the treaty? And why a nine year old child?
Those were the questions that the Federation President asked the representative drones of the Borg twenty-four hours ago. The Borg replied that the Collective did not infect the child, but could not provide any reason why the girl was being assimilated.
"Bring the child to us, so we may analyze her," they finally said.
Now, little Sakura was in the Borg cube that acted as their Embassy to Earth, sitting in a chair, surrounded by three Borg drones who were impassively regarding her. Behind her, Sakura's parents waited nervously for whatever would happen next.
"The child is indeed being assimilated," intoned the Voice of the Collective, "and this act was not sanctioned by the Collective. The infestation is not totally pervasive, so unless the guardians of this child desire otherwise, we will remove the implants and repair what modifications have been made."
"Please do that; return our daughter to us," said Sakura's father.
One of the drones extended its arm to the implant on Sakura's temple. A nanoprobe injector extended out and connected with the device. Seconds after the connection was made, another drone approached Sakura's father.
"The nanoprobes that are assimilating her came from you," the Voice said, "you must be examined. Please cooperate with us so we may peacefully resolve this incident."
Mr. Stern was stunned and speechless. He had infected his daughter?
The Borg drone walked up to the man and extended its arm at him. Then, a pair of nanoproe injectors shot out of the drone's fist and hit Mr. Stern's arm. After a moment to evaluate the results, the Voice said, "dormant nanoprobes are present in your body. The technology is consistent with the nanoprobes found in the child and with current Borg technology. Verify that this is your first encounter with the Borg."
"Y-y-yes, it is," Mr. Stern stammered.
"You have never been away from Federation Sector 001 for any reason?"
"No. I was born and raised in the EuroStates. I moved to North America twenty years ago. I haven't even been to the moon."
That answer seemed to satisfy the drones. The one who had extended the nanoprobe injectors to Mr. Stern withdrew them and stepped back.
"Very well. Mr. Stern. We are in the process of removing the Borg technology from your daughter. She will have to be placed in a gestation chamber for twenty-four hours to effect complete biological reversal of the assimilation process. We assure you that she will not be harmed in any way. We must determine how and why you both were targeted, so we may need to communicate with you again. We will provide accommodations for you among us; or you may return to your domicile until this time tomorrow. The Borg apologize for causing you any trouble, and we will do all in our power to rectify it."
As the Voice spoke, Sakura began to feel drowsy, then slipped into unconsciousness. The drone that had interfaced with her gently picked up the girl and carried her away. In another part of the cube, the drone carefully removed Sakura's clothes, attached a breathing apparatus to her face, and placed the sleeping girl into a gestation chamber configured for the removal operation. The last thing the drone did before leaving the girl was to plug an interface cable into the implant in the girl's temple. That implant would be the last piece of technology removed from the girl, so the Borg could investigate how the nanoprobes came to be in her in the first place. When the chamber closed, a greenish fluid filled the tank, and the nanoprobes contained within began their work.
In the chamber, Sakura dreamed she was floating in a green mist, peaceful and calm.
"Hello child," came a woman's voice, "my, my, you sure have caused a ruckus, haven't you?"
Sakura saw a woman floating before her. She was an older woman, silver and gray showing prominently in the brown of her hair. But her hair was the only indication that the woman was old; her skin was wrinkle free as she smiled at Sakura. Her voice was kind of deep and husky for a woman, though. And she was wearing, of all things, an old Starfleet uniform.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do anything," Sakura told the woman, a sob starting in he throat.
"It isn't your fault, dear," the woman said, "and we're going to fix you up right as rain."
That statement brightened the little girl up. "Ah, ma'am, who are you?" Sakura then asked.
"Why, I am the Borg Queen," the woman replied, "but you can call me Kathy."
"Why are you here? Aren't you light years and light years away from Earth?"
"Yes, I am, but where ever my drones are, I'm there too. Now, have you ever encountered a Borg before today?"
"No ma'am, I've never even been to San Fransisco until today."
"Now that's very strange," Kathy, the Borg Queen said, "maybe I should query one of the nanoprobes we found inside you to see if it has any kind of explanation."
Sakura's dream then changed. The green mist changed to red, and it seemed like something like wind or water rushed all around the girl and the Borg Queen. Kathy looked about, then like lightning, grabbed something. It was a small, square thing, with what looked like legs sticking out of its sides.
"Hmm, let's see now," Kathy said to herself as she concentrated.
Suddenly, a new voice rang out, a male voice.
"Well, it's about damn time, mom!"
The Borg Embassy lifted up from its location in San Fransisco, causing a hellacious snarl in air traffic around the city. The Borg contacted Planetary Orbital Control, declaring an emergency liftoff, and stating that the cube was heading for the Gamma Quadrant, via the Bajor Wormhole.
The Sterns were caught in the cube when it lifted off. Drones came and escorted the couple to human compatible chambers and told them that their daughter's situation had precipitated the sudden departure, as the Borg Embassy on Earth was the closest Borg vessel to the person they needed to contact. Since they really didn't have any say in the matter, the Sterns thanked the drones for the accommodations and settled in for the ride.
The cube made excellent time to Bajor. When it entered the system, it notified Deep Space Nine of its intention to transit the wormhole. Bajoran Traffic Control acknowledged the request, stating that Starfleet Command had already contacted them, and they were in the process of clearing the transit lanes for the cube. The vessel adjusted its speed to give Bajor enough time clear a path and proceeded on.
The cube had no trouble transiting the wormhole, and it quickly arrived in the Gamma Quadrant. It notified the Dominion Transit Station of its intentions and proceeded on its mission. As the ship sped on, it sent out a message to the Federation starship Intrepid: rendezvous with the cube immediately and allow interface with One-from-One, currently serving as Executive Officer.
The Intrepid acknowledged the transmission, and established rendezvous coordinates.
