What Price Freedom?
by Christina
Inspired by an original story by Yatokahc, Christina and anonymous

Act 3

Cretia slipped into the shadows at the sound of approaching footsteps. A second later two of the Trefla's former drones appeared. She pulled her hood over her head before stepping forward.

"You contacted us," the lead ex-drone, Nelem said. The late Yith's assistant stood about half a meter taller than Cretia.

"Yes, Voyager is using Borg technology to save us."

The furious growl was exactly what she expected. "We can't let them use the tech. If we could capture their ship, those who wish to truly be free of all things Borg could escape."

"I have studied their defenses. I have been able to scan their ship when we were testing the repairs. Here is the information you will need." Nelem reached out for the multiplex processor. Cretia smiled, then slipped back into the shadows. Nelem would do exactly what he needed to do. They would soon leave the Trefla and be free. And safe. Voyager would be the source of medical supplies, food, and the chance for a better life.

Cretia smiled as she watched Nelem leave. And Nelem didn't need to know about the Borg tech incorporated into Voyager.

Harry smiled as his friend entered the mess hall, then waved. B'Elanna acknowledged his invitation then stared at the meal offerings. Harry was scheduled to beam over to the Trefla in an hour to relieve Lieutenant Carey.

"This must be when she is calmer," Jenny Delaney said as she stopped at his table. "She isn't tearing my poor sister apart over the menu choices. I hear she has Joe doing some strange project on the Trefla."

Harry smiled as he motioned for Jenny to sit. "Really? Most interesting." He was beginning to have a good idea exactly what B'Elanna's project was.

"What's she working on? Somehow I don't think it's related to this Olympics of Neelix's."

"Hope," he whispered. He spoke in his normal tone for the next sentence. "Did you hear they've postponed the games again?"

She laughed. "Low supplies and..." Her voice grew more somber. "And now the Borg. We should never have gotten involved."

"Jenny, you've seen the Trefla."

She shook her head. "And we're not responsible. But I know..." They both glanced at the food counter. B'Elanna was arguing with Megan Delaney. "I'd better go help, or Megan will have me cleaning the floors."

"Well, you are the one who volunteered to take Neelix's place today."

"And I'll never complain about leola root stew again."

"Maybe Neelix will find enough to make some. Just for you." Harry placed his fork on the tray. "Any ideas what happened to his supply?"

"I hear Icheb was responsible." Jenny stood as he spoke.

"That's what I've heard. I'm sorry, but..." Again they both looked toward the counter. "My sister will never make it without me." B'Elanna was still standing in the line.

"I'll come with you." Harry was curious at why B'Elanna was holding up the line.

"There's no leola root casserole," B'Elanna said when he stopped at her side. "I wanted leola root." Harry smiled as he remembered his older cousin's pregnancy years earlier.

"Would a pickle do?"

She grimaced. "Maybe I'll replicate a casserole." Harry shrugged at the next person in the line.

"How's your project coming?" Harry asked her as they walked over to the replicator.

"Icheb is trying to incorporate the Zornon data for the cloak. One leola root casserole." She growled the last to the replicator. "Least that's what he thinks he's doing." The dish shimmered into existence.

"Not that one. I was helping him the other day. I mean Hope."

"Harry, it's still just a dream."

"But a good one."

She motioned toward the port window. "Dreams can be tricky. We dreamed of freeing the Borg." She took a bite of the casserole. "Don't dream too much." She hesitated. "Take a look at the polymeric frequency of the Zornon cloak." She shoved her PADD over to him. He took it and looked at the data.

"I don't see..."

B'Elanna laughed. "Harry, Harry, Harry. It's obvious."

Obvious to brilliant engineers maybe, but Harry didn't see anything significant. He scrolled through the series of formulas and calculations again.

And again.

"Harry, I'm glad to see you," Joe Carey said. "I'm looking forward to a hot bath and a long nap."

"So, is this before or after you talk to B'Elanna?"

"Oh please, I've talked to her every hour all day." Carey rolled his eyes. "I've sent her every conceivable piece of data on all things Borg." He glanced about. "What is she working on?"

"I don't know," Harry said cautiously. B'Elanna would tell when she was ready.

"Harry, she's been asking about transwarp, transwarp coils, shielding, navigation. There's only one thing she could be working on."

"Keep it to yourself, for the moment." Harry wondered how many of the crew had guessed what B'Elanna's project was.

"So she has told you."

Harry shook his heads. "No, but like you I've guessed. She's working on hope." He glanced around. "And what have you been working on?"

"Right now we've started working on repairing the next bank of regenerators. Seven is working on the regeneration chambers. She requested to remain on the Trefla, instead of being relieved." Joe shrugged. "Stubborn woman. Good luck."

"I hope I don't need it," Harry watched as Joe vanished, and turned his attention toward the Borg controls.

Seven glanced at her security guard then returned her attention to the data streaming into the primary console. She allowed herself a brief smile. The cube's diagnostic systems were once again working. Her frown returned as she noticed that there was still no response from Axum. She resent her message. "Crewman Brannon, once I am finished here, I shall be joining Lieutenant Kim in the central core."

The guard nodded, as she continued speaking. "I need you to check the secondary processors when I restore power." She motioned toward another console about twenty meters away. "If the console activates, I shall have been successful."

"Yes, Ma'am," he said, "And if you're not successful?"

"Jump out of the way." Seven turned her attention back to the data, as she waited for the crewman to leave. She concentrated on the screen as she entered the information. The screen flickered. She grimaced, and this time she activated the secondary nodes.

"It's working!" Brannon called.

Seven tapped her combadge. "Seven to Lieutenant Kim, the secondary systems are now operational."

"Very good," Kim's voice said. "That means we are now ready to activate the regenerators."

She glanced at her console and entered a series of codes. She'd sent a message several hours ago to Axum. There was still no response to her message. With all the turmoil in the Collective, she shouldn't be surprised that Axum had not yet received her message.

If he was even alive to receive it.

"Nanoprobes," Naomi said as she rubbed her eyes. They'd been at this for six hours and her eyes hurt.

"Huh?" Icheb looked up from the report and stared at her.

"Nanoprobes. Icheb, there is no choice. The Vidiians have a wealth of information on tissue grafts and regeneration techniques. But they all require donors and time. We can't do this without nanoprobes."

"But the Treflans are not willing to use anything Borg."

"Then it's their folly." She shut off her PADD. "There isn't anything in here we can use, morally, ethically, or otherwise. So, what about using nanoprobes?" she asked again.

"We would have to convince them..."

Naomi didn't understand why anyone would turn down the medicine that would save their lives-but that was exactly the problem. "So, we'll convince them."

"It's not that easy. They are so terrified about being reassimilated they are destroying all things Borg. They fear that no matter how much we've modified the nanoprobes, the Queen could still regain control of their minds. We need to assure the Treflans that there is no way this can happen."

"Like what you were trying to do with the virus?"

He nodded slowly. "I suppose so. I was trying..." He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the cheek. "Naomi, you're a genius." He bolted out of the room.

She stared at the closed door as she touched her cheek. "I'm a genius? Why thank-you."

Neelix stared at the cavernous space with a growing appreciation of just how big a Borg cube truly was. The cube once held over a hundred thousand drones and could easily have held more. Much more. And so much of it was no longer needed.

"I do not understand why you wish to see this area?" Sarexa said.

Neelix nodded. "It's perfect. It will take a lot of work on your part, but it is feasible."

"What is?" Sarexa asked with a slow shake of her head.

"The space. There is more than enough. I'm sure Captain Janeway will allow me to share our information on..." He shrugged. "But then you probably already have the information."

"Neelix, you are not making any sense," Sarexa said.

"Oh. I'm sorry, I guess I'm not. We can convert large spaces like this to airponic and hydroponic gardens. Like what we have on Voyager, only much larger." He entered a few more numbers into his PADD. "This space in particular can come close to supplying your basic needs within a year or maybe even less time. Leola root would be perfect..." A fast growing crop, rich in nutrients, and easy to care for, it would have been perfect, except his had mutated or something. They no longer grew well in his gardens. He once again considered asking Icheb help him correct the mutation.

"I remember my mother's leola root pie," Sarexa said. "You have roots? Perhaps you can make me a pie?"

"Do you remember her recipe?" Neelix asked. The few tubers he had left would barely be enough to boil down to make the filling.

"No. I have very faint memories of home. I was captured quite young." She stared out at the cavern. "It will take a year for the gardens to grow?" she asked sadly.

"Or less. You'll have to dismantle much of the unnecessary equipment. Most of it can be recycled into the garden-or rather farm."

"I don't want to stay here a year. I don't want to stay on this ship any longer than I must. The scout sphere is functioning. There must be someplace I can go and be safe." She shivered. "This place scares me. The others want to destroy themselves and the ship. I don't want to die."

"Captain Janeway won't let them destroy the cube," Neelix said confidently.

"How? And once you leave us, what guarantees do we have?"

"They will see reason." His confidence was shaken, as he again looked out over the cavern. The visions of rows of crops replaced by rows of dead Borg. "Especially once they understand that they can survive."

"I wish I believed that, I wish I shared your optimism." She smiled at him.

"I can ask Captain Janeway, if you want to stay on Voyager?" Neelix asked happily. Sarexa smiled at the suggestion, then shook her head.

"And my friends?"

"Friends?" His smiled wavered.

"There are about fifty of us who want to leave the Trefla. Neelix, your ship is too small for us all." He felt his heart sink as she told him this.

"We could find room. Voyager has several unused spaces we could convert to quarters." He wanted her to stay.

"Neelix, your offer is tempting, but there is a scout sphere. It is locked down, and the controls damaged."

"Perhaps Seven can help you access the sphere," he said helpfully, but sadly.

"Your Borg?" She grimaced, then took a deep breath. "I think I can convince the others to accept her help." He watched her leave, then turned his attention back to the central cavern, forcing his mind to concentrate on how to construct the necessary supports and hydroponic tanks.