Dimensional Rip:
A Drop in a Can of Worms
By: Abby Ebon
Chapter Eight: Meeting the Borg
-Launching of the Demon-
Since learning how to pilot a spaceship they had worked out a routine. Hiei would handle communications because he was the likeliest to remain calm- and not overcomplicate things, and of course the defense of the ship.
Kurama kept his eye on the stats and radar, and was prepared to handle 'negations' if they ran into trouble- or trouble ran into them. Yuusuke despite his antics- such as crashing into the Enterprise, and flipping while docking- was the pilot.
"All systems go?" Yuusuke asked Kurama teasingly, Kurama only raised an eyebrow at the black haired teenager who looked suddenly sheepish.
"I've always wanted to say that." Yuusuke explained, Kurama nodded- whither in answer to Yuusuke, or confirming that 'all systems were go', only he knew. Yuusuke took it to mean both, and glanced over at Hiei who only nodded silently, as he had already confirmed launch.
Yuusuke grinned boyishly and zoomed out of the docks.
Hiei rolled his eyes and Kurama only sighed as curses echoed on the communications, Hiei grunted and turned it off. Yuusuke only laughed when Hiei shot him a dark glare.
"One of these days they are going to try telling us something we need to know, and we won't know, because you turned that thing off." Kurama said softly to Hiei, who grunted.
"It wouldn't have to- if HE didn't show-off." Hiei replied in a even tone when the Kitsune's green eyes started to narrow at him. Yuusuke huffed, but neither demon paid him any mind.
"If I remember correctly the reason you don't pilot is because, and I quote 'I refuse to be blamed if it crashes'." Kurama mimicked the quote marks as he said this, and Hiei snorted.
"You never wanted to fly around in space either. You never volunteered, and always made sure you were occupied if flying lessons came up." Hiei grumbled back.
Yuusuke covered his mouth and hunched over shaking with laughter- he was ignored.
"I have you know that I was occupied in making our rooms more home-like and those plants took a lot out of me." Kurama told him flatly, Yuusuke would be worried but he knew the two were enjoying the banter- their postures clued him in that they weren't fighting 'seriously'.
Besides- Yuusuke knew they'd stop before damaging the ship. Even if the fight was serious, both demons didn't show it but they disliked the emptiness of space- and the only thing that kept them from flat out refusing to go out of Enterprise was the chance to sense another demon.
So Yuusuke saw no reason to stop them from their banter- he knew he enjoyed 'fighting' with the both of them at times, both literally and figuratively. Which reminded him of the fact that none of the trio had sparred lately. He missed it- and he knew the other two did as well.
"Hey guys let's spar when we get back to Enterprise- for old times sake." Yuusuke said, interrupting the two. Hiei blinked at him- and Kurama looked at him as if the fox-demon thought he was missing a few screws.
"Where?" In one word Hiei had summed up their problem, Yuusuke sighed and ran his hand through his gel-free hair, which got him odd looks in the halls.
Yuusuke scowled- it wasn't his fault the future didn't have hair-gel, or if it did no one was telling him how to get it. They just grinned (if female) or snickered (if male) and it drove Yuusuke mad; but he couldn't do anything.
Because if he started a fight- they'd get a bad rep and they were normal humans- aliens, and no matter how strong Yuusuke knew they wouldn't withstand an enraged demon. Yuusuke knew he wouldn't be able to control himself if they got him past the braking point- and there was no reasoning when he was like that.
That was one of the reasons he always traveled with either Kurama or Hiei- or both, not that it did any good most of the time. Then he grinned remembering something he had overheard two crew members talking about.
"Don't know, but how about the holo-deck? Least that's what I heard some people gossiping about. We can ask Data when we get back." Yuusuke rambled, Hiei and Kurama glanced at each other- and Kurama shrugged.
"Alright Yuusuke, we'll check it out." After we get you into Med-Bay, was left unsaid by Kurama. Yuusuke didn't seem to care that Kurama said this with his calmest 'dealing with insane teenagers' tone.
He had a fight to look foreword to, if they could find this holo-deck…Well, they'd get to it when they got back to Enterprise- they had a scout to finish. It was then that Demon stopped- no warnings, just stopped.
"Yuusuke?" Kurama asked in a questioning tone- glancing at the stats- they were still using power yet they weren't going anywhere. Then he glanced at the radar and cursed.
"Damn it Hiei- turn that thing back on- " Kurama ordered, and Hiei turned it back on and a alarms blared and lights flashed. "We've got a – what did Data call it? Borg Cube above us using a cloak, it's using a tracker-beam to take us up…" Kurama finished, and Hiei dutifully repeated what he said in calmer tones.
Hiei paused and looked at the communication desk- it went dark, meaning offline. Hiei moved to the weapons and shields- they were offline too.
"We've lost shields- weapons, and they may not have gotten our report." Hiei announced, touching the hilt of his sword, the only sign that he was nervous.
"Computer- report!" Yuusuke yelled, there was no answer- so they assumed that had went offline too. Kurama was working frantically to make sure they had air- one by one the rest of it went offline.
Then – "The Borg have boarded." The three turned and there were five men wearing hardware that looked painfully infused into their skin. Hiei pulled out his sword, Kurama's body flared as he stood and he was Youko Kurama, he flipped his hair back and a Rose Whip appeared in his hand.
Yuusuke swallowed, he couldn't use spirit energy here- the ship might fail entirely, making him weaponless. Knowing this Hiei and Youko Kurama moved in front of Yuusuke- besides being their friend- he was the only one who could fly Demon.
The five Borg- didn't look intimidated- didn't even look surprised at Kurama's change and the Rose-Whip's sudden appearance.
"The Collective requires humans." One Borg said- as if this explained everything. Maybe to them it did, Youko Kurama only narrowed his eyes gripping the Rose-Whip harder.
"Well you came to the wrong ship then, we are demons…" Hiei sneered. The Borg didn't react- it was eerie.
"Incorrect- we detect one human." Another Borg said, four of them abruptly moved to challenge both Hiei and Youko Kurama. Yuusuke swallowed as the fifth stared at him and moved forward as his friends were distracted.
Yuusuke turned back to the ship inputting a system restore and set it on autopilot back to the Enterprise; he knew these Borg were after him- and would probably leave the ship once they had him.
He was right.
The Borg are no match physically to Hiei or Youko Kurama, but that wasn't their task- they had calculated the risks he needed information on these creatures more then they needed a few Borg warriors- it was for the good of the Collective.
The fifth Borg reached out a hand and touched Yuusuke- sending out a signal to the Borg Cube to transport them back onboard. The effect was immediate- the five Borg disappeared along with Yuusuke.
The pull on the ship disappeared and the Borg Cube went into warp disappearing with a flash of light. Leaving Demon stranded- or so Hiei and Youko Kurama thought at first- slowly systems returned and Demon hobbled back to the Enterprise.
Hiei and Kurama could do nothing as they stared silently into distant space vowing to find Yuusuke and get revenge…
