The ensign standing outside the door wasn't surprised when B4 opened it and stepped outside. He often wanted to go to see Cmdr. LaForge in Engineering or even the Captain. He guessed that LaForge and Captain Picard were the closest people to friends to the android. Still, this time was different. There was something about the way B4 stood and walked that gave the ensign the creeps. It was almost like seeing a ghost, if an android with the strength of ten men could have a ghost. This ensign knew Cmdr. Data and worked with him. It took him almost a month to recover from the injuries he received during the battle with the Scimitar. Indeed, he now had something in common with Data and his brother B4. He lost his left leg and now sported an artificial one.

"I would like to see Geordi in Engineering, please."

"You know the way" and he waved his hand in the direction of the turbo-lift at the end of the corridor.

"I'm sorry about your leg and I was never told your name."

A cold chill ran up the ensign's spine. B4 knew about his leg, but he never seemed to understand the entire matter. Still, he was right, he had never mentioned his name.

"Thank you. I'm Ensign Joseph Nagle, you can call me Joe just like everyone else does."

"Thank you. I know I should call you Ensign Nagle, but I like Joe. It means I can be your friend."

"Sure you can be my friend. I watch your door every Thursday. I guess we might as well be friends."

B4's face suddenly changed, as if he was deep in thought.

"I guess that means today is Thursday. Lt. Scott stays outside my door on Fridays and the Captain usual visits and takes me to his ready room on Tuesdays."

"Very good, B4," Ensign Nagle said, like speaking to a young toddler.

The two stepped off the turbo-lift and into the main part of Engineering. Cmdr. LaForge sat at the console, hard at work.

"Hello, Geordi."

LaForge turned to see B4 and Ensign Nagle standing just behind him. B4 wasn't smiling, as he usually was. His entire face, in fact, was different and that piqued his interest.

"Hi, B4, what can I do for you."

The smile reappeared on B4's face. "My brother said I should come here and talk to you. He said you would be very happy."

LaForge turned in his chair and stared at the child-like android. The smile left just as suddenly as it appeared.

"Geordi, it's me, Data."

Geordi understood immediately. He didn't know whether to be ecstatic or scared to death. He stood and put his hand on B4's back.

"C'mon, let's go see the Captain."

~xxx~

Phoenix stood at a relaxed attention. Drones slowly walked around him, performing various tasks and not seeming to take notice of him or anything else. The new drones from the two Starfleet ships were nearly complete now. His assimilation in the Alpha Quadrant was enough to get them here and away from the battle scene, but now, both they and their ships had added their biological and technological distinctiveness to the Borg, for all time. Some were too badly injured to be of use and were disposed of, like any defective circuit would be recycled into new. The entire area was a flood of activity and sensory input all channeled into one focal point who now strode confidently to him. The Queen was completely in command and now he, their new King, shared in the glories that was the Collective. No average biological being could completely understand or control the sheer magnitude of information that streamed like a raging river. It was furious, yet controlled through two foci, like two great suns standing guard over a large system of planets and moons that obeyed them and benefited from their light and warmth.

"Phoenix, you are much more that I anticipated. Locutus was never like you" she said as she skillfully slid her hand across his brow, "you are perfection, the ultimate example of what it means to be Borg."

Phoenix smiled. His emotion chip was working perfectly. He had the full range of emotions of any humanoid, but not like the mindless drones of tens of thousands of species that milled about or tended their duties on the thousands of ships spread out through the galaxy.

"It is quite fortunate that Species 10254 were so skilled in the art of artificial lifeforms" the Queen said while continuing to admire her newest creation in Phoenix. "Although there were but 250 members of the species left, their knowledge and distinctiveness helped us to correct our original failure and rid you of the persona that was Data. All that is left is perfection. You will be more than a consort to me, dear Phoenix, you will be a god to all Borg. With the knowledge that you retained from Data, soon all humans will be assimilated. Nothing can stop us now."

"Yes, my Queen" Phoenix smiled back, "soon we will control the mighty Federation and then, the Alpha Quadrant."

~xxx~

Admiral Nechayev paced nervously. She was in charge here and all the Captains knew that. Still, they knew as well as her that she really had no idea how to stop the Borg. The loss of Data to the Borg and all the knowledge they gained with the birth of Phoenix compromised every strategy she knew.

"LaForge to Captain Picard."

Jean-Luc stood up and looked to Nechayev. She nodded to excuse him away from the blank faces at the table. He stepped to the rear of the large conference area and tapped his comm badge.

"Picard here."

"Captain, I know how this is going to sound, but Data needs to speak to you."

"I beg your pardon."

"Captain, I know how this sounds but Data is here and he needs to speak with you as soon as possible."

"Captain Picard?"

Picard looked over and knew that the Admiral had overheard. Most admirals only heard what they wanted to hear but Nechayev seemed to have retained some of her skills from before she was promoted. He would have to remember that little fact.

"Admiral, I need to return to the Enterprise to confer with my Chief Engineer."

Nechayev nodded her agreement and Picard quickly left the room. He was in the transporter room and leaving the Galaxy before he even realized it. He had the transporter chief beam him directly to the Enterprise's Engineering section. When he looked at the android standing before him, it was B4's body, but the expression was Data. Picard knew that face as surely as he knew his own. It was burned in his memory since Data put that experimental personal transporter on his chest on the Scimitar.

"Captain, it is me, Data, but I don't have time to dwell on that. Phoenix will be back and soon. You must prepare. I am able to brief you on what the Borg have in mind, but we must hurry."

Picard smiled and pulled out a chair for his lost friend.

"Mr. Data, take all the time you need."