Chapter 11
Hope, Fear, and Dreams of Fun
They had no homeland or planet. Their base was an endless layering of huge cube-like ships stack haphazardly together like toddler's toy blocks left after play time. Exposed pipes and panels littered the entire structure; honeycombing inside to a threat that was more a consciousness then a race or type of life-form. It gathered all into itself, and it spread through many worlds not just the Delta Quadrant of the Federation. It- they was the equalizer of life- for all life should be within it.
It was about to learn a lesson most aggressor's eventually learn. Don't mess with Earth. Even if you do win the victory will be pyrrhic and even subjugated Earth's peoples will always strive to avenge it. Fortunately, it was going to learn this a bit ahead of schedule.
Captain Kirk's blue eyes were chips of ice as he gazed at the jumble of massive ships- if they were ships and it wasn't all just a weirdly construction space station. Although the monstrosity was bigger than the Enterprise, there was no indication they Federation vessel had been detected yet. His crew stilled as they stared at the construct.
"There is no hope in there," Aster said, then green-eyes narrowed and he bared his formidable teeth, "but Pitch was right, there are children."
"Earth children," Chekov asked.
"Yes," Pitch answered, eyes also narrowed. "It takes all into itself, absorbing the individuality until that is all gone. A thousand different races, just parts in a grand machine, that's all they are."
"I am indeed picking up large amounts of metal and heavy industrialization Captain," Spock added.
Sandy created a picture of a large machine being torn apart by the elements and time. Scotty, who'd come onto the Bridge from Engineering blinked at the small man's pictures.
"Aye, biggest threat to machines is corrosion and rust," he said absently.
Jim blinked, then grinned, "water expands when it freezes, and both types of dream-sand can go anywhere it's needed. With earth and water, plants can grow and tear apart construction quickly."
"I thought Aster couldn't leave the ship?" Uhura asked.
"I can't stay out there as long as Jack, Sandy or Pitch can, but I am a Pooka. Not really the same as that spirit trio over there, but I'll survive a quick jaunt to those ships. "
"Alright," Jim said, rising from his seat, "the Guardians will be going into that hive. No Spock- I don't want anyone who's vulnerable on those ships. We don't know how they get people into their thrall, but I'm not taking that chance. I want you guys to work on destroying or damaging as many of these ships that you can. The Enterprise as an ice-edge on her that is sharp and is well protect with ice and sand as well. Spock, I want you and Bones ready in case we manage to free anyone down there, and to beam us back up once we're done. Got that? Spock, you have the Com."
"Yes Sir," Spock answered. He didn't like it, Jim could see it in his eyes, but the Vulcan realized this was the only logical way to deal with the situation.
Giving the Vulcan his cocky grin, Jim grabbed his staff and launched himself down the lift tube without waiting for the actual lift itself. Aster yelled and took off after him quickly followed by Sandy. Pitch cast a glance out the window at the structures, golden eyes narrowed. Fear was his department, and this one was going to be a very fun job.
"If you hurt Jim," Spock said, and Pitch turned to find himself staring into dark eyes. He knew there was fear in the Vulcan- for Jim/Jack's safety. He could also see what would happen to him if this crew found out he had hurt the Ice spirit in any way. Oh, he liked these people quite a bit- implications of harm with no words said at all.
"For what it's worth," Pitch answered, "harming Jack is the very last thing I should ever do."
"It will be," Spock answered. Then turned and moved back to sit in the captains vacated chair. In a swirl of black sand Pitch went down the lift to join the others in the cargo bay.
"Spock threatened you didn't he," Jack asked.
"Naturally, and more effectively than anyone else ever has," Pitch answered.
"Just be glad it wasn't both Spock and Bones," Jack chuckled.
The guardians flew out of the Enterprise and curved towards the jumble of cubes nearby. The Enterprise herself pitched right away from them and flew off to attack from a different angle completely. There was only the barest hint of a warning that a ship was in firing range. There was no warning about the head-on attack at all. For it had no knowledge of emotion, or of any type of spiritual realm, and thus the consciousness never expected this type of attack at all.
Ice and sand burst through the metal hull, creating a gaping hole that blew several creatures out into space in nano-seconds. Then order became chaos. Defenders were sent sliding on icy floors, and integrated circuits were frozen until they shattered from flesh. Fluids froze and pipes distorted and burst apart. Gears and shafts were frozen over, then ground down to uselessness or wrenched off their foundations by swirls of gold and black sand. Wooden boomerangs flew, knocking off hoses connected to flesh and shattering glass. Sand and water provided places for plants to grow; root, steam and branch tearing into and through the structure. Black mares raced to block the creatures while golden whips destroyed the mechanical pieces. Together the dream sands woke minds long slumbering, and then just as quickly sent them into dreamless sleep.
"Cut off the head and you killed the snake," Aster yelled. Jack glanced out a window to see the Enterprise come from the side and sheer through narrow walkways connecting the blacks together with her ice-sharpened saucer. It was using every weapon possible to destroy as much of this thing as it could. Jack could only wonder what had gotten the rest of his crew this enraged.
"FROST!" Pitch bellowed, a nightmare ducked under him, carried him several lengths down the corridor before kicking him over her head and back to the ground. There was one of the half-human things wrapped in hardened black and gold sand.
"Who's the leader here," Jack asked, ice covering the sand.
"Resistance is futile," the thing answered, one eye glowing red the other defiant.
Jack smiled. It was not a nice smile at all. "Got that right," he murmured, ice spreading over circuitry and flesh. "I'm betting you know who I need to talk to. I'm also betting by now you've figured out we're not quite like anyone else you've encountered."
The former woman twisted, "Join us, become part of us; always together, no more loneliness, no more pain."
"That might have worked before, but I've lived a very long time lady," Jack answered, "and the loneliness and pain I've suffered have only made me a stronger person."
"Live with us, there is no death in the collective."
Jack's grin changed into an impish one. A snowball formed in the hand that wasn't holding onto the creature. "There's a catch to that."
"You would never die."
"I'm already dead," Jack answered, and throw his special snowball.
It hit her fully in the face, blue sparkles surrounding her as it nipped her nose. The red optic eye went dark and the human eye cleared. For a moment she stared at him out of her one good eye, and Jack could feel emotion swirling into what had been an empty shell.
"The Queen," the woman finally answered. "She's the collective's main body. Kill her; destroy all the ships you can. Oh, the things I've done! Quickly, before they come back. Please- I beg- if you can- save my little child. Oh god how could I let that happen to my little girl! Save her! She's- I can't remember her name! Number…number... Seven of nine…. Seven of Nine."
"We'll do what we can."
"Now," her eyes were pleading, "kill me."
Sandy drifted closer slightly. Jack traced the side of the woman's face with a cold finger.
"Please," she answered, "you might be able to take everything off my little girl; they have to change things as children grow, but not me. Please-I'm already dead."
Golden sand rained gently on her eyes; once she was asleep Jack froze the connections that kept her mortal body alive. Buried in sand and ice, Jack remained there for a moment; trembling slightly. Sandy moved aside, as Pitch came behind Jack.
"Jack?"
"Find the girl," Jack answered, "find the Queen. I'm not letting someone like her get away again."
Bunny nodded. Sandy and Pitch were swirls of cutting sand. All of them had learned long ago that making Jack Frost angry was the worst thing anyone could ever do. The temperature plunged as ice began to spread around him. Two steps and Jack was born on a chill air called from the deepest part of the station. They started off again, racing through corridors. Anyone who got in their way was either nocked aside, or buried in sand, ice or plants.
It came to a halt as they stormed into another corridor, and found a child there. Young, dressed in a silver unitard and with the same cyborg part as the adults she stood barring their way. Jack lowered himself to the ground.
"You will fall," the child said. "You will never hurt a child, just in case she's the one you're looking for."
"Well played Queenie Meanie," Jack answered, he paced in the short corridor, a snowball forming in his hand.
"Everyone becomes part of us," the child intoned. "It is inevitable."
"You know, you're not a very fun person are you, Queen of Hearts," Jack returned. "We're the guardians, you're royal Lowness, and I'm the guardian of FUN."
A snowball slammed into the child's face, cutting off whatever their opponent was going to say next. Blue sparkles swirled, and the girl slowly sank down to the floor, blinking her good eye in a dazed manner.
"Go," Jack yelled. The other's raced around the child, but Jack stopped before her. Bending down, he looked into her eyes. "Are you Seven of Nine?"
"Yes, the Queen knew you wouldn't kill me,"
"You're mom sent us to rescue you."
"I know, but no one can," the girl's voice was soft with only facts being stated. In a way she was worse than any of the Vulcan's Jack had met. Though hard to tell at times, Jack had learned that they did have emotion, just very deeply buried. This girl had none at all.
"We can, but you have to believe in it."
"What is belief?"
"Belief is when you come across something that makes no sense, but you just know it is real and true from somewhere deep inside yourself."
She gazed at him for a long moment. "They can't understand you. Why you're so cold. Why you can fly. Why you create ice and the others are made of sand or the animal can make plants grow. What are you?"
"I am a guardian of childhood," Jack answered softly.
"Could you, could you freeze these machine parts?" the child asked. "I don't want them to hurt you."
Gathering Seven of Nine in his arms, Jack rose into the air and speed down the maze of corridors. Quickly they caught up to the other, but this time instead of killing the creatures; they used their abilities to fill the empty beings with hope, dreams, fun, and just a little fear. Most people released from the collective ran for it.
"Spock," Jack comm'd, "we've figured out a way to get some of these people free from the mind control."
"Unfortunately Captain, there is no way I can…" Spock began.
Uhura interrupted. "Sir, I think I picked up a slight waver in the communications. I might be able to trace that back to a source. At the very least I might be able to interrupt the communication to let them know to stay together and in one room."
"Try it," Jack answered.
"In there," Seven of Nine said; now riding on Bunnymund because Jack needed both hands to fight with.
Bursting through the door they found a room filled with machines, most of them with pipes leading to a figure high on a throne that only superficially resembled a human woman. She smirked and opened her mouth to say something. A boomerang crashed into her temple, whipping her head back and causing several of the smaller cables to pop loose. Jack gritted his teeth and launched himself into a wind that whipped into a storm. The temperature plunged as ice and snow tore into the machines. Sand filled fluids to great sludge that crept upwards to choke off supply. Dark teeth of nightmares tore at the tubing and protective coating as Sandy's golden whips and Pitch's dark hammer tore the machinery apart. Frozen pipes burst and plants bound the rest. With a shatter of frozen metal, the Queen's throne collapsed and she fell to the floor.
Wrapped in black and gold sand, bound to the ground with plants and ice, the Queen still grinned at them. "I'm not the only one. There are other Queens, and my sisters will come for you. The Borg will not let this go lightly. Resistance is futile."
Jack gazed down at her, leaning on his staff. "You know, you keep saying that. Just to give you're sisters a bit of sporting chance with all the fun their going to have with that- here's a message from the Guardians."
Pitch stepped forward, and the room drowned in black sand until all the queen could see was black with horrible golden and green eyes. Twinning together; fear and hope broke through the mental barriers and thundered into the emptiness bound. A thousand Borg shrieked out in fear, and sister-queens went rigid and fell comatose. Unable to process the long bound flow of emotions, it built walls around itself again, but the fear and hope stayed. The collective minds had trapped themselves in their own fears and their greatest hopes.
RESISTENCE IS NEVER FUTILE.