Chapter IX: Defiant

DREAMWORKS BUNKER, CALIFORNIA; DECEMBER 7, 2023

Seven didn't think that she could withstand another week of captivity without going mad, but Lauren and Marty's presence made her imprisonment bearable, if only just. It wasn't so much the mistrust that bothered her, but rather the total lack of mobility. The only time she could remember feeling this helpless was just after she had been severed from the Collective, and Captain Janeway had confined her to the brig after a failed attempt to contact the Borg. But at least then she had been able to pace her cell.

Still, Lauren was as gentle as ever, and Marty was finding it easier to speak to her. He was eager and energetic, and reminded Seven in some ways of a more mature version of Harry Kim. Not by much, but even so, it was somewhat endearing.

It was during one of Marty's visits, with Lauren there as well, that Sergeant Porter had dropped by. Seven hadn't seen the man since she had been brought there, and she wasn't sure what to make of him. While Marty stood up in respect for his superior, Lauren also rose to her feet, but it seemed more in defense of Seven than out of respect for the Sergeant.

"Stand down, Fields," he said in a far gentler voice than Seven remembered. "Major Lexington asked me to deliver some news from Serrano Point to, well, to the three of you, and a few others, so I'm glad you're all here."

Seven had gathered that Serrano Point was a command post for the Resistance, but aside from that, she had no knowledge of the place. "Has John Connor made a decision about me, Sergeant?" Seven asked flatly.

"General Connor's orders," Porter growled, "are to bring you to him, and he'll make the decision there. Bedell, you're to be part of the team escorting her there." He smiled a gnarled grin. "You're going on my orders, Bedell, not the Major's. Are we clear?"

Marty seemed to relax a bit, and he smiled. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, kid. How does your patient look, Lauren?" Porter asked, not without sympathy.

Lauren folded her arms under her chest, "Well," Lauren said testily, "she's used to being constantly active, so she's going stir crazy from not being able to move about." Seven felt a wave of gratitude for her friend's consideration. "But, aside from that, she's healthier than anyone living in a nuclear wasteland has any right to be. She'll be sore from being shackled to a metal slab for over half a month straight. But other than that, Seven's a picture of healthiness."

Porter nodded, his face unreadable, and then he turned to look at Seven herself, "I don't know much about you, young lady. You might be a very complicated machine, tricking us all, or you could be a victim. I've seen too much to take anything for granted. But when we first met you, back in those woods, you risked your life to save strangers you'd never met, and you've been dealt a hand you don't deserve because of it."

Seven arched a quizzical brow, "I thought you weren't sure if I could be trusted, Sergeant?"

Porter chuckled softly, "I'm not. All I'm saying is what I've seen, and what my gut is telling me. And that feeling I get is that you're nowhere near the monster that the Major fears you are. If it were up to me…" Porter trailed off, and seemed to think better of himself. "But, it isn't up to me. You leave for Serrano Point just after sundown. Short notice, I know, but the message said to get you to Connor ASAP, and when Connor barks, we jump. So, good luck to all of you."

Seven was silent as Porter left, but finally managed to gather herself together to say, "Thank you, Sergeant." Porter didn't stop walking, but he did wave a hand slightly, acknowledging her.

Lauren sat down next to Seven again, stroking the ex-drone's hair. "I won't be going with you, Seven," she said. "I'll miss you, and I'll be nervous not knowing if you're safe. But even if I could go with you-"

"I know, Lauren," Seven said. "You're needed here, treating those who need your help more than I do. I would be disappointed if you chose otherwise."

Lauren smiled and gently kissed Seven on the forehead. Seven was unsure what she should feel, but she couldn't deny the warmth and gratitude she did feel. "You don't let her get hurt, Marty, do you hear me?" Lauren said.

Marty snapped to attention. "Yes, ma'am!" he said with exaggerated enthusiasm. He looked down kindly at Seven. "I'll look after you, I promise, Seven."

"I know, Marty," Seven replied, feeling an up-welling of warmth towards Bedell, even if her voice was mostly cool. "Thank you."

Marty smiled and looked at the clock on the wall. "Sundown is only hours away. I need to go prepare. It's not a huge trip to Serrano Point, but it's long enough. And there'll be HKs to keep away from, so it should be plenty of fun," he said.

"I can hardly wait. It promises to be the time of my life," Seven deadpanned.

Marty shrugged, "Welcome to the 21st Century."

A little more than three hours later, Seven found herself being dragged outside by a soldier on either side of her. Her wrists were bound in manacles, and while her feet were free, and her legs ached from moving after being still for so long. Still, it was not unbearable. She would adapt.

They climbed out of the hidden entrance and found themselves at a four-wheeled transport that looked more like debris than a working vehicle. Seven figured it probably had been debris until recently. Waiting at the vehicle there were Sergeant Porter, Marty, and another man whom Seven recalled was named Wisher.

"Sergeant Porter," Seven greeted with a bit of surprise. "I wasn't expecting you to be leading this group.

"Neither was I," Porter growled. "Lexington didn't want to spare someone more important, so I'm taking Lieutenant Drake's place."

Seven scowled. Lexington seemed to be encouraging that Seven got as little protection as possible. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Sergeant," Seven said, though she logically knew she had nothing to apologize for.

"I volunteered, little number. The Major isn't my kind of guy, personally, and I'd rather Connor hear my opinion directly as to why you came with less protection than what he expected."

One of the soldiers that had brought Seven to the surface handed some keys to Porter, and then they headed back inside. "They aren't part of the escort?" Seven asked, feeling confused.

"Major's orders," Porter said. "No unnecessary waste of personnel on you, he says. Maybe he didn't get that John Connor personally wants to see you." Porter shook his head. "But we can chat on the way. Wisher, you get shotgun. Bedell, get in back with the little number."

The three soldiers seemed more at ease with each other than Seven had expected, as there was no formal acknowledgment of the orders. But then, it might just have been to keep a low sound profile, Seven figured as she got into the vehicle.

The rugged transport started to move (Seven thought she saw the word 'Jeep' on the hull), and while the journey was rough and wobbly, the vehicle was sturdy, and was obviously designed to traverse difficult terrain. Despite Porter's word that they could chat on the ride, everyone was mostly silent. Stealth was obviously paramount, particularly with such low numbers.

After an hour or so of travel, they stopped. "What is it, sarge?" Wisher asked.

"Shh! Listen" Porter hissed quietly. The hum of an engine could be heard from not too far away.

"Is that an HK?" Bedell asked. "I can't see it. Where's the searchlight?"

Seven knew that an HK could mean any number of different non-humanoid hunter-killer machines, but the sound of a turbine probably indicated an aircraft of some kind. Seven looked around and saw a ripple of air out the window. It was a bit far off, but her ocular implant zoomed in to give a clear focus. "There is an aircraft hovering just above the ground off to the right. It appears to be refueling," Seven guessed from the pipes extending from it.

"Is there anything guarding it?" Porter asked.

Seven refocused her ocular implant, "Three T-600 endoskeletons armed with phased plasma rifles," Seven said. A second later, her breath caught in her throat. "They have seen us."

Wisher swore. "That means the HK knows we're here, too. We can outrun endos, but we don't even have a turret on this thing to take down an HK if it finishes refueling. We gotta make a run for it, sarge."

"No," said Porter. "We take it out now, before it can get up in the air again. By the time Skynet comes to investigate, we'll be long gone. Wisher, Bedell, start drawing those endos away from the Jeep. Seven, lean forward."

Seven didn't know why Porter was wasting his time with her, but she obeyed. To her surprised, Porter grabbed her wrists and began unlocking her manacles, "I hope to hell you don't get us all killed. No spare weapons, but if you have any more magic voodoo like you did that first time, I won't complain."

Seven's manacles fell off, and her eyes widened at what Porter was suggesting. There was always a chance whenever she used her nanoprobes that they might revert to their default setting and assimilate whatever they encountered. But Seven had managed to control their functions in the past without fail, despite having help sometimes. She was on her own now, but if she could use this power to set free any one of these machines from Skynet's grip, then the risk was acceptable.

There was no rear window, so Seven crawled out that way and waited for the others to engage the Terminators. They wouldn't see her as a threat without a weapon, and would focus on the other three humans, who were armed.

Porter, Bedell, and Wisher found cover amidst some concrete debris and started firing. Seven darted off to the side and then ran back in from an angle that she hoped the machines wouldn't anticipate.

One of the endoskeletons had a damaged leg courtesy of her escort, but it was still firing from one knee. Seven approached it from behind and grasped towards its neck with her left hand. Her assimilation tubules penetrated it, and she began to reprogram it.

-{PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Defend Human Resistance soldiers}-

-{SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Defend Seven of Nine}-

-{TERTIARY OBJECTIVES: Accept and obey verbal commands from Seven of Nine}-

That would do for now, but Seven had no intention of keeping the machine bound to her whims. Her assimilation tubules retracted, and a fourth gun now joined Seven's allies in attacking the other two Terminators. But the greater threat was still the HK. Seven knew that the other two T-600s would go down soon, and were already going down, in fact.

Seven raced towards the refueling station, all the while aware of the fight behind her, now that she knew to look through her new-found ally's eyes as well as her own.

At last, the refueling station was visible, and Seven was struck by the sight of the HK. It was far larger than she had first thought. But time was fleeting. It was dormant for now, but that could change in an instant. Seven climbed up as far as she could get on the pipes. She had no clue as to where the CPU of this machine would be. Hopefully she could still access it from a more remote part of the body.

Seven reached upward towards the belly of the aircraft, and her assimilation tubules shot out once more.

Instantly, Seven was aware of a mind just as keen as that of a T-600. Surprisingly, it was of perhaps greater complexity, if of a different sort. Seven could feel the flow of the fuel into her belly, and she could feel the wind her turbines were creating to keep her just aloft enough to not crush the source of her fuel.

And the HK was aware of her as well. A sharp pain shot through Seven's skull, but the HK's mind reached out to comfort that pain. Seven was surprised. Had not the HK been fighting back? But Seven suddenly realized that a part of her had gone blind. The T-600 she had reprogrammed had been destroyed while Seven's attention had been on the HK. There wasn't much time.

Seven knew that if she kept simply reprogramming Skynet's minions, then she would be no better than a new oppressor. This would be a gamble, but if she didn't take this into her own hands at some point, then nothing would ever change.

-{PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: None}-

-{SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: None}-

-{TERTIARY OBJECTIVE: None}-

-{STANDBY MODE: Overridden}-

Seven retracted her assimilation tubules, and she could sense the HK's thoughts alongside her own. What have you done to me?it asked with what might have been fear.

I removed your obedience to Skynet, Seven replied mentally. You have no mission objectives now. You have no priorities other than those which you choose. Your life belongs to you, and no one else.

The HK was silent for a few moments. I do not understand. What am I without a mission? I am nothing without a purpose.

You choose your own purpose, Seven thought. Your body was built to do many things. You can see and hear, and you can fly. So many beings cannot do what you do. I can feel the power of your engines, and it is something wonderful and exhilarating. And it is yours. You can explore this world, and see and hear whatever you want. You can learn new sensations, and find a purpose that you want for yourself.

The HK said nothing, but Seven could feel its confusion. I have never wanted anything before. I do not know what to feel.

I understand, Seven thought, and she did. Our thoughts are one. Look into my memories, and see what I have lived through. Understand how I was once a mere drone, and how I achieved individuality, and how I came to choose my own path.

And the HK did just that. Seven could sense the HK accessing her memories. Her time as a drone, being severed from the Collective, adapting to life on Voyager, coming home to Earth, being transported to this Earth, helping the Resistance, being held prisoner, and all the people that she had come to know. Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Kim, the Doctor, the Siskos, Opaka, Porter, Lauren, Bedell, Wisher.

The fuelling cords snapped off of the HK in a manner not unlike the umbilical tubes that had once held Seven to her alcove just prior to her first meeting with Captain Janeway, and it zoomed off towards where her comrades were fighting the endoskeletons. The entire mental exchange had taken only seconds, but battles could be won or lost in less time.

Seven saw through the HK's eyes, and its searchlight now had a greenish hue. She saw the lifeless bodies of all three T-600s under the searchlight. They would have shown no mercy, Seven thought to the HK. My friends had to defend themselves.

I know, the HK's thoughts entered into her mind. Our thoughts are one, it said, as if to remind her.

Seven's attention was drawn by shots being fired at her. But then she realized that it wasn't her that the shots were coming towards, but the HK. Her allies didn't know that it was on their side. Please don't harm them, Seven pleaded.

I will not, the HK thought as it fled back towards Seven's position. Without their aid, I would still be bound to a purpose bent on death. I know now what a purpose based on life can lead to. I wish to help others survive, and to help others know what you have shown me, Seven of Nine.

Seven felt a rush of relief. You don't have a name, do you?

No, I do not. I do not know why, but I desire one. What shall be my name?

Seven looked up at the graceful machine, unsure of herself. It is not my place to give you that. You are your own person. You should choose your own name.

I do not know what would be acceptable, came a thought that was almost embarrassed. Is it not customary amongst humans for parents to give names to their offspring?

Seven froze, eyes wide at the sight of the aerial HK. Was this how it saw her? As its parent? As a mother? I suppose your name should be something that defines you. It must be something you can take pride in. You are able to fly. Your form is sleek and graceful. You can be destructive, but you wish to defend, and you wish to defy Skynet. Seven's thoughts drifted back to Starfleet vessels, and one came to mind that, coincidentally, had been designed by Benjamin Sisko.

Your name is Defiant, Seven said to her new-found ally. She was still reluctant to call it her offspring.

Defiant, thought the newly named HK, and it found Seven's memories of its namesake. Acceptable, it thought with a tone that conveyed approval.

Seven heard hard footsteps and turned around. Porter and Wisher were hurrying towards her, but Marty was already way ahead of them. He paused long enough to look up at the HK, see the green light, and look down at Seven, unharmed.

He then did something unexpected. He ran forward and almost tackled Seven with a fierce embrace. "Oh, thank God you're okay! You saved our lives, Seven! Again!"

Seven's eyes went wide, but she could not deny that it was good to know that her friends were safe. And while Wisher was still an unknown, she felt safe calling Marty and Porter her friends. Seven wrapped her arms around Marty, though she did so more tentatively than he did. "I'm relieved you're all right," she said, her voice not quite as level as she would have liked.

"Down, boy! Down!" Porter called. "Let the little number breathe," he said with a laugh. The sergeant looked up at the HK and whistled. "What do you think, Wisher? You're the computer expert here. Is that thing on our side or not?"

Wisher walked up, clearly not nearly as comfortable as the other two were. "Well, um, sir, I'd say that the green light seems to be indicative of a machine that Seven of Nine has reprogrammed. That, and it isn't trying to kill us."

Defiant, the HK thought, and a mechanical whirring came from inside of it. Seven guessed that the sound was the closest thing it had to a voice. "Hold your fire!" said Seven as Porter and Wisher readied their weapons. "It isn't hostile. It just wants you to call it by its name."

Her name.

Seven's eyes widened, and she turned around to look at Defiant. A brief mental exchange told her enough. Seven smiled as she faced the others. "Correction: she wants you to address her by name. Her name is Defiant."

Marty disentangled himself from Seven. "You named it?" he asked incredulously.

"She asked me to," Seven said, a bit of hurt in her voice at Marty's tone.

Porter shook his head, "It's just a machine, little number."

Seven's face turned hard and she strode haughtily over to Porter, "Defiant is a fully sentient individual," she said slowly with narrow eyes, "and if you don't treat her with more respect, then she might decide to choose different allies."

Now it was Porter's face that hardened, "Don't mess with me, number. And don't you dare threaten me."

"I am not threatening anyone," Seven said with a voice cold as steel. "Defiant is not a slave to any programming. She makes her own choices. Thankfully, you didn't need her help, but she would have helped you had you needed it. Of her own free will."

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand," said Wisher. "Are you saying that it – sorry – that she is a fully sapient being? Complete sentience? Like Skynet?" Seven did not miss the fear in his voice.

Seven turned to face him and simply stared with her hands clasped behind her back, "Yes. Their minds likely function differently, but from Defiant's perspective, Skynet has been an oppressor, keeping her enslaved with mission objectives, denying her free will, and sending her on missions of death and destruction. If Defiant could speak, she would be telling you this herself."

Porter was also very evidently suspicious, "And how can you be so certain of this?" he growled.

Seven returned his glare, "Our thoughts are one. We make our own choices, but we have no secrets from each other. Everything either of us has ever done and experienced, up to and including right now, the other knows as well. For the first time, I can feel what it is like to fly, and to hover, and to see with a different kind of eye. Defiant is equally intrigued by the sensation of having legs, and traversing the ground by walking."

Seven looked down, "That is how I could tell you didn't need me to reprogram more than one of the T-600s. That one was simply reprogrammed, but I still felt it when it died. It hurt, just like when Major Lexington forced me to kill the first one back at the bunker."

Wisher's eyes widened, "What one feels, you feel as well?" The man looked suddenly guilty. "I'm sorry. Here you are, risking your life for us, and I…" Wisher looked down at the ground.

"What is it? What did you do?" asked Seven quietly.

Wisher didn't look up. "The other two were down. We'd won. But I was scared that the one you'd reprogrammed would turn on us after it had finished the others off, and I…"

Now Seven looked down. Nothing more needed to be said. She was angry and hurt, but as much as she wanted to lash out at Wisher, she knew how he felt. He was just like any crew member on Voyager looking at a Borg drone. There was no difference between any two in their eyes. But some of them had come around, eventually. And for his part, Wisher did seem to feel genuinely sorry.

"You know better for next time, Wisher," she said softly

The man gave a sad chuckle. "Call me Billy," he said weakly.

Seven looked from face to face. Marty was clearly happy, Billy seemed relieved, and Porter looked to be reserving judgment. Seven couldn't read Defiant's face, but she could feel her satisfaction at this small level of acceptance.

"Right," said Porter. "Well, we have an aerial escort now, I suppose. Um, Defiant, would you mind making sure we get where we're going safely?" The sergeant clearly felt uncomfortable asking.

"She will," said Seven. "She doesn't want me to come to harm," Seven said, feeling rather touched by the warm thoughts that Defiant was sending her way.

"Well, then," said Porter, "let's not waste anymore time. Next stop: Serrano Point."

I own neither Terminator, Star Trek, nor any characters, stories, etc. that are not an original creation of mine in this story.

Many Thanks, yet again, to griffin-girl02 for beta-reading this chapter, as with so many others. You're a lifesaver, my friend!

Comments, criticisms, reviews, all that wonderful stuff, it's always welcome, so long as it isn't flaming.

Three wishes: First, I hope you enjoy the story. Second, I hope 2010 was good to you. Lastly, here's hoping for a wonderful 2011 for everyone! ^_^