A/N: I have to start off by apologizing for the like three year delay in continuing this story. Honestly many days I had picked up my laptop and made to complete it and I have even inked a few chapters but I couldn't seem to find the best way to continue. I simply didn't have the motivation or the want to save Seven. I have custody of my two beautiful nieces now and both have helped me understand the sudden parenthood I've placed on Seven and the Captain and the insecurity a child goes through even when they temporarily lose a parent. They are a handful and exactly one year and six days apart, so they reallllly don't share well. The oldest is two and smart and I think the youngest is going to be a little manipulative like her mother. The oldest is probably going to be influencing Desyn's character a lot so I apologize if I overload you on the cuteness factor….and the youngest has also influenced a character but I will only say that she will not be a main feature in this story though I will definitely mention who she is. Enough about me and my excuses though you guys want Janeway to mount a rescue and save her beloved Borg from an evil tyrant Queen. I better get to it.
B'Elana, Janeway and Sypher all sat pouring over data pads in the mess. Neelix had brought them all trays but Sypher was the only one not eating. She was too absorbed in her work she only vaguely noticed whenever the other two would make comments directly to her and after dismissing their ideas she immersed herself once again in her work. In fact after three hours the only thing that managed to distract her was a set of blond curls and familiar blue eyes. Desyn was standing at the opposite side of the table staring purposefully at Sypher's uneaten chocolate cake. Desyn's blue eyes finally met Sypher's and she pointed her finger at the desert. "Me some." Sypher looked to Janeway but the older woman wasn't paying either of them any attention. The blond took the spoon and cut the cake in smaller bite sized pieces and passed the plate and spoon to Desyn. The tiny blonde tugged Janeway's arms off the table and climbed up into the startled Captain's lap to eat her treat. Neelix brought Desyn out some juice and the toddler proceeded to make a contained mess all over herself. Sypher had to stifle a laugh but she couldn't focus on her work with Desyn being so cute. In her time Desyn was older and hated sharing food. She wasn't selfish mind you, but she did have a bit of a phobia about sharing edible things. Sypher pointed to Desyn's juice to test a theory.
"Can I have some?" The blonde finished the cake off and looked at Sypher for a while. She climbed off Janeway's lap and grabbed her juice.
"Nope." Sypher watched open mouthed as the little girl made her way over to Chokotay and demanded her tell her a story. Both Janeway and B'Elana laughed but Sypher scowled at them.
"Well…I guess something's never change huh?"
"Are you two close in the future?" B'Elana received a reproachful look for the question and the Klingon huffed. "I really hate temporal directives. Time travel is not as fun as the old earth movies make it out to be."
"Considering we almost die every time there is one I'm inclined to agree." Janeway tossed another data pad aside and glanced at Desyn before picking up another one. "What am I looking for anyway?"
"A way to enhance the shield on the delta flyer, if Icheb can't find Seven in time and you are serious about rescuing her we will have to travel to Desyn's dimension and that will cause serious stress on the flyer. It's just not equipped for that kind of travel and then there is the possibility the queen can keep control and attack us."
"Didn't you say a faction of the Borg broke off because of her dueling objectives?" B'Elana pushed aside her data pads only intent on getting some kind of answers out of the blonde.
Sypher hesitated but nodded. "To be honest I'm not a hundred percent sure. I got there late and all I knew was that I would be going into a battle to get Desyn out safely." Sypher frowned. "I don't know- well I don't think I would have gotten either of us away without Seven's help. She was mortally wounded and I had no powered left for a D.E.M jump. Seven is the one that sent us, but she sent Desyn first and I think I might have gotten a little side tracked. We should have arrived at the same time."
"Wait she sent you individually?" Sypher nodded. "What is a D.E.M?" Sypher smiled slightly at the Captain.
"Honestly I'm not sure how it works that's why I brought some data pads on it just in case. I can tell you Seven stumbled upon the theory and implicated it herself. Though I'm pretty sure it was an accident I can't see her giving the Queen that kind of power on purpose. I especially know she found it by accident in my time line because I was four when it was implicated and five when it was banned. It's too powerful and destructive. On the first test run it was successful but on the third run a year later they destroyed a galaxy. I don't know the details and I'm betting it makes you want to reconsider jumping."
"No." Janeway said firmly even though it looked as if B'Elana would protest. "One way or another I am going to get Seven back. Even if I have to go alone."
"Sypher shook her head and glanced at the watch like object on her wrist. "Once my personal D.E.M is recharged I can take up to four. But if we go that route it makes for three away and four back if we figure in Seven. And I will be going." Sypher glared at Kathryn as if the Captain would argue. She did not.
"So you said you knew what it stands for, D.E.M?"
The blonde looked at Desyn laughing happily at the commander's enthusiastic story telling. "It stands for Desadira, Emethalyne, and Machiavellian. Seven's- well Seven named it."
"But those are just names." B'Elana protested.
"Yeah. Important people in Seven's life; I'm Machiavellian and you've met Desyn already."
"I thought your name was Sypher." Janeway asked.
"A nick name really. Desyn gave it to me so it stuck. I was Machia until I was thirteen. She looked up my name and found out it meant cunning and decided I was positively deceptive as a kid and since deception didn't sound good she came up with Sypher. Every time I have to explain my name I feel like I have to work out an algebra problem just to get to my - friends reasoning so I'll stop there. It's rather tiring how smart she is."
"That is a long way to come by a nickname. It fits though… Sypher, easier to say." B'Elana picked up another data pad and fell silent.
Janeway searched Sypher's eyes and pushed all her data pads aside before leaning over on the table to address the teen. "Now I want to know what you're doing here. And I don't want any more lies, Sypher, because I know for a fact I didn't send you." Sypher flinched and B'Elana stared silently.
"No you didn't, how did you guess?"
"You said the D.E.M was outlawed and dangerous I would never risk a child's life I would have come myself especially for something as important as this."
"You forget. You exist here it would have messed things up. But you're right. You were going to send an elite space marine, best of the best."
"So how did you come to be here then Sypher?"
"I stole the bracelet. The man was a pig and didn't care one way or the other if Seven and Voyager were safe. He would have only done what he was ordered to and brought Desyn to you and left right after. I just wanted to make sure and as you can see with good reason since the Queen did actually take Seven."
"You could have gotten hurt or even killed Sypher. I imagine you'll be in serious trouble when all this is over." Sypher looked away and watched Desyn again. She couldn't find it in her heart to be apologetic. Her life was a good one. Her parents loved her and her siblings and everyone was safe and happy. She wanted to preserve that life. She was going to preserve that life. And not just for herself but for her parents and siblings too. She looked back at Janeway and met her stare.
"It will be worth it."
A/N thanks for anyone who has stuck with this story and enjoyed it in spite of the long delay i appreciate all the feedback and support that has been shown to me.