AJedi32-Thanks, and just a bit.

Okay... my apologies. Back in November, my brother committed suicide and the next month or two was... painful. Then my old PC died and... yeah.

Here we go!

Chapter Seven: The Dark Tunnel
Sisko looked down and to his right. "Now!" he barked, gripping his chair's armrests.

Prinn stabbed the 'execute' button on her console, powering up the thrusters and engines. The image on the viewscreen tilted and pitched as the Defiant turned to starboard and flew 'down' relative to its former orientation.

The nimble little ship flew past a group of cubes, narrowly avoiding several tractor beams. The pulse phasers mounted on the end of the nacelle cowlings fired, spitting out orange spheres at an outcropping of the Unicomplex. The phaser pulses hit, blowing through the shields and armor plating of the slate-gray superstructure. The outcropping bent and twisted from the kinetic impact, finally severing.

The Defiant sped through the widening gap, going deeper into the Unicomplex structure. The cubes following halted, unable to pass through such a narrow gap. As the Defiant flew on, tractor beams shot from the recessed emitters in the Unicomplex, the greenish beams washing over the shields and draining power with each pass.

Lieutenant Bowers glanced over from her station. "Shields at 89% and dropping with each hit." The ship shuddered. "Got another rabbit, Admiral?"

Sisko glanced up from a control panel on his armrest as he tapped out a coded message to the Kenobi. "We fly straight along this path. We'll be all right."

The ship rocked again, this time worse than before. "Hope the Prophets aren't stringing you along," Ezri mumbled.

Sisko grunted. "Not just the Prophets, Old Man. Sometimes you have to go with your gut more than incorporeal energy beings residing out of the space/time continuum. I'll have to Ask Luke how he deals with Force ghosts when this is all over."

The intercom chirped. "Bridge, this is sickbay. You mind not shaking the place up so much? Jag, that EMH and I have enough problems!"

Bowers stabbed a control and a transphasic torpedo shot out, hitting an outcropping and obliterating it. "Don't anger him, Admiral. He's got more clout than just about anyone in Starfleet."

Sisko shrugged and looked to Ezri. "If I get in trouble, I'll ask the Old Man here what to do."

Ezri snorted as the bridge lights flickered. "Sorry, Benjamin. That was Emony and a much... " She suddenly blushed. "Oh, wow."

Sisko groaned. "Prinn?"

Prinn grimaced slightly as she inputted directions and thrust vectors into her board. "We'll get there... wherever 'there' is."

The Kenobi's turbolasers and ion cannons sent out withering sheets of plasma and ion energy from all sides. Nearby, the Enterprise moved closer, adding its own firepower with transphasic torpedoes and phaser beams. Space around the two starships quickly became clogged with the wrecked hulls of Borg cubes.

Logk and Ackbar sat themselves down in their command chairs just as the firefight began. "I need all power to shields and weapons!" Logk shouted. "Get us to the Enterprise!" He tapped his headset and glanced to Ackbar. "Defiant is moving off as a diversion. Sisko has a... plan."

A tactical officer looked up from her console. "Borg ships are tractoring away the debris and moving in. Energy-draining tractor beams from multiple sources and," she suddenly banged the side of her console, "I can't get the backups on!"

The Zabrak captain snarled. "By Psusan!" he growled. Logk tapped a button on his armrest and adjusted his headset. "Scotty, we need more power!"

There was a pause before a panicked voice came over his headset's earphones. "Sir, Scotty's incapacitated and is in sickbay! This be Lieutenant Taral!"

Logk closed his eyes and counted to five before speaking. "Taral, you have five minutes to get the backup shield generators online or we're dead."

"But sir, I canna' change the laws o' physics!"

Ackbar spoke up. "You can and you will, Lieutenant. Scotty believes in you, so I believe in you."

"... So I believe in you."

Taral's already large eyes eyes widened. "Aye," he said before turning from the warp core. He ran over to the master display, a giant map of the Kenobi mounted in a bulkhead near the chief engineer's office. "Rich, lock down those power surges! Ikjh, get a repair team on those conduits on deck eleven! Joswqu, I need those taps locked down!" he shouted along the way at various engineers.

The Duros looked over the large board, his nimble fingers clenching and unclenching. "Come on, come on..."

The 2-1B droids placed Scotty on the anti-grav stretcher, a rebreather mask over his face. "Captain Scott has suffered minor radiation poisoning," one of the droids intoned. "Not deadly, but it will be debilitating."

Scotty held out his hand and motioned to Taral. He slid the mask off and gasped. "Ye can do it, lad," he wheezed. "Just feel, and ye'll be all right."

The droid nearest Scotty's head slid the mask back on before they pushed him out, leaving Taral alone...

Taral's eyes snapped into focus and he turned. His legs tensed for a fraction of a second before he ran. "Make a hole!" he shouted.

Several engineers and technicians dove out of his way as he rounded a corner. He grabbed a toolkit before running and diving at a Jeffries Tube, his arms extending above his head. He landed with a muffled thud inside the crawlspace and began crawling along the corridor.

Taral stopped in front of a panel and slid it up and out, setting it down. He opened up the toolkit and pulled out several devices, flipping them on and plunging them into the nest of wires, circuits and conduits. He disconnected several bundles, splicing them together and sending out the occasional spark. Ozone wafted by as the Kenobi shuddered.

Almost there, almost there...There was a shower of sparks, followed by a triple-beep and a thrumming. "Captain Logk, full power!"

A cheer went up through the bridge. "Fire all weapons!" Logk shouted.

A sensor officer near one of the aft bulkheads gasped. "Captain, we have multiple tachyon emissions from near the transwarp hub we exited!" The Gotal looked down at his console. "They're ships, sir! Starfleet, Defense Force, Klingon..."

Logk bolted from his chair and ran for the aft holo-emitter, Ackbar close behind. "Tactical view!" he yelled, skidding to a halt at the edge of the large concave emitter. The large hologram of the Kenobi and surrounding space faded and was replaced by empty space... which quickly filled up with hundreds, then thousands of ships.

Logk's mouth dropped. "Contact the Enterprise."

Captain Picard stood up from his chair and walked to the main viewscreen as it showed the fleet decloaking. "Merde." He turned his head around and looked to the tactical console. "Tirsek?"

Tirsek grinned. "Admiral Jellico on the Sputnik is contacting you."

Picard snorted. "Onscreen."

The image flickered and Admiral Jellico appeared, sitting on the Sputnik's bridge. "Evening, Captain. Thought I'd fly out and say hi."

Picard half-smiled. "I thought we said twelve hours," he teased.

The admiral shrugged. "You know me. Patience isn't one of my strong suits." He leaned forward. "Status?"

Picard glanced back as Data strode forward, his pale yellow eyes darting about. "Moderate damage to some parts of the Unicomplex. We have eleven MACO teams aboard, not counting Ambassador Spock and Commander Deanna Troi-Riker. The disposition of the Jedi is unknown, but we have seen the True Queen. It is an alternate-reality version of Jaina Solo."

Jellico clicked his jaw to the side. "Well... okay. Well, sit tight, Jean-Luc. We'll get the rabble off your back." His head looked to the side, but the image changed before he spoke.

Tirsek's antennae rose. "Just in the nick of time." She glanced down at her console and inputted several commands, targeting the nearest cubes. "Gonna press insubordination charges?"

Picard grinned and chuckled slightly as he turned and made his way back to his chair. He sat down as the Sovereign-class battlecruiser trembled. "I think not, Lieutenant. I value my health too much."

Queen Jaina sat back down as the allied fleet uncloaked, surrounding the Unicomplex. "If they think they can stop me, they're sadly mistaken." Her eyes darted back and forth as she sent out commands to the various ships and drones in the area. "There's more than enough forces in the Delta Quadrant alone to squash this fleet like a bug."

Han approached the throne and held his hands up. "Whoa, Jaina. Calm down here. There's a good opportunity for you to do the right thing and-"

Queen Jaina glanced at him and he stopped in his tracks, halted by her telekinesis. "Oh, please. With Tenel Ka and Lusa here, I can complete my family. And then nothing shall stop me from bringing order to both galaxies!"

Luke glanced to Ben. "Did you plan that line?"

Ben and Jim exchanged a glance. "Sometimes drama adds the right line." he motioned to the window to the living. "Go, now. This is the best time for you."

Luke nodded and smiled briefly, reaching out and patting his old mentor on the arm. He looked back to the former Starfleet captain and tossed him a salute before looking at the scene playing out before him. He half-closed his eyes and focused on the people in his life, those that connected him to the galaxy.

Leia, Han, Chewie, Mara, Jacen...

Luke's body spasmed and he sucked in a deep breath and looked around. All around, his friends and family woke up, looking around. He suddenly felt a vice-like grip on his right arm. "Took you long enough," Leia said, smiling.

Luke returned the smile, but an anguished cry grabbed his attention. He looked to the throne as Queen Jaina clenched her hand and shook it. "No!" she yelled. "How can you resist me?"

Luke slid his arm out of his sister's grip and walked to the throne. Part of his mind was focused on the alternate version of his niece, while the other searched out for something taken from him.

Queen Jaina stood up and stepped away from her throne even as the other Jedi staggered forward. She looked around with both her organic and prosthetic eye. "You can't beat me," she stated, straightening up. "I have the entirety of the Collective to draw upon, not to mention I am over five thousand years old!" She held up her right arm and a violet plasma blade extended from the thick gauntlet. "And I am not unarmed, either."

Kyle groaned and cracked his knuckles. "I've taken down tougher, lady," he said, circling around to her back. "Ever hear of Jerec?"

Queen Jaina rolled her eye and motioned with her left hand. Kyle suddenly stopped and was enveloped by a green transporter field. The field disappeared as he was disassembled on the quantum level and removed from the throne room.

Luke half-closed his eyes and concentrated, reaching out and sensing his friend's location. He gasped slightly as he felt the cold of space and he pushed, sending the stream of energy further onward, to a place with heat and atmosphere. Still the Unicomplex, but better than deep space.

Kyle rematerialized and dropped onto the cold, hard deck plating with a thud. He quickly sprang to his feet and brushed at the jumpsuit clinging to his body. He looked around as a pair of drones stepped out of their alcoves, walking to him with right arms extended..

The Jedi Master ducked low, dodging the first volley of disruptor blasts. He dove forward, using the Force to add a bit of spring to his leap. He tackled the first drone in the midsection, sending both the Borg and he flying back a few meters. Kyle grabbed the right arm and twisted, wrenching it off with an earsplitting screech.

The drone's face twisted in agony for a moment before resuming its stoic mien. Kyle looked over the severed prosthetic before pulling off the disruptor mounted on it, along with a wire and power pack. He looked himself over before groaning. "No belts, nothing to hook this onto. Just kriffin' great." He stood up and pressed a small button on the disruptor, sending out a silvery plasma bolt that blew a small hole in the drone beneath him.

He suddenly ducked-narrowly missing the other drone swiping a blade-tipped arm at the back of his head. He spun around and pressed the firing stud again, blowing the other drone away. He looked at the emitter before aiming it at a panel and firing. The bolt blew a hole through the duranium, charring the circuitry beneath. "They can't adapt to their own weaponry," he observed.

The slow march of boots on deck plating drew his attention. Kyle turned just as several dozen drones appeared in the corridor, targeting lasers powered up and arm weapons raised. "This just isn't my day," he mumbled as he dove to the side, narrowly avoiding a dozen disruptor bolts...

Queen Jaina chuckled. "Okay, you saved him. That's what you do. A shame it's only a temporary reprieve." She raised her blade. "Now, go back before I have to hurt you."

Tahiri ran over, fury etched on her normally happy face. She pulled back her thin arm and sent a balled-up fist flying, punching Queen Jaina squarely in the face. "You've already hurt us!" she shouted. The blond Jedi panted for several seconds before groaning in pain. She held up her hand, now red and throbbing. "What, do you have durasteel bones or something?"

Queen Jaina rubbed her mouth, the cut on her lips already healing. "Duranium, actually. Although truth be told it is the same metal." She held up her right arm and swished it back and forth, the hum from her lightsaber growing louder. "You can live without your right arm, right?"

She brought the blade down, but an emerald-colored lightsaber appeared from nowhere, blocking the blow. Queen Jaina gritted her teeth as the two blades screeched, throwing off sparks. Finally, the levitating blade pushed her off, allowing Tahiri to scramble out of the way.

The blade disengaged from the stumbling Queen Jaina and floated over into Luke's outstretched hand. He gripped the emitter and brought his lightsaber down in a classic guard position. "Are you all right, Tahiri?"

Tahiri nodded and wiped her sweat-slicked forehead. "Fine," she mumbled, relatively speechless for once.

Queen Jaina turned and faced Luke. "I won't be as merciful as before,' she said, blade slicing through the air.

Luke's free hand brushed against the cybernetic implants on his cheek and temple. "You've got a strange definition of mercy."

Leia stepped forward and held out a hand. "Jaina, please. We all know the hell you've gone through. And we're sorry... but that's no excuse. Please surrender. Please, do the right thing."

Queen Jaina lowered her weapon... before scowling, raising it once more and leaping at Luke, stabbing for his chest...

Five minutes earlier
Jacen stabbed and slashed at Tenel Ka, sparks flying each time his lightsaber met hers. She backed up, blocking each blow but not responding. Her breath came in ragged gasps and fogged up her faceplate. "Jacen, please don't do this. Jacen, you are my friend. You're my lover and fiance. We're to be married. Jacen PLEASE!"

Jacen paid her no mind, although each step took longer than the last. His blade twitched in his hand as he jabbed at her midsection. Each stab was deflected, parried off but not followed through.

On the other side of the vinculum, Mara and Theraq dueled. The Andorian MACO, a veteran of over a hundred battles, kept his ushaan up and his fingers locked around their grips. "Oh, you're good!" he said, smiling as his antennae bounced against his helmet. He jabbed, but Mara deflected the blow with her lightsaber. He cocked his head to the side. "Interesting... please, continue."

The redhead snarled. "How do you do that?" she asked as sparks shot up from their latest exchange.

Theraq backed up, taking small steps to avoid tripping over any obstacles. "My weapons contain baakonite, a mineral resistant to the plasma energy in your lightsabers." He held the twin crescent blades up near his faceplate. "An ancient weapon, resistant to your ancient weapon!"

One of the MACO's around the vinculum held up her TR-116. "Sir, I have a clear shot!"

Theraq shook his head as he blocked several more blows. "Negative, Lieutenant! She's not a drone, simply controlled. And I can handle her... for the moment." He blocked her blue blade with one ushaan and jabbed at her midsection with the other, but the lithe Mara moved her midsection out of the way while keeping contact with Theraq's ushaan.

Tenel Ka stepped back, finally finding herself backed up against a bulkhead. Her lightsaber wavered in her hands and she finally lowered it. She reached up with her left hand and twisted her helmet, breaking the seal with a slight whoosh. She leaned forward, letting it slide off into her hand. "I cannot fight you, and that is a fact. But I feel you cannot fight me, either." She let the helmet clatter to the deck plating and placed her hand on her stomach.

She took in a deep breath as Jacen stood there. "Jacen, I am pregnant. We have a child on the way. He or she will need us, Jacen. Please..."

Off to the side, Theraq's ushaan were knocked away and Mara slashed at him, grazing his spacesuit and slicing through his armor. He grunted and toppled back while the drones observed the battle. One MACO raised his rifle and aimed it at Mara as she hovered over Theraq. And Jacen remained absolutely still...

Both Jedi suddenly groaned and went slack for a second, their heads drooping forward. When Jacen's head moved up, he locked eyes with Tenel Ka. "Pregnant?" he said, eyes widening. "How?"

A growl came from Tenel Ka's throat. "I shall have Doctor Crusher explain to you when we get back to the-" She suddenly deactivated her rancor-tooth lightsaber, clipped it to her belt and surged forward, wrapping both arms around her beloved's neck and pulling him in for a long, lingering kiss. "You're back," she whispered, tears streaming from her eyes.

Jacen pulled away from the kiss and looked her over. His brow furrowed slightly. "I can't feel you, Tenel Ka. I see you, you're physically here, but..."

Tenel Ka stepped back a pace. She reached over with her right hand and squeezed her suit sleeve right above her ysalamiri armband. There was a muffled click, and suddenly the world felt alive again. She sucked in a breath as links, images and other sensations flooded her mind. Tenel Ka shut her eyes and cringed slightly, but felt a strong hand grip hers.

"I've got you," Jacen said. Tenel Ka gasped slightly as she felt him through their bond in the Force. It brightened, growing stronger. A small part of it 'broke off', threading its way to the child they had conceived. I can't believe it. Some of me, some of you. All the best, too.

A smile lit her lips. "I am glad you're back, Jacen."

On the other side of the vinculum, Mara knelt by Theraq. "Gods, are you all right?" she asked, scanning the Andorian through the Force. She held out a hand to him. "I didn't cut you, did I? Oh, Force..."

Theraq chuckled and accepted her hand, letting himself be pulled to his feet. "A nano-meter deeper, and I'd be dead." He looked her over. "All in all, it was a good thing you were controlled."

Mara's eyes narrowed slightly. "And why is that?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

The Andorian returned the stare and smirked. "If you weren't and fought with all your skills, I'd be dead."

The Jedi Master paused at that before nodding. "Thanks, I think." She looked over at the MACO who had targeted her. "If you had fired, I wouldn't have blamed you."

The MACO relaxed his position, but brought his rifle to bear and swung it around. "I think the drones don't care if we're near a vinculum or not," he said.

Jacen and Tenel Ka ran to the towering obelisk, situating themselves near the front with lightsabers ignited. "Good to have you at my side," Tenel Ka said, smiling.

Jacen blushed slightly. "Good to be at your side." He looked around at the drones as more appeared from adjacent corridors. "Okay, so what's the plan to get us out of here?" he asked, reaching out with his senses and shifting his stance to one of combat, with his feet spread apart.

Theraq retrieved his TR-116 from a subordinate and swung it around, disengaging its safety and squeezing off several rounds at the drones. The explosive-tipped rounds penetrated the armor of the drones, exploding and shredding their chests. The other MACO's joined in, and the air was soon filled with the buzzsaw of rounds being pumped into drones, blowing them back even as more arrived to take their place.

Several drones raised their arms and their eye prosthesis lit up. Silvery disruptor bolts flew from implants in their arms, but Jacen, Tenel Ka and Mara met the attack, deflecting most of the bolts away from the MACO contingent. "Like my nephew asked," Mara shouted, "what's the plan for getting us out?"

Theraq popped out his spent clip, slipped a new one in, chambered a round and brought his weapon up to his shoulder before squeezing the trigger, firing off several more rounds. "Plan? We were supposed to have a plan?" He chuckled and kept firing. "Someone forgot to fill me in on that part."

Explosions blossomed near the end of one corridor and several dozen drones were tossed into the air. Guttural shouts and the high-powered whine of mini-guns echoed through the chamber as over two dozen Klingon appeared, swarming into the vinculum chamber. They wore heavy armor, masks and wielded fairly large multi-barreled machine guns. The various warriors shouted challenges as they switched to melee weapons, slicing through the drones in savage combat.

A beqq with leader insignia on her collar stepped up to Theraq and thumped her chest. "I am Leader Wol of the IKS Gorkon," she said, removing her mask. She gestured to the other Klingons as they moved about, killing any drones not dead. "Our ships surround the Unicomplex, and our soldiers fight the dishonorable petaQs corridor by corridor." She looked around the room and bared her sharpened teeth in a savage grin. "You fought honorably, Captain."

Theraq removed his own helmet and nodded. "And so did you. Thank you, Leader." He turned as Mara approached. "I received an encrypted transmission when we fought. That's why I knew I had to stall for time."

Mara patted him on the shoulder and returned his smile. "Nice job, Captain. Nice job indeed."

Lusa jabbed at Raynar, forcing her best friend back. "Stop, stop stop stop!" she screamed. She moved forward, thrusting her lightsaber at Raynar. "Snap out of it! You're stronger than this Queen Jaina, Raynar." She stopped, tapping the deck plating with her left foreleg. "You're stronger than you know."

Raynar parried away Lusa's thrusts, widening his stance. His normally boyish face carried an intensity not normally seen. He grunted and reared back, slicing at Lusa's head with his pewter-colored blade.

Lusa brought her blade up and blocked his slice, pushing him back and sending him stumbling. "I'm still stronger than you, Raynar. Don't make me get too physical on you!"

A few meters away, Hox and the controlled Jaina dueled, the vinculum blocking them from Raynar and Lusa. Hox brought up his right tonfa, blocking her violet blade and jabbing at her midsection with his left. Jaina grunted in pain as the alloyed metal shaft bruised her ribcage, sending her back a pace.

Hox pushed her lightsaber off and sneered under his helmet. "Come on, kid! I'm barely breaking a sweat, if Suliban had sweat glands!" He swatted away a side slash and bounced on his heels. "I thought you were a Jedi, not a Pakled!"

Jaina roared and brought her blade down to chest level. She ran at Hox, who held his tonfas in front of his chest. At the last moment, he sidestepped her and brought his blades to the side in a cross. He locked Jaina's blade up and twisted, wrenching the emitter out of her hand and sending it skidding across the deck plating.

The Suliban brought his left tonfa up and hit it flat against Jaina, right at the collarbone. The Jedi stumbled back, falling to the deck plating. Hox breathed out and twirled the tonfa by its secondary handle. "If you weren't controlled, this would've been closer," he quipped. "But pride goes before the fall, Jaina." He looked to Lusa and Raynar. "Lieutenant, you all right!"

The Chironian blocked another clumsy stab, her muscles tensing. "Just fine, sir!' she shouted. She battered Raynar back, forcing him to stumble. She waited until there was a gap between her and Raynar before reaching behind her. "Raynar, please remember," she mumbled, clumsily undoing a small flap on her suit.

Raynar shook his head and blinked several times before advancing on Lusa again, but stopped as she pulled out a long strip of cloth woven with the yellow, purple, orange and scarlet colors of the Thul family.

"See this?" Lusa said, holding her lightsaber up with her other hand. "Recognize this, Raynar?" Her eyes widened slightly through the faceplate of her helmet. "Come on, fight this control!"

The young man gasped and his head lolled forward. His head then shot up and his already wide eyes grew even bigger. "Lusa..." he gasped out. He looked himself over and the tight bodysuit he wore. "Oh, this is..." His cheeks turned red and he swallowed. "Sorry."

Lusa belted out a laugh as she threw her free arm around Raynar, pulling him into a hug. "I'm so glad you're all right!" she said through tears.

Raynar wrapped his arm around her upper body and squeezed. "And I'm glad you're all right, I think." he pushed back and looked Lusa over. "Wait, I can't feel you. I mean I see and feel you, but in the Force, you're not there." He shook his head. "What's happened?"

The Chironian groaned. "Sorry, almost got used to this." She reached across her chest with her right arm and pressed against her sleeve, turning off the ysalamiri armband. She gasped as the Force returned, her link with the multiverse restored. She looked at Raynar and saw the bond she shared with him. "I missed you so much," she whispered.

Raynar nodded. He held up his hands and clenched them. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do any of those things."

Lusa nodded and swallowed against the lump in her throat. "I know, I know."

Across the room, Hox stood at the ready as Jaina stood up. He held his tonfas up and at the ready. "Are you back to normal?"

Jaina held up her hand. "I am." She winced in pain and grabbed at her abdomen, wincing as she stood. "And stang, did you have to hit so hard?"

Hox lowered his tonfas. "Sorry, but I knew if I didn't go all-out, I knew you'd probably kill me." He slid one of his tonfas into a back holster and held his gloved and gauntleted hand out to her. "Sorry."

The young woman accepted his hand. "Not a problem." She suddenly turned as the drones began moving. "I think they're gonna be ignoring their orders about vinculums." She concentrated and her lightsaber landed in her hand, reigniting with a snap-hiss. "Might wanna get your soldiers ready."

Near the vinculum base, Richardson held up his rifle. "We're always ready," he said, raising the rifle to eye level and sighting the chest armor of one of the drones even as it raised its right arm. "Come on, come on..."

The drones suddenly stopped in their tracks. Those with mouths opened them,, letting loose with bloodcurdling screams. Appendages and prosthetics were clutched to heads or their bodies. Several drones stumbled back, banging repeatedly into walls.

Jaina lowered her blade and held her hand to her temple. "The Collective, the hive mind is going crazy!" She looked to Lusa. "Got anymore of those armbands?"

Lusa shook her head. Her left foreleg buckled and she knelt. "Can't... deal with the voices! They're all crying-" She gasped as she felt the armband being reactivated. The Force was gone, but quiet had returned. She looked to her left and saw Raynar, a grimace on his face. "Thanks."

Raynar stayed by her side, shivering slightly. "I'm close enough so the psychic screams aren't debilitating." He looked to Jaina. "Jaina, get over here!"

Jaina blinked and shook her head. She ran her fingers through her long hair and leaned forward. "No, Raynar. I can't. I'm getting... " She gasped. "Their identities!"

Hox looked to her, slitted eyes narrowing. "What, are they beginning to break free?" He tightened his grip on his tonfa. "Is there any danger?"

One of the drones suddenly raised its head, looking to the ceiling and shouting, "I am Drexl, of the Sargoi Republic! I am not Ten of Three Hundred-Fifty!" It looked around. "Where is my mate? What has happened?"

Several of the other drones began looking around. They began pawing at their black armor, trying to rip it off. One drone resembling an armored pillbug attempted to roll into a ball, but the armor prevented it from curling completely.

The MACO's relaxed their guard somewhat. "What in the name of the Great Bird is going on?" one soldier asked.

Jaina stood near the edge of the vinculum grating and smirked. "The beginning of the end of the Collective." She looked up at a point far beyond the ceiling and into the heart of the Unicomplex. "Queenie, welcome to your worst nightmare.

Five minutes earlier

Spock knelt beside the tall, gray obelisk and looked it over. "Artoo, what do your scanners tell you?"

Artoo wheeled over and a small sensor dish popped out of one of the panels on his dome. There was a slight whirring before he beeped. [Right here. Pop off the panel here,] he trilled, rocking slightly.

Spock reached into his robe and pulled out a tricorder and a hyperspanner. He scanned the panel and poked at the near-invisible seams, gently prying it off. Inside were circuit boards laced with green and cables hooked into seemingly random ports. The Vulcan put the hyperspanner back and pulled out a small computer jack. He unscrewed a small part of it off and placed it on one of the circuit boards while hooking the second one a hookup on his tricorder.

Deanna backed up, lightsaber held at the ready as she stared at the drones surrounding them and the vinculum. She glanced down at Spock and Artoo. "Is it working?"

Artoo's dome swiveled around and he stared at her with his photo-receptor. [It'll take time for the signal to be-] His head suddenly swiveled around and he beeped and whistled. [Holy shavit, Spock! How'd you do that?]

Spock looked up from the exposed circuitry and arched an eyebrow. "I have maintained my A7 computer rating for a reason, Artoo." He clipped the tricorder to the rim of the panel and stood up, his robe billowing about. He looked down slightly at Deanna. "We should be prepared."

Deanna opened her mouth, but let out a sharp cry. Mental defenses sprang up and she let out a breath. She looked about at various drones as they collapsed where they stood or walked. "Is that the result of the jamming signal?"

Spock walked back and dropped to one knee. He checked the tricorder screen and his lips turned down a fraction of a millimeter. "It appears this is a central node of the hive mind. I was not aware of there being different types of vinculum, but it islogical for the ones in the Unicomplex to be more important."

Deanna held up her hand and gently Force-pushed a drone away as it stumbled toward her. "Can you stop it?" she asked, dark eyes wide.

The Jedi Master shook his head. "The signal was downloaded into the transmitter itself and propagated on subspace carrier waves across the Milky Way and the other galaxy, Deanna. That means the entire Collective is like this." he motioned at the drones collapsing all around. "We must aid them."

Deanna deactivated her lightsaber and clipped it to her belt. "You don't have to ask me twice." She turned and glanced down at the squat astromech. "Stay here," she said before stepping forward. She knelt down beside a moaning drone and placed a hand on its shoulder, letting the Force flow. "Focus on my voice..."

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