Derelict

By THE Xenomorph

I own only the character of Vile.

Star Trek Voyager is © Paramount

Aliens vs Predator is © Fox

The blip

The days after B'elanna's error in judgment left little excitement for the crew. Vile recovered without much incident, other than planting Lieutenant Ayala against a wall when he shut down Vile's confessional program in the middle of it's use. It didn't take long for the news of the use of the program to spread and the questions that came along with it. He was checking astrometrics for any sign of Leto when it met it's head though.

"You are intelligent, capable and deadlier than most things I or anyone on this crew have encountered." Seven said from nowhere.

"Thanks..." Vile looked up, confused. "I think."

"How is it you believe in such a cruel deity?" Seven asked.

"Wow." He stopped. "I honestly though it'd be Janeway to ask that." He chuckled. "Simplest answer I can give Seven is that even I don't know. Though I don't think He's particularly cruel." A talon pierced the console as he absentmindedly tapped against it, zapping the hybrid and causing him to shriek in pain. "Though He has a poor sense of humor sometimes. Pauk!"

"But why?" Seven persisted, confused as her perspective did not allow for religions.

"Because I do." Vile said with a sigh. "My family was catholic, well my mom was, and I was raised as such. So was..." He stopped. "We were used to not fitting in because of it. I honestly don't know why it's an issue."

"I am merely curious." Seven said. "I did not mean to offend you."

"Non really taken." Vile smiled. "There's no real logical reason to believe in God or any other faith. It's just a part of you that does. Faith."

"I have tried to understand faith before, it did not go well." She shifted uncomfortably.

"Nothing to be ashamed of." Vile laughed. "At least you're not asking if I decorated the hive for Christmas."

"Who..." Seven didn't get to finish.

"Paris, being a smart ass." Vile chuckled. "I should probably inform the Captain as to why he was late..."

"Chasing fellow crew members is not a healthy way to adjust." Seven tried to scold him.

"Maybe not, but it's fun as hell." Vile laughed.

"But how do you not blame your god for your condition?" Seven asked, ease working it's way back into the conversation.

"Who says I didn't?" Vile said as he leaned against a wall. "Three hundred plus years is a long time to adapt to life. A long time to think and speculate one's place in the universe. A long time to hate and a long time to ask for forgiveness."

"I do not understand." Seven said.

"I was angry, I asked for forgiveness." He shrugged. "I had the time."

"Do you think He gave it?" Seven asked.

Vile was silent for a few moments before he spoke. "Him, yes. Me? Working on that."

"I do not understand."

"God forgives because His love is infinite." Vile smiled. "Not so sure on the power part though. We, however, are far more harsh when it comes to our own actions."

"I believe I understand." Seven said calmly.

"At least one of us does." Vile chuckled. "Faith has never been my strong point. I was a terrible kid and a troublesome teenager."

"How so?" Seven asked.

"I don't know." He admitted. "Those memories are... fuzzy at best." He sat on the floor. "I remember Robin yelling at me for breaking her horse toys, something about bleaching their hair."

"Bleach is a harsh chemical." Seven said, "How would you get that?"

"Dad was a bit of a chemist." He smiled. "What about your family, what were they like?"

"Irresponsible, but kind and loving." Seven said flatly.

"Gonna assume that has to do with Borg-ness." He gestured to her.

"Borg-ness?" She arched an eyebrow.

"Hey, I'm not so good with words." He laughed. "What else you got?"

"You mentioned your adolescence, what about that made you a nuisance?" She was partially back to scanning.

"Well part of it was me being a complete rebel and the other was the guy raising us all. He was... strict to say the least." Vile smiled. "He knew to give Robin a wide berth though."

"She sounds formidable." Seven said.

"She was." Vile smiled. "I'd ask about siblings, but I don't think that's a good one. So, what's your plan if the Borg catch you again?"

"Self termination is an option for me." Seven said coldly.

"Fair enough, I'd actually say a good call." Vile shifted uneasily.

"Who is Robin?" Seven asked, her blunt manner almost like a spear through Vile's thoughts.

Silence filled the bay for more than a few moments.

"Am I to believe you do not remember?" Seven asked.

"Oh I remember Seven." Vile took a hard, deep breath. "Hard to forget the person born five minutes after you."

"I am sorry." Seven said, a slight tinge of guilt fleshed out her usual monotone voice. "I did not mean to pry."

"Hey I was prying with you and I left the door wide open for the question." Vile smiled.

"You miss her." It was a statement.

"I will." Vile banged his head against the metal wall.

"She is like you." Seven concluded.

"Yeah, she was on the ship." Vile admitted.

"The chemical counter agents the Doctor has been making." Seven said. "They are to counter an ability of hers?"

"Pheromonal manipulation on a level close to mind control." Vile shook his head. "Ain't family grand."

"This conversation is unnerving you." Again another observation.

"A little." He admitted, "But I better get used to it. It'll be out there soon enough." He stood up and yawned with a stretch. "I don't think we're going to find anything today."

"You are likely correct, but it is still time to search." Seven said. "Could you look these over." She handed him a pad with several anomalies on them.

"I don't know this crap Seven." He laughed as he scanned through them. "I'm just an engineer wa..." His eyes stopped on one of the final anomalies. "Mother fucker."

"I remember you made an arrangement with Icheb not to use foul language." Seven said as she looked at the bad and brought up the coordinates of the anomaly.

"Scan for that again." Vile said.

"We have passed the anomaly, it will take time." Seven said as she activated the scan. Much to her surprise it showed the anomaly closer than it once was and on an intercept course with Voyager.

"Vile to Janeway." Vile ordered the computer.

"Find something good?" Janeway's voice came over the com.

"Do not fight them. Power down weapons and no one is to have a phaser." Vile said.

"Is this them?" She asked.

"Yautja." Vile said as he felt the scar on his forehead.

Then Voyager stopped and the world lurched forward for everyone on the ship.