"In my time they didn't do anything to Seven," said Gretchen consolingly, "They were hoping that her individuality would help them conquer humanity. They'll need the express order of the Borg Queen to harm her. And now they can't get it."
"And you said she wants to go home."
"Yes, she does," said Gretchen, nodding, "She only agreed to this because she thought it would protect Voyager. She wants to be with us."
"Then we'll contact her as soon as Tomas is done altering the ship," said Janeway firmly, "That is, if they haven't taken her communication badge."
The women exited the small shuttlebay and moments later they completed the transporter jump back to Tuvok in the transwarp chamber.
"Report," said Janeway commandingly, pulling herself up off the floor.
"It is somewhat unclear what is happening Captain, I am unfamiliar with Borg consoles. However, the drones that are passing seem sluggish and confused."
"Do they need to be in contact with the Borg Queen to function?"
"I do not believe so Captain."
"Tomas might be disrupting their internal communications or functions as well," said Gretchen.
Janeway nodded, "Now's our chance to contact Seven. With any luck, she'll know what's going on."
"Seven," said Janeway, tapping her badge, "Seven, this is Janeway. We're in the process of taking over the ship and returning to Voyager. You're not alone, and we're not letting the Borg Queen have you."
There was silence, "You will comply. That's an order." Janeway commanded.
"Captain," came a clipped voice from Janeway's combadge "I trust you are unharmed,"
"So far," said Janeway, smiling, "We've destroyed the sphere's communications array, and we're enhancing the shields to keep the Borg Queen from contacting the drones and to hide the sphere from Borg tracking. Can you confirm if we're heading back to Voyager? Is it safe for you to do so?"
"The drones that were serving as my guard are no longer capable of that function. I will hack into the computer and see what I can find."
A long pause, and the sounds of buttons being pressed, "Yes Captain, we are returning to Voyager's last known coordinates. We are moving even faster than we did on our initial trip. We should reach Voyager within 29 minutes."
"However," continued Seven, "There are three Borg Cubes headed the same direction."
"Are we showing up on their sensors Seven?"
"It's uncertain, however, it would not be difficult for the Queen to surmise your plan of returning to Voyager. And Voyager is not cloaked."
"Options," said Janeway urgently.
"We could continue to elude the Cubes with the newly cloaked shields," stated Tuvok, "However, it is unclear how long we can keep control of this vessel and it is a possibility that Voyager will be destroyed by Borg Cubes. Commander Chakotay will be reluctant to leave the area, and even a short hesitation could be lethal. Voyager is also missing almost half of its senior crew, putting them at a disadvantage."
"How long will it take for the Cubes to reach Voyager?"
"They are closer than us," reported Seven to Janeway, "It is logical they were monitoring Voyager for the Borg Queen. They will arrive first,"
"Seven," said Gretchen quickly, "Connect with the Borg Sphere and contact….Tomas. Let him know he needs to speed us up, even if he burns out some of the transwarp coils."
"Who is Tomas, and how is it he can be contacted through the sphere?"
"He's a…..computer program my friend created in the future. One that had most of his engineering skills and personality. He was uploaded into the sphere….If he's….still alive, he'll understand and help."
"Acknowledged," said Seven.
There was a tense silence. Janeway stood unnaturally still and held her breath. Gretchen clenched and unclenched her hands.
Suddenly the former drone's cool voice sounded urgently, "Brace for impact!"
Gretchen sat on the floor of the transwarp chamber with her back to the wall and her head between her bent legs as the Borg Sphere shook violently. Loud crashes echoed off the walls and flashes of light flickered and died in her peripheral vision.
As the sounds started to fade Captain Janeway's footsteps clunked against the floor, "Voyager, Voyager respond!"
"Kathryn! Is that you?" came Chakotay's urgent voice, "Where are you?"
"It's me," said Janeway firmly, "We're on the Borg Sphere, it's cloaked now, don't ask how. We need you to transport us back to the ship. There are three Borg Cubes coming our way."
"We need at least one transwarp coil," came Seven's voice across a second comm channel, "The Borg Queen will not like losing. We will need to get out of her territory as quickly as possible,"
Janeway nodded instinctively, "How many transwarp coils remain?"
A brief pause, and then Seven answered, "Three out of the six, one in the chamber you are in, one two decks below me, and one 27 decks below your location."
"Can you unlock and mark the one below you so that it can be beamed off?"
"I believe so,"
"The one here is ready,"
"I can use the transporter and retrieve the other one," said Gretchen, turning towards her arm transporter.
"That is inadvisable; I'm showing erratic explosions on that level," said Seven's voice.
"I can get it," said Gretchen, pressing buttons.
Janeway pulled her hand away, leaning in, "No more unsanctioned missions on this trip, hmm?"
Gretchen looked at her, breathed in, and nodded.
"Tell us when you've unlocked the coil, and we'll drop shields and beam off together. Move quickly Seven."
"Acknowledged."
"I'll see if I can download Tomas," said Gretchen, holding out her hand to Tuvok for what was left of her mobile emitter.
He handed it to her silently.
"Will that work?" questioned Janeway as Gretchen approached the console.
"I don't know," said Gretchen, frowning at the alien technology as she pressed buttons cautiously, "When Voyager tried this before, it…..ate the hologram."
"We had better get off of here before that happens," said Janeway, frowning.
Gretchen looked at her, lips tight, and nodded.
Short minutes passed, Captain Janeway and Tuvok standing alert, listening intently to three fronts.
Gretchen stood at the Borg console, now pressing buttons furiously. A strange noise blared at her. "Damn it," said Gretchen, pressing again. The console lights flickered for several moments and then dimmed completely.
Gretchen yelped, hitting the console forcefully and slumping in the same motion. Her body was still for a moment and then the young woman jerked upwards, wide eyes frantically searching the room.
"Captain," said Chakotay's voice from Janeway's combage, forcing her attention away, "You need to get off of that ship now. The first Borg Cube just appeared. It'll be within firing range of Voyager in 90 seconds."