Chapter 17
Jean-Luc Picard stood alone in the Borg Queen's Regeneration Chamber. He could barely make out his surroundings. The Chamber was dark and loomed with suspicious shadows. The only light that could be seen was the wavy green energy beams that powered the Queen's regenerator. Picard stepped across the room slowly as he took in the scene. He knew the Borg Queen was in the room but her location was unknown. Picard heard the Borg speaking in his head. He was close to them. He had not been this close since the time he was turned into Locutus. Picard was not scared. He felt at ease as if someone was tampering with his emotions. Picard knew he should be terrified but he remained calm and relaxed.
===/// Welcome Locutus. ///===
Picard searched the chamber, frantically looking for the Borg Queen. She was close. Picard could feel here presence.
"Where are you?"
===/// I am everywhere. I am in your head, in your heart, and in your soul.
"Show yourself!"
===/// As you wish, Locutus. ///===
A slender feminine figure slowly eased from the shadows. Her eyes were focused on Picard as she steadily approached. Her actions were unthreatening but very precautious. She did not know what to expect from the Enterprise's Captain. He was just as dangerous to her as she was to him. The Borg Queen slowly walked up to Picard with her hands at her side.
===/// It pleases me to see you. ///===
"I wish I could say same the same thing. Why have you taken me captive? Why not just kill me like the rest?"
===/// You know the answers to your questions, Locutus. I long for you. You are already a part of us. You know our secrets. You must rejoin the Collective.///===
"Forget it! I would rather die than to become a Borg again!"
===/// Resistance is futile. ///===
Suddenly, the Borg Queen lifted her hand and released a charge bolt from her wrist. The bolt consumed around Picard, sending him to his knees. The bolt surged through Picard's body and penetrated his brain. Picard fell forward on his face. His head was spinning. The image of the Borg Queen swirled in his mind. Suddenly, Picard's brain went blank and he passed out.
=====/////=====
The Defiant and the Cochrane blazed through space, trying to catch up with the Borg escape vessel. Commander Worf paced the Defiant's bridge trying to control his anger.
"How long until we intercept the vessel?" he shouted.
"At our current speed, four minutes and thirty-seven seconds." replied Rom.
"That's too close! We are only a few light-years from Earth. We can not allow them to reach the planet."
"I'm just glad that the vessel couldn't maintain warp ten." stated Ezri Dax.
"As am I, answered Worf with a growl, however, at the rate the vessel is moving we'll only get one shot at it."
"It better be a good one then." sighed Rom.
Suddenly, Admiral Jellico's voice came over the Defiant's intercom system. His voice was on edge. He was nervous that they may not intercept the Borg vessel in time.
"Commander Worf, my ship is severely damaged. Our engines are maxed out at Warp six and it's tearing the ship apart. I'm afraid I'll have to slow the Cochrane's speed or the ship will destroy itself. My crew and I will continue our pursuit but it will have to be at impulse drive. I'm sorry Commander."
Worf was furious. He was uncertain what they were up against. He needed the Cochrane's fire power. However, Admiral Jellico was doing what was best for his crew. They were no use to Worf if they were all dead. The Klingon rumbled under his breath and responded to the Admiral.
"It is alright. We will deal with the Borg ourselves."
"We're still on our way Commander Worf but good luck."
Jellico signed off the intercom, leaving Worf more frustrated. He had never encountered a Borg vessel of this magnitude. It was extremely fast. The Defiant was having trouble keeping up with it, net alone intercepting it. Worf growled under his breath. His crew looked at the Commander wearily. They knew they had a heavy task before them but they were all ready for it. Worf settled back down in his command chair as the Defiant blazed away from the Cochrane.
=====/////=====
Picard weakly lifted himself off the floor. The room was spinning and he could not focus his eyes. Where am I, he thought. Suddenly, his memories came flooding back to him in a massive tidal wave. He was on the Borg Cube that was heading toward Earth. Picard pressed his temples trying to supercede the pain. Suddenly, a voice spoke out to him and it was not the voice of the Borg Queen.
"I'm glad to see you're alright."
Picard turned to the voice and blinked his eyes. He could not believe who stood before him. Picard continued to blink hard, trying to remove the hallucination. It was Captain James T. Kirk. Kirk was just how Picard remembered him. It was as if the Verdian Three incident never happened. Captain Kirk appeared to be alive and revealed a hint of happiness. Kirk was still a little on the hefty side but extremely proud. His hair was mixed with brown and gray but his eyes still shown a youthful energy.
"I'm dead. I'm must be dead." cried Picard.
"Relax Captain, you're not dead." comforted the original Enterprise captain.
Suddenly, another voice rang out. It was smooth as honey and very relaxing. Picard could recognize the voice from anywhere.
"Hello, Captain. I'm glad to see your feeling better." stated Guinan.
"Guinan, what are you doing here? I thought you decided to join the remaining El-Aurian that resettled a Federation planet."
"I did. I am a figment your imagination."
Picard shook his head in confusion. What's going on here, he thought, the Borg Queen must be tampering with my mind.
"What is going on here?!" shouted Picard.
"Ah, the same old Jean-Luc. Your temper will be the death of you!" laughed his older brother Robert' Picard.
"Robert', you're a part of my imagination too?"
"I'm afraid so Jean-Luc. I'm stuck in your stupid little head."
Picard brought his hands to his face. He shook his head, trying to make the images disappear. I'm losing my mind, he thought.
"That may be true." informed Kirk.
"He's right, Jean-Luc, stated Beverly Crusher as she walked out of the shadows, your not doing too well right now."
"Beverly, why aren't you on the Enterprise?" asked Picard in shock.
"You see, we're too late. He's so messed up, he keeps forgetting about the figment of imagination thing." stated Robert' with a laugh.
Beverly circled Picard and then rested her hand on his shoulder. Picard was surprised that he could actually feel the touch.
"Sit down, Jean-Luc." she stated with a soothing tone.
Picard lowered his head and complied with what Beverly said. He rested himself on the cold smooth floor and stared at the four images. Questions raced in Picard's mind. He needed answers and quickly.
"What did you mean "you're too late"? "Too late for what?"
"Before you lose all of your sanity." informed Guinan.
"You're barely hanging on by a thread, Jean-Luc." laughed Robert'.
"The Borg have really done a number on you, Captain." stated Kirk as he circled Picard.
Picard grabbed his head and shook it violently. He wanted the images out of his head but every time he looked back at the images, they were still there. Beverly sighed and sat next to Picard. She slowly began to message his shoulders, trying to relieve some of the tension.
"You need a little more R&R, Jean-Luc. Doctor's orders." stated the Chief doctor of the Enterprise, as she continued to massage Picard.
"Why have you come to me?" asked Picard wearily.
"Well pal, you see we're a part of your head and we really don't want you to become a Borg. So, we decided to try to talk you out of it." informed Captain Kirk.
"I'm not planning on becoming a Borg."
"The hell you weren't, shouted Robert', you know damn well you want to be a Borg again!"
Jean-Luc quickly put his face in his hands and started to cry. It was true. The Captain had been fighting it for so long but the urge to become a Borg had actually crossed his mind. He was tired of fighting. Jean-Luc had been fighting so much in the past ten years. The Romulans, the Ferrangi, the Borg, and several other species had really made his life a living hell. Picard wanted it to stop and he thought that by becoming a Borg again, the pain would be gone. The Borg Queen offered peace.
"I think Jean-Luc needs a little relaxation, stated Beverly as she laid the Captain on his back, the Borg can bring that relaxation."
"Why won't you all just go away?" cried Picard.
"Because we're memories that don't want to be forgotten, informed Guinan, if you become a Borg, all of your loving memories will be gone."
"You selfish son-of-a-bitch!" shouted Robert'.
Picard soaked up his tears as Beverly massaged his temples. The pain in his head was beginning to fade and he looked at the doctor lovingly. She had always been there for him and Picard realized that he loved her very much.
"What about the adventure, Captain, asked Kirk as he rode a horse across the chamber, do you really want to give up being Captain of the Enterprise?"
"Of course not."
"Then don't!" shouted Robert' Picard.
Jean-Luc sat up straight and glared at the image of his brother. He wanted to sock the older sibling in the mouth.
"Will you shut up?! I'm sick off your constant yelling and degrading. I almost forgot how mean you could be. I'm so glad Renee was nothing like you!"
"Renee, exactly! If you become a Borg, you'll forget about family! Do you want to forget about Renee?" asked Robert' in an angry tone.
"Stop asking me stupid questions! NO, I do not want to forget about my friends or the memories of my family!"
"Then don't." replied Guinan smoothly.
Captain James T. Kirk hopped off his horse and strolled up to Picard. He smiled devilishly.
"We can't forget about the ladies, Captain, Kirk stated with a laugh, we wouldn't want to give up the ladies for the Borg."
Picard nodded as Beverly leaned over him and kissed him passionately. Picard embraced the kiss by putting his hand over her long red hair. Suddenly, Kirk, Guinan, and Robert' stood up straight. Their faces were emotionless.
"THEN DON'T!" shouted the three images.
Picard was so surprised that he could feel Beverly's kiss and massage. It was odd that none of the other images tried to touch him. He continued to kiss Beverly but suddenly the image of the Borg Queen flashed across his mind, and she spoke to him.
==// I think the Captain needs a little R&R. //==
Picard's eyes flicked open. He suddenly realized he was kissing the Borg Queen. He quickly pushed her away and rose to his feet. Anger fueled in the Captain's eyes. Both Picard and the Queen looked at each other with a fueled passion. One was fueled by love and the other was fueled by hate.
Jean-Luc Picard stood alone in the Borg Queen's Regeneration Chamber. He could barely make out his surroundings. The Chamber was dark and loomed with suspicious shadows. The only light that could be seen was the wavy green energy beams that powered the Queen's regenerator. Picard stepped across the room slowly as he took in the scene. He knew the Borg Queen was in the room but her location was unknown. Picard heard the Borg speaking in his head. He was close to them. He had not been this close since the time he was turned into Locutus. Picard was not scared. He felt at ease as if someone was tampering with his emotions. Picard knew he should be terrified but he remained calm and relaxed.
===/// Welcome Locutus. ///===
Picard searched the chamber, frantically looking for the Borg Queen. She was close. Picard could feel here presence.
"Where are you?"
===/// I am everywhere. I am in your head, in your heart, and in your soul.
"Show yourself!"
===/// As you wish, Locutus. ///===
A slender feminine figure slowly eased from the shadows. Her eyes were focused on Picard as she steadily approached. Her actions were unthreatening but very precautious. She did not know what to expect from the Enterprise's Captain. He was just as dangerous to her as she was to him. The Borg Queen slowly walked up to Picard with her hands at her side.
===/// It pleases me to see you. ///===
"I wish I could say same the same thing. Why have you taken me captive? Why not just kill me like the rest?"
===/// You know the answers to your questions, Locutus. I long for you. You are already a part of us. You know our secrets. You must rejoin the Collective.///===
"Forget it! I would rather die than to become a Borg again!"
===/// Resistance is futile. ///===
Suddenly, the Borg Queen lifted her hand and released a charge bolt from her wrist. The bolt consumed around Picard, sending him to his knees. The bolt surged through Picard's body and penetrated his brain. Picard fell forward on his face. His head was spinning. The image of the Borg Queen swirled in his mind. Suddenly, Picard's brain went blank and he passed out.
=====/////=====
The Defiant and the Cochrane blazed through space, trying to catch up with the Borg escape vessel. Commander Worf paced the Defiant's bridge trying to control his anger.
"How long until we intercept the vessel?" he shouted.
"At our current speed, four minutes and thirty-seven seconds." replied Rom.
"That's too close! We are only a few light-years from Earth. We can not allow them to reach the planet."
"I'm just glad that the vessel couldn't maintain warp ten." stated Ezri Dax.
"As am I, answered Worf with a growl, however, at the rate the vessel is moving we'll only get one shot at it."
"It better be a good one then." sighed Rom.
Suddenly, Admiral Jellico's voice came over the Defiant's intercom system. His voice was on edge. He was nervous that they may not intercept the Borg vessel in time.
"Commander Worf, my ship is severely damaged. Our engines are maxed out at Warp six and it's tearing the ship apart. I'm afraid I'll have to slow the Cochrane's speed or the ship will destroy itself. My crew and I will continue our pursuit but it will have to be at impulse drive. I'm sorry Commander."
Worf was furious. He was uncertain what they were up against. He needed the Cochrane's fire power. However, Admiral Jellico was doing what was best for his crew. They were no use to Worf if they were all dead. The Klingon rumbled under his breath and responded to the Admiral.
"It is alright. We will deal with the Borg ourselves."
"We're still on our way Commander Worf but good luck."
Jellico signed off the intercom, leaving Worf more frustrated. He had never encountered a Borg vessel of this magnitude. It was extremely fast. The Defiant was having trouble keeping up with it, net alone intercepting it. Worf growled under his breath. His crew looked at the Commander wearily. They knew they had a heavy task before them but they were all ready for it. Worf settled back down in his command chair as the Defiant blazed away from the Cochrane.
=====/////=====
Picard weakly lifted himself off the floor. The room was spinning and he could not focus his eyes. Where am I, he thought. Suddenly, his memories came flooding back to him in a massive tidal wave. He was on the Borg Cube that was heading toward Earth. Picard pressed his temples trying to supercede the pain. Suddenly, a voice spoke out to him and it was not the voice of the Borg Queen.
"I'm glad to see you're alright."
Picard turned to the voice and blinked his eyes. He could not believe who stood before him. Picard continued to blink hard, trying to remove the hallucination. It was Captain James T. Kirk. Kirk was just how Picard remembered him. It was as if the Verdian Three incident never happened. Captain Kirk appeared to be alive and revealed a hint of happiness. Kirk was still a little on the hefty side but extremely proud. His hair was mixed with brown and gray but his eyes still shown a youthful energy.
"I'm dead. I'm must be dead." cried Picard.
"Relax Captain, you're not dead." comforted the original Enterprise captain.
Suddenly, another voice rang out. It was smooth as honey and very relaxing. Picard could recognize the voice from anywhere.
"Hello, Captain. I'm glad to see your feeling better." stated Guinan.
"Guinan, what are you doing here? I thought you decided to join the remaining El-Aurian that resettled a Federation planet."
"I did. I am a figment your imagination."
Picard shook his head in confusion. What's going on here, he thought, the Borg Queen must be tampering with my mind.
"What is going on here?!" shouted Picard.
"Ah, the same old Jean-Luc. Your temper will be the death of you!" laughed his older brother Robert' Picard.
"Robert', you're a part of my imagination too?"
"I'm afraid so Jean-Luc. I'm stuck in your stupid little head."
Picard brought his hands to his face. He shook his head, trying to make the images disappear. I'm losing my mind, he thought.
"That may be true." informed Kirk.
"He's right, Jean-Luc, stated Beverly Crusher as she walked out of the shadows, your not doing too well right now."
"Beverly, why aren't you on the Enterprise?" asked Picard in shock.
"You see, we're too late. He's so messed up, he keeps forgetting about the figment of imagination thing." stated Robert' with a laugh.
Beverly circled Picard and then rested her hand on his shoulder. Picard was surprised that he could actually feel the touch.
"Sit down, Jean-Luc." she stated with a soothing tone.
Picard lowered his head and complied with what Beverly said. He rested himself on the cold smooth floor and stared at the four images. Questions raced in Picard's mind. He needed answers and quickly.
"What did you mean "you're too late"? "Too late for what?"
"Before you lose all of your sanity." informed Guinan.
"You're barely hanging on by a thread, Jean-Luc." laughed Robert'.
"The Borg have really done a number on you, Captain." stated Kirk as he circled Picard.
Picard grabbed his head and shook it violently. He wanted the images out of his head but every time he looked back at the images, they were still there. Beverly sighed and sat next to Picard. She slowly began to message his shoulders, trying to relieve some of the tension.
"You need a little more R&R, Jean-Luc. Doctor's orders." stated the Chief doctor of the Enterprise, as she continued to massage Picard.
"Why have you come to me?" asked Picard wearily.
"Well pal, you see we're a part of your head and we really don't want you to become a Borg. So, we decided to try to talk you out of it." informed Captain Kirk.
"I'm not planning on becoming a Borg."
"The hell you weren't, shouted Robert', you know damn well you want to be a Borg again!"
Jean-Luc quickly put his face in his hands and started to cry. It was true. The Captain had been fighting it for so long but the urge to become a Borg had actually crossed his mind. He was tired of fighting. Jean-Luc had been fighting so much in the past ten years. The Romulans, the Ferrangi, the Borg, and several other species had really made his life a living hell. Picard wanted it to stop and he thought that by becoming a Borg again, the pain would be gone. The Borg Queen offered peace.
"I think Jean-Luc needs a little relaxation, stated Beverly as she laid the Captain on his back, the Borg can bring that relaxation."
"Why won't you all just go away?" cried Picard.
"Because we're memories that don't want to be forgotten, informed Guinan, if you become a Borg, all of your loving memories will be gone."
"You selfish son-of-a-bitch!" shouted Robert'.
Picard soaked up his tears as Beverly massaged his temples. The pain in his head was beginning to fade and he looked at the doctor lovingly. She had always been there for him and Picard realized that he loved her very much.
"What about the adventure, Captain, asked Kirk as he rode a horse across the chamber, do you really want to give up being Captain of the Enterprise?"
"Of course not."
"Then don't!" shouted Robert' Picard.
Jean-Luc sat up straight and glared at the image of his brother. He wanted to sock the older sibling in the mouth.
"Will you shut up?! I'm sick off your constant yelling and degrading. I almost forgot how mean you could be. I'm so glad Renee was nothing like you!"
"Renee, exactly! If you become a Borg, you'll forget about family! Do you want to forget about Renee?" asked Robert' in an angry tone.
"Stop asking me stupid questions! NO, I do not want to forget about my friends or the memories of my family!"
"Then don't." replied Guinan smoothly.
Captain James T. Kirk hopped off his horse and strolled up to Picard. He smiled devilishly.
"We can't forget about the ladies, Captain, Kirk stated with a laugh, we wouldn't want to give up the ladies for the Borg."
Picard nodded as Beverly leaned over him and kissed him passionately. Picard embraced the kiss by putting his hand over her long red hair. Suddenly, Kirk, Guinan, and Robert' stood up straight. Their faces were emotionless.
"THEN DON'T!" shouted the three images.
Picard was so surprised that he could feel Beverly's kiss and massage. It was odd that none of the other images tried to touch him. He continued to kiss Beverly but suddenly the image of the Borg Queen flashed across his mind, and she spoke to him.
==// I think the Captain needs a little R&R. //==
Picard's eyes flicked open. He suddenly realized he was kissing the Borg Queen. He quickly pushed her away and rose to his feet. Anger fueled in the Captain's eyes. Both Picard and the Queen looked at each other with a fueled passion. One was fueled by love and the other was fueled by hate.