Late 2371- The Allied fleet, having completed its' initial objective at Earth, returns to Defiant Station with two thirds of its' force gone. There is some celebration, and in the midst of it all William Riker is given the rank of Fleet Admiral, in complete command of Allied military operations. He continues to use the Enterprise as his command ship.

Geordi La Forge is promoted to Captain and given command of Defiant Station in the absence of Benjamin Sisko. Due to Starfleet losses in the battle for Earth, he has a mostly Bajoran staff.

The remnants of the Breen and Tholian fleets join the Alliance after their victory, adding 35 ships to their number.

Sarah Lochley is promoted to Captain and given command of the Lakota.

With the help of the EMH, Doctors Selar and Crusher are able to remove 80 percent of Locutus' Borg implants. A retrovirus that attacks Borg nanoprobes is developed by the three, causing the nanoprobes in Locutus to become inert.

After nearly six years in the Collective, Locutus is is having difficulties coping with being Jean-Luc Picard. This, and the bitterness towards him from the various races aboard Defiant Station, are factors in Admiral Riker's decision to keep him on the Enterprise, his old home.

Early 2372- The Enterprise and a small force of Klingon and Romulan ships depart again for the Sol system, the first of many missions to determine just how far back the Borg have been driven.

STAR TREK: INTO THE FIRE

PART 2

Jean-Luc Picard sat in his quarters aboard the Enterprise, watching the stars streak by at warp speed, listening to a recording of Berlioz that he seemed to remember enjoying. He had been testing out many musical programs to illicit and emotional response, but so far he felt just echoes of feelings. Even so, he enjoyed having some noise in the background to compensate for the deafening silence in his head.

Of course, he remembered fully what it was like to be Jean-Luc Picard before he became Locutus. But his time with the Borg had changed him, seemingly irrevocably. He found most of what he had enjoyed in the past to be, for lack of a better term, irrelevant. He was still part Borg, that could never change.

His appearance had been altered. His human skin tone had returned, though he still had an implant on his forehead, and one on the far right side of his face. He would forever be marked, and anyone who met him would know what he had been. He had to wear a containment suit under the grey jumpsuit he now wore, to help his human cellular structure reassert itself. His former weapon arm was mostly flesh, with Borg implants poking through randomly. He had to report to the station's EMH regularly for regeneration treatments.

The door chime sounded, and though he required no companionship, he answered it. "You may enter."

Beverly Crusher entered, carrying something small in her hand. "Hello, Jean-Luc."

Picard nodded. "How may I be of service, doctor?"

"I'm just dropping by to see how you're doing, I used to do that often, if you remember."

"I am functioning properly."

Beverly sighed lightly. "That's good to hear, Jean-Luc." She seemed to become a bit self-conscious." I actually came here for another reason. You remember Wesley, don't you?"

"Of course. Your son."

"Yes, well, I don't know if you know this or not, but he died in the battle at Earth." Her throat seized up momentarily, but she kept speaking. "He was on the Majestic."

Picard looked away. "The U.S.S. Majestic, Miranda class. Destroyed by an antimatter explosion..." He looked back at Crusher, and saw a tear falling down her cheek. "Forgive me for causing you pain."

She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I thought I was over this stage, but I can't get over it." Beverly wiped the tear away. "Anyway, it seems he recorded a message for you a little while after you were taken. I don't know why, maybe he had a feeling...But I'm sure he would want you to hear it, even now." She held out a small holo-emitter, and Picard took it.

"I will listen to it."

"Thank you, Jean-Luc. I'll leave you alone now." She turned and began to walk out.

"Doctor?"

Beverly turned around. Picard seemed to struggle with his words for a moment.

"Thank you, for...your concern as to my well being."

She smiled at him sadly and walked out.

Picard walked over to his dining table, placed the holo-emitter atop it, and pressed the activation key.

A small holographic representation of Wesley Crusher appeared. He wore lieutenant's pips on his collar, so this must have been recorded a few years ago. "Hello, Captain Picard. I know you'll probably never get this message, but I guess I have to say some things anyway. It's been almost three years since you were taken, and I still can't believe it. I can't believe that you would ever cause such destruction and death. I know that the Borg have changed you, made you do terrible things. You must know that I will try to rescue you no matter what." The hologram of Wesley looked at his feet. "When I first came aboard the Enterprise, I didn't like you too much. You seemed mean, and cold. And I guess I was still hurting from my Dad dying, and knowing that you were the one who gave the order that killed him. But from serving with you, I began to understand that you had no choice, that Starfleet officers must be ready to die for a larger purpose. You are the reason I wear this uniform now, and I am trying to make you proud, even now. You gave me a chance to prove myself, and I will always have that to live up to. I guess, I just wanted to say thank you, Captain, and that I will always love you as much as my own father. Good-bye." The small hologram shimmered away.

Picard slumped into a chair that was near the table, and put his hands over his face. He couldn't handle the emotions he was feeling now, and as one feeling came out, it started a landslide of emotions. He crumpled up and sobbed heavily for hours