The Borg's infamous green glow washed over the away team. Chakotay had readied himself with a phaser riffle, and was following Seven and The Doctor from behind. He had to keep an eye on them, because they looked like every other drone on the ship and he didn't want to get separated. The Doctor was scanning for Reese's life signs and relaying what information he got to Seven's cortical node.
A cube was a rather unsettling place. Not many people had been inside one, and made it out, unassimilated. Chakotay swirled to his left, a drone had brushed him walking by. Out front, Seven nodded to her left, inconspicuously. Chakotay nodded in agreement. They turned down the corridor, and found themselves in a long hallway.
Seven cocked her head, The Doctor was speaking to her again, "Seven, I'm detecting Reese's life signs at the end of the hallway to the left. There's only one Borg signature in there. This is fascinating! This is my first actual…" Seven ignored him as she walked to the end of the hallway. As she turned the corner, she was shocked at what she saw. The Borg Queen stood between the entrance and Reese.
"I've been waiting for you, Seven of Nine," She said, with a mock-parental tone. "You can't hide from me. I can see through your… friend." She stalked towards Seven, "Why are you helping those people on Voyager? It is inefficient to put an individual's needs above those of the collective. I know how that bothers you. Rejoin me… help us assimilate humanity."
Seven stepped backwards, frightened by the aspect of reassimilation, "Captain Janeway's future depends on it, and as a result so does the entire crew. I can't let you proceed."
"You have no choice. Besides, if you wont help assimilate humanity, my new drone will. He has plenty knowledge of the 21st century. You know him, he was on your ship." The Queen walked towards Reese. She ran her hand across his chest compassionately, flaunting what she had. "Meet drone One of One—"
"My designation is Five of Two." He stated.
"FINE!" The Queen bellowed.
From behind Seven, Chakotay faded into view, "NOW SEVEN!" He aimed his rifle at the Queen and fired. She hurtled backwards, and smashed into a set a regeneration alcoves. Seven's drone image fizzled, and the Doctor appeared next to her. He grabbed the mobile emitter from her arm and rushed to Five. Behind him, Seven pulled the transport enhancer from the pocket. She reset the controls and attached it to Five's arm.
Meanwhile, The Doctor fumbled with a hypospray. He pressed it to Five's neck and injected him.
Chakotay tapped his comm badge, "Tom, lock on to the transport enhancer and energize!"
From the jumble that was the regeneration alcoves, The Queen stood up. She cocked her head to the side, sending subliminal commands to her drones. The sound of metallic feet rang against the walls, as Five disappeared in a blue flash. From around the corner, five drones marched into view. Chakotay fired his rifle at a drone, killing it. Seven took aim with her phaser as well, but this time, the phaser beam was deflected.
"They've adapted!" The Doctor stated.
"Tom, get us out of here!" Chakotay commanded into his comm, "Tom?" He pulled out his tricorder and started scanning, "Damn! They've activated a dampening field!"
* * * *
"Delta Flyer to Voyager. I can't get the away team out of the cube! The Borg have activated a dampening field!" Tom stated worriedly into his comm system.
"Can you get Reese and Dewey back here?" Janeway's voice asked.
"We can't leave them in there!"
"I'm not asking you too! Voyager will keep the cube busy! Just get back here Tom, that's an order!"
"Aye, ma'am." Tom replied, setting the course into the helm.
"Why is Reese wearing that weird suit?"
"Well, he's been assimilated by the Borg. We're taking him back to Voyager where, once we get The Doctor back, we'll remove the implants." Tom stated, trying not to concentrate on it. Dewey looked at Tom, who was delving into his work. A large smile spread across his face. Dewey walked up to Five and kicked him in the chest. "Are you insane?!" Tom shouted "You could…"
Five stirred. He looked around and stood up, "We are Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile!" He stated.
Tom jumped from the helm and scrambled to pick up his phaser, "Dewey, get down!" He shouted. Dewey leaped under the tactical console as Tom aimed his phaser and fired. Sparks shot from Five's chest. He convulsed once and fell to the floor. Tom stalked up to Five and waved his tricorder over him. Sighing relief, he dragged Five to the back of the cockpit. "Computer, erect a level ten force field around the Borg signature."
The room beeped, then replied "Force fields engaged."
Tom stood and stalked over to Dewey, "Dewey, I'm going to tell you something an acquaintance of Voyager's once told his son. DON'T PROVOKE THE BORG!"
"Where's all Reese's hair?" Dewey asked, ignoring Tom.
