Punishment
I am introducing a new character to the voyager crew another Borg male who is on a personal quest for redemption after the Borg destroyed his family.
Just so you know I own none of the Voyager characters, the ship or any of the ideas put forth in the series I am just borrowing them for the purpose of this story.
Chapter 8: GoodbyeHe thought the white would last forever, he thought it was over, he thought he would see his brothers and his parents again. Suddenly the white faded and he was looking at two faces in the transporter room, the looks of a nice young female crewman performing the transport, and the bald holographic doctor standing there medical tricorder in his hand.
"I think I should commit you to sickbay Mr. Hartstone with severe mental deficiencies after that little stunt you pulled." Simon sat down on the transporter pad he didn't need the Doctor's remarks right now he didn't need anyone's remarks.
"Bridge to Transporter Room 2 do you have him" Janeway's voice came over the comm, Simon just thought that's a little late but then he thought that Janeway had enough on her hands getting this ship away from a huge explosion. The female crewman tapped her commbadge lightly
"We have him Captain, the Doctor is taking a look at him now" she looked at Lieutenant Hartstone and said "Are you alright sir?" He looked up and just opened his eyes and looked directly at her
"Crewman I'm not an officer I wear the uniform but I think rank is lost my name is Simon if didn't already know that will be fine"
"I'm sorry si….Simon" he could only smile at that
"Nice save crewman …." He was fishing for a name again
"Crewman Michelle Lang" Simon smiled wider
"Nice to meet you Michelle" she smiled back she thought this guy was nothing like a Borg, complete opposite of Seven of Nine. The Doctor put away his tricorder and interjected on the conversation
"I would like you to come to sickbay so I could run some additional scans"
"Of course Doctor" he stood up and let the Doctor lead the way
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The Doctor was just completing his scans when the Captain, Commander Tuvok and Neelix walked in.
"How is he Doctor?" the Captain asked
"Physically fit apart from a few minor cuts and scrapes he obviously got aboard that Borg ship" the Captain nodded in approval
"How do you feel Mr Hartstone" the Captain but a hand on his shoulder
"I have been better Captain" he put his head down solemnly
"Come on Mr Hartstone your sacrifice has just saved this ship and crew and when you're ready to talk about it, we have a chat about your role on Voyager"
"Thank you Captain, but I deserve to sit in the brig for the rest of the journey"
"Why do you think that?" Neelix interjected, as morale officer he hated seeing people down in the dumps
"You were right Captain I am a murderer and to cap it all off I had to pull the trigger on my own brothers" the Captain stared back at her two officers, Tuvok as always emotionless Tuvok stood looking straight at her while Neelix was staring intently at his toes wishing he never asked the question
"Mr Hartstone you were right the Borg are the most insidious race known to anybody they have to be stopped and sometimes radical actions need to be taken to do that. You were right we cant play wet nurse to the drones and disconnect them all it would be a waste of time, resources and manpower, but you shouldn't have tried to fight this fight alone" she smiled at him "The Borg will pay for what they have done but not today I am afraid"
"Yes Captain"
"It's a hard road to redemption Mr. Hartstone and I think you get it by doing good things for others not by exacting revenge on the ones that hurt you not even the Borg." Simon couldn't understand this concept quite but he thought he would understand in time "Now then onto better things Mr Neelix will be showing you to your quarters and Commander Chakotay is man you need to talk to about anything, although my ready room door is always open"
"Thank you Captain, I know I have just joined up and everything and I shouldn't really be asking this but could I borrow a Holodeck for just half an hour there is something I would like to do" he looked at her intently trying to mentally communicate his reasons, he didn't want to say the reason out loud if he could help it
"Of course Mr. Hartstone, Mr. Neelix could you arrange that for him"
"Right Away, Captain" Neelix said and walked out of the door
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Simon stood in a lonely grey field, looking at four coffins, and four tombstones, he didn't want to cry but he really could not help it. He knelt down and placed the holographic flowers on the holographic tombstones. The holographic priest said the last rites, but after a while of staring he told the computer to remove the character, and he stood there alone.
"You know" he started to say "I'm sorry for what I did, it just never dawned on me why didn't I say goodbye straight away. I waited too long to do this and now I can only do it standing alone in the Holodeck but I suppose better than nothing"
He felt odd giving a eulogy to his family with no one else here but what the hell. "You were the best family a guy could ask for and although I don't think I did you right these past 6 years I intend to make up for it, I was asked why I have been making myself purposely unhappy these past years and I don't really know. The only thing I do know that at least I hope that you would want me to be happy and want me to make new friends and someday start a family of my own."
He looked up at the sky now dripping with rain "Andrew, Michael I'm sorry for shooting you both and I hope when I get up there you wont hold it against me even though you have every reason too hold it against me. Thanks." Simon turned around and started to walk away
"Computer Exit" the exit appeared at the bottom of the field
"Computer Save program Hartstone Alpha 1"
"The program has been saved the computer chirped back in a happy voice"
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A few days later Simon was standing in his quarters looking out of the window of his new quarters. Sleeping was a little different as he used to sleep in the command chair on the Sword, sleeping in a bed again was a little different. Simon thought, "Good thing I don't have to regenerate" of course unlike Seven of Nine. Simon was assimilated as an adult therefore less dependant on his implants than Seven. That was a shame for Seven having to regenerate like a drone he silently promised himself that he would think of a way to change that.
He was sipping a small glass of water, his instinct was to go straight for the vodka but he pulled away at the last second. A new Simon needed new rules and rule one was no more alcohol.
He heard the door chime and he turned around "Come in" at the door he saw a small girl no more than 6 years old at the door, he smiled and walked up to her slowly but she didn't seem at all phased by him, he got down on one knee "I don't think I have met you yet"
"Hello my name is Naomi Wildman I am the Captain's Assistant"
"Captain's Assistant eh" he was pleasantly surprised he knew that the Captain wanted to make everyone feel useful aboard this ship and she had even found a position for a 6 year old girl "I am here to inform you of a ship function run by Lieutenant Paris and Neelix Lieutenant Paris calls it a 'Pool Party' its going to involve swimming if you want to attend it will start a 19:00 hours" she passed him a PADD with Tom's instructions for the party
"Thank you very much Ms. Wildman" since she was being very formal with him he felt the need to do the same in which he started by standing up straight.
"Although Neelix has told me your very sad right now about losing your family so if you don't want to attend the crew will understand"
"Thank you for being so caring Ms. Wildman"
"If you need anything Mr. Hartstone please don't hesitate to call me" Simon could only smile
"I will remember that and please call me Simon" Naomi smiled and she turned on her heels and left, the door shut behind her and Simon could only smile and laugh, he reviewed the PADD and drunk his water.