Lost souls
The starship Xrathis' Honor swept into the system, utterly ignoring the potshots that Madren's Majesty threw at it. Sensors were being jammed across several spectrum, but life signs were present on that ship. The Denali? It wasn't clear. There had been no further messages and the drone swarms that were still massing between him and the carrier showed no sign of getting out of his way.
That was fine with the Gorn in command of the Juggernaut. Drones were drones and Federation drones were pretty much a joke. He had faced them during the Klingon War and while the number of drones here did convey a sense of unease, there was simply no way they could mount weaponry like the Iconians had. He had faced their drones on many occasions. Viruses that shut down entire ships, fighters and even escorts that rammed and detonated their warp cores when needed, drones that created portals to ferry in reinforcements, bolster shields or project solar radiation as direct attacks, they had been terrifying both in scope and efficiency. Federation? Not so much. They all seemed to be armed with phasers, which in mass would do damage. He would not let them.
"If they won't move, we will move them." Ssaak'll said with a growl as the range narrowed. "Fire."
He didn't need to say anything aloud, everything was done via direct neural commands. But it felt right to snap that and see the huge gob of plasma arc away from the side pod of the Juggernaut. The Plasma Disintegrator was one of the most feared Borg weapons. Their beam arrays, tractor beams and torpedoes could tear ships or almost any size to pieces, true. But the huge glob of plasma that radiated fell green power as it flew through space would vaporize just about anything that was unlucky enough to get hit directly. Simple proximity to such raw power had been known to tear smaller ships apart in passing. The Borg generally didn't want to waste potential resources like crew or technology, but when facing some foes, such as the Undine, they had learned it was better not to try and assimilate.
The Gorn smirked as the ball of plasma tore into the hundreds of drones that barred his path and the resulting detonation when it reached its programmed destrination incinerated about half of them! Once, a ship he had been on been on the receiving end of such a weapon and he had expected to die. Instead, he had wound up assimilated but… Not quite controlled by their Collective. The resulting mess had cost the Borg over a dozen cubes and smaller ships as well as the ship he now commanded. It wasn't enough to make up for the ship and crew he had lost, but it had been a fine down payment on the pain he would over time extract from the Borg while they kept trying to re-assimilate him. The drones scattered, but just little bit too late and he smirked wider as several of the survivors ignited, residual energy from the plasma blast catching them unaware.
"Oops." Ssaak'll said without sincerity as the drones scattered wider and then swooped back towards the Denali, trying to shield it from his fire. Not that he had any intention of blowing the carrier out of space while Jhinis or her brother might be aboard, but they didn't know that. After the Aenar were safe? That was another story. A quick check of his sensors and he shook his head. There was no way to know which ship had the prisoners on it. He would have to do it the hard way.
He blinked as a small tendril of thought impacted his. It felt almost Iconian, just like the message before had but not quite. It wasn't words, not quite. Images. One of a pod encased in ice, surrounded by Ferengi. The other a bloody table with a pitiful form strapped to it while a white furred form worked nearby.
"Where are you?" The Gorn inquired and there was a moment of confusion from the other before an image of the Denali appeared in his mind. "Thank you." Ssaak'll said quietly. "Protect yourself. This is going to hurt." He growled. "This going to hurt a lot of people."
Another quick thought and an absolute torrent of fire lanced out from the Juggernaut. Madren's Majesty was halfway through another firing run when it caught four plasma beams and a high yield torpedo squarely across its bow. Its shields were strong. Not that strong. At the same time, two incredibly powerful beams tore into the Denali's shields as well, lancing right through them even as the drones of his crew isolated the carrier's shield harmonics and moved to neutralize them. The carrier's shields, even stronger than the Ferengi's, simply faded all around the ship! So many people saw Borg ships as simple starships like other races fielded. Anyone who had fought them knew better. They were so much more than metal. They could be beaten, true. But it was far harder than most who had never faced them would believe. Not because of ships, technology or even the fearsome Plasma Disintegrator. No, the worst weapon that the Borg had was what Ssaak'll was going to unleash next.
Part of the Prince's mind was focused on the space battle which was paused as both ships struggled to recover from the Juggernaut's sudden and devastating attack. Both of the ships apparently had crew members who had faced the Borg before. Both put all power to engines, trying to get clear of what they knew was coming when their shields went down. Too late. The terrifying green tractor beams that were one of the hallmarks of the Borg lashed out in two directions, holding both ships in place as Ssaak'll gave the command.
"Board."
Transporers flashed across the Juggernaut as Gorn drones disappeared from his ship to reappear on the other two. Through the drones' sensors he heard screams both in Ferengi and in several Federation languages as his drones took the fight to the enemy. He didn't know where the bridge of the Ferengi ship was, Ferengi liked to change things as the mood took them. But the Denali's bridge was exactly where the blueprints for the Jupiter class said it would be and none of the Federation crew had a chance as a dozen Gorn drones appeared in their midst. None of the bridge crew showed signs of being controlled, but Ssaak'll was in no mood to take chances. Wide angle stunners swept the deck. All the crew but the captain fell to lie still. The human stood, clearly confused as Gorn drones surrounded him. Two of the drones moved to the computers, accessing what they could.
"Where is she?" Ssaak'll demanded through the closest of the drones. The human gawked at the Gorn drone and Ssaak'll was not about to dither. The drone grabbed the human's arm and held him despite his sudden struggles. "Where is Nuna?"
"You will get nothing from me!" The human blustered. He tried to swat his combadge, but another drone has his other arm and he was going nowhere!
"If I have to assimilate you to get the information, I will." Ssaak'll said with sneer. "I will enjoy that. You won't. We haven't killed any of your people yet. Do not push us!" A blip of information crossed his mind from the data taps and he snarled. "Deck Seven. You better pray I am in time, you idiot!"
A hiss and the human fell to lie still. Another hiss and the Anesthizine gas would keep the entire bridge crew unconscious for some time. Hopefully long enough for the boarding teams to rescue those they had come for. It had no effect on the drones of course. Along with the bridge, Main Engineering had a team of drones that took it by storm. Another doze of Anesthizine subdued that compartment and yet another took out the Command and Information Center. None of the drones paused longer than the time it took to set a basic lockout of the ship's systems They didn't have time to capture the whole ship and that wasn't their mission.
At the same time as the boarders on the Denali were assembling on Deck Seven, Ssaak'll watched the other boarding. On the Ferengi ship, it was all screams and running. None of the Ferengi crew put up a fight as the Gorn drones fanned out. Two of them accessed the ship's systems, bypassing Madren's pathetic attempts at computer security with ease. Then they hit a brick wall!
"Crap!" Ssaak'll said as dark golden computer power slammed into his drones. He withdrew them as quickly as he had sent them, sequestering the ones who had been hit by the AI. They would need to be vetted but for now? He knew where the AI was and he wasn't even surprised. Such a lame plan had 'Madren' written all over it. "Disable."
Beams lashed out from the Juggernaut, slamming into precise spots on Madren's ship. Engine exhausts, power conduits, sensor clusters, weapon hatches, the beams struck everything his crew of drones could identify that would not destroy the ship. They paid careful attention to anything that could transmit data. The AI would try to access the Juggernaut. It was only a matter of time, but Ssaak'll had over two hundred drones tasked to keep the ship data secure. Hopefully, that would be enough.
Screams from the Denali took his attention back to that action. Federation crew were mounting a defense of sorts. They were trying anyway and they knew how to fight Borg. The problem was that Ssaak'll had access to all of the tech the Alliance used to fight the Borg. Some of it had come from him! Re-modulated Federation phasers lanced out to hit Gorn drones and did nothing but make a brief green light show. He had known he was going to board a Federation ship, so had set his drones to be protected from phaser fire. He knew how the common re-modulator worked and knew how to counter it. Even the phaser cannon that a Ferengi in Starfleet uniform tried had no effect at all beyond staggering a couple of the drones with the sheer impact.
"Stop that!" Ssaak'll snapped through the closest drone as the Ferengi threw her cannon away and drew pair of knives! "We are not enemies, you silly woman!" Every one of the Federation crew gawked at the drone as it talked! "We are trying to save your lives, you fools! Get out of the way!"
The Ferengi did not listen and threw herself at the drone who caught her in mid-air! The drone was holding her by the arm as she tried to slash it with the other hand, bu the knife glanced off the drone's carapace. Another drone stepped close and a puff of Anesthizine had the Ferengi slumping unconscious. The drone holding her set her down carefully and then turned to where the rest of the Federation team were gawking.
"Well?" Ssaak'll demanded through the drone. "Are you going to move?" The Security forces looked at one another and then as one, they formed a rank across the hallway. They weapons were useless, so they held them like clubs. "Idiots!"
"Don't hurt them." Came from the mind that touched his before. From how the Denali crew reacted, this time it was audible as well. So familiar and so not. "They are not to blame!"
"As you wish." Ssaak'll replied as the drones laid down a series of Anesthizine grenades in the midst of the Federation line. Most of the Federation crew went down to the gas, but one did not! The Andorian wore a respirator mask that she had apparently just tugged on and her weapon was different. Not a phaser. It looked like a Polaron weapon. Hard to tell what kind until it fired, but since his drones were not protected from such, it would likely hurt or kill drones until they could adapt. All were ready to move, accepting that. Someone else did not!
"Commander Tarsi! NO!" Came from the other mind. "They are not enemies! They are trying to help!"
"Borg don't help people!" The Andorian snapped, aiming.
"They don't. I am not Borg." Ssaak'll said through his drone. "You are not my enemy today, Federation! When T'Ket gets here, she will kill everything in this system. I want to rescue Jhinis and her brother. No more. The AI is on the Ferengi ship and I will deal with that when the Aenar here is safe."
"AI…" The commander paused. "What are you?" She asked the other.
"I don't know." The other mind said weakly. "I haven't been awake long. Mary's fear and pain woke me. Jhinis' fear, her bother's agony have goaded me to act. I just… I can't let this happen. Please, Commander. Let him pass. He hasn't killed anyone. Not yet. Do not be the first, please?"
"Borg don't kill if they can help it." The Andorian snarled, clutching her weapon. "They are not that nice!"
"You are right. They are not." Ssaak'll snarled just angrily. "I am not Borg." He repeated. "I am not a member of their Collective. They keep trying to re-assimilate me and it doesn't work so well for them."
"Re-assimi-…" The Andorian broke off in mid-word. She stared at the Gorn drones and then she breathed a soft word. No, a name. "S'Sakill." Was that awe in her voice?
"No longer." The Gorn Prince was just as quiet. No awe from him, just sadness. "I have not been called that since I refused to kill all of these. Since I defied my father's wishes to leave them to their fates. I had to try and free them. I knew what honor was even if my father and brother had no clue. The King and Crown Prince got what they wanted. Their 'problems' are gone and forgotten."
"Not forgotten." Tarsi lowered her weapon and bowed her head. She stepped aside. "None dead?" She all but begged.
"No." Sssak'll reassured her. "We used Anesthizine, not nanites. They should all be fine if you can get out of this system before T'ket gets here."
"Thank you." Tarsi said with sigh as the drones passed her.
"You are welcome." Ssaak'll sent to her as she bent to check the fallen.
The drones were at a locked hatch now. A quick scan showed it armored under the paint. The door was on a network separate from the ship's computers. Wise if what was going on in there was what he feared.
"Protect yourself." Ssaak'll said to the other mind. "We will subdue her. Is there anyone else in there?" They could not scan past the door.
"Just me and the Aenar. Please hurry. I fear he is dying." The other begged.
"For some, death is a surcease from pain." Ssaak'll said quietly as the drones readied their weapons. "But we will do what we can."
The armored door was an obstacle he understood. Cutting said armor was possible, but would take a great deal of time. Blasting it open was much faster, but put anyone and everyone beyond it in peril. Accessing a lock built by a paranoid spy agency would likely set off all kinds of alarms. The drone mounted sensors could not scan beyond the door, but in all likelihood, there was an open space just beyond it. That was common to all species that used doors. Open space on both sides. That came from the days when doors swung in or out on hinges, but it also served to allow people to pass one another in the threshold.
One of his drone produced a tiny sphere and Ssaak'll waited impatiently as said sphere vanished in a puff of green energy. Seconds later, the tiny probe relayed its readings from the other side of the door.
One room. Two life signs. Space beyond the door.
"Go."
Before his verbal command had finished reverberating across the chamber the Gorn leader stood in, the drones had site to site transported to the other side of the door. The room was as he had been shown. Nuna working at a counter, a blood splattered table in the middle with a sad form on it. He watched through the drones' ocular implants with no small amusement as Nuna spun from where she had been working on something, her face ashen before it blanked. She wore an apron that was covered in blood and gore. Only when she took a step towards the table, did Ssaak'll speak through the drone again.
"Stay away from him, you bitch!" The drones marched forward, arm weapons up as Nuna stared at the oncoming horde. She showed no fear, she simply shook her head.
"You cannot stop what I have done." The Catian said with a smile of cold malice. "I have done it. I have destroyed the Iconians!"
"If you are referring to the piece of garbage you put inside Mary's energy, it was sloppy according to them." Ssaak'll treasured the look of shock that crossed the mad Catian's face for a moment before vanishing. "They have dealt with far better attacks along that vector."
The drones were by the table, but it held two forms, not one! One was bloody. The other was not. The Aenar lived, his chest rose and fell, but his vitals were worrying. It was the other one that had Ssaak'll pausing. The android form was proportioned like a female Andorian. It was easy to see she was synthetic, since her skull was laid bare in three places and many lights flashed in sequence against her metal casing. That paled. Her right eye was missing and in the cavity, energy flared and faded! The Aenar's right eye was also missing! That was the eye Mary had been saying was being 'stabbed'. One or both of them were connected to the girl somehow.
"You have done enough harm, Doctor." Ssaak'll said as two of his drones moved to flank her. She still tried to look calm and in control but he could see her tension, her hands flexing slightly to ready her claws. "You have had a long, tiring day being a megalomaniac witch. Nap time."
"I will be exonerated when they realize what-" Her words cut off as one of the drones laid a hand against her skull. A flash of neural energy and she fell into its arms. Not content to simply knock her out, that drone and the other who was close started working to restrain her. They would take care to control her claws. Ssaak'll knew all about those.
"Crazy quack! If you are lucky, you will just be shot and not be turned over to the Catians or Ferasen as you so richly deserve to be." The Gorn said with growl as the other drones fanned out. Several moved to release the restrained forms, other searching for whatever they could find. The Aenar was in shock and the android immediately swept him up in gentle arms when she was released.
"He needs help." Came from the android! The energy that poured from her wounded eye socket felt Iconian to Ssaak'll. The feel was distinctive.
"We will." Ssaak'll promised. "We have a medical ward ready for him and you. We also have a cell for the doctor that she is not going to get out of. Will you let us help you?"
"I…" The android looked around and then at the shivering Aenar in her arms. "Yes. Mary trusted you. I will as well."
Green transporter energy swept across the room and in moments, nothing would be left there but sour memory and some blood. She was calm as the Borg transporter took her and her burden along with all the drones that had been aboard the Denali.
"You helped her." Ssaak'll said gently as he moved part of his mind to where drones had reconfigured a medical ward. The android and Aenar appeared there. The doctor would reside in a temporal stasis cell until he decided to let her out. Or if he decided to. "Set him on the table and we will care for him. You need help as well. Everyone wondered who called the Heralds to Mary's aid. That was well done."
"She was crying, lost and alone." The android laid the hurt Aenar on the table and stepped back as drones moved close, medical gear did not relax even as they started to work. "She was ready to die if needed to save her friends from the Romulans. I could not just ignore that. I wasn't sure what to do, but that felt right. I guess I am in trouble?" She sounded so young and lost.
"No." Ssaak'll said quietly as he shifted his focus to the other ship and the other problems it held. "Family in need calling to family for help always resounds." Sadness hung in his words. "Well, almost always."
"Family?" The android asked, confused. "I have no family."
A tone sounded and Ssaak'll paused as a ship appeared at the edge of the system. An Iconian Baltiim raider class ship. One of T'ket's. It would not be alone long. He fought a sigh. It had been too much to hope for that they could be gone before she arrived.
"Yes, you do and the really angry members of said family just arrived."