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"Captain's log, supplemental. The Enterprise remains concealed in the dust cloud and to my surprise, the Borg have maintained their position, waiting for us to come out of hiding. I have no explanation for their special interest in me or this ship. We continue to prepare our defences for the inevitable confrontation. But, I must admit, on this night I contemplate the distinct possibility that no defence may be adequate against this enemy."

Despite his efforts to try and catch a few hours kip on the fold-out bed in his ready room, Picard found himself unable to sleep so he decided to have a good long walk around his ship. Among his many ports of call was sickbay, where Dr Crusher and her staff were tending to the last of the injured crewmen from the earlier confrontation. Picard also called in on Cetacean ops, where he spent a few minutes watching the dolphins and whales swimming around in their cavernous tanks and finding himself envying them right now. When Picard arrived in main engineering, he found it a scene of much activity, with staff finishing the last of the repairs to the hull breaches from the Borg attack, while Shelby, Data, La Forge and Wesley were all huddled around a console working on the deflector dish plan. A few crew members looked up to acknowledge their captain as he walked past. Picard gave them all the nod that he was proud of them all and went on his way.

Presently, Picard arrived in ten-forward, which was dark and deserted, with the nebula prominent outside the windows. "Trouble sleeping?" a familiar voice called from behind, and Picard turned to see Guinan sitting at a table.

"Something of a tradition, Guinan." Picard replied, "Touring a ship before battle."

"Before a hopeless battle, if I remember the tradition correctly." Guinan commented

"Not necessarily. Nelson toured the HMS Victory before Trafalgar."

"But Nelson didn't come home from Trafalgar, did he?"

"No, but the battle was won." Picard said, taking a seat at the table.

"Do you expect this battle to be won?" Guinan asked him

"We may yet prevail." Picard replied, "It's a conceit, but a healthy one." He took a beat. "I wonder if the Emperor Honorius watching the Visigoths coming over the seventh hill truly realised that the Roman Empire was about to fall. This is just another page in history, isn't it? Will this be the end of our civilisation?" He gave a wry smile. "Turn the page."

"This isn't the end." Guinan said sincerely

"You say that with remarkable assuredness."

"With experience." Guinan said wisely, "When the Borg destroyed my world, my people were scattered throughout the universe. But we survived. And so will Humanity. As long as there is a handful left to keep the spirit alive, you will prevail. Even if it takes a millennium."

Picard nodded with appreciation, but before he could say anything, the Enterprise shook suddenly and Picard saw bright flashes outside the window. "Captain Picard, report to the bridge." Worf's voice came over the comm.

Picard tapped his combadge. "On my, Lt." he answered, then he got to his feet and left the room.

~8~

Explosions continued to flash outside the Enterprise as Picard arrived on the bridge. "They're some kind of magnetonetic-guided charges." Riker explained as the blasts came uncomfortably closer.

"Status of shields?" Picard asked as he sat down in his chair.

"Back to 48%, Captain." Worf replied

"Mr La Forge, I may have to take us out of the nebula." Picard said into the comm, "I'll need all the power you can give me."

"Engines are ready, Captain." La Forge replied, "Recommend you adjust shield harmonics to favour the upper EM hand when you proceed."

"Acknowledged." Picard replied just before the ship gave a tremendous lurch.

"Direct hit, deck nine." Worf reported

"Damage report?" Riker asked

"Structural latching system integrity breached." Worf replied

"Take us out of here, Number One." Picard ordered Riker

"Fire up the engines." Riker ordered Ensign Jones, "Half impulse until we clear the nebula then punch it up to warp nine."

"Ready phasers, load forward torpedo bays." Picard ordered Worf. "Engage." he ordered Jones.

~8~

The Enterprise sped out of the nebula and past the Borg ship which immediately went in pursuit.

~8~

"Borg tractor beam is attempting to lock on." Worf reported

"Fire at will." Picard ordered, "Continue rotating shield frequency."

But it was no use. "Shields failing." Worf announced a moment later, then the ship shook violently. "Tractor beam has locked on."

Then suddenly, a Borg drone materialised on the bridge. Worf immediately fired his hand phaser at it and the drone sparked and fell to the deck dead. Then, a second drone appeared on the other side of the bridge. Worf fired at that drone but his shot was simply repelled by a forcefield.

"It's no use." Riker said, "They've already adapted to the new frequencies." He ran at the drone which simply lifted him up and tossed him aside like a rag doll, sending him crashing onto the deck. Ensign Piller rushed over to check on him while Worf charged at the drone only to receive the same treatment.

Lt. Bole then saw a third drone appear directly behind Captain Picard. "Captain!" she warned and jumped to her feet, phaser in hand, but she was too slow and could only watch as the third drone grabbed Picard and they both dematerialised into thin air, while the second drone strode over to the body of the first drone, removed some parts from it and dematerialised too while the first drone simply dissolved into dust.

Piller meanwhile was checking on Riker. "I'm alright." the Commander waved her off and got his feet while Piller resumed her post at Science II.

Worf meanwhile jumped to his feet and upon seeing that his captain had been taken, raced back to tactical. "The Borg ship is disengaging, leaving at warp speed." he reported

"Maintain pursuit." Riker ordered Jones

"Borg vessel has reached warp 9." Worf reported, "9.4, 9.6."

"Riker to O'Brien. Can you get a fix on the Captain?" Riker asked into the comm.

"Negative, sir." O'Brien replied, "There's some kind of interference. I can't lock in on his signal."

Riker gave a resigned sigh. "Senior officers report to the bridge." he ordered.

Worf checked the Borg ship's heading. "Sir, the co-ordinates they've set, they're on a direct course to sector 001. The Terran system."

"Earth." Riker realised grimly. This was getting worse and worse. The Borg had taken Captain Picard and were now heading straight for Earth, heart of the Federation.

~8~

The Borg ship hurtled towards Earth. Inside, Picard found himself being escorted by two drones to the massive chamber he'd seen on the viewscreen during the earlier confrontation. As he looked around in dread, a female voice spoke up from somewhere; "Captain Jean-Luc Picard, you lead the strongest ship in the Federation fleet. You speak for your people."

"I have nothing to say to you, and I will resist you with my last ounce of strength." Picard replied defiantly. He had no idea who this female was, but he remained steadfast and was determined not to let the Borg get the better of him.

"Strength is irrelevant." the voice said nonchalantly, "Resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours."

"Impossible." Picard retorted, "My culture is based on freedom and self-determination."

"Freedom is irrelevant." the voice answered back, "Self-determination is irrelevant. You will comply."

"We would rather die." Picard said defiantly

"Death is irrelevant." the voice waved him off, "Your archaic cultures are authority driven. To facilitate your species' assimilation into ours, I have decided that a Human voice will speak for us in all communications. I have chosen you to be that voice."

"Who are you?" Picard questioned

"I am the Borg." the voice answered, "I am the beginning, the end, the one who is many."

Picard then saw something nearby that made his blood run cold as he realised exactly what was in store for him.

~8~

The Enterprise was in hot pursuit of the Borg ship. "They are leading us into the heart of our own defences." Worf observed as he checked the Borg ship's course.

"So far, they haven't had any reason to worry about our defences." La Forge said bitterly. He was horrified when he found out what the Borg had done. They had literally snatched Captain Picard from right under their noses.

"Commander, if the Borg stay at warp 9.6, we'll be forced to discontinue pursuit and power down in less than three hours." Wesley informed Riker

"Two hours, 40 minutes and 3 seconds." Data added. precise as ever.

"How soon before the deflector is ready?" Riker asked La Forge

"We're close." the chief engineer replied, "Few hours maybe." He knew what Riker was about to say next so he got there first. "I know, I'll get it done in two... somehow. But Commander, I need serious power from the warp engines to make this weapon work and we're using everything we've got just to keep up with them."

"We've got to get that ship down to impulse." Shelby declared

Riker was already working on the problem. "I'm leading an away team over there to get the Captain back. Ensign Crusher, continue to assist Mr La Forge. Commander Shelby, you will take the bridge and co-ordinate with Starfleet. Data, Worf, Dr Crusher, you're with me." He began to head for the turbolift.

"Excuse me, sir." Shelby protested, "With my knowledge of the Borg."

"Those are my orders, Commander." Riker waved her off, in no mood for Shelby's nonsense right now.

Troi then got to her feet. "Commander Riker, it is inappropriate for you to lead the away team." she told him professionally, "Until the return of Captain Picard, you are in command of the Enterprise. We're in a state of war. Your place is on the bridge."

Riker frowned. Every bit of his soul wanted to lead the rescue mission, then he suddenly felt what it took to take command, to delegate authority, to think of the greater needs and it frustrated him no end. "Commander Shelby, you will lead the away team." he said begrudgingly, "Make it so."

Shelby smugly set off to lead the away team while Riker sunk down in the Captain's chair.

Author's notes: And so the Borg have taken Picard. Regarding the female voice that talks to Picard, that's supposed to be the Borg Queen. Over on Deviantart there's a novelisation of Best of Both Worlds by a user names Tiberious47 which has the Borg Queen in that scene. That adaption inspired me to do my own and I followed his example by having the Borg Queen appear, though I've only had her voice be heard. Also note that I had a crew member try to warn Picard about the Borg that appears behind him. When watching that scene, I noticed that only Riker and Worf do anything about the invading Borg so I amended that. So, hope this chapter passes muster and stay turned for the big reveal next time!