The two separated sections of the Enterprise stood face-to-face with the Borg ship which appeared to be taking no offensive action whatsoever. "Captain, we've sustained damage to the impulse drive." Shelby reported, "The saucer section is disabled."
~8~
"Reading subspace field fluctuations from the Borg ship." Gleason reported, "Looks like they're getting ready to increase power."
"Stand by, Mr La Forge." Riker said into the comm
"Aye, sir." La Forge acknowledged
"The saucer section's a sitting duck." Wesley said to himself
"Prepare to draw their fire." Riker ordered
"Captain, the Borg ship... it's moving away." Bailey spoke up. And sure enough, on the viewscreen everyone could see the Borg ship warp away. "It's resuming it's course towards Earth, sir." Bailey reported
"Rendezvous with the saucer section." Riker ordered Wesley, "Lay in a course of pursuit."
~8~
As soon as both sections of the Enterprise had reconnected, Riker headed to sickbay, where Dr Crusher was examining Locutus. "There's extensive infiltration of microcircuit fibres into the surrounding tissues." she reported, "His DNA is being rewritten."
"Can you revive him?" Riker asked her
"I'd like more time to study the structural changes in the motor pathways..." Dr Crusher began
"Doctor, we don't have anymore time." Riker told her, "Once he was wired into the Borg, they knew everything he knew. I'm hoping it goes both ways. If we're lucky, he had access to everything we need to know about them... especially their vulnerabilities."
Dr Crusher understood what Riker was getting at. Although she didn't like it, she complied with his orders and used a hypo to revive Locutus. "Jean-Luc, it's Beverly." she said as he began to stir, "Can you hear me?"
Locutus' eyes shot open. "Beverley... Crusher." he stated
"Yes... don't try to move." Dr Crusher said
"I am... on board the Enterprise." Locutus stated
"That's right." Riker confirmed
"A futile maneuverer." Locutus said and sat up. "Incorrect strategy, Number One... to risk your and crew to retrieve only one man. Picard would never have approved. You underestimate us if you believe this abduction will be of any concern."
Worf, who was standing guard began to reach for his phaser.
"There is no need for apprehension... I intend no harm." Locutus said, "No harm. I will continue aboard this ship... to speak for the Borg... as they continue, without further diversion to sector 001 where they will force your unconditional surrender."
Just then, Data's voice came over the comm. "Captain Riker and Dr Crusher to the bridge."
Riker tapped his combadge. "On our, Data." he said and he and Dr Crusher left sickbay.
~8~
Riker and Dr Crusher arrived on the main bridge to find Data working at Science I. On the monitor was an Okudagram showing some signal measurements. "Using multimodal reflection sorting, I have been able to detect a complex series of subspace signals between Locutus and the Borg ship." Data said
"That's how they're controlling him?" Dr Crusher asked
"It is not just a matter of control, Doctor. The signals are interactive across a subspace domain similar to that of a transporter beam." Data said, "I would hypothesize that these frequencies form the basis of the Borg's collective consciousness."
"Can't we block them?" Riker asked
"Possibly." Data replied, "But as you will recall, on several occasions, we have witnessed the Borg removing key circuits from injured comrades... no doubt separating them from the group consciousness."
"The injured Borg immediately self-destructed." Riker nodded
"Correct, sir." Data confirmed
"Cutting the link to Locutus may be fatal to Captain Picard." Dr Crusher cautioned
Riker thought this over. "We have to find a way to reach him... we must know what he knows."
"Without these interactive signals it would only be a matter of microsurgery, I could do it. But as long as those Borg implants are functioning, there's no way I can separate the man from the machine." Dr Crusher sighed
Data turned to her, an idea forming in his positronic net. "Then perhaps there is a way I can access the machine, Doctor." he said.
~8~
Worf and his security deputies watched as Locutus examined sickbay. After surveying the technology, Locutus turned to Worf. "Worf, Klingon species. A warrior race." he stated, "You too will be assimilated."
"The Klingon Empire will never yield." Worf said defiantly
Locutus seemed confused by the Klingon's defiance. "Why do you resist? We only wish to raise the quality of life for all species."
"I like my species the way it is!" Worf retorted
"A narrow vison." Locutus dismissed, "You will become one with the Borg. You will all become one with the Borg." Riker, Data and Dr Crusher entered sickbay at that moment. "The android... Data... primitive artificial organism." Locutus stated, "You will be obsolete in the new order."
Dr Crusher promptly injected Locutus in the neck with a hypo. Data and Worf grabbed him as he fell unconscious. "Take him to your lab, Data." Riker ordered and Data and Worf complied.
Just then, Shelby's voice came over the comm. "Shelby to Riker."
"Riker here." Riker acknowledged.
"Captain, the Borg have entered sector 001." Shelby reported.
~8~
The Borg ship dropped out of warp and chugged past Saturn, it's destination: Earth, nothing to stop it from accomplishing it's goal now.
Author's notes: And here's the penultimate part of this novelisation, just one chapter to go. This is the shortest chapter, but act four of Best of Both Worlds pt2 is quite short. Next time it's the grand resolution of this huge crisis. So keep an eye out for it. Goodbye for now.