Chapter 81.
Drone.
(Scott POV)
I was on the Bridge as Tom, B'Elanna, 7 and the Doc was in a shuttle checking out a Nebula.
"We're receiving a distress call from the away team," Harry said.
"They've been engulfed in the shear line of the Nebula," Tuvok said.
"Full impulse, Bridge to Transporter room 1, Stand by for emergency beam out," I said.
"We're close enough, their energizing," Harry said.
"How they got them," I said.
"Not yet," Harry said. "We've got them,"
"Helm get us away from the Nebula," I said.
"Aye Captain," He said.
As we moved out of the way.
XXX
It was the next day. As I woke up with Chloe and Clara, Laying next to me.
As I managed to get off without waking my girls up, I head and get ready for work, Getting a shower and into my uniform, Then grabbed a bite to eat and Coffee. After that I went to Check on my girls Woke were still asleep as I kissed their heads and headed out of my quarters for the Bridge.
"Captain's log Supplemental, This protonebula seems to have a mind of its own, It's still expanding with no ends in sight, We're holding at a safe distance to monitor it's growth, End log," I said.
As I got up and headed into the ready room.
As I went over a few things as I got to the report from B'Elanna that we were almost ready to go for a trial run with the Hyperdrive. Even if it's for 5 minutes, We can tell how long we can stay in it and how long till we can go again. Then.
"Red Alert, Captain to the Bridge," Chakotay said as the Klaxons were going red.
As I got out there.
"Report," I said.
"We've detected Borg on the ship Deck 8 Science lab, Tuvok is heading their was a security team, 7 is joining them," Chakotay said.
"How many," I said.
"No idea," Chakotay said.
"Wait isn't the Doc's mobile emitter in there," I said.
"Yes, B'Elanna was working on repairing it," Chakotay said.
"Harry Scan for Borg ships," I said.
"I have, But I'm not picking anything up, They can't even be in that Nebula," Harry said.
"Use every scan we got find out where they could be if their is any," I said.
XXX
Not long after I was down there, With Tuvok and 7.
"Where did it come from?" I said.
"I believe it was created here in the science lab," 7 said. "When the away team beamed back to Voyager, there was a transporter malfunction, our patterns merged briefly, It is possible that some of my nanoprobes infected the Doctor's mobile emitter,"
"They began to assimilate," Tuvok said.
"Yes," 7 said. "Nanoprobes are encoded to utilize any technology they encounter, Once it assimilated the emitter, it began to transform this diagnostic station When Ensign Mulcahey entered the room, They sampled his DNA"
"Using his genetic code as a template to create a life form," I said. "What about Mulcahey,"
"The Doctor has reported the Ensign Mulcahey is fine, and will recover," Tuvok said as something happened.
"The Drone has increased in mass by 17%," Tuvok said.
"It's maturation rate is 25 times that of a conventional Borg," 7 said.
"Tuvok, Erect a level 10 forcefield around this section, Post round the clock security," I said.
"You intend to let it mature?" Tuvok said.
"The alternative is to pull the plug, and I'm not prepared to do that, Not unless I have to," I said. "Resume your analysis, I want to know exactly what we're dealing with here, Or should I say whom?"
"Yes Captain," 7 said.
XXX
"Reactive Body armour, Multidimensional adaptability, Internal transporter nodes," I said.
"The Drone possesses superior technology, It will fully mature in less than 2 hours," 7 said. "However it's Borg shielding is not yet active, We can still terminate it But we must act quickly,"
"Hold on a minute, 7, I want some answers first, What normally happens when a drone disengages from the maturation chamber," I said.
"It awaits instruction from the collective," 7 said.
"So without those instructions, it has no designation, Right," I said. "No purpose,"
"Correct," 7 said.
"If we can keep him from interfacing with the collective, maybe we can give him a purpose," I said.
"Captain," 7 said.
"This is the most advanced drone ever to exist, We could teach him our values 7, we could show him what it means to be an individual," I said.
"If we fail, If the Drone were to be assimilated, the collective would become far more powerful," 7 said.
"What I'm proposing is the only defense we have against that possibility, short of murder, and that's an order, I'd prefer not to give, As I recall 7 there were a few crew members who had similar doubts about you," I said.
"The situation is different," 7 said.
"Is it a Borg, disconnected from the collective, Unsure of its identity, A potential threat, but we succeeded, We're going to pull the same trick again, Only this time, you're going to be the teacher," I said.
"I am to instruct the drone in the ways of humanity," 7 said.
"Think of it as first contact, And you are our ambassador," I said.
"Can't believe I'm letting you talk me into this," 7 said.
"Maybe you are letting your humanity in," I said as 7 just looked at me and left.
XXX
It's been a day and 7 brought the drone up here.
"Greetings, our designation, My designation is one," 1 said. "How are you today?"
"I'm just fine, thank you," I said. "1?"
"He request a designation, 1 seemed appropriate," 7 said.
"And how are you today,1," I said.
"Well, thank you, Captain McCall," 1 said.
"Adapting to life on Voyager?" I said.
"Yes, to date I've assimilated 47 billion teraquads of information on a vast variety of subjects, including particle physics, comparative humanoid anatomy, Warp field theory and the culinary delight of the Delta Quadrant," 1 said.
"Mr. Neelix, They've been spending time together," 7 said.
"Is your assessment of me complete?" 1 said. "Am I sufficient,"
"Why yes, More than sufficient, In fact I'd say you were making excellent progress, but this isn't an assessment 1, I simply wanted to meet you," I said.
"With your permission, I would like to be excused, I've agreed to assist Lt Torres She wishes to increase the efficiency of the Bussard collectors," 1 said.
"Permission granted," I said.
As he left.
"You've done a remarkable job," I said.
"Thank you," 7 said.
"Not only has he absorbed an incredible amount of knowledge in a matter of days, but he seems to be fitting in with the crew and developing a distinct personality," I said.
"He is adapting quickly," 7 said.
"Then why do I get the feeling something is bothering you," I said.
"He has been expressing curiosity about the Borg," 7 said.
"Ah, And you're worried that if he learns about them, he may be drawn to the collective," I said.
"Yes," 7 said.
"Maybe we should tell him what he wants to know," I said. "I'd rather he learn about the Borg from us than the collective,"
"The lure of perfection is powerful, Captain," 7 said. "He may be tempted to seek out the Borg, That would pose a grave tactical risk,"
"Well we can delay telling him for now, but keep in mind, the drone is becoming an individual, 7, he has the right to know," I said. "Sooner or later, we'll have to answer his questions,"
XXX
"Captain, I'm picking up a borg signal," Harry said.
"From where," I said.
"Cargo bay 2, It's the drone," Harry said.
"Tuvok," I said. As we got there with a security team. As we got in position as 7 woke up.
"Captain?" 7 said.
"The drone transmitted a Borg proximity signal, Wake him," I said.
"You contacted the collective," 7 said.
"No," 1 said.
"Check his transceiver," I said.
"You deactivated my transceiver 2 days ago," 1 said.
"It appears your cranial implants have adapted and created a secondary Transceiver," 7 said.
"A Borg fail safe device," I said.
"Precisely," 7 said. "have you detected any vessels,"
"Long range sensors picked up a transwarp conduit, A ship is approaching," Tuvok said.
"Time to intercept?" 7 said.
"Approximately 3 hours," Tuvok said.
"The Borg," 1 said.
"Yes," 7 said.
"I wish to meet them," 1 said.
"7," I said. "I think it's time we showed our drone what the Borg are all about,"
"Agreed," 7 said.
As we got to Astrometrics and showed 1 about the Borg.
"The Borg have assimilated thousands of species," 1 said.
"Correct," 7 said.
"What becomes of those species," 1 said.
"Their neural pathways are restructured and linked the a signal collective mind, The hive," 7 said. "Their bodies are augmented with cybernetic technology, They become drones,"
"I wish to experience the Hive mind," 1 said.
"If you did that, you'd no longer be unique, They Borg would destroy your individuality," I said.
"And that is undesirable?" 1 said.
"Very, The Borg are the most destructive force we've ever encountered, They've assimilated Billions of Individuals against their will," I said.
"You were assimilated," 1 said.
"My link to the Collective was severed," 7 said.
"When you were in the collective, You assimilated others," 1 said.
"Yes," 7 said.
"You call the Borg destructive, 7 of 9 is not," 1 said.
"That's because she's regained her individuality, But if the Borg had the chance, They'd take it away from her again, They'd assimilate everyone on Voyager, With your advanced technology, The Collective would become even more destructive, We have to prevent that from happening, But we can't do it without you, We need your abilities to enhance our defenses, Shields, Weapons, Will you help us resist them?" I said.
"7 of 9, Do you wish to rejoin the collective," 1 said.
"Voyager is my collective," 7 said.
"I will need time to assimilate this information," 1 said.
As the Klaxons went Red.
"All hands to Battle stations, A borg vessel is approaching," Chakotay said.
"We just ran out of time," I said. Heading for the Bridge.
Once I got there.
"The Borg vessel's moving into Range," Chakotay said.
"On Screen," I said.
"Long range Tactical vessel, Transwarp capability, Ablative hull armour," 1 said.
"We're being scanned," Harry said.
"They're preparing to attack, You must help us enhance our shields," 7 said. "This station will give you access to the shield generators,"
"They are hailing us," Tuvok said.
"Open a channel," I said.
"We are the Borg, You will be assimilated, Resistance if Futile," Collective said.
"I can hear them, in my mind," 1 said.
As we rumbled.
"They've locked on a tractor beam," Tuvok said.
"The Collective is calling to me," 1 said.
"I hear it too," 7 said. "Billions of voices speaking as one, We must resist that voice, The Crew of Voyager will be destroyed if we don't,"
"Our shields are remodulating," Tuvok said.
"We're broken free," Tom said.
"Can you enhance our Phasers," I said.
"Yes," 1 said.
"Do it," I said. "When he is finished target their propulsion systems, Tom, Get ready to jump to Warp,"
"Enhancements complete, You may fire," 1 said.
As it hit us.
"What happened?" Chakotay said.
"They inverted our phaser beam with a feedback pulse," 7 said.
"They just took our our warp drive," Tom said.
"Your technology is limited, I cannot enhance it further, I must interface with the collective, I can disrupt their vessel from within," 1 said.
"They will try to assimilate you," 7 said.
"They will fail," 1 said.
"Harry lock onto the drone," I said.
"That won't be necessary," 1 said as he was beam off.
"Tuvok," I said.
"He's inside the sphere," Tuvok said.
As we got hit again.
"Shields down to 29%," Harry said.
"Use ZPM 1 and beam them back," I said.
"I have Shields are holding at 89%, But I don't know long for," Harry said.
"He's accessing their navigational controls," 7 said.
"It's heading directly for the Nebula," Tom said.
"If they get too close their hull will collapse," 7 said.
As the Sphere exploded Shaking us.
"Stand down Red Alert," I said.
As the Klaxon went back to normal.
"Tuvok Secure all stations," I said. "Organize damage control Teams, Chakotay,"
"Captain, I'm reading a life sign in the debris," Harry said. "It's the drone he survived,"
"He's erected a multispatial forcefield around his body, but it is weakening," 7 said.
"Get a lock on him, Beam him to Sickbay," I said.
"We got him, Captain, He's there," Harry said.
XXX
I was told an hour later that the Drone die from it's injuries and let himself die. Then Let the Borg get hold of him. As B'Elanna got Warp drive back online. As we went to Warp.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all.
PEACE!