The time of the Borg, part 6

Pleased to be out of the President's obsessive personality and also pleased to see his colleague again, Picard saw Data in one of the more comfortable rooms in the base. The President's men had at least understood that Data was a prisoner of import and had made him at ease whilst he gave them information. Although that last part alarmed Picard. 'What did you tell them, you shouldn't strengthen these people,' he said to Data, sitting down beside the android. Data looked at Picard with his strange human/artificial head and with his equally strange habits. 'Well, you know I have read accounts of civil servants in democracies in the 20th and 21st centuries. Now sometimes their elected masters would issue strange instructions to them which they had to follow in spite of the fact that the civil servants had years of experience in their departments. Now what they did was to obey but in a manner which was useless to the politicians. Too much information, the wrong information, or information given in such a manner to be intelligible. This is what I have been doing. And I have been learning information from them. In fact, I think I have learned more about this planet than they did from me.'

Picard frowned. 'Very well. But I hope you have been careful, you might be given useful information without realizing.'

'I have been careful, thank you. Recently, I have just been giving a thesis on dark planet magnetic teleportation,'

'Sounds fascinating,' said Crusher dryly who was there also. She then jumped as there was a nearby explosion and the floor shook. It sounded like the base was been bombed. Machinery hummed and whined. Beverly Crusher became frustrated trapped in an even more comfortable cell. 'Look this is interesting but shouldn't we be doing something to get out of here. I have the feeling that important time is running on and we are missing out on some action,' she looked imploring at Picard and Data.

'We can do our best, but remember we are unarmed. And locked in,' said Data.

'So we will have to be patient, but yes, you are correct, something is happening,' said Picard.

'May I be of service?' said a voice. Picard jumped and looked down. There was Q with his usual characteristics. These Picard would recognize anywhere

'What can you offer now,' snapped Picard.

'Firstly I can put you back on track with your mission. I can give you a chance. I can re-unite you with everyone. And put you with the President on a rather vital moment in galactic history. Oh, and watch out for the guards. Ta-ta!' Q vanished again and 3 of Picard's lost colleagues re-appeared. Picard looked around. He had been transproted as well, to an interesting room full of Borg experiments. It looked familiar, then he gasped in recognition. This was the very room where he and Crusher had first seen the Borg way back on their first landing on this planet. This time, he saw President Richard standing beside a large clear chamber oozing yellow light and with emerging figures inside. Figures he would recognize anywhere. Borg! It was a strange thing but it looked a lot like some of those chambers that mad scientists used to make their creations in 20th century earth science-fiction. Smoke bubbled from liquid in the chamber, there was steal switches and buttons controlling the events with screens showing various types of graphical information for the benefit of the Borg creators.

'What is going on?' asked Captain Picard.

'What is going on, the President is about to commit suicide,' said Nyder dryly.

'You make that sound like a bad thing,' coughed Riker.

'Nothing of the kind, my Borg have been born! I will set an example by joining with them. My dream, my love, my reason for being, the saviour of my people, my Borg!'

One of the watchers who was exasperated was Nyder. He gripped the President roughly by the shoulders. He was expressing the opinion of many, but not all of those watching 'Mr President, there is no need for this. The saviour of our people or their destruction. We don't know enough about your creation to know for sure what they would do to us. Look we are on the verge of making some kind of deal with our enemies. There is not a need for this, You stay there you will die for sure!' Many of the other Gorbians watching were unsure, wondering what to do. Riker was considering taking a shot at the President before he could enter the chamber, he still had a phaser on him. Unfortunately, galactic providence in this case was against him. He just couldn't get a clear shot on the President, who know was beginning to be clouded in yellow smoke emitting from the Borg chamber. So he was as helpless and as much as a spectator as anyone. President Plantangent was now almost becoming godlike, stretching his arms as though welcoming in his Borg children. Though as often is the case with creations, this came at a price for the President.

Watching the drama unfold, Picard looked down. He noticed that Q had decided to stay after all.

'Iconic moment in your Galaxy's history, I wouldn't want to miss this,' he explained. 'Nyder is correct for once you know. That President is way too close to that Borg chamber for his own good. There is plasmic radiation in there which will destroy him as surely as a phaser. His physical body at least though his brain could survive as part of the Borg collective. Although looking at it actually he does not seem to mind.'

'Possibly his lifelong ambition. But can't you do something here, aren't you omnipotent,'

'Doesn't mean that I can do everything,' Q joked possibly.

On this occasion, Picard didn't mind a little qip. It lightened the dark mood of the scene ahead of him unfolding. The President stood in front of the chamber, and adjusted a few switches. He was now inside the chamber, covered in yellow light and none could stop him. Riker did have a look at the President and thought about shooting him, but with all the people about, could not get a clear shot in time, The President had one last but important speech to give. 'I die. But I die so that my Borg can live. I will be part of their conscience for decades,' cried he, then he crumbled and spoke no more. As he died or became part of the Borg collective, the Borg slowly emerged from their chamber. Much to the alarm of many of those present. Some where shot at, but this had little effect. The Borg slowly walked around the chamber. One looked at Nyder and said,

One who was almost impressed was LeForge. 'You know, if there is a spectacular way to go, that is one spectacular way,' said he.

But now the Borg emerged slowly from their chamber to the alarm of many present. Some shot at them as they slowly, methodically, smoothly clicked into place and walked around the room. Bullets had no effect upon the metallic creatures. One of them, a leader said to all of those non-Borg, 'You are now going to be part of our collective. We will exist as one together. Resistance is futile.'

As Claire was wondering what to do now, she heard Q say, 'I think it is time to do you another favour.' And he clicked his fingers. Claire felt a buzzing sensation then looked around. She was on the Enterprises' shuttle. But over Gorbia. There was much lights and flashing from the planet. The Borg were taking over. It was a good thing that they where way above Gorbia space as the Borg were conquering everything on it, with the superior technology which they possessed, Any resistance to them on the planet was been crushed. She looked down on the shuttle's control panel. It looked like the Borg where now in total control of the planet. The Borg units where everywhere, resistance had been crushed and those Gorbians left where becoming part of the Borg collective as promised by the Borg leader. Borg craft where beginning to circulate around Gorbia's stratosphere.