A/N: And now it changes. This will now be where everything changes. Total alternate timeline. One where our favorite couple actually stands a chance. Also, the previous chapter focused sort of in Beverly's point of view. In a way, I guess. But here, you will see more of Jean-Luc and Locutus' point of view. From their very different perspectives. Jean-Luc's thoughts will be in italics.

Previously: "Jean-Luc. It's Beverly. Can you hear me?"

"Beverly. Crusher. Doctor." Locutus sat up and scanned the room. He was on a ship. The Enterprise- the human, Picard's, ship. My ship. They risked everything just to rescue me. Ah, hell, Number One!

"The Borg will not leave Locutus. It is foolish of you to risk an entire ship for one man, Number One." Riker visibly tensed at the term, the name that his Captain called him with endearment. "Resistance is futile. We will assimilate you."

"Jean-Luc, you need to lay back down." Dr. Crusher's blue eyes peered intently at him. The laser pointed back at her. She was only human. The technology was what they needed, wanted, desired. He swung his legs over the side of the biobed. The other humanoid pulled a phaser. Such simple technology. He knew what it could do. The human Picard knew what it can do. He could kick my ass in a heartbeat. Let him kill me.

"Worf. Klingon. Your species will be assimilated too. Resistance is futile." He was a skilled fighter, but predictable. The Klingons were a dedicated species.

"We will not assist you. We would rather die an honorary death than serve the vile that calls itself the Borg." Worf practically spit out the words, his disgust covering his anguish for his Commanding Officer. Locutus, however, was already evaluating the other one in the room.

"Data. Android. You are inferior." The human Riker had a strange grin on his face. Data? Inferior? Ha. The laugh from the human Picard was dry and heartless. Before anymore could be said, a Red Alert sounded through Sickbay.

"Trio to Riker." The normal composed voice of the ship's counselor hung heavy with fear. "We have a situation on the bridge. The Borg have-Ahh!" She shrieked into the comm device and it was cut off suddenly. Captain Riker exchanged a look with the doctor before motioning to Worf and Data to follow him. Dr. Crusher reached for a hypospray to incapacitate Locutus, but was met by the swift backhand of his mechanical arm. He had to rejoin the collective. The Bridge- they have come for him on the Bridge.

"Jean-Luc!" The desperation in the red-haired female's voice was pathetic. She was also bleeding from the scrape he had put on her cheek. Beverly, I'm so sorry. "Security to Sickbay." Locutus walked out of the automatic doors and down the corridor. Accessing Picard's memories he directed himself towards the Bridge to rejoin the collective. The Doctor picked herself up off the floor where she had been thrown when he made contact with her face and followed him out.

It was complete chaos on the Bridge when Locutus entered. There were four security officers already unconscious or dead at the hand of the three Borg that had beamed aboard. Worf and Riker were in a struggle with one of them. Data was in the process of disassembling one of them and the rest of the security team was trying to subdue the last one. Deanna Trio was bent over Wesley's limp figure, holding her bleeding arm.

"Will!" Deanna cried out in desperation as their new captain was thrown across his bridge. "Data! We need a plan!" Dr. Crusher rushed out of the turbo lift with three medical officers behind her. She immediately rushed up behind the Borg Worf was presently struggling with and administered a sedative. Locutus moved to intercept the threat. He threw one of security officers to the side and with his human hand, grasped the doctor around the neck.

Beverly gasped for air as Locutus shoved her against the wall. She was a threat to the collective. The threat must be eliminated. No! Please, no! Not her. She clutched his hand trying to save her life.

"Jean...please..." she sputtered. Blood stained her face from where he had hurt her earlier and he could feel his fingers bruising her neck. But it was her blue eyes that were filled with pain; an excoriating pain. I'm killing her, of course she is in pain. I am killing the woman I love. Beverly...my love...Please...whoever you are. Locutus spare her. Please, I need her, even if I am not alive. Spare her. "Jean-Luc..."

Beverly felt the room spinning around her. She could hear Deanna's cries and Worf's orders, along with Data's sudden presence trying to pull Locutus from her. Suddenly, the machine that used to be Jean-Luc Picard released her. She fell to the floor sputtering as she tried to acquire the much needed oxygen. Her world seemed frozen.

"What happened?" asked Worf. Sure enough, all of the Borg had stopped fighting and were staring into space. The Medical team jumped into action and Data knelt next to the CMO with a tender hand on her shaking back.

"I believe they just felt an overpowering emotion," stated Deanna tentatively. Wesley had regained consciousness and Will was picking himself up off the floor.

"Emotion?" The new Captain joined where Data and one of the nurses (whose name he could never remember) were kneeling next to Beverly. She was trying to hold back the tears that threatened her eyes.

"Love." The word seemed so simple when the Counselor said it. "I think Captain Picard's feelings overwhelmed the collective. I felt an extreme sense of love before they stopped resisting."

"The Borg are not capable of love," spat Worf.

"But Captain Picard is." Deanna stood up, holding her arm to her side tenderly. "If his feelings for Dr. Crusher are as strong as I think they are, this might be the Ace we need. Beverly, can you talk to him?" Using Data for support, the doctor fought her way to her feet. Her voice was hoarse and broken from the pressure on her vocal cords when she finally spoke.

"I know it's still you, Jean-Luc," she whispered. One hand still gripping Data's arm tightly, she reached out and touched the little skin still showing on his face. "Please don't leave me. Jean-Luc, I need you." Tears streaked down her face; the left side stung as the salt of her tears seeped into the open wound he left.

The man in front of her, not the machine, the man reached up and grabbed her wrist. Everyone was holding their breath as the next words were forced out of Locutus' mouth.

"I'm sorry." The grey eyes that had replaced his hazel stared deeply into hers. At that moment the other Borg in the room disappeared. However, in the middle of the Bridge another Borg appeared.

"I am the Borg," stated the female that had just materialized. The Borg Queen had boarded the Enterprise.