What Price Freedom?
by Christina
Inspired by an original story by Yatokahc, Christina and anonymous

Act 2

"Captain."

"Commander?" He'd expected the formal tones of her voice, but he wasn't going to argue. He'd won this round, and she was not pleased.

"The Trefla." He grimaced as remembered something. "I know the name from something. A dream long ago. We were negotiating with the Eromeans. You remember?"

"The Eromeans." She placed a hand on his arm. "You were in and out of a coma for four days."

"I had the strangest dream." He nodded toward the viewport. "At least I'd always thought it was a dream. In fact, until I saw Yersa on that ship, I'd almost forgotten it."

"Yes, I vaguely recall Kes telling me something about your dream. But that was four years ago..."

"I know. Don't ask, because I don't know how any of this is possible, but Yersa was in my dream. I'm sure it was her."

She smiled at him. "Kes sensed some of your vision. She asked me to help the Trefla. Though someday you'll have to explain the time discrepancy."

"I will when I figure it out myself. I promised I would help them." His voice faded.

She placed her hand on his arm. "And we shall help them."

He smiled as he took her hand in his. She pulled her hand away without looking at him. "You need to get going. I expect hourly reports. If there is any chance of our people becoming sick, we'll beam them out."

"Very good, Captain." He smiled at her.

"And our newest crewmembers?"

"Both Cadet Icheb and Cadet Wildman have been assigned duties. Naomi has requested a secondary posting to the medical bay."

"Interesting," Janeway said with a raised eyebrow.

"Naomi apparently feels she needs more practical experience." Chakotay winked.

Janeway chuckled, as he continued. "Has Seven said anything about the commission you offered?

"No. Or rather not yet. I don't understand her hesitancy. She's already in charge of astrometrics, giving her the rank of Lieutenant j.g. is almost just a formality."

Chakotay shrugged. "It's a big step. She'll come around."

"I hope so," she responded. Seven had the potential to be a very good officer, Chakotay admitted to himself-especially once she learned how to obey commands. "Don't you have a mission?"

"Aye, Captain." He winked. "Perhaps you'll have the carpets cleaned?"

She hit his arm playfully as she laughed. "That's your job, Mister. Now get out of here, before I change my mind." Chakotay walked quickly down the door.

She watched him leave, then stared out the transparisteel viewport at the listless cube beside them.

"Seven," Chakotay said after Seven stated her request to join his team, "it's not safe on the Trefla." He had to admit in her blue uniform, the future lieutenant j.g. looked professional...It was somehow still difficult to contemplate the former Borg as a Starfleet officer.

"Commander, the Doctor has assured me that the vaccine will protect me against the plague."

"I'm talking about those on the cube who would rather rip you apart."

"You need someone healthy, who is familiar with the workings of a Borg cube. Captain Janeway suggested I ask to join your away team." Chakotay hesitated. She had an excellent point. Seven's knowledge about the workings of a Borg cube would be very useful.

"Very well." He glanced at Ayala. "Lieutenant. I want a security officer with her at all times."

"Very good, sir." Ayala quickly notified the young crewman on his right of his new duties.

Chakotay had read the reports and seen the images, but he nearly vomited at the sight and smell of the medical bay. He noticed most of the away team members were also pale.

"I'm Doctor Miller," the approaching bald woman said. "I can't begin to tell you how grateful we are for your help."

"Then we should get started." Chakotay hoped getting to work would help calm his stomach. "Lieutenant Carey and..."

"BORG!" someone shouted. The team members glanced around quickly.

"Yith, lie down," Miller said. "You need to rest."

"She's Borg!" Yith replied. He collapsed as he tried to stand up.

Chakotay glanced at Seven then at the hundreds of patients lying around him. "Seven was freed from the Collective over three years ago. Since that time she has been instrumental in helping us beat the Collective several times."

"She might be better off on Voyager," Dr. Miller said. "Yith's attitude is shared by many."

"No," Seven said. "I have to help." Chakotay stared at her for a second, but Seven didn't say anything more.

"She is here to help restore the ship so that it can support you." He glanced back at the patients. "I know that for many of you, anything Borg is evil. I understand how you feel, but you must decide if you want to live or die." He returned his attention to Miller. "Dr. Miller, our own doctor will transport over in a few minutes with his team. He will assist you in dispersing the antibiotics. Now, we will get to work." He ordered the engineering team to follow Seven to the central processing unit. They needed to know how damaged that was, before they could determine how much of the ship could be saved.

Miller smiled. "Thank you. There is someone who would like to meet you."

"Yersa?" He wondered again about the barely remembered dream from so long ago.

"Yes." Miller motioned for him to follow her. Yersa opened her eyes as they approached.

Chakotay knelt down by the prone figure on the floor. "Yersa, I came. I promised I would."

"I knew you would," she choked out. "You are a good person. The spirit was right."

"Spirit?"

"The one who guided me to you." He could barely hear her voice. "I'm a telepath, but for days I couldn't contact anyone. The spirit told me you would help, despite the fact you were in the past." Her eyes closed. He stood slowly.

"She tried too hard to bring the Trefla back to some semblance of sanity," Miller said.

"She's dying?"

"We all are, unless you can help us. I fear what will happen when she dies. Yith and his allies would rather die than associate with anything Borg. They'll kill us all."

"How many dissidents are there?"

"No one knows for sure. A hundred, maybe a thousand. Your Seven had better be careful." She raised her hand. "Ahh, Cretia. This is Commander Chakotay."

The new arrival smiled at him. "I'm Cretia Finney. I work with Yersa." She glanced at Doctor Miller. "I can't find any of Yith's people. Since he collapsed, they've vanished."

"Cretia," Dr. Miller explained, "had arranged a meeting between Yith, Yersa and your doctor."

"I see. Any chance..."

"Not with Yith's people. At least not right now." Cretia placed a hand on Chakotay's arm. "But the governing body would like to meet with you."

"There is a government?"

"Not really," Cretia said as they started to wend their way through the many patients. "It has no real power. No one wants to make any real decisions. They provide support to protect vital systems, but that's all."

"Vital systems?"

"Environmental systems, replicators-except those were destroyed three point two weeks ago. Yith's followers have since targeted internal sensors and the main controls. We've barely managed to maintain a security force. I fear the government will fall apart without Yersa. She's the only one both sides trusted."

"She's not dead yet." Chakotay hoped that the antibiotics would be enough to save her, that it wasn't too late for her. "Our Doctor is providing antibiotics. He's..."

Cretia shook her head. "Once the coughing begins, death happens within hours."

"And you will continue to try to find Yith's people?" Chakotay brought the conversation back to what needed to be done.

"Of course, Commander Chakotay. With their cooperation, perhaps we can end this chaos and destruction."