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

Kathryn glanced up from Chakotay's report and smiled at her first officer. "I want a complete report on the progress in repairs." It was perhaps the only bright spot of the sixteen hours they'd been assisting the Treflans. Chakotay nodded.

"I'm beaming back over as soon as we finish here."

"Excellent, Chakotay. Neelix is working with a group to create a series of gardens. He thinks those gardens will produce enough food to make them self-sufficient in a year."

They both frowned as the door slid open, and Icheb ran into her ready room. He came to attention. "I have it, Captain! I know how we can cure them!"

"Your exuberance is noted," Chakotay said with a smile. "Cadet Icheb, it is usually better to ask permission before bursting in. First year cadets learn appropriate protocol in dealing with senior officers."

Janeway watched with interest. Tuvok had kept her informed of Naomi and Icheb's progress. But all things considered, odds were good that both would be officers before they returned home.

"Oh. I'm sorry, sirs," he turned to leave.

"Wait, Cadet. I can tell your information is important. What have you found?" Janeway said.

The young man took a deep breath. "Actually, Naomi, Cadet Wildman, gave me the idea."

"Naomi is a very astute young woman." She leaned back in her chair. "And this idea?"

Icheb hesitated. "I know how to cure the Treflans. Captain, perhaps the Doctor should be here?" Kathryn quickly made the contact. She watched Icheb with a small smile. He was at that age where he still showed his enthusiasm-something she hoped he never lost.

"So," Janeway said to fill the time as they waited for the Doctor. "How are your studies going?"

"I have not had much time recently to study," Icheb said with a frown. "My time is better used in other endeavors." He relaxed slightly as the Doctor entered the room.

"Captain, Commander, Icheb. Is there a problem?"

"No, no," Janeway said. "Your protege has a plan."

The Doctor turned to face Icheb. "Yes?"

"I know the Treflans are leery of anything Borg, but the modified nanoprobes may be the most effective way to regenerate the tissues and organs damaged by their plague."

"They won't allow it..."

Icheb raised a hand. "We don't have much choice. While you can cure the disease, there is no way, outside of long series of treatments, to repair the damage. We have no choice but to convince them to let us do this. The nanoprobes I modified with my virus are effective in regenerating damaged tissue. Captain, may I?" He motioned toward her computer terminal. She nodded. "The virus that I had been working on."

"The one that destroys the neural link completely." The Doctor looked thoughtful for several seconds. "It's the best idea anyone has had."

"We could use the central processing unit to disseminate it," Icheb said. "But without regeneration units to pass it to the survivors, it will be time consuming."

"Lieutenant Kim reports they have about a thousand regeneration chambers working. Cadet Icheb is correct, it would be the most effective way to administer the quantities needed." Janeway stood and joined the Doctor as Icheb made the changes to show how his virus-nanoprobe would work. Chakotay stood behind her, watching the images of nanoprobes on the screen. She shivered. Safe or not, she did understand why the Treflans feared them.

"We would only need to inject a few special nanoprobes. The Treflan nanoprobes are basically inactive-the new ones would use the modified virus to reactivate them-to help with repair of damaged tissue." Icheb touched a few buttons, and the image shifted to show a damaged nanoprobe being repaired. "The neural links would be completely disengaged and eventually destroyed."

"Thus alleviating their fears of reassimilation." Janeway nodded thoughtfully. "Commander, can you convince Yersa and others in the leadership?"

"I don't know." She glanced at him quickly, wondering at his lack of enthusiasm in his answer.

"The few introduced nanoprobes would use Borg technology in their bodies," Icheb said. "We wouldn't be introducing many. Maybe twenty-five, thirty per individual."

"It's not the numbers involved," the Doctor said. "It's the Borg technology."

"It's the only way," Icheb said. "The nanoprobes will save their lives. Eventually they will be able to safely remove those implants that remain."

"Gentlemen, I believe we have a plan." She shook Icheb's hand. "Excellent work. How much time will you need?"

"An hour," Icheb responded. "I have enough to do maybe a thousand at first. Captain," he stood straighter, "I volunteer to be the first patient."

"No," Chakotay said. "It will have to be the Treflan leadership. They are paranoid enough over there." They all looked out the viewport at the damaged ship.

"Commander, please notify the leadership," Kathryn said. "Icheb, Doctor, prepare what you need."

"Aye, Captain," both the Doctor and Icheb said together.

Chakotay closed his eyes to adjust to the even greater darkness of the, what for a Borg, was considered a small room. He opened them slowly and located Cretia and the prone figure in the corner. He knew: they were too late. If only they'd had the answers sixteen hours ago.

Cretia glanced up at Chakotay and smiled sadly. "She will be pleased you are here." She motioned with her head for him to join her. Doctor Miller and Sakat moved to join them as well.

Chakotay crouched. "Yersa?"

Yersa coughed violently. "Take care of my people..." The coughing drowned out anything else she was going to say. Eugenie Miller knelt beside him.

"Yersa, please. Voyager's Doctor can save you. Commander Chakotay says they have a cure."

"No time. It's more important to save the others."

"Yersa, please." Miller closed her eyes. "Without you there is no chance."

"No single person is that important," Yersa's voice faded. She reached out to touch Chakotay. "The spirit was right. You will take care of my people." The hand went limp.

Sakat placed a hand on Dr. Miller's shoulder. "We need to proceed with the Commander's plan. Yersa wanted it this way."

Cretia stood slowly. "But we can't let anyone know that she has died. It would be chaos."

"Cretia's correct," Sakat said. "We need to continue as if she was alive."

"Lie?" Chakotay stood quickly. "Yersa wouldn't want you to lie to your people."

Dr. Miller shook her head. "It's not lying, we'll inform them after the treatment is complete."

"A half truth is as bad as a lie," Chakotay retorted.

"How would you know?" Cretia said angrily. "You don't understood the air of suspicion and fear here. You live on a healthy ship, with others you can trust." Cretia stormed out of the room.

Sakat spoke quietly, "But what choice do we have? Your plan involves Borg technology. Without Yersa's authority, we will never convince the rest to go along, and it will all be for naught."

"Commander Chakotay, Sakat and I agree that we must be the first to receive this treatment. To show that it is safe and that we will not become Borg again," Miller said. "Come, we will make the announcement of the treatment."

Chakotay shook his head, maybe they were right. The power struggle that would follow the announcement of Yersa's death would interfere with the cure. And possibly put Voyager's crew at risk. "Chakotay to Voyager, we are ready." A second later, Voyager's doctor and Icheb appeared in front of him.

Voyager's doctor glanced around and saw Yersa's body lying on the floor. "I was afraid this would happen. We may have trouble convincing..."

Chakotay interrupted angrily, "They aren't going to tell anyone until afterwards. Let's just get started." He walked out. He still was not convinced this was the best plan-but it was their ship, not his.

"Commander!" Neelix shouted at him. "I have a request."

Chakotay watched as the two Talaxians approached-leave it to Neelix to find the only Talaxian on the ship. He smiled as he realized Neelix's friend was female. "Neelix, what can I do for you?"

"Commander, this Sarexa. She and about fifty others would like to take the scout-sphere and find a safe haven."

"The Trefla will be safe. Icheb has found a cure..."

"That is excellent news, Commander," Neelix said. Chakotay wondered why he didn't smile. "Sarexa, you really should..."

"Is it Borg?" she asked.

"Yes. It is a specially modified nanoprobe..." Chakotay started to say.

"I don't want to be reassimilated."

"Icheb has created a special nanoprobe that will break your neural link," Chakotay said.

Sarexa hesitated. Chakotay recognized her reluctance to use Borg technology. He started to say he understood that reluctance, but Neelix had the answer.

"You wish to leave the Trefla so you can live free," Neelix whispered, "but why bother if you aren't willing to live?"

"Yes," she whispered. "I will do it. Commander, the Scout Sphere?"

"This is something that you really need to discuss with Sakat and Dr. Miller."

Sarexa nodded. "Sakat has already given his permission."