What Price Freedom?
by Christina
Inspired by an original story by Yatokahc, Christina and anonymous
Act 4
Seven was proud of Icheb as she watched him prepare the working regeneration chambers for use. He had come far-perhaps in some ways, further than she had. He had purpose, he made friends easier than she did. He belonged on Voyager. She turned and walked away, not caring that her constant shadow, Crewman Brannon, had returned to Voyager after falling and breaking his arm. His replacement had not yet arrived.
She continued to worry that Axum had not responded to her message. She tried a couple of times from Voyager with no success. She'd hoped that the Trefla's Borg systems would be more effective. Was he still on the other end of the galaxy; had they settled...Was he even alive?
She made her way to the scout sphere. She'd already determined that the access codes were intact and the ship unscathed.
A soft thump stopped her.
Seven turned to face the sound, her phaser drawn. Four ghastly looking individuals stood there. "What do you want?"
"Borg," one hissed as he leaped forward. It didn't take much effort to avoid his attack; he collapsed behind her. She grabbed the second attacker, and twisted his arm. He sank to his knees, his face twisted in pain. The others backed away.
"You attack me because of my implants?"
"You are not purified, you are a threat to us."
"I am not the danger-you are." She lifted him off the ground easily; he was too scrawny and sickly. "I am alive because of my Borg implants, you are weak and dying because you have rejected yours." She placed him gently on the ground. "Go to the medical bay and get some help."
"They are using Borg medicine."
"Because that is what will save your life." She looked at the other two attackers, the first attacker was still unconscious behind her. She started to kneel to check his pulse.
"Death before assimilation," they cried and rushed her. She fired three times. The attackers fell to the floor.
"Seven to Commander Chakotay."
"Chakotay here. Seven?"
"I have four to beam to the medical bay." She knelt beside them. "I was attacked, and despite using stun, two have died."
"I understand. Lieutenant Ayala and a security team will be there. Chakotay out." The four vanished.
Seven stood slowly, her hand rubbed her own ocular implant. Could they not realize that to be free of the Collective did not mean having to die?
"Commander?" Harry turned to face the commander, the regenerators forgotten at the grim look on the other's face.
"Seven's been attacked," Chakotay said angrily. "She's fine, but she did kill two of her attackers. We're trying to help them..."
Ayala's voice interrupted the conversation. "Commander, Seven is refusing to return to Voyager."
"Damn," Chakotay growled. "Tell her..."
"Commander Chakotay," Seven's voice said. "These are my people. I have to help them. I cannot help them if I am on Voyager. Please?"
Harry wondered at Seven's almost plaintive plea, so did Chakotay, if the surprised expression on the Commander's face was any indication.
"Never mind, I'll be right there." Chakotay glanced at Harry and motioned for him to follow. "I should force her to return to Voyager at phaserpoint."
"That would be interesting."
"I doubt it would be interesting..." Chakotay muttered. They both turned as a bright light splattered on the wall next to them. Harry had his phaser out, but neither man had a chance to return fire: they both collapsed as a white phaser blast hit them.
Seven glanced around, then looked at Lieutenant Ayala. "I wish to continue working until Commander Chakotay arrives." Ayala hesitated then nodded.
"Go with her," he ordered the two guards with him.
She didn't argue. At least she could continue helping.
"Commander?" Ayala said into his combadge. When he repeated the word again, she stopped.
"Is there a problem?"
Ayala didn't answer. "Ayala to Commander Tuvok, I'm not able to contact Commander Chakotay."
"Welcome back, Commander," the Doctor said with a smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Like someone shot me."
"That's not surprising, since someone did shoot you."
"And Harry?"
"Lieutenant Kim will make a complete recovery. So will you."
"That is good. Doctor, I need to return to the Trefla." Chakotay rubbed his neck as he noticed the regulation sickbay blues he was wearing. "Where is my uniform?"
The Doctor hesitated. "I am sorry Commander, but for the next three hours you and Lieutenant Kim are in isolation. Your clothes were destroyed. They were contaminated."
"What happened?" Chakotay growled.
"Someone jabbed their assimilation tubules into you and the lieutenant. You were both contaminated, but the bio-filters recognized the bacteria as being foreign. I want you under observation to make sure."
"Damn them all..." Chakotay rubbed his neck angrily. He knew the skin had been regenerated, but he knew exactly where the tubules had been placed. The exact same place Riley had used.
"It was just one, Commander. Lieutenant Tuvok and Captain Janeway are over there now trying to identify your attacker."
"Damn, she shouldn't be allowed over there. Someone over there wants us dead. We can't trust them."
"Commander, Commander Tuvok has already increased security onboard the Trefla. And speaking of the captain, she was most concerned about you." The Doctor motioned for Tom to approach. "Lieutenant Paris will sedate you if you cannot remain calm. It is only three hours."
"Gee, thanks," Tom said. "Any chance I can be assigned to garbage disposal instead?"
"Use that sedative on me, and you'll be in sickbay for the rest of our trip." Chakotay glanced over where Harry Kim. "How is he?"
"He's taking advantage of his vacation and sleeping," Tom said with a smile. "He'll be fine."
"At least let me have access to a computer." Tom glanced at the Doctor who nodded.
"Sure thing, Commander. Would you like something to eat? The mess hall is closed: we can replicate some food for you, if you want?"
"Water..."
"Not the Antarian Cider?" Tom laughed when Chakotay glared at him.
Captain Janeway glared at the two security officers who stood before her. Three of her crew had been attacked within a few minutes of each other. All three had been beamed back to Voyager. Seven had gone reluctantly.
Doctor Miller and Sakat stood behind her: it was painfully obvious that they were deeply disturbed by these events. "Captain," Ayala said, "our Doctor has managed to isolate the attacker's DNA from Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Kim."
"You understand, I want this person." Janeway turned to face Miller and Sakat. They nodded. "We'll imprison them for the duration of our stay. I don't want anymore such incidents."
"We understand. I can't believe anyone would want to do this. You are trying to help us." Miller looked at the floor.
"I can," Sakat said. "I worried that using Borg technology would anger someone. Illogical as that may be."
She agreed with the illogic of the attack. She nodded when Commander Tuvok entered. "Commander?"
"Captain. We have questioned Seven's attackers. One admits they were ordered to attack her by their leader."
"Find this leader," Janeway said, her hands on her hips.
"No one knows who the leader is."
"I see. Do what you can. Maintain the increased security while our people are still here."
"Understood, Captain," Tuvok said. He glanced at Dr. Miller. "We have analyzed the DNA recovered from Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Kim. The attacker was a human female. Dr. Miller's DNA does not match."
"That is a relief," Miller said with a smile.
Janeway turned to Commander Tuvok. "You believe the two attacks were related."
"I have nothing to base that conclusion on," Tuvok said. "But considering the militant anti-Borg sentiment, yes I do. We are looking for members of these groups."
"Commander, keep me informed."
"Aye, Captain." Tuvok made a sharp about face and left. She started to speak, but Neelix's shout stopped her.
"Captain," Neelix asked quietly. "How is the Commander?"
"He has regained consciousness."
Neelix sighed. "That is excellent news. And the cure? Will we still complete the treatments?"
"Yes, of course." There were a number of 'buts' that Janeway thought of adding, but she left them unsaid. "We're ready to begin."
"And we are ready." Miller glanced at Sakat. "We have survived the treatment for three hours. Our link to the others was very weak before the treatment. I could feel more than hear the thoughts of those nearby. Now I can't hear the thoughts of anyone." She smiled. "It's scary yet exhilarating."
"It is pleasant to have my thoughts to myself," Sakat added.
"We have lined up the first group of volunteers for the treatment." Dr. Miller smiled. Voyager's Doctor had started working with Miller in designing a protocol for replacing limbs, eyes, and other body parts destroyed in the deassimilation process, and those lost in the initial assimilation.
"Sarexa and her group will be amongst the first to undergo the cure!" Neelix said after Sakat and Miller had left.
Janeway nodded. Sarexa and her group's desire to leave the Trefla was greater than their fear of the Borg-tech cure. "That is good news."
He looked away quickly, then smiled again. "Yes, it is. It is a symbol of hope."
"Do they know where they are going?"
"They passed an uninhabited planet six months ago. Sarexa says they will return there," Neelix said with a sigh. "I hear the Trefla may look for other liberated Borg. I don't know if they even know why."
"We know they are out there," Janeway said. "Axum, Korok, and others. We've not heard from them."
"Oh. I was hoping Axum had responded to Seven's message. She is very worried."
"Seven sent a message?" She knew that once there had been more between Seven and Axum than simple friendship. Janeway wondered why Seven hadn't told her about trying to contact Axum.
"She is curious how he is," Neelix said. He waved at someone, and his smile grew as a Talaxian female approached. "Captain, this is Sarexa."
"Sarexa, I'm pleased to meet you."
"Captain," Sarexa said as she took Neelix's hand. "Promise to stay with me while they do this." He smiled at her, then glanced at Janeway who nodded.
Poor Neelix, she thought. He'd found the one Talaxian on this end of the galaxy, and she was leaving soon.