What Price Freedom?
by Christina
Inspired by an original story by Yatokahc, Christina and anonymous
Yersa's death just confirms what we have believed," Cretia said to Nelem and the small group of armed drones behind him. "We cannot allow the nanoprobes to be used on us."
"She is now free of the Borg," Nelem said. "And now we must work to save ourselves. We have discussed your plan. It is a good one."
"I know." She smiled. "Voyager has supplies, medical treatment, and working weapons. It will be enough to carry out our plans."
"And we can use their medical facilities to create a treatment that doesn't involve Borg nanoprobes?" Nelem asked.
She nodded as she studied the group of thirty. "We will have to use Borg technology to win the fight though."
"We accept that. It is a small price to pay for our freedom from this place." Nelem glanced behind him. "I've picked the most healthy. They will have to transport the rest of us over when they have captured Voyager."
"Excellent. The repairs to the transporters are complete. It is time to begin our plans!"
"To freedom," Nelem said. The others repeated the phrase.
Seven waited in transporter room one. She'd wanted to beam over with the Captain and Commander Tuvok, but her request had been denied. She wanted...
No, she needed to be over there. The Treflans had to be given every chance to survive. Like she had been. Captain Janeway had offered her a place on Voyager. A home.
Yet, she felt restless. A year ago she would have been honored to accept Janeway's offer. Now she wasn't sure: maybe she felt she deserved better than a lieutenant's commission. Maybe she just didn't know where she fit in. Voyager was her home, but Voyager's destination was the Alpha Quadrant. Would the citizens there accept her?
She glanced up as the lights blinked and Paris' voice filled the airwaves. "This is not a drill. Intruder alert on decks eleven and two. All hands, battle stations."
Seven pulled out her phaser and bolted out the door. The lifts had been locked down, so she made her way to the nearest Jefferies tube.
"Seven to the bridge, what is happening?"
"Seven? I can barely hear you," Paris said. There were several crackles. "We believe thirty of the Treflans have beamed over. Half beamed to engineering, the other half are trying to storm the bridge." His voice faded out. She turned to face the sound behind her.
"Voyager's resident Borg. Think you are safe here?" Cretia said. Her rifle was pointed at Seven.
"I do not understand."
"No, you wouldn't. So safe and cozy here. Do you have any idea what hell is being played out in the Collective?"
"Yes, I do. You will not succeed in capturing Voyager."
"That is exactly what we shall do. And with Voyager we can be free of all things Borg, and take our revenge on our enemies." Cretia started to cough.
"And die. Without the cure, you will all die."
"We will use Voyager's technology to save us. Here there are the resources..."
"Resources 'tainted' with Borg technology. This ship is loaded with that technology."
Cretia shrugged. "Then we'll remove it." She took a step forward. "How can you stand to look like that. Keep those...those metal things on your body, a constant reminder of how you've been violated. It's so Borg. You can never be free of the Collective."
"This is who I am," Seven said. "It is who you are too." Seven held out her hand. "You do not need to do this."
"Death over assimilation!" Seven rolled quickly as Cretia fired, and then fired back.
Janeway had just spent ten agonizing minutes not knowing what was happening on her ship. From Tom's initial report of the attack until just a moment ago, she and Commander Tuvok had been unable to return to Voyager, or even know what was happening. The ex-drones had been overwhelmed by her crew quickly with minimal damage to the ship, and the apparent ring-leader was dead. The danger was over, the attackers were to be returned to the Trefla. A few had even decided to undergo the treatment.
"Cretia of all people," Dr. Miller said.
"Cretia had been reluctant to undergo the treatment," Sakat said. "Perhaps that should have alerted us."
"Perhaps, but she was not alone in that reluctance," Janeway said.
"I never suspected her," Miller said sadly. "Captain Janeway, you and your crew have worked so hard to save us, yet we have tried to take your ship,"
"It was not your fault," Janeway replied.
"It is politic of you to be so understanding," Sakat said. "But we should have foreseen their actions. Their fear of Borg technology was well known."
"You could not foresee this action," Janeway said. "Cadet Icheb has advised me that he now has enough nanoprobes to finish the job."
"We have made a ship wide announcement and sent out emissaries. Many of us have hidden rather than risk being attacked." She glanced at Sakat. "We still have many problems to overcome."
"Engineering is working on the replicators and energy supplies. Lieutenants Kim and Carey believe they will provide most of your needs. And Neelix has designed a series of hydroponic gardens."
"Most of our needs," Miller said, "Do you know how hard it is for us to trade, let alone have a conversation with any ship or government?"
"I can imagine. We've not had great luck either. Perhaps you can find a planet to settle on?"
"It is an idea we have discussed. We've also discussed finding other freed Borg and uniting with them. Perhaps a world where freed drones can feel safe."
"I understand. Word of Yersa's death is already spreading. Those who invaded our ship say that Cretia blamed the nanoprobes for Yersa's death. Cretia's DNA matches the samples taken from Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Kim. And we have learned she had been secretly supplying information to Nelem's group."
"Cretia knew that Yersa never had a chance to be treated." Miller glanced at Sakat. "We have no choice but to tell our people. And the prisoners?"
"We are willing to return them to the Trefla."
"We will provide a secure area until you are safely away," Sakat answered
Epilogue
Janeway moved to stand next to Chakotay on the bridge of Voyager. "Open a channel," she said.
"Channel open," Harry replied.
"Voyager to the Trefla."
"Trefla here. Captain Janeway, we wish to once more thank you and your crew for all you have done for us and endured." Dr. Miller appeared on the screen, a big smile on her face. Behind her stood Sakat. All that remained of the sores were some small scars. The EMH had left the specifics for replicating and using the nanoprobes to connect prosthetic devices.
"And we wish you good luck." Janeway raised her right hand, fingers parted in the Vulcan salute. "Live long and prosper."
Miller smiled, "Thanks to you, we will. Farewell."
The image vanished. "The Trefla is going to warp," Harry said. The transwarp coils had been too badly damaged to simply open a transwarp conduit." The ship vanished, leaving the smaller scout sphere. Another image appeared on the screen. Neelix stepped forward.
"Sarexa," he said. "Good luck to you."
"And you, Neelix. I shall remember you. You have a kind heart." Sarexa smiled. "Farewell, Captain Janeway, Commander Chakotay."
Then they too vanished. The space around Voyager was devoid of any ships. After a second of silence, Janeway ordered that they resume course to the Alpha-Quadrant.
"Captain, we're being hailed," Harry said. She could hear the puzzlement in his voice. "It's for Annika...Seven."
The Doctor stopped walking. Seven was talking with someone. He picked out the word 'Axum' and saw her smile.
She so rarely smiled, he thought, that such moments were usually a wonder for him. He closed his eyes. Perhaps he'd been wrong to tinker with his programming over the years. He'd added things no hologram was supposed to know.
Things like emotions. He'd felt guilt and remorse, and had several times asked permission to return his holomatrix to its original state. The Captain had refused.
But watching Seven smile like that, caused a bittersweet ache he couldn't describe.
"Doctor?" He shook his head to end his reverie. "Did you need to see me?" Seven was standing in front of him.
"I just wondered if you had found your friend."
"Axum is alive." Again she smiled at his name.
"That is excellent news." He managed to maintain a neutral expression.
"Yes, it is. His fleet is in the Delta Quadrant. They found a colony of former drones...Their colony is flourishing, but Axum does not like how they keep order. They helped repair his ships, but it is not the place he would like to have the former Borg live."
The Doctor placed a hand on her shoulder, then quickly removed it. "They must decide for themselves..."
"But how can they?" she asked angrily. "They are still too Borg. They have no free will!"
He couldn't answer-she was right.
"Excuse me, Doctor, if there is nothing else, I have a message for Commander Chakotay."
Chakotay smiled as B'Elanna entered his office. "Well, Lieutenant, your engineering department once again handled themselves professionally and competently."
She smiled at him in return. "Thank you Chakotay. I'll let them know."
"You know, they might have been even more efficient if you didn't contact them every few minutes."
B'Elanna crossed her arms and stared at him. "I needed to be kept up-to-date, and since I was ordered to remain on Voyager...Anyway I only contacted them every hour or so. I have an idea for the transwarp." She shrugged. "The Trefla was too badly damaged to provide all the information I needed. It is a complicated plan. There is just too much that can go wrong-and we've had too many disappointments. I'd rather not tell anyone so no one is disappointed if it doesn't work."
"Curious logic. You have Starfleet helping, perhaps it is time to have your shipmates help?"
She shook her head vehemently. "No. At this moment, I don't even know exactly what I'm doing. When I have a better grasp what needs to be done..."
"B'E, the rumor mill for the past three months has been very active. I'm sure most of them know."
"I rather liked the rumor about creating a better coffee formula." He smiled at her attempt to change the subject.
"So did I." The doorchime interrupted whatever else he planned to say. "Enter."
Seven entered. "Commander, I have contacted Axum."
"So I understood. How is he doing?"
"They have been fighting. He wishes to find a safe place for his people. In his travels, he has met with many freed Borg." Seven hesitated. "He sent me a message for you. I have sent it to your terminal. Good afternoon, Commander." She turned and left.
Chakotay glanced at B'Elanna who just shrugged. "What message would Axum have for me?" He pulled up the message.
"Well?" B'Elanna asked.
"It's not from Axum." He stared at screen, debating just hitting the delete button.
"Should I go?" B'Elanna asked. He shook his head and activated the short message. B'Elanna moved to where she could see the image.
Chakotay ended the recording with a disappointed sigh. He wasn't surprised at Riley and the New Cooperative's wait and see attitude. Let others do their fighting seemed to be what they were best at. He leaned back and glanced at B'Elanna. She shook her head.
"Kahless! QamvIS Hegh qaq law' torvIS yIn qaq puS!"
"What freedom? They may like living on their knees," Chakotay said. Riley and others decided that a mini Collective was better than the anarchy that had threatened to overwhelm them."
"I still don't believe it."
"Riley, Cretia..." He sighed. "She used me."
"Cretia or Riley? Or both?" B'Elanna asked. "Cretia decided that having power was more important than life. Riley wanted order. They both did whatever it took to reach those ends."
He shrugged in frustration.
"Chakotay, she used all of us." B'Elanna grinned at him. "You should watch out for blonde former Borg."