Admiral Nechayev's stern face filled the monitor on Picard's desk. He had given all the information he had, including the fact that Data was still alive and now a Borg. To say she was not pleased would be an understatement. Picard knew he had no choice but to accept her anger. In truth, he knew she was right, at least for the moment.

"So Captain," she began, "what I'm hearing is that your failure to examine the Scimitar's debris left a vital piece of Starfleet property for the Borg to find and assimilate. You may have tipped the balance of power in the favor of the Borg and set up the Federation for a long and hopeless war. Now, you say this 'Phoenix' called you 'Locutus' and that you could hear the Borg. Are you sure you weren't acting under their influence and purposely left Data to be found?"

Picard frowned. "Admiral, first of all, Data isn't property, he was...he is a sentient life-form with the same rights as any Federation citizen. Secondly, the Enterprise was badly damaged in the battle with Shinzon. We were in no condition to mount any search for anything. Besides, the destruction of the Scimitar was so complete, it was unlikely that anything would have survived. I still don't understand how Data did survive. Lastly," he said, folding his arms tightly across his chest, "I would never commit treason against the Federation, even with the Borg voices in my mind. I believe I have already shown that in the last battle with the Borg."

"It still leaves us with a serious problem. How do we stop Phoenix and the Borg? Another question is do we want to stop them? Phoenix did say the Borg were more interested in the Romulan Empire right now."

Picard stood up; anger flashed across his face.

"Admiral, there are many Starfleet ships in Romulan territory right now that would most likely be the first to fall if we allow the Borg to infiltrate Romulan space. Further, if the Borg have Romulan technology added to theirs, they would only be a greater threat than the Romulans could ever pose by themselves. Could you imagine the destruction is each Borg cube had a Romulan cloaking device?"

"Relax Captain," Nechayev said, almost apologetically, "it was only a passing thought."

Picard was mollified, but only a little. He decided not to show so much anger to her again. It would only gratify her anyway.

"In any case, Picard, I have thirty ships including the Galaxy en route to the coordinates to do our best to stop them before or during their entrance into Romulan space. I expect you to stay out of it. I don't want to risk that your left-over connection might pose a tactical advantage to them. That's an order Captain. No more heroics like you pulled the last time. Is that understood?"

"Admiral, that order was given the last time as well. I would think you would see the tactical advantage my Borg connection gives the fleet. I knew exactly where to fire to disable and destroy the Cube before it could destroy any more ships."

Nechayev's face loomed closer in the monitor. Picard had questioned her knowledge and she would not accept that.

"Yes, Captain, that is true. But what if that same connection could be used by the Borg to spy on us? In my opinion, that represents too great a risk. My order stands, do I make myself clear?"

Picard straightened his tunic and stood tall.

"Yes, sir."

"Fine, Nechayev out."

Picard reached down and slammed the monitor closed, cracking the screen. His anger would no longer remain hidden. He felt glad that no one else was in the ready room. Such displays were not becoming of a captain. His door chime put that thought to rest.

"Yes, come!"

Guinan strolled into the ready room. Picard always marveled at her uncanny ability to always show up when he needed her the most. She walked slowly to the desk and noticed the cracked monitor laying on the surface.

"I don't like them either Jean-Luc. I find them so impersonal, wouldn't you agree? I think it might make a better punching bag. I've been known to use mine as one once in a while. I guess that's why I don't use it very often, its generally broken."

Picard almost laughed out loud. She had succeeded in calming his fury as only she could.

"What can I do for you, Guinan?"

Guinan sat down on the sofa and folded her hands in front of her.

"Actually, that was going to be my question."

"I don't have a ship's counselor, Guinan. Are you volunteering for the job?"

Guinan smiled broadly.

"Absolutely not. I don't like the office hours and besides, who would run Ten-Forward? I will be your friend and talk to you."

Now, it was Picard's time to smile. Guinan always did seem to possess a beam into his soul. He did need a friend, like Riker and Troi and Data had been.

"I thank you, Guinan, from the bottom of my heart. I could use one right now. Am I the only one who feels that the Enterprise is just a little 'empty' right now?"

"Oh no, Jean-Luc, you're not the only one. It's true. In fact, the Enterprise is more empty now. There was a synergy here before that simply doesn't exist, at least not yet. I know that you feel a certain loss, and yet, the pull of the Borg is strong and it probably always will be. You have a feeling of belonging with the Borg that is missing on the ship right now."

"But I can't let that interfere with what I must do."

"What must you do?" Guinan asked, arching her brow up in an almost Vulcan manner.

Picard lowered his head slowly. Suddenly, the gravity of command decisions pulled down like a great weight.

"I must destroy the Borg cube, and Data with it."

"Why? Why you? Why do you have to disobey an order and be the one who destroys the Borg again?"

Picard sat down next to her. "Because I'm his Captain, and his friend. Data gave his life to save mine, doesn't his body and his soul deserve to rest and not be desecrated like this? I owe him and the Borg have to be punished. I have to be the one who makes them pay."

Guinan nodded her head. "Yes, but you won't be killing Data, you'll be destroying Phoenix and the essence of the Borg will still continue. Go and destroy Phoenix, but don't loose sight of what must done. Data is still alive, in more ways than you realize. He is going to need you, and soon."

"If you mean B4, Guinan, he might look like Data but..."

Guinan held her hand up to stop him.

"I know, Jean-Luc, I know."

With that, Guinan rose and strode for the door. She looked back at Picard again.

"Soon enough, you'll know too."

Picard waited a moment after the door closed, then tapped his badge.

"Bridge, monitor the fleet and set a course to intercept, maximum warp. Red Alert."