B4 always enjoyed it when Captain Picard brought him to his ready room. He had such bright and pretty things there that he liked to look at and touch. The captain also had lots of old things than he would let him touch and hold, but only if someone was right with him. B4 guessed that was because they were so old that he was afraid that he would accidentally break them. His friend Geordi had said many times that sometimes B4 didn't know his own strength. Captain Picard said something about Guinan. Geordi talked about Guinan sometimes too and he knew his brother Data liked Guinan, so if his brother and Geordi liked her, then she must be a good person. He also said something about his brother still being alive. That should be a good thing.

"So, my brother is still alive?"

"Yes, he is...in that way."

"I do not understand."

"Your brother is alive, but he's broken. Some bad people are making him do bad things."

B4 cocked his head a little and he tried to make sense of it.

"So, my brother is a bad person...now?"

Picard wouldn't show his frustration. Talking to B4 could be an exhausting exercise in futility sometimes and he could see that this would be one of those times. Geordi questioned his decision to reactivate him, but with the destruction of the Scimitar, Picard could not see how B4 could be used against his will. The method of controlling him died with Shinzon. Still, he had to remember that B4 was essentially a child and had to be treated as such.

"No, B4, he isn't a bad person, but he's not himself right now."

"Will you have to destroy him?"

Picard wasn't expecting that question. A wave of guilt washed over him and he had to push hard to keep it down.

"I hope not, but I may have to."

B4 didn't completely understand, but he would ask his brother the next time his brother spoke to him. His brother told him not to tell anyone yet, so he wouldn't.

"Captain."

Picard tapped his badge.

"Picard here."

"The Borg cube is moving toward Romulan space. The fleet just dropped out a warp, but the cube escaped and the fleet is in pursuit. The Borg have too great of a head start. The fleet cannot catch them in time. The Atlas has been ordered to intercept from Romulus."

"Signal the Atlas that we will join them and set an intercept course. Raise shields."

"Aye, sir."

The alarms went off and startled B4. He still wasn't used to them.

"B4, I think you should go to your quarters and wait there. When this is over, I will come by and check on you."

B4 got up and went to the man by the door. The captain always made sure someone was with him, either in his room are just outside the door. They were always nice people.

"Okay" and he left. Later, his brother would tell him about what was going on, he was sure of that.

xxx

Captains Log: Stardate 58764 .2. We are approaching the coordinates of the Atlas and the Borg cube. The rest of the fleet are right on their heels and I dread what is to come very shortly.

"Captain, I'm receiving a hail from the Galaxy on a secure channel. It's Admiral Nechayev."

Picard sat forward in his chair and straightened his tunic. He knew this was coming and he was prepared.

"On screen please."

Admiral Nechayev's face filled the main view screen and she was not happy.

"Captain, I specifically ordered you to stay out of this. I now order you to stand down and leave the area."

Picard sat quietly and kept his emotions in check.

"Admiral, the Atlas could not have engaged the Borg alone successfully. We were able to get here to help before you and the rest of the fleet could have arrived. I can scarcely believe you cannot see the value of the Enterprise right now."

Nechayev sat back in her chair and relaxed a little.

"Alright Captain, this time, but the next time I give you an order and you disobey of your own volition, you'll be lucky to command a garbage scow and the moment you begin to hear any Borg voices, I want the Enterprise out of here. Do I make myself clear?!"

Picard leaned forward and rubbed his hand across the top of his head once again.

"My plan exactly, Admiral. Enterprise out."

Picard and all the others could see on the view screen the monstrous Borg cube as it streaked toward Romulus and a small blip, the Atlas as it raced to meet it. Behind it, he saw several other streaks of light as the fleet came in to join them.

"How long until we meet up with the Atlas?"

"Less than a minute" the ensign on the Ops console replied.

Picard mulled for a second.

"How long until the fleet reaches them?"

"At least five minutes, sir" the big security officer behind him replied.

"Very well, prepare phasers and photon torpedoes, maximum yield. Target the area on the cube from the last encounter and fire when we're in range. Prepare the quantum torpedoes, but do not fire them unless I specifically order it."

The security officer punched several buttons on his console and prepared the weapons of the mighty ship.

"Weapons ready," he snapped.

In his mind, a familiar rumbling started, like the sound of a hundred people talking at once in hushed tones. Over it all, though, one familiar voice stood out.

Captain, do not do this yet.

Picard shook his head to clear his thoughts and chase away the memory.

Captain, it is me, Data.

"Captain, the Atlas has opened fire. Their weapons are having no significant effect on the Borg EM field."

Picard stood and watched as the cube halted in space while the Atlas whirled around it like an angry bee and tried to find the right area to sting.

"Fire at coordinates 228 mark 4. Maximum yield on phasers, stand by on photons."

"Captain?" the security officer protested.

"Those are my orders. Fire!"

xxx

B4 sat in his quarters, calmly coloring a picture of Data and Captain Picard that Dr. Crusher had been so kind to replicate for him from pictures taken of the two of them. Spot, Data's cat, sat near him and licked the last of his replicated seafood buffet from his paw and whiskers. B4 liked to pet and play with Spot, but he couldn't understand why his brother gave her such an odd name, since Spot didn't have spots, she had stripes. B4 thought he might have to give the cat a new name, like Stripe.

Stabbing pain shot through him like a knife. He screamed, his emotions struggling for recognition. A security officer jumped up and went to the stricken android as he lay on the ground and fought for control of his limbs.

"Make them stop! Make them stop!"

The security officer tapped his badge and yelled into it for help.

"Security to sick bay."

"Dr. Crusher here."

"I need someone in B4's quarters. B4 has been injured."