Picard ran through the ship and avoided everyone he passed as best he could. Lights flickered and various conduits vented and sparked. The engineering teams were already on scene to prepare damage from the battle with the Borg. It could've been much worse and Picard thanked his lucky stars that the Enterprise survived. Sickbay had already informed him that there that although there were many injuries, none appeared to be life-threatening. Of course, no fatalities was the best news of all. Picard knew that the rest of the fleet, mainly the Galaxy and the Atlas were not so lucky. Fortunately, the Atlas was not a big ship and the Enterprise could easily absorb the numbers until the Atlas was once again space worthy. He stepped in to B4's quarters not really knowing what to expect. B4 was sitting on the couch holding Data's cat Spot. He stroked the cat in long strokes from between his ears to just before his tail. He looked just like a child with a favorite pet.
"Okay, doctor, I'm here. Now what's this about B4 communicating with Data."
Dr. Crusher looked up at Picard with utter confusion. She saw it for herself and she heard what B4 told her, and she still could not make herself believe it. Geordi said at the table punching numbers on his PADD. He looked at Picard and shook his head. It was clear that Geordi had no idea about anything that B4 meant.
"Geordi?"
"Captain, I have absolutely no idea. We know that Phoenix used to be Data, but he is not our Data. Our Data is essentially dead. Phoenix is a Borg, so why would he be communicating with anyone on the ship in some way that would help us, unless it's some type of trap."
Picard sat down on the opposite side of B4 and gently stroked Spot himself.
"I don't know, Geordi. I remember from my time as Locutus that although I could at times separate my true personality from that of the drone I had become, but I certainly couldn't assist Riker with information to defeat the Borg, at least not until Data found a way. If Data has somehow found a way to do this with himself, obviously we need to utilize it."
Geordi and Dr. Crusher both nodded in agreement. Geordi looked down at his PADD and then back up.
"Maybe, it has something to do with that memory download that Data did shortly after we found B4. Yes, it has to be that. I wonder if there's some way to send a message back to Data."
"Perhaps," Picard started, "but if so, can we trust that B4 will relay the message correctly and that Data and not Phoenix will receive it. For that matter, can we be sure that it is indeed Data and not Phoenix."
Geordi and Crusher both nodded.
"For now," Picard continued, "I think we should leave B4 out of this, but keep him under close observation. He may yet prove to be an excellent avenue or an excellent weapon."
Dr. Crusher suddenly looked stricken.
"Jean-Luc, how could you even consider...?"
Picard looked back at her; anger and frustration filled his face.
"We must consider all options, doctor. We are in a state of war against perhaps the greatest threat the Federation has ever known. Even Data would agree, if he were here now."
Dr. Crusher looked down at her feet, then back up to the child who was now playing with the cat with a fuzz-covered ball. This whole suggestion, whatever the reason, went against everything she believed in as a doctor, sworn to care for the sick and injured. She was a Starfleet officer as well though. She was sworn to protect the Federation against all that threatened it, now matter what the personal costs.
"I understand Jean-Luc."
Picard got up and went to the door. He barely allowed it to open before he stepped through into the corridor beyond. When he was finally in the turbo lift and he was alone, he stopped it.
"Computer, halt."
There, he let himself collapse against the far wall and hid his eyes with his hands. He didn't know how he was going to do it, but he must not allow himself to become emotional. He was the Captain. Now there was a way to stop Phoenix and the Borg, even at the cost of his soul.
xxx
Admiral Nechayev was waiting for him in sickbay. The medical facilities on the Galaxy and several other ships now overwhelmed, it was up to the Enterprise and others to handle the overflow. Since the Admiral was less severely injured, she was brought to the Enterprise for treatment. Of course, that also meant she would be close enough to throttle Jean-Luc when she had the chance. Picard entered sickbay and mentally steeled himself for the coming storm.
"Admiral," he started, "I'm glad you were not seriously injured."
"Yes, Captain, I'm sure your are. You know, I should have you court-martialed for this. You disobeyed a direct order. The only reason you're not in the brig right now is because I need every scrap of help I can get right now, but make no mistake, Captain, you are on probation."
"Yes, sir" he responded. He hoped a way would present itself to mollify her. He hoped that news about B4 might serve to calm her.
"Admiral, if you're up to it, could I see you in my ready room."
Admiral Nechayev looked up to the attending doctor, who shook his head. Picard led the way out of the sickbay and through the corridor. When they arrived at Picard's ready room just off the bridge, he nodded to his XO who still had everything in control. They both stepped through the door and waited for it to swoosh close.
"Admiral, I think I might have a way to not only gain an advantage over Phoenix, but perhaps save Commander Data as well. Are you familiar with the android B4?"
Nechayev sat down on the soft sofa and relaxed for a moment.
"Not really, Picard. Perhaps you should fill me in."
Picard stepped to the replicator and ordered two steaming cups of tea, Earl Grey for himself of course. He handed Nechayev her tea and sat in a chair in front of his desk.
"We found B4 in pieces just before we were ordered to Romulus to meet with Shinzon. We didn't know it at the time, but B4 was placed there by Shinzon and was to be used as a covert spy in order to capture me, as Shinzon was actually a clone of myself. Once Data and Lt. LaForge realized what Shinzon was planning to do with B4, Data disguised himself as B4 and de-activated the B4."
Nechayev took a sip of the tea and set the cup and saucer on the table between them.
"Yes, Captain, I read the reports about that incident."
"What you may not know" Picard continued "is that B4 is a prototype model, an earlier attempt by Dr. Soong and as such, he doesn't have the same mental capacity as Data or Lore. In an attempt to increase his abilities, Data did a memory download directly into B4's neural net. At the time, it seemed to be a complete failure, but over time, certain of Cmdr. Data's abilities started to surface in B4. We have him here under constant surveillance."
Nechayev sat up. Picard had piqued her interest. "Hmm, go on."
"Today, during the battle, B4 acted as if he was injured in some manner and then spoke about the Borg plans to my chief engineer. I believe that Data is somehow communicating with his brother. It may be possible to use that link and gain an advantage."
Nechayev shook her head. "Captain, how can you be sure that this link isn't being used by Phoenix or could be used by Phoenix?"
Picard nodded his head. "Yes, there is that possibility and as such, I don't believe we should try to use that link until we are absolutely sure that it is Data and not Phoenix."
Nechayev looked to Picard and stared hard enough to bore a hole.
"When you were assimilated, you had little or no control over what you were doing. How could Data...?"
Picard held up his hand to stop her. "The Borg tried once before to assimilate Data and was not able to fully assimilate him into a drone. My hypothesis is that they have somehow corrected that failure, or at least, believe they have by pushing Data's consciousness down and creating this new persona, Phoenix."
Nechayev nodded. She didn't like it, but she could see the logic of Picard's plan. They would have to be ready. Whatever Phoenix was planning to do next, they would have to be ready and any way to gain that information was worthy to be tried. She got up to leave and stopped short of the door.
"Alright Picard, we'll give your plan a try, but let's understand one thing. At the first sign of problems, I want B4 de-activated by any means necessary. Is that clear?"
"Very clear, Admiral."
"Fine, I'm returning to the Galaxy to confer with Starfleet command. I'll call a meeting of all captains in the fleet on my ship at 1700 hours."
She went out the door and Picard relaxed himself a little. He wondered if he always held his shoulders so tight when he was talking with her.