Seven looked frantically around her, searching for any assistance this place could offer her but she quickly saw that there was none. She was standing in an alcove in a dark and empty cube, why couldn't she wake up? Had Riley been serious about Chakotay? Thinking of Chakotay made her eyes well up in irrational fear and panic so she forced him, difficult though it was, into the back of her mind. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to steady her rapid breathing and ignore the sinister pain beginning to creep up her cybernetic arm. As she did so a sound entered her ears, no her mind, the long familiar thoughts of others, but the link was different than before, a pale imitation of what she had known within the Collective. She felt as if she was straining to hear a far away echo, their minds were not one with hers, only making themselves known. Even with their minds unconnected they still had enough power to hold her in the regenerative state as whatever Riley had done to her took effect. This empty cube was created by them as an inescapable mental prison in which she was to die slowly. For a few moments she took this realisation with an unnatural calm, if she were to die so be it, but then a new distinct mental voice joined the far away din and shock, disbelief and fear washed away the acceptance and hysterical screams dragged the breath from her body.
Zina heard knew who the new member was instantly and despite her half knowledge of what Riley was planning she knew shock had drained the colour from her face. She glanced furtively over at Icheb to see if he had noticed the change and felt a mix of relief and disappointment when he didn't comment. Leaning heavily on the console she tried to shut out the guilt and fear she was experiencing but it lingered on within her, resisting any attempts at removal. Digging her nails into her palms she was suddenly glad that the voices of the others were becoming louder, her short foray into individuality would soon be over and these vile emotions would be irrelevant. "Do you require me to give you further tasks Zina?" Icheb's polite voice punctured a gaping hole in her comfortable reasoning.
She flicked her head round to meet his and the perfectly calm yet questioning eyes of eyes of Icheb caused a strange pain in her throat, inhibiting her ability to speak. Gulping hard she fought to respond, glancing down at her unfinished work. "No…my task is as yet incomplete."
The rational part of Icheb's brain told him the conversation was over and yet something inside, he believed the humans termed it intuition told him to continue. "Is something not to your liking?"
"Everything is efficient."
Icheb believed his crewmates would have said that went without saying, Astrometrics was after all the domain of two former Borg and yet this attractive girl saying it filled him with pride. "Perhaps when you help free all Borg what you have learned here will be useful."
Free all Borg? Zina's guilt intensified, she might be able to retreat into emotionless Borg oblivion but what about Icheb? How would he cope when Seven of Nine was found dead? From what she had observed he seemed to have a filial attachment to her. He would be alone. Perhaps she could convince him to come with her? The very thought sent a shiver through her, he wouldn't be the same, they wouldn't be able to have private conversations. No, that couldn't be! It seemed pain would be unavoidable for Icheb unless she helped him, but she couldn't, the Cooperative would soon reclaim her. You are still for the moment an individual, said a small voice in her head. As soon as that thought crossed her mind her decision was made and she touched Icheb's shoulder.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Icheb, Seven of Nine is in danger."
"What? How?" he asked with anxious urgency, seeing the fear in her eyes.
"Riley desires her death. She has perhaps already…"
Icheb reacted immediately, pressing his comm. badge. "Icheb to the Captain."
"Janeway here. What is it Icheb?"
"Captain…" Icheb started but saw Zina shaking her head vigorously, her expression desperate. "Can you wait a moment Captain? I must double check my information."
"Yes of course. Janeway out."
"You cannot tell your Captain. Riley will realise I have told you! " whispered Zina fretfully.
"Captain it was a false alarm." Icheb quickly told the Captain before looking at Zina intensely, distrust flickering across his mind and eyes but he followed his instincts. "Computer, locate Seven of Nine."
"Seven of Nine is in Cargo Bay 2." Icheb felt himself relax but saw that Zina had tensed further.
"Are you certain about this?" he asked frankly. She nodded solemnly and without a word he made his way to Cargo Bay 2, taking Zina with him.
What he saw in the cargo bay shocked even him. Seven was in her alcove, her face contorted with pain, electrical charges running from the alcove into her implants. "Seven!" he cried out, running to her but she remained unconscious. "Computer end regeneration cycle!"
"Unable to comply." Replied the Computer.
"What have they done to her?" he yelled angrily at Zina as her eyes scanned the alcove's controls.
"This alcove has been altered to destabilise and deactivate implants."
"Why are we unable to end the cycle?"
"The Cooperative has contained her mind. We must disrupt the signal." Zina injected her nanoprobe tubes straight into Seven's –neuro-transceiver and Icheb followed her lead after a frightened pause.
For a moment they both saw inside Seven's prison but then they were back in the cargo bay, Icheb catching Seven before she hit the floor. Her eyelashes fluttered open and Icheb exhaled in relief. "Icheb to the Doc..."
"No!" Seven gasped, grabbing his hand.
"Seven you almost died!" snapped Icheb.
"That is irrelevant now, I will recover." He stared at her in disbelief but Seven ignored him and called out to the Computer, "Computer, locate Commander Chakotay!"
"Commander Chakotay is not on board." Icheb reeled in shock at that information and even more so when he heard Seven's audible sob.
Seven stood up rapidly, almost falling as she did so. "They have him…" She saw Zina and launched herself at her. "Give him back!" Zina stepped back, clutching her head, though Seven hadn't actually touched her as Icheb held her back.
"Zina saved you Seven." He told her, deeply disturbed by Seven's distraught and agitated expression.
Seven looked Zina up and down. "Are you damaged?"
"The…the Cooperative wants me to come back…beam myself over…"
"You can't!" exclaimed Icheb, with more passion that could normally be expected of him.
A plan formed in Seven's mind despite her ordeal. "What is your identification code?" Zina though confused told her and watched in fear as Seven dialled into the console.
"I don't want to go back!" cried Zina.
Seven gave her a direct but understanding look. "I know. You're not but I am."
"Seven…" Icheb started in confused frustration.
Seven interrupted him. "I must go. Tell the Captain not to try anything. I will get the Commander back, she is not to concern myself with me."
Icheb to his credit tried again. "Seven, this is irrational…"
"I also suggest the Doctor severs Zina's link to the Cooperative." She pressed the button that activated the transporter. "Thank you Icheb." She beamed away before either Icheb or Zina could respond.
Riley stood in the central hub of her cube, surrounded by loyal drones. The sensors picked up a transport beaming to the other end of the cube, Zina. Riley attempted to talk to her but heard nothing. "Computer, show me sector 12.8." The screen above immediately showed Seven of Nine walking cautiously between ignorant drones. "She really is in love with you, that the only thing that would make such a woman a fool." She addressed the drone closest to her before stroking it's face. "Perhaps you'd like to welcome her to our Cooperative." The drone, his dark eyes still, his cybernetic arm clenched in readiness turned towards the door, the last thing she saw of him a glimpse of torn of a torn red tunic.
A/n: Please review!