Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek, I don't own the terms that are canon. Pretty
much if you recognize it, I don't own it. Most of the characters are my own.
I do add a few things for the more Trekkie people which are not my own
either. There are a couple of originals whom have something that is canon
but the personalities and people which are made up I do claim since they
came from my mind.

Note: For travel times and everything, I use the second warp factor
formula on Memory Alpha.

Summary: While in their shuttle, a group from
the Ares meets the Borg in this galaxy
for the first time.

Special Guests:

Aeon Thornwood

Grahan

Ninian

One

Borg Commander

It had been only a few days since the knowledge that the Borg were in the Andromeda Galaxy came into focus. The Ares had been assigned to watch over Andros I, which was going to be their first Andromedan outpost, near the Trickan home world, since the Trickan were very near the wormhole. The construction of the station was still in the early stages of construction, still unable to board and work in the station. While the Ares was assigned to guarding the station and overseeing its construction, they were also supposed to explore space as well, and complete their original mission as well. So to do both of these, sometimes they would leave, and sometimes they would use their new shiny shuttles with a crew of only a few to nearby places.

"Captain we've detected a solar system nearby where we met the Hernaga before," Eris Landon stated to the sitting down captain, "Five planets, two class M, one class N, one class P, and one class B. Approximately 25 light years from our present location."

"Lieutenant Knight, assemble a team to go with you to the system, be careful and don't get into too much trouble. If you need help, send us a signal and we'll come. Three others would be a safe crew," the captain ordered standing up, adjusting her uniform only slightly, "I'll be in my ready room, leave tomorrow at 0700 hours. Commander Rodriguez you have the bridge."

"Captain," Jace Knight said standing up as the captain began leaving the bridge, causing the captain to turn, "May I bring the Ambassador? He's been getting jittery with staying in one small part of the galaxy."

"As long as he behaves himself," the captain allowed then leaving the bridge to her ready room. A smile sprouted on his face before dismissing himself to gather his small crew.

Jace leaned back in his chair in the nice, yet small shuttle, which had quarters built in, though only two, so he and Ambassador Kordak had to share quarters, but he didn't mind.

"Are we ready for departure?" Celes asked sitting in the chair next to Jace with her Bajoran earring visible, since her hair was in a short pixie cut.

"Kordak is back in our quarters and Aeon is probably in your quarters getting some breakfast," Jace said with a smile looking back a Celes, "So I believe we are ready."

"Then we will leave," Celes answered punching a few things into her console, before the shuttle began its departure. Jace leaned forward hitting the coordinates to where they were going to travel, before jumping to warp.

No one spoke for a long time. Soon Aeon entered the command center of the shuttle yawning.

"I didn't get very much sleep last night…" Aeon said stretching out, "Sorry about that Lieutenant Knight."

"It's ok… but what were you doing?" Jace asked turning back towards the officer who just entered.

"I had a fight with my wife, but it's going to be ok. Apparently she doesn't like being on the Ares. Got mad because I'm… how did she say it… deliberately putting myself in danger," Aeon sighed taking a nearby seat which was at the weapons station just in case.

"I know how she feels," Celes spoke up with a smile facing Aeon as well, "Sometimes I wish some of my friends on the Ares weren't there, but I realize that it is just like what I stay for, because I can't stay away. She'll realize it eventually, just give her time."

"I suppose so. Though lately she's been on me even more; she can get scary," Aeon chuckled slightly. A loud hearty laugh came from behind them.

"Better off with a human wife like that then a Klingon woman," Ambassador Kordak laughed heartily, entering with a large cup of Raktajino taking a large swig of the coffee.

"Oh geez, if it were a Klingon woman I would probably have a few broken bones from last night," Aeon laughed.

"That is because our women are strong and respected warriors!" Kordak roared with a laugh, taking another large drink of his Raktajino. The group simply laughed, and began talking together laughing and having a good time.

After a few days of travelling towards the star system they were heading for, they were found quiet and with almost nothing to do. The group of three sat on the floor in the command area as the Ambassador was sleeping in his quarters.

"I am not sure about this…" Celes said looking at the two human males sitting before her, "Why would you want to play something like that?"

"It makes us get to know each other better, plus I've run out of ideas," Aeon said with a charming young smile.

"I'm not sure about this ensign…" Jace said looking at Aeon confused.

"Oh come on, it's fun. We played it at the graduation party me and my friends threw," Aeon said enthusiastically, "Go on, Ladies first, choose, Celes." Celes peered at Jace for reassurance and Jace simply shrugged.

"Truth?" Celes said more as a question than an answer.

"Oh interesting… let's see… What is the most embarrassing situation you have ever been in?" Aeon asked happily and quickly then leaning in to hear her response.

"I would say that the time at the academy when Commander Rodriguez and I were in Mr. Flores' classroom, after class. I tripped over the commander, who was just a cadet at the time, and he fell over on top of me, just as Mr. Flores came in, and he became really red and began yelling at us because he thought we were doing something else…" Celes answered going slightly red, and causing Jace and Aeon to laugh.

"Now you ask one of us," Aeon stated.

"Ok… Jace, truth or dare?" Celes asked looking towards the Half-Human Half-Vulcan man.

"Dare," Jace answered.

"Oh dare you say? One is very brave today," Aeon laughed, "Go on Celes tell him something to do and he has no choice but to do it."

"Ok… Oh I have it! Go in and wake up Kordak, and when he asks what, tell him that you had a bad dream," Celes laughed happily. Jace looked at her curiously wondering if she was serious, but then his eyes widened and Aeon laughed.

What happened next was all a blur. The sensor began ringing loudly to alert those around that there was a nearby ship. The three officers quickly sprang into action getting to their stations as the ambassador stumbled in asking in a yell what was happening. The three were too busy trying to find out who it was and where they were. Their ship rocked violently and sparks flew.

"Direct hit," Aeon shouted, "Shields are down!"

"Fire back! I'm going to try and get us out of here!" Jace yelled punching his keys on his console quickly. The shuttle kept rocking, and sparking in every direction. A small explosion took place a little too close to the ambassador and ensign causing both of them to be knocked out. Celes quickly ran over to Aeon's station and continued his job, which was more important than hers.

"They've stopped firing," Celes said as the ship stopped rocking.

"Why?" Jace asked.

"Beats me," Celes answered frantically, taking advantage of the momentary ceasefire to try and get some repairs done. As they began working, since the engines were down as well, a transporter beam appeared, and so did two Borg drones.

Jace quickly acted pulling his phaser, just as Celes did. The two Borg looked at each other for a second, before laughing. Borg, laughing? It confused the two conscious Starfleet officers very much.

"We are the Borg. Who are you?" one of the Borg asked looking towards Jace.

"You're not going to try an assimilate us?" Jace asked keeping his phaser ready.

"No, we are not of the Ye'nar Borg. We do not assimilate," the Borg answered plainly turning to his companion, "I believe these are of Bajor, Earth, Vulcan, and Kronos."

"I agree they fit the description," the companion replied.

"Hold on a second, what the hell is going on?" Celes demanded with great intensity in her eyes.

"You do not know? I thought it was a human who killed our queen and set us free of the collective," the first Borg laughed looking from Jace to Celes thinking of them as fools.

"The Borg were lost for a long time, until Theseus rose up and took over," the second Borg stated.

"He brought a new peaceful Borg, however the Borg Helanq rose against the non-assimilating ways forming a huge group opposing Theseus," the first continued.

"Called the Ye'nar Borg, who follow the old ways," the second finished. Jace kept his eyes on the two Borg drones.

"Why did you attack us? How can we believe you?" Jace demanded his voice dripping with venom.

"We knew you wouldn't talk, and we did not know if you were a Ye'nar ship in disguise," the first Borg stated turning towards Jace, making shivers go down Jace's spine, thinking that the Borg was very intimidating.

"You have no choice but to trust us, because your choice is to either come aboard our ship or perish out here. We inflicted more damage than we meant and it will take weeks to repair. However if you come with us, our Borg will repair it within two days," the second Borg stated in a matter of fact tone.

"Then what are your names. Now you are without a queen and individuals, what are you called?" Celes stated confidently not letting any emotion except confidence escape from her.

"We go by our names before we were assimilated, if we had one, others by our designation. I am Grahan, and my companion is Ninian," the first Borg said.

"I was human, and Grahan was Norcadian," Ninian stated looking curiously at Celes.

"Fine, if we come with you will not assimilate us?" Celes asked.

"That is correct. Our leader will only allow assimilation of those who volunteer to help us against the Ye'nar, and allow us to assimilate them," Grahan said with a slight nod.

"And will you help us heal our people which you injured?" Jace asked keeping his phaser ready in case it was a ploy.

"To the best of our ability," Ninian replied in the same manner as Grahan had.

"I don't think we have a choice," Celes stated, "Lieutenant Knight, as your commanding officer, I order you to follow me with these Borg to their ship." Jace looked at her with an almost stunned look on his face, but he lowered his phaser only slightly then looking back at the Borg with a glare.

"Fine, but don't expect me to drop my guard," Jace replied before mutter to himself, "That's the last time I bring a superior on my mission."

"I heard that," Celes stated holding her phaser ready just as Jace was, "I wouldn't expect you to drop your guard."

"Then it is decided, we will leave," Grahan stated with a nod hitting something on his mechanical arm make the six of them disappear.

They reappeared in a very odd looking place, at least one they didn't expect on a Borg cube. It was a room, small, containing four beds, a replicator and a couch. The two injured ones, were no longer with them however and once Jace saw this, he held his phaser up to the two Borg.

"Where did Ensign Thornwood and Ambassador Kordak go?" Jace demanded loudly almost like he had to when he had to gain Kordak's respect as a warrior.

"Your people were transported to our medical facilities," Ninian replied not startled at all by this reaction, "You may visit them anytime. However you cannot venture off to any other part of the cube. If you are found to do this, you will most likely be locked in the brig or killed."

"Your phasers won't work here, they were disarmed as we beamed over," Grahan stated looking at Jace's phaser with almost what seemed joy.

"Lieutenant Knight! They are trying to help us, calm down!" Celes ordered looking at Jace who seemed to be overreacting a little.

"Whatever… when we are Borg tomorrow morning, it will be your fault Akorem," Jace stated turning around sitting on a nearby bed, facing away from Celes.

"I would like to see our people," Celes said trying to ignore Jace's attitude.

"Follow me," Ninian stated turning around and exiting the room. Grahan simply turned soon and left heading in a different direction. Jace turned around quickly after they all had left. Jace quickly got up, leaving the room.

"Can you help them?" Celes asked looking down at the Klingon and human. Both looked in terrible condition, but Aeon Thornwood looked the worst.

"Yes, we can if nothing complicates their condition. The Klingon will be fine in a couple of hours, however the human will have to stay longer," a different Borg responded, "Our nanoprobes don't seem to work well with the human, but he will be fine eventually."

"Thank you," Celes said, "What is your name?"

"I am One of Nine, I don't remember my name before assimilation," the Borg replied sweetly, as it was obviously a female Borg.

"It's really weird thinking of the Borg with names, and as individuals," Celes stated thinking about it, knowing that she had only learned about the Borg as a collective and as evil beings, much like what she imagined the Pah Wraiths were like.

"And you have a reason why. Really we owe the humans a lot for freeing us from our queen, both the humans named Picard and Janeway," One answered sighing, "Sometimes I look back at the times as a collective and miss it, but then I remember the terrible things I had done, and everyone else had done. Millions of lives changed forever because of me." One looked towards Celes, as Celes smiled in reassurance.

"It wasn't your fault, it was the queen's, you couldn't stop yourself, and now look at you. You are an individual fighting against other Borg for what you believe in," Celes said with confidence.

"You are right, but pushing the blame onto the queen is just reflecting the blame directed at me. You have no idea how many people have killed themselves because they felt so guilty about what they did," One replied before looking at Celes for a moment, and added, "I need to regenerate. You may stay here if you wish." Celes nodded in understanding, before she headed out the door, after One had left.

When Celes entered their room, she spotted Jace under his covers most likely asleep or ignoring her. Celes sighed, and went over to Jace's bed.

"You know it's for the best, if we stayed out there, we probably would have died or been attacked by someone else," Celes said. There was no answer. "Come on Lieutenant Knight, Jace, we'll be out of here in a few days!" Celes was starting to get slightly annoyed at Jace ignoring her. Celes pulled up the covers and gasped seeing only pillows underneath. Celes ran over to the door and looked around to see if any Borg were around, which there wasn't. She quickly and stealthily ran to the medical facility she had left not long ago, finding that the two patients were missing.

"What are you thinking Jace?" Celes asked herself before looking out, heading in the opposite direction of the room. Celes heard some footsteps approaching, so she quickly acted by working her way into the wall through a panel. Two Borg walked by talking, almost like they were just normal people talking about work. Celes sighed, before getting out.

"Where could he be?" Celes asked herself, and then it hit her. Celes made her way through the ship secretly without being detected, until she reached the Borg Hanger Bay. She saw a couple unconscious Borg near one of the airlocks. She checked their pulses, which were still beating strong.

"Damn Vulcan," Celes muttered before entering the hanger which was guarded by the unconscious Borg. Their shuttle was safely nestled in the large airlock, but something was off. Celes quickly ran to the shuttle opening the door. Inside were their two unconscious men, and Jace who was working away at the controls.

"Lieutenant Knight!" Celes yelled, "You stop this right now! What the hell are you thinking?" Jace didn't look back and simply continued his operations. Celes pulled him around to look into his face, which was somehow distorted.

"You've made it," Jace said in a mystical voice, "We're notta going to be assimilated by these Borg."

"What's wrong with you?" Celes said in a very worried voice. Jace simply smiled at her with a very weird smile which made him look a bit crazy. Celes tore herself away from Jace before running out into the hanger, trying to find some sort of communications or lockdown mechanism.

"Nope, nope that won't work!" Jace laughed giggling slightly in a crazy manner stumbling out of the shuttle, "I shut it all down!" Jace watched Celes as she struggled with the systems. "Only a little while til we take off and we won't get assimilated!" Celes simply looked up at him for a second, wondering why he was acting in this way. Then a thought occurred to her. It was a good thing they studied the Borg in detail as officers when at war with the Borg, or the idea wouldn't have occurred.

Celes looked at Jace for only a moment before running out of the hanger to the hall where the two unconscious Borg were located. Celes felt around the neck, knowing it was some where there.

"Aha," Celes whispered.

"Yes, what is it Blythe?" a Borg's voice came.

"This is Akorem Celes, one of my people has escaped and is in the hanger bay about to launch our shuttle, please stop them," Celes replied frantically looking back in the hanger way which was depressurizing.

"We will tractor them back when they have gone," the Borg from the other side of the communication stated, "Stay put, we will come to collect all of you shortly." Celes watched through the window seeing the shuttle take off. Soon however she disappeared from where she was, reappearing on a bridge like construction filled with Borg.

"Why were you outside the medical facility or your room?" the one who seemed in charge asked.

"Are they safely back?" Celes asked ignoring the question.

"Yes, the man is in our brig, and the hurt ones are in the medical facilities again, under more protection. Now tell me why you were where you were not supposed to be?" the one who was in charge asked pressing the matter.

"I am sorry for disobeying your wishes, I-I just noticed my companion was not there, so I went after him. I did not want him to get in trouble, so I didn't contact you until there was no other choice," Celes answered slowly making sure it didn't sound like they had planned it or something like that, because they didn't.

"I see, we will question your companion, return to your room. There will be a guard there at all times," the Borg Commander stated dismissing Celes. As he did, she was transported once more, ending up in her quarters with the four beds. Celes sighed, sitting down on her bed and looking at the ceiling wondering what had gotten into Jace.

Over the next two days, Kordak had returned, as well as Aeon. However their ship still had a few hours until it was ready, so they were still waiting. Since Aeon had just arrived, they were sitting on the couch filling him in on everything that had happened, how they were on a Borg ship, and what Jace had done.

"Why would he-?" Ensign Aeon Thornwood began to ask as a Borg, Grahan, entered the room and interrupted him.

"We request your presence in the medical facilities," Grahan stated, "All three of you."

"What do you need Borg?" Kordak said in his naturally loud voice, "Are you ready to assimilate us?"

"Ambassador, please stop, this is Grahan, one of the Borg I first met, please," Celes said indignantly before calming herself and turning towards the Borg, "He just wants to know why you need us."

"I understand his distrust, as he hasn't yet grown to trust us, as is expected, given our past," Grahan responded with a curt nod, "However, you are needed because of your companion, I believe you call him Jace Lieutenant Knight. Please make haste." Celes looked towards Aeon and then Kordak with worry.

"We will go," Celes said more as an order to the others than confirmation to Grahan. With a nod, Grahan turned around and led them to the medical facility. Inside, Jace was sedated and on a table, and he did not look like he was in a good condition.

"Your companion," the one Celes knew as One said, "Has suffered from a kind of neutral synaptic pathway disruption, in which we cannot cure. If something is not done, he has about an hour to live."

"You have nothing you can do for him?" Celes asked looking down as Jace.

"We've tried nano-probes; however they are not a permanent fix. We do have one idea, but you may not like the idea," One said staring at Celes.

"Don't tell me you're going to…" Aeon said stepping up.

"Yes, if we were to assimilate him, the implants would heal him, and supply a vast number of nanoprobes and replace broken nanoprobes," One said not even looking at Aeon.

"No!" Kordak roared, "I'd rather have him die than submit and have him become one of your mind puppets!" Celes glared back at Kordak then returned to looking at Jace.

"Escort these two away," Celes asked calmly.

"As you wish," Grahan said, taking the two away, though they were protesting the whole time.

"Can you wake him? Would he be himself?" Celes asked quietly.

"Only for a few minutes, the neural degeneration is degrading quickly. Doing so would cut his time in half," One replied.

"What would the side effects of being assimilated?" Celes asked looking up at One and keeping their eyes locked.

"He wouldn't have any external signs, though the inner technological workings would be present. He might hear some of our communications through our internal communications array, however it would only happen if someone needed to talk with every Borg in our group," One explained quickly.

"Do you know why this happened?" Celes asked keeping her gaze at One, as if fighting herself over something internally.

"We believe that it was the combination of massive amounts of Trellium-D we just mined, as well as a genetic disease, most likely from some sort of genetic mutation, and this area of space is full of anomalies which sped up his reaction," One explained breaking the gaze and looked down at Jace, "If he weren't on this ship he might have had a good 100 years left." Celes looked down at Jace with a worried look.

"W-wake him up," Celes requested.

"As you say," One replied taking a few sprays and injecting him with a good five of them. Jace slowly stirred and looked up spotting Celes, as One had moved back.

"Celes! I-I'm so sorry for everything, I dunno what I was thinking," Jace quickly almost shouted.

"It's ok," Celes said quietly, "It's ok. Jace you have to answer me, and quickly. You have a choice, either you die in less than half an hour, or you… you can be assimilated by the Borg," Jace began to protest, but Celes cut him off, "But if you are assimilated, you won't have any of the implants on the outside, just the inside, and you won't be assimilated into a collective. It'll almost be like you're not even part Borg." Celes finished and looked at Jace who seemed very worried, mad, and yet thinking about it.

"I won't… no side effects?" Jace asked his eyes slightly wide.

"You might hear an occasional voice in your head, but that's it," Celes answered with a reassuring smile. A moment of silence followed, interrupted by One.

"You are only going to be awake for a minute longer," One stated. It was followed by more silence. 30 seconds left. 10 seconds. 5 seconds. 4…3…2…

"Do it," Jace said, as he fell unconscious.

"You heard him," Celes sighed turning away from Jace, "I'll be in my quarters." Celes hurried out of the room as One began assimilating him.

Back in the quarters, the room was silent. Kordak was sitting furiously drinking some of the Borg replicated Raktajino, as Aeon was pacing across the room. Celes was laying on her bed staring at the ceiling. This had been going on for hours, just waiting.

Footsteps began approaching. Aeon stopped pacing, Korak stood up, and Celes sat up staring at the door way. A face appeared, one that was bright and shining, not at all like the grey skin of a Borg, even though this person was part Borg.

"Jace!" Celes said flying up and wrapping her arms around him, in which he chuckled.

"Commander," Jace said with a smile.

"So now you're Human, Vulcan, and Part Borg?" Aeon asked.

"I suppose now I'm going to be a match for Kordak," Jace laughed looking at the Klingon in the back who simply was looking at him with amazement.

"Now it's going to be unfair," Kordak roared with a smile sprouting and him bustling forward giving him a large 'warrior's' bear hug, around Celes and Jace.

"Do you feel different?" Aeon asked curiously looking towards Jace with wonder, and almost fear.

"Slightly, my eyesight has gotten a lot better, but otherwise, I feel normal," Jace said, then turned his head, after the hug was finished, towards Celes who was grinning with relief, "I'm so sorry for running out and acting crazy like that."

"It's ok, you weren't in your right mind," Celes replied hugging him once more, "All I've got to worry about is the wrath of the captain when we return and explain everything."

"I'm sure she'll be fine, especially knowing that there are some good Borg out here," Jace replied, "Though Doctor Galen probably will want to look at me to make sure everything is alright, and they won't be able to control me or something like that."

"We'll have to see," Celes replied with a smile.

The Borg took them until they reached the Ares' long sensor range, and then boarded their shuttle, making their way the rest of the way back to the Ares and Andros I. Celes explained everything to the captain, and the rest of the senior staff, and Jace was checked out by the doctor as he predicted, but everything looked perfectly normal, or as normal as it could being part Borg, Vulcan, and Human. Everyone returned to work, and things seemed to return to normal.

Hope you liked it! I hope you'll keep reading on!
Please! R&R please! I love any and all feedback!

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