RAGNAROK 1
Author: Rocky

Janeway glanced around the briefing room. Axum had beamed over a short time ago and was filling them in on his experiences over the last seven months. Janeway found her attention wandering a bit; much of what Axum was saying had already been reported to her by Seven, who'd been in intermittent contact with Axum for the past several weeks.

The captain found it more interesting to observe the others in the room. Despite the fact he didn't resemble him physically, there was something about Axum that reminded her of Chakotay. The calm sense of self, the commanding presence. Janeway also noticed she wasn't the only one studying him carefully. Seven hadn't taken her eyes off him once, was obviously overjoyed to see him.

Janeway's ears perked up when Axum brought up the subject of Riley Frazier and her new Cooperative. "They were very helpful in terms of providing supplies, and offered to let us stay and join them. In fact, they seemed quite eager for us to do so."

"I'm sure," Chakotay said, an undercurrent of strong emotion in his voice. Janeway automatically put a reassuring hand on his arm, and he subsided.

"Did you have any indication that Dr. Frazier's group was also engaged in any of the raiding we've seen by other drones?" Janeway asked.

"No," Axum assured them. "They are interested in consolidating their hold on their own planet, and nothing more. It may be that other groups of drones have since joined them, but I do not believe they are interested in making any conquests outside of their own territory." Axum looked grave. "Although that may be subject to change."

"Is there anything else you can tell us about the Collective itself?" asked Tuvok.

Axum shook his head. "It has been many months since we've encountered any cubes that were still connected to the Collective. And we have certainly not come into contact with any specially modified drones, such as the ones that attacked you a few months ago. Our energies have been directed toward finding a place where we can settle and live in peace. Although it has proven to be very difficult."

"How so?" said Chakotay.

He sighed. "Surely you are aware, Commander, of the fear and loathing in which the Borg are held. Despite the fact that we are no longer truly Borg, we carry the taint of the Collective. We are a reminder of every atrocity committed, every person lost, every world devastated."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Janeway said. She gave a wry smile. "Unfortunately, that reaction is all too understandable."

"Indeed," Axum replied. "Unfortunately, there are not many unclaimed inhabitable planets, and none of the populated ones we've encountered so far are willing to have former Borg among them."

"I wish there were something we could do," Janeway began.

"Captain," said Kim suddenly. "I think I may have an answer."

"Annika."

Seven turned around at the familiar voice. "Axum."

He looked around the aeroponics bay in undisguised appreciation. "This is quite lovely. Do you come here often?"

She hesitated. "Not as often as many others in the crew."

"Well, you should." He breathed in deeply. "Those plants there, they remind me of the *vored* flowers in Unimatrix Zero. Do you remember? The little pink ones."

"Down by the waterfall." She nodded. "Yes, I remember those as well."

There was silence while Axum bent down to examine the blooms on another bush. He straightened up. "Annika, do you ever think of those days?"

"Very often." Despite her best efforts, her voice trembled. "I was happy just to make contact with you several weeks ago. Now, to actually see you..."

"I'm glad to have this chance as well." He sat down on one of the benches and looked at her expectantly.

She seated herself at his side, and cast about for a 'safe' topic of conversation. "Why didn't you choose to stay with Dr. Riley's Cooperative?"

Axum sighed. "That is not the sort of life I had envisioned after leaving the Collective. Although the New Cooperative appears to be a benign entity, at least as compared to the Borg, it is still a group consciousness. Individuality is absent." He shook his head emphatically. "That is not the type of society I want to live in, not what I've been striving for all these months. Despite the conflicts inherent in dealing with individuals, personal freedom is something I will not sacrifice, not even in the name of peace."

"What do you envision?" she asked curiously. "Could you tell me?"

"I'd love to." Seven leaned back and listened as he spoke. She found herself strongly attracted to his vision of a hybrid society, incorporating elements from his people's homeworlds together with what was useful from the Collective. He wasn't turning his back on either part of his heritage, acknowledging that both had contributed to making him the person he was today. She couldn't help contrasting his attitude with the one that had been prevalent on the Trefla. Or even, she acknowledged painfully, with her own torturous journey en route to rediscovering her humanity.

She became aware that Axum had finished, his gaze intent upon her face. Her breath caught at the look in his eyes.

Axum smiled at her and took her hand. "But now, thanks to Voyager, I'm confident that our luck is about to change."

"Greetings. This is your old friend Harry Kim aboard Voyager." Kim paused for a moment. He was in Astrometrics, preparing a message to the Pojzan.

"When I said goodbye to you several weeks ago, you made an offer to share your sanctuary with others seeking refuge. I'm sending such a group to you now..."

Axum had been very interested in hearing about Voyager's recent encounters with various groups of Borg, as well as their victims. Of prime importance however, was the news of the hidden Pojzan world. It had immediately occurred to everyone concerned that this represented the best solution for all. Axum and his followers had long been searching for a planet on which they could build a new home, one that would be sheltered from the vicissitudes of life in the sector, far away from the strife they'd encountered so far.

Axum had also agreed to have the drones from the Tikvah join his group. Though she didn't say so in so many words, Captain Janeway had been very relieved by this turn of events. While Voyager had been providing temporary quarters for the former drones, anything permanent would have strained their resources beyond what they could handle.

"Although they are former Borg, you have no reason to fear them. They are no longer members of the Collective, and want only to be left alone in peace. They present no threat to you..."

Harry glanced at the blonde woman working at a nearby console, and remembered the first time he had worked in close quarters with Seven of Nine. Although disconnected from the Collective, she had nonetheless attacked him, seized the opportunity to attempt to contact the Borg.

Harry smiled, thinking what a long way they'd come since that day. He felt more at ease with her now than he ever thought he would. First her 'Borgness' had put him off, then her stunning looks. Truth be told, he wasn't sure what had intimidated him more. Despite all that, he'd developed more than just a slight crush on her. It had taken a long time for him to realize she just needed a friend to help her adjust to her new surroundings and life. Anything else was out of the question-even if she had one time inquired whether he 'wished to copulate' with her. Harry felt the blush rise in his cheeks, even at this late date, and turned his attention back to his task.

"In fact, with their skills and technical knowledge, they will prove to be a very useful addition to your colony. I'm also sending along a few more stories from our database that I think you'll like. They're legends from an ancient people on Earth, the Norsemen, who were brave warriors and explorers.

"I hope that this message finds you all in good health, and that the Shire continues to grow and flourish."

The door to Astrometrics opened, just as Harry was finishing. He looked up and saw Axum standing near the entrance, almost hesitantly.

"Lieutenant Kim, Annika," said Axum, although his attention was focused solely on Seven. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

"Not at all," Kim said, pocketing the data rod. "I'll just go run this by the captain."

"Lieutenant Kim, there is no need for you to go," began Seven, but Harry had already left.

"Do you need to leave as well, Annika?" said Axum.

Seven was about to answer that there were another 3.4 hours remaining in her duty shift, and barring an emergency, she was not in the habit of leaving Astrometrics until her relief arrived. One look at Axum's expression, however, drove all such thoughts out of her head. He looked tense, yet inexplicably, happy at the same time. "Not if you wish me to stay," she replied with a smile.

He caught her hand in his own and looked deeply into her eyes. "I do want you to stay with me," he said, his voice curiously husky. "Now, and always."