A/N: Haha, new chapter in record time! I hope you guys enjoy :-)

Captain Riker, Commander Worf, Commander Kotor, Lieutenant Commander Meps, Lieutenant Commander Parsons, Lieutenant Torik, The Doctor, Captain Benjamin, Commander Siegel, and Spike all sat around the conference table, with Admiral Picard sitting at the head. He had started the meeting by telling everyone that they were now under top secret protocols, and that what was about to be revealed didn't leave the room. He then asked Captain Benjamin to explain 'Project Jumper' and what had happened on the Davenport just before it was destroyed.

After everyone was up to speed, Riker asked Spike to stand and explain the prophecy and his part in it. He did so reluctantly. This all seemed a little too formal for him. As he spoke, most of the people looked incredulous. Picard listened intently, a scowl chiseled on his face. Riker and the Doctor, despite having already heard the story, sat with their full attention on the blonde vampire.

When he finished, he found his seat again. Picard leaned forward in his chair, folded his hands on his table, and asked, "Does anyone else have anything to add?"

"I do, Sir," the Doctor piped up, "Mr. Torik and I have gone over the corpses of our 'romulan' attackers. I'm honestly not sure whether to call them androids or cyborgs."

"What do you mean, Doctor?" Riker asked.

The Doctor looked to Torik, who picked up the explanation, "Part of their bodies are non biological. Their skeleton, mainly."

"That doesn't mean anything," Siegel interrupted, his chin resting on his giant fist, "My skeleton's made of a titanium composite alloy. That doesn't make me a cyborg."

Torik raised an eyebrow, "Actually it does, Commander. But that is hardly the only oddity about these creatures. The skin is also non-biological. It appears to be made of a highly advanced polymer meant to mimic skin. However, the heart, the lungs, as well as most of the major arteries appear to be synthetic biological."

"You mean grown in a lab?" Benjamin asked.

"Or a factory," Meps suddenly chimed in. Spike noticed the red head for the first time. He had to admit to himself that she was quite fetching, in spite of, or perhaps because of, the light brown spots running down the sides of her face and neck. He idly wondered how far down they went.

"I believe you're on the right track, Commander," the Doctor replied, "When I compared the … ahem, pieces of the bodies, they appeared to be identical. Not even the faces were different. When I opened the skull, I found a biological brain, but with synthetic neural pathways, similar to a positronic matrix."

Torik leaned forward and rested his arms on the table, "The most disturbing information we have discovered so far is, I believe, in the blood," He tapped a control near him on the table. Spike followed everyone's gazes to a screen above Picard in the wall behind him. The image was something Spike didn't recognize, it looked to be blood, but with several tiny machines floating around. Everyone else at the table seemed to know what it was. The color had drained from most of their faces.

"What's so scary about this?" Spike asked, "Just looks like a bunch of little doohickys."

Every head in the room turned and he suddenly felt nine pairs of eyes boring holes into him.

"That," said Picard, his voice empty and hollow, "Is the signature of the greatest enemy the Federation has ever known, an enemy we thought we had defeated long ago. The Borg."

Silence fell over everyone as soon as he said the word. A palpable sensation of dread filled the room. Each person seemed to turn inward on themselves, privately considering the implications of fighting this apparently terrifying enemy.

"That fits," Benjamin said quietly, "My ops officer said the ships that attacked the Davenport reminded him of the borg."

Spike looked around the table, "I don't get it, what's so scary about this 'Borg' guy?"

Meps slapped a hand to the table. "It's not a guy," she said through gritted teeth, "The borg are a cybernetic species that does nothing but consume and devour. They enslave entire races and crush entire civilizations. You've never faced anything like them before. They are pure, unadulterated evil."

Spike scoffed, "Please, you don't know what evil is."

"I think evil would be an illogical assessment," Torik said, "I would liken them more to a force of nature. One does not fight a hurricane, one gets out of the way."

"You're comparing the borg to something natural?" Maps asked in disbelief.

"That's enough!" Picard commanded, "We need to decide on the best course of action for now. Mr. Benjamin, in your opinion, is it possible that the borg have figured out to use the Jumper Drive yet?"

Benjamin shook his head, "Not a chance, Sir. Even if they could power it, which I'm positive they can't, the calculations for the drive itself are incredibly complex, not to mention the encryption on the drive and the problem of reverse engineering the hook ups for the main deflector dish. If the borg can power it, reverse engineer the hook ups, and get through the encryption, there's a good chance they'll blow themselves up because of a miscalculation."

Picard sighed, "I'm afraid we simply can't take that risk."

"Perhaps assuming that these creatures are borg is jumping to conclusions," Torik said

"What are you talking about?" Meps asked forcefully, "You were the one who brought up the nano-machines."

"I was simply showing the evidence that the doctor and I had uncovered," Torik said flatly, "The borg have always assimilated, not manufactured, their drones. I believe that would point away from these cyborgs being part of the collective. Perhaps your previous experiences with the borg are causing irrational fear in you."

Meps' eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your tone, Lieutenant," she growled.

"Rajda," Riker said her name in a warning tone. The red head slowly leaned back in her chair, but the muscles in her face and neck remained taught. Spike smiled to himself as he thought about what a great shag she must be.

Picard had watched the exchange with interest, but said nothing until Meps had settled into her seat. When she finally did, he turned his attention to Torik. "For now, we are going to assume that these creatures are the borg. If nothing else, it's a place to start, but I want you and the Doctor to focus one hundred percent of your efforts on discovering all you can about these things."

"Yes Sir," Torik and the Doctor said in unison

The admiral turned to the chief engineer, "Mr. Parsons, is the Enterprise ready for another mission?"

"Yes Sir," the chief engineer said, "We completed repairs en route. Most of the damage was on the inside because of the fighting in the halls."

"Excellent," Picard said, "I have to report to Starfleet Command. I am going to recommend that the Enterprise be dispatched for further investigation."

"Sir, if I may?" Benjamin said, "Commander Siegel and I would like to remain on board for the duration of the mission. I think we can help."

"I'm afraid not, Captain," Picard answered seriously, "You'll need to report to your superiors about the jumper drive."

Picard looked around the room. "Dismissed," he ordered.

People began standing a milling toward the door. Spike looked to the Doctor, but he was already up and speaking to Torik about their task. Riker, being closer to the head of the table, had already left the room. Not sure what to do, he decided to see if he couldn't catch the captain. As Spike passed the head of the table, Picard suddenly turned to him.

"Mr. Spike," he said cordially, "Would you mind staying for a bit. I thought we could have a bit of a chat."

The vampire studied Picard for a moment then, deciding it couldn't hurt, sat back down in the chair closest to the head of the table. Picard leaned back in his own seat and studied Spike intently.

"Mr. Spike, I'm going to be perfectly honest with you," he said, "I find your presence here a little too convenient. I have been exploring the galaxy for more than half my life, and one of the many lessons I have learned is to constantly look a gift horse in the mouth. How do I know that this isn't some elaborate hoax on your part, or possibly a trap?"

Spike scoffed, "You're kidding, right? Why the bloody hell would I freeze myself and leave behind everything I know just to play a joke on some military man with a rod up his ass? I'm here because I was promised eternal damnation if I didn't do this. I didn't want this!" he slammed his fist on the table and shot to his feet. His temper flared at the thought of one more person questioning his motives when he had done nothing but sacrifice for the world over and over again.

He was screaming now, "Ever since I went through tests and torture to get my soul back, the universe has done nothing but take from me. I sacrificed myself to save the world, got made go-through-able for my trouble and forced to spend months trapped in the office of the one guy who's been a constant pain in my undead ass for almost two hundred years. Then some ponce brings me back to solid only to screw with my head and try to turn me against said pain-in-the-ass. Like an idiot, I decide to help droopy-drawers and the gang take out L.A.'s biggest and baddest, after he holds a sword to my throat mind you, and for doing the right thing I again get cosmically bitch-slapped and sent to hell. And because I can't take a bloody hint, I do the right thing again and try to help the poor humans and save them from the demon lords. When I finally get back to Earth, the love of my life, the one person who I would do anything for, the one I got my soul back and gave it up again for, chooses to be with tall, dark, and stupid-hair!"

With a scream of rage, the vampire turned and punched the wall behind him with all of his strength. It made a loud, metallic CRUNCH as it crumpled beneath his fist. He took several deep, unnecessary breaths to try and calm himself.

Still facing the wall, he quietly spoke, "Honestly, I wanted to spend the rest of my unlife drinking myself into a stupor and trying to forget about everything I ever loved, because it all seemed to have forgotten about me," he turned to face the admiral again, "I did everything I knew, everything I could think of, to try to be the man she deserved. When I couldn't, I sacrificed myself for the 'greater good'. I didn't want to come back. I didn't want to live without her. I didn't want to spend eternity 'doing the right thing'. When I do come back, I fight for right and good and everything else, and it doesn't make a damn bit of difference. Then, after all that, I get fed up and decide to try living for myself again. But instead of being left alone, I get threatened into doing the 'right thing'. And you have the bullocks to sit there and ask me if I'm pulling some prank. But you know what, I don't care. I don't care if you think I'm the good guy or the bad guy or the in-the-way guy. I've been brought here to save your ruddy bums and I intend to, and it's not even because I'll go to hell if I don't. I'm doing it because it's the right thing to do."

Picard's eyes flicked from Spikes face, to his fist, to the dent in the titanium wall. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, he stood, came face to face with the blonde vampire, and held out his hand.

"Mr. Spike, I can't begin to imagine the hell that you have been through. For what it's worth, I am grateful that you're here. We could use all the help we can get."

Spike nodded and took Picard's hand and shook it firmly. He released it and began to walk toward the door. Just before he stepped out, something occurred to him.

"Does being a cyborg make you 'more than a man'?"

Benjamin walked with Siegel down the hall and back to his quarters. Neither of them spoke until they reached the guest quarters where Benjamin had been staying on the journey back to Earth. The door shut and the young captain walked to the window, folded his arms, and stared at North America slowly drifting past in the endless ocean on the planet below. He stood there for several minutes, vaguely aware of his best friend standing behind him. He heard the creak of the desk chair as the big man sat down.

Finally, he sighed and, without turning, asked, "What do I do, Tony?"

Siegel chuckled, "Why ask me? You're the captain."

Benjamin shook his head, "Not for long. I'm going to lose my command. I'll be lucky if I don't get tossed in the brig for this."

"They're not going to put you in prison for this, James," the big man said, "And your command is already gone. We left it in a billion pieces in the Neutral Zone. You might get demoted, but is that so bad?"

Benjamin turned, not believing what he had just heard. "Isn't it?"

Siegel smiled wearily, "Come on, James. You're twenty-six years old. You have plenty of time to make it back up the ranks. Hell, they could make you redo all four years at the Academy again, and you'd still make captain decades before you retired. I'm the one who has to worry. Need I remind you that I'm ten years your senior." He affected an overly dignified air.

Benjamin rolled his eyes, "Only in age. Maybe if hadn't joined Starfleet so late."

He shrugged, "I will admit that it did take me a while to find my place in life. But here I am, right on the edge of the unknown. I'm not just finding my own way, but the way for the people who follow our newly explored paths."

The shorter man sat down on the edge of his bed and exhaled harshly, "Not anymore, my friend. Just as well though, it's not like we deserved the promotion."

"That's a bit harsh," the other said, a trace of mirth in his voice. Benjamin's face remained hard.

"Oh, com on, Tony," he said, "What is the one skill that you and I have in common?"

Siegel's features darkened, "You mean our ability to resist pain."

Benjamin shook his head, "Not just pain. Torture. Starfleet Command figured if we ever fell into enemy hands, we'd be ale to hold out against interrogation. That's why we were chosen."

Anthony Siegel stared at his oldest friend for several seconds before he began laughing. "I swear James, you have to be the most paranoid man I have ever met."

The comm chimed, interrupting Siegel's guffaws, "Bridge to Captain Benjamin." It sounded like that young trill from the meeting.

"Benjamin here," he answered.

"Starfleet Command is on a secure channel for you. They also asked that Commander Siegel and Commander Ellison be there as well. Should I call for them?" she asked

"No, we're already here," he said, shaking off the painful memory, "Route the call to my quarters please."

"No problem," came the response.

Siegel started to relinquish the desk chair, but Benjamin waved him off, already dragging another chair behind the desk to the monitor. He touched the pad and Admiral Osborne's face appeared. He was an old, slight man with only a few wisps of grey hair on his otherwise bald head. He had bright blue eyes with a youth in them that completely contradicted his age.

The old man smiled, "It's good to see you well, Captain. And you, Commander. Where is Ellison?"

Benjamin and Siegel shared a look. "I'm afraid he didn't make it, Sir."

"My goodness," Osborne said with genuine shock, "What happened?"

The young captain looked down and took a deep breath before looking again at the screen. "It's a very long story, Sir. Do you have time for a full report?"

The old man nodded, relaxing into his big chair, "Of course. Please go on."