Chapter 5 – Fractured

The drones led Annika out of the Central Plexus chamber. She could hear Chakotay's body being dragged behind them, still unconscious. She felt a knot of pain, uncertain as to the extent of his injuries. At least he had still been breathing. They took her just a short distance and into another nearby room. Upon entering, the Borg Queen stood before them. It took Annika a moment to realize the queen's presence was only by a sophisticated holographic projection. Indeed, the queen was likely hundreds of light years away seeing a similar projection of her in a comparable room in another Borg vessel. Chakotay's body was dumped at Seven's feet and the drones that brought them there withdrew to just outside the entrance. Annika's eyes widened when she noticed what was a short distance behind the queen… the Vinculum. This is where she and Chakotay had intended to go. The Vinculum connected the drones on the cube with each other, and once destroyed, would free them all from the grip of the Hive Mind.

Annika knelt down to examine Chakotay once more, her mind now racing. If she rushed towards the Vinculum, could she disable or destroy it before the drones at the door disabled her? The Borg queen stepped forward and knelt close by as well, shaking her head slowly. "A shame," she purred. "Such a handsome physical specimen. You must care for him greatly. To have sacrificed everything." The Borg queen reached out as if to cradle Chakotay's head, but of course the projection had no physical substance.

"What do you want?" Annika hissed, resisting the urge to bat the queen's hand away, knowing it would pass through nothing but air. She was surprised by the anger that welled up inside her. The queen's attention was on Chakotay, and so Annika glanced up quickly towards the Vinculum. It was perhaps five meters distant. The primary connections exposed above the device.

The queen tilted her head slightly and smiled. "I want to help you… Annika." She stood up slowly and looked down at them both with almost a motherly look. "I want to help you and your drone."

"That doesn't seem likely," Annika replied. She knew the queen well. She had been Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero-One. The lies flowed like honey, and since drones had no recourse, the inevitable tyranny that followed was the Borg. Lies, hypocrisy, duplicity and corruption that were accepted as truth by the Hive Mind itself. It deceived the drones, which had little choice anyway, but also deluded itself. The Borg thought it was moving toward perfection, a Galaxy of order and harmony, but with a foundation built on lies, it was only a matter of time before it would collapse. As with all tyrannies, it was inevitable.

"Oh but I do care. I want to ease your pain," the queen soothed. "I need for you to tell me what you have done. Then I can repair your drone and send you and him on your way."

Annika looked up startled. She would let them go?

"You'd like that, wouldn't you," the queen cooed, seeming pleased with herself. "You and your drone can be together. You can have what you want and we can part company amiably. Alternatively…" The queen now frowned. "I'll kill you both and extract what I need from your cortical nodes."

"Why don't you just do it then?" Annika snapped back, knowing that it was likely she and Chakotay would be killed either way.

"Because I care about you Annika," the queen said, acting hurt that Annika might think otherwise. Another lie, Annika thought. The queen might even believe the lie, but that doesn't make it true. The queen started to pace, her attention drawn to something else. "Something is wrong," she said. "There is a disturbance in the Hive Mind. I can no longer hear all my children." She turned back to Annika. "Is this your doing?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Annika replied. She couldn't afford to wait any longer. The insurgency within the Collective was already starting. Drones from Unimatrix Zero were severing themselves from the Collective. The drones in this cube had to be freed while she still had the chance. She was about to jump up and sprint for the Vinculum when Chakotay stirred. The slight movement obviously caused much pain, and he moaned. Annika leaned down and placed her hand on his chest. "Be still," she whispered.

"Where are we?" Chakotay managed, his voice cracking and weak.

"In the queen's chamber," Annika replied. She resisted the urge to look at or mention the nearby Vinculum. Only moments away now and she would finish what they had intended. What they had planned together in Unimatrix Zero. Likely now they would both be killed in carrying out that plan. Her heart felt heavy and hollow. "Be still," she repeated, "you've been damaged."

The queen came up to the two of them again, kneeling as before and shaking her head. "Annika. How can you stand it? Please, let me help you both."

Suddenly the room shook. The queen stood back up and appeared to be looking at something that was not projected into the room Annika was in. With the queen distracted, now would be the time to act. Annika couldn't afford to wait any longer. She jumped up and leaped towards the Vinculum.

"A tactical sphere has engaged your cube," the queen stated incredulous, her image flickering. "I can't…"

The drones at the door entered the room, but Annika was already at the Vinculum. Trusting the armor and reinforced titanium bone grafts in her arm was enough to withstand the blow, she swung it at the base of the device where most of the connections were attached. A sharp pain shot up her arm. Some of the connections came undone, but most remained in place. It took two more hacks before all the connections were severed. By that time the queen's projection was terminated and the four drones had converged to her next to the detached Vinculum. The room shook once more, more violently this time.

She raised one arm to defend herself, the other, the one she used as an ax, hung limp. The four drones, however, stopped their advance, each now just a step away. All four looked open-mouthed at the detached Vinculum and Annika, confused and frozen in place.

#

General Korok slammed his fist against the console within the Borg tactical sphere. The Klingon warrior grinned wildly at the visual display. Residual flashes danced on the nearby cube after a direct hit of their barrage of Borg weapons against the shields. "Come around for another volley!" he shouted. Several other drones filled the cramped space, each at a different station and working under Korok's command.

"Sir," a Kazon drone said, looking up from a tactical display. "The cube's shields are collapsing. They have stopped returning fire."

Korok nodded. "Belay that order and scan for the Vinculum," he ordered.

"The cube's Vinculum is off-line," the Kazon replied.

Korok let out a hearty laugh and now hit both hands down. "Good! Prepare to beam me to the Vinculum Chamber on the cube. I will find them there."

"Sir!"

"You have command. Move to the edge of the system, scan transwarp space for other vessels and return. They will undoubtedly be here soon. I will contact you shortly."

Korok stood and touched a control on the panel beside him. The Borg transporter engaged, and a second later, he found himself within the cube's Vinculum Chamber. There were six drones present, four standing and encircling two others on the floor. All of them seemed frozen in place. He recognized the two on the floor immediately.

"Annika," he said and moved towards the group. Two of the four standing drones parted to let him pass.

Annika looked up. It took her a moment to recognize who had called her. "Korok?"

"Yes. I have taken control of a Borg tactical sphere and now we have this cube," he replied. "Together, we can search out other vessels and liberate them as well. Our insurgency will grow and the Borg will fall."

Annika looked back down at Chakotay, his head now in her lap and unconscious once more. Korok seemed to recognize the extent of Chakotay's injuries for the first time.

"We must get him to an infirmary immediately," Korok said. "We can use the Borg technology within him to enact repairs." He moved forward and put his arms under Chakotay's shoulders and knees and lifted him swiftly off the ground. Chakotay moaned at the movement. "Do not fear, my friend, we are going to help you."

Annika stood and moved to a nearby pillar. After examining the display for a moment, she shook her head. "The cube's transporters are offline. There are power fluctuations throughout all systems."

"We must have done more damage than we intended," Korok replied. He wondered if the cube would be salvable or would it have to be abandoned. "My sphere is out of range for the moment." He turned to one of the nearby drones. "You. Lead us to the nearest infirmary."

The drone appeared to snap to attention, then moved towards the door without saying a word. Korok followed with Chakotay in his arms and Annika was close behind. The three remaining drones glanced at one another, and then followed as well. They moved swiftly through the corridors, retracing the steps that Annika and Chakotay had taken to get there. As they neared the infirmary, other drones, who saw the small group moving with a purpose, joined them. Soon enough, they arrived back at the room where Chakotay had originally found Annika. Most of the tables still contained unconscious female drones and a few medical drones all stood at one end. The maturation chambers glowed green along the one wall. Korok strode over to an empty table and placed Chakotay on top. Irontically the same table Annika had occupied earlier.

Korok turned to the idle medical drones and glared. "Over here!" he called. "This man needs help."

Of the six drones, two moved over tentatively. "Who are you?" one of them asked.

"Attend to this man," Korok said, gesturing down to Chakotay.

The drone glanced at her medical appendage on the end of her right arm as if seeing it for the first time. Without a word, she moved it down close to Chakotay's abdomen and passed it over several times and then down the length of his legs. "Some broken ribs and internal bleeding," she commented. She moved her instrument up towards Chakotay's neck. Suddenly, the end of the appendage folded in on itself and two tubules shot out. It was done a second later and the woman looked up as if startled anything had happened at all. "I've injected him with enhanced nanoprobes," she said shakily. "He should fully recover."

As if to confirm the medical drone's diagnosis, Chakotay cleared his throat and began to stir. "What's going on?" he croaked. Annika stepped up beside him and placed her unencumbered hand on his. The other arm was still damaged, but she could feel her own nanoprobes enacting repairs internally.

"We have taken this cube," Korok said, not only to Chakotay, but to a growing number of drones who were there. There were about two dozen now not including those still unconscious. "We must organize and prepare for the Borg to retaliate."

"This cube is in no condition to enter a battle," a nearby drone said. "Shields, weapons systems and propulsion are all offline."

"We have two spheres," someone called from the periphery of the group. "We should dispatch them at once to increase our number. Each could fit a hundred or more."

"And who's going to decide?" a drone close to this one asked. "You're a Norcadian You have no business giving orders!" Apparently from a species in conflict with the Norcadians. As Korok looked about, several others starting forming into groups, as if preparing for a fight.

"No, let us get out of here," someone else shouted. "Find a place to hide."

"We will not hide," Korok bellowed. "We will fight!"

Others began shouting, and Korok realized it would be difficult to establish order. A fight broke out between the Norcadian and the other drone. On the tactical sphere, it had been easy to organize the small number of drones and take control of the vessel despite the differences. The cube was obviously a different story with the greater number of drones and more likelihood of preexisting conflicts between species. The damage to the cube, which would need to be repaired, was also problematic.

"Find Captain Janeway," Chakotay said and struggled to sit up. "We have over a hundred from Voyager on this cube. If we organize, we can take control of the situation."

Korok made a decision. "Can you walk?" he said to Chakotay. Chakotay nodded, but Korok wasn't convinced. He turned to Annika. "Help him. We are getting out of here." He then grabbed the drone who had originally escorted the group from the Vinculum chamber. "Do you know how to get to the spheres?"

The drone nodded.

"Get us there as if your life depended on it," Korok said.

The group that had come from the Vinculum chamber moved off. Korok and the drone he was using as a guide in the lead. The two medical drones who had come over joined as well.

"There are some from Voyager here," Chakotay protested. Annika helped him move up to Korok. Fortunately, in the confusion, no one seemed to notice or care that they were leaving. There was a lot of shouting and struggles. They stepped out into the hallway, now a group of about a dozen. "On the tables," Chakotay added, motioning back into the room. "B'Elanna. And Marina."

"There is no time," Korok replied. "If we make it to the spheres, we can use their transporters to lock onto all humans aboard the cube and beam them into the spheres. We will make our escape then."

"There were other species as well on Voyager," Annika said. "Vulcans, a Klingon, Bajorans, … Bolians." She couldn't remember them all. They continued to move down the corridor. They passed a large group of drones who appeared to also be fighting each other.

"Humans, Vulcans, Klingons," Korok replied irritated. "We can find them all with the sensors. Sweep for alpha quadrant species. But first we must get to the spheres and their transporter!"

#

Captain Janeway blinked again. She had just stepped out of what appeared to be a Borg alcove. Echoes of voices sounded in her mind, but she didn't know what they had said. On the end of her arm was an appendage she knew was used to regulate plasma relays, but could also be used as a weapon. She knew how to use it as both. Vague memories of being a drone intermingled with her other memories. Had Voyager truly been lost? She was a drone now. How long had it been? If she was a Borg drone, why couldn't she hear the Hive Mind?

"Captain?"

A drone near her stepped up tentatively. It was difficult to see his face behind the Borg implants and in the dim light. After a moment she finally recognized the drone as her Tactical Officer and friend.

"Tuvok," Janeway replied. She stepped up closer seeing Tuvok favoring one of his legs. He was injured. "What has happened?"

"I believe we've been drones assigned to this cube in the Borg Collective, but something has terminated that link and we are now disconnected from the Hive Mind."

"How long have we been drones?"

"Unknown," Tuvok said frowning. "If I were to estimate based on my memories, I would say perhaps thirty-two point three standard days. I can't be certain."

Janeway smiled despite herself at Tuvok's precision. But thirty-two days! "Voyager was boarded," she finally replied, sifting through her own memories. With each passing second, they became clearer. "Presumably now destroyed or assimilated." There was a shout from down the corridor and then weapons fire. "What do you suppose is going on now?"

"There's fighting throughout the cube," Tuvok replied. "I encountered several drones that apparently deactivated themselves. Others are now in conflict, perhaps grievances with species that predate their assimilation. I had a memory of your location, however, and made my way here."

Janeway again looked down at Tuvok's leg. "You are inured."

"I had a number of altercations along the way. My nanoprobes are apparently performing repairs as we speak and I can still walk." There was another shout from further down the corridor and Tuvok glanced in that direction. He turned back to Janeway and added, "There are others from Voyager here on the cube. I have seen many of them before, but I haven't encountered any on my way here."

Others from Voyager. She remembered. As a drone, she worked with many of them throughout the cube. "We need to find them," she said, some urgency in her voice.

"Agreed," Tuvok replied. More weapons fire from behind him appeared to be closer now. "We have to hurry. The cube is descending into chaos."

"Some of our people could be amongst them," Janeway said. She moved tentatively down the corridor in the direction of the fighting.

Tuvok began to reply, but she never heard his response. For a brief moment she was within a transporter beam and then materialized into a large chamber. About her now were several others, apparently all beamed over at the same time and in various positions. Some standing, many lying unconscious on the floor. Again, it took a moment for her to recognize them under the Borg implants and armor. Tom Paris was standing by the room's entrance, looking around uncertain. Marina Jor, B'Elanna Torres and Celes Tal all were unconscious at her feet. Harry Kim was standing next to her, recognition returning to his face as he seemed to see who she was as if awakening from a dream.

"Captain," he whispered hoarsely. A Borg subvocal processor distorted his voice.

"Yes ensign, it's me," Janeway replied. "Or at least what's left of me."

Another drone came to the door of the room. "Captain Janeway, are you in here?" he called out. Janeway was relieved to hear his voice.

"Chakotay," she replied. "Over here." She started moving towards the entrance.

"Follow me," he said motioning down the hall. Then, turning to Tom, he added. "Start organizing everyone in here. Find out who remembers using Borg navigation and weapons systems and send them to the center of the sphere. We're going to need them soon."

Tom seemed to snap out of his trance. "Sure thing Commander," he said nodding.

Janeway followed Chakotay down the curving corridor until it reached an intersection. At that point they turned and went a short distance to where the corridor ended into a large interior space. A Borg drone, someone whom Janeway didn't recognize, was shouting at another drone who appeared to be Klingon. A half dozen other drones stood about them.

"We can't just leave them in the cube!" the young woman shouted.

"The chambers would have to be beamed here as well," the Klingon responded. "We simply don't have enough room or power for them all."

Chakotay and Janeway stepped up. The young woman now looked familiar, although not someone from Voyager's crew. Perhaps a human assimilated at Wolf 359 or at some other time? And then she remembered. "Seven of Nine?" she said with surprise.

"Please Captain," Annika replied. "Annika Hansen will do just fine."

"Captain Janeway," Chakotay said, directing her attention to the imposing Klingon. "This is General Korok. He commandeered a Borg tactical sphere and intercepted us."

"Are we on that sphere now?"

"No. We're currently on one of the two spheres contained within the cube," Chakotay replied. "We're beaming over Voyager's crew onto the spheres right now and any other alpha quadrant species we detect. Once we're done, we'll leave the cube and join up with Korok's sphere."

"You will command one of these spheres Captain," Korok said, "and Chakotay will command the other."

"But we won't be able to beam over everyone," Annika interjected. "We can't abandon the cube."

Korok snorted, but offered no explanation.

"The babies," Annika continued. "There are over a two thousand children at various stages of development in the maturation chambers on the cube. Many of them show DNA markers from the alpha quadrant."

"We have no time!" Korok bellowed.

As if in answer, his personal communicator buzzed. "General, there are Borg cubes converging on our location."

"How many?" Korok asked.

There was a long pause. "Three different conduits detected," came the response. "Seventeen cubes total. They will exit into normal space in less than five minutes."

"I must return to my vessel," Korok said. "Captain, take command here." He turned to Chakotay. "Commander, beam over to the other sphere. Some of your officers are already there preparing the vessel. We need to fight with all we have."

Janeway's mind was reeling. Seventeen cubes!? How could they possibly fight against those odds? Some other drones were coming into the control room. She recognized Tom Paris, B'Elanna Torres, and several others. Tuvok limped up as well. "You heard the General," she said. "Chakotay, you and Tuvok beam over to the other sphere and prepare to disengage docking clamps."

"No!" Annika said. "We can't abandon them!" She pulled Chakotay to her, her eyes pleading, and wrapped her arm about his waist. Suddenly, her other hand moved to a nearby pillar. She entered the commands so rapidly there was no time to react. In an instant, the two of them disappeared in a transporter beam.

Korak stepped over to the pillar and examined the readings. "They've beamed into the cube."

"Get them back!" Janeway snapped.

"General, five cubes about to enter real space."

Korok shook his head. "Send another of your officers to the sphere," he said. "Chakotay and Annika will stay with the cube. They are warriors. With Kahless' help, they will manage to enter the fight. Today is a good day to die!" He touched his own comm and immediately transported away.

Janeway had no time left. She turned to Tuvok. "Tuvok, take Tom and B'Elanna to the other sphere. Disengage clamps and prepare for space."

She assumed whoever knew how to operate the propulsion and weapons were already at their stations. In the few steps it took to take her position, Tuvok, Tom and B'Elanna were gone, and now she saw Ayala at a nearby pillar. Marina Jor and Roland Andrews were at other stations on what had now become the sphere's bridge. The deep mechanical sound of the clamps unlocking sounded throughout the vessel. In front of her, an image flickered to life. It was a projection of an opening in the side of the cube. Noiselessly and without any sensation of motion, the sphere slipped out into space. Thousands of stars blazed about, the plane of the Galaxy cutting a bright swath across the heavens. In the midst of these stars, a multicolored distortion appeared and folded in on itself. In a moment, the trans-warp conduit opened into real space and disgorged several Borg cubes.

"Shields up and prepare weapons!" Janeway shouted as their sphere hurtled into midst of the swarm.

#

Author's note: Slowly but surely, I plan to finish this story. About halfway done now.