=/\=

He went right to the lab after the admiral disappeared down the corridor. After reviewing all of his data and testing a tiny sample of the serum for quality, Icheb prepared enough of the substance to fill three hyposprays. It was likely only one would be required, but having a couple of spares was advisable, just in case more than one attack on the Collective was necessary. From the way the captain had addressed him after he offered to deliver the serum to the Collective, he didn't believe he'd be the first choice for the task, but he would insist on being the "first back up" if one was needed.

He suspected the "other sacrificial lamb" which the admiral had in mind was Admiral Kathryn Janeway herself. She hadn't come back in time to waste the chance to save the counterparts of her own crew. Harry had confided to Icheb that the device she'd used to travel back in time had burnt itself out getting her here. She had no way to go back to where she'd come from, to a timeline that probably was no longer in existence.

Since Neelix was no longer on Voyager, he didn't know who else might volunteer for the third hypo. In other circumstances, Tom Paris might have; he was infamous for stepping forward and taking risks to protect everyone on Voyager; but circumstances precluded it this time. Tom was about to become a father, and his B'Elanna and new little daughter would need him here, to protect them to the end, if need be.

He had a suspicion that if a second back-up was necessary, his own Captain Janeway might fill the role. She'd volunteered for other missions that seemed to have little or no chance of success. Icheb knew this firsthand, since he'd been on board when she'd allowed herself to be assimilated in the matter of Unimatrix Zero. He was well aware she'd wanted to invade the cube all by herself. The senior staff had insisted she accept companions. That was the only reason B'Elanna and Commander Tuvok had joined her team, which had turned out to be a very good thing. The mission probably would have failed if B'Elanna hadn't been there. Voyager and its people would already have been assimilated.

He didn't want to think about this anymore. Icheb didn't know if it was the time travel aspect, or if it was due to the fact this was a suicide mission for the one would try to penetrate the Borg's defenses, but he had a pounding headache. Before he took to the bunk he'd been temporarily assigned in Freddie Bristow's quarters, for a much-needed nap, he had one more task to complete.

=/\=

"Enter."

Icheb stepped into the Ready Room. Captain Janeway was alone. She looked up from her computer screen and said, "Yes, Cadet? What is it you wanted?"

"Nothing Captain." He walked over to her and gently laid down the three hyposprays on the surface of her desk. "Two spares. Just in case they're needed. The first spare is for me."

Captain Janeway nodded ever so slightly as she examined the items in front of her, her face a blank mask, but when she gazed up at him, her eyes glistened with tears. "Thank you, Icheb," she whispered softly.

He bowed and left the room before she had the chance to say, "Dismissed." He thought they'd both have trouble saying anything more - and he'd have been right.

=/\=

There weren't quite as many of the crew lining the corridors as there were when Neelix walked to the shuttle bay for the last time, but the honor guard which lined the path Admiral Janeway traveled to get to her very advanced, specially equipped shuttle from the future was impressive enough. Icheb made sure he was there in time. He took a place between Marla Gilmore, who was holding little Aimee, and Naomi Wildman. When the admiral passed by Icheb, a smile flickered on her lips briefly as she made eye contact with him.

She stepped through the shuttle bay doors, and in less than five minutes, she was gone.

Icheb walked Naomi to her quarters after they dropped off Marla and Aimee at theirs. Before she went through her door, Naomi asked, "What's going to happen now, Icheb?"

"First, we wait until the captain gives the order to move towards the hub again. All hell will break loose. And then we'll either be in the Alpha Quadrant, or we'll be assimilated or dead."

"Charming prospects, aren't they?" Naomi's wry expression was appropriate for an almost-teenager, but not for a five-year-old. She really was growing up fast.

"The first result is, don't you think? You'll finally meet your dad in person."

She sighed. "Yes, that would be good, but I'll lose my Voyager home. It's the only one I've ever known."

Icheb tilted his head. "I can't deny that. It will be painful for all of us, but don't you think we'll 'learn to adapt?'"

At this quote, so favored by Mezoti when she'd been part of the Voyager family, Naomi bit her lip, but couldn't suppress her smile. "You're right, Icheb. I just hope we get the chance." She put out her arms, and he bent down to give her a big, comforting hug before she turned away and stepped into the quarters she shared with her mother.

As he walked towards the turbolift to head down to Engineering, which would be his post for the duration, Icheb remembered the girl who was terribly frightened of assimilation but still insisted on knowing if it was painful. Had that really happened just a year ago? Yes, not even a year had passed since then. She'd grown so much in that short time. He had, too. When Mezoti briefly came to mind, he refused to dwell on her. Now was not the time to regret her leaving Voyager. Only days ago, he'd lamented her loss. Now he was glad she would be spared this test of wills.

Two Kathryn Janeways versus the mighty Collective and its devious Queen.

It might even be a fair fight.

=/\=