Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 8

Tom carefully watched the readings, it had been an hour since Tuvok had ended the mind meld. Was his friend still with him? He hoped so, poor kid needed all of the comfort and support he could get. Gradually, the readings changed, showing he was no longer dreaming. "I think we should move him now."

"Very well. Tuvok to transporter room, three to beam to cargo bay two," he called, moving to help support Sora as the transporter took them. They arrived to find Seven already Regenerating. "Do you know which cubicle he uses?"

"One on the end," Tom answered. Tuvok easily lifted Sora and carried him over to it and Tom activated the cycle once Tuvok had him in place, seeing Sora' eyelids flutter slightly before the computer reported that he had entered the cycle.

"Return to your evening Mr Paris, I shall remain in case there are any issues."

"Alright, thanks. Call if you need me." With that he left, returning to his quarters to find B'Elanna had waited.

"How is he?" she asked in concern.

"Regenerating now," he sighed and sat down, grimacing as his back ached from being in odd positions after a full day at the helm. "Looks like he got stuck in a memory or something. I had to call Tuvok in for help and…he fell asleep B'Elanna, real sleep. According to Tuvok, his friend Riku is very real and showed up to help bring Sora out of it."

"I'll adjust his shift tomorrow, just to give him time to recuperate." She stood and Tom groaned, going to get up. She laughed. "Go get some sleep before you fly us into a sun."

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She read the report and then put it aside. It was to be expected after everything he had been through, both of them. She was honestly surprised that Seven hadn't had a similar episode yet. The Doctor had been informed as well and it was just something they would need to be aware of. If they were to encounter the Borg now, how would he react? Seven had dealt well but that had been a destroyed Cube with only Sora there.

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Riku stared at his Gummiphone, debating whether or not to call. That had been his longest interaction with Sora yet but…should he tell Kairi? In the end, he put it aside. What he had seen was not something he could bring himself to share without Sora's permission.

He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths, forcing himself to not let the rage and helplessness overwhelm him. He wanted to find whoever had hurt him and…well do things a Keyblade Master should not even consider. He ran a hand through his hair and then flopped back on his bunk. The sooner he got there the better, but he had the feeling he was coming to the end of the gummi ships ability to help him.

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"I've erected a level ten forcefield around Engineering," Sora reported as he ensured the levels were steady and the field would hold.

"Good," she nodded, turning to the rest of her people. "Set up secondary forcefields around every hatch, Jefferies tube and conduit leading into this room. I want every one of these consoles secured. Authorised command codes only. I'm going to lock down the warp core. Ensign, realign the dilithium matrix to a frequency of three point six nine," she stopped as she heard something, looking up.

"Look out!" Sora called, leaping over his console, tackling her out of the way as the intruding member of Species 8472 dropped down from the top of the warp core towards her.

She heard him hiss softly even as they rolled across the floor, Sora coming up in a crouch over her. The sound of phaser fire filled the air before cutting off, the intruder already gone. She spotted the four bodies lying on the ground, thankfully all but one were moving even as the others rushed to help or try and secure things further.

"Sora."

"I am alright," he answered, standing up before offering her a hand, quickly moving on to check the wounded, even as the doors opened and the Captain entered.

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"Report."

"Four crewmembers are wounded, two seriously," Sora reported.

"Get them to Sickbay," she ordered and soon they were transported away. "What happened?"

"Species 8472 accessed engineering through the antimatter injector port. Phaser fire was insufficient. It attacked and then escaped through Jefferies tube seventeen alpha," he stated calmly and professionally. It seemed that his episode the other day had passed, or he was just very good at acting normal.

"Janeway to Tuvok."

"Tuvok here."

"The intruder just left Engineering. Seal off the area."

"Understood."

"Secure the warp core," Janeway ordered and the crew moved to do more than just the forcefield to ensure its security.

"Sora," she ordered and he left with her.

"It would seem that the Hirogen underestimated their latest prey."

"You believe they were hunting the creature?"

"Yes. When the Borg were fighting Species 8472, did they ever engage in physical combat?"

"On many occasions," he had not been there but he had the information.

"Can you recall anything that might help us here?"

"Each time they boarded a Borg vessel, they went directly to the central power matrix and disabled it. Seven may have more data as I only have what was sent out to those away from the region."

"The creature was just in Engineering. Didn't touch any of our power systems." She frowned, and he considered what they'd seen.

"It's obviously adjusted its strategy. Species 8472 is devious and highly intelligent. It will seek the most efficient means of destroying us."

"Alright, return to duty. Good work Sora."

"Thank you Captain."

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Sora watched the indicators for the teams searching for the attacker, the Hirogen hunter with them. He did not like it, he knew what those things had done to the Borg and was now thankful they had been well away from where the incursions had occurred. Millions of drones and hundreds of worlds had died at the hands of species 8472. That there could be another invasion…it scared him but even as he felt that fear, he felt a pulse of warmth, in his chest…Riku. Wherever he was, he was trying to help him, and for some reason, that gave him strength, helped the fear fade.

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"You wish to see me, Captain?" Seven asked as she entered the Captains ready room.

"I've made a decision about Species 8472. I'm going to return it to fluidic space. In order to do that, I need you to open a quantum singularity."

"I don't believe that is a prudent course of action."

"I realise it may be difficult for you to help save this creature's life, but part of becoming human is learning to have compassion for those who are suffering, even when they're your bitter enemies."

"Why?" that seemed extremely foolish to her.

"I remember when I was a Lieutenant. It was during a Cardassian border conflict. My away team was cut off while we were defending a Federation outpost. We'd been exchanging phaser fire with a group of Cardassians for about three days. A stalemate. One night, during a break in the fighting, we could hear this low moaning sound coming from somewhere in the brush. We knew that none of our people were out there, so it had to be a wounded Cardassian. You have to understand, we'd been killing each other for weeks on this planet. It was brutal. But our commanding officer decided that we couldn't just sit there and listen to that poor man suffer. So he ordered me and an Ensign to crawl out there and bring that Cardassian back to our camp. I thought he was crazy. He was risking our lives for someone who would have shot us without hesitation. But we did it, and the Cardassian lived. Three days later we secured the outpost. It was a major victory. We were all decorated by Starfleet Command. But in retrospect, the thing I'm most proud of was the night we saved that man's life."

"Explain."

"A single act of compassion can put you in touch with your own humanity," the Captain answered.

"You are trying to justify your present decision," she denied.

"No, I'm trying to help you see this as an opportunity to grow. I know you don't want to do it, Seven, but I'm telling you as your Captain, and as your friend, you won't regret it."

"No. Your decision is tactically unsound. We will be surrounded by Hirogen ships in approximately two hours. If we do not surrender the creature, they will destroy us. A lesson in compassion will do me little good if I am dead." She found that she did not wish to die anymore and she felt…responsible for Sora, she did not want him to die either.

"It is wrong to sacrifice another being to save our own lives."

"I have observed that you have been willing to sacrifice your own life to save the lives of your crew," she pointed out.

"Yes, but that's different. That was my choice. This creature does not have a choice," the Captain stared up at her, still seated at her desk.

"It invaded our ship, put our lives at risk to save its own. In my view, it has already forfeited its freedom."

"I'm giving you an order. Report to Deflector Control and begin working on creating a singularity."

"I will not comply. I have agreed to remain on Voyager. I have agreed to function as a member of your crew. But I will not be a willing participant in my own destruction or the destruction of this ship," she would not do something that would lead to them all dying.

"Objection noted. We'll do this without you."

"You will fail."

"And you have just crossed the line. End of debate. Report to the Cargo Bay and remain there until this is over. Is that understood?"

Seven stiffened, but then nodded, and left the room, returning to the cargo bay.

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"Sora," the Captain called his name and he turned.

"You want me to open a Singularity to return the alien home," he stated before she could say anything else.

"Did Seven contact you?"

"No Captain, as Commander Tuvok would say, it is the logical conclusion."

"And will you?" she asked.

Sora considered it. "It is dying, if we send it home, its own kind may be able to heal it, but if we do, the Hirogen will destroy Voyager." He looked at her for confirmation, and she nodded. "I…do not understand Captain."

"What don't you understand."

"The Vulcans say the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, which would seem to indicate that we should turn it over. Its kind have been your enemy, yet you would risk your crew to help it, when it may not survive."

"You were our enemy too Sora, we helped you."

He nodded. "You freed me but you cannot do that for it…but you can send it back to its people…compassion?" he asked.

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She listened to Sora, she could tell his questions were different to Seven's…he was trying to understand. He was right about the Vulcan viewpoint, and Tuvok had already pointed it out. However, she did not like sacrificing any life to save them, it didn't feel right. She told him the same story she had told Seven and he seemed to understand far better.

"I can try to do the alterations necessary, but the Borg did not wish anyone ever access fluidic space again, they did not disseminate the information on what Seven did," he warned. "Would it not be better to have Seven make the alterations to create the Singularity."

"She refused even a direct order to do so," she told him, seeing the flicker of surprise.

"I see." He moved to his console and did something before stepping away. "I will report to Deflector Control immediately."

"Thank you."

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Sora's fingers flew over the controls as he worked on the deflector, widening his stance a little to keep his balance as the ship shuddered under the fire of the Hirogen. He was not sure if it was the right thing to do, but it felt right. "Sora to the Captain."

"Janeway here."

"I believe I am ready to attempt opening a Singularity, if the power can be kept steady."

"Very well, we'll do our best. Begin as soon as you can."

Sora took a deep breath and began to initiate the program.

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"Singularity is forming," Harry called.

"B'Elanna, get ready with the transporter," Kathryn warned.

"I have a lock whenever you're ready."

"Singularity is stabilising. Shields down to sixty eight percent."

"Get ready B'Elanna," she warned. "Mr Paris, set a course as far from here as possible at maximum speed."

"Course set."

"Now," she ordered.

"Transporting."

"Get us out of here."

"Yes ma'am."

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Sora entered the cargo bay to find Seven already Regenerating so he stepped up to his alcove only to turn as the doors open.

"I apologise Sora, but I need to speak with Seven in private."

"Of course Captain, I shall return to my quarters."

"Thank you, I will let you know when we're done."

He left and curled up on his sofa with a PADD. He felt a slight touch to the growing link and reached back. Was he worried because of his earlier fear? He set the PADD aside and closed his eyes to rest, feeling a strange sensation of falling. When he opened his eyes he was on the beach.

"Are you alright?" Riku asked, and Sora turned to him.

He took a step towards him but then hesitated, unsure. Riku just smiled and held his arms out. Sora walked over and stepped into him, pressing against his body, feeling his arms wrap around him. It was strange, Riku was taller than him, with a larger build and yet being held did not feel restraining but…comforting.

"I'm here," Riku whispered, a hand running through his hair.

"I apologise," he used the same volume.

"For what?"

"Fear is irrelevant."

"No it isn't, everyone gets scared Sora. The scariest day of my life was watching you just fade away on that beach, like you'd never been there. Even seeing Kairi…I knew she'd be okay. But when the bond vanished…"

"A member of Species 8472 got onboard and was damaging the ship. Its kind killed so many, millions of drones, hundreds of worlds."

He felt Riku's grip tighten slightly. "But you're okay, right? I only felt fear, not pain."

"I am uninjured. It is gone now, we managed to send it home and escape those hunting it for sport."

"Good."

The beach wavered and Sora was vaguely aware of a chiming noise.

"Guess you're waking up," Riku sighed, stepping back a little. "I'll see you again, soon. I think I have to leave the ship behind, I think I'm at the limit of how close it can bring me."

"With no ship, how will you come? Voyager is always on the move."

That got a large smile. "It's a surprise." He was…teasing? "Stay safe."

With that the beach faded away.

"Sora? Please respond."

"My apologies Captain," he answered the call. "I think I…fell asleep?"

"I see, my apologies for waking you. Our discussion is done if you wish to Regenerate."

"Thank you Captain, I do."

"Then sleep well."

TBC…