He didn't want Riku to see him, to see what he had become. But maybe if he did, he'd understand and leave, go back to…to Kairi and forget about him. They may have given him the basics on the Borg, but he doubted they'd told him everything. Surely once he knew what Sora had done he'd understand. Maybe…maybe he would even end him, summon his…what was it called….the weird blade and do the right thing.

Riku claimed he could feel his heart but he had to be wrong, if he still had one then it was Dark and shrivelled, like…that weird old man they'd been fighting. He deserved anything Riku chose to do. If he'd known how painful memories were, he would never have wished to have them back.

He found himself staring at Riku, seeing how he'd changed, matured. From everything he had seen and the data the Collective had, he would be considered handsome by other humans. He wanted to reach out and touch his hair, his face, anything to prove he was real but he didn't dare.

And then Riku smiled softly, the smile only used for him and Kairi ever since they'd been little. He still didn't see then. Sora took a slow breath and stood up, undoing the seals of the suit and shoving it off his upper body, revealing more implants and scars. The Doctor had left none with his surgery, but the Borg hadn't cared about causing them in the first place, and they were too old for the Doctor to repair without replacing massive areas of his skin.

He heard Riku's breath hitch and though it hurt, it was also a relief, he understood now. So when Riku stood and ripped his gloves off he was confused. But then warm hands were gently cupping his face, Riku staring down at him, still taller than him. There was no hate or fear only…grief?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku watched Sora stand with a fluid grace he'd never had as a teen, and then he was bare to the waist and Riku felt his breath hitch as he took in the mass of scars as well as the implants he could see, and what he assumed were ones under the skin that caused it to distort, odd bumps here and there. He felt sick seeing all of the damage done to Sora and he doubted those who had done it had cared if he was awake or in pain when it was done. Which explained the last things he had felt before their link had been severed.

Riku scrambled back to his feet, ripping his gloves off, reaching out to cup Sora's face in his bare hands, feeling the warmth of life in his skin, although cooler than he remembered. Sora had always been so warm, another side effect of what he'd gone through?

"I'm not scared of you Sora, you can't push me away," he told him, leaning forward, resting his forehead on Sora's, hearing his breathing hitch this time. He lowered one hand, skimming over Sora's bare chest, feeling the hard ridges of scars and then cold metal from an implant. He'd put on a little height, his shoulders a bit broader, body slim but muscular, more so than the last time he'd seen him.

Sora lifted his hand and Riku realised it wasn't a glove, his hand was reinforced with metal…two thin tubes suddenly emerging from his wrist, hovering above Riku's neck, but he refused to flinch, he knew Sora was testing him, the blue eyes staring up at him were ice cold but he could feel Sora's pain. He had the feeling if those tubes pierced his skin then he would be in serious trouble, but Sora would never hurt him. They stayed like that for an eternity before the tubes vanished back into Sora's body and he stumbled forward, Riku catching him easily.

"It's okay Sora, I'm here, I've got you," he promised, one hand running through wild hair, the other firmly locked around his waist in support.

Sora shook his head but didn't try to get free. "You have to leave me behind. I am not...I can't... The things I have done…"

"That Doctor, he said that they took control of your mind Sora, none of that was you. Just like Terra isn't to blame for what Xehanort did in his body. Do you remember that? He's a Master now, he had trouble dealing with what had happened…like I did after Ansem." He pressed his face against Sora's hair, breathing deep. He smelt different but still like Sora too. "I've missed you so much," he choked out, somehow managing to tighten his hold on Sora.

"Riku…"

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Why couldn't he see the truth? He hadn't so much as flinched from his Assimilation tubules even though he had to have sensed the danger. How could he trust him so much after so many years? He rested his head against Riku's shoulder, forcing himself not to pull away. It was so different to the occasional touch from…were they his friends? He thought they were, maybe. But the occasional touch to the arm was very different to being held. Tom had held him though, it had been comforting, but different to how Riku holding him felt. Part of it made his skin crawl, unused to it, but the part of him that used to love touch, the human him, wanted it to never end.

Hearing Riku choke, feeling his grip tighten, he wanted to scream, he never wanted his Riku to be hurt, he did not understand why but he just knew. He could almost feel the implants trying to smother the emotion, closing his eyes. "Riku…" Slowly he brought his arms up to wrap around Riku, being careful not to hold on too tightly. Hugging…they were hugging.

His head was pounding, he knew he had to Regenerate but found he did not wish to, what if he was hallucinating Riku's presence?

"You're shaking," Riku murmured, leaning back a little, nudging Sora's head up. "Have you slept at all since the last time I saw you? No, don't answer that, it's pretty obvious," Riku shook his head. "Where do you sleep or…Regenerate?" Even as he was asking he moved so that he was supporting him in a way that would also let them walk.

"Cargo bay," he answered, finding he was letting Riku take his weight, but not all of it, he knew he was heavier than normal for someone his size.

"Alright."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tom straightened as the door opened, he'd been going crazy waiting for word, praying the kids friend wouldn't turn him away…so seeing the silver haired guy supporting Sora as they walked had to be good, right? "Regeneration alcove, now," he ordered, and Sora nodded.

"Directions?" Riku asked, and Tom waved them to follow.

"Captain had to get back to the bridge," he told them as they walked, moving to Sora's other side in case he collapsed. "So, you're Riku. Known the kid long?"

The silver haired young man glanced at him over Sora's head, cyan eyes calm but there was something about him that had Tom's instincts telling him he was not someone he wanted as an enemy. "All our lives."

Tom grinned. "So you know allll the embarrassing stories then?"

Riku smirked. "Maybe," he taunted. He glanced down at Sora, expression softening, ah, so that's how it was. Tom hid a wince, that was not going to be easy with Sora's lack of memory and struggle with emotions.

When Sora stumbled, Tom took his other side as they got in the turbolift. "Easy Sora, let's get you to your alcove. You're getting a double cycle, Doctor's orders," Tom told him, and Sora just nodded. Maybe he should have called for a site to site transport, but the Captain wanted them offline until they went over what alterations Sora had made. "Almost there," he told them both as the doors opened.

They walked down the hall and the cargo bay doors opened, Tom seeing Riku glance around curiously. Tom got them over to the alcoves, Riku obviously noticing the difference between them and everything.

"The one on the end," Tom told him. "Hold him up while I activate the cycle."

"No bed?" Riku asked, supporting the exhausted Sora against the inside of the alcove.

"Borg drones don't actually sleep," Tom explained, setting the cycle to be a double. "Ready?" he asked, glancing at Sora.

"Affirmative," he mumbled, and Tom chuckled, but activated it.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku supported Sora in standing against the strange wall, his head resting on a circle. As soon as Sora answered the older man, the circle lit up and Riku found he was no longer supporting Sora, even as his eyes slipped shut.

"And he's out for the next ten hours."

Riku stepped back, it was strange seeing Sora standing utterly still, almost rigid. Sora was always in motion, used to drive their teachers insane at school. "Sora's never so still," he whispered.

"Really?" the Lieutenant asked, and Riku nodded. "Guess that's a change from being a drone, Seven's the same."

"Seven?" Riku asked, not taking his eyes off Sora. He'd barely been able to stand so how was he staying upright?

"The other ex-Borg on board. She was the first, she found Sora on the downed Cube."

"So he's had someone who knows what he's going through to help, that's good."

"Well, their circumstances are very different, Seven was a child when Assimilated and she was a full part of the Collective when we met, she didn't want to be freed. Sora was older, if amnesiac, and he asked for help in getting free," he explained. "So, we've got ten hours till he wakes, although he can snap out of it earlier if he needs to, it doesn't keep him locked in or anything."

"Can he hear us?" Riku asked, reaching out but then stopping himself from touching him.

"From what I understand, if he tries then yes. Are you going to do whatever it is to join him?"

Riku looked at the older man, seeing curiosity and…..yeah, that was Sora, even without his memories or anything he had people ready to fight for him. "No," he shook his head. "He needs rest. Unless I sense him having a Nightmare then I'll stay out."

"You can sense what he's dreaming?"

"I can feel his emotions, most of the time I have to concentrate to do it, and distance makes it harder. When he was….Assimilate, it knocked me out," he admitted. "That was a relief. I couldn't reach or do anything and then the link just broke."

"Alright, Captain's offered you a guest cabin if you want."

"Yeah, I could probably use some sleep myself," he admitted.

"This way," Paris motioned.

"I'll be here when you wake up Sora," he promised softly before turning to follow him.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"How is our guest Mr Paris?" The Captain asked as he returned to his station.

"Settled into guest quarters Captain. "Had to show him how to use everything but he looked pretty tired. Sora's settled into a double Regeneration cycle," he quickly explained, glancing at Seven who nodded.

"Very well, let's get under way. I want to get further away from the Hirogen."

Tom nodded, getting them back on course for home.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Seven entered the cargo bay, relieved to see Sora in his alcove. He looked completely at peace and not about to collapse like he had on the bridge. He'd been Regenerating for four hours and he was already looking considerable improved, all he would need was a large meal or two once he woke. She had wanted to be there for his reunion with his friend but had been needed in the repair teams. The holographic army had done considerable damage in the short time they had been free to roam the ship. Not to mention the lingering damage from when the Hirogen had attacked and boarded them. She stepped into her own alcove and activated the cycle, choosing one longer than normal, obviously her needs had been seen to somehow while a captive but she was feeling more worn than normal.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku sat up in the bed and stretched, looking around before remembering where he was. He got out of the odd yet comfortable bed, looking out at the passing stars for a moment before going to where he'd left his clothes, digging through his magical pockets for his Gummiphone. He held it, considering, and then went to his contacts for Kairi's…but then hit Terra's instead. he hadn't called anyone since abandoning the ship and he didn't even know if there was a range limit on the phones.

"Riku?" he found Terra's face staring at him much to his relief.

"Are you alone?" he asked and Terra frowned, saying something to someone out of range before moving away. He heard a door close and then Terra nodded. "I found him, I found Sora."

Terra blinked before smiling. "That's," he frowned. "Wait, why call me and ask me to be alone?"

"Because…" Riku ran a hand through his hair. "Because the two of us and maybe Isa are the ones you can understand."

Terra was not an idiot. "He was possessed?" he asked, eyes narrowed. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine and it wasn't possession exactly, more mind control. And unlike us, he's stuck dealing with physical consequences for life. They…altered him, they alter everyone." Riku collapsed down on the couch, staring out at the stars again. "The crew of the spaceship we're on saved him, they found him as the only survivor of a crash and took the chance to help him. His memory is still a mess but he seems to know me now, more than he did in the dreams," he sighed, pausing for a moment.

"Remembering you is a good start," Terra offered. "Riku, what do you mean by altered?"

"Know what a cyborg is?" he asked, and Terra shook his head. "The race that found Sora were cybernetic, that's where you mix technology and organic life. He has implants in his body, massive scarring…as long as he's fully covered a lot is hidden but it's enough that to maintain World Order…" he closed his eyes, swallowing hard.

"He can't go home," Terra finished, and Riku nodded.

"There are ones in his head, to limit his emotions. He's having to re-learn so much because of his memory."

"How did they erase it?"

"According to the Doctor here, they didn't. They usually take anything useful and share it among themselves but Sora had nothing. The locals think it was because he was near death when found, in a crater, like he hit the ground really hard. I think maybe…I think Sora did it to himself," Riku admitted.

"Why?"

"Because the link didn't break until he was being Assimilated. I think he realised what they were doing and…"

"Took everything that made him Sora and hid it where no one could reach, including himself?"

"Yeah."

"It could be possible," Terra admitted. "What is he like now?"

"Hard to tell when he was utterly exhausted, the ship was boarded and he's spent the last week at least with basically no sleep or food trying to save everyone."

"So still the same Sora, killing himself to save others."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "He…he'd locked himself in his room, was curled in the corner with the lights off. Tried to get me to leave, to believe he's not Sora, just a mechanical monster," Riku sighed. "From what the people here told me about the Borg, I can take some guesses as to why he was doing that…what he did when under their control."

"Xehanort levels?" Terra asked quietly.

"The subjection and forced assimilation of entire planets in a crazy search for 'perfection'. Apparently they are pretty much the most feared enemy wherever they are found."

"Where are you?" Terra asked. "I've never heard of anything like that."

"Apparently somewhere called the Delta Quadrant. The ship, what I've seen is amazing but I've seen and sensed no sign of magic, or Heartless, nothing."

"Do you think they'll let him leave with you?"

"I don't get the feeling they want to keep him against his will, more that he's become a part of the crew. They're protective of him."

"Sounds like everything you've told me about Sora, so it seems that at his core, the Sora you know definitely still exists. You told Kairi?"

"Not yet."

"Bring him here. Ventus' presence might help and, well, the two of us know all about guilt," Terra told him.

"Thanks, I will. No way could Sora deal with Master Yen Sid. And the science group at Radiant Garden, well…" he shrugged and Terra chuckled. "Not sure what other Worlds he'll be able to go to."

"Just don't neglect yourself in looking after Sora," Terra warned.

"I just had a six hour nap, I'll be fine." He hung up and then ran through some exercises before grabbing his clothes, heading in to shower and clean up.

It was…weird to shower but have no water, it didn't feel as clean to him. Once done he went to the panel Paris had shown him and tapped the square he'd been told to. Someone should come since he wasn't welcome to just wander, and not because he'd get lost. He understood, he was a stranger even if Sora did remember him, they had no reason to trust him.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora blinked as his Regeneration cycle ended, he felt a lot better. He knew he'd been through a double length cycle but he had needed it. Of course, Riku was not there, he had known it was a hallucination due to his…the cargo bay doors opened and Sora stared as Riku walked in with a security officer. He was real?

Riku saw him and smiled. "You look a lot better, how do you feel?" he asked, walking towards him without any hesitance. How, why, was he dreaming? "Sora?" Riku's smile faded. He stepped up onto the platform the alcoves were set into. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, lifting his hand and Sora watched the limb, feeling warm skin rest against his cheek, Riku's gloves missing.

"This is not a dream?" he asked, and Riku shook his head.

"You're awake and I'm here," Riku promised.

Sora glanced to the side, seeing Seven in her own alcove, looked at the ensign who was leaving the room. He looked back at Riku, taking him in. He looked different to in the dream, older, and the clothing was different too.

"You came, why?" He didn't understand. He had told Riku not to come.

"Of course I came." He leant in, pressing their foreheads together like he did in the dream, as if the optical implant didn't bother him at all. Interesting, his gloves were gone but there was still material around one wrist. Riku followed his gaze. "It aches but it's okay. Roxas did a good job on it when we fought, there's nothing anyone back home can do but the Doctor here, he said he can fix it. Replace the bones?"

Sora nodded and lifted his own arm. "He replaced the mechanical arm the Borg gave me. There was no pain when I woke."

Riku looked at him for permission and then took his hand, examining his arm. "There's no scarring, nothing. It feels like flesh and blood."

"Federation medical technology includes artificial and limited cloning. The skin was grown from my own DNA, the bones are artificial. All of the scars are from the Borg, not the Doctor."

He reached out in return and Riku let him take his left hand, examining the wrist, feeling the slight distortion under the skin from where the break obviously hadn't healed right. Riku was right handed, he remembered that, seeing him fight….he moved his hand from Riku's arm to his side and hip.

"That man…he hit you here, because you protected me."

"Yeah, it was worth it and I'd do it again," Riku told him.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Sometimes, but your Doctor didn't seem to pick up anything fixable or he didn't mention it."

"He would have said," Sora assured him. He went to step down from his alcove and Riku stepped back to give him room. "I need to eat," he stated, and Riku nodded.

"Lead the way."

They left the cargo bay and Sora was surprised to find the security officer was gone. He was truly that trusted now? He led him to the turbolift which they had to themselves. Should he say something? Was he meant to talk? About what? He had not worked it out by the time they reached the mess hall, leading Riku in, the room going quiet in curiosity, but Riku didn't react.

"Ah, good evening Sora. I hope you're feeling better," Neelix greeted with a smile.

"I am, thank you. Neelix, this is Riku. Riku, this is Neelix, chief chef and moral officer," Sora introduced them as he had been taught, although he wasn't sure if Riku had a title of any kind. He thought maybe he did, but he was not sure.

"A pleasure to meet you Riku," Neelix offered and Riku nodded.

"Likewise."

They were soon seated at a table, Riku examining the food curiously.

"Is the food very different?" he asked, and Riku looked up at him.

"Some of it is. Living on an Island, there isn't a lot of variety."

"The whole planet is only Islands?" he asked because he barely remembered anything except that small island where they played.

Riku began telling him about their home as they ate and Sora listened intently, hoping it would help spark more memories.

TBC…

Notice a slight shift in Sora's language use?