Star Trek: "The Mudd Collective…"
Summary: After using illegally…(Sir, knowledge should be free to all!)…Acquired genetic tech to reverse his aging, Harry Mudd sets his sights on bringing… "Mudd"…To the Galaxy through the Federation's deadliest foe. That'll show James T. Kirk. And that Burnham. And he don't like that Picard chap much either, at that, even if he hasn't met him.
2383…Just a bit into the Delta Quadrant, beyond Federation well-charted space…
Part II…
The former Borg Queen, local node, by name, Callia Nomz of Vergilis III in the Delta Quadrant, a long Borg-collectivized world, awakened in the Excelsior medical facility after several days in induced coma, in which she'd been placed to allow easy removal of a number of her implants. Now, her skin a deep brown, eyes white with deep black irises, and somewhat returned hair, a curly brown, she carefully raised a hand while eyeing the lovely young-looking Stella Mark II tending her in what she vaguely recognized was in part a regeneration chamber in lengthwise form…Actually, almost what she knew as, in her previous life on her home world, a bed…Allowing for translation and cultural differences.
"Feeling better?" the Stella beamed at her.
"Much…I feel…Almost myself…" Callia nodded wearily.
"Good, Captain Mudd will be pleased."
"It's not a dream…I'm not in Unimatrix Zero?" Callia looked round. "I'm free? Safe?"
"It's not a dream…The rest I'm not programmed for response to, though yes, you are safe here." Stella Mark II, 5 nodded.
"You've taken out…Almost everything?" Callia noted, looking at the skin on her arms. No signs of Borg implants, not even scars.
I'm free?
"Almost everything…It was a bit difficult, that's why we had to put you into an induced comatose state. You'd been a Borg for quite a while."
"Yes. It was horrible. I couldn't control…I couldn't stop it…" Callia shook head. "Is your captain available? I'd like to thank him again."
"I've alerted him that you're awake." Smile. "He'll be here soon. Indeed, you're invited to dine with him at the captain's table."
"Dine? Eat?" Callia stared. "I can eat, again…?"
"Well, carefully. We must take it slowly. But we analyzed your body structure and we've accessed data on Vergilis III, your home world to know what foods should be useful and acceptable. You can instruct us as to preparation and preference, within the consumption limits we set based on your metabolism at dinner."
"I'll eat anything…" wry smile. "I've not eaten…" shake of head. "It's been years, I think."
"Yes, it appears so." Stella II, 5 nodded.
"You're really an android?" Callia eyed her.
"Oh, yes. But I'm modeled on Harry Mudd's wife in her younger days, dear Stella." Smile.
"She's…Not here?"
"No. I'm afraid she died a while ago."
Good…Callia did not say, though she chided herself internally.
What a thing to think…Poor Captain Harry.
Sweet Captain Harry, who saved my life…
I mean if his former mate is dead…He must be…Lonely. Even if he seems to have a lot of female robotic companionship.
"Are there no other people…Organics, I mean…On this vessel?" she asked.
"Currently there are forty-two organic beings on the Excelsior, ten Dorelains, four female, six male. Twelve Pelkians, all male. One Terran, female. One Gervain, unisexual…"
"Sorry…Don't mean to interrupt." Callia, raised hand. "Those are his crew?"
"No, they are from the Borg vessel, undergoing therapy or other medical treatment we couldn't provide for them on the cube vessel."
"Well, I meant members of your own crew…"
"There are no other organics besides our Captain." Stella smiled.
"He's all alone here?" Callia stared.
"Oh, no. He has myself and my sisters, a complement of 1,550 androids…" smile.
Alone, eh…? That's…Awful and…Convenient.
I mean, that I can…Perhaps…Oh, stop it, Callia! You have other concerns! It's embarrassing! The poor, brave man trying to save you and the others…And here you are, fantasizing.
Still…Handsome man, whatever his species…Though a bit on the big side. But we like them with a bit of weight on Vergilis…I think?
It's been so long…
"From…Andromeda? A planet in the Andromeda galaxy…? You're from there?"
"Our makers were." Stella II, 5 nodded. "But we came from Gavor II, where they'd set up a colony world eons ago, after they left their old galaxy."
"And Harry…Captain Mudd…Isn't one of your makers?"
"Oh, no. He's merely human from Earth or Terra, some call it. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is his birthplace. He just works in space." Beam.
"Species 5…No!" Callia cut herself off. "Sorry, still a few Borg memories…He's from Earth, from the Federation of Planets? I remember when I had just a very few moments free in my mind, they seemed like nice people. They defeated the Collective several times, yes?"
"So we have received knowledge of, from various Federation sources." The android nodded.
"And now they've come to save us…Very kind." Callia smiled wanly. "And brave to risk fighting the Borg again."
"Harcourt is most anxious to be kind to you." Stella II, 5 noted.
Oh…! "Oh, really? That's very nice of him." Attempt at casual tone. "Tell me? Does he really mean to help free my people?" earnestly.
"He has said so. I am not programmed to respond in that area. Sorry." Smile.
"Oh, that's fine. I'm sure he means to, he's so brave. But how did he acquire this ship and all of you? Is he a scientist/explorer?"
"Sorry, I am not programmed to respond in those areas." Stella II, 5 noted, with kindly wistful tone. "He will explain all of that to you."
"Sorry, I don't mean to ask so many questions or push you beyond your operating capacity. Your technology is amazing. The Borg couldn't understand you at all. Arrogant bastards! I mean, the original Borg, not their victims." Callia, apologetically, waving a hand. "I know the others on my…Their ship. Had nothing to do with what the Collective was doing. I couldn't help myself, they couldn't either…" tearing a bit. "I never meant to harm anyone…"
"I'm sure. There, there." Stella II, 5 patted her arm. "You shouldn't excite yourself too much. Rest a bit, Harry will be by to see you soon."
"You're very pretty. Harry must have loved your human counterpart very much. Did he design you to honor her memory?" Callia eyed Stella.
"Oh, yes." Nod. "I honor Stella original's memory by my existence. And thereby bring contentment to our Lord and Captain, Harry Mudd." Beam.
"He must miss her terribly." Callia shook head. "Did she die very long ago?"
"Decades."
"Really?" Stare. "His kind have a long life span indeed. But I seem to recall…" Vague tone.
"No, I shouldn't try to dredge up bad memories from…That time." she shook head.
"Harry is very long-lived. He had us halt and slightly reverse his peculiar degeneration years ago." Stella noted. "Of course he decided against becoming near immortal, like our creators. It had serious effects on their breeding abilities. They stopped reproducing and the original colony on Gavor IV eventually failed. Though a few did manage to reproduce with humans on his planet and a few others."
"They did?"
"Briefly…But the genetic differences were too complex to fully overcome and the offspring were too rare and did not, generally, so far as we know, survive to reproduce."
"So, your Andromedan makers died out?" Callia asked.
"Over the span of years, they died."
"Sad…But not as bad as being forced into that hideous Collective." Shudder. "But they managed intergalactic travel? Not even the Borg have attempted that."
"The data is fragmentary but we believe it took about 300-1000 years and that they were forced to flee Andromeda as well as their own system. That is why they developed near immortality." Stella II, 5 noted. "But you should rest…"
"I will, if you'll promise to let me know a bit before the captain comes. I'd like to try and dress a bit. I haven't in so long…I used to dress so well, even on a waitress' salary." Callia sighed, regarding the plain hospital wrap she'd been dressed in.
"Certainly."
"See, I was working my way through the Higher Instituteon Vergilis Prime, before the Borg attacked the Vergilis Republic…I'd just been elected to local representative for my district. Youngest ever." Proud tone. "I had quite a reputation then." Shyly proud.
"Yes, we learned that studying your Borg data cube. Your ambition, intellect, and personality attracted the Collective when they assimilated your planet." Stella Mark II, 5 nodded. "But I would rest now…Your body has been through quite a strain."
"I will…The Captain is coming?" Callia, earnestly.
"After you've rested and dressed as you like." Warm smile.
"He must have loved you very much, Miss Stella. And missed you. He keeps you young and as you were when he lost you…" Callia, yawning now…
"He loves to keep our memory fresh in his heart." Stella agreed.
"That's true love…Please stay with me while I go to sleep, I miss being physically around people…"
"All right…"
…
Several hours later…The medical facility…
Stella Mark II, 5, carefully adjusting a wig on Callia's head, synthesized to match her own original hair in long braided coils, Stella having followed Callia's instructions on how to do hair in a Vergilian style. Callia now in shimmering dress, similar to Stella's blue gown but in green tones that set off her brown skin.
"May I see? Oh…" Callia put hand to mouth, eyeing herself in the lighted hand mirror Stella held up.
"I look good…Oh, I wasn't sure how I'd look. Do you think Captain Mudd will…?"
"Like it?" Harry's voice as he entered, passing through the same sort of portal the Stellas Mark I and II had passed through on the Excelsior bridge. "He likes it just fine. Ah, Miss Callia, you're beautiful." He beamed. He in somewhat even more fancy uniform, though a bit more restrained.
"Captain Mudd…That's so kind." She smiled. "Your android nurse, Miss Stella, has been so helpful to me."
"Good, good. That's her function. She lives to serve. It pleases her and the others to know they have served well. As you have, my dear Stella." Harry smiled.
"Thank you, Harcourt. I am so glad to be of service." Stella II, 5 beamed.
"Well, are you feeling well enough to join me at dinner?" Harry addressed Callia who rose. "I've had the Stellas researching your data and all data they could obtain on your homeworld and I believe they've come up with several wonderful, yet light…Must beware overdoing it these first days…" solemn nod. "…Dishes that should prove quite enjoyable."
"Frankly, I am starving. Though Miss Stella's kept me well nourished. There's nothing like solid food." Callia noted eagerly.
"Yes, I fear I myself enjoy such a bit too much. I am trying to have the Stellas Mark I keep me on a better diet, but one can't help oneself from time to time, our Galaxy has so much wonderful cuisine to offer." Harry noted. "Well, if you're ready, may the Captain of the Excelsior escort you to his table?" he offered an arm.
"Oh, yes…Thank you, Captain." She took his arm.
"Now, now…I told you to call me, Harry." He smiled, wagging a finger.
"Harry." She beamed.
…
"Are you enjoying yourself, my dear?" Harry eyed Callia as they sat in a well-appointed dining area, designed at his direction to match one of his favorite restaurants on Morelis IV. A restaurant to which, sadly, he'd long been denied admittance till time, false identification, and an ample credit balance, the last two supplied by his faithful Stellas, had reopened doors to him in the last twenty or so years.
"Oh, so much…I haven't tasted food, let alone food this excellent in I don't dare to recollect how long…" Callia noted happily. "So sweet of you and your robots to prepare Vergilian dishes for me. And that music playing…" she turned. "I used to love that band."
"All the work of my dear Stellas, sweetheart." Harry beamed. "They reviewed your data cube and other available information and with their usual diligence achieved what I must agree is a magnificent result. Glad to here you're pleased. They'll be enraptured to know they've served well."
"How did you manage to …Oh, I'm sorry. I've no right to ask so many questions…" she hesitated, taking a sip of water from a fine piece of glassware.
"I never realized how wonderful water tastes…"
"Yes, but won't be long before you can enjoy other fluids, including the joys of a fine wine." Harry smiled. "But as to your questions, feel free. I'm sure you have many."
"They pile over in my head…Some about what's been happening, others more specific. Harry, you've been so wonderful to help us. I can't express my gratitude." Callia, shaking head.
"Not at all. What is the purpose of living but to help others, eh?" he beamed. "But, as to your comrades from the cube ship, a matter I'm sure you're very concerned about."
"Are they well? Did they all survive?" she asked, anxiously. "I know their ingrained commands led at least some to resist."
"The Stellas make a formidable fighting force." Smile. "But all was achieved quite peaceably." Offhand wave. "Most of those who resisted merely trying to carry out the basic assimilation order. Not to worry, everyone was secured safely." Confident nod.
"Oh, Harry, that's wonderful news!" she beamed. "Stella the nurse…My nurse, anyway…Told me a few were here?"
"A few who needed special treatment. They're all doing well, my dear." Smile. Another swig of wine.
"Ah, I wish you were able to try this fine vintage. But a few days yet." He noted.
"What I've had tonight was amazing…" Callia smiled. "But the others, are any of them…" she paused, a nervous look. "I don't suppose they want to see me. I…It…Was horrible to many of them."
"Not at all. Not your fault, dear." Harry shook head. "But they need a chance to recover. A few days' rest and they'll be fine. And the ones on the cube are also doing well."
"Good, I'm so glad. Thank you, from the bottle of my heart. I can't express my gratitude properly."
"No need, dear, no need. I'm so glad we were able to help. Now, as to your homeworld."
"Oh…Do you really think you could help? Harry?" nervous look. "The Borg are still quite powerful there, there are thousands of cubes, tens of thousands of Borg planets. I don't think you can risk it. Not without a fleet, however powerful this ship is."
"Now, now…Let me worry about that. Courage, my dear." Confident tone. "As an old friend was wont to say, 'What is a man but that lofty spirit, that sense of enterprise, that devotion for something that cannot be sensed, cannot be realized but only dreamed, the highest reality?'
"That is beautiful…" Callia, awed.
"Yes, my old friend, James Kirk, a Federation starship captain, said them once when we were on Gavor II, together. It stayed with me, all these years." Harry, solemnly. "And of course, 'Risk is our business. That's what this starship is all about. That's why we're aboard her.'"
My own catchphrase, he smiled to Callia who stared, open-mouthed.
…