A/N: Great Bird of the Galaxy, this chapter was like pulling teeth out of a donkey... I ended up writing everything but this chapter lol, even went and worked on The Mandalorian story I have in the works... hi! Have some shenanigans. (Also to the reviewer who asked why can't the replicator give out sleeping aids, good question, my reasons are thus: one, because Elle's a minor so nah. Two, based on personal experience, if you're stressed and can't sleep, taking a little walk and going to get a hug is almost as good as the sleeping pills themselves. And if you end up talking it out, or stopping by Ten-Forward and getting some hot cocoa and being sleepified by someone's ramble on hydroponic systems, all the better. Human connection is too important to skimp out on in deep space. Okay cool, thank you all for the reviews, bye!)

"Elle."

"Yes, captain."

"Did you know that Will was offered the Melbourne?"

"Yes, captain."

Picard took a bite of croissant. "And you didn't say anything?"

"Nope." It was too early in the day to emotionally rile him.

Picard nodded. "I assume because he gets offered a better ship later?"

"Well," Elle said, "if, heaven forbid, you get assimilated in our next Borg encounter, we need him on the Enterprise. And he gets a ship later, when you're both ready to move on. Don't worry about him."

"Can we postpone the Borg talk until we're done with breakfast?" Dr. Crusher asked.

"Sorry ma," Elle said.

"How is Wesley?" Picard asked, mentioning the missing member of their little 'family breakfast'.

"Well, it turns out even geniuses need to study," Dr. Crusher said dryly.

Elle snorted. "Shocker."

Their little bubble of peace popped precisely at 0745 as everyone headed to shifts. Elle dropped into the classrooms to let them know she wasn't going to be doing school until after the Borg were dealt with, and then headed back up to the bridge. In the turbolift, Lt. Donahue got on with her.

"Aren't you supposed to be on the planet with Shelby?" Elle asked.

He shook his head. "My assignment is you."

"We won't even encounter the Borg until later," Elle said.

"Nevertheless."

She eyeballed him. "Uh-huh."

They arrived on the bridge, and Worf immediately glared Lt. Donahue into a corner. Talk about a hairy eyeball. Elle slipped around the momentarily-cowed officer and went to stand next to the captain. "What'd I miss?" she asked.

"Lt. Commander Shelby is a Bright Young Thing, isn't she?" Picard asked, amusement barely hidden.

Elle assumed Riker had already gone to the planet to pull Shelby's ear. She smothered a grin. "Uh-huh. She sure is that."

Picard covered a grin with his hand. "It'll be good for him," Picard decided.

Elle snickered.

The away team came back an hour later, rambling about power distribution nodules. "What kind of damage would we have to do to shut them down?" Riker asked.

"Projections suggest that a Borg ship like this one could continue to function effectively even if seventy eight percent of it was inoperable," Data said.

"We didn't even make a dent last time," Geordi pointed out.

"What about my plan?" Elle asked.

Shelby gave her a withering look. "We are not going to set hydrogen fission bombs on the Borg, you heathen."

"Why not!" Elle protested. "Smash plus radiation would take out more than just pure destruction, and they'd have to actively reroute to irradiate the biological components."

"You are a heathen," Shelby repeated.

"A heathen who is correct," Elle said primly. "The more advanced technology we use, the more tempting a target we make. If we go Manhattan Project and machine gun on them, they'll back off because why would they want something that unsophisticated?"

"Hate to say it but that makes sense," La Forge said.

"And then later when we're actually ready and they come back we can quantum torpedo them," Elle said.

"...fine," Shelby said.

"Are we going to take prisoners?" Elle asked.

"If possible," Shelby said. "We have de-assimilation teams on standby."

"Excellent." Elle noticed one of the maintenance bots sweeping up dust unobtrusively. "Ooh, there's an idea."

"What?" Shelby asked warily.

"What if we deployed the maintenance bots with knives edged with the virus? Every Borg and every piece of technology they ankle-swiped would be infected."

Shelby blinked at her. "There's no way that would work."

"Why not?" Elle asked. "How long does the virus stay alive outside of a body? Ooh, we could even transport the bots onto the borg ship as soon as they get in range. Kickstart it."

"I mean, that might work," Shelby said grudgingly. "Where are you coming up with these ideas?"

"Home Alone," Elle said. "Compared to the Borg we are a nine-year-old chaos gremlin, and we need to work with our strengths."

Riker, being the only one who got her reference, choked on a laugh. "Paint cans and toy cars?" he asked.

"I was thinking flamethrowers," Elle said mildly. "What they can't repair they have to replace."

Shelby stared at her in mute horror.

Elle gave her a tired smile. "Sometimes it's awful to be the only one who has a set of memories of living through a Federation-Klingon war. You agreed with me about the radiation beforehand."

"Is that how you knew about the mild assassination order?" Lt. Donahue asked.

"Yup. If Klingons ever breached Star Fleet HQ, there was an "immediate inter-universal transport order" on me," Elle said, doing exaggerated finger quotes. "Better than saying, shoot the teenage girl."

Everyone winced, including Lt. Donahue, which meant somewhere in there he did have a soul. Probably lodged next to his kidneys.

"Moving right along," Riker said, giving Elle the 'you need so much therapy' frown, "what about cycling through shield frequencies?"

"Sir, we're being hailed by Starbase 324," Worf said.

"Onscreen," Picard ordered.

Admiral Hanson popped up. He looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep. "Captain. At nineteen hundred hours yesterday, the USS Lalo departed Zeta Alpha Two on a freight run to Sentinel Minor Four. At twenty two hundred hours and twelve minutes, a distress signal was received at Starbase one five seven. The Lalo reported contact with an alien vessel described as cube shaped. The distress signal ended abruptly, and she's not been heard from since."

"Mister Data, how long would it take to get there at warp nine?" Picard asked.

"One hour, seventeen minutes, sir."

"Make it so."

Hanson added, "We're coming with every available starship to assist, Captain, but the closest help is six days away."

"We'll try and keep them occupied until you arrive," Picard assured him grimly.

"I know you will. Hanson out."

Riker took a measured breath. "All hands will stand to battle stations."

Everyone not clustered around the ops station went to do their thing and Data said, "I can write an algorithm to rotate the shield frequencies and the phasers."

"I hate to say this but Elle's low-tech solutions are the only workable thing we have," Shelby said, making a face.

Riker nodded. "To stations." He glanced at Elle. "Go steal a nurse and some vacuums from Maintenance, prep your ideas."

"Yes, sir."

Elle, with a willing Nurse Ogawa, gave six maintenance bots each a knife coated in anti-Borg pathogens. "Is this going to work?" Nurse Ogawa asked.

"Better than machine guns," Elle replied.

"...okay."

-/\-

"Here." Worf pushed a backpack into Elle's arms.

She looked down at it. It was not the standard Star Fleet grey, but an unmarked dark brown. "What's this?"

"A specialized go-bag," Worf said. "Based on the ones used on multi-day away teams. In case you disappear."

Elle hefted it. Whatever was in here weighed less than her old elementary-school bag. "Thank you."

He watched her put it on. "This will be part of your standard kit anytime you are in a dangerous situation," he said. "You aren't leaving the ship without it, on Commander Riker's orders."

"Oh. Good to know." She clipped the backpack straps around her waist. "Do I look ready to kick some Borg butt?"

"No," Worf rumbled, amused. "See the quartermaster for your phaser assignment."

"Yes, sir." Elle walked around the curve of the corridor and waited for Lt. Donahue to draw level with her. "Are you hiding from our chief of security?" she asked.

"Today is not a good day to die," was all Lt. Donahue said.

Elle snickered.

-/\-

"Sir, reading unidentified vessel just entering sensor range. Bearing two one zero mark one five one."

"Move to intercept," Picard ordered.

"Aye, sir."

Worf spoke up. "Sir, the vessel has already changed course to intercept us. Approaching at warp nine point three. Entering visual range."

"On screen. Magnify."

A Borg cube filled the viewscreen. Elle's stomach dropped to her toes. "That's big," she said faintly. It was always different seeing something in real life as opposed to a TV screen, but, that was huge. "I changed my mind," she whispered. "That's terrifying."

Deanna reached across and squeezed Elle's hand.

The captain, to his credit, didn't even waver. "Mister Worf, dispatch a subspace message to Admiral Hanson. We have engaged the Borg."

Worf's expression flickered to uncertainty. "Captain, you are being hailed. By name."

Riker frowned. "Data, is it the same ship we faced at J two five?"

"Uncertain, Commander, but the dimensions are precisely the same."

"On screen," Picard decided. "I am Jean-Luc-"

The Borg internal camera showed a cavernous post-industrial interior decorating scheme, and no sign of any Borg drones. They spoke in, unsurprisingly, a monotone drone. "Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the Starship Enterprise, registry NCC-1701-D. You will lower shields and prepare to transport yourself aboard our vessel. If you do not cooperate, we will destroy your ship."

Picard frowned and put on his 'stall for time' face. Lt. Commander Shelby and the security team had to beam over to the Borg ship now and still have time to come back. "You have committed acts of aggression against the United Federation of Planets. If you do not withdraw immediately-"

The Borg repeated without pausing, "You will surrender yourself or we will destroy your ship. Your defensive capabilities are unable to withstand us."

"You underestimate us," Picard said. "If you attempt to assimilate us, you will destroy yourselves."

"Explain," the Borg demanded.

Elle stamped down a shiver. She couldn't help comparing the Borg to the Cybermen, or the Daleks. At least the Borg's catchphrase wasn't "exterminate."

"Our officers are protected by a virus that will destroy any Borg technology it comes into contact with," Picard said. "You will get no use from any of us."

The Borg barely hesitated. "You have the consultant with you. Eleanor Wilcott. You will lower shields and prepare to transport yourself aboard our vessel. If you do not cooperate, we will destroy your ship."

Elle literally felt the blood drain out of her face, her neck, possibly her whole entire body. They knew about her? By name? Of course they did. They had encountered the Enterprise before, taken a chunk out of its servers, its database. And records of Elle were in Star Fleet, especially as regards the original Enterprise. Hadn't Fajo said so? Who do you talk to, to get records wiped? She'd have to ask Lt. Donahue, if they both survived this.

"No," Picard said. "She has the virus as well. If you take her, you will be destroyed."

There was a pause. Then, "you have not complied. You will be destroyed."

Whoops.

"Red Alert," Picard ordered swiftly. "Are the away team back yet?"

"Yes sir," Worf said.

"Raise shields, fire at will," Picard said, just as the Borg fired their first volley.

"Shields at 70%," Worf said.

Shelby came onto the bridge. "Charges were set, they should be going off-"

Elle's jaw dropped as, on screen, the Borg ship shuddered and flared with plasma in an explosion.

"-now," Shelby said belatedly.

"Aw, no mushroom cloud," Elle said.

"No atmosphere," Worf reminded her.

"Oh yeah."

"Their shields are down," Data reported, excitement in his voice.

"Fire at will," Picard ordered.

Worf went trigger-happy on the console behind their heads.

"Sir," La Forge said, "Gamma radiation affects nanites and biological matter, the main deflector-"

"Do it," Picard ordered.

"Sir, they are rerouting power," Data reported, "their shields will be back up in less than one minute."

"Mr. La Forge," Picard prompted.

"One second, one second, now!"

Pure gamma radiation streamed towards the Borg cube. The outside was mostly mechanical, visibly it looked like nothing had happened.

"They're losing power to parts of their ship," Data said.

The Borg fired back with their own energy weapons, and Elle winced as the green glare filled the viewscreen.

"Shields holding at 50%," Worf said, and fired another volley of photon torpedos at them.

Three got through and exploded, the rest-

"Their shields are back up," Data said.

"Evasive maneuvers," Picard said. "Data, can you tell how long it will take htem to rebuild?"

"I believe it will take them approximately six hours to get back to full capacity," Data said, frowning furiously at his console. "We-"

The Borg cube fired one last shot at the Enterprise and disappeared into warp.

"Follow them!" Picard barked, and Data had the ship at warp nine before the captain even finished giving his order.

Worf spoke up, trepidation in his voice. "Sir, the coordinates they have set, they're on a direct course to sector zero zero one. The Terran system."

"Earth," Elle confirmed.

Picard frowned. "Worf, inform Admiral Hansen that we're in pursuit of the Borg cube."

"Aye, sir."

"Geordi how long can we maintain this speed?" Picard asked.

La Forge shook his head. "They're at a steady 9.6, we can't maintain warp nine for more than three hours. Four, if we ride in their wake."

"We'll have four," Data said.

Elle looked at Shelby. "Did you manage to bring back a Borg drone?"

Shelby nodded. "And we neutralized all outgoing freqeuncies like you suggested, the Borg couldn't beam back to the cube."

Picard tugged down his shirt. "We have four hours to come up with something to slow them down or defeat them," he said. "Let's get to work."

Inspiring, in theory. In practice, Elle got up and went to have a sandwich in the tiny lounge on Deck 2. She was shaking so badly, she couldn't even hold her glass of Gatorade. "Adrenaline," she sang quietly to herself, to the tune of the 'Activia' commercial. She got a straw from the replicator.

By the time she'd finished her sandwich the shakes were gone. Elle replicated a matcha banana smoothie and went back to the bridge. Everyone but Worf and Captain Picard were gone.

Admiral Hansen was on the screen, talking. "We're moving to intercept at Wolf three five nine. We'll make our stand there."

"Understood," Picard said. "Enterprise out." He remained staring at the viewscreen for a long moment and then heaved out a sigh.

Elle came to stand next to him.

He glanced at her. "Ready for round two, mission consultant?" he asked.

She hugged him. "I'm really glad you weren't assimilated," she said into his shoulder.

He patted her on the back. "Me too," he said. "Come on. We still have to save the day."

"Yes, sir."

-/\-

Polite chaos met them in Isolation Lab One, where the captive Borg done stood. Counselor Troi and Dr. Crusher were speaking in low tones about, "-personality, lack of communication with a hive mind-", La Forge and Shelby were talking at each other about deflector shields and warp engines, and Data and Riker were discussing, "-progress of the virus and the radiation, according to estimates-"

Picard cleared his throat. Everyone turned to look at him. "Report?" he asked mildly.

Dr. Crusher spoke up. "We've isolated the frequencies we think the Borg use to communicate, based on what seems to be a cortical neurotransceiver in their brain. If we use these frequencies we could possibly access their programming subroutines."

Elle did triumphant finger guns. "In the episode that works."

Picard nodded. "And the drone itself?"

Troi shook her head. "No sense of self," she said.

Picard looked at his engineering people.

"Based on our last communication with the maintenance bots, they managed to tag approximately eighty drones with the virus," Data said. "Depending on the rate of transmission and the failsafes of the cube, it could take anywhere from eight to seventy-two hours to see any effects."

"We need more time," Picard said.

"Yes, sir."

"We have an idea, sir," Shelby said.

"No, we don't," La Forge said tiredly.

Picard raised an eyebrow. "Which is it, Commander?"

"We don't," La Forge said, giving Shelby a stern glare.

Elle half-raised her hand. "I kind of have an idea?"

"What is it?"

"What about a barium sweep on the Borg?" Elle asked. "It vaporizes organic matter, right?"

Shelby raised an eyebrow. "What, ask the Borg, hey will you sit under this array for a second?"

"Can't we use the same type of energy?" Elle asked.

"No," Shelby said. "That's why we have to go to specific places."

Elle frowned. "Well, call the admiral, get him to get the array hooked up to one of the starships and bam. Death ray!"

La Forge shrugged. "Not a bad plan, but that only works if we can get their shields down."

"...true."

"What about slowing them down?" Picard asked. "Any ideas?"

Nobody had an answer. Elle sighed. "If this was a Bugs Bunny cartoon we could make them go through immigration and customs. Those lines take forever."

Data, of all people, huffed a laugh. "Unfortunately, the Borg do not believe in societal pressure."

"Unfortunately."

"We have less than three hours, people. Let's make the most of them." Picard met the gaze of each of his officers, inspiring and demanding in one fell swoop, and exited, stage left.

"He's so cool," Elle said admiringly. She turned to Geordi. "Hey, can we throw a black hole at them?"

Shelby sighed.