Unity II: Shadows of the Night, Redux (Complete)

[Crazedwraith]

As I enjoyed it and can't think of anything particularly intelligent to say, all that I can say is "Kill Janeway already."

[Sonnenburg]

As I enjoyed it and can't think of anything particularly intelligent to say, all that I can say is "Kill Janeway already."

Noted.

[Trogdor]

It's good to read this again, I really enjoy it when characters have to go through trippy experiences for some reason. This one is, IMHO, rivaled only by the part in StarCrossed where Luke confronts Nemesis.

Was it deliberate that Luke and Seven finally get together in Chapter "XXX"?

[Sonnenburg]

It's good to read this again, I really enjoy it when characters have to go through trippy experiences for some reason. This one is, IMHO, rivaled only by the part in StarCrossed where Luke confronts Nemesis.

Thanks!

Was it deliberate that Luke and Seven finally get together in Chapter "XXX"?

Six years ago (when romance was pretty much unheard of in SW/ST fiction) there was some disappointment in the lack of sex in Luke and Seven's relationship, which I promised (jokingly, of course) to put into the special edition. Well, this is the special edition... and while I do want to keep this from descending into something pornographic, the triple X chapters will offer enough info for you to fill in the details. So in that sense, yes, it's deliberate.

[Xon]

Six years ago (when romance was pretty much unheard of in SW/ST fiction)

Six years ago, romance was a hell of a lot less common in fanfiction than it is now days. Then again, actual romance rather than smut is still hard to fine

[Sonnenburg]

I'd imagine.

[Sonnenburg]

Part XXXI


The Doctor put down the tricorder, his confusion evident. “There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with her,” he commented, but there was no hiding his mystification at what had happened.

“Of course not,” Seven said. “I’ve never felt better in my life.”

“All the same,” Dr. Bashir said, having returned to Sickbay after hearing the news of Seven’s full, if not confusing, recovery, “I recommend plenty of rest for right now.”

“That won’t be necessary, I’m fine,” she insisted.

“You should listen to the doctor, Seven,” Riker said. “You shouldn’t be back on duty so soon after,” he floundered for a second, “dying,” he finished.

“What do you mean, dying?” Janeway asked.

The doctors looked at one another. “Her body did shut down for several minutes during the procedure,” Bashir explained, “during which time she was technically dead.”

“Yeah,” Seven said, “but I’m feeling much better now.”

“No argument here,” Han said. Leia glared at him. “Hey look, she’s obviously better, and if she feels up to going back to her ship and getting on with her life, why stop her?”

“I knew there was a reason I liked you, Mr. Solo,” Seven said.

“Commander,” Dr. Bashir said, “you really shouldn’t push yourself. Quite frankly, we’ve no idea how stable your condition is. This entire situation is unprecedented. We don’t want you falling back into a coma.”

“Coma?” Seven said, for the first time looking serious. “How long?”

The room was quiet. “You’ve been unconscious for seven months,” the Doctor finally said.

Seven nodded her head a little as she thought. “Well,” she said, “that would explain why I feel weak. Probably some atrophy in my muscles. I’ll need to do some workouts on the holodeck, but it should pass.”

“Seven,” Borui said, “You really should take it easy.”

“Oh, quit telling me to take it easy,” she shot back. “It’s getting old real fast. Now you’ve run your tests and I’ll submit to exams, but I will not be told to lie around and do nothing when I feel more alive than I can remember. Now, can I have my uniform back, or are you going to make me walk through the station in this hospital gown?”

Riker scratched his chin while he thought. “Compromise,” he said. “Stay on board the Enterprise. Let’s make sure you’re in tip-top shape before you mix in with the station’s population.”

Seven was about to protest, but then stopped. “Okay, fair enough. Now, uniform? I feel naked in this.”

“Well frankly,” the Doctor remarked, “you look more naked in your regular uniform.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t feel it, and that’s the important thing.”

“Seven,” Borui said while the Doctor headed for the replicator, “we need to talk about what’s happened.”

“We will,” Seven said. “But not now, there’s-“ She glanced over at Luke and just as quickly glanced away. “There’s some things I need to think about.”

“I can help you with that,” Borui offered.

“I don’t want help,” Seven said, taking the outfit from the Doctor’s grip. “I’ll speak to you when I get a chance, not now.” She headed out the door. “One side, naked cyborg coming through.”

“Just what the hell happened in there?” Riker asked.

“Captain,” Borui said with a shake of her head, “we both saw it, and I’m not all that sure myself.”

“Are we sure that’s Seven?” Janeway asked. “Not some alien lifeform that’s taken her body over?”

“That happen a lot?” Han asked.

“Oh, you’d be surprised, captain,” Janeway said.

“This is her,” Borui said. “Or rather, this is exactly what she said. She’s 7 of 9 and Annika Hansen, both rolled into one.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Luke said. “She’s different, but I’d know Seven’s lifeforce anywhere captain. For better or for worse, that’s her.”

“Doctors,” Riker said. “I hope you understand why I removed her from the station-“

“The Enterprise is a controlled environment,” Bashir said with a nod. “And I’m familiar with Dr. Crusher’s reputation. I see no reason not to leave it in her capable hands, do you?” he asked the Doctor.

“Well,” the Doctor said, “I was rather hoping to see it through to the end-“

“You have,” Borui said. “I think, medically, this is as far as you can take her.” She shook her head. “The rest is going to have to happen inside that head of hers.”
--------------------------------------------------------------

Thrawn sat in his office, closed his eyes, and connected to the Collective. General tactical information was downloaded into his brain for later consideration; that was routine. There were, of course, a few housekeeping items. "Riker and Skywalker escaped?"

"Affirmative," the Collective answered. "The Jedi is highly adaptive; he must be assimilated."

"He will be, in time," Thrawn said. "The data the Federation gathered can be examined for weaknesses in the Pyramids defenses. It should be withdrawn immediately so that they cannot find it."

"This has been done."

"Any indication it was tracked?"

"Negative, though Species 01 continues to elude our sensors."

Yes, the Borg had filled Thrawn in on Species 01 in detail. They could've been dangerous if their species hadn't dispersed over eighty thousand years ago, most choosing to leave the galaxy and seek out new challenges. The one they encountered seemed to be an anomaly; most preferred to simply stay out of sight and watch, but this one was actually willing to interact with outsiders, even if only on a limited basis. He probably wouldn't directly engage the Borg, but he might provide information to others. He'd been recognized as a veteran of the war between their species, and that meant this might be personal. Thrawn noted to watch for anomalies and moved on. "Progress on construction?"

"Seventy-nine percent completion."

Good; they'd need ships to carry the assimilated species and technology out; Thrawn couldn't very well allow them to remain in Imperial space without suspicion brewing. Fortunately the nature of the Borg made the feat simple enough. Their Cubes, for example, ran on a skeleton crew of sixty-four thousand drones, but this was merely to allow room for the occupants of assimilation. Filled, a lone Cube could carry three quarters of a billion people. With the small fleet being constructed, evacuation wouldn't be a problem. "Still no attempts by the Federation to use their program?"

"Negative."

They must have learned their lesson. It had all worked so perfectly, too. Picard dead, his young friend brain dead, there was really no one left to help them. The only one who truly understood the Borg now was him, and he'd been smart enough to choose the right side. "Now is the time to move on Alion," he said. "You remember the details for the plan?"

"We are Borg."

"Good. Stick with it and I promise you will get everything you wanted."
--------------------------------------------------------------

On board the Enterprise, Picard waited for transport back to Earth. It was safer here; on the station someone might spot him. The door chimed. "Come," he said. The door opened, and he stood up in surprise. "Seven?"

Seven smiled. "Hello, captain," she said. She was back in her usual non-uniform, her battered old satchel on her shoulder.

Picard walked over and embraced her. "I heard you'd recovered," he said. "You gave me a hell of a scare for a while."

"Well, you deserve it," she said, but there was a smirk. "Just kidding; I'm touched that you still care, really. I haven't forgotten any of the things you've taught me."

Picard's face became a little downcast. "There's something that you need to know."

"About Thrawn? Your choice?"

"Yes," he said gravely.

"I know all about it," she said. "Don't worry about it."

"You almost died," he said with a hint of emotion in his voice. "I'm so sorry, Seven-"

"Captain," she said, "you told me that sometimes we find ourselves in a position where neither choice is moral, and in those situations we are sometimes forced to make a choice that is abhorrent to us." She shook her head. "I can't imagine what you've been through," she said, "but I understand why you had to do it, and hopefully your words will provide you the same comfort they provided me: in your place, I would have done the same thing."

Picard laughed a little. "You're lecturing me on humanity? How the universe changes."

Seven grinned at him. "Well, your little girl's all grown up."

"So I see," Picard said, offering a smile and a nod. "You're not afraid any more."

"Oh, I am," Seven said. "I'm terrified."

"Well, I must say, you don't look it."

"Because I'm not going to let it stop me any more," Seven said with resolution. "I'm not going to let the things I want get away from me because I'm too scared to fail."

"Glad to hear it," Picard said. Amazing. To think this was the woman who'd marched into his ready room and called herself by her full Borg designation.

"And I'm planning to start right now," she said. "I just wanted to let you know that I was okay, and that I'm grateful for everything. You've helped me become a better person."

Picard beamed at her. "I always knew you could be. So, where are you planning to start?"

"Oh, I'm going straight to the top," Seven said. "The big gamble, the high dive, cliché, cliché, cliché." She laughed a little. "Computer," she said, "where is Luke Skywalker?"

"Luke Skywalker is in his quarters."

Picard nodded knowingly. "You're going to tell him."

"Yes," she said. "One last little bit of advice from Data,” she said, turning to her satchel. She pulled out the book; Picard knew of it, and what it meant to her. “There’s a point in the story,” she explained, “where the girl realizes that in order to bring the boy to her,” Seven smiled, “she’s got to leave her ivory tower."

He embraced her again. "Good luck," he said quietly. "If he's got any sense, he won't even need to think twice."
--------------------------------------------------------------

The door chimed. “Enter,” Luke said, putting down the book he’d been reading. He was surprised to see who it was. “Seven?”

“Luke,” she said uncomfortably. “Can I bother you for a while?”

“No bother,” he said, pointing to the couch across from him. She stepped over and sat down, a little nervous he noticed. “What can I do for you?”

She opened her mouth, and then closed it with a small, uncomfortable laugh. “I don’t know where to start.”

“That’s fine,” Luke said. He couldn’t get over how different she was. It was as if all this time she were in black and white and now had burst into colors. Not only that, but there had been changes in her appearance. She still wore her blue uniform with heels she seemed to prefer, but she’d also undone her hair, allowing it to hang freely. It was different, but it looked nice. He noticed the spiderweb of metal strands stretching up from the strip over her left eye. He also noticed the implant next to her right ear was gone. But more than that, the storm was gone, or rather, it was reigned in, like she’d tapped into it and controlled it instead of letting it run unchecked across her.

“I-“ she began as she fidgeted a little, “I’ve been thinking about a lot of things today. About what’s happened. I know, I seem different, and it’s making everyone uncomfortable.”

“Not uncomfortable,” Luke said, but it was stretching the truth. The truth was, after what had happened in Sickbay, he’d wondered if he may have unwittingly destroyed the very thing he’d tried to save. He recognized that he loved Seven, and while he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t attracted to her body, it was the person inside that he wanted. The one who showed such strength of character in the Tsunkatse arena, the one who saved his life on the Death Star, the one... the one who touched him so deeply he could sometimes lose control. “Just a little confused,” he added.

“Everyone thinks I’ve changed,” she said. “But I haven’t. Luke, I’m the same person you’ve always known, except now, now I’m not afraid any more. I’m not afraid to feel things, I’m not afraid of interactions with others, and most of all, I’m not afraid of them any more.”

“The Borg?”

“Yes!” she smiled at him. “They took those parts of me away, Luke. The parts that made me human. They tried to change me into one of them, and you might say they did.”

“You’re nothing like them,” Luke insisted.

“Yes, I am,” she said, standing up and walking around the room. “I am Borg. And I am human. And you know what,” she turned and smiled at him again, “that’s fine with me. It makes me what I am.” She noticed the look on his face. “You don’t seem convinced.”

“It’s just... the Borg are evil, Seven.”

“Am I evil?”

“Of course not,” he said firmly.

“Good, because I am Borg, Luke. Take a look at me.” She gestured over her body. “Implants Luke, everywhere. I wouldn’t be alive without them... they can’t be removed. So, should I hate what I am? Is that right?”

Luke laughed a little. “I suppose not.” He got to his feet. “I’m glad you’re happy, Seven, but have you spoken to Commander Borui? You know, just to be safe.”

She smirked at him. “Oh, I’ll talk to her, I know protocol and all that. But, I wanted to talk to you first. There are many things I’ve wanted to tell you.” She wet her lips and her voice softened. “You are the most amazing man I’ve ever met. The skill of a champion and the heart of a saint... the more I learn about you, the more I’m awed at what I discover. I never told you, but... I am so humbled that someone like you would consider me a friend... would do the things you’ve done for me. The way you hurt yourself at Wormhole Base to save me is- It’s the most touching thing I’ve ever experienced.” She smiled a little and shook her head. “Maybe you think it was a mistake, but I think of it as just one more sign of how selfless you truly are. Every time you enter my life, something good happens.” Her face became downcast. “And then I thank you by lashing out.”

Seven was quiet, and Luke truly had no idea what to say. He was shocked that someone as smart and successful and beautiful as her could hold some bumpkin from Tatooine in such high regard. “During the times I’ve known you,” she went on, “I’ve sometimes been... inconsiderate, even cruel.”

“No you haven’t.”

“Yes, yes I have,” she insisted. “I’ve been pushing you away Luke, because I’ve been so afraid. And, I’m sorry for all the times I’ve hurt you.”

“It’s all right,” Luke said.

“You know,” and she walked over, looking at the floor, “I think this was the spot. Yes, this was where I made a complete jackass of myself.”

“Seven-” Luke began, coming up behind her.

She whirled around and looked in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice seemed almost lined with tears. “I was so mean to you; I didn’t mean it.”

Luke gazed back. “It’s okay,” he said finally.

Seven smiled. “Good.” She looked over his shoulder. “You want to see something?” she said, with a conspiratorial tone to her voice. She sat down on the arm of the couch, Luke following her over. “I’ve figured it out,” she said with pride.

“Figured out what?”

“The nanoprobes!” she grinned. “Riker had already started on it, but I don’t think he put it all together. Why do nanoprobes not assimilate me?” Luke shrugged. “Because I don’t want them to.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been controlling them all this time,” she said. “Subconsciously, of course, but nevertheless they do what I want them to.” Luke was speechless; maybe he should call Borui down here to take a look at Seven. “You don’t look convinced,” she said with a small grin. “Watch this, I’ve been practicing.” She closed her eyes and seemed to be concentrating. Suddenly, without warning, a metallic spike came out from behind her hand, only to spread out across the surface of her skin like a flower. She relaxed. “I think I’ll be a big hit at parties,” she said.

“What did you do?” Luke said, unsure of what to do.

“Touch my hand,” she said, holding it up. Luke hesitated. “Oh go ahead!” He reached out, only to have his hand bounce off a force field. “Bet you don’t see that every day,” she said as the implant melted back into her hand. She looked up at him with a smile, but it slowly faded. “Is something wrong?”

“It’s just,” Luke stopped. This was so much to take in right now; he was so confused.

Seven stood up in front of him. “I haven’t told anyone about this, not yet, not even Captain Picard. I wanted you to be the first; I wanted to share this gift with you.” She was serious as she gazed into his face, her voice softening. “I said something to you when you were inside my mind.” She stepped closer until she was right in front of him. “I know you may not think I’m the same person who said those words, but I am. Maybe I have changed, outside and in, but there’s one thing I know can never change.” His heart was thumping as she closed the distance to him. His own emotions were having a hard time of it, and he could feel hers were too... there was so much hope and so much fear in there. But she looked up into his eyes and he could tell that fear lost. “I love you,” she whispered.

Luke felt his throat tighten at the words. She meant them, he could feel it, and whatever uncertainties he’d had moments before were now completely gone. This was Seven, this was the woman he’d fallen in love with. “I love you too,” he whispered back.

Seven seemed to almost be on the edge of tears, but her face radiated pure joy. She was face to face with him now. “You don’t know how much...“ she closed in to kiss him. “...I’ve wanted to hear that.” And her lips were on his, and Luke felt himself become completely lost in it.

Eventually the kiss broke, and she looked up into his eyes, and he knew that he never wanted to look at anything else again but what was there. She smiled and took his face in her hands, and she spoke with a loud, firm, Borg-like tone. “Luke Skywalker, you will be assimilated.” She was trying to speak, but laughter was managing to slip out. “Your biological distinctiveness will be added to my own. Resistance is kriffing futile!” Then she kissed him again, and it was every bit as wonderful as it had been the first time.

[Crazedwraith]

Heh. Cute. Not at all like Harry Kim's dreams.

[Ghost Rider]

Ahhh, I do so love the whole "Well, I'm going to get rid of the whole cardboard acting."

And your Han, even if he only has a few words, is still a very good one.

[Sonnenburg]

Heh. Cute. Not at all like Harry Kim's dreams.

Well, I'm not as sex-crazed as Harry.

[Sonnenburg]

Ahhh, I do so love the whole "Well, I'm going to get rid of the whole cardboard acting."

Thanks! Upgrading Seven of Nine was a lot of fun. Plus writing romantic dialogue in Seven's precise speak would have proven difficult.
Luke: I love you.
Seven: And I experience a similar fondness for you as well. Now, I desire you to spank me in the manner of a proverbial schoolgirl, as I am a sufficiently naughty and should be suitably punished.
Luke: Y'okay!
Seven: Yes, I am an imperfect girl! Repeated corporal punishment is clearly required!
Luke: When I do this I'm touching your butt.

And your Han, even if he only has a few words, is still a very good one.

Thanks, he's a fun character all around.

[consequences]

Ahhh, I do so love the whole "Well, I'm going to get rid of the whole cardboard acting."

Thanks! Upgrading Seven of Nine was a lot of fun. Plus writing romantic dialogue in Seven's precise speak would have proven difficult.
Luke: I love you.
Seven: And I experience a similar fondness for you as well. Now, I desire you to spank me in the manner of a proverbial schoolgirl, as I am a sufficiently naughty and should be suitably punished.
Luke: Y'okay!
Seven: Yes, I am an imperfect girl! Repeated corporal punishment is clearly required!
Luke: When I do this I'm touching your butt.

I don't know, is it wrong to find that arousing?

To the actual topic, keep up the fantastic work and finish it soon, so I can set aside a weekend while my wife is at extended job training reading the entire epic from start to finish, and seeing how many times I can cream my shorts just by reading.

Aaa Aadd Eeijkll Lnnrwyy!

[Sonnenburg]

I don't know, is it wrong to find that arousing?

If you think it's wrong, I advise you to turn back now before we go any further...

To the actual topic, keep up the fantastic work and finish it soon, so I can set aside a weekend while my wife is at extended job training reading the entire epic from start to finish, and seeing how many times I can cream my shorts just by reading.

Aaa Aadd Eeijkll Lnnrwyy!

Thanks very much!

[Star Empire]

Sorry for no comments for awhile. I have been reading, but am never sure what to say other than I wish I was as good at writing as you. The Seven coming back part was done great. I also like the new tie ins back to the revised WWE. I do have to join the chorus and say that say that Borui is extremely annoying (although fits her role perfectly).

[Dalton]

Sorry for no comments for awhile. I have been reading, but am never sure what to say other than I wish I was as good at writing as you. The Seven coming back part was done great. I also like the new tie ins back to the revised WWE. I do have to join the chorus and say that say that Borui is extremely annoying (although fits her role perfectly).

You should have seen me the first time this came around. I had (and have) a frothing-at-the-mouth hatred of Borui.

Luke: I love you.
Seven: And I experience a similar fondness for you as well. Now, I desire you to spank me in the manner of a proverbial schoolgirl, as I am a sufficiently naughty and should be suitably punished.
Luke: Y'okay!
Seven: Yes, I am an imperfect girl! Repeated corporal punishment is clearly required!
Luke: When I do this I'm touching your butt.

LMAO! For some reason the last line reminds me so much of Penny Arcade.

"The beatings shall continue until morale improves"

[Sonnenburg]

Sorry for no comments for awhile. I have been reading, but am never sure what to say other than I wish I was as good at writing as you. The Seven coming back part was done great. I also like the new tie ins back to the revised WWE. I do have to join the chorus and say that say that Borui is extremely annoying (although fits her role perfectly).

Thanks, I do appreciate the comments. Poor Borui, loved by no one, not even Dalton...

[Sonnenburg]

Luke: I love you.
Seven: And I experience a similar fondness for you as well. Now, I desire you to spank me in the manner of a proverbial schoolgirl, as I am a sufficiently naughty and should be suitably punished.
Luke: Y'okay!
Seven: Yes, I am an imperfect girl! Repeated corporal punishment is clearly required!
Luke: When I do this I'm touching your butt.

LMAO! For some reason the last line reminds me so much of Penny Arcade.

It's fun to make Luke sound stupid.

"The beatings shall continue until morale improves"

Oh, he shoots, he scores!

[Sonnenburg]

Part XXXII


Luke walked through a Borg ship. It didn't look like a normal one; there was a wide-open space with a grated floor. Lining the wall were drones, tens of thousands, all standing in the alcoves. They were watching him, and yet, he felt no fear. They were observing, nothing more. He walked forward across the wide room, the sound of his footsteps disturbing the regular sounds of a running Borg vessel. There was that descending pulse sound of the transporter, and he turned, and there she stood. Seven was back in full drone appearance, looking at him with that simple, calculating Borg stare. And yet, there was still no fear, as if he knew that this was his Seven, that there was no possible way she could harm him. "Luke Skywalker," 7 of 9 said.

"Seven," he said. "Why do you look this way?"

"Because this is my nature," 7 of 9 said. "Do you love me?" She still spoke in that direct Borg voice of hers, but her appearance and the tone of the question didn't change what the answer was.

"Absolutely." In response she raised her hand and stuck him in the neck with her assimilation tubules. He gripped the spot, but as time passed, he seemed the same. "Why haven't I changed?"

"Because you have already been assimilated," the Collective said. "Your emotions are not your own. They are outside your control."

"From this time forward," 7 of 9 said, "your only thoughts will be of me. Your desires will serve my desires, your choices to serve mine. If it requires abandoning your Jedi teachings you must do so; they are no longer relevant. Your function is to serve and protect me; all other priorities are secondary. You will comply."

"Your existence as it has been is over," the Collective said. "Your designation is One of Two. You cannot function alone."

"We are linked," 7 of 9 said. "When I feel pain, so will you. When tragedy comes to me, you will feel grief. As my fear grows, so too will yours."

"You will be powerless to resist them," said the Collective.

"Your life will adapt to service mine," 7 of 9 said. "Your individuality will be lost. You will merely be a part of what I am. With each passing day you will be absorbed further and further, until you will realize that to exist without me would be impossible."

"You will become one with 7 of 9," the Collective said.

"No," came a dark voice. Luke turned, and there stood Vader. "No, Luke. Turn back from this path."

"He cannot," 7 of 9 said.

"Luke," Vader said, "I have followed this road, and you have seen where it ends."

"Irrelevant," 7 of 9 said.

"Luke, don't repeat my mistakes. Learn from them!"

"It is too late now," 7 of 9 said. "You cannot turn away from me." Her expression changed and she began gasping for air.

"Seven?" Luke said with worry as she reached for her throat. "Father?" he asked turning to Vader.

"This must be done," Vader said, a hint of sorrow in his voice.

7 of 9 looked into Luke's face, and a little piece of him died. Even with all the hideous implants and equipment, with the grey skin and lifeless eyes, with everything he only ever associated with evil, he knew it was his Seven underneath it all, his Seven that was dying. "Father, release her!"

"I can't."

"Father, please!" Luke begged. "Please, you're hurting her!"

"I must do this," Vader insisted.

"Please, father," Luke pleaded with tears in his voice. "I need her! Don't take her away!"

"I'm sorry, Luke," Vader said with regret.

7 of 9 had dropped down onto her knee, her breath strained. Luke paced back and forth, unable to take his eyes off her, trembling in grief. "Stop it!!!" he screamed.

"It is the only way,” Vader said. Luke looked at 7 of 9, then at his father. Luke’s breathing was heavy, his face contorted in emotional anguish. "If she does not die, then you will be destroyed."

Luke screamed and tackled his father, knocking him to the ground. He began striking him madly on the front of his helmet, never ceasing in his cry. His real hand turned bloody, his bionic one sparked and sputtered, but he was unrelenting, until the mask shattered under the blow. He was about to strike again, when he saw the face underneath.

"Luke," Annika said, bits of the black mask still sitting on her face, "when the time comes, you have to be ready to let me go."

Luke sat there, panting, looking down into her face. He shook his head. "No," he said. "I'm a Jedi; I can protect you from anything."

"But not if it means destroying yourself," Annika said. "You're afraid to be alone?"

Luke swallowed, trying to hold his emotions in. "Yes," he said.

Annika's face looked grief-stricken. "Yet you'll leave me alone? Alone with the guilt that my love killed you?"

"I-" He covered his eyes with his bloody hand and a sob slipped out. "Yes," he croaked. "I'm sorry, Seven." He looked down at her-

"Sorrow is irrelevant," 7 of 9 said. "You have been assimilated. Resistance is futile."

Luke jerked a little as he awoke, causing Seven to withdraw for a moment. “You alright?” she asked with concern. She was surprised when he grabbed onto her and squeezed her tight. "Oo, I can get used to this," she said. After a few seconds, though, she asked, "Are you okay?"

“Seven,” he said eventually, “we should probably discuss something. I’m not really experienced with this.”

“You could’ve fooled me,” she replied seductively.

“I mean, relationships,” he said. “I’m not all that certain what to do.”

“You’re talking to someone who spent her teenage years in a vat of goo,” she replied. “I’m new at this too. We’ll just take it one step at a time.”

“Okay,” Luke said. “There’s something you should know about me, because of the Force. I sometimes have visions.”

“You mentioned that a little bit before,” she said.

“Normally they're private things, but..." he hesitated. "If you're going to be part of my life, then this means it's a message for you as much as for me." He explained what had happened.

"Hm," Seven said. "Sounds like someone's a little afraid of commitment," she said playfully. She caught his look. "I'm just teasing, sweetie," she insisted. "You went into my brain; I know you're not afraid.” Still, there was a little something under the surface, but he couldn’t tell what it was. “Luke, it’s just a dream.”

“No,” he insisted. “A Force vision isn’t just a dream. There’s a connection to reality. Before... before you went into the coma, I had a vision about you. I saw you turned into a statue, but you asked me to help you. You said ‘Promise you won’t give up on me,’ and I made that promise. And it was as real to me as if I’d made it here.”

“And you kept it,” Seven said softly. “You not only brought me back from the coma, you made me a whole person again. I owe you everything.”

“I just did what I had to,” Luke said.

Seven shook her head. “I owe you everything,” she said emphatically. “I have never felt more alive in my entire life,” she said as she began kissing his chest. “And I swear I will make you as happy as a cybernetically-enhanced woman with encyclopedic knowledge of anatomy can make a man.”

“That sounds pretty happy,” Luke admitted, his voice a little hoarse.

“Mm, how do I love thee,” she quoted, “let me count the ways....” She nibbled on his ear, then whispered. “I know seven thousand, eight hundred, nineteen.” She giggled at the expression on his face. “Did you ever imagine that that girl you saw beating the living crap out of a Wookiee would volunteer to be your personal sexual slave?”

“Imagine? Well, it was pretty lonely on Vulcan...” Luke mused, and Seven cracked up.

“I suppose even before this change I must have seemed an extrovert compared to the Vulcan ladies.” She kissed him one more time. “I’ve got to see Borui; I’ve put this off longer than I should.”

“Think there’ll be a problem?”

“Oh definitely,” Seven said as she got up. “She’ll see I’m completely unstable and probably confine me to quarters. I expect you to cut her down with your lightsaber.”

“I couldn’t have helped you without Borui,” Luke commented as she went hunting about for her clothes.

“I’m just joking Luke,” she said. “Quit taking everything so seriously.”

“Just a habit,” he said. “I’m used to you being so literal.”

“Well, times have changed,” she commented. “Anyway, after that I’m going to be on the holodeck exercising; I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Aw damn,” she said as she touched her hip. “Luke, is there an implant over there?”

Luke checked around a little and picked up the star-shaped device. He handed it over. “So that’s what that was.”

“Yeah,” she said as she held it in her palm and concentrated. It seemed to melt into her skin. A few seconds later there was a small, muffled crunching sound as a new implant formed on her hip.

“Does that hurt?” he asked.

She shrugged. “It kind of cramps a little, but that’s all.”

“You don’t resent... you know... having them?”

“Why should I?” Seven said. “I’ve had them for as long as I can remember; they’re a part of who I am.”

“Yes,” Luke said. “But still, they’re... Borg.”

“Luke, when you brought the three of us together, I didn’t just embrace my humanity, I embraced my Borg nature. 7 of 9 is as much a part of who I am as Annika was, and both just as much as Seven.” She crawled back to him. “All three of us loved you,” she whispered, “to varying degrees.” She ran the back of her hand down his face. “Annika, who saw a good, gentle, giving man. 7 of 9, who saw a skilled champion and leader. And Seven, who saw someone who made her feel feminine.”

“I’m- flattered,” Luke got out.

“You should be,” she said, then grinned. “But I’m Borg, Luke. Even if I wanted to I can’t change that fact.” Suddenly she became very sad.

“What is it?” he asked. She latched onto him and began crying; he wrapped his arms around her and tried his best to offer some comfort. “Seven?” he asked after a while. “Annika?”

She finally stopped, but when she looked into his face she was so visibly grief-stricken. “There’s something you should know about me,” she said. “A secret... a terrible secret... but if we’re to have any kind of future together, you have the right to know.” She took an audible breath. “I can never have children.” And as the words came out she began weeping again.

“Oh, Seven,” he said softly as he grabbed onto her and held her as tight as he could. “Seven, it’s all right. I love you.” He repeated it over and over to her.

“I’m so sorry, Luke,” she said finally. “I- I realize this is so early in our relationship, but-“ She tried to get a handle on herself. “I’ve found so much of my humanity... but that will always be beyond my reach. I’m obviously not ready now, but one day it’s an experience I’d like to have... and I so wish it would be your child. To make life with you-“ She started crying again.

“Seven,” Luke said, “I can’t begin to understand how you feel. But I want you to listen and understand-“ She looked at him. “-I want to be with you,” he said emphatically. “That’s enough for me.”

Seven bit her lip and shook her head. “What did I do to be blessed with someone like you?” She started kissing him again, and it became more passionate. The kiss broke as she pulled her uniform top off.

“I thought you said you had to exercise.”

“I am,” she said with heavy breaths, and kissed him again.
--------------------------------------------------------------

With a bright twist the starlines of hyperspace shortened and a planet quickly rushed towards the fleet. “All ships ready to engage,” Thaneespi reported.

“Ahead full,” Ackbar ordered, “Fire at will.” Four Borg cubes hovered over the planet of Alion. Its heavy defenses kept them from penetrating its planetary shield, but the siege of the planet was starting to take its toll. There was more on the line here then just the planet, Ackbar knew; a solid victory against the Borg could go a long way towards strengthening the waning support of the Republic, and a defeat could be its death knell.

“The Borg have set up an interdiction field,” Thaneespi reported.

“Always overconfident,” he observed. His command ship, Home One, slid through space towards the Borg ships, flanked by ten smaller Star Cruiser, plus a host of corvettes and frigates and ten squadrons of fighters. The Borg were powerful, but even they couldn’t resist such firepower.

The lead cube traveled towards the fleet and was pummeled with a rain of deadly turbolaser fire. The buffeting was so strong it actually slowed the ship down as it continued its approach, two more cubes coming up from behind. Despite their adaptation, the energy blasts ripped into the hull of the ship, leaving craters on its surface. The Cube fired a return shot of its own, tearing into a corvette. After a few seconds the reactor was pierced and the ship exploded, but not in vain; the barrage tore the lead cube to pieces. That wasn’t the end of course, the larger portions of the Cube could still be dangerous, but two squadrons of B-Wings, their weapons able to damage the now unshielded portions of the ship, swept in to finish the job.

The two lead cubes now assaulted the ships with combined fire, causing damage to the systems of the Liberty. However, a hundred shots answered each of theirs, and the Cubes were destroyed. The Liberty turned slowly in space, the damage to its systems quite extensive, but it looked as if the ship would survive long enough to be towed to a repair facility. So far, things looked up for the fleet, and they closed the distance to the remaining Cube, which hung near the outer edge of the Alion planetary shield.

“Interdiction field still in place,” Thaneespi reported.

“Stubborn ‘till the end,” Ackbar replied as they closed to point blank range with the Cube. From here the population should actually be able to see the battle, which could help their reputation even more. He didn’t like having to fight with political motives, but he had little choice, given the circumstances.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Thrawn smiled in his office on board the Star Destroyer Vendetta. “Admiral,” he said quietly, “I expected better of you. How you disappoint me.”
--------------------------------------------------------------

“Admiral!” Captain Verrack reported, “Borg ships approaching from hyperspace.”

“They've adapted their tactics,” Ackbar muttered. Yes Fey’lya, the Borg are tactically stupid. “Fire the DIT, I want to be ready to leave if we’re overwhelmed.”

The Data Interdictor Torpedo was based on the weapon used against the Death Star. While ineffective against the battlestation, its affect on the gravity well projectors of Interdictor-class ships was notable. It had become the latest weapon in the arms race of space combat. The torpedo arced from the ship and exploded a hundred meters from the Borg Cube, setting up a hyperspatial disturbance that fed through its projectors and caused a great deal of damage within the Borg Cube; it likely wouldn’t survive the battle. Unfortunately for the Rebel Fleet, the Interdictor wasn’t there to stop them from leaving, but to cause them far more difficult problems. Before the field collapsed the distortion was sufficient to cause the entire Borg fleet to stop just a few kilometers short of the fleet, leaving them surrounded; Borg ships on one side, the planet on the other.

The Republic, while surprised, were nonetheless prepared to fight against sudden enemy attacks. They barely slowed as they came about to engage these new vessels. Excluding fighters they were obviously outnumbered, but they had determination, experience, and a great deal of firepower. Immediately they began concentrating a wall of fire in the direction of the advancing Borg swarm, hoping to slow them down while the larger guns on the star cruisers did their work. The Borg once again seemed to ignore the damage they were taking, concentrating their weapons on the Independence, which nevertheless fought on against the Borg, even after its shields were battered down.
--------------------------------------------------------------

“Admiral,” Thrawn said with a shake of his head, “You still don’t seem to understand. The time for your rebellion,” he spat the word, “is at an end.”
--------------------------------------------------------------

Suddenly the green beams of the Borg stopped firing on the Independence. The brief pause in that particular engagement soon ended when a new weapon fired, a blue one.

“What are they doing?” Ackbar wondered aloud.

“Sir!” Verrack reported. “That’s not an energy weapon; it’s an ion beam!”

Before anyone could even think the report came in. “Independence is off-line; repeat, Independence is off-line.”

“Increase power to the shields!” Ackbar ordered. “All vessels, shields at full.”

They watched in mute horror as two cubes began slicing up the star cruiser. There was nothing that could be done for them; their only hope now was to try to blast their way past the blockading Borg ships. As one the ships formed together to barrage a single point of the Borg fleet. The Borg ships slowly began slipping out of the way as the ships began to race past the perimeter. Ackbar’s scans noted several shuttles escaping the Independence, but his heart sank as he saw them snatched, one by one, by the tractor beams of the Borg. Nearby, three other ships that had succumb to the Borg weapons hung helplessly in space. Retreat was their only option for survival.

“Another interdiction field is in place,” he was informed.

“Fire the DIT,” he ordered. “Every ship is to go to hyperspace as soon as we clear the perimeter.”

Again the torpedo slipped from the launcher towards the Borg ship, spinning towards its target. It exploded, just as before, the shockwave rippling through hyperspace.

The interdiction field remained.

“Admiral,” Thaneespi reported with a sinking sound to his voice, “They’ve adapted.”

Home One shook as the Borg concentrated their fire on the command ship. “All power to shields!” he ordered.

“We are the Borg. You will be assimilated....”
--------------------------------------------------------------

“Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own,” Thrawn said. “Your culture will adapt to service us,” he smiled, “Mr. Ackbar.”

[Crazedwraith]

For every one step forward, two steps back...

[consequences]

"It's a trap! All ships prepare to-crap, too late."

Hrrm, kill Janeway soon, you should, hrrm, yes.

[Sonnenburg]

For every one step forward, two steps back...

Poor dumb Rebel bastards... almost feel sorry for 'em.

[Sonnenburg]

"It's a trap! All ships prepare to-crap, too late."

Hrrm, kill Janeway soon, you should, hrrm, yes.

I had the "It's a trap" line in there in the original version, but thanks to Fark it went from wink to horrible cliche.

[CERC]

"It's a trap! All ships prepare to-crap, too late."

Hrrm, kill Janeway soon, you should, hrrm, yes.

I had the "It's a trap" line in there in the original version, but thanks to Fark it went from wink to horrible cliche.

hey, horrible cliches are needed... from time to time....

CERC

[Sonnenburg]

I suppose...

Though I remain surprised no one commented on Seven's pillow talk.

[Ghost Rider]

I suppose...

Though I remain surprised no one commented on Seven's pillow talk.

Hey it worked

As long as you never use Ass and her borg talk as a pun...we're good