One Lump or Three?
Part III
 

Freshly showered and primped, feeling loose, warm, and peaceful within thanks to Seven of Nine's loving 'mistake,' Captain Janeway sauntered into the Brig with a hot cup of coffee, courtesy of Seven, who was accompanying her, primped as well in her crimson biosuit with her Klingon patch proudly displayed on her arm. The Borg neglected to inform Janeway she was giving her coffee so she could observe her at her cockiest, certain her favorite drink right after coming down from a sexual encounter would put the icing on the cake for this meeting with the villains, and since it made the redhead smile and thank her kindly, Seven didn't see a need to inform her the reason of her 'good nature.'

While Seven went off to the side, holding a PADD that included the data Janeway had downloaded from the Invictus regarding the various tests she'd run on the shuttle's systems, and continued to read the report and input various notes of things for the chief's benefit to test further, Kathryn walked up to the guard's station and asked, pleasant, "Wait outside please."

Turning around to face them and leaning back on the console, graceful and relaxed, unable to keep all of her sexuality from coming out in her movements since she really did feel sexy and wonderful, and deciding to just use that to her advantage to show her poise, strength, and very much liveliness while she had it, before her tiredness sank in again, Kathryn eyed each of them over the rim of her mug as she sipped her coffee, already knowing which one was the commander without having to ask, just by the way he was looking directly back at her while the others seemed much less strong. Then pulling the mug away and holding it near her waist, Janeway said, "Welcome to Voyager…as I'm sure you've guessed, I'm Captain Janeway…and you are?"

"Commander Rekkish of the Crelic…Xoran Rekkish," the scarred commander answered in his deep voice, fully recovered from the sedative and alert once again.

"You nearly killed three of my highest ranking officers and our Fynth comrade's commanding officer today, Mister Rekkish," Janeway reminded immediately. "You also manhandled my top scientist, forced a young child to hide for over an hour, alone…tried to steal my warp core, and various other gadgets that you'd fancied for yourself…not to mention," she gestured to Seven of Nine with her chin, "you also tried to kidnap my only Borg. That's quite an interesting way you have to say hello, Commander. Now I know," Janeway raised her finger, "that I've never met you before. You seem to like to make a memorable first impression…so," she looked at him squarely and serious, "how is it that you know of my crew and I?"

"Are you going to torture me if I don't tell you?"

On the next beat, Janeway said, cool, "No, I'll just blow you out the goddamned airlock and be done with you…answer the question."

The commander chuckled at that, stood and answered, "I've traveled to a lot of places, Captain Janeway…just like you…one hears stories. You leave an impression too. It's not that complicated or that different. You do business your way, and I do it mine. We were bound to cross paths." Crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the sidewall, he informed, scratching the dense ridge at his temple, which was the only visible difference between the Crelic and humans, "If you're looking for some place to take me, I'm afraid we don't have a home other than the ship you destroyed. We've been out and about longer than you have, but," he smiled, "if you'd like to take me back to Burnhouse, I'm sure Venkat would take me off your hands."

Sipping her coffee, having a feeling that place was where all of this was leading since this man seemed just like the type to do a hefty business at the space port, Kathryn pulled it away and said, "Thank you for the offer, but I like him about as much as I like you." After taking another drink of her coffee as he chuckled again, the captain informed, "We'll be in orbit of a fairly nice uninhabited planet for about three months…or," she paused, then looked to Seven, smirked and asked, "Seven, how many cycles is that?"

While she continued to work, Seven of Nine answered, "Seventeen point three eight, Captain."

"Seventeen point three eight cycles," Janeway went on. "So, you're more than welcome to stay right where you are…it's either that or the airlock. Before we break orbit, we'll beam you down to the surface of your new home, which I'm sure you'll fine much more accommodating than my Brig, and then we'll be on our way. I'm sure one of these days someone will stop by and pick you up…but," she pushed away from the console and started toward the exit, gesturing for Seven to follow, "just to make sure you don't make any more surprise first impressions, I'll put a buoy in orbit informing anyone who passes by just who you are and what your crimes were…so don't be surprised if it takes a while for someone to offer you a lift."

Once they were out of the room, Seven asked, curious, tilting her head to the captain and raising her eyebrows, surprised, "Are you 'bluffing?'"

"No," Janeway came back, lightly, shaking her head as they walked. "They were going to strand us out in the middle of space without a warp core, seems like poetic justice to me. They're lucky to be alive at this point…free accommodations on a beautiful planet is gracious."

"Efficient."

Chuckling, Kathryn patted Seven's back and said, "Well, thank you, but I think efficient would mean the airlock…"

"Let me rephrase," Seven of Nine said, looking over at the captain, "Efficient for you."

Once they stepped into the turbolift, Janeway said, "I think we should build a nice little vacation site near a water source for ourselves on this planet, make sure we break it in several times and that it's suitable for living, pack it with six months worth of field rations, seeds and gardening instructions, and let them have it when we leave. I'd rather not take them back to the Federation. I have enough people to keep track of already." After a moment of silent as Seven nodded her agreement, Janeway said, "I think six months is enough to ensure they can figure out how to grow their own food and sustain themselves, huh?"

Smirking , Seven of Nine offered, "I will be 'happy' to 'head up' this project, if you wish, Captain?"

Janeway held up her finger and said, "Only two conditions." When Seven raised her eyebrows, Kathryn informed, starting with the thumb first to count them off on her fingers, "Samantha gets to help you and they get no technology…nothing electronic or worth any value, so you'll have to improvise to still make it livable."

The Borg brought up her PADD and stated as the turbolift started to slow, "I will comply."

"Computer, halt turbolift…Are you going to tell me what that patch on your arm is for?" asked Kathryn, grinning and leaning back against the wall, but turned to the side with her arms folded, "Since I'm assuming it means something? You don't just do things…I know you…experimenting in graphic art now?"

Uncertain if she should tell Kathryn without the company of B'Elanna, Seven looked over at her, paused for a moment, then smiled, looked back to her PADD, thinking it would be 'fine' and Torres would understand, especially since this actually was a threesome, at least in theory but 'life' just seemed to keep getting in the way and making it 'interesting,' and said still with a smile on her face, "Stardate today: at 0104 hours Seven of Nine accepts B'Elanna Torres' proposal of marriage, and the ensuing conversation leads to the creation of an 'engagement patch,' created by B'Elanna Torres considering Seven finds 'jewelry' inefficient and distracting to wear…and furthermore," Seven turned to Kathryn, whose expression was blank and unreadable, although the surprise was clear in her eyes, so she quickly reminded, worried she'd miscalculated, "she reminds 'Janeway' that not unlike the Crelic attack patterns, Seven and 'Torres' operate around a force unseen…and we would not be complete without her."

"She asked you to marry her at one o'clock in the morning?" Janeway finally let out, her face becoming redder as she started to smile and laugh in endearment for her Borg's and Klingon's unorthodox tactics in all things, having a feeling B'Elanna Torres planned to 'keep things interesting' for the rest of their lives…probably single-handedly, although she certainly had found one hell of a partner in Seven of Nine.

There was a small part of the captain that wasn't sure what to make of that news yet, however. It was a very confusing sensation, full of swirling emotions, but since she'd just been intimate with the Borg and was still riding that high, as well as the high of their Slipstream test, their success with the Crelic despite the situation, and the anticipation for spending an evening with her lovers again, she was able to stifle any contrary notions, jealousy, hurt, or anything that would make her seem displeased. Since she was happy for them, she thought it was necessary, and believed that once things calmed down, she could fully understand why they gotten engaged without her. Since Janeway tended to be a rather understanding woman, as well as logical, just as Seven had said, she was confident and almost completely unconcerned.

"That is correct."

Bringing her fist to her mouth, Kathryn chuckled, "And she really made you a patch?"

Not understanding totally now, Seven furrowed her brow some and stated, "Yes, Kathryn," then turned, so Janeway could see it clearly. (Click here to see Seven's engagement patch from Torres.)

Placing her hand on Seven's arm and running her thumb over the patch, Janeway ran her hand down Seven's arm to her palm, took it, squeezed and whispered, kissing her cheek, "Congratulations, Seven…you're not going to make me marry you two, are you?"

Seven rolled her eyes, then smirked and said, "No, Kathryn…thank you." Then turning around and picking her PADD back up to look at it, but still with her head turned to Janeway, she stated, "Besides, this is only a temporary 'patch.' She is creating one that represents all of us, and we do not plan to get 'married' without you. I am uncertain as to what her entire motivations were, but I believe her desire to be impulsive is being hindered by Operation Foxfire, and thus she saw this as an opportunity to propose aboard Voyager and 'show off' her 'fiancé.'"

"Well," Kathryn smirked, turning center and starting to look up, "she picked a good one for that…Compute, resume." After a moment, she asked as they stepped onto Deck Two, "What's her 'patch'…or," she looked over at the Borg as they walked, Seven once again looking at the PADD, "doesn't she get one?"

"Her 'patch' is permanent and depicts an artistic representation of the starburst on my left arm," Seven informed, making a quick note in the device about something that she found as very promising data for future endeavors. Then looking over to Kathryn, she stated plainly, "I gave her a 'tattoo.'"

Refraining from laughing out loud, just shaking her head and raising her finger, shaking that as well, Kathryn remarked, smiling brightly, it not entirely fake, as they turned the corner for the Security Office, "So that's why you were in the holodeck in the middle of the night, since something tells me the Borg traditionally find tattoo art irrelevant."

"They do."

"Practice makes perfect again…damn," Janeway said to herself and snapped her fingers, thinking of what she knew of B'Elanna before she sipped her coffee, "a tattoo…I should have guessed that…"

"Well," Captain Janeway responded as she sat on the sofa in the Security Office while Tuvok sat at his desk and Seven of Nine stood off to the side by the wall sensor and paid close attention to the conversation she'd been requested by the Vulcan to be a part of, although continued to work, "feel free to question him, Commander, but I don't expect him to do us any favors, and I don't plan on doing him any either. So, there's no deal to strike. He's finished, and he knows it…or at least," she quirked the side of her mouth, raising her coffee mug, "he'll know it soon enough."

After taking a drink and eyeing the Vulcan, able to tell he wasn't satisfied, Janeway asked, "Don't you think the sensor logs will give some hint as to how he penetrated our shields?"

Raising his eyebrows and sitting back, folding his hand in his lap, Tuvok reminded, "He most likely penetrated our shields by setting his transporter to match our shield modulation."

Kathryn frowned, even though she knew that, and said, not liking her friend's demeanor, but not because he was stating the obvious, "And you don't think he has technology that can detect what that is? That's what I'm talking about, Tuvok…he must have scanned us somehow and was able to track the interval and the ratio. Maybe by analyzing our weapon's signature...we certainly fired upon him enough times for that to happen."

"I believe he was utilizing Borg technology," Seven stated suddenly as she continued to work the board.

"What?" said Janeway, surprised, standing up immediately and walking over to her side, setting her cup down on the desk as she passed while Tuvok turned in his chair and stood as well.

"The Borg use full spectrum transporters," Seven stated as she dropped her hand and turned to Janeway, "capable of penetrating all known Federation shield matrices…including Voyager's." Not bothering to explain how they worked because she was fairly certain Janeway and Tuvok knew, but would explain if they asked, the blonde went on, "The Borg rarely transport aboard a Federation vessel because it is typically deemed inefficient with humans…who," she cocked her eyebrow, "have a tendency to activate a self-destruct sequence in an effort to 'take the Borg to hell with you.'"

Sighing as Tuvok raised his eyebrows, Janeway still trying to adapt to her Borg's tendency to be 'humorous' and not always get straight to the point, Kathryn gave Seven a wry look, nodded and asked, "What makes you think it's Borg technology?"

Seven lifted her eyebrow cutely, then looked back to the sensor board and informed, speaking completely professionally now, "A series of Borg components I've detected from our previous scans of the wreckage." Looking back to Kathryn, she stated immediately, "This was the first time I had the opportunity to analyze it, Captain."

"These components are used in the Borg's transporters?" asked the Vulcan.

"All of them," Seven informed, speaking over her shoulder. Then looking over to Kathryn, she added, "I cannot be certain because less than ten percent of their vessel remained, but I have found nothing that leads me to believe they had other Borg technology at their disposal." Turning around, the placed her hands behind her back and stated, "It is unlikely he acquired this technology from an actual Borg vessel. I would 'guess,'" she shook her head slightly at the word, "he acquired it through trade, most likely at Burnhouse, or 'stole' it from someone else, other than the Borg." Looking over to Janeway, she reminded, "There are several Borg 'graveyards' throughout the Delta Quadrant…they are popular 'stomping grounds' of those who deal in the trading of technology even if the Borg 'visit' them often."

"Do you think he really had the capability to meld Borg technology into his systems?" questioned the captain as she stepped forward and reached for her coffee. "We've had a few problems with it…even with all of your knowledge."

"It would not 'surprise' me if he operated the device independent of his other systems, Captain," Seven answered with a good deal of certainty, "and that is what the wreckage suggests. The transporter matrix is nearly intact."

As the Vulcan raised his eyebrows again at that and looked at her, the captain asked quickly, "Intact enough that we could salvage it for ourselves?"

Smirking, Seven of Nine informed, "It is a possibility, although I cannot be certain. However," she looked over to Tuvok, "it could not 'hurt' to 'find out.'"

"Commander," Janeway smirked over at the Vulcan, setting her coffee down, "gather your squad minus Commander Fowler and meet me in the Shuttle Bay on the double." Turning as Tuvok nodded, Janeway said over her shoulder, "Seven of Borg," she smirked, "you're with me." Tapping her communicator, she said, "Janeway to the Bridge."

"Go ahead, Captain," came back Chakotay.

"Commander," Kathryn said as they turned quickly and walked with definite pace towards the turbolift, wanting to get to the wreckage before anyone else did, "there's something back in the wreckage of the Crelic vessel that I want, so the Elite Force and I will be taking the Invictus out for another test spin to break in the warp drive. Is Miss Fowler there?"

"Fower here, Captain…I'm staying here, aren't I?"

Chuckling mildly, Kathryn returned, "I'm afraid so. You'll get your chance in her, I promise." As they stepped into the turbolift and Seven called out the deck, Kathryn finished, "Drop us out of warp and tell the Alaxiat to maintain course. Catch up with them once we've disembarked and we'll meet you at the planet."

"Aye, Captain."

"And Chakotay…"

"Yes?"

Smiling, Janeway finished, "I want either Nick or yourself to be prepared to beam down to the surface with the rest of the squad for a survey mission as soon as we get back…so," she smirked over at Seven, who was watching her with interest, "why don't you arm wrestle each other for it and let me know who wins, huh?"

"I already got shot in the shoulder once today, Kathryn, I'd rather not wrench it too. She'll be waiting for you. Bridge out."

The captain chuckled as the turbolift stopped and said while they stepped out as Seven looked at her, surprised, "Don't look at me like that…he's had that and plenty more coming for ages…"

"Lieutenant," Janeway said over her shoulder, sitting in the pilot's seat as she powered up all the systems, while Samuel Wang stepped into the command deck of the shuttle and whistled, "welcome aboard the Bridge of the Invictus."

Coming up to the captain, putting his hand on her shoulder and patting it, smiling, Wang said, "Captain, as Nick would say…this is slick. Can I have this as a souvenir when we get home?"

Kathryn chuckled, patted his hand and said, "It's mine, Samuel…sorry."

As Seven of Nine looked over at them and laughed lightly, Wang came over to her where she sat slightly behind and offset to the right of the helm, and said, "Shichi san, you've out done yourself this time…impressive." Next to her on the right, behind the helm was a wide empty space where a command chair would rise out of the floor from its completely reclined position if necessary, in the event Janeway or Chakotay accompanied the full Elite Force again, and attached to the chair were sensor boards that would flip up once the chair was locked into position so the commander could have access to all systems, as they did aboard Voyager. What Janeway didn't know, was that there were also several small amenities that Seven had designed for it specifically with Kathryn in mind. A cup holder could be pulled out from the right arm rest and securely fit a standard coffee mug that all the replicators produced. There were also heating elements on the seat itself and the neck rest to assist with tension and keep her warm. The chair was also adjustable in height, had plenty of room for her to tuck her leg underneath her as she was in the habit of doing, the back could recline if she felt the need to rest but remain on the Bridge since she didn't have a Ready Room to do so, and there was a safety feature built in, as was the case for all the chairs, that if the collision alarm was sounded, the seat would become fully upright, webbing would wrap around their bodies and a forcefield would be erected around them. Janeway did know about that, however, and even though she didn't really like the idea of a captain being strapped in, she okayed it as long as everyone had it. Theoretically, as long as their was no catastrophic explosion or a major hull breach while in space, they could live through being rammed, or crash landing onto a planet…as long as they didn't go nose first into any unmovable obstruction, like the surface or a mountain. As long as the ship remained fairly in tact, so would they, even if all inertial dampers went off line. Seven was rather proud of that feature.

To the right of that was an impressive Tactical station. All of the chairs on the three main stations could swivel and glide on a straight axis since Helm, Operations/Communications, and Tactical were all wide and long stations and the person manning them needed to be able to move easily from one end of the console to the other and back quickly during a crisis. Helm's movement during manual flight was locked down completely, however. At that point, joysticks would rise out of the arms as foot rests rose out of the floor and the chair positioned itself so the pilot could stay focused on moving the ship in a more traditional, aviational manner. All systems could be accessed and engaged with voice control, and all weapons could be fired utilizing the joysticks and various sensors on the arm rests as the padded panels pulled away and revealed the manual operations function. And to assist a single pilot attempting to navigate and target weapons at the same time, small indicators on the windows would light up informing the pilot when a vessel was within range and locked on. If the ability to use the computer to target was down, there were small cross hairs on the window, which would tell the pilot when a vessel was in correct position to be hit by forward phasers and torpedos. They couldn't do anything about the aft weapons since in that event sensors would most likely be down, but it definitely would assist someone trying to do many things at one time. With the assistance of Tom Paris' idea from the Delta Flyer, Seven was certain this vessel was even more pilot friendly because she'd enhanced many of the features, and gotten rid of all of Paris' knobs and switches that were inefficient and ridiculous, as far as the Borg was concerned.

"Arigato," Seven smiled and nodded.

Patting her shoulder, he leaned over and asked, whispering, "Where do I sit?"

Seven stood and informed, pleasantly awaiting the reaction, as she gestured that he should move toward the back, "At the Science station," pointing to the sizable circular post directly behind her station that took up the entire left corner of the Bridge. That chair didn't move, other than to swivel, but it wasn't necessary because everything Wang would need was around in a circle.

Laughing, Wang climbed the two, small steps, sat down and said, "Sam is gonna be so jealous."

Seven nodded and then said as Tuvok climbed aboard the Bridge and announced that the hatch was sealed, "B'Elanna Torres and I will be giving the entire senior staff a 'grand tour' as soon as the captain arranges it….so," she turned around, "just 'wait' until she sees the Science and Medical Lab ."

"Don't forget the bathroom," Kathryn added as she held up her finger, then turned around, and asked, "Where's B'Elanna?"

"She is in Engineering," Tuvok said as he sat down at his post.

Glancing to Seven, Janeway turned back around and said, "Should've guessed that too…you know," the captain paused for just as moment as she opened the Shuttle Bay doors, then powered up the thrusters and lifted the shuttle—the raised docking system that would hold the shuttle in mid-air in the Shuttle Bay to accommodate for the first's yacht as well as the Delta Flyer on the deck of the bay, still under construction—"if this thing was any bigger, I'd be inclined to call it a ship, not a shuttle. Unless things have changed while we've been gone," she finished as she piloted the vessel out of the back of her vessel, "most shuttles don't have an Engineering or a deflector."

"I could be mistaken," Tuvok came back, "but most captain's don't have an Elite Force."

"Hmm, lucky me," Kathryn said, wry, then announced once they were far enough away from Voyager, "Engaging warp engines." As they accelerated to only three times the speed of light, Janeway tapped her communicator and said, chuckling and clearing her throat, "Bridge to…Engineering."

Catching the joke, Torres came back, "Torres here, Captain…we're a little light down here today…what can I do for you?"

"B'Elanna, I'd like to get there a soon as possible…is the core up for maximum for five minutes?"

The chief smiled and said, "She's ready when you are, Captain. She's Klingon, didn't you know?"

"And here all this time I thought she was Latin," the captain returned, smiling, then said, "meH (Bridge) out."

"Commander," Seven of Nine requested, trying to sound as even as possible and not interrupting purposefully, although she was decidedly antsy inwardly, "I believe it would be prudent to engage the multi-phasic shielding." When Janeway turned her head to her quickly, concerned, Seven informed, looking up, "I am not detecting a Borg vessel, Captain, I merely believe we should endeavor to make it standard practice in vessels that are capable," smirking and feeling as though she was hiding the complete truth well, "while traveling in this quadrant, including the Delta Flyer."

Janeway eyed Seven for a moment, then nodded and said, "Couldn't hurt," then bobbed her head to the Vulcan and said, "Do it, and see that your team continues to do so, Commander."

"Yes, Captain."

"Seven," Janeway asked as she turned back around, definitely having a feeling something else was going on since the Borg continued to be adamant about that with her, even when they hadn't detected any Borg activity on sensors in almost a year now, "remind me to send out a memo please." However, this wasn't the time to get into it, but she certainly planned to have a conversation with Seven very soon about what exactly was driving her anxiousness about a Borg invasion, uncertain if there was more to it than just the fact that Seven now had people she deeply loved all around her and thus came the natural fear of losing them. It wasn't that Seven didn't care before if Janeway and company were assimilated, she just didn't think she would worry as much if she were merely a member of a group and not a central figure in a family as she knew and felt she was now, even if the same had been true before. It was all perception, Kathryn figured, but her instincts were definitely speaking to her about this loud and clear now.

"I will comply."

"Accelerating to Warp Nine," Janeway informed as she worked the sensor board, always having preferred that to the controls of the Delta Flyer since she'd just been in Starfleet too long, she assumed, to appreciate a seemingly step back in technology.

"What's Invictus mean anyhow?" asked Wang from the back, checking out his station and reveling in all of the Science capabilities since he didn't have anything else to do. To clarify, he informed, "I never got around to Latin…just Japanese and Chinese, and a little bit of Klingon." As Janeway chuckled devilishly and Seven smirked over at him, while Tuvok raised his eyebrows, Wang asked, "What am I missing?"

"You just admitted that you did not watch the captain's 'special' interview on Good Morning Voyager yesterday, Sam san," Seven informed, turning back to her station, "This is typically unwise."

"Would it help if I told you I went to work early, Ma'am," Sam smiled over at Janeway as she looked behind her and gave him a lop-sided grin.

Turning back around, Kathryn said, dry, "Nice try," then cleared her throat and said, "Invictus means unconquerable. I actually came up with it after reading a poem with the same name. The dedication plate's in Engineering…it has a few lines from the poem on it. Seven…"

The Borg smirked to herself, then asked, "Shall I recite the entire poem, or merely the third verse?"

"The whole thing please…it's loses some affect without it."

"Out of the night that covers me," Seven began smoothly and with a fair amount of enthusiasm, since she liked the poem as well, even if Janeway had found it thanks to Ensign Baker, whom the Borg still didn't approve of, "Black as the Pit from pole to pole…I thank whatever gods may be," Kathryn joined in, "For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance…I have not winced nor cried aloud…Under the bludgeonings of chance…My head is bloody but unbowed." Beginning the third verse, which was the one displayed on the plate, Tuvok joined in as well, "Beyond this place of wrath and tears…Looms but the horror of the shade…And yet the menace of the years…Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how straight the gate…How charged with punishment the scroll…I am the Master of my fate. I am the Captain of my soul."

Smiling over at Seven and nodding for a job well done, Kathryn looked over to Samuel and asked, "Well?"

"As Sam would say," Wang smiled, and gave a thumbs up, "totally cool," then looked down at his board and admitted, "Spooky though…especially when you all say it like that…"

Chuckling along with Seven and turning back front as Tuvok said, "Intriguing," the captain informed after less than two minutes, "We're dropping out of warp."

As they came out of warp quickly and slowed, Seven of Nine informed, "I'm scanning the debris field…the wreckage has been displaced some since we departed."

"Any sign that someone else has already been here?" asked the captain as the hatch on the floor spun open and Torres popped through the ladder, informing everyone the warp core was in tiptop shape.

"No," Seven reported. "The only warp trails remaining are our own." As Torres came over next to her and looked over her shoulder, Seven of Nine pinpointed the transporter matrix, targeted it with transporters and said, smirking, as Janeway continued to look out the window, trying to see it with her eyes, futilely, "The red box you now see is the computer pinpointing the matrix visually, Captain. I've locked on with transporters. The same effect would occur if I'd locked on with weapons or the tractor beam."

Quirking her mouth, Janeway allowed, "Well, that's handy. Was that your idea?"

"It was the Klingon's," Seven informed, which caused Torres to pinch her arm. "Energizing." Two seconds later all of them twitched when an alarm was sounded, unprompted, the tone very different from that of typical Starfleet vessels. "Shit," Seven of Nine said quickly, then ordered, crisp, "That is a Borg proximity alert! Change your heading to five, seven mark two! They are on a collision course!"

Doing as she was told immediately as Torres ran next to her and looked out the window, Kathryn asked as B'Elanna ducked instinctively as a scout Sphere passed seemingly right over their heads, not bothering to call for a red alert because the Borg alarm sent the ship into that mode immediately, "Commander…ready all weapons. Where the hell did they come from?"

"A transwarp conduit opened as the alert was sounded," Seven of Nine spoke in a whisper. "That alert is specific to the detection of Borg vessels and transwarp signatures." As everyone froze while the Borg Sphere passed totally over them, hovered over the debris field and scanned it, Seven informed, "We have not been detected, Captain…however, they have undoubtedly detected Voyager's warp trail, ours is 'masked' by the enhanced shielding."

Anticipating the question, B'Elanna whispered, hovering over Janeway's shoulder, "The shuttle's up for anything, Captain…including Slipstream."

"Thank you, Chief," Janeway whispered. "Get back down there in case things get ugly…arm yourself." As B'Elanna nodded and turned away, Janeway turned with her, caught the look Torres and Seven gave each other, unsettled by that since that told her that once again those two were hiding things from her, then asked, "Do you all have weapons at your stations?"

"Yes, Captain," informed Tuvok, that having been his request. "Standard hand phasers are located below each of our seats."

"Put them on," Kathryn said as the turned back forward, and reached under her seat. "Well, this day just keeps getting better and better. Any idea why the Borg would send a scout ship to check this wreckage?" she asked as she adhere the weapon to her waist.

"No, Captain. It is peculiar," the Borg answered honestly, since even though she'd known for a long time that there was at least one Borg vessel in proximity of the Collective's capability to scan and communicate, which was superior to Voyager's, it didn't make sense to her why they would come after this transporter matrix, until she thought about it more, then explained, "It is possible they scanned the wreckage from a distance greater than our ability to detect them, and anticipated that we would return for the transporter matrix."

Ignoring the question as to why Seven had failed to tell her she knew a Borg vessel was in proximity, certain that was the case of all of the blonde's recent anxiety, Janeway asked, "What can you tell me about them…anything specific to this Sphere, or is like the others?"

"It is like the others," Seven answered, wondering if that meant Kathryn wished to test out the weapon's capabilities of the Invictus as well. "However, I do not suggest that we engage them. Although the Invictus is capable to destroying this Sphere, I fear that such an action would only bring more Borg vessels...mostly likely the Cube from which the Sphere was sent. I cannot give you a location of that Cube, nor am I detecting any other vessels in the vicinity. Voyager and the Alaxiat remain on course."

"If this Sphere jumps to transwarp," Janeway questioned while the Sphere continued to hover, "could you tell if they were going after Voyager?"

"Negative," Seven answered quickly. "I can only extrapolate the proximity of space from which they came at the moment of exit and entry…however," she sighed, "if we scan them, they could become aware of our presence. Voyager is more than capable of destroying this Sphere."

Nodding, Janeway said, "Alright then, we'll stay close and follow them into the conduit. I want to know where this other Cube is and then why they're following us, and," she smirked to herself, "if they take us on a very long trip, at least we can get back easy enough on our own. Is there a limit on how close I can get?"

"Stay at least two hundred meters from their hull or you will come into contact with their shields," answered the former drone. "I must advise you the Cubes of scout Sphere's often inhabit areas near Transwarp Hubs so that they can be dispatched to points throughout the galaxy quickly. These Hubs are typically located inside dense nebulas to hide them from most sensors. I cannot guarantee that the multi-phasic shielding will function inside of it. There is always a high amount of Borg activity around them. It is unlikely this Sphere arrived utilizing a Hub, but the possibility exists, Captain."

"Understood," Janeway said as she kept their vessel hovering close to the Sphere and poised to move in any direction immediately. Slapping at her comm-badge quickly, she said, "Bridge to Engineering…B'Elanna keep this channel open please…when the Sphere goes to transwarp we're going to follow it and see where its mother is."

"Aye, Captain."

"For your information, Captain," Seven informed quickly, "you can perform the same procedure by requesting the computer open a channel to Engineering…there is no need to activate your communicator."

"Thank you…I'll keep it in mind…Tuvok, Torres, Wang…put on your suits please. Make it fast," the captain ordered, then commanded, "Computer, transfer Tactical control to the helm." As Tuvok and Wang went through the hatch and slid down the ladder, Janeway asked as she watched the Borg vessel closely, "Any idea what they're doing?"

"Passive scans reveal that they've beamed several pieces of alien equipment aboard and continue to scan the debris field," Seven of Nine informed. "They are most likely analyzing them for the possibility that they could gain unknown knowledge. The Borg are not above salvaging."

"Any indication that Voyager is aware of the situation?"

Seven of Nine answered as she continued to keep an eye on their mothership's location, "They have not deviated course. We are not out of sensor range, however…they most likely are aware, Captain. Ensign Kim is an efficient officer as of late."

"I'll tell him you said so," Janeway came back fairly curt and clearly serious. "When this is over, you're going to drop that bomb on me you've been hanging onto, Seven of Nine. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Any idea how long they'll stay?"

After a moment of contemplation, the blonde answered while Tuvok and Wang came back through the hatch in their Elite Force outfits that were designed to be easy to get on and off, with the exception of Seven of Nine's, who still had to deal with the biosuit aspect to keep her body humid and moist like a Borg vessel, although it wasn't any tougher to get on that her typical biosuit and since it zipped in front, it was actually a little easier, "With a debris field this size, and considering the Crelic ship specialized in acquiring advanced technology, I would 'guess' that they will remain for at least ten more minutes…possible twenty…although I am merely speculating, Captain."

"Captain," Tuvok said as he came up to her, "I can man Helm and Tactical while you and Seven change into your suits. I believe it is a necessary precaution."

Raising her eyebrows and slipping out of the chair in one direction as Tuvok came into in the other, Janeway informed, handing her phaser to him to hold, "I didn't know I had a suit." Following Seven quickly, Janeway asked, "Is it an honorary suit, or does Chakotay have one too?"

"'Coming down,'" Seven announced, then jumped down the ladder, turned and answered, "Each of the senior staff has one, with the exception of Sam Wildman."

As Seven reached up and pulled her off the ladder quickly, then turned and started for the Ready Room, which wasn't an office, but the place where all the suits and the majority of the weapons where stored, the sleeping compartments located off that, Kathryn said, "Hmm…after today, I think she just might deserve one. She did take out the commander on her own."

While they stepped into the room and quickly disrobed, leaving everything just on the floor, including their communicators, Seven stated as she handed Janeway her suit and boots, "Perhaps, however…I doubt she would wish to have one."

"True," Janeway said as she stepped into the suit that had booted feet, and zipped it up quickly, smiling at the simplicity, although as she looked down at herself, she realized one problem with the jumpsuits as she put her feet in the boots, then pressed the sensors and sealed them: they were rather tight. It wasn't that she felt like her body was on display, even if her suit had less pockets and personalize straps to hold everyone's preferred non-standard weapon, it was that she looked small…much smaller than in her standard habit.

"What is 'wrong?'" asked Seven, noticing the frown, zipping up her baggy suit, then pressing the sensor which tightened it totally, the material mostly the same as her biosuits, so it adhered like a second skin, not just a thick, but form fitting suit like the rest of theirs.

"Nothing," Kathryn answered, then said quickly, changing the subject as Seven put on her boots, pulling on the high neck a little since it was fairly stiff, "Anything special about this suit specifically that I don't know about? Why does it go up so high?"

"To help prevent assimilation," Seven of Nine answered, finishing dressing. "However, that is the case for all of ours." When Janeway quirked her mouth, then pulled on the neck and seemed unconvinced it would work, the Borg said quickly, "I assure you…it 'works.' I will demonstrate," then turned Janeway around, released her assimilation tubes, put her in the standard position and pressed them to her neck. When Janeway tensed and held her breath, Seven quickly kissed near her ear, then reported softly, "If you were not wearing this, you would be in pain at this moment. The material here is stiff because it is specially designed to resist drilling. The fabric 'clogs' the drilling screws activated during assimilation." Releasing the captain and holding out her hand for Kathryn to examine, keeping her tubes extended, she went on as Janeway habitually rubbed the front of her neck, felt the slight damage done to the suit, then took one of Seven's tubes between her fingers and looked at the tip closely, seeing the material in the tiny screws, "Three drones hitting the exact same mark each time could puncture it, but that possibility is not likely. The underside of your chin is vulnerable, but this is merely an assistive device."

As Janeway let her go, Seven retracted them and said, "I will repair those immediately," then took up Janeway's hand and added, "Assimilation can only occur when the nanoprobes are introduced into a major vein or artery. They are programmed to proceed directly to the brain. It takes hundreds of millions of nanoprobes to accomplish this, thus your hands are not typically vulnerable…however, your veins are fairly prominent, but wearing the gloves in this pocket," she patted Kathryn's leg, "would protect you. Your wrists are also vulnerable, but they are adequately protected by the suit as well…as are all other places on your body."

Squeezing Seven's hand, Kathryn stated, rather than asked, having listened to everything Seven said and heard every word, even the ones not spoken, "She's been talking to you again…"

Seven of Nine blinked at the instinctual understanding displayed by Kathryn, sighed, and whispered as she looked away but squeezed Janeway's hand, "Our thoughts are one again."

Keeping her instant rage and spite for the queen perfectly in check, Janeway stepped up to the blonde, kissed her mouth quick and silent, then said, "Come on," and pulled her out of the room.

Seven pulled away from Janeway and said, "I will be up in a moment, Captain. I require a tool to clean my assimilation tubes."

As Janeway started up the ladder and told her to hurry, Torres asked, "Why do you need to do that?"

Stepped up the engineer's tool kit and pulling out a small wire brush, Seven answered, "I was demonstrating the assimilation resistance functionality of the captain's suit." As B'Elanna said, "Oh?" Seven stood and asked, "May I 'borrow' this…I will return it?"

Smirking, Torres patted her arm and said, "Sure, I know where you live anyway," then asked as Seven nodded and started away, "Hey, dollface…you okay?"

Seven stopped, looked over her shoulder and informed, "She guessed," then said nothing more and started up the ladder.

The chief sighed and said to herself, "Kahless, how the hell does she figure out this shit so fast…"

Nearly thirty minutes later, Captain Janeway said as the Sphere they'd been watching like a hawk finally started to pull away, "We're on the move," and then engaged the impulse engines at minimum to maneuver before she brought them up to full and followed close enough behind so that they could follow them in if they opened a transwarp conduit, which they all expected.

"A conduit is forming, Captain…your distance is sufficient," Seven of Nine informed while she worked her board.

"Any idea where it's headed?"

"Standby," Seven started, then waited until they were completely inside before she scanned, knowing how to do so around the Sphere without actually scanning the Sphere. "The conduit is solidified. This suggests the exit will be at least one thousand light years away. I cannot give you an exact bearing…however, we are headed back toward Borg space."

"How far away are we from Unimatrix 01…Voyager, I mean," asked the captain as she piloted the vessel easily, setting the computer to assist her to keep her at least two hundred meters from the scout ship, but not to fall farther than one thousand meters away so they could stay in the conduit."

"At our departure," Seven merely answered the question and didn't say anything more, hoping Janeway wasn't thinking about paying the queen a visit already, "we were nearly nineteen thousand light-years away from the former installation coordinates. I cannot guarantee it was rebuilt in the same region, nor do I know where it is located."

"If this thing takes us all the way back there," the captain requested information, "how long will it take us to get back to Voyager using the Slipstream Drive?"

"If we could recreate the impressive conduit you did before," Seven started, "it would take approximately eleven hours to return."

"How long at transwarp?"

"If the Borg vessel was merely utilizing it's own transwarp conduit, then it would take approximately the same amount of time. However, Borg vessels utilize the six Transwarp Hubs as often as possible since they are essentially hundreds of wormholes connected. Borg vessels typically travel to a hub on their own, then take the closest conduit to their destination and depart once they have exited. Utilizing the a hub's conduit typically ensures the 'trip' is nearly instantaneous."

"Seven," the captain started, "before you left the Collective, did the Federation have any way of knowing these Transwarp Hubs existed?"

"No," answered the former drone. "All of them have been created after Locutus was rescued by his crew and returned to his previous existence. The Borg gained a great deal of knowledge after his assimilation, all of which was retained, even after he was severed." Seven raised her eyebrow as she glanced to the Sphere for a moment, and stated, "I look forward to meeting him."

"So do a lot of people," Kathryn informed, smirking as she piloted, "but I'm sure you'll hit it off fine…although, I don't suggest you call him Locutus of Borg. At least," she added, "make sure you ask him first. He might take offense."

"I will comply." When she heard the captain laughing to herself, Seven of Nine requested, "Explain your laughter…please?"

"Tuvok," Janeway said, not at all being distracted from her piloting, "why do I have the feeling that introduction will be even better than B'Elanna meeting Lieutenant-Commander Worf?"

"I heard that," Torres reminded.

"It would be fascinating to witness," the Vulcan informed, "undoubtedly. The captain has never struck me as a man who would take offense as long as he knew the circumstances. He would undoubtedly correct you immediately, however, but I am certain he would appreciate you, nonetheless, even if he has nothing but ill will for the Borg. Lieutenant-Commander Data is one of his most valued colleagues…he is…"

"An artificial lifeform," Seven finished, already knowing that information. "He was interfaced with the Collective for several hours in the past just before humans made first contact with Vulcans."

"What?" asked the captain, actually looking over her shoulder at that for a moment.

Seven looked up from her board and stated, "It involves time travel, Captain."

"Nevermind then…next topic," Janeway said immediately, no longer interested. "Hey you down there…any suggestions?"

"We could sing Klingon drinking songs…"

Chuckling, Kathryn said, "We're not drinking, Chief."

"So?"

"If I remember correctly, Miss Torres," Janeway reminded, "about nine months ago you swore on your honor to never make me sing Klingon drinking songs. Remember, we were on the planet, I was freezing, so you were feeding me shots of whiskey…"

"Only one shot…and yea, I remember, but I didn't have any honor then, Captain…so it doesn't count…"

"The exit is forming," Seven of Nine informed, then said as Janeway said almost at the same time, "I see it," looking back to her board for a moment as Kathryn piloted them out of it, "If sensor records are correct, we're approximately one thousand two hundred light years away from our previous coordinates. Voyager is in their sensor range…'barely' and remains at the same distance. We are traveling on parallel paths…and I am detecting the presence of…three Tactical Cubes, Captain," Seven finished abrupt, clearly anxious.

"Alright," Janeway said easily and collected, "I'm backing us off. I've got them on visual," she announced as the red boxes appeared on the screen and pinpointed them far in the distance as the computer honed in on them. "Can you tell how long they've been here? What they're doing…anything at all, Seven?"

"Standby," Seven of Nine requested time, then moved her chair backward and swiveled to the end of the board toward Samuel, who was watching her work. "From the degradation of transwarp signatures…one has been in the 'general' vicinity for approximately four months as I suspected." When Tuvok said, "Indeed" at that, Janeway came back with, "Let's just gather information and worry about the rest later," Seven nodded and then went on, "The other two arrived within the last five hours. This coincides with either your Slipstream test or the Crelic attack…both of which occurred almost simultaneously. Considering they have not detected us, my 'instincts,'" she emphasized by pausing, "tell me that they were preparing to either take advantage, or more than likely," she looked up, "destroy the Crelic if we could not."

"Why would they do that?" asked Torres from Engineering, who continued to just listen in and bite her nails at the thought of going up again three Tactical Cubes, which were even more formidable that general Cubes.

"If the Crelic destroyed Voyager," Seven began as Janeway continued to slowly back them away, although reverse engines were at full, "that would interfere with the Collective's objectives regarding us. I cannot be certain of what, but they are clearly planning something, Captain."

"Can you be certain they have not detected us," questioned the Security Chief, "and are not merely ignoring us?"

Surely, Seven of Nine answered, "I am certain, Commander. The Borg were never able to adapt to the shielding, and it took great efforts on their part to discover the Delta Flyer previously. They were only able to do so when they were certain we were in proximity, and even then it was 'hit and miss.' I have made several advancements since then for the Invictus and the only reason the Hansens were discovered was because they became 'lax' and made critical errors in judgment."

Sighing, always hating when Seven showed spite for her parents, even though she didn't blame her, Janeway nodded and said, "Okay, Seven…thank you. Everyone, just relax. We're just going to pull out of here at this speed for a while and make sure we're not underestimating them. When I feel we're far enough away, we'll engage the Slipstream Drive and go right home. Seven," she looked over her shoulder and asked, "if we jump to Slipstream, will they detect that as anything other than a minor spatial anomaly?"

"No," Seven answered, looking up to Janeway. "The Borg are now aware of the Slipstream Project," she said straight-faced and even, certain Kathryn wouldn't dress her down in front of anyone, and only cared about gathering evidence as she stated, "but that knowledge contains no technical data or specific information other than it exists and has the capability to return Voyager to the Alpha Quadrant shortly." Sighing and looking down, she finished, "The Borg would undoubtedly deem the small conduit that is formed as insignificant and ignore it completely. It would most likely be determined to be a transwarp flare and ignored."

Turning back front, Kathryn asked, "A transwarp flare?"

"That is my designation for it…it cannot be translated accurately," the blonde explained. "Just as previous warp engines damaged sub-space at excessive speeds, transwarp conduits also have minor side-effects to the galaxy. The 'gist' is that over time, small conduits will open and close on their own, quickly…or 'flare up.' They are erratic and unpredictable. The size is typically similar to the type of conduit opened utilizing Slipstream technology."

"Hey, that's good, ace. Transwarp flare…I like it."

"Thank you," Seven managed a small smile at that.

"Alright then," the captain said as she killed the reverse engines. "Seven, can you give me a direct heading back to the planet?" Almost directly after she finished her sentence, the heading was brought up on her console. Smirking, she said, "Thank you," then paused, smiled and continued, "B'Elanna, why don't you come up here…you don't want to miss this." Then standing, she said, "Seven, would you care to do the honors?"

Nodding as Torres opened the hatch and climbed up, Seven of Nine came around her console and said, "Computer, raise command chair."

While Torres moved into Seven's spot and the blonde took the helm, the command chair raised out of the floor fairly quickly, then popped into position. As Samuel laughed, amazed and said, "Captain, you should make Starfleet let Shichi san design all our ships," while Tuvok said, "Indeed," and looked on, keeping an eye on the Borg, B'Elanna informed, "Don't forget the best part of all."

"What's that?" Janeway asked as she sat down, tucked one foot underneath her a smiled as she looked about, liking the amount of room in the chair, and actually having a few non-chaste ideas about what she and B'Elanna could do in a chair like this, unable to help herself.

Getting up and moving around the board as Seven engaged the warp engines and informed they would create the Slipstream conduit in thirty seconds as they began to accelerate to maximum warp again, which was Warp Nine for the shuttle, B'Elanna grabbed the right handrest and pulled out their little secret addition, which they knew would tickle the redhead, "Complete with cupholder."

As Wang laughed, Janeway chuckled, then smacked Torres' arm as she walked away quickly, popped the cup holder back into place and said, "Seven, if you want a job in the shipyards…consider it done."

Confident, the Borg stated, appreciating both of her lovers' attempts to keep the conversation off her 'deception' while they weren't alone, "Before I commit, I believe I wish to consider my options..."

Clapping and standing up along with everyone else while they arrived at the planet, still ahead of Voyager, Janeway said as Seven finished putting the shuttle into a high orbit, turned, stood, smiled and nodded, Janeway stepped up to her and said taking her hand and squeezing it, "I think that was even better than the last time…well done." As the Borg bobbed her head and thanked her quietly, Janeway released her, told her to have a seat, and said, "Chief, send Voyager a message. Tell them we're fine and we're going to start without them because we need to have a senior staff meeting as soon as they get here and we're finished." As B'Elanna acknowledged her and began creating the message, Janeway asked, moving over to Tuvok, "Commander, am I assuming correctly that you have some way to leave the shuttle completely unmanned and returning to it?"

Tuvok raised his eyebrows surprised as he answered, "You don't want to land?"

"No," Janeway informed, "I'd like to test as many of the Elite Force's capabilities now as we can while it's quiet and we've got the time. So," she looked around at everyone, "consider your vacation officially over, and," looking back to the Vulcan, "I want at least one dry run of everything that you can do done by the end of the week, Commander…both squads."

"Yes, Captain," Tuvok said, then stood and said, "Lieutenants, don your head gear and activate the unmanned array manually. Do so as you would in an emergency situation utilizing only anti-gravity boots and gloves. We'll monitor your progress. Open squad channel."

Nodding as all of their suit's built-in communications functions activated, Torres patted Wang on the back and said, "I think the commander has it out for us today, Sammy…twice we get the tough gig."

"How far away can you control the ship with that?" asked the captain as Seven of Nine got up from the helm and informed she would conduct scans of the surface as she monitored Torres and Wang.

"That array is one and half times more powerful than our standard array," the Vulcan reported as Janeway leaned against his console. "In theory, without any spatial distortions, we could command the ship from nearly a half a light year."

Raising her eyebrows, Janeway said, "That far…" clearly impressed. When the Vulcan's expression equaled her sentiment, the captain asked, "Is there anything else we can do right now without Nick that won't tire anyone out too much…you all have had a long day already, I know?"

The commander contemplated the situation then said, "I believe it would be best to only test the unmanned systems. We have yet to do so. Seven," he looked to the blonde, "do you believe you've had adequate training to pilot the shuttle to the surface?" Looking to Janeway, he explained quickly, "She and the commander are the only ones who have done so in the simulator during the first Slipstream tests…at my request."

"Yes, Commander," Seven answered, not looking away from her work. "The procedure is not as complicated as it would seem."

"I believe Lieutenant Torres would disagree," the Vulcan added, but nodded and said, "Very well. Once we have conducted our scans and surveyed the area, you will land the shuttle on the surface."

"I will comply."

"Torres here…we're heading out on the hull. We left through the starboard hatch on Deck Three…that section is sealed off…just so you know."

"Acknowledged…proceed with caution."

"What kind of equipment at they using right now?" asked Janeway, having been too busy as of late to learn every little thing, and had kept her studies focused on the Slipstream Drive, and that technology, having poured over the Borg's calculations to the wee hours for what seemed like weeks on end until she felt she had a very good grasp of the physics behind it.

"An environmental suit that we've adapted to work in conjunction with our special forces uniforms. It is basically the top half of the suit, minus the arms, and attaches," he pointed to his waist, then arms, "here and here…where the seal is secured and the suit pressurized."

Frowning, Janeway asked, "Won't they get cold?"

"The heating unit capabilities of the suit will sustain them comfortably for up to an hour," the commander answered. Then reaching to his pocket and pulling out the thinly padded, but flexible and durable grey gloves, he slipped one on, then said, "Pressurize glove." Holding out his hand for the captain, he said as she looked at it and tried to slip her finger underneath, unable, "It is perfectly safe. I assure you."

"You've out done yourself, Commander," Janeway said, nodding her head, smiling crookedly. "Starfleet will be impressed, and thankful, I'm sure." Patting his arm, she smiled, "Thank you for making me look good."

"Thank you for the allowance, Captain," Tuvok said, then commanded, "Depressurize glove."

"Okay, Seven…we should be online. Are you reading the signal?"

"'Loud and clear.'"

"Kahless, sometimes I really wish I would have finished the Academy. This stuff makes my stomachs queasy…up is down…down is up…barf."

"Don't take it so hard, Chief," Janeway informed, "it's common with Klingons."

"Great, now I don't even get to think I'll get over it one of these days. We'll be back inside in less than a minute…I hope."

Looking up, Seven informed, "I've scanned the surface, Captain…there are several areas that are suitable for the crew. 'Wildlife' is present throughout the planet, except at the northern pole…however, I believe if we set up an energy perimeter, they will pose no threat. Once Voyager arrives, we can beam several specimens to Biometrics to be analyzed."

"Shichi san, stop stealing all my work."

Smiling as Janeway chuckled, Seven came back, "My apologies, Sam san…I was under the impression Sam Wildman and Ensign Elliot-Caster would conduct the majority of the analysis considering you are a geologist." Looking to Janeway, she finished, "It should be 'fine,' Captain. Our presence will undoubtedly detour them for long enough to set up the barrier. We could do so today by 'sunset.'"

"Are any of them bigger than I am?" asked Janeway plainly, certain she didn't like the idea if they were.

Smirking and looking her up and down as Tuvok cocked his eyebrow and then Kathryn narrow her eyes at both of them, the Borg finally answered as Torres announced they were back in and the entire shuttle was now repressurized, "No, Captain."

"Good," Kathryn said walking toward the hatch, "then let's go…we've got a lot of work to do…"

"Seven," Janeway sighed heavily, not having to speak loudly since she knew the Borg, who was poised with her phaser rifle while Janeway scanned with a tricorder, would hear her, then announced, "I need a break." When the blonde turned around and looked at her, then nodded and proceeded to her position, then turned right in front of her so Janeway could open the backpack she was carrying, Kathryn informed, "Commander, we're breaking for a few minutes. I'll reopen the channel when we're done. Close squad channel."

Putting her hands on Seven's shoulders, Janeway said, "Why don't you take that off for a while…you've been up as long as I have."

Nodding, Seven slipped the heavy pack off, turning around so Janeway didn't try to do so herself, knowing it was too heavy for Kathryn to carry with her arms and would put too much strain on her back. As she did that, the blonde asked, "You did not sleep…at all?"

"Not a wink," Kathryn said lightly, then knelt, groaned some at the stress in her joints and remarked as she unzipped the pack, "Some day, huh?" Pulling out the canteen and two ration bars, finally feeling hungry after the large breakfast and the practically continual adrenalin rush had abated, she went on, "You get proposed to, Nick finds out Sam wants to marry her, Naomi fractures both of her legs in her sleep, I find out Devin's sleeping with Chakotay," looking up as Seven cocked her eyebrow, she said, "that's classified," then went on as Seven smirked, but nodded and crossed her heart, "I complete our first Slipstream test, we get attacked, boarded, but retake the ship and in the process Devin and Tom almost die, Samantha takes out the commander, you utilize your assets for the greater good, then you take me for a roll in the sack…which," she smirked, and winked "was very nice…thank you. Then," her voice raised higher while she raised her index finger, "we salvage a Borg transporter, get visited by the Collective after almost a year without hearing from them…and," she lifted her eyebrows and finished, "I find out you've been hiding things from me again. That's quite a day, and it's not even five yet." Looking around for a moment, she informed, "I've got the tricorder set to alert us if any animal movement is detected within fifty meters…you can sit down if you'd like."

"Very well, Captain," Seven said quietly and sat adjacent to her, crossing her legs in front of her and putting her rifle in her lap.

Handing Seven a ration bar, she said, "Eat that, and call me Kathryn."

When Seven turned her nose up at the ration bar, Janeway said, "I know it tastes like cardboard, but eat it anyway please…it really is good for you…just not," she allowed a small smirk, "chocolate covered. We've got several more hours of ground to cover." As Seven nodded and took the bar, opened the wrapper and took a bite, then scrunched her face as she chewed, Janeway took a bite herself, not finding them nearly as bad, but she didn't have the sweet tooth Seven did, and said, softly, "Thank you."

After a brief moment, Janeway looked over at her and said, "Now tell me what you've been hiding please, and don't bother telling me why," she grinned crookedly, "I already figured that out."

As the Borg sighed, took a sip of the water to wash the dry bar down and then didn't say anything immediately, just looked down to her lap and contemplated how to begin, Kathryn decided it was best to just as questions and get Seven to the point were she was reciting facts and would give information, probably more than Kathryn needed, freely, "You said four months…how many times has she contacted you since then?"

"Twenty-four times."

Janeway reached up, lightly scratched her head at that number, not liking once, let alone twenty-four, then asked, "How is she communicating? Is there a pattern, or just any damn time she feels like it?" She couldn't help but swear, and actually felt like using harsher language, but refrained.

"She can only contact me when I regenerate. She contacts me via my cortical node. During regeneration, I cannot control all of its functions."

Moving the rifle from Seven's lap, Kathryn asked as she started to climb into it, "Do you mind…the ground is awfully hard?"

Seven pulled Janeway into her lap, letting her rest her back against her chest and said, "I do not."

As Seven wrapped one arm around her stomach and took a bite of her bar, Janeway followed suit, thought about the next question, then asked it. "Is that why you've been cutting most of your cycles short, even though your research has been done for nearly three months?"

"Yes. She does not always contact me, but I have been trying to regenerate at only what I am minimally required to do to maintain in order to reduce the risk. When she does contact me, I attempt to ignore her until I can no longer do so."

"This is why you've got Borg Security Protocols, Borg Alarms and the like installed on my ships, isn't it?"

"Mostly. Prior to her contacting me, I installed the basics of the Borg Security Protocols aboard Voyager after I experienced a 'bad dream' as you know them…not a hallucination," Seven explained, quietly, then informed, "It was a first for me. The sensation stayed with me for several days and I refused to sleep, so I regenerated. During the last night, she contacted me for the first time. After that, I enhanced the systems to what they are now, and examined the multi-phasic shielding for areas that could be enhanced, which I believe I have done accurately. I also wish to install them aboard Voyager as soon as possible." When Kathryn turned her head to her and quirked her mouth, Seven informed, "I believe I have discovered how to 'make it work' on a larger vessel. I have data that the Hansens did not, and experience with its weaknesses, which fortunately…in a sense, I was able to witness while reconnected to the Hive, thus I have data on how they will attempt to adapt. I am confident we will be successful."

"Can you give me a time frame…what kind of resources?"

"Yes. I have a report already composed, however."

Nodding, Kathryn said, "Alright, then I'll wait." As Seven set down her bar in Janeway's lap, wrapped her arms around her tightly, sighed and rested her head against her shoulder, the redhead sighed as well, tilted her head over to Seven's and asked, "What's she saying to you?" then rubbed her hand and said, "It's alright…you can tell me. Words can't hurt me."

"She is not entirely specific," Seven whispered her answer. "I believe the correct term is that she is 'taunting' me. To what end, I do not know, however, she continually says she will spare Voyager if you go willingly." Quickly, Seven sat up straighter and said stronger, "Do not trust her, Kathryn. She would not spare Voyager or me or anyone. That is not what she will do. I am certain of that."

"Darling," Janeway said quickly, "I don't trust that bitch anymore than I like her…don't worry about that." Entwining her fingers with Seven's over the top of her head and leaning back as Seven sighed in relief, Kathryn asked, "Tell me what you think she wants…I know you've got have some idea. I know," she informed, "you're just guessing, but I trust your guesses more than most people's absolutions. So, just talk…let me worry about it how to handle it."

Seven nodded, then sighed and stated, holding Janeway close again, turning her face toward her neck and whispered, hating to say the words, "Kathryn…"

"Go on…"

"I believe she is planning to put you into a position where you will come to her again…mostly likely by abducting me. She will tell you if you come, she'll leave Voyager alone, but she will be lying, and when you do, she will capture you, then force you to witness Voyager's destruction. Then she will assimilate you herself, and force me to witness this, and finally she will terminate me for my betrayal, and for sake of the Collective considering the amount of data I retain. She does not wish me to assist her anymore…except to use me to get to you."

"Why me? Why only me and not everyone?"

"It is more efficient. You are only one and can only do so much. The Borg understand that attempting to assimilate Voyager would most likely end in failure because of our willingness to destroy ourselves first. 'Believe it or not,' that is not typical behavior amongst the majority of the species the Borg have encountered. There is also the fact that just as the Borg gained a great deal with the assimilation of Captain Picard, they would gain a great deal with yours. However, she will not attempt to create another Locutus with you, Kathryn…she wishes you to serve her…to take away the authority and influence that you possess, especially over me." Sighing, Seven paused and then said, "I hope you will not take offense, but there are distinct similarities between the two of you. This is one of the reasons I was initially drawn to you."

"I know that, Seven…"

Seven nodded once, then went on, "Therefore, she 'hates' you because you threaten her in a way that others have not. You threaten her specifically…she is the Borg, but she is also the queen. There is a part of her that is separate and individual." As the captain nodded, then took a bite of her ration bar, chewing slowly, Seven continued her monologue, "I believe she understands that you have more power than she, even though you are only one. Your 'drones' follow you because they wish to do so. This is a command structure, however, I know that you know that if they did not wish to do so, you could do little about it without Starfleet to assist you." As Janeway nodded again, the younger female added, "I follow you because I wish to do so…thus, she will never have that power because I would only follow her if I lost my ability to make that choice. She wishes to have this power, believes assimilating you will assist her in the understanding of how to accomplish both aspects, which are inherently contradictory, and also wishes to take it away from you. If I had to 'guess,' I would say she wishes you to serve her directly and would have you perform tasks that would 'horrify' you as an individual. She is 'evil,' Kathryn. She is not beyond these capabilities or thoughts. She is not like the Borg as you know it in that sense. She takes pleasure in assimilation…not unlike the pleasure you feel when we are 'intimate.' She smiles when this occurs. I have seen it, and she takes pleasure in knowing she can command someone like you to assist in the assimilation of children and other similar tasks. She will use any tactic to promote her 'agenda' and she is not incapable of patience. She is currently 'bidding' her time…I am certain…even more so after today since if a Borg attack had occurred, it is unlikely we could have resisted successfully. I also believe they were unaware of the Slipstream test and that you were not aboard the vessel. In essence, she 'missed' her perfect opportunity to make her 'move' since you were previously unaware of her communications. She knows that, I am certain, which is why she continues to taunt me. She believes once I 'breakdown' and tell you, you will seek her out as you did previously. Now that you know, as B'Elanna Torres says, 'the clock is running.' I will not be able to 'hide' that data from her."

"When do you think she'll make her move?"

"I am uncertain she has a set date," the blonde explained, "but I believe it will occur once we are required to take the warp drive off-line. She does not know that will occur, but I believe once they become aware through their scans, that is when they will come. We would be unable to flee, and that is why I wish to install the multi-phasic shielding immediately. I also suggest that we transfer the crew of the Alaxiat to Voyager and detonate that vessel once the shielding is on-line. After that, if I were you, Captain," Seven said respectfully, "I would leave the vicinity as soon as possible. With all due respect, and I love you, but Voyager is incapable of defeating three Tactical Cubes. Even one would take extensive planning and precision. As far as I know, the Borg only maintain ten of these vessels, and it is likely that these three Cubes, if sent, could penetrate Federation space and destroy a significant portion of the 'fleet' before Starfleet was able to devise a plan to stop them. In all likelihood, that would require a vessel of Voyager's size or greater to set a course for a Cube and engage warp engines at maximum." As Janeway looked over her shoulder at that, Seven said, "That is the most efficient means to destroy such a vessel."

"Why send three of these…just for us? That seems like over-kill?"

"That is correct," Seven of Nine nodded, then looked away for a minute, raised her eyebrows and said, "I believe it is 'over-kill' on purpose. She knows that I will tell you that a resistance, in this case, would be futile…thus you would have less options and be more inclined to surrender yourself."

Sighing, the redhead said, "You've really put a lot of thought into this. It's not often that I can tell you're terrified…at least not anymore." Janeway looked over at the Borg, then turned some in her lap, rubbed her check and asked, whispering and looking her directly in her eyes, "Why does this still scare you to this extreme when you've done so much to stop her already? Tell me the truth, Seven."

Seven blinked, then answered, "Because she knows that I love you, and I 'worry' the more I adapt to my humanity, which I cannot stop any longer, the more vulnerable I become to her, and thus the more dangerous it is for you to keep me aboard your vessel." When Kathryn furrowed her brow in confusion, Seven informed, "I now have memories, Kathryn…memories like you and B'Elanna Torres. I have encrypted and protected my datafiles from her, but I cannot keep her from reading my free thoughts. I have more of these every day. I dream consistently now. I," she sighed, "forget consistently now as well. I must consciously think to store data into my memory banks, whereas before everything went there automatically. That is not the 'case' any longer, and if I do not consciously think to move that data directly to my memory banks, it will go into my 'human' memory…where it cannot be protected or deleted." The Borg sighed heavily and admitted, "It is not an 'easy' task. It requires concentration, which I have been 'working' on with Tuvok. I believe he has assisted me, but some data still goes to my memory as you know it, and that data I cannot 'hide' from her." Finishing, she said, "I 'worry' this time because she knows we are preparing to leave the quadrant, and I fear she will send enough Cubes to overwhelm us and force you to destroy yourself and your crew just as you are about to fulfill your promise to them. And," Seven of Nine started to cry, "I do not wish to be the cause of that, Captain…I want you to go home to your dog."

"Seven," Janeway whispered as her eyes burst open like a dam immediately, then unable to finish, she grabbed her tightly, ended up straddling her waist and hugged her fiercely as the blonde started to ball, letting out all of the anger and fear over this at once in a rush of emotion. Calming herself down so she could assist the Borg, knowing Seven wasn't accustomed enough with crying to that degree to feel comfortable doing it, and Kathryn couldn't deny that even at forty-one she wasn't all that comfortable with it, Janeway held her firmly and rocked her gently, rubbing her back. Once Seven had calmed down and was only hiccupping every so softly, the redhead pulled away until she could see her face, wiped her cheeks and said after she cleared her throat of her own emotional obstruction, "Seven…Seven, look at me." Once the Borg did, Kathryn said surely, "I promise you, I will listen to everything you have to offer in defense of this. I take this just as seriously as if she'd told me so herself, and I'm not going to trust her. I'm going to trust you, and if this means that we have to put some things off for a few weeks, then we'll do it, and work around the clock until we're ready. I'm not going to let us let our guard down. If they come…we'll be ready…and if hiding from them under the cover of shielding does the trick, then that's what we'll do. This isn't about just wanting to get home, either. This is about protecting this family and the Federation. We're no good to them dead, and you've got enough knowledge on the Borg to keep us safe for years, and destroying three Tactical Cubes isn't enough of a reason anymore for me to risk it. We've already destroyed Unimatrix 01 and the queen once…she's bigger than that…I understand that…so," she smiled softly as best she could, "don't worry…no high horse this time. We'll only fight if we have to."

Still dressed in her Elite Force uniform, which showed signs of their tireless surveying work on the planet's surface, although her hands and face were now clean of dirt, but her hair was still slightly damp from the swim across a river that she and Seven volunteered to do to test the waterproofing capabilities of the suit's systems, Captain Janeway stepped into the crowded Conference Room off the Bridge, after having made a quick stop in her Ready Room to get a cup of coffee and clean herself as much as possible quickly, now approaching nearly forty hours of continued alertness. Not at all surprised that Seven was standing, nor surprised that Fowler had most likely elected to give up her seat for Samantha, or that Chakotay was doing the same for Devin, Kathryn asked first as she looked to the Doctor, who was joining them over the communications system on the wall, "Doctor, how's Tom?"

"I've been better, Captain," Paris said from a biobed behind the hologram that they couldn't see. "Heard your test flight was a success…congrats. Nice of you to come back for us…I'd have just kept going," he laughed, then coughed, clearly still uncomfortable, but recovering.

Smiling, Janeway said, "Thank you, Lieutenant…good to have you back. Can you two hear us alright?"

"Aye, Captain," they both said.

Taking a sip of her coffee and as pulled out her chair and started to sit while everyone watched her carefully, Kathryn came down on the chair, then popped right back up, making a small sound of surprise when something poked her right cheek mildly. As everyone in the room laughed, Janeway set down her coffee as she looked on her chair, chuckled as she saw the triangular box, then asked as he picked it up, "What's this?" her tone coarse, but only because her voice was growing tired, as a room full of laughter warmed her heart, even if they were pulling a harmless prank on her.

"The 'gift' is not the 'box', Captain," Seven of Nine smiled, "you are required to open it."

"Really?" Janeway came back quick and sarcastic, then looked over to Chakotay, sneered and asked, "What've you done this time?"

When the room was filled with laughter again, the commander looked around the room as Janeway sat down and opened the present, and said, "See, I told you," then looked back to Kathryn and said, "Captain, it was all their idea," smiling at her.

"Mmmhmm…sure," Kathryn replied, then pulled the bottom open. Setting the it down as a piece of padding came out and a silver necklace with a nickle-sized diamond and sapphire encrusted symbol of the United Federation of Planets fell into her hand afterward, the captain sighed softly as the room fell quiet, and was about to thank everyone since it really was beautiful, when Chakotay did his duty as first officer, came over to her, knelt and said, taking it out of her hand, "This was supposed to be your Christmas present from all of us," in truth, Janeway was the only one on the ship that even celebrated the holiday thanks to her Traditional upbringing, but most people knew of it, and for the last few years the crew had made an effort to all chip in and get her something nice, "but since you've been so busy and forgot all about it, we decided to wait and give it to you today. It's a locket," he informed as he pressed down on the band of leaves on the right side and the top popped open, "and it's Borg enhanced," he chuckled.

Smiling as the picture of Voyager in space changed into a moving picture of the Bridge, with all of her current senior officers, standing or sitting with their friends waving—Chakotay and the Wildmans sat in the side command chairs, Sam and Naomi sitting in Nick's as Neelix perched on the arm rest with them; Devin sat in her chair, Tuvok and Seven stood near Tactical, while Fowler and Torres stood in the middle on the upper deck with their arms around each other, and the Doctor, Paris, and Kim stood near Operations—the captain was about to say thank you when the picture of the Bridge changed. "There's more?" she asked, as everyone chuckled. After it changed to a picture of the Delta Flyer, it changed to a picture Janeway didn't know existed of she and Naomi napping together on her couch, curled up in a blanket, tucked into the corner with a book in their lap. Recalling that event as when the child had been terribly upset when she'd heard someone talking about Seven being killed by the A.I., and how she'd consoled the child, then sent a scathing letter to her crew about their big fat mouths, and finally had the child over for dinner, Kathryn glanced over at Seven, who smiled, then pointed to Torres, informing her silently that it was the chief's idea, who was smiling at her. The picture then changed again to the Invictus, and then to the Elite Force, dressed in their suits in the Security Office, looking tough and professional, which caused Kathryn to chuckle as she brought her hand to her mouth, and then it finally ended with the same picture of Voyager, and her and Chakotay's image faint in the background. Then noticing there was an inscription on the other side, which read 'For our captain, K. Janeway, U.S.S. Voyager…'Saw a vision of the world…and all the wonder that would be,' Janeway whispered, closing it up, "Thank you, that's beautiful," then leaned over, kissed his cheek and hugged him with one arm, which got everyone to clap and whistle.

"You're welcome," Chakotay said back, then stood up, took the locket and slipped it around her neck. As she held up the back of her hair, he set the clasp, then patted her shoulder and said, "Now, you're officially breaking protocol...finally."

Chuckling and then sticking her tongue out at him, Janeway reached up fiddled with it, then looked around, cleared her throat and said, "Thank you all," and added to lighten the mood, "I promise to never recycle it for coffee," then picked up her mug and toasted them while they laughed.

As everyone quieted down, Kathryn set down her mug, and said, "As I'm sure you all know, we had a visit from our old friend's the Borg while we were away." When the group that hadn't been there nodded seriously, Janeway said, "To make a long story short, we went back to the wreckage to salvage the Borg transporter matrix the Crelic used to penetrate our shields, and I'm happy to report," she smirked, "we got it first. As far as we know, and Seven's very confident, we weren't detected, so we followed their scout ship to find out just exactly where the Cube it came from was…and why they're keeping tabs on us." Pointing to the tall blonde, Janeway said, "Seven…"

"Three Tactical Cubes are holding a position approximately one thousand, two hundred light years away, which puts us just at the edge of their ability to track us, and well beyond our capability to do so," Seven of Nine explained as the group turned and looked at her. "One has been in the region for four months, while the other two arrived today approximately at the same time we where attacked by the Crelic." Looking over to Janeway, uncertain how much detail she wished her to give, Seven said, "Captain…?"

Jumping back in, the redhead said, "It seems the Borg, the queen, has plans for us that she's preparing to unveil. The gist, as Seven believes and I tend to agree, is that she plans to destroy us before we can get out of the quadrant...probably for several reasons, but most importantly to save the Borg a lot of trouble considering the amount of data Seven retains. She has a few ideas about how she thinks that will be accomplished, but clearly," Kathryn sat forward, "we're not going to let that happen. Not now…not ever. Our duty to return to the Alpha Quadrant is greater now than it ever has been. We have two things on this ship that are absolutely crucial to the Federation: Slipstream," lifting her thumb, "and Borg technology…including, and most importantly," pointing to Seven, "Seven of Nine, who has the means and the will to prevent future Borg attacks on our people for years if not decades to come." Lowering her hands, she said, "We're not going to fight them this time…unless we have to…and if that time comes, I'll make sure we're ready as possible, but these are Tactical Cubes…not one, but three. Armor reinforced and practically impenetrable. No Federation ship has ever directly engaged a Tactical Cube as far as we know. I won't lie to you, we're outmatch…even with one."

As the whole group took a deep breath and nodded their heads, knowing they'd never stand a chance, Janeway leaned back with her coffee, setting it her lap and said, "So, in light of that, and since we can't outrun them, we're going to disappear. Seven…"

"The enhancements," she started as she walked over to the console on the wall, pulling up a schematic for those that were in the room, "I've made to the Hansen's multi-phasic shielding now make it possible for us to create a shield matrix large enough for a vessel of Voyager's size utilizing the deflector dish."

"Could you meld this technology with my workings," the first regal, who was feeling better than she had in quite sometime, sat forward, looking at the Borg as she asked, smirking, having a feeling she knew the fate of her vessel would now come sooner than anticipated, "or is my glory too much of a relic as well?" When Seven turned around, looked at her, then glanced to Janeway, Devin held up her hand and commanded, "Fear none, my child…detail to me your efficiency. I will find no crime."

Seven nodded, then placed her hands behind her back and said, "It would be inefficient to attempt to do so, First Regal, and I cannot guarantee that it would be successful considering you do not utilize deflector technology. Also, your vessel is at great risk currently…more so than Voyager is at this time."

"Assimilation...?"

"No," Seven answered quickly before she lost her nerve to tell someone she admired as much as the Fynth the cold hard facts. "They would most likely use your vessel to 'shake' the crew of Voyager and 'bait' Captain Janeway. You would be destroyed. The Starfleet aboard are at risk for possible assimilation, although that is unlikely. I do not believe the Collective would assimilate the Fynth…please find no crime, but they would gain nothing from assimilating your 'flock.' The aspects of your culture that I admire, the Borg consider irrelevant, and your physical body would not make an efficient drone."

Reaching over to Devin's forearm as she sat forward, the captain informed, "We'd like you and yours to come aboard…tonight, if possible, and once we get the shielding on line, we're going to leave the area, so I'll need you to scuttle your ship since there's Federation technology aboard." As Devin looked over at her and contemplated it, then nodded, Kathryn pulled away and explained, "We can make it seem like there's still people onboard…long enough to fool them. Seven's certain if we work around the clock we can have the docking system for the shuttle and the shielding online in less than two days, so you can bring your yacht…and," looking around, "I'm sure all of us are willing to open the doors to our quarters for our Fynth friends."

Stepping up immediately, Nicole said, "Captain," putting her hand on Samantha's shoulder, "my quarters are free for the taking. I can have my stuff out in a half hour."

As Wildman reached up and squeezed her hand, Janeway nodded and said, "Thank you, Commander…see to it."

"Harry," Paris said from over the monitor, sitting up and wincing, "wanna bunk with me?"

"No," Kim smiled, then answered, "but you can bunk with me," which got everyone to snicker.

"Alright, that's two…well three," Janeway said, "I'll stay in my Ready Room, and," she looked over to Devin and smiled, "you, Grenthel or Shreen are more than welcome to stay there…although," she smirked, "I can't move all of my things into my office, unfortunately. Commander," she looked over to Chakotay and gave him a knowing look, "I'll let you take care of the rest of the accommodations," then to the rest as Tuvok and Wang decided they would share the commander's quarters to open up the lieutenant's since he lived alone now, "It might be tight for a little while, but I'm sure we'll manage fine. Thank you." Wang wasn't a senior officer since Wildman held that spot for Science, but since he was on the Alpha Squad of the Elite Force, he was a vital member of the ship now, and had been moved to a location closer to the Security Office when he was promoted to lieutenant, which meant he was granted the privilege of living alone, as were all lieutenants and above that worked on the Alpha shift of the starship's rotation. Now that Carey was an ensign, Torres, Wildman, Wang and Keilman were the only officers that fit that since Byers continued to work Beta as Tuvok's second in command for his regular Security and Beta Elite squads.

After taking a sip of her coffee and everyone quieted, Kathryn went on, "Once we get the Borg shielding online, we're going to set a course for another planet. We'll go as fast as we can manage without draining our reserves, and then we'll get to work right away on building the Slipstream Drive for Voyager. Doctor…"

"Yes, Captain?" asked the hologram.

Chuckling, "Not you Doctor…Doctor Wildman," Janeway explained. When Samantha looked over to her, smiling in thanks for the allowance since Wildman had admitted that the only thing she liked about the Crelic was that they had called her Doctor Wildman, which she honestly preferred over rank, Kathryn explained, noticing the smile and deciding that was reason enough to keep calling her that, just like she did with the chief, which everyone, not just the engineers, called the brunette consistently now that Kathryn had finally started doing so, and certainly not finding anything wrong with referring to Samantha as such since she did have a doctorate, which wasn't the case for any of the other scientists aboard Voyager, except for the captain, who had two, one in quantum physics and one in biochemistry, "You and your staff have got two days to create an archaic, yet livable environment for our Crelic guests. Use the holodeck as much as you need to test. Seven's uploaded the sensor data from the site we picked out today for your use. The only condition is they get no technology or anything of any value they can trade for a ride if someone happens to stop by. My demands are that you're to give them six months of field rations, provide for them what they'll need to grow food and cultivate it for themselves, and create a transponder that we'll leave in orbit which will tell anyone who passes by what they're crimes were. There's a water source, as well as a waterfall near by, so you may give them instructions, on paper, of how to create a water mill so they can eventually automate the irrigation of their crops. Seasonal clothing is fine, as long as it's basic and minimal, and let them create their own tools and weapons for hunting. They've got six months to prepare, but give them a double habitat…although, strip it down to the bare minimum. No lighting, no seals, only bedding. If they need to see, they can build a fire, and you can give them flint and instructions on how to do that as well. The rest," she raised her hands, "I'll leave in your capable and creative hands."

Smiling, Wildman nodded and said, "Yes, Ma'am…thank you."

As Fowler wiped her nose and mumbled, "Damn," and Chakotay chuckled and nodded his approval for her tactics, Janeway turned to the monitor, pointed and said, "Doctor…Seven's going to have to stop regenerating until we get the shielding on-line, and then minimize her regeneration until we're ready to use the Drive. How's the portable alcove coming?"

"It's finished. I was hoping to test it out tomorrow, Captain…why can't she regenerate?"

Turning toward the monitor, Seven informed, "The queen has the ability to interface with my cortical node during regeneration when a Borg vessel is in proximity, and has been doing so." When the room fell completely silent at that, except for Devin, who hummed and nodded, the Borg went on, "I've encrypted my datafiles to keep her from accessing them, however, I cannot detour her from hearing the free thoughts of my human memory…nor can I guarantee that she will not become aware of our plans. I cannot entirely stop myself from remembering as an organic being. The risk is too great, and she would undoubtedly 'step up' her plans and attack us immediately."

"I'll get her started on her medication and diet regiment right away, Captain. I'm already prepared," the Doctor said immediately, concerned, but understanding the necessity and the risk currently.

"Seven," Janeway looked over to the Borg, "I know you're vital to the aspects of both of these projects, but you're to do exactly as the Doctor tells you with no deviation. Is that clear?"

"I will comply," Seven nodded once, firm, and planning to follow instructions exactly.

Bobbing her head, she turned to B'Elanna, "Chief, I'm going to let Ensign Carey out of confinement for these two days to help you. We need everyone we've got to get this done." As Torres nodded, she leaned forward and pointed seriously, "I expect you to do whatever is necessary to maintain productivity, and if that means to work side by side with him, do it. If he's working, you're working, but I'll let you dictate his assignment. If you have a problem, deal with it. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Once we're on our way, he'll return to finish out his confinement. If you feel he's done well, I'll count those two days…let him know that, if you feel it will help. The rest of his rules still hold true, and Neelix is currently decorating a table for him in the Mess Hall," Janeway went on. "You're to sit with him at every meal and see him to and from the Cargo Bay during this time. He is not allowed to speak to Naomi without her mother's expression permission…and Doctor," she looked over at the blonde as Torres nodded and refrained from grumbling, "I think it's best for now if she stays in your cabin. There's bound to be a lot of talk and frazzled people until we get this up and running."

As Samantha nodded her agreement, Seven looked over at her and said, "I will have my television moved to your quarters to occupy her time, if you wish?"

"Thank you," Wildman smiled, "she'd like that."

"Commander," pointing to Fowler, "since Baker will be back and can fill in for Tom until he's recovered and rested, I'm moving you to Security temporarily. You and Tuvok can work out the arrangement, but I want your people on full alert and in a constant ready state." Looking over to the Vulcan, she said, "You have my authorization to put your entire team in the necessary uniforms, and Lieutenant," looking to Wang, "I'll need your brawn more than your brain, I'm afraid…so report to Tuvok instead of Doctor Wildman for the next two days. I've got five geologists, but only one of them is you."

"Yes, Captain," Samuel nodded at Fowler patted his back, smiling, while Samantha looked over to him and winked.

"Devin," she looked over at the Fynth and said, finally getting the commander back for his trick he'd played on her about her sex-life, "you can have Chakotay." When the first regal laughed at loud and clapped her hands in approval for Janeway's tour de force, while the rest of the group burst out in hysterics as the first officer cleared his throat and scratched his tattoo while he blushed lightly, Kathryn smiled and informed, "You've had that coming for a long time, Mister." As he nodded his head, then finally laughed and patted Devin's shoulder, Janeway became more serious, yet still smiled and said, "I think it might help if he goes with you. They know him better than they know me. Bring whatever you want…not just what you need. One thing we have a lot of, is cargo room. We'll go to yellow alert shortly and stay that way until your flock is aboard…so you can transport freely."

Reaching forward and holding Devin's hand in support, squeezing lightly, thankful when the Fynth squeezed back, Janeway finished, pulling her hands way, "After that, we'll stay at red alert until the shielding is online and we're certain they're not following. Tell your staff to arm themselves and stay that way. In the event," she lifted up her finger and spoke quick and sure, fearing there would be objections, but prepared to squash them like a bug, "that we are attacked by the Borg in the next two days, I'm going to make the following demand and I expect," she bobbed her head, "you to follow it to the letter and understand the necessity as being beyond our own duty to each other. It's your duty to the Federation as Starfleet officers." When everyone held their breaths, Kathryn said, standing up and leaning on the table, "If you hear the words 'Engage Operation Invictus' from myself or the computer, Commanders Tuvok, Fowler," she started to rattle off the names, "Lieutenants Torres, Wildman, your daughter, Ensign Kim, Doctor and Seven of Nine…you are all to proceed immediately to the Invictus…use the transporters…Doctor download yourself, and the chief can create you a new mobile emitter later. We've got a copy of your original program here in storage, so we'll be okay without you. You are to then disembark swiftly, set a course for home and engage the Slipstream Drive, and you are not to look back for any reason. First Regal," Janeway looked at Devin, "Grenthel and Shreen are more than welcome, and so are you, but I'll leave that your discretion." The captain then looked back to the group and said, "And the rest of you gentlemen, I'll appreciate your company for the fight. Is that understood?"

"Aye, Captain," everyone said in unison, with the exception of Devin, no one arguing because they did indeed know the importance of the Slipstream technology, as well as all the data Seven of Nine had on the Borg Collective.

Finishing surely, Janeway said, pleasant and confident, "I don't expect to have to make that call though. We'll get through this together and we'll get home together. Thank you all again for the locket, your dedication and perseverance. Dismissed."

"Captain," the Doctor called out as everyone began to file out of the room, Chakotay and First Regal Devin moving quick and sure to get to the Alaxiat, the others letting them pass respectfully. As Janeway sipped her coffee and raised her eyebrows, the Doctor waited for everyone to exit before he asked, unable to help that Paris could hear, "Why me?"

Frowning that the hologram didn't understand, Kathryn set down her mug, perched on the edge of the table and asked, "Why not, Doctor?" but there was no discontent in her tone. Not letting him finish, Janeway said, "There's a member from all of our other major departments, you've dealt with and treated injuries and diseases the Federation has never even heard of, and," she smiled slightly, "you also have a great deal of knowledge about the Borg, specifically Seven. She'll need your expertise and friendship…all of them will if that happens."

Tom smiled, sat up again and said, "Man, I guess I should have asked Sam out a long time ago…that'll teach me for waiting."

Knowing Paris was merely trying to make light a bad situation, and understood that Fowler had been chosen over him because of Samantha, Kathryn said as she started out of the room, "Look on the bright side, Mister Paris…if that happens, you just might be the first pilot," she paused and stopped at the doorway, smirking over her shoulder, "to purposefully ram someone at maximum warp."

"Welcome home," Chakotay said as he carried a fairly heavy container full of Devin's things while he stepped in their quarters. "Computer, lights quarter…since you've got a command code, all of you have to do to get in is enter it into the sensor panel," he finished, setting down the box near the kitchen table, his quarters similar to Janeway's, just not as roomy.

While the commander took the dress bag from her arms and started for the closet, Devin said, "Obliged, Chakotay," as she looked around and rubbed one hand against her torso where her lashes had been out of habit for being in discomfort for months rather than need.

Coming back from his bedroom and noticing her hand on her torso as she looked about, seeming fairly lost, which struck him immediately since he'd never seen her look at all as if she couldn't handle any situation or adapt immediately as necessary, the first officer asked, "Your ribs aren't hurting again, are they?"

The Fynth blinked out of her revere as she looked down at her box, looked over at the commander as he came and stood next to her, and sighed as she took her hand away from herself and brought it to his face, patting is softly, "Your Doctor has given me back many cycles, I'm certain. I am merely," she sighed, shaking her head and looking down at her box of things, "coiled at this length. It is not how I envisioned the closing of my domain."

"There's an old Christian proverb," the commander said, his major field of studies having been archeology and ancient religions in his younger days, "that says: The Lord never closes one door without opening another. Maybe you should think of this as a new beginning?"

Devin clicked lightly and said as she dropped her hand to his and took it up, "I feel too old 'today,'" she smiled over at him, "for such an outlook to dwell within my mind, but perhaps 'tomorrow' will shed new light upon me?" Then turning more serious, she requested, "You will accompany me when I give the order to destroy my glory, hmm?" since her vessel didn't have a self-destruct sequence, and that meant Voyager would have to transport four torpedoes set to unleash their furry ten seconds afterward, but there was now no concern for creating an antimatter explosion because Devin had authorized the antimatter contents of their core be harnessed and added to Voyager's reserves, which Torres and a small engineering team were currently seeing to, as well as setting up their phony lifeform readings now that the vessel was unmanned, the first having been the last to depart.

"I've operate the transporters myself," Chakotay said quietly, understanding, since he'd scuttled his ship for the greater good too eight years ago; albeit, he'd flown it into a Kazon warship and allowed himself to be transported out at the last possible moment. "And," he smiled, "just so you know, I'm not asking you to stay here out of obligation or so Grentel and Shreen can take Kathryn's place for themselves. I don't honestly want you to be anywhere else. So, no more 'Obliged, Chakotay's' okay?"

Humming in endearment, Devin nodded as she reached up to his face again, ran her hands over her forehead and through his short black, with speckles of white hair, then hugged him tightly and whispered, "Your winds of change blow fiercely in the heavens on this cycle…as strong as I have ever detailed. It has been some length since I've felt fleeting at their mercy as this. Perhaps it is merely my demon again, or my heart which wrenches even when you call to it directly and hold it from all this wrath." Not giving him a chance to answer, knowing she was just feeling melancholy and frustration for losing a part of her existence that she had known for longer than Kathryn Janeway had been alive, the first moved her face to his, kissed his lips softly for several seconds, then sighed when the door call sounded and whispered, "Her babe am I now," then cursed.

Figuring it was Janeway as well, Chakotay said as Devin backed away from him and lightly kicked the container of her possessions, "Come in, Kathryn."

None other than stepped inside the dim, cool quarters with her hands behind her back, still wearing her locket and not planning to take it off until the shielding was online and certain no one would say anything about the protocol violation considering it was a Federation symbol, although her suit was now unzipped to her collar bone to let her neck breathe, since she didn't plan to stop until she fell down from exhaustion, having remained awake for four days in a row before, so knowing she could make it through three as long as she ate the right foods, and drank coffee at the right times, asking, "How'd you guess?" but rhetorically.

Fairly flippant, not able to help herself, not mad at Kathryn, just annoyed that such a young person was now giving her orders, Devin said, "Your spirit shrieks louder than your B'Elanna's music. It is not a task to detail."

Janeway came to a stop, feeling like she'd just been told off. Although, she understood Devin's frustrations, so she asked immediately, even, prepared to accept if she was, then give her orders anyway and leave, "Am I interrupting?"

As Chakotay shook his head negatively, but stayed quiet, Devin sighed and said, "Find no crime, Kathryn," then spun around to her and pointed, "the spirits are to blame…damn them."

"Damn those spirits again," Janeway chuckled as she came up to her, shaking her head in endearment. Patting and lightly squeezing Devin's arm, she asked, "How's your crew?"

"My flock has flocked to you and yours…with exclamation," Devin said, finishing, closing her eyes and raising her voice and she looked up. Then kicking the container again with the side of her foot, she said, "This was the last of the cargo. We are not a people of many possessions, so your bay now holds our dried sustenance. We will feed off this primarily to spare your replicators. It is not divergent from what we are accustomed."

"Alright," Janeway nodded, "and I'll have Neelix make sure he keeps a supply in the Mess Hall, but if there's anything you'd like for him to have handy consistently, or just every now and then, please feel free to request it. He's fond of doing little things to bring a sense of home to other people's lives…not to mention," she patted her arm, "rather good at it. Oh," she raised her finger, "I just came from next door," she gestured to her cabin, and said, "and I told them they're just going to have to deal with having a public bathtub, so feel free…unless," she smirked, "I'm in it, of course."

After they all chuckled mildly, Kathryn held out her hand to the Fynth, and said, "From one first to another, I admire your grace and understanding. Thank you, Devin. It's an honor to have you on board, and I'll do my best to make it worth your sacrifice."

"The honor is mine, Kathryn," Devin is graciously. "Obliged."

Nodding, Janeway looked to them both and said, "I know you've still got to settle in, so I'll leave you to your privacy. You've both had a rough day, so take this evening to rest since I'd like you both on the Bridge tomorrow while I see to things in the Shuttle Bay, and I'll make sure B'Elanna gives you an update first thing tomorrow since they'll be over there until the early morning hours." Smiling at them both, Janeway nodded and said, "Well, thank you again…goodnight."

Chakotay followed the captain out of his quarters after telling Devin he'd be right back and to put anything she wanted anywhere she wanted, and said, calling out to Janeway before she got away, "Kathryn…wait."

Stopping at the corner and turning around, the redhead raised her eyebrows as he trotted to her then asked, "What's up?"

"About this Operation Invictus," Chakotay said quietly, but direct and open, "don't you think you should be on that shuttle too?" Holding up his hand quickly, he said, "This isn't about B'Elanna and Seven, I promise. This is about you being you, an asset to the Federation…especially when it comes to what you know about the Borg, and know about Section 31," he whispered. "I think you should go and help Tuvok. I really do, and to hell," he said, shaking his hand, "with what anyone thinks about that. There's no reason why we both should stay, and you're better at dealing with Starfleet than I am."

Quirking the side of her mouth, Janeway touched his arm, squeezed and said, "I appreciate the gesture, Chakotay…I really do, and I know that you've got several valid points…"

"But…"

"But, there's a very specific reason why I can't."

"Why's that?"

Holding up her finger, Janeway smirked and said, "Open channel…Janeway to Naomi Wildman."

"Hi, Captain!"

"Hello, Miss Wildman…sorry if I'm interrupting…"

"You're not, Captain. Nick and I are taking a break from unpacking and having some cookies. I don't mind talking too."

Chuckling lightly, as Chakotay crossed his arms over his chest and raised his eyesbrows to her, Kathryn nodded and said, "Well, thank you. I need a favor, though. Would you tell me what the first rule of being a starship captain is please?"

"Keep your shirt tucked in, Captain."

As Chakotay smiled and chortled, Janeway kept her laughter in, then said, "Thank you…what's the second?"

"Go down with the ship…"

While the commander looked over to her and smirked, knowingly, Janeway smiled back at him and requested, "And the third please, dear…"

"Never abandon a member of your crew, Captain…how come you're asking me those?"

"I just needed a refresher, Miss Wildman. Thank you. Save a cookie for me, huh? I'll be right over to check on things."

"Aye, Captain. Naomi Marie out."

The captain patted her first officer's arm as he sighed, and said, "You see, I've got a reputation to maintain and an assistant to teach…and," she started away walking backwards as the commander shook his head at her, "the Janeway's are many things, but," turning around and shaking her finger, "poor role models aren't usually one of them. Have a good night."

"Computer," Captain Janeway requested quickly, "halt turbolift," as she turned toward Chief Torres, who was rubbing her neck and attempting to keep her temper in check, just after they entered the the lift from Deck Tweleve, the chief on her way to Deck Ten while Kathryn planned to take a short break in her Ready Room to have something to eat since she was now at almost the sixty hour mark, their work a little over half done now. When B'Elanna closed her eyes and tensed her jaw at the request, Kathryn crossed her arms over her chest and said, "B'Elanna, I know you've got a lot on your plate right now, but you're not usually this tense. What's wrong?"

Sighing and irritated, Torres refrained from looking over at Janeway, rubbed her neck and said, "I'm not going to kill anyone, I promise. I'm just tired...just like everyone else. So," she dropped her hand and finally looked to the redhead, "can we just get the lift going again? All I want is to finish this before Seven has a meltdown."

The captain frowned as she reported, "I just saw her a few hours ago." Shaking her head, she added, "She seemed alright." Immediately, she asked as Torres took a deep breath, her voice laced with concern, "Has something happened since then?"

"No," B'Elanna came back rather stern. Opening her eyes, turning toward her completely, the chief reminded, "But she's been dealing with this for four months...alone. She's scared to death the Borg are gonna come and take her life away again...not to mention destory everything you care about. She feels guilty... like it's her fault, okay?" Pointing at her own chest, she rallied, losing her temper and just lashing out because she was frustated, especially at the captain since she was pushing her rather hard this last day and a half to make sure everything was completed, just like she always did during crisis, "I live and work with her. I see things that no one else sees...not even you. She cried herself to sleep last night worried about you," pointing to Kathryn now, whose face was growing stone stiff, "and frustrated that she couldn't just stay up and help us. I was there...you weren't...I saw it! So," she raised her arms to her sides, "can we please just get going so I don't have to see that again?"

Janeway blinked once, then habitually and instinctively moved through the difficult moment with smoothness, the captain taking full control of her actions. Looking up, she said, quiet and even, "Computer, resume," before she turned and faced forward as Torres sighed and said, "Thank you," tense. Then clearing her throat mildly as the lift slowed quickly, Kathryn said before the doors parted, speaking very quietly, "I'm not a telepath. I'm just a captain. If you need more from me, Lanna, you both have to tell me."

As the doors started to open, B'Elanna said as she looked back before she stepped out, "And I'm just an engineer, so how about starting with some slack." Then turning around quickly, noticing that someone was standing near the doors, waiting for the lift, Torres kept herself from snapping at the male for being in her way since he was looking down at her, dispprovingly, she could tell from his expression. The chief swivled her shoulders so she didn't collide with him, side-stepping slightly, then just continued forward in an aggressive march, fairly used to those types of looks from the ship's scientists since it was no secret they adored their captain, thus believed the chief was a scoundrel who'd broken her heart, and stole Seven of Nine away from her.

Lieutenant Nathan Keilman, a fourty-year old biochemist with a master's degree, who'd been working on his doctorate when they were trapped in the Delta Quadrant, cleared his throat mildly as the ranking officer sighed softly as she noticed him and suddenly felt more nervous than she would normally while she side-stepped out of habit to give him plenty of room inside the carriage. Keilman, who was similarly built as Chakotay, although a little taller, but just as solid, with slightly darker skin, but more olive skin, but equally dark hair and eyes, worked in Biometerics, oversaw that department, and reported directly to Samantha Wildman, who the doctor raved about in her personnel reports as far as his consistently excellent work, willingness to help out, and she'd recently reported that she let Nathan run Biometrics, which included Biochemistry, because he did such a fine job. He always kept her in the know, and she continued to be responsible, but she'd informed Janeway that other than reading reports, she didn't have much to do in that regard, and that was because he was such a good leader, as well as a fine scientist in his own right. Trying to keep the conversation light and friendly for a few reasons, not all of them B'Elanna's comment that he'd heard, Keilman stepped into the lift and allowed after he nodded to her respectfully, "Whatda say we blow this joint and go mix all those chemicals we were told not to in first year Chemistry?" As the door closed and Janeway sighed once in humor, managed a very faint smile and looked up to him, the lieutenant said, chuckling, as he stood in front of her, but slightly offset to the side, "I can't help myself, so you'll have to forgive me again. It's been one of those days where you look at that vile of amonia and that vile of sodium hypochlorite and think...hmm...maybe just once?"

While the captain shut her eyes, shook her head, but laughed soundlessly as she bowed her chin and leaned back against the wall, her hands resting at the small of her back while she chuckled, Nathan smiled softly, keeping himself from frowning at her clearly exhausted appearance, although he approved of her special uniform since the colors were good for her, and it highlighted her narrow frame attractively. He'd always liked petite women best, even though he was anything but, and Janeway was no exception. He was also finding her rather adorably sexy, not just beautiful, when she was unkempt. Kathryn had light smudges of a dark substance on her cheek and chin, as well as on her hands, but she was hiding them; her hair was now fairly stringy, even though it was securly tucked behind both of her ears, and her uniform was now unzipped to the center of her chest, just stopping short of showing the bottom of her sport bra where the grey fabric was damp with perspiration, as was the nape of her neck and her hairline since she'd been doing manual labor for a few hours in the Shuttle Bay, the good captain one of two women how were light enough to sit on the top of the construct and weld as they went to keep them from having to constuct a large scaffold, which would only take more time. So, while the strong backs of the group moved the large parts around and worked on the thick, lower section of the construct, Janeway and Nicoletti shimmied up the side to the top and worked from that end since they were the two smallest on the ship that were certified to use a laser torch. He was surprised by the necklace, however, since Janeway had always struck him as someone who wouldn't break such protocols, so he asked when she looked up to him, her face pleasant, but not really showing a smile, neither he or she commanding the lift yet, "That's genuinely nice. It looks good on you," pointing to the necklace. "A gift?"

Forgetting about the necklace, Kathryn absently raised her hand to it from behind her back and answered after she touched it, looking down again, "Oh right...yes, thank you." Calming herself easily as she looked up, she crossed her arms over her chest as she continued to lean back against the wall and reported, her face and voice smoother now, and more like her typical self, "It was a belated Christmas present from the senior officers...I'm," she grinned crookedly, "hoping it'll be a lucky charm." As Nathan chuckled at that and nodded his understanding of the need for such a thing, Kathryn said very smoothly as he leaned on the side wall next to her, their body positions perpendicular, "Where are you headed again?"

"I just needed a break actually, so I'm not really going anywhere in particular," Keilman admitted truthfully, grinning down at her. "You can go first."

Nodding, Janeway looked up and said, "Bridge," then turned her face to him as he stood on her left and asked, her voice softening, but not terribly, "How've you been? I haven't seen you for a while."

Keilman was about to answer as he looked over and down at her seriously, but not pensive, not overtly showing his attraction to her since she already knew it exsisted, but not hiding his comfortableness with her when they were alone, when the turbolift slowed at Deck Seven. He purposefully was not, and did not treat her as anything other than a person he respected, admired, and desired, when they were alone in this capacity, since the time shortly after the transporter accident she became aware that he fancied her one lunchtime they were working alone in Biometrics, the captain assisting with the biochemistry avenue of their research on the mollusks. He did that to keep the captain out of their interpersonal relationship as much as possible because he had a strong sense that other than how Torres and Seven had hurt her, it was her position that was keeping her from even having dinner with him since she'd stated after they shared a nice, private moment that she couldn't be involved with anyone currently, not even casually, but since she'd been kind in her response, and hadn't said she wasn't interested, he believed it was mostly her rank that was stopping her. He'd sensed and saw a subtle amount of regret in her eyes at that moment, and nothing that told him she was put-off by his advances, so currently he was just hopeful to be noticed and remind her from time to time that there was someone out there that appreciated her until the time when she was no longer his captain. Since he planned to resign his commision, he hoped that she'd reconsider. He wouldn't wait forever, but he'd admired her from a far for several years now, and believed it was time to see what, if anything, could come of it.

As Kathryn sighed lightly, shaking her head, sad in a way that she wasn't getting the time to speak with Keilman and inquire as to how he, personally, was handling all of this news about going home, as well as to make sure he knew that just because she couldn't see him romantically, that didn't mean they couldn't be friends or he had to stay away, which she worried he was doing since she hadn't spoken with him privately since she left him in Biometrics almost two months ago, Nathan sighed too, and whispered, "I'll be glad when I can get some real privacy," then straighted and made his stance look more professional as the door opened.

Stepping into the turbolift, Samantha Wildman managed a smile, feeling rather tired herself, and said, nodding, "Captain," then smiled more at Keilman and said, "Hey, Nathan."

As Janeway nodded, smiling softly as well and said, "Doctor," Keilman decided it was best to leave now, so he stepped forward, put his hand in the seam to keep the doors from closing and questioned after greeting her, "Did Naomi get a chance to do her final lab yet?"

Nodding, Wildman answered, "Mike set up an station in the cataloging room today so she wouldn't be bothered. She's home right now finishing her paper. I'm sure she'll have it for you tonight, but," she shook her head as he nodded, "there's no rush on grading it. She understands that everyone's busy right now."

Keilman chuckled and informed, nodding, "Well, it'll be a nice distraction, and I don't have any other plans tonight. I don't know about the two of you," he looked over to the captain and smiled, modestly, then finished looking back to Samantha, "but I can only take so much Engineering work before I lose my sense of humor." As Wildman laughed lightly and nodded, then thanked him and told him she appreciated him, as well as did Naomi, Nathan nodded and said, "It's not a problem, but you're welcome." Then looking to Janeway, he bobbed his head and said, "Ladies," before he stepped out of the seam and let the doors close.

Smiling and turning to Kathryn, whispering for some reason, Wildman admitted, "God, he is so perfect." As Kathryn raised her eyebrows in surprise for her comment, Samantha rattled off the points that she liked about him to explain, "He's smart, he cooks, he's good with children, he's mature, protective, not afraid to take charge, but he's not macho...even around other men who are. He's funny and kind, and," she smiled brightly, shaking her head and looking back at the door as she rested against the back wall right next to Janeway, folding her hands behind her back, "he's tall, dark and handsome." As the captain looked over to her, chuckled lightly and nodded her agreement, merely allowing, "Mmmhmm," Wildman shook her head as Kathryn called out for the Bridge and said, "I can't believe he isn't involved with anyone. He's a total catch. I can't figure out what are all the women on this ship are thinking? Truthfully," she smirked at the captain and whispered, "if Nick weren't around, he'd have to beat me off with a stick."

As the captain refrained from sighing at that, or giving anything away since she knew that she and Keilman were the only ones aware that the lieutenant would enjoy getting to know his commanding officer better, and laughed softly to herself as she faced forward, and asked how the project was coming, Samantha looked over to Janeway and reported, "It's going well. We'll be finished on time without a problem." While Janeway nodded and said, "Glad to hear it, thank you," WIldman refrained from asking her how she was doing or anything like that, even though she looked slightly depressed and especially wore, since Samantha was worried her own personal feelings about Torres and Seven's engagement would show themselves and offend her.

While the lift stopped at the Bridge and the doors opened, Janeway stepped forward, figuring Wildman wasn't planning to step out and was just joining her for the ride up and said, over her shoulder, "Keep up the good work, Doctor...thank you for the escort."

Once Janeway was out of the lift, Wildman requested, "Deck Five," since she needed to go see the Doctor about Naomi's medical needs while she had a few moments to break, then shook her head, frowned as she looked down, saddened for Janeway even if she figured the captain wasn't at all upset, and whispered, "God, I don't know how she does it..."

As the entire senior staff stood upon the Bridge, most of them working various posts, the others just to be there for the moment, most of them worn, exhausted, frazzled, half out of uniform and dirty from all their tireless work, Captain Janeway stepped out of the starboard turbolift, her face pale, slightly smudged and thin, the circles underneath her matching her steely grey eyes. With her Elite Force suit unzipped nearly to her navel, and the grey sport bra underneath sweat-stained, her locket still twinkling under the dimmed lights, Janeway pointed directly to Operations where Harry Kim sat in the stool that pulled out from his console, everyone taking any opportunity to sit when they could. The captain ordered with authority and little pleasantness at the same moment, "Ensign, beam the Crelic and their cargo to their new home," then grabbed her zipper and pulled it up to the beginning of her bosom to cover her exposed abdomen since she'd been working alone previously, the clingy material of her uniform still molded with her body, even if she was a few kilos thinner than she was when she'd put it on, but that was mostly loss of water.

"Aye, Captain," Harry nodded, then did exactly what she asked as Janeway descended the stairs, held her hand out to Devin, informing her to stay seated in her chair, if she liked, since she didn't plan on using it.

Turned toward her Ready Room, Janeway said and she looked up and over at Seven of Nine, who'd also seen better days, and had given up on her tidy bun, so she was now donning a ponytail since she'd spent so much time crawling around inside the Jefferies Tubes, "Seven…do it."

"Activating the multi-phasic shielding matrix," the former drone reported, also still wearing her special forces uniform, which was the case for all the personnel that had one to wear since no one had got much of any sleep in the last seventy-two hours. The Borg, however, was the only one still wearing her suit completely zipped up, which gave the captain, and others, an appreciation of how very much Seven ignored and tolerated day to day without ever complaining, especially since these suit's necks were very similar to the neckline of her first, silver biosuit, which had been necessary for her first few weeks as a former Borg to keep sealed inside as much as possible to protect her healing body from infection and to keep her extra moist.

After a beat, Seven looked up and reported, although no one was smiling, even if it was a huge success for them, "It is functioning."

"Well done everyone," Janeway nodded and congratulated without emotion. Then turning to Devin, she held out her hand and merely said, "First Regal."

Devin stood at that while Chakotay did as well and went up to Operations to bump Harry aside for a moment. Coming up next to Kathryn, who's hands were on her narrow hips, both of them now turned toward the viewer that showed the Fynth's vessel, named after her late daughter, the first placed her hands behind her back, and stood tall in her crisp white uniform since she'd merely been on the Bridge during this time to let Janeway and Chakotay do the labor and to help acclimate herself with the systems since Kathryn would undoubtedly continue to work more as a drone, than a captain typically did with the Slipstream Project, and that meant she needed someone to fill her shoes upstairs. After a silent prayer, she ordered, not wasting any time, "Chakotay, initiate the transport." Devin then watched intently as the seconds ticked down, and when the explosion finally occurred, she took a quick breath, which Kathryn mimicked, although the redhead exhaled instead, then ordered over her shoulder, "Scan the debris field for salvageable technology."

"It's clean," Chakotay reported, then stepped away from Operations and moved down the steps to be near Devin, certain her heart was wrenching inside.

"Captain," Seven of Nine said quickly, yelling, unable to help herself since she was truly terrified, "I'm detecting a transwarp conduit opening off our starboard bow!"

"Tom, back us off!" Janeway barked quickly, coming down to the helm. As Three Tactical Cubes loomed onto the scene directly in front of them, Kathryn patted the helmsman's back, who'd acted quickly and got them out of the way and said, firm, "Just keep going. Everyone relax. Let's see what they do. Seven…"

"They are scanning the entire area…including our coordinates," Seven reported. When Janeway snapped her head back at her after hearing that, the blonde looked up, cocked her eyebrow as she informed, "We have not been detected."

Turning back front and smirking as well as she narrowed her eyes some at the Cubes, the captain asked, "The Crelic?"

"It seems they are unworthy of assimilation," the Borg answered, her fear abating quickly as the logical part of her psyche took over, while the Cubes took off in another direction and quickly went through a transwarp conduit. "The Borg have ignored them as we suspected."

As everyone but her breathed a huge sigh of relief, Janeway patted Tom's back, and ordered, "Well done, Mister Paris…set us on course for the planet…Warp Eight." Then turning around, she climbed the steps onto the command deck and said, "Stand down red alert and Security teams, but keep a close eye out for any sign of Borg activity. They might not know where we are, but it's possible we could learn a thing or two if we can watch without being seen. Seven, any idea where they were headed?"

"No, Captain…we were not in a position to scan appropriately without being detected."

Nodding, Kathryn looked around, touching Devin's shoulder and gave it a small squeeze in commiseration, then said to everyone, "Excellent work as usual everyone. Stay on duty until your regular shifts are up and then get some rest. Seven, Chief," she pointed to the blonde, then over to the brunette, who was at the Engineering station, most of her wavy lengthening hair still in her ponytail, her suit off her upper body completely and hanging down, but she continued to wear her metal sash around her mostly bare upper torso that was covered in a standard sports bra, "get to work on that Borg transporter and see what you can do with it. We won't start the work for the Slipstream Drive until we've reached our destination…so you've got a couple of days." As they nodded and turned, Kathryn saw her tattoo clearly, then said, feeling like the crew could use some good news to talk about other than the Borg and the queen's 'chats' with Seven, and hoping if she made this effort, Torres would relax and smile, perhaps even at her, "Oh, Chief…one more thing." When Torres sighed and turned around, feeling like she was going to tear Kathryn's head off if she didn't let up on her soon, Janeway smiled modestly and said, "Congratulations…give my regards to your fiancé, the tattoo artist, huh?"

As everyone but Fowler and Samantha looked over at Seven and the chief, which caused B'Elanna to sigh, and Seven to smile, come up to her and kiss her cheek, B'Elanna took the blonde's hand as the group chuckled and snickered, and said, testy, "Shut up…Thanks, Captain," she said with modest politeness. "Come on, ace…okay," she said softer, pondering the the transporter, "here's what I'm thinking…"

"Doctor," Janeway looked over to Wildman, who was standing near where Seven of Nine had been before the Borg and the Klingon took off for the turbolift, "I had the opportunity to take a look at your work. I especially liked the recipe for Neelix's famous leola root stew and the crayon drawings on the inside of their habitat." As most everyone chuckled at that, and Wildman actually smiled, something she hadn't seen her do since she'd entered the Bridge, Kathryn said, dry, "Seems you had quite a little artist working for you…well done. I'm sure they'll appreciate your efforts."

"Thank you, Captain," Samantha nodded and smiled, then glanced over to Fowler, who was chuckling back at her, "but I can't take all the credit. The drawings were Nick's idea. She even did some of them…although," she smirked over at the brunette, "the good ones were my daughter's."

While the majority of the Bridge crew got a good laugh at the second officer's expense, who laughed right along with them and nodded, informing it was accurate, Janeway smiled and said, "Do me a favor and spend the rest of the day with her or just let her loose while you rest…the holodeck is at your disposal. I'm sure she's had her fill of television and four walls for the time being. Dismissed."

Looking over and at up at the Fynth, the redhead asked, dry, "Coffee?"

"Obliged."

While the captain handed the Bridge over to Chakotay and started for her Ready Room, which was now her official permanent quarters as well, Paris swiveled in his chair and asked, smiling, "Captain, does this mean I missed my big chance to ram the Borg?"

Barely faltering a step, Kathryn said as she stepped aside and let Devin go in first so she could answer, smirking and confident, reaching up and unfastening her now lucky locket, "We're not out of the Delta Quadrant yet, Mister Paris…"

Epilogue:

A series of hisses and clicks sounded behind her as tubes and docking ports pulled away from her body and the clamps that held her partially organic head, neck and shoulders, latched onto her skin and tugged on it to hold her brain to her completely mechanical lower half in the central throne room of Unimatrix 01. Inhaling and closing her eyes for just a moment to acclimate for the change in physical form since she'd spent the last four months out of her body, and merely as the central voice of the Collective that dwelled within the central plexus of all Borg vessels, the queen opened them again, smiled just lightly and stepped down from the primary dais. When one drone that had been waiting for her, stepped up to her, a female, then stopped and awaited instructions, the queen walked slowly behind her, running her hands smoothly across her shoulders as she passed, saying, having fun with herself, "Thank you for coming on such short notice…I know how busy you are."

Stopping in front of the drone, then smiling, she said, her face moist as her thin lips moved only slightly, but sensually, "My what a beautiful woman you've become in my image." Then hardening some, she continued, although still smooth, "I wish I could stay the same for your daughter. I'm sure you have some recollection of her…don't you," sneering, "Mama?"

When One of Three, Maturation Operator of Sphere 351, formerly Doctor Erin Hansen, turned her head toward her and answered nonverbally, affirming that, but it was merely an affirmation and there was no emotional or connection to the memory, the queen acknowledged, "Yes, I know you do. So do I, and so did," she smiled her twitching, maniacal grin while she said, "Papa…before she and her new mother destroyed him…and my yacht, and my throne room. We all remember," she raised her hands, gesturing to her kingdom, "everyone...forever."

Placing her hands behind her back and walking around slowly, the queen explained verbally, although it was inefficient, since she merely liked to hear herself talk after such a long hiatus out of body, "I didn't think so soon we'd have to part ways. You know how much I dislike letting anyone go, but your sacrifice is for the good of the many…the good of our family." Before she said anything more so that she, One of Three, wouldn't retain the knowledge she only held currently, only releasing what was necessary to command her army, the queen turned toward her and said, "But don't worry, Erin…I'd never leave you alone for long."

Then looking over to two tactical drones waiting for her, she commanded, nearly hissing, "Sever her connection and begin her reconstruction…"

fin

This concludes the series. As it stands, I have no knowledge if Ms. Cook ever posted the subsequent stories in this arc. If anyone has any information on them, please let me know, and I'll put them on the site.