Part IV

"Report," Janeway snapped as she stepped on the bridge.

Ensign Kim barely stopped himself from cringing at her tone.

"We've detected a transwarp signature," he reported.

Janeway's mind raced as she tried to remember the significance of a transwarp signature. She glanced at the back of the bridge at Seven. Borg. That was it. The borg cubes utilized transwarp coils to travel through space. Her eyes narrowed in thought. If they could get a transwarp coil then the distance between here and home wouldn't be as astronomical. They would be able to get home much faster and the sooner they returned to the alpha quadrant the sooner those she loved would be safe, she thought as her eyes rested on Seven. She turned back to the front of the ship.

"All stop, Tommy," she ordered Ensign Paris.

"Aye Captain," Tom acknowledged from the helm.

"How many?" she asked.

Ensign Kim looked startled at the question. "Uh…Sensors indicate that there was only a single cube, Captain," Harry replied.

"Chakotay, you have the bridge. Maintain position. Seven you're with me," Janeway ordered and left the bridge.

Janeway paced up and down her quarters. Seven wisely stood out of the smaller woman's pathway and waited patiently. Janeway stopped suddenly and looked at Seven.

"Tell me everything about the borg cubes," she demanded.

"I cannot," Seven declared bluntly.

"Cannot or will not," Janeway challenged.

Seven's expression softened. "Cannot. The information is too vast. You would have to be borg to digest all of the knowledge," she explained.

"I see," Janeway said continuing her pacing. Her mind was racing. There was a way to do this. She knew it. She could feel it in her bones. A single borg cube was out there with a transwarp coil, waiting for them. The solution was just out of grasp and if she worried about it long enough she knew she would be able to reach out and grab it. She froze and her eyes widened. She whirled on Seven.

"Assimilate me," she demanded.

Seven's eyes widened at Kathryn's words. "I will not," Seven snapped.

Janeway stalked over to Seven. "Yes. Don't you see? If you assimilate me I'll be able to access all of your knowledge of borg technology. "

"I will not comply," Seven repeated. "You do not know what you are asking."

Janeway half growled in frustration "Seven there is a way to take this borg cube. I know it. I just don't have enough information. I need your information to do this. Assimilation is the only way to get this information."

Seven frowned. "I have all of the information and I cannot see a way to accomplish this goal. Why do you think you would succeed where I cannot?" she asked truly puzzled.

Janeway resumed her pacing. "I would have a different view. I would be able to see things that you do not. You spent eighteen years with the borg. Much of the information you carry you take for granted. You do not look at it for weaknesses." She turned to Seven again. "Assimilate me."

Seven hesitated then shook her head. "I will not comply."

Janeway's face twisted in fury. She grabbed a book lying on the table and flung it at Seven. Seven easily ducked the projectile.

"I will not remain here while you are angry. I will be regenerating. I will return when it is complete." She walk to the door then paused and added. "If you have calmed down."

"Seven," Janeway yelled. "Don't you walk out on me." Janeway hurled a vase at the closing door.

Janeway walked into sickbay and looked around circumspectly. She relaxed when she saw no one else present. She walked into the center of the room.

"Computer activate EMH."

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," the doctor said as he materialized.

"Ah good day Captain. How may I help you?" he asked cheerfully.

Janeway walked to a biobed and sat down. "I want a cortical implant," she announced bluntly.

"I can't do that," the doctor said.

"Why not?" Janeway's voice was dangerously low.

"Well for starters, I don't have one, two, I can't make one, and three I would probably kill you trying to put it in," the sarcasm in the doctor's voice indicated he was in rare form. Janeway felt some of her anger ease as she realized the Doctor wasn't just trying to thwart her plans.

"I see." Her shoulders sagged a little. It appeared her plans for retrieving a transwarp coil would have to be shelved.

"What were you trying to do?" the doctor asked seeing the defeated expression on the captain’s face and feeling the need to please the captain.

Janeway sighed. "I need more information about borg technology. I think we can get a transwarp coil but I don't know enough to formulate a plan. I asked Seven to assimilate me but she refused."

The doctor grunted. "A good thing. If she had obeyed, what I'm sure was an order, you would have become a drone. You would have been under her control," he said.

Janeway's eyes widened at the implication of the doctor's words. "I see," she said slowly. "I guess that wouldn’t have worked." She would have to apologize to Seven, she thought. Janeway doubled over and grabbed her head as pain burned a path through it. Perhaps apologizing to Seven of Nine would be a proper start Captain. She heard Tuvok's voice ringing in her head. The doctor hurried to her side.

"Captain? What is it?"

Janeway moaned and rocked back and forth. "My head. It hurts."

The doctor pressed a hypospray to her neck. After a few moments Janeway sat up as the pain began to ease.

"Does this happen often?" the doctor asked.

Janeway shook her head. "No. Occasionally. When I remember something."

"Ah," the doctor said looking satisfied. "What did you remember this time?"

Janeway shook her head. "Nothing. I was thinking about Seven."

The doctor raised an eyebrow in question.

Janeway sighed. "I was thinking that I needed to apologize to..." she broke off. All hands. This is Captain Janeway. Apparently there have been a few rumors circulating about my personal life. I would like to set a few things straight. Number one these rumors are in no way true. Number two I am not and would not become involved with a member of my crew, but if I did I would not sneak around the ship trying to hide it. Number three the idea of me being involved with Seven of Nine is ridiculous and finally my personal life is not up for discussion.

"Oh, God," Janeway moaned. "I remember. I said some awful things." She looked up at the doctor. "I was thinking about how to apologize to her when I went to that space station." Janeway pinched the bridge of her nose. "How does the woman put up with me?" she mumbled under her breath.

The doctor opened his mouth.

Janeway shot him a glare. "Not a word doctor."

He shut it again looking disgruntled. "Very well captain. Now about your other problem. I think I can do something."

Janeway gave the doctor a sharp look.

"I can modify one of Seven's old implants and install a terminal junction to your occipital lobe," he gestured to the base of Janeway's skull. "It won't work like a cortical implant, but it will allow you to process information. You will be able to retain that information like the human you are," he said looking at the captain. "Will that suffice?"

Janeway nodded excitedly. "Yes. Let's do it."

Janeway sat up. She was in her bed she realized. She wondered for a moment if it had all been a dream. She reached under her hair to the back of her head. Her fingers felt the outline of a small star shaped implant nestled at the base of her skull. I hadn't been a dream. She looked up as Seven appeared at the bedroom door. Janeway's eyes slid away from Seven's glare.

"Are you angry?" she asked softly.

"Yes," Seven answered just as softly, but quite coolly. "You almost died. I am angry you took such a foolish risk. One that could have left me alone."

Janeway looked at Seven then and saw the fear behind the anger. "I'm sorry Seven. Please forgive me," she pleaded.

Seven hesitated. "You must promise not to do such a dangerous thing again."

Janeway nodded eagerly. "You have my word."

"Then you are forgiven."

Janeway gave a small smile of relief. "I remember," she said softly.

Seven's eyes widened slightly. "What?" she asked.

Janeway looked Seven in the eye. "I remember everything: getting lost in the Delta Quadrant, fighting the borg, getting caught by the Par Ni," Kathryn paused trying to figure out how to say what she needed to say, "telling the crew you were unsuitable," her voice broke. She was terrified of Seven's reaction. She was afraid that now that she remembered Seven would no longer be willing to put her imprudent words behinds them. She watched anxiously, waiting for a response, any response.

Seven's chest constricted. All she heard was, 'I remember everything'. This was it, she thought. Our time is over. Kathryn remembers that I am not suitable for her, that she did not, would not become involved with members of her crew. Seven felt herself begin to shake. She was not willing to make things difficult for Kathryn. Not now. She loved her too much for that, so she determined that it would be best to leave. Somehow she managed to get the words out.

"I see. Then it is time I returned to cargo bay two."

Kathryn's heart leapt into her throat. She was going to walk away.

"Seven, wait," Kathryn called desperately. "Don't leave."

Seven paused. The tilt of her head indicated she was listening but she did not turn around. She knew that she should go but Kathryn had called her name. She could not turn around. She did not want Kathryn to see the longing on her face or how she craved to hear her to ask her to stay.

Kathryn was shaking. Seven wasn't saying anything. She wouldn’t even turn around. She just stood there. How can I let this woman I love so very much just walk out of my life, Kathryn thought. The thought of being without Seven, in any way, was terrify and painful.

Kathryn took a deep breath fumbling for the right words, "I need…I want, you to stay."

"What?" Seven asked startled, sure she had misunderstood what Kathryn had said.

Kathryn swallowed. "I love you Seven. Please stay with me," she pleaded softly.

Seven felt her heart jump. She could feel the pulse in her throat. She turned then. She could not stop herself. She looked into blue-gray eyes and saw the truth there.

"I wish to stay with you, Kathryn," she acknowledged simply.

Relief flooded through Kathryn at Seven's words. In that instant, with that short utterance of a single sentence Seven turned Kathryn's world right side up again.

Kathryn reached out her hand and Seven crossed the room in long strides. She delighted in the grace of the blonde's movements. She loved to watch her and thought that she could watch her for hours. Kathryn often wondered if Seven had an inkling of how very beautiful she was. She didn't think so. Her actions, her body language was to unhindered by self-consciousness for her to know.

She pulled Seven down beside her. She wanted this woman so very much. Yet she was terrified, unsure how to begin. She had waited for this moment for so long, and now that it was here she was afraid her touch would cause it to vanish in a puff of smoke.

Seven reached out to touch her. She wanted to feel Kathryn, she want reassurance that she would not change her mind.

Kathryn grabbed Seven's hand stopping her. She didn't want to be distracted by the feel of Seven's hands on her. She reached up and found the clasp of her suit and unfastened it. She remembered where it was, how it felt, how Seven looked. The other time, when they had been so close to this point, was branded into her memory.

Perhaps she should be gentler, perhaps she should be slower, but once she touched Seven she could not stop. She pulled the suit off quickly wanting to get rid of the synthetic material obscuring her vision.

Seven felt fear jump into her throat and threaten to consume her. She wanted to run but the look in Kathryn's eyes as she unfastened the biosuit held her in place. She allowed Kathryn to pull the suit down and off. She lay still as Kathryn looked at her.

Kathryn swallowed hard as Seven lay naked before her, stretched out on her bed like a gift from the gods. She couldn't speak. Her fear returned, overlaid with a sense of awe. Not human, not borg, but an incredibly erotic combination of the two.

Seven knew that she was not fully human, that the implants from the borg marred her body, but until now it had been irrelevant. It was simply how things were. But now, with Kathryn's eyes on her, she wanted to be human. She wanted Kathryn to find her appealing. Finally she could not stand it any longer. She could not stand the intense focus on her body and she pulled at the blanket, wanting to have something to protect her from Kathryn's eyes.

Kathryn saw the uncertainty in Seven's eyes. She reached out quickly.

"No," Kathryn said. "I want to look at you."

Seven stopped at the commanding but soft request. It was not a tone she had ever heard Kathryn use before. Seven commanded her body to be still, to stop its trembling. Kathryn was going to force her to wait for her inspection and her subsequent rejection. In that moment she was more afraid than she could ever remember feeling before. More afraid than of species 8472, more afraid than when she had returned to the borg queen, more afraid than…Kathryn reached out and touched her face and the fear fled. Seven turned her face into the caress. Her heart sped up and the fear was replaced with anticipation.

Seven's skin was soft. Softer than Kathryn remembered. Seven licked her lips nervously drawing Kathryn's attention to them. Kathryn moaned as she felt the lips so soft beneath her own. She knew that irrevocably now that they would not be separated. How could they be. She could feel Seven's heart beating beneath her chest. It was beating strong and hard and just as rapidly as her own. She slid her hand down Seven's chest to her heart and lay for a moment just feeling it flutter against her hand.

Seven's heart skipped a beat as Kathryn shifted, sliding a leg between her thighs. She hissed as Kathryn's hand curled around her breast.

Oh yes. She likes this. Kathryn thought looking up at Seven's face. She loosened her grip and slowly traced Seven's breast with her fingertips. It was smooth and pale tipped by a surprisingly dark areola.

Kathryn tried to remember what the book she had read earlier had said about this part, but her mind was frozen. She was locked onto the sensation of Seven's skin beneath her hand. She had never really understood her past lovers’ obsession with breasts, but holding Seven in her hand now, like this, she understood very well. She brought her other hand up, needing desperately to touch the other breast as well.

Seven arched wanting, needing, Kathryn's touch. She thought for a moment that she felt Kathryn's hands tremble, but she lost the thought in the sensations her lover's hands were creating. She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side. She let out a low moan as Kathryn kissed her softly on the neck just below the ear. The nip of teeth and softness of tongue created fires in Seven. She reached and grabbed Kathryn's hips pulling her closer. Kathryn bit down, hard, and Seven adored it. She tilted her head back, exposing her neck.

Kathryn bit harder, unable to stop herself, unable to control the waves of desire consuming her. She felt Seven's hands in her hair and raised up to look at her. Seven's blue eyes were dark pools, Kathryn knew in that instant that she wasn't alone in the depths of her desire.

Seven pulled her forward and kissed her softly. She could feel Kathryn shaking in the effort of trying to control herself.

Kathryn fought the desire to take her then and there, to have Seven’s body surrender completely to her. She wanted this moment to last for as long as it could.

Seven could feel tremors run through her body. The kiss deepened and their tongues danced. Exploring. Tasting. Learning. Knowing. Kathryn's hands returned to exploring Seven’s body. She couldn’t not touch her. Her fingers trailed down Seven's sides encountering flesh, then metal, then, flesh, as she explored the extent of the implants.

Seven shivered slightly at the unexpected sensation. She watched as Kathryn pulled back to look in her face. Kathryn ran her fingers along the edge of the implant again. Seven whimpered and squirmed to get way. It was both pleasant and unpleasant. She was not sure how that could be, but she knew that that was what she was experiencing. Kathryn raised an eyebrow then experimentally turned her hand and scratched lightly with her nails, once again along the area of flesh and metal, trying to determine Seven's reaction. Seven let out a half-laugh confirming Kathryn's suspicions. She grinned as Seven twitched uncontrollably.

"You are ticklish," she said in delight. She immediately attacked with both hands, eager to see if she could get that brief laugh to last longer. She succeeded.

Seven opened her eyes and she laughed as she tried to escape Kathryn’s attack.

"Kathryn," Seven half pleaded.

Kathryn laughed and took mercy as she moved her hands lower. She slid her hands away from the sensitive ribs and grasped Seven's hips as she slowly kissed her way between the bands and across the ribs. She traced circles on Seven’s stomach, making each one smaller than the one before until she slowly encircled Seven’s belly button. The moan and slight arch of Seven’s hips told Kathryn that she definitely wasn't ticklish there. Kathryn slid lower.

Seven was not sure which was more torturous, the tickling sensation on her ribs or the intense pleasure of Kathryn's tongue stroking the soft skin at the juncture of her thighs.

A drop of moisture rolled off of Kathryn's face and landed on Seven's stomach. Kathryn realized she was sweating. Suddenly her clothes were too tight and restrictive. She quickly stood and pulled her shirt over her head and then reached to push her pants over her hips.

Seven pushed up on the bed and watched unable to take her eyes off of the exquisite woman before her. The blonde's eyes gleamed with each section of newly exposed flesh. Seven took a sharp breath of anticipation, never before had she seen anything this beautiful, not even while watching Omega stabilize.

Kathryn glanced up and the look in Seven’s eyes made her wish she had taken more time. Next time, she promised herself as she quickly finished stripping. Kathryn's eyes danced as she returned to the bed slowly crawling up Seven's body like a predator ready to pounce forcing Seven to lay back. Seven’s hair had come loose and sprawled wildly across the pillow. Kathryn reached down to touch it. It had a life of its own as it tangled around her fingers.

Seven shivered in anticipation. For an eternity, Kathryn hung above her before lowering her body onto Seven's. Kathryn closed her eyes and tried to still the trembling in her body. She had wanted this for so long. She rubbed herself along the length of Seven, reveling in the silky skin beneath her. She sought out the full lips wanting to taste Seven again.

Seven watched mesmerized as Kathryn slowly pulled her closer. She leaned into Kathryn’s kiss.

Seven opened her mouth at the touch of Kathryn's tongue and she knew she was lost. She knew from this moment on she was Kathryn's.

Kathryn moaned when she felt Seven's surrender and deepened the kiss. She tightened her grip on Seven's hair pulling her closer. Kathryn collapsed as her shaking limbs refused to support her any longer. The feel of Seven's breasts pressed against hers, the thrust of her hips, the strength of her legs wrapped around Kathryn's, the hands pulling her closer, these were Kathryn's undoing. Seven’s body beneath hers, Seven’s lips opening allowing Kathryn to possess her mouth ripped the last vestiges of control the captain had left. She broke off the kiss gasping in shock at the strength of her desire.

Seven slid her hand behind Kathryn's neck and pulled her back. She hissed as Kathryn's hand closed over her breast and her eyes shut as the sensation overwhelmed her.

Kathryn pulled Seven to her, hard. She felt Seven give up the last restraints of control. She could no longer wait and her hand slid between Seven’s legs. Mine. Kathryn thought.

She had thought she was incapable of feeling this need for Seven with any greater intensity but she was wrong. The warmth of Seven as she slid inside was inconceivable. Kathryn thrust back and up, trying to reach all of Seven.

Seven arched against Kathryn's hand. Her head was thrown back and she uttered an animal like cry. Her eyes were closed and her lips parted. Her face glistened with perspiration. Kathryn moved her fingers, delighted and more than a little smug, that this normally impassive woman was crying out in ecstasy because of her. She moved her hand in rhythm with Seven's hips and locked her lips around her breast.

Seven felt as if she were drowning. She reached for something to hold onto and caught Kathryn's arms in a viselike grip.

Kathryn knew that she would have bruises to show. But that was no matter, nothing mattered except the rising wave that she was creating in this woman, her love. When the wave crested, she felt Seven clinch her fingers even tighter pulling her deeper inside. She wrapped her other arm around Seven's waist pulling her closer, holding her as she cried out. Kathryn rocked slowly coaxing it to last as long as possible until Seven finally lay back with a sigh.

Neither spoke as their hearts slowed and their breathing returned to normal.

"Kathryn," Seven called softly.

Kathryn lifted her head from Seven's chest.

Seven reached and pulled her up. Slowly Kathryn slid her hand from Seven. Not surprisingly her fingers were numb. She held them up looking at them as she flexed them attempting to get the blood circulating. They shone with Seven's wetness and smelled of Seven's scent.

Seven watched as Kathryn glanced down at her then teasingly reached out and ran her tongue up one finger and down the other side. Kathryn closed her eyes as the taste of Seven sent new waves of desire through her.

"Kathryn," Seven called in a voice hoarse and more emotion laden that Kathryn had ever heard before.

Kathryn opened her eyes and Seven's face was before hers, looking her in the eyes. Seven grabbed Kathryn, pulling her close in a crushing kiss before pushing her back against the bed.

Kathryn closed her eyes at the sensations rushing through her. She had never felt such passion with her past lovers. She wondered briefly if it was an effect of the damage to the emotion centers in her brain. If so she thanked the powers that be for it. Then all thought fled as Seven's touch on her skin intensified.

Kathryn snuggled against Seven. She reached up fingering the implant and looked at Seven.

"Will it work?" she asked.

Seven nodded "Yes."

"How?"

Seven gently lifted the hair off of Kathryn's neck. She raised her left hand then stopped. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked.

Kathryn nodded unable to speak. She was afraid but excited as well. She was close now. So very close. At Kathryn's nod Seven extended her tubules and connected to the terminal. Janeway felt the rush of energy course through her body. Starbursts exploded behind her closed eyelids. For a moment her mind spun as a dizzying amount of information exploded into her mind. Then suddenly it cleared and she could see it. All the information was there waiting for her to take it. She didn't realize that Seven was straining to control the flood of information coursing to her lover. She simply reached out to what was before her and began to learn.

Seven trembles as she fought to keep the flow of information under control. She could feel herself tiring and she redoubled her efforts. Try as she might, however, she faltered. Kathryn felt the falter and instinctively she reached out in support. Seven gasped as she felt Kathryn’s mind touch her own. For the first time since she had been severed from the collective she was not alone. She opened her eyes.

Kathryn’s eyes flew open as her thoughts mingled with Seven's. She had been in a Vulcan mind meld before but it wasn’t like this. She became Annika Hansen. She remembered her sixth birthday. She remembered being assimilated. She remembered being severed from the collective. She knew what it was like to suddenly be completely alone and afraid without anyone or anything familiar.

Seven remembered her father’s death and Justin’s. She remembered her days at the academy. She felt the despair of stranding her ship in the delta quadrant. She was Kathryn Janeway. Her eyes widened as she felt and knew in that instant the depth of Kathryn’s love for her. The connection broke and Kathryn sagged against Seven. Seven wrapped her arms tightly around the smaller woman.

Kathryn reached up and softly caressed Seven's cheek. She looked up and met Seven's gaze. The deep blue eyes were full of wonder, just as she was sure hers did. She turned in Seven's embrace and slowly lowered her mouth to Seven's. As they made love she could almost feel what Seven felt. She could almost hear what Seven thought. She wondered what this kind of connection would mean for the two of them.

The sound of the door chime roused Seven from a deep sleep. She glanced at the exhausted form of Kathryn lying next to her. She slid off the bed and wrapped a robe around her belting it on her way out of the bedroom. She carefully closed the bedroom door then called out, "Enter."

Commander Chakotay stepped inside. He paused a moment at the sight of Seven in such casual attire. He quickly regained his composure however.

"I'm sorry to disturb you Seven. I just wanted to check on the captain," he said explaining his presence.

"Kathryn is asleep," Seven stated roughly.

Chakotay was taken aback by Seven's protective tone.

"I'm awake," Kathryn said from the bedroom door. She crossed the room and curled up on the couch.

Chakotay looked from one to the other. He could sense some tension but he wasn't sure of the cause.

"I was just stopping by to check on you Captain. I was informed earlier that you were in sickbay…" he trailed off as the captain flushed deeply.

"Yes well…" Kathryn looked away refusing to meet Chakotay's eyes.

"The captain took an unwise course of action," Seven stated.

"Seven," Kathryn exclaimed. "We've already discussed this."

"Yes, we have, but this affects Voyager and the rest of the crew as well, not just us," Seven said pointedly looking at the commander.

Chakotay stepped forward frowning. "Is there something I should know Captain?" he asked impatiently.

"No," Kathryn said glaring at the commander.

Chakotay held her gaze resolutely. Finally, Kathryn looked away.

Slowly she reached up and pulled the hair away from her neck. Chakotay leaned forward and looked. He straightened up suddenly as he realized what he was seeing. He looked at Seven.

"It is a terminal junction used to process information," Seven told him. "Kathryn wanted a cortical implant, but luckily we did not have one available. Installation of the junction nearly cost Kathryn her life as it is," Seven said.

"I can't believe the doctor did this," Chakotay said angrily.

Seven looked pointedly at Kathryn.

"Chakotay," Kathryn said softly. "I'm afraid that I reprogrammed the doctor so he would do whatever I asked," she admitted.

Chakotay looked up at Kathryn in surprise. "You what?" he asked very softy.

Kathryn looked away. "I reprogrammed him. He was going to relive me from command and I reprogrammed him," she said. She sat waiting quietly, head bowed, for her first officer's reaction. She knew with this information he had every right to demand that she turn her command over to him.

Chakotay paced silently for several moments thinking about what the captain had just told him.

He stopped and gestured towards the back of Janeway's head. "What are the effects of this?" he asked.

"Well," Janeway said, "I have my memory back."

Chakotay's eyebrows shot up.

"And," she continued, "I have all of Seven's knowledge of the borg cube." Janeway gave Chakotay a long look. "I think there's a way to get a transwarp coil," she said softly.

A range of emotions crossed the commander's face as he thought about what the captain said, then his face cleared as he came to a decision.

"All right," he said pulling up a chair from the table. "Let’s see what we can do," he announced.

The three worked into the night hammering out the details.

Janeway walked into the ready room with Seven on her heels. Her staff was already assembled.

"Good afternoon," she said cheerfully taking her seat at the head of the table. Several of the staff raised their eyebrows in surprise. Apparently their belief that their captain was suffering a depression was incorrect. Janeway sat back and looked around the room. She knew what she was about to say would not go over well. She only hoped she could convince her command staff that what was about to happen would work.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she began. "I believe there is a way for us to get home."

She raised her hand at the disbelief and questions. "Please let me finish." She waited until it was quiet once more glancing briefly at Seven who nodded her support. "As I was saying, I believe I have a way for us to get home. The method however is less than conventional. What I propose is that we steal a transwarp coil for ourselves."

"Captain," B'Elanna broke in "We've tried that. Any cube we can get access to does not have a functioning transwarp coil."

Janeway nodded. "I don't plan on getting it from a damaged cube. I plan on getting it from a fully functioning one." Janeway looked around as her statement was met with dead silence.

"We are going to lure the borg cube to our location. Once here Seven and I will beam over to the cube and disable the drones. Once that is done we will send for an engineering team to beam over. Remove the device and then get out of here," She related calmly.

"If I may Captain?" Tuvok asked to be acknowledged.

Janeway nodded "Lt. Tuvok," she said.

Tuvok raised an eyebrow. He had almost become used to being addressed as Ensign Tuvok. Perhaps the captain's memory was returning.

"How do you intend to lure a borg cube to our location?" he asked.

Chakotay sat up. "If I may Captain?" he asked.

Janeway nodded.

"We will send out a distress signal masked as a disabled borg cube. The cube we read on sensors should be close enough to respond," Chakotay explained.

"There's no way to make Voyager look like a borg cube," B’Elanna exclaimed.

Seven gave B'Elanna a haughty stare. "We already have," she said.

At Seven's words the meeting erupted into chaos. Janeway slammed her fist onto the table. The room went silent.

"That is enough," she gritted through her teeth. "It is done. We won't have much time. Certainly not enough time for argument. The borg cube should be on its way by now." She looked around the room to be certain she had everyone's attention. Satisfied she went on, "This is what we are going to do...."

"Long range sensors are picking up a transwarp signature," Harry Kim stated calmly from the ops station. The bridge remained eerily silent as Ensign Kim carefully watched his COM.

"Sensors detect a borg vessel," he reported several minutes later.

"On screen," Captain Janeway commanded.

The vessel appeared on the forward screen. Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up at the sight of the imposing cube. He quickly replayed the plans over in his head. It was risky. If anything went wrong they could all end up assimilated. But if it worked they could be home very soon. Butterflies churned in his stomach he wondered if was at the prospect of facing the borg or excitement at the thought of getting home. Janeway shot a look at Tuvok.

"Are they in range?"

Tuvok nodded. "Yes Captain."

"Very well. Chakotay you have the bridge." She tapped her COM badge. "Seven report to the transporter room," she called on her way out the door.

"Acknowledged Captain," Seven’s voice came across the COM.

Captain Janeway looked around as she materialized on the cube trying to quickly get her bearings. The drones wouldn't bother her and Seven. They would register as borg. Voyager, however, didn't have that luxury. They would have to hurry before the borg realized that there wasn't a disabled cube out there, but a federation ship that was entirely too enticing to be ignored by the borg cube. She motioned to Seven and they hurried through the maze of corridors.

"Here Kathryn," Seven called out.

Kathryn hurried over to the terminal Seven indicated. She nodded.

"Let's do it," she said, reaching into her pocket and uncoiling a transfer cable. Seven extended her arm and borg tubules erupted and made contact with the borg terminal. Janeway snorted wryly as she attached the cable to the back of her head and placed the coupling on the terminal surface.
 

"This would be a lot easier if I could do that," she said gesturing to Seven's tubules.

"Indeed," Seven replied, "However, I believe the method of obtaining such equipment would be unpleasant."

Janeway laughed. "Indeed," she said with a chuckle.

"They're in," Ensign Kim called from the operations station. Chakotay nodded in acknowledgement. He tapped his combadge.

"Bridge to Lt. Tuvok. The borg are disabled. Engineering team is clear to transport," he called.

"Acknowledged, commander. Transporting now," Tuvok replied calmly.

The engineering team materialized on the borg cube. B'Elanna looked around quickly. The borg drones were everywhere, slumped on the deck. They might not be moving but they still gave her the willies. She turned to her team.
 

"This way," she commanded as she headed down a corridor remembering the briefing Seven had given her about locating the transwarp coil.

Seven and Janeway hurried though the ship to rendezvous with the engineering team. They rounded the corner to a string of Klingon curses.

"Report," Janeway's voice cut across the hum of activity. B'Elanna hurried over to the captain.

"Captain, they have internal security protocols on the release couplings. We have to decrypt each one before we can get it off. We have six to go," the engineer got out breathlessly.

Janeway looked at the counting numbers on her chronometer. "We're almost out of time. How much longer lieutenant?" she asked.

B'Elanna quickly ran the figures in her head. "At least ten minutes captain," she said.

"That is too long," Seven interjected. "The drones with begin to recover in two minutes," she said. Seven turned to the captain. "I can control the drones in the immediate area for a brief time. You will need to help with the encryptions," she stated baldly.

Janeway gave Seven a long look, making sure she understood what Seven was implying. She nodded abruptly. Seven turned and connected to a terminal. Janeway hit her COM.

"Janeway to Voyager," she said.

"Voyager here captain," Chakotay's voice came across the COM.

"Commander, I want you to beam out everyone except Seven, B'Elanna, and myself."

"Captain?"

"Just do it commander," Janeway snapped.

"Aye, Captain."

The engineering team dematerialized.

"Captain, what's going on?" B'Elanna started.

Janeway grabbed B'Elanna's arm and pulled her towards the coil.

"No time Lieutenant. I'm going to disable the security encryptions. Starting with this one," she pointed, "And moving clockwise. I need you to release the couplings as I do."

B'Elanna nodded, "Aye captain," she said and turned to the first coupling.

"Ready captain," Lt. Torres called out once she was in position.

Janeway was already connected to the terminal. Her mind reaching out to the encryption codes. Somewhere in the background of the borg she heard Seven's mind, reaching out, directing the drones and somehow sending encouragement to her. Janeway turned her mind back to the problem at hand.

Receiving no answer, B'Elanna shot a glance over her shoulder. Her eyes widen and she froze in shock at the sight of Janeway connected to the borg computer. Janeway's eyes were glazed and her face had taken on the impassive countenance of the borg. Then her eyes flickered. She looked over and saw B'Elanna staring in horror. Her eyes went dead again as her mind returned to the borg terminal.

"Get moving lieutenant," Janeway's voice came across the borg COM.

Startled, B'Elanna turned back to the coupling. The encryptions had been unlocked. Quickly she removed the coupling and moved to the next one. Her mind was working feverishly. Somehow the captain had borg implants. The implications threatened to overwhelm her. Determinedly she pushed the thoughts aside and moved to the next coupling. Just three more and they would be out of the cube. Then she would think about it. She gritted her teeth and ignored the itch to look over her shoulder at the captain.

"Last one captain," B'Elanna choked out as she released the coupling. She turned and saw the captain was still connected to the terminal. B'Elanna wondered if she had even heard. Seven appeared from around the corner.

"The transwarp coil is released. We must leave now," Seven stated strain in her voice. She froze at the sight of the captain. B'Elanna turned to Seven.

"She won't disconnected," she said looking worriedly at Seven.

"She cannot," Seven replied calmly though she felt anything but calm. She slapped her combadge.
 

"Seven to Voyager. We have the transwarp coil. Beam the captain and myself directly to sickbay," Seven commanded as she reached up and jerked the transfer cable from the captain’s head. The last sight B'Elanna saw as the transporter activated was Seven holding the captains convulsing body.

Janeway woke slowly. Her head was pounding. She opened her eyes. She was in her bedroom, she realized. She turned her head carefully. She must have made a sound because Seven appeared at the door, worry etched on her face.

"This seems to be coming a habit," she said weakly.

Seven smiled slightly, "A habit we should try and break," she agreed.

"The transwarp coil?" Janeway questioned.

"We were successful," Seven told Kathryn. "Lt. Torres and I have been adapting the borg technology to Voyager. It will take us several weeks to complete."

Janeway tried to push herself up. Seven hurried over and helped her.

"How long?" Janeway asked.

Seven understood the question. "You have been unconscious for four days, eight hours and sixteen minutes," she stated precisely.

"Then I should get up," Janeway stated.

"Commander Chakotay has the bridge," Seven said pushing Kathryn back on the bed. "There is no reason for you to get up today."

Kathryn allowed Seven to put her back to bed. Secretly she was glad. She wanted nothing more than to roll over and go back to sleep, which she did.