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Don't Fear the Reaper
Chapters Nine and Ten
Chapter Nine
Janeway, Chakotay, and the two Betazoids beamed aboard Voyager. Their shimmering figures began to transpire onto the transporter pad.
Once they had fully transpired Janeway stepped down off the pad and turned to greet Mriana and her daughter.
"I finally get to meet one of the notorious counsellors in Starfleet." Janeway greeted. "Nice to meet you Counsellor Troi-LaForge."
Mriana watched her lips move and understood part of what she had said. Mriana finally replied. Her voice control had not quite caught up with the safer situation and was still a little distorted. "I'm sorry. I'm deaf and didn't catch everything you said, but it's nice to meet you also."
She understood some of it, Janeway thought. "Chakotay, see if the doctor is able to access the data banks on sign language. Hopefully, he can interpret for us."
"Yes, ma'am. Oh, if you don't mind, may I?" Chakotay asked.
Janeway comprehended that Chakotay wanted to try and speak to Mriana. "Good luck."
Chakotay signed, "You me eat."
Mriana laughed.
Chakotay looked confused.
"When did you learn sign?" Janeway asked.
"Apparently I didn't." Chakotay said still perplexed. "That wasn't suppose to be funny."
Mriana spoke aloud. "I think you mean." She then added sign to her words. "Us together eat?"
Chakotay nodded and said, "Um, yes. I did, but I only offered because I didn't know if you have had any real food since."
Chakotay stopped. He realized that she was forced to read his lips since he stopped trying to sign. He remembered she had already admitted that her lipreading, apparently, was not too good.
"I'll go get the doctor." Chakotay finally gave up trying. He did not want to err again in what he wanted to say to her in sign.
"It was a nice try, Chakotay." Janeway compliment.
"Yes, so much for what little I've learned." He replied as he left.
Janeway gestured for the two deaf Betazoids to come with her. "Come on. I'll show you to your quarters and you can get something to eat there if you like."
Mriana sensed that Janeway wanted them to come with her. So she and her daughter followed her out of the transporter room.
"Mama." Lydia signed once they were on a turbolift. "These people good?"
"Yes." Mriana nodded with a smile.
"Their clothes Starfleet. Like Uncle's and Daddy's." Lydia signed again.
"Yes. They Starfleet. Like your uncle and daddy." Mriana smiled at her daughter as she signed back to her.
"Us safe, now?"
Janeway watched the silent communication between mother and daughter. She found it fascinating how they talked back and forth, but she wondered why Mriana was not talking telepathically to her. Then thought it could be for several reasons. One being that her daughter was not old enough to be telepathic. Another being that her daughter was only one-forth Betazoid and may not be able to hear her mother thoughts.
The turbo lift stopped and Janeway turned her thoughts to the matter at hand.
Mriana nodded a yes to her daughter with a big smile as they followed Janeway off the turbolift.
"Ah!" Janeway smiled. "These are you quarters until we get you two back to the Titan."
Janeway walked into the quarters. Then she walked over to the replicators. This time before she began to speak she looked towards Mriana to make sure she was looking at her. Then Janeway, feeling slightly uncomfortable, gestured towards the replicator.
"This is the replicator." She said. "If you need anything, I'm sure you know how to work it."
She felt very awkward. She had no idea how to communicate with Mriana. Voyager was not equipped with any adaptive devices, nor did any of the crew sign. "This is going to be very interesting." Janeway said to no one in particular.
"I sense you are uncomfortable." Mriana stated aloud. "I usually have a padd or an interpreter to facilitate communication, but given the circumstance."
"I understand." Janeway said as she looked directly at Mriana. "We're working on remeding that as soon as we can."
The chime to the quarters rang. Mriana nor Lydia heard it. So Janeway took the initiative.
"Come in." She said.
Mriana sensed Chakotay's presence again as well as noticed Janeway's eyes diverting. She turned towards the direction Janeway was looking and noticed he had a companion that she did not sense. The companion wore something around his arm, as well as Starfleet medical clothing.
"I have facilitated the data banks and downloaded Federation Sign Language to my programming." The EMH stated aloud and signed.
"Wait." Mriana said with confussion. "Downloaded?"
"I'm sorry. I'm an EMH." He said and signed.
"An EMH, but." Then she remembered something she read about the EMH on Voyager. "Oh."
"I wear an emitter so that I can leave Sickbay when I need to or go anywhere else I need to go."
"I've heard."
"Excuse me." Janeway said to the doctor. "Can you take care of it from here?"
"I believe so." He replied.
"Help get her and her daughter settled and I'll let you know when we come in contact with the Titan." Janeway said. "I'd like for her to be on the Bridge with us when we speak to them."
"Yes, ma'am." The doctor replied.
"We'll be on the Bridge if you need us." Janeway stated referring to her and Chakotay.
"Understood." The doctor replied.
Janeway and Chakotay left the two of them and returned to the Bridge. As they left, the doctor conversed with Mriana and Lydia in sign language.
"I've always wondered how she managed aboard a Starship." Janeway said on the way out the door to Chakotay.
"It's my understanding that under usual circumstances, she has adaptations to assisted her and an interpreter." Chakotay stated.
"I still don't understand how she manages."
"Rivas has been very successful as a peace negotiator." Chakotay reminded her. "I don't think it's completely impossible for her either."
Janeway nodded as they walked down the corridor. "I guess we can learn something from this situation. Too bad we won't get to spend much time with her."
"Very true."
It was not too long afterwards, Janeway and Chakotay had arrived on the Bridge that they had finally made contact with the Titan.
"Have you manage to modify the nanoprobes and add them to the torpedos?" Janeway asked.
"As a matter of fact, Geordi has just finished the modification and our impulse engines are back online." Will informed them. "We hope to have the Warp drive going soon."
"Very good. I'm afraid we will need them before this is over." Janeway stated. Just as she had said that, the doctor entered with their guests. "By the way, we have manage to recover two of your people from Species 8472. It seems Boothby, or at least the facsimile, still has a heart. Unlike some of the other 8472's."
Will's expression changed. "That's good to hear."
"I think Captain LaForge will be very glad to see them." Janeway said with a smile. "And, if I'm correct, so would Counsellor Troi-Riker."
Will's expression turned to a big smile as he saw Mriana and Lydia come into view. "I'm sure they will."
Deanna entered the Bridge and was walking down the ramp. "Mriana!"
"Yes, I'm fine for what I've been through."
Mriana sensed Deanna and Will's relief.
Suddenly, Voyager, the Titan and the Enterprise were being attacked. "We maybe needing those modified torpedos sooner than later." Janeway stated. "Have them ready and fire on my command. View screen off, but maintain contact with the Titan and the Enterprise."
"Mama!" Lydia screamed into Mriana's mind.
"It will be alright."
Voyager shook with each attack.
Janeway knew full well, that Species 8472 could blow them out of space in an instant. These attacks were either to scare them or threaten them. She did not care which it was, she wanted to end this now.
"Load torpedos!" She ordered.
"Torpedos loaded!" Tuvok replied.
"Fire!"
The Titan and the Enterprise fired almost simultaneously. Together the three ships destroyed two of the Ten Bioships that belonged to Species 8472 and disabled a third one. The other seven continued their attack.
The three Federation ships fired another round of torpedos and took out three more Bioships. At the same time a damaged Borg ship drifted into view and joined the battle.
It was not long until Species 8472 was down to two ships. The last two retreated.
Janeway noted the direction they were headed and recognized it was in the direction they had left the training grounds.
"Shall we follow them?" Paris asked.
"No." Janeway replied. "I have an idea where to find them."
Suddenly, the Borg was heard on all three Federation ships. *We are the Borg. We need Locotus of Borg and Seven of Nine.*
"Good. Now maybe we can get some answers." Janeway said aloud. "Doctor, I think our guests will be more comfortable in their quarters, especially our younger guest."
"Yes ma'am."
"Explain to them that we will beam them back to the Titan as soon as we possibly can."
"I will."
"This is Admiral Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager."
"We are the Borg." They restated. "We wish to speak with Locotus of Borg and Seven of Nine."
Janeway started to reply, but Admiral Picard cut into the conversation from the Titan. "This is Locotus of Borg. Please state the purpose of this communacation."
"We are the Borg." The Borg repeated. "We need you to assist us in fighting Species 8472. You have the technology."
"We thought you had the ability to fight Species 8472 since Voyager assisted you last." Admiral Picard stated.
"They have adapted." The Borg replied. "We can not fight them alone. We need Seven of Nine to assist us in adapting also."
"We do not understand." Picard replied.
"You have the technology to defeat Species 8472." The Borg replied. "If need be, we will assimulate you and add your technology to ours."
"Like hell you will!" Janeway said. "Same deal on our part as before. Only this time, you leave the Alpha quadrant if we assist you."
"You will be assimulated."
"No deal then!" Janeway exclaimed. "If you try to assimulate us, we will allow Species 8472 to destroy all of you."
"If you try to assimulate us, we will not assist you." Picard stated.
There was a brief pause. Then the Borg finally replied. "Seven of Nine and Locutus of Borg. Do you agree to assist us?"
Janeway signalled to cut the sound on the transmission. "Seven, tell them we will only if they agree not to attempt to assimulate us."
"They will not comply."
"They will if they want to live." Janeway replied. "And I'm betting they do not want Species 8472 to destroy all of them."
"I will comply." Seven informed Janeway.
Janeway signalled for the sound to be turned on again.
"This is Seven of Nine. We will assist you on our terms. You agree not to assimulate us and we will assist you. Afterwards, you return to the Delta Quadrant."
"This is unacceptable. You will be assimulated. Your technology will be added to ours."
"This is Locotus of Borg." Picard stated again. "Comply with our terms or we will consider it an act of aggression and allow Species 8472 to continue their attacks on you. We will not comply with your terms."
"We are the Borg. Resistance is futile."
"Resistance is not futile." Picard stated. "Species 8472 has resisted you and so will we."
"Irrelevant."
"If it is irrelevant than Species 8472 can destroy you. Locutus out."
"We are the Borg. Resist." Picard had the transmission cut before the rest of the sentence was said again.
"Seven of Nine will not comply." Seven stated. Then Janeway also ended the transmission.
"Janeway to Picard."
*Picard here.*
"I'd like to have the captains available on the Titan and the captain of the Enterprise meet with us in my conference room. Say in about five minutes?"
*Agreed.*
"Good. I'll be expecting all of you in five minutes. Janeway out."
"Admiral." Chakotay began. "Would you like Tuvok and myself to attend as well."
"I need one of you to stay on the Bridge." She replied. "Tuvok, you think you can manage Species 8472 and the Borg?"
"Logically, such a task would be insurmountable." Tuvok began. "But I believe I am capable of handling the situation."
"Very well. Chakotay, you're with me."
"Yes, ma'am."
The two of them left the Bridge for the conference room.
Meanwhile, on the Titan, Captain Riker was assembling his away team. "LaForge, I'd like you to attend this meeting."
"Sir, I really."
"It will be worth your while to attend." Will interrupted. "Voyager can fill you in on what is needed to help defeat Species 8472. Afterwards, we'll be bring two people back with us."
"Sir, I'm not really up to this. Besides I have the warp drive to get back online."
"Geordi, I wanted to surprise you, but I guess the only way I'm going to get you to join us is to tell you. Voyager has rescued your wife and daughter."
Geordi's heart danced, but he tried to contained his emotions. "This is great news!"
"So, you'll attend and get anymore information that can help in this matter?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Geordi, you're also a captain." Will reminded him with a smile. "You know you can call me Will."
Will realized Geordi was relieved and over joyed to hear his family was going to be whole again. Yet at the same time, he needed Geordi's assistance.
"I know. It's just that."
"You're overjoyed to hear the news about your family."
"Yes."
"That's another reason the Admiral and I want you involved in this meeting." Will replied. "You will be reunited with them just as soon as the meeting is finished if not before. Mriana may have information that could be helpful given the fact that she was a hostage."
"True. Who is going to manage the Bridge?" Geordi asked.
"Worf, will. He is very skilled at tactical and if the Borg or Species 8472 attack again, he will know what to do."
"Musical captains." Geordi said.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing." Geordi replied. "I just can't remember when so many captains were in one place."
"Not too many reunions turn out like this."
"I'm glad they don't."
"Will." They heard Picard's voice say across the Bridge of the Titan. "We need to get moving."
"Understood, Sir." Will replied. "Well, let's go, Geordi."
Chapter Ten
Mriana was in the guest quarters on Voyager, watching her daughter sleep fitfully. She knew her daughter was having bad dreams, but given the circumstances, Mriana was not surprised. Even she had been traumatized by 8472 and now the only thing she wanted was to be back in Geordi's comforting arms again.
She waited for B'Elanna to arrive. She was not sure if Lydia woke up how she would handle a stranger being with her, but what choice did she have. Janeway requested her presence at the meeting and the doctor was coming to escort her to the conference room soon. The only thing that would hopefully calm her daughter was if B'Elanna took her suggestion and wore her Starfleet uniform.
Lydia, as far as Mriana knew, had not seen any Species 8472 in Starfleet uniforms. So, that was the one thing that Mriana knew that would possibly keep her daughter calm, if she awoke before Mriana returned.
She was rather curious what Janeway wanted her for, but as soon as B'Elanna walked into the guest quarters with the doctor she knew she would be finding out soon. Her anxiety about leaving her daughter returned when the doctor began translating for B'Elanna.
"If she wakes up talk to her with this in simple Federation Standard." Mriana signed and showed B'Elanna some pen and paper. "I know it's archaic, but it's the best I could replicate. I need Geordi to set up a Padd for such communications. I've never been mechanically adept."
"She can read?" B'Elanna asked as the doctor translated.
"A little." Mriana stated a loud with a nod.
B'Elanna smiled. "Don't worry. She'll be fine."
Mriana looked towards her sleeping daughter. "I hope so." She thought.
"Well, we'd better go." The doctor said and signed.
Mriana nodded and then she and the doctor left for the meeting. B'Elanna sat down in a chair next to the couch on which Lydia was sleeping and read a holonovel.
The two admirals, Picard and Janeway, took their seats at the conference table. Then the captains, Chakotay, Riker, Geordi, and Halloway from the Enterprise. Finally, Mriana and the doctor entered and took their seats directly across from each other so Mriana could get a good view of him as he interpreted. Seven also joined them for the meeting.
"OK, what do we have so far on this situation?" Janeway asked.
"It seems the Borg want Seven and me for assistance anyway they can get us." Picard offered.
"The question is why do they need you two?" Janeway asked. Then she looked at Mriana. "Mriana." The doctor interpreted. "What do you know about Species 8472?"
Mriana spoke aloud for everyone's benefit. Her voice was more calm, but had a slight nasal sound, as though she were trying to feel how well she was controlling her voice. "They want to kill all Borg even if they have had the majority of the implants removed and are individuals again. From what I could gather, there's been a renewed war between them and the Borg."
"Why?" Janeway asked.
"I don't know." Mriana informed them.
"OK." Janeway began a new tactic to the conversation. "How are the modified nanoprobes coming alone on the Titan and the Enterprise?"
Geordi took this one. "We have remodified them due to the adaptation and, as you saw, it appears to be working well."
"Good." Janeway stated. "I want mass production incase we go to war with Species 8472."
"Yes, ma'am." Geordi replied.
"And don't call me ma'am." Janeway said nicely, but firmly.
"Yes, Admiral."
"Thank you." She smiled. "Suggestions on where we go from here to hopefully settle this peacefully and if we can't then what?"
"My suggestion is that we invite two representives from Species 8472 over here." Riker began. "Then show them that Seven and Admiral Picard are no longer Borg. Hopefully, we can end this that way. Maybe even show them that a drone can be rehabilitated and an individual again."
Janeway nodded. "I think I understand what you are saying."
"At the same time, we find out why they came out of fluidic space and renewed the war with the Borg." Riker continued. "Then bring one or two of the Borg drones over here to get their side of the story."
Janeway was impressed. "Very diplomatic approach."
"I learned from the best." He said looking at Picard with a smile.
"I must say, I like his suggestion also." Picard replied.
"Hopefully, there is still a chance for peaceful negotiations." Riker stated. "If not, and they still want to drag us into this war, we'll have more information to make an informed decision on which side we are going to be on or not."
"Agreed." Janeway and Picard replied at the same time.
"In the meantime, we'll start mass producing the modified nanoprobes in case they are needed." Geordi added.
"Any suggestions on who we should invite to represent Species 8472?" Janeway asked looking at Mriana.
"The Boothby alias seems to be fairly open-minded." She said aloud. "I think he would be a good choice."
"Agreed." Janeway stated. "I know I liked him when I met him and he seemed to be open to the idea of peace, especially with us."
"Then there's you." Janeway looked a Mriana with a quizzical expression. Mriana continued. "Or that is, your alias. It seems they stoled some of your DNA for these um." Mriana paused, then shook her head. "Some sort of injections to make them take on a different form."
"Isomorphic injections." Janeway filled in for Mriana. The doctor had to fingerspell isomorphic, which slowed Mriana's comprehension of the conversation a little. She finally understood and the doctor continued translating for her. "Boothby is a good choice, but from what I gather from what Captain Riker has told me from Counsellor Deanna's report, that Janeway is very hostile."
"She is very malevalent also." Mriana agreed.
Janeway pondered it a moment. Then frown. "I don't like meeting a hostile version of myself, but I think your choices are about the best we can do."
*Captain Tuvok to Admiral Janeway.*
"Yes, Tuvok." Janeway replied.
*I think all of you need to come to the Bridge.* Tuvok informed them. *We're receiving an unusual distress signal from a Borg ship, however, they do not sound like Borg.*
Janeway was very puzzled. "We're on our way."
They all rose and headed for the Bridge of Voyager. The message was playing so they all could hear it.
*We are Borg. We request your assistance. We have received heavy damage and need assistance.*
"That doesn't sound like your usual Borg." Janeway stated with surprise.
"That's because it's not." Picard stated.
"Then who is it?" Riker asked with shock.
"I'm not sure, but I have my suspecions." Picard replied. "Titan, are you getting this distress message also?"
*Yes, Sir. We are.* Worf informed them from the Titan.
"It seems we have found one of our Borg representives." Picard turned towards Tuvok. "Hail them. Let them know we are coming to assist them."
"Sir, I do not believe that is a wise or logical decision." Tuvok replied.
"Captain Tuvok." Admiral Picard said with all authority. "Hail them now and deliver the message."
Riker was also puzzled. "Sir, who do you think it is?"
"If my senses don't deceive me, it is our old Borg friend Hugh."
Riker looked at him with wide eyes. "Hugh?"
"Yes." Picard turned to Janeway. "If I may suggest, why don't we handle the Borg on the Titan, while you deal with Species 8472 over here. Then, if Species 8472 agree to meet Seven and myself, I can return to Voyager."
"Agreed." Janeway stated. "We can also compare notes afterwards and go from there. Hopefully, we can get them to agree to a peaceful ending to this situation."
Picard nodded.
"Admiral Picard." Tuvok addressed. "I've made contact with them."
"Thank you. On screen." Picard turned towards the screen, but before he could speak, the Borg on the screen spoke.
"Locutus?"