Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [18]
What’s your name? Chakotay asked, as the girl tossed another rock.
Annika, she replied.
Icheb felt irrational fear rising within him. He worried that this strange child might be all that was left of Seven.
Are you all by yourself here, Annika? Chakotay asked.
Most of the time, she replied. But I like it that way.
It must get lonely, Icheb suggested.
It’s still better, Annika insisted.
Icheb knelt so he could bring his eyes level with hers and said, Better than what?
Annika shrugged and began to search the ground for more rocks.
Icheb, Chakotay said, commanding him with his thoughts to look around him more closely. Standing at the far side of the pool was a single statue with a more humanoid shape than the others which he now realized graced the plaza. Icheb moved quickly to study it and confirmed that it was a form of a Borg drone. Beneath the armor and implants he saw a face which was strikingly familiar: the face of Seven of Nine.
This sent a cold chill down Icheb’s spine he watched Annika approach the drone fearlessly and clamber up onto its shoulders.
Don’t worry, she can’t hurt anyone anymore, Annika informed them both.
Do you know who she is? Icheb asked.
One of billions, Annika replied.
Turning, Icheb watched as the other statues in the plaza began to morph and coalesce into drones. Soon they were surrounded by these cold figures. Annika sat atop the shoulders of the Seven drone, caressing her head with her long, powerful arms. Then in a swift movement, Annika pulled hard on the statue’s head and with a crack ripped it from its place and sent it rolling onto the ground.
They break too easily, Annika assured him.
You are Annika, a new voice boomed.
I know! Annika shouted back, moving on to another drone and tearing off its arms.
As she destroyed the other Borg statues, Icheb moved to pick up Seven’s head and studied it. Suddenly its lips began to twitch. Its single eye opened abruptly, filled with terror as it said, Assistance is futile.
Icheb almost dropped the head as the sky darkened all around him. Looking up, he saw the amber glow dimmed by the arrival of dozens of Borg cubes which quickly blotted out the sky, pulsing with angry green light.
Annika paused to stare in horror at the sky.
Now see what you’ve done? she snarled angrily at Icheb and Chakotay.
You are Annika, the new voice insisted again, shaking the buildings.
Turning to Chakotay, Icheb demanded, What do we do now?
We have to reach Seven, Chakotay replied. Taking the head from Icheb’s hands, Chakotay placed it back atop the statue where it miraculously sealed itself back in place.
Help me, Chakotay commanded, as he began to tear at the implants and armor which shrouded the drone.
Icheb began to pry loose all that was Borg.
Stop it! Annika shouted, rushing toward them. You can’t do that.
Yes we can, Chakotay replied.
Piece by piece they began to discover the human figure of Seven buried beneath the stone façade of technology. As Chakotay continued his work, Icheb grasped one of Annika’s hands and pulled her toward the statue.
What did you do to her? Icheb demanded fiercely.
I didn’t do anything! She’s just like the rest of them, Annika shouted. I hate her! Everybody here does!
I don’t hate her, Chakotay said gently to Annika. Icheb and I miss her terribly and want to help her. You have to let us do that.
No! Annika cried out, pulling free from Icheb and retreating to the safety of the tree.
You are Annika! the voice commanded, only this time it was the voice of a billion drones joined as one, causing the ground to shudder.
Seven, Icheb cried out. Seven, can you hear me?
We are here, Seven, Chakotay added. You are not alone in this.
I’m not giving you up, Seven, Icheb shouted, amazed at the desperation he heard in his voice. Say something, please.
You are Annika, the Borg collective insisted again.
Shut up! Icheb shouted defiantly. She was Annika. She was also Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One. But she is stronger than both of them. She is Seven, my teacher and my