Into The Hive Mind

Posted on Wed Jul 1st, 2020 @ 12:30am by Commander Samantha Howard & Lieutenant Commander N'Sachzny P'Glosho & Lieutenant Commander Estella Stratton

Mission: The Borg Encounter
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: After the Away Team Returns

The weight of the crew's safety versus that of Jon's bore on her heart as well as her conscience. The danger that the Commander was in reminded the Counselor of a time she'd tried to push away. A mission where she'd lost two people she'd cared deeply for. She had no intentions of losing Jon or anyone else if she could help it. Those thoughts bade her leave her station and seek out the Doctor. Perhaps Samantha might have some insight. The kind too that would equip her for what was to come.

Best case scenario, they acted quickly enough and were able to get Jon back. Worst case, he'd been fully assimilated... or worse... No, she couldn't think like that.

After smoothing non-existing creases in her uniform, Estella entered sickbay. "Doctor, might I have a word?"

Sam looked up as the door's opened, wondering what the universe was going to throw at them next. She breathed a sigh of relief when Estella walked in, seemingly physically fine.

"Of Course" the CMO replied kindly, giving a quick instruction to her 2IC to continue the simulation they were working on for removing Borg cybernectics from the brainstem whilst she gestured Essie to join her in her office, close the door behind them for privacy.

"What can I help you with Counsellor?" She asked, taking a seat behind the desk and indicating the vacant chair opposite her.

"Can you be straight with me?" Estella asked as she lowered herself into the chair across from the CMO. Her eyes sought and held the Doctor's gaze. If anyone could level with her, it was going to be Doctor Howard. And if the worse should come to worse, it would be her that she would need to work with to better Jon's chances.

A little taken aback by the counsellor's response Sam took a breath and prepared herself for what she thought was coming.

"Of course Counsellor, What exactly are you referring to?" She asked carefully, wanting all the details before responding further.

She leaned forward and propped her elbows on the desk. Her fingers steeple in front of her. "How high are the chances of surviving reconstruction from the Borg collective?" The question needed to be asked. She wasn't going to give herself any false hope. Rather, Estella wanted to arm herself. Because if they got Jon back, she wanted to know the gravity of what they faced. And perhaps weigh in on a few wild thoughts she had before she made any crazy suggestions.

"I won't lie to you. It's going to be the most difficult prolonged surgery I've ever performed but I can tell you this - Jon will not get any less than my best. Borg assimilations have been reversed in the past - and I intend to ensure that this is another one added to the list of successes." Sam promised, expression one of determination. " Failure is not an option, Essie."

The facts Doctor Howard presented made the Counselor's shoulders hunch. Estella had no doubt that Sam would give Jon the best of care. Now for the challenging, and perhaps less orthodox questions. "Could the opposite also be successful?" A shot in the dark, yes. Time was not something they had so she kept her line of questions direct.

"I'm not sure what you mean" Sam replied with a quizzical expression. She regarded Essie with confusion on her features.

Estella cleared her throat so that she might not choke on the words. "Would it be possible, perhaps to make a likeness of them?"

Sam paused for a moment, considering the options. There were a number of minor surgeries she could perform to give one the appearance of a Borg, but she couldn't simulate their cybernetic connection to the hive.

" I could make someone look like a Borg, but that would be it." Sam started, gauging the counsellor's reaction " May I ask what you're considering?" She asked directly, knowing in her gut it had to do with rescuing Jon.

The Counselor swallowed back any disgust she might have had. "Could you make me look as though I had been assimilated, made one of their own?" It was a gamble. A high one at that, but she was willing to try anything. Even if it meant a game of deception. Not an easy feat by any means, but she was willing to try anything if it meant the smallest of chance of getting Jon back.

Sam considered the request and what it would involve. Several replicated 'implants', a superficial change on the dermal tone, a voice synthesis device, and the removal of all hair follicles. Nothing that would be overly complex nor hard to reverse.

" I can certainly give you the impression of a Borg, it would only take an hour or two to prepare for. I would need to replicate the components before beginning the proceedure. You understand it would be cosmetic only though?" Sam questioned, making a mental checklist in her mind of what she would need.

"Yes, I understand," Estella replied, her voice even. The illusion would be but the first step. In order to make it believable, she would have to review her files and collected data on the Borg. An hour or two would suffice. It would have to for time was something they had precious little of. "Would you be willing?" The Counselor asked that final question, hoping that the Doctor would consent.

"Of course, but I have one question though" Sam paused for a moment to gather her thoughts " The Captain knows about this?" She asked, having a feeling in her gut that said Captain wasn't aware of it. " If the Captain agree's I can make these changes to all members of the away team - unless there isn't going to be a 'team'...please don't tell me you're planning on going over there alone" Sam whispered the last few lines with concern etched deep into her features.

She'd expected as much of a reaction. The Counselor did not hide anything. Nor did she lie. Rather, she chose to answer the Doctor's question with one of her own. "Do you think the Captain would approve this course of action, Doctor?"

Sam sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose as though to focus her thoughts.
" Regarding the cosmetic changes - I honestly don't know how he would react to such a suggestion. As for going it alone - you and I know he wouldn't allow it, it would be suicide" Sam hated being the realist, but she knew what the Borg were capable of. " A small team would have a better chance. If the Captain agree's, I'll make you into the best Borg ever" Sam gave a small reassuring smile. They would be in this together.

Her integrity, that was what Estella admired and respected so much in Sam. That too was why she didn't regret confiding in her or seeking the Doctor's council. "A small team would be sufficient, and minimize the risks." The Counselor agreed, though there was no hiding her hesitation there. Estella had no desire to risk anyone. To risk herself was one thing, but others? Yet, she understood well the risks and dangers of going alone. Then, she would go any length for Jon. Regardless of the Captain's consent. Still, she wasn't without her morals. With a slow but steady hand, Estella hit her comm badge. "Captain, you're needed in sickbay."

Sam smiled, respecting the inner turmoil that must be going on within Essie's mind at the moment. " I think you made the right decision there, and you have my full support" Sam reassured, doing a few preliminary sketches on a padd in front of her of suitable Borg cosmetic alterations.

Estella let out a breath. "I hope I have," she whispered. "Though I am going to need the help of someone else too," the Counselor added before hitting her comm badge again. "Sachzny, could you join us in sickbay?"

The call from Estella made Sachzny wonder what had happened, =^="I am on my way"=^= She moved quickly and in a short time arrived in the sickbay, then she noticed that nobody seemed ill or wounded. "Can I ask why you requested my presence?"

The Counselor offered her sister a weak smile. "Because I trust no one more and if I am to get the Captain's help, first, I need yours."

Her sister's comment now put Sachzny on guard, "Why would you require the Captain's help? And more than that, why are you attempting to gain my approval for what ever you have in mind?"

"Because I would rather not risk any violations." Her idea was a bit of a gamble and she was well aware. "And I cannot hope to pull this off without your knowledge, or connection to Jon."

"My connection is at this time, more of a liability than a help. Jon maybe Borg, but he can still connect with me if I allow him". Sachzny wanted to make sure Essie fully understood, if Jon found a way to read her thoughts without her knowledge. Then her plan would be known to the Borg, and so rendered useless.

Sachnzy's warning did not go unheard. Rather, it served as a red flag. "Then, can you trust me enough to give you only what you need know?"

Sam raised an eyebrow towards Sachzny. Keeping secrets was never a good idea in a crisis.

" Out with it, we all want Jon back but we can't have any rouge agents going on. Our strength is as a team" She encouraged. As she spoke the Captain strode into sickbay.

Not a big fan of secrets, but also having one or two she had not yet disclosed to those closest to her, the Counselor was unable to deny her shared worries with Sachnzy over her connection with Jon and the danger that presented. Still, Estella said nothing and waited for the captain to approach this way they could all decide how to address the present situation.

" I have an idea, there were some notes made by The Doctor on Voyager, about a inoculation he used, to prevent the mental assimilation of the host. The body would be assimilated but the mind remain intact. I can't say that being assimilated would be pleasant, but perhaps we can use this as a fallback measure? It wouldn't take long to synthesis with the correct information" Sam paused, recalling the data she had read about The Doctor's efforts over in the Delta Quadrant.

Estella nodded in agreement. "Whatever it takes, we are coming back together, or not at all." The whole thing was a gamble. A great one that made a game of Russian Roulette seem rather cheap in comparison. Only now they were dancing with a force to her, that was almost worse than death. They were risking more than their lives, but their very knowledge and essence. Yet, if they did not take such a chance, Jon and the Captain would be lost to them.

Just then the ship was rocked by an explosion.

" Senior Officers Report to the Bridge"

TBC