Resistance is Futile - pt 48

Three levels up, Virginia began to trek deeper into the Borg's cube. She could still feel God's leading, His gentle nudges, though there was no conversation. So far, she had seen no Borg drones...but she could hear them. She held her breath as she turned each corner, but each time she found an empty corridor.

The odor remained consistent, as did the oppressive humidity. No wonder the Borg had to assimilate members...no one in their right mind would choose to live here.

A drone!

Virginia froze, watching in silence as he...she?...it?...passed by her without even glancing at her. But it didn't stop her from seeing the deadness in the eyes. Watching the retreating back of the drone for just a moment, she continued on her way. Left here, then a right...and then a chamber.

Darker.

She had the sense that she was in the center of the cube, even though she had lost all sense of direction by now. Usually she could spin around in circles and still tell you which direction was which when she stopped, but ever since she had beamed over here that sense had vanished. Maybe it was the humidity.

The albino-white queen sat on a raised chair in the center of this dark chamber, though it wasn't quite a throne. Her attention was on a wall of monitors that displayed either different corridor of her cube, or what looked like different sections of space...including a close up shot of the small StarFleet shuttle.

Several different drones worked around their queen. Virginia crept further in, holding herself tensely. Something told her that the time for skulking was over.

The Queen rose from her seat and turned to face her, and for her part, Virgina didn't stumble in her pace. With a sensuous grace that was very unBorg-like, the Queen approached her.

"I've been watching you," the Queen said.

While this surprised and unnerved Virginia, she didn't let it show. "I'm here to be assimilated."

"I feel like I ought to know you," the Queen said as the two came to a stand still on front of each other. "You were in Locutus's memories of his old life."

"The life he returned to," the admiral replied.

"For now." The Queen reached out and lifted Virginia's chin with her fingertips. "Your name is Hamilton...a person of rank among those yet to be assimilated."

"I was. Until I realized that there is no point fighting you, that you're going to win anyway...and they drummed me out of the service."

"I almost believe you half-breed. Why would a woman of your power...who could destroy me with a thought...not do so, but instead ask to be assimilated?"

"My powers are useless. I've been drinking and that turns them off. But once you assimilate me, and the alcohol leaves me system...my powers will be at your disposal and you will be able to overcome the Federation at last."

"What makes you think I need your powers to succeed?" the Queen asked haughtily, her fingers tightening on the others chin.

"Well, what you've been doing so far hasn't been working has it?"

"It has been difficult," the Queen admitted, dropping her grip on Virginia. "I've certainly never had anyone ask to be assimilated before, but far be it from me to refuse you. Drone 186, escort this woman to the assimilation chambers."

The nameless drone approached and took hold of Virgina's arm. It was a firm grip, but it didn't hurt. And the drone wasted no time in moving her along.

"You won't regret this," Virginia said to the Queen.

"I know." The Queen turned her back and dismissed the woman from her thoughts. She had a new war strategy to plan.