Resistance Is Futile - pt 51

In that dark dimension where Q had hidden himself and later been joined by Gandraleayian Ambassador Raven-Cloud, Q - that cynical menace - was on his knees with tears streaming from his face.

"Please...let me go to her..." Q begged.

There were tears on Raven-Cloud's face as well. He was an empathic being, and he could feel his old friend's pain he restrained him. Truthfully, the restraint hurt him as well. "Not yet."

"Why?" He had followed her lead and lowered the Muting on their Bond. He wanted to reach out to her, especially when the Borg began to assimilate her, but he had sensed her need to just know that he was there. He had to wait for her to reach out to him. And then...he had never imagine such pain. Fire running across his skin wouldn't have hurt as bad as the Borg asserting their will over Virginia's. He couldn't feel her now. Their Bond hadn't been Broken, he could feel that much and that meant she was still alive in that husk of a body. But all he could feel was numbness...and he couldn't even tell if it was her pain or his own.

"He has to be moved by her sacrifice," Raven-Cloud answered. "He has to make a plea for her life."

"Why isn't my plea good enough?" Anger kindled deep in Q. He was tired of the meddling ways of his people. Always meddling. They couldn't leave well enough alone to Fate and destiny and God.

"Who better to plead the case of a half-breed than a full-blooded human?"

"I am! I've been by her side since the beginning...the only one who's known her longer as a friend is Rachel and Rachel forfeited her position long ago when she made the case against me. No one knows her strengths and weaknesses better..."

"And no one is more impartial than you are." Raven-Cloud wiped the tears from his face. The backlash of emotions coming from the pairbond was near staggering. "Dammit, Ian...Picard isn't stupid..."

"If Picard hasn't learned anything yet, and lets her die..."

"I'm telling you it won't happen. He'll figure out what the Council is waiting for. He was able to figure out that she's being tested."

"Tried by fire, you mean."

"Trust me..."

"Trust you? If it wasn't for you none of us would be in this position in the first place!"

"Ian...you have to believe that I've changed. One can't work with Virginia for any amount of time and not end up changing."

Q had no reply. Deep within, he felt something begin to whither...life. She was leaving, she was dying, and he was being held back. He could only scream in frustration and despair.