CHAPTER 12
	"How long until we rendezvous with the Enterprise?"
rumbled Worf, from the chair beside Data.
	Data turned to him, looking away from the viewscreen
for the first time in what Worf judged to be hours.  "I
estimate, assuming they remained on their last known course 
and speed, that we will overtake them in 1.342 hours."  Data
turned back to the screen, assuming their conversation over.
	Worf merely grunted, thinking how easy it would be to
just draw his phaser and incapacitate the android.  The way 
would then be open to warn the Klingon Council of the attack
on Khitomer.  To do so would, of course, impugn his honor as
a warrior, but Worf felt it would nearly be worth it.  Instead
of drawing his phaser, Worf turned back to Data and asked,
"Is there any sign of the Saucer Section?"
	Data turned again from the Ops console and said,
"They began to pursue us as soon as they realized out 
deception.  Their progress is hampered by the fact that they
are towing the energy creature behind them.  We will have
sufficient time to rescue Geordi before they can catch up."
	Worf decided, rather than prolong the conversation,
to busy himself analyzing the warp engine traces left by the
Enterprise.  It was these miniscule bits of matter/antimatter
and microscopic dilithium shards that allowed them to be
reasonably certain of the Enterprise's path.  As long as these
short-lived clues were present, their lifetime measured in 
hours, they knew they were on the right track. 
	In the corner Scott, who had been feigning
unconsciousness for the last several minutes, began to stir.
He knew that his chances against an android and a Klingon 
were slim at best.  But if he could only activate a 
communications beam without their knowledge...
	Slowly, Scott moved toward the communications panel.
He took care not to make any sound whatsoever which might 
alert the android's sensitive hearing.  As he was about to 
press the Emergency Beacon control/cell on the comm board,
Data turned around.
	"Ah, I am glad to see that you are awake, Engineer.
You will be glad to know that you are being returned to your
rightful place on the correct Enterprise."
	"Ah'll be wontin' none o' that.  My rightful place 
is servin' Cap'n Picard.  I don' know if he approves o' this,
but I'll wager he doesn't.  Now turn this ship around or I'll
alert every vessel wi' in range and ye'll probably be kicked 
out o' Starfleet," said Scotty bravely.  He was trying to 
bluff the android, as he knew Riker could from their many 
poker/drinking sessions.  
	"You have no hold over us," said Worf, drawing his 
phaser and advancing on Scott.  He made sure that the 
Engineer saw him raise the setting on his phaser from light
stun, up through heavy stun, and finally to kill.  Knowing 
that such a situation was possible, but not expecting it,
Worf had nonetheless activate the Bridge safeguards that
would not allow a phaser blast greater than heavy stun.  He
hoped that Scott did not know this.
	Scott slowly backed away, toward the Turbolift.
"Worf, me friend.  What d'you mean, holdin' me at phaser
point?  Wha' have I done to deserve treatment like this from
me two closest friends in th' universe?"
	By this time, Scotty was on the threshold of the 
Turbolift.  He dove inside before the doors had completely 
opened and shouted "Emergency close!"  The doors obediently
snapped shut.  "Main Engineering, please, and hurry!"
	"All Turbolifts move at a constant speed" was all
the Turbolift said by way of reply as it started its journey
through the great starship.
	Back on the Battle Bridge, Worf was trying to open 
the doors to the Turbolift shift, without much success.  Data
motioned him out of the way and easily slid the doors apart.
Worf rushed forward, expecting a Turbolift car to be waiting.
	"Worf!" Data exclaimed as he grabbed the Klingons thick
gold sash, the only thing keeping Worf from plunging to the 
bottom of the Turbolift shaft, some thirty decks below.
	After being returned to solid ground, Worf turned
thankfully to Data and started to thank him before he realized
that neither he nor the android expected or required such
sentiments.  Instead, Worf went to the far wall of the Bridge,
saying as he went, "He has shut down all Turbolift activity.
We must climb down to Main Engineering.  He will soon 
activate the self-destruct mechanism."
	As Worf opened a recessed hatch revealing a narrow
ladder, Data asked "How do you know he will activate the self-
destruct mechanism?"
	"Because, it is what I would do in a similar situation."
	Worf started down the ladder, followed by Data.
Unbeknownst to either of them, the security console had
begun to register three lifesigns and one android aboard.
Seconds later, another reading appeared, then another.  Soon,
there were close to twenty lifeforms present aboard the
Enterprise.  They were all moving to join the one life-reading
located in Main Engineering.
	"Captain, sensors are picking up a ship approaching
from behind us.  Their readings are like nothing I've seen 
before."  Spock's face was bathed in the blue/green light 
from the Science Station viewer.  
	"Isn't that what you said about the Houdini, Spock?"
asked McCoy.
	Spock gave McCoy a puzzled look.  "Doctor, if you 
persist in these childish delusions about a mystery ship
which no one, including the computer, can remember, you will
be declared unfit for duty."
	"That's enough, you two.  If Bones thinks he saw a
ship, then he saw a ship."  Kirk tried to ease the tension 
on the Bridge.  "Mister Sulu, slow to Impulse power.  Uhura,
hail that ship on all frequencies."
	McCoy looked hard at Kirk.  "Don't patronize me, Jim.
I know what I saw."  Kirk didn't hear McCoy storm off the Bridge.
He was too engrossed in the image on the viewscreen.  A gigantic
ship, cubic in shape, slowly rotated as it followed them.
Its surface was covered with a lattice work of pipes and
conduits.
	"No response to our hails, Captain," reported Uhura.
She turned back to her console, in order to keep trying, when
a face appeared on the viewscreen.  It had a pale-white, 
deathly pallor to it.  The visible part of it, that is,
because most of it was covered be glossy black implants and
wiring.  One eye was gone, replaced by a camera-like appliance.
What could be seen of the body looked to be covered by coal-
black battle armor.
	The face spoke, and yet didn't speak.  The 'voice' 
seemed to be coming from all points on the alien ship.
	"Federation Starship Enterprise, prepare to be
boarded.  All technology and personnel will be absorbed into
the Borg."
	"Who, or what, are the Borg?" asked Kirk.
	"We are the Borg."
	"Fascinating.  A race of techno/biological beings."
Spock had turned from his Science Station to stand next to
Kirk.  The faint whirring of the automatic sensors could be
heard from deep within it.
	"Where do you come from?  What do you want?"  Kirk
hoped he could stall long enough to come up with a plan.
	"Many of your years ago, we evolved at the outer 
edge of this galaxy.  We were created.  Our creators were
absorbed and we continue to absorb and evolve.  During
a great catastrophe, many of the Borg were destroyed.
Those remaining were left without purpose...Until the coming
of Khan."
	Kirk was nearly speechless.  He managed to croak out
"Khan?  As in Khan Noonian Singh?"
	"The Khan came to us badly damaged.  He told us of 
the Genesis device and of how it joined him with Reliant.  
They are both of the Borg now.  They have become one with 
us as you shall.  The past is irrelevant, damage is irrelevant,
you are irrelevant.  Prepare to be assimilated."
	The screen went dark and there was a noticeable THUNK
as the Borg tractor beam locked on.
	"Borg tractor beam locking on," reported Chekov.
	"Mister Sulu, get us out of here, Emergency Warp!"
shouted Kirk.
	Spock, who had gone back to his console, was soon 
joined by Kirk.
	"Spock, have you got anything?"
	"I believe so, Captain.  The Borg ship seems to be
sending out a signal.  It appears to be a combination of 
Khan's brainwaves and the U.S.S. Reliant's signaling beacon."
	"But, Spock, Khan's on Ceti Alpha V and the Reliant's
only been out of drydock for a month," said Kirk.  If he had
heard this from anyone else, he wouldn't believe it, but coming
from Spock, he had no choice.
	"Engineering to Bridge."
	"Bridge here," answered Kirk.  "Go ahead, Geordi."
	"What's going on up there?  I read shield power at
17% and Warp power at 12%."  LaForge's voice, still a little
shaky from his ordeal, held a note of both curiosity and fear.
	"A race called the Borg have locked a tractor beam
on us and are draining our power," answered Kirk.  After he
got no response from below, he said, "Geordi, are you there?
Geordi?"
	No response.  Kirk just assumed that Geordi had 
rushed away to get more power for the engines and shields.
	In Engineering, Geordi had blacked out as soon as
Kirk mentioned the Borg.  He was only now regaining his 
senses as the channel to the Bridge closed.  
	Geordi looked around at the unfamiliar setting.  He
had seen engine rooms like this in his Academy classes, but 
had never really been in the Engineering Section of a 
Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser before.  He took it all 
in, his mind racing with the nostalgia, the sense of history.
	"Chief, what's wrong?" asked Ensign Sumners, new to 
Engineering himself, he had never seen anyone react to a 
comm conversation the way LaForge was.
	"Oh, uh, nothing.  Nothing.  I'll, uh, be right
back."  Geordi headed for the nearest Turbolift at a run.
He had to try to at least stall the Borg until the Enterprise,
HIS Enterprise, got here.  He had no idea where he should even
start.
	"Shields are down.  Warp drive is inoperable.  Jim,
we are powerless," reported Spock from the rear of the Bridge.
	"Well, I guess we'll have to fight then.  Chekov, arm
all phasers and load torpedo bays.  Sulu, bring us about.
Uhura, contact Starfleet.  We need reinforcments!"  Kirk felt
the adrenaline rushing through his system, heightening his 
perceptions.
	"Captain, communications are jammed.  Unable to send 
distress call," reported Uhura from her console.
	"Phasers armed, torpedoes loaded," said Chekov from
the Weapons/Defense Station.  The red alert klaxons and tracer
lights had started as soon as the computer noted the weapons' 
activation.
	"Direct heading for Borg ship.  They are still closing,"
informed Sulu.
	"Chekov, fire when they are within 10 kilometers.  
Sulu, be prepared to get us out of here, maximum possible 
speed," ordered Kirk.
	Sulu and Chekov exchanged worried glances.  Ten
kilometers did not leave much room for error, on either
of their parts.  "Aye, sir," they answered in unison.
	His back turned, leaning over his science viewer,
Spock read off the distance between the Enterprise and the
Borg.  "10,000 kilometers,   8,500 kilometers,  5,000 kilo-
meters,  1,000 kilometers...100 kilometers,  75 kilometers..."
	Everyone on the Bridge watched as the Borg got 
closer and closer.  Kirk hoped that his plan of playing
possum would work.  Everyone else hoped he was right.
	"25 kilometers,  20 kilometers,  15 kilometers,
12 kilometers.  Borg tractor beams and weaponry powering up,
10 kilometers.  Borg tractor beam locking on."  The ship 
trembled as the tractor beam latched on directly to the hull,
no shields intervening this time.
	The Borg cutting beam, fully energized, began slicing
a swathe of destruction across the wide saucer of the Enterprise,
just above her registry numbers.
	"Chekov, Sulu, what are you waiting for?  Fire, get
us out of here!" shouted Kirk.
	Chekov looked worried.  "Sir, I vas about to fire,
when control vas diwerted to somevhere else on the ship.  
The veapons cannot be fired from the Bridge."
	Sulu spoke up, "Same here, Captain.  The course and
speed were laid in and then nothing."
	The ship shook again and damage reports started coming 
in from all areas of the ship, especially the saucer.  The 
Bridge lights flickered and went dark, as did the viewscreen.
	A Borg soldier appeared on the Bridge and started 
advancing toward Kirk, followed by another, and another.
Soon, the entire Bridge crew was being advanced upon by a
small army of Borg.  Then, they stopped.
	"We are under attack.  Return to Borg ship."
They all seemed to echo it and at the same time none of
them made a sound.  They vanished in that swirling pattern
peculiar to the Borg transporters.
	The viewscreen had come back to life, albeit dimly, 
as had the Bridge lighting.  On the screen, they saw a strange
looking ship attacking the Borg.  Then they saw their own 
phasers and photon torpedoes firing.  The other ship, closely
resembling a duck, wove a complex, seemingly random, pattern
around the Borg, firing as it went.  Both the Borg tractor
beam and cutting beam lanced out, but to no effect.  The new 
ship just was not where the Borg had aimed, no matter how fast 
they retargeted the beams.  
	Kirk and the rest of the Bridge crew just stood and
watched the fight, powerless to do anything.  Just as it 
appeared the Borg were finished, the blue/green glow at their
center pulsing feebly, two things happened in close succession.
First, the new ship stopped moving and firing and hung dead in 
space.  This proved insignificant compared to what happened 
next.  The Borg ship split in two pieces, both smaller than
the original, but no less deadly.  
	As Kirk watched in horror, the Borg ship closest to
the new ship oozed completely around it, absorbing it and its
crew.  Then both Borg ships advanced on the Enterprise.
	
	On the Battle Bridge of the Stardrive Section,
Data was instructing the computer as to how and where to 
fly the ship, while he, Worf, and Scotty, stood with their 
backs to each other, surrounded by an ever growing number 
of Borg.  Each of the Enterprise crewmen had a phaser in
each hand, held at the ready.  As the Borg advanced, Scotty
began firing wildly, while Data and Worf each fired controlled,
accurate bursts into the advancing wall.  
	"Lieutenant Commander Scott, you must be careful 
what you shoot.  You may hit something..."  Worf paused 
wearily as a console exploded in flames.  "...important,"
he finished.
	"Och, sorry," the Scotsman replied sheepishly.
He turned to fire at another advancing Borg, but it was too
late.  The Borg were upon them.  They were dragged over to
an Engineering monitor that had been hooked up to the Bridge
viewscreen.
	
	The view was of the Borg ship, tractor beam firmly
holding the gleaming white hull of the Enterprise.  As Data
watched in fascination, and Worf and Scott in fear, the Borg
ship split into two roughly equal sections, the nearer of the
two advancing on the Enterprise.  It opened up, like a great,
ragged maw, Borg soldiers in their cubicles clearly visible,
and engulfed the Stardrive Section.  The viewscreen went
blank as the Borg herded the three Starfleet officers to the 
nearest airlock, and away from the useless Starship.