Shadows of the Night, Part XI

Luke ran through the jungle, the load on his back feelingly amazingly light, considering he was carrying a Jedi master. He climbed up the tree and grabbed onto the vine, swinging with it to continue his run. As he went, the words of encouragement from his master filled his ears. "Run! Yes. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression. The Dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice."

Luke stopped as he heard mention of the man, the one who'd killed his father. But, but he was his father wasn't he? He listened as his voice spoke despite his thoughts. "Vader. Is the dark side stronger?"

Quickly his master spoke, emphatic to impress the point upon his pupil. "No! No, no.... Quicker, easier, more seductive."

Luke thought on his words, and the dilemmas they presented. "But how am I to know the good side from the bad?"

"You will know," his master insisted. "When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense - never for attack."

"But tell me why I can't-"

"No, no, there is no why," Yoda insisted with a heavy sigh.

Luke walked over and sat on a fallen log. This isn't right, he thought to himself. I'm not in training, I'm... somewhere else.

"Troubled are you," Yoda said, drawing Luke's attention back to himself. "Worse, things are. The evil, growing it is."

Through the haze of his mind, it started coming back to him. "The evil... yes... the Borg. I was- I was fighting the Borg."

"Mm" his master replied. "Failed you did."

Luke nodded wearily. "They were too strong for us. We couldn't stop them."

"No!" Yoda interrupted before Luke could continue. "You failed; a Jedi you were not!"

Luke looked away with shame. "I don't know what happened. I didn't even think and I was doing it."

Yoda nodded, but his look showed his disapproval. "Heard my words you did, but listen, hmph, you did not."

"I don't understand!" Luke said jumping to his feet and pacing in the clearing. "I've never been able to do anything like that. I tossed a ship the size of a small space station with just a thought. How is that possible?"

Yoda sighed. "The Dark side," he said, shaking his head. "Told you I did, quick to come to you in a fight. Quick to prey on your anger, your fear."

Luke turned to his diminutive master. "But you told me the Dark side isn't stronger! Was that true, or is this another of those 'point of view' explanations?"

Yoda furrowed his brow and made a face at him. "No," he said with patience. "Quicker, easier. Have you forgotten all I have taught you?"

Luke got down on his knee in front of his master. "I saved them," he insisted. "I saved Seven. How can what I did have been wrong?"

Yoda sighed again. "Hear you nothing that I say? Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny! You still fail to see!" Yoda shook his head sadly. "So afraid to lose her... you make the same mistakes your father did."

Luke stood up and turned away. "My father has nothing to do with this."

"No," Yoda replied. "He has everything to do with this."

Luke turned back to him. "What do you mean?"

"All too soon, will you have learned."

News like Wormhole Base does not stay quiet for long, and so there was little surprise that the alpha quadrant was up in arms about the new situation. The overwhelming victory of the Borg over a combined Federation-Romulan-New Republic fleet didn't exactly stir feelings of confidence among those who'd always thought that the Borg was someone else's problem. Now apparently the collective had turned their full attention on them.

For William T. Riker, former commander of the USS Enterprise, he had paid a particularly strong price. Just how great it would be was just now being determined. He rose as the panel re-entered the room to make their final decision, and to find out what would become his fate.

"Captain Riker," said Admiral Parks, "Let me first say that I find your actions completely irresponsible. The Enterprise was more than just a ship, it was a symbol of what the Federation was. Your reckless disregard of the tactical situation caused not only the destruction of your ship, but very nearly resulted in the loss of lives of your entire crew. You took an irresponsible gamble. Have you anything to say on your behalf before we make our decision?"

Riker held his head high. The decision had already been made, there was no point in dragging this out. "No, sir."

Parks looked at the other members of the panel and continued. "Captain William Thomas Riker, we find you guilty of recklessness in the execution of your duties, which resulted in the destruction of your vessel. You will receive a formal reprimand for this. Now, considering the exact situation we are in, to whit, the recent activity of the Borg, it has been decided that we need as many experienced commanders as we can get. Therefore, we will suspend your sentence for now. However, understand captain that you are on probation; if anything like this ever happens again you will be dishonorably discharged from Starfleet and possibly face criminal charges for your action." Parks leaned forward and interlaced his fingers. "You're a Starfleet officer, not a cowboy. Conduct yourself appropriately. We're adjourned."

Riker, knowing the worst was over, turned and walked out. Well, at least he retained his rank and position, although without a starship the question was what exactly would he be doing now. Sit behind a desk? Hopefully not. He was a little surprised to see Admiral Jellico's face as he entered the hall, but not the least surprised by the admiral's smile. "I take it you've heard the news," Riker said evenly.

"Yes," Jellico replied, "And you must admit that it is rather good. Frankly, if I was on the committee I probably would've booted you out of Starfleet."

"Lucky me," Riker replied dryly.

"Walk with me captain," Jellico replied, strolling down the hallway. After a brief delay, Riker followed in step with the Admiral. "Tell me Riker, why'd you lose against the Borg?"

Riker looked at him with a bit of surprise. That was a stupid question. "They had adapted to our weaponry, we weren't doing any real damage."

"Exactly," Jellico replied. "We've moved as far as we can with the Borg on the scientific front. We understand their ships, their collective, their shields, everything, and we've adapted our tactics accordingly, but the fact is Will, we've reached an impasse. We can't continue to fight the Borg without upgrading our defenses; we've had ten years to learn that lesson and we've still made little progress in that area."

"The quantum torpedoes have met with some success," Riker pointed out. "The Borg still can't neutralize them 100%."

"No, but the damage they do isn't enough to stop them." Jellico stopped Riker in his tracks, his tongue pushing against his cheek as he grinned for a few seconds. "But what if you had more powerful weapons?"

"Obviously we'd win."

"No," Jellico said emphatically. "Strength of arms is not enough to win a battle. Look at the Borg; their weapons and defenses far exceeded our own, and yet twice we defeated them."

"But it wasn't easy."

"No, it wasn't, but the point is, easy or not, the stronger side didn't win. If there's one thing we should've learned from the Empire, it's that tactics are as important as weapons. And that's where you come in."

Riker immediately became cautious. He and Jellico had never gotten on very well; he was more than a little suspicious of anything the Admiral might have planned for him. "How?"

"Come to Utopia Planetia tomorrow at 0900." Jellico held back a chuckle. "And you might want to invite Picard too, I think he'd get a kick out of this."

Riker was surprised. "Picard's here? I thought the Borg had cut off the wormhole."

"They did. He arrived before they came, and now he's stuck here until we get this mess solved." He started walking off. "0900, don't be late." And he was gone.

Riker thought about what he'd said for a while and then went off. It's not enough to keep my eye on the Borg, he thought, I've got to watch Jellico too. He spotted Laforge and Seven talking further up the hall and walked up, catching the tail end of a discussion of the battle. "Any ideas?" he asked.

"We're still at a loss, captain," Laforge said. "Whatever destroyed that Cube, sensor records didn't pick up anything."

"But they didn't at Yarval either," Riker said. "Our mysterious benefactor?"

"It is possible," Seven said. "At this time we possess too little information to offer even the slightest supposition."

Riker shook his head. "Just what the hell throws a Borg Cube around like a rag doll?"

"Wish I knew, captain," Laforge said. "And frankly, I'm wondering if that's not something that's even a bigger threat than the Borg."

Riker nodded. "Seven, can I speak with you in private?" Laforge left them alone. "I wanted to thank you for what you said at my hearing."

Seven looked uncomfortable, as she usually did when receiving a compliment. "I only regret that Starfleet failed to listen. Your decision prevented the assimilation of many of our fellow officers; the loss of life and equipment was tragic, but far less than being turned into drones."

"I must admit I was a little surprised," Riker said. "I thought you would have supported the logical choice; we gave up a very powerful ship with minimal gain."

"Logic is irrelevant."

"Not usually," Riker said. "There's something else going on, isn't there?"

Seven hesitated. "May I speak freely, captain?"

"Of course."

"You are not Captain Picard."

Riker blanched a little. "Your point being?"

"Captain Picard was my commanding officer," Seven said. "And he also served as a guide on my exploration of my humanity." Seven paused. "I had not truly appreciated until this moment the irony of that. I attempted to turn him into a Borg, and he has attempted to turn me into a human." She shook her head. "What I mean, captain, is that I recognize that you have tried to encourage me as Captain Picard had, but you are simply not him."

Riker nodded unpleasantly. "Well, thanks for the info."

"That is not what I mean, captain," Seven said. "You have sought to include me in your poker games, and in recreational activities, but I have always declined. It is not because of a negative view for you, captain. It is my opinion that you are a very courageous and effective leader, with the ability to adapt quickly and intelligently to changing situations. You are a commanding presence, captain; you fill me with confidence in frightening circumstances. I am proud to serve under you, and believe that if the Federation is to survive, it will need captains like you leading us."

Riker wasn't quite sure what to say. "Thank you," he said. "And for what it's worth, I'm glad I have someone as brilliant and dedicated as you in my crew." He had to ask. "What brought that on?"

Seven opened her mouth, then closed it. "Since we were trapped in the Tsunkatse facility, Joseph and I had become friends to an extent. I respected him a great deal, yet I did not tell him that." Seven hesitated. "It reminded me that I failed to tell Data how much his friendship meant to me. I have come to realize that some things must be stated, that words carry power."

Riker nodded. "Thank you again, commander. Please inform the rest of the senior officers that we'll be rendezvousing at Utopia Planetia at 0900 tomorrow."

"A new ship?" Seven inquired.

"Maybe," Riker said, but then shook his head. "But then, this is Jellico we're talking about."

"We need men like him as well, captain," Seven said.

"Of course."

"Preferably on the rear lines."

It was so matter-of-factly stated that when it registered it was all Riker could do not to fall over laughing on the spot. "0900, commander," he said with another laugh as he walked away. "And let's try not to offend the rear admiral."

Leia looked up as Han came into their quarters, telling instantly that things didn't go well, but asking all the same.

"He wouldn't talk to me," Han admitted, relaxing into the chair, a scowl firmly entrenched on his face. "I've never seen him like this before."

"I'm really worried. Ever since he got back from the battle, Luke's been acting so... distant."

Han suddenly jerked up a little bit, a distant look in his eyes. He turned anxiously to Leia. "You don't think the Borg did something to him, do you?"

"Come on," Leia said, trying to dismiss it but finding it difficult. "What could the Borg do to him?"

Han came over and sat next to her. "You didn't see the way he looked on Yarval," Han replied. "Rambling on about Planetary Grid whatjamajigs and 'resistance is futile' garbage. I think something might have happened. I really think you should talk with him."

"He doesn't want to see me," Leia said, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice. "I can tell, whenever I get close that he gets uncomfortable." Before she could continue C-3PO shuffled into the room. "What is it Threepio?" she asked as pleasantly as she could under the circumstances.

"Oh, your highness, please excuse my intrusion. But, I'm afraid that you have a visitor and I thought it would be inappropriate to keep the ambassador waiting."

Leia got up from the couch. "We'll discuss this some more later," she said to Han as she walked towards the door. She stepped into the conversation area where the ambassador was standing, waiting as always with patience. "My apologies for the delay," she said as she came to greet him.

Ambassador Spock nodded. "I need to discuss with you a matter of some urgency." The two took a seat as he continued. "I presume you are aware of the destruction of your base at the wormhole and the presence of the Borg?"

"Yes," she said, a slight pain to her voice. The Borg; she'd been so preoccupied with Luke she'd almost forgotten about them. "We would like to thank the Federation for its aid in the battle; although we failed to stop them, we are grateful for the sacrifice you made trying to protect our people."

Spock nodded in acknowledgment. "The Federation is concerned about this situation, and are making every effort to retake the wormhole to restore communications with your galaxy. Unfortunately, the attack came while our mutual ambassadors were discussing the issues of peace with the Empire to their respective governments; there is now no direct dialogue with the New Republic. We ask that you serve as the representative of the Republic to the Federation during the interim, to help us better coordinate our efforts regarding the Borg."

Leia had gotten somewhat used to Vulcan directness, but was nevertheless surprised by the bluntness of Amb. Spock's request. "I understand your request, but I do not wish to slight the Romulans. Amb. Raay to the Klingons might be a more preferrable choice."

Spock shook his head. "Relations right now with the Klingon Empire are strained enough already; their absence from the engagement at the wormhole demonstrates how close they are to dissolving the Alliance. We dare not take any steps which might cause them to do so." Leia had to admit it was a valid point. "I will deal with the Romulans," Spock replied to her unspoken question. "I've had some experience with them. I ask that you consider my request."

After he had left, Leia did a brief Jedi strength mantra to help clear her head and renew her spirit. Luke, the Borg, the Romulans, the Klingons, they all seemed to require her immediate attention. Funny, a few years ago the only concern was peace, now it was keeping that peace alive. The constant responsibility of a leader, and of a Jedi.

He watched, unable to believe his own eyes. He'd observed the Borg for centuries and had never seen them like this. One ship after another traveled towards the anomaly, disappearing into some other galaxy totally unprepared for them. Clearly there's been some major change in the Collective, he thought. The Borg aren't interested in political conquest; their expansion is based purely on their drive towards self-improvement, and yet they clearly seem to be on some kind of quest.

Curious, he scanned through their space looking for any other changes in behavior. It took a few minutes; Borg space is rather large. Finally he found it, a series of bizarre Borg activities. It took some investigation, but he found them. Very strange, he thought as he observed the hive in action, this doesn't fit their characteristics at all. He puzzled over this for some time, watching them work. Finally, bored with the scene, he set off to explore what the Federation was up to; he was very interested in how they would approach this situation.

The entire Enterprise command crew had been waiting as Picard came off the turbolift: Riker, LaForge, Beverly, Borui, and Seven, all in formal uniforms. Apparently whatever Jellico had planned was quite spectacular. Just as he thought it the Admiral came walking around the corner. "Jean-luc," he said, grabbing and shaking his hand before he could even speak, "Glad you could make it!" He looked at the assembled officers with a smile. "Well, I suppose now's the time to begin. Starfleet has just commissioned a new vessel for the war effort, one which will hopefully help turn the tide of battle in our favor, and at my request, the most experienced crew will be at the helm."

"What ship?" Riker asked.

"Trust me," Jellico said, and turned down the hall.

"First time for everything," Dr. Crusher muttered, as the group began to follow him. They came into a room with opaque glass and Jellico stopped.

"Just promise me one thing," he said, holding his hands up and gesturing as he spoke. "Promise me you'll be a bit more careful with this one." He turned to the ensign nearby. "Transparent." Immediately the glass turned clear and they looked out at the starship just beyond.

"Oh my God," Laforge whispered.

"Intriguing modifications," Seven commented. "Three nacelles. This will improve speed and maneuverability?"

"Absolutely," Jellico said, unable to hide his grin. "What do you think?"

"That," Riker stumbled for words, "That's not-"

"It is," Jellico replied, stepping right up to the glass to admire the ship. "Galaxy class. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the USS Enterprise."

Go To Part XII
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