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       #Post#: 14088--------------------------------------------------
       Elseworlds Story: Hope in a Hopeless Battle
       By: Zorbak the Ebil Moglin Date: April 17, 2022, 9:03 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Prologue:
       Prologue Theme: Battle Watch (
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtTWVfZi3GU
       )
       Captain's Log: Stardate 50893.5
       The Borg... They have spread through the universe like a flood.
       There is little trace of the Federation ever since the Terran
       system fell. The Enterprise is still here, barely. We have
       failed to stop the Borg from assimilating Former Captain,
       Jean-Luc Picard. Although now he is known as Locutus of Borg...
       And then after we lost Data, now Archive of Borg, we have had
       little hope of mounting any attempt at stoping Locutus from
       wiping out the remains of any resistance in the universe. The
       Klingons, the humans, the Vulcans,the Celestians, even the
       Romulans. No one has been able to stop them, and they have now
       completely taken over Federation Space. Those of us left have
       allied together for one last attack. If we do not stop Locutus
       here, then humanity's hope is lost. Luckily for us, remnants of
       the resistance have lured Archive's Borg Cube away. We now have
       a straight shot to Locutus, and we are making our way past the
       other Borg.
       If we are to have any hope, we must either save Picard, or
       destroy Locutus. Little hope remains, and whether we are
       successful or not, I fear this may be the Enterprise's last
       battle. We have tracked Locutus into the Terran System where we
       are attempting to face him.
       The odds aren't in our favor. In my opinion, we lost this war,
       when our forces failed to save Picard the first time after his
       assimilation. However, our attempts now are just desperate
       attempts to weaken the Borg, and hope that we can weaken them
       enough for another species to hopefully finish what we started.
       Guinan says we'll survive as a species... But I'm not so sure.
       I have hope... But I have to face the reality that there is no
       hope for us. Our last desperate attempt at a counterattack, and
       we know there's no way that saving one person will stop the
       Borg, even if Locutus is their commander. They'll just replace
       him if we save Picard.
       We can only hope that we fall in battle if we fail... Rather
       than become one of them...
       Main Story:
       Clara Rose Against the Borg Theme: Red Alert (
  HTML https://youtu.be/KgVXk7u2WAQ
       )
       Riker: Fire torpedos! He says to his officer, Worf. Riker was
       watching as the Borg was attempting to lock on to the Enterprise
       with a tractor beam, which Riker knew what that meant, that the
       Borg were going to take them and add them to their collective.
       As the Enterprise fires, the torpedos hit the Borg cube, but
       little damage is done. The Enterprise continues firing it's
       phasers, but to little avail.
       Riker: Keep firing! We have to destroy that cube! He says to the
       crew.
       Worf: Sir! The Borg Cube is firing!
       Riker: Evasive Maneuvers! He says in response. Keep those
       shields on oscillating frequences. Do NOT let them lock on to
       us!
       The Borg cube fires again, hitting the Enterprise, and nearly
       breaking the shields.
       The Enterprise tries to move, firing as it moves, but the Borg
       Cube keeps firing on the ship with great accuracy, almost as
       though they were predicting the movements of the Enterprise.
       Worf: Sir! Shields down!  We are venting atmosphere on decks
       15-24! He says to Riker, who looks to the screen in front of
       them. They had fought valiantly, but once the ship rocked as the
       Borg's tractor beam locked on and the Borg Cube shot and
       destroyed their weapons system, Riker knew what was to come
       next.
       Riker: Worf... Set auto-destruct. He says, sad that they had
       failed in their final task.
       Worf: Yes sir... Arming now. He says as he tries to arm the
       self-destruct.
       Riker: If we lose, we're not giving them the satisfaction of
       adding us to their "collection."
       As Riker talks, the screen flares to life again, and shows
       Locutus staring them down.
       Locutus: It is over for you. Now, you will be assimilated.
       Resistance is futile. He says to them.
       Riker: Not likely. He says with a smile. However, his confidence
       turns to terror as the alarms go off, but not for the self
       destruct.
       Worf: Sir! I've lost control of our systems! Our systems power
       has been drained by their tractor beam! He says, looking at his
       screens which were dying.
       Riker turns to Worf. Riker: How is that possible?!
       Locutus: As I told you before, Number One... He says, using
       Number One, as a way to taunt Riker. The knowledge of the human
       Picard, is part of us now. I knew you would try to destroy
       yourselves rather than be captured, so we set up this little
       trick for when we captured any Federation ships. It is over.
       Your resistance. It ends here.
       Riker, desperate, goes to the computer console, but the consoles
       start to fail, some short circuiting.
       Riker: No... No! He says desperately as he tries to figure out
       some last strategy. We can't let them take us! We will die
       fighting! He says, desperation having taken over. Riker:
       Dammit... We have to figure out something! Worf? He says looking
       over to Worf.
       Worf: I'm... sorry, sir... There's nothing left I can do. He
       says as he tries to find a way to at least set off the
       autodestruct sequence.
       Riker looks to the screen, knowing they had lost. Riker: Destroy
       us... We'd rather die than become Borg.
       Locutus: Death is irrelevant. Assimilation is inevitable.
       Riker turns away, fear now on his face. It was a fearful look he
       didn't want Locutus to see, as he didn't want to give Locutus
       the satisfaction.
       However, the ship rocks again, as something seems to surprise
       even Locutus.
       Riker: Worf! What's happening?! He says to Worf.
       Worf looks at his screen. Worf: It's... Another ship! It's of no
       design known to us, and it appears to have come out of some kind
       of distortion in space-time! He says. He then looks at the
       screen and back as he notices the other ship put their own
       tractor beam on the Enterprise. Sir... The other ship. It's put
       some kind of shield on us with its tractor beam! The shield cut
       off the Borg tractor beam. And the shield is oscillating in a
       way the Borg cannot lock on. The oscillation seems to be not
       only oscillating in frequency, but in strength and flow.
       Whatever this shield is, the Borg seem to not be able to
       penetrate it. It reads differently each millisecond it's active
       almost like it's changing it's very energy randomly so the Borg
       cannot adapt to the energy on any frequency.
       Riker looks to Worf. Riker: What? How is that possible? He says,
       new hope in his gaze as he hoped the people who were now
       shielding the ship might save them.
       As they talk, a new face appears on screen, with Aizen Zarick
       appearing. Zarick: I am Captain Aizen Zarick of the
       Intergalactic Researcher's Alliance.
       Locutus: One ship cannot help you. You will be assimilated as
       well. We are the Borg. He says as he fires on the Clara Rose,
       which was between the Enterprise and the Borg Cube.
       Zarick: Yeah... Heard that bit a million times. He says with an
       eye roll. As he hits a few buttons on his console, his ship
       becomes coated in a metallic armor that covers it completely.
       Worf: Sir... The ship... It's got some kind of armor. He says as
       he looks at the reading. As the Borg Cube tries to fire on the
       ship, the Clara Rose is undamaged. The Borg Cube also tries to
       fire on the Enterprise, hoping to send feedback through the
       shield to the Clara Rose. Whatever this energy shield is they
       used on us... It's stronger than our shields. After taking so
       many hits, the shield is barely even damaged.
       Zarick chuckles on the screen. Zarick: Well... I've fought the
       Borg in many universes. So I know how to take them on.
       Riker: What? He says as he looks at the screen in confusion.
       Many universes? If his theory was correct, things were starting
       to make sense how this new ship had appeared out of nowhere and
       how they were holding their own against the Borg.
       Locutus: Other universes? The Borg will assimilate them as well.
       He says to Zarick.
       Zarick sighs. Zarick: I shouldn't have said that... But oh well.
       He looks to Locutus. Dr. Tolodora. You know what to do. He says
       confidently over comms.
       Dr. Tolodora: We're ready. She says from her corner of the ship.
       Zarick: Don't worry, Jean-Luc Picard. We'll have you back to
       your old self soon. He says with a smile.
       Riker looks in confusion, not only as to how Zarick seemed to
       know Picard, but also as he watched Locutus being teleported
       while still on screen, over to the Clara Rose.
       Riker: That... wasn't a Federation warp? He says, now completely
       lost.
       Worf: It was... and wasn't. Somehow he managed to warp Locutus
       right out of the Borg Ship... Just like how they typically do
       with us! He says, analyzing what happened.
       Zarick: Yes... We have some fun tech. He says jokingly to Riker.
       The Clara Rose then fires a large beam of energy, slicing
       through the Borg Cube in one beam. As the Borg Cube starts to
       explode, more Borg Cubes come out of transwarp from nearby. The
       ships replace Locutus in the Borg communication.
       Borg: We are Borg. You will surrender. We have an army.
       Zarick looks and sighs. Zarick: Send this message back to your
       people... Retreat from Federation space, and you will be allowed
       to survive. Never come to this space again.
       Borg: You will be assimilated. We have numbers. The Borg
       communication says.
       Zarick: This is your only warning. If you do not withdraw now...
       Your race will fall into ruin. This weapon is designed to
       disrupt your transwarp technology and your collective
       consciousness throughout subspace on a galactic scale. I do not
       wish to be someone who commits to genocide, but you have been
       warned. We defend less advanced races from races like yourself.
       If you force me to, it will lead to ruin among your race since
       your race cannot operate individually.
       As Zarick talks, even more Borg cubes come out of transwarp all
       around them, almost as though trying to call Zarick's bluff.
       Borg: If you had such a weapon, you would have used it. You
       cannot escape the full might of the Borg.
       Zarick sighs. Zarick: I didn't use it because I don't like
       genocide. But you force my hand. He looks over to Jega, who was
       on tactical. Jega... Launch the Borg Disrupter Wave. And make
       sure Picard is protected from the wave until Dr. Tolodora
       finishes her work disconnecting him from the Borg Collective. He
       says to Jega. Jega just nods and arms the wave, firing it
       without hesitation.
       Riker: A Borg Disrupter Wave?
       Zarick: Just like it sounds. He says cheerfully over the comms
       as the wave is emitted.
       While it takes a moment, the Borg ships all seem to suffer fatal
       malfunctions, which causes them to self destruct. Thankfully,
       the Clara Rose's shields, and the shield they placed around the
       Enterprise, protects them from the blasts all around them.
       Riker: I wish you'd started with that. He says jokingly.
       Zarick: I hate it when my enemies don't listen to me. He says
       with a shrug. He then looks to Riker. We beamed Picard on board.
       Once we've disconnected him and removed his cybernetic implants,
       you'll get your captain back. Also, on our way here, we found
       your Data and disconnected him as well. He's on board one of the
       other ships we upgraded before coming here.
       Riker then sits in his chair, looking at Zarick with a reliefed
       smile. Riker: Well... After this, we should get some drinks. On
       us. He says, reliefed that the battle was now over.
       Zarick: Indeed. But we do need to finish fixing your ship before
       we go anywhere.
       Riker: What about the other Borg?
       Zarick: Don't worry... That wave is going to bring them to the
       bring of ruin. Your ships won't be able to communicate in
       subspace for a while, but it should prevent the Borg from being
       able to communicate at all for up to 2 years. By that point,
       their individuality will return and they will probably destroy
       each other in a massive civil war for control of their "empire"
       once the Borg start to regain their original selves
       personalities.
       Riker: So... That's what you meant about genocide?
       Zarick: Indeed. I hate using it. But I do give fair warning
       before I take drastic measures. He says with a shrug. Now... If
       you want, your crew can beam over to our ship while we start
       repair work on your ship. We'll let the drones handle resealing
       your hull. He says to Riker.
       Riker: No complaints here. He says jokingly.
       Two Days Later:
       Aftermath Discussion Theme: Captain's Log (
  HTML https://youtu.be/aiK13z4bepo
       )
       It had been a few days since the attack. The Clara Rose was
       transporting the Enterprise and its crew back to the
       Resistance's temporary gathering point. Picard had been
       disconnected, and physically, was back to being a full human. Of
       course, psychologically, it was a very different story as he
       struggled knowing all the deaths he had caused, and how many
       systems he had helped take over as Locutus.
       As Picard thinks to himself, Dr. Tolodora and the medical doctor
       both walk in. The man was similar age to Dr. Tolodora, and was
       smoking what appeared to be a cigarette.
       Picard: Doctor... He says in greeting to Dr. Tolodora, the only
       one he knew so far as he hadn't met the medical doctor yet.
       Dr. Tolodora: Didn't mean to disturb you.
       Picard: It's... fine. I was just thinking. About all the lost
       lives. How can I just go on like nothing happened? He says,
       struggling with everything that had happened.
       Dr. Tolodora sits down, across from Picard and looks him in the
       eyes. Dr. Tolodora: It's not easy. I can't count the number of
       people we've disconnected from the Borg who have gone through
       exactly what you are. Hell, my universe was almost taken over by
       the Borg. She says as the medical doctor looks over Picard.
       Picard, was a bit surprised, but lets the doctor looks him over.
       Dr. Tolodora: Right... You haven't met our chief medical officer
       yet I assume?
       Picard: I haven't.
       Dr. Tolodora smiles. Dr. Tolodora: Well... This is our chief
       medical officer, and my half brother, Dr. Delsin Rowe. Just call
       him Dr. Rowe. She says, introducing Dr. Rowe.
       Dr. Rowe: Sup. He says to Picard with a casual greeting nod.
       Picard: A pleasure. He says politely to Dr. Rowe, and then turns
       to Dr. Tolodora. So how do you people do it? How do you help
       others in my position?
       Dr. Tolodora gets a serious expression, not at all like her
       normal cheery self. She looks to Picard. Dr. Tolodora: It's not
       easy... It won't ever be easy. Sure you get used to it and try
       to find a way to help others so they don't have to suffer like
       you have, but it will never stop weighing on you.
       Picard looks to Dr. Tolodora. Picard: I honestly wonder if you
       should have destroyed the cube and myself on it.
       Dr. Tolodora thinks for a moment, staying serious. Dr. Tolodora:
       Let me tell you a story... In my universe, my first husband and
       I fought during the Borg Invasion... I ended up killing him.
       Alucard tried hard, but I had to do what I had to do. When you
       are Borg, you have no choice...
       Picard: Alucard Tepes? The Vampire? He says, knowing the name. I
       can't imagine him as a Borg. That sounds like a nightmare.
       Dr. Tolodora and Dr. Rowe both laugh. Dr. Tolodora: You're
       right, that would be a nightmare... But you misunderstand. She
       says as she gets serious again. She takes off her glasses with
       with one hand, and uses her other to move her hair to the side
       of her left eye. As she does, her eye lights up with cybernetic
       light, showing that her eye was artifical. Alucard wasn't the
       one who was taken over by the Borg... I was. I was once Lucrexia
       of Borg. She explains before letting her hair back down and
       putting her glasses on.
       Picard, looking at Dr. Tolodora, was stunned. Picard: You were?
       Dr. Tolodora: Yes... I nearly ruined our universe just as this
       one was nearly ruined. In fact, Captain Zarick's appearance in
       our universe... Was almost identical to how he appeared in my
       universe. She says, looking down.
       Picard: That... Explains it. Locutus sensed something
       familiar... But he couldn't figure it out. He tried to figure
       out what you were. But he couldn't. He says, remembering when
       Dr. Tolodora was disconnecting him from the Borg implants as
       they were getting rid of Locutus.
       Dr. Tolodora: Right... He can't sense who I was, because who I
       was didn't exist in this universe.
       Picard: Tell me... How did... it happen? He asks her curiously.
       Dr. Tolodora: I was... on a mission. We got a distress call from
       one of our bases. It had been scooped up by the Borg. After the
       you in my world had been captured and saved by your crew, the
       Borg tried to capture someone else instead... So they lured me
       there, hoping that they could capture me and use my time lord
       knowledge. She explains. But we weren't about to go alone after
       what happened to you in my world. So two Klingon ships went with
       us. She looks down again. We didn't stand a chance. Seven Borg
       cubes came out of warp from different directions. We fought with
       every ounce of strength we could, but they captured us. She
       sighs. The Borg didn't want a rescue attempt succeeding, so the
       Klingons captured were modified into Lucrexia's personal guard.
       Known only as the 35 Guards. With me as Lucrexia. She sighs.
       Dr. Rowe stays silent, sitting down. He knew this was something
       he shouldn't interrupt, and just listens while smoking his
       cigarette.
       Picard: So... You almost took over your world? He says to Dr.
       Tolodora.
       Dr. Tolodora: That's right... It still haunts me. That's why I
       use my experiences now to help people like you who were in my
       position. She says, looking back at him while adjusting her
       glasses. But it will never ease my conscious, or make me forget
       my fight with Alucard. She thinks back. His familiars vs my army
       of Borg... It was one heck of a fight. Alucard and my brother
       had a plan ready, but that plan didn't work when Alucard was
       killed. My brother had to retreat.
       Picard: I'm sorry... I know this can't be easy to talk about.
       Dr. Tolodora smiles sadly. Dr. Tolodora: No... It's not. But if
       it can help you, then so be it. I stopped trying to feel sorry
       for myself a long time ago. She regains her confident demeanor.
       Serving on this ship... It's been a great way to help others. I
       even met my second husband during my travels. Though these days,
       he captains his own ship, the Crimson Mercury.
       Picard: Who is your husband? He asks curiously.
       Dr. Tolodora: Dr. Omega Kindron Darkfire. You haven't met him,
       but he's a member of our group as well. She says simply. When we
       met him, he was cybernetically enhanced and turned into a
       cyborg... Well... a fallen angel cyborg at least. She says with
       a shrug. When we met him, we had to bring a corrupt doctor out
       of his tyrant power, and we had to disconnect some he'd forced
       to serve him. She sighs and thinks back. I helped rehabilitate
       him after we removed most of his cybernetics and fixed him back
       up. He still has them, but at least now they're barely
       noticable.
       Picard: So... I take it you two bonded over... what happened to
       each of you? He says, now mostly just indulging his curiosity as
       long as Dr. Tolodora was willing to talk, mostly to try and stop
       thinking about what had happened.
       Dr. Tolodora: Something like that. Not only did we connect well
       initially over what happened, and I gave him a similar talk I'm
       giving to you. She says the last part jokingly. But... I don't
       know. He joined us on our ship for a while, and we spent so much
       time in the labs together working on stuff. She smiles with a
       slight chuckle. We spent days at a time in there. Just working
       on stuff together. We would both lose track of time and Captain
       Zarick or my brother would have to come and pull us out of the
       lab.
       Dr. Rowe sighs and shrugs. Dr. Rowe: And make sure you two would
       eat... You still forget to eat dinner sometimes when you're busy
       working on stuff, sis. He says to Dr. Tolodora.
       Dr. Tolodora chuckles to herself. Yeah. I do that.
       Picard looks to Dr. Tolodora and Dr. Rowe, noticing something as
       Dr. Rowe adjusts his glasses. Picard: Dr. Tolodora... You have a
       cybernetic eye? Why do you all wear glasses? Don't you have ways
       of restoring vision?
       Dr. Tolodora takes off the glasses and hands them to Picard. Dr.
       Tolodora: Yes we do. These glasses aren't actually corrective
       lenses. They're tech I developed. She explains.
       Picard looks through the glasses, realizing what the tech did,
       and why everyone would wear them almost immediately as he
       realized that the glasses worked very similarly to another
       device he'd seen before except that he was able to see with just
       the glasses rather than needing implants. Picard: These
       glasses... They don't require implants to use?
       Dr. Tolodora: I figured you'd recognize the design. She says
       cheerfully. And no, they don't.
       Picard: I bet Geordi would love these. He says jokingly.
       Dr. Tolodora: In my universe, Geordi helped me make the first
       set of these. He now holds on to them and uses a special set of
       implants I designed that he doesn't need his visor anymore. She
       explains.
       Picard: You guys have such fascinating technology... It's not
       just weapons or ship technology.
       Dr. Tolodora smiles and chuckles to herself. Dr. Tolodora: Nope.
       We have tech of all kinds. Stuff we develop, stuff we get from
       other universes, and other stuff that's different entirely. She
       says.
       Picard: Interesting.
       Dr. Rowe: Well... Perhaps we should report to the captain. He
       says to Dr. Tolodora.
       Dr. Tolodora: Really? He is finally more talkative though. She
       says to Dr. Rowe.
       Dr. Rowe: Yeah, but we do need to keep up to date with the
       captain. And probably update Riker on his condition.
       Picard: It's okay... I'll be fine here till you get back. Let
       Riker know I'm okay. He says to Dr. Tolodora.
       Dr. Tolodora: Alright... But call me if you have anymore
       questions, okay? Or if you have anything you need.
       Picard: Thank you, Doctor. He says to Dr. Tolodora, who then
       nods to him and goes to report to the captain alongside her
       brother.
       Two Weeks Later.
       Repairs Complete Theme: Main Theme (
  HTML https://youtu.be/QAOJAK0648A
       )
       It had been a long two weeks. However, the Enterprise was not
       only repaired, but upgraded with new technology after the
       repairs.
       Picard and Zarick were now talking over comms, where Picard was
       on the bridge of the Enterprise, and Zarick was on board the
       Clara Rose. The Enterprise crew was now aboard the Enterprise,
       and the Enterprise was getting ready to disembark.
       Picard: Thank you, for everything. You truly have saved our
       universe.
       Zarick: It was no problem, Captain. Always a pleasure to help.
       He says cheerfully.
       Picard looks to Riker, who looks back to him as though saying
       "Ask him" like Riker and Picard had something to ask.
       Zarick: Go ahead. If you have any concerns, I'm all ears. He
       says to them.
       Picard: Well... We were curious. He looks to Zarick. What would
       it for a ship and it's crew... Say... He waves his hands a bit
       in a gesture. A ship like the Enterprise... join your
       Researcher's Alliance?
       Zarick: Oh? Looking to put in an application with the group, are
       you? He says jokingly.
       Picard: We are. He gets serious as he looks to Zarick. You have
       done us a great service in helping save our lives... But even if
       we find another planet to settle on, exploration in this
       universe will be... difficult with so little life in our part of
       the universe. We thought about it, and the crew is in
       agreement... He looks to Zarick with a smile. If you'll have us,
       we'd like to travel with you.
       Zarick smiles. Zarick: Well... We'd have to upgrade your ship a
       bit more. If you're certain, I can introduce you to Dr. Darkfire
       of the Crimson Mercury. You can travel with him and he can make
       upgrades to your ship as you travel. He then gets serious. Are
       you sure about this? About leaving your universe behind? The New
       Federation could use your skill in building a new colony. He
       says, referring to the new group that had formed composed of
       humans, Vulcans, Klingons and Romulans that had resisted the
       Borg and now were looking to set up a new Federation.
       Picard: We're sure... The Borg are no longer a threat here, and
       your anti-Borg tech is going to help it stay that way. They
       should be able to get on without us. We decided that we'd like
       to explore the multiverse. Use our ship to help other universes,
       as you have helped us. He explains.
       Zarick: Well... Then I'll have to get together with Dr.
       Darkfire... But I'd say your chances look pretty good right now.
       He says jokingly. Welcome to the Intergalactic Researcher's
       Alliance, Captain Picard.
       Picard: Thank you, Captain Zarick. He says with a thankful
       smile.
       End.
       *****************************************************