The Hive Mind

Posted on Sun Jan 24th, 2016 @ 12:32am by Lieutenant Bryce Kendrick & Commander Oralia Zeferino & Commander Dae Nalas & Ignatius Reilly

Mission: Further Challenges
Location: Planet 6584

* Borg Cube *

For days, the small cluster of Borg drones trapped on Planet 6584 had worked to build both defensible ramparts and effective assault weapons. None had stopped to eat, though they had, one by one, recharged in an alcove. During this time, their most unique member, Species 99, drone One of Seven (redubbed from One of Five once Dae Nalas and Patrick Smith had been assimilated), had gone relatively unnoticed. She was too small to really help with construction and her tarsi couldn’t hold tools or parts, so she was a bit useless. This led to Species 99 being bored and feeling lonely - again.

Oralia? The sibilant voice echoed through the isolated hive mind. When no response came, the spider tried again, Oraaaaaalllliiiaaa! Still, no answer came. Bryce? Patrick? Dae? Anybody?

What… The voice had managed to stir Bryce from his duties. Who is… He was having a difficult time separating the hive thoughts in his head, albeit a small hive, to the persistent prodding of Iggy?, he finally thought.

That is me! She answered eagerly. Finally, someone to talk to! Who answered me? You know, I am surprised that I have not frozen stiff. Are you cold? Hungry? I have not seen any of you eat since we have been here. At this rate, Oralia will lose weight. So will you, Iggy needed no encouragement to chatter away.

Bryce finally managed to clear his head a bit more. Thankfully, the hold the Borg had on him wasn’t yet fully set. Bryce. Where are you?

I am right here, in the cube, by the alcove. And I am bored. She made the statement slowly, definitively, as if by taking her time saying it, she was giving it the gravitas due to it. But now! You are here and we can talk. Do you like being one of Oralia’s minions?

Is that how she refers to us?

At home? No, I do that. Darwin showed me a film with little gold-colored creatures beholden to one central master; he called them minions. Oralia’s team wears gold, so you must be her minions. Here, she calls you drones. I am not sure I like being a drone. I thought I would, since we have the hive mind, but no one talks to me. Well, no one was talking to me. Where are you? What are you doing?

I’m...working on something. I don’t even know what this is, but most of us are putting this thing together. Some sort of defense blockade, I think.

Oh, yes, because you and Oralia and Dae and Patrick, sorry, drones Four, Five, Six and Seven of Seven, know that no one on SB900 will let us just stay here. They are coming.

Soon, I hope.

Once they come, then we can leave and go assimilate the Station! Then I and my children will be able to communicate with everyone on the Station with a thought. The Computer will see us and open doors for us and the turbolift will stop on the exact floor we need, Iggy was obviously excited about the idea and continued chattering about all the things the Computer would be able to do for them.

Oralia! Bryce tried to scream. Somebody...I don’t think I can carry this conversation by myself.

Do not worry about that, Bryce, Iggy said, I can carry a conversation by myself. She proceeded to prove she could, chattering on about assimilating the Station.

You have big plans… The mental voice that interrupted Iggy sounded a trifle groggy. We have to get to the station first. I know the one who escaped us very well. It will not be easy.

Could we simply ask those who come to take us to the Station? That seems the simplest solution, Iggy asked.

You have much to learn, One of Seven. A few seconds later, a now transformed Dae stepped around the corner and approached the alcove. They will want to take us back but not for assimilation purposes. Or they will kill us...or try to.

What!? Kill us? Oz! Oz! Iggy panicked.

Shut up!, came a sudden, emotional thought from Oralia. You are so annoying, One of Seven.

Oz! Dae.. um... Six of Seven, says that our friends will try to kill us when they come!

That is correct. We must protect ourselves and be ready to assimilate them as well. One of Seven, your role here is to move past them once they leave their ship and inject the ship with nanoprobes.

I have a job! I can do that, Iggy bobbed up and down, though the only one who might see her do so was Dae.

No. Bryce said. They’ll try to save us first. It’s their way. If that doesn’t work, then they’ll have to try to kill us.

Us or them. We will have to move fast and make sure the shields are rotating properly. They will try to adapt but it will be a futile attempt, was Six of Seven’s opinion.

Ooo! I know this one: resistance is futile! Iggy was proud of herself for having remembered that line from somewhere.

I won’t do it. Bryce replied. Borg took all of us. I won’t take any more.

You will, Four of Seven. You are Borg. We are Borg, Five of Seven assured him.

***********
Ignatius J. Reilly
One of Seven

Lt. Bryce Kendrick
Rebel of Seven

Lt. Commander Dae Nalas
Six of Seven

Commander Oralia Zeferino
Five of Seven