"I'm not asking you to join me, General," said Magus. "The plan is quite simple. Your main forces will provide me with backup from the surrounding area, while Drathro, Galen, Burke, and Virdon provide the primary backup, keeping an eye on the main entrance, if there is one."
"All of this just to save a few apes," said Bel Iblis.
"If we do nothing, then Galen here will be all that's left of his species!" Magus added.
"You can count us in," said Burke.
"I, too," said Galen. "Although I have my doubts about your plan, Doctor, I will do all I can to help you."
"Thank you, Galen," said Magus. "That's all I ask. General, walk with me."
Seconds later, Magus and Bel Iblis left the main group.
"I didn't want to tell you this in front of the others, General. I used my powers to scan the entire planet a while back. What I found is most disturbing. Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the Imperial forces have been assimilated, and ninety-eight-point-seven of all the indigenous population, both ape and humanoid, have also gone."
"And how long before we're assimilated? The longer we remain on this world, the greater the chance, which is why I have my doubts about this operation."
"As odd as it may seem, General, we are all being protected by my 'aura', as it were."
"What do you mean?"
"During the Borg incursion into the Alpha Quadrant a few years back, they tried to assimilate me and found that my energy signature was not compatible with theirs. In effect, I gave them a stomach ache!"
"So as long as we remain near you, we're protected. But what about your so-called help? Your agent? Is he protected?"
"I have tutored him, and he does have a mild form of protection, but it worries me. My scans revealed that he and the last few remaining apes have been captured. So far they haven't been assimilated, but it's only a matter of time. Which is why we must hurry!"
Caesar watched as the Borg designated Seven of Nine continued to carry out scans of his entire body. All the while, the ape continued to protest.
"What have you done with my friends?" he asked. "Zaius? Cornelius?"
Seven of Nine continued to scan Caesar, noting down all the readings and sharing them with the collective.
"You are a temporal anomaly," she said. "It is illogical that you should be here."
"You Borg are just like Vulcans!" said Caesar. "Always going on about logic!"
"How do you know of the Vulcans?" Thrawn called out.
"Now is not the time for you to interrogate me, Admiral!" said Caesar. "In case you haven't noticed, we are in the same situation!"
Then, Seven of Nine suddenly stopped and turned her attention away from her prisoner. It was as if she had suddenly been made aware of something from the collective. Then, without explanation, she left Caesar, leaving him and Thrawn confused.
"What's going on?" asked Caesar.
"You seem to be the one with all of the answers, monkey!" said Thrawn. "You tell me!"
From a crouched position, Burke and Galen watched the Borg scoutship in the middle of the clearing. By normal Borg standards, the ship was quite small, but it was still the largest vessel either of them had seen.
"Will you look at the size of that thing?" Burke said. "It's huge!"
"It looks like nothing more than a huge box!" said Galen.
Burke motioned for him to be quiet and then pointed to the clearing below, to the small figure of Magus approaching the Borg cube. With a gentle trot in his step, Magus approached the cube, and with his right hand, knocked on the hull in an almost polite manner.
"Excuse me! May I borrow a cup of sugar?"
From his position, Burke allowed himself a slight chuckle.
"What is so funny?" asked Galen.
"The stories I've heard about that guy! I'll tell you some time!"
Once more, Magus knocked on the cube.
"Hello! Anyone home?"
Burke and Galen were half expecting some sort of door to open. Instead, a transporter beam engulfed Magus, whisking him away. Moments later, Magus found himself in the heart of the Borg cube.
"It's certainly been a long time since I've been inside one of these beasties!" he said to himself.
Thrawn and Caesar watched as several Borg drones, including Seven of Nine and the other female they had seen, rushed past them. Then, Caesar closed his eyes, concentrating for a few moments. Then, for the first time in ages, he allowed himself a smile.
"He is here!"
"Who?" asked Thrawn.
"You will see."
Once again, Caesar closed his eyes, and a few seconds later, he spoke again, keeping his eyes tightly shut.
"The Borg are fools!" he said. "They should never have kept it so close!"
Thrawn looked on as what appeared to be a storage compartment opened all by itself. Then, the small device that Caesar had used a few times before began to float upwards and then began to slowly move towards Caesar.
"Are you a Jedi?" Thrawn asked. "Are the fabled Jedi Masters training monkeys now?"
Caesar did not answer, instead concentrating on his efforts. Moments later, the small device let off an energy charge towards Caesar's restraints, disintegrating them. As soon as he was sitting up, the device nestled in his hand. Getting off the table, Caesar approached Thrawn.
"How the mighty have fallen," he said. "You know, for what you did to my people, I should leave you here, let you take your chances with the Borg. But then again, I'm not like that. I have compassion for my fellow creatures, and it's because of that, I'm going to do this!"
Caesar held his device above Thrawn, and a short energy discharge later, his restraints were also gone. Sitting up, Thrawn began to rub his wrists.
"Perhaps I was wrong about you," he said.
"Perhaps," said Caesar. "But now I've done you a favor, you can do one for me. Help me find the others."
"What's the point?" asked Thrawn. "They've probably already been assimilated!"
"I can assure you, Admiral, that they have not!"
Slowly, Magus walked through the corridors of the Borg cube, taking in everything around him, gathering as much visual information as he could. Then he heard many footsteps approaching. He didn't need his powers to tell him that several drones were approaching him. Instead of standing still, Magus decided to meet up with them. Turning down another corridor, Magus soon saw his welcoming party.
"Excuse me, kind sir! Can you please tell me the way to Glenfinnan? I appear to be lost!"
The Borg's first instinct was to attack by firing their energy weapons at him. However, Magus was already prepared, and the energy blasts were blocked by a quickly erected shield. Once more, the Borg fired, this time several at a time, and this time, it had the same effect—nothing.
"You're not the only ones who can adapt to energy weapons!" said Magus. "I've been doing it for centuries!"
Then, the Borg stopped firing, having been given the command to do so. Magus was about to attack himself when he saw someone he recognized approaching them.
"Phincas Magus!" a female voice boomed. "You will be assimilated! Resistance is futile!"
"Ah!" said Magus. "Long live the Queen!"
Then, to the astonishment of all the Borg drones, Magus began to sing his heart out, giving a striking rendition of "God Save the Queen."
The Borg were now even more confused. This small creature was proving to be an illogical creature. If it hadn't been for the presence of their Queen, their circuits would have probably burned out. Magus allowed himself a slight smile. He was winning the battle, and all he was doing was singing.
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