Vora is in her assigned joint quarters, with Naomi, on Deck 4. They both just drifted off to sleep, but again, it is a very restless sleep. Both of them toss and turn most of the night, along with other classic signs of having nightmares. They both looked like they were having the same nightmare, as they were like mirror images of the other.

The only sound in the dimly lit quarters is the soft hum of the ship’s engines, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside them. They both had experienced the horrors of assimilation into the Borg Collective, forced to become drones under the cold command of the Borg Queen.

Naomi’s eyes fluttered closed, and her mind was transported back to the cube where she’d been assimilated. She saw herself as a drone, devoid of emotions, driven solely by the Collective’s will. The memories flooded her mind…the faces of her crewmates, the desperation in their eyes as she worked to assimilate them. She jolted awake, her heart racing.

Vora’s experience was similar, though her memories were tainted with the darkness of the Borg’s true intentions. She recalled the feeling of being a mere cog in a machine, her individuality stripped away. The nightmares lingered, a constant reminder of the atrocities they’d committed under the Collective’s control. Vora snapped awake as well.

The two former drones shared a bond, forged in the fires of their shared experiences. They knew the horrors they’d faced, the atrocities they’d committed. The nightmares were a reminder that the past was never truly past, that the memories of their time in the Collective would haunt them forever. Both Vora and Naomi both bolted upright at the same time. Both of them were sweaty from the nightmares they had.

“Not again,” Naomi softly said, on the verge of crying.

Vora looked over at Naomi.

“You too Naomi,” Vora asked.

Naomi looked at Vora, getting out of bed, just wearing a standard Starfleet issued T-shirt and shorts. Naomi walked over to the replicator.

“Lavender tea, hot, two cups,” Naomi ordered from the replicator.

The replicator whirled and sparkled as it produced two steaming hot cups of Lavender tea. Naomi carefully grabbed them both and walked over to Vora’s bedside. She carefully placed one on the nightstand next to Vora’s bed. Naomi sat in the chair next to her bed, taking a small sip of the hot tea.

“Hmm…flavorful and somewhat relaxing,” Naomi said after her first sip.

Vora got out of bed and sat across from Naomi. She picked up her cup and took a sip.

“Agreed. This is a refreshing drink. I hope it will help with these nightmares I have been having,” Vora admitted, feeling ashamed.

Naomi looked at her for a second.

“Vora, don’t blame yourself for the past. You were not yourself, but under the Collective’s control. I know how it feels. I think I found a way to help deal with what I’m feeling. It might help you too.”

Vora sipped her tea and thought about what Naomi told her. After a minute I’d two of dead silence, and Vora emptying her tea cup, she put the cup back on the nightstand and gave Naomi her answer.

“That sounds like a fascinating experience. Let’s do it.”

Naomi smiled as she finished her tea. She grabbed Vora’s and put both cups back into the replicator, where they dissolved back into nothingness from where they came from.

“Good. Go get dressed. We leave for the holodeck in five minutes,” Naomi said.

Both ladies get dressed in simple Starfleet issued civilian clothing and leave to go to the holodeck. Naomi gives Vora some tips on what will happen when they get there. They stop in front of the holodeck doors.

“Computer, run program Naomi Alpha 1.”

The computer beeped in acknowledgement and the doors whooshed open, revealing a single looking classroom feeling room. Almost as if a general looking Academy classroom was replicated. There was an instructor’s desk in front of a whiteboard. There were several student desks arranged in neat rows. Naomi and Vora stepped inside the holodeck doors. The doors whooshed closed behind them and the back wall of the simulation appeared, completing the program. The women slowly walked to the front of the classroom.

As they approached the professor’s desk, a person suddenly appeared behind the desk. The person that appeared looked tall and athletic, with long blonde hair that is down past her shoulders. She has piercing blue eyes with high cheek ones and a slightly small nose. There is a very noticeable Borg ocular implant above her eye. One of her hands seems to have an implant that frames her fingers. She is wearing a sleek, silver colored uniform that complements her fit physique. The figure stands tall behind the instructor’s desk, her presence exuding confidence, poise, vitality, and intelligence and commands respect with her quiet authority.

“Greetings students, identify yourselves,” the holodeck figure commanded, as a preprogrammed response.

Naomi spoke up first.

“Greetings Instructor. My name is Naomi. This is my friend Vora. She is having the same problems sleeping as I used to.”

The hologram seemed to look straight at Naomi. Her demeanor changed, a slight smile crept on her face as the hologram recognized who spoke.

“Ahh Naomi, it is my pleasure to see you again. I hope my lessons on finding your humanity again have been helpful.” The hologram turned to look at Vora.

“Hello Vora. I managed to find my own way back to being human from the Borg…with a friend’s help. Now, I want to help you, as I have helped Naomi. The path I will lead you in will be very difficult, almost impossible. However, if you have steadfast courage and strength of character, then I believe you will be able to find your way back to being human as well. Are you willing to take on this enormous task to rediscover your humanity?”

Naomi stood next to Vora, looking at Vora. Vora looked from the hologram to Naomi. Her facial expression betrayed her inner battle. One side wanting to rediscover who she was and the other side fighting her from doing that. Naomi gently grabbed Vora’s hand.

“Vora, it will be a hard struggle. It was extremely difficult for me, but look at me now. I feel more human then drone. I haven’t had as many nightmares as I used to. If you choose to do this, I will be with you every step of the way. I promise you.”

Vora thought it over some more. The hologram stood still, waiting for Vora to respond. Vora looked unsure of what to do. Naomi stood by her side, holding her hand still. Naomi’s eyes were locked onto Vora’s, as if she was giving Vora strength. That eye contact seems to be what tipped the balance in the inner war inside Vora. Her face changed a little, as if she found a new well of inner strength. She set her jaw firmly and turned to look at the hologram.

“I accept.”

The hologram smiled back at Vora.

“Good, I’m glad you decided to fight for your humanity again. That is another victory, no matter how small, over the Borg Collective Consciousness. Together, we will walk down the path to humanity. Are you ready for lesson one?”

Both Vora and Naomi sat in two of the student desks, looking at the hologram, eager to start. They both replied to the hologram.

“Yes we are.”

The hologram smiled.

“Good. Lesson #1 is Acceptance…”

The hologram starts a lecture of acceptance of who you are and what you want. Both Vora and Naomi both look at the hologram with great interest. Their Borg implants help them to process all the information the hologram is giving them at a high rate of speed. Naomi and Vora spent all night listening to the hologram teach Vora about how to fight for her humanity.