Date: 24 May 2014 21:04 Title: Second
Not having seen the original episode I don't come to this with any preconceived notions, or biases, but as before, this blew me away. To be privy to Icheb's first inklings of what it means to be human, from the drawbacks of digestive tracts to empathizing with those who are suffering, and dying. Very nice look at the steps that cause him to develop into the Icheb of Tesseract.
Date: 22 May 2014 23:23 Title: Second
There was a moment with the "First becoming Second" that my eyes crossed :) but seriously, a well written piece. Borg remain there and remain chilling.
Date: 21 May 2014 20:38 Title: Second
I hate First as much here as I did in the episode. I know it was supposed to be sad when he died, but I didn't miss him, and this scene reminds me of that. You write the Voyager characters very well. Keep it coming!
Author's Response:
I actually was sad, a little. But yeah, First was pretty unsympathetic. A bully, really. In his defense, he did keep them alive that long ...
Date: 21 May 2014 04:45 Title: Second
Nice to see Icheb burst through here, and come to terms with a few things. Well done.
Author's Response:
Thank you!
Date: 20 May 2014 23:17 Title: Second
And reading Sarine's comment, I'd like to ellaborate on a point and point out his mistake.
Icheb will always be a Tesseract character for me anyway!
This is SO true. But the fallacy is believing that he was a Voyager character. The episodes that feature Icheb in Voyager are actually fanfiction writings about one of the main characters of Tesseract. I mean consider the evidence, they take an established canon character (Icheb) and then shoe horn in an origin story before his time, try to create ugh ships (Torres, Naomi, etc) and have him almost die for one of their OC characters. Puhlease. You were very kind to lend Icheb out to the series. You should sued their asses off.
Author's Response:
Best. Comment. Ever. <3
Date: 20 May 2014 23:13 Title: Second
It amazes me. It must be some sort of Borg algorithim. But in oh so few words you fit in lots of little details - first time vomiting (almost), digestive tracts, taste bud discovery, fearing death, learning to accept second place, the actions of innocents that were far from innocent, child killers soldiers fastened to their cause, the loss of Collective and the vain abortive attempts to refashion and re-establish. And amid it all, Icheb as Drone, as second, finding a place in the universe and accepting it, even though he sees the failures of the system, of the leader and of their methods. Despite all that he cannot reason out and fathom, there's a sense that he has a sense that this is wrong and must somehow stop. But he knows not that. And certainly knows not how. Terrific.
Author's Response:
Thanks, MF! It was kind of tough to write this one. This was probably Icheb's lowest point ever. Failed leader, reluctant killer, his will given over to a bully against his better judgment because what choice did he have? The Borg are about order, and he could not establish it. First could. It wasn't a healthy kind of order, but it was order, and that's all that counts when you're a half-finished drone trying to rejoin the Collective.
Date: 20 May 2014 23:01 Title: Second
Yes the problem of the angry first and Icheb knowing he doesn't want Death.
Another good little scene.
Author's Response:
Thank you, Bill!
Date: 20 May 2014 20:58 Title: Second
Looks like First won't be winning any Miss Congeniality titles any time soon.
I love Icheb's little bits of individuality here, where it's obvious that he's affected and is experiencing nascent sympathy. First is just plain ruthless, the standard, "Resistance is futile." Icheb's not so sure about that.
Author's Response:
First is dealing with the situation the only way he knows how. He's like a house of cards or a line of dominoes -- if he admits he's wrong about even one little thing, he feels like the whole thing will come crashing down. He's trying to protect them; he just doesn't know how.
As I said to TF, if Icheb hadn't stepped aside to let First lead, things could have been very different. Maybe for the better, maybe not. In any case, I feel that not being wholly responsible for the survival of their collective left Icheb with a little more room to consider things objectively.
Date: 20 May 2014 19:28 Title: Second
Ah another great installment Kes. I await Day #4's installment with great anticipation. Icheb is actually one of my fav characters from Voyager. I think you got his character down-pat.
Thanks for sharing.
Author's Response:
Thanks, ZF. Shameless plug: If you like Icheb, my whole series is about him later on -- there's one series with him at the Academy on Earth, and another series several years later on a mission back to the Delta Quadrant. Feel free to check them out! :)
Date: 20 May 2014 18:47 Title: Second
First was a scary guy, but the kid was just as messed up as the rest of them. I feel bad for him. Icheb's ability to voice certain things is what makes it easier for him to adapt to not being fully Borg, to not being full mature. That's what ultimately makes it easier for him to accept not going back to the Borg.
Nicely done capturing the beginnings of this understanding.
Author's Response:
First was clearly scared as hell. I was sad when he died -- if only he'd had more time to come around, maybe things would have been different. Icheb had the benefit of no longer having primary responsibility for the survival of their little collective, so he had more room to think things through. If he'd remained First instead of swapping places, things might have turned out very differently, as well.
Date: 20 May 2014 18:14 Title: Second
Interesting to see Icheb come to comprehend certain concepts, none of which are particularly fun. I really need to go back and watch the episode where he first appeared, can't really remember much about it. Icheb will always be a Tesseract character for me anyway! :) You are doing a wonderful job of showing us how he is developing, look forward to seeing what happens once he gets out of the Collective (unless you don't plan on getting that far?)
Anyway, great job as usual K!
Author's Response:
The episode you're thinking of is "Collective" from season 6. I just rewatched it last night. :)
Thanks for the comments!