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: 21 May 2014 02:44 Title: Scared to Dream
I'm not that familiar with Icheb, as I just recently started watching some of the later series, but I am enjoying reading this because I feel like I am really getting to know who this character is. One thing that stuck out to me is the fact that Icheb, as First, couldn't establish order, and so, had to turn his position over to Second, who then became First. If he had been fully Borg, I'm pretty sure he would have been able to establish order, as he would have been more ruthless. The fact that he can't is part of his humanity, so even though he feels ashamed of it here, I think ultimately, it serves him well as he seeks to understand what it means to leave the Collective and become an individual.
Author's Response:
You've got it pretty right, except that Icheb isn't human, he's Brunali. Other than that, spot on. If you like Icheb, you'll likely be disappointed by VOY's handling of him, but my whole series is centered on him. Awesome character concept, poor execution on Paramount's part.
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!
Date: 20 May 2014 05:45 Title: Scared to Dream
Very effective look into the mind of one who has been part of a collective, has never had to think for himself, or been without the presence of others in his mind. That moment of separation, and realization, must have been difficult and confusing indeed. You captured that beautifully.
Author's Response:
Thank you so much, LBD!
Date: 20 May 2014 05:00 Title: Premature
Great character work here. I really enjoyed this one, and what a fascinating look into a drone.
Author's Response:
Thank you, Mick!
Date: 20 May 2014 03:48 Title: Premature
Poor Icheb. You're doing a beautiful job, Kes, and it makes me want to go watch some Icheb episodes from Voyager. I won't lie, I'm hoping Seven comes into the mix! I would love to see Seven from Icheb's point of view.
Author's Response:
You should totally go watch some Icheb episodes from Voyager. And don't worry, Seven is on her way. :)
Date: 20 May 2014 02:57 Title: Premature
Yep, remember this one too. Very wonderfully written look into the mind of a lone drone, considering everything that he would find important as a Borg. Next please! lol
Author's Response:
Thanks, TS! More, coming right up. :)
Date: 20 May 2014 02:40 Title: Premature
Wow, kes. I love this look into Icheb's character here. Seeing himself as Borg, and then not quite understanding what is happening when he feels the human part of himself. Quite an interesting look into his character.
Author's Response:
Well, Brunali, not human, technically speaking, but I understand what you mean. :) Thanks for the comment!
Date: 19 May 2014 22:38 Title: Premature
Again another well execute scene from Icheb back story. I can well imagine how shocking being a single active unit on a borg cube was to Icheb.
Author's Response:
Or anybody, really. Talk about a shock to the system. Thanks for the comment!
Date: 19 May 2014 21:56 Title: Premature
There was a chilling element to this that reminded me of how I felt watching Q-Who and Best of Both Worlds the first time. Here with the children and the confusion therein. Very good piece.
Author's Response:
Thank you for the compliment! I really strive to stay true to the scary TNG feel of the Borg even though my stories are spun off from Voyager. If VOY hadn't so badly mishandled them, I might never have started writing fic at all!
Date: 19 May 2014 21:00 Title: Scared to Dream
Putting more into Icheb than the series could ever hope to and nicely so. Good to see another world, another life, out there.
Date: 19 May 2014 20:14 Title: Premature
Whew. Chilling. The emptiness and fear and the way he's alone ... strikes home. Effectively done and disorienting for the reader as much as it is for Icheb. Poor guy.
Author's Response:
Can you imagine? All alone, with no memories, a half-formed child on a ship meant to carry 5,000? Every one of them dead, but for a few smaller, weaker units still in their maturation chambers? Terror doesn't begin describe it ...
Date: 19 May 2014 19:39 Title: Premature
Another fine piece you have here kes. I could see Icheb's reaction to be disconnected from the hive mind.
Thanks for sharing.
Author's Response:
Thank you!
Date: 19 May 2014 18:44 Title: Premature
My God that's an intense moment. The freedom from the Collective has the converse effect here, with Icheb actually feeling to me the reader as claustrophobic, stifled as he's overloaded with knowledge and sensory input but there's no mind collective to sift through the data and so he is overwhelmed and panicked. Amid it all, he's very Borg despite his assimilation bringing about freedom by contamination for the others. There's no boy Icheb in all of this. It's Borg Icheb, orphaned, marooned, adrift, without guidance, a voice, a safety net. He's left to his own mind. A horrifying new reality after his assimilation. He's Borg and that's what he knows and seeks comfort in and it's all been ripped away from him. Brill.
Claustrophobic is a perfect way to describe him, and I think in some ways, that never really leaves him. He's got the knowledge of multitudes inside his head, but no longer has the context or support to help him understand or carry that dual-edged blessing/burden. And yes, in this moment, there is no Icheb. There is only a half-completed unit, cut off from its whole, without sufficient programming to carry out its mission. It's not even certain what that mission is. So, like any being cut off from its source of knowledge and thrust into a desperate and unfamiliar situation, it reverts to base instinct: the only mission it has now is to survive.
Author's Response:
Date: 19 May 2014 17:55 Title: Premature
I particularly loved this line: " A single mind is insufficient." I think that's the key to the Collective - they can't be alone.
Author's Response:
Yeah, we saw how being alone got to Seven in the episode "One." Quickest way to drive them mad is to put them in isolation.
Date: 19 May 2014 16:16 Title: Premature
Oh, Icheb. How much this moment probably haunted him later. He seemed calm, and yet, you could almost feel the quiet panic at his repetition and searching for the other voices he was supposed to be hearing.
Author's Response:
Nothing scarier for a drone than the silence of one's own mind and the isolation of one's own thoughts. I think this moment transcended "terror" and sent Icheb right into actual shock. Which is probably for the best, as he was reduced to nothing but instinct, or whatever passes for it when speaking of the Borg.
Date: 19 May 2014 15:43 Title: Premature
Oooh so cool! Great to see Icheb's awakening. I know how difficult it can be to write Borg, especially kind-of, sort-of free Borg who are Borg but not connected to the collective. You did a great job here, showing the way the thought process works, the constant dilemma between I and we, and the oh-so precise knowledge (33.02 seconds). I loved this, so nice to see these snippets of your Icheb. Well done!
Author's Response:
It can be a bear to write these characters, but I also find it fascinating the way they dance on the edge of free will when they wake up ... we saw in "I, Borg" and "Survival Instinct" how ultimately, once cut off from the Collective, drones pretty quickly regain their individuality, but sometimes they fear their free will so much they use it to decide to give it up again. Fascinating stuff.
Date: 19 May 2014 05:09 Title: Scared to Dream
Voyager is my favorite series to indulge in, and I thought Icheb was a very interesting addition to the show. I really like the back story you're weaving here, it really breathes some extra life into the character. Honestly, it's spot on to how I would picture it happening and despite the intense sorry feeling I have for him I want to read more. I'm eager to see how this plays out.
Author's Response:
Thanks, RJ. My whole fic universe grew out of this character because I thought he was a fantastic concept that got tragically wasted. Some of the best episodes featured his character, but they could have done a lot more with him. So I'm doing it now. :)