Queen: Four of Twelve, subjunction of Unimatrix five two five. You have a disease. You're one of many with this sickness. We want to cure you but we need a better way to identify those with the mutation. Our testing method is too slow. It could take centuries to identify everyone. Help me find the interlink frequency that binds all of you together. Then we can put an end to this, quickly, efficiently. Comply.
Queen: I've disconnected you from the hive mind. You're alone. I know how uncomfortable that can be. Tell me what I want to know. tThen you can rejoin us.
Drone: I don't know.
Queen: You must remember something.
Drone: I don't remember.
Queen: The frequency.
Drone: I don't remember.
Queen: Deactivate him. Wait. Dismantle him. Bring me his cortical array.
Woman: We'll save that for next time.
Axum: Annika.
Emh: Another milestone. You've had your first dream.
Seven: I felt awake.
Emh: Dreams can often seem quite real. Tell me more about this forest.
Seven: It was familiar.
Emh: Perhaps your unconscious mind was drawing on a childhood memory.
Seven: I spoke to someone. He called me by my human name.
Emh: Did you recognize him?
Seven: He seemed familiar.
Emh: This could give us a fascinating glimpse into your unconscious mind. Any one of those images might have a symbolic meaning. The mysterious stranger, for example. Is he a father figure or does he represent a repressed desire for male companionship?
Seven: I don't wish to dream again. Please repair my cortical array.
Emh: This isn't a malfunction, Seven, it's a natural step in your human development. It might seem unsettling now, but you'll get used to it. Before you know it, you'll look forward to climbing into your alcove each night. This'll keep a record of your REM cycles.
Janeway: You're late, Mister Paris.
Paris: Ma'am?
Tuvok: According to the ship's chronometer, by twenty two seconds.
Paris: I'll make it up at the end of my shift.
Chakotay: See that you do.
Janeway: Take your station.
Chakotay: Open it, that's an order. Not only late but improperly dressed. That belongs on your collar, Mister Paris.
Janeway: Allow me. As ship's captain, I hereby reinstate you to the rank of Lieutenant, with all the privileges and responsibilities therein. Your performance on this ship over the past year has been exemplary. I expect more of the same.
Paris: You won't be disappointed.
Torres: Congratulations, Lieutenant.
Kim: I didn't notice a little box on my chair.
Paris: Hiding a cake in the console?
Chakotay: Looks like a distress call.
Janeway: Put it through.
Chakotay: I'm getting a carrier wave but no message.
Janeway: Origin?
Tuvok: An asteroid approximately two light years from here.
Janeway: Yellow alert. Set a course.
Paris: We're in range.
Janeway: Drop to impulse. On screen. Magnify.
Tuvok: I'm reading artificial structures. It's a colony of some kind.
Janeway: Open a channel. This is Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager. We received your distress call.
Janeway: Lifesigns?
Tuvok: None.
Kim: I'm detecting residual weapons signatures. They're Borg.
Janeway: Any vessels?
Tuvok: One. A Cube at the edge of this system.
Janeway: Resume our previous course, Mister Paris, warp six. Make a note in the ship's record. We responded to a distress call at oh nine hundred hours. Arrived at the colony two hours later. No survivors. We don't know who these people were, but we know the Borg destroyed them.
Axum: Come with me.
Seven: I'm regenerating. This is only a dream.
Axum: You're not dreaming. I brought you here. This is Unimatrix Zero.
Seven: There is no Unimatrix Zero. Who are you?
Axum: Five of Twelve, secondary adjunct of Trimatrix nine four two. But when I'm here my name is Axum.
Seven: Axum.
Axum: Sound familiar?
Seven: Yes.
Axum: Good. It's starting to come back to you.
Alien Child: Is anyone here?
Axum: Hello.
Alien Child: I think I'm lost.
Axum: I'm Axum. This is Annika.
Alien Child: My father's ship started shaking. Men came aboard. They looked like machines. Will you help me find my father?
Axum: I'll see what I can do. There are other children here. Would you like to meet them?
Seven: I just got here, too. This environment is intimidating, but I believe it's safe.
Seven: He was just assimilated.
Axum: He's probably still in a maturation chamber.
Seven: Are you telling me this isn't a real place? It's some kind of virtual construct?.
Axum: We come here during our regeneration cycles. We can exist as individuals here.
Seven: Unimatrix Zero.
Axum: You used to come here, before you escaped the Collective. You have the recessive mutation, too. Don't you remember any of it?
Seven: No. What mutation?
Axum: Only one out of a million drones has it.
Seven: Why did you bring me here now?
Axum: The Collective has found a way to detect us. It's a lengthy procedure, but they've managed to identify and deactivate nearly two hundred of us over the last few months. It's only a matter of time before they find enough of us to isolate the interlink frequency. Once they've done that. You can help us stop them.
Seven: Clarify.
Axum: We've designed a nanovirus that should mask the biochemical signature of the mutation, but we need someone to release it into the Collective.
Seven: You're already on a Borg vessel. Why don't you do it?
Axum: After we've completed our regeneration cycle we have no memory of this place. You are not a part of the Collective anymore. You're our only connection to the real world.
Queen: Scan the node for residual harmonics. It's a shame you're not alive to experience disembodiment. It's the epitome of perfection. Give it to me. We have isolated the carrier band but it's useless to us without the precise frequency. We need additional data. Two more of the mutations have been discovered in spatial grid six four nine. Have their cortical nodes removed and analyzed. Bring me the results.
Axum: Unimatrix Zero is our sanctuary. When we're here, our thoughts are our own.
Seven: What was my function?.
Axum: You're thinking like a Borg. Our only function here is to try and regain a fragment of the lives we lost when we were assimilated.
Alien Child: Mister Axum?
Axum: Go introduce yourself. They won't mind.
Girl: Hello, do you want to play?
Alien Child: Sure.
Laura: Siral, over here. I was hoping you'd come. It's great to see you.
Siral: It's always good to be back.
Seven: I remember him.
Axum: You were friends. You knew a lot of people here. You were a part of our lives for eighteen years.
Seven: I'm willing to help, but I can't do it alone. I'm part of a starship crew now. I'll have to inform my Captain. (The Klingon warrior approaches them.
Korok: I told you not to bring her here.
Axum: We can't do this by ourselves.
Korok: It's too great a risk.
Axum: We don't have a choice.
Korok: You do not speak for all of us.
Axum: What would you rather do? Have us wait until we're all discovered? You disappoint me. Where's your warrior spirit?
Korok: PetaQ! I'll rip your heart out.
Axum: Go ahead, kill me. I'll be back when I begin my next regeneration cycle. You can't stop me, Korok.
Korok: If you come here again, you'll be putting your starship at risk and all of us as well.
Laura: Shouldn't you be off sharpening your teeth?
Seven: I know you. Your name is Laura. You're human.
Laura: I was assimilated at Wolf three five nine. It's good to see you again. But you look out of place. Your cybernetic implants.
Seven: Our Doctor was unable to remove all of my Borg components.
Axum: You don't have to look that way here.
Seven: My appearance is irrelevant.
Axum: No, it's not. They may have turned us into drones, but they can't change the essence of who we are. My cycle's about to end. Talk to your captain. We can't do this without
Paris: Another round with the Borg?
Seven: We'd only need to infiltrate a single vessel.
Paris: Oh, just one?
Seven: I am prepared to take a shuttle and do this alone.
Kim: No offense, but how do you know that this wasn't some kind of a dream?
Emh: Seven was wearing a cortical monitor. She never reached REM sleep. She wasn't dreaming.
Seven: Unimatrix Zero is real, and so are the people who go there. They need our help.
Janeway: What else can you tell us about this place? How many drones?
Seven: No one is certain. Axum told me there could be tens of
Janeway: Axum?
Seven: He's someone I used to know. He told me there could be tens of thousands, perhaps more.
Janeway: How was it created?
Seven: Some of them believe it began as a random malfunction during the assimilation of a single drone, and eventually spread to the others.
Torres: Well, this is all very interesting, but are we sure it's worth putting our lives on the line?
Seven: It's my understanding that when we receive a distress call, we respond. Starfleet protocols.
Kim: She's right. This is no different.
Janeway: I understand your reluctance, but Seven's discovered a potential weakness in the Collective. Before we decide how to proceed I'd like to learn as much about it as we can.
Chakotay: Too bad you don't have the luxury of an interlink node.
Tuvok: There is another possibility. A Vulcan technique known as the bridging of minds.
Janeway: Go on.
Tuvok: I would need to initiate a mind meld with both you and Seven, acting as a telepathic conduit.
Emh: You make it sound like a conference call. Captain, it is my professional opinion that we wait until
Janeway: Objection noted. I think you'll be turning in early tonight.
Janeway: Stay at Yellow alert. Maintain long-range scans for Borg vessels. Any sign of trouble, you know where to find me.
Chakotay: This will be one away mission for the record books.
Janeway: Mind melds. The last time I heard the words my mind to your mind, I had a headache for two weeks.
Chakotay: I'm willing to volunteer if you'd rather hold down the fort.
Janeway: I appreciate your trying to protect me, but a chance to see this place? It's worth a headache.
Emh: How many times have you actually performed this bridging of heads?
Tuvok: Minds. Never.
Emh: Then how can you be certain it'll work?
Tuvok: Nothing is certain, Doctor. However, I once observed a Vulcan master perform the technique. I am reasonably confident I can duplicate his success.
Emh: Watching and doing are two different things.
Tuvok: As always, your logic is impeccable.
Emh: What a comfort.
Tuvok: We're ready, Captain.
Janeway: Let's do it.
Tuvok: As the conduit, I'll be aware of both your perceptions. If something goes wrong, I'll break the meld.
Janeway: Understood.
Tuvok: Your minds to my mind. Your thoughts to my thoughts. Your minds to my mind. Your thoughts to my thoughts.
Seven: Welcome to Unimatrix Zero.
Janeway: Seven?
Seven: Annika. That's what I'm called here.
Janeway: Drones?
Seven: Come on. Let's find Axum.
Queen: We're close. I can almost hear them. Bring us closer.
Queen: There. Amplify. Disrupt the frequency. It's not working. They're using a triaxillating modulation. You're making this very difficult. If we can't terminate their link then we'll simply have to pay them a visit.
Axum: You can see why we want to protect this place.
Janeway: We're prepared to help you, but I'm concerned that we'd only be putting off the inevitable. Even if we succeeded and you could remain hidden for a year, ten years, the Borg would eventually find you again. Have you ever considered a more permanent solution?
Axum: More permanent?
Janeway: You've got a remarkable sanctuary here, but that's all it is. Maybe it's time to stop hiding and find a way to fight back.
Axum: That's not possible.
Janeway: If you could find a way to carry your individualities into the real world, to wake up from your regeneration cycles with your memories intact, you could begin to undermine the Borg's control over you.
Seven: It sounds like you're suggesting a civil war.
Janeway: I prefer to call it a resistance movement.
Axum: That's very ambitious, Captain. But we can't retain our memories.
Janeway: Not yet. But we know a good deal about Borg technology. Maybe we could
Queen: We've found another. Spatial grid three two six, Cube one one eight four. Continue.
Queen: Welcome back. Spatial grid nine eight two, Cube four six one.
Queen: Janeway.
Chakotay: How's your headache?
Chakotay: I'm guessing it didn't go well.
Janeway: Let's just say we ran into a little trouble. Have a seat, Commander.
Chakotay: I'd prefer to stand.
Janeway: The Collective's found a way to infiltrate Unimatrix Zero. It won't be long before they learn enough to destroy it from the inside out. I plan to stop them.
Chakotay: What have you got in mind?
Janeway: The people there are vulnerable. They don't have the ability to take action in the real world. We're going to give them that ability.
Chakotay: How?
Janeway: The Doctor and B'Elanna are working on it. I know what you're thinking. We'd be violating half a dozen Starfleet protocols. And if the Collective ever learned we were involved we'd be putting Voyager in the middle of a civil war. Valid objections. Chakotay, we've had our disagreements and there have been times when I've chosen to proceed without your support. But this can't be one of those times. I won't do this without my First Officer.
Chakotay: The way I see it, risking the safety of Voyager is a small price to pay. If we help these people, this could be the turning point in our battle against the Borg.
Janeway: I'm glad we agree, because I almost talked myself out of it.
Chakotay: Somehow I don't think you were ever in danger of doing that.
Janeway: You'll inform the crew?
Emh: This is the nanovirus Axum designed to prevent the Borg from detecting those with the genetic mutation. But I've modified it to nullify their cortical inhibitors instead. Once they're infected, they should retain their memories of Unimatrix Zero after they leave their alcoves.
Seven: Does that mean they'll be able to function as individuals? Stand up to the Collective?
Emh: There's no way to tell. This is highly experimental.
Janeway: How do we deploy it?
Torres: Correct me if I'm wrong, but each Borg vessel has a device that links it to every other Borg ship.
Seven: The central plexus.
Torres: If we can gain access to one of those and release the virus there, it should be transmitted throughout the Collective instantly.
Janeway: Any Borg activity in the region?
Torres: It just dropped out of transwarp three point six light years from here.
Seven: This is a class four tactical vessel, heavily armed. The central plexus is protected by multi-regenerative security grids. We'd be detected long before we could reach it.
Janeway: Meet me in main Engineering. We're going to find a way in. Prepare the virus.
Emh: Aye, Captain.
Janeway: I think it's time for you to take another nap. Pay a visit to Unimatrix Zero. Tell our friends we haven't forgotten them. I couldn't help but notice you were a little different in Unimatrix Zero, and I don't mean your lack of Borg implants. You seemed more
Seven: Human.
Janeway: If you don't mind my saying so, it suited you.
Seven: I've been told I spent a great deal of time there. But since I don't remember Unimatrix Zero any more than I remember Earth, it's irrelevant.
Janeway: To you maybe, but if what I saw was any indication, Annika would disagree.
Axum: The Klingons have banded together and they're giving bat'leths to anybody who can handle one. Hirogen hunters are moving through the forest targeting drones, but we're losing people every hour.
Seven: Captain Janeway intends to keep her promise.
Axum: This isn't your battle. You don't owe us anything.
Seven: Voyager won't abandon you.
Axum: A gift from Korok. Takes some getting used to.
Seven: I'm sure you'll adapt.
Laura: Eleven more drones, three hundred meters.
Axum: Sorry.
Seven: That felt familiar. Our touching.
Axum: I told you. We were friends.
Seven: Elaborate.
Axum: Now is not the best time.
Seven: We were more than friends, weren't we? Why didn't you tell me?
Axum: You'd forgotten. It wasn't my place.
Seven: How long?
Axum: Six years. Only while we were regenerating. A very memorable six years. For me, anyway.
Seven: I should return to Voyager.
Axum: Annika.
Seven: My name is Seven of Nine.
Emh: Can't we find another Borg ship? A Sphere, maybe? Something less imposing?
Torres: I rechecked long range sensors. There's nothing.
Janeway: This is our target. You'll keep a transporter lock on me. Once I make it to the central plexus and release the virus, you can beam me back.
Emh: In how many pieces? It's ridiculous.
Seven: Agreed. I should go. I'm the only one with experience.
Janeway: You're our only connection to Unimatrix Zero. You're needed here. It was my decision to help these people. This is my responsibility.
Tuvok: Starfleet Tactical Directive thirty six. The captain will not engage a hostile force without the protection of a security officer. The probability of success is greater if there are two of us.
Torres: Make that three. If you're going to pull this off you'll need an engineer in there.
Paris: B'Elanna.
Torres: Tactical directive thirty six A.
Paris: There is no directive thirty six A.
Torres: There is now.
Janeway: I appreciate the offer. But if that Cube attacks Voyager, you'll be needed here. Now you have your orders. Set a course, Mister Paris.
Chakotay: Remember when I said I didn't have any objections?
Janeway: Can't this wait till I get back?
Chakotay: I realize I'm not going to talk you out of this, but I'll be damned if you're going in there alone.
Janeway: We've got a lot of work to do, Commander.
Chakotay: You said you wanted my support. Then take Tuvok and B'Elanna with you.
Janeway: And if I don't?
Chakotay: I may only be First Officer, but I still pull a few strings around here. The Doctor could be persuaded to question your medical fitness.
Janeway: I was hoping for your unconditional support.
Chakotay: This is the best I can do.
Janeway: Tell them to pack light.
Janeway: Janeway to bridge. Report.
Kim: Someone's trying to tap into the main computer.
Janeway: Source?
Kim: It's some kind of transwarp signal. It's activating the comm. system.
Kim: Captain,
Kim: I think it's for you.
Queen: Captain.
Janeway: It's been a long time. How are things in the Collective?
Queen: Perfect, for the most part. Voyager?
Janeway: Never better.
Queen: I understand you've established contact with Starfleet. Perhaps you'll be getting home sooner than you expected.
Janeway: Perhaps.
Queen: We could help you.
Chakotay: How so?.
Queen: Transwarp technology. You'd find that we can be quite accommodating, but we'd expect the same in return.
Janeway: I'm not sure I know what you mean.
Queen: You know exactly what I mean. Tend to your own crew. Stay away from things that don't concern you.
Janeway: I'm afraid I can't do that, but thanks for the offer.
Queen: I won't be as accommodating next time. Reconsider.
Janeway: I'm sorry.
Queen: We'll see you soon, Harry.
Kim: What did she mean by that?
Chakotay: Why the stab at diplomacy?
Janeway: She's trying to find out what we're up to. She's worried. Have B'Elanna and Tuvok meet me in Sickbay.
Paris: Watch the starboard plasma injectors. They tend to run a little hot at high impulse.
Torres: I'll keep an eye on it.
Paris: The warp matrix is out of alignment.
Torres: By point three microns. Since when are you so meticulous?
Paris: Since you volunteered for this insane mission. You know, I could sabotage the helm. You'd never make it out the launch doors.
Torres: Then I'd have to put you on report. You might lose that new pip of yours.
Paris: That'd be a small price to pay.
Tuvok: We're in visual range.
Janeway: On screen. Magnify.
Torres: Torres to bridge.
Janeway: Go ahead.
Torres: The Delta Flyer is ready for launch.
Janeway: On my way. Guess I'd better be going, huh?
Chakotay: Anything you'd like done around here while you're gone? Gravity plating recalibrated, carpets cleaned?
Janeway: Surprise me. You have the bridge.
Seven: You need to prepare the others. When they leave their alcoves they may be startled, disoriented. But they have to behave like drones or we could all be exposed.
Laura: Our ships are scattered across the galaxy. Most of us will be the only drone on board who knows about this place.
Korok: She's right. What can we hope to achieve?
Axum: We should each gather as much tactical data as we can. What kind of ship we're on, its armaments, location. Then we'll coordinate our efforts from here. If all goes well, we'll be working very closely together.
Seven: As colleagues, nothing more. Our previous friendship
Axum: Yes?
Seven: It's irrelevant.
Axum: Irrelevant? Well, now that I'll be able to retain my memory, I'll keep that in mind.
Chakotay: Report.
Kim: Direct hit to their shield emitters. No damage.
Chakotay: Increase phaser yield. Where's the Flyer?
Paris: They're approaching. Heading zero one seven mark three.
Janeway: Status?
Tuvok: Voyager has sustained damage, but they are continuing their assault.
Torres: Come on, Chakotay.
Tuvok: One of the Cube's shield grids is fluctuating. Ventral axis, secondary emitter.
Janeway: Cut primary power. Thrusters only.
Queen: Tactical cube one three eight is under attack.
Kim: Our forward shields are down.
Chakotay: The Flyer?
Paris: They're closing. Fifty kilometers.
Chakotay: Maintain fire.
Paris: Thirty kilometers, twenty. They're in range.
Queen: Enhance grid six one one nine.
Queen: Captain, I expected something more cunning from you.
Torres: It's time.
Janeway: Their ventral shield grid?
Tuvok: Still fluctuating at a rate of point zero six terahertz.
Janeway: Align our transporters to match.
Tuvok: Aye.
Paris: They've detected them.
Emh: They're inside.
Kim: Direct hit to the port nacelle. We're venting plasma.
Paris: Should I back off?
Chakotay: No. We need to stay close.
Torres: They've adapted.
Kim: Hull breach, deck eleven.
Paris: They're targeting our warp core.
Emh: No change yet.
Janeway: We'll have to take the long way around.
Janeway: Tuvok.
Emh: Their lifesigns are destabilizing.
Chakotay: So far, so good. You can take us out of here now, Tom. To Be Continued...
Tuvok: Lieutenant.
Torres: I'm all right.
Tuvok: You've been given a subvocal processor.
Torres: I can live with it. The captain?
Tuvok: We were separated. I don't know where they took her. We must proceed to the central plexus.
Chakotay: Time.
Paris: Seventeen minutes. We should have heard something by now.
Chakotay: Doctor?
Emh: Their higher brain functions are stable.
Kim: The Cube's changing course. New heading, one twenty one mark six.
Paris: Matching course and speed.
Seven: The damage to their propulsion system is regenerating. They'll be capable of transwarp in less than two hours.
Chakotay: I want you inside Unimatrix Zero. When the virus is released, your friends there will be the first to know. Problem?
Seven: No. But I wouldn't call them my friends.
Chakotay: Acquaintances then. If you're having issues with these people I suggest you set them aside.
Seven: Understood.
Korok: Tell your hunters to patrol the north-eastern perimeter. More drones were spotted there.
Hirogen: Understood.
Korok: Where's that virus you promised?
Seven: Captain Janeway is deploying it now.
Korok: Good. The Borg have increased their attacks here. They're identifying us one by one. If you're looking for your mate, he's not here.
Seven: He's not my mate. He must not be regenerating.
Korok: That or he's dead. He should have been here hours ago. No one's seen him. If he died in battle, I'm sure it was honorable. Here. help me.
Korok: It's obvious your heart is in conflict.
Seven: My heart is functioning perfectly.
Korok: Some advice from a warrior in the bedchamber as well as the battlefield. At times like these you must treat your heart as the enemy so you won't be distracted in battle.
Seven: I'll keep that in mind. Has the virus been deployed?
Alien Man: I'm not sure.
Seven: Do you remember anything? Your location? What ship you're on?
Alien Man: No, nothing.
Torres: The central plexus is through here.
Torres: Those must be the shield emitters that Seven told us about.
Torres: We need to get through that hatch.
Tuvok: I will attempt to deactivate him.
Tuvok: Captain.
Janeway: What's left of her. How are you holding up?
Torres: Fine.
Janeway: I can't access the plexus without shutting down the power grid for this section. That's bound to draw attention. Is there another way in?
Torres: The primary access port. I think it's isolated from the main power grid.
Janeway: Where is it?
Torres: About thirty meters from here.
Janeway: Let's take a look. Tuvok. Commander.
Tuvok: I can hear the Collective.
Janeway: The neural suppressant must be wearing off.
Tuvok: I'll be all right.
Queen: I heard him. The Vulcan. But he's gone. Why? Why can't I hear the others?
Axum: Leave this one to me. Comfortable?
Seven: Release me.
Axum: Easier said than done. I think I designed this trap a little too well. What are you doing out here?
Seven: Looking for you. Korok was concerned.
Axum: That doesn't sound like Korok.
Seven: He said you were missing.
Axum: As you can see, I've been busy setting traps.
Seven: Not the most sophisticated technology.
Axum: Seems to work. Hold on.
Seven: I should return to the camp. Wait for word on the virus.
Axum: I'll go with you. In case you run into any more trouble.
Seven: As you wish.
Axum: I'm sure Korok will be glad to see me.
Queen: Tuvok. Where are you, Tuvok?
Janeway: Commander?
Tuvok: Stardate 38774. Vulcanis lunar colony. The time and place of my birth. Recalling the details of my life helps me remain focused. Captain, if I succumb to the Collective, I will pose a security risk. You must be prepared to deactivate me.
Janeway: Without the Doctor's help, that could kill you. Stay focused. Stay Tuvok. That's an order.
Torres: Captain, I've bypassed the access codes.
Torres: Welcome to the central plexus.
Queen: Tuvok. Where are you, Tuvok?
Paris: Busy?
Chakotay: What's on your mind.
Paris: The away team. The plan was to give them two hours. It's been two and a half.
Chakotay: The Doctor's keeping an eye on them. We'll give it a little more time. Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plan.
Paris: You know, it occurs to me that, with you in command and Tuvok off the ship, that makes me acting First Officer. Technically speaking.
Chakotay: What's your point?
Paris: Well, it's my duty to give you an opinion. And in my opinion I think we should pull them out now before it's too late.
Chakotay: I appreciate your diligence. But I've made my decision. We wait.
Paris: How long? A day? A week?
Chakotay: As long as it takes to complete the mission.
Paris: This mission isn't worth their lives.
Chakotay: You've made your point.
Paris: Apparently not.
Chakotay: Lieutenant. A First Officer could get in a lot of trouble for talking to his captain that way.
Paris: Well, I've learned from the best.
Chakotay: I appreciate your concerns, Tom, but I need your support on this.
Paris: Aye, sir.
Janeway: Download the virus.
Queen: Tuvok. TUVOK My daughter's name is Asil. She was born in the city of
Tuvok: T'Paal. We share your memories. You are part of us now.
Tuvok: Don't resist.
Emh: There's a problem with Commander Tuvok. His synaptic pathways are destabilizing.
Chakotay: If I decide to move in closer, I assume my First Officer would concur.
Paris: You assume correctly.
Janeway: We have to get out of this chamber and contact Voyager.
Janeway: You're Commander Tuvok, Tactical Officer of the starship Voyager. I'm your captain. Step aside, that's an order.
Queen: She's irrelevant.
Tuvok: Captain, you must deactivate me.
Tuvok: My designation is Three of Twelve.
Queen: Where are you, Tuvok? The central plexus.
Paris: Range, forty thousand kilometers.
Chakotay: Harry?
Kim: Too much shielding around the central plexus. I can't get a lock.
Chakotay: Stay on it. Closer.
Torres: This way.
Queen: Back so soon?
Chakotay: Target their shield generators. Stand by phasers.
Paris: Commander?
Chakotay: Shields to full. Brace for impact.
Kim: Someone's accessing our tactical controls. Our shields are down.
Chakotay: Evasive maneuvers.
Emh: Sensors are offline. I've lost the away team.
Kim: Hull breaches, decks five, six, seven.
Chakotay: Reverse course.
Paris: We can't just leave them.
Chakotay: The Borg have our access codes. Get us out of here.
Queen: Thank you, Tuvok. I'm losing voices. Five in spatial grid ninety six, twelve in grid one eight two. Hundreds now. Thousands.
Queen: I can't hear you. Why can't I hear you? You've disconnected from the hive mind. Explain. Comply.
Drone: No!
Drone: I'm not alone. You can't stop us all.
Queen: I altered the transmission to restore your original appearance. I know now vain humans can be. HOLO-
Janeway: Why am I here?
Queen: You've caused a great deal of suffering. I wanted you to see for yourself. You are the cause of his death, Captain. You disconnected him from the hive mind. HOLO-
Janeway: You didn't have to kill him.
Queen: He was confused, irrational. I had no choice. Many more will die unless you tell me how to counteract the virus. HOLO-
Janeway: Sorry, we didn't think to develop an antidote.
Queen: I'll assimilate Voyager, then. Your Doctor created the pathogen. He can find a cure. HOLO-
Janeway: My First Officer has orders to delete the Doctor's program if you go anywhere near
Janeway: Voyager. The resistance is already underway. It won't be long before thousands of drones begin to fight back.
Queen: They will fail. HOLO-
Janeway: Maybe. Probably. But a lot of damage will be done before they do.
Queen: Yes, a lot of damage. Spatial grid nine four, cube six three zero. Complement sixty four thousand drones. But I can no longer hear three of them. No doubt they've joined your resistance. Are they trying to sabotage the vessel and liberate others? I don't know, because I can no longer hear them. Initiate self-destruct.
Queen: An effective solution, don't you agree? Spatial grid zero nine one, sphere eight seven eight. Complement eleven thousand drones. Only one is silent. But I have no choice. I must silence all of them. I know how this must upset you, Captain. As a Starfleet officer, you value all life. Even drones. How many more are you willing to sacrifice? Thousands? Millions? You can put an end to this. I want you to go on a diplomatic mission. It's one of your primary functions, isn't it? Negotiations? HOLO-
Janeway: Go on.
Queen: Tell them to rejoin the Collective, and I'll stop the destruction. HOLO-
Janeway: They will never agree to that.
Queen: They're individuals now. They have a choice. What are you afraid of, Captain? That they may cooperate? You've been waiting for a chance to damage the Borg. Now you've found one. You're only using them. HOLO-
Janeway: If you really wanted to negotiate, you'd visit Unimatrix Zero. You found a way to send drones. Surely you could go yourself. Or are you afraid that a taste of individuality might make you realize it's something worth fighting for?
Queen: Comply or you will be responsible for many more deaths. HOLO-
Janeway: You'll have to destroy the entire Collective to find them all.
Seven: Several drones have reported that they retained their memories of Unimatrix Zero after their regeneration ended. The virus has been deployed.
Chakotay: Good. We're going to need all the help we can get. The away team's still trapped on that Cube.
Kim: And as you may have noticed, we're in no shape to mount a rescue.
Paris: Can you get back in? Find out if they have anybody else aboard this Cube?
Chakotay: If they do, tell them to hurry. They're the only allies we've got.
Emh: I'd like to make a few adjustments to your alcove before you return.
Emh: When this crisis ends I'll come up with a more permanent solution, so you can spend more time in Unimatrix Zero. You're in a unique position. Not many of us get to lead a double life.
Seven: When this crisis ends I intend to sever my link to Unimatrix Zero.
Emh: May I ask why?
Seven: I'm having difficulties with one of the people there.
Emh: Mister Axum? Whenever you mention his name, your pupils dilate by nearly a millimeter, blood flow increases to your facial capillaries. Both are consistent with an emotional response.
Seven: Axum and I apparently had a relationship.
Emh: Oh. Romantic? There go those pupils again.
Seven: Your diagnosis is accurate.
Emh: Well, how ironic. All this time we've been trying to develop that aspect of your humanity, and it's been there all along.
Seven: Not any more.
Emh: My readings say otherwise. You're very particular about who you choose to spend time with, Seven. No doubt that's why you and I have become friends. If you were involved with Axum once, doesn't that suggest he's a worthwhile individual?
Seven: He does possess commendable qualities.
Emh: Coming from you, that's high praise. There's nothing wrong with feeling ambivalent, Seven. After all, you're in the middle of a civil war. But eventually, you may want to give this romance a second chance. Who knows? You may even get to meet him in person someday.
Emh: I'll say this for your Mister Axum. he's a very lucky man.
Axum: The Collective has found a new way to attack us. Eleven ships have self-destructed in the last three hours.
Korok: We need to coordinate a battle plan. A way to strike at the heart of the Collective.
Axum: Our target should be the primary Unicomplex. If we can disrupt the Queen's control of the hive mind, it'll give us a chance to organize, build up a fighting force.
Seven: There is one more objective. The Voyager away team.
Korok: They fought like warriors. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Seven: We can still rescue them.
Axum: She's right. They risked their lives for us. Now it's our turn.
Korok: There's no time.
Axum: It's a matter of honor, Korok. I thought you of all people would understand that.
Korok: I'll see if any of our people are on a vessel near theirs.
Seven: Thank you.
Axum: It's the least we can do.
Seven: What's wrong?
Axum: It turns out I'm on a scout ship patrolling the border of fluidic space. On the other side of the galaxy.
Seven: I was hoping we'd be able to meet one day in the real world.
Axum: Me too. There are things I can do where I am. I'll try to contact species 8472, see if I can persuade them to join the fight.
Seven: Given their history with the Borg, I'm sure they'll be eager. I guess this rules out Vorothon Gorge.
Axum: Gorge?
Seven: It was at the top of our list of things to see in the real world if we were ever freed from the Collective. Don't you remember?
Axum: We could add fluidic space to our list. We still have Unimatrix Zero.
Seven: It was sufficient before.
Axum: And now?
Boy: Where are you?
Boy: Over here.
Queen: Don't be frightened. Stand up, let me look at you. Comply
Alien Boy: You're one of the machine people. You're trying to hurt us.
Queen: That's the last thing I want to do. I'm here to help you. All of you.
Alien Boy: They said you want to assim. Assima.
Queen: Assimilate you. Yes. But that's nothing to be afraid of. You like having friends, don't you? Assimilation turns us all into friends. In fact, it brings us so close together we can hear each other's thoughts.
Alien Boy: Is that fun?
Queen: Yes. It's fun. I was just about your age when I was assimilated. I was worried then, too. But when I began to hear the others, hear their thoughts, I wasn't afraid anymore.
Alien Boy: Don't you miss your parents?
Queen: They're here, with me. Part of us. I can hear them right now. Would you like to be with your parents? They miss you. They want to see you.
Alien Boy: Can I talk to them?
Queen: Soon. But first I'd like to see more of this.
Alien Boy: There's a place where you can see the whole forest.
Queen: Show me.
Alien Boy: It's pretty, isn't it?
Queen: I took your advice, Captain. I paid a visit to Unimatrix Zero. It's far more primitive than I expected. I don't understand how anyone could prefer a crude environment to Borg perfection. HOLO-
Janeway: Spend a little more time there. You might find out.
Queen: I've seen enough. It's an illusion. HOLO-
Janeway: Even so, the people who go there are real, and they won't give it up without a fight.
Queen: They'll fail. I thought you'd like to see our latest accomplishment. Recognize it? HOLO-
Janeway: No.
Queen: I think you do. It's your nanovirus, with a few modifications. We've reprogrammed it to target your mutated drones. Once it's released, it will erode their autonomic functions. They will die within minutes. HOLO-
Janeway: You have no way to deliver it. Those drones have been separated from the hive mind. They aren't linked to the central plexus anymore.
Queen: No. But there's another way I can reach them. I'm prepared to go back to Unimatrix Zero and release it myself. But I'm willing to reconsider. It all depends on you.
Janeway: Me?
Queen: If they rejoin the Collective, I'll spare their lives. They listen to you. Tell them it's time to come home. You were responsible for many deaths. Now you can save thousands. Decide.
Chakotay: Let's try this again. Ensign?
Kim: The warp core is online. Navigational array. Shields at twenty percent.
Neelix: We've got sensors. Short range only.
Chakotay: It's a start. Try to get a fix on the away team.
Paris: Now what?
Kim: Someone's tapping into our holographic systems.
Chakotay: Source?
Kim: It's a Borg signal.
Emh: Doctor to the bridge.
Chakotay: Go ahead.
Emh: Someone's here to see you and Seven, Commander. You'd better come down here right away.
Chakotay: Kathryn? HOLO-
Janeway: The Borg have established this link so I can propose a compromise.
Chakotay: We're listening.
Janeway: They've developed a nanovirus that can kill every Borg with the mutation. They're prepared to release it inside Unimatrix Zero unless all the drones there return to the Collective
Janeway: For reassimilation immediately.
Seven: That's not compromise, that's surrender. HOLO-
Janeway: I won't be responsible for any more deaths. At least they'll survive as drones. Tell them Unimatrix Zero can no longer exist. That's an order. Have I made myself clear, Commander?
Chakotay: Yes, Captain.
Emh: We did our best.
Chakotay: It's not over yet, Doctor. Can you disrupt the interlink frequency for Unimatrix Zero?
Emh: Commander, the Captain gave us a direct order.
Chakotay: Yes, she did, but not the one you think. Seven?
Seven: I believe I can, but why?
Chakotay: Didn't you hear? Unimatrix Zero can no longer exist. Chakotay to the bridge. Report.
Paris: A transwarp conduit just opened off our port bow.
Neelix: Lieutenant?
Kim: They're on an intercept course.
Paris: Evasive maneuvers. Battle stations.
Neelix: They're hailing us.
Paris: Open a channel.
Korok: Starship Voyager, I am General Korok. This vessel is now under my command. We've come to join you in battle.
Queen: Your crewmates are coming to retrieve you. You were wise to comply.
Chakotay: Chakotay to Seven of Nine. We're almost in range.
Seven: Stand by. I've isolated the frequency.
Chakotay: Get Korok.
Korok: Our emitters are fully charged.
Chakotay: You should be receiving the interlink frequency.
Korok: We have it.
Chakotay: Wait for my signal.
Axum: We have to end our regeneration cycles. We can't be here when it happens.
Laura: Will there be anything left?
Axum: I know we're being asked to make a sacrifice, but it's the only way.
Paris: We're in range.
Chakotay: Full power to the shields. All weapons online. Voyager to Korok. It's time.
Axum: You must go.
Seven: Bridge, it's working. Unimatrix Zero is shutting down.
Chakotay: Acknowledged. Voyager to Korok. Now.
Queen: What are they doing? HOLO-
Janeway: You wanted to destroy Unimatrix Zero. We're just lending you a hand.
Queen: Get me the virus. HOLO-
Janeway: You're too late. There's no one left to infect.
Queen: This is your compromise? HOLO-
Janeway: I don't compromise with Borg.
Korok: Match their shield modulations and fire.
Neelix: I'm picking up the away team.
Kim: I'm isolating their bio-signatures.
Chakotay: Get a lock.
Kim: I still can't penetrate their inner shields.
Chakotay: Voyager to Korok. Status?
Korok: Patience, Commander. They're trying to remodulate their secondary shield grid.
Korok: I'm attempting to compensate.
Axum: You shouldn't be here.
Seven: Neither should you.
Seven: I've wasted our time together.
Axum: No, you didn't. It gave us a chance to fall in love again.
Seven: We've lost our only way to be together.
Axum: No. I'll find you.
Seven: Axum.
Axum: I'll find you.
Korok: Shields in sub-grid forty two are destabilizing. Target that section.
Queen: Initiate self-destruct.
Paris: Their shields are down.
Chakotay: Energize. Chief medical officer's log, stardate 54014.4. It's been forty eight hours since the away team returned to Voyager. Thanks to the neural suppressant, I've been able to extract most of their Borg technology. The Captain and B'Elanna are on the mend, but Tuvok will need a little more time to recover.
Seven: General Korok is finished with his repairs. He's already been contacted by another Borg vessel in the region. It's also under the control of former drones.
Janeway: The Doctor removed my spinal clamps but it'll be a while before I'm playing hoverball again. If I ever imply it's been easy on you these last few years, remind me about today.
Seven: Noted.
Janeway: Well, Unimatrix Zero may be gone but it looks like the resistance is alive and kicking. With any luck, the Collective may never be the same.
Seven: Korok said he would try to maintain contact, keep us informed.
Janeway: Have you heard from your friend?
Seven: No. But I don't expect to. Axum's vessel is in a remote sector of the Beta Quadrant. If I ever imply that he was nothing more than a friend, remind me about today.


Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54129.4. It's a bittersweet day for the crew of Voyager. We've finally found a home for some of our most precious cargo.
Wysanti: Thank you again for taking care of them, Captain. We're very grateful.
Janeway: We're just glad that Rebi and Azan will have a chance to grow up with their own people, and that you've been kind enough to let Mezoti join them.
Mezoti: You can still come with us.
Icheb: And you can still stay on Voyager.
Mezoti: Adapting to your absence will be difficult.
Icheb: I'll miss you, too.
Seven: It's time.
Mezoti: I've been studying all available data relevant to this species, as you recommended.
Seven: Familiarizing yourself with their culture will help you adapt.
Mezoti: On Wysanti, it is not customary to say goodbye but, I think I prefer the human way.
Janeway: Energize.
Seven: We should deactivate the children's alcoves.
Icheb: Right now?
Seven: They're a drain on Voyager's power reserves. Is there a problem?
Icheb: It just seems like an insufficient amount of time has passed.
Seven: You're having an emotional response to the children's departure. They'll be fine. We should be happy for them.
Icheb: Seven?
Seven: Yes?
Icheb: You're crying.
Seven: My ocular implant must be malfunctioning.
Emh: Crying is nothing to be ashamed of, Seven. You should have seen me the first time I heard Puccini's Tosca in the holodeck. I sobbed through the entire third act.
Seven: You're a hologram. You can't cry.
Emh: Ordinarily. But Lieutenant Torres enhanced my emotional subroutines so I could truly appreciate the performance.
Seven: Then your reaction was the result of a technological enhancement, just as mine was the result of a technological malfunction.
Emh: Saying goodbye to the children was a traumatic experience. Crying was a normal response.
Seven: Except that I was in complete control of my emotions.
Emh: Hmm. It seems I owe you an apology. According to this, your tears were the result of a glitch in your primary cortical node. Have you experienced any other malfunctions lately? Headache? Dizziness? Diminished motor function?
Seven: No.
Emh: Really? Then you won't mind if I check the bio-monitors in your alcove, just to be sure?
Seven: I've experienced an occasional headache.
Emh: Why didn't you come to see me?
Seven: The malfunctions have not affected my work.
Emh: Seven, if you're having problems, you need to let me know.
Seven: If it'll make you feel better, I'll be more forthcoming in the future.
Emh: You're all heart. I'll schedule some follow-up tests and make my report to the Captain.
Seven: I'd prefer to keep this between us. I don't want to worry the Captain.
Emh: We've always kept her informed of your medical needs.
Seven: It was my understanding that all members of this crew have the right to doctor-patient confidentiality.
Emh: If you want to keep this between us, that's where it'll stay.
Seven: Have you finished charting the nebula in sector nine four nine?
Icheb: Several hours ago. I've been thinking. While I'm grateful for the opportunity to assist you in Astrometrics, I'd like to take on more challenging assignments.
Seven: I can assign you additional diagnostics.
Icheb: That's not what I meant. I want to work on the bridge.
Seven: You don't have the proper training.
Icheb: That's why I'd like to take the entrance exam for Starfleet Academy. I could forward it to Earth in the next datastream transmission. If I pass, I could take the basic classes from Commander Tuvok. He was an instructor at the Academy.
Seven: Your plan is ambitious.
Icheb: Then you think it's a good idea? You could take the classes with me. Earn your own commission.
Seven: I believe I've already assimilated enough Starfleet training.
Icheb: I'll need a letter of recommendation from the captain.
Seven: I'll speak to her.
Seven: I have work to complete in the Cargo bay. Can you finish here?
Icheb: Of course.
Seven: Computer, initiate regeneration cycle.
Computer: Unable to comply.
Seven: Why?
Computer: The interface is incompatible.
Seven: Run a diagnostic of alcove zero one.
Computer: Diagnostic complete. Alcove zero one is operating within normal parameters.
Seven: Initiate regeneration cycle.
Computer: Unable to comply.
Seven: Clarify.
Computer: Your cortical node is malfunctioning.
Neelix: Seven, I didn't see you.
Seven: I was just leaving.
Neelix: Before breakfast?
Seven: What time is it?
Neelix: Oh five hundred. Don't tell me you've been here all night.
Seven: I was unable to regenerate.
Neelix: Anything on your mind?
Seven: My alcove is malfunctioning.
Neelix: Well, you should ask B'Elanna to take a look at it.
Seven: I didn't want to wake her.
Neelix: What's all this?
Seven: Nutritional supplements. I thought they would compensate.
Neelix: Your own recipe?
Seven: It's a mixture of metabolic enzymes and protein extract.
Neelix: Let me make you one of my Talaxian omelets. It may not have as many enzymes, but it'll taste better.
Seven: That won't be necessary. I think I'll take your advice and wake Lieutenant
Neelix: Seven! Neelix to Sickbay, medical emergency!
Janeway: You lost consciousness in the mess hall. Your body's begun to reject your implants.
Emh: I'm afraid it's a result of that glitch we found in your cortical node. Apparently, it's more serious than we thought.
Seven: The node is destabilizing.
Emh: It's no longer able to regulate your implants. They're shutting down one by one.
Seven: When you've disconnected implants in the past, I've always adapted.
Emh: Minor implants. An assimilation tubule here, a few nanoprobes there. Nothing crucial to your human physiology. But these implants control your vital functions.
Seven: And without my cortical node to regulate them, I'll die. Correct?
Seven: Borg technology is highly adaptive. My cortical node will repair itself in time.
Emh: I don't think so, Seven. If anything, the deterioration is accelerating.
Janeway: You'll have to stay here for observation.
Seven: I think I've been sufficiently observed.
Janeway: Would you excuse us, please?
Janeway: I'm sorry for what's happening. You have every right to be angry, but that isn't going to help us solve this problem.
Seven: The node will correct itself.
Janeway: Suppose it doesn't, for the sake of argument. Is it possible to replicate a new one?
Seven: The technology is too complex.
Janeway: What if this had happened when you were part of the Collective? How would the Borg have repaired the damage?
Seven: They wouldn't have. Trying to repair a node would be a futile exercise. The Borg would simply replace it.
Janeway: Harry, we passed a Borg debris field six or seven days ago just outside the Yontasa Expanse. See if you can find it on long range sensors.
Kim: Yes, ma'am.
Chakotay: It's not every day we go looking for the Borg. What's up?
Janeway: Seven needs a new cortical node.
Tuvok: Captain, need I remind you the Borg often return to salvage damaged cubes.
Janeway: It's a risk I'm willing to take.
Chakotay: I want to help Seven as much as anyone, but if we're not careful we'll all end up with cortical nodes.
Paris: That's why I'm taking the Flyer, alone.
Kim: I've located the debris field.
Janeway: Transmit the coordinates to the Flyer. You have the bridge, Commander.
Paris: With all due respect. The last time you took the Delta Flyer to confront the Borg, it ended up in a couple of thousand pieces.
Janeway: I intend to bring it back in one piece this time.
Paris: A good pilot might be able to help you do that.
Tuvok: Particularly if he's accompanied by an experienced Tactical Officer.
Chakotay: You shouldn't do this by yourself, Captain.
Janeway: Well then, gentlemen, I guess you're with me.
Icheb: Captain.
Janeway: I'll meet you in the shuttlebay.
Icheb: Have you talked to Seven?
Janeway: Just a few minutes ago.
Icheb: And you don't approve?
Janeway: Of what?
Icheb: My request.
Janeway: Request?
Icheb: I'm sure Seven will discuss it with you when she has the chance. I'm sorry I bothered you.
Janeway: Obviously, no one's told you.
Icheb: Told me what?
Janeway: Seven isn't well.
Icheb: What's wrong with her?
Janeway: Her cortical node is failing.
Icheb: Her cortical node? She's going to die.
Janeway: Not if we find a new node. We're on our way to search a Borg debris field.
Icheb: I have experience in Borg technology. Let me come with you.
Janeway: I appreciate the offer, but it's too dangerous.
Icheb: I'm willing to take the risk.
Janeway: I'm not willing to let you. I'll let you know how we did as soon as we're back. Don't worry.
Icheb: Seven?
Seven: Why are you here?
Icheb: The captain told me you were ill.
Seven: I'm fine.
Icheb: Then why are you in Sickbay?
Seven: That's not your concern. You have work to complete. Report to Astrometrics.
Icheb: I've finished my work.
Seven: Then I'll assign you more.
Emh: Is there a problem?
Seven: I wish to be alone.
Emh: Come with me, please.
Icheb: Why is she so angry with me?
Emh: She's not angry with you. She's just angry.
Icheb: I don't understand.
Emh: It's a common response to serious illness. She's frustrated to be confined. Embarrassed to appear vulnerable.
Icheb: She shouldn't be embarrassed in front of me. I'm her friend.
Emh: And her pupil. She doesn't want you or anyone else to see her when she's not at her best.
Icheb: It's not her fault that she's sick.
Emh: Of course not. But we have to allow her to deal with this in her own way, with as much dignity as possible. Give her time. She may decide she wants company. And if she does, you're the first person I'll call.
Tuvok: I have isolated a section that contains the bodies of approximately thirty seven drones.
Paris: Thirty seven doesn't sound approximate to me.
Tuvok: These drones were killed in an explosion. There are only a few left intact.
Janeway: Looks like there's still a breathable atmosphere inside. Any sign of any active Borg ships in the vicinity?
Paris: Nothing on sensors.
Janeway: That could change in a hurry. Run continuous scans.
Paris: Yes, ma'am.
Janeway: Tuvok, here. Help me get this off him.
Janeway: No apparent damage to the cortical node.
Paris: Captain, you've got company. There's a ship
Tuvok: Two to beam out.
Janeway: Delta Flyer, respond.
Tuvok: Three humanoids have just transported aboard this vessel.
Janeway: Drones?
Salvage Alien: The only drones here are dead, and they belong to us. Who are you?
Janeway: Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager.
Salvage Alien: This is my debris field, Captain.
Janeway: We weren't aware of that.
Salvage Alien: What have you taken?
Janeway: A cortical node. We need it to save one of my crew.
Salvage Alien: Everything here belongs to us.
Janeway: Put down your weapons and I'll consider not activating this laser scalpel.
Paris: Sorry about the delay. They knocked our transporters offline.
Paris: I need you at tactical. When I bring us around, target their engine core.
Janeway: Aye, sir.
Paris: Nice shot. They're breaking pursuit.
Emh: May I ask what you're doing?
Seven: Your filing system is inefficient. I'm implementing a new one.
Emh: You should be in bed.
Neelix: Delivery for Seven of Nine. Tarcanian wildflowers. Cheery, don't you think? Ah. If you prefer gladiolas, I could go back to the Airponics bay.
Emh: That won't be necessary, Mister Neelix. The flowers are lovely, aren't they, Seven?
Seven: Thank you. I'll admire them later.
Neelix: Actually, I thought I'd stay and keep you company.
Emh: Seven prefers not to have visitors right now.
Neelix: Not even a visitor with a Kadis-kot board?
Seven: Correct.
Neelix: But it's your favorite game.
Emh: Personally I can't blame her. You're being extremely insensitive.
Neelix: I am?
Emh: You know perfectly very well Seven is in a weakened state. She wouldn't stand a chance against you.
Neelix: You're right. I don't know what I was thinking. We'll play later when you're feeling up to it.
Seven: Green.
Neelix: I beg your pardon?
Seven: I prefer the green pieces. You'll use red.
Neelix: Doctor, do you think she's up to it?
Emh: As long as you go easy on her.
Janeway: Janeway to the Doctor.
Emh: Yes, Captain?
Janeway: We're back and we have the node.
Emh: I'm ready to disengage the damaged node. Transfer Seven's cortical functions to the computer.
Janeway: Understood. Done.
Emh: Initiating the extraction.
Janeway: Vital functions are stable.
Emh: Time?
Janeway: Twenty seconds.
Emh: Not yet, I have to realign her primary neurodes first.
Janeway: The computer can't maintain her cortical functions much longer.
Emh: Ready.
Janeway: Her neural relays are going to destabilize in ten seconds, nine.
Emh: Almost finished.
Janeway: Eight, seven, six, five.
Emh: Transfer Seven's cortical functions to the new node.
Janeway: Something's wrong.
Paris: She's going into anaphylactic shock.
Emh: Her implants aren't adapting. They're rejecting the new node.
Paris: It's losing synaptic cohesion.
Emh: Apply a twenty millijoule neurostatic pulse on my mark. Now.
Janeway: No effect.
Emh: Again.
Janeway: Increase the pulse. Thirty millijoules.
Emh: Computer, end simulation.
Janeway: Why did you stop?
Emh: It wasn't working.
Janeway: Run it again.
Paris: Captain, this was our twelfth simulation. Something tells me thirteen won't be our lucky number.
Emh: The salvaged node has been inactive too long.
Janeway: Then we'll find one that hasn't.
Emh: No matter how many debris fields we sift through, a node from a dead drone isn't going to work.
Janeway: Who said anything about a dead drone?
Emh: What's that supposed to mean?
Janeway: We've infiltrated Borg vessels before. If that's what it's going to take to save Seven, we'll do it again.
Emh: Are you suggesting ending one life to save another?
Janeway: I'm not giving up on her.
Emh: Neither am I. I'll do everything in my power to help her, but we both have to face the possibility that it may not be enough.
Neelix: Red, grid thirteen three.
Seven: They should have finished the simulation by now.
Neelix: I'm sure they'll let you know as soon as they do. Your move.
Seven: Don't you have more important duties to attend to?
Neelix: Nothing that can't wait.
Seven: Despite what the Doctor told you, I feel perfectly fine.
Neelix: Really? Because it looks to me like you're about to lose.
Seven: Kadis-kot.
Neelix: I should have seen that coming. Ah well, that makes what, sixteen to three, your lead?
Seven: Sixteen to two.
Neelix: Oh, my mistake.
Neelix: Oh, er, I should really see how things are going in the mess hall. But I'll be back later for a rematch.
Seven: Are you ready to proceed?
Janeway: According to the simulations, the salvaged node isn't going to work. I'm sorry.
Emh: I'm still researching alternative treatments, and Harry and B'Elanna are going to try to repair the faulty node using components from your alcove.
Seven: They'll fail.
Emh: We're not giving up hope. Neither should you.
Seven: With your permission I'd like to return to my duties.
Emh: That's not possible. I need to monitor your condition.
Seven: Captain?
Janeway: I'm afraid I have to defer to the Doctor.
Emh: If you'd like, I can ask Icheb to bring some of your work here.
Icheb: Doctor? Computer, locate the Doctor.
Computer: The EMH is offline.
Icheb: Activate the EMH.
Emh: Forced to sedate you!
Icheb: Doctor?
Emh: I'm sorry, Icheb. I wasn't talking to you.
Icheb: Where's Seven?
Emh: I wish I knew. When I refused to release her she overrode my autonomy protocols. In the middle of a sentence, no less.
Icheb: Computer, locate Seven of Nine.
Computer: Seven of Nine is in Sickbay.
Torres: He's looking for you. The Doctor, I ran into him in the corridor. He's about thirty seconds away from calling a ship-wide alert.
Seven: Are you going to tell him where I am?
Torres: No. I know what it's like to be stuck in Sickbay. I've escaped the Doctor myself once or twice.
Seven: Thank you.
Torres: Any time.
Seven: Lieutenant. When you die, do you believe your spirit will go to Sto-Vo-Kor?
Torres: You shouldn't be thinking about dying.
Seven: According to the Doctor's simulations, any attempt to adapt the salvaged node will fail. Sto-Vo-Kor, Lieutenant. Do you believe you'll go there?
Torres: I guess it all depends on how honorable my death is.
Seven: But you do believe there's something after death?
Torres: I hope so. What about you?
Seven: The Borg have no concept of an afterlife. However, when a drone is deactivated, its memories continue to reside in the Collective's consciousness. As long as the hive exists, so will a part of that drone.
Torres: You don't seem to take much comfort in that.
Seven: My link to the Collective has been severed for nearly four years. If I die, everything that I have accomplished in that time, everything I achieved as an individual, will be lost. My memories, my experiences. It will be as if they, as if I never existed.
Torres: I think you're a little more memorable than you're giving yourself credit for. You don't need the Collective to validate your existence. You've made an impact on every member of this crew. That's your legacy.
Emh: There you are. I should have known she'd be the one to harbor a fugitive.
Torres: We difficult patients need to stick together.
Emh: I want you to return to Sickbay immediately.
Seven: Have you devised a new treatment?
Emh: Not yet.
Seven: Then it's best that I don't distract you from finding one.
Emh: Seven, if you continue to exert yourself, your condition will only deteriorate more rapidly. Is that what you want?
Seven: What I want is to be useful.
Torres: I really could use her help. I promise not to let her overdo it.
Emh: You can stay, provided you wear this cortical monitor.
Seven: Thank you.
Icheb: Are you feeling better?
Seven: My condition is unchanged. I've spoken to the Captain about your desire to apply to Starfleet Academy. She's agreed to administer the entrance exam before we send the next datastream to Earth. (She hands him a PADD.)
Seven: It's a list of crewmen who can help you study. Lieutenant Torres is extremely well-versed in warp mechanics. Ensign Kim claims to have aced the quantum theory section.
Icheb: What about Astrometrics?
Seven: You know more about Astrometrics than most Starfleet officers.
Icheb: Still, I'll need someone to review the material with me.
Seven: I'll ask Lieutenant Paris to set aside some time.
Icheb: I'd rather study with you.
Seven: You've become too dependent on me. You must learn to rely on others.
Icheb: And if I don't want to?
Seven: What you want is irrelevant.
Icheb: Why are you acting like this? Is it because you think you're dying?
Seven: I am dying. I'm sorry.
Icheb: You may have given up, but I haven't.
Icheb: I know how to save her.
Emh: I'm certainly open to suggestions.
Icheb: I've been analyzing the simulations you performed. They failed because you tried to implement a cortical node from a dead drone.
Emh: That's correct.
Icheb: What you require is a live drone.
Emh: I've already been through that with Captain Janeway.
Icheb: My cortical node is operational. I want you to remove it and give it to Seven.
Emh: Absolutely not!
Icheb: Well, at least review my research.
Emh: It may as well be a suicide note.
Icheb: I don't agree.
Emh: Well, that's comforting.
Icheb: You took these scans of me when I left the Collective. By your own estimation I emerged from my maturation chamber before I was fully assimilated. As a result my physiology is less dependent on my implants.
Emh: They still regulate many of your vital functions.
Icheb: What about my age? I'm younger, so it should be easier for my body to adapt to the loss.
Emh: You're obviously too young to understand the risks involved.
Icheb: I understand the risks perfectly. If we continue to do nothing, Seven will die.
Emh: And if we proceed with your idea, you could both die.
Icheb: According to my research, there's an eighty six point nine percent chance that Seven's implants will adapt to my node.
Emh: Eighty-six
Icheb: Point nine.
Emh: What about you? Without a cortical node, how will you regulate your implants?
Icheb: You should be able to compensate with genetic resequencing. This isn't suicide, Doctor. I believe it can work. All I ask is that you consider it.
Janeway: Earth's biggest ditch. That's what my father used to call it. We hiked the north rim when I was nine.
Seven: It's an impressive geological formation.
Janeway: Too dusty. I've always preferred farm country myself.
Seven: Bloomington, Indiana. Your home town. You've mentioned it on several occasions.
Janeway: So, what do you think?
Seven: It appears to be a pleasant environment.
Janeway: When we get to Earth I'll take you there.
Seven: It's more likely this crew will reach Earth without me.
Janeway: You don't know that.
Seven: You refuse to acknowledge the severity of my condition, just as I did at first.
Janeway: Are you giving up?
Seven: I'm merely accepting reality.
Janeway: If I'd accepted reality six years ago, I'd have settled on the first M class planet we came across. Instead, I'm thirty thousand light years closer to Bloomington, Indiana.
Seven: Minus several members of your crew.
Seven: Ensign Marie Kaplan, Ensign Lindsay Ballard, Crewman Timothy Lang.
Janeway: Is there a point to this?
Seven: Every person on this list died under your command. You accepted their deaths. But I don't believe you'll accept mine.
Janeway: That's presumptuous.
Seven: I'm not being egotistical. On the contrary, I'm trying to make a point.
Janeway: Which is?
Seven: All of these crew members came to Voyager with unique personalities, but I've required your constant assistance to develop my individuality.
Janeway: And you've come a long way.
Seven: But not far enough. I've disappointed you. You feel your task is incomplete. That's why my death will be difficult for you to accept.
Janeway: Is that what you think? That you haven't lived up to my expectations?
Seven: Clearly, I haven't. But I want you to know that the failure has been mine, not yours.
Janeway: You haven't failed, Seven. You've exceeded my expectations. You've become an individual. An extraordinary individual. If I'm having trouble accepting your condition, it's only because I don't want to lose a friend.
Emh: Doctor to the captain. I need to see you and Seven right away.
Janeway: It would be a complicated procedure.
Emh: No doubt.
Janeway: But you believe it'll work.
Emh: There are significant risks involved to Seven and Icheb, but if you're asking me if it's possible I'd have to say yes.
Janeway: What sort of precautions
Seven: No matter how many precautions you take, it's not worth the risk to Icheb.
Icheb: Seven, this could work.
Seven: I'm not willing to extend my life at the cost of yours.
Icheb: You haven't reviewed all the data.
Seven: As long as there is any chance you won't survive, the data is irrelevant. I'd like to return to Sickbay now.
Emh: As you wish.
Icheb: You're the captain. You could order her to do it.
Janeway: I have to respect her wishes.
Icheb: Even if it kills her?
Janeway: I want to help her just as much as you do.
Icheb: If that were true, you wouldn't let her die.
Emh: Is there anything I can bring from the Cargo Bay to make you feel more at home?
Seven: No, thank you.
Emh: Something from the mess hall? A piece of fruit?
Seven: Are you offering me my last meal?
Emh: I. Of course not. Is that what you thought?
Seven: I was attempting to lighten the mood.
Emh: Ah, yes. Well done.
Icheb: Icheb to the Doctor. Report to Cargo Bay two immediately.
Seven: He's persistent.
Emh: Not to worry. I'll make it clear to him that persistence is futile.
Emh: You were summoned, too?
Janeway: Icheb doesn't seem to have grasped the chain of command yet.
Emh: Remind you of anyone we know?
Janeway: Icheb?
Emh: He's disengaged his cortical node.
Janeway: How?
Icheb: My alcove. I programmed it to disconnect my neural relays.
Janeway: Can you reconnect them?
Emh: He's locked me out of the controls.
Janeway: How could you do this?
Icheb: It was the only way I could prove to you that it would work.
Seven: What's wrong with him?
Janeway: Icheb decided to perform a little operation on himself.
Seven: You have to reconnect his node immediately.
Emh: I intend to.
Icheb: No. If Seven can refuse treatment, so can I.
Emh: We don't have time for this.
Icheb: Check your scans. You'll see I'm already adapting.
Emh: Some of your implants have adapted, but not all.
Icheb: Then apply the resequencing technique I researched.
Seven: This debate is pointless. I won't accept the node.
Icheb: And I won't keep it.
Emh: Someone had better use the damn thing. If it stays disconnected much longer it won't do either of you any good.
Seven: You're acting like a child.
Icheb: I'm trying to save your life.
Seven: Only because you've grown too dependent on me.
Icheb: You think I need to learn to rely on other people?
Seven: Yes.
Icheb: What about you? You've refused to rely on a single member of this crew. You hid your condition from the rest of us, you deactivated the Doctor, and now you're rejecting my help. You're the one who needs to rely on others. Isn't that what people on this ship do? They help each other?
Janeway: Whenever we can.
Icheb: If the Captain were dying, you'd risk your life to save her, wouldn't you? And when you respond to a distress call, you're risking the life of everyone on this ship to respond to the aid of strangers.
Janeway: He's right.
Seven: Captain, he's just a child.
Janeway: I don't think he is. Not anymore.
Seven: Doctor!
Emh: Don't look at me.
Icheb: Please, just let us help you.
Emh: Let's begin.
Janeway: Good morning.
Seven: How long have I been regenerating?
Emh: Six days. We needed to make sure your implants had completely adapted to the new node.
Janeway: The good news is, they have.
Seven: Icheb?
Emh: His road to recovery has been a little bumpier than yours.
Seven: Has he suffered any permanent damage?
Emh: I don't think so. He's been experiencing some pain, but I believe it's temporary.
Seven: Pain I caused him.
Emh: Pain he was willing to endure.
Icheb: You've recovered.
Seven: I expect the same from you.
Icheb: The Doctor wants to keep me here another week, but I'm sure I'll be back on my feet in half that time.
Seven: I suggest you get as much rest as you can. You're going to need it.
Icheb: Why?
Seven: I've decided to help you prepare for the Astrometrics portion of the Academy exam. You can expect a rigorous and grueling schedule.
Icheb: Seven?
Seven: Yes?
Icheb: Your ocular implant. It's malfunctioning again.
Emh: Actually, it's functioning perfectly.


Teero: The Prophets sing, this is a holy time. B'tanay, the time of awakening. Return to that dark place from which all life springs. A primal energy charges your blood, an energy of rebirth. The mind awakens and focuses on its task. Pagh'tem'far, b'tanay. Pagh'tem'far, b'tanay.
Torres: Fresh flowers? An afternoon on the holodeck? It almost feels like we're dating again.
Paris: The secret to a lasting marriage. Keep the romance alive.
Torres: I'm not complaining.
Torres: Lecture hall?
Paris: Guess again.
Torres: Opera house? Not another one of the Doctor's performances.
Paris: This is a movie house. This is the Old Palace Theater in Chicago, built in 1932. Look at the detail on that crown molding.
Torres: It doesn't look very functional.
Paris: This place isn't about function, it's about fantasy.
Paris: Chewing gum.
Torres: There is such a thing as too much authenticity.
Paris: Attention to detail. That's what makes it fun.
Torres: Protective lenses?
Paris: These will make the images on the screen appear three-dimensional.
Torres: Let me get this straight. You've gone to all this trouble to program a three-dimensional environment that projects a two-dimensional image, and now you're asking me to wear these to make it look three-dimensional again?
Paris: Great, isn't it?
Torres: Crick in your neck?
Paris: People didn't go to the movies just for the movies, you know.
Torres: Really? What did they go for?
Paris: I'll try to demonstrate.
Torres: I can see why this was so popular.
Woman: Shush!
Torres: Maybe this would be more fun if we were alone.
Paris: Computer, delete audience.
Paris: Who's that in the front row? Must be a glitch.
Torres: No, That's Tabor.
Film: This is an emergency! The Gill Man has escaped! Please, clear the oceanarium! Get out, everybody!
Paris: You okay?
Emh: He appears to be in a coma, but I'm reading unusual synaptic activity.
Chakotay: What happened to him?
Emh: I don't know. I'd like to know what he's been doing the last few weeks. Where he's worked, away missions.
Chakotay: I'll access his duty roster.
Tuvok: Was Ensign Tabor wearing these when he was found?
Torres: No, they were on the floor next to him.
Paris: I don't think they cause comas.
Tuvok: Lights strobing at certain frequencies have been known to induce seizures. We should analyze the optical properties of this movie. When was the last time you spoke with Mister Tabor?
Paris: About ten, fifteen minutes before B'Elanna and I got here. He called to say the program was up and running.
Torres: Funny.
Tuvok: Lieutenant?
Torres: When we were in the Maquis together, we used to joke that Tabor must have had his own personal forcefield. He went through a dozen firefights without even getting his clothes dirty.
Tuvok: He's still alive. Perhaps his forcefield is holding.
Kim: Commander, I've reviewed the sensor logs for the four hours Tabor was in here. All systems were operating normally, safeties were online.
Tuvok: Run a level five diagnostic on the logs.
Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Report to Sickbay.
Tuvok: On my way.
Emh: I've found several microfractures in his cranium. They're minor, but the pattern suggests he suffered a trauma of some sort. There's also evidence of subdermal contusions along his right shoulder.
Chakotay: This man was attacked.
Janeway: It's possible that whoever did this is still on board. Go to Yellow alert. Tuvok, I'm putting you in charge of the investigation.
Tuvok: Aye, Captain.
Tuvok: Security override Tuvok pi alpha.
Jor: Commander.
Tuvok: Crewman Jor. If I'm not mistaken, your quarters are on deck four.
Jor: I heard what happened to Tabor. I was looking for a book to bring to him.
Tuvok: I'm afraid he's in no condition to read.
Jor: I was going to read to him. I've heard it helps sometimes to hear a familiar voice.
Tuvok: You and Tabor were friends. Do you have any idea why someone would want to hurt him?
Jor: I can't imagine.
Tuvok: Could you tell me where you were from oh seven hundred to eleven hundred hours this morning?
Jor: On duty. In Engineering. You can check with Lieutenant Torres if you like.
Tuvok: That won't be necessary. Thank you, crewman.
Chakotay: Harry's found evidence that someone tampered with the holodeck sensor logs. Several files have been deleted.
Janeway: Any signs of an outside intruder?
Chakotay: No, nothing.
Tuvok: I believe that a member of this crew is responsible.
Janeway: Tabor was well-liked. What's the motive?
Tuvok: I have one suspect. Crewman Jor.
Chakotay: I find that hard to believe. I've known her for a long time. She and Tabor were friends.
Tuvok: Close friends. She had access to his quarters.
Chakotay: A close relationship is hardly a crime.
Tuvok: It is my experience that emotional involvements often lead to unpredictable behavior.
Chakotay: That's an opinion, not evidence.
Tuvok: There may be other suspects. I intend to question all crew members who had recent contact with Tabor.
Chakotay: I'll check the internal sensors. See what else I can find.
Janeway: Commander. You seem awfully convinced that one of the crew was behind this. Now, you can't tell me that's the only logical conclusion, because I can think of a number of others.
Tuvok: I realize that my assumptions seem premature, but I have a strong instinct about this. You might call it a hunch.
Janeway: I didn't think that Vulcans had hunches.
Tuvok: I can't explain it, Captain, but I can't ignore it either. Someone on board is responsible and I intend to find out who it is.
Yosa: Pressure's fluctuating in one one four.
Jor: You'd better check the seals.
Yosa: Hello?
Yosa: Computer, seal hatch six one three beta.
Computer: Unable to comply.
Yosa: Crewman Yosa to Security.
Emh: His neocortical readings are identical to Tabor's, and he has the same microfractures along his right temple.
Tuvok: Who discovered him?
Janeway: Crewman Jor.
Chakotay: Chakotay to Crewman Jor. Jor, respond.
Janeway: Computer, locate Crewman Jor.
Computer: Crewman Jor is in the mess hall.
Tuvok: Crewman Jor.
Emh: If this keeps up, I may have to open a special coma ward.
Chakotay: Take a look at their names. Tell me if anything strikes you.
Janeway: Former Maquis.
Chakotay: It's either a coincidence, or they're being singled out.
Janeway: There hasn't been any hostility between the Maquis and the rest of the crew for years.
Chakotay: Maybe someone on your crew couldn't put the past behind them.
Janeway: My crew?
Chakotay: Our crew.
Janeway: Are you any closer to a diagnosis, Doctor?
Emh: They all have the same disruptions in their synaptic pathways. The same cranial fractures, contusions. But I still don't know the cause, or how to reverse it.
Janeway: Your investigation?
Tuvok: Nothing conclusive.
Janeway: Five crewmen in comas and we don't have a single clue?
Tuvok: The assailant must have access to security protocols. There is no other way he could have escaped detection.
Emh: You'd better find a way to protect the rest of the Maquis. I'm running out of beds.
Chell: What is it you expect us to do?
Chakotay: Stay alert. Report anything suspicious to Commander Tuvok.
Chell: I'd rather report to you, if it's all the same.
Crewman: He's right. I've never trusted the Vulcan. He's betrayed us before.
Torres: He was doing his job.
Crewman: He didn't care about the Maquis back then. Why should he now?
Torres: We're not Maquis anymore.
Crewman: Tell that to our friends in Sickbay.
Torres: Oh, come on. We put our differences aside seven years ago. It's ancient history.
Chell: Maybe history is repeating itself.
Chakotay: Look, the truth is, we don't know what we're up against. But the last thing we need right now is an outbreak of paranoia. Now until we get to the bottom of this, I want you all to carry hand phasers. Nobody goes anywhere alone.
Paris: We thought maybe the intruder left behind some kind of negative image.
Kim: Displaced photons. Tom figured that if we dampen the photonic ambience and enhance the polarity
Tuvok: We can applaud Mister Paris' ingenuity later. What have you found?
Tuvok: Ensign Tabor.
Kim: Now take a look at this.
Tuvok: Impressive.
Kim: It doesn't tell us who the attacker was, but we do know someone else was here.
Tuvok: Can you extrapolate the assailant's height and weight?
Kim: I'd say between a hundred seventy and a hundred ninety centimeters. Maybe seventy five kilograms.
Paris: That describes about half the members of the crew.
Kim: At least we can rule out Naomi Wildman.
Tuvok: Is it possible to increase the resolution?
Kim: We're already working on it.
Tuvok: Keep me informed.
Paris: Commander?
Torres: Stop it. You're making me nervous.
Chell: It doesn't make sense. This ship, with all its sensors. How could five people be attacked without leaving a trace?
Torres: Good question.
Chell: Maybe it's a conspiracy. Ever since Voyager began sending datastreams back home, Starfleet has known that almost a quarter of the crew is Maquis.
Torres: So?
Chell: Maybe they think we're still dangerous. Maybe they ordered the Captain to neutralize the threat.
Torres: Yes, that's it. She's putting us all into stasis. The comas are just a cover story.
Chell: It would be easier than putting us all in the brig.
Chell: It could be her.
Torres: Oh, please.
Tuvok: That'll be all, Crewman. Please send in Mister Kim.
Kim: I'm still trying to enhance the photon displacement.
Tuvok: I appreciate your efforts, Mister Kim, but I called you here for another reason. In the last datastream from Earth, you received a letter from someone named Dennis Kim.
Kim: My cousin.
Tuvok: In that letter, he spoke of your mutual friend, Maxwell Saroyan.
Kim: You read my mail?
Tuvok: Yes.
Kim: Isn't that a violation of privacy protocols?
Tuvok: As the Chief of Security, I have the authority to suspend those protocols under special circumstances.
Kim: And what is so special about a letter from my cousin?
Tuvok: The attacks began shortly after we received the last datastream. Your letter was part of that transmission.
Kim: A lot of people got letters.
Tuvok: Twenty eight, to be exact, but only six of them matched the physical parameters of the photon displacement.
Kim: Am I a suspect?
Tuvok: According to the letter, your friend, Mister Saroyan, was killed by the Maquis a number of years ago.
Kim: You got me, Tuvok. I confess. I was so distraught after hearing Max's name that I fired my Captain Proton Comatizer at every Maquis I could find.
Tuvok: Your sarcasm could be viewed as subterfuge.
Kim: Tuvok, it's me, Harry. Do you really think I'd be capable of this?
Tuvok: My personal views are irrelevant.
Kim: I learned about Max's death a long time ago. I was upset, but I don't blame the Maquis, and I certainly don't blame anyone on this ship. If that'll be all?
Kim: Is everything all right?
Tuvok: This investigation is perplexing. It defies logic.
Kim: I'll keep you posted on the holodeck analysis.
Emh: Doctor to Commander Tuvok. Report to Sickbay immediately.
Tuvok: On my way.
Emh: I thought you might like to have a few words with Mister Tabor.
Tuvok: How did you revive him?
Emh: I didn't. His synaptic pathways stabilized on their own.
Tuvok: How do you feel?
Tabor: Fine, sir. Hungry.
Tuvok: What do you remember?
Tabor: Not much. I was working in the holodeck, and then I was here.
Tuvok: Was anyone in the holodeck with you?
Tabor: No, sir.
Tuvok: Do you know why anyone would want to hurt you?
Tabor: No. What's going on?
Tuvok: Thank you, Ensign.
Chakotay: Crewman, I remember ordering everyone to work in pairs. Where's your partner?
Chell: Er, she's, er, er.
Chakotay: Who's your partner?
Chell: Lieutenant Torres. I told her we shouldn't split up, sir, but she said she could handle herself. You know how stubborn she can be.
Chakotay: I have a vague idea. Do you know where she went?
Chell: Cargo Bay two, sir.
Chakotay: B'Elanna? Computer, locate Lieutenant Torres.
Computer: Lieutenant Torres is in Cargo Bay two.
Chakotay: Help me get her to Sickbay.
Tuvok: This is a holy time.
Chakotay: What?
Chakotay: Security to Cargo Bay two.
Tuvok: Let the mind awaken and focus on the task. My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts.
Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Chakotay and B'Elanna are the latest victims of our mysterious assailant. I've decided to put the ship on a Level ten security alert. Non-essential personnel are confined to quarters, and security teams have been posted on all decks.
Tuvok: Ensign, run a metallurgical analysis.
Janeway: Two more victims regained consciousness. Crewmen Yosa and Jor. Their bio-readings returned to normal, as if they suffered nothing worse than a good night's sleep. It doesn't make any sense.
Tuvok: It is, however, a pattern, and a pattern implies purpose. We simply have to uncover it.
Janeway: Any clues here?
Tuvok: Not yet.
Janeway: I'm beginning to think our perpetrator is a ghost.
Tuvok: Perhaps we should conduct a séance.
Janeway: It couldn't hurt.
Tuvok: I have worked meticulously, yet he has outwitted me each time.
Janeway: How can you be sure it's a he?
Tuvok: I can't, but I am.
Janeway: Another hunch?
Tuvok: I can almost sense his presence. It's as though he's challenging me to find him.
Janeway: I'd say you're taking this a little too personally. Maybe you should take a break.
Tuvok: No.
Janeway: You haven't slept in three days. Get some rest, Meditate. Clear your mind.
Tuvok: My mind is perfectly clear.
Janeway: I don't want to make this an order, Tuvok. I'll go over your scans. Fresh pair of eyes might help.
Tuvok: Captain.
Teero: Resist your doubts.
Teero: Don't question your mission.
Janeway: Filter out the polarized photons. Anyone you know? Tuvok.
Tuvok: Computer, isolate the precise time index of this image.
Computer: Stardate 54090.4.
Tuvok: Where was Commander Tuvok at that time?
Computer: Access to that information has been restricted.
Tuvok: By whom?
Computer: Access to that information has been restricted.
Janeway: Tuvok, what's going on?
Tuvok: Computer, override those security restrictions. Authorisation Tuvok pi alpha.
Computer: Restrictions overridden.
Tuvok: Where was Commander Tuvok at the specified time?
Computer: Commander Tuvok was in holodeck two.
Tuvok: Computer, based on the most recent data, can you give me a better estimation of the intruder's height?
Computer: One hundred eighty two centimeters.
Tuvok: And what is the height of Lieutenant Commander Tuvok?
Computer: One hundred eighty two centimeters.
Tuvok: Captain, I believe I
Teero: Ignore your doubts.
Tuvok: No.
Janeway: Commander, lower your weapon.
Teero: Pagh'tem'far, b'tanay.
Tuvok: Who are you?
Tuvok: Captain, it would appear that I am the guilty party.
Janeway: How is that possible?
Tuvok: I don't know. But for the safety of the crew you must confine me to the brig.
Emh: He wants to speak with you, but I advise you to remain outside the forcefield.
Janeway: Tuvok, can you hear me?
Tuvok: I hear you. But there is another voice trying to control me.
Janeway: Another voice? Whose? This is a holy time. What did you mean by that?
Tuvok: A primal energy charges the blood, an energy of rebirth.
Janeway: That's what the voice is telling you?
Tuvok: It's a Bajoran incantation. The voice is Bajoran.
Emh: We need to get you to Sickbay so I can run
Tuvok: No! No more scans. Leave me alone.
Teero: Don't question your mission.
Tuvok: Get away from me.
Janeway: What do you see, Tuvok?
Tuvok: The Bajoran.
Janeway: Ignore him. Focus on my voice. Tell me what's happening.
Tuvok: I believe I've, I've been attacking certain members of the crew. The Maquis. Then investigating the crimes with no memory of what I'd done.
Emh: Attacking them how?
Tuvok: Mind melds.
Janeway: Why?
Tuvok: I don't know. He is responsible. What did you do to me?
Janeway: Commander. Commander. Is he a member of the crew? Then who is he?
Tuvok: I don't know.
Janeway: The day the first attack occurred, did anything unusual happen to you?
Tuvok: I was tending to my duties. I received a letter from my son.
Janeway: A letter? This all started right after we received the last datastream.
Tuvok: I reviewed every letter except my own.
Janeway: Stay with him, Doctor.
Chakotay: How long?
Paris: Twenty nine hours. She woke up just before you did.
Janeway: They've all recovered. We don't know why. It's Tuvok.
Chakotay: Tuvok?
Janeway: He's in the brig. Apparently, he's being manipulated by some form of mind control. Can he leave, Mister Paris?
Paris: I don't see why not, but he should wear one of these.
Janeway: There's something I want to show you.
Sek: Exo-linguistics always seemed a little too theoretical to me. I've decided to study musical composition instead. I would have sent you my latest polytonal construct, but they wouldn't give me enough room in this datastream. Maybe next time, I can.
Chakotay: A letter from his son.
Janeway: We found another signal embedded in the message. A letter within a letter.
Sek: Hello, Father. We received your last transmission.
Teero: This is a holy time. B'tanay, the time of awakening. Return to that dark place from which all life springs.
Seven: The signal is calibrated to correspond with Vulcan synaptic frequencies. Tuvok wouldn't have been consciously aware of it.
Chakotay: Teero. Teero Anaydis. He was a Bajoran Vedek. He worked with the Maquis.
Janeway: Doing what?
Chakotay: Counter-intelligence. He was thrown out for experimenting with mind control. He thought it was a good way to recruit agents.
Janeway: Well, apparently he was successful at recruiting our Tactical Officer. These incantations and symbols, they must have triggered something in Tuvok. Preconditioned behavior, instructions.
Chakotay: I should've known you'd show up again.
Janeway: Commander?
Chakotay: Teero was a fanatic. He'd go to any extreme for the Maquis. He called the rest of us traitors for rejecting his ideas. Swore he'd fight the war on his own if he had to.
Seven: Why instruct Tuvok to mind meld with Voyager's Maquis thirty five thousand light years from Earth?
Janeway: I'd like Tuvok to take a look at this message. Maybe it'll jog his memory. Try to decode those symbols.
Tuvok: It's him.
Janeway: His name is Teero Anaydis.
Tuvok: Teero.
Janeway: He worked for Maquis Intelligence.
Tuvok: Yes, I remember meeting him. I was undercover, doing reconnaissance on a colony near the Badlands. He was a Vedek at the Bajoran temple there.
Janeway: Go on.
Tuvok: We spoke briefly. He was interested in Vulcan culture. That's all I remember.
Janeway: Maybe that's all he wanted you to remember. He was developing some kind of mind control technique. We think he used it on you seven years ago.
Janeway: What is it?
Tuvok: I, I was restrained. Very frightened.
Janeway: What did he do to you?
Tuvok: I can't remember.
Janeway: Try.
Tuvok: I can't!
Janeway: Tuvok, if we're going to help you, we need to find out. The last time you meditated, it helped the memories resurface, didn't it? You've helped me meditate. I think I've learned a thing or two about the process. Let me try to guide you.
Janeway: Where are you?
Tuvok: In a laboratory. Underground.
Janeway: Is Teero there?
Tuvok: There is someone. It's him.
Janeway: Describe what's happening.
Teero: Lieutenant.
Janeway: Tuvok? Tuvok?
Teero: It is Lieutenant, isn't it? I'm sure your Maquis comrades would be interested to know your Starfleet rank. Don't worry, I don't plan to expose you.
Tuvok: What do you want?
Teero: You. You're the perfect subject.
Tuvok: For what?
Teero: I'm a student of the mind. Yours is remarkable. Diskiplined, orderly. On the surface, that is. Beneath
Teero: Boiling emotions, repressed violence. In a sense, you're two different men. One I could never hope to manipulate, but the other
Tuvok: I have been trained to resist mind control.
Teero: That's the rational, logical part of you at work, but I want to reach your inner fire. Your spirit.
Tuvok: Why? Wait. Please, please, don't.
Teero: Pagh'tem'far, b'tanay.
Tuvok: Stay away from me!
Janeway: Tuvok.
Teero: Complete your mission.
Tuvok: No!
Teero: This is a holy time.
Janeway: Commander.
Tuvok: Tuvok to Chakotay.
Chakotay: Go ahead.
Tuvok: Pagh'tem'far, b'tanay.
Chakotay: Understood.
Janeway: Janeway to Chakotay. Commander. Pagh'tem'far, b'tanay. What did that mean, Tuvok? Tell me.
Tuvok: This is a holy time. A time of awakening.
Janeway: This Teero has awakened you to do what? If you can remember, you can fight him. You can resist. What does he want?
Tuvok: To give us instructions.
Janeway: What kind of instructions?
Teero: Focus on your task.
Tuvok: No.
Emh: It's Chakotay.
Paris: What is it?
Emh: I'm not sure. Sickbay to Commander Chakotay. Computer, locate Chakotay.
Computer: Commander Chakotay is in sickbay.
Chakotay: Computer, deactivate the EMH.
Paris: Commander?
Chakotay: Pagh'tem'far, b'tanay.
Torres: I understand.
Chakotay: Deck one.
Janeway: Why were you using mind melds? What did Teero want you to do?
Tuvok: To awaken the others.
Teero: Resist your doubts.
Tuvok: No!
Janeway: Focus on me.
Teero: Complete your mission. Pagh'tem'far, b'tanay.
Tuvok: You don't control me!
Kim: Good to see you, Commander.
Chakotay: It's good to be back.
Janeway: Janeway to the bridge. Report.
Janeway: What the hell are you doing?
Chakotay: I think it's obvious. I'm taking control of your ship. Within the hour all Starfleet personnel will be locked in their quarters. Step back in the Brig, Kathryn.
Janeway: What's Teero done to you?
Chakotay: He simply helped us remember who we are. We're Maquis. We've always been Maquis.
Janeway: The rebellion ended three years ago. You know that.
Chakotay: In the Alpha Quadrant, maybe. Not on this ship.
Torres: Torres to Chakotay.
Chakotay: Go ahead.
Torres: Deck eleven is secure.
Chakotay: Acknowledged.
Janeway: We're thirty five light years from Earth, Chakotay. No one out here even knows about the Maquis. It doesn't make sense. There's nothing you can accomplish.
Chakotay: As long as we exist, so does the rebellion.
Janeway: That's Teero talking. He was unstable, you said so yourself.
Chakotay: We have no intention of hurting any of you.
Tuvok: Your orders, Captain?
Chakotay: Take your station.
Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54101. Voyager is now under my command. We're en route to an M class planet where we'ill relocate the Starfleet crew.
Jor: We're in range.
Torres: On screen. Looks like a nice place for a Federation colony. Take us into orbit.
Chakotay: Tuvok, would you mind joining me in the ready room?
Tuvok: You wished to see me, Captain?
Chakotay: You can drop the formalities. This is a Maquis ship now. Vulcan brandy. I thought we'd have a drink to celebrate.
Tuvok: A fitting gesture.
Chakotay: To awakenings.
Tuvok: Awakenings.
Chakotay: There are still twenty three of our former comrades who aren't with us yet. I was hoping you'd be able to help persuade them.
Tuvok: I'm prepared to mind meld with the remaining Maquis to convey Teero's instructions.
Chakotay: It'll be nice to have my old crew back. You've been a big help to us, Tuvok, but I can't forget what happened seven years ago. You have a history of betraying the Maquis.
Tuvok: It won't happen again.
Chakotay: We have a small crew. I have to be able to trust everyone, especially my tactical officer.
Chakotay: Bring her in.
Chakotay: Consider this a test of your loyalty. It's set to kill.
Janeway: You said you wouldn't hurt anyone.
Janeway: You're in control of your actions. Not Chakotay, not Teero.
Chakotay: Tuvok?
Janeway: Don't do this.
Tuvok: This phaser is defective.
Chakotay: Take her back to the brig.
Chakotay: You passed.
Chakotay: Now, we've got some tactical issues to review. I want to re-route all weapons control to my console.
Tuvok: My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts.
Torres: Kim and Paris engineered a little breakout on deck six. We've contained them all behind a forcefield.
Jor: We should begin the evacuation.
Torres: Start beaming them down. Begin on deck two, section zero one.
Chakotay: Belay that order. Tuvok informed me that this planet has an unstable atmosphere. Go to Astrometrics and scan for an alternative.
Torres: What are you talking about? There's nothing wrong with the atmosphere.
Chakotay: We don't have time to debate this.
Torres: I can scan from here. Chakotay, what's going on?
Tuvok: Stand down.
Tuvok: Your weapon.
Chakotay: I thought you might like your ship back.
Janeway: No more rebellion?
Chakotay: It took another mind meld with Tuvok, but I'm fine.
Janeway: Tuvok, you're all right.
Tuvok: I am in control again, Captain.
Chakotay: Whatever you said to him, it worked.
Janeway: It's good to have you back, Commander.
Chakotay: All ready for Attack of the Lobster People?
Tuvok: I am not familiar with that species.
Chakotay: You will be, soon enough.
Tuvok: I haven't completed my security rounds.
Chakotay: You have now.
Neelix: Buttered or unbuttered?
Chakotay: Thank you, Neelix.
Janeway: I saved you a seat.
Tuvok: How long is this entertainment?
Janeway: I'm not sure. Tom said something about a double feature. I've been meaning to ask you. How did you know that phaser wasn't charged?
Tuvok: Chakotay doubted my loyalty. He wouldn't have given me an active weapon.
Janeway: Not exactly ironclad logic.
Tuvok: Call it a hunch.
Janeway: Remind me to pay more attention to your hunches.
Torres: Shush!