Bullock: Welcome to Earth. I am Admiral Bullock, and I will be your Commanding Officer for the next six months. Questions, comments, bring them to me. Problems, talk to Lieutenant Kinis. Larsen, you're assigned to the Federation Council, Deputy Liaison Officer. Young and Raskin, report to Orbital Flight Control. You'll be monitoring incoming vessels from the Bolian sector.
Boothby: I can save you some time there, son. They're bamboo.
Chakotay: I know that. Unfortunately, my tricorder's reading them as maple trees. I think the isodyne relays must be malfunctioning.
Boothby: Why don't you pay a visit to Logistical Support? Maybe they'll issue you a new one.
Chakotay: Good idea.
Boothby: I'm going that way myself. Mind some company?
Chakotay: Not at all.
Boothby: So, what's your assignment here?
Chakotay: I don't know. I haven't received my orders yet. I just arrived.
Boothby: From where?
Chakotay: A three year tour on the Intrepid.
Boothby: Is that a fact? I thought the Intrepid was patrolling the Neutral Zone.
Chakotay: It is. I caught a transport vessel at Deep Space Seven.
Boothby: Ah. Got tired of wrestling with the Romulans.
Chakotay: Let's just say it's good to be back. What about yourself? How long have you been posted here, Mister?
Boothby: Boothby. Boothby's the name.
Chakotay: Boothby. I've heard of you.
Boothby: I should hope so. I've been tending these grounds for fifty four years, give or take a few months.
Chakotay: And beautiful grounds they are.
Boothby: Mmm hmm. Logistical Support. Straight through the main complex, second door on your right.
Chakotay: Thank you.
Boothby: Commander, Logistics is a secure area. They won't let you in with that holo-imaging device. Fresh from the Neutral Zone? You're not a Romulan double agent, are you, son?
Chakotay: Actually, I was just recording a few images for my friends back home. Would you mind posing for a shot?
Boothby: Me? You want a picture of me?
Chakotay: The one and only Boothby. My friends would be impressed.
Boothby: Well, when you put it that way. Cadet, take our picture, will you?
Boothby: Don't cut off our heads. I expect a copy of that, young man.
Archer: You're in my seat. And you're reading my book. Do you want my drink, too?
Chakotay: Depends. What is it?
Archer: Klingon martini. Vermouth, gin, with a dash of bloodwine.
Chakotay: Bloodwine? Never touch the stuff.
Archer: What do you like?
Chakotay: Excuse me. I was waiting for a friend.
Archer: Valerie Archer.
Chakotay: Hayek. Jason Hayek.
Archer: Nice tattoo. I bet there's a story behind it.
Chakotay: A long one. A Cave Beyond Logic: Vulcan Perspectives on Platonic Thought. Sounds fascinating.
Archer: You can borrow it if you like.
Chakotay: Thanks anyway. I can only take small doses of Vulcan philosophy.
Archer: Stationed here?
Chakotay: Temporarily.
Archer: Where do you call home?
Chakotay: You first. Where are you from?
Archer: Everywhere. My parents were starship officers. By the time I was ten I'd seen half the quadrant.
Chakotay: Starfleet brat.
Archer: Bratty as they come.
Archer: Can I ask you a question. Have you ever reverted?
Chakotay: Reverted? Not yet.
Archer: Ensign O'Halloran, this is his third time this week. If it happens again, they'll pull him out of training.
Chakotay: What about you. Any trouble?
Archer: Oh, I can keep my human form. It's the little things that bother me.
Chakotay: Little things?
Archer: Breathing oxygen, bipedal locomotion, and sleeping. The concept of being unconscious for eight hours a night, it's so alien.
Chakotay: I know what you mean.
Archer: That's why I started reading their books. For some reason it helps me relax. But we shouldn't be talking about this. Think human, talk human, be human. Remember?
Chakotay: How could I forget?
Archer: So, had a chance to take a look around?
Chakotay: Not yet.
Archer: Headquarters has a lot more to offer than conference rooms and consoles, if you have the right guide.
Chakotay: Is that an invitation?
Archer: I get off duty at nineteen hundred hours.
Tuvok: Commander.
Archer: Speak of the devil.
Chakotay: We were just discussing Vulcan philosophy.
Archer: Join us.
Tuvok: Another time, perhaps. We have work to do.
Archer: Oh, can't it wait?
Chakotay: I'm afraid not.
Archer: What about tonight? Do we have a date? Nineteen hundred hours. Meet you right here.
Chakotay: I'll do my best.
Archer: Live long and prosper.
Tuvok: A date?
Chakotay: Relax, Tuvok. I plan on standing her up.
Tuvok: We agreed to limit our investigation to surveillance.
Chakotay: It was worth the risk. She talked about training. These are some kind of aliens learning to pose as humans.
Tuvok: For what purpose?
Chakotay: I don't know. I didn't get that far.
Tuvok: We're due back at the transporter coordinates.
Gentry: Excuse me, gentlemen. You've entered a restricted area. Captains and above.
Chakotay: Sorry. We didn't realize.
Gentry: I'm going to have to ask you to come with me.
Tuvok: Why?
Gentry: All unauthorized personnel are to be debriefed by Starfleet Intelligence. Direct orders from Admiral Bullock.
Chakotay: Listen, Ensign, we're late for a meeting with Starfleet Command. The debriefing will have to wait.
Gentry: I'm sorry, Commander.
Chakotay: Very well.
Tuvok: When he regains consciousness, he'll no doubt want to report this incident.
Chakotay: Chakotay to Paris, three to beam up.
Paris: Three?
Chakotay: I'll explain later.
Paris: Who's that?
Chakotay: One of Starfleet's finest. Take us to Voyager.
Kim: What did you find down there?
Tuvok: Earth.
Janeway: Welcome aboard.
Gentry: Where am I?
Janeway: On a starship.
Gentry: What starship? Why have you brought me here? I'll be reporting this incident to the Admiral.
Chakotay: You can drop the charade. We know you're not human.
Janeway: Who are you?
Gentry: Gentry, David. Rank, Ensign. Starfleet service number nine nine beta three two seven eight. Planet of origin, Earth.
Janeway: We're not interested in your knowledge of human culture. We're not part of your re-creation. I'm Captain Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. I'm from Earth. You're not.
Gentry: Gentry, David. Rank, Ensign. Starfleet service number nine nine beta three two seven eight.
Janeway: Doctor.
Gentry: What are you doing?
Emh: I need a sample of your DNA.
Gentry: Why?
Janeway: Since you won't tell us who you are, we have no choice but to find out for ourselves.
Emh: You won't be harmed.
Gentry: Gentry to Headquarters. Security alert!
Chakotay: We've disabled your comm. badge.
Gentry: No! Don't touch me. Disease! Humans!
Emh: It appears he's released a cellular toxin into his bloodstream. He's dead.
Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Until we know exactly what's going on I'm keeping Voyager concealed behind a class three moon.
Chakotay: Federation Council, Astrophysics, Starfleet Medical complex. They even re-created the Officers' Club, the Quantum Café.
Janeway: Computer, return to time index 4228. That's Boothby.
Seven: Captain?
Janeway: The head groundskeeper at Starfleet Academy. When I was a cadet, he used to give me fresh roses for my quarters.
Tuvok: It's safe to assume this individual is not Boothby.
Janeway: Whoever they are, they've gathered incredibly accurate information about Starfleet headquarters.
Seven: Perhaps they had access to a Federation database.
Chakotay: Or they've been to San Francisco.
Tuvok: The habitat's population consists of humans, Vulcans, Bolian, Ferengi. All Alpha Quadrant species.
Janeway: What do we know about this artificial environment, Seven?
Seven: I've used the tricorder data, holo-images and astrometric scans to extrapolate a cross-section of the interior. I believe they used a combination of holographic projection and particle synthesis.
Janeway: Power source?
Seven: There are thirteen thermionic generators beneath the city. I can't identify the energy signatures.
Tuvok: The habitat's heavily fortified. They are well prepared to defend against an attack.
Emh: Sickbay to Captain.
Janeway: Go ahead.
Emh: I've completed my post-mortem analysis. You'd better get down here.
Janeway: On my way. If this is a training ground, it could mean they're planning an invasion of the Federation. We should prepare for the worst. See if you can find a way to penetrate their defenses.
Emh: He may look human, he may sound human, he may even smell human, but there's no question, he's alien.
Janeway: Was he genetically altered?
Emh: On a highly sophisticated level. If it weren't for microcellular scans I wouldn't be able to distinguish him from the genuine article. I've managed to isolate the alien DNA. Fortunately, most of his cells are still chemically active. If I use a cytokinetic injection I should be able to trigger a genetic reversion.
Janeway: Do it.
Emh: Talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Janeway: Species 8472. The question is, why are they training to pose as human beings?
Paris: Back in the twentieth century, the Soviets used to build American towns to train their agents to infiltrate the United States. Species 8472 could be doing the same thing.
Kim: They're going to infiltrate the Alpha Quadrant.
Paris: Maybe they already have.
Torres: Tom's right. How else could they have gathered their information about us?
Seven: Perhaps they've acquired it from the Borg.
Janeway: It doesn't matter how they got their data. We need to find out what they intend to do with it.
Seven: If our previous experience is any indication, they will try to destroy Earth.
Tuvok: A logical assumption. They did threaten to purge our galaxy of all life.
Janeway: Tuvok, keep working on a way to target their habitat's power source. We're going to need nanoprobe warheads and plenty of them. Seven, see to it.
Seven: Yes, Captain.
Chakotay: In the meantime, I've got a date to keep. I made contact with one of them, Commander Valerie Archer. Maybe I can capitalize on the relationship. Get a better idea of what they're planning.
Janeway: Tom, Harry, take him back in the Delta Flyer. Keep a constant transporter lock on him. If Species 8472 attacks Earth, the Federation won't have any defenses against them, and I don't need to remind you that we have no way to warn Starfleet Command. Voyager may be the last defense against an all-out invasion of Earth.
Janeway: Last minute preparations?
Chakotay: Just planning my big night out.
Janeway: I can recommend a nice Japanese replimat on the Embarcadero.
Chakotay: I was never very good with chopsticks.
Janeway: Starfleet headquarters. Brings back memories, even if it is just a re-creation. I remember my last visit there. I was given my general orders for Voyager's first mission. Proceed to the Badlands and find the Maquis.
Chakotay: The orders that brought us together.
Janeway: What about you? When was the last time you were at Headquarters?
Chakotay: Before today? March 3rd, 2368. The day I resigned my commission. I can still remember the look on the Admiral's face.
Janeway: Which one?
Chakotay: Nimembeh.
Janeway: He taught at the Academy, didn't he?
Chakotay: That's right.
Janeway: Interspecies Ethics, wasn't it?
Chakotay: Tactical Analysis.
Janeway: Of course.
Chakotay: Kathryn, you think I might be one of them. You're testing me.
Janeway: You and Tuvok were in the alien habitat for nearly three hours. Anything could have happened down there.
Chakotay: True. Why don't you have Tuvok meet us in Sickbay. The Doctor can perform a microcellular analysis.
Janeway: Tuvok's already there.
Chakotay: You could have just asked me to report to Sickbay.
Janeway: Given Ensign Gentry's reaction, I thought I'd be a little more tactful.
Chakotay: Not taking any chances, are you?
Janeway: Don't feel singled out. I've asked the Doctor to examine the entire crew. There's no telling how 8472 got their information about Starfleet. From the Borg? Earth? For all we know there's been an impostor on board.
Emh: Cell morphology normal, all of your nucleotide sequences are accounted for. You're a hundred percent human.
Chakotay: That's a relief. And Tuvok?
Emh: Green blooded Vulcan through and through. Well, two down, one hundred and twenty five to go.
Janeway: You'd better get going.
Chakotay: Right. I don't want to be late.
Janeway: Just be home before midnight.
Chakotay: Yes, ma'am.
Kim: I've enhanced this tricorder with a transoptic datalink. It should help you access some of their systems. Type one phaser modified to fire Borg nanoprobes.
Chakotay: Right.
Paris: Do you always arm yourself before a first date?
Kim: You've never had a date with species 8472.
Paris: Personally, I don't go out with girls from other galaxies.
Kim: You're a true explorer, Chakotay.
Paris: Is she cute?
Chakotay: In her human form, anyway.
Kim: I've always wondered what it would be like to date an alien.
Chakotay: I'll take notes.
Paris: We're making our approach.
Chakotay: All stop. Shields up.
Emh: Feisty little fellows. You've increased their cellular motility by over two hundred percent.
Seven: I thought it would be prudent to maximize their efficiency.
Emh: Seven, the last time we used nanoprobes we sent 8472 scurrying back to fluidic space. You can't get more efficient than that.
Seven: The species is highly adaptive. It's been over a year since our first encounter. They may have developed a defense against our technology.
Emh: There's one way to find out. We can test the nanoprobes on our corpse. You'll find the body in morgue chamber three. Beam it to the surgical bay. The creature's only been dead for a few hours, there should still be plenty of cellular activity.
Emh: Initiate a bio-scan, full spectrum. Don't worry. It's an autonomic reflex. The creature still has residual bioelectric activity in its nervous system.
Seven: Something's wrong. The nanoprobes should have taken effect by now.
Emh: Hmm.
Seven: What is it?
Emh: The creature's nucleotides are still intact. It looks like your concerns were warranted. We'll have to inform the Captain. We may have to
Seven: Doctor.
Emh: False alarm.
Seven: I will replicate more nanoprobes.
Emh: I don't mind telling you, Seven, I'm still holding out for a diplomatic solution.
Seven: Improbable. Species 8472 will not respond to diplomacy.
Emh: Funny. We used to say the same thing about the Borg. My point is, anything's possible if you keep an open mind. Optimism, Seven. Try to look on the bright side.
Seven: It is difficult to be optimistic when we are preparing for battle.
Emh: Have you ever heard the phrase, the best defense is a good offense?
Seven: No.
Emh: Throughout human history weapons of mass destruction were often designed in the hopes that they'd never be used.
Seven: And yet, in Earth's Third World War, nuclear weapons accounted for six hundred million casualties. Were they looking on the bright side?
Emh: An unfortunate exception.
Archer: We were just talking about you.
Chakotay: Oh?
Boothby: She didn't think you were going to show up.
Archer: Boothby!
Boothby: I've known Archer since she was a first year cadet. She's not easily impressed. I didn't think you were her type. Oh, er, if you'll excuse me, I've got some midnight orchids that need my attention. Think about what I said, young lady. You'll be fine.
Archer: Thank you, Boothby.
Chakotay: Problems?
Archer: I was offered a field commission this morning. First officer of the starship HorCha.
Chakotay: Congratulations.
Archer: It's a Klingon vessel.
Chakotay: Oh. So what did Boothby say?
Archer: DuCha me gagh roh. Smile when you eat the gagh.
Chakotay: Wise words.
Archer: Yeah.
Chakotay: Do you always seek advice from the groundskeeper?
Archer: Half the Captains in Starfleet wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for Boothby. Lopez, Picard, Richardson, just to name a few. Closing time.
Chakotay: You offered to be my guide. Where's our next stop?
Archer: Can you dance?
Chakotay: I've been accused of trying.
Archer: It's Pon Farr night at the Vulcan nightclub.
Chakotay: Vulcan?
Archer: It's just around the corner.
Paris: Take it easy, Harry. We didn't build the Delta Flyer to withstand such extensive pacing.
Kim: He should have contacted us by now.
Paris: Give him time.
Kim: Four hours?
Paris: It's a date. These things can't be rushed. They probably just finished dinner, a couple of drinks, and now they are moving past the polite stage.
Kim: Polite stage? The last 8472 I met tried to dissolve me from the inside out.
Paris: It was only trying to get to know you better, Harry. You can't fault a person for that. Look, Chakotay can take care of himself. And if he can't, who better than us to come to the rescue?
Chakotay: Turns out the transporter malfunctioned. My uniform ended up in the pattern buffer.
Archer: You're kidding. You were naked?
Chakotay: Not entirely. I had my commbadge.
Archer: I hope it was well-placed. Computer, lights.
Chakotay: So this is where they're putting up officers nowadays. Not bad.
Archer: Can I get you something to drink?
Chaotay: Water's fine.
Archer: I'm beginning to think you're a teetotaller.
Chakotay: I like to stay in control.
Archer: Always at yellow alert, huh?
Chakotay: Something like that.
Archer: Find anything interesting?
Chakotay: Beyond the Galactic Edge, Humanity's Quest for Infinity. This is a 21st century edition of Hesterman, isn't it?
Archer: Replicated. Good book though.
Chakotay: Never read it.
Archer: You should. Human beings, they're quite a paradox.
Chakotay: Oh? How so.
Archer: At first glance, they're so primitive. Genetic impurities, no telepathy, violent and yet they've created so many beautiful ways to communicate their ideas. Literature, art, music. At times, I've actually enjoyed being in this form. You must think I'm crazy.
Chakotay: Not at all.
Archer: I wonder what they think about us?
Chakotay: Hard to say.
Archer: I'll tell you what I think. They despise us. They'll attack any species that's not part of their Federation. Mmm. Speaking of being in human form. I could use an isomorphic injection. You need one?
Chakotay: I'm fine.
Archer: Make yourself at home.
Archer: Commander. How do you like the view?
Chakotay: Lovely.
Archer: Looks like a full moon. You can see the entire bay on a night like this.
Chakotay: I should have brought my holo-imager. You make a pretty picture.
Archer: Mmm, feel that? Salinated oxygen molecules, stimulating the epidermal and neural receptors. Non-fluidic space has its charms.
Chakotay: No argument there.
Archer: Planet Earth. The simulation will be real soon enough.
Chakotay: How soon do you think?
Archer: Weeks, days. As soon as they think we're ready.
Chakotay: Can I be honest with you?
Archer: Please.
Chakotay: I'm starting to wonder if all this is worth the effort.
Archer: What do you mean?
Chakotay: This simulation, our mission. Are we certain the humans pose a threat?
Archer: They were allies with the Borg. They invaded our realm.
Chakotay: That was one incident. That doesn't mean the entire Federation is planning a war against us.
Archer: We can't trust them. We have to prepare for the worst.
Chakotay: I'm not so sure.
Archer: I think you've been human a little too long.
Chakotay: Before you know it, I'll be sending my resume to the real Starfleet.
Archer: Alien from distant galaxy seeks employment. References available upon request.
Chakotay: Well, it's getting late. I'd better go.
Archer: Already?
Chakotay: I have a tactical report to finish before morning.
Archer: Aren't we forgetting something? I'm no expert at human dating rituals, but I think it's customary to kiss good night. You've never done this before.
Chakotay: Actually.
Archer: Me, neither. Just think of it as part of our training. (She backs him up against the door jamb and kisses him. Then Chakotay reciprocates enthusiastically, and leaves.Archer goes to her desk and takes out a scanner. She uses it on her hand where it had touched Chakotay's skin, and activates her desk computer.)
Boothby: Report.
Archer: I analyzed his DNA. Your suspicions were correct.
Boothby: How much does he know?
Archer: It's difficult to say. He'll have to be interrogated.
Boothby: Where is he?
Archer: By now he should be in the main quad. I recommend we go to daylight. He'll be easier to track.
Chakotay: Chakotay to Paris. Delta Flyer, respond! (He shoots a man who is running towards him, then runs himself. But soon he is surrounded by humanoid 8472, who grab him and take him away.
Janeway: Yes. Come in.
Seven: The Borg modifications are complete. Nineteen standard photon torpedoes and three class tens armed with high-yield warheads.
Janeway: More.
Seven: We ha've depleted our supply of nanoprobes.
Janeway: Replicate a new supply.
Seven: That is not possible.
Janeway: Have the Doctor extract them from your bloodstream. Grow them in a petrie dish. Whatever it takes. If we do engage 8472 I don't intend to run out of firepower mid-battle. You of all people should understand that. They killed, what, four million drones? Directive zero one zero. Before engaging alien species in battle, any and all attempts to make First Contact and achieve non-military resolution must be made. In this case, we made first contact over a year ago and we barely got out of it alive. It seems to me a battle is inevitable, maybe even war. So why can't I get that directive out of my mind?
Seven: This species intends to purge our galaxy of all life. It's time you resisted your Starfleet philosophy.
Tuvok: Captain to the Bridge.
Tuvok: The away team is hailing us.
Janeway: Tom.
Paris: Chakotay's in trouble. He tried to contact us ten minutes ago, but his signal was cut off.
Kim: Some kind of forcefield went up around the habitat. We can't get a lock on him.
Janeway: Has your vessel been detected?
Paris: I don't think so. At least, no one's tried to take a shot at us yet.
Janeway: Hold your position. Keep trying to locate him. We're on our way.
Paris: Yes, ma'am.
Janeway: Bring those Borg weapons online. Red alert. All hands to battle stations. Take us out of orbit.
Archer: I thought you had a tactical report to finish.
Boothby: What'll you have, son? I'm a single malt man, myself. Aged two hundred years. Been saving it for a special occasion, and I'd say this is special enough. A toast. To Earth. Chakotay. Rank, Commander. Starfleet service number forty seven alpha six one two. First officer, USS Voyager.
Chakotay: Species 8472. Origin, fluidic space.
Boothby: Well, now that we've been formally introduced, how many ships? Cat got your tongue? I asked you a question. How many vessels do you have in the Delta Quadrant?
Chakotay: One.
Archer: How did you find us?
Chakotay: We detected what looked like a Federation subspace transmission. It took us weeks to track it here.
Boothby: We wanted this simulation to be accurate to the last detail. We obviously went a little too far. Now that you know about our re-creation, you've no doubt alerted the Federation. Your fleet will be on its way.
Chakotay: You've got it wrong. We're not planning a war against you.
Archer: Is that why you were here to spy on us, because you're curious?
Bullock: Sir, a starship is approaching. It's Voyager.
Boothby: Raise our shields. Stand by, all weapons.
Chakotay: Captain Janeway is not here to launch an attack. She's here to find me.
Boothby: We've got the real McCoy here. We might as well take advantage of it. Perform a genetic extraction. It may help us find a better way to maintain these human forms.
Archer: Yes, sir.
Tuvok: We are approaching the habitat.
Janeway: Shields to maximum. Charge weapons. All hands, this is the bridge. Tactical alert. Report to your posts and stand by to engage the enemy.
Tuvok: I have a visual. We're being scanned.
Janeway: Let them take a look.
Seven: The Delta Flyer is heading up from the habitat.
Janeway: Open a channel. Tom, status?
Paris: They've taken a couple of pot-shots at us, Captain. We've lost our shields. Mind if we join you?
Janeway: You're clear to dock. Shuttlebay two. Any word from Chakotay?
Paris: I'm afraid not.
Janeway: Bring us within range. Target their weapons array.
Seven: Captain, we should target their power systems as well.
Janeway: No, I don't want to risk shutting down their life support. If we can end this without casualties, so much the better.
Seven: This species does not deserve our compassion.
Janeway: You picked a lousy time for an ethical debate. The weapons array. Now.
Tuvok: We're entering weapons range. Thirty eight hundred kilometers. Thirty five hundred. Thirty two hundred.
Chakotay: Valerie.
Archer: That's not my name.
Chakotay: Then what is it? You're afraid of us, aren't you. You think we're violent, that we're planning to destroy your species, but none of that's true. If you would take the time to speak to us directly, we could prove it to you. There are no secrets except the secrets that keep themselves.
Archer: Shaw.
Chakotay: George Bernard Shaw. I saw a copy of his Collected Works on your bookshelf.
Archer: He had a complex mind, for a human.
Chakotay: And he had a point. As long as we keep spying on each other, making assumptions, we probably will go to war.
Archer: Voyager.
Seven: They're charging weapons.
Janeway: Do the same.
Tuvok: We're being hailed.
Janeway: Mister Boothby.
Boothby: Captain Janeway.
Janeway: Good to see you after all these years. Enjoying the Delta Quadrant?
Boothby: Don't get sassy with me, young lady. This re-creation may be Starfleet but our weapons are far more sophisticated. I can destroy your vessel with a single command. Run along now.
Janeway: I'm not going anywhere. Not until you return my First Officer and give me a damn good explanation for what you're doing in our galaxy. I've targeted your re-creation with Borg nanoprobes, and we're willing to use them if you force us to.
Boothby: Don't try to rattle my cage. I'll disable your tactical systems before you can
Janeway: The last time our species engaged in battle, you suffered heavy casualties. Are you willing to take that chance again? An armed conflict isn't going to solve our problems. We could go on making threats, spying on each other, risking a war between our species. Or we could try a more direct approach.
Boothby: What do you have in mind?
Janeway: How about a class reunion?
Boothby: Targ manure! United Federation of Planets, tolerance for all species, the Prime Directive. Targ manure, every word of it.
Tuvok: Your metaphor is colorful, but inaccurate.
Boothby: Vulcan logic. Add that to the list.
Janeway: Obviously, you've studied a Starfleet database. You must have learned something about our history. We adhere to our directives.
Bullock: High-minded ideals are one thing, but your actions tell a very different story. You infiltrated our re-creation, captured and killed one of our people.
Janeway: I told you, he took his own life.
Bullock: You created biological weapons to infect our species. You are allies with the Borg.
Boothby: There's a drone sitting at this very table. Look at her, all gussied up to look like a human being.
Seven: I am no longer part of the Collective.
Boothby: Once a Borg, always a Borg.
Janeway: Seven of Nine is a member of this crew.
Bullock: The Borg are irrelevant. It's the humans that pose a threat.
Chakotay: They think the Federation is a hostile invasion force out to destroy their species.
Janeway: I see. So you're planning a pre-emptive strike against Earth.
Boothby: Maybe I am.
Janeway: You realize I can't let that happen.
Boothby: Go ahead, fire your damn nanoprobes. Blow our re-creation to high heavens. There are a dozen more scattered throughout the quadrant. You'll never find them all.
Janeway: What if I told you that Starfleet isn't planning an invasion? That no one on Earth has even heard of you?
Boothby: I'd say you're lying.
Janeway: Have another look at that Federation database of yours. You'll see there's no mention of your realm.
Bullock: Immaterial. Any information regarding our species has no doubt been classified by Starfleet intelligence.
Janeway: Good point. You know, we could keep this paranoid debate going all day. You have no reason to trust us and we have no reason to trust you.
Boothby: Hear, hear. I knew this reunion would be a fiasco. Admiral.
Janeway: Seven, disarm the warheads Do it,
Seven: Captain?
Janeway: Do it.
Boothby: What are you trying to prove, young lady?
Janeway: One of us has to take our finger off the trigger. It might as well be me.
Archer: Their weapons are offline.
Bullock: It's a trick.
Janeway: Our defenses are down. What will you do now? Blow Voyager to high heavens, or do we keep talking?
Boothby: Humans. You've got a flair for the dramatic, I'll give you that. You want to keep talking? Fine by me, but no more beating around the bush. Now, what do you want from us? The truth, Captain.
Janeway: Voyager is alone in the Delta Quadrant. We haven't been in contact with Earth for over four years.
Boothby: Explain why you attacked our realm, hand in hand with the Borg.
Janeway: At the time, we didn't realize the Borg had started the war against you. We forged a temporary alliance with them because we thought you were the threat.
Seven: Your galaxy will be purged. Sound familiar?
Bullock: We were only trying to defend ourselves.
Tuvok: If that's true, why are you still in our galaxy? Your conflict with the Borg ended over a year ago.
Janeway: Why re-create Starfleet, masquerade as humans? It looks to me like you're the ones planning an invasion. The truth.
Bullock: Don't answer her. She's manipulating us.
Archer: If you won't answer, I will.
Bullock: Commander.
Archer: Our mission is to infiltrate your home world, to place operatives in the highest levels of Starfleet, monitor your military installlations. It's a reconnaissance mission, nothing more.
Chakotay: We should listen to her, Captain. They're being driven by fear just like we are. Unless everything you said on our date was just part of an act.
Archer: It wasn't.
Bullock: Enough! We must not negotiate with these creatures.
Boothby: Sit down, Admiral.
Bullock: Sir.
Boothby: I said sit down, or I'll knock you right on your human butt.
Bullock: You've been seduced by them, both of you.
Archer: I've had a chance to see through human eyes and I'm beginning to wonder, are they really so violent? What if we're wrong?
Bullock: We can't risk trusting them.
Archer: You'd rather risk another war?
Boothby: Keep talking, son.
Chakotay: Archer's right. We've got to set aside our preconceptions about each other. Granted, our species didn't meet under the best of circumstances, but maybe we can make first contact again. Maybe this time we'll get it right.
Boothby: You believe in this fellow?
Archer: Yes.
Boothby: There would have to be a few ground rules.
Janeway: Name them.
Boothby: First off, I want to take a look at that nanoprobe technology. It scares the hell out of me.
Janeway: All right, but I'll need some tactical information in return. Your genetic alteration techniques for a start.
Boothby: I'm sure something can be arranged. You on board, Admiral? Good enough for me.
Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 52136.4. We've managed to avoid a military conflict with Species 8472, at least for now. In an effort to strengthen the truce, we're exchanging technology.
Seven: The design schematic for our nanoprobe weapons as requested.
Janeway: This could go a long way toward allaying their fears.
Seven: Perhaps.
Janeway: Have a little faith, Seven.
Seven: It's difficult to have faith in an idea which may prove tactically unsound.
Janeway: Tactically unsound? Perhaps. It could also be the first step toward peace. It's a risk I'm willing to take. Are you sure you won't join us? It would be your first chance to see Earth.
Seven: I prefer to remain aboard Voyager. If problems arise while you're in the habitat
Janeway: There won't be any problems. Nothing tactical, at any rate. We're entering a stage of diplomacy where most of the problems will be cultural. How do you shake hands with an 8472? We'll be fine.
Seven: When you ordered me to disarm the warhead during the negotiation, I anticipated an immediate attack. I believed they would take advantage of your human weakness. I was wrong. If I had been in your position, we would most likely be engaged in a battle with 8472 at this moment. How did you know?
Janeway: I didn't. Like I said.
Seven: Faith.
Bullock: Welcome to Terrasphere Eight, Starfleet Command re-creation. I am Admiral Bullock and I'll be acquainting you with our facility. Questions, comments bring them to me. Problems talk to Lieutenant Kinis. Commander Tuvok, you wanted to examine our thermionic generators.
Tuvok: Yes.
Bullock: I'll take you there personally. Ambassador Nelix?
Neelix: It's Neelix, sir.
Bullock: Neelix. You'll be joining the Lieutenant. He'll familiarize you with our environmental control technology.
Neelix: Wonderful. I look forward to hearing your perspective on Vulcans.
Janeway: You didn't happen to re-create a little coffee shop on Market Street, the Night Owl?
Boothby: Afraid not. You're welcome to stay. put your feet up. We won't be returning to fluidic space for another day or two.
Janeway: Thank you, but the real Earth is a long way from here. I'd like to get back on the road. What are the chances they'll listen to you?
Boothby: I can't promise you the moon, Captain. My superiors aren't as forward thinking. Peace with humans? Wow. They're going to hit the roof. But I'll tell them what happened here today, and with a pinch of luck a few of them might see the light.
Janeway: Well, you've got Voyager's comm. frequency. You know how to contact us. I hope we can keep this process alive.
Boothby: Don't call us, we'll call you. Oh, I almost forgot. Ahh.
Boothby: Genetically synthesized, but they smell just as lovely.
Janeway: Oh.
Chakotay: Looking forward to going home?
Archer: At least I can finally get out of this form.
Chakotay: No more insomnia.
Archer: No more sleeping, period.
Chakotay: For what it's worth, you made a terrific human.
Archer: Shame.
Chakotay: Hmm?
Archer: It's too bad our species are so different, otherwise I'd ask you for a second date.
Chakotay: You did offer to be my guide. How about a tour of your realm sometime?
Archer: I'd like that.
Chakotay: Well, I'm due back on Voyager. We leave at oh four hundred.
Archer: I'll never get a chance to do this again.
Archer: Any better this time?
Chakotay: You're a quick study.


Flotter: Ouch!
Naomi: Wake up.
Flotter: Who's there?
Naomi: Naomi.
Flotter: Come back later.
Naomi: You know what I think? I think you're scared of the tree monster.
Flotter: I'm not scared of any tree monster, Miss Wildman, but, as you know, I need my beauty sleep.
Naomi: Sorry I woke you, but we have a mission.
Flotter: You and your missions. Lucky for you, your old pal Flotter has everything ready. Follow me. I've laid a trap. When he climbs this tree, he'll trip the alarm. Tree monsters are terrified of high-pitched noises.
Naomi: I never heard that.
Flotter: Oh, it's a well known fact. The bell will scare him high into those branches where counterweights will bend the treetop till it springs back, catapulting him pond-ward and, splash! He'll sink like a log.
Naomi: But Flotter, logs float.
Flotter: Details, details.
Trevis: That is a terrible plan.
Naomi: It's him!
Trevis: The name's Trevis. And you are?
Flotter: Flotter. Flotter T. Water III.
Trevis: Well, of course you are, drippy. You.
Naomi: Naomi Wildman, but my friends call me Naomi.
Trevis: I don't recognize your element. You're not earth or water or plasma.
Naomi: I'm human.
Trevis: Where do you live?
Naomi: In space.
Trevis: Nobody lives in space.
Flotter: She does. On a starship called Voyager.
Naomi: I'm an explorer.
Trevis: Really? An explorer. Timber. What's that like?
Naomi: Well, you know, space battles with aliens, strange anomalies.
Trevis: May I visit your starship?
Naomi: Well, I'll have to ask my mom.
Flotter: You know, for a monster, you're very polite.
Trevis: That's because I'm not a monster.
Trevis: You see that? I'm not scared one bit. My bark is worse than my bite.
Naomi: Maybe we jumped to conclusions about him.
Flotter: Well, he may not be a monster, but he is stealing my water with his roots.
Trevis: Stealing? Absurd. Why, I ought to dry you up.
Flotter: And I ought to chop you down!
Trevis: You want a piece of me?
Naomi: Excuse me! It sounds like you two need each other. I mean, think about it. Flotter, your water helps his trees grow, and Trevis, your branches shade his pond from the sun. It's a well-known fact that the sun makes water evaporate.
Flotter: She's got a point.
Trevis: The girl's a thinker.
Naomi: Now, shake hands and make up.
Trevis: Urgh. Moist palms.
Flotter: Urgh, sappy fingers.
Neelix: Neelix to Holodeck two.
Naomi: Naomi here.
Neelix: It's bedtime.
Naomi: Can't I stay a little longer?
Neelix: You know the rules.
Neelix: Besides, someone special wants to say good night.
Naomi: Mom! Computer, end program.
Wildman: And how's Flotter?
Naomi: Grouchy as ever, but we made a new friend today named Trevis. I'll introduce him to you tomorrow as soon as you get home.
Wildman: I'm afraid the away mission may take a few more days, sweetheart.
Naomi: Days?
Wildman: Yes, but I'm bringing you back some beautiful sillinite crystals and lots of holo-pictures for your data album. Now be a good girl and get ready for bed while I talk to Neelix.
Naomi: All right.
Wildman: Sweet dreams.
Neelix: Samantha?
Wildman: We ran into an ion storm.
Neelix: How bad is it?
Wildman: We took a real beating. We're trying to make repairs, but there's another storm on the way. Better go. Say goodnight for me
Wildman: I've lost the comm. signal.
Tuvok: A level seven ionic front is closing aft at thirty three thousand kph.
Paris: I need more power to the thrusters If I'm going to outrun it.
Wildman: I'll see what I can do.
Tuvok: The leading edge is approaching.
Wildman: I've given you all the power I can spare, Tom.
Paris: It's not enough. I can't keep ahead of this thing. Brace for impact!
Tuvok: Mayday, Mayday. Delta Flyer to Voyager. Need assistance. Warp drive is. Impulse power is down. Thrusters only. The ion storms damaged the primary systems. Life support is failing. Searching for an emergency landing site. Require immediate assistance.
Chakotay: That was their last transmission. We haven't been able to raise them since.
Torres: If they're looking for a place to land, they must be in pretty bad shape.
Janeway: Anything on long range sensors?
Kim: We lost their signature when the second ion storm hit, but we've triangulated the co-ordinates of the distress call. They've entered a planetary system about point six light years from here.
Torres: The problem is there's another ion storm, a level five, blocking our path.
Janeway: Level five? We've been through worse. Let's just batten down the hatches and reinforce the shields. We're not going to let a little bad weather stand in our way.
Neelix: What about Naomi?
Chakotay: I guess somebody's going to have to explain why her mother's not back.
Neelix: Maybe we shouldn't tell her anything.
Janeway: Why not?
Neelix: She's a very sensitive girl. I don't want to alarm her unnecessarily. With any luck, we'll have her mother back before she starts to worry.
Janeway: Well, you're closer to her than anyone. I'm inclined to let you take the lead on this.
Neelix: Thanks, Captain.
Janeway: All right. Consider it your mission to keep her occupied.
Neelix: Aye, Captain.
Janeway: Dismissed.
Naomi: I was thinking.
Neelix: Oh?
Naomi: It's time I carried my weight around here.
Neelix: Ah. They could use a hand in the Airponics bay.
Naomi: I was thinking more of the bridge.
Neelix: Captain's assistant.
Naomi: Would I get to fly the ship?
Neelix: Well, we'd have to take it up with the Captain.
Seven: Need to check the internal sensors.
Naomi: Neelix, don't move.
Neelix: What's wrong?
Naomi: The Borg lady.
Neelix: She has a name, you know.
Naomi: Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix zero one. Don't look! She'll assimilate you.
Neelix: Naomi, Seven is a nice person, and she's a valuable member of this crew.
Naomi: I don't want to be in her Collective.
Neelix: I don't think there's much danger of that.
Kim: Hey, Neelix. Hey, Naomi. Neelix, can I talk with you?
Neelix: Yes. I'll be right back.
Kim: Sickbay's running short on emergency medkits. We're going to need a few more if we send another away team after the shuttle.
Neelix: I've got half a dozen stockpiled in Cargo Bay two.
Kim: How is she?
Neelix: On the Naomi anxiety Scale of one to ten, where one is a touch of insomnia and ten is a panic attack? About five.
Seven: Is this chair occupied? Yes or no would suffice.
Naomi: No. I mean, yes.
Seven: Explain.
Naomi: You can't sit here. Somebody else is sitting here.
Seven: Very well.
Neelix: So, I thought we'd pay another visit to Sickbay. The Doctor says he has time to give you a botany lesson. What's wrong?
Naomi: I am Borg.
Neelix: No, you're not.
Naomi: Can we go to the holodeck first? I want to play another Flotter story.
Neelix: Well, the Doctor's expecting you.
Naomi: I don't like Sickbay.
Neelix: Why not?
Naomi: It's full of creepy things. Alien organs and hyposprays.
Neelix: Well, that's not true.
Naomi: And the Doctor talks too much.
Neelix: Well, that's his way.
Naomi: Can't you reprogram him or something?
Neelix: Oh, I don't think he'd like that very much. Come on.
Paris: Rumor has it there's a planetoid around here.
Wildman: Sorry, Tom. The storm is throwing off my readings. There's definitely a big rock nearby, I just can't find it.
Tuvok: The wave front is accelerating.
Paris: How long till it hits us?
Tuvok: Less than two minutes.
Paris: Gives me thirty seconds to land this thing. Samantha, I don't mean to rush you.
Wildman: Got it. Class M atmosphere, nickel-iron core, bemonite mantle.
Paris: Bemonite. I want to land this shuttle, not bury it.
Wildman: Seventy three thousand kilometers, bearing zero mark four.
Tuvok: We've entered the upper atmosphere.
Wildman: Nothing but impact craters, volcanoes. We can't land here.
Tuvok: The storm is closing. Increasing shields to maximum.
Paris: Just keep us away from the volcanoes and we'll be okay.
Wildman: I've got a big meteor crater, five hundred kilometers across, three point seven deep.
Paris: I'll take it.
Tuvok: Starboard thrusters are down.
Paris: Tuvok, if you don't have something positive to say.
Wildman: We're coming in too fast!
Paris: Hang on!
Paris: The Flyer has landed.
Tuvok: She needs immediate medical assistance.
Wildman: What happened?
Paris: We made it.
Wildman: Delta Flyer's first landing. Where?
Paris: About three kilometers beneath the surface. At least our primary hull's still in one piece.
Wildman: Wish I felt the same.
Paris: You'll be all right. Minor concussion, a few fractures. Nothing I can't handle.
Wildman: You're a great nurse, but you're a lousy liar.
Paris: You've got a punctured kidney, and you're bleeding internally. You need surgery.
Wildman: Voyager?
Tuvok: I've transmitted another distress call. No response.
Paris: It's all this rock.
Wildman: I've got to talk to Naomi. Let her know we're okay.
Tuvok: Conserve your strength, Ensign. Mister Paris and I have the situation under control.
Paris: Nice bedside manner, Tuvok. Sam, I'm going to give you a mild sedative and something for the pain. Any chance we could abandon the shuttle, make our way on foot?
Tuvok: Unlikely. Not only are we buried under several kilotons of rock, but the atmosphere in this cavern is flooded with fluorine gas.
Paris: Nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the view.
Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've weathered the ion storm and tracked the Delta Flyer to an M-class planetoid.
Kim: I'm detecting a residual impulse signature in the upper atmosphere.
Chakotay: Try to pinpoint their location.
Janeway: How's our littlest crew member?
Neelix: She misses her mother, but I don't think she suspects anything. I was just about to take her to the holodeck for some more storytelling.
Janeway: Call me an optimist, Neelix, but I'm still counting on a happy ending.
Neelix: Me, too.
Kim: Got it. The impulse wake leads to the northern hemisphere. Coordinates one twenty one mark sixteen.
Janeway: Any sign of them?
Kim: Plasma fires, hull fragments. Either they vaporized on impact or they're buried beneath the surface.
Neelix: Any life signs? Maybe they beamed out before the crash.
Janeway: Harry, anything?
Kim: Nothing.
Janeway: We built the Delta Flyer to take a lot of punishment. I'm betting it held together. Commander, take rescue teams down to that crater. If sensors can't find them, we'll have to do it the hard way.
Chakotay: Harry.
Emh: Now, see the organelle just over there? The one that looks like a little bitty potato?
Naomi: The mitochondria?
Emh: Yes.
Naomi: Mitochondria. The warp core of the cell.
Emh: Exactly. Now what if I told you that this fellow was invited to dinner, but never got around to leaving?
Naomi: What do you mean?
Emh: Well, turn back the clock a few billion years to when cells first evolved. These early cells had no mitochondria. They struggled along without them, making do with whatever energy sources they could find. Then, one day a mitochondrial ancestor arrived, broke though the cell wall, and made himself at home.
Naomi: They became friends?
Emh: The correct term is symbiosis.
Naomi: Friends.
Emh: Friends.
Naomi: My mom says cooperation is more important than competition.
Emh: Mmm hmm.
Naomi: She was supposed to call me today.
Emh: Well, she's probably just a little busy. Now, let's have a look at the cell wall. It looks simple enough, but believe you me there's more here than meets the eye.
Naomi: Can we try to call her?
Emh: Neelix, what a pleasure to see you!
Neelix: How was school today?
Naomi: Good.
Neelix: There's a time for school, and there's a time for
Naomi: Flotter!
Neelix: Aren't you forgetting something?
Naomi: Oh. Thank you, Doctor.
Emh: You're quite welcome, Miss Wildman.
Naomi: In the blink of an eye there was Trevis above us.
Neelix: Then what happened?
Naomi: He turned out to be very nice. His bark was worse than his bite.
Neelix: Where did you learn to make such silly puns?
Naomi: You.
Neelix: Oh.
Naomi: Neelix, did you have a favorite holodeck program when you were growing up?
Neelix: Well, we didn't have holodecks on Rinax, but it didn't matter because we had a great big forest right behind my house.
Naomi: Really?
Neelix: And my sisters and I would go exploring every day. We'd make up our own stories.
Naomi: Imagination.
Neelix: Exactly.
Naomi: Deck six, section nine. Where are your sisters now?
Neelix: Oh, they're far away from here. I haven't seen them in a very long time.
Naomi: How long?
Neelix: Many years.
Naomi: But you haven't been on Voyager for that long.
Neelix: True, but before that, my work as a trader kept me away from home.
Naomi: That's too bad.
Naomi: Do your sisters ever call you like my mom does when she's on an away mission?
Neelix: No.
Naomi: I bet you miss them.
Neelix: I do, very much. Here we are. Computer, display chapter headings, The Adventures of Flotter. Let's see. Ah, Flotter and the Tree Monster?
Naomi: Played that one yesterday.
Neelix: Okay. Trevis and the Terribly Twisted Trunk.
Naomi: I promised I'd save that one for mom. It's her favorite.
Neelix: Flotter, Trevis and the Ogre of Fire.
Naomi: Yeah, that one.
Neelix: It sounds a little scary.
Naomi: It's okay. I won't be scared if you're with me.
Computer: Once upon a time in the Forest of Forever, Flotter and Trevis encountered a strange element they'd never seen before.
Naomi: Trevis, you're on fire!
Flotter: I told him not to touch it, but this blockhead never listens.
Naomi: Stop complaining and help him.
Flotter: Me?
Naomi: Water puts out fire.
Trevis: Oh, thank you!
Flotter: Hey, it worked! Watch this.
Neelix: Good thinking, Naomi.
Flotter: Who's the furball?
Neelix: The name's Neelix.
Naomi: What caused the fire?
Trevis: It came from up there.
Flotter: In a flash.
Naomi: Lightning. But the sky is clear. Doesn't look like a thunderstorm.
Neelix: What's your theory, Naomi?
Naomi: There's only one other explanation. The Ogre of Fire.
Flotter: The Ogre?
Trevis: Of Fire.
Flotter: Who's he?
Ogre: He is me, and I'm going to burn this forest to the ground!
Naomi: Flotter!
Neelix: Maybe, maybe we should play another program.
Naomi: No, we have to find Flotter. Hello, is anyone there?
Trevis: Over here.
Naomi: Trevis, are you all right?
Trevis: Ah hah. A little hot under the bark maybe.
Naomi: What about Flotter? Is he dead? Neelix?
Neelix: Well, I, I don't know.
Naomi: He can't be dead. Flotter!
Neelix: I think it's your bedtime.
Naomi: But I want to find Flotter.
Neelix: Now, don't argue with your godfather. Come on, now.
Kim: Take this to Lieutenant Torres. You'll find the phaser drills in Cargo Bay three.
Crewman: Aye, sir.
Neelix: Are you sure you have time for this? I know you're busy.
Kim: No problem. Glad to be of service.
Neelix: Maybe a shade bluer. And the head's a little disproportionate don't you think?
Kim: We're not shooting for an exact replica, Neelix. Artistic license.
Neelix: Sorry. Guess I shouldn't barge into your kitchen and tell you how to cook.
Kim: Flotter. Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while. I used to be nuts about those holostories when I was a kid. Did you see the one where Flotter suspects Trevis to be a rubber tree?
Neelix: Not yet.
Kim: He keeps trying to trip him to see if he'll bounce. Yeah, those two were a lot of fun.
Neelix: Actually, the last scenario that Naomi chose was pretty frightening. No fun at all.
Kim: Kids love to be scared.
Neelix: Not Naomi.
Kim: Computer, transfer the design parameters to the replicator. How's she holding up?
Neelix: Fine. Right now she's busy with her homework.
Kim: Neelix, what's wrong?
Neelix: Everything. Everything's wrong! Ion storms, crash landings, alien attacks. A starship's no place for a child.
Kim: I don't know. I'd say Naomi's pretty lucky to be growing up on Voyager.
Neelix: Lucky?
Kim: Think about it. Think about all the things she's experienced, stars being born, supernovas, lifeforms no one from the Alpha Quadrant has seen before. When I was a kid I would have given anything for a chance like this. Well, here goes.
Kim: Hi, Neelix. Did you miss me? You know, I forgot how ugly this guy was.
Neelix: Thanks, Ensign.
Neelix: Naomi. Guess who I found in the replicator?
Naomi: Thanks, but that's not really Flotter.
Neelix: Flotter's not really Flotter. He's just a holodeck character. What are you working on?
Naomi: I'm researching the evaporation of water.
Neelix: Why?
Naomi: Well, I've been thinking. Water doesn't just disappear when it's heated. It turns into invisible gas. So, if we could get the forest to cool down enough, Flotter might re-liquefy.
Neelix: Clever.
Naomi: I miss mom.
Neelix: I know you do.
Naomi: When's she coming back?
Neelix: Soon.
Naomi: Why hasn't she called?
Neelix: She must be very busy, cataloging all the geological specimens she's collected.
Naomi: Has anybody talked to her?
Neelix: Well, not in a day or two, but.
Naomi: Starfleet regulation four seven six dash nine. All away teams must report to the bridge at least once every twenty four hours.
Neelix: You really are going to make an excellent Captain's Assistant.
Naomi: Has something bad happened to them?
Neelix: I'm sure everything's fine. Come on, now. Bed.
Naomi: Promise to wake me up if mommy calls?
Neelix: Promise.
Naomi: Even if it's oh two hundred hours?
Neelix: Even if it's oh two hundred hours. Sweet dreams.
Naomi: Neelix?
Neelix: Computer, access personal database, Neelix. File index two nine one. Hello, Alixia. I'm sorry it's been so many weeks since I've thought about you, but we've been very busy here on Voyager. I miss you. My goddaughter, Naomi, she's in trouble. We're in trouble. She may lose her mother. Alixia, you always knew the right thing to do, the right thing to say. I wish you were here to help me.
Neelix: Come on! Hurry! We're under attack!
Neelix: Get up! The Meteron cascade! Run!
Seven: Computer, switch to polythermal imaging and enhance resolution. Neelix, do you require assistance?
Neelix: No. No, I was just passing by. I thought I'd pay you a visit, see how things were going. How are things going?
Seven: I'm mapping the caverns surrounding the crash site.
Neelix: How far do they extend?
Seven: Approximately thirty seven kilometers.
Neelix: What about the search? Anything new?
Seven: Every scan reveals something new, but as yet little of relevance.
Neelix: Seven. Your family, your human family, do you ever think about them?
Seven: Infrequently. I was only six years old when I was assimilated.
Neelix: Not much older than Naomi is now. Do you miss your parents?
Seven: I barely remember them.
Neelix: Maybe that's a blessing.
Chakotay: Rescue team alpha to Seven of Nine.
Seven: Yes, Commander.
Chakotay: We need that data.
Seven: I will meet you at the transporter site. I adapted. The child Naomi will adapt as well.
Neelix: Borg wisdom.
Janeway: Lieutenant, get me an update from Beta team. They haven't checking in for over an hour.
Neelix: Coffee, anyone? Captain?
Janeway: No thanks, I've had enough. One more cup and I'll jump to warp.
Neelix: Any new?
Janeway: I'm afraid not.
Neelix: No debris? No lifesigns?
Janeway: We've got three teams beneath the surface. So far, nothing.
Neelix: So much for that happy ending.
Janeway: We'll turn that planetoid inside out if we have to, but I think we have to be prepared for the worst. Maybe it's time you told Naomi.
Neelix: No, not yet.
Janeway: She's an astute girl. She must be aware that something's wrong by now.
Neelix: She's been asking a lot of tough questions. Why hasn't her mother filed a status report? What if she's in trouble? But I've got a big day planned for her tomorrow. Plenty of distractions. She won't have time to be worried.
Janeway: Your mission was to keep her occupied, not to lie to her. First thing in the morning, I want you to explain the situation.
Neelix: I don't think that's such a good idea.
Janeway: Why not?
Neelix: Like I told you, she's sensitive.
Janeway: All the more reason to answer her questions.
Neelix: With all due respect, Captain, I'm her godfather. I know what's best for her.
Janeway: Neelix.
Janeway: I realize you care about Naomi and you are only trying to protect her, but you've got to tell her the truth.
Neelix: Good morning, Naomi. Would you like some papalla juice with your cereal? And, oh, by the way, your mother is buried under thirty kilotons of rock.
Janeway: Neelix.
Neelix: When we know something for sure. When we find her mother, alive or dead, I'll, I'll tell her then. Not before.
Janeway: If you can't do it, I will.
Neelix: You don't have the right. You don't understand what's at stake here! When you were her age you were safe and sound on Earth with two healthy parents to take care of you. You never had to worry about the possibility of being alone! You take it from me, you wouldn't have liked it.
Janeway: Oh, I know. You must identify with Naomi's situation.
Neelix: When my family was killed, I lost everything. I still have nightmares. It hasn't been easy. I don't want Naomi to go through what I did.
Janeway: I understand. And you're right. But this situation is different.
Neelix: How so?
Janeway: Naomi has you. Neelix, she has to be told. But I know she'll be better off having you here to help her through it.
Neelix: First thing in the morning.
Janeway: We've got a few hours until then. Why don't you come back on the bridge, give us a hand.
Paris: Ready, Tuvok?
Tuvok: Ready.
Paris: Cross your fingers.
Tuvok: The magnetic relays have overloaded.
Paris: Well, we'd better find another way to polarize this hull, or their sensors won't be able to pick us up.
Wildman: We're never getting out of here.
Tuvok: Do not give up hope. The probability of our being rescued is low, but not statistically impossible.
Paris: Comforting.
Wildman: Who's going to look after Naomi?
Tuvok: You should not concern yourself with that now.
Wildman: How can you say that?
Tuvok: My youngest child has been without a father for four years, yet I am certain of her well-being, that I conveyed my values to her before leaving. And I have confidence in the integrity of those around her. You have been an exemplary mother to Naomi, and she is in the hands of people you trust. She will survive and prosper, no matter what becomes of us.
Wildman: Thanks, Tuvok.
Naomi: Mom! Neelix? Computer, locate Neelix.
Computer: Neelix is on the Bridge.
Naomi: Thanks.
Torres: Strickler, we need three more phaser drills. You two, pattern enhancers and medkits.
Crewman: Aye, sir.
Torres: We're going to have to recalibrate these tricorders.
Torres: Put us with the alpha team.
Crewwoman: Setting coordinates.
Torres: Energize.
Naomi: Deck one bridge.
Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. We've found what looks like a piece of the starboard nacelle.
Janeway: Any sign of the shuttle itself?
Chakotay: Not yet.
Seven: Captain, the cavern has collapsed ahead of us. However, I am reading a hull signature behind the debris.
Janeway: The Flyer?
Seven: I'll need to take a closer reading.
Janeway: Do it. I want Alpha and Beta teams to search for survivors. Tell sickbay to stand by for heavy casualties.
Neelix: Naomi. Naomi?
Neelix: Naomi! Computer, locate Naomi Wildman.
Computer: Naomi Wildman is in her quarters.
Neelix: Clever.
Naomi: Computer, resume program, Flotter, Trevis and the Ogre of Fire.
Computer: Program activated.
Seven: Commander, I'm reading duranium alloys. I believe it is the shuttle. Approximately eighty meters beneath this rubble.
Chakotay: Lifesigns?
Seven: None. Commander, without lifesigns to lock onto we cannot beam the crew out.
Chakotay: Maybe we can transport the entire ship to the shuttle bay.
Seven: Through fifty kilotons of bemonite?
Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager.
Janeway: Janeway here.
Chakotay: We think we've found the shuttle, but we need to dig it out.
Chakotay: Have all teams rendezvous at my coordinates.
Janeway: Acknowledged.
Chakotay: Phaser drills here and here.
Paris: But hey, B'Elanna, look on the bright side. No more day-old pizza laying around, and you'll never have to watch another chapter of Captain Proton again.
Computer: Warning. Life support has fallen to critical levels.
Paris: Don't mind the computer. She's just jealous that I'm spending my last few minutes talking to you. So long.
Paris: Sam, it's your turn.
Wildman: I haven't thought what to say yet. Tuvok, why don't you go next?
Tuvok: I prefer to make my farewells in written form.
Wildman: Computer, begin recording. Encode message for delivery to Naomi Wildman.
Computer: Acknowledged.
Wildman: Hi, honey. I know you're feeling sad right now but, I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay? First of all, I love you. Second, I want you to know that I'm proud of you. How smart you are, how funny, how kind you are to other people, and I know that you are going to grow up to do extraordinary things. Last, and I know this is a hard one, try not to be scared.
Computer: Warning. Oxygen depletion in ten minutes.
Wildman: Listen to Neelix. He'll be taking care of you now. Bye, honey.
Neelix: Naomi?
Trevis: Go away!
Neelix: Where is she?
Trevis: She doesn't want to talk to you.
Flotter: You lied.
Neelix: I thought you vaporized.
Flotter: Naomi re-liquefied me. Now leave.
Neelix: Computer, delete characters.
Computer: Unable to comply. Holodeck controls have been encoded.
Trevis: Delete us?
Flotter: I wonder if this liar can swim?
Trevis: We can always hang him from one of my branches.
Neelix: Naomi, please let me talk to you.
Naomi: It's okay.
Trevis: You be nice.
Flotter: No more lying.
Neelix: Hey there.
Naomi: Is my mother dead?
Neelix: We don't know.
Naomi: What happened?
Neelix: The away team was trying to avoid an ion storm. They had to land on a planet.
Naomi: I saw that crater. Something was burning.
Neelix: Plasma fires, pieces of debris, but not the hull. Until we know for sure what's happened, no one's giving up on the rescue attempt.
Naomi: You really think they might find her?
Neelix: Yes.
Naomi: How do I know you're telling me the truth this time?
Neelix: I never told you this before, but when I was much younger I lost my mom in a terrible war. My father and my sisters too. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Always wondering, how did they die? Were they worried about me? Could they still be alive? I thought if I could just keep you from wondering, you wouldn't have to feel what I did.
Naomi: You were pretending that nothing was wrong. That nothing bad happened. Do you ever pretend that nothing bad happened to your family?
Neelix: Sometimes.
Naomi: Does it help?
Neelix: Not really.
Naomi: Don't be sad, Neelix.
Janeway: All hands to emergency stations. We've got a level eight ion storm approaching.
Flotter: Ion storm? What's that?
Trevis: Ogre of Fire! He's attacking us again.
Neelix: You'd better get back to your quarters.
Flotter: Naomi, don't leave us.
Naomi: I'll be back, I promise.
Janeway: Voyager to Chakotay.
Chakotay: Go ahead.
Janeway: We've got another ion storm approaching. When it hits the planetoid, your entire cavern is going to destabilize.
Chakotay: Just a few more meters and we'll be close enough to beam out the shuttle. How long before the storm hits?
Janeway: Six minutes.
Janeway: Make the most of it. It's all you've got.
Kim: The storm's moving in. Shields down to eighty six percent.
Janeway: Keep the transporter lock on the away team. Give them to the last second. Helm, lay in a course out of here. Stand by to engage at warp two.
Crewwoman: Aye, sir.
Computer: Warning. Oxygen depletion in two minutes.
Paris: I never thought it would come down to this. Suffocating beneath kilotons of rock on some nameless planetoid.
Tuvok: Did you envision a more heroic death?
Paris: I didn't envision dying at all.
Tuvok: In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace.
Paris: If that's another Vulcan saying, Tuvok, I'll stick with live long and prosper.
Paris: We're here. We're here!
Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager.
Janeway: Yes, Commander.
Chakotay: Pattern enhancers are in place. We're ready to transport the Flyer.
Kim: Locking on. They're in the shuttlebay.
Janeway: Helm, engage.
Wildman: Thank you.
Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Ensign Wildman has recovered from her injuries, and the Delta Flyer, though battered, is intact.
Flotter: And how are you today, Mister Trevis?
Trevis: Feeling a little stiff, my slippery friend. And you?
Flotter: Now that you mention it, I'm feeling a little washed out.
Trevis: Well, it's about time you showed up. The tea is getting cold.
Flotter: Samantha? Is it really you?
Wildman: Long time no see.
Flotter: You're all grown up.
Wildman: I'm an Ensign now.
Flotter: I've missed you.
Wildman: Likewise.
Neelix: Well, now that you're all reacquainted, I think you're all eager for a new adventure.
Flotter: Now that you mention it, there is a castle that I've been meaning to explore.
Naomi: Castle?
Flotter: I hear a giant beetle lives there.
Naomi: Come on, Neelix.
Neelix: You go ahead.
Wildman: See you later.
Janeway: Here's to happy endings.
Neelix: Captain!
Janeway: Just checking on my future Captain's Assistant.
Neelix: Right now, she's off to conquer a giant beetle.
Janeway: Oh, sounds like a dangerous mission.
Neelix: She can handle it.
Janeway: She's a courageous girl. Did I ever tell you about the time I flooded this entire forest? I was six years old. Flotter claimed we were in for a dry spell so I came up with the obvious solution. Why not just divert the river? This entire forest was a swamp by the time we were done. At which point, Stinger was born.
Neelix: Stinger?
Janeway: The biggest mosquito.


Kim: We're here!
Kim: The glacier fractures are stable.
Chakotay: We're clear to beam inside.
Tessa: Acknowledged.
Kim: Not exactly the way I remember it.
Kim: Power grid's been destroyed. Neural gel packs frozen solid. Decks nine through fourteen are now deck ten. They've been compacted.
Chakotay: Looks like they hit the ice at full impulse. The EMH?
Kim: I'm trying to access Sickbay. The relays aren't responding. I'm losing the interface. Reset the power cell. Come on!
Chakotay: Let's get moving. Keep an open comm. link.
Chakotay: Chakotay to Tessa.
Tessa: Go ahead.
Chakotay: I've found her. Lock on to the
Chakotay: Transporter relay and beam her to the lab.
Tessa: Stand by.
Chakotay: Make it quick. This isn't exactly a happy reunion.
Tessa: I've got a lock.
Emh: Please state the nature of
Kim: Long time no see.
Emh: Ensign.
Kim: I go by Harry now. It's a long story. Where's your mobile emitter?
Emh: What's happened to the ship? The crew?
Kim: No time. The emitter.
Emh: It's in here, but
Kim: Here. Slap it on. Ket's go.
Emh: Wait! I demand an explanation.
Chakotay: I'll give you one. We're here to change history.
Janeway: Ladies and gentlemen, please. May I introduce the next generation of instellar propulsion, the Quantum Slipstream Drive. Four years, two months, eleven days. That's precisely how long Voyager's been in the Delta Quadrant. During that time we've advanced the frontiers of exploration, and more importantly, we've survived. Now it's time to go home. Enjoy the celebration but keep in mind we've still got a lot of work to do before tomorrow's flight. Go easy on that champagne, Lieutenant.
Janeway: Quantum Matrix, benamite crystals, Borg technology. Can you imagine what Starfleet is going to say?
Chakotay: I don't think we'll hear any complaints. The Federation's first Slipstream drive. They'll probably nominate us for the Cochrane Medal of Honor.
Janeway: I'll start working on my acceptance speech.
Chakotay: I'd like to thank the Borg Collective.
Janeway: Dinner plans?
Chakotay: Nothing special. Date with a replicator.
Janeway: Cancel it, that's an order.
Chakotay: Aye, Captain.
Neelix: Lieutenant. Lieutenant! Excuse me. My contribution to the Slipstream Drive.
Torres: Thanks. What is it?
Neelix: A Talaxian fur fly. An old spacefaring tradition among my people. If one of these creatures stowed away on your ship, it was a sign of good fortune. I had this little fellow preserved. He hung in my engine room for six years.
Torres: Cute.
Tuvok: Mister Neelix, you are an unending source of astonishment.
Neelix: Why, thank you, Mister Vulcan.
Emh: Seven?
Seven: My visual processors and motor cortex. They are malfunctioning.
Emh: Sounds like a problem with your cortical implant. We'd better have a look. Hold still.
Seven: I cannot comply.
Emh: You're intoxicated.
Seven: Impossible.
Emh: Your blood synthehol level is point zero five percent. How many glasses of champagne did you consume?
Seven: One.
Emh: Obviously the Borg can't hold their liquor. Come to Sickbay. I'll give you some inaprovaline to counteract the effects.
Seven: I was simply trying to perfect my social skills as you instructed me to do.
Emh: And you're doing a fine job.
Seven: You have always been of enormous assistance to me, Doctor. You are my mentor.
Emh: Yes.
Seven: We are as one. We are as one.
Kim: Did you see that?
Paris: Hmm?
Kim: I think our drone did a little too much celebrating. Speaking of which, when are you going to join the party?
Paris: In a minute.
Kim: You're running a warp core diagnostic now?
Paris: Harry, I think we built an Edsel.
Kim: A what?
Paris: A lemon. A disaster waiting to happen! I ran a simulation last night and I discovered a point four two phase variance in the slipstream threshold.
Kim: Point four two? So it'll be a bumpy ride. We've flown through worse.
Paris: If we get knocked out of that slipstream mid-flight it could overload the quantum matrix.
Kim: Did you tell the Captain?
Paris: Not yet. Didn't want to spoil the festivities until I was sure.
Kim: Tom, if it'll make you feel better, we'll go to the holodeck right now, run a few more simulations. It's probably just a sensor glitch.
Paris: We're at full impulse.
Kim: Engaging Slipstream Drive. Quantum field is stable, deflector at maximum.
Paris: Slipstream velocity in four, three, two. Power output is steady. Quantum field is holding.
Kim: Shields down to seventy three percent.
Paris: Looking good. Keep that deflector aligned and we should be
Kim: We've got a phase variance. Point one, point two.
Paris: Remodulate the deflector.
Kim: No effect. Point four.
Paris: I'm shutting down the drive.
Kim: No, wait. I want to try to invert the Quantum field.
Paris: It's no use, the slipstream is collapsing. Inertial dampers are offline.
Computer: Warning. Hull breach on deck ten.
Kim: We're losing structural integrity.
Paris: Computer, freeze program!
Kim: One more time. I think if we reroute emergency power to the deflector a little earlier
Paris: It won't help.
Kim: Computer, restart simulation at time index
Paris: Computer, belay that order. It's no use, Harry.
Kim: We can't just give up.
Paris: Twenty three simulations, twenty three catastrophes. This is no sensor glitch. We've got to tell them.
Torres: That can't be right. We tested this engine molecule by molecule.
Paris: I'm sorry, B'Elanna.
Seven: I wish to examine the results of the simulation.
Paris: Holodeck two. Run them for yourself. That is, if you don't mind being vaporized a few dozen times.
Chakotay: I looked at their findings, Captain. If we try to take that flight in the morning, we'll be in escape pods by afternoon.
Tuvok: It would appear we have no choice but to cancel it.
Paris: Either that or, we can try it Harry's way.
Janeway: Ensign?
Kim: I've got an idea. It's tricky, but I think it could work. The trouble begins about seventeen seconds into the flight. The phase variance kicks in and the Slipstream becomes unstable. What we need is someone in a shuttle to ride the rapids in front of Voyager.
Torres: Yes. They could map the threshold of the Slipstream as it's forming and send the phase corrections back to us. That is a great idea, Harry.
Kim: Now, here's the tricky part. The shuttle will only be a couple of seconds ahead of Voyager. That doesn't give auto-navigation much time to compensate.
Janeway: Tom?
Paris: Couple of seconds?
Kim: We can do this, Captain. Put me on that shuttle. I'll get Voyager through the Slipstream. What choice do we have? Take the drive offline? Months of work for nothing?
Tuvok: We built a highly experimental piece of technology. There were bound to be setbacks.
Kim: The benamite crystals at the heart of this engine have already started to decay. It could take years to synthesize more. I don't know about the rest of you, but I didn't do all this work just to be stopped by a point four two phase variance. No offense, Captain.
Janeway: None taken. All right, Mister Kim. You've convinced me. Prepare a flight plan and have it on my desk within the hour.
Kim: Yes, ma'am.
Janeway: I'll let you know what I decide.
Janeway: Come in. Commander, I hope you've got an appetite.
Chakotay: Famished, but I assumed you called me here to talk about the Slipstream flight.
Janeway: No reason to cancel our dinner plans. I've programmed a dish my grandmother used to make back on Earth. Vegetable biryani.
Chakotay: Sounds delicious. I didn't know you could cook.
Janeway: Normally, I draw the line at a pot of coffee, but tonight is a special occasion.
Chakotay: Oh?
Janeway: Our last night in the Delta Quadrant. I'd say that's special enough.
Chakotay: You've made your decision.
Janeway: We launch tomorrow at oh eight hundred. You and Harry will take the Delta Flyer. Voyager will be right behind you.
Chakotay: The crew will be pleased.
Janeway: You can give them the news yourself, after dessert. What about you, Chakotay? What do you think about my decision?
Chakotay: I've analyzed Harry's flight plan. The theory is sound, but there are just too many variables. If something goes wrong in that slipstream
Janeway: It could be our only chance to use the Quantum Drive.
Chakotay: True, but if you showed this data to any Starfleet engineer, they'd think we were out of our minds. We can find another way home. We've waited this long.
Janeway: Long enough. We've waited long enough. I know it's a risk, probably our biggest one yet, but I'm willing to take it. Are you with me?
Chakotay: Always.
Janeway: Speaking of risks. Are you ready to try some home cooking?
Chakotay: I'll alert Sickbay.
Emh: Fifteen years?
Kim: Give or take a few weeks.
Emh: Where are we?
Chakotay: In the Takara sector, just outside the Alpha quadrant.
Emh: The crew?
Kim: Except for us, dead.
Chakotay: We think Captain Janeway tried to make an emergency landing on this planet. The ship must have been too heavily damaged. They were all killed on impact.
Kim: They've been buried inside a glacier for the past fifteen years.
Emh: You two were here, on the Delta Flyer, ahead of Voyager. You made it.
Kim: All the way back to Earth. We got home, Doc, and all it took was killing everyone we cared about.
Chakotay: Harry!
Emh: Starfleet certainly took their time finding us.
Kim: Starfleet. Starfleet gave up their search for Voyager over nine years ago. We had to find you on our own.
Emh: Well, I don't know what to say except thank you. I suppose I'd have stayed in that deep freeze forever.
Chakotay: We're not here to salvage your program. We're here to prevent this disaster from ever happening.
Kim: You see Doc, fifteen years ago, I miscalculated the Slipstream threshold and transmitted the wrong phase corrections to Voyager. Boom! They were knocked out of the Slipstream and sent to an icy death. Thank you, Ensign Kim. But I've had a long time to rethink my mistake, and now I know how to fix it. So, we're going to send Voyager a new set of phase corrections.
Emh: Isn't it a little late for that?
Chakotay: We've found a way to communicate with Voyager, in the past, just before the accident.
Kim: Better late than never.
Emh: A message back through time?
Chakotay: Exactly.
Emh: How?
Emh: I don't understand.
Chakotay: One of her cranial implants is a transceiver designed to communicate with other drones.
Emh: That's right. It's called an interplexing beacon.
Chakotay: We want you to extract the beacon and determine its translink frequency.
Emh: That shouldn't be a problem. She looks reasonably well-preserved.
Chakotay: Good. That'll tell us where to send the message. Now the hard part. We need to know when to send it. Can you access Seven's chronometric node and pinpoint the exact moment her cybernetic implants disengaged from her organic systems?
Emh: Her time of death?
Chakotay: Down to the millisecond, if possible.
Emh: I'll see what I can do.
Kim: I told you he'd come in handy.
Emh: You said you'd found a way to communicate with Seven in the past. How?
Kim: Behold. Salvage component three six six nine eight. A Borg temporal transmitter.
Chakotay: Starfleet Intelligence found it in the wreckage of a Borg cube in the Beta Quadrant.
Kim: We stole it.
Tessa: Trouble. Long range sensors are picking up a Federation vessel.
Chakotay: How much time do we have?
Tessa: I entered a low orbit and remodulated our shields, but it won't be long before they find us. Six hours if we're lucky.
Emh: Let me get this straight. You're fugitives?
Kim: The Galaxy's most wanted. We stole the Delta Flyer too, right out of a Federation shipyard. We're wanted on two counts of high treason and conspiracy to violate the Temporal Prime Directive.
Emh: Wonderful. Out of the icebox and into the fire.
Chakotay: We don't have time for this. Get started.
Emh: Aye, sir.
Chakotay: We still have to retrieve those sensor logs. Get ready.
Tessa: Hello, Doctor.
Emh: Do I know you?
Tessa: No, but I feel like we're old friends. Tessa Omond.
Emh: Hello.
Tessa: It's an honor to finally meet Voyager's infamous EMH.
Emh: Infamous?
Kim: I've told her a few horror stories.
Tessa: Actually, they've always spoken very highly of you.
Emh: Ah ha. And how did you get involved with Bonnie and Clyde here?
Tessa: Oh, I've had an interest in Voyager for a long time.
Kim: They're having sex.
Emh: Pardon?
Kim: Chakotay and Tess. They're a couple, joined at the hip.
Tessa: The truth is, Doctor, I didn't want Chakotay or Harry to have to face this alone. I thought I could help.
Chakotay: Ready?
Kim: Stay warm.
Tessa: These controls are a little clumsy. I thought you said this ship was state of the art.
Chakotay: It was, at the time.
Tessa: I've located the sensor logs but, the computer is denying me access.
Chakotay: My command codes should still carry some weight.
Chakotay: Looks like there's an active file here.
Janeway: But should our luck run out, I'd like to say for the record that the crew Voyager acted distinction and valor.
Tessa: You okay?
Chakotay: Yes. It's just the last time I was in this chair, they were all here. Alive.
Tessa: We're here to get them back.
Chakotay: Can I see that tricorder?
Chakotay: It's downloading. Give it a minute.
Tessa: I don't supposed we have time for a tour.
Chakotay: Afraid not. Besides, I left my quarters a mess. In just a few hours, if all goes as planned, we'll have changed history. The past fifteen years erased. We don't have to do this.
Tessa: Now you tell me.
Chakotay: I'm serious.
Tessa: So am I, and I have no intentions of backing out. Chakotay.
Chakotay: Look at me. Last minute jitters, cold feet, I don't know what to call it. Ridiculous, isn't it? After all these years working toward this moment, and when it finally comes, all I can think about is losing you.
Tessa: Your heart has always been here, on Voyager. That'll never change. This is where you belong. And who knows, maybe we'll meet someday.
Chakotay: But if we don't.
Tessa: Then I'll miss you all the same.
Kim: It means all of that has changed. You owe me one.
Emh: Mister Kim, your assistance please.
Kim: Got to go.
Emh: What was that all about?
Kim: Oh, nothing. Letter to a friend. How's it look?
Emh: No damage to the infrastructure, but I'll need an isoprobe.
Kim: Way ahead of you, Doc.
Emh: So what was it like, your homecoming?
Kim: Antimatter fireworks, long-winded dignitaries, a Vulcan children's choir. Oh, we got medals pinned to our tunics. Chakotay gave a speech commemorating the Voyager crew. Brought a tear to everyone's eye. Admiral McIntire even wanted me to marry his daughter.
Emh: At least you weren't buried under twenty meters of ice.
Kim: You don't know how many times I wished I was.
Emh: I suppose it must have been difficult, with all your friends and colleagues left behind.
Kim: Survivor guilt. Yeah, I heard a lot about that from the counselors back at Headquarters. You must learn to accept the fact that you lived. Embrace life, move forward. I signed on at the first deep space vessel I could find. We tried to calculate where Voyager might have fallen out of the slipstream. Four years of searching. We were close, I could feel it! Then Starfleet Command said it was time to end the search. Low probability of success. All those admirals who shook my hand at the homecoming. I went to see every last one of them, begged them to keep the search alive. Pretty soon even Admiral McIntire stopped returning my calls. So I resigned from Starfleet.
Emh: For the record, Seven's translink frequency is one zero eight point four four two three six zero zero zero.
Kim: Could be our lucky number. I'm encoding it now.
Emh: When did you embark on your life of crime?
Kim: The second I heard about this little gem.
Emh: Mister Kim, did you ever stop to think about what you're trying to do here? Altering the timeline may make things worse. At least you and Chakotay survived. Why tempt fate?
Kim: This timeline only exists because I made a mistake fifteen years ago. The crew trusted in me and I let them down.
Computer: Tactical alert. Vessel approaching, bearing one eight four mark seven.
Kim: They've found us. Chakotay.
Chakotay: Go ahead.
Kim: Starfleet's on an intercept course. It's now or never.
Chakotay: We're on our way.
Kim: If you're having doubts let me know. I'll take your program offline. But if you're with us, we tempt fate together.
Emh: To aid an honorable thief, or to spend eternity in cybernetic oblivion. Let's tempt fate.
Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 52143.6. With any luck, my next log entry will be made in the Alpha quadrant. But should our luck run out, I'd like to say for the record that the crew of Voyager acted with distinction and valor.
Chakotay: Shield generators?
Kim: Online.
Chakotay: Plasma flow?
Kim: Stable.
Chakotay: Comm. link?
Kim: Secure.
Chakotay: Lunch.
Kim: Salami sandwiches.
Chakotay: Feel up to this, Ensign?
Kim: Yes, sir.
Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. We're ready.
Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Take your stations, secure all systems, and stand by for the jump to Slipstream.
Seven: I've established a telemetry link with the shuttle.
Janeway: Match their course and speed.
Tessa: They're gaining on us. Two hundred thousand kilometers and closing. You call these evasive maneuvers?
Chakotay: I'm doing my best. Harry, status!
Kim: The Borg transmitter's online but I'm still waiting for the Doctor to give me the temporal coordinates.
Emh: Just a few more minutes.
Chakotay: Speed it up. We've got a Galaxy class starship on our tail.
Emh: I'm working as fast as I can.
Tessa: They're hailing us. You want to talk to them?
Chakotay: Could buy us some time. Open a channel.
Laforge: This is Captain La Forge of the Starship Challenger. You seem to be in quite a hurry.
Chakotay: You could say that.
Laforge: Why don't you shut down those impulse engines, drop your shields. Let's talk about this face-to-face.
Chakotay: Mind if I take a rain check?
Laforge: As a matter of fact, I do. We know what you're about to attempt and we can't let that happen, so the Federation Council is willing to make you an offer. Hand over the Borg transmitter, stand down your vessel, and the charges of conspiracy will be dropped.
Tessa: That's not much of an offer. If we succeed, those charges will never have existed in the first place.
Laforge: If you succeed, countless lives will be affected.
Chakotay: We're here to save one hundred and fifty lives. Our crew.
Laforge: I understand and I might be doing the same thing if I were in your position, but I've got my own crew to protect, not to mention fifteen years of history. So, I'm asking you again. Stand down, and return the transmitter.
Chakotay: You know I can't do that.
Laforge: And you know I have to try to stop you.
Chakotay: Yes, I know. Good luck.
Laforge: Same to you.
Tessa: They're targeting our engines.
Chakotay: Shields to full. Stand by weapons.
Janeway: Voyager to Chakotay.
Chakotay: Yes, ma'am.
Janeway: Prepare to enter the Slipstream.
Chakotay: Acknowledged.
Janeway: Engage.
Paris: Slipstream velocity in four, three, two.
Tessa: Shields down to sixty two percent.
Chakotay: Return fire.
Tessa: Direct hit. No effect on their shields. We're no match for them, Chakotay.
Chakotay: Keep trying.
Kim: I don't mean to be a pest, but we're losing power back here!
Tessa: Hold on.
Tessa: We're switching to emergency back-up.
Kim: Thank you. Doc, I need those temporal coordinates now!
Emh: Badgering me won't help.
Seven: I'm detecting a phase variance. Point one, point two.
Janeway: Helm?
Paris: Still waiting for Harry.
Seven: Point three.
Janeway: Voyager to Delta Flyer. We need those corrections or we'll have to
Janeway: Shut down the drive.
Kim: We're on it, Captain.
Chakotay: The threshold is fluctuating.
Kim: Okay, I can do this. I'm compensating for the spatial gradients. Deflector geometry stable. Got it!
Paris: I'm receiving the phase corrections.
Seven: The phase variance is decreasing.
Tuvok: Shields are holding
Janeway: Looks like we're on our way.
Seven: Phase variance is increasing. Point three. Point four.
Janeway: Harry, what's happening?
Janeway: The phase variance is still increasing.
Kim: I'm not sure, Captain. It should be working.
Janeway: I need an answer, Harry. We're running out of time.
Kim: Let me try recalibrating the sensors.
Kim: I might be overcompensating for the variance in the
Tuvok: We've lost our comm. link.
Paris: Telemetry's down too. The Slipstream's destabilizing.
Janeway: Shut down the drive!
Paris: I can't. There's some kind of overload in the Quantum Matrix. I've lost helm control.
Emh: I have it. Her cybernetic systems were terminated on Stardate 52164.3. Borg time index: 9.43852. You're encoding the transmitter for time index 9.40? That's less than four minutes before Voyager was destroyed! Cutting it a little close, aren't we?
Kim: This is no ordinary phone call, Doc, We're talking to yesterday. Timing is everything. I want to make sure Seven of Nine gets the information at just the right moment. There. I'm bringing up the new phase corrections. This was where I failed fifteen years ago, Doc. This time will be different.
Seven: Captain, I am receiving a transmission.
Janeway: I thought you said the comm. link was down.
Tuvok: It is.
Seven: The signal is being routed through one of my cranial implants. It contains a new set of phase corrections.
Janeway: Does Harry know how to access your Borg systems?
Seven: No.
Janeway: He must have figured out a way. Enter the corrections.
Seven: They're not compensating for the phase variance. The Slipstream is collapsing.
Janeway: Full power to the deflector.
Tuvok: No effect.
Paris: Our hull is buckling!
Janeway: Shields at maximum. Hold her steady, Tom.
Paris: It's no use, we're losing attitude control. Inertial dampers offline!
Janeway: What about the Delta Flyer?
Seven: There is no sign of them. They must have remained in the Slipstream.
Chakotay: Voyager's been thrown into normal space.
Kim: Alter our Slipstream course. We've got to go back.
Chakotay: We can't. Even if they survived re-entry at this velocity, we wouldn't.
Kim: What are you saying? We've got to find them!
Chakotay: Ensign, there's no choice.
Paris: Captain, we're just a few parsecs from the Alpha quadrant.
Janeway: Not exactly how I wanted to cross the finish line.
Tuvok: Hull breach on decks five through ten. We're losing life support. If we don't land the ship, we're risking structural collapse.
Paris: I'm reading a planet nine million kilometers ahead. It's class L.
Janeway: Do it. We're coming in too fast! Reverse thrusters. All hands, brace for impact! (Voyager clips a mountain, then slams into the snow over the glacier. The hull digs in as they slide along.
Kim: We're still here. Why are we still here?
Emh: Mister Kim?
Kim: The new phase corrections didn't work.
Emh: Are you certain?
Kim: If Voyager had gotten through safely, we wouldn't still be here trying to save them. The transmitter's functioning. Seven must have received our message. Chakotay, problems.
Chakotay: I can see that.
Tessa: Our engines are down. They're locking onto us with a tractor beam.
Chakotay: Full thrusters.
Tessa: No effect.
Chakotay: Do we have enough power to send a plasma surge through their tractor beam, break ourselves free?
Tessa: I think so, but the EPS relays have taken heavy damage. It could destabilize the warp core.
Chakotay: If you want to beam over to that ship, I'll understand.
Tessa: And let you have all the fun?
Chakotay: Harry, we just bought you a few more minutes.
Kim: Acknowledged.
Emh: I'm no time travel expert, but can't we just call Voyager again? The past isn't going anywhere.
Kim: That's not going to help if we don't know what to tell them. The Slipstream kinetics look right. Hyperdimensional progressions, perfect. Maybe it's the deflector geometry.
Tessa: We're free.
Chakotay: The EPS relays are overloading. Harry, we're looking at a possible core breach in less than three minutes. How's it
Chakotay: Coming back there?
Kim: Great, just great! It took me ten years to make these corrections. I can't fix it in three minutes!
Emh: You've got to try.
Kim: I can't! It's not working. Why won't it work? I killed them!
Emh: Control yourself!
Kim: They trusted me, and I killed them!
Emh: Mister Kim! I didn't spend all those years in an ice bucket so I could listen to you berate yourself. If you want to wallow in self-pity, fine! Do it on your own time.
Kim: Don't you see? History's repeating itself! I destroyed Voyager once, and I'm doing it again!
Emh: Somebody has got to knuckle down and change history, and that somebody is you.
Kim: It can't be done, Doc. I told you.
Emh: No, you told me you can't correct their phase variance. All right, we have to accept that. But what about sending Voyager a warning? Is there a way to get them to abort the Slipstream flight?
Kim: Yes. Yes! I could send a phase correction which would disperse the Slipstream entirely.
Emh: If we can't get the crew home, at least we can save their lives.
Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in sixty seconds.
Chakotay: Can you eject the core?
Tessa: No. Emergency systems are offline.
Laforge: La Forge to Delta Flyer. Our sensors are reading an overload in your warp matrix. Lower your shields. We'll beam you out of there.
Chakotay: I appreciate the offer, Captain, but the answer's no. I suggest you get to a safe distance.
Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in forty five seconds.
Chakotay: Harry, now would be a good time.
Emh: Mister Kim.
Kim: It's losing power.
Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in thirty seconds.
Kim: Your emitter. It's got its own power source.
Emh: Will it be enough?
Kim: It's our only chance. Glad you could join us, Doc.
Emh: It's been a pleasure.
Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in fifteen seconds.
Kim: Chakotay, I'm giving this one more try.
Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two.
Kim: Yes!
Seven: Captain, I am receiving a transmission.
Janeway: I thought you said the comm. link was down.
Tuvok: It is.
Seven: The signal is being routed through one of my cranial implants. It contains a new set of phase corrections.
Janeway: Does Harry know how to access your Borg systems?
Seven: No.
Janeway: He must have figured out a way. Enter the corrections.
Paris: Captain, the Quantum drive just went offline! We're dropping to impulse.
Tuvok: Captain, we've lost the Slipstream.
Chakotay: The Slipstream collapsed. We were thrown out right along with Voyager.
Kim: Our comm. system's back up.
Kim: Delta Flyer to Voyager. What happened?
Janeway: You miscalculated, Harry. We entered the exact phase corrections you sent to Seven of Nine. They shut down the Quantum drive.
Kim: Captain, I didn't send any corrections to Seven of Nine.
Janeway: She received a message through one of her cranial implants. It wasn't you?
Kim: No, ma'am.
Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Our Slipstream flight may have been brief, but it took nearly ten years off our journey. I've given the order to dismantle the Quantum Drive until the technology can be perfected. Despite the setback, we have a renewed sense of momentum. It no longer seems a question of if we get home, but when.
Janeway: At ease. Am I interrupting?
Kim: No. I just came here to try to figure things out.
Janeway: Phase corrections.
Kim: The corrections I sent you were wrong. If you had used them, Voyager would have been heavily damaged, maybe even destroyed. What I can't figure out is who sent the other phase corrections to Seven of Nine.
Janeway: Looks like we've got a guardian angel.
Kim: Oh, I wish I could believe that.
Janeway: Believe it. His name is Harry Kim.
Kim: Captain?
Janeway: Seven found a Starfleet security code embedded in the transmission. Yours.
Kim: I'm telling you, I didn't send it.
Janeway: Not yet. The transmission had a temporal displacement. We believe it originated from the future. Ten, twenty years from now. We can't be sure.
Kim: Wait a second. If I sent a message from the future and changed the past, then that future would no longer exist, right? So, how could I have sent the message in the first place? Am I making any sense?
Janeway: My advice in making sense of temporal paradoxes is simple. Don't even try. To me, all that matters is that somewhere, somehow, sometime, you come through for us. And if you won't take it from me, take it from you. Seven found a log entry encoded in the telemetry. From Harry Kim, to Harry Kim.
Kim: Hello, Harry. I don't have much time, so listen to me. Fifteen years ago, I made a mistake and one hundred and fifty people died. I've spent every day since then regretting that mistake, but if you're watching this right now, that means all of that has changed. You owe me one.
Emh: Mister Kim, your assistance please.
Kim: Got to go.