Chaotica: Citizens of Earth! Your destiny is in my hands. Those of you who acquiesce to my demands will be treated fairly. Oppose me, and you face a dire fate indeed as my slaves in the mines of Mercury! You have one hour.
Kim: You'll never get away with this.
Chaotica: Oh, but I shall. Your once proud country will fall to its knees. How ironic that I am using your rocket ship to lead my space force into battle!.
Kim: You're wrong, Chaotica. Before you came on board, someone pushed the self-destruct button. In three minutes, we'll all be dead.
Chaotica: No!
Paris: The jig is up, your Majesty.
Chaotica: Captain Proton.
Paris: Spaceman First Class, Protector of Earth, scourge of intergalactic evil, at your service.
Chaotica: But I saw you fall into the fiery mouth of that volcano.
Paris: It takes more than a little lava to stop Captain Proton. Now, I want you to call off your invasion and give me back my rocket ship.
Chaotica: There is one force in this universe that even you cannot defeat.
Emh: The same to you.
Paris: Doc.
Emh: Mister Paris. I should have known it was you monopolizing the holodeck.
Chaotica: Who is this insolent fool?
Kim: He's one of our men. Computer, adjust the Doctor's spectral frequency.
Emh: I have no interest in your frivolous fantasy. I'm here to rehearse a duet from Don Carlo and you've already gone three minutes into my scheduled
Chaotica: Enough! Robot, attack!
Chaotica: Destroy them. Start with him.
Emh: Computer, freeze program.
Paris: Doc, this is the final chapter. Satan's Robot Conquers the World. We can't stop now.
Emh: Does the phrase to be continued mean anything to you?
Paris: Your opera can wait.
Emh: This program is a waste of photonic energy.
Paris: Oh, really. Take a look around you. This is how the twentieth century saw the future. We are studying sociology.
Emh: Perhaps you can teach a course at Starfleet Academy. Satan's Robot - an Historical Overview.
Chakotay: Bridge to holodeck one. What's going on down there?
Kim: Oh, nothing, Commander. Just a little power surge.
Chakotay: Says here the hologrid just blew out.
Kim: We're fixing it now, sir.
Chakotay: Well, make it quick. The last thing we need is a broken holodeck.
Chakotay: Seven, I want good news. That's an order.
Seven: Then I must disobey. I have no good news to report. I've completed an astrometric scan of the entire region. There are no star systems within twenty five hundred light years.
Chakotay: Nothing?
Seven: Nothing.
Chakotay: Why can't we see stars beyond that?
Seven: There are heavy concentrations of theta radiation. It has occluded our sensors.
Chakotay: Any other ships out there?
Seven: None. We are alone.
Chakotay: Every sailor's nightmare.
Seven: Commander.?
Chakotay: It's like being becalmed in the middle of the ocean. If it weren't for sensors we wouldn't even know we were at warp. We've only been crossing this expanse for two months and we're already feeling the strain. How do we last another two years?
Seven: We will adapt.
Chakotay: Easier said than done.
Seven: Shall I inform the Captain of my findings?
Chakotay: No. I'll tell her. First Officer's log, Stardate 52081.2. It's been fifty three days since we entered this desolate region. If we want to continue our course toward home we have no choice but to cross it. We won't have an opportunity to take on fresh supplies or fuel, so I've ordered all departments to create an energy reserve. We're using power cells to stockpile deuterium.
Torres: This won't be much of a briefing. There's nothing new to report.
Chakotay: Humor me.
Torres: All right, let's see. Warp core's at peak efficiency, just like last week, and the week before that. And my engineering staff is going stir crazy.
Chakotay: Thanks. Ensign.
Kim: Nada.
Chakotay: Can you be more specific?
Kim: All systems are operating within normal parameters.
Chakotay: Anything new on sensors?
Tuvok: I've detected a sudden increase in theta radiation in the vicinity.
Chakotay: Source?
Tuvok: Unknown.
Chakotay: Could be worth a look.
Paris: Finally some excitement. Radiation.
Chakotay: Next piece of business. Crew morale.
Emh: Deteriorating, obviously.
Neelix: I have a few suggestions that might boost people's spirits.
Chakotay: Please.
Neelix: Rotate crew assignments. Add variety to the daily routine. I myself wouldn't mind squeezing in a little tactical training.
Tuvok: Noted.
Neelix: And the holodecks have been in high demand. I was thinking we could installl a few emitters in Cargo Bay two. Turn it into a third holodeck.
Emh: Hear, hear.
Chakotay: See to it, Harry.
Neelix: One other item, sir. A point of er, concern among some of the crew. It's, well, it's the Captain. She's been a bit elusive lately.
Chakotay: What's your point?
Neelix: People take comfort in talking to her. When they see that the Captain's happy, they're happy.
Paris: Rumor has it she never leaves her quarters.
Chakotay: Captain's privilege. She'll come to the bridge if and when she's needed.
Torres: Spare us the protocol, Chakotay. It's pretty odd, you've got to admit it.
Chakotay: It's her choice. She can run this ship from wherever the hell she wants to. Understood?
Torres: Yeah. Sure.
Chakotay: We're all feeling the pressure, including me.
Kim: Listen, maybe we've got the wrong attitude. Let's think of this as a two year vacation.
Chakotay: Dismissed.
Torres: That's a great idea, Harry.
Paris: Wow, Harry. You're a real genius. How do you come up with these brilliant ideas?
Kim: You're such an optimistic guy.
Neelix: Computer, lights! Maximum level! Bergamot tea, hot. First thing in the morning I replicate some curtains.
Torres: Predictable. The Novokavich gambit. You always use that opening move.
Paris: That's because you always fall for it.
Torres: I feel like we've played this match a hundred times.
Paris: Derada is a game of subtlety.
Torres: Too subtle for me.
Paris: Hmm. I'll bet.
Torres: What's that supposed to mean?
Paris: Well, if it doesn't involve Klingon pain sticks.
Torres: Good night.
Paris: There you go, just when I'm winning. Who's predictable?
Torres: You don't want to start a fight with me now. Not at three a.m.
Paris: Three in the morning, four in the afternoon. What's the difference? You're angry twenty four hours a day.
Torres: Everything is a joke to you.
Neelix: Good evening. Or should I say good morning? Guess you couldn't sleep either.
Paris: Oh, why sleep when we're having so much fun.
Torres: He's joking, Neelix. We're all supposed to laugh.
Neelix: I certainly am laughing, on the inside. Smiling, anyway. Let's start a new game. Cards? Maybe a little snack?
Paris: No. I have a better idea. Why don't we make a schedule. A fight rotation. We can optimize our resources. I can start one, then you can start one.
Neelix: Please.
Torres: I am really tired of these games.
Paris: Well then, don't play them.
Neelix: Stop! You are senior officers! You are you are supposed to be setting an example for the rest. The rest of the crew.
Torres: Neelix?
Paris: Paris to Sickbay.
Neelix: Some morale officer I turned out to be.
Emh: I've given you a mild sedative. It should control the urge to hyperventilate, and alleviate some of your anxiety.
Neelix: Anxiety? Anxiety's what I feel when I burn a pot roast. This. This is more like.
Emh: Dizziness? Nausea? Unspeakable dread?
Neelix: Yes.
Emh: Nihiliphobia. the fear of nothingness. Or in layman's terms, the fear of nothingness. If it's any consolation, I can relate to it. I go into a void every time I'm deactivated. Emptiness, complete and utter oblivion. I'll admit it was unsettling at first. The existential horror of it all.
Neelix: You're not helping, Doctor.
Emh: Sorry. My point is, you'll get used to it.
Neelix: I hope so.
Seven: Commander. Am I disturbing you.
Tuvok: No.
Seven: Is the Astrometrics lab designated for recreational use?
Tuvok: I come here to meditate. Needless to say, the view from my quarters has been less than stellar lately.
Seven: Astronomical phenomena help you to focus your mind.
Tuvok: Yes. I imagine that each star represents a single thought.
Seven: Meditation. It rejuvenates you?
Tuvok: Indeed it does.
Seven: I suggest you try Borg regeneration. It's much more efficient. A simple cortical implant would be required.
Tuvok: Another time, perhaps.
Tuvok: What is it?
Seven: Long range sensors are detecting more theta radiation. Dangerously high levels.
Tuvok: Source?
Seven: Unknown.
Chakotay: It's probably nothing. Just background theta radiation. But it could mean there's someone nearby.
Janeway: Distance?
Chakotay: Approximately twenty five light years.
Janeway: It's a long shot, but alter course.
Chakotay: Yes, ma'am.
Janeway: If that's all, Commander.
Chakotay: Actually, I'd like to make a request. I've been saving up my holodeck rations and I've got three full hours coming. Any chance I might persuade you to join me for a few rounds of Velocity? It'll help clear your mind.
Janeway: My mind is perfectly clear.
Chakotay: And what if I told you I'm not leaving until you join me?
Janeway: I'd say, have a seat, it'll be a while.
Chakotay: Then I'll be blunt. You've picked a bad time to isolate yourself from the crew. This ship needs a Captain, especially now.
Janeway: Would you be satisfied with I'm just catching up on some reading? I'm not sure I understand it myself. It started when we entered this, what does the crew call it?
Chakotay: The Void.
Janeway: Charming. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a few Borg cubes about now. Anything for a little distraction. Strange as it sounds, I almost long for the days when we were under constant attack. No time to stop and think about how we got stranded in the Delta quadrant. How did we end up here, Chakotay? Answer me.
Chakotay: We were faced with a difficult choice. We had the means to get home but using it would've put an innocent people at risk, so we decided to stay.
Janeway: No. No, no. I decided to stay. I made that choice for everyone.
Chakotay: We're alive and well, and we've gathered enough data about this quadrant to keep Starfleet scientists busy for decades. Our mission's been a success.
Janeway: The very same words I've been telling myself for the past four years. But then we hit this Void, and I started to realize how empty those words sound.
Chakotay: Kathryn.
Janeway: I made an error in judgment, Chakotay. It was short-sighted and it was selfish, and now all of us are paying for my mistake. So if you don't mind, Commander, I'll pass on that little game. And I'll leave shipboard morale in your capable hands. If the crew asks for me, tell them the Captain sends her regards.
Kim: Sir.
Tuvok: Relax, Ensign. Anything to report?
Kim: Not even a stray electron. But I did finish writing my concerto. I call it 'Echoes of the Void.' Got a minute?
Tuvok: Too many, in fact.
Kim: Tell me what you think.
Paris: Now, when we last saw our heroes, they had just retaken their rocket ship. Doctor Chaotica had escaped, but he left behind his trusty robot to foil Captain Proton.
Seven: My designation?
Paris: Ah, right. You're Constance Goodheart. You're my secretary.
Seven: Secretary.
Paris: Yeah, you tag along on all the missions. Now, I want you to keep the robot occupied while I save Earth. Computer, run program.
Robot: Citizen of Earth, surrender! Do not resist!
Seven: I am Borg.
Robot: Surrender.
Seven: The robot has been neutralized. May I leave now?
Paris: Come on, Seven. Give it a chance. The galaxy's at stake.
Kim: We've dropped out of warp. We're losing power.
Tuvok: Switch to auxiliary.
Kim: No effect.
Kim: I was hoping for a change of pace, but a blackout isn't exactly what I had in mind. I'll try tapping into the energy reserves.
Man: Double check the radio relays.
Torres: Get inside those plasma injectors. Infuse them manually if you have to.
Seven: Lieutenant.
Paris: Just a second. I'm not sure how to work this thing.
Paris: Captain Protein to the rescue! It's not exactly Starfleet issue. A ship-wide power loss? Everything's offline, main power, auxiliary.
Seven: Independent subsystems are operational. Environmental controls, holodecks. Reroute power from this holodeck to the emergency relays.
Paris: Yes, ma'am. No luck. The hologrid is frozen.
Chakotay: Neelix.
Neelix: Don't mind me.
Chakotay: There's been a power loss. Nothing to worry about.
Neelix: Who's worried?
Chakotay: Come on. Take deep breaths nice and slow. That's it.
Kim: Bingo. We've got partial sensors. I've found the cause of our power drain. It's some kind of dampening field. The source is off the port bow. That's about all I can tell you.
Tuvok: On screen. Do we have the power to launch a photon torpedo?
Kim: Maybe one, why?
Tuvok: Perhaps we could shed some light on our predicament. I'm reconfiguring the torpedo to emit a sustained polyluminous burst.
Kim: A warp flare.
Tuvok: Precisely.
Paris: I need something to pry open this hatch.
Seven: Computer, disengage safety protocols!
Neelix: I saw something, over there. I'm telling you, I saw something. I may be nihiliphobic but my eyes work just fine. I can hear breathing.
Janeway: Follow me.
Neelix: Yes, ma'am.
Tuvok: Torpedo reconfigured. Away.
Torres: I can barely see the injector ports. How about a little light over here?
Janeway: We can do better than that. This power cell should be enough to get emergency power back online.
Torres: Up here. We'll hook it up directly to the EPS manifold.
Kim: Emergency power just came back. We've got tactical.
Tuvok: Raising shields.
Torres: The warp core's online.
Janeway: Janeway to bridge, report.
Tuvok: The dampening field has been blocked, Captain. We are surrounded by three alien vessels.
Tuvok: Seventeen intruders are on board.
Janeway: The ships aren't responding to hails.
Chakotay: We do have weapons online.
Janeway: Tuvok, target the ship off our port bow. Fire a few warning shots.
Tuvok: Shields down to sixty four percent.
Chakotay: Do we have propulsion?
Torres: Not yet.
Seven: He was attacked by an intruder.
Emh: These burns are severe.
Seven: I disabled the alien. It may still be alive.
Emh: Bring it to Sickbay.
Tuvok: Shields are down.
Kim: They're reinitializing the dampening field. We're losing power.
Neelix: Not again.
Chakotay: They've stopped their attack. They're beaming off the ship.
Kim: There's another vessel approaching.
Kim: We're being hailed.
Tuvok: On screen. I'm Lieutenant Commander Tuvok of the Federation.
Emck: I had to fire thirteen spatial charges to drive those ships off. I expect to be compensated.
Tuvok: Of course.
Emck: Now tell me, what are you doing in the middle of nowhere?
Tuvok: The biofilters are detecting high levels of theta radiation.
Janeway: Compensate. Welcome aboard. I'm afraid we'll have to talk here. You appear to be leaking.
Emck: Yes, yes, my isolation suit. Don't be alarmed.
Chakotay: We prefer to be on the safe side, Mister?
Emck: Emck. Controller Emck. Malon export vessel, eleventh gradient.
Janeway: It's a pleasure to meet you, and a relief.
Emck: I'd advise you to turn around immediately. There are more of those creatures ahead, thousands of vessels. They're almost impossible to detect. You won't survive another attack.
Janeway: We can't go back. We're crossing this expanse to reach our home.
Emck: Then, er, it appears you'll be coming with me.
Tuvok: What do you mean?
Emck: There's a spatial vortex a few light years from here. It leads directly to the other side of the expanse. We've been using it for years.
Chakotay: That would get us out of the Void, and cut two years off our journey home.
Janeway: Well, thank you again. I'm curious, Mister Emck. What are you doing here, besides rescuing starships in distress?
Emck: Ah, I'm on a transport mission. My sensors tell me that one of the creatures is still aboard your ship.
Chakotay: It was injured during the attack. Our doctor's treating it.
Janeway: Why?
Emck: Enough questions. Give me the creature and I'll take you to the vortex.
Janeway: Oh, my apologies, Mister Emck, but I'd like to know what's going on here. Are you at war with these beings?
Emck: None of your concern.
Janeway: Your vessel seems to be leaking large amounts of theta radiation. What kind of transport mission are you on, exactly?
Emck: My ship will depart in two hours. Cooperate or stay behind. I won't be coming to your rescue when the creatures return. I'm finished here.
Janeway: I think it's time we heard the other side of the story.
Emh: Watch your step, I've had to lower the lights. My patient is extremely photosensitive.
Chakotay: That could explain why they dampened our power.
Emh: My feelings exactly. From what I can tell this life form may be indigenous to the Void. His physiology has evolved to survive in complete darkness.
Janeway: His condition?
Emh: Minor injuries. Phaser wounds to the chest and neck. But that's the least of his problems. He's dying, Captain. Every organ is degrading at the cellular level.
Janeway: Theta radiation poisoning.
Emh: The final stages. My guess is he's been exposed to it over a long period. There's nothing I can do.
Janeway: I'd like a word with him. I'm Kathryn Janeway, captain of this vessel.
Night Alien: You are allied with the Malon.
Janeway: No. We're simply trying to cross this region. We never met the Malon before today.
Night Alien: They will want me.
Janeway: Well, I have no intention of giving you to them. You're not a captive here. Doctor. Are you at war with the Malon?
Night Alien: Their ships are poison.
Janeway: The theta radiation.
Night Alien: They're killing us.
Janeway: Why? What do they want from you?
Night Alien: Nothing.
Emh: This will help alleviate the pain.
Janeway: I don't understand.
Night Alien: We were ignorant. We attacked you. Forgive us.
Janeway: Of course. But I need to understand. You say the Malon are killing your people. There must be a reason.
Night Alien: They're poisoning our space. We don't know why.
Emh: He's in respiratory distress. We need to get him back to his people. They might know how to treat him.
Night Alien: I will show you how.
Janeway: I need a workstation. Route it to the helm. If you enter the coordinates, my pilot will set a course.
Night Alien: I am grateful.
Janeway: Take the bridge. I'll stay here.
Chakotay: We still don't have a defense against their dampening field. If they decide to attach again.
Janeway: I'm confident they won't. Finally, something to put in my logbook.
Chakotay: Tuvok.
Chakotay: I need your advice.
Tuvok: A first.
Chakotay: Look, I realize we're not exactly best friends. From day one, we've kept each other at arm's length. But I've always respected your judgment and right now, I could use a little Vulcan clarity.
Tuvok: Proceed.
Chakotay: It's the Captain. As you may have noticed, she's isolated herself from the crew.
Tuvok: She believes that she made an error in judgment four years ago. That she's responsible for stranding Voyager in the Delta Quadrant.
Chakotay: She told you?
Tuvok: No. I've been observing her behavior for the past four years. Guilt has been her constant companion.
Chakotay: You've known her longer than anyone. Have you ever seen her like this?
Tuvok: Only once. It was during her first year as a Commander on the USS Billings. She sent an away team to survey a volcanic moon. Their shuttle was damaged by a magma eruption and three crew members were severely injured. The next day she returned to the moon alone to complete the survey. She wanted the crew to know that their suffering had not been in vain. She could have been killed.
Chakotay: Seeking redemption.
Tuvok: Precisely. Captain Janeway's methods are unorthodox. It is her strength as a leader, but unfortunately, it is also her greatest weakness.
Chakotay: Stubborn as a Klingon.
Tuvok: To put it mildly.
Chakotay: If she tries something like that again I want to be ready and I'm going to need your support.
Paris: We're at the coordinates.
Chakotay: All stop. Shields up. Tuvok.
Tuvok: Nothing on sensors.
Chakotay: Bridge to Captain.
Chakotay: We've arrived.
Janeway: Stand by.
Night Alien: They're here, but I must tell them you are a friend. Your communications system?
Kim: I'm picking up photonic surges. They're all around us.
Chakotay: Captain, we've got company. Eight ships, twelve more approaching.
Janeway: Let's run a full bioscan.
Night Alien: We have lived here for millions of years, undisturbed until the Malon came.
Emh: Captain, every one of them seems to be suffering from theta radiation exposure.
Night Alien: We tell them they are killing us. They won't listen. We tried to stop them. They're too strong!
Janeway: What about the vortex? Can you close it, keep them out?
Night Alien: We don't know how. Your ship is powerful, your people resourceful. We need your help.
Chakotay: Bridge to Captain. They're locking onto the alien in sickbay.
Janeway: Lower the shields.
Night Alien: Will you help us?
Janeway: Poison.
Seven: The vessel is ejecting massive quantities of contaminated antimatter.
Chakotay: Their cargo holds are loaded with it. Over ninety million isotons.
Janeway: Hail them.
Emck: Captain. You've decided to join us. Send the creature to my
Janeway: That won't be possible. We've returned him to his people. You wanted the lifeform because you were afraid we'd uncover your transport mission.
Emck: I said this was none of your concern.
Janeway: Well, it is now. You're using their space as a dumping ground for your antimatter waste. Why?
Emck: My civilization produces over six billion isotons of industrial by-product every day. This region is a perfect disposal site.
Chakotay: How convenient, for you. A spatial vortex to the middle of nowhere, far away from your own system. Out of sight, out of mind. Problem is, somebody lives here.
Emck: One species.
Janeway: One's enough. We didn't come here to debate the issue. We came here to offer a peaceful solution.
Emck: What kind of solution?
Janeway: My people use anti-matter as well, but we've found ways to purify the reactants so there's no toxic waste. We'll show you.
Chakotay: Guide us through the vortex. We can meet with your scientists on the other side, exchange information.
Emck: Show me now.
Janeway: Stand by for transport. Commander, take our guest to Engineering. Give him a demonstration. Let's turn our sensors on that vortex. I want to know exactly how it works, just in case diplomacy fails.
Seven: Do you intend to destroy it?
Torres: The residual anti-matter is then processed in the transkinetic chamber, where it's broken down on the subatomic level.
Emck: What about the theta radiation?
Torres: Oh, it's absorbed by a series of radiometric converters. We recycle the energy, use it to power everything from life support to replicators.
Emck: We don't have this kind of conversion technology.
Torres: Our scans of your freighter show that you have plasma manifolds. The engineering principles are the same.
Chakotay: We're not saying this won't take some effort. You're looking at several months of retrofitting, depending on the size of your fleet. All the schematics are here, and we'd be willing to work with you, get you started. We can even provide you with some converters.
Emck: Ingenious design. Our engineers would be pleased. This would solve a lot of problems on my world. Unfortunately, it would also put me out of business.
Chakotay: Sorry?
Emck: Your technology would throw the waste export industry into chaos. Before long, I'd be obsolete. I came here hoping your claims were exaggerated, but I can see they're not. You can keep your solution.
Torres: You lying
Chakotay: B'Elanna.
Torres: We went through this whole song and dance and he never had any intention of working with us.
Chakotay: That's not important. What matters is that we're talking now. We're proposing changes, some of them difficult, but progress can also bring new opportunities. Given time, this could turn to your advantage.
Emck: I already have the advantage. The vortex. No one knows about it except me and my crew. By ejecting my cargo here I cut expenses in half. I won't sacrifice that.
Torres: I guess mass murder doesn't factor into your profit margin.
Emck: You care so much about these creatures, stay.
Chakotay: I'm sorry you won't listen to reason, but don't expect us to walk away from this.
Emck: You've scanned my vessel. You've seen my fire power. You wouldn't survive ten seconds in a conflict with me.
Chakotay: Get him out of here.
Emck: Pah!
Janeway: Options?
Chakotay: We fight our way past them. Navigate the vortex on our own. Once we're on the other side we contact the Malon authorities and blow the whistle on Emck.
Janeway: We give them the reclamation technology, and continue on our way home.
Chakotay: Exactly.
Janeway: Even if we did get through the vortex, there's no guarantee the Malon will do the right thing, if Mister Emck is any indication. As long as this vortex exists, the inhabitants of this region are at risk.
Chakotay: Any chance we could destroy it?
Janeway: I believe so, but there's a catch. We'll have to collapse it from this end, where it's dimensional radius is weakest. We'd be closing our short-cut out of here.
Chakotay: Two more years in the Void. I can live with that.
Janeway: But I'm not sure I can. Four years ago I destroyed the Caretaker's array to protect the Ocampa. That act of compassion stranded this crew in the Delta quadrant. I'm not about to give that order again.
Chakotay: This situation is a little different.
Janeway: It's close enough. I'm asking this crew to make too big a sacrifice. I won't make that same mistake.
Chakotay: If you have another option, I'm listening.
Janeway: Chakotay, there's no one I trust more than you. You're a fine First Officer. Are you ready to Captain this ship?
Chakotay: Yes.
Janeway: Assemble the crew.
Tuvok: Captain on the bridge.
Janeway: At ease. Harry, how've you been?
Kim: Just find, ma'am.
Janeway: Good.
Neelix: We've missed you, Captain.
Janeway: Likewise. I'll make this brief. Your orders are to proceed to the vortex. Use whatever means necessary to fight your way past the Malon freighter. I'll stay behind in a shuttlecraft and destroy the vortex. Tuvok, I'll need a class two shuttle armed with photon torpedoes. Tom, set a course for
Torres: Forget it. We're not going to let you die out here.
Janeway: Have a little faith, B'Elanna. I'll have a shuttle, plenty of rations. I'll survive.
Paris: Alone in the Delta quadrant? No offense, but
Janeway: I've made my decision.
Kim: What about us? Don't we have a say?
Neelix: He's right, Captain. I'd be willing to brave this Void if it meant keeping you with us.
Janeway: Tom, set a course.
Janeway: Lieutenant, I gave you an order.
Paris: I can't follow that order, ma'am.
Janeway: Harry, take the helm.
Kim: I'm sorry, Captain.
Seven: I will not comply.
Emh: What's a hologram to do?
Tuvok: As you can see, you're not the only one who's had time to evaluate the past.
Janeway: Yes, I can see that. You realize you could all be hanged for mutiny.? Looks like we need another option.
Chakotay: We fire torpedoes the instant we cross the threshold. As the vortex begins to collapse, we jump into high warp.
Janeway: There'll be a massive shock wave on our tail.
Torres: I'll reinforce the aft shielding.
Janeway: There's still one obstacle. The Malon.
Tuvok: Antimatter waste has weakened the bulkhead surrounding their cargo hold. A direct phaser strike should disable them.
Emh: Poetic justice.
Tuvok: Indeed.
Janeway: You realize it will reduce our chance of getting through.
Seven: Chance is irrelevant. We will succeed.
Emh: A vote of Borg confidence. Who could argue with that?
Janeway: All right. Back to your stations. Let's do it.
Chakotay: Red alert. Set a course to the vortex. All hands to battle stations.
Janeway: You told them. They knew coming in.
Chakotay: Let's just say I wouldn't be a fine First Officer if I hadn't.
Janeway: Return fire. Hit them with everything we've got.
Tuvok: Their shields are holding.
Janeway: Open a channel. This is Voyager. Stand down your weapons and fall back. I'll take that as a no.
Chakotay: The vortex.
Paris: Two million kilometers dead ahead.
Janeway: Bridge to Engineering, we're approaching the vortex.
Janeway: Bring the aft shielding online.
Torres: Acknowledged. See you on the other side.
Chakotay: Status.
Kim: The port nacelle's been ruptured. We're venting plasma.
Janeway: Can you get us out of here on one engine, Tom?
Paris: I think so.
Tuvok: Torpedoes armed and ready.
Janeway: On my order, Tuvok. We'll only get one shot at this.
Seven: They're firing spatial charges.
Janeway: Evade them.
Seven: Captain Proton to the rescue.
Paris: I'll explain later.
Tuvok: The vortex is in visual range.
Janeway: Time to intercept?
Paris: Forty seven seconds.
Janeway: Steady as she goes. Keep laying down fire.
Kim: Direct hit, starboard nacelle.
Paris: Both engines are offline. We're running on inertia. One more hit and we're dead in the water.
Chakotay: Without warp drive we'll never outrun the shockwave.
Janeway: Tuvok, can you reinforce the aft shields with our main deflector?
Tuvok: I believe so.
Janeway: Do it. We're going to ride that shockwave out of here. Let it push us to the other side.
Tuvok: Adjusting shield harmonics.
Seven: Captain. They intend to block our path.
Paris: Twenty seconds.
Chakotay: Prepare to fire.
Tuvok: That may not be necessary.
Seven: The freighter is moving to combat the aliens.
Chakotay: They're trying to distract the Malon, give us the upper hand.
Paris: Ten seconds!
Tuvok: The freighter's shields are weakening.
Janeway: Target their cargo hold. Time to take out the garbage.
Paris: We're crossing the threshold.
Janeway: Torpedoes.
Seven: Shockwave approaching. Six hundred meters. Five hundred. Four.
Tuvok: Aft shields at maximum.
Janeway: All hands, brace for impact!
Tuvok: Pressure is building on the outer hull. Shields weakening.
Paris: We're clear.
Seven: The vortex has been destroyed.
Chakotay: Are we out of the Void?
Kim: Not yet. That little maneuver brought us up a bit short. We're still two hundred thousand kilometers from the boundary.
Janeway: On screen. Maintain course.
Paris: There.
Torres: What?
Paris: I saw something. A star.
Emh: Remind me to check your eyesight.
Janeway: Harry, what do you see out there?
Kim: I see a densely packed region with thousands of star systems. It looks pretty lively.
Janeway: Full speed ahead.


Emh: Seven of Nine. How's my favorite Borg today?
Seven: Annoyed. In the future you will announce your presence before entering this room.
Emh: Sorry. I guess I should have knocked first.
Seven: Are we ready to leave?
Emh: Yes. According to sensors, spatial conditions are ripe. A spontaneous protonebula could emerge within the next twenty minutes. Mister Paris is expecting us.
Emh: Hmm. Not a bad looking hologram.
Emh: This should be exciting, don't you think?
Seven: It's an astronomical survey, nothing more. What is your function on this mission?
Emh: My function is to study the nebula's effects on the crew. We may be dealing with new forms of radiation. I can't wait to see one of these clouds take shape. I hear they're quite beautiful. I brought along a holo-imaging device to take a few snapshots.
Seven: This isn't shore leave. There will be no time for recreational activities.
Emh: The Borg, party poopers of the galaxy. Tomorrow we'll start you on a new social exercise. Developing your joie de vivre.
Paris: Sorry about that. Just a little spatial turbulence. Nothing to worry about.
Emh: Hello there.
Torres: I don't know about you, but I've got a case of class two claustrophobia.
Paris: Ah, I remember it well.
Seven: Lieutenant?
Torres: Oh, that's what Starfleet cadets used to call these class two shuttles. Fast, maneuverable, but not built for comfort.
Paris: They used to shoehorn half a dozen cadets into one of these things for weeks at a time. You did not want to be around when they opened up that airlock.
Seven: Perhaps you should design a new shuttle. Larger, more efficient.
Torres: Not a bad idea.
Seven: I'm reading plasma surges off the port bow.
Torres: All stop. Keep our distance.
Emh: Seven, move over by the helm. I want to get a group shot.
Seven: I'm busy.
Emh: And smile, like I know you can.
Torres: What was that?
Seven: Another plasma surge.
Torres: It's massive! Tom, back us off. We're caught in the gravimetric shear!
Paris: Engines are down.
Kim: We're receiving a distress call from the away team.
Tuvok: They've been engulfed in the shearline of the nebula.
Janeway: Full impulse. Bridge to transporter room one. Standby for emergency beamout.
Mulchaey: I've got a partial lock on them, but unless the shuttle clears that nebula.
Chakotay: It won't. They've lost propulsion.
Mulchaey: Then it's going to be a rough transport.
Chakotay: Energize.
Mulchaey: I'm having trouble separating their patterns.
Chakotay: Reset the pattern buffers.
Mulchaey: The signals are clearing.
Chakotay: Is everyone all right?
Emh: My emitter. It's been damaged.
Torres: I'll transfer your program back to Sickbay. Hang on.
Emh: Sickbay to transporter room one. Report.
Torres: It looks like some of your emitter circuits were fused during transport.
Emh: Can you repair it?
Torres: Most likely. I'll need to run a diagnostic.
Emh: Most likely?
Torres: Relax, Doctor. I'll keep you posted. Mulchaey.
Torres: Computer, run diagnostic routine alpha three six.
Computer: Diagnostic in progress.
Torres: First thing in the morning, I want you to check the results.
Mulchaey: I'll be here bright and early.
Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. This protonebula seems to have a mind of its own. It's still expanding, with no end in sight. We're holding at a safe distance to monitor its growth.
Emh: Rise and shine, Lieutenant. It's oh six hundred hours. Early bird gets the gagh!
Torres: What do you want?
Emh: Good morning would be nice, but I'd settle for my mobile emitter. Do we have an ETA on those repairs?
Torres: Go away.
Emh: Can't you at least give me a prognosis?
Torres: The one day I get to sleep in.
Emh: You're worried about a few more seconds of unconsciousness? My freedom is at stake!
Torres: Computer, activate sonic shower.
Emh: One more thing, Lieutenant. I was thinking
Torres: Hey!
Emh: I'm a doctor, not a peeping Tom. It's nothing I haven't seen before. I was thinking
Emh: If you brought the emitter to Sickbay we could work on it together. I've prepared a. Hello? B'Elanna?
Computer: Regeneration cycle incomplete.
Kim: Commander. How'd you sleep?
Chakotay: Well enough. What's new?
Kim: That nebula's expanding at a rate of eight thousand cubic kilometers per hour. I've had to adjust course eleven times.
Chakotay: Sounds like you're enjoying the big chair.
Kim: It's not a bad way to spend the night.
Chakotay: I hear you've been doing a fine job. The crew's impressed. Is it true you make them call you Captain Kim?
Kim: Sir?
Chakotay: Good morning.
Seven: That remains to be seen.
Chakotay: Problem?
Seven: The proximity transceiver in my cranial implant has been activated. That could indicate a Borg presence nearby.
Chakotay: Harry?
Kim: I've been running sensor sweeps all night. I haven't seen anything.
Seven: Perhaps the nebula is masking a vessel.
Kim: No, not a chance. A ship wouldn't last ten seconds in there. Not even a Borg cube.
Chakotay: Maybe it's a false alarm. Your transceiver could be malfunctioning.
Seven: It is possible.
Chakotay: Why don't you pay a visit to Sickbay. In the meantime we'll redouble our scans, just to be sure.
Seven: Very well.
Kim: I'll get the scans underway.
Chakotay: If you don't mind being an Ensign again.
Emh: Seven?
Seven: My proximity transceiver activated again.
Kim: Looks like someone's rerouting power from the warp conduits.
Chakotay: To where?
Kim: Deck eight, section twenty two. The science lab.
Chakotay: Bridge to science lab. Ensign Mulchaey, respond. Harry.
Kim: Sensors are being deflected by some kind of forcefield. Commander, the forcefield has a Borg signature.
Chakotay: Red alert. Captain to the bridge. Tuvok, take a security team to the science lab. Chakotay to Seven of Nine, looks like you were right.
Chakotay: We've detected Borg on the ship. Deck eight, science lab.
Seven: How many drones?
Chakotay: Unknown, Tuvok's headed there now.
Seven: I will join him.
Emh: The science lab? My mobile emitter's in there.
Seven: This technology resembles a Borg maturation chamber, but many of the components are unfamiliar.
Crewman: Commander.
Seven: He was punctured by an extraction tubule. It removed a tissue sample. There are residual nanoprobes surrounding the wound. Their encoding sequences are identical to my own.
Tuvok: Your nanoprobes? How?
Seven: I don't know.
Tuvok: Take him to Sickbay.
Tuvok: What are you doing?
Seven: I will be recognized as Borg.
Seven: A drone, but unlike any I've ever seen.
Tuvok: It appears to be in the fetal stage.
Seven: I don't understand. The Borg assimilate. They do not reproduce in this fashion.
Janeway: Where did it come from?
Seven: I believe it was created here in the science lab. When the away team beamed back to Voyager there was a transporter malfunction. Our patterns merged briefly. It is possible that some of my nanoprobes infected the Doctor's mobile emitter.
Tuvok: They began to assimilate?
Seven: Yes.
Seven: Nanoprobes are encoded to utilize any technology they encounter. Once it assimilated the emitter, it began to transform this diagnostic station. When Ensign Mulchaey entered the room, they sampled his DNA.
Janeway: Using his genetic code as a template to create a lifeform.
Tuvok: The drone has increased in mass by seventeen percent.
Seven: Its maturation rate is twenty five times that of a conventional Borg.
Janeway: Tuvok, erect a level ten forcefield around this section. Post round the clock security.
Tuvok: You intend to let it mature?
Janeway: The alternative is to pull the plug, and I'm not prepared to do that. Not unless I have to. Resume your analysis. I want to know exactly what we're dealing with here. Or should I say whom?
Seven: Yes, Captain.
Seven: I've adapted the Astrometrics sensors to penetrate the Borg forcefield.
Torres: I thought you said this thing was a fetus.
Seven: An hour ago it was. The drone has entered the fourth phase of gestation. In human terms, it is a child of six years.
Emh: You mean a boy of six years. From what I can tell the drone is male. Seven, route your sensor data to Sickbay. I want to run a few medical scans.
Seven: Stand by.
Emh: Well, he appears to be human for the most part. Borg implants comprise approximately
Emh: Twenty seven percent of his body.
Tuvok: Curious. His body plating is composed of polydeutonic alloy
Emh: Just like my mobile emitter.
Seven: The nanoprobes must have extrapolated that technology. It could explain his unique design.
Torres: Wait a minute. The Doctor's emitter came from the twenty ninth century. It's five hundred years more advanced that anything we've got.
Tuvok: It is logical to assume this drone will be equally advanced.
Torres: A twenty ninth century Borg.
Tuvok: In essence.
Emh: I've located my mobile emitter. It's embedded in his cerebral cortex.
Seven: The emitter has been adapted to serve as part of his central nervous system. It controls all autonomic functions.
Emh: That means we can't remove it. Not without killing the drone.
Tuvok: Has it contacted the Borg Collective?
Seven: No. I have dampened it's proximity transceiver.
Torres: For now. What about when it grows up?
Janeway: Reactive body armor? Multidimensional adaptability? Internal transporter nodes?
Seven: The drone possesses superior technology. It will fully mature in less than two hours. However, its Borg shielding is not yet active. We can still terminate it, but we must act quickly.
Janeway: Hold on a minute, Seven. I want some answers first. What normally happens when a drone disengages from the maturation chamber?
Seven: It awaits instructions from the Collective.
Janeway: So without those instructions, it has no designation, right? No purpose.
Seven: Correct.
Janeway: If we can keep him from interfacing with the Collective, maybe we can give him a purpose.
Seven: Captain.
Janeway: This is the most advanced drone ever to exist. We could teach him our values, Seven. We could show him what it means to be an individual.
Seven: If we fail, if the drone were to be assimilated the Collective would become far more powerful.
Janeway: What I'm proposing is the only defense we have against that possibility, short of murder, and that's an order I'd prefer not to give. As I recall, Seven, there were a few crew members who had similar doubts about you.
Seven: The situation is different.
Janeway: Is it? A Borg, disconnected from the Collective, unsure of its identity? A potential threat, but we succeeded. We're going to pull the same trick again, only this time you're going to be the teacher.
Seven: I am to instruct the drone in the ways of humanity.
Janeway: Think of it as first contact, and you are our ambassador.
Seven: Maturation cycle is complete.
One: We are Borg. State our designation.
Seven: Designation is irrelevant. You are not part of the Collective. You are an individual. You will receive your instructions from me.
One: Insufficient.
Seven: You must comply.
One: Insufficient. We are Borg.
Seven: My designation is Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix zero one. You may call me Seven of Nine.
One: Seven of Nine.
Seven: You will comply with my commands.
One: Seven of Nine.
Seven: Yes. We are not Borg. We are individuals. Do you understand?
One: State our designation.
Tuvok: Apparently not.
Seven: The drone's responses are programmed. It doesn't understand what I'm saying. I must initiate a direct neural interface.
Tuvok: Are you sure that's wise?
Seven: There is no other way for me to communicate with it.
Tuvok: Proceed.
Seven: You will not be harmed. Resistance is futile.
Seven: I am providing it with instructions. It understands.
Seven: The drone is probing my neural pathways. It is trying to assimilate all of my knowledge. I cannot disengage the link.
Seven: Terminate interface! You must comply. You are hurting me.
One: I will comply. Daily log, Seven of Nine. I've activated the drone's linguistic database. It is now capable of assimilating information. A direct neural link is too dangerous, so I've decided to use Borg datanodes.
Neelix: Special delivery. Two Borg datanodes.
Torres: More? Link them to the dataport. How many Borg hitchhikers are we going to pick up on this trip? Maybe this is the Collective's new strategy. They don't assimilate anymore, they just show up and look helpless.
Neelix: Now, B'Elanna.
Torres: We don't know what this drone will turn into. It's gone from infant to adult in one day.
Neelix: It will become what we help it to become.
Torres: How Starfleet of you.
Seven: Seven of Nine to Neelix.
Neelix: Neelix here.
Seven: Report to the Science lab immediately. Bring the first datanode.
Neelix: On my way.
One: We are Borg. State our designation.
Seven: We've complied information into this datanode for you to assimilate.
One: We do not understand.
Seven: You will, but first you must assimilate this data. Come here. Comply! Give me your arm. Inject the datanode with an assimilation tubule. This access port.
One: We do not understand.
One: Your designation is Seven of Nine.
Seven: Yes.
One: Your designation is Neelix, Talaxian.
Neelix: That's me.
One: This is a laboratory on a vessel.
Neelix: The Starship Voyager.
One: I am traveling through interstellar space.
Seven: Yes.
One: Why?
Seven: This is a ship of exploration.
One: I am an explorer.
Neelix: We all are.
One: We are Borg.
Neelix: Well, no.
Seven: You are a unique individual. One of many on Voyager. This is not a Borg Collective. Do you understand?
One: Individual. My thoughts are my own.
Seven: Precisely.
One: I wish to assimilate more information.
Seven: Not yet. Your neural pathways require time to process the information. You will need to regenerate soon. I will adapt one of the alcoves in our Cargo Bay to your technology. Take the drone to the Doctor for medical analysis. Go with him.
Seven: All members of this crew must report to the Sickbay for evaluation. When I am finished here, I will join you.
One: Duranium hull. Plasma based power distribution. Tricylic life support systems. Artificial gravity plating.
Neelix: Right on all counts. Systems analysis appears to be your forte. You should think about a future in Starship Operations.
One: Human, female.
Neelix: Very good.
One: She was frightened by me.
Neelix: Why do you say that?
One: I detected an elevation in her pheromonal response.
Neelix: Well, you're new around here. An unfamiliar face takes some getting used to. I remember when I first came aboard Voyager. I provoked a few strange reactions myself. I still do from time to time. I mean, just look at me. Whiskers and spots.
One: Were people afraid of you as well?
Neelix: Well, no.
One: Do they fear me because I am Borg?
Neelix: Sometimes Borg can be a little intimidating. Don't take it personally.
One: I want to know more about the Collective.
Neelix: You do? Well, of course you do.
One: Tell me about the Borg.
Neelix: Oh, what's to tell? You've seen one cybernetically enhanced species, you've seen them all. You'll have plenty of time to learn all about them but first, you have to give yourself a chance to adapt to life here on Voyager. Now Mister, gosh, I'm sorry. In all the excitement, I forgot your name.
One: I do not have a name.
Neelix: Every individual needs a name. We can't just run around calling you the drone. That's not very interesting, is it?
One: Seven of Nine tells me my designation is irrelevant.
Neelix: I disagree. You should choose a name for yourself. Something that defines who you are. After all, there's only one of you.
One: One.
Neelix: Oh, here we are. Sickbay.
Emh: Good morning.
One: You are the Emergency Medical Hologram.
Emh: And you are very observant. Step this way, please.
Neelix: I have to get back to the Mess hall. There's nothing to worry about. The Doctor is going to do a few scans. You'll be finished before you know it.
One: I will comply.
Emh: It's a non-invasive biomedical scan. You won't feel a thing. Your central nervous system is functioning normally but I'm picking up some degradation in your neural pathways. You'll need to regenerate soon.
One: My central nervous system is regulated by your mobile emitter.
Emh: That's right.
One: Your mobile emitter is more advanced than these diagnostic tools.
Emh: Far more advanced. It's technology that came from the twenty ninth century, four hundred years in the future.
One: I am an advanced form of life.
Emh: Yes.
One: I am unique.
Emh: Mmm hmm.
One: Describe my origins.
Emh: Oh, it's a long story.
One: I wish to hear it.
Emh: Another time.
One: I wish to hear the story. Now.
Emh: In a nutshell, there was a transporter malfunction. My emitter fused with several of Seven of Nine's nanoprobes.
One: I was an accident.
Emh: Call it a random convergence of technologies.
One: Am I unwelcome here?
Emh: On the contrary. Our primary mission is to explore new forms of life. You may have been unexpected but, given time, I am sure you'll make a fine addition to the crew. After all, you've got my mobile emitter driving your neocortex, so you're bound to make a dazzling impression. That's called a joke.
One: Joke. A verbal comment or gesture designed to provoke laughter.
Emh: I see you've got your mother's sense of humor.
Seven: Deck eleven, section thirty two, main Engineering. That is the
One: Warp core. Fuelled by a matter - antimatter reaction which produces a maximum output of four thousand terradynes per second, providing power for faster than light propulsion.
Seven: Correct.
Torres: This isn't a classroom, Seven.
Seven: Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, Chief Engineer. Klingon human hybrid. She possesses extensive knowledge of this vessel's systems as well as a volatile temperament.
One: Volatile. English adjective meaning readily vaporisable at low temperature. Easily aroused. Tending to violent eruption.
Torres: Very good. You get a gold star.
Seven: Our presence here is authorized. The Captain asked me to familiarize the drone with Voyager.
Torres: Well, how about familiarizing him with the Airponics bay. I have got one hour to come up with a way to predict the expansion rate of this protonebula or Janeway's going to pull the plug on the entire survey. Do you mind?
One: If you apply a multispatial algorithm it will accurately predict the rate of expansion. I can demonstrate.
Torres: All right.
Torres: Amazing.
One: Greetings. Our designation, my designation is One. How are you today?
Janeway: I'm just fine, thank you. One?
Seven: He requested a designation. One seemed appropriate.
Janeway: And how are you today, One?
One: Well. Thank you, Captain Janeway.
Janeway: Adapting to life on Voyager?
One: Yes. To date I've assimilated forty seven billion terraquads of information on a vast variety of subjects, including particle physics, comparative humanoid anatomy, warp field theory, and the culinary delights of the Delta quadrant.
Seven: Mister Neelix. They've been spending time together.
One: Is your assessment of me complete? Am I sufficient?
Janeway: Why, yes. More than sufficient. In fact, I'd say you were making excellent progress. And this isn't an assessment, One. I simply wanted to meet you.
One: With your permission, I would like to be excused. I've agreed to assist Lieutenant Torres. She wishes to increase the efficiency of the Bussard collectors.
Janeway: Permission granted.
Janeway: You've done a remarkable job.
Seven: Thank you.
Janeway: Not only has he absorbed an incredible amount of knowledge in a matter of days, but he seems to be fitting in with the crew and developing a distinct personality.
Seven: He is adapting quickly.
Janeway: Then why do I get the feeling something's bothering you.
Seven: He's been expressing curiosity about the Borg.
Janeway: Ah. And you're worried that if he learns about them he may be drawn to the Collective.
Seven: Yes.
Janeway: Maybe we should tell him what he wants to know. I'd rather he learned about the Borg from us than the Collective.
Seven: The lure of perfection is powerful, Captain. He may be tempted to seek out the Borg. That would pose a grave tactical risk.
Janeway: Well, we can delay telling him for now, but keep in mind the drone is becoming an individual. Seven, he has the right to know. Sooner or later, we'll have to answer his questions.
One: Deck eight, section four. Cargo Bay two. Used for the storage of spare components and surplus materials.
Seven: It is also where I regenerate. You will reside here with me.
One: I wish to assimilate more information.
Seven: You have assimilated enough for one day. You've also provided invaluable assistance to the Voyager crew. You have exceeded expectations.
One: Then expectations were insufficient.
Seven: A simple thank you would suffice.
One: Thank you?
Seven: A customary expression of gratitude. I paid you a compliment. We must regenerate.
One: This technology does not conform with Starfleet parameters.
Seven: Correct.
One: I am Borg. This technology is Borg.
Seven: We must regenerate.
One: I wish to assimilate all available data pertaining to the Borg.
Seven: Step into the alcove. No, you must face outward. Computer, activate regeneration cycle. Alcoves beta and gamma.
One: Seven of Nine.
Seven: Yes.
One: Thank you.
Seven: We must regenerate.
Borg: A Borg proximity signal has been detected. Origin, Unimatrix three two five, grid zero zero six. Alter course to intercept.
Seven: Captain?
Janeway: The drone transmitted a Borg proximity signal. Wake him.
Seven: You contacted the Collective.
One: No.
Janeway: Check his transceiver.
One: You deactivated my transceiver two days ago.
Seven: It appears your cranial implants have adapted and created a secondary transceiver.
Janeway: A Borg fail-safe device.
Seven: Precisely. Have you detected any vessels?
Tuvok: Long range sensors picked up a transwarp conduit. A ship is approaching.
Seven: Time to intercept?
Tuvok: Approximately three hours.
One: The Borg?
Seven: Yes.
One: I wish to meet them.
Janeway: Seven. I think it's time we showed our drone what the Borg are all about.
One: The Borg have assimilated thousands of species.
Seven: Correct.
One: What becomes of those species?
Seven: Their neural pathways are restructured and linked to a single collective mind, the Hive. Their bodies are augmented with cybernetic technology. They become drones.
One: I wish to experience the hive mind.
Janeway: If you did that, you'd no longer be unique. The Borg would destroy your individuality.
One: And that is undesirable?
Janeway: Very. The Borg are the most destructive force we've ever encountered. They've assimilated billions of individuals against their will.
One: You were assimilated.
Seven: My link to the Collective was severed.
One: When you were in the Collective you assimilated others.
Seven: Yes.
One: You call the Borg destructive. Seven of Nine is not.
Janeway: That's because she's regained her individuality. If the Borg had the chance, they'd take it away from her again. They'd assimilate everyone on Voyager. With your advanced technology, the Collective would become even more destructive. We have to prevent that from happening but we can't do it without you. We need your abilities to enhance our defenses, shields, weapons. Will you help us resist them?
One: Seven of Nine, do you wish to rejoin the Collective?
Seven: Voyager is my Collective.
One: I will need time to assimilate this information.
Chakotay: All hands to battle stations. A Borg vessel is approaching.
Janeway: We just ran out of time.
One: Seven of Nine, I'm detecting irregularities in my autonomic nervous system. Cardiovascular excitation, vaeso-constriction.
Seven: You are experiencing an emotion. Anxiety. It is only temporary.
One: Anxiety. A state of apprehension caused by fear.
Seven: The Borg usually elicit this response in others.
One: Are you experiencing anxiety as well?
Seven: Yes, along with every crew member on Voyager.
One: Because they fear assimilation?
Seven: Correct. We are needed on the bridge.
Seven: Deck one.
One: Seven of Nine.
Seven: Yes.
One: What will happen now?
Seven: We will engage the Borg.
One: Will Voyager be destroyed?
Seven: The Borg are powerful, but Captain Janeway is a resourceful leader. We will resist.
One: Resistance is futile.
Seven: Perhaps.
Chakotay: The Borg vessel's moving into range.
Janeway: On screen.
One: Long-range tactical vessel. Transwarp capability. Ablative hull armor.
Kim: We're being scanned.
Seven: They're preparing to attack. You must help us enhance our shields. This station will give you access to the shield generators.
Tuvok: They are hailing us.
Janeway: Open a channel.
Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
One: I can hear them in my mind.
Tuvok: They've locked on a tractor beam.
One: The Collective is calling to me.
Seven: I hear it too. Billions of voices speaking as one. We must resist that voice. The crew of Voyager will be destroyed if we don't.
Tuvok: Our shields are remodulating.
Paris: We've broken free.
Janeway: Can you enhance our phasers?
One: Yes.
Janeway: Do it. When he's finished, target their propulsion system. Be prepared to jump to warp, Mister Paris.
One: Enhancements complete. You may fire.
Chakotay: What happened?
Seven: They inverted our phaser beam with a feedback pulse.
Paris: They just took out our warp drive.
One: Your technology is limited. I cannot enhance it further. I must interface with the Collective. I can disrupt their vessel from within.
Seven: They will try to assimilate you.
One: They will fail.
Janeway: Harry, lock on to the drone.
One: That won't be necessary.
Tuvok: He's inside the sphere.
Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated.
One: My technology is superior. Stop your attack or I will destroy you.
Borg: Your technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile.
Kim: Shields down to twenty nine percent!
Seven: He's accessing their navigational controls.
Paris: It's heading directly for the nebula.
Seven: If they get too close, their hull will collapse.
Borg: Terminate your interface.
Janeway: Stand down red alert. Tuvok, secure all stations. Organize damage control teams, Chakotay.
Kim: Captain, I'm reading a lifesign in the debris. It's the drone. He survived.
Seven: He's erected a multispatial force field around his body, but it is weakening.
Janeway: Get a lock on him. Beam him to Sickbay.
Seven: Damage?
Emh: Several of his implants were fused in the explosion, but they're regenerating. His biological systems are a different story. Severe trauma to the cerebral cortex, internal bleeding. He needs immediate surgery.
One: The sphere?
Seven: Destroyed. You were successful.
One: While I was linked to the Borg I could hear their thoughts, their objectives. They are aware of my existence. They will pursue me.
Seven: Irrelevant. They will fail.
Emh: I need to get started.
One: No. I should not exist. I was an accident. A random convergence of technologies.
Seven: You are unique.
One: I was never meant to be. As long as I exist, you are in danger. All life on Voyager is in danger.
Emh: We can talk about this later.
Seven: Allow the Doctor to proceed. Lower the forcefield!
Emh: His synapses are failing.
Seven: You must comply.
One: I will not.
Seven: You must comply. Please. You are hurting me.
One: You will adapt.
Emh: I'm sorry.


Torres: Higher.
Pilot: Lieutenant, we're already at two hundred thousand meters. You could thermalise at this altitude.
Torres: I said higher.
Pilot: We're at three hundred thousand meters.
Torres: Level us off. Computer, disengage safety protocols.
Computer: Warning. Disengaging safety protocols presents extreme risk of injury.
Torres: Override.
Computer: Acknowledged. Safety protocols have been disengaged.
Torres: Drop the forcefield on my mark.
Pilot: Aye.
Torres: Mark.
Chakotay: Bridge to Torres.
Torres: I don't believe it.
Chakotay: Report to Engineering on the double.
Torres: Computer, end program.
Seven: I was not aware that protective attire was required for this mission.
Torres: I was on the holodeck, orbital skydiving.
Seven: Leaping from a spacecraft at exospheric altitudes, a curious form of recreation. The probe is ready for launch, however there is still a problem with the telemetry link. Lieutenant. Is something wrong?
Torres: Actually, I'm not feeling so well. Can you handle the launch without me?
Seven: You are putting me in charge?
Torres: Problem?
Seven: No. Just unexpected. Shall I inform the Doctor you're ill?
Torres: No. Don't.
Kim: Captain, someone's locked onto our probe with a tractor beam.
Chakotay: It looks like a Malon freighter.
Paris: I had a feeling we hadn't seen the last of them.
Janeway: Open a channel.
Kim: Aye, Captain.
Janeway: Starship Voyager to the Malon vessel. That probe belongs to us. Release it immediately.
Kim: No response.
Janeway: Tom, how fast can you get us there?
Paris: Two hours at least.
Janeway: They'll be long gone.
Tuvok: If we instruct the probe to emit a polaron burst it could disrupt the tractor beam.
Janeway: Do it.
Tuvok: The beam has been disabled.
Janeway: Harry, redirect the probe's course.
Tuvok: The Malon are in pursuit.
Paris: That probe can't outrun them.
Janeway: No, but we might be able to hide it from them.
Kim: Captain?
Janeway: The probe surveyed a class six gas giant this morning. I think we should send it back for a closer look.
Kim: You're going to steer the probe into a gas giant.
Tuvok: Captain, the atmospheric pressure will crush it.
Janeway: Not if the Borg shielding does its job. Hail them again.
Kim: No response.
Janeway: Voyager to Malon vessel. Break off your pursuit.
Tuvok: The probe is entering the giant's upper atmosphere, and the Malon vessel is following it in.
Kim: The probe's stuck in a deep layer of liquid hydrogen and methane about ten thousand kilometers below the outer atmosphere. It's not responding to commands.
Janeway: Any good news?
Seven: It's still intact. It can be repaired,
Chakotay: If we can get it out of there.
Torres: Sorry I'm late.
Chakotay: We were just discussing how to retrieve the probe. Is there any possibility of transporting it out?
Torres: No.
Chakotay: Just no.
Torres: I don't see how we could get close enough.
Chakotay: Is there any way to boost transporter range?
Torres: Not in that kind of atmosphere.
Paris: Well, if we can't transport it out, we'll just have to fly in and grab it.
Tuvok: Perhaps you weren't paying attention when the Malon freighter imploded.
Paris: We won't be going in a Malon freighter, Tuvok. We'll be going in our new shuttlecraft.
Kim: Here we go again.
Paris: Let's face it, Class-two shuttles just don't cut it in the Delta quadrant. We've needed something bigger and better since we got here. It's time we built it!
Chakotay: Tom, we've been through this I don't know how many times. We all appreciate your enthusiasm.
Kim: Speak for yourself, Commander.
Chakotay: Bottom line, we don't have time to design and build a ship from scratch.
Paris: I knew you were going to say that so I've given us a head start.
Paris: Behold the Delta Flyer. Ultra-aerodynamic contours, retractable nacelles, parametallic hull plating, unimatrix shielding based on Tuvok's brilliant design for the multispatial probe, and a Borg-inspired weapons system.
Seven: Basic design elements are adequate.
Paris: High praise.
Kim: If we used isomagnetic EPS conduits in the plasma manifold, we could maximize the power distribution.
Paris: That's the spirit, Harry.
Tuvok: My shield designs could be successfully applied to a vessel of this size.
Paris: Big of you to admit it, Tuvok.
Chakotay: And you think it'll be able to withstand the gas giant's atmosphere.
Paris: The probe did.
Janeway: I'm impressed, but how quickly can it be built?
Paris: We could replicate the alloys and the new design components, use spare parts from storage. If we worked around the clock we could have it up and running inside a week.
Kim: I'm willing to put in as much overtime as it takes.
Seven: I will forego regeneration for the duration of the project.
Paris: What about you, B'Elanna? Building a new vessel from scratch, that's an engineer's dream come true.
Paris: What do you say, Captain?
Janeway: Why are you all standing around?
Paris: Computer, add dynametric tail fins to the nacelles.
Tuvok: Computer, delete dynametric tail fins.
Paris: What'd you do that for?
Tuvok: We are not designing a hot rod, Lieutenant.
Paris: That is exactly what we're designing. A twenty fourth century, warp-powered, ultra-responsive hot rod.
Tuvok: Your embellishments are purely decorative. They serve no practical purpose.
Paris: I beg to differ. If we make this thing look mean enough, other ships are going to think twice before taking us on.
Seven: I suggest we return our attention to the matter of structural integrity.
Tuvok: Agreed.
Seven: Lieutenant Torres' hull design is flawed. We should be using tetraburnium alloys instead of titanium.
Kim: Er, B'Elanna?
Torres: Sounds fine to me. I'm going to finish up the thruster specs.
Paris: It's open.
Paris: Hey.
Torres: Thruster specs.
Paris: Thanks. Where're you running off to?
Torres: My quarters.
Paris: Stay a while. I'll replicate some dinner, a bottle of burgundy. We deserve a break, don't you think?
Torres: Not tonight.
Paris: B'Elanna, what's going on?
Torres: Nothing.
Paris: Well, then how come it's impossible to have a conversation with you?
Torres: I'm sorry.
Paris: I don't want an apology. I want an explanation.
Torres: Tom, I'm tired.
Paris: Asleep is more like it. You hardly said three words in that last meeting. And then when Seven changed your design you acted like, like you didn't care.
Torres: I guess I didn't.
Paris: I don't get it. How many times have we talked about how great it would be to do what we're doing now? To really collaborate my piloting skills and your engineering expertise. We finally get the chance to create something together from the ground up and you're not the slightest bit enthusiastic?
Torres: I'm doing my job, aren't I? I delivered the thruster specs on schedule.
Paris: B'Elanna, I'm not your boss. I'm not questioning your productivity or keeping tabs on how many hours you put in. I just want to know what's going on.
Torres: I have to go.
Torres: Computer, activate holodeck program Torres two one six.
Computer: The program is active.
Torres: Disengage safety protocols.
Computer: Warning. Disengaging safety protocols presents extreme risk of injury.
Torres: Override.
Computer: Acknowledged. Safety protocols have been disengaged. (Torres enters the holodeck and removes her jacket. It is a cave setting. A Cardassian attacks her. She defeats him, and another grabs her from behind. Then the first gets up again.)
Janeway: Ensign, put us into a high orbit. I want to stay well above that ionospheric turbulence.
Ensign: Aye, ma'am.
Janeway: There's the probe. Ten thousand kilometers beneath all that methane, but still intact.
Chakotay: We're not alone. I'm reading massive theta radiation. It's being dumped by a Malon freighter approaching from the far side of the planet. They're hailing.
Janeway: They're more talkative than the last ones. Open a channel.
Kim: Aye, sir.
Vrelk: Leave orbit of this planet now.
Janeway: I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Captain Janeway.
Vrelk: I know exactly who you are. You are the person responsible for the destruction of one of our freighters and the deaths of nine Malon citizens.
Janeway: I'm very sorry that lives were lost, but you're leaving out an important detail. Your people were trying to steal a probe from us. We warned them to stay away from the gas giant but they didn't listen.
Vrelk: I'm taking your probe as compensation for our losses.
Chakotay: That's going to be a little difficult. It's stuck beneath the atmosphere of the same gas giant that crushed your other ship.
Vrelk: My people are expert at salvage operations.
Janeway: Well, Mister.
Vrelk: Vrelk. Controller Vrelk.
Janeway: Vrelk. We have a little expertise of our own. We're a very determined crew. So my suggestion is that you leave orbit and in the future, if you come across anything that bears the insignia of the U.S.S. Voyager, head in the other direction.
Vrelk: You are making a serious error.
Janeway: End transmission. Why would people in the business of toxic waste disposal be so anxious to get hold of a probe?
Chakotay: It's not just any probe. It's multispatial technology. Maybe they think it'll help them find new places to dump their garbage.
Neelix: B'Elanna! What a nice surprise. I was just getting ready to close. Business has been slow with so many people busy on the new shuttle.
Torres: Oh. I was just hoping we could catch up.
Neelix: You want to catch up? With me?
Torres: If you have the time.
Neelix: Are you kidding? Yeah. Can I get you something? Name your poison.
Torres: Oh. Er.
Neelix: Come on, B'Elanna! I handed that one to you on a silver platter.
Torres: Huh?
Neelix: Name your poison? I was expecting one of those scathing but affectionate insults you always make about my cooking.
Torres: Sorry.
Neelix: You'll feel wittier on a full stomach. So, what'll it be?
Torres: Actually, I was hoping for banana pancakes.
Neelix: I don't think I ever heard of banana pancakes before.
Torres: My grandmother used to make them for me when I was a kid. It's always put a smile on my face.
Neelix: Well then, one smile coming right up.
Neelix: Computer, one stack of banana pancakes. Smells delicious.
Torres: Thanks. So how have you been?
Neelix: Oh, just great. My security training is going really well. Tuvok told me the other day that I'm, er, not completely inept. Aren't you going to try them?
Torres: Sure.
Neelix: Well?
Torres: Delicious. I have to get back to work.
Janeway: What are they still doing here?
Chakotay: Apparently, they're not willing to give up on the probe so easily.
Janeway: The question is, how do they expect to get their hands on it?
Tuvok: It's reasonable to assume they're waiting for us to retrieve the probe, at which time they'll attempt to steal it again.
Janeway: Maybe, but they have to know we're prepared for that. If they were planning to fight you'd think they'd call in reinforcements, try to out-gun us.
Chakotay: Sensors don't show any other Malon ships in the area.
Seven: Seven of Nine to the Captain.
Janeway: Janeway here.
Seven: Report to the Astrometrics lab. I have important information regarding the Malon
Seven: vessel.
Janeway: Tuvok.
Janeway: What have you got?
Seven: I've been using coherent neutrino beams to document activity aboard the Malon freighter.
Janeway: In other words, you've been spying on them.
Seven: I've made a troubling discovery. This is a polythermal image of an interior section of the alien ship. The shaded figures you see are Malon crew members.
Tuvok: That appears to be a small ship.
Seven: Correct. The Malon are constructing a spacecraft composed of tetraburnium alloys.
Tuvok: Theoretically, such a ship would be capable of withstanding extreme atmospheric pressures.
Janeway: I'll be damned. They're going after the probe themselves.
Seven: That's not all, Captain. According to my projections, they will finish construction of their vessel at least thirty six hours before we finish ours.
Janeway: Well then, I'd say we've got an old-fashioned space race on our hands.
Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've stepped up the pace of construction in order to finish our shuttle before the Malon finish theirs. According to Seven's most recent intelligence we've gained some ground over the last twenty four hours , putting us in a virtual dead heat with our competitors.
Kim: I keep telling you, we've got to reinforce the hull with kellinite. That's all there is to it.
Tuvok: Proposing the same flawed strategy over and over again will not me it more effective, Ensign.
Kim: Well, we've got to come up with something or we'll never get this thing off the ground.
Torres: Vorik, turn that damn thing off. I can't hear myself think.
Vorik: Sorry, sir.
Paris: Look, we could spend weeks trying to solve this, but we've got a ticking clock. Engines are working, weapons systems are online. I say we launch now and hope for the best.
Tuvok: Mister Paris, that is perhaps the most illogical statement you've ever made. Unless we find a way to reconfigure the structural integrity field the hull will incur microfractures during descent.
Paris: Microfractures, Tuvok. Doesn't necessarily mean we'll have a hull breach.
Tuvok: And if we do, I suppose these useless design elements from your Captain Proton scenario will compensate for the problem.
Paris: Hey, every one of these knobs and levers is fully functional.
Tuvok: And completely superfluous.
Paris: Maybe to you. I am tired of tapping panels. For once, I want controls that let me actually feel the ship I'm piloting.
Kim: Where are you going?
Torres: Holodeck.
Kim: What for?
Torres: To find out if this microfracture problem is a fatal flaw.
Torres: Computer, activate immersion shielding.
Computer: Immersion shielding activated.
Torres: Commence descent sequence.
Computer: Range to probe, thirty thousand kilometers. Twenty five thousand. Warning. Atmospheric pressure is exceeding tolerance levels. Rapid ascent recommended.
Torres: Continue descent.
Computer: Acknowledged. Range to probe, ten thousand kilometers.
Torres: Disengage safety protocols.
Computer: Warning. Disengaging safety protocols presents extreme risk of injury.
Torres: Override.
Computer: Acknowledged. Safety protocols have been disengaged. Warning. Atmospheric pressure is exceeding tolerance levels.
Torres: Reroute power from secondary systems to structural integrity.
Computer: Acknowledged. Microfractures are present in zones one and four.
Chakotay: The Malon are venting a theta radiation cloud. Our shields are down to eighty nine percent.
Janeway: Ensign, back us off.
Chakotay: Vrelk is hailing.
Janeway: On screen.
Vrelk: That was rude, wasn't it, but we still have quite a bit of antimatter waste to expel. I hope we didn't damage your shields,
Janeway: Our shields are fine.
Vrelk: Mmm. Well, we only ejected a small amount of waste this time. We still have much, much more to get rid of. Your shields may not be able to stand even higher levels of theta radiation.
Janeway: I've already told you we're not going anywhere.
Vrelk: Let's stop playing these games, Captain. You've scanned my ship, I've scanned yours. We each know the other is building a vessel to retrieve the probe. What you don't know is that my vessel will be ready to launch in less than two days. You're too far behind.
Janeway: Well, if you're so far ahead, why bother trying to scare us away?
Vrelk: Just trying to save you the embarrassment of losing.
Chakotay: Think they're really two days away?
Janeway: He's probably bluffing but we're not going to take any chances. We've got to speed up construction somehow.
Chakotay: We'd also better find a way to shore up our shields in case Vrelk decides to do anymore venting.
Janeway: Good idea. Janeway to Lieutenant Torres. Computer, locate Lieutenant Torres.
Computer: Lieutenant Torres is in holodeck one.
Janeway: Get down there.
Computer: Warning. Hull microfractures are present in zones one, two, three and four. Hull breach is imminent. Repeat. Hull microfracture are present in zones one, two, three and four. Hull breach is imminent.
Chakotay: Computer, freeze program! B'Elanna. Chakotay to Sickbay. Medical emergency.
Torres: What am I doing here?
Emh: You had an accident on the holodeck.
Torres: How long was I out?
Emh: Almost twelve hours.
Torres: I'd better get back to work.
Emh: Not just yet.
Torres: Why?
Emh: The Captain's asked me to keep you here.
Torres: But I feel fine.
Janeway: Would you excuse us please, Doctor.
Torres: Captain, what's going on?
Janeway: When the Doctor examined you he found evidence of internal bleeding, fractured vertebrae, contusions, cranial trauma.
Torres: I guess the accident was pretty serious.
Janeway: The injuries I'm talking about didn't happen recently. Some of them are weeks, even months old.
Torres: Well, I'm an engineer. I've had my share of bumps and bruises.
Janeway: But you didn't seek treatment for any of these.
Torres: I don't run to Sickbay every time I stub my toe.
Janeway: Some of these injuries were life-threatening, B'Elanna.
Torres: Do I look like I'm dying?
Janeway: The Doctor says many of the wounds were treated by someone with the medical expertise of a first-year nursing student.
Torres: Oh, that's ridiculous.
Janeway: Is it? We investigated today's accident. You turned off the safety protocols during the holo-simulation. Why?
Torres: We have a microfracture problem. With the safety protocols on, there's no way to be sure what would happen during a real flight.
Janeway: You don't really expect me to believe that, do you?
Torres: Are you calling me a liar?
Janeway: According to the holodeck logs, you've been spending a lot of time there over the last few months. If I were to check, would I find that you've been running other programs without safety protocols?
Torres: Would you like to look at my personal logs as well?
Janeway: B'Elanna, I'm worried about you. If there's something wrong, I want to help.
Torres: Nothing's wrong. Okay?
Janeway: No. It's not okay. And until you decide to be more forthcoming you'll remain under the Doctor's supervision. Which means you're off the shuttle project. I'm sorry.
Torres: I'm not.
Janeway: Now I know there's something wrong.
Paris: Engines are operating at close to ninety percent efficiency, Seven's got her new weapons system online. And if we can just solve that microfracture problem, we'll be ready to go.
Janeway: Keep on it. Now, let's talk about B'Elanna. Tom, you had no idea about these injuries or how she got them?
Paris: She never complained about being hurt, but then again she's barely speaking to me lately.
Janeway: It's almost as if she's been intentionally trying to hurt herself.
Chakotay: You think all these injuries have been happening on the holodeck?
Janeway: Well, where else? If they'd happened while she was working, as she claims, somebody would've filed an injury report.
Chakotay: Any idea what sort of programs she's been running?
Janeway: Are you thinking the same thing I am?
Chakotay: I hate to go digging around in someone's personal holodeck programs, but if she won't tell us what's going on I don't think we have much choice.
Janeway: Tom, what do you think?
Paris: He's right.
Janeway: Start digging.
Torres: I'm sleeping!
Torres: Oh.
Chakotay: Hi.
Torres: Hi. I, I thought you were the Doctor making a house call.
Chakotay: He let you out of the cell block, huh?
Torres: He thinks familiar surroundings will help speed my recovery.
Chakotay: Recovery from what?
Torres: That's what I said. He thinks I'm suffering from clinical depression.
Chakotay: Are you depressed?
Torres: What are you, the new ship's counselor?
Chakotay: No. Just a friend.
Torres: This whole thing is so ridiculous. I don't report a few scrapes and suddenly Janeway thinks there's something wrong with me. Typical Starfleet, huh?
Chakotay: You have been running holodeck programs without safety protocols.
Torres: A few, but I haven't put anybody else at risk, and it's nothing that I can't handle.
Chakotay: Tell you what. What do you say you and I pay a little visit to the holodeck? You can show me some of the programs you've been running.
Torres: Right now?
Chakotay: Sure. Maybe if I see what you've been up to, I can convince the Captain there's nothing to worry about.
Torres: She's taken away my holodeck privileges.
Chakotay: Consider them restored.
Chakotay: Computer, activate holo-program Torres zeta one.
Computer: Program activated.
Torres: What are you doing?
Torres: Computer, freeze program.
Chakotay: Computer, belay that command.
Torres: Turn it off!
Chakotay: Not until you tell me what it is!
Torres: You know what it is.
Chakotay: Who's this?
Torres: Li-Paz. Don't you recognize him?
Chakotay: Oh, I recognize them all. Meyer. Nelson. Sahreen. You created a program to watch all our Maquis friends get slaughtered. What I want to know is why?
Torres: I thought we came down here to talk about safety protocols. This has nothing to do with that.
Chakotay: I'm not so sure. The logs show you only ran this program for forty seven seconds the day after I gave you the news about the massacre. Then you shut it down and started running the most dangerous programs you could find, with the safeties off. Why?!
Torres: This is ridiculous. I'm leaving.
Chakotay: Computer, seal the doors.
Torres: You can't do this!
Chakotay: The hell I can't. You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on. B'Elanna, why are you intentionally trying to hurt yourself?
Torres: I don't know.
Chakotay: Are you trying to commit suicide?
Torres: No.
Chakotay: Then why?
Torres: Because. Because if I sprain my ankle, at least I feel something.
Chakotay: What do you mean?
Torres: I'm not trying to kill myself. I'm trying to see if I'm still alive.
Chakotay: I don't understand.
Torres: When you look at those corpses, how do you feel?
Chakotay: Sad. Angry. Maybe a little guilty that I wasn't there to die with them.
Torres: Not me. I don't feel anything at all.
Chakotay: B'Elanna, the Maquis were like our adopted family. I can understand you trying to block out that kind of pain.
Torres: You don't understand. It's not just the pain. I don't feel anything. Not about my dead friends, not about Tom, you, my job.
Chakotay: Maybe you're afraid if you let yourself start to feel something, you might not be able to stop. You can't just shut off your emotions, B'Elanna. Sooner or later you're going to have to let yourself grieve.
Torres: Why? Just so I can go through it all over again?
Chakotay: What are you talking about?
Torres: When I was six, my father walked out on me. When I was nineteen, I got kicked out of Starfleet. A few years later, I got separated from the Maquis. And just when I start to feel safe, you tell me that all of our old friends have been slaughtered. The way I figure it, I've lost every family I've ever had.
Chakotay: B'Elanna, you have a new family now, here on Voyager. You're not going to lose us. You're stuck with us.
Torres: You can't promise me that.
Chakotay: No, I suppose I can't. Losing people's inevitable, and sometimes it happens sooner than we expect. But I can promise you that the people on this ship aren't about to let you stop living your life or break your neck on the holodeck. You're going to have to find another way to deal with this.
Torres: I don't know how.
Chakotay: Then we'll figure it out. Together.
Janeway: Commander Chakotay, we're under attack. Report to the bridge immediately.
Torres: You'd better go.
Chakotay: Why are they suddenly picking a fight?
Tuvok: I believe they're attempting to distract us, Commander, while they launch their new shuttlecraft.
Tuvok: The Malon vessel is forty two thousand kilometers from the probe, and closing.
Chakotay: We can still catch them.
Janeway: Bridge to Lieutenant Paris.
Paris: Paris here.
Janeway: We've got to launch now if we're going to get to the probe first. Are you ready?
Paris: Yes ma'am. I'll begin the prelaunch sequence.
Janeway: What about the microfracture problem?
Paris: We're keeping an eye on it, but we sure could use an extra hand.
Janeway: Chakotay's on his way.
Torres: Chakotay, let me go.
Chakotay: B'Elanna, I'm in a hurry.
Torres: I am not out to get myself hurt if that's what you're thinking. I just want to do my job.
Chakotay: I thought you weren't interested in your job anymore.
Torres: If that hull breaches, I should be there. I'm still the best engineer we've got.
Chakotay: Not lately.
Torres: I can do this. I need to do this.
Kim: Forty seconds to launch.
Seven: Powering impulse engines.
Paris: Stand by to bring aft thrusters online.
Kim: B'Elanna.
Torres: I heard you might need some help keeping this thing from falling apart.
Paris: Welcome aboard.
Torres: Vorik, you're in my seat.
Vorik: Excuse me, Lieutenant.
Kim: Twenty seconds to launch.
Paris: Get that hatch closed.
Kim: Hatch sealed.
Paris: Give me aft thrusters.
Seven: Aft thrusters enabled.
Kim: Ten seconds.
Paris: Alright, let's see what this baby can do.
Kim: Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
Tuvok: The Delta Flyer is away, Captain.
Janeway: How long till they overtake the Malon shuttle?
Tuvok: At present velocity, approximately three minutes.
Paris: We're in.
Torres: Structural integrity's at ninety two percent.
Kim: There's the Malon shuttle. Two hundred kilometers off the port bow and three thousand kilometers from the probe.
Paris: We'll catch them. B'Elanna, how's the hull?
Torres: Structural integrity's down about twelve percent.
Seven: They're launching spatial charges. Shields holding.
Paris: They want to play dirty. Let's show them what a little Borg-inspired weaponry can do.
Seven: Acknowledged. Loading photonic missiles.
Kim: We've lost power to secondary systems.
Paris: Fire.
Seven: Three direct hits.
Kim: They're losing attitude control. They're pulling up.
Paris: Nice shooting, Seven. I'm taking us down to the target. Harry, get ready to grab the probe.
Kim: Still out of transport range.
Torres: We're losing integrity. Fifty percent, forty.
Paris: If you can hold us together for another half a minute we'll be within range of the target.
Seven: We still need to survive the ascent.
Paris: One thing at a time.
Torres: We're losing structural integrity. It's down to twenty five percent.
Paris: Harry, prepare to lock on.
Torres: We've got microfractures forming. Aft starboard hull, zone two.
Kim: I've got a lock. Beaming the probe into the cargo hold. Got it!
Paris: Initiating rapid ascent.
Torres: Harry, I need those secondary systems back online.
Kim: I can't. They're fried.
Seven: Lieutenant, what are you doing?
Torres: Patching a hole before it opens.
Kim: That'll never hold.
Torres: It'll hold a minute or two, and with any luck that's all we need. Seven, take over here. I need an EPS relay.
Kim: Er, there's one in the transporter control circuitry.
Seven: The panel is sealed.
Torres: Good. Get away from it.
Torres: I need a phaser.
Torres: Watch out. I don't know if this is going to work.
Kim: Glad you decided to come along.
Tuvok: The Delta Flyer has docked.
Janeway: And the Malon?
Chakotay: They're a little preoccupied. Seems their shuttlecraft's having a problem climbing out of the gas giant's atmosphere.
Janeway: Get us out of here, Ensign. Warp two.
Ensign: Aye, Captain.
Chakotay: B'Elanna. I heard you did a hell of a job. So, how are you?
Torres: You mean am I back to my old charming self? I don't know.
Chakotay: Give it time.
Torres: Chakotay. What you did down in the holodeck today. Thanks. But if you ever do anything like that again, I'll break your neck.
Torres: Computer, one stack of banana pancakes with maple syrup.