Prey ( episode ) " Voyager " rescues a critically ill Hirogen hunter who wishes to finish his hunt against a " resilient species " – a recent enemy of the " Voyager " crew – as Captain Janeway gives Seven of Nine a lesson in compassion . Summary . Teaser . A bio - ship piloted by a sole member of Species 8472 is fleeing from a Hirogen warship . The younger of the two Hirogen wants to intercept the bio - ship and make the kill but the Alpha tells him to maintain their distance . He instructs the younger Hirogen that his prey is injured and its behavior will be the " " key to its destruction " . " The bio - ship fires at the warship but the shot is too weak to cause any real damage . The bio - ship heads for an asteroid belt where the Alpha believes it will make a final stand . Species 8472 leaves its ship adrift amongst the asteroids and goes onto a nearby asteroid . The hunters prepare themselves with their colored hunting paint , equip their weapons , put on their masks and go after the creature on the asteroid . Once there , they realize they cannot detect it as their scan ners are being deflected . Moving silently across the asteroid the Alpha hears movement behind him and swivels around , coming face - to - face with his prey . Unfortunately for the Species 8472 the Alpha opens fire , causing the creature to withdraw as the Beta arrives firing his weapon . Several dozen shots later and their prey is dead . The Alpha tells the Beta that it was a flawless kill . Act One . Seven of Nine is in sickbay , reciting a list of " bedside manner talk . " She finds the exercise pointless but The Doctor disagrees . He created the exercise to familiarize himself with the social graces of the crew . They move on to " Exercise Two " – the workplace encounter . Seven takes on the role of a doctor , while The Doctor becomes the nurse . It all seems normal until Seven reads the phrase , " " Did I mention you look lovely today ? " " Ending her lesson , she begins to leave . The Doctor tells her that although it ' s awkward at first , the rewards can be well worth the effort . The Doctor compares Seven to the time he was first activated , offering that he can help her . Agreeing to his offer , she takes the PADD and as she is leaving , she turns and says , " " Have a pleasant day . " " The Doctor smiles and gets back to work . The has detected an alien vessel moving towards them and they confirm that it has a Hirogen signature . Captain Kathryn Janeway decides that they need to settle their differences for good and Commander Chakotay , her first officer , orders a red alert . They attempt to hail the Hirogen but there is no response . As the vessel closes in , Lieutenant Commander Tuvok detects that they haven ' t charged weapons and there is only one life sign aboard . The vessel stops just in front of them as its engines fail . Chakotay thinks it is a trap but a long - range scan reveals that there are no other Hirogen ships in the area . Janeway tells Lt . jg Tom Paris to move within transporter range , intending to beam over . Seven informs Janeway that she sees the Hirogen ship as a potential threat and recommends that they destroy it . Janeway tells her that she wants to show some compassion , even though Seven responds that the Hirogen haven ' t reciprocated any compassion before . Chakotay takes Paris and Tuvok with him on the away team , finding the Hirogen vessel severely damaged . They spread out , looking for the life sign they detected . Chakotay finds a lot of bones and a skull hanging in netting from the ceiling before finding a large tank with more remains in it . Paris finds a helmet , but immediately drops it in fright and horror when he discovers it still has a severed ( Hirogen ) head in it . Chakotay locates the life sign they detected and finds the Alpha gasping for air , clutching his weapon in fear . In the briefing room , Tuvok and Chakotay show Janeway the navigational log s recovered from the Hirogen ship . The logs state the ship has been traveling for at least five years , and in the last year it has visited over ninety star system s . Chakotay reports on the alien remains found on the ship , suggesting that they could be trophies from previous hunts . He also surmises that their culture is based upon the hunt . Tuvok says that there is no evidence of a home planet and that Hirogen ships usually travel in small groups , sometimes joining together for a multi - pronged attack , like a wolfpack . The Alpha is in sickbay , unconscious and behind a force field . Janeway tells Seven that while she was correct about the Hirogen being a threat , the risk of sending an away team has paid off and now they know a lot more about them . Seven simply states that Janeway was correct and it was worth the risk . . . this time . Janeway then asks the question on everyone ' s minds ; who ' s hunting the hunters ? Outside , unbeknownst to the Voyager crew , an injured member of Species 8472 is limping up the ship ' s hull . Act Two . Janeway is in sickbay to check in on the Hirogen Alpha . The Doctor explains to her that while attempting to remove the Alpha ' s body armor , he regained consciousness . He can ' t be sedated as his immune system is rejecting everything The Doctor has tried giving him and he could be dead in the time it takes to synthesize something potent enough . Janeway explains to the Alpha that his crewmate is dead and his ship beyond repair . Attempting to ascertain what happened , Janeway asks a few questions but gets no response from the hunter at first . The Alpha tells Janeway of the formidable alien they captured two days previously . Unfortunately , their prey broke its restraints and attacked the crew . The Alpha asks to be released so he can continue his hunt . Janeway refuses , saying that he ' ll die without treatment , so the Alpha grudgingly agrees to stay in sickbay . Chakotay reports that six Hirogen vessels are converging on " Voyager " s position from all directions , so Janeway asks Paris to evade them for as long as possible . Chakotay informs Janeway that they are half a light year away , and so " Voyager " has only four hours until the Hirogen surround them . Janeway wants to give The Doctor enough time to treat the Alpha so that he can call off the rest of the Hirogen . She hopes that diplomacy will work but Chakotay doubts it , saying that to the Hirogen , Human s and other species are merely game to be hunted . Their conversation is interrupted as the ship shakes . A hull rupture is detected on Deck 11 , where a plasma conduit has overloaded . Then there is another jolt as a bulkhead collapses . Janeway sends Tuvok and Ensign Harry Kim to Deck 11 to find out the cause of the collapse . They open one of the hatches to find themselves staring into space . Someone , or something , has ripped through the bulkhead from the outside . They see some blood of some kind on the floor and as Tuvok contacts the bridge , he gives his analysis of the blood sample to Janeway : it is consistent with Species 8472 . Janeway orders an intruder alert and seals off Decks 10 to 12 . They can ' t detect the creature , so Janeway says they ' ll have to track it visually . She grabs a phaser and heads to Deck 11 . In engineering , Seven reports that she has erected a level 10 force field around engineering . Lt . jg B ' Elanna Torres asks her to set up force fields around every hatch , Jefferies tube and conduit leading there . She attempts to lockdown the warp core , then hears an unfamiliar hissing sound . She looks up . . . and the wounded alien jumps from the warp core onto her . Act Three . Janeway enters engineering to see a few crewmembers lying on the floor , wounded . She orders her security team to take the wounded to sickbay , as Seven reports on what has happened . They tried stunning the creature with their phasers but they were ineffective , it then left engineering through a Jefferies tube . Janeway tells them to secure the warp core and leaves with Seven . She asks if the Borg engaged in physical combat with Species 8472 and what tactics they used . The aliens ' destination was always the central power matrix , which was subsequently disabled . However , this particular creature didn ' t touch any of the power systems . They head to sickbay , where The Doctor is treating Torres and the other wounded crewmen . Janeway asks the Alpha if the alien is alone . Chakotay recounts previous events and Janeway believes that this sighting could indicate a new invasion . ( ) The Alpha has only seen one ship and he has been tracking it over fifty light year s . When they thought they had killed the creature , it turned out they hadn ' t . He again asks Janeway if he can finish the hunt . Seven steps in and tells him he will fail , as the only weapon that can stop Species 8472 are Borg nanoprobe s . The Alpha doesn ' t know what they are , so Chakotay explains . Seven tells Janeway that she will modify the phaser rifle s to fire nanoprobe discharges but Janeway tells her that she only wants to incapacitate the creature . Seven calls the alien a threat and the Alpha agrees with her assessment . Over her forceful objections , Seven is ordered to make the necessary modifications . Janeway tells the Alpha to let the approaching ships know that his life was saved by the " Voyager " and that the ship does not want any hostilities to occur between the two species . The Alpha says he will comply with the request , if he is allowed to continue the hunt . He informs Janeway that he has studied the creature ' s behavior for six months and knows how to track it . There is another shake as the creature accesses environmental controls . Tuvok reports to Janeway that Deck 11 is losing life support and artificial gravity is also compromised , leaving him floating in the corridor . Janeway tells him to evacuate the deck , as the Alpha tells Janeway that the creature is trying to barricade itself . Janeway lets him to continue his hunt but under Chakotay ' s supervision . If he steps out of line , Janeway orders Chakotay to shoot him . Stepping out from confinement the Alpha asks for his weapon . Paris and Chakotay change into EV suit s so they can search for Species 8472 on Deck 11 . After learning that the Alpha ' s body armor is sufficient , Chakotay contacts Tuvok and Seven , who are already in EV suits . They make their way to Deck 11 , which is now in near total darkness . The Alpha knows that the creature is near but Chakotay orders him to stay in his position . Tuvok and Seven continue moving through the deck on their own . Passing a corridor , Seven suddenly stops and shoots , seeing something . Tuvok backtracks and finds out that Seven had only seen a PADD floating in the room . He notices Seven ' s increased agitation but she tells him that her fear is justified as Species 8472 were the only species to offer true resistance to the Borg . Chakotay , Paris and the Alpha find blood floating in the corridor and realize that it is from the creature , who is now trapped near deflector control . The Alpha knows the creature is not planning to run but is waiting for an opportune moment to slip around them and attack them from behind . They contact Tuvok and Seven and ask them to join their sqaud . They soon find the creature floating in the corridor , looking lifeless . The Alpha wants to kill him but Chakotay tells him that they need the alien incapacitated . The Alpha attacks Chakotay , fires at Paris and then opens fire on the creature . He doesn ' t get far however , as Tuvok stuns him from behind . Act Four . Tuvok enters the mess hall and asks Neelix to leave his cooking and join the security team . He is asked to report to Deck 10 and send tactical updates every twenty minutes . Tuvok stops giving orders however , as the alien communicates telepathically with him . The Alpha is back behind a force field in sickbay and a security perimeter has been set up around Species 8472 . Janeway wants Torres to keep a transporter lock on the creature , in case they have to beam it off the ship . She asks The Doctor for an injury report but he can ' t scan the creature with his tricorder , he can only make a visual diagnosis . He theorizes that the creature has been hunted for months but he can ' t say for certain the extent of its internal damage . Paris and Seven tell Janeway that the creature attempted to open a singularity but failed . Janeway believes it was trying to get home . Janeway finds Tuvok , who is in constant telepathic contact with the creature . He tells the captain that during the conflict with the Borg its vessel was damaged . It was unable to return to fluidic space when Species 8472 retreated . Now , it doesn ' t want to keep fighting , it simply wants to return home because it is dying . Janeway verbally tells the creature that they will attempt to get it back to its own space . During the conversation , the alien loses consciousness and the telepathic link with Tuvok is lost . Janeway goes to sickbay , where the Alpha demands to be taken to his prey . Janeway informs him that they will be returning the creature to fluidic space . She also tells him that the hunt is over . The Alpha again demands that the creature should be returned to him or the crew of " Voyager " will take its place . Janeway asks Tuvok to send Seven of Nine to her ready room , as she is most likely the only one who can recreate the singularity . Tuvok has his concerns as Seven may not want to co - operate . Janeway informs Seven of her decision but Seven thinks it would not be a prudent course of action . Janeway tells her that part of becoming Human is showing compassion , even to those people who are considered bitter enemies . She recounts a story from when she was a Lieutenant . She was part of an away team defending a Federation outpost and they had been exchanging phaser fire for three days with a group of Cardassian s . One night , there was a break in fighting and they could hear a low moan coming from just outside their camp . As all of their people were accounted for , it had to be a Cardassian . Her commanding officer decided that they couldn ' t let the man suffer , so they went out and brought him back to camp . Three days later , they won the fight and all of them were decorated by Starfleet Command . However , Janeway was most proud of the fact that they had saved the Cardassian ' s life . Seven tells Janeway that she is still confused about her analogy and Janeway tells her that " " a single act of compassion can put you in touch with your own Humanity . " " She wants Seven to see this as a chance to grow but Seven refuses , saying that Janeway ' s decision is " tactically unsound . " She still doesn ' t understand and she and Janeway begin to argue . Janeway eventually orders her to create the singularity but she refuses . Seven is then ordered to remain in the cargo bay until the situation with the creature is over . Act Five . " Voyager " is under attack by three Hirogen vessels . Another three approach , cutting off " Voyager " s escape routes . Their weapons are having no effect against the Hirogen ships . In sickbay , the two guards are standing alert with their phaser rifles pointed directly at the Alpha , who is still behind the force field . The Hirogen hail " Voyager " and demand the return of both hunter and prey . Janeway says that if the Hirogen stop their attack , they will return the Alpha but the creature is under their protection now . The Hirogen finds this unacceptable and ends the transmission . The creature is regenerating on Deck 11 , where The Doctor thinks it is becoming more agitated . The Doctor can sedate it but Seven would need to give them another supply of nanoprobes . They also need at least another hour or two to duplicate the deflector protocols to generate a singularity . Main power goes offline as the next shot from the Hirogen ships hit " Voyager " and all force fields are disabled . Quickly bringing auxiliary power online , The Doctor reports that the creature is still contained . Unfortunately , the Alpha has broken out . Taking one of the guard ' s phaser rifles , he sets off on his hunt . Two quick shots disable both the port and starboard nacelle s , leaving " Voyager " crippled . Seven arrives at The Doctor ' s location and moments later so does the Alpha , who quickly incapacitates the security guards . In a tense stand - off , the Alpha doesn ' t believe that Seven will kill him but as another shot hits the ship the force field goes down and the creature runs at the Alpha . Unable to raise his weapon in time , the Alpha and the creature become tangled on the floor . Seven uses the distraction to access the transporter system and she beams the Alpha and the creature on to one of the Hirogen vessels . " Voyager " is unable to pursue the departing Hirogen ships as warp drive is still off - line , so Janeway orders Paris to resume their previous course at impulse . Janeway inquires into the reason for the Hirogen breaking off their attack and Chakotay tells her – Seven of Nine . " " Seven of Nine " " , Janeway angrily replies , knowing that her actions have surely resulted in the creature being killed by the Hirogen . Janeway goes to Cargo Bay 2 where Seven is regenerating . She prematurely ends Seven ' s regeneration cycle and tells her that she disobeyed a direct order which resulted in the death of a sentient being . Seven argues that her actions prevented the destruction of " Voyager " by the Hirogen , but Janeway tells her that they have no way of knowing and either way she hasn ' t come to debate that but to inform Seven of the consequences . Telling Seven she is no longer willing to accommodate her brazen and occasionally insubordinate behavior , she will no longer have access to any primary systems on the ship without Janeway ' s direct authorization , warning her that she ' ll be thrown in the brig if she tries anything . She can still work in astrometrics if she so desires , as it ' s either that or remain in the cargo bay . Seven is puzzled . She tells Janeway that after being liberated from the Collective , Janeway encouraged her to cultivate her independence . But now , when she tries to assert it , she is punished . Janeway replies that there are limits , especially on a ship with a command structure . Seven believes she is being punished because she is not thinking the way the rest of them do . She also claims that perhaps Janeway is frightened by Seven ' s individuality . " " As you were , " " Janeway replies , leaving the cargo bay . Memorable quotes . " " The way a creature behaves when it is wounded is the key to its destruction . " " " " I ' m reading bones , muscle tissue from at least nine different species . It ' s all being broken down by some sort of enzyme . " " " " Perhaps this is their method of denaturating their prey . " " " " Either that or it ' s dinner . " " " " You should know I ' m a hologram and can ' t be bent , spindled , or mutilated , so don ' t bother trying . " " " " Is your body armor designed to handle rapid pressure fluctuations ? " " " " It can defeat most hostile environments . I once tracked a silicon - based lifeform through the neutronium mantle of a collapsed star . " " " " I once tracked a mouse through Jefferies tube thirty two . " " " " Mr . Neelix , I must ask you to exchange your spatula for a phaser rifle . " " " " This isn ' t a hunt . It ' s a slaughter . And I ' m calling it off right now . " " " " Part of becoming Human is learning to have compassion for those who are suffering , even when they ' re your bitter enemies . " " " " I know you don ' t want to do it , Seven . But I ' m telling you as your Captain and as your friend , you won ' t regret it . " " " " No . Your decision is tactically unsound . " " " " I ' m giving you an order . Report to deflector control and begin working on creating a singularity . " " " " I will not comply . I ' ve agreed to remain on " Voyager " . I ' ve agreed to function as a member of your crew ; but I will not be a willing participant in my own destruction or the destruction of this ship . " " " " Objection noted , we ' ll do this without you . " " " " You will fail . " " " " And you have just crossed the line . " " " " It is puzzling . " " " " What ' s that ? " " " You " made me into an individual . You encouraged me to stop thinking like a member of the collective . . . to cultivate my independence . . . my Humanity . But when I try to assert that independence , I am punished . " " " " Individuality has its limits . Especially on a starship , where there ' s a command structure . " " " " I believe that you are punishing me because I don ' t think the way that " you " do . . . because I ' m not becoming more like you . You claim to respect my individuality . . . But in fact , you are " frightened " by it . " " " " As you were . " " " " You missed . " " Links and references . 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