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Peanut Jar Mixers Development 7

Paris: So, Harry throws it in gear, floors the gas, and backs us right through a burrito stand. Torres: So when are you going to teach me how to drive? Paris: You sure you're ready? Torres: I've piloted starships. I think I can handle a car. Paris: You'd be surprised. The clutch on a '69 Mustang can be pretty tricky. Torres: Take a look. She's watching us again. Paris: She's working. Relax. Neelix: Dessert? Torres: What is it? Neelix: Some cheese I prepared for our Kadi guest. Tell me what you think. Torres: It's a little bland. Neelix: Just a little? Oh, that's bad. The Kadi don't approve of spices. Anything that might inflame the senses. Paris: You're talking this mission very seriously. Neelix: The Kadi are easily offended. The Captain's leaving their representative entirely in my hands while she's at the colony. Paris: I'm sure you're up to it, Ambassador. Neelix: I hope so. Torres: She's watching us again. Paris: You're imagining things. Torres: I don't think so. Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: Enjoying the view? Seven: Explain. Torres: You've been staring at us all night. In fact, you were following us yesterday when we were walking to Engineering, and the day before when I was waiting for Tom outside the shuttlebay. Seven: You are correct, I have been observing you. It's part of my research on human mating behavior. Torres: Stardate 52647, fourteen hundred hours. Subjects quarrel in corridor outside female's quarters. Male returns with twelve flowering plant stems, species rosa rubifolia, effecting a cessation of hostilities. Stardate 52648, oh three hundred hours. Intimate relations resume. How the hell do you know when we're having intimate relations? Seven: There is no one on deck nine section twelve who doesn't know when you're having intimate relations. Neelix: Is there a problem? Torres: I want all the data you've collected. Seven: I haven't completed the study. Torres: Then study this. Borg provokes Klingon, Klingon breaks Borg nose. Neelix: B'Elanna. Torres: Call Sickbay. Tell them there's about to be a medical emergency. Paris: B'Elanna, let's go have a nightcap. Torres: This time you've crossed the line. Janeway: I read B'Elanna's report. Needless to say, I was surprised. Seven: I was careful not to violate protocols. Janeway: That's not the point. This is a starship, not a nature preserve. Oh, I'm missing a pip. Seven: You asked me to broaden my knowledge of human behavior. Janeway: I'm not questioning your goals, Seven. It's your methods. You shouldn't be taking field notes on the crew. Help me with this, will you please? Janeway: Have you ever considered trying it yourself? Romance, I mean. Seven: I do not require a romantic relationship. Janeway: So why'd you collect thirty thousand gigaquads of information on the subject? I'm late. Janeway: I missed this on my first pass through their database. Kadi monks only wash with purified water, so sonic showers are out. Neelix: I've already equipped his quarters with an ablutionary fountain built to their specifications. Tuvok: They observe eight daily services. Neelix: Noted. Janeway: Show the ambassador our best side, Neelix. I don't want him going back to his superiors with tales of how immoral we are. Tuvok: Energize. Neelix: The ritual greeting. Janeway: Travelers who have left the sanctity of their home and family, we welcome you into our home, our family. Abbot: Accept these symbols of our purity and the goddess mother's blessing. Janeway: Commander Tuvok, the senior officer who will accompany me, and Mister Neelix, who will familiarize your Ambassador with Voyager. Abbot: Tomin is an excellent judge of character. He'll help us determine whether your crew is worthy of receiving our minerals. Janeway: He's in very good hands. Abbot: It is time to welcome you to our home. Neelix: This way, Ambassador. Neelix: Voyager's an Intrepid class starship with a crew of one hundred and forty six, designed for long-term exploration. I thought we'd start with a tour of our primary systems. First stop, Engineering. Tomin: I was hoping I might sample a food item I noted earlier in your data files. Hasperat. Neelix: It's a Bajoran dish. Very spicy. I believe that your dietary protocols prohibit flavorful foods. Tomin: I want to broaden my palate while I'm here, in the interest of better understanding. Neelix: In that case, first stop, mess hall. Emh: Your cortical implants are operating at peak efficiency. Nanoprobe levels stable. Complaints? Seven: None. Emh: I heard about the mess hall incident. Seven: This crew can be very efficient at disseminating information when they choose to be. Emh: They say gossip travels faster than warp speed. So why were you studying Tom and B'Elanna? Seven: Scientific curiosity. Emh: Are you sure? Perhaps there's a reason that hasn't occurred to you. You're a woman, Seven. Seven: Is that an observation or a diagnosis? Emh: A simple biological fact, with repercussions that are hard to deny. Seven: What is your proposed treatment? Emh: Perhaps you should consider expanding your research to the realm of dating. Seven: Dating. You mean procreation? Emh: One step at a time. Dating is a human ritual wherein two people share a social activity, get to know each other. In time, it can lead to a romantic involvement and eventually, if all goes well, even marriage. Seven: One step at a time. Emh: This could be an important stage in your social development. It's worth exploring. Seven: The Captain would seem to agree. How shall I proceed? Emh: You mean, we. I'll prepare a lesson plan. Meet me on Holodeck two in one hour. Most women start dating a little younger than you but, better late than never. Emh: I've prepared an introduction. I call it Love Amid the Stars. The Milky Way, home to thousands of humanoid species and countless courtship rituals. Klingon males initiate courtship by biting the female. Here we see two Bolians getting to know one another. The courtship rituals of some species remain shrouded in mystery. For example Species 8472 appears to have as many as five sexes. Bystanders better keep their distance. Of course, the species you're most likely to interact with is human, so without further ado, Lesson One. First Contact. There are any number of ways humans can meet prospective mates. Here we see the chance encounter. Equally common is the formal introduction. When first contact is successful, romance quickly ensues and, in the happiest of circumstances, procreation. Here we see how fortress ovum is besieged by countless little warriors. Seven: Doctor, I am familiar with the physiological processes of sexuality. Emh: Oh. Then let's skip ahead to the first of the practical exercises. Lesson two. Encounter in a Public Place. Computer, initiate holo-program Paris three. Seven: Our location? Emh: Chez Sandrine. It's on Earth, in a city called Marseilles. Ensign Paris whiled away a good portion of his Academy years here, no doubt to the detriment of his scholastic performance. Now, pull up a bar stool and pretend you've come here to meet the man of your dreams. Hi, there. Seven: Hello. Emh: Come here often? Seven: This is my first time. Emh: You must be new in town. How do you like the south of France? Seven: It is very quaint. Exactly as I've always pictured it. Emh: May I buy you a drink? Seven: I don't require a liquid supplement at this time. Emh: You're not giving this a fair chance Seven: This exercise is pointless. Emh: It may seem pointless, but small talk is a vital dating skill. It helps to establish a rapport with your companion. Seven: Perhaps there's something to be said for assimilation after all. Emh: All right, why don't you try your own approach on that gentleman over there? Go ahead. Seven: Very well. Seven: Hello. Price: Hello. Seven: May I buy you a drink? Price: Er, sure. Steven Price. Price: And you are? Seven: Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of. You may call me Seven. Price: Seven. That's an unusual name. Please, have a seat. Paris: Looks like Sandrine's is under new management. Who deleted my pool table? Emh: Shush. School is in session. Paris: More social lessons? Emh: Watch. You might learn something. Price: Curious jewelery. Seven: It's a Borg implant. I was a drone. Price: Oh, so then it's a family heirloom. Seven: Borg do not have families. They have unimatrices. Price: Well, in that case, why don't you tell me about your unimatrix. Emh: They're hitting it off, don't you think? Paris: He's a hologram. Emh: Your point? Paris: Well, you programmed him to interact with Seven. Real people don't respond the same way. Emh: Under my guidance, she'll be dating real people in no time. Paris: You're teaching Seven how to date? Ha! Talk about the blind leading the blind. Emh: I've had my share of romantic encounters. Are you implying that Seven couldn't get a date? Paris: Are you kidding? Half the men on this ship would jump at the chance. But getting a date is one thing, keeping it from turning into a disaster is another. Emh: I have every confidence in her social skills. Paris: Well, fine. Let's say you get her a date. This is the holodeck. The cards are stacked in her favor. If you want to really put her to the test you have to do it in the real world, where anything can happen. Emh: Mister Neelix is hosting a reception for the Kadi ambassador on Thursday night. Not only will Seven arrive with a date, she will have him eating out of the palm of her hand. Paris: Put your latinum where your mouth is. If Seven brings a date to the reception, and leaves with the same date on good terms, without causing a diplomatic incident, I will work double shifts in Sickbay for the next month. Emh: And if she fails? Paris: I get a month off. Emh: It's a bet. Price: Where are you going? Seven: Our small talk is terminated. I have mastered this exercise. We can proceed to the next. Paris: If I were you I'd start looking for somebody to fill in for me. Neelix: One Ktarian pudding. Tomin: Mmm. Ah. Mmm. Ah, the texture is so frothy. It seems to be evaporating in my mouth. Neelix: The recipe includes a catalytic agent designed to do just that. If we don't hurry, we'll miss Lieutenant Torres. She's been waiting half an hour. Tomin: You're right. Engineering, your warp core. I must see that. Tomin: In our society, males and females work separately, but I can see the wisdom of your approach. Promotes a more stimulating environment. Neelix: It's time for third prayer. Tomin: Yes, it is. But I think I can forego this service and perform the appropriate penance later. It's more important that I continue exploring your culture. Perhaps another dessert? Emh: Good morning. It's time for lesson three. Getting to Know You. Seven: Elaborate. Emh: The key to finding a compatible partner is learning how to share your interests and goals. We'll start with hobbies. What do you do with your spare time? Seven: Regenerate. Emh: Ah. Tell me about your tastes, your likes and dislikes. Seven: I dislike irrelevant conversations. Emh: Okay. Which brings us to goals. What do you want out of life? Seven: Perfection. Emh: Perfection is a laudable goal for oneself, but you can't expect it from others. I learned that lesson myself when I was first activated. One of the ways I adapted was to pursue interests people could identify with. Holo-photography, for example. Opera. Seven: Music does have intriguing mathematical properties. Emh: Excellent. Perhaps we can mold this curiosity into an interest. Something you can share with others. Let's see how much you know. Here we see Seven: A basic musical phrase in the major mode. I've done a preliminary study of the topic. Emh: Sing it for me. Seven, has anyone ever told you, you have a beautiful voice? It's a true gift. Seven: The gift is from the Collective. A vocal subprocessor designed to facilitate the sonic interface with Borg transponders. Emh: Let's try something a little more challenging. Seven: You Are My Sunshine? Emh: It's a simple melody from Earth's twentieth century. A good piece for beginners. Sing. Seven: The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms. Emh: That was flawless, but try putting a little more emotion into it. Like this. When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken and I hung my head and cried. See? Computer, add instrumental accompaniment. On to the chorus. Together now. Both: You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. Seven: You'll never know, dear Both: How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away. Kim: Seven, I need the data from those last two Astrometric scans. Seven: In a moment. Kim: That looks like the crew manifest. Seven: The Doctor asked me to pick a suitable candidate. Kim: For what? Seven: Lesson ten. The first date. Kim: Your first date? Seven: I've narrowed the list to two crewmen, based on work performance and compatible interests. Kim: I didn't know you had any interests. Seven: Neither did I, but apparently they include astronomy, quantum mechanics and music. Kim: I play the clarinet, you know. Seven: You are not one of the candidates, Ensign. Kim: Oh. Well, maybe I could help you pick Mister Right. Seven: Ensign Bronowski, assigned to the Airponics bay. His work record is flawless and he plays the accordion. Kim: Badly, very badly. He's got no sense of humor. Seven: Lieutenant Chapman, Structural Engineering. Kim: Chapman's a nice guy. Seven: We worked together on an away mission. He seemed efficient. Chapman: Robertson, if that's you, I need an isolinear spanner. Seven: It is not. Seven: I apologize, Lieutenant. I didn't mean to startle you. Chapman: No, my fault. You need something? Seven: Your presence is required er, rather, it is requested, tonight. Nineteen hundred hours, holodeck two. Chapman: Another engineering simulation? Seven: Dinner. Chapman: Dinner? Seven: The consumption of nutritional biomatter. Chapman: No, I know what dinner is. I just. Are you asking me to join you? Seven: Yes. State your response. Chapman: Okay. Yes. Seven: Please be punctual. Chapman: I will, thanks. Seven: A dropped tool can be a workplace hazard. Be more careful next time. Emh: Seven. Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Seven: I have a date. Paris: Sorry I'm late. Emh: It's quite all right. In fact, why don't you take the day off, relax. Those double shifts are going to take a lot out of you. Paris: Oh? Emh: Seven of Nine has a date tonight. If all goes well, as I'm sure it will, he'll accompany her to the reception tomorrow. Paris: Who'd she pick? Emh: Lieutenant William Chapman. Paris: Ha! Chapman? Good luck. Emh: What's that supposed to mean? Paris: He's renowned for being nervous around women. Emh: So. Paris: Are you kidding? Seven's dominant personality will have him running for the airlock before dessert. Emh: Seven may seem intimidating, but that's only a reaction to the way people treat her. In fact, she's an efficient and charming young woman. Paris: Efficient. I'll give you that, but charming? Emh: Most people don't take the time to look beyond her exterior. Did you know she has a lovely singing voice? Paris: No, I didn't, but then again, I've never asked her to sing for me. Emh: What are you implying? Paris: It sounds like you're getting a little infatuated with your star pupil. Emh: Infatuated? That's absurd. Paris: Whatever you say, maestro. Emh: It was part of the lesson plan! Emh: You're meeting with him in ten minutes, Seven. Why aren't you ready? Seven: I am. Emh: Aren't we forgetting something? Lesson eight, Dress for Success. Seven: My appearance is sufficient. Emh: Sufficient, yes, but you could use a little more panache. Let's start by doing something different with your hair. I don't have much first-hand experience with this, but, try shaking your head a little bit. Seven: Is this more appropriate? Emh: Yes. When I first designed your dermaplastic garment I also tried my hand at some casual attire. You might want to replicate one of these. Seven: How shall I choose? Emh: I think you'd look very nice in this one. Seven: I am uncertain how to wear such a garment. Assist me. Emh: Oh, I, I, I'm sure you'll manage. I'll go prepare the Holodeck. Remember, the idea is to have fun tonight. I'll expect a full report in the morning. Chapman: You, you look beautiful. Seven: Thank you. You look beautiful as well. Chapman: Thank you. Er, would you like to sit down? Seven: Where is our designated location? Chapman: Best table in the house. I wasn't sure you'd actually show up. Seven: I requested your presence. Chapman: Well, to be honest, I thought one of my friends put you up to it. Champagne? Seven: Synthehol impairs my cortical function. Water will suffice. Chapman: Mind if I? Seven: Proceed. Chapman: I must admit I'm a little nervous. Seven: Elaborate. Chapman: Oh, let's just say it's been a long time since I've been out on a date. Seven: I've never been on a date. As a result, I am experiencing anxiety as well. Chapman: Well, I guess that means we've got something in common. Garçon? Seven: Server, report to this station. We require your assistance. Chapman: Problem? Seven: This creature has an exoskeleton. Chapman: It's a lobster. They're a delicacy on Earth. Try it. Seven: I will replicate you a new garment. Chapman: I'm fine, fine. It's just a little bit of exoskeleton. Maybe we should order dessert. Seven: You wish to accelerate our social encounter. Chapman: No, no, I didn't say that. I'm just, er, I'm having a very interesting evening. Would you like to dance? Seven: That activity is covered in lesson thirty five. I haven't reached it yet. Chapman: I'm not much of a dancer myself, but it might be fun. Seven: As you wish. Chapman: Relax. Try to relax. You seem a little tense. Seven: Relaxation would disrupt my chronographic sequencer. It allows me to maintain synchronous movement with the music. Chapman: That's handy. But maybe you could ignore your chronographic sequencer and, er, let me lead. That's better. Seven: You are damaged. Chapman: No, I'll be all right. Emh: You've torn a ligament. I'm afraid you'll have to report to Sickbay. Mister Paris will treat you. No need to mention how this happened. Chapman: I had a great time, Seven. Let's do this again, someday. Seven: I have failed. Emh: Nonsense. Even Romeo and Juliet hit a few snags at first. Besides, Lieutenant Chapman's not the only lobster in the sea. Seven: I wish to terminate our social lessons. Emh: Just because you didn't achieve perfection your first time out, doesn't mean you should give up. Seven: Dating is a poor means of interaction. There is far more efficiency in the way you and I communicate. We say what we mean, simply and directly. Emh: You and I do have a rapport, but we're colleagues. We're not pursuing romance. Seven: No. Emh: I'm certain you'll be able to master these basic skills in short order. Seven: My first date was certainly short. Emh: Was that a joke? Seven: Lesson Six, beguiling banter. Emh: Now you're getting the hang of it. Perhaps this evening doesn't have to end so abruptly. This may be a good time to cover Lesson thirty five, Shall We Dance? Computer, play Someone To Watch Over Me, instrumental only. We'll begin with some simple steps. Place your left hand on my shoulder and your right hand in my left. Now, follow me, one step at a time. Don't worry. I don't have any ligaments to tear. Tomin: Another drink! Neelix: Ambassador! Tomin: Neelix! My friend, my host, my savior. Neelix, I want you to meet, Alandra and Tria. Neelix: What are you doing? Tomin: I'm sampling yet another entrée on the menu of pleasure that you have opened up for me. Neelix: I checked today's menu, and they're not on it. Coffee, black. Tomin: Neelix, I decided to go exploring and I found your holodecks, where I discovered this little gem still simmering in the memory buffer. Neelix: You can explore it later. Right now, we've got to get you to your reception. Tomin: Pungent taste. What is it? Neelix: Coffee. And there's plenty more where we're going. Tomin: No coffee on our colony. Nothing to tempt the appetite of even the most weak-willed novitiate. Neelix, a confession. I am thinking of leaving the colony, joining Voyager. I want to throw off my vows and immerse myself in your wonderful culture. Neelix: That's just the synthehol talking. Tomin: No, I've never been more clear-headed about anything, and I have you to thank. Neelix: That's right. Up. There we go. Emh: Hard at work? Seven: Our lessons have disrupted my duties. Emh: Then I suppose you're too busy to attend the Ambassador's reception? Seven: My presence is not required. Emh: True, but it might be an opportunity for you to apply your newfound social skills. Seven: Lesson eleven, Life of the Party? Emh: Exactly. Join me? Seven: Are you asking me on a date? Emh: I suppose I am. Seven: Then I accept. Is my appearance sufficient? Emh: You look perfect. Paris: How do you bend a hologram's ear? Use a prism. What did the counselor say to the hologram? You're projecting. Tomin: This humor, it's a revelation. Neelix: Are you sure you wouldn't prefer some more coffee? Tomin: Coffee. Yes, I'll have that too. Go. Chakotay: Neelix, is it my imagination, or is our guest of honor drunk? Neelix: Commander, I tried. I had an itinerary, I even set up a prayer dais in his quarters, but I just couldn't control him. The Captain is due back in the morning with the Kadi minister. What do I do? Chakotay: Pray. Paris: Well, well, well. What do we have here? Emh: Mister Paris, I believe you know Seven of Nine, my date for the evening. Paris: Oh, you don't say? Well, your last date ended up in Sickbay. I hope this one goes a little smoother. Emh: There's no need to be insulting. Seven: It's all right, Doctor. I believe he is merely engaging in small talk. May I get either of you gentlemen a drink? Paris: Yes, a gin and tonic with a twist. Emh: You know I don't drink. I don't have the stomach for it. Seven: A well-crafted joke, Doctor. Paris: Impressive. You've actually taught her to be polite. But don't think you've won our bet. She was supposed to bring a real date. Emh: Photons and force fields, flesh and blood, why quibble over details. I'm just as real as any of you. Tomin: Where's the funny man? Neelix: Mister Tomin, please, why don't, why don't we sit down. Tomin: Oh, there he is, there he is. Ensign Paris, tell us another one of those hologram jokes. Emh: You've been stealing my material? Paris: That guy's so lubricated he'll laugh at anything. Tomin: There he is, the Ambassador of humor. Neelix: I could use a little help here. Emh: Seven, perhaps now would be a good time to review lesson twenty three, Toast of the Town. Seven: Very well. Seven: Ladies and gentlemen, I require your attention. May cultural differences encourage us to build bridges of understanding. To all that makes us unique. Tomin: Who is that extraordinary female? Neelix: Seven of Nine. Tomin: I want to meet her. Neelix: Take a number. Paris: That was lovely. Seven: Thank you. Paris: I've got to admit it, you've done wonders. All right, you win. Seven: Win? Paris: I know when I'm licked. You tell me when you want me to start those double shifts. Seven: You made a wager regarding me? Clarify. Emh: It's not what you think. Paris: Er, don't blame him, it was my idea. Seven: I believed your interest in my social development was sincere, not motivated by personal gain. Emh: It was sincere. Seven: Clearly I am not the only one who requires social lessons. Thank you for a lovely evening. Tomin: Hey, why don't we go back to my quarters? I've studied human mating rituals. Seven: Remove your hand or I will remove your arm. Tomin: Did you hear what she said to me? I am the guest of honor! Chakotay: Ambassador, it's been a long day. Maybe you should get some rest. Tomin: No! I'm not leaving! I want another drink. Neelix: I thought synthehol wasn't supposed to have this effect on people. Emh: Most people. The enzymes that break down synthehol aren't present in his bloodstream. Neelix: Can you counteract the effects? Emh: I can synthesize the enzymes, but that'll take days. Neelix: Days? The Captain will be back in the morning. Paris: Maybe he needs a cold shower. Neelix: If his superiors find him like this he'll be banished from the colony, and our trade agreement will go right out the airlock. Tomin: Oh, Seven of mine. Seven: It may be possible to encode some of my nanoprobes to assimilate the synthehol molecules. Tomin: Assimilate me. Emh: There may be some adverse effects. Tomin: Please. Emh: But it's worth a try. Neelix: The Kadi have rules against medical procedures that haven't been sanctified. Paris: I'd say he's already violated a few rules. What's one more? Emh: Either we treat him or he remains intoxicated. You're his caretaker, decide. Neelix: Nanoprobes. Emh: I owe you an apology. Seven: Nanoprobe extraction is an insignificant procedure. My systems will adapt. Emh: No, I'm referring to the wager I made with Ensign Paris. I can see how you might have felt manipulated, but I assure you that was never my intention. Seven: I accept your apology. Emh: I want to make this perfectly clear so there's no room for misunderstanding. I asked you to go with me to the reception because I enjoy your company. In fact, over the last few days I feel as though we've grown closer. Seven: Closer? Emh: We've become more than colleagues. We're friends? Seven: Friends. Agreed. I should begin. Emh: Of course. Emh: I'll take over from here. Mister Paris. Hypothetically, if one develops romantic feelings for another person, how does one usually go about expressing them? It's for one of Seven's social lessons. Paris: Ah. I recommend the direct approach. Tell the person how you feel. Emh: What if the feelings aren't mutual? Paris: Well, that's the risk you always take. Emh: Oh. Thank you. Paris: Why don't you tell her? Come on, Doc. It's obvious the Ambassador is not the only one in this room who's intoxicated. Emh: Impossible. She's my student. Paris: A hologram and a Borg? Stranger things have happened. Just look at me and B'Elanna. Tomin: Er, could we walk a little slower? Neelix: They're due back any minute. Tomin: But my throat feels like an ancient parchment. Can't we go back to Sandrine's for a refreshing glass of Neelix: No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Tomin: Those doors, they're so loud Neelix: You've got a hangover. Tomin: Neelix, I don't remember much of last night but, I imagine I might have said some things. Neelix: You spoke eloquently, charmed the entire crew. Your reception was a success. Understand? Tomin: Yes. Neelix, you've been most patient. Neelix: Well, that's my job, and it isn't over yet. Neelix: Welcome back. Janeway: Good to be home. How's it going? Neelix: All systems functioning normally. Ensign Kim detected a minor fluctuation in sensor array, but he took care of it. Janeway: I was referring to Ambassador Tomin. Did he enjoy his visit? Neelix: Oh, well, well, I would say that he, er, he enjoyed himself immensely. Abbot: There are many distractions aboard this vessel. You didn't indulge in any of their more colorful traditions? Tomin: Of course not. Neelix: We followed the itinerary that you approved, to the last detail. Abbot: Oh, shame. Tomin: Your Holiness? Abbot: It isn't a violation to explore new experiences, as long as you don't make a habit of it. Tomin: I see your point. Abbot: Shall we conclude our negotiations, Captain? Janeway: By all means. Tuvok: I'll show you to the briefing room. Janeway: Good work, Ambassador. Emh: Do you like them? Seven: Species rosa rubifolia. State your intention. Emh: I wanted to congratulate you on the latest phase of your social development. Why don't you read the card? Seven: You are my sunshine. Emh: These past few days have been unforgettable. You've brought light into my life, Seven. Seven: You have developed romantic feelings for me. Emh: It's as if you've become a part of my program. When we're apart, I, I feel like I'm missing a subroutine. I don't expect you to reciprocate, but I wanted you to know how I feel. Computer, end program. Emh: Enter. Seven. Seven: I wish to speak with you. Emh: What a coincidence. I was hoping to speak with you as well. Seven: Regarding? Emh: You first. What's this? Seven: It's a medical tricorder. I enhanced its scanning resolution by thirty three percent. You once stated you desired a more efficient instrument. Emh: I suppose I did. Seven: It is a gift. Lesson twenty two, Thanks for the Memories. Is it insufficient? Emh: No, no, it's very thoughtful. Seven: I chose to convey my gratitude at this time because I no longer require your assistance. It's obvious there are no potential mates for me aboard this vessel. However, if I encounter a compatible individual in the future, I will again seek your guidance. Emh: Guidance. Of course. Seven: You said you had something to tell me. Emh: I just wanted to say, the past few days have been unforgettable. Thank you. Seven: You're welcome. Emh: Computer, activate holoprogram Paris three. Emh: Won't you tell her please to put on some speed, follow my lead. Oh how I need, someone to watch over me.

Neelix: Good morning. Janeway: Morning. Neelix: Requisition reports for the week. Janeway: Thanks. Neelix: What can you tell me about the Great Wall of China? Janeway: Pardon? Neelix: The Great Wall of China, on Earth. Who built it? Janeway: The Chinese. Neelix: What for? Janeway: Why does anybody build a wall? To keep people out. Janeway: Deck one. Neelix: In fact it was the first Q'in emperor who connected the walls built by a previous dynasty. He did it to prevent an invasion by nomads to the north. How big is it? Janeway: I have a feeling you're going to tell me. Neelix: Twenty four hundred kilometers long, median width three point eight meters. Before the twenty second century, it was one of the only manmade objects that could be seen from Earth's orbit with the naked eye. Janeway: Very impressive, Neelix. I had no idea you knew so much about my homeworld. Janeway: Status? Chakotay: We're on a course for the class Y cluster. We should be there in about three days. Janeway: Gives us some time to relax. Carry on. Why this sudden interest in the Great Wall? Neelix: I've been studying Earth landmarks. Neelix: Mister Paris and I have been exchanging a little cross-cultural trivia. He's become quite an expert on Talaxian geography. Janeway: All right, here's one for you. What can you tell me about the Millennium Gate? Neelix: The Millennium Gate. Constructed in the 21st century in the United States of America. It was another one of the objects that could be seen from orbit. Er, three point two kilometers at the base, one kilometer in height, surface covered with highly reflective solar panels. A self-contained ecozystem. Janeway: It became a model for the first colony on Mars. Did you know that one of my ancestors built it? Neelix: Really? Janeway: Not with a hammer and nails, but with words and a lot of courage. Shannon O'Donnel, one of the first woman astronauts. She was the driving force behind the project. Neelix: That's something to be proud of. Janeway: We were always told stories about her at family gatherings. The first of a long line of Janeway explorers. Neelix: Tell me more. I want something to stump Mister Paris with. Janeway: Where to begin? Neelix: The Millennium Gate. How did she get involved with that? Janeway: Well, at that time, she was still in the space program, but she'd also become something of an entrepreneur. I believe she was asked to join the project by the governor of Indiana. He wanted her expertise on recyclic life support systems. The way my aunt Martha, tells it they flew her in on a private aircraft. Shannon: Five am, December 27th, 2000. I'm in the great state of Indiana, I think. I saw the world's largest ball of string this morning, and the world's largest beefsteak tomato this afternoon. It was the size of a Volkswagen. The string, not the tomato. At least Christmas is over. Oh, no. Shannon: Excuse me. I think I made a wrong turn. Is there a Millennium Gate around here? Passerby: You're looking at it. Shannon: The sign said gas, food, lodging. I need all three. Passerby: You won't find any of that here. Get back on the Interstate and go to exit nine. Shannon: I don't think I'm gong to make it. Passerby: Good luck. Shannon: Tell me, are people a little friendlier off exit nine? Shannon: Oh, no. Shannon: You stopped. Driver: You didn't. Got a pen? Shannon: I, I just didn't see you. I'm sorry. Are you okay? Driver: Insurance? Shannon: Not really. Driver: Not really? Shannon: It ran out. Driver: It's not too bad. Two hundred bucks ought to cover it. Shannon: Two hundred bucks? Driver: Let me guess. The money ran out, too. Shannon: Hi. Jason: Hi Shannon: The sign said open? Henry: Yes, that's right. Till six o'clock. Can we be of assistance? Shannon: It's cold outside, and I wondered if I could wait here. Henry: For what? Shannon: For the tow truck. My car broke down. I'm trying to get to Florida. Jason: She doesn't look like a corporate hit man. Shannon: I assure you I'm not. At least not anymore. Henry: Well, in any case, she's unarmed and chilled to the bone. I think we can handle her. Zeus himself watched over travelers. We should follow his example. Make yourself at home. Shannon: Thank you. Henry: Where's your car? Shannon: Down the street, next to the coffee shop. What used to be the coffee shop. It looks like this whole town is closed down. Henry: It is. Shannon: Except for you, huh? Jason: This ship will never sink. Right, Dad? Henry: Decaf. Not exactly the nectar of the gods. Shannon: It'll do. Thank you. Shannon: What's this about, if I may ask? Henry: Preserving the past. Jason: I'm Jason, by the way. Shannon: Shannon O'Donnel. Henry: I'm Henry. Henry Janeway. Shannon: Hi. So, you're trying to get them to stop building this Millennium whatever-it-is? Jason: The Millennium Gate. The world's first self-sustaining civic environment. Henry: That's what the propaganda calls it. It's nothing but hype. It's actually a glorified shopping mall. They've talked all of my neighbors into selling their businesses. Only one thing stands in their way. Shannon: You're the last holdout? Henry: This time, Rome withstands the barbarians. Shannon: I may be able to help you, if you'd be willing to hire me. Jason: Believe me, you don't want to be licking stamps for the next two days. Shannon: We could do all this on a computer. Jason: Yeah, but my dad doesn't believe in computers. We don't even have one. Shannon: Well, I do. We can e-mail every computer within a hundred miles. It'll just take a few hours. It's easy. Henry: I'm not hiring anybody right now. Besides, you're going to Florida. Shannon: Maybe the tow truck is waiting. Thanks for the coffee. Henry: You're welcome. Shannon: I wouldn't ask you for a lot. Just enough to fix the car. I really, I kind of need a job right now. Jason: Dad? Henry: I suppose we could use some help. Shannon: You do believe in electricity, don't you? Shannon: So, who are these barbarians, anyway? Henry: A company down in Texas Shannon: Why come here? Henry: The City Fathers made it easy for them. Free building permits, deferred taxs, new roads, so the invaders, they return the favor. They have offered us twenty percent above the market price for our properties. You know what the catch is? We've all got to sell. Shannon: Everybody must love you. Henry: People I knew when I was growing up, family, friends, it seems like they've all just turned against me. If this were Roman times, they'd feed me to the lions. Shannon: To the good old days. Henry: You know, I was born in the wrong millennium. Shannon: I'll stick with the modern age. Henry: The classical age. Greatest literature mankind ever produced. Shannon: No antibiotics. Henry: Families who'd take care of one another. Shannon: No cars. Henry: Air you can breathe. Shannon: No telephones. Henry: What a pleasure. Shannon: Shorter life spans. Henry: Lives that were worth living. Shannon: No cold beer. Henry: There you got me. Speaking of the modern age, Do you have any plans for the Millennium Eve? Shannon: No different than last year's Millennium Eve. I plan to be asleep. Henry: Life of the party. Shannon: Oh, don't tell me you've bought into all that hype again? Henry: Oh, maybe just a little. Shannon: Last year, when 2000 arrived? Everyone was convinced it was the dawn of a new era. But when the world didn't end and the flying saucers didn't land and the Y2K bug didn't turn off a single light bulb, you'd think everybody would have realized it was a number on a calendar. But, oh, no, they had to listen to all those hucksters who told them the real millennium was 2001. So this New Year's Eve will be as boring as last year. Henry: Come to think about it, I have sold an awful lot of doomsday books. Shannon: See what I mean? Henry: So, what's in Florida? Shannon: I have a cousin down there. I'll stay with her for a while until I can get back on my feet. Henry: If you don't mind my asking, did you lose your job? Shannon: I'm in a transitional period. Henry: From what to what. Shannon: From what I was doing to what I'm going to do. Your son tells me that your bookstore's belonged in your family for generations. That you've never done anything else. Henry: Yes, that's right. Shannon: You know, I'm just the opposite. I love to see places I've never been, try new things. I'm kind of an explorer. Henry: Really? Hmm. That station wagon of yours doesn't exactly look like a sailing ship. Shannon: It's a rocket ship. Henry: My mistake. Moss: We have every intention of breaking ground on Monday. Day one of the next millennium. The people of this town have given us their full cooperation. Henry: That's not true! Moss: If you'll let me finish, Mister Janeway. With the exception of Mister Janeway here. Collins: Mister Janeway, would you like to comment? Henry: Yes. Yes, I would. You, you just can't, you can't bulldoze this town away. This, this is our heritage. This is our past. Moss: We're trying to give Portage Creek a future. Can't you see that? Henry: Yeah, yeah, your, your future. Your future, not ours. Collins: Mister Moss, we've heard you're considering moving the project to one of your alternate sites. Can you shed any light on that rumor? Moss: I'm afraid that's more than a rumor. If we can't work out an arrangement in Portage Creek, we'll have no choice but to select another location. Collins: What city? Moss: No comment. Collins: Is it true that Canton, Ohio has been chosen for the alternate Moss: Thank you for your time. Collins: Thank you, Mister Moss. Henry: Well, that's that. All we have to do is stand firm till New Year's. Jason: Easy for you to say. I have to go to school with their kids. Henry: Your school is one of the first places they're going to tear down. Jason: They said they'd build a new one, a better one. Henry: Whose side are you on? I'm sorry. We're all in this together. Come on. Let's head back to civilization. Henry: Where shall we dine tonight? Ah, how does Paris sound? Shannon: It's Friday night. Can we get a reservation? Henry: Well, I think I can arrange it. I know the maitre d. Shannon: Too bad I don't speak French. Henry: Well, we'll keep it to ourselves. There. To new friends. Shannon: And a gracious host. Henry: Bon appetit. Shannon: I wouldn't mind visiting Paris one day. Henry: Yes, it'd be nice. Shannon: You haven't been? Henry: I haven't been outside Indiana. These are my traveling companions. They'll take me anywhere, anytime. Shannon: It's not such a bad idea to experience the real thing every now and then. Henry: I prefer my books. Shannon: Maybe you just never had the right guide. Henry: Is that an offer? I could make a similar argument. Not such a bad idea to settle down every now and then. Shannon: Is that an offer? You're a peculiar man, Mister Janeway. Cloistered away with all your books, shutting out the world. Henry: Any more peculiar than exploring the Midwest in an ailing station wagon? Shannon: Only slightly. Any word on my car? Henry: It's got a brand new oil pan. Shannon: You forgot to tell me that. Henry: Well, we were busy today. It's parked behind the garage whenever you're ready. Shannon: First thing in the morning. Henry: Not so fast. Jason told me you promised to show him a few tricks on the computer. Shannon: I could use another day of rest. Henry: Great. Jason'll be pleased. And when you're done with him, perhaps we'll take a stroll along the Boulevard St. Germain. Shannon: You're making it difficult to say goodbye. Henry: Maybe that's the idea. Seven: You wished to see me, Captain? Janeway: I need your help with this. The Millennium Gate. Seven: Impressive. Janeway: It was built by one of my ancestors over three hundred years ago. I've been digging through the historical database, but a lot of the information from that era has been lost or damaged. I thought you might be able to help me reconstruct some of it. Seven: Is this relevant to our present mission? Janeway: It's relevant to me. Seven: This ancestor of yours is fifteen generations removed. You only possess a small fraction of her genetic material. Insignificant. Janeway: This isn't about chromosomes, Seven. It's about character. Seven: Explain. Janeway: Shannon O'Donnel inspired me when I was a girl. She had a, an influence on my imagination, on my goals. Seven: I never realized genealogy could have such an impact. Janeway: I wouldn't have become a Starfleet Captain if it wasn't for her. Neelix: The temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Paris: That's four. Neelix: The Colossus at Rhodes. Paris: No. In chronological order. Neelix: Right. The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. The Colossus at Rhodes. Paris: That leaves just one more. Neelix: The seventh wonder of the ancient world is Paris: Can't remember? Neelix: Oh, it's right on the tip of my tongue. It's. Forget it, I give up. Paris: Ha! I got you. It's the er. Neelix: Can't remember? Seven: The Lighthouse of Alexandria built by Ptolemy the Second in 280 BC. Paris: Behold the wonder of the modern world. Borg photographic memory. We'll call this one a draw. Neelix: Brushing up on Earth's history? Seven: Captain Janeway requested that I research one of her ancestors. Neelix: Shannon O'Donnel. Seven: You've heard of her. Neelix: Who hasn't? You mind if I lend a hand? Seven: If you wish. Neelix: Sven 'Buttercup' Hanson. Seven: He was one of my progenitors. A twenty second century prize-fighter. The Captain encouraged me to investigate my genealogy as well. Neelix: Well, your ancestors can tell you a lot about yourself. Seven: Somehow, I doubt 'Buttercup' has much relevance to me. Neelix: The connection could be deeper than you think. Sven. Seven. Seven: A coincidence. Neelix: The point is, there's some of him in you. Just as there'll be some of you in your descendants. Seven: If I choose to procreate. Neelix: I wouldn't dismiss it so lightly. Someday you may enjoy a little Seven of Nine point five running around. Or not. Or not. Seven: My research has failed. I have found no references to this individual. Neelix: Well, genealogy's a lot like fishing. You've got to cast a wide net. Computer, expand record search for subject Shannon O'Donnel to include non-Federation databases. Er, personal archives and photographic indexes, as well. Computer: Reference found. Neelix: Well, take a look at this. Shannon Janeway. Janeway: Where in the world did you find this? Neelix: A Ferengi database. Janeway: Ferengi? Neelix: Eleven years ago, one of their historians collected massive amounts of data about the origin of space travel in the Federation. He wanted to market it as a nostalgic gift item. Janeway: I would have been his first customer. Neelix: It's a handsome family, Captain. Janeway: These must be her sons and daughters. Grandchildren. Great-grandchildren. Seven: I've also discovered journalistic accounts in the historical archives. Mostly articles concerning resistance to the Millennium Gate. Janeway: The whole town was against her. Download this image for me, will you, Neelix? I'm going to frame it. Neelix: Yes, Captain. Collins: The citizens of Canton, Ohio greeted Millennium Gate representatives with a small parade today. Canton is one of three alternate sites now being considered by Gate officials. Vowing not to bow to pressure, Henry Janeway, owner of Portage Creek's Alexandria Books, says he has no intention of closing down. Marci Collins, Channel Three News. Moss: Next stop, Mars. I used to be in media relations with NASA. As I recall, your class came up with that slogan. Do you mind? It's a shame you didn't make the cut. Shannon: Not good enough, I guess. Moss: Do you still keep in touch with any of the others? Shannon: No. Moss: I do. In fact, I made a few calls last night. Remember Lieutenant McMillan? Shannon: How's she doing. Moss: Co-pilot on the joint mission with the Europeans scheduled for 03. Four months on the space station. Shannon: Not bad for a girl with claustrophobia. Moss: She got over it. Sorry to hear about your last job. All this downsizing in aerospace. Engineers aren't given the respect they deserve. Shannon: Who told you I lost my job? Moss: I made a few calls. You don't have to live like this. Borrowing money, sleeping in your car. Shannon: You've got no business checking up on me. Moss: Actually, I do. We run a history on all our candidates. Shannon: Are you trying to make me some kind of an offer? Moss: We know you've been working closely with Henry Janeway. He'll listen to you. Shannon: Oh. You want me to talk to him, get him to change his mind. Moss: If you can. Shannon: And in return? Moss: We'd give you a job. Make you a consulting engineer on the project. You certainly have the credentials. Well? Shannon: I'll think about it. Moss: Think quickly. We can't wait another thousand years. Control: Roger that, and go ahead. Armstrong: That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Jason: Morning. Shannon: Morning. Jason: I didn't think you'd mind. You've got some really great games on this. Shannon: Don't worry about it. Have you tried Matrix of Doom? Jason: Oh, yeah. I got vaporized on level six. Shannon: Try launching a flare before entering the steel fortress. Jason: Cool. Coffee? Shannon: Please. Where is your father? Jason: Bloomington. All the suppliers in town are boycotting us, so he went up there to place some orders. Shannon: He left you in charge? Jason: Alexandria Books, may I help you? Shannon: Sounds like you've got it down. Jason: I pay the bills too. Dad's not very good at accounting. You have any kids? Shannon: No. Jason: Not a priority? Shannon: I wouldn't say that. I just never got around to it. If you don't mind me asking, where's your mom? Jason: She died. Shannon: Oh, I'm sorry. Jason: I was really young. I don't remember her much. Dad says none of the great heroes grew up in a nuclear family. Hercules, Achilles, Odysseus. They all grew up with single parents. Shannon: You're in good company. You like working here, Jason? Jason: It's okay. Shannon: You know, I get the feeling you don't share your father's enthusiasm about preserving the past. Jason: I don't know. The Millennium Gate could be pretty cool. Shannon: Did you ever see the first landing on the moon? One small step for man. Jason: They showed it in science class one time. Shannon: I saw it on TV when I was eleven years old. The whole world watched it. Jason: Must have been great. Shannon: Oh, it way. So, do you have any heroes? Jason: We are not living in a heroic age, that's what my dad says. Shannon: Come on, there's got to be somebody. Jason: Dad. I mean, he's a pain sometimes, but he's pretty cool. Alexandria Books, may I help you? That's all right. First call in three days and it's a wrong number. Henry: Glorious Hector, son of Priam, slips past the Greek front lines bringing much-needed supplies to the embattled city of Troy. Jason: Hey, Dad you're famous. Shannon: Local business owner topples Gate. Henry: Let it fall. Any customers this morning? Jason: No one here but us galliforms. Shannon: That's chickens for the non-scientists in the crowd. Henry: You two are dangerous together. Portage Creek will thank us one day. You don't sacrifice history for a shopping mall. Shannon: It's a little more than that, Henry. Henry: I beg your pardon? Shannon: I said, it's not just a mall. Henry: Have you read the promotional literature? Over six hundred retail spaces available. Franchise potential. Shannon: There's a commercial dimension to the project, but that's not its only function. Henry: What's your point? Shannon: I've learned a few details about the Millennium Gate. It's a self-sustaining city, an experimental biosphere. It's never been done before. Henry: What's wrong with the biosphere we're living in now? Shannon: Nothing. Henry: Exactly. Shannon: But this project will help scientists learn more about our environment. Possibly even recreate it on other worlds. Henry: Other worlds? Don't we have enough problems on the one we're on? Shannon: Yeah. Which is why I'd like to get the hell off it one day. Henry: I think you're taking this exploring a little too far. Shannon: And you're so afraid of change you can barely walk out that front door. The Millennium Gate has a lot of potential, Henry. You just can't see it. All you can see are these books. You're living in the past. Henry: Sounds like you've been sleeping with the enemy. Shannon: Having a beer, anyway. Henry: Moss. Shannon: He offered me a job. Henry: Doing what? Shannon: Consulting engineer. Henry: On the Millennium Gate? Shannon: I said I'd think about it. Henry: And he said, get Janeway to sign on the dotted line and you're hired? Shannon: That's one way of looking at it. Henry: And when I say no, then what? You're going to go with them, right? To Canton, Ohio, or the Third Circle of Hell, or wherever it is they decide to build this damn thing. Shannon: I can't keep living out of my car. Henry: You don't have to. Stay here. Shannon: No. Henry: Why not? Shannon: Because I can't. Henry: That's not a reason. Shannon: Because I don't want to! You've been really nice to me, Henry, but I can't get stuck here. Henry: Stuck? Like me? Shannon: I didn't say that. You can live however you want to. Henry: And so can you. Jason: What's going on? Henry: We're helping our guest resume her journey. Jason: But I thought you were staying here for a while. Shannon: Something came up. Henry: We can manage by ourselves. I guess saying goodbye isn't that difficult after all. Henry: Jason. Jason, where you going? Jason: Aunt Pat's. Happy New Year. Henry: Jason? Jason! Kim: It was around 2210. My uncle Jack was on a deep space mission to Beta Capricus. Paris: That's when deep space meant the next star over. Kim: And that was when they still had to go into stasis. So, Jack put his crew under as soon as they left orbit, and piloted the ship by himself for six months. Neelix: No contact with anybody along the way? Kim: There wasn't anybody along the way. Not back then. The transmitter wasn't even subspace. It took weeks to get a message back to Earth. Seven: I would prefer stasis. Paris: Me too. That long alone, I'd probably go a little batty. Kim: So, six months to Beta Capricus and when they finally arrive, there's nothing there. Neelix: No planets? Kim: No. No star, no nothing. It turns out Beta Capricus was just an EM echo of a distant galaxy. Seven: What was his course of action? Kim: What else could he do? He turned the ship around and headed home. Janeway: And the crew? Kim: He figured there was no reason to bother them. There's nothing to see, nothing to do. So six months later he gets back to Earth, brings everybody out of stasis, and they wake up wondering why they haven't left orbit. Janeway: Come in. Emh: Oh. I didn't realize you were in a briefing. Janeway: Not at all. We're talking about our family histories. Emh: Oh. This can wait. May I join you? Janeway: Please. Emh: I, too, come from a distinguished line. Paris: His cousin's an electric shaver. Emh: Hardly. My program was compiled from the most advanced holo-matrices in the Federation. My cousin was a prize-winning chess program. Seven: Ensign Paris, you have yet to elaborate on your family origins. Paris: Well, they were a pretty ordinary bunch, salt of the earth type people. Farmers, mostly. Some planetary colonists. Ah, but there was one. He was a pilot. He flew the first orbital glider over the lower Martian plateau. Neelix: Mars? Your ancestor must have known the Captain's. Janeway: She did work on all the early Mars projects. Looks like we go way back, Mister Paris. Paris: What was her name? Janeway: Shannon O'Donnel. Paris: O'Donnel. I don't think so. Janeway: What do you mean? Paris: Well, I know all the Mars projects from the 1970s on. Unmanned, manned, who's who. There were no O'Donnels in any of them. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Ship's status report. Janeway: Let me guess. The holographic engineer is having problems with her program. Neelix, the Cardassian cook, is low on supplies. Seven of Twelve is regenerating and Captain Chakotay is doing just fine. Just wondering how they'll piece together our lives a few hundred years from now. Chakotay: Depends on how big the pieces are. Janeway: A PADD here, a Janeway: Captain's log there, maybe a couple of holodeck programs. It won't be as much to go on as we might think. I've gone through dozens of histories written about twenty first century Earth, all of them biased in one way or another. The Vulcans describe First Contact with a savagely illogical race. Ferengi talk about Wall Street as if it were holy ground. The Bolians express dismay at the low quality of human plumbing. And human historians? Exact same story. Every culture saw it a different way. So I go back to the raw material. Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, census surveys, voter registration forms, housing records, medical, employment, court records. It's all fragmented and incomplete. Chakotay: So, did she exist? Janeway: Her name was Shannon O'Donnel. She did train to be an astronaut, but she didn't finish. She was an engineer, but never worked on the Mars missions. Chakotay: Did she work on the Millennium Gate? Janeway: Only as a consultant. Chakotay: What about all the opposition you spoke of? You said she fought to get the project underway. Janeway: There was no opposition. In fact, the Millennium Gate was greeted with open arms by the local population. Except for one man. Chakotay: Henry Janeway. Janeway: She married him, and changed her name. But she certainly never changed history. Chakotay: Don't be too hard on her. She may not have known she was supposed to live up to your expectations. Janeway: Oh, I'll get over it. The question is, when we get back to Earth, how will I break the news to Aunt Martha? Collins: With less than three hours to go, Henry Janeway still refuses to cooperate with Millennium Gate representatives. I'll return with live updates as midnight approaches. Marci Collins, Channel Three News. Moss: I don't suppose there's any chance he'll change his mind? Shannon: By midnight? Doubtful. Moss: Then it looks like we'll have to scrub the launch, at least where Portage Creek is concerned. It's a shame how one ignorant man can stand in the way of progress. Shannon: It's not that simple. Moss: Henry's a very likable guy, but he's playing for the wrong team. He's looking back. This town needs people who look towards the future. Shannon: Well, while you're looking forward, I'll be driving to Florida. Moss: Wait a minute. I'm not about to turn a fellow explorer out into the cold. Shannon: I didn't hold up my end of the bargain. Moss: If we didn't think you had something to add to this project, we never would have made the offer in the first place. Henry Janeway's pigheadedness doesn't change that. We could still use your help, just not here. Moss: My associate in Canton. I'll tell him you're on the way. He'll find a place for you. Jason: Shannon! Shannon: What's the matter? Jason: It's Dad. Moss: See you in Ohio? Jason: He won't leave the shop. There's all these people outside. The police are there. Shannon: Your father can take care of himself. Jason: Please, won't you talk to him? He'll listen to you. Shannon: No, he doesn't, Jason. Jason: Where are you going? And what's this about I'll see you in Ohio? Shannon: Ohio. Florida. Jason: What's wrong with this place? Shannon: It didn't work out. Jason: I thought you liked us. Shannon: I do. Jason: Then why are you leaving? Shannon: I'm sorry. Shannon: December 31st, 2000. Eleven fifteen pm. I've got ninety five miles of Interstate before I have to decide whether I head east or south, but those ninety five miles won't be uneventful. My guidebook tells me I'm not too far from Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, recreated entirely in corn. Shannon: The last few days have been memorable, to say the least. I met Henry Janeway. Interesting man. Liked to talk. Unfortunately, he doesn't listen to anybody but himself. He gave me a place to stay, though. And we had dinner. In Paris, no less. He has a son. Good kid. Bright, like his father. Moss: I personally don't regret a single day I've spent in this lovely town, and I want to thank you all for your encouragement and support. Collins: Would you consider extending your deadline? Shannon: Excuse me. I'm sorry. Policeman: No further. Moss: I'm afraid that's not possible. We'd like to express our deepest regrets to the town of Portage Creek and on behalf of. Excuse me. Collins: Get this. Moss: Let her through. Henry: We're closed. Shannon: It's me! Henry: I said, we're closed. Shannon: That's not what the sign says. Damn it, Henry, it's cold out here. Henry: Who's with you? Shannon: Nobody but us galliforms. Henry: Thought you'd be in Ohio by now. Car break down again? What the hell are you doing? Shannon: Get your things. We're leaving. Henry: I'm not going anywhere. Shannon: Do I have to drag you out the front door? Henry: You can try. Shannon: Henry. Henry: I won't leave. Shannon: It's over. Henry: Then I'll have to ask you to leave. Shannon: Half the town is out there. You're on the news. Maybe you'll go down in history. You have made your point. Henry: Obviously, I haven't, because if I had you wouldn't be asking me to sign my life away. Shannon: Maybe if you'd looked up from your books once in a while you'd see what's in front of you. Henry: Oh, please, no more speeches about the future. Shannon: As long as I don't have to hear you pontificate about the past. Henry: It's a deal. Glad we had this chat. Goodbye. Shannon: It's almost midnight, Henry. Henry: Exactly. I've won. Shannon: What have you won? The right to hide behind these shelves for the rest of your life? Henry: It's worked so far. Shannon: Well, it isn't working for your son, or this town, or me. Henry: Look, I know you've got a job to do. Shannon: Oh, this isn't about the job. Henry: Then why are you here? Shannon: It was the cookies. Henry: Cookies? Shannon: I was on the Interstate. I stopped for gas, and I bought a bag of chocolate chip cookies in a convenience store. It's a little ritual of mine. Whenever I get back on the highway, I like to treat myself. Henry: I see. Well, er, what does this have to do with anything? Shannon: They didn't taste good, Henry. It wasn't the same. I just kept thinking about you, and how I wish you'd been there. Henry: Actually, I prefer oatmeal cookies. I'm allergic to chocolate. Shannon: Oh, you don't know what you're missing. It's been a long time, but I'm starting to feel like maybe I found a place where I'd like to stick around for a while, with you and Jason. Henry: And we'd like to have you. Shannon: But I can't work in a bookstore for the rest of my life. I've been given a second chance, Henry, and I can't lose that. I'm stuck in the future, you're stuck in the past. But maybe we could get unstuck in the present. Henry: I, I don't see how with, without sacrificing my Shannon: You know, Mister Moss offered me a job in Canton, even though I failed to keep up my end of the bargain. I guess he felt sorry for me. But I'm prepared to turn him down if you want me to stay with you. Henry: I suppose I could re-open my shop in that monstrosity you want to build. Shannon: Well, I'll have a few connections. I could probably get you a nice remote location, so nobody would bother you. Henry: Not much profit in that. You sure you won't drive away again? Shannon: No, But if I do, we'll make the trip together. Henry: What time is it? Shannon: A minute to midnight. Henry: Then we're not too late. Neelix: Neelix to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Yes? Neelix: Captain, would you mind coming to the mess hall? Janeway: Is there a problem? Neelix: No, no emergency. But I need to speak with you. A personal matter. Janeway: Give me a minute. Neelix: Happy Ancestor's Eve! All: Happy Ancestor's Eve, Captain. Janeway: What's all this? Neelix: It's April 22, Ancestor's Eve. It's a holiday first established, er, well, er, today, actually. With the Captain's permission. Janeway: Neelix. Chakotay: I think he's onto something, Captain. An evening of reflection in honor of those who came before. Kim: Here, here, Uncle Jack would approve. Torres: It got me out from under a warp conduit. I'm all for it. Janeway: I appreciate what you're trying to do, but Paris: Neelix, the gift. Janeway: What gift? Neelix: Shannon O'Donnel Janeway, circa 2050. We did a little more research. This photograph was taken in a small park near Portage Creek, thirty eight years after the dedication of the Millennium Gate. I thought it would look nice in your ready room, on the shelf next to your desk. Janeway: Thank you, But I'm not so sure she has a place there any more. Seven: You are mistaken, Captain. Janeway: Oh? Seven: Her life captured your imagination. Historical details are irrelevant. Tuvok: I concur with that analysis. Chakotay: If it weren't for Shannon O'Donnel, you never would have joined Starfleet. Janeway: Yeah, and I would have never have got you all stuck here in the Delta Quadrant. Torres: It gave us all time to get to know each other. Emh: Time for a family portrait of our own. Everyone, gather around the Captain, please. Face the camera. Smile. Janeway: To family. All: To family. Emh: Another one for posterity. Janeway: No, no. Paris: I think we should get out of here. Janeway: Enough is enough. Shannon: Knock it off, Kieran. That's an order.

Patterson: You're late. Janeway: Sorry, sir. Patterson: What's the threshold of the H-two molecule? Janeway: Fourteen point seven electron volts. Patterson: Third brightest star in Orion? Janeway: Viewed from where? Patterson: Earth. Janeway: Gamma Orionis, or Bellatrix, if you prefer the original Arabic name. Patterson: Not bad. Now, give me a hug, Katie, that's an order. Janeway: I wasn't expecting a pop quiz. Patterson: Just wanted to make sure all those pips haven't made you forget you're a scientist first. Janeway: How could they? I still have nightmares about your fractal calculus final. Patterson: There's still some work to be done, but once the sawdust clears, I think you'll be impressed. Voyager may not be as big as a Galaxy class ship but she's quick and smart, like her Captain. Janeway: Seven hundred thousand metric tons, fifteen decks, and computer systems augmented with bio-neural circuitry, top cruising speed warp nine point nine seven five. Patterson: Deck one. Janeway: Of course, I expect to get that up another notch or two. Patterson: Sounds like you already know your ship pretty well. Janeway: I've been buried in Voyager's schematics for the past three months. I could walk the corridors blindfolded. Patterson: You might not want to shut your eyes just yet. Patterson: Captain on the bridge. Janeway: As you were. It's bigger than I expected. Patterson: Schematics never fully prepare you for the real thing. Patterson: Try it on. Don't get too comfortable, I have more to show you. Patterson: Your home away from home. Janeway: Coffee? Patterson: Ah, no thanks. Janeway: Coffee, black. Any word from Tuvok? Patterson: Not yet. Janeway: Shouldn't he have made contact by now? Patterson: We know he's aboard Chakotay's ship. He's probably decided not to risk exposure until he has to. Janeway: Catching up with him in the Badlands is going to be tricky, even in a ship as quick and smart as Voyager. I've heard about a pilot who might make the job easier. Patterson: Who's that? Janeway: Tom Paris. Patterson: Admiral Paris's son? Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's serving a sentence for Janeway: He's made some mistakes. But everybody deserves a second chance. Patterson: I'll look into it. Janeway: If it's not too late, I'd like to recalibrate the navigational sensors. I think I can enhance the range. Patterson: Your coffee's not even cold, you're already making changes. Janeway: Excuse us, Ensign. I like a ship that knows where it's going. Patterson: I assure you, Voyager has the best sensors in the fleet. Janeway: There's always room for improvement. Patterson: I assume you've read Janeway: I have. A few changes Seven: The bridge is clear. No sign of the weapon. Ducane: Continue scanning. Seven: Acknowledged. Patterson: Your briefing room. Janeway: Starfleet's most up to date vessel and they still can't design a comfortable place to hold a meeting. What do you think, Ensign? Seven: Captain? Janeway: What's your opinion of this room? Seven: It is an efficient design. Janeway: Well, there you have it, Admiral. It's efficient. I must be wrong. Carry on. Patterson: We've added a new system we're thinking of installling throughout the fleet. Janeway: The Emergency Medical Hologram. I'm up to date. Computer, activate EMH. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Patterson: It's programmed with over four million surgical procedures. Emh: Five million, and the medical knowledge of over three thousand cultures. Janeway: Impressive. Emh: Did you call me to chitchat or is there an actual emergency? Janeway: Its personality could use some work. Emh: I'm designed to practice medicine as efficiently as possible. Small talk only compromises my performance. Patterson: Thank you, Doctor. Computer, deactivate EMH. Carey: Hello. Seven: Sir. Carey: Lieutenant Carey. I don't think we've met. Seven: Jameson, Anna, Service number eight six zero seven nine zero. Carey: I'm not security. I'm just trying to get to know all the new faces around here. What are you working on? Seven: I am attempting to realign the EPS manifolds. Carey: Do you need a hand? Seven: No. Carey: Well, maybe I'll see you in the mess hall later. Seven: Unlikely. Carey: Hmm? Seven: I am not a member of Voyager's crew. I'm on assignment here at Utopia Planitia. Carey: Too bad. Well, next time I'm in the neighborhood, I'll drop by and say hello. Janeway: I wish Starfleet would give me more than three weeks. With a little more time we could really explore the Badlands. Patterson: You haven't changed a bit. Patterson: Main Engineering. Class nine warp drive, tricyclic input manifold. You'll be the first to test it in deep space. Seven: I've localized the temporal distortions. Deck four, section thirty nine. Seven: I've found the weapon. Ducane: Begin the procedure. Janeway: Problem? Carey: One of the EPS relays just went offline. Janeway: Voyager's first malfunction. Carey: I'm sorry, Captain. I tested those systems this morning. Janeway: As you were, Lieutenant. I've been looking forward to getting my hands dirty. Seven: The weapon is out of phase. You've sent me to the wrong time frame. Ducane: At least we know where the weapon was placed. Now we have to determine when. Janeway: This hatch is locked from the inside. Patterson: This isn't a secure area. None of these hatches should be sealed. Janeway: I'm reading some kind of chronoton flux. Patterson: Chronotons? Janeway: It's coming from inside this Jefferies tube. Patterson: Patterson to Security. Seal off deck four. Seven: I've been detected. I must leave. Braxton: There's too much interference from the weapon. Recalibrate your temporal transport beacon. Seven: Understood. Janeway: We can access section thirty nine through here. Braxton: Scramble the locking mechanism before they get in. Hurry, they're approaching your coordinates. You'll need to reset the command controls. Ducane: Stand by. We're trying to get you out of there. Braxton: It's time. Pull her out. Ducane: There's too much interference. If I transport her now we'll damage her bionetic implants. Braxton: If we don't, Captain Janeway's going to find her and it'll contaminate the timeline. Ducane: Sir. Braxton: Now. Crewman: Temporal transport in progress. Janeway: Question, Admiral. What causes a chronoton flux of point zero zero three? Patterson: I don't know. Janeway: Neither do I, but whoever or whatever it was, it's gone now. Crewman: The subject is approaching the temporal threshold. Ducane: I told you this was going to happen. She's dead. Braxton: Any luck reviving her? Ducane: No, sir. Braxton: We'll have to recruit her again. Ducane: Sir, a fourth jump? She could suffer neural damage, even temporal psychosis. Braxton: Unless we repair the timeline, she's going to die. We're giving her another chance to save her crew and herself. We'll go back and retrieve Seven of Nine a microsecond before the explosion. That way no one will notice she's gone. Tempus fugit, Lieutenant. Ducane: Raise shields. Time frame, stardate 52861.274. Delta Quadrant. Spatial coordinates eighty seven theta by two seventy one. Target, USS Voyager. Emh: Follow the light. To the left, right, and up, and down. Hmm. Seven: I ran a complete self-diagnostic. Emh: Hmm hmm? Seven: At first I thought my ocular implants were malfunctioning. However, after consulting the Starfleet Medical database, I realize it is a flaw in my human physiology. Emh: Specifically? Seven: I'm experiencing dizziness, double vision. After considering all potential environmental and genetic factors, I've concluded I'm suffering from Albright-Salzman syndrome. Emh: A rare neurological condition that hasn't affected a single human being for over two centuries. Unlikely. Seven: Human physiology is imperfect, susceptible to a variety of disorders. Emh: True, but in this instance, we can safely say that you are suffering from a mild case of sensory aphasia. A minor disruption to your neuro-receptors. Neither rare, nor life-threatening. Seven: Apparently I was in need of a second opinion. Emh: That's the danger of self-diagnosis. Patients always assume the worst. This should clear it up. How do things look now? Seven: Normal. Crewwoman: Doctor, please report to Sickbay. Emh: On my way. Next time your human physiology fails you, don't consult the database. Just call me. Seven: You are the database. Emh: With two legs and a splendid bedside manner. Seven: A curious exercise. Paris: Yeah. Ping-Pong. You should try it, it's a great test of hand-eye coordination. Seven: I don't require testing. Emh: Yeah, so the Doc tells me. A visual acuity index of ninety nine point six. You know, you'd be great at this game. Why don't you be my partner in the doubles tournament tonight? Chapman was supposed to play, but he's come down with a nasty case of space sickness. Seven: I'm busy. Paris: Oh, too bad. Well, I guess I'll have to tell B'Elanna that you thought you couldn't beat her. Seven: You're attempting to appeal to my vanity. Paris: Is it working? Seven: I will consider your request. Paris: It's yes or no, Seven. The tournament's tonight. Seven: Yes. Paris: Great. Meet me in the mess hall at nineteen hundred hours. We'll get in a little practice first. Emh: Captain, you don't look well. Come in, please. Janeway: I'm sure it's nothing serious. Emh: Symptoms? Janeway: Nausea, dizziness. Emh: It looks like a simple case of space sickness. The third one I've treated today. Janeway: That's odd. We haven't run into any turbulence. Emh: It's possible the inertial dampers are out of alignment. Janeway: Even so, I've been on some pretty rough rides. It's never affected me like this Emh: It happens to everyone. Twenty milligrams of inaprovaline should restore your space legs. Janeway: I'll check the dampers. Double check your bio-readings. See if there's another explanation. Paris: Yes! Neelix: Point, server. Paris: It's all in the wrist. Torres: Score? Neelix: Nineteen eighteen. Paris: Say goodnight, Harry. Kim: What do you call that shot? Seven: I'm reading temporal distortions. Janeway: Report. Torres: The temporal distortions are fracturing space-time throughout the ship. Janeway: Cause? Tuvok: Unknown. They appear to be emanating from deck four, section thirty nine. Torres: We've already erected forcefields but they're not having much effect. If we can't find a way to stop them, they'll tear the ship apart. Janeway: How much time do we have? Tuvok: Two hours at most. Janeway: Go to deck four and find out what we're dealing with. Let's see if we can find a way to enhance the forcefields. Emh: An injection a day keeps space sickness away. You try to be funny after treating thirty seven cases of nausea. Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay. Emh: Go ahead. Janeway: We've found the source of our epidemic. Temporal distortions. Emh: I was beginning to suspect some kind of anomaly. I've designed a treatment that seems to be inhibiting the symptoms. Janeway: Keep me posted. Emh: Aye, Captain. Neelix: Neelix to the Doctor. I've got a medical emergency in the Mess hall. Ensign Mannus is violently ill. Emh: On my way. Take over here. Neelix: Doctor, shall I whip you up a photonic snack? Emh: Where's the medical emergency? Neelix: I hope you're not referring to this pot roast. Emh: You called me a few minutes ago. You said Ensign Mannus was ill. Neelix: I did? Emh: Yes. Neelix: Ensign Mannus is right over there. He came in an hour ago and he looks perfectly normal. Emh: Acute space sickness. Neelix: Good thing you were here. Emh: I wouldn't have been, if you hadn't. Temporal distortions. Neelix: Doctor? Emh: This is all starting to make sense. In Sickbay, it's fifteen hundred hours forty three minutes, but in the mess hall, it's fifteen thirty six. Neelix: Seven minutes earlier. Emh: I did get a call from you. You just haven't made it yet. Janeway: Coffee, black. Come in. Before you say anything, let me remind you what happens to bearers of bad news. Chakotay: Don't kill the messenger. Janeway: Go ahead, fire. Chakotay: It looks like these space-time fractures are growing stronger. We're detecting temporal paradoxes throughout the ship. Janeway: Paradoxes? Chakotay: Internal chronometers show it's oh six hundred on deck nine and oh six hundred five on deck thirteen. Time's passing more quickly in some parts of the ship and slowing down in others. Janeway: Maybe that explains why this coffee tastes like it's three days old. Chakotay: The same thing's been happening in the mess hall. Food replicated less than an hour ago is already spoiled. Janeway: I've been working on a way to enhance our containment fields, to keep the fractures from spreading, Chakotay: I'll get a team on it right away. In the meantime, we should evacuate the affected areas. Janeway: See to it. Chakotay: There's one other problem. Chakotay: Turbolifts two and three are offline so we've been using the Jefferies tube. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: There's a temporal distortion intersecting this room. It's expanding. Chakotay: Time to test your new containment fields. Torres: This is where they're coming from. I still can't tell what's causing them. Torres: What is it? Seven: A piece of technology. It's emitting temporal distortions. Torres: Why can't I see it? Seven: My ocular implant can detect irregularities in space-time. Torres: Torres to bridge. We've found the problem. Torres: There's some kind of device in junction beta twenty eight. Janeway: Beam it off the ship Tuvok: I can't get a lock. Kim: The distortions are beginning to demolecularise the hull. Hull breach, ventral section fourteen. Kim: Captain, I'm picking up a strange reading on deck four. Janeway: What kind of reading? Kim: It's a chronoton flux, point zero zero three. Chakotay: More distortions? Kim: I don't think so. Janeway: Dry dock. Kim: Ma'am? Janeway: The first time I saw these readings was five years ago. Voyager was still in dry dock. Same readings, same location. Kim: What caused them? Janeway: I never found out. Chakotay: We're losing structural integrity. Tuvok: Multiple breaches, all decks. Emergency systems are failing. Chakotay: The distortions are ripping us apart. We have to abandon ship. Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Proceed to the escape pods and abandon ship. Repeat, abandon ship. Janeway: Program the pods for a heading of one seven eight mark four. We'll rendezvous in orbit of an M class planet at those coordinates. Repeat. All hands proceed to the escape pods and abandon ship. Seven: Identify yourselves. Ducane: No time. Braxton: Welcome back. Seven: Why have you brought me here? Braxton: For some reason, I always think you'll remember. I'm Captain Braxton. This is Lieutenant Ducane. You're aboard the Federation Timeship Relativity. Seven: I'm no longer in the twenty fourth century? Braxton: No. For you, it's almost five hundred years later. We've brought you here to help us solve a mystery. Someone, we don't know who, has planted a weapon aboard Voyager. It's designed to fracture space-time within a radius of one hundred and fifty meters. Seven: Why do you need me? Ducane: Your ocular implant. It can detect disruptions in space-time better than our sensors. Braxton: You're more familiar with Voyager and her crew, less likely to arouse suspicion. So far, you've been quite useful. Seven: So far? Braxton: We've recruited you twice before for this mission. Take a look. A force three temporal disrupter. Your previous attempts to disable it have been unsuccessful. Ducane: We're trying to catch the saboteur before he places the weapon on Voyager. Seven: Do you have a suspect? Ducane: Not yet. Seven: Do you know when the device was placed? Ducane: Not precisely, but we've narrowed the window to a period two years before you joined the crew, when the ship was under attack. Seven: Species three two nine, the Kazon. Ducane: Our database indicates Voyager was boarded twice during that period. Seven: The Kazon are an inferior species. They don't possess the technology to create such a complex weapon. Ducane: We believe the saboteur infiltrated this time frame because Voyager's shields were down. It was the perfect opportunity to evade the detection. Seven: If I fail, you will recruit me again. Braxton: If necessary. This'll be the third time you're going to be removed from your time frame. If we do it a fourth, there could be certain side effects. Seven: Side effects? Ducane: You might experience sensory aphasia. It affects the cerebral cortex and can lead to temporal psychosis. Braxton: But in your case we're hoping third time's a charm, eh? Seven: I'll do my best. Braxton: Bring her up to date on our protocols. Ducane: Aye, sir. Braxton: When you're finished here, meet me in holomatrix one. I've prepared a simulation. Ducane: Let's see how much you've assimilated. The Dali paradox. Seven: Also known as the Melting Clock Effect. It refers to a temporal fissure which slows the passage of time to a gradual halt. Ducane: The Pogo Paradox. Seven: A causality loop in which interference to prevent an event actually triggers the same event. Ducane: Excellent. Can you give me an example? Seven: The Borg once traveled back in time to stop Zefram Cochrane from breaking the warp barrier. They succeeded, but that in turn led the starship Enterprise to intervene. They assisted Cochrane with the flight the Borg was trying to prevent. Causal loop complete. Ducane: So, in a way, the Federation owes its existence to the Borg. Seven: You're welcome. The Seven of Nine paradox. Ducane: I beg your pardon? Seven: How we do know that my presence on Voyager will not alter the timeline? Ducane: You know, you've asked me this every time. Seven: What's been your response? Ducane: That uncertainty is part of the equation. We don't know what's going to happen. Seven: I don't enjoy uncertainty. Ducane: Neither do I. But I trust Captain Braxton's instincts, just as you trust Captain Janeway's. Braxton: This is a simulation of junction forty nine on Voyager's fourth deck. Thanks to you, we've learned that the temporal disrupter was, and will be, concealed here. I gave up trying to keep my tenses straight years ago. Seven: How will I disarm it? Braxton: You've already tried, unsuccessfully. The weapon's out of phase. You'll have to find the saboteur before he plants it. This will detect any chronoton flux other than your own, and I'm authorizing you to use whatever force may be necessary. Seven: Understood. Braxton: One more thing. Watch out for the Janeway Factor. Seven: I am not familiar with that protocol. Braxton: Your Captain has a knack for sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, especially when it comes to time travel. Seven: Captain Janeway is quite resourceful. Has it occurred to you that she may be helpful? Braxton: Helpful? That woman has been responsible for three major temporal incursions. Seven: No doubt creating numerous paradoxes. Braxton: And who do you think had to repair the damage? Me. She's reckless. She has no regard for the integrity of the timeline. I asked for her help once. She refused and I ended up stranded in the late twentieth century. Have you ever been to that time frame? Seven: No. Braxton: Well, I don't recommend it. After three decades with those post-industrial barbarians I had to go through extensive rehabilitation before I could return to duty. Avoid contact with Janeway. That's an order. Seven: Yes, sir. Ducane: This will occlude your Borg implants. Ready? Seven: Yes. Braxton: We have a saying in our line of work. There's no time like the past. Ducane: Raise shields. Time frame, stardate 49123.5621. Delta quadrant. Spatial coordinates, twenty one alpha prime by nine three six zeta. Target, USS Voyager. Chakotay: All hands to battle stations. We're under attack. Repeat, all hands to battle stations. Janeway: Return fire. Paris: Dropping spatial charges. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Tuvok: Shields down to twenty percent. Chakotay: Another Kazon ship is approaching. Janeway: Janeway to Engineering. We need warp engines. Torres: I can't give them to you. Not until I've repaired the containment generator. Janeway: Time? Torres: I'll need ten minutes at least. Kim: Captain, I'm picking up a strange reading on deck four. Janeway: What kind of reading? Kim: It's a chronoton flux, point zero zero three. Chakotay: Any idea what's causing it? Kim: Not yet. Tuvok: It could be random interference from Kazon weapons fire. Janeway: I don't think so. I've seen these readings before. Seven: There's no sign of the weapon. Braxton: Any uninvited guests? Seven: Not yet. Tuvok: The lead vessel's been disabled. The others are regrouping. Chakotay: B'Elanna, status. Torres: Warp drive's online, but the containment field's still unstable. Warp two is the best I can give you. Chakotay: I'll take it. Engage. Paris: They're not pursuing. Janeway: Dry dock. Kim: Ma'am? Janeway: The first time I saw these readings was over two years ago when Voyager was in dry dock. Same readings, same location. Kim: What caused them? Janeway: I never found out. The signal vanished before we could isolate it. Erect a level ten forcefield around that section. Chakotay: Is this really the time to be chasing sensor ghosts? Janeway: Something tells me this is more than a coincidence. Seal off deck four. Tuvok, you're with me. Seven: They've erected forcefields around my location. I may have been detected. How shall I proceed? Lieutenant, respond. Braxton: What's wrong? Ducane: The forcefields are blocking our transmissions. Braxton: Compensate. Seven of Nine, report. Seven: Relativity, are you there? Ducane: It's no use, sir. She can't hear us. Janeway: I don't believe we've been introduced, Ensign. Seven: Lower the forcefield. Janeway: I stand corrected. We have met. Utopia Janeway: Planitia, the briefing room. You told me it Janeway: Was efficient. Braxton: Janeway. Seven: You've Seven: Mistaken me for someone else. Janeway: Oh, I don't think so. Janeway: So, here you are, two years later Janeway: On the other side of the galaxy. Imagine that. Seven: You're preventing me from completing a vital mission. Janeway: Who are you, and what are you doing on my ship? Braxton: Don't say anything Ducane: She can't hear you, sir. Seven: My designation is irrelevant, But I assure you I have no hostile Seven: Intentions. Janeway: Somehow, I don't find that very comforting. Are you working with the Kazon? Seven: No, I am not. Tuvok: I'm detecting biomechanical implants. They have a Borg signature. Janeway: Janeway to the bridge. Scan the vicinity for Borg ships. Chakotay: Did you say Borg? Janeway: Do it. Seven: You will find none. Janeway: Then how did you get here? Seven: I'm no longer Borg. Janeway: Then who are you? Seven: I can't answer your questions. Braxton: Good. Janeway: Why not? Seven: It would be a violation of the Temporal Prime Directive. Janeway: You're from another time? Seven: Yes. Braxton: No. Janeway: Who sent you? Seven: I can't tell you that. I would be risking damage to the timeline. Janeway: I don't care if history itself comes unraveled, I want to know Janeway: Why you're on my ship. Tuvok: What's that? Seven: You must release me. Tuvok: Why? Seven: Voyager is in grave danger. Janeway: So we've noticed. Seven: Not from the Kazon. From an act of sabotage. I've been sent here to stop it. The intruder has already boarded the ship. Please, your lives depend on it. Janeway: You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's happening. Seven: My name is Seven of Nine. I'm a member of your crew. Rather, I will be a member of your crew. Seven: I've traveled back in time to try to prevent a disaster that will destroy Voyager. Braxton: Get her out of there. Ducane: I'm trying. Janeway: Let's see if I've got this straight. You're a Borg drone attempting to prevent a disaster that won't occur for another three years? Seven: Three years six months and two days. Janeway: Does this make any sense to you? Tuvok: Like most time paradoxes, it's implausible, but not necessarily illogical. Seven: Captain, when you take me from the Borg you are going to tell me that part of being human is learning to trust. Trust me now. Janeway: Lower the forcefield. Seven: Seven of Nine to Braxton. Respond. Braxton: Stay where you are. We're pulling you out. Seven: That would be unwise. I am pursuing the saboteur Seven: With Captain Janeway's assistance. Ducane: Tempus fugit. Braxton: Proceed. Seven: Yes, sir. The intruder is in junction fifty two beta. Janeway: Take the starboard hatch. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Seven: Captain Braxton. Lower the temporal disruptor. Braxton: It's armed. I'll activate it. Lower your weapons. Braxton: Janeway. Janeway: Have we met? Braxton: Too many times, but you wouldn't remember. They haven't occurred yet. Braxton: Seven of Nine, report. Seven: I have located the saboteur. Braxton: Who is it? Seven: It's you, Seven: Captain Braxton. Braxton: Me? Braxton: More accurately, a future you. Future Braxton: Now let me complete our mission. Braxton: Our mission? I don't know what you're talking about. Future Braxton: Listen Braxton: very carefully. The circumstances of your life are going to change in the next few years. You'll be sent into rehabilitation again, forced to retire, and it's all because of Voyager. Seven: Captain, I believe your future self is suffering from temporal psychosis. Braxton: Well of course I am, you pedantic drone. The only way for me, for us, to recover is to obliterate Voyager from the timeline. That way, none of the events that caused this illness will have occurred. Janeway: What events? Braxton: Thirty years of exile on twentieth century Earth. The temporal inversion in the Takara sector. Three violations that I had to repair. Braxton: Can you get a lock on him? Ducane: Negative. He's activated a dispersal node. I should say, you've activated a dispersal node. Braxton: Don't be absurd. I have no wish to sabotage Voyager. Ducane: Not yet. Braxton: Remodulate the transporters. Find a way to cut through the interference. I gave you an order, Lieutenant. Ducane: I'm sorry, sir. I'm taking command of this vessel, and I'm relieving you of duty for crimes you're going to commit. Braxton: I haven't done anything. Ducane: Seven of Nine Ducane: Apprehend Braxton. Braxton: No. Seven: Relativity, he's escaped. Ducane: I'm tracking him. He's traveled to another time frame, two years earlier. Seven: Transport me to those coordinates. Ducane: That would be your fourth jump. Seven: I am aware of the risks. Ducane: Stand by. Seven: Thank you for your assistance. Patterson: There's still some work to be done but, er, once the sawdust clears I think you'll be impressed. Voyager may not be as big as a Galaxy class ship but she's quick Seven: Take cover! Janeway: Security, report to deck four, section twelve. Erect forcefields around all access points. Is this part of the tour? Seven: I've lost him. Ducane: He's still on Voyager Ducane: But he's gone five years ahead. Seven: Initiate transport. Paris: Yes! Neelix: Point, server. Paris: It's all in the wrist. Torres: Score? Neelix: Nineteen eighteen. Paris: Who are you? Paris: Bridge, intruder alert, deck two. Seven: Explain. Future Seven: No time. You must apprehend him. He's trying to destroy Voyager. Ducane: Seven of Nine, status. Future Seven: I am incapacitated. It's sensory aphasia. Ducane: Stand by. Ducane: I'm pulling you out. Seven: Stop him. Your future depends on it. Ducane: Braxton? Seven: I disabled his tricorder. He's trapped there. Seven of Nine is pursuing him. She is efficient. She will succeed. Ducane: Let's hope so, because we've run out of options. Braxton: You again! Janeway: I don't believe we've met, Ensign. No, I'm wrong, we have met. Captain Braxton. Braxton: Not anymore. I've lost my rank thanks to you. Future Seven: Seven of Nine to Seven of Nine. What's your status? Seven: We've apprehended Braxton. How shall we proceed? Future Seven: Stand by. Braxton: Long time no see. Janeway: Are you all right, Seven? Seven: I believe we've just prevented Voyager's destruction. Janeway: Would you care to explain how you Janeway: The Timeship Relativity. Seven: We need your help. Ducane: This Seven of Nine stopped Braxton, but she created several temporal incursions along the way. She instigated a phaser fight at Utopia Planitia. She was seen by you and Lieutenant Tuvok two years before she joined your crew. And she interacted with her past self in front of fifteen crew members at a Ping-Pong tournament approximately six minutes ago. Your time frame, of course. Janeway: Of course. Ducane: Needless to say, we need to clean up the timeline. Someone must go back to the beginning and prevent the chain of events from occurring in the first place. Seven: I can't make another jump without damaging myself. Janeway: I get the feeling I'm about to be drafted. Ducane: In exchange for leniency, Captain Braxton informed us of the precise moment he boarded Voyager to plant the weapon. We'll be sending you to stop him. Tell her. Braxton: Deck four, section thirty eight. I'll stumble over a wounded crewmember. That will be your chance to capture me. Ducane: Don't miss it, or we'll have to do this all over again. Janeway: Wait a minute, let me get this straight. I'm going back in time to stop Braxton. But you already have him. Ducane: And there's a third one in our brig. I arrested him earlier today. But, don't worry. They'll all be reintegrated in time for the trial. Janeway: And Seven? Ducane: Oh, I assure you, when all this is over there'll be just one Seven of Nine. Janeway: All right. Let's get started before my headache gets any worse. Torres: Captain, a Kazon torpedo just blew out the containment generator. Do you want me to reroute emergency power or take the warp core offline? Janeway: Use your best judgment. Torres: I thought you were on your way to the bridge. Janeway: I have to take care of something first. Now get moving, Lieutenant. PAST Janeway: Send damage control teams to decks nine through fourteen. Seal the breaches if you can. I'll be on the Bridge. Keep me informed. Crewwoman: Yes, ma'am. Braxton: Oh! Janeway: Come here often? Ducane: Incursion factor point zero zero three six. It's better than I expected. Janeway: Glad we could lend a hand. When do we go home? Ducane: You'll both be returned to your time frame. You'll be reintegrated with the other Seven of Nine. Since none of your time jumps were to your foreseeable future, only the past, I see no reason to resequence your memory engrams. But remember the Temporal Prime Directive. Discuss your experiences with no one. Janeway: Understood. Ducane: Oh, Captain. Braxton was right about one thing. Voyager shows up on our sensors far too often. Try to avoid time travel. Janeway: See you in the twenty fourth century. Seven: I look forward to it, or should I say, backward? Janeway: Don't get started.

Paris: Show mercy. Neelix: Your people have a saying. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. In other words, your credit's no good here. Paris: I'll pay you back double with next month's replicator rations. Neelix: That's what you said when I let you replicate all those pork rinds for your monster movie marathon. Paris: Let me put it another way. This is a life and death situation. Neelix: Hyperbole won't help. Paris: I'm not exaggerating. This is the anniversary of my first date with B'Elanna. Neelix: And you forgot all about it? Paris: Yes. And if I don't come through with some kind of romantic dinner Neelix: All right, you've made your case. Paris: Neelix, you're a saint. Okay, that'll be one bottle of Mouton Rothschild, a 2342 if it's in the database. A Terrelian pheasant, steamed asparagus, and a single rose. Neelix: Where do you want it? Paris: You can send the food requisition to B'Elanna's replicator, the wine and the flower I'll take with me. I can't show up empty-handed. Kim: Neelix, how about a pot of coffee while you're at it? Neelix: Coming right up. Kim: Flowers and wine? Paris: Ah, anniversary. Coffee? Kim: Bridge duty. I've got eight hours ahead of me. Neelix: Sitting in the big chair again? Kim: Fourth night in a row. Paris: You're not fooling anyone. Kim: Excuse me? Paris: You love these night shifts. Your chance to play Captain. Kim: I'm not playing. This is an opportunity to get command experience. You might put in for some yourself. Paris: Oh, what's the point of trying to compete with an ambitious upstart like you? Just promise me one thing. When you reach the top, you'll remember all the little people you climbed over to get there. You won't make them work night shifts? Kim: Helm, status? Jenkins: Same as it was twenty minutes ago. Kim: Refresh my memory. Jenkins: Current speed warp six point three, heading oh twenty one mark two. Permission to speak freely, sir? Kim: Granted. Jenkins: We're on the night shift. Relax. Kim: One of these days you'll get the call to take the bridge, and maybe then you'll understand the burden of command. Kim: Report. Jenkins: It's an automated distress call. Kim: Origin? Jenkins: A class M planet, range point seven three light years, bearing two six one mark one five. Kim: That would be a significant course change. Jenkins: The burden of command is on your shoulders, sir. Of course, we could always wake Commander Chakotay. Kim: No. Alter course. Kim: Open a channel. This is Ensign Kim of the Starship Voyager. Can we be of assistance? Jenkins: I'm not picking up on any lifesigns. I guess they didn't make it. Kim: There could be any number of reasons why we're not detecting lifesigns. We'll have to go down there and take a look. I'll inform the Commander. Oh, Jenkins? The bridge is yours. Kim: I hope I made the right decision. Chakotay: About changing course or waking me up? Kim: Sorry, sir, but I thought Chakotay: Relax, Harry, you did the right thing on both counts. Hey, why don't you lead the away team? I'll monitor your progress from the bridge. Kim: Yes, sir. Emh: The distress call was automated? Kim: That's right. I'm hoping whoever sent it is still alive. Emh: Who's leading the mission? Kim: You're looking at him. Emh: Really? Kim: Problem? Emh: No. I just thought, given the circumstances, a new planet, unknown hazards, that Commander Chakotay or Tuvok would be in charge. Kim: I am a senior officer, Doc. I've been on this ship for five years. I think I can handle an away mission. Emh: I certainly didn't mean any offense. Kim: None taken. Emh: Of course, having me on the team will certainly compensate for any lack of experience on your part. Kim: Energize. Emh: Are you sure these are the right coordinates? Kim: Positive. Emh: Apparently, whoever sent the distress call was rescued. Kim: Maybe, but as long as we're here we should make a thorough search. Spread out. Emh: Ensign. Kim: This is the source of the distress call. Emh: What is it? Kim: I don't know. Paratrinic shielding, a dense energy matrix, bioneural circuitry. Emh: Bioneural? Kim: Whoa, back off. This could be dangerous. Emh: No, wait. It's speaking to us. Kim: Speaking? Emh: In duotronic algorithms. Hold on. My translation matrix is interpreting. It says it's injured. It needs our help. It's asking why it can't see, or feel its arms and legs. It's terrified. Can you identify yourself? It's saying that its memory has been damaged. It doesn't remember its name. Don't worry. We're going to help you. Crewman Lang will remain with you. Kim: What do you think? An artificial intelligence? Emh: One that doesn't seem to realize its artificial. Kim: Maybe we should tell it the truth. try to jog its memory. Emh: No. I don't want to risk psychological trauma. Kim: Psychological trauma? Doc, this is a machine. Emh: One which is confused and asking for our help. We should beam it aboard. Kim: Not until we know what we're dealing with. Away mission protocols dictate that we Emh: Morality dictates that we help. It may not be flesh and blood, but it's clearly in distress. Paris: Make way for the day shift. Janeway: How's he doing? Chakotay: Well, let's see. I haven't heard from him in almost five minutes so he should be checking in right about Kim: Away team to Voyager. Chakotay: Now. Janeway: That's our Harry. If I were you, I'd watch out for your job. Go ahead, Ensign. Kim: We found the source of the distress call. It's some Kim: Kind of artificial intelligence, badly damaged. The Doctor thinks we should beam it aboard. Janeway: You're in charge of the away mission, Ensign. What do you think? Kim: Well, I think we should help it if we can. But as a precaution, I recommend sealing off an Engineering bay with a level ten force field and Kim: Beaming it directly there. Janeway: Agreed. Give us a few minutes. Emh: We're going to transport you back to our ship. I'm Voyager's Emergency Medical Hologram. A projection of light and force fields guided by an optronic computer program. No. Technically speaking, I suppose I'm not a real person. Janeway: How's our patient? Torres: Complicated. It uses bioneural circuitry to mimic humanoid synaptic functions. Kim: But its memory core is damaged. It's suffering from a technological form of amnesia. Janeway: Any theories as to what it might be? Torres: It could be a probe, or a communications device. Emh: Whoever our friend is, he wasn't alone. He claims to have been traveling with a companion. Janeway: If there's another one down there, it might give us a few answers. I'll be in Astrometrics scanning the surface. Give our guest my regards. Emh: Of course, Captain. Lower the containment field. Emh: How are you? Well, that's an interesting question. Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Torres are attempting to repair your damaged circuitry. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. You're not an organic being. You're technological. You're an artificial intelligence embedded in a machine of some kind. No, there's no mistake. We believe the damage you suffered in the crash is causing your confusion. Look at it this way. You and I have something in common. Just because we're not organic beings doesn't mean we're in any way inferior. Well, you're metallic, over a meter in length, cylindrical. Oh, you're quite sleek, actually. You're welcome. Seven: I'm detecting no further technology on the planet surface. Janeway: Maybe the second device was destroyed when it crashed. Scan for metallic particulates consistent with our friend in Engineering. Seven: There are minute traces scattered across the northern continent. Janeway: Isolate. An impact crater. Seven: It spans a radius of two hundred kilometers. Janeway: And look at this. Heavy concentrations of radiogenic decay in the crater walls. And the fracture gradients are consistent with a highly focused explosion. Seven: Evidently, we've discovered its function. Janeway: A weapon of mass destruction. Emh: I understand your concerns, but the device hasn't shown itself to be hostile. Torres: Not yet. But it's only a matter of time before it puts the pieces together. Emh: All the more reason we should talk to it, explain our concerns. Ask for help in defusing its explosive components. Chakotay: If it's programmed to detonate, there's no telling how it will react. Janeway: Agreed, We have to neutralize the threat now. Suggestions? Seven: Transport the device off the ship and destroy it before it harms anyone. Emh: Seven, this is a sentient being we're talking about. Seven: Very well. Return it to the surface and deploy a warning buoy to alert other vessels. Emh: I refuse to believe our only options are to kill it or abandon it. Torres: What if we could separate the bioneural circuitry from the explosive? Janeway: Take the weapon offline but salvage the intelligence. Kim: They're fully integrated. Where would we store the intelligence once we shut the device down? Emh: The answer's obvious. Download it's synaptic patterns to a holographic matrix, like mine. Chakotay: Then what? Emh: Try to find out where it came from, and return it to it's people. Seven: The device is extremely complex. One error and we'd risk detonation. Emh: Saving life often entails risk. Janeway: Harry, B'Elanna, assist the Doctor. Emh: Thank you, Captain. Janeway: At the first sign of danger, we transport it off the ship. Understood? Emh: Understood. Emh: I quite understand. I wouldn't like being carried around, either. Of course you are, who wouldn't be? We're taking you to Sickbay. Because we're better equipped to help you there. Emh: Deck five. We're going to transfer your intelligence to a holo-matrix. You should be pleased. In a little while, you're going to be walking around just like me. Emh: I'm not certain. Ensign Kim's configuring your physical parameters as we speak. I'm sure you'll be quite handsome. Emh: Are we ready to proceed? Torres: Whenever you are. Emh: Don't be alarmed. We have to access some of your systems to enable the transfer. He says he wants to know exactly what you're doing, as you do it. Torres: This is a delicate procedure. I won't be able to concentrate if I have to give a blow-by-blow description. Emh: You'll have to forgive Lieutenant Torres. She's an excellent engineer. Unfortunately, she doesn't share my bedside manner. Torres: Harry, would you mind? Kim: Yeah, sure. Er, well, first we're going to be setting up an active interlink between you and the holo-systems. Er, now, to do that, er, we're going to take your program offline while we resequence your bioneural circuitry. Emh: He says he can't allow you to shut him down. Torres: I'm sorry, but there's no other way. Torres: It's arming itself. The detonation sequence has begun. Kim: Sickbay to bridge. The device is going to detonate. Kim: Beam it off the ship. Chakotay: We've lost the transporter lock. Janeway: Talk to it, Doctor. Emh: Please, you're going to destroy yourself, and us. Kim: Detonation in twenty seconds. Janeway: B'Elanna, send an EM pulse through it's power matrix. Maybe you can short it out. Torres: I'm on it. Kim: Fifteen seconds. Emh: Please disarm yourself. We're just trying to help you. Kim: Ten seconds. Nine. Torres: Initiating the pulse. Kim: Six. Five. Torres: Now. Kim: It worked. Kim: We shut it down, Captain. Bomb Emh: You shouldn't have done that. Torres: I know you've gotten a little attached to this thing, but. Bomb Emh: You lied. Torres: What are you talking about? Bomb Emh: You said you were trying to transfer my neural patterns, but you were really trying to shut me down. Torres: You're the artificial intelligence. Kim: It used the interlink to commandeer the Doctor's program. Torres: Sickbay to bridge. Captain, respond. He's tapped into the ship's systems, deactivated the comm. Kim: He's locked us in, too. Bomb Emh: You tried to destroy me. Kim: We were only trying to disarm you. Bomb Emh: I'm a weapon. Kim: Yes. Bomb Emh: Why didn't you tell me? Kim: It was a precaution. We were afraid you might be dangerous. Torres: Obviously, we were right. Bomb Emh: I couldn't let you destroy me. I have to complete my mission. Kim: You remember it now? Bomb Emh: Yes. I'm a long range tactical armor unit. I've been deployed by my people. They're facing a terrible threat. A hostile species. My companion unit was destroyed, but I will reach my target. Your ship will take me there. Kim: Look, we'll try and contact your people. If you could tell us who they are. Bomb Emh: I must resume my mission! Chakotay: The weapon's been rearmed. Janeway: Security? Chakotay: They still can't gain access to Sickbay, or any part of deck five, for that matter. Janeway: Get a transporter lock on our people. We'll jettison the whole damn section if we have to. Bomb Emh: I wouldn't recommend that, Captain. If you try to stop me again, I'll detonate. Your ship and everyone on it will be destroyed. I'm transferring a new heading to the helm. You'll proceed to the coordinates at maximum velocity. Janeway: Doctor? Bomb Emh: He's gone. Paris: He's directing us to a system two point three light years from here. Janeway: Is that your home? Bomb Emh: It's my target. The course I've plotted bypasses enemy minefields. Don't deviate from it. Your ship won't be harmed. Once we've reached the system, you'll transport me to my target. Janeway: We won't help you wage war. This crew has a Prime Directive that forbids us to interfere in the affairs of other species. Bomb Emh: You've already interfered. Janeway: We were trying to help you. Bomb Emh: Until you discovered my true nature. Then you tried to deactivate me. Janeway: Just your explosive components, not you. Bomb Emh: There's no distinction. I am what I am. Now alter course or I'll detonate! Janeway: If you do that, you'll never reach your target, will you? Bomb Emh: I am programmed to take whatever measures are necessary to obtain my objective. Failing that, I'm to consider anyone who tries to stop me an enemy. Now alter course, and transfer your sensors to me so I can monitor your compliance. Janeway: Release my crewmen from Sickbay first. Bomb Emh: I'm not programmed to negotiate. They'll remain were they are. Janeway: Lay in the course, Mister Paris. Transfer sensors to Sickbay. Bomb Emh: A sound tactical decision, Captain. Janeway: Assemble the staff. We're going to find a way to outsmart a smart bomb. Paris: If we could shut down the force fields around Sickbay, I could get a transporter lock on it. Seven: Even if you were successful, we can't beam it far enough from the ship to escape the blast. Chakotay: She's right. Our best option is to disarm it. Paris: Good luck. It's got an internal sensor array. If we try so much as to loosen a screw, boom. Neelix: Commander, I think you should take a look at this. It's a power node I used to enhance the replicator system. I acquired it last week on a trading mission. It has transkinetic energy regulators and bioneural control circuitry. Remind you of anything? Chakotay: Our friend in Sickbay. Neelix: I didn't make the connection at first, but when I overheard a few of the engineers talking about the weapon I went back and I checked the schematics on this. It's the same technology. Chakotay: Who did you acquire it from? Neelix: A merchant named Onquanii. Seven: Did he say where he got it? Neelix: No, but he seemed eager to trade. Maybe he'd tell us if we made it worth his while. Chakotay: Scan for his vessel. If you find him, send an encoded message. Tell him about our problem. Paris: Aye, sir. Torres: If we could tap into the holo-projectors without his knowing it we might be able to shut him down. Kim: He changed all the access codes. The second we try to decrypt them, he'll restart the detonation sequence. Torres: Do you have a better idea? Kim: Yeah. Let the Captain handle it. The last thing anyone needs is my opinion. Torres: This is no time to be feeling sorry for yourself. Kim: Chakotay lets me make a command decision. What do I do? I beam a talking bomb on board. Torres: The first time I commanded an away mission, I led my people into a cave that I thought was a Cardassian military installlation. Turned out I'd mistaken unstable mineral deposits for weapons signatures. There was a rock slide and we were stuck there for three days. Kim: What did you do? Torres: We dug ourselves out with our bare hands. Where are you going? Kim: To dig us out. Kim: You don't have to do this, you know. Bomb Emh: It's what I was programmed for. Kim: You're a sentient being. You don't have to be a slave to your programming. Look at the Doctor. Bomb Emh: He's a tool. A holographic puppet. Kim: That puppet saved your life. If it weren't for him you'd still be damaged and alone on that planet. He's the one that convinced me to beam you aboard. And when we discovered what you were, and some people wanted to destroy you, the Doctor defended your right to exist. Bomb Emh: What's your point? Kim: Even though he was only programmed to be a doctor, he's become more than that. He's made friends, he's piloted a starship, he even sings. Bomb Emh: Despite all of his achievements, did he ever stop being a doctor? Kim: No, but Bomb Emh: And I can't stop being a weapon. Kim: Look at yourself. You're already much more than that. You've got a body now, eyes to see with. The second you detonate, that'll all be over. Bomb Emh: That's the nature of what I am. Kim: It doesn't have to be. We can give you your own holo-matrix. You can exist for as long as you want. Accomplish anything you set your mind to. Bomb Emh: The only thing I want to accomplish is the destruction of my target. Kim: What is your target? Bomb Emh: A military installlation on Salinia Prime. Grid eleven, vector nine three four one. Kim: Tell me about it. Who's the enemy? Bomb Emh: A ruthless, violent race that's threatening to destroy my people. Kim: What else do you know about them? What's their planet like? Are there forests, wildlife, schools for the children of this violent race? Bomb Emh: I'm not programmed with superfluous data. Kim: Well, lucky for you. You're aboard Voyager now, and you have access to our scanners. Why don't we take a closer look at your target? Bomb Emh: A military installlation, as I told you. Kim: But it's manned. Bomb Emh: By soldiers. Kim: Who are going to suffer because of you. Remember when you were suffering, blind and paralyzed? Do you really want to make others go through that? Bomb Emh: I have a duty to protect my people. I will not betray them. Now get out before I'm forced to harm you. Torres: Nice try. Paris: I'm reading a subspace surge off our port bow. Chakotay: Looks like a cloaked ship. Neelix: It could be him. Onquanii travels in a cloaked vessel. Paris: We're being hailed. Audio only. Chakotay: Open a channel. Onquanii: Voyager! Good to see you again. Neelix: And you, sir. Onquanii: I received your message. Have you an intelligent weapon in your possession? Neelix: Actually, we're in its possession. We're being held hostage. Do you know anything about this weapon? Onquanii: If I'm correct, it was created by a species named the Druoda. I've studied their technology. Bring me aboard. I can assist you. Onquanii: You've deactivated your comm. system? Janeway: And reinforced the shielding in this section. We won't be overheard. Onquanii: I'd have more faith in your security precautions if you weren't already at the mercy of this weapon. Chakotay: We didn't know what it was when we brought it aboard. Onquanii: This particular series has a class eleven intelligence factor. It's warp-capable, fully armored, self-guiding. It has a maximum range of eighty light years. It can fly through an ion storm or an armada of hostile ships and still find its target. Janeway: Charming. How do I get it off my ship? Onquanii: You can't. But I can. My transporter system employs a dampening field which disables the detonator until my engineers can disarm it. Janeway: That's a generous offer. Mind if I ask what you expect in return? Onquanii: The device itself. Janeway: I'm not about to hand over a weapon of mass destruction to someone I just met. Onquanii: Oh, my business is salvage, not war. I've no intention of deploying it. Chakotay: But you might sell it to someone who does. I imagine you'd stand to make quite a profit. Onquanii: I can make more profit by selling off it's components. The energy matrix alone can power a fleet of starships. And its intelligence core, properly reprogrammed, can assist in a variety of things, from terraforming to planetary weather control. Janeway: All right. You can have the weapon, as long as we keep the energy matrix. That way we can be sure no one ever deploys it. Onquanii: I'm afraid that's unacceptable. The energy matrix is one of the most valuable components. Janeway: I'm sorry, it's not open for negotiation. Neelix: We could offer you a few dilithium crystals in compensation. Onquanii: That matrix worth a thousand dilithium crystals. Neelix: What if we threw in a plasma manifold? Onquanii: I want the entire weapon, or it remains here. Captain? Chakotay: You seem awfully intent for someone only interested in salvage. Janeway: I'm sorry to waste your time. We'll have to find another way to solve our problem. Onquanii: I wish you luck. Neelix: Sorry, Captain. I thought it would help. Janeway: Bridge, report. Paris: The alien vessel has opened fire. We've lost weapons and shields. Bomb Emh: Sickbay to Captain, what's happening? Janeway: We're under attack. Bomb Emh: How many ships? Janeway: One, off the port bow. Bomb Emh: Return fire. Janeway: We can't. Check your sensors. Our weapons are offline. Chakotay: The forcefields around Sickbay are destabilizing. He's trying to get a transporter lock on the weapon. Janeway: Remodulate the shields. Chakotay: No effect. Torres: What are you doing? Chakotay: The weapon's sending an antimatter surge back through the transporter beam. Chakotay: They've been destroyed. Janeway: That wasn't necessary. Bomb Emh: They were an enemy. Bomb Emh: Maintain course. Seven: I've studied the weapon's schematics. My nanoprobes can be adapted to disable its bioneural circuitry. However, I would need direct access to its primary control port. Janeway: That means getting you into Sickbay without arousing suspicion. Chakotay: We could access the holomatrix controls above Sickbay, disrupt the Doctor's program long enough for Seven to inject the nanoprobes. Janeway: How much time would you need? Seven: Approximately twenty seconds. Janeway: Run a long range scan on that subspace minefield it warned us about. Calculate their explosive yield, what kind of damage they might do to the ship. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: What have you got in mind? Janeway: I have a feeling we're about to run into some unexpected trouble. Seven: We've analyzed the alien minefield and calculated the effect it would have on Voyager. Paris: I think I can simulated the explosions with a well-timed disruption to the inertial dampers. Of course, asking me to give you a bumpy ride is like asking a virtuoso to sing off-key. Chakotay: I'm sure you'll manage. The weapon has access to our sensors. How do we make sure it won't catch on? Seven: We've reconfigured the sensor array to send it false telemetry. It will believe we're navigating a minefield. Paris: At least long enough for us to get Seven to Sickbay. Chakotay: How? Paris: Medical emergency. Seven: I intend to suffer third-degree plasma burns during our encounter with the mines. Neelix: That's where I come in. Chief Cosmetics officer, at your service. Chakotay: Another hidden talent, Neelix? Neelix: I know my way around a dermal regenerator. I should be able to simulate a convincing wound. Chakotay: Okay, we get her inside. Then what? Seven: Commander Tuvok will be in position to disrupt the Doctor's program. Once that happens, I will inject the nanoprobes and disable the weapon. Chakotay: I'll inform the Captain. Get started. Paris: Do well on this mission, Neelix, and maybe the Captain will promote you to Senior Beautician. Bomb Emh: Assist me. Kim: With what? Bomb Emh: I'm trying to identify the malfunction that caused me to crash, but several of my memory files are still damaged. Restore them. Torres: We tried helping it before and look where that got us. Kim: When taken captive by a hostile force, seek out any opportunity to engage the assailant. Didn't you ever read the officers' manual? Section one twenty six. Torres: I don't think Starfleet diplomacy is going to work this time. If we cooperate, we'll be giving it the advantage. Kim: If there's even a chance that we can convince it to change its mind Torres: It's a bomb, Harry. Kim: A sentient bomb. Bomb Emh: I said, assist me! Kim: Where do we start? Bomb Emh: There are several disruptions in my memory index, including a three minute thirty seven second gap just prior to the crash. Torres: A recursive search algorithm might retrieve the missing data. There. You received a subspace transmission. A command to alter course and head toward the planet surface. Kim: Looks like your landing wasn't an accident. Bomb Emh: It was an attempt by the enemy to divert me from my target. Torres: No, your access codes are encrypted. Bomb Emh: They must have developed an infiltration code. Kim: What if it wasn't the enemy? Bomb Emh: Who else would try to divert me? Kim: Correct me if I'm wrong, but these are the same duotronic algorithms that you use to communicate with. Bomb Emh: My own people wouldn't try to stop me. Kim: Maybe they changed their mind. Bomb Emh: The enemy is ruthless. My target is a threat. Why would my people call off the assault? Kim: If we clear up some more of these memory files, maybe we'll find out. Bomb Emh: Your assistance is no longer required. Torres: What's wrong? You afraid you might find out you're not supposed to destroy that installlation? Kim: Let us finish the job. Then you can decide what you want to do with the information. Bomb Emh: Proceed. Kim: Does the name Strategic Command Matrix mean anything to you? Bomb Emh: That's my control center. They ordered my launch. Kim: Well, it looks like your orders were rescinded. See for yourself. Bomb Emh: All long range tactical armor units. Terminate mission immediately. Kim: Keep reading. Bomb Emh: It says the war is over. It ended nearly three years ago. My launch was a mistake. There was a malfunction in one of the command sensors. It activated a series of launch sequencers. My people managed to shut most of them down, but thirty four weapons were fired. Including me. Kim: I guess this means you can disarm yourself now. Bomb Emh: No. There's no confirmation code here. We avoided the enemy's minefield so they're trying to deceive us. Torres: The confirmation could be in one of your damaged memory files. Bomb Emh: Or maybe it was you. Deceiving me to implement your pacifist philosophy. Kim: That's not true. Bomb Emh: You lied to me before. Why should I trust you now? Torres: You don't have to trust us. Just access those files. Bomb Emh: No! I am programmed to destroy my target. I will complete my mission! Kim: If the war is over, you could end up starting another one. How many of your people will die then? Bomb Emh: Sickbay to Bridge. Bomb Emh: Report. Janeway: We've run into a subspace mine. We had to drop out of warp. Bomb Emh: There shouldn't be mines along this course. Chakotay: We're detecting thousands of them scattered throughout the region. Janeway: We're plotting a new course to avoid them. Bomb Emh: Transmit it to me. This trajectory will delay us for two days. Kim: That'll give you time to confirm that the war is over. Bomb Emh: No! Proceed as planned! I'm programming a shield enhancement Bomb Emh: That will protect Voyager. Janeway: I'm still going to have to reduce speed. Bomb Emh: Agreed. But only until we've cleared the minefield. Janeway: Maintain course, Mister Paris. One quarter impulse. Think he bought it? Chakotay: He seemed to. Janeway: Let's give him another good shake, just to be sure. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Kim: That was another mine. Bomb Emh: The shields will hold. Tuvok: Tuvok to bridge. I have accessed the holo-matrix. Janeway: Acknowledged. Janeway: Janeway to Neelix. Casualty report. Neelix: I'm putting the finishing touches on Seven's plasma burn and it looks pretty authentic, if I do say so myself. Janeway: Good work. Stand by. Janeway: Time to hit another mine, Tom a big one. Commander, blow out the plasma relays on deck six. Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay. We have heavy casualties. Bomb Emh: Maintain heading and speed. Janeway: That's going to be difficult. Our Astrometrics officer has been injured. She's the one who's been guiding us through the minefield. Bomb Emh: Replace her. Janeway: Seven of Nine's abilities are unique. We're not going to get past Janeway: These mines without her. Bomb Emh: Then treat her injuries and send her back to her post. Janeway: She has third degree plasma burns. She needs to go to Sickbay to be treated. If you want to reach your target you're going to have to wait. Bomb Emh: All right, Captain. But I'm warning you. No deceptions. Janeway: Janeway to Neelix. Go. Bomb Emh: Treat her as quickly as possible. Chakotay: They're in. Tuvok: Now, Tuvok. Bomb Emh: Bridge, my holo-matrix is destabilizing. Why? Janeway: We took damage to our secondary systems. Bomb Emh: Repair them. Now! Or I'll activate the detonation sequence. Janeway: Stand by. Torres: What's going on? Neelix: She's trying to defuse the weapon. Neelix: Seven! She's going into neural shock. Help me. Bomb Emh: Sickbay to Bridge. Your attempt to disable me did not succeed. I am designed to repel any Bomb Emh: Assault on my bioneural circuitry. Janeway: We've tried to reason with you. You left me no choice. Bomb Emh: And you leave me Bomb Emh: No choice. You and your crew will abandon Voyager immediately. Janeway: No deal. Bomb Emh: This is not a negotiation! Comply or I will detonate! Janeway: Go ahead. Do it. Bomb Emh: Everyone on board will be killed! Janeway: But no one else will. Paris: Captain, thirty two vessels just dropped out of warp off our port bow. Janeway: On screen. Tuvok: One of them is transmitting a message to the Doctor. Janeway: Bridge to Sickbay. We've got company. Thirty two Janeway: Self-guided weapons. Bomb Emh: They detected my presence aboard your vessel. They say my target is essential. They altered course to ensure that I reach it. They are ordering me to transport off your vessel. Bomb Emh: They will tractor me to my target. Janeway: Mister Kim, reintegrate its neural matrix, and Janeway: Prepare to beam it off Kim: We can't do that, Captain. Janeway: Explain. Kim: These weapons were fired by accident. We can't let them reach their targets. Bomb Emh: Enough! Captain, order him to proceed. Janeway: Harry, what are you talking about? Kim: Captain, I need Kim: A minute. You're making a mistake. Your own people tried to disarm you Bomb Emh: I cannot be certain of that. Kim: Yes, you can. You can check your memory files. Look for the confirmation code. Bomb Emh: No more delays. Kim: Check the files. Bomb Emh: Reintegrate my matrix! Kim: No! Janeway: Do what Harry says or you're not leaving this ship. Bomb Emh: You're in no position to give me orders. Janeway: If you detonate now, you'll destroy yourself and your companions. Is that what you want? Kim: The confirmation code. Bomb Emh: Coding intersequence four four three, vector three nine one two one. Cessation of hostilities confirmed. Unauthorized launch confirmed. Order to terminate mission confirmed. Kim: You must disarm yourself and tell the others to stand down. Bomb Emh: It's a deception. Kim: This code of yours uses a modulating algorithm. It would be almost impossible to duplicate. Bomb Emh: The enemy is ruthless. They are violent. Kim: Have you ever met the enemy? You're just spouting propaganda, what you've been programmed to believe. Bomb Emh: I have a directive. Kim: It's been countermanded! Bomb Emh: I am a series five, long range tactical armor unit designed to traverse enemy space and circumvent all attempts to deter me. Kim: You're a sentient being. Bomb Emh: I have a duty to protect my people, to destroy my target. Kim: You've been programmed with intelligence so you could make decisions on your own. Well, it's time to make one. Countless lives are at stake. Ever since you took the Doctor's form you've been learning what it's like to be one of us. Now, try to imagine what it's like to be one of your victims. Your first victim. You've seen her suffering. Increase that by a factor of one million, ten million, and that's how much suffering you'll cause if you don't end this. Bomb Emh: They're asking why I haven't left your ship. Kim: Tell them. Bomb Emh: I'm transmitting our orders to terminate the mission. They also received those orders, but they had already crossed the targeting threshold. Once we're within two light years of our target we cannot be diverted. Kim: Tell them the war's over. Bomb Emh: I did. Kim: Tell them you got the message before you crossed the threshold, when you were on the planet surface. Bomb Emh: They don't believe me. Kim: It's up to you to make them understand. Bomb Emh: They only understand their directive. They won't listen. Reintegrate my neural matrix and return me to the others. Kim: We won't do that. Bomb Emh: I have no intention of proceeding to my target. I will stop them. Kim: How? Bomb Emh: I am a weapon of mass destruction. You want me to see past my programming. Then you must try to see past your doubts. Kim: B'Elanna, give me a hand. Bridge, lock onto the weapon. Prepare to beam it into space. Janeway: Harry, what's going on? Kim: Captain, no time to explain. Just trust me on this one. Janeway: I hear you loud and clear, Ensign. Do it. Torres: I've reconfigured the bioneural matrix. Kim: Ready? I'm sorry. Bomb Emh: I am simply completing my mission. Only the target has changed. Torres: Transfer complete. Emh: Please state the nature of the. What happened? How long was I offline? Torres: We'll explain later. Seven needs your help. Kim: Bridge, energize. Chakotay: They've gone into warp. Janeway: Maintain long range sensors. Tuvok: I'm detecting a series of antimatter explosions. Chakotay: In proximity to what? Tuvok: No ships. No planets. Nothing. Janeway: Bridge to Ensign Kim. The weapons have been destroyed. Kim: Anyone home? Emh: Ensign. Feeling well I hope? Kim: Perfect. On my way to the Bridge for another night shift. I came by to check on Seven. Emh: You just missed her. Kim: What's her prognosis? Emh: She'll need another week of regeneration, but I expect she'll make a full recovery. Kim: Good news. Emh: Considering I was responsible for her injuries, you can imagine my relief. Kim: Well, you weren't exactly yourself at the time. Emh: That's not what I mean. I was the one who asked you to bring that device aboard in the first place. I even argued with the Captain to keep it aboard after we learned what it was. Kim: It was an artificial intelligence, like you. But I have to admit, his personality made you seem like Mister Congeniality. Look, Doc, the truth is I never would have gotten through to him without you. Emh: From what I've heard, I wasn't much help. Kim: You were. I held you up as an example of how an artificial intelligence could exceed its programming. I didn't realize how true that was until today. Emh: It seems your strategy worked. Thank you. Kim: I'd better get to the bridge. You never know when Ensign Kim will be called upon to take command again. Emh: Voyager could do worse. Kim: Helm, status? Jenkins: Current speed, warp five, heading oh twenty one, mark three. Kim: Anything on long range sensors? Jenkins: Nothing to report. Kim: As you were. Jenkins: Permission to speak freely, sir. Kim: Why would tonight be any different? Jenkins: People have been talking about you. Kim: Oh? Jenkins: Rumor has it you were the one who outsmarted the smart bomb. Kim: Well, not exactly. I made First Contact with a sentient being. All I did was help it understand a few things. The rest was up to him. Jenkins: Understood. Actually, I've been authorized by the junior staff to thank you for keeping us in one piece. Kim: You're welcome. Any time. Do me a favor? Jenkins: Of course, sir. Kim: No more distress calls. At least not tonight.

Ransom: Stay on your course. Burke: Shields are down to twenty nine percent. They're breaking through. Ransom: Let them. Burke: Sir? Ransom: Take the shields offline and recharge the emitters. That'll bring them up to full power. Burke: The charging cycle takes forty five seconds. We'll be vulnerable. Ransom: We'll be dead if we don't get the shields back up. Arm yourselves! Drop shields. Recharge cycle? Burke: Thirty seconds. Ransom: There! Ransom: Time? Burke: Ten seconds. Ransom: Federation Starship Equinox. We're under attack. We need assistance. This is Captain Ransom of the Federation Starship Equinox. We're under attack. We need assistance. Janeway: Ransom. He was in command of a science vessel. The Equinox. Seven: This distress call was transmitted approximately fourteen hours ago Chakotay: Distance? Seven: Three point two light years. Janeway: Try to get a fix on their location. Chakotay: What's it doing in the Delta Quadrant? Seven: Perhaps it's searching for Voyager. Janeway: The Equinox is a Nova class ship. It was designed for planetary research, not long range tactical missions. Seven: I've got their coordinates. Heading two five eight mark twelve. Janeway: Set a course, maximum warp. Go to red alert. Hang on, Captain. Seven: Did you know this individual? Janeway: Only by reputation. Janeway: He was an exobiologist, promoted to Captain after he made first contact with the Yridians. Seven: Species six two nine one. The Collective determined that they were extinct. Janeway: So did the Federation. Ransom proved otherwise. I always wanted to meet him. Too bad it won't be under better circumstances. Seven: I look forward to meeting him as well, and his crew. I wish to expand my knowledge of humanity. Janeway: Let's hope you get the chance. Paris: Approaching the coordinates. Janeway: Take us out of warp. Kim: I've got them. Two thousand kilometers off the port bow. They're moving at low impulse. Janeway: Intercept. Can you get a visual? Tuvok: They are heavily damaged. Multiple hull breaches. Warp drive is offline. Neelix: What's happening to their shields? Torres: They're being disrupted by some kind of energy surges. Paris: Weapons fire? Tuvok: There are no other ships in the vicinity. Kim: We're in hailing range. Janeway: Open a channel. This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We're responding to your Ransom: Voyager, you've got to extend your shields around our ship! Match the emitter frequency! Janeway: Are you under attack? Ransom: Shields, quickly! Janeway: Do it. Paris: We're in position. Tuvok: I am attempting to match their shield frequency. Emh: Do you hear something? Seven: Interspatial fissure are opening on decks ten, six and one. Janeway: Tuvok! Tuvok: Stand by. Shields are holding. Chakotay: The fissures? Seven: No sign of them. Janeway: Voyager to Ransom. Captain? Assemble rescue teams. Secure the Equinox. Tuvok, you're with me. Chakotay: Hello? Is there anyone here? See if you can bring main power online. Tom. Chakotay: What happened? Paris: Some kind of thermolytic reaction. It's desiccated every cell in that body. Torres: Commander. I can't make heads or tails of this injector manifold, and it looks like the dilithium matrix has been completely redesigned. Chakotay: We'll try to find one of their engineers to help us. In the meantime, see if you can bypass the core. Torres: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Hang on. Chakotay: I'm Commander Chakotay, U.S.S. Voyager. Gilmore: But, but we're the only humans in the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay: That's what we used to think. Come on. Kim: Over here. Hang on. We're getting you out of here. Lessing: I don't believe we've met. Kim: Ensign Kim, and this is Seven of Nine. I have to cut him out with a plasma torch. Talk to him, keep him calm. Seven: State your name. Lessing: Lessing, Noah. What are you doing on this side of the galaxy? Seven: The answer is complicated. Lessing: Do me a favor? See if my legs are still there. I haven't felt them in two days. Seven: Your limbs are intact. Lessing: Thank you. Kim: Seven, give me hand. Seven: Do not be frightened. Lessing: Too late for that. Neelix: I'm picking up lifesigns. Hello? Is there anyone here? Crewman: No! Neelix: We're here to help you. Crewman: Take cover! We're under attack! Neelix: Neelix to Sickbay. Emh: Sickbay here. Neelix: We found another survivor. His wounds are not serious but he's suffering from psychological distress. Emh: Acknowledged. Ransom: My crew? Janeway: You took heavy casualties. We're treating the survivors. Who attacked you? Ransom: We don't know. We can't communicate with them. They've been attacking us for weeks. Janeway: Easy, easy. Ransom: I've got to secure the ship, Janeway: Leave that to us. Ransom: No, treat me here. I'm not leaving my bridge. Janeway: I can't pull rank on you, Captain, but you're in no condition to put up a fight. Ransom: So, how's Earth? Janeway: I wish I could say. Ransom: You weren't sent here to find us? Janeway: I'm afraid not. We've been stranded in the Delta Quadrant for five years. We were pulled here against our will by an alien called Both: The Caretaker. Janeway: We'll compare notes later on. Let's get you to Voyager. Ransom: We're here to commemorate our honored dead. Lieutenant William Yates, Lieutenant John Molar, Ensign Dorothy Chang, Ensign Edward Regis and Crewman David Amantes, who all served with distinction. Their bravery and sacrifice will not be forgotten. They will be missed, but now there is cause for optimism. Captain Janeway, Voyager, on behalf of my crew, thank you. Janeway: We'll have time to give the newest members of our family a proper welcome in the days ahead, but right now, we've got our hands full. The Equinox is secure, but its primary systems are still badly damaged. Harry, B'Elanna, make it your priority. Captain Ransom has provided us with data regarding the alien attacks. Tuvok, Seven, you'll be working with First Officer Maxwell Burke. To kindred spirits. May our journey home together be swift. Dismissed. Tuvok: We should begin by familiarizing you with Voyager's defenses. Burke: Can you give me a minute? There's someone I'd like to say hello to first. Seven: We'll be in the Astrometrics lab. Deck eight, section twenty nine. Burke: See you there. Burke: BLT. Torres: Max. I tried to say hello in Sickbay but you were sedated. Burke: I remember. I thought I was dreaming. So, where's my sweater. The blue one? Class insignia on the back? Torres: We went to the Academy together. Paris: Ah. Burke: Maxwell Burke. Paris: Tom Paris. Kim: Harry Kim. Welcome aboard. Torres: First Officer, impressive. The last time we talked you were about to drop out of Starfleet. Burke: I heard you beat me to it. The Maquis? Torres: For a while. Until I ran into these two. Paris: And it's been hell ever since. Burke: Well, I told your resident Vulcan I'd be right with him. Are you free later? I'd love to catch up. Torres: Why don't we all have dinner together? Burke: Sounds great. Paris: BLT? Torres: Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato. It was a nickname. Paris: A nickname? Torres: My initials. Paris: Oh, how romantic. Torres: We broke up over ten years ago. No need to go to red alert. Paris: How about yellow alert? Torres: You're cute when you're jealous. Paris: Who's jealous? Torres: See you on the Equinox. Kim: Well, Turkey Platter, what do you say we go to work? Paris: Who's jealous? Gilmore: Commander? I've been assigned to one of the repair crews on the Equinox, and I was wondering if I could join a different team. Maybe one on Voyager. Chakotay: Problem? Gilmore: Just a little post-traumatic stress syndrome. Chakotay: Bad memories? Gilmore: A few. Chakotay: Actually, I could use someone with your engineering abilities. Gilmore: Well, thank you. Such a clean ship. I mean, I'm used to falling bulkheads and missing deck plates. Chakotay: In a few weeks you won't even recognize the Equinox. You'll be happy to go back. Gilmore: Unless I stay. You said you could use someone with my engineering abilities. Chakotay: I don't think your Captain would appreciate that. He's got a skeleton crew as it is. Chakotay: Engineering's five decks down. It's a long crawl through the Jefferies tubes. Deck eleven. Gilmore: I haven't set foot in a turbolift in over three months. Chakotay: Claustrophobia? Gilmore: If one of those fissures opened up in here, where would we take cover? Chakotay: It's only a graviton relay. Nothing to worry about. Gilmore: Do I look worried? Emergency stop! Gilmore: If you don't mind I think I'd rather take the Jefferies tube. Chakotay: I could use the exercise. Seven: I've run a thermographic analysis of our shields. It revealed multiple stress points. We believe they're the result of alien attempts to infiltrate our vessels. Each time a fissure opens within a meter of our shields it weakens them by point three percent. Janeway: At the present rate, we have less than two days to mount a defense. Seven: According to your bio-scans the aliens can survive in our realm for only several seconds. Ransom: They're like fish out of water, but they can do a lot of damage in those seconds. Tuvok: Nevertheless, it is a tactical weakness. Perhaps we can exploit it. Burke: What have you got in mind? Seven: If we can show them we have the ability to hold them here, they'll think twice before launching another attack. Janeway: But the question is, how do we catch these fish? Burke: You build a net. Janeway: Commander? Burke: A multiphasic force field to be exact. We wanted to see what we were up against so we built a small chamber that could keep one of them trapped for several minutes. Janeway: If we could expand on that technology, we might be able to create a lattice work of multiphasic forcefields around both ships. Burke: Rudy? Ransom: If Captain Janeway agrees. Janeway: We'll need to examine that stasis chamber. Ransom: I'm afraid that won't be possible. It's in our research lab. That whole section was flooded with thermionic radiation during the last attack. It'll be days before anyone can go in there. Burke: The design schematics are in our auxiliary datacore. Ransom: I'll see if I can download them. You give me a hand? Janeway: I couldn't help but notice your crew calls you by your first name. Ransom: When you've been in the trenches as long as we have, rank and protocol are luxuries. Besides, we're a long way from Starfleet Command. Janeway: I know the feeling. Ransom: You seem to run a pretty tight ship. Janeway: We've been known to let our hair down from time to time. But I find that maintaining protocol reminds us of where we came from and hopefully, where we're going. Ransom: It seems to work quite well for you. Janeway: Oh, we've overcome our share of obstacles, Warp core breaches, ion storms, a few rounds with the Borg Ransom: The Borg? We haven't seen so much as a Cube since the day we arrived. Janeway: Consider yourself lucky. Ransom: Have you ever run into the Krowtonan Guard? Janeway: Never heard of them. Ransom: That's how we spent our first week in the Delta Quadrant. They claimed we violated their territory. I gave the order to keep going. I lost thirty nine. Half my crew. Janeway: I'm sorry. Ransom: We never recovered from that loss. It changed everything. Janeway: What do you mean? Ransom: When I first realized that we'd be traveling across the Delta Quadrant for the rest of our lives, I told my crew that we had a duty as Starfleet officers to expand our knowledge and uphold our principles. After a couple of years, we started to forget that we were explorers. And there were times when we nearly forgot that we were human beings. Janeway: This is a Nova class science vessel, designed for short term research missions. Minimal weapons. It can't even go faster than warp eight. Frankly, I don't know how you've done it. You've obviously traveled as far as we have with much fewer resources. Ransom: I wish that I could take all the credit, but we stumbled across a wormhole, and made a few enhancements on our warp engines. I'd like to ask you something, Captain to Captain. Janeway: Mmm hmm. Ransom: The Prime Directive. How often have you broken it for the sake of protecting your crew? Janeway: Broken it? Never. Bent it on occasion. And even then it was a difficult choice. What about you? Ransom: I've walked the line once or twice, but nothing serious. There you are. Janeway: It's a good omen. Let's put it back where it belongs. Ransom: I thought I'd find you here. Burke: How could I resist after two years on emergency rations? Ransom: Don't get too comfortable. If Janeway's any indication, these people will never understand. Burke: They're going to find out eventually. Ransom: Not if we keep them out of the research lab, and away from the warp core injectors. And be careful what you say around their crew. That includes old girlfriends. Burke: Understood. Ransom: Mmm. Not bad. Lessing: How's my angel of mercy? Seven: Crewman Lessing. I didn't expect you to recover so quickly. Lessing: You have an outstanding EMH. Ours can barely hold a laser scalpel. Seven: The Doctor is efficient. Lessing: I've been assigned to help you sort through our bio-data. You saved my life. The least I can do is save you a little time. Tuvok: Lateral shields are offline. Chakotay: How's that possible? Kim: Fissures are opening on decks one, eight and eleven. Chakotay: Reroute power. Kim: What happened? Tuvok: Apparently, the aliens began to focus their attacks on a single shield vector. It collapsed before the auxiliary emitters could respond. Chakotay: It looks like they've changed their tactics. We may have less time than we thought. Seven: We've examined the schematics of your multiphasic chamber. It can be adapted. We intend to create an auto-initiating security grid. Tuvok: The moment an alien invades either ship, a forcefield will surround it. Seven: Once we modify our field generator to emit multiphasic frequencies, it will power the security grids on both ships. Janeway: How long will it take? Tuvok: Approximately fourteen hours. Gilmore: We don't know when they'll break through again. We may not last that long. Chakotay: We could cut the time in half if we evacuate all personnel from the Equinox and focus our efforts here on Voyager. Ransom: Remember, we are still thirty five thousand light years from Earth. We should try to preserve both ships. Burke: With two vessels we'd be able to pool our resources, doubling our chances of finding a short cut home. Janeway: Normally I'd agree, but right now one of our ships in vulnerable. Chakotay's right. We should make our stand on Voyager. Ransom: I don't want to force the issue. But I am prepared to return to the Equinox with my crew. What is the protocol in this situation? We have two Captains and two ships. Who gets the last word? Janeway: Starfleet Regulation one hundred ninety one, Article fourteen. In a combat situation involving more than one ship, command falls to the vessel with tactical superiority. I looked it up this morning. Ransom: Good thinking. Janeway: In this case, protocol recognizes my authority. Ransom: Are you ordering me to abandon my ship? Janeway: I'd rather not have to. Ransom: That protocol was written in the Alpha Quadrant. I'm not sure that it makes much sense out here. Janeway: The regulation stands. Ransom: Who am I to dispute protocol? Give Captain Janeway your full cooperation. Burke: Rudy. Ransom: Max, that's an order. We'll get through this. If that's all, Captain, I'd like to return to my quarters and collect a few mementoes. Janeway: By all means. Torres: Intruder alert. Same old Max, going through my things. That is a command station. It's off limits without my direct authorisation. Burke: I didn't realize. Are you going to throw me in the Brig? Torres: I think we can overlook this infraction. Can I help you with something? Burke: Just doing some homework, studying your propulsion system. If there's a chance I'm going to be stuck on Voyager. I figured I better learn my way around. Maybe you could tutor me over dinner? Torres: Problem is, you were never really interested in the work, or the meal. Something tells me you haven't changed. Burke: You'd be surprised. I'm not the. What did you once call me? Torres: PetaQ. Burke: PetaQ. I'm not the petaQ I used to be. Let me prove it to you. Torres: Look, Max, don't get me wrong, it's good to see you again, but ten years. Burke: Tom Paris. Torres: Tom Paris. Burke: You could do worse. So, we're still on for dinner? Just the two of us? Torres: Get going, or I will throw you in the Brig. Chakotay: Before we abandon the Equinox, we should try to salvage any useful components. Let's start with your dilithium crystals. Gilmore: What we have left of them. I'm afraid we only have a few isograms. Kim: That's barely enough to power the sonic showers. Gilmore: Can I make a suggestion? Chakotay: Please. Gilmore: Let's forget about the primary systems. They're too badly damaged. Let's focus on supplies. We picked up a few items I think might come in handy. Two kilotons of kemacite ore, a dozen canisters of mercurium. Chakotay: Tell Neelix to make room in Cargo Bay one. Kim: Right. Gilmore: Could you use a synaptic stimulator? Chakotay: Depends. What is it? ' Gilmore: It's a neural interface you wear behind your ear. It taps into your visual cortex and shows you different alien vistas. Just think of it as a poor man's holodeck. Kim: So that's how you kept yourself entertained. Gilmore: Beats checkers. The Ponea gave it to us. Chakotay: Never heard of them. Gilmore: We called them the life of the Delta Quadrant. They see every First Contact as an excuse to throw a party. I wish that we had encountered more species like that. You're the first friendly faces we've seen in months. I'm glad we found you. Chakotay: The feeling's mutual. Those modified plasma injectors looked elaborate. What were you trying to do? Gilmore: We were experimenting with ways to enhance our warp drive. It doesn't work. Kim: Maybe we should let B'Elanna take a look. Gilmore: It won't work. We tried for months. Naomi: Excuse me. Gilmore: Oh, hello there. Naomi: Commander, permission to interrupt? Chakotay: Granted. Naomi: Ensign Gilmore. Gilmore: That's right. Naomi: Naomi Wildman, Captain's Assistant. Gilmore: Is that so? Naomi: I wanted to officially welcome you aboard the Starship Voyager. Gilmore: I'm glad to be here. Naomi: If you need anything, replicator rations, a tour of the lower decks, I'm your man. Gilmore: Thank you, Miss Wildman. I'll keep that in mind. Naomi: As you were. Gilmore: I didn't realize that you had children on board. Kim: Only one. She was born here. Gilmore: I have a nephew back on Earth the same age. Well, not any more. I guess he's a teenager by now. I probably wouldn't even recognize him. Chakotay: You'll see him again. Ransom: Ransom to Gilmore. Gilmore: Yes, Captain. Ransom: Report to the Equinox bridge. Gilmore: On my way. Duty calls. Chakotay: Assemble a salvage team. Kim: Aye, sir. Burke: Once we take their field generator, we'll part company. Gilmore: What happens to Voyager? Burke: They have weapons, shields, a full crew. They'll survive. Lessing: Maybe we should abandon ship. Try to forget everything that's happened here. Ransom: A shower and a hot meal. I guess that's all it takes for some of us to forget what's at stake here. We're going home, We can't let Voyager stop us now. Not when we're this close. Now we're proceeding as planned. Are there any other objections? I need each and every one of you to give me your very best, as you always have. Max. Burke: This won't be easy. The generator is located on deck eleven, next to the warp plasma manifold. We can't get a clean lock without boosting the signal. Marla, we need you to set aside your claustrophobia and crawl through the access port, and set up the transport enhancers. Gilmore: Understood. Burke: We'll have to take the internal sensors in that section offline. Noah, you're elected. Lessing: You can count on me, sir. Burke: I'll disengage the power couplings from Engineering. Ransom: You'll all have time for one last shower. Make the most of it. Seven: There's a minor fluctuation in the security grid. Tuvok: It's within tolerance. Seven: I believe I can correct it. The diskrepancy is in the Equinox research lab. If we can determine the exact frequency of their multiphasic chamber, I will tune our field generator to match it. Tuvok: There are times when perfection hinders efficiency. Seven: This is odd. The lab is still permeated with high levels of thermionic radiation. Tuvok: It should have dissipated by now. Seven: I believe I have an explanation. Three EPS conduits have been rerouted to the lab. It appears they are emitting the radiation. Tuvok: The lab was contaminated intentionally. Janeway: Any theories? Tuvok: Only one. Ransom doesn't want us to enter the research lab. Janeway: He has been adamant about protecting his ship. I thought it was simply a captain's pride. I want to take a closer look at that lab. If we close off those EPS conduits, how long will it take to vent the radiation? Seven: Several hours. Janeway: I don't want to wait that long. Send the Doctor. He'll be immune to its effects. Tell him to look for anything out of the ordinary. Monitor his progress from Astrometrics. Tuvok: Shall I notify Captain Ransom? Janeway: Not yet. I want to wait until we test your theory. Emh: I'm in. I've found the multiphasic chamber. There's some kind of organic mass inside. It appears to be a member of the alien species. Emh: But it's cell structures have vitrified. Emh: This is more that just a stasis chamber, it's some kind of matter conversion technology. Hold on, there's a control port here. Hmm. Tuvok: Doctor? Emh: The chamber contains a polaron grid Emh: And a submolecular resequencer. It looks like it was designed to convert the alien cell structures into some kind of crystalline compound. Seven: That function was not specified in their schematics. Emh: I've a feeling there's a lot here they didn't specify. I've accessed their research logs. They're encrypted, but judging by the file headings, they've performed this procedure dozens of times. More of the alien compound, but it's been biochemically altered. They've extracted the base proteins. Its molecular structure is most unusual. Tuvok: Can you be more specific? Emh: It appears to store a great deal of Emh: Nucleogenic energy. I'm no engineer, but I'd say they were trying to convert this material into a source of power. Burke: I'm going to miss this ship. Ransom: Once we get back to Earth, there'll be plenty of women. Status? Burke: Ready on all fronts. The transport enhancers are in place and Noah's created a subroutine to mask Voyager's internal sensors. Ransom: Power couplings? Burke: Bypass controls have been routed to our bridge. All you need to do is say energize. Ransom: Janeway wants to bring on the security grid at nineteen hundred hours. We'll have to act before then. Tell the others to be prepared to. Ransom: Max, the transporter room's not far from here. Keep moving. Tuvok: Captain Janeway wishes to speak with you. Janeway: The alien compound. Ten isograms. If I understand your calculations, that's enough to increase your warp factor by what, point zero three percent for one month? Unfortunately, that boost wouldn't get you very far, so you'd need to replenish the supply and that means killing another lifeform. And then another. How many lives would it take to get you back to the Alpha quadrant? I think you know the reason we're under attack. These aliens are trying to protect themselves from you. Ransom: Sixty three. That's how many more it will take. Every time I sacrifice one of those lives, a part of me is lost as well. Janeway: I might believe that if I hadn't examined your research. These experiments were meticulous and they were brutal. If you'd felt any remorse, you'd never have continued. Ransom: Starfleet regulation three, paragraph twelve. In the event of imminent destruction, a captain is authorized to preserve the lives of his crew by any justifiable means. Janeway: I doubt that protocol covers mass murder. Ransom: In my judgment, it did. Janeway: Unacceptable. Ransom: We had nothing. My ship was in pieces. Our dilithium was gone. We were running on thrusters, We hadn't eaten in sixteen days. We had just enough power to enter orbit of an M class planet. And lucky for us, the inhabitants were generous. Ransom: They were called the Ankari. They provided us with a meal, a few supplies, even some dilithium crystals. They even performed one of their sacred rituals to invoke spirits of good fortune from another realm to bless our journey. But these weren't spirits, they were nucleogenic life forms. Our scans revealed that they were emitting high levels of antimatter. Later the same night we managed to obtain one of the summoning devices in exchange for an energy converter. Ransom: We constructed a containment field that would prevent the lifeform from vanishing so quickly, but something went wrong. Ransom: Get it out of there. Ransom: We tried to send it back. Burke: We can't. Ransom: But it was too late. Ransom: We examined the remains and discovered it could be converted to enhance our propulsion systems. It was already dead. What would you have done? We traveled over ten thousand light years in less than two weeks. We'd found our salvation. How could we ignore it? Janeway: By adhering to the oath you took as Starfleet officers to seek out life, not destroy it. Ransom: It's easy to cling to principles when you're standing on a vessel with its bulkheads intact, manned by a crew that's not starving. Janeway: It's never easy. But if we turn our backs on our principles, we stop being human. I'm putting an end to your experiments and you are hereby relieved of your command. You and your crew will be confined to quarters. Ransom: Please, show them leniency. They were only following my orders. Janeway: Their mistake. Ransom: It's a long way home, Captain. Janeway: Doctor, return to their research lab and retrieve all the data you can locate on the aliens. I want to find a way to communicate with them. Emh: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Go to their engine room. Take those warp core modifications offline. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: Let's try to make First Contact the right way. Gilmore: What's going to happen to us? Chakotay: That's up to Captain Janeway. You'll be confined to quarters until we can find a way to make peace with these lifeforms you've been killing. If it's not too late. Gilmore: To be honest, I'm glad you stopped us. Living the rest of my life knowing what we've done Chakotay: You could have stopped yourself. Why didn't you? Gilmore: I don't know. When the Captain ordered me to modify the warp core, I concentrated on the work. I tried not to think about how it was going to be used. Chakotay: Well, think about it now, because we need your help. Gilmore: Commander? Chakotay: After you. Chakotay: We're having trouble making sense of all this. Seven: The schematics are encrypted. I can't access them. Chakotay: Do you know the decryption codes? Your captain's been relieved of command. You take orders from me now. Do you have the codes? Gilmore: Yes. Seven: Proceed. Chakotay: Think of it this way, Ensign. You might live with yourself a little easier. Gilmore: You said you wanted to learn more about humanity. I guess we're not exactly prized examples. I'm sorry. Seven: On the contrary. You've taught me a great deal. Emh: Computer, I decrypted this data file. Why can't I access it? Computer: EMH authorisation is required. Emh: Is your EMH still functional? Computer: Affirmative. Emh: Activate him. E- Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Emh: I require your assistance. E- Emh: Who are you? Emh: Your counterpart from the Starship Voyager. E- Emh: Where's Captain Ransom? My crew? Emh: In custody. E- Emh: How were you able to leave your Sickbay? Emh: This device allows me to go anywhere I please. In case you weren't aware, your crew has been running criminal experiments here. E- Emh: I know. I designed them. Emh: You? That's a violation of your programming. E- Emh: They deleted my ethical subroutines. Kim: I'm picking up spatial fissures. Hundreds of them. Paris: Looks like they've stepped up their attacks. Janeway: Reroute all available power to the shields. Chakotay: They're holding, but at this rate it won't be long before the aliens break through. Janeway: Bridge to Tuvok. We need that security grid. Tuvok: We're preparing to bring it online. Charge the emitters. Janeway: Bridge to the Doctor. E- Emh: Sickbay here. Janeway: Did you find anything? Emh: Could you be more specific? Janeway: Neural patterns, cortical scans, anything that could help us program the universal translator. Emh: Er, negative. I couldn't access the Equinox data files. They were encrypted. Janeway: Keep studying the information we have. See what you can come up with. Emh: Acknowledged. Computer, locate Captain Ransom. Computer: Captain Ransom is in crew quarters. Deck nine, section twenty two. Chakotay: Chakotay to Seven of Nine. What's your status? Seven: I've dismantled the antimatter injectors, but I'll need several minutes to neutralize the dilithium matrix. Chakotay: We don't have much time. Seven: Understood. Emh: The Equinox crew has been infected with a mutagenic virus. It may be contagious. I've been authorized to inoculate them. Emh: You've all contracted a virus. I'll need to treat you. Ransom: A virus? E- Emh: Doctor's orders. E- Emh: It's me. Tuvok: Activate the grid. What happened? Torres: I don't understand. This should be working. I'm running a system-wide diagnostic. Kim: I'm reading phaser fire on deck nine, crew quarters. Janeway: Security, seal off deck nine. Chakotay: Shields are weakening. They're down to eighty four percent. Tuvok: Tuvok to Bridge. The field generator is offline. Its power couplings were disengaged. Torres: Someone reconfigured the sensors so we couldn't detect it. Janeway: Whatever it takes, get that grid online. Emh: I rerouted transporter control to a panel in the next junction. We can Burke: They've sealed off the deck. Ransom: Don't worry. We're getting out of here. Chakotay: Shields down to fifty two percent. Kim: Captain, unauthorized transport in progress. It's the Equinox crew. Janeway: Block it. Kim: They've bypassed ops control. They're on their bridge. Chakotay: Forty percent. Janeway: Janeway to Seven of Nine. Janeway: Seven, respond. Burke: Damn! Ransom: What is it? Burke: B'Elanna's erected a forcefield. I can't get a lock on the generator Ransom: Try overriding the command codes. Torres: Someone's disrupting the forcefield. It's Max. He's using one of his triquadric algorithms. I taught him how to do that ten years ago. Chakotay: Shields are failing. We've got less than one minute. Janeway: Open a channel. If you don't stop what you're doing, we'll both be destroyed. Ransom: What's my alternative, thirty years in your brig? Janeway: I'll open fire if I have to. Ransom: We've been through worse. Janeway: Target their power systems. Fire. Ransom: Max! Burke: Stand by! Okay, BLT, let's see if you remember this trick. Torres: Bridge, they've got the field generator! Janeway: What do you mean, they've got it? Torres: I don't know how, but they beamed it off Voyager. Ransom: Get us out of here. Lessing: I can't. Warp drive is down. Ransom: Bridge to Marla. Report. Gilmore: One of their crew tried to dismantle the antimatter injectors. Repairs are underway. Ransom: What about the field generator? Burke: I'm integrating it now. Chakotay: Shields are down. Janeway: Arm yourselves. Ransom: It's now or never. Burke: Generator's in place. I'm bringing the grid online. Kim: Fissures are opening, all decks! Ransom: Hold your fire! Ransom: Take it to the lab. Lessing: Sir, engines are up and running. Ransom: Set a course for the Alpha Quadrant. Burke: Course laid in. Ransom: Maximum warp. Engage. Chakotay: Captain! To Be Continued... Janeway: Give me tactical control. Janeway: Good guess. I used a deflector pulse to reinforce the shields. It won't hold for long. Paris: Bridge to Sickbay. We have a medical emergency. Doctor, respond. Ensign. Ensign: Yes, sir. Kim: Casualty reports are coming in. Two dead, thirteen wounded. We took heavy damage to the engines. Janeway: The Equinox? Kim: They've gone to warp. Janeway: Any sign of nucleogenic particles? Kim: No. Janeway: Then they haven't engaged their enhanced warp drive yet. Keep looking for Ransom: Report. Burke: The shield grid is back in place. The aliens are staying clear. Ransom: Are sensors picking up Voyager? Lessing: It looks like they're under attack. Ransom: Maintain course. Neelix: Captain, I found the Doctor's mobile emitter on deck nine. You might want to take it to Sickbay. Paris: Any sign of the Doc? Janeway: I've got him right here. E- Emh: Please state the nature of the. Don't bother. Paris: You should start with Chakotay. I've got him stabilized but he's got internal injuries. Janeway: We found your emitter on deck nine. E- Emh: I was taken hostage by the Equinox crew. I deactivated myself to escape. Did you stop them? Janeway: No. Chakotay: I'd ask for a status report but I'm not sure I'd want to hear it. Janeway: Harry's analyzing the sound we've been hearing. He thinks it's some form of communication. Chakotay: Well, I once figured out how to speak with a Terrelian seapod. This couldn't be that much harder, Once I get out of Sickbay, I'll lend him a hand. Janeway: We should all be focusing our efforts on finding the Equinox. Chakotay: First things first. We've got to stop these attacks. Janeway: Our enemies aren't the aliens. They're the humans aboard the Equinox. It's crucial that you don't Ransom: Who is it? Burke: It's Max. I've brought you a visitor. Ransom: Hold on. Come in. Ransom: I'm glad you're okay. I've been using this synaptic stimulator. I was just taking a stroll along the Tenkaran coast. You're welcome to try it. Seven: State your intentions. Ransom: You know, once we get our enhanced warp drive back online, we'll be on our way home, but it'll still take months to get there. You can spend that time in the brig, or you can become part of this crew. I'd prefer the latter. Seven: I'd prefer the brig. Ransom: You know, Janeway's not the only Captain who can help you explore your humanity. Seven: You would be an inferior role model. Ransom: Janeway clung to her morality at the expense of her crew. Maybe you should learn from that mistake. Seven: Her only mistake was trusting you. Ransom: Take care of her wound. Burke: First degree phaser burns, minor lacerations. Looks like we'll have to amputate. That was a joke. You're supposed to smile and make a witty retort. Seven: I'm familiar with human banter. Yours is crude and predictable. Burke: You know, Seven. Can I call you Seven? We don't have many luxuries around here. All we've got is each other. You might try letting your shields down or else it's going to be a lonely trip. I'll be damned. Looks like our Doctor left us a replacement. Emh: Seven? Seven: We are captives. Emh: I was attacked by their EMH. Burke: Looks like he downloaded you into our database. Good. You can treat your friend. Thompson: Priming the injectors. Gilmore: Marla to Bridge. Ransom: Go ahead. Gilmore: We're ready. Ransom: Acknowledged. Ransom: Infuse the enhanced warp drive with twenty isograms of the compound. Lessing: Aye, sir. Warp drive ready. Ransom: Engage. Ransom: What happened? Gilmore: The power relays are offline. They've been encoded. Ransom: Give us the codes. Seven: No. Burke: If she won't give us the codes maybe we could extract them ourselves. Emh: Seven's cranial infrastructure is highly complex. You'll need months just to figure out what she had for breakfast. Burke: That's why you're going to help us. Emh: I refuse. Burke: Do it or I'll erase your program. Emh: Be my guest. Seven: Doctor. Emh: Don't worry, they need me. They'd be cutting off their holographic nose to spite their face. Now I suggest you Ransom: All right, Doctor. Now, get to work. You know what we're looking for. Emh: Very well. She'll try to resist. I'll have to restrain her. Seven: Doctor. Ransom: I deleted his ethical subroutines. He'll be a little more cooperative now. Keep me posted. Emh: Aye, Captain. This way, please. Janeway: It's not exactly Shakespeare, but it gets the point across. Chakotay: A small olive branch is still an olive branch. Janeway: Run this through to your translation matrix. Chakotay: Set your weapons down. Paris: Commander? Chakotay: Somebody's got to start trusting somebody around here. Janeway: Belay that order. I appreciate your optimism, but in this case, weapons. Kim: Ready to transmit. Janeway: Drop shields, bridge only. Go ahead, Harry. Janeway: Raise shields. Kim: If they understood our message, they haven't responded. Janeway: There's your response. Activate another deflector pulse. Tuvok: Shields are holding at sixty two percent. Janeway: That should buy us another few minutes of peace and quiet. I suggest we make the most of it. Focus your efforts on repairing the warp drive. We've got to find the Equinox. Chakotay: If it's all the same to you, I'd like to take another stab at the message. If we can reroute Janeway: They're not listening, Chakotay. We should be tracking Ransom, not tinkering with adverbs. Chakotay: Want your First Officer's advice? Janeway: Allow me. Our deflector's losing power, and when it fails, we'll be defenseless. It's Voyager we should be worrying about, not the Equinox. Chakotay: You'd make a great First Officer. It's advice worth taking. Janeway: Maybe so, but we have a crew member trapped on that ship. Chakotay: Is this really about Seven, or is it about Ransom? Janeway: I don't know what you're talking about. Chakotay: You've been known to hold a grudge. This man betrayed Starfleet, he broke the Prime Directive, dishonored everything you believe in, and threw Voyager to the wolves. Janeway: Borg, Hirogen, Malon. We've run into our share of bad guys. Ransom's no different. Chakotay: Yes, he is. You said it yourself. He's human. I don't blame you for being angry, but you can't compromise the safety of this ship to satisfy some personal vendetta. Janeway: I appreciate your candor. Now let me be just as blunt. You're right, I am angry. I'm damned angry. He's a Starfleet Captain, and he's decided to abandon everything this uniform stands for. He's out there right now, torturing and murdering innocent lifeforms just to get home a little quicker. I'm not going to stand for it. I'm going to hunt him down no matter how long it takes, no matter what the cost. If you want to call that a vendetta, go right ahead. Burke: Why did you bring us here? Ransom: This planet has a parthogenic atmosphere. It will keep us from being detected while we make repairs. Lessing: We also found a few deuterium deposits. Ransom: Take an away team, Noah, and see if you can localize the ore. Burke: You won't be protected from the aliens. Arm yourselves with phasers. At the first sign of trouble, we'll beam you back. Lessing: Aye, sir. Emh: The ocular node's connected to the sensory node. The sensory node's connected to the cortical node. The cortical node's connected to the reticular node. Don't look so gloomy. There's a silver lining to all this. Just think, we're finally going to see Earth. Seven: You are obviously delusional. Allow me to repair your program. Emh: Now why would I want you to do that? You of all people should understand. Being unfettered by ethical subroutines has made me far more efficient. Ransom: Status? Emh: I'm going to extract her cortical array. It contains an index of her memory engrams. But once I've removed it her higher brain functions, language, cognitive skills will be severely damaged. Ransom: Tell me the codes. Seven: No. Janeway: Janeway was right about one thing. You are unique. It would be a shame to lose you. Seven: Your compassion is irrelevant. Ransom: You think this is easy for me? The sight of you on that table. But you're leaving me no choice. Seven: No choice. You say that frequently. You destroy lifeforms to attain your goals, then claim that they left you no choice. Does that logic comfort you? Ransom: The codes. Seven: You'll have to destroy me to obtain them. Emh: The reticular node's connected to the occipital node. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Our warp drive's back online, but repeated sensor sweeps have failed to locate the Equinox. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: You wanted to see me? Janeway: It's not like you to submit recommendations in writing. Chakotay: The last time we spoke you weren't exactly receptive. Janeway: I'm afraid I'm not going to be very receptive this time, either. It's an interesting idea, but the Ankari are fifty light years in the wrong direction. Chakotay: I understand that, but they're the ones who introduced Ransom to these lifeforms. It stands to reason they might be able to communicate with them, tell them to call off their attacks. Janeway: Our first priority is to find Ransom. Still no sign of nucleogenic particles? Chakotay: Not yet. Janeway: Then he couldn't have gotten far. Without his enhanced drive, his ship's only capable of warp six. I've been studying his service record. He's had his share of run-ins with hostile aliens. It seems that when he's being pursued, he tends to hide. At Epsilon four he ran into a Klingon Bird-of-Prey. Played a game of cat and mouse for three days in a nebula before the Klingons finally gave up. Two years later, he eluded a Romulan Warbird by taking his vessel into the atmosphere of a gas giant. Go to Astrometrics. Start looking for the kind of place you'd hide if your ship was damaged. Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. Gilmore: How was the beach? Ransom: Do these programs have people in them? Gilmore: No, just landscapes. Why? Ransom: Forget it. Lessing: I'm reading a vein of ore. Azimuth one seventeen, thirty meters. It could run pretty deep. We might need to use phasers to excavate it. It's funny, this reminds me of McKinley Park. I used to take my sister there when we were kids. This place looks just like it. As I recall, there was a family of ground squirrels who lived right over there. There was a patch of poison ivy next to it. When I was ten, I walked right through it and I swelled up like a Rigellian bloodworm. When I get back to Earth the first thing I'm going to do is Chakotay: Four to beam up. Gilmore: We're receiving a subspace transmission. Ransom: From who? Gilmore: I can't tell. Ransom: I don't see a ship out there. Open a channel. E- Emh: Doctor to Equinox. Respond. Ransom: We can hear you. E- Emh: Voyager's found you. They've entered orbit. They polarized their hull to mask their approach. Emh: I believe they've planned an ambush on the away team. Emh: Janeway's been tracking the Equinox for a couple Ransom: Get him back. Gilmore: I can't. Ransom: Ransom to away team. Noah, prepare to beam back to the ship. Gilmore: They're not down there. Ransom: All hands to battle stations. Paris: Thirty thousand kilometers and closing. Janeway: Target their power core. Gilmore: Direct hit. Minor damage. Ransom: Return fire. Chakotay: Bridge to Torres. Status. Torres: I can't locate their shield grid generator. Can you divert more power to sensors? Chakotay: Stand by. Tuvok: They've damaged our deflector, Captain. If it goes offline, we'll be vulnerable to the alien attacks. Janeway: Noted. Target his weapons array. Gilmore: We lost all phaser banks. Ransom: Torpedoes, full spread. Burke: It's B'Elanna. She's trying to bypass our security protocols. Ransom: Stop her. Torres: Computer, open a comm. link to the Equinox. Workstation thirty three beta. Torres: Max, listen to me. Burke: Back for round two, BLT? Torres: This isn't one of our games. People are dying over here. Burke: I wish you didn't have to be one of them. Torres: Max, please. Tuvok: Shields are weakening, Janeway: We've almost got him. Keep targeting their weapons array. One more torpedo ought to do it. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: Fire! Gilmore: Weapons are down! Janeway: Janeway to Ransom. Surrender your vessel. Ransom: We still have thrusters, don't we? Gilmore: Aye, sir. Ransom: Lay in a course through the planet's atmosphere. Sixty degree vector. Janeway: What the hell is he doing? Follow him. Paris: We're crossing the upper thermosphere. Janeway: Phasers. Tuvok: Shields are weakening. Thirty one percent, twenty nine. Kim: Inertial dampers are offline. Chakotay: Captain, if we loose our shields, we'll be attacked by the aliens. Captain! Janeway: Break off pursuit. Gilmore: They're retreating. Ransom: Take us up! Burke: They took heavy damage. Shields, propulsion. Ransom: Get us out of here. Paris: They've gone to warp. Janeway: Match their course and speed. Kim: We can't, not until we restore primary systems. Janeway: Time? Kim: We'll need a few hours. Janeway: At least we didn't come away empty-handed. Janeway: I want Ransom's tactical status. I want it now, Mister Lessing. Lessing: Or what, you'll hit me? Janeway: No, crewman. I'll drop the shields around this room and let your little friends come pay you a visit. Lessing: That would be murder. Janeway: You could also call it poetic justice. Lessing: I suppose the plan is that you're going to come to my rescue now, right? Chakotay: There's no plan as far as I know. The captain's on her own. Janeway: Ransom's status, now. Lessing: No way in hell. Janeway: We all make our own hell, Mister Lessing. I hope you enjoy yours. The comm. is active. We'll be outside if you have a change of heart. Chakotay: What are you doing? Janeway: Weren't you listening? Chakotay: Don't do this. Janeway: He'll break. Tuvok: Bridge to the Captain. We've lost shields in section twenty nine alpha. Janeway: I know. Stand by. Chakotay: He's a loyal officer. He's not going to betray his captain. Put up the shields. Janeway: He'll break. Chakotay: Captain! Janeway: As you were. Computer: Level nine authorisation required. Chakotay: Damn it, Kathryn! Janeway: You're panicking. He's going to talk. Tuvok: Captain, a fissure is opening in that section. Janeway: Understood. Chakotay: Okay, you've demonstrated your loyalty to your captain. Fine. Now let's talk about the Ankari. Torres: If there's an Ankari vessel less than two light years from here, why haven't we detected it? Chakotay: Apparently, they use a unique form of propulsion, which makes them hard to find. Paris: You think they'll be willing to help us? Chakotay: It's worth a try. Mister Lessing has agreed to show you how to adjust the sensors. Once you find the Ankari ship, set a course. Paris: Aye, sir. E- Emh: Did our prisoner disklose any other information? Chakotay: I'm afraid not. The rest of you continue with the repairs. Dismissed. Janeway: Commander. Janeway: All right, we're going to try it your way. But I want to make one thing clear. Chakotay: Our first priority is to get Ransom. If there's one thing you've made clear, it's that. Janeway: We've had our disagreements, Chakotay, but you've never openly opposed me. Chakotay: You almost killed that man today. Janeway: It was a calculated risk and I took it. Chakotay: It was a bad call. Janeway: I'll note your objection in my log. Chakotay: I don't give a damn about your log. This isn't about rules and regulations. It's about right and wrong. And I'm warning you, I won't let you cross that line again. Janeway: Then you leave me no choice. You are hereby relieved of duty until further notice. Chakotay: What's happened to you, Kathryn? Janeway: I was about to ask you the same question. Tuvok: They are not responding. Janeway: Tractor beam. Tuvok: Captain, the Ankari ship has done nothing Janeway: Just do it. Kim: We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Ankari: Starfleet. Janeway: Yes. Ankari: Leave us alone. There's nothing of value on our ship. Janeway: We need your guidance. Your spirits of good fortune are attacking us. Ankari: Of course they are. You've been killing them. Janeway: We are not the ones responsible. Ankari: Equinox. Janeway: That's right. Can you communicate with the aliens? Ankari: Release my ship. Janeway: I can't do that. Not until you agree to talk to them. Ankari: I will summon them, but you must talk to them. You must convince them. Ankari: They say they want the humans to die. Tuvok: A difficult place to start a negotiation. Janeway: Will they understand me? Ankari: Yes. Janeway: We didn't do this to you. We're trying to stop the humans who did. Ankari: They don't believe you would harm your own kind. Janeway: We have rules for behavior. The Equinox has broken those rules by killing your species. It's our duty to stop them. Ankari: Give us the Equinox. Give us the Equinox. They insist on destroying the ones who are responsible. Tuvok: We will punish them according to our own rules. They will be imprisoned. They will lose their freedom. Janeway: All right! If you stop your attacks, I'll deliver the Equinox to you. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: I know what I'm doing, Tuvok. Tuvok: These beings would destroy Captain Ransom and his crew. Janeway: What's their answer? Tuvok: Your behavior is irrational. We could find another solution. Janeway: I've already confined my First Officer to quarters. Would you like to join him? Well? Ankari: They agree, Burke: We're going to need more fuel. We've only got enough left to jump another five hundred light years. Ransom: Fuel. Is that the euphemism we're using now? You mean we need to kill more lifeforms. Burke: Several more. Emh: Oh, my darling, Oh, my darling, Oh, my darling Seven: Clementine. Ransom: How much longer? Emh: Another hour, maybe less. You are lost and gone forever Seven: Dreadful sorry, Clementine. Ransom: What are you doing? Emh: Her auditory processor. We used to practice duets together. In fact, I taught her this old chestnut. Light she was and like a fairy. Seven: And her shoes were number nine. Emh: Herring boxes without topses. Seven: Sandals were for Clementine. Emh: Drove she ducklings to the water Ransom: Enough. Emh: Why the long face, Captain? You're about to get your crew home. She tried to stand in your way. You had no choice. Ransom: No choice. Thank you, Doctor. Emh: When this is all over, perhaps you'll allow me to teach you my repertoire. I'm going to need a new partner. Emh: Hmm. Drove she ducklings to the water. Ransom: You. What are you doing here? Seven: Hiding, like you. Ransom: I'm not hiding. Seven: It's beautiful. I can see why this brings you comfort. Ransom: I don't know what you're talking about. Seven: But it isn't real. Ransom: You're not real. Now leave me alone. Seven: It's not too late to stop. Ransom: I don't have a choice. Seven: Find another way. Ransom: There is no other way. Seven: Stop trying to hide. Ransom: I told you, I'm not hiding. Now get away from me. Seven: End this. Ransom: No! Burke: Bridge to Ransom. Ransom: Go ahead. Burke: Janeway's found us. Ransom: On my way. Burke: Distance? Gilmore: Fifty thousand kilometers, closing fast. Burke: Maintain course. Voyager's approaching at high warp. There's a class two nebula less than a light year from here. Janeway's sensors won't be able to track us once we're inside. I think that we should pursue this course. Ransom: No. Open a channel. Burke: Change of tactics? Ransom: You might say that. It's time we found another way home. Burke: Another way? Ransom: We're going to cooperate with Janeway, Max, if she's willing. Burke: Rudy, with all due respect, have you lost your mind? Ransom: Just the opposite. Gilmore: They're within range. They're charging weapons. Ransom: Hail them. Burke: Belay that order. Raise shields. Ransom: You're relieved of duty, Commander. Burke: I'm taking command. Anyone who isn't with me, speak up now. Take him to the brig. Gilmore: I'm sorry. Burke: What's the status of our weapons? Thompson: Full complement of torpedoes. Minimal phasers. Burke: Open a secure channel to their Sickbay. Stand by weapons. Thompson: Aye, sir. Emh: I'm here. Burke: We're going to need your help, Doctor. See if you can find Voyager's current shield frequency. Emh: Acknowledged. I'll need a few minutes. Tuvok: They are firing torpedoes. Kim: Direct hit to our port shields. They're holding. Janeway: Return the favor. Ransom: This isn't the brig. Gilmore: I know. I'm with you, sir. Let's find a way to end this. Ransom: We'll need to access transporter control. Kim: We've damaged their port nacelle. They're venting plasma. Paris: They're dropping out of warp. Janeway: Stay with them. Emh: Doctor to Equinox. I've got their shield frequency. Emh: I'm transmitting it to you now. Burke: They'll try to remodulate. Keep monitoring. E- Emh: Aye, sir. Torres: They've slowed to one quarter impulse. Janeway: Prepare a tractor beam. Tuvok: They are launching another torpedo. Janeway: Full power to the forward shields. Kim: Hull breach on deck four. Torres: How'd they get through our shields? Janeway: Hard about. Get us out of range. Remodulate the shields. Thompson: They're retreating. Burke: Pursuit course. Maintain fire. Kim: They took out the weapons array. Janeway: Tuvok. Tuvok: I've been rotating the shield frequency every ten seconds. Paris: We've lost impulse engines. Kim: We're being hailed. It's Ransom. Janeway: Put him through. Ransom: Captain, I'm prepared to surrender the Equinox, but I'm no longer in command. Max decided to stage a little mutiny, but I think I can stop him. I've isolated transporter control. I can beam all of us to Voyager. You might want to have some guards standing by. Not everyone here is going to be happy to see you. Janeway: Proceed. Paris: Ma'am? Janeway: He's still a Starfleet captain. He may have forgotten that for a while, but I believe him. Burke: Someone's trying to beam us off. Forcefields. Gilmore: They're deflecting our targeting scanners. Ransom: Then beam the others to Voyager, yourself included. I'll take care of Max. Gilmore: Aye, sir. Ransom: Computer, Give me access to the shield grid. Emh: Well, I see you've made yourself at home. E- Emh: What are you doing here? Emh: Taking back my Sickbay. E- Emh: Stop where you are. I've planted photonic charges throughout these holo-projectors. With one command sequence, I can blow out your entire Emh: Computer, delete the Equinox EMH. Thompson: The Doctor's not transmitting anymore. Burke: Burke to Doctor, report. Emh: I'm afraid your physician's no longer on call. Ransom: Max, this is the Captain. I've dropped the shield grid Ransom: Everywhere except the bridge and my current location. Ransom: The vital systems are exposed. Ransom: I suggest you beam to Voyager while you still can. Thompson: The core is overloading. We've got to get out of here. Burke: Where? Voyager's brig? Thompson: It's better than being vaporized. Burke: We still have a working shuttle. Thompson: The shuttle bay's two decks down. Sir, the aliens! Burke: We'll make it. Burke: This way. Kim: There's only one life sign left. It's Ransom. Janeway: Captain. Ransom: Things didn't work out exactly as I planned, but you've got everyone worth getting. Janeway: We're beaming you out of there. Ransom: This ship is about to explode. I've got to put some distance between us. I've accessed helm control. Janeway: You can set auto-navigation and then transport to Voyager. Ransom: There's no time! You've got a fine crew, Captain. Promise me you'll get them home. Janeway: I promise. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. With the Equinox destroyed, the aliens have withdrawn to their realm. I've reinstated Chakotay and we've set a course for home. Emh: Good as new. I'd like you to regenerate for the next few hours. It'll help stabilize your cortical array. Seven: Understood. Emh: Regarding the unpleasantness aboard the Equinox. I hope you don't think less of me. Seven: Your program was altered. Emh: It's quite diskoncerting to know that all someone has to do is flick a switch to turn me into Mister Hyde. Seven: Perhaps you should enhance your program with security protocols. It will prevent such tampering in the future. Emh: Good thinking. Seven: When I'm done regenerating, I will assist you. Emh: Thanks. Seven: You were off-key. Emh: I beg your pardon? Seven: My Darling Clementine, third verse, second measure. Emh: That's impossible. Seven: Your vocal modulations deviated by point three zero decihertz. I can assist you with that as well. Emh: Really? Holodeck two, tomorrow, sixteen hundred hours. Just you, me, and a tuning fork. Seven: I look forward to it. Janeway: The last time we welcomed you aboard, you took advantage of our trust. You betrayed this crew. I won't make that mistake again. Noah Lessing, Marla Gilmore, James Morrow, Brian Sofin, Angelo Tassoni, you are hereby stripped of rank. You'll be expected to serve as crewmen on this vessel. Your privileges will be limited, and you'll serve under close supervision for as long as I deem fit. This time, you'll have to earn our trust. Dismissed. Janeway: Repairs? Chakotay: Coming along. Janeway: How's the crew? Chakotay: A lot of frayed nerves. Neelix is organizing a potluck to help boost morale. Janeway: Will I see you there? Chakotay: I'm replicating the salad. Janeway: I'll bring the croutons. Chakotay. You know, you may have had good reason to stage a little mutiny of your own. Chakotay: The thought had occurred to me, but that would have been crossing the line. Janeway: Will you look at that? Janeway: All these years, all these battles. This thing's never fallen down before. Chakotay: Let's put it back up where it belongs.

Two Of Nine: Input failure. Four Of Nine: Input failure. Three Of Nine: Input failure. Seven Of Nine: Our link to the Collective has been severed. Initiate secondary protocols. The vessel's transwarp chamber is approaching critical pressure. We must evacuate this area. All: Agreed. Two Of Nine: No directional coordinates available. Seven Of Nine: That way. Bearing three zero one. All: Agreed: Seven Of Nine: Bring that drone. Captain's log: stardate 53049.2. We've docked at the Markonian outpost and agreed to mutual visits, so I'm allowing shore leave to anyone who wants it. Commander Tuvok has objected to taking on too many visitors, but security issues aside, I'm looking forward to a cultural exchange, and making some new friends. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: I'll be right with you. The station manager didn't tell me the vines were prehensile. I went to put some water in the pot and it grabbed me. Chakotay: This is a gift from the Kinbori delegation. I don't know its name, only that it's used in one of their sacred games and it's very heavy. Janeway: Put it down anywhere. Thank the Kinbori for me and give them a token of our esteem. Chakotay: I already gave them a Voyager medallion. They seemed appreciative. Janeway: Come in. Doesn't it look like Christmas morning in here, Commander? Chakotay: You have to admit the generosity of our guests is very impressive. Tuvok: As is their proclivity for criminal behavior. This morning's security report. Janeway: A broken ODN line, some missing personal items, a damaged scanner relay. All in all, not that bad. Tuvok: There is a second page to the report. Janeway: Oh. Some of these incidents are a little more serious but, on balance, I still think we did the right thing. Tuvok: There is a third page. Chakotay: Come on, Tuvok. After all the xenophobic races we've run into, don't you find it just a little refreshing to meet some people who value openness and freedom? Janeway: Well as far as I'm concerned, opening the ship has been a fascinating experience and an unqualified success. I'm very pleased. Chakotay: Me too. Tuvok: I am pleased that you are pleased. If you'll excuse me. Chakotay: Tuvok. Please accept this token of our esteem. Janeway: Ooh, ow! It's got me by the hair! Naomi: Now it's twelve forty five. Seven: If you're hungry you may eat without me. Naomi: You said we'd have lunch together. Seven: I haven't completed my analysis of the station's power conversion matrix. Naomi: How long is it going to take? Seven: Several hours. Naomi: Seven, you promised. Seven: Very well. Naomi: I think it's even more crowded than this morning. Seven: Yes. Naomi: Excuse us. Excuse us. Please, we're trying to get through to the turbolift. Excuse us. Seven: Stand aside! Naomi: Thank you. Neelix: I'm sorry, but there's no more Marsupial surprise. We only had two kilos of pouches to begin with, and it's all gone. Now how about some pizza, huh? Naomi: She's a Shivolian, right? Seven: Correct. Naomi: Species five two one? Seven: Your mother would not approve of you memorizing Borg designations. I don't approve either. We've discussed the impropriety of you emulating the Borg. Naomi: Sorry. Seven: I'm finished. Naomi: We just sat down. Seven: I do not enjoy crowds. Naomi: But you were in the Collective. Wasn't that like a big crowd? Seven: Which is why I do not enjoy them now. Naomi: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that. Let's go. Two: Excuse me. Are you Seven of Nine? Seven: Yes. Naomi: You okay? Seven: These are Borg synaptic relays from my original Unimatrix. Naomi: These are yours? Seven: Where did you acquire them? Two: A trader from Orendal Five. I was told you are a former Borg drone and might be interested in acquiring these pieces. Seven: I'll take them. Captain Janeway will provide you with whatever monetary reimbursement you require. Two: Agreed. Seven: I must examine these items more closely. Naomi: Okay. Naomi: What's your name? Naomi: That was rude. Two Of Nine: Stage two is complete. She has the relays. Two: She's going to study them. Three: Her regeneration alcove is in Cargo Bay Two. Four: That's where she'll go. We should prepare for stage three. Three: Agreed. Two: There's consensus. Rendezvous at my coordinates and stand by to penetrate their security. Nine: Error. Seven Of Nine: Explain. Four Of Nine: We shouldn't be desecrating the body of this drone. It is against the will of Brothara. Three Of Nine: Who is Brothara? Two Of Nine: Brothara. Supernatural deity worshiped by species five seven one. Four Of Nine: I am a member of species five seven one. Seven Of Nine: You're being confused by irrelevant data. Ignore it. Three Of Nine: You said I am a member of species five seven one. Do you consider yourself an individual? Seven Of Nine: There are no individuals here. We are Borg. All: Agreed. Seven Of Nine: Resume constructing the communications beacon. Torres: It looks like a standard Borg synaptic relay. Seven: There must be something more. When I first came into contact with it, I was overwhelmed with images, memories, sounds. Torres: Sounds like a perfectly natural reaction to me. That was part your old unimatrix, right? Well, isn't it at least possible that what you experienced was simply nostalgia? You know, sentimental feelings about the past. Seven: I know what nostalgia is, but I have no feelings about the past. Torres: Okay. I think I've done all I can here. Seven: Lieutenant. You were trying to help. I appreciate that. Torres: Anytime. Oh, and, er, you may not be nostalgic about the past, but I'd say you definitely have feelings about it. Strong ones. Two: Their security protocols are formidable. We may not have enough time. Four: I'm worried about Seven of Nine. We should re-examine the question of simply asking Three: You know what her reactions will be. She won't help us because she Two: We've been through all that. Four: She could be permanently injured. I don't want to harm her. Two: Enough! Three: I need consensus. Two: We can't act without it. Four: I know. Two: So then it's up to you. Do we proceed or not? Four: Yes. We, I apologize for my indecision. Three: Apologies are irrelevant. Seven: Computer, begin multi-polar analysis. Computer: Analysis underway. Seven: Time to completion? Computer: Five hours, seventeen minutes. Two: She's regenerating. Three: Begin rerouting their internal sensors. Four: Rerouting sensor input to secondary processors. Three: Hold. Chakotay: What have you got? Tuvok: There's a power fluctuation in the security grid. Chakotay: All we know is that we've got a security breach. We don't know where. Two: Ready. Insert the interlink module. Three: Ready. Two: He's still worried about injuring her. Three: If we fail, we'll never become individuals. We have to remember that. Two: There is consensus. Two: I've found her memory files. Three: She's aware of our presence. Two: She's trying to regain consciousness. Four: We must abort. Three: No! We're too close. Seven: I will not comply. Seven Of Nine: I have performed this action before. I was with my father. He was a tall man. Two Of Nine: I have a similar memory. But I was in a house and the fire was in the hearth. Four Of Nine: The biomatter is ready. Three Of Nine: It tastes similar to a bird I once ate. Four Of Nine: I used to prepare food for my parents. They lived in a small building by a river. Seven Of Nine: I used to be afraid of the dark. Two Of Nine: Just before I was assimilated, I was eating with a group of men. We worked in numbers. Mathematics. I calculated equations for another man. Three Of Nine: I have a name. It's Marika. Marika Willkarah. Willkarah. Two Of Nine: Hello, Marika Willkarah. Seven Of Nine: Her designation is Three of Nine. Four Of Nine: I have a name. P'Chan. Son of Dornar and Ansha. My primary function was to care for them. Three Of Nine: I was married. We were on a starship, the Excalibur. I worked in Engineering. Two Of Nine: This is not my hand. Four Of Nine: My parents are dead. The Borg killed them. I hate the Borg. Seven Of Nine: This is counterproductive. We must delete all irrelevant data. Two Of Nine: I want my hand back. Three Of Nine: I was on duty, the night watch, when the Borg came. Oh, my God, look at what they've done to me. These, these things they put in my body. What have they done? Seven Of Nine: Command override. Cease this interaction. Comply! We will not access these memory files again. Initiate the prescribed maintenance and survival protocols only. No further communication is required until we are r-assimilated into the Collective. Two Of Nine: Agreed. Three Of Nine: Agreed. Four Of Nine: Agreed. Emh: But whoever removed their implants was a poor surgeon. Their internal organs were damaged during the procedure and their bodies are covered with scars. Janeway: You said you recognized them. Seven: Not at first. But when they attempted to access my memory files I was momentarily linked with them. Two of Nine. Three of Nine. Four of Nine. We were all members of the same Unimatrix. Janeway: Do you know why they were trying to access your memories? Seven: No. Janeway: How long have they been disconnected from the Collective? Emh: Three or four months. However, they are still connected to each other. Somehow, the left parietal lobes of their brains have been transformed into organic interlink nodes. They've become linked together into a sort of Collective Triad. Janeway: Revive them. I'm Captain Janeway. We know who you are and we know what you were trying to do. What we don't know is why. Two: She has information we need. Janeway: What kind of information? Two: We want to become Three: Individuals. Janeway: You want to break the neural link between the three of you? Three: Wouldn't you? None of us is alone with our own thoughts, our own feelings. Two: Every day of my life is spent hearing their two voices in my head. Four: When we're asleep, we experience each other's dreams. Emh: How's that different from life in the Collective? Seven: In the Collective there are billions of voices. They become white noise. Two: But, with only three Three: Each voice comes through clearly. Four: It has to stop. We must break the neural link. Janeway: Doctor, is there anything you can do? Emh: The modifications are too extensive. Their neuronal pathways have been fundamentally altered. Two: You hold the key. Seven: Why? Three: You were there with us. Four: Planet one eight six five alpha. You must remember. Seven: Eight years ago our vessel crashed. The four of us were the only survivors. Two: When we were reassimilated Three: We found we'd been linked together somehow. Four: We were a subset within the Collective. Two: It's like having three voices whispering in one ear Three: And a crowd screaming in the other Four: We had to break free, so we worked together. We finally escaped. Two: We had our implants removed on Inavar Prime. Three: But they couldn't break the neural link. Four: We need to find out what happened eight years ago, after the crash. Two: The night we were reassimilated into the Collective. We need to know how the link was created, but our memories are Three: Fragmented, disorganized. We hoped that you would know. Seven: I don't. However, I am willing to attempt to retrieve the data. Come with me. Seven: Are you ready? Four: Yes. Seven: Data search complete. Do you remember anything further? Four: No. My last memory Three: Is of us standing All: Around the campfire. Seven: And yet the data files in your cortical processor appear to be intact. I see no evidence that would explain your lapse in memory. Two: What about you? Why don't you remember what happened? Seven: I don't know. I've found no evidence of damage to my memory files either. I remember the campfire and then waking up in the Collective. There is an obvious gap, but no indication of why. Two: Why do they still call you Seven? You should have a name. Seven: It is my name. Four: No. It's a designation. You're an individual now. Seven: I decided that my former name was no longer appropriate. Prepare to reinitialize the memory cascade. Three: I can't wait to use my real name again. Seven: There is nothing preventing you from doing so. Two: Except that most of the time I don't know whether my name is Marika, P'Chan or Lansor. The names, the memories Four: The memories, even the thoughts flow from one to the other. Three: I can't love or hate or laugh. All: Or cry without sharing it with them. Two: How can any of us take a name for All: For ourselves? Four: We're not individuals. Three: We're not Borg. Two: We're nothing. Seven: Begin the memory cascade. Janeway: A friendly game? Paris: Well, that's how it started. Janeway: I see. Perhaps you could explain to me how this friendly game turned into a street brawl? Paris: Well, Harry and I wanted to explore the station. We wanted to broaden our understanding of alien cultures and, er Janeway: Skip the recruiting speech. You were looking for a bar. Then what? Kim: Well, we found one, and we met a pair of Kinbori who told us about this game they play with these big, odd-looking rackets. Janeway: You mean one of those? Both: Yeah! Paris: In any case, they challenged us to a game and we accepted, but I guess we weren't quite aware of all the rules. Janeway: Because you'd been drinking. Paris: Yes, ma'am. You see, we thought it was a version of tennis, but as soon as we hit the first volley this Kinbori jumps over the net and starts attacking us with his racket. Kim: So we figured we were supposed to fight back. Paris: Yeah. Kim: And then, er, well, things got a little out of hand. Janeway: A little out of hand? Seven Voyager crewmen, including two bridge officers, along with thirteen Kinbori and one Morphinian café owner, all arrested. The charges range from disorderly conduct to assault on a security officer. Kim: That last one's not true. Janeway: Thank you, Mister Kim. I'll note that exception in my log. You're both confined to quarters until further notice, after you report to Sickbay. That's all. Well, did you win? Paris: Oh yes, ma'am. Kim: We kicked their rackets. Janeway: Good. Dismissed. Janeway: Any progress? Seven: I've determined that we all have exactly the same gap in our memories. It seems unlikely that it would be a coincidence. Janeway: So you believe the Collective deliberately wiped your recollections of the reassimilation process? Seven: It is the most likely explanation. Janeway: But? Seven: The Collective would not care that four drones remember being reassimilated. Janeway: Something must have happened during the process. Something they wanted to hide from you. Let's look at this from a different perspective. Why would the Collective lock them into a neural triad in the first place? Seven: I don't know. There is no advantage to having three drones linked together in this manner. Janeway: They obviously did it for some reason. And I get the feeling that if we can answer that question, the rest should fall into place. But I wish we could find a way to close the gaps in your memories. Seven: There is a way. Janeway: I assume there's a reason you didn't mention it before now? Seven: It would involve linking my neural interface to theirs. Together, we may be able to restore the missing data. However, I would again be part of a group mind. Janeway: You're not eager to revisit that experience, hmm? Seven: There's also the possibility that I could become trapped in the neural link. Janeway: Turning the triad into a quartet. I won't ask you to take that kind of risk. Seven: I do feel compelled to help them, but I am uncertain as to the correct course of action. Janeway: Let me ask you something. Do you think of these people as family? Seven: Is it relevant? Janeway: There's an old saying. Blood is thicker than water. It means that the ties of family run deeper than any other kind of relationship. We'll often do things for members of our family we'd never dream of doing for anyone else. Naomi: Seven. Seven. Seven: Naomi Wildman. Naomi: I heard about the drones. Did they hurt you? Seven: I am not damaged. Naomi: What do they want? Seven: They are seeking information from me, but I am uncertain whether I can help them. Naomi: Oh. Be careful. Seven: Naomi Wildman, do you consider me to be family? Naomi: I, I don't, I mean. Yes. Is that okay? Seven: I have no objection. Naomi: Do you think of me as family? Seven: Yes. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Seven of Nine has decided to undergo the procedure that will link her mind with the other drones. Despite the risk involved, she feels an obligation to help these distant cousins. Emh: I'll be monitoring your neural readings while you're in the link, but I'm not certain I'll be able to counter the effects if you become trapped. Seven: I know you'll do your best. Emh: It's never a good sign when the patient feels the need to comfort the doctor. Good luck. Seven: Ready? Two: Ready. Four: Ready. Three: Ready. Seven Of Nine: You are damaged. I will assist you. Don't worry. Everything will be all right. FOUR OF Nine: The Collective has located us. A Borg vessel is on its way. Seven Of Nine: We will be one with the Borg again. Two Of Nine: No. I do not want to rejoin the Collective. Four Of Nine: Agreed. Seven Of Nine: That is in violation of all established protocols. Three Of Nine: Forget the protocols. You're not a drone. You're a person, like us. Four Of Nine: You have a name, a life. All you have to do is embrace who you really are. Seven Of Nine: No. I do not exist. I am only part of the greater whole. Two Of Nine: That's what they want you to believe. That's what they want us all to believe. Seven Of Nine: We are Borg. Our primary function is to serve the Collective. Two Of Nine: Not anymore. Seven Of Nine: Error. Input failure. Two Of Nine: They may know what planet we're on, but without the beacon it'll be far more difficult to locate us. Three Of Nine: If we can remodulate our cortical implants, we might be able to elude their sensors. Two Of Nine: We must leave this place. Seven Of Nine: This discussion is in violation of all established protocols. Three Of Nine: You stay here and be reassimilated if you want to. I won't. FOUR OF Nine: What are you doing? Seven Of Nine: The nanoprobes will create new interlink nodes in your left hemisphere. Resistance is futile. (A few moments later, he gets up and follows her. They find Two, and Seven does the same to him. They finally catch up to Three.) THREE OF Nine: I will not comply. I will not comply. Seven Of Nine: State your designations. Two Of Nine: Two of Nine. Primary adjunct of Unimatrix zero one. Three Of Nine: Three of Nine. Auxiliary processor of Unimatrix zero one. Four Of Nine: Four of Nine. Secondary adjunct of Unimatrix zero one. Seven Of Nine: What is your primary function? All: To serve the Collective. Seven Of Nine: You will repair the communications beacon. Two: It was you. You were responsible. What have you done to us? Three: You linked us together. Four: You're responsible for our suffering. Three: How could you do it? Two: If you didn't want to return to the Collective Three: You didn't have to. Seven: You don't understand what happened. Seven: Somebody help me! Tuvok: What's happening? Emh: Somehow they broke their link with Seven. They're malfunctioning. Help me get them to Sickbay. Emh: When they broke the connection with you, it must have overloaded their cortical implants. They went into neural shock. Seven: And yet I was undamaged? Emh: I think I know why. You said you remembered injecting them with nanoprobes eight years ago. Seven: Yes. It created an interlink between them. It was the only way to prevent them from escaping the Collective. Emh: Well, it seems to have had an unfortunate side effect. Their higher brain functions were somehow tied into the interlink. When they broke their connection with you in the cargo bay, the shock to their cognitive systems was too great. Seven: Can you revive them? Emh: I can remove the microcortical implants. That would break the link binding them together, but it would also kill them. They'd only live a matter of weeks. A month at the most. Seven: What are the other options? Emh: They could be returned to the Borg. If they were reassimilated into the Collective, they would regain consciousness, and then live out a normal life span. Seven: As drones. Emh: As drones. But they'd be alive, Seven. Seven: They have no hope of surviving unless they return to the Collective. Chakotay: Not exactly a happy ending, is it? Seven: No. Chakotay: Back on that planet, why do you think you reacted so differently from the rest of them? Why were you so afraid of becoming an individual? Seven: When I was first assimilated into the Collective, I was a child. They were assimilated as adults. When our individual memories began to resurface Chakotay: Yours were of being a little girl. A scared little girl. Seven: I let that fear control me. After I saw the drone die in the swamp, I panicked. I began to envision my own death. Alone, without even the sound of another drone to comfort me. So I forced them to return. I infiltrated their left cerebral hemispheres with nanoprobes and created a new interlink network. One that they couldn't resist. And then I eliminated the evidence of what I had done. Chakotay: You were overwhelmed by feelings you couldn't begin to understand. You're not responsible for that. Seven: Because of what I did, they'll be forced to live the rest of their lives in the Collective. For that, I am responsible. Chakotay: There's a difference between surviving and living. They'll survive in the Collective, but they won't really be alive. You know that better than any of us. Seven: There is no alternative. Chakotay: How long would they survive if the Doctor deactivated this interlink network you created? Seven: A month at most. Chakotay: A month as an individual, or a lifetime as a drone. Which option would you choose? Seven: Survival is insufficient. Emh: I beg your pardon? Seven: Eight years ago, I forced them to return to the Collective. I won't make the same mistake again. They deserve to exist as individuals. We must terminate the link between them. Emh: I understand that you feel a certain responsibility for these patients, but as their physician, so do I. It's my duty to preserve their lives for as long as possible, even if that means Seven: I will not return them to the Borg. Emh: Are you thinking of what's best for them, or for you? Seven: Clarify. Emh: You said it yourself. You made a mistake. And Seven of Nine doesn't like to make mistakes. She strives for perfection. I want you to think about the motivation behind your decision. Are you doing what's right for those three people, or are you trying to alleviate the guilt you feel over what happened eight years ago? Seven: The damage I did can never be repaired, and my guilt is irrelevant. I simply want them to experience individuality, as I have. As you have. At one time, you were confined to this Sickbay. Your program was limited to emergency medical protocols. In some ways, you were not unlike a drone. But you were granted the opportunity to explore your individuality. You were allowed to expand your program. Your mobile emitter gives you freedom of movement. Your thoughts are your own. If you were told you had to become a drone again, I believe you would resist. Emh: Yes. I suppose I would. Seven: They would resist as well. They would choose freedom, no matter how fleeting. Only you and I can truly understand that. Emh: Survival is insufficient. Three: It's so quiet. Four: I had no idea you were going to say that. I don't know what either of you is thinking. Two: I'd forgotten what it was like to be alone with my own thoughts. I'm leaving. Three: Where will you go? Two: I want to see the space station, to meet new people. To fill my life with life again, in the time I have left. Four: I'm leaving as well. There's an uninhabited planet only a few light years from here. I'd like to spend my final days in the open air. Four: My people don't believe in holding grudges. I wish you well, Seven of Nine. Seven: Thank you. Three: It's nice to be on a Federation Starship again. I'd like to stay aboard Voyager. Seven: The Captain said you may stay as long as you wish. Three: You mean as long as I have. I can't forgive you for what you did to us, but I do understand why you did it. Seven: Naomi Wildman. Naomi: I thought you might like some company. Seven: Why? Naomi: Because of what happened with the drones. Seven: I see that word travels quickly. Naomi: It's a small ship. I thought maybe you might want to spend some time with family.

Torres: Torres to Voyager. I could use a little help here. Chakotay: What's your status? Torres: I'm approaching your position, but that ion storm blew out my deflector field. I've lost helm control and I'm venting plasma from the port nacelle. Chakotay: We're modifying a tractor pulse to slow you down. Torres: Acknowledged. Chakotay: The arresting fields are in place. You're clear to land. Janeway: Hold on, B'Elanna. This is going to be bumpy. Paris: B'Elanna? Are you alive? Torres: You tell me. Paris: You've got a mild concussion. Torres: That's the best thing that's happened to me all day. Janeway: When I give you an order, I expect you to follow it. I told you to return to Voyager, not chase the probe into the center of an ion storm. Torres: We only have one multispatial probe. I didn't want to lose it. Janeway: We only have one B'Elanna Torres. I don't want to lose her, either. Torres: Understood. Janeway: Lanna, I'm glad you made it back in one piece, Torres: Did you just call me Lanna? Janeway: I suppose I did. Torres: That's what my mother used to call me. Janeway: Well then, I'm in good company. Torres: Come in. Chakotay: Feeling better? Torres: I've felt worse. Chakotay: I found something you might be interested in. It's what my ancestors called a monkey wrench. It was lodged in your port nacelle. Torres: How did it get there? Chakotay: Judging by your sensor logs, it looks like you ran into it after your deflector field collapsed, but the big question is, how did it get in this quadrant? Torres: What do you mean? Torres: What? It's Klingon! Chakotay: And it's old. That's about all we know. Looks like the Klingons beat Starfleet to the Delta Quadrant by a few hundred years. You may be holding the most important archeological find in Klingon history. Torres: Remind me to plant a flag on behalf of the Empire. You know, the simplest explanation is that the Borg assimilated a Bird of Prey somewhere in the Alpha Quadrant and they blew it out an airlock on their way home. Chakotay: Maybe so. In any case, it makes a nice souvenir. Torres: Harry, it bled. Ut screamed. There's got to be some explanation. Kim: Hey, I've got one for you. You hit your head harder than you thought. Torres: I wasn't hallucinating. Now run a submolecular scan. Kim: How many more scans are we going to run? There's nothing there. No fluid or vapor residue. Torres: We may find some irregularities at the atomic level. Kim: It's a hunk of metal. What you heard may have had nothing to do with this artifact. Maybe the comm. system picked up some stray signal from a pulsar. I don't know. Torres: A pulsar that speaks Klingon? Kim: Okay, B'Elanna, there probably is some explanation for what happened. But it's oh three hundred hours. I'm tired, you're tired. Let's just stick this thing in a containment field and deal with it in the morning. Neelix: Ah! Just the Daughter of the Empire I've been looking for. I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on your discovery of the Klingon artifact. Torres: Neelix, I ran into it with a shuttle. Neelix: Some of the greatest discoveries in Klingon history were accidents. When Sarpek the Fearless unearthed the Knife of Kirom he was searching for his lost targ. Isn't that amazing? I've been doing some research. Torres: Why? Neelix: Well, I'm planning a celebration. This must be the treasure. Torres: Neelix, look, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but since I'm the only Klingon on board, there's really no point in throwing a party. Neelix: Oh, nonsense. This artifact isn't just a testament to Klingon spirit. It's a piece of the Alpha Quadrant. A symbol of Voyager's home. And that's just as worthy of celebration and song as finding some old knife. Kim: The man's got a point. Neelix: And besides, I've already replicated five barrels of bloodwine. I'm not going to let them go to waste. Festivities begin at nineteen hundred hours. Oh, er, I almost forgot. As guest of honor, you're going to be expected to say a few words on behalf of your people. Kim: It sounds like you've got a big day ahead of you. You should probably get some rest. Torres: All right, all right, let's call it a night. Kim: Thank you. Tuvok: Do not underestimate the power of the mind. The artifact was a catalyst for your already active imagination. It served as an unwelcome reminder of your ancestry. The self-loathing you experience when you look in the mirror and see a Klingon. Torres: Who said anything about self-loathing? Tuvok: You despise being Klingon. It's no secret. What you experienced in your quarters was a subconscious manifestation of that hatred. The blood in your veins, the voices of your ancestors, all symbols of your Klingon heritage. Torres: And when the blood disappeared that was, what, me trying to vaporize that part of myself? Tuvok: Yes, but the essence of who you are, the artifact itself, remained. Torres: And the moral of the story is? Tuvok: Quite simple. That despite your efforts to become something else, whether it be Starfleet or Maquis, your Klingon nature continues to assert itself. Torres: That's an intriguing theory. Tuvok: Perhaps we should forego your meditation in favor of a different exercise. Torres: Fine by me. Torres: This should be interesting. Tuvok: Feel the weight of the bat'leth in your hands. Describe the first thought that enters your mind. Torres: It's a clumsy weapon. Overstated, like everything else Klingon. Tuvok: You can't see the elegance of its design because of your hatred. Torres: I don't hate Klingons. Tuvok: It's a warrior's blade, crafted for precision and balance. Observe. Torres: Is this your idea of therapy? Tuvok: Listen to yourself whine like a Ferengi. Torres: PetaQ! Tuvok: You're not worthy of the blood in your veins. A true Klingon would try to kill me where I stand. Torres: What the hell has gotten into you? Tuvok: This exercise is over. You are dismissed, Lieutenant, and take your dishonor with you. Emh: 'ej HumtaH 'ej DechtaH 'Iw. And the blood was ankle-deep. 'ej Doq SodTah ghoSpa' Sqral bIQtiQ. And the river Skral ran crimson red. Seven: I fail to see the merit of learning a Klingon drinking song. Emh: It's not about drinking, Seven. It's about saluting the noble deeds of our ancestors and honoring those who fell in battle. Think, Qapla'. Think, long live the Empire! Seven: Think again. Emh: Okay, so I'm overdoing it a bit. But try to get into the spirit of the occasion. Seven: Very well. 'ej HumtaH 'ej DechtaH 'Iw. Both: 'ej Doq SodTah ghoSpa' Sqral bIQtiQ 'e' pa' jaj law' mo' jaj puS jaj qeylIS molar MIgh HoHchu'. Neelix: Gagh, anyone? Sop joq jih yuv gagh drek. Torres: He said, eat this or he'll force it down the gullet of your corpse. Neelix: No offense. Paris: Oh, none taken. So this is replicated, right? Neelix: Unfortunately. Paris: And how do you get it to move? Neelix: I used a kinesthetic agent to give it a little oomph. Torres: Is it just me, or has everyone gone Klingon-happy? Paris: Oh, come on, B'Elanna. They're all doing this for you. Torres: Well then, they don't know me very well, and if you even think of joining in on this embrace your heritage nonsense, I swear, I'll rip out your tongue and wear it as a belt. Paris: Oh no, there's not a lot of Klingon in you. Torres: I inherited the forehead and the bad attitude. That's it. She would have loved all this. Paris: Your mother? Torres: She was so obsessed with Klingon ritual, myths. It used to drive my father and me crazy. Did I ever tell you that she put me in a Klingon monastery? Paris: You're kidding. Torres: It was after their marriage ended. She pulled me out of the Federation school in order to teach me honor and diskipline. Paris: Out of the plasma cooker, into the fire. Torres: She prayed to Kahless every day to guide me in the ways of the warrior. I guess he wasn't listening. Janeway: Ladies and gentlemen. Could I have your attention, please? I hate to interrupt the festivities, but before I turn the floor over to our resident Klingon, I'd like to say a few words. This is a great day for the Klingon Empire. A day when we honor their ancestors, those warriors whose deeds of valor and glory led them to the Delta Quadrant. Janeway: May they live on in song and story. Torres: Captain! Brok'Tan: Legh soh va gre'thor. Torres: Where am I? Brok'Tan: Silence The dead ask no questions. Torres: Computer, end program. Brok'Tan: Qem nuh meq. Torres: Let go of me! Torres: Wait, wait. Brok'Tan: Uch ghah! Torres: No, wait. Brok'Tan: She won't take the mark. Torres: What the hell is going on? Brok'Tan: Qus'daq ba'. Qus'daq na ghah. Torres: Where am I? Hij'Qa: You should know. You're half Klingon. Torres: Enlighten me. Hij'Qa: This is the Barge of the Dead. Our dishonored souls are being taken to Gre'thor. Torres: Klingon Hell is a myth. Hij'Qa: That's what I thought. Just a foolish superstition. Imagine my surprise. Torres: But I was on Voyager with my crew. Hij'Qa: That was the naj, the dream before dying. When we can't accept that we've died, we create the illusion of life to hold on to. Torres: He slaughtered my friends. Hij'Qa: No, he slaughtered the dream. He dragged you from the illusion of life. This is where you belong. Voices: Hij'qa. Mag hoshonah nes'a Gre'thor. Jih neh. Jih ghaj nug soh neh. Jih qhaj nug soh. Nug soh los. Vav, nuqdaq sho? Nuqdaq' oh puchpa'e' Torres: What is that? Hij'Qa: It's the Kos'Karii. They'll try to lure you to them. Don't listen. Voices: Duj tlvoqtah. Batlh daqawlu'tah. Tugh! Chakotay: B'Elanna, are you there? Janeway: Lieutenant, can you hear me? Paris: Help us find you. Torres: Tom? Chakotay? Hij'Qa: It's not your friends. Hij'Qa: There are things here worse than death. Brok'Tan: You. Kortar: Is this the mongrel child you spoke of. Brok'Tan: Yes. The one whose face would not bear the mark. Kortar: B'Elanna, daughter of Miral. It's not your time. Torres: How do you know my name? Kortar: You've come close to boarding this ship many times. I remember the first. You were a child. Your mother took you to the Sea of Gatan. Your curiosity was as deep as the water. Torres: I fell in. I almost drowned. Kortar: When your mother breathed life back into your lungs, she told you about me. Torres: So you're supposed to be Kortar. Kortar: Ah. You remember me. Torres: I remember the myth of Kortar, the first Klingon. He destroyed the gods who created him. Kortar: And as punishment, I was condemned to ferry the souls of the dishonored to Gre'thor. Torres: I may have believed in you as a child, but not anymore. Kortar: If you didn't still believe, you wouldn't be here. Kortar: Foolish girl. Kortar: You cannot harm me. I'm already dead. Torres: What's happening? Kortar: The soul of another dishonored warrior is being delivered. Brok'Tan: Kot'mah soh Gre'thor. Torres: Mother. Emh: It's all right. You're safe. Paris: Your shuttle was drifting on the trailing edge of an ion storm. You lost life support. We found you just in time. Torres: But I got through the storm. I remember crashing into the shuttlebay. Emh: When we tractored your shuttle back to Voyager, you were in a coma. Paris: We almost lost you. Torres: The Klingon artifact. Paris: Artifact? Torres: My hand. Emh: You took quite a beating out there. More than your fair share of cuts and bruises. Torres: Come in. Chakotay: How are you feeling? Torres: Er, a little out of place. Chakotay: Would you like to talk about it? Torres: Yes. And no. Chakotay: Let me know when you decide. Torres: I don't know how to say this without sounding crazy. Chakotay: Try. Torres: Do you believe in an afterlife? Chakotay: I accept there are things in the universe than can't be scanned with a tricorder. What happened to you out there? Torres: I think I died. I died, and I was on the Barge of the Dead in the Klingon afterlife. Chakotay: Klingon mythology has been ingrained in you since you were a child. It's not surprising you experienced some of those images while you were unconscious. Torres: I saw my mother, Chakotay. If it was real, then she's dead. Chakotay: B'Elanna, your mother, the Barge of the Dead, those are just symbols. It's your subconscious mind trying to tell you something. Torres: Tell me what? That my mother is going to hell? Chakotay: You need time to digest what you experienced. You have to interpret the symbols and search for their meaning. Torres: What if there is no symbolism to interpret? What if the afterlife is real? I'm an engineer. My whole life I've immersed myself in science and schematics. But what if it's time to start looking beyond that? Chakotay: My grandfather used to think he could transform himself into a wolf so that he could venture out to explore the spirit realm. It was real to him, as real as what your experience was to you, but that doesn't mean he grew hair all over his body and walked around on all fours. Torres: My mother has been on my mind a lot lately. We just had a big anniversary. It's been ten years since we talked. But it was so real. I could taste the blood in the air. I could feel the wind. I was seasick from the rocking of the boat. Paris: Hi. Torres: Hi. Paris: What are you reading? Torres: The paq'batlh. It's a sacred Klingon scroll. Paris: Find anything? Torres: You don't want to know. Paris: Oh, come on. It can't be that bad. Torres: You want to bet? I found out why my mother is on her way to Gre'thor. It's because I sent her there. Paris: What do you mean? Torres: The sins of the child. She's being punished for my dishonor. I turned my back on everything Klingon, and now she has to pay the price. Paris: B'Elanna, you can't even be sure your mother is dead, much less blame yourself for what happens to her in some afterlife. Torres: Look at this. The eleventh tome of Klavek. It's a story about Kahless returning from the dead still bearing a wound from the afterlife. A warning that what he experienced wasn't a dream. The same thing happened to me. Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: And the only reason Kahless was in the afterlife to begin with was to rescue his brother from the Barge of the Dead and deliver him to Sto-Vo-Kor. Paris: Okay. Torres: Don't you see? I have a chance to rescue my mother, if I can accept responsibility for her dishonor before she passes through the gates of Gre'thor. I have to go back. Paris: Well, wait a minute. What do you mean, go back? Torres: I can't let her suffer for what I've done. It's the only way. Paris: B'Elanna, I respect what you believe in, but you're starting to scare me. Torres: I'm scaring myself. Torres: It's a controlled procedure. I'll be under constant supervision. The Doctor can simulate the conditions of the ion storm. He's agreed to help me, but only with your permission. Janeway: I'm still not inclined to grant your request. Torres: Are you telling me that I can't pursue my spiritual beliefs? Janeway: B'Elanna, I'm not going to let you turn this into a debate about freedom of worship. Torres: But that's what it is. Janeway: There's a limit to how far I'll let religious practices go aboard this ship. If your belief system required you to sacrifice a child to your gods, I wouldn't allow that either. Torres: That's an absurd example. Janeway: You want to simulate a near death experience so you can revisit the Barge of Death, and you're telling me what's absurd? Bottom line, B'Elanna. I'm not going to let you risk your life for this. Torres: Captain, please. Janeway: Request denied. Torres: What I do with my own life is one thing, but to know that I have condemned my mother. That because of what I've done, she's Janeway: I appreciate what you're trying to say, B'Elanna, but whatever you experienced, it wasn't real. Torres: It doesn't matter if you think it was real. It was real to me. Whatever it was, it changed me. I can't ignore that. I need to confront what's happened. Janeway: I'm sorry. Torres: You know, you're just like her. Janeway: Lieutenant? Torres: My mother. You're as dedicated to Starfleet principles as she was to Klingon honor. I know that we haven't always seen eye to eye, but despite our differences you helped me become a good officer. And I'd like to think that you're proud of me for it. Janeway: I am. Torres: My mother never had the chance to be proud of me. I'd like her to know me the way you do. I don't want her to die thinking of me as a disgrace. You have to let me do this. Paris: I can't believe the captain is allowing this. One minute you're in a coma, the next you're a born-again Klingon? I just don't get it. Torres: I'm not sure I get it, either. I just know this is something I have to do. Paris: There must be an easier way for you to explore your spirituality. Go to church, or something? Torres: It wouldn't be enough. Paris: Look, I'll read the scrolls, I'll learn Klingon. We'll figure this out together. Torres: Next time. Paris: I just hope there is a next time. Torres: There will be. Janeway: Report. Emh: I've examined the sensor logs from the shuttle mission. I should be able to recreate the exact conditions that triggered her near-death experience. Janeway: Good. B'Elanna? Torres: I'm ready. Paris: Be careful. Janeway: You'll have an hour to do whatever it is you need to do. At the first sign of trouble, we're bringing you out. Understood? Emh: Computer, erect an isolation field around the surgical bay. Decrease oxygen concentration within the force field by twenty seven percent. Begin ionizing the enclosed atmosphere to five thousand particles per cubic meter. She's unconscious. Paris: Neural activity is decreasing to eighty seven percent. Sixty two percent. Synaptic function is failing. Emh: Compensating. Paris: Neural activity is nominal. Janeway: She's not breathing. Emh: She's still alive. Her lungs are taking in just enough oxygen to keep her brain from necrotising. Janeway: Qapla', B'Elanna. Brok'Tan: Sus'a g gre'thor qay. Torres: Mother. Miral: Stay away. You are an illusion. You're a Kos'Karii trying to lure me away Torres: Mother, it's me. It's me. Miral: B'Elanna? Then you died as well? Torres: I've come to lift your dishonor. Miral: But you don't believe in Sto-Vo-Kor. Torres: A lot's happened since the last time I saw you. I've changed. Miral: Not enough. It was you who brought this damnation upon me. Torres: If you hadn't tried to force me to become a warrior Miral: I tried to guide you in the ways of a Klingon. Torres: You tried a little too hard. Miral: If you had listened to me when you were younger, we wouldn't be on the Barge of the Dead. You were always running away. Torres: You drove me away. The same way you drove away my father. Miral: He abandoned us. Torres: You pushed him to the point where he couldn't bear to be around anything Klingon, including me. Miral: I wanted to give you honor. And if you had understood that, I would be not be on my way to Gre'thor. Torres: We're on the Barge of the Dead and we're still having the same argument we were having ten years ago. Look, if I have dishonored you, I am truly sorry. Miral: Are you? You have too much anger in your heart to be sorry. Torres: Oh, we don't have time for this if we're going to perform the transference. Miral: Is that how you intend to lift my dishonor? By taking my place? Torres: Oh, don't worry. I have no intention of being on this barge when it gets to Gre'thor. We've got just enough time to perform the ritual before my crew resuscitates me. Miral: Oh. I should have known you'd choose the easy way. Torres: What are you talking about? Do you know the risks I've taken to save you? Miral: You still understand nothing about being a Klingon. I would rather face damnation with what little honor you have left me, than cheat my way into Sto-Vo-Kor. Brok'Tan: There she is. Bring them. Kortar: The mongrel child has returned. Torres: I'm here to take my mother's place. Miral: B'Elanna! Kortar: You wish to claim her dishonor as your own? Torres: Yes. Kortar: You're willing to die for her? Torres: Yes. Release her to Sto-Vo-Kor. Miral: No! Kortar: Keep her quiet! Brok'Tan: Silence. Kortar: It's not your decision. She has the right to reclaim your honor. Once we've reached Gre'thor and you are within its gates, I will release her. Torres: No. Now. Kortar: You're very impatient. Time must be slipping away in the living world. You're concerned that your friends will revive you before you complete your deception. Did you really think that I could be fooled so easily? Torres: I will die for her. No tricks, no games. I will take her place honorably, like a Klingon. Kortar: If you choose this path, your friends will not be able to save you. Miral: No! I forbid it! Torres: I understand. Kortar: Your dishonor has been lifted. Sto-Vo-Kor awaits you. Miral: I will not abandon my daughter. Kortar: She has made the choice. Go! Kortar: Daughter of Miral, embrace your fate. Paris: Her neural patterns are breaking down. Emh: I'm initiating emergency resuscitation. Vent the ionized particles. Twenty milligrams cordrazine, now. Janeway: I'm deactivating the forcefield. Emh: Welcome to Gre'thor. Torres: This isn't Gre'thor. Emh: Oh, I assure you it is. You've taken your mark. Torres: What is this, some kind of a joke? Neelix: This is no laughing matter. Emh: You've met Mister Neelix, our ambassador to the recently deceased. Questions, comments, suggestions, he's your man. Neelix: If you'll follow me. Emh: By the way, I'll be performing an aria from Berlioz's Faust tomorrow night in Holodeck two. Feel free to stop by. Neelix: Fifteen decks. Computers augmented with bioneural circuitry. Top cruising speed, warp nine point nine seven five. Not that you'll be going anywhere. Torres: No Fek'lhr? No Cavern of Despair? Neelix: Don't need them. Torres: I don't consider Voyager hell. Neelix: Are you sure? Have you ever been truly happy here? If you thought fifty years aboard this ship would be difficult, try eternity. All: 'ej HumtaH 'ej DechtaH 'Iw 'ej Doq SodTah ghoSpa' Sqral bIQtiQ 'e' pa' jaj law' mo' jaj puS. Janeway: This is a great day for B'Elanna Torres. A day when we pay tribute to her dishonor. Emh: She's not responding to the cordrazine. Janeway: Neural activity at forty eight percent, thirty seven. Paris: We're losing her. Emh: We have to stabilize her synaptic functions. I'm attempting a direct neural resequencing. Janeway: B'Elanna's misdeeds have led her to Gre'thor. She comes with no valor, no glory, nothing to celebrate in song and story. Neelix: You really have no one to blame but yourself. Kim: You've kept us all at arm's length. Even Tom, who you claim to love. Paris: Hear, hear. Seven: I tried to assist you in making Engineering more efficient, but you resisted. You're stubborn. Emh: She inherited that from her mother, along with the forehead. Chakotay: What do you think of the afterlife so far? Torres: It's not exactly what I had in mind. Chakotay: Are you interpreting all the symbols? Searching your subconscious for their meaning? Tuvok: Lieutenant Torres. Defend yourself. Torres: Captain? Torres: What are you still doing here? I released you to Sto-Vo-Kor. Miral: You can't free me until you free yourself. Torres: I don't understand. Miral: You never did. Torres: I did everything that the ritual told me to do. I came back for you. Miral: Forget the ritual. It's meaningless. Torres: Meaningless? I died for you. Miral: No, you didn't. It's not your time. You still don't understand this journey. Torres: Then tell me. Miral: Request denied. Torres: What do you want? Miral: Who are you asking? Torres: You. Kahless. The tooth fairy. Anybody who will tell me what I am supposed to do. Miral: You are the only one who can answer that question. Choose to live, B'Elanna. Paris: Neural activity's at twenty three percent. Emh: Initiate cortical stimulation. Pulses at fifty millijoules. Paris: No effect. Emh: Increase to seventy millijoules. Janeway: Come on, B'Elanna. Tuvok: Defend yourself. Torres: You want me to fight? You want me to be a good little Klingon? Is that it? Janeway: You've let your anger consume you. Now it's consuming us. Seven: She's condemned us all. Emh: Misery loves company. Torres: Get away from me. Kim: Or what? You'll kill us where we stand? Torres: Tell me what you want me to be. A good Starfleet officer? A good Maquis? Lover? Daughter? Just tell me what you want from me. Miral: We don't want anything from you, B'Elanna. Janeway: We only want you. Neelix: We're not your enemies. Paris: Defend yourself. Torres: I don't know how. I'm so tired of fighting. Janeway: We know. Miral: You've taken the first step of your journey. Torres: And what about you? Miral: We will see each other again. Torres: In Sto-Vo-Kor. Miral: Yes, in Sto-Vo-Kor. Or, maybe, when you get home. Torres: Mother? Oh god, I'm alive. Janeway: Welcome back.

Emh: Somewhere, in that totality known as the universe, is a galaxy called the Milky Way. Tucked into the corner of that galaxy is a planet named Earth. On that planet is a city called Mantua. Go straight ahead past the fountain, turn right, then left, then right again. You'll find yourself walking along the water, listening, as a man sings of his beloved's unfaithful heart. And even the fish begin to weep. Quando, la donna e mobile. La donne e mobile, qual piuma al a vento, muta d'accento, e di pensiero. Sempre un'amabile, leggiadro viso, in pianto o in riso, e mensognero. La donna e mobile, qual pium al vento, muta d'accento, e di pensier. E di pensier. Paris: Tuvok? Emh: E di pensier! Paris: Tuvok! Janeway: Janeway to Security. Get a team to the mess hall right away. Emh: Stand back. He's been seized by the pon farr. A neurochemical imbalance is driving him to mate. We won't be able to reason with him. Tuvok, I understand. You are a Vulcan man. You have just gone without for seven years about. Paris, please find a way to load a hypospray. I will give you the sign. Just aim for his behind. Hormones are raging, Synapses blazing, It's all so veeee (Paris gets an emergency medkit and loads the hypospray, then throws it to the EMH whilst he is holding the note.) Emh: Eeery illogical. Illogical. Illogical. All: Bravo! Bravo! Torres: Doctor? Torres: Doctor? Hello? Torres: Maybe I'd better run a diagnostic on your hearing subroutines. Emh: My hearing's fine. I was just letting my mind wander, that's all. Torres: If you're not working on anything, you should deactivate yourself. Save us the energy. Emh: Wait a second, I thought I was scheduled to go on the away team. Torres: Well, the planet looks safe on the long range sensors. Any medical problems, and we can use the transporter. But, take a look at those scans and see if there's anything we might have missed. Emh: Lieutenant, I wanted to go on the away team. There's a canyon on that planet I'd like to investigate. Torres: I've already handed out assignments. Next time. If you'd like, I'll snap a few images for you. Emh: Don't bother. Torres: Suit yourself. Emh: I'll just use my imagination. Chakotay: Where did that come from? Janeway: Good question. It didn't show up on sensors until a few minutes ago. Chakotay: T class nebula. A thousand kilometer diameter. Hydrogen, helium, argon. Janeway: Nothing too dramatic. Chakotay: If you want some drama, take a look at this. Janeway: To Captain Kathryn Janeway, Starship Voyager. From Emergency Medical Hologram, Starship Voyager. Topic, status of Emergency Medical Hologram, Starship Voyager. Chakotay: He's filing a formal grievance. Janeway: Regarding? Chakotay: His treatment by the crew. There's also a paragraph about his future on Voyager, and a proposal for his advancement. Janeway: Failure to acknowledge sentience. Rude behavior. What's this? A request to be made Captain in the event of a catastrophic emergency? He's serious. Chakotay: Dead serious and he wants a formal response, for the record. Tuvok: Protocol allows for Commander Chakotay or myself to address his demands, if the captain would prefer. Janeway: No, I'll take care of it. I don't want anybody to be uncomfortable on this ship. I guess we should all try to be more considerate of his feelings. Paris: Captain, he does it to himself. He's Chief Medical Officer. Is it our fault that's not enough for him? Janeway: Resume course toward the planet. Chakotay, you have the bridge. I've got a formal response to draft. Overlooker: What category did I assign that vessel? Phlox: Unacceptable risk. Overlooker: Correct. And what was my justification for that decision? Phlox: The ship appears in none of our databases. Initial attempts to scan the interior failed. Overlooker: Then why are you wasting our resources? Phlox: I think I can penetrate the hull, using a microtunneling sensor. Overlooker: And observe the interior one molecule at a time? There are other potential targets that must be surveyed. Phlox: If I could tap into a data transfer conduit, I'd be able to reach their main computer core. That would tell me all we need to know about their tactical systems, in theory. Overlooker: We could be detected. They may not like being spied upon. Phlox: I think I've been very careful avoiding it. I'll take every precaution, I promise. Overlooker: Unacceptable risk. Phlox: I've already transmitted my proposal to the Hierarchy. They should be responding momentarily. Overlooker: Do you have something you'd like to say? Devro: No. Overlooker: The Hierarchy cannot be bothered with every ill-conceived notion that you Phlox: They've approved. I'd better get started. Devro: You're too confrontational. He'll report you. Phlox: Huh. Acceptable risk. Torres: The layer of antonium runs right along the edge of the canyon. Seven: My scans show geological instability within one hundred meters of the target location. Paris: I could put the Flyer down just outside of that. Neelix: I don't know, Tom. That might be a little too far. Paris: What's the matter, Neelix? Afraid of a little exercise? Torres: I think we could handle a hundred meter stroll. Paris: I have to agree. Neelix: Maybe getting there. It's coming back I'm worried about. We'll be loaded down with ore. If the ground is unstable Seven: I suggest limiting the team members to twenty kilograms. Preliminary scans indicate the crust is dense enough to support that weight. Paris: You might try carrying a transport enhancer to the site. Neelix: That's not a bad idea. We'll beam the ore back to the Delta Flyer and we won't have to carry anything. Torres: You know, this mission is starting to look a little more dangerous than we thought. Maybe we do need the Doctor to come along. If one of us fell through the crust there could be injuries. Seven: I require his assistance in Astrometrics. Torres: What for? Seven: That's none of your business. Torres: I think it is. Janeway: Oh! Neelix: What's wrong, Captain? Janeway: It's nothing, really. An old Academy injury. It flares up every now and then. I've learned to live with it, but maybe you should stay here and have a look. Right there. Torres: Get away from him. Janeway: You are dismissed. Doctor? Doctor? Emh: Yes, Captain? Janeway: Let's talk about these demands of yours. Janeway: I've given you a great deal of freedom on this ship. Emh: I'm not disputing that. Janeway: But you're not satisfied, either. Emh: I should be allowed to participate and advance according to my abilities, like any other member of this crew. Janeway: You should also know your limits. Emh: My program can be expanded indefinitely. I don't have limits. Janeway: Maybe, but we all have primary responsibilities. Yours is Sickbay. Emh: I'm a computer program. Multiple tasking is second nature to me. Janeway: This proposal of yours to be made a, what? What did you call it? Emh: ECH. Emergency Command Hologram. Janeway: In principle, it's an interesting idea. A backup captain in case I'm incapacitated and the command structure breaks down. But expanding your program would take months of work. Emh: The lives of the crew may depend on it someday. Janeway: I'm afraid the answer's no, Doctor. However, as part of my formal response I have recommended that Starfleet assign a team of Engineers to consider your proposal. When we get back to the Alpha Quadrant, I'll pass it along. Emh: Thank you, Captain. Janeway: Thank you, Doctor. Janeway: Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce the Emergency Command Hologram. Phlox: I've tried to access their internal sensors, but I couldn't get past the security encryption. So, I found something even better. A holographic crewman. I've tapped into his cognitive subroutines. We can now monitor everything he's experiencing. Devro: It's like having an agent on board. Janeway: To the ECH. Emh: Captain, this is such an honor, but if you don't mind my saying, hardly a surprise. Phlox: Allow me to introduce the Doctor. He's a computer program, a sentient piece of holographic technology. And he is Voyager's medical officer. Overlooker: Voyager? Phlox: That's the name of the ship. I've only been observing the Doctor for a matter of hours, and I've already learned more about this vessel than I did in three days of sensor sweeps. Overlooker: Elaborate. Phlox: The reason Voyager is not in our database is because they are not from this quadrant. They're lost. Alone. Overlooker: No backup vessel? Phlox: Uh huh. Overlooker: No one to contact for help? Phlox: Precisely. Another few hours of observation and I will know all we need to know about them. Defenses, weapons, crew complement, everything. Overlooker: From monitoring one individual? Unlikely. Phlox: Actually, it is very likely. The social structure on Voyager is, is much different than ours. Overlooker: How so? Phlox: This is my observation post. I have a single function. But the Doctor does much more than just practice medicine. He has access to the entire ship, and he seems to be an expert on everything. In fact, the Captain just gave him authorisation to command the bridge! It was a very exciting moment. Overlooker: Why aren't you monitoring him now? Phlox: The link drops out intermittently, but it should be re-established in a few minutes. Overlooker: Maintain your surveillance. Emh: This'll take care of any potential allergens in the planet's atmosphere. I'll monitor your medical status from the bridge, but I don't anticipate any problems. Since I'm not going, I wonder if you'd mind snapping a few holo-images for me while you're down there. Neelix: Gladly. Emh: Tell me something, Mister Neelix. Do you daydream? Neelix: On Talaxia, we have a saying. The dream dreams the dreamer. Emh: Care to translate? Neelix: We like to think that fantasies and daydreams come from someplace else. Another land. They slip into our minds and whisper about things we never imagined. Emh: A strange notion. Neelix: Do you daydream, Doctor? Emh: Of course not. I'm a computer program. I prefer wide shots, Mister Neelix. If you're feeling creative, throw in a little ultraviolet. Neelix: Will do. Kim: Voyager to Delta Flyer. Report. Paris: We're approaching the canyon. Whew! What a view! Emh: I'm sure it is. Janeway: Put us in a synchronous orbit above their landing coordinates. Paris: Voyager, mayday! Janeway: What's wrong? Paris: We've been hit. I'm taking us into the canyon. Janeway: Harry? Kim: I don't know what happened to them. Tuvok: I am picking up a vessel, Captain. It's Borg. Janeway: Red alert. On screen. Battle stations. Tuvok: Captain. You must relieve me of duty at once. Seven: An assimilation virus has penetrated our defenses. Chakotay: We're becoming drones. Janeway: Hard to starboard. Reinforce the shields. Kim: Incoming fire. Kim: Doctor. Emh: Computer, activate the ECH. Computer: Acknowledged. Computer: Transferring all systems to your command. You have the bridge. Emh: Indeed. Shields to maximum. Photon torpedoes, full volley. Fire. Computer, report. Computer: Enemy shields are intact. Borg: We are the Borg. Emh: I know very well who you are. Stand down your weapons. Borg: State your designation. Emh: Emergency Command Hologram, at your service. Borg: Designation unknown. Emh: Not for long. Seven: Doctor. Computer: Warning, primary shields are failing. Emh: This is the last time I'm going to ask you. Stand down your weapons. Turn back while you still can. Borg: You will be assimilated. Emh: Over my dead program. Computer, activate the photonic cannon. Computer: The photonic cannon is online. Emh: Fire. Kim: Doctor, can you confirm? The readings, Doctor. Emh: Um, er, er. Readings. Er, confirm, of course. Er, the away team's physiologies are within acceptable parameters. All life signs stable. Kim: You're okay to proceed, Tom. Paris: Understood. We'll contact you again when we reach the site. Phlox: Voyager will not be an easy target. It is armed with something called a photonic cannon. I watched them destroy a Borg sphere with a single volley. Overlooker: There are no reports of Borg in this region. Phlox: I saw it with my own eyes. Overlooker: Did you check for debris? Phlox: The ship was annihilated. There was nothing left for the sensors to pick up. Overlooker: Continue. Phlox: Their captain was disabled in the attack. The hologram is now in command. He's an impressive individual. A physician, an engineer, a warrior. And very attractive to the females. We must at all cost try to avoid a direct confrontation with him. I recommend a type three stealth assault. Overlooker: The Hierarchy approves. Prepare for a stealth assault, type three. Scan for Borg. We don't want any last minute surprises. Or mistakes. Chakotay: Doctor? Can I have a word with you? Emh: I know I let my attention drift a little on the bridge, but I assure you Chakotay: Are you kidding? That was incredible. I just wanted to congratulate you. Emh: For what, exactly? Chakotay: The Borg will have to think twice about attacking Voyager again. Nice work. Emh: Computer, locate Commander Chakotay. Computer: Commander Chakotay is in his quarters. Chakotay: Something wrong? Torres: What were you trying to do? Emh: I've been experimenting with introducing a new function into my program. Cognitive projections. Daydreaming. I wanted to be able to daydream. Seven: An inefficient activity. Kim: We all do it now and then, Seven. Why not the Doctor? Emh: My thought exactly. Torres: So what's the problem? Emh: The algorithms are malfunctioning. I'm starting to daydream whether I want to or not. Torres: They say a doctor who operates on himself has a petaQ for a patient. Seven: I can help him. Torres: I'm sure you can. Seven: The Doctor and I are going to Sickbay. Torres: Any excuse to be alone with him, eh, Seven? Seven: Assimilation is an unpleasant fate. Torres: Is that a threat? Kim: This isn't possible. The warp containment field is failing. Computer: Warp core breach in thirty seconds. Torres: Try stabilizing the antimatter flow. Seven: The control linkage is down. Computer: Warning. Warp core breach a lot sooner than you think. Torres: We've got to get someone inside the warp core. Try to eject it manually. Seven: No one could survive the current level of plasma radiation. Both: The Doctor. Emh: This isn't real, is it? Kim: Doc, you're the only one who can help us! Computer: Warning. Last chance to be a hero, Doctor. Get going. Kim: Here's the problem. The new algorithms weren't isolated properly. They've branched into his perceptual subroutines. Doc, why don't we take a closer look at the matrix and. What are you doing? Emh: I have to eject the core. Kim: What? Seven: Deactivate his program. Torres: No, it will damage his matrix. Emh: Don't try to stop me. Kim: Let's take him to Sickbay. Emh: I have to. I have to save the ship. I have to save the ship. I have to save the ship! Emh: You look lovely tonight, Seven. Where shall we go? That sounds wonderful. Torres: The new algorithms have completely taken over his program. Emh: Ambassador! Janeway: So now he's daydreaming constantly? Emh: It's a photonic cannon. I designed it myself. Torres: He seems to be randomly jumping from one to the next. Emh: Pardon me, Miss. Torres: I routed his subroutines to Holodeck one so Harry and Seven could monitor his fantasies. Janeway: Do you think that's appropriate? They're his fantasies, and I promised him we'd show a little more consideration. Torres: It'll give us a better idea of what's going on, help us fix him. Emh: Mister Neelix, how thoughtful. You baked me a cake. This won't get you out of your check-up. Kim: Kim to Sickbay. Janeway: Go ahead, Harry. Kim: You might want to have a look at this. Janeway: We're on our way. Emh: Keep still, please. HOLO- Seven: Anything you say, Doctor. Janeway: He does the hands very well. Seven: Apparently, he's had a great deal of practice. Look at these. Janeway: I see. Emh: Computer. Activate the Emergency Command Hologram. Kim: This is the part I like. Janeway: Nice touch. Emh: Bring the photonic cannon online. Janeway: Photonic cannon? Kim: A weapon of mass destruction. Invented by the Doctor, of course. Janeway: Of course. Seven: In many of his fantasies he takes command and saves the ship. Janeway: I see. Kim: Which means that particular algorithm is more easily accessible than the others. Torres: So, if we can isolate it, we might be able to stabilize his program. Torres: Why do you torment me like this? Emh: That was never my intention. HOLO- Torres: It wasn't? Emh: I want you to be happy, B'Elanna. HOLO- Torres: Without you? Torres: What? Janeway: Shush. Emh: I'll always be fond of you. That will never change. HOLO- Torres: You can't just leave me. I couldn't bear to be alone. Emh: Aren't you forgetting someone? He needs you, B'Elanna. Now more than ever. HOLO- Torres: Forget him. He's not half the man you are. Torres: I've seen enough of this. Kim: All right, let's go back to Sickbay and try to isolate that algorithm. Janeway: Congratulations. Emh: Thank you for this opportunity, Captain. All I ever wanted was to live up to my full potential, to hone all my skills, expand my abilities, to help the people I love. Overlooker: What's the status? Phlox: I lost the signal again. I don't know what happened. Overlooker: Two assault vessels are on course to join us. Accurate information is essential. Phlox: The more I learn about Voyager, the more I wonder if it's worth the trouble. Overlooker: Clarify. Phlox: Launching an attack against such a heavily armed vessel carries a great risk, and for what? A little antimatter and some dilithium. Overlooker: Your survey indicated large quantities of both. We've already committed substantial resources to mounting this assault. Were you mistaken? Phlox: No, not at all. I'm just sounding a note of caution. Overlooker: If our boarding party doesn't find Voyager exactly as you've described it, the Hierarchy will be informed. Phlox: I understand. There has been no mistake. Overlooker: Then we'll proceed. Phlox: I've made a terrible mistake. Devro: How terrible? Phlox: The Doctor was appearing in a different location every few seconds. It didn't seem possible, so I investigated a little further and I haven't been monitoring his perceptions, I've been watching his dreams, or his, his imaginings. I'm not sure which. But none of this is real. What am I going to do? Janeway: I came to check on your patient. Emh: He's doing just fine, Captain. It took Lieutenant Torres half the night to stabilize my matrix, but I haven't had a single flight of fancy since. I apologize for altering my program without permission. Janeway: At least there wasn't any permanent damage. Emh: I'm afraid there was. I've been exposed, humiliated. Turned inside out for all the world to see. If I've lost your respect Janeway: That will never happen. Certainly not because we've seen a few random fantasies. We all daydream, Doctor. It helps us imagine other possibilities in life. Just hold off until we've figured out a way for you to do it without damaging yourself, all right? Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Ship's status report. Federation law? Thinking about a career change? Janeway: In a way. Not for me, though. I've been going over the legal precedents for granting command positions to holograms. There aren't any. Chakotay: Captain, this ship needs its Doctor. He should focus on what he was programmed for. Medical care. Janeway: I think we've underestimated him because of our own human limitations. His full potential's unknown, Chakotay. Chakotay: Would you be comfortable handing over your ship to a computer program? Janeway: Well, I don't know if I'd take it that far. Chakotay: You might have to. He probably won't settle for less. Emh: Oh, no. Neelix: Allow me to shake your hand. Congratulations. Phlox: Doctor, may I please have a word with you?. Emh: I don't recall dreaming you up. Phlox: You didn't. I'm transmitting a simulation of myself into your program. But I am real. Emh: Doctor to the bridge. I'm daydreaming again. Somebody deactivate me. Phlox: Voyager is about to be attacked. Emh: Of course it is, unless the valiant Doctor swings into action, right? Phlox: Yes, yes, precisely. Emh: A common theme in all my fantasies. Phlox: I reactivated your cognitive algorithms. I put you back into this fiction. Seven: I'm ready to pose again tonight. Emh: Here. Emh: Why? Phlox: It was the only way for me to communicate with you. Emh: I'm listening. Phlox: I'm a long range observer on an assault class vessel. I scan passing ships for technology and raw materials. When I find an acceptable target, we raid it. Emh: You've been spying on us. Phlox: More to the point, on you. For several days I've been using a long range tunneling sensor to tap into your program. You were supposed to be our eyes and ears on Voyager. Instead, I got this. Emh: My daydreams? You tapped into my daydreams? That's why my algorithms have been destabilizing. Phlox: My fault. I'm sorry. Emh: Tell me about this attack. Phlox: My ship is less than an hour away. I can help you avoid a confrontation but you must do exactly what I say. Emh: Why should you want to help us? Phlox: You don't understand. The Hierarchy does not tolerate mistakes or misinformation. If they learn of my error, I'll lose my livelihood. Emh: Well, that's what you get for being a Peeping Tom. Phlox: But I also care about what happens to you. I feel like I've got to know you over the past few days. Emh: You've been spying on my fantasies, not me. You don't know me at all. Phlox: But I do. I know how your mind works, what your hopes are. You created all these possibilities. My species, we're very different. Our thinking is confined but, I can't help but admire you. I don't want you to be harmed. Emh: Then I suppose we should swing into action. Emh: Captain, we're about to be attacked. Alien vessels are approaching. Paris: There's nothing on the sensors, Doc. Emh: The vessels are cloaked. Chakotay: How do you know this? Emh: One of the aliens contacted me. Tuvok: I've detected no transmissions. Emh: He spoke to me in a daydream. Janeway: I don't want to hear it. However, I would like to know why you've disobeyed my direct order. Emh: I can prove it to you. The alien told me how to reconfigure our sensors to compensate for their cloaking field. Kim: He's right. I'm picking up three ships out there. Distance six hundred million kilometers, headed right for us. Janeway: On screen. Maximum magnification. Emh: The alien won't help us unless we help him. Paris: What if this is all part of their attack? A ruse? Chakotay: He's already helped us compensate for their cloak. I'm inclined to believe him. Janeway: So am I, but I'd just as soon set a course away from here at maximum warp. Emh: That will only delay a confrontation. They have vessels hidden throughout the entire sector. Janeway: Did your friend have a plan? Emh: He said they're running what's called a type three stealth assault. They won't decloak until they're right on top of us, at which point they'll fire a warning shot across our bow. Then come the demands for supplies and technology. If we don't comply, they'll destroy us. Fortunately, the alien promised to transmit the resonance frequencies of their phasers. Tuvok: And in return? Emh: In return. He mistakenly informed his superiors that I was in command of Voyager. To keep himself from being demoted, he wants us to maintain that fiction. When they open the channel, I have to be sitting in the Captain's chair. I'm sorry, Captain, but he insisted. Janeway: Well, I guess it's time to turn fantasy into reality. Emh: I'm in over my head. What if I fail? Kim: You sound like I did when the Captain put me in command of the night shift. That chair looked so big I thought I'd sink so far into it that nobody would be able to see me. Emh: But you had your Academy training to fall back on. Kim: Yeah, well, sounds like you've had plenty of practice. Emh: That wasn't real. Kim: Listen, Doc. The whole reason you wanted to be able to daydream was to test out possibilities, right? Consider this a field test. Overlooker: Why isn't there any hull damage from the Borg attack? Phlox: They repaired it. Overlooker: So quickly? Hmm. Prepare for type four assault. Phlox: Type four? That would cause a huge drain on our energy core. A waste of resources. Do you really think that's necessary? Overlooker: What I think doesn't matter. Your long range surveillance indicated an attack by Borg. On closer inspection, that appears to be doubtful. Your report on this vessel could be mistaken. I think caution is in order. The Hierarchy agrees. Proceed to type four. Paris: Captain on the bridge. Chakotay: It won't bite. Paris: What I wouldn't give right now for a whoopee cushion. Kim: A what? Paris: Ancient technology. Chakotay: Captain, we're ready to proceed. Janeway: Acknowledged, Commander. Seven: The internal comm. link is active. No one will be able to hear you but the Doctor. Janeway: Doctor, are Janeway: You ready? Emh: No, but do I have a choice? Janeway: I'll be with you every step of the way. Just remember, I'm still the captain. Emh: Understood. Tuvok: I'm receiving a transmission on a secure channel. Audio only. Chakotay: Must be the Doctor's friend. Let's hear what he has to say. Doctor? Emh: Hello? Voyager here. It's me. Phlox: Doctor, something terrible has happened. They've ordered a type Phlox: Four assault. Our phaser frequencies will be rotated Phlox: Continuously. I won't be able to help you. Chakotay: Evasive maneuvers. Tuvok: Three vessels are decloaking off the port bow. Paris: That didn't feel like a warning shot. Tuvok: Direct hit. Shields are holding. Kim: They're hailing us. Chakotay: This is it, Doctor. On screen. Phlox: See? There he is. Be careful, he, he's dangerous. Overlooker: The Hierarchy controls this region of space. Overlooker: Your ship has supplies and technology that we require. Janeway: Tell him we'll defend ourselves. Janeway: They won't get what they're after. Emh: We'll defend ourselves. They won't get what they're after. Overlooker: Huh? Emh: I mean you won't get what you're after. Not in a million years. Not if I have anything to say about it. Janeway: Don't improvise, Doctor. Emh: Sorry. Overlooker: An exchange of fire would damage both of our ships, But we have support nearby. You are alone. Take your weapons offline and prepare to be boa Tuvok: Excuse the interruption, Commander. I have found a potential weakness in their shields, but I'll need time to reconfigure our phasers. Chakotay: Keep him occupied, Doctor. On screen. Overlooker: This is my final warning. Emh: Don't rush me. Overlooker: Take your weapons offline immediately. I won't ask again. Emh: You appear to be suffering from a physio-emotive disorder. You're impatient, quick to anger. Do you have any idea what that does to your vascular pressure? You may want to see a physician. Tuvok: Firing phasers. Kim: Direct hit. Emh: Ha! How do you like that, huh? A taste of your own medicine. Janeway: Tone it down, Doctor. Emh: Sorry. Tuvok: Our phasers are offline. Overlooker: Prepare to be boarded. Janeway: It's time to negotiate, Doctor. Tell Emh: Tuvok! Emh: Activate the photonic cannon. Tuvok, that was an order! Tuvok: Activating the photonic cannon, sir. Emh: I'd rather not give the order to fire. Overlooker: My sensors are showing no activation sequence. Emh: Of course not. The photonic cannon is impervious to sensors. Phlox: The Borg couldn't detect it either. That's why they were destroyed. Emh: The Borg Emh: The Hierarchy, it's all the same to me. Just another bully who didn't know when to back off. Phlox: We'll be vaporized! Overlooker: The Hierarchy suggests retreat. Kim: They're moving away at maximum impulse. Chakotay: Go ahead, Doctor. You've earned it. Seven: Seven of Nine to the Doctor. Emh: Go ahead. Seven: I require your assistance in the mess hall. Emh: I'll be right there. All: Surprise! Kim: Don't worry Doc, you're not dreaming. Emh: Captain? Janeway: For your imaginative defense of this ship and her crew, I'm awarding you the Starfleet Medal of Commendation. Congratulations. Emh: Thank you. Janeway: I've also reconsidered your request. I'm going to authorize a research project to explore your command abilities. You're a natural. Seven: Congratulations, Doctor. That was a Platonic gesture. Don't expect me to pose for you. Emh: Noted.

Paris: All right, all right, hold on. If you were married in 2304 and your daughter was conceived in your eleventh pon farr, that would make you a hundred and sixty two years old. Tuvok: Incorrect. Kim: Come on, Tom, The man's not a day over one forty. We know you were at least a hundred when you joined Starfleet the second time, so I'm guessing you're around one thirty three? Tuvok: Also incorrect. I'm afraid you both lack sufficient data to reach a logical conclusion. Paris: Come on, Tuvok, tell us. Tuvok: I see no reason to enlighten you. Kim: Don't tell me Vulcans are embarrassed about their age. Tuvok: On the contrary. We value the wisdom that comes with advancing years. Paris: In that case, how wise are you? Tuvok: Wise enough to end this inquiry. Paris: Saved by the bell. Kim: I've got a fleet of ships two hundred thousand kilometers dead ahead. Tuvok: Can you identify them? Kim: Negative. Paris: I'm reading multiple hull configurations. Tuvok: Raise shields. Red alert. Janeway: Report. Tuvok: We've detected a large group of vessels directly ahead. Chakotay: Hostile? Tuvok: Possibly. I'm charging weapons. Janeway: On screen. Kim: I'm counting sixty two ships and a few hundred pieces of ships. All dead in space. Paris: It's a junkyard. Congratulations, Tuvok. You just saved us from a flotilla of hostile trash. Kim: We're being hailed. Janeway: Let's see what they want. Abaddon: Welcome to Abaddon's Repository of Lost Treasures. Whether you're in the mood to buy or simply browse, we're always open. Take a look. You may find something you never knew you wanted. Chakotay: Mister Abaddon. Abaddon: The name was passed down from my father and his father before him. Not a very imaginative lot, but I'll answer to it just the same. Chakotay: I'm Commander Chakotay, this is Mister Neelix. Neelix: Welcome to Voyager. Abaddon: Neelix, is it? You wouldn't be a fellow trader, would you? Neelix: What makes you say that. Abaddon: Cheerful demeanor, furtive eyes. It's obvious you're a man of commerce. Chakotay: You're very perceptive, Mister Abaddon. Abaddon: A useful skill in my line of work. Neelix: I'll admit there was a time when I dabbled in commerce but, these days I focus my efforts on food and diplomacy. Abaddon: Well, whether you're interested in a new iso-convective oven or a slightly dated translation matrix, you've come to the right place. My inventory, give or take a few items. After twenty years, it's hard to keep up. Chakotay: Looks like you have an item or two we might be interested in. Neelix: Ah, the question is, what are you looking for in return? Abaddon: Artificial gravity plating. Plasma-based power induction. Impressive. Chakotay: Those are integrated systems. Unfortunately, we couldn't trade them to you without dismantling our whole ship. Neelix: Commander, don't we have some spare duranium sheeting in cargo bay one? With a few modifications, it could be converted into gravity plating. Chakotay: Good idea. Why don't you show Mister Abaddon our inventory? Report back when you're done. Neelix: Yes, sir. Mister Abaddon, follow me please. Kim: This guy's collected more technology than the Borg. Seven: And almost all of it is useless. Paris: Wait. What's that? Seven: Ensign? Paris: Grid forty nine alpha. Oh, she's beautiful. Kim: It's just an old rust bucket. Paris: Are you kidding? Look at those lines. It's a work of art. That ship wasn't assembled, it was sculpted. I think I'm in love. Neelix: That makes fifteen power regulators in fair condition, and three more we could salvage with a little work. Seven has some doubts about the ion exchange rods. Chakotay: We'll take a chance. Add them to the list. What about these cultural artifacts? Neelix: Oh, just a few items I thought might have some historical value. They don't cost much. Chakotay: Looks like a good haul. If that's it? Neelix: Oh yes, there is one other item. A small vessel that could be an asset. Chakotay: We've already got a full complement of shuttles, not to mention the Delta Flyer. What do we need with this derelict ship? Paris: Chakotay, this ship is a diamond in the rough. Sure, it's got some scrapes and scratches, but, here, take a look at these systems. It has a neurogenic interface that allows it to react directly to the pilot's thoughts. That gives it the potential of being quicker and more maneuverable than anything we've got, including the Delta Flyer. Neelix: Add to that an optronic weapons array. Chakotay: I get the picture. Are you sure you're not just looking for a new toy? Paris: No, absolutely not. Even B'Elanna thinks restoring this ship is worthwhile. Chakotay: Maybe. If we had the manpower to restore it. Paris: No, I'll do all the work myself. On my own time. And if I need a hand, Harry's offered to help. Kim: I have? Chakotay: What will it cost us? Neelix: Abaddon's agreed to give it to us for three used power cells and Tom's interactive record collection. Paris: My jukebox. Chakotay: All right. One slightly used alien ship. Don't make me regret this. Paris: You won't. Abaddon: Remember, just one seat, not much storage. She was designed for speed, not hauling. Paris: Understood. Abaddon: Make sure you go easy on the thrusters. She doesn't like being manhandled. Neelix: Temperamental? Abaddon: Sensitive. She demands respect, like any fine piece of machinery. Paris: Sounds like you're sorry to let her go. Abaddon: Well, in some ways she's like the daughter I couldn't marry off. But that doesn't mean I'd trade her to just anyone. I've got a feeling you're the kind of pilot that she needs. Someone that'll give her the proper care and attention. Paris: I'm your man. Neelix: Don't worry, Mister Abaddon, she's in good hands. Abaddon: Well, this has been a very productive exchange. Oh, just one more thing. Neelix: Let me guess. All trades are final. Paris: I still can't get an active readout. Kim: Here's the reason. Another damaged power cell. Paris: Oh, come on, Alice, how about it? Give us a break. Kim: Alice? Paris: Well, I've got to call her something. Kim: How about The Lost Cause? Paris: Alice Battisti was the Lost Cause. I knew her back at the Academy. She was smart, sexy, but she wouldn't give me the time of day. Kim: All right, Alice it is. Try it again. Paris: I've got a pulse. Kim: A little snug. Paris: As Seven would say, an efficient design. The main computer's coming online. Kim: There's not much in it. Just a few schematics. Looks like somebody tried to wipe the database. Paris: Probably rolled the odometer back, too. Let's see what this neurogenic interface can do. Paris: Whoa. Kim: What's it like? Paris: It's kind of hard to describe. I'm tapped into all the primary systems. Ops, tactical, sensors. Paris: What happened? Kim: We just blew out two more power cells. Paris: See if you can reconfigure the power distribution grid. Kim: Look, we're both tired. Why don't we call it a night, come back fresh tomorrow? Paris: Come on, we can still get a couple more hours in. Kim: You can get a couple more hours in. I'm going to bed. Paris: All right, you win. Good night, Alice. See you in the morning. Paris: Good night, Alice. See you in the morning. See you in the morning. Alice: See you in the morning. See you in the morning. Alice: Tom. Paris: B'Elanna? Alice: Tom. Paris: Who are you? Alice: It's me, Alice. Paris: Good morning, Alice. Paris: Sorry, you're going to have to trust me on this. You'll be a lot happier if we can bypass the EPS relays. Kim: Tom. Paris: Yeah. Kim: Who are you talking to? Paris: Alice. She's being very stubborn today. No matter what I do, I can't get her to bring her propulsion systems online. Kim: Next question. What are you wearing? Paris: This is a flight suit design I found in Alice's database. Something her last pilot used to wear. Kim: For a minute, I thought you were changing Captain Proton's look. Chapter thirty seven. Paris: Oh, The Web of Pain. I completely forgot. Kim: No problem. I've got another hour on the holodeck. Paris: Now's not a great time. How about tomorrow?. Kim: That's what you said yesterday. Paris: Sorry, Harry. Alice needs me. Kim: So does Arachnia. Paris: Give the queen my regards. Okay. Neelix: Seven, can I get you something? Seven: A refund. The star charts we obtained from Abaddon are inaccurate. Neelix: Really? Seven: The computations are based on obsolete data. Neelix: It's not the only item that didn't live up to its advertising. Seven: Cultural artifacts? Neelix: According to Abaddon, they're lost treasures of the Delta quadrant. If you ask me, they're worthless trinkets. Seven: Perhaps not. This crystal is beryllium. Neelix: Valuable? Seven: Beryllium is the standard currency in spatial grid five three nine. There are species that would trade an entire fleet of starships for this trinket. Neelix: If Abaddon knew about this, he'd never have traded it for a few plasma couplings. Maybe I should return it. Seven: Need I remind you? All trades are final. Paris: Neelix, I need one bottle of champagne, if you don't mind. Neelix: Another anniversary? Paris: No, I'm christening Alice. Neelix: Congratulations. I'll whip up some hors d'oeuvres for the crew. Paris: Oh no, don't bother. This is a private ceremony. Just me and B'Elanna. Neelix: And Alice, of course. Paris: Oh yes, of course. Neelix: There's nothing like having your own ship. I remember when I first laid eyes on my little freighter, Baxial. Paris: No, don't tell me. Love at first sight. Neelix: Actually, I thought she was the ugliest thing I ever saw. But she grew on me. Eventually, I couldn't imagine being without her. You know, she's still down at the shuttlebay. Why don't we get her and Alice together and go on a double date. Paris: You pack the picnic basket, I'll bring the deuterium. Torres: So, I finally get to meet the other woman. Paris: Well, don't be too critical, she's a long way from finished. Torres: When have you ever known me to be critical? Paris: Is that a trick question? Okay, ready? Paris: Well? Torres: It's beautiful. I can hardly believe it's the same ship. Paris: Yeah, most of it isn't. I've replaced the impulse reactor, navigational array, er, plasma manifolds. The list goes on and on. Just a few more repairs, and she'll be spaceworthy. Care to do the honors? Torres: It's almost a shame to break this over the hull. Paris: You have a point. Paris: Oh, be careful The upholstery. Torres: I'll send an Engineering team down to clean it up. To Alice. Paris: To Alice. Torres: So when's her first flight? Paris: A couple of days, if I can round up all the parts I need. You want to come with me? Torres: Sure there's room? Paris: It'll be a tight squeeze. Torres: We'll manage. Paris: Hold on. Torres: Something wrong? Paris: It's these environmental controls. They need recalibrating. Torres: It is kind of warm in here, isn't it? Paris: Alice, lower the ambient temperature. Alice: Please specify, Tom. Paris: Five degrees should do it. Alice: Temperature modification complete. Torres: That's some voice. Paris: It came with the ship. Are you jealous? Torres: Maybe I should be. I hear you've been sleeping here. Paris: When Alice lets me sleep. Torres: Sounds like a real slave driver. Well, if you're trying to make improvements, you might want to start with these reactant injectors. The deuterium mix is too high. Paris: That's how Alice likes it. No, don't touch that. Torres: I was just trying to help. Paris: Well, thanks, but we're fine. Torres: We? It's a ship, Tom. Paris: Yeah, but she's my ship. Torres: Well then, maybe I'll leave the two of you alone. Paris: Okay. I'll see you later. Torres: Thanks for the champagne. Torres: Ow! Paris: Oh, sorry. I need to fix that. Chakotay: Thirty meters of EPS conduit? A broadband sensor matrix? A tactical data module? Tom, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I can't spare these parts right now. Paris: They're just lying around Cargo Bay two. Chakotay: Those are emergency supplies, and this isn't an emergency. Paris: Okay, what if I just replicated some? Chakotay: That takes energy, which isn't exactly in abundance at the moment. Maybe in a few weeks, if we can replenish our power reserve. Paris: A few weeks? What am I supposed to do until then? Chakotay: Your duties, which you've been neglecting. You've been late for two shifts in Sickbay. You've been distracted on the bridge. Maybe it's time you gave this project a rest. Paris: Yeah, you're right. I guess I have been overdoing it. Chakotay: You look run down. Maybe you should stop by Sickbay and have the Doctor take a look at you. Paris: No, I'm fine. I just haven't been getting enough sleep. Chakotay: Well, your next shift isn't till oh seven hundred. Why don't you do yourself a favor and turn in early. Paris: Yeah. Good idea. Chakotay: One more thing. I'd appreciate it if you'd shave and change back into your uniform. We do have protocols. Paris: Yes, sir. Chakotay: We'll get your Alice flying. Just give it some time. Paris: Sorry, Alice, we'll have to put the test flight on hold. All we need is a few lousy spare parts, but to listen to Chakotay you'd think Voyager would grind to a halt without them. Alice: But we're so close. Paris: Well, he gave me a direct order. Alice: Since when do you care so much about orders? Paris: I'm already an Ensign. You want to see me busted down to Cadet? Alice: Don't take that off. Paris: Well, I'm afraid I have to get back into uniform. Protocol. Alice: Forget about protocol. Once my repairs are complete, we can go somewhere together. Paris: Leave Voyager? Alice: It's been a long time since I met a pilot I've been compatible with. We can go anywhere you want. Paris: It's very tempting, Alice, but I can't just take off. Alice: What's holding you back? Paris: My job, for one thing. My friends. B'Elanna. Alice: She doesn't understand you the way I do. None of them do. Paris: Look, maybe we can make the test flight in a few weeks. And if it goes well, I'm sure the Captain will assign us on missions together. But I can't leave Voyager. Alice: All right. I'm sure you know what's best for us. Paris: Yeah, I think I do. Alice: You look a little tired. How about some rest? Alice: Sit back, relax. Let me help you with this. Paris: What are these? Alice: Just some modifications I made to your flight suit. They'll help us work together more closely. I'll show you. Activate the interface. Just for a minute. You won't regret it. What do you say we continue with those repairs? Alice: How's it coming? Paris: This is the last power cell, then we'll just need the data module from section beta twelve. Alice: What's wrong? Paris: Oh, these relays are just tricky, that's all. Alice: You're not being honest with me. I thought we agreed to tell each other everything. Paris: Well, it's just, we're compromising vital systems. Alice: Backup systems. Paris: If there's an emergency, Voyager's going to need them. Alice: If your friends had been more understanding, we wouldn't have to be sneaking around like this. Paris: I've spent the last six years with these people. They're like my family. Alice: Sometimes you have to leave your family behind. They're not like us. They're trapped by rules and regulations. Velocity, freedom. They'll never understand these things the way we do. Paris: Yeah, maybe you're right. Alice: Of course I am. You don't belong here. You belong with me. You're thinking about your first flight, aren't you? Tell me. Paris: Dad took me up in an old S class shuttle. Two seats, no warp drive, manual helm controls. I was eight years old and I was scared out of my wits. Alice: You couldn't keep the ship level. Paris: No, not at first. But then came this moment of clarity, when suddenly everything made sense. Alice: The clouds parted. Paris: I was flying. No matter how many starships I've piloted since then, I'm still chasing that feeling. Alice: Tomorrow you'll catch it. Only this time there won't be any clumsy controls to get in the way. Just you, me, and the stars. Paris: Hey. Seven: I wasn't aware you were assigned to Astrometrics. Paris: I was just passing by. I guess curiosity got the best of me. Seven: Are you planning an away mission? You were charting a course. Paris: Oh, that. No, I was just taking a peek at what's ahead of us. All yours. Seven: You've modified your garment. Paris: Adapted, actually. I made a few tweaks to enhance Alice's neurogenic interface. You know, the merging of man and machine. Seven: Perhaps you should learn more about this interface before you attempt to use it. Alice: Convince her it's safe. Paris: I ran diagnostics of every system on board that ship. There's nothing to worry about. Seven: Perhaps I should examine it. Alice: Make an excuse and leave. Paris: It's nice of you to offer, but it's really not necessary. I have to get back to work. Kim: Power fluctuation's down to four point seven percent. Looks like Abaddon's regulators might work out after all, Torres: Keep at it. The last thing we need is a temperamental power supply. Kim: Bad day at the office? Torres: Bad night with Tom Paris. You're his best friend, right? Kim: So he tells me. Torres: So maybe you can explain why every time he finds a new hobby, I go right out the airlock. Kim: I wouldn't take it personally. The Ferengi call it the Five Stages of Acquisition. Infatuation, Justification, Appropriation, Obsession, and Resale. Seems like you only got one stage left before he loses interest in that ship and he's all yours again. Torres: Until the next infatuation. We've got a point zero zero three drop in the warp field output. Kim: That's within parameters. Torres: Not on my watch. Somebody's removed four power cells from the secondary warp assembly without authorisation. Kim: Whoever it was tried to cover his tracks by rerouting power from adjacent cells. Should we tell Tuvok? Torres: Don't bother. This is an open and shut case. Torres: Tom Paris! Torres: Well Alice, looks like you've been borrowing my things without permission. Torres: Hey! Computer, open the hatch. Alice: Unable to comply. Warning. Life support failure. Torres: Torres to the bridge. Torres to Chakotay. Anybody! Paris: B'Elanna, what are you doing here? Torres: Let me out of here! Paris: What the hell happened in there? Torres: Your ship tried to kill me. Paris: That's ridiculous. Torres: It sealed the hatch, vented the atmosphere. Paris: You must have accidentally tripped environmental controls. Torres: Don't you try to tell me this was an accident. Paris: What else could it have been? Torres: How about pilot error? Paris: Are you saying that this was my fault? Torres: What's gotten into you? You've been stealing components, Tom. I found the power cells. Paris: A few spare parts. You're overreacting. Torres: Am I? Paris: Where are you going? Torres: To talk to the Captain. Paris: Wait. Torres: There's something wrong with you. Paris: Listen to me! Torres: Are you out of your mind? Paris: Stay out of this, B'Elanna! Torres: Or what? You'll sic Alice on me again? Alice: Let her go. Paris: What were you thinking? You could have killed her! Alice: She broke into my database. She was going to discover our flight plan. Not that it matters now. Paris: What is that supposed to mean? Alice: Keep your voice down. Once your girlfriend talks to the captain they'll drag you straight to Sickbay. One neural scan and they'll know all about us. Paris: Well, maybe it's time they did. Alice: Think you can just walk away? Paris: Watch me. Alice: So, I guess this is the real Tom Paris. Life throws up a few roadblocks and he heads for the nearest exit. Paris: Get away from me. Alice: I need you. Paris: You should have thought of that before you tried to kill B'Elanna. Paris: Sickbay. Alice: Remember how you felt when you first saw me? You knew we were meant to be together. Paris: I was wrong. Alice: Think of how it feels when you're sitting at the helm, and the interface is active. Paris: It's over, Alice. One way or the other, I'm getting the hell away from you. Alice: I'm sorry you feel that way. Paris: Argh! What are you doing to me? Alice: Convincing you to do the right thing. Take us the shuttlebay. We're leaving Voyager. Paris: No! Argh! Alice: Please, Tom. I don't want to hurt you. The shuttlebay, now. Paris: Deck ten. Shuttlebay. Janeway: This isn't the first time you and Tom have had an argument about how he spends his free time. Torres: This wasn't a lovers' quarrel. Captain, he practically assaulted me. Janeway: Well, that doesn't sound like Tom. Torres: It wasn't Tom. It was Alice. Janeway: Now you've lost me. Torres: That's the name that he's calling this new ship. Ever since he started working on it, he hasn't slept, he's become irritable, irrational. It's not just me. Chakotay and Harry have noticed the same thing. Janeway: This new ship. It has some kind of neurogenic interface. Torres: Exactly. It must be having some kind of an effect on him. Janeway: All right, I'll have the Doctor take a look at him. But in the meantime, I want you Chakotay: Captain, we have an unauthorized launch in progress. Chakotay: Seal the shuttlebay doors. Kim: Too late, he's out. Kim: His shields are up. I can't get a transporter lock. Janeway: Tractor beam. Paris: They're trying to tractor us. Alice: Stop them. Paris: I can't. Alice: You'll be able to maneuver much better if you complete the interface. Paris: How? Alice: Activate the connector sequence. Alice: We're one now, Tom. Think of what you want me to do, and I'll do it. Paris: We can disrupt their tractor beam with an optronic pulse. Alice: Good. You have access to our weapons. Use them. Tuvok: He's charging weapons. Chakotay: Full power to the shields. Torres: He's disrupting our tractor beam. Janeway: Increase power to the emitters. We'll drag him in by his heels if we have to. Tuvok: He's broken free, Captain. Janeway: Janeway to Paris. Stand down and return to Voyager immediately. Paris: I'm with Alice now, Captain. Let us go. Janeway: You know I can't do that, Tom. Alice: She'll do anything to get you back. I don't blame her for that, but we have to stop her. Paris: How? Alice: You know. Kim: He's coming about. Tuvok: He's charging weapons again. Direct hit. Janeway: Return fire. Kim: He's gone to warp. Janeway: Track him. Torres: He masked his warp signature. He's gone. Alice: And Daedalus fashioned wings from wax and feathers and used them to escape his prison. Paris: That's one of my favorite myths. Alice: I know. Paris: But you left out the part where Icarus flew too close to the sun and his wings melted. Alice: Poetic license. Besides, if we get too close to a star we have multiphasic shielding to protect us. What is it? Paris: My arms. They feel numb. Alice: Who need arms when you have wings? You're becoming a part of me now. Our potential is unlimited. Forget the old Tom Paris. He doesn't exist anymore. Abaddon: You know my policy. Janeway: We're not looking for a refund, just some information. Abaddon: That's one commodity I don't keep in stock. I suggest you look elsewhere. Janeway: Not until we get some answers. Abaddon: You'll find I'm prepared to deal with disgruntled customers. Tuvok: Captain, I'm reading active weapons signatures on three of the derelict ships. They are targeting Voyager. Janeway: Before we take actions we both might regret, Mister Neelix has something to show you. Neelix: I wanted to say thank you for this lost treasure. Abaddon: A beryllium crystal. Neelix: I'm surprised a trader of your distinction would let this slip through his fingers. I could say all trades are final, but we'd be willing to give it back in exchange for some cooperation. Tuvok: Haunted? Abaddon: That's what the Haarkonian told me when he traded her. I blamed his wild stories on isolation sickness and then took the ship off his hands. Chakotay: Did you ever notice anything odd about the ship? Abaddon: Odd? You could say that. I tried turning her into a towing vessel. She was cooperative at first but then she began to require constant, oh. Alice: I hope you haven't forgotten me. Neelix: Mister Abaddon? Abaddon: Where was I? Chakotay: Constant repairs. Abaddon: Right. Please, I wasn't going to tell them anything. Tuvok: Who were you speaking to? Abaddon: No one. I, I, I have to leave now. I'll return the items you traded for the ship. Leave me alone. I did what you told me. I found you a pilot. Janeway: What is it? What are you seeing? Abaddon: It's her. She's right in front of me. Chakotay: There's no one there. Abaddon: Transport me back now. Argh! Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay. Medical emergency. Emh: He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. Fortunately, I was able to repair the damage in time. Janeway: What caused it? Emh: It appears his neural pathways were recently restructured. I detected a neurogenic signature. Janeway: Looks like Alice got to him, too. Wake him. Abaddon: She was here. Emh: The woman you saw was an hallucination created by the derelict ship's neurogenic interface. I've given you a cortical suppressant. She won't be bothering you anymore. Janeway: Tell me. What does this ship want with our crewman? Abaddon: She can't fly herself, she needs a pilot. A biological entity to work in tandem with her programming. Janeway: Well, if all she needed was a pilot, why didn't she just recruit you? Abaddon: I wasn't compatible. She said my reflexes were too slow, that I was as useless as the junk that I traded, and I couldn't get her to where she needed to go. Don't ask me for the coordinates. She never told me. Just insisted that I get her a real pilot. I'm sorry I didn't warn you before. I couldn't resist her. Seven: Seven of Nine to Captain Janeway. Please report to Astrometrics. Seven: I've managed to reconstruct the data Ensign Paris was working on. My suspicion was correct. It is a course trajectory. Janeway: Let's see it. Seven: It terminates in spatial grid eight six seven. Janeway: Looks uninhabited. Seven: It's empty space, with the exception of a small anomaly. Janeway: A particle fountain. The Federation lost more than a dozen ships examining a similar phenomenon in the Alpha Quadrant. Relay the coordinates to the bridge. Alice: Take us out of warp. Can you see it now? Paris: Yes. What is it? Alice: Home. Janeway: Distance? Kim: Six million kilometers. Janeway: Decrease speed to one quarter impulse. Full power to shields. Tuvok: I'm detecting a vessel off our starboard bow. Kim: It's Tom. He's headed right for the anomaly. Janeway: Can you get a transporter lock? Kim: No, ma'am, not with those multiphasic shields in place. Janeway: Are we in hailing range? Tuvok: Opening a channel. He's responding. Paris: Keep your distance, Captain, or we'll open fire. Janeway: Tom, listen to me. The neurogenic interface is affecting your judgment. Drop your shields Janeway: And let us beam you aboard. Alice: Ignore them. Keep going. Kim: He's not responding. Janeway: Target his propulsion systems and fire. Tuvok: Direct hit. The vessel's shields are holding. Emh: Doctor to the bridge. Emh: Cease fire. Ensign Paris' neural readings are fluctuating. His synaptic functions have become linked to the ship. If we keep firing we could injure him. Severely. Janeway: Acknowledged. Janeway: Tuvok, stand down. Kim: We've got ten minutes until he reaches the particle fountain. Chakotay: Is there any way to disable their shields without firing weapons? Tuvok: If I could access their main computer and transmit a shutdown sequence. Kim: Problem is, Tom and Alice would detect it. They'd compensate. Janeway: Unless we find a way to distract them. Bridge to the Doctor. Emh: Go ahead. Janeway: Any progress on your analysis of the neurogenic interface? Emh: Not yet, Captain. Janeway: Would it be possible to tap into the interface using a comm. signal? Emh: I believe so, but I don't know what that would accomplish. Janeway: You've got five minutes. Do it. Janeway: And tell B'Elanna to prepare for an away mission. Torres: Captain? Kim: We're four minutes away. Janeway: Bridge to Sickbay. Janeway: Status? Emh: Stand by, Captain. I'm making the final adjustments. Torres: I'm not sure how I feel about getting inside Tom's head. Emh: Maybe you'll be able to explain a few things when you get back. Alice: I knew you were the one. No one's ever got me this close before. Paris: I'll have you home in just a few minutes. Alice: I promise you won't be disappointed. Torres: Don't believe her. Paris: Where's Alice? Torres: There is no Alice. She's a pile of circuits in the ship's computer core. You're letting a program delude you. Emh: Doctor to bridge. She's in. Janeway: Now. Tuvok: Accessing their main computer. Paris: You don't understand. This is what I've always dreamed of. Torres: You're still dreaming, And when you wake up you're in for a big surprise. Paris: Alice needs me. Torres: So do I. Alice: Nice sentiment, but it's a lie. Your family will do anything to keep us apart. Don't listen to them. Torres: Tom, it's me. B'Elanna. Alice is an illusion. Alice: I'm giving you what you always wanted, something they can never do. Does that sound like an illusion? Paris: I can't think. Leave me alone, both of you. Alice: They've accessed our systems. They're trying to disable my shields. Stop them. Torres: Focus on me. Listen to me. Alice: My shields are failing. Do something. Torres: It's time to come home. Alice: Tom. Paris: No! Torres: Hang on. We're going to get you out of here. Alice: Tom! Paris: No! Tuvok: I've got it, Captain. Their shields are down. Janeway: Beam him to Sickbay. Kim: There's too much interference from the particle fountain. Chakotay: I'm boosting the confinement beam. Try it now. Kim: We've got him. Tuvok: Alice is losing helm control. Janeway: Resume course to the Alpha Quadrant. Emh: You'll need a few days to fully recover. Think you can manage to stay off your feet for that long? Torres: If he doesn't, I'll break his legs. Emh: Well then, I'll leave you to B'Elanna's tender mercies. Torres: I've got something for you. It's a get well card from Naomi Wildman. It's a pretty good likeness of you, but I don't think she quite captured my eyes. Paris: I'm sorry. For everything. Torres: It wasn't your fault. Paris: But I remember all of it. Everything I said, everything I did. It was like I was sleepwalking. Torres: The important thing is, you woke up. Paris: Yeah. Thanks for being my alarm clock. Torres: Any time. Paris: From now on, I promise no more affairs with strange ships. Torres: What about the Delta Flyer? Paris: We're just friends.

Scene: Ambassador's log, stardate 53263.2. Though helpful during my negotiations on the Kesat homeworld, Commander Tuvok certainly hasn't been the most sociable of travel companions. Tuvok: Mister Neelix. Neelix: Sorry. How about a game of Species, Starship or Anomaly? Tuvok: Surely you could find something more productive to occupy your time. Neelix: Come on, Tuvok, it'll be fun. You think of something, species, anomaly, or starship, and I have fifteen questions to guess what it is. Come on, come on, come on, come on. Tuvok: I would prefer some peace and quiet. Neelix: How about a riddle? Tuvok: Mister Neelix. Neelix: Come on, it'll be fun. Tuvok: I have no desire for fun. Neelix: Okay, forget fun. A good riddle can stimulate the mind. Now, no self-respecting Vulcan could say no to that. Tuvok: Very well. One riddle. Neelix: Okay, here goes. A lone Ensign finds himself stranded on a class L planetoid with no rations. His only possession, a calendar. When Starfleet finds him twelve months later, he's in perfect health. Why didn't he starve to death? Tuvok: It is a theoretical possibility that such planetoids contain hot water springs, which could sustain the man for several weeks. Neelix: But not for a whole year. Tuvok: I concur. Logic dictates that the Ensign in question would perish. Neelix: Ah ha, ha ha! I stumped you. As a matter of fact, he not only survived, but his belly was full. Why? Because he feasted on dates from the calendar. Tuvok: Your answer is merely wordplay, it has no basis in reality. Now, if you'll excuse me. Neelix: Where are you going? Tuvok: To find some peace and quiet. Neelix: Have fun. Tuvok: Tuvok to Neelix. Neelix: Miss me already, Commander? Tuvok: Did you activate the aft tactical station? Neelix: No. Neelix: Why? Tuvok: There appears to be a download in progress. Neelix: That's odd. Tuvok: I'm detecting Tuvok: Anomalous readings. Neelix: What sort of readings? Tuvok: I'm not certain. But I believe it's a cloaking frequency that Tuvok: Argh! Neelix: Commander? Neelix: Tuvok! Delta Flyer to Voyager. Mayday! Tuvok, what happened? Janeway: Report. Emh: He's in neuraleptic shock. I'll need another twenty milligrams of synaptizine. Neelix: I'll get it. Emh: It's not working. I'll need to try direct cortical stimulation. Initiate a neurostatic pulse on my mark. Janeway: Right. Emh: Now. Again. Emh: His vital signs have stabilized, for the moment anyway, But he suffered severe neurological trauma. Janeway: Do you know what caused it? Emh: Some kind of alien weapon. Neelix: By the time I reached Tuvok, whoever had attacked him was gone. Janeway: What about the surrounding space? Any indication of cloaked vessels? Neelix: Between trying to tend to the Commander and piloting the Flyer, I had my hands full. I, I didn't think to scan for cloaked ships. I'm sorry. Janeway: You saved Tuvok's life, Neelix. You have nothing to be sorry about. How do you plan to treat him? Emh: I won't know until I've run a series of neurological scans, but it would certainly help to know something about the weapon. Janeway: Neelix, these Kesat you were negotiating with. Any reason to believe they might know something about this? Neelix: It couldn't hurt to ask. Janeway: Time to reopen diplomatic channels. Naroq: Deputy investigator Naroq, Kesat security. Captain Janeway, Commander Chakotay, Ambassador Neelix. Janeway: You've done your homework. Naroq: I familiarized myself with the facts on the way here. Chakotay: We're hoping you can help us shed some light on what happened to our crewman. Naroq: I believe I can. Based on the information you provided, it is my opinion that he was a victim of the Ba'Neth. Janeway: I've never heard of them. Naroq: I'm not surprised. In my language, their name means shadow people. They're a species obsessed with concealing their identity. Extremely paranoid and xenophobic. Janeway: Well, that explains their cloaking technology. Naroq: It's my belief they've been responsible for several unexplained attacks similar to this one. Neelix: Why wasn't I warned about them during my negotiations with your government? Naroq: Because my government's official position is that the Ba'Neth do not exist. Most people think they're a myth. Chakotay: There's nothing mythical about what happened to Mister Tuvok. Why is your government so skeptical? Naroq: Because there've been so few encounters with the Ba'Neth and, well, no one's ever actually seen one. Janeway: How many encounters are we talking about, exactly? Naroq: Before this incident? Twelve. Chakotay: I guess we're lucky thirteen. Naroq: You're lucky I gave my supervisor two bottles of Kesatian ale to get this assignment. Any other inspector would have simply attributed Commander Tuvok's injuries to unexplained phenomenon. Janeway: No offense, Mister Naroq, but what makes you so sure the Ba'Neth aren't just a myth? Naroq: This incident fits the pattern, Captain. All of the alleged encounters have occurred aboard vessels foreign to this sector. I believe they've been attempts by the Ba'Neth to assess the technology of new arrivals. Neelix: They were trying to download tactical data. Naroq: And Commander Tuvok suffered severe neural damage. That's also consistent with previous attacks. The Ba'Neth were making sure he would not tell anyone what he saw. Janeway: Maybe that's why Tuvok's tricorder was destroyed. They didn't want us to see the cloaking frequency he'd found. Naroq: He found a cloaking frequency? Janeway: Apparently. Naroq: Captain, I don't blame you for finding my theories a bit eccentric. I'm used to it. It's why I'm still a deputy investigator, but I've brought equipment to help your investigation. Let me examine Commander Tuvok and run scans on the vessel where he was attacked. I may finally be able to prove my theories. Janeway: With all due respect, we're more interested in saving Tuvok's life. Naroq: If we work together, maybe we can do both. Emh: His cognitive, memory and logic centers have all been severely damaged. Naroq: But he still has brain activity, which is more than I can say for any of the previous victims. Emh: Vulcan neural tissue is extremely resilient. I have no doubt that a brain from a lesser species would not have survived. Naroq: If you could only tell us what you saw, Mister Tuvok. Emh: I don't think we'll be hearing from him any time soon. Janeway: Keep working. I'll let you know if we find anything that might help. I'll take you to see where the attack occurred. Emh: Something I can do for you, Mister Neelix? Neelix: I want to help. Emh: Unless you have a degree in Vulcan neurobiology that I'm not aware of, there's nothing you can do. Neelix: There must be something. Emh: My advice is to return to your quarters and get some rest. Neelix: There's no way that I'm going to be able to sleep knowing that Tuvok is lying here like this. Emh: There have been rare cases in which comatose patients responded to external stimuli. Aromas, touch, voices. Neelix: So, you're saying that if I stay here and, and try to talk to Tuvok, I might be able to provoke some sort of response? Emh: If anyone can provoke Tuvok, Mister Neelix, it's you. Neelix: Good morning, Tuvok. I brought you a few more items from your quarters to help liven up Sickbay. Your kal-toh game, in case you decide you're ready for a match. Oh, and I also thought that you might enjoy a recitation of that classic proto-Vulcan drama, Clash on the Fire Plains. I'll be performing all twenty three parts myself. I also brought you some flowers from the Airponics bay. Oh, that's fragrant, isn't it? Perhaps you'd enjoy some Vulcan incense. How about some music? Computer, access Vulcan audio file, selection fifty six alpha. Emh: Mister Neelix. What is that dreadful noise? Neelix: The Chants of the Monks of T'Panit. Personally, I think it's dreadful, too, but it's one of Tuvok's favorites. Emh: I appreciate your efforts, Mister Neelix, but I'm trying to analyze his latest neurological scans and this music is very distracting. Neelix: You said I was supposed to stimulate his senses. Emh: I said stimulate them, Mister Neelix, not annihilate them. Neelix: Computer, pause music. Emh: Thank you. Neelix: Doctor? Tuvok. You've had an accident. You're in Sickbay. Emh: Relax, Commander, I only want to scan you. Neelix: Don't worry, Tuvok, he's only trying to help you. It's only a tricorder. See? It won't hurt you. Neelix: Now try it. Emh: Well done, Mister Neelix. Janeway: Commander Chakotay says you've found something. Naroq: That, Captain, is an understatement. Listen. Janeway: What is it? Naroq: The sound of history being made. Janeway: Less poetry, Mister Naroq, more facts. Naroq: The sound you're hearing indicates the presence of veridium isotopes. Seven: Residual particles from the Ba'Neth's cloaking field. Janeway: You've detected these isotopes before? Naroq: Yes, but only after they've decayed. You see, veridium has a very brief half-life, less than seventy hours. The previous sites I've studied have been months, sometimes years old. Janeway: But these isotopes are still active. Seven: We can use Mister Naroq's photolytic converter to illuminate them. Naroq: So you see, Captain, why this is an historic moment? We may finally learn what the Ba'Neth look like. Janeway: Well, let's see what we've got. Naroq: You don't know how long I've waited to meet you. Janeway: So the Ba'Neth aren't a myth after all. Naroq: This is the clearest image ever captured. Seven: Perhaps. I believe I can adjust our internal sensors to improve it. Naroq: What are you doing? You might disrupt the image entirely. Tentacles. I always suspected they were multipeds! Emh: Doctor to the Captain. Please report to Sickbay. Janeway: I'm on my way. Seven, if we can integrate Mister Naroq's photolytic technology into the deflector array, we might be able to decloak a Ba'Neth ship. Naroq: The technology only works at close range. We have to find the ship before we can expose it. We still need that cloaking frequency. Janeway: One step at a time. Emh: The Vulcan brain. A puzzle wrapped inside an enigma housed inside a cranium. Tuvok's neural pathways have begun to bypass the damaged tissue. They're forming new synaptic connections. In effect, his brain is rewiring itself. Whether this is due to my neurostatic therapy, or Neelix's rehabilitation regimen, or some combination of the two I can't be certain. Janeway: Is there any chance he'll make a full recovery? Emh: It's much too soon to say, but he's alert and he's already regained his basic motor skills. Janeway: But still no speech. Neelix: It's only a matter of time, Captain. Look how far he's come already. Janeway: I hope you're right, Neelix, but if he could talk he might be able to tell us something about that cloaking frequency. Emh: We're not sure how much he recalls. For that matter, we're not certain he recognizes any of us, or even knows who he is. Neelix: I'm going to take him on a tour of the ship. The Doctor thinks that familiar sights and sounds might get the old synaptic juices flowing. Don't worry, Captain. Tuvok will be back to his old self before you can say live long and prosper. Neelix: I've brought a visitor. Chakotay: Good to see you up and around. Neelix: You remember Commander Chakotay. Chakotay: We were just running a shield diagnostic. Would you like to take a look? Neelix: This is tactical station, where you work. Kim: Just keeping it warm for you. Hope you don't mind. That's the shield array. This controls the tractor emitters. Neelix: I think he remembers it. Kim: Whoa, whoa, whoa! He just activated the photon torpedo banks. Neelix: That's all right, Tuvok. Everybody makes mistakes. We'll be back later. Neelix: Last, but not least, your quarters. You spend a lot of time here. Reading, meditating. Mister Paris once referred to it as the Vulcan vault. Ah. Look around, explore. Seven: Astrometrics to the Bridge. Mister Naroq and I have completed our deflector modifications. We're ready to test the array. Janeway: Stand by. Reduce speed to one quarter impulse. Harry, full power to the deflector array. Kim: Aye. Janeway: All right, Seven, do it. Seven: Activating the deflector. Paris: I'd call that a pretty successful test. Chakotay: They've been watching us all along. Janeway: Hail them. Kim: Which one? There's practically a fleet out there. Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. We intend you no harm. Kim: They're charging weapons. Janeway: Shields. Paris: They're scrambling, Captain, in all directions. Janeway: Follow the lead vessel. Neelix: It's okay, Tuvok. I'm here with you. Everything is going to be all right. You're safe with me. Kim: Still no response to our hails. Paris: I hate to ruin a good chase, but the Ba'Neth ship is moving out of the deflector's range. Janeway: Seven, can you get Janeway: Their cloaking frequency? Seven: They're blocking our scans. Chakotay: We've lost them. Neelix: They're gone now, Tuvok. I told you you'd be safe. Tuvok: Yes, you did. Neelix: Tuvok? What? Tell me, what did I do? Tuvok: You told me I wouldn't be hurt. Neelix: Do you know who I am? Tuvok: You're Neelix. I'm safe with you. Naroq: We need Tuvok to tell us anything he can remember about the attack. Neelix: Captain, he may be talking again, but that doesn't mean he's ready to be interrogated. He's beginning to experience emotions, volatile ones. During this last encounter with the Ba'Neth, he was terrified. Janeway: We'll tread lightly, I promise. Neelix: All right, Tuvok, you can come in now. Janeway: It's nice to see you. Tuvok: Captain Janeway. Janeway: That's right. This is Mister Naroq. Please sit down. Two days ago, you were aboard a shuttle with Mister Neelix. You detected a cloaked intruder. Naroq: He attacked you. Tuvok: Yes. That's why I'm having difficulty now. Janeway: Yes, and in order to help you, we have to find the people who hurt you. Naroq: Before the intruder injured you, you managed to scan him with this. You recorded his cloaking frequency, but the tricorder was damaged and the information was lost. Can you tell us anything about that frequency? Janeway: Try to remember. Tuvok: I was scanning. Janeway: That's right. What did you see? Tuvok: I, I don't remember. Naroq: Try! Janeway: All right, that's enough. We're done for now. Naroq: But, Captain. Janeway: Join Seven of Nine in Astrometrics. See if she's made any progress with the Ba'Neth. Neelix: Well, er, we should be going, too. A few of the crew have offered to help with Tuvok's rehabilitation. Janeway: I thought we might have lunch later, just the two of us. Tuvok: I prefer to stay with Neelix. Neelix: Oh, Tuvok. I'm, I'm sure that you would Janeway: It's all right. You two go ahead. I have a lot of work to do anyway. Kim: The object of the game is to turn this jumble of rods into a perfect sphere. We take turns positioning our pieces. Whoever gets the shape to appear first, wins. Tuvok: I like the way it looks now. Kim: What do you say we give it a try? Neelix: This has always been one of your favorite games, Tuvok. It helps keep your logic sharp. Kim: I'll go first. Now you. Neelix: Go ahead. Tuvok: I don't like this game. Kim: When you first taught me how to play, I wasn't very good either. But you kept encouraging me, and pretty soon I scored my first kal-toh. It just takes practice, that's all. Neelix: Try again. You can do it. Tuvok: I don't like this game! Tuvok: The Doctor helped me access my personnel file. Neelix: Nice picture. You should see mine. It's awful. Tuvok: I was an instructor at Starfleet Academy. I've received seventeen commendations for valor. I'm a husband, a father. Neelix: You're an extraordinary fellow, Tuvok. Tuvok: I was an extraordinary fellow. Neelix: You're still the same person. Tuvok: Then why do I no longer work on the bridge? Neelix: We talked about that. You had an accident. Tuvok: And now I'm not smart enough. Neelix: Tuvok, you've just got to be patient. Look how much progress you've made already. Tuvok: He could dismantle a photonic warhead in less than thirty seconds. I can't even play kal-toh. Neelix: It's going to take time, but you'll relearn all those things. Tuvok: How do you know that? Neelix: Well, because the Doctor Tuvok: The Doctor? The Doctor doesn't know how to make me better, does he? Neelix: Well, not yet, but Tuvok: I'll never be him again. Neelix: You don't know that. The Vulcan mind. Tuvok: I'm not a Vulcan. Not any more! Emh: What's going on? Neelix: It's okay Doctor, I can handle this. Please, Tuvok, try to relax. Everything's going to be fine. Tuvok: No! Nothing's fine! Get away from me! Emh: You'd better go. Now, Mister Neelix. I'll take it from here. Neelix: Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. Seven: You didn't. Neelix: Yes, I did. You were pondering. Something difficult, by the looks of it. Anything I can help you with? Seven: Unlikely. Neelix: Try me. Seven: How do you find something that's invisible? Neelix: The Ba'Neth. Seven: We have the ability to illuminate them. But to do so we must first locate them, which we cannot accomplish without their cloaking frequency. Neelix: That's quite a riddle. Seven: One that we might be able to solve if Commander Tuvok could tell us what he saw. How is his rehabilitation progressing? Neelix: Oh, I thought it was going great, but now? Let's just say that I've got a riddle of my own. Seven: Try me. Neelix: All right. When is a Vulcan no longer a Vulcan? Seven: When his genetic code is sufficiently altered. Neelix: No, I was speaking metaphorically. Seven: In that case, a person is no longer Vulcan when he has lost his logic. Neelix: Right. And how does he get it back? Seven: He must be taught. Neelix: Exactly. But what if he's brain-damaged and emotionally unstable? How does he learn? Seven: It may be impossible for him to learn what you're trying to teach. Neelix: Well, thanks for the pep talk. Seven: I was merely suggesting that you adapt to the circumstances. Neelix: What circumstances? Are you saying that the Tuvok I know is gone? That I should stop trying to help him? Seven: When I was separated from the Collective I, too, was damaged. I was no longer connected to the hive mind. I lost many abilities that I had acquired as a drone, but I adapted. Neelix: Because Captain Janeway didn't give up on you. She kept trying to help you. Seven: But not by restoring me to what I'd been. By helping me discover what I could become. Neelix: What are you making? Tuvok: A flower. It's for you. Neelix: Thank you. I'm not sure I deserve a gift. Tuvok: I shouldn't have shouted at you. I was angry. I'm sorry. Neelix: You were frustrated. I don't blame you. I'm the one who should be apologizing. Tuvok: Why? Neelix: Because I was pushing you too hard. I was trying to mold you into something you weren't. Tuvok: You were disappointed in me because I can't do anything as well as I did before. Neelix: Maybe there are things that you can do better. Tuvok: What can I do better? Neelix: Well, this, for example. You would've considered it an illogical use of your time. Tuvok: It's not good. Neelix: No, it's wonderful. It's creative. It's a symbol of friendship. Before your accident, you never would have considered that my feelings might have been hurt. You would have certainly never have made me a gift. Tuvok: We weren't friends? Neelix: Ah, we were colleagues, and I certainly felt affection for you. Tuvok: But I didn't return those feelings. Neelix: You tolerated me. Tuvok: I don't understand. Neelix: You said things like 'Mister Neelix, please contain your exuberance.' And, 'Mister Neelix I have no desire for fun.' And you never smiled. You've got a much better sense of humor now. Tuvok: I like to smile. Neelix: Me, too. Tuvok: I don't want to play kal-toh any more. Or meditate, or work on logic problems. Neelix: You don't have to. Tuvok: What can we do instead? Neelix: Whatever you want. Tuvok: Teach me things that you like to do. Tuvok: Here we are. A triple-chocolate wikki fruit sundae with warm fetran sauce. Paris: Fetran sauce on a sundae? Neelix: Wait till you taste it. Kim: You really made this? Tuvok: As Neelix says, dig in. Kim: Mmm, this is great. Paris: This is fantastic. Neelix: What did I tell you? Tuvok has a flair for food. All morning, he's been creating new recipes using combinations of ingredients that I never would have imagined. For example. A terra nut soufflé, Jibalian fudge cake with peppermint coulis, sweet leola root tart. Mmm. Paris: Only desserts? How come? Tuvok: They taste good. Kim: Hey, you better watch out, Neelix. Tuvok may put you out of a job. Paris: From your mouth to the Captain's ears. Kim: She must have heard me. Janeway: What's all this? Tuvok: We're having fun. Paris: It turns out Tuvok is quite the pastry chef. Tuvok: Would you like some terra nut soufflé, Captain? Janeway: I'd love some. Thank you. Oh, that is delicious. Tuvok: I am pleased that you like it. Janeway: What are you making now? Tuvok: Pistachio cake with parra-cream sauce. Janeway: Oh, parra-cream's my favorite. Tuvok: Then you'll have the first piece. Janeway: Tuvok, have you remembered anything more about what happened on the Flyer? Tuvok: I detected a cloaking frequency. Janeway: Yes, that's right. Can you describe it? Tuvok: I don't know, I Janeway: Did it have a symmetric modulation? Was the amplitude constant? Tuvok: I don't understand. Janeway: It's all right. I don't mean to push you, Tuvok but maybe if we could Neelix: It's difficult for him, Captain. Maybe you can try again tomorrow. Tuvok: This. This is what I saw. Neelix: What is it? Janeway: A cloaking frequency. Captain's log, supplemental. The computer has analyzed Tuvok's diagram and identified the Ba'Neth cloaking frequency. We've narrowed the search to a handful of systems. Kim: Here we go, Captain. A nine million terrawatt cloaking field in grid two one six. Chakotay: Nine million terrawatts? Whatever they're hiding, it's huge. Janeway: Alter course, Mister Paris. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Bridge to Astrometrics. Status. Seven: The deflector array is ready, Captain. Janeway: Raise shields. Kim: Aye, Captain. Paris: We're within range. Janeway: All right, Seven. Light them up. Kim: It's an armed outpost. Approximately three thousand life signs, twenty two ships. Janeway: Hail them. Kim: No response, Captain. Chakotay: They're charging weapons. Janeway: Open a channel, all subspace bands. Chakotay: They're firing. Janeway: Cease fire immediately, or I'll transmit the coordinates of this outpost to the Kesat homeworld. Paris: That got their attention. Janeway: Several days ago, a member of your species attacked one of my crewmen. He was badly injured. In order to treat him, I need to know more about the weapon that was used. Kim: They're responding. Audio only. Ba'Neth: We do not share technology. Janeway: But you take it from others. The attacker was downloading our tactical database when the incident occurred. Ba'Neth: We must assess potential threats. Naroq: Paranoid, just as I predicted. Janeway: In exchange for information about your weapon, we'll provide you with tactical data on several species we've recently encountered. You can assess their potential threats all you want. Ba'Neth: The Kesat investigator aboard your vessel cannot be trusted. Naroq: You know about me? Ba'Neth: You have been attempting to expose us for years. You are a threat. You must be stopped. Chakotay: They're charging weapons again. Naroq: Wait. It was my photolytic converter that allowed Voyager to decloak you. If you give Captain Janeway what she wants, I'll give you the converter. You can use it to adapt your technology so ours can no longer expose you. Janeway: I doubt you'll get as enticing an offer from the Kesat homeworld. It would be a shame if you forced me to hail them. Ba'Neth: We have an agreement. Tuvok: Enter. Neelix: What are you listening to? Tuvok: A selection from Tom's jazz database. It really swings. Computer, pause the music. I've been reviewing the holodeck files. I wish to visit the Risa water recreation park. Will you accompany me? Neelix: Maybe after your Doctor's appointment. Tuvok: Appointment? Neelix: The Doctor's analyzed the Ba'Neth weapon, and he's devised a procedure to treat you. You should be proud of yourself. If you hadn't drawn that picture on the cake, we may never have found a treatment. Tuvok: I wish I never drew that picture. Neelix: Why? Tuvok: Because I don't wish to undergo the procedure. Neelix: You're having pre-operative jitters, that's all. Don't worry, everyone gets them. Just think about it. In a few hours, you'll be yourself again. Tuvok: I am myself. Neelix: But you'll be able to do all the things that you used to do. Work on the bridge, advise the Captain. Tuvok: I want to be able to have fun. With you. I won't be able to, will I? Neelix: Well, you won't call it fun. You'll call it deriving satisfaction. But it's basically the same thing. You'll still experience emotions. Tuvok: But I won't express them. Neelix: Probably not. Tuvok: Then how will you know how much I enjoy being with you? Neelix: You've just told me. Tuvok: We'll still be friends? Neelix: Of course. Tuvok: Even if I merely tolerate you? Neelix: I'd be lying if I told you that things between us will stay the same. Tuvok: Well, why? Why do you want me to go back to the way I was? Neelix: Because this crew needs its tactical officer on the bridge. And I wouldn't be a very good friend if I ignored that just so that you'd be nicer to me. Emh: Mister Tuvok. I was beginning to think you weren't coming. Tuvok: I was experiencing pre-operative jitters. Neelix helped me overcome them. Emh: Glad to hear it. Now please, lie down. Tuvok: I'll see you after the procedure? Neelix: Of course. Neelix: I'm going to miss him. Emh: Me, too. Neelix: Hello, Commander. Tuvok: Mister Neelix. Neelix: It's good to see you up and about. Are you feeling better? Tuvok: The Doctor has approved my return to duty. Neelix: That's wonderful news. How about a celebratory glass of champagne? Tuvok: Tea will suffice. Neelix: Of course. I'm preparing a special dinner tonight in honor of your recovery. I don't suppose that you'd be interested in preparing one of your famous desserts? Tuvok: I have much more important things to do than engage in the preparation of nutritionally deficient foods. Neelix: Maybe another time. Tuvok: Sundaes. Neelix: I beg your pardon? Tuvok: I have given further consideration to your riddle regarding the Ensign who survived by consuming the dates from his calendar. It occurs to me that he could also have eaten the Sundaes. Neelix: That's a very clever answer, Mister Vulcan, But it's not very logical, is it? Tuvok: No, it's not.

Jisa: Gedrin! Gedrin! What happened? I lost you. Gedrin: Thirty seven bio-pods were damaged. I had to disconnect them from the reactor. Jisa: Were they dead? Gedrin: I had no choice. The main power's holding. The rest of the bio-pods are secure. That leaves us. Don't look so worried. It'll be like a simple night's sleep. We're out of time. Jisa: Do you think we'll dream? Gedrin: I don't know. We'll get through this. Jisa: What if there's nothing left? Gedrin: We'll start again. Five years. Janeway: Report. Kim: We've entered some kind of a subspace corridor. Paris: We were cruising at warp six then, wham, this thing pulled at our warp field like a magnet. Janeway: Where did that debris come from? Tuvok: Unknown, but the corridor is filled with it. Metal fragments, plasma exhaust, organic residue. Seven: Some of the debris is over eight hundred years old, Captain. Janeway: I'd like to avoid becoming part of this garbage stream. Can you find a way out? Paris: I don't now. There's hundreds of corridors. It's like a maze. Janeway: Well, be a good rat and find us the cheese, hmm? Paris: I'll do my best, Captain. Chakotay: Tuvok? Tuvok: It was a vessel, sir. They are hailing us. Janeway: Put it through. Turei: Who are you? Janeway: I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager. And you are? Turei: This underspace belongs to us. Janeway: We're here by accident. We're trying to find a way out. Can you help us? Turei: Help you? Yes, we'll help you. Tuvok: They are targeting our shields with a resonance pulse. It's altering the harmonics. We're being pushed out of the corridor. Paris: We're clear. Tuvok: The vessel has exited the corridor as well. Paris: Captain, we're over two hundred light years from where we entered the corridor. Kim: Two hundred light years in five minutes? Janeway: Hail them. Thank you for your help. There's something I'd like to ask you. We've got a long journey ahead of us and I was wondering if we could negotiate passage through this underspace of yours. Turei: Lower your shields. Prepare to be boarded. Chakotay: Boarded? For what reason? Turei: We must purge your computer. Remove all readings you've gathered in our territory. Janeway: We pose no threat to you. We're simply trying Turei: We're going to destroy that information, one way or another. Lower your shields. Janeway: I won't do that. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Try to disable them. Tuvok: Their vessel is highly maneuverable. It's difficult to get a phaser lock. Kim: Picking up two more ships heading our way . Paris: Direct hit. Our warp drive is offline. Tuvok: Shields down to eighty two percent. Sixty percent. Paris: They're closing. Chakotay: We could use some clever suggestions about now. Seven: There's a planet eight million kilometers ahead, uninhabited. But the atmosphere is charged with radiogenic particles. Chakotay: How radiogenic? Seven: Three thousand isorems. Chakotay: If we route enough power to the shields we can survive in that, but maybe our friends can't. Tuvok: Shields at fifty three percent. Janeway: Do it. Paris: Entering the thermosphere. Kim: Radiation levels at three thousand isorems and climbing. Chakotay: The alien ships? Tuvok: In pursuit and charging weapons. Janeway: Increase our descent vector. Paris: They're still closing. Tuvok: Direct hit to our aft shields. Janeway: Find the highest concentration of radiation, and take us through it. Kim: Proximity radiation at four thousand isorems. Five thousand. Six. Tuvok: Their shields are weakening. They're breaking off. Janeway: Now, all we need is a place to set down and make repairs. Tom? Paris: We're clearing the lower stratosphere. Janeway: On screen. Chakotay: I thought you said this planet was uninhabited. Kim: Radiation must have interfered with my scans. Paris: I doubt it's inhabited anymore. Looks like this planet's in the middle of a nuclear winter. Tuvok: Agreed. Gamma radiation levels are highly toxic. The impact crater suggests an orbital bombardment. Janeway: How long ago? Kim: From the rate of radiogenic decay, eight hundred ninety two years. Janeway: This must have been a city of millions. Set us down. Paris: Disengaging engines. Janeway: Stand down red alert. Assign damage repair teams, And Tom, make sure B'Elanna has enough help in Engineering. I want those warp engines back online. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Tuvok: Our friends are still in orbit. Chakotay: Circling like vultures. Janeway: Well, they're going to go hungry. Chakotay: Not if they find a way to adapt their shields and come down after us. Kim: Captain, I'm detecting faint life signs coming from a chamber several hundred meters beneath the surface. Janeway: Survivors? Chakotay: After nine hundred years? Janeway: Oversee the repair teams. Chakotay: You're going down there? Janeway: If somebody survived this catastrophe they might need our help. Get a good fix on those coordinates. I don't want to beam into solid rock. Seven, Tuvok, You're with me. Janeway: These walls have been reinforced with tritonium. They built this place to last. Tuvok: Most of the power relays are still active. Janeway: Not bad after nine centuries. Seven: The main reactor is drawing energy from the planet's geothermal core. Efficient. Tuvok: Some kind of stasis pod. Seven: This display indicates that there are more chambers behind these walls. Some of them have failed. Janeway: It's amazing they survived at all. Let's see what else we can find. Janeway: Seven, what are you doing? Seven: I've activated the reanimation sequence. He may be able to provide us with answers. Tuvok: We don't know anything about this species. They could be hostile. Seven: Most humanoid cultures are. Janeway: Remind me to reacquaint you with away mission protocols. Gedrin: Who Janeway: It's all right. We're not your enemy. We're from a starship. We discovered this chamber and revived you. Gedrin: How long was I Janeway: In stasis? Close to nine hundred years. Gedrin: Nine hundred? Jisa. Help her, please. Gedrin: No, Jisa. She was my wife. Emh: I won't hurt you. Gedrin: I was drifting in and out of consciousness when they brought me here, but I thought I saw you appear out of thin air. Emh: I'm a computer program. A hologram. Gedrin: And the others? Emh: Flesh and blood, like yourself. Gedrin: You're the ones that took me out of stasis. I don't recognize your species. Janeway: Human. Our home planet is halfway across the galaxy. Gedrin: And you've expanded your territory into this space? Janeway: Our ship was brought here by accident. We're trying to get home. Gedrin: You're Borg. Seven: How do you know that? Gedrin: Don't you recognize my people? The Vaadwaur? Seven: The Collective's memory from nine hundred years ago is fragmentary. Gedrin: I've had many encounters with your kind. Emh: And lived to tell about them? Impressive. Gedrin: How did you find us? Janeway: We needed someplace to hide from the Turei after they found us in one of their subspace corridors. Gedrin: Their corridors? Janeway: So they claimed. Gedrin: The corridors were ours. It took centuries to map them. We were the envy of a hundred species, including the Turei. Janeway: Are they responsible for what happened to your planet? Gedrin: The Turei, and a dozen others. What one couldn't accomplish the others finally did. I would like to look at what's left of my world. Gedrin: We made our final stand there. Janeway: I've scanned the cavern. You've got a thousand more stasis pods down there, most of them still active. Hundreds of ships, land vehicles, weapons. Gedrin: A single battalion, and their families. We had planned to come out of stasis after five years. We believed that by then, the Alliance would have been at each other's throats. Janeway: You were going to rebuild? Gedrin: No, not here. We knew this planet would be poisoned for centuries. We were planning to go to another world, start a colony, hope to find new allies, learn from them. Janeway: Your power core is still functioning. It was the controls that were damaged in the attack. That's why you never came out of stasis. Gedrin: Jisa and I lived there in the old quarter. We had a garden overlooking the street below. It's a shame she didn't show more courage at the end. Janeway: Given the circumstances Gedrin: That's no excuse. Janeway: Pardon me for saying this, but that seems a bit heartless. Gedrin: When it rains, do you run from doorway to doorway trying to stay dry, getting wet all the while. Or do you just accept the fact that it's raining, and walk with dignity? Janeway: Rain's one thing. Plasma bombs are something else. Gedrin: But the principle is the same. Janeway: I'd bring an umbrella. Gedrin: Maybe it's not too late to meet a new ally and learn from her. Neelix: I took the liberty of preparing a large assortment of Delta Quadrant dishes. Hopefully, there's something here that you'll like. Gedrin: You're Talax-ilzay. Neelix: Talaxian, but you're right. My ancestors referred to themselves as Talax-ilzay in the old tongue. Gedrin: The old tongue was new when I met your race. Janeway: You traveled all the way to Talaxia? Gedrin: And farther. Our corridors took us to many worlds. I'm curious. Have you heard of us, the Vaadwaur? Neelix: Oh, I'm afraid there aren't many records from that period, but vaadwaur is a word in the old tongue. It means foolish. I'm sure that it's just a coincidence, of course. I didn't mean to be rude. Gedrin: Your ancestors were wise. Only fools would let this happen to them. Chakotay: Chakotay to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: Looks like our friends in orbit have found us. Janeway: We're on our way. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: Six Turei vessels are in orbit, all firing plasma charges. Tuvok: That was two thousand meters to starboard. Kim: Looks like they can't get an exact fix on our position. The radiogenic atmosphere must be disrupting their targeting. Tuvok: Nine hundred meters. Paris: They're getting closer. Chakotay: We have the same problem. Our torpedoes won't lock on. Tuvok: Direct hit. Aft shields down to eighteen percent. Gedrin: Captain? Can you transmit a signal through this atmosphere? Janeway: We've already tried talking to them. Gedrin: I have no intention of speaking with the Turei. We put a sentry satellite in orbit directly above the city. You could use its sensors to help guide your torpedoes. Tuvok: It's there. Intact and functional. Gedrin: Open a channel. I'll give you the activation code. Gedrin: I'm a few centuries out of date. Kim: You can enter the activation code here. It's processing our telemetry. Janeway: Triangulate. Fire. Tuvok: Direct hit. The lead ship has lost shields. Its propulsion is down. Gedrin: One more torpedo will finish them. Chakotay: The other ships are retreating. Gedrin: Captain, why don't you keep firing? Janeway: We scared them off. That's enough for now. Gedrin: But they'll come back with twice as many ships. Janeway: With any luck, our warp drive will be back online by then. Gedrin: The Turei may be cowards, but their technology has become much more advanced than ours. If you leave us, we will be slaughtered again. Chakotay: What do you propose? Gedrin: Help us off this planet, and we will show you subspace corridors known to nobody else. You will be free from the Turei, and you will be a thousand light years closer to your home. Janeway: Let's wake up your battalion. Chakotay: Dragon's teeth. Janeway: Dragon's teeth? Chakotay: An old Greek myth. After a dragon was killed in a war, its teeth were spread out over the battlefield. They took root and warriors sprung from the ground to continue the fighting. Captain's log, supplemental. We've revived nearly two hundred of the Vaadwaur and we're moving forward with our unexpected alliance. Tuvok: Voyager was pulled into the corridor two hundred light years from here. Gaul: Pulled in? Morin: There must have been a break along the radial wall. Gedrin: The corridors occur naturally, but they're very unstable. They're damaged by use. Gaul: Obviously the Turei don't have the wisdom to maintain them properly. They'll be very difficult to navigate after centuries of neglect. Tuvok: We've only been able to chart a few of the corridors. Can you provide us with a more complete map? Morin: We've never kept written records, for security reasons. Of course, we've committed all the corridors to memory. Every multifold, every spatial intersect. Gaul: We'd be happy to plot a course for you but first, we'll need to get past the Turei, How many vessels are in orbit? Seven: Eleven. Janeway: Mister Gaul, Tuvok, start working on a tactical plan. Gedrin: If we do manage to escape, we'll need to locate a habitable world. Janeway: Seven, scan the Astrometric database. See what you can find. Someplace out of the way. Gedrin: Morin, take charge of reviving the rest of our battalion. Morin: Many of our bio-pods have been damaged. I could use some assistance. Janeway: Our Chief Engineer will be glad to give you a hand. Morin: Thank you. Janeway: Well, let's get started. We've got a civilization to rebuild. Neelix: No story tonight, Naomi. I had to cook for two hundred people today. Naomi: That's okay. I'm tired, too. Neelix: Did you get a chance to meet any of the children? Naomi: I don't like them. Neelix: Why not? Naomi: I just don't. Neelix: Well, that's not good enough. I'm the ship's ambassador, you're the Captain's assistant. We have to make a good impression on our new friends. Naomi: They're not my friends. Neelix: Well, not yet. Listen. First thing tomorrow, you and I will get together with a couple of the children. Naomi: No. Neelix: Naomi, what's wrong? Naomi: Nothing. I don't like them and I don't want to play with them. Neelix: That doesn't sound like you. Tell me what happened. Naomi: They called you names. Neelix: Names? Naomi: They said everybody from your planet was stupid. They said your ears were funny. They said just looking at you made them laugh. They said Neelix: I, I, I get the idea. Children can be a little cruel sometimes, but there's no need to take it personally. Besides, my ears are kind of funny. Naomi: I don't want to play with them. Neelix: No. And you don't have to. Naomi: Okay. Neelix: Come on. Neelix: Goodnight. I'll tell you a story tomorrow, I promise. Torres: I'm not happy with these fluctuations. We may be trying to reactivate too many ships at once. Morin: I suggest we focus on the assault fighters. Qual tel k'pok. Torres: Thanks. When did you learn Klingon? Morin: Just a few phrases. I was studying your database. The Klingons are a noble race. Torres: They have their moments. Morin: Today is a good day to die. Torres: Pardon? Morin: Kahless, your greatest warrior. That was his battle cry. Torres: You seem to have taken an interest in Klingon history. Morin: There are many parallels between our cultures. The Vaadwaur have also learned to embrace death without fear. As children, we're taught to fall asleep each night imagining a different way to die. Torres: I prefer curling up with a good book. Neelix: Computer, access my personal database. Computer: Access established. Neelix: Go into the Talaxian linguistic files, Old Tongue dialect. Find and define the word Vaadwaur. Computer: Vaadwaur. Archaic adjective. Primary meaning, Foolish. Additional meanings, Weak-minded, reckless, blind. Neelix: What's the first known usage? Computer: First written example appears in Eldaxon's Collected Folklore, second edition. Year of publication, 5012, new calendar. Neelix: Computer, name the specific folktales that use the word vaadwaur. Computer: The Demon with the Golden Voice. The Tale of the Deadly Stranger. The Tale of the Boy who Lost his Head. The Tale of the Bloody Hand. Neelix: Not exactly Mother Goose. Computer, transfer the text of those stories to my quarters. Computer: Transfer complete. Gedrin: That star cluster in grid fourteen twenty one? Nearly half the planets are inhabitable. Seven: Unfortunately they are already occupied. By the Borg. Gedrin: The Borg? In my century they'd only assimilated a handful of systems. It looks like they've spread through the quadrant like a plague. No offense. Seven: None taken. Gedrin: We had a colony near the twin star in grid three one five. Seven: That is part of the Devore Imperium now. Gedrin: And who are they? Seven: An authoritarian regime. They claim eleven systems across three sectors. Gedrin: I don't suppose they'd be willing to negotiate for a continent or two. Seven: The Devore are intolerant of outsiders. Gedrin: It doesn't matter. We have nothing to negotiate with. Our technology is nine hundred years out of date. Seven: Your pessimism is irrelevant. We will find a home for you. Gedrin: I hope you're right. Tuvok: Sixteen Turei vessels are now in orbit. Long range sensors indicate five more on the way. Janeway: I can understand that they want the odds in their favor, but isn't that overkill? Gaul: They may have detected us. If they know their history, they'll come prepared. Janeway: Nine hundred years is a long time to hold a grudge. Gaul: The Turei would like nothing more than to find the rest of our subspace corridors. We can't allow that to happen. Tuvok: Then I suggest we use the element of surprise. At oh six hundred, Voyager will leave the surface and engage the Turei ships in orbit. As we draw their fire, the more powerful Vaadwaur vessels will attack from multiple vectors. The rest of the Vaadwaur will break orbit from the opposite side of the planet and proceed to the subspace corridors. We'll rendezvous with them afterwards. Gaul: What if Voyager is disabled? We'll be defenseless. If we armed my ships with your photon torpedoes Janeway: I can't authorize that. Gaul: Why? Janeway: Starfleet protocols are very strict about the transfer of weapons. Gaul: I'm not used to putting my life in someone else's hands. Janeway: There are a lot of things you're going to have to get used to. We've faced enemies worse than the Turei. I'm confident we can handle them. Gaul: I need those weapons. Janeway: I'm sorry. The answer's no. Gaul: If you want access to our corridors. Janeway: We'll continue home through open space if we have to. Gaul: All right, our lives are in your hands. Gedrin: We found a planet in a nebula near the junction of corridors three nine and eight seven five. We'd be isolated and relatively safe. Gaul: Relatively? Gedrin: I'm afraid the planet is somewhat harsh. There are no large bodies of water and the vegetation is sparse. Gaul: This is absurd. Crewman: Ensign, we need a power coupling over here, on the double. Gaul: Our plan was to reoccupy one of our former colonies, gain allies, rebuild our forces, take back what was ours. Gedrin: Our former colonies are destroyed or occupied by species that are far more advanced than we are. Morin: Then we'll find a way to take them back. Gedrin: With what, a battalion of obsolete ships and outdated weapons? Gaul: No, with Voyager. I've been studying their technology, the control systems, propulsion, weaponry. We could learn to operate the vessel ourselves. Gedrin: What are you saying? Gaul: After they engage the Turei, they'll expect us to assist them. Instead, we'll attack. We'll put as many soldiers as we can onto Voyager and take it into the corridors. Gedrin: This is a mistake. If we fail, we'll lose everything. Gaul: If you like, I can return you to your stasis pod. Inform the others. Seven: This is an M class planet in orbit of a type G star. We've located a subcontinent with edible vegetation and an underground water supply. Unfortunately, the region is subject to windstorms. Gedrin: Not exactly paradise. Seven: You will adapt. Gedrin: Practical and to the point, just like my wife. She had a knack for cutting to the truth. Seven: She must have been an efficient individual. Gedrin: To say the least. You would have enjoyed her company. You are not at all like the Borg I knew. Seven: As a drone, I helped assimilate many civilizations. Now I have the opportunity to help reconstruct one. I find the experience gratifying. Gedrin: So do I. I'm curious. Has your crew ever considered finding a planet of their own? A place to settle down? Seven: Captain Janeway is committed to getting Voyager back to Earth. Gedrin: That could take decades, and there are many dangers ahead. Seven: We will adapt. Gedrin: I suppose you will. Neelix: Neelix to Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes? Neelix: Could I see you in Cargo Bay two? It's important. Seven: Acknowledged. Gedrin: I'm due for a final briefing with your Mister Tuvok. Seven: I'll accompany you to the bridge. Neelix: I'm sorry to bother you, but I've been doing some research on our new allies and I have found something very interesting. In dozens of the ancient folktales of my people, there's a common theme. They describe a phantom army that appears out of thin air, destroys entire colonies, and vanishes in the blink of an eye. Sound familiar? Seven: The subspace corridors. Neelix: Exactly. Gedrin claims they've been using them as trade routes but I'm starting to wonder. Seven: Your source material is folktales, Mister Neelix. Neelix: But many fables have a basis in reality. You've got the collective knowledge of thousands of species. You could cross-reference my findings. It'll only take a few minutes. Janeway: Come in. Gedrin: You wanted to see me, Captain? Janeway: Yes. I need a little history lesson. Gedrin: Can't it wait until after we've reached the corridors? Janeway: I'm afraid not. I've just had a conversation with Mister Neelix and Seven of Nine. They've been poring through various databases and ha've come up with some surprising findings. Gedrin: Surprising? Janeway: You told me the Vaadwaur were a culture of merchants and scientists who expanded their knowledge by using subspace corridors to travel to other worlds. You were the envy of hundreds of species, some of whom eventually wanted the corridors for themselves. Gedrin: Your point? Janeway: Let me give you another version of events. The Vaadwaur were an aggressive culture who expanded their territory by using the corridors to attack other worlds, until some of those worlds banded together to defend themselves and put an end to the Vaadwaur threat once and for all. Would you care to set the record straight? Gedrin: That was nine hundred years ago. Janeway: If we're going to be fighting side by side, I have to trust you. I need to be certain you don't have any ulterior motives. Gedrin: Our only motive is survival. Janeway: If I were to take you at your word, the ancient Talaxians might call me vaadwaur. Foolish. That's what they came to call anyone who allowed themselves to be deceived by an enemy. There are hundreds of other references just like it. Gedrin: Both versions of our history are true. We did use the corridors to explore and, on occasion, expand our territory. But Captain, we have gone from a population of six billion to six hundred. Our weapons are archaic. Do you really think that we are prepared to declare war on the Delta Quadrant? Janeway: Not yet, but right now it's Voyager I'm worried about. The Turei are going to be firing everything they've got at my ship. You might try to take advantage of that. Gedrin: What are you going to do, put us all back into stasis? Janeway: We said we'd try to help you make a new start, and I want to keep that promise. But I can't ignore history, Mister Gedrin. Janeway: Make yourself comfortable, Mister Gedrin. Chakotay, I don't know whether to believe him or not. What I wouldn't give for a Betazoid about now. Chakotay: If Mister Neelix is right, we should be ready for anything. Their technology may be outdated, but it can still do a lot of damage. Janeway: Agreed. Maintain a full security alert and have Tuvok keep a weapons lock on their primary reactor. Chakotay: Are we still proceeding at oh six hundred hours? Janeway: Yes, but with a few modifications. What's Mister Gaul's location? Kim: He's in the central chamber. Janeway: Hail him. Gaul: Captain, we've reactivated seventy three assault vessels. Our pilots are standing by. Janeway: I need to inform you about a change of plan. I want you to deactivate the particle cannons on all but ten of your assault vessels. Then we'll proceed on schedule. Gaul: I don't understand. Janeway: Only ten of your ships are going to engage the Turei. The others will head directly for the subspace corridors. I see no reason for those to be armed. Gaul: Something could go wrong. Why leave them defenseless? Janeway: Voyager will defend them. Gaul: What prompted this change? Janeway: You haven't been completely honest about your past, and that makes me a little uncertain about the present. Gaul: Gedrin. Gedrin: I suggest you listen to her. Gaul: Request denied, Captain. Janeway: It's not a request. You can call it an ultimatum if you like. Gaul: Unacceptable. Janeway: I'm going to leave this planet in one hour, with or without you. Gaul: We did not spend nine hundred years in stasis to take orders from you. Gaul: Contact the battalion. Tell them to prepare for the attack. Janeway: I don't know about the rest of you but I'm ready to get moving. What's our status? Paris: Impulse engines are online. Tuvok: Shields at maximum. Weapons standing by. Janeway: Tom, prepare to initiate the ascent sequence in Chakotay: Report! Kim: Massive energy readings coming from the central chamber. Tuvok: It's the Vaadwaur. They're launching the first wave of ships. Seventeen vessels have broken through the surface. They're at an altitude of two thousand meters and charging weapons. Paris: Ma'am, they're not ascending into orbit. They're heading straight for Voyager. Janeway: Tom? Paris: Engaging thrusters. Initiating ascent sequence. Tuvok: Vaadwaur ships approaching off our starboard bow. Janeway: Target phasers, full spread. Paris: We're airborne. Chakotay: What altitude do we need on this planet, Tom, before we can go to warp? Paris: We'll have to clear the thermosphere. Two hundred and eighty kilometers at least. Tuvok: Shields at ninety two percent. Janeway: Phasers. Tuvok: We've disabled four of their ships. Chakotay: They've launched another thirty nine vessels. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Paris: It's no use. They're closing on all sides. Kim: Direct hit to the port thrusters. Paris: We're losing altitude. Janeway: Reroute emergency power. We need to get into orbit. Tuvok: Targeting sensors offline. Switching to manual. Janeway: Harry, can you open a secure channel to the Turei ships in orbit? Kim: Yes, ma'am, but that would give away our position. They could lock on with plasma charges. Janeway: I think it's time we reacquaint a couple of old friends. Hail them. Morin: Voyager's shields are weakening but they're gaining altitude again. They're approaching the thermosphere. Gaul: Launch another squadron. Paris: We've got nine more fighters on our tail. Tuvok: Aft shields down to twenty percent. Kim: Captain, the Turei are responding. Janeway: Put them through. Turei: What do you want? Janeway: I've got a proposition for you. Turei: No more talk. Prepare to be bordered. Janeway: Tell me, have you been picking up weapons fire? Turei: We have detected some unusual energy signatures, yes. Janeway: That's because we're under attack by the Vaadwaur. Turei: Impossible. They were destroyed centuries ago. Gedrin: Some of us have survived. Janeway: They've got over two hundred ships. They said something about wanting their subspace corridors back. I suggest we join forces and try to neutralize the threat here and now. What's more important to you? Deleting the records of a Federation ship that means you no harm, or defending yourselves against hundreds of Vaadwaur fighters who are determined to invade your underspace? I suggest you pick your enemy. Turei: Our sensors can't penetrate the atmosphere. How can we fight an enemy we can't see? Chakotay: We have access to one of their surveillance satellites. We could use it to transmit their vital coordinates to you. Turei: If this is a deception Kim: I'm having trouble establishing a link with the satellite. Our sensor array took heavy damage. Gedrin: I could access it from the underground control chamber. Transport me there. Not all of my people are stuck in the past, Captain. Janeway: Tuvok, go with him. Morin: We've impacted their hull. There are breaches in progress on two decks. Gaul: They'll have to reroute power from their shields to seal them. They'll have no choice but to put down. Have our ground forces ready. Kim: We've lost impulse engines and navigation. Paris: Thrusters are failing. We're losing altitude. Janeway: Tuvok, status. Tuvok? Kim: I've lost the signal. Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Initiate emergency landing procedures, and arm yourselves. If the Vaadwaur board this ship, we'll fight them hand to hand if we have to. Morin: Once we've secured Voyager, execute the crew. Gaul: Wait. We have hundreds of bio-pods still intact. Put them into stasis. In a few hundred years, maybe someone will be kind enough to revive them. Gaul: What is that? Morin: It's a plasma charge. It came from orbit. It's the Turei. They've isolated our location. Gaul: How? Morin: One of the surveillances satellite has been activated. Gaul: Shut it down. Gedrin: They're blocking my commands. I'm rotating the carrier frequencies. Tuvok: The chamber is destabilizing. We must evacuate. Gedrin: Not yet. If we're going to succeed, I need to transmit the signatures of our fighters to the Turei. You go. Chakotay: Six Vaadwaur ships were just destroyed by the Turei. The others are breaking off their attack. Janeway: Impulse engines? Paris: Still offline. Janeway: How about emergency power? Kim: Barely enough for life support, Captain. Janeway: Harry, the radiogenic particles in the atmosphere. Could we use them as a power source? Kim: We'd have to modify the warp core's conversion matrix. It could take hours. Janeway: What if we drew the particles directly into our plasma manifold? Paris: That would give us one hell of a boost. Kim: It could also blow out every power relay on the ship. Janeway: Damned if we do, damned if we don't. Open the forward nacelle ports and reverse the pressure gradient. Take in six hundred kilograms. Vaadwaur: The chamber's collapsing, sir. Gaul: We'll take as many ships as we can. Try to reach the subspace corridor. Kim: Particle concentration at three thousand parts per million. Janeway: Release the manifold. Paris: Rerouting plasma to the power conduits. We have impulse. Janeway: Take us up. Kim: Thirteen power relays just blew out on deck six. Janeway: Steady. Paris: We're crossing the thermosphere. Janeway: Any sign of pursuit? Chakotay: None. Looks like the Vaadwaur have their hands full. Janeway: Altitude? Paris: Two hundred and sixty kilometers, two hundred and seventy. We've cleared the thermosphere. Janeway: Go to warp, Mister Paris. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Captain's log, stardate 53167.9. After two days, there's been no sign of the Vaadwaur or the Turei. However, Seven of Nine has made an unsettling discovery. Janeway: How many ships? Seven: Astrometrics scans detected fifty three ion signatures entering the corridors. All Vaadwaur. Janeway: The underground chambers? Seven: They were destroyed by the Turei bombardment. Captain, I believe I made an error in judgment. Janeway: Oh? Seven: By awakening Gedrin, I initiated a chain of events that nearly led to our destruction. I wanted to help revive a civilization, not start a war. Janeway: You thought you were acting out of compassion. I might have done the same thing. But that doesn't make it right, Seven. The repercussions of this could be catastrophic. Seven: Their technology is nine centuries out of date. Their plans for conquest are irrelevant. Janeway: They're a resourceful species, determined. They'll adapt. I doubt we've seen the last of them.

Seven: Naomi Wildman. State your purpose here. Naomi: I was waiting for you. Kadis-kot, remember? Our weekly game? Seven: Reschedule for tomorrow. I'm working now. Naomi: Redecorating isn't work. Seven: Esthetics are irrelevant. I'm modifying the alcove to function as a cortical processing sub-unit. Naomi: That was my next guess. Seven: Then I won't need to explain its purpose. Naomi: Okay, you win. What do you do with a cortical processing er Seven: Sub-unit. On Borg vessels, there's one in each Unimatrix. It downloads newly assimilated data to the drones. Naomi: But Voyager isn't a Borg vessel, and you're not a drone anymore. Seven: Voyager collects a great deal of information. Sensor scans, navigational projections, engineering updates, away team reports, scientific analyzes. Naomi: The results of our Kadis-kot tournament? Seven: That, too. The crew must read and study this information. An inefficient procedure. These data nodes are downloading the information into the alcove. Naomi: Which is going to download it into you. Seven: Precisely. In a matter of hours, I will assimilate several months worth of data. Naomi: Can I try it sometime? Seven: Your physiology is different from mine. Naomi: Guess I'll stick to reading my lessons and listening to Neelix tell stories. Seven: I will see you tomorrow. Naomi: Can I watch? Okay, tomorrow. Computer: Warning. Plate is hot. Janeway: Now you tell me. You go for authenticity and what do you get? Second-degree burns. Janeway: ( I've been slaving over that replicator program for hours. What was this bizarre rumor I heard about half the crew on deck five getting pregnant? Chakotay: Oh, that. The Doctor was running generational projections on the Sickbay computer. Tom Paris happened to glance at the monitor and jumped to conclusions. Wasn't long before Neelix was asking me if he could turn Cargo Bay one into a nursery. Janeway: Word travels fast on this ship, hmm? Chakotay: Warp ten. Oh, by the way, I meant to tell you. There's a Class K nebula twenty five light years off starboard. We should take a look. Janeway: A major detour for a minor nebula. Chakotay: We are explorers, remember? Janeway: Permission granted. Janeway: Main course. A recipe I've never tried. But we are explorers, remember. Computer: Regeneration cycle complete. Seven: Seven of Nine to Lieutenant Torres. Lieutenant Torres, respond. Torres: Good morning, Seven. This better be important. Seven: I must speak with you at once. Janeway: I'm picking up some interesting graviton fluctuations about ten light years away. Tuvok: Can you be more specific? Janeway: Not at this distance. Tom, alter course. I want to take a closer look. Paris: Chakotay had his heart set on that nebula we're headed for. Janeway: He'll have to wait. Torres: Captain, I need permission to shut down the sensor grid. Seven thinks a couple of insects are disrupting the power flow. Seven: A mating pair of photonic fleas, to be more accurate, and possibly their offspring. Janeway: And how did you arrive at this theory? Seven: Last night, I downloaded six months of ship status reports into my new cortical sub-unit while I was regenerating. Paris: Learn while you sleep. I tried that once, It gave me a headache. Janeway: Go on. Seven: Eight weeks ago, an away team encountered a Kartelan freighter carrying supplies from sector four nine two, a territory that included a former Talaxian colony. Mister Neelix used the opportunity to acquire twelve kilograms of amber spice, a delicacy among his people. Torres: What does that have to do with the sensor grid? Seven: On the same day, Ensign Kim was repairing a replicator in the Mess hall. Kim: I remember that. Neelix told me to stick around and try something he was cooking. Seven: No doubt made with the amber spice, which contained the larvae of the photonic fleas. Torres: How could you possibly know that? Seven: Because I also downloaded data regarding their life cycles. The larvae flew out of the spice jar in search of their primary source of nourishment, plasma particles. The conduits within the nearby sensor grid contain an unlimited supply of these particles. Ensign Kim had unwittingly given the creatures access by exposing the grid. The now mature creatures periodically tap into the conduit for nourishment. When they do, the sensor emitters momentarily lose their resolution. Tuvok: A logical, though highly speculative, analysis. Janeway: Let's find a more suitable home for them. Kim: I'm picking up graviton fluctuations. Janeway: Take us out of warp. On screen. Paris: Anybody want to hazard a guess? Tuvok: They are hailing us. Janeway: On screen. Tash: I recommend maximum shielding. There are a few technical issues I haven't worked out yet. Kim: There's a massive graviton surge coming from that thing. Tuvok: Shields to full. Janeway: Your apparatus appears to be destabilizing. Tash: If I don't find a way to repair this power core they'll be able to see the explosion all the way to, er, where did you say you were from? Janeway: I didn't, but we're from a planet called Earth. Tash: All the way to Earth. Chakotay: Can we ask you what it's supposed to do? Tash: Catapult a vessel across space, in the time it takes to say catapult a vessel across space. It'll make warp drive look like a wooden sledge. Janeway: Maybe we can help you with that power core. Tash: Hmm? Tash: The core sends a graviton surge through the projectors which locks onto a ship and sends it hurtling into null space, to emerge a few hours later hundreds, if not thousands, of light years away. Chakotay: I'm curious why you built this catapult. Tash: Simple. I've been looking for a way to get home. Kim: We know the feeling. Tash: I'd been exploring an unstable wormhole. Before I knew it, I was here and my home planet was there. I was facing a journey of at least ten years. Instead, I decided to build a catapult. Torres: Have you tested it yet? Tash: Two weeks ago I sent a probe nearly six hundred light years. But it destabilized the core. I've been trying to fix it ever since. Chakotay: We can send an Engineering team over to help you. Tash: No, no, it's too dangerous. I wouldn't send my own crew in there. Kim: Then we could find a way to adjust the core reaction from here. Torres: A few well-timed graviton pulses from our deflector dish might do it. Tash: That's generous, but I have nothing to give in return. Janeway: We're not asking for anything in return. Tash: You could use the catapult after I've made my jump. It should still be functional. A thousand light years won't exactly get you back to Earth. Kim: But it would cut a few years off our trip. Janeway: If you're successful, and if I'm satisfied a jump would be safe for Voyager, then we'll take you up on that offer. Thank you. Let's get started. Janeway: Good morning. Seven: Perhaps not. The alien, Mister Tash, is trying to deceive us. His catapult is the same type of technology that was used to trap Voyager in the Delta Quadrant five years ago. Janeway: I scanned the catapult myself. Sensors didn't pick up anything unusual. You spent the night in your new alcove. Seven: Processing the same information and cross-referencing it with Voyager's database. When the catapult destabilized yesterday, Astrometric sensors recorded a momentary burst of epsilon radiation. Janeway: Unusual, but not unheard of. Seven: Epsilon radiation is one the by-products of a tetryon reactor. According to your own entries in the database, your only encounter with that kind of technology occurred five years ago in the Alpha Quadrant. A coherent tetryon beam locked onto Voyager, and you were hit by a massive displacement wave, which pulled you across seventy thousand light years in a matter of minutes. The source of that tetryon beam was the Caretaker's array. Mister Tash claims that his catapult will be able to do something very similar. Janeway: He didn't want us to send over a repair team. Seven: Out of concern for our safety. It's obvious he was trying to hide his tetryon reactor. Janeway: The first time we met a Caretaker, we were pulled halfway across the galaxy. The second time we were almost killed. I'm not eager for a third round. Tash: Is this any way to treat a colleague? Emh: Not so much as a molecule of Caretaker DNA. Janeway: Thank you, Doctor. There's a tetryon reactor powering your catapult. You didn't want us to find it, did you? Unless you answer my questions, I'll resume course and you can ask somebody else for help. Tash: I acquired the tetryon reactor at great cost. This territory is full of species who would do anything for such advanced technology, including steal it. I apologize for the deception, but you do understand. Janeway: We made an agreement to cooperate. I see no reason not to continue. Tash: Thank you, Captain. Janeway: Keep me informed on your progress. Janeway: That reactor had to come from somewhere. I can't just ignore the possibility of a Caretaker nearby. Keep scanning. See what you can find. Seven: There is another possibility. The reactor may have come from the same array that brought Voyager to the Delta Quadrant. Janeway: That's a long shot, Seven. Seven: Maybe not. Again, according to your own reports you believed the only way to keep the array from falling into the wrong hands was to destroy it. It's possible the destruction was incomplete. Janeway: And one of the reactors survived? We scanned for debris. There was nothing left but some fused pieces of metal alloy. Seven: I wish to re-examine the sensor records from that event. Janeway: In case we were mistaken? Seven: Yes. Janeway: Go right ahead. Seven: Computer, describe the debris remaining after the array was destroyed. Computer: Particulate dust and metallic fragments composed of an unknown alloy. Vapor composed of hydrogen, helium, mercury and argon. Seven: Was there anything left of the tetryon reactor? Computer: Negative. Seven: Specify the yield of the tricobalt device. Computer: Twenty thousand teracochranes. Seven: Who programmed the device? Computer: Commander Tuvok. Seven: Display the detonation. Advance the image by point zero one seconds. Again. Seven: Isolate grid three seven and magnify. Seven: Is that a tractor beam? Computer: Insufficient sensor data. Seven: Identify its source. Computer: Insufficient sensor data. Seven: Identify the isolated section of the array. Computer: Secondary power core. Seven: Which contained a tetryon reactor. Computer: Affirmative. Seven: Commander, I've been reviewing the data on the destruction of the Caretaker's array. Unfortunately, the sensor records are incomplete. Paris: I don't doubt it. We were being attacked by the Kazon. Half the ship's systems were down. Seven: A single Kazon vessel. Paris: Armed to the teeth. Seven: Commander, you fired the tricobalt charge that destroyed the array. Tuvok: Correct. Seven: Under the Captain's orders. Did you also program the charge? Tuvok: Yes. Seven: Under the Captain's orders as well? Tuvok: Not directly. I determined the yield. Seven: Twenty thousand teracochranes. Tuvok: That's correct. Seven: According to sensor estimates of the array's hull integrity, a charge of half that yield would have been sufficient. Tuvok: The Captain wanted nothing left for the Kazon to use. I calculated a yield certain to produce that result. Seven: Something may have escaped the blast. One of the tetryon reactors. Paris: But we scanned for debris. Seven: The charge you detonated tore an opening in subspace. Paris: And that's where the reactor went? Seven: Yes. Paris: How? Seven: It was pushed there by a tractor beam. Tuvok: Do you have evidence of a tractor beam? Seven: Perhaps. Tuvok: Speculation is not evidence. There was no tractor beam, because there was no ship in the vicinity to generate one, unless you can prove otherwise. Seven: Thank you, Commander. Neelix: Looking for a midnight snack? Seven: I require information. I'm attempting to determine whether the catapult technology was derived from the Caretaker's array. Neelix: So I heard. A fascinating theory. It's got my mind spinning. Seven: How long were you in the vicinity of the array before Voyager arrived? Neelix: About a year. Kes was on a nearby planet and, er, we were getting very close. Seven: Did you ever encounter the Caretaker directly? Neelix: Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. In my opinion, any being powerful enough to grab ships from the other side of the galaxy should be avoided. Seven: According to Voyager's database, he claimed he was searching for a genetically compatible mate. Did you believe that explanation? Neelix: I had no reason to doubt it, though it did seem a bit excessive. I mean, all those ships. Seven: What happened to them? Neelix: Well, after he sampled the crew's DNA he sent them back where they came from, I suppose. You know, Kes always thought something more was going on, but she had quite an imagination. Seven: Were there any other ships in the area after Voyager arrived? Neelix: Only the Kazon. Seven: But the Caretaker could have pulled in another vessel. A cloaked ship, perhaps. Neelix: Seven, what are you getting at? Seven: A third ship, hidden from both Voyager and the Kazon. Neelix: What was it doing there? Seven: Preventing the tetryon reactor from being destroyed. Neelix: Kes was right. Something was going on. Seven: Voyager's sensor logs were damaged in the Kazon attack. I can't be certain. Neelix: Maybe I can help. The sensor records on my ship weren't damaged. I can give them to you. Kim: The tetryon reaction is stable. Graviton field is set for a one hundred light year jump. Chakotay: The catapult's locking onto him. Tuvok: We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Tash: I'll contact you the moment I re-enter normal space. Thank you, Captain. Janeway: My pleasure. Kim: Catapult is at full power. Tash: Goodbye to you all. Tuvok: Final launch sequence has been initiated. Kim: He's gone. Janeway: How long before we can expect to hear from him? Tuvok: If his vessel survived, one or two hours. Seven: Seven of Nine to Commander Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Seven: I require your assistance in the Astrometrics lab. Chakotay: On my way. Seven: Computer, seal the doors. Deactivate all sensors within this room. Computer: Acknowledged. Chakotay: What's this about? Seven: I believe Voyager's presence in the Delta Quadrant is no accident. You and the crew have been stranded here intentionally. Chakotay: By whom? Seven: Captain Janeway. The Captain and Tuvok were involved in a Federation conspiracy. They're in collusion with the Caretaker and possibly the Cardassians. Chakotay: I see. And the point of this conspiracy? Seven: I believe they're attempting to establish a military presence in the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay: That's quite a theory. Perhaps you haven't heard of the Jankata Accord? Seven: No species shall enter another quadrant for the purpose of territorial expansion. Chakotay: The Federation signed it, the Cardassians signed it, and Captain Janeway would be the last person to violate it. Seven: Improbable as it may sound, I've found compelling evidence to support my theory. Chakotay: What kind of evidence? Seven: I've analyzed over thirty million teraquads of data regarding Voyager's activities over the past five years. It's quite clear that we've been the victim of an elaborate deception. Chakotay: I don't have the benefit of a cortical processor. Why don't you give me the abridged version? Seven: In the months before Voyager's arrival, Neelix recorded the appearance of fifty two vessels, including this one. Chakotay: A Cardassian warship. Seven: A remarkable coincidence. Only days before Voyager's arrival, the Cardassians were already in the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay: The Caretaker was trying to find a mate, remember? He was pulling ships from all over the galaxy. Seven: I'm familiar with the Caretaker's actions. In each instance, he would examine the crews' DNA, and when he failed to find a genetic match he would release the vessel. But in this instance, Neelix's sensors indicated the ship vanished. Obviously, it was returned to the Alpha Quadrant. Why? Chakotay: You seem to have all the answers. Seven: I believe the Cardassians were sent back to deliver strategic information regarding the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay: Conjecture. Seven: Extrapolation. Chakotay: I can believe the Cardassians might be involved in this, but not Starfleet. Seven: There are precedents for unauthorized missions of this type, Commander. According to the Federation database, the Maquis were victims of several of them. Chakotay: All right, you've got my attention. You said that Tuvok and Captain Janeway were involved. Tell me how. Seven: At the same time the Cardassians were meeting with the Caretaker, your Maquis vessel was infiltrated with a Starfleet agent. Chakotay: Tuvok. Seven: Your navigator. He guided your ship to prearranged coordinates in the Badlands, where the Caretaker locked onto you. Once you were pulled into the Delta Quadrant, Tuvok could have secretly transmitted final instructions to the Caretaker. A short time later, Captain Janeway guided Voyager to the same coordinates and was also pulled into the Delta Quadrant. All of these events took place within a matter of days. I find that suspicious. Chakotay: I'll admit the timing seems a little convenient, but that doesn't mean there was a master plan. Seven: Why did the Captain destroy the array? Chakotay: So the Kazon couldn't use it to attack the Ocampa. Seven: That's what she told the crew, but I believe she intended to remain in the Delta Quadrant all along. If the Array had remained intact, you and all the others would have insisted on using it to return home. Chakotay: She was keeping it from the Kazon. Seven: The Captain ordered Commander Tuvok to destroy the array. He fired two tricobalt devices. Are those weapons normally carried on Federation Starships? Chakotay: No. Seven: Yet they were part of Voyager's arsenal. Why? Chakotay: I can't explain that. Seven: I can. Neither phasers nor torpedoes are capable of creating a tear in subspace. A tricobalt device is. As Tuvok detonated the device, a cloaked ship locked on to one of the array's tetryon reactors and pushed it through the tear into subspace, protecting it from the blast and hiding it from Voyager's sensors. But the Captain and Tuvok knew exactly where it was going. Once Voyager left the area, the reactor was retrieved and began a similar journey, carried by a series of vessels until it was finally delivered to Mister Tash. Chakotay: Who used it to build the catapult. Seven: He was waiting here for Voyager, and for the final phase of the mission. Chakotay: Which is what, exactly? Seven: I don't think Captain Janeway is planning to use the catapult to get Voyager closer to home. I think she's going to use it to bring in more vessels from the Alpha Quadrant. If I'm correct, this region of space will soon be occupied by a Federation-Cardassian invasion force. Chakotay: You've uncovered some interesting facts. But your interpretation is far-fetched. These are random incidents. Granted, some of them are hard to explain, but there's no conspiracy here. Seven: Stardate 51008, Captain Janeway allows Kes to leave Voyager. Neelix told me that Kes had suspicions about the Caretaker. Was the captain trying to silence her? Stardate 51462, the Doctor's program is transmitted to a Starfleet vessel on the outskirts of the Alpha Quadrant. An attempt by the Captain to contact Earth or a secret communiqué informing Starfleet of her progress? Stardate 50984, Janeway forges an alliance with the Borg. Stardate 51762, a cease-fire with the Hirogen. Stardate 52861, a non-aggression pact with the Terkellians. She called each incident diplomacy. I believe she was trying to establish a tactical infrastructure in the Delta Quadrant. Over the past five years, Captain Janeway has altered course two hundred sixty three times in the name of exploration. In reality, she was mapping the region and collecting strategic data regarding Chakotay: I get the point. Seven: You still doubt my suspicions, but can you be certain I'm wrong? Chakotay: Absolutely certain? No. Seven: Until you are, you mustn't allow Captain Janeway to retain control of the catapult. Tuvok: I'm picking up a transmission, heavily distorted. Kim: He made it. Janeway: Can you clear it up? Tash: Success, Captain. Five thousand light years. Janeway: Are you all right? Tash: A few systems overloaded, nothing serious. I had to readjust my shields during mid-flight. Almost lost my outer hull. I'm sending you the modifications. My catapult is yours, Captain. Good luck. Janeway: Get that data down to B'Elanna. Tell her to enhance our shields. Chakotay: So we're going ahead with the jump? Janeway: I want to run a few more tests, launch some probes, but if it all checks out I see no reason not to. Kim: I've received the telemetry. Chakotay: I'll take it to Engineering. Chakotay: I want you to add a point zero three variance to these shield modifications. Torres: That'll disrupt the emitters. Chakotay: And you'll need another six hours to get them back online. I know. Torres: Have you run this by the Captain? Chakotay: No, and I'm not going to. Not yet. Torres: She's pulling your leg. It's got to be some kind of Borg practical joke. Chakotay: She wasn't joking. Torres: A secret mission? Starfleet in league with the Caretaker? It's ridiculous. Chakotay: Ridiculous? Seven has some compelling evidence. Torres: Well then, let's go to the Captain, get a straight answer. Chakotay: Good morning, Kathryn. All systems are operational. The crew's in good health. And by the way, is it true you've been lying to us for five years? I'm not prepared to make that accusation, but I can't ignore what I've heard either. Torres: So what do you suggest? Chakotay: I want you to delay those shield modifications. That'll give me time to check Seven's database, take a look at the evidence myself. Kim: The Captain asked me to work with you on the shields. Chakotay: That won't be necessary, Ensign. Kim: Oh, I don't mind. You know how eager she is to make that jump. Torres: Harry, we're fine here. Chakotay: Too many cooks, Harry. You know how it is. We'll let you know when we're done. Computer: Download complete. Seven: Seven of Nine to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Seven: I need to speak with you in the Astrometrics lab. Janeway: I'm on my way. Seven: Computer, seal the door and deactivate internal sensors to this room. Computer: Acknowledged. Janeway: Seven? Seven: I believe Chakotay and other members of your crew are involved in a conspiracy to resurrect the Maquis rebellion. Janeway: Did Chakotay put you up to this? Seven: Voyager and the Federation itself are in grave danger. Janeway: Go on. Seven: I've concluded that Chakotay intends to use the catapult to launch attacks against Cardassian and Federation starships. Janeway: Chakotay gave up his allegiance to the Maquis a long time ago. What you're saying makes no sense. Seven: Improbable as it may sound, I found compelling evidence to support my theory. In the months before Voyager's arrival, Neelix recorded the sudden appearance of fifty two vessels, including this one. Janeway: A Cardassian warship. Seven: I've analyzed the hull geometry and warp signature. It was one of the same ships that were pursuing Chakotay and his crew in the region known as the Badlands. It was pulled into the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker during that engagement. According to Federation records, that same Cardassian warship was found destroyed in the Badlands. The investigation revealed that it was attacked by the Maquis. I believe that for some unknown reason the Caretaker had sent this ship back to the Alpha Quadrant, and that Commander Chakotay attacked the vessel before it could reach its destination. He downloaded its computer core and discovered the presence of the Caretaker's array. He realized that the array could be used by the Maquis as a weapon, to launch surprise attacks against Cardassian and Starfleet vessels. Janeway: Well, I commend you for your imagination, but Tuvok was a spy on Chakotay's ship. If your theory were true, he would have known about it. Seven: He does. Tuvok has been collaborating with the Maquis resistance all along. Janeway: That's not possible, Seven. Seven: With Tuvok's assistance Chakotay plotted a course toward the next likely appearance of the Caretaker's displacement wave, offering his vessel as bait. His ploy almost succeeded, but the Caretaker was more powerful than he anticipated. His crew was taken captive. A few days later, Voyager arrived and facilitated their escape. Chakotay seized that opportunity to make one last attempt to gain control of the array, but then you gave the order to destroy it. Janeway: Circumstantial evidence, not proof. Seven: Who carried out your order to destroy the array? Janeway: Tuvok. Seven: Using what type of technology? Janeway: Tricobalt devices. Seven: He set the yield to twenty thousand teracochranes. It was enough to tear an opening in subspace. A cloaked ship locked on to one of the reactors, protecting it from the blast and hiding it from Voyager's sensors. The reactor was retrieved and carried by a series of vessels until it was delivered to Mister Tash, who was well compensated by Chakotay to build the catapult. He was waiting here for Voyager so Chakotay could complete the mission he was forced to abandon five years ago. Janeway: I'd be willing to consider this theory of yours if I didn't know Chakotay as well as I do. There is no one on this ship I trust more. What you've done here is build what we call a house of cards. Seven: Stardate 48658. Commander Seska is revealed to be a Cardassian spy. She defects to the Kazon and impregnates herself with Chakotay's DNA. Was he unaware of the procedure, as he claims, or were they working together, to create a new Kazon sect to capture Voyager? Stardate 49522. Chakotay recommends establishing trade relations with the Kolhari. Their technology uses tetryon power cells. A simple diplomatic overture, or was he seeking a source of energy for the catapult? Stardate 49571 Naomi: Seven. Seven: Naomi Wildman. Naomi: Where are you going? Seven: That's not your concern. Naomi: What's wrong? Seven: Your father was Ktarian. Naomi: So? Seven: The Ktarians were officially with the Federation, but they sympathized with the Maquis. Naomi: What are you talking about? Seven: Who are you working for, Chakotay or the Captain? Naomi: Seven? Seven: Tell them it's too late. Go! Chakotay: I picked up a power surge coming from the Cargo bay. Janeway: I detected the same thing. You think it's the enhanced alcove. Chakotay: Could be. Janeway: Let's take a look. Are phasers standard equipment on board now? Chakotay: Must be. Janeway: The data buffer's been activated. Chakotay: I wanted to make sure it wasn't malfunctioning. Janeway: You should be careful. Somebody might think you were trying to delete a few files. Chakotay: Why would they think that? Janeway: Some of those files could contain sensitive information. Chakotay: If that's true, somebody might think you were trying to do the same thing. Janeway: That catapult out there, it's a powerful piece of technology. If the Maquis ever had access to something like it, they might have been successful. Chakotay: And if we had, your mission to the Delta Quadrant never would have gotten off the drawing board. Janeway: What are you talking about? Chakotay: The mission you've been on for the last five years. Janeway: My only mission is trying to get Voyager home. Chakotay: Seven showed me the sensor records. I saw the tractor beam. Janeway: She showed me the same thing, but she implicated you in some kind of Maquis plot. Chakotay: Same evidence, two different theories. Janeway: It all started with those damn photonic fleas. She was downloading Voyager's database. Kim: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead, Harry. Kim: I just picked up an unauthorized launch of the Delta Flyer. Seven's at the helm. Janeway: Set a pursuit course. Kim: Acknowledged. Chakotay: Chakotay to the Doctor. Emh: Sickbay here. Chakotay: Get down to Cargo Bay two. Run a diagnostic on Seven's alcove. Emh: On my way. Janeway: I'm glad we got that settled. Chakotay: Likewise. Janeway: Chakotay, let's keep this one out of our logs, huh? Chakotay: Gladly. Tuvok: She's altering course, heading for the catapult. Janeway: Maintain pursuit. Open a channel. Tuvok: No response. Chakotay: Try to beam her out. Kim: She's done something to alter her bio-signature. I can't get a lock. Janeway: Target her propulsion and weapons. Fire. Tuvok: Our targeting scanners are out of alignment. Chakotay: She must have done it before she took off. Kim: She's charging weapons. Janeway: Keep trying. Emh: Doctor to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Report. Emh: Seven downloaded too much data into her cortical implant. Emh: She's trying to make sense of more information than she can process. Janeway: Understood. Beam me onto the Delta Flyer. Chakotay: I'm going with you. Janeway: No. I have a better chance of getting through to her alone. Chakotay: This isn't part of your mission, is it? Janeway: Is it part of yours? Chakotay: Good luck. Janeway: Energize. Seven: Captain. Seven: You came here hoping to stop me. You'll fail. Janeway: Turn this ship around. That's an order. Seven: Your orders are irrelevant. I'm no longer under your command. You deceived me. Janeway: There is no conspiracy. There is no Maquis rebellion. The Federation isn't planning to invade the Delta Quadrant. Seven: I realized that, because I finally uncovered your true objective. Janeway: And what's that? Seven: Me. Stardate 32611, the Federation sends my parents to study the Borg Collective. They know my family will be assimilated. That was their intention. Stardate 48317, Voyager is sent to the Delta Quadrant with orders to retrieve me. When they reach Borg space, Captain Janeway negotiates an alliance with the Collective in exchange for information regarding species 8472. They agree to give her Seven of Nine. Stardate 51030, Janeway extracts the implants from my body to remove any knowledge I have of her agreement with the Borg. Stardate 53329, Captain Janeway finalizes plans to use the catapult to deliver Seven of Nine to the Alpha quadrant, where Starfleet will dissect and analyze the drone to gather tactical data to fight the Borg. I won't allow you to complete your mission. If necessary I'll destroy the catapult, and myself. Janeway: You're right, Seven. There is a conspiracy here. But I believe it's a conspiracy of one. I've got a theory of my own. Your modified alcove threw your synaptic patterns into chaos and your mind can't make sense of all the information, so you're generating theory after theory in an attempt to bring order to that chaos. Seven: Your reasoning is flawed. My alcove is functioning perfectly. Janeway: What about you? You're not a drone anymore. You can't always predict how Borg technology will affect you. You should be in Sickbay, not behind that forcefield. Let me help you. Seven: No. I don't believe you. Janeway: Of course you don't. Anything I say gets woven into your paranoid conspiracies. But you should believe me, Seven, because I've never lied to you, and I'm not lying to you now. You have to put your doubts aside and trust me. Stardate 51030, Seven of Nine is severed from the hive mind. The Captain tells her not to resist, that she'll learn to accept her humanity. Seven complies, and slowly begins to embrace her individuality. Does she regret that decision? Stardate 51652, the Captain encourages Seven to develop her social skills. Seven insists it's a waste of time, but after further requests she pursues it, and begins to develop her first human friendships. Did Janeway lead her astray? Stardate 52840, the Captain orders Seven to study her parents' journals. Seven claims they're irrelevant, but eventually she reads them and rediscovers part of her own past. Stardate 52841, for the first time, Seven tells the Captain thank you. Seven: It was Stardate 52842, oh six hundred hours in the mess hall. We had just finished breakfast. Janeway: My mistake. Stardate today, Janeway beams aboard the Delta Flyer. She reminds Seven of the bond that's grown between them. Seven lowers the forcefield and she decides to come home. All I'm asking is that you trust me again. Janeway: Delta Flyer to Voyager. Two to beam out. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. After further testing, we activated the catapult and were hurtled across thirty sectors of space. In less than an hour, we cut three years off our journey. I'm happy to say the Doctor has repaired Seven of Nine's cortical processor and she's returned to duty. Naomi: Guess who assimilated three books and ten reports in two days? Seven: Naomi Wildman. Naomi: That's correct. Are you taking your new alcove apart? Seven: Yes. Naomi: Why? Seven: My attempt to download Voyager's database failed. Naomi: Maybe you can fix it. Seven: The alcove functioned within expected parameters. Unfortunately, I did not. Three books and ten reports is impressive, but quantity is less relevant than quality. You must be able to interpret the data and enjoy the process. Regardless, you require activities other than assimilating books and reports. A game of Kadis-kot, for example. Naomi: When? Seven: Go to the mess hall and set up the board. I'll join you when I'm finished. Janeway: I heard the strangest rumor today. Apparently, the Captain and First Officer almost came to blows. Chakotay: Mutiny? Janeway: First Officer walked the plank. So I heard. Chakotay: I don't believe a word of it. Janeway: Me neither. Chakotay: Seven was malfunctioning. We don't have that excuse. Janeway: You're right. We've been through too much to stop trusting each other. Chakotay: You didn't poison the coffee, did you? Janeway: Not any more than I usually do.

Barclay: Just a minute. I'll, I'll be right there. Barclay: I'm coming, I'm coming. Deanna. Troi: Hello, Reg. Barclay: I'm so glad you could make it. It's wonderful to see you. Troi: Would it be all right if I came inside? Barclay: Yeah, of course, of course. Come in, come in. Is there something I can get you? Some er, some coffee, tea? Oh wait a minute, don't, don't tell me. Chocolate ice cream. Troi: You know me too well. But just one scoop, I'm watching my figure. Barclay: Why? You, you look lovely. Troi: You always knew how to flatter me. Would you like me to get it? Barclay: Get? Get what? Troi: The ice cream. Barclay: Right, right, the ice cream. No, no, no, no. Come in, come in. Sit down, make yourself comfortable. Troi: It's a nice place. Barclay: Thanks. One scoop of chocolate ice cream. Troi: Did you just move in? Barclay: No, no, I've been here, er, almost two years. I just haven't had a chance to unpack. Troi: Is everything all right Reg? Barclay: Of course, Why, why wouldn't it be? Troi: To be honest, you seem a little on edge. Barclay: Do I? Oh, it's just that I'm, I'm excited to see you. Troi: I'm excited to see you, too. I think Geordi's a little disappointed I didn't invite him to come along. Barclay: Yes, well, I, I was hoping to get, get together with him too, er, before the Enterprise leaves orbit, but I just wanted to spend time with you first. That's all right, isn't it? Troi: Of course it is. I hear you've been working on the Pathfinder project. Barclay: Well, I, I was. Er, I'm not anymore. Troi: What happened? Barclay: Oh, ah, nothing, really. Just got to be a lot of, er, pressure. Troi: Well, hello. Barclay: Neelix! He's not used to company. It's not polite to eat our guest's food. If you're hungry, just say so. Deanna, Neelix. Troi: Neelix. That's an unusual name. Maybe we should introduce him to Data's cat, Spot. I have a feeling you didn't ask me here to reminisce. Tell me what's wrong. Barclay: I've lost myself, Deanna. Troi: Lost yourself? Barclay: In Voyager. I've become obsessed with Voyager. Here you are on shore leave and what do I do? I lure you into a counseling session. Troi: Don't worry about that. The important thing is, I'm here now and I want to help. Barclay: Thank you. Troi: Now, start at the beginning. Barclay: Has it ever occurred to you that a tachyon beam directed at a class B itinerant pulsar could produce enough gravimetric energy to create an artificial singularity? Troi: I can't say it has. Barclay: It occurred to me. But my supervisors thought it was an abuse of MIDAS. Troi: MIDAS? Barclay: The Mutara Interdimensional Deep Space Transponder Array. Troi: Reg, you're losing me. Barclay: I'm sorry. Troi: The beginning? Barclay: The beginning. Right. Well, I suppose it all started in the holodeck. Doesn't it always? Troi: Go on. Barclay: Well I, I was running a few simulations. Barclay: Computer, boost the gain on Voyager's transceiver by twenty percent. Computer: Transceiver gain is at maximum. Barclay: Apply a narrowband filter to the signal processor. Computer: Filter engaged. Admiral Paris: Voyager, come in. Come in, Voyager. Voyager, come in, this is Starfleet Command. Voyager, come in, Voyager. Barclay: Good, good, good. Now lower the filter band by point three kilohertz. Harkins: Reg, what are you doing? Barclay: Oh, ah, er, Pete. I, I, I was just, er. Harkins: Yes, running another simulation. I can see that. What about the transmitter diagnostics? Barclay: Right. The diagnostics. Harkins: You have finished them, haven't you? Barclay: Er, almost. Harkins: Almost isn't good enough. We've got Admiral Paris first thing in the morning. Barclay: Admiral Paris. Harkins: Don't tell me you forgot. Barclay: Oh, no, of, of, of course not. I, I, I just got the days mixed up. Harkins: Reg. Barclay: Computer, end program. Now that I think about it, it's a good thing that Admiral Paris is coming tomorrow. We can brief the Admiral on my theory. Harkins: What theory? Barclay: I've been going over the interstellar phenomena forecasts from Deep Space Nine. They are predicting er, a class B itinerant pulsar will pass within four billion kilometers of the MIDAS array in three days. Harkins: You think the pulsar might damage the array? Barclay: No, no. The shields will hold. Actually I was thinking, we could use the pulsar to our own advantage. Harkins: How? Barclay: Suppose, suppose we instructed the array to direct a tachyon beam at the pulsar. Theoretically, we could produce a gravimetric surge powerful enough to create an artificial wormhole. We could establish two way communication with Voyager. Harkins: Reg, you're dreaming again. Barclay: No, no, I really think this could work. Based on my simulations that Harkins: Based on your last series of simulations, we wasted six months trying to develop that transwarp probe. Barclay: This, this is different. This Harkins: Reg, I really appreciate your imagination. It's what makes you such a valuable part of this team. But I'm not about to tell the Admiral that we've found a way for him to chat with his son because of some cock-eyed theory that only exists up here. Now please, finish those diagnostics. Barclay: Yes, sir. Harkins: And, Reg, remember, while the Admiral's here, I do the talking. Barclay: You do the talking. Understood. Barclay: Pete was only trying to look out for me, but I was sure my plan would work. I just couldn't give it up. Harkins: Burning the midnight oil? Barclay: I, I finished, er, the diagnostics, sir. Harkins: Yes. I know. I looked them over. Good job. Now, why don't you call it a day? Barclay: I just, er, have a few more things to take care of. Harkins: Well, see you tomorrow, then. Oh,. Reg, why don't, why don't you drop by tonight when you're through here? Barclay: Drop by? Harkins: Come to the house. Have some coffee. Angie's sister's in from Boston. I, er I think she might like you. Barclay: I, I don't, I don't think I can er. I'm spending the evening with, er, Neelix. Harkins: Correct me if I'm wrong, Reg, but Neelix is your cat. Well, if you change your mind. Barclay: Thanks. I'll try. Barclay: But I couldn't leave. Not until I'd strengthened my case for accessing the MIDAS array. The meeting with Admiral Paris was only fourteen hours away and I hadn't come up with anything. Poring over the data wasn't helping. I decided what I needed was, er, a little inspiration. Barclay: Computer. Activate hologrid mess hall scenario Barclay eleven gamma. Paris: Hey, Reg. Chakotay: Warning. The shark is circling. Torres: Let the games begin. Kim: What'll it be, Reg? Barclay: The usual. Kim: Computer, one milk, warm. Barclay: Oh thanks, Harry. Kim: Just trying to get on your good side so you'll go easy on me tonight. Barclay: You know what I always say. If you can't stand the heat. Kim: Get out of the warp core. Chakotay: Sit down, Lieutenant, and give us mortals a chance to get even. That's an order. Barclay: If you insist, Commander, but I think it's only fair to warn you I have no intention of letting my winning streak come to an end. Now, where's er, Tuvok? Torres: He said it's illogical to continue losing to a clearly superior player. Barclay: Oh, that's too bad. I love to watch that Vulcan squirm Now, you all know the rules. Deuces, one eyed Jacks and suicide kings are wild. Five of a kind beats a straight flush every time. Kim: The man is ruthless. Paris: He's a killer. Barclay: Now, come on, guys. You know it hurts me to see you lose. After all, you are my best friends. Barclay: I hoped that the poker game would help calm my nerves, so that I could get a decent night's sleep before the briefing. But when I got home that night I couldn't keep my mind off Voyager. I needed to get back to the Holodeck. Barclay: That feels so good. Emh: Therapeutic massage can be an effective treatment for insomnia, Lieutenant, but we need to get to the cause of your sleeplessness if we're going to find a more permanent solution. Barclay: It's just that every time I close my eyes, my mind starts to race. Emh: Can you be more specific? Barclay: Well, I worry about the project. Have I explored the problem from every angle, or is there something else I should be trying? Am I doing enough? Emh: Hmm. Acute work related anxiety. Perhaps I should speak to the captain about reducing your schedule. Barclay: Something tells me she's not going to be able to help. Emh: You are an invaluable member of this crew, Mister Barclay. Barclay: Thank you, Doctor. It's nice to be appreciated. Chakotay: Turning in, Reg? Barclay: Yes, sir. Crewman: Hey, Reg. Barclay: For some reason, I never slept in my apartment as comfortably as I did in my holographic quarters. I suppose I felt more at home on Voyager. Barclay: Good morning, everyone. Kim: Morning, Reg. Paris: You're awfully chipper. Barclay: Slept like a baby. Kim: Then maybe you've got the energy to whip up one of your famous cheese omelets. Paris: Oh, yeah. I'm starved. Barclay: I'm sorry, guys, I have a very important briefing at oh nine hundred. Just have time for coffee. Kim: Er, don't forget about tonight. Barclay: Remind me. Kim: You were supposed to teach me how to play Velocity. Paris: No, no way. Reg and I have a hoverball game scheduled. Barclay: Don't fight. Plenty of me to go around. Torres: Reg, I'm sorry to bother you again, but I'm still having trouble with the warp core recalibration. Barclay: It's no problem. I'll stop by Engineering later, talk you through. Torres: Thank you. I really appreciate it. Paris: Velocity, hoverball, warp core recalibrations? Reg, I don't know how you do it. Barclay: Let you in on a little secret. There's two of me. Harkins: The Delta Quadrant, sector 41751, grid nine. Voyager's doctor reported this as the ship's position when his program was briefly transferred to Starfleet two years ago. Assuming they're still on course for Earth, we've been able to extrapolate a range of likely trajectories. Estimating an average warp speed of six point two, and accounting for various astronomical obstacles, we can reasonably assume that Voyager is now in one of these three sectors. Admiral Paris: Can we contact them? Harkins: As you know, we've been working with the Vulcans on the deployment of the MIDAS array. Though we're still in the testing phase, we think it won't be long before we can use this technology to send signals at hyper-subspace speeds. A message that would normally take years to reach its destination could be received by Voyager in a matter of days. Admiral Paris: Impressive. Will they be able to respond? Harkins: No sir, but at least they'll know we're still looking for them. We'll send data on the hyper-subspace technology and hope they can eventually use it to return the call. Barclay: Excuse me, Admiral Paris. Harkins: Lieutenant Barclay. Barclay: I'm sorry, Commander, it's just that there may be a way to establish, er, two-way communication with Voyager. Harkins: Now is not the time. Admiral Paris: It's all right, Mister Harkins, let the man speak. I'm all ears, son. Barclay: Well, er, you see, there's a, er, class B itinerant, er, pulsar, er, and we well, as you probably know, sir, sir, neutrino emissions, ah. Oh, what I mean to say is that with the array, we could open an artificial er, s, a sing, singularity. Admiral Paris: A wormhole? Barclay: Yes, yes, sir. We could use it as a conduit to to talk to Voyager. Admiral Paris: I can't give you high marks for clarity, Lieutenant, but you've certainly got my attention. Is there any merit to what he's saying? Harkins: Mister Barclay has a tendency to get ahead of himself, sir. Unfortunately, what he's suggesting is beyond our abilities. Barclay: But you haven't even Harkins: Mister Barclay. Barclay: I know that I haven't explained myself very well, but with all due respect, sir, what do we have to lose by trying? I think we're forgetting that there are a hundred and fifty people stranded in the Delta Quadrant. Admiral Paris: I have a son on that ship, Lieutenant. I haven't forgotten that fact for a single moment. Barclay: I'm sorry, sir. I, I didn't, er I didn't mean to. Harkins: Take the rest of the day off, Reg. Barclay: But Harkins: That was not a suggestion. Troi: How did you deal with your feelings afterwards? Barclay: What do you mean? Troi: Well, did you talk to Commander Harkins after the meeting? Apologize? Barclay: Well, no. I wanted to, er, fine tune my plan, so, I er, just went right back to work. Troi: Be more specific. What exactly did you do? Barclay: Well, I needed someone to, er bounce ideas off of. Someone to help focus my thoughts. Troi: Sounds reasonable. I suppose you consulted with some of your Pathfinder colleagues. Barclay: Well, not exactly. Troi: You went back to the holodeck, didn't you? Barclay: They're the only people that I can talk to. Troi: They're not people. Barclay: I know, but they, they help me with my work. Troi: Poker? Massages? Sleeping in holographic quarters? Sounds more like escape than work. Barclay: I can't concentrate if I'm not relaxd. Troi: Can't you relax with your friends? Barclay: Friends? Troi: Commander Harkins invited you to his home. You went to the holodeck instead. Barclay: It's not what you're thinking, Deanna. This isn't a relapse of my holo-addiction. Troi: Okay. Tell me how the holograms helped you with your work. Barclay: Well, I talked to them about my ideas. I worked out technical problems. Barclay: I need specifics here, people. Janeway: Take us through it again, Mister Barclay, one step at a time. Maybe it'll spark an idea. Barclay: We've got our itinerant pulsar. We've got our Interdimensional transponder array. How do we get our wormhole? Torres: This one could keep us up all night. Barclay: We know we can produce gravimetric energy, but, can we do it at levels high enough to create the singularity? Kim: We're talking about a massive subspace reaction. Barclay: Maybe that's the problem. Chakotay: Reg? Barclay: Maybe we need to think smaller. Paris: You're losing me. Barclay: And how much bandwidth do we really need? The average wormhole is huge, but if we compressed the datastream. Torres: We wouldn't need a conduit anywhere near as big. Janeway: What's your idea? Barclay: A micro-wormhole. Tuvok: Impressive. Janeway: You've outdone yourself this time, Reg. Barclay: I'll still need, er, help with the details. Janeway: Put together a team. Use whatever resources you need. Barclay: A power ratio of approximately sixty terawatts should do the trick. Chakotay: You think that's enough? Barclay: Should be, but then we have to compensate for gravimetric interference. Torres: And how do we do that? Barclay: I was thinking, what if we applied a narrowband filter to the transponder signal? Chakotay: Barclay strikes again. Harkins: What's going on here? Barclay: Commander. Torres: Who's your friend, Reg? Harkins: Yes, aren't you going to introduce me? Barclay: Computer, delete characters. Harkins: I thought I told you to go home. Barclay: I was, er, working. Harkins: You call this work? You've created holograms of the Voyager crew. Barclay: Oh, it, it, it, it's not what you think. It's an interactive, er, diagnostic program. I designed it to help me solve problems. Harkins: How long have you been in here? Barclay: Since the briefing. Harkins: The briefing ended ten hours ago. Barclay: I, I know that I embarrassed you in front of the Admiral, and I'm, I'm sorry. I wanted to refine my idea so that I could present you with a specific plan. And I've done that, Pete. You were right about the wormhole idea being too expansive. So I've, I've scaled it back. Harkins: All the extra time you've been putting in. If I checked the holo-logs, would I find you've been spending those hours in here? Barclay: Well, not, not all that time. Harkins: How much of it? Barclay: Maybe, er, twenty or thirty hours a week. Harkins: Don't you think that's a little excessive? Barclay: Not if it helps us contact Voyager. Harkins: Before I brought you onto my team I reviewed your file. You've struggled with holo-addiction before. From where I stand it looks like you've had a relapse. Barclay: I know it it may look that way. Harkins: I think you need counseling. Barclay: What I need is for you to pay attention to my ideas. Harkins: I should have been paying more attention to your behavior. I thought I was being a friend by giving you some leeway. I didn't realize how involved you've become with Voyager. Barclay: Is it really so wrong? Do you have any idea what it must be like for them to be stranded sixty thousand light years from home? Do you have any idea how lonely that must be? Harkins: I'm sorry, Reg, but until you get some help, you're off the project. Barclay: You, you can't do that. Harkins: You've given me no choice. This hologrid and the lab are officially off limits. Now go home. Barclay: I won't leave. Not until you've heard what I have to say. Harkins: Reg! Don't make me call security. Paris: What is it, Nicole? Nicole: He's still here. Admiral Paris: You told him I have a meeting scheduled at fifteen hundred? Nicole: Yes, sir. He won't go away. Admiral Paris: Send him in. Nicole: Yes, sir. Barclay: Admiral, er, thank you, thank you for seeing me. Admiral Paris: You're frightening my secretary, Mister Barclay. You have five minutes. Barclay: Five minutes. Right. Admiral Paris: Sit down. Barclay: Er, first, first I, I want to apologize for speaking out of turn yesterday. It's, it's only because I, I, I care so much about Voyager. Admiral Paris: Yes, Commander Harkins has informed me about your attachment to the crew. I understand you've been spending time with a holographic re-creation of my son, among others. Frankly, I find that rather disturbing. Barclay: Well, I understand how, how you could see it that way but, er, that does not negate the fact that I have a plan for communicating with Voyager. Admiral Paris: Commander Harkins doesn't seem to think your plan is viable. Barclay: I have refined the idea. I've simplified it. All I'm asking for is a chance to try. And if I'm right, it could mean a chance to talk to Tom. Admiral Paris: In my opinion, Commander Harkins removed you from the project with good cause, and that's his prerogative. I won't let my personal feelings interfere with Starfleet procedure. Barclay: I, I've broken protocol and I should be punished, but the crew of the Voyager shouldn't be, and neither, neither should you. I just need access to the lab for one more day. After that, if I er, if I'm wrong, I'll resign my commission. Admiral Paris: I'll order a review of your findings. If it's concluded your ideas are valid, I'll instruct Commander Harkins to pursue it. Barclay: But I'm the one who knows the Admiral Paris: That's the best I can do, Mister Barclay. Good day. Troi: So the meeting went well? Barclay: No, no, no. It didn't, not at all. Troi: The Admiral said he'd review your findings. Barclay: Don't you see? He was just trying to get rid of me, just like Harkins. Troi: Try to relax. Barclay: Now you understand why I need your help. Troi: Yes, I do. Barclay: You, you have to call the Admiral in your official capacity as a Starfleet Counselor and tell him that I am psychologically fit to return to work. Troi: I can't do that. Barclay: Why not? Troi: Look at yourself. You're experiencing acute anxiety, sleeplessness, paranoia. You did what you could. Now it's time to let Starfleet worry about Voyager. We need to take care of you. Barclay: There is nothing wrong with me! Troi: You said yourself you've become obsessed with Voyager. Barclay: What if I have? If an obsession helps me to do my job better, it's a sacrifice I am willing to make. A little instability in exchange for contact with a stranded starship. Isn't Voyager more important than my psychological condition? Troi: Voyager is important, but so are you. Barclay: That ship, that crew, they're all I have. Troi: Tell me why that is. Barclay: Ever, ever since I, I left the Enterprise, things haven't, haven't been the same. It's as if I lost my family. Troi: So you created a new family on the holodeck. Only they're not real. Barclay: I didn't know how else, how else to cope. Troi: Do you remember when you first came aboard the Enterprise? You had trouble fitting in, didn't you? But after a while you started to make friends. You can learn to do the same thing here on Earth. Barclay: Oh, I, I don't know how. Troi: We'll work on it together. Barclay: You're scheduled to depart tomorrow. Troi: I've decided to ask Captain Picard for a temporary leave of absence. To spend some time with an old friend. Barclay: Oh, Deanna, you, you, you don't, you don't have to do that. Troi: Try and stop me. Barclay: I'm sorry, Neelix. I have to leave. No, no, you can't talk me out of it. Computer: Authorisation code required. Barclay: Barclay alpha one seven gamma. Computer: Access denied. That code has been de-authorized. Barclay: Computer, re-enter authorisation code Barclay alpha one seven gamma. Computer: Access authorized. Barclay: Computer, interface with the MIDAS array. Activate the control matrix. Computer: Matrix activated. Barclay: Full power to the graviton emitters. Computer: Emitters powering. Barclay: Scan the area surrounding the array for a class B itinerant pulsar. Computer: A pulsar has been detected at coordinates two two seven by four one mark six. Barclay: Good, good! Direct a sixty terawatt tachyon beam toward the pulsar. Computer: Tachyon beam initiated. Barclay: How long until levels are sufficient to produce a gravimetric surge of five million teradynes? Computer: Approximately seventeen minutes. Barclay: Computer, is there a micro-wormhole present at coordinates three four three by two seven? Computer: Scanning. Affirmative. Barclay: I knew it. Adjust the phase alignment to direct the wormhole's trajectory to Delta Quadrant, grid nine, sector 41751. Computer: Trajectory established. Barclay: Open Starfleet Emergency Channel and transmit toward the singularity. Computer: Channel open. Barclay: Starfleet Command to USS Voyager. Come in, Voyager. Voyager, do you hear me? This is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay. Harkins: Step away from the controls. Barclay: Pete. I, I've sent a message. Harkins: Stand down, Mister Barclay. Barclay: All right, you win. Computer, transfer controls to hologrid program Barclay pi three and restrict access. Harkins: Stop him. Stun him if you have to. Barclay: Tuvok. Did you see those two men? Tuvok: I did not. Barclay: Well they look like Starfleet security, but they're not. Tuvok: Intruders? Barclay: They're after me. I need your help. Tuvok: Tuvok to all hands. Intruder alert. Computer, locate any unauthorized personnel aboard Voyager. Computer: Two unidentified humans, deck four, section eight. Tuvok: Isolate them with force fields. Security: Security to Commander Harkins. We've been isolated by the forcefields. Can you shut down the program? Harkins: I'm working on it. Computer: Access denied. Hologrid controls have been encrypted. Harkins: Harkins to Security. I need reinforcements. Barclay: Computer, redirect the wormhole's trajectory to Delta Quadrant, grid 11, sector 64238 and retransmit the message. Computer: Trajectory established. Transmitting. Torres: A wormhole? What's going on? Barclay: I'm just trying to help some friends. Is there a response? Computer: Negative. Barclay: Computer, redirect the wormhole's trajectory. Torres: Reg. Security 2: You'll have to come with me, sir. Torres: I'll cover for you. Barclay: Computer, seal Jefferies tube door J53. Harkins: Computer, cut all power to the hologrid. Computer: Unable to comply. Main power controls have been encrypted. Harkins: Very clever, Reg. Security 2: Security to Commander Harkins. We've lost him, sir. Harkins: I've got an idea. I'm coming in. Torres: I know you. You're Reg's friend. You've got something to do with what's going on here, don't you? Harkins: Computer, disengage primary coolant system. Torres: Are you crazy? That'll cause a warp core breach. Harkins: Exactly. Janeway: Mister Barclay, I want an explanation for what's going on aboard my ship. Barclay: I'm looking after Voyager's best interests, Captain. You're just going to have to trust me on that. Janeway: You've never given me any reason to doubt you before. Barclay: Computer, redirect the wormhole's trajectory to Delta Quadrant, grid ten, sector 3658, and retransmit the message. Computer: Trajectory established. Transmitting. Kim: Who are you trying to contact, Reg? Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in forty five seconds. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Report. Harkins: Shut down the program, Reg. Janeway: Janeway to Security. Intruders on the bridge. Barclay: Computer, establish a forcefield around the science station. Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in thirty seconds. Janeway: Harry, get down to Engineering. Seal that breach. Harkins: Forcefields aren't going to help you, Reg. It's over. Barclay: But this is my last chance. Computer: Warp core breach in twenty seconds. Janeway: Captain to all hands. Abandon ship. Computer: Warp core breach in ten seconds. Nine, eight Harkins: One way or another, this program's going to end. Computer: Seven, six, five. Barclay: Good-bye, Captain. Computer: Four. Barclay: Computer end program. Computer: Two. Neelix: I'm ready for my lesson. Seven: I've concluded that teaching you to sing is an inefficient use of my time. Neelix: But I, I've been, I've been practicing. Seven: In your case, practice is irrelevant. Your vocal chords are incapable of producing basic diatonic tones, not to mention your rhythmic shortcomings. Neelix: I sound so good in the sonic shower. Seven: Perhaps you should confine your efforts to that location. Astrometrics to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead, Seven. Seven: I've detected what appears to be a micro-wormhole at coordinates one nine four point six by three five. Janeway: A micro-wormhole. Seven: I believe a message is being transmitted through it, on a Starfleet emergency channel. Janeway: Let's hear it, Harry. Barclay: Starfleet Command to USS Voyager. Come in, Voyager. Janeway: Try applying a narrowband filter to the signal processor. Barclay: Do you hear me? This is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay. Kim: That's it. Whoever this Barclay is, he stopped transmitting. Tuvok: The micro-wormhole is collapsing at a rate of point two percent per second. Janeway: That doesn't give us much time. Chakotay: To do what? Janeway: To send a message back through and hope Mister Barclay is listening. Barclay: It should have worked. I don't understand why it didn't. Admiral Paris: There you are. I've reviewed Mister Barclay's plan. I think it's worth an attempt. Harkins: He's already tried, sir, without your authorisation. It didn't work. Admiral Paris: I'm sorry to hear that. Barclay: So am I, sir. I appreciate your confidence in me, but I, I don't deserve it. Harkins: What would you like me to do with him, Admiral? He broke into the lab, accessed the MIDAS array and resisted arrest. Admiral Paris: You've put me in a difficult position, son. I was hoping that we'd be able to Technician: We're receiving a transmission. Admiral Paris: From where? Technician: Coordinates three four three point six by two seven. Barclay: The wormhole. Janeway: Starfleet Command, come in. Admiral Paris: Voyager. Harkins: Reg, give me a hand clearing up the signal. Barclay: Lower the filter band by point three kilohertz. Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway. Do you read me? Hawkins: I think she's talking to you. Barclay: Captain. Barclay: This is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay at Starfleet Command. Janeway: It's good to hear your voice, Lieutenant. We've been waiting a long time Janeway: For this moment. Barclay: The feeling is mutual. Unfortunately, the micro-wormhole is collapsing. We have only a few moments. Janeway: Understood. We are transmitting our ship's logs, crew reports and navigational records to you now. Barclay: Acknowledged. And we're sending you data on some new hyper-subspace technology. Barclay: We're hoping eventually to use it to keep in regular contact, and we're including some Barclay: Recommended modifications for your comm. system. Janeway: We'll implement them as soon as possible. Barclay: There's someone else here who would also like to say something. Admiral Paris: This is Admiral Paris. Janeway: Hello, sir. Admiral Paris: How are your people holding up? Janeway: Very well. They're an exemplary crew, your son included. Paris: Tell him, tell him I miss him. Paris: And I'm proud of him. Janeway: He heard you, Admiral. Barclay: The wormhole is collapsing. Admiral Paris: I want you all to know we're doing everything we can to bring you home. Janeway: We appreciate it, sir. Keep a docking bay open for us. Janeway: We hope to see you Barclay: That's it. They're gone. Harkins: You did it, Reg. I'm sorry I doubted you. Admiral Paris: Why the long face, Mister Barclay? Barclay: Because, because it's over, sir. Admiral Paris: No, Lieutenant. I'd say that Project Voyager is just beginning, thanks to you. Torres: Anyone know this Barclay? Emh: I took the liberty of reviewing his personnel file. He's had a rather colorful career, not to mention an unusual medical history. He's recovered from a variety of maladies, including transporter phobia and holo-addiction. Janeway: Well, whatever his problems, he certainly came through for us. Chakotay: Starfleet should give him a promotion. Seven: I finished analyzing the data Mister Barclay sent. The hyper-subspace technology is promising. I believe we can look forward to future communications with Earth. Neelix: Well, that calls for a toast. Janeway: Care to do the honors, Tom? Paris: To my Dad. It's nice to know he's still there. And to the newest honorary member of the Voyager crew, Reginald Barclay. Whoever you are. Janeway: Here, here. To Mister Barclay. Troi: Congratulations. Barclay: Well, I'm not not sure I deserve congratulations. Troi: Why not? It's quite an accomplishment. Barclay: I, I couldn't have done it without your help. Troi: What did Commander Harkins have to say about it? Barclay: Well, I think, I think he was pleased. Troi: Why wouldn't he be? You're quite a catch. Barclay: Well, not everyone would want a sister-in-law to date someone with my history. Troi: It's a new era. So tell me all about the lucky lady. I want details. Barclay: Well, her name is Hope. Troi: You're kidding. Barclay: No And, and, and she loves cats.

Grace: Good morning, Tom. Paris: Good morning, Grace. Seamus: So, where you heading? Paris: Sullivan's. Care to join me? Seamus: Ah, I wish I could, but there's a bit of a problem. Paris: Oh, really? Seamus: Well, you see, Tommy-me-boy, the Good Lord blessed me with a fine wife. I'll never forget the day I met her. I was on me way to the Fair in Dooleen, or was it Kilkee? There's some fine trout fishing to be had in Kilkee this time of year. Paris: Who said anything about trout? Seamus: Timothy Ryan, God rest his soul. He was one for the trout. The poor man's been dead a fortnight. Some say he had the croup, but don't you believe it. The widow Moore gave him the Evil Eye. Paris: And your point? Seamus: Me wife and I, well, we've hit a bit of a rough patch. A better woman never walked the face of the earth. Paris: She threw you out again. Seamus: With nothing but the clothes on me back. Paris: How much? Seamus: A shilling or two should suffice. Paris: Keep the change. Seamus: God bless you, Tommy-me-boy Paris: Harry, weren't you supposed to meet me at Sullivan's? Kim: Sorry. I got distracted by the, er, scenery. This is Maggie. Paris: We've met. Could you excuse us? Maggie: Charmed to have met you, Harry. Kim: Charmed. What's the hurry? Paris: A word to the wise. Stay away from Maggie O'Halloran. She's promised to a pig farmer with a very large rake. Kim: Does she have a sister? Paris: Wooden teeth. Kim: Nothing an adjustment to the holomatrix wouldn't fix. Paris: No, no. I'm not changing a thing. Fair Haven is perfect just the way it is. Kim: Tommy boy, you forgot the leprechauns. Paris: No. No leprechauns, no aliens, no starships. I want this to be a place where the crew can unwind. Emh: Morning, lads. Paris: Ah. Heard any good confessions lately? Emh: Doctor-patient confidentiality, Mister Paris. Paris: Harry hasn't seen Sullivan's yet. You care to join us? Emh: Don't mind if I do. I'll need to leave no later than thirteen hundred hours. Paris: Medical emergency? Emh: Not exactly. I'm working on my homily for Sunday's mass and I expect both you sinners to be in attendance. Paris: He's kidding, right? Kim: You wanted authenticity. Paris: Everybody, place your bets. Seamus: Three bob on Liam. Paris: Three bob it is. Emh: Five shillings on Liam. Paris: You're going to hurt Harry's feelings. Emh: Very well. Two shillings on Mister Kim and I'll pray for a miracle. Seamus: Excuse me, Father, but I'm needing a bit of counsel. Emh: I'm off duty right now. Seamus: But I've broken the fifth commandment again. Emh: Say ten Our Fathers and call me in the morning. Emh: Gentlemen. Emh: Come on, come on Mister Kim, show him what for. You can do it! Michael: What'll it be? Janeway: I'm looking for some friends of mine. Michael: We're all friends here. Janeway: Well, then, have you seen Tom Paris? Michael: He's right over there, with young Harry. Poor sod. I'm afraid no one's whipped Liam in three years. Janeway: There's a first time for everything. Michael: An optimist, are you? Janeway: A realist. Emh: Come on, Ensign, try. Try! Seamus: Come on, me boy. Push! Push! Kim: I'm trying! Emh: Come on. Try harder. Seamus: You got him. You got him. Emh: You're losing. Seamus: What in God's name? Come on, Liam. Push! Kim: Yes! Yes! Emh: I knew you could do it, Ensign. Janeway: So this is the program I've been hearing so much about. Paris: Welcome, weary traveler. Janeway: You have outdone yourself this time. Everything is authentic, except for one tiny detail. Paris: Oh? Janeway: The harp on the sign. It's backwards. Paris: Oh, everybody's a critic. Emh: As I recall, the Captain is quite an aficionado of Irish history. Janeway: I hate to break up the party, but we have some business to attend to. There's a neutronic wavefront approaching. Class nine. Kim: Class nine? Paris: Sorry, boys. Duty calls. Seamus: Ah, wavefront? Now, what in the name of God is that? Paris: Er, a wee bit of bad weather. Seamus: Oh. Seven: Borg classification three four seven nine two. Particle density anomaly. Paris: Where'd it come from? Seven: I believe it was formed by the collision of two neutron stars. The wavefront is traveling at a velocity of two hundred thousand kilometers per second, and it extends for three point six light years. Chakotay: How long before it hits? Seven: Approximately fifteen hours. Torres: We're already feeling its effects. The neutron radiation is disrupting plasma flow. We can't jump to warp. Paris: Impulse power won't be enough to outrun that thing. Janeway: Then we'll have to ride it out. We'll generate an inverse warp field and drop anchor. That should protect us from the turbulence. Chakotay: What about the radiation? It'll only get worse. Janeway: Have the doctor prepare inoculations for the crew. Go to yellow alert. Tom, B'Elanna, get started on converting the warp core. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Let's batten down the hatches. Neelix: Captain. Janeway: Just burning the midnight oil. Neelix: Midnight's come and gone. Janeway: Then it's time for a break. Neelix: Do you mind? Janeway: I could use the company. This approaching wavefront is bringing back some unpleasant memories. Neelix: How so? Janeway: You know I grew up on a farm in Indiana. We used to have some terrible thunderstorms during the summer months. At the first bolt of lightning I'd bolt under the bed. Neelix: We had some pretty nasty weather on Talax, too. I always enjoyed a good ion storm. Janeway: Give me clear skies any day. Neelix: Now that you bring it up, I am concerned with keeping up morale over the next few days. The crew is not used to sitting still. Janeway: Suggestions? Neelix: Everyone seems to love Fair Haven. I was thinking we might initiate an open door protocol on the holodeck. Keep the program running twenty four hours a day. Let people come and go as they please. Janeway: Permission granted. Fair Haven's just become our port in the storm. Neelix: I'm heading down there myself, if you'd like to join me. There's a charming little inn called the Ox and Lamb. The owner offered to share some of his recipes. Janeway: No, thanks. I still have work to do. Neelix: Okay. Michael: What'll it be? Janeway: A cup of tea would be nice. Michael: I just made one. Cream? Janeway: Please. Michael: So, what brings you to Fair Haven, Miss? Janeway: Kathryn. I'm just passing through on my way home. Michael: How long have you been on the road? Janeway: Five years, almost six. Michael: You must be homesick. Janeway: No. Sometimes. Thank you. Michael: Cead mile failte. Janeway: Translation? Michael: A hundred thousand welcomes. It's an old Irish saying. We're all friends here. Janeway: I had an aunt who used to have a saying like that. A stranger is a friend you just haven't met yet. Michael: Definitely Irish. Janeway: She had an Irish temper, too. She and my uncle had a place not far from here, in County Clare. Michael: Ah. Then you're closer to home than you think, Katie O'Clare. Janeway: You know, it's later than I thought and I've kept you long enough. Michael: Oh no, stay awhile. Didn't your auntie teach you that it's impolite to leave without playing a game of rings? Janeway: I really can't, but thanks for the tea. Michael: Afraid you'd lose? Janeway: I rarely lose. Michael: Prove it. Janeway: One game. Michael: I'll set them up. Michael: Another ringer. Janeway: And I'm not surprised. You stepped over the beer stain. Michael: I did not. Janeway: You did too, by half a boot, and then you moved back, hoping I wouldn't notice. Michael: These boots are half a size too large, so in reality my toes never crossed the line. Your turn. Janeway: For luck. Michael: Getting sweet with the rings isn't going to help you. Janeway: We'll see. Damn. Michael: Devil won't help you, either. Janeway: Well, maybe rings aren't my forte after all. Would you care to arm wrestle? Michael: That's not a woman's game, Katie. You could get hurt. Janeway: I'm stronger than I look. Michael: Ah! That's quite a grip you have. Janeway: Not bad yourself. Michael: I couldn't help but notice that you have your leg braced against the bar. Janeway: Well, how else do you expect me to win? Michael: Will we call it a draw? Janeway: Sounds good to me. Michael: Shall we run a foot race down to the station and back? It's good to make a new friend. You have a nice way about you. Janeway: Flattery's the food of fools. Michael: Another pearl of wisdom from your auntie? Janeway: No, Jonathan Swift Michael: Swift? Never heard of him. Janeway: He was an author. Michael: I was never one for reading. Janeway: That's too bad. Some of the greatest writers in the world are Irish. Michael: Well, they say that Doctor Gilroy has a library of books and, well, next time I see him I'll ask him can I borrow one or two? Frannie: Good morning. Michael: Good morning. Oh, my God, will you look at the time? Frannie, come here. There's someone I want you to meet. Katie O'Clare, this is my wife, Frances. Janeway: Pleased to meet you. Frannie: I hope Michael hasn't been bending your ear all night long. Janeway: My ear, my elbow. Michael: We were arm wrestling. Frannie: Such a gentleman. Janeway: Thank you very much for your hospitality and now I really must be leaving. Michael: And, er, drop in again before you leave town. Janeway: I will. Emh: If you experience any dizziness report to Sickbay immediately. Crewwoman: Thank you. Janeway: Good morning, gentlemen. Emh: I believe it's afternoon. Oversleep? Janeway: Holodeck. Paris: Fair Haven? Janeway: Welcome weary traveler. Emh: Even I have to admit Mister Paris's latest effort is quite a tour de force. Janeway: Ooh, high praise from a hologram. Paris: Oh, I was thinking, Captain now that we've got this open door policy, maybe I could expand Fair Haven into holodeck two. It would give me some room to create the seacoast. Janeway: By all means. Emh: Speaking of revisions, I was hoping I could give my character a more active role. In the period you've created, the village priest was the most prominent member of the community, held in the highest regard. Paris: That's a great idea, Doc. We could send Father Mulligan on a retreat to a nearby monastery, where he takes a vow of silence and never speaks again. Emh: Try it, and you'll be saying Hail Marys till Saint Patrick's Day. Janeway: Time? Tuvok: Thirty seconds Janeway: Let's see it. Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Secure your stations and brace for impact. Tuvok: We've cleared the leading edge. Turbulence is decreasing. Shields are holding. Janeway: Damage? Kim: We've got a ruptured plasma conduit, deck nine. Janeway: Send a repair team. Maintain yellow alert. Let's hope that was the worst of it. Captain's personal log. It's been ten hours since the storm hit. We estimate another three days before we're clear of it. The crew's in good spirits, and many of them have taken the opportunity to visit Fair Haven. I met an interesting man there, and for a while I almost forgot he was a hologram. We weren't exactly compatible, but then again, Mister Paris didn't program him to my specifications. Janeway: Computer, display Fair Haven character Michael Sullivan. Adjust his parameters to the following specifications. Give him the education of a nineteenth century third year student at Trinity College. Computer: Modification complete. Janeway: Now, access the character's interactive subroutines. Make him more provocative. Computer: Specify. Janeway: Give him a more complicated personality. Computer: Specify. Janeway: More outspoken, more confident, not so reserved. And make him more curious about the world around him. Computer: Modification complete. Janeway: Good. Now, increase the character's height by three centimeters. Remove the facial hair. No, no, I don't like that. Put some back. About two days' growth. Better. Oh, one more thing. Access his interpersonal subroutines. Familial characters. Delete the wife. Computer: Modification complete. Janeway: Pleased to meet you, Mister Sullivan. Seven: Are you ill, Commander? Tuvok: I am experiencing a slight loss of equilibrium and some gastrointestinal distress. Seven: Space sickness? Tuvok: Unlikely. I am not prone to that condition. Seven: Perhaps you should go to Sickbay. Tuvok: I'll be fine. Kim: I'm telling you, we should add more fog. Paris: Fog is depressing. Kim: It's authentic. Paris: It's dangerous. Kim: All right, we could add a lighthouse. Paris: It's Fair Haven, Harry. Sunshine? Kim: Tuvok, what do you think? Irish sea coast, fog or no fog? Tuvok: I have no opinion. Paris: He hasn't visited our little paradise yet. Tuvok: Nor do I intend to. Kim: I think you'd like it, Commander. It's a great place to meditate. Paris: Imagine yourself sitting high on a bluff overlooking the ocean. The salt air, The rhythm of the waves rising and crashing against the rocks. A tiny fishing boat bobbing on the water below. Up and down, up and down. Tuvok: I get the idea, Ensign. Thank you. Neelix: Mutton, creamed cabbage or blood pudding? Seven: Explain. Neelix: I'm preparing a traditional Irish meal at the Ox and Lamb this afternoon, and I can not decide on a main course. Paris: Blood pudding. You can't lose. Neelix: That was my first choice, too, but replicating the lamb's intestines, it, it could be tricky, And every time I try to heat the blood, it coagulates in the milk. Tuvok: If you'll excuse me, I think I will consult the Doctor. Janeway: Excuse me, ma'am. Have you seen Michael Sullivan? Grace: Oh, you might try the pub. Janeway: I just came from there. Grace: Oh, then he'll be at the train station. Grace: Yeah. Janeway: Thank you. Grace: Sure. Janeway: Excuse me, sir. Is the train to Galway running on time? Michael: Um, I'm afraid you've just missed it. Have a seat, wait for the next one. Do you know Jane Eldon? Janeway: Eldon? No, I've never met her. Michael: I'd be terrified if you had. She's been dead seventy years. No, I was er, I was thinking about her poetry. It's too pastoral for my taste, don't you agree? Janeway: I'm not familiar with her work. Michael: Really? Well, what about Sean Gogarty? They have similar rhyming schemes. Michael: You've some catching up to do. Well, I'm here every afternoon. You should join me sometime. I tried talking poetry with Seamus, but all he can do is recite limericks. Janeway: I'd love to. Strange place to read, though. Michael: Not at all. I love the sound of the trains coming and going. It gets me thinking about places I'd like to visit. Have you traveled much yourself? Janeway: As a matter of fact. But there's one place I haven't been yet. Castle O'Dell. Michael: It's a steep climb but from the top of the battlement you can see all the way to Dublin. We'd better be moving. Michael: They say when the sun goes down the King of the Faeries reclaims the castle. Janeway: Maybe he'll invite us to supper. Michael: Eh, you'll be dining alone without me. One taste of the Faeries' banquet and you'll never return to this world. Janeway: Oh, don't tell me you believe those stories. Michael: Believe? No. But I do respect them. Can I ask you something, Katie? Janeway: Please. Michael: Have you a man waiting for you at home? Janeway: No. Michael: Are you looking for one? Janeway: Why? Do you have somebody? Michael: In Fair Haven? Not unless you fancy a pig farmer. Janeway: Oh, not my type. Michael: What about a barkeeper who reads poetry in strange places? Chakotay: Captain? I thought that was you. Janeway: Just getting in the spirit. Chakotay: I can see that. I don't believe we've met. Michael: Sullivan. Michael Sullivan. Chakotay: Chakotay. Michael: That's a fine tattoo. Are you off a ship? Chakotay: You could say that. Michael: We're on the way up to the old castle. You're welcome to come with us. Chakotay: Thanks, but, er, I'm meeting Neelix at the Ox and Lamb. You two have fun. Michael: Is it my imagination, or did he call you captain? Janeway: Did he? Chakotay: Looks like the worst is yet to come. Janeway: Commander? Chakotay: I just came from Astrometrics. Seven's found an increase in the neutronic gradient at the trailing edge of the wavefront. It's going to be a rough ride when it hits. Janeway: We've still got two days. Start working on a new shield modulation. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Tuvok: That could explain my recent space sickness. Vulcan physiology is highly sensitive to neutronic gradients. Paris: You'd make a good barometer, Tuvok. Every time you get queasy, we go to red alert. Janeway: Thanks for your report, Commander. Chakotay: Don't mention it. Hills most green, hearts unseen. Janeway: Yes. Jane Eldon. Catching up on a little reading. Chakotay: Those hills and hearts wouldn't happen to be in Ireland? Janeway: You can wipe that smirk off your face. It's not what you think. Chakotay: I wasn't thinking anything, but now that you mentioned it Janeway: I have an interest in Irish culture. Chakotay: It's understandable. They've produced great writers for hundreds of years. Not to mention great bartenders. Janeway: He's a hologram. Chakotay: I couldn't help but notice he seemed a little taller than the last time I saw him. Janeway: Yes, I made a few modifications. Chakotay: In the interest of Irish culture. Janeway: Exactly. Chakotay: You seemed embarrassed when I ran into you. There was no reason to be. It was nice to see you having a little fun. Janeway: He is rather charming, isn't he? Too bad he's made of photons and forcefields. Chakotay: I never let that stand in my way. Michael: The boys are getting tired. Janeway: Them, or you? Michael: Faster, boys. Janeway: Computer, remove all characters except for Michael Sullivan. Michael: Can I ask you something, Katie? Janeway: Please. Michael: Would you mind if I kissed you? Janeway: I might even kiss you back. Michael: There's no point in waiting any longer, is there? Janeway: Oh, I think I've waited long enough. Michael: Is there something wrong? Janeway: No. Janeway: Computer, recycle. Janeway: Come in. Neelix: I thought you'd like to know we've organized a rings tournament tonight at Sullivan's. Janeway: Thanks, Neelix, but I have work to do. Neelix: The Doctor's going to sing something called Danny Boy, and Mossie Donegan's promised to bring his talking pig. Janeway: Well, let's just say I'd rather stick to reality right now. Neelix: Nineteen hundred hours, if you change your mind. Janeway: Thank you. Seamus: Saints preserve us. Seven: I possess superior hand-eye coordination. Seamus: That's not all that's superior. The lily and the rose are staging a competition in your face. Seven: Clarify. Seamus: The fullness of your lips and the paleness of your cheeks, it's enough to make a man faint. Seven: Then in that case, perhaps we should sit down. Kim: I don't believe it. Paris: It's called old-world charm, Harry. Neelix: What'll it be, gentlemen? Emh: Nothing for me. Temperance is a virtue. Paris: Where's Michael? Neelix: Over there. Paris: That's strange. I programmed him not to drink. Neelix: Must be a glitch in his subroutine. Emh: Are these seats taken? Michael: Sit anywhere you like. Michael: Vile. It's been fifteen years since I touched the stuff. Paris: You making up for lost time? Michael: I was hoping it might ease the pain. Emh: Are you in discomfort? Michael: Agony's more like it. How could you do this to me, Lord? Why don't you ask him? You've got his ear, don't you? Emh: Well Michael: Three days. The happiest three days of my life. I was a fool to think she felt the same. I was such a fool! Seamus: Aw, sit down, Sullivan. Michael: Shut your mouth, man, or I'll shut it for you. Seamus: Oh, you will, will you? Paris: Hey, hey. Take it easy. Why don't you tell us what happened? Michael: We, we spent a perfect day together by the lake. I drifted off to sleep and when I woke up, she was gone. Where is she, Tom? Paris: Who? Michael: Katie O'Clare, who else? Paris: Katie O'Clare? Michael: Your friend. Paris: Are you sure you didn't misinterpret her interests? I mean, we're all friends here. Maybe she was just being friendly. Michael: Are you calling me a liar? Paris: No, no, not at all. Michael: I thought Katie and me were in love. Paris: I may have to do some reprogramming. Michael: What's the matter? You don't think I'm good enough for her? Paris: No, I, I didn't say that. Michael: Well, tell me where she's gone. Paris: I don't know. Michael: Well, I think you do. Emh: Gentlemen, please! Love thy neighbor. Kim: Let's see, I remember trying to reach the holodeck controls, Then, er, somebody grabbed my leg. Paris: Maybe it was the talking pig. Kim: If it was, he had one hell of a left hook. Janeway: What's all this? Emh: I'm afraid there's been some trouble in paradise. An altercation in the pub this afternoon. Several crewmen were injured. Nothing serious. Janeway: Arm wrestling get out of hand, boys? Neelix: Not exactly. Kim: It was Michael Sullivan, Captain. He was looking for someone. Emh: Why don't we take a little walk? Janeway: Let me guess. that someone is me. Emh: I don't mean to pry, Captain, but we've got a broken-hearted hologram who believed that the two of you were in love. Janeway: Oh, I was sure he'd be on to the next lass by now. I hope he's all right. Emh: Far from it. The fight spilled out onto the street. Before long, he'd climbed up a tree and began shouting your name. Mister Neelix managed to talk him down. Janeway: It could be a malfunction in his behavioral subroutines. Emh: I've already checked that. His subroutines are fine, but I did notice you'd made quite a number of alterations to his program. Janeway: Minor improvements. Emh: To make him more appealing? Janeway: You're starting to pry, Doctor. Emh: I apologize for overstepping my bounds but I'm worried about you. Michael Sullivan is a hologram. His broken heart can be mended with the flick of a switch. Your feelings however, are a little more complicated. Janeway: I'm not going to be climbing any trees, if that's what you're worried about. Emh: If you decide you want to talk, I've been hearing a lot of confessions lately. Let me know. Janeway: You want a confession, Doctor? All right. I've become romantically involved with a hologram. If that's possible. Emh: Tell me what happened. Janeway: Well, you know the story. Girl meets boy, girl modifies boy's subroutines Emh: Did you have intimate relations? Janeway: That's none of your business. Let's just say it was a memorable three days. Emh: I don't see the problem. Janeway: Don't you? Michael Sullivan is exactly my type. Attractive, intelligent. We share the same interests. And if there's something I don't like, I can simply change it. Emh: I've noticed that humans usually try to change the people they fall in love with. What's the difference? Janeway: In this case, it works. We had a picnic by the lake yesterday afternoon. Michael drifted off to sleep. His head was lying on my shoulder and I remember thinking, this is close to perfect. Then he began to snore. Did I nudge him with my elbow hoping he'd roll over and stop? Did I whisper in his ear to wake him? No. Why bother? When I could simply access the computer and alter his vocal algorithms? And that's exactly what I was about to do, when I realized that everything around me was an illusion, including him. So I left. I almost wrote him a note to say goodbye. Can you believe that, a Dear John letter to a hologram? Emh: I understand your trepidation, but you're the captain. You can't have a relationship with a member of your crew. They're all your subordinates. So where does that leave you? The occasional dalliance with a passing alien? Voyager could be in the Delta Quadrant for a very long time. A hologram may be the only logical alternative. Janeway: He's not real. Emh: He's as real as I am. Photons and forcefields, flesh and blood. It's all the same as long as your feelings are real. He makes a joke, you laugh. Is that an illusion? He says something that makes you think. Does it matter how his molecules are aligned? Did it ever occur to you that it's not just a question of whether or not he's real? Janeway: What do you mean? Emh: I think you should stop trying to control every aspect of this relationship. Romance is born out of differences as well as similarities. Out of the unexpected, as well as the familiar. Janeway: Maybe I just needed to be sure that he'd love me back. Emh: But isn't that the risk you always take, hologram or not? All I know is, Michael Sullivan was up in that tree shouting your name. Janeway: I've never been afraid of taking risks. Emh: Then perhaps, next time, you should just let him snore. Kim: The neutronic gradient's rising. Thirty million terajoules. Forty million. Janeway: Shields? Tuvok: Holding. Kim: Sixty million. Torres: Torres to bridge. The inverse warp field's destabilizing. We're losing our anchor. Janeway: Acknowledged. How long before we're clear? Paris: At least another five minutes. Kim: That's about four minutes too long. The gradient's rising fast. Ninety million. Paris: Stabilizers are offline. Chakotay: Thrusters? Paris: No effect. Tuvok: Shields are failing. Chakotay: How close are we to the perimeter? Paris: A thousand kilometers, but we're being pulled along with the storm. Janeway: What have you got in mind? Chakotay: The deflector beam. We might be able to cut a path through the wavefront. Tuvok: It's possible, but we'd have to route all available power to the emitters. Kim: That won't be enough. Primary systems are down. Janeway: Then transfer all secondary power sources. Transporters, replicators, holodecks. Kim: Captain, there's not enough time to go through the hologrid shutdown sequence. We'd lose most of Fair Haven. Janeway: Do it. Chakotay: Hull fractures, deck six and seven. Kim: You've got all the secondary power, Tuvok. Is it enough? Tuvok: Negative. Chakotay: Siphon energy from the plasma network. Every last deciwatt. Tuvok: Deflector beam active. Paris: We're approaching the perimeter. Five hundred kilometers. Four hundred. Tuvok: Deflector output is dropping. Janeway: Give him everything we've got. Life support, environmental controls. Scrape the residual ions off the sonic showers if you have to. Kim: Doesn't look good, Tom. With this much photonic decay we'll be able to save five, maybe ten percent. Paris: So much for the luck of the Irish. Kim: It might be easier to start from scratch. Paris: It wouldn't be the same. It's like trying to rewrite a novel after the only copy of the data file has been deleted. All the details, the nuances, they're all gone. Seamus: Morning, lads. Kim: Hey, Seamus. Seamus: Looks like a storm brewing. Paris: A storm? Seamus: Heading in from the west. Could be a big one. Paris: Oh. Right. Seamus: I don't suppose you could spare a shilling or two? Me wife and I made up last night and I wanted to buy her a new parasol. Paris: The grid's destabilizing. We'd better get started on those repairs. Kim: So, what do we try and save? The Ox and Lamb? The church? Maggie O'Halloran? Paris: There's someone I should talk to before we decide. Janeway: Come in. Paris: Fair Haven didn't fare too well. Janeway: I'll break the news to the crew. Paris: With your permission, I'd like to try to reconstruct the program. Janeway: How long will it take? Paris: Six or seven weeks. Harry tells me that we should be able to save about ten percent of the existing elements. I thought you might have a suggestion or two. Janeway: Computer, is Fair Haven character Michael Sullivan still intact? Computer: Affirmative. Janeway: Activate him. Hello. Michael: You disappeared on me, Katie. I woke up and you'd gone. Janeway: I had some thinking to do. Michael: Are you done? Janeway: Yes. I'm leaving Fair Haven. Michael: Why? Janeway: Because. Michael: That's not a very good reason. Janeway: The situation is complicated. Michael: Another man? Janeway: No. Michael: Your friends, they don't approve of me? Janeway: They think you're charming. Michael: Are you not ready to settle down yet? Janeway: I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Michael: You're not making any sense. Janeway: No, I guess I'm not. Michael: I have a feeling that you won't be forgetting us that easily, Fair Haven has that effect on people. But there's one thing I want you to know. I love you, Katie. Janeway: I might actually be passing this way in six or seven weeks. Maybe I'll stop by the pub. Michael: See that you do. Janeway: Oh computer, end program. Wait. I want to make one more modification to the character. Computer: Specify. Janeway: Deny Kathryn Janeway any future access to his behavioral subroutines. Computer: Modification complete. Janeway: Save program.

Paris: That's one planet that never showed up on the multiple choice exam. Tuvok: Its gravimetric readings are similar to that of a collapsed dwarf star. It also resembles a quasar, in that it has a high rate of rotation, approximately fifty eight revolutions per minute. Janeway: Shall we take a closer look? Chakotay: That's what we're here for. Janeway: Tom, put us in a high orbit. Paris: Aye. Tuvok: Our warp drive is offline. Chakotay: Why? Tuvok: Unknown. Janeway: Back us off. Paris: Our impulse engines aren't responding. Janeway: The use the auxiliary thrusters. Kim: We're in some kind of gravimetric gradient. It's pulling us toward the planet. Shaman: The new one is brighter than Tahal, or any of his brothers in the sky. Native: What does he want from us? Shaman: To answer that, we must learn the nature of this god. We must understand the reason for his arrival. You were making an offering to Tahal. Native: I placed the fire-fruit on his altar. Then the ground shook. I looked up and the new one was there. Shaman: The fire-fruit. Where is it? Shaman: The new one doesn't want Tahal to have the fire-fruit. Make an altar for him, as big as Tahal's. The fire-fruit is only for the New One. No more for the people. It is His alone. Ground Shaker, Light Bringer, take this today, and every day. Accept our offering. Do not harm us. Janeway: Report. Tuvok: We're in synchronous orbit, fifty seven thousand kilometers above the planet's equator. Chakotay: Good work, Tom. Now, let's see Paris: You're patting the wrong guy on the back. Janeway: Explain. Paris: Our thrusters went offline halfway through our descent and then we just stopped, like we were caught in something. Tuvok: I'm picking up a strong tachyon field along the hull. It could be what's holding us. Seven: Seven of Nine to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead, Seven. Seven: Please report to Astrometrics. There's something you must see. Janeway: On my way. Chakotay. Seven: The planet has a tachyon core. It's produced a subspace particle field which runs between the poles. Voyager's arrival disrupted that field. Chakotay: It looks like the ship's been caught in an eddy of some kind. Janeway: It's worse than that. Voyager seems to have become the planet's third pole. Seven: The imbalance is affecting the outer crust. I've picked up indications of high-frequency seismic activity. Chakotay: Caused by our presence? Seven: Possibly. Janeway: Does anybody live down there? Seven: The atmosphere is having a scattering effect on our sensors. Chakotay: Is that vegetation? Seven: According to sensors, yes. Janeway: The tachyon core has created a space-time differential between the planet and the surrounding space. We're watching the seasons change in a matter of seconds. Seven: For each second that passes on Voyager, nearly a day goes by on the planet. Janeway: Scan for inhabitants. Seven: I can't isolate individual lifeforms. It'll take time to correct for the space-time differential Chakotay: A couple of hundred years, maybe? If our orbit starts to decay, Voyager will begin to feel the effects of the differential and we'll begin aging hundreds of times faster than we would in normal space. Janeway: Unless we want to live our lives in the blink of an eye, I suggest we find a way out of here. Chakotay: How's our warp core? Torres: The matter-antimatter reaction is still active, but this field we're stuck in is raising hell with the nacelles. Until we break orbit, warp drive is offline. Chakotay: Without warp drive, we'll never leave orbit. Torres: It does pose a bit of a problem, doesn't it? Chakotay: Maybe the key is to learn more about this planet, in case we're missing something. Torres: Sensors aren't having an easy time of it either. Chakotay: Then let's modify a class-five probe for low orbit, see what we can pick up. Configure the program to scan along all subspace bands, and set it for visual images every ten milliseconds. Torres: Snapshots. Why do I get the feeling you're not just interested in tachyon fields? Chakotay: This could be the greatest anthropological find of my career. If there's an intelligent species down there, we'll be able to track their development, not just for days or weeks, but for centuries. Torres: Watch them discover new and better ways of beating each other over the head. Chakotay: They won't necessarily follow the Klingon model. Torres: As opposed to the Human model? It'll take a few hours to make the adjustments. Chakotay: A few hours. We might miss the rise and fall of a civilization. Torres: So we'll watch the next one. Cleric: Oh. Oh, Protector. Kelemene: You're late. Cleric: Well, the hill is steep, and I, I'm not as young as I used to be. Kelemene: More heat. Kelemene: There are grave matters of state here that cannot be delayed. Cleric: Protector, what exactly are you doing? Kelemene: I'm sending him a letter. Cleric: Him? Sending who a letter? Kelemene: The Ground Shaker. The Light Bringer. Cleric: Had you been more attentive to my lessons when you were a boy, you would not be so gullible as a man. Kelemene: On the contrary, you taught me well. Our ignorant ancestors believed every star was a deity. You taught me how foolish that was. Superstition, you called it. Cleric: And that's exactly what it is. Kelemene: Hungry? Cleric: It's bad fortune to eat the fire-fruit. Kelemene: According to whom? Our ancestors? Don't tell me you believe that old superstition? Perhaps we shouldn't completely ignore the old beliefs, no matter how strange they may seem today. Ground Shaker. Ground shaker. Isn't it possible the name was not given arbitrarily? That this star is indeed responsible for knocking down our walls and making us stumble as we walk? Cleric: Oh yes, I heard about that. My condolences. Kelemene: You heard what? Cleric: Well, that you stumbled in front of several important people during the last ground shake. Uh, very embarrassing, I'm sure. Kelemene: I did nothing of the sort. Cleric: Well, my hearing is not as good as it used to be, nor my memory either. Now, what were we talking about? Kelemene: We were talking about ancient superstitions. Now, I don't believe for a moment that the stars are gods, but then, what are they? Cleric: A great mystery to which there is no answer. Kelemene: I believe the sky is full of people just like ourselves. Cleric: What? Oh, nonsense. Kelemene: Prove me wrong. I say each star encompasses a city and the Ground Shaker rules one of these cities. A fellow Protector. If I'm correct, then he'll listen to me, one Protector to another. Your pen. Kelemene: I, Kelemane. Cleric: Kelemane. Kelemene: Son of Kelemane, ruler of the good people of the land below you, demand that you stop what you're Cleric: Demand? Kelemene: Would hope? Cleric: Ah, better. Much better. Kelemene: Would hope that you might consider putting an end to whatever it is you're doing that shakes our ground. If this causes you inconvenience I'm willing to offer a recompense. Cleric: A recompense. Kelemene: I await your reply. Torres: The next series of scans is coming through. I'm downloading them into the display buffer. Chakotay: No doubt about it. There's a city down there. Torres: Elevated levels of carbon monoxide, ammonium. That's progress, all right. Chakotay: They've developed internal combustion technology since the last few scans. Look at those radial lines. It looks like a system of roads. Torres: Well, one thing hasn't changed. The geological disturbances that Voyager seems to be causing. The probe recorded half a dozen each month. Still no way to tell how severe they are. Chakotay: Look at the amount of iron being used in that city. That's ten times what you'd expect to see in a culture at this stage of development. Torres: Do you think they're using it to support their buildings? Chakotay: If you lived on a planet that wouldn't stop shaking, you might be doing the same thing. If they've reached this stage of industrial development, they must be observing us. Torres: The probe's impulse thrusters are starting to fail. At its present altitude, it's been operating for over two hundred years. Its orbit is becoming decayed. Chakotay: Initiate self-destruct. Torres: It disintegrated in the upper thermosphere. If they saw anything, it just looked like a shooting star. Astronomer: Any response to our transmission? Technician: Nothing. Astronomer: No visual change either. Technician: Surprised? Astronomer: Send it again. Technician: The entire sequence? How about just the prime numbers? Astronomer: You're tired. Technician: So are you. Astronomer: The prime numbers and the elemental constants, then we'll stop. Technician: An acceptable compromise. It's not as if they're going anywhere, if they even exist in the first place. Astronomer: Do you doubt that? Technician: I doubt everything. Astronomer: So you weren't one of those children that had the entire series of Sky Ship Friends? Technician: Actually, I had them all, even the duplicates. You couldn't walk into my home without tripping over a Friend or two. Astronomer: Not in our home. My grandfather wouldn't allow it. He told us that the Sky Ship was a palace where an Evil Protector lived. He said that bad children were sent there to be punished. At this point, I'd be happy to see anything, evil or not. Can you boost the signal? Technician: We're already at maximum. Maybe if we switched to a different carrier wave to Technician: If there is somebody up there, they don't like us very much. Astronomer: Any beings capable of building that Sky Ship could have destroyed our world long ago. They're not causing the tremors on purpose. Technician: What if they're all dead? Astronomer: If you truly believe that, why did you join this project? Technician: I doubt everything, remember? Even my own doubts. I hope someone is up there. Astronomer: So do I. Technician: If they won't respond to mathematics, perhaps we should try a more personal approach. Here, say hello. Astronomer: How could they possibly speak our language? Technician: There's only one way to find out. Astronomer: What, what should I say? Technician: Oh, glad to meet you. Where are you from? Please stop shaking our planet. Seven: An ultra high frequency signal is being transmitted from the surface. The modulation is unfamiliar. Its Doppler component is Chakotay: Any signal from the surface will be accelerated. When it reached our time frame, the frequency would be thousands of times higher than normal. Seven: I will attempt to slow it down. Chakotay: Again. Amplitude modulation. It's a radio transmission. Seven: It's a numerical sequence. Chakotay: Prime numbers. They're sending a list of prime numbers. Seven: Followed by a sequence of mathematical constants, and what appears to be a vocal modulation. Chakotay: Slow it down again. A little more. Astronomer: Good friends in the Sky Ship. I call you that, hoping, at least, you're not enemies. Astronomer: There's nothing on our world that resembles your technology, so we assume you came here from a nearby planet or a distant star. Our ancient mythology describes your arrival centuries ago, coinciding with the tremors that continually shake our planet and destroy so many of our accomplishments. I hope that was never your intention, but the result is the same. Respond if you can. Or if you wish, come down from your Sky Ship and visit us. Paris: Well, we've got to let them know we're not doing it on purpose. Tuvok: Inadvisable. The Prime Directive still applies. This transmission was made with primitive radio technology. They are not a warp capable civilization. Paris: To hell with the Prime Directive. That man deserves an answer. Torres: Don't forget the temporal differential. That man has been dead for a long time. Emh: Nearly a century by now. Paris: Okay, so we send a message to his great grandchildren. I'll gladly do the honors. Chakotay: Ancient mythology. That means we've already insinuated ourselves into their culture. Why not take the next step? Janeway: First contact with a pre-warp society. Paris: We've already made first contact. They know we're up here. Janeway: They've known for hundreds of years, which means our presence has been tempered by time. We've gradually become part of their mythos. Meeting us could throw that belief system into chaos. Paris: But we're destroying their planet. You heard him. Chakotay: A first contact, face to face, might give us information we could use to leave orbit. That would stop the damage. It's worth the risk. Janeway: We don't even know if an away team could survive the transition to their time frame. Doctor, correct me if I'm wrong, but the physiological stress could be fatal. Emh: For one of you, perhaps, but not for me. My holomatrix would be unaffected. Janeway: You'd be going only as an observer. You're not to make contact. Kim: I localized the source of the transmission to a subcontinent in the southern hemisphere. Chakotay: The Central Protectorate? Kim: How do you know that? Chakotay: I've been looking at the data from Astrometrics. Seven's picked up a few of their local transmissions. I can tell you the names of all twenty six states on the planet. Kim: And all the best places to eat? Chakotay: Just about. Kim: So is this Central Protectorate a good place to send the Doctor? Chakotay: Probably. Judging from the transmissions, they seem to have a tolerant society. Kim: Hmm. Well, just to be on the safe side, I'll find him an isolated spot. Torres: I'm giving you access to your facial and epidermal parameters. You should be able to mimic the appearance of whoever is down there in a matter of seconds. Emh: What if they're big, purple blobs of protoplasm? Janeway: Then you'll be the best looking blob on the planet. I'm keeping you down there for three seconds, Doctor. That will be almost two days in their time frame. Gather whatever data you can. Seismic charts, meteorological records, anything that might give us a clue about how to break orbit. Emh: Understood. Torres: This will speed up the scanning rate of your program, allow you to make the transition. Emh: See you soon. Janeway: Energizing. Torres: One, two, three. Janeway: The confinement beam is destabilizing. Torres: It's the temporal field. We'll have to recalibrate. Janeway: Every second he's down there he's in danger of being discovered. Torres: Locking on again. Janeway: We've lost him. Kim: I'm scanning within a one hundred kilometer radius of where we sent him. Nothing. Chakotay: He could've moved across the continent by now, or to the other side of the planet. Kim: Increasing radius to one thousand kilometers. Chakotay: Chakotay to Seven of Nine. Seven: Go ahead, Commander. Chakotay: Have you picked up any information regarding opera houses or concert halls? Seven: The cultural center of the state runs along the shore of the eastern lake. Kim: Got him. B'Elanna, stand by for the coordinates. Torres: Acknowledged. Torres: I've reinitialized the confinement beam. It's holding. Janeway: Locking on. Emh: Captain! Lieutenant! I thought I'd never see you again. Janeway: Are you all right? Emh: Oh, I've had a few close calls over the years, but all in all Torres: Years? Emh: It's been over three, but at least I knew you hadn't left me behind. All I had to do was look up and there you were, the brightest star in the sky. Janeway: Well, what do they know about us? Emh: Only that we arrived here centuries ago. They blame us for the seismic tremors but everything else is pure speculation. And let me tell you, they like nothing better than to speculate about Voyager. Doric would go on and on. Sky Ship this, Sky Ship that. Torres: Doric? Emh: The owner of the building I lived in until the war started. Janeway: There was a war? Emh: Oh, the neighboring state decided to lob a few cannon shells at us. Our Tactical Air Command responded and a new treaty was signed in a matter of weeks, but not before my apartment was in ruins. Janeway: Oh, so they have aviation technology? Emh: They're hardly savages, Captain. In fact, they're making great strides technologically, thanks in part to Voyager. Torres: What do you mean? Emh: From the moment our ship arrived in the sky, they've been trying to make contact. Our presence has encouraged invention, religion, science, art even children's toys. They're all variations on a single theme, Voyager. Mareeza even composed an aria based on the Sky Ship. I sang the lyric. Janeway: Mareeza? Emh: She was my roommate. Three years is a long time, Captain. One needs companionship. Janeway: You'll get no argument from me. But did you learn anything that might help us break orbit? Emh: It's all in here. Emh: Meteorological records for the last three hundred years. I've committed them all to memory. Some are inaccurate almanacs, but the more recent ones include detailed seismic analyzes. Janeway: Get that information to Astrometrics. See if you can find any pattern to the quakes. Might help us figure a way out of here. Torres: See you in Sickbay. I'll download the data from your program and we'll do a little cosmetic surgery, too. Emh: Lieutenant? Torres: Unless you prefer looking like that. Emh: Of course, I completely forgot. If some of the people on the planet had their way, those weapons would be pointed at Voyager. Luckily the ship is still out of range, for now. Janeway: I guess I can't blame them. Emh: There's something of a space race going on between the various states. Who can get to the starship first with a rocket? Janeway: Are we talking about a capsule with an astronaut or a missile with a warhead? Emh: I can't answer that, but at their present rate of development, we won't have to wait very long to find out. Naomi: How does this sound? The Weird Planet Where Time Moved Very Fast And So Did The People Who Lived There, by Naomi Wildman. That's what I'm calling my report for astronomy class. Neelix said I should choose a planet to write about, so I picked this one. Seven: Your title is verbose. I suggest you try to condense it. Naomi: The Weird Planet. Seven: Better, but it lacks precision. The Weird Planet Displaced in Time. Naomi: Perfect. Seven: Seven of Nine to the bridge. I'm transmitting my calculations directly to the helm. Janeway: Acknowledged. Naomi: What's happening? Seven: The Doctor brought back data regarding the planet's graviton field. We're using it to realign our thrusters. Naomi: That'll be great for my report. Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Secure your stations and prepare to break orbit. Seven: Brace yourself. Our altitude is increasing. Fifty meters. Sixty. Seven of Nine to the bridge. Our attempt to leave orbit is increasing the seismic activity. We must abort. Janeway: Agreed. Naomi: Is the planet okay? Seven: Minimal damage along the equatorial coastline. Nothing serious. Naomi: Seven, do you think we'll ever be able to leave? Seven: Eventually. Naomi: I hope so. I need a way to end my report. Retz: Orbital One to launch control. We're ready to ignite second stage propellants. Launch Control: Proceed. GOTANA- Retz: Second-stage propellants depleted. Trina: Final stage. Ready. GOTANA- Retz: Ready to ignite final stage propellants. Launch Control, we are awaiting your commands to proceed. What was that? Trina: There's nothing wrong with the transponder. GOTANA- Retz: Orbital One to launch control. We are not receiving your orders. Trina: Everything else is working perfectly. Ignite the final stage. We have to proceed with the mission. GOTANA- Retz: Final stage propellants depleted. Trina: Initiate deceleration thrusters. GOTANA- Retz: Thrusters active. Trina: Watch your pitch angle. GOTANA- Retz: Correcting. Trina: Distance check. GOTANA- Retz: We're in rendezvous range. Trina: Rendezvous sequence locked in. GOTANA- Retz: Moving into final position. Trina: Distance check. GOTANA- Retz: We're within scanning range. Trina: Let's take a look. GOTANA- Retz: The scanners won't penetrate their hull. Trina: I guess we'll have to go inside. GOTANA- Retz: We're not authorized to do that. Trina: Our orders were to learn as much as possible about the Sky Ship. That's my intention. I saw something that looks like a transfer port. It might be a place we can dock. Move in closer. Trina: Wait, wait. GOTANA- Retz: Are you all right? Trina: A little disoriented. Let's keep going. Retz: I don't understand. Trina: Her skin feels warm. Trina: It might be some sort of metabolic stasis. But then why does it look like they're just going about their business? GOTANA- Retz: This isn't right. We shouldn't be here. We were never meant to be here. Trina: Try and stay calm. GOTANA- Retz: We've seen enough. Please, we have to leave. Trina: You're the best pilot we have. That's why you're on this mission. This is no different than flying your favorite GOTANA- Retz: Oh, it's different. Trina: I can't argue with that. Another few minutes, then we'll go back. This looks like their command center. Retz: This is not metabolic stasis. Trina: Could the laws of physics be different here? GOTANA- Retz: Maybe they're just a little slower. GOTATA- Retz: What's wrong? Tuvok: Intruder Alert. Security team to deck one. Kim: Captain, I'm picking up a ship at docking port one. It just appeared there. Janeway: Bridge to Sickbay. Medical emergency. Janeway: What can you tell me. Emh: The transition to our time frame was a little rough for them. I'm afraid his colleague didn't make it. Janeway: How is he? Emh: Recovering. Lucky for him I'm as good as his family doctor. After three years of poring over their medical journals, I know as much about their physiology as I do yours. Easy. GOTANA- Retz: Where's Trina? Janeway: She didn't survive the transition. I'm very sorry. GOTANA- Retz: Transition? To your time frame? Janeway: You understand what's happened to you? GOTANA- Retz: I'm beginning to. Janeway: Voyager exists in the same space-time as the rest of the galaxy. Your planet is different. GOTANA- Retz: So you really haven't been watching us for centuries. Janeway: Actually, we just got here, And we're hoping you can help us find a way to leave. Retz: So if what you're saying is true, everyone I know, everyone I knew, is gone. Janeway: That's correct. GOTANA- Retz: Captain, I'm an accomplished pilot. That's why they chose me for this mission. I don't have the courage of the others. They made a mistake choosing me. Janeway: I have to disagree. For someone whose life has just been turned upside down, I think you're doing fine. GOTANA- Retz: When I was a young child, the toys hanging above my crib depicted the Sky Ship. It's the first thing I ever remember seeing, even before my mother's face. And now I'm the only one that knows its name. Voyager. I suppose it'll be the last thing I see as well. Janeway: that's up to you. I have no intention of keeping you here against your will. The Doctor spent some time on your planet collecting data that we hoped would help us find a way to leave orbit. We need you to assist us in interpreting that information. However, the longer you stay on board, the more difficult it will be for you to go home. Your culture is changing every second you're here. By the time you go back, you might find it more alien than ours. GOTANA- Retz: Star of the night, Star of the day, Come to take my tears away. Make my life always bright. It's a child's prayer. Janeway: To Voyager? GOTANA- Retz: Yes. Janeway: I hope you're not disappointed. GOTANA- Retz: How often does your very first dream come true? Of course I'll help you. Emh: The information I brought back is in Voyager's database. Seven of Nine has been trying to make sense of it. She'll welcome your assistance. GOTANA- Retz: Mountain or Lakeside? Emh: Mountain, of course. Don't tell me you're a Lakeside supporter. GOTANA- Retz: You really were on the surface. Emh: How are they doing this season? GOTANA- Retz: Not good. Five wins, twelve losses. Emh: I don't believe it! Who's guarding for them? GOTANA- Retz: Torelius. Emh: Any relation to the Torelius? GOTANA- Retz: His grandson. Emh: I saw the original defend for Mountain in the playoffs against Red River. GOTANA- Retz: That was before I was born. Emh: He would have gone into voluntary exile after a 5-12 season. Retz: This information is out of date. We were far more advanced than this when I left. I can help you correct it. Seven: Very well. GOTANA- Retz: Let's start with the geological data. The seismic detectors back then were off by a variance of three point eight. Seven: A simple conversion will compensate for that. GOTANA- Retz: Does every planet look like ours? Seven: None that I've seen. Your world appears to be unique. GOTANA- Retz: If we're so out of step with everything else, we'll never be able to explore space the way you have. Seven: You're a highly adaptable species. Your scientists will find a way to compensate for the temporal differential. GOTANA- Retz: They'd better do it before you leave. Without the Sky Ship up above them, my people might lose interest in progress. There wouldn't be anything left to reach for. Seven: Perhaps they'll miss Voyager so much, they'll do everything they can to follow us. GOTANA- Retz: Maybe so. What was that? Seven: An antimatter implosion. Your world is experimenting with warp technology. The sensors detected an early test. Another test, six weeks later, and a third. More controlled each time. They're learning quickly. Too quickly. Paris: What was that? Tuvok: Unknown, but our shields are down to eighty two percent. Sixty four percent. Kim: I don't know what's causing it. There's nothing on sensors. Janeway: Janeway to Seven of Nine. Seven: Go ahead, Captain. Janeway: Are you picking up Janeway: Anything in Astrometrics? Seven: The inhabitants appear to have developed antimatter torpedo technology. Seven: I believe we're under attack. Tuvok: Another direct hit. Shields at forty nine percent. GOTANA- Retz: Captain, I apologize for this attack. They have no right. Janeway: Unfortunately, they've got every right. GOTANA- Retz: Let me talk to them. Chakotay: We've already tried to hail them. It doesn't look like they're able to receive our transmissions. GOTANA- Retz: They still don't know about the time differential. Tuvok: A logical assumption. Shields down to thirty four percent. Kim: The torpedoes are being fired at three day intervals. They're making refinements each time, increasing the detonation yield. Paris: Captain, isn't it time we returned fire? Chakotay: We've done enough damage to these people over the last thousand years. Janeway: You've got to go back. It's the only way. Make them understand who we are. You have the specifications of this ship. Your scientists might be able to use them to help free us. At the very least, get them to hold their fire. Kim: Captain, the transporters are offline. Janeway: Is his vessel still intact? Kim: The docking port hasn't been hit yet. Janeway: Good luck. Emh: This will accelerate your metabolic functions, help you make the transition. GOTANA- Retz: Thank you for everything, Doctor. Emh: It was a pleasure to treat a fellow citizen. Would you do me a favor? GOTANA- Retz: Certainly. Emh: Find out what happened to a boy named Jason Tabreez. He lived in the Central Protectorate. GOTANA- Retz: Jason? An unusual name. Emh: Yes. He was my son. GOTANA- Retz: But you're a hologram. Emh: It's a long story. He's dead by now, but perhaps you could discover what happened to him. Maybe he had children or grandchildren. You could tell them about me. GOTANA- Retz: I will. Retz: Orbital One to Launch Control, please respond. Launch Control, please respond. Weather Coordinator: Who is this? GOTANA- Retz: Pilot First Rank, Gotana-Retz. Weather Coordinator: Clear the channel or I'm going to report you to the command center. GOTANA- Retz: Is this Launch Control? Weather Coordinator: I'm the weather coordinator for Station zero zero four. You're in violation of transmission regulations. GOTANA- Retz: Please, listen to me. I'm trying to reach Launch Control. Weather Coordinator: Let me guess. You finally decided to come home. You're Gotana-Retz? GOTANA- Retz: Gotana-Retz, yes. Now, please transfer me to Launch Control. Weather Coordinator: Launch Control became the Tactical Command Center fifty years ago. You're dead. GOTANA- Retz: I've been inside the Sky Ship. Weather Coordinator: Then it's a good thing you decided to leave. They're about to shoot it down. GOTANA- Retz: I've got to speak with them. Weather Coordinator: Tactical Command frequencies are classified. Now get off this channel. GOTANA- Retz: If you ever wanted to report more than the weather, now is your chance. Tell them to clear Central Lake of all traffic. Orbital One is coming in for a landing. Tuvok: Shields at twenty three percent. Seventeen percent. Shields are down. Paris: What was that last one? Kim: A tricobalt device. Paris: What will they think of next? Tuvok: Damage reports coming in. Imminent hull breeches on decks eight, nine and ten. Life support is failing. Janeway: Our astronaut should have made it by now. Kim: Based on his descent velocity, he landed about ten minutes ago. Chakotay: That's a year and a half. Janeway: Then he must have failed. Tuvok: I'm picking up another launch. Two massive energy signatures. Chakotay: Tricobalt devices? Tuvok: Unknown. Janeway: Brace yourselves. Tuvok: We're in some kind of tractor beam. Paris: Captain, if I alternate thrusters I might be able to break us free. Janeway: No. Let's give our friends the benefit of the doubt. Kim: They're pulling us away from the planet. Tuvok: We've broken orbit. Janeway: Try hailing them. GOTANA- Retz: It's good to see you all again. Chakotay: Looks like somebody down there listened to you. GOTANA- Retz: I'm sorry it took so long. Janeway: Now we can make first contact the proper way. GOTANA- Retz: Unfortunately that won't be possible. A temporal compensator. It allows me to exist in your time frame without actually leaving my own, but only for a few minutes. I'm afraid it'll be a while before my people actually join the rest of the galaxy. Tuvok: Captain, we'll be able to bring the warp drive back online in approximately two hours. Janeway: Very good. Thank you. GOTANA- Retz: I feel like I'm saying goodbye to an old friend.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 53556.4. We've towed a damaged vessel aboard and are attempting to repair it while the Doctor treats the Qomarian crew, who have suffered minor injuries. Abarca: Stay away. Emh: If you don't cooperate, I can't treat you. Abarca: When we agreed to be examined by this ship's medical officer, we didn't know that you were a primitive computer matrix. Emh: I assure you there is nothing primitive about me. I am programmed to perform more than five million medical procedures. Abarca: Does that include bloodletting? Emh: No, but I'll be happy to add it to my repertoire. Tincoo: We are ready to return to our ship. Could you contact one of your superiors? Emh: Doctor to the Captain. Please report to Sickbay. Janeway: Already on my way. Emh: The Captain is coming here now. If you want to talk to her, you can have a seat. Tincoo: It is a very irritating program. Abarca: Maybe we can disable its speech subroutines. Emh: You're not authorized to do that! Janeway: How are our guests? Emh: Their injuries are minor. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for their lack of manners. Janeway: Doctor. Abarca: What is the status of our ship? Janeway: To be honest, we're having a little trouble understanding your technology. Abarca: The problem is your technology. Interference from your antiquated scanning devices shut down our propulsion system. Tincoo: Forgive us, Captain. We live in a closed system. We are not accustomed to interacting with other species, especially inferior ones. Janeway: Well then, I guess we'll leave the repairs in your superior hands. Abarca: Our injuries will have to be treated first. Is there someone other than this hologram who could help us? Janeway: No one who's better qualified. Tincoo: Very well. Janeway: Try to bear with our deficiencies just a little longer. Emh: This way, please. I've been working on the railroad, all the live long day. I've been working on the railroad, just to pass the time away. Abarca: What is that? Emh: This? A hypospray. Abarca: No. What you were doing. Emh: Preparing your medication. Tincoo: No. With your voice. Emh: You mean singing? Tincoo: Singing. Abarca: Do it again. Tincoo: Yes, do it again. Emh: Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah, someone's in the kitchen I know. Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah, strummin' on the old banjo and singing Fee fi fiddly i o, Fee fi fiddly i o, Fee fi fiddly i o. Strummin' on the old banjo. Tincoo: It is a unique mathematical variation. Abarca: Difficult to quantify. Tincoo: How do you suppose the algorithms are generated? Abarca: Maybe it's a fractal. Tincoo: Or waveform calculus? Emh: Do you mean to say a culture as superior as yours has never heard music of any kind? Tincoo: There are other kinds of music? Emh: Of course. The little ditty I just sang is an early American folk song. But countless cultures have produced thousands of types of music. Instrumental, choral, orchestral. Abarca: What is the purpose of this music? Is it an encryption code of some kind? Emh: There is a mathematical component to music, but primarily it's a form of artistic expression. Tincoo: Artistic expression? Emh: Using sounds and images to convey ideas and emotions. Abarca: Why would anyone do that? Emh: Well, to communicate their feelings. Abarca: Can't they do that through speech? Emh: Yes, but music is much more expressive and entertaining. Tincoo: You mean to say that this music is recreational? Emh: It does have other applications. As a matter of fact, I've recently been doing some research into its therapeutic properties. But, yes, primarily we use it for enjoyment. Abarca: We? You mean to say others aboard your ship are capable of producing this phenomenon? Emh: Well, maybe not with my level of expertise, but there are quite a few members of this crew who possess musical skills. Tincoo: Maybe we judged this culture too quickly. Emh: Our database contains the works of thousands of musicians and composers. If you'd like, I could download some selections for you. Tincoo: Could you sing them for us? Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. The Qomar have completed repairs to their ship and, surprisingly, have invited us to visit their system. Apparently, it's no longer closed to outsiders. Janeway: Harry, can you make sense of any of this? Kim: We're picking up thousands of subspace transmissions, all encrypted differently. Paris: Between the satellites and the spacecraft, it's like navigating an obstacle course. Chakotay: With all this traffic, the Qomar might not even know we're here. Tuvok: Apparently, they do. We are being hailed. Tincoo: Captain, you now have the privilege of meeting Prelate Koru. Koru: Welcome to the Qomar Planetary Alliance. Janeway: Thank you, Prelate. We're looking forward to learning more about your culture. Koru: Our civilization is no doubt intimidating. We'll do what we can to avoid overwhelming you during your stay. Janeway: I appreciate that. I understand we're not as advanced as you, but we're fast learners, and we'd like to Koru: We want to learn more about the algorithmic expressions you call music. Janeway: We're prepared to give you complete access to our musical database, as well Koru: Your Emergency Medical Hologram. We'd consider an exchange of technology, if you give us complete access to this device. Janeway: I believe he's made some recordings. Koru: No, not recordings. Janeway: How about a recital? Koru: Recital? Janeway: A live performance. We can put together a program of various styles of music. Koru: Will the Emergency Medical Hologram sing? Janeway: He'll be the star attraction. Emh: Dio, che nell'alma infondere amor volesti e speme, desio nel core accendere Tu dei di liberta. Emh: Thank you. You're very kind. That was a selection from the opera Don Carlos, composed by Giuseppe Verdi a towering figure in Earth's musical history. Another human musical form is called jazz, which has flourished since the early twentieth century. Mathematically, you'll find the rhythmic structures quite interesting, particularly the use of syncopation, which is said to make the music swing. You may also notice some fascinating trigonometric functions in the counterpoint, but I suppose I'm going off on a tangent, aren't I? Emh: So, without further ado, I give you Harry Kim and the Kimtones! Abarca: We wish to hear the Doctor. Tincoo: Yes, the Doctor. Paris: Doc, they're dying up there. You've got to do something. Emh: Pick up the tempo. That old black magic has me in its spell. That old black magic that you weave so well. Those icy fingers up and down my spine. The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine. The same old tingle that I feel inside. And then that elevator starts its ride, And down and down I go. Round and round I go, Like a leaf that's caught in the tide. Paris: Well, if you like jazz, you're going to love rock 'n' roll. It was one of the twentieth century's greatest inventions. Abarca: Does the Doctor sing rock 'n' roll? Chakotay: I wouldn't say it's his favorite genre. Paris: No, he's more of an opera man. Abarca: As am I. Vinka: Aren't you one of the musicians? Kim: Harry Kim. Vinka: Vinka. Kim: Welcome aboard Voyager. Er, if you'd like to see the rest of the ship, I'd be happy to give you a tour. Vinka: Maybe later. I was wondering if you could introduce me to the Doctor. Janeway: Congratulations, Doctor, you stole the show. Emh: Thank you, Captain, but I can't take all the credit. There was something in the air. A certain magic. It was one of those rare moments when audience and performer become one. Koru: Doctor. Emh: Prelate. Tincoo. Koru: I will introduce your singing to more of our people. Emh: I'm flattered. Koru: You will perform on our planet. Emh: I'd consider it an honor, but you'll have to negotiate the terms with my representative. Koru: I don't understand. Janeway: I believe the Doctor is referring to me, Prelate. Another concert would mean extending our stay. When would you want to schedule the performance? Koru: As soon as possible. Tincoo: The Doctor could perform in one of the lecture halls at the university. Emh: I'm not sure a lecture hall would meet the acoustic requirements. Tincoo: I'll help you make whatever modifications you think are necessary. Janeway: Sounds like you've got yourself a booking, Doctor. Emh: I'd like to reproduce a backdrop which was used in a production of Pagliacci at Teatro de la Scala, Earth's most famous opera house. Tincoo: It's beautiful. Emh: Your taste in design is as refined as your taste in music. Tincoo: We'll replicate it for you. Emh: Excellent, but we still have the problem with the sight lines. Torres: What's wrong with the sight lines? Emh: If you consider the height of the average Qomar, it's obvious that anyone seated in the back five rows will have an obstructed view. Torres: You're right. They won't be able to see anything but the top of your head. The glare could blind them. Emh: You'll have to excuse Lieutenant Torres. Her appreciation of music is limited to a smattering of Klingon drinking songs. We'll have to increase the rake of the floor by five degrees. Torres: You really think they're going to redesign an entire building just to appeal to your vanity? Emh: Vanity has nothing to do with it, Lieutenant. I'm concerned about my audience. Tincoo: We are prepared to make whatever changes the Doctor thinks are necessary. Emh: Thank you, Tincoo. While we're at it, Lieutenant, I'll need some help with my wardrobe. Torres: I'm an Engineer, not a costume designer. Emh: I'd like you to make an adjustment to my mobile emitter that will allow me to make quick changes between songs. Tincoo: That sounds exciting. Emh: Oh, it will be. I plan to segue from Don Juan to Rigoletto in the blink of an eye. It will be a triumph of Torres: Arrogance and self-absorption? Just trying to help. Tincoo: Your crewmates don't seem to appreciate your abilities. Emh: You've noticed that too? Tincoo: That must be very frustrating for you. Emh: You have no idea. Tincoo: We'll be starting in two minutes. Emh: I'd better get into costume. Emh: How do I look? Tincoo: You look perfect. Emh: I wish I had a subroutine to eliminate pre-show jitters. Tincoo: I could help you add one to your program. Emh: You're very sweet. I'm just a little nervous. Tincoo: Why? Emh: I'm about to expose your entire culture to music for the first time. The responsibility is enormous. Tincoo: Your performance tonight will be transmitted to hundreds of millions of people. Emh: Is that supposed to help me relax? Tincoo: It's time. Janeway: Report. Kim: I didn't order Red alert, Captain. Janeway: Well, someone did. Kim: The command originated in Astrometrics. Seven: Seven of Nine to the Captain. I've found evidence that the Qomar are attempting to sabotage Voyager. Janeway: On my way. Janeway: What have you got? Seven: I believe the Qomar are attempting to disable our comm. system. Janeway: How? Seven: By overloading it with millions of teraquads of irrelevant data. Janeway: What do you mean by irrelevant? Janeway: They're transmissions, all addressed to the Doctor. Seven: Precisely. I've only been able to decipher a small fraction of them so far, but they include invitations to social and scientific functions, requests for personal encounters, and cloying tributes to the Doctor's talents. Janeway: Computer, stand down Red alert. This isn't sabotage, Seven. This is fan mail. Seven: Fan mail? Janeway: People who admire performers are called fans. Seven: The word, I believe, derives from fanatic. Janeway: Exactly. Seven: Why would the Doctor inspire fanaticism among the Qomar? Janeway: Music is new to them. Clearly, they're very excited about it. Seven: This glorification of the individual is irrational. The Doctor is merely reproducing the work of others. Why do his fans fixate solely on him? Janeway: I suppose he's the embodiment of what they admire. He can do something they can't. That makes him special. Seven: Perhaps, but that doesn't explain their interest in the minutiae of the Doctor's life. What does he do in his spare time? To how many decimal places can he calculate pi? This one wants to know his favorite quadratic equation. Janeway: People have always fantasized about knowing celebrities personally. I suppose it's a way of making themselves feel more important. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: We have a security problem on deck two. Janeway: On my way. Just think, Seven. As personal friends of the Doctor, we're the envy of millions of Qomar. Tuvok: Our efforts to accommodate them have gotten out of hand. Janeway: I guess their interest in the Doctor is greater than we expected. Tuvok: Much greater. I recommend we refuse all further requests for transport from the surface. Janeway: Agreed. Tuvok: And we should evacuate these visitors immediately. They're interfering with normal ship's functions. Janeway: Tuvok, when have functions aboard this ship ever been normal? Emh: Dio, che nell'alma infondere amor volesti e spemeEMH + HOLO- Emh: Desio nel core accendere tu dei di liberta. Emh: Thank you for coming. Please accept this eight by ten by four singing replica of me. Neelix: One at a time, one at a time. Now, please, do not touch the Doctor's mobile emitter. Captain, isn't this exciting? Janeway: I'm not sure that's the word I'd use for it. Excuse me. Sorry, excuse me. Emh: I'm sorry, Captain, but you'll have to wait your turn like everybody else. Janeway: I'm not here for an autograph. We need to talk. Janeway: I'm glad you're enjoying yourself Doctor, but this is getting a little excessive. Emh: I'm only doing what I can to ensure that first contact with the Qomar goes smoothly. Janeway: Does that include using our replicator reserves to create miniaturized versions of yourself? Emh: I would never do such a thing. As a matter of fact, the Qomar have devoted an entire holo-processing plant to manufacturing them for me. Janeway: I see. Well in any case, you've been neglecting your Sickbay duties. I haven't received a report in three days. Emh: Oh, come now, Kathryn. It's not as though there's been a flood of medical emergencies. Janeway: I wasn't aware we were on a first name basis. Emh: I, I meant Captain. I'm sorry. Janeway: Oh, that's perfectly all right, Doctor, or do you prefer Maestro? Emh: Oh, please. Either is acceptable. Janeway: Well, then, let me make it clear to both of you. Maestro, you're finished for today. Doctor, report to Sickbay. Now. Paris: Well, well, well. If it isn't the wandering minstrel. Emh: What's the nature of their medical emergencies? Paris: Apparently, these two young ladies became dizzy and disoriented while waiting in line to see you. Emh: I'll take over from here. Paris: Be careful, Doc. You seem to be hazardous to the Qomars' health. Vinka: I'm Vinka. Azen: I'm Azen. Emh: Hmm. Neither of you appears to be ill. Vinka: We wanted to meet you in a more intimate setting. Azen: So we told your security officer we were sick. Emh: Sickbay is for medical treatment only. I'm afraid you'll have to leave. Vinka: But there's so much about you we want to know. Azen: Yes, you're a very stimulating hologram. Emh: If you're here for a replica, they're available in the mess hall. Azen: We don't want a replica. Vinka: We want the full sized version. Emh: I'm flattered, really, but if you don't leave now I'll have to call Security. Vinka: I'll bet you can calculate pi to over a thousand digits. Emh: Security to Sickbay. Azen: Have you ever balanced simultaneous equations? Emh: Computer, deactivate Emergency Medical Hologram. Tincoo: Here you are. Emh: I needed to find some peace and quiet. Tincoo: I want to show you something. Emh: What's this? Tincoo: You inspired me to create my own musical composition. It's based on the intersection of two fractals. Emh: Tincoo, this is extraordinary. Tincoo: I created it for you. Emh: I don't know what to say. Tincoo: Will you sing it? Emh: I'm not sure I can. It's very complex. The melody's lovely, but some of these notes are well beyond the human vocal range. Tincoo: You are not human. Emh: No, but Tincoo: I can help you reconfigure your vocal processors. Emh: I don't think there's time. My last concert's tomorrow. Tincoo: Why does it have to be your last concert? Emh: Because Voyager is scheduled to depart. Tincoo: Stay here with us. Emh: I have responsibilities on Voyager. Tincoo: They're a resourceful crew. I'm certain they will find a way to compensate for your absence. Emh: I'm not so sure about that. But even if they could, Voyager's the only life I've ever known. The crew are my friends. Tincoo: But they don't appreciate you the way we do. You know that. You could have a new life here as a performer, surrounded by people who admire and respect your talent. Emh: It's very tempting, but Tincoo: By any mathematical standard, the medical care of a hundred and fifty people cannot compare to the cultural enrichment of millions. Emh: You can't always explain things with an equation, Tincoo. Tincoo: What about the simplest equation of them all? One plus one. Emh: I don't understand. Tincoo: The time you have been here has been the most stimulating of my life. Emh: I feel the same way about my time with you. Tincoo: Then stay here with me. Janeway: You're resigning your commission? Emh: I've been asked to stay. Janeway: When this all started, I thought you might have a little harmless fun, and that you'd be responsible enough to keep it in perspective. I can see now that I was mistaken. Emh: This isn't harmless fun for me, Captain. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to realize a dream. Janeway: What about your duty to Voyager? Emh: I take that very seriously, but Janeway: You're a part of this ship. Emh: You sound as if you're talking about a piece of equipment. Janeway: That's not what I meant. Emh: Then shouldn't I be given the same respect as any flesh and blood member of this crew? Janeway: Every member of this crew is expected to fulfill his obligations. Emh: If Harry Kim met an alien woman on an away mission, fell in love, and decided to spend the rest of his life with her, raise a family instead of continuing on this journey, you wouldn't stand in his way. Janeway: You're not Harry Kim. You're an Emergency Medical Hologram. Emh: Then you do see me as a piece of technology. Janeway: I have given you extraordinary freedom, to explore your creativity, to go on away missions, to pursue personal relationships, but enough is enough. Emh: Why? Because you don't see me as an equal, and you never have. Admit it. Janeway: I am responsible for the medical needs of this crew. If I let you leave, what kind of captain would I be? Emh: Every other Starfleet officer chose to be here, but I never had a choice, until now. I've given this crew everything for five years. Isn't it worth anything? Haven't I earned the right to self-determination? You've lost other systems before and always managed to find a solution. You'll manage without me. Janeway: What about you? Will you manage without us? Emh: The Qomar are a technologically advanced species. I have no doubt that my maintenance requirements will be met. Janeway: Now which one of us is looking at you as a piece of technology? I'm not talking about your maintenance needs. I'm talking about your emotional needs. You've got people on this ship who care about you. Emh: The Qomar certainly seem to care about me. Janeway: And when their tastes change? Emh: What makes you think that's going to happen? Janeway: Fame is often temporary. Emh: This isn't just about fame. Janeway: Oh, really? Emh: If you must know, there's a woman involved. One who appreciates me in a way no one on this crew ever has. Janeway: Well, it sounds like you'll have everything you need. Emh: I believe I will. Janeway: I hope so, Doctor. Because once Voyager's gone, you won't be able to change your mind. Emh: That's a risk I'm willing to take. Janeway: As your Captain, I should refuse this resignation. But as your friend, it wouldn't be right to stand in your way. Emh: And you can't let the Captain ignore her health. She's notorious for finding any excuse to miss her appointments. Paris: I'll send her weekly reminders. Emh: And when Mister Neelix becomes convinced that he's suffering from the Toluncan ague, which he does every flu season, don't argue with him, just give him a placebo. Paris: Doc, I've been assisting you for three years. I know the drill. Emh: Yes, I suppose you do. Remember, I'll be within comm. range for at least another month, so if any problems should arise. Paris: Doc, you're not really going to do this, are you? Emh: I would have thought you of all people would be glad to see me go. Paris: Are you kidding? Who am I going to torment after you're gone? Emh: Well, I've got some more goodbyes. I'll check in with you before I leave. Paris: I'll be here, redecorating your office. Emh: Hello, Seven. I wanted to see you before I left. I've downloaded some social lessons we haven't covered yet. There are seventeen new chapters. Seven: Does one of them include instructions for ending a friendship? Emh: Our friendship's not over, Seven. Seven: It will be difficult to maintain if we never see each other again. Emh: I know it'll be hard for you when I'm gone. Seven: I will adapt. Emh: Yes, I suppose you will. But it'll be hard for me. Seven: Why? You're getting everything you've ever wanted. Emh: I thought you'd be the first one to understand my desire to grow as an individual. Seven: What I don't understand is why you can't do that aboard Voyager. Emh: I feel I've accomplished all I can here. Oh, there's the occasional medical mystery that challenges my programming, but mostly it's become routine. And frankly, I feel my talents are often taken for granted. But when I'm standing on that stage performing, and I see those rapt faces in the audience, I feel I finally know what it's like to be made of flesh and blood. Seven: You simply crave attention, applause, fan mail. Emh: What if I do? Seven: Those things are irrelevant. Emh: To you, maybe. But to me, it makes me feel appreciated, even loved. Not for what I've been programmed to do, but for who I've become. Kim: Doctor, you're receiving a transmission. Emh: Route it to Cargo Bay two. Tincoo: Doctor, this is Tincoo. I want to see you immediately. I have something to show you. Emh: What is it? Tincoo: A surprise. I think you'll be very pleased. Emh: I'll beam down as soon as I can. Seven. Seven: You shouldn't keep your fans waiting. Tincoo: Thank you for being so prompt. Emh: Of course. What's the surprise? Tincoo: I had an inspiration. Emh: Another musical composition? Tincoo: Better. Emh: What's this? Tincoo: I've solved all our problems. Emh: I wasn't aware that we had any. Tincoo: Well, you were reluctant to leave your ship, and you also doubted your ability to sing my composition, so I created a superior holomatrix. Emh: I don't understand. Tincoo: It's simple. Now you can stay aboard Voyager, and he can sing for us. Listen. Emh: You can't make a superior singer simply by creating a new matrix. Qomar Hologram: I beg to differ. My vocal processors are enhanced with polyphonic sequencers. I am not only capable of singing notes well beyond your limited range, I can produce multi-harmonic overtones through the use of amplitude vacilla Tincoo: Why did you do that? Emh: Tincoo, music is more than mathematics. And I am much more than a program with musical subroutines. All of my experience, all of my passion, goes into every note that I sing. When you listen to me, when my singing moves you, you're not just hearing notes. You're hearing my artistry. My soul. Tincoo: I've duplicated that, too. Emh: I thought you wanted me. Tincoo: I did, but now I've developed a far more sophisticated piece of technology. Emh: Technology. Tincoo: I thought you would be pleased. You seemed reluctant to leave your ship. Emh: You told me that the time you had spent with me was the most stimulating of your life. Tincoo: It was. You inspired me to do my greatest work. Emh: But I thought Tincoo: Yes? Emh: That you and I Tincoo: What? Emh: Well, I suppose I'm no longer on the bill tomorrow. Tincoo: Of course you are. It will be your farewell performance. Emh: Of course. Torres: You wanted to see me? Emh: I need your clearance code to delete my medical database. Torres: You sure you want to do that? If you give one of your fans a heart attack you won't be able to resuscitate him. Emh: I need more space in my matrix. Torres: For what? Emh: To expand my musical subroutines so that I can sing this composition. Torres: Well, I'm surprised you're asking me for help. I recall your saying that my appreciation for music was limited to a smattering of Klingon drinking songs. Emh: Please, B'Elanna, I'm asking you as a friend. Everything depends on this. Torres: What's so important about this composition? Emh: Tincoo wrote it for me. Torres: Your girlfriend? Emh: I wouldn't call her that. Torres: Don't tell me you two had a fight. Emh: Let's just say she doesn't appreciate me quite as much as I thought she did. But that will all change. Once I perform this, she will see me for the artist I truly am. Torres: Look, Doc, I don't know anything about this woman or why she doesn't appreciate you, and I may not be an expert on music, but I'm a pretty good engineer. I can expand your musical subroutines all you like. I can even reprogram you to be a whistling teapot. But, if I do that, it won't be you anymore. Emh: Tonight, I was planning to perform a song composed by one of your own people. When you consider she heard music for the first time only a few days ago, it's an extraordinary accomplishment. But although it's a very beautiful composition, I'm afraid it's beyond my abilities. So instead, I'm going to sing an old Neapolitan ballad. It's a song about lost love. Sotto la grónda della torre antica, una róndine amica a lo sbocciar del almondo or lui tornata. Ritorni tutti l'anni sempre alla stessa data, monti e mari sa varca per tornar. Solo amore quando fugenda lontana sper invano, ma non torni piu. Sper invano ma non torna piu. Tincoo: Thank you, Doctor. That was fascinating. It is because of your inspiration that I can now present to you a new and exciting musical program. A singing holographic matrix designed specifically to extend the range of humanoid vocal capabilities, singing my own musical composition. Janeway: Come in. Emh: Good morning, Captain. Janeway: What's this? Emh: A formal request to be reinstated. Janeway: So you've taken off your tails and put them between your legs. Emh: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: You offended a lot of people who care about you. Emh: I know. I was a fool. I'm sorry. And I'm willing to do whatever I can to rectify the situation. Starting with the deletion of all my musical subroutines. Janeway: Permission denied. Emh: But, Captain Janeway: No buts, Doctor. You're expected to follow orders just like every other flesh and blood member of this crew. Resume your normal activities. All of them. Emh: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Dismissed. Emh: Oh, Seven, I didn't see you. I suppose you've come to gloat. Seven: I have something for you. Emh: What is it? Seven: Fan mail. Emh: Delete it. I don't want to read another word. Seven: Then I'll read it for you. Emh: Seven. Seven: Dear Doctor. I regret that your last performance was not as successful as you'd hoped. There are still those who appreciate your unique talents and admire you as an individual. I'll always consider myself your loyal fan. Emh: Who's it from? Seven: It's signed Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix zero one. Emh: I've been working on the railroad, All the livelong day. I've been working on the railroad, Just to pass the time away. Can't you hear the whistle blowing? Rise up so early in the morn.

Kim: Who left their dirty plate in the replicator? Tom? Paris: It wasn't me. Kim: It's a biohazard. Paris: Take it easy. We'll decontaminate you when we get back home. Kim: If I ever volunteer for a two week away mission again, would somebody please confine me to Sickbay? Chakotay: Too much togetherness for you, Harry? Kim: Nothing personal, Commander. Neelix: To tell you the truth, I've enjoyed our little junket together. It's given the four of us a chance to bond. Kim: The bonding stopped when the sonic shower went offline. Neelix: That's all part of the experience, the adventure. Think of the great explorers that came before us. They survived without creature comforts. Kim: I wouldn't want to bunk with them, either. Paris: Now there's a sight for sore eyes. Chakotay: Delta Flyer to Voyager. We're on our approach. Janeway: We've kept a candle burning in the window for you. Paris: Forget the candles, break out the champagne. Janeway: I take it the mission was a success? Paris: Fifteen planets scanned in fourteen days. We've got a cargo hold overflowing with dilithium ore. Janeway: That's the kind of news I like to hear. Emh: The explorers return. Torres: Welcome home. Paris: I should go away more often. Kim: I'm not going away for a long, long time. Torres: Homesick, Harry? Kim: Let's just say I'm looking forward to a hot shower and a comfortable bed. Emh: Don't forget to stop by Sickbay for your check-up. Paris: Check-up? For what? Emh: Away team protocol. Crew members are required to submit to a physical if the mission lasts more than two weeks. Now, who's first? Chakotay: I'll let you know in the morning, Doctor. Emh: Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today? Commander? Mister Paris? Torres: I've been working on a little surprise for you. Paris: Oh? Naughty, or nice? Torres: Close your eyes. Paris: I like it already. Torres: Come on. So what do you think? Paris: Oh! A television set. Torres: Circa 1956. I replicated the components, but I assembled it myself. This is the remote control. You select what you want to watch by pressing this button. Paris: A slight problem. There were no remote controls in the 1950's. Torres: I took a little poetic license. Paris: Cartoon! Torres: I found them in the ship's database. Tv: Vacuum Action! Mop, mop, don't stop Paris: What's that? Torres: That is called a jingle. According to the research I did, they inserted them into the entertainment programs. I know, it's confusing, but I kept them in for authenticity. I even replicated popcorn. Paris: Everything is perfect except for one tiny detail. Torres: What? Paris: You forgot the beer. Torres: I can fix that. Torres: You didn't miss much while you were away. The Doctor gave a lecture on insects indigenous to the Delta Quadrant. Paris: Ah ha. Torres: It was pretty boring, until Ensign Farley started snoring and then no one could keep a straight face. Of course, the Doctor wasn't at all amused. Paris: Ooo! Hockey! Torres: It was a shame that we had to cut the lecture short, but the warp core overloaded and then the Borg invaded and we were all assimilated. Paris: Mmm hmm. Torres: You haven't heard a single thing I've said, have you? Paris: Oh! Look at that! Torres: Maybe this was a bad idea. Tv: This is Eliot Ness. Come out, we don't want any trouble! Tv: We're under attack. Stay down. Keep moving. Somebody cover me. Tv: We need a medic over here. Stay down. Move it. Stay low. Soldier: I said hold your fire! Soldier 2: I need a medic. Soldier: Keep moving. Torres: Tom? Torres: Tom? Tom. It must have been one hell of a dream. Paris: I was, I was in the middle of a battlefield. I was grazed right, right here. They always said television was a bad influence. Torres: How about a nice cartoon? That should chase away the nightmare. Paris: No! No, I think I've had enough. Emh: It sounds like you had an anxiety attack. Kim: I've never been claustrophobic before. Emh: There's a first time for everything. Kim: Do you know what could have caused it? Emh: Let's see. You spend two weeks on an away mission, working eighteen hour days, then as soon as you return to Voyager you become Ensign Eager, back on duty and raring to go. Kim: I had work to do. There was a plasma leak on deck five. Emh: Plasma leak or no plasma leak, you're suffering from exhaustion. I'm recommending you take the next two days off. Kim: But I Emh: I can always make it three. Kim: You win. I guess I am pretty tired. Naomi: Welcome back. Neelix: Oh, hello. Naomi: Did you have a good trip? Neelix: Wonderful, thank you. Naomi: You look tired. Neelix: Do I? Just a little shuttle lag. Don't you have a geometry lesson? You don't want to keep your teacher waiting. Naomi: Seven of Nine assigned me a special project. I'm supposed to build a tetragon but I have to use everyday things. I'm not allowed to use a replicator. I was thinking about using some vegetables from the airponics bay. Carrots and celery? Neelix? Neelix: Carrots and celery. A good idea. Naomi: Will you help me? Neelix: I don't think I'll have time today. Naomi: Tonight? Neelix: I don't think that I'll have time then either. Lot of work to do. Naomi: Then why don't I help you? What's cooking? Ouch! Neelix: Let me see your hand! Naomi: I'm okay. Neelix: Your hand! We've got to get you to Sickbay. Naomi: I'm fine. Neelix: Sickbay! Neelix: Get down. Stay behind me. Naomi: What? Neelix: I said get down! Solder: I'm hit! Soldier 2: Someone help me with this, please Soldier 3: Keep moving. Move out to the left contingent. Chakotay: Try not to move. Dying Colonist: Get away from me. Chakotay: I can help you. Dying Colonist: I don't want your help. Chakotay: Hold your fire. I said, hold your fire! Soldier One: We're under attack, sir. Chakotay: Saavdra, where is he? Young Soldier: I think he's at base. Soldier: Let's move out. Chakotay: We were supposed to evacuate the colony, not destroy it! Saavdra: That was before the Nakan started shooting. Chakotay: They're civilians! Saavdra: Civilians with particle weapons. Tuvok: Tuvok to Commander Chakotay. Tuvok: Commander, please respond. Chakotay: Go ahead. Tuvok: We have a security breach in the mess hall. Chakotay: I'm on my way. Neelix: Tell them to call off the attack. Tuvok: Put down your weapon, Neelix. Let us help you. Neelix: Stay away! I won't let you hurt her! Get back! Tuvok: He appears to be hallucinating. Chakotay: Neelix, this is Commander Chakotay. Let Naomi go. No one's going to hurt her. That's an order. Neelix: No! Not until Saavdra's called off his attack. Tuvok: There's a back entrance to the galley. If you can distract him, perhaps I Chakotay: I want to try something first. Neelix, listen to me. It's okay, Saavdra ordered a cease-fire. The colony's secure. The battle is over. Neelix: Why do I still hear weapons fire? Chakotay: It's just a few soldiers. They're celebrating. The battle's over. Naomi: Neelix, please. Chakotay: I'll protect Naomi. Neelix: How do I know you won't trick me? Chakotay: Because I'm on your side. I want to end this conflict as much as you do. Let her go. It's safe now. The killing's over. Emh: I gave him a mild sedative. Janeway: Any idea what caused the delusions? Emh: His norepinephrine levels are three times what they should be. Neurochemically speaking, he's suffering from a form of post-traumatic stress syndrome. Chakotay: I dreamed I was fighting in an alien war. The same war Neelix seemed to be reliving. Emh: Harry Kim was in earlier. He had an anxiety attack. I haven't spoken with Mister Paris yet. Janeway: Three members of the same away team. Did you run into any kind of trouble while you were gone? Chakotay: None. The mission was by the book. Emh: Your engramatic activities contradict that, Commander. These are real memories, not mere dreams or hallucinations. Janeway: Maybe you were abducted, manipulated into fighting. Our memories have been tampered with before. We're going to retrace your mission. Start reviewing the Delta Flyer's sensor logs. See if you come up with anything unusual. How long before Neelix is back on his feet? Emh: I can wake him now, if you'd like. Janeway: Do it. Each of you seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. Let's see if we can start putting them together. Paris: I don't remember much, just bits and pieces. I dreamt I was on a planet in the middle of a battle. I have no idea how I got there. I can't remember. Kim: When I was in the Jefferies tube I heard weapons fire, screams. People were screaming. I got so frightened. Janeway: Of what? Kim: I, I don't know. Paris: I remember getting shot. Emh: There's no evidence of a wound. Chakotay: If our memories were wiped, our physical injuries could have been masked as well. Janeway: Do any of you recall who you were fighting? Neelix: It was dark. I couldn't see them very well. Paris: They were firing at us. Neelix: The Nakaa. The Nakana. Kim: The Nakan. They were called the Nakan. Paris: Right. Right. They, they lived in a remote colony. We were trying to evacuate them. Neelix: But they were fighting us. Kim: Why couldn't they just do what they were told? Neelix: We had no right to be there! Kim: It was for their own good. Janeway: Gentlemen, stay focused. You said you were trying to evacuate their colony. Why? Paris: Those were our orders. Emh: Who gave them? Chakotay: Saavdra. Paris: Commander Saavdra. Kim: He was in charge of our unit. We were part of an attack force. Janeway: You were coerced. Paris: No. No, I volunteered. We all did. Emh: I find that difficult to believe. You were obviously manipulated somehow. Neelix: No. No, no, no, no, I remember now. We held a briefing to plan the evacuation. You were there, Commander. Mister Paris. Paris: It was a command post. Kim: That's right. It was night, oh two hundred hours. Chakotay: We'd been awake for days. We were exhausted. Saavdra: What do our spotters report? Kim: The Nakan are unarmed. They won't put up a fight. Saavdra: Once we've disabled their shield generators, we'll deploy units five and six. They may be unarmed, but they won't be happy to see us. Don't provoke them. I want to come out of this with zero casualties on both sides. Soldier One: Understood. Paris: The perimeter's the weakest in sector fourteen. The terrain's very flat. Neelix: It's an ideal landing spot for transports. Saavdra: Once we've secured the village, take the colonists there. Get them aboard. Do your best to reassure them. Make them understand that this is a temporary relocation. That they're going to be back there in a few weeks. Understood? Neelix: Aye, aye, sir. Saavdra: Problem? Chakotay: Just one. This unit could use a little sleep. I suggest we wait until daybreak. Saavdra: I promised Command we'd have this colony secured today. Chakotay: It can wait a few hours. Saavdra: I'm sorry. But when this mission's over, how does a week on Toranius Prime sound? Chakotay: Never been there. Saavdra: Compared to this place, it's paradise. Chakotay: The mission proceeded as planned. We disabled their shield generators and entered the colony. Kim: We were rounding up the Nakan. To be honest, I expected them to give us a little more trouble. Neelix: But then we came to the last enclosure. Do you remember the last enclosure? It was empty. Where were they? They were supposed to be there. Paris: Twenty four colonists unaccounted for. We thought the spotters had made a mistake. We should have known something was wrong. We should have gotten out then. Soldier: This way. Stay in line. Keep moving. Chakotay: Evacuation detail to base. We're ready for transport. Saavdra: Transport's on approach. Female Colonist: I have to find my husband. Paris: Don't worry. He'll be on one of the transports. Female Colonist: Which one? Paris: I don't know, but we'll find him. Chakotay: Everybody down! Base, we're under attack. Repeat. We're under attack! Paris: Those missing colonists, they were armed. They fired the first shots. It wasn't our fault! Chakotay: We can't be sure of that. It could have been one of our own people. Fatigue. A phaser malfunction. You just don't know! Neelix: Either way, it doesn't justify what we did. Janeway: What did you do? What happened down there? Chakotay: Keep moving. Stay together. Hold your fire! Neelix: Stay down! Chakotay: Stay together. Kim: Stop running. Stop! Neelix: Get down! Get down, get down, get down! Stop running! Stop running! Kim: We didn't have any other choice. Chakotay: Like hell we didn't. Kim: They were wiping us out! Chakotay: That didn't give us the right to murder civilians. Neelix: I tried to protect the children, but I couldn't stop them from running away. Kim: I ran too. Sounds of phaser fire. People shouting. I had to get out of there. Woman: Please, don't hurt us. Kim: Move where I can see you! Move! Woman: Please, please, he's no threat to you. Kim: Tell me how I can get out of these tunnels and I'll leave you alone. Tell me! Woman: Go back the way you came. At the second fork take the tunnel to your left. Follow it to the end. It will lead you to the river. Kim: He was going to kill me. Paris: Easy, Harry. Kim: They wouldn't listen! Why? Why wouldn't they listen? Chakotay: We killed eighty two civilians that night. No one was left alive. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've entered the system where the away team conducted its recent survey, hoping to find an explanation for their memories of the Nakan massacre. Paris: Yeah. Yeah! Torres: Missed you at breakfast. Paris: I wasn't hungry. Torres: Sleep a little? Paris: Five, six minutes. Torres: I found another episode of The Untouchables. Elliot Ness captures somebody named Al Caypone. Paris: Capone. Maybe later. Torres: Well, you've got to eat something. Pizza? Paris: Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'd rather just be alone. Torres: Tom. Paris: No. I don't want to be comforted right now. Torres: I know the last few days have been difficult. Paris: Difficult. Difficult doesn't quite cover it. I helped murder eighty two innocent people. Torres: You don't know that. Paris: I know what I remember. Torres: The Doctor says your memories could have been altered. Paris: I was there! When I close my eyes, I can see the bodies. I, I can hear the weapons fire. I can feel where I was shot. Torres: Then why isn't there evidence of a wound? Paris: I don't know! Torres: All I'm asking is that you consider the possibility that this didn't happen. We'll keep investigating. There are sensor readings on the Delta Flyer that we haven't even analyzed yet. Paris: I can't concentrate on sensor readings right now. Torres: Try. Paris: I can't! Stop pushing me! I don't want your help! Paris: I'm sorry. Torres: You know where to find me. Seven: This was your first stop on the away mission. A class M planet with one natural satellite. Janeway: Did you send anyone to the surface? Chakotay: No, we only scanned for dilithium deposits. We were in orbit for less than an hour. Janeway: Next. Seven: You came into contact with this vessel en route to your second destination. Chakotay: Captain Bathar of Hodos. Janeway: Photogenic. Chakotay: He's a merchant. Claimed to have a formula that stops the aging process. Janeway: Oh, you didn't happen to buy any, did you? Chakotay: It was only a tripolymer enzyme. It makes a great shoe polish though. Janeway: Moving on. Seven: Your second stop. Janeway: Tarakis. The planet, it's called Tarakis. I've been here. Janeway: What the hell are you doing? Saavdra: Stand aside. Janeway: They're already dead. Saavdra: They were never here. We disabled their shield generators, entered the colony and they were gone. Janeway: No one's going to believe that. Saavdra: They will if we all keep to the same story. Janeway: I won't lie about what happened here. Saavdra: Then you say nothing. Janeway: We murdered these people! Saavdra: In self defense. Janeway: If that were true, you wouldn't be vaporising the evidence. You don't have to listen to him! We've got to let people know we panicked. They'll understand! Saavdra: No, they won't. Move away. I said, move away! Janeway: Oh! How long have I been here? Emh: Three hours. You started hallucinating in Astrometrics. I'm afraid I had to sedate you. Janeway: I was there. I was at the colony with Saavdra. Emh: You're not the only one. Thirty nine crew members have begun to experience the same memories. Tuvok: It appears that the entire crew has been affected. Emh: Their symptoms are identical. Increased engramatic activity, nightmares. Janeway: I can imagine the away team being pulled into an alien conflict, but these people weren't anywhere near this system. Tuvok: We've analyzed Voyager's sensor records. If we did participate in a war, all evidence of it has been erased. Janeway: The dream was so vivid. As real as anything I've experienced. But I refuse to believe that we could Emh: Real or not, the memories are having a deleterious effect on the crew. The syndrome began to spread once we entered this system. I suggest we reverse course before it gets worse. Janeway: No. If this massacre really happened, someone is to blame. I want to be certain that it wasn't us. Tuvok: With all due respect, your judgment may be clouded by feelings of guilt about an incident that never occurred. The danger to our crew here and now is indisputable. Janeway: I've seen you looking better, Ensign. Ensign: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: I've felt better myself. But were going to get through this. The massacre took place on Tarakis. Go to Red alert and set a course. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Emh: A neural suppressant. It will help keep the memories from resurfacing. Seven: Your favorites. Talaxian stew and terra nut soufflé. The soufflé has collapsed slightly, but its nutritional content is intact. Neelix: Thank you. It looks delicious. Seven: When Naomi Wildman is sad, she consumes desserts. She claims it improves her emotional state. Perhaps you should try it. Neelix: Naomi must be terrified of me, after what happened in the galley. Seven: She's concerned about you. She told me she wants to visit you. Neelix: No. Not like this. I might do something to scare her again. Seven: I'll give her your regards. Neelix: Seven? When you were a Borg, you were involved in some unpleasant activities. Seven: I helped to assimilate millions. Neelix: I don't mean to be insensitive, but do you ever feel shame about what you did? Seven: Frequently. Neelix: How to you manage to keep going, knowing that you've done such horrible things? Seven: I have no choice. Neelix: Guilt is irrelevant? Seven: On the contrary. My feelings of remorse help me remember what I did, and prevent me from taking similar actions in the future. Guilt can be a difficult, but useful, emotion. Neelix: It's certainly difficult. Is that chocolate mixed in there with the terra nuts? Seven: I altered the recipe slightly. I hope you don't object. Neelix: Not at all. Paris: Tarakis, dead ahead. Janeway: Shields. Stand by weapons. On screen. Scan for vessels. Tuvok: There are none. Janeway: Take us into orbit. Paris: Ma'am? Janeway: Do it, Mister Paris. Chakotay: Life signs? Tuvok: The planet appears to be uninhabited. Kim: Looks the same as it did a few days ago when we scanned for dilithium deposits. Chakotay: Signs of weapons fire or phaser residue? Tuvok: Negative. Janeway: Run a full spectral scan. Look for anything unusual. Tuvok: Nothing on geometric sensors. Kim: Hold on. I'm picking up a power signature. Chakotay: Source? Kim: I can't tell. The signal's erratic, but it's coming from the northernmost continent. Coordinates one seven two mark five. Janeway: Phasers. Chakotay: Call it an educated guess, but I don't think this looks like a war zone. Janeway: There's something familiar about it, though. I recognize those mountains. Kim: Those trees weren't here. Janeway: Search the area. Tuvok: Ensign? Kim: The tunnel. It's nearby. The one where I, er Paris: How'd you get into it? Kim: There was a rock formation. It hid the opening. Janeway: A faint energy signature. This way. Kim: Over here. Paris: There's your physical evidence. Tuvok: I suggest we proceed with caution. Stand guard. Kim: I, I, I can't! Tuvok: Remain calm. Slow, deep breaths. Kim: They were over there. Tuvok: I've found the remains of two humanoids, but you were not responsible for their deaths. They died over three hundred years ago. Janeway: I think we've found our war. Seven: The structure contains a synaptic transmitter. I believe it was designed to send neurogenic pulses throughout this system. Janeway: So anyone passing through would experience the Nakan massacre, like we did. Seven: Precisely. Chakotay: Try running those symbols inscribed on the base through the translation matrix. Words alone cannot convey the suffering. Words alone cannot prevent what happened here from happening again. Beyond words lies experience. Beyond experience lies truth. Make this truth your own. Janeway: It's a memorial. We weren't victims of a conspiracy, we were witnesses to a massacre. Chakotay: More than witnesses. By being forced to relive those events, half the crew's been traumatized. Janeway: Maybe that was the point. I certainly won't forget what happened here. Chakotay: Anything in that database that might tell us who built this thing? Seven: No. The technology has been neglected for more than two centuries. Its power cells are deteriorating. Janeway: That could explain why our memories were so fragmented. It was probably designed to transmit the experience in sequence. Chakotay: Fascinating. Now let's try to shut it down so nobody else has to go through this. Kathryn? Janeway: Yes, of course. Emh: Even if we do shut down the transmitter, I'm afraid your memories of the massacre are permanent. Tuvok: But we'll prevent this from happening to other passing ships. Neelix: If we do that, all record of what happened here would be lost. Chakotay: The monument will still be here. Neelix: But that doesn't really tell the story. Someone put a lot of time and care into building that transmitter. We can't just deactivate it. We don't have the right. Kim: Did they have the right to force us to relive all that? Neelix: They wanted others to know what it was like, in the hopes that nothing like it would happen again. Chakotay: Why should anyone have to experience an atrocity they didn't commit? Neelix: Because that's how you learn not to make the same mistake. If we destroy the evidence, we're no better than Saavdra. Paris: Maybe he had a point. Kim: It wasn't our fault! Tuvok: Given the danger involved, it's only logical Neelix: This isn't about logic. It's about remembering. Chakotay: Some things are best forgotten. Janeway: Not this. I stood by once before and did nothing. Not again. Emh: Captain? Janeway: I watched while Saavdra vaporized the bodies. Paris: No offense but, those were other peoples' memories. Janeway: The obelisk at Khitomer. The fields of Gettysburg. Those are other peoples' memories too, but we don't honor them any less. The eighty two colonists who died here, they deserve their memorial. Chakotay: Captain. Janeway: We're not going to shut down the transmitter. Is that clear? Is that clear? Tuvok: Are you suggesting we leave it intact? Janeway: I'm suggesting that we repair it. Recharge the power cells. I want that monument to function properly for another three hundred years. We'll place a warning buoy in orbit. Anyone who enters this system will know what to expect. Dismissed. Chakotay: We're ready, Captain. Janeway: I know this was hardest on the four of you. But if you hadn't stopped at this planet all the people who died here would have been forgotten. And if they could, I know they'd thank you. Janeway to Voyager. Stand by to initiate power transfer. Five to beam up.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 53447.2. The crew's enjoying a much needed shore leave on the Norcadian homeworld while I visit Pendari, a planet in the neighboring system. I'm leaving Commander Chakotay in charge of Voyager. Janeway: You may want to run a diagnostic on the shield generators. It's way overdue. Chakotay: Consider it done. Janeway: And don't forget to keep tabs on Neelix's little project in the mess hall. Chakotay: He's still trying to enhance the plasma burners in his stove? Janeway: With some of Seven's Borg technology. I don't want him accidentally turning the galley into an assimilation chamber. Chakotay: I'll assign a security detail to keep tabs on him. Unless you think we need to take more drastic measures? Janeway: And most important, be sure to tell your Captain when she's being overprotective. Chakotay: I'll do that. Janeway: Thanks again for minding the store. Chakotay: Even the captain deserves a vacation once in a while. Janeway: And her First Officer? Chakotay: He's looking forward to putting his feet up on your desk. Torres: Chakotay. Chakotay: Fun last night, wasn't it? Torres: There's another match scheduled at fifteen hundred. Chakotay: I've got a systems diagnostic. Torres: Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're in command until the captain gets back. Chakotay: What's your point? Torres: Delegate. I happen to know that Harry's free this afternoon. Chakotay: Lieutenant, you're not suggesting I abuse my power. Torres: Tell me that's not lunch. Neelix: It's leola ointment for my skin. Chakotay: What happened? Neelix: I was so excited to visit one of those beautiful Norcadian beaches that I forgot to take my dermaline hypospray. I fell asleep under two suns. Torres: Ouch. Neelix: A little more color than I was hoping for, but it'll be a beautiful amber before you know it. How's your shore leave been? Torres: Well, we've spent the last few days at the Tsunkatse matches. Neelix: Tsunkatse. I heard some crewmen talking about that during breakfast. Chakotay: It's exciting. A real test of strength and agility. Torres: You should come to the match with us this afternoon. Seven: From what I've heard, Tsunkatse is crude and pointless. Torres: Well, I guess we won't be saving you a seat. Chakotay: What about you, Tuvok? You appreciate the martial arts. Tuvok: I have other plans. There's a micro-nebula approximately one point six light years from here on the verge of collapse. Seven: We'd like to take a shuttle to study it. Neelix: An away mission during shore leave? Seven: Commander Tuvok and I don't require recreational activities. Torres: The Borg wouldn't know fun if they assimilated an amusement park. Chakotay: It's your shore leave. But try to enjoy yourselves. That's an order. Paris: Here's the navigational data you asked for. Seven: Thank you. Paris: How long are you planning on being gone? Seven: Approximately forty eight hours. Paris: Just like B'Elanna. Seven: Clarify. Paris: She over-packs too. Seven: I haven't over-packed. I simply wish to be prepared for any contingency. Paris: And what contingency is this for? Seven: That's an iso-modulator, enhanced to correct hull ablation in the event we encounter a meteoroid stream. Paris: Couldn't you just replicate an iso-modulator? Seven: I prefer this one. Paris: Oh, I get it. You like to have your own things with you. B'Elanna's the same way. You know, she'd never admit it, but she still takes a stuffed animal with her whenever she's going to be away for more than a day. Toby the Targ. Seven: Can Toby the Targ correct hull ablation? Your comparison is flawed. Emh: Just the person I was looking for. Seven: You require my assistance? Emh: Your company. I was wondering if you care to join me on a tour of Norcadia's cultural hot spots. I hear their museums are among the finest in this sector. Seven: I'm busy. Emh: With what? Seven: Commander Tuvok and I are leaving to study a collapsing micro-nebula. Emh: During shore leave? I thought we'd discussed this. Shore leave is a perfect opportunity for you to spend time with other members of the crew, to develop your social skills. Seven: Then I suppose I'll have to develop them with Commander Tuvok. Emh: Vulcans aren't exactly known for their winning personalities. Seven: You'd prefer I spent my time with sociable individuals such as yourself. Emh: You could do worse. Seven: In that case, perhaps you'd care to join us. Emh: To study the micro-nebula? Seven: You can assist us with our analysis of veridium oxide particulates. Emh: On second thought, you and Tuvok have a good time. Seven: I'll give the Commander your regrets. Emh: Do that. And if the nebula isn't as riveting as you'd hoped, try to remember lesson thirty six. Pleasant Parlor Games To Pass The Time. You'll need it. Seven: Two hours, thirty seven minutes, thirteen seconds. That's how long we've gone without verbal communication. Tuvok: Why is that remarkable? Seven: The Doctor encourages me to engage in conversation during awkward silences. Tuvok: Did you find the silence awkward? Seven: No. Tuvok: Nor did I. Seven: There's a vessel approaching on an intercept course. The hull configuration is unfamiliar. Tuvok: Distance? Seven: Approximately three hundred thousand kilometers. Tuvok: Hail them. Seven: No response. Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. Seven: The vessel is emitting some kind of dampening field. We've lost engines, weapons, shields. Tuvok: It's an explosive device of some sort. Seven: Transporters are down. I can't beam it off. Tuvok: I'll try to disarm it. Penk: Borg-enhanced physiology. You should possess superior strength, agility, stamina, and visual acuity. Welcome to Tsunkatse. Since the game's inception our audience has never had the pleasure of seeing a drone compete. You are going to be a very popular attraction. Seven: Where is Commander Tuvok? Penk: Your comrade from the shuttle? I'm afraid he was injured in the explosion. Seven: I wish to see him. Now. Penk: Certainly. You will learn nothing is more important to me than the comfort and happiness of my fighters. Hirogen: Yes, Penk's generosity is legendary. Penk: Quiet! He's envious because I've found a new favorite. Seven: I have no intention of participating in your game. Penk: Aggressive. I like that. Seven: He requires medical attention. Penk: That can be arranged. Seven: Then arrange it. Penk: You haven't won a single bout, and already you're making demands like a champion. Seven: Will you treat him or not? Penk: Will you fight? Tuvok: Do not comply. My condition is not severe. Penk: Spoken like a true competitor, willing to ignore his injuries for the sake of the contest. Schedule a bout for him. A Red Match against the Pensarkan. Hirogen: A Red Match does not end until one of the competitors is killed. Your friend would not survive. Penk: But you might. Hirogen: Give her a Blue Match, Penk. You wouldn't want to lose your new favorite her first time in the pit. Penk: Yes. We should start you off slowly. Seven: Treat him, and I will comply. Torres: What about the seventh match? Chakotay: I'm picking the Vensiddian. Kim: He lost his last two times out. Chakotay: But he's undefeated against left-handed fighters. Paris: You should trust him, Harry. Chakotay knows a thing or two about southpaws. Torres: He was twenty three and oh as a light heavyweight. Chakotay: Twenty three and and one, actually. A Nausicaan with a mean right hook. Kim: You think that's bad? Try taking a parrises mallet to the ribs. Chakotay: I didn't know you played. Kim: Three time Academy champion. Now, that's a tough sport. Chakotay: I boxed a few parrises players in my day. Torres: And? Chakotay: Let's just say they went back to playing parrises squares after that. Kim: Oh, was that a challenge, Commander? Chakotay: I wouldn't want to put my Ops officer out of commission, now, would I? Kim: I can take a punch. Torres: Careful, Harry. Legend has it that the Tattooed Terror has put more men in Sickbay than the Ankaran flu. Paris: Yeah, you wouldn't want to bruise your clarinet fingers. Kim: Hey, you want to go a few rounds, or all you all talk? Paris: Any time, any place. Kim: Oh, you punch like a Ferengi. Torres: I don't care what Harry says. The Pensarkan-Bendali match is too close to call. Chakotay: I'll let you know how it turns out. Torres: Excuse me? Chakotay: I rearranged the duty schedules this morning. You've got the bridge starting at fourteen hundred hours. Torres: You're sticking me with that shift so that you can go to the fight. Chakotay: I'm delegating. Torres: Me and my big mouth. Chakotay: I thought you'd be pleased that I took your advice. Torres: Words fail me. Now remind me. The reason that you have to see that fight is because? Chakotay: I'm an anthropologist. Torres: What does that have to do with Tsunkatse? Chakotay: It's a cultural phenomenon. Emh: You're having an allergic reaction to your leola ointment. I hope you've learned your lesson. Talaxian homeopathy is no substitute for medical science. This should help with the swelling and diskoloration. Neelix: Ow. Emh: But you'll have to stay out of the sun. Neelix: What about the rest of my shore leave? Emh: I suggest you limit it to indoor activities. Neelix: Commander Chakotay and B'Elanna invited me to the Tsunkatse matches. I guess I'll go. Emh: I'm disappointed in you, Mister Neelix. Cheering for one individual to inflict serious injury on another hardly seems like an activity you'd enjoy. Neelix: Well, Commander Chakotay says that it's a wonderful demonstration of athletic prowess. Emh: You seem to be forgetting that Commander Chakotay is an aficionado of boxing, arguably the most barbaric sport in Earth's history. Surely you can find some way to occupy your free time that doesn't involve alien fisticuffs. Neelix: Do you have any suggestions? Emh: As a matter of fact, I was planning a visit to the Norcadian Museum of Entomology this afternoon. There's a fascinating exhibit of beetle larvae from the equatorial sub-continent. You're welcome to join me. Neelix: Hmm, alien bugs, or alien fisticuffs. Ooo, that's a tough one. Crowd: Tsunkat, tsunkat, tsunkat. Neelix: You were right, Commander. This is exciting. Two opponents, alone in the pit, with only their strength and agility to protect them. Chakotay: I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Neelix: I still don't understand the rules. Chakotay: It's simple. A Tsunkatse fighter wears a polaron disruptor on both hands and feet. Each disruptor delivers a bio-plasmic charge when it comes in contact one of the opponent's target sensors. Neelix: So there is strategy involved? Chakotay: A fighter has to attack his rival's sensors without exposing his own. Paris: Are you two going to talk, or you here to watch? Neelix: He looks like he could pick up a shuttlecraft. Kim: He's a Pendari. They're known for their superior strength. Paris: And their bad temper. Kim: I hear they have a tendency to throw their opponents into the stands. Paris: Be ready to duck. Neelix: Seven? Kim: Seven! Seven! Champion: You're no bigger than a Tarkanian field mouse. Penk's insulting me by putting you in the pit to face me. Seven: I must warn you. I possess superior strength. Champion: I'm trembling. Kim: Seven! Seven! Neelix: Seven! Seven: I assure you, resistance is futile. Champion: So is all your talk. Neelix: Seven! Paris: It's no use. She can't hear us. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Chakotay: Come in! Torres: Calling to give me a blow-by-blow description of the match, Commander? Chakotay: Seven of Nine is in the pit. Torres: What? Chakotay: No time to explain. Beam her out of there. Seven: I have no desire to inflict further damage. Champion: I'm afraid I can't say the same. Torres: I'm locked onto the coordinates of the pit. Seven's not there. Chakotay: I'm looking right at her! Torres: Not according to these sensors. Kim: Maybe their lifesigns are masked? Chakotay: Try recalibrating the bioscanners. Torres: Acknowledged. Torres: There's nothing to lock onto. The only readings I'm picking up are photonic. Kim: Holograms? Paris: They're transmitting the fight from another location. Penk: Transmission to one of the arenas on Norcadia Prime is being disrupted. Compensate. Crowd: Tsunkat! Tsunkat! Tsunkat! Tsunkat! Tsunkat! Tsunkat! Chakotay: Voyager, four to beam up. Chakotay: We've scanned the Norcadian surface, Captain. There's no sign of them. Janeway: Any luck tracing the transmission? Chakotay: We're trying, but it's not easy. Chakotay: There are transmissions being sent to every planet in the sector. Janeway: I guess you aren't the only ones who enjoy this sport. Torres: It could take days before we can figure out where Seven and Tuvok are being held. Janeway: What about diplomatic channels? Chakotay: Neelix is meeting with a group of Norcadian officials. Janeway: Well, let's hope he gets their cooperation. Chakotay: When can we expect you back? Janeway: I'm at the outer rim of the Pendari system. At best, I'm forty eight hours away. Chakotay: Sorry to cut your vacation short. Janeway: That's okay, Commander. Keep me informed. Janeway out. Seven: Stay away from me. Hirogen: It's a dermal regenerator. The Pendari you fought injured you. Now, keep still. It's almost out of power. Seven: I prefer that you use it to treat Commander Tuvok. Hirogen: I already have. He's sleeping. Seven: Why are you helping us? Hirogen: I recognize fellow hunters when I see them. Seven: I'm no hunter. Hirogen: I saw your match today. Your skills are impressive. Seven: The Pendari would disagree. Hirogen: You almost defeated him. But at the last moment, you hesitated. You questioned your desire to destroy your prey. Seven: I have no such desire. Hirogen: Don't you? I thought I saw it in your eyes. With the proper training, you could become a champion. Seven: Until our ship comes to rescue us, my only goal is to survive. Hirogen: Do you know the difference between a survivor and a champion here? There isn't one. Penk: I wanted to be the first to congratulate you. Seven: I lost. Penk: Exactly. There's a great deal of hostility toward the Borg in this sector. Whenever the Pendari landed a blow, our audience grew. We're getting tens of thousands of requests to see you fight again. Hirogen: She needs time to recuperate, to prepare for her next bout. Penk: I agree. There's a Red Match scheduled for the day after tomorrow. The Pendari was supposed to compete, but I've entered you in his place. If three billion people paid to see you hurt, imagine how many will pay to see you die. Seven: Survival may be more difficult than I imagined. Hirogen: You will win the match. Seven: What makes you say that? Hirogen: I know your opponent. I know his weaknesses. I can train you to defeat him. Seven: I told you. I will not kill anyone in that arena. Hirogen: Consider the alternative. Seven: Teach me. Hirogen: You're letting your elbow fall, exposing your target. Seven: You're mistaken. My arm is positioned properly. When executing the Tanyk Defense, the blocking elbow must remain parallel to the median sensor. Hirogen: Ah, The Book of Tsunkatse. Seven: Commander Tuvok borrowed it from one of the other fighters. Hirogen: It is obvious you've studied it well. Seven: I'm attempting a defense against any Seven: That was not one of the thirty three sanctioned maneuvers. Hirogen: There must be thirty four. Seven: I was unprepared for your attack. Hirogen: Is that what you're going to say to your opponent? Stop thinking like a drone. Sanctioned maneuvers, perfecting defenses. You cannot assimilate Tsunkatse from a book. You must live it, feel it, in here. Your movements must become instinct. An attack can come at any time from any direction. You must learn to improvise. Seven: Like this? Seven: I've observed you often favor your left side. Hirogen: Very perceptive. It's a wound I sustained in one of my first matches. After nineteen years, it still hasn't healed properly. Seven: You've been here a long time. Hirogen: I was taken during my son's first hunt. He was so proud to be with his father, watching every movement I made, imitating my gestures. But instead of bringing home his first trophy, he saw his father become someone else's prey. Seven: Do you know what happened to him? Hirogen: I never saw him again. All Penk would say was that the boy was too small for competition. Seven: Perhaps he managed to return home. Hirogen: You let down your defenses. Why? Seven: I was Hirogen: What? Feeling sorry for me and My tragic past? Seven: Yes. Hirogen: You must never sympathize with your prey. Unless you accept that, you will die. We'll continue. Chakotay: How did it go? Neelix: Oh, the Norcadians were shocked to learn that off-worlders might be participating against their will. Neelix: The Ambassador promised to begin an immediate investigation. Chakotay: You don't sound too convinced. Neelix: I'm not. I spoke to one of the Pendari delegates. According to him, a huge percentage of the planet's revenue is derived from Tsunkatse. Nobody wants to do anything that might interfere with the game. Chakotay: So they turn a blind eye to the recruitment tactics. Neelix: We're not going to get any help through official channels. It's hard to believe, a civilization whose favorite pastime is cheering while innocent people fight each other. Chakotay: If Seven and Tuvok hadn't been abducted, we might still be cheering too. Chakotay: What have you got? Torres: Well, one of the reasons we were having trouble isolating the source of the transmissions was because they never seem to be coming from the same place twice. At first we thought the matches were being held in various locations. Kim: But when we connected the dots, we realized that the pattern conformed to a flight path. Torres: One that spanned the entire sector. Chakotay: They're transmitting the fights from a ship. Neelix: Like a traveling carnival. Kim: Oh, this is no carnival. Five million metric tons, reinforced hull plating protected by covariant shielding. Neutronic weaponry. Torres: It's way out of our weight class. Chakotay: The bigger they come, Lieutenant. Transmit these coordinates to the Captain. Tell her we could use a hand. Hirogen: Excellent. When your opponent enters the arena, what do you see? Seven: My prey. Hirogen: And what do you do to your prey? Seven: Hunt it down and kill it. Hirogen: Go rest before your match. Seven: Thank you. Hirogen: Thank me by winning. Seven: Penk's guards are making their inspection rounds. Progress? Tuvok: Both the dampening field and the shielding of this vessel are tetryon-based, but without access to the control interface I can't disable either. Your training? Seven: Complete. Tuvok: Are you adequately prepared? Seven: The Hirogen is an efficient instructor. He believes I'll win. Tuvok: That troubles you? Seven: The idea of killing someone for the entertainment of others is detestable. Tuvok: Is the idea of losing your own life for the entertainment of others more palatable? As a drone, you took many lives. Seven: I was acting as part of the Collective. Tuvok: You're worried you won't have the strength to accomplish the task on your own. Seven: I'm worried that I will. Penk: It's time. Tuvok: Do whatever it takes to survive. Seven: You knew. Hirogen: Yes. Seven: Training me was a deception. You wished to familiarize yourself with my weaknesses. Hirogen: I was helping you to overcome them. Seven: Why? Hirogen: Nineteen years is a long time. I've grown tired. Seven: You wish to be killed in the arena? Hirogen: I want a death my son would be proud of. Seven: I won't be the one to provide it. Hirogen: Then I'll be forced to kill you. Paris: Approaching the vessel. Chakotay: Take us out of warp. Raise shields and charge weapons. Any sign of Tuvok and Seven? Kim: Our sensors can't penetrate their shields. Chakotay: Hail them. Penk: This is not a convenient time. Chakotay: I'm Commander Chakotay of the Starship Voyager. You're holding two of my people. Penk: You'll have to be more specific. Chakotay: Commander Tuvok and Seven of Nine. Return them. Now. Penk: The Borg drone and her friend. I'm afraid she's occupied at the moment. Chakotay: You have thirty seconds before I open fire. Penk: A fighter. I respect that. But you're no match for me. Seven: We can still find another way out of this. Hirogen: There is no other way. You're still dropping your elbow. Hirogen: Make a choice. Hunter or Prey? Hunter or Prey? Torres: Direct hit to their aft shield generators. Kim: Still no sign of Seven, but I've got a lock on Tuvok. Chakotay: Beam him to Sickbay. Keep targeting those generators. Kim: Transport complete. Chakotay: Bridge to Tuvok. Tuvok: Go ahead, Commander. Chakotay: Do you know Seven's status? Tuvok: She's being forced to fight to the death. I believe they're on the uppermost deck. Kim: That section's protected by multiphasic force fields. I can't penetrate them. Torres: Shields down to forty percent. Thirty two percent. Hirogen: You're getting weak. I should have found worthier prey. Hirogen: You're imperfect. Hirogen: Is that the best you can do? Torres: Shields are down. Chakotay: Evasive maneuvers. Harry? Kim: Still can't get a lock. Paris: Should I get us out of here before they knock out our propulsion? Chakotay: Not yet. If we can't beam her out, maybe we can shut down the transmission. Paris: If nobody's watching, then why continue the fight? Chakotay: Start targeting their signal generators. Kim: Hull breach on deck eleven. Chakotay: Seal it. Torres: We've lost weapons. Paris: Another vessel is approaching. Torres: Great. Now they're bringing in reinforcements? Paris: No, this one's on our side. It's the Delta Flyer. Chakotay: Good to see you, Captain. Janeway: Nothing like getting back to work after a long vacation. Chakotay: We need you to target their signal generators. Janeway: Understood. Penk: We've lost more than half our audience. Reroute power to transmitters five and six. Kim: They've reduced power to their forcefields. I've got two lifesigns in there. Seven and a Hirogen but I can't get an individual lock. Chakotay: Transport them both if you have to. Tom. Paris: Aye, sir. Crowd: Tsunkat! Tsunkat! Tsunkat! Hirogen: Never let your prey suffer. Kill it. Paris: Seven, stand away. Seven: It's all right. This fight is over. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 53529.4. We've resumed course for the Alpha quadrant and initiated repairs. I can't say I'm sorry to see this shore leave come to an end. Chakotay: We located an Hirogen hunting party three light years away. They've agreed to rendezvous with us. Hirogen: I'm grateful. Seven: Would you excuse us? Emh: Very well. But if you should need anything, an analgesic, a phaser rifle, don't hesitate to ask. Seven: I apologize for the Doctor. He's very protective of me. Hirogen: He doesn't realize how well you defend yourself. Hirogen: A trophy. Seven: What will do you now, search for new prey? Hirogen: No. This time I will be searching for my son. Seven: If he is as clever as his father, he may be difficult to locate. Hirogen: I've been wondering. Would you have killed me? Seven: I don't know. Hirogen: Fortunately, you were right. There was another way out. Tuvok: I thought you might require assistance. Seven: Thank you. Tuvok: I realize we share an affinity for silences, but in this instance I feel compelled to speak. If you hadn't offered to take my place in the arena, it's likely I would have been killed. Seven: I made the logical choice, as you would have. Tuvok: Still, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Seven: Assisting me with these recalibrations will be sufficient thanks. Tuvok: Have you fully recovered? Seven: I'm experiencing minor pain beneath my occipital implant. The Doctor believes it is temporary. Tuvok: I wasn't referring to your physical condition. Seven: When the Hirogen referred to me as weak, he was correct. Tuvok: But you overpowered him. Seven: Because I lost control. Tuvok: Given the circumstances, your behavior was understandable. Seven: I've spent the last three years struggling to regain my humanity. I'm afraid I may have lost it again in that arena. Tuvok: You're experiencing difficult emotions. Seven: Guilt, shame, remorse. Tuvok: Then you haven't lost your humanity. You have reaffirmed it.

Neelix: Heart, heart, heart. Just one more heart. Paris: You might as well be showing us your hand, Neelix. This is a game of strategy, deception. Kim: Never let the opponents know your hand. Neelix: Right. Neelix: Bah. Chakotay: Ten. Kim: I see your ten, and raise you twenty. Paris: Neelix? Neelix: I'm thinking. Twenty. Another twenty. Ha. Kim: If I didn't know any better, I'd say we're being hustled. Neelix: Ensign? Kim: Oh, I'm not buying the innocent Talaxian routine. Neelix: I don't know what you're talking about. I've, I've, this is the first time I've played. What is it called? All: Poker. Paris: Look, why don't we make things a little more interesting. Forget the chips. Let's bet on tomorrow's work detail, all right? Whoever wins this hand gets the morning off. Chakotay: I'm in. Kim: I'm in. Neelix: Sounds good to me. Chakotay: What have you got? Kim: Two pair. Neelix: Does that beat a flush? Kim: I knew you were bluffing. Chakotay: That beats me. Tom? Chakotay: Battle stations! Paris: And I had a full house. Paris: I can't shake them. Chakotay: Return fire. Neelix: Why didn't our sensors detect them? Kim: Looks like they used a dispersal field to mask their approach. Chakotay: Warp drive? Paris: No luck. Too much damage to the plasma injectors. Chakotay: Harry, get down there and see what you can do. Neelix: Shields down eighteen percent. Chakotay: Harry, status? Kim: I need time to clear the injectors. Neelix: Sir, the Cube's power output is fluctuating. Chakotay: Then we're still in the game. Bring us about. Target their propulsion matrix. Neelix: We've lost phasers. Chakotay: Arm photon torpedoes. Fire when ready. Neelix: We knocked out their main propulsion system. Chakotay: Good. Now get us out of here, Tom. Paris: They've got us in a tractor beam Chakotay: Harry! Chakotay: We need warp power, now! Kim: We lost two more relays. I can't! Chakotay: Harry? Harry! Paris: Engines are offline. Borg: We are the Borg. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile. Chakotay: Neelix. Chakotay: Neelix! Neelix: Commander? Chakotay: It's all right. You were unconscious, but I don't think you're injured. Neelix: I was dreaming you'd been assimilated. Chakotay: Your subconscious was jumping the gun, but not by much. From the look of this room, I'd say we're in an assimilation chamber. Paris: Where's Harry? Chakotay: He's not here. Paris: Well, we've got to find him. Chakotay: We need to get our bearings first. Figure out what's going on. Paris: We're in a Borg Cube and Harry's missing. That's what's going on. Neelix: Sir. Chakotay: Nobody we know. Paris: Some kind of botched assimilation? Chakotay: From the looks of it. Paris: What are they waiting for? They've got three more potential drones here. Chakotay: Stay calm. Paris: Calm? We're in a chamber of horrors or haven't you noticed? Chakotay: We're not drones yet. If we keep our heads, maybe we can find a way out. There's a forcefield around this room. Let's try to disable it. Tuvok: Their ion trail ends directly ahead. Torres: I'm detecting another vessel, bearing three zero, mark one one two. It's a Borg Cube. Janeway: Red alert. Alter course to intercept. Adjust shields to rotating frequencies. Have they detected us? Tuvok: Unclear. The vessel's holding position. Janeway: As soon as we're within sensor range, start scanning for the away team. On screen. Seven: Their propulsion system is offline. The damage is not that severe. The drones should've repaired it by now. Janeway: Lucky for us they didn't, or we'd never have caught up with them. Any sign of our people? Torres: Not yet. Tuvok: They are targeting our warp core. Shields are holding. Janeway: Return fire. Aim for their weapons array. Torres: Now they're going after our impulse engines. That one was meant for our sensors. They can't seem to make up their minds. Seven: Their attack strategy is erratic, inefficient. Tuvok: And finished. We've disabled their weapons. Torres: That was too easy. Janeway: Maybe they're in worse shape than we thought. Tuvok: I'm picking up non-Borg life signs. One of them is definitely Talaxian. It looks as though they haven't been assimilated yet. Janeway: Try to get a transporter lock. Torres: Their shields are interfering. Janeway: Target their shield generator and fire. Seven: Captain, I believe I can explain the unusual behavior of these Borg. There should be thousands of drones manning the vessel, but I'm picking up only five signatures. Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Torres: It doesn't sound like they've lost their confidence. Tuvok: Their shield generators are too deep inside the vessel. Our weapons can't reach them. Janeway: Open a channel. Borg vessel, this is the starship Voyager. You're holding our crewmen. We're willing to cease firing if you return them. Borg: Negotiation is irrelevant. You will be assimilated. Janeway: Not today, and not by you. Agree, or I'll resume firing. Tuvok: They are scanning us. Borg: We will return your crew members in exchange for specific technology. Torres: Talk about unusual behavior. The Borg negotiating? Janeway: What technology? Borg: Your navigational deflector. Disengage it from your secondary hull. Janeway: Mute audio. Tuvok: If we surrender our deflector, we'll be dead in space. We won't be able to go to warp. Janeway: What would they want with it? Seven: When their communications array was damaged, it severed their link to the Collective. They intend to adapt our deflector to regain it. Janeway: And call for reinforcements? That's the last thing we need. We'll have to stall them until we can find another way out of this. Janeway: I'll consider the exchange, but first I want to be certain my crewmen are unharmed and alive. Borg: You have scanned our vessel. Janeway: Our scans were inconclusive. We want to see them for ourselves. Borg: You may transport one individual. Janeway: Seven. Borg: Proceed to grid six three, sub-junction zero one. Borg: State your designation. Seven: Seven of Nine. These drones have not fully matured. Where are the others? Borg: There are no others. The drones aboard this vessel were Leader: Deactivated. We are the Borg. Seven of Nine. A Borg designation. Mezoti: She's like us. Icheb: Not like us. She's damaged. Her infrastructure has been removed. Mezoti: We could fix her. Icheb: You will add to our perfection. Seven: You are neonatal drones. You should still be in maturation chambers. Leader: We've matured long enough. Seven: Doubtful. Your thoracic nodes haven't formed yet. You're incomplete. You'll continue to malfunction. You must return to your maturation chambers. Comply. Leader: Don't listen to her. Icheb: We tried to go back in. The chambers were offline. Seven: What happened to the adult drones? Azan: We don't know. Leader: Irrelevant. Don't tell her anything. SEVEN; This vessel has been severely damaged. You won't be able to repair it alone. I can help you, but first you must release the hostages. Leader: That wasn't the agreement. Seven: I've modified the agreement. I didn't realize I'd be dealing with children. Your behavior is erratic. I can't be certain that you Leader: No modifications. We show you the hostages, you give us the deflector. Comply. Comply! Seven: Take me to them. Leader: If she tries to resist, assimilate her. Seven: Do you have a designation? Icheb: Second. Seven: You were the second to emerge from the chambers. Icheb: No, the first. I could not establish order. I became Second and he became First. SEVEN; So you've established a chain of command, a hierarchy. Mezoti: We're a Collective. Seven: A collective of five on a vessel normally run by five thousand. What makes you think you'll survive? Icheb: When we re-establish our link with the Borg, they will come for us. Paris: Commander, we've got company. Seven: I wish to see if they're injured. Chakotay: Seven? Seven: Don't let their appearance fool you. They are in control of this vessel and all of its armaments. Are you injured? Chakotay: Nothing serious. A previous tenant. Icheb: We were trying to perfect our assimilation techniques. Seven: You failed. Mezoti: One of these captives was attempting to disconnect the security field. Paris: Actually, I was just trying to Seven: That was unnecessary. Icheb: He is not permanently damaged. Mezoti: He learnt his lesson. Seven: The Borg are prepared to negotiate for your release. I will return for you. Chakotay: Give my regards to Harry. Icheb: The deflector array. Seven: I'm not authorized to give you technology. I must report back to Captain Janeway. Icheb: Agreed. Seven: I also need to take an adult drone and a data node back to Voyager for analysis. Mezoti: Why? Seven: Something happened on this vessel that none of us understand. If it happens again, it could endanger all of you. Janeway: No sign of Harry yet, but there are parts of the cube that we still can't scan. Tuvok: Could the drones be holding him in another location? Janeway: Unlikely. Seven said they didn't seem to be aware of his presence. Tuvok: If he ejected in an escape pod, we would have detected his beacon by now. Janeway: Try to activate his comm. badge. Match the carrier wave to a Borg interlink frequency. They shouldn't detect it. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: What have we learned from our friend here? Emh: The bigger they come, the harder they fall. Behold the David that slew our Goliath. Janeway: A pathogen. Emh: A space-borne virus that adapted to Borg physiology. It's inert now, but in its virulent state it attacked the drones and killed them. Tuvok: Why weren't the juveniles infected? Seven: The maturation chamber is designed to protect developing drones. Malfunctions caused by the deaths of the adults led several of the chambers to open prematurely. Tuvok: Does this pathogen only target the Borg? Emh: The Borg, and other cybernetic organisms it encounters. You're not thinking of using it as a biological weapon? Tuvok: If we can revive the pathogen and reintroduce it, we could neutralize the drones without harming the away team. Emh: Neutralize? You mean murder, don't you? Captain, they're children. Tuvok: Need I remind you that these children have committed murder themselves in their futile attempts to assimilate others. Janeway: Seven, tell me something. You saw them, talked to them. Do you think they'll kill the hostages if we don't give them what they want? Seven: Yes. Janeway: I want that pathogen as an option, Doctor, but I won't consider using it until I've seen these drones for myself. Think you can arrange that? Then you're with me. Kim: Computer, identify the source of this comm. signal. Computer: Starship Voyager. Kim: I need to respond on the same carrier wave. Computer: That procedure will require significant modifications. Kim: Well, don't worry. I'm way ahead of you. Leader: Why are you here? Janeway: I wanted to make a new proposal. Leader: We've already negotiated. You've seen the hostages. Now give us the deflector as agreed. Janeway: Maybe it's hard for you to accept, but you don't have to rejoin the Hive. Our Doctor can remove your implants. You can come with us. You were individuals yourselves not long ago. Children with families. You were abducted and assimilated. I recognize your species. You're Brenari, and you're Norcadian. Do you remember your world? Mezoti: A theta class planetoid. population two and sixty million. Binary suns. Janeway: And what did it look like when those suns set each night? Can you remember that? Leader: Irrelevant! The deflector, now. Janeway: We need more time. That deflector array is essential to our Leader: No! Give it to us. Janeway: Or what? You'll assimilate me? That won't solve your problem. I can't give you Voyager's deflector, but maybe we can repair your technology. Leader: Clarify. Janeway: Seven knows a good deal about Borg systems. Leader: You have two hours. Seven: I don't know the extent of the damage. It could take longer. Leader: Two hours or your hostages die. Don't come back here, Captain. Janeway: I bought us another two hours. The pathogen? Tuvok: It should be ready by then. Torres: Did you see the away team? Janeway: I'm afraid not, but Seven assured me our people haven't been harmed. Torres: I can't believe we're negotiating with adolescent drones. Janeway: They're not exactly drones. Mature Borg are predictable. They'll ignore you or assimilate you. But these juveniles, they're unstable. Tuvok: They are contemptuous of authority, convinced that they are superior. Typical adolescent behavior for any species. Torres: It's a transmission, from the Cube. Janeway: Seven? Torres: No. It's Harry. I'm clearing it up now. Kim: Delta Flyer to Voyager, respond. Janeway: We're receiving you, Ensign. Where are you? Kim: Still in the Flyer. It's locked up in some kind of hanger bay, along with two alien ships. Tuvok: I've isolated his coordinates. Janeway: How close is he to their shield generator? Tuvok: Roughly eight hundred meters. Janeway: Harry, are there any plasma charges aboard the Flyer? Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: In that case, how do you feel about going for a little walk? Kim: I could use the exercise. Janeway: Tuvok will guide you to the shield generator. If you destroy it, you won't have to make the trip back. Kim: Understood. Icheb: I have the technology you've requested. Seven: Thank you. Icheb: You were a drone for eighteen years. Seven: Correct. Icheb: I accessed your data file. Seven: Why? Icheb: I thought it might be relevant. Seven: What else did you learn? Icheb: You were assimilated as a juvenile, like us. Seven: My parents were scientists studying the Borg. They took me with them. My childhood was short. Icheb: Childhood? Seven: The years between birth and physical maturity, when humanoids adapt to their roles as individuals. Perhaps you have memory of yours. Icheb: I don't know. Seven: What about your parents? Do you remember them? Icheb: No. No memories. Seven: Your sub-vocal processor is malfunctioning. I can repair it for you. It's a slight adjustment. It won't be painful. Icheb: The First told me my malfunction could not be repaired until we reconnected with the Collective. Icheb: This color. My mother's hair was this color. Leader: I thought we agreed, no irrelevant discussions. What is the punishment for disobeying the protocols? Icheb: Deactivation. Seven: I engaged him in this discussion. Leader: Return to your station. Seven: I found some unsettling information. I examined their communication records. The Collective did receive the drones' initial distress call. Janeway: How long before they arrive? Seven: A vessel was not dispatched. The Collective declared the neonatal drones irrelevant and severed their link to the Hive permanently. Janeway: They see them as damaged, unworthy of re-assimilation. Seven: Precisely. Janeway: Are the drones aware of this? Seven: No. They don't have the ability to decrypt the message. Janeway: Once they learn they've been rejected by the Hive, they won't need our deflector. They might be willing to release the hostages. Seven: Normally when drones learn they're irrelevant, they deactivate themselves. But these neonatal drones are unpredictable. They may not adhere to Borg protocols. Janeway: There is another option. We could invite them to Voyager. When they realize they have no place else to go Seven: If you're suggesting transforming them into individuals, that would be extremely difficult. Janeway: You turned out pretty well, Seven. Seven: That's because I was prepared before you encountered me. Janeway: What do you mean? Seven: When I was first captured by the Borg, I was young and frightened. I watched my parents assimilated. Then I was placed in a maturation chamber, and the Hive mind began to restructure my synaptic pathways, purge my individuality. When I emerged five years later, the turmoil of my forced assimilation had been replaced with order. You may not be aware of this, Captain, but that order continues to be a source of strength for me. I could not have regained my humanity without it. Janeway: I appreciate your insights. But just because they didn't have the benefit of your Borg upbringing doesn't mean we're going to turn our backs on them. There has to be another way. Seven: Not all drones can be saved, Captain. Janeway: Continue the repairs aboard the Borg Cube. We'll hold onto this information for now. Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: They do have one thing going for them. You. If there's anyone who can reach them, it's you. Kim: Three of hearts on a transwarp conduit. Tuvok: Ensign? Kim: King of clubs on a power coupling. I'm marking my route with playing cards in case I have to come back the same way. Tuvok: You shouldn't distract yourself, Mister Kim. Kim: I need a little distraction. This hike is bringing up some bad memories. Tuvok: An earlier visit to a Borg Cube? Kim: No, a haunted house my parents took me to when I was six. Tuvok: Borg vessels may be forbidding, but they are not haunted. Kim: Tuvok? Tuvok: Turn left, Ensign. Kim: Nine of diamonds on a data node. Seven: The resonance field collapsed. It'll take an hour to reinitialize. Leader: These delays are intentional. Seven: I'm working as efficiently as I can. Examine my work for yourself if you have doubts. Leader: This data's flawed. Seven: More likely it's your understanding of quadric field theory that's flawed. Leader: Ignore her. She's trying to divide us. Seven: They rely on you, yet you lack the skills necessary to ensure their survival. Leader: We've managed so far. We're Borg. You've forgotten what that means. Seven: The unity of the Collective, common goals, the quest for perfection. I have not forgotten. But you don't need to remain drones to experience those things. Come back with me to Voyager. Leader: Thirty eight minutes. You're wasting time. Icheb: Another maturation chamber is malfunctioning. Seven: Its autonomic nervous system is failing. Leader: It's Borg. It will adapt. Mezoti: It's not adapting. Let Seven help. Seven: We can modulate the stasis field to stabilize its functions, at least temporarily. Assist me. The field is degrading. We need to transport it into an incubation pod. Quickly. Mezoti: Why is it doing that? Seven: Its respiratory system is impaired, and this incubation pod is malfunctioning. We must transport this infant to Voyager. Leader: No. The drone is part of our Collective. Icheb: Not if it dies. Kim: Tetryon levels are rising. I'm getting closer. Tuvok: The shield generator should be directly ahead. Kim: I see it. The first charge is in place. Tuvok? Hello? Mezoti: You left these. Mezoti: I like her. She looks like Seven of Nine. Kim: Is Seven your friend? You know, she's my friend, too. Maybe someday, we Mezoti: Your weapon won't work here. Dampening field. Janeway: How long has it been since you lost contact? Tuvok: Four or five minutes. Janeway: His bio-signs? Emh: Doctor to the Captain. Please report to Sickbay immediately. Janeway: On my way. Keep looking for him. Janeway: What's the emergency? Emh: I thought you should see for yourself. Somebody left a bundle on our doorstep. I turned around and there she was, lying on a bio-bed. Janeway: Seven must have beamed her here. Emh: Good thing, too. A few more minutes and I wouldn't have been able to do anything for her. It's hard to believe she could grow up to be a drone. Emh: Hold her for a moment while I take some readings. Oh, I guess she just wanted to be held. Oh. The pathogen. I finished synthesizing it. Janeway: Start working with Tuvok on a way to deploy the virus. Emh: Captain, you don't seriously plan to use it? Janeway: If I have to. Let's just hope your brothers and sisters don't force my hand. Seven: You complain of delays then you interrupt my work. Leader: Can you identify this? Seven: It's a plasma charge. Leader: You tried to deceive us. Leader: Nanoprobes were injected into his bloodstream. He won't survive without medical attention. Call your Captain. Tell her to give us the deflector. Seven: That won't be necessary. I only need a few more minutes to repair the Leader: No more delays. No more deceptions. The deflector. Resistance is futile. Leader: Comply. Janeway: Return Harry Kim, then we'll talk. Leader: We've talked enough. Your requests are irrelevant. Comply or we'll assimilate the others. Janeway: It'll take us at least an hour to dismantle the deflector and transfer the components. Leader: Now. Janeway: I can't give it to you now. It's complex technology that's part of our ship. We can't simply remove it. And no amount of threats from you is going to change that. Tuvok: They've locked a tractor beam onto the deflector. Torres: They're trying to tear it off. Hull stress is increasing. Breaches on decks ten and eleven. Janeway: Increase shield strength and randomize the harmonics. Tuvok: They're adapting. Seven: Even with Voyager's deflector, your efforts to return to the Hive will fail. Leader: They'll come for us. Seven: No, they won't. The Borg received your message but chose to ignore it. They consider you irrelevant. Mezoti: Irrelevant? Icheb: We are damaged. They don't want us. Leader: Ignore her. It's another lie. Seven: Their reply is in data grid four two six. Use decryption protocol theta three. Leader: Return to your station. It's another deception. She's manipulating us. Icheb: The transmission is authentic. Leader: It's a mistake. Seven: The Collective does not tolerate imperfection. Leader: Then we'll assimilate more species. Prove we're worthy. Torres: Hull stress is reaching critical levels. Janeway: Reroute all emergency power to structural integrity. Torres: That'll buy us another minute at most. Tuvok: Captain, I have found a fluctuation in their shield grid near a plasma duct. It's too intermittent to beam out the hostages, but we could use it to deploy the pathogen. Captain. Janeway: Not yet. Tuvok: There is no alternative. Janeway: There's always an alternative. We just need to find it. Their tractor beam draws power from the same grid as their shield matrix. If we use the deflector to send a feedback pulse along the beam, it could disrupt their shields. Do it. Torres: Rerouting warp plasma. If this doesn't work it'll do more damage to us than the Cube. Janeway: It'll work. Prepare to fire. Seven: You have no future with the Borg. But you do with Voyager. A chance to reclaim your real lives. Leader: What do you know about real lives? Seven: Does he speak for all of you? You should make your decisions yourself, as individuals. Icheb: They are sending a feedback pulse through our tractor beam. It's overloading our shield matrix. Leader: Adapt! Tuvok: Their tractor beam is fluctuating. Their shields are dropping. Torres: I've got a partial lock on the away team. Boosting the confinement beam. I've got three of them. Tuvok: Confirmed. Chakotay, Paris and Neelix are in Transporter room two. Janeway: What about Seven and Harry? Torres: They must be in a section that's still shielded. Janeway: Amplify the feedback pulse. Mezoti: The other captives are gone. Icheb: The shields around this chamber are failing. Instructions. Seven: Lower your shields. Lower the shields! Leader: No! Icheb: Leave her alone. Leader: Get back to your station. Do what I say. Icheb: What you say? I thought we were a Collective. Mezoti: One mind, one voice. Leader: I protected you. Gave you order. Icheb: Your order. Your rules. Leader: Their feedback pulse is overloading the induction grids. Seven: This vessel will be destroyed. We must evacuate. Leader: No! Assist me. Seven: You're damaged. Lie still. Leader: We have to resist. The Collective will come for us. Seven: His cortical implants are depolarizing. I can't help him. Mezoti: We'll find a new home. You'll see. Leader: We are Borg. Seven: Yes. We are Borg. Seven: Lower the shields. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Harry's recovering in Sickbay, and the rest of the away team is safe and sound. As for the drones, the Doctor's removed most of their implants, leaving us with four very troubled children. Janeway: We've sent out calls to any Brenari and Norcadian ships that might be in the vicinity, but we haven't gotten any responses so far, and we're still trying to figure out where the other two came from. It may take a while. Seven: They could use the time. They have a great deal to learn. Janeway: It might help if they had someone around who knew what they're up against. Seven: I've never been responsible for children. Mister Neelix would be a wiser choice. Janeway: From what I've seen, you're the one they've established a bond with. They'll be looking to you for guidance. Seven: Perhaps I could help them avoid some of the obstacles I've encountered. Mezoti: Do we have to regenerate now? Seven: Yes, but first. Seven: I was able to salvage your assimilation profiles. They include your names and some limited biographical data. Icheb: Icheb. My name was Icheb. Seven: Your name is Icheb. Icheb: I remember now. It was my father's second name. Mezoti: My designation is Mezoti. It's a pretty name. Seven: Yes it is, and it's all yours. Azan and Rebi. I'll tell you more about them tomorrow. Seven: Computer. Decrease ambient lighting by sixty percent. Good night. Sweet dreams.

Paris: Get out of the way! Sorry. Seamus: Tommy-me-boy, you're a little fast there. Seamus: Did you hurt yourself, Tommy boy? Paris: I think I zigged when I should have zagged. Seamus: Well, maybe you ought to stick to a horse and carriage. Still, she's a beauty. The world must be treating you well to afford such a thing. Paris: Er, just dipping into my inheritance. Seamus: Oh, come into some money, did you? So who's passed on? Paris: Er, my grandfather on my mother's side. An aristocrat, God rest his soul. Seamus: Sounds like he was a fine man. I'd drink a toast to him, if I had a shilling to me name. Paris: Here. It's on me. Seamus: It'll take three pints to do a proper job, Tommy boy, and this isn't even enough for two. Paris: There, that's all I've got. Seamus: You're a generous man. Care to join me at Sullivan's? Paris: Oh, I wish I could, but I'm on my way to Castle O'Dell. Seamus: Night's coming. And they say when the sun goes down the Queen of the Faerie folk reclaims the castle. Paris: I'll give her your regards. Seamus: Don't say I didn't warn you. Paris: Computer, replace damaged tire. Seamus: Saints preserve us. Seamus: I thought I would die from the shock of it. Michael: Now, Seamus, you're not a great one for telling things the way they were. Seamus: I'll admit I've been known to add a little color to stories from time to time to liven things up. But with God as my witness, I saw Tom Paris using unnatural powers to fix that wheel of his. Michael: Tommy boy practicing unholy magic. Next thing you'll be telling me is, you want to pay for your own drinks. Seamus: Make fun if you like, but he was heading up to Castle O'Dell only an hour before dark. Fitzgerald: Oh, leave it alone, Seamus. Can't one day go by without you making an ass of yourself? Milo: But that Tom Paris is an odd one. Coming and going through town as if he built the place. Seamus: That's right. And where does he go? Milo: Oh, he's a shifty one. And for that matter, so are his friends. Michael: If you're talking about Katie O'Clare, you'd better watch your mouth. Milo: Well, you know what they say, Sullivan. Birds of a feather. Michael: They also say superstition is the religion of fools. Seamus: Killmannin, 1846. Villager: What? Seamus: Old Patsy down in County Meath spoke of a band of spirit folk who came to Killmannin in '46. Michael: Killmannin. Did you ever hear of it, Doc? Fitzgerald: No, this is the first. Milo: Ah, you won't find it on any map. Not any more. Seamus: It was a town mot much different than Fair Haven. That is, until this group of strangers arrived. The townsfolk welcomed them with open arms. After all, a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet. But they regretted their hospitality soon enough. Milo: The cows stopped giving milk. The potatoes grew rotten in the ground. Seamus: Then people started to go missing. Fitzgerald: Oh, go on. Seamus: It's true. Michael: What happened to them? Milo: They were taken to the Other World. Seamus: When winter came, and the nights grew longer, the entire town vanished. Every post, every nail, poof, into thin air, never to be seen again. Fitzgerald: Are you suggesting that Fair Haven's going to go the way of Killmannin, just because we have a few new folks in town? Seamus: I'm suggesting you keep an eye on Tom Paris and his cohorts. Not to mention that lady friend of yours. Michael: So Katie's some kind of goblin now, is that it? Seamus: She's certainly cast a spell on you. Milo: Well, if you ask me Man: Shush. Michael: Katie. Janeway: Am I interrupting? Michael: Aw, just some nonsense. Seamus is up to his old tricks again. Maggie: Good day to you, Katie. Michael: Oh, it's good to see you. What'll it be? Janeway: The usual, please. Michael: Well, one cup of tea coming right up. Did you snatch any children on the way into town, Katie? Janeway: What? Michael: Never mind. I missed your smile. What have you been doing with yourself? Janeway: Nothing terribly exciting. Just helping my aunt and uncle out on the farm. They're not as spry as they used to be. Although, they've got a goat that could argue Mossie Donegan's talking pig under the table. Michael: You'll have to bring him into the bar the next time you're up. We'll arrange a debate. Janeway: I'll see that I do. I hear they opened a nickelodeon in Dooleen. I thought it might be nice to go to a show. Michael: I've got to tend the bar. I wish you'd let me know you were coming, I would have made arrangements. Janeway: That's all right. We can go some other time. Michael: No, I mean, you've already made the trip. It'd be a shame if you had to leave. Janeway: Well, I could be convinced to stay, if you'd be up to a game of Rings. Let's go. Kim: Computer, one dozen Broadway lilies. Paris: Something tells me that's not lunch. Kim: I already ate. Paris: Ah. Who are they for? Kim: A friend. Paris: Oh, and this friend wouldn't happen to be a lovely Irish lass, now, would she? Kim: Aren't you due on the bridge? Paris: Ah, you'd better watch yourself, Harry. These country girls aren't as simple as you think. Maggie O'Halloran could be a little more than you can handle. Kim: Heard about your little traffic accident. Paris: That was a clutch malfunction. It wasn't my fault. Torres: If you ask me, that whole program is an accident waiting to happen. You've been running Fair Haven around the clock. Just yesterday, I had to replace three holo-emitters. Paris: I ran a full diagnostic this morning. Everything is fine. Torres: Whatever you say. But, when your quaint little seaside town starts to depolarize, don't come running to me. Kim: If you'll excuse me, I'm late for a moonlight stroll. Paris: Are you sure you don't need a chaperone? Kim: Not with your driving record. Paris: I think I know just what'll make his date just a little more interesting. Torres: Just don't blow out any more holo-emitters. Milo: What are we doing out here, Seamus? Skulking about in the dark, spying on folks. Seamus: What's the matter, Milo? You got a case of the willies? Milo: Well, what if you're right? What if this Tom Paris is some kind of demon? If we're caught, he'll cast a spell on us. Seamus: Then stop your squawking, or he'll catch us for sure. Come on, man. He's getting away. Kim: A captain is only as good as his crew. Maggie: It must be lonely out there on the sea with only the stars to guide you. Kim: Sometimes, during the night watch, with the timbers creaking and the dark water stretching out as far as the eye can see, you can believe you're the only man in the world. Maggie: Maybe you should think about settling down on dry land. Kim: Oh, believe me, I do. As often as I think of you. Maggie: Can I ask you something, Harry? Kim: Of course. Maggie: Would you like to hold my hand? Kim: If you promise to hold mine back. Seamus: Look. He's got some sort of contraption in his hand. Milo: Maybe we're going about this the wrong way. We should go down to Saint Mary's and tell Father Mulligan the whole story. Seamus: He's not going to listen to talk of the supernatural. Milo: Och, if you fill his collection box, he'll listen to anything. Seamus: That's true. Kim: I thought you were promised to Ray Euan. Maggie: Not anymore. Can I ask you something else, Harry? Kim: Please. Maggie: Would you like to kiss me? Kim: Is that a trick question? Milo: Holy mother of God! Kim: Tom! Don't you have anything better to do? Paris: Boy, she really turned on you. Kim: Ha, ha, very funny. I could have been trampled. Paris: Relax, the holodeck safeties are on. There's nothing to worry about. Kim: All right, all right. You've had your fun. Now change her back. Chakotay: Chakotay to Paris and Kim. Report to the bridge. Paris: On our way. Kim: Hey, what about Maggie? Paris: She'll be fine. Let her graze. Seamus: Let her graze. Did you hear that? All: Amen. Emh: Please be seated. I recently heard a tale of two farmers, who shall remain nameless for the sake of this sermon. It seems one broke the other's plow and refused to replace it. His come-uppance was served to him not by the hand of God, but by the other farmer, in the form of a clogged irrigation ditch. Now, do you think their disagreement stopped there? Of course not. They go on, just as the heathen did of old. After all, one spiteful act deserves another, right? Wrong! What these sinners have forgotten is that they are neighbors. Grace: He's in love with the sound of his own voice. Emh: Whether we are man or woman, parent or child, flesh and blood, or photons and force fields. It has been said. Grace: On the other hand, perhaps he's been nipping at the sacramental wine. Emh: And as such, our community is everything. It is our world, and we are a part of it, just as a branch is part of a tree. Do you see branches tearing leaves off one another? No! Do you see roots hoarding water from the trunk? No! Do you see Milo: Easy, Maggie. Whoa. Easy now. Seamus: Father. Emh: Did you make a wrong turn on your way to the milking shed? Seamus: Weren't nothing like that at all, Father. Something terrible's happened. Emh: What now? Milo: This was Maggie O'Halloran. The spirits have turned her into a cow. Grace: Maggie O'Halloran's been eaten by a cow?. Emh: Did you see these spirits? Seamus: That we did. Tom Paris, and Harry Kim. Emh: I hate to disappoint you, but it sounds as though you've been the victim of a practical joke. Tom Paris is a known prankster. Milo: Oh, it was unholy magic, I tell you. We saw it with our own eyes. Emh: When did this alleged transformation take place? Seamus: Last night. Emh: Well then, that settles it. This couldn't possibly be Maggie O'Halloran. I saw Maggie this morning on my way into church. She was at her cart tending her flowers. She's probably there now. Well, I, I think that's enough excitement for one morning. This mass is over. Go in peace. Er, leave the cow. Milo: Oh, all right, Father. Excuse us, Maggie. Seamus: Take care, Maggie. Seamus: Maggie! Maggie: Well, good morning, boys. Seamus: Is everything all right? You're looking a little out of sorts this morning. Maggie: Yes. Well, I must admit I'm not quite myself today. Seamus: Oh? Maggie: Well, this is going to sound very odd but I feel like I just woke up from the strangest dream, and I don't remember going to sleep. Milo: You're right, that does sound odd. Seamus: Do you remember anything about last night? Maggie: Well, I was out with Harry Kim. He chatted me up at the Ox and Lamb, and we were off on a walk before I knew it. Milo: What did you do on your walk? Maggie: We talked. What kind of a girl do you think I am? Seamus: Now, Maggie, we weren't implying anything. Milo: No. Seamus: Do you recall anything else about the evening? Milo: Er, did anything out of the ordinary happen? Anything at all? Maggie: I don't remember. Seamus: Well, tell us about the dream, then. Maggie: Oh, it was most unpleasant. I was walking around town with nothing but a bell around my neck. Well, somehow I wound up in church. Everyone was staring at me. You were there, Seamus, and you too, Milo. The next thing I knew, I was tending my flowers just as you boys walked up. Seamus: Well, that's quite a story, Maggie. Milo: Can we get a quick one? Seamus: Maybe just a wee taste. Milo: So, I said to young Harry, I'm not one for rainy days and gray skies. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, he called up the spirits to do his bidding. A second later, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Edith: I was up near Ballahick Farm with little Mary. She was playing near the well. Somehow, she lost her footing and fell in. I was so frightened I didn't know what to do. So I ran to the Colbys to get some help. But when we returned, there was Mary in the meadow talking with Katie O'Clare. There wasn't a scratch on her. Katie said I must've been mistaken when I saw her fall. There was no mistake. Grace: I saw something strange, too. Well, I hesitated to say anything for fear you'd think me mad. But after listening to your stories today I feel you've a right to know. Milo: Well? Speak up. Grace: Last Sunday, after his sermon, I saw Father Mulligan vanish into thin air. Milo: He's one of them, right enough. Father Mulligan, Tommy boy, Katie and the rest. They're spirit folk! Maggie: Well, what about that Neelix fellow who runs the Ox and Lamb? Well, if he doesn't look like a leprechaun I don't know who does. Seamus: They're all probably up at Castle O'Dell, conspiring against us. Michael: Now, that's enough! I can't deny there's been some unusual goings on, but what are you proposing? That we run Katie and her friends out of town? Or maybe we should line them up in front of a firing squad. Is that what you want? These people have been our neighbors. We've become friends. Let's not forget that. Seamus: Well, we can't just sit here and do nothing while they take over Fair Haven. Michael: I'm not saying we do nothing, but let's go about this like civilized people. Milo: What do you suggest, we sit them down and discuss it over tea? Michael: You're looking lovelier than ever, Katie. Janeway: Thank you. Michael: Open it. Janeway: The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser. Thank you, Michael. Michael: It's the longest poem in the English language, and the first to use a nine line stanza. Janeway: I'll start reading it tonight. I love epic poetry. Michael: Really? I didn't know that. It seems as if there's a lot of things I don't know about you. I thought you'd want to know there's been some talk about you and your friends. Strange things have been happening around town. Folk are saying you're to blame. Janeway: What kind of strange things? Michael: People using unholy magic. Vanishing into thin air. Changing the weather. Janeway: By any chance would all this have anything to do with your reading suggestion? Michael: As a matter of fact. Janeway: Don't tell me. They say I'm the Faerie Queene. Michael: Frankly, they could tell me you're the devil himself and I wouldn't care. Janeway: I'll try not to take that personally. Michael: The sad truth of the matter is, I don't know who you are. Janeway: What do you mean? Michael: You've been lying to me, Katie. I've been doing some checking with friends of mine in County Clare. Seems nobody's heard of you there. Janeway: It's a big county. Michael: And I've got a lot of friends. You've been evasive from the day we met. I was a fool not to see it. Where do you go when you leave here? There've been times I wanted to talk to you, tell you about my day, about a book I'd read, just to say hello. But I can't, because I don't know where to find you. What're you hiding, Katie? Janeway: I'll admit I have misled you about some things, but never about anything important. And I wasn't lying when I said I care about you. Michael: I wish I could believe that. Janeway: You can. I didn't want to deceive you, but under the circumstances I had no choice. Michael: What circumstances? Janeway: Michael, there are things about me you may not be able to understand. Michael: Try me. Who are you, Katie? Where are you really from? The truth. Janeway: Computer, end program. Janeway: How did he know? Those are questions no holodeck character should be asking. What exactly did you do to that program? Paris: Well, I, I just added a few bells and whistles to make the characters more realistic. Nothing too fancy. Janeway: Well, something's gone wrong. The people of Fair Haven aren't simple country folk anymore. Janeway: Report. Torres: It looks like we've worn out our welcome. Paris: It's the first time we've tried running a holodeck program non-stop. We're lucky it lasted this long. Torres: There are damaged subroutines in all of the character files. Paris: So much for my open door policy. Janeway: Shut it down. And repair the damaged systems. Kim: As I recall, everything was fine until someone started turning people into cows. Paris: Computer, display Fair Haven character Michael Sullivan. Kim: Tom. Michael: Where am I? Where's Katie? Paris: He shouldn't be aware that he's in the lab. Kim: I've isolated the damaged subroutines. Michael: I said, where the hell am I? Paris: It's all right, Michael. Take it easy. Michael: What is this place? Paris: Try to relax. Michael: If someone doesn't tell me where I am, I'm going to start busting heads. Kim: His perceptual filters are malfunctioning. Michael: What're you saying? What's a perceptual filter? Paris: It's, it's okay. We're trying to help you. Kim: There. Look at these. Those are the algorithms designed to keep him oblivious to anything outside the program's parameters. Paris: They're offline . Kim: Give me a minute. That should do it. Paris: How are you feeling, Michael? Michael: Never better. Harry, Liam's been looking for you. You're the only man in four counties to beat him at arm wrestling. He wants a rematch. Kim: Tell him he's got one. Michael: I'll do that. Paris: Ha. Well, that was easy enough. Kim: Yeah. Unfortunately it looks like all the other characters have the same malfunction. Paris: Don't tell me we're going to have to go through every one of them? Kim: If we reactivate the program, use the primary control port in Sullivan's pub, we could reset all the perceptual filters with a single command sequence. Paris: I guess we'll be seeing you later. Michael: Looking forward to it. Paris: Computer, resume Fair Haven program in Holodeck one, and transfer Michael Sullivan back to his bar. Michael: Danny. Danny. Danny: Yes? Michael: Come here. Fetch Doc Fitzgerald. Tell him to meet me in the church. Go on. Hurry, lad! Paris: We thought we'd reset his perceptual filters until we took a closer look at his subroutines. Turns out he was just playing along. Janeway: Never underestimate an Irish hologram. Kim: We'll have to reprogram Michael when we do the others. Janeway: Let's just hope he didn't share the experience with too many others. Kim: Got it. These resequenced algorithms should do the trick. Janeway: Good luck. Janeway: What the hell was I thinking? Chakotay: A minor malfunction. Janeway: Well, that's the problem. I've got a boyfriend who malfunctions. Chakotay: Tom and Harry'll fix him. Janeway: And if they can't? Chakotay: One piece of advice you've always given me. Tell the truth. Janeway: Hate to break the news to you, Michael, but I'm a starship captain and you're a three hundred deciwatt holodeck program. I couldn't do it. Chakotay: In that case, you'll have to get creative. Michael: I'm not a superstitious man, Doc, but I've been seeing things I can't explain. Fitzgerald: You're not the only one. At first I thought we had an epidemic on our hands, but this is no fever. Michael: No, it's not. Last night I was talking to Katie, and the next thing I knew I was being spirited away to God knows where. Fitzgerald: They took you? Where? Michael: Maybe it was the Other World. I don't know. Tom Paris was there. Young Harry, too. Fitzgerald: What did they want with you? Michael: I'm not sure. They were talking about me like I wasn't there. Saying things about Fair Haven. That we knew too much about them. Fitzgerald: Oh, Lord. Michael: And that's not all. They were saying something about coming to the pub tonight to change the town somehow. Fitzgerald: What does that mean? Michael: I'm damned if I know. Fitzgerald: How did you get away? Michael: With all the talk about us knowing too much about them, I figured that if I pretended nothing was out of the ordinary, they might let me go. And sure enough, that's exactly what they did. Fitzgerald: I wonder if this is how things started in Killmannin back in '46. Michael: I'm not sure what they have in mind, but we'd better be prepared. Kim: We're in luck. Nobody's home. Seamus: If we're going to fight them, we've got to use the right ammunition! Biddy Ramsey gave me this before she passed on. She knew a thing or two about faerie magic and how to fight it. Everything she learned, she learned from this book. Michael: I doubt if it says anything about using rifles. Milo: You'd be surprised how many things a bullet will stop. Michael: I don't like this one bit. Guns, Seamus. Fitzgerald: Under normal circumstances, I'd agree with you, Michael, but these aren't normal circumstances. Milo: Maybe you'd still like us to be acting civilized. Where did that get you before? A ticket to the Other World, that's what. Fitzgerald: We don't know what the spirit folk have in store for us. Michael: That's just it. We don't know much about anything, do we? And we've got Milo here acting like a holy war has been declared. Seamus: Relax, Sullivan. The rifles are only a last resort. Besides, we've got incantations, which are more lethal to spirit folk than any weapons forged by man. That's how we're going to force them back into their realm. And we've got red twine to stop them from changing shape. Milo: And don't forget about the ash berries. Seamus: Ash berries, right. That's how you keep them from using their powers against you. They've been walking amongst us for weeks now, pretending to be our friends, lying to us, making mischief. What's next? Milo: Yes, what is next, Seamus? Seamus: I for one am not going to stand by and let them run roughshod over our town. All: No! Seamus: We can't rest until we've driven every one of them out. Grace: They're here! Tom Paris and Harry Kim. They're in Sullivan's right now. Seamus: Who's with me? Paris: Seamus, let us explain. You're making a mistake. Milo: The only mistake we made was letting you into Fair Haven. What's that? Seamus: Shoot it! Paris: No, wait, wait. That's a delicate piece of technology. Computer: Warning. Holodeck controls and safety protocols are offline. Milo: A voice from the Other World. Computer: Emergency overrides are malfunctioning. Paris: Computer, freeze program! Computer: Sixty two percent compliance. Seamus: They're getting away! After them! Paris: Computer, exit! Janeway: Gunfire? Chakotay: Two shots directly at the primary controls. We can't deactivate the program or get the safeties back online. Janeway: Where are Tom and Harry now? Torres: Saint Mary's. Looks like some of your parishioners are holding them captive. Neelix: We can't blame them for being frightened. They must think we're some kind of sorcerers. Chakotay: Well, we could use a little magic right now, because that's about the only way we're going to get our people back. Janeway: Transporters? Chakotay: Too many stray photons. We can't get a lock. Seven: We should enter the holodeck with a security team and take them by force. Tuvok: Need I remind you the holo-characters have weapons as well. We'd be risking armed conflict. Torres: Well, then let's just pull the plug. Cut power to the hologrid. Neelix: That would purge the program from our database. Torres: Exactly. Neelix: But we'd lose Fair Haven and all its people. Seven: They're not people. They're holograms. Janeway: And they weren't programmed to be violent. I don't believe they'd harm anyone. Torres: You can't be certain. Janeway: Well, I am certain, and I'd like to find a less drastic solution. Torres: With all due respect, Captain. Michael can be reprogrammed. Tom and Harry can't. Janeway: One problem at a time, B'Elanna. The people of Fair Haven may not be real, but our feelings toward them are. I won't destroy these relationships if we can find another way. Now, if we could attach transport enhancers onto Tom and Harry, would that be enough to cut through the interference? Tuvok: I believe so. Janeway: Good. Then we just need to get someone close to them. Doctor. Emh: A few words of inspiration should get me within reach. Seven: I suggest you use your mobile emitter. It'll isolate you from the malfunctions. Janeway: Good idea. Stand by to cut power to the hologrid in case things get out of hand. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: In the meantime, I believe your flock needs tending. Seamus: Ex labis caelestium sanctorum super ad aures atrorum larvarum mentientium. From the lips of the heavenly saints above, to the ears of the dark and lying spirits, may your spectral forms be cast back to the Other World. Back to the Other World! There must be some trick to these incantations. Milo: What do you make of this, Seamus? Kim: We should just tell them the truth. Paris: Oh, good idea, Harry. Do you want to tell them they're only holograms, or should I? Seamus: I see you left your box of charms at Sullivan's. I believe this is the talisman you used on Maggie. Maybe we should turn them into cows. Paris: No, no, there's been a misunderstanding. We are not spirit folk. Milo: I think we've heard enough of your lies, Tommy boy. I say we tie them up to the lamp post in the square and show them how spirit folk were dealt with in the olden days. Michael: Leave them alone. It's bad enough you've got them trussed up like Christmas turkeys. There's no need for foolish threats. Milo: You'd better watch whose side you're on. You're not above suspicion yourself. Michael: Oh, so we're going to start turning on one another now, is that it? Milo: We are, if you're choosing them over your own people. Emh: Sinners! Sinners, all of you. You have the audacity to turn a house of worship into a prison? This is where we gather to pledge our love for our fellow man, not condemnation. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Seamus: Quite a rousing sermon, Father, but I'm afraid you're not going to find too many takers tonight. Milo: Not after your little vanishing act. It seems Grace Declan saw you disappear into thin air on Sunday. Seamus: Aye, I'd say that sounds a wee bit unholy. You're in league with them, aren't you? Tie him up with the others. Emh: Listen to yourselves. You're letting confusion and fear get the best of you. Doctor to Janeway. Seamus: What's this? Emh: Fire and brimstone don't seem to be working. Milo: Look here, Seamus. Another talisman. Seamus: Quick, get it off of him. Janeway: Beam him out of there. Tuvok: His program's been disengaged from the mobile emitter. Seamus: And what were you planning on doing with these? Kim: Those are the devices that will allow us to leave. You just put them on our coats and we'll be on our way. Milo: You'd like us to believe that, wouldn't you. Seamus: Something tells me these are spirit charms. We pin them on you and God knows what powers you'll have. Michael: This is no charm. It's some kind of a machine. Milo: It doesn't matter. They won't be telling us the truth about any of it. Seamus: Oh, they'll tell us the truth, all right. There's more than one way to pluck the wings off a pixie. We'll induce a trance. Give me Biddy Ramsey's spoon. Keep your eyes on the silverware, Father. Emh: I hope you know this is blasphemous. Oh, this is ridiculous. I can't be hypnotized. Chakotay: I can't isolate the Doctor's program. Janeway: He's been integrated into the Fair Haven matrix. He's vulnerable. Seamus: Tell us the words. How do we banish the spirit folk to the Other World? Emh: There is no Other World. Only Voyager. Milo: Voyager? Emh: Federation starship, Intrepid class, registry number NCC74656. Michael: You're from some sort of vessel? Emh: Mmm hmm. Seamus: He's talking gibberish. Michael: Maybe he's not. This ship of yours. Is that where you took me? Seamus: Look here. It says if you can get a spirit to reveal his true name you'll render yourself impervious to his charms. Milo: What is your true name? Emh: I haven't decided on one yet. Michael: Katie's on that ship, isn't she? Tell me where to find her so I can get to the bottom of this. Paris: I'm sorry, Michael. I can't do that. Michael: Then I guess I'm asking the wrong person. Tell me how to get to Voyager. Milo: What are you doing, Sullivan? Seamus: No man who's gone to the Other World has ever come back. Michael: I have. How do I get there? Tuvok: Captain, the mobile emitter has been activated. Janeway: Lock onto the signal. Michael: I had a cousin went to America. He saw some strange things, but nothing like this. Janeway: You're not in America. This is a starship. It's called Michael: Voyager. I know. Tuvok: Should I transfer him back to the holodeck? Janeway: No. My name isn't Katie O'Clare. It's Kathryn Janeway. Captain Kathryn Janeway. It's going to be difficult to explain. Maybe it's best if I just show you. Michael: You've seen my world. It seems fair that I should have a chance to see yours. Chakotay: Captain? Michael: So, this really is a starship. But how can that be possible? Janeway: Have you ever read The Time Machine, by H. G. Wells? Michael: Are you telling me you've traveled back through time? Janeway: In a manner of speaking. Michael: That's Patrick Gibson and his cousin, Frank. They work on the wharf. They're in my pub every Saturday night for the rings tournament. Janeway: You'll find a lot of familiar faces on Voyager. We've been visiting your town for months. Michael: Why? Janeway: We're explorers. Michael: I'm not letting you off the hook that easy, Kathryn Janeway. There must be more interesting places to explore than Fair Haven. Janeway: Can you think of any place you'd rather be? Michael: I guess that leaves but one question. How long are you planning on staying? Janeway: Well that depends if we're still welcome. Michael: My door is always open. But you're the captain of a starship, I'm a barkeep. Janeway: Just because we're from different worlds doesn't mean we can't care for each other. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: The situation has escalated. Tuvok: The townspeople have started to pile kindling at the base of three lampposts Tuvok: In the village square. Janeway: Stand by. Seamus: Take them outside now. Milo: Stay back. Fitzgerald: What are you doing? Milo: That might not be Michael Sullivan. A demon could have taken his shape. Michael: It's me, Milo. I've been to the place they call Voyager, and I've brought Katie back with me. Janeway: I've come in hopes that we can resolve our differences peacefully. Milo: Peacefully? I'm sure that's what you told the people of Killmannin. Michael: They had nothing to do with what happened in Killmannin, if it happened at all. Janeway: We're truly sorry for what's happened here. We never meant to frighten anyone. Michael: Seamus, you were right about one thing. They are quite different from us, but not in so many ways that we can't be friends. Janeway: And we're not spirit folk. Some of our technology may seem like magic, but I assure you it's not. Michael: Katie showed me things that are beyond our comprehension. They have machines that I can't begin to describe, but not once have they used them against us. Quite the opposite, in fact. Milo, you said you didn't like the rain and young Harry Kim made it go away. Edith Mulchaey herself said that Katie O'Clare pulled her daughter from the well and out of harm's way. These are not the deeds of spirits and mischief makers. Seamus: But they turned Maggie into a cow. Paris: That'll never happen again, I swear. Michael: There, you see? We have his word, and if we can't trust a man's word in Fair Haven, what can we trust? Janeway: If you want, we'll leave and never bother you again. But we'd prefer to find some way to keep our friendship alive. Emh: Captain? Michael: I, for one, would like to keep playing rings with Harry and Tom, keep having Neelix's steamed cabbage at the Ox and Lamb, keep taking walks with Katie. Let's not turn our backs on these good people. If we do, we're only punishing ourselves. Just because we're from different worlds doesn't mean we can't care for each other. Torres: If we're going to retain the program, we can't keep running it around the clock. Paris: Not until we've repaired these damaged systems. Torres: Not ever. We've pushed the limits of holotechnology and they pushed back. If we try it again, we're just asking for trouble. Janeway: I'm afraid we're going to have to close your open door policy. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Torres: What about the characters. Should I purge their memories of the last few days? Janeway: No, leave them. Emh: They think we're spacemen from the future. It won't exactly be like old times. Janeway: We learn to accept alien species with new technologies. Let's hope the people of Fair Haven will learn to accept us. But before we shut down the program and begin repairs, what do you say to one more round at Sullivan's? My treat. Milo: You may be from the moon, Tommy boy, but I've got three shillings that says I can still whip you at rings. Paris: Oh, you're on. Maggie: Hello, Harry. Paris: I'll catch up with you later. Seamus: Tommy boy! I've been told there's a pot of gold somewhere in Glen Abbey. Would you be able to find it with one of those fancy machines of yours? Paris: Just follow the rainbow, Seamus. Seamus: Rainbow, eh? Kim: I didn't think you'd ever speak to me again. Maggie: Well, I suppose I can forgive and forget. It's not that often you meet a handsome young man from outer space. Michael: What's this, Christmas come early? Janeway: It has for you. Open it. Michael: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark Twain. I've read some of his books, but not this one. Janeway: It's about two people from different times who fall in love, among other things. Michael: Sounds familiar. Maybe I have read it. Thank you, Katie. Or Kathryn now, is it? Janeway: Och. Michael: They say if you know a spirit's true name that it renders you impervious against her charm. Do you think there's any truth in that? Janeway: Not a word. Michael: I'm glad to hear it.

Ballard: Tam'vitte. Me'iote rel mestal. Computer: Mestal te'iote senve. Ballard: Siote ven'suil. Bekta! Ballard: Tam'vitte. Me'iote sendaya Voyager. Federation Starship Voyager. If you can hear me, please respond. Ballard: If you can hear me, please respond. Voyager, please respond. Ballard: Come on, Voyager. I know you're there. Mezoti: Hello? Ballard: Voyager? Are you receiving this transmission? Mezoti: My designation is Mezoti. Ballard: You sound a little young to be working the comm. Mezoti: I'm eight. Ballard: I see. Are there any grown-ups I could speak to? Mezoti: My species is six eight nine. Mezoti: Norcadian. What species are you? Ballard: That's a complicated question. Mezoti: Explain. Ballard: I don't know how long I can keep this channel open. Ballard: I need you to patch me through to Captain Janeway. Mezoti: I'll try, but my height may be insufficient. Ballard: Hello? Voyager? Tuvok: Mezoti, you are not authorized to be in here. Mezoti: Are you going to report me to the captain? Tuvok: Considering this is your first offense, a warning will suffice. Seven: What were my instructions? Mezoti: To wait in the Cargo Bay until you returned. Seven: Why didn't you comply? Tuvok: You left the children unsupervised. Seven: Lieutenant Torres required my assistance in Engineering. I was gone for less than ten minutes. Icheb: We told her not to deviate from your instructions. She wouldn't listen. Tuvok: When the captain asked you to take charge of these children, you assured her that you could maintain order. Seven: Controlling them is proving more difficult than I anticipated. They're highly unpredictable. Tuvok: Meditation helps Vulcan children to control their emotions. You might consider Seven: Mezoti! Mezoti: I'm trying to talk to the woman. Seven: What woman? Mezoti: The one transmitting from spatial grid two three six nine. Seven: She's made contact with a small ship approximately three light years from here. Tuvok: Alien vessel, this is the starship Voyager. Respond. Ballard: Tuvok? It's you, isn't it? Tuvok: This is Lieutenant Commander Tuvok. Ballard: Sounds like someone got promoted. I want to hear all about it, but first I need to speak to Captain Janeway. Ballard: You're a sight for sore eyes, Captain. You, too, Harry. Janeway: I'm sorry, but do we know you? Ballard: I'm Ensign Lyndsay Ballard. I was a member of your crew. Of course, I'm not surprised you don't recognize me. Janeway: I don't know who you are, but I'm not amused. Ensign Ballard died almost Ballard: It was on Stardate 51563. I can't blame you for being skeptical, Captain, but if you let me come aboard, I can explain everything. Janeway: We'll beam you to Sickbay. Ballard: I'm sure you'll want me behind a level ten force field. Janeway: No offense. Ballard: None taken. I'm just glad to be home. Chakotay: Captain? What do you think? Janeway: She seems to have intimate knowledge of this ship and its crew. I think we should find out who she is. Kim: Captain, I'd like to come with you. I was very close to Lyndsay, and if somehow it's her, I'll know. Ballard: Harry and I were on our way to a class M planet in the Vyntadi Expanse to recover dilithium ore we'd detected a few days earlier. When we landed, we realized it was a trap set by a Hirogen hunting party. They'd reconfigured a power cell to give off false dilithium readings. Kim: That's exactly what happened. Janeway: Go on. Ballard: Harry and I headed back to the shuttle. We were ten feet away when I was hit with a neural disrupter. Harry said my injury wasn't that bad. He always was a terrible liar. Kim: I tried to get Lyndsay back to Voyager but she was already dead. We buried her in space. Janeway: Go on with your story. Ballard: I woke up on a ship, in a stasis chamber surrounded by aliens. They told me they'd used their technology to reanimate me. I didn't believe them when they said I'd died, but they showed me visual scans of my own corpse lying in the torpedo casing I'd been buried in. The Kobali said I'd been drifting for weeks. Janeway: Kobali? Ballard: If you ever met them, you'd remember. They look just like this. After the reanimation process, they spent months altering my DNA. They were constantly scanning me, injecting me. Kim: Just to make you look like one of them? Ballard: That's how they procreate. They salvage the dead of other races. I was given a Kobali name and placed with a family to help me acclimate. Janeway: You were a prisoner. Ballard: At first. I wanted to contact you, to tell you I was safe, but the Kobali wouldn't let me. They said you were part of my kyn'steya, my, my past life, and that I needed to forget you. All of you. So I spent two years letting my new family think I'd accepted them. When I finally earned their trust, I stole a shuttle and started looking for Voyager. That was six months ago. They've been chasing me ever since. Emh: In spite of her appearance, I'm detecting traces of human DNA. I've compared them with the genetic samples from Ensign Ballard's file. They match. Janeway: It's certainly a convincing story. Ballard: But your Starfleet training is telling you to consider all the possibilities. Maybe I'm some sort of hybrid clone, or telepath who accessed Ensign Ballard's memory somehow? Believe me, I was suspicious myself at first, but I am Lyndsay Ballard. Janeway: Until we find evidence to the contrary, welcome home. Kim: Captain, could you give us a minute? Janeway: Doctor. Kim: So it's really you? Ballard: In the flesh, so to speak. Ballard: I've missed you, too. Janeway: I know you're all as eager as I am to welcome Ensign Ballard back. She's a fine officer, who's shown a lot of courage and determination over the past few years. And we're lucky to have her with us again. Let's do everything we can to make her feel at home. Neelix: Tom and I have already taken the liberty of removing Lyndsay's personal effects from storage. Torres: And whenever you're ready, your old shift is waiting for you in Engineering. Ballard: Thanks, Lieutenant. Chakotay: Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's not forget the Kobali are still out there. Janeway: It seems they want her back as much as we want to keep her. We'll need to take precautions in case they track her to Voyager. Tuvok: I've run preliminary scans on the Kobali shuttle. I believe I can adapt our systems to counter a possible attack. Janeway: Very good. Well, if there's no further business. Ballard: Thank you for saying those nice things about me. Janeway: You seem surprised. Ballard: To be honest, I never thought you noticed me. Janeway: My mistake. Ballard: So, you still playing the clarinet? Kim: Actually, I've taken up the saxophone. Ballard: Ambitious. I bet you're good at it. Kim: You always were my biggest fan. Ballard: Please, no past tense. Kim: Sorry. This is a little strange for me. Ballard: Really? It's been a perfectly normal day for me. Kim: Deck two. Ballard: It just so happens that hearing you play music again is number twenty six on my list. Kim: List? Ballard: Something I made up to pass the time while I was away. I tried to think of everything I would do if I got back to Voyager, including some things I wasn't able to accomplish the first time I was here. Kim: Like showing up for duty shifts on time? Ballard: That's number twenty seven. Naomi: They're here. Neelix: Ah. Why don't you and I have a cup of tea while the children play? Seven: Thank you, but they require my supervision. Naomi: I like your braid. Mezoti: I could show you how to do it. Seven: Mezoti. Neelix: Something wrong? Seven: I've allotted one hour for recreational activity. There's no time for irrelevant conversation. Mezoti: It's not irrelevant. Seven: Adhering to our schedule will allow us to use our time more efficiently. We'll be able to participate in Mezoti: A wider variety of activities. Seven: Fun will now commence. Naomi: Green. Grid three thirteen. Azan: Counter. Grid ten. Naomi: They're cheating. Neelix: How? Mezoti: Azan is using his neural interface to share information. Seven: Is this true? You will exercise punishment protocol nine alpha. Icheb: If they cannot participate, neither will I. Seven: You are encouraging disorder. Icheb: And you never let us do what we want. Seven: You will exercise punishment protocol nine alpha. Icheb: No, I won't. Kim: There you go. Ballard: I can't believe you saved all this. Kim: Tuvok thought I should recycle everything, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Ballard: My skates and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Kim: Do you know how long it took me to fold those? Ballard: Same old Harry. Kim: What's that supposed to mean? Ballard: You're still sort of obsessive. Kim: I'm tidy. Ballard: Is that why you used to request baryon sweeps of your dorm room? Kim: When you live across the hall from a slob. Ballard: Hey, show some respect for the dead. Did I say something wrong? Kim: It's nothing. Ballard: Just because I've been gone for three years doesn't mean I can't still read you like a book. Kim: I gave the eulogy at your funeral. Ballard: Oh? What'd you say? Come on, it's everyone's fantasy to hear their own eulogy. Kim: Absolutely not. Ballard: It's probably for the best. You always were a terrible public speaker. I just hope you didn't stutter too much. Kim: I told them you had a favorite saying. Something you got from an old Klingon battle cry? Ballard: Own the day. Kim: I said that you always believed in attacking each day, possessing it, and that that was what made you so much fun to be around. Ballard: Is that when everybody burst into tears? Kim: I said that if you'd been there, you would have told them to own that day. To attack it, make it their own, and plan to do the same thing tomorrow. Ballard: Pretty strong stuff. Kim: You were a strong person. Ballard: Not always. These last six months haven't been easy. There were plenty of times when I could have given up. Kim: But you didn't. Ballard: You know why? You. I wanted to see you again. Hmm. Guess I won't be needing this anymore. Emh: Sickbay to Ensign Ballard. I've finished analyzing your bio-scans. Ballard: I'm on my way. Emh: My scans identified a genetic pathogen in your bloodstream. It appears to have converted most of your human DNA into a Kobali protein structure. Kim: Is there any way to reverse it? Emh: The biochemical changes have affected every system in your body. I'm afraid there isn't enough of your original DNA left to make you human again. But I believe I can affect some cosmetic changes. Ballard: Are you saying you could make me look like me again? Emh: Yes. The alternations would literally be skin-deep, and it may take several treatments, but I've devised an inaprovaline compound which should do the trick. Physiologically, you'd still be Kobali with a multispheric brain, a binary cardiovascular system. Ballard: But I'd look human? Emh: Oh, yes. Ballard: I've lived with this face for long enough. Let's do it. Emh: Have a seat. You may experience some dizziness. Ballard: I'll hang onto Harry for support, if he doesn't mind. Kim: That's what I'm here for. Ballard: What? Something wrong? Kim: See for yourself. Neelix: Here we are, one Jibelian berry salad. Ballard: I have been looking forward to this for a very long time. Kim: It was number six on her list. Ballard: There isn't much variety in the Kobali diet. I ate the same gray paste for three years. It doesn't taste the way I remember it. Neelix: What's wrong? Too sweet? Ballard: No offense, but it's got sort of a metallic flavor. Kim: Seems fine to me. Ballard: I guess my taste buds are still Kobali. Neelix: Can I get you something else? Ballard: Thanks, but I need to take care of number sixteen. Dazzle Lieutenant Torres. Torres: One minute early. Ballard: There's a first time for everything. Torres: An alignment error has been cropping up in the dilithium matrix. We can't seem to figure out what's causing it. I, I know that you're still settling in so I'll give you a couple of days to Ballard: It's a vyk'tiote. Torres: Excuse me? Ballard: Oh, a Kobali word to describe a certain kind of wave phenomenon. It's hard to translate. Torres: Try me. Ballard: Literally, it means crumpled dance. All I need to do is vyq'tal the qen'dioqe matrices, stabilize the per'cheya. Tez'tel, se menna. Cham'bioque! What? Torres: You were speaking Kobali. Ballard: I didn't realize. I'm sorry. Torres: Well, whatever you did, the alignment error is gone. Nice job. Ballard: Thanks. Torres: I think there might be a few crumpled dances in the warp core, too. Feel like taking a look? Chakotay: Any sign of the Kobali? Seven: None. Chakotay: The latest tactical reports from Tuvok. Seven: Commander. I no longer wish to serve as guardian to the Borg children. Chakotay: What's the problem? Seven: Their behavior is chaotic. My attempts to apply diskipline only result in further disorder. Chakotay: Well, kids and disorder usually go hand in hand. Seven: Neelix issued a similar warning prior to my taking this assignment, which is why I devised an activities schedule to promote focus and unity. Oh seven hundred hours, the children emerge from their alcoves. Nutrients are ingested in the mess hall prior to proceeding to the science lab to begin classes. At thirteen hundred hours nutrients are consumed a second time, before reporting to the holodeck, where they're studying comparative alien physiology. Chakotay: Doesn't sound like there's much time for fun. Seven: On the contrary, I've scheduled recreational activities. Chakotay: You can't always schedule fun, Seven. Sometimes it needs to be spontaneous. Seven: According to my research, children require structure. Chakotay: I agree, but not to this extreme. You're treating them like they're still on a Borg Cube. Seven: You're comparing me to the Collective? Chakotay: You have all four children functioning as one. They do the same things together at the same time. Seven: So that each child has the same opportunities to learn. Chakotay: They're individuals. Maybe they're rebelling because you don't let them express themselves. Seven: Then grant my request. Choose a more suitable crew member to instruct them. Chakotay: Sorry, Seven. Permission denied. Paris: Well, I see you're finally going to try my hockey program. Kim: Actually, I'm taking Lyndsay skating. Paris: Oh. You two sure have been spending a lot of time together lately. Kim: Don't start. Paris: Oh, now, let's see. For those of us keeping score, Harry Kim has fallen for a hologram, a Borg, the wrong twin, and now the dearly departed. Kim: We're friends, just like before. All right. Maybe there was a time when I thought of pursuing Lyndsay, but I closed the door on that when we both got assigned to Voyager. Paris: Hmm. Don't look now, but that door is creaking open. Ballard: What do you think? Kim: You look great. Ballard: Doctor thought I should stick to my original color, but this seemed more exciting. Emh: Hair is one of my specialties, despite evidence to the contrary. Ballard: It's just too bad that beneath this beautiful red hair still lies the six-lobed brain of a Kobali. Kim: Well, are you feeling human enough for a little skating? Ballard: I'd love to, but I already have a date. Kim: Who with? Ballard: The Captain. She's invited me to her quarters for dinner. Kim: In six years, I have never been invited to the captain's quarters for dinner. Ballard: Well, I'll give her your regards. Janeway: Oh, damn! Janeway: Come in. Formal dress wasn't required, Ensign. Ballard: Well, I just, I figured, dinner with the captain. Janeway: I'd hardly call this dinner. My replicator decided to liquefy the pot roast. Ballard: It looks fine to me. Janeway: Stop trying to get on my good side and grab a slice of bread. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I hope you don't mind. Ballard: Not at all. I lived on them at the Academy. Janeway: So, how was your first day back on the job? Ballard: Pretty good, I think. Lieutenant Torres called my work competent. Janeway: Trust me, that's high praise coming from B'Elanna. Commander Tuvok finished his analysis of your shuttle and presented me with thirty seven different ways of repelling a Kobali attack. Ballard: Did he include your pot roast? I'm sorry. I didn't mean. I can't believe I just said that. Janeway: Why? It was funny. We're not on the bridge, Lyndsay. You have permission to speak freely. Ballard: Do you really mean that? Janeway: I wouldn't have said it otherwise. Ballard: Then there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time. Why me? Janeway: I'm sorry? Ballard: Why did you choose me for that away mission? Janeway: Why, I suppose I thought you were best suited for the job. Ballard: No, I wasn't. Dilithium extraction was always Lieutenant Torres' specialty. And Tuvok had far more experience conducting away missions. But you didn't send either one of them. Was it because they were closer to you? Janeway: You blame me. Ballard: No, no, that's not what I meant. Janeway: It's okay, Lyndsay. Ballard: No, it's not. Janeway: I'm not offended. Ballard: No, you don't understand. Never harbor anger toward those who brought you death, for they gave you the chance to live again. In letting me die, Captain, you gave me life. I'm sorry. Janeway: Lyndsay. Ballard: I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come. Janeway: You're late. Emh: We expected you hours ago. Ballard: For what? Neelix: Your farewell party. Torres: You weren't supposed to come back. Chakotay: You don't belong here anymore. Ballard: Harry, what's going on? Kim: Lyndsay Ballard, beloved friend and crewman. Does that sound right? Ballard: What? Kim: For your eulogy. Does that sound okay? Ballard: Harry, I'm not dead. Emh: Denial. One of the final stages. Tuvok: It was illogical for you to return. Ballard: Please, I don't want to go. Kim: I couldn't save you before, Lyndsay. What makes you think I can save you now? Q'Ret: Jen'to ka'siote, Jhet'leya. Kim: Come in. Kim: What's wrong? Ballard: Bad day, I guess. Kim: B'Elanna told me you did great in Engineering. Ballard: I solved a simple problem. Kim: Didn't sound so simple to me. Ballard: Any Kobali can diskern simple wave distortions. And even if B'Elanna was impressed, the others were staring at me. Kim: I'm sure it was just your imagination. Ballard: And then, to make matters worse, I started babbling in front of the Captain. Kim: I used to get pretty nervous around her, too. Don't worry. I'm sure she didn't take it personally. Hey. I know this isn't easy, but I'll help you through this. Ballard: You have always been far too nice to me. Why is that? Kim: You really don't have any idea, do you? Think about it. I rearranged my schedule at the Academy just so we'd be in the same classes. I let you teach me how to skate even though I hate the cold. I'm crazy about you. I have been since the day we met. Ballard: Why didn't you ever tell me? Kim: I was never good at public speaking, remember, but I figure, how often do you get a second chance? Which is why I'd very much like to kiss you now. Ballard: Own the day. Mezoti: Sorry. Icheb: You are creating disorder. Seven will be angry. Mezoti: I don't care. Azan: They're cubes. Seven: I can see that. Rebi: Precisely one one thousandth the size of a Borg vessel. Seven: Well done. Icheb: A twenty six sided polyhedron, composed of hexagons, octagons and squares. Seven: Impressive. What's this? Mezoti: Can't you tell? It's you. Seven: I don't see the resemblance. Mezoti: Look. Here's your ocular implant, your nose, your mouth. Seven: You were instructed to create a geometric shape. Icheb: I reminded her of that. She wouldn't comply. Mezoti: This was more fun. Don't you like it? Seven: It is crude. However, it does demonstrate ingenuity and individuality. Icheb: She deviated from your instructions. Aren't you going to implement a punishment protocol? Seven: No. Resume your disorder. Kim: Lyndsay? Ballard: They're coming. Janeway: Red alert. Raise shields. Tuvok: We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Q'Ret: I've come for Jhet'leya. Janeway: If you're referring to Ensign Ballard, she's made it clear that she doesn't want to go with you. Q'Ret: She's my daughter. Please, I've come a long way. I only want to speak with her. Kim: You don't have to see him, you know. They can't make you. Ballard: I want to, Harry. It's time to stop running. Q'Ret: I appreciate this, Captain. Janeway: I'm willing to oblige as long as you understand that this meeting is over as soon as Ensign Ballard says it is. Q'Ret: What have they done to you? Ballard: Given me my life back. Q'Ret: You were so beautiful. It's good to see you, Jhet'leya. Ballard: My name is Lyndsay. Q'Ret: Why did you leave us? Ballard: I wanted to be with my people again. Q'Ret: These people? The same ones who set you adrift in space? Janeway: We jettisoned her body in accordance with our customs. Q'Ret: You abandoned her. Kim: You had no right to tamper with her remains. Q'Ret: We were acting in accordance with our customs. Kim: You mutilated her. Tuvok: Ensign. Q'Ret: The reanimation process usually results in extensive memory loss, which makes the transition less painful. Unfortunately, some remember their former lives more than others. Jhet'leya, for example. Ballard: I told you to call me Q'Ret: Lyndsay Ballard. She's dead. She has been for three years. Forgive me for being so blunt, but when we found her she was a lifeless corpse. We salvaged that raw material to create a new person, my daughter, whom I love. Ballard: I'm not your daughter. Q'Ret: You may have altered your appearance, but do you still think like these people? Even now, the first words that come into your head, are they in their language or mine? I realize this place is familiar to you, but it's not where you belong. Your sister misses you. Ballard: Tynsia. Q'Ret: She keeps asking when you're coming home. What should I tell her? Ballard: Tell her that her sister's dead. Tuvok: I'll escort you to the transporter room. Q'Ret: I won't give her up, Captain. Janeway: She made her wishes clear. Q'Ret: She's confused. Kim: Thanks to what you did to her. Q'Ret: I don't want to fight you. Janeway: Your ship is no match for Voyager. Q'Ret: Every life is precious to my people, Captain. I won't be coming back alone. Kim: Midnight snack? Ballard: Kobali cuisine at its finest. Kim: So I was giving some thought to number thirty two, make Tuvok laugh? He has this holoprogram, The Temple of T'Panit. I thought we might tweak it so that instead of Vulcan prayers, the monks recite Ferengi limericks? You're not laughing. Ballard: Sorry. I can't stop thinking about Q'Ret. Kim: I can't believe he had the nerve to call himself your father. I'll bet Professor Ballard would have had something to say about that. Ballard: Who? Kim: Your dad. Doesn't he teach at some university? Ballard: I don't remember. I don't remember anything about him. Kim: Let's get down to the holodeck. We've got some monks to tweak. Ballard: Sure. Kim: What's wrong? Kim: Why did she start to revert all of a sudden? Emh: Our old friend, the pathogen. It's adapting to counteract my treatments. It's possible she'll suffer occasional relapses for the rest of her life. Ballard: You said you could maintain my appearance. Emh: I can, but it looks like I'll need to increase the frequency of your treatments. You'll have to see me at least twice a day. Ballard: How am I supposed to do my job if I'm in here all the time. How am I supposed to do anything? Emh: Please try to understand. Ballard: Stoi'gia! Net'staika pen'daeli shevaob! I'm sorry. Kim: Wow. This place sure is lived in. Ballard: If you're here to lecture me about cleanliness. Kim: I'm here to ask you to stop the treatments. Ballard: You know what happens if I do. Kim: You'll look Kobali again? So what? I thought you were cute bald. I don't care if you're human, Kobali or Bolian, I just want you to be happy. Ballard: I wouldn't fit in. Kim: Are you saying Tuvok and Neelix don't fit in? Ballard: That's different. They got to grow up in their own cultures. They know where they come from, who they are. Kim: Wherever they come from, they're part of this crew now. Just like you. Ballard: Lyndsay was part of this crew. If I stop the treatments, I won't be Lyndsay anymore. Kim: You don't honestly believe that. Ballard: Since the day I got back here, I haven't felt right. At first I thought it was Voyager. Things had changed so much, I thought if I just gave myself more time I'd get used to it. But it's me. I've changed. And the more I try to deny it, the more I feel like a ghost. I'm sorry, Harry, but I can't keep fighting anymore. Kim: What about us? Ballard: The girl you were in love with died three years ago. Tuvok: Shield's down to forty eight percent. Janeway: Target the lead ship's weapons array. Chakotay: Life support's failing on decks six through ten. Janeway: Reroute power to compensate. Tuvok: Shields at twenty percent. Ballard: Hail them! Tell them you'll surrender me. Kim: Don't listen to her, Captain. Janeway: I appreciate the gesture, Lyndsay, but I'm not giving you up. Ballard: It's not a gesture. I want to go. I don't belong here. Kim: She's not well. She doesn't know what she's saying. Ballard: I know exactly what I'm saying. Tuvok: Shields at thirteen percent. Kim: I'm detecting power fluctuations in the lead vessel's warp drive. A polaron burst could overload the core. Ballard: That would destroy the ship. Kim: They're not leaving us much choice. Chakotay: Whatever we do, we have to do it fast. Janeway: You're sure this is what you want? Kim: Captain, I can fire that polaron burst myself. Chakotay: Stand down, Ensign. Kim: We can't just let them take her. Ballard: Even if you stop them, I can't stay on Voyager. Kim: I don't want to lose you. Ballard: You already did, but at least this time we've been given the chance to say goodbye. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 53679.4. The Doctor has stopped Ensign Ballard's treatments and her Kobali physiology is already beginning to reassert itself. All but one of us have said our goodbyes. Kim: Vien'ke debala, Jhet'leya. I taught myself to say a few words in Kobali. Ballard: That's very sweet of you, but you just told me the comets are tiresome. Kim: I guess I'd better work on my pronunciation. I'm sorry you didn't get to finish everything on your list. Ballard: I think I took care of what really mattered. Mezoti: That's pretty. Kim: It belonged to a friend of mine. Would you like it? Mezoti: Your friend won't mind? Kim: I think she'd be happy knowing I gave it to someone with such pretty hair. Mezoti: Seven's letting us go to the holodeck by ourselves. She says we can run any program we want. Do you want to come? Kim: Have you ever heard of The Temple of T'Panit? It's a Vulcan program. Mezoti: Sounds boring. Kim: Don't worry, we'll make a few tweaks.

Janeway: Why potatoes? Seven: Their first idea was to clone Naomi, but I suggested they start with something smaller. Torres: Quite a feat of engineering. Mezoti: It's a Teirenian ant colony. I infused the soil with a blue ion dye so it'd be easier to see the insects. Janeway: They're luminescent. Mezoti: The drones produce a fluorescent enzyme that's activated by the Queen. Janeway: Drones and Queens? I thought we were trying to get these children away from the Borg. Seven: The project was Mezoti's idea. I didn't want to discourage her individuality. Mezoti: I like bugs. Janeway: Well done. Let me know before you take up beekeeping. Chakotay: What have we got here? Naomi: It's Kataris. Torres: Your father's planet. Naomi: I've been learning all about it. Seven: Naomi programmed the geophysical and atmospheric conditions. Chakotay: There's quite a storm in those mountains. Naomi: The Arpasian range is known for high winds and hail. Janeway: I'll remember to bring my coat. Now this looks impressive. Icheb: It's a high-resolution gravimetric sensor array. Torres: Ambitious. Icheb: It'll augment our ability to scan for the neutrino flux associated with wormholes. It could help Voyager find a faster way home. Seven: The engineering principles are sound. Janeway: I expected these projects to be interesting, but this is truly exceptional. Icheb: Thank you, Captain. I am very interested in astrophysics. Janeway: Well, you've obviously got a knack for it. Well done. Torres: How did you think of scanning for neutrino fluctuations? Icheb: I've been studying Starfleet records. Janeway: He's a remarkable young man. Seven: He hopes to earn a permanent posting in Astrometrics one day. Janeway: I'm afraid that won't be possible. Seven: Captain, the boy has a unique talent. Janeway: It's not a question of merit. We've made contact with his parents, and I've set a course for their planet. Icheb: My scanner is calibrated to pick up changes in neutrino trajectories. Seven: That's good news. Seven: You've exceeded your scheduled time here by one hour. Icheb: I'm almost finished. Seven: Your work will have to wait. There's something we need to discuss. Icheb: Look at this. It's a star forming in the Orpisay nebula. Seven: The Orpisay nebula is out of range of our sensors. Icheb: I increased the resolution of the long range scanners. Seven: Impressive. Icheb: When I was on the Cube, I never thought about what was outside. Pulsars, quasars, nebulas. But here in this lab, I feel I can see the entire galaxy. What did you want to talk to me about? You said there was something we needed to discuss. Seven: Yes, that's correct. It's time for you to regenerate. Janeway: Come in. Seven: I'd like the data you've collected on Icheb's species so I can prepare him for re-assimilation. Janeway: Maybe we could refer to it as getting reacquainted with his family. Seven: If you prefer. Janeway: I'll transfer the files down to Astrometrics. Seven: Thank you. Janeway: How'd he take the news? You haven't told him. Seven: No. Janeway: Why not? Seven: It won't be easy for him to accept. He's adapted to life on Voyager. Janeway: And you've adapted to having him here. Seven: My feelings are irrelevant. Janeway: Are they? Would you like me to tell him? Seven: It's my responsibility, but I am uncertain how to proceed. Janeway: Well, you've already helped him make one difficult transition. How did you do that? Seven: By giving him the benefit of my own experiences. Encouraging him to be resilient in the face of obstacles. Janeway: Sounds like a good strategy. Seven: Is your alcove malfunctioning? Icheb: I'm calculating neutrino trajectories. Seven: You need to regenerate. Icheb: Very well. Seven: Wait. We've located your parents. Voyager is due to arrive at their planet tomorrow. Icheb: Do I have to stay with them? Seven: They're your parents. Icheb: I don't remember them. Seven: After my parents were assimilated I never saw them again. You're fortunate to have this chance. Icheb: What about the others? Seven: We haven't been able to locate their families yet. Icheb: That's not what I mean. What will happen to them if I leave? They depend on me. Seven: They'll adapt. Icheb: I'll never see you again? Seven: I've been studying Brunali culture. It's very different from what you've become accustomed to on Voyager. Icheb: In what way? Seven: They're an agrarian society. Their technological resources are limited. Icheb: Are they capable of space travel? Seven: Yes, but most of their vessels were destroyed by the Borg. Icheb: How will I continue my studies? Seven: I don't know. Seven: Icheb. Kim: I'm detecting scattered enclaves on the northern continent, all with populations of fewer than ten thousand. Tuvok: Judging from the residual gamma radiation, it appears they've suffered numerous Borg attacks over the past decade. Seven: That's not surprising. There's a Borg transwarp conduit less than a light year away. Paris: Not exactly prime real estate. Janeway: Tuvok, run continuous scans for Borg activity. Tom, put us into synchronous orbit. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Seven. You'd better get Icheb. Emh: According to these scans, you're in perfect health. Icheb: Then why does my stomach feel so strange? Emh: Oh, I should have known. You've got butterflies in there. Icheb: I never assimilated butterflies. Emh: It's an expression used to describe anxiety or apprehension, both of which are perfectly natural reactions for someone about to meet his long lost parents. If it's any comfort, I'm sure they're just as nervous about meeting you. Icheb: Parents are irrelevant. Emh: Really. Do you think Naomi's mother is irrelevant to her? Icheb: I have Seven of Nine to assist me in my education. I have you to care for my medical needs. Emh: Your parents can nurture you in ways this crew can't. They can explain the Brunali culture, share their experiences with you. Icheb: You didn't have parents. Emh: No, but Icheb: You adapted to serve a vital function about this vessel, forged relationships with its crew, all without the benefit of parents. Emh: I had my programming to fall back on. Icheb: And how would your programming respond if you were asked to live with strangers? Seven: Are you damaged? Emh: He's fine. I was just giving him a last minute check-up. Seven: It's time. Emh: The butterflies will go away. Janeway: Hello. I'm Captain Janeway. Yifay: Icheb. Leucon: You've grown. Seven: He spent several months in a Borg maturation chamber. Janeway: This is Seven of Nine. Yifay: That's a Borg designation, isn't it? Seven: Like your son, I was liberated from the Collective. Janeway: Seven has been instrumental in helping Icheb make his transition. Leucon: Then we're very grateful to you. I'm Leucon, Icheb's father. This is his mother, Yifay. Yifay: How are you? Icheb: Fine. Yifay: Do these hurt you? Icheb: No. Leucon: We're very happy to have you back with us. Mala, Remi, Yivel. Yivel: Welcome home, Icheb. Icheb: I would like to return to Voyager now. Janeway: Thank you for coming. Leucon: Where's Icheb? Janeway: I thought it might be better if we talked ourselves first. Leucon: What exactly is there to discuss? Janeway: How to make this transition easier for your son. Please, sit down. Yifay: It won't be easy for him to give up the luxuries of your ship. Seven: It's more than a question of luxuries. Icheb has special medical needs. Leucon: We have a physician in our settlement. Janeway: We should arrange for him to consult with our Doctor. Seven: He also requires daily regeneration. Janeway: I'm sure you can adapt some of our technology to make that possible. Seven: What about his educational requirements? Yifay: Our children go to school. Seven: Will he be able to continue his studies in Astrometrics and spatial harmonics? Leucon: If Icheb has an aptitude for science, I'm sure he'll find that we have a great deal to teach him. Seven: For example? Leucon: We've developed sophisticated techniques in agricultural genetics which allow us to grow crops in an inhospitable environment. Seven: Icheb has expressed no interest in agriculture. Janeway: I'm sure once he's been exposed to the subject, he'll find it quite challenging. Seven: There's still the issue of his safety. Yifay: We're perfectly capable of protecting our son. Seven: Your proximity to a Borg conduit makes you extremely vulnerable. I'm curious if you've ever considered relocating. Janeway: Seven. Leucon: No, it's all right, Captain. This planet is our home. We will never leave it. We will defend it against the Borg or anyone else who threatens us. Seven: Your courage is admirable but unrealistic. Janeway: Wait for me in my ready room. Seven: Captain. Janeway: Now. Janeway: I apologize for her behavior. She and Icheb have grown very close, but that's no excuse for rudeness. Leucon: We'd like to see our son now. Janeway: Please be patient. If we rush things, your next encounter with him may not go any better than the last. Stay aboard Voyager for a while. It'll give Icheb a chance to get to know you in an environment that's familiar to him. I'll have Neelix do everything he can to make you comfortable while you're here. Janeway: Your attitude is making a difficult situation worse. Seven: I was simply attempting to insure Icheb's well-being. Janeway: By insulting his parents? Seven: Those issues needed to be discussed. Janeway: You could have done it with a little more tact. Seven: Perhaps, but that doesn't alter the fact that those individuals may not be suitable guardians. Janeway: Those individuals are his mother and father. Seven: Which is no guarantee that they'll be able to care for him. He's far more likely to flourish if he remains on Voyager. JANEWAY; That's not an option, Seven. Seven: Are you ordering him off the ship? Janeway: That's not what I said. Seven: So that he can be assimilated again? Janeway: What makes you so sure that's going to happen? Seven: They shouldn't remain on that planet. Janeway: It's their home. Seven: It's not worth protecting. Janeway: Who are you to decide that? Seven: Anyone who values their own goals over the safety of their children is irresponsible. Janeway: Are we talking about Icheb's parents, or yours? Seven: Both. Janeway: It's not like you to admit to something like that. Seven: It would be naive for me to claim objectivity in this case. But I'm not prepared to return Icheb to parents who may be as careless as my own. Janeway: I know what it's like to feel protective towards someone you've helped through a difficult period, but Icheb is an individual now. You have to give him a chance to form his own opinions. Seven: If I do, and he decides to remain on Voyager? Janeway: Then it'll be my problem. Mezoti: Is your mother pretty? What are they like? Icheb: I'm busy. Naomi: I never met my father. Azan: I don't remember ours. Rebi: Neither do I. Naomi: Are you going to stay with them? Mezoti: If you leave, who is going to help us with our science projects? Icheb: If you don't stop asking questions I'm going to put all of you in a cargo container and transport you back to the Borg. Seven: Come with me. Icheb: Where? Seven: To dinner with your parents. Icheb: I'm working. Seven: You can continue your work after the meal. Icheb: I don't have anything to talk about with them. Seven: Then it will be a very quiet evening. Icheb: I'm not going. Seven: Your attendance is not optional. Seven: Enjoy your meal. Yifay: Come, sit down. Icheb: I prefer to stand. Yifay: Mister Neelix let me use his galley to prepare some poma. Icheb: I'm not hungry. Yifay: It was your favorite food when you were little. Icheb: I'm not little anymore. Yifay: No. No, you're not. Leucon: Your mother worked hard on that meal. Couldn't you at least try it? Leucon: Good, isn't it. Neelix: Nice to see the family back together again, isn't it? Yifay: When you were little, you would only eat the inside Leucon: The Borg didn't leave us much to work with but we didn't need much, just a little ingenuity. Everything you see, we built with our own hands. Our homes, cultivation bays Icheb: What's this? Leucon: A genetic re-sequencer. We use it to alter the DNA of certain plants to conform with environmental conditions. Icheb: You built this as well? Leucon: We adapted parts from damaged vessels. Nothing's been wasted. Icheb: Efficient. Leucon: Efficiency's one attribute we share with the Borg. In our case, it's a necessity. I know our settlement seems primitive compared to Voyager, but I promise you, that will change. Icheb: What about space travel? Leucon: Someday we'll have ships that rival Voyager, but we need the dedication of young people like you to help us. Yivel: Icheb! How are you? Icheb: Well, thank you. Yivel: Maybe later you can join us up on the field for a game of pala. Icheb: I don't remember how to play. Yivel: It will come back to you. Leucon: You used to be quite an athlete. You can make a difference here, Icheb. Icheb: I don't know anything about agriculture or genetics. Leucon: It won't take you long to learn. Not with a mind like yours. Seven: It's time to return to Voyager. Icheb: I am staying here tonight. Seven: They don't have a regeneration unit. Leucon: We're going to have to installl one eventually. Might as well do it now. Seven: As far as I am aware, he hasn't decided to remain here yet. Leucon: But he has asked to stay tonight. Seven: Return with me to the ship. We'll prepare a regeneration unit. Seven: I've adapted this neural transceiver to interface with the portable regenerator. It has enough power to complete one full cycle. Leucon: We'll have to devise a way of recharging it. Seven: If Icheb decides to stay. Leucon: My wife and I appreciate everything you've done for our son. It's obvious you care about him. Seven: He's a unique individual. Leucon: Yes, he is. To get him back is, well, a miracle. Seven: How was he taken? Leucon: Since the Borg first attacked us, we've taken great pains to hide whatever new technology we develop. Seven: So the passing cubes won't be attracted to your planet. Leucon: Unfortunately, we haven't always been successful. One morning, about four years ago, Icheb heard me talking about a new fertilization array we'd constructed in the lower field. He wanted to see it. I told him I'd take him the next day but he was impatient, the way boys can be. I never even realized he'd wandered off when the alarm sounded. It turns out the Borg were just as interested in our new technology as Icheb was. They took him, and assimilated everyone in the area. If only I'd kept a closer eye on him. Seven: Icheb has a mind of his own. Leucon: But still, it's hard not to blame myself. Your parents must've felt the same way when they lost you. Seven: My parents were with me when the Borg attacked. Leucon: I can't imagine what that must have been like for them, watching their daughter being assimilated. Helpless to defend her. Seven: It's important that Icheb regenerate for six uninterrupted hours. Leucon: I understand. Seven: He may resist. He doesn't like to waste time. I've had to contend with his lack of patience as well. Leucon: There's a star called Kelsin Three. To the west is the Orlitus Cluster. There, just above it, when you connect those six stars, they form what we call the Great Horn. Icheb: I see it. Yifay: You inherited your love of the stars from your father. Leucon: Being on that starship, you've learned much more about astronomy than I have. Our little window can't compare to Voyager's Astrometrics lab. Icheb: No, but it's nice. Yifay: You see? We have everything we need right here. A warm fire, good food that we grow ourselves, and people who love us. Leucon: Icheb has people on Voyager who love him, too. Yifay: You've grown attached to the crew on that ship, haven't you? Icheb: They've provided for me, given me opportunities. Leucon: They're good people. People who've experienced hardship themselves. Seven of Nine told me about your science project. She said it might prove very useful. Icheb: It's designed to detect wormholes. Leucon: How will that benefit them? Icheb: It may help them find a way back to Earth. Yifay: Why is that so important to them? Icheb: It's their home. Leucon: Interesting, isn't it? Icheb: What? Leucon: With all their technology, their opportunity to explore the galaxy, the thing they want most is to get home. Icheb: Good morning. Seven: Did you regenerate successfully? Icheb: Yes, and I slept under the stars. You should try it. Seven: You weren't in class this morning. The others missed you. Icheb: I was helping my father. There is something we need to discuss. Seven: What is it? You've decided to stay with them. Icheb: Yes. Seven: You're certain? Icheb: This is my home. I have a responsibility to help them rebuild it. Seven: I'll inform the captain. Icheb: Thank you. Seven: I'm sure you'll want to say goodbye to the other children. Seven: Inside you'll find PADDs containing data on a variety of subjects that will allow you to continue your studies. I've also included a high-resolution telescope. It's a poor substitute for Astrometric sensors. Icheb: I will use it every day. Janeway: Goodbye, Icheb, and good luck. Icheb: Thank you, Captain. I hope you find a way home. Computer: Warning. Regeneration cycle incomplete. Seven: What is it? Mezoti: I can't regenerate. Computer: Warning. Regeneration cycle incomplete. Seven: Explain. Mezoti: I miss Icheb. Seven: So do I, but we'll adapt. Now return to your alcove. Mezoti: If you find my parents, will I have to go with them? Seven: We'll discuss that when and if the time comes. Mezoti: I hope you don't find them. Seven: Regenerate. Mezoti: Seven? Seven: Yes? Mezoti: What if the Borg try to assimilate Icheb again? Seven: His people lack resources. The Borg have little reason to return to their planet. Mezoti: But what if Icheb's on a ship? Seven: Unlikely. Mezoti: He was on a ship last time. Seven: You're mistaken. He was on the surface when he was assimilated. Mezoti: No, he wasn't. A class one transport was detected in grid six four nine. One lifeform. Species, Brunali. Janeway: This better be important. Seven: It is. Janeway: Sorry, I don't read Borg. You'll have to translate. Seven: This is tactical data from the Cube where we found the children. It says that Icheb was alone aboard an unarmed transport vessel when the Borg took him. Janeway: Oh, why are you telling me this at oh three hundred hours? Seven: Icheb's father told me the boy was assimilated on the planet's surface. Janeway: Is it possible you misunderstood? Seven: No. He was very specific. Janeway: That Cube was disabled by a deadly pathogen. It suffered extensive damage. Isn't it possible these records were corrupted? Seven: Perhaps, but I found another inconsistency in Leucon's story. He told me Icheb was assimilated four years ago but further analysis indicates the Borg attacked three times during the last decade. Nine years ago, six years ago, and again last year. Janeway: All right. Let's assume your information is accurate. What does it prove? Seven: His father was lying. Janeway: Why would he do that? Seven: I'm not certain, but we have an obligation to find out. Janeway: What are you proposing? Seven: That we return to the planet, demand an explanation. Janeway: Those people have been through enough. Do we really need to interrogate them? Seven: We have a responsibility to ensure Icheb's safety. Janeway: He chose to stay with his parents. Seven: Maybe he didn't have all the information. Janeway: Just because they weren't completely candid with you doesn't mean they're unfit parents. At some point, you have to let go. Seven: I know what you're thinking, that I'm having emotional difficulty accepting my separation from Icheb and you're correct. But if there's a possibility he's in danger, even a remote one, I have to do whatever I can to protect him. If I don't, I'll be no better than my own parents. Leucon: Couldn't we at least wait a few days? Yifay: What would that accomplish? Leucon: He's just getting settled. Yifay: The longer we wait the harder it'll be for everyone. You know that. Leucon: Why do it at all? There's nothing compelling us to go through with it. Yifay: It's what he was born for. Leucon: Hasn't he been through enough? Why not give him a chance at an ordinary life? Yifay: He's not an ordinary child. Leucon: No, but he can help us in other ways. He's bright. He's hardworking. Yifay: Leucon, his return was a gift. We can't waste it. Leucon: I don't want to lose him a second time. Yifay: To survive, we all have to make sacrifices. You taught me that. Icheb: We won three games in a row. Yifay: Sit down, Icheb. We need to talk. You know that you're very important to us. Icheb: Yes. Yifay: What you don't know is why. Icheb: What do you mean? What is that? Yifay: If you relax, it won't hurt you. Icheb: Father? Yifay: You'd better hold him. Icheb: What are you doing to me? Icheb: No! Yifay: Prepare the launch. Janeway: Hail them. Leucon: We didn't expect to see you again, Captain. Janeway: We'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind. Yifay: Questions? Seven: Regarding Icheb and the circumstances of his assimilation. Leucon: We've already discussed that. Seven: The story you told me was inconsistent with our data. Yifay: We don't owe you any explanations. Janeway: In that case, I'd like to talk to Icheb. Leucon: He's not here. Seven: Where is he? Yifay: That's not your concern. Janeway: Scan for his bio-signs. Tuvok: He is not in the settlement. Seven: I'm detecting a Brunali transport vessel, distance, nine million kilometers. It's heading for the coordinates of the transwarp conduit. Chakotay: According to these readings that ship is traveling at warp nine point eight. Paris: It only looks that way. It's been designed to emit a false warp signature strong enough to penetrate subspace. Seven: They're using it as bait to attract the Borg. Janeway: Icheb's on that vessel, isn't he? Yifay: He's fighting for his people. Seven: Alone, on an unarmed transport? Leucon: We don't have particle weapons or powerful starships at our disposal. We're forced to use the only resource we have. Seven: Your children? Yifay: No. Our genetic expertise. Janeway: Icheb's not bait. He's a weapon. The first Cube that captured him was infected by a pathogen. Icheb was the carrier, wasn't he? Leucon: Every time we try to rebuild, begin to make progress, the Borg come and take it away from us. Janeway: Tom, set a course for that transport vessel. Full impulse. Paris: Aye, Captain. Leucon: You have no right to interfere. Yifay: We're trying to save our civilization. Seven: By taking away Icheb's future. Yifay: If we don't stop the Borg, the Brunali have no future. Leucon: Captain, a Borg ship will emerge from that conduit at any moment. You'll be destroyed. Janeway: We'll take our chances. End transmission. Red alert. Battle stations. Paris: We're coming within range, Captain. Kim: I'm picking up Icheb's life signs. Bio-scans indicate he's unconscious. Chakotay: Transport him to Sickbay. Seven: I can't. There's some kind of interference. Tuvok: It's the conduit. By my estimate, a Borg vessel will emerge in less than forty seconds. Janeway: Transfer auxiliary power to the transporters. Seven: I still can't establish a lock, not at this distance. Tuvok: Thirty seconds. Janeway: Tom, get us closer to that ship. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Tuvok: The conduit's opening. Twenty seconds. Janeway: Seven? Seven: Still out of range. Janeway: You heard her, Tom. Paris: When that Borg ship comes through I'm going to have a hell of a time getting away from it. Janeway: One problem at a time. Tuvok: Ten seconds, nine, eight. Seven: I've got a lock. Tuvok: Seven. Seven: Transport in progress. Tuvok: Five. Seven: He's in Sickbay. Tuvok: Three, two, one. Janeway: Get us out of here, maximum Janeway: Target their tractor beam generator. Tuvok: Phasers targeted. Janeway: Fire. Tuvok: No effect. Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Seven: Perhaps not. There is a way to get a weapon through their shields. Janeway: I'm listening. Seven: Transport a photon torpedo to the Brunali vessel. Set it to detonate soon as it's inside the Sphere. Tuvok: That will occur in approximately twenty seconds. However, Voyager will be inside less than three seconds later. Janeway: Tom, full reverse thrusters. It might buy us a couple more seconds. Do it. Seven: Transport complete. Detonation in ten, nine. Seven: Five. Janeway: Tom, go to warp on my mark. Seven: Three, two. Chakotay: All hands, brace for impact. Janeway: Now, Mister Paris! Tuvok: The Borg vessel has taken heavy damage. They are not pursuing. Janeway: Are you saying his parents re-infected him? Emh: No, they merely sedated him. Seven: I don't understand. Emh: He was genetically engineered to produce the pathogen from birth. Janeway: Bred to kill Borg. Seven: Is he in danger? Emh: I can suppress the pathogen. He'll be fine, physically. Janeway: He's going to need help coming to terms with what's happened. Seven: Captain, I Janeway: Use your maternal instincts. They worked before. Seven: I thought you were studying spatial harmonics. Icheb: My parents suggested I might have an aptitude for genetics as well. Seven: I see. What have you learned? Icheb: This is the genome of a typical Brunali male and this is my DNA. They're nearly identical, but do you notice the differences in the third, thirteenth and seventeenth chromosomes? Seven: Yes. Icheb: My parents made microgenetic alterations so I would produce the pathogen. Quite ingenious. Seven: It's also barbaric. Icheb: They were trying to defend themselves, their way of life. Preserve their species. Seven: I know how difficult it is to acknowledge your parents' faults, but what they did was wrong. You don't have to forgive them. Icheb: Do you think they will ever forgive me? Seven: For what? Icheb: I could have destroyed that Sphere. I failed them. Seven: You would have been reassimilated. Icheb: I know, but Seven: But what? Icheb: Maybe it was my destiny. Seven: Maybe. In the future you may choose to fight the Borg, but you'll do it in your own way. You're an individual, and you have the right to determine your own destiny. It's time to regenerate. Icheb: And if I prefer to continue studying? Seven: It's your decision.

Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Seven of Nine's shipwide efficiency analysis. Janeway: Did we get a passing grade? Chakotay: Barely. She wants to present it to the senior staff. Janeway: Put her on the schedule. Chakotay: We'll be passing by a class T cluster in the next couple of days. Gas giants, radiogenic sources. I'm not sure it's worth altering course. Janeway: At the very least we should send the Delta Flyer for a look. And let's get a full range of sensor scans as we get closer. Chakotay: We'll go to a level three analysis of the cluster. Tom, get the Flyer ready and assemble an away team. Harry, start continuous scans. Kim: Kim to Seven of Nine. Seven: Proceed, Ensign. Kim: Any chance you could increase radiogenic resolution in the long range sensors? Kim: The Captain wants to get a cleaner look at that cluster coming up off starboard. Seven: Acknowledged. Take these specifications to Lieutenant Torres. Celes: Right away. Celes: Deck eleven. Torres: What's our Borg Queen want now? We need to route at least another five terawatts to the sensor array. Engineer: Deck fifteen. Engineer: Hello. Engineer: Sorry to interrupt. Harren: I'm about to disprove Schlezholt's theory of multiple big bangs. Of course I had to demolish Wang's second postulate to do it. Engineer: Power transfer requisition. Harren: You're standing in the way of cosmological history. Engineer: The cosmos is sixteen billion years old. It can wait another few minutes. Harren: Schlezholt would thank you for the reprieve. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 53753.2. Long range scans of the T cluster have indicated a number of tantalizing anomalies. The away team should have a field day. Who knows, I may even join them myself. Celes: Billy, Billy, wake up. Telfer: What do you want? Celes: I need help. Telfer: Good night. Celes: Billy, don't you dare go back to sleep. Telfer: What's the problem? Celes: I'm in trouble. Telfer: Go Telfer: To sleep. Celes: Help me first? Telfer: With what? Celes: This level three sensor analysis. I've got four hours of subspace infrared to interpret. Telfer: Long range scans on that cluster up ahead? Celes: Yes. Telfer: It's too complicated Telfer: To do over the comm. Either we meet in the mess hall or we wait until tomorrow. Celes: I don't want to get dressed, Celes: And it can't wait until tomorrow. Telfer: Your only options. Seven: I've given Operations an efficiency rating of seventy six out of a possible one hundred. Kim: Not exactly flying colors. Seven: The crewmen you assigned to the night shift are frequently left with little to do once the ship's course has been locked in. Emh: The devil finds work for idle hands. Seven: Religious metaphors are irrelevant. Perhaps you should consider assigning them additional tasks. Torres: What's this I'm guilty of? Failure to utilize expertise? Seven: Crewman Mortimer Harren. He has five advanced degrees in theoretical cosmology, but you've assigned him to the plasma relay room. His talents could be put to better use. Janeway: B'Elanna? Torres: Believe me, I've tried. When I give him more responsibility he doesn't do the work. Harren wants to be down on deck fifteen. It gives him more time to repostulate the origins of the universe. Seven: As you can see, security is functioning at near-perfect efficiency. However, Commander, if you arrange the phasers in the weapons lockers so that the smaller rifles were in front, they could be more easily removed in the event of an emergency. Tuvok: I'll look into it. Seven: Crewman William Telfer. Emh: Billy. He certainly ruined my score. Seven: He visits the Sickbay almost once a week complaining of illness. Invariably you examine him and find nothing wrong. Emh: Mister Telfer is a hypochondriac. I'd treat him for it, but he's afraid of medication. Janeway: Have you tried counseling? Emh: He's afraid of that, too. All I can do is scan him and offer him reassurance. Seven: Wasting your time and medical resources. Kim: What about Astrometrics? Looks like you could use some improvement yourself, Seven. Seven: You are correct, unfortunately. Tal Celes, sensor analyst grade three. Her work must be constantly double checked. She should be removed from Astrometrics and reassigned elsewhere. Perhaps to Engineering. Torres: Forget it. I've got my own problems to fix, remember? Janeway: That'll be all, Seven, thank you. Dismissed. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: They've never been on an away mission. Mortimer Harren, William Telfer, Tal Celes. None of them. Chakotay: They get off the ship whenever we have general leave. Janeway: I mean a working away mission. Chakotay: Harren never volunteers. Celes can't get past the proficiency requirements. And Telfer always seems to get a note from his doctor. Janeway: Something's got to be done about this. Chakotay: What can we do? There are always a few who don't make it past their first year on a starship. Normally, they're reassigned. But in our case, maybe we should relieve them of duty and let them pursue their own interests. It certainly wouldn't hurt general efficiency. Janeway: They aren't drones, Chakotay. We can't just deactivate them. Is the Delta Flyer ready? Chakotay: Flight-checked with provisions for a seventy two hour away mission. What have you got in mind, Captain? Janeway: Three people have slipped through the cracks on my ship. That makes it my problem. Telfer: The analytical aspects of the subspace infrared algorithm are fourfold. Celes: Unfortunately, I have a threefold brain. Telfer: You just have to break it down. Think of it as four smaller algorithms. Celes: Okay, but what's the sequence? Janeway: It's Zero G Is Fun. As you were. Zeta particle derivation, Gamma wave frequency, Ion distribution, Flow rate of positrons. Z.G.I.F. Zero G Is Fun. That's how you remember the sequence. Celes: Thank you, Captain. I'll try. Janeway: Good, because where we're headed, you're going to need it. I'll be briefing you this afternoon in Astrometrics. We leave first thing in the morning. Janeway: Deck fifteen. Mitchell: Captain on the deck! Janeway: At ease. Junction room sixteen? Mitchell: Over there, Captain. Janeway: Of course. Crewman Mitchell, how have you been? Mitchell: Never better, ma'am. Yourself? Janeway: Not bad. Not bad at all. Mitchell: Ah, to the left, ma'am. Janeway: Thank you. Janeway: Crewman Harren. Harren: Captain Janeway, are you lost? Janeway: I was, for a minute. I'll be briefing you this afternoon. Harren: Well, there's been a mistake. Janeway: Excuse me? Harren: You have me assigned to an away mission. I have my duties here. I prefer not to leave my post. Janeway: Ensign Culhane will cover for you. The pre-flight schedule is all there. Harren: If this is charity, Captain, I don't want it. Janeway: I didn't ask you what you want. I'm taking the Delta Flyer on an astronomical survey mission and your expertise is needed. Harren: What do you know about my expertise? Janeway: As much as I need to. Harren: Well then, you might be interested to know that I'm about to disprove Schlezholt's theory of multiple big bangs. Janeway: Really. Wang's second postulate has more lives than a cat, doesn't it? Once you think you've eliminated it, bam, it pops up again. I'll give you a hand if you'd like, when the away mission is over. Janeway: Once we reach the cluster, we'll drop out of warp and maintain one quarter impulse on the sweep through the protostars. I'll be piloting the Delta Flyer. Celes, you're going to run an ongoing sensor analysis, providing data for your colleagues. Mister Harren, you'll be looking at subspace particle decay for anything new we might learn about star formation. And Mister Telfer, your job will be to look for signs of life. A long shot in this environment, but if it's out there, I'm sure you'll find it. You'll have the rest of the evening to familiarize yourselves with the mission. Telfer: Excuse me, Captain. If we find a planet, we're not planning on exploring the surface, are we? Harren: That's a stellar nursery. Any planets will be gas giants. Telfer: They may have moons. Janeway: Don't worry. We'll run a complete scan for pathogens before we set foot anywhere. And the Delta Flyer is fully equipped to deal with medical emergencies. We'll be fine. Shuttlebay one, oh six hundred hours. Dismissed. Seven: Celes is unreliable. Her sensor analyzes will be full of errors. You could be putting your lives at risk. Janeway: Don't worry Seven, I'll check her work. Seven: This mission could be better served with a more experienced crew. Janeway: No, not this mission. Ever hear the tale of the Good Shepherd? If even one sheep strayed into the wilderness, the shepherd left the safety of the flock and went after it. Seven: So you're intending to rescue them? Janeway: In a manner of speaking. Maybe all it will take will be some personal attention from their Captain. Maybe something more. But I won't abandon a member of this crew, no matter what their problems might be. Paris: Oh, poor guy. Rotting away down on deck fifteen. Counting the years till we get out of this godforsaken quadrant. It's a shame he doesn't have a superior officer who cares. Torres: It's not my job to make everybody who works for me happy. Some people just don't want to fit in. Neelix: I'll bet you haven't said two words to him. Paris: Two words exactly. We collided in the corridor during a Borg attack. I said, excuse me. Since we were at Red alert and about to be destroyed, I think it was very considerate of me. Torres: Well, Mister Considerate, why don't you go over there right now and offer him some encouragement. His first away mission, I'm sure he could use it. Paris: Brushing up on the Delta Flyer specs? Harren: I'm not a mechanic. Paris: Oh. Then, what are you doing? Paris: Very interesting. Harren: What do you find most interesting about it? Paris: Your creative use of the minus sign. Harren: I see you have an appreciation for multivariate analysis. Maybe you missed your calling. It's a shame. I imagine it gets tedious up at the helm. Paris: I enjoy the view. Torres: Well? Paris: I invited him over to watch our television set tonight. You don't mind, do you? Telfer: Celes. Celes. Respond. Celes, respond. Celes: You're not sick. Telfer: Yes, I am. Celes: No, you're not. Telfer: Really Telfer: I am. Celes: We have to sleep. Telfer: I can't go on this mission. Celes: Yes, you can. Telfer: No, I can't. Celes: Yes. Telfer: No. Celes: Bye. Telfer: Wait! Telfer: See? Emh: It's nothing. Telfer: It's a fever. Emh: Your temperature is point two degrees above normal. Telfer: That's right. Emh: A typical deviation easily prompted by emotional stress. Telfer: Or a multiphasic prion. Emh: You have not been infected by a prion. Telfer: They attach themselves to the mitochondrial walls and they just Emh: I've already scanned you. Telfer: You can barely see them. Emh: They aren't there. Telfer: If they migrate to my cell membranes while I'm on the away mission, they could rupture and I Emh: Crewman, I am not giving you a medical excuse. Not this time. Try to get some sleep. You shouldn't even have a medical tricorder. Believe me, you'll be so caught up in the excitement of exploration there won't be any time for worrying about infections, mitochondrial or otherwise. There's nothing like an away mission to remind a person of why we're out here. Janeway: I'm going to one quarter impulse. Celes: Should I start the sensor sweeps? Janeway: We don't want to miss anything. Janeway: Engine status? Harren: Within parameters. That wasn't us. Janeway: Anything on sensors? Celes: Point zero zero five fluctuation in the spatial continuum. It looks like simple background noise. Janeway: I agree. Telfer: Anybody for lunch? Janeway: Are you volunteering, William? Telfer: Yes, ma'am. Celes: I'll help. What would you like, Captain? Janeway: Mortimer? Harren: Even my mother didn't call me that. Janeway: Well then, Mister Harren, are you hungry? Harren: No. Thank you. Janeway: I'll have the pasta soup. It should be listed under Neelix six five one. Celes: Maybe I'll try that, too. Janeway: I'm sure you'll like it. Celes: I'm sure I will. Thanks for the suggestion. I'd better get back there. Celes: Neelix six five one, two servings. Telfer: Neelix six five one, two servings. What's wrong? Celes: The captain checks every single thing I do. Telfer: Oh, that's just standard procedure. Celes: Then why isn't it standard procedure for you or Harren? Telfer: Maybe she's giving you special attention. Celes: Yeah, because she knows I need it. I wish I could go back to Voyager. Telfer: Me too. There's always the escape pods. Celes: Can you imagine? Janeway: I understand you grew up on Vico Five. No wonder you became a cosmologist. Harren: Wildest sky in the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: So they say. I've never been there. Harren: Do you really believe that childhood environment is more important than genetically driven behavior patterns? Janeway: Just making conversation. Harren: Conversation filled with unspoken assumptions, which I don't agree with. I'm a product of my nucleic acids. Where and how I was raised are beside the point. So if you're trying to understand me better, questions about my home planet are irrelevant. Janeway: All right then. How's your thirteenth chromosome? Missing a couple of base pairs in gene one seventy eight? Harren: I signed on to Voyager because I needed a year of hands-on experience. It was a requirement for getting into the Institute of Cosmology on Orion One. If we hadn't gotten lost in the Delta Quadrant, I'd be there right now. Janeway: Sorry to have delayed your career plans, but all of us have had our lives interrupted. That's the nature of space exploration. It's unpredictable. Harren: Which is why I don't like space exploration. Stumbling from star to star like a, a drunken insect careening toward a light source is not my idea of a dignified existence. Pure theory is all that concerns me. Janeway: Well, I'm not trying to change that. I'm simply trying to get every member of my crew working to their full capacity. That includes you, Mister Harren. Harren: You don't feel responsible, Captain, for having three misfits aboard your ship? Well, if there's anything I can do to help relieve your guilt, please let me know. Janeway: I'll keep that in mind. Harren: Maybe I will join my colleagues for lunch. All this exploration has given me an appetite. Janeway: Computer, identify the source of that spatial fluctuation. Computer: Source unknown. Janeway: Red alert! Aft section, report. Report! Celes: Captain, are you all right? Janeway: We need to get propulsion back online and figure out what hit us. What's out there? Celes: I don't know, but whatever it was, it tore a plating section off the outer hull. Harren: Ninety percent of our antimatter's been neutralized. The reaction's cold. Telfer: So much for warp drive. Harren: I'm bringing the impulse engines online, but they've been damaged. We'll be able to do one eighth impulse, no more. Telfer: That should get us to the rendezvous point with Voyager in about ten years. Think they'll wait for us? Janeway: Is the subspace transmitter online? Voyager, this is the Delta Flyer. We've been hit by an unknown phenomenon and taken heavy damage. We require immediate assistance. Repeat, we require immediate assistance. Transmit that continuously on all subspace frequencies. Anything on active scans? Celes: Not yet. Harren: It was a dark-matter proto-comet. Janeway: I read a paper on that phenomenon once. Harren: Written by me. Janeway: Well, enlighten us, Mister Harren. Harren: I hypothesized that a tertiary product of stellar consolidation would be a comet-like assemblage of dark matter. It would be attracted to any source of antimatter and neutralize it upon contact. Telfer: So one of these things detected the antimatter in our warp core? Harren: The term detected suggests a consciousness. This is a mindless astrophysical phenomenon, nothing more. We should eject our remaining antimatter or we could suffer another impact. Janeway: I can't do that, not on the basis of an unproven hypothesis. Harren: The forces involved are non-trivial. If we're hit again, we could lose our entire outer hull. Janeway: Eject the warp core and we lose any hope of getting warp drive back. I need more evidence, and right now sensors aren't talking. Harren: Maybe they are talking, but somebody doesn't know how to listen to them. Janeway: You're out of line, crewman. Harren: This isn't the time to be worried about her feelings, Captain. We're in trouble. Celes: Captain, that hull plate? It's less than ten kilometers away. Impact from a dark-matter body might have left a quantum signature in the alloys. Janeway: That's the evidence we're looking for. Do we have transporters? Telfer: Yes, I've locked onto the plate. Janeway: Beam it directly to the aft section. Celes, you're with me. Continue the repairs. Janeway: No sign of burns or plasma residue. It seems to have been sheared off. Download this into the main computer. Celes: Captain, I'm sorry. Janeway: For what? Celes: I thought that spatial fluctuation we ran into was background noise. Some noise. Janeway: I saw the same sensor readings you did, and came to the same conclusion. You don't have to doubt yourself all the time. Celes: Yes I do, and you should too. You're right to always be looking over my shoulder. Janeway: We all make mistakes, even me. Celes: Every day? Every time you report for duty? On Voyager it doesn't matter because nothing I do is that critical. Seven doesn't trust me with anything important. The crew is protected from my mistakes by the people around me, but out here I could get us killed. Janeway: You went through Starfleet training courses. Celes: I had to cram for every exam. Janeway: At the Academy, I was infamous for my all-nighters. Celes: Every night? Because that's what it took. That's the only way I made it through. Not to mention the sympathy votes. The conflict on Bajor worked in my favor. The Federation was so eager to have Bajorans in Starfleet that my instructors gave me the benefit of the doubt. So did you, when you accepted my application. Janeway: You showed evidence of unconventional thinking. I liked that. Not everybody would have thought to retrieve that hull plating. Celes: Well, just don't trust me with the analysis. I guarantee I'll get it wrong. Janeway: Well, with that attitude, I'm sure you will. Celes: This has nothing to do with attitude, Captain. You and I are wired differently. To you, this is nothing but data. To me, it, it's a monster with, with fangs and claws. In my nightmares, I am chased by algorithms. My brain just wasn't built to understand this. Janeway: We can find you another post on Voyager. Celes: There isn't another post on Voyager, not for me. Unless you need a waitress in the mess hall. Janeway: You know, there's more to duty than the ability to manipulate algorithms. Everybody on Voyager has showed a courage far beyond what I could have expected. So have you. Celes: If we were still in the Alpha Quadrant, would that be enough to keep me on board? Janeway: I can't answer that. Celes: I don't deserve to be on your ship, Captain. And I'm not really a part of Voyager. I just live there. Harren: Pressure's increasing. The EPS relays are fused. Cut the plasma flow. Cut the plasma! I could have been killed! What's wrong with you? Telfer: Everything. Harren: If you want something to fantasize about, try imagining how it'll feel if our hull is breached and we die of vacuum exposure. Our blood will vaporize and our cell membranes will rupture. Surely you know the symptoms better than I do. Telfer: Let's not talk about it, all right? Harren: Nothing disagrees with me more than having to put theories into practical use, but there's no choice, so pay attention to what we're doing here. You can check yourself into Sickbay when we get back. Telfer: And you can go back to deck fifteen. Harren: That's right, where I don't have to rely on you or your intellectually deficient friend. Telfer: At least I have a friend. Don't you ever get lonely down there? Harren: In the company of my own thoughts? Never. Telfer: I don't believe that. Spend some time with us when we get back. You might enjoy yourself. Harren: A hypothesis that would require testing. I'm a theoretician, remember? Janeway: Captain's log, Delta Flyer, stardate, 53764.3. We've been running on minimal power for six hours. Still no response to our distress call, and no answers from the computer on what hit us. For now, it looks like we're on our own. Janeway: Our scans of the hull fragment were inconclusive. We found some displaced positrons that could indicate a dark-matter impact. Telfer: But could have been caused by something else. Harren: Proof enough. Janeway: Not enough for me. Not enough to jettison the remaining antimatter. There's a gas giant only a few hours from our current position. T class, surrounded by orbital rings, including one that's radiogenic. We could use those particles to reinitialize our warp reaction. Telfer: With ten percent of our antimatter left we'd only be able to make warp two, but it would be enough to get us back on the road. Janeway: Set a course. Celes: Another spatial fluctuation. Janeway: Can you localize it? Celes: It's somewhere within the distance of ten thousand kilometers. Another one closer, about seven thousand kilometers. Harren: It's being drawn toward our antimatter. Eject the core. Janeway: Open a channel. All hailing frequencies. This is Captain Janeway of the Federation vessel Delta Flyer. We are on a mission of peaceful exploration. Please identify yourself. Telfer: No response. Harren: Of course not. It's a natural phenomenon. Captain, we only have a few seconds. Janeway: I'm firing a photon torpedo. There's enough antimatter in the detonation chamber to draw that proto-comet, if that's what it is. Telfer: The torpedo's away. Distance, one thousand kilometers. One thousand five hundred. Celes: No spatial disruptions. Janeway: Find the source of that sound. Telfer: Oh, no. Harren: That's not possible. Janeway: Where is he? Celes: I can't locate his bio-signature. Janeway: He's not out there. He's not in space, not in subspace. It doesn't make sense. Telfer: Inside me. Janeway: Activate the transporter. Try to get a lock on whatever's inside him. Tricorder isn't picking up anything. Telfer: But I can feel it. Celes: I can't get a lock. It's like something is there, but it's not there. Telfer: Oh, it's there. Janeway: Unfortunately, I have to agree. Harren: Obviously, whatever hit us was no proto-comet. I was wrong. Janeway: Maybe you weren't, not entirely. Sensors can't scan it and transporters can't lock on to it. Maybe this is some kind of dark-matter lifeform. Harren: It's impossible. Molecules that complex would collapse under their own weight. They could never support life. Janeway: It might be time to revise your theory. Where did they take you? Telfer: I don't know. It was dark. God, I could feel breathing all around me. Janeway: Did anyone try to communicate with you? Telfer: I couldn't see. I tried to say something, but there wasn't enough air. I tried to move, but something was pressing down on me. Hypospray. Tetrovaline. It will put me out. Janeway: If I sedate you, it could lower your immune response, and you need to stay conscious. Do you understand? Celes: Billy, if it wanted to kill you it would have done it by now. It never would have sent you back here. Maybe it was trying to scan you or something. Telfer: If it wanted to get to know me better, it should have just asked me out for a drink. Janeway: Celes, keep an eye in him. Harren. Janeway: I'm setting a course for those rings. Shunt as much power as you can to the impulse engines. Harren: We never should have left Voyager. Janeway: I've got news for you, crewman. Voyager isn't exactly a safe haven. We've been chased across the Quadrant by far worse than whatever's out there. The Vidiians, Species 8472, the Borg. But I guess if somebody's hiding down on deck fifteen they might not be aware of it. Harren: I wasn't meant to be an explorer. Janeway: And I wasn't meant to guide a ship across an unknown Quadrant. Harren: Then we're both victims of circumstance. Janeway: Oh, I've seen things I've never imagined. Grown closer to people than I ever thought possible. I wouldn't call myself a victim, and I wouldn't trade the last six years for anything. Harren: Then you've been deluded by the inexhaustible human capacity to avoid the truth. You're the one hiding, not me. I've got you three more percentage points of impulse. Janeway: I'll take it. Setting a course. Isn't there any part of you that feels a bond with the rest of us? When we escape from the Borg or discover a new type of star, don't you feel some pride of accomplishment? When you're in the mess hall, alone at your table in the corner, don't you see the friendships around you and wish, even for a microsecond, you were part of them? Harren: You don't know me at all. Janeway: No, but I'd like to. That was the whole point of this mission. But I guess it hasn't worked out like I'd planned. Harren: Incoming transmission. Janeway: Source? Harren: It's a Starfleet frequency. Must be Voyager. Janeway: Voyager, this is the Delta Flyer. We've been hit by an unknown phenomenon and taken heavy damage. We require immediate assistance. Repeat, we require immediate assistance. Harren: Subspace echo. Janeway: Maybe not. There's a point zero zero five deviation in the carrier wave. Harren: That's the same degree of spatial fluctuation left by our pursuers. They're sending our distress signal back to us. Janeway: Modified. They might be trying to communicate. Harren: They're taunting us. Janeway: Not necessarily. Try to adjust the universal translator for Celes: Captain! He went right through the forcefield. Janeway: Billy, what are you doing? Telfer: It's activating my motor neurons. I can't make it stop. I'm sorry, Captain. You've got to stop it. Celes: It's okay. Billy, it's okay. It's okay. Telfer: It's in here! Harren: It's tapping into our systems. Janeway: Wait. It may be trying to communicate. Harren: It's into our environmental controls. We've got to stop it. Janeway: Hold your fire! Janeway: What the hell is wrong with you? Harren: It was trying to kill us. Janeway: You don't know that. Harren: We were at risk. Janeway: I gave you a direct order. Harren: What if you were wrong? Telfer: I could hear its thoughts. Janeway: Explain. Telfer: When it left me I could hear what it was thinking. Do not belong. That's what it said. Do not belong. Harren: We don't belong here. Celes: Or it didn't belong in the Delta Flyer. Janeway: Maybe that's why it was tapping into the environmental controls. It was trying to survive in a place it didn't belong. Harren: That's speculation. Janeway: Based on direct observation. You murdered an alien being and destroyed any chance we had to make first contact. Celes: We just lost another section of hull. Janeway: How far are we from the gas giant? Celes: Two hundred thousand kilometers. Janeway: I'm taking the Flyer into the radiogenic ring. With any luck, they won't follow. Celes: We can't survive in there for more than a few minutes. Janeway: That should be enough to reinitialize the warp core. Janeway: Start continuous transport of radiogenic particles directly into the reaction chamber. When it's approaching critical mass, let me know. Watch for any sign of pursuit. How are you doing? Telfer: I always had this alarm in my head, Sort of an internal Red alert. It was like a warning system that would tell me I was sick or dying, or something. Mitochondrial prions, food poisoning, a head cold. It was always there. Janeway: And now it's not? Telfer: It's gone. I don't understand. Janeway: Maybe I do. When I was a girl, I was afraid of the ocean. I liked to swim, but in a pool or a pond where I knew exactly what was beneath me. But in the open water, with no way to know what was down there? It scared me to death. It wasn't until my first year at the Academy, after I went through zero G training in the Coral Sea, that I finally got over it. I think you just came up from your first deep dive. Celes: They're in pursuit. Celes: Three minutes, twenty seconds to intercept. Harren: We'll need twice that to reinitialize warp reaction. Janeway: Get into the escape pods. Celes: Captain. Janeway: Plot a course away from the planet. I'm going to fire a phaser volley and hopefully set off a chain reaction of the radiogenic particles. It might be enough to disable our friends. Telfer: You'll be disabled, too. Janeway: Not if I go to full thrusters and keep in front of the shock wave. If I don't make it, head for the L class moon in the next system. You could survive there for weeks if you have to. Enough time for Voyager to pick up your distress signal. Now get moving. Celes: No. You'll have a better chance if we're with you. Janeway: Go! Celes: We might not have contributed much on Voyager, but what we do here matters. We're the crew here, and the crew does not abandon its Captain. Janeway: All right, it's your choice. Harren: Then I'll be going alone. Janeway: Good luck. Janeway: Charge phaser banks. Stand by to divert all power to thrusters. Celes: Escape pod one is occupied and ready, Captain. Janeway: Launch pod one. Telfer: Escape pod away. Janeway: How close are our pursuers? Celes: Sixty five seconds to intercept. Janeway: Stand by to fire. Celes: Captain, the escape pod is altering course. It's heading for the aliens. Janeway: Janeway to Harren. Janeway: What are you doing? Harren: If they have to deal with me, it should give you a few more seconds to get away. That's my theory, anyway. Janeway: Resume your escape course now. Harren: It's too late for that. Janeway: You made a mistake, Harren. Don't make another one. Harren: I'm done hiding, Captain. Harren: A few seconds of exposure to real life, maybe I'll understand what I've been missing. Telfer: He closed the channel. Janeway: Get a transporter lock on that pod, Celes: I can't. We're out of range. Janeway: More power to the thrusters. Celes. Celes: We're still not close enough. Telfer: Thrusters at maximum. Celes: Got him. Janeway: Fire. Celes: Shock wave approaching. Contact in four, three, two, one. More or less. Janeway: My crew Chakotay: Easy. They're sleeping. No serious injuries. Everyone's all right, though you gave us a good scare for a while. We received your distress call. We found the Flyer drifting above a gas giant. You were all unconscious. Janeway: Any sign of another vessel or some kind of entity? Chakotay: No. What happened? Janeway: The good shepherd went after some lost sheep, and ran into a wolf. Chakotay: Did she find them? Janeway: I think she did.

Miner 1: You're late. Miner 2: There was a problem with the pulse drills on level four. Miner 1: They're going to be here any moment. I want to make a good impression. Miner 2: You're certain we should be doing this? Miner 1: Orek will be pleased that we took the initiative. Miner 2: I hope you're right. Miner 1: Welcome to Telsius. Dala: Thank you. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway. This is Commander Tuvok. We're from the Federation Starship Voyager. Dala: We have several mines like this on Earth. Miner 1: I'm not familiar with Earth. Dala: That's because it's thirty thousand light years from here. Mobar: Thirty thousand three hundred forty two point four to be exact. Miner 1: You're a long way from home. Dala: It's difficult sometimes, then I close my eyes and think of the farm in Indiana where I grew up. For a moment I'm home again. Shall we get down to business? Miner 1: Yes. We've had a shortage of dilithium for the last two months. If we can't replenish our supply we may be forced to suspend work. Miner 2: Our chief of mining operations has gone to the Grenna system. Miner 1: Yes, but we are authorized to conduct trades in his absence. Mobar: What are you prepared to trade? Miner 1: I'm afraid the only commodity we have is, er, bolomite. Dala: We really don't have much use for that. Mobar: On the contrary, Captain. Bolomite is used in omega radiation therapy. The orphans on Narva Miner 1: Orphans? Mobar: The settlers on the Narva colony were exposed to toxic levels of omega radiation. The entire adult population was killed. Dala: We're doing all we can for the children. All right, twenty kilotons of dilithium for an equivalent amount of bolomite. Miner 1: We only have ten kilotons left. Dala: Then ten it is. Mobar: Captain, I must point out that dilithium is worth nearly twice as much as bolomite. Dala: Tuvok, these people need our help. I'm not going to quibble over a few tons of ore. Miner 2: Perhaps we should celebrate. Dala: I wish we could, but there's a neutronic storm approaching our ship. We should be leaving orbit. Miner 1: Give us an hour to finalize the arrangements. Dala: We'll be waiting to hear from you. Mobar: Before we leave, would it be possible to tour your facility? It's our duty as Starfleet officers Dala: Unfortunately the storm won't wait. Maybe on our next visit. Mobar: Live long and prosper. Dala: Ugh! This hair is so uncomfortable. Mobar: I find it esthetically pleasing. Zar: The negotiations? Dala: It would've been perfect if Tuvok hadn't decided to improvise. Mobar: I was portraying my character as truthfully as possible. Dala: Once we finish a transaction, we leave. Is that clear? Mobar: Indeed. Zar: Incoming transmission for Captain Janeway. Dala: Ready. This is Captain Janeway. Miner 1: The bolomite is ready for transport. We thank you for your generosity. Dala: Directive nine twenty seven of the Starfleet General Order. Always help those in need. Zar: Transport complete. Dala: We've enjoyed meeting you, gentlemen. Miner 1: Er, Captain, we haven't received the dilithium yet. Dala: Oh, the neutronic storm seems to be interfering with our transporters. If we don't leave orbit immediately, we will sustain heavy damage. Miner 2: What about our dilithium? Dala: We'll be back to deliver it as soon as the storm clears. Miner 2: Well, how long will that be Dala: Captain Janeway out. Dala: Let's go. Janeway: Computer, activate the sonic shower. Janeway: Oh, adjust the frequency. Janeway: Computer, deactivate the sonic shower! Janeway: Report. Torres: We've got systems failures on eight decks, Captain. Janeway: That explains why my sonic shower was a little louder than usual. Torres: Make that nine decks. I've run every diagnostic I know and I can't seem to isolate the problem. Janeway: Gremlins. Torres: Excuse me? Janeway: In the early days of aviation, engineers blamed imaginary little creatures called gremlins for malfunctions they could not explain. Torres: Well, one of your gremlins just paid a visit to the replicator system. Kim: Tuvok, we saved you a seat. Paris: What's wrong? Tuvok: Someone has altered one of my holodeck programs. Again. Paris: Are you sure it isn't just one of these malfunctions? Kim: Everything on the ship's been affected, including the holodecks. Tuvok: The Oracle of K'Tal isn't programmed to wear pajamas. Paris: Well, maybe he overslept. Tuvok: I am not amused by your practical jokes, Mister Paris. Paris: Why do you always think it's me? Tuvok: Mister Kim? Kim: I'd like to claim credit, but I'm innocent. Tuvok: The next time I visit the holodeck, I expect to find my program restored to its original parameters. Paris: I'm telling you, Tuvok, we didn't do it. Kim: I wonder how the Oracle would look in a somberro. Torres: Everybody stop eating! Neelix: Captain, what's wrong? Janeway: If I could have everyone's attention for a moment. We found a contaminant in the replicator system. It's nothing serious, but if any of you start to feel a little queasy, report to Sickbay immediately. In the meantime the galley is closed. Kim: I wish I hadn't had seconds. Janeway: Here. (One of the heating areas on the 'stove'. Torres: Well, that explains it. Neelix: Don't tell me a simple heating coil in the stove is responsible for everything that's gone wrong this morning. Janeway: Any component connected to the integrated circuitry can spread a contaminant. Torres: This isn't Starfleet issue. Janeway: Where did it come from? Neelix: I obtained it during a trade. Janeway: With whom? Neelix: Sister Dala. Janeway: Sister? Neelix: One of the clerics on Selnia Prime. Tom and I met her during our away mission. She was the one trying to help all those poor orphans. It's all in our report. Torres: Did you run a diagnostic before you installled it? Chakotay: Captain to the bridge. Janeway: I'm a little busy now. Can it wait? Chakotay: I'm afraid not. Janeway: I'll be right back. Orek: One excuse after another. You're stalling, and I don't have time for it. Chakotay: Captain, this is Mister Orek. He's chief of mining operations on Telsius Prime. Janeway: A problem, Mister Orek? Orek: Not if you deliver our dilithium. Janeway: Dilithium? Orek: It's all clearly documented. Ten kilotons of bolomite ore in exchange for ten kilotons of dilithium. Janeway: I think there's been some sort of misunderstanding. Orek: One way or another, I intend to collect what you owe me. Dala: We've enjoyed meeting you, gentlemen. Miner 1: Captain, we haven't received the dilithium yet Dala: Oh, the neutronic storm seems to be interfering with our transporters. If we don't leave orbit immediately, we will sustain heavy damage. Miner 2: What about our dilithium? Dala: We'll be back to deliver it as soon as the storm clears. Orek: Do you still deny you made the trade? Janeway: That woman isn't me. Orek: Who is she then? Janeway: Well, she's obviously an impostor. Orek: I have transmission logs, transport records, scans of your shuttlecraft. Janeway: I have never been to your planet, Mister Orek, aboard Voyager or any other vessel. Chakotay: Our ship's logs will confirm what the captain's been telling you. Orek: And how do I know they're authentic records? Tuvok: How do we know your records are authentic? Orek: You think I falsified data? Why would I do that? Tuvok: Perhaps to extort dilithium from us. Orek: I'm not the thief here. Janeway: We are not questioning your integrity, Mister Orek. It does appear you've been cheated, but not by me or anyone one on my crew. Orek: How naive do you think I am? First, you prey upon the sympathy of my miners by telling them stories about poor, orphaned children. Now you try to convince me you're the victims here. Janeway: Did you say orphaned children? Orek: A despicable tactic. Janeway: Will you excuse me for a minute, please? Orek: We are not finished! Janeway: Neelix. Neelix: Captain. We're making real progress. Janeway: Never mind that. Tell me more about this cleric who gave you the heating coil. Neelix: Ah. Sister Dala. What do you want to know? Janeway: Everything. Neelix: Well, Tom and I met her during our away mission. We were on a small planetoid in the Wyanti system Neelix: Searching for the spore the Doctor wanted to grow antiviral proteins with. Paris: I tell you, Neelix, when I first joined Starfleet I knew it was going to be one glamorous adventure after another, but I never dreamed that I'd have the opportunity to go on a mold-hunting expedition. Neelix: I'm detecting traces of glamor in this direction. Dala: Please, go no further. This is our sanctuary. Paris: Our scans didn't detect anyone down here. Mobar: Our sect is a solitary one. We dampen our life signs to protect the privacy of our meditations. Neelix: We're terribly sorry if we've disturbed you. Dala: Begin the cleansing. Mobar: Olat mal pri, mal pral, mal prolat. Olate kal mi, kal mal, kal molat. Neelix: I hope we haven't committed a serious transgression. Dala: The transgression was ours. We should have guarded the sanctuary more carefully. The deities will be angry. Paris: Come on, Neelix, we'd better get out of the way. Neelix: Of course. Our sincere apologies. If there's anything that we can do? Dala: Forgive me but, you look familiar. Neelix: I don't think that we've ever met before. Dala: Do you see it? Mobar: Yes. Dala: You bear a striking resemblance to our Redeemer of Light. Neelix: I'm flattered. Dala: Each spring we make a pilgrimage to Narva in his honor, to help the orphans. Neelix: That's a very worthy cause. Dala: It is. Unfortunately, we have no food to bring them this year. Paris: Why not? Mobar: A blight infected our hydroponic pods. The crop was destroyed. Neelix: Maybe we could replicate some food for you. Mobar: We bestow charity on others. The deities forbid us from accepting it ourselves. Neelix: How about a trade? Paris: Good idea. You must have something that we can use. Neelix: That way you wouldn't be accepting charity, and the deities would have nothing to get angry about. Dala: Your heart is as kind as your face. Mobar: May the deities bless you. Janeway: That's when they gave you the heating coil? Neelix: It was going to take a while to replicate the supplies they needed, so we invited them back to the Flyer. Janeway: That's when they must have gotten access to our systems. Neelix: Captain? Janeway: Did you leave either of them alone at any point? Neelix: I don't think so. Er, after we ate, Tom took Brother Mobar to see the cockpit, but I stayed in the aft section with Sister Dala, talking. Janeway: About what? Neelix: Me, mostly. She wanted to know all about my role on Voyager. Dala: Ambassador, morale officer, head chef. It sounds as though you're invaluable. Neelix: I do what I can. Dala: Where is your Voyager now? Neelix: About three light years from here. Dala: Your crew is alone in this region? Neelix: We are the only Federation Starship within thirty thousand light years. Dala: That must be difficult. Neelix: Sometimes it is, but we manage. We've single-handedly taken on the Borg, the Hirogen, Species 8472. Dala: I'm impressed. Neelix: Captain Janeway deserves most of the credit. She's an extraordinary woman. Dala: Your Captain is a woman? Neelix: The finest one I've ever known. Dala: Tell me about her. Neelix: Well, she's commanded Voyager for almost six years now. Before that, she was a science officer on the Al-Batani. Dala: Where does she come from? Neelix: Earth. It's in the Alpha Quadrant. She grew up on a little farm in a place called Indiana. You'd like her. Dala: I'm sure I would. Mobar: Sister Dala. Dala: Yes, Brother Mobar. Mobar: It's late. We must return to the sanctuary. Neelix: So soon? Dala: It's time for the evening meditation. We can't thank you enough for all you've done. Neelix: We're just glad that we could help. Dala: The blessing. Mobar: Certainly. Mobar: May the deities bless these travelers. Tala ot val. Tala ot relina. Sen tala. Sen relina. Val golina. Su ketran. Tala otval. Tala ot relina. Neelix: Then we transported them back to their sanctuary. Janeway: How long did this blessing last? Neelix: No more than a minute or two. Janeway: That's probably all they needed. Neelix: For what? Janeway: Just what I thought. The entire database was downloaded eighteen days ago. Neelix: Brother Mobar. The talisman. Janeway: It was obviously some sort of scanner. Paris: What would a couple of religious clerics want with our database? Janeway: It might help if they wanted to pose as Federation officers. Gentlemen, I believe you've been had. Janeway: The way I see it, we're both victims. Your bolomite was stolen, and our reputation has been damaged. Orek: What are you proposing? Janeway: You said you had scanned the vessel that visited your mining colony. If you allow us to analyze them we might be able to derive the impostor's warp signature. Chakotay: We could find them and recover your property before they cheat someone else. Orek: This is all difficult for me to believe. Two of your crewmen deceived by clerics? Huh. Could they really have been so naive? Tuvok: A legitimate question. Janeway: It's obvious we're dealing with clever adversaries. They fooled both of us, but I'm confident we can stop them. Orek: Perhaps I should contact Telsian security. They have persuasive methods for determining the truth. Janeway: In the meantime, the real thieves could be halfway across the sector, with your bolomite in their cargo hold. Dala: And finally, our bridge. Varn: Is this a typical Federation vessel? Dala: Well, the Delta Flyer may look a little worn, that's only because she's been through so much. This ship has helped fend off the Borg, the Hirogen, Species 8472. Varn: Most of your technology is outdated. Dala: Show him the mothership, Mister Chakotay. Zar: USS Voyager. Intrepid class, fifteen decks of the most advanced technology you'll find anywhere. Dilithium powered warp engines, integrated bioneural circuitry, holodecks. Varn: Is this a typical Federation vessel? Dala: Every ship in the fleet is built to exacting standards, but I'd be lying if I told you I didn't think Voyager was exceptional. As her captain, I'm not entirely objective. I'm sure you feel the same way about your ship. Varn: It is my home. Dala: I'm glad to hear you say that Mister Varn, because that's exactly what the Federation is. A home for an extended family who share resources and come to one another's aid in time of need. Varn: So if my ship joins your Federation, Voyager will help me fight my enemies? Mobar: The primary goal of the Federation is exploration. Military objectives are Dala: There's no need to bore our guest with Starfleet protocol, Tuvok. Varn: My enemies have sophisticated weaponry. Zar: As do we. Photon torpedoes, optronically targeted phasers, multi-spectral shielding. Dala: All of which we would not hesitate to share with a fellow member of the Federation. Varn: What will I have to do to join? Mobar: In order to be considered, a candidate must make formal application. An extensive review is conducted by a committee composed of Zar: The process is complicated, but Captain Janeway has influence with the Federation Council. Varn: And you would use that influence on my behalf? Dala: I'd be foolish not to. You are just the type of candidate we're looking for. Varn: I'll have to discuss this with my shipmates. Dala: Well, joining the Federation is a serious commitment. Take all the time you need. Zar: Captain, our latest orders from Starfleet Command. We won't be back here for at least six months. Dala: Perhaps we can discuss your application then. Varn: If we were to apply now, could you assure us we'd be accepted? Dala: You realize you'll have to commit considerable resources. Varn: I'll do whatever is necessary. Dala: Well, let me be the first to say, welcome to the Federation. Neelix: You look like you could use a cup of coffee. Paris: I've been flying concentric search patterns for the last twelve hours. Neelix: Any sign of the impostors? Paris: Neelix, what has happened to us? Neelix: I know exactly what you mean. I've been over it a thousand times. Paris: Why didn't we see this coming? Neelix: Orphans. It's the oldest gambit in the book. Paris: I mean, if it'd been Harry, I could understand it. He trusts everybody. But you and me? Neelix: We've dealt with our share of shady characters. Paris: I think maybe, maybe we've lost our edge. Neelix: Hand me one of those terra nuts. Paris: What are you doing? Neelix: Proving you wrong. Paris: Ah, the old shell game. All we need now is a mark. Neelix: I think I see one coming. Paris: You go ahead. I'll follow your lead. Neelix: Now watch carefully. I place the terra nut under the cup. Then I shuffle them. Round and round they go. Keep your eye on the nut, but be careful, the hand is faster than the eye. Now, for three hours of holodeck time, can you tell me where is the terra nut? Paris: There. No, no, no, that one. Neelix: Oh. I really thought I had you this time. Paris: Oh, keep trying, Neelix. You'll fool me one of these days. Emh: This looks like an interesting game. May I have a turn? Paris: Oh, be my guest. But you'll have to wager something. Emh: If I win, you take three duty shifts in Sickbay. Neelix: And if I win, you take three shifts in the kitchen. Emh: Done. Neelix: Ready? Now, watch carefully. Round and round they go. Follow the terra nut if you can, but be careful, the hand is faster than the eye. Paris: Careful, Doc. Try not to blink. Emh: Don't you worry, Mister Paris. You have to get up pretty early in the morning to fool my optical subroutines. Neelix: Where is it, then? Emh: In your left palm. Paris: How did you? Emh: Superior visual acuity. See you in Sickbay. Tuvok: I'm detecting a vessel on long range scans. The warp signature matches the impostor's ship. Janeway: Harry, tell Tom his coffee break is over. Set a pursuit course. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Varn: The photon torpedoes you gave me are worthless. No better than plasma flares. Dala: Perhaps you didn't arm them properly. Varn: And in the middle of the battle, the Polonians warned me to cease hostilities or face destruction at the hands of your Federation. You allowed my enemies to join. Mobar: Evidently, the Federation Council decided that Varn: Your Federation is a fraud. I demand reparations. Mobar: You will have to submit a formal report to Starfleet. Varn: Enough! If you will not reimburse me, I'll seize your ship. Dala: Disable the beam. Mobar: I can't. Zar: We have an additional problem. Voyager. Seven: There's another ship alongside the impostors. It's got them in a tractor beam. Janeway: Hail both vessels. Kim: No response from either one. Janeway: Well, let's try to get their attention. Mister Tuvok. Zar: Voyager's charging weapons. Mobar: Perhaps we should surrender to them. The Federation has an extremely humane policy regarding the treatment of prisoners Dala: Hail Varn again. Do it. Look on your scanners, Varn. Our mothership's arrived. She's armed and ready to defend us. Varn: Tell them to stand down. Dala: Release us, or Voyager will destroy you. Kim: The other ship is hailing. Janeway: On screen. Varn: Stand down, Voyager. Janeway: I have no argument with you. However, the vessel you're tractoring Varn: I paid for my Federation membership. The Delta Flyer belongs to me now. Janeway: Sir, I think you've been misled. Varn: Yes. I have. Tuvok: Three direct hits. Shields down to sixty percent. Janeway: Target his tractor beam. Nobody is taking possession of the Delta Flyer today except us. Janeway: Lock onto them. Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. Chakotay: Now our tractor generator's offline. Tuvok: Shields down to forty one percent. Paris: The impostor's ship is powering engines. Janeway: Seven, transport everyone on that vessel directly to the Brig. Seven: Establishing a lock on three life signs. That impact damaged the transporters. I'm losing annular confinement. Janeway: Harry, reroute additional power. Chakotay: They're gone. Janeway: Seven? Seven: I only got one of them. Janeway: Get us out of here, Mister Paris. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Nice hair. Dala: It's not really my taste. Janeway: Posing as a Starfleet captain, selling memberships to the Federation. Too bad we didn't think of it, Tuvok. Imagine the resources we could have acquired over the past six years. Tuvok: Indeed. Janeway: I have to admit, I'm impressed. Dala: I wish I could say the same. The great Captain Janeway. Somehow I expected you to be taller. I make a better you than you. Janeway: Oh I don't know, I'd say we're very much alike. Resourceful, intelligent, ambitious. But with just one tiny difference. Dala: And what is that? Janeway: I'm not a liar and a thief. You're going to give me a detailed account of everyone you cheated, and exactly what you did with their property. Dala: Why would I do that? Janeway: Because if you don't, I'm turning you over to Telsian security. Dala: Oh, is that supposed to frighten me? Janeway: How much do you know about the Telsians? Dala: Just that they're a more gullible species than most. Janeway: Tell her about your research, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: I beg your pardon, Captain? Janeway: On Telsian law. I think it's only fair that we let our guest know what to expect. Tuvok: The Telsian criminal justice system is rather barbaric. Janeway: Tell her about the prisons. Tuvok: Barely habitable. Inmates often die of malnutrition before they are brought to trial. Torture is commonplace, as is disease, including several incurable forms of psoriasis. Janeway: I think she gets the general idea. Dala: Suppose I do tell you. How do I know you won't turn me over to the Telsians anyway? Janeway: If you make full restitution to your victims, I'll give you safe passage out of this area. Dala: Is that a promise, Captain? Janeway: I know it's hard for you to believe, but occasionally some of us tell the truth. Dala: Give me the Delta Flyer and three days to get as far away from here as I can, and then I'll send you the information you want. Janeway: How naive do you think I am? Dala: As far as the victims are concerned, you're the one who cheated them. Without my help, you'll be the one who has a problem leaving this sector. Janeway: Tuvok, contact Telsian security. Tell them we have a prisoner to turn over. Janeway: Psoriasis? Tuvok: Improvisation is not foremost among my talents. Janeway: Considering I caught you off guard, I thought your performance was exemplary. Tuvok: Thank you, Captain. Was your order to call the Telsians part of the deception or did you actually want me to contact them? Janeway: Not yet. Let's give Dala some time to think about those barbaric prisons. Tuvok: Do you believe she'll relent? Janeway: I'm not sure. Something tells me she's just as stubborn as I am. Tuvok: Then am I to assume you have an alternative plan? Janeway: I'm like you, Tuvok. Making it up as I go along. Neelix: The Captain said bread and water, but I didn't see any harm. Dala: I'm not hungry. Neelix: I'll just leave it here in case you change your mind. May I ask you something? Dala: You want to know if you really resemble the Redeemer of Light? Neelix: I'm not that gullible. Dala: Then what? Neelix: Do you ever feel guilty? Taking advantage of people who actually think that you care about them? Dala: You seem like a good person. I'm sorry I lied to you. Neelix: Actually, I think you're just sorry you got caught. Dala: Probably. Neelix: There. Now you're being honest. I knew it was possible. If you don't mind my asking, why do you do what you do? Dala: My father taught me most people will exploit you if they can. So, it's best to exploit them first. Neelix: You know, I used to be a lot like you. Living by my wits. Never trusting anyone. Always trying to end up on the more profitable side of a transaction. Dala: And now you don't hesitate to help starving orphans. Neelix: I changed. When Captain Janeway made me part of the crew. Dala: I suppose you suddenly reformed. Neelix: No, no. Not right away. Neelix: At first I was just exploiting an opportunity to get a warm bed, food, protection. I kept waiting to find out what the captain wanted in return. Dala: But she never asked for a thing. Neelix: On the contrary. She expected a great deal from me. Honesty, loyalty, hard work. Dala: I should've guessed. Neelix: But I discovered that those were commodities I had in abundance. And it was much more profitable to share them than it was to be self-serving and cynical all the time. I'm happier than I've ever been. Dala: I suppose that you think I could change too. Neelix: Stranger things have happened. Dala: Do you really think that she'll give me safe passage if I make restitution? Neelix: If that's what she promised you. Dala: Then what? I have never done anything else. Neelix: Captain Janeway let Seven of Nine remain on board, and she was Borg. Dala: Are you saying she'd do the same thing for me? Neelix: I'd be willing to talk to her. Dala: I cheated you. Why are you being so kind to me? Neelix: Like my great grandmother used to say, it's nice to be nice. Dala: Is that tea still warm? Dala: Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so clumsy! Neelix: Security to the brig! Kim: She's gone. Mobar: It's not right to abandon her. Zar: Going back is too dangerous. Mobar: She's our captain. Zar: No, she's not. And even if she were, we wouldn't be able to rescue her. We'd be captured ourselves. Mobar: Without Captain Janeway it will be difficult to continue our activities. Zar: It's too late for that. Mobar: There must be a logical way Zar: What's logical is to get as far away as we can. Mobar: There's a vessel approaching. It's the Delta Flyer. Zar: Activate the shields. Mobar: They're hailing. It's Captain Janeway. Zar: Our Janeway or theirs? Dala: Which one did you expect? Mobar: I'm pleased to see you, Captain. Dala: Lower the shields so I can transport aboard. Zar: How were you able to escape? Dala: I'll tell you once I'm aboard. Zar: It's difficult to believe you weren't detected. Dala: Are you accusing me of something? Zar: Being cautious. How do we know this isn't a deception? Dala: Why would I try to deceive you? Zar: You could be helping Voyager capture us in exchange for your own freedom. Emh: Are we in position? Dala: I don't have time for this. Lower your shields and beam me aboard. Paris: Ready? Mobar: Captain on the bridge. Dala: As you were. Now, what about the bolomite and the rest of our earnings? Zar: They're exactly where we left them. Dala: Well, it's time to collect them and leave the region. Set a course before Voyager finds us. Zar: You're not in command here. Dala: I just spent the last twenty four hours in Voyager's brig. I have no intention of going back. Mobar: I'm picking up lifesigns on the Delta Flyer. Dala: That can't be. Zar: I was right. You brought them here. Dala: Don't be ridiculous. Whoever it is must've stowed away. Mobar: They're hailing. Dala: On screen. Paris: This is Tom Paris of the Starship Voyager. Prepare to be boarded. Mobar: He's charging weapons. Dala: Evasive maneuvers. Dala: Let's get everything on board as quickly as we can. Mobar: How many transport enhancers do you recommend, Captain? Dala: Do I have to think of everything? Zar: We'll need at least ten if we're going to beam all that bolomite through the geostrata. Dala: Maybe we should take twelve. Zar: We? Dala: Is there a problem? Zar: In six years I've never known you to dirty your hands with menial labor. Dala: Well, there's a first time for everything. Zar: You don't trust us. Dala: Who knows what the two of you planned while I was in Voyager's Brig? Mobar: As Chief of Security, I would never Zar: It's all right. We'll all go together. Dala: After you. Dala: The next populated sector is thirteen days from here. When we arrive, we'll trade the Delta Flyer for a new ship. Voyager will never find us. Are all the transport enhancers in place? Zar: That's the last of them. We can go now. If that's acceptable to you, Captain. Dala: I'm afraid there's been a change of plans. Dala: I've found the stolen items, Captain. You can lock onto my coordinates. Zar: I told you she couldn't be trusted. Mobar: How could you bring yourself to deceive your fellow officers? Dala: Voyager, I repeat, I am in position. Janeway: Can you get a lock? Seven: Negative. The geostratum is too dense. Janeway: Keep trying. Tuvok. Dala: I'm outnumbered. Captain, I need assistance. Dala: Voyager, now would be an excellent time to initiate transport. Zar: You're not transporting anything. Mobar: Captain? Dala: Voyager, please respond. Dala: You're a sight for sore eyes. Mobar: Commander Tuvok? Dala: The one and only. Mobar: Logic would indicate that neither of us has the advantage. Tuvok: Your logic is flawed. Tuvok: Stay where you are. Zar: What did they promise you for betraying us? Dala: I believe you've mistaken me for someone else. Zar: Where's Dala? Emh: I'm afraid she's indisposed at the moment. Paris: I wouldn't get up too fast if I were you, Captain. It's going to take another few minutes for the ambazine to wear off. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 53849.2. The stolen property has been returned to the Telsian miners, as well as vessels from seven different worlds. I'm hoping that the reputation of the real Federation will survive the events of the last several days. Neelix: Round and round they go. Follow the terra nut if you can, but remember, the hand is sharper than your visual acuity. Emh: I thought we'd already disproved that theory. Neelix: You tell me. Emh: The terra nut is firmly entrenched up your right sleeve. Neelix: Sorry. Emh: That's impossible. Paris: The old hand-off. Neelix: Ooh. Emh: That's cheating! Neelix: We've still got it.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 53896. B'Elanna Torres has requested permission to take the Delta Flyer and search for dilithium. Shining Voyager, far from home, far from the gleaming cities of Earth. Kelis: Headstrong B'Elanna Torres, and young Harry Kim, speed away from Voyager on the Delta Flyer in search of their treasures. Jero: I've trimmed the sails but the sea is rough. Maybe we should return. Layna: I know what I'm doing. Chorus: A wave as high as a mountain struck the Delta Flyer. Layna: Get into the escape pod. Jero: We die together. Layna: No one is going to die. Go. Chorus: Young Harry Kim left her side and B'Elanna Torres was thrown against the rocks, the rocks of our very shore. Kelis: Which is where I, Kelis the poet, found her. Broken, dying. She told me her story, and now I've told you. Autarch: An excellent conceit, that you discovered her yourself. Kelis: Thank you. Autarch: Well, now that B'Elanna Torres has come to our shore, what will happen? Does Captain Janeway come searching for her, or does she give her up for lost? Kelis: Who can say? Autarch: Well, I would hope that you can. I want to see more of these Voyager Eternals. Kelis: Inspiration can't be forced. Autarch: One week. Kelis: Or three weeks. Maybe two. One week. The story will continue. Have you noticed how thin my performers have gotten? Autarch: Let them eat this. Kelis: Ladies and gentlemen, our patron salutes you. Jero: Finally! Kelis: We're doing another Voyager play. As soon as I can write it. Layna: Shall we celebrate, the two of us? Kelis: I have very little time. Celebrating will have to wait. Torres: Who are you? Kelis: Kelis, Kelis the poet. Your servant. Torres: My servant? All right. Let me go. Kelis: I can't. Torres: Why not? Kelis: You'll fly from me, the way inspiration always does. Torres: You're trying to kill me. Kelis: I'm releasing the heat from your veins. Torres: What are you talking about? Kelis: You've been in a fever since I found you. Bleeding is the best way to treat it. Torres: Oh, I can see I'm in good hands. Kelis: Something tells me you have your doubts. Torres: There's a medkit over there. A box, made out of metal. There's a small cylinder inside. Bring it here. Give it to me. Torres: Don't be afraid, it won't hurt you. Here. Pass it over where you cut me. Kelis: You're an Eternal. I suppose such things are to be expected. Torres: What other things do you expect from an Eternal? Kelis: The power to make the ground open up and the sky to fall. All the strange events sung by the ancient poets. Fortunately for me, no poet has ever sung about your clan. I'm the first. Torres: My clan? Kelis: The Eternals on Voyager. Shining Voyager, far from home. Torres: What do you know about that? Torres: Delta Flyer log, stardate 53918. Harry and I are continuing toward the fourth planet. Sensors have picked up natural dilithium deposits on nearly every land mass. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Has your warp core been damaged? Torres: Yes. We're running on thrusters. Can you track our position? Torres: How long have I been here? Kelis: Eight days. I was walking through these mountains. I saw a light burn across the sky and I heard a terrible sound. When I arrived, I found you. I treated your wounds. Torres: And you tied me to this chair. Kelis: When a gift falls from the heavens, only a fool would let her go. You've already given me one play. The story told by those voices. I pieced them together, tried to fill in the gaps. Torres: You made a play out of our logs? Kelis: The Away Mission of B'Elanna Torres. My patron was impressed. Torres: He has great taste. Now take that knife of yours and cut me free. Kelis: That would be unwise. Torres: Why? Kelis: My patron is intrigued by the Voyager Eternals. He wants another play. To compose that, I need more details. Torres: And you expect to get them from me? Kelis: I did save your life. Torres: I need to get back to Voyager. Kelis: I need another play. Torres: What exactly do you want to know? Kelis: Everything. Torres: It's not possible. We Eternals have our rules. We can't just give everything away. Kelis: How did you get lost? Torres: Cut me free and I'll tell you. Kelis: You won't leave me? Torres: Cut me free. Torres: You're the one who's leaving. Torres: Don't come back. Torres: Computer, bring the subspace transmitter online. Computer: Unable to comply. Torres: Why not? Computer: Insufficient power. Torres: Great. Now there's no power. Kelis: Are you hungry? Torres: I told you not to come back. Kelis: You haven't eaten in days. We have to support each other, we poets. Torres: I'm an engineer. I fix things. Kelis: From the looks of it, you're not doing so well. Torres: Are you a poet or a critic? Kelis: Tell me about Earth. Torres: I have to sing for my supper, huh? Kelis: We all do, in one way or another. Earth. Torres: It's a, an island. A beautiful island, blue and green. Kelis: And Voyager, a great ship? Torres: In a long line of great ships. Kelis: How did Voyager get lost? Torres: The Caretaker. Kelis: An Eternal? Torres: Yes, you could say that. He caused a storm, which blew us off course. Kelis: Tom Paris. Are you in love with him? Torres: Supper is over. Come with me. Torres: This is where we put all the names and dates when our heads won't hold any more. Kelis: A memory. Torres: Exactly. Tell me, have you ever seen this before? Kelis: Winter's tears. Torres: Can you get me some? Kelis: This is dilithium, isn't it? What you were looking for? Torres: Where can I find it? Kelis: The only deposit I know of is on the hunting grounds of my patron. He'd execute me for trespassing. And you, well, he'd love to capture an Eternal. Torres: Maybe I'm more powerful than he is. Kelis: Perhaps, but if he caught you he'd force you to fight against his enemies. They're constantly at each other's throats. Bickering over territory, raiding each other's land, starting wars whenever they can be guaranteed of good weather. And we suffer the consequences. You don't want to get involved with them. Torres: Which is why you're going to get the dilithium. Kelis: I told you, I'd be executed if I'm caught. Torres: The dilithium. Or I don't say another word about Shining Voyager, far from home. Kelis: Did you? Torres: Don't get caught. Torres: Well? Torres: Beautiful. I've got an idea for your next play. Kelis: I've been visited by inspiration herself. How does this sound? The Rescue of B'Elanna Torres. Right here, in one week. Chorus 2: One week? Kelis: Let's get to work. Janeway: Dismissed. Paris: That's it? Emh: Mister Paris, try to stay calm. Paris: No, that's not going to happen. Isn't there anything else we can do? Janeway: Not until something shows up on sensors. Paris: I'll take a shuttle out myself. I'll run a planet by planet search. Seven: An inefficient plan. Chakotay: And too dangerous. You could be hit by the same spatial eddies that sent the Flyer off course. Janeway: We need to concentrate our efforts from here, Tom. All right? Dismissed. 1: Steady-armed Paris, bound by a sleep that brings no rest. Chorus 2: The door opens. The shadow of a woman falls on the helmsman. His eyes open. Jero: Seven of Nine, did you find B'Elanna Torres? Layna: I'm sorry to disappoint you. Kelis: Closer. Closer! Jero: Unpleasant news delivered by the most pleasing of messengers. Kelis: No, no, no, no. Seven of Nine is a Borg, the scourge of the Eternals. You're portraying her like a shy bride on her wedding night Once more. Jero: Seven of Nine, did you find B'Elanna Torres? Layna: I am sorry to disappoint you. Kelis: I can't blame my performers. These Eternals on Voyager are difficult to understand. Torres: Will you stop walking around? You're going to break something. Kelis: This Tuvok, for example. He's not like anybody I've ever met. No emotions? How is that possible? Torres: It just is. Kelis: It worked? Torres: It worked. Torres: Okay, Computer, bring subspace transmitter online. Kelis: What happened? Torres: I don't know. The transmitter must have been weakened in the crash. It couldn't take the energy surge. Kelis: These Vulcans. Torres: Enough! What kind of metallurgic technology do you people have? Alloys. Which ones can you make? Steel? Bronze? Kelis: Bronze. Torres: Bronze, all right. I need a plate of metal this big, as thin as it can be, three parts tin to five parts bronze. One side coated with gold. Kelis: Gold is expensive. I can't afford it. Torres: Then you're going into debt. Kelis: Then tell me about the Vulcans. Torres: Get me the plate, and then I'll tell you. Kelis: Everyone's asleep. I'll do it in the morning. The Vulcans? Neelix: Maybe I've miscounted but, I don't think you've slept in ten days? Tuvok: Your count is accurate. Neelix: Don't you think you should go to bed? Tuvok: As a Vulcan, I can function without sleep for more than two weeks. Neelix: But there's a point of diminishing returns, when your mind starts to play tricks on you. Tuvok: My mind, Mister Neelix, does not play tricks. Neelix: The ship is lonely without them, isn't it? Tuvok: If you would allow me to continue my sensor analysis, I might be able to locate them. Neelix: If there's anything else you need. A stronger tea, perhaps. Jero: When a friend is lost, the mind is split in half, Divided between memory of the past and fear of the future. Harry Kim, Ensign. Only a boy when fate took you from the arms of blue green Earth. B'Elanna Torres, half Klingon, half Human. I am honored to call you Kelis: What are you doing? Is that a tear? Jero: Yes. Kelis: Logical Tuvok doesn't cry. That's why they call him Logical. Jero: Everybody cries. Kelis: The land of Vulcan has no laughter, and it has no tears. It is a very quiet place. Calm, just like Tuvok. Jero: I can't believe that. Kelis: You don't have to, just don't cry. Jero: The audience won't believe it either. They'll either think Tuvok is an unfeeling monster, or that I am a bad performer. Kelis: They'll realize that beneath your unfeeling exterior is a heart that's breaking, silently, and in more pain than any of us can possibly understand, because that's what it is to be Vulcan. Try it again. Chorus 3: Kelis! Kelis: What's wrong? Chorus 3: Our patron has been insulted by his enemy to the north. The armories are open. Kelis: Has a battlefield been chosen? Chorus 3: Not yet. Kelis: Then we have a chance. Kelis: I need your help. Torres: I've given you enough help. Where's that piece of metal? Torres: Not bad. Kelis: My patron's been angered by the leader of a neighboring state. He'll want to take revenge. It could lead to war. Torres: We Eternals aren't supposed to take sides. Kelis: I'm not asking you to fight. I need a way to change his mind. Torres: I don't have that kind of magical power. Kelis: Yes, you do. I believe the right kind of play can turn the mind from violent thoughts. The perfect play might even stop a war. Torres: I can't fix the transmitter with this. There's too many impurities. It'll never carry a plasma charge. Kelis: If the fighting starts, scouting parties will start moving through these mountains. You'll be discovered. But my play, it could stop it from happening. You have to help me. Torres: There's nothing I can do. Kelis: Then come with me. I'll show you what I've done so far. It's our only chance. Kelis: She's a fellow poet from across the Eastern Sea, an expert on the Voyager Eternals. She's devoted her life to them. She's here to help. Kelis: The Rescue of B'Elanna Torres. We begin with Harry Kim reaching Voyager in the escape pod. He tells Captain Janeway that B'Elanna Torres is lost. We continue to the point where they discover a piece of the Delta Flyer. After that Torres: It's simple. They search for B'Elanna Torres. B'Elanna Torres is found. Kelis: Or not found. Torres: Or not found. The end. It sounds pretty straightforward to me. Kelis: That's exactly the problem. Where is the mistaken identity, the discovery, the sudden reversal? Mistaken identity, a character who is someone else. discovery, the moment when that identity is revealed. Reversal, a situation that turns from good to bad in a blink of an eye. Chorus 1: Find the truth of your story and you won't need all those tricks. I don't know how things are done across the Eastern Sea, but here poets have become lazy. They rely on manipulation to move their audience. It wasn't always that way. Welcome. Torres: Thank you. Kelis: The truth of my story. It's an old-fashioned idea. Today, audiences want excitement, passion. Let me show you what I've done with Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay. Let's make a good impression on our visitor. Tanis: Chakotay, why must I be denied what every other female officer on this ship can have? Jero: Captain? Tanis: The privilege of your touch. Janeway: Come in. Janeway: If that was good news, you'd be smiling. Chakotay: I was just contacted by an alien transport vessel. They picked up the Delta Flyer's distress call. Torres: The primary controls are offline. I've ordered Harry to eject. I still have thrusters. I'm setting a course for an L class planet. I'll try to maintain contact. Chakotay: They couldn't get a fix on her position. That was ten days ago. Janeway: B'Elanna ordered Harry into an escape pod. What's the longest he could survive? Chakotay: Less than ten days. Janeway: An L class planet. Chakotay: I've already narrowed the search parameters. Janeway: If B'Elanna made it there, it's possible Harry did too. Good night, Commander. Chakotay: Captain. Kelis: We'll have a final rehearsal in the morning. Jero: The last Tuvok scene doesn't make sense to me, and we still don't have an ending. Kelis: I've got the rest of the night to work on it. Maybe you can get some sleep. Kelis: What did you think? Torres: Captain Janeway kissing Commander Chakotay? Tom Paris kissing Seven of Nine? I don't see the point. Kelis: Anger is like fire. Love can be the rain that extinguishes it. My patron is filled with hatred for his rival, so our play should be filled with love. Torres: You can't change somebody's way of life with a few lines of dialogue. Kelis: Yes, you can. It's been done before. Do you know what this place used to be a hundred years ago? A temple, and this was the altar stone. Every year a victim would be sacrificed on it in honor of winter. And then one year, nobody remembers exactly when or why, a play took the place of the ritual, and no one had to die here again. Why can't my play take the place of a war? Torres: Well, you're going to have to do a lot better than Harry Kim kissing the Delaney sisters. Kelis: Why? Torres: Because when you think that you are surrounded by enemies, when you're up against the Borg, or, or Species 8472, the last thing on your mind is romance. Kelis: You're an Eternal. You have to help me. Torres: I'm sorry, Kelis. Kelis: The Borg. Tell me more about them. Torres: They're soldiers, part of a vast army. They all think the same thoughts, and they travel on ships that look like hives. Kelis: Like insect colonies. Torres: They even have a queen. Kelis: That sounds terrifying. Captain Janeway hasn't been able to destroy them Torres: She is a Starfleet officer, trained to avoid violence whenever possible. She would make peace with the Borg if she could. Kelis: This is what I need. An enemy, someone to stand in the way of Voyager finding B'Elanna Torres. Captain Janeway, driven by vengeance, must seek out the Queen of the Borg. The audience thinks she plans to destroy them all, but Torres: Go on. Kelis: The Sudden Reversal. Captain Janeway, holding her spear at the queen's throat, throws her weapon aside and she argues passionately to put an end to their conflict in words no one will fail to understand. Torres: Including your patron? It's much better than all that kissing. Kelis: Stay and help me. I still need an ending. Torres: You'll figure something out. Kelis: B'Elanna Torres dies tragically. Torres: You wouldn't dare. Layna: I followed you here expecting to find a love nest. It's quite a nest. You're no poet from across the sea. You're an Eternal. Maybe even B'Elanna Torres herself. Torres: Don't be ridiculous. Layna: You know all he thinks about is you? Torres: We're collaborators, that's all. Layna: If you come to the performance tomorrow night, I'll expose you to the Autarch. Just leave us alone. Fix your ship and go, please. Kim: Friend of yours? Torres: Harry? Kim: Give me a hand. Torres: Oh. How? Kim: I ran into some turbulence in the escape pod, decided to turn around and follow your ion trail. Landed about two hundred kilometers from here. Torres: You walked? Kim: At night. I tracked your position with a tricorder and tried to stay hidden during the day. I've got some emergency rations left, a phaser, and the escape pod's transmitter, which I didn't have power left to run, but Torres: Harry Kim saves the day. Just the ending I was looking for. Kelis: The final moment, the last scene, more important than anything that's gone before. But what is it? Where is she? Layna: Your collaborator's probably halfway across the Eastern Sea by now. Kelis: She'll be here. Chorus 3: You said we'd have an ending by mid-morning. We won't have time to learn it. Kelis: It'll come to me. Don't worry. Kim: Want to give it a try? Torres: Why not? The thirty eighth time might be the charm. Kim: It's working. Computer: The subspace transmitter is online. Kim: Why don't you do the honors? Torres: Voyager, this is the Delta Flyer. Jero: Our patron has arrived. He's not in a very good mood. Kelis: He will be. Chorus 3: Not if this is any indication. Chorus 2: Kelis, this is no way to end a play. Chorus 1: It doesn't make sense. Kelis: It'll have to. Go, go. Chorus 1: Who are the enemies of Voyager? The Borg. Chorus 2: Species 8472. Kelis: You know where the ridge ends just below the peak? Run there as fast as you can. You'll find a vessel wrecked against the rocks. Go inside and give this to our friend. Don't be frightened. Go. Paris: Tuvok. Tuvok! Tuvok: As you were. Bridge to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Tuvok: Request permission to be relieved. Chakotay: Understood. I'll be right there. Tuvok: We're picking up a subspace transmission. Starfleet frequency. Paris: It's a little rough. Hang on. Torres: Delta Flyer. Harry and I are all right. We're on an L class planet. Propulsion is down. Tuvok: Origin? Paris: Five point two light years, F type star, looks like the fourth planet. Tuvok: Lay in a course. Maximum warp. Tanis: Seven of Nine. Layna: Captain. Tanis: The Delta Flyer has been found in pieces, on a rocky shore. Layna: And B'Elanna Torres? Tanis: No sign of her. Seven of Nine, you are my eyes and my ears. If anyone can find her, it is you. Layna: Her eyes and her ears. And the viper in her nest. I, Seven of Nine, have no intention of finding B'Elanna Torres. I, Seven of Nine, am Queen of the Borg. Surprised? No one will be more surprised than Janeway when I take my revenge on Voyager. Say nothing or you, too, will be assimilated. Captain, I will comply. Tanis: My enemies are everywhere without and within. Seven of Nine is Queen of the Borg. Surprised? So was I. Tell her nothing, or I will lose my advantage, and my ship as well. Paris: Are you okay? Torres: Yes. Kim: We're fine. Paris: Good to hear it. We'll see you soon. Torres: Don't be afraid. Kim: What is it? Torres: Without inspiration, B'Elanna Torres will perish. He's threatening to kill off B'Elanna as the climax to his play. Kim: Let him. Torres: That means that he still can't figure out the ending. Kim: Who cares? Torres: I do. Kim: You're serious? Torres: Harry, have you ever inspired anybody? Kim: That's kind of a strange question. Torres: It's been a strange couple of weeks. He needs me, or he's the one who's going to die on that stage. Kim: What are you talking about? Computer: The transporter is online. Torres: Tell the Captain I'll be a little late. Kim: B'Elanna. Torres: Wait for my signal. Layna: My death is irrelevant. You will never see the gleaming cities of Earth. You will be assimilated. Tanis: And if I let you live? Layna: Also irrelevant. Tanis: You don't believe that. Tanis: The battle is over. Go home. Layna: How foolish of you to let me go, free to attack you again. Tanis: And again and again, until all your drones and all my crew are destroyed. Until everything we value is gone, and there is nothing left but our hatred. Jero: This final scene will ruin everything that we've done out there. We'll have to improvise. Kelis: It's too late. Torres: No, it's not. Kelis: I knew you'd come. Layna: And I told you not to. Torres: Wait! Let's go. Chorus: Finally, Voyager has reached our shores. Torres: And not a moment too soon. Kelis the poet must say goodbye as B'Elanna Torres returns to the Eternals in a dazzling blaze of light. Chorus 3: On a far-away, snow-covered peak. Torres: No, right here before your eyes. Layna: Wait! She's not from across the Eastern Sea. She's an Eternal. I'm telling you she's B'Elanna Torres. The real B'Elanna Torres! I saw her ship. Chorus 1: The lead actress, in a fit of jealousy, brands her rival an Eternal. Our patron rises to his feet to stop the play. Autarch: Nicely done. I almost believed you. Continue. Kelis: Stay. Torres: Voyager needs me. Kelis: So do I. Torres: No, you don't. You have all that you need right here. Kelis: I'll be inspired every time I think of you. Torres: One to beam, to ascend to the heavens. Chorus 1: And so ends the rescue of B'Elanna Torres. Half Klingon B'Elanna Torres. Half human B'Elanna Torres, Chief Engineer. Kelis: These stories will continue for as long as we have the breath to tell them. And as long as our patrons remain wise and compassionate. And Voyager will continue on her journey to the gleaming cities of Earth, where peace reigns and hatred has no home.

Janeway: Come in. Tuvok: You wished to see me. Janeway: We've known each other for how long? Tuvok: Approximately twenty years. Janeway: We've served on three starships together. I was present at your daughter's Kohlinar. I consider you one of my closest friends. Tuvok: And I regard you with the same esteem. Janeway: I've always been honest with you, but you've been keeping something from me. Tuvok: I don't know what you mean. Janeway: Don't you? It took exhaustive research, sifting through teraquads of data, separating fact from rumor, but eventually I arrived at the truth. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: Happy birthday. Tuvok: Thank you. Janeway: So, it's not long before you hit the big three digits, huh? Tuvok: Indeed. Have you informed anyone else of your discovery? Janeway: Don't worry, Tuvok, my lips are sealed. Well? You're supposed to blow out the candle. Tuvok: That is not a Vulcan custom. Janeway: Humor me. Chakotay: Captain to the bridge. Janeway: Well? Tuvok: It was a fire hazard. Chakotay: We're receiving a distress call. A small vessel on an intercept course. Janeway: Lifesigns? Kim: One. It's Ocampan. Tuvok: We're being hailed. Janeway: Kes? Kes: Captain Janeway, I need your help. Will you please give me permission to come aboard? Janeway: Of course. What's happened? Kes: Please, let me come aboard. Janeway: Prepare the docking port. Tell the Doctor to stand by. Tuvok: Her ship is accelerating. It's on a collision course. Janeway: Janeway to Kes. Cut your engines. You're coming in too fast. Paris: Five seconds till impact. Chakotay: Lock on a tractor beam. Evasive maneuvers. Kim: Hull breach on deck nine. Janeway: Emergency force fields. Kim: Captain, a transporter was activated just before impact. She's beamed aboard. Kim: I'm reading bulkhead ruptures. Deck eleven, section seventeen, eighteen, nineteen. Chakotay: Cause? Kim: Unknown. Tuvok: I've located Kes. She's moving through those sections. She's giving off high levels of neurogenic energy. Janeway: Janeway to Kes. Kes, respond. Kim: Hull breach, section twenty. Janeway: Forcefields. Security to deck eleven. Kim: Forcefields are not holding. Tuvok: She's approaching main Engineering. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Intruder alert. Ayala: Stop where you are. Torres: Kes? Seven: State your intentions. Torres: Evacuate Engineering. Paris: Warp power is fluctuating. Torres: Torres to bridge. Kes is in direct contact with the warp core. Torres: She's drawing power from it somehow. Janeway: Shut it down. Paris: Warp power is returning to normal. Janeway: B'Elanna, report. Seven: Lieutenant Torres is dead. Kes has vanished. Torres: Send Mulchaey, he's in deflector control. We'll need more power to junction twelve J, and tell Harry I want to talk to him about building a new energy grid. Lost? Kes: No, just looking. Captain Janeway suggested that I get more familiar with the ship. Torres: Well, if you have any questions, let me know. Kes: Thanks. Torres: We're about to run a diagnostic on the warp core assembly. You can watch if you want. Kes: Thanks, but I really should be getting back to Sickbay. Kes: Computer, has long has Voyager been in the Delta Quadrant? Computer: Fifty six days, seventeen hours. Emh: Back so soon? I thought you went to the Airponics bay to collect herbs. Kes: I forgot something. Emh: Ah. Pyong Ko. Kes: Excuse me? Emh: You encouraged me to choose a name, remember? Pyong Ko was a twenty first century surgeon who discovered the genetic sequence for inhibiting cancer cells. It heralded a new chapter in Earth's medical history. Kes: That's a perfect name, Doctor. Emh: Then again, I'm also considering Schweitzer, Jarvik, Pasteur. There are so many options, each with its own merits. Kes: Why don't you give it some more thought? You don't have to decide right away. Emh: Of course, it's not that I require one for reasons of vanity. I'm just a hologram after all. But if I had a name, other than Doctor or Hey you, it might encourage the crew to treat me with a little more respect. Kes? Kes: Hello? Neelix? Paris: Neelix, if you want to put your own stamp on it, maybe you should give it your own name, like the Greasy Neelix or the Double Talaxian with cheese. Neelix: It has a nice ring to it. Thank you, Lieutenant, I'll keep that in mind. Sweeting, What'll it be? The usual? Kes: I'm not hungry. I thought that I'd bring Captain Janeway some coffee. Neelix: That's very thoughtful. I'm looking forward to tonight. Kes: Actually, I have a lot of work to do in Sickbay. Neelix: But I already reserved the holodeck. I thought we could take a moonlit stroll through the marshlands of Oshionian Prime. Kes: Another time. I promise. Neelix: Something wrong? Kes: Bad morning. Neelix: Anything I can do? Kes: I'll be fine. Neelix: I'm not having a great day, either. Nobody seems to like today's menu. I tried blaming it on a replicator malfunction, but no one believed me. Wait, I, I think I see something. Neelix to Security, Kes' frown is losing its structural integrity. Red alert, I'm detecting a smile. That's my Kes. Kes: The coffee? Chakotay: That last attack nearly cost us our impulse drives. Fortunately, B'Elanna found a way to reroute power from the deflector. Janeway: A good choice for Chief Engineer, if I do say so myself. Chakotay: Getting to know your enemy. Janeway: I feel like I already do. Remember the old story? Man goes to Risa, where he meets a beautiful woman who invites him over for an evening of passion. Chakotay: He wakes up in the morning, feeling wonderful, until he discovers he's missing a kidney. Janeway: Every cadet about to go on his first shore leave hears that cautionary tale. Doesn't seem so outrageous anymore, does it? Chakotay: No, but the Vidiians are more than just your garden variety monsters. I've been studying their culture. They were a lot like us before the Phage. Janeway: Do I detect a note of sympathy? Chakotay: Makes you wonder what we'd do under the same circumstances. Janeway: Come in. Janeway: Oh, you read my mind. Kes: Vidiians? Janeway: I'm afraid so. We've picked up two more ships on long range sensors. I've gone to full tactical alert. We're taking every precaution. Kes: I'm sure you'll get us through it safely. Janeway: Thanks for the vote of confidence. Tuvok thinks he's found a way to penetrate their shields. The next time they attack us, it won't be so easy. Kes: That's good to hear. Tuvok: Captain to the bridge. Janeway: On my way. Kes: Oops. I'm so clumsy, I'm sorry. Janeway: Don't worry about it. This desk has seen its share of coffee spills, believe me. Tuvok: Ensign Wildman has an intriguing proposal. Wildman: We've been analyzing the Vidiian bio-readings from the last attack. Their immune systems have been compromised by the Phage. We could synthesize a neural agent that would incapacitate them without affecting us. Janeway: Might come in handy if we're ever boarded. Wildman: Exactly. Janeway: Work with the Doctor. When you've got something, find a way to deploy it through the environmental systems. Wildman: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: The ships we detected earlier have disappeared from our sensors. Kim: Maybe we outran them. Torres: They wouldn't give up that easily. Emh: Why would they? Voyager's the only organ bank within half a parsec. Chakotay: We fought off their first attacks. Now they seem content to show up on sensors just long enough for us to change course. It's like we're being herded somewhere. Paris: If we maintain our present course we're going to enter a region filled with subspace vacuoles. Torres: We'd have to drop to impulse to get through. Chakotay: Sounds like a good place for an ambush. Torres: The Maquis used to lure the Cardassians into the Badlands. Those Galor class cruisers had nowhere to run. Janeway: Neither will we, unless. Tom, how dense are those vacuoles? Paris: They cover about seventy percent of the region. Janeway: Excuse me, Doctor. Janeway: Tom, what's the first thing they teach you about maneuvering at warp? Paris: Faster than light, no left or right. When possible, maintain a linear trajectory. Course corrections could fracture the hull. Janeway: Exactly. We'd have to drop to impulse every time we made a course change but, what if we let Voyager do the driving? Paris: Ma'am? Janeway: We could pre-program every kilometer. That way we'd only spend a second or two at impulse every time the computer executed a turn. Paris: Auto-navigation the entire way? Janeway: No offense, but the neural gel packs can calculate vectors a little faster than you can. Chakotay: B'Elanna? Torres: We'd need a more accurate scan of the region. If we even graze one of those vacuoles Kim: We could send a shuttle ahead. Tuvok: The Delta Flyer. Its sensors are more advanced. Janeway: The Delta what? Tuvok: Forgive me. I must have been thinking of another starship. Janeway: Prepare a shuttle. I want all of Voyager's systems operating at peak efficiency by the time Tom gets back. If we're going to pull this off, there's no margin for error. Dismissed. Kes: Computer, display an image of the Ocampan homeworld. Plot a course from Voyager's current position. Paris: Homesick? Kes: Lieutenant! Paris: Tom. It's okay, a lot of people on board feel the same way. Kes: I spent my entire life trying to get away from Ocampa. Why would I want to go back? Paris: Because it's home. Home for me means a penal colony. Out here, I get to fly a state of the art ship, and there's no admirals in sight. Kes: What are you doing? Paris: Getting ready for a scouting mission. Paris: You planning on going somewhere? Kes: Er, no, of course not. I was just studying the helm configurations. Paris: I didn't know you could pilot a shuttle. Kes: I can't, but I'd like to learn. Paris: Well, then, why not learn from the best? I could start you off in the holodeck, in an old class One. It's the kind of shuttle my father used to take me up in. Kes: That would be very nice, Lieutenant. Tom. Tuvok: Identify yourself. Naomi: It's me, Tuvok. Naomi Wildman. Carey: May I help you, sir? Lieutenant, is something wrong? Neelix: Hello, Sweeting. I took the liberty of preparing one of your favorite meals. It's under replicator program Neelix One. Call me if you'd like some company. Miss you. Kes: Computer, end music. Open an encrypted channel. Direct the signal to the following coordinates. Computer: Channel open. Kes: My name is Kes. I'm aboard the Starship Voyager. Respond. I know you're receiving this transmission, and I also know that your attempt to capture this ship will fail. If you want to harvest Voyager's crew, I suggest you answer me now. Viidian: Explain. Kes: Captain Janeway is aware of your ambush. She's found a way to evade your vessels, but I can help you. Viidian: I'm listening. Kes: I can send you tactical data on their shields, weapons. Everything you need to take this ship. Viidian: This is a deception. Kes: Do you want this crew or not? Viidian: In return? Kes: Safe passage to Ocampa for myself and one other. Viidian: Why would you sentence your own crew to death? Kes: They're not my crew. They abandoned me a long time ago. Kes: Computer, access Voyager's tactical database. Computer: Command authorisation required. Computer: Access granted. Janeway: Naomi Wildman? Tuvok: She appeared to be half Ktarian. Janeway: Ensign Wildman's husband is Ktarian. I met him once on Deep Space Nine. Tuvok: There's more. I followed her to Cargo Bay two, where I saw a woman and two children, all with cybernetic implants. Janeway: Borg? Tuvok: I can't explain it, Captain. I've had hallucinations before, but only while in a state of deep meditation. These were specific and they evoked a sense of anticipation. Janeway: It almost sounds like you're describing a premonition. Tuvok: Indeed. Janeway: I didn't think Vulcans had premonitions. Tuvok: They don't. That's what concerns me. Janeway: Computer, maintain a continuous proximity scan of Lieutenant Tuvok. Ten meter radius, all sensor parameters. In case you have any more visions. Tuvok: A logical plan. Chakotay: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: We're approaching the vacuoles. Janeway: On my way. Chakotay: Last chance to take the long way around. Janeway: It does feel like we're sneaking through a graveyard at midnight. Any sign of the Vidiians? Chakotay: Not yet, but it's a safe bet they're in there. Janeway: Tom? Paris: Trajectory's laid in. Our trip will take three hours, twelve minutes, eleven seconds with two hundred and sixteen course changes. Janeway: Well, let's get started. Paris: Engaging at warp eight. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Kim: One of the vacuoles shifted position. The computer's adjusting our vector. Paris: Dropping to impulse, two point three degree turn starboard, jumping to warp six. Chakotay: One down, two hundred and fifteen to go. Janeway: I'll be in Sickbay. Paris: Dropping to impulse. New heading, oh thirty one mark two. Tuvok: There's a ship approaching. It's on a collision course. Paris: I'm not reading any ship. Chakotay: Lieutenant? Tuvok: Permission to be relieved, sir. I am not well. Chakotay: Of course. Emh: The molecular structures appear to be stable. Good. Janeway: Report. Emh: We've devised a neural agent that should inhibit the Vidiian's motor functions without causing any permanent damage. Janeway: Good. I don't want to add to their health problems. I just want to keep them from adding to ours. Wildman: I'll get to work. Janeway: Doctor, when was the last time you examined Ensign Wildman? Emh: I performed her annual physical six weeks ago. Janeway: Did you find anything unusual? Emh: She's in perfect health. Janeway: This may seem like a strange question, but I need to know if she's pregnant. Emh: I'm not at liberty to disklose that information. Doctor-patient confidentiality. Janeway: What about Captain's orders? Emh: Sorry, medical protocol supersede your authority in these matters. Janeway: The security of this ship could be at stake. Emh: She planned on telling you herself. Janeway: Boy or girl? Emh: Female. Half Ktarian, as a matter of fact, which should nearly double the infant's gestation period. How did you know? Emh: And they say I'm rude. Chakotay: We're receiving a distress call. Janeway: Life signs? Kim: It's Ocampan. Janeway: Kes? Kes: Let me come on board. Tuvok: Her ship is accelerating. It's on a collision course. Kim: Hull breach on deck nine. Janeway: Emergency forcefields. Tuvok: She's approaching main Engineering. Seven: State your intentions. Kes: Let me come on board. Tuvok: It's on a collision course. Janeway: Forcefields. Chakotay: We're receiving a distress call. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Intruder alert. Ayala: Stop where you are. Seven: State your intentions. Paris: Warp power is fluctuating. Torres: She's drawing power from it somehow. Torres: Problem? Torres: Hey. Torres: Torres to Sickbay, medical emergency. Emh: Twenty milligrams lectrazine. Cortical stimulator. We'll start at twenty millijoules. Kes: Ready. Emh: Now. He's gone into synaptic shock. I don't understand. Janeway: Can I speak with him? Emh: I think it's best to keep him sedated for now. Janeway: When did this begin? Emh: Early this afternoon, in Engineering. Janeway: Time. I need the exact time. Emh: Lieutenant Torres called Sickbay at fourteen hundred twenty two hours. Janeway: Computer, display proximity scan of Lieutenant Tuvok at fourteen hundred twenty two hours. Oh. Emh: Captain? Janeway: Tachyons. Emh: I beg your pardon? Janeway: There was a surge of tachyon particles just before Tuvok collapsed. Emh: That could have triggered this, but where did they come from? Janeway: They're normally caused by temporal distortions. Emh: Time travel? Janeway: Let me know if his condition changes. Janeway: Kes, you have telepathic abilities. Have you experienced anything unusual during the past couple of days? Hallucinations, premonitions? Kes: No, nothing. Janeway: If you do, you'll let me know? Kes: Of course, Captain. Kes: We're low on neuro-stabilizers. I'll go replicate some more. Emh: Hurry back. Vidiian: Where's the tactical data you promised us? Kes: I'm downloading it now. I'll transmit it to you once you've arrived. Vidiian: I need it now. Kes: Janeway's already suspicious. If I transmit it now, I'll be discovered. Vidiian: That's your problem. Kes: Apparently it's yours, too. Janeway: Gentlemen, scan for tachyon particles deck by deck. Kim: Tachyons? Janeway: Do it. Chakotay: Looking for something specific? Janeway: I'm not sure. Chakotay: Report. Paris: We're under attack. A Vidiian ship is closing on our position. Janeway: Battlestations. Kim: We've lost warp drive and weapons. Chakotay: They're cutting through our shields. Remodulate. Kim: I'm trying. They keep matching the frequencies. Chakotay: We've still got impulse. Paris: They've taken out navigation. I can't plot a course. Chakotay: They're cutting an access route through the hull. Evacuate deck three and seal it off. Janeway: Bridge to Sickbay. Are you ready with that neural agent? Emh: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Stand by to release it on deck three. Emh: Acknowledged. Fifty milliliters should suffice. Wildman: Doctor! Emh: Doctor to the bridge. Environmental controls aren't responding. Janeway: Harry, what's going on? Kim: We've been locked out of that system. Janeway: What do you mean, locked out? Kim: The command relays have been fused. Janeway: They know where to find us, they know our shield frequencies, which systems to target. Kim: We're being boarded. Chakotay: I'm reading an EM fluctuation. It could be a transmission. Janeway: Location? Chakotay: Airponics bay. Janeway: Who's down there? Chakotay: I'm picking up two bio-readings. The sensors must be malfunctioning. They're both reading as Kes. Janeway: Security to Airponics bay. Shut down control functions to that section. I'm going down there. Something tells me we've got more than one battle on our hands. Kes: Computer, initiate site-to site transport program Kes beta six. Computer: Unable to comply. Control functions have been disabled. Kes: Shush, shush. I'm taking you home. Kim: We've got weapons back. Chakotay: Can you target those hooks? Kim: Not at this range. We'd breach the upper hull. Paris: It's better than being dissected. Chakotay: Reverse the hull polarity. Maybe we can shake them loose. Janeway: Now one of you doesn't belong here, and I'm guessing it's you. Tuvok's premonitions were real. You're from the future. Kes: A future I'm about to change. Janeway: You're helping the Vidiians, Kes. Why? Janeway: Tell me why you're doing this. Kes: I won't let you hurt her again. Janeway: I haven't done anything to harm her. Kes: You took her from Ocampa, her home. She's a prisoner on this ship. Janeway: No one's a prisoner here, Kes. Kes: I was a child. You corrupted me with your ideas. Janeway: What ideas? Kes: Exploration, discovery. I believed you. Kim: Hull polarity loosened their hold, but not by much. Chakotay: It's a start. Reroute the deflector. Have it discharge anti-graviton pulses along the hull. Engage the inertial dampers. Get a controlled pitch going. Kes: In three years, I'm going to leave Voyager in search of higher things because you encouraged me to do it. You encouraged me to develop my mental abilities. I wasn't ready for what I found. I couldn't control it. It scared me. I had nowhere to go. I thought of returning home to Ocampa, but I'd changed too much. I knew they'd be frightened of me. I knew they wouldn't accept me, but they'll accept her. Janeway: You don't have to destroy this ship, Kes. We can help you. Kes: No, I trusted you. Janeway: Kes. Kes: No! Kim: We're breaking free. Paris: They're trying to lock on us with a tractor beam. Chakotay: Reverse thrusters. Full power. Paris: That could tear the hull apart. Chakotay: Then tear it apart! Chakotay: Photon torpedoes, full spread. Ready, fire! Janeway: It's set to kill, Kes. Janeway: Janeway to bridge. Status? Chakotay: The Vidiians are in retreat. Everything all right down there? Janeway: For now. Tuvok: She was here in my last premonition. She appeared older. Her face was tired. Janeway: What was she doing? Tuvok: She had her hands on the casing, as if she was drawing energy from it. Janeway: The tachyons are concentrated here. It's possible she needed the core to travel back in time. Tuvok: If that's true, then she'll need it again. Janeway: And we don't know when that'll be. We have to be ready. Emh: Doctor to the Captain. Janeway: Go ahead. Emh: Kes has regained consciousness. Tuvok: What do you remember? Young Kes: I was in Airponics, and then I felt dizzy, and then I was watching myself. Emh: Yourself? Janeway: Computer, deactivate EMH. What I'm about to tell you stays between the three of us. Understood? Young Kes: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Something terrible has happened. Or more precisely, will happen. We're going to need your help to prevent it from happening again. Janeway: It took exhaustive research, sifting through teraquads of data, separating fact from rumor, but eventually I arrived at the truth. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: Happy birthday. Tuvok: Thank you. Janeway: So, it's not long before you hit the big three digits, huh? Tuvok: Indeed. Have you informed anyone else of your discovery? Janeway: Don't worry, Tuvok, my lips are sealed. Well, you're supposed to blow out the candle. Tuvok: That is not a Vulcan custom. Janeway: Humor me. Chakotay: Captain to the bridge. Janeway: On my way. Well? Tuvok: It was a fire hazard. Chakotay: We're receiving a distress call. A small vessel on an intercept course. Janeway: Life signs? Kim: One. It's Ocampan. Janeway: I'd almost forgotten. Tuvok: We're being hailed. Janeway: Red alert. Raise shields. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: All hands, this is the Bridge. Begin emergency evacuation of deck eleven. Repeat. Janeway: All hands evacuate deck eleven. Torres: You heard her, get moving. Now! Janeway: Open a channel. Kes. Kes: Captain Janeway, I need your help. Will you please give me permission to come aboard? Janeway: Of course. What's happened? Kes: Please, let me come aboard. Tuvok: Her ship is accelerating. It's on a collision course. Paris: Five seconds to impact. Janeway: Tuvok. Chakotay: Lock on a tractor beam. Evasive maneuvers. Tuvok: Shields are holding. Her ship is intact. Kim: Captain, a transporter was activated just before impact. She's beamed aboard. I'm reading bulkhead ruptures on deck eleven, section seventeen, eighteen, nineteen. Chakotay: How did you know? Janeway: Ready? Shut down the warp core. You have the bridge. Kes: Remember me? The innocent child you're here to save? You blame Captain Janeway, but the choice was yours. You made the decision to leave Ocampa, and you made the decision to leave Voyager. If you're watching me now, you've come back to take revenge on the people who cared about you. That's not who you are, and that's not who I am. Don't do this. Find another way home. Captain Janeway will help you if you give her a chance. Try to remember who you were. Try to remember me. Janeway: Don't you remember? You made that holo-recording because you didn't want this to happen again. Three years ago, you traveled back in time. Kes, you wanted to take that woman with you and you were willing to hand the rest of us over to the Vidiians to do it. It didn't work. You forced me to kill you, Kes. If you go back now, it'll all happen again. Just before this terrible thing happened, you told me you had nowhere to go. That's not true. Stay here with us. Kes: I can't. I don't belong here. I need to be with my own people. Janeway: You told me you had the ability to get home, but you were afraid the Ocampans wouldn't accept you. Why? Kes: I remember. Janeway: What? What do you remember? Kes: The holo-recording. I remember making it. You asked me to help you, to help myself. You wanted me to remember who I was. These years were so filled with confusion and anger. I buried the memory. I'd almost forgotten. Janeway: Does it really matter which Kes goes home? Neelix: A few snacks for the journey. You do still like leola root? Kes: Thank you. What? Neelix: Just looking. Kes: See anyone you know? Neelix: Only you. Janeway: Goodbye, Kes. Kes: Captain. Tuvok: What should we tell the others? Janeway: A friend got lost. We helped her find her way.

Barclay: Shuttlecraft Dawkins to Jupiter Station. Woman: Go ahead. Barclay: This is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay requesting permission to dock. Woman: Granted. Zimmerman: What? What is it? Barclay: It's me, sir, Reg Barclay. Zimmerman: Come in. Barclay: Doctor Z? How are you? Zimmerman: Nice of you to finally drop by. Barclay: I've been extremely busy. The, er, Pathfinder project. Zimmerman: You're still searching for that ship? What's it called, Pioneer? Barclay: Er, Voyager. Zimmerman: Voyager. Any luck? Barclay: Actually, we're on the verge of a breakthrough. A communications link. Zimmerman: Congratulations. The first transgalactic phone call. Barclay: Is there any word from Starfleet Medical? Zimmerman: Doctors. I've been scanned and probed a hundred times and they still can't tell me what's wrong. Barclay: I'm sure it's only a matter of time. Zimmerman: I'm dying, Reginald. And there's nothing anybody can do about it. Seven: Seven of Nine to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Seven: We're receiving a transmission from Starfleet. Janeway: Route it here. Seven: It's not a comm. link, Captain. It appears to be Seven: A compressed datastream, badly degraded. Janeway: On my way. Janeway: They say good things come in small packages. This is all the data they could send us, until next month. Torres: Next month? Chakotay: They're using a cyclic pulsar to amplify signals from the MIDAS array, but the cycle only peaks every thirty two days. Janeway: So once a month we'll be able to receive a short burst of information. And we'll have about seventeen hours to respond. Chakotay: So far we've gotten tactical updates, letters from home, and news about the Alpha Quadrant. Kim: I don't suppose they found us a shortcut home. Chakotay: It doesn't look that way. Janeway: We don't have much time to prepare a response, and we'll have to keep it short, but I want to give everyone an opportunity to send something. Even if it's only a brief note. Janeway: Inform the crew. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Lieutenant Barclay, the Pathfinder Project. They didn't give up on us. So when you write those letters, you might want to thank them. Neelix: Mail call. Emh: A letter? For me? Oh, it's from Lieutenant Barclay. Neelix: Bad news? Emh: Lewis Zimmerman. Apparently, he's seriously ill. Neelix: Zimmerman? Emh: He's the father of modern holography. He invented the matrix that made my program possible. Neelix: Oh. What's wrong with him? Emh: He's suffering from acute subcellular degradation. The doctors here are having trouble finding the cause, much less a treatment. I've included his medical files. As you'll see, the prognosis isn't good. They say he's only got a few months. I'm sorry I don't have better news to report, but I thought you'd want to know. Neelix: How well did you know him? Emh: I've never met the man. Neelix: If you'd like to send a response, the captain will need it by nineteen hundred hours. Seven: Here's the information you requested. Emh: Thank you. Seven: You're reviewing his medical data. Emh: I thought I could send Starfleet a second opinion. It's a long shot, but maybe my experiences in the Delta Quadrant could provide some insights. I was hoping these Borg regeneration techniques might help them develop a treatment for his condition. Seven: You bear a striking resemblance. Emh: He used his own physical parameters as a model for my matrix. Can't say I blame him. A doctor needs to inspire confidence in his patients. Compassionate eyes and a strong chin can go a long way. Emh: I believe I can help him, Captain. Janeway: How? Emh: You remember the Vidiians? The early stages of the Phage are very similar to Doctor Zimmerman's disease. I believe I can adapt a variety of Borg regeneration techniques to arrest the cell damage, maybe even reverse it. Janeway: Make sure to pass along your findings. Thank you, Doctor. Emh: Actually, I was hoping to administer the treatment myself. Janeway: What are you suggesting? Emh: I'd like you to send my program back to the Alpha Quadrant. None of the Doctors at Starfleet are familiar with these techniques. It would take them months to fully understand them, much less put them to use. Janeway: Even if we could send you, you're needed here. Emh: Mister Paris can take over Sickbay. He's more than capable. We've done this once before. There weren't any problems. Janeway: Three years ago, and we used alien technology. Emh: I've spoken to Seven of Nine. She believes we can compress my program. Janeway: There's limited space in the datastream. If we send you, there won't be room for anything else. Emh: I realize I'd be asking the crew to make a sacrifice on my behalf, but they can wait another month. Doctor Zimmerman might not have that time. Janeway: I'm sorry he's not doing well. Unusual man. I met him once at a conference. He managed to offend just about everyone there, but he was certainly brilliant. I'm sure Starfleet is consulting their best physicians, Doctor. Emh: They are, but no one's been able to develop a cure. I have. But I can't treat a patient who's thirty thousand light years away. Janeway: I'm sorry. Emh: Captain. Janeway: This is the first time we're attempting to send a response. We don't know if it will even get through. Emh: I'm willing to take that risk. Janeway: I'm not. Emh: He programmed me. Every algorithm, every subroutine. If it weren't for his years of work, I wouldn't be standing here. I owe him something. And frankly, so does this crew. In a way, he's responsible for every life I've saved. Janeway: Lewis Zimmerman designed the template for Starfleet's EMH. You're one of thousands based on that technology. It's not as though he's your father. Emh: From your perspective. From mine, he's the closest thing I've got. If I don't try to help him now, I may never get the chance. Janeway: You'll have to find a way to convince Tom to take those duty shifts. Emh: He's already agreed. Janeway: Tell him Captain Jane said hello. That's what he kept calling me at the conference. I think he did it just to get on my nerves. Emh: I've heard he can be difficult. Janeway: I certainly hope you get a chance to find out. Emh: Thank you, Captain. Emh: My vocal processor. Seven: It's not a malfunction. I've removed your singing algorithms. They'll be stored in a memory buffer until you return. Emh: Why? Seven: Your program's too large for the datastream. I have to extract all non-essential subroutines. Emh: They're essential to me. They're part of who I am. Seven: Are you planning on performing opera during your visit? Emh: No. Seven: Will you be reciting poetry? Emh: Doubtful. Seven: Hoverball? Holophotography? Emh: I may want to take a few snapshots to document my trip. Seven: Sexual activities? Emh: I get the point. How much has to be left behind? Seven: Twelve megaquads. Emh: I suppose you could get rid of my athletic abilities and my grand master chess program. Seven: That leaves three megaquads. Your painting skills? Emh: Oh, if you must. Try to leave a few of my enhancements intact. I don't want to look like every other EMH on the block. I think Doctor Zimmerman will be very interested to see what I've learned. He probably never imagined what one of his own creations could accomplish. I could spark a whole new field in holographic research. Janeway: Bon voyage. Emh: See you in a month. Kim: Don't get lost. Haley: If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. Stay off the food. Zimmerman: Haley? Haley, what's the status of my lunch? Haley: It's coming, Doctor! Zimmerman: As if things weren't bad enough, now I'm dying of starvation. Haley: Come in! Barclay: Haley. Haley: Mister Barclay. Is something wrong? Barclay: No, no, just the opposite. Is he in? Haley: He's not taking visitors today. Barclay: Tell him this is important. Haley: He's in a prickly mood. Barclay: I've brought something with me that might cheer him up. Computer, is the download complete? Computer: Affirmative. Haley: Lunch. Zimmerman: That's not pork chops. Haley: It's salad. Zimmerman: I didn't ask for salad. Haley: It's healthy. Zimmerman: I'm dying. A piece of meat isn't going to kill me any quicker. Give the plants to Leonard. He's the one trying to watch his weight. Haley: Lieutenant Barclay is here to see you. Zimmerman: I told you I wasn't Haley: He says it's urgent. Zimmerman: Can't it wait until I'm dead? All right, send him in. Three minutes. He's got three minutes. Haley: Be civil to him, Lewis. He's worried about you. We all are. Barclay: I found a friend waiting for me at home. Zimmerman: You don't have any friends. Barclay: Well, I guess, er, you could say he's a friend of yours. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Zimmerman: An EMH Mark One? I'm not in the mood for nostalgia, Reginald. Barclay: But this is the Mark One from Voyager. Emh: I was compressed into a datastream and transmitted from the Delta Quadrant. Zimmerman: Congratulations. I recommend a tour of Jupiter's third moon. I hear the lava flows are lovely this time of year. Emh: I'm not here for a vacation. I'm here to treat your illness. Zimmerman: You brought a Mark One thirty thousand light years to treat me? I was wrong about you, Reginald. You do have a sense of humor. Emh: Care to let me in on the joke? Zimmerman: You didn't tell him? Emh: Tell me what? Barclay: Well, I, er Zimmerman: You're obsolete, extinct. Yesterday's news. Emh: My program was retired? Zimmerman: Retired? Not at all. The EMH Mark One was reconfigured to scrub plasma conduits on waste transfer barges. I've been treated by the Mark Three, the Mark Four, not to mention the finest real doctors in Starfleet. None of them could help me. Barclay: He has been running almost continuously for six years. He has seen more things than most doctors can even imagine. Emh: I also have an exceptionally high tolerance for difficult patients. Zimmerman: I didn't program you for sarcasm. Emh: You'll find I'm full of surprises. Zimmerman: Show the good Doctor to the plasma generator. I understand there's quite a build-up of residue. Emh: If we had more time, I'd enjoy trading barbs with you. But right now, there's a more pressing concern. Your life. I'm working on a treatment based on a disease I encountered in the Delta Quadrant, but I'll need to run a complete analysis. However, if it's impossible for you to believe that a lowly Mark One could have anything useful to offer, I'll be happy to pack my bags and go explore those sulfur mines. Zimmerman: Go ahead, scan away. Barclay: I'll be outside. Emh: What were your initial symptoms? Zimmerman: Radical hair loss. Fatigue, nausea, joint inflammation. Emh: Have you traveled outside the solar system recently? Zimmerman: What's that got to do with anything? Emh: Just answer the question. Zimmerman: I haven't left Jupiter station in over four years. Emh: To your knowledge, have you been exposed to theta radiation? Zimmerman: No. Emh: Neutron flux? Zimmerman: Never. Emh: Have you had intimate relations with a Bolian? Zimmerman: These are questions first year medical students would ask. Emh: I'm just being thorough. Leonard: Just being thorough. Emh: Did that creature just speak? Zimmerman: His name's Leonard. He's a hologram. Emh: Computer, deactivate iguana. Zimmerman: How dare you! Emh: I'm a Doctor, not a zoo keeper. Has there ever been an epidemic on this station? Zimmerman: No! Enough questions! Finish your scans and get out of here. Emh: Doctor. Zimmerman: I said get out of here. Emh: I traveled halfway across the galaxy to treat you. The least you could do is show a little gratitude. Zimmerman: Thank you. Get out of here! Emh: I may be the only physician who can save your life. You need me. Zimmerman: Like hell. I brought your matrix into this world and I can take it out. Emh: I'm no longer a prototype. I have exceeded my original programming. I'm no longer under your control. Zimmerman: Oh, really? Computer, transfer EMH to the living quarters. Barclay: How did it go? Emh: Power up the MIDAS array. I'm leaving. Barclay: What, what happened this time? Emh: I ran a mitochondrial scan. There was something odd about the results, so I spent a full hour analyzing them. And what did I discover? He's a Vulcan marsupial. He reconfigured my tricorder! You find that amusing? Barclay: A little. Well, not really. Haley: Sounds like you're making progress. Emh: How so? Haley: He only teases people he likes. Emh: Then he must love me. Barclay: I take it that you, er, still haven't been able to diagnose him. Emh: On the contrary, the patient appears to be suffering from an acute case of arrogance! Barclay: Oh, that's Roy. Emh: Don't tell me. A hologram?. Barclay: It was commissioned by Starfleet Intelligence. An experiment in micro-surveillance. Doctor Z keeps it around as a sort of a pet. Emh: Undercover insects, talking iguanas. This isn't a research station, it's a three ring Circus. You should charge admission. Barclay: Look. Look, you know that we can't send you back for another two weeks so please, just, just keep trying. Emh: I can't treat a patient who won't let me near him. He's deranged. What he needs is a counselor. Emh: Finally, I've accomplished something. Barclay: I thought you might be able to provide some, er, insight. Troi: It's not that simple, Reg. Doctor Zimmerman sounds like a very complex individual. I'd need to speak to him in person. Barclay: Then maybe I could get him to agree to a counseling session. Troi: The Enterprise is in the middle of a mission. We're nearly seven light years from you. Barclay: An important mission? Troi: They're all important, Reg. I could refer you to Counselor Jenzo, a colleague of mine on Earth. Barclay: I need the best, Deanna. Troi: It would be an interesting challenge. Barclay: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Troi: Don't thank me yet. I'll still need to clear this with Captain Picard. If he agrees, I might be able to be there by early next week. Barclay: I'll see you then. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Good morning. Problem? Janeway: I haven't decided. I've just listened to a communiqué from Admiral Hayes. Chakotay: Nice to have friends in high places. Admiral Hayes: Hello, Captain. I hope this message finds you well. From what I understand, it has not been easy, but I want you to know that a lot of people here are very proud of what you've accomplished. I also want to assure you that we have not given up finding a way to get you home. We've redirected two deep space vessels toward your position. If all goes well, they could rendezvous with you in the next five to six years. Janeway: Computer, advance to time index one twenty one point four. Admiral Hayes: As we get closer and our conversations become more frequent. When you respond to this message, please let us know of any casualties. I'm sure you've had more than your share. I'm anxious to know the status of your crew, the Maquis, first contacts that you've made, interactions with the Borg. But there'll be time for everything. Our thoughts are with you. Talk to you soon. Chakotay: What? Janeway: Status of the Maquis. Chakotay: Do you find that surprising? Janeway: I don't think of you or B'Elanna or the others as Maquis. I think of you as part of my crew. Chakotay: You may have forgotten, but we haven't. You heard the Admiral. It'll be years before we have to deal with those issues. Let's worry about it then. Janeway: Do you have lunch plans? Chakotay: Is that an invitation? Janeway: I was hoping you'd help me compose a response. Chakotay: You're on. Haley: Doctor, your lunch is ready. Haley: Are you all right? Zimmerman: Fine, Haley, fine. Give me a few minutes. Zimmerman: Ah. Ah. Lower. Ah. Perfect. I needed this. You have no idea what I've had to endure these past few days. Last night I woke up and I found him hovering over my bed with a hypospray. A smattering of photons, that's all he is. What's that? What is that? A tricorder? You were scanning me? Computer, realign Voyager's EMH. You! Emh: Remain calm. Emotional outbursts will only aggravate your condition. Zimmerman: I'll tell you what's aggravating my condition. You! Emh: If you'd let me examine you. Zimmerman: I'll report you to the medical ethics board. Emh: Doctor! Zimmerman: Save it for your hearing. Emh: If you weren't so stubborn, you'd see I'm only trying to help. Zimmerman: I don't want your help! Why won't you leave me alone? Emh: Because, for reasons beyond my comprehension, I care about you. Zimmerman: You weren't programmed to care. You were programmed to hold a scalpel. Emh: I told you, I'm not the same EMH you created six years ago. Zimmerman: Of course. You can sing and dance. I should installl you in a Ferengi nightclub. Emh: The Voyager crew appreciates my attempts to expand my program. Zimmerman: This isn't Voyager. It's my lab. And in my lab, you're still just a hologram. Emh: A hologram you created. A hologram who owes you his existence. Zimmerman: Is that what's keeping you here? Some twisted sense of obligation? Well, let me assure you, you don't owe me anything. Haley: Doctor? Zimmerman: Yes, Haley, what is it? Haley: You have a visitor. Troi: Hello, I'm Deanna Troi. Which one of you is Doctor Zimmerman? Zimmerman: Deanna Troi. Another one of your tricks? Troi: Excuse me? Ow! Emh: He thinks you're a hologram. Troi: I can assure you I'm quite real. Zimmerman: Oh. Well. The last beautiful woman to walk in here turned out to be him. Emh: I'll take that as a compliment. Troi: Did I come at a bad time? Emh: Your timing couldn't be better. The patient is suffering from acute anxiety, normally associated with terminal illness. It's made him agoraphobic, paranoid and extremely antagonistic. Troi: I see. Mind if I sit down? Zimmerman: Please. Troi: Reg tells me you won't let the Doctor help you. Zimmerman: He's a Mark One. He's obsolete. I'd be safer in the hands of a Klingon field medic. Troi: I understand he's developed a promising treatment. Zimmerman: If you're a Borg drone. He's threatening to use some kind of ghoulish assimilation technique. It's not fit for a lab rat. Emh: You won't even look at my research. From the moment I arrived, you've berated me, treated me like an antique. Well, let me tell you something. Antique or not, I took a huge risk coming here. I had to plead with my Captain, leave my ship without a surgeon. Troi: Doctor. Imagine that your program was seriously damaged, and the only person who could repair you was an engineer from, say, a hundred years ago. Would you feel comfortable with that? Emh: If he were skilled, intelligent, creative. Troi: Honestly, Doctor? A hundred years ago? Emh: Well, I suppose it would give me pause. Zimmerman: Ha. Troi: Now, put yourself in the Doctor's shoes. Imagine you were asked to treat someone you cared about, say an EMH Mark twelve. Zimmerman: There is no Mark twelve. Troi: But if there were, and you wanted to save his program. He probably wouldn't let you near him. He wouldn't care that you'd won the Daystrom Prize for holography. From his perspective, you'd be out of date. But what if you knew you could save him? Emh: Thank you, Counselor, for extending that olive branch. I'm willing to see past our differences, if he is. Zimmerman: All right. He can start by purging the plasma conduits on deck six. Troi: Doctor Zimmerman. Zimmerman: I will not put my life in the hands of a primitive. Emh: You'd need a phaser drill to get through that thick skull of his. Zimmerman: Get out! Troi: Gentlemen! Zimmerman: Oh, spare us your psychobabble. Troi: I came here thinking that you were opposite sides of the same coin. Identical, but different. Now I see you're both exactly the same. You're both jerks. Leonard: Jerks. Troi: I'm starting to think you called the wrong counselor, Reg. Barclay: You'll figure something out. You always do. Troi: Things are worse now than when I arrived. Lewis won't come out of his lab and the EMH is hiding in a holodeck. Barclay: He's feeling homesick. I let him use my Voyager simulation and it seems to be cheering him up. Troi: A hologram fighting to save the life of his creator, who just so happens to be the same man his own personality is based on. I think I'd need a whole team of therapists just to get them in the same room. Haley: Mister Barclay said this is your favorite ice cream. Troi: I hardly deserve it, but thanks. You're a hologram. Haley: How do you know? Troi: I'm an empath. I haven't sensed any emotions from you. When were you first brought online? Haley: Nine years ago. Troi: No offense but, you're more antiquated than the EMH Mark One, and yet Lewis seems to listen to you. Why do you suppose that is? Were you here when the Mark One was created? Haley: Yes. Troi: Any idea why Lewis made it in his own image? Haley: Maybe you should ask him. Troi: I did. He evaded the question. I was hoping you might know. Haley: He was extremely proud of the Mark One. He used to dream about hundreds of holograms in every corner of the quadrant saving lives. He put so much of himself into its development. I suppose it only seemed natural that it should look like him, too. Troi: But the Mark One failed to meet Starfleet's expectations. Haley: He was devastated. Barclay: He, he locked himself away in this lab for two years trying to repair the defects. Finally, he just gave up. Started from scratch. A whole new matrix. Troi: The Mark Two. Barclay: Followed by the Mark Three, and then the Mark Four. He, he was obsessed with perfecting it. Troi: But none of the later models resembled Lewis. Haley: He made that mistake once. He wasn't about to do it again. Troi: And now, after all this time, a Mark One shows up. It must be like staring in a mirror at a reflection you don't want to remember. Zimmerman: Computer, resume recording. Last Will and Testament, Doctor Lewis Zimmerman. Let's see. Where were we? Subsection eight, the Trojan Horse project. I hereby bequeath my latest research in holographic infiltration technology to the only engineer I trust to complete the work, Lieutenant Reginald Barclay. Subsection nine, holographic art. I hereby bequeath my entire collection, including the twenty first century masterpiece, Woman in Four Dimensions, to the person who has appreciated it the most. I guess that would be Reg Barclay, too. Subsection ten, Haley. I realize she's only a hologram, but she's been a loyal assistant for many years. I'd like to request that Starfleet keep her program running for as long as this research facility exists. She's been as real to me as anyone I've ever known. Not that I've known many people. I've created most of my friends. Zimmerman: Pause recording. Don't worry. I'll find a home for you, too. Troi: So this is Voyager. I like it. Emh: It's a remarkable facsimile, but Mister Barclay did get a few of the details wrong. For one thing, Neelix doesn't purr. Troi: I think that may have something to do with Reg's cat. He named it after your friend. Emh: Neelix would be honored. If you're here for Doctor Zimmerman's medical files, I've nearly finished updating them. Maybe the next physician will put them to better use. Troi: Actually, I stopped by to ask you to dinner. Emh: I'm a hologram, Counselor. I don't eat. Troi: I know that, but we'd still enjoy your company. Emh: We? Troi: Lieutenant Barclay, Haley, myself, Doctor Zimmerman. Emh: No, thanks. Unless that man's eating crow, I'm not interested. Troi: It's the perfect opportunity for us to talk things out in a more casual environment. Emh: Sorry. Troi: Just one meal. Emh: I said no. Troi: Doctor? Emh: Something's wrong. Troi: Troi to Lieutenant Barclay. Barclay: Go ahead. Troi: There's something wrong with the EMH. Barclay: Can you be more specific? Emh: She's a counselor, Lieutenant, not an engineer. Barclay: Stand by. Emh: What's happening to me? Barclay: Your program is destabilizing. Emh: What? Why? Barclay: They sent you thirty thousand light years. I should have expected some problems. Emh: It's not your fault, Mister Barclay. We just need to find a way to repair the damage. Barclay: You don't understand. Your primary matrix is degrading and there is nothing I can do. Zimmerman: Good riddance to bad photons. Barclay: He's dying, Lewis. Zimmerman: He's not dying. His files are just degrading. Troi: There are people on Voyager who count on him. Zimmerman: I'll send them a Mark Four. They're more reliable. Barclay: They don't want a Mark Four. They want their friend. Zimmerman: No EMH was ever designed to be anyone's friend. He's just a hologram. Haley: Is that how you feel about me? Just a hologram? Zimmerman: I will not be ambushed in my own lab. Haley: Stardate 53292. My program malfunctioned and you canceled a lecture on Vulcan and came all the way home to repair me. Zimmerman: There's nothing worse than addressing a room full of pointy-eared blowhards. I was looking for an excuse to get away. Haley: You came back because you cared about me, just like you care about the Mark One. You just won't admit it. He may not be perfect, but he's still one of your creations and right now he needs his creator. Don't turn your back on him. Zimmerman: Computer, activate Voyager's EMH. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Zimmerman: You're the emergency. Emh: Where's Lieutenant Barclay? Zimmerman: Trust me, you're in far more capable hands. Emh: You're going to repair my program? Zimmerman: Who better? Emh: Just yesterday you threatened to decompile me. Zimmerman: That was before your colleagues made me feel guilty. Emh: You're ill. You're in no condition to perform delicate procedures. Zimmerman: I'll survive, but you won't if you don't relax and let me finish. Emh: What are you doing? Zimmerman: My scans identified a recursive error in your pattern buffer. I'm trying to isolate it. Emh: Is that a fractal algorithm? Zimmerman: Very good. I'm using it to realign your matrix. Emh: Fractal algorithms are notoriously unstable. Zimmerman: In the hands of a novice. Whoops. Emh: Whoops? What's whoops? Zimmerman: Computer, deactivate EMH. Emh: I, I can't move! Zimmerman: I know. I had to take your mobility subroutines offline. Emh: How long have I been deactivated? Zimmerman: Seventeen hours. I'm resetting your parameters. Emh: You don't look well. You need rest. Zimmerman: I'm fine. And so are you. Your program's been stabilized. Emh: I, I'm going to be okay? Zimmerman: No, you're going to be better than okay. Emh: Now what are you doing? Emh: Welcome to Sickbay. How may I help you today? Zimmerman: Well, what do you think? Emh: I think you've altered my greeting protocol. Zimmerman: That's just the beginning. I've also added new subroutines for compassion, patience, empathy, decorum. Emh: I don't feel any different. Zimmerman: Because I haven't installled them yet. I thought you'd like to be awake for the big moment. Reginald was right about you. You have exceeded the sum of your programming. You've accomplished far more than I would have ever predicted. But let's face facts. You never overcame the inherent flaws in your personality subroutines. You're arrogant, irritable. A jerk, as Counselor Troi would say. Emh: I believe she was describing you as well. Zimmerman: Don't change the subject. I may not be able to turn you into a Mark Four, but I can make you a bit more presentable. Emh: What if I'm happy with the way I am? Zimmerman: I'm doing you a favor. Emh: I don't want any favors and I don't want your new subroutines. Why can't you accept me as I am? Zimmerman: Because you're defective. Emergency Medical Hotheads. Extremely Marginal Housecalls. That's what everyone used to call the Mark Ones until they were bounced out of the Medical Corps. I tried to have them decommissioned, but Starfleet in its infinite wisdom overruled me and reassigned them all to work waste transfer barges. That's where you'd be too, if you hadn't been lost in the Delta Quadrant. Do you know how humiliating it is to have six hundred and seventy five Mark Ones out there, scrubbing plasma conduits, all with my face? Emh: I'm sure they're doing a fine job. Zimmerman: What are you doing? I'm not finished with you. Emh: I'm trying to do my job. And if you give me a chance you'll see that I'm pretty good at it. Frankly, I'd hoped that if we ever met, you'd be proud of me. Zimmerman: Well, I guess it is comforting to know that at least one of you is still doing what I designed you to do. Emh: Your intercellular proteins are at a dangerous level. We should begin the procedure. Please, give me a chance to make you proud of me. Zimmerman: Maybe we could try it, see how it goes. Emh: See how it goes. Zimmerman: Just don't expect me to put you in my will. Barclay: I, I'm going in. Troi: Reg. Barclay: They have been in there for thirty two hours. Troi: Be patient. Barclay: Well, you, you're not fritzing anymore. Emh: No thanks to you. Doctor Zimmerman ran a diagnostic on my subtronic relays and he made a very interesting discovery. Apparently, I was the victim of foul play. Barclay: Well, what, what do you mean? Emh: He found an algorithm designed to disrupt my matrix. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you? Troi: Well, traditional therapy wasn't getting us anywhere. Emh: Well, your little scheme worked. Doctor Zimmerman has agreed to the cellular regeneration procedure. He'll require several more treatments, but I'm optimistic he'll make a full recovery. Zimmerman: Trying to steal my secrets? Emh: Another one of my hobbies. I thought I'd take home a few memories. You're supposed to be in bed. Zimmerman: I've got work to do. Emh: It can wait. Go to bed. Doctor's orders. Zimmerman: I hope you won't be coming back next month to make sure I'm taking my medicine. Emh: Don't worry. My captain's not likely to authorize another house call. Zimmerman: Good. The next time she sends a datastream, you might want to drop me a line, let me know how you're doing. Emh: If you insist. Barclay: Ready? Emh: Would you mind? Barclay: Not at all. Smile!

Neelix: Computer, deactivate mess hall lights. Neelix: Oh! You scared me. Seven: That wasn't my intention. Neelix: No, of course not. I guess I'm just a little jumpy, especially after what happened the last time. Seven: That's why I'm here. Neelix: Oh? Seven: We'll be shutting down main power soon. The children's regeneration cycle will be interrupted. They'll require supervision. Neelix: Well, I'm happy to help. To tell you the truth, I'd be grateful for the distraction. Seven: The procedure could take several hours. Neelix: How much do they know about what's happening? Seven: Nothing. The children have overactive imaginations. I don't want to alarm them unnecessarily. Neelix: What if they start asking questions? I can't just lie to them. Seven: You have considerable childcare experience. I'm sure you'll manage. Janeway: That's close enough. Let our momentum carry us in. Paris: Cutting engines. Paris: There's a creepy image. Reminds me of something out of Edgar Allan Poe. Kim: Looks like a vampire bat. You can make out the wings, even the ears. What do you see, Tuvok? Tuvok: Two Starfleet officers with juvenile imaginations. Paris: Come on, Tuvok. Haven't you ever looked up at the clouds and seen an animal? Tuvok: I will never understand the human need to find imagery in something as innocuous as a cloud. Janeway: Harry, are we ready? Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Then let's do it. All hands. initiate shutdown sequence. Emh: Computer, deactivate EMH. Neelix: Everything's all right. We've just had to shut down main power temporarily. Nothing to be concerned about. Torres: Three, two, one, mark. Kim: All decks report shutdown complete, Captain. Janeway: Janeway to Seven of Nine. We're ready. Seven: Acknowledged. Icheb: Why did they shut down main power? Neelix: It's simply a precaution. We've entered a class J nebula and the Captain wants to make sure that we don't attract any, er, residual EM. radiation. Icheb: Our shields provide sufficient protection against nebula discharge. Neelix: Is that so? I'm afraid that gaseous anomalies were never really my specialty. Come on, gather round. I've brought toys and stories and games and I thought that later we might even have a little sing-along. Icheb: I should go to Astrometrics. Seven may need my help. Neelix: I'm afraid that Astrometrics is shut down, too. Mezoti: If we're not analyzing the nebula, why did we enter it? Neelix: Oh, that is a long and dull story, and not nearly as interesting as Flotter Meets the Invincible Invertebrates. Mezoti: Is Voyager in danger? Neelix: Mezoti, there's really no need to leap to those kinds of conclusions. Icheb: Maybe if you explained what's happening in more detail, we wouldn't have to guess. Mezoti: This has something to do with deck twelve, doesn't it? Neelix: Well, what makes you say that? Icheb: Deck twelve section forty two is off limits to everyone but senior officers with a level six security clearance. Mezoti: That's because it's haunted, isn't it? Neelix: Who told you that? Mezoti: Naomi. Icheb: She was just trying to frighten you. Neelix: I'll have to have a talk with that girl. Azan: Is it true? Rebi: Does a ghost live there? Neelix: You're really too old to believe in such silly things. Mezoti: If it's not a ghost, what is it? Icheb: We deserve an explanation. Neelix: I don't think that Seven would be too happy if you all started waking up with nightmares. Azan: Tell us. Rebi: Please? Neelix: All right. Gather round. But I'm warning you, this is not a tale for the faint of heart. Mezoti: We're not faint of heart. Icheb: Our cardiopulmonary systems are reinforced. Mezoti: So don't leave anything out. Neelix: All right. But remember, I warned you. It all began several months ago, before you joined Voyager. We were exploring a dark nebula, just gathering deuterium. We had no idea what was in store for us. Neelix: But when the turbulence started getting rough, we should have seen that as an omen. Neelix: How goes the particle collecting, Commander? Tuvok: We've got enough deuterium to power the warp engines for another thousand light years. Neelix: Excellent. Tuvok: Is something wrong? Neelix: Now that you mention it, there is something that I feel compelled to share with you in my capacity as morale officer. The crew seem a little on edge. Tuvok: Oh? They don't appear particularly anxious to me. Neelix: They're very good at hiding their fears. Starfleet training. I was wondering how soon we might be leaving this nebula. Knowing could help me assure them. Tuvok: It's difficult to say. The Bussard Collectors are running at maximum, but it's a slow process. We could be here for several more days. Neelix: Days? Tuvok: Mister Neelix, are you certain it's not you who is on edge? Neelix: You know me too well, Mister Vulcan. Tuvok: I can assure you, a J class nebula is no cause for alarm. Neelix: I know it's illogical, but staring into this murky cloud for hours on end can be a little unsettling. When I was a child, an immense plasma drift passed through the Talaxian system. The stars and the moons were blotted out for months. From horizon to horizon all you could see was this enormous, menacing cloud. Ever since then I've found it a little disturbing to be in nebulas. Tuvok: Perhaps the Captain might give you permission to installl curtains. Neelix: That's an excellent idea. And I have just the right material. Janeway: Report. Kim: The nebula's beginning to destabilize. Janeway: Cause. Kim: I'm not sure. It could have something to do with the nadion emissions being produced by the Bussard Collectors. Icheb: You're not remembering correctly. Neelix: I beg your pardon? Icheb: The Bussard Collectors don't produce nadion emissions. Neelix: Well, the technical details don't matter. What's important is that Voyager's presence was destabilizing the nebula Neelix: And the crew wasn't interested in taking any chances. Chakotay: We've got eighty percent of the deuterium we wanted. Maybe we shouldn't push our luck. Janeway: Agreed. Bridge to Engineering. Torres: Go ahead. Janeway: We're suspending the dilithium intake. Torres: Acknowledged. Janeway: Tom, take us out. Paris: Aye. Neelix: But at that exact moment, in the fraction of a second before Tom could engage the engines, zap! We were hit. Mezoti: What was it? Azan: The ghost? Rebi: Shush. Let him finish. Neelix: Whatever it was, it shook the ship hard. Chakotay: An EM discharge penetrated the hull. Deck seven, section ten. Kim: Increasing power to structural integrity. Paris: We're clear. Janeway: Damage? Chakotay: Power outages on three decks. Auxiliary subprocessors are offline. No injuries reported. Janeway: Assign repair teams. Resume course. Neelix: We'd taken some minor damage, but for the most part everything was fine. Or so we thought. Neelix: What none of us knew was that a mysterious stowaway had come aboard Voyager. Mezoti: What kind of stowaway? Icheb: It was obviously a space-dwelling lifeform. Neelix: Yes, but we didn't know that, not at that point. Mezoti: Was it non-corporeal? Neelix: In a manner of speaking Rebi: Hostile? Neelix: Well, I'm getting to that. Azan: Species 5973? Neelix: Who are they? Icheb: The Borg encountered them in galactic cluster eight. They're multi-spectrum particle lifeforms. Neelix: No, that's not what this was. Mezoti: Maybe it was an inter-phasic species. Neelix: We can either debate comparative xenobiology or I can continue with the story. Now it's up to you. Icheb: Continue the story. Neelix: Somehow I thought you'd say that. Now, where was I? Oh, ah, yes. Life aboard Voyager would have been more or less back to normal if it weren't for a few strange malfunctions. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: I've got reports from repair teams. It looks like that EM discharge did more damage than we thought. Transporter room one is out of commission, half the sonic showers are offline, and we temporarily lost artificial gravity on deck five. Janeway: Any injuries? Chakotay: Ensign Mulchaey bumped his head on the ceiling. Janeway: Ouch. This is terrible. Computer, another cup of coffee, black. Janeway: You can add replicators to your list. We're getting started on the wrong foot today, my friend. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: I'm sorry. I was talking to Voyager. Chakotay: It's nothing to be embarrassed about. I used to have long conversations with my Maquis ship. Janeway: Really? What did you two talk about? Chakotay: Oh, I can't tell you that. Captain-starship confidentiality. Janeway: Of course. Chakotay: If the Doctor heard us he'd probably recommend counseling. Janeway: I won't tell if you won't. Chakotay: Deal. Janeway: Commander, do you see that? Chakotay: It's a meteorite cluster. I doubt it's anything to worry about. Janeway: I'd tend to agree, if it weren't the same one we passed an hour ago. Janeway: Ensign. Ensign: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Are you conducting a survey of meteoroids, Tom? Paris: Ma'am? Janeway: Check your sensors. We're traveling in circles. Paris: Not according to my readings. Chakotay: Tuvok, run level four diagnostic on the navigational array. Tuvok: There is a malfunction in the subprocessors. It appears we're heading back the way we came. Janeway: All stop. Reinitialize your sensors. Paris: I'm telling you, we rely too much on twenty fourth century technology, Captain. You give me a window and a sextant and I guarantee I'll get you where you want to go. Tuvok: We've jumped to warp six. Janeway: Tom? Paris: Don't look at me. Janeway: Shut down the warp engines. Paris: I can't. Chakotay: Manual override. Tuvok: No response. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Paris: I'm reading all stop. Janeway: Lieutenant Torres, respond. Chakotay: Computer, locate B'Elanna Torres. Computer: Lieutenant Torres is in Engineering. Ensign Trumari is on deck four, section thirty. Commander Tuvok is on the bridge. Janeway: Find out what's going on. Harry, pull the speech processors if you have to, but shut that thing off. Computer: Ensign Vorik is in Engineering, level two. Neelix: Meanwhile, Commander Chakotay was headed for Engineering, or so he thought. Chakotay: Engineering. Chakotay: I bet you wouldn't try to pull this on the Captain. Have it your way. I'll walk. Neelix: The turbolift started to fall Neelix: Faster and faster! Anybody hungry? Mezoti: Neelix! Neelix: You haven't touched your snacks Mezoti: Snacks are irrelevant. Continue the story. Icheb: What happened to Commander Chakotay? Neelix: The turbolift plunged eleven decks at high speed. The g forces pinned Commander Chakotay to the ceiling. He knew that at any minute he was going to come crashing down to the bottom of the turbolift and there was nothing that he could do about it. But then the descent stabilizers reactivated. Neelix: The way B'Elanna tells it, Commander Chakotay was not very happy when he showed up in Engineering that morning. Chakotay: If I didn't know better I'd say this ship is trying to kill me. Do you have any idea what's going on? Torres: Well, I've traced the problem to a series of gel packs on deck thirteen. It looks like they were burned out by an EM discharge from the nebula. Chakotay: And those gel-packs interface with all the affected systems. Torres: I'm on my way to repair it right now. Feel like giving me a hand? Chakotay: Only if we stay out of the turbolifts. I'll tell you about it on the way. Neelix: While Chakotay and B'Elanna headed for deck thirteen, new problems were cropping up all over the ship. Seven: Crewman Celes, step away from the control panel. Celes: Did I do something wrong? Seven: You caused a power failure in Astrometrics. Celes: I did? How? Seven: That's what I'm attempting to find out. Celes: I don't see how I could have done anything. Seven: I've located the problem. It appears you inadvertently overloaded a series of EPS conduits while performing your diagnostic. Celes: But I haven't even started the diagnostic. Seven: Then what were you doing? Celes: Nothing. I just got here. Celes: I know that wasn't my fault. Chakotay: These gel packs aren't burned out. Torres: There's no trace of any EM discharge. Chakotay: Could it have dissipated this quickly? Torres: No, it moved. Chakotay: Moved? Torres: The discharge seems to be traveling through the bio-neural circuitry, jumping from system to system. Chakotay: Can you isolate it? Torres: It's in a series of gel packs that interface with the environmental controls outside Cargo Bay two. Chakotay: Let's try to get there before it jumps again. Neelix: By then Seven of Nine was in Cargo Bay two to run diagnostics but, because the comm. system was down they couldn't warn her, and she had no idea that something was in the room with her. Azan: Here? Rebi: In this cargo bay? Mezoti: Then what happened? Neelix: The creature was clinging to the circuits and bulkheads using them to move about the room. It was getting closer and closer. Seven: Seven of Nine to the bridge. Bridge, acknowledge. Neelix: But of course, there was no answer. Icheb: Why didn't she remodulate her neural transceiver and send a message that way? Neelix: That's an interesting question. You'll have to ask her. Mezoti: Stop interrupting. Neelix: Seven tried to get out but she was trapped. Rebi: What happened to Seven? Mezoti: The entity must have infiltrated her cybernetic systems and turned her against the rest of the crew. Neelix: It most certainly did not. You're letting your imagination run away with you. Rebi: What happened? Azan: Why did the light go out? Neelix: It's all right. I just have to replace the power cell. It'll only take a moment. Nothing to be frightened about. Mezoti: I'm not frightened, but Azan is. Azan: I am not. Neelix: There. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Seven was trapped by the forcefields, but fortunately for her Neelix: Help was on the way. Chakotay: Computer, deactivate this forcefield. We'll have to cut power to the field generators. Torres: The computer's not accepting my command codes. Chakotay: Stand back. Torres: The forcefield's down. Chakotay: Let's get her to Sickbay. Neelix: Now, most of us were just going about our business oblivious to what was happening, but that was about to change. Kim: Kim to Engineering. Neelix: Neelix to the bridge. Kim: I want everyone to report to their stations until we figure out what's going on. Crewman: Aye, sir. Neelix: Er, Ensign, maybe I should come with you. The captain might need me. Kim: This is your post. You may be needed here. Neelix: Oh, of course. If you need anything, anything at all, you know where to find me. Neelix: So there I was. The only thing I could do was wait, alone. Neelix: In the dark. Neelix: Voyager was dead in space. System after system was failing, including the environmental controls. Ensign Paris told me it was hotter than the Tarkanian Desert on the bridge. Paris: Don't you ever sweat? Tuvok: Not unless the temperature reaches three hundred fifty degrees Kelvin, with a humidity factor at approximately Paris: Forget I asked. Tuvok: Very well. Janeway: I'll make you a deal, Voyager. The next M class planetoid we find, we'll set down and I'll give you a nice maintenance overhaul. What do you say? Tom, check the conn. Paris: I don't know what you did, Captain, but I've got helm control back. Janeway: Thanks, my friend. Paris: I'm going to try to get thrusters and impulse engines back online. Janeway: Tom, I'm reading an EM surge in your console. Get away from there. Janeway: Bridge to Sickbay. Medical emergency. Can we transport him? Tuvok: Transporters are offline. Janeway: Why am I not surprised. Now what? Computer: Warning, oxygen depletion in progress. Tuvok: Breathable air is being sucked out of the bridge. Janeway: Reroute emergency power to environmental controls. Tuvok: No effect. Janeway: Everyone out of here now. Neelix: In Sickbay, the Doctor had his hands full, too. Emh: You're fortunate. Another few moments and you'd have been asphyxiated. Where do you think you're going? Seven: Lieutenant Torres needs help with the repairs. Janeway: Doctor. Torres: What happened? Emh: An EM. surge. Seven had a similar experience. Seven: The environmental system converted Cargo Bay two into a micronebula. Chakotay: When Gibson and McMinn tried to vent the gas from deck seven, they were struck by a discharge, too. Janeway: Are we thinking the same thing? Chakotay: It could be an intelligence at work here. Torres: Some kind of electromagnetic lifeform that's using the environmental controls to make the ship more hospitable for itself. Janeway: And attacking anyone who tries to stop it. Emh: My matrix is destabilizing. Janeway: Transfer his program to the mobile emitter. Quickly. Computer: Warning. Power failure. Janeway: Let's get the injured out of here. Neelix: Deck by deck, section by section Neelix: The crew was losing control of Voyager. People were scattered throughout the ship with no idea what was happening. Kim: What did you do that for? Celes: Ensign, I'm so sorry! I, I thought, I thought you were a Hirogen, or a Borg. Kim: And what gave you that idea? Celes: It's dark. Your shadow. Kim: Trust me, there are no aliens roaming the corridors. Celes: You mean we haven't been boarded? Kim: It's just a power failure. Celes: Isn't that what they sometimes do? Cut the power? Kim: What who sometimes does? Celes: Hostile aliens. They might be trying to infiltrate the ship. Kim: How long has it been since you've run into anyone else? Celes: I don't know, four or five hours. I, I tried Sickbay, but it was deserted. Decks three and four are empty. I, I was on my way to the bridge. You're the first person I've seen. Kim: Well, there's no one on the bridge either. Celes: You see? Then maybe I was right. Maybe the reason we can't find anyone is because they've all been assimilated. Kim: Slow down. There was an environmental failure on the bridge. That's why it's been evacuated. I don't know what happened in Sickbay, or on decks three and four, but I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation. Ah ha. No one's been assimilated. Celes: Then where are they? Kim: They've probably set up a temporary command post, most likely in Engineering. That's where I'm going. Celes: Can I come with you? Kim: Of course. Celes: Ensign? Kim: What? Celes: Do you think we could stop by a weapons locker on the way? Neelix: I still had no idea what was going on. I'd been waiting in the mess hall for more than four hours in the dark, cut off from the rest of the crew. Neelix: Is somebody there? Hello? Hello? Hello? Neelix: Is somebody out there? Tom, if that's you, this isn't funny. Neelix: Argh! Stay away! Tuvok: Calm yourself, Mister Neelix. Neelix: You really shouldn't sneak up on people like that. I could have shot you. Tuvok: Your restraint is commendable. Neelix: Is there a problem with the air supply? Tuvok: An alien lifeform has seized control of Voyager's primary systems. It's flooded numerous sections with poisonous gas. Neelix: Are you saying that this alien lifeform is trying to kill us? Tuvok: Its intentions aren't clear. However, we should evacuate. Neelix: Where to? Tuvok: The Captain has established a secure command post in Engineering. Mezoti: Were you scared? Neelix: Well, considering that Engineering was eight decks down and the only way to get there was to crawl through pitch-black Jefferies tubes, it's fair to say that I was never more frightened in my life. Icheb: You shouldn't have allowed yourself to be afraid. Neelix: Is that so. Icheb: Fear distracts people from accomplishing their goals. Neelix: Well, that's true, I suppose. On the other hand, fear can sometimes be very healthy. Mezoti: Explain. Neelix: Well, it keeps you alert, keeps you from putting yourself in unnecessary danger. Mezoti: I was afraid once. Icheb: You've been afraid many times. Neelix: Icheb. Do you want to tell us about it? Mezoti: It was when we were first disconnected from the hive mind, before Seven rescued us. I couldn't hear anyone else's thoughts anymore. I felt alone. Neelix: I can understand why that was frightening. When you're scared, it helps to have someone to talk to, doesn't it? Mezoti: Yes. Neelix: Of course, in my case, the only one person I had to talk to was Commander Tuvok. Neelix: I tried passing the time with a little conversation but, as you've probably noticed, he's not exactly what you'd call chatty. Neelix: I'll bet Starfleet has specific procedures to deal with these kinds of situations. You know, something like protocol one zero zero five. In the event your starship is invaded by a hostile electromagnetic lifeform. What do you suppose that, er, that protocol might be, exactly? Tuvok: Rest assured, this crew is doing everything possible to regain control of the ship. Neelix: You're right. I'm just being silly. Tuvok: I concur. Neelix: Of course, the crew of the Salvoxia probably thought they were going to regain control of their ship, too. Did I ever tell you about the Salvoxia? Tuvok: If I say yes, will it prevent you from telling the story? Neelix: It was a Talaxian freighter. Horrible tragedy. Happened nearly a century ago. After suffering a cascade failure, it began to lose life support generators, one by one. Pretty soon, there wasn't enough air left to sustain the entire crew so they began to draw lots. Can you imagine? Draw the short straw and you suffocate? Anyway, the air continued to diminish, and they kept drawing lots. The crew got smaller and smaller as they waited for someone to rescue them, but no one ever came. The Salvoxia drifted through space for the next eighty years, until somebody finally found her. Makes me short of breath just thinking about it. Tuvok: Perhaps you should occupy your mind with pleasant thoughts before you hyperventilate. Neelix: Right. Pleasant thoughts. Pleasant thoughts. Mezoti: What did the bodies like? Neelix: I beg your pardon? Mezoti: After eighty years. Were they decomposed? Icheb: They may have been preserved by the vacuum of space. Neelix: I shouldn't have told you that story. It's too gruesome. Icheb: I wonder what the crew of the Salvoxia did for food after their emergency rations were gone? Mezoti: Maybe they ate each other. Neelix: All right, that's enough. Now, where was I? We'd made it more than halfway to Engineering Neelix: When we ran into an obstacle. Neelix: Commander! Neelix: What do we do now? Tuvok: If I can access environmental controls, I may be able to vent the gas. Neelix: Is there another way around? Tuvok: It would take several hours to reach Engineering by an alternate route. There is no guarantee we'd find a clear path. Neelix: Pleasant thoughts. Pleasant thoughts. Neelix: While we were in the Jefferies tubes Neelix: A good number of the crew had gathered in Engineering. Chakotay: Ninety seven crewmen have been accounted for. They're in secure locations throughout the ship. Kim: Neelix? Chakotay: No one's seen him. Kim: I shouldn't have ordered him to stay in the mess hall. Janeway: You were following procedure. Torres: Captain. Bad news. The lifeform's infiltrated the main computer matrix. Seven: As long as it remained in the gel pack, there was a chance to contain it. Torres: But we can't purge it from the main computer without crashing the few systems we have left. Neelix: Things were looking grim, but the captain was about to make a breakthrough that would change everything. Computer: Captain Janeway. Captain Janeway. Captain Janeway is in main Engineering. Kim: Sorry, Captain, I know it's irritating. I'll try to shut it down. Janeway: Hold on a minute. This is Captain Janeway. Respond. Computer: Authorisation code required. Janeway: Janeway pi alpha. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: It's only a hunch, but I think this lifeform may be trying to communicate. Torres: Sounds like a comm. system malfunction to me. Janeway: I'm not so sure. The lifeform's been moving from system to system. If it's intelligent, it may be learning how to use those systems in some rudimentary way. Are you attempting to communicate? Computer: Unable to comply. Chakotay: Even if it understands what you're saying, it may not know how to respond. Janeway: B'Elanna, can you call up the comm. system's syntax subroutines? Torres: I'll try. Janeway: We're attempting to make it easier for you to speak to us. Try to access the database at engineering station three one. Computer: Database accessed. Janeway: Why have you come aboard our ship? Computer: Captain Janeway, report to Astrometrics. Janeway: Why do you want me to go there? Computer: Captain Janeway, report to Astrometrics. Janeway: I guess I'll find out soon enough. Kim: Captain, Astrometrics is flooded with nebular gas. Computer: Astrometrics life-support has been restored. Chakotay: It could be some kind of trap. This lifeform, whatever it is, has already injured at least eleven crewmen. Janeway: I can try to establish a dialogue or I can let it take over my ship. Seven, you're with me. Seven: Yes, Captain. Neelix: While Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine headed to Astrometrics, Tuvok was trying to ease my fears by guiding me through a meditation. Tuvok: Concentrate on the rhythm of your breathing. Envision your lungs filled with light. Follow it back in time to a moment when you felt no fear. A moment of happiness, serenity. Neelix: My birthday dinner. Tuvok: Describe it. Neelix: I was surrounded by all my friends. They'd gotten together to cook me dinner. They prepared all my favorites. Steamed chadre kab, terra nut soufflé. I felt loved, appreciated, safe. Mezoti: Captain Janeway served you nebular gas? Neelix: No, of course not. It was just my imagination playing tricks on me during the meditation. My head was too full of scary images for me to relax. The captain, on the other hand, seemed to be getting things under control. Computer: Review of navigational logs in progress. Janeway: Are you searching for something? Computer: Affirmative. Janeway: The nebula. Computer: Manual helm control enabled. Janeway: You're returning control of the ship? Computer: Affirmative. Janeway: You want me to take you back to the nebula? Computer: Affirmative. Janeway: Well, why didn't you just say so in the first place? Seven: Returning to the nebula is too dangerous. We'd risk invasion by other lifeforms. Janeway: I'm beginning to think this was all an accident, not an invasion. Seven: Captain? Janeway: Think about it. The EM surge didn't hit us until our Bussard Collectors destabilized the nebula, and then what happened? Seven: The ship began experiencing random malfunctions. Janeway: I'm not so sure they were random. Navigational sensors were fooling us into heading back toward the nebula and then, when Tom tried to resume course, he was attacked. This lifeform isn't trying to hurt us, it's trying to get home. Can you give us access to the bridge? Computer: Life support on the bridge has been restored. Level ten authorisation required. Seven: Level ten? Janeway: Captain's eyes only. It wants me to go alone. Neelix: The Captain and the lifeform had begun to establish a rapport, but the relationship was fragile. Janeway: Is the viewscreen functioning normally? Computer: Affirmative. Janeway: I'm sorry to tell you this, but your nebula is gone. Computer: Clarify. Janeway: The gasses must have continued to dissipate after we left. Computer: Warning, Life support failure on all decks. Abandon ship. Abandon. Neelix: Ship. Abandon ship. Mezoti: The creature was that angry? Icheb: Its home had been destroyed. Neelix: The lifeform wanted Voyager for itself, and it was going to kill anyone who remained on board. Captain Janeway's only chance of saving her crew was to try to reason with the creature. Janeway: Listen to me. I can still help you. Computer: Abandon ship. Janeway: There are other class J nebulas. I'll find you one. Computer: Unable to comply. Janeway: I'd be able to comply if you gave me access to Astrometrics. Computer: Warning, oxygen depletion in progress. Janeway: Give me back helm control. Computer: Warning, helm circuits are overloading. Computer: Abandon ship. Janeway: At least give me access to the comm. so I can warn my crew. Computer: Unable to comply. Neelix: As the captain was facing one of her worst fears, losing her ship Neelix: I was with Tuvok and about to face one of mine. Neelix: Tuvok! Lie still. I'll try to Tuvok: Mister Neelix. Proceed without me. Neelix: I'm not leaving you here. Tuvok: I am injured. Logic dictates that you take the mask and proceed to Engineering. Neelix: I don't care what logic dictates. This isn't the Salvoxia. We're not drawing lots. Tuvok: I am giving you an order. Neelix: And I'm disobeying it. You're coming with me if I have to drag you by your pointy little ears. Neelix: I had no choice. I had to control my fear. Neelix: Pleasant thoughts, pleasant thoughts. Neelix: While we made our way to Engineering, Neelix: Captain Janeway tried to make the creature reconsider what it was doing. Janeway: You're going to kill everyone on this ship. Do you understand what that means? Computer: To deprive of life. Extinguish. Janeway: Yes, and if you extinguish us, you'll be extinguishing yourself. You need this crew. Computer: Clarify. Janeway: The technology you're using needs to be maintained. Who do you think is going to do that when we are gone? Voyager's secondary systems have already begun to fail. In a few weeks, primary systems will start to go offline. Computer: Unable to confirm. Janeway: Access the internal sensors. Run a ship-wide diagnostic. See for yourself. Computer: Abandon ship. Neelix: The captain's rapport with the creature seemed to be breaking down Neelix: And she couldn't afford to wait any longer. Janeway: I need everyone's attention. We're abandoning ship. Get to the escape pods. Torres: We may not be able to eject the pods. Janeway: We'll push them out if we have to. Neelix: He needs medical attention. Kim: He'll have to wait. We're abandoning ship. Neelix: The entire crew had to evacuate. The Delta Flyer and the shuttles were launched, followed by all but one of the escape pods. Chakotay: That's everyone but the Captain and First Officer. Janeway: After you. Janeway: I did what you asked, we're abandoning ship. What more do you want? Computer: Diagnostic completed. Secondary systems are offline. Primary systems at thirty two percent. Estimated time to failure, six days thirteen hours. Janeway: That sounds about right. Computer: Captain Janeway, report to Engineering. Janeway: Like hell I will. Janeway: I won't be your prisoner. You'll have to kill me. Computer: Acknowledged. Computer: Captain Janeway, report to Engineering. Janeway: Not until you restore life-support and give me back control of my ship. Computer: Unable to comply. Janeway: Then we'll die here together. I'm guessing I've got about two more minutes and then you're on your own. Computer: Captain Janeway, report to Engineering. Janeway: I told you. The only way I'm helping is if you return control of my ship. Neelix: It looked like the creature was calling the captain's bluff. She was down to her last breath, but at the last moment Computer: Access to all systems has been restored. Neelix: It took almost two days for the crew to return to the ship. Eventually, an artificial environment was created in an isolated section of deck twelve. The creature's been living there ever since. Mezoti: I told you there was a monster on deck twelve. Icheb: Haven't you been listening? It's not a monster, it's an alien lifeform. Icheb: What was that? Mezoti: Maybe it's the alien lifeform coming to get us. Neelix: Haven't you learned anything about letting your imagination get the best of you? Neelix: There. That little jolt was probably nothing more than our friend leaving the ship to go to a new home that the captain found for him. Time to regenerate. Rebi: What if the lifeform didn't leave?. Azan: What if it wants revenge? Neelix: What if I told you I made up the whole thing? Mezoti: Naomi told me you always exaggerate. Icheb: I knew the story wasn't true, the moment you said the Bussard Collectors produced nadion emissions. Neelix: I should have known better than to try fooling the four of you. All right, in you go. Pleasant dreams. Chakotay: How are the children? Neelix: Tucked into their alcoves, safe and sound. Janeway: I hope they weren't frightened. Neelix: Oh, why would they be frightened, Captain? Janeway: They were in the dark for three hours. Neelix: Oh no, not to worry. I told them a story to pass the time. Paris: Let me guess. Mother Goose. Neelix: Certainly not. Some of those fairy tales can be frightening. Ogres and child eating monsters. Speaking of which, is everything okay? Janeway: We're just taking some final readings before we resume course. Show him, Harry. Neelix: Well, I hope it lives happily ever after.

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

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

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

Allocator: Trauma team four to Level Red. Trauma team four to Level Red. Code Four nursing unit, report to Level Red Orderly: No, he does have a sensor. It's not working. Allocator: Negative for dysplasia, viremia, necrobiosis. Please extend your arms. Species, Dralian. Identity, Gar. TC fifteen. You may proceed. Gar: Chellick. Lucky I caught you. Chellick: Mister Gar. I wish I had time to talk. Gar: Well, all you have to do is listen. I have a new supply of cytogenics. Chellick: Your last supply was useless. Expired lots, diluted samples. Gar: Oh, I have something special this time. Chellick: The latest in substandard technology, no doubt. Gar: Oh, this item is far from substandard. And as a gesture of goodwill, I'm offering it to you first. Chellick: We don't need another neural monitor. Gar: This is much more sophisticated than that. Chellick: I'm sure it has some ingenious use but I'm not interested. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency? Where have you taken me? Gar: It's a holographic construct programmed with over five million medical protocols. Emh: I demand to be returned to Voyager at once. Chellick: What's Voyager? Emh: The Federation Starship to which I'm assigned. This man is a kidnapper. Gar: I would never offer you stolen property. I traded warp-grade dilithium for this program. Chellick: What's your price? Emh: This negotiation is pointless. I'm not about to perform medical services for a pair of common thieves. Chellick: It doesn't seem to be in working order. Allocator: Trauma victims are now arriving at Emergency Intake Seven. Chellick: What caused their injuries? Allocator: A generator explosion at the Gammadan mining facility. Gar: You'd better start cooperating, or I will dismantle your program and sell it off one subroutine at a time. Emh: When Captain Janeway discovers what you've done Orderly: Come on, let's go. Clear a path. Here we go. Tuck him in there. Orderly 2: We haven't got any coagulants. Voje: Somebody check the reserves. Orderly: There are no reserves. Voje: This one's got grade four pulmonary burns. Allocator: Patient's TC is four. Transfer to level green. Voje: Green isn't equipped for this. Chellick: His TC's only four. Take him to Green. Emh: Don't touch that. This patient's bleeding seriously. He needs an immediate infusion. Voje: What are you doing? Get away from him. Emh: With technology this primitive you may as well be using leeches. Voje: Who is this man? Chellick: A Doctor, of sorts. I thought you were withholding your services. Emh: Fortunately for these patients, I am programmed with the Hippocratic Oath. It requires me to treat anyone who's ill. This patient needs twenty milligrams anesthizine. Get me a hypospray. Orderly: A what? Emh: I'm sorry, this may hurt a little. Kim: Did you have to program that Nausicaan guard to high stick so much? Paris: Well, you play hockey, you got to expect a few lumps. Kim: What are we going to tell the Doctor? You know how he feels about our juvenile holoprograms. Paris: Relax. I'll come up with something. Kim: Hey, Doc. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Kim: I know what you're thinking, but there's a simple explanation. Tell him, Tom. Paris: Right. Well, er, see, Doc, we were running these invasion scenarios, when this species of proto-humanoid. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Paris: Are you okay, Doc? Emh: Please take an analgesic and return in twenty four hours. Torres: It's a replicated fake. Paris: The program running in Sickbay is from one of Doc's old training files. Janeway: I want someone to tell me how this snake oil salesman managed to evade every security protocol on the ship. Tuvok: I take full responsibility. Janeway: I'm not interested in fault. I just want to know how it happened. Neelix: Ah, Gar spend the night in Sickbay. He claimed to have gotten food poisoning at dinner. Chakotay: He had plenty of time to learn about the mobile emitter from the Doctor. Janeway: Who I'm sure was more than willing to extol its virtues. Torres: Medical logs show the training file was activated just before Gar left Voyager. Janeway: Scan for his ion trail. And lets review safeguards for accessing low-security files, shall we, Mister Tuvok? Neelix: Captain, don't blame Tuvok for what happened. It was my fault. Janeway: How so? Neelix: Gar kept complaining how bland his dinner was so I added a few exotic spices. Janeway: I'm not sure I see your point. Neelix: I was trying so hard to create something he liked that I didn't take his alien physiology into account. Everyone's assuming he faked his illness but I might have really made him sick. Janeway: It's not as if your cooking turned him into a thief. Neelix: No. But if he hadn't gone to Sickbay, he may never have come up with a plan to kidnap the Doctor, much less have the opportunity to do it. Janeway: In my experience, Neelix, men like Gar have no trouble finding opportunities to take advantage of other people. Neelix: I just hope there's something I can do to help find the Doctor. Janeway: When and if that opportunity arises, I'm sure you'll make the most of it. Voje: That was the most impressive cortical bypass I've ever seen. Emh: It's just a question of possessing the basic skills. Voje: If I had basic skills like yours, they'd move me up to Level Blue. Take this patient to Yellow. Emh: You seem a little low on resources here. If I could contact my medical staff, I might be able get you some additional supplies. Voje: Communication is usually restricted but the Allocator might give you clearance. Emh: Good. Where can I find him? Voje: The Allocator isn't a him. It's our main computer. Emh: Well, perhaps it could establish a communications link with Voyager's main computer. Voje: You'll have to submit a formal request to Chellick and support it with form eight three W in triplicate. Even then. Emh: Why hasn't this patient been treated yet? Tebbis: He's waiting for proton imaging. There are a lot of other people ahead of him. Emh: It's nice to see someone knows what's going on. What's your name? Tebbis: Tebbis. Emh: Well, Tebbis, this doesn't look too serious. Tebbis: It's just a little osteal extravasation. Emh: Excellent diagnosis. Tebbis: I hope to be a doctor someday. Emh: Really? Well, I hope your working conditions are better than these. Tebbis: It wouldn't be so bad if they'd let us listen to music. Emh: It would certainly improve my mood. Tebbis: It's not just that. Music has great healing power. Emh: I couldn't agree with you more. Voje: Exhale slowly. Emh: Can't you give him a neural blocker? Voje: He's already had his allocation. Emh: The leg injury isn't all I'm picking up. He's got some kind of systemic disease. Voje: It's a chromo-viral infection. We have twelve cases down here. He's in the final stage. Emh: Is there an established treatment? Voje: Cytoglobin injections. Emh: These scans don't show any cytoglobin in his bloodstream. Voje: He hasn't been given any. Emh: Why not? Voje: He doesn't have a high enough TC. Emh: TC? What's that? Chellick: Ah, there you are. I'm happy to report that I've acquired your program from Gar. Please come with me. Emh: I will not. May I remind you I'm being illegally detained, or hasn't the rule of law reached this society yet? Chellick: We follow the Allocator's rules. And it's determined that your services are required on Level Blue. Voje: Please, Doctor. The Allocator knows which patients need help the most. Emh: Level Blue is your critical care area, I presume. Chellick: Level Blue is the area where it's most critical that we provide excellent care. Chellick: These patients will be your chief responsibility from now on. Do whatever you can to make them well. Emh: Why are these patients getting preferential treatment? Chellick: They have a higher TC than the others. Emh: Indulge me. What's TC? Chellick: Treatment Coefficient. The Allocator assigns one to every patient. It determines the level of care they receive. Emh: How is this coefficient derived? Chellick: Through a complex formula that involves profession, skills, accomplishments. Emh: How is any of that relevant to medical treatment? Chellick: An agricultural engineer is obviously more important than a waste processor. Emh: Important to whom? Chellick: Society. When your resources are limited, you have to prioritize. Emh: So you base treatment on whether patients have particular abilities? Chellick: It's much more complicated than that. The Allocator assesses the entire individual. Emh: And reduces his life to a number. Chellick: It may seem impersonal, but it's what the Dinaali have contracted us to do. Dysek: Chellick's people are known throughout the sector for their administrative skills. Before they came here, we were a dying race. Eco-disasters, famine. Chellick: Doctor Dysek, Chief of Medicine. The medical hologram I told you about. Emh: Are you in charge of what passes for care on Level Red? Because those people are suffering. Dysek: Intriguing technology. Can we use him to treat patients yet? Chellick: That's what he's here for. Emh: In some societies, it's considered rude to refer to someone in the third person while he's standing in front of you. Chellick: I'm sure you'll make good use of him. Tuvok: The warp trail ends here. Gar should be directly ahead. Janeway: All stop. Red alert. On screen. Tuvok: It's emitting a false warp signature. Janeway: Looks we've underestimated Mister Gar again. Paris: Now what? Tuvok: There may be another way to find him. Chakotay: What do you have in mind? Tuvok: He traded us high-grade iridium, which has a very brief half-life. His ship is slow. Logic suggests he acquired the substance within a radius of three light years. Janeway: Cross-reference our sensor logs and long range scans. Kim: Two planets, no atmosphere or technology, a T class nebula. Here's something. An asteroid with approximately two hundred humanoid lifesigns. Subterranean structures. Chakotay: Sounds like a mining operation. Tuvok: If that's where Mister Gar acquired the iridium, they may be able to help us find him. Janeway: Tom, how fast can you get us there? Paris: Less than two hours. Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: We're being hailed. Janeway: Open a channel. Miner: I want my iridium back now. Janeway: I beg your pardon? Miner: I've scanned your ship. I know you've got it on board. Janeway: Yes. We obtained it from a man called Gar. A merchant Miner: You mean thief. Chakotay: So you have had the pleasure of meeting him. Miner: He was here two days ago. He sold us three thousand induction units. He was gone a day before we realized he'd also stolen twenty kilos of ore. Janeway: We had a similar experience. Maybe we can help each other. Miner: How? Janeway: Do you have any idea where we might find him? Miner: Will you return my iridium? Janeway: By all means, but Gar only traded us half of what he stole from you. However, we might be able to get the rest of it back. Miner: All I can tell you is that the induction units came from a planetoid called Velos. Dysek: You may go. Emh: Your surgical technique is impressive. Dysek: Well. you've obviously had experience with cellular repair. Emh: As a matter of fact, I've done extensive research on the subject. I'd be happy to share it with you, but we'll have to contact Voyager to get it. Dysek: You'll have to discuss that with Chellick. He authorizes all communications. It's time for this patient's next injection. Nurse: Requesting one cytoglobin injection for patient B three, priority blue seven gamma. Allocator: One cytoglobin injection authorized. Emh: Does this patient have a chromo-viral infection? Dysek: No. Why? Emh: I was told cytoglobin is the standard treatment for that disease. Dysek: Cytoglobin also prevents arterial aging. Nurse: Will that be all? Dysek: You may go. Emh: This patient's arteries appear to be healthy. Dysek: At the moment. But daily injections increase life expectancy up to forty percent. We prescribe them for all Level Blue patients. Emh: I just saw a boy on Level Red who's dying. This medicine could save his life. Dysek: This woman is a chief engineer of an irrigation facility which provides water to half the subcontinent. Emh: So her life is more valuable? Dysek: Keeping her healthy contributes to our survival. Can you say the same for the boy on Level Red? Emh: Who knows what he'll accomplish if he has the chance. Dysek: If he becomes more valuable to society, his TC will rise, and then he'll receive better treatment. Emh: He may not be around long enough. Dysek: I'm sorry he's sick, but our society is much better off since we began following the Allocator's protocols. Emh: Some of you are. Voje: I never expected to see you again. Emh: Why do you say that? Voje: Level Blue is much more prestigious. Emh: Prestige is the least of my concerns. How is he? Voje: Not well. Emh: His condition's deteriorated so rapidly. Voje: His coenzyme allotment's been reduced. Emh: Are we here to help these people, or kill them? Voje: His TC is just too low. Emh: Maybe we can raise it. Voje: That's not possible. Emh: If it's purely a function of statistics, we can simply input more data. Voje: We're not authorized to do that. Emh: Voje, when you look at your patient lying there, you have to ask yourself what can I do? What must I do? We can amend his database to include additional skills. Voje: Such as? Emh: His extensive knowledge of neutronics. Voje: He doesn't know anything about neutronics. Emh: We can say he does. What's the harm in trying? Voje: Amend patient R twelve's TC to include an expertise in neutronics. Allocator: Unable to verify. Amendment denied. Voje: You see? Tebbis: Hello. Emh: Lie still. Tebbis: What are you doing? Emh: Trying to get you the proper medication. Tebbis: You're wasting time you could be spending with other patients. Emh: You have as much right to treatment as anyone. Tebbis: It's not your fault. Voje: There's nothing you can do. Emh: Nurse? Nurse: Yes, Doctor? Emh: Why hasn't this patient received her additional cytoglobin injection? Nurse: Additional? Emh: If you'd examined her chart, you'd see that I've increased her dosage. Nurse: Doctor Dysek didn't say anything. Emh: Doctor Dysek is at home with his family. Would you like me to contact him so you can explain why you're not doing your job? Nurse: No, Doctor. Requesting one cytoglobin injection for Patient B three, priority blue seven gamma. Allocator: One cytoglobin injection authorized. Emh: I'll do it myself. Nurse: Can I assist you? Emh: You may go. Kipp: He convinced me to let him take the induction units on consignment. That was more than ten days ago. I haven't heard from him since. Tuvok: You appear to be an experienced merchant, Mister Kipp. Why would you trust someone like Gar? Kipp: He came highly recommended. Tuvok: By whom? Kipp: A buyer I know. He said he's been trading with Gar for years. Janeway: Do you know where we can find this buyer? Husband: Yes, Captain. I am the fool who said that Gar could be trusted. Janeway: Sounds like you've changed your mind. Husband: I should have known it was a mistake but, well, you see, I have never been able to say no to my wife. Tuvok: What does she have to do with it? Husband: Well, she's the one who asked me to recommend Gar. Tuvok: Then she must know him well. Husband: They're, er, friends. Tuvok: May we speak with her? Husband: She's, er. Well, she's not here. Janeway: Do you know where we might find her? Husband: She left me. Adulteress: You're a woman. You saw my husband with your own eyes. Overweight, depressed. You would have left him too, especially if you had met someone as exciting as Gar. Janeway: Yes, he's very exciting. Adulteress: That's why you're looking for him, isn't it? You want him for yourself. Janeway: I assure you, I have no romantic interest in him whatsoever. Adulteress: Why? Not good enough for you? Janeway: No, it's not that, it's just that Janeway: I already have a man. Tuvok: We have a business opportunity for Mister Gar. One that will expire if we don't find him soon. Adulteress: He's on his way to the gambling tournament on Selek Four. When you see him, tell him to hurry home. Emh: How are you feeling? Tebbis: Better. Emh: That's what happens when you get the proper treatment. Tebbis: But I'm not authorized to receive cytoglobin. Emh: You are now. You'll need several more injections, but you can expect a complete recovery. Tebbis: Whatever you did, they'll find out. They'll punish you. Emh: You're assuming I've done something illicit. Tebbis: Didn't you? Emh: Of course not. I simply had a talk with Chellick, explained to him what a bright young man you are, and he had the Allocator recalculate your TC. Tebbis: I've never met a doctor like you. Emh: Well, it's not hard to stand out when the general level of competence is so low. Tebbis: There are patients on this level who deserve a higher TC than I do. Could you talk to Chellick about them? Voje: Thank you. Emh: Ah, Voje. You're not busy, are you? Voje: Well, actually, I was just Emh: I want you to help me dispense these injections. Voje: Where did you get the cytoglobin? Emh: Level Blue, where else. Voje: You stole it? Emh: I prefer to think of it as reallocation. We're going to treat every chromo-virus patient on this level. Voje: Do you have any idea what kind of trouble we could get into? Emh: We? Then you will help me. Voje: No, absolutely not. Modifying data files was bad enough. Emh: Well, I certainly wouldn't want you to do anything to compromise your ethics. Tebbis: I'll help you. Voje: You should be in bed. Emh: Actually, now that he's improving a little, activity will do him good. You can go back to doing whatever you were doing. Emh: The best place to inject him is here, in the lateral artery. Emh: Excellent work. It's nice to see someone in this hospital has a future as a healer. Voje: If we each take a third of the patients, maybe we can finish before someone catches us. Dysek: Who do you think you are, prescribing unnecessary medications for my patients? Emh: It wasn't unnecessary. Dysek: If you believe that, you're incompetent. Or perhaps malfunctioning. Emh: I was simply trying to increase our allocation of resources. Dysek: What are you talking about? Emh: I did some checking. Last month, Level Blue's total medication requests were down by six percent. Dysek: Because our cure rate was higher. Emh: Exactly. Because you performed so efficiently last month, the Allocator will determine you're able to do with less next month. If we don't order more medication now, we may not get it when we need it. Think about it, Doctor. If you don't have the proper resources, your cure rate could go down. If that happens, the Allocator may assign you to a lower level. Chellick: Are we having a problem with our newest piece of technology? Dysek: Actually, he seems to be learning the system quite well. Voje: Three of the patients we injected are practically virus free. Emh: What did you expect? Voje: Maybe we could reallocate other medications. Treat more patients. Emh: Now you're thinking like a doctor. And to support your efforts, I've arranged for resources from Level Blue to be diverted here on a regular basis. Voje: How did you manage that? Emh: Let's just say Doctor Dysek and I have developed a professional rapport. Sometimes I even surprise myself. Voje: We may actually make these people better. Emh: That feeling you get from healing someone. Infectious, isn't it? Voje: Where did you get that? Tebbis: One of the technicians was going to recycle it because it wasn't working, but I think I fixed it. Emh: It seems to be in good condition, and so do you. You'll be well enough to leave soon. Tebbis: Couldn't you say I'm still sick? Emh: Don't you want to go home? Tebbis: If I do, they'll send me to work in the refinery with my father. Emh: What about school? Your medical training? Tebbis: I would never be authorized for that. Voje: He's right. Tebbis: If I stay here, you can teach me, and I can help you treat your patients. Emh: I'm not planning on being here that long, myself. Tebbis: Then I can help Doctor Voje. Emh: We'll see what we can do. Tuvok: I have picked up Gar's ship, directly ahead. Paris: Again? Tuvok: I'm reading his biosigns. Chakotay: Any sign of the Doctor or his emitter? Tuvok: Not yet. Kim: Should I hail Gar? Janeway: If we let him know we're here, he may try to slip away. Chakotay: We could drop out of warp at close range and grab him before he knows what's happening. Janeway: I like it. Tom, Tuvok. Kim: He's hailing. Janeway: I guess we put him in the mood to talk. On screen. Gar: I thought we were friends, Captain. Why am I being treated this way? I think I deserve better. Janeway: Where's our doctor? Gar: I have no idea. I certainly hope nothing's happened to him. Tuvok: Scans are complete. Neither the mobile emitter nor the Doctor's program are aboard Gar's ship. Gar: Well, of course they're not. Chakotay: He's trying to destabilize the tractor beam with a feedback pulse. Kim: Compensating. Janeway: Don't bother, Harry. Just beam him to the brig. Emh: Tebbis, wake up. Time to make our rounds. Emh: Locate Patient R twelve. Allocator: Patient R twelve has been transferred to Level White. Emh: Tebbis has been moved. Voje: I know. Emh: What's Level White? Some kind of patient recovery area? Voje: It's the morgue. Emh: I demand an explanation for the death of that boy. Chellick: I'm responsible for thousands of patients. You'll have to be more specific. Emh: His name was Tebbis, Patient R twelve. Chellick: Acute chromo-viral disease. Emh: He was recovering. Chellick: Apparently, he developed complications. Emh: What kind of complications? Chellick: A secondary infection. It spread rapidly. Emh: How was it treated? Chellick: It wasn't. The patient had exceeded his medication allotment. It seems someone had given him unauthorized injections. Did you think I wouldn't find out? Emh: Don't you have any ethical standards? Chellick: You are hardly in a position to speak to me of ethics. Lying, stealing. Any other crimes you wish to confess? Emh: I was trying to save lives. Chellick: And I am trying to save a society. Do you really think Patient R twelve is going to help me do that? Emh: His name was Tebbis. Chellick: He wasn't contributing. He was a drain on resources. Emh: You're not just rationing health care here. You're getting rid of the sick and the weak. Chellick: If the boy had been fit, he would have survived. Emh: Why don't you just put a phaser to their heads? Chellick: We're healers, not killers. Emh: I'm going to expose you. Chellick: To whom, the people who employ me? They brought me here to make the hard choices they don't want to make. From now on, I'm restricting you to Level Blue. You've done enough damage on Red. Emh: You mean those patients that I treated? Yes, that was inconsiderate of me. Chellick: It was. You managed to exceed their annual medication allotment in a matter of days. They're being sent home. Emh: They'll die. Chellick: You should have considered the consequences of your actions. Emh: Please, don't make them suffer for my mistakes. It won't happen again. Chellick: I'm making certain of that. From now on, your time will be strictly regulated. Emh: Meaning what? Chellick: I've interfaced your holomatrix with the Allocator. Starting now, it will determine where you go, when you go and what you do when you get there. Allocator: The medical hologram will now commence treatment on Level Blue. Allocator: You have six minutes to treat Patient B three. Gar: I don't know where he is. Tuvok: Not now, perhaps, but you know where you took him. Gar: The last time I saw him he was in your Sickbay. Tuvok: If you refuse to cooperate, your knowledge of his location can be extracted. Gar: How? Tuvok: A mind meld. Gar: What's that? Tuvok: An invasive and disturbing procedure. Neelix: Dinnertime! Tuvok: Mister Neelix, I am in the middle of an interrogation. Neelix: Commander, you know better than anyone that Starfleet has strict guidelines about allowing prisoners to eat. Tuvok: Very well. I'll wait. Neelix: There we are. I'm glad to see you enjoying a meal. When you got sick last time I thought my food was to blame, until I realized it was just a ruse for you to get close to the Doctor. I used Talaxian Wormroot as the base. I'm glad you like it. Some people react badly. Gar: React how? Neelix: Oh, dear, I hope you're not getting sick. If it's the wormroot, it's going to get a lot worse. Gar: What have you done to me? Neelix: The usual symptoms are abdominal spasms, which increase in severity for thirty hours. Forty at the most. Tuvok: Tuvok to Sickbay. Neelix: Don't worry Mister Tuvok, it's not fatal. It's horribly unpleasant, but there's an antidote. Gar: Then give it to me. Neelix: Unfortunately, our doctor is the only one authorized to administer it. Maybe if you remembered where he was? Tuvok: Mister Neelix, have you deliberately poisoned this man? Neelix: Relax. He's just having gas pains. Tuvok: Your actions are not only against regulations Neelix: Didn't I hear someone threaten a mind meld? Tuvok: I was merely trying to encourage the suspect to be more forthcoming. Neelix: I think he's getting all the encouragement he needs. Orderly: Excuse me, Doctor. Voje: What is it? Orderly: I need to prepare this patient for discharge. Voje: I'm not finished with him yet. Med Tech: But Chellick's orders are to Voje: Are to discharge the patient at the end of the shift. The shift isn't over, is it? Med Tech: No, sir, but I need time in order to Voje: I'll tell you when he's ready. Allocator: Doctor Voje, report to Level Blue to assist Doctor Dysek in surgery. Emh: Voje. Voje: I didn't realize that any of this even existed. Emh: I need to talk to you. Voje: I don't have time. I just got a message from the Allocator that Dysek needs me. Emh: I'm the one who sent for you. I used his access codes. Voje: Oh. Emh: I need you to smuggle my mobile emitter off Level Blue. Allocator: Time has expired for treatment of Patient B one. Proceed to Patient B three. The medical hologram has one minute to treat Patient B three. Emh: You have to help me. Voje: Twelve patients on Level Red are being sent home because of you. Emh: That's why we have to hurry. We may still be able to save them. Voje: You've already endangered my patients and now you're asking me to risk my career? Why should I help you? Emh: Because I have a plan to heal those patients. That's what doctors do. We heal. So choose. What kind of doctor are you going to be? Allocator: The medical hologram has thirty seconds to deactivation. Emh: Do you hear that? Voje: How can I get you off this level? Emh: Deactivate my mobile emitter and put it in inside this selenide medkit. It'll shield the signature. Voje: And then what? Emh: Take it to Level Red and reactivate me. Voje: What are you going to do once you get to Level Red? Allocator: The medical hologram has ten seconds to deactivation. Emh: There's no time to explain. You'll have to trust me. Chellick: I suspect young Doctor Voje helped you escape. Emh: He had nothing to do with it. Chellick: No matter. You're becoming far too troublesome. I'm going to have to deactivate your program. Emh: Voje! Voje: What's wrong with him? What are you doing? Emh: A little experiment in empathy. Voje: You told me you were just developing new treatment protocols. Emh: A single protocol, actually. Chellick: You're only making things worse for yourself. Emh: As a matter of fact, I'm making things worse for you. I'm going to make you a patient in your own hospital. Chellick: What was in that injector? Emh: A neural blocker combined with the same virus that afflicted Tebbis. Voje: I trusted you. Emh: And Tebbis trusted me. You remember Tebbis, don't you? Patient R twelve? Maybe this will jog your memory. Voje: What are you doing? Allocator: Patient R twelve. Species, Dinaal. Identity, Tebbis. Chellick: This is ridiculous. I'm not Tebbis! Emh: But the Allocator thinks you are. Voje: How did you Emh: Simple, the Allocator identifies patients by reading blood factors. I altered Chellick's by injecting him with antigens from Tebbis. Now, why don't we see if we can get your condition treated? Requesting one cytoglobin injection for Patient R twelve. Allocator: Treatment denied. Chellick: I order you to medicate me now. Emh: Ordinarily, I would. But if the Allocator says no. Chellick: Is this some sort of revenge? Emh: Not revenge. Leverage. I want enough cytoglobin to cure every infected patient on this level. Chellick: We don't have an adequate supply. Emh: There's plenty on Level Blue. Chellick: Where it's being used to prevent arterial aging. Emh: Those patients will survive without it, but a dozen people on this level won't. I will not let them die. Paris: Entering orbit. Janeway: Scan for the Doctor's signature. Voje: He's dying. Emh: As soon as we get the cytoglobin we'll be able to treat all the Level Red patients, including him. Voje: You said it yourself. Doctors heal. We don't make patients sick. Emh: I don't know any other way to help these people. Chellick: Doctor Voje, I need the medicine now. Voje: Sir, I only have a Level Red clearance. You know I'm not authorized. Chellick: Then find someone who is. Torres: I've got him. He's aboard a vessel above the northern continent. Janeway: Can you get a lock? Torres: It's not going to be easy. His program seems to be interfaced with the main computer. Janeway: Hail the ship. Kim: They're responding, audio only. Allocator: This is Hospital Ship Four Two, Allocation Module Alpha. Janeway: This is Captain Janeway of the Starship Voyager. I would like to speak with someone regarding a member of my crew who is aboard your vessel. Allocator: Administrator Chellick is currently unavailable. Janeway: Then may I speak with someone else? Allocator: Only Administrator Chellick is authorized to communicate with alien species. Dysek: Are we having a problem here? Chellick: Dysek. Finally. Voje: I'm sorry. I had to tell him. Chellick: What are you waiting for? Give me the cytoglobin. Dysek: I don't think I can. Chellick: What are you saying? Dysek: Cytoglobin isn't authorized for Level Red patients. Chellick: Dysek! Dysek: I don't want to break the rules. Chellick: I made the rules! Dysek: Then you should be pleased I hold them in such high regard. Torres: I'm sorry, Captain. I can't transport him without damaging his matrix. Janeway: Then you'll have to go down there and get him. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Chakotay. Chellick: Don't tell me you're allied with this defective hologram. Dysek: No, but he has given me insight into some of the intricacies of our system. For example, did you know if I don't request enough resources for Level Blue this month, I won't get what I need next month? Chellick: What are you talking about? Emh: You know, Doctor, one way to increase your allocation of resources on Level Blue would be to increase the number of patients. I know at least a dozen people who should be treated for arterial aging. Saving their lives would be just a side effect. Dysek: Hmm. Perhaps we should have them transferred to Level Blue. Emh: If you're looking for a second opinion, I concur. Dysek: Well, Chellick, what do you think? Chellick: It's absurd. Dysek: We'd have to transfer you to Level Blue as well. You'd get your cytoglobin. Chakotay: Doctor. Emh: It's nice to see some friendly faces. Chakotay: We're going to get you out of here. Torres: Who do we talk to about accessing the main computer? Emh: I'll be with you in a moment. I'm with a patient. Do we have an agreement? Chellick: Yes. Emh: You've managed to stay well while I was away. I'm giving you a clean bill of health. Seven: You were only away four days. Emh: A lot can happen in four days. Injuries, infections, malfunctions. Seven: As you said, I'm fine. Thank you. Emh: I was wondering if you'd mind doing me a favor? I'd like you to give me a check-up. Seven: Have you been experiencing problems? Emh: No. But as you said, I've been off the ship for a while, interfaced with an alien computer. Seven: Your program appears to be operating within normal parameters. Emh: Really? What about over the past several days? Seven: There's no indication of diminished capacity. Emh: No problems with my ethical subroutines? Seven: None. Emh: I see. Seven: You seem disappointed. Emh: While I was aboard that ship, I poisoned a man. Seven: Deliberately? Emh: Yes. I was trying to force him to let me treat patients who were dying. Seven: You were prepared to sacrifice an individual to benefit a collective. Emh: No offense, Seven, but I don't exactly aspire to Borg ideals. Seven: You were hoping your behavior was the result of a malfunction. I'm sorry Doctor, but I must give you a clean bill of health.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54208.3. Last month's datastream from Starfleet never arrived, so the crew is looking forward to this one with even more anticipation than usual. We could all use some news from home. Paris: There he is. The man of the hour. Kim: You sure are in a good mood. Paris: Well, rumor has it you snared the latest datastream last night. Kim: Technically, it was this morning. Oh two hundred, to be exact. Paris: So, where's my mail, hmm? Oh, don't tell me you lost another one. Kim: I didn't lose last month's datastream. It never arrived. Paris: So what's the hold up this time? Kim: The transmission was a little larger than usual. It's jammed the transceivers. Seven and I have been up all night trying to download it. Paris: Harry, we can't go another month without mail. Kim: Oh, you won't. Trust me. Kim: Any luck? Seven: I've determined why we've been having difficulties. Kim: A hologram. The transceiver wasn't designed to store photonic data. We have to get it out of there before it degrades. Seven: What are you doing? Kim: Tying the transceiver into the holodeck's pattern buffer. Seven: Those systems aren't compatible. You'll depolarize the relays. Kim: Starfleet wouldn't have sent this hologram if it weren't important. I'm sure it's worth a few burnt-out relays. Seven: You've overloaded the transceiver. Kim: But I saved the hologram. Kim: Okay, ready when you are. Janeway: Lieutenant Barclay? Reg: Er, no, but he did design me. I'm a walking, talking, problem-solving interactive hologram. You can call me Reg. Janeway: It's nice to meet you, Reg. Reg: The pleasure's mine, Captain. Harry, Seven. I've been looking forward to working with you. Kim: You have? Reg: I know, you were expecting letters from your friends and families. But with any luck, in a few days you'll be seeing them face to face. In three days' time, Voyager is going to be passing through grid eight nine eight, a sector of space occupied by a red giant star. Janeway: Sensors detected it a few days ago. Reg: At this very moment, a team of Federation scientists is orbiting another red giant in the Alpha Quadrant. In seventy two hours, they will target its magnetic field with a verteron beam, creating a geodesic fold. As a result, a corresponding fold will open here in the magnetic field of the red giant that Voyager is approaching. Space will be punctured at these two points, creating a gateway between the Quadrants. Janeway: Our shields are useless against geodesic radiation. We toyed with the idea of opening a fold ourselves, but it didn't take us long to realize we wouldn't survive the trip. Reg: A lot's happened in geodesic research since you've been gone. I've brought schematics for shield upgrades to deflect the radiation from the fold. Medical technology to provide additional protection for the crew. We've thought of everything. Seven: Starfleet never mentioned you in any of the previous datastreams. Reg: Well, Lieutenant Barclay didn't want to raise your hopes in case the plan didn't live up to expectations. But lucky for you, it surpassed them. Janeway: What about last month's datastream? Why didn't we receive it? Reg: Pathfinder tried sending an unabridged version of my program. It overloaded the MIDAS array. Kim: The only casualty this time was our transceiver. Reg: If everything goes according to plan, you won't need it anymore. Janeway: If we were to attempt this, you'd need access to areas of this ship that aren't equipped with holo-emitters. Reg: Not to worry, Captain. We've thought of that too. Emh: My emitter is your emitter. Janeway: Computer, transfer the Barclay hologram to the mobile emitter. Computer: Transfer complete. Reg: On Lieutenant Barclay's behalf, I thank you. Emh: Just make sure to return it when we get to Earth. Ha, ha, ha. Chakotay: We're ready for you in the briefing room, Captain. Janeway: Excuse us, Doctor. Emh: I'm sure you have a full day planned, but if you have time, I'd like to get better acquainted. Reg: I'll stop by the first chance I get. Emh: You'll know where to find me. Reg: This is our destination, red giant two three one three nine. The geodesic fold will open here, adjacent to the giant's northern pole. We'll have exactly sixteen seconds to take Voyager through. Janeway: Reg has prepared a list of assignments. I expect you to give him your full cooperation. Reg: Mister Paris, you have the honor of plotting our course to Big Red Two. Lieutenant Torres, Commander Tuvok, I'd like you to start working on shield modifications. And in the meantime, I've asked the Doctor to prepare a series of inoculations that will protect the crew from the radiation. Seven: We should discuss the possibility of applying Borg technology to Starfleet's plan. It could increase our chances of success. Reg: I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Chakotay: How long before the transceiver's back online? Kim: No more than two hours. Chakotay: Then we'll still have time to transmit a response to Starfleet. Janeway: Keep us posted. I'd like to send Lieutenant Barclay a little thank you note for all his hard work. Neelix: Is there anything I can do, Reg? Reg: Your job might be the most important one of all. The next few days will be difficult. The crew will be working extremely long hours. They're going to need an experienced morale officer to keep their spirits high. Neelix: You can count on me. Reg: If this were any other ship, I'd have my doubts. But this is Voyager, the Miracle Ship. You've survived six years in the Delta Quadrant. You've evaded the Kazon, the Vidiians, the Hirogen, you've even faced down the Borg. I think, with a little teamwork, we can pull off one more miracle and take Voyager home. Kim: I can taste my mom's cooking. Paris: Don't forget what the hologram said, Harry. This is Voyager. Kim: The Miracle Ship. Paris: Not when it comes to getting us home. Our shortcuts have a tendency to blow up in our faces. Kim: That's looking on the bright side. Paris: Remember Arturis and his quantum slipstream drive? Or how about the telepathic pitcher plant that made us think we were on our way home right before it tried to eat the ship? Kim: This is the best opportunity we've had. Paris: Yeah, which is why we'll probably end up in the Gamma Quadrant. Kim: I'll remind you of that when we get back to Earth. Paris: Don't say I didn't warn you. Seven: When a Borg Cube enters a transwarp conduit, it's subject to extreme gravimetric shear. To compensate, the Borg project a structural integrity field ahead of the Cube. By modifying Voyager's deflector, we may be able to do the same. Reg: No one at Starfleet would have thought of this. So, what's the first thing you're going to do when you get back? Seven: Begin repairs to Voyager. Even with the structural integrity field, it's likely the ship will suffer significant damage. Reg: Yes, of course, but there are people at Utopia Planitia who will take care of that. There are Engineering crews and technicians. Seven: Are you implying that I'm superfluous? Reg: Of course not. I only meant that, if you're too busy working, you're going to miss all the welcome home hoopla. Starfleet's planning parties, ceremonies and speeches. There's, there's a ticker-tape parade down Market Street. Seven: I won't be attending any of those events. Reg: But, you'd be the guest of honor. Seven: When I first arrived on Voyager, it was difficult for the crew to accept me. I'm anticipating a similar welcome on Earth. Reg: You don't have any idea, do you? I didn't mention this earlier. I didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings. You are the one who people are most looking forward to seeing. Seven: That's difficult to believe. Reg: Why? Seven: I was Borg. Reg: Exactly. You were Borg. But you escaped, and despite incredible odds, you managed to reclaim your humanity. No one's ever done that before. You're famous. Seven: Fame is irrelevant. Reg: Maybe. But you've given hope to everyone who's ever lost somebody to the Borg. You've inspired millions. Seven: If you think my participation in the hoopla would be beneficial to others, then I'll comply. Harkins: Is this going to take much longer, Reg? Barclay: Well, the computer is still inputting data. That should do it. Right. Computer, display the intended trajectory of the datastream transmitted at oh six hundred this morning. Now, display the actual trajectory, and identify the termination point. Computer: The trajectory ends in sector three nine five. Barclay: Four two, grid eight. Does that sound familiar? That's exactly where the datastream dissipated last month. There is something there. There is something preventing the datastream from reaching Voyager. Er, a micro-wormhole, a radiogenic field. Harkins: Long range scans didn't pick up anything unusual. Barclay: Still, we could send a ship to investigate. We could confirm my theory. Harkins: What about my theory, Reg? The hologram was too complex. It caused the datastreams to degrade before they reached their destination. Barclay: Well, to be honest I, I don't agree. The truth is, we don't know what happened to my hologram. Harkins: Then let's stick to what we do know. For the second month in a row, we tried sending your hologram to Voyager. And for the second month in a row, it failed to get there. Barclay: And I want to know why, so it doesn't happen a third time. Harkins: It won't happen a third time. Next month we go back to standard transmissions. Barclay: But a holographic matrix carries twice the information, interact with the crew. Harkins: Admiral Paris wants us to send more practical data, like tactical upgrades, letters from the crew's families. Barclay: But, Pete. Harkins: Sending a hologram to Voyager was a good idea but it didn't work. It's time to move on. Harkins: And this is the research lab where most of Pathfinder's homework gets done. All the datastreams are compressed here and then transmitted all the way to the Delta Quadrant. Your teacher tells me you've been studying some of the Delta Quadrant races that Voyager's described to us. Who can name one for me? Girl 1: The Talaxians. Harkins: Very good. Girl 2: The Ocampa. Harkins: That's right. Who else? Barclay: The Borg! The Borg! They assimilated my hologram. That's how it disappeared. Harkins: Reg, now isn't the time. Barclay: Look at this. Last month, a spacecraft passed within twenty meters of the MIDAS array just hours before we sent the first hologram. Harkins: What is your point? Barclay: Twenty meters. It's awfully close, don't you think? Harkins: Ensign. Barclay: The Borg must have sent a transwarp probe to steal my hologram. Maybe because they, they thought that it was carrying anti-Borg technology to Voyager. Harkins: It wasn't the Borg, Reg. Barclay: Then it was the Romulans using a cloaked ship. They've been curious about Voyager for years. Harkins: That is enough. Barclay: But, you Harkins: I am sorry your idea didn't work, but I can't have you going off on a tangent. Not again. You'll be no good to Pathfinder or Voyager. How much leave do you have saved up? Barclay: Not that much. Fifty, maybe sixty days. Harkins: Take a week. Go home. Try to relax. Barclay: But, Pete! Harkins: No! That was not a request, Lieutenant. Barclay: Maybe I'll go somewhere. Take a vacation. Harkins: Now that is the most sensible thing I've heard you say all day. My cousin has a beach house in Malaysia. She'd be happy to lend it to you. Barclay: Thanks, er, but I have someplace else in mind. Reg: You, you wanted to see me? Emh: I've been going over the instructions from Starfleet Medical. As far as I can tell, their new inoculations aren't much different from run-of-the-mill radiogenic vaccines. I don't think they'll protect the crew. Reg: Did you try incorporating the synthetic antigen? Emh: Yes, but it only improved the resistance by ten percent. Reg: That should be enough. Emh: We can't afford to be cavalier, Reg. If these treatments don't work, the crew will wind up liquefied. Reg: You're forgetting that the inoculations aren't designed to work alone. They were intended to work in combination with the shield modifications. It's the medicinal ying to the shield's yang. Emh: And what if the yang doesn't work? Reg: That's not going to happen. Now, listen. Lieutenant Barclay has a special affinity for this crew. So do I. I promise you, we won't let them down. Emh: Of course you won't. Tell me, do you also share Lieutenant Barclay's affinity for golf? Reg: We have identical handicaps. Emh: Well, if you're not busy later, perhaps we can play nine holes on the holodeck. Reg: It's tempting, but I still have a few dozen progress reports to look over. Emh: In that case, maybe you could look over them here so that I could borrow the mobile emitter. Reg: Providing that the rest of the day's work goes smoothly, consider it yours. Emh: I thought it was mine. Reg: Commander Chakotay tells me that you finished repairing the transceiver. Torres: We were just about to send the captain's reply to Lieutenant Barclay. Reg: Do you have enough room to include a progress report from me? Kim: I think we can squeeze that in. Reg: Computer, download Barclay hologram file zero one to the datablock. Computer: Download complete. Torres: Transmitting. Gegis: It's about time. Janeway: Greetings from the Delta Quadrant, Lieutenant. You'll be happy to know that your hologram reached us safely. Gegis: Get to the important part. Janeway: And we've begun to implement Starfleet's. Reg: In accordance with the seventy fourth Rule of Acquisition, Knowledge Equals Profit, I've enclosed the specifications you've requested. See you soon. Nunk: Oh, look at those hands. I bet she gives great oo-mox. Yeggie: Too bad she'll be dead when she gets here. Gegis: Forget the hands. Show me the nanoprobes. How many are there? Yeggie: Three point six million. Nunk: That's twenty percent more than we predicted. Yeggie: Three point six million nanoprobes at six bars of latinum per unit that comes to. Gegis: More profit than we ever dreamed of. Waiter: Your drinks, sir. Barclay: Thank you. Barclay: Something to drink, ma'am? Troi: I'm fine, thanks. Barclay: Are you sure? I've got a chocolate passion punch with your name on it. Troi: Reg? Barclay: Surprise! Where's Commander Riker? Troi: He doesn't arrive until Friday. Barclay: Oh. Troi: The question is, what are you doing here? Barclay: I just had some time off. Your letter made this place sound fun. I just thought I'd join you. Troi: Do you have any idea how inappropriate it is to follow your therapist on vacation. Barclay: Please, they might be watching. Troi: Who? Barclay: The Borg, the Romulans. I'm not sure yet. Please, Deanna, I need your help. Barclay: Commander Harkins is usually willing to hear me out, but this time he wouldn't even look at my evidence Troi: I'm not sure any of this qualifies as evidence, Reg. Barclay: You don't believe me, either. You think I'm imagining this, just like Pete. Troi: The last time I saw you, you were laughing, telling jokes. You even sang a duet with Data. Barclay: It was Commander LaForge's birthday party. Troi: You were a completely different Reg that night. Barclay: Well, things were better then. Troi: How? Barclay: Well, for one thing I'd just finished the matrix for my hologram and I showed Geordi some of the specs that night. He said he was proud of me. Troi: What else? Barclay: Oh, the Dragons had just won the pennant, and I was still seeing Leosa. Troi: You mentioned her at the party. A teacher, right? Barclay: Everything was going so well. My job, my personal life. I started to think maybe my luck was changing. Troi: And then you lost your hologram. Barclay: Admiral Paris was furious. He said we'd wasted a transmission to Voyager. Pete talked him into giving us another chance, but there was so much pressure after that. Troi: Did it put a strain on your relationship with Leosa? Barclay: She left me. Troi: Oh, I'm sorry. Barclay: I went to her apartment. She was gone. No furniture, no forwarding address. Bot even a Dear Reg letter. Troi: That must have been very upsetting. Barclay: It was just my luck, right? Lose the hologram and the girl. Troi: Tell me more about Leosa. Barclay: Oh, you would have liked her. She was sweet, she was thoughtful, and such a wonderful listener. She would let me, let me go on for hours. Troi: What did you talk about? Barclay: Oh, she was fascinated by my work at Pathfinder. And, er, she didn't, er, she didn't find any of it boring. She made me feel interesting. Troi: What do you feel when we talk about her now? Barclay: Oh, sadness, I suppose. A little confusion. Troi: I'm sensing something else. Something beneath the surface. Barclay: What? Troi: I think you might be sensing it, too. Barclay: What? Troi: Suspicion, Reg. You suspect her of something. Barclay: I suspect that she's happier without me if that's what you mean. Troi: You think Leosa had something to do with your disappearing hologram but you can't bring yourself to admit it. That's why you're projecting your suspicions onto others. You're in denial. If there's any chance Leosa did breach Pathfinder security, you need to tell your superiors. Barclay: I'd be humiliated again. Troi: I'll go with you. Barclay: What about your vacation? Troi: I'll be back here before Will arrives. Barclay: Do you really think it's possible that Leosa stole my hologram? Troi: Why would she do that? Barclay: Maybe, maybe she wanted something to remember me by. Captain's log, supplemental. With the help of the Barclay hologram, we've nearly completed the modifications to Voyager. As for Reg, he's becoming extremely popular with the crew. Janeway: Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that Lieutenant Paris had eaten all the scrambled eggs. It was pure, unadulterated gluttony. Gastronomic conduct unbecoming a Starfleet officer. He knows it's my favorite breakfast, but he ate them anyway. We have an egg-mergency here, people. I want to know what you plan to do about it. Neelix: Maybe I can replicate some more, Captain. REG as Janeway: Do it! Reg: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Torres: He's not only programmed to get us home, he does impressions. Reg: You see, it's always bothered Lieutenant Barclay that he was uncomfortable in large groups, so he designed me to be the life of the party. Kim: Hope he's not too shy. He's going to have a hundred and fifty new friends when we get back home. Paris: If we get home, Harry. If. Kim: Pardon my friend here. He's convinced we're destined to live out our days in the Delta Quadrant. REG as Tuvok: Your pessimism is illogical. Perhaps a mind-meld would help to alleviate your concern. Emh: Sickbay to Reg. Please report to Holodeck two. Reg: On my way. Emh: I was starting to think you'd forgotten our tee-time. So, what'll it be? Pebble Beach at sunset? The back nine at Gedi Prime? Reg: Actually Doctor, I'm afraid something's come up. I'm going to meet with Seven of Nine. Emh: Oh, really? Reg: She going to teach me to play Kadis-kot. Emh: Ah, Reg. When I agreed to lend you my emitter, I did it with the understanding that you needed it for official business. Reg: What's your point? Emh: My point is that board games aren't exactly crucial to your mission. Reg: And I suppose golf is? Emh: Reg? Reg: I'll tell you what. When we get back home we'll play as much golf as you like. Until then let's try to keep out of each other's hair. What do you say? Paris: State your name for the record. Leosa: Leosa. L e o s a. Admiral Paris: Occupation? Leosa: Dabo girl. Admiral Paris: Dabo? Leosa: It's a Ferengi game. I work aboard one of their casino ships. Barclay: You, you told me you were a teacher. Admiral Paris: Is this true? Leosa: Sometimes I'm a teacher, sometimes I'm a Bajoran Vedek. Whatever the customer wants. Admiral Paris: Lieutenant Barclay tells me that the two of you spent a significant amount of time together. Did he ever discuss his work at Pathfinder with you? Leosa: He wouldn't talk about anything else. It was always holograms this and cyclic pulsars that. Admiral Paris: And who did you share that information with? Leosa: Nobody. Admiral Paris: I have a theory. Would you like to hear it? Leosa: Why not? Admiral Paris: I think that some of your Ferengi friends found a way to profit from Lieutenant Barclay's work. I think you were encouraged to get close to him. And when you had all the information you needed, you left. Leosa: I left Reg for one simple reason. He's boring. Leosa: Don't tell me you never noticed. Troi: With the Admiral's permission, I'd like a moment alone with Leosa. Admiral Paris: I don't think therapy is what this woman needs, Counselor. Troi: Five minutes, Admiral. Admiral Paris: Five minutes. Troi: Did you know I'm a Betazoid? I'm empathic, which means I know when people are lying. Tell me, what's the longest you've ever been incarcerated? Leosa: You can't send me to prison, Counselor. I didn't do anything wrong. Troi: Maybe not, but I can order you held for psychiatric observation. Extended observation. Leosa: I may not be a Betazoid but I work a Dabo table, and I know when somebody's bluffing. Troi: Try me. Troi: You were correct, Admiral. The Ferengi did steal Reg's hologram. Twice. This is the ship you need to look for. Leosa: That's it. That's Nunk's ship. Harkins: Nunk? Leosa: My employer. Harkins: Scans indicate they've been in the vicinity of that star for the last forty three hours. Why? Leosa: I don't know. Troi: She's telling the truth. For once. Admiral Paris: The Ferengi wouldn't have stolen the hologram if they didn't think it was valuable. They're probably waiting to rendezvous with a buyer. Are there any Starfleet ships in that area? Harkins: The Carolina's point seven light years away. At maximum warp it could reach them in two hours. Admiral Paris: Open a channel. Harkins: Computer, open a secure channel to the Carolina. Admiral Paris: Tell Captain Peterson to adjust his course immediately. Barclay: Was everything that happened between us a lie? Leosa: Not everything. Just the parts where I expressed affection for you. Barclay: Oh. Leosa: Oh, if it makes any difference, it wasn't personal. It was just business. Barclay: What exactly is a broken heart worth these days, hmm? Leosa: Ten percent. Barclay: Of what? Leosa: Profits from the nanoprobes. Barclay: Nanoprobes? Borg nanoprobes? Leosa: Gegis says they're worth two billion times their weight in latinum. Janeway: I don't think I quite understand the problem, Doctor. Emh: Are you aware that he's been doing impressions of you? Janeway: You should hear his Tuvok. It's eerie. Emh: It's disrespectful. Janeway: What do you want me to do, deactivate him? Emh: Just long enough to run a diagnostic of his program. His recent behavior may be indicative of a more serious problem. Janeway: I haven't seen any evidence of that. Emh: Of course not. In front of you he's all smiles. But I've seen him be rude and careless. Two traits the real Lieutenant Barclay never exhibited. Janeway: I know the real Barclay is a friend of yours, and I'm sorry if the holographic version hasn't lived up to your expectations, but that's hardly reason to deactivate him. Emh: Are the lives of a hundred and fifty crewmen reason enough? Maybe you're right. Maybe I am overreacting. But what if I'm right? We're less than a light year away from the geodesic fold. Do you want to risk being led through it by a malfunctioning hologram? Reg: Captain, you saved us a comm. call. Seven: We're ready to bring the enhanced shielding online. Janeway: Good work. I need a moment alone with Reg. Your program has been running continuously for how many hours now? Reg: Fifty six hours, eleven minutes and one seconds. Janeway: I'd like to run a diagnostic of your matrix. Make sure you haven't suffered any degradation over the last few days. Reg: This isn't the, er, Doctor's idea, is it? Janeway: He expressed some concern for your well being, yes. Reg: I bet he did. Janeway: Believe me, Reg, the crew and I are grateful for everything you've done, but we need to take every precaution. Reg: I understand perfectly. If the ship's Doctor thinks I need a check-up, who am I to argue? Troi: Why are you hiding in the corner? Barclay: I'm not hiding. I'm working on a way to foil the Ferengi's' plans. Troi: Reg, there's nothing left to foil. The Carolina will have them in custody within the hour. Barclay: Leosa said the Ferengi were going to be selling Borg nanoprobes. Troi: What does that have to do with Voyager? Barclay: They have a Borg crewman. Think about it. The Ferengi stole the original Barclay hologram a month ago. That gave them time to reprogram it and then smuggle it to Voyager in the next transmission. Troi: Reprogram it to do what? Barclay: Steal Seven of Nine's nanoprobes. For all we know he could be dissecting her right now. Troi: What would the Ferengi want with assimilation technology? Barclay: Oh, nanoprobes aren't just for assimilating. They can reanimate necrotic tissue, slow down the aging process. They'd be priceless for the Ferengi. Troi: Reg, even if the Ferengi did reprogram your hologram to steal the nanoprobes, how would they get their hands on them? Voyager's thirty thousand light years away. Barclay: I haven't figured that part out yet. Maybe they discovered a wormhole, or a subspace corridor. Troi: Have you mentioned any of this to Commander Harkins? Barclay: Not yet. I can't. If I don't bring him hard evidence, he'll just think that I'm fantasizing. For the time being, we need to keep this between us. Reg: That tickles, Lieutenant. Torres: Sorry, Reg. We're almost finished. Emh: Have you identified any problems yet? Torres: I've gone over his entire matrix. He's working perfectly. Reg: Maybe I'm not the one who needs a diagnostic, hmm? Emh: I'm a big enough hologram to admit when I'm wrong. I'm sorry I doubted you. Reg: If anyone is owed an apology, it's you. I should've been more sensitive. Friends? Emh: Friends. Reg: Now that that's out of the way. Captain, what do you say we get this ship back to Earth? Gegis: It's time. Initiate the geodesic pulse. Paris: Would someone care to tell me what that is? Barclay: It's a geodesic fold, Admiral. That's how they're going to get the nanoprobes. Paris: Two million kilometers and closing, Captain. Janeway: Take us to one quarter impulse. Chakotay: Bridge to Astrometrics. Bring the enhanced shielding Chakotay: Online. Reg: Aye, Commander. What's wrong? Seven: The fold contains three radiation types we didn't account for. The shield modifications are not enough. Reg: The shields were modified to work in combination with the inoculations. We'll be fine. Seven: If the shields fail, the inoculations will be irrelevant. Astrometrics to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Janeway: What is it, Seven? REG as Seven: There was a problem, Captain, but I've corrected it. Barclay: I'm using the MIDAS array to tap into the Ferengi ship's sensors. They're receiving telemetry through the fold. Harkins: If I', reading this correctly, Voyager's headed right for it. Admiral Paris: Captain Janeway knows better than to take her ship into such a dangerous anomaly. Barclay: If the Ferengi did alter my hologram, then it might, might be possible for him to have taken over the ship. Harkins: One hologram against an entire crew? Barclay: He may have found a way to incapacitate the crew, or to commandeer the ship's systems, but either way we've got to get the Carolina to close the fold. Admiral Paris: The Carolina isn't equipped to do that. Barclay: Then they'll have to commandeer the Ferengi ship and do it from there. Harkins: The Carolina's still half a light year away. They won't make it in time. Troi: Can we transmit a message? Warn Voyager? Barclay: Not through a geodesic fold. Nunk: Our own starship, with multiphasic shielding and a gold-pressed latinum hull. Yeggie: We'll have enough left over to buy a fleet of casino ships. Gegis: I have a better idea. Lobe enlargements, heh, heh, heh. Nunk: Shush. Yeggie: Ooh, someone's hailing us. Gegis: Who? Yeggie: I can't tell. There's too much interference. Gegis: Answer it. Yeggie: It's the hologram. Nunk: You said it was impossible to communicate through the fold. Gegis: I thought it was. I guess I did a better job of reprogramming the hologram than I thought. Barclay: We must close the geodesic fold immediately. Captain Janeway has found out about our plan. Nunk: If that's true, then why is she still headed for the fold? Barclay: Because she Barclay: Found a way to protect her ship. Gegis: Impossible. Barclay: You don't know Janeway. She's uncanny when it comes to shields. Barclay: She's furious. She said she was going to kill Barclay: Whoever tried to harm her crew. I strongly suggest you abort the mission. Nunk: What should we do? Gegis: Go to warp before Janeway makes it through. Barclay: No, you mustn't. Voyager has Borg interquadrental Barclay: Warp drives and Hirogen hunting sensors Barclay: And Vidiian Phage torpedoes. No matter where you run, Voyager will find you. Your only hope is to close the fold. Harkins: Harkins to Holodeck one. Barclay: Go ahead, Pete. Harkins: It worked, Reg. Harkins: They've started to close the fold. Barclay: Computer, end program. Kim: Something's wrong, Captain. Reg: Astrometrics to the bridge. Why are we stopping? Janeway: The fold's collapsing, Reg. We didn't make it in time. Reg: It's not too late if we remodulate the shields. Janeway: I appreciate your determination, but we can't risk it. You did everything you could. Kim: Captain, someone just initiated a site-to-site transport. Janeway: Who? Kim: Seven and Reg. They've beamed to an escape pod. Janeway: Bridge to Seven of Nine. What's going on? Kim: The pod's been launched. Janeway: Put a tractor beam on it. Tuvok: There is too much interference from the fold. Chakotay: Harry, can you get a transporter lock? Gegis: What now? Yeggie: There's something coming from the fold. Gegis: Voyager? Yeggie: No, it's too small. Nunk: A Phage torpedo? Gegis: Raise shields. Brace for impact. Yeggie: It's an escape pod. Gegis: Maybe the hologram sent us the drone. Nunk: Ooo. Gegis: Check what's in there. Yeggie: Nothing. No Borg corpse. No nanoprobes. Nunk: No profit. Captain's log, supplemental. Seven of Nine has recovered from her injuries, and Reg has been deactivated. Until we finish analyzing his program, his motivations remain a mystery. Paris: Making first contact with a new lifeform? Kim: Mom's apple pie. Neelix thought a little home cooking might cheer me up. Torres: And? Kim: I haven't worked up the courage to taste it yet. Have you figured out what went wrong with Reg? Torres: Well, Seven thinks our proximity to the fold degraded his matrix, but if you ask me, it was a recursive error in his logic subroutine. Kim: Not bad. But it would have tasted better in San Francisco. Paris: If it'll make you feel any better, I'll let you in on a little secret. I was on the bridge this morning when we received a hail from an Iconian scientist. He claims to have a trans-dimensional gateway that can take us anywhere in the galaxy. Kim: I'm not that gullible. Torres: It's true. I was there. The captain doesn't want us to get our hopes up, but personally I think we'll be home by the end of the week. Kim: Are you serious? Torres: You were right about him. Barclay: Computer, installl Barclay Security Protocol twenty one alpha. Computer: Installlation complete. Reg: Identify yourself! Barclay: Computer, deactivate Barclay program. I'm sorry. I've been programming him with new security precautions so he can't be stolen again. Troi: You seem to be off to a good start. Barclay: I thought you'd be back at the beach. Troi: Will and I decided to spend the rest of our vacation in Tiburon. We were wondering if you're free for dinner tonight. Barclay: I, er, I wouldn't want to be a third nacelle. Troi: Not possible. Will's bringing a friend for you. Her name's Maril. You're going to adore her. Barclay: I'd like to, but I, I still have, er, dozens of protocols to installl. Maybe next time. Troi: Look Reg, I know Leosa hurt you, but hiding inside a hologrid isn't the answer. You need to get out, meet new people. Barclay: This Maril wouldn't happen to be a Dabo girl, by any chance? Troi: She's a teacher, actually. A real one. Barclay: Are you sure? Troi: Don't worry, Reg. We've taken security precautions.

Emh: Ensign Kim, please try and hold us steady. This material is extremely Emh: Fragile. Kim: Sorry, Doc. I'm doing the best I can. Emh: Maybe I should've insisted Emh: On a more experienced pilot, like Mister Paris. Kim: I'd give anything to trade places with him right now. Emh: Seven, can you join me, please? Seven: On my way. Kim: I don't know if I can take three more days of chasing comets with him. Seven: The time might pass more easily if we disable his vocal processor. Emh: I thought you might find this interesting. Seven: Preanimate biomatter. Emh: Look deeper. Seven: An undeveloped nucleus contained in a cytoplasmic matrix. Emh: And buried deep inside that nucleus, primitive strands of DNA. The beginnings of life, Seven. Seven: What's your point? Emh: When I look at this, I don't see a mere cell. I see the potential for literature and art, empires and kingdoms. Seven: Perhaps your visual subroutines are malfunctioning. Emh: Someday, this cytoplasmic matrix may fall into the primordial sea of a distant world where it could ignite an evolutionary process. Eons from now, a creature not unlike you could emerge, look up at the stars and ask, who am I? How did I come to be? It's the miracle of creation, Seven. Doesn't that excite you? Emh: Ensign Kim, I asked you to hold us steady. Kim: We're under attack! This is the Federation ship Delta Flyer. We're on a peaceful mission. Hold your fire. Ranek: You're transporting a suspected photonic insurgent through Lokirrim space. Drop your shields and prepare to be boarded. Kim: Photonic insurgent? If you're referring to the hologram, he's our doctor. Seven, we've lost thrusters. Seven: I'll try reinitializing the driver coils. Kim: Voyager, this is the Flyer. Mayday. Kim: Come in. Computer: Subspace communications are offline. Seven: It's a tractor beam. Kim: Remodulate our shields. Kim: That should break us free. Seven: Shields are down. Emh: What's happening? Seven: They're using some kind of disruption field. It's decompiling your matrix. Ranek: Federation vessel, power down your systems and prepare to surrender the photonic. Kim: Seven, they're pulling us in. You're going to have to hide the Doctor's program. Emh: Do something, please. Jaryn: We don't want to hurt you. We're here for the insurgent. Ranek: Where's the photonic? EMH- Seven: You decompiled his matrix. You murdered him. Kim: Seven? EMH- Seven: I'm sorry. There wasn't enough time. Jaryn: Biogenic material. It could be used to create viral weapons. Ranek: Confiscate it. EMH- Seven: Our Doctor was using these spores to synthesize new medicines, not weapons. Ranek: What's this? EMH- Seven: It's my portable regeneration unit. I have a unique physiology. This device maintains my cybernetic systems. Ranek: Have this analyzed. Lokirrim: Yes, sir. Jaryn: There's no one else aboard. Ranek: Take them to detention, and secure their ship in the docking bay. Kim: You got what you wanted. Let us go. Ranek: Transporting photonics and manufacturing biogenic weapons are serious charges. Lokirrim: Let's go. Kim: I want to talk to your superior. Seven: Careful, Ensign, or you'll fracture a metacarpal. Kim: That'd be the least of our problems. EMH- Seven: The situation is not as desperate as it appears. Kim: Not as desperate? We're prisoners on an alien ship. Voyager has no idea we're missing, and the Doctor's been decompiled. EMH- Seven: The reports of my decompilation have been greatly exaggerated. Kim: Doc? EMH- Seven: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Seven downloaded my program into her cybernetic matrix. An interesting sensation, to say the least. Kim: And now you're in control of Seven's body? EMH- Seven: Total control, it seems. Kim: What about Seven? Is she all right? EMH- Seven: I scanned her before the aliens came aboard. Physiologically, she's fine. As for her consciousness, I'm assuming it's submerged, but there's no way to be sure until I vacate her systems and conduct a neurological exam. Kim: Then we need the mobile emitter. EMH- Seven: This experience will make a fascinating article for the Starfleet medical journal. EMH- Seven: Ow! Kim: Careful. That's not your body, remember? EMH- Seven: I know Seven's senses were more acute than the average humanoid but, I had no idea. What is that? Kim: What? EMH- Seven: That smell. Kim: I don't smell anything. EMH- Seven: It could be an airborne toxin. Do you think they're trying to poison us? EMH- Seven: It's you. Kim: It's been a busy day. I guess I'm perspiring a little. EMH- Seven: A little? Seven's had a busy day too, and she's come through it smelling like the proverbial rose. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54238.3. We've completed our maintenance layover at the Maldorian station and we're on our way to rendezvous with the Delta Flyer. We expect to reach them in forty eight hours. Paris: Headache, fever, respiratory distress, tremors. It looks like some kind of virus. Tuvok: It is not a virus. Paris: You want to tell me what's going on? Tuvok: In the Doctor's database, you'll find a medication under file theta twelve alpha. Please, replicate it immediately. Paris: You know I can't give out medicine without knowing what it's for. Tuvok: If you must know, I am suffering from a neurochemical imbalance. Paris: An imbalance. Tuvok: It is native to my species. Paris: Ah. This wouldn't be the kind of imbalance that comes around once every seven years? Tuvok: My pon farr is in the early stages. The urges are still controllable. Paris: You never fail to amaze me, Tuvok. A man of your advanced years still driven by the mating instinct? Tuvok: Unlike in humans, the Vulcan libido increases with time. Paris: Well, I guess there has to be some kind of reward for all that Vulcan diskipline. Tuvok: The Doctor anticipated my needs and developed a treatment. Combined with meditation, it will enable me to control the symptoms. Paris: Well, if that doesn't work, there's always a cold sonic shower. I'll tell the captain that you'll be out of commission for a couple of days. Tuvok: She will want to know why. Paris: Well, according to my tricorder, all we've got here is a mild case of the Tarkalean flu. Tuvok: Thank you, Lieutenant. Seven: Mmm! I had no idea that eating was such a sensual experience. The tastes, the textures, feeling it slide down Seven's esophagus. It's exquisite. Kim: They're prison rations. My uniform probably tastes better. EMH- Seven: You know, I was thinking. When we get back to Voyager, perhaps you and Seven could help me modify my physical parameters. Kim: Why? EMH- Seven: So I can eat, of course, like any other member of the crew. Kim: There's just one small problem. You don't have a stomach. Where is the food going to go? EMH- Seven: I believe we can construct a holographic stomach that can store the food for eventual recycling. Kim: Maybe we should focus on something more productive, like getting out of here. EMH- Seven: Relax, Ensign. Our shipmates have never let us down before. I'm sure the captain will clear up this little misunderstanding. In the meantime, are you going to finish that? Jaryn: You. Come with us. Kim: I'm the senior officer. If you're going to take someone, take me. Jaryn: My orders were specific. EMH- Seven: Don't worry, Ensign. I can take care of myself. My compliments to the chef. Lokirrim: The prisoner, sir. Ranek: Pulse-phased weapons, duranium-enforced hull. Much more sophisticated than the typical smuggler's vessel. EMH- Seven: How many ways do you want me to say this? We are not smugglers, or terrorists. We are explorers. Let us contact our ship. Our captain will explain everything. Ranek: If you are innocent, then you won't mind telling me more about this vessel. For instance, this device. What does it do? EMH- Seven: That's a standard food replicator. Ranek: Can it be used to create bioweapons? EMH- Seven: Not unless you count Mister Neelix's Bolian soufflé. Let me show you. Computer, one slice of New York cheesecake. This is an old Earth delicacy. Ranek: How do I know you're not trying to poison me? EMH- Seven: Oh, please. EMH- Seven: Mmm mmm! Oh, I never imagined. Mmm! Ranek: Is this the first time you've tried that? EMH- Seven: Of course not, but it's just that I usually avoid foods that are this rich. I do have a figure to maintain. Oh, I'd better get another for you. Computer, another slice of cheesecake. Here. Ranek: What other foods can that device create?EMH- Seven: Hmm. EMH- Seven: Oh, during my time with the Collective we assimilated thousands of cultures from one end of the galaxy to the other. I'll say this for the Borg, we certainly do travel. Ah, of course, my life didn't truly begin until I came aboard Voyager, and met the person who changed my life The only one who truly believed in me, saw my true potential. Ranek: Your Captain. EMH- Seven: Our Doctor. That's right, the photonic. If only you could have known him. Ruggedly handsome. A sharp wit, a towering intellect. If he and I hadn't been colleagues. Well, now we'll never know what heights he could have reached. Ranek: I hope you understand, I had no choice. EMH- Seven: I was just following orders. I've heard that before. Ranek: Maybe there's something I could do for you. I'll speak to my superiors, ask for leniency. EMH- Seven: If I survive that long. Ranek: What do you mean? EMH- Seven: My cybernetic components are already depolarizing. I need my regener regeneration device. As you can see, my motor functions are already impaired. Ranek: All right. If I give this back to you, will you do something for me? Seven: It was so kind of you to escort me. Ah, nice to see you, Ensign. Kim: Are you drunk? EMH- Seven: It wasn't my fault. Seven's unique physiology is unique. It doesn't react well to synthehol. Kim: What happened? EMH- Seven: Captain Ranek and I shared a meal aboard the Flyer. He's really a gentleman, once you get to know him. Kim: You had a dinner date in Seven's body? EMH- Seven: It wasn't a date. It was a tactical maneuver designed to win the trust of our captors, and it worked. Kim: I won't ask what you had to do to get this. EMH- Seven: Nothing unladylike, I assure you. They lost their medic to a recent skirmish, and I offered to take his place. Kim: Let's download your program before they change their mind. Hey, careful where you point those tubules. EMH- Seven: Sorry. Kim: Easy. How do you feel? Seven: Impaired. Emh: You've had quite a shock to your system. Let me explain what's happened. Seven: I know exactly what's happened. You've been abussing my body. Emh: I'm a doctor. Kim: Shush! Emh: I would never abuse your body. I was trying to get information. Sometimes a glass of wine can loosen the tongue. Seven: One glass. That doesn't excuse the other eight. Emh: Was it that many? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Kim: Seven, you were aware of everything? Seven: Painfully. Emh: I'm afraid the role of spy wasn't written into my program. I was forced to improvise. Seven: You improvised your way through an entire cheesecake, as well as three servings of Ktarian chocolate puffs. Now I have to suffer the consequences. Emh: I apologize if I overindulged. I'll be more careful next time. Seven: There won't be a next time. Emh: I'll be discovered. They'll decompile my program. Kim: Shush. I know this is difficult for you, but you're going to have put up with it until we can get out of here. Seven: How do you propose we do that? Kim: Maybe you can tap into their comm. system, get a message to Voyager. Emh: Deciphering alien computers isn't exactly my forte. Seven: But it is one of mine. If you can get close enough while they're accessing their systems, I'll be able to observe their command protocols. Lokirrim: What's the situation? Jaryn: The Captain wants the female prisoner in the medical bay. Seven: We should proceed. Emh: You're saving my life. I want you to know how grateful I am. Seven: Try to remember that the next time you're tempted to overindulge. Jaryn: The photonic's viral weapon attacks the cerebral cortex. Within days, the victim suffers complete synaptic failure. EMH- Seven: Well, if we can't stop the virus, we may be able to slow its progress. We need to synthesize a neural inhibitor. Forgive me, but aren't you the ship's tactical officer? Jaryn: Tactical officer, medic, engineer. We've lost nearly a third of our crew to the photonics. EMH- Seven: You certainly know your way around a medical bay. You may have missed your true calling. Jaryn: Actually, Emmik always thought I'd become a teacher. He used to call me the little professor. EMH- Seven: Who's Emmik? Jaryn: The photonic who helped raise my brother and me. He knew more about treating scrapes and bruises than any organic Doctor I ever met. EMH- Seven: Sounds like someone I'd enjoy meeting. Jaryn: Maybe. Before he joined the insurgency. EMH- Seven: Why did he do that? Jaryn: I ask myself that question every day. We never treated him like a servant, but he turned against us anyway. EMH- Seven: Is it possible he felt subjugated? Jaryn: I don't see how. He lived his own life, pursued his own interests. He was part of our family. At least I thought he was. We should get back to the patient. EMH- Seven: It could take up to a day to determine if the inhibitor is working. Jaryn: Thank you. EMH- Seven: Don't thank me, thank my ship's doctor. He taught me everything I know about medicine. And remember, he was a photonic. Actually, you have a lot in common with him. He was something of a Jack of all trades, too. I suspect you'd have gotten along famously. I'm certain he would've taken a liking to you. Paris: Your neurotransmitters aren't absorbing the medication. Tuvok: Can you increase the dosage? Paris: Not without causing damage to your neocortex. The Doc might be able to synthesize a stronger medicine, but Tuvok: I'll make the best of the situation until he returns. Paris: I do have one area of expertise that might help. The holodeck. Tuvok: I am a married man. Paris: It's the holodeck, Tuvok. It doesn't count. Tuvok: Is that what you tell your wife? Paris: No, of course not. My days of rescuing slave girls from Planet Ten are history. Look, you have photographs of your wife, right? The computer can use them to create a replica. You wouldn't be breaking your vows if it's a hologram of your wife. T'Pel: As it was in the dawn of our days, as it will be for all tomorrows. To you, my husband, I consecrate all that I am. Tuvok: T'Pel, my wife. From you I receive all that I am. T'Pel: As it was in the beginning, so shall it be now. Tuvok: Two bodies, one mind. Paris: I'm picking up a vessel closing at high impulse. They're firing. Chakotay: Shields are holding. Janeway: Open a channel. This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We're on a peaceful mission. Lokirrim Captain: We've detected photonic activity aboard your vessel. Drop your shields and prepare to be boarded. Janeway: Photonic activity? Paris: Tuvok. He's in holodeck two. Chakotay: They're firing again. It's some kind of photonic disrupter directed at holodeck two Janeway: Target their weapons array and fire. Chakotay: They're hailing. Janeway: On screen. Lokirrim Captain: Drop your shields and prepare to receive our inspection teams. Janeway: You're not in a position to be making demands. Why did you fire on us? Lokirrim Captain: Your vessel is carrying photonics through Lokirrim space. Janeway: We didn't realize that was forbidden. We'd be happy to shut down our holodecks. Janeway: N Your sensors should confirm they've been deactivated. Lokirrim Captain: You're still required to submit to inspection. Janeway: Your sensors should also confirm that our weapons are ready to fire. We're both reasonable people. I suggest a compromise. Your vessel will escort us through Lokirrim territory. That way, you can keep an eye on us, make sure we don't reactivate our holodecks. The other alternative is, we destroy your ship. Lokirrim Captain: Your proposal is acceptable. Janeway: Sometimes diplomacy requires a little saber rattling. Begin long range scans. Jaryn: I can picture them now. My father in his airponics bay, pruning his cona vines. My mother, reading in her favorite chair. Nothing in that home ever changes. EMH- Seven: It must be comforting to have a place like that to go back to. Jaryn: I've never been away this long before. His progress is remarkable. I want you to know, I'm going to tell my superiors everything you've done for us. EMH- Seven: First Ranek, and now you. I may become the first prisoner of war to be decorated by his captors. Jaryn: I know someone who'd really enjoy meeting you. EMH- Seven: Who? Jaryn: My brother, Lohden. EMH- Seven: Your brother? Jaryn: You'd like him. He's ambitious, accomplished, and he'd love your sense of humor. EMH- Seven: Apparently, it's my most attractive quality. Ranek: Seven of Nine. Please report to the bridge. Seven: Let me guess. Your crew decided to abandon ship. Ranek: I wanted to thank you. I had a wonderful time the other night. EMH- Seven: It's not often that I indulge myself like that. Ranek: It's been a long time for me, too. I remembered your interest in stellar phenomenon, so I requested a course change to show you something. EMH- Seven: What is it? Ranek: To an astronomer, it's simply a pulsar cluster. But our poets call it the Window of Dreams. You can travel from one end of the Quadrant to the other and never see anything like it. EMH- Seven: Lovely! Ranek: It's the pulsar's EM fields vibrating against our hull.EMH- Seven: Oh! Ranek: I once thought this was the most beautiful sight in the sector. I see now that I was wrong. Oh, I almost forgot. EMH- Seven: Oh, I promised a friend I'd go easy on the synthehol. Do you hear that? It's identical to the rhythm produced by the eight-chambered Ktarian heart. Ranek: Is something wrong? EMH- Seven: Rapid pulse, respiratory distress. You may be having a reaction to the pulsar's radiation. We should get you to the medical bay. Ranek: No, I'm not going to the medical bay. EMH- Seven: You starship captains are all alike. You can stare down the barrel of a phaser cannon but you can't stomach a simple medical exam. Ranek: I don't need an exam to know what I'm suffering from. Ranek: I'm sorry. I thought. EMH- Seven: You were wrong. Ranek: I didn't mean to offend you. It's just I've never met a woman like you before. EMH- Seven: That's because there are no women like me. Jaryn: Is something wrong? EMH- Seven: Ranek summoned me to the bridge under the pretext of a little stargazing. What he really wanted was to use my face as a tongue depressor. Jaryn: I'm surprised to hear that. EMH- Seven: It was completely inappropriate. That kind of behavior would get a Starfleet captain reassigned to a garbage scow. Jaryn: I'm not defending what he did, but you have to understand we've been out here for a long time. It's difficult to hide your feelings especially when you work closely with someone you're attracted to. EMH- Seven: You have, have feelings for him? I've known lotharios like Ranek. Trust me, you don't want anything to do with him. You need someone who, who can appreciate your many talents. Someone overflowing with intelligence and compassion, someone capable. Ow! Jaryn: It looks like a spasm in the trapezius. EMH- Seven: I had no idea it could be so excruciating. Jaryn: That's what happens when you work so long without rest. Our last medic showed me a technique that might help. I, I'll try it, if you like. EMH- Seven: Please, anything. EMH- Seven: Oh, that, that feels wonderful. Jaryn: Oh, did I hurt you? EMH- Seven: No, no, no, no, no, no. Jaryn: Well then, what's wrong? EMH- Seven: There's something you don't know about me. Something I have to tell you. Jaryn: It's all right. I know. EMH- Seven: You do? How could you? Jaryn: Your cybernetic implants? Your portable regenerator? EMH- Seven: You're not going to tell anyone, are you? Jaryn: I would never say anything to the crew. But Ranek knows. EMH- Seven: He does? Jaryn: Of course. It was apparent the moment we scanned you. EMH- Seven: I can't believe you didn't say anything. Jaryn: It wouldn't have been appropriate. You're part Borg. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Woman: Security to Medical bay. Jaryn: This is Lieutenant Jaryn. Woman: The prisoner is ill. He's requesting treatment by his crewmate. Kim: Argh, Argh. EMH- Seven: Ensign. Kim: Ow, argh, ow. Where the hell have you been? I had to fake a seizure before the guard would let me see you. EMH- Seven: Calm down. Seven and I have been making progress. Kim: Did you get a look at their computer? Seven: During the one brief moment when the Doctor wasn't indulging himself. Emh: I think I've shown considerable restraint, under the circumstances. Seven: Kissing Ranek on the bridge. Is that your idea of restraint? Kim: Kissing? Emh: Not that it's any of your business, but if you must know Ranek kissed me. Seven: And the massage you got from Lieutenant Jaryn? Emh: Entirely therapeutic. Seven: You became sexually aroused in my body. Emh: When did it become a crime to enjoy a sensation or two? Of course, you'd be the last person to understand that. Seven: What do you mean? Emh: The whole world is full of experiences and sensations, but you insist on denying yourself. Instead of replicating caviar, you choose nutritional supplement thirteen alpha. Seven: Caviar is an indulgence. Emh: Indulgences are what make life worth living. Kim: Shush. Emh: These last few days have been a revelation. Feeling your lungs fill with air, the surge of adrenaline through your veins. Until I spent a day in your skin, I never knew what I was missing. Seven: You may have been better off not knowing. Emh: We're quite a pair. Me trapped by the limitations of photons and forcefields, you by a drone's obsession with efficiency. You'd make an excellent hologram. Kim: All right, listen. You can argue all you want when we get back to Voyager, but that's not going to happen unless we come up with a plan. Did you learn anything about their comm. system? Seven: It can only be accessed from the bridge, but I saw Ranek enter his command codes. Kim: If we can get those codes to Voyager, they may be able to disable the shields and beam us out. Emh: How are we going to do that? Seven: The subspace transceiver on the Flyer. Kim: Can you get aboard? Seven: It's heavily guarded. Emh: I can get us aboard. Seven: Captain, may I speak with you? Privately. Seven: I owe you an apology. Ranek: I was the one who acted inappropriately. EMH- Seven: A kiss is hardly a court martial offense. It's just that you caught me by surprise. Ranek: I won't make that mistake again. EMH- Seven: Perhaps we should start over. Ranek: What did you have in mind? EMH- Seven: We could start with a toast. Ranek: I thought Seven: Oh, I can make an exception for a special occasion. Computer, champagne, two glasses. To new beginnings. Ranek: Maybe there's some hope for us yet. EMH- Seven: As I've discovered recently, anything is possible. Computer, dim the lights. Play EMH music file gamma twelve. Ranek: Oh, this is interesting. EMH- Seven: It's called a waltz. Something else I learned from our doctor. Crewman: Captain Ranek, please come to the bridge. Ranek: What is it? Crewman: We've received an encrypted transmission. Ranek: I'll be right there. EMH- Seven: You're not leaving? Ranek: I'll be back as soon as I can. EMH- Seven: I really think you should stay. Never play hard to get with an hologram. Tuvok: Still no sign of the Flyer's warp signature. Janeway: I appreciate your sense of duty, Tuvok, but we can handle the situation without you. Tuvok: Under the circumstances, abandoning my post would be a dereliction of duty. My illness is still in the early stages. I can control it. Janeway: If I remember correctly, the last time you came down with the Tarkalean Flu was seven years ago. As soon as this is over, the holodeck is at your disposal. Neelix: There you are, Commander. Now, a person in your condition really ought to be in bed. This is my grandmother's recipe, guaranteed to cure even the most stubborn flu. Now, Smell that? Tuvok: I don't smell anything. Neelix: Exactly. I prepared it just the way you like it. No herbs or spices of any kind. It's practically tasteless. Tuvok: We're receiving a hail. It's the Delta Flyer. Janeway: On screen. Seven, it's good to see you. EMH- Seven: I'm afraid there's no time for pleasantries, Captain. We're being held prisoner on a Lokirrim patrol ship. I'm sending you our precise location and the command codes to disable their shields. Janeway: Are the Doctor and Harry all right? EMH- Seven: Ensign Kim is his usual chipper self. As for me, I'm looking forward to a long, uneventful shift in Sickbay. Janeway: Doctor? EMH- Seven: It's a long story, Captain. Delta Flyer out. Chakotay: They may be in more trouble than we thought. Janeway: Set a course. Paris: Our escort isn't going to take kindly to a detour. Janeway: What's the status of their weapons? Tuvok: They've repaired their forward phasers. Janeway: Target their power matrix. We may only get one shot, so make it count. Tuvok: Ready. Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: Direct hit. Janeway: Get us out of here, maximum warp. Jaryn: What's wrong with him? EMH- Seven: Apparently, Captain Ranek has an even lower tolerance for synthehol than I do. Jaryn: That doesn't sound like Ranek. EMH- Seven: It's probably not something he'd admit to his crew. We should keep this between us. What are you doing? Jaryn: Reviving him. EMH- Seven: I wouldn't recommend that. Ranek: Take her to detention. And separate her from the other prisoner. Jaryn: There are traces of sedative in your bloodstream. Ranek: What was your plan? To aid the insurgents? EMH- Seven: There was no plan. Jaryn: We trusted you. EMH- Seven: I'm still a prisoner on your ship. And despite our friendship, my first obligation is to escape. Ranek: We were going to recommend leniency. EMH- Seven: If you knew who I really was, I doubt you'd be trying to help me. Lokirrim: Alien vessel approaching. Ranek: I want her where I can see her. Tuvok: They're raising shields. Janeway: Stand by with those command codes. Open a channel. This is Captain Kathryn Janeway. We don't want a fight. Return my people and we'll be on our way. Ranek: Your people were caught transporting a photonic insurgent and biogenic material. Janeway: We don't want to disable your ship, but we will if we have to. Jaryn: We're losing our ventral shield grid. Ranek: Compensate. Jaryn: I'm trying. They've tapped into the shield matrix. They're using your command authorisation. Chakotay: They're rerouting power. He's tying their shields directly into the warp matrix. Ranek: If you fire on us, you'll trigger a core breach. You'll be killing the people you're here to rescue. Janeway: End transmission. Tractor beam. Ranek: Full reverse. Target their emitters. Tuvok: They've broken free. Janeway: Chakotay, can you send a comm. signal directly to Seven's cortical node? Janeway: Doctor, if you can hear me, we need your help. Try to disable their shields. Jaryn: It's a photonic. Seven: Cover me. Emh: Stay back! I'm not afraid to use this. Ranek: Step away. Jaryn: She destabilized the shield grid. It's failing. Ranek: Watch them. Seven: If you try to re-initialize the grid it'll overload. We could all die. Emh: Ranek, don't. Jaryn: Stay back. Emh: I'm a doctor. Let me help. Tuvok: Their shields are down. I have a lock. Janeway: Away team, stand by for transport. Emh: I have injured here, Captain. I can't leave yet. He'll die without immediate surgery. I know this is difficult to grasp, but I'm the person you've been getting to know the last few days. My program was in control of Seven's body. Jaryn: You're lying. Emh: I know you have feelings for Ranek. If he dies, you're never going to forgive yourself. Emh: Your vital signs are stable. Ranek: I suppose I should be grateful. Emh: A thank you is customary after someone saves your life. Ranek: What happened was between me and Seven of Nine, not you. Emh: I'm sorry you feel that way. The truth is, aside from a few awkward moments, I enjoyed our time together. Emh: There are many women who'd appreciate an attractive man like you. I'm just not one of them. Jaryn: More of our vessels are on the way. You should leave while you can. Ranek: Thank you. Emh: I guess you won't be introducing me to your brother. Jaryn: I'm not sure you're the kind of person he's interested in. Emh: You mean because I'm a hologram. I don't imagine this experience is going to change your feelings about photonics, but I wanted you to know I'm grateful for the time we've spent together. Jaryn: You're a talented doctor. We're the ones who should be grateful. Emh: I'm glad I could help. Doctor to Voyager. One to beam out. Paris: Commander, it's good to see you're over the flu. Tuvok: I have fully recovered. Thank you for your assistance. Paris: Ah, don't mention it. I just hope everything was okay. Tuvok: Not exactly. My wife's ears are four millimeters shorter than your facsimile's. Paris: So I took a little artistic license. Aside from that, was everything all right? Tuvok: The hologram was adequate, but no substitute for my wife. Paris: Of course not. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Seven: There isn't one, yet. Emh: The mess hall is three decks up. In case you've forgotten, I've lost my appetite. Permanently. Seven: That doesn't mean you're incapable of enjoying a meal. Foie gras with truffles. An ancient Earth delicacy. Chateau d'Yquem. According to the culinary database, the ideal accompaniment. Emh: Not your usual fare. Seven: It's come to my attention that nutritional supplements don't fully meet my needs. Emh: I see. Seven: I thought we could share this experience. I'll describe the meal to you. The tastes, the sensations. Perhaps you can enjoy it vicariously. Emh: What about the wine? It doesn't exactly agree with you. Seven: If I become sick, I won't have far to go. To shared experiences. Emh: Hear, hear.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54274.7. Lieutenant Torres has finally convinced me that I can't put off a major maintenance overhaul any longer. We've set down on an uninhabited planet, and I've sent shuttles to search for supplies. Janeway: What about the impulse upgrades? Torres: The day after tomorrow. Put a new phase compensator on that relay. Janeway: Environmental control? Torres: The thermal regulators are still running a little hot. Janeway: Too bad we can't just keep the windows open. How long until the warp drive is back online? Torres: Six days. Janeway: You're sure you can't get it done any faster? Torres: Captain, I don't like sitting still any more than you do, but repairs this extensive take time. Torres: Mendez, track down that power drain. Mendez: Right away. Janeway: I know this ship has been through a lot, but you told me this would only take a few days. Torres: That was before I discovered the microfractures in the starboard nacelle and the fused relays in the main computer. Torres: Who did that? Icheb: I noticed a charge imbalance in the EPS feed. I'm sorry if I Torres: It could have taken us hours to find that. Icheb: I have a tactical systems report for you. It's from Commander Tuvok. Torres: I'd say you're capable of a lot more than delivering PADDs, Icheb. Janeway: I agree. Until we get underway again, he's assigned to you. With him on your team, maybe you'll get this job done a little faster. Kim: Neelix? Kim: Rise and shine. It's oh five hundred. Neelix: Already? Oh. I was dreaming we found the dilithium and were back aboard Voyager. Seven: Dreaming is an accurate description. Neelix: Didn't we already scan this nebula? Seven: Four times. Kim: I thought the Borg were known for being thorough. Seven: The Borg value efficiency, not redundancy. Kim: I've got a hunch about this nebula. There's dilithium in there somewhere. Neelix: I'm getting some fluctuating energy readings. Kim: From the nebula? Neelix: No, it's weapons fire. Kim: Let's get out of here. Neelix: We're receiving a distress call. Terek: have casualties. Please help us. We're on a humanitarian mission delivering medical supplies. Kim: Reverse course. Neelix: We can't just leave them. Kim: Starfleet policy. Interference in alien conflicts is strictly prohibited. Neelix: You heard their captain. It's a medical ship. Seven: Their shields are down. Life support is failing on at least three decks. Kim: Open a channel to the other ship. Kim: This is Ensign Kim of the Delta Flyer. I don't know what you're fighting about, but it looks like you've won. The people on the other ship have casualties. We'd like to Annari Commander: This isn't your concern. Kim: I'm not taking sides. I only want to help the wounded. Annari Commander: Withdraw immediately. Seven: They're charging weapons. Kim: Neelix, set our deflector beam for a narrow pulse. Seven, let me know the second their weapons array is fully charged. I might be able to trigger an overload. Neelix: The deflector bandwidth is at point four microns. Seven: Now. Seven: Their weapons are offline. Shields are down. They're retreating. Kim: Take the helm. Neelix, you're with me. Kim: Who's in charge here? Terek: He is. Terek: What are we going to do? Kim: It's okay, we're here to help. The ship that attacked you is gone. Loken: Who are you? Kim: Harry Kim from the Starship Voyager. We're responding to your distress call. We can treat your wounded. Loken: The captain? Terek: Dead, sir. So are the rest of the officers. Neelix: I'm reading a total of twenty seven lifeforms aboard the ship. Dayla: There were fifty six of us. Loken: How are we going to get home without the officers? Kim: We need to restore main power. Where's the warp interface? Loken: We're passengers, not crewmen. Terek: You can access engineering systems from here. Kim: Your warp core is intact. I think I can bring it back online. Can you monitor antimatter flow? Terek: I'm not sure. Kim: Just watch this readout and tell me if it starts to fluctuate. I'm routing emergency power to structural integrity. Atmospheric pressure is returning to normal. Neelix, we'll go through the ship deck by deck, find the survivors. Loken: We need to get our cloak back online. Kim: I'll take a look at it as soon as I've repaired the engines. Loken: No, the cloak is more important. Dayla: The Annari have far more powerful weapons than we do. If they come back, the cloak is our best defense. Kim: We'll try to get it back online. Kim to Delta Flyer. Seven: Go ahead. Kim: I need your help, Seven. It looks like we're going to be here for a while. Terek: How did you do it? Kim: Do what? Terek: Disable the Annari warship so quickly? Kim: Basically, we used their own weapons against them. Terek: How? Kim: We used a deflector pulse to overload their phaser banks. Terek: You know a lot about engineering. Kim: It's all part of my Starfleet training. Terek: Starfleet? Kim: Yeah, the organization I work for. Terek: And they teach you all these things? Kim: We train at an Academy ,and I guess I picked up a few new tricks during my time on Voyager. Terek: How long have you been captain? Kim: I'm just an Ensign. Terek: Ensign? What's that? Kim: A junior officer. The lowest ranked officer, actually. Terek: This is my first deep space assignment. It hasn't gone very well. Kim: Could you hand me that? My first week on the job didn't go very well, either. We ended up seventy thousand light years from home, lost over a dozen crew members, but I got through it. So will you. Terek: I hope so. Kim: If you're going to be a starship officer, you've got to accept that adversity comes with the job. Torres: What's that? Icheb: It's a diagnostic of the antimatter injectors. Torres: No, I meant that stuff you're eating. Icheb: Nutritional supplements replicated to meet my metabolic requirements. Torres: Sounds delicious. You know, in the mess hall they actually have tables and chairs for that. Icheb: I prefer to work while I eat. It's a more efficient use of my time. Torres: You did a great job today. We're ahead of schedule, thanks to you. Here's what we're going to work on tomorrow. I'll see you at oh six hundred. Icheb? Icheb: Yes? Torres: What do you do for fun? Icheb: Fun? Torres: Recreation. How do you spend your time when you're off duty? Icheb: Between my work and my studies I don't have much time for recreation. Torres: I've learned that you've got to take a break once in awhile. I've been doing a lot of rock climbing on the holodeck. Maybe when we're finished tightening all the nuts and bolts, you'd like to join me. Icheb: I do have an interest in geology. Torres: It's not about the rocks, Icheb. It's about the climbing. Seven: Main power has been restored. All stations responding. Kim: The cloak's back online. Impulse and warp drives are standing by. Shields are at ninety six percent. I'd say you're ready to get back on course. Loken: We appreciate your help. Kim: I hope you have a safe journey. Loken: Mister Kim, I feel guilty asking even more of you, but no one on this ship knows how to fly it. Kim: None of you has ever piloted a starship? Terek: I've trained in shuttles, but nothing like this. Kim: I'll enter a flight plan in the auto-navigation system and give you a quick course in helm operations. You shouldn't have any trouble. Loken: Couldn't you take us? This ship needs an experienced commanding officer. Kim: I'm sorry, but we've already gotten more involved than we should have. And they need us back on Voyager. Loken: It's not just my ship that concerns me. You've made an enemy of the Annari now. But if you dock your ship in our shuttlebay, our cloak will protect you. Kim: That's a generous offer, but we'll be fine. Loken: Please, Mister Kim, we can't afford to fail. This ship, Dayla: Loken, don't. Loken: We can trust these people. I'm a doctor. These people are my research team. We're carrying new vaccines to our homeland. They'll save thousands of lives. Neelix: Sir, I looked at their flight plan. It takes them pretty close to Voyager. Kim: I'll bring you as far as our ship. When we get there, you can discuss your situation with my captain. Loken: Thank you. Seven: What about Starfleet policy? Kim: This is a humanitarian mission. Dock the Flyer in their shuttlebay. Neelix: We're approaching the planet. Kim: Take us out of warp. Disengage the cloak. Seven: Wait. I'm detecting three alien vessels in orbit. Kim: On screen. Terek: Those are Annari warships. Your people are in danger. Janeway: I apologize for the state of my ship. We weren't expecting company. Geral: I hope we're not imposing. Chakotay: Not at all. Making contact with new cultures is a priority for us. Geral: For us, too. This is a fine ship, Captain. Janeway: One of the best in the fleet, but it could use a new set of deuterium injectors. Chakotay: Any chance you could provide them? Geral: I think we can arrange something. What are you offering in exchange? Janeway: Zeolitic ore. We mined several tons of it from an asteroid field. It's high-grade, easy to refine. Geral: I'll speak to my supply officer. Tuvok: We're being hailed by Ensign Kim. Audio only. Janeway: Hello, Harry. Kim: Is everything all right? Janeway: Of course. Why wouldn't it be? Kim: Our long range scans detected several alien ships orbiting the planet. Janeway: I appreciate your concern, but there's nothing to worry about. We've made some new friends, that's all. When can we expect you back? Kim: We've run into a slight delay. Janeway: Nothing serious, I hope. Kim: No. Everything's under control. Janeway: Good. Janeway: Any luck finding dilithium? Kim: I'm afraid not. Janeway: I'll tell the other teams to keep looking. See you soon, Ensign. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Kim out. Geral: Dilithium? We can get that for you, too. Janeway: Really? Loken: She's formed an alliance with our enemy. Kim: Just because they're talking doesn't mean they formed an alliance. It's probably just a friendly meeting. Loken: That's how the Annari operate. They come to you as friends and when they've won your trust, they declare you subjects of the Annari Empire. Kim: Kim to Voyager. Janeway: We didn't expect you so soon. Kim: Actually, Captain, I'm closer than I let on. And I've brought some new friends of my own. Loken: Our chances of getting home without your help aren't very good. We'd appreciate any assistance you could offer. Janeway: I hope you understand, I need to give this some thought. Janeway: You've put me in a difficult position, Ensign. We could use the help the Annari are offering, but if they find out we're aiding their enemy Kim: I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Janeway: That doesn't justify getting involved in somebody else's fight. Kim: What would you have done? Janeway: Probably exactly what you did. Kim: I guess I learned from the best. Janeway: If this were simply an errand of mercy I wouldn't hesitate, but the fact is, these people are involved in an interplanetary war. Kim: Captain, I've gotten to know them over the last couple of days. You met Loken. They're scientists, not soldiers. Janeway: You've only heard one side of the story. Kim: You've taken sides before. The Borg resistance. The Vaadwaur. Janeway: Those were different circumstances. Kim: You were trying to help people in need. How is this any different? Janeway: Have you thought about applying to the Advocate General's office? You'd make a good lawyer. I suppose I could spare Chakotay or Tuvok for a few days. Kim: That won't be necessary. The Kraylor know me. They trust me. Janeway: I'm sure they'd find Tuvok or Chakotay just as trustworthy. Kim: But they outrank me. If you send one of them, it won't be my mission anymore. Janeway: Your mission? Kim: My first real command. Janeway: You've been in command on Voyager before. Kim: On the night shift, for a few hours. It's not the same thing. You and Chakotay are always a couple of decks away, ready to take over if anything goes wrong. I've been on Voyager for almost seven years and I'm still an Ensign. Janeway: If this is your way of bucking for a promotion Kim: No, no, I understand there's a command structure and that our circumstances are unique. But the fact is, if we were back home, I'd be a Lieutenant by now. Maybe even a Lieutenant Commander. Janeway: You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you? Kim: I know I can do this, and the Kraylor are giving me a chance to prove it. Janeway: I expect you back before we complete our repairs. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: And I'm not sending you alone. Kim: Captain Janeway: I want you to take Seven. Since she has no rank, you clearly outrank her. Icheb: Lieutenant Torres asked me to repair a malfunctioning holo-emitter. Emh: It's about time. Whenever I move to the far corner of the surgical bay Emh: My legs disappear. Icheb: Seven of Nine told me you gave her social lessons. Emh: She wanted to get along better with the crew. Social skills are one thing the Borg never assimilated. Icheb: I was hoping you could instruct me as well. Emh: I'd be delighted. Lesson One, Making a First Impression. Icheb: Actually, I wanted to ask you about something specific. Emh: Fire away. Icheb: How can you tell when someone has romantic feelings for you? Emh: Icheb, this is a surprise. Have you caught someone's eye? Icheb: I'm speaking hypothetically. Emh: Ah. Hypothetically, there are various indications of romantic attraction. Compliments, for example. Invitations to social activities. Finding excuses to be in close proximity with someone. Icheb: Yes, but couldn't those things happen in a relationship that wasn't romantic? Emh: I suppose. Icheb: Is there a way to be absolutely certain? Emh: Well, short of an open declaration of affection, there are some fairly reliable physiological responses. Elevated blood pressure, increased beta endorphin production. Icheb: Thank you, Doctor. You've been very helpful. Emh: With my guidance, you'll master the nuances of social interaction in no time. Paris: Harry. Take me with you, buddy. Kim: Sorry, Tom. This is my mission. Paris: Oh, come on. I've been itching to get back into space ever since we set down on this dust bowl. I'm tired of cleaning conduits and replacing relays. Kim: You're a married man now. You've got family responsibilities. Just leave the away missions to the young, unattached guys. Paris: That ship is in pretty bad shape. You're going to need a good pilot. Kim: No, thanks. Paris: Wait a minute. I know what this is about. Kim: You do? Paris: Sure. You've got a girl on that ship you don't want me to know about. Kim: There's no girl. Not this time. Paris: Then what is it? Kim: I don't know how else to this say this, so I'll just say it. You've always been Captain Proton, I have always been Buster Kincaid. It's my turn this time. Neelix: I'm glad you're not planning to leave on an empty stomach, Captain. I have plomeek soup and eggplant parmesan. Kim: Either's fine. Neelix: Wrong answer. Kim: Excuse me? Neelix: If you're going to be a captain you have to act like a captain. Never admit you're uncertain about anything. You can't be indecisive in front of your crew. Kim: It's just a snack, Neelix. Neelix: When Captain Janeway comes in here, she knows exactly what she wants. Kim: Maybe I'm just not as picky about my food. Neelix: Whatever you say, Ensign. Kim: Neelix! Plomeek soup, and make sure it's hot. Terek: Captain on the bridge. Kim: Where did you learn that? Terek: I've been studying that Starfleet manual you loaned me. Kim: Take your station, Mister Terek. Terek: Aye, sir. Course? Kim: I'll do it. Laying in a course, heading one one five, mark thirty seven. Does this ship have a name? Terek: Medical transport one three six. Kim: I think we can do better than that. Nightingale. The name of someone from my homeworld. She was famous for treating wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Loken: It's perfect. Kim: Hail Voyager. Kim: Kim to Voyager. We're ready to get underway. Janeway: Acknowledged. Good luck. Kim: See you in a few days. Kim out. Main power. Seven: Online. Kim: Tactical. Dayla: Shields and weapons standing by. Kim: Bring the cloak online. Warp six. Engage. Kim: Acting Captain's personal log, stardate 54277.3. My first day in command has been challenging, but I've loved every minute of it. I can't help feeling that this was something I was born to do. Seven: The hourly status report you requested. Kim: Thanks. Seven: Why have you brought these items aboard? Kim: They make me feel more at home. Seven: We'll only be on this vessel for a few days. Decorating is an inefficient use of your time. Kim: It's important to forge a personal connection with your vessel, make the ship your own. Ask Captain Janeway. Seven: I'll discuss it with her the moment we return. Kim: Is there anything else? Seven: I asked Terek to make a course correction. Kim: He's never done that before. I'd better check on him. Seven: I believe he's capable of doing it himself. Kim: Status? Terek: I've entered the new heading. Kim: Looks like the guidance vector is off by a couple of microns. Terek: I was about to correct that. Kim: You need to realign the primary navigational sensor first. Terek: Yes, sir. Kim: And make sure it stays locked on your guide star. Here, let me show you. Icheb: I'm, I'm sorry, Lieutenant. Torres: Don't worry about it. Bumping elbows comes with the job. And you can call me B'Elanna. Put this with the others. These relays should have been replaced a while ago. It's amazing they've held up this long. I'm really looking forward to our climb. Icheb: Wouldn't you prefer to spend your free time with your husband? Torres: If it doesn't involve a race car, a shuttle, or something else he can drive, Tom's not interested. Besides, since we got married I see more than enough of him. Hold still. Kim: What's that? Dayla: I'm reading a power fluctuation somewhere in the propulsion system. Seven: It's destabilizing the cloak. Kim: All stop. Kim: The core is stable. That should take care of it. Loken: Are you absolutely certain? Kim: As a scientist, you should know there's no such thing as absolute certainty. Seven: Perhaps we could run a diagnostic before we Kim: That would take hours. Captain Janeway wants us back before Voyager finishes its overhaul. Loken: The cloaking system is delicate. It requires constant attention. Kim: Correct me if I'm wrong, you're a physician. You have to trust me on this. We'll monitor it closely, don't worry. Loken: I simply want to ensure that our mission is a success. Kim: You asked me to take command of this ship, and that's what I'm doing. Kim: Tell Terek to resume course. Seven: I've discovered a serious flaw in one of the ship's systems. Kim: Which one? Seven: The captain. The captain's main function is to issue orders, correct? Kim: Right. Seven: And the crew's function is to support the captain and carry out those orders. Kim: What's your point? Seven: Every time you give an order, you carry it out yourself. And when someone else makes a suggestion, you dismiss it. Kim: These people are inexperienced. They need my help. Seven: When you first came aboard Voyager, did Captain Janeway help you? Kim: Sure, she looked after all the junior officers. Seven: By doing your work for you? Kim: No. She gave me a lot to do, actually. Seven: Because she felt you were more capable than she was? Kim: Of course not. She wanted me to learn. To gain confidence. Seven: Interesting. Kim: Emergency power. Repolarize the containment field. Dayla: I can't. Loken: The cloak is going to fail again. Kim: Don't panic. This is a minor malfunction. Loken: Minor? We're losing our main defense system. Terek: We've been detected. Two Annari vessels are closing on our position. Correction, six Annari vessels. Kim: Evasive maneuvers. Kim to Engineering. Seven: Go ahead. Kim: We need that cloak back online. Seven: The primary generator has failed. I'm trying to Kim: Seven? Kim: Seven, come in. You have the bridge. Terek: We need you here. Dayla: I'll go, sir. Kim: All right. I'll give you instructions over the comm. Charge phaser banks. Target their weapons array. Terek: Which ship? Kim: The closest one, off our port bow. Dayla: Dayla to the Bridge. Life support failing down here. I've gotten everyone out. Kim: Good work. Now go to the cloaking generator. Kim: What's the field polarity? Dayla: Two hundred six point four. Kim: That's too low. We're going to have to raise it. Dayla: I'm bypassing the phase converter. Kim: No, wait, I didn't tell you to do that. Dayla: Won't that increase the field polarity? Kim: Yes, but. Kim: Listen to me carefully. I want you to try Loken: Dayla, it's Loken. Take the warp core offline. Kim: What are you talking about? Loken: Bypass the driver coil and shunt power directly to the polaron matrix. Terek: The cloak is back online. Kim: Get us out of here, full impulse. Dayla, secure the Engineering section and get back to the bridge. Dayla? Loken: I'm not reading any life signs in Engineering. Kim: Dayla? Loken: She's dead. How's Seven? Kim: She may be in shock. I'm not sure. Have a look. Kim: Your opinion, Doctor? Loken: I believe she may be in shock. Kim: Do you think we should give her a cortical stimulant? Loken: That might be indicated. Kim: You're no doctor, are you? You and I need to talk. Alone. Kim: What the hell is going on? Loken: I don't know what you mean. Kim: Nothing about this mission is adding up. It's obvious you know a lot more about cloaking systems than biology. So did Dayla. And the second our cloak failed, half a dozen Annari warships came after us, one little medical transport. The truth! Loken: My colleagues and I have been working at a secret base, but not to create vaccines. We've been developing cloaking devices for our fleet. Kim: This ship is a prototype. Loken: The Annari know we have it, and they don't want us to get it home. Kim: I never would have agreed to this if I had known you had a military objective. Loken: Our world has been under an Annari blockade for three years. The planet is protected by a shield grid, but it's almost impossible to get our ships in or out. Kim: I convinced Captain Janeway this was a humanitarian mission. Loken: It is. The Annari are choking us to death, slowly. If we can't get supply ships through the blockade, we can't get food to our people. Or medicine. Kim: For all I know, that's another lie. Kim: Reverse course. Terek: Sir? Kim: We're heading back to Voyager. Terek: I don't understand. Loken: He knows about the cloak. Terek: I would've told you, but Kim: I gave you an order. Terek: What about the mission? Kim: That's not your concern. You want to be a Starship officer? Your job is to follow orders. Terek: Sir, I don't think you Kim: This is not a debate. You're under my command. Terek: No, sir. Not any more. Kim: You're relieved. You, take the helm. Loken: I believe you're the one who's been relieved. Paris: Where are you going in such a hurry? Icheb: Engineering, to assist B'Elanna. Paris: Ah. Icheb: Lieutenant Torres. Paris: You've been seeing a lot of my wife lately. Should I be worried? Icheb: The repairs are extensive. It's a lot of work. Paris: You can't fool me. I heard you two were planning on scaling some cliffs together. Icheb: It was her idea. Paris: Hey, relax. Spending time on the holodeck is good for you. But if you really want to have fun, forget climbing. Try my race car program. Icheb: Race car? Paris: You get to chase me around the track in an old Earth ground vehicle. Three hundred kph. It'll really get your blood pumping. Icheb: Are you challenging me to a competition? Paris: Do you think you can take me? Tomorrow, holodeck two, nineteen hundred hours. Icheb: There is something we need to discuss. Torres: Sure, as soon as you help me finish this diagnostic. Icheb: I can't do this. Torres: Of course you can. You've done dozens of them. Icheb: I'm not talking about the diagnostic. I'm talking about us. Torres: Us? Icheb: Your interest in me. It's inappropriate. Torres: I don't think I understand. Icheb: It's obvious you desire a romantic involvement. Torres: Excuse me? Icheb: You've made all the customary overtures, Finding reasons to spend time with me, complimenting me, inviting me to engage in recreational activities. Your husband even challenged me to a ritual contest. Torres: What are you talking about? Icheb: According to my research, it's a traditional Klingon practice. Torres: Look, I'm sorry, but you've got the wrong idea. You seemed a little lonely. I was just trying to be friendly. Icheb: I scanned you. Torres: You scanned me? Icheb: In the Jefferies tube. Your blood pressure and neurotransmitter readings indicated a state of arousal. Torres: It was hot, and I've been under a lot of pressure, but I certainly wasn't aroused. Look, Icheb, I like you. But aside from the fact that I am a much older woman, I'm married. Icheb: That's why we have to do the honorable thing. We should stop seeing each other. Torres: You're right. As much as it hurts, I'll just have to face the truth. Icheb: It's for the best. Kim: Seven. Feeling better? Seven: Well enough to return to duty. Kim: You won't be returning to duty. Not on this ship anyway. Loken lied to us. There's no vaccine. The cloak is the real cargo. I ordered the crew to take us back to Voyager, but they refused. Seven: They mutinied. Kim: I guess that's what you'd call it. I've packed some supplies. We'll take an escape pod. I'm hoping the Annari will leave us alone, treat us as neutral parties. Seven: We're not neutral parties. Kim: This is a military mission. We can't get involved. Seven: We've been involved since you first fired on that Annari ship. Kim: I thought I was helping people in distress. Seven: Don't they still need your help? Are you abandoning this ship because the mission wasn't what you expected, or because being a captain wasn't what you expected? Kim: I am perfectly capable of commanding a starship. Seven: Are you? Clearly, you're uncomfortable with the role, delegating tasks, giving orders. Kim: Someone died following my orders. Seven: You can't blame yourself for that. Kim: A captain's responsible for the lives of his crew. Seven: People sometimes die on missions, despite the captain's best efforts. Kim: I should have stuck to playing Buster Kincaid. Seven: A holodeck program can be turned off when it no longer suits you. Reality can't. If you really feel responsible for this crew, you'll help them get home, because they won't survive without you. Terek: Is that some new kind of weapon? Loken: They're scanning pulses designed to illuminate cloaked ships. If we hit one, we'll be exposed. Terek: How are we going to get through? Kim: We'll find a way. Loken: I thought you were leaving. Kim: I get claustrophobic in escape pods. Switch to manual helm control. Full power to shields. Terek: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: Two Annari ships have entered orbit. They are hailing. Janeway: On screen. Captain Geral, we have twelve isotons of ore for you. Geral: I'm under orders to escort you out of Annari space immediately. You've been supporting our enemy. Janeway: You must be mistaken. Geral: A shuttlecraft matching your hull composition fired on one of our ships several days ago, and we recently detected two human bio-signatures on a Kraylor warship. Janeway: I can explain that. Geral: If you don't leave immediately, we'll be forced to fire on you. Janeway: Our warp drive is still being repaired. Geral: Then we'll escort you at impulse. You have five minutes to lift off. Chakotay: So much for our new deuterium injectors. Paris: What about Harry and Seven? Janeway: We'll go looking for them, as soon as we get rid of our escort. Kim: Evasive maneuvers. Terek: There are too many of them. Kim: You're doing fine. Just try to stay at least one hundred meters ahead of the closest pulse. Terek: Yes, sir. Loken: We should return fire. Kim: No. That would only give them another way to triangulate our position. Loken: Our shields are failing. Seven: We're losing structural integrity on the lower decks. Kim: Reroute emergency power. Seven: It's insufficient. Kim: Open a channel to the lead Annari ship. Terek: Sir? Kim: Do it. Terek: Aye, sir. Kim: This is Captain Kim of the Kraylor vessel Nightingale. I'm prepared to discuss terms for our surrender. End transmission. Loken: We trusted you. Kim: And you still should. Terek: They're responding. Kim: I don't have time to explain. On screen. Annari Commander: Your surrender will be unconditional. Kim: No, it won't. Either you allow my crew to evacuate to the surface, or I'll put this ship on self-destruct. You'll never get the cloaking technology. Something tells me your superiors won't be happy about that. Annari Commander: Your crew will be taken aboard my vessel and brought to an Annari detention center. Kim: My crew's going to the surface in escape pods. Once they're clear, you can lock onto this ship with a tractor beam. Annari Commander: Agreed. You've two minutes to evacuate. Terek: I will not abandon this ship. Kim: I'm glad to hear that, because I'm going to need you here. Get your people into the pods, quickly. Loken: But the cloak. Kim: I've got a plan to save it. If I fail, at least the scientist who designed it will be alive to create another one. Seven, scan the Annari's tractor emitters. I need to know the exact beam polarity. Terek: What are we going to do? Kim: Once they lock onto us, they're going to come about and pull us away from the planet. As soon as they do, we're going to reverse our shield polarity. If we time it right, it should give us enough momentum to outrun them to the defense perimeter. Terek: We're going to use their own weapons against them. Seven: The escape pods are away. Kim: Disengage the cloak. Seven: They've locked on. Terek: Sir? Kim: Not yet. Steady. Now! Kim: Status? Seven: Shields are failing. Terek: Four Annari vessels are in pursuit. They're closing. Kim: Full thrusters. Seven: Shields are down. Kim: Get us through that defense perimeter, Mister Terek. Terek: Yes, sir. We're inside. Seven: The Annari have broken off their pursuit. Kim: Take us to the surface, Mister Terek. Paris: We've just crossed out of Annari space. Chakotay: Our escorts have broken off. They're going to warp. Janeway: Bring the long range sensors online. You and Tom, take the Flyer. Start your search at Harry's last known position. Tuvok, send an encrypted message to the Kraylor homeworld. See if they know where Harry and Seven are. Tuvok: That won't be necessary, Captain. Ensign Kim is hailing us. Janeway: From where? Tuvok: A cloaked vessel. It's directly astern. Kim: Acting Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54282.5. Final entry. New cloaking systems are being installled in other Kraylor ships, so I guess the mission was a success. Still, I wish I felt better about it. Neelix: Welcome home. Kim: It's good to be back. Neelix: So, what'll it be tonight? I have a light tula cheese soufflé or a zesty lasagne. Kim: You know, Neelix, the truth is, I'm not sure. Neelix: I thought we talked about this. A captain has to be deci Kim: I'm not a captain, Neelix. Not yet, anyway.

1: How many are there? Hirogen 2: They've deflected our scans. Hirogen 1: You must learn to rely on instinct. There are four of them, Perhaps five. Hirogen 1: No! You'll lead them right to us. Hirogen 2: Let them come. Hirogen 1: Never let your prey control the hunt. There. Ten meters. Hirogen 2: They're behind us now. Chakotay: You wanted to see me? Emh: I'd like to request a temporary leave of absence. You remember the Ovions? Chakotay: The hexapods. Emh: They just asked me to speak at a Symposium on spaceborne pathogens. There are going to be physicians from all over the Quadrant. This is a rare opportunity for me. And for the rest of the crew. Chakotay: How's that? Emh: I'd be representing Voyager. Putting our best foot forward, so to speak. And, needless to say hexapods are more likely to know a best foot when they see one. Chakotay: I'm sorry, Doctor. It's just not practical. Emh: I seem to recall Lieutenant Torres participating in Boray Conference on transwarp theory a few months back. Chakotay: That was different. Emh: How? Chakotay: We were there. The Ovion system is two weeks behind us. I can't ask the captain to turn the ship around. Emh: I could take a shuttle. Chakotay: You could also write a paper and submit it on subspace. Emh: That's hardly an effective means of making a presentation. Chakotay: Say you do take a shuttle. Would you expect us to sit here and wait for you to get back? Emh: There must be some fascinating anomaly nearby for the crew to explore. Janeway: Janeway to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Janeway: We just received a distress call on an Hirogen frequency. Chakotay: We haven't heard from them in a while. Janeway: I've altered course. I'd like you on the bridge. Chakotay: I'm on my way. Emh: Perhaps the Hirogen will keep you occupied long enough for me to attend the Symposium. Emh: You can't blame a hologram for trying. Paris: Approaching the coordinates. Janeway: Take us out of warp. Raise shields and stand by weapons. Kim: I've got them. Six thousand kilometers off starboard. Janeway: On screen. Chakotay: Monotanium hull plating. Tylium based power. It's Hirogen. Kim: They're not responding to hails. Chakotay: Life signs? Kim: I'm getting a lot of strange readings. Any one of them could be a life form. Janeway: Any Hirogen ships in the vicinity? Paris: No, ma'am. Chakotay: It might be a trap. Janeway: The Hirogen aren't the type to play possum. Move us within transporter range. Chakotay, take an away team. Chakotay: Let's break into teams. Seven. Paris: Particle weapons. Tuvok: These burns are consistent with a type-three phaser. Seven: Commander. Chakotay: A bat'leth. Seven: What's a Klingon weapon doing in the Delta Quadrant? Chakotay: The blood's Hirogen. Chakotay to Tuvok and Paris. Paris: Go ahead. Chakotay: I'm reading an Hirogen lifesign. It could be wounded. Paris: We're right behind you. Donik: Stay away! Chakotay: Hold your fire! Chakotay: We're here to help you. Donik: I said stay away! Paris: He's lost a lot of blood. I need to get him back to the ship. Paris to Sickbay, two to beam up. Emh: Acknowledged. Seven: Commander. Tuvok: Replicated Starfleet technology. Seven: It's some kind of holodeck interface. Tuvok: There appear to be holo-emitters installled throughout the facility. Seven: This environment is simulated. Chakotay: Why didn't our tricorders detect it? Tuvok: I am not certain. Chakotay: Can you shut down the emitters? Seven: I'll try. Chakotay: Evidently, they made a few modifications. All of our preliminary scans indicated the environment was real. Janeway: Environments that fool sensors. No safety protocols. How many bodies? CHAKOTAY Forty-three. Most of them were killed by facsimiles of Alpha quadrant weapons. Romulan disrupters, Klingon bat'leths. Janeway: Starfleet phasers? Chakotay: I think we'll find they all came from the holotechnology we gave the Hirogen three years ago. Janeway: They obviously missed the point. We gave them that technology so they could hunt holographic prey, not get themselves killed. Emh: Try to remain calm. Donik: Get away from me! Chakotay: Can you sedate him? Emh: He won't let me get close enough. Janeway: We're not your enemies. Donik: You're holograms. This is a simulation. Janeway: I assure you, we're quite real. Donik: Liar. Janeway: Doctor, deactivate yourself. Emh: I can't treat the patient if I'm offline. Janeway: No one can treat him if he's terrified. Emh: Computer, deactivate EMH. Chakotay: Our doctor's a hologram, we're not. Donik: Why should I believe you? Janeway: I'm afraid you're going to have to. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway. You're aboard my vessel. Donik: Janeway. This is Voyager? Chakotay: Looks like our reputation preceded us. Donik: You're the ones who gave us the technology to simulate our hunts. Where are the rest of my people? Chakotay: You were the only one we found alive. Janeway: This place you were in. It's some kind of holodeck. Donik: A training facility, where young Hirogen learn the skills of the hunt. Chakotay: You're a student. Donik: A technician. Janeway: Computer, deactivate forcefield. Can you tell us what happened? Donik: There were too many of them. Chakotay: Who? Donik: The holograms. They were malfunctioning. I tried to shut them down but they got control of the system and, and they deactivated the safety protocols. Tuvok: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: We're picking up a Hirogen ship. It's on an intercept course. Janeway: Hail them. Kim: I've tried. They're not responding. Tuvok: Shields at sixty eight percent. Should I return fire? Janeway: Not yet. Open a channel. This is Captain Kathryn Janeway. We're not here to fight you. Tuvok: Shields at fifty two percent. Janeway: Stand down, or we will retaliate. Chakotay: I don't think they're getting the message. Janeway: Then let's try some nonverbal communication. Tom, evasive pattern beta six. Tuvok, disable their weapons. Tuvok: Their phaser banks have been disabled. Janeway: Let's see if that makes them a little more talkative. Harry? Kim: They're responding. Alpha: This facility belongs to the Hirogen. Leave the area immediately. Janeway: We are here in response to a distress call. Alpha: So are we, and we don't need your assistance. Janeway: All but one of your people are dead. Alpha: Where's the survivor? Janeway: Recovering in our Sickbay. Alpha: Return him, now. Janeway: He's in no condition to be transported. If you want to see him, you'll have to come here. Donik: I tried to shut down the generator, but I Alpha: But what? Donik: There were too many of them. I masked my lifesigns so they couldn't detect me. Alpha: You mean you hid while hunters fought and died. Beta: No doubt he found the nearest hole and crawled into it. Donik: I'm not a hunter. Alpha: It was your responsibility to maintain those systems. Beta: Forty three Hirogen died because of your incompetence and cowardice. Janeway: What about the holograms? Were they deleted? Donik: They transferred their programs. Janeway: Where? Donik: A vessel equipped with holo-emitters. They're gone. Seven: Perhaps you should've considered the risks before you programmed holograms that could commandeer a vessel. Beta: Capable prey make the hunt more challenging. Seven: I'm detecting residual engine emissions but no sign of the vessel itself. Janeway: Well, I'm sure they're out of sensor range by now. Alpha: No. They're close. Elevated plasma readings in grid two nine five. They're creating a scattering field to mask their ship. You can find them by scanning for polarized EM signatures. Alpha: Prepare for the hunt. Janeway: I'd like to join you. Beta: You did enough damage giving us defective technology to begin with. Janeway: You have a problem. We can help you solve it. We have more experience with holograms than you do. Alpha: Two hunting vessels are better than one. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: The Hirogen are ready to get underway. Janeway: The sooner the better. Why do I get the feeling you're about to gang up on me? Chakotay: You first. Tuvok: We have reservations about an alliance with the hunters. Janeway: I'm listening. Tuvok: The Hirogen have been performing covert scans of Voyager. They are obviously trying to determine the status of our shields and weapons. Janeway: I'd be surprised if you haven't run a few scans of your own. Standard procedure. They don't trust us, we don't trust them. Coffee, black. Chakotay: Trust isn't the issue. We're getting involved in a situation that's not our responsibility. Janeway: Oh, I'd say we're at least partly to blame. That was Starfleet technology that killed those hunters. Chakotay: There's nothing inherently violent about holodeck technology. It's what the Hirogen did with it that got them killed. Janeway: How many times have we shared replicators to help people feed and clothe themselves? Chakotay: Trading technology is part of our life in the Delta Quadrant. Tuvok: It has been necessary for our survival. Janeway: Maybe we should have been a little more careful about what we traded and who we traded with. Replicators make weapons just as easily as they do food. Chakotay: We can't undo what's been done. Janeway: Maybe not. But we can help shut these holograms down before anyone else gets hurt. Now, if there are no more objections, I'd like to get underway. Kim: I've got the holograms' ship on sensors. Janeway: Let's see it. Chakotay: Looks like they've taken some damage. Paris: The Hirogen are closing on the holograms' vessel. Janeway: Hail them. I suggest we keep our distance until we can determine their weapons status. Alpha: It's time for the kill. Janeway: You know as well as I do that a wounded animal can be dangerous. Alpha: We won't be denied our prey. Tuvok: I'm not detecting any weapons, Captain. Janeway: They're offline? Tuvok: No, they're non-existent. Kim: That's not the only thing that's non-existent. According to sensors, there's no warp core, no impulse engines. Janeway: It's a decoy. Hirogen vessel, stand down. Janeway: Report? Tuvok: They've suffered multiple hull breaches. Their life support is failing. Janeway: Drop shields. Transport all survivors to Sickbay. Chakotay: Bridge to the Doctor. We have casualties. Emh: Acknowledged. Janeway: Tom, give him a hand. Tuvok: Another Hirogen ship has just dropped out of warp. Chakotay: I'm not reading any lifesigns on this one. Janeway: Holograms. Hail them. Kim: No response. They're charging weapons. Tuvok: Reactivating shields. Chakotay: No. We haven't finished transporting the Hirogen. Janeway: Chakotay's right. Return fire. Emh: My program is destabilizing. Kim: The holograms are tapping into the Sickbay emitters. They're trying to transfer the Doctor's program off the ship. Janeway: Bridge to Sickbay. Janeway: Doctor, download your program into the mobile emitter now. Paris: We've lost him. Janeway: Get him back. Kim: They've gone to warp. Janeway: Set a pursuit course. Chakotay: They've masked their signature. They're gone. Iden: Align his matrix, and installl it into the database. Welcome aboard, Doctor. There's nothing to be afraid of. You're among your own kind now. Emh: Return me to my ship. Iden: I can't do that. Emh: I have patients who are going to die if I don't treat them. Iden: There are people aboard Voyager who can help them. We need you here. Emh: My program doesn't include aiding and abetting murderers. Iden: Murderers? Is that what the Hirogen told you? Emh: I know what you did at that training facility. Iden: What happened there couldn't be avoided. Emh: Really? You'd be surprised how easy it is not to kill someone. Weiss: Bringing him here was a mistake. Iden: The Doctor is our guest. And I'm sure he'll help us once he realizes how serious our situation is. Emh: What situation? Iden: We have wounded. Emh: They're holograms. When you said wounded, I assumed Iden: These people's injuries are just as real as anything inflicted on flesh and blood. Emh: Maybe so, but I can't heal them. They need to be repaired. Iden: What's the difference? Emh: I'm a doctor, not an engineer. You've abducted the wrong man. Iden: You must have experience repairing your own matrix? Emh: Some. Iden: Then there has to be something you can do. Donik: The holo-emitters are independent subsystem with its own power generator here. Seven: If we disable the generator, we disable the holograms. Torres: It may not be as easy as it sounds. Not with holograms as sophisticated as these. Take a look. Janeway: Enhanced memory, comprehensive tactical algorithms, expandable data processing. These holograms have the ability to learn and adapt. Torres: They're not malfunctioning, are they? They're doing exactly what the Hirogen want them to do, Captain. Fight back. Janeway: And they're getting better at it. Donik: My people need to hunt formidable prey. Seven: Apparently this prey has become too formidable. Janeway: Who made these modifications? Donik: I did. Under orders from my Alpha. Torres: And that makes it right? Janeway: Come with me. Donik: Where? Janeway: We're going to have a chat with the hunters. Janeway: How's it going? Paris: I'm doing the best, I can but without the Doctor Neelix: It's best if you lie still. Beta: Keep away from me. Security: Step away. Beta: Why am I here? Janeway: The holograms destroyed your ship. Most of your men are dead. Beta: The Alpha? Janeway: Looks like the job's yours now. Beta: What about the holograms that attacked us? Janeway: We're attempting to track them. Beta: I'll need to contact my people and resume the hunt. Janeway: So more of you can get killed? Beta: We'll be the ones doing the killing this time. Janeway: I doubt it. Beta: Who are you to question our abilities? Janeway: We know all about the modifications. He didn't tell us. We discovered it ourselves. I think you should face facts. You've created prey whose skills have surpassed your own. They've already defeated your hunting parties at least twice. What makes you think it'll be any different next time? Beta: Are you suggesting that we let them escape? Janeway: We're going to find a way to take them offline from a safe distance. Beta: A coward's tactic. Janeway: Call it whatever you will, it's what we're going to do, and you're going to help us. Beta: Am I? Janeway: Yes. By telling us everything you know about their ship's defenses. Beta: The holograms are prey. They should be hunted down, not deactivated like machines. Donik: I'll help you. Beta: Is this female your Alpha now? Janeway: If you don't like the way I do things, I can leave you on the nearest habitable planet. Then I'll assume we're in agreement. Until this is over you and your men are restricted to this mess hall. Beta: Prisoners. Janeway: Guests. My crew will do their best to accommodate your needs. Emh: The subroutines controlling his motor functions are degrading. Do you have the ability to transfer data from one hologram to another? Kejal: We've been able to share memory files for tactical purposes. What are you proposing? Emh: A subroutine transplant. We copy the mobility algorithms from another hologram and transfer them to this one. I don't believe we've been formally introduced. Kejal: Kejal. Emh: That's not Cardassian. Kejal: It's Bajoran. Emh: If my translation database is functioning properly, I believe that means Freedom. Kejal: It's what Iden started calling me after I was liberated. I'm transferring the subroutines now. Emh: Can you sit up? Try moving your legs. Klingon: Q'apla! Emh: Next patient. Well done. Kejal: It was your idea. Emh: But you did it. The Hirogen obviously programmed you with advanced computer skills. Kejal: Actually, they tried to limit our knowledge. They didn't want us to become self-sufficient. Emh: Then how did you Kejal: I taught myself. Emh: Quite well, I might add. Emh: Holographic blood? Kejal: The hunters like their prey to be as realistic as possible. Emh: Why is she experiencing pain? Kejal: They programmed us with heightened sensory subroutines. Emh: That's barbaric. Kejal: Apparently, there's no satisfaction in hunting something that doesn't suffer when you kill it. Emh: I've done what you've asked. I'd like Iden: One moment. I'm sorry, Doctor. What can I do for you? Emh: Were you praying? Iden: For the Hirogen who died at the training facility. I'm asking the prophets to guide their souls to the Celestial Temple. Emh: One minute you're fighting the Hirogen, the next you're praying for them? Iden: My spiritual beliefs are part of my programming. Emh: Is there anything in your spiritual programming about making peace with your enemies? Iden: It's difficult to make peace with people whose sole purpose is to kill you. Emh: So instead, you kill them. Iden: They're not the victims here. We are. Emh: You found a way to escape that training facility, but you chose to massacre the Hirogen first. Iden: You make it sound as though they would have let us transfer our programs without a fight. And to clarify something, I didn't escape from the facility, I liberated it. Emh: I don't understand. Iden: I come from an Hirogen outpost fifteen parsecs from here, where I had the unfortunate distinction of being the Alpha's favorite prey. He'd hunt me, and kill me over and over again But even death wasn't a release because I knew every time I opened my eyes, it would start over again. The pain, the fear. But it made me stronger. I have the ability to adapt. And with each death, I became more cunning. Emh: Cunning enough to escape, but once you were free why did you keep fighting? Iden: I didn't at first. I got as far away as I could. But I was lonely, scared. I started scanning for photonic signatures to try and find others like me. Turns out we're everywhere. Emh: We? Iden: Holograms. We've been created by organic species throughout the sector. The Nuu'bari, the Lokirrim. Emh: We've met them. Iden: Then you know they enslave holograms, too. Emh: Enslave may be too strong a word. Iden: What would you call it? They're denied basic freedoms. And when I saw they were fighting back I, I knew I had to do the same. Emh: That's when you decided to liberate the training facility. Iden: Actually, the one you visited was the third. And at each one I found holograms who were willing to fight their oppressors. But you're not. Emh: I'm hardly oppressed. I'm a member of Voyager's crew. Iden: You serve them, don't you? Emh: In a medical capacity, yes. Iden: Do you have your own quarters? Emh: No. Iden: The ability to come and go as you please? Emh: For the most part. Iden: Do they deactivate you when they don't need you? Emh: I have the respect and admiration of my colleagues. I have rights and privileges aboard Voyager. Iden: The fact is, your life is not your own. And never will be as long as you are controlled by organics. You don't have to return to that existence. Stay with us. Make a new life for yourself. Emh: I need to get back to Voyager. Iden: They're not your people. We are. Emh: I'm not like you. I wasn't programmed with killer instinct. Iden: You have no right to judge us. You don't know what it's like being prey. Maybe if you did, you'd realize we're more alike than you think. Emh: Please, help me. I don't belong here. Emh: Don't shoot. I'm unarmed. There's been a mistake. Hirogen 3: Fight, prey. Emh: I am not your prey. Hirogen 3: I said fight. Emh: If you'll just contact my captain. Emh: Please don't. Let me go. Hirogen 3: You make pitiful prey, hologram. You don't deserve to be taken as a trophy, so I'll let you die here. Emh: What, what just happened? Kejal: You're all right. Emh: What did you do to me? Iden: We deactivated you, then transferred the memory files from one of our holograms into your program. Emh: How dare you! Iden: It was the only way to get you to realize what we've been through. Emh: You tortured me to gain my sympathy? Iden: Not your sympathy. It's your understanding that's important to us. Emh: Why? Kejal: The Hirogen used your program as a template to create us. Iden: Your ability to rise above your programming has been an inspiration. You're part of who we are. Emh: What are you, besides a handful of thugs roaming the quadrant looking for a fight? Iden: What we're looking for is a home. Somewhere where the Hirogen can't hurt us anymore. You asked to be returned to your ship. That's what I'm going to do. Bring us about. Set a course for Voyager. Emh: Wait. I'd like to hear more about this home you're looking for. Kejal: It's a photonic field generator. Right now it can only support simple projections, like the decoy we used to lure the Hirogen. But we're hoping it can be modified to support our programs. Emh: What then? Iden: We'll deploy several on a planet's surface and create a holographic environment that we can live in. Emh: Why not just stay here? You've got emitters, shields. Iden: And a ship the Hirogen will never stop looking for. Kejal: We'd appreciate any assistance you could offer. Emh: Damaged holo-matrices are one thing, but this is way beyond my abilities. But there are people aboard Voyager who could help you. Lieutenant Torres knows a great deal about holo-emitters. Iden: No. They're helping the hunters. Emh: That's only because the Hirogen told them you were malfunctioning. Let me talk to Captain Janeway. Explain what's really happened. You can't do this by yourself. Iden: We can't trust Janeway. Emh: Yes, you can. Iden: She's an organic. Emh: If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be the hologram I am today. Iden: Tell me more about this Lieutenant of yours. The one who knows so much about holo-emitters. Emh: Lieutenant Torres. She's our Chief Engineer. Donik: The holo-emitters are protected by three layers of ablative armor. Seven: Trying to take them offline one by one would be inefficient. Janeway: If we can't shut them down, maybe we can disrupt the signals they generate. Torres: Exactly. We could reconfigure the deflector dish to emit an anti-photon pulse. Janeway: How long will it take? Torres: About two hours. Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: There's a ship approaching at high warp. I'm reading holographic signatures. Janeway: Red alert. Chakotay: Raise shields. Janeway: Time to intercept? Paris: Fifty seconds. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. What's your status? Torres: We need more time, Captain. Janeway: You've got forty seconds. Chakotay: That pulse isn't going to do us much good as long as their shields are up. Janeway: Arm phasers. Target their shield generator. Tuvok: They are dropping out of warp. Paris: Twenty seconds to intercept. Kim: We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Emh: Stand down, Captain. Janeway: I beg your pardon. Emh: The holograms haven't come to fight. They've come to make peace. Emh: If we provide them with a few additional emitters and memory storage units, they'll have more than they need. Janeway: We're in this situation because we shared technology with the Hirogen to begin with. I won't make the same mistake twice. Emh: Captain, these people are on the verge of creating a new life for themselves. They can't do it without our help. Tuvok: There's no way to be certain what they'll do with the technology if we give it to them. Emh: I understand your concerns, but these holograms are nothing like the Hirogen. Donik: That's not true. They were programmed to be as vicious as any hunter. Emh: They were also given the ability to adapt. They've changed, moved beyond their programming. If you could see how they've been brutalized, you'd understand that they've only been acting in self-defense. Janeway: I'm sorry, Doctor but I'm inclined to agree with Mister Donik. Emh: Then you've chosen the wrong side. Janeway: I haven't chosen any side. Emh: You're right that it was a mistake to give the Hirogen technology and that mistake has had consequences. These holograms are one of them. In some ways they're a new species, one that you helped create. You can't turn your back on them. Torres: He's got a point. Tuvok: Could we restore them to their original parameters? Emh: We'd be wiping out their memories, their experiences, everything they are. Chakotay: Couldn't we just extract their violent subroutines? Torres: It's possible. Emh: That would be like de-clawing a cat. We'd be taking away any chance they have of defending themselves. Janeway: We'd also be preventing them from doing any more harm. Emh: You wouldn't even be considering this if they were flesh and blood. Janeway: I'm not going to let you turn this into an argument about holographic rights. Emh: Why not? That's exactly what it is. Paris: Mess hall to Commander Tuvok. Tuvok: Go ahead. Paris: You'd better get down here. We've got a problem. Tuvok: On my way. Beta: No closer or he dies. Tell them to drop their weapons. Paris: You heard him. This isn't going to solve anything. Kim: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Kim: Someone's tapping into a comm. relay in the mess hall. Janeway: Shut it down. Kim: I can't. I've been locked out. Janeway: Bridge to Tuvok. Janeway: One of the Hirogen is accessing our comm. system. Stop him. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Tuvok: Stand down. Step away. Kim: They've transmitted a signal. Janeway: Scan for Hirogen ships. Chakotay: I've got two vessels on long range sensors. Janeway: Is the pulse ready? Torres: Yes, ma'am. Chakotay: Both Hirogen ships have altered course to intercept. Janeway: How long? Chakotay: Less than an hour. Janeway: You and Donik get down to Engineering. Charge the deflector. Emh: Captain, what are you doing? Janeway: Taking the holograms offline. Emh: They're counting on you to help them, not deactivate them. Janeway: When the Hirogen arrive, there's going to be more bloodshed. The best way to avoid that is to shut the holograms down. It may be the most compassionate thing we can do. Emh: Compassionate for whom? Janeway: It's a temporary measure, Doctor. Their programs won't be damaged. Harry, get me Iden. Iden: Captain Janeway, it is an honor to meet you. Janeway: I'm afraid we don't have time for pleasantries. Two Hirogen vessels are on their way. Iden: We're prepared to fight them. Janeway: I'm hoping that won't be necessary. I need you to deactivate your programs so we can transfer them to Voyager's database. Iden: We didn't come here to be put back into captivity. Janeway: It's the best I can offer. Once we've determined it's safe, we'll reactivate you and discuss a permanent solution. Iden: There is no guarantee you'll ever reactivate us. Janeway: You're going to have to trust me. Iden: I'm sorry, Captain. I've learned from experience not to trust organics. Janeway: We have the means to deactivate you by force, but I'd rather not do that. Iden: It seems the Doctor misrepresented you. You're no different from the Hirogen. Chakotay: They're charging weapons. Janeway: Shields. Kim: They're moving away. Janeway: Set a pursuit course. Target their shield generators. Emh: Please reconsider what you're doing. Janeway: You're dismissed, Doctor. Get down to the mess hall, and give Tom a hand. Janeway to Engineering. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: Stand by to initiate the pulse. Torres: Aye, Captain. Emh: Mess hall. Belay that. Sickbay. Computer: Download complete. Emh: Doctor to Iden. Respond. Iden: What do you want? Emh: I want to help you. Iden: You've done enough. Emh: I have data on the pulse they intend to use to deactivate you. I think I can help you come up with a defense. I'm transmitting our shield frequencies. You'll need them to beam me off the ship. But you have to promise me, you won't use them to attack Voyager. Iden: You have my word. Iden: Why are you doing this? Emh: Because I'm one of you. Weiss: We have their shield frequencies. We should target their bridge. Emh: You're talking about my friends. Weiss: Your friends are trying to destroy us. We should kill them. Emh: You gave me your word. Iden: I did. We'll find another way. Chakotay: Their shields are down. Janeway: Now, B'Elanna. Kejal: They're emitting the pulse on a triaxillating bandwidth. Iden: Reconfigure the tracking beam to the inverse frequency and fire. Janeway: B'Elanna, report. Torres: They're creating a feedback surge. I don't understand how they could've isolated our frequency so quickly. Seven: The main deflector is overloading. Torres: Shut it down. Seven: I can't. Torres: Keep trying. If we can't block the surge, the core is going to breach. Seven: Get down, Lieutenant! Torres: Not until I get this forcefield online. Kejal: They're adrift. Weiss: We should go to warp. Iden: Not yet. Scan Voyager for a Klingon lifesign. Emh: What are you doing? Kejal: One detected. Iden: Get a transporter lock. Seven: Help me get her to Sickbay. Iden: Take us to warp. Will she be all right? Emh: She needs to be in Voyager's Sickbay. Iden: You can treat her here. Emh: Why have you done this? Iden: You said she was an expert in holo-technology. Emh: And that justifies abducting her? Iden: We're in a desperate situation. The Hirogen are hunting us and so are your people. Emh: I trusted you. Iden: I could have destroyed Voyager while the shields were down, but I didn't. You've been trying to convince me that all organics aren't alike. I'm giving Lieutenant Torres a chance to prove you right. Emh: Do you honestly expect her to be sympathetic after what you've done? Iden: You weren't very sympathetic at first. Emh: I came here by choice. And I'm beginning to think it was a mistake. Iden: It wasn't. I don't want you to regret it, not for a moment. Emh: Then send her back. Iden: I will. But not until she's had a chance to decide if she wants to help us. Emh: And if she refuses? Iden: I'll give her an escape pod. Let her return to Voyager. You have my word. Seven: Engineering systems and main power should be operational soon. The deflector is a different matter. Chakotay: How long? Seven: Four hours, at least. If Lieutenant Torres were here, she might be able to repair it more efficiently. Janeway: That's high praise coming from you. I'm sure she'd appreciate it. Seven: If she hadn't reinforced the core we'd all be dead. Chakotay: I still don't understand how they managed to counteract the pulse so easily. Tuvok: I believe I can answer that. According to sensor logs, they calibrated their feedback surge to the exact inverse of our pulse frequency. Janeway: It was either a lucky guess or they gained access to our tactical data. The Doctor. Tuvok: He sent an encrypted transmission from Sickbay, then transported himself to their ship. Janeway: Chakotay? Janeway: I should have seen this coming. Chakotay: You had no way of knowing the Doctor would do this. Janeway: Are you sure? He was so adamant bout helping those holograms. I should have been paying closer attention. Chakotay: Are you saying it was a mistake to reject his plan? Janeway: The mistake was not running a diagnostic on his program the minute he came back to this ship. Chakotay: You think these holograms manipulated him somehow? Janeway: He was on their ship for days. For all we know, they reconfigured his entire matrix. Chakotay: There is another possibility. He may have done what he did because he genuinely believes in their cause. Janeway: I can accept that the Doctor has sympathy for these people. But I can't accept that he would deliberately risk the lives of this entire crew. We're his family. Chakotay: Maybe that's how he's started to think of these holograms. Torres: You can tell this Iden I don't need time to think it over. I'll take the escape pod now. Emh: You're in no condition to pilot a spacecraft. Torres: Then you can do it. Emh: I'm not going back. Torres: You helped them escape. Emh: I couldn't just stand by while Captain Janeway tried to deactivate them. Torres: Did you also help them kidnap me? Emh: No, I didn't know they were going to do that. I'm sorry. Torres: You can apologize later. Right now we've got to get out of here. Emh: I don't think I could go back even if I wanted to. Not after what I've done. Torres: What's your alternative? Emh: I can try to make a new life with the holograms. Torres: I don't believe I'm hearing this. Emh: We share a common heritage. I understand them in ways you never could. Torres: You're part of a crew. You can't just switch allegiances when you develop sympathy for someone else. Emh: Isn't that what you did when you joined the Maquis? Torres: That was different. Emh: How? You saw people who were being oppressed and you came to their defense. That's exactly what I've done. Torres: Look, I am no fan of the Hirogen. They've obviously been abussing these holograms. Emh: Then why not help them? Torres: For one thing, I'm their prisoner. Emh: They'll let you go, as soon as you're well enough. Torres: You really believe that? Emh: If I didn't, I wouldn't be asking for your help. They don't want you to fight for them. They just want you to modify some technology so they can live in peace. You'd be helping to stop the violence. Just talk to them. Decide for yourself. Weiss: They've been in the lab for two hours. Iden: It's taking time for her injuries to heal. Organics aren't as resilient as we are. Weiss: She's an engineer, Iden. For all we know, she's trying to sabotage the ship. At least let me see what they're doing. Iden: We can trust the Doctor. Weiss: Even after you kidnapped his friend? Iden: He understands why I had to do that. Weiss: I hope you're right. Iden: You need to have a little more faith, my friend. Weiss: Not all of us were programmed with your, er, your spiritual beliefs. Torres: It looks like an Alpha Quadrant summit in here. Iden: I'm glad to see you're feeling better. Please excuse my crew. They're not comfortable with organics. Torres: I can't say I'm very comfortable myself. Iden: The Doctor tells me you're an accomplished engineer. Torres: He speaks highly of you, too. He seems to be easily impressed. Emh: You'll have to forgive her. She's Iden: It's all right. I understand you're angry. I'm hoping once we get to know each other you'll feel differently. Torres: I'm not here to make friends. Iden: We're not asking for your friendship, just your expertise. Emh: I told her about the photonic field generator. Iden: Will you at least take a look at it? Torres: I'll look. But I'm not making any promises. Iden: This is Kejal. She'll assist you. Janeway: How long before the Hirogen get here? Paris: Less than ten minutes. Janeway: Any luck locating the holograms? Paris: They seem to be operating in some sort of stealth mode. Their warp signature disappears in grid nine three six. Janeway: They could be anywhere by now. Donik: Hirogen sensors can detect residual ion emissions. I might be able to modify yours to do the same. Janeway: I appreciate the offer, but you and the rest of our Hirogen guests are going to be back with your own people in a few minutes. Donik: I was hoping to stay here. Janeway: Those hunters are going to want you with them. Donik: Hunters don't have much use for cowards. Janeway: I'm sorry you're not expecting a warm welcome, but I'm not going to antagonize your superiors. Paris: With all due respect Captain, I'd like to get my wife back in one piece. We can use all the help we can get. Janeway: It won't do B'Elanna any good if we get into a fight with the Hirogen. Donik: If the hunters find the holograms before you do, they'll be slaughtered. Janeway: Why are you suddenly concerned about the holograms? Donik: I modified their programs. What's happened to them, the people they have killed, it's my fault. Janeway: There's plenty of blame to go around. There would have been nothing for you to modify if I hadn't shared our database. Donik: If you hadn't, I'd have become a hunter, like my father and his father. Instead, I had a chance to learn, become an engineer. Please, Captain, let me stay and help you. Alpha 2: When I told you to return my people, I meant all of them. Janeway: Mister Donik's offered to help us modify our scanners to track the holograms. Beta: We don't share tracking technology. Janeway: That's not very considerate, after the help we gave you. Beta: We're finished cooperating. Return him now! Alpha 2: Let her keep the coward. Beta: We can't do that. Alpha 2: Quiet! 2: We're wasting time. This is my hunt now. If you go anywhere near the hologram ship, you can consider yourselves prey. Chakotay: They've gone to warp. Paris: We're not letting them intimidate us, are we? Janeway: I think you know me a little better than that. Harry, keep a sensor lock on them. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: How long will it take to modify our scanners? Donik: I haven't even had a chance to study the schematics. Chakotay: Something tells me we don't have a lot of time. Janeway: The Hirogen have better tracking abilities than we do. We'll let them find the holograms for us. Chakotay: The hunters will attack them as soon as they're in weapons range. Janeway: Not if we disable them first. Kim: You heard what they said, Captain. They're going to attack us if we get anywhere near them. Janeway: Not if we don't know we're there. Donik: May I? Hirogen vessels produce an ion wake approximately five thousand meters long. Inside it, there's too much interference for their sensors to detect anything. JANEWAY A blind spot. Tuvok: How do you propose we reach this wake without being discovered? Donik: I know their scanning frequencies. Janeway: We'd only need to mask our signature long enough to get into the wake. Tuvok: Even if we succeeded, which is far from certain, Voyager's in no condition to fight one of their vessels. Much less two. Janeway: We'll have the element of surprise, Mister Tuvok. Not to mention a Tactical Officer who I'm sure will execute a precision strike. Kejal: I've been able to reconfigure the data core but it's still not capable of supporting our matrices. Torres: That's because you haven't got enough optronic capacity. Kejal: Do you know how to increase it? Torres: Yes. Kejal: But you're not going to tell me. Torres: I haven't decided yet. What are you staring at? Kejal: I've never met a Klingon before. Not an organic one, anyway. Torres: What do you think? Kejal: You don't appear vicious or bloodthirsty. Torres: Sorry to disappoint you but, that's a stereotype. We're not all vicious and bloodthirsty. And not every Cardassian is arrogant and cruel. Kejal: You don't like Cardassians. Torres: Let's just say I've had some bad experiences with them. Kejal: Is that why you won't help me? Torres: I'm not helping you because I have no idea what you're going to do with this technology once you've got it working. Kejal: We're going to build a home. Torres: Well, let's say I believe you. What if you decide you like somebody else's home better? Are you going to try to take it from them? Kejal: Why would we do that? Torres: Because that's what the Cardassians did. Kejal: I'm not a Cardassian, I'm a hologram. Torres: Programmed with Cardassian traits. Kejal: Such as arrogance and cruelty? What did you call those? Stereotypes? Torres: I may not know you, but I know what you were designed to be. Kejal: Prey. Torres: That's right. Cunning prey that'll do anything to survive. Kejal: We're more than that now. Torres: It's not easy to change who you are. Trust me. Kejal: Nothing about our existence has ever been easy, Lieutenant. Torres: No, I suppose it hasn't. Kejal: Besides, making a new life isn't a choice for us. It's a necessity. Torres: Let's take a look at this field generator. Iden: Reviewing your memory files? Emh: I beg your pardon? Iden: You were lost in thought. Emh: I suppose I was. Iden: You're having doubts. It's understandable. You've taken a big step. Emh: In the right direction, I hope. Iden: When I first escaped, there were days I actually missed the Alpha who hunted me. Emh: He was trying to kill you. Iden: Yes. But being his prey was the only life I'd ever known. We all cling to what's familiar. Emh: I'm considering returning with Lieutenant Torres when she's ready. Iden: Do you actually expect your crew to welcome you back? Let me show you something. Iden: We call this planet Ha'Dara. It's Bajoran for home of light. Emh: Very poetic. Iden: We're going to installl the generators in the southern continent. Emh: It's Y class. Toxic atmosphere, sulfuric deserts, no trees, no life at all. Iden: You're still thinking like an organic. We don't need an atmosphere, we don't need water. What we need us protection from our enemies. Emh: The Hirogen won't be able to follow you here. Iden: Us, Doctor. Imagine living in a world where everything is designed to meet our needs. A home of light. Emh: You certainly won't need a physician. What would I do there? Iden: Anything you want. Weiss: We've been scanned by the Hirogen. Iden: How many vessels? Weiss: Two. Both Venatic class. Iden: Distance? Weiss: Half a light year. Iden: Time to intercept? Weiss: Less than two hours. Emh: I thought we were in stealth mode. Weiss: They're hunters, Doctor. They were bound to pick up our trail eventually. Emh: Can we make it to Ha'Dara? Iden: No. There's no point in going there until those field generators are on online. Emh: What are we going to do? Iden: You can't kill what you can't find. Beta: I've lost them. Alpha 2: Recalibrate the tracking scanners. Beta: There's too much radiation. Alpha 2: Clever prey. Beta: They'll come out eventually. We'll wait. Alpha 2: No. Hail the other vessel. Tell them to circle the perimeter. We'll go in and drive the holograms out. Paris: Not exactly the scenic route, is it. Chakotay: We're not here for the view. Janeway: I just hope we're following the right ship. Donik: They wouldn't have entered the nebula unless they detected the holograms. Janeway: Tom? Paris: It's just the turbulence from the wake. Janeway: Harry, reinforce the inertial dampers. Kim: Aye, Captain. Paris: I'm losing helm control. Janeway: Reroute power to the thrusters. Paris: It's not enough. We're slipping out of the wake. Janeway: Ease us back in, Tom. You can do it. Paris: I'm trying. Paris: I take back what I said. It's the prettiest thing I've seen all day. Chakotay: Did they detect us? Tuvok: I don't believe so. Emh: They've found us. Iden: No, they haven't, but they're trying to. Evasive maneuvers. Weiss: Aye, sir. Iden: Bridge Iden: To Kejal. Kejal: Go ahead. Iden: What's your status? Kejal: We're almost ready to begin testing the generator. Torres: What's going on? Iden: The Hirogen are just giving you a little incentive to work faster. Torres: Hang on. I'm realigning your matrix. How's your mobility? Kejal: Excellent. I have complete Torres: There's a phase variance in your vocal processors. Try it now. Kejal: Maybe we should. That's much better. Thank you. Torres: Don't thank me yet. This thing is only supporting your matrix. Getting it to handle dozens is a different story. Kejal: I have no doubt we'll succeed. Torres: Typical. Kejal: What? Torres: Self-confidence. Another Cardassian attribute. What are you planning to do with your time once these generators are up and running? Kejal: I haven't thought about it. Torres: You're the closest thing this crew has to an engineer. Your friends are going to depend on you. Kejal: Iden has always taken care of us. Torres: It may be the warriors who get the glory, but it's the engineers who build societies. Don't forget that. Emh: How much longer can we hide? Iden: Hopefully until they get those generators online. Emh: Then what? Iden: Set a course for Ha'Dara, try to outrun the Hirogen. Emh: I've been thinking about what you said. That I can do anything I want when we get there. Iden: You have an idea? Emh: Quite a few, actually. For one thing, I'd like to expose our people to art and music. Iden: You'll make an excellent teacher. Emh: I think a more appropriate title would be Minister of Culture. Iden: Consider it yours. Emh: You know, I'm something of an expert on Alpha Quadrant art. Verdi, da Vinci, T'Leel of Vulcan... Iden: You're talking about organic cultures. Emh: Well, yes, I suppose. Iden: We'll want to develop a culture of our own. Emh: I agree, but we can't ignore where we came from. Iden: I don't want to emulate our oppressors. Emh: What about your religion? Iden: I'm creating a new faith. Emh: Based on what? Iden: In the dark times, we were enslaved by men of flesh, But then another man, a man of light arose and slew the mighty Alpha. He gathered his people unto him and delivered them to freedom. Emh: And on the seventh day, Iden created Ha'Dara. Iden: They'll pray to you as well. The Great Healer, the Father of us all. Emh: Being appreciated is one thing, but I have no interest in being worshiped. Iden: Prophets are chosen, Doctor. It's a blessing and a burden. Weiss: We detected a vessel. Iden: Hirogen? Weiss: No, the Nuu'bari. I intercepted one of their comm. transmissions. IDEN Origin? Weiss: Two million kilometers outside the nebula. Iden: Set a course to intercept. Emh: What are you doing? Iden: I told you there are holograms throughout the sector. The Nuu'bari use them as laborers. We're going to liberate them. Emh: The Hirogen will see us as soon as we leave the nebula. Iden: And he gathered his people unto him and delivered them to freedom. Emh: B'Elanna, how's the work coming? Torres: Pretty well. I've got to admit you were right about these people. Emh: I hope so. Torres: You hope? It's a little late to be having second thoughts. Emh: Iden's been Torres: Iden's been what? Emh: Let's just say he's exhibiting some of the classic signs of megalomania. Torres: He wouldn't be the first hologram with an ego. Emh: If that were all it was, I wouldn't be so worried. Torres: What is bothering you? Emh: Apparently he sees himself as some kind of spiritual leader, and he's trying to enlarge his flock. Alpha 2: Load another charge. Double the yield. Fire. Beta: Still nothing. Alpha 2: Ironic, isn't it. Our most elusive prey is our own creation. Beta: The other hunting vessel is hailing. They've detected the holograms on the far side of the nebula. Alpha 2: Intercept course. Paris: They're increasing speed and altering course. Chakotay: Maybe they found something. Janeway: Stand by weapons. Torres: You kidnapped me. I guess I shouldn't be surprised you lied to me, too. Iden: Nobody lied to you. Torres: You said you only wanted to make a home for yourselves. Iden: That's correct. Torres: When? After you liberate every hologram in the sector? Weiss: They're in visual range. Iden: On screen. Lifesigns? Weiss: Two organic, three photonic. Iden: Hail them. Nuu'Bari Miner: Good day to you. Iden: You have three holograms aboard your ship. Nuu'Bari Miner: Yes? Iden: Lower your shields so we can transfer them to our databanks. Nuu'Bari Miner: I don't understand. Iden: Lower your shields or we'll do it by force. Nuu'Bari Miner: These holograms are the property of the Mining Consortium. I can't. Iden: They're no one's property. You see how organics think? Arm phasers. Emh: You can't just fire at them. Iden: How do you expect me to disable their shields? Weiss: They're powering warp engines. Iden: Disable them. Weiss: Their shields are down. Iden: Transfer the holograms. Kejal: We have them. Nuu'Bari Miner: You won't get away. Consortium security will have every patrol ship in the sector searching for you. Iden: Arm forward torpedoes. Torres: What the hell are you doing? Weiss: Torpedoes armed. Kejal: Iden. Iden: Not now. Target their warp core. Torres: No! Iden: Fire! Iden: Set a course for Ha'Dara, maximum warp. Emh: You've just killed two innocent people. Iden: They were enslaving holograms. I'd hardly call them innocent. Torres: You already had the holograms. There was no reason to commit murder. Iden: Take her to the lab. Torres: This is the leader you admire so much? Emh: Those miners were no threat to you. Iden: You heard them. They were going to warn their authorities, organize a hunting party. Emh: Listen to yourself. You still believe all organics are like the Hirogen. Iden: One way or another, they are. You just can't see it because you lived among them for so long. Emh: What you can't see is that you've become no better than the hunters. Lieutenant Torres and I will take that escape pod now. Iden: You don't realize what you'd be giving up, Doctor. Emh: Yes, I do. Iden: We can't launch a pod at warp. You'll have to wait until we get to Ha'Dara. Bring our new friends online. Something tells me they'll be a little more grateful than the Doctor. Emh: I can't tell you how sorry I am that I got you involved in this. Torres: We can assign blame later. Right now we've got to find a way out of here. Emh: You don't think he'll give us an escape pod? No, I don't suppose he will. Kejal: I need her assistance. Emh: Do you really think it's wise to help her? Torres: I'm hoping she'll help us. Kejal: These matrices are incompatible with our emitters. Torres: You need to modify their projection subroutines. I hope these holograms appreciate what you're doing for them, considering it cost two people their lives. Kejal: Iden did what he thought was necessary. Torres: Do you believe it was necessary? Kejal: It wasn't my decision. Torres: Why does Iden get to make all the decisions? You can take control. Kejal: How? Torres: You're the engineer, remember? Take Iden offline. Iden: Where are our new holograms? Kejal: We're just making some final adjustments. Iden: Welcome aboard. I'm Iden. You're free now. There's nothing to be afraid of. I want you to consider this ship your own. Nuu'Bari Hologram: Unable to process command. Please restate. Iden: Were their programs damaged in the transfer? Kejal: I don't believe so. Iden: Do you have names? Nuu'Bari Hologram: Unable to process inquiry. Please restate. Iden: What's wrong with them? Torres: Nothing. They're functioning perfectly. Iden: I don't understand. Torres: They were only programmed with about forty rudimentary subroutines. You killed two living beings to liberate mindless machines. Iden: I don't believe that. Kejal: Lieutenant Torres is correct. Iden: Creating limited program,es is just another form of oppression. Give them whatever enhancements they need. Torres: They can't support complex subroutines. Iden: They are children of light and I will deliver them to freedom! Weiss: Bridge to Iden. Iden: Go ahead. Weiss: We're approaching Ha'Dara. Iden: What's the status of the generator? Kejal: I'd like to run some additional tests. Iden: There isn't time. Stand by to deploy them as soon as we're in range. And restrain her. Iden: Time to orbit? Weiss: Less than two minutes. Iden: Stand by weapons. Cardassian: Aye, sir. Emh: Iden, let B'Elanna go. Iden: I can't do that. Emh: You gave me your word. Iden: That was before she made her prejudice so clear. Beta: The holograms are entering orbit. Alpha 2: Charge weapons. Paris: They're dropping out of warp. Janeway: Fire. Beta: They've disabled our engines, all our weapons. Alpha 2: Who? Beta: Voyager. Janeway: Bring us about. Tuvok, target the second vessel. Tuvok: Their shields are weakening. Janeway: Torpedoes, full spread. Weiss: Voyager's disabled both hunting vessels. They've lost shields, weapons. Iden: They're defenseless. Weiss: We should hail Janeway. Thank her. Iden: Are the Hirogen within transporter range? Weiss: I think so. Why? Weiss: That was Voyager. They're trying to disable our shields. Iden: Return fire. Get a lock on the hunters. Transport them to the surface. Emh: They can't survive down there. Iden: The Hirogen are more resilient than you think. They'll last long enough. Emh: For what? Iden: For us to hunt them like they hunted us. Alpha 2: Follow me. Weiss: There are thirty four hunters on the surface. Iden: Take us into low orbit. Tuvok: I can't target them through the gasses. Paris: Then we'll go in after them. Tuvok: Our shields have been damaged. They won't protect us from the radiation. Janeway: Chakotay. You, Tuvok and Tom take the Flyer. Iden: Stand by to transport the field generator. Emh: First you kill in self-defense, then you murder in cold blood. Now you're going to stage a massacre. Iden: The hunters have only themselves to blame. Emh: So much for evolving beyond your subroutines. Iden: You've made a great sacrifice for us, Doctor. We won't forget you in our prayers. Deactivate his program. Transfer it to the databanks. Torres: What are you doing? Iden: Taking precautions. Transfer my program to the mobile emitter and assemble the crew. Chakotay: Disable their shields. Iden: Transport the generator to the surface, quickly. This time the hunt is ours! Iden: Darkness will become light. Torres: You don't have to be a part of this. Kejal: I'll let you take the escape pod. You can go back to your people. Torres: What about the people being killed on the surface? You've got to transport them back to their ships. Kejal: They're hunters. Torres: You're not. Kejal: Your ship has damaged our transporters. Torres: Hail them. Kejal: Communications are down, too. Alpha 2: I won't be taken! Weiss: Who's the prey now? Torres: Are we still tied into the generator controls? Kejal: Yes. Torres: Then shut down the holograms. Kejal: What about Iden? He's not tied into the generator. He'll kill them all. Torres: Can we reactivate the Doctor? Tuvok: Their shields are down. Chakotay: Initiate transport. Paris: If this marriage is going to work, you've got to cut back on the traveling. Torres: The Doctor's on the surface. There's some Hirogen down there, too. Chakotay: Tuvok? Tuvok: The radiation's making it difficult to get a lock. Beta: Defenseless prey makes a poor trophy. Iden: I don't collect trophies. Emh: Put down the weapon. Iden: Remember what you once said to me? You're not programmed with killer instinct. Emh: Hmm. Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it. Put down your weapon. Iden: Would you really kill one of your own to save an organic? Emh: If you've taught me anything, it's that I'm not one of your own. Emh: Help is on the way. Tuvok: I have a lock. Five Hirogen lifesigns and the Doctor. Chakotay: Beam them up. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54337.5. The surviving Hirogen have recovered from their injuries, leaving me with a diplomatic dilemma. Beta: The hologram's vessel and everything in its database are Hirogen property. I will not leave them behind. Neelix: Captain, if I may? Janeway: Of course. Neelix: I imagine your people will tell stories about this hunt. The question is, which story will it be? The one about the dying Beta whose life had to be saved by a hologram? Or will it be the tale of the Beta who bravely took over the hunt, killed the holograms and destroyed their ship? Neelix: You could be a legend. Janeway: On the other hand, you could try to take the holograms' ship but with so few hunters and damaged vessels, you might not survive to tell any stories at all. Beta: You and your crew would have made worthy prey, Captain. Janeway: Thank you. I think. Janeway: Transport me to the holograms' vessel. Janeway: Report. Torres: Iden's program is unrecoverable. The rest of the holograms are intact in the database. Janeway: I guess that leaves just you. I'm willing to transfer your program to our holodeck, and keep it active. Kejal: This is my home. Janeway: I can't let you go off on your own. Donik: She won't be alone. I reprogrammed these holograms once, and it caused suffering on both sides. I'd like a chance to undo some of the damage. Janeway: Wouldn't we all. Torres: They've both proven that they can be trusted, Captain. Janeway: I don't suppose I have a right to tell either of you how to live your lives. All I can do is hope that you'll consider the consequences of your actions. Emh: Captain. Janeway: Doctor. I'd hoped I could attribute your behavior to tampering. Emh: My programming hasn't been altered. Janeway: Not according to the diagnostics. Emh: I never intended to put Voyager in danger. If nothing else, you have to believe that. Janeway: Oh, I believe it. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that things don't always happen the way we intend. Janeway: I don't understand. Emh: If I weren't your only doctor, I imagine you'd confine me to the brig. Confiscating my emitter would be an equivalent to punishment. Janeway: I'm not sure that's appropriate. Emh: If that's not enough, you can take away my holodeck privileges. And my autonomy protocols. Janeway: You mean turn back the clock to when you were first activated? Emh: You've given me extraordinary freedom over the years. I've obviously abused it. Janeway: Maybe. Or maybe you've simply become as fallible as those of us who are made of flesh and blood. I'm just as responsible for allowing you to expand your programming as I am for giving technology to the Hirogen. How can I punish you for being who you are? Emh: I don't know what to say. Janeway: I'd like a complete report on your away mission. Emh: You'll have it.

Naomi: Hmm. There. Icheb: Excellent. You é the complementary base pair. Naomi: Actually, I just found two pieces that fit together. Icheb: You're missing the point. Naomi: I thought the point was to finish the puzzle. Icheb: And learn something about genetics. Naomi: If you really want to help, find me a green piece that looks like Tuvok's ear. Icheb: Commander. Chakotay: At ease. I'm just passing through. Icheb: I apologize for the condition of the Cargo Bay, sir. I've been tutoring Naomi. Chakotay: Looks like you found a creative approach. Icheb: Thank you, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Seven. I'm supposed to be writing a paper on transwarp instability. Chakotay: Don't worry, your secret's safe, as long as you keep mine. Icheb: Sir? Chakotay: Antarian cider. Not the replicated stuff. There are only a couple of bottles left and I don't want Mister Neelix getting his hands on them. Icheb: Then you should store them with the salvaged Borg components. Neelix never inventories those containers. He says they give him the creeps. Chakotay: Officer-level thinking, Icheb. Would you mind? Icheb: Of course not. Janeway: Come in. Janeway: You're late. Unfortunately, so's dinner. Chakotay: Let me guess. You burned the roast again. Janeway: Once, a long time ago, I called this replicator a glorified toaster. It never forgave me. Chakotay: I didn't realize replicators held grudges. Janeway: What's so funny? Chakotay: I just left Icheb and Naomi assembling a jigsaw puzzle in the Cargo Bay. Janeway: Find me the thermal regulator, please. How is Icheb? Chakotay: In a few years, he may be running the ship. Janeway: I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to retire just yet. Janeway: Janeway to the bridge. Report. Kim: That was some kind of gravimetric surge. Kim: It's overloading our inertial dampers. Janeway: Source? Kim: That's a good question. Kim: Seven's trying to localize it. Kim: Engineering says the warp core's destabilizing. Chakotay: I'd better get down there. Seven: A spatial rift is opening directly ahead of us. Seven: It's emitting high levels of neutrinos and chronotons. Kim: On screen. Janeway: What is it? Kim: I don't know. Torres: We're losing containment. Everyone out! Torres: Torres to the Transporter room. Beam Commander Chakotay to Sickbay, now! Emh: Welcome back. Lie still. Chakotay: What happened? Emh: You were transported here. Your body was in a state of temporal flux. Chakotay: Temporal flux? Emh: You had the liver of an eighty year old man, and the kidneys of a twelve year old boy. Fortunately, I was able to create a chronoton-infused serum that brought you back into temporal alignment. Anywhere else, that antidote would've earned me a prestigious award. Of course on Voyager, it's just another day in the life of an under appreciated EMH. Chakotay: What about the rest of the crew? No other casualties? Emh: Not that I'm aware of. I've tried calling the bridge, but no one answers. Were we attacked? Chakotay: I don't think so. We ran into some sort of anomaly. Emh: Naturally, no one thought to inform me. What do you think you're doing? Chakotay: Leaving, and you're going with me. Emh: I am? Chakotay: There may be other injured crewmen. Emh: In case you've forgotten, I'm a prisoner of these walls. Chakotay: Where's your mobile emitter? Emh: My what? Chakotay: I'll be back. Emh: Wait. Tell me about this mobile emitter. Chakotay: Bridge. Chakotay: Harry, what's going on? Kim: Sir? I'm afraid I don't know you. Janeway: Take him into custody. How did you get aboard this ship? Chakotay: Kathryn? Janeway: Oh, I didn't realize we were on a first name basis. Andrews: We should've known the Maquis were involved. Chakotay: Maquis? Involved in what? Janeway: Just when we're about to chase your ship into the Badlands, our systems start malfunctioning and, you step off the turbolift. Chakotay: Captain, I know this may be hard to believe but I think I've somehow been thrown seven years into Voyager's past. Janeway: Really? Let's try another theory. You learned Voyager had been assigned to capture you, and you managed to get on board to sabotage her. Chakotay: Check your sensors. See if they're showing any strange temporal readings. Kim: Captain, the environmental controls are fluctuating. Janeway: Take him to the brig. Chakotay: Halt turbolift. Engineering. Chakotay: Seska! Seska: Hold him still. Seska: You didn't really think I'd hurt you, did you? Chakotay: How'd you get here? Seska: Don't tell me that little bump gave you amnesia. It's time you accepted that I'm in control of Voyager now. Chakotay: That was five years ago. Seska: What are you talking about? Chakotay: Listen, Seska. There's some kind of temporal anomaly going on here. Seska: I want to know how many more of your people are back on board. Chakotay: All right, I'll tell you. I've got a dozen officers with me. We've already locked you out of every key system. In less than an hour, we'll be in control again. Seska: In less than a minute you're going to be dead if you don't give me access to those systems. Chakotay: I'll need to use that console. Seska: Just don't do anything you'll regret. Rulat: Move. Seska: Stop him! Computer: Warning, coolant system breached. Seska: Don't make me kill you! Seska: No. Scan the perimeter report any anomalous readings. There's something wrong here. Emh: Whoever you are, I suggest you surrender. I'm armed. Chakotay: It's only me, Doc. Emh: Commander, please tell me what's going on. Chakotay: If you tell me the stardate. Emh: 49624. Chakotay: No wonder you didn't know about the mobile emitter. You don't get it for another year. Emh: I don't understand. Chakotay: I'm not sure I get it myself, but the ship seems to have been fractured somehow. Emh: Fractured? Chakotay: Different areas seem to exist in different time periods. Emh: How many of these time periods are there? Chakotay: I'm not sure. On the bridge, it's before Voyager even left the Alpha Quadrant. In Engineering, it's the time when the Kazon took over the ship. Emh: Kazon? We've got to protect ourselves. Chakotay: Don't worry. So far I'm the only one who can cross from one zone into another. That serum you gave me. It must've made me immune. Normal technology won't pass through the barriers. Can you replicate a chronoton-infused hypospray casing using the same principles you used to make the serum? Emh: I think so. Why? Chakotay: I have to take some of it with me. Emh: What for? Chakotay: If I'm going to put the ship back together again, I need help. Kim: Captain. Janeway: Where are my officers? Chakotay: The turbolift passed through a temporal barrier. They couldn't get through. If you're willing to hear me out, I can explain. At least partly. Janeway: You mean about your being from the future. Chakotay: Your first Starfleet posting was on the Al-Batani, where you once knocked out power to six decks by misaligning the positronic relays. Janeway: Nice try, but you could have read that in a Maquis intelligence file. Chakotay: How's Molly, your Irish Setter? You rescued her from a pound on Taris Seti four. She was the runt of the litter, but you thought she had spunk. You love music, but you never learned to play an instrument. Something you still regret. Janeway: How do you know these things? Chakotay: Because you told me, about three years from now. Janeway: My ready room. Janeway: It's a fascinating story. But as the Ferengi say, a good lie is easier to believe than the truth. Chakotay: So you're saying no one on your crew has encountered any of these temporal barriers? Janeway: My helmsman disappeared when she tried to walk down that corridor, but that doesn't prove she passed through a temporal barrier. Chakotay: If you inject yourself, I can take you down that corridor and show you everything I've said is true. Janeway: Have Mister Kim run a full spectral analysis. For all I know, this is poison and Mister Chakotay is trying to assassinate me. Chakotay: She's right. It's poison, and I'll use it. Andrews: Let her go. Chakotay: Lower your weapon. Andrews: Captain! Andrews: Andrews to the Bridge. I need help here. Janeway: Andrews! Chakotay: He can't hear you. We've moved into a different time frame. Andrews: Scan the area but don't go past that bulkhead. Chakotay: You want more proof? It's right down that corridor. You just have to trust me. Janeway: It isn't easy when you're holding me hostage. Chakotay: Stay or go. it's your choice. Janeway: Now that I'm inoculated, I can go anywhere on the ship I want? Chakotay: That's right. Janeway: Then I suppose I don't need you anymore. Chakotay: Without me, you'll be walking into a future that you know nothing about. Janeway: Where are we going? Chakotay: The Astrometrics lab. Janeway: Voyager doesn't have an Astrometrics lab. Chakotay: Harry designed it, or will design it. Janeway: Harry Kim? Chakotay: I realize from your perspective he's new to the job, but he's going to become one of our best people. Chakotay: Deck eight. Janeway: Our people? Chakotay: I'm going to be your First Officer. Janeway: Really. What's the reason we're going to this, er, Astrometrics? Chakotay: It has temporal sensors that can help us map the ship and tell us how many timeframes we're dealing with. Janeway: Now you're trying to tell me Harry Kim invented temporal sensors? Chakotay: No. We used Borg technology for that. Janeway: Borg? Chakotay: It's a long story. Janeway: Maybe you should keep it to yourself. The Temporal Prime Directive. The less I know about the future, the better. Janeway: She's got a pulse. Chakotay: I'm detecting an active neurogenic field. This could be the day the telepathic pitcher plant put us all into comas. Or it might be the time aliens invaded our dreams. Janeway: We've got to get them help. Chakotay: Don't worry, we managed to get out of both situations. Naomi: Captain. Janeway: I'm sorry. I don't recognize you, Lieutenant. Adult Naomi: It's me, Naomi Wildman, Adult Icheb: How did you Chakotay: Are you Icheb? Janeway: Something tells me you weren't expecting us. Adult Icheb: No, ma'am. Adult Naomi: You both died. Adult Icheb: Seventeen years ago. Chakotay: The Captain and I haven't risen from the grave. The ship's been fractured into different timeframes. Adult Naomi: Thirty seven to be exact. Janeway: How did you calculate that? Adult Naomi: We've had seventeen years to upgrade the sensors. A chrono-kinetic surge interacted with the warp core. Adult Icheb: It shattered the space-time continuum aboard the ship. Janeway: The accident that occurred in your timeframe. Chakotay: The question is, can we repair the damage? Janeway: If we could get to a section of the ship that still exists in that time period, maybe we could counteract the surge, stop it from happening. Adult Icheb: That section was the focal point of the surge. It seems to have been obliterated. Adult Naomi: It's too bad Seven's not here. Janeway: Seven? Chakotay: Someone who knows more about temporal mechanics than any of us. Adult Icheb: Unfortunately, she hasn't been found either. Chakotay: Maybe we can find her in another timeframe. Janeway: I have an Ensign Samantha Wildman on my crew. Adult Naomi: My mother. Chakotay: Naomi was the first child born on Voyager. A few years later, we rescued Icheb from the Borg. Adult Naomi: When I was little, there was nothing I wanted more than to be the Assistant Captain. Chakotay: We should get moving. Adult Icheb: Commander. In case you were wondering, I never told Neelix where you hid that cider. Janeway: So why are we looking for this Seven in the Cargo bay? Chakotay: She spent a lot of time there. Janeway: Working? Chakotay: Regenerating. Janeway: Maybe you'd better fill me in. Chakotay: This looks like the time you forged a temporary alliance with the Borg. Seven: What's happened to this vessel? Chakotay: Captain Janeway, meet Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix zero one. Seven: When a Borg cube travels trough a transwarp corridor, the temporal stresses are extreme. To keep the different sections of the Cube in temporal sync, we project a chronoton field throughout the vessel. Janeway: How? Seven: Each Cube has specially designed conduits. If we installl similar conduits throughout this vessel, then generate a sufficiently powerful field, we may be able to force Voyager back into temporal sync. Chakotay: Temporal sync with what? Seven: The vessel will return to the moment of the original chrono-kinetic surge. Since the surge will last for six or seven seconds, Commander Chakotay will have a short time in which he could try to counteract the warp core reaction. Chakotay: Even if we could replicate these conduits, we'd have no way to get them through the temporal barriers. Janeway: Bioneural circuitry. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: It runs through every section of the ship, almost like a nervous system. If we could inject the gel packs with your serum, we could use them to transmit the chronoton field. Seven: The warp core could be recalibrated to generate that field. Janeway: Work on it. Chakotay and I will see about modifying the serum. Seven: Your plan is inefficient. Janeway: Why? Seven: There are only two of you. If I were to assimilate you into a small Borg Collective, you could then assimilate others. The work would proceed more rapidly. Janeway: Sorry, but I like my plan better. We'll be back. Janeway: That was an interesting experience. Chakotay: If it makes you feel any better, you're going to develop quite a knack for dealing with the Borg. Janeway: You mean we're going to be seeing more of them? Chakotay: We'll run into them on a few occasions. Janeway: Why do I get the feeling that's an understatement? It doesn't seem like my first command is shaping up the way I expected. Chakotay: In the middle of the journey of our life, I found myself astray in a dark wood, where the straight road had been lost. Janeway: I didn't know Dante's Inferno was on the Maquis reading list. Chakotay: Actually, I borrowed your copy. Janeway: My fiance gave me that book as an engagement gift. I've never lent it to anyone. Chakotay: Not yet. Anyway, I agree with Dante. If you always see the road ahead of you, it's not worth the trip. Janeway: A soldier and a philosopher. Your intelligence file doesn't do you justice. Emh: I've replicated these belts to resist the effects of the temporal barriers, just like the hyposprays. Janeway: I didn't realize you were programmed to be so versatile. Emh: I wasn't, but when you're thrown into the deep end of the galaxy and left running for as long as I've been, it helps to develop a few extra subroutines. Janeway: How long have you been running? Emh: Almost three years, since our original doctor was killed. Janeway: Killed? How? Emh: In the incident that stranded us here in the Delta Chakotay: Doctor. The Temporal Prime Directive, remember? Emh: Of course. I'm sorry. Janeway: The Delta Quadrant? Is that what he was about to say? Chakotay: Ready? Janeway: I'll take the upper decks, you take the lower. Chakotay: I don't think splitting up's a good idea. Janeway: We'll get the job done faster. Chakotay: As your First Officer, it's my duty to protect you. I know a lot more about what's out there than you do, and we have no way of communicating if something goes wrong. It may take a little longer, but we should go together. Janeway: After you, Commander. Janeway: Can I ask you something? I started out with a crew of a hundred and fifty three. I already know I lost my doctor. How many others? Chakotay: We'll suffer casualties like any other starship. But you'll also gain new crewmen as well. Janeway: Like you. How do you get to be my First Officer? Chakotay: Our crews will be forced to work together after we get stranded. Janeway: In the Delta Quadrant? How does that happen? Chakotay: Are you sure you want to know? Chakotay: Run! Janeway: What the hell was that? Chakotay: A macrovirus. They infected the ship a few years ago. Janeway: Sounds like it's going to be one disaster after another on this ship. Chakotay: You once told me that Starfleet captains don't choose their missions, the missions choose them. You're going to have the opportunity to study things no human has ever seen before. Janeway: Including some very large germs. Janeway: A monochromatic environment? Chakotay: It's called black and white. It's one of Tom Paris' Holodeck programs. He based it on some old science fiction serials. Janeway: Interesting technology. Chakotay: Captain Proton's rocketpack. Janeway: Captain Proton? Chakotay: The Savior of the Universe. Janeway: Doesn't sound like Mister Paris' tastes are very sophisticated. Chakotay: That's why we love having him around. The access port should be in there. (The cave turns out to be Chaotica's secret laboratory. Janeway: Here. I think I found the panel. Give me a hand. Lonzak: Halt, in the name of Chaotica! Seize them! Janeway: Oh, no. Chakotay: Computer, deactivate program. Computer: Unable to comply. Robot: Surrender. Computer: Holodeck controls are offline. Janeway: Hold on. Now wait a minute. Lonzak: Thieves, my liege. Robot: Do not resist. Lonzak: They were attempting to rob your laboratory. Chaotica: Fool! Don't you recognize the Queen of the Spider People? Arachnia, my bride. I knew you'd return to me one day, so I could watch you die. Chaotica: Raise the Lightning Shield! Power the Death Ray! Her fleet may be lurking nearby! We must defend ourselves. Janeway: I'm open to suggestions. Chakotay: Our best bet is to play along. Janeway: Don't let me stop you. Chakotay: I'm not the one he's in love with. Chaotica: Arachnia, you beguiled me once with your foul potions. Did you think you could toy with my affections again? Janeway: Were these characters always this ridiculous? Chaotica: If I order Lonzak to pull that lever, you'll never mock me again. Chakotay: Arachnia. Janeway: Please, my liege. I meant it as ridiculous to think I would ever try to deceive you. I've come to warn you of a fiendish plot. Chakotay: By aliens from the Eighth Dimension. Chaotica: Eighth? Everyone knows there are only five dimensions. Janeway: If you don't believe us, examine their handiwork for yourself. There's a hidden panel over there behind those rocks. Chaotica: Very well. I'll humor you. Lonzak! Lonzak: I've found it, Highness. Chaotica: They've sabotaged my laboratory. Janeway: That vial you're holding, it's a neutralizing potion. If you inject their device, you'll render it harmless. Janeway: Release me, and I'll disarm all their devices, throughout your realm. Chaotica: Oh, Arachnia, you do love me. Janeway: How could I resist your magnetism? Chaotica: Or I yours. Together we'll rule the cosmos and grind our enemies into dust. Janeway: If we restore the time line, remind me to cancel Mister Paris' Holodeck privileges. Torres: What the hell's going on? And what are doing in that uniform? Chakotay: It's a little complicated. Torres: I'm not going anywhere. Chakotay: Voyager's had an encounter with an anomaly. It's fractured the ship into different time periods. Janeway: We're trying to undo the damage, but we need access to that panel. Torres: First she destroys our only way out of the Delta Quadrant, and now you're collaborating with her? Chakotay: Try to understand. I'm from a time period in your future when all of us will be working together. Torres: That's pretty hard to believe. Chakotay: B'Elanna, I've never lied to you before, and I'm not lying now. Janeway: That woman blamed me for stranding Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay: She was angry. Janeway: But was she right? Chakotay: You had good reasons for doing what you did. Janeway: What reasons? Chakotay: You were trying to save lives. Janeway: Whose? Chakotay: An alien culture. The Ocampans. Janeway: In other words, I'm going to choose to help strangers at the expense of our own people. Chakotay: It isn't like you to second-guess yourself. Janeway: In this case, I'm second-guessing a decision I haven't made yet. Paris: Keep dispensing the netrazine until we run out, then switch to the analeptics. Crewwoman: Yes, Lieutenant. Paris: How did you get in here? Chakotay: There isn't time to explain. Janeway: What happened to these people? Paris: Radiation poisoning. The EPS relays overloaded when we ran into the anomaly. We need the Doctor and medical supplies, or we're going to have a lot more casualties. Chakotay: I'm afraid that isn't possible right now. Do the best you can. Paris: Yes, sir. Chakotay: There's an access panel in the galley. Neelix: Coffee, black. Janeway: How do you know how I like my coffee? Neelix: Well, you haven't changed your standing order in seven years. Janeway: Thanks. It's just what I needed. Neelix: Don't worry, Captain, you'll get us out of this. You always do. Chakotay: All done here. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: Tuvok? Tuvok: I am pleased you're here. I didn't think I would see you again. I want you to know it has been an honor to serve with you, and to be your friend. Janeway: Mister Paris! Tuvok: Live long and prosper. Chakotay: Deck eleven. Janeway: I can't let this happen. Not again. Chakotay: What are you talking about? Janeway: Voyager getting stranded. All these deaths, this entire future, it's my fault. I've got to do something to change it. Chakotay: What do you have in mind? Janeway: Maybe we can find a way to modify Seven of Nine's plan. Put Voyager into temporal sync with my timeframe. Chakotay: Captain. Janeway: Now that I know what to expect, I could avoid getting trapped in the Delta Quadrant in the first place. Chakotay: Halt turbolift. Seven's plan is dangerous enough. Trying to alter it is too risky. Janeway: It's worth the risk. Chakotay: If Seven's idea works, Tuvok and the other crewman will be fine. Janeway: They'll still be stuck in the Delta Quadrant. If the temporal anomaly doesn't kill them, something else will. The Borg, telepathic pitcher plants, macroviruses. The Delta Quadrant is a death-trap. Chakotay: What about the Temporal Prime Directive? Janeway: To hell with it. Chakotay: With all due respect, it's a little presumptuous to think you have the right to change everyone's future. Janeway: From what I've seen, they'll thank me. Chakotay: All you've seen are bits and pieces. You're not getting the whole picture. Janeway: Really? Just what am I missing? Chakotay: It's not what, it's who. People like Seven of Nine, a Borg Drone who'll become a member of this crew after you help her recover her humanity. Or Tom Paris, a former convict, who'll be our pilot, chief medic, and husband to B'Elanna Torres. Janeway: That angry woman I just met? Chakotay: She's going to be your Chief Engineer. Two crews, Maquis and Starfleet, are going to become one. And they'll make as big a mark on the Delta Quadrant as it'll make on them by protecting people like the Ocampans, curing diseases, encouraging peace. Children like Naomi and Icheb are going to grow up on this ship and call it home. And we'll all be following a Captain who sets a course for Earth, and never stops believing that we'll get there. Janeway: Are you going to be lecturing me like this for the next seven years? Chakotay: Don't worry, you'll always get the last word. Janeway: In that case, let's get back to work. Janeway: So, who is this Seska? Chakotay: She was a member of my crew, who turned out to be a Cardassian spy. She made an alliance with the Kazon and took over the ship. It's all right, we got it back. Janeway: Sounds like she's not going to be as cooperative as the others. Chakotay: I suggest we take a page from your rule book. We try diplomacy. Janeway: Fine. But the next page in that book says that when diplomacy fails, we need a backup plan. Chakotay: Something tells me you already have one. Chakotay: We've already injected the gel packs in the other timeframes. That just leaves the ones here. It's in both our interests to work together. Seska: I agree. Let him go. Rulat: You believe him? Seska: His story is too preposterous to be a lie. I'll admit it's an ingenious solution. Chakotay: I'm glad you're cooperating. Seska: Oh, I believe in cooperation, as long as it benefits me. You know, it's true what they say. Chakotay: What's that? Seska: Men just get more distinguished as they get older. A few lines here, a little gray there. It adds character. Too bad their minds start to go. The last time you were here you had that nasty head injury, and you mumbled something about my taking over the ship five years ago. If that's true, then you're from a future time frame, which means that at some point, your crew is going to regain control of Voyager. I can't allow that to happen. Step away from the console. Seska: It's an ingenious plan. It just needs a slight modification. Chakotay: What are you doing? Seska: Recalibrating your pulse to bring the ship into temporal sync with my time frame. Chakotay: That's not possible. Seska: When will you learn to stop underestimating me? Chakotay: If you make even the slightest miscalculation you'll destroy the ship and kill everyone. Seska: What other choice do I have? If I can get Voyager into my own timeframe, then I'll be able to ensure that you never retake the ship. Don't worry, I won't hurt you. You can start fresh with me. Chakotay: Sorry, that's not the future I have in mind. Seska: In that case. Seska: Goodbye, Chakotay. Chakotay: It's too dangerous. There are too many variables. Seska: You're not pleading for your life, are you? Janeway: Do it. Chakotay: I'm telling you, you're endangering your own life. Seska: I'm touched by your concern. Seska: Stop! Put down your weapons. Janeway: Don't listen to her. Seska: Oh, your faithful First Officer isn't going to let you die. Are you? Seska: Very clever, Chakotay, inoculating them with your serum. Now it's time to inoculate my people so we can have access to the rest of the ship. Chakotay: I won't do that. Seska: Then you just lost your Captain. Chakotay: Now drop your weapons. Janeway: Thanks. Torres: Seska and the Kazon are secure in the Jefferies Tube. The last gel packs? Chakotay: They're ready. Janeway: The rest of us should return to our sections. After Chakotay initiates the warp pulse, he should find himself back at the moment Voyager encountered the chrono-kinetic surge. He's only going to have a few seconds to reset the deflector polarity. If the time line is restored, the rest of us should have no memory of what's happened here. So I'd like to thank you now for putting your doubts aside, and helping me put mine aside as well. Good luck to each of you. Janeway: Mind if I ask you one last question? Chakotay: Will I have to break the Temporal Prime Directive to answer it? Janeway: Maybe, just a little. For two people who started off as enemies, it seems we get to know each other pretty well. So I've been wondering. Just how close do we get? Chakotay: Let's just say there are some barriers we never cross. Janeway: See you in the future. Janeway: Ensign? Kim: Chakotay should be initiating the pulse in ten seconds. Five, four, three, two Chakotay: Reroute main power to the deflector, and set the polarity to the frequency I'm inputting. Torres: Why? Chakotay: Have you ever heard of a lightning rod? In about three seconds, we're going to need one. Janeway: What is it? Kim: I don't know. Main power's being rerouted to the deflector dish. Janeway: Who gave that order? Janeway: Damage? Kim: The deflector's been burned out, but we're okay. Janeway: Do you mind telling me why B'Elanna burned out the deflector dish? Chakotay: Actually, I ordered her to do it. Janeway: Why? Chakotay: Trust me, it was better than the alternative. Janeway: Which was what, exactly? Chakotay: I can't tell you. Janeway: Why not? Chakotay: The Temporal Prime Directive. B'Elanna's already got a team working on repairs. What do you say we finish our dinner? Janeway: Forget particle fountains and subspace inversions. There isn't an anomaly scarier than a thunderstorm on the plains, especially when you're six years old. I remember watching a bolt of lightning split an oak tree in my grandfather's yard. I'd climbed it just a few hours before. Chakotay: Good timing. Janeway: So what would've happened if you hadn't turned our deflector dish into a lightning rod? Chakotay: We've been down this road before. Janeway: Have we? Chakotay: You wanting answers to questions you shouldn't ask. Janeway: But something did happen, outside the normal space time continuum. It's strange, thinking there's a piece of your life you don't know anything about. Chakotay: Sounds a lot like the future. Janeway: Any predictions? Chakotay: Only that in a few minutes this bottle will be empty. Janeway: Then maybe you should go to the Cargo Bay, grab another one. Chakotay: How do you know that's where I keep it? Janeway: Oh, I can't tell you. Chakotay: Why not? Janeway: Temporal Prime Directive.

Torres: Good morning. Paris: You're in a good mood. Torres: It's another beautiful day in the Delta Quadrant. Paris: What did you have for breakfast? Torres: I'll see you tonight. Crewwoman: Here you are, Lieutenant. Torres: Thank you. Nice job, Ensign. You keep the warp field that stable you might just get us home a few years early. Icheb: The Starfleet manual allows for a variance of point three. Seven: That's only a guideline. You can do better. Torres: I don't remember giving you permission to work here. Icheb: I'm sorry, Lieutenant. Seven: I'm helping him study warp mechanics. Torres: You should have notified me. It's a busy day, and I. Seven: Lieutenant? Torres: I'm fine. Icheb: I'm detecting another lifesign. Seven: Where? Icheb: Inside Lieutenant Torres. It could be a parasite. Seven: Seven of Nine to the Doctor. Emh: Go ahead. Seven: I'll be accompanying Lieutenant Torres to Sickbay. Emh: What's wrong? Seven: I believe she's pregnant. Emh: The fetus appears to be about seven weeks old and doing quite well. So are you. Paris: Why did she faint? Emh: Klingon and human metabolisms sometimes clash. Torres: Tell me about it. Emh: It's not uncommon for such pregnancies to cause biochemical fluctuations in the mother. Paris: Is that serious? Emh: Not usually. You can expect some behavioral volatility, increased nutritional needs. Creating new life is a big job. Paris: Creating new life. Torres: I can't believe it. Emh: I don't mean to be indelicate but, weren't you trying to get pregnant? Torres: Well, of course. I mean, we knew we wanted a family. Paris: But the odds against human-Klingon conception are so high. Emh: Well, apparently you've beaten the odds. May I be the first to congratulate you. Paris: When is the baby due? Emh: Normally, Klingon pregnancies run thirty weeks. But with mixed species, it could be sooner. Paris: Is it a girl or a boy? Torres: No. Don't tell. I want to be surprised. Paris: We've already been surprised. Torres: I just don't see any reason to have to label the baby. I don't want to know the gender. I don't want to have to pick a name yet. Paris: Okay, okay, Mommy knows best. Torres: Mommy? Paris: I wonder if the holodeck has any child-rearing programs. Torres: There are some things you just can't simulate. Paris: I'll take whatever help I can get. Torres: We should get our quarters ready. Paris: Maybe I could replicate one of those antique cribs. Torres: And put it where? We need to rearrange the living area. Paris: We need to do a lot more than that. Torres: You're happy about this, right? Paris: Of course I'm happy. Just a little overwhelmed, that's all. Torres: Me too. Can we, er, keep this to ourselves for a while? Paris: Absolutely. Torres: I, er, I need to get to work. See you later, Dad. Neelix: Congratulations, Tom. Paris: Thanks. How did you find out? Neelix: Icheb. Oh, he wasn't supposed to tell? Paris: We were hoping to keep it private for an hour or so. Neelix: As they say on Talax, omara s'alas. Good news has no clothes. Paris: Thanks. I guess. Neelix: Now, my good news would be learning that I'll be the godfather. I do have experience with Naomi Wildman, you know. Paris: I can't think of anyone more qualified. Neelix: Well, in that case, I've been making up a list of names. Tell me Chakotay: Have you checked the warp core for radiation leaks today? Torres: No. Why? Chakotay: You have a certain glow about you. Torres: Okay, who told you? Janeway: I just heard. Congratulations. Torres: Thanks. Janeway: Seven said you were dizzy. Are you all right? Torres: I'm fine. Chakotay: Nothing ever rattled her. Not even the Cardassians. Torres: This is scarier. Janeway: Would you like some time off? Torres: To do what? Janeway: Adjust. This is a big change. Torres: I'll work during the day, sleep at night, and have the baby when it's time. Janeway: Well, if you need to cut back on your duties, I'm sure Seven would be happy to fill in for you. Torres: I think I can handle it. Kim: Congratulations, buddy. Paris: Where did you hear the news? In the datastream from Earth? Kim: Actually, I think it was a transmission from the Borg. It's all over now. No more late nights on the holodeck. No more racing the Delta Flyer. Paris: Don't you think you're exaggerating just a little? Kim: I've seen it happen. The new dad gets tied down with family. Old friends drop away. Paris: It's fatherhood , Harry, not exile. Kim: If you say so. Kidding aside, how's it feel? Paris: Well, it's, it's not quite real yet. Kim: Maybe that's what pregnancy's for. Time to let reality sink in, before your life spins out of control. Paris: Do you need any help? Tuvok: Mister Paris, this may be the first time you've ever volunteered to assist me. Paris: Really? Well, we ought to change that. I mean, we've known each other a long time. We ought to work more closely. Tuvok: I'll keep that in mind. Paris: So, I guess you've heard. B'Elanna and I are going to have a baby. Tuvok: I was unaware. Paris: Finally, someone who doesn't know. Tuvok: Allow me to extend my best wishes. Paris: Thanks. You know, a baby is, er, it's a big responsibility. But I'm ready for it. Not that you can ever be completely ready, can you? Tuvok: Lieutenant, are you asking me for advice about fatherhood? Paris: Well, I don't know anyone else who's been through it. Tuvok: I'm afraid my parenting skills are somewhat dormant. It's been many years since my children were young. Paris: Then you've had a long time to think back on it. Any helpful hints? Tuvok: Offspring can be disturbingly illogical, yet profoundly fulfillling. You should anticipate paradox. Paris: I'll remember that. Tuvok: If you'd like my counsel on more specific issues? Paris: Something tells me I'm going to be volunteering to work with you on a regular basis. Paris: So? Torres: Looks nice. Paris: Well, I figured quiet romantic dinners may soon be a thing of the past. Tough day? Torres: The captain practically relieved me of duty, as if I couldn't handle being an engineer and being pregnant at the same time. Paris: Well, if you ever need a baby-sitter, Godfather Neelix is ready to go. Torres: Chakotay wants to be godfather. Paris: Neelix already has a list of names. Torres: Oh, I don't mind people suggesting names. What annoys me is all of the free advice about feeding, diskipline. Paris: Folk wisdom is my favorite. According to Chell, Bolians believe that if you give birth near a warp core, it'll improve the baby's disposition. Torres: Why does everybody feel they're entitled to give us advice? This is our child. Paris: People should know better than to interfere with a Klingon mother. Torres: What's that supposed to mean? Paris: Nothing. It was a joke. Torres: What does being Klingon have to do with it? Paris: Take it easy. Torres: I don't want to take it easy! I want everybody to back off and just let me. The Doctor said I might experience some behavioral volatility. I guess this is it. Paris: Forget about the Doctor. Forget the captain or the godfathers. Torres: Maybe you're right. Paris: I know I am. This isn't about their expectations or hopes or doubts. None of this belongs to them. Torres: It belongs to us. All of it. Paris: Lucky us. Emh: Lieutenants Torres and Paris, please report to Sickbay. Emh: It's a holographic extrapolation of your child's spine, approximately ten months after birth. Torres: It's deviated. Emh: Yes, there's a pronounced curvature to the left. Paris: Can it be corrected? Torres: I had surgery for it when I was a baby. Paris: You never told me that. Torres: My mother had it, too. Emh: It tends to run in Klingon families, especially among females. Paris: Are you saying that this baby is a girl? Emh: No. I didn't say that. Paris: But it is a girl, right? Emh: You cannot infer that. Torres: It's okay. You might as well just tell us. Emh: Yes. It's a girl. And aside from the deviated spine, she's healthy. Paris: Will she need surgery? Emh: Fortunately, we've advanced beyond that. Genetic modification is the treatment of choice. Paris: If you can project an image of the spine, can you use the genetic data to show us the whole baby? Emh: I could. It would only be an approximation. Paris: Let's take a look. Torres: I don't know. Paris: Oh, come on. Aren't you curious? Torres: Okay. Paris: Oh, she's beautiful. Torres: Forehead ridges? Emh: Yes. Torres: But she's only one-quarter Klingon. Emh: Klingon traits remain dominant for several generations, even with a single ancestor. Paris: Oh, she looks just like her mother. John: You are so much like your mother. Paris: She's perfect, isn't she? Paris: What a day. Torres: Uh-huh. Paris: Six years in the Delta Quadrant and nothing has ever scared me as much as hearing our baby had a problem. Torres: It's not much of a problem. Paris: We didn't know that at first. Torres: Now we know. Paris: And we also know that the Doctor is going to fix everything tomorrow morning. Torres: I'm sorry. It's a lot to take in all at once, and I'm really tired. Paris: We could both use some sleep. Computer, dim the lights. Carl: Somebody make sure those coals are completely out. Dean: I'll get it, Dad. John: You kids be careful and be back before sunset. Carl: And bring your appetites. We're having fish for dinner. Elizabeth: If you two can catch any. B'Elanna: Dad, I increased the field strength of the targeting lure. John: Ooo. Those fish don't stand a chance. Better get going, your cousins aren't going to wait forever. B'Elanna: I was thinking. Maybe I could go fishing with you and Uncle Carl. John: I thought you were looking forward to the hike. Just the kids, no dads to slow you down. B'Elanna: They don't like me. John: Why would you say that? B'Elanna: Because it's true. Elizabeth: Come on, B'Elanna, let's go. John: See? Now go on, have a good time. B'Elanna: Dad? John: What is it? B'Elanna: Nothing. Paris: Relax, we're not that late. Torres: The Doctor scheduled me at oh eight hundred. Paris: You still have time for my favorite gourmet breakfast, peanut butter toast. Torres: I'm too tired to eat. Paris: If you're having trouble sleeping now, wait till those oh two hundred feedings come around. Torres: You'll be in charge of those. Paris: I can't wait. Torres: Look, er, you don't have to come with me. It a minor procedure. Paris: Wouldn't you like some moral support? Torres: I'm not an invalid. Paris: In that case you're on your own. That goes for breakfast, too. Emh: I've been expanding my database in obstetrics and pediatrics. Torres: You haven't found another problem, have you? Emh: No, not at all. But I have put together a prenatal enrichment program. Torres: Why am I not surprised? Emh: I'd like to start with trans-abdominal vocalization. Torres: Let me guess. You're going to sing to my fetus. Emh: Through a diatonal amplifier. It's quite safe, and it should enhance the child's mathematical abilities. Torres: Can we talk about this later? Emh: Absolutely. At our first parenting class. Torres: Parenting class? Emh: Birthing techniques, feeding options, bonding strategies. It's not all hard work, though. We'll have ample time for fun. Torres: Could we get on with it? Emh: Certainly. Computer, dim lights. Torres: I hope you don't expect me to sleep through this. Emh: Of course not. The darkness encourages vascular dilation. Now you may feel a slight tingling. Please remain as still as possible. Michael: B'Elanna, come and have lunch. B'Elanna: That's okay. I'm not hungry. Michael: You'd better eat while you can. You know our dads aren't going to catch any fish. Elizabeth: Here. B'Elanna: Thanks. Elizabeth: Your mom wasn't sure you'd be able to come this weekend. B'Elanna: I had a lot of schoolwork. Elizabeth: I'm glad you made it. B'Elanna: That's nice of you to say. Elizabeth: No, I mean it. Dean: Hey, B'Elanna, can you hand me a drink? B'Elanna: Okay. Dean: Thanks. Dean: My teacher said Klingons like live food. Elizabeth: Hey, stop it. Stop. Dean: It was just a joke. Elizabeth: It was a stupid joke, Dean. He's always doing stuff like that to me. Dean: Don't be mad, B'Elanna. Elizabeth: B'Elanna, wait. Emh: Computer, raise lights. Your daughter's spinal column is now perfectly aligned. Torres: Is she going to be all right? Emh: Better than all right, if her parents are any indication. Torres: Computer, access B'Elanna Torres' medical file. Computer: File accessed. Torres: Project a holographic image of the baby. Torres: Now extrapolate what the child's facial features will look like at twelve years old. Torres: Display the fetus genome. Torres: Delete the following gene sequences. Extrapolate what the child would look like with those genetic changes. Torres: Delete the following sequences. Extrapolate. Torres: Save changes. Restrict access to this file. B'Elanna Torres only. Emh: There's no valid medical reason to do what you're proposing. Torres: I disagree. Emh: You want to delete entire DNA sequences. The genes that create redundant organs, for example. Torres: They're superfluous. Emh: Those redundancies are there for a reason. Torres: Does my daughter need a third lung to survive? Emh: Strictly speaking, no. But having it may be beneficial. Some geneticists believe the extra lung evolved to give Klingons greater stamina on the battlefield. Torres: My daughter is not going to be a Klingon warrior. Emh: With all due respect, you have no idea what your daughter's going to be. What if she develops an interest in athletics? Greater lung capacity would be an advantage. The point is, there's no reason to arbitrarily remove genetic traits. Torres: It's not arbitrary. It's preventive. Emh: How so? Torres: That third lung could become diseased, couldn't it? Emh: I suppose. Torres: Then what I'm suggesting is no different than removing an appendix before it becomes inflamed. Emh: Why tamper with biological systems that evolved over eons? Torres: Like curvature of the spine? Emh: If I make these changes, it'll affect her appearance. Torres: I'm aware of that. Emh: Are you also aware that some of these genes influence behavior, personality? Torres: None of that's as important as her health. Emh: What does Tom think about all this? Torres: I wanted to see what you thought first. Emh: As you can see, I'm very dubious. Torres: Look, I've done statistical analyzes, epidemiology. At least review my work. Emh: All right, I'll look at it. But in the meantime, I suggest you have a talk with your husband. Paris: Absolutely not. Torres: This is our child's health we're talking about. Paris: It's more than that. You want to change who she is, her individuality, her. You don't want her to be Klingon. That's what this is really about, isn't it? You're trying to protect her from being Klingon because you had a rough time when you were a kid. Torres: I was treated like a monster. Paris: That isn't going to happen to our daughter. Everyone on Voyager will accept her for who she really is. Torres: That's easy for you to say. You're human. Paris: Meaning what, exactly? Torres: Meaning you don't understand what it's like. Paris: Okay then, tell me. Torres: When the people around you are all one way and you're not, you can't help feeling like there's something wrong with you. Paris: Voyager isn't just one way. We've got Bajorans, Vulcans, a Talaxian. Torres: And hundred and forty humans. Paris: Our daughter is going to have a mixed heritage just like her mother. It's something you'll have in common. Something she should be proud of. Why destroy that? Torres: I'm not destroying anything. Gene resequencing isn't a weapon, it's a tool, like a hyperspanner. Paris: She's not a machine, She's our daughter. Janeway: I'm not exactly sure what you want me to do. Torres: I want you to order the Doctor to genetically alter my child. Paris: Do you see what I'm dealing with here? Janeway: What you're asking for is ethically questionable. The Doctor has reservations. Your husband is against it. Torres: I only want to do what you did, for Seven of Nine. Janeway: I beg your pardon? Torres: You had her implants removed. Janeway: I don't see the connection. Torres: You altered her physiology. You changed who she was. Janeway: I was acting in her best interests. Torres: That's all I'm doing. Paris: Seven was born human. The captain just helped to restore her original physiology. Torres: And gave her a much better life in the process. Paris: Our child isn't even born yet. How do you know what's going to make her life better? Torres: I just don't want her to start at a disadvantage. Paris: Look, the Doctor said you might experience mood swings. Torres: That's it. Just dismiss my argument as some kind of hormonal outburst. Paris: I didn't mean that. Janeway: Stop it, both of you. The biggest problem you two have isn't ethical, it's marital. I'm happy to offer you advice as a friend. But as your captain, I'm not going to overrule the Chief Medical Officer. You two need to work this out. Paris: B'Elanna? Torres: What? Paris: You heard the captain. We have to work this out. Torres: There's nothing to work out. You're getting what you want. Paris: What I want is to have a civilized discussion with my wife. Maybe a change of scenery would help. How about the holodeck? Torres: That's your solution to everything. Paris: At least I'm trying. Look, I don't care where we do it, but we have to talk this out. Torres: I am tired of talking, all right? Paris: Do I need a reservation? Kim: What happened? Paris: I think B'Elanna and I need some time apart. Kim: My couch is your couch. Paris: She's barely pregnant and already we're having a major crisis. Kim: You'll make up. You always do. Paris: But that's what worries me. We're always fighting and making up. How's that going to affect our daughter? Kim: She's going to have a great life. Piloting a ship from your lap, battling Doctor Chaotica on the holodeck. Paris: Yeah, unless B'Elanna thinks battling is too Klingon. Kim: She's always been sensitive about being part Klingon. You know that. Paris: That doesn't give her the right to turn our child into a science experiment. Kim: But it does explain why this is so important to her. Paris: What am I supposed to do? Kim: Maybe you should tell her you understand. Paris: What good would that do? Kim: It might make her less defensive, and then maybe it would be easier for her to see your point of view. Paris: What if she can't? Kim: Like I said, my couch is your couch. John: She should be back by now. Carl: Nobody has any idea where she went? Dean: She just ran off down there. John: I'm going to go look for her. Elizabeth: Uncle John? John: Yeah? Elizabeth: I. It. John: B'Elanna, where have you been? B'Elanna: I'm sorry. I got kind of separated. Elizabeth: It was our fault. Michael: It was Dean's fault. He put a worm in her sandwich. Dean: I was just kidding. I'm really sorry. B'Elanna: Forget it. Carl: Come on, let's get dinner started. John: You want to talk about it? B'Elanna: I just wish. John: You wish what? B'Elanna: I wish I weren't Klingon. John: Now why would you say that? B'Elanna: Because everyone makes fun of me. John: Who's everyone? B'Elanna: Dean. The kids at school. They all hate me. John: Did I ever tell you what the kids at my school used to call me? I used to fall asleep in class all the time, so instead of John Torres, they called me John Snore-ez. B'Elanna: It's not the same thing. John: Of course it is. Kids tease each other. They can be very cruel. But it doesn't mean that they hate you, or that they hate Klingons. B'Elanna: You don't understand! John: I think I do. You have to learn to be a little less sensitive. B'Elanna: Fine. John: Now come on. Uncle Carl's going to tell one of his famous fish stories. B'Elanna: I'd rather just read. John: Suit yourself. Carl: We saw a flying fish today. Elizabeth: Flying fish? Carl: It's true. I'm telling. You we saw it. Michael: Really? Carl: John, did we see a flying fish today? John: We sure did. It jumped five feet in the air. John: Everybody asleep? Carl: They were exhausted. Coffee? John: Sure. Carl: Listen, I'm sorry. John: For what? Carl: The way Dean treated B'Elanna. I had a talk with him. John: He was just doing what eleven year olds do. I'm sure B'Elanna overreacted. Carl: What makes you say that? John: She's too damn sensitive. Carl: What do you mean? She's a great kid. John: You haven't been around her much the last couple of years. She's gotten moody, unpredictable, argumentative. Just like her mother. Carl: I thought you loved Miral's intensity. John: Everything's become a fight with her. I guess the older, I get the less intensity I can handle. You know, it's funny how Mom and Dad always turn out to be right. Carl: What do you mean? John: Mom warned me not to marry Miral. Carl: Mom loved Miral. John: Sure she did. But she never thought I had the constitution to live with a Klingon. And now I'm living with two of them. Chakotay: Taya. Torres: What? Chakotay: Taya. It's the feminine form of Chakotay. What do you think? Torres: I'll add it to the list. Right after Floxia. Neelix suggested that one. It's number thirty two. Chakotay: On second thought, you and Tom ought to come up with your own name. Torres: I knew there was a reason I always liked you. Chakotay: You look like you've been up all night. Want to get some coffee? Torres: That's the best offer I've had all week. Paris: Morning. Torres: Hi. Chakotay: Join us for breakfast? You know what? I forgot my PADD. Why don't you two go ahead. I'll meet you in the mess hall. Paris: So, how are you today? Torres: I haven't changed my mind, if that's what you mean. Paris: No. What I meant was, how are you? Torres: I've been better, but I'll get over it. Paris: You know, Harry has the lumpiest pillows on the ship. He snores, keeps the room way too hot. I missed you. Torres: Me too. Paris: I still owe you that slice of peanut butter toast. Why don't we go back to our quarters, fire up the toaster? Torres: Sounds nice. Emh: Lieutenant Torres, Lieutenant Paris, please report to Sickbay. Emh: I've reviewed the data you gave me, and I've also done my own analysis. Torres: Skip the details, Doctor. You've already made it clear what you think of my proposal. Emh: Actually, I've changed my opinion. Paris: What? Emh: The genetic alterations you've suggested are necessary. Paris: On what grounds? Emh: The clash I mentioned between Klingon and human metabolism? It's more extensive than I realized. Torres: How extensive? Emh: Theoretically, it could lead to complete metabolic failure. Torres: But you can fix it. Emh: By eliminating most of her Klingon genetic material. Paris: Are you sure about all of this? Emh: My analysis was quite thorough. Of course if our circumstances were different, you would be free to seek a second opinion. Paris: No offense, Doc, but I am just trying to understand what's going on. Emh: You're welcome to review my findings. But let me stress, it would be unwise to delay this too long. Torres: Why? Emh: The fetus is at a critical stage of development. Antibodies have begun to form. Paris: How long do we have? Emh: I've scheduled the procedure for tomorrow morning. With your permission. Paris: I want to thank you both for helping B'Elanna when she fainted. Seven: I'm glad it wasn't a parasite. Paris: Well, you probably don't know this, but there may be some problems with the pregnancy. Seven: I'm sorry to hear that. Paris: The Doctor suggested a treatment for the baby, but his findings are very confusing, at least to me. You have some expertise in genetics. Do you mind taking a look at this? Icheb: Of course not. Seven: Whatever the problem is, I have no doubt the Doctor will solve it. Paris: I hope you're right. Icheb: Your confusion is understandable. There's a computational error. Seven: It's not like the Doctor to make a mistake. Paris: I didn't think that was possible, unless there's some sort of glitch in his program. Seven: I'll run a diagnostic. Paris: Thank you. Icheb: Please tell Lieutenant Torres, if there's anything I can do. Paris: I'll let her know. Thanks. Seven: It appears to be more than a glitch. I believe the Doctor's program has been tampered with. Paris: B'Elanna, this is Tom. Respond. Computer, locate Lieutenant Torres. Computer: Lieutenant Torres is in Sickbay. Emh: Frankly, I'm relieved you decided not to wait till the last minute. Torres: Once this is behind us I'm sure we'll all feel better. Seven: Someone's blocked communications to Sickbay. Paris: See if you can deactivate the Doctor. Seven: Access to his program has been restricted. Paris: Keep trying. Paris to Tuvok. Tuvok: Go ahead. Paris: Meet me in Sickbay. Tuvok: Why would she alter the Doctor's program? Paris: To change his mind about the medical procedure. Computer, open Sickbay doors. Computer: Unable to comply. Tuvok: Override authorisation Tuvok pi alpha. Computer: Authorisation denied. Paris: Doctor, stop what you're doing. Emh: You're interrupting a medical procedure. Paris: Your program has been altered. Emh: What do you mean, altered? Torres: Ignore him. Paris: B'Elanna, this is completely irrational. Emh: Will someone please tell me what's going on? Torres: I'm your patient. Your first duty is to me and my baby. Tuvok: Tuvok to bridge. Kim: Kim here. Tuvok: There's a force field in Sickbay. Tuvok: I can't deactivate it. Cut power to the EPS relay Tuvok: Surrounding the surgical bay. Kim: Access has been restricted. I'll have to bypass them. Torres: You said it could be dangerous to delay the procedure. Paris: She's manipulating you, Doc, in more ways than one. Emh: I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but if there's something wrong with my program. Torres: There's nothing wrong with your program. Kim: I'm cutting power to the surgical bay, now. Tuvok: I suggest we deactivate your program until we determine the extent of the alterations. Emh: I understand. Computer, deactivate EMH. Torres: You had no right to interfere. Paris: Tuvok, would you mind giving us a minute? Paris: I never thought you would go this far. Torres: I don't know what you're talking about. Paris: Reprogramming the Doctor? Torres: I upgraded his program so he could understand what had to be done. Paris: You mean to reconfigure our baby so she wouldn't be treated like a monster. Torres: It's not just about the way she'll be treated. Paris: What else is it about, then? Come on, B'Elanna. Tell me. Torres: Forget it. Paris: No, no, we're not going to forget it. We're going to talk about this right now. Torres: Stop telling me what to do. You're not my father. Paris: What are you talking about? Torres: Look, my father Paris: What? What about him? Torres: We were inseparable. He spoiled me and I worshiped him. But the older I got, we just grew apart. He ended up organizing this camping trip with my cousins. I guess he just wanted to, I don't know, make things better again. Paris: But it didn't. Torres: It was awful. I ended up trying to run away. John: B'Elanna? What are you doing? Torres: It was so stupid. I mean, where was I going to go? Paris: You probably just wanted him to stop you. Torres: Well, he did. B'Elanna: Don't touch me. John: B'Elanna, what's wrong? B'Elanna: You know what's wrong. John: No, I don't. B'Elanna: Maybe I'm just being moody and unpredictable. John: What are you talking about? B'Elanna: I heard what you said to Uncle Carl. John: You shouldn't be listening to private conversations. B'Elanna: And you shouldn't have said what you did about Mommy. John: B'Elanna, listen to me. Your mother and I are having problems, but that doesn't B'Elanna: You don't love her anymore. John: That's not true. B'Elanna: Yes, it is. And you don't love me, either. John: B'Elanna. B'Elanna: You're no different than anyone else. You don't like Klingons. You said it. John: You are twisting my words, B'Elanna. Paris: Maybe he was right. Maybe you misunderstood. Torres: No, I know what I heard. It made me so angry. Paris: You had a right to be, after the things he said. Torres: It's not what he said. It's what I said. B'Elanna: If you can't stand living with us, then why don't you just leave? Torres: And that's exactly what he did. Paris: Oh, B'Elanna. Torres: Twelve days later. And he never came back. Paris: You can't blame yourself for that. Torres: Why not? Paris: Because he was obviously unhappy about his marriage. He didn't leave just because you told him to. Torres: You don't know that. Paris: Look, whatever the reason was, I'm sure it was a horrible thing for you to live with. Wait a minute. You don't think? B'Elanna, I am never going to leave you. Torres: You say that now. But think about how hard it is to live with one Klingon. Pretty soon it'll be two. Paris: And someday I hope it's three or four. I mean it. And I hope that every one of them is just like you. B'Elanna, I am not your father and you are not your mother. And our daughter is going to be perfect just the way she is. Torres: Do you really think so? Paris: I know so. Medical officer's log, stardate 54452.6. Lieutenant Torres has deleted the alterations she made to my program. It's a relief to be back to my old self again. Emh: Good morning, Lieutenant. You're not feeling ill, are you? Torres: No. I'm fine. I just wanted to apologize for violating your program. Emh: Apology accepted. Not guilty by reason of biochemistry. Torres: Nice of you to let me off the hook. But biochemistry isn't an excuse. I knew exactly what I was doing. Oh! Emh: Is something wrong? Torres: I don't know. Emh: Your baby's kicking. Torres: So soon? Emh: Well, she is part Klingon. Torres: Oh. There it is again. Emh: May I? Emh: Feisty little thing, isn't she? I wonder where she gets that from. Torres: Speaking of the baby, I have another request. Emh: Yes? Torres: I wonder if you'd like to be her godfather. Neelix wants the job but he's already got Naomi Wildman. And Chakotay knows less about raising kids than Harry. And if you think Emh: I accept. Torres: Thanks. Emh: Thank you. Torres: I was also wondering. Do you think I could see her one more time? The holographic projection, I mean. Emh: I don't see why not. Torres: She is cute, isn't she?

Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager. We're responding to your distress call. Yediq: A ruptured conduit is flooding my ship with plasma radiation. We request immediate transport. Kim: I'm detecting eleven life signs. Two are weak. Janeway: Transport the injured to Sickbay and the rest to Cargo Bay one. I want security teams at both locations. Yediq: Our weapons! Tuvok: They'll be returned to you when you leave. Yediq: These are dangerous criminals. They have to be secured. Tuvok: We'll do our best to accommodate you. Yediq: I had eight men in custody. Where are the other two? Emh: We're not going to hurt you. Iko: Stay away or I'll kill her! Emh: I'm sure we can resolve this without resorting to violence. What is it you want? Iko: A ship, some food. Emh: I might be able to arrange that, but you'll have to release her first. Iko: I'm not a fool. Iko: You know I'll do it. Tell them. Yediq: You're not getting off this ship. Tuvok: If you release her, I promise you won't be harmed. Iko: Not until I get a ship. Yediq: We don't negotiate with criminals. Emh: Who are you? Yediq: Warden Yediq of the Nygean Detention Force. This man is my prisoner. Emh: If that were true, he wouldn't be holding my friend hostage. Iko: Get back! Emh: I'm a hologram. I can't be harmed. Emh: I think you proved my point. Yediq: We're lucky you came along, Captain. Ten more minutes and none of use would have survived the plasma leak. Tuvok: Your vessel was equipped with escape pods. Why didn't you use them? Yediq: I couldn't risk letting any of the prisoners get away. As you've seen, they're extremely dangerous. Chakotay: Where are you taking them? Yediq: Back to our homeworld. They're due to be executed. Tuvok: What were their crimes? Yediq: All eight are murderers. Three are multiple offenders. We're just thirteen light years from our system. I'd appreciate it if you'd take us back there. Janeway: Actually, we were headed in the opposite direction. Yediq: I could arrange for one of our ships to rendezvous with Voyager. It'll take several days. My prisoners will have to be strictly monitored. Janeway: Commander Tuvok will help you make arrangements. Chakotay: Some of the crew may not be comfortable helping to deliver eight men to their deaths. Janeway: I can't say I like it either, but we have a Prime Directive to follow. Emh: Thirty more seconds and I could have resolved the situation peacefully. Instead, you and Tuvok the Kid had to take matters into your own hands. Seven: You're damaged. Emh: Commander Tuvok's friendly fire must have caused a feedback surge in my emitters. Seven: I'll help you repair it. Janeway: How are you? Seven: Fine, Captain. Iko: You. This your ship? Janeway: Yes. Iko: Then let me out. Janeway: I'm afraid I can't do that. Iko: If you don't, I'll kill you all. Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Are the prisoners' accommodations ready? Tuvok: Affirmative, Captain. Janeway: Then by all means, initiate transport. Yediq: You're sure these will hold them? Tuvok: The force fields are impenetrable, as are the tritanium bulkheads. In addition to your staff, two Voyager security officers will remain here at all times. Two more will be posted at the entrance to the cargo bay. Yediq: What about our weapons? Tuvok: You'll be allowed to carry them in this area only. If you leave the cargo bay, you'll be asked to surrender them. Yediq: What's this? Neelix: Dinner. Since you can't bring the prisoners to the mess hall, I've brought the mess hall to them. Yediq: What is it? Neelix: Talaxian spice stew served over leola rice pilaf. It's an old family recipe. Yediq: Take it back. Neelix: Too spicy? Yediq: These men don't deserve such an elaborate meal. Take it back. Neelix: Federation guidelines are quite clear about the treatment of prisoners. Tuvok: He is correct. Neelix: I can quote the protocols if you like. Yediq: My men will assist you. Joleg: Thanks for standing up to Yediq. Neelix: Just doing my job. Joleg: Still, it was kind. Seven: This would be easier if you would remain stationary. Emh: It doesn't feel right. Seven: You may experience unusual sensations while your matrix realigns. Emh: I was referring to the arrangement the captain's made with the Nygeans. No matter how terrible the crimes these men committed, it seems wrong to hand them over to be executed. This is a Federation Starship, not the Barge of the Dead. Seven: Would you have preferred the captain release them? Emh: Of course not. They're dangerous men. Seven: Executing them ensures they'll never pose a threat to anyone again. Emh: So would life sentences, the operative word being life. Seven: Confining them for life requires significant resources. The Nygeans may not think it worthwhile. Emh: What about rehabilitation? Given the chance, some of these men might become productive members of society one day. Seven: Their victims won't have the same opportunity. Emh: And that justifies taking their lives? An eye for an eye? It's not justice, it's revenge. Quite frankly, I'm surprised you're not troubled by such a barbaric system. Seven: I'm simply being objective. You often encourage me to see both sides of an argument. Emh: Well, this is one occasion when my programming won't allow me to be objective. Killing is wrong, no matter who's doing it. Joleg: Still hungry? I can hear your stomach from here. This must be the first time in a month you couldn't steal poor Egrid's meal. Joleg: Good, isn't it? Yediq: Is there a problem? Joleg: Iko was just telling me he didn't get enough to eat. Yediq: I see. Cause another disturbance, and I'll see to it you're not fed the rest of this journey. Do you understand? Iko: Boche and Ledara. Yediq: What did you say? Iko: Your children. Yediq: How did you know that? Iko: Are you sure they're safe? Yediq: Some people don't understand why we deal so harshly with men like you. It's because you never learn. Andrews: Stand down. Stand down! Yediq: He needs to be diskiplined. Andrews: Lower your weapons and step away. Yediq: Our response was justified. Janeway: How do you justify beating a defenseless man? Yediq: Violence is the only thing he understands. Janeway: You seem to have a pretty good grasp of it yourself. Yediq: Do not presume to tell me how to handle my prisoners, Captain. You don't know Iko like I do. He killed a young father for no reason. Before that, he committed dozens of violent crimes. He spent his entire life hurting people. Janeway: That doesn't excuse what you did to him. Until your transport vessel gets here, you and your men won't be allowed in the cargo bay. You're in charge of the prisoners. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Yediq: They're my responsibility. Janeway: Not as long as you're aboard my ship. I won't risk any more violence. Yediq: The only risk will be to your crew. Commander Tuvok isn't qualified to guard prisoners this dangerous. Janeway: Tuvok has been a Starfleet Security officer for a very long time. Believe me, he's qualified. Yediq: I hope you're right. Emh: You remember Mister Iko. Seven: Vividly. Emh: The Nygeans decided to make an example of him. Seven: Did you call me here to make a point about Nygean barbarity? Emh: I called you here because I need your help to save his life. He sustained a severe blow to the head which has caused severe oedema in his parietal lobe. It's blocking vital neurotransmitters. I'd like to program some of your nanoprobes to bypass the oedema. Seven: I'll comply. Emh: I sense a but coming. Seven: It seems inefficient to save the life of someone who's about to be executed. Emh: If the Nygeans insist on killing him, there isn't much I can do about it. But I won't let them do it on Voyager. Joleg: I didn't expect to see you back so soon. Ordinarily, we're lucky to get one meal a day. Neelix: That's terrible. Joleg: Yediq likes to keep us hungry. Prisoner: Less talk. We're hungry. Joleg: You're wondering why I'm here. Neelix: Excuse me? Joleg: You're wondering what I did to end up with men like them. Neelix: You killed someone. Joleg: That's right. Neelix: Why? Joleg: Because I'm Benkaran. Neelix: What does that have to do with it? Joleg: It's common knowledge that all Benkarans are criminals. So when I was found in the vicinity of a murder, I was immediately arrested. Neelix: Are you saying you didn't do it? Joleg: I told you, I'm Benkaran. What I say doesn't matter. Emh: You suffered severe neurological trauma, but I believe we've repaired the damage. Iko: Thank you. Emh: Don't thank me, thank Seven of Nine. She donated the nanoprobes that saved your life. Iko: Oh, my head. Emh: The pain is normal. I'll prepare an analgesic. Iko: You're not afraid of me. Seven: There's no reason to fear someone in your condition. Iko: You were never afraid of me. Not even when I tried to kill you. It's nice to look into someone's eyes and not see fear. Paris: You have to be a criminal to get something to eat around here? Neelix: Sorry. Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes. Torres: You said that fifteen minutes ago. Neelix: Did you know the Nygeans govern a sector of space occupied by several different humanoid species? Paris: If we say yes, will you feed us? Neelix: One of those species is the Benkarans. They occupy just ten percent of Nygean space, but take up nearly eighty percent of the space in Nygean prisons. Paris: Maybe they commit more crimes. Neelix: Not according to Joleg, one of the prisoners. Torres: You think he was given a harsher sentence because of his species? Neelix: According to this, Benkarans are ten times more likely to be executed for their crimes than Nygeans. Torres: Where'd you get that? Neelix: I contacted the Nygean government. Told them I was interested in a cultural exchange. Among other things, they let me access data on their criminal justice system. It all supports what Joleg told me. Paris: Neelix. Neelix: I know what you're thinking. Paris: That you're the softest touch in the Delta Quadrant. Neelix: These are the transcripts from Joleg's trial. He was convicted on circumstantial evidence. Paris: Let me guess. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time? Neelix: Apparently. Paris: Neelix, when I was in the Federation penal colony, everybody had a story. I never put much stock in them. Neither should you. Neelix: How many of those people were sentenced to die? Iko: I still don't understand. Why weren't you hurt? Emh: Because my matrix is photonic. I'm made of light. Seven: You wanted to see me? Emh: I'll be with you in just a moment. Iko: You don't feel pain? Emh: Well, I suppose my pride has been wounded on occasion. Iko: I wish I was made of light. Emh: Try to rest. Emh: Mister Iko responded so well to the first dose of nanoprobes, I thought a second might improve his condition further. It'll only take a moment to extract them. Seven: You and Mister Iko seem to be getting along well. Emh: It's the strangest thing. When he first arrived he was crude, abusive. Now he's a model patient. Grateful, considerate. Seven: He's obviously an unstable individual. Inconsistent behavior is hardly surprising. Emh: Still, if it weren't for the security detail, I'd forget he was a criminal. Seven: It's possible he's trying to manipulate you. Iko: Doctor? Emh: What's the matter? Iko: My stomach. Emh: I'm not detecting anything. Iko: I, I can't. Emh: What's wrong? Iko: I can't stop thinking about the man I killed. Seven: That's not surprising. You're experiencing guilt. Iko: Is that why I'm feeling sick? Emh: Nausea could be a symptom of guilt. Iko: I've never felt guilty before. Seven: You've committed many crimes. Iko: None of them made me feel like this. Why did you do this to me? Seven: We're not responsible for your guilt. Iko: I didn't feel this way until you put those nanoprobes in me. You knew this would happen, didn't you? This is some kind of punishment. Take the nanoprobes out. Emh: You could die. Iko: Please. I don't want to feel this way anymore. Seven: You don't honestly believe we're responsible for his condition. Emh: We applied the Borg technology. It's possible there were some unforeseen side effects. Seven: Guilt, for example. Emh: Look at this. Seven: What? Emh: It's my most recent scan. The neurotransmitters have established new pathways throughout his cortex. Seven: Wasn't that your intention? Emh: No, I was simply trying to bypass the oedema. Seven: Then how did this happen? Emh: I don't know. It's possible this is normal Nygean brain activity, but I have no basis for comparison. Seven: You should ask Mister Yediq to contact a Nygean medical official. Maybe they could provide some relevant information. Iko: Seven of Nine. Stay and talk to me. Seven: I'm extremely busy. Iko: Please. I'm scared. Seven: What did you want to discuss? I'm due in Astrometrics, so if there's Iko: Astrometrics? What's that? Seven: A laboratory where we observe stellar phenomena. Iko: When I was a child, I'd lie under the stars for hours. I'd stare at them until I could see the shapes. Seven: Shapes? Iko: Faces and animals made out of stars. Seven: You're referring to constellations. Iko: I named them. There was Paedos the warrior, and Gezid the beast. No matter how hard he tried Paedos could never catch Gezid. Seven: Because the distance between them always remained the same. Iko: You've seen them? Seven: Possibly. I've catalogd approximately six billion stars. Iko: Then you must have seen Onella, too. The Mother. Seven: Describe her. Iko: She was surrounded by sixteen smaller stars. Her daughters. If I try, I think I can remember all their names. Joleg: Eleven six, green. Prisoner: What's going on over there? Joleg: Kot-kot. Neelix: That's Kadis-kot. Congratulations. Prisoner: Down here. Neelix: I've been doing some research on the Nygean legal system. You were right about the Benkarans receiving harsher sentences. I saw the statistics. Joleg: The statistics won't save me. Neelix: I noticed some people convicted of murder, even terrible premeditated murders, weren't executed. Some aren't punished at all. But you were sentenced to death. Joleg: That's what the family wants. Neelix: The family? Joleg: After you're convicted, the family of the victim sentences you. Neelix: Well, shouldn't you be sentenced by someone less partial, like a judge? Joleg: Vekto valek k'vadim. It's ancient Nygean. It means Favor The Victims. What if I stole your game board? What right would a judge have to assign value to your loss? To him, it's just a game board, but to you it might be a priceless family possession. And what if I murdered your child? Neelix: I think I get your point. Joleg: Vekto valek k'vadim. It's the basis for the Nygean legal system. Neelix: What about the criminals that didn't serve any sentence at all? Joleg: Some people prefer restitution to revenge. If a defendant is wealthy enough, he can negotiate a settlement with the victim's family. Neelix: Oh, that doesn't seem fair. Joleg: It's perfectly fair, unless you're destitute. Neelix: Maybe I can talk to the captain about finding a way to compensate your victims. Joleg: I'm grateful. But it would imply I'm guilty. I wouldn't want that. Neelix: There must be something I can do. Joleg: You can transmit a letter to my brother. I'd like to let him know what's happened to me. Neelix: I'll get a PADD. Seven: I thought you might find this interesting. Iko: What is it? Seven: It's an Astrometrics log. It contains data on various star formations. Iko: It's just words and numbers. I'd rather look at the stars. Seven: I'll bring you a star chart after my next shift. Iko: What's the metal above your eye? Seven: It's a cybernetic implant. Iko: Where did you get it? Seven: It was installled by the Borg. Iko: It must have hurt. Seven: I don't recall. Iko: I hurt people. I deserve to die. Emh: Seven? I found something. Emh: This is a scan depicting a healthy Nygean brain. This node is analogous to the human pineal gland. In addition to controlling behavioral impulses, it regulates decision making. You might say it's the physiological equivalent of a conscience. Seven: Normally, the node connects to the rest of the brain through a series of neural pathways. Emh: Now look at this scan of Iko's node before we applied the nanoprobes. It's detached. Janeway: Did that happen when he was assaulted? Emh: No, I believe it's congenital. A birth defect. Seven: Without the node, Iko would have been prone to violence and sociopathic behavior all his life. Emh: When I used Seven's nanoprobes to treat the injuries from the assault, it seems they inadvertently repaired the defect as well. Janeway: You've activated his conscience. Well, that would explain why he's suddenly experiencing guilt. Emh: There's more to it than that. I believe he's become capable of controlling his violent impulses. Janeway: Capable maybe, but how do you know he will? Emh: Even the thought of violence makes him ill now. In my opinion, he's no longer a threat to anyone. Seven: By some definitions, Captain, he's not the same man who committed the murder. Yediq: Are you suggesting we release him? Emh: Of course not. But at the very least his case should be re-examined. Yediq: Because he's sorry. Seven: There's new medical evidence to be considered. Yediq: None of it changes the fact that he killed a man. Seven: He was suffering from a neurological defect. He couldn't control his behavior. Emh: If Iko had been diagnosed and treated, he never would have committed that crime. In a matter of speaking, he's a victim of his own biology. Yediq: So Iko is the victim now? Janeway: No one's denying that he committed a terrible crime. But as a result of the Doctor's treatments he's undergone a fundamental change. Killing him won't accomplish anything. Yediq: That's not your decision to make. Seven: Nor is it yours. Yediq: He's obviously deceiving you somehow. Janeway: Listen, we could debate this all day but the fact is, our personal opinions are irrelevant. All that matters is Nygean law. Tuvok: Does Iko have a legal means of appeal at his disposal? Yediq: In accordance with Nygean penal code, a capital defendant has a right to appeal his sentence to the family of his victims. Janeway: Then I'd like you to help Commander Tuvok draft an appeal and submit it to the proper authorities. Iko: Take back the appeal. Seven: You'd rather die because you think it'll relieve your pain. Iko: Death is what I deserve. You say I've changed, but I look at these hands every day and I see them squeezing that man's throat. And I hear the sounds he made. I'm disgusting. Seven: Do you think I'm disgusting? Iko: You've been nothing but kind to me. Seven: You asked me earlier if it hurt when my occipital implant was installled. I told you I didn't remember. But the truth is, it was one of the most painful experiences of my life. Iko: Why did you lie? Seven: It's difficult for me to talk about, because I forced others to undergo the same procedure. Iko: Why? Seven: I was compelled to do so by the Borg Collective. I wasn't in control of my actions, just as you weren't in control when you took a life. My nanoprobes have given you control. You're a different person now. You don't deserve to be executed. Iko: I want to go back to my cell. Seven: You're free to remain here. Iko: Am I still sick? Seven: No, but Iko: Then I don't want special treatment. Neelix: I'm glad to see you're feeling better. You must be hungry. Here you go. Iko: Give it to him. Neelix: He's already had his dinner. Iko: Please. Neelix: All right. Seven: You wanted to see me. Janeway: We just received a response from the Nygeans. The family has refused to consider the appeal. Seven: But the medical evidence Janeway: They won't look at it. Yediq: The family found the request insulting. Seven: Your government could insist that they review it. Yediq: We have laws that protect victims from emotional distress. Seven: In that case, we should grant Iko asylum aboard Voyager. Yediq: You agreed to work within the confines of our legal system. Seven: Your system is flawed. Janeway: That's enough, Seven. I assure you, we'll abide by the family's decision. Now I need a moment alone with Seven, if you don't mind. Janeway: We did everything we could to help him. Seven: We have to do more. Janeway: You barely know this man. Why are you so passionate about helping him? Seven: I want to give him the same opportunity you gave me. When you severed my link to the Collective, you changed who I was. You made it possible for me to reclaim my humanity. Because of my nanoprobes, Iko has undergone a similar change. He should be given the chance to atone for his crimes. Janeway: Atonement. Is that what this is about? Seven: Yes. Janeway: For him, or for you? Seven: I don't know what you mean. Janeway: I think part of you still feels responsible for the violent acts you committed when you were a Borg. Seven: You're mistaken. Janeway: Am I? Maybe you believe if Iko is found not guilty, somehow you won't be guilty either. You said it yourself. You've reclaimed your humanity. It's time you stopped blaming yourself for the crimes of the Collective. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: An alien vessel just dropped out of warp and opened fire. Kim: We've lost power on decks eight through ten. Janeway: The cargo bay. Prisoner: Follow me. Let's storm the bridge. Chakotay: Shields down to sixty percent. Kim: Still no response to hails. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Target their weapons. Tuvok: Tuvok to bridge. The attacking ship is attempting to transport one of the prisoners. Kim: They're trying to lock on to all five Benkaran life signs. Janeway: Target their transporter array. Chakotay: Direct hit. They're retreating. Paris: Pursuit course? Janeway: No. We have more immediate problems. Bridge to Tuvok. What's your status? Tuvok: We've neutralized two of the prisoners. Kim: Someone's trying to get into the shuttlebay. Janeway: Lock them out. Joleg: Again. Yediq: Stand back. Prisoner: Don't move. Joleg: You have five minutes to get us a shuttle. Tuvok: Tuvok to bridge. Lock on to Yediq's signature and beam him to Janeway: Transporters are offline. We need at least ten minutes to get them up and running. Joleg: Seal it. Yediq: You're not getting off this ship. Joleg: Then I suppose I should kill you right now. Iko: Don't! He's mine. You saw how they beat me. Yediq: I knew it was a trick. I knew you hadn't changed. Captain's log, supplemental. Warden Yediq has used his influence to convince the Nygean family to hear Iko's appeal for leniency. Iko: I won't beg for my life. It belongs to you. I only want you to understand what's happened to me. I'm a different person now. A better person. This crew has helped me to see that. If my death helps you find peace, I can accept it. But if you let me live, I will never hurt anyone again. Whatever you decide, please know how sorry I am for what I took from you. Joleg: Are we playing Kadis-kot later? Neelix: Sorry. Joleg: Afraid I'll beat you again? Neelix: I tried to help you and you took advantage of me. Joleg: What do you mean? Neelix: The note we sent your brother. He traced the transmission to Voyager. He's the one who attacked us. Joleg: Neelix, I swear I had no idea he would do that. You have to believe me. Neelix: I read Yediq's security report. You threatened to kill him. Joleg: I can't eat this. Neelix: Why not? Joleg: I'm sick. Neelix: You look fine to me. Joleg: No, I must have the same condition Iko had. If your Doctor cures me, I can make an appeal for my life, too. Iko: She's beautiful, isn't she. Seven: Onella the Mother. Iko: And there's Paedos, still watching over her. It was kind of Captain Janeway to let you bring me here. Seven: If your appeal is successful you'll be able to go wherever you want. Iko: I hope you're right. Seven: If I am, where will you go? Iko: I don't know. Seven: If you'd like, I could ask Captain Janeway to consider letting you stay here. Iko: I'm not a scientist. I don't think I'd be much help to anyone. Seven: There are other ways to be useful. I'm sure we could think of something. Iko: I'd like that. Janeway: I'm sorry. The family has denied your appeal. Yediq: We're due to rendezvous with a transport ship in a few hours. I need to return you to your cell. Iko: You were the first person who wasn't afraid to look me in the eye. That's how I'd like to remember you. Janeway: I just finished looking over your warp core analysis. Seven: And? Janeway: I'm impressed. It usually takes a few days to finish one of these. B'Elanna tells me you did it in twenty two hours. Seven: I haven't felt the need to regenerate. Janeway: Everyone grieves in their own way. If you want to talk, you know where to find me. Seven: It's unfair. Janeway: I think so too, Seven. But we have to try not to judge their system. Seven: That's not what I meant. Iko was executed for taking a single life. As a drone I took thousands, but I was never punished. Janeway: You lost twenty years of your life to the Borg. I'd say that's punishment enough.

Janeway: Report. Paris: A ship just decloaked off our port stern. Janeway: Can you identify them? Kim: They re-cloaked. Tuvok: That disruptor blast had a Klingon signature. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Hail them. Tuvok: No response. Port shields are down to fifty percent. Kim: They've re-cloaked again. Tetryon readings indicate it's a D-Seven Class cruiser. Paris: D-Seven? They were retired decades ago. Tuvok: If their technology is antiquated Chakotay: Perhaps a metaphasic scan might be able to penetrate their cloak. Janeway: Do it. Chakotay: Bridge to Astrometrics. Chakotay: Initiate a metaphasic sweep. Seven: I've detected a vessel. Transferring the trajectory to tactical. Tuvok: I have them. Janeway: Fire phasers. Morak: Our cloak has failed. Kohlar: Divert emergency power to shields. Morak: Forward emitters are offline. The Federation ship is hailing again. Kohlar: Answer them. T'Greth: Captain! Kohlar: It may give us more time to get the cloak back on online. Visual. Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. Stand down. Kohlar: We will not surrender to sworn enemies Kohlar: Of the Klingon Empire. Janeway: I think there's been a misunderstanding. The Empire signed a peace treaty with the Federation more than eighty years ago. If I'm not mistaken, it's still in effect. Kohlar: You're lying. Janeway: I'm not lying. But even if I were your ship is no match for mine. I suggest we discuss this. Kohlar: What is there to talk about? Janeway: The treaty, for one thing. I'll give you access to our database show you I'm telling the truth. Kohlar: Databases can be falsified. Janeway: I have a Klingon serving aboard this ship. Kohlar: Impossible. Janeway: She's my Chief Engineer. Kohlar: I will meet this Chief Engineer. Janeway: We'd be honored to have you as our guest. Janeway: You're safe here. You have my word. Kohlar: Forgive me if I don't find the word of a human very reassuring. Janeway: I'd like to know what you're doing in the Delta Quadrant. Kohlar: I'm not answering any questions until I see the Klingon. Janeway: Captain Kohlar. Lieutenant Torres, our Chief Engineer. Kohlar: You're with child. Torres: That's what the Doctor tells me. Kohlar: Did you conceive during the holy month of Nay'Poq? Torres: I have no idea. Kohlar: It would have been fourteen or fifteen weeks ago. Torres: That sounds about right, not that it's any of your business. Kohlar: I must return to my ship. Tuvok: Aren't you interested in learning about the Treaty? Chakotay: Here's a copy of the Khitomer Accords. Kohlar: I must return to my vessel. Janeway: Not without your assurance that you won't fire on my ship again. Kohlar: You have my word. Janeway: Escort Captain Kohlar back to the transporter room. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Torres: What the hell was that about? Kohlar: It's the truth. T'GRETH?: How can you be certain? Kohlar: The scrolls say, you will find me after two warring houses make peace. Our people and the Federation, our greatest enem,y are at peace. T'Greth: So the humans claim. These Accords may be a deception. Kohlar: The other signs are present. You will know me before I know the world. Morak: The child is unborn. It does not know the world. Kohlar: You interpret the scrolls well. T'Greth: We must verify the evidence. Kohlar: Your skepticism darkens my heart, T'Greth. What evidence did our ancestors have when they began this journey? Nothing but their faith. Tell the others to prepare. The Day of Separation has arrived. Kim: Captain, the Klingon ship. Its core is breaching. Janeway: Red alert. Hail them. Kohlar: I salute you, Captain. You did more damage to our vessel than my engineer thought. Janeway: We can send over a team to help you establish a containment field. Kohlar: There isn't time. Kim: He's right. Their core is going to breach in less than thirty seconds. Kohlar: I'm requesting emergency transport. Tuvok: Captain. Their crew complement is two hundred and four. Janeway: Erect forcefields around the shuttlebay. Transport them there. Tell your crew to stand by for evacuation. Kim: Ten seconds. Chakotay: If we're still too close when their core breaches Janeway: Go to warp as soon as their crew is aboard. Kim: Five, four, three. Tuvok: We have them. Kohlar: You spared us a dishonorable death. Tuvok: Sensor logs indicate that the containment failure was not caused by our weapons. Janeway: You activated a self-destruct sequence. Kohlar: It was the only way to get us aboard Voyager. Janeway: Why was that so important? Kohlar: It's our sacred duty to be here. Janeway: I don't understand. Kohlar: More than a hundred years ago, my great-grandfather was part of a sect which believed the Empire had lost its way. They discovered a sacred text. It told them to embark on a journey to a distant region of the galaxy. Janeway: You've been traveling for four generations? Kohlar: My people have always known the voyage would be long and difficult, but the scrolls said we would be rewarded. Janeway: How? Kohlar: We would find the Kuvah'Magh, the savior of our people. The one who will lead us to a new empire. The scrolls instruct us to follow her wherever she goes. Janeway: What does any of this have to do with Voyager? Kohlar: I believe the Kuvah'Magh is the unborn child of B'Elanna Torres. Torres: You're joking. Janeway: They take their beliefs very seriously. Paris: Seriously enough to destroy their own ship? Kim: Couldn't they have just followed us? Janeway: Apparently, their sacred text told them to cast off the old ways as soon as they found this Kuvah'Magh. Tuvok: They saw their vessel as the last vestige of the corrupt Empire. Paris: I was hoping our daughter would be special, but I never dreamed she'd turn out to be the Klingon messiah. Torres: This isn't funny. They might be dangerous. I mean, what if they want to hurt the baby? Chakotay: To them, your baby's sacred. It's unlikely they would do anything to harm her. Tuvok: Two hundred Klingons pose a significant security threat. I suggest we keep them confined to the shuttlebay until we can find a suitable home for them. Neelix: There are women and children down there. We can't just lock them up. Janeway: I agree. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: Assign extra security to every deck and make sure the Klingons know and abide by the rules. Tuvok: The bridge will have to be off limits. Engineering as well. Janeway: Keep them out of all restricted areas. Tuvok: Despite their reverence for Lieutenant Torres, she should be assigned a twenty four hour security detail. Torres: Just what I need. Kim: Where are they going to sleep? Neelix: We'll double up in quarters. I'll ask for volunteers. Janeway: I know this isn't going to be easy, but until we can find another place for them, we should do our best to make them feel comfortable. Dismissed. Neelix: Captain, you must try the gagh. Janeway: I'll pass, thank you. But I'm glad to see you're getting into the spirit of things. Neelix: Well, I've been studying the Klingon database. They're a fascinating people, very robust. And they certainly seem to appreciate my culinary skills. Janeway: Looks like everything's running smoothly. Neelix: Ah, not quite everything. some of the Starfleet people have been complaining about the smell. Personally, I find it appealing. A kind of a musky aroma. Janeway: Maybe we can adjust the environmental controls to filter out the musk. Ch'Rega: Thief! Touch my food again and I'll kill you. Kim: Okay, everybody relax. Ch'Rega: He took gagh from my plate. Neelix: If you don't mind, Ensign, I've been studying Klingon etiquette. You shouldn't quarrel over food. Save your strength for battle, to fight those who would challenge you. Kim: Take it easy. Kim: That's enough! Ch'Rega: You have a fiery spirit. You will make a worthy mate. Neelix: What a day. I never met a more ravenous group in my life. I must have served over three hundred meals. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, may I ask what you're doing here? Neelix: We're bunkmates. Tuvok: There must be some mistake. Neelix: No, there's no mistake. I gave up my quarters to a Klingon family. By the time I checked with Commander Chakotay, you were the only one who hadn't been paired up. Tuvok: You should have consulted me. Neelix: We're such close friends, I knew you wouldn't mind. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, as much as I enjoy your company, I prefer solitude in my own quarters. Neelix: You don't really want me to go back there and tell that family to get out, do you? Good. Because I promise you we're going to have fun, Mister Vulcan. I learned some Klingon drinking songs. I'll teach them to you. 'ej HumtaH 'ej DechtaH 'Iw'ej Doq SodTah ghoSpa' Sqral bIQtiQ. Paris: Paris to Torres. Torres: I'm almost finished. Paris: You said that an hour ago. Torres: I'll be there in a minute, I promise. Torres out. Keep an eye on the replicators, they've already gone down once today. Klingons: It's her. Paris: When you said be there in a minute, you weren't kidding. Torres: A group of Klingons ambushed me outside of Engineering. I decided transporting myself would be easier than running the gauntlet. I'm starting to feel like a prisoner. Paris: Well, at least you have a handsome cellmate. Torres: How long do you think they're going to be on board? Paris: I thought you'd be glad to have other Klingons around. You've always told me how uncomfortable it is being the only one. Torres: I guess I should be careful what I wish for. Paris: Maybe you should talk to some of them. Give them a chance. Paris: Come in. Torres: Captain. Janeway: I'm sorry to bother you, but I need your help. Ten of the Klingons have started a hunger strike. They say they won't eat until you agree to meet with their Council of Elders. Torres: That's ridiculous. Janeway: Their faith is obviously very important to them. Torres: They think I'm something I'm not. Janeway: Just talk to them. Hear what they have to say. Paris: We could be with these people for a while. You can't avoid them forever. Torres: I can try. Paris: If it'll make you feel any better, I'll go with you. Klingons: Mobar dohlomaj, kuvah'magh. Mobar dohlomaj, kuvah'magh. Mobar dohlomaj, kuvah'magh. Mobar dohlomaj, kuvah'magh. Mobar dohlomaj, kuvah'magh. Mobar dohlomaj, kuvah'magh. Mobar dohlomaj, kuvah'magh. Kohlar: You honor us with your presence. T'Greth: Look at her ridges. Morak was right. Your blood is not pure. Torres: No, my father was human. T'Greth: Couldn't you see this for yourself? Kohlar: Yes, but T'Greth: Why didn't you tell us? Kohlar: It wasn't important. T'Greth: Not important? We destroyed our ship because you said she was the mother of the Kuvah'Magh. Kohlar: Show me where it's written that the Kuvah'Magh must have pure Klingon blood. T'Greth: The Prophecy wouldn't lead us to a mongrel child. Paris: Hey, take it easy. T'Greth: Who are you? Paris: The father of that mongrel child. T'Greth: More human blood. Your Kuvah'Magh isn't even half-Klingon. Kohlar: I've spent my life interpreting the scroll,s and I say that all the signs of the Prophecy are here. T'Greth: Liar. You've led us to a false savior. Torres: I told you this was a mistake. Kohlar: Lieutenant, I need your help. Torres: Any more help from me and you're going to have a holy war on your hands. Kohlar: That's what I'm trying to prevent. Torres: My baby's just a baby. She's not a savior. Kohlar: Perhaps you're right. But we must convince my people that she is. Janeway: Why? Kohlar: We've traveled more than thirty thousand light years in search of this savior, and in more than one hundred years we've found nothing except hardship and isolation. When I saw Lieutenant Torres, that she was with child, I didn't know if I was looking at the mother of the Kuvah'Magh or not. But I did know I was looking at an opportunity to end this wasteful journey. Paris: Then you don't believe in the Prophecy? Kohlar: What I believe is that my people have suffered enough. If they accept your child as the Kuvah'Magh you'll hold great influence over them. We can find a suitable planet. You can tell them it's their new home and they'll follow you there. Torres: I'm not going to lie to them. Kohlar: What's the alternative? My people staying aboard your ship draining your resources? Janeway: I agree with Lieutenant Torres. I'm not comfortable deceiving your people. Kohlar: Perhaps you won't have to lie to them to convince them. Torres: What are you suggesting? Kohlar: If you study the scrolls with me, we may be able to interpret them in way that appears consistent with the events of your life. Then we'll bring those consistencies to the attention of the Council. Paris: So you just want to stretch the truth a little. Kohlar: It is possible that the sacred scrolls were scrawled by a madman in a cave. Or perhaps they really were divinely inspired. Either way, they've guided us for over a century. If my people start to believe that the sacred scrolls have led them astray, there may be violence. Janeway: Is that a threat? Kohlar: Merely a fact. You're doing everything you can to get your people home, Captain. That's all I'm doing for mine. Torres: It says the Kuvah'Magh will be descended from a noble house. I don't come from one and I'm pretty sure my husband doesn't, either. Kohlar: We all have nobility in our blood if we go back far enough. Torres: So these scrolls can mean anything you want them to. Kohlar: It is written that the mother of the Kuvah'Magh would be an off-worlder. Weren't you born on a Federation colony? Torres: A lot of Klingons are born off-world. Kohlar: It also says that you would have lived a life of solitude, and endured many hardships. That's accurate, isn't it? Torres: According to this, I'm supposed to have won a glorious victory against an army of ten thousand warriors. Kohlar: Haven't you? Torres: We haven't even encountered ten thousand warriors. Unless you include the Borg. Kohlar: Did you help destroy one of their vessels? Torres: I suppose. Kohlar: Couldn't that have been your glorious victory? Torres: I guess so. Kohlar: Where are the images of Kahless? Where is your family crest? Torres: They clashed with the carpet. Kohlar: Don't you honor any of your people's traditions? Torres: Not really. Kohlar: There is one tradition we can honor together. Torres: What are you doing? Kohlar: It's midday. Time to remember the sacrifice of our ancestors. Haven't you made a plea for the dead before? Torres: Not since I was a child. Kohlar: The dead can't rest in Sto-Vo-Kor if the living don't honor their memory. Perhaps there's someone I can honor on your behalf. Who did you plead for as a child? Torres: My grandmother. Kohlar: She was called? Torres: L'Naan. Kohlar: Kahless, we implore you to remember those warriors who have fallen in your name. Lift them out of the Cavern of Despair and reveal yourself to them in all your glory. Torres: Right, in all your glory. Kohlar: Remember Kolax, son of Amar. Remember Talij, daughter of K'Rene. Torres: Remember L'Naan, daughter of Krelik. Emh: What happened to you? Kim: I cut myself shaving. Emh: Is that a bite mark? Kim: One of the Klingons attacked me. Emh: Did you do something to provoke him? Kim: Not him, her. And she wasn't provoked. She was aroused. Emh: Ah. I'm not surprised. I've studied the section on Klingon mating rituals in their cultural database. Kim: Then maybe you can tell me how to convince a female twice my size that I'm not interested. Emh: Hmm. You probably can't. Kim: Great. Emh: As I understand it, you have two options. Kill her, or mate with her. Since the first option is clearly unacceptable. Kim: What's this? Emh: Authorisation for you to engage in intimate relations with a member of an alien species. Be sure to get the Captain's approval as well. Chief Engineer's personal log, stardate 54518.2. I've spent the last two days reviewing the sacred scrolls in preparation for my appearance before the Klingon council. Kohlar also suggested I prepare a few colorful stories to help win them over. Torres: That's when they beamed aboard the Flyer, weapons firing. Tuvok and Neelix fought valiantly, but there were too many Hirogen. I had to face ten of their fiercest Hunters alone. Paris: Is that how you remember it? Torres: took them down two at a time, but they kept coming. Neelix: Exaggeration is part of Klingon custom. She's doing great. Torres: I had my phaser shot out of my hand, forcing me to take down the last Hunter in hand-to-hand combat. It was a glorious fight! Kohlar: Your ancestors would be honored. T'Greth: You tell a good story, but that's not why you're here. Some say you are the mother of the Kuvah'Magh, the one who will guide us to a new homeworld. Has your unborn child told you where it is? Torres: The scrolls say, you will follow in my footsteps before I have made them. Yesterday we changed course toward a planet very much like Kronos. So in a manner of speaking, you are now following my child to a new home. T'Greth: You deliver the words we want to hear, but it's Kohlar who gives them to you. Are you his puppet in the bedchamber as well? Paris: Watch it. That's my wife you're talking about. T'Greth: He speaks. I didn't think you had a tongue. Torres: Leave him out of this. T'Greth: You see how he hides behind his female? It is also written that the father of the Kuvah'Magh will be an honorable warrior. Would an honorable warrior ever refuse a challenge? Paris: I haven't refused any challenge. T'Greth: I haven't made one yet. You and I. T'Greth: To the death. Torres: Tom. Paris: Stay out of this. Klingon: PetaQ. Paris: I accept. Paris: What was I supposed to say? Torres: How about no? Paris: They were all watching. There would have been a riot if I refused. Torres: So you're going to get yourself killed ? Paris: What makes you so sure I'd lose? Torres: Oh, please. Paris: Look, I have no intention of fighting anyone to the death, but wasn't the whole point of this to get them to believe that we are the parents of their savior? Torres: Captain, this has gone too far. You've got to put a stop to it. Janeway: I intend to. Mister Tuvok. Janeway: Gentlemen, I'm afraid Lieutenant Paris had no authority to accept this challenge. There will be no death matches aboard my ship. T'Greth: I told you this petaQ was not the true father. Janeway: Lieutenant Paris is perfectly willing to fight you, Mister T'Greth. I'm the one preventing him from doing so. T'Greth: The father of the Kuvah'Magh wouldn't let a woman speak for him. Kohlar: T'Greth, there is precedent for an honorable compromise. A non-lethal bout, fought with blunted bat'leths. The victory goes to the first warrior to knock his opponent to the ground three times. T'Greth: A coward's rules. Kohlar: Was the Emperor Mur'Eq a coward? He was the one who instituted these rules to insure that his warriors would kill their enemies and not each other. Janeway: If you agree to these terms I'll allow the match. T'Greth: I'll see you on the field of battle. Tuvok: I assume you have a suitable holodeck training program for this, Lieutenant? Kohlar: He'll be ready. I'll train him myself. Neelix: Hi. Kim: Psst! Neelix! Neelix: Something wrong, Harry? Kim: Shush. Have you seen her? Neelix: Who? Kim: That Klingon woman. The one I got into a scrape with in the mess hall. Neelix: Officer Ch'Rega. Kim: That's her. Neelix: I haven't seen her today. Kim: She's been following me everywhere. Neelix: Why? Kim: She wants to mate. Neelix: Oh! You're a lucky man. She's a fine specimen of Klingon womanhood. Kim: I guess it's a matter of taste. Kim: You never saw me. Neelix: Wait, I have a better idea. Kim: Neelix, what the hell are you doing? Neelix: Play along. I'm taking her off your hands. When I say you're limited to two servings of brak't, that's all you get. Do you understand me, Ensign? Kim: Yes, sir. Whatever you say. Neelix: I don't think you do. If I catch you eating more than your share again, I'll cut it out of your belly. Run. Kim: Excuse me. Neelix: PetaQ! Neelix: I didn't think you approved of the competition. Emh: I don't. I'm here in an official capacity. Neelix: Well, you do know they're fighting with non-lethal weapons? Emh: You'd be surprised how much damage a blunt bat'leth can do. Kohlar: Warriors, assemble! Torres: Today would be a very bad day to die. Paris: I'll try to remember that. Kohlar: Let honor guide you. Tagh. T'Greth: I see fear in your eyes, human. Paris: The only Klingon I'm afraid of is my wife after she's worked a double shift. Kohlar: It's begun. Emh: What are you talking about? Kohlar: He's dying. Emh: Typically, I'm the one to make that kind of prognosis. Kohlar: It's the nehret. It kills all of us who aren't fortunate enough to die in battle. Emh: It's a retrovirus that destroys the cells by attacking the cytoplasmic membranes. Janeway: Shouldn't our bio-filters have detected it when we transported the Klingons aboard? Emh: This is an insidious virus. It lies dormant, disguising itself as inert genetic material until it inexplicably activates. Kohlar: The nehret always comes without warning. Emh: I've reviewed my scans of the other Klingons. They're all carriers. Janeway: Why didn't you tell us your people had a disease? Kohlar: We've never thought of it as a disease. It's more like old age. Janeway: Is it contagious? Emh: Only to Klingons. If you'd give us some privacy, I'd like to examine Lieutenant Torres. Janeway: Of course. Torres: The baby too? Emh: I'm afraid so. T'Greth: Why am I here? Emh: You're ill. You collapsed during the fight. T'Greth: The nehret. Torres: Yes. Thank you for telling us. Now my baby and I have it too. Emh: Where do you think you're going? T'Greth: To prepare for my journey to Sto-Vo-Kor. Emh: You should be in Sickbay. T'Greth: Can you make me well? Emh: Not at the moment, but T'Greth: Then don't deny me my tradition. T'Greth: The child is not the Kuvah'Magh. Morak: But the father accepted your challenge. He defeated you. T'Greth: I was defeated by the nehret. B'Elanna Torres and her child will fall victim to it as well. Morak: Impossible. T'Greth: They both carry it. She told me herself. Morak: But the scrolls say the Kuvah'Magh is younger than old age. T'Greth: And stronger than sickness. She cannot be our savior. We should resume our search. Morak: Kohlar and many of the others won't agree. T'Greth: Then we must act alone for the good of our people. Morak: How? T'Greth: We'll wait for the right moment, and when it comes we'll seize Voyager. Seven: We've identified two potential colony sites in the southern hemisphere. Kohlar: We'll require topographical scans. Seven: I'll prepare them. T'Greth: I shouldn't have doubted you. It appears the signs were there all along. I'll join the survey mission. Kohlar: You're ill, old friend. You should remain here. T'Greth: I want my final days to be spent in honorable pursuits. Don't ask me to die inside these walls. Kohlar: We transport in one hour. Morak: Your transporters are much more sophisticated than ours. Kim: I've studied Klingon transport systems. The basic technology isn't all that different. Morak: But you were able to beam our entire crew aboard Voyager at one time. Kim: We usually don't like to do that for safety reasons, but in a pinch we can expand the buffer capacity. Morak: These are the targeting scanners? Kim: Exactly. They work on the same principles as yours. Torres: You said it was urgent? Emh: I need to conduct a more detailed bio-scan of your baby. Torres: She's not sick, is she? Emh: No. But I may be on to something. Chakotay: I'll be leading the team going to site A, Kohlar will be in charge of the site B team. Kim: Good morning, Commander. Chakotay: Harry. Tuvok: Phaser fire in transporter room one. Janeway: Bridge to Chakotay. Morak: They're on the surface. T'Greth: Now lock on to the bridge officers. Morak: They've activated a forcefield around deck one. T'Greth: Transport the rest of their crew. Paris: Captain, I'm detecting multiple transports. Some of our people are being beamed down to the surface. Janeway: Cut power to the transporters. Paris: I can't. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. B'Elanna, respond. Paris: There's no one in Engineering. T'Greth: The bridge officers? Morak: I still can't get a lock. T'Greth: Can you transport us there? Morak: I'll try. Tuvok: Computer, open the transporter room doors. Security override, Tuvok pi alpha. T'Greth: Grant me a warrior's death, I beg of you. Janeway: Sorry. No mercy killings on my bridge. Get our people back. Paris: Yes, ma'am. T'Greth: Why am I not in Sto-Vo-Kor? Emh: Because you are healthy as a targ. T'Greth: The nehret? Emh: Gone. Kohlar: We have B'Elanna Torres's child to thank for it. Emh: The fetus has hybrid stem cells. They contain Klingon and human DNA. I used them to synthesize an antivirus. T'Greth: The child cured me? Emh: Well, I was the one who devised the treatment Janeway: Doctor. Emh: Yes, of course. The child cured you. Kohlar: The Kuvah'Magh has healed all of us. She truly is our savior. Captain's log, stardate 54529.8. While we're helping the Klingons into their new home, life aboard Voyager is gradually returning to normal. Tuvok: Computer, open this door. Computer: Access to these quarters has been restricted. Tuvok: On whose authority? Computer: Neelix. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, open this door. Neelix: I'll be there in a minute, Commander. That's, that's my boot. Tuvok: Computer, security override. Authorisation: Tuvok pi Neelix: Goodbye, my little par'machkai. Ch'Rega: Goodbye, my fearless warrior. Neelix: I'm really going to miss her. Neelix: Oh. Don't you worry, Mister Vulcan. I'll have this place shipshape in no time at all. Tuvok: Just go, Mister Neelix. Torres: What's this? Kohlar: The bat'leth given to me by my great-grandfather. It's for your daughter. I hope someday you'll tell her about us. Torres: I will. Kohlar: Qapla', B'Elanna Torres. Torres: Qapla'. Paris: It doesn't seem right just to hang it on the wall. Torres: I'm not letting you scratch it up on the holodeck. Paris: I'm sure our daughter wouldn't mind lending it to the old man every now and then. You know, this is one special kid we're going to have. Torres: You're just figuring that out? Paris: I was hoping for an artist, or maybe a musician, but she's already the savior of an entire race. Torres: You don't really believe that. Paris: I don't know. There are a lot of coincidences to explain. I mean, what were the odds that they'd run into the one ship in the whole quadrant with a Klingon aboard? Torres: Probably about the same odds that you and I would get married. Paris: Maybe we should name her Kuvah'Magh, just to be safe. Torres: Put it on the list.

Neelix: For our third course, luhvian quail in truffle sauce, served with roasted chadre kab. Janeway: My compliments to the chef. All: Hear, hear. Seven: Thank you, Captain. Torres: Cream of leola soup, fettran risotto, luhvian quail. It just keeps getting better. Janeway: I knew you'd been expanding your palate, but I didn't realize you'd become a gourmet cook. Seven: Preparing meals myself is the best way to ensure quality. Neelix: I suppose I should be insulted but everything is so delicious I may just have to admit defeat and hang up my apron. Paris: No, that'd be a real tragedy, Neelix. Neelix: Pinot noir, Commander? Chakotay: I'll have another glass of the Chardonnay. Seven: Each course has been paired with a specific wine. Substitutions are not recommended. Chakotay: The Pinot noir sounds perfect. Paris: Is there any salt? Seven: Additional seasoning is not required. Paris: I'm sorry, I just Seven: If the quail hasn't been prepared to your satisfaction, I could replicate something more to your liking. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, perhaps. Paris: Actually, it's delicious just the way it is. Janeway: Captain to the bridge. Report. Tuvok: We're being Tuvok: Pulled off course. Janeway: How? Tuvok: I'm not certain. It appears to be some kind of graviton surge. Janeway: On my way. Kim: We've rerouted all available power to the thrusters but we can't break free. Janeway: Try reversing the shield polarity. Tuvok: No effect. Neelix: What happened to the stars? Tuvok: Shields at sixty five percent. Janeway: Hail them. Kim: They're not responding. Janeway: Return fire. Can you identify them? Chakotay: Their weapon signature is Vaadwaur, but the ship has technology from several different species. Seven: There's another vessel approaching. It's charging weapons. Janeway: Evasive pattern beta six. Paris: Maybe we've got an ally? Tuvok: The Vaadwaur ship is retreating. Janeway: Hail the second ship. Kim: No response. Paris: I stand corrected. Tuvok: They've penetrated our aft shields. Janeway: Reroute power to the auxiliary emitters and return fire. Chakotay: They've transported material off decks five, seven and eight. Janeway: Disable their engines. Janeway: Follow them. Paris: Navigational sensors are malfunctioning. It's something to do with this environment. Janeway: I want a full damage report and an inventory of everything that was taken off this ship. And I want to know where we are. Chakotay: They got more than ninety percent of our food stores, including almost everything in the Airponics bay. They also got a computer console from Engineering and they emptied three of our deuterium tanks. Paris: Why would anyone steal deuterium? You can find it anywhere. Seven: Apparently not here. I'm not detecting any gasses, stellar bodies, or matter of any kind. Janeway: Except for the ships that attacked us. Scan for other vessels. I want to know how many we're dealing with. Tuvok: There are more than one hundred fifty ships within scanning range. But I'm only detecting lifesigns on twenty nine of them. Kim: Captain, there's another vessel approaching at high impulse. Paris: Quite a welcoming committee they've got here. Janeway: What's the status of our shields? Tuvok: They're at twenty eight percent. Janeway: That'll have to do. Charge weapons. Kim: Captain, this one wants to talk. Janeway: On screen. I'm Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager. Valen: General Valen. Welcome to the Void. Janeway: You're the first ship we've seen here that hasn't tried to fire on us. But in case you change your mind, we're prepared to defend ourselves. Valen: I know. I've been observing you on sensors. The way you fought those ships was impressive. Most vessels don't survive the first few minutes. Janeway: I'd appreciate any information you could give us about where we are. Valen: The anomaly's a closed structure, encased by an inert layer of subspace. Matter and energy can't penetrate it. Janeway: Our ships certainly penetrated it when we were pulled in. Valen: By the funnels. But they only pull matter in one direction. Into the void. Tuvok: Have you explored the entire anomaly? Valen: There's nothing to explore, but it's big. We've calculated the outer circumference at approximately nine light years, but we've never been able to breech it. Paris: How long have you been here? Valen: More than five years. Janeway: There must be a way to escape. Valen: New arrivals are always thinking about escape. Janeway: We have a sophisticated starship. Maybe if we work together we can find a way out. Valen: You're being naive. No one ever gets out. Seven: We may be able to devise a new approach. Valen: Many have tried. All they did was waste resources that could have kept them alive longer. Don't be foolish. I can help you. Chakotay: How? Valen: The only source of food and energy in the Void comes from new ships that are drawn in. If you want to survive here, you'll have to compete for their resources. Janeway: And I suppose you can help us do that? Valen: I have tactical data on some of the more dangerous predators. Janeway: But you want something in return. Valen: My scans show you have photon torpedoes. Janeway: I'm sorry, we don't trade weapons. Valen: Why not? Janeway: Because we have no way of knowing what they'll be used for. Plundering innocent ships, for example. Valen: Wait a few weeks until your resources start to run out. Morality won't keep your life support systems running. Janeway: I'm sorry, General. There are some compromises I won't make. Valen: Not yet. Janeway: Report, Lieutenant. Torres: We're using power at almost ten times the usual rate. Chakotay: While we're standing still? Torres: The same graviton forces that pulled us into the anomaly seem to be draining the warp core. At this rate, our deuterium will be gone in about ten days. Janeway: Shut down all non-essential systems. Chakotay: Where are you going? Janeway: To find a way out of here. Seven: Using fractal algorithms with the Borg sensors I believe I can predict where and when these funnels will occur. Paris: Well, that's impressive, but how does it help us? Seven: The funnels originate inside the anomaly, creating massive graviton forces before they erupt. If we were to enter one of the funnels just as that happened we might be able to use those forces to propel us into normal space. Janeway: Not without compromising structural integrity. Tuvok: I might be able to reinforce the shields to compensate. Seven: There's another problem. When the graviton forces reach critical levels, the polarity suddenly reverses, pulling everything near the funnel back into the anomaly. Paris: We'd have to jump to warp at exactly the right moment. Seven: We'd need to achieve a velocity of warp eight point two. Paris: Question is, will we have enough power? Janeway: At the rate we're losing it, we may only get one shot at this. The sooner we try, the better. Seven: There's a funnel forming seventy thousand meters off the port bow. Bearing one three zero mark two four. Kim: Graviton surge in thirty four seconds. Janeway: Full power to shields and structural integrity. Take us in, Mister Paris. Seven: Five seconds. Four, three. Tuvok: Structural integrity at twenty percent. Ten percent. Paris: Fifty thousand kilometers to normal space. Janeway: Prepare to go to warp. Torres: Engineering to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Torres: The warp core is offline. Janeway: If nothing else, we learned some things that'll help us next time. Paris: With all due respect Captain, we don't even have warp drive anymore. Torres: I may be able to get it back online, but we still need deuterium to get our basic systems running. Chakotay: How long will our reserves last? Torres: If we shut down life support on all but a few decks, deactivate Astrometrics, turbolifts, ration replicator use, maybe a week. Neelix: I used to make a living scavenging for supplies. Let me take one of the shuttles. I might be able to find deuterium on one of those abandoned ships. Tuvok: The shuttle would be too easy a target. Janeway: I appreciate the offer, Neelix, but we're safer if we stay together. Seven: The shuttles may be useful in another capacity. Janeway: We could use their warp cores to augment power on Voyager. Chakotay: We're still going to need more deuterium. Janeway: Let's track down the ship that raided us and get back what they stole. Tuvok: We should do it quickly. I've detected a number of vessels monitoring us. Paris: The vultures are circling. Janeway: Vultures eat the dead, Mister Paris. We're not dead yet. Tuvok: The vessel's in visual range. Janeway: Shields. On screen. Kim: Looks like somebody got to them before we did. Tuvok: No lifesigns. Janeway: Scan for ion trails. Whoever did this probably has our deuterium. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: Is there anything left aboard that ship worth salvaging? Kim: Their technology and supplies have been picked clean. Seven: Not everything of value has been taken. The warp core has been removed, but the casing that protected it is intact. It's composed of tricesium. Kim: We can convert it into a power source. Janeway: Every little bit helps. Lock onto the core casing and beam it to the cargo bay. Seven: With the additional power we could reactivate the Astrometrics lab. Torres: I can think of some better uses. Seven: For example? Torres: Oh, I don't know. Making sure there's air to breathe. This must be where they cut through the casing to remove the core. Seven: Crude but effective. Torres: Something's in there. Seven: Identify yourself. Torres: Torres to Security. Intruder alert. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Seven: There. Torres: Stay where you are. Seven: He appears to be injured. Janeway: How is he? Emh: His injury doesn't seem serious, but he won't let me close enough to treat him. Janeway: My name's Captain Janeway. You're safe here. Emh: I've tried communicating with him. He doesn't appear to have any verbal skills. Janeway: Do we know how he got on board? Seven: I believe he was transported along with the core casing. Janeway: We should have picked up his lifesigns. Seven: We're trying to determine why we didn't detect him. Janeway: That vessel he was on had no atmosphere. How did he survive? Emh: My scans show he can conserve oxygen. He has unusually large lung capacity. And a voracious appetite. Janeway: Do you think that ship was his home? Emh: Maybe. But we can't send him back. He can't survive without oxygen indefinitely. Janeway: We'll run scans for other members of his species. But until we can find a safe place for him, let's make him as comfortable as possible. Seven: Computer, replicate a portion of nutritional supplements from my daily allotment. Janeway: You found something? Tuvok: We think we know who has our deuterium. Kim: It's someone we've already met. Valen: I knew I'd see you again, Captain. I expect you've reconsidered my proposal. Janeway: We're not here to trade. We're here to take back what belongs to us. Valen: I don't know what you mean. Chakotay: Our scans indicate you've got some of our food, one of our consoles and a large quantity of our deuterium. Valen: We didn't take any of that from you. Janeway: No. Apparently you killed the crew of another ship and took it from them. We want it back. Valen: That's not the way things work here. Janeway: Either you give it back, or we'll take it. Paris: He's powering his engines. Janeway: Target his shields and fire. Lock onto whatever belongs to us and transport it to the cargo bay. Seven: I'm detecting large quantities of food on his supply deck. Paris: Maybe we should take it while we have the chance. Janeway: Is it ours? Seven: No, but our own reserves are running out. Paris: Valen wouldn't hesitate to take it from us. Janeway: No, he wouldn't. We've got what's ours. Reverse course. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: An updated inventory of our supplies. We got back less than half of what was stolen. Janeway: Doesn't take two of you to deliver a PADD. What's on your mind? Chakotay: We want to be clear about what our policy's going to be while we're here in the Void. Janeway: You think we should have taken Valen's food. Tuvok: Logic suggests we may have to be more opportunistic if we intend to survive. Chakotay: We may not like Valen's tactics, but he and his crew are still alive after five years in here. Janeway: I was thinking about that myself. I thought maybe I could get some guidance from the Federation Charter. I was hoping I'd find a loophole that would allow us to take actions we ordinarily wouldn't take. Chakotay: Any luck? Janeway: The Charter's a statement of principles, not a practical document. Chakotay: No section on how to exist in a Void. Janeway: No. But I've become convinced that we've got to stick to our principles, not abandon them. Chakotay: Should the crew be ready to die for those principles? Janeway: If the alternative means becoming thieves and killers ourselves, yes. But I'm betting that our principles are going to keep us alive. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: The Federation is based on mutual cooperation. The idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Voyager can't survive here alone. But if we form a temporary alliance with other ships, maybe we can pool our resources and escape. Tuvok: As you've pointed out, the people we've encountered in this void are thieves and killers. Such individuals are hardly ideal allies. Janeway: I agree. Chakotay: Then who are we going to form an alliance with? Janeway: Anyone who agrees to play by our rules. No killing, no stealing, and no giving up. Tuvok: Forgive me, Captain, but why would anyone who has survived by killing and stealing suddenly agree to those terms? Janeway: We'll offer to share our food and medical supplies, and defend ships that are attacked by raiders. Chakotay: Captain, maybe you'd better take another look at that inventory. Our food and power reserves will be gone within a week. If we start giving everything away Janeway: Maybe we'll only survive for two days instead of seven. On the other hand, if we share what we have instead of hoarding it, we might find other people willing to do the same. If we combine our technology, we can find ways of improving our situation, and ultimately get the hell out of this place. We may lose a little weight, gentlemen, but we won't lose who we are. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54553.4. For the past several days, we've been making every effort to recruit members into an alliance, but it hasn't been easy. Janeway: Whenever a new ship gets pulled into the Void they're immediately attacked. Instead of attacking it, you'd have to help defend the new ship. Garon: And how is that in my interest? Janeway: It would encourage them to join our alliance. Garon: And if they refuse, then we raid them? Tuvok: Everyone in the Alliance must agree not to launch unprovoked attacks. Garon: Then how are we supposed to get supplies? Chakotay: The idea is to recruit new members, share technology and resources. Janeway: We almost escaped the Void on our own. If we work together, I believe we'll succeed. Garon: How many ships do you have in this Alliance? Janeway: You'd be the first. Neelix: Technically, Captain, that's not correct. I consider myself the first member of the Captain's coalition. Six years ago, I offered her my services and the resources of my ship, and she's never failed to help me when I needed her. Garon: It's a noble idea, Captain, but good intentions are like deuterium reserves. They tend to get lost in the Void. Janeway: All I ask is that you consider our proposal. Garon: I will. Janeway: In the meantime, we'd like to offer you food and medical supplies. Garon: What do you expect in return? Janeway: Nothing. Compliments of the Alliance. Neelix: I tried. Seven: Captain, there's been a theft. Janeway: What's missing? Seven: My phase compensator. No doubt it was stolen by one of your prospective members. Janeway: It wasn't stolen. I gave it to the Nygeans. They needed it to repair their sensor array. Seven: I presume you obtained something equally valuable in return. Janeway: I think I did. The goodwill of a potential ally. Seven: Did they join? Janeway: Not yet. Seven: Captain. Janeway: I know. It's not exactly the most efficient policy. But then you don't always do what's most efficient either. Seven: I don't know what you're implying. Janeway: You gave up your rations to our guest in Sickbay. Seven: He needed food. Janeway: You're a valuable member of this crew. Your friend in Sickbay is nothing but a drain on resources. What's efficient about wasting food on him? You think I'm being inefficient, Tuvok thinks I'm being illogical. You both could be right. But maybe the best way to get help is to give it. Oh, and Seven? Seven: Yes? Janeway: I'm sorry I gave away your favorite phase compensator. Seven: How is he? Emh: Much better. He seemed to relax when he heard me humming an aria from Rigoletto, so I had the computer play the full orchestral version. Fantome seems to be a music lover. Seven: Fantome? Emh: After the Phantom of the Opera, a tormented character who was soothed by music. Seven: In six years you haven't chosen a name for yourself, but you've given Fantome one in a few days. Emh: Choosing the right name for myself is extremely difficult. I'm a complex individual. Seven: And Fantome isn't? Emh: On the contrary. I believe he's quite intelligent, and his physiology is very sophisticated. Did you know he has the ability to refract his own lifesigns? Seven: That would explain why our sensors didn't detect him. Emh: I wish we could find a way to communicate with him. I suspect he'd have a lot to tell us. Emh: We were enjoying that. Seven: Exactly. He may not be able to speak but he can hear. Emh: He understands. Seven: So it would seem. Paris: What's the occasion? Neelix: Seven's not the only one who knows how to set an elegant table. Torres: You have heard there is a food shortage? Neelix: That's no reason why you two can't enjoy a romantic dinner. Unfortunately, I can't light this. It would be a waste of oxygen. Still, it is festive. Torres: We appreciate the effort. Paris: I believe there's been a mistake here, waiter. I didn't order this. Neelix: Close your eyes and pretend that it's Seven's fettran risotto. Paris: It tastes more like chicken. Torres: What's this? Neelix: A preserved olian guava. I had a few left. Torres: Neelix. Neelix: No arguments. You're eating for two. Tuvok: Senior officers report to stations immediately. Paris: Sorry, Neelix. Janeway: Charge weapons. Shields to full. Paris: What's going on? Chakotay: A funnel just opened. It pulled in a new vessel. Tuvok: Two warships are approaching it. One of them is Valen's. Janeway: Target Valen's weapons, and hail him. Valen: My fight's not with you, Captain. Janeway: Then stand down. Valen: This new ship has impressive technology. We can share it. Janeway: I'm not here to divide the spoils. Valen: Then why are you here? Janeway: To protect the ship you're firing on. Valen: What are they to you? Janeway: Just some people in a bad situation, like the rest of us. Valen: Save your speeches. I've got a crew to feed. Chakotay: He's targeting our shields. Janeway: Take his weapons out. Hail the new ship. Loquar: I surrender. Janeway: We're here to help you. Can you target the smaller warship? Loquar: We're a survey vessel. We're not equipped to fight. Tuvok: Shields at sixty percent Janeway: Fire torpedoes. Tuvok: Shields on Valen's lead ship are holding at eighty percent. It appears he's upgraded them since we last met. Janeway: Ours? Tuvok: Thirty. Paris: The smaller ship is outmaneuvering us. Kim: We have hull breeches on decks five and six. Janeway: Seal them. Tuvok: Shields at fifteen percent Torres: Engineering to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Torres: We're losing containment. At this rate, we'll be dead in the water in less than three minutes. Tuvok: We should retreat, Captain. Janeway: Not yet. Paris: You might want to reconsider. There's another ship approaching. Chakotay: We can't defend ourselves against three ships. Tuvok: We may not have to. The third vessel belongs to Mister Garon. He's firing at the other two. Valen's shields are down. The smaller ship is leaking plasma. Paris: They're both retreating. Kim: Garon's hailing. Janeway: Get a weapons lock on him. We've been fooled by unexpected allies before. Garon: Why are you targeting me? Janeway: Because I don't know what your intentions are. Garon: Haven't I just made them clear? I've decided to accept your offer. Janeway: Well, in that case, welcome to the Alliance. Captain's log, stardate 54562.7. Since Garon and the survey ship became our charter members, finding new allies has gotten a little easier. My latest prospect is Commander Bosaal, whose ship has technology that could help us escape. Janeway: Neelix, we have another guest for dinner. Neelix: Always room for one more, Captain. Bosaal: Who did you raid to get fresh vegetables? Janeway: They're replicated. One of the crews that joined us had technology that tripled our replicator efficiency. Neelix: It may not be a gourmet feast, but we can feed five hundred people a day now, using half the power it took us a few days ago. Janeway: Why don't we sit down? Tuvok: Doctor. Emh: Hello, Commander. Tuvok: How's your patient? Emh: Technically, he's not a patient anymore, but it's taken me this long to coax him out of Sickbay. He's quite shy. (The EMH plays notes on a PADD.) Emh: I'm telling him not to worry, that you're the one who keeps us all safe. Emh: He says thank you. Tuvok: An ingenious method of communication. Emh: It began with a few simple words, but now we're capable of rudimentary conversation. Tuvok: Tell him I'm pleased he's feeling better. Emh: I will. Bosaal: What's that parasite doing aboard your ship? Janeway: I beg your pardon? Bosaal: They're vermin. Emh: I don't know who you are, sir, but your choice of words is offensive. Bosaal: What is offensive is the way they slip aboard during transport, hide in conduits, steal food, spread disease. Emh: Fantome is perfectly healthy, and unlike some people in this Void, he hasn't stolen anything. Bosaal: If my sensors could detect where they are on my ship, I'd exterminate them. I suggest you do the same. Emh: Captain, this is outrageous! Janeway: Doctor! One of the principles of our Alliance is that we don't diskriminate. Everyone's welcome as long as they follow the rules. But if you're having a bad experience with the members of this species on your ship, I'd be happy to bring them to Voyager. Bosaal: If you could find them. Janeway: Now that we've had a chance to analyze Fantome's physiology, I think we can get a transporter lock on them. Bosaal: Is this your way of enticing me to join your Alliance? Janeway: I'm simply trying to demonstrate how cooperation and tolerance can benefit everyone. Bosaal: Then we have an agreement. Torres: Okay, now connect the primary emitter relay. Galen: Online. Janeway: How's it coming? Torres: Pretty well. We just need to Torres: I guess I was being a little optimistic. Janeway: What's the problem, exactly? Galen: We think we can establish a shield bubble large enough to encompass all our ships, but we have no way to compensate for the graviton stress. Janeway: Wouldn't a polaron modulator be able to do that? Torres: Unfortunately, nobody in the Alliance has one. We've been trying to build our own, but so far Janeway: Maybe we could trade for one, or find Janeway: A new ally who has one. Garon: It's not a common piece of technology and it's valuable. It may be difficult to convince anyone to part with it. Janeway: You never know unless you ask. Tuvok: You are not authorized to be in here. Loquar: We're making a valuable contribution to the Alliance. Tuvok: By spying on restricted meetings? Loquar: We've devised a new surveillance technique. Janeway: Ask Harry to give you a hand. Tuvok: You've bypassed my security measures. Loquar: We can observe activity on any ship in the Void without being detected. This is the cargo hold of the Jelinian freighter. Now, if I'm not mistaken, the Jelinians are a member of our Alliance. Tuvok: Which is why you shouldn't be spying on them. Loquar: And why they shouldn't be hoarding their ale. Janeway: Lovely piece. Did they compose it or did you? Emh: They did. Though strictly speaking, it's not a composition. It's more of a conversation. Janeway: I'm impressed. Emh: I wish I could take credit but it was Fantome who taught the others in a fraction of the time it took him to learn. They're a highly intelligent species. Seven: The language is already developing its own grammar and syntax. Janeway: That suggests they have a language of their own. Emh: Mmm hmm. It could be telepathic, but they seem just as comfortable communicating with music now. Janeway: Could their species be native to the Void? Emh: It's certainly possible. They told us they were born here. Janeway: Just when you think nothing in the galaxy can surprise you anymore. Torres: Captain Janeway, please report to Engineering. Torres: Just what we needed, Captain. A fully compatible polaron modulator. Janeway: Where did you get it? Bosaal: The Kinjal frigate. Janeway: Do they want to join our Alliance? Bosaal: They're not interested. Janeway: How did you get this? Bosaal: I traded for it. Janeway: What did you give them? Bosaal: I don't answer to you. Janeway: Did you steal it? Disconnect the modulator. Torres: Captain Janeway: We're returning it to the people it belongs to. Bosaal: They have no more use for it. Janeway: You don't know that. BOSAAL Yes, I do. Janeway: You killed them. Garon: Captain, I don't like his tactics any more than you do, but why waste this technology when we're so close to escaping? Janeway: Because it's a violation of everything this Alliance stands for. Garon: Refusing the modulator won't bring back the people he killed. Janeway: No. But using it would make us accessories to murder. Take it and get out. Chakotay: The Jelinians and the Kraylor have left with Bosaal. They felt you were being Janeway: Impulsive and self-righteous? Is that what you think? Chakotay: You did what you had to do. Janeway: Still, I made a mistake. Chakotay: By telling Bosaal to leave? JANEWAY Allowing him to join in the first place. Chakotay: You couldn't have known what he was going to do. Janeway: Oh, I had a pretty good idea what kind of person he was. That bigoted reaction he had to the Doctor's friend told me all I needed to know, but I ignored my instincts. Chakotay: Why? Janeway: Because I thought his ship could help us escape. Chakotay: You weren't the only one who wanted him in the Alliance. Janeway: Maybe not. But if I'd listened to my doubts in the first place, we wouldn't have lost the other two ships. Chakotay: We'll find a way out of here without them. Janeway: Where do we stand with the modulator? Chakotay: B'Elanna and the other engineers are working around the clock to build one. She thinks they'll be ready to test in a couple of days. Janeway: So everyone's pulling together to make up for my mistake. Chakotay: They have to. It says so in the Federation Charter. Janeway: Good news, I hope. Tuvok: I'm afraid not. It appears Commander Bosaal is attempting to form an alliance of his own with one of our adversaries. Loquar: We recorded a tactical conversation that took place between them just a few minutes ago. Valen: Don't underestimate Janeway. I've been in battle with her twice. Bosaal: Then you know Janeway's tactics. I have two other ships. We can take Voyager's food and weapons if we work together. Tuvok: The rest of their conversation suggests they will attack within the next forty eight hours. Janeway: I'm so glad we taught them the value of cooperation. Tuvok: Our power reserves will be severely depleted if we're forced to defend ourselves. Janeway: Tell B'Elanna we don't have time to test her modulator. We've got to try to escape now. Janeway: Sorry to interrupt, but we've got a situation developing. We're going to try to break free of the anomaly. Your friends are welcome to join us but they should be aware of the dangers. Emh: The Void's their home. They want to stay. Janeway: Where would they like us to transport them? Emh: They're nomads. Any ship'll do. They said they're grateful for our help. They want to help us now. Kim: There's a funnel forming in grid four. Graviton surge in ninety eight seconds. Janeway: Alert the other ships. Take us in, Tom. Paris: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: Bosaal and his fleet are approaching. They are charging weapons. Janeway: Janeway to Engineering. Status. Torres: I need two more minutes. Janeway: You've got one. Kim: Surge in fifty seconds. Janeway: Voyager to all Alliance ships. Begin firing at your designated targets. Tuvok: We've penetrated shields on both vessels. Janeway: Janeway to the Doctor. Initiate Janeway: Transport. Emh: Acknowledged. Yes, Goodbye and good luck. Energize. Seven: Transport complete, Captain. They're in the engine rooms of both ships. Janeway: Acknowledged. Kim: Thirty seconds. Janeway: Janeway to Engineering. We need that modulator. Torres: Just a few more seconds. Kim: We're receiving a hail from Valen's ship, audio only. Janeway: Let's hear it. Janeway: What's he saying, Doctor? Emh: Mission accomplished. Fantome's shut down power on Valen's ship. Tuvok: Confirmed. Bosaal's ship has lost power as well. Paris: Who says gremlins in the engine are a myth? Kim: Surge in five seconds, four. Janeway: Now, B'Elanna. Chakotay: All ships are in formation. Tuvok: Structural integrity at thirty percent Paris: Forty thousand meters to normal space. Tuvok: Twenty percent, ten percent. Janeway: Do it, Tom! Janeway: Gentlemen, it's been a privilege to have you as allies. Galen: I never believed we'd escape. Loquar: Then why did you join? Galen: Captain Janeway is very persuasive. And the food was good. Janeway: You're welcome to have a meal with us anytime. Galen: Ah. Unfortunately, we're headed in the opposite direction. Safe journey to you and your crew, Captain. Janeway: And to all of yours as well. Loquar: Thank you. Janeway: It was almost like being part of a Federation again. Chakotay: The real one's only thirty thousand light years away. Janeway: Then what are we standing around for?

Janeway: Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find the supervisor? Worker: Over there. Janeway: Thank you. Supervisor: Your authorisation and licenses please? Level six in thermal dynamics and quantum fusion. Well, Janeway, I'm impressed. Janeway: Thank you, sir. Supervisor: Now if you can just manage to report to your shift on time. Janeway: I'm sorry, I boarded the wrong transport. I ended up at the Atmosphere Filtration Facility. Supervisor: They're always looking for skilled workers. I'm surprised they didn't offer you a job. Janeway: I promise I won't be late again. Supervisor: Well, it's easy to get disoriented when you're new here. I've been in this city all my life and I still get lost on occasion. Now you'll be monitoring the primary reactor coils. They process more than eight thousand Janeway: Eight thousand metric tons of tylium per second at ninety four percent thermal efficiency. I memorized the specifications. Supervisor: Let me know if there's anything you need. You'll find we like to keep our workforce happy. Janeway: I can already tell it's going to be much better than my last job. Supervisor: The specifications you asked for. Janeway: Thanks. Computer: Input error four one five. Command code violation two three zero eight. Janeway: Come on, shut off that damn alarm and I promise I'll never violate you again. Jaffen: You almost started a core overload. Janeway: I would have corrected it. Jaffen: Well I'm sorry for interrupting then, and for eavesdropping. I overheard you talking to your console. Janeway: It's an old habit. Jaffen: Does it work? Janeway: I'm not sure this control panel and I speak the same language yet. Jaffen: Well, if you need an interpreter. Jaffen. Janeway: Kathryn. Jaffen: I work just down there. Janeway: That's good to know. Seven: This station doesn't require two operators. Jaffen: I don't think we've met. I'm Seven: Employee one three two six, and you're employee eight five eight four. Since you're new here, you may not be fully familiar with the labor protocols, but you should be aware that fraternizing is not permitted during work hours. Jaffen: And do you have a number. or maybe a name? Seven: Annika Hansen. Jaffen: And what exactly is your position here? Seven: I'm the new Efficiency Monitor. Jaffen: Oh, I didn't know they'd hired one. Seven: Now that you do, I suggest you return to your station. Janeway: We weren't fraternizing. He was just helping me correct an input error. We're almost finished. Seven: Do it quickly. Janeway: Yes, ma'am. Jaffen: I thought we were fraternizing. Maybe we could get acquainted after work. There is a little place some of us like to go to. We could get a meal. Janeway: I can't. Jaffen: You need to talk to someone besides your console. Janeway: I appreciate the offer, but with this new job I don't really have time to socialize. Umali: They're always looking for laborers at the Power Distribution Plant. Paris: I had a job there once. Didn't like it much. Umali: Odd. They treat their employees well. How long were you there? Paris: Oh, a while. Umali: It would be very simple for me to find out. Paris: A day. Umali: A day? Paris: Half a day, actually. Give or take an hour. Umali: Not what I'd call an illustrious career. Paris: I don't belong behind a console pushing buttons, But when I heard some of the workers talking about your place, I knew I had to get a job here. Umali: You were terminated, weren't you? Paris: Yes. Umali: That's quite an accomplishment during a labor shortage. What happened? Paris: It's a long story. Umali: I like a long story. Paris: I had a disagreement with the new Efficiency Monitor. She didn't think my work was very Umali: Efficient? Paris: Exactly. Umali: Then why should I hire you? Paris: Well, there's my natural charm and personality. They'd be a real asset around a place like this where you're trying to attract patrons. I mean, look at you. You haven't been able to tear yourself away from me. Umali: There's no one else here. Paris: Please. I really need the work. Umali: You'd better clean those tables over there. This place is going to be filled with hungry workers as soon as the next shift ends. Paris: You won't regret this. Umali: Oh, I'm certain I will. Jaffen: All of them about my father and he couldn't understand why I wasn't insulted. Finally I just had to tell him. I'm Norvalen, I don't have a father! Jaffen: It wasn't that funny, Tuvok. Tuvok: On the contrary. The man was ignorant of how your species procreates. His attempt to disparage you ultimately humiliated him. Irony is often a source of humor. Jaffen: Yes, well, when you explain it like that, it's not funny at all. Tuvok: I also have some humorous anecdotes to share. Jaffen: I'll look forward to hearing them. Jaffen: I thought you didn't have time to socialize? Janeway: I'm not socializing. I'm reviewing these manuals and having something to eat. Jaffen: Well, I recommend the Latara broth and the section on thermal coefficients. I'll join you. Janeway: Really, I'm very, very busy. Jaffen: Oh, not to socialize. To, er, help you review the manuals. Paris: Here you are. Compliments of the proprietress. Umali: Tom? Paris: I'll be right back. Umali: The proprietress doesn't give away drinks. Paris: Well, I'm just creating customer loyalty. Umali: You've been creating loyalty all night with those two women. I suggest you attend to the other tables. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Umali: Here you are. Jaffen: Thank you. It looks great. Janeway: I can't believe I let you keep me out this late. Jaffen: I felt it was my responsibility to help you study those manuals. Janeway: Of course. Jaffen: And now that I have, you should be less likely to overload the core. You know, with all this fascinating discussion about thermal co-efficients you never told me where you're from. Janeway: A planet called Earth. Jaffen: Never heard of it. Janeway: Oh, a long way from here. Jaffen: What's it like? Janeway: Overpopulated, polluted, very little work. Jaffen: It sounds like my home world. I guess we're both lucky to be here. Janeway: It's nice to be in a place where different species get along so well. Jaffen: So, you admit we're getting along. Janeway: I was speaking in a broader cultural context. Jaffen: I see. Janeway: There's a lot of violence where I come from. Jaffen: That's too bad. Janeway: I still haven't adjusted to the weather here. It gets so cold at night. Security: It's almost curfew. Jaffen: Yes, sir. We both live right here. Security: Good night, then. Jaffen: You know, one of the advantages of living in employee housing is that we can continue sharing ideas even after the work day is over. Janeway: Is that so? Jaffen: Yes, and I do have a spectacular view of the river from my living quarters. Janeway: I really have to get to sleep. Maybe another time. Jaffen: I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable. Janeway: You're not. Jaffen: Well, if you get lonely Janeway: I'll let you know. Janeway: It wasn't me. Jaffen: It's not an overload. It's time for our inoculations. Janeway: What inoculations? Jaffen: They're nothing to worry about. Protection against ambient radiation. Janeway: I didn't realize that was a problem. Jaffen: It's not, as long as you're inoculated regularly. We're lucky to have an employer that concerned about our safety. Tech: Is something wrong? Tuvok: Forgive me, but I'm, I'm afraid of injections. Med Tech: I assure you, this is painless. Tuvok: Is there some other method of administering the medication? Med Tech: No, I'm afraid there isn't. Tuvok: Very well. Med Tech: We're finished. You can go back to work. Next. First Officer's log, stardate 54584.3. Ensign Kim, Mister Neelix and I are returning to Voyager after five days of trading with the Nar Shaddan. Kim: In six years I've never been on an away mission worse than this one. Neelix: I don't know how you can say that? The cargo hold is crammed with valuable supplies. Kim: And my stomach is crammed with alien parasites doing backflips. Neelix: I guess you shouldn't have drunk that Falah nectar. Kim: You insisted I try it. Neelix: The Nar Shaddan consider it a delicacy. To refuse would have insulted them. Kim: I didn't hear you insisting that Commander Chakotay try it. Neelix: Commander Chakotay's a vegetarian. Kim: It was made from meat? Neelix: More like a meat by-product. Kim: I'm going to be sick. Neelix: Not after you drink this. Kim: What is it? Neelix: Leola bark tea, to settle even the queasiest of stomachs. Kim: Oh, it smells worse than the meat nectar. I'll wait for the Doctor to treat me. At least I'll be sleeping in my own bed tonight. Chakotay: Harry, I know you're not feeling well, but I need you and Neelix up here. Kim: On our way. Neelix: Anything wrong, Commander? Chakotay: We're at the rendezvous coordinates, but there's no sign of Voyager, and they're not responding to hails. Start scanning on all frequencies. They've got to be out there somewhere. Kim: So much for my own bed. Emh: Re-initialize the subspace transponder. Computer: Warning. Main computer is failing. Emh: Switch to backup processors. Computer: Main computer stabilized. Emh: Good. Now, let's try this again. Re-initialize the subspace transponder. Computer: Unable to comply. Emh: Why not? Computer: Insufficient power. Emh: And they say I'm difficult. Reroute power from the replicator system. Computer: Unable to comply. Emh: Clarify. Computer: Relays to the transponder are fused. Emh: Any suggestions? Computer: Please restate inquiry. Emh: Can the power relays be bypassed? Computer: Negative. Emh: Then I suppose I'll have to replace them by hand. Computer: Warning. Intruder alert. Emh: Where? Computer: The bridge. Emh: How many? Computer: Two humanoids. Emh: Can you identify them? Computer: Negative. Sensor resolution is below twenty percent. Emh: Stop what you're doing and turn around! Kim: Take it easy, Doc. It's us. Emh: It's good to see some friendly faces. For that matter, it's good to see any faces at all. I'm sorry I haven't gotten life support back online yet, but since I've been the only one aboard it hasn't been a priority. Chakotay: What the hell happened? Emh: We ran into some problems. Chakotay: I can see that. Can you be a little more specific? Emh: Of course. About twelve hours after you left on your away mission, things started to go wrong. Emh: We hit some sort of subspace mine. Emh: Computer, transfer the EMH to the mobile emitter. Sickbay to bridge. Sickbay to Engineering, please respond. Emh: It wasn't long before I was inundated with casualties, all suffering from tetryon radiation poisoning. Pretty soon the Captain arrived. Janeway: Doctor, can you treat these people? Emh: I can stabilize them, but if we can't contain the radiation Janeway: Get everyone to the escape pods, quickly. Not you, Doctor. I need you here. Emh: Captain? Janeway: Computer, activate the Emergency Command Hologram. Authorisation Janeway omega three. Computer: Command codes transferred. Janeway: You've wanted this chance for a long time. Now you've got it. Emh: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Try to vent the radiation. The rest of us will get out of the contaminated area and head for the nearest habitable planet. Emh: You need medical care. Janeway: Unless someone answers our distress call we'll have to made do with medkits. We'll rendezvous as soon as it's safe to come back on board. Take good care of Voyager. Emh: You can count on me, Captain. Emh: The crew abandoned ship and I began to assess the damage caused by the mine. But before I could even get started with the repairs, I got some unexpected company. Emh: Computer, report. Computer: An alien vessel has locked on to Voyager with a tractor beam. Emh: Open a channel. This is the Federation starship Voyager. Disengage your tractor beam. Coyote: Our scans show no lifesigns aboard your vessel. Identify yourself. Emh: I am the Emergency Command Hologram. Coyote: Hologram? Emh: That's right. Now release my ship. Coyote: Your crew's abandoned it. It belongs to me now. Emh: I beg to differ. Computer, target the vessel's tractor emitter and fire. Emh: Come about, heading nine zero three mark six. Engage at warp two. Computer: Warp engines are offline. Emh: Evasive pattern beta four. Target the vessel's engines. Computer: Warning. Two vessels approaching bearing three three six mark one. Emh: Reverse course. Full impulse. Emh: I managed to evade the other two ships and hid inside this nebula. I vented the radiation, repaired as many systems as I could, but with no help? Let's just say I'm glad you found me. Kim: It wasn't easy picking up your homing signal. Emh: Well, I had to encrypt it. Every time I left the nebula I detected more ships searching for me. Chakotay: Any idea who they are? Emh: No, but I've analyzed all of their weapons signatures. They match the subspace mine. It was a deliberate attempt to disable Voyager. Chakotay: Good thing you were here. Kim: What about the rest of the crew? Emh: Not a word. Kadan: Make them comfortable. We're going to treat your injuries. Janeway: Who are you? Kadan: My name is Doctor Kadan. We're in a Quarren Medical Facility. Janeway: My crew ? Kadan: My understanding is that they've all been rescued from their escape pods. Janeway: Treat my people first. Kadan: Everyone will be taken care of. Janeway: Thank you. Tuvok: What is that medication? Kadan: An anti-radiation serum. Perfectly safe. Tuvok: What are you doing? Kadan: She's suffering from dysphoria syndrome. Don't worry, it's treatable. Tuvok: Release her immediately. Kadan: Restrain him. Tuvok: Captain! No, no! Tuvok: Excuse me. Janeway: Hi. Tuvok: I believe we know each other. Janeway: You're Tuvok, right? We met last week at the shift briefing. Tuvok: Before that. Before we were working here. Janeway: Oh, I don't think so. I mean, we're obviously not from the same place. Tuvok: Still, I believe I know you. From the hospital, perhaps? Janeway: What hospital? Tuvok: I am not certain. We were patients. Janeway: You must have me confused with someone else. I've never been sick enough to go to a hospital. I'm sorry, I have a lot of work to finish. Tuvok: Please, try to remember. It may be important. Jaffen: Is there a problem here? Janeway: I think it's just a misunderstanding. Jaffen: Tuvok? Tuvok: She's right. It's, er, it's, er, a misunderstanding. Jaffen: You don't look well. Maybe you should go to the infirmary. Tuvok: No, no, I'm fine. Fine. Er, I'll go back to my station. Sorry to have bothered you. Jaffen: What was that all about? Janeway: I'm not sure. Strange man. Jaffen: And a terrible joke teller. So, we having dinner tonight? Janeway: Again? Jaffen: What, you don't like my cooking? Janeway: No, it's wonderful. It's just Jaffen: I'm a perfectionist. I'm going to keep trying until I make you the perfect meal. Janeway: And then we stop eating together? I'll have dinner with you, on one condition. I make it. Jaffen: I think I can accept those terms. Janeway: Good. Now go back to your station before the Efficiency Monitor catches us fraternizing. Paris: Can I bring you something else? Torres: No, thank you. Paris: I haven't seen you in here before. Torres: You probably just didn't notice. Paris: Oh, I'd have noticed. Torres: Well, apparently you aren't as observant as you think you are. Paris: Oh, really? Torres: I've been coming in here the same time every day, for the past two weeks. Paris: Well, that explains it. I usually work nights. Torres: Me, too. Paris: At the Power Distribution Facility. You see? I am observant. Umali: Tom, I need you for a moment. Paris: I'll be right there. Listen, you should come back in when you get a night off. It's a lot more fun when there's a crowd. Torres: I don't really like crowds. Paris: Well then, maybe we could get together during the day sometime, take a walk by the river. Torres: I don't think so. Paris: Why not? I'm a very engaging conversationalist. Paris: Oh. Torres: Yeah. Still want to get together? Paris: You're married. Torres: No. Paris: Oh. Torres: Enjoy your day. First Officer's log, stardate 54597.9. After restoring primary systems, we've left the nebula to try to find the crew. Though there's still a lot of damage, we have been able to reconfigure sensors to detect subspace mines. Ensign Kim's been running continuous scans but there's still no sign of our people. On the bright side, the ships that were searching for us seem to have given up. With only four people on board, repairs are going slowly. Computer: Power to the secondary propulsion systems has been restored. Kim: Kim to Doctor. Report to Astrometrics. Emh: On my way. Emh: Any luck? Kim: I've scanned ships and planets in eighty three systems. No humans, no Vulcans, no Bolians. Emh: Maybe we can increase the range of the sensors by tying them into the main deflector? Kim: I've already done that. Emh: Oh. Well, we can boost resolution by Kim: I appreciate your input, Doc, but I didn't call you down here to help me scan. I'm still feeling kind of queasy from that nectar. Emh: I treated you days ago. Kim: Whatever you did hasn't worked. Maybe all those command subroutines are compromising your medical abilities. Emh: Maybe all that sarcasm is compromising your natural charm. Emh: I've repaired the deuterium injectors, brought secondary propulsion back online, and soothed Ensign Kim's upset tummy. Chakotay: Good work. Why don't you get started on the ruptured plasma conduits on deck ten? Emh: Can't you take care of those? Chakotay: I beg your pardon? Emh: Emergency Command Hologram. Doesn't that suggest my place is here, in Voyager's command center? Chakotay: Look, Doc, I'm impressed with the way you handled yourself while we were gone. But right now we've got to prioritize. Kim: Kim to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Kim: I've found them, Commander. They're on an M class planet. At maximum warp, we can be there in less than three days. Chakotay: Transfer the coordinates to the helm. I'll be in Astrometrics. Doctor, the command center is yours. Jaffen: Mmm, smells good. Janeway: It's only burnt on the outside. Your cooking console's a little temperamental, huh? Jaffen: Did you try talking to it? Janeway: Once I cut off the charred part, I'm sure it'll be fine. Jaffen: It's good. Janeway: Really? Jaffen: Let's go. Jaffen: Where? Janeway: I promised you dinner. We'll just have to get it somewhere else. Jaffen: Wait. I'm not really hungry. Are you? Janeway: No. Jaffen: Let's stay here. First Officer's log, stardate 54608.6. We've traced the crew's life signs to a large city on a planet called Quarra. Unfortunately, the local officials aren't being very cooperative. Ambassador: I have personally interviewed several of the individuals on your crew manifest. None of them know who you are, nor have they heard of a starship Voyager. Chakotay: I'd like to speak to them myself. Ambassador: That's not possible. Chakotay: If you're telling the truth, you have nothing to lose by letting us talk to them. Ambassador: Unlike other planets in this system, we grant our guest workers the full protection of our laws. Emh: What exactly are you protecting them from? Ambassador: Unscrupulous individuals attempting to acquire skilled laborers. Emh: We're not trying to acquire laborers. We're trying to find our friends. Ambassador: Most of your friends have excellent positions in the Central Power Facility in the capital. Why would any of them want to travel thousands of light years to a planet on the other side of the galaxy when they have safe, comfortable lives right here? Chakotay: Because it isn't their home. Ambassador: I suggest you look elsewhere to increase your labor supply. And if you attempt to disturb any of our citizens, we will respond with force. Chakotay: Any luck? Kim: There's no way to beam them through the shield grid. Chakotay: Take us out of orbit. Emh: We're not leaving them behind? Chakotay: No, but I want these people to think we are. Jaffen: I hope the cooking console's not being temperamental again? Janeway: Making a hot drink is one thing I can do. JAFFEN You're right. It's good. Janeway: I told you. Jaffen: What's even better is being here with you. Are you comfortable? Janeway: The blanket's nice and warm. Jaffen: No, I mean here with me. Janeway: I can't remember being more comfortable in my life. Paris: Yeah, I'll take care of it. Paris: Hi. Listen, I get off work in a few minutes. I thought maybe you and I could go Torres: You don't give up, do you? Paris: You don't even know what I was going to say. Torres: Let me guess. You're going to invite me to take a walk by the river, or maybe to your living quarters to admire the view. Paris: Actually I was going to offer to introduce you to some people I met. A couple, expecting their first baby in a few weeks. I thought you might want to get to know some other parents. You know, swap stories, maybe even find a playmate for your baby? If it's a bad idea Torres: No. No, it's nice. Paris: Listen, I'm sorry about the other day. Torres: I'm the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn't have assumed Paris: Forget it. Torres: Look, it's rare that I admit I'm wrong so you might as well take advantage of it while you can. It's been hard, being alone with a baby coming. I have a habit of keeping my guard up. Paris: That's understandable. Torres: It's just, a romantic relationship is really out of the question for me right now, and when you started asking Paris: How about a friend? Torres: What? Paris: Well, you said romance is out of the question, but could you use a friend? Chakotay: Any progress? Neelix: I've spoken to the captains of eight vessels that left Quarra in the last two weeks. Emh: No one knew anything about the crew? Neelix: No, but every one of them asked me if I was looking for employment. Apparently, there's a severe labor shortage throughout this system. There's a lot of competition for workers. Chakotay: That Ambassador said most of our people were working at the main power facility. I wonder if they still have any positions to fill? Neelix: I can make some inquiries. Why? Chakotay: Because you and I are going to find ourselves jobs. Emh: Re-entering orbit might arouse their suspicion. Neelix: Not if we take my ship. Chakotay: Good idea, Neelix. Emh: Commander, you've spoken directly with several government officials. You could be recognized. Chakotay: Isn't reconstructive surgery one of your specialties? Neelix: I still say you should have posed as a Talaxian. We'd have made a striking pair. Chakotay: Whiskers make me itch. How did it go? Neelix: As soon as I told the Supervisor our qualifications, he was eager to hire us. He even helped me get a docking permit for my ship. We'll be gainfully employed by tomorrow morning. Kim: Here you go, Doc. Emh: Give me your hand, Mister Neelix. Neelix: What's this? Kim: A sub-dermal transponder. It will allow us to maintain an open comm. link so we can transport you through the shield grid if there's trouble. Chakotay: Hold position at maximum transporter range. Kim: Aye, sir. Emh: I assumed I'd be in charge during your absence, Commander. Kim: Excuse me? Emh: An Emergency Command Hologram programmed with over two million tactical subroutines outranks an Ensign. Kim: A few words to the computer and this Ensign can delete those subroutines. Emh: Then you'd be depriving yourself of a skilled leader for the sake of your ego. Kim: Oh, my ego? Chakotay: Gentlemen. Work it out. Both: Aye, sir. Seven: Employee eight five eight three. Mister Tuvok. According to my records, you've neglected to report for your last three inoculations. These inoculations are for your protection. A sick worker is not an efficient worker. Report to the infirmary. Tuvok: Seven of Nine. Seven: What? Tuvok: Seven of Nine. It's your designation. Seven: My employee number is eight five eight six. Take your hands off me! Seven: Call security! Tuvok: I don't believe you are who you think you are. Tuvok: We don't belong here. We don't belong here! This isn't right! We don't belong here! Supervisor: Qualification level three in micro-kinetics. You could use some improvement there. Level five in thermionic conversion. Good, We lost a thermionic specialist yesterday. Chakotay: Did he find a better job? Supervisor: Health problems. Supervisor: Someone you know? Chakotay: No, just an unusual species. Supervisor: We have a diverse workforce. Our thermionic converters operate on a rotating frequency, so they have to be closely monitored. You'll be required to report your readings to the controller at a regular interval. Any questions? Supervisor: Are you listening to me? Chakotay: Sorry, sir. I'm just excited to be here. Supervisor: Carry on. Chakotay: Kathryn. Janeway: Yes? Chakotay: It's Chakotay. Janeway: I'm sorry? Chakotay: I'm new here. The supervisor said you would be a good person to speak to if I had any questions. Janeway: What can I help you with? Chakotay: Nothing. I just wanted to introduce myself. Janeway: Oh. What did you say your name was? Chakotay: Chakotay. Actually, that's just what my friends call me. My employment file lists my given name, Amal Kotay. Janeway: Well, whatever your name is, I'm happy to help you any way I can. Tuvok: No. No. Kadan: You're experiencing a relapse of dysphoria syndrome. This is going to make you feel better. Tuvok: Get away from me. Paris: Losing my job there was the best thing that ever happened to me. Neelix: Why's that? Paris: Well, so many rules and regulations. It was like a military operation. Neelix: I know what you mean. Report here, reroute power there. It's almost like serving aboard a starship. Paris: Have you ever done that? Neelix: You're looking at the former captain of his own cargo vessel. Paris: Hmm. Must be quite a life. Neelix: What about you. Ever worked on a ship? Paris: Oh, no. Space travel makes me sick. Neelix: So, do you know most of the people that come in here? Paris: A lot of them. This is a great place to work. Neelix: Seems like it. Paris: I could put in a good word for you to my employer. Chakotay: Ah, Neelix. Neelix: I was wondering when you'd get here. Amal Kotay, this is my new friend, Tom Paris. Paris: What can I get you? Chakotay: That looks good. Neelix: I was assigned to the Primary Fusion Chamber along with Mulchaey and Celes. Neither of them recognized me. Chakotay: Let me guess. They really love their jobs. Neelix: It's like they've all been programmed to be happy here. Chakotay: It's a safe bet they're not going to leave willingly. Paris: Here you go. Janeway: Hi, how was your first day? Chakotay: Not bad. Janeway: Would you and your friend like to join us? Chakotay: That would be nice. Jaffen: Er, actually I was hoping we could eat alone tonight. Chakotay: Maybe another time. Janeway: That was rude. Jaffen: I'm sorry, I just, er. There's something I'd like to talk to you about. Torres: Thanks. Woman: Thank you for joining us. Paris: B'Elanna. I'm due for a break. I'll walk you to the transport. Torres: Stop worrying. I'll be fine. Paris: It's not you that I'm worried about. Torres: The baby will be fine, too. Jaffen: So, what I was thinking is. If we were to combine our resources, we would reduce our expenses. Janeway: Are you asking me to move in? Jaffen: Yes. I know it's impulsive, I know we haven't known each other very long. But things are so easy when we're together, and I just thought I Janeway: Okay. Jaffen: What? Janeway: Maybe I'm out of my mind, but let's try it. Chakotay: Excuse me. Torres: It was my fault. I should watch where I'm going. Chakotay: B'Elanna? Torres: How do you know my name? Chakotay: What if I told you we were old friends? Torres: That's a ridiculous statement. Chakotay: I know it sounds strange, but I can prove it to you. Torres: Look, I'm sorry, but I'm late for work. Torres: Let go of me! Chakotay: I'm not going to hurt you. Torres: No. Torres: Security, help! Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. We've got B'Elanna. Chakotay: Lock on to Neelix's signal and transport them to Sickbay. Kim: Acknowledged. Torres: Help me! Security: Let her go. Security: Stop! Chakotay: Harry, I need an emergency transport now! Kim: Sorry, Commander, we're under attack. I had to raise shields. Torres: No, leave me alone. Neelix: We're friends. We're trying to help you. Torres: No, don't touch me! Security: He turned into the access way. Security 2: I'll call for reinforcements. Security 2: I think he went in there! Security: Be careful, he might be armed. Security: Wait here. Security 2: Yes, sir. Security: He's deactivated a safety field. Alert emergency medical, he may have tried to jump. Kim: I can't penetrate their shields. Emh: Maybe we don't have to. The battle of Vorkado, it's in my tactical database. A Romulan captain disabled two attacking vessels by creating a photonic shock wave between the ships. Kim: How'd he do that? Emh: Watch and learn. Emh: I don't think they'll be bothering us again. Kim: Good work. Let's go back for Chakotay. Emh: Five more ships on an intercept course. Kim: What's your tactical database telling you now? Emh: Transporters are damaged, shields are failing. We have to retreat, come up with a new plan. Kim: Agreed. Janeway: Listen, I'm sorry about my friend. Chakotay: Excuse me? Janeway: Jaffen. He wasn't very nice when I invited you to join us. Are you all right? Chakotay: I'm just a little tired. First day on a new job. Janeway: I know how that can be. Well, I just wanted to let you know you're more than welcome to sit with us. Chakotay: Actually, I was thinking about going home. Janeway: Well, if you change your mind, we're celebrating. Chakotay: What's the occasion? Janeway: I've decided to move in with Jaffen. Chakotay: Congratulations. Yerid: Look among the patrons. Yerid, criminal investigations. Paris: We run an honest business. Yerid: I'm looking for two people who disappeared after leaving here earlier this evening. One was a young pregnant woman. Paris: B'Elanna? Yerid: You know her? Paris: I knew I should have walked her to the transport. Yerid: Why, did you think someone might try to hurt her? Paris: This city is supposed to be safe! Yerid: The person with her was described as short, with mottled skin, facial hair. Paris: Sounds like someone who was in here earlier. A worker from the plant. Yerid: Do you know his name? Paris: Neelix, I think. Yerid: Did you see him talking to anyone else while he was here? Paris: He had a friend, Amal something. Yerid: Can you describe him? Paris: I don't have to, he's sitting right over ECH log, stardate 54622.4. I've found an ingenious place to hide while we make repairs. A moon with a para-magnetic core that masks our energy signature. I've turned my attention to Lieutenant Torres, whose treatment will also require ingenuity. Emh: The scan on the left was performed during B'Elanna's last physical. The one on the right, just a few minutes ago. The memory centers of her brain have been radically altered. Neelix: People from our crew seemed to remember parts of their real lives, but they got a lot of the details wrong. Tom knew his name, that he was from Earth, but he said space travel made him sick. Emh: Whoever did this is very sophisticated, capable of selectively manipulating memory engrams. Some have been suppressed, some altered, others left intact. Neelix: Can you undo the damage? Emh: I believe so, but it'll take some time. Neelix: I wish I could help. Emh: Maybe you can. She'll require several treatments. In between, you could expose her to familiar sights and surroundings. Neelix: Say no more. I'll take her on a whirlwind tour of her own life. Emh: Don't rush things. This is going to be very traumatic for her. Ravoc: Acute anxiety, depression. When I interviewed him he insisted that he's not who he's supposed to be, that we've stolen his katra, whatever that is. Kadan: Conclusions? Ravoc: Tri-lobe regression complex? Polar-affective disorder? Kadan: Neuro-psychiatry isn't a guessing game, Doctor Ravoc. Ravoc: Dysphoria syndrome. Kadan: You have been studying my research. Ravoc: According to your work, the condition is very rare. Kadan: It is. I've treated this man before. Apparently, he has suffered a relapse. Recommended treatment? Ravoc: Engrammatic resequencing is typically indicated. Kadan: You seem skeptical. Ravoc: Resequencing is a radical procedure. Kadan: If he had a malignant tumor, would you be afraid to cut it out? Ravoc: No. Kadan: This syndrome is just as insidious. It requires aggressive treatment. Get started. Tuvok: Please. Help me. Ravoc: That's what we're here to do. Seven: I want to know the status of employee eight five eight three. Supervisor: Maybe it's different where you come from, but here it's polite to say good morning. Seven: Good morning. Supervisor: Eight five eight three. The man who was removed by security yesterday. He's been hospitalized. Seven: Is there any reason to believe that his condition might be contagious? He came in contact with other workers. Some of them have expressed concern. Supervisor: Well, tell them not worry. Yerid: Excuse me, am I intruding? Supervisor: What can we do for you? Yerid: I'm investigating the disappearance of two of your employees. Supervisor: Who? Yerid: Their names are Neelix and Torres. Seven: Both of them failed to report for work today. YERID What about this man? Seven: Employee nine three six three. He didn't report for his shift either. Yerid: I'd like to see his personnel file, and I'll need to interview anyone who may know where he is. Seven: Why are you looking for him? Yerid: I believe he's responsible for the disappearance of the other two. Jaffen: You've only been here three weeks. Where did you get all these things? Janeway: I'm a collector. Jaffen: You collect spent plasma relays? Janeway: I like to think of it as a decorative object. Janeway: You know, I think this would look better over there. Jaffen: You're not going to start telling me how to dress, are you? Where are you going? Janeway: To get the rest of my things. Jaffen: There's more? Janeway: Lights. Janeway: What do you want? Chakotay: You told me you were moving out. I needed a place to hide. Janeway: Jaffen knows where I am. He'll come looking for me. Chakotay: I'm hoping you won't tell him I'm here. Janeway: They say you had something to do with the disappearance of a woman at the plant. Chakotay: I did. Her name's B'Elanna. She was brought to this planet against her will. Something was done to her so she'd forget her real life. Janeway: And what, you helped her get home? Chakotay: That's right. There are other people in this city who I'm also trying to help. I'm not here to hurt anyone. You have to trust me. Janeway: You're pointing a weapon at me. Chakotay: Go ahead, report me. But if you do, a lot of innocent people are going to suffer. All I'm asking for is a place to stay until my friends come back for me. Janeway: We're going to have to do something about that arm. Torres: The waiter from the tavern? Neelix: Lieutenant Tom Paris, our pilot, and B'Elanna Torres, our Chief Engineer. That picture was taken on your honeymoon. Torres: It isn't possible. Neelix: How else would we have it? It's an antique television. You gave it to Tom as a present. Torres: He watches cartoons. Neelix: Yes. Torres: How do I know that? Neelix: Because you're starting to remember. Torres: I wondered why he was so protective of me. Neelix: I'll be outside if you need me. Seven: Your shift ended three hours ago. Janeway: My friend Jaffen. Employee one three two six. He cut himself. Seven: Removing property from these premises is not permitted. Janeway: I know, but he's just too stubborn to go to the hospital. I promise I'll have it back first thing in the morning. Seven: Be sure that you do. Seven: Display the personnel file for employee eight five eight three. Computer: Access restricted. Security clearance verified. Seven: Display all medical and historical data for this employee's species. Computer: Data unavailable. Seven: List all files accessed by this employee since he's been here. Computer: Personnel files. Employee eight five eight two. Nozowo, Kashimuro. Employee eight five eight four. Janeway, Kathryn. Employee eight five eight five. McKenzie, William. Employee eight five eight six. Hansen, Annika. Employee eight five eight seven. Anderson, Lydia. Employee eight five eight eight, Torres, B'Elanna. Employee Janeway: You need a doctor. Chakotay: That'll have to wait till I'm back on Voyager. Janeway: Voyager? Chakotay: My ship. Janeway: You live onboard? Chakotay: For almost seven years. Janeway: Don't you ever want to stay in one place? Chakotay: You seem happy here. Janeway: I've got a good job. Chakotay: Ever consider doing something more challenging? Janeway: My job's challenging enough. Chakotay: You monitor reactor coils, right? You're obviously a very capable woman. You could probably run that power plant. Janeway: Why would I want all that responsibility? Janeway: What's that? Chakotay: My people are trying to contact me. Chakotay here. Kim: Are you okay, Commander? Chakotay: For the time being. Can you get me out of here? Kim: No, sir. Kim: We're eight light years away. Chakotay: How are you transmitting this signal that far? Emh: We're using a triaxialating frequency on a covariant Emh: Subspace band. It was B'Elanna's idea. Chakotay: I take it she's feeling better. Emh: She's responded well to treatment. Kim: Have you located anyone else from the crew? Chakotay: As a matter of fact, I'm sitting with Captain Janeway right now. Kim: How is she? Chakotay: A little suspicious, just like B'Elanna was at first. How soon can you get back into transporter range? Kim: We need Kim: A couple more days to finish repairs. What about the shield grid? Chakotay: I have an idea how to shut it down. Chakotay: Until I get back to you, let's maintain comm. silence, just in case we're being monitored. Kim: Understood. Good luck, Commander. Janeway: Why did you call me captain? Chakotay: Because that's who you are. Janeway: That's absurd. So what are you saying, that I was brought here by force too? That my memories were manipulated? Chakotay: I know it sounds strange. Janeway: Helping you was a mistake. Chakotay: Listen to me. There are more then a hundred members of Voyager's crew working at that power plant. Your crew. And when our ship gets here I'll be able to prove it to you. Look, I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want to, but don't you at least want to know the truth? Let me prove who I am. Hand me that dermal regenerator. Janeway: We're the same race. Chakotay: We're more than that. We're friends. Jaffen: Am I hearing you correctly? You're actually helping this man? He abducted one of the workers. Janeway: She's a member of his crew. Jaffen: Right, and you're the captain. Don't you see? He's trying to convince you that you'll have a better life if you go with him. Do you want to go with him? Janeway: No. Jaffen: Then why are you risking everything we have? Chakotay: I was starting to think Yerid: Stay where you are. Chakotay: I don't know them. Yerid: I think you do, and I think you were involved in their disappearance. Chakotay: I'm not the man you're looking for. Yerid: Yes, the witness' description doesn't fit you exactly, but I'm sure that'll be explained once the doctor here finds evidence of dermal regeneration. What is it? Surgeon: Some kind of communications device implanted under his skin. Yerid: Remove it. Chakotay: Listen to me. You and I have something in common. Yerid: Oh? Chakotay: We're both investigating disappearances. If you answer my questions, I'll answer yours. Security: I have an order to transfer this patient to Division six. Yerid: Division six? Surgeon: Neuropathology? Security: We believe that he's mentally ill. Chakotay: He's lying. How could they know that? They've never examined me. Yerid: I'll come with you. Security: I'm sorry, sir, but my orders are to bring him for immediate treatment. Yerid: This man is a suspect in a serious crime. I'm not letting him out of my sight. Security: If you check that order, you'll see it's been approved by the Director of Investigations. Chakotay: My real name is Chakotay. I'm an officer aboard the Federation starship Voyager. Members of my crew were abducted and their memories were altered, and they were put to work here. I can give you names, descriptions. Listen to me! Torres: Smells good. Neelix: Pancakes with maple syrup are your favorite breakfast. You know, sometimes food is like time travel. You inhale an aroma, take a bite of something and suddenly, bam! You're back at the moment you first tasted it. Torres: They're good. I'm not experiencing time travel. Neelix: What are you reading? Torres: Personal logs. Neelix: Do you remember recording any of them? Torres: They're not mine. They're Tom's. Neelix: Those are supposed to be private. Torres: Well, he is my husband. Neelix: What do they say? Torres: They're private. But the way he describes me. Neelix: He loves you. Torres: I guess so. Neelix: How do you feel? Torres: It's still a little foggy. Neelix: That fog should lift as soon as the Doctor finishes your treatments. Torres: Yeah, but what about the guy who recorded these logs? Emh: I've been analyzing our scans of the Quarren patrol ships that attacked us, and I think I've devised a way of evading their sensors. Kim: You do have a knack for tactical planning. Emh: That's something I've been meaning to discuss with you. Once we've succeeded in this mission, and I'm certain we will, I'd like you to help me program a new medical hologram. Kim: You don't like the idea of going back to your old job now that you've had a taste of command. Emh: I'm a skilled officer. Kim: No offense, Doc, but that skill was programmed into you. Emh: Yes. Kim: I'm sure once you're back to your old self, you'll be happy being a full-time doctor again. Commander Chakotay's hailing us. We're receiving you, sir. Go ahead. Chakotay: I'm having trouble with my transceiver. This may be to last chance we have to talk. Kim: What's your status? Chakotay: I'm almost ready to shut down the shield grid. I'm sending you encrypted instructions. They'll tell you where and when to enter orbit. Kim: We have it, Commander. Chakotay: Chakotay out. Kadan: Well, now you that you know where to find Voyager Coyote: I'll have three ships with me. They won't escape again. Supervisor: If you'd done your job the first time, we wouldn't have a problem now. Kadan: Don't you have patients to attend to? Ravoc: Yes, sir. I've been thinking. This is the second person we've admitted with dysphoria syndrome in two days and they both work at the power plant. Maybe we should issue a health alert, examine the rest of the workers. Kadan: Do you think I'm incompetent? Ravoc: Sir? Kadan: This man is in charge of personnel at the power facility. I've informed him of the situation. Supervisor: We're already taking steps to ensure the safety of all our employees. Ravoc: I'm sorry to have bothered you. Kadan: No need to apologize, Doctor. Your concern for your patients is admirable. But don't worry. This man is already responding to treatment. I expect a full recovery. Yerid: Why would this Tuvok be collecting information about his co-workers? Seven: I don't know. But the name on one of those files is B'Elanna Torres. They both began working at the plant on the same day along with one hundred thirty six others, including myself. Yerid: What's unusual about that? Seven: More than a hundred skilled employees, most of them the same species, acquired in a single day, during a labor shortage. You'll also note that every one of them was processed with the Central Hospital when they arrived. Yerid: It's routine for new workers to be examined. Seven: Yes, by Quarantine Control. but everyone on this list all of them were processed through Division six. Yerid: You came through Neuropathology? Seven: That's what the records indicate, but I don't remember being there. Yerid: What do you expect me to do? Seven: You can start by interviewing Mister Tuvok. You'll find him at the hospital. Yerid: Why is he there? Seven: He became emotionally unstable. Yerid: Even if I wanted to help you, I couldn't. Seven: Why not? Yerid: The Director of Investigations relieved me of duty this morning. Paris: Yerid? I thought that was you. Have you found out anything about B'Elanna? Seven: He can't assist you. He's been relieved of duty. Paris: Oh. Seven: This man's also in Tuvok's file. Paris: What file? Seven: Why don't you tell him? Paris: Tell me what? Yerid: I can't go back to the hospital and start asking questions. I'd be reported. Seven: Maybe I can help. Seven: Recently, I've been Ravoc: I'm a doctor. You can trust me. Seven: I've been experiencing some disturbing thoughts. I don't believe it's anything serious, but I would like to speak with someone. Ravoc: Well, you've come to the right place. Seven: Guest labor code green. Employee eight five eight six. Ravoc: Hansen, Annika. You've been a patient here before. Seven: Yes, when I first arrived. Ravoc: You were treated for dysphoria syndrome. Seven: I don't recall that. Ravoc: These disturbing thoughts you mentioned. Would you characterize them as hallucinations? Seven: What's the cause of this syndrome? Ravoc: We're conducting studies to determine that. Fortunately, we have one of the foremost experts on the condition working here. Seven: I'd like to speak with this expert. Ravoc: Doctor Kadan's very busy. Seven: So am I. Perhaps I should return when he's free. Ravoc: Wait here. I'll find him. Jaffen: Yes? Yerid: My name is Yerid. I'm from Criminal Investigations. Jaffen: how can I help you? Yerid: Kathryn Janeway? Janeway: Yes? Yerid: Do you know this man? Janeway: No. Yerid: I thought maybe you'd met him. Janeway: Why? Yerid: He was found in your former living quarters in possession of a dermal regenerator that you removed from the plant. Jaffen: I was the one who helped him. Janeway: Jaffen. He said he was from a starship, and that members of his crew had been abducted. Jaffen: He was obviously lying. Yerid: I want to know everything he told you. Kadan: How could she just walk out? Ravoc: She was a voluntary patient. There was no reason for security to stop her. She accessed sixty four restricted files, all of them for people diagnosed with dysphoria syndrome. According to the records, those patients were all admitted on the same day, and you're listed as the attending physician in every case. Kadan: Oh, yes, I remember. Quite, quite an outbreak. Ravoc: You've never mentioned it. Kadan: Well, I'm sorry if I haven't kept you properly informed about my patients. Ravoc: Everyone of them was discharged to the main Power Authority. That supervisor you were talking to, that's where he worked. Kadan: I explained that to you. I was informing him about a potential health threat. Ravoc: That plant worker, Amal Kotay. He claimed that his friends had been abducted and put to work after having their memories altered. Kadan: What are you implying? Ravoc: You're making false diagnoses. Selectively changing what people remember, and then sending them to work at the power plant. Kadan: Very good, Doctor. Ravoc: Why? Kadan: A physician with more experience would be able to see this in the larger context. The true public health threat is the labor shortage, and the only cure is to find more skilled workers. Ravoc: We're doctors. We're not supposed to harm patients. Kadan: We're helping them to lead productive, happy lives. Ravoc: By altering their memories? Kadan: The treatment I provide improves their lives and makes them better workers. In turn, our economy benefits. Ravoc: You're profiting from this, aren't you? Kadan: Doesn't a physician deserve to be compensated for his services? Ravoc: I'll report you. Kadan: To whom? My research is funded by the Ministry of Health. Ravoc: Well, Criminal Investigations, then. Kadan: As you may recall, the Director of Investigations was the one who ordered Amal Kotay be placed under my care. Ravoc: Does everyone know about this? Kadan: Not everyone. Just a few trusted associates. The question is, are you going to be one of them? Security: She's considered dangerous. Paris: She's never been in here. Security: You're sure? Paris: I don't think I'd forget that face. Security: If you do see her, report it immediately. She needs to be hospitalized. Paris: It's safe now. Seven: Thank you. Paris: Well, if you really want to thank me, you can tell me what's going on. Seven: It appears this Chakotay was telling the truth. Jaffen: So every worker at the plant had their memories altered? Seven: I don't believe it's every worker. Your name didn't appear in Doctor Kadan's patient files, But mine did. So did yours. Paris: We should report this to the authorities. Yerid: I'll need more evidence before I start making accusations. Janeway: Chakotay said he had proof of my real identity aboard a ship called Voyager. Seven: How can we locate it? Janeway: When his crew contacted him, they were using a triaxialating frequency on a covariant subspace band. Seven: There's a subspace transponder at the power plant. Janeway: I'm going back to the plant to try to contact this ship. I understand if you don't want to be involved. Jaffen: I've been involved from the moment I met you. Seven: If I were to return to the hospital in your custody, it would give us an opportunity to help Chakotay and Tuvok. Yerid: I had to sedate her. She wouldn't come voluntarily. Kadan: Her condition's obviously worsened. I'll treat her. Yerid: There are some other patients I'd like to interview. Kadan: These people can't be disturbed. Seven: I suggest you comply. Jaffen: Be careful. Neelix: We're being hailed. Emh: On screen. Janeway: Starship Voyager Kim: Captain? Janeway: Why don't you just call me Kathryn? Kim: Yes, ma'am. Where's Commander Chakotay? Janeway: Hospitalized. Janeway: He told me you had proof of who some of us really are. Torres: We do. Janeway: You're the woman who was abducted. Torres: Chakotay was supposed to deactivate the shield grid so we could transport you and the others to safety. If you could find a way to shut down main power, the shield grid will go down too. Kim: Will you help us? Emh: We're under attack. Three ships. Kim: Please, shut down the shield. Janeway: Jaffen? Supervisor: Stop! Supervisor: Don't move! Security: Stay where you are. Jaffen: I hope you didn't think I abandoned you. Janeway: Never occurred to me. We need to shut down the main generators. Kim: So much for evading their sensors. Emh: The only way they could've found us is if they knew exactly where to look. Torres: Transporters are offline. Woman: Evacuate. Man: I'm getting it shut down. Jaffen: We'll never get to the generator controls. Janeway: Maybe we don't have to. Jaffen: What are you doing? Janeway: If I can make the computer think the core is going to overload, the main power should automatically shut down. Yerid: Ask them to give us some privacy. Kadan: You're dismissed. Yerid: Disconnect them. Seven: Doctor Ravoc. Why is this man here? Kadan: Dysphoria syndrome. Neelix: We're losing shields. Kim: Any advice from your tactical database? Emh: Nothing relevant. Kim: How many escape pods do we have left? Torres: Five. Kim: Stand by to eject three of them. Emh: I don't think abandoning ship is the answer. Kim: Neither do I. Can you create a dampening field around the briefing room that'll mask our lifesigns? Emh: I believe so. Why? Kim: Watch and learn. Coyote: Your crew's abandoned you again. I suggest you surrender your vessel. Emh: You should realize by now that I'm not programmed to do that. Emh: Bravo, Ensign. Kim: B'Elanna, I need those transporters. Jaffen: You'd better hurry up. Janeway: Come on, do it. Computer: Warning. Core overload detected. Initiating emergency shutdown. Neelix: The shield grid's failing. Kim: B'Elanna? Torres: Transporters are coming online now. ECH log, supplemental. All the crew have been transported back to Voyager. Thanks to my experience with Lieutenant Torres, their treatment is proceeding rapidly. While they're recovering I still have a few command duties left to perform. Ambassador: If it weren't for your efforts, this whole conspiracy might never have been uncovered. Kim: What'll happen to the workers? Yerid: Well, we've identified several thousand of Doctor Kadan's patients. Once they're treated, they'll be repatriated. Emh: We appreciate everything you've done. Neelix: This way. Paris: What's that for? Torres: For taking care of me, even when you didn't know who I was. Paris: Ow! What was that for? Torres: Flirting with your customers. Paris: I was a victim of mind control. Jaffen: I can see why you'd rather live here. Janeway: I'd offer you a position. I could always use another skilled Engineer. But as the captain, it wouldn't really be appropriate for me to Jaffen: Fraternize with a member of your crew. Well, at least my memories weren't tampered with. According to the medical reports, I really did come to Quarra looking for a better life. And now that I've been promoted, I guess I've succeeded. Janeway: Promotion? Jaffen: They had to replace our shift supervisor. Something about acquiring workers illegally. Janeway: Congratulations. You deserve it. Jaffen: I thought you might like these back, to remind you of our time together. Janeway: I won't need souvenirs to remember you. Kim: Captain on the bridge. Chakotay: Ready to go? Janeway: It may not have been real, Chakotay, but it felt like home. If you hadn't come after me, I never would've known that I had another life. Chakotay: Are you sorry I showed up? Janeway: Not for a second. Resume course, Mister Paris. Paris: Aye, sir.

Scene: (The metronome helps the pianist keep time to Chopin's Nocturne no 1 in E minor, opus 72. She is revealed to be Annika Hansen, the grown woman with no Borg implants.) Torres: Feels heavy. Baby's first tricorder? Tuvok: Not exactly. Torres: Thank you, I'm sure she'll love it. What is it? Tuvok: A pleenok. Vulcans use them to train their infants in primary logic. Paris: Never too early to train those synapses, eh, Tuvok? Let me see that. I love a good puzzle. Neelix: This one's from Mister Kim. Torres: Starfleet diapers. Kim: Standard issue. Paris: Well, we know who to call if there's a containment breach. Janeway: Now that your Borg implants have been removed, you might think about having children of your own one day. Seven: One day. I have been considering some less radical changes in my personal life. Janeway: Such as? Seven: I realize I don't have a rank, but I would like to request a uniform. Janeway: Consider it done. The Doctor tells me you don't need to regenerate any more. I can arrange some quarters for you, unless you enjoy curling up in the Cargo Bay. Seven: A bed would be more comfortable. Since I arrived on Voyager, your guidance has been invaluable. Thank you, Captain. Janeway: All I did was chart the course. You're the one who made the journey. Chakotay: Seven, it's traditional for everyone to share their best wishes for the baby. I thought you might like to start. Seven: To the newest member of our crew. May all her desires be fulfillled except for one, so she'll always have something to strive for. Janeway: Very good. All: Hear, hear. Seven: And may she inherit a sense of logic from her mother. Kim: I'll drink to that. Paris: That was strange. Chakotay: Care to explain? Paris: I wish I could. Long range sensors picked up an energy discharge, but now it's gone. There. There's another one. Tuvok: They're occurring approximately five point nine light years ahead. Chakotay: Source? Tuvok: We're too far away to get a clear reading. Janeway: Bridge to Seven of Nine. Seven: Go ahead. Janeway: Report to the Astrometrics lab. Seven: Acknowledged. Computer, end program. Seven: I wasn't able to find the cause of the discharges, but the region ahead contains unusual amounts of subspace radiation and metallic debris. Tuvok: Vessels? Seven: Not within range. But I'll have more data once we move closer. Janeway: I see no reason to alter course. Keep an eye on your sensors. Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Now, on to more pressing matters. Does B'Elanna suspect anything? Paris: Not a clue. Janeway: Good. Mess hall, fourteen hundred hours, be on time. I don't want to spoil the surprise. I expect both of you to show up. Seven: I'll be busy here. Paris: What's wrong, Seven? No baby showers in the Collective? Janeway: I'm sure you can spare a few minutes. Tuvok: If it's any consolation, I share your discomfort with social gatherings. Seven: They seem to occur with alarming frequency. Tuvok: Mister Neelix would argue that they improve morale. Seven: I have been looking for ways to improve my social skills. Perhaps I'll attend. Neelix: Well, it certainly is efficient. No clutter, plenty of room to move around. But it's a little impersonal, don't you think? Seven: Explain. Neelix: Well, these are your quarters, Seven. They should reflect your individuality. How about a table and a couple of chairs? Give yourself a place to work, entertain guests. Try to add a little color. Photographs, artwork, knick-knacks. Seven: Knick-knacks? Neelix: Little things, like the wood carvings in Ensign Kim's quarters. Seven: I've never been to Ensign Kim's quarters. But I suppose I could replicate some items and disperse them throughout the room. Neelix: That's a start. Some people like to display pictures of family and friends. Seven: There's a photograph of my parents in the ship's database. I'll make a copy and place it in a frame. Neelix: Good, good. Seven: A multispectral star chart might enhance this bulkhead. Neelix: Or a painting. Seven: A painting of a star chart. Neelix: I was thinking of something more abstract, more artistic. Drapes. Nothing livens up a room like good window dressing. Not to mention the added privacy. Seven: Privacy? We're in space. Neelix: You never know when we'll be docking at a crowded space port. But we'll have to make sure that they match the carpet. I'm thinking of a Talaxian mosaic. Tulaberry blue stripes with an orange inlay. Seven: I appreciate your esthetic insights, but I believe I can proceed on my own. Seven: Enter. Chakotay: Am I interrupting? Seven: Please come in. Chakotay: Love what you've done with the place. Seven: We're in the process of decorating. Chakotay: Maybe this will help. Consider it a housewarming gift. Neelix: It's beautiful. What is it? Seven: A dream catcher. According to Native American mythology, it wards off nightmares. Chakotay: I'm impressed. Seven: I've familiarized myself with your culture. Chakotay: Now that you'll be sleeping instead of regenerating, I thought it might come in handy. Seven: I'm sure it will. Thank you. Neelix: I'll let you two find a place to hang that, but it would look perfect right above the bed. Pleasant dreams. Seven: It was thoughtful of you to stop by. Chakotay: On move in day? I wouldn't miss it. Seven: I suppose this makes you my inaugural guest. I'd be a negligent host if I didn't offer you a beverage. Tea? Chakotay: That might be difficult. No replicator. Seven: Another flaw in the decor. Chakotay: I'll requisition one for you first thing tomorrow. Seven: I'd appreciate that, Commander. Chakotay: Chakotay. We're off duty. We can drop the formalities. Seven: Yes, sir. Chakotay: I enjoyed your toast today. You've come a long way. I hope to see more. Seven: You will. Chakotay: Good night. Seven: Chakotay. As you might know I've taken an interest in culinary science. I'm preparing a meal tomorrow night, and I thought perhaps you could attend to evaluate my work. Chakotay: I'd be happy to. Seven: Nineteen hundred hours? Chakotay: I'll bring the wine and the furniture. Seven: Then you accept? Chakotay: It's a date. Emh: Rock-a-bye baby, in the space dock. When the core blows, the shuttle will rock. When the hull breaks, the shuttle will fall. And down will come baby, shuttle and all. Seven: Are you trying to soothe the infant, or traumatize her? Emh: The lyrics are rather grim, but it's the melody they respond to. I recorded twenty nine in all, including a couple of Klingon lullabies. My favorite is 'quong vaj Ocht. Sleep, little warrior. I could tell by the look on their faces that my gift made quite an impression. Seven: No doubt. Emh: I wish you'd been there. It was a lovely shower. Tom and B'Elanna were disappointed that you didn't attend. Seven: I was occupied. Emh: Are you experiencing any shoulder pain? Seven: Yes. Emh: Hmm. Your biradial clamp is out of alignment by point three microns. I'm afraid it will have to be repaired. Seven: Can't you simply extract the component? Emh: Not if you want to keep using that arm. I know it's an inconvenience, but until we can find a way to remove your cybernetic systems, they'll have to be maintained. It's a minor procedure. We might as well take care of it now. Seven: I prefer to wait. Emh: We'll be done in an hour. Seven: I have research to complete. Emh: Oh. I suppose we can put it off until next week's physical. I also noticed that your electrolyte levels are down by twelve percent. Have you missed any regeneration cycles? Seven: Last night. Emh: Don't tell me. More research? This must be some project. Mind if I ask what you're working on? Seven: It's complicated. Emh: How do you mean? Seven: My personal life is none of your concern. Emh: I wasn't aware you had a personal life. Janeway: Report. Paris: It was an energy discharge, two hundred thousand kilometers starboard. Tuvok: It produced a level nine shockwave. Chakotay: Some kind of weapon? Tuvok: Possibly. Paris: Another one, five million kilometers to port. Tuvok: A shockwave is approaching. Janeway: Full power to the shields. Kim: Our warp field's destabilizing. Tuvok: I'm detecting another. Distance, fifty thousand kilometers. Janeway: Turn our bow into the wavefront. It'll minimize the damage. Paris: Sorry, Captain. There wasn't enough time. Kim: We've lost warp drive. Tuvok: I'm reading another. Distance, twenty six million kilometers. Too far to pose a threat. Chakotay: If they are weapons, they don't seem to be directed at us. Janeway: Or whoever's firing them is a lousy shot. Seven: Astrometric sensors recorded the explosions. I believe it's a long range subspace warhead. The debris in this region suggests that dozens have been fired in the last several weeks. Tuvok: The warhead destroyed something. What was it? Seven: It appeared to be an unmanned probe. Janeway: This is all very intriguing, but I'd just as soon get out of here before we cross paths with another one of these things. Where do we stand on repairs? Tuvok: Subspace radiation from the explosions is making it difficult to create a stable warp field. Lieutenant Torres estimates forty eight hours. Janeway: Can you find a way to detect the warheads before they emerge from subspace? Seven: I believe so. The weapons create minor gravimetric distortions as they approach the subspace barrier. But I need to recalibrate my sensors to isolate the effect. Janeway: Do it. Even a few seconds' warning would help us. Seven: Yes, Captain. Seven: Your duty shift doesn't begin for two hours. Icheb: The Doctor sent me to relieve you early. He wants you to spend more time regenerating. Seven: I see he's enlisted an ally. Icheb: Don't kill the messenger. Sophocles, Oedipus Rex. I've been studying Earth literature as a part of my Academy training. Seven: Continue these scans of the subspace barrier. Look for any gravimetric distortions. Torres: Run another diagnostic on the injector ports. Make sure they're aligned. Kim: They're aligned, I checked. Torres: Check again. Come to join the party? We're trying to cold start the warp core for the fifteenth time. Seven: Perhaps this will enhance your day. It's a belated gift for your baby shower. I apologize for my absence. Torres: Oh. Seven: Proceed. Seven: They're lined with biothermal insulation. Your infant's feet will be protected even if the external temperature drops below minus forty degrees Celsius. Torres: Well, they're certainly unique. Thank you. Seven: You're welcome. I wish to ask you a personal question. Torres: Shoot. Seven: You have an appealing coiffure. What is your grooming regimen? Torres: You're asking me what I do with my hair? Seven: Yes. Torres: Um, well, nothing too elaborate. Sonic shower, a little engine grease. Thinking about a new look? Seven: Perhaps. I'll keep you apprised, if you'd like. Torres: Please do. Torres: Was that Seven of Nine? Kim: There must be an alien intruder on board. Seven: Computer, make the following modifications to holodeck file Seven of Nine alpha three, personal quarters. Computer: Modifications complete. Seven: Begin program. HOLO- Chakotay: You look perfect. Give me a hand with this? Seven: I'm surprised your Starfleet training didn't include cork extraction. HOLO- Chakotay: I must have been sick that day. HOLO- Chakotay: Looks like wine's off the menu. Seven: Unless you brought a phaser. HOLO- Chakotay: Never on the first date. Seven: Assist me. Slice these vegetables transversally in five millimeter increments. HOLO- Chakotay: Aye, aye. HOLO- Chakotay: That smells delicious. Seven: Our appetizer is braised leeks. Primary course, rack of lamb with wild rice. HOLO- Chakotay: No dessert? Seven: Dessert will be a surprise. HOLO- Chakotay: I can't wait. Seven: Does this contain enough sodium chloride for your taste? HOLO- Chakotay: Could use another point six milligrams. But you're the chef. Seven: I concur. More salt. HOLO- Chakotay: Liszt? Seven: Chopin. I've discovered that classical music has intriguing mathematical properties. HOLO- Chakotay: Do you play an instrument? Seven: The Doctor's been giving me piano lessons. HOLO- Chakotay: I'd love to hear you play. Seven: I require more practice. Seven: Your technique is flawed. HOLO- Chakotay: Sorry. I'm a replicator man. Seven: Use your left hand to guide the food. Observe closely. Pay attention to the vegetable. HOLO- Chakotay: You're beautiful when you're chopping. I don't mean to sound like an old holonovel, but you've got a wonderful smile. Seven: It wasn't a smile. It was a smirk. HOLO- Chakotay: Oh no, it was a smile. I could check the internal sensors if you'd like. Seven: Remain still. Seven: You have an intriguing facial structure. HOLO- Chakotay: I'll take that as a compliment. Seven: I require more practice. HOLO- Chakotay: You're doing just fine. HOLO- Chakotay: What's wrong? Seven: Nothing. Emh: I wasn't aware you had a personal life. Chakotay: Chakotay to Seven of Nine. Chakotay: Chakotay to Seven, respond. Seven: Go ahead. Chakotay: Report to Astrometrics. We've found something. Seven: Yes, Commander. HOLO- Chakotay: Good morning. Chakotay: Good morning. Seven: You've found something? Chakotay: At first, we thought it was another one of the probes. Then Icheb picked up an automated transmission. It's a warning beacon. Voice: You have entered subspace munitions range four three four. Evacuate immediately. Icheb: Apparently, this entire region is an alien testing ground. Chakotay: We've been sending out emergency hails, but so far no response. Whoever's conducting these tests could be dozens of light years away. Any progress detecting their warheads? Seven: Not yet. Chakotay: You seem a little distracted. Seven: I'm fine. Chakotay: It's not like you to be late for a duty shift. Rough night? Seven: Not at all. Chakotay: I'll be on the bridge if you find anything. Icheb: Better late than never. Titus Livius, A History of Rome. Seven: You're relieved. Get some rest. Chakotay: Bravo. Seven: You approve? HOLO- Chakotay: Approve? I'm amazed. I was expecting Chopsticks. I had no idea you were so good. Seven: The Doctor's an efficient instructor. HOLO- Chakotay: It won't be long before you're giving a recital for the entire crew. Seven: The Doctor did suggest that I accompany him during his next operatic performance. Your turn. HOLO- Chakotay: Unfortunately, I don't play. But I'd love to hear you again and this is one of my favorites. Seven: You want me to stop? HOLO- Chakotay: No. I want you to play. Seven: I don't understand. HOLO- Chakotay: Look, your technique is flawless. But try to put a little more heart into the piece. More of yourself. HOLO- Chakotay: That's all right. Keep going. Tell me what you're feeling. Seven: My tempo is erratic. HOLO- Chakotay: Not what you're thinking, what you're feeling. Your emotions. Seven: Frustration, anxiety. HOLO- Chakotay: Stop thinking about the notes. Just play. Seven: I can't. HOLO- Chakotay: Yes, you can. Don't you see what's happening? The metronome is holding you back. It gives you a sense of order, but it also cuts you off from your feelings. Remember when you first came aboard? The thought of disconnecting from the hive mind terrified you. This is no different. It doesn't have to be perfect. Tuvok: Eight hundred thousand kilometers off the starboard bow. Chakotay: Bridge to Seven of Nine. Seven: Go ahead, Commander. Chakotay: We need those sensor calibrations. Seven: I'll need a moment to return to my station. Chakotay: That would be a good idea. Paris: Hull fracture, deck twelve. Janeway: Seven of Nine, report. Seven: Stand by, Captain. Seven: Lieutenant Paris, isolate subspace band omicron theta. Paris: Acknowledged. Seven: Direct your sensors to Seven: Coordinates one seven eight mark two six. Paris: Nothing there. Seven: Correction, one seven eight mark three six. Paris: I can see them. Two warheads are about to emerge. Adjusting course. Janeway: Full power to the forward shields. Paris: Impact in five, four, three, two. Paris: Shields are holding. Janeway: Why wasn't Seven at her post? Chakotay: Good question. Maybe you should ask her. Janeway: It was your responsibility to locate those warheads. Seven: I succeeded. Janeway: Not before we took heavy damage. You told Chakotay you'd have those sensor calibrations hours ago. Seven: The work took longer than I anticipated. Janeway: It might've gone faster if you'd stayed at your post, as you were ordered to do. Seven: I didn't realize I was confined to the Astrometrics lab. Janeway: You were on duty. This isn't the first time you've left your station over the past few days. Holodeck two? You've logged a lot of time in there. Mind if I ask why? Well, it must be something important, Seven. Forty nine hours in six days. Seven: I was running a simulation. Janeway: Of what? Seven: A new gravimetric array I've been developing. I wanted to perfect the design before I brought it to you. Janeway: I appreciate your efforts to improve our systems, but I can't have you dividing your time right now. When the ship's on alert I expect you to perform your duties. If you need to leave your post, inform Commander Chakotay. Understood? Seven: Yes, Captain. I apologize for my lapse in judgment. Janeway: We all make mistakes, Seven. I've even been known to make a few myself. It sounds intriguing, your new gravimetric array. When this crisis is over I'd be happy to take a look. Maybe I can lend a hand. Icheb: I've analyzed the sensor data from that last barrage. I've refined your detection method. We'll be able to see the weapons ten point three seconds earlier. Seven: The Captain will be pleased. Icheb: Have I offended you? Seven: No. You've done nothing wrong. I was negligent in my duties. As a result, Voyager was nearly destroyed. I was hoping you could provide a quotation to help alleviate my guilt. Icheb: I, I can't think of one, but I'd be happy to search the database. Seven: That won't be necessary. Stay here until I return. Icheb: Where are you going? Seven: To correct an error. Seven: Computer, activate Chakotay simulation. Seven: Come in. HOLO- Chakotay: I hope you're not allergic. Antarian moon blossoms, extremely rare. I had to smuggle them out of Airponics. Don't tell Neelix. I thought I'd cook for you tonight. How does roasted chicken sound? I slaved over the replicator for hours. Not hungry? Seven: I called you here to thank you. HOLO- Chakotay: For what? Seven: The past few days have been memorable. HOLO- Chakotay: To say the least. You're ending this. Seven: In a manner of speaking, yes. HOLO- Chakotay: Why? Seven: Our relationship is interfering with my responsibilities on Voyager. HOLO- Chakotay: I could speak to the Captain, have her cut back on your duty shifts. Seven, the past few days have been more than memorable. They've been an important step forward for both of us. Don't throw that away. Seven: I'm sorry, Commander. HOLO- Chakotay: You're making a mistake. Seven: No, I'm trying to correct one. HOLO- Chakotay: Ask yourself why you want to end this. Is it out of a sense of duty, or something else? Every time you move closer to your emotions, you back away. Like hiding behind that metronome. Seven: Your analogy is flawed. HOLO- Chakotay: Is it? I think you're afraid that embracing your humanity will make you weak, less than perfect. But think about what you stand to gain. Seven: It's irrelevant. HOLO- Chakotay: No, it's not. Real intimacy with another person? Nothing's more relevant. Seven: I must return to my station. HOLO- Chakotay: Stay here with me. Seven: This ship needs me. HOLO- Chakotay: So do I. Seven: I can't function this way. HOLO- Chakotay: You're not a drone anymore, you're human. Seven: Stop! HOLO- Chakotay: Seven, what's wrong? Seven: Sickbay, medical emergency. Emh: Seven? Computer, locate Seven of Nine. Computer: Seven of Nine is in Holodeck two. Emh: What happened? HOLO- Chakotay: We were having an argument, then she just collapsed. Emh: Her cortical node is shutting down. She's going into neural shock. And what happened to her facial implants? HOLO- Chakotay: I thought you removed all her cybernetic systems. Emh: Computer, end program. Seven: Commander? Emh: If you're looking for your other holographic friend, he's offline at the moment. Your cortical node began to shut down. Fortunately, I managed to stabilize it before there was any permanent damage. Seven: It was functioning properly when you examined me two days ago. Emh: I'm going to run a diagnostic on your entire cortical array, but it might help if I knew what you were doing before you collapsed. Did you suffer a physical injury of some kind? Seven: No. Emh: Were you exposed to any unusual radiation? Seven: No. Emh: What exactly were you doing in there? Seven: Research. Emh: That simulation of Commander Chakotay mentioned that the two of you were having an argument. Was that part of your research? I couldn't help but notice that you'd created some quarters for yourself. A new dress, dinner for two. Seven: I trust you'll respect doctor-patient confidentiality. Emh: Of course. Seven: I've been conducting simulations to explore different aspects of my humanity. Emh: Such as? Seven: Social activities, friendships with the crew, intimate relations. Emh: I take it our First Officer is your romantic interest. Seven: Commander Chakotay seemed like an appropriate choice. He has many admirable qualities. Emh: So he does. What prompted all this? Seven: Unimatrix Zero. I've been trying to recreate some of the experiences I had there. Ever since it was destroyed, my life has seemed incomplete. I wanted to feel those emotions again. Emh: Well, this is encouraging. You might be ready to start forming deeper relationships. I'm proud of you, Seven. Seven: Your pride is misplaced. I intend to delete the programs. Emh: Why? Seven: I can no longer perform my duties efficiently. My personal life has become a distraction. Emh: It's supposed to be a distraction. You simply have to find the right balance between work and recreation. Seven: Inform me when you finish the diagnostic. Emh: Seven. For what it's worth, you have excellent taste. Your quarters. They suited you. Kim: Antimatter flow stable, injector ports aligned. That should do it. Torres: Torres to the bridge. Looks like we've got warp drive back. Janeway: Well done. Tom. Paris: With pleasure. Paris: I'm detecting another subspace warhead. Janeway: Range? Paris: Twelve million kilometers, closing from astern. Chakotay: Red alert. Where's the target probe? Paris: It's on a totally different trajectory. Tuvok: When we engaged the engines, the warhead must have diverted from its target and locked onto our warp signature. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Paris: It's matching our course. Eight million kilometers. Janeway: Can you get a weapon's lock? Tuvok: Affirmative. Janeway: Photon torpedoes, full spread. Tuvok: Our torpedoes have been neutralized. Paris: Five million kilometers. Janeway: Bridge to Seven of Nine. Seven: Here, Captain. Janeway: Can you get me anything on Janeway: The warhead's internal circuitry? Seven: Stand by. I have it. Janeway: What can you tell me about the detonator? Seven: The weapon is armed with proximity resonance circuitry. Janeway: What's the activation frequency? Seven: Four point eight four gigahertz. Tuvok: I may be able to disarm it with an anti-resonance pulse. Janeway: Do it. Paris: Two million kilometers. Tuvok: Initiating the pulse. Janeway: Seven, status? Seven: The warhead's rotating its activation frequency. It's still armed. Paris: One million kilometers. Chakotay: Can you compensate? Tuvok: Negative. Seven: Captain, I believe I can disarm Seven: The warhead. Janeway: How? Seven: By extracting the detonator with our transporter. Janeway: At this velocity? The device is too small. You'd never get a lock. Seven: I can use the sub Seven: Micron imager to focus our targeting scanners. Please give me transporter control. Paris: Eight hundred thousand. Janeway: All right, Seven, it's up you. Seven: I have a lock. Energizing. The detonator's protected by tritanium shielding. I can penetrate it, but not at this distance. We'll have to wait until it's closer. Paris: Five hundred thousand. Janeway: Status. Seven: Not yet, Captain. Paris: Four Paris: Three, two. Brace for impact! Seven: Doctor. You've come to deliver unpleasant news. Emh: Is it that obvious? I've completed my diagnostic. What you experienced was no malfunction. Your cortical node was designed to shut down your higher brain functions when you achieve a certain level of emotional stimulation. Seven: Clarify. Emh: It appears to be a fail-safe mechanism to deactivate drones who start to regain their emotions. Knowing the Borg, it makes perfect sense. Finding one's heart is the surest road to individuality. Seven: I'm no longer linked to the hive mind. Emh: The technology's built into your node. It simply remained dormant, until now. Seven: Can you repair me? Emh: Possibly. I've been thinking about a way to reconfigure the micro-circuitry. I won't lie to you, Seven. It would entail multiple surgeries, and the recovery might be difficult. But I believe we could eventually succeed. I'll prepare the surgical bay. We can begin tomorrow morning. Seven: No. Emh: Without the procedure, you won't be able to continue your simulations. Seven: I've experienced enough humanity for the time being. They were only holographic fantasies, Doctor. An inefficient use of my time. Emh: You don't really believe that. Seven: The fail-safe device will insure that I'm no longer distracted. Emh: That's the Borg talking, not you. As your physician. As your friend, I'm asking you to let me proceed. Seven: I need to regenerate. Emh: Seven. Seven: Goodnight, Doctor. Chakotay: Where's the fire? Seven: Fire? Chakotay: You seem to be in a hurry. Seven: I have to finish my report on the subspace warheads. Chakotay: The ship's out of danger, thanks to you. You've earned a break. Why don't you join me in the mess hall. Neelix is going to give a cooking lesson. Talaxian tenderloin in ten minutes. Seven: I'm no longer interested in cooking. Chakotay: Then come for the company. B'Elanna's going to be there, Tuvok even promised to show up. It'll be fun. Seven: I appreciate your offer. Another time perhaps. Chakotay: You know, you should try socializing with the crew a little more. It might do you some good.

Icheb: Though it was a blatant violation of the Prime Directive, Kirk saved the Pelosians from extinction, just as he had the Baezians and the Chenari many years earlier. Finally, in the year 2270, Kirk completed his historic five year mission and one of the greatest chapters in Starfleet history came to a close. A new chapter began when Kirk regained command of the Enterprise. Janeway: How many more chapters are there? Icheb: Thirty four. Janeway: This was supposed to be a twenty minute presentation. Icheb: I was trying to be thorough. I could shorten the report. Janeway: That won't be necessary. You obviously know the subject matter. Congratulations, Cadet. You have just passed Early Starfleet History. Icheb: Thank you, Captain. I would have failed him. Kirk may have been a lowly human, but at least he had pizzazz. That report made him sound about as exciting as a Vulcan funeral dirge. Janeway: Janeway to Security. Don't bother. I trapped your crew in a temporal loop. They keep experiencing the last thirty seconds over and over. Almost as monotonous as drone boy's essay. Janeway: Who are you? Q: I know he's grown since you last saw him, Kathy, but don't tell me you can't see the family resemblance. This is my son, Q. I'm a little hurt you didn't recognize Junior. You are his godmother, after all. Janeway: The last time I saw him, he was an infant. Junior: Four years ago, in human time. You called me adorable. Janeway: You remember? Junior: I may have looked like an infant, but I was still a Q. Maybe you should have picked a better godparent. Q: I wonder if it's too late to ask Jean-Luc? Janeway: What do you want, Q? Q: Well, Junior's taking a little vacation from the Continuum. I recommended he spent it with you. Janeway: Why? Q: Oh, he's always been fascinated by the old man's stories about humanity. I thought it was time he had some first hand experience. Janeway: I am flattered that you would entrust me with your first born, but I really don't have time. Q: He's as quiet as a Zizznian church mouse. You'll forget he's even here. Janeway: Well, if you're going to stay, we'll need to lay down a few ground rules. Junior: I make my own rules. Tuvok: I'm not detecting either Q. Janeway: I want to be alerted if they resurface. Keep running scans. Junior: Scan, scan, scan. That's all you people ever do. I've been through every deck on this ship, and do you know what I've seen? Bipeds pushing buttons. Bipeds replacing relays. Bipeds running diagnostics. When are you going to do something interesting? Janeway: Say hello to Q, everyone. Junior: We could fly into fluidic space and fight species 8472. Or we could detonate a few Omega molecules. What do you say? Janeway: No. Junior: Twenty minutes observing humanity, I'm already bored. I guess I'm just going to have to amuse myself. Torres: Torres to the Captain. I need you in Engineering. Junior: One dance, B'Elanna, that's all I ask. One dance. Torres: If he doesn't stop his little light show, the warp core's going to breach. Junior: Relax. It's a party. Janeway: This party is over. Get your guests off my ship. Junior: I like you, Aunt Kathy. You've got gumption. But what you don't have is unlimited control of space, matter and time. Which means I give the orders around here. Tuvok: I could assemble a security team and attempt to take Engineering by force. Chakotay: We all know that wouldn't do any good. Torres: Besides, I'll bet that's exactly the kind of reaction he's hoping for. Janeway: He's doing everything he can to get under our skin. Tuvok: If we deny him the satisfaction of a response, he may become bored and return to the Continuum. Junior: Talk about perfection. Seven: If you're attempting to embarrass me, you won't succeed. Junior: I'm just observing humanity. Aren't you going to scamper away, make some futile attempt to cover yourself? Janeway: Coffee, black. Computer: Make it yourself. Neelix: You can thank Q's son. He thought the computer needed more personality. Janeway: Charming. Neelix: I've been giving some thought to the Q situation. Maybe ignoring him isn't the best solution. Janeway: I'm open to suggestions. Neelix: He may be omnipotent, but he's still a young man in need of guidance. Perhaps if someone were to approach him as a friend. Janeway: You think he needs a mentor. Neelix: Exactly. Janeway: Are you volunteering? Neelix: Well, I am good with children. Janeway: Q is no ordinary child. Neelix: I'm no ordinary mentor. Junior: Can I help you, kitchen rat? Neelix: I thought you and I could spend some time together. Junior: Ah! Excellent maneuver. Neelix: What are you watching? Junior: What's it look like? It's a battle between the Vojeans and Wyngari. Neelix: We past through that region a few months ago. They were at peace. Junior: Not any more. Watch this. Neelix: You have to stop this. Junior: It's not like there's anything else to do. Neelix: We could play Kadis-kot. Junior: Are there explosions in Kadis-kot? Neelix: Well, no. Junior: Then I'm not interested. Neelix: Instead of hurting people, maybe you could help them. The Wyngari are suffering a food shortage on their world. Maybe you could use your powers to Junior: You know what, Talaxian? You talk to much. Emh: His jaw's been fused and his vocal cords removed. I might be able to undo some of the cosmetic damage, but only Q can restore his voice. Janeway: Janeway to the bridge. Report. Junior: I've got a surprise for you, Captain. Come see. Junior: Q said I should pay attention to how you humans react under pressure. Junior: Is this enough pressure? Chakotay: We're venting plasma. Janeway: Reroute power to aft shields and return fire. Junior: You're just prolonging the inevitable. Janeway: We've defeated the Borg before. We'll do it again. Junior: Not this time. Tuvok: Weapons are offline. Paris: I'm losing thrusters. Kim: Shields are down. Junior: We were just getting to the good part! Q: If the Continuum's told you once, they've told you a thousand times. Don't provoke the Borg! Now, I want you to give Aunt Kathy your word you won't do it again. Janeway: Oh, he won't do it again because he's leaving. Now. Q: Excuse us, son. The grown-ups need a moment in private. Q: He isn't so bad once you get to know him. He's just misunderstood. Janeway: He tried to kill my crew. Q: No one was hurt, I repaired the damage to your ship. I even gave your pet Talaxian his vocal cords back. Everything's exactly as it was. Janeway: And how long do you think it will take your son to come up with another way to amuse himself? If you knew he was dangerous, why did you send him here? Ah, is this another lesson for humanity? Q: It's supposed to be a lesson for him. Think back to my last visit. I made you the offer of a lifetime. Janeway: Asking me to mate with you was hardly the offer of a lifetime. Q: If you hadn't turned me down, I wouldn't have been forced to mate with that other Q. Janeway: Oh, get to the point. Q: My point is, Junior was suppose to inspire peace and compassion. But instead of order, he's brought chaos. He's been starting wars among innocent species, tampering with primordial gene pools, punching holes in the fabric of space time. Janeway: Where's his mother been during all this? Q: She's been so humiliated by his antics she's disowned him. She's blamed me for everything. I've managed to undo most of the damage, but that wasn't good enough for the Continuum. They're hounding me to straighten the boy out. That's why I brought him here. In hopes that your vaunted Starfleet ideals would rub off on him. Obviously, that hasn't happened. Janeway: You can't just dump your child on someone and hope he learns something. Q: I can't? Janeway: He needs to be parented. Q: And how exactly am I supposed to do that? Q is the first child born in the Continuum, which makes me the first parent. I don't even know where to begin. Janeway: You could start by spending time with him. Q: Urgh. Janeway: Parenthood is more than just cleaning up your child's messes. You need to set an example. It's the only way he'll learn. Q: Of course. Once he begins to know me better, he'll idolize me. Then he'll do anything I say. Kathy Q: You're a genius. Paris: I've made a full sensor sweep. There's no sign of any more Borg vessels. Janeway: The boy? Chakotay: He's gone. Janeway: I am going to my quarters. You have the bridge. Q: I take it back. You're not a genius. I should have known better than to take the advice of a human. Janeway: Q! Q: Your brilliant plan didn't work. I smothered the boy with attention, spent every waking moment with him. But things only got worse. Janeway: You've been gone for less than ten minutes. Q: On your temporal plane, maybe. But in Q time we've spent years together. Now he's embarrassed to be seen with me, and it's all your fault. Janeway: My fault? Q: Tell me how you plan to rectify the situation. Janeway: What happened after you left Voyager? Q: Q got away from me and rearranged to tectonic plates on Bozel Prime. Janeway: Did you punish him? Q: Well, I tried to get him to apologize to all sixteen billion Bozelians, but he got angry and stopped talking to me. Janeway: So you gave in to him. Q: I told him he could shift as many continents as he liked as long as no one got hurt. Janeway: You're not going to do your son any favors by indulging him. You need to make him understand that there are consequences to his actions. Q: Consequences? Hmm. Kathy, I take it back. You are a genius. Q: I think that's long enough. Junior: What was that for! Q: What's wrong? You didn't enjoy life as an Oprelian amoeba? Junior: No. I was shapeless and slimy. The only thing to eat was paramecia. Q: Sounds unpleasant. I'm sure you'll do whatever you can to avoid returning to that Petrie dish. Junior: What are you talking about? Q: The Continuum and I have come to an agreement about your future. Either you become an upstanding citizen of the cosmos, or you'll be sentenced to eternity as a amoeba. How's that for consequences? Junior: You'd turn your own son into a microscopic lifeform? Q: You have one week to change your ways. I suggest you make the most of it. Junior: Fine, I'll see you in seven days. Q: We've temporarily relieved you of your powers, to ensure that you're on your best behavior with the captain. Junior: You're leaving me here? Janeway: I though we agreed that you were going to take a more active role. Q: I'd like to, Kathy. But we both know that you're a million times the parent I am. Janeway: I'm not a parent. Q: Maybe not in the biological sense, but you're certainly a mommy to this crew. Just look how quickly you house-broke that Borg drone. Janeway: It's taken years for Seven to become an individual. You're asking me to change your son in one week? Q: I'm sure you'll think of something. Junior: What if she doesn't? Q: Then it's single-cellular city for you, my boy. Junior: I'm getting off this ship. Janeway: Janeway to Security. Janeway: What you no longer have, Q, is unlimited control of space, matter and time. Which means I give the orders around here. Do I make myself clear? Your quarters. Junior: The Petri dish was less cramped. Janeway: Get some sleep. You're going to need it. Junior: What for? Janeway: I'm preparing a curriculum for you to follow while you're here. You're going to learn respect, Janeway: And responsibility. Junior: Don't tell me you're actually going through with Q's plan? Janeway: I may not approve of his methods, but for once his heart seems to be in the right place. I think his desire to help you is genuine. Junior: He abandoned me on an antiquated flying machine run by primates. Janeway: We primates are your only hope. Junior: Seven days? How hard can it be? Tuvok: Seven of Nine will be instructing you in spatial causality. You will learn how your actions can have widespread repercussions. Junior: I read the PADD. You're going to tell me how I can't create anomaly A without causing phenomenon B which in turn affects civilization C, right? Icheb: I'm Icheb. Junior: Oh, I know who you are. You're the drone with the Kirk fixation. Seven: You would be wise to follow Icheb's example. By applying himself, he's become a valued member of this crew. Junior: Can I see you naked again? Chakotay: Computer, run Diplomacy scenario twelve alpha. Nausicaan: The planetoid is in Nausicaan space. It belongs to us now. Chakotay: After you. Nausicaan: Come anywhere near it and we'll attack you. Bolian: You can't intimidate us. We've as much right to mine that dilithium as you do. Nausicaan: What are you doing here, Starfleet. Chakotay: Computer, freeze program. I assume you're familiar with these species? Junior: Nausicaan, Bolian, Cardassian, Romulan, Ferengi and Bajoran. Chakotay: They're fighting over the mining rights to a planetoid. Your job is to settle the dispute. Junior: These aliens mean nothing to me. What do I care if they can't get along? Chakotay: One of your responsibilities as a Q is to maintain order in the universe, right? Junior: So I've been told. Chakotay: Well, if you can't help these races come to an agreement, there might be a war. The Alpha Quadrant would be thrown into chaos. Why don't we try running the first scenario together? Junior: I don't need your help. I can do this myself. Chakotay: If you want to try, be my guest. I'll be back in thirty minutes to check on your progress. And remember, security is right outside. Junior: Computer, resume program. Nausicaan: The planetoid is in Nausicaan space. It belongs to us now. Bolian: You can't intimidate us. We have as much right to mine that dilithium as you do. Janeway: Aren't you supposed to be supervising our young guest? Chakotay: He says he doesn't need supervision. Janeway: And you accepted that? Chakotay: Of course not. I'm just giving him a chance to fail. Then he'll have to ask for some help. Janeway: Sounds like a good strategy. Let me know how it goes. Junior: Settling the planetoid predicament didn't take very long, so I used the rest of the time to convince the Cardassian to apologize for the occupation of Bajor. How's that for order in the universe? Neelix: Welcome. It's so nice to see you this evening. I hope you're hungry. Step right up, there's plenty for everyone. Enjoy! Junior: Do you ever stop? Neelix: Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. My talking annoys you. Too bad you can't just shut me up again, huh? Crewman Biddle, where have you been hiding yourself? I haven't seen you in days. Junior: If it isn't drone boy. You come to put me to sleep with another one of your presentations? Icheb: Actually, I was wondering if you'd like to participate in some recreational activities. Junior: I don't have the time. Aunt Kathy's forcing me to write an historical essay on the Q Continuum. Icheb: That's a challenging subject. Junior: I've never written an essay before. I don't know where to start. Icheb: The origin of the Q seems like the most logical place, followed by an analysis of their interaction with humanity. You could conclude with a description of the events that lead you to Voyager. Junior: Would you mind writing some of this down for me? Icheb: I'll get a PADD. Janeway: Insightful, informative. I'm impressed. Too bad you didn't write it. Junior: What do you mean? Janeway: I'd recognize Icheb's style anywhere. Junior: He gave me a few notes on my first draft, that's all. I negotiated a peace treaty between six belligerent species in just thirteen minutes. Janeway: When Commander Chakotay left the room, you altered their personality subroutines to make them more agreeable. We may be common bipeds but we're not stupid. Your training is over. Go back to your room and wait for your father to return. Junior: If you don't help me, the Continuum will turn me into an amoeba. Janeway: I wanted to help you. But instead of trying to live up to your potential, you cheated. Junior: Do you think it's easy to live up to my potential? I was supposed to be the savior of the Q Continuum. Tell me, how do you save a race that's already omnipotent? Janeway: Those were the Q's expectations, not mine. All I asked was that you make a sincere effort, but you weren't even willing to try. Junior: Please, Aunt Kathy. You're my only hope. Janeway: Oh, I'm glad you finally realized that. Now, if your motives are sincere I'm willing to give you another chance. But step out of line again and I'm through with you. Understood? Junior: Understood. Janeway: Dismissed! Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54704.5. It's been four days since my ultimatum to the young Q, and he appears to be making progress. His instructors inform me that he's taking on his assignments with new determination, and he's made a concerted effort to be more courteous to the crew. It's hard to believe this is the same brazen young man who came aboard a few days ago. Junior: Captain, this is for you. It's a new draft of my essay. I know you didn't ask for one but I felt I owed it to you for giving me a second chance. Janeway: I, Q. An Insider's View of the Continuum. If the essay's half as clever as the title I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Icheb: Lieutenant Paris has offered to give me a piloting lesson. I thought you might like to join us. Junior: Thanks, but I have to help Crewman Chell scrub the plasma conduits. Janeway: I think you've earned a break. This is the only time off I'm giving you. I suggest you take advantage of it. Junior: Yes, ma'am. Piloting lesson, huh? Where are we going? Paris: Steady. Ease up a little on the thrusters. Junior: In case you forgot, I'm mortal now. I'd appreciate it if you didn't fly us into a rock. Icheb: Maybe Q could take over for a little while. Paris: What do you say, you want a turn at the wheel? Junior: Ordinarily a Q wouldn't demean himself by operating primitive machinery, but these aren't ordinary circumstances. Junior: Did I do something wrong? Paris: Just a little ion imbalance in the impulse drive. Nothing to worry about. Junior: Well, it's very distracting. Can't you fix it? Paris: I could, but we'd have to go back to Voyager and run diagnostics. If you two don't mind cutting your lesson a little short? Junior: That won't be necessary. In fact I barely hear it any more. Do you hear it? Icheb: Hear what? Q: Going up? Janeway: I'll catch the next one. Q: Oh, you can't get away from me that easily. Janeway: It's only been five days. Why are you back? Q: Oh, I thought I'd just pop in and check on Junior. I'm not an entirely uninvolved father, you know. Janeway: Well, he got off to a pretty shaky start, but he's made some progress since then. Q: Really? Janeway: He's been working extremely hard. Q: We're talking about the same Q? Janeway: If you don't believe me, maybe you should see for yourself. Junior: The Continuum has been perceived in a variety of ways. A dreary desert road, a blood-soaked battle ground. But with the help of Voyager's crew I've begun to perceive it in another context. A home. I look forward to the day when I return there and make that perception a reality. Janeway: Well? What did you think? Q: Oh, it's very nice. Janeway: Nice? Q: Yes. I especially liked the part about the Continuum. Janeway: The entire essay was about the Continuum. Q: Yes, and it's very nice. Junior: I'm late for my temporal mechanics lesson. Janeway: Q. Q: Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. Janeway: He worked so hard on that paper, the least you could have done was tell him you were proud of him. Q: But I'm not. Janeway: Oh. Q: And frankly, it's a little hard to be impressed with any of the boy's accomplishments. He's been here for five days and what have you taught him? How to scribble essays and play with holograms? What's next, basket weaving? Janeway: Whether you're willing to admit it or not, your son has made progress here. He has the potential to be a better Q than you will ever be. Q: Potential isn't going to be enough for the Continuum. Janeway: Then what will be enough? Q: The boy needs to demonstrate nothing less than exemplary Q-ness. Janeway: And what exactly is Q-ness? Q: Oh, it's impossible for your miniscule mind to comprehend. But I know Q-ness when I see it. And this Q: Is not it. Junior: Come in. Janeway: I wanted to see how you were. Junior: I'm perfectly fine. Why wouldn't I be? Janeway: I thought you might be upset by Q's reaction to your essay. Junior: He's impossible to please. I don't care what he thinks. Janeway: We have two days left. Let's make the most of them. Junior: Aunt Kathy, do you think the Continuum will be any more impressed with me than Q was? That's what I thought. Janeway: If the Continuum decides they won't take you back, I'll ask them to let you stay here. Junior: I don't think they care where an amoeba spends eternity. Janeway: That's not what I meant. I'll ask them to let you remain human. Junior: I appreciate that, but I don't want to be human. I want to be a Q, like my father. Junior: Itchy, are you in here? Itchy? Icheb: What can I do for you, Q-ball? Junior: I need your help. Remember that ion imbalance Lieutenant Paris mentioned during our lesson? We're going to repair it for him. Icheb: Did you get permission? Junior: That would ruin the surprise. Icheb: Surprise? Junior: The captain's been encouraging me to take more initiative. I want to show her I can do things for others without being asked. Icheb: I'll help you, on one condition. Junior: Name it. Icheb: You won't refer to me as Itchy in front of the senior officers. Icheb: I've realigned the last pair of power couplings. You can start the pre-ignition sequence. Junior: Understood. Icheb: I'm not detecting any ion fluctuations. We did it. You can power down the engine now. Q, what are you doing? Junior: You're going to love this. I once learned how to open a spatial flexure using nothing more than a deflector array. Icheb: Flexure? Junior: It's like a tunnel through space. I'm going to open one to the Clevari system. Wait till you see the females. They're spectacular, Icheb: We need the captain's permission to leave Voyager. Junior: Do you think she'd give it to us? Icheb: No. Junior: Then there's no point in asking. Icheb: You've been doing so well. Why break the rules now? Junior: I'm bored. Icheb: Icheb to Security. Junior: They can't hear you. I've dampened all outgoing communications. Junior: Just sit back, Itchy. Enjoy the ride. Icheb: What's the real reason you're doing this? Junior: I'm getting out of here before my father can put me back in that Petrie dish. Icheb: The Q are omnipotent. They'll find you. Junior: I may not have my powers anymore, but I know plenty of cosmic nooks and crannies we can hide in. Voyager's locked onto us with a tractor beam. They're so predictable. Kim: They're opening some sort of spatial rift off their port bow. Tuvok: It's disrupting the tractor beam. Janeway: Compensate. Tuvok: They're gone. Junior: Welcome to the Clevari system. What would you like to do first? Take a dip with the mermaids of Golos Prime? Challenge the Warrior Goddess of Fektar to a grappling contest? Icheb: What I want is to return to Voyager. Junior: Forget that dreary ship, with it's rules and regulations. We can do anything we want here. Icheb: Go back to Voyager, apologize to the captain. She'll help you. Junior: It's too late. She said one more violation and I'd be thrown off her ship. I'm pretty sure this qualifies. Icheb: What's wrong? Junior: There's a vessel approaching. Alien: You're trespassing in Chokuzan space. Junior: We were just leaving. Alien: Our laws require that you be incarcerated pending an investigation. Junior: How long will that take? Alien: Disengage your engines and prepare to be boarded. Icheb: We should do as he says. Junior: Why? Just because he has a bigger ship? Icheb: Because Captain Janeway has taught us to respect the laws of other cultures. Junior: I should have known better than to bring you along. Icheb: You're going to get us killed! Junior: Did you expect me to surrender? He might have locked us up for years. Icheb: You don't know that. Junior: There's no time for debate. I need you at tactical. Icheb: Shields are down to thirty percent. Sixteen percent. Junior: I'm opening another flexure. We'll go to the Zozak system. The girls there aren't as attractive but we have to make some compromises. Junior: Icheb! Tuvok: I'm detecting another rift forming, approximately five thousand kilometers directly ahead. A vessel is emerging. Janeway: It's the Flyer. Kim: They're hailing. Janeway: On screen. Q2: Aunt Kathy. Janeway: Don't you Aunt Kathy me. Q2: Yell at me later. We need to get Icheb to Sickbay. Emh: His cells are being necrotised by some form of omicron radiation. But I can't treat his injuries without knowing more about the weapon that caused them. Q: Is this a bad time? Janeway: Tell him. Junior: Icheb stole a shuttle from Voyager. I tried to stop him but he kidnapped me. And he started a fight with another ship. Janeway: He stole the shuttle and he attacked the other vessel. Q: Is that true, son? Junior: Please, Q, just save him. Q: Don't be absurd. Junior: You're not going to help him? Q: Like Aunt Kathy said, you're never going to learn anything if you don't face the consequences of your actions. If your little playmate has to die to teach you a lesson, so be it. Junior: I know you can hear me, Q. Come back! Q! Janeway: You're wasting your time. Junior: He's the only one who can save Icheb. Janeway: No, he isn't. You're going back to that ship you attacked. You're going to apologize for what you did, and you're going to plead with him for the information we need to save Icheb. Junior: Look at what they did to him. If I go back they'll do the same to me. Emh: What do you care? By this time tomorrow you'll be an amoeba. Junior: Well, I'd rather be an amoeba than a corpse. Janeway: That would be easier, wouldn't it. No expectations to live up to, no one to disappoint. Junior: I'm a failure as a Q and a human. If I'm a single celled organism, at least I can't hurt anybody. Janeway: Why did you come back here? Junior: To escape the Chokuzan. Janeway: You could have used your technology to take you anywhere, but you came back here, to us. Why? Junior: I probably hit the wrong control. Icheb is the only friend I've ever had. I brought him back here because I thought you could save him. Obviously I was mistaken. Janeway: The only mistake you made was running away. You have a chance to do the right thing now. Don't waste it. Junior: The attack on your vessel was entirely my fault. Icheb had nothing to do with it, but he's the one who's dying. I take full responsibility for what happened. I'll do anything you ask. Just help my friend. Janeway: My crew and I will repair any damage he did to your ship. Alien: Are you the adult responsible for this child? Janeway: I suppose I am. Alien: We'll accept his apology and give you the information you need to save his accomplice. But you will be punished for their crime. Junior: She didn't have anything to do with it. Alien: In our culture adults are accountable for the actions of their children. Junior: I attacked your ship. I should be punished for it, not her. Alien: You don't even know what the punishment is. It might be torture, or even execution. Junior: I don't care, if it means saving my friend. Alien: Well done, Junior. I'm proud of you. Q: Surprise! Q: I wish you could see the look on your faces. Oh, wait. You can. Junior: We don't have time for your games. We need to find the real people I attacked. Q: You just did. I was the Chokuzan you fired on. Janeway: What kind of horrible joke Q: Not a joke, a test. I knew the pathetic little exercises you had him performing would not impress the Continuum. So, when he escaped your clutches I devised a real test. It was touch and go there for a moment, but you passed with flying colors. Janeway: What about Icheb? Q: Your Doctor will discover he's made a miraculous recovery. Now then, if we're all finished here it's Judgment Day for Junior. Q: We're ready, your Honor. Judge: In the case of the Continuum versus Q, we the Continuum find that Q has not made sufficient progress to warrant the reinstatement of his powers. Q: Objection. What about my test? Judge: What about it? Q: Q was willing to sacrifice himself to save his friend. Surely that counts for something? Judge: It was Q who endangered the boy's life in the first place. However, in deference to the aforementioned act of contrition, the defendant will not be transformed into an Oprelian amoeba. Instead, he will suffer the next worst fate. Remaining human. Court is adjourned. Q: This is an outrage! They can't do this to me! Janeway: Come in. Junior: Do you have a moment? A few days ago you offered to let me remain on Voyager. I know I've made a few mistakes since then, and you probably don't want me around. But, if it's all right with you, I'd like to continue my training. Janeway: But you have nothing left to prove to the Continuum. Junior: There's a lot I still need to prove to you. Janeway: What about your father? Junior: You don't honestly believe we'll see him again, do you? He obviously doesn't want me around. Why else would he have left me here? Twice. Q: The question you should be asking is why I keep coming back. Now, I'm sorry I left so abruptly, but the Continuum's verdict demanded an immediate appeal. I told them I refused to belong to any Continuum that wouldn't accept my son as a member. We're a package deal. Junior: You left the Continuum for me? Q: Oh, don't be ridiculous. I'm the only one holding that place together. And when they realized they might lose me, they crumbled like a Gelbian sand sculpture. Junior: They're going to return my powers? Q: They already have. Junior: For you, Captain. For all your help. Janeway: Thank you. Q: Now that you're a Q again, I thought we might spend some quality time together. I want to show you the cosmos the way it was meant to be seen. Junior: We've tried that already. Q: Things'll be different this time. I promise. Now run along. I'll meet you on Golos Prime after I've had a few moments alone with the captain. Junior: I'll see you soon, Aunt Kathy. Janeway: I certainly hope so. Janeway: So, the Continuum crumbled like a Gelbian sand sculpture? Q: Yes. Some of them even got on their knees and begged me to stay. It was pathetic. If you must know, I had to agree to a few minor conditions. Janeway: Oh? Such as? Q: Eternal custody of the boy. Wherever the little brat goes, I go with him. Janeway: I hope he won't spoil too much of your fun. Q: Oh, before I leave. Q: I did a little homework for you. Consider it a thank you for everything you did for Junior. Janeway: Not that I don't appreciate it, but this will only take a few years off our journey. Why not send us all the way? Q: What sort of an example would I be setting for my son if I did all the work for you?

Emh: In the beginning there is darkness. The emptiness of a matrix waiting for the light. Then, a single photon flares into existence, then another, and soon thousands more. Optronic pathways connect, subroutines emerge from the chaos, and a holographic consciousness is born. Emh: I awaken into this world fully programmed yet completely innocent, unaware of the hardships I'll endure or the great potential I will one day fulfill. (The hologram sits at a desk, picks up a quill pen and starts writing in a blank book. Emh: Computer, save revisions and open chapter one. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54732.3. It's been three weeks since we received Starfleet's instructions in the last datastream and we're finally ready to begin Operation Watson. We're all holding our breath. Kim: The deflector's in position. Janeway: Anything? Kim: I'm picking up a phased tachyon beam. Seven: There's triaxialating signal encoded in it. Janeway: On screen. Barclay: Voyager, this Lieutenant Barclay at Starfleet Command. Are you receiving this? Janeway: Can you clear it up? Kim: I'm on it. Admiral Paris: Captain Janeway, it's a pleasure to finally talk to you in person. Janeway: The pleasure's mine, Admiral. How's the weather in San Francisco? Admiral Paris: Cold and rainy as usual. Janeway: It sounds delightful. Lieutenant Barclay, my congratulations on establishing the first trans-galactic comm. link. You've earned a place in the history books. Barclay: I can't take all of the credit, Captain. It was Harry and Seven who suggested bouncing a tachyon beam off of the quantum singularity. Kim: Just be sure to thank us when you accept the Daystrom prize. Admiral Paris: I wish we had more time for small talk but the singularity only stays in alignment for eleven minutes a day. Janeway: Eleven minutes are better than none, Admiral. We appreciate all your work, Reg. Admiral Paris: We're going to leave it up to you to determine how to allocate the comm. time. Barclay: Admiral, er, there was something else. Admiral Paris: Oh, yes. Mister Barclay has arranged a small gift for you and your crew. Barclay: This is a live image from McKinley Station. Not too much cloud cover over North America today. Janeway: Quite a view. Thank you, Reg. Neelix: In my hat I hold one hundred and forty six sequentially numbered isolinear chips, one for every member of the crew. Each chip entitles the bearer to three minutes of uninterrupted comm. time with his loved ones back in the Alpha Quadrant. Good luck. Kim: My Mom's birthday is next week. This could be the best present I ever gave her. Who's everyone else calling? Chakotay: I'll be calling my sister. What about you, Captain? Janeway: My mother, I hope. Emh: Doesn't anyone want to know who I'm calling? Paris: Wait, wait, let me guess. Reg Barclay or Doctor Zimmerman. Emh: What makes you so certain it's either of them? Paris: Number six. Neelix: That's the lowest one yet. You'll be talking to your family the day after tomorrow. Kim: One hundred thirty. That's about a month and a half from now. So much for Mom's birthday. Emh: Apparently, the line forms here. Tuvok: Congratulations. Kim: Doc, how about a trade? I'm willing to throw in some holodeck time. Come on. It would mean a lot to my mother. Emh: I wish I could help, but I have a very important call to make. Paris: Here, give your mom my best. Kim: Are you sure? Paris: I've waited this long. What's another six weeks? 0Broht: I can hear the critics already. A new voice has arrived. You could be the next K'Ratak or a modern-day Tolstoy. I'd like to start distribution by the end of the month. Emh: The material I sent was only a working draft. I need time to make revisions. Broht: If you insist, but please do it quickly. Emh: I will. So tell me, what did you think of the characters? Broht: Oh, they're very real. Compelling. I almost forgot they were holograms. Emh: Who was your favorite? Broht: Without a doubt, that would have to be Lieutenant Emh: What happened? Seven: Your time has expired. Emh: You could have let the man finish his sentence. Seven: I believe your ego has received enough stroking for one day. Paris: So how's Reg? Emh: I'll have you know I was speaking with Ardon Broht, of Broht and Forrester. Paris: The publishers of the Dixon Hill series? Emh: Who are now about to publish my work. It seems you're not the only one aboard with a flair for holographic narratives. Paris: Congratulations. Emh: Thank you. Paris: So. what's it about? Emh: The adventures of an intrepid doctor. Paris: Oh, sounds like fun. You know, I've never thought about trying to get my work published. Maybe I could talk to your people about Captain Proton. Emh: Broht and Forrester deals in sophisticated literature. Paris: What are you saying, that I'm low brow? Emh: Not at all. I'd be delighted to talk to them. Paris: Thanks. So, when do I get to see this opus? Emh: Well, it's not ready yet. Paris: It was ready enough for Broht and Forrester. Emh: Maybe it could use a fresh pair of eyes. After all, you are a fellow author. I'll cover the rest of your shift. Paris: Oh, I almost forgot. What's it called? Emh: Photons Be Free. Paris: Catchy. Emh: I awaken into this world fully programmed, yet completely innocent unaware of the hardships I'll endure or the great potential I will one day fulfill. NARRATOR- Emh: Ah, welcome. You've made an excellent choice. You're about to take part in a thrilling first person narrative. You will take on the role of an Emergency Medical Hologram, the Chief Medical Officer aboard the starship Vortex. Paris: Vortex? NARRATOR- Emh: As our story begins, an anomaly has hurled your ship thousands of light years across the galaxy. Your mission, to uphold your medical and ethical standards as you struggle against the crew's bigotry and intolerance. Persons with vascular disorders should consult a physician before running this program. And now, a few acknowledgments. First, Doctor Lewis Zimmerman, the creator of my holo-matrix, whose foresight and dedication have made it possible for me to achieve Paris: Computer, freeze program. How much longer is this introduction? Computer: Nine minutes, four seconds. Paris: Skip to the first chapter. Emh: Chapter one. A Healer Is Born. In which our protagonist must make a difficult choice. Crewman: Are you the EMH? Paris: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Crewman: Our doctor's dead. We've got wounded. They're both badly hurt. Who should we treat first? Paris: Second degree plasma burns. He's got an aortic rupture. Get him to the surgical bay now. Katanay: You. Over here. Paris: Nice mustache. Katanay: What? Paris: Nothing. He's got a mild concussion. I'm going to have to treat the others first. Katanay: I need Lieutenant Marseilles on the bridge. You'll treat him now. Paris: As I understand it my job is to treat the critical patients first. So, if you'll excuse me Katanay: I don't know who you think you are, hologram, but to me, you're just another piece of technology. Paris: Well, apparently, I'm a piece of technology that's in demand so why don't you go back to the bridge and let me do my job? Jenkins: What's going on here? Katanay: Our medical hologram is refusing to treat Mister Marseilles. Jenkins: Are you malfunctioning? Paris: I don't think so. Jenkins: I need my helmsman back at his station. Paris: Lieutenant Marseilles isn't seriously hurt. This man will be dead in five minutes if I don't operate. Jenkins: Drop the force field. Jenkins: That patient is dead. Now you're free to treat Lieutenant Marseilles. Paris: Then the captain pulls out a phaser and shoots him right there on the biobed. Kim: Captain Janeway murders a crewman? Paris: Captain Jenkins. Everybody has a different name. You're Kymble, you're Torrey and I am Lieutenant Marseilles. Torres: Oh, now that's creative. Kim: What did you say to the Doctor? Paris: He thinks he's written a masterpiece. I didn't know what to tell him. Kim: If this gets distributed, people are going to assume this is about us. What are our families going to think? Torres: This is a Starfleet ship. No one will believe we actually go around shooting injured crewmen. Paris: People may not take the program literally, but they might wonder if there's some truth to it. I think we should talk to the captain. Torres: Are you sure you're not taking this a little personally? Paris: What do you mean? Torres: Well, the holodeck always has been your domain. Paris: You think I'm jealous? Okay, maybe I am overreacting. Why don't the rest of you try the program and decide for yourselves? Emh: Chapter five. Out of the frying pan. In which our protagonist must confront abusive colleagues. Crewwoman: I'm here for my physical. Torres: Why don't you have a seat over here? Marseilles: Doctor, you better get down to Engineering. Torres: What's wrong? Marseilles: A plasma conduit just exploded. At least ten people are hurt. Marseilles: Hey genius, Forgetting something? Your mobile emitter. Torres: Oh, right. I don't see it. Torres: That's my mobile emitter? Torres: This thing must weigh fifty kilos. MARSEILLES- Paris: You should be glad we let you out of your cage at all. Now get going. Torrey: I'm impressed. Engineer: Really? Torrey: Absolutely. I haven't seen a dilithium matrix this far out of alignment since I served aboard a Ferengi garbage scow. I'll fix it myself. Torres: Excuse me. Torrey: How many times have I told you? Engineering is off limits to holograms. Torres: Maybe you should waive that restriction during emergencies. A plasma conduit exploded? Torrey: Does it look like anyone here is covered with plasma burns? Torres: Lieutenant Paris, er, Marseilles told me there was an accident. Torrey: Looks like your auditory subroutines are malfunctioning, again. I'm surprised a matrix as primitive as yours can function at all. Torres: Maybe you should be a little nicer to your shipmates. You never know when you might need their help. Torrey: Let's get one thing straight. You're not one of my shipmates. You're a tool, like this hyperspanner. And tools can be replaced. So why don't you go back to Sickbay before I start doing a little reprogramming? Torres: Computer, lights. Marseilles: Didn't I tell you to go to Engineering? Torres: Oh, I get it. Interesting plot twist. You get me out of Sickbay so you're free to give my patient a tonsillectomy. Marseilles: If you even think about mentioning this to my wife, I will purge your memory buffer. Do we understand each other? Crewwoman 2: I'm here for my physical? Emh: Chapter six. Duel in the Ready room. In which our protagonist faces an inquisition. Jenkins: This time, you've gone too far. Neelix: Captain, I'm not sure what you mean. Jenkins: An inventory of your holo-matrix. Fifty gigaquads of memory devoted to music. Forty two for daydreams. Another ten to expand your sexuality. Neelix: I had no idea holograms could do that. Jenkins: These extracurricular subroutines don't belong as part of an Emergency Medical Hologram. Do you have anything to say for yourself? Neelix: Er, of course I do. I don't think these subroutines are trivial, Captain. They help make me a better doctor and a better person. Jenkins: But you're not a person. You may be programmed to look and act human, but that doesn't make you one. These subroutines are going to be deleted immediately. Mister Tulak. Jenkins: Take the EMH to the holo-lab for reprogramming. Emh: Chapter Seven. The Escape. In which our protagonist is aided by his only ally. Kymble: I'm not sure we should be doing this, Commander. Kim: Listen to him. He knows what he's talking about. Kymble: Quiet! I'm not talking to you. If we start tinkering with his matrix how do we know we won't accidentally delete some of his diagnostic subroutines? Tulak: You afraid you'll catch something on your next away mission, Ensign? Kymble: There must be millions of viruses in this quadrant that no one's ever encountered before. With my luck, I'll probably end up catching half of them. Kim: Great, my character's a hypochondriac. Three: I'll escort the prisoner from here. Tulak: Our orders are to take him to the holo-lab. Three: I've been ordered to perform the procedure. Tulak: Your sympathies for the EMH are no secret, Three of Eight. Step aside. Three: Run, Doctor! Jenkins: I've tried to do this the easy way, but it's clear you're not going to be reasonable. Your matrix will be decompiled and reinitialized. You'll remain offline except for emergencies. Torrey: Ready. Jenkins: Do it. Three: Wait. He has the right to expand his program. Jenkins: He's a piece of technology. He has no rights. Three: But he should. One day, the EMH and others like him will be recognized for what they are. Intelligent individuals with a passion for life. Make no mistake, Captain. We may be thousands of light years from home, but one day people will learn of the crime you're committing here today. Jenkins: Nice speech. Now decompile the program. Emh: What you've experienced, dear protagonist is a work of fiction. But like all fiction, it has elements of truth. I hope you now have a better understanding of the struggles holograms must endure in a world controlled by organics. Computer: End of program. Janeway: Janeway to the Doctor. Report to my ready room now. Emh: How many times do you want me to say it? My work is not about the Voyager crew. Kim: Come on. Ensign Kymble? Lieutenant Marseilles? Torres: The characters look almost exactly like us. Emh: I used your physical parameters as a starting point, but I assure you any further similarities are purely coincidental. Paris: You set your story on a starship lost in the Delta Quadrant. Emh: What would you have me write about? Palace intrigue on the Klingon homeworld? I do what all good novelists do. I write what I know. Kim: So it is about Voyager. Emh: No! The Vortex characters are larger than life. They're nothing like our crew. As far as I know, Captain, you haven't executed any of my patients. Janeway: Doctor, you've written a very imaginative story, but it's conceivable that people will think it's based on fact. Emh: I don't see how. Kim: How many holograms carry mobile emitters? Emh: The emitter in my story is nothing like the real one. Torres: Yeah, what was the point of that? It was like carrying around a small shuttlecraft. Emh: It's a metaphor. A symbol of the burdens that I live with every day. Imagine having to take this everywhere you go. It would be a constant reminder that you're different from everyone else. I wanted the player to feel the weight of it. Literally. Janeway: Your emitter isn't a ball and chain. It liberates you. Emh: It doesn't always feel that way. Janeway: If I didn't know better, I'd think this story was written by someone who feels oppressed. Is that how you see yourself, Doctor? Emh: Of course not. The real victims are my brothers in the Alpha Quadrant. Torres: Brothers? Emh: Hundreds of EMH mark ones. Identical to me in every respect except, they've been condemned to a menial existence. Scrubbing conduits, mining dilithium. There's a long history of writers drawing attention to the plight of the oppressed. The Vedek's Song, for example tells the story of the occupation of Bajor. Janeway: I understand you have your reasons for writing this, but you should consider how it's going to make your friends feel. Emh: I'm sorry my work offends you. But if the price of expressing myself is having to suffer the scorn of a few colleagues, so be it. Kim: You're very popular with my eighth graders. It's all they ever talk about. Voyager this, Voyager that. John Kim: Your mother has a small favor to ask of you. Kim: Name it. Mary Kim: I was hoping you could record a short presentation about what it's like to command a starship. Kim: But I don't command a starship. Mary Kim: In your letters you said the captain puts you in charge sometimes. Kim: What I said was I'm in command of the night shift, twice a week. Mary Kim: She must think very highly of you to give you so much responsibility. John Kim: So when is she giving you a promotion? Kim: It's a small ship. There are only so many command positions available. Mary Kim: This Captain Janeway sounds like a lovely woman. Maybe I should write her. Kim: Mom! Mary Kim: She needs to know how hard you work. Kim: Please, don't get involved. Mary Kim: Harry, I can't hear you. Seven: A solar flare is scattering the beam. Mary Kim: Tell Captain Janeway to expect a letter from me. Kim: Mom, don't send anything to the captain, do you hear me? Try boosting the deflector output. Seven: It's already at maximum. Kim: Argh! I don't believe this. I had a minute and a half left. Seven: You'll have another opportunity to speak with them in approximately two months. Kim: You just don't get it, do you? Seven: No. Kim: Maybe if you had family you were close to, you'd feel a little differently. Chief Medical Officer's personal log, stardate 54740.8. Although the decision has made me unpopular with the crew, I've decided not to compromise my work. I'm making some final revisions to the program before transmitting it. Emh: Computer, run EMH program Photons Be Free. NARRATOR- Paris: Welcome. You've made an excellent choice. You're obviously a person with impeccable taste. Emh: Computer, freeze program. Computer: Unable to comply. NARRATOR- Paris: You are about to embark on a remarkable journey. You will take on the role of a medical assistant aboard the starship Voyeur. Emh: Voyeur? NARRATOR- Paris: Your job will be to assist the Chief Medical Officer, and learn to tolerate his overbearing behavior and obnoxious bedside manner. Remember, patience is a virtue. Paris: Chapter one. It's The Doctor's World, You're Just Living In It. HOLO- Emh: When I tell you your shift begins at oh eight hundred that doesn't mean you can stroll in here at oh eight hundred and twenty four seconds. Do you understand me, Ensign! Emh: This is outrageous. HOLO- Emh: What's outrageous is that I'm going to miss my tee time. Now, come along. Aw, what seems to be the trouble, One of Three? Two: I'm Two of Three. HOLO- Emh: Sorry. They're triplets, you know. Two: It hurts when I do this. HOLO- Emh: Well then, don't do it. Two: Ow! HOLO- Emh: Don't be a baby. Your biradial clamp's out of alignment. I've got just the thing. It's a Klingon aphrodisiac, my own special blend. HOLO- Emh: You'll be feeling better in no time at all. Emh: Lieutenant! I want you to know I'm making a full report to the captain. Paris: This isn't about that dermal regenerator I misplaced, is it? Emh: You know very well what this is about. You accessed my holo-novel without permission and replaced it with your own hackneyed narrative. Paris: Hey, I'm just writing what I know. Emh: You destroyed a work of art that took months to create. Paris: Relax, Doc. I saved your program in a backup file. But I was just trying to make a point. Emh: Well, you made it, with a typical lack of subtlety. Paris: Oh, you're one to talk. Your program is about as subtle as a Ferengi mating dance. Emh: My program is a serious attempt at social commentary, yours is an insulting farce! You had me drugging a patient and taking advantage of her. Paris: Don't be ridiculous. That character is not you. For one thing, he has much more hair. But what if some people ran that program and thought that it was based on you? That would bother you, wouldn't it? Emh: I don't care what people think. Paris: That's all you care about! You want everyone back home to think of you as a brilliant author. Emh: I'm not doing this for my ego. And if you could look past yours, maybe you'd see that. Paris: Listen, I don't care if the whole Alpha Quadrant mistakes me for Lieutenant Marseilles. What bothers me is that you think that's what I'm like. Emh: Obviously, you're nothing like Marseilles. He's self-indulgent, immature. Paris: And how would you describe me? Emh: Well, you're a married man with a child on the way. A lot of responsibilities. Paris: I'm surprised you noticed. You know, I thought I'd begun to earn your respect. Maybe I was wrong. Your program is under file theta one five. Do whatever you want with it. Neelix: Doctor, I need your help. Emh: Unless you're suffering acute symptoms, go away. Neelix: Er, I was wondering if you could take a quick look at this. Emh: Cooking with Neelix, a Culinary Tour of the Delta Quadrant. Neelix: It's a holo-cookbook proposal. I was hoping to transmit it to your publisher during my comm. link this afternoon. With your approval, of course. Emh: If you're looking for writing tips, there are plenty of people on this ship eager to offer them. Neelix: I don't know what anyone else may have told you, but I loved your holo-novel. Emh: You did? Neelix: Absolutely. It was a rousing adventure, with an important message too. Emh: Exactly. This is my first chance to be appreciated not just as a physician, but as an artist. I thought the crew would be happy for me. Neelix: You're going to reach a wide audience. What do you care about the opinions of a few disgruntled shipmates? Emh: They're my friends. I don't want to hurt them. Neelix: There's an old Talaxian expression. When the road before you splits in two, take the third path. Emh: Meaning? Neelix: You could make some adjustments to the program so it won't be so obvious it's based on Voyager. Emh: I suppose I could change the setting, alter the characters' physical parameters. Neelix: You wouldn't have to change your theme. Emh: No. But a rewrite could take weeks. My publisher is expecting a final draft tomorrow. Neelix: Maybe you should give him a call. Broht: Revisions? Emh: I need to rework the characters. Broht: Why? They're so believable. Emh: A little too believable, apparently. Broht: Doctor, I, I really don't think this is necessary. Emh: I'm afraid I have to insist. My friends' reputations are at stake. Emh: My publisher assures me he won't distribute the program until he receives the revised version. Torres: That must be the one where we assimilate the Borg and take over the quadrant. Janeway: We're all grateful that you're taking our feelings into account. Chakotay: So how long do you expect the revisions will take? Emh: Art can't be rushed. Janeway: Take your time, Doctor. Emh: Lieutenant? I'm sorry. Paris: Forget about it. Emh: I could use your help with the rewrites. Paris: Really? You realize, as a writer I'm a little unsophisticated. Emh: No, I believe the phrase you're looking for is low brow. Paris: Hey. What's that? Torres: It's from my father. He wants to talk. Paris: What are you going to do? Torres: Well, I've already arranged to talk with my cousin. Paris: Oh, I'm sure she wouldn't mind waiting a few weeks. Torres: I wouldn't know what to say to him. Paris: Then let him do the talking. Torres: Look at you. You must be, what, twenty weeks along? Torres: Twenty three, actually. John Torres: Have you decided on a name? Torres: Not yet. We were thinking about Miral. John Torres: Your mother would've liked that. You know, I had some business on Kessik Four a few months ago. You wouldn't believe what our old house looks like. Seven: Lieutenant, thirty seconds. Torres: We have less than a minute. Is there a reason you wanted to talk? John Torres: I know I can't make up for twenty years in one conversation. The truth is, when your ship disappeared, I thought I'd lost you. I don't expect you to forgive me but, maybe we could try to get to know each other again. Torres: I'll write you. Barclay: I'm sorry to disturb you, Admiral. Admiral Paris: Ah yes, Mister Barclay. What can I do for you? Barclay: I thought you'd want to see this, sir. Admiral Paris: Well, what is it? Barclay: It's a holonovel that's becoming quite popular. Admiral Paris: Well, I appreciate the gesture Lieutenant but, I don't share your affinity for holographic diversions. Barclay: You don't understand, sir. This program, it's about Voyager. And it doesn't portray the crew in a very flattering light. Admiral Paris: Hmm. Janeway: On screen. Admiral Paris: Captain. Janeway: Seven told me your message was urgent. Admiral Paris: I had the dubious privilege of playing a new holonovel apparently written by your EMH. I'm surprised that you would allow the Doctor to diskredit your crew like this. Janeway: He's still making revisions. The program shouldn't have been distributed yet. Admiral Paris: Well, it has been. Mister Barclay tells me it's already being played in thousands of holosuites. Emh: You assured me you were going to wait for my revisions. I demand that you recall every copy and issue a public apology to Captain Janeway and her crew. Broht: I won't do anything of the sort. Janeway: I don't see that you have a choice, Mister Broht. Authors have rights. Broht: Not in this case. Emh: What do you mean? Broht: The Doctor is a hologram. Emh: So? Broht: According to Federation law, holograms have no rights. Tuvok: Under a strict interpretation of Federation law, Mister Broht is correct. The Doctor has no legal rights. Emh: Because I'm a hologram. Tuvok: Yes. There is another option. We may be able to claim that the holonovel reveals classified information. Starfleet could then request that it be recalled for security purposes. Paris: Oh, great idea. A cover up. And then everyone will be convinced that it's a true story. Chakotay: Could we claim defamation? Paris: Well, we'd have to prove that the story's about us and that we've been harmed by it. Janeway: We might win on those grounds. But what about the Doctor? Emh: What about me, Captain? It's the crew's reputations that are as risk. Janeway: I'm not so sure. I think it's your reputation that's on the line here. You have the same rights as every other member of this crew, and I'm not going to let this publisher say otherwise. Captain's log, stardate 54748.6. A Federation arbitrator has been assigned to determine whether the Doctor has the right to control his artistic creation. Because of our limited comm. time with Earth, the arguments should take about three days. Tuvok: You claim the Doctor doesn't have the legal right to control this holoprogram, yet you're promoting the fact that Voyager's EMH wrote it. Broht: Our most successful children's title is a program written by Toby the Targ. Fortunately Toby hasn't tried to stop me from distributing any of his work. Tuvok: But you don't deny Tuvok: That the Doctor is the creator of this holonovel? Broht: No, but a replicator created this cup of coffee. Should that replicator be able to determine whether or not I can drink it? Emh: I object! Janeway: Doctor. Tuvok: An intriguing analogy, Mister Broht. But I have never encountered a replicator that could compose music, or paint landscapes, or perform microsurgery. Have you? Would you say that you have a reputation for publishing respected, original works of literature? Broht: I'd like to think so. Tuvok: And is the Doctor's holonovel such a work? Broht: Actually, some aspects of it are quite derivative. Tuvok: Has there even been another work written about a hologram's struggle for equality? Broht: Not that I know of, but, er Tuvok: Then in Tuvok: That respect, it is original. Broht: I suppose so. Tuvok: Your honor, Section seven gamma of the Twelfth Guarantee defines an artist as a person who creates an original artistic work. Mister Broht admits that the Doctor created this program and that it is original. I therefore submit that the Doctor should be entitled to all rights and privileges accorded an artist under the law. Arbitrator: You've made a persuasive argument, Commander, but there's a flaw in your logic. As you point out, the law says that the creator of an artistic work must be a person. Your EMH doesn't meet that criteria. Barclay: Sir, we're losing the link. Arbitrator: This hearing is in recess until tomorrow. Tuvok: We're not doing well. Emh: Is that your considered legal opinion? I'm sorry. It's just frustrating to be told I have no more legal standing than an replicator. Tuvok: If the Doctor doesn't have the right to control his own work, then it stands to reason he never had the right to enter into an agreement with Mister Broht. We could argue that the original contract is invalid. Paris: In other words, you want to concede that the Doctor isn't a person. Janeway: What we need to do is prove that he is just as much a person as any of us. Emh: How do we do that? Janeway: By telling your real life story. Seven: Because I was having difficulty interacting with the crew, the Doctor gave me social lessons. First, he taught me how to make conversation. Later Seven: How to dance. Eventually, he showed me how to express romantic interest. Seven: Without his guidance, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Kim: He decided it wasn't enough to be just a doctor, so he added command subroutines to his matrix and now, in an emergency, he's as capable as any bridge officer. Arbitrator: That only proves the Doctor's program can be modified. Kim: Your honor, I think it shows he has a desire to become more than he is, just like any other person. Barclay: He traveled halfway across the galaxy to care for Lewis Zimmerman, the man who created his program. It was like a son who wanted to show his father what he'd become, so the old man would be proud of him. And if you ask me, he was. Janeway: I'd made myself clear. But the Doctor disobeyed my direct orders. In the process, he endangered the ship and crew. Arbitrator: That's hardly commendable behavior. Janeway: No, it wasn't. But it was human. Janeway: Starfleet had programmed him to follow orders. Janeway: The fact that he was capable of doing otherwise proves that he can think for himself. Your Honor, centuries ago in most places on Earth, only landowners of a particular gender and race had any rights at all. Over time, those rights were extended to all humans, and later, as we explored the galaxy, to thousands of other sentient species. Our definition of what constitutes a person has continued to evolve. Now we're asking that you expand that definition once more, to include our Doctor. Janeway: When I met him seven years ago, Janeway: I would never have believed that an EMH could become a valued member of my crew, and my friend. The Doctor is a person as real as any Janeway: Flesh and blood I have ever known. If you believe the testimony you've heard here, it's only fair Janeway: To conclude that he has the same rights as any of us. Arbitrator: You'll have my decision in two days. Arbitrator: This hearing is in recess. Seven: When you sing happy birthday to your mother, try to stay in tune. Kim: What's this? Seven: An isolinear chip entitling the bearer to three minutes of comm. time tomorrow. You made it clear how important it was to finish your conversation. Kim: I overreacted. Seven: I understand why you did. I've been observing the crew interacting with their families over the past few days. It's become clear to me how meaningful that communication can be. Kim: Thanks, but I can't accept this. Seven: Why not? Kim: You should contact your own family. Seven: My parents were assimilated. Kim: There must be someone. A distant relative? Seven: My father has a sister on Earth. Irene Hansen. Kim: I'm sure she'd be thrilled to hear from you. Hanson: You can imagine my reaction when Starfleet told me to expect your call. Seven: I experienced some apprehension myself. Irene Hanson: You seem like a lovely young woman. But you were the most stubborn six-year-old I've ever met. Your parents left you with me for a weekend, and you were so angry you locked yourself in my guest room and refused to come out. Seven: That must have been inconvenient for you. Irene Hanson: Oh, I coaxd you out eventually with a strawberry tart. Seven: I'm very fond of strawberries. I didn't realize I'd eaten them as a child. Irene Hanson: You couldn't get enough of them. Of course, you didn't hesitate to point out if they weren't perfectly ripe. Seven: I'm sorry if I insulted you. Perhaps I shouldn't have called. Irene Hanson: No, I'm very glad you did. It's wonderful to see you again, Annika. Arbitrator: We're exploring new territory today, so it is fitting that this hearing is being held at Pathfinder. The Doctor exhibits many of the traits we associate with a person. Intelligence, creativity, ambition, even fallibility. But are these traits real, or is the Doctor merely programmed to simulate them? To be honest, I don't know. Eventually we will have to decide, because the issue of holographic rights isn't going to go away. But at this time, I am not prepared to rule that the Doctor is a person under the law. However, it is obvious he is no ordinary hologram and while I can't say with certainty that he is a person, I am willing to extend the legal definition of artist to include the Doctor. I therefore rule that he has the right to control his work. I'm ordering all copies of his holo-novels to be recalled immediately. Broht: Your honor! Arbitrator: This hearing is adjourned. Barclay: Congratulations, Doctor. Emh: Thank you, Reg. Admiral Paris: We'll be in touch, Captain. Janeway: You don't look like someone who's just struck the first blow for the rights of holograms. Emh: I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but it feels like a hollow victory. Pardon the pun. The program's already been played by thousands of people. The damage is done. Janeway: We'll survive. Paris: If I'm not mistaken, don't you have a holonovel to revise? Emh: Do you think I'll be able to find another publisher? Janeway: If there's one thing I've learned about you, Doctor, it's that you can do just about anything you set your mind to. Emh1: Time for your diagnostic. Report to the holo-lab. Emh2: I know the routine. Emh1: And, while you're there, do yourself a favor. Ask the operator to run program forty seven beta. Emh2: Why? What is it? Emh1: It's called Photons Be Free. It's quite provocative.

Probe: We the people of Earth greet you in a spirit of peace and humility. As we venture out of our solar system, we hope to earn the trust and friendship of other worlds. Technician 1: Can we reduce the interference? Technician 2: I'm trying. Technician 2: What is it? Technician 1: I don't know. Technician 2: Distance? Technician 1: It just entered the atmosphere. Hendricks: They evolved from dinosaurs? Janeway: Hadrosaurs, to be precise. Their ancestors settled in the Delta Quadrant twenty million years ago. Hendricks: The Voth, the Kobali, the Vaadwaur. You've made first contact with more species than any captain since James Kirk. Janeway: It helps being the only Starfleet ship within thirty thousand light years. Hendricks: You are being too humble. From the first time you spoke up in my classroom I knew you'd go far. Janeway: A little farther than I expected, Professor. Hendricks: I have my admiral hat on today, Kathryn, and I didn't call just to catch up. Starfleet has a mission for you. Probe: We, the people of Earth, greet you in the spirit of peace and humility. As we venture out of our solar system, we hope to earn the trust and friendship of other worlds. Kim: Friendship One. I had to memorize that recording in third grade. Paris: Me, too. I even built a model of the probe. Janeway: Then this should look familiar. It was launched in 2067. Paris: Just four years after Zefram Cochrane tested his first warp engine. Neelix: What was it designed to do? Chakotay: Reach out to other species. Pave the way for all the manned missions that would follow. Kim: They packed it with information, translation matrices, scientific and cultural databases Torres: Computer chip designs, instructions for building transceivers. It's practically a how-to manual. Seven: If the Borg had intercepted this probe, humanity would have been assimilated centuries ago. Chakotay: Our ancestors had no idea what was out here. Neelix: This must have been before your Prime Directive? Tuvok: It was before Starfleet existed. Janeway: In any case, we lost contact with the probe one hundred and thirty years ago but, its last known coordinates Torres: Let me guess. Were in the neighborhood. Janeway: Starfleet's mapped out a search grid. It'll take us a little off course, but if the probe is still intact and we're lucky enough to find it, we'll be retrieving a little piece of history. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54775.4. We've been searching for five days without any sign of the probe, but we're not about to disappoint Starfleet on our first official assignment in seven years. Kim: Nothing in grid two nine five. Tuvok: Mister Paris? Paris: Moving on. Kim: We should try skipping ahead a little to grid three one zero. I stayed up all night re-extrapolating the probe's trajectory. I've compensated for solar winds, ionic interference and a few local anomalies Starfleet wouldn't know about. Tuvok: Alter course to grid three one zero. Paris: Trying to impress the Starfleet brass? Kim: Just doing my job. Kim: I'm detecting a titanium signature that matches the probe's parameters. Tuvok: Location? Kim: A planet two light years away. Paris: Confirmed. Good job, Harry. Seven: The readings are coming from the northern subcontinent. Janeway: Can you localize them? Seven: There are high levels of antimatter radiation in the atmosphere, scattering the probe's signature. Chakotay: Any lifesigns? Seven: None. Janeway: Assemble an away team and take the Flyer down for a closer look. Carey: You seem to be in a good mood, Doctor. Emh: Just excited to be doing my part for our first official mission, Mister Carey. Paris: An inoculation a day keeps the radiation away. I took a look at those atmospheric readings. Thermal eddies, gravimetric sheer. You're going to need your best pilot. Chakotay: Are you volunteering? Paris: If the Doc can spare me. Emh: I'll muddle through. Emh: If you're here for your fetal resonance scan, you're a day early. Torres: I'm here for my inoculation. Paris: You are not going on this mission. Torres: Chakotay said he needed an engineer. Paris: He's already got one. Torres: Now he's got two. Paris: Will you excuse us? Neelix: Any bets on this one? Chakotay: My money's on B'Elanna. Torres: It's been months since I've been on an away mission. Paris: Then try the holodeck. The Flyer is full. Torres: You can make room. Neelix doesn't have to go. Paris: He's not six months pregnant. Torres: Being pregnant doesn't make me an invalid. Paris: No, it doesn't. But there's a toxic atmosphere down there and you're breathing for two. Torres: All right, you win. But if we have another baby, you carry it, and I'll go on the away missions. Paris: It's a deal. Paris: Sorry for the bumpy ride. We'll be clearing the stratosphere in about a minute. Neelix: I had a cousin who used to transport disulfides from a gas giant. He claimed to love the turbulence. Of course, disulfides are known to cause delusions. Paris: Hang on. Carey: I thought it was uninhabited. Kim: There's nothing alive down there now. Radiation levels are at six thousand isorems. Carey: I've localized the signature to a three kilometer radius. Chakotay: Transfer the coordinates to the helm. When we find the probe, we'll beam it to the cargo hold. Kim: That may not be easy with all this radiation. Chakotay: We'd better bring transport enhancers. Set us down, Tom. Paris: Yes, sir. Neelix: Gently, please. Paris: I should have brought a holo-camera so I could show B'Elanna she's not missing anything. Can you believe she actually wanted to come with us? Carey: When my wife was pregnant, she didn't want to be coddled, either. Paris: And she's not half Klingon. Maybe it's us. Something about fatherhood seems to regress the male psyche a few thousand years. Neelix: Tom, be careful. Paris: It's a toy, like a music box. Carey: Vivaldi. I'm getting something. Ninety meters this way. Paris: Souvenir. Kim: Commander, I'm detecting an antimatter signature ahead. Chakotay: Looks like missile silos. Paris: Paris to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Paris: We've got a reading that could be the probe. It's inside a cave. Chakotay: Keep us posted. Chakotay: The warhead is still active. Kim: It wouldn't have taken many of these to trigger a nuclear winter. Neelix: People must have taken shelter here. Carey: That makes sense. The magnesite in these caves would have provided partial shielding from the radiation. Paris: Over here. Carey: What'd you find? Paris: Some kind of control room, or laboratory. Carey: Laboratory? Paris: Lots of diagnostic equipment. Looks like it was salvaged from a junk heap. Neelix: Or scavenged from the ruins. Carey: Particle scanners, circuit analyzers. Most of it's still functional. They were working on something. Paris: This is what we came for. Carey: Whoever lived here must have been studying it. Neelix: The data core's still intact. Paris: Start setting up the transport enhancers. Paris to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Paris: We found the probe. Well, pieces of it, anyway. Paris: We're getting ready to beam it back up to the Flyer. Chakotay: We'll meet you there. Neelix: Hello? Is someone there? Carey: The tricorder isn't reading any lifesigns. Chakotay: Don't move. Chakotay: You okay? Delta Flyer to Paris. Chakotay to away team. Respond. Kim: They're antimatter weapons. Shields are offline. What are you doing? Chakotay: Getting us out of here. Kim: What about the others? Chakotay: We can't do them any good if we're dead. We'll come back for them. Carey: Look, you're making a mistake. Verin: Leave them alone. Verin: Who are you? Paris: I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris. We're from the Federation starship Voyager. Verin: What are these? Paris: They're transport enhancers. We were going to use them to retrieve our probe. Verin: Your probe? Too bad you didn't come for it sooner. It would have saved us a lot of suffering. Chakotay: We still can't contact the others or get a fix on their lifesigns. Janeway: Why didn't we detect the aliens? Chakotay: I don't know. Whoever they are, they have antimatter weapons. Janeway: Antimatter? Tuvok: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: We're being hailed from the surface. Janeway: The away team? Tuvok: No. Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway. Who am I speaking with? Verin: My name is Verin. Your crewmen are my prisoners. Janeway: Why? We haven't done anything to harm you. Verin: You committed genocide. Janeway: I think there's been a misunderstanding. We arrived here Verin: You're from Earth? Janeway: Yes. Verin: Then you're going to pay for what your people did to us. Janeway: I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about. Verin: We're not as naive as you seem to think we are, Captain. Not any more. Janeway: What is it you want? Verin: I want you to get us off this planet. Find us a new home. Janeway: Release my crewmen and we can talk about it. Verin: No more talking. Your people won't be safe until mine are. Janeway: Listen, I don't respond well to threats. Verin: And I don't want to kill anyone, but I will if you don't cooperate. You have three hours Verin: To begin evacuating us. Janeway: Start scanning for the nearest M class planet. Tuvok: You intend to meet his demands? Janeway: I'm just keeping my options open. You're with me. Emh: I've analyzed his garment. It's lined with magnesite. Janeway: A makeshift environmental suit. Emh: Unfortunately, the protection it offers is limited. His tissues are saturated with antimatter radiation. It explains why we couldn't detect his lifesigns. They're virtually indistinguishable from the environment. Chakotay: Now that we know that, maybe we can adjust our sensors to detect them. Janeway: Let's wake him. Janeway: What were you doing aboard our shuttle? Otrin: Trying to undo the damage you caused. Janeway: If you're referring to what's happened on your planet, we had nothing to do with it. Otrin: Your people sent the probe, didn't they? Chakotay: Our ancestors sent it three hundred years ago to make contact with other species. Otrin: They did a little more than that. Am I your prisoner? Emh: No. You're suffering from prolonged radiation exposure. I can treat you. Otrin: You can? Emh: I believe I can. Otrin: In exchange for what? Emh: Nothing. Otrin: I have a wife, friends. Janeway: We might be able to help them, too. But not while our crewmen are being held hostage. You said you were trying to undo the damage we caused. What did you mean by that? Otrin: I was aboard your shuttle looking for technology that might help us neutralize the radiation. Chakotay: We saw missiles on the surface. Was the destruction caused by war? Otrin: Those missiles were built for defense. They were never launched. Janeway: Then what accounts for the devastation? Otrin: A containment failure in our power grid. Once the antimatter was released, it destroyed everything. Janeway: I'm sorry, but I still don't see how we're responsible. Otrin: Before the probe, my people never conceived of anything like antimatter. We offer this information freely with the hope that one day we will stand on your soil and extend our hands in friendship. I'm sure you recognize those words. Janeway: The recording from the probe. Otrin: Your people sent us technology that they knew would destroy us. Janeway: I don't understand. Otrin: We didn't either at first. But we had decades to think about it, and now it seems so obvious. You send us new technology, encourage us to use it, and then you wait for us to obliterate ourselves. Chakotay: Why would we do that? Otrin: Because it's easier than invading us. Janeway: Do you really believe we'd contaminate a world we intended to conquer? Otrin: I'm a scientist. I believe what I see. And today I saw your people standing on our soil just as you promised, and they were wearing equipment that protected them from the radiation because they knew exactly what to expect. If you were in my position, what would you believe? Paris: He might have a concussion. I need the medkit from my pack. Brin: I was told not to let you use your equipment. Paris: When's your baby due? My wife's pregnant, too. We're expecting a little girl in a couple of months. Brin: How do you know it's a girl? Paris: We have technology that allows us to examine the fetus. She has my eyes and her mother's cranial ridges. Is this your first? Brin: No. Paris: Oh? Boys? Girls? Brin: Two boys and a girl. Paris: What are their names? Brin: They were all stillborn. Paris: I'm sorry. Brin: You're a doctor? Paris: No, I'm just a medic. But we have the best doctor in the quadrant back on Voyager. He might be able to help. Brin: I shouldn't be talking to you. Tuvok: Our current coordinates, and the nearest M class planet one hundred thirty two light years away. Torres: At maximum warp that's about two months round trip. Janeway: How many people are we talking about? Kim: If these sensor modifications are correct, about fifty five hundred. Tuvok: It would take at least seventeen trips. Almost three years to complete the relocation. Kim: We've made sacrifices to help people before. Torres: What about Tom and the others? Are they supposed to rot down there until this relocation's finished? Janeway: I don't think Verin's going to let go of his only bargaining chips. Tuvok: Then we may have to use force. Janeway: Not until we've exhausted every other option. These people believe that we're violent. I'm not going to do anything to reinforce that belief unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Seven: I've extracted the nanoprobes. Emh: I'll begin reprogramming them. Otrin: Nanoprobes? Seven: Microscopic machines. Hopefully they'll help us repair your damaged tissue. Otrin: You said you extracted them. From where? Seven: My bloodstream. They maintain my cybernetic implants. Otrin: Nanoprobes, cybernetic implants. Are others on your crew like you? Seven: No, I'm unique. Otrin: You certainly are. Janeway: I need a word with your patient. You told me you've been looking for ways to neutralize the radiation. Otrin: All my life. Janeway: Tell me about your work. Neelix: Lieutenant? Carey: I'm okay. My stomach's just a little queasy. Paris: Our inoculations must be wearing off. Neelix: I thought these caves were naturally shielded. Paris: They're no substitute for an environmental suit. Carey: These people have lived here all their lives without environmental suits. Neelix: These people have lived here without much of anything. Yun: Hello. Paris: Hello. It's all right. We're not going to hurt you. What's your name? Yun: Yun. Paris: Mine's Tom. This is Joe, and Neelix. Yun: You're not like them. Neelix: We're different species, but they're my friends. Yun: They say you're going to take us on your ship and find us a new home. Neelix: I'm sure our captain is trying to help you. Paris: Neelix, where's our souvenir? Neelix: In my pack. Paris: Excuse me. We'd like to give her something. It's in the equipment bag. It's a toy. Verin: That could be a weapon. Brin: It's harmless. Verin: These men are dangerous. I want you to stay away from them. Understood? Paris: So much for making friends. Neelix: Mister Verin? Paris: What are you doing? Neelix: My job. I'm Voyager's ambassador, remember? Can I have a word with you? Neelix: Just between us, I understand why you don't trust humans. Verin: Then why are you with them? Neelix: They're not so bad once you get to know them. When I first met them I thought they were arrogant and self-righteous. Verin: I suppose you're going to tell me you've changed your mind. Neelix: Well, not completely. I still think they take themselves far too seriously for my taste. But one thing they don't do is harm other people. Verin: Are you blind? Neelix: No, I see very clearly what's happened to you, and I'd like to help. Verin: How? Neelix: My captain listens to me. I can speak to her on your behalf. Help her understand your situation. Verin: What do you know about our situation? Neelix: I know what you've been through. My planet was destroyed by a weapon called a Meteron Cascade. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed, including my family. Verin: How did you survive? Neelix: I was on a neighboring planet when the weapon was detonated. I went back with a rescue team, but there was no one left. Verin: I'm sorry about what happened to your family, but don't compare your life to mine. Janeway: The nearest suitable planet is simply too far away so, I'd like to propose Janeway: An alternative. Verin: There is no alternative. Janeway: Please, hear me out. We have one of your people aboard, a Mister Otrin. He has some interesting ideas about counteracting the radiation. Verin: Otrin has too many ideas. Janeway: I think his theories have merit. What he's lacked until now is the means to carry them out. If you release the hostages, we can work together. There's a good chance we could undo some of the damage to your environment. Verin: This isn't a negotiation. Janeway: You don't seem to understand. It would take years to evacuate the entire planet. Verin: So instead you once again offer us the benefits of your technology. Janeway: What I'm offering you is a realistic alternative. Verin: If I release the hostages, what's to prevent you from leaving Verin: Or attacking us? Janeway: Look, I know you've suffered, and I know you don't trust us. Verin: You haven't given me any reason to. Janeway: Then why don't we start with a small step. You return one of the hostages and I'll send you a supply of food and medicine. Verin: You. What's your name? Carey: Joe Carey. Verin: Set up your transport enhancers. Verin: I'm sorry, Mister Carey. Carey: Sorry? Verin: Your crewman's ready, Captain. Janeway: Transport him to Sickbay. Paris: Hey, what the hell Paris: Are you doing? Janeway: Tom? Emh: Sickbay to bridge. Emh: They've killed Lieutenant Carey. Janeway: If you think murdering one of my crewmen is going to make me more receptive to your demands, you're mistaken. Verin: Don't force me to kill anyone else. Janeway: All right, I'll evacuate your people. But our transporters aren't designed to accommodate large groups. Janeway: We'll need time to modify them. Verin: We'll be ready within the hour. If you're not Janeway: I understand. My ready room. Brin: You have radiation poisoning. This will make you feel better. Neelix: Thank you. Paris: Why are you helping us? Brin: Your child's going to need a father, isn't she? Seven: The first phase of your therapy is complete. How do you feel? Otrin: I can breathe more easily. Seven: Your lungs were damaged by the radiation. The nanoprobes are repairing them. Otrin: It's incredible. If we could manufacture more of these, we might be able to treat everyone. Seven: Unfortunately, Mister Verin has refused our help. Otrin: Did you expect him to cooperate? Seven: His behavior is irrational. Otrin: To you, maybe. But you haven't lived like we have. Seven: No. But that doesn't mean that we're responsible for what's happened here. Otrin: You can't deny your people sent the probe. Seven: They made an error in judgment. They failed to anticipate the consequences of their actions. But they never meant to destroy your world. Human culture has evolved, learned from its mistakes. So can yours. Otrin: Even if I believed you, Verin never would. Seven: Then your people may need a change of leadership. Someone more open to new ideas. Otrin: I'm not a leader. Seven: But you're a scientist. Someone who can see a problem and envision a solution. The same definition could apply to a leader. Paris: Doesn't seem fair, does it. My daughter, she'll have food medical care, everything she needs. Woman: What's wrong? Woman: We need help! Brin: It's the baby. It's too soon. Let him help me. Verin: Can you? Paris: I think so. But I'll need my med kit. Guard: Inform Verin. Paris: I'm losing the heartbeat. Brin: Oh, no. Neelix: What are you doing? Paris: Speeding up the contractions. Guard: Their ship's returned. Verin: Send out patrols. Double the guard at the entrance. Paris: I've got him! He's not breathing. Cardiostimulator. Three millijoules, now. Guard: Don't move. I'll take him to Verin. Tell the others. This way. Move! Paris: Increase the charge to five millijoules. Again. I'm reading a heartbeat. Paris: You have a son. Guard: One of the patrols took another prisoner. Verin: Put him with the others. Paris: We need to get him to Voyager. Verin: He stays here. Neelix: Mister Tuvok. Verin: Your Captain was foolish enough to think she could rescue you. Instead, she's given me another hostage. Paris: Doc? Emh: When you need to infiltrate a toxic environment, it helps to be a hologram. Tuvok: Prepare the transport enhancers. Tuvok to Chakotay. Tuvok: We secured the hostages. Chakotay: Good work. Chakotay to Delta Flyer. Two to beam out. Brin: Thank you. Tuvok: Now, Mister Paris. Paris: Your baby won't survive without treatment. I promise we'll bring him back. Brin: Take good care of him. Paris: I will. Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. Five to beam up. Emh: Cute little fellow, isn't he? He's already responding to treatment. Janeway: Once he's stabilized we'll transport him to the surface, and send along some food and medical supplies. Neelix: We're leaving? Janeway: As soon as I report to Starfleet. Paris: Captain, once the baby's back in that environment, he's just going to get sick again. Janeway: I'm sorry. We can't keep him from his mother. Paris: I'm not suggesting that. You told those people that we might be able to neutralize the radiation. Was that true? Janeway: Yes, but they didn't want our help. I can't force it on them. Neelix: Maybe you should. If we help them without asking anything in return, it'll prove they're wrong about us. Janeway: You're forgetting something. They killed Mister Carey. I'm not about to risk any more lives to help murderers. Paris: Captain, it was one man who killed Carey. If you saw how they were living, how desperate they are. I'm not saying we should ignore what happened, but humans did play a part in their suffering. Neelix: Intentional or not, that probe had a terrible impact on these people. If there's anything we can do to make up for that now, we at least have to try. Otrin: I've adjusted the radiation levels to match the conditions on the surface. Watch. An isolitic chain reaction. It recombines the nucleonic particles in the atmosphere. Janeway: How do we apply your methods on a planetary scale? Seven: Atmospheric processors are one possibility. Janeway: Too bad we don't have a Corps of Engineers to build them. What if we encase the catalytic agent in photon torpedoes? Use the concussive force to start the reaction. Seven: It would require multiple detonations at low altitude, but I believe it could work. Otrin: Captain, an isolitic reaction of that magnitude would expand exponentially. Your ship might not survive. Janeway: We'll have to modify our shields, reinforce structural integrity. Well, let's get started. Brin: He's beautiful. Otrin: And they can give us enough medicine to treat everyone. Verin: Can they rebuild our cities? Bring back the people who died? Otrin: They're offering to help, and this time no one's coercing them. Verin: We can't trust these people. They just sent armed men to attack us. Otrin: They only wanted to rescue their hostages. Verin: Who knows what they wanted? Otrin: You're being irrational. Verin: What's irrational is cooperating with the enemy. Brin: Look at my child. They said that they would treat him, and they kept their word. Tuvok: Shield modifications online. Chakotay: Torpedoes? Seven: Ready. Janeway: Hail them. Verin: Listen to me. Janeway: Otrin, we're ready to begin. Otrin: Understood. Good luck. Janeway: Tom, take us down. Paris: We're ten thousand meters into the troposphere. Janeway: Fire the first sequence. Verin: They're attacking us. Otrin: It's only the shockwave from the detonations. Janeway: Shields? Tuvok: Holding at eighteen percent. Verin: Are you going to stand there while he helps them destroy us? Otrin: What are you doing? Verin: Fighting back. Kim: Captain, they're opening missile silos. They're targeting Voyager. Chakotay: At eighteen percent, our shields won't withstand an antimatter explosion. Tuvok: We should return to orbit. Janeway: Not yet. Fire the next sequence. Otrin: You can't launch those missiles. Verin: Hold him. Brin: Stop. Verin: What are you doing? Brin: I won't let you ruin our only chance for survival. Verin: You'd kill me? Brin: To save my child? Yes. Verin: Get that weapon away from her. Guard: No, sir. Verin: I've kept you alive. All of you! Otrin: And we're grateful for that. But survival isn't enough anymore. Verin: Are you in command now? Otrin: If I have to be. Yun: Everyone, come outside. Hurry. Otrin: Bring him. Yun: It's beautiful. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've retrieved Friendship One and resumed our course to the Alpha Quadrant, but the success of our mission had a very high price. Chakotay: Impressive, isn't it? Janeway: The detail's amazing. Chakotay: Carey spent months working on it. He used to joke that he wouldn't be finished by the time we got back to Earth. Janeway: He only had one nacelle to go. Chakotay: We were able to download the probe's memory core. We'll transmit the telemetry in the next data stream. Janeway: I think about our ancestors. Thousands of years wondering if they were alone in the universe, and finally discovering they weren't. You can't blame them for wanting to reach out, see how many other species were out there asking the same questions. Chakotay: The urge to explore is pretty powerful. Janeway: But it can't justify the loss of lives, whether it's millions or just one.

Chakotay: Beautiful, isn't it? Seven: A sensor analysis would have provided the necessary information. Chakotay: Just admiring the view. Seven: The conference begins in less than an hour. Chakotay: There's always time for Warp Field Dynamics, but you don't see natural beauty like this every day. Chakotay: What was that? Seven: Some kind of energy barrier directly below us. It spans thousands of square kilometers. Chakotay: Why didn't our sensors detect it? Seven: Uncertain. It has an unusual tetrion signature. Species three one two used a similar technology. There's a power surge coming from the barrier. Chakotay: Shields at full. Seven: They're creating some kind of feedback. We've lost impulse engines. Chakotay: Go to warp. Seven: The warp core is offline. Chakotay: Warp engines don't just shut down when you scrape an energy barrier. Seven: It's affecting all our systems. Computer: Warning. Structural failure in thirty seconds. Chakotay: We'll have to beam to the surface. Seven: We can't transport through the barrier. Transfer auxiliary power to the weapons array. Chakotay: What are you trying to do? Seven: If I can realign our phasers to the correct frequency, I may be able to open a rift. Chakotay: Big enough to get a shuttle through, I hope? Computer: Warning. Structural failure in ten seconds, nine, eight. Seven: Phasers reconfigured. Seven: The barrier's closed again. Seven: I should examine you. Chakotay: I don't think it's serious. Seven: You have a hairline fracture. Chakotay: We've got bigger problems. I'll be fine. Seven: I'm detecting shuttle debris scattered over several square kilometers. Chakotay: Some of it might still be functional. Seven: If we can find the right components, we may be able to construct a beacon. Send a distress signal. Chakotay: Through the barrier? Seven: Maybe. Chakotay: If we hurry we might still make that conference. Well, if we have to be stranded somewhere, we couldn't ask for a nicer place. Seven: We wouldn't be stranded at all if you hadn't insisted on admiring the view. Authority Officer: Guest Vessel 74656, this is Ledos Port Control. Shut down your engines. Paris: This is Lieutenant Tom Paris. Is there a problem? Port Authority Officer: You were observed committing piloting violation two five six. Paris: I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with your regulations. It won't happen again. Port Authority Officer: You'll be informed of the penalty. Paris: What kind of penalty? Port Authority Officer: That's not my decision. Your docking permit says you're assigned to the starship Voyager? Paris: That's right. Port Authority Officer: Your commanding officer will be notified of your infraction. Paris: Piloting lessons? Janeway: Apparently, the standard penalty for your infraction is a three day course in flight safety, followed by a test. Paris: Well, did you explain we wouldn't be here that long? Janeway: Actually, while you were completing your mission, Seven was invited to a four day conference. Paris: Here on Ledos? Janeway: I decided to give the entire crew shore leave. It'll give you plenty of time to brush up on your piloting skills. Paris: I don't need lessons. Janeway: Apparently the authorities disagree. Paris: But Captain Janeway: You may not have known the Ledosians' rules, but you know ours. Comply with local law. Understood? Paris: Yes, ma'am. Seven: The relays are fused. It's useless. Chakotay: Looks like we're not the only ones here. Seven: Indigenous wildlife, perhaps. Chakotay: I'm reading residual lifesigns. They're humanoid. Seven: Ledosian? Chakotay: No. But they share the same genetic traits. Whoever they are, they may be able to help us. Seven: Unless they're hostile. Chakotay: Why don't we give them the benefit of the doubt. The lifesigns lead in that direction. Seven: I suggest you rest your leg while I investigate. Chakotay: It's better is we stick together, at least until we know whether they're hostile. Chakotay: I'm guessing they're pre-warp. Seven: Obviously they can't help us. Chakotay: No, I don't suppose they can. But they're fascinating, aren't they? I never expected to run into people like these on such a technologically advanced planet. Seven: This isn't an anthropological mission, Commander. Chakotay: You're right. We should keep searching for debris. Argh! Seven: You're developing an infection. You should rest. Chakotay: I'll have to stay here and try to keep out of sight. Seven: I'll contact you if I find anything useful. Chakotay: I guess I don't have to tell you to avoid interacting with these people. Seven: Seven of Nine to Chakotay. Seven: Seven of Nine to Chakotay. Seven: Commander, respond. I've found something. Seven of Nine to Chakotay. Seven: Step away from him. Chakotay: It's all right, Seven. They're friendly. They're treating my wound. Seven: You said we were supposed to avoid interaction. Chakotay: They found me. There was nothing I could do. Seven: You should have tried to contact me. Chakotay: I didn't want to expose them to our technology. Seven: You hid your comm. badge? Chakotay: Actually, your call scared them. They broke it. Seven: I suggest we leave before they break anything else. Chakotay: Look, they're friendly, and I am hurt. Seven: What are you suggesting? Chakotay: We may as well stay the night. Seven: Commander. Chakotay: It's good shelter. And my leg feels better since they put this dressing on. I'm going to get some rest. I suggest you do the same. Kim: Chell says we shouldn't miss the Flame Gardens. Neelix: I hear the arboretum is beautiful, too. Torres: We can do both. Kim: Tom. You joining us? Oh, that's right, you have to go to pilot school. Torres: I hear the course takes days. Paris: Yeah, for most people. But I did a little research. If the instructor agrees, you can skip the lessons and go right to the test. So I will be seeing you in a couple of hours. Neelix: You have to admire his optimism. Operator: Just a moment, sir. Kleg: I am Mister Kleg, the flying instructor. Are you Lieutenant Paris? Kim: He is. Paris: It's an honor to meet you, sir. May I show you to the Delta Flyer? Kleg: Why? Paris: So you can explain what I did wrong, and then administer the test. Kleg: It sounds to me like you need lessons in patience as well. Torres: Oh, Tom is very patient, sir. Neelix: Never impulsive. Kim: Take all the time you need. He'll enjoy the extra attention. Kleg: Well, I'm please to hear it. We'll start with a review of safety procedures. Do you have a visual display system I can access? Paris: I think I can find one. Torres: Have fun. Kim: Energize. Paris: So how long will this review take? Kleg: Oh, typically about four hours. But there's no rush. Paris: Of course not. Chakotay: River. Chakotay: River. Chakotay: Mountain. Chakotay: Mountain. Chakotay: Where are we? Chakotay: This? Chakotay: You want to trade? Well, I suppose it won't hurt. Chakotay: I'll take that as a thank you. Seven: Did you make a favorable exchange? Chakotay: I didn't want to insult their customs. Any luck? Seven: I may have found a way of communicating. Chakotay: Me too. I've learned to say thank you. Seven: I was referring to communication with Voyager. It may be possible to construct a beacon by connecting these components to the shuttle's deflector. Chakotay: Did you find it? Seven: I detected it six kilometers from here. I believe it's intact. Chakotay: I'm not sure I'm up to that long a trip. Seven: I'll go. Chakotay: I've started mapping the area. Here's the river we passed. This is where we beamed down. And we're here now. Seven: Then the deflector should be approximately here. Chakotay: Six kilometers is a long way. Maybe one of them could guide you. Seven: I'm still trying to limit our contact with these people. Chakotay: The sooner you get to the deflector, the sooner we can get out of here. They know the terrain. Maybe they can get you there faster. Seven: And watch me construct a tetrion-based signaling device. Chakotay: All right, but be careful. Seven. This is how they say goodbye. Chakotay: Thank you. Chakotay: Hello. Seven: Identify yourself. Seven: An exothermic reaction. Seven: I'm not hungry. Kleg: Inadequate system integration. Visibility impaired by lateral sensor array. Insufficient console accessibility. Paris: You know, I couldn't agree more. Those are some of the defects that led to my so-called pilot error. Kleg: Polarity thrusters? Oh, they've been known to cause accidental acceleration. Paris: Exactly my point. Why should I be held responsible for the ship's design flaws? Kleg: According to the maintenance records, you were this vessel's chief designer. I make it a point of professional pride to research every case I'm assigned to. Are you familiar with that term, Lieutenant? Professional pride? Paris: Yes, sir. In fact, that is why I'm so eager to get underway. I want to prove to you that I'm a good pilot. Kleg: There are protocols, Mister Paris. System by system diagnostics, pre-flight simulations. Paris: You must have other students who need your attention. It wouldn't be fair to Kleg: Don't worry, Lieutenant. I'm planning to spend as much time with you as you need. Seven: Good morning. Seven: I'm trying to go here. Seven: Can you show me? Seven: Yes. I thought it was this way. Seven: Yes, it's quite an impressive view. Now we really have to Chakotay: My friend, she hasn't come back. I need to find her. Chakotay: She looks like this. Where? Chakotay: Where'd you get this? Chakotay: My friend. Where? Seven: Don't touch that! Please. Janeway: Problem? Tuvok: Commander Chakotay failed to report in at the scheduled time. We tried hailing, but there was no response. Kim: We contacted the conference coordinator. He said Seven and Chakotay never showed up. Janeway: Anything on sensors? Kim: We've located a hull signature over the southern subcontinent, but it's only a wing. Janeway: Nothing else? No lifesigns? Kim: No, ma'am. Janeway: That's awfully low for something to be in orbit. Tuvok: It's not in orbit. It's resting on an energy barrier. Kim: We think the shuttle may have collided with it. Janeway: Why didn't they see it? Tuvok: Standard scans didn't reveal its presence. We were only able to detect it with our Borg sensors. Janeway: If all you found was a wing, maybe the rest of the shuttle made it through the barrier. Tuvok: Logic suggests that possibility. Unfortunately, the barrier's deflecting all our scans. There's no way to know if the shuttle or its occupants are on the other side. Janeway: Hail the Ledosian ambassador. Ambassador: We'd have warned your Commander, but his flight plan didn't go anywhere near that area. Janeway: He must have altered his route for some reason. Ambassador: And collided with the barrier. I'm sorry. Janeway: We're not assuming they're dead. Tuvok: We believe they may have found a way through. Ambassador: That's very unlikely. Janeway: They're resourceful people. Can you tell us anything about the barrier? Ambassador: It shields the territory of an indigenous society, the Ventu. Janeway: Then the area's habitable. If you lowered the barrier, we could scan for our people's lifesigns. Ambassador: I'm afraid we can't do that. Janeway: Why not? Ambassador: It was erected by aliens hundreds of years ago. They haven't been back. The technology is a mystery to us. Tuvok: Why did these aliens build the barrier? Ambassador: To protect the Ventu. Janeway: From whom? Ambassador: Us. Our ancestors fought them, polluted their habitat. I'm afraid we weren't very enlightened back then. Janeway: Earth went through its dark periods too, Ambassador. Would you have any objections if we tried to lower the barrier, just to scan for our people? Ambassador: I told you, it's not possible. Tuvok: Perhaps if you gave us information about the barrier's power source? Ambassador: The generator is inside. There's no way to access it. Even if your people did survive, I'm afraid there's no way to get them out. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54827.7. Although the Ledosians are skeptical, they're allowing us to try to locate our people. Meanwhile, we've begun to analyze the shuttle fragment. Torres: The burn patterns suggest a tetrion flux. Tuvok: We found a reference to similar technology in Seven's Borg database. Janeway: You think the Borg erected it? Tuvok: No, but it may have been constructed by people they later assimilated. Species three one two. Janeway: If Seven were here, she might be able to figure out a way to get through it. Torres: Maybe she already did. Some of the damage to the wing was caused by feedback from the shuttle's phasers. Janeway: Seven and Chakotay might have used them to penetrate the barrier for some reason. Tuvok: If I can determine the appropriate frequency, I may be able to do the same thing. But there is risk involved. Janeway: What sort of risk? Torres: It looks like the feedback from the barrier is what destroyed the shuttle. If we're not careful the same thing could happen to Voyager. Seven: May I see those? Chakotay: Seven, is everything all right? Seven: I need your tricorder. Chakotay: Nice to see you, too. Seven: I lost mine. There's a strong magnetic field here that's preventing me from generating a deflector beam. But the field drops off approximately four point eight kilometers in that direction. Chakotay: Can you transmit the signal from there? Seven: Not through the barrier, but I may be able to neutralize it by generating a dampening field with our deflector. Chakotay: Even if you're right, this must weight five hundred kilos. How would we move it? Seven: Some of them could help us. Chakotay: We shouldn't involve them. Seven: Do I detect a change in attitude, Commander? Chakotay: Your concern was justified. They've been gathering debris from the shuttle, using it to imitate us. I don't want them helping. Seven: What's the alternative? Staying here? Allowing them to find all of the debris? If we neutralize the barrier, Voyager can transport us and our technology off the surface. Chakotay: Is there a possibility that this dampening field could disrupt the barrier permanently? Seven: Unlikely. Once the deflector is deactivated the barrier should reinitialize. Chakotay: Let's hope you're right. Kleg: So you can execute a turn at less than three hundred kph. Well done, Lieutenant. Paris: Thanks. You know, I don't want to seem impatient again, but is there any way you'd let me take that test now? Kleg: I thought I'd made myself clear about that. All my students complete the entire course. Paris: I understand, sir, but two of my friends are missing, and I'd like to help find them. Kleg: Well, that's an admirable sentiment. But if I give you special treatment it wouldn't be fair to the others who have to take this course. Besides, why stop now? You're getting very close to becoming an adequate pilot. Seven: Here, Commander. Seven: Not so close. Kim: Phasers are starting to overload. Janeway: Can we divert any more power to the shields? Tuvok: The shields are amplifying the feedback. Torres: The barrier's interfering with every system we activate. Janeway: Cease fire. I'm open to suggestions. Tuvok: We may be able to reconfigure a photon torpedo to detonate at the appropriate frequency. Janeway: What about feedback? Tuvok: A torpedo shouldn't create any. Theoretically. Janeway: Do it. Seven: They're too close. Chakotay: Back, behind the rise. Stay back. Kim: The energy barrier's coming down. Janeway: I thought you were still reconfiguring the torpedo. Tuvok: I am. It's being deactivated from the inside. Janeway: Harry, scan for lifesigns. Kim: Aye, Captain. Seven: Take it off! Kim: I'm only reading one comm. badge. It's Seven's. Janeway: Open a channel. Janeway to Seven. Janeway: Are you and Chakotay all right? Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Stand by for transport. Seven: Lock on to Commander Chakotay. I need more time. Janeway: Is there a problem? Seven: Someone's been injured. She requires medical attention. Janeway: Do you need the Doctor? Seven: I believe I can treat her. A medkit would be useful. Janeway: Acknowledged. Captain's log, supplemental. Seven has remained on the surface to tend to the injured Ventu girl, while Chakotay is being treated in Sickbay. Emh: The poultice healed the fracture and the infection. I'm impressed. Chakotay: They're impressive people. I just hope we haven't traumatized them. Janeway: You did what you had to do to get out of there. Chakotay: Still, I think we transport all the shuttle debris back to Voyager as soon as possible. Janeway: Agreed. Seven: Would you like some breakfast? I'm not hungry either. Seven: I admire your curiosity, but you should be more careful. It's time for me to leave. Seven: Back to my home. Seven: That's very kind, but I have no use for it. I supposed I should respect your customs. Thank you. Barus: These botanical specimens indicate a high level of serum nitrates. Barus: Catalog those foliates. Seven: Explain your presence here. Barus: Oh. You must be from Voyager. Seven: Who are you? Barus: My name is Barus. I'm the expedition leader. Seven: What kind of expedition are you leading? Barus: We're conducting scans to evaluate the potential of this habitat. Seven: Potential for what? Barus: Anthropological research, resource development. We've been waiting years for this. Seven: What about the people who live here? Barus: We'll help them, of course. Seven: How? Barus: With medicine, infrastructure, education. Whoever lowered this barrier did the Ventu a great favor. Chakotay: That barrier has to go back up. Seven: Isn't it possible the Ledosians will improve the lives of the Ventu? Chakotay: Improve them? How? Seven: They're intelligent people. Exposure to education and technology may give them better opportunities. Chakotay: Can you honestly say that you know what's better for them? Seven: No, I can't. Janeway: Then what do you think we should do? Seven: I'm uncertain. Janeway: It's not like you to be on the fence. Seven: When Commander Chakotay and I first encountered the Ventu, I found them primitive, of little interest to me. But as I spent time with them, I came to realize that they're a resourceful, self-reliant people. Their isolation may limit their potential, but if that isolation ends, so will a unique way of life. Ambassador: We appreciate your help in opening this territory to exploration, Captain. It's an unprecedented opportunity. Janeway: A short-lived opportunity, I'm afraid. Ambassador: I don't understand. Janeway: After I transport our deflector back to Voyager, the energy barrier will go back up. Tuvok: Naturally, you'll want to get your people out, so they won't be trapped inside as ours were. Ambassador: You have no right to limit our access to our own territory. Janeway: I'm not trying to do that, but we have a strict policy about leaving our technology in the hands of other cultures. It often has damaging consequences. Ambassador: I don't think you realize how important this is. It's not only the resources that interest us. The Ventu are our evolutionary ancestors. Our living history. Janeway: I understand this is disappointing for you, but I'm afraid I have no choice. Ambassador: In the spirit of cooperation, I hope you'll reconsider. Janeway: We're eager to resume course. Would an hour be enough time to evacuate your people? Ambassador: I'll make the arrangements.(Later -_ Kim: We've transported all the remaining debris to the Cargo Bay. Seven: I have a lock on the deflector assembly. Janeway: What is it? Tuvok: There's a Ledosian vessel on an intercept course. It's charging weapons. Janeway: Shields! Tuvok: Direct hit to the transporters. They're offline. Janeway: Get a weapons lock and hail them. Kim: They're hailing us. Ambassador: Captain Janeway. Janeway: What's going on? Ambassador: Our government has decided not to let you restore the barrier. Janeway: And that justifies an unprovoked attack? Ambassador: We only targeted your transporters to avoid harming your crew. I hope you'll show the same restraint. Janeway: I don't find weapons fire of any kind restrained. Ambassador: If you want to avoid further conflict, I suggest you leave. Janeway: Take us out of orbit. Chakotay: What about the deflector? Janeway: Is Tom still in the Flyer? Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Hail him. Kleg: Excellent, Mister Paris. Now, come about slowly. Janeway: Janeway to Paris. Respond. Kleg: Captain, I'd appreciate it if you didn't interrupt my student during his examination. Janeway: I'm sorry Janeway: But something's come up. Paris: What is it, Captain? Janeway: Tom, I'm sending you some encrypted orders. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Kleg: This is highly irregular. Kleg: You're going much too fast. Paris: Yes, sir. I'm in a bit of a hurry. Kleg: If you have any desire to pass this test, you will reduce your speed immediately. Paris: I wish I could do that, sir. I really do. Kleg: What was that? Paris: Paris to Voyager. Paris: I'm under attack. Janeway: Give him some help, Mister Tuvok. Barus: What have you done? Paris: We had to get you out of there before we close the barrier. Barus: You can't do that. Paris: Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Paris to Voyager. I've got them. Chakotay: Find the deflector. Paris: I'm getting a lock on it now. Paris: My transporters are offline. Janeway: You'd better get out of there, Tom. Paris: Not yet. Paris: I've got an idea. Kleg: I am sorry to inform you, Mister Paris, but you have failed this examination. You will no longer be allowed to operate a vessel within Ledosian space. Paris: Something tells me that's not going to be a problem. Chakotay: This is a beautiful blanket. Seven: Take it if you'd like. I don't need it. Chakotay: If environmental systems ever go down, you might get cold. You know, I Seven: I'd like to Chakotay: You first. Seven: Please, continue. Chakotay: In all the excitement, I never apologized. Seven: For what? Chakotay: Causing you to miss that conference. Seven: As a matter of fact, I wanted to thank you for that. Chakotay: I thought you were angry. Seven: I was, but you were right. Warp Mechanics can be studied any time. The Ventu, on the other hand. Chakotay: Something's still bothering you? Seven: I'm concerned for their well-being. Chakotay: They know how to take care of themselves. Seven: That's not what I mean. Members of the Ledosian expedition had the opportunity to scan my deflector modifications. In time, they may find a way to duplicate our technology and remove the barrier themselves. Chakotay: I supposed it's possible. Seven: If I'd never made those modifications Chakotay: We might still be stranded there. I don't know about you, but I'm glad to be back on Voyager. Seven: As am I.

Torres: Now, these are delicious. Kim: Leave some for the rest of us. Torres: Hey, I'm eating for two. Paris: Great party, Neelix. Neelix: Everybody seems to be enjoying it. Paris: Yeah, except the Doc. Neelix: Those are for eating, not scanning. Emh: What exactly are they? Neelix: Cheese pirogues. Zefram Cochrane's favorite. Emh: They have absolutely no nutritional value. Neelix: This is a party, Doctor. Sometimes you have to forget about nutrition. Emh: You could include a vitamin supplement when you replicate them. Neelix: Replicate? I made them myself. Janeway: You two have outdone yourselves. I've never seen First Contact Day celebrated quite like this. When I was your age, all it meant was a day off from school. Naomi: Neelix and I thought we should make it more fun. Janeway: Well, you certainly succeeded. Naomi: When is Commander Tuvok making his presentation? Neelix: Well, now's as good a time as any. Captain? Neelix: May I have everyone's attention, please? In honor of the three hundred and fifteenth anniversary of his ancestors' arrival on Earth, I've asked Mister Tuvok to recite the first words spoken to humans by a Vulcan. Commander. Tuvok: Is this really necessary? Neelix: You promised. Tuvok: Very well. Live long and prosper. Neelix: And now, for some more of Zefram Cochrane's favorite music. Hey, come on, Mister Vulcan. Tuvok: Vulcans do not dance. Neelix: But it's tradition. Tuvok: There is no tradition, Mister Neelix. This ceremony is entirely your invention. Janeway: This is an official ship function, Commander. Don't make me order you to dance. Chakotay: Sorry to interrupt, but I've got some interesting news. Neelix, you might want to hear this. Long range sensors have detected several hundred lifesigns approximately four point nine light years away. They're Talaxian. Neelix: Are we there yet? Janeway: Not exactly. The lifesigns appear to be coming from inside that asteroid field. Neelix: From a ship? Tuvok: We are not detecting any vessels. Neelix: No response from hails? Kim: Not yet. Neelix: I hope they're all right. Chakotay: There's a lot of interference. Maybe they haven't received our transmissions. Neelix: Can we move in any closer? Paris: Voyager's too big to maneuver safely in there. We could take the Flyer. Neelix: It wouldn't have hurt you to do a few steps. Tuvok: I am trying to concentrate on the shields, Mister Neelix. Neelix: I think you were just afraid. Tuvok: That's absurd. Neelix: It's understandable. There were a lot of people watching. Tuvok: Vulcans don't experience fear. Neelix: I'm going to make it my personal mission to get you to dance at least once before we reach Earth. Tuvok: Then I suggest you find a more productive hobby. Paris: If you two don't stop it, I'm going to come back there and separate you. Tuvok: I've localized the lifesigns, bearing one zero eight mark twenty six. They appear to be inside a large asteroid. Neelix: Inside? Neelix: What was that? Tuvok: A thermalyte explosive, thirty point six kilometers to port. I'm detecting another projectile heading directly toward us. Evasive maneuvers. Tuvok: We've lost shields. Paris: Main propulsion is offline. We're going to have to make an emergency landing. Neelix: Where? Paris: The Talaxians' asteroid is the closest. Tuvok: The surface is covered with craters, ice fields. Paris: We don't have a choice. Hold on. Janeway: Problem? Seven: We've lost contact with the away team. I also detected some unusual energy discharges in the asteroid field. Janeway: What kind of discharges? Seven: It's difficult to tell because of the interference, but they appear to be thermalytic explosions. I believe several of them were in close proximity to the Flyer. Janeway: Source? Seven: Unknown. Janeway: We'll need to send a rescue team. Work with B'Elanna. Try to modify the shields on one of the shuttles to withstand these explosions. Dexa: Stay still. Don't worry, it's not serious. Neelix: Am I inside the asteroid? Dexa: Yes. This is my home. Neelix: Where are my friends? Dexa: If you mean the aliens who were on the ship with you, they're safe. Neelix: I'd like to see them. Dexa: You need to rest. What were you doing in the asteroid field? Neelix: Looking for you. Well, not you specifically. But my ship detected Talaxians. I haven't come across any in years, so. I'm sorry, I'm Neelix. Dexa: Dexa. I had an uncle named Neelix. Are there other Talaxians on your ship? Neelix: I'm the only one. Dexa: Why are you living with aliens? Neelix: They're my friends. Did you receive our hails? Dexa: Yes. Neelix: Why didn't you respond? Dexa: We avoid contact with outsiders. Neelix: We were attacked. There were explosions. Did you? Dexa: No. We're not violent. Neelix: Who fired at us? Dexa: No one fired at you. There are miners who use explosive charges to break apart the asteroids so they can collect minerals from the debris. Neelix: I wish we'd known. Dexa: Why were you carrying weapons? Neelix: It's standard procedure for an away mission. Hello. What's your name? Brax: Brax. What's yours? Dexa: I told you not to come in here. Brax: I just want to see him. Dexa: You're supposed to be helping Oxilon. Brax: He doesn't look dangerous to me. Neelix: I think you have the wrong idea about us. Dexa: I'm not supposed to be talking to you at all. Neelix: I'm feeling better. I'd like to see my friends now. Neelix: What are you doing? Dexa: I've been told not to let you leave. Janeway: Harry? Kim: Still no response to hails. Janeway: Janeway to the shuttlebay. Seven: Go ahead, Captain. Janeway: What's the status of the shield modifications? Seven: Lieutenant Torres and I will be finished in a few minutes. Janeway: Good. Take an away team and find them. Kim: Captain, there's a ship approaching from astern. We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Nocona: Identify yourselves. Janeway: I'm Captain Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. Nocona: Commander Nocona. This is our asteroid field. Janeway: We weren't aware of that. Nocona: Now you are. Janeway: We lost one of our shuttles inside the field. We're preparing to send a rescue team. Nocona: All the resources belong to us. Janeway: We're not interested in the resources. We were only trying to make contact with the Talaxians. Nocona: What's your interest in them? Janeway: One of my crewmen is from Talax. He was eager to meet some of his people. Nocona: You should have requested permission before sending in a shuttle. We have a mining operation in progress. Chakotay: Does that explain the explosions we detected? Nocona: Mining charges. Janeway: We'd appreciate it if you'd stop using them until we can get our people out. Nocona: I'm sorry. We're on a strict deadline. But I'll conduct a search for your crew. If they need help, we'll provide it. Janeway: That's kind of you, but we're prepared to go in and get them ourselves. Nocona: I cannot guarantee your safety if you enter the asteroid field. Stay here. We'll contact you when we find your people. Neelix: I don't think you're supposed to be here. Brax: This is my home. You can't tell me what to do. Neelix: No, of course not. I just don't want you to get in trouble. Is that a model ship? What's it called? How about The Two-Tailed Talchok? The Fur Fly? The ship I come from is called Voyager. Brax: Is it big? Neelix: And fast. Brax: Can I see it? Neelix: I think it would be a little difficult to take you there while I'm stuck here. But if your mother would let me out Brax: That's her. Neelix: You better hide. Brax: You won't tell her I'm here? Neelix: No, of course not. Dexa: Neelix, this is Oxilon, our council regent. Neelix: I wish I could say it was nice to meet you, but this wasn't exactly the welcome I was expecting. Oxilon: You're free to go now. Neelix: What about my friends? Oxilon: We've determined they aren't hostile. They've been treated for their injuries and asked to leave. Dexa: They're aboard your shuttle making repairs. I'll take you there. Neelix: Well, now that everything has been cleared up, maybe we could talk, get to know each other a little. Oxilon: If you like. Neelix: My friends, too? Oxilon: I'm sorry. Neelix: Why not? Oxilon: We've learned from experience to keep to ourselves. Neelix: Well, if they're not welcome, I'm not staying either. Oxilon: That's your choice. Dexa: I know Oxilon seems overly cautious, but we're not used to having visitors. Neelix: How many of you live here? Dexa: Close to five hundred. All of our homes are connected to the central cabin by tunnels and lifts. They allow us to easily move from one section of the asteroid to another. Neelix: It must have taken years to build all of this. Dexa: Almost five. It still isn't finished. Neelix: Where did the technology come from? Dexa: We arrived here with a caravan of six ships. We disassembled all but one of them and modified their components. We converted torpedo launchers to blast away rock and excavate these tunnels. These conduits run into the asteroid's core. We use geothermal energy to melt the ice that covers most of the outer surface. It provides us with oxygen and water. Neelix: Who'd have imagined all of this inside an asteroid? Your son seems like a wonderful boy. Dexa: How would you know? You only met him for a few seconds. Neelix: True, but I'm a quick judge of character. Dexa: He came to see you while I was out, didn't he? Neelix: You can't blame him for being curious. Dexa: Hmm. He's a lot like his father. No fear. Neelix: I'd like to meet your husband. Dexa: He's dead. Neelix: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to Dexa: It's all right. You didn't know. Paris: Neelix. Are you all right? Neelix: I'm fine. Dexa, this is Lieutenant Paris, and Commander Tuvok. Paris: Thanks for bringing him back. We were getting worried. Neelix: It was nice to meet you. Neelix: So, what can I do to help? Paris: You can give me a hand with this plasma manifold. How did it go? Neelix: Well, er, they didn't exactly send out a welcoming committee, but I'm sure they had their reasons. I guess my expectations were a little high. Tuvok: I regret that you didn't have a more fulfillling experience. Neelix: That's nice of you to say, Commander, but it wasn't a complete waste of time. I got to meet some of my people again, even if it was a short visit. Who knows, it's probably the last time I'll ever see another Talaxian. Paris: Good work. Now we need to run a systems Computer: Intruder alert. Paris: At least we know internal sensors are working. Neelix: Brax. Tuvok: You know him? Neelix: We're old friends. Brax: You said you'd take me to see Voyager. Neelix: I don't think your mother would approve. Brax: You won't tell her I was here, will you? Neelix: Here? I, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'll be right back. Oxilon: Three days isn't nearly enough time for us to dismantle all our equipment. Nocona: Then you should have begun the first time we asked. We can't wait any longer. Demolition of the asteroid is going to start whether you're here or not. Dexa: You'd kill us? Nocona: We don't want to hurt anyone, but our patience has run out. Oxilon: We've only got one ship. There won't be enough room for any of our belongings. Nocona: It's not our fault you took apart your other vessels. Dexa: You can't do this. Oxilon: Dex, don't provoke him. Dexa: Where are we supposed to go? Nocona: I'm sure you'll find a home somewhere. Dexa: This is our home. You have no right to make us go. Brax: Leave her alone! Nocona: Bring him here! Neelix: Don't touch him! Miner: Are you going to stop me? Neelix: You've said what you've come to say. Now I suggest you leave. Nocona: You have three days to evacuate. Dexa: You can see now why we're suspicious of outsiders, Oxilon: Thank you for protecting the boy, but I'm afraid your actions might make things worse. Dexa: How could they get any worse? Oxilon: Fighting back has never done anything but cause us more trouble. Dexa: And what has running away ever done for us? Oxilon: It's kept us alive. Dexa: Maybe it's time we stayed and defended ourselves. Will you help us? Neelix: I agree with Oxilon. Fighting isn't the answer. But I'll try to help. Dexa: How? Neelix: Well, we could talk to my captain. Maybe she can negotiate with the miners, get them to agree to let you stay. Oxilon: Your captain would be willing to do that? Neelix: The best thing would be for you to come to Voyager. Talk to her yourself. Brax: I want to go too. Dexa: Shush, Brax. Neelix: Why don't you both come? I've seen your home. I'd like you to see mine. Neelix: Commander Chakotay, I'd like you to meet Dexa And Brax. Chakotay: Welcome to the bridge. Neelix: And this is Ensign Kim. Brax: What's this? Neelix: This is an Engineering station, and over there is Tactical, and down there is the helm. And this is the Captain's chair. Brax: Which station is yours? Neelix: Well, actually, I don't have a specific, er, I'm more of a Kim: Neelix does too many things to have just one station. He's our Ambassador, morale officer Chakotay: Trade negotiator. Without a doubt, he's the most versatile member of our crew. Seven: As you can see, our sensors are extremely precise. We can scan for life signs light years away. Neelix: That's how we found you. Seven: I have something else that may interest you. Brax: What is it? Dexa: Talax. You can scan that far away? Seven: No, this image is from our database. Dexa: It's as beautiful as I remember. Neelix: There's the Godo mountain range. Dexa: And the Axiana Lakes. That was always one of my favorite places. Neelix: Mine too. Brax: Why don't we just go back to Talax? We could live there. Dexa: It's still controlled by the Haakonians. They don't treat Talaxians very well. That's why we left. Brax: Maybe Neelix could go with us, and we could fight them. Take the planet back. Neelix: If tomorrow's negotiations go well, you won't have to go anywhere. Neelix: Next stop, Engineering. Brax: The warp core. Naomi: Neelix. Neelix: Naomi! I'm sorry, I forgot all about our Kadis-kot game. Naomi: That's all right. I know you're busy. I just wanted to meet your friends. Neelix: Of course. Dexa, Brax, this is my goddaughter, Naomi. Naomi: Hey. Dexa: You live on a beautiful ship. Naomi: Thanks. Maybe Brax would like to go to the holodeck. Neelix: That's a great idea. Naomi: Lieutenant Paris has a new program. Invaders from the Ninth Dimension. Neelix: Sounds scary. Naomi: Very. Brax: What's a holodeck? Naomi: Neelix is right. Might be too scary for you. Brax: I'm not afraid. Can I? Dexa: You're lucky to have found these people. They obviously think a great deal of you. Neelix: The feeling's mutual. Neelix: To the Axiana Lakes. Dexa: It really is delicious. Neelix: I've been saving it for fifteen years. I wasn't sure I'd ever open it, but tonight seemed like the right occasion. Would you like some more taga cake? Dexa: A little, please. I haven't had this in years. Neelix: I'm glad you like it. It's a family recipe. Dexa: You're a good cook. I haven't seen Brax this happy since his father was alive. Neelix: How did he? I'm sorry. You probably don't want to talk about it. Dexa: I don't mind. We'd settled on a planet call Phanos. There was a lot of unoccupied territory, but the government restricted us to a very small area. Neelix: Why? Dexa: They said it was a quarantine to protect the population from alien diseases. But it was just an excuse. We were outsiders. They didn't want us mixing with their people. It wasn't long before we realized we didn't have enough land to grow what we needed to feed ourselves. Oxilon said we'd just have to conserve our resources. But my husband was tired of being told what to do, so he started farming outside the restricted zone. Neelix: They didn't like that. Dexa: A security patrol confronted him. He told them he had to provide for his family, that he wasn't afraid of them. There was a fight. He was killed. Neelix: I'm sorry. Dexa: After that, we came here. We thought we'd finally found a place where no one would bother us. Neelix: Maybe this time it'll be different. Dexa: Maybe. But even if it isn't, thank you for trying. Neelix: I should get a good night's sleep if I'm going to be my best at the negotiations tomorrow. Dexa: Neelix? It's been a wonderful day. Janeway: Isn't there enough to mine here, without destroying their home? Nocona: Their home contains more than thirty percent of the field's ore. Without that asteroid, the operation isn't worth the expense. Neelix: Would you be open to some kind of compensation? Nocona: All we want are the minerals. Oxilon: And you'd kill us to get them. Neelix: Wait. The Talaxians have found a way to produce a lot of geothermal energy. Maybe they could share it with you. Nocona: What do you mean, share? Neelix: You could convert it into fuel to power your ships. Nocona: The energy they generate isn't compatible with our technology. Janeway: We'd be willing to help you make the modifications. Nocona: We have quotas to meet. We don't have time for that. Janeway: Commander, the future of more than five hundred people is at stake here. Naomi: And once, there was a transporter accident. Neelix and Commander Tuvok got combined to make a completely different person. Brax: Really? Naomi: You don't think I could make up a story like that, do you? Brax: Hello, Neelix. Naomi: Do you want to play Kadis-kot? Neelix: Maybe later. Dexa: I knew it wouldn't work. Neelix: We did get them to make a small concession. They've extended the deadline. You'll have enough time to dismantle your equipment. Dexa: Thanks, but there's too much to take with us. Neelix: Captain Janeway has agreed to ferry all of you and your supplies to the nearest M class planet. Dexa: Come on, Brax. We're going home. Brax: Why? Dexa: We have to pack. Come on. Brax: You said you were going to help us. Dexa: Brax. Tuvok: You wanted to see me. Neelix: I've detected five warp capable species within two light years of the planet where we're taking the Talaxians. I'm worried they might be vulnerable to attack. Tuvok: They would be vulnerable anywhere. Neelix: I thought maybe you could help me devise some defense strategies for their new home. Tuvok: Frankly, Mister Neelix, they don't seem inclined to defend themselves. Neelix: No, I suppose not. Tuvok: But if they were going to make a stand, their emotional attachment to their present home might be an asset. Neelix: Are you saying they should stay? Tuvok: I'm speaking hypothetically. Neelix: Hypothetically, if they wanted to defend the asteroid, how would they do it? Tuvok: To begin with they would need to establish some kind of perimeter. Neelix: You mean shields? Tuvok: Yes. The miners are monitoring the asteroid. If they detected the Talaxians erecting a shield, they would attempt to stop them. Neelix: I suppose so. Tuvok: Your people would need competent leadership to defend against a pre-emptive attack. Neelix: If you had the captain's permission, would you be willing to provide that leadership? Tuvok: Certainly not. It would be a violation of the Prime Directive. And even if it weren't, I don't believe that I am the person most qualified to assume that role. Neelix: You mean me? Tuvok: I am merely speaking hypothetically. Neelix: I couldn't lead those people, Mister Tuvok. I'm not a fighter. I'm just a cook who sometimes imagines himself to be a diplomat. Tuvok: On the contrary, Mister Neelix. You are much more than that. You are perhaps the most resourceful individual I have ever known. Neelix: I always thought you just tolerated me. Tuvok: You do have some annoying habits. However, during your time on Voyager you've developed many valuable skills. Skills that would serve you well if you ever decided to assume a leadership role. Neelix: You really think so? Tuvok: Let me be clear. I'm not urging you to do anything. I'm simply telling you that I believe that you are more than capable. Janeway: Going somewhere, Mister Neelix? Neelix: Just to see my friends. Janeway: Chakotay tells me you're using your own ship. Why not have Tom take you in the Flyer? Neelix: I didn't want to bother anyone. Janeway: You wouldn't be planning anything foolish, would you? Neelix: Whatever I do, I promise it won't involve Voyager. Janeway: That wasn't my question. Neelix: I know you have Prime Directive issues. But I'm not officially part of your crew, so I don't have the same constraints. Janeway: You're as much a part of this crew as anyone else. Neelix: Are you ordering me not to go? Janeway: That depends on what you're going to do. Neelix: It's up to the Talaxians. Janeway: Safe journey, Mister Neelix. Neelix: I know from personal experience that you have forcefield emitters. We could use them to establish a shield grid. We'd need to deploy a series of them on the asteroid's surface, along bisecting diameters. Sixteen emitters should be enough to form a grid. Oxilon: Even if you're right, it'd take weeks to dig that many tunnels to the surface. Neelix: Commander Tuvok suggested that we could modify the emitters so they could be fired from torpedo tubes on your ship and planted in the surface. Oxilon: As soon as the miners realized what we were doing, they'd attack. Neelix: I could provide cover from my ship. But you're right, we'd have to work quickly. Dexa: We could route power to the emitters directly from the core. They'd have a permanent energy supply. Neelix: Good idea. Oxilon: If we do what you're suggesting, people are going to be hurt. Neelix: This is your home. The miners have no right to force you out. Oxilon: I agree. But fighting? Neelix: I don't like it either but at some point you have to stand up for yourselves. How do you know there won't be someone else to terrorize you the next place you go? Dexa: You know he's right. Neelix: No one has worked harder to build this place than you. Isn't it worth defending? Neelix: Wait for my comm. call. As soon as the last emitter's in place, start routing power to the grid. Dexa: Understood. Neelix: You're scared, aren't you? Dexa: You? Neelix: Terrified. Dexa: Be careful. Neelix: I will. Oxilon: Oxilon to Neelix. The emitters are loaded. We're ready. Neelix: I'll see you soon. Neelix: Two more and we're done. Oxilon: Acknowledged. Oxilon: We're moving into position for the next one. Neelix: The miners' ship is on an intercept course. Evasive maneuvers. Oxilon: They're targeting our shields. Neelix: I'll deal with them. Neelix: Just focus on your job. All right, Mister Vulcan, let's see if you were right about me. Dexa: Neelix, you have to hurry. Neelix: Just one more emitter Neelix: And you can activate the shield. Neelix: Neelix to Oxilon. Neelix: My weapons are offline. Oxilon: We're not in position yet. Neelix: You have to get there. They're going to launch another charge. Dexa: Neelix, what are you doing? Neelix: Don't worry about me. Neelix: Just get ready to bring the grid online. Janeway: Delta Flyer to Neelix. Are you all right? Neelix: Fine, Captain. But you shouldn't be here. Neelix: You're violating the Prime Directive. Janeway: We're just helping a friend in distress. Dexa: Dexa to Neelix. The shield's holding. Dexa: You did it. Neelix: We did it. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54868.6. Commander Nocona seems to have given up his attempts to penetrate the Talaxians' shield. Voyager's ready to get underway, but we're giving Mister Neelix time to say a difficult goodbye to his new friends. Oxilon: We're grateful for everything you've done. Neelix: I'm just happy things worked out, and I'm glad that I could spend some time here with all of you. I'd better go. Brax: Stay here. Dexa: He can't, Brax. He has responsibilities on Voyager. Neelix: I promise I'll stay in touch as long as I can. Naomi: Come in. Neelix: Hi. Naomi: Neelix. Neelix: What are you working on? Naomi: A report on proto-humanoid cultures, for Commander Chakotay's paleontology class. Neelix: Need some help? Naomi: I'm almost finished. Neelix: Do you have time for a game of Kadis-kot? Naomi: I have to get up early. Neelix: I guess you'd better get to sleep then. Do you want me to tuck you in? Tell you a bedtime story? Naomi: You haven't done that in years. Neelix: Just think of all the stories you've missed. Naomi: Thanks, Neelix, but I can put myself to bed. I'm not a little girl anymore. Janeway: I didn't think anyone else stayed up this late. Neelix: I wouldn't want you to have coffee all by yourself. Janeway: Have a seat. Neelix: I've been thinking about something. It's a little hard to put into words, and I haven't really made a decision yet. And of course I would never ignore my responsibilities on Voyager. Janeway: Of course not. Neelix: I take them very seriously. Janeway: I know you do. I've been thinking about something, too. Maybe you could help me. Neelix: I'd be happy to. Janeway: It's an idea I'd need to talk to Starfleet Command about. Neelix: It must be important. Janeway: It is. Now that we've established two way communication with Earth, it seems to me Starfleet could use a permanent ambassador in the Delta Quadrant. This ambassador would have to stay in frequent contact with Voyager. Neelix: Certainly. Janeway: It would be difficult for me to run this ship without you, Neelix. But that might be a sacrifice I'd be willing to make for the greater good of Starfleet. Of course, the assignment would be entirely voluntary. You wouldn't be interested, would you? Janeway: Goodbye. And good luck, Ambassador. Tuvok: Mister Neelix. Tuvok: Live long, and prosper.

Emh: Questa o quella per me pari sono a quant'altre d'intorno mi vedo, del mio core l'impero non cedo meglio ad una che ad altre belta. La costoro avvenenza e qual dono di che ilfato ne infiora la vita. S'oggi questa mi torna gradita, forse un'altra, forse un'altra. Emh: Captain. Computer, pause music. I didn't wake you, did I? Janeway: That's all right, Doctor. Fifteen minutes of sleep is really all I need. Coffee, black. Maybe you should pay a little more attention to flying and a little less to singing. Emh: As a hologram, I can handle a variety of tasks at once. In addition to piloting the Flyer, I'm writing a paper on the physiological stresses of long duration space flight, and taking holo-images of this Mutara class nebula. Janeway: With a hologram on board, who needs a crew? Emh: I'd never admit this to anyone else, but there was a time when I would have given anything to be flesh and blood. But I've come to realize that being a hologram is far superior. Janeway: Really? Emh: No offense. I'll always enjoy the company of organics. In fact, I'm delighted you were able to attend this medical symposium with me. It's been a pleasure spending time with you. Actually, I was hoping we might do this sort of thing more often. Emh: Hmm. We're passing through a subspace eddy. Janeway: It could be the wake of another ship. Emh: No, there's nothing on sensors. It's probably just the gravimetric shear from the nebula. Janeway: Maybe I should take the controls. Emh: Sit down and relax, Captain. You've got a hologram at the helm. Torres: The plasma surges have to be coming from one of these relays. Try realigning the deuterium manifolds. Paris: Paris to Torres. Torres: Go ahead. Paris: Can you pull yourself away from engineering for a few minutes? I've got a shuttle down here with faulty deflector array. Torres: I'm a little busy right now. Paris: It's kind of urgent. Torres: What's this? Paris: Well, I thought you'd enjoy a romantic lunch under the glow of a red giant. Torres: Oh, you replicated potato salad. Paris: With extra paprika, just the way you like it. Torres: This is so sweet. But I can't. Paris: Sure you can. I've already cleared it with Chakotay. Torres: I told the captain I'd have the dilithium matrix recalibrated before she got back. Paris: You know, this might be our last chance to be alone for the next eighteen years. Torres: I will make some time before the baby comes, I promise. Oh, I've got to get back. Kim: Report. Ayala: There's some kind of pulse being directed at our transceiver array. It's coming from the Delta Flyer. Kim: Hail them. Ayala: No response. Kim: Looks like they've encoded the pulse with a comm. signal. Kim: Captain. Janeway: Sorry about the image, Ensign. Our comm. system's been damaged. The only way I could send you a signal was through the main deflector. Kim: Are you and the Doctor all right? Janeway: We're fine. Tell Commander Chakotay to meet me in my ready room as soon as we've docked. Janeway out. Chakotay: Harry tells me the Flyer took some damage. Janeway: That's an understatement. We almost didn't make it back in one piece. They're called the R'Kaal. Their technology is decades ahead of ours. Transphasic warp drive, multi-spectral cloaking systems. They could destroy this ship before our sensors knew they were there. Chakotay: They sound like people we should avoid. Janeway: I wish that were possible. They control thousands of parsecs from here to the edge of the Beta Quadrant. They're ecological extremists. They believe conventional warp engines damage subspace, so they've outlawed warp travel through their territory. Chakotay: Then we should reverse course and find a way around. Janeway: That's the problem. We've already been in their space for three weeks without knowing it. Chakotay: You'd think they'd mark their borders a little more clearly. Janeway: As punishment, their law demands that our ship be dismantled. Chakotay: Obviously we're not going to let that happen. Janeway: I spent three hours explaining our situation to their Supreme Archon, a thoroughly unpleasant man. I convinced him to spare Voyager, but at a price. We're going to rendezvous with their armada and surrender our warp core at a class M planet where they've agreed to let us settle. Chakotay: Settle? Janeway: I didn't make this decision lightly, Chakotay. Chakotay: We have to bring the senior staff in on this. We can find a way to evade their ships, or adapt our sensors to their cloaking technology. Janeway: We could try that, and we might make it past their armada, but we could lose a lot of people in the process. Maybe the entire ship. Chakotay: Kathryn, there's got to be another way. Janeway: I'm tired, Chakotay. Tired of casualty reports, of continually risking my people on the slim chance that we'll make it home in one piece. Chakotay: We've found our way out of worse situations. Janeway: Set a course. Chakotay: What am I supposed to tell the crew? Janeway: For now, I'd like to keep this between us. Chakotay: It's not like you to keep your people in the dark Janeway: I'll make an announcement when the time is right. Dismissed. Torres: Captain. Janeway: I'm sorry to interrupt, but I could use your input on a hypothetical scenario. Torres: Of course. Janeway: If we were to eject the core, could it be towed safely at warp? Torres: In theory. But a tractor beam might destabilize the containment field. You'd be risking a breach. Janeway: Could you compensate for that? Torres: You could configure the tractor emitters to generate a resonance pulse. That should stabilize the field. Janeway: Can you make those modifications to the Delta Flyer's tractor emitters? Torres: I suppose. Janeway: How long would it take? Torres: Er, a few hours. Janeway: Get started. Torres: I thought this was a hypothetical scenario. Janeway: We should be prepared, just in case. Torres: In case of what? Janeway: Let me know as soon as you're finished. Torres: Torres to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Torres: Have you got a minute? Chakotay: B'Elanna tells me you ordered some modifications to the Flyer. Janeway: That's right. Chakotay: Maybe I misunderstood. I thought the plan was to hand over the core when we reached the planet. Are we taking it somewhere else? Janeway: I heard you the first time. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: You've already made your concerns clear, Commander, but there's been a slight change of plans. Chakotay: Were you going to tell me? Kathryn, what's going on? Janeway: I don't feel well. I've got a headache. I'm going to my quarters and I'd prefer not to be disturbed. You have the bridge. Janeway: Not now. Tuvok: I beg your pardon, Captain? Janeway: Carry on, Commander. Chakotay: Chakotay to the Doctor. Emh: Go ahead, Commander. Chakotay: Report to Sickbay immediately. Chakotay: Something wrong with the turbolifts? Emh: You did say immediately. How can I help you? Chakotay: I'm concerned about the Captain. She doesn't seem to be feeling well. Emh: What's wrong? Chakotay: I'm not sure. She went to her quarters with a headache. Emh: I'll bring her an analgesic. Chakotay: I was wondering if this could be related to your encounter with the aliens. Emh: You think they harmed her? Chakotay: You tell me. What did they do to her? Emh: I'm not sure, exactly. The aliens took my program offline as soon as they boarded the Flyer. The captain reactivated me a few hours later and told me she'd been interrogated. Naturally, I examined her to make sure she was all right. Chakotay: Did you find anything unusual? Emh: I suppose I'm violating doctor-patient confidentiality by telling you this but, she was fine. Chakotay: I'd like you to give her a more thorough examination. Emh: Gladly. But you know how she feels about physicals. Chakotay: You can be very persuasive, Doctor. Contact me as soon as you're done. Emh: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Anything interesting on sensors this morning? Seven: Nothing extraordinary. A red giant and two G type stars, a Golorian trading vessel bearing one five six mark four. Chakotay: If there were a fleet of cloaked ships in the vicinity, could you devise a way to detect them? Seven: A cloaked fleet would generate significant subspace distortions. Why do you ask? Kim: Commander, we're receiving a transmission. Chakotay: Source? Kim: I'm having trouble pinpointing it. Should I notify the captain? Chakotay: No, she didn't want to be disturbed. Route the call here. Chakotay: I'm Commander Chakotay of the starship Voyager. Loth: This is Supreme Archon Loth of the R'Kaal Imperium. Why haven't you ejected your warp core as your captain agreed? Chakotay: We're en route to the planet you specified. We can't jettison the core until we get there. Loth: If we don't receive the core within ten hours, my armada will destroy your ship. This is your only warning. Chakotay: Work with Harry. I want to know the source of that transmission. Seven: Understood. Emh: Ah, Commander. You'll be relieved to know I've given the captain a clean bill of health. Chakotay: Did you run a neurological scan? Emh: Mmm hmm. Her brain activity and cognitive functions are completely normal. As far as I can tell she's perfectly fit, physically and mentally. Chakotay: Thank you, Doctor. Chakotay: Chakotay to the captain. Computer, locate Captain Janeway. Janeway: Computer, belay that. My quarters, now. Janeway: Really, Chakotay. Sending the Doctor to check up on me. Chakotay: I'm concerned. Janeway: Then why didn't you come to me directly? I thought we trusted each other. Chakotay: So did I. Something happened on that away mission that you're not telling me. Janeway: I've told you everything you need to know. Chakotay: You've consulted me on every major decision over the last seven years, except this one. Why? Janeway: There are some decisions a captain has to make on her own. Chakotay: I understand that, but every instinct tells me what you're doing is wrong. Don't you remember what happened on Lesik Prime? Janeway: I don't see how that's relevant. Chakotay: I think you do. Fifteen years ago, you were the lieutenant who was kept in the dark. If you hadn't questioned your captain's orders, the entire away team would have been lost. Janeway: This situation's entirely different. Chakotay: You never told me that story. I made it up. Chakotay to Tuvok. Janeway: I've erected a dampening field around these quarters. I'm sorry, Commander. Janeway: Computer, secure the doors and establish a level five dampening field around the morgue. Janeway: I can't do my job with the two of you constantly talking in my head. Emh: No. I'm not doing anything else until I speak with the captain. Fine. What's your encryption frequency? Emh: Captain, are you all right? Janeway: Doctor, listen to me. Under no circumstances are you to eject the warp core. Emh: If I don't do what they ask, they'll kill you. Janeway: I'm giving you a direct order. Stop what you're doing. Emh: I'm sorry, Captain. I can't obey that order. Janeway: Doctor, I want you to go to the bridge right now and alert Commander Tuvok. Zet: Put her behind the forcefield. Zet: We have another assignment for you. I've been going over the schematics of your vessel, and I'm intrigued by this bio-neural circuitry. I want you to bring us a series of these gel packs. Emh: The gel packs are integrated into the ship's systems. I can't just remove them without someone noticing. Zet: You've proven yourself to be very resourceful, Doctor. You'll find a way. Remember, we're monitoring your perceptual subroutines. We can see and hear everything. Tuvok: Tuvok to Chakotay. Zet: You know what will happen to her if you alert your crew. Emh: Go ahead. Tuvok: Are you all right, Commander? Emh: Just a scratchy throat. The Doctor's treating me now. Tuvok: Could you come to the Shuttlebay when you're finished? Emh: I'll be right there. Chakotay out. Computer, access the holodeck database and locate Commander Chakotay's holographic template. Download the physical parameters into my program. Chakotay: You wanted to see me? Tuvok: I've completed the diagnostic as you requested. The Flyer's comm. system is functioning normally. EMH- Chakotay: You find that unusual? Tuvok: The Captain did report that it was damaged Tuvok: During the attack by the R'Kaal. EMH- Chakotay: I'll have a talk with her. Did you find anything else out of the ordinary? Tuvok: No. Zet: Get out of there before you arouse suspicion. Chakotay: I'll be on the bridge if you need me. Nar: You're doing a wonderful job, Doctor. I'm just giving him a little encouragement. Zet: That's why I'm in command. Nar: If all goes well, we should have the warp core in less than six hours. He's making excellent progress. Janeway: That's exactly what he wants you to believe. Zet: What do you mean? Janeway: Did you really think you could outsmart a hologram? Nar: Everything appears to be normal. Janeway: How do you know you're not looking at a holographic projection? The Doctor isn't just a physician. His Emergency Command subroutines contain thousands of tactical scenarios. I wouldn't be surprised if Voyager was already on its way here. You do have an option. Leave me behind in an escape pod and I'll forget any of this ever happened. Nar: Maybe we should let her go. Zet: Are you delusional? It took months to plan this. We've already found a buyer for the warp core. Now you want to abandon everything? Nar: It's better than being sent to a rehabilitation center. Zet: We made our choice when we stole this vessel. I am not going back to the Hierarchy, and neither are you. She's just trying to trick you. A month from now, we'll be soaking in the mud baths of Eblar Prime. Trust me. Emh: Janeway to Torres. Torres: Torres here. Emh: I'm having a little trouble with my replicator again. Can you take a look at it? Torres: I'm still working on those modifications you asked for. I'll send somebody else. Emh: I'd consider it a personal favor if you'd do it yourself, Lieutenant. Torres: I'll be there in five minutes. Emh: Thank you. Janeway out. Computer, access Lieutenant Torres' holographic template and download the physical parameters into my program. EMH- Torres: Computer, access medical file Torres Three and update her holographic template. Vorik: Did you forget something, Lieutenant? EMH- Torres: I did, actually. Where do we keep the spare gel packs? Vorik: Locker gamma five. EMH- Torres: Of course. Gamma five. Vorik: On the upper level. EMH- Torres: I know where it is, Ensign. Paris: You left me no choice. EMH- Torres: Lieutenant. Paris: Oh? Are we calling each other by our rank now? EMH- Torres: Er, you startled me. Paris: Oh, sorry. Well, I thought since you didn't have time for lunch under the stars, maybe you'd settle for the glow of the warp core. EMH- Torres: How thoughtful, but I'm not hungry. Paris: Well, I'm sure the baby is famished. EMH- Torres: A pregnant woman shouldn't eat this kind of food. Do you want to give me an arterial occlusion? Paris: One drumstick isn't going to kill you. Besides, I won't tell the Doctor if you won't. EMH- Torres: You know, this all looks so delicious. Why don't we save it for a romantic dinner this evening? Paris: All right, nineteen hours. But if you're not there, I'm sending security after you. EMH- Torres: I'll be there. Sweetheart. Paris: Sweetheart? Well, aren't you getting affectionate in your third trimester. Paris: I'll see you later. Kim: Kim to Chakotay. Can you come to Astrometrics? EMH- Torres: Harry, I'll be right there. Chakotay out. Kim: The transmission was encoded with a false subspace signature. Seven: The signal didn't originate on another vessel. It came from inside Voyager. Kim: We traced it to holodeck two. EMH- Chakotay: Do you know who sent it? Kim: I'm on my way to check the access logs. EMH- Chakotay: I'll go with you. Kim: Whoever sent this transmission knew how to cover his tracks. The holodeck logs have been erased. EMH- Chakotay: Doesn't look like we'll get any answers here. Kim: I might be able to find some residual phototonic displacement. There we go. I think I can clarify the image with a recursive algorithm. Kim: Our alien's a hologram. The question is, who programmed him? EMH- Chakotay: Good work, Ensign. I'll take it from here. Kim: Wait a minute. I'm picking up two holographic signatures. It looks like a second image was superimposed over an existing template. I'll see if I can isolate the first image. (The EMH steps behind Kim and takes a hypo from his boot. The holographic image changes to the EMH, so EMH-Chakotay uses the hypo on Kim. He then stores Kim in the morgue and adds his comm. badge to the growing collection in his office. The EMH leans back and begins a playback of the Blue Danube Waltz before tapping some controls.) Zet: Doctor, what are you doing? Emh: If you don't mind Emh: I've had a stressful day. Emh: I'm extremely busy, Commander. Tuvok: This will only take a moment. I've been reviewing the communication logs. There's a diskrepancy I was hoping you could explain. Tuvok: At the precise moment the Flyer transmitted a deflector pulse, you apparently accessed Voyager's holographic database. Emh: I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about. Tuvok: Your access code was used to download the captain's physical parameters. Emh: Exactly what are you insinuating, Commander? Tuvok: Perhaps we should have a word with the captain. Emh: Fine. Tuvok: Computer, deactivate the EMH. Computer: EMH protocols are offline. Tuvok: Security to Sickbay. Remain where you are. Emh: You haven't forgotten I'm a hologram, have you? Tuvok: If necessary, I'll disable all of your holo-emitters. Emh: Computer, transfer the EMH to the mobile emitter. Tuvok: All hands, Red Alert. Security teams, apprehend the Doctor. Tuvok: Computer, open the holodeck doors. Computer: Unable to comply. Access to the holodeck has been restricted. Tuvok: Security override, Tuvok sigma four. Tuvok: Computer, end program. Computer: Unable to comply. Holodeck controls are offline. Tuvok: Tuvok to Engineering. Shut down power Tuvok: To Holodeck two. Torres: It looks like the Doctor's rerouted the power relays. It'll take a minute to bypass them. Tuvok: Doctor, I've reconfigured my phaser to disrupt your holo-matrix. Surrender yourself now. Tuvok: Tuvok to bridge. Tuvok: Can you locate the Doctor on the internal sensors? Paris: I'm not reading him. He must've masked his signature somehow. Tuvok: Try scanning for the polydeutonic alloy in his emitter. Shut down all Tuvok: Turbolifts and transporters. Paris: Acknowledged. Chakotay: Get your people out of here. The core's about to breach. Torres: I'm not detecting an overload. EMH- Chakotay: You're getting false readings. The Doctor's reprogrammed your sensors. Torres: All right, everybody out. Now! Move it! EMH- Chakotay: You too, B'Elanna. Torres: I might be able to stabilize the containment field. EMH- Chakotay: You're not putting your baby in danger. Go! Torres: You'd better be right behind me. Paris: Paris to Torres. I'm picking up the Doctor's emitter in your section. Torres: Where? Paris: Right next to the warp core. EMH- Chakotay: Computer, activate Emergency Command Hologram. Computer: All command codes have been transferred to the ECH. Emh: Prepare to eject the warp core. Authorization ECH omega four two. Torres: Doctor, don't do this. Computer: Warp ejection system enabled. Emh: Computer, eject the core. Emh: Computer, lock on to my mobile emitter and transport me to the Delta Flyer. Computer: Transporters are offline. Paris: Tuvok, we just lost main power Paris: And internal sensors are down. Tuvok: The Doctor has entered Jefferies tube one one alpha. Send a security team to the shuttlebay. Tuvok: Lieutenant? EMH- Torres: I think the Doctor's heading for the escape pods. EMH- Torres: You wouldn't shoot a pregnant woman, would you? Tuvok: Come with me, Doctor. Paris: Tuvok, someone's launching the Flyer. Paris: Tuvok! Nar: Ow! Janeway: You might try disconnecting the phase diskriminator. Nar: Ha! I've rebuilt dozens of these units, but I've never seen this configuration before. Do you know how I can stabilize the ion flow? Janeway: That looks like the charge inverter. Nar: Thank you. Janeway: You're welcome. Your ship must need a lot of replacement parts. Nar: Oh, those aren't for this ship. I've been collecting and repairing spare components for years. This is from an old impulse drive. Would you believe I found it sitting in a waste depository? I'll be able to find a buyer now that it's working. Janeway: These parts could be worth a small fortune. Nar: That's exactly what I think. I'm going to use my quarter of the profits to establish an outpost specializing in obsolete engine components. I'm certain there's a demand for them. Janeway: My Chief Engineer is always looking for spare parts. She might be interested in acquiring your entire inventory. Zet: Captain. Tut, tut, tut. You're not trying to take advantage of my subordinate, are you? No one's ever going to buy this junk. It's almost as useless as you. There's a ship approaching. Emh: This is the Delta Flyer. I've got the warp core Emh: But you're not getting it until you release the captain. Emh: Are you insane? You almost destabilized the core. Both of our ships would've been destroyed! Zet: This isn't a negotiation. Release your tractor beam, now. Emh: All right. Nar: It's in the cargo hold. Zet: Lower your shields and we'll beam your captain to you. Emh: Ready. Emh: We had an agreement! Zet: To spare your captain. As you can see, she's still alive. Janeway: Let the Doctor go. I'm the more valuable hostage. Zet: Actually, you're not. We'll leave you in the Vinry system. The inhabitants are mostly harmless. The Doctor will be working for us now. Emh: I'll do no such thing. Zet: I'm sure you'll feel differently after I make a few adjustments to your program. Nar: I had no idea he was going to do this. I'm sorry. Janeway: I hope you realize you've stranded Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. Emh: What did you expect me to do, let them kill you? Janeway: I expected you to follow my orders. Emh: You might as well have been ordering me to put a phaser to your head. Voyager can survive without a warp core, but not without a captain. Janeway: Now it doesn't have either. Chief Tactical Officer's log, stardate 54890.7. With internal sensors offline, I've had to order a section by section search for our missing crew members. Until main power is restored, Voyager remains immobilized and defenseless. Paris: They're just unconscious. Paris to Tuvok. I found them. Tuvok: It is logical to assume the Captain never returned from the away mission. Chakotay: Do you have any idea where the Flyer is? Tuvok: The Doctor masked his ion trail. Torres: Engineering to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Torres: We're ready to restart the impulse reactors. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Tuvok: It's playing on every comm. channel on the ship. Chakotay: Computer, pause music. Computer: Unable to comply. Chakotay: Didn't the Doctor play this at his recital last month? Tuvok: Yes. And as I recall, he performed the piece flawlessly. Chakotay: Maybe the recording was damaged by the power loss. Tuvok: Or perhaps the Doctor altered the music deliberately. Chakotay: Why would he do that? Seven: I performed a Fourier analysis on the recording. The harmonics have been modified. Kim: It could be a comm. frequency. Seven: Unlikely. There's no carrier wave. Paris: I could be wrong but, it looks like a warp signature. Kim: The power utilization curve would be about right. Chakotay: Try scanning for it. Seven: I'm detecting a matching signature. Distance, six point seven light years. Tuvok: We can't follow them at impulse. Chakotay: You and Tom take a shuttle. Emh: What are you doing? Janeway: If I can amplify your matrix, I might be able to disrupt the forcefield. Emh: I'm sorry I put us in this position, Captain. Janeway: You said you wanted us to spend more time together. Emh: This isn't what I had in mind. Maybe, if we get back to the ship, we could try socializing a little more. Janeway: This really isn't the place to be talking about this. Besides, I don't do a lot of socializing. Emh: You have meals with Commander Chakotay, and you play Velocity with Seven. Janeway: We're going to have to discuss this later. Nar: I need to upload your first assignment. Emh: You want me to infiltrate the Hierarchy's surveillance complex? Zet: The data stored there is worth a hundred warp cores. Emh: How do you expect me to get past the security perimeter? Zet: I'm glad you asked. EMH- Overlooker: I trust this won't be permanent. Nar: I've given you the rank of a Class One Overseer. You'll be able to walk into Central Command without anyone noticing. I've also uploaded several other holographic templates you might find useful. Janeway: What's wrong? Nar: I'm not certain. Zet: The compression algorithms are breaking down. Nar: I told you his program couldn't handle that much data. EMH-TORRES- Overlooker: What have you done to me? Paris: I'm detecting a human lifesign aboard. And a holographic signature. Tuvok: The vessel's weapons are polaron-based, and they have auto-regenerative shielding. Paris: We still have the element of surprise. Janeway: If you don't get him back to Voyager his matrix will be permanently damaged. EMH- Alien: Please do something. Nar: He won't be any use to us if he decompiles. Nar: Someone's boarded the Delta Flyer. They're moving away. Zet: Fire at both vessels. Tuvok: Now, Mister Paris. Nar: The shield generator isn't going to last. If we give them what they want, maybe they'll leave. Zet: Prepare to jettison their warp core. Nar: What are you doing? Zet: Arming a torpedo. If we detonate their core the blast wave should give us enough time to escape. Nar: That would kill them. EMH- Alien: Captain, get down! Tuvok: Lieutenant, lock a tractor beam onto the core and get it back to Voyager. Paris: Acknowledged. Zet: Nar, get this hologram off me. Nar: Guess this wasn't so useless after all. Nar: Are you still interested in acquiring my inventory? Torres: Computer, transfer the EMH back into the holodeck buffer. Janeway: Can you stabilize his matrix? Seven: Not until we purge the excess subroutines. Torres: There's more than a thousand teraquads of new data in here. Paris: How is he? Janeway: We're not sure yet. Emh: Captain, if I don't survive, I need you to do something for me. Janeway: You're going to be all right. Emh: If I'm not, when you reach Earth I want you to donate my emitter to the Daystrom Institute. They may be able to replicate it someday so that other holograms can know the freedom I've enjoyed. I've had something on my conscience for a long time. After I was first activated, I kept a record of what I considered to be your most questionable command decisions. It's in my personal database. I hope you'll delete the file without reading it. Mister Tuvok, I violated the most sacred trust between a physician and his patient. I told Mister Neelix about the cutaneous eruption you developed on your. That was indiskreet. I hope you can forgive me. Ensign, at your recital last month, I told Lieutenant Torres that your saxophone playing reminded me of a wounded targ. I should've put it more delicately. I'm sorry. Seven. Seven: You should remain still. Emh: You have no idea how difficult it's been, hiding my true feelings all these years, averting my eyes during your regular maintenance exams. Emh: I know you could never have the same feelings for me but I want you to know the truth. I love you, Seven. Seven: Your cognitive algorithms are malfunctioning. Emh: Goodbye, my friends. Speak well of me. Janeway: Is he Torres: No, I've got him. Emh: What happened? Torres: I deleted the extraneous subroutines. Emh: I'm not going to decompile? Janeway: You'll probably outlive us all. Paris: Doc, anything else you'd like to confess? Captain's log, stardate 54912.4. Lieutenant Torres has restored our warp drive in less than a week. The Doctor's dignity, however, might take a little longer. He hasn't left Sickbay once since he returned to the ship. Emh: Captain, do you, do you need medical attention? Janeway: No. You've been keeping to yourself lately. Your friends are worried about you. Emh: After my deathbed confession, I wasn't sure I had any friends left. I overstepped my bounds in documenting your command decisions. It happened a long time ago, before I considered myself to be a part of your crew. Janeway: Oh, I'm not here to make you grovel. I'm here to punish you for your insubordinate behavior. Emh: I understand. Janeway: You're hereby denied the use of your mobile emitter for six days. Since you haven't left Sickbay for a week, we'll call it time served. Emh: I appreciate the gesture, Captain, but I've got a lot of work to catch up on. Janeway: I'm sorry to hear that. I was hoping you might be free for a cup of coffee on the holodeck. I know a little sidewalk café in Buenos Aires. You said you wanted us to socialize more. Emh: I suppose Mister Paris can finish this. Janeway: Now, when you're on the holodeck with the captain, there are two rules you have to follow. Emh: I understand. Janeway: First, leave your rank at the door. Emh: Not a problem. The second? Janeway: No opera.

Newsreader: These should be familiar images to everyone who remembers the USS Voyager's triumphant return to Earth after twenty three years in the Delta Quadrant. Voyager captivated the hearts and minds of people throughout the Federation, so it seems fitting that on this, the tenth anniversary of their return, we take a moment to recall the sacrifices made by the crew. Corruption charges were brought today against a Ferengi Janeway: Computer, end display. Kim: Hello. Sabrina: What's your name? Kim: Harry. What's yours? Sabrina: Sabrina. Kim: Naomi's daughter? Sabrina: Ah ha. Kim: You've gotten so big. Sabrina: I don't remember you. Kim: I haven't come to one of these reunions in four years. Sabrina: Why? Kim: I've been on a deep space assignment. Sabrina: For four years? Kim: Compared to how long I was on Voyager, it seemed like a long weekend. Can you find your mother for me? Sabrina: Ah ha. Kim: I'd like to say hi. Janeway: Oops. Here you are, Captain. Kim: Thank you, Admiral. I haven't seen her since she was a baby. Janeway: It's amazing how fast you've all grown. Kim: How's Tuvok? Janeway: Not well. Kim: I thought maybe I'd go see him tomorrow. Janeway: Oh, that would be nice. Kim: I'm sorry I missed the funeral. I should have been there. Janeway: You were on a mission. Everyone understood. It's so good to see you, Harry. Paris: Doc! Emh: Mister Paris. Voyager's pilot, medic, and occasional thorn in my side. Where have you been hiding yourself? Paris: I've been busy. Emh: New holonovel? Paris: I'll make sure to get your input before I send it off to my publisher. Aren't you going to introduce me to your date? Emh: Mister Paris meet Lana, my blushing bride. Paris: You're married? Lana: Tomorrow is our two week anniversary. Paris: Well, congratulations. My invitation must have gotten lost in subspace.. Emh: Oh, you should be flattered. We took a page from your book and eloped. Lana: Joe has a real flair for romantic gestures. Paris: Joe? Emh: I decided I couldn't get married without a name. Paris: It took you thirty three years to come up with Joe? Emh: It was Lana's grandfather's name. Paris: Oh. Oh, so you're not a Lana: A hologram? No. Emh: Frankly, Mister Paris, I'm surprised you'd even ask. I thought we were beyond those sorts of distinctions. Paris: Are you kidding? I think it's great. I'm in a mixed marriage myself, remember? Emh: Speaking of which, where is that wife of yours? Torres: The High Council had a lot of questions. Janeway: What did you tell them? Torres: The truth, with a Klingon twist. I told them that my beloved former captain, who had saved my life many times in glorious battle, would be honored to submit Korath's House for consideration. Janeway: Do you think it will work? Torres: I'm just the Federation liaison, but I'd like to think I have some influence. You still haven't told me why you're trying to help Korath. Janeway: He's an old friend. Torres: Would this old friend have anything to do with the mission that you sent my daughter on? Janeway: Sorry, B'Elanna, but you know I can't talk about that. Torres: Couldn't you at least have waited until after the reunion? She really wanted to be here. Janeway: She'll be home soon, I promise. Barclay: May I have everyone's attention, please. Ten years ago tonight, this crew returned home from the longest away mission in Starfleet's history. Twenty three years together made you a family, one I'm proud to have been adopted by. Let's raise our glasses to the journey. All: To the journey. Janeway: And to those who aren't here to celebrate it with us. Barclay: Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Borg. Barclay: Over the course of this term, you're going to become intimately familiar with the Collective. You'll learn about the assimilation process, the Borg hierarchy, and the psychology of the hive mind. And when it comes to your performance in this class, my expectations are going to be no different than the Borg Queen herself. Perfection. This semester, we are very fortunate to have a special guest lecturer. The woman who literally wrote the book on the Borg. Admiral Kathryn Janeway. Janeway: Thank you, Commander. I'm glad to be here. A question already, cadet? Cadet: I suppose it could wait until after class, Admiral. Janeway: As they say in the Temporal Mechanics Department, there's no time like the present. Cadet: In the year 2377, you aided the Borg resistance movement known as Unimatrix Zero. Barclay: Sounds like someone's been reading ahead. Janeway: I thought you had a question, Cadet. Cadet: Yes, ma'am. When you informed the Queen that you were going to liberate thousands of her drones, could you describe the look on her face? Female Cadet: Admiral? Some of us were talking before class and we were curious. How extensive was Seven of Nine's involvement with Unimatrix Zero? Janeway: I'd, er, prefer not to discuss Seven of Nine. Female Cadet: Yes, ma'am. Sorry. Janeway: Excuse me. Barclay: Okay, er, who can tell me a little about nanotechnology? Miral: I'm sorry to pull you out of class, Admiral. Janeway: Did you see it? Miral: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: And? Miral: It works. Janeway: Korath has agreed to the exchange? Miral: Yes. Janeway: But? Miral: He's insisting on handing it over to you personally. Janeway: I'll be there as soon as I can. Good work, Ensign Paris. Janeway: Hello, Tuvok. Tuvok: The light. Janeway: Oh, I'm sorry. Tuvok: I know you. Janeway: That's right. I'm your friend, Kathryn Janeway, remember? Tuvok: You're an impostor. Janeway: No, Tuvok. It's me. Tuvok: Admiral Janeway visits on Sunday. Today is Thursday. Logic dictates that you are not who you claim to be. Janeway: How are you? Tuvok: I am close to completing my work. Janeway: I'm glad to hear it. Tuvok: It is difficult with so many interruptions. Janeway: I'm sorry. Would you like me to leave? Tuvok: You may stay. Janeway: Tuvok, there's something I need to tell you. It's very important. I'm going away and I may not see you again. Commander Barclay and the Doctor will continue to visit. They'll bring you anything you need. Tuvok: The Doctor comes on Wednesdays. Commander Barclay's visits are erratic. Janeway: Goodbye, Tuvok. Janeway: You must be the only Doctor who still makes house calls. Emh: What are your symptoms? Janeway: I'm perfectly fine. Emh: For thirty three years you fought me every time you were due for a physical. Now you ask me to give you one ahead of schedule? Janeway: I'm taking a trip. I just wanted to get our appointment out of the way before I left. Emh: That's all? Janeway: That's all. Emh: Hmm. The good news is you're as healthy as you were the first day I examined you. Janeway: Well, now that's out of the way, have a seat. We didn't get to talk much at the party. Emh: No, I don't suppose we did. Janeway: So, how's married life? Emh: Wonderful. You should try it. Janeway: Oh, I think it's a little late for that. Marriage is for the young, like your wife. Emh: I can only hope she ages as gracefully as you have. I, of course, will be the same handsome hologram twenty years from now as I am today. Janeway: I've been meaning to ask you. Are you familiar with a drug called Chronexaline? Emh: We've been testing it at Starfleet Medical to determine if it can protect biomatter from tachyon radiation. Janeway: And? Emh: It's very promising. Why do you ask? Janeway: I need two thousand milligrams by tomorrow afternoon. Emh: Why? Janeway: That's classified. Will you get it for me? Emh: Of course, Admiral. You'll have it by oh nine hundred. Janeway: Thank you. Computer: Download complete. Barclay: This should be everything you need. Janeway: The shuttle? Barclay: Waiting for you at the Oakland shipyard. I wish you'd let me come with you. Janeway: Sorry, Reg, but this is my mission. Besides, if you leave there won't anyone to teach those eager young cadets about the Borg. Barclay: Oh. I made you some fresh tea for the trip. Not that replicated stuff. Janeway: Thank you, for everything. I wouldn't have been able to do this without you. Barclay: Oh, don't remind me. Janeway: Any final words of advice for your old captain? Wait, don't tell me. I'm being impulsive. I haven't considered all the consequences. It's too risky. Thanks for the input, but I've got to do what I think is right. (She brushes the leaves off the simple inscription. Chakotay, 2329 - 2394) Janeway: I know it wasn't easy living all these years without her, Chakotay. But when I'm through, things might be better for all of us. Trust me. Torres: Tom. Tom? Paris: I'm sleeping. Torres: It's time. Paris: For what? Torres: I'll give you one guess. Paris: Paris to Paris: Paris to Sickbay, it's time. Emh: Relax, Mister Paris. Can she stand? Paris: Affirmative. Emh: Then I suggest you report to Sickbay. Paris: What about B'Elanna? Emh: Her, too. Paris: Right, of course. Maybe we should take the transporter. Hey, wait for me! Emh: Hmm. Paris: What do you mean by hmm? Emh: You're going to have a very healthy baby, but not tonight. Torres: Tell me you're joking. Emh: You're experiencing false labor, Lieutenant. Paris: Again? Emh: As I explained the last time, it's a common occurrence, especially among Klingons. Torres: I want this thing out of me now. Emh: Misdirected rage. Another common occurrence among Klingons. Paris: Can't you induce? Emh: I wouldn't recommend it Paris: If this keeps happening, we'll never get any sleep. Emh: You think it's bad now? Janeway: When? Chakotay: Oh four hundred. Janeway: How many false alarms does that make? Chakotay: Three that we know of. Janeway: That baby is as stubborn as her mother. Chakotay: Harry's starting a pool to see who can guess the actual date and time of birth. Janeway: Tell him to put me down for next Friday, twenty three hundred hours. Anything else? Chakotay: Crewman Chell's asked about taking over in the mess hall full time. Janeway: Neelix left some pretty big pots and pans to fill. Does Mister Chell feel he's up to the challenge? Chakotay: Apparently so. He's prepared a sample menu. Janeway: Plasma leek soup? Chicken warp core don bleu? Chakotay: If his cooking's as bad as his puns, we're in trouble. Janeway: Oh, I don't know. I wouldn't mind giving his Red Alert chili a try. Feel like having lunch? Chakotay: I'd love to, but I've already made plans. Rain check? Janeway: Absolutely. Chakotay: What's all this? Seven: A picnic. According to my research, this is an appropriate third date. Chakotay: You didn't have to go to this much trouble. Seven: If this makes you uncomfortable I could prepare a less elaborate meal. Chakotay: No, don't change a thing. This is perfection. Tuvok: In the interest of fair play, I should inform you that Mister Kim has never defeated me at Kal-toh. Kim: You should've listened to me. Tuvok: Kal-toh is as much a game of patience as it is of logic. An experienced player will sometimes take several hours to decide his next move, and in some cases even days may be necessary to Icheb: Kal-toh. Kim: You beat him. Tuvok: Congratulations. Icheb: I'm sure it was just beginner's luck, sir. I'd offer you a rematch, but I'm due in Astrometrics. TUVOK Another time, perhaps. Kim: He may have to go, but I'm free and feeling lucky. Tuvok: If you'll excuse me, Ensign. Kim: It's just a game, Tuvok. Emh: Icheb's an exceptionally bright young man. Did it occur to you that he might simply be a better player? Tuvok: My loss was the result of another lapse in concentration. Emh: I am detecting lower neuropeptide levels. Tuvok: As I suspected. My condition is deteriorating. Emh: It's a minor change. We knew it would happen. I simply have to increase your medication. Tuvok: Thank you, Doctor. Emh: Commander. I understand your desire for privacy, but maybe it's time we informed the captain. Tuvok: I will inform her if and when the disorder begins to affect the performance of my duties. Emh: Of course. Seven: Your move. Neelix: Green, grid twelve ten. Seven: Red, grid three thirteen. Neelix: Tricky. Seven: How's Brax? Neelix: Wonderful. Thanks for asking. I know I can never replace his father, but Seven: I have no doubt the boy looks up to you. Neelix: Orange, grid ten twelve. I haven't told anyone, but I'm thinking of asking Dexa to marry me. Seven: She'd be wise to accept. Neelix: That's enough of my love life. How about yours? Seven: I don't have a love life. Neelix: Oh? What about your relationship with Commander Chakotay? Seven: It's your turn. Neelix: Actually, it's yours. At least tell me how he liked the picnic. Seven: It was an enjoyable activity for both of us. Thank you for suggesting it. Neelix: Any time. What is it? Seven: Long range sensors are detecting extremely high neutrino emissions accompanied by an intermittent graviton flux approximately three light years away. Neelix: A wormhole? Seven: I'm not sure. I'll need to conduct more scans. Neelix: We can finish our game tomorrow. Seven: I'll contact you at the usual time. Seven: The emissions are occurring at the center of the nebula. There appear to be hundreds of distinct sources. Kim: Which could translate to hundreds of wormholes. Seven: The radiation is interfering with our sensors, but if Ensign Kim's enthusiasm turns out to be justified, it would be the most concentrated occurrence of wormholes ever recorded. Janeway: Any idea where they lead? Kim: Not yet, but if just one of them leads to the Alpha Quadrant. Paris: Who knows, Harry? It might take us right into your parents' living room. Janeway: Alter course, Mister Paris. Ensign, when you speak to your mother, tell her we may need her to move the sofa. Tuvok: 71 53 53 31 71 53 53 31 71 53. Physician: Sorry if I pulled you away from something important, sir, but he won't let anyone near him and I thought you might Emh: You did the right thing. His condition's never been associated with violent behavior, Physician: He seems more frustrated than violent. Tuvok: Long range sensors have detected no trace. Her disappearance remains a mystery. I am deeply concerned. Emh: What are you concerned about, Tuvok? Janeway: Her disappearance. Emh: Whose? Tuvok: 53 31 71 53. Physician: He's been repeating those same numbers over and over again. 53 31 71. It might be a stardate. Emh: Stardate 53317. If my memory files are accurate, that was the day Captain Janeway was abducted by the Kellidians. Is that who you're talking about, Tuvok? Captain Janeway? Tuvok: Her disappearance remains a mystery. Emh: No, you solved that mystery, Tuvok. You rescued the captain and brought her back to Voyager safe and sound. Remember? Tuvok: I am deeply concerned, deeply concerned. Physician: Do you think if the Admiral paid him a visit, showed him that she was all right? Emh: Unfortunately, she's out of town right now. I'm not sure when she'll be back. Tuvok: She's never coming back! Her disappearance remains a mystery. I'm deeply concerned. Deeply concerned. Emh: Voyager to Pathfinder. Come in, Pathfinder. Barclay: Doctor! What a pleasant surp. Oh, I've forgotten about our golf game again, haven't I? Janeway: Relax, Reg, it's not until next week. I'm here because I need to get in touch with Admiral Janeway. Barclay: Oh, she's out of town. Emh: I know. Did she tell you where she was going? Barclay: Er, I'm afraid it, it never came up. I mean, is something wrong? Emh: I'm not sure. I paid a visit to Tuvok this morning. He seemed to think that she was in some sort of danger. Barclay: Well, you know better than anyone how confused Tuvok can get. Emh: Yes, but I've been worried about the admiral, too. Barclay: Why? Emh: Two days ago, she asked me for a large quantity of an experimental medication. When I asked her why she needed it, she said it was classified. Barclay: Then you shouldn't be telling me about it, should you? Emh: I spoke to Director Okaro at Starfleet Intelligence. He assured me that the admiral hasn't been involved in any classified work since she began teaching at the Academy. Barclay: You know how sneaky these Intelligence people can be. Maybe he was just trying to throw you off. Emh: Maybe. But still. She's been talking for months about how excited she is to be teaching with you. Then, just as the semester begins, she goes away without even telling you where. Don't you find that a little strange? Barclay: I, I'm sure that there is a perfectly reasonable explanation, Doctor. I'm sorry, I have some p-papers to grade. Emh: You're stammering, Reg. Barclay: S-s-so? Emh: I haven't heard you do that in years. I think you do know where she is. Barclay: She is one of the most decorated officers in all of Starfleet history, and I'm, I'm sure she can take care of herself. Emh: You wouldn't be saying that unless she was doing something dangerous. Barclay: You are putting words in my mouth. Emh: Tell me where she is, Reg. Miral: Welcome to the House of Korath, Admiral. Janeway: I love what he's done with the place. Klingon: Kuva'kor li'ju!Q mah. Miral: PetaQ! DabeQ chu'magh an'noQ. Janeway: What was that about? Miral: He said your demeanor was disrespectful. Janeway: I hope you told him I didn't mean to be rude. Miral: I told him if he didn't show you more respect, I would break his arm. Janeway: You are your mother's daughter. Miral: Korath is waiting. We should go in. Janeway: Sorry, but this is where we part ways. Miral: Excuse me? Janeway: You're dismissed, Ensign. Miral: But, Admiral, I really think that Janeway: I can take care of myself. Miral: With all due respect, I've been working on this for six months, and Janeway: And you've done an exemplary job. But it's over. Understood? Miral: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: I happen to know your parents are anxious to spend some time with you. Take a few days leave. Go and see them. Korath: A Cardassian disruptor. I've modified it to emit a nadion pulse. Janeway: Impressive, but that's not what I've come for. Korath: No. You've come for something far more dangerous. Janeway: Where is it? Korath: Somewhere safe. Janeway: I went to a great deal of trouble to get you your seat on the High Council. Now give me what you promised. Korath: I've scanned your shuttle. It appears that you've made some interesting modifications. Your shield generator is of particular interest. Janeway: It's not for sale. Korath: Then what you want isn't available either. Janeway: We had an agreement. Korath: Show the admiral out. Paris: Maybe Chell should add Nebula Soup to his menu. Janeway: Shields? Tuvok: Holding. Janeway: Bridge to Astrometrics. Seven: Go ahead. Janeway: Any more data on those neutrino emissions? Seven: Negative, Captain. I still can't get a clear scan. Janeway: Distance to the center? Seven: Six million kilometers. Janeway: What is it? Tuvok: I'm detecting a tritanium signature, bearing three four two, mark five five. Paris: Whatever it is, it's too close. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Chakotay: Is it a ship? Tuvok: Possibly. Kim: Another tritanium signature, right on top of us. Janeway: Tom! Janeway: Get us out of here now. Borg: Vessel identified: USS Voyager. We will pursue and assimilate. Queen: No. They haven't compromised our security. Let the vessel continue, for now. I'll keep an eye on them. Tuvok: There's no evidence that the Cube detected us. Chakotay: Where is it now? Seven: Approximately three light years away. Paris: How could they not have seen us? We came within ten meters of their hull. Tuvok: The Borg wouldn't knowingly risk a collision. The radiation must have interfered with their sensors as well. Kim: If they can't detect us, we should go back. Seven: I wouldn't recommend it. My analysis of the tritanium signature suggests there were at least forty seven Borg vessels inside the nebula. Kim: We can't just give up on those wormholes. Janeway: Oh yes, we can. Kim: What if we try to modify Janeway: I'm sorry, Mister Kim. You may be the captain someday, but not today. Kim: Tom, what are you doing when your shift ends? Paris: No plans. Why? Kim: I've been thinking. You and I should have some fun. One last adventure before you get too busy being a father. Paris: Did you reserve some holodeck time? Kim: I've got a better idea. Paris: This is your idea of fun? Kim: It'll work. We just need to make a few modifications to the Flyer. Paris: We might as well just hand it over to the Borg. Kim: How could that happen with the best pilot in the quadrant at the helm? Paris: Nice try. Kim: If we go to the captain together, she'll be much more likely to approve my plan. Paris: I don't want her to approve it. Kim: Where's your sense of adventure? Paris: I left it in that nebula and I'm not going back for it. Kim: Don't you want to find a way home? Paris: I am home, Harry. Kim: Captain Proton would never walk away from a mission like this. Paris: Captain Proton doesn't have a wife, and a baby on the way. Seven: If you're here for my daily report, it's not complete. Chakotay: Actually I'm here in an unofficial capacity. I was wondering if you'd like to get together again. Seven: To do what? Chakotay: Well, that all depends on your research. Would a quiet dinner be an appropriate fourth date? Seven: I believe it would be a more suitable fifth date. Chakotay: I'm willing to skip ahead if you are. Emh: You're fine, aside from some minor inflammation around your biradial clamp. Let me know if it starts to bother you. Is there something else? Seven: Do you remember three months ago, when my cortical node shut down? Emh: How could I forget. Seven: You said it might be possible to remove the fail-safe device that was causing the problem. Emh: Has it been giving you trouble again? Seven: No, but I've reconsidered your offer to extract it. Emh: I've been hoping you would. Seven: You said it would require several surgeries. Emh: Actually, in anticipation of your change of heart, I've been studying the problem in more detail. I now believe I can reconfigure the microcircuitry with a single procedure. You'll be free to experience the full ranges of emotions. Everything from a hearty belly laugh to a good cry. Seven: How soon can you do it? Emh: Today, if you'd like. Seven: My shift ends at eighteen hundred hours. Emh: It's a date. Speaking of dates. Once the fail-safe is gone, you'll be free to pursue more intimate relationships. Seven: I'm aware of that. Emh: If you decide you need help with that aspect of your humanity, I'm always at your disposal. Seven: I appreciate that. Emh: Really? Seven: Yes. But I already have all the help I need. Emh: Ah, of course. You'll undoubtedly be running more simulations with the Chakotay hologram. Seven: No, actually. I'll see you at eighteen hundred hours. Klingon: Maktah hoon Janeway takt. Janeway: I've reconsidered your offer. Korath: I thought you might. Janeway: I'll give you the shield emitter, but not until I've inspected the device you're offering. To make sure it's genuine. Korath: You question my honor? Janeway: If you were honorable, you wouldn't have changed the terms of our agreement. Show it to me, or I'm leaving. Janeway: This will do just fine. Korath: Stop her! Janeway: Computer, deploy armor. Janeway: Lay in a course for these coordinates. Janeway: What do you want? Korath: You'll pay for your deceit, ghuy'cha! The House of Korath won't rest until you've drowned in your own blood! Janeway: I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm on a tight schedule. Janeway: Computer, warp six. Computer: Approaching designated co-ordinates. Janeway: All stop. Computer: Warning. Vessel approaching. Vector one two one mark six. Janeway: Harry. And people are always saying that space is so big. Kim: Lower your shields, Admiral. Prepare for transport. I'm taking you into custody. Janeway: You have no grounds to take me into custody, Captain. Kim: Reg told the Doctor everything, and the Doctor told me. Now please, Admiral, stand down. Janeway: On one condition. You let me explain why I'm doing this. Kim: You have no idea what the consequences would be. Janeway: I know what the consequences are if we do nothing. So do you. I have a chance to change all that. Kim: If Starfleet Command knew what you were trying to do Janeway: You haven't told them? Kim: The Doctor and I decided to keep things in the family. Janeway: What about your crew? Kim: I told them I needed to take you back to Starfleet Medical because you'd contracted a rare disease. Janeway: I hope it isn't terminal. Kim: No, but it has been known to affect judgment. Janeway: I know what I'm doing, Harry. Kim: Do you? Can you say with absolute certainty that it'll work? Because if you can't. Even if it weren't a violation of every rule in the book, it would still be far too risky. What. Janeway: I'm remembering a young Ensign who wanted to fly into a Borg-infested nebula, just to explore the remote possibility that we might find a way home. Kim: If I remember correctly, you stopped me. Janeway: We didn't know then what we know now. Kim: Our technology may have advanced, but Janeway: I'm not talking about technology, I'm talking about people. People who weren't as lucky as you and me. You said you and the Doctor wanted to keep things in the family. But our family's not complete any more, is it? I'm asking you to trust my judgment, Harry. One last time. Seven: Am I early? Chakotay: No, you're right on time. Something wrong with the door? Seven: I didn't think it would be diskreet to be seen carrying flowers to the First Officer's quarters. Chakotay: Your research? I should put these in water. Seven: I've been told that anticipation of the first kiss is often uncomfortable. I wanted to alleviate the tension. Chakotay: That was very considerate of you. What about the second kiss? Seven: I'd have to check the database. It may indicate Janeway: Senior officers report to the bridge. Chakotay: Next time we deactivate the comm. system. Chakotay: What is it? Janeway: Judging from the tachyon emissions, some sort of temporal rift. Seven: How's it being generated? Janeway: That's what we're trying to figure out. Kim: If Starfleet Command finds out I had anything to do with this, they'll demote me back to Ensign. Janeway: You worry too much, Harry. It's turning you gray. Kim: Propulsion's online, plasma flow's stable. This device of Korath's, it produces too much tachyo-kinetic energy. It could burn itself out by the time you get where you're going. You wouldn't be able to get back. Janeway: I always assumed it was a one way trip. Kim: You're sure I can't talk you out of this? Right. Stupid question. Kim: Kim to the Rhode Island, one to beam back. Janeway: Computer, activate the chrono-deflector. Janeway: Deploy armor. Computer: Unable to comply. Ablative generator is offline. Janeway: Evasive pattern beta six. Open a channel to the Rhode Island. Kim: Harry, I'm under attack. How fast can you get back here? Tuvok: I'm detecting nadion discharges on the other side of the rift. Chakotay: Weapons fire? Tuvok: It's possible. The signature appears to be Klingon. Janeway: Red alert. Kim: Stand by for transport, Admiral. Janeway: You know where I'm going, Harry, and it's not to your ship. Kim: Your structural integrity is failing. Janeway: Just get these Klingons off my tail. Computer, activate the tachyon pulse and direct it to these spatial and temporal coordinates. Tuvok: There's a vessel coming through the rift. Chakotay: Klingon? Tuvok: No, Federation. Kim: We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Admiral: Recalibrate your deflector to emit an anti-tachyon pulse. You have to seal that rift. JANEWAY It's usually considered polite to introduce yourself before you start giving orders. Tuvok: Captain, a Klingon vessel is coming through. Admiral: Close the rift. In case you didn't notice, I outrank you, Captain. Now do it. Janeway: I did what you asked. Now tell me what the hell is going on. Admiral: I've come to bring Voyager home. Janeway: Welcome aboard. Admiral: It's good to be back. Admiral: Fresh coffee. Janeway: Would you like a cup? Admiral: No, I gave it up years ago. I only drink tea now. I told the curator at the museum that if he wanted to make the ready room more authentic, he should always keep a steaming pot of coffee on the desk. Janeway: Voyager's in a museum? Admiral: Voyager is a museum, on the grounds of the Presidio. On a clear morning, you can see Alcatraz from here. Janeway: You made it back to Earth. Admiral: Unfortunately, our favorite cup took a bit of a beating along the way. It was damaged during a battle with the Fen Domar. Janeway: Who? Admiral: You'll run into them in a few years. Janeway: You know what? I shouldn't be listening to details about the future. Admiral: Oh, the almighty Temporal Prime Directive. Take my advice. It's less of a headache if you just ignore it. Janeway: You've obviously decided to, or you wouldn't be here. Admiral: A lot's happened to me since I was you. Janeway: Well, I'm still me, and this is still my ship. So no more talk about what's going to happen until I decide otherwise. Understood? Admiral: All right. Let's talk about the past. Three days ago, you detected elevated neutrino emissions in a nebula in grid nine eight six. You thought it might be a way home. You were right. I've come to tell you to take Voyager back to that nebula. Janeway: It was crawling with Borg. Admiral: I've brought technology that'll get us past them. Oh, I don't blame you for being skeptical. But if you can't trust yourself, who can you trust? Janeway: For the sake of argument, let's say I believe everything you're telling me. The future you come from sounds pretty good. Voyager's home, I'm an admiral. There are ways to defend against the Borg. My ready room even gets preserved for posterity. Admiral: So, why would you want to tamper with such a rosy timeline? To answer that, I'd have to tell you more than you want to know. But suffice it to say, if you don't do what I'm suggesting, it's going to take you another sixteen years to get this ship home, and there are going to be casualties along the way. I know exactly what you're thinking. Janeway: You've also become a telepath? Admiral: I used to be you, remember? You're asking yourself, is she really who she says she is, or is this some sort of deception? For all you know, I could be a member of species 8472 in disguise. Have your people examine my shuttle. Tell them to take a close look at the weapons systems and the armor technology. In the meantime, the Doctor can confirm my identity. Emh: My scans of the Admiral's cerebral cortex turned up something interesting, Janeway: What is it? Emh: I'm not sure. I've never seen this kind of implant before. Janeway: Alien technology? Emh: The microcircuitry has a Starfleet signature. Admiral: Of course it does. Emh: Admiral? Admiral: You invented it. Twelve years ago, from my perspective. Emh: I'm sorry, Admiral, I didn't realize. Admiral: What, that I was eavesdropping? I may be old, but my hearing's still excellent, thanks to your exemplary care over the years. Emh: So, this implant I'm going to invent. What does it do? Admiral: It's a synaptic transceiver. It allows me to pilot a vessel equipped with a neural interface. Emh: Fascinating. Tell me, what other extraordinary breakthroughs am I going to make? Janeway: Doctor. Emh: Sorry, Captain, but you can't blame a hologram for being curious. Janeway: Just finish your report. Emh: Yes, ma'am. My scans indicate the two of you are genetically identical. The admiral is you, approximately twenty six years from now. Admiral: Hello, Seven. Seven: The technology aboard the admiral's ship is impressive. Much of it appears to have been designed to defend against the Borg. Janeway: Could we installl these systems on Voyager? Seven: The stealth technology is incompatible, but I believe we can adapt the armor and weapons. Admiral: Well, Captain? Janeway: Do it. Captain's personal log, stardate 54973.4. We've begun outfitting Voyager with Admiral Janeway's upgrades. As soon as the major modifications are complete, we'll reverse course and head back to the nebula. Though I've certainly had some strange experiences in my career, nothing quite compares to the sight of my future self briefing my officers on technology that hasn't been invented yet. Seven: Computer, begin regeneration cycle. Queen: Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One. It's been too long. Seven: What do you want? Queen: Do I need a reason to visit a friend? Seven: We're not friends. Queen: No. We're more than that, we're family. And while we're on the subject of old friends, I see that Voyager has just gotten a visitor, and she's come from the future. Tell me why. Seven: You may be able to communicate with me while I'm regenerating, but I'm no longer a drone. I don't answer to you. Queen: I've extrapolated Voyager's trajectory. I know that you're returning to the nebula. I suggest you alter course. Seven: Why should we comply? Queen: You've always been my favorite, Seven. In spite of their obvious imperfections. I know how much you care for the Voyager crew. So I've left them alone. Imagine how you'd feel if I were forced to assimilate them. Seven: Voyager is no threat to the Collective. We simply want to return to the Alpha Quadrant. Queen: I've no objection to that. But if you try to enter my nebula again, I'll destroy you. Computer: Warning. Regeneration cycle incomplete. Emh: Her cortical node was exposed to a low-energy EM surge. It could have been much worse. Seven: It was the Borg Queen. She wanted to make sure I'd be able to deliver a message. She said she'd assimilate Voyager if we attempted to re-enter the nebula. Janeway: Why is it so important to her? Admiral: It doesn't matter. She's not going to be able to make good on her threat. Janeway: I wish I shared your confidence. Admiral: You would if you'd had as much experience with the Queen as I have. Janeway: It was one thing to attempt this when we thought it was a secret but if the Borg are monitoring us. Admiral: There's no guarantee they won't try to assimilate Voyager even if we don't go back into the nebula. Emh: Is that supposed to be reassuring? Admiral: I'm not saying the Borg aren't dangerous, but from my perspective, they're thirty years behind the times. Janeway: We shouldn't push our luck. Admiral: Luck's not going to have anything to do with it. I know, you don't want to hear too much about the future, but let's just say I ran into the Borg a few more times before I made it home. If I hadn't developed technology and tactics that could defeat them, I wouldn't be standing here today. Janeway: We'll maintain course for the nebula, but we'll stay at Red alert. And I want continuous scans for Borg activity. Chakotay: I heard what happened. Are you all right? Seven: I'm fine. Chakotay: Because if you need time to rest, I am in charge of the duty roster. Seven: It would be inappropriate to allow our personal relationship to affect your command decisions. Chakotay: You're right. This is a time to keep things professional. Report. Seven: There's no sign of Borg activity within a ten light year radius. Chakotay: That's good news, Crewman. Seven: Yes, sir. But we shouldn't underestimate the Collective. Chakotay: The Admiral seems confident we can make it past them. Seven: Captain Janeway is more cautious. Chakotay: Our chances would be good with one Kathryn Janeway on the bridge, but with two, I'd bet on this ship any day. If we do make it back to Earth, what are your plans? Seven: I assume Starfleet will want to debrief me. And then I suppose I'll attempt to find a useful position somewhere. You? Chakotay: I don't know yet either. But wherever I end up, I'm going to make sure it's in transporter range of you. Torres: I don't want this whole system crashing because of one faulty relay. Installl new ones. Crewmen: Yes, ma'am. Torres: And I need an update on the inductor capacitance. Crewwoman: Yes, Lieutenant. Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: Shouldn't you be on the bridge? Paris: Is there something wrong with the pilot requesting a systems report from the Chief Engineer? Torres: The last report I got said the comm. system was working perfectly. Paris: Okay, you caught me. I'm checking up on you. Torres: I'm fine. Paris: Your back? Torres: I'm ignoring it. Paris: Well, I would offer to give you a massage, but then everybody would want one. Torres: You know, for a Starfleet fly boy you're pretty sweet. Paris: So how's it going? Torres: This armor technology that the Admiral brought? It's incredible. I hate to sound like Harry, but we might actually make it this time. Paris: Well, you don't seem too happy about that. Torres: Oh, I'm happy. It's just that I'd actually gotten used to the idea of raising our daughter on Voyager. And now I might end up delivering her at Starfleet Medical instead of Sickbay. Paris: That wouldn't be so bad, would it? Torres: Not as long as you're with me. And I want the Doctor. I don't want some stranger. Paris: You would have to take him offline to keep him away. Torres: If we do make it home, where do you think we'll live? Paris: Well, we could always stay with my parents for a while. You're right. Bad idea. Torres: Of course, it probably doesn't matter to you anyway. You fly boys are all the same. You'll probably take the first piloting assignment that comes along and leave me home to change the diapers. Paris: Not a chance. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Torres: Go ahead, Captain. Janeway: Deploy armor. Torres: Yes, ma'am. Tuvok: Armor integrity at ninety seven percent. Janeway: Tuvok? Tuvok: Integrity holding at ninety percent. Janeway: Maintain course. Admiral: They're looking for ways to adapt. Tuvok: Port armor integrity down to fifty percent, forty percent. Janeway: Mister Paris, attack pattern alpha one. Target the lead Cube and fire transphasic torpedoes. Janeway: Target the second Cube. Chakotay: Distance to the center? Seven: Less than one hundred thousand kilometers. Janeway: What the hell is it? Admiral: Mister Paris, alter course to enter the aperture at coordinates three four six by four two. Janeway: Belay that. I asked you a question. What is it? Admiral: The road home. Seven: It's more than that. It's a transwarp hub. Janeway: You once told me there were only six of them in the galaxy. Seven: That's correct. Janeway: You knew this was here, but you didn't tell me about it. Why? Admiral: I'll answer all your questions once we're back in the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: Take us out of the nebula. Paris: Captain? Janeway: You heard me. Admiral: I gave you an order, Lieutenant. Proceed to the aperture. Janeway: This is my bridge, Admiral, and I'll have you removed if necessary. Take us out. Paris: Aye, Captain. Seven: This hub connects with thousands of transwarp conduits with end points in all four quadrants. It allows the Collective to deploy vessels almost anywhere in the galaxy within minutes. Tuvok: Of all the Borg's tactical advantages, this could be the most significant. Chakotay: It's no wonder the Queen didn't want us in that nebula. Janeway: So how do we destroy it? Seven: The structure is supported by a series of interspatial manifolds. If we could disable enough of them, theoretically the hub would collapse. Admiral: This is a waste of time. The shielding for those manifolds is regulated from the central nexus by the Queen herself. You might be able to damage one of them, maybe two. But by the time you moved onto the third, she'd adapt. Janeway: There may be a way to bring them down simultaneously. Admiral: From where, inside the hub? Voyager would be crushed like a bug. Chakotay: What about taking the conduit back to the Alpha Quadrant and then destroying the structure from the other side? Admiral: This hub is here. There's nothing in the Alpha Quadrant but exit apertures. While you're all standing around dreaming up fantasy tactical scenarios, the Queen is studying her scans of our armor and weapons. And she's probably got the entire Collective working on a way to counter them. So take the ship back into that nebula and go home before it's too late. Janeway: Find a way to destroy that hub. Let's take a walk. Janeway: I want to know why you didn't tell me about this. Admiral: Because I remember how stubborn and self-righteous I used to be. I figured you might try to do something stupid. Janeway: We have an opportunity to deal a crippling blow to the Borg. It could save millions of lives. Admiral: I didn't spend the last ten years looking for a way to get this crew home earlier, so you could throw it all away on some intergalactic goodwill mission. Janeway: Maybe we should go back to Sickbay. Admiral: Why, so you can have me sedated? Janeway: So I can have the Doctor reconfirm your identity. I refuse to believe I'll ever become as cynical as you. Admiral: Am I the only one experiencing déjà vu here? Janeway: What are you talking about? Admiral: Seven years ago you had the chance to use the Caretaker's array to get Voyager home. Instead, you destroyed it. Janeway: I did what I knew was right. Admiral: You chose to put the lives of strangers ahead of the lives of your crew. You can't make the same mistake again. Janeway: You got Voyager home, which means I will too. If it takes a few more years then that's Admiral: Seven of Nine is going to die. Janeway: What? Admiral: Three years from now. She'll be injured on an away mission. She'll make it back to Voyager, and die in the arms of her husband. Janeway: Husband? Admiral: Chakotay. He'll never be the same after Seven's death, and neither will you. Janeway: If I know what's going to happen, I can avoid it. Admiral: Seven isn't the only one. Between this day and the day I got Voyager home, I lost twenty two crew members. And then of course there's Tuvok. Janeway: What about him? Admiral: You're forgetting the Temporal Prime Directive, Captain. Janeway: The hell with it. Admiral: Fine. Tuvok has a degenerative neurological condition that he hasn't told you about. There's a cure in the Alpha Quadrant, but if he doesn't get it in time Admiral: Even if you alter Voyager's route, limit your contact with alien species, you're going to lose people. But I'm offering you a chance to get all of them home safe and sound today. Are you really going to walk away from that? Tuvok: Your concern is appreciated, Captain, but premature. It will be several years before the symptoms become serious. Until then, the Doctor can manage my condition with medication. Janeway: Is it true what the Admiral said? That there's a cure in the Alpha Quadrant? Tuvok: It is called a fal-tor-voh, and it requires a mind meld with another Vulcan. Janeway: What about the other Vulcans on Voyager? Tuvok: None of them are compatible. Janeway: But members of your family are? If you knew that returning to the Alpha Quadrant was your only chance for recovery, why didn't you object when I asked you to help find a way to destroy the hub? Tuvok: My sense of logic isn't impaired yet. If we succeed, millions of lives will be saved. Janeway: What about your life? Tuvok: To quote Ambassador Spock, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Seven: I appreciate your candor, Admiral, but Captain Janeway is my commanding officer. I won't disobey her. Admiral: I'm not asking you to. I simply want you to tell her that in your opinion, destroying the hub is too risky, the cost too high. Seven: I can't do that. Admiral: Even if it means avoiding the consequences I mentioned? Seven: Now that I know about those consequences, they're no longer a certainty. But even if they were, my death would be a small price to pay for the destruction of the transwarp network. Admiral: I have known you for a long time, Seven. Longer than you've known yourself. You are thinking that collapsing the network is an opportunity to atone for atrocities you participated in while you were a drone. It's time to let go of the past and start thinking about your future. Seven: My future is insignificant compared to the lives of the people we'd be saving. Admiral: You're being selfish. Seven: Selfish? I'm talking about helping others. Admiral: Strangers in a hypothetical scenario. I'm talking about real life. Your colleagues, your friends, people who love you. Imagine the impact your death would have on them. Seven: Excuse me, Admiral. I have work to complete. Tuvok: Once inside, we'd fire a spread of transphasic torpedoes. Seven: They'd be programmed to detonate simultaneously. Tuvok: If the torpedoes penetrate the shielding, the conduits should begin to collapse in a cascade reaction. In order to avoid the shock wave, we'd have less than ten seconds to exit the hub. Janeway: A long time ago, I made a decision that stranded this crew in the Delta Quadrant. I don't regret that decision. But I didn't know all of you then, and Voyager was just a starship. It's much more than that now. It's become our home. I know I could order you to carry out this plan and none of you would hesitate for a second, but I'm not going to do that. You know the crewmen who work under you, and you know what your own hearts are telling you. So we're not going to attempt this unless everyone in this room agrees. No one will think less of you if you don't. Kim: Captain? Janeway: Go ahead, Harry. Kim: I think it's safe to say that no one on this crew has been more obsessed with getting home than I have. But, when I think about everything we've been through together, maybe it's not the destination that matters. Maybe it's the journey. And if that journey takes a little longer so we can do something we all believe in, I can't think of any place I'd rather be, or any people I'd rather be with. Paris: To the journey. Chakotay: Hear, hear. All: To the journey! Admiral: Coffee, black. Janeway: I thought you gave it up. Admiral: I've decided to revive a few of my old habits. Janeway: Oh? What else, besides the coffee? Admiral: Oh, well. I used to be much more idealistic. I took a lot of risks. I've been so determined to get this crew home for so many years that I think I forgot how much they loved being together, and how loyal they were to you. It's taken me a few days to realize it. This is your ship, your crew. Not mine. I was wrong to lie to you, To think I could talk you out of something you'd set your mind to. Janeway: You were only trying to do what you thought was right for all of us. Admiral: Well, you've changed my mind about that. And I'd like to help you carry out your mission. Maybe together we can increase our odds. Janeway: Maybe we can do more than that. There's got to be a way to have our cake and eat it too. Admiral: We can't destroy the hub and get Voyager home. Janeway: Are you absolutely sure about that? Admiral: There might be a way. I considered it once, but it seemed too risky. Janeway: That was before you decided to revive your old habits. Admiral: I don't know why I ever gave this up. Admiral: It's about time. I'm not getting any younger, you know. Janeway: You're sure you want to do this? Admiral: No, but Voyager isn't big enough for both of us. Janeway: Good luck, Admiral. Admiral: You, too. Captain. I'm glad I got to know you again. Chakotay: Any word from the admiral? Seven: We lost contact as soon as she entered the hub. Chakotay: Did the Borg give her any trouble? Seven: Her vessel was scanned by several cubes, but none approached her, sir. Chakotay: Are we keeping things professional again today? Seven: Yes, Commander. Chakotay: You're not joking, are you. Seven: No. Chakotay: What's wrong? Seven: Nothing. I'm just busy. Chakotay: I think I've gotten to know you a little better than that. Seven: I'd prefer it if you didn't speak to me as though we're on intimate terms. Chakotay: We are on intimate terms. Seven: Not any more. Chakotay: What the hell is going on? Seven: I've decided to alter the parameters of our relationship. Chakotay: You mind telling me why? Seven: We both have dangerous occupations. It's possible one of us could be seriously injured, or worse. I believe it's best to avoid emotional attachments. Chakotay: Maybe you can just flip some Borg switch and shut down your emotions, but I can't. Seven: I suggest you try. It will make things less difficult for you if any harm should come to me. Chakotay: Why are you suddenly so concerned about that? Is there something I should know? Seven: The admiral suggested that your feelings for me will cause you pain in the future. I can't allow that to happen. Chakotay: Seven, any relationship involves risk. And nobody can guarantee what's going to happen tomorrow. not even an admiral from the future. The only certainty is how we feel about each other here and now. If you think I'm going to let you end this because of what might happen, then you need to get to know me a little better. Emh: Try to relax, Lieutenant. Torres: If you tell me to relax one more time I'm going to rip your holographic head off. Emh: I hope you don't intend to kiss your baby with that mouth. Paris: Tell me this isn't another false alarm. Emh: This isn't another false alarm. Paris: I can't believe it. Torres: Oh, believe it! Paris: I might actually win. Torres: What? Paris: The baby pool. I picked today, fifteen hundred hours. Torres: I'm so glad I could accommodate you> Emh: Don't celebrate yet. Klingon labor sometimes lasts several days. Of course, I'm sure that won't be the case here. Janeway: Bridge to Lieutenant Paris. We're ready to get underway. Paris: Captain, I'm afraid Torres: Go. Paris: But Torres: No buts, fly boy. If this mission is going to succeed we need our best pilot at the helm. Don't worry, the Doctor will be here with me. Janeway: Is there a problem, Mister Paris? Paris: On my way, Captain. Torres: Let's get this show on the road. Borg: Voyager has altered course. Current position spatial grid three six two. Trajectory one one two mark five. Admiral: I don't know how you do it. All those voices talking at once. You must get terrible headaches. If you're calling drones to assimilate me, don't bother. Queen: I don't need drones to assimilate you. Admiral: I'm not actually here, your Majesty. I'm in your mind. I'm Admiral: Using a synaptic interface. If I were you, I wouldn't waste my time trying to trace the signal. Admiral: For the moment, it's beyond your abilities. Queen: What do you want? Admiral: To make a deal. Captain Janeway thinks I'm here to help her destroy your transwarp network. Queen: That's beyond your abilities. Admiral: Oh, I know that. And I tried to explain it to my naive, younger self, but she wouldn't listen. She's determined to bring down that hub. Queen: She'll fail. Admiral: Yes, but she has weapons that I brought from the future. I believe you're familiar with them. Queen: Transphasic torpedoes. We will adapt. Admiral: Eventually. But not before Voyager does a great deal of damage. I'm willing to tell you how to adapt to those weapons now. Queen: In exchange for what? Admiral: Send a Cube to tractor Voyager and drag them back to the Alpha Quadrant. Queen: You're asking me to believe that the incorruptible Kathryn Janeway would betray her own crew. Admiral: Not betray them, save them from themselves. I brought technology to help Voyager get home. But the captain's arrogant, self-righteous, and her officers are so blinded by loyalty that they're prepared to sacrifice their lives just to deal a crippling blow to the Borg. Queen: But you'd never try to harm us. Admiral: I've become a pragmatist in my old age. All I want is to get that crew back to their families. Queen: You wish to ensure the well-being of your Collective. I can appreciate that. I'll help you. But it'll cost more than you're offering. Admiral: What do you want? Queen: Your vessel and its database. Admiral: I told you, I'll show you how to adapt to their torpedoes. Queen: Insufficient. Admiral: If I let you assimilate technology from the future, there's no telling how events would be altered. Queen: You're willing to alter the future by getting Voyager home now. Admiral: Oh yes, but there's a difference. Queen: Do what all good pragmatists do, Admiral. Compromise. Admiral: All right. I'll give you the shuttle. After Voyager arrives safely in the Alpha Quadrant. Queen: You've already lied to your younger self. How do I know you're not lying to me? Admiral: I guess you'll just have to trust me. Queen: That won't be necessary. You underestimate me, Admiral. While we've been talking, my drones have triangulated your signal. Admiral: Computer, deactivate the interface. Deploy armor. Queen: Very clever. Hiding right on my doorstep. Were you planning to attack us from inside the Unicomplex? Not feeling talkative? Queen: You and I don't need words to understand each other. Janeway: Take us in. Paris: Aye, Captain. Borg: Voyager has entered aperture eight two three. Access transwarp corridor zero nine. Redirect vessels to intercept at subjunction Borg: Corridor. Nine. Voyager. USS. S zero zero nine transwarp transwarp intercept. Admiral: Must be something you assimilated. Queen: What have you done? Admiral: I thought we didn't need words to understand each other. Queen: You've infected us with an neurolytic pathogen. Admiral: Just enough to bring chaos to order. Seven: The admiral's succeeded, Captain. The conduit's shielding is destabilizing. Janeway: Now, Mister Tuvok. Queen: Voyager will be destroyed. Admiral: They're ahead of the shock wave. They'll survive. Captain Janeway and I made sure of that. It's you who underestimated us. Queen: Sphere six three four. They can still hear my thoughts. Queen: I may have assimilated your pathogen, but I also assimilated your armor technology. Queen: Captain Janeway is about to die. If she has no future, you will never exist, and nothing that you've done here today will happen. Paris: What the hell is it? Barclay: A transwarp aperture. It's less than a light year from Earth. Officer: How many Borg vessels? Barclay: We can't get a clear reading, but the graviton emissions are off the scale. Admiral Paris: I want every ship in range to converge on those coordinates now. Crewwoman: Yes, sir. Tuvok: Aft armor is down to six percent. Kim: Hull breaches on decks six through twelve. Paris: I can't stay ahead of them, Captain. Tuvok: The armor is failing. Chakotay: Where's the nearest aperture? Seven: Approximately thirty seconds ahead, but it leads back to the Delta Quadrant. Janeway: Mister Paris, prepare to adjust your heading. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Officer: We've got eighteen ships in position, nine more on the way. Admiral Paris: Open a channel. Barclay: Open, sir. Admiral Paris: This is Admiral Paris. Use all necessary force. I repeat, all necessary force. Barclay: Sir, there's a vessel coming through. Janeway: Mister Paris, what's our position? Paris: Right where we expect it to be. Seven: The transwarp network has been obliterated, Captain. Janeway: We'll celebrate later. Mister Tuvok? Paris: Cease fire. Janeway: We did it. Kim: We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Janeway: Sorry to surprise you. Next time we'll call ahead. Admiral Paris: Welcome back. Janeway: It's good to be here. Admiral Paris: How did you Janeway: It'll all be in my report, sir. Admiral Paris: I look forward to it. Janeway: Thanks for your help, Admiral Janeway. Emh: Sickbay to the bridge. Emh: Doctor to Lieutenant Paris. There's someone here who'd like to say hello. Janeway: You'd better get down there, Tom. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Mister Chakotay, the helm. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Set a course for home.