INFINITE REGRESS
Episode 101
Part A

 

Seven is regenerating in her Borg alcove in Cargo Bay 2.

Suddenly she seems to wake. Computer: "Regeneration cycle incomplete."

She leaves the cargo bay.

She goes to the Messhall and searches it, unbothered by the mess she is making.

Seven hunts ravenously and does not seem to be herself.

In the Galley, she raids Neelix's store larders.

She finds some food - a leg of meat - and gnaws at it voraciously. But it is not Seven of Nine - somehow her mind has been taken over by a Klingon warrior!

The next morning there is a meeting of the senior staff in the Briefing Room. Kim presents updated information on the wall monitor.

Kim: "When I checked the overnight sensor logs, this little surprise was waiting for me."

Janeway: "Maybe I'm not quite awake, but it looks like it's over one hundred kilometres wide." Kim: "One hundred twenty. At first I thought it was an asteroid cluster, until I picked up a residual warp signature."

Seven gets up and goes over to the monitor: "It was a Borg vessel. There are tetryon particles in the debris consistent with the atmosphere inside a cube." Chakotay: "Any idea what destroyed it?" Seven: "We would need to run close range scans of the hull fragments." Kim: "Unless we alter course, we'll get our chance. The debris field's directly ahead." Janeway: "Then I suggest we cut a wide berth. Chances are the Borg will send more vessels to investigate. Alter course to avoid the debris. If that's all?"

Neelix: "Er, one other piece of business, Captain. It seems we had another incident in the Messhall last night." Torres: "Return of the 'midnight snacker'?" Neelix: "I'm afraid so." Janeway: "Casualties?"

Neelix: "A leg of Kelaran wildebeest I'd prepared for Ensign Ryson's birthday. Since Commander Tuvok has been unable to round up any suspects, I'd like to ask that stronger measures be taken." Tuvok, drily: "Perhaps an armed security detail." Neelix: "I'd like to ask permission to replicate some locking mechanisms for the cabinet doors." Janeway: "Granted. Dismissed."

Below 4 pictures: Naomi Wildman is secretly following and observing Seven.

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But as she follows her quarry around a corridor corner, she nearly bumps into her - Seven has realised and is waiting for her! The former drone towers over the nervous Naomi. Seven: "Naomi Wildman, subunit of Ensign Samantha Wildman. State your intentions." Naomi: "I- I-" Seven: "Very well. You leave me no choice but to report your activities to the Captain."

Naomi: "Please don't. I was just observing you." Seven: "Explain." Naomi: "Well, Neelix told me that the Borg do a lot of things they do because they're trying to be perfect, and even though you're not really a drone any more you still try to be perfect. Don't you?" Seven: "Correct." Naomi: "Well, if I can learn to be perfect too, then Captain Janeway will have to make me her Bridge Assistant." Seven: "No such rank exists aboard this vessel." Naomi: "Not yet." Seven: "And you hope to achieve this goal by emulating me?" Naomi: "Are you mad?" Seven: "No. There are many on this crew that would benefit from your example." Naomi: "So you'll teach me." Seven: "Your objective is admirable. However, your neo-cortical development is incomplete. You would require several months of accelerated growth in a Borg maturation chamber." Naomi: "Oh, I don't think I like the sound of that."

Seven: "Then I suggest that you-" Suddenly Seven hears a rush of voices inside her head. One voice dominates and she takes on their persona!

This time it is not a Klingon warrior but a fun-loving young woman. She smiles at Naomi: "Hi!" Naomi: "Hi." Seven: "I'm bored. Let's do something fun." Naomi: "Like what?" Seven: "Swimming?" Naomi: "Oh, I'm not allowed to go swimming without my mom." Seven: "Do you like kadiskot?" Naomi: "Love it."

Seven: "Come on!" She grabs Naomi's hand and they run down the corridor together, giggling.

Seven and Naomi play kadiskot in the Wildman quarters.

Naomi: "I'll be Bridge Assistant for a while, then I'll be promoted to Ensign. It'll be Lieutenant after that, and by the time we reach the Alpha Quadrant - Captain Wildman! Green, grid 14-4." Seven: "Kadiskot! I win." She giggles. Naomi: "You're really good at this game!" Seven: "You want a rematch?" Naomi: "Sure." Seven: "Captains don't have much time to play, you know." Naomi: "That's OK. I'll be pretty busy by then. Want to hear the rules of First Contact?" Seven, not at all interested: "No." Naomi: "How about the sub-orders of the Prime Directive? I know all 47 of them." Seven: "You study too much, Naomi, just like my brother." Naomi: "I didn't know you had a brother." Seven: "Twelve of them." Naomi, surprised: "Twelve?" Seven: "Nine older and three younger. We play kadiskot all the time." Naomi: "I only have my Mom and Neelix to play with, when they're not working." Seven: "You must get lonely." Naomi: "A little. You get used to it." Brightly, using one of Seven's phrases: "You adapt!" But Seven's persona does not understand: "Adapt?" Naomi: "You know, like the Borg." Seven cringes. "Borg. I hate Borgs." Naomi: "You do?" Seven: "Yeah, they're mean." The com. signal sounds. Via comms: "Torres to Seven of Nine. Please report to Engineering." Seven ignores the signal because, in her persona, the call is not for her. To Naomi: "It's your move." The com. signal sounds again. Torres, via comms: "Seven, respond."

Suddenly Seven is herself again. She responds to Torres: "I am on my way, Lieutenant." She is surprised by where she is. "Naomi Wildman." Naomi: "Yes?" Seven: "What am I doing here?"

Naomi: "We're playing kadiskot. Seven?" Looking puzzled, Seven leaves the room.