LATENT IMAGE
Episode 105
Part D

Memories are shown in this style.

 

In the early hours, Janeway is reading. There is a recording of quiet piano music playing in the background.

The door signal sounds. Janeway: "Come in." Seven enters.

Janeway: "Are you having a little trouble regenerating?" Seven: "My alcove is functioning properly. I am having trouble with the nature of individuality."

Janeway: "Huh. There's a time and a place for philosophical discussion. Two in the morning in my quarters isn't one of them. But I'll tell you what. Meet me in the Messhall tomorrow-" Seven: "Tomorrow will be too late. We'll have already rewritten the Doctor's program by then." Janeway, surmising her thoughts: "And violated his rights as an individual." Seven: "Precisely."

Janeway, heading over to her replicator: "If you've come to act as my conscience, you're a little late. I considered these issues 18 months ago, as I did again this morning. I came to the same conclusion."

Seven: "Your conclusion is wrong." Janeway does not like to be told she is wrong, but she forces herself not to respond, instead turning to the replicator. Janeway: "Coffee, black, lukewarm."

Janeway, coffee in hand: "Now I've told that replicator a dozen times about the temperature of my coffee. It just doesn't seem to want to listen, almost as if it's got a mind of its own. But it doesn't. A replicator operates through a series of electronic pathways that allow it to receive instructions and take appropriate action, and there you go - a cup of coffee, A bowl of soup, a plasma conduit, whatever we tell it to do. As difficult as it is to accept, the Doctor is more like that replicator than he is like us."

Seven: "He would disagree." Janeway: "I'm sure he would, but I can't let that change my decision. I learned that the hard way when his program almost self-destructed. I won't take that risk again." Seven: "The risk isn't yours to take." Janeway: "If one of my crew chose to put a phaser to his own head, should I let him?" Seven: "It would depend on the situation." Janeway: "It always depends on the situation, Seven, but we can debate philosophy another time."

Seven: "When you separated me from the Collective I was an unknown risk to your crew, yet you kept me on board. You allowed me to evolve into an individual." Janeway: "You're a human being. He's a hologram." Seven: "And you allowed that hologram to evolve as well, to exceed his original programming, and yet now you choose to abandon him." Janeway: "Objection noted. Good night." Seven refuses to be dismissed. In a quieter voice: "It is unsettling. You say that I am a human being and yet I am also Borg, part of me not unlike your replicator, not unlike the Doctor. Will you one day choose to abandon me as well? I have always looked to you as my example, my guide to humanity. Perhaps I've been mistaken. Good night." She exits, leaving Janeway thoughtful.

Janeway and Torres enter the medical lab adjoining the Doctor's office where he is busy thinking. Torres goes to the computer console. He thinks they have come to reprogram him and erase his memories.

Janeway: "I'd like to think I made my decision 18 months ago for all the right reasons. The truth is, my own biases about what you are had just as much to do with it. At the very least, you deserve to know exactly what happened, if you're willing." He nods.

Later, with Torres at the controls of the computer console. Doctor: "I'm ready." Janeway signals Torres who activates his memory files.

The Messhall is dark. A number of the crew are hiding, crouching behind the serving counter. Everyone is excited. Paris: "You're standing on my foot!" Kim: "I am not." Torres: "Shh." Neelix, entering with Ensign Jetal: "If you ask me, they should have just locked the turbolift and thrown away-" Jetal: "Neelix, the power's down."

She taps her combadge. "Jetal to Torres." Torres: "Er, go ahead, Ensign. Or should I say...."

All, as the lights come on and they stand up: "Surprise!" Some fire off party-poppers and there is general laughing, cheering and clapping. added fade-out

Jetal laughs, delighted.

Jetal is thrilled when a birthday cake is presented. She jokes to Neelix: "I'm going to kill you."

Later on in the party. Chakotay: "I want you to go along on a few of the shuttle surveys. If I can talk you into it." Doctor: "Another away mission? Certainly. I'm flattered." Kim: "I guess the birthday girl and I get the pleasure of your company, Doc." Chakotay: "You launch at 1900 hours, shuttlebay 1."

Jetal: "Hello, Doctor." Doctor: "Ensign Jetal, I haven't seen you in months."

Jetal: "The price I pay for staying in good health." Doctor: "So, keeping busy down on deck 11?" Jetal: "Too busy. Er, we're modifying one of the shuttles, making it more maneuverable and more 'cool'." Doctor: "I see you've been working with Mr Paris. My condolences."

Later, aboard the shuttlecraft, the Doctor is busy taking holo-pictures. Kim: "I thought I picked up a slight distortion in subspace, but it's not there any more." Jetal: "Nothing on long range sensors but a few hydrogen atoms."

Kim: "Candid shot?" Doctor: "Try to look natural." Jetal: "Oh, at least it's my good side."

The Doctor sets up the holo-imager to take one of all the away team: "Let's get one of the group. Mmm hmm."

Kim, through a fixed smile: "This is the last one." Doctor: "Say 'cheese'." Kim and Jetal: "Cheese." The picture is taken.

Jetal: "Doctor, I have a shuttle to fly." Doctor: "Ah, yes."

Kim: "What was that?" Suddenly something impacts the shuttle. An alien spacecraft appears and fires a salvo at the shuttlecraft.

The Doctor takes holo-images of it. Jetal: "Our sensors are dead." Kim: "Power's being drained. Shields and weapons are offline." Doctor: "How?"

Suddenly the alien (that the Doctor remembered from before) transports aboard and points a weapon at the crew.

As the shuttlecraft jolts, the alien loses his balance for a moment. The jolt knocks the holo-camera to the floor and it takes a picture of the alien as it falls.

Then the alien steadies himself and fires a single tri-part blast at them.

Jetal and Kim slump in their seats and then fall on the floor. The Doctor reels from the weapon blast, but he is not organic and he is merely jolted.

The alien prepares to fire again.

The Doctor hurries to the helm and activates a control, transporting the alien off the shuttle.

The alien ship opens fire on the shuttlecraft. Doctor, via comms, as he examines Jetal and Kim: "Doctor to Voyager, mayday! We're under attack! I've got wounded! Mayday!" Chakotay, via comms: "Acknowledged, Doctor. Set navigational controls to return to Voyager."

Doctor, via comms: "Commander, can you hear me?" Chakotay, via comms: "Doctor, please respond." Doctor, via comms: "Hello?" There is no reply. "Computer, engage auto-navigation! Lay in a course for Voyager, full impulse!"

Kim: "Doctor." Doctor: "Stay calm. That weapon carried quite a punch." Kim: "Is she OK?" Doctor: "She's unconscious."

Kim gasps, in pain and falling into unconsciousness: "Voyager?" Doctor: "We've lost contact. I sent that alien back to his ship. You think they'd be grateful." Kim, barely conscious: "Should've beamed him into space." Doctor: "I'm not in the business of killing people, Ensign. Synaptic shock? But there was no neural damage. Mr Kim! I don't understand. No."

The alien ship bears down on the helpless shuttlecraft. Suddenly Voyager opens fire and drives it off.

The com. signal sounds. Chakotay, via comms: "Doctor, stand by for transport." Doctor: "Beam us directly to Sickbay!"