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DARK FRONTIER Episodes 109 & 110 Part K

 

Seven goes to the shield matrix and starts work.

As she works, she hears screaming as captured members of Species 10026 are brought aboard. Many have not yet been assimilated and are terrified but resigned to their terrible fate.

Seven's attention is diverted from the line of prisoners as an explosion damages a section.

As she is repairing it.....

.....there is another explosion and she is knocked to the floor.

She rolls over and starts to get to her feet.

Two drones come up to her and take hold of her. She struggles, afraid.

But all they want to do is treat the cut on her forehead.

They check her for other damage and then let her go.

More prisoners.

Seven watches. She is most unhappy at being involved in this mass assimilation and destruction of a race. But she was a Borg drone for most of her life and she is torn by her old loyalty to the Hive.

Suddenly a prisoner breaks free and tries to escape.

Seven is standing in his way and she automatically puts out a hand to stop him. He is shocked and terrified to be stopped.

The Borg assimilation process begins for a member of Species 10026. (pop-up window)

A guard drone comes up behind the prisoner, inserts tubules into his neck and starts to assimilate him. Seven gasps at the hideous sight and the destruction of this individual.

Seven tries to flee the horror, pushing her way through the throng of prisoners and guard drones. The screaming is all around her.

In an assimilation chamber, an as yet unassimilated Species 10026 male has had most of his arm removed (without anaesthetic).

A drone prepares a cybernetic arm unit to replace the prisoner's arm, watched by three more prisoners who know it will soon be their turn. Another drone is in the chamber.

Seven arrives and stands in the entrance, appalled by what she sees.

A female Species 10026 turns and looks at her.

Nearby, an explosion damages a bulkhead console. One drone, the one not preparing the cybernetic arm, leaves to repair the damage.

Seven goes up to the remaining drone and deactivates him. The drone droops.

Seven starts to help up the prisoner lying on the operating bench.

Seven addresses the other prisoners: "Assist me. I am not Borg. I will help you escape. Assist me!" At that they move to help her.

Seven goes to the wall control panel, watched by the prisoners. She looks out toward where the other drone is still repairing the damage.

Seven has little time as the drone's repairs are making progress.

Seven to the prisoners: "I'm detecting one of your vessels. It's heavily damaged, the crew is dead. The Borg are ignoring it. Its propulsion system is still functioning. I will transport you aboard. Remain there until the Borg leave orbit. Then set a course on a heading of 121 mark 9. Do you understand?" They nod.

Seven transports them to the ship.

Seven enters the Borg Queen's command chamber.

Borg Queen: "Congratulations." Seven: "Regarding?" Borg Queen: "Assimilation is complete." Seven: "300,000 individuals have been transformed into drones. Should they be congratulated as well?" Borg Queen: "They should be. They've left behind their trivial selfish lives and they've been reborn with a greater purpose. We've delivered them from chaos into order."

Seven: "Comforting words. Use them next time instead of 'resistance is futile'. You may elicit a few volunteers."
Borg Queen: "You cling to sarcasm because you are afraid to see the truth. Species 10026 is already adding to our perfection. You can feel their distinctiveness coursing through us, enhancing us. Stop resisting. Take pleasure in this."
Seven: "I will not take pleasure in the destruction of a race!"
Borg Queen: "Human sentiment - compassion, guilt, empathy. They're irrelevant!"
Seven: "Not to me."
Borg Queen: "Me? There is no 'me'. There is only 'us'. One mind."
Seven: "My thoughts are my own."

Borg Queen: "We've overlooked something. A ship, four lifeforms. They're trying to escape. How do you suggest we proceed. Destroy the vessel or assimilate it?" Seven: "Neither. There are only four lifeforms and the vessel is heavily damaged. It would be an inefficient use of our resources. We should ignore it."

Borg Queen: "In this case our thoughts are not one. If those individuals are allowed to survive, species 10026 will survive and continue to resist us. But that's what you were hoping for, wasn't it? You tried to mask their lifesigns but I detected them." Seven: "Release the vessel." Borg Queen: "I'm sorry this lesson has to be so painful for you, but you are a difficult pupil. Abandon your human frailties. They are the cause of your pain." Seven: "Let them go, please."

The Borg Queen looks at her for a long moment. Then she mentally gives the order and the Borg tractor pulse deactivates. The survivors' ship hurtles away. Seven, surprised: "I thought compassion was irrelevant?"