EQUINOX

Episode 120 (Season 5) and Episode 121 (Season 6)
Part M

 

Security guards hurry into the transporter room.

All the Equinox's crew, plus Seven and the Doctor, but excluding Burke and the others on the Bridge and Ransom himself, are beamed to Voyager.

The Doctor enters Voyager's Sickbay, his program restored by Seven. He confronts his evil counterpart. "Well, I see you've made yourself at home." Equinox EMH: "What are you doing here?" Doctor: "Taking back my Sickbay."

The Equinox EMH tries to bluff: "Stop where you are. I've planted photonic charges throughout these holoprojectors. With one command sequence I can blow out your entire-"

Doctor: "Computer, delete the Equinox EMH!" The Equinox EMH is deactivated. The Doctor hurries over to the wall panel where he terminates the transmission of Voyager's shield frequency.

On the Equinox Thompson reports: "The doctor's not transmitting any more." Burke, via comms: "Burke to doctor. Report." Doctor to Equinox, via comms: "I'm afraid your physician's no longer on call."

On the Equinox, Ransom contacts Burke. "Max, this is the Captain. I've dropped the shield grid everywhere except the Bridge and my current location. The vital systems are exposed." As he speaks, nucleogenic lifeforms emerge from fissures and start attacking the warp core. "I suggest you beam to Voyager while you still can."

Thompson: "The core is overloading. We've got to get out of here." The screenshot shows the Equinox's engine room. Fissures are open, aliens are attacking the systems, and the warp core is going critical.

Burke: "Where? Voyager's brig?" Thompson: "It's better than being vapourised!" Burke: "We still have a working shuttle." Thompson: "The Shuttlebay's two decks down. Sir, the aliens!" Burke: "We'll make it." He rushes out. Thompson has no choice but to grab a phaser and follow him.

Burke and his group battle their way toward the Shuttlebay.

As they fire phasers at fissures opening in front of them, a fissure opens behind them.

A nucleogenic lifeform strikes Burke and he falls, writhing in agony......

.....as he dies horribly.

On Voyager's bridge Kim reports: "There's only one lifesign left." This is because Burke and his supporters have been killed by the aliens. "It's Ransom." Janeway contacts Ransom: "Captain." Ransom, on viewscreen: "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, on viewscreen: "This ship is about to explode. I've got to put some distance between us. I've accessed helm control." Janeway: "You can set autonavigation and then transport to Voyager." Ransom refuses to beam to Voyager: "There's no time! You've got a fine crew, Captain. Promise me you'll get them home!" Janeway: "I promise." He ends contact.

As the Equinox races away from Voyager, Ransom puts on the synaptic stimulator and spends his last moments in his Tenkaran coast simulation.

Seven is no longer there. His conscience is at last clear.

The end of the Equinox.

Janeway can only watch as Ransom sacrifices himself to save Voyager.

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."

In Sickbay the Doctor gives Seven a final check-up. Doctor: "Good as new. I'd like you to regenerate for the next few hours. It'll help stabilise your cortical array." Seven: "Understood."

The Doctor feels he has a relationship to mend: "Regarding the unpleasantness aboard the Equinox, I hope you don't think less of me." Seven: "Your program was altered." Doctor: "It's quite disconcerting to know is that all someone has to do is flick a switch to turn me into Mr Hyde." Seven: "Perhaps you should enhance your program with security protocols. They will prevent such tampering in the future." Doctor: "Good thinking." Seven: "When I've done regenerating I will assist you." Doctor: "Thanks."

Seven: "You were off-key." Doctor: "I beg your pardon?" Seven: "'My Darling Clementine', third verse, second measure." Doctor: "That's impossible." Seven: "Your vocal modulations deviated by .3 decahertz. I can assist you with that as well." Doctor: "Really. Holodeck 2, tomorrow, 1600 hours - just you, me, and a tuning fork." Seven: "I look forward to it."

In the Briefing Room, in the presence of Chakotay and Tuvok, Janeway addresses the Equinox survivors. "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're hereby stripped of rank."

Janeway: "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."

The Equinox survivors are taken away under Tuvok's supervision.

Janeway to Chakotay: "Repairs?" Chakotay: "Coming along."

Janeway goes to the Bridge, followed by Chakotay. Their relationship is strained. She knows she has a relationship to mend. Janeway: "How's the crew?" Chakotay: "A lot of frayed nerves. Neelix is organising a pot-luck to help boost morale." Janeway: "Will I see you there?" Chakotay: "I'm replicating the salad." Janeway: "I'll bring the croutons."

She calls him closer: "Chakotay." He comes over. "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 sees that Voyager's dedication plaque has fallen off the wall. "Will you look at that?" Dusting it off: "All these years, all these battles, this thing's never fallen down before."

Chakotay replies, "Let's put it back up where it belongs."