COLLECTIVE : Episode 136 : Part B

Seven is escorted to the hostages by the Borg male child whose subvocal processor is faulty. (we learn later that his name is Icheb), and by the youngest child, a female (whom we learn later is called Mezoti). Icheb tells Seven his designation is "Second", although he was the first to emerge from the maturation chambers: "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 the link with the Borg, they will come for us."

Mezoti notes that, "One of these captives [Paris] was attempting to disconnect the security field." She inflicts a forcefield charge on him. Paris cries out in pain as he is flung backwards where he is caught by Neelix. Seven says that was "unnecessary" but Icheb says, "He is not permanently damaged" and Mezoti says, "He learned his lesson."

Seven to the hostages: "The Borg are prepared to negotiate for your release. I will return for you." As Seven leaves, Chakotay says to her: "Give my regards to Harry." This is a clever way to let her know that Kim is not with them, and of course Seven had been astute enough not to have asked after Kim as that would have alerted the Borg to his existence.

Seven insists to Icheb that she take back to Voyager one of the dead adult drones and a datanode for analysis: "Something happened aboard this vessel that none of us understands. If it happens again it could endanger all of you."

Tuvok and Janeway arrive in Sickbay where the Doctor reports the result of his post-mortem. Doctor: "The bigger they come, the harder they fall." He shows Tuvok and Janeway a monitor. "Behold the David that slew our Goliath." Janeway: "A pathogen." Doctor: "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." Seven explains why the Borg children were not affected: the virus never reached them because they were protected within the maturation chambers, adding, "Malfunctions caused by the deaths of the adults led several of the chambers to open prematurely." Tuvok: "Does this pathogen only target the Borg?" Doctor: "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 re-introduce it, we could neutralise the drones without harming the away team." Doctor: "'Neutralise'? 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 attempt 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."

	On the Delta Flyer, Kim is woken from unconsciousness by Voyager activating his combadge.
	Kim struggles up, collects his toolkit and goes to the cockpit. He finds it empty and wonders where he is. He asks the computer the origin of the combadge signal and the computer replies, "The starship Voyager." He knows he needs to reply using the same carrier frequency.

Janeway arrives on the cube with Seven and presents a different proposal to the Borg children: "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." To Icheb: "I recognise your species. You're Brunali."  To Mezoti: "And you're Norcadian. Do you remember your world?" Mezoti: "A theta-class planetoid, population 260 million, binary suns." Janeway: "And what did it look like when those suns set at night, can you remember that?" First: "Irrelevant! The deflector, now!"

Janeway tries to stall but the First seizes Janeway by the throat and pushes her up against a control panel. First: "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." First: "Clarify." Janeway: "Seven knows a good deal about Borg systems." First: "You have two hours." Seven: "I don't know the extent of the damage. It could take longer." First: "Two hours, or your hostages die."

First: "Don't come back here, Captain."

Seven works to repair the cube. Icheb arrives: "I have the technology you've requested," and hands it to her. He goes on, "You were a drone for 18 years." Seven: "Yes." Icheb: "I accessed your datafile." Seven: "Why?" Icheb: "I thought it might be relevant. ... 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 repairs his sub-vocal processor and he says that the First had told him it could not be repaired until they reconnected with the Collective. Then he recalls that his mother had hair the same colour as Seven's. They are interrupted by the First's arrival. First: "What is the punishment for disobeying the protocols?" Icheb: "De-activation." Seven: "I engaged him in this discussion." The First orders Icheb to return to his station.

Janeway: "They do have one thing going for them. You. If there's anyone who can reach them, it's you."