| Right: Astrometrics Lab's main viewscreen.
Icheb is busy in the Astrometrics Lab. Seven enters. |  |
| Seven: "You've exceeded your scheduled time here by one hour."
Icheb: "I'm almost finished." Seven: "Your work will have to wait. There's something we need to discuss." Caught up by his enthusiasm, Icheb tells her: "Look at this." |  |
| He moves up to be right beside the main viewscreen. "It's a star forming in the Orpisay nebula."
Seven: "The Orpisay nebula is out of range of our sensors." Icheb: "I increased the resolution of the long-range scanners." |  |
| Seven: "Impressive." |  |
| Icheb: "When I was on the cube, I never thought about what was outside - pulsars, quasars, nebulas, but here in this lab I feel like I can see the entire galaxy. What did you want to talk to me about? You said there was something we needed to discuss."
Seven: "Yes, that's correct. It's time for you to regenerate." Icheb nods and leaves. |  |
Late in the evening, Janeway is in her private quarters reading a book. The door signal sounds, disturbing her.  door signal It sounds again before Janeway definitely though reluctantly sets aside her book and says, "Come in."
standard doors
Seven enters. "I'd like the data you've collected on Icheb's species so I can prepare him for re-assimilation." Janeway: "Maybe we could refer to it as 'getting re-acquainted with his family'." Seven: "If you prefer." Janeway: "I'll transfer the files to Astrometrics." Seven: "Thank you." Janeway: "How'd he take the news? You haven't told him." Seven: "No." Janeway: "Why not?" Seven: "It might not be easy for him to accept. He's adapted to life on Voyager." Janeway: "And you've adapted to having him here." Seven: "My feelings are irrelevant." Janeway: "Are they? Would you like me to tell him?" Seven: "It's my responsibility but I am uncertain how to proceed." Janeway: "Well, you've already helped him make one difficult transition. How did you do that?" Seven: "By giving him the benefit of my own experiences, encouraging him to be resilient in the face of obstacles." Janeway: "Sounds like a good strategy." Seven leaves and Janeway resumes her reading. | 
|
| Seven enters Cargo Bay 2 to find Icheb working at the computer console instead of being in his alcove. The other children (Mezoti, Azan and Rebi) are in theirs, regenerating.
Seven: "Is your alcove malfunctioning?" Icheb: "I'm calculating neutrino trajectories." Seven: "You need to regenerate." Icheb: "Very well." He moves towards his alcove. |  |
| Seven realises she has to tell him: "Wait." He stops. "We've located your parents. Voyager is due to arrive at their planet tomorrow."
Icheb: "Do I have to stay with them?" Seven: "They're your parents." Icheb: "I don't remember them." Seven: "After my parents were assimilated I never saw them again. You're fortunate to have this chance." |  |
| Icheb: "What about the others?"
Seven: "We haven't been able to locate their families yet." Icheb: "That's not what I mean. What will happen to them if I leave? They depend on me." Seven: "They'll adapt." |  |
| Icheb: "I'll never see you again?"
Seven does not answer. They both know the answer is 'no'. She focuses on the practical by handing him a PADD: "I've been studying Brunali culture. It's very difficult to what you've become accustomed to on Voyager." Icheb: "In what way?" Seven: "They're an agrarian society. Their technological resources are limited." Icheb: "Are they capable of space travel?" Seven: "Yes, but most of their vessels were destroyed by the Borg." Icheb: "How will I continue my studies?" Seven: "I don't know." |  |
| Surlily Icheb goes to his alcove. Seven tries to talk to him, "Icheb." but he simply activates the regeneration cycle, terminating the conversation. |  |
| USS Voyager approaches the Brunali planet. |  |
| Kim: "I'm detecting scattered enclaves on the northern continent, all with populations of fewer than 10,000."
Tuvok: "Judging from the residual gamma radiation, it appears they've suffered numerous Borg attacks over the past decade." Seven: "That's not surprising. There's a Borg conduit less than a light-year away." Paris: "Not exactly prime real estate." Janeway: "Tuvok, run continuous scans for Borg activity." Tuvok nods. "Tom, put us into synchronous orbit." Paris: "Yes, ma'am." Janeway: "Seven, you'd better get Icheb." Seven leaves the Bridge for Sickbay. |  |
| In Sickbay the Doctor is concluding a physical check-up on Icheb.
Doctor: "According to these scans, you're in perfect health." |  |
| Icheb: "Then why does my stomach feel so strange?"
Humouring him, the Doctor runs the medical tricorder rapidly over his stomach area and jokes: "Hmm, oh, I should've known: you've got butterflies in there." He shows Icheb the tricorder reading." Icheb, not understanding: "I never assimilated butterflies." Doctor: "It's an expression used to describe anxiety or apprehension, both of which are perfectly natural reactions for somebody about to meet his long-lost parents." |  |
| The Doctor continues: "If it's any comfort, I'm sure they're just as nervous about meeting you."
Icheb: "Parents are irrelevant." Doctor: "Really. You think Naomi's mother is irrelevant to her?" Icheb: "I have Seven of Nine to assist me in my education. I have you to care for my medical needs." Doctor: "Your parents can nurture you in ways this crew can't. They can explain the Brunali culture, share their experiences with you." Icheb: "You didn't have parents." Doctor: "No-" Icheb: "You adapted to serve a vital function aboard this vessel, forged relationships with its crew, all without the benefit of parents." Doctor: "I had my programming to fall back on." Icheb: "And how would your programming respond if you were asked to live with strangers?" |  |
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Seven, to Icheb: "Are you damaged?"
Doctor: "He's fine. I was just giving him a last minute check-up." Seven to Icheb: "It's time." |  |
Icheb follows Seven out of Sickbay.
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