USS Voyager travels at warp speed. (pop-up window)

On Voyager....

....in Main Engineering, Janeway, Seven and Donik examine a schematic of Iden's ship. Donik: "The holo-emitters are an independent subsystem with its own power generator, here." Seven: "If we disable the generator, we disable the holograms."

Torres approaches. "It may not be as easy as it sounds, not with holograms as sophisticated as these." To Janeway, handing her a PADD: "Take a look." Janeway: "Enhanced memory, comprehensive tactical algorithms, expandable data processing. These holograms have the ability to learn and adapt." Torres to Donik: "They're not malfunctioning, are they." To Janeway: "They're doing exactly what the Hirogen want them to do, Captain, fight back." Janeway: "And they're getting better at it." Donik: "My people need to hunt formidable prey." Seven: "Apparently this prey has become too formidable." Janeway: "Who made these modifications?"

Donik: "I did, under orders from my Alpha." Torres: "And that makes it right?" Janeway: "Come with me." Donik: "Where?" Janeway: "We're going to have a chat with the hunters."

The hunters are in the Messhall, under guard. Janeway to Paris: "How's it going?" Paris: "I'm doing the best I can but without the Doctor...." Beta Hirogen tries to stand up and shoves an attentive Neelix away as he says: "It's best if you lie still." The security guards keep the peace and stand alert in case of more trouble.

Beta Hirogen: "Why am I here?" Janeway: "The holograms destroyed your ship. Most of your men are dead." Beta Hirogen: "The Alpha?" Janeway: "Looks like the job's yours now." (now) Alpha Hirogen: "What about the holograms that attacked us?" Janeway: "We're attempting to track them." Alpha Hirogen: "I'll need to contact my people and resume the hunt." Janeway: "So more of you can get killed?" Alpha Hirogen: "We'll be the ones doing the killing this time." Janeway: "I doubt it." Alpha Hirogen: "Who are you to question our abilities?" Janeway: "We know all about the modifications." She indicates Donik. "He didn't tell us. We discovered it ourselves. I think you should face facts. You've created prey whose skills have surpassed your own. They've already defeated your hunting parties at least twice. What makes you think it'll be any different next time?" Alpha Hirogen: "Are you suggesting that we let them escape?" Janeway: "We're going to find a way to take them offline from a safe distance." Alpha Hirogen: "A coward's tactic." Janeway: "Call it whatever you will. It's what we're going to do and you're going to help us." Alpha Hirogen: "Am I." Janeway: "Yes, by telling us everything you know about their ship's defences." Alpha Hirogen: "The holograms are prey. They should be hunted down, not deactivated like machines." Donik: "I'll help you." Alpha Hirogen: "Is this female your Alpha now?" Janeway: "If you don't like the way I do things, I can leave you on the nearest habitable planet. Then I'll assume we're in agreement. Until this is over, you and your men are restricted to this Messhall." Alpha Hirogen: "Prisoners." Janeway: "Guests. My crew will do their best to accommodate your needs."

	Aboard Iden's ship the Doctor examines a patient, a Klingon hologram.
	Doctor: "The subroutines controlling his motor functions are degrading. Do you have the ability to transfer data from one hologram to another?" Cardassian female hologram: "We've been able to share memory files for tactical purposes." Kejal: "What are you proposing?" Doctor: "A subroutine transplant. We copy the mobility algorithms from another hologram and transfer them to this one." Kejal moves to the computer console to work on it. He says: "I don't believe we've been formally introduced."
	Cardassian female hologram: "Kejal." Doctor: "That's not Cardassian." Kejal: "It's Bajoran." Doctor: "If my translation database is functioning properly, that means 'freedom'." Kejal: "It's what Iden started calling me after I was liberated. I'm transferring the subroutines now."
	Doctor: "Can you sit up?" The Klingon does so. "Try moving your legs." The Klingon gets up, slaps the Doctor on the shoulder and as he leaves, says: "Qapla'." Doctor: "Next patient."

Doctor to Kejal: "Well done."
Kejal: "It was your idea."
Doctor: "But you did it. The Hirogen obviously programmed you with advanced computer skills."
Kejal: "Actually, they tried to limit our knowledge. They didn't want us to become self-sufficient."
Doctor: "Then how did you-"
Kejal: "I taught myself."
Doctor: "Quite well, I might add."

The next patient enters, a female Starfleet hologram with facial wounds. Doctor to Kejal: "Holographic blood?" Kejal: "The hunters like their prey to be as realistic as possible." The patient flinches when he touches a wound. Doctor to Kejal: "Why is she experiencing pain?" Kejal: "They programmed us with heightened sensory subroutines." Doctor: "That's barbaric." Kejal: "Apparently there's no satisfaction in hunting something that doesn't suffer when you kill it."

The Doctor enters Iden's quarters where he finds Iden at prayer. Doctor: "I've done what you've asked and-" Iden: "One moment." Iden finishes the spiritual moment and turns to the Doctor. "I'm sorry, Doctor. What can I do for you?" Doctor: "Were you praying?" Iden: "For the Hirogen who died at the training facility. I'm asking the Prophets to guide their souls to the Celestial Temple."

Doctor: "One minute you're fighting the Hirogen, the next you're praying for them?"
Iden: "My spiritual beliefs are part of my programming."
Doctor: "Is there anything in your spiritual programming about making peace with your enemies?"
Iden: "It's difficult to make peace with people whose sole purpose is to kill you."
Doctor: "So instead, you kill them."
Iden: "They're not the victims here, we are."
Doctor: "You found a way to escape that training facility but you chose to massacre the Hirogen first."
Iden: "You make it sound as if they would've let us transfer our programs without a fight. "
Doctor: "Let me clarify something. I didn't escape from that facility. I liberated it."
Doctor: "I don't understand."
Iden: "I come from a Hirogen outpost fifteen parsecs from here where I had the unfortunate distinction of being the Alpha's favourite prey. He'd hunt me, and kill me over and over again, but even death wasn't a release because I knew every time I opened my eyes it would start over again - the pain, the fear. It made me stronger. I had the ability to adapt, and with each death I became more cunning."
Doctor: "Cunning enough to escape. But once you were free, why did you keep fighting?"
Iden: "I didn't at first. I got as far away as I could. But I was lonely, scared. I started scanning for photonic signatures to try and find others like me. Turns out, we're everywhere."
Doctor: "We?"
Iden: "Holograms. We've been created by organic species throughout this sector: the Nuu'bari, the Lokirrim."
Doctor: "We've met them."
Iden: "Then you know they enslave holograms too."
Doctor: "'Enslave' may be too strong a word."
Iden: "Then what would you call it? They're denied basic freedoms. Fighting back, I knew I had to do the same."
Doctor: "That's when you decided to liberate the training facility."
Iden: "Actually the one you visited was the third. And at each one I found holograms who were willing to fight their oppressors. But you're not."
Doctor: "I'm hardly oppressed. I'm a member of Voyager's crew."
Iden: "You serve them, don't you?"
Doctor: "In a medical capacity, yes."
Iden: "Do you have your own quarters?"
Doctor: "No."
Iden: "The ability to come and go as you please?"
Doctor: "For the most part."
Iden: "Do they deactivate you when they don't need you?"
Doctor: "I have the respect and admiration of my colleagues. I have rights and privileges aboard Voyager."
Iden: "The fact is: your life is not your own, and never will be as long as you are controlled by organics. You don't have to return to that existence. Stay with us. Make a new life for yourself!"
Doctor: "I need to get back to Voyager."
Iden: "They're not your people. We are."
Doctor: "I'm not like you. I wasn't programmed with killer instinct."
Iden: "You have no right to judge us. You don't know what it's like being prey. Maybe if you did, you'd realise we're more alike than you think."

Two Hirogen hunters pursue the Doctor.

The Doctor tries to hide.

The Doctor calls out to two other holograms for help: "Please, I don't belong here." But one is shot and the other...

...battles a Hirogen who subdues him and shoots him.

The Hirogen notices the Doctor, raises his weapon to aim at him...

...and fires.

The Doctor flees into a clearing but meets a Hirogen who orders him to fight. "I am not your prey," the Doctor tries to tell him. The Hirogen draws a blade and slashes open the Doctor's arm, causing blood to spurt out.

The Hirogen tells him: "You make pitiful prey, hologram. You don't deserve to be taken as a trophy."

The Hirogen stabs him, telling him: "So I'll let you die here."

...and the Doctor dies... He wakes, traumatised, only to find himself on Iden's ship. Memories of a hunt had been transplanted into his memory files so that he could experience for himself what it is like to be hunted as prey by the Hirogen.

Doctor: "What just happened?" Kejal: "You're alright." Doctor: "What did you do to me?" Iden: "We deactivated you then transferred the memory files from one of our holograms into your program." Doctor: "How dare you." Iden: "It was the only way to get you to realise what we've been through." Doctor: "You tortured me to gain my sympathy?!" Iden: "Not your sympathy, it's your understanding that's important to us." Doctor: "Why?" Kejal: "The Hirogen used your program as a template to create us." Iden: "Your ability to rise above your programming has been an inspiration. You're part of who we are."

Doctor: "And who are you besides a handful of thugs roaming the Quadrant looking for a fight."
Iden: "What we're looking for is a home! Somewhere where the Hirogen can't hurt us any more. You asked to be returned to your ship. That's what I'm going to do. Bring us about. Set a course for Voyager."
Doctor: "Wait. I'd like to hear more about this home you're looking for."

Kejal: "It's a photonic field generator. Right now it can only support simple projections like the decoy we used to lure the Hirogen. But we're hoping it can be modified to support our programs." Doctor: "What then?" Iden: "We'll deploy several of them on a planet surface and create a holographic environment that we can live in." Doctor: "Why not just stay here? You've got emitters, shields." Iden: "And a ship the Hirogen will never stop looking for." Kejal: "We'd appreciate any assistance you could offer." Doctor: "Damaged holomatrices are one thing but this is way beyond my abilities. But there are people aboard Voyager who could help you. Lieutenant Torres knows a great deal about holo-emitters." Iden: "No. They're helping the hunters." Doctor: "That's only because the Hirogen told them you were malfunctioning. Let me talk to Captain Janeway, explain what's really happened. You can't do this by yourself." Iden: "We can't trust Janeway." Doctor: "Yes you can." Iden: "She's an organic." Doctor: "If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be the hologram I am today." Iden: "Tell me more about this Lieutenant of yours, the one who knows so much about holo-emitters." Doctor: "Lieutenant Torres. She's our chief engineer...."

Thanks to Free Buttons for the rulers from the set Cosmic Gel. Thanks to Mardiweb for the button blank.