PART B

Neelix twirls (pop-up window)

That evening holo-Neelix looks round Seven's holographic crew quarters. Holo-Neelix: "Well, it certainly is er efficient, no clutter, plenty of room to move around. But it's a little impersonal, don't you think?" Seven: "Explain." Holo-Neelix: "Well, these are your quarters, Seven. They should reflect your individuality. How about a table and a couple of chairs? - give yourself a place to work, entertain guests. Er, try to add a little colour, photographs, artworks, knick-knacks." Seven: "Knick-knacks?" Holo-Neelix: "Little things - like the wood carvings in Ensign Kim's quarters?" Seven: "I've never been to Ensign Kim's quarters. But I suppose I could replicate some items and disperse them throughout the room." Holo-Neelix: "That's a start. Some people like to display pictures of family and friends. Seven: "There's a photograph of my parents in the ship's database. I'll make a copy and place it in a frame." Holo-Neelix: "Good, good." Seven: "A multi-spectral star chart might enhance this bulkhead." Holo-Neelix: "Or a painting." Seven: "A painting of a star chart." Holo-Neelix: "I was thinking of something more abstract, more artistic. Drapes! Nothing livens up a room like good window-dressing, not to mention the added privacy." Seven: "Privacy? We're in space." Holo-Neelix: "Well, you never know when we'll be docking at a crowded space port. But we'll have to make sure that they match the carpet. I'm thinking of a Talaxian mosaic, tulaberry blue stripes with an orange inlay-" Seven: "I appreciate your aesthetic insights but I believe I can proceed on my own." The door signal sounds. door signal Seven calls: "Enter." and the doors open to reveal holo-Chakotay standing there carrying a bag. standard doors Holo-Chakotay: "Am I interrupting?" Seven: "Please come in." Holo-Chakotay: "Love what you've done with the place." He moves to the work counter and takes something out of his bag. Seven: "We're in the process of decorating." Holo-Chakotay presents her with the item from his bag: "Maybe this will help. Consider it a house-warming gift." Holo-Neelix: "It's beautiful! What is it?" Seven: "A dreamcatcher. According to native American mythology it wards off nightmares." Holo-Chakotay: "I'm impressed." Seven: "I've familiarised myself with your culture." Holo-Chakotay: "Now that you'll be sleeping instead of regenerating I thought it might come in handy." Seven: "I'm sure it will. Thank you." Holo-Neelix: "I'll let you two find a place to hang that, but it would look perfect right above the bed. Pleasant dreams." Holo-Neelix leaves. Seven: "It was thoughtful of you to stop by." Holo-Chakotay: "On move-in day I wouldn't miss it." Seven: "I suppose this makes you my inaugural guest. I'd be a negligent host if I didn't offer you a beverage. Tea?" Holo-Chakotay: "That might be difficult. No replicator." Seven: "Another flaw in the decor." Holo-Chakotay: "I'll requisition one for you first thing tomorrow." Seven: "I appreciate that, Commander." Holo-Chakotay: "'Chakotay'. We're off-duty - we can drop the formalities." Seven: "Yes, sir." Holo-Chakotay: "I enjoyed your toast today. You've come a long way. I hope to see more." Seven: "You will." Holo-Chakotay: "Good night." Seven: "Chakotay, as you might know I've taken an interest in culinary science. I'm preparing a meal tomorrow night and I thought that perhaps you could attend, to evaluate my work." Holo-Chakotay: "I'd be happy to." Seven: "1900 hours?" Holo-Chakotay: "I'll bring the wine, and the furniture." Seven: "Then you accept?" Holo-Chakotay: "It's a date."

 

In Sickbay, the Doctor is carrying out a medical check-up on Seven. The console monitor shows an anatomical scan of Seven's left arm and the cybernetic implant within.

While he carries out the medical check-up, the Doctor sings a lullaby he recorded for the baby of Paris and Torres. It is sung to the tune "Rock-a-bye-baby on the tree top...": Rock-a-bye-baby in the spacedock. When the core blows the shuttle will rock. When the hull breaks the shuttle will fall. And down will come baby, shuttle and all.

Seven: "Are you trying to soothe the infant or traumatise her?" Doctor: "The lyrics are rather grim but it's the melody they respond to. I recorded 29 more, including a couple of Klingon lullabies." He cites his favourite, which starts with the resounding words: 'Sleep, little warrior!' I could tell by the look on their faces that my gift made quite an impression." Seven: "No doubt." Doctor: "I wish you'd been there. It was a lovely shower. Tom and B'Elanna were disappointed that you didn't attend." Seven: "I was occupied." Doctor: "Are you experiencing any shoulder pain?" Seven: "Yes." Doctor: "Mmm. Your bi-radial clamp is out of alignment by .3 microns. I'm afraid it'll have to be repaired." Seven: "Can't you simply extract the component?" Doctor: "Not if you want to keep using that arm. I know it's an inconvenience, but until we can find a way to remove your cybernetic systems they'll have to be maintained. It's a minor procedure - we might as well take care of it now." Seven: "I prefer to wait." Doctor: "We'll be done in an hour." Seven: "I have research to complete." Doctor: "I suppose we can put it off until next week's physical. I also noticed that your electrolyte levels are down by 12 per cent. Have you missed any regeneration cycles?" Seven: "Last night." Doctor: "Don't tell me - more 'research'? This must be some project. Mind if I ask what you're working on?" Seven: "It's complicated." Doctor: "How do you mean?" Seven: "My personal life is none of your concern." Doctor: "I wasn't aware you had a personal life." Suddenly the ship is jolted.

 

On Voyager's bridge, when the ship is jolted, Janeway immediately enters from her Ready Room and calls: "Report!" Paris: "It was an energy discharge. 200,000 kilometres starboard." Tuvok: "It produced a level 9 shockwave." Chakotay: "Some kind of weapon?" Tuvok: "Possibly." Another one, 5 million kilometres to port." Tuvok: "A shockwave is approaching." Janeway: "Full power to the shields." Kim: "Our warp field's destabilising." Tuvok: "I'm detecting another. Distance: 50,000 kilometres." Janeway: "Turn our bow into the wave front. It'll minimise the damage." But the energy discharge impacts against the ship. Paris: "Sorry, Captain, there wasn't enough time." Kim: "We've lost warp drive." Tuvok: "I'm reading another. Distance: 26 million kilometres, too far to pose a threat." Chakotay: "If they are weapons they don't seem to be directed at us." Janeway: "Or whoever's firing them is a lousy shot."

 

Astrometrics Lab. Seven: "Astrometrics sensors recorded the explosions. I believe it's a long-range subspace warhead. The debris in this region suggests that dozens have been fired in the last few weeks." Tuvok: "The warhead destroyed something. What was it?" Seven: "It appeared to be an unmanned probe." Janeway: "This is all very intriguing but I'd just as soon get out of here before we cross paths with another one of these things. Where do we stand on repairs?" Tuvok: "Subspace radiation from the explosions is making it difficult to create a stable warp field. Lieutenant Torres estimates 48 hours." Janeway: "Can you find a way to detect the warheads before they emerge from subspace?" Seven: "I believe so. The weapons create minor gravimetric distortions as they approach the subspace barrier. I'll need to recalibrate my sensors to isolate the effect." Janeway: "Do it. Even a few seconds' warning would help us." Seven: "Yes, Captain."

A while later, Icheb enters the Astrometrics Lab. Seven: "Your duty shift does not begin for another two hours." Icheb: "The Doctor sent me to relieve you early. He wants you to spend more time regenerating." Seven: "I see he's enlisted an ally." Icheb: "'Don't kill the messenger.' It's Sophocles - 'Oedipus Rex'. I've been studying Earth literature as a part of my Academy training." Seven: "Continue these scans of the subspace barrier for an gravimetric distortions." Icheb takes over from her and she leaves the lab.

 

Seven enters Cargo Bay 2 and activates her Borg alcove, intending to regenerate as per the Doctor's request.

But Seven changes her mind and does not enter the alcove.

 

View from the lower engineering level up to the upper engineering level, by the warp core.

Everyone in Engineering is extremely busy. Torres orders Kim: "Run another diagnostic on the injector ports. Make sure they're aligned." Kim protests: "They're aligned. I checked." Torres: "Check again."

Seven enters. Torres notices her. "Come to join the fun? We're trying to cold-start the warp core, for the fifteenth time."

	Seven hands over her gift. "Perhaps this will enhance your day. It's a belated gift for your baby shower. I apologise for my absence." Torres puts it down, but Seven prompts her to open it then and there: "Proceed."
	Torres opens the box and takes out a pair of tiny booties. Seven tells her: "They're lined with bio-thermal insulation. Your infant's feet will be protected even if the external temperature drops below -40° Celsius." Torres: "Well, they're certainly unique. Thank you." Seven: "You're welcome."

Seven follows Torres as she carries on with her work. "I wish to ask you a personal question." Torres: "Shoot." Seven: "You have an appealing coiffure. What is your grooming regimen?" Torres, taken aback: "You're asking me what I do with my hair?" Seven: "Yes." Torres: "Erm, well, nothing too elaborate - sonic shower, a little engine grease. Thinking about a new look?" Seven: "Perhaps. I'll keep you apprised if you'd like." Torres: "Please do."

After Seven leaves, Torres turns to Kim. "Was that Seven of Nine?" Kim jokes: "There must be an alien intruder on board."