PART F

In Sickbay, after treatment, the Doctor gives Seven a hypospray injection and she wakes. Seven: "Commander?" But holo-Chakotay is not there. The Doctor tells her as she orientates herself: "If you're looking for your other holographic friend, he's offline at the moment. Your cortical node began to shut down. Fortunately I managed to stabilise it before there was any permanent damage." Seven: "It was functioning properly when you examined me two days ago." Doctor: "I'm going to run a diagnostic on your entire cortical array, but it might help if I knew what you were doing before you collapsed. Did you suffer a physical injury of some kind?" Seven: "No." Doctor: "Were you exposed to any unusual radiation?" Seven: "No." Doctor: "What exactly were you doing in there?" Seven: "Research." Doctor: "That simulation of Commander Chakotay mentioned that the two of you were having an argument. Was that part of your research? I couldn't help but notice that you'd created some quarters for yourself, a new dress, dinner for two..." Seven: "I trust that you'll respect doctor-patient confidentiality." Doctor: "Of course." Seven: "I've been conducting simulations to explore different aspects of my humanity." Doctor: "Such as?" Seven: "Social activities, friendships with the crew, intimate relations." Doctor: "I take it our First Officer is your romantic interest." Seven: "Commander Chakotay seemed like an appropriate choice. He has many admirable qualities." Doctor: "So he does. What prompted all this?" Seven: "Unimatrix Zero. I've been trying to re-create some of the experiences I had there. Ever since it was destroyed, my life has seemed incomplete. I wanted to feel those emotions again." Doctor: "Well, this is encouraging. You might be ready to start forming deeper relationships. I'm proud of you, Seven." He beams. Seven: "Your pride is misplaced. I intend to delete the programs." He stops smiling and becomes very serious. "Why?" Seven: "I can no longer perform my duties efficiently. My personal life has become a distraction." Doctor: "It's supposed to be a distraction! You simply have to find the right balance between work and recreation." Seven: "Inform me when you've finished the diagnostic." She heads for the door. Doctor: "Seven," and she turns back to look at him, "for what it's worth: you have excellent taste - your quarters, they suited you."

hypospray injection

 

In engineering, Kim makes the final checks. Kim: "Antimatter flow stable. Injector ports aligned. That should do it."

The warp core comes online. (pop-up window)

"Torres to bridge. Looks like we've got warp drive back."

Janeway: "Well done." To Paris: "Tom." Paris: "With pleasure." He activates the controls and Voyager goes to warp.

But Paris reports: "I'm detecting another subspace warhead." Janeway: "Range?" Paris: "12 million kilometres, closing from astern." Red alert. Where's the target probe?" Paris: "It's in a totally different trajectory." Tuvok: "When we engaged the engines the warhead must've diverted from its target and locked onto our warp signature." Janeway: "Evasive maneuvers." Paris: "It's matching our course. 8 million kilometres."

Voyager fires a full spread of photon torpedoes aft. (pop-up window)

Janeway: "Can you get a weapons lock?" Tuvok: "Affirmative." Janeway: "Photon torpedoes. Full spread."

The warhead's weapons destroy the photon torpedoes. Tuvok: "Our torpedoes have been neutralised." Paris: "5 million kilometres."

Janeway, via comms: "Bridge to Seven of Nine." Seven, via comms: "Here, Captain."

Janeway, via comms: "Can you give me anything on the warhead's internal circuitry?" Seven, via comms: "Stand by." She calls up the data which displays on the viewscreen. "I have it." Janeway, via comms: "What can you tell me about the detonator?" Seven, via comms: "The weapon is armed with proximity resonance circuitry." Janeway, via comms: "What's the activation frequency?" Seven, via comms: "4.84 gigahertz."

Tuvok: "I may be able to disarm it with an anti-resonance pulse." Janeway: "Do it." Paris: "2 million kilometres."

Tuvok: "Initiating the pulse." Janeway, via comms: "Seven, status?" Seven, via comms: "The warhead's rotating its activation frequency. It's still armed."

Paris: "1 million kilometres." Chakotay to Tuvok: "Can you compensate?" Tuvok: "Negative."

Seven, via comms: "Captain, I believe I can disarm the warhead." Janeway, via comms: "How?" Seven, via comms: "By extracting the detonator with our transporter."

Janeway, via comms: "At this velocity? The device is too small, you'd never get a lock." Seven, via comms: "I can use our sub-micron imager to focus our targetting scanners. Please, give me transporter control." Paris: "800,000." Janeway nods to Tuvok, who transfers transporter control to the Astrometrics Lab. Janeway tells Seven, via comms: "Alright, Seven, it's up to you."

Seven, via comms: "I have a lock. Energising. The detonator's protected by tritanium shielding. I can penetrate it but not at this distance. I'll have to wait until it's closer." Paris: "500,000." Janeway, via comms: "Status?" Seven, via comms: "Not yet." Paris: "4, 3, 2..." Seven activates the transporter: "Brace for impact!"

But Seven has done it! - when the warhead hits Voyager's shields, no explosion takes place and the warhead disintegrates harmlessly.

 

The Doctor enters Cargo Bay 2. cargo bay doors Seven: "Doctor, you've come to deliver unpleasant news." Doctor: "Is it that obvious? I've completed my diagnostic. What you experienced was no malfunction. Your cortical node was designed to shut down your higher brain functions when you achieve a certain level of emotional stimulation." Seven: "Clarify." Doctor: "It appears to be a fail-safe mechanism to deactivate drones who start to regain their emotions. Knowing the Borg, it makes perfect sense. Finding one's heart is the surest road to finding one's individuality." Seven: "I'm no longer linked to the hive mind." Doctor: "The technology's built into your node. It's simply remained dormant until now. Seven: "Can you repair me?" Doctor: "Possibly. I've been thinking about a way to reconfigure the micro-circuitry. I won't lie to you, Seven. It would entail multiple surgeries and the recovery might be difficult. But I believe we could eventually succeed. I'll prepare the surgical bay. We can begin tomorrow morning." Seven: "No." Doctor: "Without the procedure you won't be able to continue your simulations." Seven: "I've experienced enough humanity for the time being. They were only holographic fantasies, Doctor, an inefficient use of my time." Doctor: "You don't really believe that." Seven: "The fail-safe device will ensure that I'm no longer distracted." Doctor: "That's the Borg talking, not you. As your physician, as your friend, I'm asking you to let me proceed." Seven: "I need to regenerate." She works controls on the Borg interface to prepare for her regeneration cycle. Doctor: "Seven-" But she goes to her alcove. "Good night, Doctor."

 

Voyager, at cruising speed in deep space.

Seven is walking briskly along a corridor. Chakotay hurries to catch up her, joking about her haste: "Where's the fire?" Seven: "Fire?" Chakotay: "You seemed to be in a hurry."

Seven: "I have to finish my report on the subspace warheads." Chakotay: "The ship's out of danger, thanks to you. You've earned a break. Why don't you join me in the Messhall? Neelix is going to give a cooking lesson: 'Talaxian Tenderloin in Ten Minutes'." Seven: "I'm no longer interested in cooking." Chakotay: "Then come for the company. B'Elanna's going to be there. Tuvok even promised to show up. It'll be fun!" Seven: "I appreciate your offer. Another time perhaps." Chakotay: "You know, you should try socialising with the crew a little more. Might do you some good."

As he leaves, she thinks about his words as she returns to work.