Part B
UNITY : Episode 59 : Part B

Orum and Riley persuade Chakotay that the only option is to temporarily join his mind with Riley and a few others in the co-operative - the co-operative can thus activate a neuro-electric field and heal Chakotay's damaged neural tissue. They can do this as the members of the co-operative still have Borg neuro-processors implanted in their nervous systems. They assure him the link is temporary: they will use a neuro-transponder attached to the base of Chakotay's skull and remove it immediately after the treatment. Chakotay agrees to the treatment

The co-operative members gather who are to participate in the neural link. Riley reassures Chakotay that Orum will "take every precaution". Orum attaches the neuro-transponder to Chakotay.

The neural link begins.

Chakotay sees images from the minds of the co-operative members including powerful images from Riley's mind.
Some images from the neural link:

Afterwards Chakotay feels much better but finds that...

...the link, particularly that with Riley, still exists but will wear off after an hour or so. They both know that Riley wants to be close to him and know everything about him. Chakotay knows that her favourite flowers are blue-bonnets, which as a child she used to pick with her grandfather at her home in Texas.

Chakotay uses a hyperspanner to repair the co-operative's communications array. As Orum thanks him, they learn that Voyager has arrived, having tracked Chakotay's buoy. Riley beams aboard Voyager with Chakotay.

In a meeting with Janeway in the Briefing Room she requests, on behalf of the co-operative, that Voyager reactivate the neuro-electric generator on the Borg cube and aim it at the planet so that they can re-establish the neural link among the ex-Borg on the planet. This would stop the fighting and they would then unite to build a true community. Janeway is sceptical but promises to reconsider, but will certainly provide such help such as medical supplies. Riley says her thanks and leaves.

When Janeway asks his opinion, Chakotay tells her that Riley is sincere, but Janeway says that she will not activate the generator: it is dangerous and who knows what the repercussions might be, and would impose a choice on thousands who did not choose it. Chakotay says he will inform Riley of her decision.

Riley returns to the planet, along with a group from Voyager to deliver the supplies to the co-operative. There Riley says farewell to Chakotay, turning down an offer to go with him - she is needed here. He says he understands - he knows her better than he has ever known anyone.

Chakotay and Torres are returning to Voyager in a shuttlecraft. Torres tells Chakotay that he needs a good thrashing on the hoverball court to take his mind off things. Suddenly Chakotay hears the voice of the co-operative in his mind. They are using the neural link they had created when they treated him. They urgently demand his help: the raiders are attacking the bunker and he is told to go to the Borg cube. Chakotay stuns Torres with a phaser and takes the shuttlecraft to the Borg cube where he beams on board.

	On the Borg cube, the drones re-activate.

Kim and Ayala are carrying the unconscious Chakotay as drones approach them. The drones adapt to Kim's phaser fire and the Voyager crewmembers are beamed out only just in time.

The Borg cube explodes and Voyager escapes the blast by a fraction of a second. Voyager receives an audio signal from the planet: it is the co-operative, renamed the New Collective. They apologise for coercing Chakotay into helping them "but it was necessary for our survival", and they thank him for his help. They explain that the link with him has been severed.

In Sickbay the Doctor reports that Chakotay's neuropeptides levels have returned to normal and there are no residual traces of the neural link. Chakotay talks with Janeway in private: he is unhappy about the experience. Janeway: "Helping others, Chakotay, that's part of who you are." ... Chakotay: "But they didn't hesitate to impose their collective will on me when it served their interests. I wonder how long their ideals will last in the face of that kind of power."