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SCORPION Episodes 68 & 69 Part A

Two Borg cubes issue the standard Borg challenge. "We are the Borg. Existence as you know it is over. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Resistance is-" But a devastating weapon obliterates the cubes.

This is a 16th century workshop, the workshop of the noted Leonardo da Vinci, set in 1502. There is a workbench on which are a various sketches, including a preliminary sketch for the Mona Lisa, models, pigment jars and half-prepared canvases.

It is USS Voyager's holodeck, and a hologram of Leonardo da Vinci himself is working in the workshop, on a mechanical model. The model consists of an elbow joint built out of bronze and iron, the joint creaking with movement. It also has a mechanical forearm and hand. It is a complex, almost whimsical design replete with gears, pulleys, counterweights-a kind of medieval "contraption". The mechanical arm is attached to a life-sized artist's mannikin - a half-torso made of wood. The Da Vinci hologram makes an adjustment to the arm.

The hologram is of Da Vinci when he was in his prime - a vital 50 years old, with the distinctive beard, bushy eyebrows and Renaissance artist's clothes. He speaks English with a light Italian accent.

The Da Vinci hologram is chatting to Kathryn Janeway: "The Cardinal is a thief. I delivered two portraits of his mindless nephew more than three months ago. 'To be depicted in the heroic mode of an Hercules or an Achilles', so specified our contract. I complied, making that young fool of a nephew look far more heroic than nature ever intended - an act on my part far greater than anything accomplished by Hercules or Achilles."

Da Vinci hologram: "And what have I, the 'Divine Leonardo da Vinci', received in payment?" Janeway, smiling: "The Cardinal's eternal gratitude?" Da Vinci hologram: "Essatto! In other words, Signorina - less than nothing!" Janeway: "All the more reason why you should accept my proposal..." Da Vinci hologram: "Money is beside the point, Signorina...Catarina, is it?"

Janeway: "Yes. I'm only asking for a corner, one bench, a place to work on my own projects - paintings, sculptures. Just being here in your company is inspiring to me." Da Vinci hologram: "Flattery, Catarina, is also beside the point. Besides, I prefer my solitude. Scuze." He activates the invention of his he has been working on - its mechanical arms moves up and down. "Maraviglioso." Janeway is for a moment lost in the charm of the moment. She is getting a sense of Da Vinci and how his mind worked is the main reason for her being here in the first place. Janeway: "What will you call it?" Da Vinci hologram: "The Arm of Hephaestos." Janeway: "The god of the forge." Da Vinci hologram: "Every blacksmith who has ever swung a hammer will thank me for this creation." Janeway: "Someone once said: 'All invention is but an extension of the body of man'." He cannot help but respect the quickness of her mind. Despite his prickliness, he is growing fond of her. Da Vinci hologram: "Do not think that just because I have enjoyed your visit today, that I am prepared to turn my workshop into a traveller's inn." Suddenly there is a mechanical screech as the mechanical arm stops working - one of the gears has broken. The Da Vinci hologram curses: "Che catso." He tinkers with the arm, trying to remove the broken gear. Janeway starts to help. Janeway: "Here, let me help you..." Da Vinci hologram: "You will get your hands covered in goose grease." Janeway jokes lightly: "It's good for the skin." Da Vinci hologram: "Let me see if we can find his big brother." He refers to the gear. "Hopefully he will be stronger." They move to a tabletop with a wooden box of mechanical parts and he starts sorting through the gears. Janeway notices the stand containing a number of the maestro's working drawings. Intrigued by the one at the front, she picks it out - it is a sketch of his famous flying machine. She handles the drawing almost reverently as she examines it. Janeway: "This looks like a flying machine." Da Vinci hologram: "I thought that because my imagination took flight so easily my body could do the same. I was wrong." Janeway goes to the corner of the workshop where the flying machine is hanging from the ceiling. "It's this flapping approach. You designed your machine to mimic the way a bat or a sparrow flies." Da Vinci hologram: "Yes, yes. So?" Janeway: "So what if you based it on the hawk instead?" Da Vinci hologram: "The hawk - a creature that glides through the air." Janeway smiles. "Essatto." The Da Vinci hologram is impressed. "We will design a new machine, and you, Catarina, will help me fly it." Janeway: "I'll need someplace to work." She indicates the workshop. The Da Vinci hologram jokingly quotes her: "'A corner, one workbench.'" Janeway: "That will be fine." Da Vinci hologram: "Ten scudi a week and you provide your own materials." Janeway: "Seven." She glances, most interested, at the confusion of (to her) historical mysteries and contraptions on the table. "And I might need to borrow a few things, on occasion." The Da Vinci hologram has managed to repair the mechanical arm. "Then we have an agreement." Suddenly Chakotay's voice interrupts as he contacts Janeway via comms. comms. signal "Chakotay to Janeway." She taps her combadge. combadge "Go ahead." Chakotay, via comms: "Captain, we need you in Engineering. There's something here you should see." Janeway, via comms: "On my way." To the computer: "Computer, end program." The workshop, its contents and the Da Vinci hologram dematerialise to leave the basic interior of the Holodeck. Janeway heads for the door.