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SCORPION Episodes 68 & 69 Part G

Janeway: "Captain's Log, stardate 50984.3. It's been twelve hours since our confrontation with the alien lifeform. There's no sign that we're being pursued and we've had no further encounters with the Borg. I've decided to hold our course. The Northwest Passage is only one day away, and I won't allow fear to undermine this crew's sense of purpose.....even if that fear is justified."

Janeway enters Sickbay.

The Doctor is with Kim who is on the primary bio-bed.

Kim's face is covered with the same thin alien tendrils which Chakotay and Tuvok saw earlier on the dead Borg drone!

The Doctor and walks through the forcefield to meet Janeway.

Doctor: "The infection is spreading. What began with a few stray cells contaminating the chest wound is now infusing every system in his body." Janeway: "It looks like he's being transformed in some way." Doctor: "Not exactly. The alien cells are consuming his body from the inside out. In essence, Mr Kim is being eaten alive."

Janeway: "He's still conscious, Doctor!" Doctor: "I tried giving him a sedative, but it was rejected immediately. In fact, every treatment I've tried has been neutralised within seconds."

They move to the console and he activates the display which shows....

....a microscopic view of alien cells and various technical data. The cells are similar to human blood cells, but they are in constant, violent motion, agitated, the cell membrane itself luminescent. Doctor: "These are alien cells. Each one contains more than a hundred times the DNA of a human cell. It's the most densely coded lifeform I've ever seen. Even I would need years to decipher it."

Janeway realises: "They have an extraordinary immune response. Anything that penetrates the cell membrane - chemical, biological, technological - it's all instantly destroyed. That's why the Borg can't assimilate them." Doctor: "Resistance in this case is far from futile. Nevertheless, I believe Borg technology holds the key to saving Mr Kim."

Janeway: "How so?" Doctor: "I hope to unleash an army of modified Borg nanoprobes into his bloodstream, designed to target and eradicate the infection. As you know, I've been analysing the nanoprobes. They're efficient little assimilators. One can't help but admire the workmanship. But they're no match for the alien cells. So I successfully dissected a nanoprobe, and managed to access its re-coding mechanism. I reprogrammed the probe to emit the same electrochemical signatures as the alien cells. That way, the probe can do its work without being detected. Observe."

He hits another control on the console, and on the monitor the display shows the microscopic view of a Borg nanoprobe beginning to assimilate a few alien cells, turning them dark and oblong. "The alien cells are completely oblivious to the probe until it's too late. Unfortunately, I've only created a few prototypes. I'll need several days to modify enough nanoprobes to cure Ensign Kim."

Janeway: "Does Harry have several days?" Doctor: "I wish I knew."

While the Doctor carries on working, she walks up to Kim. His eyes look into hers. He is conscious and aware but unable to speak. Janeway: "Fight it, Harry. That's an order."

But Kim can only stare back at her. He does so for a moment then closes his eyes.