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SCORPION Episodes 68 & 69 Part K

This is where Part Two of the story begins, as aired on television, starting Season 4.

As the Borg cube hurtles away from the destruction of the Borg planet by Species 8472, and carrying Voyager along with it, Chakotay orders: "Report!" Torres: "The Borg shields are offline. I've got a lock on Captain Janeway." Chakotay: "Get her out of there, and break us free of the cube. Stand by all weapons." Torres: "I'm trying to energise. The Borg are scattering the beam." Chakotay: "Compensate." Torres: "No effect." Tuvok: "We're being hailed." Chakotay: "On screen." On the viewscreen is an image of Janeway standing inside the vast interior of the Borg cube. "Commander, cut the transporter beam." Chakotay, via comms: "Captain?" Janeway, via comms: "Do it." Chakotay hesitates briefly then turns and nods to Torres, who does so. Janeway, via comms: "I have reached an agreement with the Collective. We're going to help them design a weapon against Species 8472. In exchange, they've granted us safe passage through their space." Paris: "The cube is altering course. They're heading toward the Alpha Quadrant." Janeway, via comms: "That's part of the plan. We'll work on the weapon en route. Once we're across their territory, we'll give them the nanoprobes. They appear to be holding up their end of the bargain. I suggest we do the same." Chakotay hesitates. All of his instincts tell him this alliance is wrong. For a moment, it looks as if he might protest, then, via comms: "How do you propose we begin this collaboration?" Janeway, via comms: "I'm going to work here, on the cube. They have technology that'll make the job go faster. I want to take advantage of it." Chakotay, via comms: "It's not necessary for you to stay there. We can set up a comlink with the Borg and-" Janeway, via comms: "It's part of the deal. I work here." There is an awkward pause - there is tension between them. But he acknowledges, via comms: "Alright." He adds: "As long as we're cooperating, maybe the Borg would be willing to disengage their tractor beam. We can match their course without a leash." Janeway, via comms: "I'll propose it." She addresses Tuvok: "Mr Tuvok, transport to my co-ordinates." Tuvok, via comms: "Understood." Janeway to Chakotay, via comms: "We're going to make this work, Commander. Janeway out." There is a long moment as the crewmembers wait for Chakotay to take the next step. Chakotay to Tuvok: "You heard the Captain." Tuvok leaves the Bridge for the transporter room. However, although Chakotay has adhered to Janeway's strategy, he is not happy about it. the audio clip features some of the story's dramatic music

In Sickbay, Chakotay is looking at a microscopic image of lots of Borg nanoprobes. Many of them are agitated, knocking into each other, as if looking for something to attack.

Doctor: "I've replicated nearly ten million Borg nanoprobes each of them reprogrammed to my specifications, each capable of targeting the alien tissue." Chakotay: "Assimilating it?" Doctor: "Just momentarily. The Borg technology will denaturate within seconds, taking the alien tissue along with it."

They move to the primary bio-bed where Kim is still lying. Now Kim's face and upper torso are nearly covered with alien tissue and tendrils - the infection has spread. Even though Kim is still conscious, his eyes are closed and covered with the alien tissue. The Doctor, with a hypospray loaded with reprogrammed Borg nanoprobes, to Kim: "Mr Kim, I'm about to inject your carotid artery. You'll feel a tingling sensation. Don't be alarmed."

The Doctor administers the medication. hypospray injection

Kim's face and body begins to transform. The alien tissue starts to disappear. Kim is able to openly his eyes partly.

Doctor, pleased at the result: "Nice to see you again, Ensign." Kes, checking a monitor display: "It's working." Doctor: "Prepare another dose of nanoprobes." Kes: "Yes, Doctor." Kes heads for the medical lab. Chakotay: "Good work. Let me know when he's back on his feet." He turns to go but the Doctor stops him: "Commander."

Doctor: I must tell you, I have my doubts about this alliance. You may have convinced the Borg the nanoprobes can defeat their enemy. But a medical treatment is a long way from a weapon of war." There is a slight pause. Chakotay has his own doubts but does not voice them. "Leave that to the Captain. This situation is unpredictable. So we're going to stay at full red alert. Keep all information about the nanoprobes stored in your holo-matrix."

Doctor: Don't worry. I'll delete myself at the first sign of trouble." He jokes: "Well, maybe not the first sign." But Chakotay does not share the joke, and leaves.

On the Bridge, Chakotay is on edge, uneasy about this situation but trying to carry out orders despite his doubts. Torres: "We've just received word. Tuvok beamed to the cube. He's joined the Captain." Chakotay: "Keep a transporter lock on both of them." Torres: "I'll try. But the Borg are already regenerating their shields." Chakotay: "Try matching their shield frequencies." Torres: "It won't work. They'll be able to adapt too quickly." Chakotay is on edge and responds sharply: "I don't want to hear what we can't do, Lieutenant! Just find a way to get our people out of there if we have to."

Torres is taken aback by his sharp tone but replies: "Aye, sir."

Paris: "They've released their tractor beam." Chakotay: "Match their course and speed." Paris does so. "I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but it looks like the Borg are co-operating."