THE KILLING GAME
Episodes 86 and 87
Part H

 

Torres notices the Nazi Kapitan staring at her. He approaches and stands right in front of her. Torres, defiantly: "What are you staring at?"

Nazi Kapitan: "Get up." She does so. "You deceived me." Torres: "Really." Nazi Kapitan: "I should've seen through your flirtations." Torres: "If you say so."

Nazi Kapitan: "The thought of you carrying my child disgusts me!"

Torres: "You're not the only one."

Angrily the Kapitan strikes her.

Paris leaps up and grabs holds of her. He does it partly as an instinctive protection, but less to console her as the Kapitan might think, and to stop Torres from attacking him. For Paris knows, as the Kapitan does not, that striking a Klingon or even a half-Klingon like Torres is just asking for trouble! Paris to the Kapitan: "Look, I don't know what went on between the two of you, but it's obviously over now." Nazi Kapitan: "I see you're acquainted. Do you find her as attractive as I once did?" Nazi Kapitan to Torres: "I'll miss our nights together."

Paris, making angrily for the Kapitan: "Pig!"

The Kapitan instantly draws his pistol and aims it at Paris.

Turanj to the Kapitan: "Put the weapon away. Now." After a long tense moment, the Kapitan does so.

Paris to Torres: "Funny, he doesn't seem like your type."

Holodeck 2 - Klingon caves. Neelix: "Doctor, trouble." Doctor: "Now what?" Neelix: "The Klingons are starting to wake up from their nap." Doctor, working at the console: "Alright, alright, hold on." Neelix: "What are you doing?" Doctor: "I've established an interface with Holodeck 1. I want to monitor what's going on over there in case the crew needs my help."

A Klingon approaches them: "Qapla'!" Neelix to the Doctor: "Uh-oh. What should we do?" Doctor to Neelix: "Not having a cure for Klingon hangovers I couldn't tell you." Klingon to them both: "The battle has begun. Our plan is to penetrate the enemy's position, cut his forces in half." Neelix: "And a very good plan it is. Best of luck with it."

Klingon: "You," tossing Neelix a bat'leth, "will lead us into battle, great warrior." Neelix: "Maybe I'll just watch from here, try to offer up some pointers as things develop."

Klingon, threatening him with a d'k tagh knife: "Lead the attack or die here by my hand!"

Doctor to Neelix: "You heard him. Don't argue with the man, run along. I'll re-attach any severed limbs, just don't misplace them." Klingon to the Doctor, compelling him to accept the knife: "You! Cover our flank! Qapla'!" Neelix, following the Klingons: "Qapla'." Doctor, following Neelix, matter-of-factly: "Tally-ho."

Captain's Ready Room. The door signal sounds. Alpha Hirogen: "Enter." The doors open Prisoner Janeway is escorted in from the Bridge by a Hirogen Hunter. Alpha Hirogen to the Hunter: "Leave her." The Hunter leaves. Janeway: "I see you've done some redecorating." Alpha Hirogen: "Your attempt to retake this vessel was inventive. From the day I seized Voyager you put up a dauntless fight, but your fight is over now. You're going to help me shut down these simulations and repair the holodecks." Janeway: "No. We'll destroy this ship before we surrender it." Alpha Hirogen: "Don't threaten me, Captain. I've faced far more intimidating prey than you. If this fight continues, I promise you I will hunt down and kill every member of your crew." Janeway: "Well, by then this ship will be damaged beyond repair and there won't be much of a trophy left, will there?" Alpha Hirogen: "Perhaps I should kill you and find someone who will co-operate." Janeway: "Good luck. You'll get the same response from all of them." Alpha Hirogen: "You don't realise what's at stake." Janeway: "I know what's at stake - your sick little game." Alpha Hirogen, standing up, angrily: "This is not a game!" Janeway: "Then what is it?" Alpha Hirogen: "I'm trying to create a future for my people." Janeway, surprised: "Future?" Alpha Hirogen: "I don't expect you to understand. You are prey." Janeway: "You underestimate us." Alpha Hirogen: "Yes, perhaps I do." Janeway: "I'm listening."

She sits down. Alpha Hirogen: "My people are hunting themselves into extinction. Your holodeck technology might offer us an alternative, a new way of life. Instead of scattering ourselves across the Quadrant in pursuit of prey, we could simulate the hunt and give ourselves a chance to rebuild our civilisation." Janeway understands: "And confine your killing to holograms." Alpha Hirogen: "With the safety protocols offline, the pursuit is just as challenging." Janeway: "Oh, I understand what you're trying to do, but then, why have you been torturing us? Why have you thrown my crew into one brutal simulation after another?"

Alpha Hirogen: "I've been studying your behaviour as I do with all my prey, but your holodecks allowed me to go further, to explore your culture, your history. I must admit, I've learned a great deal." Janeway: "How so?" Alpha Hirogen: "Your people have faced extinction many times, but you've always managed to avoid it. You seem to recognise the need for change." Janeway: "Yes. You've got one of those moments running right now on the holodeck. We called it World War II." Alpha Hirogen: "One of your most difficult eras, and yet you survived." Janeway: "It wasn't easy." Alpha Hirogen: "You are a resilient species. I admire your cunning." Janeway: "Let's end this. I'll call a ceasefire and we can try to contain the damage. I want my ship back," taking her rightful position behind the captain's desk, "but in return I will give you what you need to create the holodeck technology. It would be cunning for you to agree."

USS Voyager, surrounded by Hirogen starships.

Holodeck 1 - Le Coeur de Lion in Sainte Claire. Turanj drinks some wine then quickly sets the glass down. Turanj: "Synthetic and undrinkable. I'm tired of this simulation."

Nazi Kapitan: "Mein Herr, a word with you." Turanj aloud to himself: "And these holograms are becoming annoying as well." Nazi Kapitan: "What are we waiting for? Why don't we execute these prisoners?" Turanj: "Orders, from the Kommandant." Nazi Kapitan: "If I may speak freely." Turanj nods. "The Kommandant has been acting strangely the past few days. He's been questioning German superiority. Perhaps we shouldn't follow his orders so blindly." Turanj: "You will do as he says as long as I tell you to." Nazi Kapitan: "I don't know how much longer I can stand being trapped in here." Turanj: "Perhaps you would enjoy some entertainment."

He goes over to the prisoners and addresses Seven: "Sing."

Seven: "I will not." Turanj: "Sing," drawing his pistol and aiming it at her, "or you will die."

Seven: "Then I'll die." Tuvok gets up. "Seven, you're a valued member of this crew. The logical response would be to grant his request." Seven: "Logic is irrelevant." Defiantly to Turanj: "One day the Borg will assimilate your species despite your arrogance. When that moment arrives, remember me."

The com. signal sounds. Alpha Hirogen, via comms: "Bridge to Holodeck 1." Turanj, putting away his pistol, via comms: "Yes." Alpha Hirogen, via comms: "I've come to an agreement with Captain Janeway. Call a ceasefire." Turanj, via comms: "What?!" Tuvok, via comms: "Captain?" Janeway, via comms: "It's true, Tuvok. Our first order of business is to call off the troops. I want you to find Chakotay and have him convince his soldiers to pull out of the city." Tuvok, via comms: "Aye Captain." Alpha Hirogen, via comms: "Turanj, order our Hunters to end the fighting." Nazi Kapitan to Turanj: "This is madness! We're winning this battle!" Turanj holds up a hand to silence the Kapitan. Alpha Hirogen to Turanj, via comms: "Our civilisation depends on this agreement." Turanj, via comms: "Acknowledged."

Turanj to the Kapitan: "You heard him, release the captives. I'll tell the others. Order all units to withdraw to these positions," indicating on the map. The prisoners, now released, leave.

Nazi Kapitan: "I have always thought highly of you." Turanj: "Have you." Nazi Kapitan: "Yes, but the Kommandant is a fool. He doesn't understand." (The last of the prisoners leaves and the nightclub's door closes.) "He's never embraced the Fuhrer or his vision. One does not co-operate with decadent forms of life, one hunts them down and eliminates them. The Kommandant speaks of civilisation. The Ancient Romans were civilised. The Jews are civilised. But in all its moral decay, Rome fell to the spears of our ancestors, as the Jews are falling now. Look at our destiny!" He goes over to the Nazi flag. "The field of red, the purity of German blood, the blazing white circle of the sun that sanctified that blood. No one can deny us, no power on Earth or beyond, not the Christian Saviour, not the God of the Jews. We are driven by the very force that gives life to the universe itself! We must countermand the Kommandant's orders, stay and fight. We must be faithful to who we are." edited: the words that most sway Turanj

His last words in particular strike a chord with Turanj, being what Turanj himself really believes anyway. Turanj to the Hirogen there: "You two, follow me." They depart to continue the hunt.

Street in Sainte Claire. Holographic American troops are building a barricade and passing sandbags to each other for it. Chakotay, by radio to the holo-troops: "All units, clear the valley. Return to your previous positions. We're calling a ceasefire, repeat, cease fire." He puts down the radio-phone. "Well, the word is out."

He gets up. Tuvok: "Whether it will be acted upon is another question." Chakotay: "Oh, they'll follow orders. I'm their commanding officer, remember?"

A jeep followed by several running soldiers rush past Paris who, knowing he is an officer as far as they are concerned, calls out: "Keep it moving! Keep it moving! Get the lead out of your pants!" (worth knowing for non-Americans who speak English that "pants" is the American English for "trousers", otherwise his comment would sound rude) A soldier shouts back: "Yes, sir!" Another shouts, as the men disappear from sight: "You heard him, let's move it!"

Seven: "Mid-twentieth century American slang." Paris: "You got a problem with that, sister?" Seven: "You're enjoying this simulation. I find that peculiar, given the circumstances." Paris: "Loosen up, baby doll, the War's almost over."

Suddenly there is gunfire. Paris and Seven duck and rush for the barricade.

Torres: "So much for the ceasefire!"

The hologram the Nazi Kapitan orders his holographic German troops: "Fire! Fire!"

Holodeck 2 - Klingon caves.
Doctor: "I've been monitoring the other simulation, and the fighting's getting worse. The crew is taking heavy casualties."
Neelix: "How can we help?"
Doctor: "I'll transfer my program to Holodeck 1. You take the Jefferies tube and meet me there."
Neelix: "There's only the two of us."

Doctor: "Nevertheless we have to try and-" A Klingon belches drunkenly. The Doctor has an idea. "Even half drunk, Klingons are among the best warriors in the galaxy." Neelix: "But they're already in the middle of a war with the House of-" He has a try at pronouncing the Klingon name but quickly stops and finishes, "whatever-it-is." Doctor: "Then you'll just have to convince them that there's a more important battle to be waged." Neelix: "Me?" Doctor: "You are their 'great warrior'. Lead them!"

Neelix approaches the Klingons. Neelix clears his throat to try and get their attention: "Ahem." Politely: "Pardon me, gentlemen. I wonder if I might have a word with you." The Klingons ignore him. Doctor leans over to him: "They're Klingons, not kittens!" Neelix goes right up to the Klingons, grabs the meat joint that one is gnawing and slams it in the fire.

Neelix imitates a Klingon warrior's confident shout: "You will listen!"