While regenerating in her alcove Seven experiences a disturbing dream: she is alone in a vast desolate ice landscape. Then the computer wakes her: "0600 hours. Regeneration sequence complete." Seven wakes fully, moves to her computer console and activates the recording device: "Personal Log. Seven of Nine. Stardate 51932.4. The 29th day in the Mutara nebula. I believe I'm beginning to feel the effects of this prolonged isolation. My dreams have been disturbing. But I am determined to fulfil my responsibilities. With the Doctor confined to Sickbay I have taken on increasing duties. Ship's systems are beginning to require constant maintenance in order to avert disaster. This morning I must purge the auxiliary plasma vents." She leaves to start her day.

On the Bridge Seven orders the computer to "trim heading by .31 degrees port" but the computer's voice is intermittent and eventually says "Attempting to make correction. Unable to comply." Seven: "Manual override. Computer, initiate a level 4 diagnostic of your command processors." Computer: "Diagnostic in progress." Seven is now en route for Astrometrics. "Diagnostic complete." Seven: "Analyse." Computer, still intermittent: "Quantum failures are present in 33 percent of gel-pack relays." Seven: "Reroute all functional relays through subprocessor chi-one-four." Computer, voice now normal: "Rerouteing complete. Relay failures bypassed."

In Astrometrics Seven displays a schematic of Voyager in the nebula. Seven: "How long to complete passage through the nebula?" Computer: "6 days, 5 hours."

While walking down a corridor Seven hears Paris' voice calling for help. When she enters the stasis room, all is as it should be. She checks the controls on Paris' stasis unit.

Computer: "Proximity alert. Vessel approaching. The vessel is hailing." Seven: "Open a channel." Computer: "Channel open." Seven: "This is the Federation Starship Voyager. State your identity." Voice over from approaching ship: "I'm Trajis Lo-Tarik. I'm in need of a microfusion chamber. Would you consider a trade?" Seven: "Why are you in this nebula?" Trajis: "Trying to get through it, as I imagine you are." Seven: "Do you have liquid helium?" Trajis: "You're fortunate. I have an amply supply." Seven: "I'll beam you directly to our cargo bay."

Trajis: "Seven of Nine. That's an unusual name. How did you get it?" Seven: "It was my Borg designation." Trajis: "Borg? Never heard of them. Are you alone on this ship?" Seven: "No. The entire crew is here, in stasis, and our Doctor is in Sickbay."

Trajis: "I am both pilot and crew on my ship. Fortunately I happen to be resistant to the effects of the nebula." Seven: "What about your technology? The radiation is causing damage to ours." Trajis: "I've had to rebuild my engines twice already. If you've been in the nebula for 3 weeks you're doing well." Seven: "I am hopeful our propulsion system will remain operative for the next 6 days." Trajis: "I'll admit I was surprised to find another ship heading toward me. No one has ever managed to cross the nebula." Seven: "If it weren't necessary we wouldn't be attempting it." Trajis: "I'm here by choice. I'm determined to be the first to get through. I've tried five times before and failed, but this time I'm sure I'll make it. I want to see what's on the other side." Seven: "There's nothing remarkable." Trajis: "But I'll be the first of my kind to see it. Tell me, how are you handling the loneliness?"

Seven: "What do you mean?" Trajis: "You know what I mean. No matter what you say, you're all alone here."

Seven hands him the item he requested: "The microfusion chamber you requested." Trajis: "I've heard that drones can't stand being alone. They're too used to the Collective." Seven: "How could you know that?" Trajis: "It's true, isn't it?" Seven: "You said you'd never heard of the Borg." Trajis: "Don't be offended. I've no grudge with them." Seven: "You have what you asked for. Now leave." Trajis: "I thought we could keep each other company for a while, maybe have something to eat? Seven: "No." Trajis: "And if I want to stay longer?" Seven produces a phaser from a cargo bay container and points it at him: "You will not be accomodated."

He leaves the cargo bay and walks down the corridor, all the time at phaser-point. Trajis: "There's no need for this, you know. I mean you no harm. I think maybe you're a little paranoid. That's what loneliness can do to you. You'd be a lot better off to spend some time with me. We could get to know each other." Seven: "Quiet."

Suddenly Seven hears Paris' voice calling for help. She turns to look for him but the corridor is empty, and when she turns back Trajis has gone. She signals the Doctor on her combadge: "Seven of Nine to the Doctor. We have an intruder on board."