DRONE
Episode 96
Part A

 

In Cargo Bay 2, in front of a mirror propped on the computer console, Seven practises smiling.

The smile practice forms part of her efforts to acquire social skills to optimise her interaction with the crew.

The Doctor enters the cargo bay. cargo bay doors Seven, not wanting the Doctor to see what she is doing, quickly stops her smile practice and finishes packing ready for an away mission.

Doctor: "Seven of Nine, how's my favourite Borg today?" Seven: "Annoyed. In the future you will announce your presence before entering this room." Doctor: "Sorry. I guess I should've knocked first." Seven: "Are we ready to leave?" Doctor: "Yes. According to sensors, spatial conditions are ripe. A spontaneous proto-nebula could emerge within the next 20 minutes. Mr Paris is expecting us."

Seven heads for the door. The Doctor looks at himself in the mirror: "Hmm, not a bad-looking hologram." She turns and finds him looking at her speculatively and with a slight grin, before he follows her to the door.

The two head along the corridor together. Doctor: "This should be exciting, don't you think?"

Seven: "It's an astronomical survey, nothing more. What is your function on this mission?" Doctor: "My function is to study the nebula's effects on the crew. We may be dealing with new forms of radiation. I can't wait to see one of these clouds take shape. I hear they're quite beautiful. I've brought along a holo-imaging device to take a few snapshots."

Seven: "This isn't shore leave. There will be no time for recreational activity." Doctor: "The Borg: party-poopers of the galaxy. Tomorrow we'll start you on a new social exercise....."

As Seven carries on, he calls after her: "Developing your joie de vivre!"

The shuttlecraft mission is under way.

Aboard the shuttlecraft Paris steadies the flight line. "Sorry about that. Just a little spatial turbulence. Nothing to worry about." Torres is knocked slightly off her feet and falls into the Doctor's arms. He says cheerfully, "Hello there." as he helps her up.

Torres: "I don't know about you, but I've got a case of Class 2 claustrophobia." Paris: "Ah, I remember it well." Seven: "Lieutenant?" Torres: "Oh, that's what Starfleet cadets used to call these Class 2 shuttles - fast, maneuverable but not built for comfort."

Paris: "They used to shoe-horn half a dozen cadets into one of these things for weeks at a time. You did not want to be around when they opened up that airlock." Seven: "Perhaps you should design a new shuttle - larger, more efficient." Torres: "Not a bad idea."

The proto-nebula emerges.

Seven: "I'm reading plasma surges off the port bow." Torres: "All stop. Keep our distance."

Doctor: "Seven, move over by the helm. I want to get a group shot." Seven: "I'm busy." Doctor: "And smile, like I know you can." But Seven merely gives him a look, without complying.

Suddenly the shuttlecraft is jolted heavily. Torres: "What was that?" Seven: "Another plasma surge." Torres: "It's massive. Tom, back us off!" Paris tries to move the shuttlecraft away but it gets pulled in toward the proto-nebula's centre. "We're caught in the gravimetric shear!" Paris: "Engines are down!"

On Voyager's bridge, Kim reports: "We're receiving a distress call from the away team." Tuvok: "They've been engulfed in the shear line of the nebula."

Janeway immediately orders: "Full impulse." Via comms she orders: "Bridge to Transporter Room 1: stand by for emergency beam-out." Chakotay leaves for the transporter room.

Chakotay enters Transporter Room 1. The duty officer, Ensign Mulchaey, reports: "I've got a partial lock on them, but unless their shuttle clears that nebula-" Chakotay: "It won't. They've lost propulsion." Mulchaey: "Then it's going to be a rough transport." Chakotay: "Energise."

The transport stalls part-way through. Mulchaey reports: "I'm having trouble separating their patterns." Chakotay: "Reset the pattern buffers." Mulchaey: "The signals are clearing."

The transport concludes successfully as the away team materialises in the transporter chamber.

Chakotay asks them: "Everyone alright?"

The others steps off the transporter pad, but as the Doctor goes to do the same, his program fritzes!

He looks down at himself then at his mobile emitter. "My emitter - it's been damaged!"

Torres: "I'll transfer your program back to Sickbay. Hang on."

She hurries to the control console and takes over from Mulchaey. She transfers the Doctor's program.

With the Doctor transferred, the mobile emitter accordingly drops to the floor of the transporter pad.

the Doctor dematerialises and his mobile emitter drops to the floor. (pop-up window)

Seven picks it up and hands it to Torres.

The com. signal alert sounds. "Sickbay to Transporter Room 1. Report." Torres, examining the mobile emitter: "It looks like some of your emitter circuits were fused during transport."

"Can you repair it?" the Doctor asks anxiously from Sickbay. Torres, via comms: "Most likely. I need to run a diagnostic." Doctor: "'Most likely'?!" Torres, via comms: "Relax, Doctor. I'll keep you posted." Contact ends.

She calls to Mulchaey, "Mulchaey." and everyone leaves the transporter room.

In the Science Lab Torres places the Doctor's mobile emitter on an LCARS panel and orders: "Computer, run diagnostic routine alpha-three-six." Computer: "Diagnostic in progress."

Torres tells Mulchaey: "First thing in the morning, I want you to check the results." As they leave together he tells her: "I'll be here bright and early."

Neither notice that, as they leave, the mobile emitter starts shooting out wires!

As Ensign Mulchaey leaves, wires shoot out of the mobile emitter. (pop-up window)

Janeway: "Captain's log, supplemental. This proto-nebula seems to have a mind of its own. It's still expanding, with no end in sight. We're holding at a safe distance to monitor its growth."