Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager and all its characters and episodes are owned by Paramount Pictures. The following script is made available for your personal enjoyment only. Script courtesy of Astor Dark ----------------------------------------------------------------------- STAR TREK: VOYAGER "Scorpion, Part Two" TEASER FADE IN: RECAP FROM PART ONE 1 EXT. SPACE-BORG CUBE (OPTICAL) as it ROARS past camera at warp, Voyager locked in its tractor beam (as seen in Part One). 2 INT. VOYAGER BRIDGE Red Alert. just moments have passed since we escaped the destruction of the Borg planet. CHAKOTAY, TUVOK, PARIS, N.D.s at their stations, TORRES at Ops. Fast action, tense: CHAKOTAY: Report. TORRES: (working) The Borg shields are off-line. 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 starts to work... TORRES: I'm trying to energize... the Borg are scattering the beam... CHAKOTAY: Compensate. A minor SHAKE. TORRES: No effect... Suddenly Tuvok's console BEEPS. TUVOK: We're being hailed. CHAKOTAY: On screen. 3 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) JANEWAY is standing in the vast Borg Collective (as seen in Part One). JANEWAY: Commander-cut the transporter beam. CHAKOTAY: Captain...? JANEWAY: Do it. Chakotay nods to Torres, who works. He turns back to Janeway with a questioning look. JANEWAY: I've reached an agreement with the Collective. We're going to help them design a weapon against Species Eight Four Seven Two. In exchange, they've granted us safe passage through their space. PARIS: (reacts to console) The Cube is altering course... they're heading toward the Alpha Quadrant. JANEWAY: 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. (beat) 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, and for a moment, it looks as if he might protest, then: CHAKOTAY: How do you propose we begin this "collaboration"? JANEWAY: 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: (concerned) It's not necessary for you to stay there. We can set up a comlink with the Borg and- JANEWAY: It's part of the deal. I work here. An awkward beat-we can sense the tension between them. CHAKOTAY: All right. (beat) 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: I'll propose it. (to Tuvok) Mister Tuvok.. transport to my coordinates. TUVOK: Understood. JANEWAY: (to Chakotay, pointed) We're going to make this work, Commander. Janeway out. She blinks off. A long moment as the crew waits for Chakotay to take the next step. Everyone is on edge. Finally, he turns to Tuvok. CHAKOTAY: (even) You heard the Captain. Tuvok moves into action. OFF Chakotay's face-he's not happy about this... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) 4 MICROSCOPIC VIEW-BORG NANOPROBES (OPTICAL) as seen in Part One, but now there are MANY of them, agitated, knocking into each other, as if looking for something to attack. DOCTOR (V.O.): I've replicated nearly ten million Borg nanoprobes, each of them reprogrammed to my specifications... REVEAL we are in- 5 INT. SICKBAY-MED LAB-CONTINUOUS Chakotay is looking through a microscope at the nanoprobes. The DOCTOR stands nearby. DOCTOR: (continuing)... each capable of targeting the alien tissue, CHAKOTAY: Assimilating it? The Doctor pulls a vial out of the microscope. DOCTOR: Just momentarily. The Borg technology will denaturate within seconds... taking the alien tissue along with it. 6 NEW ANGLE-HARRY KIM lying on the surgical bed, his face and upper torso now nearly covered with ALIEN TISSUE and TENDRILS-the infection has spread. Even though Kim is still conscious, his eyes are covered with the alien tissue. The Doctor and Chakotay move over to the bed. KES is there, working a console. DOCTOR: (to Kim) Mister Kim... I'm about to inject your carotid artery. You'll feel a tingling sensation... don't be alarmed. Kim doesn't respond. The Doctor applies the hypospray to Kim's neck and INJECTS. 7 ON KIM (OPTICAL) A section of his face begins to TRANSFORM. The alien tissue around his right eye and cheekbone DARKENS... and then SPROUTS BORG TECHNOLOGY... metallic nodes and tubes start to form... a terrifying effect... but then a moment later, the entire section of Borgified tissue DISSOLVES AWAY... leaving Kim's normal flesh and his now uncovered eye and cheekbone beneath. The eye blinks. 8 RESUME SCENE DOCTOR: (pleased) Nice to see you again, Ensign. Kes glances at a nearby read-out. KES: It's working DOCTOR: (to Kes) Prepare another dose of nanoprobes. KES: Yes, Doctor. Kes heads for the Med-Lab. CHAKOTAY: (to Doctor) Good work. Let me know when he's back on his feet. Chakotay turns to go. DOCTOR: Commander. He stops. 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. A beat. Chakotay obviously has his own doubts... but at the moment, he doesn't voice them. CHAKOTAY: Leave that to the Captain. (beat) 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. (dry)... maybe not the first sign. Chakotay doesn't respond to the humor, heads for the door.. CUT TO: 9 INT. BRIDGE Still at Red Alert. Chakotay ENTERS and resumes command. Torres at Ops, Paris and N.D.s at their stations. Chakotay is more on edge than we've ever seen him-uneasy about this situation but trying to carry out orders despite his doubts. TORRES: (to Chakotay) 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... (off his look) Our very own workspace. It's near the center of the Cube. Tuvok hands her a PADD. TUVOK: These are my tricorder readings of the bio-ship we examined. I believe you will find them most revealing. She glances at the PADD, reacts with interest. JANEWAY: Have you compared this to the Doctor's analysis of the alien tissue? TUVOK: Yes. Many of the cellular structures are identical. JANEWAY: The aliens and their ships... are made of the same organic material. TUVOK: Apparently so. As this sinks in, the Borg Drone ahead of them abruptly turns a corner. As they follow... 16 INT. BORG CHAMBER A room filled with Borg equipment, alcoves and a few Borg Drones. Janeway and Tuvok ENTER, flanked by the two Borg Drones. The Collective Voice booms through the room: BORG: You have entered grid nine-two of subjunction twelve. Proceed. Janeway stays calm and determined. JANEWAY: (to Collective) All right. We've analyzed one of the alien vessels... and it appears to be constructed of organic material vulnerable to the modified nanoprobes. (beat) I suggest we begin thinking about a large-scale delivery system... a way to infect their ships and destroy them at the microscopic- BORG: We will begin. Suddenly, the two Borg grasp Janeway and Tuvok by the arms. The Borg Surgeon moves to them, holding a small, distinctive-looking Borg device-a NEURO-TRANSCEIVER-and ATTACHES it to the back of Janeway's neck. (NOTE: This is the same device seen in "Unity.") TUVOK: (quickly) What are you doing? The Borg Surgeon keeps working the device. The disembodied Collective speaks: BORG: A neuro-transceiver is required for maximum communication. We will work as one mind. JANEWAY: No... that wasn't the agreement. A beat, as if the Borg are processing the response-the give and take of dealing with individuals is not familiar to them. BORG: The neural link is temporary. You will not be damaged. JANEWAY: I don't care... I prefer to communicate verbally, thank you. Pause. BORG: Your primitive communication is inefficient. TUVOK: On the contrary... we work better with our individuality intact. Surely, we've proven that to you by now... BORG: Irrelevant. You must comply. JANEWAY: We "must" do nothing. Tell your drone to remove the transceiver. The Surgeon keeps working. A scary moment. Janeway thinks fast-this situation is spinning out of control. JANEWAY: What about choosing a representative? A single Borg we can work with... and talk to directly. BORG: Elaborate. JANEWAY: You've done it before... when you transformed Jean-Luc Picard into Locutus. (firm) We will not be assimilated. Choose a representative... or the deal's off. A long moment... then the Borg Surgeon removes the device from Janeway's neck. There is a HISSING sound from somewhere in the room. They turn to see- 17 NEW ANGLE-BORG ALCOVE (OPTICAL) A single BORG FEMALE is standing in the alcove, like a vampire in her coffin. Several CABLES BREAK AWAY from her body... a brief PLAY OF CRACKLING ENERGY around her body... ... and then she is DISCONNECTED from the alcove with a BLAST of VAPOR- The Borg female steps out of the alcove and through the vapor... and for the first time we get a clear look at her. She's young, striking, covered with Borg technology but clearly once human. Her demeanor is cold and passionless -even though she speaks in an individual voice, she's still connected to the Hive Mind. (NOTE: This is a character we will come to know as SEVEN OF NINE.) She eyes Janeway and Tuvok with an impassive stare. SEVEN OF NINE: I speak for the Borg. Off the moment FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO FADE IN: 18 INT. BORG CHAMBER (VPB) As before. Janeway and Tuvok facing Seven of Nine, the Borg representative. Janeway is cautious, gauging this Borg, taking this all one step at a time. Seven of Nine is incisive, almost arrogant, and she speaks in a precise Borg-like manner. JANEWAY: I'm Captain Janeway... this is Lieutenant Tuvok. SEVEN OF NINE: We are aware of your designations. JANEWAY: What's your... designation? SEVEN OF NINE: Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One. But you may call me... Seven of Nine. (to business) You are proposing a large-scale weapon. We concur. JANEWAY: I thought you might. TUVOK: (an idea) We could encase the nanoprobes in some of our photon torpedoes... in essence, turn them into bio molecular warheads. SEVEN OF NINE: Your torpedoes are inadequate. They lack the necessary range and dispursive force. JANEWAY: Do you have a better idea? SEVEN OF NINE: (obviously) We are Borg. Seven of Nine moves to a nearby console. TUVOK: (to Janeway) I take that as a "yes." Janeway and Tuvok join Seven of Nine at the console, which is crammed with exotic controls and a large MONITOR. Seven of Nine quickly works the controls... and the monitor shows a GRAPHIC of a BORG WEAPON with a variety of complex technical data. SEVEN OF NINE: (re: graphic) A multikinetic neutronic mine. Five million isoton yield. TUVOK: (reacts) An explosion that size could affect an entire star system. SEVEN OF NINE: Correct. The shock wave will dispurse the nanoprobes over a radius of five light years. JANEWAY: That's somewhat larger than I had in mind. You're proposing a weapon of mass destruction... SEVEN OF NINE: We are. JANEWAY: Well, I'm not. You'd be endangering innocent worlds. SEVEN OF NINE: It would be... efficient. Janeway sees a difference in philosophy here... realizes she has to convince them on their own terms. Tuvok, who has been studying the graphic of the Borg weapon, turns to Seven of Nine with an argument of his own. TUVOK: (re: graphic) We'd need approximately fifty trillion nanoprobes to arm this mine. It would take several weeks for the Doctor to replicate that amount. (pointed) You are losing this conflict... are you willing to risk further delay? JANEWAY: (urging) Right now, your enemy believes it is invulnerable. If we create smaller weapons using our torpedoes... and destroy a few of their bio-ships, it may be enough to deter them... convince them to give up this war. Seven of Nine considers... takes a couple of steps around the room then turns to them, having made a decision with the Hive Mind. SEVEN OF NINE: You are individuals. You are small, and you think in small terms. ("listening" to the hive) But the present situation requires that we consider your plan. Janeway and Tuvok exchange a look-a small triumph. Seven of Nine moves to the console, taps a few controls. The monitor changes to show a VOYAGER WEAPONS INVENTORY-schematics and detailed technical data. SEVEN OF NINE: (off monitor) Voyager's weapons inventory. Photon torpedo compliment: thirty-two. Class Six warhead. Explosive yield: two hundred isotons. TUVOK: (surprised) How did you obtain this information? SEVEN OF NINE: (simply) We are Borg. TUVOK: Naturally. As they work CUT TO: 19 EXT. SPACE-BORG CUBE & VOYAGER (OPTICAL) at WARP, flying side by side. The tractor beam seen earlier is now gone. 20 INT. SICKBAY The Doctor is examining Kes, who is sitting on a bio-bed. Kes looks agitated-she's been receiving a constant barrage of telepathic "flashes" and it's starting to unnerve her. Chakotay ENTERS and moves to them. DOCTOR: Commander... we have some disturbing news. CHAKOTAY: At this point, I'm getting used to it. DOCTOR: (re: Kes) Her telepathic visions are increasing, both in frequency and intensity. As she speaks, CAMERA PUSHES IN on Kes... KES: It feels different this time... like they're right here... in the room... 21 MENTAL FLASH (OPTICAL) CLOSE ON an ALIEN EYE-dark and striated, strange-its pupil DILATES. 22 RESUME KES reacts to the shocking image, tries to stay in control. KES: I'm trying to block them out... I can't... 23 MENTAL FLASH (OPTICAL) CLOSER on an ALIEN EYE. We can see KES' FACE REFLECTED in the pupil. 24 KES reacts, breathless. Chakotay takes her arm to steady her. The Doctor scans with his tricorder. DOCTOR: (off tricorder) There it is again... (explains) Every time she has a vision... specific regions of her cerebral cortex go into a state of hyper-stimulation. Memory engrams. perceptual centers. (beat) I can't be sure... but I think there's more going on here than just a simple "hello." CUT TO: 25 INT. BORG CHAMBER (OPTICAL) Janeway and Tuvok are standing at the monitor seen earlier-the screen shows a BORGIFIED Voyager photon torpedo. Seven of Nine is working at a console in the b.g. JANEWAY: (points to graphic) Enhance this grid. I want to take a closer look at the detonator. Seven of Nine walks up to them. SEVEN OF NINE: (to Janeway) We must analyze the bio-ship. (beat) Your data. Janeway hands Seven of Nine a PADD. Seven of Nine turns to a console at the table and works. Janeway eyes the Borg woman's face... curious. JANEWAY: You're human, aren't you? SEVEN OF NINE: (matter of fact) This body was assimilated eighteen years ago. It ceased to be human at that time. Her indifference is unsettling. JANEWAY: I'm curious... what was your name... before you were- SEVEN OF NINE: Do not engage us in further irrelevant discourse. Clearly, Seven of Nine is unresponsive to this "personal" approach. A tiny ALARM is heard. Seven of Nine reacts. SEVEN OF NINE: We are being hailed by your vessel. Seven of Nine moves to a MONITOR-this one is smaller, twelve inches in diameter, like a lens on the end of a snake-like tube. Seven of Nine hits a control and the screen ACTIVATES to show Chakotay standing in Sickbay. JANEWAY: Commander, what is it? CHAKOTAY: It's Kes. The Doctor believes that the aliens are accessing her memory. The implications are chilling. JANEWAY: If that's true, they may already know what we're planning... CHAKOTAY: (nods) I've ordered long range scans for bio-ships... nothing so far. JANEWAY: (to Seven of Nine) We should alter course... try to throw them off. SEVEN OF NINE: Agreed. Seven of Nine thinks for a moment. at one with the Hive Mind SEVEN OF NINE: Our course and heading have been changed. JANEWAY: (to Chakotay) Match them. Keep me apprised of any changes in Kes. CHAKOTAY: (nods) Chakotay out. He BLINKS OFF the monitor. Seven of Nine crosses the room to join Tuvok... Janeway following... 26 NEW ANGLE-TUVOK (VPB) who is working at the monitor seen earlier. It now shows a Voyager photon torpedo that is bristling with Borg technology-various projections and tubes. Seven of Nine indicates the monitor. SEVEN OF NINE: We now require one of your photon torpedoes and the nanoprobes. JANEWAY: One step at a time. We're not safely across your territory yet. Seven of Nine stares at her-a new urgency in her voice. SEVEN OF NINE: We must construct and test a prototype-now. The risk of attack has increased. JANEWAY: Irrelevant. We have an agreement. You're asking me to give up my only guarantee that you won't assimilate us. I won't risk it. Seven of Nine studies her. SEVEN OF NINE: Are you willing to risk a direct confrontation with us? (beat) If we transport five hundred drones onto your vessel... do you believe you could offer sufficient resistance? A charged moment. Seven of Nine is forcing the issue... but Janeway won't back down. JANEWAY: (even) We'd die trying. Stand-off. They gauge one another... Borg and human... this alliance a precarious one... finally, Seven of Nine stands down. SEVEN OF NINE: That won't be necessary. She turns back to the console. SEVEN OF NINE: We must construct a launching system to accommodate this design. As Tuvok and Janeway exchange an uneasy look CUT TO: 27 INT. BRIDGE-ON TURBOLIFT as the doors slide open to reveal Harry Kim. He's back in uniform and ready for duty. 28 INCLUDE-THE BRIDGE Red Alert. Chakotay, Paris, Torres at Ops, N.D. s at their stations. Everyone turns to Harry, pleased to see him-a welcome sight in an otherwise somber day. PARIS: Harry... welcome back. KIM: Thanks. (to Chakotay) Reporting for duty, sir. The Doctor gave me a clean bill of health. (ironic) Did I... miss anything? CHAKOTAY: (smiles) Not too much. Take your station, Ensign. Kim takes over Ops. Torres stands aside. TORRES: (casually) You've still got a tendril up your nose. Kim checks... realizes she's joking... shoots her a look. Torres moves to the Engineering station. just then an ALARM sounds on Paris' console. PARIS: Commander... I'm picking up gravimetric distortions... twelve thousand kilometers aft. (reacts) It's a singularity! 29 INT. BORG CHAMBER As before. Seven of Nine turns to Janeway with concern. SEVEN OF NINE: We are under attack. 30 EXT. SPACE-BORG CUBE & VOYAGER (OPTICAL) at warp. An ALIEN BIO-SHIP swoops into view, also at warp, and in pursuit. The bio-ship begins to GLOW, charging its weapons (the same effect seen in Part One). 31 INT. VOYAGER BRIDGE As before. PARIS: They're charging weapons... CHAKOTAY: Shields! Keep a lock on the Away Team! The ship rocks! TORRES: Direct hit to our secondary hull! KIM: Transporters are off-line! Shields and weapons are down? 32 - 33 OMITTED 34 EXT. SPACE-BORG CUBE & VOYAGER (OPTICAL) at warp. The Borg Cube FIRES a blinding onslaught of torpedoes out of various portals... 35 NEW ANGLE-THE ALIEN BIO-SHIP (OPTICAL) is repeatedly STRUCK by the torpedoes... each and every strike ABSORBED by its hull effect, impefvloas to the bombardment. 36 INT. BORG CHAMBER Janeway, Seven of Nine, Tuvok. Urgent: (checks console) Voyager has taken heavy damage. SEVEN OF NINE: We cannot let the nanoprobes be destroyed. Off Seven of Nine's concern... 37 EXT. SPACE-ALIEN BIO-SHIP (OPTICAL) GLOWING again, weapons charging! 38 INT. VOYAGER BRIDGE As before. PARIS: We're being targeted! CHAKOTAY: Brace for impact! 39 EXT. SPACE-THE BORG CUBE (OPTICAL) suddenly DROPS BACK toward the bio-ship to protect Voyager! 40 THE BIO-SHIP (OPTICAL) FIRES the ENERGY TENDRIL meant for Voyager-but it BLASTS into the Cube instead! The tendril takes a HUGE CHUNK out of the Borg ship! 41 INT. BORG CHAMBER (OPTICAL) A thin ALIEN ENERGY TENDRIL WHIPS THROUGH THE CHAMBER! Everyone ducks for cover as the TENDRIL CRACKLES around them! 42 JANEWAY (OPTICAL) The ENERGY TENDRIL HITS a WALL next to her-BLOWING OUT a piece of the WALL and sending her FALLING violently to the deck. 43 EXT. SPACE-THE BORG CUBE (OPTICAL) COLLIDES with the bio-ship and the two EXPLODE in a devastating effect! 44 INT. VOYAGER BRIDGE SHAKING HARD! A hair-raising moment... and then the shaking subsides. Chakotay gets to his feet... CHAKOTAY: The Cube? PARIS: Destroyed... and they took the bio-ship with them. TUVOK'S COM VOICE: Tuvok to Chakotay. Reactions. CHAKOTAY: (to com) Go ahead, Tuvok-where are you? 45 INT. CARGO BAY TWO CLOSE ON TUVOK, lying on the floor, propping himself on one elbow, injured. His face and uniform are scorched, and we can't see who or what is around him in the dim light. TUVOK: (ragged) I'm in Cargo Bay Two... along with the Captain... and a number of Borg. We were beamed over just before impact. (losing consciousness) We require... assistance... 46 INT. BRIDGE As before. CHAKOTAY: Tuvok... Tuvok? (quickly, to Torres) Seal off that deck. (to com) Security Team to Cargo Bay Two. (to Paris, on the move) Tom, you have the Bridge. As he races for the door... 47 OMITTED 48 INT. CARGO BAY TWO Chakotay ENTERS, flanked by two Security Guards and a MEDICAL N.D. armed with phaser rifles. They stop at what they see... 49 THEIR POV-THE BAY BORG TECHNOLOGY is visible in the room-consoles, hardware, tubes, etc. -and SEVERAL BORG are quickly moving about. But the room is dark, and from this angle, we can only see a small section of the Bay (We will see the Borgified Cargo Bay in its entirety later, in scene 57). 50 ON JANEWAY AND TUVOK Both of them lying on the floor, injured. Janeway's face and uniform are badly scorched and bloodied-it looks bad. 51 CHAKOTAY AND THE SECURITY GUARDS eye the setting, tense. The medic moves to Janeway and Tuvok... SEVEN OF NINE'S VOICE: Lower your weapons. 52 NEW ANGLE-SEVEN OF NINE as she steps into view, eyes the team. SEVEN OF NINE: We are here with your Captain's consent. It was necessary to sacrifice our vess el to protect yours. Chakotay keeps his rifle aimed straight at her. SEVEN OF NINE: We have an alliance... do we not? Off the moment-Chakotay and Seven of Nine face-to-face... FADE OUT: END OF ACT TWO ACT THREE 53 EXT. SPACE-VOYAGER (STOCK-OPTICAL) at warp. 54 INT. SICKBAY A short time later. Chakotay is briefing Tuvok, who is sitting on a bio-bed, being treated by Kes. He's alive and well, his injuries gone. The Doctor can be seen in the b.g., working on Janeway who is lying on the surgical bed. Mid-conversation. CHAKOTAY: They've assimilated Cargo Bay.Two... and they're drawing energy from the secondary power couplings. TUVOK: But they've gone no further... CHAKOTAY: Not yet. I've sealed off Decks Nine through Thirteen... and posted security details at every access point. TUVOK: I suggest we increase security around Sickbay, as well... CHAKOTAY: Already done. (beat) How far did you get on the weapon? TUVOK: We're ready to construct a prototype. Kes completes her scan of Tuvok. KES: You're fit to return to duty, Lieutenant. TUVOK: And you, Kes? She's unsettled, but hanging in there. KES: I'm... all right. The visions have stopped... for now. Tuvok nods. Kes moves off. Chakotay takes a moment... unsettled by these turn of events. The Doctor walks up to them. DOCTOR: The plasma burns to her thoracic region I can treat... and I've already stopped the internal bleeding. But her neural injuries are going to require some creative thinking. TUVOK: (to Chakotay) Before we beamed out, an alien energy discharge struck very near the Captain. DOCTOR: Well, it appears to have disrupted all her neuroelectrical pathways. I'll have to induce a coma to protect her higher brain functions. But I must tell you... unless I can repair the damage, she may never regain consciousness. This is devastating news. Chakotay turns to Tuvok. CHAKOTAY: Make sure those Borg stay put... I want tactical updates every twenty minutes. TUVOK: Aye, sir. (beat) Shall I resume working with them? Chakotay glances toward the injured Janeway. CHAKOTAY: Stand by for now. Tuvok heads for the door. DOCTOR: (to Chakotay) The Captain wishes to speak with you. Please keep it brief. Chakotay nods... heads to the surgical bay... 55 NEW ANGLE-JANEWAY lying on the bed, eyes open, barely conscious. Chakotay walks up to her, and for a moment their eyes meet. They haven't spoken privately since their argument at the end of Part One, when their very friendship seemed at stake. Janeway gathers her strength... it's difficult to speak... JANEWAY: The Doctor... explained... my condition. You're... in command. CHAKOTAY: I understand. JANEWAY: They'll push you... threaten you... anything they can... to get their way... (beat) But they need you... they need this... alliance. She looks straight into his eyes... tries to underscore her own position. JANEWAY: You have to make this work... I want you... to make this work. (beat) Get the crew... home. Chakotay doesn't answer... conflicted... he's loyal to this woman but still has grave doubts about this alliance with the Borg. The Doctor walks up to him. DOCTOR: I must begin. A beat, then Chakotay moves away. OFF Janeway... as her eyes begin to close... CUT TO: 56 OMITTED 57 INT. CARGO BAY TWO-WIDE ANGLE An incredible sight. It looks like we've stepped onto a Borg Cube-the entire Cargo Bay has been TRANSFORMED into a Borg Collective. Alcoves line the walls, filled with Borg Drones. Other Borg move to and fro as though they belong here. The lighting and sounds are those of Borg, as well. 58 ANGLE-CHAKOTAY as he steps further inside flanked by two security guards armed with phaser rifles. He's here to get a better sense of what he's dealing with... because at this moment he's undecided about what to do. Seven of Nine turns from a console and moves to him. SEVEN OF NINE: Where is your Captain? CHAKOTAY: In our medical bay... recovering. You'll be dealing with me, now. Seven of Nine considers him... then gets down to business. SEVEN OF NINE: Circumstances have changed. CHAKOTAY: I'd say so. SEVEN OF NINE: The loss of our vessel requires that we modify our agreement. CHAKOTAY: I've been giving that some thought (beat) I'm willing to let you stay on board... and we'll continue to work with you on the weapon. Once we're safely out of your territory we'll give you the nanoprobes, shake hands and part company. SEVEN OF NINE: Insufficient. Our latest tactical projections indicate that the war will be lost by then. (beat) The nearest Borg vessel is forty light years away. You will reverse course and take us to it. Chakotay is taken aback. CHAKOTAY: Even at maximum warp, that's a five day journey in the wrong direction. We're supposed to be heading out of Borg space... not deeper into it. SEVEN OF NINE: There is no alternative. CHAKOTAY: (firm) Look... I'll honor the original agreement, but I'm not turning this ship around. It's too dangerous. She takes a step toward him, menace in her voice. SEVEN OF NINE: Denying our request... is also dangerous. A tense beat as Chakotay stares at her... then: CHAKOTAY: I'll think about it. SEVEN OF NINE: Think quickly. Seven of Nine turns away to work. Chakotay stares at her for a moment, then heads for the door with the two Guards... CUT TO: 59 INT. BRIEFING ROOM (OPTICAL) At warp. Chakotay is on his feet, facing the team-Tuvok, Paris, Kim, Torres, Kes and NEELIX. The tension is high-the past few days have taken their toll on everyone. Mid-scene. CHAKOTAY: A five day trip back into the heart of Borg territory. It's too risky. With those drones and the nanoprobes on board, we might as well have a bull's-eye painted on our hull. We're a prime target for Species Eight Four Seven Two. We'd never survive another attack. NEELIX: What's the alternative? Chakotay stares at each of them in turn... about to make a major decision... one he knows is controversial... CHAKOTAY: I'm going to end this alliance... here and now. Surprised reactions. CHAKOTAY: Mister Paris... in your estimation, how long before we clear Borg space? PARIS: According to long-range sensors, the concentration of Borg star systems is decreasing. I'd say another week... ten days. KIM: (onto idea) If we avoid the regions of heavy Borg activity, there's a chance we could slip through... CHAKOTAY: Exactly. We're going to drop the Borg off on the next uninhabited planet... give them the nanoprobes, and take our chances alone. They can wait for a Borg Ship to pick them up, and finish the weapon. Everyone takes this in... NEELIX: But... the Captain made an agreement. Isn't it worth a detour to keep the Borg on our side? CHAKOTAY: I've asked myself that question a hundred times... and if I thought the Borg could be trusted to uphold their end of the bargain, I'd say yes. KES: They did sacrifice their ship to protect Voyager... isn't that an indication that they're committed to this alliance? TORRES: These are Borg... whether they "sacrifice" a thousand drones, or a million... it's no loss to them. They don't value individual life. PARIS: That may be true... but the bottom line is they died to save us. We can't just ignore that... TORRES: (emotions rising) They were protecting the nanoprobes... they don't care what happens to us. KIM: I'm with B'Elanna. The Borg are just stringing us along until they can take what they want... TUVOK: I'm not certain the Captain would agree with you. As long as we posses the nanoprobes, we still maintain the advantage. An uncomfortable pause at the mention of the Captain. Chakotay knows this is a sensitive issue... and his voice is diplomatic. CHAKOTAY: You're right, Tuvok... if she were here, she'd probably say our best chance was to do what they're asking. (beat) I just don't see it that way. I'm in command, now... and I have to do what I think is best for this crew. A moment as he glances around the room. Everyone seems to respect his position. CHAKOTAY: Tom, scan for the nearest uninhabited planet... and set a course. PARIS: Aye, sir. TUVOK: I must caution you, Commander... the Borg may not go quietly. CHAKOTAY: We'll see. (beat) Bring that female drone to the Ready Room. Tuvok nods. CHAKOTAY: Dismissed. As the crew rises to go... CUT TO: 60 INT. READY ROOM (OPTICAL) At warp. A short time later. Seven of Nine is facing Chakotay, who has just explained his position. Two Security Guards stand nearby. CHAKOTAY: Once we've beamed you to the surface.. we'll send down the nanoprobes and all our research. SEVEN OF NINE: Unacceptable. We don't have time for- CHAKOTAY: This isn't open for discussion. I'm not turning this ship around. You're getting what you wanted. I suggest we part ways amicably. Seven of Nine is displeased. SEVEN OF NINE: There is another option. We could assimilate your vessel. CHAKOTAY: If a single drone steps one millimeter out of that Cargo Bay... I'll decompress the entire deck. You won't pose much of a threat floating in space. Seven of Nine sees that at the moment, she's not going to win this argument. SEVEN OF NINE: When your Captain first approached us, we suspected that an agreement with humans would prove impossible to maintain. (cutting) You are erratic... conflicted... disorganized. Every decision is debated... every action questioned... every individual entitled to their own small opinion. You lack harmony... cohesion... greatness. (beat) It will be your undoing. Chakotay eyes her calmly. CHAKOTAY: That's... a matter of opinion. (to Guards) Escort our guest back to the Cargo Bay. The Guards move into position... a beat, then Seven of Nine EXITS with them. Chakotay leans back in his chair and let's out a breath... this situation is far from over. 61 OMITTED 62 INT. SICKBAY-CLOSE ON JANEWAY lying on the surgical bed, unconscious. Her face looks almost peaceful. The room is dimly lit. Silent. MOVE TO REVEAL- 63 CHAKOTAY moving to Janeway's bedside. He's come here to contemplate everything that's happened. Finally, he speaks in a quiet voice... CHAKOTAY: Well... I made my decision. (beat) If it were only a matter of going against the orders of my superior officer, I wouldn't have that much of a problem with it. But you're more than just my Captain... (beat) You're my friend. And I hope you'll understand. He is silent, watching her. OFF the moment... FADE OUT: END OF ACT THREE ACT FOUR 64 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) A vast starfield. Space itself begins to RIPPLE and DISTORT... and then a QUANTUM SINGULARITY OPENS with a flash of light and energy. THREE ALIEN BIO-SHIPS come roaring out of the rift and into our space! CAMERA PANS to find several BORG CUBES in the distance, already under attack by a small fleet of bio-ships. As the three new bio-ships swoop in to join the fight... 65 OMITTED 66 INT. CARGO BAY TWO-CLOSE ON SEVEN OF NINE CAMERA PUSHING in on her troubled face... she is "linked" to the Collective... so she knows everything that is happening... she can "see" and "feel" these images. We HEAR the VOICES of the COLLECTIVE in her head (NOTE: There should be a unique audio effect here to clarify that these voices are in her mind): BORG (V.O.): Species Eight Four Seven Two has penetrated Matrix Zero-One-Zero, Grid Nineteen. Eight planets destroyed... three hundred twelve vessels disabled... four million, six hundred twenty-one Borg eliminated. (an order) We must seize control of the Alpha Quadrant vessel, and take it into the alien realm. SEVEN OF NINE: (aloud) We understand. Suddenly we see two Borg Drones open a WALL PANEL, revealing a narrow JEFFERIES TUBE. As Seven of Nine moves to the Tube with intent... CUT TO: 67 - 68 OMITTED 69 INT. BRIDGE Red Alert. Tuvok, Torres, Kim, N.D.s at their stations. Chakotay is standing next to Paris at the helm. PARIS: (off console) Class H moon... oxygen-argon atmosphere. CHAKOTAY: It'll do. Take us out of warp and enter orbit. PARIS: Aye, sir. Paris works. CHAKOTAY: Tuvok... stand by to transport the Borg directly from the Cargo Bay. After they're on the surface, have Security run a sweep of - Kim's console sends out an ALARM. KIM: (off console) I'm reading power fluctuations in the deflector array... CHAKOTAY: Cause? KIM: It looks like the Borg have accessed deflector control. They're trying to realign the emitters... CHAKOTAY: Shut them out. 70 INT. CARGO BAY TWO-JEFFERIES TUBE Seven of Nine is now inside the Tube seen earlier, rapidly making adjustments to the circuitry... 71 INT. BRIDGE As before KIM: They've bypassed security protocols... 72 EXT. SPACE -VOYAGER-ANGLE ON DEFLECTOR DISH (OPTICAL) The dish sends out a THIN BEAM OF ENERGY 73 NEW ANGLE (OPTICAL) As the thin ENERGY BEAM strikes a region of space ahead of Voyager causing space itself to RIPPLE and DISTORT in a strange effect... 74 INT. BRIDGE As before TORRES: (off console) They're emitting a resonant gravitation beam... it's creating another singularity CHAKOTAY: (to Paris) Reverse course. Paris works, but the ship TREMBLES- PARIS: We're fighting intense gravimetric distortions I can't break free! CHAKOTAY: (to com) Bridge to Cargo Bay Two. Stop what you're doing, or I'll depressurize that deck and blow you out into space. (no response) This is your final warning. Chakotay turns to Tuvok, nods. Tuvok works. 75 INT. CARGO BAY TWO-JEFFERIES TUBE Seven of Nine working. We hear a violent HISSING NOISE-the SOUND of the Bay decompressing. She reacts with concern... 76 OMITTED 77 EXT. SPACE-VOYAGER- ANGLE ON THE HULL (OPTICAL) The Cargo Bay DOOR OPENS. There's a rush of VAPOR and DEBRIS as the contents of the Bay are SUCKED OUT into the vacuum of space. FIFTEEN BORG DRONES come FLYING OUT! 78 INT. CARGO BAY TWO-JEFFERIES TUBE WIND ROARING around Seven of Nine, who is holding onto an outcrop-ping, barely hanging on... 79 OMITTED 80 INT. BRIDGE As before. TUVOK: Decompression cycle complete. Relief. Kim reacts to his console. KIM: I still don't have deflector control... TUVOK: (works) A single Borg has survived... The ship trembles. PARIS: We're being pulled in! 81 EXT. SPACE-VOYAGER (OPTICAL) The energy beam still emitting... and its OPENING opening creating a QUANTUM SINGULARITY in front of the ship! It is the same type of rift we saw alien bio-ships flv out of at the top of the Act. 82 INT. BRIDGE The ship TREMBLING continuously now. Everyone hanging on. 83 EXT. SPACE-VOYAGER (OPTICAL) as its PULLED INTO the QUANTUM SINGULARITY-VANISHING in a flash of light. The singularity instantly COLLAPSES behind it. 84 INT. BRIDGE The trembling subsides. CHAKOTAY: Report. TUVOK: We appear to have crossed an interdimensional rift... PARIS: We've definitely left our galaxy... (checks readings) No stars... no planets... CHAKOTAY: Let's see. 85 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) It shows the ALIEN REALM. There are no stars. But space itself has a strange TEXTURE -shimmering with color and pulsating with a translucent, viscous FLUID. It's like being inside a WOMB. 85A OMITTED 85B INT. BRIDGE As before. TORRES: I'm recalibrating sensors... (works) The entire region is filled with some kind of organic fluid... this isn't space... it's matter. Suddenly, we HEAR Seven of Nine's voice over the com: SEVEN OF NINE'S COM VOICE: Commander Chakotay. We have entered the domain of Species Eight Four Seven Two. (beat) Report to the Cargo Bay. A grim moment. He turns to Torres. CHAKOTAY: (to Torres) Repressurize Cargo Bay Two. (on the move) Tuvok. As Chakotay and Tuvok head for the Turbolift. CUT TO: 85C EXT. SPACE-ALIEN REALM (OPTICAL) FORMERLY 85A VOYAGER holding position in the strange, "fluidic" space. 86 INT. CARGO BAY TWO Moments later. Chakotay and Tuvok are facing Seven of Nine in the "mini-Collective, " which has remained intact but is empty of Borg and in a state of disarray -spewing gas, sparks, etc. Seven of Nine is confident, demanding. Two Starfleet Security Guards stand nearby, armed. SEVEN OF NINE: Our entry into fluidic space has created a compression wave. They know we're here. A fleet of bio-ships is already converging on our position. Time to intercept: three hours, seventeen minutes. Chakotay reacts to this information, suddenly realizing... CHAKOTAY: You've been here before. Seven of Nine doesn't answer. CHAKOTAY: How else, could you know about "fluidic space"? SEVEN OF NINE: (ignoring him) We must prepare this ship for the altercation. We will construct- CHAKOTAY: (pressing) Why? Why were you here? Again, Seven of Nine hesitates. Chakotay is starting to put two and two together... CHAKOTAY: (continuing) You started this war, didn't you? (beat) What's the matter. our galaxy wasn't big enough for you? You had to conquer new territory... but this race fought back... a species as malevolent as your own. Seven of Nine glares at him. SEVEN OF NINE: Species Eight Four Seven Two was... more resistant than we anticipated. Their technology is biogenically engineered... it is superior to that of all species we have previously encountered. TUVOK: Which is precisely what you wanted. SEVEN OF NINE: They are the apex of biological evolution. Their assimilation would have greatly added to our own perfection. Seven of Nine takes a step toward him. SEVEN OF NINE: My subspace link to the Collective has been weakened by the interdimensional rift. We cannot signal for help. We are alone. (beat) We must construct a compliment of bio-molecular warheadsand modify your weapons to launch them. CHAKOTAY: (forceful) I've got a better idea. Why don't you open that singularity again and take us back. SEVEN OF NINE: If I did that, you would no longer cooperate. Suddenly DOCTOR'S COM VOICE: Doctor to Chakotay. CHAKOTAY: (taps combadge) Go ahead. DOCTOR'S COM VOICE: Report to Sickbay at once. CHAKOTAY: On my way. Chakotay looks to Tuvok and they head for the door. OFF Seven of Nine's inscrutable face... CUT TO: 87 INT. SICKBAY Chakotay ENTERS, stops at what he sees- 88 CAPTAIN JANEWAY (OPTICAL) is on her feet, reading over a PADD. Her wounds are gone-she's cured. The Doctor is nearby, running some last minute scans. Chakotay reacts in surprise. CHAKOTAY: Captain... DOCTOR: (to Chakotay) As you can see, I've repaired her neural damage. (pleased) Ensign Kim... the Captain... I'm two for two. JANEWAY: Doctor... if you'll excuse us a moment. The Doctor glances at her grim expression... then at Chakotay realizes sparks are about to fly. DOCTOR: Gladly. (to com) Computer -deactivate EMH Program. The Doctor VANISHES. Janeway eyes Chakotay. JANEWAY: The Doctor brought me up to speed... but he couldn't tell me what I really wanted to know. (an edge) Why? This is it... their conflict is about to ignite. CHAKOTAY: The Collective ordered me to reverse course... travel forty light years back the way we came... what would you have done? JANEWAY: I probably would've reversed course... maintained the alliance as long as possible... CHAKOTAY: In my mind, the alliance was already over. JANEWAY: You never trusted me. You never believed this would work... you were just waiting for an opportunity to circumvent my orders. CHAKOTAY: Trust had nothing to with it. I made a tactical decision. JANEWAY: And so did I. CHAKOTAY: They were taking advantage of us from Day One... JANEWAY: We made concessions... so did they. CHAKOTAY: They lied to us. The Borg starte the war with Species Eight Four Seven Two. A charged moment. Janeway is surprised at this revelation. CHAKOTAY: (pressing) We've only got one Borg left to worry about. We should try to disable her... and get back to the Delta Quadrant. (beat) We might be able to duplicate the deflector protocols they used to open a singularity. JANEWAY: No. I won't be caught tinkering with the deflector when those aliens attack. (resolved) There's no other way out of this, Chakotay. It's too late for opinions... too late for discussion. It's time to make the call, and I'm making it. (beat) We fight the aliens... in full cooperation with the Borg. Chakotay moves to her, passionate. CHAKOTAY: I was linked to a Collective once... remember? I had a neuro-transceiver embedded in my spine... I know who we're dealing with. (urging) We've got to get rid of that last Borg... take our chances alone. JANEWAY: (firm) It won't work. Again an impasse. They look at each other in frustration and exhaustion. The past few days have taken their toll on them... both physically and emotionally. JANEWAY: This isn't working, either... (off his look) There are two wars going on. The one out there, and the one in here. (beat) We're losing both of them. She's made an impact. Chakotay's voice softens... as he remembers Seven of Nine's words... CHAKOTAY: "It will be your undoing." JANEWAY: What? CHAKOTAY: Our "conflicted" nature... our individuality. Seven of Nine said that we lack the cohesion of a Collective mind... that one day, it would divide us... and destroy us. (beat) And here we are, proving her point. They consider-this is a wake-up call for both of them. JANEWAY: I'll tell you when we lost control of this situation when we made our mistake. It was the moment we turned away from each other. She moves to him. JANEWAY: (continuing) We don't have to stop being individuals to get through this. (beat) We just have to stop fighting each other. Off Chakotay... he knows she's right... and he wants to make this work... but how? Off the razor tension between them. CUT TO: 89 EXT. SPACE-ALIEN REALM (OPTICAL) Voyager is slowly moving through FLUIDIC SPACE-we see ripples of movement in space itself around the ship-the effect is like a creature moving through the ocean. 90 INT. BRIDGE-ANGLE ON TURBOLIFT Red Alert. Tuvok ENTERS with Seven of Nine. They stop at what they see. INCLUDE- 91 JANEWAY in the Captain's chair. She stands and turns to them. Paris, Kim, N.D.s at their stations. Seven of Nine reacts in surprise. SEVEN OF NINE: Captain Janeway. JANEWAY: I've relieved Mister Chakotay of his duties, and confined him to the Brig. (beat) I'm back in command. Seven of Nine eyes her. SEVEN OF NINE: And you understand the situation? JANEWAY: Completely. She stares at her a beat, then: JANEWAY: Tuvok... give her the nanoprobes... work with her... build as many warheads as you can... and start modifying our weapons systems. Seven of Nine looks mildly surprised-she wasn't expecting this. JANEWAY: (to Seven of Nine) I suggest we think about enhancing our defenses, as well. If we're going to fight this battle... I intend to win it. SEVEN OF NINE: We are in agreement. JANEWAY: Good. This is the plan: we engage the aliens here, in their space. We show them what they're up against... if they have any sense of self-preservation, they'll back off... pull their ships out of the Delta Quadrant. (beat) That's provided the weapons are effective. If they aren't... (to Seven of Nine, dry) It's been nice working with you. The crew reacts to this sudden turn of events. Janeway turns to them. JANEWAY: (to all) We've got to get this ship armed and ready in under two hours. (beat) We're going to war. Off the moment... FADE OUT: END OF ACT FOUR ACT FIVE FADE IN: 92 - 94 OMITTED 95 INT. BRIDGE Red Alert. Janeway in command. Kim at Ops, Paris, N.D.s at stations. Seven of Nine is working with Tuvok at Tactical. Kes is there, too, standing by Janeway. KIM: The Borg modifications are complete. JANEWAY: Bring them on-line. Kim works.. 96 EXT. SPACE-ALIEN REALM-VOYAGER (OPTICAL) Moving slowly. A large section of Voyager's hull has been fortified with BORG TECHNOLOGY-it resembles the hull of a Borg Cube. The Borg technology suddenly ACTIVATES, lighting up with power. Voyager is now part-Borg, part-Starfleet- muscular, aggressive, warbound. 97 INT. BRIDGE As before. KIM: Torpedo launch tubes active... hull armor engaged... shield enhancements stable... TUVOK: Bio-molecular weapons are ready... thirteen standard photon torpedoes and one class ten, armed with a high-yield warhead. Janeway takes a beat, then takes a moment to address her crew. JANEWAY: (to com) All hands, this is the Captain. Ready your stations... seal all emergency bulkheads... and prepare to engage the enemy. (beat) Stand by for my orders. Off the moment... as everyone prepares for battle... TIME CUT TO: 98 EXT. SPACE-ALIEN REALM (OPTICAL) TWO ALIEN BIO-SHIPS FLY INTO VIEW. CAMERA FOLLOWS BEHIND THEM as they SLICE effortlessly through the fluidic space-they are completely in their element, and they move as though they were born here, like sharks through water. The two ships JOIN TWO MORE BIO-SHIPS and the four now glide together, darting and moving in and around each other, heading forward with intent. CUT TO: 99 INT. BRIDGE Janeway, Tuvok, Paris, Torres, Kim, Seven of Nine, N.D.s. PARIS: Four bio-ships just entered sensor range. JANEWAY: Battle stations. We hear a special KLAXON sound. Everyone working, on their toes-this is it. KIM: I've got a visual. JANEWAY: On screen. 100 INCLUDE VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) FOUR BIO-SHIPS in the distance, quickly heading right for us. A fearsome sight. 101 ON KES as she reacts to a- 102 MENTAL FLASH (OPTICAL) An ALIEN FACE staring right at us! 103 KES takes it in. KES: I can hear them... they want to talk. through me... Kes concentrates... then turns to Janeway... KES: They saywe've contaminated their realm. Janeway hesitates- this is a strange way to make First Contact. JANEWAY: (to Kes) Tell them... we had no choice. we were only trying to defend ourselves. INTER CUT: 104 MENTAL FLASH (OPTICAL) An ALIEN FACE, aggressive, terrifying! 104A RESUME KES as she "listens" to the aliens KES: They say our galaxy... is impure. Its proximity is a threat to their... genetic integrity. JANEWAY: Tell them we have a weapon... a devastating weapon that can destroy them at the cellular level. (beat) If they don't stop their attacks on the Delta Quadrant... we'll be forced to use it. Kes thinks... KES: They said, Your galaxy... will be urged. 105 EXT. SPACE-THE BIO-SHIPS (OPTICAL) The four bio-ships are GLOWING... charging... and then two of the ships FIRE ENERGY TENDRILS. The tendrils FLASH wildly through "fluidic space"- "conducting" like electrical charges through water. 106 NEW ANGLE-BORGIFIED VOYAGER (OPTICAL) As the tendrils CRACKLE around it, ROCKING the ship! 107 INT. BRIDGE WHAM! The ship is ROCKED HARD! Everyone is THROWN about! Two consoles BLOW OUT! KIM: Shields and weapons are off-line! TUVOK: I'm re-routing emergency power to the launchers... PARIS: They're coming around for another assault... (works) I've lost thrusters. TUVOK: Bio-molecular warheads are charged and ready. This is it the moment of truth. JANEWAY: Fire. 108 - 109 OMITTED 110 EXT. SPACE-BORGIFIED VOYAGER (OPTICAL) As it FIRES a STACCATO BLAST of PHOTON TORPEDOES out of Borgified portals-a high-octane "gatling gun" effect. The weapons STREAK through fluidic space... 111 NEW ANGLE-A BIO-SHIP (OPTICAL) One of the torpedoes STRIKES the ship, and is instantly ABSORBED into the hull... the same effect seen earlier. The ship is not damaged! 112 TWO BIO-SHIPS (OPTICAL) are HIT by torpedoes. They ABSORB the weapons. 113 INT. BRIDGE TUVOK: (off console) Direct hit on all four vessels. No effect. KIM: They're charging weapons! Off the tension... 114 EXT. SPACE-THE FOUR BIO-SHIPS (OPTICAL) Moving in for the kill... GLOWING with power... Voyager sitting helplessly in their sights... 115 NEW ANGLE-CLOSE ON A BIO-SHIP (OPTICAL) Its trajectory becomes suddenly erratic... listing and rolling... and then BORG TECHNOLOGY BURSTS OUT FROM ITS HULL! Tubes and nodes and projections breaking out at an astonishing rate... until finally the Borg technology begins to dissolve away and the bio-ship EXPLODES in a blast of fire and organic debris! The blast sends SHOCKWAVES rippling through fluidic space! 116 TWO MORE BIO-SHIPS (OPTICAL) Already BORGIFYING from within-they EXPLODE! 117 INT. BRIDGE Voyager ROCKING from the shockwaves. Consoles flickering. Smoke. Damage. Everyone recovering. The shaking settles. TUVOK: (checks console) The nanoprobes were successful... if not prompt. (beat) All four bio-ships were destroyed. Reactions all around-yes! JANEWAY: (turns to Seven of Nine) I think we've made our point. Now, open a singularity, and get us out of here. Seven of Nine works a console... 118 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) A vast starfield-our normal space. Space distorts... a QUANTUM SINGULARITY OPENS... and Borgified Voyager flies out and into normal space. The rift closes behind it. Just then CAMERA PANS to reveal a LARGE FLEET OF BIO-SHIPS-DOZENS of them heading right for Voyager. AMBUSH! 119 INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Everyone staring at the Viewscreen, which shows the BIO-SHIPS. Janeway braces herself for the fight of her life... turns to Kes. JANEWAY: Kes... are you still in contact? KES: Yes... JANEWAY: Tell them if they continue their attack... we'll use the weapon again. Kes thinks. They're not responding. On the Viewscreen, the bio-ships are coming closer closer. JANEWAY: Evasive maneuvers. Paris works. They're in pursuit. JANEWAY: (to Tuvok) Prepare to fire the high-yield warhead. Aft Torpedo Bay. Tuvok works. 120 EXT. SPACE-BORGIFIED VOYAGER (OPTICAL) BANKS HARD to STARBOARD, just as DOZENS of BIO-SHIPS come screeching at them! Several of them FIRE ENERGY TENDRILS. One CLIPS Voyager, which goes SPINNING! 121 INT. BRIDGE SHAKING hard. TUVOK: Ready, Captain! JANEWAY: Do it. Tuvok hits a control. 122 EXT. SPACE-BORGIFIED VOYAGER (OPTICAL) BIO-SHIPS flying all around. Voyager FIRES a HIGH-YIELD TORPEDO out of the aft torpedo tube... 123 NEW ANGLE-THE TORPEDO (OPTICAL) STREAKS into the thick of the BIO-SHIPS and EXPLODES in a series of concentric SHOCKWAVES-a MASSIVE BLAST that RIPS through dozens of the bio-ships, as it EXPANDS through SPACE... 124 INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL) SHAKING from the shockwaves... then it subsides. Tuvok checks his console. TUVOK: Thirteen bio-ships have been destroyed... the others are in retreat. Seven of Nine thinks a moment, communicating with the Hive Mind. SEVEN OF NINE: I have regained full contact with the Collective... JANEWAY: What are they saying? She reacts as she begins to receive "messages" from the Collective... and a look of triumph crosses her face. SEVEN OF NINE: All remaining bio-ships in the Delta Quadrant are returning to their realm. Seven of Nine looks at her, satisfied. SEVEN OF NINE: The Borg have prevailed. Janeway eyes her, tense-she knows this is the moment of truth. JANEWAY: With a little help from us. (beat) Now, it's time you fulfilled your end of the agreement. (beat) Tell the Collective we expect safe passage from here on out. We'll give you a Shuttlecraft... you can head for the nearest Borg ship. Seven of Nine stares at her, considering her request. And for an instant, it looks like she may go along with it... but then: SEVEN OF NINE: Unacceptable. This alliance is terminated. Your ship and its crew will adapt to service... us. Reactions. Seven of Nine turns to the console and reaches out her arm-a BORG EXTENSION SLIDES out from her wrist and PENETRATES the console's Plexiglas surface. KIM: (off console, urgent) Captain, she's tapping into helm control. She's trying to access our coordinates! JANEWAY: Shut her out. KIM: (works) I can't. At that moment, Paris pulls a phaser from his console, takes aim... FIRES point-blank. The phaser hits Seven of Nine in the chest, but a BORG SHIELD deflects it. SEVEN OF NINE: Resistance is futile. Janeway eyes her... she's been waiting for this moment, and she's prepared for it. She speaks to the com with intent: JANEWAY: Bridge to Chakotay. (with meaning) Scorpion. 125 CLOSE ON SEVEN OF NINE Working the console with her free hand. Suddenly, we hear CHAKOTAY'S VOICE in Seven of Nine's mind (with the same audio effect heard in Scene 66). CHAKOTAY (V.O.): Seven of Nine, stop what you're doing. Seven of Nine reacts to the voice, taken aback by the intrusion. 126 INT. CARGO BAY TWO CAMERA PUSHING IN ON CHAKOTAY, who is standing in a Borg alcove! He is wearing a BORG NEURO-TRANSCEIVER DEVICE (as seen in "Unity" and Act One). It has been placed on the back of his neck. The device is blinking, active. His eyes are open-he's aware, and he is "linked" directly to Seven of Nine's mind. CHAKOTAY (V.O.): You're human... a human individual... 127 NEW ANGLE We now see that the Doctor is there, scanning Chakotay with a tricorder. DOCTOR: (quickly, to Torres) His link is stable, but it won't be for long. You must hurry! REVEAL that Torres is there, too, feverishly working at an opened panel. TORRES: Just a few more seconds... 128 INT. BRIDGE Seven of Nine still hooked to the console. CHAKOTAY (V.O.): I can see your memories... you remember being human... Seven of Nine speaks aloud- SEVEN OF NINE: (aloud) We are Borg. Everybody on the Bridge watches Seven of Nine with anticipation... they know exactly what's going on. CHAKOTAY (V.O.): I see a young girl... a family... Seven of Nine's expression is cold-Chakotay's tactic is not working. SEVEN OF NINE (aloud) Irrelevant. Your appeal to my "humanity" is pointless. 129 INT. CARGO BAY TWO As before. Chakotay is sweating, tense, barely hanging on inside the alcove. The Doctor looks worried. DOCTOR: (to Torres, off tricorder) He's losing the link! TORRES: Initiating power surge-now! Torres works a final control. The Doctor grabs hold of Chakotay by both arms to support him. We HEAR the CRACKLE and HUM of energy building. Chakotay stiffens suddenly. 130 INT. BRIDGE As before. Seven of Nine is now feverishly working the console with her free hand. Suddenly, she goes rigid, reacting to an unseen surge of energy through her body... 131 INT. CARGO BAY TWO (OPTICAL) As before. The WHINE of building power hits a fever pitch and we see the conduits where Torres was working CRACKLE with a SURGE of ENERGY. The ENERGY SURGES along the wall until it hits Chakotay's alcove. The neuro- transceiver on his neck CRACKLES and then BLOWS OUT in a shower of SPARKS. 132 INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Seven of Nine cries out in pain as the back of her neck EXPLODES in a SPRAY of SPARKS. She slumps to the deck, unconscious. Tuvok and the Guard quickly move to her. TUVOK: (off tricorder) Her connection to the Collective has been severed. JANEWAY: Get her to Sickbay. (to com) Bridge to Doctor. Report. 133 INT. CARGO BAY TWO Chakotay is lying on the floor, unconscious. The Doctor is scanning him. DOCTOR: (taps combadge) Commander Chakotay's going to be all right. Although he may wake up with a bit of a headache. 134 INT. BRIDGE As before. JANEWAY: Tom, plot a course out of Borg space. Maximum warp. PARIS: Yes, Ma'am. As he works... CUT TO: 135 EXT. SPACE-VOYAGER (OPTICAL) Still Borgified, as before. At WARP. JANEWAY: (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 51003.7. Three days, and no sign of Borg or bio-ships. We appear to be out of danger... 136 CLOSE ON A PIECE OF PAPER A feathered QUILL TIP dipped in ink is writing out Janeway's log on the paper. We can see the first part of the log (see above) written out on the page in a cursive hand. The rest of the log is being written out as we hear it spoken by Janeway: JANEWAY (V.O.): (continuing)... but the entire crew is still on edge... and so am I. REVEAL we are in: 137 INT. DA VINCI'S WORKSHOP-NIGHT Janeway is sitting at Da Vinci's upstairs, worktable. She's been writing her log entry as seen in Part One. The room is lit by candlelight, moody. As she dips the quill into an inkpot... CHAKOTAY'S VOICE: Am I interrupting? Janeway looks up to see Chakotay. He's holding a PADD. There is a slight awkwardness between them... they've worked through their differences enough to get out of danger... but their personal relationship is still a little strained. JANEWAY: Not at all. just finishing up my Log. He eyes the paper and quill. CHAKOTAY: The old-fashioned way... JANEWAY: I wanted to get as far away from bio-implants and fluidic space and... (re: quill) This feels more... human somehow. Chakotay hands her the PADD. CHAKOTAY: I hate to spoil the mood, but you might want to look at this Engineering report. She takes the PADD, looks it over. CHAKOTAY: (continuing) It'll take at least two weeks to remove the Borg technology from our systems. (beat) B'Elanna did note that the power couplings on Deck Eight work better with the Borg improvements. Janeway considers. JANEWAY: Leave them. (beat) How's our passenger? CHAKOTAY: The Doctor says she's stabilizing... her human cells are starting to regenerate. Janeway looks thoughtful. JANEWAY: I wonder what's left under all that Borg technology... if she can ever become human again... CHAKOTAY: You plan to keep her on board... JANEWAY: We pulled the plug... we're responsible for what happens to her now. CHAKOTAY: She was assimilated very young... the Collective's all she knows. (beat) She may not want to stay. JANEWAY: I think she might. We have one thing the Borg could never offer... (looks at him) Friendship. This word hangs in the air. Their relationship has been strained by this adventure, and it's not clear exactly where they stand. An awkward silence, then: CHAKOTAY: I want you to know... going against your orders was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. JANEWAY: I understand. And I respect the decision you made... even though I disagree with it. (beat) What's important is that in the end, we got through this... together. (beat) I don't ever want that to change. Chakotay nods. CHAKOTAY: Agreed. JANEWAY: Good. Janeway stands. JANEWAY: I think it's time we get back to our Bridge. CHAKOTAY: No argument there. And they head for the door, side-by-side, together. As they leave, CAMERA FALLS ON the quill and paper, which in the flickering candlelight looks warm and human. DISSOLVE TO: 138 INT. SICKBAY In stark contrast to the warm glow of the previous scene, we see Seven of Nine lying on the surgical bed. CAMERA IS SLOWLY MOVING IN on her face... she's unconscious, eyes closed... and her features would look almost peaceful, if they weren't covered with Borg technology. As we linger on the image of this sleeping woman, we are left wondering what might happen... when she eventually wakes up. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END