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 "The Raven" TEASER FADE IN: INT. DA VINCI'S WORKSHOP - DAY JANEWAY and SEVEN OF NINE as Janeway shows her the workshop. This is a part of Janeway's "mentoring" of Seven, introducing her to aspects of humanity of which she remains unaware. They are facing an incomplete clay sculpture that Janeway has been working on. Janeway grabs a small piece of raw clay. JANEWAY: The first rule is: don't be afraid of the clay. SEVEN OF NINE: I fear nothing. Janeway adds the clay onto the sculpture. JANEWAY: I mean you can't concern yourself with making a mistake... or whether the image you had in your mind is what's taking form in front of you. You just have to let your hands... and the clay... do the work. Janeway takes a small piece of clay, hands it to Seven. JANEWAY: Here. Seven hesitates - it's an unnatural idea for her. Then she takes the clay. JANEWAY: (indicates sculpture) Go ahead. I think the nose could be a little stronger. Seven of Nine adds her small piece of clay onto the bridge of the "nose" of the sculpture - then stops. The effect is comical. JANEWAY: Well, that's a start. Keep going. Seven works it down for a couple of beats, thinking as she does so. SEVEN OF NINE: This activity is truly... unproductive. The end result has no use, no necessary task has been accomplished... time has been expended - nothing more. She steps back from the sculpture - no longer interested in working the clay. JANEWAY: That depends on how you look at it. I find sculpting helps me unwind... relax. Seven considers. SEVEN OF NINE: The concept of "relaxation" is difficult for me to understand. As a Borg, my time was spent working at a specific task... when it was completed, I was assigned another. It was... efficient. Janeway indicates the sculpting she's doing. JANEWAY: So is this. (beat) It helps my own "efficiency" to forget about Voyager for a while... Janeway steps back from the clay sculpture. JANEWAY: I'd be embarrassed to show Maestro Leonardo something like this... but I get a great deal of pleasure in working the clay... creating something... Janeway tosses a wet linen cloth over the clay, done for now... as Seven glances around the workshop, with its profusion of objects and images. SEVEN OF NINE: But why here? In this simulation? Among these... archaic objects... in this disorganized environment. JANEWAY: Frankly, it's refreshing to take myself out of the twenty-fourth century every now and then. And a little... disorganization can encourage the imagination. (beat) You might want to try it sometime. SEVEN OF NINE: Are you suggesting that I create one of these "Holodeck programs"? JANEWAY: You might find it interesting. It's a way of exploring aspects of yourself that probably didn't fit into your life as a Borg... imagination, creativity, fantasy... SEVEN OF NINE: I'm uncertain why those things are necessary. JANEWAY: Human progress... the human mind itself. couldn't exist without them. She glances fondly at one of the da Vinci sketches. JANEWAY: (continuing) When I was a child, I studied these drawings... I even built some of the models. Da Vinci has always been an inspiration to me. Seven of Nine again takes in the vast profusion. SEVEN OF NINE: He was... a busy man. JANEWAY: Yes. A prolific artist... and a scientist as well.. far ahead of his time. Seven of Nine has spotted the "flying machine" hanging from the ceiling. She stares at it, rapt. JANEWAY: That design, for example. He conceived of an airplane centuries before one was actually built. Seven doesn't respond, seems transfixed as she stares at the plane. JANEWAY: Seven? 2 CLOSE ON SEVEN OF NINE as she seems to be transported elsewhere: a montage of SURREAL IMAGES, intense, otherworldly. 3 INT. BORG SHIPWRECK - CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) Heavily damaged, covered with dirt and rust, as though it were laid to waste years ago. A haze of dust and silt permeates the stagnant air. Shafts of sunlight stream down. This is clearly a ship that has crash-landed. A din of BORGIFIED VOICES - males, females, children all overlapping in jumbled discord. An EERIE HYDRAULIC THUMPING AND HISSING emulates the beating of a heart... 4 SURREAL FLASH TWO BORG DRONES, aged and rusty, move menacingly toward camera. The Borgified voices are slowly coming together in unity. What they are saying is still indiscernible. 5 SURREAL FLASH SEVEN OF NINE is running through a Borg Corridor. She appears as she does now, two facial prosthetics and derma-plastic body wear. She looks frightened, as though she is being chased. 6 SURREAL FLASH The EYE of a RAVEN staring at us... a startling sight inside the Borg Corridor... 7 SURREAL FLASH The two Borg Drones move in on Seven of Nine. She pushes past them, running down a narrow corridor... The Borgified voices begin to harmonize. BORGIFIED VOICES (V.O.): (disjointed, repetitious) You will be assimilated... you will be assimilated... Seven of Nine reaches a dead end. She turns to see- 8 SURREAL FLASH A long Borg Corridor... wrecked... shafts of SUNLIGHT streaming in from jagged fractures in the walls... A large, dark RAVEN is flying right toward camera... immense wings flapping with a menacing WHOOSH... closer... closer... dust swirling in its wake... 9 SURREAL FLASH Seven of Nine reacts to the sight... terrified. we hear the raven SHRIEK... 10 SURREAL FLASH (OPTICAL) The raven flying closer! CLOSER! JANEWAY'S VOICE: Seven... Seven... CUT TO: 11 INT. DA VINCI'S WORKSHOP - DAY Janeway has her hand on Seven of Nine's arm, trying to rouse her. She is staring into middle distance, watching the images in her mind. JANEWAY: Seven? She blinks and recognizes the Captain, disoriented. Seven of Nine glances around the room, getting her bearings. She looks like she's pulling it together. JANEWAY: What is it? SEVEN OF NINE: I... don't know. Off Seven of Nine's concern, we... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) 12 INT. SICKBAY Seven of Nine stands next to an examination table. The DOCTOR scans her with a medical tricorder. Janeway is there as well. SEVEN OF NINE: It's happened three times now... in different locations, at different times of day. (beat) I experience a series of... disjointed images in my mind. DOCTOR: Can you be more specific? Were these hallucinations? SEVEN OF NINE: I don't know. I've never hallucinated. (beat) It's as if I were aboard a Borg vessel. But... I was frightened... I felt fear. (recounting) Each experience has been similar. I'm being pursued by the Borg... they want to assimilate me. I'm running from them... (frowns) And then, each time, I see... a bird. JANEWAY: A bird? SEVEN OF NINE: Yes... a large, black one... flying toward me... shrieking... attacking me... She trails off, lost in the image, disturbed. The Doctor completes his scan. DOCTOR: Hmmmm. Your hippocampus is in a state of agitation. SEVEN OF NINE: What does that mean? DOCTOR: As your human physiology continues to reassert itself, psychological symptoms are bound to manifest themselves in a variety of ways... Through dreams, hallucinations, hypnagogic regression... SEVEN OF NINE: Hypnagogic regression? DOCTOR: Flashbacks. (beat) You could be experiencing some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder. JANEWAY: That makes sense... you were assimilated by the Borg... you've gone through an intense, prolonged trauma. SEVEN OF NINE: I was not... traumatized. I was raised by the Borg. I don't see them as threatening. Why would I experience fear? DOCTOR: I don't know. Seven of Nine frowns. SEVEN OF NINE: Will I keep having these "flashbacks"? DOCTOR: I'll need to study your neural scans further. (beat) In the meantime... your digestive system is fully functional. Now is as good a time as any to begin taking solid and liquid nutrients. SEVEN OF NINE: Oral consumption is inefficient. DOCTOR: And unnecessary if you're lucky enough to be a Hologram. But your human physiology makes it a necessity. Seven of Nine looks decidedly uncertain. DOCTOR: I'll draw up a list of your nutritional requirements. Take it to Mister Neelix, in the Mess Hall. (lightly) I hesitate to inflict his cooking on you... but it'll have to do. The Doctor moves off to work on a PADD. SEVEN OF NINE: I do not enjoy this sensation - something is happening to me, and I don't know what it is... (beat) It's as though I'm being driven somehow. Before Janeway can reply: CHAKOTAY'S COM VOICE: Chakotay to the Captain. JANEWAY: Go ahead. CHAKOTAY'S COM VOICE: Our guests have arrived. They're being escorted to the Briefing Room. JANEWAY: On my way. She turns to Seven to explain. JANEWAY: Representatives of the Woman I've been trying to negotiate passage through their space... and so far they've been difficult to deal with. I hope they've had a change of heart. SEVEN OF NINE: I'll wait here for the Doctor's instructions. Janeway puts a hand on her shoulder. JANEWAY: We'll help you through this, Seven. You'll be all right. Janeway turns and EXITS, but Seven still looks troubled. 13 EXT. SPACE VOYAGER (OPTICAL) facing three B'OMAR SHIPS. 14 INT. BRIEFING ROOM Janeway, CHAKOTAY, and PARIS sit around the conference table with TWO B'OMAR REPRESENTATIVES, GAUMEN and DUMAH. The B'omar are suspicious, fastidious, and quirky, and more "sarcastic" than any aliens we've met. GAUMEN Congratulations, Captain. Against our better judgement, the Bomar Sovereignty has agreed to grant your vessel passage through our territory. Janeway exchanges a relieved look with her officers. JANEWAY: On behalf of my crew... thank you. That will cut three months off our journey. GAUMEN: However... there are a few... stipulations. Guidelines that you must adhere to. JANEWAY: You'll have our complete cooperation. GAUMEN: We expect nothing less. (beat) While in our space, your vessel will not exceed warp three, and your weapons systems will remain off-line. You will avoid unnecessary scans and you will not conduct surveys of any kind. You will make no attempt to explore our space. And you will avoid all communications with non-military craft. Janeway is a bit surprised at these restrictions. DUMAH: We've also plotted the course your vessel is to follow. Dumah goes to the monitor and pushes several controls. A DETAILED STARCHART appears on the wall Viewscreen. A COMPLEX, BYZANTINE, ZIGZAGGING LINE represents Voyager's intended course. Paris gives Janeway a slow, sidelong glance. PARIS: It'd take us weeks to follow that course. CHAKOTAY: If not months. Janeway takes it in. Gaumen stands and approaches the wall panel. Paris takes a step back to give him room. DUMAH: We've designed this course so your ship would avoid our populated systems and industrial areas. Deviation is not recommended. GAUMEN: (re: dots) There are a total of seventeen checkpoints where you will submit your vessel for inspection. Janeway exchanges glances with her officers. JANEWAY: (to Gaumen) Chancellor Gaumen... If I may interrupt... Gaumen stops as though Janeway's interruption is inexplicably rude. JANEWAY: I appreciate your efforts in plotting this flight plan. But if we could, I'd like to negotiate a course that's a little more... direct. The B'omar are taken aback by Janeway's suggestion. Off their surprise ... 15 INT. MESS HALL NEELIX is in his kitchen, slicing vegetables and quietly humming to himself. N.D.s at various tables as needed. Seven of Nine ENTERS and stands just inside the door, surveying the room. Neelix sees her and moves to welcome her. NEELIX: Well! An unexpected pleasure... would you like me to show you around the Mess Hall? SEVEN OF NINE: (all business) My physiology has reasserted the need to process solid nutrients. The Doctor has prepared a list of dietary requirements. You will provide them for me. Seven of Nine hands Neelix a PADD. NEELIX: Let's see what we have here... (off PADD) Two hundred fifty grams glycoproteins consisting of fifty-three percent polypeptides, twenty-six percent fibrous glycogen... Doesn't sound very appetizing. Neelix thinks a moment. NEELIX: However... a plate of my Chadre-Kab should satisfy most of these... essentials... and provide a pleasurable culinary experience at the same time. SEVEN OF NINE: Pleasure is irrelevant. NEELIX: (cheerful) I beg to differ. A good meal involves much more than simply providing the proper nutrients. SEVEN OF NINE: Why is that? Neelix is a bit unprepared for the question. NEELIX: Well... there's a certain satisfaction that comes from eating food which has been carefully prepared. I'm sure once you try it, you'll understand. (beat) How would you like your Chadre-Kab? Broiled? Baked? Stir-fried? SEVEN OF NINE: Preparation is- NEELIX: (overlapping) -is irrelevant. Maybe... maybe not. (thoughtful) This is your first time ingesting food in quite a while... let's go a little easy on your stomach... (decides) Steamed. Neelix slaps a dollop of slop into a steamer and works. Seven of Nine puzzled, she hovers over him. NEELIX: This recipe has been in my family for generations. It's a delicacy among my people. Seven of Nine studies him. SEVEN OF NINE: You are... Talaxian. NEELIX: (good-natured) Guilty as charged. SEVEN OF NINE: Species Two One Eight. NEELIX: (uneasy beat) I suppose so. SEVEN OF NINE: Your biological and technological distinctiveness was added to our own. There is a surprised moment as Neelix looks up at her. NEELIX: I hadn't realized that. SEVEN OF NINE: A small freighter... containing a crew of thirty-nine. Taken in the Dalmine Sector. (beat, recollecting) They were easily assimilated. Their dense musculature made them excellent Drones. Neelix casts her a glance, but realizes that Seven of Nine is not trying to be hurtful. She is simply honest. NEELIX: Lucky for you, I guess. Neelix quickly finishes the "Chadre-Kab" and slides in onto a plate. NEELIX: Your "nutrients." He leads the way out of the kitchen carrying the plate. One the way, he grabs a small vase of flowers from the counter, a napkin, a knife and fork, and carries everything to a table. He puts the flowers in the center, places the plate and flatware, and pulls out the chair for Seven of Nine. NEELIX: Please... SEVEN OF NINE: Please what? NEELIX: It's customary to sit while eating. She regards him curiously for a moment, then sits as he slides the chair in. It's a completely foreign feeling to her. She holds on to the sides of the chair. NEELIX: Is something wrong? SEVEN OF NINE: I am unaccustomed to this. Borg do not sit. NEELIX: Well, this is a day of firsts, then, isn't it? He fluffs open the napkin and puts it in her lap with a flourish. Then he sits opposite her. NEELIX: Now. Take a bite. She stares at the utensils, which look very strange to her. Neelix realizes the problem. He gestures toward the fork. NEELIX: Try that one. She picks it up, inspects it, hovers it over the food. NEELIX: Just kind of... scoop some up. Awkwardly, she does so. Neelix, without realizing it, is mimicking her, trying with body language to show her the idea. He brings his hand to his mouth. NEELIX: That's the way... right into your mouth. Just like a little scout ship flying into a Shuttlebay. Seven of Nine clumsily puts the fork in her mouth. NEELIX: Now take it out... but keep your mouth closed. She does so. The food remains in her mouth and she works it peculiarly. NEELIX: That's it... chew, chew, chew - and then swallow. She chews, but can't seem to swallow. NEELIX: Swallow. He mimes a big swallow. She stares at him, and then gulps it down in an ungainly fashion. SEVEN OF NINE: A curious sensation... NEELIX: You'll get used to it. Try some more. Seven of Nine does so, more capably this time, though still not with practiced ease. Then she stops suddenly, staring off into middle distance. She seems to have gone into a trance, staring off at what seems to be nothing - just as she did in the workshop with Janeway. But Neelix turns to look where she's staring, in case. NEELIX: Is there something else I could bring you? Camera PUSHES IN on Seven of Nine's face... 16 SURREAL FLASH (OPTICAL) The Borg shipwreck corridor, as seen earlier. A Borg Drone walking toward us... it throws back its head, opens its mouth and lets out the SHRIEK of a bird! A bizarre sight. 17 RESUME SEVEN reacting to the image in her mind. She turns to Neelix, stares at him... we sense a change in her demeanor... as though she's driven by some inner force. SEVEN OF NINE: You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. 18 INSERT - SEVEN OF NINE'S ARM (OPTICAL) Something is MOVING beneath the flesh of her arm. 19 BACK TO SCENE (OPTICAL) Neelix stares at it in astonishment. NEELIX: A soothing cup of tea, maybe... Seven of Nine REELS from a SUDDEN PAIN. She gasps and clutches at her wrist. A SMALL STAR-SHAPED BORG NODULE ERUPTS VIOLENTLY from beneath the skin of Seven of Nine's arm. Neelix recoils, hitting his combadge. Seven of Nine quickly recovers and rises, going to him. NEELIX: Security to the Mess Hall- WHAM! Seven of Nine knocks him off the chair and onto the floor, dazing him. Then she steps over him and moves intently toward the door. As N.D.s scramble to help Neelix... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO FADE IN: 20 INT. BRIEFING ROOM As before. Janeway stands with Gaumen at the wall panel. We get the feeling that there is a battle of wills, and they've been negotiating for some time. Chakotay indicates several points on the star chart, suggesting an alternate course. He is being as diplomatic as possible. CHAKOTAY: What about this course? It's a marginal adjustment. The nearest populated system is more than three light years away. GAUMEN: Definitely not. You would pass directly through the Agrat-mot Nebula. A key resource in our trade negotiations with the Nassordin. PARIS: I could chart the nebula... try to avoid any- DUMAH: No, no, no! Are your translators malfunctioning? Suddenly, A KLAXON SOUNDS. Red Alert! Everyone reacts. TUVOK'S COM VOICE: Captain Janeway to the Bridge. JANEWAY: (to the B'omar) If you'll excuse me. Off Janeway's movement. 21 INT. BRIDGE KIM, TUVOK, and various N.D.s at stations. Janeway, Chakotay, and Paris ENTER from the Briefing Room. Gaumen and Dumah follow on their heels. Paris and Chakotay take their stations. JANEWAY: Report. TUVOK: I've received an alert from Security. Seven of Nine attacked Neelix in the Mess Hall... and three other crewmen on Deck Two. Shocked reactions. JANEWAY: (to com) Janeway to Seven of Nine... (beat) Seven... If you can hear me... respond. No response... CHAKOTAY: What's her location? TUVOK: Deck Six, Section Twenty-Eight Alpha. Janeway considers her options and gives Tuvok a nod. Tuvok nods his understanding and quickly EXITS. Chakotay takes Tuvok's place at Tactical. Gaumen steps forward. GAUMEN: Captain... What's happening here? JANEWAY: (to Gaumen) I wish I knew, Chancellor. (to Chakotay) Chakotay... Seal off Deck Six. Chakotay works Tactical. INTERCUT: 22 INT. CORRIDOR Seven of Nine on the move... She begins to HEAR a low-level cacophony of BORGIFIED VOICES overlapping unintelligibly (like the surreal voices in the Teaser). BORG VOICE: Seven of Nine. She rounds the bend and runs head-on into... 23 SEVEN OF NINE'S POV The TWO HAGGARD BORG DRONES from the surreal flashes. They are menacing, they move in on her. 24 SEVEN OF NINE takes a step back. She's frightened, her first instinct is to run... Shelooks again, the two Borg Drones are. 25 HER POV TWO SECURITY N.D.s, standing with hand-phasers drawn. There were never really any Borg there... 26 SEVEN OF NINE (OPTICAL) reacts, closes in on them. A guard takes aim and FIRES at her, grazing her shoulder with the beam. Seven of Nine spins around reacting in pain. She whirls on them. One of the Security N.D.s takes a step back and fires again. This time the beam ACTIVATES SEVEN OF NINE'S BORG SHIELDING. She keeps on moving down the hall. 27 INT. BRIDGE As before. SECURITY GUARD'S COM VOICE: (ragged) Security to the Bridge. (beat) We just ran into Seven of Nine. Her Borg shields are fully operational. And they've adapted to our phasers... Janeway reacts with surprise. JANEWAY: (to com) Acknowledged. (beat) Bridge to all security personnel. Configure your weapons to a rotating modulation, but keep them on stun. Gaumen moves toward Janeway. He's incredulous, challenging. GAUMEN: Borg...? You have Borg on your ship? JANEWAY: (beat) It's not what you think. She's a member of my crew. We liberated her from the Collective. She's no longer a Borg. GAUMEN: Then why is she equipped with Borg shields? JANEWAY: I don't know... 28 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) Seven of Nine on the move. She STEPS THROUGH A CRACKLING FORCEFIELD. 29 INT. BRIDGE As before. 30 ANGLE ON CHAKOTAY AT TACTICAL CHAKOTAY: She's able to cross through the security fields. She's entering the armory on Deck Six. 31 INT. CORRIDOR - CLOSE ON A SET OF DOORS as they slide open, revealing Seven of Nine with a PHASER RIFLE. She steps into the corridor, on the move... 32 INT. TURBOLIFT Seven of Nine ENTERS. SEVEN OF NINE: (to com) Deck Ten. She works a touch pad. 33 INT. BRIDGE Janeway stands at the ready, fielding reports. KIM: (off console) She's in a Turbolift... Janeway comes around to Kim's station. JANEWAY: Cut power to the Turboshafts. KIM: (off console) She's blocking my commands with a Borg encryption code... Janeway eyes Kim's console. JANEWAY: Janeway to Tuvok... Seven's apparently headed for Deck Ten. Can you get there before she does? TUVOK'S COM VOICE: I'm moving into position now, Captain. 34 INT. CORRIDOR - OUTSIDE TURBOLIFT Tuvok and three SECURITY N.D.s march down the corridor with phaser rifles in hand. TUVOK: (to Guards, on the move) We'll take position here. They take up a flanking formation outside the TURBOLIFT. Their weapons CLICK AND CHARGE as they target the Turbolift doors. We HEAR the whine of the lift descending... CLOSE ON Tuvok looking down the barrel of his phaser rifle at the Turbolift doors, he's focused and ready. Tension building... 35 ANGLE ON TURBOLIFT (OPTICAL) As before. The Turbolift WHINES TO A HALT... Tense beat... The doors OPEN. Seven of Nine stands defiantly at the center of the Turbolift, a phaser rifle in her hand. She regards Tuvok with a vacant stare. TUVOK: (to Seven) Lower your weapons and stand down. She steps out of the Turbolift... and into the corridor. She's leaving Tuvok no choice. TUVOK: (to N.D. s) Fire. Tuvok and the Security N.D.s OPEN FIRE. Their phaser bolts are ABSORBED by Seven of Nine's CRACKLING BORG SHIELDS. 36 CLOSE ON SEVEN OF NINE'S FACE as she lifts the rifle, takes aim, and begins firing. INTERACTIVE LIGHT plays on her face from the phaser fire. Seven of Nine rounds the bend and disappears down the corridor. 37 ANGLE ON TUVOK pulling himself to his feet. He moves over to a Security N.D. and checks for a pulse. TUVOK: (taps com) Tuvok to Bridge. We were unsuccessful. I have wounded... (beat) She's moving toward junction thirty-two alpha... 38 INT. BRIDGE As before. JANEWAY: (realizing) The Shuttle Bay. CHAKOTAY: (quickly) I'm erecting a forcefield... (to Kim) Harry, reroute all available power to Deck Ten! KIM: (works) Done. 39 INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) Seven of Nine HITS up against a FORCEFIELD around the Shuttle Bay doors. She hesitates... realizes she can't get through... gets an idea. then works a WALL PANEL next to the doors. 40 INT. BRIDGE As before. KIM: (off console) She's accessing Transporter control! 41 INT. SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) Seven of Nine MATERIALIZES at the rear of the shuttle! She works it. 42 INT. BRIDGE As before. CHAKOTAY: (off console) She used a site to site transport... she's in a Shuttlecraft... powering engines... JANEWAY: Seal the launch doors! 43 EXT. SPACE VOYAGER (OPTICAL) The main Shuttle Bay door EXPLODES OUTWARD, DECOMPRESSING IN A GASEOUS FIREBALL. Seven of Nine's SHUTTLE emerges from the VENTING EXHAUST, its shields FLASHING AND CRACKLING IN BORG EFFECT. 44 INT. BRIDGE The ship trembles from the explosion. JANEWAY: Tractor beam! CHAKOTAY: (off console) No effect. She's neutralized the emitter array. KIM Captain... Seven's headed directly into Bomar space... she's gone to warp. 45 ANGLE ON THE B'OMAR as they exchange an incredulous glance. PARIS: She's masked the shuttle's ion trail. I've lost her signal. (beat) She's gone. Off Janeway's frustration, we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO ACT THREE FADE IN: 46 INT. READY ROOM Red Alert. Chakotay and Janeway facing Gaumen and Dumah. The scene is tense, urgent: JANEWAY: (To Gaumen) We'll do everything in our power to find her... but we'll need permission to enter Bomar space to track her shuttle effectively. GAUMEN: (an edge) Very amusing. Janeway gives him a look. The B'omar are angry, belligerent - but they still maintain their sardonic edge. GAUMEN: Let's tally the events, shall we? First, you arrive uninvited and unwelcome... requesting a "shortcut" through our space. (anger rising) Then you proceed to unleash some sort of "rogue Borg" and now you want us to help you get it back? JANEWAY: I apologize for what's happened here... but we certainly didn't "unleash" anyone. (beat) We can resolve this situation quickly... if we work together. GAUMEN: Captain Janeway... after what I've seen here, I question your competence. Janeway's patience is wearing thin: JANEWAY: (carefully) May I remind you that you're still on my ship. DUMAH: And you... are one vessel... among many of ours. GAUMEN: (firm) Your "Borg" will be dealt with, quickly and efficiently. It's being tracked as we speak. CHAKOTAY: Tracked... how? DUMAH: Every vessel... every object... every particle of dust that crosses our borders is immediately identified and traced by our perimeter grid. GAUMEN: The Borg will be found... and destroyed. JANEWAY: Councilor... GAUMEN: There will be no sharing of information. From this point on, your vessel will maintain a distance of at least five light years from our borders. Any deviation... will be considered an act of aggression. (wry) It was a pleasure meeting you. Janeway can see she's lost this argument for now. JANEWAY: (tight, to Chakotay) Commander... escort our guests to the Transporter Room. Chakotay leads the Bomar to the Turbolift. Off Janeway's determination, we... CUT TO: 47 EXT. SPACE VOYAGER (OPTICAL) at impulse. JANEWAY (V.O.): Captain's Log, Supplemental. I've assembled a team to analyze every square millimeter of the Cargo Bay. I'm determined to find something that might shed light on Seven of Nine's actions. 48 INT. CARGO BAY The room is bustling with activity - a detailed investigation is under way. TORRES, Kim and FIVE N.D.s are scanning the room with tricorders, checking in and around the Borg technology and alcoves, etc. Everyone is looking for clues. Torres and Kim are working together. Kim is a bit glum. Torres notices his mood as she continues to scan, moving her tricorder up the length of the alcove. TORRES: Taking this kind of hard, aren't you? KIM: What's that supposed to mean? Torres shrugs and gives Kim a look that suggests she knows more then she should. Kim catches on. KIM: (defensive) We had a working relationship. TORRES: (inquisitive) And... what's that supposed to mean? KIM: It's not what you're thinking. TORRES: (innocently) What am I thinking, Harry? KIM: (flustered) Never mind. Torres gives Kim a wry sidelong glance. She turns her attention back to the alcove. She notices a small Borg implant attached to the headrest. She removes it and examines it in her hand. TORRES: (re: Borg implant) Take a look at this. Janeway ENTERS, glances around. Torres and Kim walk up to her. JANEWAY: Anything? TORRES: (re: implant) A Borg data-link. It contains a succession of log entries. written in Borg alphanumeric code. KIM: I'm getting pretty good with the Borg language. I think I can translate them... JANEWAY: Get on it. Torres and Kim nod and step away as Chakotay ENTERS. CHAKOTAY: (to Janeway) It seems we've made quite an impression on the Woman (beat) In the last hour, they've doubled the number of ships patrolling their borders... and they've increased the sensitivity of the perimeter grid by thirty-six percent. JANEWAY: So much for diplomacy... CHAKOTAY: The Doctor analyzed the data from Seven of Nine's last transport. (beat) He's found something he wants us to see. Janeway nods, and they head for the door. 49 INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS Janeway and Chakotay EXIT the Cargo Bay and head for Sickbay. CHAKOTAY: Maybe this was inevitable. Even if Seven did want to stay on Voyager... her Borg nature may have won out. (beat) We can remove implant after implant... but maybe at her core, she'll always be part of the Collective. JANEWAY: No. I won't accept that. They stop at the Turbolift doors. Janeway taps a control, the doors open, and they EXIT to... 50 INT. TURBOLIFT - CONTINUOUS Janeway and Chakotay ENTER. JANEWAY: (to Lift) Deck Eight. (to Chakotay) She was responding to us ... interacting with people outside the Collective for the first time. (beat) She was... adapting... to this environment... to this crew. But where is she going? We've scanned space for a distance of forty light years. There is no evidence of Borg ships. So she can't be trying to rejoin the Collective. CHAKOTAY: She may plan to take the shuttle back to Borg space. JANEWAY: Ten thousand light years from here? I don't think so... (beat) There's something else going on. We're missing a piece of the puzzle... CHAKOTAY: In the meantime, the Bomar intend to find her. And if they do, she'll probably resist them. The Lift doors slide open... JANEWAY: (determined) One more reason for us to find her first. As they EXIT... TIMECUT: 51 INT. SICKBAY (VPB) The Doctor is studying a GRAPHICS OF SEVEN OF NINE from the Transporter information. It is covered with HIGHLIGHTED "HOT SPOTS" of Borg activity. Janeway and Chakotay ENTER. JANEWAY: What have you found, Doctor? DOCTOR: Something most peculiar. (re: "hot spot" graphic) This graphic represents the matter conversion data from Seven of Nine's last transport. The Doctor refers to several of the "hot spots" on the Transporter-log graphic. DOCTOR: If you'll notice, there's a concentration of Borg organelles in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissue. (beat) The dormant nanoprobes in Seven of Nine's cells are reasserting themselves. They've taken over blood-cell production and they're growing new Borg implants. He eyes the graphic. DOCTOR: Thirteen percent of the Borg technology I removed three weeks ago has regenerated in a matter of hours... CHAKOTAY: You said the nanoprobes in her cells were dormant. What reactivated them? DOCTOR: I don't know. But I've developed a way to stop the process. The Doctor removes a cartridge from a storage container and loads it into a hypospray. DOCTOR: This hypospray contains a genetic resequencing vector. It should neutralize the nanoprobes. JANEWAY: That means someone needs to get close enough to do it... CUT TO: 52 INT. BRIDGE Tuvok and Paris at an aft station. Various N.D.s at stations. Janeway and Chakotay ENTER and approach... JANEWAY: Report. TUVOK: We've analyzed the B'omar perimeter grid. It's sophisticated... but not without vulnerabilities. (explains) It might be possible to penetrate the grid by re-calibrating our shields to match its frequency. PARIS: The trick is going to be our energy signature... (beat) Voyager's too big to hide. But a Shuttlecraft... with the proper shield modulation and its engines powered down... could "drift" right through without so much as a peep. JANEWAY: Nice work, gentlemen. Proceed. (hands hypospray to Tuvok) The Doctor's genetic resequencer should keep her sedated until you get back to the ship. (pointed) Once you've penetrated the perimeter, there'll be no further communication with Voyager. You'll be on your own. Tuvok and Paris nod their understanding. TUVOK: Captain... it is possible that Seven will adapt to the resequencer. JANEWAY: I know. If it fails... and you're unable to reason with her... (grim) You have my authorization to stop her... with any force necessary. TUVOK: Understood. Off the sobering moment... CUT TO: 53 SURREAL FLASH (OPTICAL) The inside of the Borg shipwreck seen earlier. The din of BORGIFIED VOICES haunts the air, once again overlapping in an unintelligible low- level cacophony. Seven of Nine is curled beneath a console. She hugs her knees to her chest, like a terrified child hiding beneath her bed. There is the eerie sound of the raven shrieking in the distance... 54 SEVEN OF NINE'S POV (OPTICAL) as the two haggard Borg Drones peer beneath the console. BORG VOICE (V.O.): Seven of Nine... Grid nine-two of subjunction twelve... CUT TO: 55 INT. SHUTTLECRAFT Seven of Nine staring into middle distance. She snaps out of her trance with a start. The console is sending out an ALARM. She checks the console then looks out the shuttle window... reacts with concern... Something out-side of the shuttle's observation windows has attracted her attention. 56 EXT. SPACE - SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) The shuttle is approaching a LINE OF FIVE WOMAR VESSELS sprawled out like a roadblock. A conflict is about to ignite... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE ACT FOUR FADE IN: 57 EXT. SPACE - SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) approaching the LINE OF FIVE &OMAR VESSELS sprawled out like a roadblock, as seen before. 58 INT. SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT Seven of Nine works the helm controls... we HEAR Dumah's Corn Voice: DUMAH'S COM VOICE: Borg Drone... you have committed an infraction against the B'omar Sovereignty. INTERCUT: 59 INT. B'OMAR VESSEL - COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS (OPTICAL) OVER THE SHOULDER ANGLE THROUGH OBSERVATION WINDOWS Dumah watches as Seven of Nine's shuttle approaches through the windows... DUMAH: (to corn) Cut power to your engines and lower your shields. Prepare to be boarded. Seven of Nine's shuttle looms closer... almost filling the window now! DUMAH: You will proceed no further. We will- Seven's shuttle FILLS the WINDOWFRAME - and RAMS RIGHT INTO DUMAH'S SHIP! 60 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) as Seven's SHUTTLE CRASHES through the B'omar barricade - SMASHING SHIPS out of her way. CUT TO: 61 EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SPACE - SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) at impulse. This shuttle is the smaller Voyager shuttle. 62 INT. SHUTTLECRAFT Tuvok and Paris at the helm. TUVOK: (off console) I'm detecting weapons signatures... Federation and B'omar. (beat) Five Womar vessels are adrift... heavily damaged... lifesigns are stable. Paris works the controls. PARIS: I've located Seven's shuttle. She's two point five million kilometers from here... TUVOK: Adjust course to intercept. Paris works the helm. 63 EXT. SPACE - SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) at impulse. Tuvok and Paris' shuttle comes roaring into view from behind, in pursuit. 64 INT. TUVOK AND PARIS' SHUTTLECRAFT Urgent: PARIS: The implants in Seven's body are disrupting the Transporter signal. I can't get a lock. Tuvok thinks, makes a decision, stands. TUVOK: See if you can remodulate our transporters to match her shields ... PARIS: (surprised) You want to beam over there? TUVOK: Yes. Tuvok pulls a phaser from his waist... grabs the hypospray seen earlier and adjusts it. PARIS: (concerned) I'm not sure that's a good idea, Tuvok... close quarters... Borg against Vulcan. You won't stand a chance if she decides to put up a fight... TUVOK: It's my hope that the element of surprise will work in my favor. Paris looks doubtful... TUVOK: Do you have a better idea? PARIS: Come to think of it... no. (console beeps) She's charging weapons... TUVOK: Set my coordinates for the aft compartment. Paris works. PARIS: Ready... TUVOK: Energize. Paris works... 65 INT. SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) Tuvok MATERIALIZES in the rear compartment and Seven of Nine is standing directly behind him. HE WHIPS AROUND WITH THE HYPOSPRAY, BUT SHE KNOCKS IT FROM HIS HAND. Seven of Nine SLAMS TUVOK AGAINST A CONSOLE PANEL AND THEN UP AGAINST THE OPPOSITE WALL. Then she administers a VULCAN NECK PINCH. Tuvok collapses in her arms. 66 INT. PARIS' SHUTTLECRAFT Paris at the helm. PARIS: Come on, Tuvok... Give me a sign. WHAM! The shuttle is ROCKED! 67 EXT. SPACE - SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) is firing at Paris' shuttle. 68 INT. PARIS' SHUTTLECRAFT The cockpit is smoky. COMPUTER VOICE: Warning- propulsion systems are off-line. PARIS: Damn! TIME CUT: 69 EXT. SPACE - SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) at impulse. 70 INT. SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT Tuvok is slumped in a corner at the rear of the ship. He's slowly regaining consciousness. 71 TUVOK'S POV Seven of Nine is at the helm with her back to him. 72 RESUME (OPTICAL) Tuvok gets to his feet, he takes a step forward... runs into a greenish, Borg FORCEFIELD. Seven of Nine does not even glance back. SEVEN OF NINE: That's a level-five forcefield, Lieutenant. I suggest you be more careful. Tuvok eyes her. TUVOK: Why have you left Voyager? SEVEN OF NINE: I am Borg. TUVOK: You were Borg... but you're human, now... you're part of our crew. She turns to him... Seven's expression is intense- not the usual remoteness we've come to expect. She's disoriented, hesitant, conflicted- driven by forces she doesn't understand. SEVEN OF NINE: For a brief time. I was human... (beat) But I've come to realize... that I am Borg. I will always... be Borg. Tuvok eyes her - sees that she going through some sort of internal struggle. TUVOK: What prompted this... realization? SEVEN OF NINE: Every Borg ship is coded to emit a distinct resonance frequency... to guide Drones who become separated from the Collective. TUVOK: A homing beacon... SEVEN OF NINE: Yes. I am following a signal. A Borg vessel is waiting for me. TUVOK: We've scanned this entire region for Borg. There are none. SEVEN OF NINE: You're wrong. They're here... She stands... moves to him with sudden intent. SEVEN OF NINE: Vulcan. Species Three Two Five Nine. Your enlarged neocortex produces superior analytical abilities. Your distinctiveness will be added to our... She trails off... standing there, staring, caught in her own thoughts weird. TUVOK: Seven? She looks at him. SEVEN OF NINE: No... I will not... assimilate you. (makes a decision) Once I return to the Collective, you will go back to Voyager... and tell Captain Janeway what's happened to me. (soft) Thank her... for her patience... for her kindness. There is a hint of sadness and regret in her words... in her eyes. TUVOK: Curious. (beat) Your behavior demonstrates affection and sentiment... traits of humanity... hardly Borg. Tuvok ponders this seeming conundrum for a beat. TUVOK: You've been experiencing hallucinations... flashbacks... SEVEN OF NINE: Yes... TUVOK: Does that usually occur when a resonance signal is activated? SEVEN OF NINE: No... 73 SURREAL FLASH (OPTICAL) Inside the BORG SHIPWRECKED CORRIDOR - dusty, shafts of sunlight... a cacophony of BORG VOICES... BORG VOICE: (V.O.) Seven of Nine... Grid nine-two of subjunction twelve. 74 SURREAL FLASH (OPTICAL) the RAVEN flying toward us down the corridor in SLOW MOTION (a re-use of the shot seen earlier). 75 RESUME SEVEN OF NINE she reacts... fear rising within her... SEVEN OF NINE: But... I hear them... calling me... I'm frightened... TUVOK: That's understandable. Lower the forcefield... we can return to Voyager... and find out what's happening to you... She looks at him, afraid... helpless... and for a moment, it looks as though she might agree... TUVOK: (pressing) I am your shipmate... We can return to Voyager together. She takes a stop toward the forcefield... then stops... her expression hardens... SEVEN OF NINE: I must rejoin the Collective. She turns and moves back to the helm. Off Tuvok's face - what's going on here...? 76 OMITTED 77 EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL) at impulse. 78 INT. CARGO BAY Janeway is alone in the room, sitting on a storage container. She contemplates Seven of Nine's Borg alcove. She is deep in thought, reflective. Kim ENTERS. KIM: (cautiously) Captain... Am I disturbing you? JANEWAY: Not at all, Harry. Kim approaches, holding a PADD. KIM: I've managed to decipher Seven's log entries. Janeway perks up with curiosity. JANEWAY: And? KIM: There's nothing that indicates she was planning to leave the ship. The entries are pretty unremarkable. She describes her daily routines... number of hours spent regenerating... that sort of thing. There were some personal log entries... mostly observations about the crew's behavior... (a little embarrassed) I'm mentioned in quite a few of them. Apparently, she finds my behavior "easy to predict." Whatever that means... JANEWAY: (lightly) Don't take it personally... coming from Seven, that's probably a compliment. Kim hands her the PADD. KIM: The most recent entries are kind of strange... descriptions of bizarre images... almost like a record of her dreams. JANEWAY: (taking the PADD) The hallucinations... KIM: Maybe so. Sometimes she's in a Borg vessel... running... or hiding behind a bulkhead... falling down a shaft... Borg everywhere, chasing her... (beat) Nightmarish stuff. JANEWAY: (studying PADD) What about this... bird? KIM: She mentions it several times. It flies at her. shrieking... (shrugs) I don't know what it means. JANEWAY: (reads off PADD) "The feathers are black... wingspan approximately one-half meter... the eyes are yellow... and it has a powerful, triangular beak. When it looks at me, I am paralyzed... I cannot move... it seems to know me, but I don't understand how that's possible. It's merely a bird... an inferior form of life... but the sight of it fills me with fear. Janeway takes this in... trying to figure it out... JANEWAY: It sounds like she's describing a member of the corvidae family... like a crow... She stops... struck by a sudden realization... JANEWAY: ...or a raven. (with meaning) She's describing a raven. KIM: Why is that important? Janeway stands... JANEWAY: Because now I know what to look for... Janeway EXITS to the Bridge, determined. Kim follows. 79 INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS Janeway ENTERS with Kim. Chakotay, N.D.s at their stations. JANEWAY: Chakotay, calibrate our long range sensors to scan for any Federation signature other than our two Shuttlecraft. CHAKOTAY: Captain...? JANEWAY: Do it. She moves to the helm. JANEWAY: (to helm N.D.) Bring the ship about, Ensign... and lay in a course for B'omar space. The N.D. works. Off Janeway's intent face - what is she thinking...? FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR ACT FIVE FADE IN: 80 EXT. SPACE - SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) in orbit around an ALIEN moon. 81 INT. SEVEN OF NINE'S SHUTTLECRAFT Seven of Nine is at the helm, Tuvok still behind the forcefield. She is studying the controls. SEVEN OF NINE: The resonance signal is coming from the lunar surface. (beat) The Borg are waiting for me there. A hesitation, then she rises and goes to the wall console, prepares for transport. SEVEN OF NINE: I don't know why I'm frightened. They are my people. TUVOK: If you're afraid, then leave this place. SEVEN OF NINE: Once I've been reintegrated into the Collective, my fears will disappear. She is clearly disconcerted, uneasy about taking this step. TUVOK: Seven... release the forcefield. I will accompany you to the surface. She is surprised. SEVEN OF NINE: You would be assimilated... TUVOK: I don't believe so. I think this situation is not what it appears. This intrigues Seven, seems to give her hope. SEVEN OF NINE: What do you mean...? What else could it be? TUVOK: I don't know. But I'm willing to go to the surface with you and find out. The slightest of hesitations, and she works controls. We HEAR the forcefield fritz OFF. 82 EXT. SPACE - PARIS' SHUTTLECRAFT AND VOYAGER (OPTICAL) at impulse. 83 INT. PARIS' SHUTTLECRAFT Paris at the helm. JANEWAY'S COM VOICE: Voyager to Paris. PARIS: (to com) Paris here, Captain. I'm glad to hear your voice. (beat) Tuvok is with Seven of Nine. I haven't been able to establish communication with him since he transported to her shuttle. Paris works the console. PARIS: (off console) I've tracked them to a Class-M moon orbiting the fifth planet of a yellow dwarf star. INTERCUT: 84 INT. BRIDGE Janeway in command. Chakotay, Kim and various N.D.s at stations. PARIS: I'm picking up an unusual resonance signal from the surface. It's erratic... I haven't been able to identify it. JANEWAY: Acknowledged. (beat) We've detected several B'omar ships closing in on your position. What's your condition? PARIS' COM VOICE: Warp engines are off-line and shields are at fifty percent. JANEWAY'S COM VOICE: Stand by... We're going to extend Voyager's shields around your shuttle. Janeway gives Kim the signal. 85 EXT. LUNARSCAPE - DAY (OPTICAL) A murky yellow sky hangs over a black crater-marked lunarscape. 86 ANGLE ON PRECIPICE Tuvok and Seven of Nine make their way along a rocky path. Tuvok is scanning as they go. TUVOK: The signal is getting stronger... SEVEN OF NINE: (apprehensive) They're here... I'm sure of it. TUVOK: (scans) This way. Seven of Nine stops, uncertain. TUVOK: If you like, we can return to the shuttle. She considers this briefly, then summons her courage. SEVEN OF NINE: No. I have to find out. He nods and they round a bend in the path. 57 ANOTHER ANGLE as, surprised, they look down at something. SEVEN OF NINE: (awed) What is it? Tuvok scans. 88 CRASHED VESSEL - THEIR POV (OPTICAL) A PARTIALLY BORGIFIED FEDERATION SHIP lies ruptured and broken in the alien sands, jagged hull rising from the dunes. TUVOK (V.O.): It is a Federation vessel... partially assimilated by the Borg. 89 TUVOK AND SEVEN OF NINE TUVOK: There are no lifesigns. Tritanium decay suggests it has been here for nearly twenty years. Seven of Nine, rapt, stares at the hulk. They start toward the ship. 90 INT. BORGIFIED SHIPWRECK As seen in the surreal flashes. Shafts of murky sunlight intersect the ship's cracked frame. It appears to have been in the process of assimilation when it crashed. As in Seven of Nine's surreal flashes, the vessel is heavily damaged, covered with rust. A haze of dust permeates the air. The ship's impact has torn a jagged doorway in the hull. Tuvok and Seven of Nine ENTER, silhouetted by daylight, and carefully begin to explore the wreckage. Seven is a bundle of confusion, apprehension, and fascination. SEVEN OF NINE: This vessel is familiar... She moves carefully toward a HALF-BORGIFIED CONSOLE. A flashing, beeping signal emanates from it. SEVEN OF NINE: This is the signal that's drawn me here... Gingerly, she touches a control... and the signal goes off. This seems to provide a release of tension for Seven. She gasps suddenly, caught in sense memory. A din of BORGIFIED VOICES begins their song... BORG VOICES You will be assimilated... resistance is futile your distinctness will be added to our own. FATHER'S VOICE (V.O.): (screaming) Annika...! Annika... Seven of Nine whirls around... 91 SURREAL FLASH (OPTICAL) A RUGGED MAN (Seven of Nine's father) is being pulled backward by a Borg Drone. He calls out, desperate. FATHER: Annika! MOTHER'S VOICE (V.O.): Run... hide! 92 SURREAL FLASH (OPTICAL) A WOMAN (Seven of Nine's mother) is lying on the floor, a Borg drone approaching. MOTHER: Run, Annika! BORG VOICES: Resistance is futile... 93 RESUME SEVEN OF NINE clutching her head, full of the cacophonous voices. SEVEN OF NINE: Papa... help me... FATHER'S VOICE (V.O.): Annika... ! Seven of Nine turns suddenly and goes to a console, crawls UNDER it and sits hunched up, reliving the past. Camera moves into her face. 94 SURREAL FLASH (OPTICAL) A SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL (young Annika) huddles under the console, just as Seven of Nine did. She hugs her legs to her chest, terrified. MOTHER'S VOICE (V.O.): Hide, Annika... BORG VOICES: Annika... Annika... The little girl squirms in terror, helpless. DRONE LEGS appear before her, and she shrinks back further. 95 ANNIKA'S POV as a Borg Drone peers down at her, then extends a Borgified arm right at her. 96 ON ANNIKA (OPTICAL) in horror ANNIKA: (screaming) No! No! 97 RESUME SEVEN OF NINE huddled under the console, eyes closed, head turning back and forth in anguish. Tuvok is there, kneeling, holding her wrists. SEVEN OF NINE: (softly) No... no... TUVOK: I'm here, Seven. Listen to me... Slowly, she stops turning her head, and then her eyes open, still haunted by what she's gone through. She takes several deep breaths. TUVOK: Come... He helps her come out and stand up. She looks around, still shattered. SEVEN OF NINE: It happened here... this is where it began. (beat) This is where I was assimilated. She moves to a wall, brushes aside a Borg conduit to reveal... 98 CLOSE ON PLAQUE words obscured by a layer of sediment. Seven's hand brushes the dust from the plaque, revealing the words: THE RAVEN. 99 BACK TO SCENE SEVEN OF NINE: This was our ship. She looks at Tuvok, calmer now, able to relate the story. SEVEN OF NINE: We lived here for a long time... my father did experiments... they were very important, so we had to travel a long way... She is recounting with the understanding of a six-year-old, imperfect and halting. SEVEN OF NINE: I had my birthday here... my cake had six candles... and one more to grow on... A look of ineffable sadness comes over her. SEVEN OF NINE: And then the men came... Papa tried to fight them, but they were too strong... I tried to hide... maybe they wouldn't find me ... because I was little... but they did... Tuvok listens, fascinated. SEVEN OF NINE: Then Papa said we were going to crash... and the big man picked me up... suddenly we weren't on this ship anymore. We were somewhere else... She looks up at Tuvok, purged now, more like herself. SEVEN OF NINE: (coolly) And then I became Borg. TUVOK: Fascinating. He gestures to the now-stilled signal. TUVOK: This resonance signal must have been active since the ship was assimilated... and Voyager passed within its range. WHAM! The ship is jolted hard. Seven of Nine and Tuvok are shaken, they try to hold their footing. We can HEAR the ship's structural integrity weakening. SEVEN OF NINE: The ship is under attack. TUVOK: (realizing) The B'omar. Several smaller explosions rock the ship, then BOOM! The ship is jolted again. DEBRIS begins to fall from the ceiling as the ship is JOLTED. TUVOK: We must get out of here. The ship will collapse. 100 EXT. SPACE - B'OMAR SHIPS (OPTICAL) Three B'ornar ships are in orbit around the moon, one firing at the lunar surface. 101 EXT. SPACE - ANOTHER ANGLE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL) as it SWOOPS into view. 102 INT. BRIDGE Janeway in command, Chakotay at Tactical, Kim and various N.D.s at stations. KIM: The B'ornar still aren't responding to our hails. JANEWAY: (to Chakotay) Target their weapons systems... Chakotay works the Tactical station. JANEWAY: (to corn) Tom... What's your status? 103 EXT. LUNAR ATMOSPHERE - PARIS' SHUTTLECRAFT (OPTICAL) moving through the cloud layers. 104 INT. PARIS' SHUTTLECRAFT Paris works the helm. PARIS: (to com) I'm attempting to lock onto them now... 105 INT. BORG SHIPWRECK Explosions continue to rock the scuttled mass. Debris falls from the ceiling. 106 ANGLE ON TUVOK AND SEVEN OF NINE trying to make their way to the opening in the hull. It's difficult as the ship is jolting and shifting, and debris continues to pelt them. Just as they come within reach of the portal, a particularly VIOLENT JOLT unlooses a BEAM, which falls across the opening - their only way of getting out of the collapsing ship. Tuvok goes to the beam, tries to move it. It won't budge. He and Seven of Nine exchange a look as the ship SHUDDERS and JOLTS, almost throwing them off their feet. The ship is in real danger of disintegrating beneath them. SEVEN OF NINE: My strength... added to your own... Together, they apply Vulcan and Borg strength to the beam. It moves slightly. 107 INT. BRIDGE As before. CHAKOTAY: We've disabled two of their ships. The third is still firing. KIM: We're being hailed. Audio only. Janeway nods at him. GAUMEN'S VOICE: You're committing an act of war, Captain. JANEWAY: You've left me no choice, Councilor- GAUMEN'S VOICE: Reinforcement are arriving. You will be destroyed. Janeway makes the "cut" sign. JANEWAY: (to Chakotay) I don't have time for this. Target their weapons array. 108 INT. BORGIFIED VESSEL The ship is SHAKING VIOLENTLY, near collapse. Tuvok and Seven of Nine give it one last burst of strength... and pull the beam loose enough to crawl through- 109 EXT. LUNARSCAPE (OPTICAL) as Tuvok and Seven leap desperately from the ship, it COLLAPSES behind them! 110 ROCKY PATH (OPTICAL) Tuvok and Seven, covered with the dust from the vessel, turn back to stare at the destruction of the ship so nearly their own destruction. Then they DEMATERIALIZE. 111 INT. BRIDGE As before. PARIS' COM VOICE: I've got them, Captain, and we're on our way to the Shuttle Bay. JANEWAY: Acknowledged. Good work. An ALARM sounds from Kim's station. KIM: (to Janeway) I'm detecting a fleet of B'omar vessels approaching... (beat) Sixty-eight ships. JANEWAY: (to Conn.) Lieutenant... As soon as Mister Paris's shuttle has docked, take us out of Bomar space. Warp eight. (to Chakotay) It looks like there won't be any shortcuts this time. TIME CUT: 112 EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL) at warp. 113 INT. DA VINCI'S WORKSHOP - NIGHT Seven of Nine sits alone, staring at the "flying machine." Janeway ENTERS and approaches. JANEWAY: There you are... (beat) I wanted to tell you that the Doctor said he could adjust one of your implants so you won't receive any more "homing signals." SEVEN OF NINE: Thank you. She looks around the room. SEVEN OF NINE: I hope you don't mind that I activated this program... JANEWAY: Not at all. SEVEN OF NINE: I've been thinking about what you said... that this is a place to... encourage your imagination. JANEWAY: Is that appealing to you? SEVEN OF NINE: I'm not certain. There is a slight hesitation, as Seven begins to venture into territory that s new to her. SEVEN OF NINE: I find myself... constructing scenarios... considering alternative possibilities... (beat) If my parents and I had not encountered the Borg what would our lives have been? She's struggling with her thoughts. SEVEN OF NINE: (continuing) I would have been raised by them... learned from them... they would have influenced what I became... who and what I am. Janeway is moved by this. JANEWAY: And you would have done the same for them. She continues to struggle with the idea. Janeway considers her for a moment, then: JANEWAY: If you'd like to know more about your parents, there's information in the Federation database. SEVEN OF NINE: Information? JANEWAY: It seems they were fairly well known... for being unconventional... and for some rather unique scientific theories. (beat) You might like to read what's there. It might... encourage your imagination. Seven of Nine seems to consider this proposal, but it's too much, too soon. SEVEN OF NINE: Perhaps I will. She rises. SEVEN OF NINE: Some day. (beat) Good night, Captain. She EXITS and Janeway looks after her. There are no miracles in a journey like this, only small steps. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END