Feels heavy.
Baby's first tricorder?
Not exactly.
Thank you.
I'm sure she'll love it. What is it?
A pleenok. Vulcans use them to train
their infants in primary logic.
Never too early to train those synapses.
Let me see that. I love a good puzzle.
This one's from Mr Kim.
Starfleet diapers.
Standard issue.
We'll know who to call
if there's a containment breach.
Now your implants have been removed,
you might think about having
children of your own one day.
One day. I have been considering
some less radical changes in my life.
Such as?
I realise I don't have a rank,
but I'd like to request a uniform.
Consider it done.
The Doctor says you don't need to regenerate now.
I can arrange quarters for you.
Unless you enjoy curling up in the cargo bay?
A bed would be more comfortable.
Since I arrived on Voyager, your guidance has been invaluable.
Thank you, Captain.
All I did was chart the course.
You're the one who made the journey.
Seven, it's traditional for everyone to share their best wishes for the baby.
I thought you might like to start.
To the newest member of our crew. May all her desires be fulfilled
except for one. So she'll always have something to strive for.
- Very good. - Hear! Hear!
And may she inherit a sense of logic from her mother.
I'll drink to that.
That was strange.
- Care to explain? - I wish I could.
Long-range sensors picked up an energy discharge, but now it's gone.
- There. There's another one. - They occur 5.9 light years ahead.
- Source? - We're too far for a clear reading.
- Bridge to Seven of Nine. - Go ahead.
- Report to the astrometrics lab. - Acknowledged.
Computer, end program.
I didn't find a cause for the discharges.
But the region contains unusual amounts of radiation and metallic debris.
- Vessels? - Not within range.
- I'll have more data when closer. - I see no reason to alter course.
Keep an eye on your sensors.
On to more pressing matters. Does B'Elanna suspect anything?
- Not a clue. - Good. Mess hall, 1400.
Be on time. I don't want to spoil the surprise.
- I expect both of you to show up. - I'll be busy.
What's wrong? No baby showers in the collective?
I'm sure you can spare a few minutes.
I share your discomfort with social gatherings.
They occur with alarming frequency.
Mr Neelix would argue that they improve morale.
I have been looking for ways to improve my social skills. Perhaps I'll attend.
Well, it certainly is efficient. No clutter.
Plenty of room to move around.
But it's a little impersonal. Don't you think?
- Explain. - These are your quarters, Seven.
They should reflect your individuality.
How about a table and a couple of chairs? Give yourself a place to work,
entertain guests. Try to add a little colour.
- Photographs, artwork, knick-knacks. - Knick-knacks?
Like the wood carvings in Ensign Kim's quarters.
I've not been to Ensign Kim's quarters.
But I could replicate some items and disperse them throughout the room.
That's a start. Some people like to display pictures of family and friends.
My parents' photograph is in the database.
- I'll make a copy and place it in a frame. - Good.
A multi-spectral star chart might enhance this bulkhead.
- Or a painting. - A painting of a star chart.
I was thinking of something more abstract, more artistic.
Drapes. Nothing livens up a room like good window dressing.
- Not to mention the added privacy. - Privacy? We're in space.
You never know when we'll be docking at a crowded space port.
But we'll have to make sure that they match the carpet.
I'm thinking of a Talaxian mosaic,
tulaberry blue stripes...
I appreciate your aesthetic insights, but I believe I can proceed on my own.
Enter.
- Am I interrupting? - Please come in.
- Love what you've done with the place. - We're decorating.
Maybe this will help.
- Consider it a house-warming gift. - It's beautiful. What is it?
A dream catcher, according to Native American mythology
it wards off nightmares.
- I'm impressed. - I'm familiar with your culture.
Now that you'll be sleeping, instead of regenerating, it may come in handy.
I'm sure it will. Thank you.
I'll let you two find a place to hang that, but it would look perfect above the bed.
Pleasant dreams.
- It was thoughtful of you to stop by. - I wouldn't miss it.
I suppose this makes you my inaugural guest.
I'd be a negligent host if I didn't offer you a beverage. Tea?
That might be difficult. No replicator.
- Another flaw in the decor. - I'll requisition one for you tomorrow.
I'd appreciate that, Commander.
Chakotay. We're off duty. We can drop the formalities.
Yes, sir.
I enjoyed your toast today.
You've come a long way. I hope to see more.
You will.
Good night.
You may know that I've taken an interest in culinary science.
I'm preparing a meal tomorrow night. Perhaps you could attend...
to evaluate my work.
- I'd be happy to. - 1900 hours?
- I'll bring the wine and the furniture. - Then you accept?
It's a date.
Rock-a-bye, baby, in the space dock.
When the core blows, the shuttle will rock.
When the hull breaks, the shuttle will fall.
And down will come baby, shuttle and all.
Are you trying to soothe the infant or traumatise her?
The lyrics are grim, but it's the melody they respond to.
I recorded 29 in all, including a couple of Klingon lullabies.
My favourite is "Quong Vaj Ocht". Sleep, Little Warrior.
I could tell by the look on their faces that my gift made quite an impression.
- No doubt. - I wish you'd been there. It was lovely.
Tom and B'Elanna were disappointed that you didn't attend.
I was occupied.
- Are you experiencing shoulder pain? - Yes.
Your biradial clamp is out of alignment by 0.3 microns.
- It'll have to be repaired. - Can't you extract the component?
Not if you want to keep using that arm.
It's an inconvenience, but until we can find a way
to remove your cybernetic systems, they need maintenance.
We can take care of it now.
- I prefer to wait. - We'll be done in an hour.
I have research to complete.
I suppose we can put it off until next week's physical.
I also noticed that your electrolyte levels are down by 12%.
Have you missed any regeneration cycles?
- Last night. - Don't tell me. More... research?
This must be some project. Mind if I ask what you're working on?
- It's complicated. - How?
My personal life is none of your concern.
I wasn't aware you had a personal life.
- Report. - It was an energy discharge.
200,000 kilometres starboard.
- It produced a level 9 shock wave. - Some kind of weapon?
- Possibly. - Another one. 5 million km to port.
- A shock wave is approaching. - Full power to the shields.
Our warp field's destabilising.
I'm detecting another. Distance - 50,000 kilometres.
Turn our bow into the wave front. It'll minimise the damage.
Sorry, there wasn't enough time.
- We've lost warp drive. - I'm reading another.
Distance - 26 million km. Too far to pose a threat.
If they are weapons, they're not directed at us.
Or whoever's firing them is a lousy shot.
Astrometric sensors recorded the explosions.
I believe it's a long-range, subspace warhead.
Debris suggests dozens have been fired in the last few weeks.
The warhead destroyed something. What?
It appeared to be an unmanned probe.
Very intriguing, but let's get out of here before we cross paths with another.
Where do we stand on repairs?
Radiation from the explosions is making it difficult.
Lieutenant Torres estimates 48 hours.
Can you detect the warheads before they emerge?
I believe so. The weapons create
distortions as they approach the subspace barrier.
But I'll need to recalibrate my sensors.
Do it. Even a few seconds' warning would help us.
Your duty shift doesn't begin for two hours.
The Doctor sent me to relieve you early.
He wants you to spend more time regenerating.
I see he's enlisted an ally.
"Don't kill the messenger."
Sophocles, "Oedipus Rex". I've been studying Earth literature,
as a part of my Academy training.
Continue these scans of the subspace barrier.
Look for any gravimetric distortions.
Run a diagnostic on the ports. Make sure they're aligned.
- I checked. - Check again.
Come to join the fun? We're trying to start the warp core for the 15th time.
Perhaps this will enhance your day. It's a belated gift for your baby shower.
I apologise for my absence.
Proceed.
They're lined with bio-thermal insulation.
Your infant's feet will be protected even if the temperature is below -40.
Well, they're certainly unique. Thank you.
You're welcome.
- I wish to ask you a personal question. - Shoot.
You have an appealing coiffure. What is your grooming regimen?
- You're asking what I do with my hair? - Yes.
Well, nothing too elaborate. Sonic shower, a little engine grease.
Thinking about a new look?
Perhaps. I'll keep you apprised, if you'd like.
Please do.
- Was that Seven of Nine? - Must be an alien intruder on board.
Make the following modifications
to holodeck file Seven of Nine alpha 3, personal quarters.
- Modifications complete. - Begin program.
You look perfect. Give me a hand with this.
I'm surprised your Starfleet training didn't include cork extraction.
I must have been sick that day.
- Looks like wine's off the menu. - Unless you brought a phaser.
Never on the first date.
Assist me.
Slice these vegetables in 5 mm increments.
Aye, aye.
That smells delicious.
Our appetiser is braised leeks. Primary course, rack of lamb with wild rice.
- No dessert? - Dessert will be a surprise.
I can't wait.
Does this contain enough sodium chloride for your taste?
It could use another 0.6 milligrams.
But you're the chef.
I concur. More salt.
- Liszt? - Chopin.
Classical music has intriguing mathematical properties.
- You play an instrument? - The Doctor's giving me piano lessons.
- I'd love to hear you play. - I require more practice.
- Your technique is flawed. - Sorry. I'm a replicator man.
Use your left hand to guide the food.
Observe closely.
- Pay attention to the vegetable. - You're beautiful when you're chopping.
I don't mean to sound like an old holo-novel,
but you've got a wonderful smile.
It wasn't a smile. It was a smirk.
It was a smile. I could check the internal sensors if you'd like.
Remain still.
You have an intriguing facial structure.
I'll take that as a compliment.
- I require more practice. - You're doing just fine.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
I wasn't aware you had a personal life.
Chakotay to Seven of Nine.
Chakotay to Seven, respond.
Go ahead.
Report to astrometrics. We've found something.
Yes, Commander.
Good morning.
- You found something? - At first we thought it was a probe.
Then Icheb picked up an automated transmission. It's a warning beacon.
You have entered subspace munitions range 434.
Evacuate immediately.
Apparently, this entire region is an alien testing ground.
We've sent out emergency hails, but so far no response.
Whoever's doing these tests could be light years away.
Any progress detecting their warheads?
Not yet.
- You seem a little distracted. - I'm fine.
It's not like you to be late for a duty shift.
- Rough night? - Not at all.
I'll be on the bridge if you find anything.
"Better late than never.”
- Titus Livius, "A History Of Rome". - You're relieved.
Get some rest.
- Bravo. - You approve?
Approve? I'm amazed.
I was expecting "Chopsticks". I had no idea you were so good.
- The Doctor's an efficient instructor. - You'll be giving a recital for the crew.
The Doctor suggests I accompany him during his next operatic performance.
- Your turn. - Unfortunately, I don't play.
But I'd love to hear you again. And this... is one of my favourites.
- You want me to stop? - No. I want you to play.
I don't understand.
Look, your technique is flawless.
But try to put a little more heart into the piece. More of yourself.
That's all right. Keep going.
Tell me what you're feeling.
- My tempo is erratic. - Not what you're thinking.
What you're feeling. Your emotions.
Frustration, anxiety.
Stop thinking about the notes. Just play.
I can't.
Yes, you can. Don't you see what's happening?
The metronome is holding you back.
It gives you a sense of order, but it also cuts you off from your feelings.
Remember when you first came aboard?
The thought of disconnecting from the hive mind terrified you.
This is no different. It doesn't have to be perfect.
800,000 kilometres off the starboard bow.
- Bridge to Seven of Nine. - Go ahead.
- We need those sensor calibrations. - A moment to return to my station.
That would be a good idea.
Hull fracture, deck 12.
- Seven of Nine, report. - Stand by, Captain.
Lieutenant Paris, isolate subspace band omicron theta.
Acknowledged.
Direct your sensors to coordinates 178, mark 26.
Nothing there.
Correction. 178, mark 36.
I can see them. Two warheads are about to emerge. Adjusting course.
- Full power to the forward shields. - Impact in five, four, three, two...
- Shields are holding. - Why wasn't Seven at her post?
Good question. Maybe you should ask her.
It was your responsibility to locate the warheads.
- I succeeded. - Not before we took heavy damage.
You told Chakotay you'd have those calibrations hours ago.
The work took longer than I anticipated.
It might have gone faster if you'd stayed at your post.
I didn't realise I was confined to there.
You were on duty.
This isn't the first time you've left your station over the past few days.
Holodeck 2.
You've logged a lot of time in there. Mind if I ask why?
It must be something important, Seven.
49 hours in six days.
- I was running a simulation. - Of what?
A new gravimetric array I've been developing.
I wanted to perfect the design before I brought it to you.
I appreciate your efforts to improve systems,
but I can't have you dividing your time.
During an alert you perform your duties.
If you need to leave your post, inform Chakotay. Understood?
Yes, Captain. I apologise for my lapse in judgment.
We all make mistakes, Seven.
I've even been known to make a few myself.
It sounds intriguing.
Your new gravimetric array.
When this crisis is over, I'd be happy to take a look.
Maybe I can lend a hand.
I've analysed the sensor data from that last barrage.
I've refined your detection method.
We'll be able to see the weapons 10.3 seconds earlier.
The captain will be pleased.
Have I offended you?
No. You've done nothing wrong.
I was negligent in my duties. As a result Voyager was nearly destroyed.
I was hoping you could provide a quotation to alleviate my guilt.
I can't think of one, but I'd be happy to search the database.
That won't be necessary.
- Stay here until I return. - Where are you going?
To correct an error.
Computer, activate Chakotay simulation.
Come in.
I hope you're not allergic. Antarian moon blossoms, extremely rare.
I had to smuggle them out of airponics. Don't tell Neelix.
I thought I'd cook for you tonight. How does roasted chicken sound?
I slaved over the replicator for hours.
Not hungry?
I called you here to thank you.
For what?
The past few days have been memorable.
To say the least.
- You're ending this. - In a manner of speaking, yes.
Why?
Our relationship interferes with my responsibilities.
I can speak to the captain, have her cut back on your duty shifts.
The past few days have been more than memorable.
They've been an important step forward. Don't throw that away.
- I'm sorry, Commander. - You're making a mistake.
No, I'm trying to correct one.
Ask yourself why you want to end this.
Is it out of a sense of duty, or something else?
Every time you move closer to your emotions, you back away,
like hiding behind that metronome.
- Your analogy is flawed. - Is it?
You're afraid that embracing your humanity
will make you weak, less than perfect. But think about what you stand to gain.
- It's irrelevant. - No, it's not.
Real intimacy with another person? Nothing's more relevant.
- I must return to my station. - Stay here with me.
- This ship needs me. - So do I.
- I can't function this way. - You're not a drone now.
Stop!
Seven, what's wrong?
Sickbay, medical emergency.
- Computer, locate Seven of Nine. - Seven of Nine is in holodeck 2.
What happened?
We had an argument and she collapsed.
Her cortical node is shutting down. She's going into neural shock.
What happened to her facial implants?
I thought you removed all her cybernetic systems.
Computer, end program.
Commander...
If you're looking for your other holographic friend, he's off-line.
Your cortical node began to shut down.
I stabilised it before there was any permanent damage.
It functioned when you examined me two days ago.
I'm going to run a diagnostic.
It may help if I knew what you were doing before you collapsed.
Did you suffer a physical injury of some kind?
Were you exposed to any unusual radiation?
What exactly were you doing in there?
Research.
That simulation of Commander Chakotay mentioned that you two were arguing.
Was that part of your research?
I couldn't help but notice that you'd created some quarters for yourself.
New dress, dinner for two.
I trust you'll respect doctor-patient confidentiality.
Of course.
I've been conducting simulations to explore
different aspects of my humanity.
Such as?
Social activities, friendships with the crew... intimate relations.
I take it our first officer is your romantic interest.
Commander Chakotay seemed like an appropriate choice.
- He has many admirable qualities. - So he does.
- What prompted all this? - Unimatrix Zero.
I've been trying to recreate some of the experiences I had there.
Ever since it was destroyed, my life has seemed incomplete.
I wanted to feel those emotions again.
Well, this is encouraging.
You might be ready to start forming deeper relationships.
- I'm proud of you, Seven. - Your pride is misplaced.
I intend to delete the programs.
- Why? - I can't perform my duties efficiently.
- My personal life is a distraction. - It's supposed to be a distraction.
You just need to find a balance between work and recreation.
Inform me when you finish the diagnostic.
Seven...
For what it's worth, you have excellent taste.
Your quarters. They suited you.
Antimatter flow, stable. Injector ports, aligned. That should do it.
Torres to the bridge, looks like we've got warp drive back.
- Well done. Tom. - With pleasure.
I'm detecting another subspace warhead.
- Range? - 12 million kilometres.
- Closing from astern. - Red Alert.
- Where's the target probe? - It's on a different trajectory.
When we engaged the engines, the warhead must have diverted
and locked onto our warp signature.
Evasive manoeuvres.
It's matching our course. Eight million kilometres.
- Can you get a weapons lock? - Affirmative.
Photon torpedoes. Full spread.
- Our torpedoes have been neutralised. - Five million kilometres.
- Bridge to Seven of Nine. - Here, Captain.
Anything on the warhead's internal circuitry?
Stand by.
- I have it. - What about the detonator?
It's armed with proximity resonance circuitry.
- What's the activation frequency? - 4.84 gigahertz.
It may be disarmed with an anti-resonance pulse.
- Do it. - Two million kilometres.
- Initiating pulse. - Seven, status?
The warhead's rotating its activation frequency. It's still armed.
- One million kilometres. - Can you compensate?
Negative.
- I can disarm the warhead. - How?
Extracting the detonator with our transporter.
The device is too small. You'd never get a lock.
I can use the sub-micron imager to focus our targeting scanners.
Please give me transporter control.
800,000.
All right, Seven, it's up to you.
I have a lock.
Energising.
The detonator's protected by tritanium shielding.
I can penetrate it, but not at this distance.
- We'll have to wait until it's closer. - 500,000.
- Status? - Not yet, Captain.
Four, three, two... Brace for impact!
Doctor...
You've come to deliver unpleasant news.
Is it that obvious?
I've completed my diagnostic.
What you experienced was no malfunction.
Your cortical node was designed to shut down your higher brain functions
when you achieve a certain level of emotional stimulation.
Clarify.
It appears to be a fail-safe mechanism
to deactivate drones who start to regain their emotions.
Knowing the Borg, it makes perfect sense.
Finding one's heart is the surest road to individuality.
- I'm no longer linked to the hive mind. - The technology's built into your node.
It's simply remained dormant, until now.
- Can you repair me? - Possibly.
I've been thinking about a way to reconfigure the micro-circuitry.
I won't lie to you, Seven. It would entail multiple surgeries
and the recovery might be difficult.
But I believe we could eventually succeed.
- I'll prepare the surgical bay. - No.
Without the procedure, you can't continue your simulations.
I've experienced enough humanity for the time being.
They were only holographic fantasies. An inefficient use of my time.
- You don't really believe that. - The device ensures I'm not distracted.
That's the Borg talking, not you.
As your physician...
As your friend, I'm asking you to let me proceed.
I need to regenerate. Good night, Doctor.
Where's the fire? You seem to be in a hurry.
I have to finish my report on the subspace warheads.
The ship's out of danger. You've earned a break.
Join me in the mess hall. Neelix is going to give a cooking lesson.
- Talaxian tenderloin in ten minutes. - I'm not interested.
Come for the company. B'Elanna will be there.
Tuvok even promised to show up. It'll be fun.
I appreciate your offer. Another time perhaps.
You should try socialising with the crew a little more.
It might do you some good.