Heart, heart, heart...
- Just one more heart. - You might as well show us your hand.
This is a game of strategy.
- Never let an opponent know your hand. - Right.
Oh!
- Ten. - I see your ten and raise you 20.
- Neelix? - I'm thinking.
20. Another 20. Huh.
- I'd say we were being hustled. - Ensign?
- I don't buy the innocent routine. - What are you talking about?
This is the first time I've played...
Poker.
Why don't we make it more interesting.
Let's bet on tomorrow's work detail. Whoever wins gets the morning off.
- I'm in. - I'm in.
Sounds good to me.
- What have you got? - Two pair.
- Does that beat a flush? - I knew you were bluffing.
That beats me. Tom?
Battle stations!
And I had a full house.
I can't shake them.
- Return fire. - Why didn't we detect them?
Looks like they used a dispersal field to mask their approach.
- Warp drive? - No. Too much damage to the injectors.
Harry, get down there and see what you can do.
- Shields down 18%! - Harry, status?
I need time to clear the injectors.
- The cube's power is fluctuating. - Then we're still in the game.
Bring us about. Target their propulsion matrix.
We've lost phasers.
Arm photon torpedoes. Fire when ready.
- We hit their main propulsion system. - Good. Now get us out of here, Tom.
- They've got us in a tractor beam. - Harry, we need warp power!
We lost two more relays. I can't.
Harry!
- Engines are off-line. - We are the Borg.
Your distinctiveness will be added to our own.
Resistance is futile.
Neelix. Neelix!
Commander?
You were unconscious,
but you're not injured.
I dreamt you were assimilated.
You've jumped the gun, but not by much.
From the look of this room,
I'd say we're in an assimilation chamber.
Where's Harry?
He's not here.
We must find him.
We need to figure out what's going on.
We're in a cube and Harry's missing.
Sir?
Nobody we know.
A botched assimilation?
From the looks of it.
Why are they waiting
with three potential drones here?
Stay calm.
In the chamber of horrors?
We're not drones yet. If we keep
our heads, maybe we can get out.
There's a force field around this room.
Let's try to disable it.
Their ion trail ends directly ahead.
I'm detecting another vessel, bearing 30, mark 112. It's a Borg cube.
Red Alert. Alter course to intercept. Shields to rotating frequencies.
- Have they detected us? - Unclear. It's holding position.
As soon as we're in range, scan for the away team.
- On screen. - Their propulsion system is off-line.
The damage isn't severe.
- The drones should have repaired it. - Lucky for us they didn't.
- Any sign of our people? - Not yet.
- They are targeting our warp core. - Return fire. Aim for their weapons.
They're after our impulse engines.
That one was meant for our sensors. They can't decide.
- Their attack is erratic, inefficient... - And finished.
- We've disabled their weapons. - That was too easy.
They're in worse shape than we thought.
I detect non-Borg lifesigns.
One is Talaxian. It seems they haven't been assimilated.
- Get a transporter lock. - Their shields are interfering.
Target their shield generator and fire.
Captain, I feel I can explain the Borg's unusual behaviour.
Thousands of drones should man the vessel. I detect just five.
We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
They've not lost their confidence.
Their generators are too deep in the vessel.
- Our weapons can't reach them. - Open a channel.
Borg vessel, this is the starship Voyager.
You're holding our crewmen. We'll cease fire if you return them.
Negotiation is irrelevant. You will be assimilated.
Not today and not by you. Agree, or I'll resume firing.
They are scanning us.
We will return your crew members in exchange for technology.
That's unusual behaviour. The Borg negotiating?
- What technology? - Your navigational deflector.
- Disengage it from your hull. - Mute audio.
If we surrender our deflector, we'll be dead in space.
Why do they want it?
Damage severed their link to the collective.
- They'll adapt our deflector to regain it. - And call for reinforcements.
We'll have to stall them until we can find another way out.
I'll consider the exchange but I want to be certain my crewmen are alive.
- You scanned our vessel. - Scans were inconclusive.
We want to see them for ourselves.
You may transport one individual.
Seven.
Proceed to grid 63, subjunction 01.
State your designation.
Seven of Nine. These drones have not fully matured.
- Where are the others? - There are none.
- The drones on this vessel were... - Deactivated. We are the Borg.
Seven of Nine. A Borg designation.
- She's like us. - Not like us. She's damaged.
- Her infrastructure has been removed. - We could fix her.
- You will add to our perfection. - You are neonatal drones.
- You should be in maturation. - We've matured enough.
Doubtful. Your thoracic nodes haven't formed.
You're incomplete. You'll malfunction.
You must return to your maturation chambers.
- Comply. - Don't listen.
We tried to go back in. The chambers were off-line.
- Where are the adults? - We don't know.
Irrelevant. Don't tell her anything.
This vessel is severely damaged. You can't repair it alone.
- I can help but release the hostages. - That wasn't the agreement.
I've modified it. I didn't realise I was dealing with children.
- Your behaviours erratic... - No modifications!
We show you the hostages, you give us the deflector.
Comply!
Take me to them.
If she tries to resist, assimilate her.
- Do you have a designation? - Second.
You emerged second from the chamber?
No. The first. I could not establish order.
I became second and he became first.
You've established a chain of command, a hierarchy.
We're a collective.
A collective of five on a vessel normally run by 5,000.
Why do you think you'll survive?
When we re-establish our link with the Borg, they will come for us.
Commander, we've got company.
I wish to see if they're injured.
- Seven? - Don't let appearances fool you.
They're in control of this vessel and its armaments.
- Are you injured? - Nothing serious.
A previous tenant.
- We were trying to perfect assimilation. - You failed.
A captive was disconnecting the security field.
Actually, I was just trying to...
- That was unnecessary. - He's not permanently damaged.
He learnt his lesson.
The Borg will negotiate for your release.
I will return for you.
Give my regards to Harry.
- The deflector array. - I cannot give you technology.
I must report back to Captain Janeway.
Agreed.
I need to take an adult drone and data node for analysis.
Why?
Something happened here we don't understand.
If it happens again, it could endanger all of you.
No sign of Harry, but there are parts of the cube we can't scan.
- Are they holding him elsewhere? - Unlikely.
They seem unaware of his presence.
If he was in an escape pod, we'd have detected him.
Activate his combadge. Match the carrier wave to a Borg frequency.
They shouldn't detect it.
What have we learned from our friend?
The bigger they come, the harder they fall.
Behold the David that slew our Goliath.
- A pathogen. - A virus adapted to Borg physiology.
It's inert, but when virulent it killed the drones.
The juveniles weren't infected?
Maturation chambers protect developing drones.
Malfunctions caused by the adult deaths opened the chambers.
- Will the pathogen only target the Borg? - The Borg and cybernetic organisms.
You're not thinking of using it as a weapon?
If we revived the pathogen, we could neutralise the drones
without harming the away team.
Neutralise? You mean murder. They're children.
These children have committed murder in their attempts to assimilate others.
Seven, tell me something.
You saw them, talked to them.
Do you think they'll kill the hostages if we don't give them what they want?
Yes.
I want that pathogen as an option.
But I won't use it until I've seen these drones.
Think you can arrange that? Then you're with me.
Computer, identify this signal's source.
Starship Voyager.
I need to respond on the same wave.
That procedure will require significant modifications.
Don't worry, I'm way ahead of you.
- Why are you here? - I wanted to make a new proposal.
We've already negotiated.
You've seen the hostages. Now give us the deflector as agreed.
Maybe it's hard to accept but you don't have to rejoin the hive.
We can remove your implants. You can come with us.
You were individuals yourselves not long ago.
Children with families.
You were abducted and assimilated.
I recognise your species. You're Brunali.
And you're Norcadian. Do you remember your world?
A Theta class planetoid. Population, 260 million. Binary suns.
What did it look like when those suns set?
- Irrelevant! The deflector, now. - We need more time.
- That deflector array is essential to... - No!
- Give it to us. - Or you'll assimilate me?
That won't solve your problem. I can't give you the deflector.
But maybe we can repair your technology.
Clarify.
Seven knows about Borg systems.
- You have two hours. - I don't know the damage.
- It could take longer. - Two hours.
Or your hostages die.
Don't come back here, Captain.
We've another two hours. The pathogen?
- It should be ready. - The away team?
Seven says they haven't been harmed.
- Negotiating with adolescent drones! - They're not exactly drones.
Mature Borg ignore or assimilate you. But these juveniles, they're unstable.
They are convinced that they are superior.
Typical adolescent behaviour for any species.
- A transmission... from the cube. - Seven?
No. It's Harry.
I'm clearing it up now.
- Delta Flyer to Voyager. - Receiving. Where are you?
Still in the Flyer. It's in a hangar bay with two alien ships.
I've isolated his coordinates.
- Is he close to their shield generator? - 800 metres.
- Harry, any plasma charges on board? - Yes, ma'am.
- How do you feel about a little walk? - I could use the exercise.
Tuvok will guide you to the generator.
If you destroy it, you won't have to make the trip back.
Understood.
- I have the technology you requested. - Thank you.
You were a drone for 18 years.
- Correct. - I accessed your data file.
- Why? - I thought it might be relevant.
- What did you learn? - You were assimilated as a juvenile.
My parents were studying the Borg. They took me with them.
- My childhood was short. - Childhood?
The years between birth and maturity,
when humanoids adapt to their roles as individuals.
- Perhaps you have a memory of yours. - I don't know.
What about your parents. Do you remember them?
- No. No memories. - Your vocal processor is malfunctioning.
I can repair it for you.
It's a slight adjustment.
It won't be painful.
The First told me it could not be repaired until we reconnected with the collective.
This colour...
My mother's hair was this colour.
I thought we agreed, no irrelevant discussions.
What is the punishment for disobeying the protocols?
- Deactivation. - I engaged him in this discussion.
Return to your station.
I found some unsettling information in their communication records.
The collective did receive the drones' distress call.
- How long before they arrive? - A vessel was not sent.
They declared the neonatals irrelevant and severed their link to the hive.
They see them as unworthy of reassimilation.
- Are the drones aware of this? - No. They cannot decrypt the message.
Once they learn of their rejection, they won't need our deflector.
They may release the hostages.
When drones learn they are irrelevant, they deactivate themselves.
But these drones are unpredictable. They may not adhere to Borg protocols.
There is another option.
We could invite them to Voyager.
When they see they've nowhere to else to go...
Transforming them into individuals would be extremely difficult.
You turned out well.
Because I was prepared before you encountered me.
What do you mean?
When I was first captured by the Borg I was young and frightened.
I watched my parents being assimilated.
I was placed in a maturation chamber.
The hive restructured my synaptic pathways and purged my individuality.
When I emerged five years later, the turmoil of my assimilation
had been replaced with order.
You may not be aware of this, Captain,
but that order is still a source of strength for me.
I could not have regained my humanity without it.
I appreciate your insights.
But just because they didn't have a Borg upbringing,
doesn't mean we can turn our backs on them.
- There has to be another way. - Not all drones can be saved, Captain.
Continue the repairs aboard the Borg cube.
- We'll hold onto this information for now. - Yes, Captain.
They do have one thing going for them.
You.
If there's anyone who can reach them, it's you.
Three of hearts on a transwarp conduit.
Ensign?
King of clubs on a power coupling.
I'm marking my route with cards in case I have to come back the same way.
- You shouldn't distract yourself. - I need distraction.
This hike is bringing up some bad memories.
An earlier visit to a Borg cube?
No, a haunted house my parents took me to.
Borg vessels may be forbidding, but they are not haunted.
- Tuvok? - Turn left, Ensign.
Nine of diamonds on a data node.
The resonance field collapsed. It will take an hour to reinitialise.
- These delays are intentional. - I'm working as efficiently as I can.
- Examine my work for yourself. - This data is flawed.
Or your understanding of quadric field theory is flawed.
Ignore her. She's trying to divide us.
They rely on you, yet you lack the skills to ensure their survival.
We've managed so far. We're Borg. You've forgotten what that means.
The unity of the collective, common goals, the quest for perfection.
I have not forgotten.
But you don't need to remain drones to experience those things.
Come back with me to Voyager.
38 minutes.
You're wasting time.
Another maturation chamber is malfunctioning.
- Its nervous system is failing. - It's Borg. It will adapt.
It's not adapting. Let Seven help.
We can modulate the stasis field to stabilise its functions.
Assist me.
The field is degrading. Transport it to an incubation pod!
Why is it doing that?
Its respiratory system is impaired. The pod is malfunctioning.
- We must transport it to Voyager. - No! The drone is part of our collective.
Not if it dies.
Tetryon levels are rising. I'm closer.
The shield generator should be directly ahead.
I see it.
The first charge is in place.
Tuvok?
- Hello? - You left these.
I like her. She looks like Seven of Nine.
Is Seven your friend? She's my friend. Maybe someday...
Your weapon won't work here.
Dampening field.
- How long since you lost contact? - Five minutes.
- His biosigns? - Doctor to Captain, report to sickbay.
On my way. Keep looking for him.
- What's the emergency? - I thought you should see.
Somebody left this bundle.
- She was lying on a bio-bed. - Seven must have beamed her here.
Good thing too. A few more minutes and I wouldn't have been able to do anything.
It's hard to believe she could grow up to be a drone.
Hold her while I take some readings.
Oh. I guess she just wanted to be held.
Oh...
The pathogen... I've finished synthesising it.
Work with Tuvok on a way to deploy the virus.
- Captain, you don't plan to use it? - If I have to.
Let's hope your brothers and sisters don't force my hand.
You complain of delays and then interrupt my work.
- Can you identify this? - It's a plasma charge.
You've tried to deceive us.
Nanoprobes were injected into him. He needs medical attention.
Tell your captain to give us the deflector.
- I only need a few minutes to repair... - No more delays.
No more deceptions.
The deflector.
Resistance is futile.
- Comply. - Return Harry Kim. Then we'll talk.
We've talked enough. Your requests are irrelevant.
Comply or we'll assimilate the others.
It'll take an hour to dismantle the deflector...
- Now! - I can't give it to you now.
It's part of our ship. We can't simply remove it.
And your threats won't change that.
They've locked a tractor beam onto the deflector.
They're tearing it off. Hull stress is increasing.
Increase shield strength and randomise the harmonics.
They are adapting.
Even with Voyager's deflector, your efforts to return to the hive will fail.
- They'll come for us. - No, they won't.
The Borg received your message but chose to ignore it.
- They consider you irrelevant. - Irrelevant?
We are damaged. They don't want us.
Ignore her. It's another lie.
Their reply is in data grid 426. Use decryption protocol Theta 3.
Return to your station.
It's another deception. She's manipulating us.
The transmission is authentic.
- It's a mistake. - They don't want imperfection.
Then we'll assimilate more species.
Prove we're worthy.
- Hull stress is critical. - Reroute power to structural integrity.
- That'll buy us a minute at most. - There's a fluctuation in their shield grid.
It's too intermittent to beam out the hostages
but we could use it to deploy the pathogen.
- Captain... - Not yet.
- There is no alternative. - There is. We just need to find it.
Their tractor beam draws power from the same grid as their shield matrix.
Use the deflector to send a pulse along their beam. It could disrupt their shields.
If this doesn't work it'll damage us more than the cube.
It'll work. Prepare to fire.
You have no future with the Borg.
But you do with Voyager.
- A chance to reclaim your real lives. - What do you know about real lives?
Does he speak for all of you?
You should make your decisions yourself, as individuals.
They're sending a pulse through our tractor beam.
- It's overloading our shield matrix. - Adapt!
Their beam is fluctuating. Shields are dropping.
I've got a lock on the away team, boosting the confinement beam.
- I've got three of them. - Confirmed.
- Chakotay, Paris and Neelix are here. - And Harry and Seven?
They must still be in a shielded section.
Amplify the feedback pulse.
- The other captives are gone. - The shields around us are failing.
Instructions.
Lower your shields.
Lower the shields!
No!
- Leave her alone. - Get back to your station.
- Do what I say. - What you say?
- I thought we were a collective. - One mind, one voice.
I protected you.
- I gave you order. - Your order, your rules.
Their feedback pulse is overloading the induction grids.
This vessel will be destroyed. We must evacuate.
No! Assist me!
You're damaged. Lie still.
We have to resist.
The collective will come for us.
His cortical implants are depolarising.
I can't help him.
We'll find a new home. You'll see.
We are Borg.
Yes. We are Borg.
Lower the shields.
Captain's log, supplemental.
Harry's recovering and the away team are safe.
The Doctor's removed the drones' implants, leaving four troubled children.
We've sent calls to Brunali and Norcadian ships in the area
but no response so far, and we don't know where the other two are from.
- It may take a while. - They could use the time.
They have a lot to learn.
It might help if they had someone who knew what they were up against.
I've never been responsible for children. Neelix would be better.
You're the one they've established a bond with.
They'll look to you for guidance.
Perhaps I could help them avoid some of the obstacles I've encountered.
- Do we have to regenerate now? - Yes.
But first...
I salvaged your assimilation profiles -
your names and some biographical data.
Icheb. My name was Icheb.
Your name is Icheb.
I remember now. It was my father's second name.
My designation is Mezoti.
- It's a pretty name. - Yes, it is. And it's all yours.
Azan and Rebi.
I'll tell you more about them tomorrow.
Computer, decrease ambient lighting by 60%.
Good night.
Sweet dreams.