"ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES"
Teleplay by
Gary Whitta
TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL) at warp.
int.
janeway’s quarters
TIGHT ANGLE ON JANEWAY, seated. She looks off-camera, her expression
a picture of intensity - with just the hint of a mischievous, confident
smile.
JANEWAY
You’re trapped.
REVEAL CHAKOTAY,
also in close-up. Seated across from Janeway, he regards her with similar
intensity - and quiet confidence.
CHAKOTAY
I’m not so sure.
JANEWAY
Just admit it. You’ve nowhere to go. You’re all mine. Ripe for the
taking.
CHAKOTAY
Well, we’ll just see about that.
Chakotay
leans forward, and a NEW ANGLE reveals that the two are engaged in a
game of CHESS - not three-dimensional "Star Trek" chess, but good, old-fashioned
two-dimensional chess on a classic eight-by-eight board. The board shows
that both Black (Janeway) and White (Chakotay) have taken losses as
endgame approaches.
Chakotay moves his one remaining Knight - and suddenly the whole complexion
of the game has changed in a way that Janeway never anticipated.
CHAKOTAY
(satisfied smile)
Check, I believe.
Janeway leans
forward and surveys the board. Amazed.
CHAKOTAY
Admit it. You’re impressed.
JANEWAY
(playfully)
I admit nothing. Except that this just became a much more interesting
match.
CHAKOTAY
You’ve been playing the three-dimensional game too long, Kathryn. It’s
unecessarily complex, blinds you to the elegant simplicity of the classic
game.
(smiles; re: board)
Such as the Roarke’s Defense.
Janeway ignores him, continues to survey the board. Her immediate future
looks grim.
JANEWAY
(defiant)
This is far from over.
CHAKOTAY
On the contrary. Checkmate in four moves.
She looks up at him, scowls. Chakotay’s smile broadens. After a
moment, Janeway sighs and reaches for her King to topple it and resign
the game. Just as:
KIM’S COM VOICE
Bridge to the Captain.
Janeway’s finger pauses atop the King.
CHAKOTAY
Saved by the bell?
Janeway smiles, removes her hand from the King.
JANEWAY
Go ahead, Harry.
KIM’S COM VOICE
Sensors are indicating a single small craft directly ahead, apparently
adrift. Unknown designation.
JANEWAY
Lifesigns?
KIM’S COM VOICE
Weak and intermittent. But there.
JANEWAY
Take us out of warp. I’ll be right there.
Janeway and Chakotay stand and make for the door.
JANEWAY (cont’d)
(re: chess board)
We’ll finish this later.
CHAKOTAY
Shouldn’t take long. Like I said, four moves.
As the doors open and they step into the corridor:
JANEWAY
Don’t flatter yourself.
fade out.
end of teaser
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
(NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.)
ext. SPACE - VOYAGER (optical)
dropping out of warp.
int. bridge
PARIS, KIM, TUVOK at their stations. Janeway and Chakotay ENTER, take
their positions.
KIM
Entering visual range now, Captain.
JANEWAY
Let’s see it.
ON VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL)
Drifting crippled, seemingly dead, in space, is an ANCIENT SPACE CAPSULE,
maybe large enough to hold one or two people. Although obviously of
alien design, it is strongly reminiscent of the some of the manned rocket
craft of late 20th Century Earth.
Janeway takes a moment to survey this strange sight.
JANEWAY
Are you still detecting lifesigns?
KIM
Still intermittent. But there’s definitely one humanoid lifeform alive
over there. Barely.
JANEWAY
Hail it.
TUVOK
(works console)
No response, captain.
JANEWAY
Well whoever it is, I’d say they could use our help. Chakotay?
CHAKOTAY
(nods)
I’ll prepare an Away Team.
TUVOK
Transporting aboard would be inadvisable, Commander. The capsule is
in a primitive form of cryogenic stasis - the interior cabin temperature
is approximately minus six hundred degrees Celsius.
PARIS
(wry)
Colder than a summer in San Francisco.
Janeway considers her options.
JANEWAY
Are there any contaminants aboard?
TUVOK
(works console)
Negative. The vessel appears to have been immaculately preserved by
its cryogenic state.
JANEWAY
Bring us about and tractor it into the Shuttle Bay.
(on com)
Janeway to Torres.
TORRES’S COM VOICE
Torres here.
JANEWAY
(on the move)
Assemble an engineering detail and meet me in the Shuttle Bay. We have
something I think you’ll find interesting.
TORRES’S COM VOICE
Acknowledged.
ext. SPACE - VOYAGER (optical)
The tiny capsule is dragged towards Voyager’s open shuttle bay by a
TRACTOR BEAM, and disappears inside.
int. shuttle bay
The capsule rests in the center of the bay, covered in a thin layer
of frost - and age. It is rusted, battered and decrepit. Seemingly just
another piece of space flotsam.
Torres and several ENGINEERING N.D.’S are examining the capsule with
their tricorders as Janeway ENTERS, accompanied by THE DOCTOR.
JANEWAY
Can you get it open?
TORRES
(working)
Just give me a few moments.
The Doctor takes a reading from his medical tricorder. Looks concerned.
DOCTOR
The lifesigns are degrading rapidly. If I may.
With that, the Doctor steps forward - and THROUGH the hull of the capsule,
disappearing inside. Torres and Janeway share a moment - sometimes they
need to be reminded of all the benefits of the EMH.
DOCTOR’S VOICE
(from inside the capsule)
Please step back.
They do so. After a moment, the CAPSULE DOOR OPENS, slowly descending
to form an entry ramp. Freezing cold steam and dry ice billows out into
the shuttle bay - and the Doctor EMERGES from within the icy cloud.
DOCTOR
He was lucky we found him in time.
He disappears back inside. The ice cloud dissipates, revealing the
capsule’s interior. It’s like an ICE CAVE: every surface covered in
permafrost, icicles.
Janeway steps gingerly inside, immediately feeling the intense chill
which the Doctor of course does not.
The Doctor runs his medical tricorder over a CYLINDRICAL POD set horizontally
into the cabin wall. He rubs the frost from its surface with his hand
- revealing a HUMANOID FACE inside the glass. Sound asleep.
DOCTOR
(off tricorder)
He’s in a state of suspended animation, but it’s degrading rapidly.
The power cells to this cryo-unit have died - as will he if I don’t
get him to Sickbay immediately.
JANEWAY
Do it.
Janeway steps out of the capsule and back into the shuttle bay, anxious
to get out of the cold. Torres is still scanning the capsule’s hull.
JANEWAY (cont’d)
Something interesting?
TORRES
That’s an understatement. An engineering historian would have a field
day with this thing. The design and construction are strongly reminiscent
of some of some of the first manned rockets Earth sent into space in
the late 20th Century.
Janeway regards the capsule thoughtfully.
JANEWAY
I was just thinking the same thing.
Off Janeway’s fascinated look, we CUT TO:
int. sickbay
Removed from the cryo pod, its occupant now lies, unconscious, on a
bio-bed, attended to by the Doctor. He looks PERFECTLY HUMAN, a ruggedly
handsome but thin man in his early forties. He wears only a medical
gown.
Janeway ENTERS.
JANEWAY
How’s our patient?
DOCTOR
Recovering him from his cryogenic state was a relatively simple procedure.
He’d been crudely but quite effectively preserved for some time - his
muscles have atrophied considerably, but that’s to be expected. And
easily treatable. All in all, I predict a complete recovery.
(beat)
There
is... one small thing. I don’t want to alarm you, but...
JANEWAY
What is it?
DOCTOR
(reluctant to spit it out)
It’s nothing to be concerned about, but...
JANEWAY
(impatient)
Doctor. Whatever it is, I’m sure I can handle it.
DOCTOR
I’ve detected some minor traces of Borg cellular residue on his flightsuit
and the interior of the cryo pod.
That’s enough to stiffen Janeway’s expression a little.
DOCTOR
As I said, it’s nothing to be concerned about. The cells died long ago
in the cryogenic freezing process.
JANEWAY
What do you mean, Borg cells?
DOCTOR
It’s nothing I’ve encountered before, like some primitive form of
Borg bacteria. Long since fossilized. A more detailed study should be
very revealing, but I’ve little to base a theory on at this stage.
JANEWAY
(taps combadge)
Janeway to Torres. B’Elanna, have your scans picked up any Borg readings
from that capsule?
TORRES’ COM VOICE
You read my mind, Captain, I was just about to contact you. We’re detecting
trace amounts of some kind of Borg cell, infesting the capsule’s systems
at a sub-atomic level. Frozen to death, thankfully.
JANEWAY
Let’s not take any chances. Have the capsule quarantined - nobody goes
near it until we know more about this infestation.
TORRES’ COM VOICE
Aye, Captain.
JANEWAY
Janeway to Seven of Nine.
SEVEN OF NINE’S COM VOICE
Yes, Captain.
JANEWAY
Report to Sickbay. There’s something here I’d like to hear your
opinion on.
(to The Doctor; re: patient)
How soon can I speak to him?
DOCTOR
How about right now?
JANEWAY
He’s well enough to be revived?
DOCTOR
(a little hurt)
I really am quite good at my job, you know.
The Doctor produces a HYPO-SPRAY and administers it to the patient’s
neck. After a few moments, he groggily comes around. Gradually blinks
in the bright lights around him.
PATIENT
(woozy)
Mmm...
PATIENT’S P.O.V.
The images of Janeway and The Doctor standing over him slowly come into
focus.
RESUME ORIGINAL ANGLE
PATIENT (cont’d)
Wh... where am I?
JANEWAY
You’re on board the Federation Starship Voyager. We recovered you from
your vessel, you were adrift.
A log beat. The patient is still coming to, finding his bearings.
PATIENT
What Federation?
JANEWAY
We represent a federation of planets in the Alpha Quadrant.
(smiles)
Like you, we’re a long way from home.
PATIENT
(suddenly concerned)
How far? What’s our position?
The patient suddenly tries to sit up, but he struggles with the task,
his muscles long dormant. Janeway and the Doctor help him into a sitting
position.
DOCTOR
Easy. You’re still very weak.
PATIENT
(growing more concerned)
Where are we? What’s our position?
JANEWAY
(calm, reassuring)
We’re moving at impulse through sector seven-five-four, in the Delta
Quadrant.
The patient performs a quick mental calculation, then breathes a sigh
of relief.
PATIENT
Thank God.
Janeway and The Doctor exchange a look.
PATIENT (cont’d)
How long have I been asleep?
JANEWAY
(bedside manner)
Quite some time. I’m Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the Voyager. And you
are?
As the patient begins to calm down and realize he’s not in danger,
his normal demeanor begins to emerge. He seems honest, straightforward,
and emits a commanding presence. Starfleet material, maybe.
PATIENT
My name’s Kamchai. I’m the Commander of that bucket of rust you
found me floating in.
JANEWAY
(smiles; extends hand)
Pleased to meet you, Commander Kamchai. Welcome aboard the Voyager.
Kamchai shakes Janeway’s hand and, for the first time, cracks a
smile.
KAMCHAI
Glad to be here.
The Sickbay doors open and SEVEN OF NINE ENTERS and approaches the
group. As soon as her eyes meet Kamchai’s there’s a mutual reaction.
Seven of Nine stops in her tracks, wide-eyed, as if she’s just met a
long-lost relative. Or a ghost. Kamchai, meanwhile, is instantly GRIPPED
WITH TERROR.
KAMCHAI
(panicked; to Janeway)
Oh, My God... they got you, too! I knew it... they’re everywhere!
Kamchai’s panicky rambling breaks down into hysterial shrieking
as he attempts to scramble off the bed and escape to somewhere, anywhere.
The Doctor restrains him.
DOCTOR
I think that’s about enough excitement for one day.
The Doctor administers the hypo-spray, and Kamchai is knocked out cold.
Janeway turns to face Seven of Nine, who simply regards Kamchai impassively.
JANEWAY
Let me guess. His people were assimilated by the Borg.
SEVEN OF NINE
(matter-of-fact)
Their biological and technological distinctiveness was added to The
Collective.
(beat)
Their assimilation was... significant.
Janeway’s eyes narrow and she steps forward.
JANEWAY
Significant, how?
A beat as Seven of Nine concentrates her gaze on Kamchai, then back
to Janeway.
SEVEN OF NINE
Species Zero Zero One.
Off Janeway’s reaction to this stunning revelation:
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
int. sickbay
Janeway, Seven, The Doctor, Kamchai (still unconscious) as before.
JANEWAY
Are you telling me that this man is a member of the first race ever
assimilated by the Borg?
SEVEN OF NINE
That is correct. It was a most useful process. The assimilation of Species
Zero Zero One provided the Borg with a means of bipedal transport and
the technology to travel through space.
JANEWAY
Bipedal transport? You mean humanoid form.
SEVEN OF NINE
Correct.
JANEWAY
Then just what exactly was the Borg before?
SEVEN OF NINE
(puzzled)
I do not understand the question.
JANEWAY
What form did the Borg take before it acquired humanoid characteristics
from the assimilation of this species?
Seven steps up to Kamchai to examine him more closely.
SEVEN OF NINE
I believe your patient can provide the answer. Doctor, you will have
detected traces of Borg cellular residue on his person.
DOCTOR
How did you know that?
SEVEN OF NINE
I am able to detect it also. To answer your inevitable questions, the
residue is what remains of the Borg’s primitive, pre-humanoid form,
before the Collective was augmented by the assimilation of any race.
JANEWAY
And what form would that be?
A beat as Seven considers her response to this question. If we didn’t
know her better, we’d think she was a little embarrassed to reveal her
race’s origins as:
SEVEN OF NINE
A microscopic worm-like parasite of biomechanical constitution.
JANEWAY
(grimly ruminative)
From little acorns...
DOCTOR
The Borg began life as a bacteria?
SEVEN OF NINE
(defensive)
As did all forms of life in the galaxy, need I remind you, Doctor.
JANEWAY
(re: Kamchai)
Can we talk to him again?
The Doctor examines Kamchai with his medical tricorder.
DOCTOR
He’s in a state of mild shock. Nothing serious, but given his weakened
condition...
(re: Seven)
I wouldn’t recommend traumatizing him any further right now.
JANEWAY
Agreed. Seven, return to your duties. We’ll discuss this later.
SEVEN OF NINE
(slighted)
You requested my assistance.
JANEWAY
And thank you for it. I have all I need for now.
Seven of Nine turns and leaves without a word.
Janeway turns to the Doctor, who revives Kamchai again with the hypo-spray.
He comes around and gains his bearings more quickly this time - and
is instantly on his guard. His eyes dart around Sickbay feverishly.
KAMCHAI
Where... are they?
JANEWAY
Just relax. You’re perfectly safe. There are no Borg here.
KAMCHAI
That woman...
JANEWAY
(shakes her head)
She was once part of the Collective, but she’s been rehabilitated. She’s
mostly human again. You have nothing to fear from her.
KAMCHAI
I wasn’t aware... that the process could be reversed.
DOCTOR
Well, the rehabilitation is no picnic. It requires considerable medical
skill.
His initial fears subsiding, Kamchai’s normal demeanor - friendly,
confident - once again begins to emerge.
KAMCHAI
Well, if you guys say that I’m safe...
(smiles)
Who am I to argue?
Janeway smiles. She’s taking an instant liking to this primitive space
explorer.
KAMCHAI (cont’d)
How long have I been asleep? What day is it?
Janeway and the Doctor exhange a look.
DOCTOR
It is stardate 52171.9.
KAMCHAI
I don’t know what that means.
JANEWAY
You may want to brace yourself for a shock. The data we have indicates
that your vessel was adrift for approximately... four hundred years.
Kamchai reacts as this sinks in. Janeway moves quickly to reassure
him, give him something positive.
JANEWAY
You’re lucky to be alive. Your cryo pod was in a degenerative state
when we encountered you. It’s a miracle we found you when we did.
KAMCHAI
My planet... my home. All gone.
JANEWAY
We don’t know that. With your help, we can return you to your homeworld.
(smiles)
There’s a better than average chance it’ll be right where you left
it.
KAMCHAI
You don’t understand. I saw my world destroyed. Assimilated by the Borg.
int. briefing room
Janeway, Chakotay, Torres, Tuvok seated around the conference table
- along with Kamchai (now in civilian garb) and Seven of Nine, who sit
opposite each other. Clearly an uneasy atmosphere between the two.
Paris stands by the monitor, indicating a STARCHART being displayed
there.
PARIS
With Commander Kamchai’s help, we’ve successfully located his homeworld.
This planet, designated M-class world five five one nine zero beta.
KAMCHAI
(smiles wistfully)
We preferred to call it Iridis.
PARIS
(beat)
Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend a return visit any time soon.
Paris taps a key on the monitor, and the display ZOOMS OUT to reveal
more of the surrounding area. A collective reaction from the officers
who recognize what they see.
PARIS
Planet Iridis is at the absolute dead center of Borg space.
A beat as this sinks in.
CHAKOTAY
That would make sense. Once this primitive form of Borg assimilated
a spacefaring race and established a planetary foothold, their empire
grew outwards from there.
KAMCHAI
Borg space?
TUVOK
The Borg now occupies a vast area of the Delta Quadrant, encompassing
thousands of solar systems.
TORRES
(a little bitter)
Every day their empire grows as their ships push relentlessly outward,
assimilating more races, more worlds.
This really seems to affect Kamchai very deeply. There’s a long beat
as it sinks in.
KAMCHAI
My... God.
JANEWAY
I know this must be very difficult - but how much do you remember about
what happened to you?
Another beat as Kamchai collects himself.
KAMCHAI
My people had begun to reach for the stars. We built satellites, rocket
ships - archaic technology by your standards, but we were learning.
Our greatest accomplishment was an orbiting space station designed to...
search the stars for other forms of intelligent life. I was one of five
astronauts aboard the station on a one-year mission to conduct final
pre-operational tests. And then one day... suddenly without warning,
we lost all contact with Iridis.
As Kamchai speaks, we move around the table, taking in the deadly-serious
expressions of Voyager’s officers as they listen to this grim tale,
already knowing the outcome.
KAMCHAI (cont’d)
We were unable to return home without guidance from mission control,
and so there we stayed, trapped in orbit. And as the weeks went by,
we began to notice a change on the planet surface. What I know now to
be the effects of the Borg assimilation.
(beat)
And then they came for us. At first we didn’t know what to make of it
- some kind of biomechanical virus eating away at the hull and taking
over our systems. Then one of my crewmates became infected. Then two...
then three... then all, but me. I guess I was lucky. I was able to make
it to the station’s escape capsule before they could touch me. That’s
all it takes, you know.
(beat)
Anyway, I disengaged the capsule, shot away from there on full retro-burn.
Still, they almost caught me - a few even made it inside the pod. I
did the only thing left for me to do, while I still had time. Put myself
into stasis and initiated the cryo-freeze. Nothing like freezing to
kill a parasite.
Another long beat. Nobody can think of anything to say. And then, another
grim realization hits Kamchai.
KAMCHAI
I’m the last of my kind, aren’t I?
JANEWAY
So long as you are aboard this ship, you’re not alone. You’re welcome
to stay here with us indefinitely.
KAMCHAI
Thank you, Captain. You’ve been too kind.
JANEWAY
Not at all. Our people have also encountered the Borg. Sympathy in these
cases is not hard to find.
(to Torres)
B’Elanna, I’d like you to attempt a recovery of the computer data
from Commander Kamchai’s capsule. Any information on this early form
of Borg might be useful to us.
KAMCHAI
(a little too quickly)
That won’t be necessary, Captain.
(beat)
I mean, it won’t be possible. The storage devices in the capsule have
decayed beyond repair.
JANEWAY
You obviously don’t know my chief engineer all that well. B’Elanna?
TORRES
I’ll get right on it, captain.
KAMCHAI
(sighs)
You’ll be wasting your time.
Kamchai’s gaze drifts back to Seven of Nine - who seems suddenly
DISORIENTED. She reaches her hand to the Borg implant above her eye, tries
to shake off the woozy sensation with little success.
JANEWAY
Seven? Are you all right?
SEVEN OF NINE
I am fine. A little... disoriented, perhaps. A... painful sensation.
JANEWAY
(concerned)
Report to Sickbay, have the Doctor take a look at you. Everybody else,
dismissed.
The group breaks up and leaves. Only Janeway and Kamchai remain.
JANEWAY
I want you to know how sorry I am about what happened to your home.
And that I sympathize. Everybody on this ship is tens of thousands of
light years from our homes in the Alpha Quadrant. Sometimes I feel as
though I’ll never see my home planet again.
KAMCHAI
But you can simulate it. Your first officer informs me that this ship
is equipped with remarkable holographic imaging technology.
JANEWAY
It is rather impressive, yes. Never quite the same as the real thing
of course, but on ocassion it can be a very effective therapy for homesickness.
KAMCHAI
Well, my ship’s computer data may have degraded, but I still have some
personal items, images of my home on disc. With the help of one of your
engineers I may be able to interface them with your imagers. If I can’t
go home, I can at least try for a reasonable facsimile.
JANEWAY
(smiles)
I’ll make a holodeck and some of our engineering staff available to
you.
KAMCHAI
Thank you, Captain.
(beat; an idea)
If it works, would you care to join me? Iridis was... breathtaking.
Janeway smiles, clearly flattered by the offer. Kamchai can be quite
charming...
JANEWAY
I’d like that very much.
int. corridor
TIGHT ANGLE ON Kamchai, busily and excitedly operating the controls
to the entrance of HOLODECK ONE.
JANEWAY’S VOICE
Finished so soon?
REVEAL JANEWAY, standing behind Kamchai. He looks around at her and
smiles.
KAMCHAI
Your engineers should really get the credit. I can’t believe how quickly
they did this.
JANEWAY
It’s ready?
KAMCHAI
So they tell me.
Janeway motions towards the Holodeck entrance.
JANEWAY
Well then. Shall we?
Kamchai takes a deep breath, presses a key on the Holodeck control
and the doors slide open. They step inside the Holodeck, into:
ext. wooded glade - day
It is, in a word, breathtaking. A BEAUTIFUL, PEACEFUL FOREST GLADE seemingly
untouched by man. Beyond the trees, A HUGE LAKE, and beyond that A MAJESTIC
MOUNTAIN RANGE which extends in every direction. Closer in, we’re surrounded
by a variety of EXOTIC PLANTS AND FLOWERS. Shards of sunlight penetrate
the tree canopy, creating an almost dreamlike effect. The colors everywhere
are bright, vibrant. If this were Earth, it’d be the most beautiful
place on the planet.
The Holodeck doors close behind Janeway and Kamchai, completing the
perfect illusion. They step forward and take in their surroundings,
each awed in their own way - Kamchai by this incredible technology,
and Janeway by the beauty of her surroundings.
KAMCHAI
(re: the technology)
This is incredible.
JANEWAY
(re: the surroundings)
I was just thinking the same thing.
(stepping forward; exploring)
Was all of Iridis like this?
Kamchai snaps out of his amazement with the Holodeck and catches up
with Janeway.
KAMCHAI
We had many climates. Desert, arctic... but much of the planet was covered
in tropical jungle and canopy forest like this. This place was called
Nevanne. My favorite place in the world...
He stops, reaches down and picks a flower.
KAMCHAI
This is all real?
Janeway is amused by Kamchai’s fascination with a technology she
has always taken for granted.
JANEWAY
Within the confines of the Holodeck, yes, it’s very real. Its matrix
converts energy into matter.
KAMCHAI
Amazing...
JANEWAY
Tell me more about your world.
KAMCHAI
(smiles)
If you mean what’s the name of this flower, or those mountains - I couldn’t
tell you. But ask me about those clouds up above, and the stars at night
and I could talk until dawn. I always felt much more at home in the
sky than on the ground. I felt privileged to be one of the few chosen
to go to the stars.
JANEWAY
You know, you remind me very much of my own people’s early space explorers.
Our Gemini and Apollo astronauts. You have a similar... adventurous
spirit.
KAMCHAI
(laughs)
My father never understood why I wanted to join the space program. He
said it was just an excuse for me to get girls - "they can’t resist
a man in uniform", he’d say. Maybe he was right - the first of our
kind to go into space, we were treated like Gods.
JANEWAY
(smiles)
Some ideas are universal. Our first astronauts, Gagarin, Glenn, Armstrong...
they were the most famous men on the planet in their day, now they’re
immortalized in our history.
Kamchai stops, suddenly thoughtful.
KAMCHAI
My father also used to stay that while my people looked to the stars,
the new worlds... were always within us.
There’s a "moment" as Janeway reflects on this. There’s something
about this man she strongly admires - and just plain likes. A hint of
attraction, even?
JANEWAY
Your father sounds like a very wise man.
KAMCHAI
Yes, well if he was so wise - how did he get caught in bed with my mother’s
best friend from college?
Janeway looks shocked. A beat, then Kamchai BURSTS OUT LAUGHING. Janeway
can’t help but do the same.
int. janeway’s quarters
Janeway is reviewing data on the computer at her desk when her door
CHIMES.
JANEWAY
Come in.
The doors open and Torres ENTERS.
TORRES
Am I interrupting?
JANEWAY
(sitting back)
Not at all. How goes the recovery of the capsule data?
TORRES
Interestingly. As Commander Kamchai predicted, we’re having a great
deal of difficulty extracting anything from his computer’s archives.
But it’s not because of any particular decay.
JANEWAY
Then why?
TORRES
It’s been encrypted. It seems that the computer did it automatically
as an emergency measure when the Borg virus attacked. The encryption
protocol is crude, but still extremely difficult to break.
(beat)
But then, we shouldn’t have to.
JANEWAY
What do you mean?
TORRES
As far as I can tell, the encryption is nothing that can’t be bypassed
by entering a few simple security codes - codes that any senior member
of that mission’s crew should know.
JANEWAY
Are you suggesting that Kamchai could give us that data but doesn’t
want to?
TORRES
You’d have to ask him that. All I know for sure is that he fabricated
a story about that data being decayed in an attempt to stop us trying
to retrieve it. That suggests to me...
JANEWAY
(finishing her thought)
...that he has something to hide.
(beat)
Maybe it’s time we had a conversation with Commander Kamchai.
DOCTOR’S COM VOICE
(urgent)
Captain to Main Engineering immediately.
JANEWAY
What is it, Doctor?
THE DOCTOR’S COM VOICE
It’s Seven of Nine. We have a big problem.
As Torres and Janeway exchange a concerned look...
FADE OUT.
END OF act two
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
int. MAIN ENGINEERING
Phasers at the ready, TWO SECURITY N.D.’S warily keep their distance
as Seven of Nine seems to be having some kind of EPILEPTIC FIT. she
shakes and convulses wildly, but remains fully conscious.
The Doctor is attempting to get near her to administer a hypo-spray
but her spasms are just too erratic. As he gets close, she pushes him
away.
DOCTOR
You must let me help you!
SEVEN OF NINE
Stay... back!
Janeway and Torres ENTER, are shocked at what they find.
JANEWAY
Doctor?
DOCTOR
(re: Seven of Nine)
I wish I knew. She called me down here complaining of a headache, and
before I could treat her she went into these violent convulsions.
JANEWAY
Seven! Can you hear me?
SEVEN OF NINE
Stay away... too... dangerous!
It appears as though Seven of Nine is somehow FIGHTING AGAINST HERSELF,
struggling to contain some inner will.
DOCTOR
I can sedate her, but I’ll need help restraining her.
JANEWAY
(to Security N.D.’s)
Assist the Doctor.
They step forward to help, wrestling Seven of Nine to the floor as
she continues to spasm.
TIGHT ANGLE ON SEVEN OF NINE
as she raises her hand - and an ASSIMILATION TUBULE extends from her
Borg prosthesis. She grabs one of the N.D.’s by the neck, the tubule
PIERCING HIS FLESH. He cries out and drops to the floor, clutching his
neck.
Seven of Nine lashes out and the second N.D. is FLUNG ACROSS THE ROOM.
He hits the wall and slumps to the floor, out cold.
Seven of Nine turns quickly, her expression indicating that she is NOT
IN COMMAND OF HER OWN ACTIONS and jams her tubule-finger into a wall
control panel. The panel FRITZES AND SPARKS, then begins to PULSE with
a BORG-LIKE ENERGY that radiates from Seven of Nine.
Acting quickly, Torres grabs a Phaser from a panel set into the wall
and takes aim.
JANEWAY
Set to stun!
Torres makes the setting adjustment and prepares to fire - just as
The Doctor appears from behind Seven of Nine and administers the hypo-spray.
Seven slumps, unconscious.
Torres attends to the unconscious N.D. while The Doctor moves quickly
to the one "punctured" by Seven of Nine.
ANGLE ON THE DOCTOR
crouching over the prone N.D., his body obscuring that of the N.D. He
runs his medical tricorder anxiously.
DOCTOR
Oh, no... this can’t be. It isn’t possible.
JANEWAY
What’s wrong?
The Doctor stands up, backs away... as the N.D. rises slowly to his
feet and IN A NEW ANGLE we see that he has been BORGIFIED! He scans
the room, spots Janeway and steps forward mechanically. Already a full
Borg.
JANEWAY
(taps combadge)
Full security team to Sickbay.
Torres backs away to join Janeway. Levels her Phaser.
TORRES
(already knows the answer)
Still want it set to stun?
JANEWAY
(no doubt in her mind)
Kill it.
Torres raises the Phaser setting and FIRES. The shot hits the Borgified
N.D. and he goes down. Dead.
The Doctor attends to Seven of Nine.
DOCTOR
(off tricorder)
Her vitals signs are stabilizing. She seems to be returning to normal.
JANEWAY
What the hell just happened here?
DOCTOR
I’ll know more once I’ve conducted a proper examination.
(taps combadge)
Three to beam directly to Sickbay.
The Doctor, Seven and the Security N.D. DEMATERIALIZE.
The danger seems to have subsided - until Torres and Janeway turn to
notice:
THE ENGINEERING CONTROL PANEL
behavingly wildly and pulsing with a BORG-LIKE INFESTATION where Seven
of Nine pierced it with her finger. The infestation is slowly radiating
outwards malevolently, like some biomechanical cancer.
WIDER ANGLE
reveals that this infected station is just a few feet away from the
Warp Core.
TORRES
I don’t like the look of that one bit.
JANEWAY
Neither do I.
Torres moves to investigate, Janeway holds her back.
JANEWAY (cont’d)
No, stay back.
(taps combadge)
Janeway to Tuvok.
TUVOK’S COM VOICE
Tuvok here.
JANEWAY
Shut down all power to Main Engineering and re-route as many critical
systems as you can through the Bridge. I want this section isolated
from the rest of the ship.
TUVOK’S COM VOICE
Yes, captain. May I ask our purpose?
As Janeway eyes the growing infestation warily:
JANEWAY
Containment.
ext. SPACE - VOYAGER (optical)
at impulse.
int. bridge
Janeway ENTERS. Torres is already back at Ops.
JANEWAY
Report.
TORRES
Main Engineering is in bad shape. Primary systems there are under attack
from some kind of biomechanical parasite implanted by Seven of Nine.
Chakotay steps up.
CHAKOTAY
A Borg parasite? Similar to the samples we recovered from Kamchai?
TORRES
No, not similar.
(looks up)
Identical. Except these ones are live. Voyager is being assimilated
- on a microscopic level.
CHAKOTAY
How can that be? I thought the Doctor removed all traces of aggressive
Borg technology from Seven.
JANEWAY
First things first. How fast is the infestation spreading?
TORRES
(takes a reading)
I estimate we’ll lose control of the warp core in less than an hour,
primary power within three or four. At this rate, in less than 24 hours
-Voyager will be a Borg ship.
A beat as that sinks in for everybody.
CHAKOTAY
How do we stop it?
TORRES
I don’t know. These aren’t exactly the kind of Borg you can kill
by rotating your Phaser modulation - you can’t shoot what you can’t
see.
JANEWAY
Then we’ll have to find some other way. Get to work on it.
She turns and makes for the Turbolift as we CUT TO:
int. sickbay
Seven of Nine, now revived and seemingly back to normal, is being examined
by the Doctor as Janeway ENTERS.
JANEWAY
(all business)
I want some answers, right now.
DOCTOR
There’s some light physical trauma, but otherwise Seven seems to have
recovered from her... episode. I’m unsure as to what exactly happened
in Main Engineering, but it appears that some kind of latent Borg contamination
in Seven’s system re-activated itself.
JANEWAY
(accusatory)
I understood that you had removed all such "contamination".
DOCTOR
(a little embarrassed)
Yes, well. Apparently it was so deeply imbedded at the cellular level
that it wasn’t detected in my examinations.
JANEWAY
What triggered the re-activation?
DOCTOR
I have two theories. It’s possible this hidden system was a form of
self-destruct mechanism designed to activate if a drone is separated
from the Collective for too long. The drone is destroyed as its implants
aggressively release these parasites to assimilate everything in sight.
If Seven had been more Borg and less human the process would almost
certainly have killed her.
JANEWAY
And the second theory?
DOCTOR
It may be that Seven’s exposure to Commander Kamchai caused some kind
of deep-rooted psychological reaction which stimulated these primitive
Borg cells and caused them to re-assert themselves.
(beat)
The truth is, I just don’t know yet.
Beat.
SEVEN OF NINE
Captain.
Janeway looks at Seven of Nine. For the first time, we detect a hint
of humility, perhaps even shame, in the former Borg’s eyes.
SEVEN OF NINE
I do not believe I was in control of my own actions, but...
(hard to say)
I wish to apologize for my behavior in Main Engineering.
DOCTOR
An apology? From you? This is a day of firsts.
Janeway shoots the Doctor a look. He slinks away.
JANEWAY
What do you think happened, Seven?
SEVEN OF NINE
I do not know. But I know that I have not felt... comfortable since
Commander Kamchai came aboard.
JANEWAY
That’s good enough for me.
And with that, she turns to leave.
INT. ready room
Janeway seated at her desk, Kamchai standing before her. Mid-conversation.
KAMCHAI
I hate to say "I told you so", but in my experience there’s no
such thing as the complete recovery of an organism assimilated by the Borg.
JANEWAY
(suspicious)
And just what is the extent of that experience, Commander?
KAMCHAI
What do you mean?
JANEWAY
My chief engineer informs me that the data on board your vessel is fully
intact and quite recoverable - if only you’d decrypt it for us. So why
are you so reluctant to do so?
A beat as Kamchai finds his answer.
KAMCHAI
I don’t know. Stupid pride, maybe. I don’t have the luxury of coming
from a Utopian society such as your Federation, Captain. My people have
done many things in their history that are nothing to be proud of, and
much of it is stored in my computer’s archives. But since none of that
information is of use to you in your present situation, I see no reason
to unload my people’s dirty laundry for the amusement of you and your
crew.
Janeway considers this. Not a bad answer.
JANEWAY
I’m not interested in amusing myself. I’m interested in saving this
ship, which, in case you haven’t heard, has a very serious Borg itch
that right now we don’t know how to scratch.
She stands, walks around her desk towards Kamchai.
JANEWAY
There’s a lot about you that I admire, Kamchai. I’d like to be able
to add honesty to that list.
(beat)
How was your world attacked by the Borg? From what I can tell, they
didn’t posess the ability to travel through space until they assimilated
your technology. So where could they have come from?
A very good question. Kamchai searches.
KAMCHAI
I wish I knew. Really. All I do know is, I had grandstand seats to watch
my entire planet being over-run by those parasites, and there was not
a single thing I could do about it. They destroyed everything I’ve ever
known, left me with nothing. Do you really think that if I had some
information to help you fight them now, I wouldn’t give it to you?
Janeway pauses to think this over.
JANEWAY
I’m assigning the ship’s two pre-eminent experts in this form of
primitive Borg to the effort to stop the assimilation. That’s you - and
Seven of Nine.
KAMCHAI
(aghast)
You want me to work with the Borg?
Janeway steps forward, deadly serious.
JANEWAY
Right now, as you and I stand here, the ship around us is being assimilated.
If we can’t stop it because you refused to help, then very soon Seven
won’t be the only Borg around here you need to worry about. Do you understand
me?
KAMCHAI
(beat)
Yes, ma’am.
PARIS’ COM VOICE
(urgent)
Bridge to the captain.
JANEWAY
Go ahead, Tom.
PARIS’ COM VOICE
Captain... we just lost helm and engine control to the Borg parasites.
Voyager just turned itself around and went to warp nine point five.
(beat)
We’re heading back towards Borg space.
A tense moment. The news doesn’t get much more serious than that.
Kamchai looks horrified, Janeway remains composed.
JANEWAY
Stand by, Tom.
(to Kamchai)
We’re running out of time. Seven of Nine is waiting for you in Engineering
- I suggest you get to work.
Off Kamchai’s reaction we:
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT three
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
int. MAIN ENGINEERING
Seven of Nine works busily at a station some safe distance from the
parasitic infestation.
KAMCHAI’S VOICE
The Captain assigned me to you.
Seven of Nine looks up from her work to see Kamchai, clearly not happy
to be there with her.
KAMCHAI
I don’t know what use I’m supposed to be to you.
SEVEN OF NINE
(back to work; dismissively)
Neither do I.
Kamchai sits at the terminal next to her. Eyes her warily. Looks generally
uncomfortable. After a moment, Seven of Nine looks up at him.
SEVEN OF NINE
I am curious to know how your species came into contact with the Borg.
KAMCHAI
(a little surprised)
Don’t you know?
SEVEN OF NINE
The Collective’s memory record of events preceding the assimilation
of Species Zero Zero One is... incomplete.
KAMCHAI
Well, I can’t help you. I was too busy watching your race destroy mine
to figure out where you might have come from.
SEVEN OF NINE
Your attitude is unnecessarily confrontational.
KAMCHAI
(becoming angry)
And what do you call assimilation? Some kind of inter-racial bonding
exercise?
SEVEN OF NINE
It is the nature of the Borg.
KAMCHAI
Yeah, tell me about it. The relentless pursuit of perfection, right?
Seven looks up, curious. Kamchai seems to know an awful lot about the
Borg mindset.
KAMCHAI
Well, don’t fool yourself. I was fighting your kind when you were nothing
but a bunch of mechanical maggots. You’re a long way from perfect.
With that, he stands and walks away in disgust. Seven of Nine is alone
with her thoughts for a moment, before:
JANEWAY’S COM VOICE
Captain to Seven.
SEVEN OF NINE
Yes, captain.
JANEWAY’S COM VOICE
Any progress?
SEVEN OF NINE
Although I believe I have identified the migration patterns of the parasites,
I have so far been unable to find a way of halting their progresss...
int. bridge
Janeway in the Captain’s chair. Torres, Tuvok, Paris, Chakotay at their
stations.
SEVEN OF NINE’S COM VOICE
...without irreperably damaging Voyager’s critical systems.
JANEWAY
Keep trying.
(turns to Torres)
Anything?
TORRES
I’m still unable to regain any kind of control over the assimilated
systems. Twenty eight per cent of the ship is now being directly controlled
by the Borg parasites.
Janeway searches for options. She’s at a loss, frustrated.
JANEWAY
(to the whole bridge)
Suggestions. Options.
TORRES
We could do what Kamchai did. Cryogenically freeze the entire ship.
We still have environmental control - the extreme cold killed the parasites
before, and it would again.
CHAKOTAY
And us, too. Think, B’Elanna!
TORRES
Not if we leave first. We could evacuate in the shuttles and escape
pods, freeze the ship remotely and return after they’ve been wiped out.
A beat as Janeway considers the idea.
JANEWAY
What kind of damage would the ship sustain in the freezing process?
TORRES
(grim)
Potentially... severe. But we don’t have many options left - and anything’s
better than the situation we’re facing right now.
Another beat as Janeway mulls it over.
JANEWAY
No, I don’t like it. I’ll consider it when absolutely every other
option has been exhausted, but not right now.
int. wooded glade - day
The same Holodeck simulation as before. Kamchai stands alone, skimming
stones across the lake. Sorrow and regret is etched deep into his face.
Suddenly, the landscape around him begins to DISTORT and FADE OUT, revealing
the Holodeck grid in random patches. The Borg parasite is beginning
to affect Holodeck systems, and Kamchai’s artificial world is falling
apart.
He looks up to the sky and laughs the laugh of the damned, tears now
streaming down his face.
KAMCHAI
Couldn’t even let me keep this, could you? The only piece of my home
I have left. You just had to have it all...
And a purposeful look overcomes him as he makes the most important decision
of his life.
int. bridge
As before. An N.D. ENSIGN is working at a station behind Torres, his
back to her, and us. Without turning around, she addresses him.
TORRES
Ensign... what’s the current rate of Borg decay in the life support
power conduits?
The ensign doesn’t answer, doesn’t turn, doesn’t move.
TORRES
Ensign?
Still no response. Frustrated, Torres turns to face him.
TORRES
Ensign! Do you -
The ensign turns to face her... revealing that is is FULLY BORGIFIED.
He stares at her with lifeless eyes.
In a CLOSE ANGLE we see that the BORG PARASITES are flooding through
the ensign’s control panel and through his hand, into his body.
He steps forward. Torres backs away carefully.
TORRES (cont’d)
Captain...
They all turn and REACT to the shocking scene.
JANEWAY
(urgently)
Tuvok, if you please.
Tuvok pulls his Phaser and FIRES. The Borgified ensign’s BORG SHIELDS
absorb the blast with a CRACKLE.
TUVOK
The parasites are already adapting.
Chakotay quickly adjusts his Phaser, levels and FIRES. This time the
shot gets through the shield and drops the Borgified ensign, dead.
Torres observes the ensign’s control panel - it’s fast being over-run
by Borg infestation.
TORRES
Captain... the infestation has reached the Bridge.
JANEWAY
(general order)
Everybody back away from their stations!
Paris, Tuvok and the N.D.’s step back warily from their stations.
CHAKOTAY
Captain... I think we just exhausted all of our options.
A beat as Janeway considers the inevitable. Then:
KAMCHAI’S VOICE
Maybe not.
REVEAL KAMCHAI, standing outside the Turbolift, newly arrived. He looks
strung out, ragged.
int. ready room
Janeway and Kamchai.
KAMCHAI
I have a radical plan that may save the ship.
JANEWAY
I’m listening.
KAMCHAI
You have to understand, there’s are very good reasons why I haven’t
been honest with you up until now. Very good reasons.
JANEWAY
Right now I’m not interested in recriminations. I just want to save
my ship and my crew. Can you help us or not?
Beat.
KAMCHAI
I need access to my capsule. I want it wired directly into Voyager’s
systems. And I want one good security officer, armed, who can shoot
straight.
JANEWAY
I can give you those things, but I need to know what you propose to
do with them.
KAMCHAI
That’s my one and only condition. I have to ask you to take this on
faith.
JANEWAY
That’s asking a lot.
KAMCHAI
Captain. Please. I have my reasons.
(beat)
Right now, as you and I stand here, the ship around us is being assimilated.
If I can’t stop it because you refused to help... well, you know the
rest. Do we have a deal?
Janeway deep in thought.
JANEWAY
I’ll give you access to your capsule. But I won’t give you the security
officer.
(beat)
You’ll have me instead.
int. bridge
Janeway and Kamchai EMERGE from her Ready Room and stride purposefully
across the Bridge towards the Turbolift.
JANEWAY
Commander Kamchai and I will be in Shuttle Bay Two. Chakotay, you have
the Bridge. Keep me apprised.
CHAKOTAY
Captain...
But before Chakotay can ask what is going on, Janeway and Chamkai have
disappeared into the Turbolift.
Off Chakotay’s puzzled reaction we CUT TO:
int. shuttle bay two
As before. The capsule rests in the bay, now defrosted.
Kamchai stands on the capsule’s footramp, gazing inside. Janeway, several
feet behind him, Phaser Rifle in hand.
Kamchai turns to face Janeway.
KAMCHAI
I want you to know that, whatever happens here, I’m not doing this out
of any kind of heroism. I don’t deserve that kind of eulogy.
(beat)
All I want to do is even the score a little. Put at least one check
in my "plus" column before I go.
Kamchai is calm, serene - but his words sounds almost like he’s
reading a suicide note. Janeway is concerned, steps forward.
JANEWAY
Kamchai...
Kamchai quickly moves inside the capsule and sits in his command chair,
back to Janeway.
KAMCHAI
Now remember what I told you. Keep at a safe distance. And have that
rifle on full power for when I’m ready.
JANEWAY
Ready for what?
Kamchai doesn’t answer. He reaches overhead and flicks a series
of switches. Gradually, the systems inside the capsule power up - lights,
monitors flicker to life.
Kamchai works the cockpit controls, accesses long-dormant sub-routines
on his ancient computer. A low HUM begins to emanate inside the cabin.
KAMCHAI
Do you know what a dog whistle is, Captain?
Janeway doesn’t know what to make of that obvious question.
JANEWAY
Of course, why?
KAMCHAI
Because there is such a thing as a Borg equivalent.
Kamchai thumbs a final switch and the HUMMING GROWS LOUDER.
int. bridge
An alarm on Torres’ console SOUNDS. She moves towards it, careful not
to touch it.
TORRES
I don’t believe it...
CHAKOTAY
What is it?
TORRES
The Borg parasites are mobilizing. Every last one of them. The entire
infestation is letting go of Voyager’s systems and converging on...
(looks to Chakotay)
Shuttle Bay Two.
CHAKOTAY
(taps combadge)
Captain, get out of there. The Borg parasites are heading right towards
you en masse.
int. shuttle bay two
Janeway watches transfixed as the humming from inside the capsule grows
louder, and computer activity increases. Kamchai is seated with his
back to her, and us.
JANEWAY
Stand by, Chakotay.
Suddenly, Kamchai begins to JERK and SPASM wildly in his chair. His
instruments SPARK and OVERLOAD. Janeway takes a step forward.
KAMCHAI
(his back still to us)
Stand back! Not yet!
int. bridge
Torres continues to monitor the parasite migration on her console.
TORRES
Almost every Borg parasite has migrated into Shuttle Bay Two... and
into the derelict capsule.
CHAKOTAY
(growing concerned)
What the hell is going on down there?
(taps combadge)
Kathryn! Are you all right?
No response. Chakotay thinks for a second, then heads for the Turbolift.
CHAKOTAY (cont’d)
Damn this - I’m going down there. Tuvok, you have the bridge.
TUVOK
(a rare sardonic moment)
Or what is left of it.
int. shuttle bay two
The wild activity inside the capsule has reached a crescendo. Computer
systems are overloading, Kamchai considers to spasm wildly. Janeway
steps forward, squinting to see through the erupting steam and flashing
lights inside the capsule.
As she approaches, Kamchai’s chair turns to face her.... REVEALING KAMCHAI,
OVER-RUN BY THE BORG PARASITES. It is a devastating level of infestation
- every single parasite on board Voyager is now inside Kamchai. The
tiny worms wriggle and thrive under every inch of his skin. It’s a hideous,
terrifying sight. Janeway takes a step back in horror.
Kamchai himself is now obviously Borg, or at least in the final stages
of assimilation. He fights against the infestation to force out two
simple words to Janeway.
KAMCHAI
(imploring)
Kill... me...
KAMCHAI’S P.O.V.
Janeway thumbs a setting on the Phaser Rifle, aims it right at us...
and as she FIRES we
SMASH CUT TO BLACK:
END OF ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE
FADE IN :
screen in darkness
We hear muted, muddled VOICES. Barely identifiable as those of Janeway
and The Doctor.
FADE IN:
INT. SICKBAY
KAMCHAI’S P.O.V.
as he slowly opens his eyes. He’s on his back, looking up at the ceiling.
His vision is at first blurry, then gradually comes into focus. The
Doctor and Janeway stand over him.
A WIDER ANGLE REVEALS Kamchai lying on a bio-bed. He now looks less
Borgified, but mortally sick and emaciated. He’s on his deathbed.
THE DOCTOR
(to Janeway)
Just a few minutes.
Janeway nods, and the Doctor moves away.
JANEWAY
Commander, can you hear me?
KAMCHAI
(weakly)
I can hear you.
JANEWAY
Do you know where you are?
KAMCHAI
Aboard Voyager.
JANEWAY
Do you remember what happened?
KAMCHAI
(speculatively)
I saved the ship?
JANEWAY
Yes, you did. For which we owe you our thanks. Whether you agree or
not, what you did was very... heroic.
Janeway’s demeanor towards Kamchai seems slightly colder than she
might normally be towards somebody who just saved her ship and her crew.
KAMCHAI
What’s my condition?
JANEWAY
The Doctor managed to neutralize the Borg parasites by cryo-freezing
you again, but the shock to your system from the infestation was immense.
(beat)
You’re not expected to survive.
KAMCHAI
I never intended to.
JANEWAY
I think now I understand why.
(beat)
I told you not to underestimate my chief engineer. She managed to decrypt
your capsule’s computer archives.
Kamchai groans. He knows what this means. This was the one thing he
didn’t want.
KAMCHAI
So you know...?
JANEWAY
That your people created the Borg? Yes. I know.
KAMCHAI
I told you there was a good reason why I didn’t want you to see those
files.
Janeway holds up a PADD, reads from it:
JANEWAY
Commander Arvin Kamchai, United Iridian Air and Space Force. Last posting:
assigned to oversee the completion and final test phase of the planet’s
orbiting biological weapons array - code-name BORG.
She puts down the PADD and looks Kamchai square in the eye.
JANEWAY (cont’d)
The Iridian military created the Borg as a biological weapon.
Kamchai sighs, resigned to the truth now that it has been revealed.
KAMCHAI
Not just any biological weapon. The most formidable weapon in the galaxy,
of any kind. Designed to ruthlessly assimilate any race which posed
a risk to our planet’s security.
(beat)
As it transpires, a little more ruthless than even we’d intended. It
turned on us the day we activated it. We never could have predicted
-
JANEWAY
(cutting him off)
But why? Iridis is the only inhabited planet for six hundred light years.
Who were these supposed threats to your planet’s security?
KAMCHAI
None that we knew of. And the function of BORG was to ensure that none
ever emerged. The ultimate deterrent.
(beat)
I read in one of your ship’s texts, "The price of freedom is eternal
vigilance." We built BORG with a philosophy very much like that in mind.
JANEWAY
There’s a fine line between vigilance in paranoia. Your people crossed
over it... and look at the results. Not just your race, but millions,
murdered by the abomination you created.
KAMCHAI
And do you think I feel good about that? It sickens me that I was a
part of that, now that I know what we unleashed. That’s why I had to
do what I did... something, anything, to try to make up for my people’s
mistakes. To find some peace before I die.
Janeway is conflicted - this man’s heroism saved them, but his
people’s blindness put them, and the entire galaxy, in this predicament
in the first place.
KAMCHAI
To the charge of fanatical, fatal paranoia, I hereby plead guilty on
behalf of my race. But before you condemn us, ask yourself - can you
honestly say that the history of your own race has never been blemished
by such mistakes?
Janeway considers this. A powerful point. Finally:
JANEWAY
I wish I could.
ext. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)
holding position in space.
JANEWAY’S VOICE
Captain’s log, stardate 52217.7. Today we bury the mortal remains of
Commander Arvin Kamchai of the planet Iridis.
(beat)
He was the last of his race.
One of Voyager’s torpedo tube doors opens and a MODIFIED TORPEDO
- Kamchai’s coffin - is shot in the void. We follow it until it disappears,
then CUT TO:
ext. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)
the ship now at warp.
JANEWAY’S VOICE
After prolonged effort, Voyager’s systems have been repaired and returned
to normal operation. There is no longer any trace of the primitive Borg
parasites. Meanwhile, our new-found data concerning the origins of the
Borg is being studied and may prove useful... in our inevitable next
encounter with them.
int. janeway’s quarters
TIGHT ANGLE on the chess board. Exactly the same position in the game
as when we left it in the Teaser.
JANEWAY’S VOICE
Now, all that remains is for me to dispense with one final, unpleasant
piece of unfinished business.
PULL OUT TO REVEAL Janeway and Chakotay, once again facing each other
across the board.
CHAKOTAY
(supremely confident)
I told you, four moves. You may as well try to get out of a Klingon
Full-Nelson as try to escape from this.
JANEWAY
Quiet! I’m thinking.
CHAKOTAY
(sitting back; smug)
As you wish.
Janeway thinks... and thinks... and thinks. Finally:
JANEWAY
Oh, to hell with it.
In one swift movement, she reaches over and knocks over the Black King
to resign. Chakotay laughs.
CHAKOTAY
Well, at least you have the good graces to admit when you’re beaten.
JANEWAY
Since it happens so rarely I’m amazed it’s a trait I’ve developed
at all.
Chakotay begins re-setting the pieces on the board.
CHAKOTAY
Again?
JANEWAY
No, I don’t think so.
Janeway stands and walks to the window. Looks out at the starfield
beyond.
JANEWAY
Do you think it’s right of us to blame the Iridians for creating the
Borg?
Chakotay considers this.
CHAKOTAY
I think it’s a natural reaction, given how we’ve all had to pay
for the mistake they made. But the point Kamchai made about how paranoia
can compel any race to commit unthinkable acts... hard to argue with.
Human history is riddled with events that prove just that. And as for
the Klingons...
Janeway smiles a little, but remains pre-occupied with this notion.
She turns to Chakotay.
JANEWAY
I mean, can we even blame the Borg for their actions any more? Now that
we know that they didn’t define their own nature, that somebody else
chose it for them?
CHAKOTAY
I think the Iridians have more than earned their place in the annals
of infamy. But it’s pointless to try to decide who’s to blame for the
Borg. The only question about that race that’s ever concerned me is
how. How do we stop them? How do we win? How do we rid ourselves of
them forever? Those are the questions that look forward, not back, and
those are the questions we have to find the answers to. And one day,
I believe we will.
Janeway turns her gaze towards the stars once more.
JANEWAY
I’d like to believe that too.
ext. space - VOYAGER (OPTICAL)
cruising away from us at warp, towards home.
fade out:
end of act five
THE END