Category: Star Trek Voyager

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager and all things contained therein are the property of Paramount and Viacom. I will receive no profit from this story.

Author: Raven

Author's note: This is a massive work in progress that started out as an assignment for a Theatre class so it is in script format.

Summary: The time set is approximately one month after the episode "Human Error".
Seven's life is in danger and is forced to undergo the fail-safe procedure that will change her life forever.

Title: Resistance is Futile - Act One

---------------

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. BORG CUBE (SEVEN'S DREAM)

The faint sounds of Chopin playing in the background and the image of a vast technological landscape. Millions of voices speaking as one. "We are Borg. Your technology will be added to our own. Your distinctiveness will enhance us. Resistance if futile. " The Collective voice continues its mantra overlapping the sounds of classical music until the music could barely be heard. The image of millions of drones regenerating in alcoves frame the complex while others congregate on a single image of a young humanoid female playing a solemn tune on a piano who just happens to be ex-drone, Seven of Nine.
As we look closer, we see some of the approaching drones are familiar as well. Among them are Magnus Hanson, her human father once assimilated by the Borg; One, a male drone produced when an accidental convergence of two technologies occurs; and Axum, her romantic companion she once knew in the alternative existence, Unimatrix Zero. Seven continues her recital appearing comfortable regardless of her surroundings and proximity to her cybernetic audience. She is approached by Axum who raises his metallic hand to her cheek. She acknowledges his presence by letting out a sigh and tilts her head in his direction. While Seven continues to play, his hand moves closer and injects two assimilation tubules into her neck. The music abruptly stops as her features turn to stone while her humanity drains from her existence. Metal implants begin to spring into view cutting through her skin causing her to scream in terror...

INT. CARGO BAY 2

While regenerating in her alcove, Seven Of Nine's eyes open.

FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER

---------------

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. CARGO BAY 2

"Regeneration cycle incomplete" announces the ship's computer in a familiar female voice. Seven steps forward from her alcove and is briefly disoriented. She looks around and realizes she is safely onboard Voyager. She approaches a console and begins to record her daily personal log.

SEVEN
(V.O.)
"Personal log, Seven Of Nine, I experienced another disturbing dream that has caused me to undergo another incomplete regenerative cycle. This is the fifth dream of this kind since the Doctor informed me of my fail-safe mechanism a month ago. I have since then accepted the fact that I will never fully become human and have abandoned any and all attempts in forming relationships with Voyager's crew. As a result, I have become more efficient in my work and daily routine. The doctor insists I review his research on surgically altering my cortical array so I can experience emotions like any other human would. But I am reluctant to pursue this because letting emotions affect me may affect my efficiency. The Doctor has kept his word by not discussing this issue with anyone including Captain Janeway."

Seven is summoned by Captain Janeway

beep

JANEWAY
(V.O.)
Janeway to Seven of Nine

SEVEN
I'm here Captain

JANEWAY
(V.O.)
Seven of Nine, report to Astrometrics

SEVEN
Acknowledged

Returning to her log entry, Seven continues she would never consider the Doctor's research and will adapt to her situation. On that note, she ends her personal log and exits the cargo bay.

INT. ASTROMETRICS LAB

Seven enters Astrometrics and is greeted by Captain Janeway and the Doctor.

DOCTOR
Good morning Seven. How are you feeling today?

SEVEN
Fine Doctor

JANEWAY
The Doctor tells me your electrolyte levels have been
low for the past week. Is anything bothering you?

SEVEN
No Captain, I'm fine.

JANEWAY
Well then are you having problems regenerating? Is there
something we can do for you?

Seven glances at the Doctor then back to Janeway.

SEVEN
(a little irritated)
No Captain, everything is fine, I've just had a lot on my mind
and I've experienced some disturbing dreams. Other then that, I am
functioning properly.

JANEWAY
Seven, you're not a machine. If there's something bothering
you, please let me know. Maybe I can help you.

SEVEN
Thank you Captain, I will take you up on your offer if it
becomes necessary.

Janeway gives Seven a small smile and exits Astrometrics. Seven turns to the Doctor with a look of betrayal.

SEVEN
(feeling offensive)
Doctor, I thought we had a doctor/patient confidentiality
agreement. Do we not?

DOCTOR
Yes, of course we do Seven. The Captain came to me because
she was concerned about you. We all are. Everyone's noticed
you seem more withdrawn since our little revelation.

SEVEN
(angry)
It is my revelation! Did you tell her about my condition?

DOCTOR
No Seven, I would never betray you. You confided in me and
that's where it will stay. However, if your condition becomes
life threatening, or it affects your work, then I will have no
alternative but to inform the Captain.

SEVEN
Understood.

DOCTOR
Seven, do you want to talk about your dreams?

Seven steps away from the Doctor and turns her head towards the main screen and begins to describe her reoccurring nightmare in vivid detail.

SEVEN
The dreams start out the same. I'm alone in a Borg Vessel
and I'm seated on a bench playing a piano. I'm aware
of my surroundings but don't make any attempt to escape.
Drones that are familiar to me approach me. They are my
Father, One and Axum whom I find comforting at first until
one of them tries to assimilate me. When they prevail, I
can feel the tubules piercing my skin and feel my humanity
slipping away. When I can no longer hold on to my
individuality, my regeneration cycle is disrupted and I regain awareness.

She looks back towards the Doctor then moves her eyes to the ground unable to maintain eye contact. The Doctor is disturbed by the detail Seven is able to describe and notices her fear.

DOCTOR
You've had this same dream every night?

SEVEN
Yes. More or less, what does it mean?

DOCTOR
Well, first of all to know what it means, you must first
tell me how it makes you feel. The fact that you are
surrounded by familiar faces and you feel a certain
amount of comfort is... interesting. With regard to your
feelings for Axum, how do you feel when he tries to
assimilate you?

SEVEN
Betrayed!

DOCTOR
Is this because you once loved him?

SEVEN
(hesitating)
The feelings I had for Axum were during a period of
regeneration. They were irrelevant. When I was brought
to Unimatrix Zero and became re-acquainted with him,
I began to experience a warm, comforting sensation that
was...familiar. I don't think you can qualify that as love.
When Unimatrix Zero was destroyed and we departed, I
felt an emptiness inside me and have felt incomplete since.
The personal experiments I conducted last month were an
attempt to re-experience those feelings.

DOCTOR
Seven, if you had these feelings for Axum, when you were
in the holodeck, why didn't you re-create him as your romantic
interest? Why Commander Chakotay?

SEVEN
Because I didn't know how to proceed with someone I had a
"history" with. I wanted to experience a relationship from the
beginning with someone like the Commander. I have always
respected him and found him to have admirable qualities.

The Doctor gives her a look of sympathy and understanding.

DOCTOR
I want you to wear a cortical monitor tonight when you
regenerate. I'd like to monitor your neural activity. If there's
something I could do to help you, this would be a good start.

SEVEN
(thinking it over and looking at the Doctor)
I will comply.

On that note, the Doctor exits Astrometrics and Seven begins her daily diagnostics.
Hours later, Icheb enters the lab to relieve Seven of her shift. Seven acknowledges his presence, briefs him on her findings, and leaves Astrometrics for the mess hall.

INT. MESS HALL

SEVEN
(approaching a food replicator)
Computer, sustenance beta 13, seven, alpha, one.

A tray containing vegetables, rice pilaf and a beverage appear inside a food replicator. Seven takes the tray and sits at an empty table where she is joined by Commander Chakotay.

CHAKOTAY
That looks good, may I join you?

SEVEN
Commander. Yes, that will be acceptable. Would you
like me replicate you a tray?

CHAKOTAY
(Taken by surprise)
Sure, if it's no bother.

Seven gets up out of her seat, retrieves another tray of food from the replicator, and places it in front of Chakotay. Looking perplexed, Chakotay smiles and thanks Seven for her hospitality.

CHAKOTAY
You didn't need to go through that trouble, but thank you.

SEVEN
You're welcome.

Even though Seven had discontinued her simulations a month ago, she still remembered the time she spent with the simulated Chakotay and the romantic feelings she experienced which lead up to her revelation. They began talking about ship's systems and what her long-range sensors were detecting. He was interested in her work and appeared to be interested in Seven as well. When the conversation turned personal, Seven quickly terminated the discussion and exited the mess hall leaving Chakotay perplexed once more.

Seven briskly enters sickbay and retrieves a cortical monitor from the Doctor, then exits and makes her way to cargo bay 2 where she immediately programs her alcove, steps up into position and begins to regenerate. Within minutes, the same images Seven had been experiencing for the past week began to flood her mind.

2200 hours, Chakotay still perplexed about his earlier meal with Seven seeks out his Captain and friend for some advise.

INT. CAPTAIN JANEWAY'S QUARTERS

door chime

JANEWAY
(laying on her ottoman with her feet up, sighs, puts down the book she's been reading)
Come in.

CHAKOTAY
I'm sorry, was I disturbing you?

JANEWAY
No, not at all, I was just getting caught up on some reading.

CHAKOTAY
What book are you reading?

JANEWAY
It's a bunch of short stories by Ray Bradbury. He was known
for his contribution in Science Fiction. I think you'll enjoy this
book, I'll let you borrow it sometime.

CHAKOTAY
I look forward to it.

JANEWAY
Chakotay, you look worried, is something bothering you?

CHAKOTAY
I'm not sure. I shared a meal with Seven of Nine earlier in the
mess hall and she didn't seem like herself.

JANEWAY
What do you mean?

CHAKOTAY
First of all she was polite. I complimented her on her food
choice and she replicated a plate for me without a thought.
When I thanked her, she smiled.

JANEWAY
What's so strange about that?

CHAKOTAY
We began to talk about ship's systems and what her sensors
were detecting and then we began talking about her
accomplishments. I told her how valuable she was to
Voyager and how we all appreciated her efforts. When
I told her that she had come along way in reclaiming her
humanity, she cut me off and abruptly left.

JANEWAY
That is a little odd. It's almost like she's avoiding something.
She's been very distant the past couple of weeks with everyone.
When the Doctor and I talked to her earlier, she mentioned
she's been having dreams. I wonder if there's something else
going on in that mind of hers. Seven spent many hours doing
holo-simulations last month. She claims to be working on
perfecting our systems. When I mentioned that I'd like to see
her work, she became reluctant to share and eager to leave. I
know it's an invasion of privacy, but maybe we should take a
look at these simulations.

CHAKOTAY
She trusts you Kathryn. Maybe you should talk to her first.
I don't want to go digging into someone's personal life
unless we have to.

JANEWAY
I tried talking to her today but she seemed reluctant to talk
about anything. I can't force the issue. Lets just keep an eye
out for her for now.

CHAKOTAY
I agree. Well, I'll let you get back to your reading. Are you
up for breakfast tomorrow?

JANEWAY
You just make sure there's plenty of coffee and I'll be there.

CHAKOTAY
(smiling)
It's a date. See you tomorrow morning. Goodnight Kathryn.

JANEWAY
(smiling)
Goodnight Chakotay, pleasant dreams.

Later that evening.

INT. BORG CUBE (SEVEN'S DREAM)

The piano music returns, but this time it sounds darker and somewhat eerie. The familiar drones continue their convergence on the young, blonde piano player who seems unbothered by her surroundings. The Borg mantra continues its domination over the music. In the distance, instead of seeing millions of drones regenerating in their alcoves, we see Voyager's crewmembers regenerating in their place. They are unassimilated but appear to be in a different reality, not aware of who or where they are. As the drones come closer to Seven, she is grabbed from behind and taken away from the cybernetic beings. When she turns around, she notices it is Commander Chakotay. He pulls her into his arms, kisses her passionately and urges her to come with him. She's taken by surprise by his actions and follows his lead through the Borg vessel while they are being pursued by hundreds of drones. Just as they are about to make their escape, they are stopped by the Borg Queen, who, to Seven's surprise, has a great resemblance to
her human mother. Seven gasps at this horror and turns to Chakotay who has now been transformed into a drone. Seven screams out in terror and is consumed by darkness and silence...

INT. CARGO BAY 2

"Regeneration cycle incomplete" Says the ship's computer. Seven Of Nine collapses from her alcove and tumbles onto the floor of the cargo bay. The EMH is automatically activated, gets a reading from the cortical monitor and transports Seven directly to sickbay.

Captain Janeway is summoned by the Doctor

beep

DOCTOR
(in sickbay, V.O.)
Doctor to Janeway.

JANEWAY
(on the bridge)
Janeway here, what is it Doctor?

DOCTOR
(V.O.)
It's Seven of Nine, Captain. She's going into neural shock.
I think you better get down here.

JANEWAY
(glances at Chakotay)
On my way.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE