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 Two

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ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. SICKBAY

Both the Doctor and Captain Janeway stand over a biobed which is supporting an unconscious Seven of Nine.

JANEWAY
(looking down at Seven)
What happened to her?

DOCTOR
I promised Seven out of confidentiality that I wouldn't
talk to anyone about what she's been going through.
However, her condition has worsened and is now life
threatening. Her cortical node is shutting down and she's
in synaptic shock.

JANEWAY
(angry)
I don't care what kind of confidentiality agreement you had
with her, tell me what's going on. That's an order!

DOCTOR
Yes Captain. I'll start from the beginning. Seven has been
conducting simulations on the holodeck to help her experience
different aspects of her humanity.

JANEWAY
(curious)
What aspects are we talking about?

DOCTOR
Social situations, friendships with the crew and...(pause)
...intimate relations.

JANEWAY
(surprised)
Intimacy? Seven?

DOCTOR
Seven explained to me that she hasn't felt complete since the
destruction of Unimatrix Zero. She experienced romantic
feelings for her friend. When they parted, she was devastated.

JANEWAY
Okay, I can relate to that, why is this happening to her now?

DOCTOR
Well, if you let me finish...

JANEWAY
I'm sorry Doctor, please continue.

DOCTOR
Thank you Captain. Last month I received a medical
emergency from Seven while she was in holodeck 2. I transferred
my program and discovered Seven unconscious on the floor.
Next to her was Commander Chakotay.

JANEWAY
What was he doing there?

DOCTOR:
Please Captain...The program that Seven was running consisted
of her having her own quarters, no visible implants, a table set
for two and a holo simulation of the Commander. It seems he
was her romantic interest. (pausing) I ended the program and ran
a diagnostic on her cortical array. It seems the Borg implanted a
fail-safe device to keep drones from feeling strong emotions.
This would prevent them from being individuals and escaping
the Collective. When Seven reached a certain emotional stimulus,
the node shut down her higher brain functions. I was able to
stabilize her condition but I'm afraid she's lost the desire to explore
her humanity.

JANEWAY
(sympathetic)
This would explain her recent actions. Doctor, is there anything
we could do for her?

DOCTOR
I think so. I've been researching Borg technology and I believe
I can do a series of operations that would disrupt the cortical
signals. But it won't be easy on her and the recovery process
will be slow.

JANEWAY
Have you informed Seven of your findings?

DOCTOR
Yes Captain, but she refuses to read my research. She doesn't
want to proceed with the operations. She has decided to hide
behind Borg technology and ignore her humanity.

JANEWAY
I won't accept that. She's come a long way but I can't force her
to undergo the procedure unless it's a medical necessity. Okay,
you said her cortical node shut down in the holodeck. Why is it
shutting down now?

DOCTOR
Seven has been experiencing a reoccurring nightmare for the
past week that has been disrupting her regeneration cycles.
This evening I monitored her cortical activity and to my
surprise, when she began to dream, she also began to experience
strong emotions which caused her cortical node to shut down.
Captain, if we don't do something, she's going to die. She needs
those operations to survive. She's evolved too far emotionally to
turn back.

JANEWAY
(contemplating her earlier actions)
Approximately four years ago I severed her link to the
Collective against her will and now I have a similar decision
to make which is also against her will. What do I do? Do I do
nothing and let her die, or do I give the order and impose
humanity on her. If I allow the procedure, will she ever forgive
me, or will she be thankful for making the decision for her.
Doctor, how much time does she have?

DOCTOR
I've got her on life support at this moment. Her synaptic relays
are degrading, the longer we keep her in this condition, the more
likely she'll have permanent damage. She's in a coma and won't
wake up unless we do something.

JANEWAY
(thinking it over)
Okay Doctor, do it. Do whatever you can to bring her back.
She'll probably resent me for the rest of her life, but I can live
with that. I'll get Tom in here to assist you.

DOCTOR
Thank you Captain, I'll start right away.

Lt.Tom Paris is summoned by Captain Janeway.

beep

JANEWAY
Janeway to Paris.

TOM
(on the bridge, V.O.)
Paris here.

JANEWAY
Please report to sickbay.

TOM:
(V.O.)
Yes, ma'am. On my way.

TOM
(enters sickbay and looks down at the unconscious Seven Of Nine)
What happened?

JANEWAY
Seven's cortical node is malfunctioning. I need you to
assist the Doctor.

TOM
Of course.

6 hours into surgery, Harry and B'Elanna enter sickbay to check on Seven's progress.

B'ELANNA
How is she?

JANEWAY
(worried)
Hanging on by a thread. The Doctor is trying to re-establish
Seven's neural pathways from her cortical node without affecting
her regular processes.

HARRY
How long have they been at it?

JANEWAY
More than six hours.

HARRY
You look exhausted, have you been here the entire time?

JANEWAY
Yes

B'ELANNA:
Captain, you need food and rest. Harry and I will be here
and if anything happens, we'll contact you immediately.

JANEWAY
(smiling tiredly)
How can I argue with that? Okay, I'll be back in a couple
of hours.

A tired and concerned Janeway exits sickbay and heads for the turbo lift where she is greeted by Chakotay.

INT. TURBO LIFT

CHAKOTAY
Kathryn, you look exhausted. You need some rest.

JANEWAY
I'm on my way to the mess hall. Care to join me?

CHAKOTAY
(grinning)
I'll lead the way.

INT. MESS HALL

CHAKOTAY
(concerned)
How is Seven?

JANEWAY
(sipping hot coffee)
The Doctor says it will be a slow and gradual recovery
but he's confident she'll recover. That is if she
survives the operation.

CHAKOTAY
I'm sorry to hear that, I know how much she means to you.
We all care about her but you and Seven have a unique bond.

JANEWAY
I think the best way to describe it is a mother/daughter relationship.
I felt protective of her from the beginning when I severed her link
to the Collective. She's come a long way from that cold drone that
stepped out of an alcove. She's a unique individual who has so
much potential and love to offer. I would hate to see her limited
by "Borg Perfection".

CHAKOTAY
Kathryn, am I missing something? What limits are you talking
about?

JANEWAY
I really can't discuss this with you or anyone right now. Let's
just say, Seven has learned how to walk; soon she'll be able to run.

CHAKOTAY
(curious and wanting more answers, he decides to change the subject)
How's the Captain holding up?

JANEWAY
Better then Seven.

Captain Janeway is summoned by Harry Kim.

beep

HARRY
(in sickbay, V.O.)
Kim to Janeway

JANEWAY
(in the mess hall)
Janeway here.

HARRY
(V.O.)
Captain, the operation is over.

JANEWAY
We're on our way.

Both Janeway and Chakotay leave the mess hall.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO