Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 3, Episode 17 - Unity - full transcript

First Officer's Log,
Stardate 50614.2.

Ensign Kaplan and I
are returning to Voyager

after completing a scouting
mission in the Nekrit Expanse.

The nebula's
completely scrambling

our navigational readings.

I still can't get a fix
on our position.

Are you saying we're lost,
Ensign?

That... depends what
you mean by "lost," sir.

Lost...

as in you still can't get
a fix on our position.

I'm sorry, sir.



Try hailing Voyager again.

No response. We must
still be out of com range.

Then we'll just have to navigate

the old-fashioned way--
engage optical scanners.

Aye, sir.

I'm picking up an asteroid field
at coordinates 1 13 mark 7.

Record it.

Uh, sir?

That asteroid field?

It's the same one
we passed two hours ago.

Great.

We're not only lost,
we're flying in circles.

It's a Federation
hailing beacon--

originating bearing 309 mark 4.



It's Voyager

Well...

at least someone knows
where we are.

Setting a course.

The signal's coming
from the planet's surface.

Is it possible Voyager's landed?

Sensor readings are sketchy.

I'm detecting
about 80,000 humanoid life signs

on the western continent,

some rudimentary structures
and technology,

but no energy signature
big enough to be a starship.

I'm getting another hail.

The signal's very weak...

and it's definitely not
being sent by Voyager

Try adjusting the bandwidth.

...Colony to Federation vessel.

We need your help, urgently.

This is Commander Chakotay
of the Starship Voyager

Please identify yourself.

I'm not reading you.

Federation vessel,
please respond to this...

We lost them, sir.

They've identified us
as a Federation ship.

Who would know that?

Whoever they are, they're
asking for our help.

Launch a message buoy
letting Voyager know

we've landed in response
to a distress call.

This place looks
like a war zone.

I can't pinpoint
the source of the transmission.

Commander.

I'm Commander Chakotay
of the Starship Voyager

We're responding
to a distress call.

We're looking
for whoever it was

that asked for our help.

Commander!

Come on!

Take him inside.

I'd lie still if I were you.

You've got a nasty head injury.

You're human.

My name's Riley Frazier.

What's yours, Commander?

Why did you attack us?

Those weren't my people.

I'm the one
who sent the distress call.

We rescued you.

What did you do with Kaplan?

Your Ensign.

She didn't make it.

I'm sorry.

I've got to get
back to my shuttle.

Your shuttle isn't there
anymore.

The people who attacked you
have already pulled it apart.

Relax, Commander.

I'm here to help you.

How did...?

How did I get here?

I could ask you
the same question.

I was pretty surprised

when I picked up
a Federation ship out there--

not that I wasn't happy
about it.

It's a long story.

Why don't you go first?

Seven or eight years ago...

I was working
as a Science Officer

on a vessel
in the Bolian sector.

We were attacked without warning
by aliens.

They overpowered us in minutes,
and those of us who survived

were put in some kind
of stasis.

The next thing we knew,
we were here on this planet.

It didn't take too many hours
of stargazing

to realize we weren't in
the Alpha Quadrant any longer.

There are other humans here?

Three that I know of
besides me--

what was left of my crew--

along with some Klingons,
Cardassians, Romulans,

and dozens of other species
I'd never seen before.

And the ones
that put you in stasis?

I don't know.

They must have had some kind
of colony here at some time

because of the ruined buildings
and equipment

they left scattered around.

We've never seen them again.

Everyone here has pretty much
the same story.

They were just grabbed from
wherever they happened to be

and dumped.

Why did those people
kill Kaplan?

We were no threat to them.

There are dozens of different
races on this planet,

all of whom were brought here
against their will.

Many of them are suspicious
of other species.

It's not exactly a United
Federation around here,

if you know what I mean.

So those kind of attacks--
they go on all the time.

Resources are pretty limited.

It didn't take long
for the fighting to start.

First...

a group of Klingons
attacked the Cardassians.

Then the Farn raided the Parein;

eventually things
just got out of hand,

and now it's anarchy.

But some of us,
a few hundred or so,

we've tried to make
the best of it.

We've established
a cooperative--

sharing work and whatever
provisions we have.

I've got to contact my ship.

The raiders destroyed
the communications array.

It'll take days to fix it.

I can help you.

Our medic examined you.

You suffered serious
neural trauma.

You're staying put.

And that's an order, Commander.

Captain's Log, Stardate 50622.4.

While Commander Chakotay

scouts for a faster route
through the Nekrit Expanse,

we are continuing
our month-long journey

through the sparsely
populated region.

You know, they ought to rename

this place
the "negative expanse."

We haven't run across
anything interesting for days.

If you're bored, Mr. Paris,

I'm sure I can find
something else for you to do.

The warp plasma filters are due
for a thorough cleaning.

Now that you mention it,
Captain,

I find this region of space
a real navigational challenge.

I believe I may have found
something else

to pique
Mr. Paris's interest, Captain.

It's an unidentified ship
on long-range sensors.

What sort of ship?

Sensor readings
are very limited,

but the vessel
appears to be stopped

directly in our current
flight path.

Harry, send
a standard greeting.

Aye, Captain.

They're not responding.

Try retransmitting the hail
on wide-band subspace.

Still no response.

We are entering visual range.

On screen.

The Borg.

Red Alert.

All stop.
Shields to maximum.

Stand by all weapons.

Tuvok, are they scanning us?

Curious.

None of the Borg systems
appears to be operational.

He's right.
They're adrift.

Maybe they're trying to lull us
into a false sense of security.

That would not be consistent
with typical Borg tactics.

I want to try
a multiphasic scan.

Tom, stand by to get us
out of here in case they react.

Aye, Captain.

Proceed, Mr. Kim.

I'm not picking up
any active energy signatures.

And no life signs.

Well, that's a relief.

Perhaps.

However, we should avoid
complacency.

The Borg are known to retrieve

their damaged technology.

It is quite possible

we will encounter
additional Borg vessels

which are fully manned
and powered.

That's exactly why we're going
to board that ship.

Captain?

This is a rare opportunity

to learn as much as we can
about Borg technology.

I might be able to get
one of their data nodes running

and find out
what disabled their ship.

If we're lucky,

we may find a weakness
we can use against them,

in case we run into one

of their fully manned
and powered ships.

Tuvok, assemble an away team.

Tom...

Yes, Captain.

...take us
into transporter range.

We grow all our own food
in a cooperative garden.

It's delicious.

Sorry there's no meat.

No problem.

I'm a vegetarian.

Really?

I have recurring dreams

about my mother's
famous Texas barbecue.

So, your journey home--

how much longer do you
expect it'll take you?

About 67 years.

Provided we don't find
a wormhole

or some other faster way
of getting back.

Haven't you ever thought about
finding some nice M-Class planet

and putting down roots?

We'd be missing
an incredible opportunity

to explore unknown space.

Besides, we've made a good life
for ourselves on Voyager

I'm sure Captain Janeway
would be amenable

to take as many of your people
with us as we can accommodate.

Take us with you?

I assumed that's why
you sent the distress call.

You misunderstood.

We want to stay.

But you were brought here
against your will.

You just said
how dangerous it is.

For better or worse,
this place has become our home.

The people
in the cooperative...

they're like my ancestors--

Texas homesteaders.

I can understand that, but...

We have a deep connection

to one another
that I've never felt before,

not even with members
of my own family.

I guess it's because of what
we've all gone through together.

What about those unfriendly
neighbors of yours?

We've been able to bring
a few of them into our group.

But you're right,
they're a problem.

That's why we want your help.

Security upgrades,

medical supplies,
maybe some weapons.

We're creating a society here--

one that's based on tolerance,
shared responsibility,

and mutual respect--
that people like you and I

were raised to believe in.

We're not about to give it up
just because it's difficult.

I'd better get back to work
on the communications array.

I'll come with you.

No!

You're still in no shape
to fight, if we're attacked.

I'll be back
to check on you soon.

It's like a ghost ship.

Allowing yourself
to become apprehensive

can only be counterproductive,
Lieutenant.

I'm not being apprehensive,
Tuvok.

I'm just nervous as hell.

This is one of the access nodes.

If we can get it operational,

I should be able to tap
into the main data systems.

Tuvok...

there should be a compatible
micro-power conduit

somewhere in that module.

Connect it to this generator.

Lieutenant.

It's dead.

As far as we can tell,

all activity on the Borg ship
ceased abruptly five years ago.

Our scans have detected
1,100 corpses.

We located a breached
section of the vessel

where the spatial
vacuum preserved

several of the bodies perfectly.

We brought one aboard.

We're hoping that an autopsy

might give us some clue
as to what killed them.

The question is:

Why have the Borg
left one of their ships

and all its technology adrift
in space for anyone to find?

It is possible that
the deactivation of the ship

and its systems

severed the link
with the rest of the collective.

But what caused the shutdown
in the first place?

It could've been some kind
of natural disaster...

or...

Or what?

Maybe the Borg were defeated
by an enemy

even more powerful
than they were.

Tuvok, continue scanning
for any Borg vessels

in the vicinity,

as well as any other ships
that might be more powerful.

B'Elanna, you and the Doctor
get started on that autopsy.

In the meantime,
I think it would be a good idea

to rendezvous
with Commander Chakotay

a little ahead of schedule,

and let him know we've
run into some old friends.

Hello? Anybody there?

Riley?

Riley?

What are you?

Are you Borg?

We were Borg.

You mean you weren't
just kidnapped,

you were assimilated
by the collective.

At Wolf 359.

I was a Science Officer
aboard the Roosevelt

But five years ago,

our cube was damaged
by an electrokinetic storm.

The next thing we knew,

our link to the collective
was severed.

We were free.

We could think
for ourselves again,

remember our names,

where we'd come from.

It was like waking up
from a long nightmare.

We took what we
thought we could use,

and transported ourselves here.

Everything was new again--
the sounds of our own voices,

forgotten memories,
the taste of food.

Our original skin pigmentation
began to come back.

Many of us were able to remove
our Borg appendages.

I was even lucky enough

to get a prosthetic arm
Orum created,

using Borg replication
equipment.

In spite of how little we had,
it was a joyous, hopeful time.

And then?

After the euphoria wore off,

people started looking around,

and found they were living
among other cultures

they didn't understand--

or worse, species
they'd been taught to hate.

They turned against one another.

Things became chaotic.

The fighting, the raids...

But we're not all like that.

Everything I told you
about forming a cooperative,

building a new society--
I meant it.

Riley's telling the truth,
Commander Chakotay.

Look at me-- I was Romulan.

I was taught to hate
humans, the Federation--

but Riley and I are friends now.

I'm part of the cooperative.

Orum's our medic.

He's the one who examined you.

Why didn't you tell me all this
in the first place?

I know how people feel
about the Borg,

and they're right.

We did terrible things.

You'd been assimilated.

You weren't in control
of your actions.

Then you'll still help us?

I think, right now,

it's Commander Chakotay
who needs our help.

Captain's Log, supplemental.

We've detected a message buoy

launched
from Chakotay's shuttle

and are heading toward it.

The autopsy of the Borg corpse
is underway.

I must say, there's nothing
like the vacuum of space

for preserving
a handsome corpse.

Hmm...

Subject's abdominal organs
are unremarkable.

Pulmonary system
exhibits evidence

of extensive alveolar damage,
as well as a slight swelling

consistent
with exposure to space...

Ah...

In addition, there are signs

of severe cardiac
depolarization.

It sounds like
he was electrocuted.

Very good, Kes.

That would support our theory

about what happened
aboard their ship.

We think that their main power
conduits were overloaded

by a massive
electro-mechanical discharge.

Hmm...

This is intriguing.

What do you think that is?

It may be some sort
of axonal amplifier.

Kes, hand me a cortical probe.

Shut it down!

What the hell happened?

Is it still alive?

Of course not.

Apparently,
I inadvertently activated

a backup neuroelectric
power cell.

The response
was purely autonomic.

There's no reason for concern.

I wouldn't be so sure
about that.

What do you mean?

That "autonomic response"
caused this drone

to reset back
to its original programming.

If the rest of those corpses
somehow reactivate--

we'd have a major problem
on our hands.

I'm afraid he's getting worse.

There must be something
we can do for him.

You know better than anyone

how limited our
medical resources are.

As far as I'm concerned,
there is only one option.

Would it be safe?

Would... what be safe?

As I'm sure you're aware,

the Borg collective
consciousness

is extremely powerful.

It allowed us to transfer
information instantaneously--

to think with one mind.

But what you may not be aware of

is the link also has
inherent medical applications.

M-m-medical applications?

We were connected
by a continuous

neuroelectric field
that was capable of regenerating

the damaged components
of an injured Borg.

Think of it
as a subspace transfusion.

Only instead of one person
giving blood,

there are hundreds,
perhaps thousands, of donors

simultaneously transmitting
neuroelectric energy

to whoever needed it.

This process
was often successful

in healing both organic
and inorganic body parts.

This is all... very fascinating,

but I don't see how it helps me.

We still have Borg
neural processors implanted

in our nervous systems.

Removing them
would've killed us.

I see.

Using a portable
neuro-transponder,

we have the ability
to relink our brain patterns.

I thought you said
the link was severed.

It was.

But we can reinitiate it

among a small group,
for a short time.

We could generate
a neuroelectric field

that could heal your injuries.

You want to... hook up my mind
to some... Borg collective?

No, no, that's not it at all.

We'd be in complete control.

You'd simply be linked,
for a limited period of time,

to Riley, me, and a few
of the others in our group

willing to help you.

I'm not letting anyone implant

some neural processor
in my brain.

That wouldn't be necessary.

I'd simply attach
a small neuro-transceiver

to the base of your skull.

We'd initiate the link,
and the transceiver

could be removed as soon
as the procedure was over.

I assure you, other than
repairing neural tissue,

there would be
no lasting effects.

Thanks...

but I don't think so.

I-I can see
why you're skeptical.

I would be, too.

Look around you--
Orum and I, the others--

we're individuals.

We have distinct personalities.

We're not about to turn you
into some kind of automaton.

I'll take my chances
and wait for Voyager

I'm afraid that help
may come too late, Commander.

If we don't do something

to slow the neural degradation
immediately...

you will die.

Chakotay...

you have to make a decision.

Any sign of Voyager?

No.

I can't change who we are.

I wasn't truthful with you
before, and I'm sorry,

but please, believe me
when I tell you

we only want to help you.

Orum will take every precaution.

Please?

At least let us
try and save you.

It's either that

or the happy hunting grounds,
huh?

Okay, then?

This is the neuro-transceiver.

Don't be afraid, Chakotay

We're here to help you

Open your mind to our thoughts,

and concentrate
on getting well

Hear our voices

Open your mind to our thoughts

Our collective strength
can heal you

You're safe with us

Feel the connection

We're with you

See who we are

Know us

You're not alone

Our strength is your strength

We can overcome your pain

We welcome you
into our thoughts

There's nothing to fear

We won't let you die

We're all one circle--
no beginning, no end

Grandpa!

How do you feel?

Don't worry.
It's gone.

It looks like
the treatment worked.

Orum says the degraded tissue
has shown marked improvement.

It was incredible.

I know.

I heard all of you--
your thoughts inside my head--

as if they were my thoughts.

And I could see myself...

through your eyes.

Then you must have
caught me staring.

I saw...

faces... planets...

What were they?

Images from the minds of
the people who linked with you.

Members of their families,
their homes...

I know things
about all of them...

about you.

You like bluebonnets.

My favorite flower.

You used to pick them

back home in Texas with a man
who carried a walking stick.

My grandfather.

I know so much about you.

We shared
a very rare experience.

I felt that.

What about this?

It's a residual effect
from the link.

How long will it last?

An hour.

Maybe two.

Long enough.

Can you still hear
what l'm thinking?

Yes.

Then you know l want to be
closer to you

l want us to know
everything about each other

l want you to feel
everything l feel

According to the buoy,

Commander Chakotay
and Ensign Kaplan

landed on the surface
in response

to a distress call
three days ago.

Can you locate the shuttle?

There is no sign of it
anywhere on the planet.

What about their combadges?

I'm only picking up one signal.

It's
in a heavily populated region.

Signal's very weak.

Voyager to Commander Chakotay.

Do you read?

Ensign Kaplan,
this is Captain Janeway.

Come in.

Electrodynamic turbulence
from the nebula

is interfering
with the transmission.

It's going to take me
a while to clear it up.

Hand me that hyper-spanner.

There.

That should at least get

the short-range
transmitters operational.

Now, if we can get

the signal amplifiers
on line...

I never would've figured you

to be quite so handy
with a circuitry panel.

Well, I guess
you haven't learned

everything about me, have you?

Commander, I just wanted to say
how grateful to you we all are.

You're the ones
who saved my life.

But you've added so much
to the cooperative--

a renewed sense of hope,
an infusion of energy.

You have no idea
how invigorating it was

to have a new mind in the link,

even if it was only
for a short time.

There have been so few of us
for so long, I...

Well, I'll let you two
get back to work.

I was so resistant
to being linked.

Now I'm almost sorry it's over.

I know.

Last night, when we
were still connected,

I realized what it is
you really want from us.

It's more than just supplies
and security upgrades.

That's right.

It's a pretty radical concept.

Sometimes radical problems
require radical solutions.

Riley!
Commander Chakotay!

We've detected a ship in orbit.

It must be Voyager

I hope you'll at least
discuss our idea

with your Captain.

Why don't you tell her
about it yourself?

We've given it
a great deal of thought,

and we believe the solution
to our problem

is to reestablish
the neural link

among all the former Borg
living on the planet.

You can't be serious.

I know it sounds extreme,
Captain,

but I think you
should hear her out.

All right.

If you'll think about it,
Captain,

when we were linked,
we had no ethnic conflict.

There was no crime, no hunger,
no health problems.

We lived
as one harmonious family.

With all due respect,
Dr. Frazier,

you were "one harmonious family"

bent on the violent assimilation
of innocent cultures.

But we're not Borg anymore,
and we've learned from our past.

All we want to do
is to take the one good thing

that existed in the midst
of all that horror--

our unique ability to cooperate
and problem-solve--

and use it to create a safe
and productive community.

Tell me how, exactly.

The neuro-transponder
we've built

is only powerful enough
to link a small group of people,

like the one that helped heal
Chakotay's wounds.

In any case,
the effect is only temporary.

In order to reconnect the
entire population permanently,

we'd need a much bigger
neuroelectric field generator.

I'm afraid we don't have
anything like that.

But the Borg cube does.

What they're asking us to do

is reactivate that ship's
neuroelectric generator

and redirect it
toward the planet.

They want us to reactivate...
a Borg ship?

Not the whole ship,
just the generator.

And it only needs to be
operational for a few minutes,

in order to reactivate
the link.

There's no telling
what would happen

if we turned on one of those
generators, even for an instant.

For all we know, it would
attract other Borg vessels.

Captain, I can assure you,
we'd take every precaution.

Dr. Frazier,
I admire your tenacity.

I respect your courage.

I'll give you medical supplies.

I'll assist you
with upgrading your security.

I'll even take
some of you with us,

if you want to come.

But as to what you're proposing,

I have to tell you,
I'm extremely skeptical.

In fairness, however,

I will give it
some further thought.

Thank you.

What do you think?

If you're asking me
whether or not she's sincere,

I have to say yes.

You got to know them very well?

That's an understatement.

I heard their thoughts,
felt their feelings,

saw through their eyes.

And, in all the time
you were linked,

you never sensed
anything negative--

no hidden agenda,
no destructive intent?

No.

Bottom line:

Do you think we should do
what they're asking?

I really care about what happens
to these people.

So, in my heart, I'd like to do
everything we can to help them.

But, if I were sitting
in your chair,

I'd have to take other
considerations into account.

Not only would it mean
imposing a choice

on thousands of people who had
no voice in the decision,

but it would also be taking
a terrible risk.

Helping to create
a new collective?

Who knows what
the repercussions might be?

I'll let Riley know.

I'm afraid
her decision was final.

I wish it weren't,
but I expected as much.

What about the raiders?

How long do you think you
can hold out against them?

Well, we'll just have to do
the best we can.

Who knows, maybe we'll find some
other way to get to the cube

and reinitiate the link.

Come with us.

Chakotay...

We could replicate
some Texas barbecue.

I'm sure it won't
compare to your mother's,

but I think it...

Don't think it's not tempting.

But my place is here.

I know you understand.

I've never understood
anyone better in my life.

Well, we're finished
laying in the supplies.

Thank you, Neelix.

Uh, we'd better get going.

You okay?

What you need is a good
thrashing on the hoverball court

to take your mind off things.

You're on.

Good. I'll reserve
some holodeck time

as soon as we're back.

Chakotay, can you hear us?

Did you say something?

No.

Are you getting
a com transmission?

No. Why?

Must've been my imagination.

You sure you're okay?

I'm fine.

Chakotay, we need your help

Chakotay?

We need your help

I'm going to tell the Doctor

he needs to take a look at you
as soon as we're back.

Torres to Sick Bay.

Don't do that.

Chakotay, give me the phaser.

Captain,
Commander Chakotay's shuttle

has changed course.

Try hailing them.

No response.

They are increasing speed
to maximum impulse.

Tom, lay in a pursuit course.

Tell Neelix we'll rendezvous
with his shuttle later.

Chakotay,
transport to module 47 omega

The bunker is under attack

47 omega

Section nine, mark coordinates

We are under attack

Nine alpha alpha

We must hurry

The bunker is under attack

47 omega

Section 9

Mark coordinates

We are under attack

Proceed to interlink console
three beta six

Hear our thoughts

Our thoughts are one

lnterlink three beta six

Proceed to interlink console
three beta six

Hear our thoughts

Check that area out.

This way.

Lower right panel,
attach power conduit 166

Hurry

Pathway pi two

We are under attack

Pathway pi two

Activate
the neuroelectric generator

Quickly

Power circuit mechanism

Activate the generator

Help us

We must activate the
neuroelectric generator now

Chakotay, need your help

Losing time

Commander, take your hand
away from that console

or I will be forced to fire.

You must not let them stop you

You must do this

You must move power circuit
mechanism alpha

to position one

Hear our voices

We welcome you
into our thoughts

Feel the connection

Mr. Kim.

Voyager, emergency beam-out.

Chakotay, B'Elanna
and the away team are all back,

and we've tractored in
the shuttle.

Take us out of here slowly.

Captain, the Borg ship
is powering weapons.

Mr. McKenzie, full power
to the shields.

Arm all phaser banks
and prepare to fire.

Captain, the Borg ship

has initiated
a self-destruct sequence.

It'll go in three seconds.

Get us out of here.

Report.

Shields are holding.

No injuries or hull damage.

What the hell
happened back there?

Audio transmission, Captain.

From the planet's surface.

Let's hear it.

We are the new cooperative.

We have destroyed the Borg cube.

We regret that we forced
Commander Chakotay to assist us,

but it was necessary
for our survival.

His link with the cooperative
has now been severed.

Our lasting gratitude.

His neuropeptide levels
have returned to normal.

And there are no
residual traces of the link?

None.

How were they able
to reestablish the connection?

My best guess is that
the residual neuropeptides

heightened
his telepathic receptivity.

I thought their limited
equipment made it impossible

for them to form the link
over great distances.

Apparently, once they repaired
their communications array,

they were able to use it
to amplify the signal

from their neural transponder.

Would you two please excuse us?

I don't know what to say,
except... I'm sorry.

Based on what
the Doctor's told us,

it's clear you were acting
against your will.

Maybe so.

But somehow that doesn't
make me feel any better.

I helped them repair
their communications array,

and I told you
they were sincere.

Helping others, Chakotay,
that's part of who you are.

Given everything you believe in,

I don't see how you could've
behaved differently.

But I couldn't have been more
wrong about them, could I?

I don't know.

I'm not saying I'm happy
about what happened.

But, so far, they haven't acted
like typical Borg.

They saved us from that cube,

and they let you go.

But they didn't hesitate

to impose
their collective will on me

when it served their interests,
did they?

No, they didn't.

I wonder how long
their ideals will last

in the face
of that kind of power?