Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 7, Episode 2 - Imperfection - full transcript

Captain's Log, Stardate 54129.4.

lt's a bittersweet day
for the crew of Voyager.

We've finally found a home

for some
of our most precious cargo.

Thank you again for taking care
of them, Captain.

We're very grateful.

We're just glad
that Rebi and Azan will have

a chance to grow up
with their own people

and that you've been kind enough
to let Mezoti join them.

You can still come with us.

And you can still
stay on Voyager.



Adapting to your absence
will be difficult.

l'll miss you, too.

lt's time.

l've been studying
all available data

relevant to this species,
as you recommended.

Familiarizing yourself
with their culture

will help you adapt.

On Wysanti, it's customary
not to say good-bye,

but l think l prefer
the human way.

Energize.

We should deactivate
the children's alcoves.

Right now?

They're a drain
on Voyager's power reserves.

ls there a problem?



lt just seems like

an insufficient amount
of time has passed.

You're having
an emotional response

to the children's departure.

They'll be fine.

We should be happy for them.

Seven?

Yes?

You're crying.

My ocular implant
must be malfunctioning.

Crying is nothing
to be ashamed of, Seven.

You should have seen me

the first time l heard
Puccini's Tosca in the holodeck.

l sobbed through
the entire third act.

You're a hologram.
You can't cry.

Ordinarily,
but Lieutenant Torres

enhanced
my emotional subroutines,

so l could truly appreciate
the performance.

Then your reaction
was the result

of a technological enhancement,

just as mine was the result
of a technological malfunction.

Saying good-bye to the children
was a traumatic experience.

Crying was a normal response.

Except that l was

in complete control
of my emotions.

Hmm. lt seems
l owe you an apology.

According to this,
your tears were the result

of a glitch in your
primary cortical node.

Have you experienced any
other malfunctions lately?

Headache? Dizziness?
Diminished motor function?

No.

Really?

Then you won't mind if l check

the bio-monitors in your alcove
just to be sure?

l've experienced
an occasional headache.

Why didn't you come to see me?

The malfunctions have
not affected my work.

Seven, if you're
having problems,

you need to let me know.

lf it'll make you feel better,

l'll be more forthcoming
in the future.

You're all heart.

l'll schedule
some follow-up tests

and make my report
to the Captain.

l'd prefer to keep this
between us.

l don't want
to worry the Captain.

We've always kept her informed
of your medical needs.

lt was my understanding
that all members of this crew

have the right to doctor-patient
confidentiality.

lf you want to keep
this between us,

that's where it'll stay.

Have you finished charting
the nebula in Sector 949?

Several hours ago.

l've been thinking.

While l'm grateful
for the opportunity

to assist you in Astrometrics,

l'd like to take on
more challenging assignments.

l can assign you
additional diagnostics.

That's not what l meant.

l want to work on the Bridge.

You don't have
the proper training.

That's why l'd like to take

the entrance exam
for Starfleet Academy.

l could forward it to Earth

in the next
datastream transmission.

lf l pass, l could take
the basic classes

from Commander Tuvok.

He was an instructor
at the Academy.

Your plan is ambitious.

Then you think it's a good idea?

You could take
the classes with me.

Earn your own commission.

l believe l've
already assimilated

enough Starfleet training.

l'll need a letter of
recommendation from the Captain.

l'll speak to her.

l have work to complete
in the cargo bay.

Can you finish here?

Of course.

Computer, initiate
regeneration cycle.

Unable to comply.

Why?

The interface is incompatible.

Run a diagnostic of Alcove 01.

Diagnostic complete.

Alcove 01 is operating
within normal parameters.

lnitiate regeneration cycle.

Unable to comply.

Clarify.

Your cortical node
is malfunctioning.

Seven. l didn't see you.

l was just leaving.

Before breakfast?

What time is it?

0500.

Don't tell me you've
been here all night.

l was unable to regenerate.

Anything on your mind?

My alcove is malfunctioning.

Well, you should ask B'Elanna
to take a look at it.

l didn't want to wake her.

What's all this?

Nutritional supplements.

l thought they would compensate.

Your own recipe?

lt's a mixture
of metabolic enzymes

and protein extract.

Let me make you one
of my Talaxian omelets.

lt may not have as many enzymes,
but it'll taste better.

That won't be necessary.

l think l'll take your advice
and wake Lieu...

Lieutenant...

Seven!

Neelix to Sick Bay.

Medical emergency.

You lost consciousness
in the Mess Hall.

Your body's begun
to reject your implants.

l'm afraid it's a result
of that glitch we found

in your cortical node.

Apparently, it's more
serious than we thought.

The node is destabilizing.

lt's no longer able
to regulate your implants.

They're shutting down
one by one.

When you've disconnected
implants in the past,

l've always adapted.

Minor implants--

an assimilation tubule here,

a few nanoprobes there--

nothing crucial
to your human physiology,

but these implants control
your vital functions.

And without my cortical node
to regulate them, l'll die.

Correct?

Borg technology
is highly adaptive.

My cortical node
will repair itself in time.

l don't think so, Seven.

lf anything, the deterioration
is accelerating.

You'll have to stay here
for observation.

l think l've been
sufficiently observed.

Would you excuse us, please?

l'm sorry for what's happening.

You have every right
to be angry,

but that isn't going to
help us solve this problem.

The node will correct itself.

Suppose it doesn't?

For the sake of argument.

ls it possible
to replicate a new one?

The technology is too complex.

What if this had happened

when you were part
of the collective?

How would the Borg have
repaired the damage?

They wouldn't have.

Trying to repair a node
would be a futile exercise.

The Borg would simply
replace it.

Harry, we passed
a Borg debris field

six or seven days ago

just outside
the Yontasa Expanse.

See if you can find it
on long-range sensors.

Yes, ma'am.

lt's not every day
we go looking for the Borg.

What's up?

Seven needs a new cortical node.

Captain, need l remind you

the Borg often return
to salvage damaged cubes.

lt's a risk l'm willing to take.

l want to help Seven
as much as anyone,

but if we're not careful,

we'll all end up
with cortical nodes.

That's why l'm taking
the Flyer alone.

l've located the debris field.

Transmit the coordinates
to the Flyer.

You have the Bridge, Commander.

With all due respect...

the last time you took
the Delta Flyer

to confront the Borg,

it ended up
in a couple thousand pieces.

l intend to bring it back
in one piece this time.

A good pilot might be
able to help you do that.

Particularly if he's accompanied

by an experienced
Tactical Officer.

You shouldn't do this
by yourself, Captain.

Well, then, gentlemen,
l guess you're with me.

Captain.

l'll meet you
in the Shuttle Bay.

Have you talked to Seven?

Just a few minutes ago.

And you don't approve.

Of what?

My request.

Request?

l'm sure Seven will
discuss it with you

when she has the chance.

l'm sorry l bothered you.

Obviously, no one's told you.

Told me what?

Seven isn't well.

What's wrong with her?

Her cortical node is failing.

Her cortical node?

She's going to die.

Not if we find a new node.

We're on our way to search
a Borg debris field.

l have experience
in Borg technology.

Let me come with you.

l appreciate the offer,
but it's too dangerous.

l'm willing to take the risk.

l'm not willing to let you.

l'll let you know how we did
as soon as we're back.

Don't worry.

Seven?

Why are you here?

The Captain told me
you were ill.

l'm fine.

Then why are you in Sick Bay?

That's not your concern.

You have work to complete.

Report to Astrometrics.

l've finished my work.

Then l'll assign you more.

ls there a problem?

l wish to be alone.

Come with me, please.

Why is she so angry with me?

She's not angry with you.

She's just angry.

l don't understand.

lt's a common response
to serious illness.

She's frustrated
to be confined,

embarrassed
to appear vulnerable.

She shouldn't be
embarrassed in front of me.

l'm her friend.

And her pupil.

She doesn't want you
or anyone else to see her

when she's not at her best.

lt's not her fault
that she's sick.

Of course not,

but we have to allow
her to deal with this

in her own way...

with as much dignity
as possible.

Give her time.

She may decide

she wants company,
and if she does,

you're the first person
l'll call.

l have isolated a section

that contains the bodies
of approximately 37 drones.

37 doesn't sound
approximate to me.

These drones were killed
in an explosion.

There are only a few
left intact.

Looks like there's still a
breathable atmosphere inside.

Any sign of active Borg ships
in the vicinity?

Nothing on sensors.

Huh.
That could change in a hurry.

Run continuous scans.

Yes, ma'am.

Tuvok, here.

Help me get this off him.

No apparent damage
to the cortical node.

Captain, you've got company.

There's a ship...

Two to beam out.

Delta Flyer, respond.

Three humanoids have just
transported aboard this vessel.

Drones?

The only drones here are dead...

and they belong to us.

Who are you?

Captain Kathryn Janeway
of the Starship Voyager.

This is my debris field,
Captain.

We weren't aware of that.

What have you taken?

A cortical node.

We need it to save
one of my crew.

Everything here belongs to us.

Put down your weapons,
and l'll consider

not activating
this laser scalpel.

Sorry about the delay.

They knocked
our transporters off-line.

l need you at tactical!

When l bring us around,
target their engine core.

Aye, sir.

Nice shot.

They're breaking pursuit.

May l ask what you're doing?

Your filing system
is inefficient.

l'm implementing a new one.

You should be in bed.

Delivery for Seven of Nine.

Tarcanian wildflowers.

Cheery, don't you think?

Ah. Well,
if you prefer gladiolas,

l could go back
to the Airponics Bay.

That won't be necessary,
Mr. Neelix.

The flowers are lovely,
aren't they, Seven?

Thank you.

l'll admire them later.

Actually, l thought
l'd stay and keep you company.

Uh, Seven prefers not to
have visitors right now.

Not even a visitor
with a Kadis-Kot board?

Correct.

But it's your favorite game.

Personally...

l can't blame her.

You're being
extremely insensitive.

l am?

You know perfectly very well
Seven is in a weakened state.

She wouldn't stand
a chance against you.

You're right.

l-l don't know
what l was thinking.

We'll play later
when you're feeling up to it.

Green.

l beg your pardon?

l prefer the green pieces.

You'll use red.

Doctor, do you think
she's up to it?

As long as you go easy on her.

Janeway to the Doctor.

Yes, Captain.

We're back,
and we have the node.

l'm ready to disengage
the damaged node.

Transfer Seven's cortical
functions to the computer.

Understood.

Done.

lnitiating the extraction.

Vital functions are stable.

-Time?
-20 seconds.

Not yet.

l have to realign
her primary neurodes first.

The computer can't maintain her
cortical functions much longer.

Ready.

Her neural relays
are going to destabilize

in ten seconds, nine...

Almost finished.

Eight, seven,

six, five...

Transfer Seven's cortical
functions to the new node.

Something's wrong.

She's going into
anaphylactic shock.

Her implants aren't adapting.

They're rejecting the new node.

She's losing synaptic cohesion.

Apply a 20 millijoule
neurostatic pulse on my mark.

Now.

No effect.

Again.

lncrease the pulse.
30 millijoules.

Computer, end simulation.

Why did you stop?

lt wasn't working.

Run it again.

Captain, this was
our 12th simulation.

Something tells me 13
won't be our lucky number.

The salvaged node has
been inactive too long.

Then we'll find one that hasn't.

No matter how many debris
fields we sift through,

a node from a dead drone
isn't going to work.

Who said anything
about a dead drone?

What's that supposed to mean?

We've infiltrated
Borg vessels before.

lf that's what it's going
to take to save Seven,

we'll do it again.

Are you suggesting ending
one life to save another?

l'm not giving up on her.

Neither am l!

l'll do everything
in my power to help her,

but we both have
to face the possibility

that it may not be enough.

Red. Grid 13-3.

They should've finished
the simulation by now.

l'm sure they'll let you know
as soon as they do.

Your move.

Don't you have more
important duties to attend to?

Nothing that can't wait.

Despite
what the Doctor told you,

l feel perfectly fine.

Really?

Because it looks to me
like you're about to lose.

Kadis-Kot.

l should've seen that coming.

Oh, well, that makes what, uh,

16 to 3, your lead?

16 to 2.

Oh, my mistake.

Oh, uh...
well, l should really see

how things are going
in the Mess Hall...

but l'll be back later
for a rematch.

Are you ready to proceed?

According to the simulations,

the salvaged node
isn't going to work.

l'm sorry.

l'm still researching
alternative treatments,

and Harry and B'Elanna are going
to try to repair the faulty node

using components
from your alcove.

They'll fail.

We're not giving up hope.

Neither should you.

With your permission,

l'd like to return to my duties.

That's not possible.

l need to monitor
your condition.

Captain?

l'm afraid l have
to defer to the Doctor.

lf you'd like, l can ask lcheb
to bring some of your work here.

Doctor?

Computer, locate the Doctor.

The EMH is off-line.

Activate the EMH.

...forced to sedate you!

Doctor?

l'm sorry, lcheb.

l wasn't talking to you.

Where's Seven?

l wish l knew.

When l refused to release her,

she overrode my
autonomy protocols...

in the middle of a sentence,
no less.

Computer, locate Seven of Nine.

Seven of Nine is in Sick Bay.

He's looking for you...

the Doctor.

l ran into him in the corridor.

He's about 30 seconds away
from calling a shipwide alert.

Are you going to tell him
where l am?

Nope. l know what it's like
to be stuck in Sick Bay.

l've escaped the Doctor myself
once or twice.

Thank you.

Anytime.

Lieutenant...

when you die,

do you believe your spirit
will go to Sto-Vo-Kor?.

You shouldn't be thinking
about dying.

According to the Doctor's
simulations,

any attempt to adapt
the salvaged node will fail.

Sto-Vo-Kor, Lieutenant...

do you believe you'll go there?

l guess it all depends
on how honorable my death is.

But you do believe
there's something after death?

l hope so.

What about you?

The Borg have no concept
of an afterlife.

However, when a drone
is deactivated,

its memories continue to reside

in the collective's
consciousness.

As long as the hive exists,
so will a part of that drone.

You don't seem to take
much comfort in that.

My link to the collective

has been severed
for nearly four years.

lf l die,

everything that l've
accomplished in that time,

everything l achieved
as an individual,

will be lost.

My memories, my experiences...

it will be as if they...

as if l never existed.

l think you're
a little more memorable

than you're giving
yourself credit for.

You don't need the collective
to validate your existence.

You've made an impact
on every member of this crew.

That's your legacy.

There you are.

l should have known
she'd be the one

to harbor a fugitive.

We difficult patients
need to stick together.

l want you to return
to Sick Bay immediately.

Have you devised
a new treatment?

Not yet.

Then it's best
that l don't distract you

from finding one.

Seven, if you continue
to exert yourself,

your condition will
only deteriorate more rapidly.

ls that what you want?

What l want is to be useful.

l really could use her help.

l promise
not to let her overdo it.

You can stay, provided
you wear this cortical monitor.

Thank you.

Are you feeling better?

My condition is unchanged.

l've spoken to the Captain

about your desire
to apply to Starfleet Academy.

She's agreed to administer
the entrance exam

before we send
the next datastream to Earth.

lt's a list of crewmen
who can help you study.

Lieutenant Torres is
extremely well-versed

in warp mechanics.

Ensign Kim claims to have aced
the quantum theory section.

What about astrometrics?

You know more about astrometrics
than most Starfleet officers.

Still, l'll need someone
to review the material with me.

l'll ask Lieutenant Paris
to set aside some time.

l'd rather study with you.

You've become
too dependent on me.

You must learn
to rely on others.

And if l don't want to?

What you want is irrelevant.

Why are you acting like this?

ls it because
you think you're dying?

l am dying.

l'm sorry.

You may have given up,
but l haven't.

l know how to save her.

l'm certainly open
to suggestions.

l've been analyzing
the simulations you performed.

They failed because
you tried to implement

a cortical node
from a dead drone.

That's correct.

What you require
is a live drone.

l've already been through that
with Captain Janeway.

My cortical node is operational.

l want you to remove it
and give it to Seven.

Absolutely not!

Well, at least
review my research.

lt may as well be
a suicide note.

l don't agree.

Well, that's comforting.

You took these scans of me
when l left the collective.

By your own estimation,

l emerged
from my maturation chamber

before l was fully assimilated.

As a result, my physiology

is less dependent
on my implants.

They still regulate
many of your vital functions.

What about my age?

l'm younger, so it
should be easier

for my body
to adapt to the loss.

You're obviously too young

to understand
the risks involved.

l understand the risks
perfectly.

lf we continue to do
nothing, Seven will die.

And if we proceed
with your idea,

you could both die!

According to my research,

there's an 86.9 percent chance

that Seven's implants
will adapt to my node.

''Eighty-six...''

Point nine.

And what about you?

Without a cortical node,

how will you regulate
your implants?

You should be able to compensate
with genetic resequencing.

This isn't suicide, Doctor.

l believe it can work.

All l ask is that you
consider it.

Earth's biggest ditch.

That's what my father
used to call it.

We hiked the north rim
when l was nine.

lt's an impressive
geological formation.

Too dusty. l've always preferred
farm country myself.

Bloomington, lndiana,
your hometown.

You've mentioned it
on several occasions.

So, what do you think?

lt appears to be
a pleasant environment.

When we get to Earth,
l'll take you there.

lt's more likely

this crew will reach Earth
without me.

You don't know that.

You refuse to acknowledge
the severity of my condition,

just as l did at first.

Are you giving up?

l'm merely accepting reality.

lf l'd accepted reality
six years ago,

l'd have settled
on the first M-Class planet

we came across.

lnstead, l'm 30,000
light-years closer

to Bloomington, lndiana.

Minus several members
of your crew.

Ensign Marie Kaplan,

Ensign Lyndsay Ballard,
Crewman Timothy Lang...

ls there a point to this?

Every person on this list
died under your command.

You accepted their deaths,

but l don't believe
you'll accept mine.

That's presumptuous.

l'm not being egotistical.

On the contrary,
l'm trying to make a point.

Which is?

All of these crew members
came to Voyager

with unique personalities,

but l have required
your constant assistance

to develop my individuality.

And you've come a long way.

But not far enough.

l've disappointed you.

You feel your task
is incomplete.

That's why my death will be
difficult for you to accept.

ls that what you think?

That you haven't lived up
to my expectations?

Clearly, l haven't,

but l want you to know

that the failure
has been mine, not yours.

You haven't failed, Seven.

You've exceeded my expectations.

You've become an individual,

an extraordinary individual.

lf l'm having trouble
accepting your condition,

it's only because l don't
want to lose a friend.

Doctor to the Captain.
l need to see you

and Seven right away.

lt would be
a complicated procedure.

No doubt.

But you believe it'll work.

There are significant
risks involved...

to Seven and lcheb,

but if you're asking
me if it's possible,

l'd have to say yes.

What sort of precautions...?

No matter how many
precautions you take,

it's not worth
the risk to lcheb.

Seven, this could work.

l'm not willing
to extend my life

at the cost of yours.

But you haven't
reviewed all the data.

As long as there is any chance

you won't survive,
the data is irrelevant.

l'd like to return
to Sick Bay now.

As you wish.

You're the Captain.

You could order her to do it.

l have to respect her wishes.

Even if it kills her?

l want to help her
just as much as you do.

lf that were true,
you wouldn't let her die.

ls there anything l can bring
from the Cargo Bay

to make you feel more at home?

No, thank you.

Something from the Mess Hall?

A piece of fruit?

Are you offering me
my last meal?

l... o-of course not.

ls that what you thought?

l was attempting
to lighten the mood.

Ah, yes.
Well done.

lcheb to the Doctor.

Report to Cargo Bay 2
immediately.

He's persistent.

Not to worry.

l'll make it clear to him
that persistence is futile.

You were summoned, too?

lcheb doesn't seem
to have grasped

the chain of command yet.

Remind you of anyone we know?

lcheb!

He's disengaged
his cortical node!

How?

My alcove...

l programmed it
to disconnect my neural relays.

Can you reconnect them?

He's locked me out
of the controls.

How could you do this?

lt was the only way
l could prove to you

that it would work.

What's wrong with him?

lcheb decided to perform
a little operation

on himself.

You have to reconnect
his node immediately.

l intend to.

No. lf Seven can refuse
treatment, so can l.

We don't have time for this.

Well, then, check your scans.

You'll see l'm already adapting.

Some of your implants
have adapted, but not all.

Then apply the resequencing
technique l researched.

This debate is pointless.

l won't accept the node.

And l won't keep it.

Someone had better
use the damn thing.

lf it stays
disconnected much longer,

it won't do either
of you any good.

You're acting like a child.

l'm trying to save your life.

Only because you've grown
too dependent on me.

So you think l need to learn
to rely on other people?

-Yes.
-What about you?

You've refused to rely
on a single member of this crew.

You hid your condition
from the rest of us.

You deactivated the Doctor,

and now
you're rejecting my help.

You're the one who needs
to rely on others.

lsn't that what people
on this ship do?

They help each other?

Whenever we can.

lf the Captain were dying,

you'd risk your life to
save her, wouldn't you?

And when you respond
to a distress call,

you're risking the life
of everyone on this ship

to respond to the aid
of strangers.

He's right.

Captain, he's just a child.

l don't think he is...

not anymore.

Doctor.

Don't look at me.

Please.

Just let us help you.

Let's begin.

Good morning.

How long have l
been regenerating?

Six days.

We needed to make sure
your implants

had completely adapted
to the new node.

The good news is they have.

lcheb.

His road to recovery

has been a little bumpier
than yours.

Has he suffered
any permanent damage?

l don't think so.

He's been experiencing
some pain,

but l believe it's temporary.

Pain l caused him.

Pain he was willing to endure.

You've recovered.

l expect the same from you.

The Doctor wants
to keep me here another week,

but l'm sure l'll be back
on my feet in half that time.

l suggest you get
as much rest as you can.

You're going to need it.

Why?

l've decided
to help you prepare

for the astrometrics portion
of the Academy exam.

You can expect a rigorous
and grueling schedule.

Seven...

Yes.

Your ocular implant--

it's malfunctioning again.

Actually...

it's functioning perfectly.