Star Trek: The Next Generation

Captain's log, star date 45854.2.

The Enterprise is charting the six star systems of the Argolis Cluster,

an area being considered for colonization.

Very impressive.

It's beautiful. But frightening at the same time.

I am detecting a transmission from within the system.

- What sort of signal? - It is self-repeating.

- Of unknown pattern. - Where is it from?

A small moon orbiting the fourth planet.

- Life signs? - Indeterminate.

I am attempting to screen out sensor interference.

Readings are inconclusive, but the moon's atmosphere can support life.

It could be a distress call.

Helm, take us into transport range.

Dr Crusher, transporter room two with a Medical team.

Acknowledged.

I'm reading one life form. Very weak signs.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds,...

..to seek out new life and new civilizations,...

..to boldly go where no one has gone before.

- Riker to Enterprise. - Go ahead, Number One.

We've found the wreckage of a craft.

One survivor. It's a Borg. Male. Adolescent. He's badly hurt.

Sir, there is no other Borg activity within sensor range.

Prepare to return to the ship.

We can't leave him here. He won't survive.

- The Captain understands that. - I don't.

The Borg collect their dead.

He's not dead! At least not yet.

The transmission was probably a homing signal.

They may be on their way.

Let me at least stabilize him. Give him a chance.

Your concern is noted, Doctor.

But any intervention would alert the Borg to our having been there.

We've turned that corner already.

Kill it now. Make it appear it died in the crash.

Leave no evidence that we were ever here.

Security measures must be taken before we beam it up.

Thank you. Standing by.

Notify Security to prepare a detention cell.

- Bridge to Engineering. - La Forge.

We're bringing up a Borg. We need to neutralize the homing signal.

Prevent it from sending or receiving any transmissions.

I'll set up a subspace damping field around the detention cell.

Four more. None survived.

- Picard to Riker. - Go ahead.

We are transporting you to the detention cell.

I need him in sickbay.

The cell, Doctor. Your equipment will be brought to you there.

Very well.

Come.

Is there anything you wanted to talk about?

I don't think so, Counsellor.

I would have thought having a Borg on the ship would stir some feelings.

I'm quite recovered from my experience.

Sometimes, even when a victim has dealt with his assault,

there are residual effects of the event that linger.

You were treated violently by the Borg.

- Kidnapped, assaulted, mutilated... - Counsellor.

I very much appreciate your concern for me, but it is quite misplaced.

I have considered the implications of having a Borg on this ship.

I have weighed the possible risks,

and I am convinced we are doing the right thing.

Now, I am quite comfortable in my decision.

I see.

Well, if at any point you want to talk more...

I shall certainly avail myself of your help.

Lower the force field.

Captain, the Borg is still unconscious.

He has massive internal injuries. His brain implants were damaged.

I may have to remove them.

The Borg will die if they're removed permanently.

Their brains depend on the biochips.

Perhaps Geordi can make new implants.

They contain relatively straightforward programming.

We have the files from your experience, Captain.

I think I can manage it.

Mr. La Forge.

Do you know enough about Borg programming

to alter the pathways to their root-command structure?

I'm not sure, sir. Subroutines are complicated.

I'd probably have to study the data- processing algorithms for the codes.

If we could get to the root command,

we could introduce an invasive programming-sequence via its biochips

and return it to the hive.

Borg are interconnected. It would act like a virus.

Which would infect the entire collective.

We could disable their network at a stroke.

Infect it? You make it sound like a disease.

Quite right, Doctor.

If all goes well, a terminal one.

If this works how I think it will, it'll only be a matter of months

before total systems failure.

- Comments. - A question.

What exactly is total systems failure?

The Borg are computer dependent. A systems failure will destroy them.

We should be clear about that. We're discussing annihilating a race.

Which normally would be unconscionable.

But the Borg leave us no choice.

- I agree. We're at war. - There's been no declaration.

Not from us, but certainly from them. They attack us at every encounter.

They declared war. We are to be assimilated.

But even in war, there are rules. You don't kill civilians.

- There are no civilian Borg. - They're a single collective being.

No one Borg is more an individual than your arm or leg.

- How convenient. - Your point, Doctor?

When I look at my patient, I don't see a collective consciousness.

I see a living, breathing boy who is hurt and needs help.

We're talking about sending him back as a tool of destruction!

It comes down to this.

We face an enemy who want to destroy us

and we have no hope of negotiating a peace.

Unless that changes, we are justified in doing anything we can to survive.

- Security to Captain. - Picard here.

The Borg has regained consciousness.

Acknowledged.

We proceed with the plan.

What's he doing?

Looking for an access terminal so he can interface with the collective.

He doesn't understand that the signal is cut off.

He's emitting a homing signal and a subspace beacon,

but our damping field is blocking both signals.

He's alone. For the first time, he has to cope with his environment

without the resources of the collective.

He must be hungry.

The Borg don't ingest food.

Their implants can synthesize any organic molecules they require.

What they need is energy.

- Arrange to feed it. - Aye, sir.

I'll have to adapt a power conduit and install it in there.

If I didn't know better, I'd think he was scared.

I don't like this sport.

Last week when you scored two touches, you liked it.

Today, you were dropping your foil. You kept letting me inside.

But if I lift up, you lunge right underneath.

Let's face it, you're much better at this than I am.

I understand we have a guest on board.

Yes.

- Is that wise? - I'm not sure. I hope so.

I thought I understood you, but I don't understand this.

It was an errand of mercy. He was injured.

Dr Crusher decided for humanitarian reasons to care for him.

They're gonna come after us. You, of all people, know that.

Shall we go again?

Are you alright?

You felt sorry for me. Look what it got you.

I'll have to go in to connect the power conduit.

I will follow the Commander. Reactivate the field once we're in.

Good. Now stay that way.

Commander!

We are Borg.

You will be assimilated.

Resistance is futile.

Just look around, pal. You're hardly in a position to make any demands.

We must return to the collective.

- Who's we? - We are Borg.

Yeah, but there's only one of you.

Do you have a name? A means of identification?

Third of Five.

There were five on your ship. Is that it? Just a number?

Third of Five.

It does kind of suit you.

OK.

This is for you.

It regulates power flow to the frequency you're used to.

This connection should fit that coupling on your arm.

You're welcome.

- Let's get out of here. - Lower the force field.

He's hungry alright.

- Why do you do this? - I'm just a nice guy at heart.

- Are you feeling better? - You are not Borg.

That's right. And I hope to stay that way.

You will be assimilated.

Resistance is futile.

That's gratitude for you!

I've rationed his portions of energy. I think he understands.

When he cooperates he gets fed. If not...

Like a rat in a cage.

If I'm going to figure out his command pathways,

I need to learn how he processes data.

The only way I know how to do that is by perceptual tests.

For that, I need his cooperation.

So he can help with the destruction of his species.

- Doctor... - I know. We're at war.

I'm here to help, but I don't have to like it.

I think we're ready to transport him.

Any trouble, we can access the force field through that console.

Are you ready?

La Forge to transporter room three. We're ready here.

- We're standing by. - Energize.

Third of Five, this is Dr Crusher. Dr Crusher, this is Third of Five.

- Hello. - What is a doctor?

A doctor heals the sick and repairs the injured.

The sick and injured are reabsorbed.

Others take their place.

That isn't what happened to you. When we found you, you were dying.

- I saved your life. - Why?

It's my duty to help those who are hurt.