Infinite Regress

Seven:  

Ah. Ah! And here we are, in the much talked about Sickbay. Not exactly state of the medical art now, is it?

Doctor:  

What do you mean?

Seven:  

Well, you're low on biobeds. Terrible lighting. Obsolete instruments. Lucky for you, I know a medical supplier that can spruce this place up in a nanosecond. And I'll even drop my commission to a mere... thirty per cent.

Doctor:  

How generous of you. Computer, activate forcefield.

Seven:  

Forcefield? You said I wasn't contagious!

Doctor:  

It's for your own safety. I set the cortical stimulator to maximum...

Seven:  

I've been kidnapped!

Doctor:  

...but it is no longer suppressing the effects...

Seven:  

... ransom. Ha!

Doctor:  

...These personalities are going to keep surfacing.

Janeway:  

All the more reason to shut down the vinculum as soon as we can.

Doctor:  

Even if we do break the link, it may be too late. Seven's own neural pattern is destabilising. It could be lost.

Seven:  

Please help me. I'm looking for my son. Gregory Bergan. Lieutenant Bergan. Have you seen him?

Janeway:  

No, I'm afraid not.

Seven:  

From the Starship Melbourne.

Janeway:  

Melbourne?

Seven:  

I was supposed to meet him at Wolf 359. But Starfleet sent out a warning that the Borg were attacking that sector. It was too late for us to turn back. We were caught in a terrible battle. My ship was badly damaged, we had to leave on escape pods. I never found out what happened to Gregory. Please, I haven't heard from him in over three days. Could you check with Starfleet Headquarters?

Janeway:  

I'll see what I can do.

Seven:  

Thank you, Captain. If... if you do speak with him, could you tell him that his mother is all right and... if he could possibly-- Captain.

Janeway:  

Seven?

Seven:  

Yes. The vinculum.

Janeway:  

We're preparing to shut it down right away. I'll give the order as soon as Torres is ready.

Seven:  

How long was I absent?

Janeway:  

About twenty minutes.

Seven:  

How many?

Janeway:  

Two. One of whom wanted to acquire half the items on this ship. Damon Torrot, I believe.

Seven:  

Species 180. Ferengi.

Janeway:  

Yes. The other was a woman, whose son was lost in a Borg attack. You'll get through this, Seven.

Seven:  

I do not share your optimism. When you took me from the Borg, and began to turn me into an individual, I found the silence of my own mind difficult to bear. I missed the voices of the Collective. But now that I am an individual, those same voices frighten me. Captain, I don't know if I can tolerate this condition much longer. My courage is insufficient.

Janeway:  

Your job is to keep trying, to hold on even when you think you can't. Leave the rest to me and the crew.

Seven:  

Doctor.

Doctor:  

Seven. A necessary precaution. A few of your... guests have been violent.

Seven:  

The vinculum?

Doctor:  

It keeps adapting. We haven't been able to shut it down. Your own neural pattern was nearly destroyed in the process. I wasn't sure I'd find you again.

Seven:  

I am damaged.

Doctor:  

One of your personas didn't appreciate the restraints. She seemed intent on forcing her way to freedom.

Seven:  

I apologise.

Doctor:  

It was hardly your fault. You're ill.

Seven:  

Irrelevant. I am Borg. I should be able to adapt.

Doctor:  

Surprise. You aren't invincible. I suppose that's something we'll have to tackle in our next social lesson. The voices?

Seven:  

They're getting louder.

Doctor:  

It won't be long before I lose you again. It's my duty as your physician to inform you of an alternative treatment.

Seven:  

What treatment?

Doctor:  

Commander Tuvok has proposed a mind meld, to help stabilise your neural pattern. I had a similar reaction. If you don't approve...

Seven:  

What is the probability of success?

Doctor:  

I don't know. A mind meld is hardly a standard medical practice.

Seven:  

Are there any risks to Tuvok?

Doctor:  

He could suffer brain damage. But he's confident he'll be able to break the meld before that happens.

Seven:  

Even if we do shut down the vinculum it may not be enough. If Tuvok can do anything to help me...

Doctor:  

I understand.

Seven:  

Doctor. You have shown a great deal of patience.

Doctor:  

Not at all.

Seven:  

Inform the crew that I am also grateful for their efforts.

Doctor:  

You'll be able to tell them yourself. Afterward.

Seven:  

Ah!

Doctor:  

Seven?

Seven:  

Voices.

Doctor:  

Concentrate. Focus on the sound of my voice.

Seven:  

Get them out please. I can't... I can't... No! No! Help!

Doctor:  

Neural processor. Cortical receptors. All stable. She's fit to return to duty.

Janeway:  

What about her other personalities? Any sign of them?

Doctor:  

Those neural patterns have returned to their dormant state.

Seven:  

The voices will not return.

Doctor:  

I suppose that depends on your perspective. You may not hear them, but I suspect they'll always be with you.

Seven:  

The members of this crew put themselves at risk to help me. I am unsure how to reciprocate.

Janeway:  

Let's start with something small. Like a recalibration of the EPS manifolds. B'Elanna's expecting you in Engineering.

Seven:  

I will join her shortly. There is a crewmember I must see first.