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The Best of Both Worlds: Part 2

Last time on Star Trek: The Next Generation...

Mr. Worf, dispatch a subspace message to Admiral Hanson.

We have engaged the Borg.

Data, fluctuate phaser resonance frequencies.

Random settings, keep them changing.

Don't give them time to adapt.

We're coming with every available starship to assist, Captain but the closest help is six days away.

All you know how to do is play it safe.

If you can't make the big decisions, Commander

I suggest you make room for someone who can.

( grunts )

If we can generate a concentrated burst of power at that same frequency distribution...

How do we do that?

The main deflector dish.

Shelby to Enterprise.

We've found the Captain's uniform and his communicator.

Jean-Luc.

We were unable to retrieve him, sir.

The Captain has been altered by the Borg.

CRUSHER: Will, he's alive.

If we could get him back to the ship, I might be able to restore...

This is our only chance to destroy them.

If they get back into warp, our weapon is useless.

I am Locutus of Borg.

From this time forward, you will service us.

Mr. Worf... fire.

And now, the conclusion.

LA FORGE: Deflector power approaching maximum limits.

Energy discharge in six seconds.

WORF: Firing, sir.

The Borg ship is undamaged.

Impossible.

COMPUTER: Warning. Warp reactor core primary coolant failure.

I can't maintain it much longer, Commander.

COMPUTER: Warning. Exceeding reaction chamber thermal limit.

Cease fire.

Shutting down warp engines.

They couldn't have adapted that quickly.

The knowledge and experience of the human, Picard is part of us now.

It has prepared us for all possible courses of action.

Your resistance is hopeless...

Number One.

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.

First Officer's Log, Stardate 44001.4.

The Borg ship has resumed its course toward Earth.

We are unable to pursue pending repairs to the Enterprise.

As we anticipated, the blast burned out our main navigational deflector.

We also have damage to our shields and our reactor core.

We should be back up in eight to 12 hours, Admiral.

Well, we'll miss you at the party.

The Enterprise will be there.

Maybe a little late, but we'll be there, sir.

Your engagements have given us valuable time.

We've mobilized a fleet of 40 starships at Wolf 359.

And that's just for starters.

The Klingons are sending warships.

Hell, we've even thought of opening communications with the Romulans.

You realize, Admiral, that with the assistance of Captain Picard the Borg will be ready for your defenses.

Lieutenant, a few years ago, I watched a freshman cadet pass four upperclassmen on the last hill of a 40-kilometer run at Danula II.

The damnedest thing I ever saw.

The only freshman to ever win the Academy marathon.

I made it my business to get to know that young fellow and I got to know him very, very well.

And I'll tell you something--

I never met anyone with more drive, determination or more courage than Jean-Luc Picard and there is no way in hell that he would assist the Borg.

I want that clear.

Of course, Admiral.

He is... a casualty of war.

CRUSHER: Then we have abandoned all hope of recovering him.

In less than 24 hours this armada's going to hit that Borg vessel with everything we can muster.

Either they survive or we do.

And as for Picard... a great man has been lost.

Your Captain. My friend.

Commander Riker, I hereby promote you to the field commission of Captain.

The Enterprise is your ship now.

Congratulations.

I wish the circumstances were different.

Likewise.

Good luck, Admiral.

Mm. To us all.

( whirring and clicking )

And Mr. Crusher suggests we might design a chip that would automatically re-tune the phasers to a random setting after each discharge.

Engineering.

That would be a great advantage.

We should also see if there's some way that we can neutralize their force fields.

We've got to let them know that we can adapt, too, Mr. Worf.

We're no longer just fighting the Borg.

We're fighting the life experience they've stolen from Captain Picard.

Now, how the hell do we defeat an enemy that knows us better than we know ourselves?

The Borg have neither honor nor courage.

That is our greatest advantage.

I hope it's enough.

Accelerator coils are responding normally.

Excellent.

Forward shields at 58%.

Aft shields... Sensors must be down.

Checking. Sensors are fine.

No, aft shields have completely failed.

Damn it! Auxiliary generators are out again.

Just the man I need.

We're having some problems with the aft shields.

The generator's going on and off-line.

I could really use your help, Worf.

How soon do we get underway, Geordi?

Still a couple of hours.

Commander Shelby can fill you in.

The main navigational deflector is functional again.

Sherbourne and Barclay are running through the final testing sequence now.

The warp reactor core?

Reconstruction is proceeding normally.

It's slow work.

If we can nail down this shield generator problem

I agree with La Forge. We should be back at operating capacity in two to three hours.

Good.

Anything else, sir?

Yes. You did a good job on the Borg ship.

I didn't get Picard.

You stopped them.

You gave us our shot.

Sir, I...

Commander, we don't have to like each other to work well together.

As a matter of fact

I'd like you to continue to keep me on my toes.

Some might define that as the role of a First Officer.

Damn, you are ambitious, aren't you, Shelby?

Captain Riker, based on our past relationship there's no reason for me to expect to become your First Officer except that you need me.

I know how to get things done and I have the expertise in the Borg.

And you have a lot to learn, Commander.

Yes, sir.

Almost as much as I had to learn when I came onboard as Captain Picard's First Officer.

A fact he reminded me of when I commented on what a pain in the neck you are.

Yes, sir.

Data to Riker. Message from Starfleet, Captain.

Go ahead, Data.

Starfleet reports it has engaged the Borg at Wolf 359, sir.

Admiral Hanson on subspace, Captain.

On screen.

Admiral?

The fight does not go well, Enterprise.

We're attempting to withdraw and regroup.

Rendezvous with fleet...

( fluctuating beeps )

RIKER: Captain's Log, Stardate 44002.3.

Repairs are complete and the Enterprise

is warping to rendezvous with Starfleet at Wolf 359.

Communications from the site of battle have been cut off

possibly due to Borg interference.

Lieutenant Worf, everyone in this room shares my respect for your service to this ship but, right now, I need your experience at tactical.

Commander Data, I realize your very nature omits ambition.

Nevertheless, I want you to know

I seriously considered you as First Officer.

Thank you, sir.

But this is not the time for change.

I need all of you where you are where Captain Picard always relied on you.

I have been... reluctantly... forced to conclude that Commander Shelby, our expert on the Borg is an ideal choice at this time for First Officer.

Based on our latest communication, we can assume that the Borg survived the fleet's attack.

Your thoughts on our next encounter.

What about the heavy graviton beam we were talking about?

I've gone over it four times.

The local field distortion just wouldn't be strong enough to incapacitate them.

Dr. Crusher and I have been working on an interesting premise.

With our recent experience in nanotechnology we might be able to introduce a destructive breed of nanites into the Borg.

Nanites?

Robots small enough to enter living cells.

How long would it take to execute that?

That's the problem-- two to three weeks.

In two or three weeks, nanites may be all that's left of the Federation.

We have the new phaser adapters.

LA FORGE: Maybe in concert with the photon torpedoes, we can slow them down.

I'm sure Captain Picard would have something meaningful and inspirational to say right now.

To tell you the truth, I wish he was here

'cause I'd like to hear it, too.

I know how difficult this transition has been for all of you.

I can take over for him but I could never replace Captain Picard nor would I ever try.

Whatever the outcome

I'm sure our efforts in the coming battle will justify his faith in all of us.

Dismissed.

What would you do?

( door chimes )

Come.

May I speak to you, Captain?

Actually, Guinan, I...

You know, Picard and I used to talk every now and then when one of us needed to.

I guess I'm just used to having the Captain's ear.

What's on your mind?

I've heard a lot of people talking down in Ten-Forward.

They expect to be dead in the next day or so.

They trust you. They like you.

But they don't believe anyone can save them.

I'm not sure anyone can.

When a man is convinced he's going to die tomorrow he'll probably find a way to make it happen.

The only one who can turn this around is you.

I'll do the best I can.

You're going to have to do something you don't want to do.

You have to let go of Picard.

Maybe you haven't heard.

I tried to kill him yesterday.

You tried to kill whatever that is on the Borg ship-- not Picard.

( sighs )

Picard is still here with us.

In this room.

If he had died, it would be easier.

But he didn't.

They took him from us a piece at a time.

Did he ever tell you why we're so close?

No.

Oh.

Then let me just say that our relationship is beyond friendship, beyond family.

And I will let him go.

And you must do the same.

There can only be one Captain.

It's not that simple.

This was his crew.

He wrote the book on this ship.

If the Borg know everything he knows it's time to throw that book away.

You must let him go, Riker.

It's the only way to beat him.

The only way to save him.

And that is now your chair...

Captain.

WESLEY: We are now approaching the Wolf system, Captain.

On my way.

Slow to impulse.

Take us to the battle coordinates, Mr. Crusher.

Yellow Alert.

WORF: Sensors are picking up several vessels, Captain.

The fleet?

No active subspace fields.

Negligible power readings.

Life signs?

Negative, sir.

Visual contact.

On screen.

SHELBY: The Tolstoy.

The Kyushu.

The Melbourne.

Sir, sensors are picking up unusually strong eddy currents bearing 200 mark 211.

Data, analysis?

It could indicate the course of the Borg ship, sir.

Ensign Crusher, set in a course that follows those currents.

Commander Shelby, prepare to initiate your plan to separate the saucer section when we find the Borg.

Sir, I must remind you that Captain Picard was briefed on that plan.

The Borg will be prepared for it.

I'm aware of that, Commander.

In fact, I'm counting on it.

Crusher, Cartaino, Gleason, report to the Battle Bridge.

Mr. Data, Mr. Worf

I have a special mission for you.

RIKER: Locutus of Borg this is Captain William T. Riker of the USS Enterprise.

You may speak.

We wish to end the hostilities.

Then you must unconditionally surrender.

We are prepared to meet to discuss your terms.

It is unlikely you are prepared to discuss terms.

It is more likely that this is an attempt at deception.

Come now, Locutus.

If Picard's knowledge and experience is part of you then you know that I've never lied to him.

You should also implicitly trust me.

Is that not so?

Picard implicitly trusted you.

Then trust me now.

Meet to discuss your terms.

Discussion is irrelevant.

There are no terms.

You will disarm all your weapons and escort us to Sector 001 where we will begin assimilating your culture and techno...

Mr. Gleason, can you pinpoint the source of the Borg transmission?

I can put you within 30 meters of it, sir.

O'Brien, report.

The Borg have adapted their electromagnetic field to prevent main transporter function, sir.

RIKER: As expected.

Mr. Data, Mr. Worf, proceed as we discussed.

Aye, Captain.

CREWMAN: Channel open, sir.

We would like time to prepare our people for assimilation.

Preparation is irrelevant.

Your people will be assimilated as easily as Picard has been.

Your attempt at a delay will not be successful, Number One.

We will proceed to Earth and if you attempt to intervene, we will destroy you.

Then take your best shot, Locutus

'cause we are about to intervene.

CREWMAN: Channel closed.

Reset subspace communications.

Scrambler code, Riker One.

Scrambler code Riker One, acknowledged.

Shelby, report.

Ready for separation.

Make it so.

Auto-sep sequence initiated.

Docking latches clear.

Separation complete.

Saucer velocity, 100 meters per second and increasing, sir.

Open fire. All weapons.

Fire.

Borg tractor beam attempting to lock on, sir.

Evasive maneuvers, pattern Riker Alpha.

Riker Alpha, confirmed.

They're ignoring the saucer section completely.

Just as you should, Captain.

Ensign, evasive pattern Riker Beta.

Riker Beta, confirmed.

Proceed to second phase, Commander Shelby.

Acknowledged.

Fire antimatter spread.

Shuttle launch sequence confirmed.

Departing Enterprise in exactly three seconds.

( explosions )

The Borg tractor beam has moved toward the antimatter spread.

They might be picking up the engine ionization from the shuttle.

Data, cut your engines.

Take her in unpowered.

Shuttle has penetrated the Borg electromagnetic field.

RIKER: Understood.

The shuttle escape transporter should provide enough power to beam us onto the Borg ship from here, sir.

Proceed.

WORF: Data!

( grunting with effort )

Mission accomplished.

We have him.

Firing shuttle thrusters.

WESLEY: They're clear of the Borg field, sir.

Beam them out of there, Mr. O'Brien.

Locked in.

Transport successful, sir.

Captain, we've sustained damage to the impulse drive.

The saucer section is disabled.

Reading subspace field fluctuations from the Borg ship.

Looks like they're getting ready to increase power.

Stand by, Mr. La Forge.

Aye, sir.

The saucer section's a sitting duck.

Prepare to draw their fire.

Captain, the Borg ship is moving away.

It's resuming its course towards Earth, sir.

Rendezvous with the saucer section.

Lay in a course of pursuit.

There is extensive infiltration of the microcircuit fibers into the surrounding tissue.

His DNA is being rewritten.

Can you revive him?

I'd like more time to study the structural changes in the motor pathways.

RIKER: We don't have more time, Doctor.

Once he was wired into the Borg they knew everything that he knew.

I just hope it goes both ways.

If we're lucky, he had access to everything we need to know about them.

Especially their vulnerabilities.

Jean-Luc, it's Beverly.

Can you hear me?

Beverly... Crusher... Doctor.

Yes.

Don't try to move.

I am on board the Enterprise.

That's right.

A futile maneuver.

Incorrect strategy, Number One to risk your crew and ship to retrieve only one man.

Picard would never have approved.

You underestimate us, if you believe this abduction is any concern.

There is no need for apprehension.

I intend no harm.

No harm.

I will continue aboard this ship, to speak for the Borg while they continue, without further diversion to Sector 001 where they will force your unconditional surrender.

Using multimodal reflection sorting

I have been able to detect a complex series of subspace signals between Locutus and the Borg ship.

That's how they're controlling him?

It is not just a matter of control, Doctor.

The signals are interactive across a subspace domain similar to that of a transporter beam.

I would hypothesize that these frequencies form the basis of the Borg's collective consciousness.

Can't we block them?

Possibly, but as you may recall, on several occasions we have witnessed the Borg removing key circuits from injured comrades.

No doubt separating them from the group consciousness.

The injured Borg immediately self-destructed.

That is correct, sir.

Cutting the link to Locutus might be fatal to the Captain.

We have to find a way to reach him.

We must know what he knows.

Without these interactive signals it would only be a matter of microsurgery--

I could do it.

But as long as these Borg implants are functioning, there's no way

I can separate the man from the machine.

Then perhaps there is a way

I can access the machine, Doctor.

Worf. Klingon species. A warrior race.

You, too, will be assimilated.

The Klingon Empire will never yield.

Why do you resist?

We only wish to raise quality of life for all species.

I like my species the way it is.

A narrow vision.

You will become one with the Borg.

You will all become one with the Borg.

The android...

Data... primitive artificial organism.

You will be obsolete in the new order.

Take him to your lab, Data.

Shelby to Riker.

Go ahead.

Captain, the Borg have entered Sector 001.

The Borg have dropped out of warp, sir.

Jupiter Outpost 92 reported visual contact at 1200 hours, 13 minutes.

Planetary defenses?

Responding. No reports on effectiveness but I really can't believe that against the Borg...

Ensign Crusher, at their current speed when will they reach Earth?

27 minutes.

The soonest we could intercept?

( sighs ): 42 minutes, sir.

Riker to Data.

What's your status?

The initial cybernetic connection into Captain Picard's neural net pathways has been established.

Mr. O'Brien is ready to process the Borg signal through the transport pattern buffer.

Make it so.

With dispatch, Mr. Data.

Proceeding immediately, sir.

Data out.

The neural link will be established in three stages.

Doctor, I suggest you closely observe Captain Picard's life signs while, at each stage

Chief O'Brien monitors my positronic matrix activity.

Counselor hopefully, you will be able to determine whether I am reaching Captain Picard.

At what point should I shut it down if there's a problem?

I do not know.

I have never done this before.

Initiating first neural link.

The Captain's vital signs are stable.

Positronic activity unchanged.

First neural connection is confirmed.

I cannot report any significant access to the Borg consciousness.

WORF: It is confirmed.

The Borg have broken through the Mars Defense Perimeter.

Enterprise now approaching Terran system, sir.

Slow to impulse.

Time to intercept?

23 minutes, 14 seconds, sir.

Second neural connection is confirmed.

I still cannot report any significant access.

Proceeding with the final link.

CRUSHER: Significant increase in premotor area and hypothalamus activity.

His heartbeat is accelerating rapidly.

Sir, your submicron matrix activity is increasing exponentially.

Neural connections complete.

I have access to the Borg subspace signals.

Processing.

Processing.

Data.

Stand by.

Processing.

Processing.

Fascinating.

The Borg group consciousness is divided into subcommands necessary to carry out all functions.

Defense, communication, navigation-- they are all controlled by a root command implanted into ea...

( gasps )

CRUSHER: Data, I'm picking up increased neural activity in Captain Picard localized in the prefrontal and parietal lobes.

The Borg might be trying to terminate their link with him.

Negative.

The subspace signal configuration is unchanged.

What is causing the increased neural activity is unclear.

No, it's not.

It's him.

It's Picard.

Troi to Bridge.

Data has made first contact with Captain Picard.

Can you communicate with him, Data?

I have been unable to create a neural path around the Borg implants, sir.

It is Captain Picard himself who has somehow managed to initiate contact.

WORF: Sir, the Borg have halted their approach to Earth.

I think we got their attention.

Time to intercept?

Two minutes, four seconds, sir.

They're worried.

They're worried because we have access to Picard.

Mr. Data, we have two minutes to figure out what we can do with it.

Sir, it is clear the Borg are either unwilling or unable to terminate their subspace links.

That may be their Achilles heel, Captain-- their interdependency.

What do you mean, Doctor?

He's part of their collective consciousness now.

Cutting him off would be like asking one of us to disconnect an arm or a foot-- we can't do it.

They operate as a single mind.

One of them jumps off a cliff they all jump off?

Data, is it possible to plant a command into the Borg collective consciousness?

It is conceivable, sir but it would require altering the pathway from the root command to affect all iterative branchpoints in...

Make every effort, Mr. Data.

Sir, what command shall I attempt to plant?

Something straightforward like "disarm your weapons systems."

( console beeping )

Visual contact with the Borg.

On screen.

RIKER: Magnify.

Sensors reading increased power generation from the Borg.

Red Alert.

Load all torpedo bays.

Ready phasers.

Aye, Captain.

Status of Borg weapons.

Their weapon systems are fully charged.

Data?

Attempting to reroute subcommand paths, Captain.

Defense systems are protected by access barriers.

Borg attempting to lock on tractor beam.

Rotate shield frequencies.

Data, report.

I am unable to penetrate defense systems command structure, Captain.

Try the power systems, Data.

See if you can get them to power down.

Acknowledged.

Attempting new power subcommand path.

Shields have failed.

They've locked on, sir.

They're pulling us in.

Fire all weapons.

I cannot penetrate Borg power subcommand structure, sir.

All critical subcommands are protected, Captain. Then it's over.

Mr. Crusher, ready a collision course with the Borg ship.

You heard me-- a collision course!

Yes, sir.

Mr. La Forge, prepare to go to warp power.

LA FORGE: Aye, sir.

Sleep.

He's regaining consciousness.

Sleep.

It's Captain Picard speaking not Locutus.

Sleep, Data.

He's exhausted.

Yes, Doctor.

But if I may make a supposition

I do not believe his message was intended to express fatigue but to suggest a course of action.

Borg cutting beam activated.

Mr. Crusher.

Eng...

Data to Bridge. Stand by.

Stand by all stations.

I am attempting to penetrate the Borg regenerative subcommand path.

It is a low-priority system and may be accessible.

COMPUTER: Warning. Outer hull breach.

Sir, shall I execute evacuation sequence?

Negative, Mr. Worf.

Mr. Data, your final report.

DATA: Stand by.

I can't, Mr. Data!

COMPUTER: Warning. Inner hull failure imminent on decks 23, 24 and 25.

Decompression danger.

Mr. Data, what the hell happened?

I successfully planted a command into the Borg collective consciousness.

It misdirected them to believe it was time to regenerate.

In effect, I put them all to sleep.

To sleep?

DATA: Yes, sir.

Status of Borg power drive?

Minimal power.

Electromagnetic field?

Nonexistent.

Commander Shelby, take an away team and confirm that the Borg are... asleep.

Delighted, sir.

Mr. Worf.

Shelby to Enterprise.

It's true.

They're all in a regeneration mode.

They're dormant, sir.

Any indication to how long we can keep them like this?

Checking.

Tricorder readings are fluctuating rapidly, Commander.

Shelby to Enterprise.

There are indications here that their entire power net's about to feed back on itself.

I'd say we're looking at a self-destruct sequence activated by the Borg's malfunction.

Do you want us to attempt to disarm it?

Stand by.

There's no way to know what the destruction of the Borg ship will do to him.

DATA: We should also consider the advantages of further examination of the Borg and their vessel, sir.

I don't think so.

Data, separate yourself from Captain Picard.

Away team, get yourselves home.

Mr. Crusher, upon their return move us to a safe position.

Aye, sir.

Life signs are stable.

The DNA around the microcircuit fiber implants is returning to normal.

How do you feel?

Almost human.

With just... a bit of a headache.

We'll get you to Sick Bay.

We won't have any trouble getting those implants out now.

How much do you remember?

Everything.

Including some brilliantly unorthodox strategy from a former First Officer of mine.

...and Earth Station McKinley has advised that they're ready to begin refitting the Enterprise.

And the estimated time for repairs?

Five or six weeks.

( door chimes )

Come. Come.

Request permission to disembark, sir.

Permission granted.

They picked a fine officer for the task force, Commander.

We'll have the fleet back up in less than a year.

I imagine you'll have your choice of any Starfleet command, sir.

Everyone is so concerned about my next job.

With all due respect, Commander... sir my career plans are my own business and no one else's.

But it's nice to know

I'll have a few options.

I hope I have the fortune of serving with you again, sir.

Captain.

Course for Station McKinley ready and laid in, sir.

Make it so, Number One.