FADE IN: EXT. AERIAL POV ABOVE JUNGLE (OPTICAL) We’re flying high above a lush, beautiful landscape. INT. SHUTTLE (OPTICAL) SEVEN OF NINE and CHAKOTAY are at the controls as Chakotay peers through the windows at the scenery below. CHAKOTAY Beautiful, isn’t it? Seven, indifferent, comments drily. SEVEN A sensor analysis would have provided the necessary information. CHAKOTAY Just admiring the view. SEVEN (impatient) The conference begins in less than an hour. CHAKOTAY There’s always time for Warp Field Dynamics.... (indicating scenery) But you don’t see natural beauty like this every day.... Suddenly there’s a mild JOLT to the ship. It goes to RED ALERT. CHAKOTAY What was that? A little concerned, they begin working consoles. SEVEN Some kind of energy barrier directly below us.... (working) ...it spans thousands of square kilometers.... CHAKOTAY (concerned) Why didn’t sensors detect it? SEVEN I’m not certain. It has an unusual tetrion signature ... (beat, working) Species Three One Two used a similar technology... But now the ship JOLTS HARD. EXT. SHUTTLE -- ABOVE THE JUNGLE (OPTICAL) As it scrapes and skitters along a crackling energy barrier. At every contact, an energy feedback surges from the barrier to the shuttle. INT. SHUTTLE Consoles begin to smoke as Chakotay and Seven work, speaking rapidly. (NOTE: AVOID THE WINDOWS) SEVEN There’s a power surge coming from the barrier... CHAKOTAY Shields at full. The ship shakes much worse. Consoles spark. SEVEN They’re creating some kind of feedback... (beat) ... We’ve lost impulse engines. CHAKOTAY Go to warp. SEVEN (beat, frustrated) The warp core is off-line. CHAKOTAY Warp engines don’t just shut down then you scrape an energy barrier. SEVEN (off console) It’s affecting all our systems... COMPUTER VOICE Warning: structural failure in thirty seconds. CHAKOTAY We’ll have to beam to the surface. SEVEN We can’t transport through the barrier. Seven has an idea. SEVEN Transfer auxiliary power to the weapons array. CHAKOTAY (as he works) What are you trying to do? SEVEN (working) If I can realign our phasers to the correct frequency, I may be able to open a rift. CHAKOTAY Big enough to get a shuttle through, I hope. Tension as Seven continues to work. COMPUTER VOICE Warning: structural failure in ten seconds...nine...eight... Seven hits the final control. SEVEN Phasers reconfigured... EXT. AERIAL POV ABOVE JUNGLE -- SHUTTLE (OPTICAL) Firing phasers at the barrier. A fritzing fissure opens. The shuttle flies through the fissure, bumping and scraping. A wing of the shuttle is torn off. Just as the rest of the shuttle clears the fissure, the vessel explodes! EXT. JUNGLE -- DAY (OPTICAL) A dazed Chakotay and Seven materialize. Chakotay is holding an Engineering kit. His pants-leg is torn -- we’ll come to learn his leg is injured. As they look around their surroundings, they find themselves in a verdant jungle, with lush flowers, climbing vines, twittering birds. Off the moment.... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) EXT. JUNGLE --- MOMENTS LATER Chakotay and Seven look around, getting their bearings. As Seven takes out her tricorder, Chakotay hits his combadge - it chirps ineffectively. Seven gets a reading from her tricorder, reacts with frustration. SEVEN The barrier’s closed again. He reacts, scans their surroundings with his tricorder, takes a step - but his leg gives a little, and he winces in pain. SEVEN I should examine you. CHAKOTAY I don’t think it’s serious. But he lets her help him sit on a fallen tree trunk. She pulls open the tear in his pants, to reveal his leg where we can see a small laceration, with some swelling. She passes her tricorder over it. SEVEN You have a hairline fracture. CHAKOTAY We have bigger problems. I’ll be fine. Seven notices a tricorder reading, and sweeps it in a wide arc over the landscape. SEVEN I’m detecting shuttle debris scattered over several square kilometers. CHAKOTAY Some of it might still be functional. SEVEN If we can find the right components, we may be able to construct a beacon ... Send a distress signal. CHAKOTAY Through the barrier? She works her tricorder and takes an uncertain beat. SEVEN Maybe. Chakotay stands up, with some effort, makes a joke. CHAKOTAY If we hurry we might still make that conference. Seven gives him a dubious look as they set off, Chakotay limping slightly, taking in his surroundings. CHAKOTAY Well, if we have to be stranded somewhere, you couldn’t ask for a nicer place. SEVEN (dry) If you hadn’t insisted on “admiring the view,” we wouldn’t be stranded at all. Chakotay takes the point, and they move into the dense undergrowth. Off the natural beauty of the jungle.... CUT TO: EXT. SPACEPORT -- DELTA FLYER (OPTICAL) As it zooms through a bustling spaceport -- docking bays, big and small ships, blinking marker buoys -- high above the glittering, urban hi-tech planet Ledos. A large freighter enters the Delta Flyer’s path - the Flyer quickly streaks under it. INT. DELTA FLYER -- COCKPIT (OPTICAL) Paris, at the helm, resumes course -- but almost immediately his viewscreen monitor begins flashing red, and he’s commed by the Port Authority. PORT AUTHORITY VOICE Guest Vessel Seven Four Six Five Six, this is Ledos Port Control. Shut down your engines. Paris looks quizzical, hits a couple of controls. The monitor stops flashing red, and the Port Control Officer comes up on the screen. PARIS This is Lieutenant Tom Paris. Is there a problem? PORT AUTHORITY OFFICER You were observed committing piloting violation two five six. PARIS Sorry. I’m not familiar with your regulations. It won’t happen again. PORT AUTHORITY OFFICER You’ll be informed of the penalty. PARIS (reacts) What kind of “penalty?” PORT AUTHORITY OFFICER That’s not my decision. (beat, checking) Your Docking Permit says you’re assigned to the Starship Voyager. PARIS That’s right. PORT AUTHORITY OFFICER Your commanding Officer will be notified of your infraction. Off the Officer’s implacable face.... CUT TO: INT. READY ROOM CLOSE ON Paris, aghast. PARIS Piloting lessons? A somewhat amused Janeway elaborates JANEWAY Apparently, the standard penalty for your infraction is a three day course in flight safety, followed by a test. PARIS Did you explain we wouldn’t be here that long? JANEWAY Actually, while you were completing your mission, Seven was invited to a four day conference. PARIS (deflated) Here, on Ledos? JANEWAY (nods) I decided to give the entire crew shore leave - so you’ll have plenty of time to brush up on your piloting skills. PARIS I don’t need lessons.... JANEWAY Apparently, the authorities disagree. PARIS But Captain.... JANEWAY (interrupting) You may not’ve known the Ledosians’rule. But you know outs -- comply with local law. (beat) Understood? PARIS (reluctant) Yes, ma’am. Off his resignation.... EXT. JUNGLE -- DAY Chakotay and Seven are on the move, Chakotay’s limp slightly worse. Their tricorders are out - Seven follows hers to a clump of bushes, where she retrieves a badly damaged console fragment. She scans it, frustrated. SEVEN The relays are fused. It’s useless. She tosses it aside - but Chakotay has found a more interesting detail. CHAKOTAY Looks like we’re not the only ones here. She joins him. He points out an area of stamped down brush. SEVEN Indigenous wildlife, perhaps. He indicates his tricorder. CHAKOTAY I’m reading residual lifesigns -- they’re humanoid. SEVEN Ledosian? He shakes his head no. CHAKOTAY (off tricorder) No. But they share genetic traits. (beat) Whoever they are, they may be able to help us. SEVEN Unless they’re hostile. CHAKOTAY (smiles) Why don’t we give them the benefit of the doubt? Chakotay scans the area, points into the undergrowth. CHAKOTAY The lifesigns lead in that direction. SEVEN I suggest you rest your leg while I investigate. CHAKOTAY It’s better is we stick together... (tweaking her)...at least until we know whether they’re “hostile.” As they move off, following the lifesigns with their tricorders.... TIME CUT TO: EXT. JUNGLE -- RISE ABOVE CAVE CLEARING -- DAY Seven and Chakotay arrive at the top of a small rise, and crouch down to peer through the vines. POV CHAKOTAY AND SEVEN It’s a clearing, with a cave on the far side. Moving around are a dozen or so primitive aliens wearing simple clothing - the Ventu. A peaceful people engaged in simple tasks: carrying water, stripping vines into fibers, using those fibers to weave material. Others just sit quietly in small groups, communicating occasionally with simple hand gestures. RESUME SCENE Chakotay and Seven react with surprise. CHAKOTAY (light) I’m guessing they’re pre-warp. SEVEN They obviously can’t help us. CHAKOTAY No, I don’t suppose they can. He eyes them with interest. CHAKOTAY But they’re fascinating. I never expected to run into people like these on such a technologically advanced planet. SEVEN (pointed) This isn’t an anthropological mission, Commander. He nods, taking her point. CHAKOTAY You’re right. We should keep searching for debris... But as he starts to get up, his leg gives out, and he winces in pain, sits back down. Seven scans the wound. SEVEN You’re developing an infection. (beat) You should rest. Another beat. Then he nods reluctantly. CHAKOTAY I’ll stay here and try to keep out of sight. SEVEN I’ll contact you if I find anything useful. CHAKOTAY I guess I don’t have to tell you to avoid interacting with these people. Seven nods in agreement, and moves off, taking the Engineering kit with her. Chakotay settles in to his hidden vantage point, and peers through the vines to observe the tribe. A beat, as his fascination grows. Unable to resist, he hits a control on his tricorder. Another beat. He whispers into it. CHAKOTAY First Officer’s Log, Stardate 54814.5 We’ve come across an indigenous tribe that appears to live in caves situated around a central clearing.. As he continues to speak, we go to --- POV CHAKOTAY -- ON CAVE CLEARING CHAKOTAY (O.S.) Judging by the provisions near their campfire, and the absence of manufactured structures, they appear to be hunter-gatherers.... TIME DISSOLVE TO: CHAKOTAY’S RESTING SPOT -- LATER Chakotay’s in the same place, but dozing uncomfortably now -- a little feverish, in some pain. We hear a furtive rustling noise nearby. Beat. Chakotay’s eyes suddenly shoot open, he jolts awake - to find himself staring at THREE VENTU MEN Standing over him. They utter no sound, but their faces seem grim and threatening. Off the moment.... EXT. JUNGLE -- DAY Seven - following tricorder readings - sees a small piece of shuttle debris sticking out from behind a rock - a coil. When she retrieves it, she finds part of it is still blinking. She hits her combadge. SEVEN Seven of Nine to Chakotay. No response. EXT. CHAKOTAY’S RESTING SPOT -- MOMENTS LATER Chakotay’s standing up now, leaning against a tree, looking concerned. The three Ventu men are staring in amazement at the combadge on his uniform - which once again “speaks”. SEVEN’S COM VOICE Chakotay, respond. I’ve found something... Chakotay tentatively moves to tap his combadge - but one of the Ventu men yanks it off and stares at it in confusion. Seven’s voice comes through the device again. SEVEN’S COM VOICE Seven of Nine to Chakotay -- The Ventu man reacts in fear - drops the combadge and smashes it with a stone as Chakotay steps forward to try and stop him. CHAKOTAY Wait .... Don’t.... EXT. JUNGLE -- MOMENTS LATER A fritzing noise comes through Seven’s combadge. She taps it again. This time it just chirps ineffectively. She reacts with concern. Then, carrying the small piece of debris, she heads resolutely back the way she came. TIME CUT TO: EXT. JUNGLE 0 RISE ABOVE CAVE CLEARING -- NIGHT Seven arrives at the spot where she’d left Chakotay, but he’s not there now. She puts down the Engineering kit, scans the area with her tricorder and wrist-beacon. Nothing. She peers through the vines into the clearing. POV SEVEN OF NINE Silhouetted figures huddle around the campfire, or move around the area. Seven extends her tricorder, scans the clearing - stops when the tricorder is pointing directly at the mouth of the cave. She reacts to some readings. EXT. CAVE CLEARING PERIMETER -- NIGHT Seven inches her way stealthily through the shadows at the edge of the clearing. She stops, unseen, as two Ventu pass nearby, moving toward the fire. She moves quickly to the edge of the cave mouth - waits a tense beat as another Ventu comes out of the cave. Then she slips inside. INT. CAVE -- MOMENTS LATER Seven eases along one wall - notices simple cave paintings of abstract figures and designs, illuminated by torchlight. She moves toward the flickering of a small fire deeper inside the cave - and sees two Ventu tribesmen huddled there. One of them moves - revealing that what they’re huddled over is Chakotay. Seven steps forward, activating her wrist-beacon, shining it in the Ventu’s faces to startle them. She speaks firmly. SEVEN Move away from him. The Ventu react to the light and to her voice - standing up quickly, with uncertain motives, making a brief hand gesture to each other. Seven tenses. But Chakotay sits up, raising his arm reassuringly. CHAKOTAY It’s all right, Seven. They’re friendly... She reacts. He takes a beat, indicates his leg. CHAKOTAY They’re treating my wound. She shines her writs-beacon on his lower leg - which is wrapped in some kind of herbal poultice. The Ventu stand uncertainly in b.g. Off the surprising moment.... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. CAVE -- MOMENTS LATER Seven crouches by Chakotay as the Ventu stand back in the shadows. (Note: We may occasionally notice them in the b.g. Communicating with simple hand gestures.) Seven, concerned, speaks to Chakotay. SEVEN You said we were supposed to avoid interaction. CHAKOTAY They found me. There was nothing I could do. SEVEN You should have tried to contact me. CHAKOTAY I didn’t want to expose them to our technology. She nods at the sense in this, notices his combadge is gone. SEVEN You hid your combadge. CHAKOTAY (chagrined) Actually, your call scared them. (beat) They broke it. SEVEN (drily) I suggest we leave before they break anything else. Chakotay takes a beat -- he’s thought about this. CHAKOTAY They’re friendly .. And I am hurt.... SEVEN What are you suggesting? CHAKOTAY We may as well stay the night. SEVEN (objecting) Commander.... CHAKOTAY It’s good shelter... (indicates his wound) And my leg feels better since they put this dressing on. Seven can’t argue with that. CHAKOTAY (continuing) I’m going to get some rest. I suggest you do the same. He closes his eyes. Seven takes a beat, looks around uncertainly. She moves to a corner, sits against the wall, alert. A VENTU GIRL Who appears to be a teenager has been watching them. Tentatively she approaches Seven. Seven looks unsure of her intentions. The Girl reaches out her hand - touches the borg implant on Seven’s brow. Seven reacts, pulls back. Startled, the Girl moves back too, withdraws further into the cave. Seven looks around at the primitive figures watching her from the shadows. Off her discomfort.... EXT. SPACE -- VOYAGER (OPTICAL) In orbit of Ledos. INT. CORRIDOR Kim, Torres and Neelix are on the move. KIM Chell says we shouldn’t miss the Flame Gardens. NEELIX I hear the arboretum is beautiful, too. TORRES We can do both. Tom enters from a side corridor, joins them. KIM Tom! You joining us? (pretending to remember) Oh, that’s right. You have to go to “pilot school.” Torres joins in the ribbing, “explaining” Tom’s sentence to Neelix. TORRES I hear the course takes days. PARIS (undaunted) For most people. But I did a little research. If your instructor agrees, you can skip the lessons and go right to the test. (confident) I’ll be joining you in a couple of hours. Neelix looks to Torres. NEELIX You have to admire his optimism. B’Elanna smiles, Paris knows he’s being ribbed as they exit into.... INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL) A Transporter N.D. Is working the console as Kim, Torres, Neelix and Paris enter. Kim nods to the Transporter N.D., starts toward the Transporter pad. TRANSPORTER N.D. Just a moment, sir. It becomes apparent a figure is materializing on the pad in a transporter effect. He’s an old, crusty Ledosian gentleman - Instructor Kleg. He speaks with dour authority. KLEG I’m Instructor Kleg, the flying teacher. (squints at Kim) Are you Lieutenant Paris? Kim smiles, points at Paris. KIM He is. Tom hurries up to escort the old guy off the pad. PARIS It’s an honor to meet you, sir. May I show you to the Delta Flyer? KLEG (gruff) Why? PARIS (obvious) So you can explain what I did wrong, and then administer my test. KLEG It sounds to me like you need lessons in patience, as well. Paris hesitates to reply, not wanting to make things worse. TORRES Oh, Tom’s very patient, sir. NEELIX Never impulsive. KIM Take all the time you need. He’ll enjoy the extra attention. Paris shoots them a look. Kleg takes the commentary at face value, though. KLEG I’m please to hear it. (To Paris) We’ll start with a review of safety procedures. Do you have a visual display system I can access? A beat. Paris covers his annoyance. PARIS I think I can find one. Torres and Kim step onto the Transporter pads, stifling grins. Torres waves at Paris. TORRES Have fun. KIM (to the N.D.) Energize. As they dematerialize.... PARIS So how long will this "review" take? KLEG Typically, about four hours. But there's no rush. PARIS (strained smile) Of course not. As they exit.... EXT. CAVE CLEARING -- DAY Life her is quiet, simple. A female N.D. weaves palm fronds, another mixes pigment from berries. A male N.D. fashions a bowl from strips of bark. Others sit quietly in small groups. Camera finds Chakotay sitting up, his leg splinted, beside one of the men who'd been wrapping his leg last night - the Healer. Chakotay has drawn a circular, simple map in the dirt. he draws a bending line, shows the Healer. CHAKOTAY River. The Healer doesn't seem to understand. Chakotay gets an idea, picks up a small gourd containing water, dribbles it along the line he's drawn to represent the river. A beat. The Healer nods seeming to understand now. He makes a snaking hand gesture for "river." Chakotay repeats it. CHAKOTAY River. Now, Chakotay places a large stone in the circle, points to it. CHAKOTAY Mountain. Now Chakotay points to a distant mountain (o.c.), repeats the word. CHAKOTAY Mountain. The Healer nods, seeming to understand, eyes the map, the Girl who'd approached Seven the night before wanders over curiously, to watch. Chakotay "speaks" haltingly in the sign language he's beginning to learn. CHAKOTAY Where....? He flops his hand palm up. CHAKOTAY ....are we? He gestures around the clearing. A beat. The Healer gets it, points to a spot on the map. Chakotay nods. The Girl seems to be taking itall in. The Healer then points to the pip on Chakotay's collar. Chakotay touches his pip. CHAKOTAY This? The Healer nods, points at it again - then points to himself - then holds out his hand. Chakotay reacts. CHAKOTAY I'm sorry .... I can't give it to you.... The Healer takes a small colored stone out of his pouch and hands it to Chakotay, who takes it tentatively. Then the Healer points to the pip again, and holds out his hand. Chakotay hesitates. CHAKOTAY You want to trade.... A beat as Chakotay considers. Then: CHAKOTAY Well, I suppose it can't hurt.... In b.g. Seven emerges from the jungle, in time to see Chakotay remove his pip and hand it to the Healer. The Healer smiles, points to Chakotay, then draws his index finger diagonally from one shoulder to his waist, smiles. Chakotay nods. CHAKOTAY I'll take that as a "thank you." A NEW ANGLE Seven walks up, carrying the Engineering kit. Dry: SEVEN Did you make a beneficial exchange? CHAKOTAY I didn't want to insult their customs (indicates jungle) Any luck? SEVEN I may have found a way of communicating. She sets down the Engineering kit. CHAKOTAY Me too. (light) I've learned to say "thank you..." He points at Seven, then draws his index finger diagonally from shoulder to waist. Seven remains focused. SEVEN I was referring to communication with Voyager. She opens the Engineering kit, revealing a power cell, and the coil she found yesterday. SEVEN It may be possible to construct a beacon by connecting these components to the shuttle's deflector. CHAKOTAY Did you find it? SEVEN (re: tricorder) I detected it six kilometers from here. I believe it's intact. CHAKOTAY (re: leg) I'm not sure I'm up to that long a trip. SEVEN I'll go. CHAKOTAY I've started mapping the area..... As the Girl continues to watch curiously, he indicates the circular map drawn in the dirt. CHAKOTAY Here's the river we passed ... this is where we beamed down... and we're here now... He points to the spots on the map. Seven points to a third location. SEVEN Then the deflector should be approximately here. Seven's eyes meet the Girl's. Chakotay notices the Girl's interest, and has an idea. CHAKOTAY Six kilometers is a long way. Maybe one of them could guide you. SEVEN (eyeing the Girl) I'm still trying to limit our contact with these people. CHAKOTAY The sooner you get to the deflector, the sooner we can get out of here. (beat) They know the terrain. Maybe they can get you there faster. SEVEN And watch me construct a tetrion-based signaling device? Her objection makes sense. He nods in agreement. CHAKOTAY All right. But be careful. She takes the power cell, tetrion coil, puts them back in the Engineering kit, and sets off in the direction of the deflector. He calls after her. CHAKOTAY Seven. She stops, turns, looks at him. He smiles, light. CHAKOTAY This is how they say "good bye." He makes a sign, extending his arm forward, fingers spread wide. As Seven sets off into the jungle.... TIME CUT TO: EXT. JUNGLE -- DAY Birds twitter, a river can be heard rushing in the distance. Seven is having a hard time maneuvering through the dense vines - holding her tricorder in one hand for guidance, holding her kit in the other, and trying to push the undergrowth out of the way. Suddenly she trips and falls - her tricorder flying out of her hand, and skittering down into a crescent-shaped crevice. A beat. She pushes herself up, takes note of a... FALLEN TREE BRANCH that she apparently tripped over. Then she moves over to the crevice the tricorder fell into. She looks into it, can't see anything. Reaches her hand down to retrieve the tricorder. Feels around. Can't find it. No tricorder. She gets to her feet, frustrated, looks around. POV SEVEN OF NINE To her left is the gnarled dead tree the branch feel off. All the other directions look exactly the same - passable, but seemingly unending foliage. RESUME SCENE Undaunted, resolute, she grabs her kit and sets off in the same direction she'd been walking. Into unscanned territory. EXT. CAVE CLEARING -- DAY The Healer finishes smoothing off a rough-hewn cane with a sharp-edged stone, and shows Chakotay how to lean on it for support. Chakotay uses it to walk a few steps. The Healer gestures Chakotay to continue. Chakotay makes the sign of thanks - pointing to the Healer, then drawing his finger diagonally from shoulder to waist. CHAKOTAY Thank you. The Healer nods. Chakotay walks slowly past a clustered group of men, and gestures to them. CHAKOTAY Hello. Two of them look over - and Chakotay stops short. One tribesman is using a piece of burnt charcoal to draw a design on the face of the other man. It resembles Chakotay's tattoo. They smile at Chakotay, and point to his tattoo. The others turn - revealing another man with a facial design that looks similar to Chakotay's tattoo. Off Chakotay, unsettled.... TIME CUT TO: EXT. JUNGLE --- NIGHT Seven's now using a wrist beacon to light her way. She looks tired, she's been struggling through this all day. Lightening and thunder flash not far away, making Seven flinch just a bit. She stops, looks around. POV SEVEN OF NINE The terrain is seemingly endless foliage. It looks all the same - and though it's too dark to tell for sure, it looks distressingly like the same place she was walking earlier in the day. RESUME SCENE She picks a new direction, and sets off that way - but nearly trips, catching herself in time. A beat, as she has a moment of recognition. She shines her wrist-beacon down on the ground - and there she sees the fallen dead tree branch that she'd tripped over earlier in the day. With a rising sense of dread, she turns her wrist-beacon to the left, where it settles on the same gnarled dead tree that was there before. And finally, she brings the spotlight down on the crescent shaped crevice her tricorder had fallen into. A beat, as she reacts to the confirmation that this is the same place she passed hours ago - she's been walking in a big circle. She shivers a little - as with a low rumble of thunder, it begins to drizzle rain. A beat. She looks around, decides there's nowhere to go for the moment. She sits down, draws her knees up to her chest, wraps her arms around them to huddle for warmth. Off Seven, lost and alone.... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO ACT THREE FADE IN: EXT. JUNGLE -- LATER -- NIGHT It's stopped raining, but it's gotten colder, and Seven is shivering. She reacts to a sound in the underbrush, and shines her wrist beacon in that direction. SEVEN Identify yourself. There's a tense beat. Then the Ventu Girl emerges from the bushes, wearing a blanket. RESUME SCENE Seven reacts, wary. The Girl tentatively takes the blanket off her shoulders - she's wearing another warm wrap underneath. She offers the blanket to Seven. Seven, uncertain, makes no move. The Girl brings the blanket over to Seven, and motions to put it around her shoulders. This time Seven doesn't motion her away - but instead takes the blanket, and wraps it around herself. Nods a cursory thanks. As Seven watches curiously, the Girl digs around in the dirt and comes up holding two different kinds of rocks. She puts one rock on the ground and crushes it easily into a crumbly powder with the other rock. Then she goes to some nearby foliage and picks a small fruit off a branch. She squeezes the fruit over the powdered rock - a few drops of juice drip into the powder. The mixture begins to smoke. The Girl adds tinder, and the mixture flames. Seven reacts, impressed, to herself: SEVEN An exothermic reaction.... The Girl piles a little kindling on the fire, and it grows, providing light and warmth. Then she pulls a root out of her pouch, takes a bite - and offers some to Seven. It doesn't look very appetizing - and in any case, Seven doesn't like feeling this vulnerable or dependent. She shakes her head. SEVEN I'm not hungry. The Girl shrugs, and takes another bite, as the fire grows. Off Seven, watching warily... INT. SHUTTLE BAY (OPTICAL) The Delta Flyer is docked, inside Voyager. INT. DELTA FLYER - COCKPIT As Paris looks on, Kleg inspects the controls, ticking off dissatisfactions on his padd-like device. KLEG Visibility impaired by lateral sensor array...insufficient console accessibility.... PARIS I couldn't agree more. Those are some of the defects that led to my so-called "pilot error" KLEG (off console) Polarity thrusters. They've been known to cause accidental acceleration. PARIS Exactly my point. Why should I be held responsible for the ship's design flaws? Kleg consults his PADD - and furrows his brow. KLEG According to the maintenance records -- you were this vessel's chief designer. Paris can't find an answer. KLEG I make it a point of professional pride to research every case I'm assigned to. (squints at Paris) Are you familiar with that term, Lieutenant? Professional pride? PARIS (subdued) Yes, sir. (beat) In fact, that's why I'm so eager to get underway. I want to prove to you that I'm a good pilot. KLEG There are protocols, Mister Paris. System by system diagnostics, preflight simulations... PARIS You must have other students who need your attention. It wouldn't be fair to... KLEG (cutting him of) Don't worry, Lieutenant. I'm planning to spend as much time with you as necessary. Off Paris, steeling himself for more of the same.... EXT. JUNGLE -- DAY Morning now. The sun beats down on Seven's sleeping face, rousing her. She looks up to see the Ventu Girl watching over her. Seven is a bit unsettled, but the Girl signs to her a "good morning" sign: hands cupped at the ground, then she brings them up and spreads them. Seven thinks she gets it, and nods hesitantly. SEVEN Good morning. Seven mimics the sign back to her. The Girl nods. She pulls another root out of her pouch, takes a bite, and offers it to Seven again. Seven - hungrier than before - takes it, bites off a piece and chews. Not great - but - not bad. As they eat in silence a moment, Seven gets an idea. She draws a circle in the dirt, then draws a few rough characteristics so it resembles the map Chakotay showed her - the mountain, the river. Then she points to the area where she had said the deflector should be. SEVEN I’m trying to get here. She points to herself, then at the spot on the map again. The Girl nods, points at the spot on the map, then points out a specific direction in the jungle. Seven picks up her Engineering kit, and starts to walk in the direction the Girl is pointing. SEVEN Can you show me? She points to the Girl, then points into the jungle in the right direction. The Girl considers, nods, walks ahead of Seven, and motions her to follow. Seven does. TIME CUT TO: EXT. JUNGLE -- DAY The Girl is guiding Seven through an area with exotic alien flowers. The Girl happily points to one and signs something. Seven isn’t really interested, but nods as she continues walking. The Girl stops her, a little piques by Seven’s apparent apathy. She points to the flower again. Again Seven nods, and resumes walking in the direction they’d been going. The Girl grabs her arm, starts walking in another direction. Seven hesitates. SEVEN I thought it was this way... But the Girl keeps walking the other way, motions Seven to follow. A beat - Seven follows, through some dense foliage, beyond which is a clearing. Seven and the Girl emerge from the foliage, and stop - reacting to what they see. POV SEVEN AND THE GIRL (OPTICAL - MATTE) It’s a breathtaking, panoramic view of waterfalls and exotic foliage. RESUME SCENE The Girl spreads her arms with a big smile - presenting the view proudly to Seven. Even Seven can’t help but be moved just a bit by the beauty of the scene. SEVEN Yes ... It’s quite an impressive view. But now we really have to.... But before Seven can finish, the Girl plops down, makes herself comfortable, looks out over the panorama with profound appreciation. Not about to budge. Seven looks at the Girl, looks at the vista, looks back in the direction she wants to go. Frustrated and impatient. But she seems to have no choice. Finally, she sits down beside the Girl, staunchly admiring the view with her. Off the Girl, sneaking a sidelong smile at Seven. EXT. CAVE CLEARING -- DAY Chakotay is walking around the village with his cane, looking toward the jungle with some concern. He sees the Healer and approaches him. The Healer now has a facial tattoo that looks similar to Chakotay’s and he’s wearing Chakotay’s pip on his clothing. He makes a sign of greeting to Chakotay, but Chakotay looks serious. CHAKOTAY My friend.... Chakotay moves his finger around his own brow, indicating the location of Seven’s borg implant. Then he points out to the jungle. CHAKOTAY She hasn’t come back. Chakotay tries making a few more rudimentary signs, but the Healer looks confused, and responds with a few obscure signs of his own indicating that he doesn’t understand. Chakotay shakes his head, frustrated, and kneels in the dirt. As the Healer looks on curiously, Chakotay draws an oval for a face. Two dots for eyes, a vertical line for a nose, a horizontal line for a mouth - and an angled half circle around the left eye to represent her Borg implant. CHAKOTAY She looks like this. Then he looks at the Healer and makes the palm-up sign for “where?” CHAKOTAY Where? A beat. The Healer nods - he thinks he understand what Chakotay wants. He motions Chakotay to stay here, and hurries into the cave - then returns a moment later with a woman. Chakotay looks at her, reacts. The Woman’s face is adorned with a small piece of debris from the shuttle, tied with a strip of leather around her forehead, so the broken bit of technology is fixed around her left eye. Unmistakably meant to mimic Seven’s Borg implant. RESUME SCENE. The Woman and the Healer both seem pleased to show Chakotay, but he reacts with some distress, wonders out loud: CHAKOTAY Where did you get that? He points to the piece of debris, then points out to the jungle, and makes the sign for “Where?” Again. CHAKOTAY Where? The Healer and the woman motion him excitedly to follow, and take him a few feet to the edge of the cave - where the Healer pulls a bundle out from behind a rock, and quickly unwraps it. ON THE BUNDLE Inside are several damaged pieces of Starfleet technology. Part of a power cell, a section of control panel, a thruster fragment. RESUME SCENE The Healer motions out toward a section of jungle, to indicate where the pieces came from. Chakotay looks disturbed. The Healer looks concerned. He doesn’t understand. Chakotay walks back to his picture of Seven in the dirt. He points to it again. CHAKOTAY My friend. (flops hand, palm up) Where? Off Chakotay’s frustration... CUT TO: EXT. ROCKY AREA - DAY Seven and the Girl walk into a clearing, where they come upon the deflector, still connected to a large, mangled section of shuttle hull approximately three meters square. Seven looks pleased, sets down her kit, takes out the power cell and tetrion coil. The Girl approaches the deflector curiously, reaches out to touch it - but Seven stops her. SEVEN Don’t touch that... The Girl takes a step back - and Seven softens her tone a bit. SEVEN Please. Seven begins connecting the power cell and coil to the deflector. The Girl watches for a moment then walks over to investigate an area a short distance away, scattered with black rocks. Off Seven, working... EXT. SPACEPORT -- VOYAGER (OPTICAL) Voyager is docked. INT. ASTROMETRICS LAB (OPTICAL) Tuvok and Kim are working at the Dome when Janeway enters, looking concerned. JANEWAY Problem? TUVOK Commander Chakotay failed to report in at the scheduled time. We tried hailing, but there was no response. KIM We contacted the conference coordinator - he said Seven and Chakotay never showed up. Janeway reacts. JANEWAY Anything on sensors? KIM We located a hull signature over the southern subcontinent... He brings up a graphic on the Dome - the damaged, sheared off shuttle wing, floating over a land mass covered with jungle. KIM But it’s only a wing. Janeway reacts to the disturbing news. JANEWAY Nothing else? No lifesigns? KIM (grim) No, ma’am. Janeway stares at the graphic of the wing. Something strikes her. JANEWAY That’s awfully low for something to be in orbit. TUVOK It’s not in orbit. It’s resting on an energy barrier. As he works, the graphic lights up with a semi-spherical energy barrier inverted over the land mass, with the shuttle wing resting atop it. KIM We think the shuttle may’ve collided with it. JANEWAY Why didn’t they see it? TUVOK Standard scans didn’t reveal its presence. We were only able to detect it with our Borg sensors. A beat. Janeway considers the implications. JANEWAY If all you found was a wing -- maybe the rest of the shuttle made it through the barrier. TUVOK Logic suggests that possibility, (beat) Unfortunately, the barrier deflects all our scans. There’s no way to know if the shuttle -- or its occupants -- are on the other side. A beat. JANEWAY Hail the Ledosian ambassador. Off her determination.... INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Janeway, with Tuvok beside her, is mid-conversation with a Ledosian ambassador on the viewscreen. AMBASSADOR We’d have warned your Commander, but his flight plan didn’t go anywhere near that area. JANEWAY He must have altered his route for some reason. AMBASSADOR (nods sympathetically) And collided with the barrier. (beat) I’m sorry. Janeway and Tuvok react. JANEWAY We’re not assuming they’re dead. TUVOK We believe they may have found a way through. The Ambassador is dubious, but tries to be diplomatic. AMBASSADOR That’s very unlikely... JANEWAY They’re resourceful people... (beat) Can you tell us anything about the barrier? AMBASSADOR It shields the territory of an indigenous society, the Ventu. JANEWAY Then the area’s habitable. If you’d lower the barrier, we cold scan for our people’s lifesigns. AMBASSADOR I’m afraid we can’t do that. Janeway reacts. JANEWAY Why not? AMBASSADOR It was erected by aliens ... Hundreds of years ago ... They haven’t been back. (beat) The technology is a mystery to us. Janeway and Tuvok exchange a look. TUVOK Why did these ... “Aliens”... Build the barrier? AMBASSADOR To protect the Ventu. JANEWAY From whom? AMBASSADOR (chagrined) Us. Tuvok and Janeway react. AMBASSADOR Our ancestors fought them, polluted their habitat .. (embarrassed) I’m afraid we weren’t very enlightened back then. JANEWAY (diplomatic) Earth went through its dark period, too, Ambassador. He nods. JANEWAY Would you have any objections if we tried to lower the barrier? Just to scan for our people? The Ambassador doesn’t hold out a lot of hope. AMBASSADOR I told you.... It’s not possible. TUVOK (undeterred) perhaps if you gave us information about the barrier’s power source? AMBASSADOR The generator is inside. There’s no way to access it. Beat. Janeway and Tuvok react. The Ambassador continues. AMBASSADOR Even if your people did survive, I’m afraid there’s no way to get them out. Off his disturbing pronouncement..... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE ACT FOUR FADE IN: EXT. SPACE -- VOYAGER (OPTICAL) In orbit of Ledos. JANEWAY’S VOICE Captain’s Log, Stardate 54827.7. Although the Ledosians are skeptical, they’re allowing us to try to locate our people... INT. ENGINEERING On a piece of debris - the torn shuttle wing - being scanned by Torres, as Janeway’s Log continues. JANEWAY’S VOICE But analysis of the barrier has been slow... Camera finds Janeway and Tuvok standing nearby, mid conversation with Torres. TORRES The burn pattern suggest (TECH) flux. TUVOK We found a reference to similar technology in Seven’s Borg database. Janeway’s antennae go up. JANEWAY You think the Borg erected it? TUVOK No, but it may’ve been constructed by people they later assimilated. (off a PADD) Species Three One Two. A beat. Janeway appreciates the irony. JANEWAY If Seven were here, she might be able to figure out a way to get through it. TORRES Maybe she already did. (off Janeway’s look) Some of the damage to the wing was caused by feedback from the shuttle’s phasers. JANEWAY (catching on) Seven and Chakotay might’ve used them to penetrate the barrier for some reason. TUVOK (nods) If I can determine the appropriate frequency, I may be able to do the same thing. (beat) But there’s risk involved. JANEWAY What sort of risk? TORRES It looks like the feedback from the barrier is what destroyed the shuttle. If we’re not careful, the same thing could happen to Voyager. Off the moment...... EXT. ROCKY AREA -- DAY Seven is making adjustments to the power cell-neutrion coil-deflector apparatus, as the Girl sits some distance away, in an area where black stones are scattered over the ground. ON THE VENTU GIRL She’s clicking together a chain of small black stones. They’re obviously natural magnets. She’s turning the chain into a loop - and we realize she’s making a bracelet, which she slips over her wrist. Then she begins gathering more stones, clicking them together to make another bracelet. SEVEN (OPTICAL) Glances back at the Girl to make sure she’s at a safe distance - then makes one more connection. Several lights power up on the deflector-assembly. Seven backs off, as the Girl stands up, reacting to the lights. Suddenly energy arcs from the deflector to some large rocks on the ground right beside it - causing the lights to flicker off, as the deflector powers down again. Seven looks frustrated. The Girl, disinterested again, goes back to clicking her magnetic stones together into a short chain. Seven notices, and walks over to her curiously, pointing at the short string of stones. SEVEN May I see those? She holds out her hand. The Girl seems pleased at the request, and gives Seven the string of stones. Seven pulls the short string of stones apart into two segments - then brings them close - and watches them click together, drawn to each other by a strong magnetic force. As she considers this -- Chakotay limps into the clearing on his cane, accompanied by the Healer - who starts signing in b.g. to the Girl. Chakotay’s relieved to have found Seven. CHAKOTAY Seven. Is everything all right? But she’s too focused on the stones to offer even a cursory greeting. Instead, she holds out a hand: SEVEN I need your tricorder. Chakotay reacts, a little amused. CHAKOTAY Nice to see you too. He hands her the tricorder. She takes it, finally looks at him, a little chagrined, re: tricorder. SEVEN I lost mine. He reacts as she scans the area. SEVEN There’s a strong magnetic field here that’s preventing me from generating a deflector beam. (off tricorder) But the field drops off.... (pointing) ... Approximately four point eight kilometers in that direction. CHAKOTAY Can you transmit a signal from there? SEVEN Not through the barrier. But I may be able to neutralize it by generating a dampening field with our deflector. CHAKOTAY (re: hull fragment) Even if you’re right, this must weight five hundred kilos. How would we move it? Seven considers, indicates the Healer and the Girl. SEVEN Some of them could help us. CHAKOTAY (beat) We shouldn’t involve them. SEVEN (dry) Do I detect a change in attitude, Commander? CHAKOTAY Your concern was justified. They’ve been gathering debris from the shuttle -- using it to imitate us. (beat) I don’t want them helping. SEVEN What’s the alternative? Staying here? Allowing them to find more of the debris? (beat) If we neutralize the barrier, Voyager can transport us and our technology off the surface. A beat. CHAKOTAY Is there a possibility that this dampening field could disrupt the barrier permanently? SEVEN Unlikely. Once the deflector is deactivated, the barrier should reinitialize. A beat as Chakotay considers, eyes the curious Girl and the Healer. CHAKOTAY Let’s hope you’re right. Off the moment.... EXT. SPACE -- DELTA FLYER (OPTICAL) Maneuvering slowly through a series of blinking marker buoys. INT. DELTA FLYER Paris is piloting. Kleg sits in the adjacent seat, marking Paris’ score on a PADD-like device - and looking mildly impressed. KLEG So you can execute a turn at less than 300 KPH. Well done, Lieutenant. Paris musters all the enthusiasm he can. PARIS Thanks....(hesitant) I don’t want to seem impatient again...but is there any way you’d let me take the test now? KLEG I thought I’d made myself clear about that. All my students complete the entire course. PARIS I understand, sir. But two of my friends are missing, and I’d like to help find them. KLEG That’s an admirable sentiment. Kleg smiles sympathetically. Paris thinks he may be off the hook. Kleg continues. KLEG But if I give you special treatment, it wouldn’t be fair to others who have to take this course. Paris resigns himself. But Kleg, showing a soft spot for his new favorite pupil, encourages him. KLEG Besides ...you’re getting very close to becoming an adequate pilot. Off Paris, holding his tongue.... EXT. ROCKY RISE -- DAY Barren, empty. A beat. A Ventu man appears, walking over a rise at the base - but not just walking. Struggling. Pulling a thick vine over his shoulder. Two more men appear, coming up behind him - also holding vines, pulling with all their might. And then -- The deflector assembly shows over the rise - the deflector with a section of the shuttle hull - dragged and pulled by four Ventu men, the Girl, and Chakotay. Seven walks alongside, carrying the other components. As the group continues to drag it slowly up the hill, Seven moves away and scans the area with the tricorder, indicates a spot. SEVEN Here. Chakotay signs to the Ventu, they drag the deflector assembly to the appropriate spot, and let it come to rest. Seven begins to adjust the deflector. The Girl comes over to watch her. Seven motions her back gently. SEVEN Not so close. The Girl backs off hesitantly. As Seven resumes reconnecting the deflector components, with help from Chakotay.... EXT. SPACE - VOYAGER (OPTICAL) In orbit. It suddenly fires phasers directly at the energy barrier - which is undamaged. But energy feeds back up the phaser fire. INT. BRIDGE Janeway, Torres, Kim, Tuvok and various N.D.s at their stations. The ship shakes. Red alert. KIM Phasers are starting to overload--- JANEWAY Can we divert any more power to the shields? The ship shakes more as Tuvok works. TUVOK The shields are amplifying the feedback. The ship shakes again. TORRES (frustrated) The barrier is interfering with every system we activate. A beat. Janeway makes a decision. JANEWAY Cease fire. Tuvok works, and the shaking subsides. Janeway looks frustrated. JANEWAY I’m open to suggestions.... TUVOK We may be able to reconfigure a photon torpedo to detonate at the appropriate frequency. JANEWAY What about feedback? TUVOK A torpedo shouldn’t create any. (beat) Theoretically. Janeway takes a beat, considers. JANEWAY Do it. Off Tuvok, working..... EXT. ROCKY RISE - CONTINUOUS Seven adjusts the deflector assembly, Chakotay beside her. The Ventu have been inching closer and closer to watch. Seven steps away, speaks to Chakotay, re: the Ventu. SEVEN They’re too close. Chakotay nods, turns, and shepherds the Ventu back the way they came. CHAKOTAY This way...back below the rise... He gestures, and they accompany him reluctantly - they want to watch. SEVEN (OPTICAL) Connects the last relay. The deflector begins to glow. The Ventu, amazed, pause. Some take another step further back down the hill, some take shelter behind a large boulder. ENERGY ARCS CRACKLE (OPTICAL) From the deflector to the sky. The Ventu react. Chakotay reassures them with his tone, and with simple signs he’s learned. CHAKOTAY It’s all right...stay back... But the Girl, who’s fascinated, slips away from behind the boulder, and moves back closer to the deflector again, while Chakotay is occupied keeping the others at bay. INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Kim looks up from his console, surprised. KIM The energy barrier’s coming down.... Janeway reacts, turns to Tuvok. JANEWAY I thought you were still reconfiguring the torpedo... TUVOK I am. Janeway gives him a confused look. Tuvok works his console. TUVOK It’s being deactivated from inside. A beat. JANEWAY Harry, scan for lifesigns. KIM Yes, ma’am. Off Kim working.... EXT. ROCKY RISE - MOMENTS LATER (OPTICAL) The deflector is flowing more brightly. The Girl approaches quite close, from the side opposite Seven. She raises her hand to touch the deflector - but stops when she notices a tingling at her wrist. The bracelet of black stones that she’d made at the magnetic pole are now crackling with tiny sparks of energy - she’s brought them too close to the deflector. Seven sees them, and reacts. SEVEN Take it off! She takes a step forward, to pull the stones off the Girl - but too late. An energy arc crackles off the deflector, and shoots out to the stones around the Girl’s wrist. She shudders, slumps unconscious, as Seven runs over to help her. INT. BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS Kim, working, looks a bit concerned. KIM I’m only reading one combadge. It’s Seven’s. JANEWAY Open a channel. INTERCUT: EXT. ROCKY RISE - CONTINUOUS Seven and Chakotay are now kneeling beside the unconscious Girl. Seven scans while the other Ventu look on, concerned. JANEWAY Janeway to Seven. Are you and Chakotay all right? SEVEN Yes, Captain. JANEWAY (relieved) Stand by for transport. SEVEN Lock on to Commander Chakotay. I need more time. JANEWAY Is there a problem? SEVEN Someone’s been injured. She requires medical attention... JANEWAY’S COM VOICE Do you need the Doctor? SEVEN I believe I can treat her. A medkit would be useful. JANEWAY’S COM VOICE Acknowledged. As Seven looks at the face of the unconscious Girl.... TIME CUT TO: INT. SICKBAY The Doctor finishes scanning Chakotay’s leg injury with a medical tricorder, as Janeway stands nearby, watching. The poultice, off Chakotay’s leg now, is in evidence. DOCTOR That poultice healed the fracture and the infection. (beat) I’m impressed. CHAKOTAY They’re impressive people... (beat) I just hope we haven’t traumatized them. JANEWAY You did what you had to do to get out of there. CHAKOTAY (nods) Still, I suggest we transport all the shuttle debris back to Voyager as soon as possible. JANEWAY Agreed. Off Chakotay, relieved.... INT. CAVE -- DAY Seven is tending the Girl, who’s conscious now, obviously doing better. Seven adjusts a blanket around her - the same one she’d given Seven a couple nights ago. The Girl sits up. SEVEN Would you like some breakfast? Seven points to the Girl, then gestures toward her own open mouth with her fingers. The Girl shakes her head no - then points at Seven. Seven shakes her head. SEVEN I’m not hungry either. The Girl takes a beat - tentatively reaches out - and traces a line over the branching Borg implant that covers the back of Seven’s left hand. Seven keeps her hand still. SEVEN I admire your curiosity...(beat) ...but you should be more careful. Seven stands up, satisfied the Girl is on the mend. SEVEN It’s time for me to leave. She makes the sign of “good-by” that Chakotay taught her - arm extended, fingers spread wide. The Girl responds by flopping her hand out, palm up - meaning “Where?” SEVEN Back to my home. Seven points to herself, then makes the sign of “home”- cupping her inverted hands, simulating a cave shape. A beat. Then she starts to walk away - but the Girl jumps up and stops her. The Girl takes the blanket off her shoulders, offers it to Seven. Seven objects, holding up her hand in refusal. SEVEN That’s very kind, but I have to use for it. The Girl looks disappointed, offers it again. A beat. Seven considers, relents, lightly: SEVEN I supposed I should respect your customs. She takes the blanket...then makes the “thank you” sign, drawing her hand diagonally across her chest. SEVEN Thank you. The Girl nods. A warm moment...interrupted by barely audible but unfamiliar voices outside the cave. N.D. VOICE Look at these botanical specimens. N.D. VOICE #2 I’m detecting bolomite -- less than three meters below the surface. Seven looks concerned, motions the Girl to stay here, and exits to.... EXT. CAVE CLEARING - MOMENTS LATER Seven comes upon five Ledosian scientists. One is trying sign language with a group of “Ventu, two are scanning the area with sensor device. The group leader, Barus is conferring with another N.D. as Seven approaches them suspiciously. BARUS Catalogue those foliates... SEVEN Explain your presence here. Barus turns to her, cordial. BARUS You must be from Voyager. SEVEN Who are you? BARUS My name’s Barus. I’m the expedition leader. SEVEN What kind of “expedition” are you leading? BARUS We’re conducting scans...to evaluate the potential of this habitat. Seven is cautious. SEVEN Potential for what? Barus gestures around him: isn’t it obvious? BARUS Anthropological research, resource development... (beat) We’ve been waiting years for this. Seven gestures to the confused Ventu. SEVEN What about the people who live here? BARUS We’ll help them, of course. SEVEN How? BARUS With medicine, infrastructure, education... (beat, marveling) Whoever lowered this barrier did the Ventu a great favor. Off Seven, disturbed by the irony.... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR ACT FIVE FADE IN: EXT. SPACE -- VOYAGER (OPTICAL) In synchronous orbit above the jungle side of the planet. INT. READY ROOM Chakotay, Janeway and Seven, mid-scene. Seven seems contemplative, Janeway undecided, Chakotay with strong opinions. CHAKOTAY That barrier has to go back up. SEVEN (uncertain) Isn’t it possible the Ledosians will improve the lives of the Ventu...? CHAKOTAY Improve them how? SEVEN They’re intelligent people. Exposure to education and technology might give them better opportunities.... CHAKOTAY Can you honestly say that you know what’s “better” for them? Seven considers for a long beat. Finally.... SEVEN No. I can’t.... JANEWAY Then what do you think we should do? SEVEN (an admission) I’m uncertain. JANEWAY It’s not like you to be “on the fence.” Another long beat as Seven struggles to explain. SEVEN When Commander Chakotay and I first encountered the Ventu, I found them primitive...of little interest to me...But as I spent time with them... I came to realize that they’re a resourceful, self-reliant people... (beat) Their isolation may limit their potential. (beat) But if that isolation ends, so will a unique way of life. Off Janeway.... TIME CUT TO: INT. BRIDGE (OPTICAL) Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Seven, various N.D.s. The Ledosian Ambassador is on the viewscreen. AMBASSADOR We appreciate your help in opening this territory to exploration, Captain. (nods gratefully) It’s an unprecedented opportunity. JANEWAY A short-lived opportunity, I’m afraid. A beat. AMBASSADOR I don’t understand.... JANEWAY After I transport our deflector back to Voyager, the energy barrier will go back up. TUVOK Naturally, you’ll want to get your people out, so they won’t be trapped inside, as ours were. The Ambassador is disturbed and confused. AMBASSADOR You have no right to limit our access to our own territory. JANEWAY I’m not trying to do that, but we have a strict policy about leaving our technology in the hands of other cultures. (beat) It often has damaging consequences. AMBASSADOR I don’t think you realize how important this is. It’s not only the resources that interest us. (beat) The Ventu are our evolutionary ancestors. Our living history. JANEWAY I understand this is disappointing for you, but I’m afraid I have no choice. AMBASSADOR Couldn’t you make an exception to your policy, Captain? Perhaps if we offered you something in trade? JANEWAY I’m sorry, Ambassador. AMBASSADOR In the spirit of cooperation... I hope you’ll reconsider. JANEWAY We’re eager to resume course. (tactful) Would an hour be enough time to evacuate your people? The Ambassador is obviously disappointed - but nods his compliance. AMBASSADOR I’ll make the arrangements. Off his resignation.... TIME CUT TO: EXT. SPACE VOYAGER (OPTICAL) In orbit. INT. BRIDGE Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Kim, Seven, N.D.s. KIM We’ve transported all the remaining debris to the Cargo Bay. SEVEN I’ve a lock on the deflector assembly. But before Janeway can respond, an alarm beeps. JANEWAY What is it? Tuvok reads a monitor with surprise, begins working a console. TUVOK There’s a Ledosian vessel on an intercept course - it’s charging weapons. Janeway reacts. JANEWAY Shields! EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) The Ledosian ships swoops in and blasts Voyager. INTL. BRIDGE (OPTICAL) The ship is rocked. Red Alert. TUVOK Direct hit to the Transporters. They’re off-line. JANEWAY (angry) Get a weapons lock and hail them. KIM They’re hailing us. As Tuvok and Kim work, the Ambassador appears on the viewscreen. AMBASSADOR Captain Janeway -- JANEWAY (angry) What's going on? AMBASSADOR Our government has decided not to let you restore the barrier. JANEWAY And that justifies an unprovoked attack? AMBASSADOR We only targeted your Transporters...to avoid harming your crew. I hope you’ll show the same restraint. JANEWAY I don’t find weapons fire of any kind restrained. AMBASSADOR If you want to avoid further conflict, I suggest you leave. He blinks off. Janeway considers a beat. JANEWAY Take us out of orbit. CHAKOTAY What about the deflector? In response she turns to Kim. JANEWAY Is Tom still in the Flyer? KIM Yes, ma’am. JANEWAY Hail him. EXT. SPACE -- DELTA FLYER (OPTICAL) Still inching through the blinking marker buoys. INT. DELTA FLYER -- COCKPIT Paris at the controls, Kleg patiently offering “helpful” pointers. KLEG Excellent, Mister Paris. Now come about slowly -- But he’s interrupted by the com beeping. JANEWAY’S COM VOICE Janeway to Paris. Respond. But it’s Kleg who responds, annoyed. KLEG Captain, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interrupt my student during his examination. INTERCUT: INT. BRIDGE (VPB) As before. JANEWAY I’m sorry, but something’s come up. PARIS What is it, Captain? JANEWAY I’m sending you some encrypted orders. PARIS Yes, ma’am. She nods to Tuvok who works. On the Flyer, we hear the encoded transmission over the com. KLEG This is extremely irregular -- But Paris ignores him, studying the coded text appearing on his monitor. He hits a few controls and we.... CUT TO: EXT. SPACE -- THE DELTA FLYER (OPTICAL) Peels away from the piloting course and accelerates fast. INT. DELTA FLYER Where Kleg is practically pinned to his seat by the sudden acceleration. He grips his armrest tightly. KLEG You’re going much too fast. PARIS (working) Yes, sir. I’m in a bit of a hurry. KLEG If you have any desire to pass this test, you will reduce your speed immediately. PARIS I wish I could do that, sir. I really do. EXT. SPACE -- DELTA FLYER (OPTICAL) Suddenly, the Ledosian vessel swoops in from behind and begins firing. INT. DELTA FLYER The ship is rocked. Kleg reacts, terrified. KLEG What was that? Paris checks a control, coms Voyager. PARIS Paris to Voyager. INTERCUT: INT. BRIDGE As before. PARIS' COM VOICE ....I'm under attack. Janeway turns to Tuvok. JANEWAY Give him some help, Mister Tuvok. As Tuvok works.... EXT. SPACE -- VOYAGER (OPTICAL) swoops in and fires on the Ledosian ship as the Delta Flyer streaks down toward the jungle. INT. DELTA FLYER -- COCKPIT (OPTICAL) Paris works the console. A beat, and then the surprised Barus and the other Ledosian N.D.s materialize in the rear of the cabin. BARUS What have you done? PARIS We had to get you out of there before we close the barrier. BARUS (reacts) You can't do that -- Barus takes a step forward, but a forcefield flashes on, stopping him. PARIS Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Paris hits the com again: PARIS Paris to Voyager. INTERCUT: INT. BRIDGE As before. PARIS' COM VOICE ....I've got them. CHAKOTAY Find the deflector. PARIS (working) I'm getting a lock on it now -- But suddenly the Flyer shakes. PARIS My Transporter's off-line! Reactions. Janeway looks grim. JANEWAY You'd better get out of there, Tom... PARIS Not yet. I have an idea.... As Paris works, Kleg mixes outrage and disappointment. KLEG I'm sorry to inform you, Mister Paris, but you've failed this examination. You will no longer be allowed to operate a vessel within Ledosian space. PARIS (working) Something tells me that's not going to be a problem. Off the moment.... EXT. ROCKY RISE -- DAY (OPTICAL) The Delta Flyer swoops by low, strafing the deflector as it goes. The deflector is vaporized by the phaser fire, and the Delta Flyer banks up. EXT. AERIAL VIEW ABOVE JUNGLE (OPTICAL) As the Delta Flyer ascends, the energy barrier rematerializes just below it. TIME CUT TO: EXT. SPACE -- VOYAGER (OPTICAL) At warp. INT. CARGO BAY Seven is working at a console as Chakotay enters. He notices the blanket the Girl gave to Seven - folded next to her neatly atop a cargo container. He eyes it. CHAKOTAY That's a beautiful blanket. SEVEN Take it if you'd like. (indicates her alcove) I don't need it. CHAKOTAY (light) If environmental systems ever go down, you might get cold. A beat then: Talking at once: CHAKOTAY You know, I wanted --- SEVEN I'd like to -- They both stop. Chakotay smiles. CHAKOTAY You first. SEVEN Please, continue. CHAKOTAY (beat) In all the excitement, I never apologized. SEVEN For what? CHAKOTAY Causing you to miss that conference. She takes a beat. This isn't easy for her to admit: SEVEN As a matter of fact... (beat) ... I wanted to thank you for that. CHAKOTAY (surprised) I thought you were angry. SEVEN I was. (beat) But you were right: Warp Mechanics can be studied any time... (beat) the Ventu, on the other hand.... A beat. Chakotay can see she's troubled. CHAKOTAY Something's still bothering you. SEVEN I'm concerned for their well-being. CHAKOTAY They know how to take care of themselves. SEVEN That's not what I mean. (beat) Members of the Ledosian expedition had the opportunity to scan my deflector modifications. (beat) In time, they may find a way to duplicate out technology and remove the barrier themselves. A beat as Chakotay considers. CHAKOTAY I supposed it's possible... SEVEN If I'd never made those modifications.... CHAKOTAY We might still be stranded there. A beat. Seven nods. CHAKOTAY I don't know about you, but I'm glad to be back on Voyager. SEVEN As am I. Chakotay smiles, exits. Seven goes back to work. But after a beat, she stops....and lightly runs her hand over the blanket. Off the moment. FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END. 'Natural Law' SynopsisThe episode opens with Chakotay and Seven heading for a planet in a shuttlecraft to attend a conference. There's some banter as Chakotay admires the scenery, but Seven doesn't, which is interrupted by the ship shaking. An energy barrier has appeared spanning thousands of kilometers. Seven attempts to open a hole in the barrier using the phasers. Things then go wrong, the engines go down and the ship explodes. Cutting to a scene in the jungle, we find that Chakotay and Seven have beamed out and are now stranded in the "verdant jungle, with lush flowers, climbing vines and twittering birds." The communicators don't work, and Chakotay's leg is injured with a hairline fracture. Seven theorizes that they may be able to find wreckage of the shuttlecraft and construct a beacon. They then leave to salvage some parts.Paris is on the Delta Flyer, at a bustling Ledosian spaceport above the planet, where he dodges around a freighter. A port authority then tells him off by for breaking a regulation, but he won't explain what the punishment is. It later turns out to be flight safety lessons. Back on the planet, the search for technology is not successful. They do, however, pick up lifesigns of some aliens that are genetically similar to the Ledosians; they go off to find them. They then find the primitive aliens, the Ventu. They don't think the aliens can help, but they fascinate Chakotay. Chakotay collapses, unable to walk. His leg wound has worsened, and he agrees to stay hidden while Seven goes off to explore. Waking up later, Chakotay finds himself face to face with three Ventu men. Seven's voice comes over the commbadge. The Ventu snatch and smash the badge in fear. Cutting to Seven, she takes a piece of debris she has found and heads off to investigate what has happened to Chakotay. Arriving back at Chakotay's last location, Seven finds him gone. She scans for Chakotay, and then heads towards a cave. In the cave are a number of paintings of abstract figures and designs illuminated by torchlight. She finds Chakotay surrounded by some Ventu. Seven steps in, telling them to move away, but Chakotay responds that they are friendly; the Ventu are healing his wound. Chakotay explains what happened before, and suggests that he and Seven stay the night with the aliens. Chakotay goes to sleep, but Seven sits alert. An alien tries to touch her Borg implant in curiosity, before being scared off by Seven's uncomfortable reaction. On board Voyager, in orbit of Ledos, Kim, Neelix and Torres are off to do some site seeing. But first, Kim teases Paris over his training that he must take. Tom explains he's skipping the lessons and going straight to the test. As they go to beam out, a Ledosian is first beams in-Tom's flying teacher. Immediately things get off to a bad start, the instructor telling Paris he needs patience lessons first. After some more teasing, Kim, Neelix and Torres beam off, and Tom and the Kleg go off for Tom's training. Back on the planet, the alien community continues its work. Chakotay is trying to teach them basic language skills. Trying to ascertain where they are, Chakotay continues to try and communicate. The alien wants one of Chakotay's rank insignia pips as some sort of payment. Seven is unimpressed with Chakotay's newfound communication skills. Seven explains that it may be possible to build a beacon with the deflector dish, which went down six kilometers away. She then sets off to find the deflector, but not before Chakotay says goodbye to her with the newly learned language. Seven is having difficulty progressing through the jungle. She then slips, losing her tricorder down a crevice. She feels around, but is unable to get her tricorder. Undaunted, she grabs her kit and continues to walk in the same direction, but without tricorder. Back in the village, one of the aliens has created a cane for Chakotay. He goes off to see some other villagers with this new cane, but is shocked to find that they are all drawing a tattoo like Chakotay's on themselves. Seven now has to deal with thunder and lightening. She almost trips again, and is shocked to find that it's the same dead tree branch that she'd fallen over before. Seven is back to where she was hours before. She sits down and huddles for warmth, unsure of where to go. Later in the night, a Ventu girl approaches holding a blanket. Seven takes the blanket and wraps it around herself. The girl starts a fire, and offers Seven some food. Next morning Seven tries the same tactics as Chakotay, drawing a map to indicate to the girl that she wants to get to the deflector. The girl understands, and sets out to take Seven there. But the girl takes a detour, taking Seven to a breathtaking waterfall. Seven is unimpressed, but the girl sits and won't go. Seven reluctantly sits down too to look at the view. Back at the village, the person who healed Chakotay is wearing one of his pips and a drawn on tattoo now. A woman is then brought to Chakotay, who has mimicked Seven's Borg implant with a piece of debris. He is disturbed, and can't get the villagers to understand that he wants to know where Seven is. Meanwhile Seven is now with the deflector dish that she wanted. She sets about setting up a beacon, and the girl goes off to investigate a nearby area. Back on Voyager, Tuvok informs Janeway that they can't reach Chakotay or Seven. He also informs her that they have located a wing of the shuttle, but only a wing. They can't find any lifesigns of Chakotay and Seven. Tuvok then explains that there is an energy shield, but there's no way to know if they got through. On the bridge Janeway is talking to a Ledosian ambassador. He explains that he didn't consider warning Chakotay, as the energy field wasn't anywhere within his flight plan. Tuvok explains that they believe they might have gone through the barrier, but the ambassador is dubious. Janeway asks for the ambassador to lower the barrier so that they can scan for the crew, but he says he can't because the field was erected by aliens hundreds of years ago and they don't know how the technology works. The ambassador explains that the barrier was to protect the indigenous aliens from the Ledosians. The Ledosians back then polluted the habitat and fought with the aliens. The alien says he has no problems with the crew trying to lower the forcefield, but he doesn't hold any hope for them. In engineering, Torres scans the shuttlecraft wing and informs Janeway and Tuvok that the shuttlecraft might have gone through the field. Torres says they can do the same thing again with Voyager, but it may destroy the ship in the process. On the planet, Seven attempts to activate the dish and it fails. Meanwhile, the girl is playing with some magnetic stones to create a bracelet. Seven becomes interested, and starts to examine the stones. Chakotay appears, and Seven asks for his tricorder. She scans the area, and notes a magnetic field preventing her generating a deflector beam. It drops off about five kilometers away though. Seven suggests moving the equipment, and she may be able to break through the barrier at that distance. Seven suggests using the aliens to help them move the heavy wreckage, but Chakotay is reluctant after they have started to mimic the Starfleet officers. However Seven persuades him that it's the only option to get out, and the field will re-establish after they have beamed out taking the deflector with them. In the Delta Flyer, Kleg is testing Paris. Paris is frustrated, he wants to go and help in the search for Chakotay and Seven. However Kleg isn't budging and the testing carries on. On the planet the aliens are helping move the equipment. They set it down, and Seven sets about working on the deflector. The aliens becoming increasingly interested in what Seven is doing. The deflector activates, sending energy up to the field. The girl is too interested and gets closer. However the magnetic stones on her wrist attract the energy, knocking her unconscious. On the bridge, they notice the field is going down. The detect Seven's commbadge, but of course not Chakotay's. On the planet, Seven receives Janeway's hail. She explains that someone is injured and that she needs a medkit, but Chakotay beams up. Later in sickbay, the Doctor is treating Chakotay and admires the treatment he was given. Chakotay explains that the were remarkable people, and then suggests to Janeway to beam up all the debris. Back on the planet, Seven is tending to the girl. She explains that she must go, in sign language of course. Seven explains that she must go back to her home. The girl jumps up, giving Seven her blanket. Seven takes the blanket, thanking the girl. Seven all of a sudden hears voices and goes off to find Ledosian scientists investigating the area as a potential habitat. The scientists are pleased that they've finally got in, and are able to exploit the area. It turns out that the crew has now let in the Ledosians, and they will remove the indigenous aliens so that they can use the area. In Voyager's ready room, Seven explains the situation to Chakotay and Janeway. Seven explains, "When Commander Chakotay and I first encountered the Ventu, I found them primitive... of little interest to me... But as I spent time with them... I came to realize that they're a resourceful, self-reliant people... Their isolation may limit their potential. But if that isolation ends, so will a unique way of life." On the bridge, Janeway explains the ambassador that she plans to bring the field back to full strength. The ambassador doesn't want this to happen, but Janeway is adamant. Moments later, a Ledosian ship comes firing at Voyager. Transporters immediately go offline, thus they can't beam up the deflector that is keeping the field open. The ambassador informs Voyager they must leave. Janeway tells the helmsman to leave orbit, but she has a plan. She contacts Tom on the Delta Flyer, and sends him some orders. On the Flyer, Kleg isn't amused. Tom sets a course, at a fast speed much to Kleg's annoyance. The Ledosians try to attack the ship, and Tuvok tries to defend the Flyer. The Flyer heads for the planet, beaming up the scientists. But before he can get the deflector, his transporters then go offline. Paris, however, has an idea. Kleg just informs Tom that he has failed his test and won't be allowed in Ledosian space again. The Delta Flyer then fires phasers at the deflector, destroying it. In the cargo bay later, and after the ship has left Ledosian space, Chakotay admires the blanket given to Seven by the girl. Seven explains that she's glad she missed the conference, and starts to say she preferred being with the aliens on the planet. She goes on to explain that she is concerned for their well-being. She is worried that the Ledosians will one day work out her modifications for the deflector dish, and create their own way to disrupt the field. Chakotay explains that if she hadn't done it, he and her wouldn't be back on Voyager now. They agree they are glad to be back. Chakotay exits, and Seven runs her hand over the blanket before we fade to the end credits. |
|||
| Star Trek(TM), ® & © by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. Star Trek is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures and all characters and related marks are trademarks of Paramount Pictures. |
