ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸ ³ Distributed by USS Enterprise [713/466-0778] 1:106/1701 Jersey Village, TX ³ ³ Downloaded from XybyX - Roswell, Georgia - (404) 594-1315 ³ ³ FidoNet 1:133/114 - Primary TFDN Node - EggNet 99:9000/14 ³ ³ Home of the International Star Trek Echomail Conference ³ ÔÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ; Title(s): My Attempt at: The Best of Both Worlds, Part 2 Author(s): Andres Castineiras ----------------------------------------------------------------------- INT ENTERPRISE BRIDGE Repeat the last five minutes of part I, Picard/Locutius speech with reverse angle close-up on Riker, a look of understanding quickly flickers across his face, but he doesn't let on, even to his own crew. Picard ends speech, and points laser at the viewscreen, Riker decides: Riker: Mr. Worf ... FIRE! Worf (strained): But, Commander, the Captain... Riker: DAMN IT, WORF, FIRE, That's a direct order. Crew brace for impact. Worf fires the weapon, IT WORKS! EXTERIOR ENTERPRISE MEDIUM SHOT The main deflector dish begins to glow a deep royal blue, suddenly a loosely focused beam of blue light jumps from the front of the ENTERPRISE secondary hull. The front half of the secondary hull begins to turn deep red. The lower portion of the saucer is bathed in a softer blue light than the main beam. Cut to EXTERIOR BORG VESSEL MEDIUM SHOT A HUGE blue beam hits the face of the Borg cube dead on. Many explosions ensue, leaving a big, ragged edged hole in the Borg vessel. Cut to INTERIOR ENTERPRISE BRIDGE, ANGLE ON MAIN VIEWER As the weapon goes off, the crew is rocked. Riker is thrown back into his seat, the picture of Picard goes to static and is replaced by the exterior shot of the Borg vessel as the blue beam hits from the Enterprise. The shock waves from the blast (caused by photon pressure and atmosphere leaving the Borg cube) hits the Enterprise tossing the crew around more. Main viewer goes blank, power fails on the bridge as the lights go down. EXTERIOR SHOT ENTERPRISE AND BORG VESSEL IN FRAME. Enterprise secondary hull is black from the front to about half way back down the hull, deflector area is melted (use the old model for this shot)! It is hanging dead in space, tilted slightly "up". Lower portion of saucer is also showing some black scoring. Through a HUGE hole in the Borg cube we can see explosions continuing throughout that ship, as it begins to drift, rotating away from the Enterprise in an unnatural manner. INT BORG CUBE. SMOKE ALL AROUND. A number of BORG are lying about in the scene. Camera pans the scene then slowly closes on a lone Borg-- Picard, lying unconscious on the floor. END TEASER -- ROLL NEW MAIN TITLES with RIKER Voiceover ACT I INT BRIDGE ENTERPRISE Riker awakens from his ordeal, lights come back on (at least emergency lighting). Riker (hoarsely): Status. LaForge(from his station): Not good, we only have.. Riker(interrupting): Not us, Geordie, the Borg... can you get me a picture.. we have to get the Captain out of there! Worf, Troi and Shelby recovering at various parts of the bridge are shocked at Riker's words. Shelby disappears off camera but no-one notices. LaForge: I think we did it, Commander, I'm reading 60 to 70% effective damage on the Borg vessel and she's drifting away head over heels. Riker: Not good enough, we needed at least 78% or better to completely stop it. They're probably repairing as we speak. How about that picture Geordie? Crusher(OS): Main viewer back on line now, Commander. Angle on viewer, showing the Borg ship now almost 70 degrees rotated away from the Enterprise view, fire and explosions continue on the interior of the vessel. A cry of victory goes up from the bridge crew. Riker: Let's not get too excited.. the Captain is still over there. Geordie, what's our status now? LaForge: Down to 20% energy reserves. Life support is on batteries. No shields, no weapons. 30% of the ship is uninhabitable due to large radiation levels. I can have impulse power back in an hour or two. Warp drive will take a month at a starbase, minimum. Fifty percent of our short range sensors, most of them on the lower portion of the saucer, are gone, long range sensors seem to be intact. Sub-space communications are spotty. Worf: Commander, I'm reading several vessels approaching at high warp. Entering the sector now! Riker: Who the hell ... our advanced forces shouldn't be here for hours yet! Try to hail them, Worf. We need time to try and save Picard! Worf: But, Commander, isn't he one of THEM now! Riker: He gave me our code word...Locutius. He's still himself, I was under strict orders to fire, no matter what happened. But if there's any chance, we have to try to get him out of there before the Borg recover. Worf: Communications are too weak to raise the approaching vessels. They should be within range in five minutes, ETA at Borg cube fifteen minutes after that. Riker: Damn, keep trying, we need more time. Geordie, what about transporters? LaForge: No way, Commander. Not for a long time. Riker: Damn! Shelby, assemble a team in shuttle bay one... Shelby? (Looks around the bridge, everyone now notices that she is gone) Crusher: Sir, I'm reading a shuttle launch from bay one... Riker: Give me a channel to that shuttle, now! Worf: Frequencies open. Shelby (on Viewer): Lt. Commander Shelby, here. Riker: Shelby, what in hell do you think you're doing? Shelby: We have to get Picard. I figured out from what you said earlier that he is still on our side. I also reasoned we are too badly hurt to have any transporters so I made a bee-line for the shuttle bay. (Pause, then in a gentler tone) This is the only way, Commander, if he's alive in there, I'll get him out. Riker(resigned): One more piece of information you might need Shelby. We read multiple unidentified starships converging on the Borg. We may not have time to warn them off you before they take out the rest of that ship. Shelby: How long do I have? Riker: Less than twenty minutes! INT BORG VESSEL - PICARD Picard stirs, then awakens. He is badly hurt and bloodied, but he manages to get to his feet and smiles in a decidedly un-Borg-like fashion. He made, it. Now how does he get out of here. He scrambles to some equipment. Picard: Picard to Enterprise, Will, are you there? (Nothing but static...) Damn, piece of Borg filth! EXT SHUTTLECRAFT ENTERING BORG SHIP Shuttle enters the Borg ship through the ragged hole left by the deflector beam weapon. Fires throughout the ship can be seen to be coming under control and going out. Shuttle flys through the superstructure of the Borg vessel ala 'Return of the Jedi' and the Millennium Falcon. INT SHUTTLE SHELBY Shelby leans over the controls of the small two man shuttle, studying the sensor panel. Shelby (to herself): Come on Picard, where the hell are you ... Wait a minute. That could be it...well here goes nothing. INT BORG SHIP PICARD Picard trys to get out of the compartment he is in through some wreckage. He finally succeeds, he opens the bulkhead to see...several Borg heading towards him... Fade Out ACT II INT BORG SHIP PICARD As in the above scene, Borg enter the room with Picard and continue on by him and begin to clear away 'dead' Borg and to repair equipment. Picard slips out completely unnoticed. INT BORG SHIP SHELBY AND SHUTTLE Shuttle in background on the edge of a gapping hole in the Borg vessel. A blue containment field can be seen glowing in the background holding in the atmosphere where Shelby stands. The walls can be seen to grow and repair themselves as the camera pans to Shelby's POV. Shelby (VO): Personal Log, stardate 44000.1. I have been able to fly my shuttle into the Borg vessel to a portion which is still fairly intact. Readings indicate that a humanoid with a mechanical heart of Federation origin is ahead bearing 095. I can only hope that this is Picard. The opening in the Borg ship is rapidly closing as the ship repairs itself. I estimate two hours before the way out will be blocked. Long before that the vessels on there way here will arrive and most likely will attempt to blow this ship away. Shelby proceeds down the corridor ... no Borg try to stop her. She doesn't see many active Borg. Then she begins to see more and more. One, the two, then three in groups pass her or near her. They continue to ignore her for now. Suddenly she spots Picard. He is hurt and she is unsure of his status. Picard: My God, Shelby, is that you? Shelby(relieved): Yes, Sir, I came to get you out. I think we had better hurry, Sir. Picard: Yes, they are not concerned with me now, but that may change quickly. They aren't applying any pressure on my mind. She helps him along towards the shuttle. INT ENTERPRISE BRIDGE Worf: Sensors reading four Romulan Birds of Prey, uncloaking and coming to bear on the Borg vessel. Riker: Romulans? Are these the vessels you tracked, Worf? Worf: Uncertain, however I am now reading at least three other vessels, closing on attack course. They appear to be Federation starships, Alaska and Excelsior class, ETA - twenty minutes. Riker: The calvary is just a bit too late. (Pause) Hail the Romulans. Screen changes to a view of a Romulan bridge, the Romulan Commander T'abok from the episode Neutral Zone appears on screen. T'abok: Enterprise, this is Commander T'abok. We read your energy levels as insufficient to be of any concern to us, please leave the area. We have been pursuing the Borg ship for days. Thank-you for slowing them down, we will now finish them off. Fade out. ACT III SAME AS ABOVE Riker: Wait, Commander, we have personnel still aboard that vessel. T'abok: Commander, do you realize how fast they are repairing themselves? Do you know the amount of damage they are capable of and are guilty of? We will have them now. Riker: Wait, our fleet will be here in less than thirty Earth minutes, give us that long and they will aid you in the destruction of the Borg. T'abok: I will not deal with an underling, Riker, where is Captain Picard? My agreement for cooperation on the Borg problem was with him, not you. Riker: Captain Picard is one of the members of our crew in the hands of the Borg. T'abok is shocked visibly on screen. Cut to: INT BORG SHIP PICARD AND SHELBY Shelby and Picard still making progress towards the shuttle when Picard doubles over in pain. He winces then let's out a moan as he cradles his head with his right hand. Shelby: Are you alright, Sir? Picard: No. They're at it again, trying to control my mind. AAhhh!! Shelby: Come on, Captain, we're almost there. Picard: Quickly, they are getting stronger, have enough strength to worry.. about...me. Must get away! Several Borg begin to approach the pair and attempt to separate Shelby from Picard, she resists, phasering one or two in the process, they fall. INT ENTERPRISE BRIDGE - MAIN VIEWER T'abok: If he is with them, then he is already lost. Riker: No, I have proof that he is resisting them. Another member of my crew is in there now trying to get him out by shuttle. (to Worf) Try to add Shelby onto this communication. Worf: No response from Shelby, Commander. T'abok: I...we, can no longer wait, Riker. We already read their power levels back up beyond fifty percent. We must strike now, warn your fleet that I am only interested in destroying the Borg. I want no quarrel with them, but we will defend ourselves. Viewer goes blank, then is replaced by the view of the Borg ship. Riker: Commander, wait! (too late, then to Worf) What are they up to now? Worf: Romulans are coming about to fire into the damaged Borg ship, Sir. They are firing disrupters and plasma torpedoes now. INT BORG VESSEL PICARD AND SHELBY Shelby is still struggling with the Borg, they throw her down. More approach. Her phaser is now ineffective. Picard is on his knees, head in hand, trying to cope with the Borg. All hell breaks loose. Explosions rock the Borg vessel. The approaching Borg retreat, Picard collapses. Shelby: Sir, are you alright. Picard: (somewhat recovered, yet strained) Yes, they've stopped. Shelby: Apparently someone else has gotten their attention. EXT BORG VESSEL AND ROMULAN BIRDS OF PREY The Romulan ships fire all there weapons rocking the Borg vessel with hit after hit. The Borg muster all their strength to fight back. They fire at one Bird and destroy it. Others return fire. A pitched battle is being fought. It is a virtual stand-off between the Borg and the remaining Romulan vessels. The enterprise floats in the background, unable to join in the battle. INT BORG VESSEL SHUTTLE PICARD AND SHELBY Shelby and Picard approach the shuttle. Picard: We must get back, I have information vital to the Federation, if we are to survive. Shelby: My communicator is being blocked by all these fireworks, I can't raise the ship. Maybe the shuttle systems will... AN awesome explosion occurs behind Shelby, tossing her off screen like a rag doll. Picard was some distance away behind the bulk of the shuttlecraft. He hurries over to her. She is covered with debris and torn up badly. Obviously dead. Picard looks from her to the waiting shuttle and turns to leave her. He gets to the shuttle door and opens it. The path out of the Borg vessel is still open. Suddenly he doubles over again. Picard: Not again, you bastards! I ... will ... not ... let ... you! Picard falls to his knees, as we FADE out. ACT IV EXT BORG VESSEL AND ROMULANS The battle continues, a second Romulan Bird is destroyed as we watch. T'abok's flag ship is the only remaining Romulan. INT ENTERPRISE BRIDGE Riker: Status on the Borg ship, Data. Data: They are now at 50% capacity and still growing in power. The Romulans have slowed them down, somewhat, but not enough. Worf: Federation vessels will arrive in five minutes, Sir. They are hailing us. Riker: On screen, Lt. Viewer changes to a view of an Alaska class vessel bridge ala Enterprise C. Some nondescript Star Fleet Captain sits in his chair. Captain: This is the USS Melbourne, Captain Smythe commanding. We have six of our best ships closing fast. What is the situation, Enterprise? Riker: We are just barely holding on Captain. We should have Impulse power back in a few minutes. Not much beyond that is available. The Borg is at 50% efficiency, but are under attack by a lone Romulan Bird of Prey. Smythe: And Captain Picard? Riker: Still on board the Borg vessel, status unknown. Commander Shelby is in there trying to get him out. Smythe: We'll be there in three minutes. Our orders are to hit the Borg with everything we have. Riker: Understood, Captain. You can look for assistance from the Romulan Commander- T'abok. Transmitting tactical information on the Borg now (gestures to Worf, who nods). INT BORG VESSEL SHUTTLE PICARD Picard struggles to his feet, muttering to himself, he drags his body into the open door of the shuttle. He sits, fumbles with the controls and manages to shut the door behind him. Picard: Not this time, you bastards, (then in pain) Ahhh! He starts up the shuttle, we see it rise up in the Borg ship. Phaser fire can be seen through the still open ragged hole in the Borg vessel. Picard: You will not control me! Shuttle heads out of the Borg vessel. Picard hits the comm button on the panel... Picard: Picard to Enterprise, can you read me. INT ENTERPRISE BRIDGE RIKER Riker and the bridge crew cannot believe it! They hear the voice of Picard weakly over the bridge speakers, voice only. Riker: Enterprise here, Sir, what is your situation? Picard: I am almost out of here, approaching the hole you blew in this ship, good work Number one. Riker: The Borg are under attack by the Romulans, Sir, and our own ships will be in range in seconds, you have better hurry. Where is Shelby, Sir? Picard: She's... gone, Number One. I'll ..... Communications break down into static. Riker: Damn, get him back, Worf. Worf: It's no use, Commander, we've lost his signal. INT BORG VESSEL SHUTTLE PICARD Picard and shuttle can be seen bathed in a green tractor beam. Picard is writhing in pain. Borg: Captain Picard, you belong to us now. You may not leave this vessel. You cannot escape us. Picard: I will not be your slave. Borg: Slavery is irrelevant. You will comply. EXT SPACE ROMULAN BORG AND FEDERATION VESSELS The Feds arrive. T'abok's ship is still evading destruction and giving as good as he gets. The Feds include two Alaska class ships and three Excelsior class ships. They have all tuned their phasers to the sensitive upper EM band supplied by Enterprise. They all concentrate their phasers at selected spots in unison. The Borg vessel is ROCKED! It is working. Intersperse shots of Romulans and Feds cheering themselves on. INT BORG VESSEL SHUTTLE PICARD All of a sudden the Borg ship is hit, the green beam fails. Picard's pain subsides enough for him to control the shuttle. He PUNCHES it! He zips out the gapping hole of the Borg ship just as an enormous explosion goes off behind him almost pushing the shuttle out. INT ENTERPRISE BRIDGE Worf: Commander, I'm reading a shuttlecraft exiting the Borg vessel. It has been thrown clear. It is now heading away from us and out of control. Riker: Life signs, Worf? Worf: One faint sign, Commander. Riker (to bridge speakers): Geordie! Geordie (On speakers): Engineering here, Commander. Riker: I need maneuverability and tractor beams, NOW! Geordie (OS): You got it, Commander, I was just going to bring the impulse engines back on line. Riker: Do it. (to Wes) Plot a course to intercept that shuttle. Get a tractor beam ready to grab it as soon as we're in range. Engage when ready. (to speakers) Bridge to sick bay, Dr. Crusher to shuttle bay one, Medical emergency! EXT ENTERPRISE Enterprise begins to move again for the first time. They slowly pull away from the Battle of the Borg. The battle continues behind them as they pull away. Shift scene to the shuttle, tumbling through space (stock footage). Enterprise closes. INT ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE We see the shuttle on the main viewer grow larger and larger, until it fills the screen. Riker: Data, you have the bridge, I'll be in the shuttle bay. Wesley, Worf, I want that shuttle on board when I get there! Worf, Wes, Data: Aye, Sir! INT ENTERPRISE MAIN SHUTTLE BAY Dr. Crusher waits with her medical team as the shuttle is brought on board (stock footage from time squared). On board tractor beam guides it in. The shuttle bay doors close just as Riker rushes into the room. Crusher and her team open the shuttle door. Picard in Borg suit falls out into her arms. Crusher: Oh my god. Quickly, let's get him stabilized. They set him down on the floor and she scans him with her tool with all the bright LEDs. Riker: How is he, Dr? Crusher: He's barely alive, Will. This device on his head has got a million links into his brain, perhaps more. They're like living wire! The power going through them is incredible, I have to remove this thing now. They get him into the floating anti-grav bed and carry him out of the shuttle bay. Just before they leave, Picard wakes up and grabs Bev. Picard: They're killing us, ... must stop them, killing ... me! Picard collapses again. FADE TO BLACK.... TO BE CONTINUED.....................