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): The Best of Both Worlds, Part III A Continuation of an Episode That Might Have Been Author(s): Andres Castineiras ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TEASER Riker (VO): Last time on Star Trek The Next Generation. Repeat scenes from Part II, as described below: Riker ordering the weapon to fire. Destruction that ensues on both Borg and Enterprise 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. Substantial damage is done to the Borg ship: LaForge: I think we did it, Commander, I'm reading 70 to 75% effective damage on the Borg vessel and she's drifting away head over heels. Shelby leaves in a shuttle to attempt to rescue Picard: 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. Romulans show up hunting for the Borg, the same Commander as in the episode Neutral Zone. 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. Shelby gets killed attempting to lead a dazed Picard back to the Shuttle. 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. Federation ships arrive and add to the battle. Riker tells them that the Romulans are acting under the agreement reached at the end of the Neutral Zone episode, cooperation to beat the Borg. As the battle continues, Picard finds the strength to get into the shuttle and launch: 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. Picard's vessel is basted free from the Borg ship and tumbles out into space. A badly crippled Enterprise gives chase and recovers the shuttle. 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.... End Teaser Roll New Beginning Credits with RIKER Voice Over. Scene 1 INT ENTERPRISE CORRIDOR RIKER CRUSHER AND PICARD ON STRETCHER Picard is unconscious on the anti-grav stretcher, it is moments after the end of part 2. Riker and Crusher on either side of the stretcher lead Picard down the corridor towards Sickbay. Riker: Killing us, killing who, what does it mean, Doctor? Crusher: He may just be delirious, or perhaps he can feel the pain the Borg are going through, he may still be connected to them. The power going through those links could be carrying all sorts of information. Riker: Can you remove that device? Crusher: I have to, if I don't, his brain will be fried by all that power. We don't have much time. They turn a corner and enter the main area of Sickbay. INT SICKBAY REVERSE ANGLE RIKER, CRUSHER AND PICARD Camera reverses to see the trio enter Sickbay. They guide Picard over to the main diagnostic bed in the center of the room and transfer him to the bed. The diagnostic readout wall comes to life. Most indicators are very low except for brain activity which is running wild. Crusher: I've got to find a way to tap that energy and divert it long enough to remove the bio-wires. I'll need enough time to create a virus to destroy only the bio-wires, while leaving the Captain's brain intact. Data (OS): Commander Riker to the bridge. Riker (to speakers): This is Riker, what's going on, Commander? Data (OS): Sir, the battle is turning in our favor. Our forces indicate that they will destroy the Borg vessel within the hour. Riker: I'll be up there as soon as I can. Crusher: There's nothing you can do here, Will, you'd better get up there. Picard suddenly strains against the containment field of the bed and screams. Picard: AhhhhHH! No, must stop ... killing me ... trying to download, too much ... too much ... attack ... killing us! Riker: Trying to download? Crusher: He must be in contact, every hit on the Borg vessel is increasing the power going to the Captain. It's as if they are yelling out to him as their last surviving unit. Will, we've got to stop the attack! Riker: That's impossible, Doctor. Even if the Federation ships stopped, we could never get the Romulans to stop. Crusher: If that is true, then our Captain dies as soon as the Borg ship does! Dramatic music...Fade to Black. End of Scene 1. Scene 2: INT ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE RIKER Riker is standing at mid-bridge talking to the Federation task force commander. Riker: I know it's hard to believe, Captain Smythe, but they are killing our Captain. If we don't call off this attack at least long enough for our Doctor to remove those links, he will die. Smythe: I sympathize, Commander, but the risk is to great. I can't make that call. We must continue. Good luck to you and your doctor. The main screen goes blank. Riker: Damn. (Pause) Riker to Sickbay. Crusher (OS): I'm in the middle of an operation, Commander. Riker: I know, Doctor, you'd better make it quick, we won't get any extra time from our troops. Crusher (OS): Understood, Crusher out! INT SICKBAY CRUSHER PICARD Picard now has the operating mantle over his body and a wrap around his head. several probes can be seen entering his head near the Borg equipment. Crusher is furiously working over his body. Several extras in medical garb are assisting. Crusher: OK everybody, this is it. I'm going to try to divert this energy stream to the main sickbay computer. If I'm successful we should be able to both divert the energy and record the signal for later study. Crusher makes some last minute readings with her medical tricorder and then moves over to the wall panel. She pushes several contact points in sequence. A wave form display shows up in some corner of the display. Crusher: Yes! I think that does it. Raoul, how's that virus study coming? Raoul Mendez, a young Hispanic medtech looks up from his work. Mendez: Soon, Doctor, I'm having trouble isolating the bio-wire elements from normal humanoid nerve tissue, they are very similar. Crusher: Quickly, Raoul, we haven't much time. If the Borg are destroyed, even this shunt won't save our Captain. Camera pans to the display of the wave form. Then zooms into the display until it fills the view. It is a swirling mass of red green and blue patterns, a refugee from a freshman electronics course. Pattern fades to a new view of an empty star field... EXT SPACE THE FINAL FRONTIER We are about to see a flashback of the Borg memory being downloaded through the link to Picard. Title over: The Romulan Neutral Zone: Stardate 41925.6 View shifts to an intact Borg cube heading towards an asteroid in the distance. The voice of the Borg entity is the same as we have heard before. BORG (VO): Proceedings of Borg Unit Omega591, Entry 42499C7U9. We have incorporated technology from several alien bases in this vicinity. Apparently they are from two different technology bases. One of these technologies is calls itself "Romulan Star Empire". The other technology is simply called "Federation". We are closing on another "Federation" base at these coordinates. This report to be filed with BorgHome. Scene shifts as the Borg vessel closely approaches the asteroid. INT FEDERATION OUTPOST 7 BASE COMMANDER AND LT Interior of the base is small and not very sophisticated looking. The technology looks old compared to the Enterprise, perhaps TOS-era equipment is in use. A young female Lt. and the Base Commander, an older man, are present. Lt: Commander, we are reading a large vessel approaching at incredible speed. Commander: What! How did it get here so fast, was it cloaked? Romulan? Lt: No, Sir, it isn't any configuration I'm familiar with. Not like anything we have been tracking from the Romulans to date. Commander: Damn! Maybe now the Federation will listen to us and send a starship out here! Lt: I'm reading a tremendous energy surge, Sir. Some kind of a beam... Commander: Raise shields, arm phasers...Ahhh! The room turns green with a very eerie glow as the Borg beam envelopes the base. EXT SPACE ASTEROID BORG A huge green beam extends from the Borg vessel to the outpost. Another high intensity beam, more focused than the first, cuts around and around the base. Suddenly the base breaks free from the asteroid and is pulled into space. The whole attack is over in seconds. Cut to some time later ... EXT SPACE BORG VESSEL The Borg vessel flies through space at warp speed. BORG (VO): Proceedings of Borg Unit Omega591, Entry 42499C7V10. The findings from the latest incorporation from "Federation" technology confirms our preliminary perception. The technology of the "Federation" seems marginally less useful than that of the "Romulan Star Empire". We will proceed into "Romulan" space and make further incorporations. This finding to be filed with BorgHome. Fade back to wave form pattern display in sickbay. End of Scene 2. Scene 3 EXT SPACE BORG VESSEL FEDERATION SHIPS AND ROMULAN The battle continues, the Borg vessel is only a fraction of its original size and is barely able to fire back at the two remaining Federation ships and the one Romulan ship of Sub-commander T'abok. The phaser fire from the Borg vessel is wild, way off the mark. Phaser and disrupter hits from the other ships inflict considerable damage. The end is near for the Borg. INT ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE RIKER AND DATA Riker and Data watch the main screen as the battle unfolds before their eyes. Data: Sensors becoming more reliable, Commander. They indicate Borg power levels at 20% and fading. No renewable power sources are indicated, they are steadily losing the power to re-generate. At this rate they will be completely destroyed in 29.325 minutes. Riker: What's our status, Data? Data: Impulse power fully restored. 90% of all functioning sensor arrays are on-line. We have partial transporter function in transporter room three. Riker: Well, there's nothing we can do here. Worf, signal the Federation task force we are departing the battle area. Contact Starfleet and request a warp tug rendezvous with us at their earliest convenience. Riker moves back to the center seat and reluctantly sits. He feels helpless, as helpless as the Enterprise herself. Riker: Let's put some distance between us and the Borg, perhaps that will help the Doctor with her situation. Data and Wesley turn and nod their heads, they know he is thinking about the Captain, so are they. Worf: Starfleet acknowledges our request, Commander. The warp tug Montgomery Scott will rendevous with us in ten hours to tow us to Wolf 359. INT SICKBAY CRUSHER AND MENDEZ Crusher and Mendez are working over a table near the main sickbay with some test-tubes of bright green liquid. Mendez: That's it, Doctor. Of course there's only one way to know for sure, but the computer says this one should do it. Crusher: Let's hope so, Raoul. They fill a hypo with the bright green liquid and approach the still figure of Picard. Crusher moves the bandages from around Picard's head and moves it gently to expose his neck below the Borg device and injects him. Crusher: Let's monitor this closely, Raoul. I don't want any surprises. They move to the instrument wall and look over several instrument readouts. The camera pans the wall and comes to rest on the wave form readout from the Borg device and zooms in as before. Fade to a space scene... EXT SPACE Title over: System J25: Stardate 42762.1. Suddenly the space scene is broken by the Enterprise flying by at high warp speed, followed closely by a Borg cube. The Borg ship is rapidly mending a large hole in it's front (stock footage from the end of the episode Q Who). Shift to a scene from the Borg point of view (POV) as they fire a green bolt of energy at the fleeing Enterprise. Borg voice over is heard as the chase continues. BORG (VO): Proceedings of Borg Unit Alpha368, Entry 42679E8A12. We are in pursuit of an alien vessel apparently related to "Federation" technology. This "Enterprise" vessel is commanded by an alien called "Jean-Luc Picard". Apparently our initial findings on the "Federation" were in error. This vessel, while still inferior to Borg, is much more powerful than the technology we incorporated at their frontier with the "Romulan Star Empire". We had not expected incursion by the "Federation" so close to BorgHome so soon. Their technology in propulsion must have increased greatly, yet we do not yet know how they accomplished this feat. We will have them at our mercy within two borgons at which time we will incorporate their vessel and their leaders into the Borg. The chase continues. The Enterprise is hit again, its shields are reduced to 41%. The Enterprise fires three photon torpedoes at the Borg vessel. Camera shifts again to the Borg POV as the photons hit and explode, with no effect (except visual). The Borg fires again and the Enterprise shields fail. Hit again and it falls out of warp speed. The Borg slows to approach, they lock their tractor beam on the Enterprise, but just as they are about to incorporate the Enterprise, there is a large bright white flash, ala Q Continuum. When the flash fades the Enterprise is gone! Cut to ... EXT SPACE BORG VESSEL Title over: Deep in Romulan Space: Stardate 42819.5 The Borg vessel is identical to the ones we have already seen. The voice over is the same. Camera pans around the slowly moving vessel as the voice over proceeds. BORG (VO): To Borg Unit Omega591. From BorgHome. New "Federation" technology reported by Unit Alpha368 at Borg coordinates 000 020 079. You are instructed to conclude current assignment and proceed to "Federation" neutral zone to await further orders. EXT MEDIUM SHOT BORG VESSEL Suddenly three Romulan Bird of Prey vessels appear around the Borg vessel. The Borg is surrounded. The Borg fires on all the Romulans at once, one vessel is completely destroyed. The Borg flees in that direction the other Romulans follow firing as they go. The battle continues at high warp. The Borg are apparently hardly scratched, they fire back at the pursuing Romulans, destroying another vessel. They fire at the remaining ship knocking them out of warp. Camera zooms to a medium shot of the remaining Romulan as it falls out of warp, badly damaged. The Borg disappears in the distance. INT ROMULAN VESSEL BRIDGE T'ABOK T'abok: Damn them! Will they not at least stay and finish me off with honor. Fifty planets they have attacked, hundreds of cities destroyed! Countless ships of the fleet! We will get you, Borg, if it takes the last Romulan, the last Bird of Prey, we will destroy you! (Pause) Centurion, contact command, get me a new task force, and hurry, we mustn't lose them! EXT SPACE BORG VESSEL Title Over: Romulan Neutral Zone: Stardate 43982.4 The same vessel as before cruises into view and comes to a complete stop. The voice over is the same neutral Borg voice. BORG (VO): Proceedings of Borg Unit Omega591, Entry 43589D9Z11. Our last encounter with vessels of the "Romulan Star Empire" reduced our engine efficiency for a substantial period of time, delaying our arrival at the border with the "Federation". We await the orders of BorgHome. Fade to wave form pattern in sickbay... INT ENTERPRISE SICKBAY CRUSHER AND MENDEZ They are still at the panel, looking over the instruments. Crusher looks concerned, she bites at her lower lip, then frowns. Crusher: Something is wrong here. The virus is working, but the bio-wires are regenerating to quickly. Mendez: Look here, Doctor, the power coming through the link is increasing! Crusher: Oh my god, its in direct portion to the bio-wire growth pattern, that thing is getting energy from the dying Borg vessel. They're going to keep that link up, even if it means killing the Captain! Dramatic music...Fade to Black. End Scene 3. Scene 4 INT SICKBAY CRUSHER, MENDEZ AND PICARD As we left them before the break, but now Crusher has her medical tricorder going as well. She is waving it over the device on Picard's head. Mendez stands nearby with some surgical instruments. Crusher: We have no choice now. We'll have to sever the connections at the source and hope that our virus will be able to do the rest of the job in his head. Raoul prepare him for the surgery. Crusher moves away from Picard, Mendez moves closer and waves some instruments of his own at Picard, then injects him with something. INT MAIN BRIDGE USS MELBOURNE SMYTHE Main bridge of an Alaska class vessel Ala Enterprise-C, use that bridge set as was used in Yesterday's Enterprise. Smythe: Move in on that last Borg ship fragment. Crewperson: But it is only a tenth the size of the original vessel, Sir. Smythe: It is still capable of regenerating the entire ship, given sufficient time and energy, Lt. WE must completely destroy her! (Pause) Status of our Task Force and the Romulans. Crewperson 2: Three ships still functioning, Captain, all have minor damage as we do, continuing to attack the Borg fragments. The Romulan is closing on the final large fragment directly ahead of us. Still no hostile action against any of our vessels. Enterprise is heading out of the sector, proceeding on minimal impulse power. Smythe: Very well, let's get it over with! Move in, point blank range, lock all phasers on the Borg vessel and fire when ready! INT ENTERPRISE SICKBAY CRUSHER, MENDEZ and PICARD Crusher and Mendez are working hard over Picard, Camera closes on Picard's head to show the bloody mess between the half removed Borg instrument and Picard's head. Crusher works with a small surgical laser to remove each link one by one. Mendez: The power to the link is still increasing, Doctor, but it is fluctuating. It's as if they can't keep up the power much longer. Crusher: Hang on, Jean-Luc, just a few minutes more and I'll have this damn thing off your head! Next we need some HEAVY music as we go quickly from ship to ship as described below in rapid succession. The tension is almost palpable as the task force closes on the kill during Picard's surgery. INT ROMULAN BRIDGE T'ABOK T'abok: Close on the final Borg fragment, I wish the honor of the kill! If we do not beat that Federation vessel to the kill I will know the reason why! Fire plasma torpedoes when we reach minimum range, at my command! INT MELBOURNE BRIDGE SMYTHE AND CREW Crewperson : Point blank range in three, two ... one ... Smythe: Fire phasers! INT ROMULAN BRIDGE T'ABOK and CREW Centurion: Minimum range, Commander! T'abok: Fire plasma torpedoes! INT ENTERPRISE SICKBAY CRUSHER AND MENDEZ Mendez is closely monitoring the signal power coming in to the Borg device, Crusher continues with the operation, she has 95% of the links severed. The camera shows the device is almost off of Picard and he is still bleeding from the head, but not much. Mendez: Dios mio! Doctor, there's a huge signal coming in, it going to overload that whole device, you've got to get it off of him now! EXT SPACE LAST BORG FRAGMENT Scene in space as the last Borg fragment gets hit by the final blows. It is hit simultaneously by massive phaser fire and Romulan plasma torpedoes. Camera pulls back to a medium shot of the exploding Borg vessel as it goes up in one last spectacular explosion. As the fire burns out we see nothing is left. The Romulan War Bird flies across the scene. INT ENTERPRISE SICKBAY CRUSHER AND MENDEZ Crusher finally disconnects the device and throws it across the room. It hits the floor and begins to sizzles and click as if it is shorting out on a massive scale, then it bursts into flames. Mendez hurries over to the device and beats out the flames with a blanket. Crusher: Thank, God! (Looks down at Picard) You're still alive, Jean-Luc, you tough old bird! Now it's up to those designer virus' of ours. Riker (OS): Riker to sickbay, Doctor, our fleet has just signaled the Borg has been completely obliterated. (pause, them sadly) How is our patient. Crusher (A little sarcastic): OUR patient is doing just fine. We had to cut the device off of him but he seems to be responding to the virus. INT ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE RIKER and BRIDGE CREW Some time later Riker dictates the log. Riker (VO): Ship's Log, Stardate 44001.5. We have just rendezvous with the warp tug, Montgomery Scott and are underway for the starbase at Wolf 359. The captain continues to recover, although he has not yet come out of his comatose state. The virus has finally eliminated all traces of the Borg bio-wires from his brain. Worf: Commander, there is a subspace message coming in for you from Captain Smythe of the Melbourne. Riker stands and moves across the bridge towards the ready room. Riker: I'll take in the Captain's ready room, Worf. INT READY ROOM RIKER Riker enters the ready room and goes to sit behind Picard's desk. He hesitates momentarily, realizing what he is doing, then continues. He activates the viewplate. The white haired visage of Captain Smythe appears on the screen seconds later. Smythe: Commander, how are you doing? Riker: Fine, Captain. Smythe: And Captain Picard? Riker: Recovering, Sir. (puzzled) What can I do for you, Sir. Smythe: Thought you'd like to know we have completed our escort of the Romulans back across the Neutral Zone and are headed to Wolf 359. The Melbourne made it through the brief Borg war with nearly a scratch, Commander, or should I say Captain. Riker: The Melbourne, I nearly forgot, what with all the excitement, sorry, Sir. Smythe: Don't Sir me, Riker, just take this bucket off my hands, I'm getting too old for this type of thing! Riker: Nonsense, Sir, you're not a day over 70! Smythe: Cut the crap, Riker, you got the promotion, all you have to do is take it! The Melbourne will put in at Wolf about one day after the Enterprise arrives, I'll expect that Star Fleet will have your decision by then, Commander. Smythe out. The screen goes blank before Riker has the chance to reply, he does anyway to an empty screen. Riker: Yes ... Sir! Camera closes on Riker as we ... Fade to black. End of Scene 4.