Prey




Rating




Favorite Quote


"Thank you for being a patient patient." Seven of Nine

"I once chased a mouse around jefferies tube 32." Tom Paris


Synopsis


A bioship flies through space with a Hirogen vessel in hot pursuit. On the Hirogen vessel the two occupants are talking about the Species 8472 alien’s condition. “The vessel’s course has become erratic. I am moving to intercept.” “No. Maintain distance. He’s damaged and injured. Let him bleed.” “This prey is resilient. We will lose the moment.” “The way the prey behaves when it is wounded is the key to its destruction.” the leader says. The vessel starts to shake. “Shields are holding.” “Its weapons are weakening.” “The prey is heading into an asteroid belt.” the officer says. The bioship maneuvers past the asteroids. The Hirogen ship is larger and moves slowly through the asteroid belt. “We are losing him.” “He hasn’t come here to hide. He’s here to make a final stand Track the vessel.” the leader says. “The prey has stopped above one of the asteroids. The prey has left the ship.” the officer tells his leader. “Follow him,” says the leader. He then walks over to a small table. There is a small container full of white paint. He puts his finger in it and smears the paint onto the left side of his helmet. * * * The Hirogen captain and his officer put on breathing masks and leave the ship. They are on the surface of the asteroid. “The prey is scattering out sensors.” “Impressive. He counters our pursuit to the final moment.” “I will compensate.” “No,” the captain says. “Disengage the sensors.” “For what reason?” “I want to take the prey with my eyes. I’ll draw the attack You target the prey.” Then they enter a dark cave. The lights on their weapons provide light. They hear a sound and see a flash of movement. They both start to fire energy pulses at the Species 8472 alien. It starts to scream and it collapses. The captain looks at it and says,” A flawless kill.” * * * “ Please remain still so I can treat your injuries. “I’m sorry. Did that hurt? I’ll try try to be more careful. Have a pleasant afternoon. Thanks for being a patient patient. This is absurd!” Seven tells the Doctor, after reading a list of things that will help her be more polite. “Not so!” objects the Doctor. “Keep going. You’re doing fine. Don’t worry. I’ll tailor the vocab for you.” “I don’t see the relevance” The Doctor tells Seven that he created the phrases three years ago to learn to put his patients at ease. The Doctor hands Seven a padd. He tells her that he will be the nurse and she will be the Doctor. Seven starts to read her part. “Please hand me the hypospray.” After the Doctor pretends to hand Seven a hypospray Seven says,”looks at instrument.” “No. No. No. You’re not supposed to read that part.” Seven continues to read her lines. “Excuse me nurse. This is the wrong hypospray. Would you mind getting me the correct one? By the way nurse you look lovely today.” “Oh Doctor, you’re so charming.” the Doctor tells Seven. “This lesson is terminated.” Seven informs the Doctor. “I know this is strange for you. It was painful for me, but it will be well worth your efforts. You’ll be able to put people at ease. You’re a lot like me when I was first activated. If I had a mentor things would have gone much more smoothly. I’m willing to share my wisdom with you.” “Hand me the data.” Seven tells him. After Seven has the padd the Doctor tells her what to read. “Make sure you examine number seventeen, bridge banter for beginners.”As Seven starts to leave she stops and turns around. “Have a pleasant day.” she tells the Doctor. * * * On the bridge Harry tells the Captain that a Hirogen vessel is heading directly for them. “Red alert! On screen!” shouts Janeway. Janeway tries to hail them, but there is no response. The Hirogen vessel comes closer, but Voyager maintains its course. “They’re not charging weapons!” Kim says surprised. Tuvok says that he is reading one life sign, but it is erratic. Kim announces that the ship’s engines have just failed. Janeway tells Chakotay that when they are in transporter range she wants him to lead an away team aboard the Hirogen vessel. “The Hirogen are a potential threat. We must destroy them while we have the opportunity.” Seven tells Janeway. “We can gain knowledge about an alien culture and even show some compassion and help the wounded Hirogen.” “My experience with the Hirogen tells me that compassion will not be reciprocated.” “Well we’ve got to take that chance. Chakotay, Paris, and Tuvok, beam over to the Hirogen vessel. * * * On the alien ship the away team looks around. “It looks like there has been a fight.” Paris remarks. Chakotay tells everyone to search for the life signs. While Chakotay is walking he hears a squeaking sound. When he looks up he sees a net full of bones swaying back and forth. A couple of seconds later he sees a large container full of a green, bubbling liquid. Tuvok walks up beside him. Chakotay tells Tuvok that bones and muscle tissue of at least nine different species in the container. They are being broken down by some kind of enzyme. Tuvok guesses that that is what they do to the leftover prey. “Either that or it’s dinner.” Chakotay remarks. * * * While Paris is walking around the ship he sees a helmet on the floor. “Looks like somebody lost there helmet.” When he picks up the helmet he sees that the head is still inside. He screams and thrown the helmet in the opposite direction. Chakotay and Tuvok walk toward Paris. Paris tells them that there are no weapon traces. “He must have been physically attacked.” Paris says. They find out that the life sign is behind a door. They open it and see a Hirogen breathing heavily. “He’s internally bleeding. Let’s get him to sickbay!” Chakotay says. * * * In the conference room Chakotay and Tuvok tell the rest of the senior officers what they found out aboard the Hirogen vessel. Chakotay says that he downloaded the data and navigational records from the Hirogen vessel. He shows everybody the Hirogen vessel’s flight path. “They certainly covered a lot of space.” Janeway comments. Tuvok tells her that the vessel has traveled to ninety different star systems over the past year. Chakotay tells them that they found the remains of dozens of alien races aboard the ship, displayed like trophies. He thinks that some of the aliens could be used as food. “Their entire culture is based on the hunt.” “There is no evidence of a home planet. They travel alone or in small groups.” Tuvok says. “Like wolves,” Chakotay remarks. “How’s our wolf in sickbay doing?” asks Janeway. They reply that his condition is unclear at the moment. Then Janeway talks to Seven. “You were right, Seven. It was a risk to let the away team board the ship, but now we know a lot more about the Hirogen. It was worth the risk.” “This time,” Seven tells the Captain. “There is only one question. Who’s hunting the hunters?” Janeway wonders aloud. * * * On the outside of Voyager the Species 8472 climbs up Voyager’s nacelle and crawls toward a sealed hatch. * * * “I started to treat his internal injuries when he woke up. He’s not very happy.” “Can you sedate him?” asks Janeway. “I tried, but his immune system rejected it. I could make a more powerful one, but it could take a couple of hours.” Janeway walks near the edge of the force field that is containing the Hirogen. “Your crewman is dead and your ship is damaged beyond repair. Who attacked you?” The Hirogen does not answer. “Our first meeting with your species was not on the best of terms. but that doesn’t mean we can’t change that. “Prey,” the Hirogen says. “You were on a hunt?” “Yes. It was a formidable alien. We caught it two days ago. We thought that it was dead. It broke loose of its restraints and attacked us and escaped. Let me continue the hunt.” “Not without your ship and not in your condition.” Janeway tells him. The Hirogen does not speak. Then the Doctor starts to talk. “I’m a hologram. I cannot be spindled, bent, or mutilated.” The Doctor walks through the force field. “Lay down,” he tells the Hirogen. The Hirogen continues to stand. “Or not.” * * * On the bridge Harry informs the Captain that six Hirogen vessels are heading their way. The vessels will arrive in four hours. “Tom,analyze their approach. I want to evade them as long as possible so the Doctor can treat the Hirogen. Then he can tell his friends how we helped him.” “That isn’t part of their life. They see us as another part of the hunt.” Chakotay tells the Captain. “Well, we’ll just have to convince them otherwise. Like any other condemned animal we’ll show our teeth.” All of a sudden the ship starts to shake. Tuvok announces that a plasma conduit ruptured. A couple of seconds later the ship shakes again. Tuvok announces that a bulkhead collapsed. “Another plasma conduit?” asks Chakotay. Harry tells him that it wasn’t a system failure of any kind. Tuvok and Harry leave the bridge to investigate. When they open the hatch to the jefferies tube they see that the end of the tube is missing. They can see into space. The force field shimmers. Then they see green stuff on the floor of the tube. Tuvok says that it is dense DNA with fluidic compounds. Tuvok contacts the bridge. * * * “Captain we may have an intruder. I have found the DNA of Species 8472. Janeway rises from her seat. “Red alert! Seal off the entire section!” Chakotay tells her that he cannot register the Species 8472 alien on sensors. “Last time they were impervious to our scans. We’ll have to find it visually” * * * B’Elanna tells Seven to erect a level ten force field around around every jefferies tube hatch. She tells an Ensign to lock the consoles so only authorized personnel can use them. B’Elanna walks over to the warp core diagnostic console. She hears a noise and slowly looks up. She stares right into the eyes of a Species 8472 alien. It jumps from the top of the warp core and lands right on top of her. * * * Janeway walks into engineering. “Report!” Seven tells Janeway what happened. “Four crew members were wounded. Two were seriously wounded.” “Get them to sickbay!” “The Species 8472 alien came aboard the ship through the antimatter injector. Our phasers were insufficient. He attacked us and escaped through a jefferies tube.” “Janeway to Tuvok. Seal off the area.” Janeway and Seven walk out of engineering. Janeway talks to Seven. “I think the Hirogen underestimated their latest prey. Have the Borg engaged in physical contact with Species 8472?” “Yes. When Species 8472 boarded our cubes they would head straight for the control source and deactivate it.” “It hasn’t done that. It was just in engineering.” “They have changed their strategy. Species 8472 is devious and intelligent. They will find a way to destroy us.” Janeway walks into sickbay. Chakotay and the Doctor are there, along with two security guards. “How many more of their ships did you see? Were they alone?” “Why” Chakotay tells the Hirogen that Species 8472 launched an invasion about six months ago and they were barely able to repel it. “If they are planning another invasion we are all in really big trouble.” Janeway tells him. The Hirogen begins to speak. “I tracked it for fifty light years. It was alone. It was damaged. We thought it was dead, but it has many lives. Lower the force field so I can continue the hunt.” Seven begins to speak to the Hirogen. “Your attempts will fail. Species 8472 is highly resistant to any weapons. All except Borg nanoprobes.” “Nanoprobes?” Chakotay tells him that nanoprobes are a weapon that attacks at the cellular level. Janeway asks Seven if she can modify the phaser rifles with nanoprobes. Seven says that she can. Janeway tells her that she wants the rifles set on stun because she doesn’t want the Species 8472 alien killed. “I can do that, but it will take time. We should kill it now.” “She’s right.” The Hirogen tells Janeway. “Will you tell your people that we saved you?” “If you let me continue the hunt I will tell them. I have spent the last six months studying it. Let me hunt it or you will be destroyed.” * * * Tuvok is on Deck eleven. He contacts the Captain and tells her that Species 8472 is accessing environmental control. “Deck eleven is losing life support. The gravity has also been compromised.” Tuvok says as he is floating in the air. Janeway instructs him to regroup on Deck ten. * * * “Do you want to continue the hunt? Fine. Now’s your chance.” She then tells Chakotay that he needs to supervise him. “If he steps out of line.....shoot him.” Janeway instructs Chakotay.” Chakotay lowers the force field and the Hirogen asks for his weapon. * * * Paris and Chakotay put on space suits. The Hirogen puts on the breathing mask that goes with his armor. Chakotay asks him if he will be able to breathe with his suit. “My body armor works in all hostile environments. I once tracked a silicon based life form through a collapsed star.” “I once tracked a mouse through jefferies tube thirty - two.” Paris tells the Hirogen. Chakotay and the Hirogen glare at him. * * * Seven and Tuvok also have space suits on. Seven informs Tuvok that the phaser rifles need to be set at level five in order to be effective. * * * Chakotay and Paris magnetize their suits so they won’t float in the air. * * * Seven and Tuvok walk through the dim deck. The only light is from the phaser rifles and the dim red alert lights. Seven swings her phaser back and forth. * * * The Hirogen tries to walk ahead of Chakotay. Chakotay points his phaser rifle at him and tells him to fall back. “I have been tracking this alien for months. I know more about it than you.” “I have more knowledge about this ship. Fall back.” “The prey will most likely attack the point. You will not survive.” “I’ll take that chance.” The Hirogen falls back next to Tom. “No problem. I’ll take up the rear.” he tells the Hirogen. * * * Seven sees a flash of movement. She fires her rifle. Tuvok shines his light onto the object. It is a padd. “You missed,” Tuvok tells Seven . They continue to walk down the corridor. “Since Species 8472 invaded the ship you have become increasingly agitated.” Tuvok notices. “Species 8472 was the only species to offer resistance to the Borg. They destroyed countless Borg drones and worlds. I have a reason to be agitated.” * * * Chakotay sees something green floating in the air. “What’s that?” “Blood,” the Hirogen tells him. Chakotay tells Tom that they have trapped Species 8472. The Hirogen tells Chakotay that Species 8472 won’t run. He will strike with his dying breath. Chakotay contacts Tuvok and Seven and tells them that he has trapped Species 8472 in section fifty - nine. “I’m on my way.” replies Tuvok. Chakotay walks a little further down the corridor. Then he sees 8472 floating in the air. The Hirogen says that they must kill it. “No! Hold your fire. Lower your weapon.” The Hirogen then shoves Chakotay into the wall and slams his weapon into Paris. With both of them on the floor the Hirogen fires pulses of energy at Species 8472. The Species 8472 alien screeches and screams in pain. Then the Hirogen collapses as a red energy beam strikes him in the back. Tuvok and Seven appear behind him. * * * Tuvok walks into the Mess Hall. “Mr. Neelix, I need you to exchange your spatula for a phaser rifle.” “What do you want me to do?” “There are two intruders loose on the ship and six Hirogen vessels on the way. I need extra security personnel. Report to deck ten and you will receive the rest of your orders.” Then there is a flash and Tuvok sees the face of Species 8472. Then he sees Neelix. “Tuvok?” “You have your orders.” Tuvok says as he hurries out of the Mess Hall. * * * The Hirogen is locked in the force field in sickbay again. The Doctor walks out of the sickbay with Janeway and Chakotay. Janeway tells Chakotay that he needs to tell B’Elanna to try to get a lock on Species 8472 in case they have to beam it off the ship. She asks the Doctor if he knows the Species 8472 alien’s condition. The Doctor says that he can not scan the creature, but he can make a visual diagnosis. He tells her that Species 8472 has burns, punctures, and scars. He says that it looks like it is dying. Janeway and the Doctor find Tom Paris standing at a console in the hallway. He tells Janeway that Species 8472 tried to access deflector control at the console he is standing at. The Species 8472 alien was trying to open a singularity that would take it home. Its attempts failed though. Janeway then sees Tuvok standing close to the Species 8472 alien. Janeway asks Tuvok what is wrong. “I have established telepathic contact with Species 8472.” Janeway tells Tuvok to talk to it. “ Its ship was damaged while attacking the Borg. When the rest of the ships retreated to fluidic space it was left behind.It has remained in the Delta Quadrant ever since. It has been pursued by Hirogen. It wants no conflict. It only wants to return home.” Janeway then tells Species 8472 that they will do everything in their power to help return it home. Janeway asks it if it can tell them more about trying to open a singularity. Then the 8472 alien falls unconscious. “My telepathic link has been severed.” announces Tuvok. * * * In the sickbay the Hirogen asks where his prey is. “It’s nearly dead thanks to you.” Janeway tells him. “Lead me to it.” “In a while it will no longer be on Voyager. It will return to its home.” “If you return it I will destroy you. Give me my prey or your crew will take its place.” * * * Janeway leaves the sickbay. She tells Chakotay to have Seven report to her ready room. “Are you going to ask her to open the singularity?” Janeway says that she is. Chakotay tells her that Seven may not follow her orders. “We’ll see,” replies Janeway. * * * In her ready room Janeway tells Seven that she has made a decision. “I’m going to return the Species 8472 back to fluidic space. In order to do this I need you to open a singularity. Seven tells Janeway that that would be an imprudent action. “I know it may be difficult, but being Human means showing compassion, even to your most bitter enemies.” “Why?” asks Seven. Janeway tells Seven a story about when she was a lieutenant. She was on a planet during the Cardassian border conflict. Her away team lost contact with their ship. A couple of days into the fight they heard a moaning sound. They found a wounded Cardassian. Their commanding officer ordered them to rescue the Cardassian. Janeway and her fellow officers thought that their commanding officer was crazy. Janeway tells Seven that they were awarded for their bravery when the conflict was over, but the thing she was most proud of was rescuing the Cardassian. “Explain,” Seven tells Janeway. “Compassion puts you in touch with your humanity.” “You are just saying that to justify your decision.” “No. I’m trying to help you see that this is an opportunity to grow. I know you don’t want to help, Seven, but as your Captain and your friend, I’m telling you that you won’t regret it.” “The plan is tactically unsound. In two hours we will be surrounded by Hirogen vessels. We will be destroyed. Compassion will do me little good if I am dead.” “You cannot just sacrifice a species for your own survival. You will open the singularity.” “I will not comply. I’ve agreed to be a member of your crew,but I will not be a willing participant in the destruction of this ship.” “Then we’ll do this without you.” “You will fail.” “And you’ve just crossed the line. Stay in the cargo bay until this situation is over.” * * * Voyager flies through space at impulse. Five Hirogen vessels are trailing. One of them fires at Voyager. Harry tells the Captain that the shields are down to eighty - four percent. Janeway tells Tuvok to return fire. Harry announces that the Hirogen Captain is contacting them. “Better late than never.” Janeway says. “You have taken our hunter and our prey. Surrender them to us.” “The alien is under our protection.” “It belongs to us.” “It belongs to no one. Withdrawl and we can settle this thing peacefully.” * * * The Doctor is standing next to the Species 8472 alien. The Doctor contacts the bridge. “I think that the Species 8472 alien is regenerating. I’m not biologist, but I’d say he’s becoming aggravated.” * * * Seven of Nine is in the cargo bay working on something. “Janeway to Seven of Nine. Report to deck ten immediately ,and bring a supply of nanoprobes.” * * * In engineering Torres contacts the Captain. She says that she has a transporter lock on Species 8472, but she will not be able to open a singularity for at least an hour. * * * On the bridge sparks fly from consoles. Harry reports that the force fields went off line for a least a second, but they were reactivated. They try to contact sickbay. There is no response. Chakotay tells security to report to Deck 5 because the Hirogen may be loose.The ship shakes again. The Hirogen target both of Voyager’s nacelles. “They’re crippling us!” Janeway shouts. * * * In the corridor that Species 8472 is in,the Hirogen tells Seven to lower her weapon. “You lower your weapon or I will destroy you.” “I don’t think you will. You want the creature to be destroyed as much as I do. I saw it in your eyes in the medical bay. It’s a look that I have seen a thousand times.” All of a sudden the force field goes down. Species 8472 rushes at the Hirogen and knocks him to the ground. He starts to slash at him. Seven opens a console and starts working. “What are you doing?” asks the Doctor. Seven doesn’t answer. * * * On the bridge, Harry says that someone is activating the transporter. Janeway tells him to override it. Harry says that he can’t because he is being blocked by Borg encryption codes. * * * The Doctor watches as Species 8472 and the Hirogen are transported off the ship. * * * Harry tells Janeway that the Hirogen vessels are going to warp. He says that warp engines are off line and they cannot catch up to them. “Seven of Nine?” asks Chakotay. “Seven of Nine,” Janeway says angrily. * * * Twelve hours have passed and there is no sign of the Hirogen or Species 8472. Janeway thinks that the hunt for Voyager is not over yet. Seven wakes up in her alcove when Janeway walks in. “Seven, you disobeyed a direct order. As a result you have condemned a creature to death.” “I also diverted an attack which would have likely destroyed us.” “Maybe not, but he decision wasn’t yours.” “The creature broke through the force field.” “I’m not here to debate your decision. I’m here to tell you the consequences. When you first came aboard I vowed that I would treat you like the rest of the crew. From this time forward. you will have no access to any primary systems aboard Voyager without my authorization. We could still use you in the Astrometrics Lab. If you don’t want to work there you can spend your time here in the cargo bay.” Janeway starts to walk out of the cargo bay. “It is puzzling. You made me into an individual. You encouraged me to stop thinking like a member of the Collective.” “Humanity and individuality have their limits. Especially on a starship with a command structure.” “I believe you are punishing me because I don’t think and act like you. You have become frightened by my individuality.” “As you were,” Janeway says coldly. She turns and leaves the cargo bay.


My Thoughts


This is the third episode in a row to get at least four badges. This episode was not as good as Hunters ,but it was still great. The special effects were cool. One of my favorite scenes was when the Species 8472 alien was crawling on the hull of the ship. Another one of my favorite scenes was when the Species 8472 alien jumped ont top of B'Elanna. This episode had a lot of action. I am glad that Species 8472 returned for another episode. Tony Todd did a good job as the Hirogen leader. This episode featured some good acting by Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Ryan. The scene at the beginning of the episode with the Doctor making Seven read the phrases to help her put people at ease was hilarious! This episode was another great installment in the Hirogen arc.


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