"I, Borg" Line-bye-Line

[Orac]

Hugh: No. I am Hugh.

 

[Enterprise1981]

[Observation lounge]

PICARD: I think I deliberately avoided speaking with the Borg because I didn't want anything to get in the way of our plan. But now that I have, he seems to be a fully realized individual. He has even accepted me as Picard, Captain of this ship, and not as Locutus.

 

[Orac]

LaForge: So you've reconsidered the plan?

 

[Enterprise1981]

PICARD: Yes. To use him in this manner, we'd be no better than the enemy that we seek to destroy. So, I want other options.

 

[Orac]

Riker: We could unscrew the lids on the Borg's salt shakers. The resulting sodium overdose could be lethal as well as hilarious.

 

[Enterprise1981]

PICARD: Be serious, Number One.

RIKER: We could return him to the crash site. We'd have to remove his memory of being on the Enterprise.

CRUSHER: But if we erase his memory, who he is or who he has become would be destroyed.

 

[Orac]

Worf: We could fill their boots with custard while they're regenerating. It would be glorious.

 

[Vanyel]

Geordi: No, the replicators can't make that much custard. But the Borg can. We can use Hugh to put a subroutine into the Borg Collective making them think they're out of custard. They would then start replicating custard, but the new subroutine would not let them realize they have already made custard, within a couple of weeks their ships will be packed with custard. Enough custard to feed every planet in the galaxy.

 

[Vanyel]

Riker: Isn’t that the point? He’d be reassimilated back into the hive without any questions.

 

[LeadHead]

La Forge: Does that seem right, to help him become an individual and then take it away from him?

 

[Orac]

Picard: That's not important Mister La Forge. Now will the custard be hot or cold Mister Worf?

 

[Athena28]

CRUSHER: Is there any danger that the Borg might destroy him if they find out what's happened?

 

[Enterprise1981]

PICARD: I doubt it. There'd be nothing to gain. It's more likely that they would simply wipe out his memory of those experiences.

 

[Orac]

#1: Then either way, his memory would have been erased.

 

[Athena28]

PICARD: But perhaps in that short time before they purge his memory, the sense of individuality which he has gained here might be transmitted throughout the entire Borg Collective. Every one of the Borg being given the opportunity to experience the feeling of singularity. Perhaps that's the most pernicious program of all. The knowledge of self being spread throughout the Collective, in that brief moment, might alter them forever. We leave his memory intact.

 

[Enterprise1981]

CRUSHER: I have a question. What if he doesn't want to go back?

 

[Orac]

[Ready room]

La Forge: Hello, Hugh.

 

[LeadHead]

Hugh: Hello, Geordi.

 

[Vanyel]

Picard: Hugh, a Borg rescue vessel is approaching. It will be here within 3 hours. We can return you to the crash site where they will find you and take you home or if you wish, you can stay here with us.

 

[Orac]

Hugh: What I wish is irrelevant.