The USS Equinox has taken The Doctor and Seven of Nine as hostages, leaving Janeway and her crew to deal with the hostile aliens the Equinox crew had introduced to them. Janeway is alienating herself from her crew as her revengeful feelings impairs her judgment in commanding her crew.

While the crew are enjoying shore leave, Voyager is visited by three mysterious strangers who ambush Seven of Nine in her quarters. When the identity of the strangers is revealed, a dark secret from Seven's Borg past begins to surface.