- Tuvok: They are contemptuous of authority, convinced that they are superior. Typical adolescent behavior, for any species.
- [Seven has doubts that the young Borg could be transformed into individuals again]
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: They do have one thing going for them - you. If there's anyone who can reach them, it's you.
- [the Borg children have regained their individuality]
- Icheb: [reading his assimilation profile] Icheb. My name was Icheb.
- Seven of Nine: Your name *is* Icheb.
- Mezoti: My designation is... Mezoti. I-it's a pretty name.
- Seven of Nine: Yes, it is... and it's all yours.
- The Borg: Negotiation is irrelevant. You will be assimilated.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Not today and not by you.
- Seven of Nine: When I was first captured by the Borg, I was young and frightened. I watched my parents assimilated. Then I was placed in a maturation chamber, and the hive mind began to restructure my synaptic pathways, purge my individuality. When I emerged five years later, the turmoil of my forced assimilation had been replaced with order. You may not be aware of this, Captain, but that order continues to be a source of strength for me. I could not have regained my humanity without it.
- First: We're Borg. You've forgotten what that means.
- Seven of Nine: The unity of the Collective. Common goals. The quest for perfection. I have not forgotten, but you don't need to remain drones to experience those things.
- [the First has been fatally injured]
- Mezoti: [trying to reassure him] We'll find a new home. You'll see.
- First: W-we are Borg.
- Seven of Nine: Yes... we are Borg.
- [the First shuts down]
- [Voyager encounters a Borg cube]
- Seven of Nine: There should be thousands of drones manning the vessel, but I'm picking up only five signatures.
- The Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
- B'Elanna Torres: It doesn't sound like they've lost their confidence.
- [the Borg cube's interior persistently reminds Ensign Kim of a haunted house he once visited as a child]
- Tuvok: Borg vessels may be forbidding, but they are not haunted.
- Seven of Nine: These drones have not fully matured. Where are the others?
- The Borg: There are no others. The drones aboard this vessel were...
- First: ...deactivated. We are the Borg.
- B'Elanna Torres: I can't believe we're negotiating with adolescent drones.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: They're not exactly drones. Mature Borg are predictable - they'll ignore you or assimilate you - but these... juveniles... they're unstable.
- Tom Paris: [the boys are playing poker] Look, why don't we make things a little more interesting? Forget the chips. Let's bet on tomorrow's work detail, all right? Whoever wins this hand gets the morning off.
- Chakotay: I'm in.
- Harry Kim: I'm in.
- Neelix: Sounds good to me.
- Chakotay: What have you got?
- Harry Kim: Two pair.
- Neelix: Does that beat a flush?
- Harry Kim: I *knew* you were bluffing!
- Chakotay: That beats me. Tom?
- Chakotay: [Tom says nothing; he's staring in horror at the viewscreen. The others follow his gaze, and see a Borg cube coming right at them] Battle stations!
- Tom Paris: [as everyone scrambles for their station] And I had a full house...
- Seven of Nine: You are neonatal drones. You should still be in maturation chambers.
- First: We've matured long enough.
- Seven of Nine: Doubtful. Your thoracic nodes haven't formed yet.
- [Icheb looks down and touches a bare spot on his chest]