“The Best of Both Worlds, Part II” is episode one of season four of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
In the season three finale, “The Best of Both Worlds”, Captain Picard was taken by the Borg. When an away team was sent to rescue him, and bring the Borg cube out of warp, Picard was revealed to have been assimilated. He contacted the Enterprise, calling himself Locutus of Borg. Commander Riker, with the Borg ship out of warp, ordered Worf fire the weapon.
And it doesn’t even scratch the cube. Shelby says that’s impossible, but the Enterprise has to cease fire. The Borg couldn’t have adapted that quickly. Locutus states that the knowledge and experience of the human Picard is part of them now. They know all their possible actions. Your resistance is hopeless. Number One.
The Borg resume course and the Enterprise can’t follow until repairs are made. Admiral Hanson is told and Geordi says it will take 8-12 hours. The admiral says they will miss the party. Commander Riker says they will be there, even if late. Starfleet has assembled a fleet of 40 starships to meet the Borg at Wolf 359. Even the Klingons are sending ships. Commander Shelby warns the admiral that the Borg will be ready for their tactics, because of Captain Picard. Hanson tells her that there is no way that Picard will assist the Borg. He doesn’t realise that Picard won’t be given the option, which could be a fatal mistake. Hanson states that Picard is a casualty of war. Starfleet will hit the Borg with everything they have; either the Borg survive or Starfleet does. Riker is given a field commission to captain.
On the cube, more work is being done on Picard. By the looks of it, though unable to resist, he knows what’s happening.
Riker speaks to Worf about ways to adapt to fighting the Borg. And they are no longer just fighting the Borg, they are fighting Captain Picard. How do they defeat an enemy who knows them better than they know themselves? The Borg have no honour or courage, according to Worf. That is their greatest advantage against the Borg.
Geordi and Shelby are working in engineering when Worf and Riker arrive. Geordi could do with Worf’s help with the shields; Shelby fills in Riker. Riker tells Shelby they don’t have to like each other to work together, and he’d like her to keep keeping him on her toes. She thinks some would call that the role of the first officer. She says Riker needs her and he winds her up a bit in turn when Data contacts them. Message from Starfleet. They have engaged to Borg.
Riker arrives at the bridge. There’s a message from Admiral Hanson. He’s saying that the fight isn’t going well and they are attempting to withdraw, to regroup, when the transmission is severed.
In the conference room, as the Enterprise sets course for Wolf 359, Riker explains he needs everyone in their current positions. So, Commander Shelby will be first officer. Data and Dr Crusher have been working on a destructive breed of nanites, given their recent experiences, but it will be 2-3 weeks before they are ready. Troi states that nanites might be all that’s left of the Federation in 2-3 weeks.
Riker heads to the captain’s ready room and asks a question of the chair when Guinan arrives, asking if she can speak to him. And doesn’t take no for an answer. Guinan is used to being able to talk to the captain. In Ten Forward, people think they are going to die. They trust and like Riker, but don’t believe anyone can save them. Riker isn’t sure anyone can. Guinan tells him a man who’s convinced he will die tomorrow will usually find some way of making it happen.
He needs to let go of Captain Picard. No, he didn’t try to kill him, he tried to kill whatever is onboard that Borg ship. It would be easier if Picard had died. Guinan, despite her relationship with Picard, will let him go. Riker must do the same; there can only be one captain. Riker states that Picard wrote the book on this ship. Guinan tells him that the Borg know everything Picard knows; it’s time to throw that book away. The captain’s chair is now Riker’s.
Shortly after Guinan leaves, Wesley contacts Riker and says they are approaching Wolf 359. Worf can detect several vessels; Data cannot detect anything that would make those vessels usable or inhabited. The fleet is brought up on visual. It’s in pieces. Shelby names some of the ships. One is the Melbourne, whose command Riker had been offered.
The Borg have left. Riker wants Shelby to initiate her plan to separate the saucer section when they find the cube. Shelby reminds Riker that Picard knows of that plan. Riker is counting on it. He has a special mission for Data and Worf. When they encounter the cube again, Riker hails it from the battle bridge, to start what is clearly a distracting conversation. Because Data and Worf are going to board the cube and bring Picard – Locutus – back, in the hope that they will find some way of defeating the Borg. Because Q was very right. They are not prepared to face such as the Borg and things are going very badly.
Sadly, this is the last time the Borg will be at their peak until First Contact.