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Peanut Jar Mixers Development 7

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48693.2. We've altered course to investigate some unusually intense photonic activity in a nearby protostar. Lieutenant Torres and I are beaming aboard samples for further analysis. Torres: Containment field is active. We're ready for transport. Janeway: Energize. Torres: That's strange. Both containers should have been filled. Janeway: Here's the problem. A slight breach in the annular confinement beam. Torres: I'm aborting transport. Okay, let's try that again. Energizing. Torres: All right. I'll get a complete phase spectrum analysis on this as soon as possible. Janeway: If this photonic matter works as well as I think, it could boost the efficiency of our power converters fifteen percent. Torres: I'd say more like twenty. Janeway: How long will it take to finish the preliminary analysis? Torres: Um, six hours. Maybe more. Janeway: I'd like to get it sooner than that. I believe Ensign Kim is off duty. Could you use his help? Torres: Can you convince him to give up his free time? Janeway: I think I might be able to. Janeway to Kim. That's odd. Computer, locate Ensign Kim. Computer: Unable to comply. Ensign Kim is not aboard the ship. Tuvok: Sensor logs show no record of any unauthorized transporter activity and all shuttlecraft are accounted for. If Ensign Kim left the ship, he did not do so by conventional means. Chakotay: His last shift ended four hours ago, and he was scheduled for time on holodeck two when he went off duty. No one has seen him since. Janeway: Scan the holodeck. What's the matter? Tuvok: There is significant interference in the holodeck. I cannot obtain a clear scan. Janeway: Is it a system malfunction? Tuvok: I do not believe so. Janeway: Commander. Tuvok: The holodeck is definitely active. There appears to be a program in progress. Chakotay: Can you shut it down? Tuvok: Manual overrides are not functioning. I cannot terminate the program. Chakotay: All right, let's go in. Chakotay: Computer, identify program. Computer: The program in progress is a holonovel based on the epic Earth poem Beowulf. Tuvok: Beowulf? Chakotay: An ancient English epic, set in sixth century Denmark, if I remember correctly. It's about a hero named Beowulf who fights a creature that's terrorizing a kingdom and murdering its subjects. Monsters and swordplay. That sort of thing. Tuvok: I'm not detecting any life signs but there's still considerable interference. Chakotay: I can't determine the source. Freya: Speak as a friend or stand challenged. Tuvok: Computer, delete character. Chakotay: The holodeck command systems must not be functioning either. Tuvok: We must also consider the possibility that the safety programs are malfunctioning as well. Freya: I am Freya, shield maiden, daughter of King Hrothgar. I hold this guard post against any intruders who would bear us harm, so declare yourselves. I will hear your answer before you march any further through this land. Tuvok: We have no desire to trespass. However, we are on an urgent mission, so if you would allow us to continue, we would appreciate it. Freya: What land do you call home? Your faces tell me you are not men of the Danes. Are you kinsmen of Beowulf? Chakotay: Yes. We are Beowulf's kinsmen. My name is Chakotay and this is Tuvok. Have you seen Beowulf? Freya: Yes. He was like no other. Hair straight and raven black. Eyes bright with fierce fire. The burning gaze of a hero. Tuvok: Grandiloquence notwithstanding, that would qualify as a description of Mister Kim. How did you know he was Beowulf? Chakotay: This is Harry's holonovel. It'd make sense that he'd be playing the hero. She might be able to help us figure out what happened to him. Tuvok: A reasonable assumption. Freya: Your kinsman was a truly noble warrior. It is right you should avenge his death. Chakotay: Yes. But first we'd like to know more about how Beowulf died. Freya: Of course. Come. I will take you to the king. Freya: Hail, Lord Hrothgar! I bring new friends, Chakotay and Tuvok, kinsmen of Beowulf who come to avenge his death. Greet them well. Hrothgar: I would bid you welcome to my hall, but the days of glad tidings are gone from this place. We grieve with you for your kinsman. We had hoped that a warrior of Beowulf 's strength and renown would be able to deliver us from our curse. Chakotay: Could you tell us exactly what happened to him? Unferth: He met with the same fate as did thirty of our own warriors. Hrothgar: It's true. Grendel. Chakotay: That's the monster who's been attacking you. Hrothgar: Repelled by light and laughter, the beast waits until we slumber. Then bereft of remorse, Grendel comes in murderous rage to my hall to take my people, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. If you are wise, you will forego your vengeance and return home. Death lives here now. Unferth: My lord is fatigued. It is time to retire. Tuvok: We would like more information about Beowulf. Would it be possible to examine his body? Freya: The body of Beowulf is gone, dragged down to Grendel's foul lair, no doubt. The beast leaves no traces. Chakotay: Did anyone actually see the battle? Freya: No. Beowulf chose to face Grendel alone. Chakotay: Then I think we'd like to see this Grendel for ourselves. Unferth: To what purpose? To raise false hopes in our king again, as did your kinsman? Leave us alone in our misery. Freya: Unferth, these men are our guests. You will show them the hospitality they deserve. Unferth: They deserve nothing! If their Beowulf was truly the champion he claimed to be, then Grendel would be dead, his head mounted on a spear! Instead, we spend yet another night in terror. Tuvok: If you would allow us to assist you, perhaps we could help alleviate your terror. Unferth: Your names mean nothing to me. There are no songs of your deeds nor stories of the battles you have fought. Who are you to believe you can slay Grendel? Tuvok: We have no intention of slaying anyone. We simply wish to examine the creature. Unferth: Grendel might not wish to be examined without a fight. And if you would fight Grendel, then you will first prove your worth to me. Defend yourselves! Hrothgar: You are able warriors. You may stand sentry tonight. Freya: You are brave men. I hope to see you again, fate permitting. Chakotay: Chakotay to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: Captain, we haven't found any definite signs of Harry, but we've encountered several holodeck characters who claim to know what happened to him. Tuvok: Mister Kim was running a holonovel based on the poem Beowulf. According to the holo characters, he attempted to battle a creature of some kind and was killed in the process. Janeway: Killed? Tuvok: Since the Tuvok: Safety programs are malfunctioning, we must consider the possibility. Janeway: But you haven't found a body. Chakotay: No. If we shut down the program, we'd know if he's here or not. Janeway: Run a diagnostic on the holodeck's imaging control systems. If they're not working, try to repair them. And relay your tricorder scans to the Bridge. I'd like to analyze your readings. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Chakotay out. Tuvok: Primary imaging matrix should be here behind this wooden panel. I will attempt to locate the auxiliary matrix. This ancient Earth culture seems fascinated with monsters. Chakotay: Every culture has its demons. They embody the darkest emotions of its people. Giving them physical form in heroic literature is a way of exploring those feelings. The Vok'sha of Rakella Prime believe that hate is a beast which lives inside the stomach. Their greatest mythical hero is a man who ate stones for twenty three days to kill the beast and became a saint. Tuvok: Such fables are necessary only in cultures which unduly emphasize emotional behavior. I would point out there are no demons in Vulcan literature. Chakotay: That might account for its popularity. Janeway: Bridge to Chakotay. Chakotay: Chakotay here. Janeway: Commander Janeway: We've analyzed your tricorder data. A deep-level scan shows minute quantities of photonic energy. Chakotay: How could it be in the holodeck? Torres: We think it happened when we beamed aboard the samples from the protostar. There was a breach in the annular confinement beam, and photonic energy must have leaked into the transporter system. Janeway: And from there into other ship systems as well. We've already found some in the replicators. Tuvok: That raises an uncomfortable possibility, Captain. Tuvok: If the holodeck's conversion nodes were contaminated, Ensign Kim may have inadvertently undergone the process of matter conversion. Chakotay: You're saying he might have been converted into energy? Janeway: We have to consider it a possibility. After all, the holodeck are basically an outgrowth of transporter technology, changing energy into matter and back again every time a program is run. Torres: Except it's not supposed to convert people. Chakotay: Hold on, Captain. Chakotay: Something's coming. Tuvok: It is an object approximately one meter in diameter. Chakotay: I think Grendel may be paying us a visit. Tuvok: Captain, the holo-characters told us Kim was killed by Grendel. An examination of this part of the program might be advisable. Janeway: Proceed. Torres: Captain, I'm picking up signs of matter energy conversion. Janeway: Emergency transport. Get them out of there now. Torres: I can't get a lock. Janeway: Commander Chakotay, report. Mister Tuvok. Torres: Captain, I've lost their life signs. They're gone. Torres: This is a scan of the holodeck just before we lost contact with Chakotay and Tuvok. The readings are pretty garbled, but I'm still inclined to think there is a malfunction in the holodeck's matter conversion nodes. Janeway: Photonic energy leaking into the subsystems could certainly damage the nodes, and it might have created a defect in the program that occurs when Grendel shows up. Torres: A defect that dematerialized our people. Paris: I'm not willing to accept the fact that Harry and the others are gone for good. Their molecular patterns might still be there. And if they are, we might be able to rematerialize them. The only thing we can do is go back into the holodeck, study this energy surge, find out what exactly happened. Torres: Anyone who goes back in there might wind up just like the others. Paris: Maybe not anyone. Emh: Me? Paris: A hologram can't be converted into energy. It already is energy. You're the perfect choice. Emh: How do you intend to transfer me out of Sickbay? Janeway: We'll have to modify your data stream protocols and imaging systems. But the fact that you're going to the holodeck simplifies things. The projection systems are already in place there. Torres: And we're going to give you complete control over your magnetic containment field. You'll be able to make yourself solid or let matter pass through you at will. Janeway: Nothing on the holodeck will be able to touch you unless you want it to. Emh: I see. Janeway: Think of this as your first away mission, Doctor. I can understand your hesitation. But there are three lives at stake, and you have the best chance of anyone on this ship to save them. Do you understand that? Emh: Yes. Janeway: Good. Your job is to find the photonic energy surge and scan it closely. We need all the data we can get. You'll have to interact with the characters in the holonovel, so make sure you're familiar with the Beowulf story. Your circuit modifications will be finished in three hours. Emh: Yes, Captain. Emh: Computer, access full text of ancient Earth epic Beowulf including historical annotation and cultural references. Computer: Data compilation in progress. Kes: Doctor? Emh: Ah, Kes. Come in. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but my absence is no reason to suspend your studies. How are you doing with the protein synthesis text? Kes: I finished it yesterday. Emh: Good. Then you may as well start learning how to operate the base-pair sequencer. You'll find the manual in the technical database. Was there something else? Kes: There's something bothering you. Emh: Not at all. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a great deal of preparation to do. Kes: You're nervous about this mission, aren't you? Emh: Nervous? I can perform emergency surgery without getting nervous. I can make life-or-death decisions about patients without getting nervous. What makes you think I'm nervous? Kes: Those things are familiar to you. You've been programmed to do them but, this is different, isn't it? Emh: I can describe every detail of every piece of equipment in this Sickbay from biobed to neurostimulator, but I've never even seen a sky or a forest, let alone Vikings and monsters. I can't afford to fail but I don't know what to expect in that holodeck. Kes: You've been telling me that you deserve to be treated like a member of the crew. Well, here's your chance. And I can tell you that none of the crew knows exactly what to expect when they go on an away mission. Doctor, have you chosen a name for yourself yet? Emh: I have narrowed the list to three possibilities. Kes: Then let me suggest you choose one before you go. It might help you feel more like a Starfleet officer. Emh: You may be right. I'll give it some thought. And Kes, thank you. Kes: Good luck. Paris: Paris to Janeway. We're ready for the transfer, Captain. Janeway: Good. Go ahead. Paris: How about you, Doctor? Are you ready? Emh: Of course. Paris: I've already transported a tricorder onto the holodeck. Engaging transfer circuits now. Janeway: Is everything all right, Doctor? Emh: Yes. There were no problems with the transfer. I'm on my way. Freya: Speak as a friend or stand challenged. I am Emh: Yes, you're Freya, the king's daughter. A female warrior known as a Shield maiden. Freya: We have never met and yet you know my name? Are you a sorcerer? Emh: No. It's simply that your reputation precedes you. A warrior of your skill. You're quite famous where I come from. Freya: I did not know that word of my deeds has carried to other lands. Tell me what you have heard. Emh: Well, your battle with Freya: Scyld, the Gar-Dane? Emh: It's practically legend. An incredible story. Freya: I burned his hall to the ground. There was nothing left but ashes. Emh: Charming. Freya: And did you hear of my campaign against the Heatho-bards to the south? I fought them for Emh: I'd be delighted to hear all about it but I'm on an urgent mission of my own. I'm looking for Grendel. Freya: Only a warrior would seek that which others flee. What is your name? Emh: I'm glad you asked. My name is Schweitzer. Doctor Schweitzer. Freya: Schweitzer. A hero's name. Come, I will take you to the king. The hall is not far from here. Freya: Look, fortune is with us. Atuta, a most powerful plant. Emh: What exactly do you intend to do with it? Freya: We brew the Atuta into a broth which we drink before battle. It brings on the spirit of the bear and gives us strength to swing our swords. Emh: It's more likely to bring on profuse sweating, convulsions and acute delirium. This is an amonita muscaria, a fungus common to sub-arctic climates and, let me assure you, quite poisonous. Freya: Yes, but those it does not kill it makes strong. A most hardy plant. Are you a master of herb lore? Emh: In a way, I suppose I am. Freya: You are truly a man of many talents, Lord Schweitzer. Your people must value you greatly. Emh: You would think so. Freya: Hail, Lord Hrothgar! I bring a new friend, Schweitzer, who has come to destroy Grendel. Greet him well. Hrothgar: I would bid you welcome to my hall, but the days of glad tidings are gone from this place. Emh: I'm sorry to hear that, but with your permission, sir, I'd like to stay here tonight and wait for Grendel. Unferth: To what purpose? To raise false hopes again, as have others before you? Leave us alone in our misery. Emh: I'm afraid I can't do that. I have a mission. Unferth: Your name means nothing to me. There are no songs of your deeds nor stories of the battles you have fought. Who are you to believe you can slay Grendel? Emh: I'm simply a warrior. I'm only concerned with Grendel. I have no quarrel with you. Unferth: Indeed you do. And if you will fight Grendel, then you will first prove your worth to me. Defend yourself! Freya: Fate be with you. Unferth: If this is your best, then you should thank me. Grendel would destroy you with far greater ease than I. Emh: This is absurd. Unferth: So be it. Emh: You might want to put some ice on that. It'll take down the swelling. Freya: Our time of deliverance is at hand. We have been given a new champion, one whom weapons cannot hurt! The one who will destroy Grendel and end our suffering! All hail the hero! All hail Schweitzer! All: All hail Schweitzer! Schweitzer! Hrothgar: Eat. Eat. Emh: What is it? Hrothgar: Elk. When I built this hall, the forest ran thick with them. But today, game's more scarce. Enjoy it, Lord Schweitzer. It is a great delicacy in our land. Emh: It's quite good. Hrothgar: We rarely hear stories of other lands. Honor us with a tale of your home to gladden our hearts. Emh: I'm not much of a storyteller. Hrothgar: Please, indulge us. Unferth: Yes. Tell us a tale of your prowess in battle. Emh: Well, there was the time I managed to stop the spread of Paronisti measles before it became epidemic. For a while, things were touch-and-go. Six people came down with it. Fortunately, I was able to isolate the endoplasmic virus and replicate it in order to form an antibody. Even then, it wasn't altogether clear I could create an effective vaccine, but I worked at it for seventy four hours straight and managed to create an inoculation that successfully protected the crew. Unferth: You'll excuse me, my lord, if I take leave of this folly. Hrothgar: A truly unique tale. Come, Lord Schweitzer. Allow me to show you my home. If you are in need of anything, please do not hesitate to ask. Emh: All I need is to find Grendel. Hrothgar: You're a true champion, always ready for the fight. Ah, perhaps you would like some mead to fortify yourself for the battle. Emh: No, thank you. I'm fine. Hrothgar: Away! You're disturbing Lord Schweitzer! It was with that weapon I made my first kill. I was eleven years old. Emh: You killed someone when you were eleven? Hrothgar: Well, it's a poor weapon, I agree, but a token of my youth. You must have similar trophies from your own childhood. Emh: I don't remember much about my childhood. Hrothgar: Well, I'm certain you distinguished yourself in battle many times and did honor to your father. Unferth: My lord! It grows late. It is time to retire. Hrothgar: Always with you it is time to sleep. Perhaps you have forgotten that the work of a warrior is battle not rest. You would do well to learn from Lord Schweitzer. This was a beautiful hall once, before Grendel. You will make it so again. You have our thanks. Emh: I appreciate your faith in me, sire. Dane: Come, my lord. Unferth: You may have deceived them with your tricks, but the king is old and desperate for hope, and the rest are just fools! Emh: You have nothing to worry about, Unferth. Once I'm done with Grendel, I'll be leaving. Unferth: We shall see. The morning will prove if your deeds are as strong as your words. Freya: The nights here are cold. I wanted to make certain you were comfortable. Emh: I appreciate your concern. I thought everyone had gone to sleep. Freya: Sleep does not come easily in this place. Not anymore. I was taught the world would end in winter. First there would be a desperate cold, followed by a demon who would devour the sun. It has been long since we felt summer, and a demon does walk these halls. Emh: Freya, your world isn't coming to an end. Freya: Perhaps not. But it has changed. Every night, the monster comes. And every day, our numbers are lessened and no one will speak of it. No one speaks of the fear that he will be next. Each meal become quieter than the last, and after time, we barely speak at all. Do you know what it is to be alone among many and unable to speak your fears? Emh: I think I do. Freya: How do you survive? Emh: I'm still learning how. I'm sure that's not very helpful. Freya: Sometimes I believe I can see the moment of my own death. It comes in battle, I think, my sword raised high. It is said that fate often spares a doomed warrior if his courage can prevail, but there have been days when I have felt my own courage falter, and then you came. Emh: I'm glad I could help. Freya: Perhaps I can help you. Before combat, it is most important to stay warm. Emh: Well, you've done an excellent job with the fire. I'm sure I'll Freya: Fire is not the only heat, Lord Schweitzer. You know where I sleep. Emh: Holodeck to Bridge. Janeway: We're monitoring you. Emh: Captain, I'm picking up readings of photonic energy. Emh: Captain, it's right in front of me. It's some kind of photonic energy formation. Emh: Emergency! Get me out of here! Emh: Now! Janeway: Sickbay, emergency transfer. Paris: I'm on it. Janeway: Sickbay. Report. Paris: Er, I have him, Captain, more or less. I think you'd better come take a look at this. Paris: How does it feel? Emh: Just like the old one, actually. Janeway: Apparently, contact with photonic energy disrupted your magnetic cohesion, but we're still not sure if that's what happened to the others. Torres: Captain, take a look at this. The readings from the Doctor's tricorder when the energy surge made contact with him. Janeway: They're showing a synaptic pattern. I wouldn't expect to see something like this in photonic energy. Is this the first time those patterns have shown up like this? Torres: Yes, but it's the first time we've had clear readings from a moment of contact. I wonder if I could produce these same patterns in the samples we have in Engineering. Janeway: If you can, you might be able to get more information about how photonic energy damaged the holodeck systems. Torres: I'm on it. Paris: I'll give you a hand. Paris: Okay, I've initiated a polarization field. I'm introducing it into the container. Torres: We're getting a reaction. Paris: It's producing a synaptic pattern, all right. Highly complex. Torres: What's that? Paris: Whatever it is, it's cutting through the bulkheads. Torres: Let's get a containment field around it. Paris: It's heading for deck fourteen, section C five. Torres: Okay, now I've got a containment field blocking it. Paris: Oh. It's changing direction. It's like it's avoiding the containment field. Torres: Let's give it another try. Now it's blocked on three sides. Paris: It's changing course, heading for the open side. Torres: Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Paris: Those synaptic patterns could be some sort of neural net. Torres: We may be dealing with a life form. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: We're detecting an energy mass Janeway: Moving through the ship. Torres: Right. It broke through the sample container. Captain, it's showing the properties of a life form. Janeway: A life form? Torres: It seems to have a neural net, and it's demonstrating signs of intelligent behavior. Paris: It's cutting its way through the ship, heading for the outer hull. It'll breach in about fifteen seconds. Janeway: Are there any critical systems in its path? Paris: Negative. Janeway: Then let it go. Janeway: Be ready to seal the hull breach with a force field. I'll have a damage control team standing by for repairs. And let's track it on sensors when it gets out. Paris: Captain Paris: It's penetrating the outer hull. Torres: Force field is in place. Paris: I'm showing the energy form one hundred meters off our port side. Janeway: Let's get it on screen. Janeway: What was that? Janeway: It appears to be some kind of photonic lattice. Torres: And it seems pretty clear that the energy form was trying to get back to it as though it's a shelter of some kind. Janeway: Or maybe a transportation device. Their equivalent of a ship. At any rate, we had sensor contact for a few seconds, and we picked up three distinct bio-electrical patterns inside it. Emh: Bio-electrical? What are you suggesting, Captain? Janeway: We have three missing crewmen. Our best guess has been that they were somehow converted into energy while they were on the holodeck. We find no sign of them on this ship. Then we pick up three discrete patterns in that lattice. Three patterns that don't match anything else in that lattice, and which have biological components. I don't think it's a stretch to hypothesize that those are our crew members, converted into a kind of photonic energy. Torres: But what are they doing over there? How did they get there? Janeway: We have good evidence now that there are photonic beings that live in that protostar. Life forms that have intelligence. We didn't know that when we beamed those energy samples on board. We had no idea that what we were doing, in essence, was capturing those life forms. We locked them in a containment field and began to experiment on them. If my people were taken like that, I know what my response would be. I would do whatever was necessary to get them back. Emh: Then you think they have simply retaliated against us? Janeway: Yes. These beings can manifest themselves on the holodeck in the matrix of a holo-character. That's how they were able to take our crew members hostage. Emh: Captain, if you're right about this, then we should return the remaining life form. Janeway: A gesture, to show we mean well. It's certainly worth a try. Emh: If I took the life form onto the holodeck and released it to Grendel, maybe they'll understand and release our people. Janeway: Ordinarily, officers go through intensive training before they're put into a first contact situation but you're the only one who can do this safely. Emh: I'd like to finish what I started, Captain. I can do this. Janeway: I agree. Make arrangements to transfer the life form to a container so the Doctor can carry it. But remember, if you're holding the container, you'll have to stay in solid form. Emh: I understand. Emh: Freya? Freya! Freya: Lord Schweitzer! We thought that Grendel had taken you. Emh: Not entirely. Freya: How did you survive? Emh: That would be difficult to explain. But, that's not important right now. This is a talisman to destroy Grendel. I Unferth: You lie! No man could survive an encounter with Grendel unless he were in league with the beast. You have brought that talisman to destroy us all! Freya: That is not true! He has returned to help us. Unferth: No! You speak his lies now. He has bewitched you. Emh: Unferth, I need to get this talisman to the Hall. Unferth: Then that gives me reason enough to make sure it never gets there. Emh: No. Please, you don't know what you're doing. Unferth: Prepare to die, demon. Emh: Freya. Freya: My lord, my time has come. Emh: Freya, I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. Freya: It is a good death. Take my sword. Stop Unferth, and Grendel. Emh: I won't forget you. Freya: Then I die happily with your name on my lips. Farewell, Schweitzer. Unferth: Here, sire. Emh: My lord, you know me as a true warrior. You know I am the one hope you have to rid your kingdom of Grendel. That talisman will aid me in my conquest. I must have it. Unferth: Do not listen to him. He has already killed Freya. Unferth: Stop him, my Lord! He is a madman! Emh: The only reason you won't die is that I've taken an oath to do no harm. Emh: Grendel, I'm ready for you. Emh: I don't know if you can understand me, but watch, I'm setting this one free. Emh: There's no need for any more of this. Please, we ask you to return our crew. Paris: Captain, the photonic lattice has reappeared. Janeway: Scan it. All sensors. Torres: I'm reading a massive particle surge on our holodeck. Paris: The lattice is gone again. Emh: Holodeck to Bridge. Janeway: Go ahead, Doctor. Janeway: What is it? Emh: We have them back, Captain. All three of them. Janeway: Good work, Doctor. Kim: Yeah, good work. Would you mind telling me where I was? Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48710.5. Since the return of our missing crewmen, we've been unable to locate any further traces of the photonic aliens. Emh: I don't know if the being understood language or just my behavior. It would have been interesting to pursue the relationship further. Janeway: It's one of the most exciting aspects of space exploration, meeting new species, establishing communication, sharing differences and similarities. Emh: I'm sorry none of that happened this time. Janeway: But it did. It just didn't happen in very predictable ways. But if you think about it, we entered into conflict, communicated, and eventually established a peace treaty with them. I'm placing a special commendation in the logs for exemplary performance by the Chief Medical Officer during his first away mission. Emh: Thank you. Janeway: I'd like to cite you by name. Kes tells me you've chosen one. Is that true? Emh: I had, but I'm not sure I want to keep it. The last time I heard that name spoken was a painful one. I don't think I want to be reminded. Janeway: Sounds like you had quite an adventure on that holodeck, Doctor. Emh: Yes, I would say so. Janeway: Well, something tells me you haven't had your last one. Emh: Something tells me the same thing.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48734.2. Sometimes it's a good idea to get away from being a Captain for a while. To that end, I've started participating in a new holonovel. The setting is ancient England. Templeton: The drawing room is in here. Templeton: Bridget, take Mrs Davenport's cape, and tell Lord Burleigh that she's here. Bridget: Yes, ma'am. Templeton: There's tea. Janeway: That would be lovely. Thank you. Templeton: Tea is usually served at five thirty and dinner's at eight thirty. His lordship doesn't appreciate being kept waiting. Janeway: I'll be sure to be prompt. Templeton: Let's make something clear, Mrs Davenport. My job is to make sure that this household runs smoothly. I have been with Lord Burleigh for nearly twenty years because this household runs smoothly. He has come to trust me, and I will not brook any behavior that might jeopardize that trust, so you will be expected to follow the rules that I have set down. Janeway: Mrs Templeton, I have no wish to do anything that might disrupt this household but let me make something perfectly clear. I've been hired by Lord Burleigh, and it's his orders I will follow, not yours. Templeton: You would be wise not to make an enemy of me. I can make sure we have another governess by next week. Janeway: I suggest we try to get along, Mrs Templeton. Surely there's room here for both of us? Templeton: One lump or two? Janeway: Two, please. Templeton: Lord Burleigh will be here directly. Burleigh: Forgive me. I've startled you. Janeway: I'm sorry. I didn't here you come in. Burleigh: Mrs Davenport, I'll come to the point. I am not an easy man to live with. Since my wife died I'm told I'm even worse. She was a buffer for me. Janeway: I understand. Burleigh: The children are the ones who've suffered. I've not been much of a father to them, and God knows I can't be a mother. I'm not asking that you replace their mother, but I think that they'll respond to a woman's sensibilities. You might fill a void in their lives. Janeway: I'll certainly try, your Grace. Burleigh: Young Henry is sometimes a bit stubborn and little Beatrice misses her mother terribly. I hope they won't make things difficult for you. One thing above all I must demand. You are never, under any circumstances, to go onto the fourth floor. Is that clear? Kim: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead, Mister Kim. Kim: I've got Commander Chakotay and Kim: Mister Tuvok's shuttlecraft on long range sensors, but they're not responding to our hails. The shuttle's been badly damaged. I'm reading multiple hull fractures. Janeway: Life signs? Kim: Two, but they're very faint. Janeway: Beam them to Sickbay as soon as they're in range. I'm on my way. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Doctor. Emh: They've each taken a blast to the head by some kind of energy discharge. Cardiostimulator. Mister Tuvok has a serious concussion, but it's nothing I can't handle. As for Commander Chakotay, all of the bioneural energy has been extracted from his brain. Janeway: Extracted? Emh: Yes. From the looks of it, someone drained the energy from every single axon and dendrite right down to the synapses. I can keep his heart beating and I can keep him breathing, but other than that there's nothing I can do. He's brain dead. Tuvok: The attack lasted no more than a few seconds, but it was highly effective. I feel Commander Chakotay and I are fortunate to be alive. Janeway: What happened, Lieutenant? Tuvok: We had completed our trade mission with the Ilidarians and were on course to the rendezvous point when we encountered a dark matter nebula. As we began a routine analysis, an unidentified ship emerged and attacked our shuttle. Janeway: Any idea why? Tuvok: No. They would not respond to our hails. We were hit by an energy discharge which penetrated our shields and filled the cabin. Commander Chakotay lost consciousness immediately, and I was barely able to activate the autopilot before I was overcome as well. Janeway: And the alien ship? Tuvok: The last image I saw was the ship flying back into the nebula, but the details are difficult to remember. Emh: Can you tell me anything about the energy discharge? Its modulation or phase distribution? Tuvok: No. There was no time for a detailed analysis. However, the shuttle's sensors may have recorded information that could be helpful. I will download the sensor logs. Janeway: Why would someone want to extract his bioneural energy? Emh: I don't know, but if I'm to have any hope of reviving him, I must know precisely how his neurons were depleted. It would be a great help if I could examine the weapon. Janeway: We're going back to that nebula to try to find the ship that attacked you. Janeway to Bridge. Prepare to lay in a new course. Mister Tuvok will provide you with the coordinates. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: We'll keep you posted, Doctor. Tuvok: The energy discharge overloaded the shuttlecraft's central computer core. All sensor data have been erased. Janeway: Lieutenant Torres is in Sickbay now. When she reports, tell her to go over those damaged sensor logs with a fine tooth comb to see if she can reconstruct any of the data. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Well, this is going to make things a little more difficult. I've been using the long range sensors to analyze the nebula you discovered. It's sending out strong electromagnetic radiation. We won't be able to scan inside it. You know, it sounds to me like a perfect hiding place. Tuvok: I agree. Janeway: I don't like the idea of going in there blind. Let me see if I can reconfigure the sensors to a multiphasic bandwidth. Tuvok: Is there a problem? Janeway: I've lost all sensor contact with the nebula. I don't understand. Wait a minute, we've altered course. Mister Paris? Paris: Our new heading is one twenty one mark six. We've completely come about, Captain, but it wasn't me. Janeway: Mister Kim, check the navigational computer. Who ordered the course change? Kim: According to my readings, the command was issued from the conn. Paris: I'm telling you, it wasn't me, and the helm controls are working perfectly. No sign of a malfunction. Janeway: Ensign, transfer helm control to your station and reset our original course. Kim: Course laid in. Janeway: Mister Paris, I want you to run a full diagnostic on the conn station. See if you can isolate the problem. Paris: Aye, Captain. Emh: You might have asked before adorning my Sickbay with animal remains. Torres: It's a medicine wheel, a talisman used by Chakotay's tribe. He once showed me how it works. He said if anything ever happened to him, that I should perform a special healing ritual. Emh: Ah. Torres: The wheel represents both the universe outside and the universe inside our minds as well. They believe each is a reflection of the other. When a person is sleeping, or on a vision quest, it's said that his soul is walking the wheel. But if he's in a coma or near death, it means that he's gotten lost. These stones are signposts to help point the way back. Not exactly standard medical procedure, I know, but Emh: You've placed the Coyote Stone at the crossroads of the fifth and sixth realms, which would divert Commander Chakotay's soul, that is his consciousness, into the Mountains of the Antelope Women. According to his tradition, an extremely attractive locale. He might not want to leave. Torres: How do you know about the medicine wheel? Emh: It's my business to know about a variety of medical treatments, including those based on psycho-spiritual beliefs. Unfortunately, in this case, the medicine wheel won't be much help. There's just not enough of his mind left to work with. Torres: Find your way home, Commander. Kes: Hello? Is someone here? Kes: It's like sensing some kind of presence, as if someone else were here. Neelix: Your telepathic senses again. Is this like last week, when you went into Sickbay and you knew Lieutenant Hargrove had been there, only he'd left hours before? Kes: It's not the same. That was like, like hearing faint music from a faraway place. When I was in my quarters just now Neelix: Mmm hmm? Kes: It was almost tangible. I felt like there was someone in the room with me. Neelix: Who was it? Kes: I don't know. A presence, that's all I can say. Durst: Warp engines still within normal parameters, Captain. Janeway: We just changed course again. Mister Kim? Kim: Our new heading is one twenty one mark six. Janeway: Get us back on course. Kim: The helm's not responding. I'm locked out. Tuvok: This command station has been blocked. Janeway: From where? Tuvok: The lockout originated on deck twelve, section B seven, navigational control. Janeway: See if you can re-establish control. Paris: I've checked every ODN junction in the helm control network, and I still can't find the problem. Janeway: It seems we've developed a new problem while you were gone. Tuvok: Helm control re-established. Janeway: Get us back on course for the nebula. Janeway to Torres. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: Who's in the navigational control? Torres: No one right now. I was there this morning, and Lieutenant Paris was in there just a few minutes ago. Paris: That's not true. Janeway: Are you certain about that, B'Elanna? Torres: Positive. I just saw him leave about five minutes ago. Janeway: Janeway out. Explanation, Mister Paris? Paris: I passed by the navigational control on my way back from the Jefferies tube, but that's all. Am I being accused of something here? Tuvok: We are merely following a line of deductive reasoning, Lieutenant. Both deviations from our course were apparently issued from locations where you were working. Paris: I'm telling you, I didn't do it. Janeway: Well, I'm willing to rule out mutiny for time being. I believe you, Mister Paris, but we have to consider the possibility that you might be having a problem with your memory. I want you to go down to Sickbay. Have the doctor check you out. Paris: All right. Janeway: Lieutenant Durst. Emh: Neurotransmitters at normal. Synaptic functions stable. Hold still. This is an extremely sensitive scan. Paris: What I wouldn't give to see good old Doc Brown right now. Emh: What? Paris: Doc Brown. Lollipops in the waiting room, no holocomic books more than six months old, house calls. I caught a bad cold one time when I was nine years old. The doctor whipped up a pot of garlic soup and brought it over himself. Tuvok: Your report, Doctor? Emh: I still have a series of tests to perform, but other than his irritating lapses into nostalgia, I see nothing wrong with him. Paris: I guess you're going to have to round up another suspect, Tuvok. Tuvok: On the contrary, Lieutenant. I ran a forensic sweep of the navigational control. I found traces of your DNA on the console. Paris: That's impossible. Tuvok: The cellular residue you left behind is less than twelve hours old. Do you still wish to maintain your innocence? Paris: To be honest, I don't know what to think. Emh: Perhaps my biomolecular scan will reveal something. Tuvok: Keep me informed, Doctor. Tuvok: I believe I have found the ion trail of the ship that attacked us. It leads directly into the dark matter nebula. This is the nebula, and this is the ion trail. As you can see, their flight path is highly erratic. Janeway: These planetoids inside the nebula, they may be generating a dangerous gravitational effect, like storm currents. Chances are they've mapped those currents and they're taking the only safe way through. Tuvok: A reasonable assumption. I recommend we follow their exact flight path. Janeway: Agreed. Lay in a course to the Kim: Captain, we're dropping to impulse power. I'm reading a massive energy drain all over the ship, and the warp core is shutting down. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Report. Lieutenant Torres, please respond. Mister Kim, take the Bridge. Tuvok, you're with me. Janeway: Torres, what's going on? Torres: Captain? Janeway: You've initiated an emergency warp core shutdown. Torres: What? Janeway: Too late. The warp core is offline. It'll take at least two hours to regenerate the dilithium matrix. Ensign, get the rest of the systems back online. Apparently, you've just crashed the main computer, locked out the Bridge and stopped this ship cold. Do you want to tell me why? Torres: Captain, I don't know what you're talking about. Janeway: What the hell is going on here? Emh: I found something, and you're not going to like it. This is Mister Paris' memory engram for the last twenty four hours. As you can see, it has a very consistent and distinctive modulation, except at thirteen fifty hours. For one minute forty seven seconds, a different memory pattern appeared. Thirteen fifty hours is also the exact moment when Mister Paris presumably tampered with navigational control. It gets worse. In addition to that, there is another disruption at twelve oh two hours, the moment when he allegedly entered the new course at the helm. I also found there's an identical disruption in Lieutenant Torres's pattern at the moment she shut down warp power. I should point out that this is a neuroelectrical signature, what I believe to be another brain wave that was superimposed on their own. Paris: Another brain wave? Whose? Emh: I don't know. It has an unusual energy signature, one I've never seen before. Janeway: Doctor, what are you saying? Emh: One possible explanation, and the only one I can think of at the moment, is that an unknown alien entity momentarily took control of their minds. Tuvok: Intruder alert. All security personnel, go to Condition Four. Captain, it is possible the intruder returned with us in the shuttlecraft. Janeway: If we're right and there is an alien here, it seems intent on preventing us from going back to the nebula. What's more, it seems to have the ability to jump from person to person. If that's true, it could be in any one of us, controlling our actions without us realizing it. Emh: Well, except for me. Paris: That's true. So far it's only affected organic beings. If it could control the computer and navigational systems directly, it probably would've done it already. Janeway: Which means the doctor is the only person on board we can trust at this moment. Doctor, until we have eliminated this alien presence, I can't take the risk that it could take over any of the senior officers. I'd like to transfer all command codes to you until further notice. Emh: What would that mean? That I am in command? Janeway: No, but you will act as a failsafe. If you feel at any time that any one of us are under the influence of the alien, you can countermand our orders and take control of the ship. Do you feel up to it? Emh: Well, of course. I make life and death decisions every day. Paris: I feel better already. Janeway: Computer, transfer all command codes to the holographic doctor. Authorisation Janeway eight four one alpha six five. Computer: Command code transfer complete. Janeway: Let's see if we can get the warp core back online ahead of schedule. Torres: Aye, Captain. Kes: Captain, I heard what's happened. I think you're right. There is an alien presence here, I've been sensing something unusual all day. I don't know how to describe it, but I know there's something here. Janeway: Do you know where? Kes: No, just that it's on the ship. Tuvok: Captain, Kes's telepathic abilities are undiskiplined. If I could initiate a Vulcan mind-meld with her, I may be able to help her focus those abilities to detect the alien more accurately. Kes: I'm willing to do that. Janeway: Very well. Proceed, Mister Tuvok. Kim: The captain wants to seal off all critical areas of the ship. Make sure the access hatch of Jefferies tube A-seventeen is secured. Durst: So what exactly are we securing against? Kim: We're not sure yet, but we think it's some kind of noncorporeal alien. Durst: Noncorporeal? That means it can probably move through a bulk Kim: Medical emergency. Deck seven, section thirteen alpha. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. It appears that Mister Tuvok and Kes were both hit by an unidentified energy discharge. Tuvok was not badly hurt, but Kes is in a coma. Tuvok: It was similar to the attack on the shuttlecraft. An energy discharge came through the bulkhead, filled the turbolift and hit both of us. Torres: We didn't pick up a discharge of any kind on the internal sensors. Tuvok: Perhaps this type of energy is beyond our sensor bandwidth. Janeway: Perhaps, but that discharge had to come from somewhere. Paris: The most thorough scanning device we have on board is a magneton scanner. We could search the ship centimeter by centimeter, but that wouldn't do much good. This alien could be anywhere at any time. Torres: But what if we could perform a magneton scan on the entire ship all at once? Janeway: What do you suggest? Torres: A magneton flash scan. We could reconfigure every sensor array on the ship to emit a single burst. It might be enough to illuminate any anomalous energy. Harry, what do you think? Kim: Whoa. What did I do? Tuvok: Stay where you are, Mister Kim. Torres: I don't see anything unusual, but that doesn't mean anything. Janeway: Mister Kim, what were you doing just now? Kim: I was just thinking. I was remembering an old study I saw about magneton scanners. I guess my mind started to wander a bit. Janeway: I'm very disturbed by what just happened here. We don't have any idea what occurs when someone is occupied by this alien presence. If we start pointing a finger every time someone gets distracted, it won't be long before outright paranoia starts sweeping the ship. Tuvok, B'Elanna, I want you to get started on that magneton flash scan. It's worth a try. Dismissed. Neelix: And that's not all. Ensign Parsons ordered his pejuta cold. Emh: So? Neelix: He always drinks it hot. Hot! With lemon. But not today. Today it's cold pejuta, hold the lemon. Emh: Mister Neelix, just because a man changes his drink order doesn't mean he's possessed by an alien. Neelix: Nevertheless, don't you think you should scan him or dissect him or something, just to make sure? Emh: I could examine every crew member you've mentioned so far, every person on board, for that matter and it wouldn't do any good. From what we can tell, the alien can jump from person to person at will. Neelix: It sounds to me like you're defending Ensign Parsons. Emh: I'm not defending him, I'm just pointing out that you're acting a little paranoid. In fact, one could say you're acting a little too paranoid. Neelix: Are you suggesting that I, that I could possibly? Doctor, I can assure you, not even an alien intruder could make me do anything to hurt Kes. Emh: All I'm suggesting, Mister Neelix, is that paranoia is only going to aggravate your already precarious emotional condition. Try to relax. I don't think Kes has suffered any permanent neurological damage. I'll let you know the moment I've had any success in reviving her. Neelix: I'll be back as soon as you wake, dearest. And don't worry, you're in good hands. Thank you, Doctor. Emh: What are you doing? Tuvok: I am reconfiguring the sensor relays on the ship. This will only take a minute. Emh: Must you do it now? I'm in the middle of a treatment. Tuvok: I am sorry, Doctor. Captain's orders. How is she? Emh: No irreparable damage. In fact, her injuries are quite different from Commander Chakotay's. Her bioneural energy is completely intact, and I'm curious about these contusions on her neck and shoulder. They're not consistent with an energy discharge. They look more like wounds sustained during a physical struggle. Tuvok: Odd. There was no physical struggle that I can recall. Emh: I just don't understand it. The only thing these injuries come close to resembling is an extreme trauma to the trapezius nerve bundle. It's as though her nerve fibers have been ruptured. Janeway: Come in. Tuvok: Lieutenant Torres and I will be ready to initiate the magneton scan in approximately two hours. You should be aware that it will be a high-intensity burst. It will cause dizziness and disorientation in all crew members, including myself, for several seconds. Janeway: Make a ship-wide announcement before you initiate the scan. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. There is another matter of some concern. It appears that Kes's injuries were not caused by an energy discharge. The doctor has found evidence that she was physically assaulted. Janeway: Assaulted? But you weren't physically assaulted. Tuvok: That is correct. Janeway: Is it possible that you inflicted her wounds? Tuvok: Me? Janeway: Maybe you were inhabited by the alien at that moment. Tuvok: It is possible. Perhaps we should have the doctor run a neurological scan to see if I show a memory disruption. Janeway: Agreed. Janeway to Sickbay. Computer, activate Emergency Medical Holographic System. Computer: Unable to comply. The EMH program has been disabled. Janeway: Disabled? By whom? Computer: Unknown. Janeway: The Doctor's initialisation routine has been locked out. It's encrypted. I can't reactivate the program. Tuvok: It appears the lockout originated somewhere above deck four. Janeway: Why would someone deactivate the Doctor? Tuvok: The Doctor does hold the command codes to Voyager. Janeway: Yes, but once he was deactivated the codes automatically reverted back to me. Tuvok: If we assume the alien could not take over the holographic doctor, then logically it would try to force the command codes back into a humanoid host. Janeway: Me. It's too dangerous for one person to retain the command codes at this point. I suggest we divide my command protocols into two code groupings. Tuvok: A sensible precaution. Janeway: You would be the reasonable choice to hold the second grouping, if there's any such thing as a reasonable choice right now. The alien could occupy either one of us at any time. Tuvok: But presumably not both of us at the same time. Janeway: I'll tell the bridge crew the plan. We'll all have to act as checks and balances for each other. Janeway: I want you all to be aware of something that has happened, something I must assume was due to the alien. The Doctor has been deactivated, and we can't get him back online. I have decided to divide my command protocols. Tuvok: Captain? Tuvok: Stun her! She's the alien! Paris: That should do it, Captain. Janeway: Thank you, Mister Paris. I feel better already. Any luck getting the Doctor back online? Kim: Not yet. Whoever did this put up one hell of a roadblock. I'm going to have to break through at least six levels of encryption to access the holo-emitters. Janeway: How long is it going to take? Kim: Two, maybe three hours. Torres: Torres to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Torres: Captain, can you come down to Engineering? There's something here I think you should see. Janeway: I'm on my way. Mister Paris, you're our temporary medic until the Doctor returns. Paris: Right. Janeway: Ensign, I need you on the Bridge. Torres: I've been trying to reconstruct the damaged sensor logs from Tuvok and Chakotay's shuttlecraft. I didn't have any luck until I ran a parity trace scan. Captain, the sensor logs weren't destroyed by an energy discharge. Someone erased them, and then overloaded the sensor matrix to make it look like they'd been damaged. It gets worse. There was enough information left in the backup logs for me to reconstruct what happened during the attack. They were near a dark matter nebula and an energy discharge did breach the hull, but there was no other ship. Janeway: No ship? Torres: I'm certain of it. From what I can tell, the energy discharge came from the nebula itself. Janeway: Why would Tuvok lie about an attack? Torres: He must have been under the alien's influence. Kim: Bridge to Janeway. We're approaching the dark matter nebula. Janeway: Acknowledged. How long until the magneton flash scan is ready to go? Torres: The sensor arrays are charging now. Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. Janeway: When it's ready, transfer control of the scan to the Bridge. In the meantime, I think we should take a look at exactly what it is we're not supposed to see. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, can you locate the ion trail of the alien ship that attacked you? Tuvok: I believe so. Mister Kim, lay in that course. Shields are at maximum, Captain. All preparations for entering the nebula are complete. Paris: Captain, I've finished the bioanalysis the doctor was running on Kes before he was deactivated. I think he was on to something. If I'm interpreting his data correctly, the bruises on Kes's neck and shoulders were the result of a Vulcan neck pinch. Janeway: Lieutenant? Tuvok: I have no memory of injuring Kes. Perhaps I was occupied by the alien at that time. Janeway: Perhaps so, but then, why does it keep attacking you? In three separate instances now, it's assaulted you. Tuvok: I am the Chief of Security. It may see me as a particular threat. Janeway: So far, you've posed no greater threat than anyone else, and yet it keeps going after you. Tuvok: Captain, I believe you are having a typically human response to circumstances which are frightening and inexplicable, commonly known as paranoia. Janeway: Maybe, but I don't think it's paranoia that's keeping me from picking up this ion trail of yours. What bandwidth are you on? Tuvok: I'm using a multiphasic scan. If you examine the alpha K band, you will see it. Janeway: Yes, here it is. A very interesting ion trail. There's no sign of any subspace distortions in its wake. According to these readings, it's a ship without engines. You're lying, Tuvok. There is no alien ship, and there never was. We're not going inside that nebula until we get some answers. Mister Kim, reverse course and Tuvok: Belay that order. That is exactly what the alien has been trying to do, keep us from entering the nebula. I suspect the captain has been occupied. I am relieving her of command. Ensign, proceed into the nebula, one half impulse. Janeway: Don't do it, Harry. Tuvok: Now, Ensign. Kim: No sir, I won't do it. Tuvok: I must inform you this phaser is on wide beam dispersal and set to kill. I am taking command of this Bridge. I must ask you all to stand together where I can see you. Step away from the console, Ensign. Durst: Captain, we're entering the nebula. Kim: Captain, I'm picking up some kind of energy pulses in the nebula, highly coherent, with a biomatrix. Janeway: Life forms. Kim: And they're heading this way. Janeway: Those beings out there, are they your people? Tuvok: We are the Komar. This is our domain. Janeway: What's happening? Durst: The warp core's been ejected. Tuvok: No. No! We must continue. Torres: Torres to Bridge. Captain Torres: I think I was just taken over by the alien. One second I was working the plasma relays and the next thing I knew, I was ejecting Torres: The warp core. Janeway: Acknowledged, Lieutenant. Stand by. Paris: I don't get it. If the alien's in Tuvok, how could it be down in Engineering at the same time? Kim: I don't know. Unless there are two aliens. Paris: Two? Janeway: Wait a minute. Lieutenant Torres isn't authorized to eject the warp core on her own. That requires a command code authorisation. Computer, who authorized the ejection of the warp core? Computer: The authorisation was entered by Commander Chakotay. Janeway: Chakotay. Kim: How is that possible? Janeway: The alien in Tuvok wants us in that nebula, but there's another presence that's been trying to keep us out. It doesn't make sense, unless it's Chakotay and he knows we'll be in danger if we go in there. Kim: But he's in Sickbay. He's brain dead. Janeway: Maybe not. Maybe his neural energy was displaced somehow and he's able to move from person to person. Durst: Tuvok's engaged emergency thrusters. We're moving again, Captain. Janeway: You brought us here, for what? To extract our neural energy? Tuvok: Very perceptive, Captain. The collective neural energy of your crew will sustain my people for years to come. Janeway: You don't have to do this. Maybe we can help you find another source of energy. Kim: Captain, we're under attack. We're being bombarded by the energy beings. Janeway: The magneton scan identified the entity before it left the ship. It was a trianic-based energy being. Kim: Looks like he's joined his friends outside. Paris: Shields are holding, but they won't last long at this rate, and the electromagnetic radiation is blinding our sensors. I can't find a way out. Janeway: Come about. Maybe if we reverse course, we can just backtrack. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Kim: I don't know if that'll work, Captain. Tuvok was navigating a complicated course. We could be going deeper into the nebula. Janeway: Mister Kim, maybe you can reconstruct Tuvok's navigational logs. Kim: I'm on it, Captain. Durst: Shields down to sixty five percent, Captain! The energy beings are starting to penetrate our defenses. Kim: I'm not having any luck. Tuvok deleted the navigational logs as he went along. He wanted to make sure we didn't get out of here. Neelix: Neelix to Bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Neelix: Captain, I can't be sure but Neelix: I think I was just taken over by the alien. Neelix: And I've done something very strange. I've rearranged the stones on the medicine wheel. Janeway: If it's Chakotay, maybe he's trying to tell us something. Mister Kim, activate Sickbay visual relay sixteen and put it on the view screen. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: What is it? What does it mean? Is it a code, a message? Paris: Or a map. Janeway: Computer, overlay a star map of the nebula on the current viewscreen image. Paris: The stones are in the same position as those three planetoids. Chakotay must be using them to point a way out. Janeway: Mister Kim, lay in a course that takes us along a line connecting those three planetoids. Engage. Durst: Shields failing. The aliens are penetrating the hull. Janeway: Mister Kim, report. Kim: We're passing the third planetoid now, Captain. The dark matter density is thinning. Reading normal space ahead. Janeway: Bridge to Torres. Transfer all remaining power to the thrusters, including life support. Kim: We've cleared the nebula, Captain. Main power coming back online. Shields at full strength, hull integrity normal. The alien beings are not pursuing. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48735.9. We have returned to the co-ordinates where we ejected the warp core and have successfully retrieved it. Now we're hoping the Doctor will be able to successfully reintegrate Commander Chakotay's consciousness. Janeway: Did it work? Emh: It appears so. Commander. Can you hear me? Chakotay: Yes. I'm a little dizzy, but I think I'm all here. Torres: How did you manage to reintegrate his consciousness? Emh: It involved three neural transceivers, two cortical stimulators and fifty gigaquads of computer memory. I would be happy to take you through the process, but it would take at least ten hours to explain it all to you. Needless to say, it was a remarkable procedure. I would consider writing a paper about it if there were a convenient forum in which to publish it. Janeway: What happened, Commander? Chakotay: After the attack on the shuttle, I had the sensation of floating above my own body. I thought I was dead. Janeway: And when the shuttle returned to Voyager you were still disembodied? Chakotay: Yes. I couldn't speak, I couldn't touch anything. But then I found if I concentrated on someone who was in the room with me, I could share their consciousness. At first I could only do little things with the host's body. Push buttons, work a console. As time went on, it became easier to do more. I'm sorry I had to knock you around, Tuvok. Tuvok: No apology is necessary. Janeway: Good job, Commander, and welcome back. Chakotay: To be honest, I feel like I never left.

Sulan: Regeneration phase completed. Deactivate the genitron. Shut down the biomatrix. B'Elanna? B'Elanna Torres, wake up. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48784.2. We have completed our survey of the Avery system and are returning to retrieve Lieutenants Paris, Torres and Durst. By now, they should have concluded their inspection of the magnesite formations on the third planet. Neelix: Here we are Mister Tuvok, one bowl of authentic Vulcan plomeek soup. Tuvok: As I have told you, Mister Neelix, this is an unnecessary indulgence. I am quite content to eat whatever the rest of the crew is eating. Neelix: Nonsense. Everyone aboard this ship deserves a little taste of home every now and then. Tuvok: Very well then, thank you. Neelix: Don't thank me, I'm having a marvelous time experimenting with the native dishes of the entire crew. So far I've learned to make corn salad for Mister Chakotay, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Mister Paris. He calls it comfort food. Isn't that charming? What are you waiting for, it's no good cold. Neelix: Well? Tuvok: It is rather piquant. Neelix: It is zesty, isn't it. I tried following the recipe in the computer's databank but it seemed so bland, so I took the liberty of spicing it up a bit. Call it plomeek soup a la Neelix. Tuvok: I must point out that if you take the liberty of changing a time-honored recipe you are hardly presenting a taste of home. Chakotay: Senior officers please report to the bridge. Neelix: But your soup? Tuvok: Please, enjoy it. Neelix: Ah, there's no place like home. Chakotay: The away team hasn't arrived at the pre-arranged coordinates, Captain, and they've failed to respond to our hails. Janeway: Have you tried locking on to their comm. signals? Kim: We scanned the entire surface. No sign of them. They must still be underground, but I can't locate them there either. Tuvok: Then as we suspected, the dense magnesite formations in the planet's crust are blocking our sensors. Kim: Take a look at this. This is the cave system nearest the beam-in coordinates as it appeared in our initial geological scan. And this is the same system now. This tunnel here has shifted to the west by almost seventy five degrees. Janeway: Are you saying walls of solid rock have changed shape in the two days since the away team was deployed? Kim: Apparently so, Captain, but our initial scans didn't indicate tectonic activity of anywhere near that magnitude. Chakotay: In any case, it's possible that Torres and the others haven't returned to the beam-out site because they were trapped by these geological shifts. I'd like to lead a team down to investigate, Captain. Tuvok: And what is to prevent us from losing you as well, Commander? Kim: Breadcrumbs. Janeway: Ensign? Kim: I'm sorry, Captain. What I mean to say is I think I can modify some subspace transponders which could be deployed along the Commander's path, kind of like Janeway: Breadcrumbs. Got it. Kim: If they're placed at regular intervals I believe they'll maintain a signal link with the ship and they could serve as a transporter relay in case we need to stage an emergency beam-out. Janeway: Very well, Commander, take a team with you, but I want a transporter lock on you at all times. Chakotay: Aye Captain. Tuvok, Kim, you're with me. Sulan: I apologize for the restraints, but your presence here is very important to us. Do you understand? B'Elanna: Who are you? Sulan: I am Sulan, chief surgeon of the Vidiian Sodality. B'Elanna: I demand to know what is happening here. B'Elanna: You've surgically altered my face. I look like a Klingon. Sulan: I've performed no surgery as you understand the term. There are several questions I need to ask you before we proceed. B'Elanna: You can't possibly believe I'm going to cooperate with you. Sulan: Perhaps I was in error to leave your consciousness and memory intact. B'Elanna: Durst. Paris. What have you done with them? Sulan: What is your exact age, Klingon. B'Elanna: If you want me to answer your question, you will have to answer one of mine first. Sulan: Very well. B'Elanna: What exactly have you done to me. Sulan: I have reconstituted your genome. You are now purely Klingon. B'Elanna: That's not possible. Sulan: I assure you it is. I have developed a procedure to stimulate cell division. A kind of enhanced mitosis. Your Klingon genetic material was extracted. It was then converted from matter to energy by our genetron. Finally you were rematerialized as the purified Klingon specimen that you are now. B'Elanna: Why? Why have you done this? Sulan: For generations my people have been searching the quadrant for a species immune to our disease in the hope that it would lead us to a cure. B'Elanna: And you think Klingons are immune to this phage? Sulan: I believe your genetic structure has phage-resistant nucleotide sequences, yes. But I needed a pure specimen to be certain. My people do not know it yet, but you are their greatest hope. B'Elanna: I will never help you. Sulan: You are very strong. I can only hope that you will be truly resistant to the phage. B'Elanna: And how will you know that? Sulan: I have infected you. Paris: They're the ones with the guns, remember? Durst: We've got to find a way out of this place. Paris: Agreed. But I don't want to do anything until we find out what they've done with B'Elanna. In the meantime, we have to keep track of the guards movements. How long are their shifts, when do they eat, when do they sleep? Durst: There don't seem to be many of them. I guess they figure we're all so exhausted we don't have any fight left. Paris: We'll find an opening, Pete, and when the time is right we'll make our move. Paris: Something funny, friend? Talaxian: You. Paris: Really. How's that? Talaxian: Nobody ever escapes from this place. Those Vidiian leeches can yank the beating heart out of you in a heartbeat. Heart out of you in a heartbeat. Now that's funny. Durst: Hilarious. Paris: Seems like you know this place pretty well. Talaxian: I should, I've been here six years. Paris: Then tell me something. I thought those Vidiians were in the business of harvesting organs. How come we're all still in one piece? Talaxian: The disease makes them weak. They need somebody to dig their tunnels. That's us. Best way to keep alive around here is to stay strong. Paris: Thanks for the advice. Talaxian: Don't worry, they're always in need of replacement body parts. They'll get around to gutting you eventually. There were twenty three of us from my ship. I'm the only one left. Paris: Listen. When they grabbed us there was a woman with us. B'Elanna Torres. Any idea what might have happened to her? Talaxian: If she's not here, she's been taken to organ processing. Kim: I've deployed the transponders, Commander. The relay signal is coming through clearly. Chakotay: Good work. Kim: Any sign of them? Chakotay: According to my tricorder readings they definitely came this way. The question is, where did they go from here? Kim: Delightful spot to get lost. Tuvok: Commander, Ensign. Over here. Chakotay: What is it. Tuvok: I detect traces of at least five humanoid lifeforms. Kim: Five? There were only three in the away team. Tuvok: Evidently they did not enter this cavern alone. Sulan: Are you in pain? B'Elanna: It's nothing. Sulan: Remarkable. One of the symptoms of the early stages of the phage is excruciating joint pain. I find it extraordinary that you can endure it. Some who have been infected have been known to die from the agony itself. B'Elanna: It's going to take more than an infection to kill me. Sulan: It appears you are correct. Your body's successfully fighting off the phage. I am overjoyed. B'Elanna: How delightful for you. Sulan: Soon we will begin a series of procedures replicating your genetic code and attempting various methods of integrating your DNA with our own. In time we'll be successful and eliminate the phage forever. When that time comes you will be honored as a hero by my people. B'Elanna: I know I'm the first Klingon you've ever seen, so I'll tell you that Klingons find honor as warriors on the battlefield, not as guinea pigs in a laboratory. Sulan: Earlier you accused me of mutilating you. Now you sound positively proud to be Klingon. You have me to thank for that, B'Elanna. B'Elanna: You'll get no gratitude from me. Sulan: Perhaps you'll feel different in time, but I don't blame you for your obstinacy. I would be proud too, with a form as handsome as yours. I believe Klingons are the most impressive species I have ever seen. Torres: Tom? Tom, wake up. Paris: B'Elanna? Torres: Yeah, it's me. Paris: B'Elanna, what have they done to you? Torres: I remember them grabbing us outside the caves and then I, I guess I just blacked out. Paris: Yes, they stunned all of us. Torres: The next thing I knew, they were waking me up in some kind of laboratory. I was so groggy I couldn't see. I asked them what they had done to me and then one of them said that they had completely extracted my Klingon DNA. Paris: It doesn't seem possible, but you look human. Torres: I feel so weak, sick to my stomach. Paris: Considering what they've done to you, I'm not surprised. Torres: So strange. Paris: What? Torres: When I was a child, I did everything I could to hide my forehead. Hats, scarves, you name it. Paris: When I was a kid, I wore a cap to cover the haircuts my father used to make me get first day of every summer. Torres: I grew up on a colony on Kessik Four. My mother and I were the only Klingons there, and that was a time when relations between the Homeworld and the Federation weren't too cordial. Nobody ever said anything, but we were different and I didn't like that feeling. Then my father left when I was five years old. One day he was there and the next he wasn't. I cried myself to sleep every night for months. Of course I never told anybody. And then I finally decided that he'd left because I look like a Klingon. And so I tried to look human. Paris: Looks like you finally got what you wanted. Tuvok: Strange. Chakotay: What is? Tuvok: According to our last geological scan this cave should continue straight ahead for another eight kilometers. Kim: This is solid granite, more than fifty meters. Chakotay: If these caves were changing configuration while we were here, we certainly would have felt it. Tuvok: True, Commander, but I do not believe there has been any tectonic activity. I believe this wall is merely an illusion, a disguised force field. Chakotay: Away team to Voyager. Janeway: Go ahead Commander. Chakotay: We've run into some type of force field, Captain. Chakotay: One minute we were reading an empty tunnel, and the next we walked Chakotay: Right into a solid wall of rock. Tuvok: Captain, the energy configuration of the force field matrix is virtually identical to those used by the Vidiians. Janeway: Mister Ayala, scan for any alien vessels in the sector. Commander, we know from past experience that our phasers can disrupt that forcefield. I want to find out what's in there. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: But I don't want you taking any unnecessary risks. We'll be Janeway: Standing by to implement an emergency beam out. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Chakotay: It's not working, Captain. Janeway: Try reconfiguring your phaser to match the band width modulation. Kim: Commander! Chakotay: Three to beam up! Sulan: B'Elanna? How are you feeling today? B'Elanna: I feel strong. It's very frustrating to be restrained like this. Sulan: I sympathize. B'Elanna: I don't like being chained up like an animal. Sulan: I'm sorry, I wish there was some B'Elanna: I've been thinking about what you said. It's because of you that I am Klingon and I do like this feeling. In a strange way I suppose I am grateful. Did you know that Klingon females are renowned in the Alpha Quadrant not only for their physical prowess but for their voracious sexual appetites as well? Why not let your creation out of her harness. Study her in action. Sulan: I wish it were possible, B'Elanna, but I'm afraid I can't risk releasing you just yet. Sulan: Forgive me. B'Elanna: For what? Sulan: Please, don't condescend. I may have a grotesque appearance but I assure you my instincts are finely honed, and I do have feelings. Hard as it may be for you to imagine, B'Elanna, my people were once handsome and vigorous like yours, and with your help we will be again. Perhaps when that time comes I will not disgust you quite so much as I do now. Paris: They're coming to take us to the work detail. You can't let them see how sick you are. Torres: Maybe if they think I'm too weak they'll leave me behind. I could try to get my hands on that console over there. Paris: Or maybe they'll skip the preliminaries and take you straight to organ processing. Guard: You. Come with me. Durst: What for? Guard: You asked to contact your ship. The Prefect wishes to discuss your request. Paris: I'm the senior officer here. If your superiors want to talk with one of us, it should be me. He's not going anywhere without me. Torres: Tom, don't. They'll kill you. Guard: Stop! Durst: It's okay, Tom. They're the ones with the guns, remember? Paris: What is it? Janeway: Now that the Vidiians know we're here, we have to be prepared for the possibility they'll call in reinforcements. Kim: So far long range sensors haven't located any alien vessels near here. Tuvok: However, it is possible that the same technology that disguises their forcefields, cloaks their ships. Chakotay: The other thing we have to consider is that the prisoners may be at greater risk now. Kim: Captain, take a look at this. Using our tricorder data I've been able to scan the entire planet for the forcefield signature, and it looks like the field surrounds an area more than six hundred kilometers in circumference. Janeway: Is there any way to scan inside it? Kim: Every reconfiguration I've tried has failed. Janeway: If it's the same kind of forcefield that the Vidiians used the last time we ran into them, why didn't our phasers breach it? Tuvok: Apparently it has been adapted to repulse phaser fire. Janeway: If the Vidiians can move in and out of there, so can we. Start setting up simulations. Find a way to get through that forcefield. Sulan: B'Elanna? I have something I want to show you. B'Elanna: Durst. Sulan: I thought perhaps this new face would make you more comfortable with me. B'Elanna: You've killed him. Sulan: Yes, B'Elanna, but his organs will save more than a dozen lives. Kim: Deep level scans have revealed a network of microfissures, miniscule openings that develop each time the field matrix remodulates. Janeway: Just how small are these microfissures? Kim: Less than one micron. And they close up within a few seconds. Janeway: Would it be possible to use our phasers to expand one of these openings as it's forming? Tuvok: That was our first thought. But we realized such an attempt would have to be at close range and would carry the risk of alerting the Vidiians to our presence. Kim: So then it occurred to us. If we could narrow the transporters energy beam tightly enough, it might be possible to transport one of us through the microfissures. Tuvok: Of course, timing the transport to the precise moment of an opening would be critical. Chakotay: But if we could get someone inside, we might be able to find our people, and also deactivate the forcefield. Janeway: And then, presumably, we could beam everyone back to the ship. Tuvok: Precisely. But you should be aware that because we are incapable of scanning beyond the forcefield we will have no way of communicating with whoever transports inside it. Nor will we be able to verify that the transport has been successfully completed. Janeway: Moreover, what's to prevent whoever goes in from being captured by the Vidiians. Chakotay: I have an idea about that, Captain. Emh: Dermal stimulator, please. Kes: Remarkable work, Doctor. Emh: If you think this is remarkable, you should see me remove a bunion. Tuvok: I have done my best to replicate Vidiian attire. I trust it will prove sufficiently convincing. Chakotay: It's a fine piece of work, Mister Tuvok. Next time I need a tailor, I'll know just where to look. Guard: Quickly, now. In there! Paris: Here, B'Elanna. Sit down. Talaxian: Here. It's water. Paris: Thanks. Talaxian: Rest while you can. The guard won't be back right away. Keep it. Torres: Tom, I've been thinking. When they did this thing to me, I think it changed more than just the way I look. Paris: What do you mean? Torres: Back there, when they took Durst away, I was terrified. Paris: No one could blame you for that. Torres: You don't understand. I've been in worse situations but I've never felt like that before. Never. I mean, my heart was pounding and my hands were shaking. I didn't even try to help you. Paris: B'Elanna, I'm no doctor, but I have to believe that what ever they did to you has seriously depleted your strength. There's nothing you could have done. Torres: No, that's not it. I think that when they extracted my Klingon DNA, they turned me into some kind of a coward. Paris: Sometimes fear can be a good thing. Keeps you from taking unnecessary chances. Courage doesn't mean that you don't have fear. It means that you've learnt to overcome it. And I know that you can find the courage to hold on until we can find a way out of this place. Guard: What's going on here? Paris: She's ill. She needed a rest. Guard: If she's too weak, I'll take her back to the barracks. Torres: That's okay, Tom. Maybe if I'm there I can try to make contact with the ship. Kim: The emitter array has been initialized, Captain. Janeway: Good. Are you ready, Mister Chakotay? Tuvok: Captain. There's an opening forming in the forcefield. Kim: Initiating auto sequence. Tuvok: Targeting scanners to match coordinates. Scanners locked. Janeway: On my mark, Mister Kim. Energize. Well, now we wait. B'Elanna: Make a sound and I'll break your neck, understand? I'm looking for my friend, Tom Paris, a human male. Have you seen him? Talaxian: He was here, but they sent him to another tunnel. Torres: Which one? Talaxian: Back that way. There was another human with him, but they took her back to the barracks. Torres: A human female? Guard 2: I need your help here. Guard: What are you doing? Come with us. Torres: Where are you taking me? Guard 2: For a shower and a hot meal. Torres: No, please. B'Elanna: Wake up, petaQ! Eat! Torres: What is it? B'Elanna: Some rodent I killed. Torres: No, thanks. B'Elanna: I'm sorry I can't replicate you a soufflé but you need nourishment. I can't carry you all the way out of here. Torres: How are we supposed to escape this place? There are guards everywhere. B'Elanna: We fight our way out. Torres: Maybe you haven't noticed, but I'm not exactly in fighting form. B'Elanna: That's why you need food. Eat. So, you're what's left over when all the Klingon DNA is taken out. Torres: Apparently. B'Elanna: If I hadn't come along, were you just going to waste away in that prison camp until they killed you for your body parts? Were you too frightened to act? Torres: I was looking for a way to escape. B'Elanna: Looking! I'll show you the way to escape! This and this. Torres: That's the way you respond every situation, isn't it? If it doesn't work, hit it. If it's in your way, knock it down. No wonder I got kicked out of the Academy. B'Elanna: For which you should be eternally grateful. Torres: Well, I'm not! Your temper has gotten me into trouble more times that I can. Listen to me. Listen to us. This is ridiculous. Do you realize we're each fighting with our self. B'Elanna: I'm not the one who's fighting, petaQ. If I remember correctly, I'm the one who rescued you from that prison and carried you here. Don't you think you could at least acknowledge that? Can't you even admit that you won't be able to get out of here without me? Torres: I don't know that I can get out of here with you. Brute force isn't going to do it. B'Elanna: Maybe not. Maybe we'll die in the attempt. But that's better than sitting here like frightened tik'kah cats doing nothing. Torres: There you go again. Out of control. Just leaping into action before you think things through. B'Elanna: Fine. You stay here. I'm getting out. Torres: No, wait a minute, that's not what I meant. I'm sorry. Please. Just before you rescued me, I logged onto the Vidiian's computer system. I only had a few seconds, but I think I found a way to access the force field that's cloaking this place. With a few minutes more I could have deactivated it. B'Elanna: Then Voyager could get a lock on us, beam us back. Paris, too. Torres: It may not be as exciting as fighting our way out, but it stands a much better chance of working, if I have your help. B'Elanna: So. You need me. Torres: I can't get back to that computer without you. And you'll have to cover for me while I work. B'Elanna: We can't go to the prison barracks. There are too many guards there. In the lab where they were holding me, there was a security console. That's the last place they would expect us to be. Talaxian: They must have taken her to organ processing. Paris: Tell me how to get there. Paris: Keep your hands off me! Chakotay: Whatever you say, Paris, but I thought you might like to get out of this place. Paris: Chakotay? Chakotay: Where are Torres and Durst? Paris: I think they've been taken to what the Vidiians call organ processing. Guard: You! Why are you talking to that prisoner. Chakotay: I was ordered to take him to organ processing. Guard: Why wasn't I notified? Chakotay: I was told you had been. Guard: I've never seen you before. Chakotay: My face was just grafted. Guard: Very well, take him. But from now on I expect to be notified in advance of all transfers. Chakotay: Yes, sir. B'Elanna: There. Torres: I have to bypass the security code so I can access the force field grid. Then I'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with. That should do it. There! That's what we're up against, and I think we're here. B'Elanna: Can you shut it down? Torres: I'm working on it. B'Elanna: What now? Torres: If they didn't know we were here before, they do now. Take it easy. I'll be done in a minute. B'Elanna: You're not frightened any more, are you? Torres: Maybe I just don't have time to think about it. Torres: Are you hurt? B'Elanna: Keep working. Sulan: B'Elanna, stop. B'Elanna: You're not going to hurt me. You need me. Sulan: You're right. But if you do not surrender, I will kill her. Chakotay: Drop it! Sulan: Who are you? B'Elanna: That's what I want to know. Chakotay: It's Chakotay! Torres: I think I've just about accessed the forcefield. B'Elanna: Hurry! Torres: Got it! There! Tuvok: Captain, the forcefield has been disrupted. Janeway: Mister Kim, can you get a lock on Commander Chakotay? Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager, do you read? Janeway: Loud and clear, Commander. Chakotay: I've found them, Captain. B'Elanna: No! Sulan: No! Chakotay: Three humans and one Klingon to beam up. Paris: She's badly wounded, Captain. Torres: Beam her to Sickbay! B'Elanna: Don't. No time. You showed true courage. It makes my death an honorable one. Emh: Using tissue from your counterpart, I can replicate the Klingon DNA, then over the course of several days, I'll reintegrate that genetic material into your cellular structure. Torres: Wait a minute. You're not saying that you're going to change me back? Emh: That's precisely what I'm saying. Your cell's ability to synthesis proteins has been severely compromised. You need the Klingon genes to survive. Torres: So she's saving my life again. Emh: I'll get started on the DNA. Chakotay: How are you doing? Torres: I'm not sure. It's been a pretty strange experience. I do know that right now, the way I am, I'm more at peace with myself than I've ever been before. And that's a good feeling. Chakotay: But? Torres: I'm incomplete. It doesn't feel like me. I guess I've had someone else living inside of me for too long to feel right without her. Chakotay: I'd have to say that you two made quite a team down there. Torres: I know. I came to admire a lot of things about her. Her strength, her bravery. I guess I just have to accept the fact that I'll spend the rest of my life fighting with her.

Neelix: He hasn't left me with a single shot. Gaunt Gary: In that case, pal, call a safety. Neelix: Safety? Paris: it's a defensive strategy. Since you can't make a shot, the idea is to leave the cue ball somewhere on the table where Tuvok can't make a shot either. Neelix: Oh, I don't know. It sounds cowardly. Gaunt Gary: Suit yourself pal, but if you leave Vulcan Slim over here with an open shot he's got a very good chance of running the table. Neelix: All right. Safety. Neelix: Ah ha ha! Mister Vulcan, let's see you reason your way out of this conundrum. This safety business is a lot more satisfying than I imagined. I've left him with an impossible shot. Tuvok: The shot may be difficult, Mister Neelix, but to say that it is impossible is an exaggeration. Neelix: Go ahead then. Call your shot. Tuvok: Logic would dictate that if I strike the cue ball properly, it will deflect first off the rear bumper, then the side, striking the eleven ball and causing it to roll directly into the corner pocket. Paris: This I have to see. Tuvok: Perhaps the ship's stabilizers are not operating at peak efficiency. Gaunt Gary: Yeah, and maybe Tom Terrific over here forgot to tell you that Sandrine's table rolls a little to the east. Neelix: You should have called a safety. Janeway: Janeway to Mister Neelix. Please report to the bridge. Neelix: You wanted to see me, Captain. Janeway: Yes, Neelix. We've received a subspace message from an approaching vessel. They're asking for you. Neelix: Me? Kim: The alien ship is entering visual range, Captain. Janeway: Slow to impulse. On screen. Do you recognize it? Neelix: That's a Haarkonian shuttle. Chakotay: Haarkonian? Neelix: My people were at war with them for the better part of a decade. They conquered my homeworld more than fifteen years ago. Chakotay: Any idea what the Haarkonians want with you now? Neelix: None at all. Kim: The shuttle is hailing us, Captain. Janeway: Open a channel. Kim: Channel open. Janeway: I'm Captain Katherine Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. What can we do for you. Jetrel: As I stated in my message, Captain, I understand you have a Talaxian called Neelix aboard your vessel. Neelix: I'm Neelix. What do you want? Jetrel: It is a matter of utmost urgency. However, I would prefer to speak with you privately. Your life may very well depend on it. Neelix: Who are you? Jetrel: Forgive me. I am Jetrel. Doctor Ma'bor Jetrel. Janeway: Neelix. Neelix: He's a mass murderer! When I was much younger my family and I lived on a moon called Rinax, a colony with the most temperate climate in the entire Talaxian system. Warm days, balmy nights. Until the Meteron Cascade. A melodic name, isn't it? Especially for a weapon of mass destruction. Janeway: And Jetrel was somehow involved with this weapon? Neelix: Doctor Jetrel was the scientist who conceived the Meteron Cascade, then he led the team of scientists who built it. Janeway: I see. Neelix: In the blink of an eye Rinax was enveloped by a deadly cloud, and those lovely days were turned into one endless frigid night. More than three hundred thousand were killed. Janeway: But you survived. Neelix: I had the good fortune to be on Talax at the time with our defense forces, preparing for an invasion that never came. It wasn't necessary. The day after the Cascade was deployed, Talax surrendered unconditionally to the Haarkonian Order. Janeway: And your family? Janeway: I am so sorry. Janeway: Doctor Jetrel. Lieutenant Tuvok, my chief of security. Jetrel: I have heard of your transporter technology, Captain, but, to experience it first hand is truly remarkable. Janeway: Mister Neelix has declined to meet with you. Jetrel: That's not surprising. I'm afraid I am not a very popular figure among the Talaxian people. Tuvok: May we show you to your quarters? Janeway: Mister Neelix has given me permission to speak on his behalf. You indicated that he may be in some kind of danger? Jetrel: Yes. It's imperative that he undergo a compete medical examination. Janeway: For what purpose? Jetrel: Our war records show that he was part of the team that returned to Rinax after the Cascade in order to evacuate survivors. He was exposed to high concentrations of Meteron isotopes. In recent years several of the rescuers have developed a degenerative blood disease called metermia. Janeway: Is it serious? Jetrel: I am afraid that it's fatal. The disease attacks its victims on a molecular level. It may lay dormant for years, but once it manifests itself, it will cause the body's atomic structure to undergo fission. The cells will begin to disintegrate. My equipment is specifically designed to detect the sub-atomic signature of the disorder. Tuvok: May I ask, Doctor, why you've taken it upon yourself to examine Mister Neelix? Jetrel: I've evaluated as many members of the team as possible, collecting data, in hopes that one day my research may lead to a cure for metermia. Please, try to persuade Mister Neelix to see me. Each Talaxian I screen brings me one step closer to a cure. Kes: Neelix, why didn't you ever tell me about the war? Neelix: Maybe this is one experience that can't be shared. It's too hard to describe how I feel to someone who didn't see what I saw. I'm sorry. Kes: You've nothing to be sorry about, Neelix. Janeway: Excuse me. Neelix: Captain! Back from your doctor's appointment already? Janeway: I'm afraid I have some disturbing news, Neelix. Neelix: Nothing you tell me can make this day more disturbing than it's already been. Janeway: According to Jetrel, you were exposed to dangerous levels of Meteron poisoning, and may be at risk of developing a fatal blood disorder. He wants to screen you for the disease. Neelix: Er, Captain, please tell Doctor Jetrel that I am touched by his tender concern for my state of health, but that I'd rather be immersed in a pit of Kraylinnian eels than examined by him. Kes: Neelix, if there's something wrong with you we should find out. Neelix: I don't want that man within ten parsecs of me! Janeway: I understand your feelings, but this is your life we're talking about. Neelix: Don't either of you find it the slightest bit strange that a man who has made it his life's work to develop a weapon to destroy as many Talaxians as possible should suddenly be concerned with this Talaxian's health. Janeway: I don't know what his motives are. Maybe he's trying to undo some of the damage his weapon caused? But he seems sincere, Neelix, and at this point I have no reason to doubt him. Neelix: If the disease is fatal, what's the point of knowing whether I have it or not? Kes: Our doctor is the most skilled physician either of us has ever met. If you have this disease he won't stop until he's found some way to treat it. Janeway: And if Jetrel discovers you don't have the disease, at least you'll have peace of mind. Neelix: Peace of mind is a relative thing, Captain. Janeway: I simply want you to hear what he has to say. Then, if you still don't want him to examine you, no one will force you. Neelix: Outnumbered and outflanked. All right then, I surrender. Jetrel: The Meteron isotopes are unique. The rate of decay is highly variable. We have found that it's sometimes years before Metermia sets in, and unfortunately Neelix: Why are you doing this? Jetrel: I beg your pardon? Neelix: Is it all just scientific curiosity, Meterons and isotopes. Or do you feel guilty about what you did. Jetrel: Guilty? I do not regret it. I did what had to be done. Neelix: Really? It was necessary to vaporize more than a quarter of a million people and to leave thousands of others to be eaten away by Meteron poisoning. Jetrel: Would it make any difference if I told you we never thought there would be any radiation poisoning. That anyone close enough to be exposed would be killed by the initial blast. It was unfortunate we were wrong. Neelix: Unfortunate? Did you hear that, Captain? It was unfortunate. Janeway: Neelix, I think what Doctor Jetrel is trying Jetrel: No, Captain, that's all right. I'm used to it. I'm simply a scientist. Yes, I developed the weapon, but it was the government and the military leaders who decided to use it, not I. Neelix: That must be a very convenient distinction for you. Does it help you sleep at night? Jetrel: I slept no worse last night than I have any other night for the past fifteen years. Neelix: What is that supposed to mean? Jetrel: It means I must live with my conscience, as you who must live with yours. How many did you kill during the war? Janeway: Gentlemen, please. This is obviously very difficult for both of you but we are not here to debate history. We are here to talk about Neelix's condition. Neelix: Don't worry about it, Captain, because Doctor Jetrel will have to find himself another laboratory rodent to help his experiments. Because I would rather die than help you ease your conscience. Jetrel: I do not expect you to like me, Mister Neelix, nor do I hope to allay your obvious pain with moral arguments, but I do believe I can help you. If not you, then others of your race. Isn't that more important than punishing me? Neelix: Are you sure you can't do this? Emh: You're new found confidence in me is flattering, Mister Neelix, but Doctor Jetrel has instruments designed specifically to analyze Talaxian physiology. Neelix: Just get it over with. Neelix: Did I ever tell you about the notorious two-tailed talchoks of Rinax? Kes: I don't think so. Neelix: Nasty little vermin. Sharp claws, dripping fangs. Ugh. It was quite a nuisance. So one summer when I was a boy, I decided to do something about them. I spent weeks tinkering, creating a fool-proof talchok trap. Once I'd perfected it I set it in the garden. And the next day I found one of those beasts pinned at the neck. But it wasn't dead, it was squirming, squealing in agony. And suddenly it didn't look so fiendish any more. It looked like a poor innocent animal. Kes: What a horrible story. Neelix: You see, I had become so fascinated with my invention that I never really thought about how that poor creature would suffer. Jetrel: Are you finished? Neelix: For now. Jetrel: So am I. Neelix: And? Jetrel: I'm sorry, Mister Neelix. Neelix: Sorry? Why are you sorry? Jetrel: I'm afraid you have incipient metermia. Neelix: Come in. Kes: How are you feeling? Neelix: Kes, my sweet, I'll have you know this is not the first time I have gazed into the gaping maw of death. Why once, during the battle of the Pyrithian Gorge I faced down an entire battery of Haarkonian artillery. There I was, with only a small crevice for cover Kes: Neelix, you're protecting me again. I can understand your not wanting to talk about Rinax. I wasn't there, you're right. But I'm here now with you. We have to face this together. Neelix: Well, there's one good thing that will come from all this. When I first met you I didn't know that your species lived only eight or nine years. I fell in love with you without knowing how lonely it would be to live without you after you're gone. Now that I'm going to die first, I don't have to worry about it. Kes: Before I met you, eight or nine years seemed like an eternity. It never occurred to me that anyone could live longer. Now that we're together, no matter how many years we have left, it doesn't seem like enough. But the important thing is to cherish whatever time we have together, whether it's a day or a decade. Janeway: Come in. Jetrel: Am I interrupting? Janeway: Please, sit down. Jetrel: Captain, I must tell you, your ship is simply astounding. I have been studying your transporter systems. Janeway: Transporter systems. I would think you would be more concerned with Mister Neelix. Jetrel: Forgive me, but that is what I am here to talk about. I believe, with a relatively few minor modifications, the transporter system could be used to retrieve a sample of the Meteron cloud surrounding Rinax. Janeway: To what end? Jetrel: I've always believed that if I could isolate the free isotope that causes metermia, it could be used to synthesis an antibody. Janeway: Then theoretically, a victim's own immune system could destroy the disease. Jetrel: Yes, Captain, and your transporter system makes it all possible. Janeway: Is the isotope stable enough to be transported? Jetrel: I believe so. Janeway: We could construct a containment field to prevent any contamination of the ship, and I could have our Doctor assist you with synthesizing the antibody. Jetrel: My thoughts exactly. Janeway: Janeway to bridge. Chakotay: Chakotay here, Captain. Janeway: Have Doctor Jetrel's shuttle tractored into the shuttlebay and lay in a course for the Talaxian system. Chakotay: That's a significant detour, Captain. Janeway: I'm aware of that, Commander. Janeway: But it may mean saving Neelix's life. Chakotay: Understood. Janeway: I'll send a message to Talax requesting permission to transport material from the cloud. In the meantime, Lieutenant Torres in Engineering can give you a hand with the transporter modifications. Jetrel: Thank you, Captain. Janeway: Thank you, Doctor Jetrel. It's a very promising idea. Janeway: What is it? Jetrel: Nothing, I just think I'm a little over excited about the prospects of discovering a cure, and all that sparring with Mister Neelix does take a toll. Janeway: Maybe you should let the Doctor have a look at you. Jetrel: No, I'm fine, and there's so much to be done. I want to start right away. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48832.1. Kes has prevailed upon Neelix to allow Doctor Jetrel to continue metabolic scans in the hope that it will facilitate treatment once the antibody has been synthesized. Emh: Will you be needing my assistance, Doctor? Jetrel: Not until we have the isotope. Emh: Mister Neelix, is there anything more I can do for you? Very well, then. Computer override command one EMH alpha and end program. Jetrel: Incredible. A hologram that can deactivate itself. Neelix: Is there anything besides science that makes your heart beat faster, Jetrel? Jetrel: Not any more. Now, would you please sit down? Neelix: You know what I've been thinking? If I'd been in charge of the Cascade I'd have, I don't know, chosen a military target, simply deployed it on an uninhabited planet. Somehow I don't think I'd have targeted innocent civilians. Jetrel: The military strategists did not think a demonstration would work. They wanted to show the power of the Cascade in all it's horror. Neelix: You should have tried to stop them! Why didn't you speak out? People would have listened to you. Jetrel: It would not have made any difference. If I had not discovered the Cascade, it would have been someone else, don't you see? It was a scientific inevitability, one discovery flowing naturally to the next. Something so enormous as science will not stop for something as small as man, Mister Neelix. Neelix: So you did it for science. Jetrel: For my planet, and yes, for science. To know whether or not it could be done. It's good to know how the world works. It is not possible to be a scientist unless you believe that all the knowledge of the universe and all the power that it bestows is of intrinsic value to everyone, and one must share that knowledge and allow it to be applied, and then be willing to live with the consequences. Neelix: Consequences? Who are you to talk about consequences. Jetrel: You are not the only one to loose family during the war, Mister Neelix. Neelix: Your family was killed? Jetrel: Nothing as clean as death. When I returned home after the Cascade to my wife, my lovely wife Ka'Ree, she could not bear to look at me. When I would reach out to her she would pull away, as if I had some contagious disease. You see, like you, she thought I had become a monster, and shortly after that she took my three children and I have not seen them since. Neelix: That's a sad story, Jetrel, but let me tell you another one. A man goes back to Rinax after the Cascade. Back to what had been his home, to look for survivors. But the impact of the blast has set off hundreds of fires, and there's nothing there. Just smoldering ruins and the stench of seared flesh. But in the distance, in the middle of all that emptiness, from out of this huge cloud of billowing dust, he can see bodies moving, whimpering, coming toward him. They're monsters, their flesh horribly charred, the color of shale. One of them comes toward him, mangled arms outstretched, and he can't help it, he turns away frightened. But then the thing speaks and he knows by the sound of her voice that she's not a monster at all, but a child. A little girl. Jetrel: Mister Neelix, I Neelix: Her name was Palaxia. We brought her back to Talax with the other survivors. Over the next few weeks I stayed at her bedside and watched her wither away. Those are consequences, Doctor Jetrel. Jetrel: There is no way I can ever apologize to you, Mister Neelix. That's why I have not tried. Neelix: Did you ever think that maybe your wife was right. That you have become a monster? Jetrel: Yes. The day when we tested the Cascade, when I saw that blinding light, brighter than a thousand suns. I knew at that moment exactly what I had become. Neelix: I hope you have to live with that a very long time. Jetrel: I'm afraid you will not get your wish, Mister Neelix. Neelix: And why is that? Jetrel: I have advanced metermia. I will be dead in a matter of days. Figure: It's your turn. Neelix: There's no open shot. Figure: Why don't you call a safety, Neelix? Isn't that what you always do? Neelix: I'm no coward. Figure: That's not what I've heard. Neelix: What are you doing, it's my turn! Figure: You've lost your chance to play. Now you're going to lose! Janeway: Neelix, where did you go? Why did you leave us? Neelix: I did what I thought was right. Paris: You were afraid. Neelix: No! I Kes: Neelix. Neelix: Who are you? Kes: It's me, Palaxia. Neelix: Palaxia! Kes: Why weren't you here to help us? Neelix: You! You did this, butcher! Janeway: Bridge to Neelix. Neelix: Here, Captain. Janeway: Neelix, I thought you'd like to know, we're approaching Rinax. Janeway: Neelix? Neelix: Thank you, Captain. I'll be right there. Paris: Entering synchronous orbit, Captain. Neelix: Hard to believe that on clear nights you could look up from Talax and see the shimmering lights of the colony. The night of the Cascade, a bright flash cut across the sky. It was so blinding that people threw themselves to the ground. Then everything stopped, like a moment out of time. Then we all looked up to see where the flash had come from, but the sky seemed oddly empty. Took most of us a few seconds to realize it was because Rinax was gone. Of course, the moon was still there. We just couldn't see it because of that Meteron cloud. Torres: Engineering to Bridge. We're ready to begin transporter pre-sequencing, Captain. Janeway: Acknowledged. Neelix: This brings back too many memories, Captain. If you'll excuse me. Janeway: Of course. Jetrel: I believe I asked for a larger container. Torres: Correct me if I'm wrong, Doctor, but we're talking about a cloud sample large enough to contain a few subatomic particles, right? Jetrel: Yes. But the isotope accounts for just a miniscule fraction of the cloud's total mass. I want to be sure we get enough. Torres: Don't worry. We do this all the time. Pre-sequencing complete, Captain. I'm ready to begin transport. Janeway: Proceed. Torres: Targeting scanners. Locking on. Energize. Torres: Captain, we have the sample aboard. The containment field is holding. Janeway: Well done, Janeway out. Torres: Good luck, Doctor. Kes: Neelix? Neelix, are you in here? Neelix? Kes: I've been looking for you everywhere. Why did you take your comm. badge off? Neelix: I wanted to be alone. Kes: I'm sorry to bother you, but I was worried. I know how you must feel. Neelix: No, you don't know! Not everything. You don't know where I was the night Rinax was destroyed. Kes: On Talax, fighting with the defense forces. Neelix: I was on Talax, but I wasn't fighting with the defense forces. I was hiding from them. I wasn't a hero at the battle of the Pyrithian Gorge. I've never even been there. Kes: I don't understand. Neelix: I never reported for duty. Kes: Why not? Neelix: I thought the war was unjust, that Talax was fighting for reasons that weren't worth killing for. Or at least, that's what I told myself. But the real reason I didn't report was because I was a coward. Now you know. Kes: If the Talaxian authorities would have caught you, what would they have done? Neelix: During war time, the punishment for refusing military service was death. Kes: So, you put your life at risk for something you believed in, and you think that makes you a coward? I don't understand. Neelix: It makes me a liar! I've lied about it all these years, to you, to Jetrel, to everyone. Kes: Because you're dishonest. Neelix: Because I'm ashamed. Kes: What an awful burden you've carried all these years. No wonder you're so angry with Jetrel. Neelix: Of course I am. He killed them all. My mother, my father, my little brothers. Kes: Is that really why? Every since Jetrel came on board you've despised him. The hurt and anger you've held in all these years was vented right at him. But was it really Jetrel you're angry with? Is he the one you blame for what happened? Neelix: I don't know. Kes: Or was he just a convenient target to keep you from looking somewhere else. Neelix: You mean from looking at myself? You may be right, but I hate him. And I don't think I can stop hating him. Kes: Maybe you have to stop hating yourself first. Emh: Are we ready to begin synthesis? Jetrel: Computer, override command one EMH alpha and end program. Emh: Now just wait one Neelix: Doctor Jetrel. Jetrel: You startled me! Neelix: I'm sorry, but I need to speak with you. Jetrel: Is it possible we could talk later? It won't be long before I am too weak to work. I would like to finish before I die. Neelix: What is that? You're engaging in some kind of bizarre experiment, aren't you? What is it this time? Jetrel: You don't understand. I can help them. Neelix: What do you call that? Scientific progress? I'm going to the Captain! Janeway: Any report on Doctor Jetrel's progress, Commander? Chakotay: Not yet, Captain. Janeway: Bridge to Sickbay. Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay. Janeway to Doctor Jetrel. Janeway: Computer, activate Emergency Medical Hologram. Emh: Please state the nature of Janeway: What the hell is going on down there, Doctor? Emh: Doctor Jetrel deactivated me. Emh: He's gone now. Tuvok: Computer, locate Doctor Jetrel. Computer: Doctor Jetrel is in Transporter room one. Emh: And Mister Neelix is unconscious. It appears he's been tranquilized. Janeway: You have the Bridge, Commander. Security, meet me in Transporter room one. Tuvok. Tuvok: Please step aside, Doctor. Jetrel: You must let me continue. Lives depend on it. Janeway: We've heard that from you before. You're beginning to loose credibility. Jetrel: Captain, I beg you, let me bring them back. Neelix: Bring who back? Who, Doctor? Who is it you're going to bring back? Jetrel: The victims of Rinax. Neelix: He's out of his mind, Captain. Jetrel: Please, look at my calculations. You remember what I told you about metermia, Captain, how it causes the bodies atomic structure to undergo fission. It mirrors the way the Meteron Cascade vaporized its victims through bio-molecular disintegration. Neelix: Do we have to listen to this? Janeway: I think we should hear him out. Jetrel: What I've been working on for the past fifteen years is a way to rebuilt that atomic structure. What I call regenerative fusion. Janeway: Are you saying you're actually trying to restore people who were vaporized by the Meteron cascade? Jetrel: Yes! Janeway: Given the degree of fragmentation you're talking about, I don't see how that's possible. Jetrel: The electrostatic properties of the cloud are such that the disassembled biomatter has been held in a state of animated suspension. I discovered years ago that re-integration is possible. Neelix: Is that what you were doing with that thing in Sickbay? Jetrel: Yes, exactly! Neelix saw it. It was an amalgamation of randomly fused organic material. Bits and pieces of previously vaporized biomatter. Neelix: But, but, if the biomatter in the cloud is so random, so jumbled, how could you reconstruct something whole? Jetrel: I used medical records to identify the genetic coding of a specific victim, a test case if you will. Once we input his DNA sequence, then we can isolate his atomic fragments with your targeting scanners, and then rematerialize him. Neelix: What if he's right? Tuvok: Captain, Doctor Jetrel is proposing the reconstruction and re-animation of a remarkable complex set of biosystems from billions of subatomic particles. Janeway: I'm afraid I have to agree. It all sounds very implausible. Jetrel: You sound exactly like my country. I asked them for more funds to continue my research to help the victims of Rinax, because I wanted the world to know I'm not a monster. My theories can be used to heal, as well as to destroy. But they refused me, called me a Talaxian sympathizer, and exiled me. Janeway: Does Neelix really have metermia, or was that just a pretext for getting us to come to Rinax. Jetrel: It was just a pretext, Captain. You do not have metermia, Neelix. You are not going to die. Neelix: Why didn't you just tell us the truth in the first place? Jetrel: Your Captain is an accomplished scientist. She doubts my theories. My own government did too. I just could not risk being not believed again. But, Captain, it will work. Neelix: Captain, if there's any chance he can do it, you've got to let him try. Janeway: Neelix, there are just too many variables. Neelix: Please, Captain. Janeway: Lieutenant Tuvok, activate the emergency containment field around the transporter pad. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Emergency containment field activated. Janeway: We'll have to re-target scanners to the widest possible confinement beam. It's our only hope of achieving bond cohesion with such broadly scattered fragments. Tuvok: Re-targeting scanners to wide beam. Janeway: Energize. Phase transition coils to maximum. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Is the biogenic field operational? Tuvok: Affirmative. Neelix: It's incredible. Tuvok: Atomic cohesion has dropped to forty nine percent, Captain. Janeway: Pattern buffers to maximum power. Tuvok: They are already at one hundred percent. Janeway: Take them to one twenty, Lieutenant. Tuvok: Pattern buffers to one hundred and twenty percent of rated maximum. Janeway: We're losing him. Tuvok: Atomic cohesion to thirty nine percent. Twenty two percent. Fourteen percent. His pattern is degrading rapidly. Jetrel: You must increase the power to the pattern buffers, Captain. Janeway: We've got to stimulate cohesion. Is there anyway to augment the biogenic field? Tuvok: The degree of fragmentation is simply too great. It will not work. We are overloading the system. Janeway: Shut it down, Mister Tuvok. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48840.5. Doctor Jetrel's metermia is now in it's final stage. He's spending his remaining hours in Sickbay. Jetrel: Neelix. I suppose you think this is a fitting punishment for me. Neelix: Maybe the Cascade was a punishment for all of us, for our hatred, our brutality. There's something I need to tell you. I tried to tell you before, but Jetrel: What is it? Neelix: I want to tell you that I forgive you.

Janeway: Good morning children. I'm your new governess, Mrs Davenport. Too formal. Henry, Beatrice, I'm so glad to meet you. I've heard so much about you, and I'm sure we're going to be very good friends. Oh, too familiar. Hello, I'm Mrs Davenport. Your father has asked me here to be your new governess. Henry: Something he did without mentioning in to us. Janeway: Good morning, children. It's good to see you. You must be Henry. And this is Beatrice. Henry: Henry Burleigh, Viscount Timmons. My sister, the Lady Beatrice Flora. You will address us as my Lord and my Lady. Janeway: Of course, my Lord. Please, sit down. Let's get to know one another, shall we? I'm Mrs Davenport. I hope to be a friend to you as well as a governess. Henry: In ullam rem ne properemus. Janeway: I beg your pardon? Henry: In ullam rem ne properemus. Is your Latin a bit rusty? Janeway: I suppose it is. Henry: Then I don't see how you'll be doing my lessons with me. Janeway: My Lord, I assure you that I am more than qualified to instruct you. I may have to brush up on my Latin, but when it comes to mathematics and the sciences, I'm sure you'll find my lessons challenging. And Beatrice, what do you like to study? Beatrice: Nothing. Janeway: Not even painting or needlework? Beatrice: I just made my first sampler. I finished it yesterday. Janeway: Did you? Oh, I'd love to see it sometime. Beatrice: I don't have it anymore. I gave it to Mother. Henry: Beatrice! My sister is confused. She gave the sampler to Mother before she died. Beatrice: No, I didn't. I gave it to her last night. Henry: Beatrice! Beatrice: I talked to her! Henry: Beatrice is upset, Mrs Davenport. She hasn't yet accepted our mother's death. Janeway: Beatrice, I know it was a terrible thing to lose your mother. Beatrice: She's not dead! I saw her last night! Henry: What have you done to my sister? Janeway: Computer, restore characters in program Janeway lambda one. Computer: Unable to comply. There has been a disruption of power to energy grid beta four. Janeway: Janeway to Bridge. Report. Chakotay: We're experiencing Chakotay: Power fluctuations on deck six, Captain. Mister Tuvok is investigating. Janeway: Keep me informed. Janeway out. Tuvok: Tuvok to Lieutenant Torres. Has any equipment repair been authorized on Deck six? Torres: Negative. What's going on? Tuvok: Stand by. Dalby: Be careful! Sorry. You might have broken the connection. Tuvok: Crewman Dalby, what are you doing here? Dalby: One of the bio-neural gel packs was malfunctioning. I had to replace it. Tuvok: Did you inform Lieutenant Torres? Dalby: Not yet. I was just going to take this to Engineering for analysis. Tuvok: On this ship we have a protocol for such procedures. Dalby: I was in the area, I saw a malfunctioning gel pack and I fixed it. What's the problem? Tuvok: Your repair interrupted a number of ships functions. That is the problem. Dalby: I guess I'm used to doing things a little differently. On our ship, when something went wrong, you fixed it. Tuvok: I would remind you, Mister Dalby, that you are no longer on a Maquis ship. Dalby: I'm well aware of that, Lieutenant. And every minute of every day I regret it. I was just trying to do my job, trying to help out. If that goes against Starfleet's almighty rules then put me in the brig. Otherwise, leave me alone. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48846.5. Ordinarily the loss of a gel pack would be a minor inconvenience, but here in the Delta Quadrant it's a reminder of the precarious nature of our journey. Janeway: I don't understand. The gel packs have an extremely reliable track record. It's almost impossible to damage them. Why did this one malfunction? Tuvok: Unknown. Lieutenant Torres is running a materials analysis on the gel pack. In the mean time the unit has been replaced. Janeway: How many do we have left in reserve? Tuvok: Forty seven. Janeway: Those gel packs run half the critical systems on this ship. Once they run out, that's it. We can't replicate new ones. Chakotay: It might be possible to switch over some systems to conventional isolinear circuits. Janeway: Good idea. Start looking into it. Tuvok: There is one other matter I wish to discuss. I am concerned about Crewman Dalby. He attempted to make unauthorized repairs on a damaged gel pack. When I confronted him, he lost control. Janeway: How so? Tuvok: He became extremely angry, to the point of insubordination. Janeway: Dalby. I've heard complaints about him from others. Tuvok: Indeed. This is not the first incident involving Mister Dalby. Last week he was found tampering with ship's systems to increase a friends replicator rations, and he has missed three of his last ten duty shifts. Janeway: Commander, you know Mister Dalby better than I do. Any idea what might be bothering him? Chakotay: Dalby's always been pretty aggressive. My guess is the man's frustrated. He's not used to dealing with Starfleet protocol and procedures. Tuvok: A starship cannot run without protocols. Mister Dalby's attitude is disrupting this vessels operations. Chakotay: What do you suggest? Dragging him in front of a diskiplinary board? Tuvok: Perhaps that would be the best approach. Janeway: I doubt that's going to help. Dalby's not the only Maquis who's having problems adjusting. And besides, it's not only a matter of attitude, it's also a matter of experience. It's not fair to expect Starfleet behavior from people who never went to the Academy. Tuvok: What do you propose? Janeway: We need to bring some of these people up to speed. Instruct them in how to run a Starfleet vessel. Show them why we do things the way we do. Give them an opportunity to feel like they're part of the team. Chakotay: A crash course in Starfleet operations. Field training. Janeway: Exactly. So, what do you think, Mister Tuvok. Are you up training a group of raw cadets? Tuvok: Me? Janeway: You taught at the Academy for sixteen years. You'd be perfect for the job. Tuvok: Commander Chakotay would be a more logical choice to be their instructor. He is a Maquis, as well as their former Captain. Janeway: That's my point. He doesn't have to earn their respect. We do. Tuvok: Very well, Captain, I will prepare a curriculum. Janeway: Commander, pick out the Maquis crewmembers you feel would benefit most from the training. Have them report to Lt Tuvok at the next duty shift. Chakotay: Right. Don't worry, Tuvok. I'll tell them to take it easy on you. Tuvok: Good morning. We have assembled here because Captain Janeway feels you would all benefit from additional Starfleet training. Consequently Henley: I think we need some clarification. Just why have we been singled out for this honor? Tuvok: The answer to that question would seem to be self evident, crewman. Interrupting a senior officer is not acceptable behavior. The purpose of this training is to familiarize you with Starfleet protocols so that mistakes like that will be minimized. Chell: Still, the fact remains. That is, if I have permission to speak, Lieutenant? Thank you. As I was saying, the fact remains that you must have noticed certain problems with each member of this select group or we wouldn't be here. I frankly can't imagine what I might have done that warrants my inclusion. Tuvok: Crewman Chell. Chell: In fact Tuvok: Your report indicates that you are talkative, disruptive and unreliable. You promise to do tasks which then go undone. Chell: That is a complete exaggeration. Just yesterday I overhauled a servicing system Tuvok: Crewman! From this point on you will speak only if you are spoken to. Chell: But Lieutenant, I'm just trying to Tuvok: Forty laps around the cargo bay. Start running now. Chell: But Tuvok: Fifty laps. Tuvok: As I was saying, this class will adhere to standards established for Starfleet cadets. There will be physical training and academic studies, as well as tactical situations which will be simulated on the holodeck. Crewman, have you been listening to me? Tuvok: Excuse me. I did not hear that answer. Gerron: Yes. Tuvok: Speak up, crewman. Gerron: I said, yes. Tuvok: From now on you will look at me when I am talking to you. Dalby: Leave him alone. Tuvok: What was that? Dalby: I said, leave him alone. Can't you see he's just a kid? He shouldn't even be here. Tuvok: We think he should. Dalby: You'll probably have me running two hundred laps for this, but I don't care. The problem we're having, Lieutenant, is that this whole thing is insulting. We didn't ask to come aboard this ship but we understand the situation we're in and we've done the best job we can, and now you're telling us that's not good enough. Tuvok: That is correct. Dalby: Well, maybe that's too bad. Maybe we've done the best we can and that's as good as you're going to get. How about it? Does anybody really want to be here? Henley: I don't have anything to learn from him. Dalby: Well I don't think he's going to phaser us, and frankly I'd rather be in the brig than in here, so let's go. Tuvok: Crewmen, you are demonstrating rank insubordination. I order all of you to stay where you are. Dalby: Chell! Come on, we're leaving. Gerron: I don't know. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to leave like that. I mean, they're not just going to let us get away with it. Henley: What are they going to do, put us off the ship? Keep us in the brig for seventy years? Every person on this ship is needed. Nothing's going to happen. Dalby: It's not like we're guilty of mutiny. We'll just keep doing our jobs, same as ever. We're just not going to jump through any Starfleet hoops. Chakotay: You want to give me your version of what happened? Dalby: Commander, we're going to live up to our responsibilities on this ship. We're just not going to be treated like teenage cadets. Chakotay: I see. Henley: It was ridiculous. Tuvok had Chell running laps around the cargo bay. Dalby: And he was picking on Gerron. I don't like it. Chakotay: Really? Dalby: Look, Commander, you know as well as I do that we're used to playing with a different rule book. There's the Starfleet way, and there's the Maquis way. Chakotay: And you want to do things the Maquis way? Dalby: That's right. That's always worked for us. Chakotay: That's the Maquis way too, isn't it? And if you want to keep doing it the Maquis was that's fine with me. We can do that tomorrow, the next day, everyday, until you report to Lieutenant Tuvok. You understand me? What? How does a Starfleet crewman answer a question? Dalby: Yes. Sir. Chakotay: Does anyone else have a problem. Tuvok: These are your study assignments for next week. Please note that examinations will be conducted randomly with no advance notice. I will now inspect your uniforms. Crewman Henley, your headband is certainly festive. Henley: Thank you. Tuvok: However, it is in violation of regulations. Please check the protocol files for recommended guidelines. What is this? Chell: It's a Kazleti design. I studied the technique when I visited their planet. It took me weeks to learn. I know it doesn't look complicated but this Tuvok: This ornament is in violation of the dress code. Chell: It was hidden. You could hardly see it. Tuvok: You will remove it now. Gerron: I know, I'll have to take off the earring. Tuvok: Correct. In addition, your boots are scuffed. From now on you will arrive in polished boots. GERRON Yes, sir. Tuvok: Do you have a problem, Mister Dalby? Dalby: No, sir. Tuvok: Very well. You will all report to me on deck eleven at nineteen hundred hours. Dismissed. Henley: What are we going to be doing? Tuvok: You will find that out at nineteen hundred hours. Dismissed. Dalby: I'm going through with this field training, as ordered. I can't say it's very productive. Frankly, it feels like punishment. Torres: In other words you're afraid you won't make it. That you'll fail this training. Dalby: Excuse me? That's not what I said, or what I'm thinking. What? You think I can't make it through this ridiculous exercise? That's absurd. Torres: Fine. Then make it through. It's another power failure. Dalby: It's the gel packs again. Torres: Deck four, section nine C. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Report. Torres: It's another malfunction in the bio-neural circuitry. We're putting a repair crew on it now. Torres out. Dalby. Replace the failed gel pack and check out the adjoining circuits. Make sure we don't have some kind of cascade feedback causing this. We can't just keep replacing these things. Ensign, you're in charge till I get back. I'll be in Sickbay if you need me. Kes: What is it? Torres: It's your new patient. It's one of the bio-neural gel packs. Emh: Ah yes, I'm aware of these devices, but I've never seen one. Torres: It's malfunctioning but I can't find anything wrong with it mechanically. I thought that you could look at the biological component. Emh: Interesting. Emh: Initiate the scan. Kes: Scanning beam is active. Emh: Ah, ha! Torres: What? Emh: The patient is sick. Torres: Can you be more specific? Emh: To discuss the patient's condition in front of the patient would be a serious breach of professional etiquette. It's been suggested that I cultivate a greater sensitivity to my patient's needs. Don't worry, my little friend. Torres: Doctor. Emh: Very well. The biological component of the circuit device has an infection. A very contagious one. Torres: Is the crew in any danger? Kes: I don't detect any sign of infection in you, Lieutenant. Emh: I suspect the contagion is not harmful to humanoids. If it were, we probably would have seen evidence of illness in the crew by now. But in order to protect the ship's circuitry, you'll have to isolate and quarantine all the affected gel packs until a treatment regimen can be initiated. Torres: I'll have to take the forward grids off line. We'll lose replicators but I can reroute the primary systems. How long do you need? Emh: I don't know. Unless we find the source of the infection, we won't be able to stop it from spreading. Torres: Okay, I'll tell the Captain. Tuvok: We'll be taking a ten kilometer run. I've cleared deck thirteen of personnel for the evening. Make sure your packs are secure to avoid chafing. Chell: Couldn't I just carry Henley? She weighs about the same. Tuvok: We will get to deck thirteen by using the Jeffries tubes. Dalby: Well, at least it's only two decks down. Tuvok: Not that way, crewman. We are getting to deck thirteen by way of the mess hall. Henley: That's on deck two. We'd have to crawl through over fifty Jeffries tubes to get there. Tuvok: Correct. I am glad to see your knowledge of the ship's internal structure is improving. Crewman Gerron, lead the way. Chell: Thank you. You can stay there as long as you like as far as I'm concerned. This pack feels like it's filled with latinum bricks. Tuvok: Crewman Gerron. What is the problem up there? Keep going! Chell: Maybe he'll slip and plunge to his death. Crewwoman: Be my guest. Tuvok: All right, the ten kilometers begin now. Henley: My legs feel like lead pipes. Dalby: Don't think about it. Keep your mind on something else. Henley: How about the pain in my shoulders. Tuvok: That was a run of approximately ten point one kilometers. Henley: That was no run, it was a death march. Tuvok: You may be experiencing difficulty because I increased the gravity on this deck by ten percent. Dalby: What? Tuvok: You never know what conditions you might encounter. You must be prepared for anything. Crewmen Gerron and Chell, you have not completed your run. By my account we have lapped you three times. You will finish the ten kilometers now. We will repeat this exercise tomorrow evening and I will expect each one of you to better your performance. Torres: Have you found any traces of the bacteria? Kim: I've checked the transporter logs for the past month. There's no indication that the biofilter picked up anything suspicious. Torres: We stopped at that planet, Napinne, brought on some food stores for Neelix. Some of it looked pretty strange. Kim: Right. Varmeliate fiber, whole green putillos and schplict. Torres: Schplict? Kim: Grakel milk. I've looked at the logs, everything checked out. Torres: Okay, let's go over the environmental systems. Maybe we're dealing with something airborne. Kim: He's been at it since before I got here. Torres: Chell, what are you doing? Chell: Mister Tuvok ordered me to degauss the entire transporter room. Torres: But you're using a micro-resonator. Chell: I know. Torres: Why don't you use the magneton scanner? You'd be done in five minutes. Kim: Tuvok told him to use the micro-resonator. Torres: But he'll be at it for hours. Chell: Mister Tuvok estimated twenty six point three hours. Kim: Sounds like a Tuvok estimate. Torres: Well, good luck. Kim: Oh, you missed a spot. Tuvok: Security log, supplemental. I have recreated the bridge of Voyager on the holodeck and scheduled a war games simulation. I am hopeful that an exercise in teamwork will help to instilll a sense of participation among my trainees. Tuvok: On the bridge, we depend on the smooth functioning of every crewman at every station. You are the Captain's eyes, ears and hands. You must function as one perfectly tuned unit. Mister Dalby, I understand you have command experience. Dalby: Yes, sir. Tuvok: You have the Bridge. The program will present you with a series of random events which you and your crew must deal with in whatever manner you see fit. Dalby: I understand. Tuvok: The program will be initiated when you set a course. Dalby: All set? All: Aye, sir. Ready. Dalby: Mister Chell, ahead warp six. Heading one five nine mark seven. Chell: Aye, sir. Dalby: Mister Gerron, what's the nearest star system? Gerron: I'm showing a red giant system three point seven light years from our current position. There are eight planets, none of them M-class. Henley: Sir, we're picking up an automated distress call. Dalby: Source? Henley: Unknown. There's a lot of subspace interference. Dalby: Gerron, can you get a fix? Gerron: Sensors indicate a Ferengi ship heavily damaged by weapons fire. Eight life form readings, very faint. Dalby: Hail them. Henley: They're not responding. Chell: I must point out sir that the Ferengi have been known to deceive other ships by pretending to be damaged. We could be falling into a trap. Dalby: We have a duty to offer humanitarian aid if we can. Chell, change course to intercept. Chell: Course laid in, sir. Dalby: Proceed. Gerron: Sir, a Romulan Warbird decloaking off the port bow. Dalby: Red alert. Hail them. Let them know we're on a rescue mission. Henley: They're powering up weapons. Gerron: No response to the hail. Dalby: Evasive maneuvers, Mister Chell. Chell: Initiating evasive sequence beta nine three. Henley: We've been hit on the lateral phaser array. Shields at eighty one percent. Dalby: Arm all forward phasers. Gerron: Sir, there's a second Romulan ship decloaking dead ahead. It's launching torpedoes. Gerron: Damage to decks eleven through fifteen. Reports of casualties. Dalby: Arm all photon banks. Mister Chell, continuous evasive action. Henley, fire at will! Henley: Aye, sir. Gerron: Shields are buckling. Hull breach on deck nine. Dalby: Keep firing, Henley. Let's do as much damage as we can. Tuvok: Computer, reset program. Your first command together was less than successful. You are all dead. Dalby: It was a no-win situation. What were we supposed to do? Tuvok: Can anyone answer that question? Henley: I thought we went by the book. Chell: I certainly did everything I could possibly do. My evasive action sequences can not be faulted. Henley: At least we went out with our phasers firing. Tuvok: Mister Gerron, do you have something to add? Gerron: What does it matter? Tuvok: It matters, because if you do not learn from your mistakes, you will be doomed to repeat them. Dalby: I was in command. Put the blame on me. The crew was just following my orders. Tuvok: And have you reached a conclusion as to your error? Dalby: I thought I did everything I could. We were just out-gunned. Tuvok: I see. Did the possibility of retreat not occur to you? Henley: Retreat? Dalby: I can't believe you'd say that. Tuvok: The strongest tactical move is always the one in which you will reap the highest gain at the lowest cost. Going out with phasers firing may seem heroic, but in the long run it is merely foolish. Retreat is often the best possible option. Dalby: Well, Mister Tuvok, once more you've proven your point. We're just not Starfleet material. Are we dismissed, sir? Tuvok: Dismissed. Computer, exit. Neelix: I feel that my services as Morale Officer are required. Tuvok: I assure you, you are wrong. Neelix: Oh really? One, no cup of tea. Two, no PADD. Three, you're sitting on the opposite side from usual. All of that tells me you've got something on your mind. And what tells me that it's making you miserable is that cloud of doom that's rising from you like a ground fog. Tuvok: I cannot imagine that there are visible emanations which allow you to interpret my mood. You are making wild assumptions. Neelix: Ah, ha. Maquis trainees getting you down? Tuvok: I do not believe they are responding well to my instruction. Neelix: What seems to be the problem? Tuvok: That is what I have been trying to determine, and I'm afraid I am at a loss. I have taught literally thousands of cadets and I have never encountered these difficulties. My methods are sound and time-honored. I insist on strict adherence to rules and protocols. I never waver from that approach. I have always been successful in honing each cadet into a Starfleet officer. Neelix: Come with me, I want to show you something. Neelix: These are Keela flowers. Beautiful, and remarkably strong. The stem is flexible, impossible to break. But occasionally on the same plant there's a bloom whose stem is not so flexible. Ah, here's one. And when the stem is brittle, it breaks. Tuvok: You're saying that the Maquis crew is rigid and inflexible. That they will never adjust to Starfleet rules. Neelix: No, Mister Vulcan, I'm saying that you are rigid and inflexible, but maybe if you'd learn to bend a little, you might have better luck with your class. Those Maquis aren't Starfleet cadets. You can't treat them the same way. Get to know them, try to find out what they're like inside. You might discover a better teaching method. Tuvok: I am not sure if I have the ability to find out what they are like inside. Mister Neelix, what is that? Neelix: Brill cheese. I made it from that schplict we brought on board last week. Ensign Ashmore asked for something called macaroni and cheese. Tuvok: Cheese. You must cultivate bacteria to make cheese. Neelix: Of course. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48859.3. Lieutenant Tuvok has reported what may be a possible explanation for the infection in the bio-neural gel packs. I have asked Lieutenant Torres and her team to investigate Neelix's kitchen. Torres: Get me a schematic of the airflow patterns for the whole ship. Crewman: Aye Sir. Torres: The cheese is full of volatile bacterial spores. It has to stay isolated in this portable containment field. Crewwoman: What is this? Neelix: That's just a Laurelian pudding. It has to simmer for four hours. Torres: The spores must have traveled through that intake and then into the ventilation system. Tuvok: Where they were disseminated throughout the ship, subsequently infecting the bio-neural circuitry. Neelix: I feel awful about this. I assure you I had no idea. Torres: More gel packs must be down. If this is getting to the environmental systems we may be in more trouble that we thought. Neelix, this wasn't your fault. The important thing is that we found the source. Get the cheese to Sickbay. The Doctor should look at it as soon as possible. Crewman: Yes, Lieutenant. Tuvok: You may break, Mister Dalby. Dalby: Okay. Tuvok: Do you play pool often? Dalby: Not really. I did when I was younger. Tuvok: Do you have a family? Dalby: What is this all about? Tuvok: Pardon? Dalby: This little exercise. Are we testing my social skills? Does Starfleet have rules about them too? Tuvok: I had thought we could get to know each other. Perhaps then our relationship would function more smoothly. Dalby: Get to know each other? Okay, here's the brief history of Kenneth Dalby. We lived on the Bajoran frontier. It was a hard life. I coped by getting into a lot of trouble. I was angry at everybody and everything, till a woman came along and taught me about love. For a while, I wasn't angry any more. Three Cardassians raped her and smashed her skull. I joined the Maquis and tried to slaughter as many of them as I could find. How about you? Any family? Tuvok: I do, but there is nothing to report about them that would compare with your story. I've observed that you seem to be somewhat protective of Mister Gerron. Have you formed a friendship with him? Dalby: No. He won't let me get close. First time I saw him, I thought I was looking at myself at that age. I thought maybe I could be a friend, maybe he wouldn't turn out the way I did. But I didn't have much luck. And then we got stuck out here. Being so far away from home is hard on somebody that young, so I'd appreciate it if you'd try not to make him any more miserable that he is already. Tuvok: Commander Chakotay specifically recommended Mister Gerron for this program. He felt that if the young man were able to learn new skills, to set goals and accomplish them, it might go a long way to helping him feel better about himself. Dalby: That's why he's in this group? Tuvok: It is our intention that the experience be positive for everyone. Dalby: If you say so. But understand this, Lieutenant. I don't want to get to know you, and I don't want to be your friend. Emh: This is the most pernicious infectious agent I've ever seen. It systematically attacked every cell in the gel pack's biological matrix. Kes: I've exposed it to every anti-bacterial agent we have available. It hasn't responded. Emh: Sickbay to Bridge. Captain, what seems to be happening. Janeway: We're losing more bio-neural circuitry, Doctor. Janeway: All systems are being affected. Please, tell me you have some good news about a treatment. Emh: I'm afraid not. Frankly, I'm at a loss. Emh: But we'll keep trying. Janeway: Please do. Janeway out. Emh: What I find curious is that these bacteria didn't show up in any of our diagnostic scans of the ship. But if the bacteria from the cheese into the ship's systems, how did the gel packs get infected? Kes: Haven't I read that viruses can live inside bacteria? Emh: Of course. A virus. The bacteria could be hosts to the infectious virus. There are thousands of viruses so small they would have escaped detection. Kes: So maybe we should try the anti-viral agents on the gel-packs. Emh: It's certainly worth a try. Dalby: I think the inertial dampeners are malfunctioning. Henley: Along with a lot of other things. Tuvok: Class dismissed. Return to your duty stations. Chell: Lieutenant? We're stuck in here. Kim: Captain, the bio-neural network is failing sequentially. We're losing systems faster than we can compensate with backups. Chakotay: What about changing over to isolinear circuitry? Kim: Torres is working on it, but it's a long way from being ready. It couldn't even maintain life support at this point. Paris: Propulsion is down. Kim: Every system on the main grid is down. Communication, transporters, turbolifts and life support. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Torres: Torres here, Captain. Janeway: Transfer whatever power you can to life support, and keep working on the isolinear circuitry. Torres: Understood. Gerron: The manual override isn't working, sir. Dalby: Can't get the main cargo door open either. Tuvok: Tuvok to Bridge. This is Lieutenant Tuvok, is anyone receiving this message? It appears our duty stations will have to do without us for the time being. Kim: Captain, life support is failing. Deck fifteen has lost all power and deck seven has lost it's gravitational grid. Emh: Sickbay to Bridge. Captain, I believe we may have something. Janeway: Go ahead, Doctor. Emh: The gel packs are incapable of responding to Emh: an infection in the same way humanoid organisms do. Janeway: With a fever. Emh: Exactly. Emh: We've experimented with heating the samples of bio-neural circuitry we have here and the results are promising. Of course, we don't have the ability to produce the amount of heat needed Emh: To wipe out a ship-wide infection. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: If we wanted to superheat the gel pack system, to raise it's temperature, so to speak, how could we do it? Torres: I suppose we could infuse the gel pack Torres: Circuits with a high energy plasma burst from a symmetric warp field. Janeway: But we'd have to generate that heat by inverting the warp field towards the ship. Torres: Right. We could produce the required energy by getting the warp engines to eighty percent of maximum while we're standing still. Torres: Then we could initiate the plasma burst. Janeway: Can we get to eighty percent with all the control failures we have? Torres: If we re-route the emergency power to the warp engines it might be enough. But it's a risky move. Janeway: I'm aware of that, but I think we have to try it. Divert all power including life support to the warp engines Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Mister Paris, deactivate the nacelle control system and prepare to engage the warp engines. Paris: Nacelle controls deactivated. Ready to go. Janeway: Do it. Chell: What's that noise? Dalby: This conduit is getting very hot. Henley: So am I. It's getting awfully warm in here. Chell: Something's wrong. Very wrong. I don't like this at all. Tuvok: I would surmise that the Captain is making some effort to deal with the systems failures. The fact that we do not know what that effort entails may lead us to imagine the worst. We must not let fear get the best of us. Mister Gerron, it is possible the console in the control room is still functioning. Please see if you can open the doors from there. Gerron: Yes, sir. Tuvok: In the mean time, we can attempt to access one of the Jeffries tubes through the forward bulkhead. Paris: I don't know about the bacteria, but I'm about ready to pass out. Chakotay: Engines are only at seventy four percent of maximum. That's not enough for a plasma burst. Janeway: Mister Paris, increase antimatter flow. Kim: It's having an affect, Captain. Temperature is at three hundred and forty Kelvins. Can we get the engines a little hotter? Janeway: Mister Paris, get us to eighty percent of maximum somehow. Paris: I'll try. Kim: Okay, we're at three hundred and sixty Kelvins. Chakotay: Engines are at seventy nine percent of maximum. I think we can risk it. Janeway: Bridge to Torres, initiate the plasma burst. Torres: Aye, Captain, but be prepared. It might blow out some of the conduits. Janeway: Acknowledged. Go ahead. Tuvok: The plasma gas will become toxic within minutes. We must leave immediately. Dalby: What about Gerron? We can't leave him. Tuvok: Get in the Jeffries tube. I cannot risk losing any more of you to save one man. Dalby: What is that, some kind of Starfleet rule? Tuvok: It is always tactically correct to sacrifice the few for the many. Dalby: I don't give a Circassian fig what's tactically correct, I'm going back for him. This is one time when retreat is not an option. Tuvok: Get in the Jeffries tube now! Mister Dalby, I will break your arm if you do not follow my order. Dalby: I won't forget this. You're letting him die. Tuvok: Keep moving. Janeway: Janeway to sickbay, report. Emh: Bacterial levels are dropping, Captain. Emh: If they continue, we should be able to purge the system within a few minutes. Janeway: Keep me informed. Janeway: We need life support back on line as soon as possible. Emh: I'll get back to you right away, Captain. Emh: Sickbay to Bridge. Repeat, Sickbay to Bridge. Can anyone hear me? Chakotay: Come in, doctor. Emh: All of the infectious bacteria have been destroyed. Emh: The danger of further infection has passed. Janeway: Mister Kim, start getting our systems back on line. Kim: Aye, Captain. Chell: Come on, come on! Henley: I think he's all right. Dalby: I thought Starfleet rules said that was an unacceptable risk, going back to save him. Tuvok: It was. However, I recently realized that there are times when it is desirable to bend the rules. Dalby: Lieutenant, if you can learn to bend the rules, I guess we can learn to follow them. Come on, let's get you two to Sickbay.

Janeway: Rust? Kim: That's right, Captain. High levels of ferric oxide. Corroded iron particles. Janeway: Would you mind telling me how iron could rust in space without oxygen? Kim: I wish I could. Janeway: Mister Paris, alter our course to follow that trail of rust. One quarter impulse. Paris: Aye, Captain. Kim: Captain, look at this. I'm picking up traces of complex hydrocarbons in the rust. Benzene, ethylene, acetylene. Paris: That sounds like gasoline. Chakotay: Gasoline? Paris: It's a liquid fuel that was used centuries ago on Earth. They burned it to drive internal combustion engines. Janeway: How did it get out here? Tuvok: I'm detecting a small object. It appears to be the source of the rust and hydrocarbons. Janeway: Put it on screen. Magnify. Tuvok: Apparently it is a ground vehicle from mid-twentieth century Earth. Paris: It's a 1936 Ford, actually. Janeway: Mister Paris? Paris: That was the manufacturing date, 1936. Ford was the name of the company that build it. Antique vehicles are a hobby of mine. Paris: Internal combustion engine, a reciprocating piston cylinder design, fuel source was a refined petroleum. Gasoline. Kim: So is this an early hover car? Paris: No, you're about a century too early for that. This is about one step ahead of the horse drawn carriage. Torres: Traces of potassium nitrate, ammonium and methane back here. Janeway: I think you'll find that's manure. Horse manure, if I'm not mistaken. Judging from the mud on the wheels, and the alfalfa seedlings stuck in the metal frame, I'd say this vehicle belonged to a farmer, or at least someone who lived in a rural area. But the question is, how did it get here? I doubt there are many twentieth century farmers driving around the Delta Quadrant. Tuvok: There are no signs of any wormholes or temporal anomalies in this region of space. Janeway: Let's run a metallurgical analysis of the vehicle. Paris: There's still oil in the crank case, water in the radiator. I wonder if the battery's still charged. Now, let's see. This is before voice command activation, so there should be something in here called a key. Key. Kim: What are you doing? Paris: Trying to bring this beauty back to life. Now where are the keys? Ah ha. Here they are. Okay, choke out, clutch in, give her a little gas, turn the key and step on the starter. Paris: Sorry. Janeway: Next time you might give us a little warning, Mister Paris. Paris: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: I suggest we increase the ventilation in the cargo bay before we are asphyxiated. Kim: What's that? Paris: That is an amplitude modulation receiving device. AM radio. Not sure we'll pick up much out here. Paris: Whoa. What was that? Torres: What is that? Kim: It's too regular to be random interference. Torres: I'm running the signal through the ship's database. It's an ancient Earth distress call known as an SOS. Kim: I've located the source of the SOS signal. It's coming from a planet in a star system bearing three one zero mark two one five. Janeway: Mister Paris, lay in a course. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Why didn't we pick up this signal earlier? Kim: This isn't one of the standard frequencies we monitor. Messages on this channel only travel at the speed of light. Too slow for interstellar communications. Paris: Course laid in, Captain. Janeway: Warp six. engage. Crewman: I'll run a diagnostic check, sir. Janeway: Bring us out of warp. Full scan, Mister Kim. Kim: The SOS signal is coming from the third planet. It's class L, oxygen argon atmosphere. Janeway: Any life signs? Kim: There's a great deal of trinimbic interference in the upper atmosphere. I can't get a clear reading of the surface. Chakotay: Can you pin point the coordinates of the distress call? Kim: Yes, here it is. It's coming from a continent in the northern hemisphere. Chakotay: We won't be able to transport through this kind of interference. I might be able to take an away team in a shuttlecraft. Tuvok: That would not be wise, Commander, as the atmosphere is charged with trinimbic turbulence. A shuttlecraft could not safely navigate the currents. Janeway: We could land the ship. Chakotay: Are you sure that's necessary? Janeway: Someone on this planet is sending out a distress call. Chakotay: If that someone is as old as the truck in the cargo bay, they're long dead by now. This might be an automated distress call. Janeway: Possibly. But something brought that truck half way across the galaxy, and that something might be down on that planet. Chakotay: And if it brought the truck here, it might be able to take us home too. Janeway: I'd say it's worth a look. Mister Paris, prepare the ship for landing. Paris: Captain, I think I should tell you I've never actually landed a starship before. Janeway: That's all right, Lieutenant, neither have I. Bridge to Engineering. We're going to land the ship, Miss Torres. Take the warp core offline, vent all plasma from the nacelles and standby to engage atmospheric thrusters. Torres: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: This is Lieutenant Tuvok to all decks. We are preparing to land the ship. Go to blue alert and report to code blue stations. Paris: I've plotted a descent course. How close do you want to land to the distress coordinates? Janeway: No closer than two kilometers. Paris: Okay. Atmospheric controls at standby. Landing mechanisms online. Inertial dampers at maximum. Tuvok: All decks report condition blue, Captain. Janeway: Put her down, Mister Paris. Janeway: Status. Paris: We're on the glide trajectory. Altitude one hundred kilometers, speed ten thousand kph. Encountering some trinimbic turbulence. Compensating. Kim: We have an EM discharge in the lateral relays. I'm rerouting the ODN conduit. Paris: Come on. Kim: Another EM discharge. I think we're all right. though. Paris: Twenty kilometers to the landing site. We should be able to see it now. Janeway: Extend landing struts. Prepare to release inertial dampers and adjust them to match the planet's gravity. Paris: Landing struts down and locked. Kim: Standing by environmental controls. Paris: Here we go. Paris: Disengaging engines, securing thrusters exhaust. We're down. Janeway: Not bad, for a beginner. Janeway: Nice day. Kim: I've locked onto the distress signal. It's one point five kilometers on a bearing of two four six. Chakotay: Wait a second, I've got something else. There's a high concentration of trianium particles bearing two two five, a little over a kilometer away. Looks like some kind of power source. Janeway: Two teams. Chakotay, yours investigates the power source. Tuvok, Kim, you're with me. Janeway: My god. Tuvok: The metal is an aluminum alloy. It appears to be an ancient Earth aircraft. Kim: The SOS call is coming from inside. Kim: I've found the AM transmitter. From what I can tell, it's sending out an automated SOS. Janeway: What about the power source? Somehow I find it hard to believe the battery on this aircraft has been running for four hundred years. Kim: I don't recognize the power signature. Hold on, Captain, I've found what appears to be an alien fusion based generator. It's hooked up to the AM transmitter. Chakotay: Chakotay to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead, Commander. Chakotay: We've located the source Chakotay: Of the trianium readings. It appears to be some sort of mine shaft. I'd like to bring out another security detachment before we go inside. Janeway: Good idea. Janeway: Good idea. I'll join you. Janeway out. I want the two of you to analyze the alien generator. Then see what you can find out about this SOS call. Torres: I'm picking up something directly ahead. Some kind of power signature, fusion based. Torres: This looks like some kind of cryostasis chamber. Janeway: How many bodies are there? Torres: Eight. And the equipment is still functioning. Janeway: He's human. And from the clothes I'd say he's from the same era as the vehicle we found. Torres: His life sign readings are minimal, but he's alive. Chakotay: Captain, according to these readings there are five other cryostasis chambers nearby. No life signs in any of them. This appears to be the only one with people inside. Torres: There's another male over here. Janeway: This one's a female. She's wearing some sort of leather jacket and a pair of gold wings. Wait, there's a name tag here. I think it's A period E A R H A R T. Earhart. A Earhart. Amelia Earhart! Kim: Who's Amelia Earhart? Janeway: She was one of the first female pilots in Earth History. In the mid twentieth century she became quite famous for flying across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1937 she attempted to fly around the world. According to the records of the time, on July 2nd 1937 Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, took off from New Guinea and they were headed east, around the Equator. But somewhere in the South Seas they vanished and their disappearance became one of the most celebrated mysteries of the twentieth century. Paris: Why didn't they think she'd just crashed? Janeway: That was the most commonly held theory. However, numerous searches of the area failed to produce the wreckage of an aircraft, so people began to speculate. Some thought she'd been shot down and captured by the Japanese Navy. Others thought that she and Noonan had flown off together on some sort of romantic adventure. Of course, the most ridiculed notion was that she had been abducted by aliens. Chakotay: Well, it certainly looks like that's what happened. From what we can tell, all eight of the people in that stasis chamber were taken from Earth in the 1930's and brought here. Kim: The question is, why? And where are the aliens who did this? Tuvok: Scans of the region show no alien life signs. Janeway: Continue the scans. They may not be here now, but once they detect our presence, they might return. In the meantime, we'll have to get some answers on our own. Have you had any luck tapping into the computer system in the cryochamber? Tuvok: Not as of yet. We are having difficulty decoding the operating system. Paris: There's one way we could find out what happened. We could wake those people up and ask them. Janeway: I've had the same thought myself. Torres: Is that wise? We don't know how these people are going to react when they wake up in an alien world in the twenty fourth century. Janeway: True, but I'm not willing to just leave them in stasis for another four hundred years. And if we can find out how they were brought here, we might be able to use that method to get home. We'll just have to be very careful how we handle this. Chakotay: I suggest that only human crew members be present when we revive them. Janeway: Agreed. Mister Kim, I want a complete analysis of those cryostasis tubes. Find a way to deactivate them safely. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Commander, apprise the Doctor of our situation. Tell him to instruct Kes in the proper procedure for reviving someone from cryostasis. She can be made to look human easily enough. In the meantime I suggest we all brush up on ancient Earth. We're about to meet a bit of our history. Paris: We're ready, Captain. Kim: All the cryo-tubes are linked by a common power source, so we've decided to revive everyone simultaneously. Janeway: Proceed. Kim: The power's offline. Deactivate locking mechanisms. Paris: Captain, this one's armed with some kind of weapon. Janeway: Disarm him, just to be on the safe side. Janeway: I know this must be very strange for you. Noonan: Who are you? What is going on here? Nogami: I demand you release me immediately. Janeway: Please, if you'll just listen for a moment, I'll try to explain. Nogami: You are all speaking Japanese. Hayes: Sounds to me like you are speaking English. Janeway: It's because of a device we have. A universal translator. It allows us to talk to each other even though our languages aren't the same. Amelia: Who are you people? Hayes: Look, just let us go home. We won't tell anybody. Noonan: The hell we won't! I'm going to let the world know what you people have done. Do you know who you've kidnapped here? Amelia Earhart. I'm her navigator. This is going to be headline news. You people are in trouble. Amelia: Fred, let her talk. Janeway: What I'm going to tell you is going to sound hard to believe. Even preposterous. We think you were abducted from Earth in the 1930's and brought millions of miles through space to a planet on the other side of the galaxy. You were put into a kind of deep sleep for a very long time. It's not the 1930's any more. The year is 2371, over four hundred years from the time you were abducted. Amelia: You must think we are awfully gullible. Janeway: Tell me, what's the last thing you remember before waking up here? Amelia: We were over the Pacific, running low on gas. We were looking for an atoll to set down. We tried to send out an SOS and suddenly there was this huge light in back of us. And the plane stopped, dead. And then it started moving backward towards the light. I must have blacked out. And I woke up here, just now. Hayes: That's just the way it was with me! I was in my truck heading into town. I was just about to get onto the blacktop, when this big light come down from the sky. Just about blinded me. Next thing I know the whole truck is lifted up off the ground. Janeway: I believe what happened was that you were abducted by aliens, and if we can find out how they got you here, we might all be able to get back to Earth. Noonan: I want some real answers, now. Janeway: I assure you, I am telling the truth. Noonan: You! Come on down here and get those funny looking guns of theirs. Noonan: You, get over there with the others. Amelia: What is this? Kes: It's a medical device. I'm just trying to make sure that everyone is all right. Noonan: Now, how do we get out of here? Chakotay: Chakotay to away team. Janeway: Janeway here. Chakotay: Captain, I'm picking up some energy displacements Chakotay: On the surface. I think it might be alien humanoids. It looks like they're using some kind of deflection system to trick our sensors. Chakotay: I think you'd better get up here. Noonan: Who's that talking? Janeway: That's Commander Chakotay, on our ship. Noonan: Commander, huh? Okay, now hear this, Commander. Noonan: There's a gun pointed at the lady's head right now, so you call Washington Noonan: And you tell them we're holding your people prisoner, and they're not going anywhere until I personally talk to J Edgar Hoover. You've got one hour. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: It seems we're being held hostage, Commander. I suggest you pay attention to what the gentleman says. Chakotay: I understand. Chakotay: Chakotay out. Tuvok: All security personnel report to the cargo bay immediately. Amelia: The compass isn't working. Janeway: I know what we've told you sounds hard to believe, but there was a time when no one believed that a woman could fly across the Atlantic. Now, people are able to travel between the stars. The galaxy is full of many different species. For instance, this young woman isn't human, she's an Ocampa. Amelia: I've been on expeditions all over the world, and I've seen people do all kinds of strange things to their bodies. That doesn't mean that Martians have invaded Earth. Kim: Actually it was the other way around. Mars was colonized by people from Earth in 2103. Noonan: That's enough! All of you just go over there and sit down and keep quiet. Chakotay: The trinimbic interference has affected the transporter's targeting scanners. We can't beam into the chamber so we'll have to go on foot. Tuvok: We will deploy throughout the caves, sealing off any exit from the chamber. Chakotay: Let's go. Amelia: Now is probably not the best time for that, Fred. Noonan: Just a little pick me up. Paris: He's had a few nips from that flask, Captain. We could probably rush him, get the gun. Janeway: Let me try to talk to Earhart first. She seems reasonable. Maybe I can get through to her. Miss Earhart? Janeway: I want you to know you've always been an inspiration to me. Because of you, generations of women have become pilots. Amelia: Generations. What's your name? Janeway: Kathryn Janeway. Amelia: I heard the Commander call you Captain. What exactly do you captain? Janeway: The Federation Starship Voyager. Amelia: Starship. That supposed to mean it flies through space? Janeway: That's right. Amelia: That isn't possible. Only in books. H G Wells, Jules Verne. Janeway: Maybe if you saw it you'd think otherwise. Amelia: Saw it? Where is it? Janeway: On the surface. We're actually about a hundred meters underground now. If you'd come with me to see Voyager, you'd realize that what we're telling you is true. Amelia: And risk a trap? No, you could have hundreds of reinforcements up there. Janeway: I assure you, we have no interest in harming you. We took you out of stasis to help you. Amelia: Put yourself in my shoes, Captain. If you were me, would you believe your story? Janeway: Maybe not. Let me tell you some of what happened after you disappeared over the Pacific. No trace of you or your plane was ever found, in spite of a massive search. Over the years there was a lot of speculation about your flight, including the rumor that it was financed by the Government and may have been part of an operation to gather information about the Japanese. Amelia: Where did you hear that? Janeway: It's somewhat common knowledge. You see, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, drawing the United States into a massive world war. In retrospect, your journey was seen in a different light, perhaps as part of an intelligence mission devised by a Government deeply concerned about Japanese war plans. Amelia: No one was supposed to know about that. Janeway: Maybe not in 1937, but now it's part of history. Noonan: Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't we stick them in these things? Put them to sleep like we were. No fuss, no trouble. Janeway: Mister Noonan, that will accomplish nothing. Please, let us take you to our ship. You'll see that everything we've told you is true. Noonan: Show me how to operate this thing. Amelia: Hey! Last time I looked, you were working for me. And I think we should listen to these people. They just may be telling the truth. What's the harm in seeing if maybe they do have this starship? Beats being cooped up in here trying to figure out what happened. How about it? Anyone want to come along? Hayes: I wouldn't mind taking a look. Janeway: Anyone else? Noonan: You're not leaving me behind. Paris: Kes and I'll stay with the others, Captain. Janeway: It'll take about ten minutes to get to the surface. Stay close to us. Mister Kim. Chakotay: What is it? Tuvok: I am reading energy displacements again. Possibly alien lifesigns. Two hundred meters ahead. Tuvok: They may be up there. Chakotay: Take cover! Crewwoman: Get down! Janeway: This way. Hayes: What's all that racket? Janeway: Take cover! Noonan: I told you it was a trick! Amelia: Fred! Janeway: Janeway to Chakotay. Chakotay: I'm here, Captain. We're pinned down. Janeway: I can see you from here. Lay down phaser fire. I'm going to circle around to your left, try to come at them from the rear. Chakotay: Right! Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Torres: Torres here, Commander. Chakotay: Can you give us some help down here? Torres: I don't think so. Torres: The targeting scanners are still useless. I can't risk laying down weapons fire if I don't know where it's going. Chakotay: Keep trying to get them online. Torres: Aye, Commander. Janeway: Hold your fire. Drop your weapons. Turn around slowly. Evansville: You're not Briori. Janeway: No, I'm human. Evansville: Human? Evansville: We're human. You're working for the Briori. They have ships like yours. Janeway: I'll answer any questions you have, but first we must take care of our wounded. Can we agree to end this? Evansville: Yes. Janeway: I'm Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. Evansville: John Evansville. This is my colleague, Karen Berlin. Emh: Severe trauma to the thoracic cavity, lacerated carotid artery. Amelia: He's not going to make it. Emh: I wouldn't be so sure of that. Vascular regenerator. Hmm. He's not responding to the treatment. The alcohol level in his blood is so high it's inhibiting the repair to his circulatory system. Attempting to compensate. Amelia: Told you your drinking'd kill you one day. Noonan: She's right, Doc. Just let me die in peace. There's just one thing I want to say to you first, even though it's four hundred years late. Amelia, I love you. Amelia: Fred. You never said anything. Noonan: You're married, or you were. I guess he's dead now. I just wanted you to know before I, before I met my maker. Emh: There, that should do it. Noonan: Do what? Emh: You're healed. Noonan: You mean I'm not going to die? Emh: Aside from a hangover, you're going to be fine. Noonan: Oh, Amelia, you got to forget what I just told you. Promise me. Amelia: Fred, I already have. Evansville: You've taken the 37s. Why? Janeway: I'm afraid I don't understand. Evansville: You went into the shrine. You stole the 37s from the sacred altars, and you disturbed the radio signal that we have been so careful to preserve. Chakotay: Captain, I think he's talking about Earhart and the others. Janeway: Tell me more about the 37s? Are you one of them? Evansville: I'm one of their descendants. The 37s were brought here over fifteen generations ago by the Briori. Chakotay: Who are the Briori? Evansville: They're an alien race. They abducted over three hundred people from Earth in the year 1937, brought them over here, turned them into slaves. But those slaves revolted, killed the Briori, took their weapons and their technology and survived. And now there are over one hundred thousand of us. The Briori never came back. Now, you answer me. Why did you steal the remaining 37s from the shrine? Janeway: We didn't steal them. We simply revived them. Evansville: Revived them? They're dead. Janeway: No, they were simply in a state of what we call cryostasis. That's a form of sleep that appears very much like death. Evansville: Do you mean they're alive? Janeway: Yes. Evansville: My people have come to regard the 37s as monuments to our ancestors. Nobody has even entered their shrine for generations. Janeway: Mister Evansville, we were hoping to find the ship that brought your ancestors here. Possibly use it to get back to Earth a little faster. Evansville: I'm sorry, the Briori ship was destroyed in the slave revolt. There's nothing left. Captain, I'm sorry to hear about your long journey home, but you should know that life on this planet is good. We live in three beautiful cities only fifty miles from here. Janeway: Oh, I'd like to see your cities. Evansville: And I'd like to show them to you. Amelia: How fast? Paris: Warp nine point nine. In your terms, that's about four billion miles a second. Amelia: Think I could take her out for a spin? Paris: Well, er Janeway: Mister Evansville has offered to take us on a tour of the settlement. He's extended the invitation to the entire crew, and the 37s, of course. Evansville: You, you're a 37? Amelia: I guess you could call me that. Evansville: It would be an honor to show you our cities. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48975.1. Evansville wasn't exaggerating when he said they have a lot to be proud of here. It was an amazing experience, but it's left me a little disturbed. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Here's the damage report you asked for. Janeway: Thank you. Chakotay: Is something wrong, Captain? You've seemed a little distracted ever since we came back from the cities. Weren't you impressed? Janeway: A little too impressed. Chakotay: What do you mean? Janeway: There's a thriving, sophisticated culture on this planet. Of human beings. In someways walking around those cities was almost like being back on Earth. Chakotay: It was a little eerie. It reminded me of home, too. Janeway: Evansville has offered to let any of our crew stay. Chakotay: What will you do about that? Janeway: Maybe this is one of those decisions that the captain has to make for the entire ship. Chakotay: You may have a problem if a lot of people want to stay. Janeway: I know that, but at the same time I can't take a vote every time there's a major decision to be made. And yet, we're a long way from Starfleet, and a lot of the rules and regulations I've learnt to uphold seem distant as well. Am I the only one who's so intent on getting home? Is it just me? Am I leading the crew on a forlorn mission with no real hope of success? Chakotay: You're not alone. I want to get home, too. And there's not a day that goes by when I don't hear someone mention Earth. Janeway: The people here have built a new Earth. We could stay, help them build a human civilization in the Delta Quadrant. Isn't that an exciting prospect? Shouldn't we be grateful for the opportunity they're giving us? Chakotay: It is a tempting prospect, but when I hold it up against the prospect of seeing the sun rise over the Arizona desert, or swimming in the Gulf of Mexico on a summers day, there's just no comparison. I want to go home. Janeway: We have one hundred and fifty two men and women on this ship. What happens if half of them decide to stay on the planet? Could we operate Voyager with seventy five crew members? Chakotay: I doubt it. In fact I don't think we could operate the ship with fewer than one hundred. If too many of the crew choose to stay behind, we could all be stranded here. Janeway: Tell all hands to prepare for an announcement from the Captain at fourteen hundred hours. They deserve to make the choice for themselves. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Neelix: Here we are! My research on twentieth century Earth is a little thin, but I've done what I can. Pot roast, green beans and something called Jell-O. Noonan: You know how to make Jell-O? Neelix: I even put in fruit cocktail. Noonan: You don't say. Hayes: I don't know about the rest of you, but I've made up my mind. There is land here that goes begging, and I could have a big farm, just like I always dreamed. Neelix: And for you, rice with a little fish. I even replicated some ginger for seasoning. Nogami: Very nice, thank you. Noonan: I have to admit, life here looks a lot better than what we left on Earth. Nogami: It's paradise by comparison. And there are many Japanese here. I could be very happy. Noonan: We all could. Right? Amelia: I'm just not sure. What about you, Mister Neelix? Have you made your decision? Neelix: Oh yes, indeed. I'm staying right here with Captain Janeway. She'd be lost without me. She's come to depend on me a great deal. Noonan: What about the rest of the crew? Do you think many of them will stay here? Neelix: Oh, I don't think so. At least, not many. Well, that is, there's a good chance. Well, now that you ask, I honestly don't know. Torres: You? You'd stay here on the planet? Kim: I didn't say I was going to, I just said I could understand why people would want to. The people here remind me of home. I haven't felt like that since I left Earth. Torres: But you're Starfleet. You've always wanted a life in space. Kim: I know, but, my whole life on a starship, day after day, with no end in sight? That's not exactly what I had in mind. Torres: You're not the first person I've heard talk like this. A lot of people are thinking about staying. Kim: What about you? Don't you have some of those feelings? Torres: I'd be lying if I said I didn't. Amelia: Captain. I was told I'd find you here. Am I intruding? Janeway: Not at all. Please join me. Amelia: I wanted you to know that the group you brought out of stasis, we've all decided to stay here on the planet. Janeway: I understand. Amelia: I must admit the thought of traveling through space, maybe even learning to fly this ship, was very appealing to me. Janeway: And I'd looked forward to getting to know you better. I suspect we have a lot in common. Amelia: At first I didn't know what to do. We talked about it for quite some time. Finally I realized the people here on this planet are part of us. We're their ancestors in a way. It made us feel close to them. Janeway: The remarkable thing about the humans on this planet is that they evolved very much like the people on Earth. Tens of thousands of light years apart, both civilizations managed to create a world they could be proud of. One where war and poverty simply don't exist. I certainly can't blame you for wanting to be part of it, any more than I can blame members of my crew if they make the same decision. Amelia: When will you find out? Janeway: In half an hour. Any one who wants to stay behind is to report to the cargo bay at fifteen hundred hours. Chakotay: I expect Jarvin will stay on the planet. In fact, I'd bet on it. Janeway: Why Jarvin? Chakotay: He's been more uncomfortable about being on a Starfleet ship than most of the Maquis, and he's gotten involved with a young woman in Quantum Mechanics. I think they'd like to settle down, raise a family. Janeway: The person I expect to see is Baxter. Chakotay: Baxter? Walter Baxter? Janeway: He's adventurous, a risk taker. I can see him wanting to take on the challenge of building a new life on this planet. Chakotay: I'd hate to loose Baxter. He's a good man. Janeway: I'd hate to loose Jarvin. I don't want to loose anyone. We've all been through so much together, it just wouldn't seem right. But I couldn't blame anyone, anyone for staying behind. I'm not sure I want to go in. Chakotay: No matter what happens, we'll make it. Remember that. Tuvok: Captain on the bridge. Janeway: All stations prepare for departure. Condition blue, Mister Tuvok. Miss Torres, anti-grav thrusters online. Torres: Thrusters enabled. Janeway: Mister Paris, inertial dampers to flight configuration. Impulse drive to stand by. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Kim: All stations report ready, Captain. Janeway: Then lets do it. Take us up.

Scene: First Officer's personal log, stardate 49005.3. The captain has granted me the use of the shuttlecraft so that I may perform the pakra, a solitary ritual commemorating the anniversary of my father's death. Chakotay: A-koo-chee-moya. I pray on this day of memories to speak to my father, the one whom the wind called Kolopak. Though I am far from his bones, perhaps there is a spirit in these unnamed skies who will find him and honor him with my song. A-koo-chee-moya. Haliz: There. You see? Razik: We should teach them the price of displaying their markings in our space. Haliz: I'll go. Razik: Let Kar do it this time. Haliz: He's not ready. Razik: He thinks he is. He's been demanding a chance for weeks to earn his name. Haliz: Do you really believe he could do this? Razik: Can you honestly say you knew you were ready for your first mission, Haliz? Tell him. Tell him today is the day he will finally be called Ogla. Chakotay: Computer, report. Computer: The shuttlecraft has sustained phaser fire. Minor damage to aft shields. Chakotay: Source? Computer: A Kazon spacecraft closing at one nine five mark six. Chakotay: Computer, open a channel to the Kazon vessel. This is Commander Chakotay of the Federation Starship Voyager. Why have you fired on me? Kar: You are in Kazon-Ogla space, Federation. Chakotay: I wasn't aware of that. I have no hostile intentions. Power down your weapons and I'll leave. Kar: No one who violates Ogla space leaves. Chakotay: Look, son, my starship is only a few light years away. Kar: I am not your son, Federation. I am your executioner. Chakotay: Chakotay to Kazon vessel. Listen carefully. I do not want a fight. Stand down or I'll be forced to return fire. Chakotay: Chakotay to Kazon vessel. I've established a direct weapons lock on your engine core. This is my final warning. If you don't stand down, I will destroy your ship. Chakotay: All right, if that's the way you want to play it. Chakotay: Chakotay to Kazon vessel. Do you read me? Computer, are there any life signs inside the Kazon vessel? Computer: Affirmative. One life sign. Chakotay: Kazon ship, your engine core is critical. You have less than thirty seconds to evacuate. Do you read me? If you have an escape pod, you must eject now. Computer, establish a transporter lock on the lifeform. Computer: Acknowledged. Targeting scanners. Chakotay: Prepare to beam him aboard. Computer: Scanners locked. Chakotay: Energize. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Chakotay to Voyager. Computer, damage report. Computer: Long-range communications, lateral sensor array and aft shields are offline. Chakotay: Great! Welcome aboard. Neelix: It's not that I feel that I'm not making contributions as chef and morale officer. Janeway: You're making significant contributions, Neelix. Neelix: Well, if you insist, but Janeway: I can't imagine how Lieutenant Ayala would be handling the separation from his children without you. Neelix: He misses his boys terribly. I wish I could do more for him. Janeway: And your meals are getting to be Neelix: Yes? Janeway: Almost certainly a highlight of every day. Neelix: Oh, Captain. You always know how to touch one's heart. Thank you. When I signed on, I promised you that, I promised you that I would stand by your side through every danger this quadrant has to offer, as guide, as strategist, as explorer, as adventurer. Janeway: Yes? Neelix: I feel underutilized. I can swashbuckle with the best of them. Janeway: You weren't invited to the holodeck defense simulations, were you? Neelix: No. Tuvok: Captain, you are needed on the bridge. Janeway: On my way. I'll see to it you're invited next time. And now, Mister Neelix, please, join me on the bridge. Neelix: Yes, sir. Ma'am. Captain. Tuvok: We are ready to depart. However, Commander Chakotay has still not returned. Janeway: Have you tried hailing him? Kim: On all frequencies. No response. Janeway: When was the last time we heard from him? Tuvok: More than six hours ago. Janeway: Well, according to his flight plan, he's not far. We'll just have to go get him. I want all away teams back on board now. Mister Paris, plot a course for Chakotay's last known coordinates. Paris: Aye, Captain. Kar: What am I doing here? Chakotay: You're welcome. Kar: What? Chakotay: It's a human expression. You thank me for saving your life, I say, you're welcome. I accept your surrender. Look, I promise you, as soon as we get back to Voyager, we'll find a Kazon ship and hand you over to them. Kar: You should've let me die. Chakotay: I'm not in the habit of killing children. Computer: Warning. Alien vessel approaching at zero two two mark eight. Chakotay: What's your name, son? Kar: What? Chakotay: Your name. Kar: Why do you want to know my name? Chakotay: I want to let them know you're on board. Kar: I'm called Kar. Chakotay: Computer, open a channel. Kazon vessel, I have a young man on board you might know. He goes by the name of Kar. I'd say he's about thirteen. I'd like to arrange for his transfer before I return to my ship. Computer, confirm channel is open. Computer: Confirmed. Transmission has been received. Chakotay: Talk to them. Tell them you're okay. Computer: Warning. Kazon vessel has engaged a tractor beam. Chakotay: Full reverse. Computer: Unable to comply. Tractor force exceeds available engine power. Chakotay: They're pulling us in. Kar: Kill me. Please. Chakotay: Why are you so eager for me to kill you? Kar: Because there are worse things than being killed by your enemy. Chakotay: Look. If you check your long-range sensors, you'll find a big ship out there. It's called Voyager, and by now it's on its way to find me. Haliz: Kar, I told Razik you weren't ready. Chakotay: I have a fair idea why I'm here, but why are they doing this to you? Kar: I was ready, Haliz, ready to kill or die. I felt the flames touch my skin. Haliz: Go back in, Kar. Kar: It was this fool, this Federation, who doesn't even have the courage to kill his enemies. He pulled me out with that transporter we've heard about. Like the Nistrim and the Relora before you, you come into our space, showing off your uniforms and displaying the markings of your Federation with no respect, as if you own this part of space. But it belongs to us! I tried to kill him, Haliz. Kar: I want to see Razik. Tell Razik I demand to see him. Chakotay: Who's Razik? You tell this Razik that Federation Commander Chakotay demands to see him. Kar: What are you doing? Chakotay: Razik is obviously your leader. I'm hoping if he's strong enough to be in command, he's wise enough to listen to reason. Kar: You see this? This is debris from a Nistrim frigate. The man you are demanding to see destroyed it, killing more than one hundred in a single shot. Before that, his name was only Ra. Now he is called Jal Razik. And this tunic belonged to a Relora warrior. He was killed by the bare hands of another Ogla, called only Hali. Now that man is called Jal Haliz, one of our greatest fighters. And this bracelet belonged to the man who killed my brother, my brother, Jal Kanal, who earned his Ogla name by dying bravely in battle. But I, I will never earn my name in life or in death, and I have you to thank for that. Paris: We're approaching Chakotay's last known coordinates, Captain. Janeway: All stop. Full sensor scan, Mister Kim. Kim: Picking up floating debris composed of duranium, magnesite and electroceramics. Also heavy traces of carbon residue. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Prepare to receive debris samples for analysis. Torres: Aye, Captain. Kim: Transport complete. Tuvok: Captain, I am detecting an ion trail leading away from this location. Janeway: Chakotay's shuttle. Tuvok: The signature of the radiation is not consistent with Federation propulsion systems. Paris: So what are we saying here? That someone blew up Chakotay's shuttle and then took off? Janeway: That's speculation, Mister Paris, but that trail's the only clue we have to Chakotay's whereabouts. Paris: Laying in a course. Janeway: Engage. Razik: Hello, Kar. I never thought I would see you like this. Kar: It was not my fault. It was his technology! Razik: Don't make excuses, Kar. An Ogla has no room for excuses. Kar: No. No excuses. Razik: I forgive you. Know that in your heart. Kar: No. Please. Razik: You will eat at my right hand tonight. Why did you save him? It's a very ineffective way of waging war. Chakotay: I'm not at war with you. Razik: I wish I could say the same. Chakotay: We're not familiar with this part of space. If I'd seen a map identifying this as Kazon-Ogla territory, I wouldn't have been anywhere near it. Razik: Unfortunately, our territorial claims change every day. Maps do not serve us well. You did him a great disservice, you know. Chakotay: I guess if he had killed me, my uniform would've made you all a fine trophy. Razik: Your uniform may yet decorate our wall. You may not think you're at war with us, Federation Commander Chakotay, but everything you are is a threat to us. The Kazon fought long and hard for their independence from uniforms like yours. Chakotay: Uniforms maybe, but not like mine. Razik: Your uniforms, your laws, your technology. You are not welcome here. Get him something to eat. The execution is tonight. Janeway: Well? Torres: Most of the debris we've examined is composed of a polyduranide alloy which isn't used in the construction of Federation spacecraft. Janeway: So it wasn't Chakotay's shuttle that was destroyed? Torres: This ship was Kazon. Chakotay: You get them involved young, Haliz. Haliz: As soon as they're old enough to protect their younger siblings. Chakotay: So they brought you here to see your first human. Take a good look. You won't see any hate in my eyes. I'm a gentle man from a gentle people who wish you no harm. Razik: That's enough! Chakotay: I know you'd like them to hate me, Razik, but I want their first impression of humans to be a good one. Razik: You've been brought here to learn what it means to be a Kazon male. You all know Kar. You've learned to fight together, haven't you? Kar was sent to kill this man to earn his Ogla name. But Kar failed, and will not earn his name even in death. Who would be willing to kill the human? Razik: So much for first impressions, Federation. I'm proud of you. Each will get your chance someday. But that's not what we're here for today. We are here to learn the price of failure in battle. Razik holds the weapon out to Chakotay.) Razik: Take it. Chakotay: What for? Razik: So that you can kill Kar, as you should have done in battle. Chakotay: You want me to kill a child in front of other children? What would it accomplish? Razik: It will teach these little boys an important lesson. And after you do that, you'll be free to go. You may think I want your friend Kar to die but you'd be wrong. I've seen too many Ogla die at the hands of our enemies. That is why you must learn there are no second chances in battle. That is why Kar must die. Chakotay: If I refuse? Chakotay: I'll be needing my shuttle back. Haliz: Do you really think you can escape us in that little vessel of yours? Chakotay: That's a chance I'm willing to take. What about you? Razik: Let the coward run. Prepare his shuttle. Chakotay: Want to come? There doesn't seem to be much of a future for you here. Haliz: He'd rather die than run like a Calogan dog with you, Federation. Kar: If I stay here, I'll die without a name. And Razik taught me only cowards die without a name. Razik: You won't find your name running after the Federation, Kar. Kar: Maybe not, but that's a chance I'm willing to take. I'll show you how to disable the weapons systems. Kar: Will Razik be all right? Chakotay: Don't worry, he's only stunned. Chakotay: It didn't take them long to get those weapons back online, did it? Computer, prepare to go to warp. Kar: No! Their ship is much clumsier at lower speeds. We should try to outmaneuver them. Chakotay: You're the boss. Initiate evasive pattern theta two. Full impulse. Kar: I can give you the shield frequencies of their ship. We can hit them back easily. Chakotay: It may mean something to you to die a violent death, but I'd like to get out of this without killing or being killed. Kar: You'd rather die in your sleep a wrinkled old man? Chakotay: Sounds about right. Computer, damage report. Computer: Aft shields at sixty three percent. Chakotay: We're not going to make it like this. Computer, scan for an M-class atmosphere. Computer: There is an M-class moon at bearing one zero eight mark one eight. Distance, one point nine million kilometers. Kar: That's Tarok, where the Ogla conduct training exercises. Chakotay: Anybody training there now? Computer, lay in a course to the moon. Evasive pattern omega one. Maximum impulse. Computer: Warning. Aft shields have been penetrated. Hull breach is imminent. Chakotay: Computer, prepare for long-range transport. Two to beam to the surface. Computer: Transport is not recommended. The moon is out of safety range. Tuvok: Captain, the ion trail is beginning to dissipate. Janeway: All stop. Kim: I'm picking up debris again. More duranium, magnesite, carbon residue. It's the remnants of another ship. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Lieutenant Torres, prepare to receive another debris sample. Torres: Acknowledged. Kim: Transport under way. Torres: Torres to Bridge. Sample received. Janeway: Let me know when you've got something, B'Elanna. Torres: I've got something Torres: Right now. It's a piece of Chakotay's shuttle. Chakotay: Kar. Kar: It worked? Chakotay: The computer said that transport wasn't recommended. It didn't say it was impossible. With any luck, Razik will think we didn't survive the explosion. Then maybe you'll get your name for dying in battle. Kar: In battle? That wasn't a battle. We didn't even shoot back. And now I'm stranded here with you. Chakotay: Yes, you're stranded here with me, and I'm stranded here with you, because for some reason that escapes me at the moment, I keep saving your life. Now, if you want to hate me for that, fine. But I'd really appreciate it if you kept it to yourself. Kar: You don't Chakotay: To yourself! First thing we've got to do is find some shelter and get out of this heat. Any suggestions? Chakotay: I think we're finally beginning to understand each other. Kar: You don't know what you're doing. Chakotay: What did I just say? Kar: Get down. Chakotay: What the hell was that? Kar: A proton beam. They're hidden everywhere, along with biomagnetic traps and disruptor snares. Chakotay: Charming. Kar: I told you, the Ogla train on this moon. I was here myself last year with Razik. Chakotay: So I guess you know your way around. Kar: I know that you're in my territory. And if you want to live to become that wrinkled old man, you're going to have to do what I say. Chakotay: Well, it looks like you just saved my life. Twice more and we'll be even. Emh: I finished analyzing the shuttle debris, and I found no evidence of human remains. Janeway: Then it's possible Chakotay wasn't killed in the explosion. Emh: That is correct. Janeway: That's the first good news I've heard all day. Thank you, Doctor. Emh: My pleasure. Now, would you mind having someone transport this junk to the Cargo Bay? It's cluttering up my lab. Janeway: Of course, Doctor. All right, then. If Commander Chakotay wasn't in the shuttle, where is he? Tuvok: From the dispersal pattern of the debris, we've been able to extrapolate Chakotay's course prior to the explosion. It appears he was heading for an M-class moon in this system. Kim: And we found a residual energy displacement within the debris field that isn't consistent with the explosion itself. Janeway: You think he may have transported to that moon? Tuvok: We tried to scan the surface, but there is intense radiothermic interference. Janeway: Radiothermic? Torres: It appears to be coming from subterranean energy sources, several carefully concealed weapons systems, phaser banks, force fields, proton dischargers Kes: Kazon. When they captured me, I saw how they concealed their weaponry. Neelix: I believe you call them booby traps. Janeway: Then this moon is some kind of Kazon fortification? Kes: Or it may simply be a training site. Neelix: For the Kazon, live ammunition is a very effective teaching tool. Janeway: In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I choose to believe Chakotay made it to that moon. Mister Kim, see if you can determine the most probable location he would have beamed to. Lieutenant, you and I will lead the away team. Tuvok: As you wish, Captain, but I must point out that due to radiothermic interference, we will not be able to communicate with the ship. Torres: I'm already working on a dampening field to cut through the interference, but it'll take several hours at least. Janeway: I don't want to wait that long, but keep trying. Neelix, Kes, you're our two Kazon experts. Kes, you'll come with Tuvok and me. Neelix, you said you wanted more to do? Well, now's your chance. I want you on the bridge with Mister Paris in case we run into any Kazon ships. Neelix: Don't worry, Captain. You can count on me to keep those nefarious Kazon at bay. Janeway: Dismissed. Kar: What are you doing? Chakotay: I'm setting my tricorder to emit a homing signal. Kar: What for? Chakotay: So when my people show up, they'll know where to look for me. Kar: They won't come. They'll think you're dead. Chakotay: They're very persistent. I'm betting they haven't given up on me. Kar: Maybe I should kill you, and steal your technology and deliver it to my people. Then they'd have to give me my name. Chakotay: You just won't give up, will you? Kar: You won't stop me from earning my name, Federation. Chakotay: Not Federation. Chakotay. That's my name. Kar: Did you have to earn it? Chakotay: No, not exactly. Kar: Then your name means nothing. Chakotay: My name was a gift from my tribe. I cherish it every day of my life, just as I cherish the Federation uniform. Kar: I should respect you because you wear that uniform? Chakotay: Your name, my uniform. Not much difference. We both have to earn them. Kar: What did you have to do to earn your uniform? Chakotay: Study. Years of study. Learning about science and ships and navigation. Kar: I suppose they don't expect you to prove your battle skills. Chakotay: No. They prepared us to defend ourselves in battle. They prepared us very well. And we had to pass many difficult tests before we were given the right to wear the uniform. Kar: You're saying that my name and your uniform mean the same thing, but you're wrong. Chakotay: Why? What's so different about us, aside from the fact that I keep saving your life and you keep threatening to kill me? Kar: I must protect my territory. Territory is power. Chakotay: Let me tell you something. I have no interest in your territory or anybody else's. My people taught me a man does not own land. He doesn't own anything but the courage and loyalty in his heart. That's where my power comes from. I think we both could use some sleep, don't you? Kim: I've got a Kazon raider approaching at bearing two eight eight mark nine. Paris: On screen. Open a channel. I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris of the Starship Voyager. Razik: Jal Razik, First Maje of the Kazon-Ogla. I will speak to your captain. Paris: I'm in command right now, so you can speak to me. Razik: You are trespassing in Ogla space. Why do you orbit our moon? Paris: Just stopped to make a few repairs. We'll be on our way in no time. Razik: That is a lie. You are here looking for your Commander Chakotay. Paris: Now, how would you know about that? Razik: Quite simply. We killed him. Paris: Under what circumstances? Razik: He kidnapped a young man. During his escape, it became necessary to destroy his ship. No doubt you found the remains, so I suggest you depart immediately. Paris: Thanks for the advice. Neelix: What a most unusual offer. A Kazon-Ogla Maje allowing a trespasser to leave his space unharmed. What would the other Kazons say about this new merciful attitude of the Ogla? Razik: Don't tempt me, Talaxian. I would just as soon open fire. Neelix: Would you? Paris: Neelix. Neelix: No, I don't think so. That would attract every rival Kazon sect to your secret training base, wouldn't it? Now, I know your ships, Maje. I even sold a few Plaxan sensors to the Ogla a few years back. I have no doubt that you read the same life signs on that moon that we have. Haliz: Perhaps one of those life signs belongs to your captain. Razik: If you've detected the extensive weaponry deployed on the moon, know this. With one remote command, I can cause that weaponry to self-destruct, destroying the surface of the moon and everyone on it. Neelix: Neither of us wants that, do we? Think of the cost of replacing all those weapons. Awfully hard to come by in this region. And it would make you so vulnerable to your enemies. Paris: We'll leave as soon as we've retrieved our crewmen, all of them, including Chakotay, if he's alive. And if one of your people is with him, he'll be returned to you. Kim: They're moving into a lower orbit. Looks like they're intending to enter the atmosphere. Paris: I need communication with the surface, B'Elanna, and soon. Torres: I still haven't been able to get the dampening field working. I can't even give you an estimate. Kim: Shall we take Voyager down? Paris: I've already run a soil analysis. The surface won't support a landing. Torres: Then I guess the Captain's going to be greeted by some unexpected visitors. Neelix: At least we bought her some time. Chakotay: Good morning. How did you sleep? Kar: Fine. Chakotay: Really? You seemed a little restless to me. Kar: What do you mean? Chakotay: All that skulking around, throwing things. Kar: You were awake? Chakotay: You think I'm going to get much sleep around an Ogla warrior who's threatened to kill me? Why didn't you go through with it? Kar: I am a coward. Chakotay: I don't believe that. I don't believe you do either. I think maybe you're beginning to realize I'm not your enemy, and only a fool would kill a friend. Kar: If you are my friend, then you're my only one. What happens to me now? Where do I go? Chakotay: Would any other Kazon sect accept you? Kar: I would be a goven, an outcast. Each Kazon sect I meet would cut one digit off, and send me away. Chakotay: How many Kazon sects are there? Kar: It changes every day. Yesterday there were eighteen. Chakotay: I guess you could come with us. Kar: To do what, dress in a uniform? Chakotay: You wouldn't have to wear a uniform. Kar: And the closer you get to your home, the farther I would be from mine. If only you had killed me. Tuvok: Captain, four life forms approaching. Forty meters. They appear to be Kazon. Razik: Please, put your weapons away. We've come to help you. Janeway: Help us? With what? Razik: We made contact with your ship and learned of the plight of your missing crewman. We've come to offer our assistance in finding him. Janeway: That's very kind of you. Razik: You're walking on very dangerous ground. There are concealed weapons everywhere. Come. We will lead you through them. Janeway: Very well. Chakotay: Tell me about the other uniforms, the ones the Kazon fought. Kar: The Trabe. The Kazon shared their homeworld, if you can call it sharing. They had everything, we had nothing, until we took it from them in the revolt, twenty six years ago. Kar: What is it? Chakotay: People coming this way, humans and Kazon. Kar: What are we going to do? Chakotay: There's only one way back to the Ogla for you, and that's if you earn your name. So I guess that's what you'll have to do. Kar: But how? Chakotay: You're going to have to kill me. Tuvok: The signal seems to be coming from some caves approximately forty meters ahead. Razik: Your technology continues to amaze us. It would have taken us weeks to track them. After this is over, we have to discuss an alliance. Janeway: I would welcome your friendship, Maje. Kes: Captain Janeway, I'm reading elevated radiothermic levels here. Razik: The Ocampa female is correct. This is a particularly dangerous place. We lose many trainees here. Perhaps you would prefer if we proceeded alone. They can't be far now. Janeway: Thanks, but I think we'll stick together. Paris: Voyager to Away team. Janeway: We're here, Mister Paris. Paris: We finally broke through the interference, Captain. Are you all right? Paris: We had a run-in Janeway: Everything is fine. We have the assistance of the Ogla. Paris: That's what I was going to tell you to expect. Janeway: Can you lock onto Commander Chakotay? Paris: Stand by. Paris: Voyager to Chakotay. Do you read? Chakotay: I'm fine, Paris. Paris: Stand by for us to beam you out of there. Chakotay: Belay that, Voyager. Stand by. Chakotay: According to my readings, the away team's only fifty meters away. Paris: Right, but don't Chakotay: And alert Sickbay to prepare for a code white resuscitation. Paris: Did you say code white? Chakotay: Correct. Chakotay: I don't have time to explain now. Chakotay: Chakotay out. Chakotay: It'll be all right. Our technology can revive me even if I'm brain dead for two minutes. Kar: Why are you doing this? Chakotay: Like you said, it's my fault you don't have your name. I can't leave you behind like this. Chakotay: Chakotay to Away team. Janeway: Good to hear your voice, Commander. Chakotay: Captain, proceed with caution. I've been taken prisoner by a young Kazon. He's threatening to kill me. Haliz: This way. It's safer. Tuvok: I would beg to differ. Based on these readings, that way would seem the logical choice. Razik: I must apologize for my comrade. I believe he's trying to mislead you. Razik: So, your technology is not always an ally. Sometimes it betrays you. Pity. I'm afraid you would not score well in our training exercises. Janeway: Away team to Voyager. Kes: Captain, that panel is a micro-generator. Janeway: You're right. If we can get a narrow beam through the field, we can disable it. Tuvok: We could try remodulating the phasers to a higher frequency output. Janeway: Make it fast. Kar: I've been waiting for you, Razik. Razik: So, the Federation Commander is your prisoner. Kar: I only came with him so I could have another chance to kill him. Razik: So you could earn your name. Kar: That's what I've been hoping for, Razik. But you taught me well. I know what you're going to say. You've said it so many times before. In battle, there are no second chances. Kar: But you are not my enemy, he is. Kar: My name is Jal Karden, Kazon-Ogla. You are First Maje now, Haliz. My life is yours. Kill me if you wish, or let me live and I will follow you into battle whenever you command. Haliz: Jal Karden, Kazon-Ogla. Kazons: Kazon-Ogla. Kar: The Federation does not belong here. If we meet again, I will not hesitate to kill you. Chakotay: I understand. Janeway: Janeway to Voyager. Five to beam up. Chakotay: A-koo-chee-moya. I pray on this day of memories to speak to my father, the one whom the wind called Kolopak. Father, if you can hear me among these unnamed stars, I ask you to continue to watch over me as you've always done. I ask you also to watch over a boy called Karden, who has a difficult path to travel. A-koo-chee-moya.

Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Hello? Computer, who activated the Emergency Medical Holographic program? Computer: Auto-initiation of the EMH program occurred when a ship-wide Red alert was initiated. Emh: Emergency? Sickbay to bridge. Captain Janeway, please respond. Computer: Captain Janeway is not on board the ship. Emh: Well then, who's in command? Computer: Internal scans indicate no crew members are on board. Emh: You mean the ship's empty? Computer: Affirmative. Emh: What is the crew's status? Computer: Unknown. Emh: Did they go on shore leave? Are they dead? What? Computer: That information is not available. Emh: Can you give me a ship's status report? Computer: Affirmative. Warp core is offline. The ship is restricted to emergency power and auxiliary systems only. Structural integrity breach on deck six, deck seven and deck twelve. Deflector shields inoperative. Weapons array offline. Communications offline. Sewage and waste reclamation offline. Emh: Okay, I get the idea. What caused this damage? Computer: That information is not available. Emh: Of course it isn't. Emh: Computer, transfer all bridge logs to this station. Computer: Accessing bridge logs. Emh: Replay last log entry. Janeway: heavy casualties. The warp core is going critical and the ejection system is offline. I've ordered all personnel to abandon ship. Lieutenant Torres and I Emh: Computer, have any escape pods been ejected? Computer: All escape pods were launched at twenty one hundred hours. Emh: Scan the ship for any humanoid life forms. Computer: There are no humanoid life forms aboard this vessel. Emh: Well, I'm glad everyone bothered to say goodbye. Chief Medical Officers log, stardate 48892.1. It appears that Voyager has suffered a disaster. What kind I don't know, but one thing is clear. The crew was forced to abandon ship. It would therefore seem that my usefulness has come to an end. I am terminating my program. If anyone finds this log, I can be re-activated by Emh: Hello? Emh: Hello? Torres: Doctor! What are you doing? Emh: Sorry, I wasn't expecting a member of the crew. The computer said everyone had left. Torres: The internal sensors were damaged during the attack. They must not be reading every life sign on the ship. Emh: Attack? Torres: The Kazon. Two of their Predator class warships took us by surprise, hit us with a volley of plasma torpedoes. It started a core breach and we had to abandon ship. The Captain and I stayed behind to see if we could stop the breach. At the last second we did. Emh: Why didn't the crew return to the ship? Torres: Because they couldn't. The Kazon tractored all of the life pods onto their ships. They went into warp before we could stop them. What's wrong? Emh: This tricorder isn't registering your life signs. This one isn't working either. Torres: You've got to help the Captain. She was hit by a falling support beam. I didn't want to risk moving her so I had to leave her on the bridge. Emh: Can't we beam her to Sickbay? Torres: The transporters are down. So are the turbolifts. I had to crawl through thirty one Jefferies tubes on five decks just to get here. Emh: Then you're going to have to go back up there with a medical kit. I'll instruct you on how to treat her. Torres: You don't understand, Doctor. I'm not going, you are. I'm sending you to the bridge. Emh: That would be ideal, if it were possible, but my projection system is limited to the Sickbay and the holodecks. Torres: Not any more. For the past few weeks we've been setting up holographic emitters on critical decks. We were hoping to set up a remote holo-projection system, give you access to other parts of the ship. Emh: Why wasn't I told about this? Torres: We hadn't even tested the system yet. There was no guarantee it was going to work. I guess the Captain didn't want to get your hopes up. Emh: Her compassion is heart-warming. The next time I'd rather be kept informed. Where are these remote projectors? Torres: Decks one through five. We also put them in Engineering, the Mess hall and the cargo bay. All the projectors are in place but the problem is we're going to have to interface with the Sickbay imaging system. That's going to take a lot of power and computer memory. I don't know if we have enough reserve power to spare. Emh: Most of the crew is gone. Could we divert power from life support systems? Torres: Good idea. I can drop life support down to minimum levels on the lower decks. That should give us enough power. All right, I'll need another twenty minutes to get the projectors online. Torres: All right, the remote projectors are charged and ready to go. Imaging interface stable. Are you ready to try this? Emh: I assume there's still an emergency medical kit behind the tactical console? Torres: That's right. Emh: Then I'm ready. Torres: There are a couple of things you should know. In order to do this I had to recalibrate your containment field, so your holo-matrix will be very sensitive to disruption. Try to stay away from energy discharges. Phaser fire, forcefields, that sort of thing. Emh: I'll try. Torres: Make sure you do, because if your containment field collapses it'll take hours to re-initialize your program. Emh: Understood. Torres: I'm going to head down to engineering and try and get some of the critical systems working. You'll hear from me when I get the comm. system back online. Unless, of course, this doesn't work, in which case I'll see you in about five seconds. Good luck, Doctor. Emh: Thank you. I have a feeling I'll need it. Emh: Well, It's bigger than I thought. Emh: Captain? Emh: Hello, Captain. You're going to be fine. Janeway: Oh, Doctor. I see the new holoprojectors are working. Emh: Lieutenant Torres was able to get them online. Are you feeling any pain, dizziness, nausea? Janeway: I'm a little disoriented and I have one hell of a headache. Emh: For some reason none of the tricorders are working, but from what I can tell you have a concussion. I'd like to get you to Sickbay as soon as possible. Janeway: The last thing I remember is launching the escape pods. Lieutenant Torres and I were trying to stop the core breach, and then I blacked out. Emh: You were successful in preventing the breach. Janeway: And the crew? Emh: They were taken prisoner by the Kazon. Torres: Torres to bridge, can you hear me? Janeway: Yes, Lieutenant, we hear you. Go ahead. Torres: Are you all right, Captain? Janeway: I'm fine. I'm glad you convinced the Doctor to make a house call. What's our status? Torres: I've got communications back online and I think I can re-activate the warp core, but it'll mean recrystallizing the entire dilithium matrix. Janeway: Keep on it. In the meantime I'll see if I can restore the bridge controls and start scanning for the Kazon ships. Torres: Aye, Captain. Torres out. Janeway: Doctor, do you know anything about bypassing a power relay? Emh: Is it anything like a coronary bypass? Janeway: Actually, it is. Give me a hand. See this conduit? It's a power relay. It's circuits are burnt out. What we need to do is reconfigure the Neelix: Neelix to bridge. Is anyone there? Emergency! Janeway: Neelix, this is the Captain. What's wrong? Neelix: Help. I need help! I'm in the mess hall. There's a Janeway: Neelix, are you there? Neelix? With the turbolifts down it'll take me a half hour to get there. Doctor, it's up to you. I'll use the remote projectors to send you to the Mess hall. Stand by for transfer. Neelix: I hope that crushed your skull, Kazon pus hog. Emh: Kazon! Neelix: What's it like to stare death in the face, Kazon? Neelix: Missed me! Neelix: I suggest you surrender now, Kazon. The Captain's on her way! Neelix: Want some more, you needle-snake? Neelix: My best sauté pan. Good work, Doctor. Emh: You're injured. Neelix: Ahhh! What's wrong? Is it serious? Emh: Don't panic, Mister Neelix. It looks superficial. Neelix: Am I going to die? Emh: Not unless you're allergic to tomatoes. That isn't blood, it's some kind of sauce. Neelix: Nondoran tomato paste. Oh, that'll leave a nasty stain. What are you doing here, Doctor? Emh: I could ask you the same thing. Neelix: Kes and I were on our way to the escape pod when this Kazon fungus came crawling out of an access hatch. I kept him occupied long enough for Kes to get away but he didn't give up so easily. So I took off running, he chased me and I led him here. No one gets the best of me in my kitchen! I'm fine now. The question is, are you? Emh: Me? Neelix: You're bleeding. Emh: Bleeding? That's impossible. Neelix: Don't panic, Doctor. It looks superficial. Emh: I'm not programmed to bleed. Neelix: Maybe you should check your program. Emh: Emergency Medical Hologram to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead Doctor. Emh: Captain, we've captured a Kazon. He's been rendered unconscious and Mister Neelix is fine. But I believe my program is malfunctioning. I request that you return me to sickbay immediately. Janeway: Acknowledged. Mr Neelix, keep an eye on the Kazon until I get there. I'm on my way. Neelix: No problem, Captain. Emh: Pain? I'm not programmed to feel pain. Emh: Heart rate, blood pressure, brain patterns? Computer, analyze Emergency Medical Holographic program. Has it been altered in any way to include life signs? Computer: Unable to comply. Requested program is not on file. Emh: Not on file? The program's running right now! Display schematics for all Sickbay holographic systems. Computer: No holographic systems exist in Sickbay. Emh: EMH program A K one diagnostic and surgical subroutine omega three two three. Check the database and you'll find it! Computer: Specified program does not exist. Emh: Well, then, who is the Chief Medical Officer on board this ship? Computer: The Chief Medical Officer of USS Voyager is Doctor Louis Zimmerman. Emh: Louis Zimmerman? Yes. He was the engineer who created my program. I understand he resembles me but, he's not on Voyager! He's at the Jupiter Station Holo-Programming Center. Computer, how long has Doctor Zimmerman served on Voyager? Computer: Doctor Zimmerman commenced duty on stardate 48308.2 Emh: 48308. That's the date I was activated. Computer, display all Starfleet records on Doctor Lewis Zimmerman. Emh: He looks a lot like me. In fact, he looks exactly like me. Computer, is this me? Computer: Affirmative. Doctor Lewis Zimmerman. Janeway: Doctor, we've almost got the warp core back online, but we need to know where the crew was taken. I want you to perform an ARA scan on the Kazon while we question him. Is something wrong? Emh: Something's very wrong. These tricorders aren't picking up any of your life signs. At first I thought they were malfunctioning, but now I find they show me to be a living, breathing, bleeding human being. Janeway: What? Emh: And that's not all. According to the computer, I'm not a hologram. I'm a real person named Zimmerman. I've been trying to analyze my program but the computer says it doesn't exist. Janeway: This could be a problem with the remote projectors. The multiple holographic signals may be confusing the computer. I'm going to deactivate you and then re-initialize your program parameters. Computer, discontinue Emergency Medical Holographic system. Emh: See what I mean? Janeway: You're right. Your program's not anywhere on file. Computer, shut down all holographic systems throughout the ship. Emh: Computer, what happened to Captain Janeway, Lieutenant Torres, Mister Neelix and the Kazon? Computer: All holographic simulations were discontinued. Emh: Simulations? Computer, I'm talking about real people. Locate Captain Janeway. Computer: Captain Janeway is stored in memory block forty seven alpha. Emh: List all other programs stored in that memory block. This is the entire Voyager crew. Computer, are you saying that the crew is nothing more than a collection of holographic programs? Computer: Affirmative. Emh: This is ridiculous. There must be something wrong. Barclay: Doctor, am I glad to see you. Can you see me? Emh: Of course I can see you. Who are you? Barclay: Sir, it's me. It's Lieutenant Barclay. Reg. Your assistant. Emh: My assistant's name is Kes. Who are you? Barclay: Uh-oh. Emh: What? Barclay: Oh, no, this is bad. This is very bad. Don't panic. Let's just try to think our way through this. Emh: I'm not familiar with you. Are you a member of the Voyager crew or have we encountered another Federation ship? Barclay: Oh, boy. The Voyager. Oh, boy. This is going to sound a little crazy from your perspective, but you've got to trust me. None of this is happening. This is all a holographic simulation that you've been running. Emh: What are you talking about. Barclay: You're in the holodeck at the Jupiter Station. Your name is Doctor Lewis Zimmerman, you're a holo-engineer and you've been running a program that's malfunctioning and we've been trying to reach you. Emh: What are you saying? That I'm a real person? Barclay: Well, I always used to think of you that way and I know your wife tends to think Emh: My wife? Barclay: We'd, er, we'd better take this one step at a time. Emh: Please do. Barclay: Well, you see, this starship, it's not really a starship. Barclay: It was a program that you wrote to study the psychological impact of long term isolation on a crew made up of Starfleet and Maquis crewmembers. Emh: A program I wrote? That's preposterous. I'm the program. Voyager is a real ship, manned by real people. Barclay: I'm afraid not. This must have something to do with the radiation surge. Emh: What was that? Barclay: We've been having problems shutting the program down because of a kinoplasmic radiation surge on the station. It's affected all of the computer systems, including the holodecks. The radiation must be affecting the memory centers of your brain. Emh: How did you get in here? Barclay: I'm not really here. Clearly, I'm here because we're talking. You see, what I mean is, I'm in a control booth outside of the holodeck. What you see is a projection of my body so that we can communicate. We've been trying to get in here, or send a comm. signal in for nearly six hours. Emh: You expect me to believe that the past six months I've spent on this ship have been nothing but a simulation? Barclay: You haven't been here six months. You've only been here six hours. Emh: That's impossible! I have very clear memories of my first appearance on Voyager. Meeting Captain Janeway for the first time. I've had numerous experiences aboard this ship. Barclay: That's all part of the simulation. Emh: How do I know you're not some kind of alien, impersonating a Starfleet officer. Barclay: Look, Doctor, it's very important that you believe me. You're losing your sense of identity. You're starting to think that you're part of the program and that's, that's not good. It's called HTDS. Holo Transference Dementia Syndrome. Emh: So now I'm having a psychotic episode. Barclay: No. Yes. I mean, maybe the radiation. Doctor, I'm sorry I have to do this. Emh: How dare you! Barclay: It hurt, right? If you were a program it wouldn't hurt. Emh: I could be programmed to think it hurt. Barclay: Doctor. Barclay: I'll be back. I've got to discuss this with the others. Don't, don't go anywhere. Emh: Pain. Pain, why would I have pain? I think I'm hungry. I'm not sure what for, but I'm definitely hungry. This is impossible. Barclay: The problem is worse than we thought. The radiation is disrupting the command protocols. We can't shut the program down, and while the program is running we can't access the holodeck grid. Emh: Why don't you beam me out of here? Barclay: We tried, but the radiation is interfering with the transporters and we can't get a lock on you. I've consulted with our neurologist, Doctor Kaplin, and he said if we can't get you out of here within the next hour, that the radiation would completely oxidize your neurocellular structures. Emh: So, what do you suggest? Barclay: There's only one way left to terminate the program, and that's to play it out. Bring it to it's conclusion and once the simulation ends, it'll release the access locks on the holodeck arch and we can get you out of here. Emh: How does it conclude? Barclay: You programmed two possible outcomes. Either Voyager finds its way back to Federation space, or it's destroyed in the process. But the simulation was designed to run for weeks before either happens. But I know of a way that you can bring it to an end right now. Destroy the ship. Emh: Destroy the ship? Destroy Voyager? Barclay: This is just a simulation, Lewis. None of this is real. And unless you destroy this ship that you think you're on, you're going to die. Emh: No. No, absolutely not. Barclay: Doctor, it's the only way. Emh: First of all, I don't even know how to destroy the ship. Second of all I wouldn't do it even if I could, and third, how do I know you're not an alien intruder trying to trick me into killing everyone? Barclay: Well, those are good questions. First, I can tell you how to destroy the Voyager. Second, if you don't do it, you're going to die. And third. Well, I'm just not an alien and I don't know how else to convince you of that. Emh: If what you're saying is true, why don't you destroy the ship? Why do I have to do it? Barclay: You are the one running the simulation. It's coded to respond to your input, not mine. Emh: I'm sorry, Mister Barclay, if that's what your name really is, but you're not very convincing. Barclay: Here, use this tricorder. Scan the room outwards to a distance of fifteen meters. Emh: This appears to show a wall fifteen meters away and it does have a holodeck grid configuration. Barclay: You see? Emh: But you could be manipulating these readings. Barclay: Scan me. You'll see I'm a holographic projection originating from beyond that wall. Emh: Yes, all right. But it could still be an elaborate deception. I can't take that risk. Barclay: There has to be some way to convince you. Oh, I know. I'll be right back. Kim: Are you the Emergency Medical Hologram? Emh: Yes, of course I am. Kim: We've got wounded here. Emh: I've seen this patient before. He has multiple percussive injuries. Tricorder. Medical tricorder. I've been in this moment in time before. Paris: What? What are you talking about? Help this man. Emh: Have we just been catapulted across the galaxy to an unknown area of the Delta Quadrant? Kim: Yes. Emh: And you are developing tumorous growths on your chest. Kim: What? Emh: Ah. So that hasn't happened yet. Is this stardate 48308? Paris: Look, are you going to help this man or not? Emh: I'm not. Mister Barclay? Kim: The program must be malfunctioning. Let me see if I can reset the holographic projector. Emh: Mister Barclay, will you please return? Barclay: Now do you believe me? This is the beginning of the simulation. We can't shut down the program but we can restart it. Emh: This is my first memory of being activated on Voyager. Paris: Who the hell are you? Emh: Did I program Mister Paris to be so annoying? Barclay: Actually, I programmed him. I modeled him after my cousin Frank. Emh: Hmm. Computer, delete Paris. Paris: What are you Kim: What did you do to him? Emh: Computer, delete Kim. Hmm. Barclay: Are you convinced yet? Emh: Let's just say your credibility level is rising. But I'm still not prepared to destroy Voyager. Barclay: So what are you going to do now? Emh: I need to confirm my true nature. Whether or not I am in fact a real person. Let's just say that I'm right and this is a real ship and I am a hologram. If I were to destroy the holographic memory core then I should disappear. Barclay: Yes. But if you destroy it and you're still here Emh: Then I'm not a hologram. Barclay: And you'll know that I'm telling you the truth. Emh: The holo-memory core is located in Engineering. Let's go. Barclay: What's wrong? Emh: The remote holoprojectors were taken offline. I shouldn't be able to exist outside sickbay? Barclay: That's because you're a Emh: A real person. Yes. I'm getting the idea. Janeway: Magnetic constrictors are online. The warp core is stable. Let's get started on those plasma relays. You, who are you? Emh: I'm the Emergency Medical Hologram. Janeway: I didn't know you could be projected into Engineering. Emh: I can't. But it's a long story. I'd rather not get into it right now. Janeway: Fine. We have three wounded crewmembers over here. Emh: I'm afraid I have a more pressing matter to attend to, Captain. Janeway: What do you mean, you have a more pressing matter to attend to? And who are you? I don't recognize you. Barclay: Oh, don't mind me, I'm just assisting the Doctor. Janeway: Doctor, I am ordering you to take care of these wounded crewmembers. Emh: Computer, delete Janeway. Barclay: The computer's not responding to vocal commands. The protocols are starting to freeze up. We don't have much time. Janeway: Jarvis, Parsons, put these men under arrest. Barclay: Don't worry, those phasers aren't real, they're just holograms. Emh: I wouldn't be so sure. I was injured earlier. Barclay: That means the holodeck safeties are off. Emh: Now, just a moment. Let's not do anything hasty. Janeway: Who are you? Are you two responsible for bringing us here? Emh: Actually, no. The array you discovered is controlled by an entity you will come to know as the Caretaker. Or Banjo man. He's actually an alien life form who's caring for a species known as the Ocampa who live nearby. Janeway: Enough! I don't know what this is all about, but clearly you're involved. Take them to the brig. I'll question them later. Emh: No, I don't think so. Janeway: You're in no position to argue. Emh: I'm not arguing. I'm simply pointing out that in several seconds the entire crew of Voyager will be transported to the array, where you will be tortured and probed for medical information. It will be quite painful, but not fatal. Kim: Bridge to Janeway. We're being scanned by the array, Captain. It's penetrated our shields. Janeway: What kind of scan? Janeway: Bridge. Janeway to Bridge, respond. What are you Barclay: Time is running out, Doctor. The oxidation levels in your neural tissues are rising. You've got to destroy this ship and bring this program to an end. Emh: First things first. I have to make absolutely sure what I am. Emh: This is the central memory nexus for all holographic systems on board. If I destroy this, there won't be a single hologram left on Voyager. Barclay: Well, except for me. I'm being projected from outside the simulation. Go ahead, give it a try. Barclay: Convinced? Emh: Computer, what is the status of the holographic imaging system on Voyager? Computer: The holographic imaging system has been destroyed. Emh: Are there any holographic programs running anywhere on the ship? Computer: Negative. Emh: Then why is the ship still here, and not a hologrid? Computer: Please restate the question. Emh: You said all holo-systems were destroyed. Why is the ship simulation still running? Computer: All holo-simulations have been terminated. Barclay: Doctor, I know this is a little confusing, but try to remember you just destroyed the holographic imaging system on a holographic ship. A hologram in a hologram. If you want to bring this to an end you've got to destroy the entire simulation. The ship itself. Emh: Then it's true. I am a real person. Barclay: And you're a person in great danger. Destroy the ship. Now, before it's too late. Emh: But if I'm wrong? Barclay: Doctor, you've got to believe me. What else can I do to prove it to you? Emh: I know, I know, but it's just so Barclay: There. Do you see what's happening? Holograms don't feel pain. Your brain is being flooded with kinoplasmic radiation. You're dying. Emh: I guess you're right. What should I do? Barclay: The warp core. Even set on full power it's going to take a sustained phaser burst to punch through the outer duranium shielding. Set your phaser to maximum. Aim for the magnetic constrictors. Ready? Emh: Ready. Chakotay: Stop! Doctor, don't do it! Doctor, don't listen to him. He's lying. Step away from the warp core, Doctor, don't do anything that man tells you. You're in danger if you do. None of this is real. Emh: So I've been told. It's all a holographic simulation. Chakotay: That's right. But it's not the simulation you think it is. Everything around you is part of a holographic projection that's being created by your program. Emh: My program? Chakotay: You're on the holodeck on Voyager. The Captain suggested you take a day off, try a holonovel, so you did. But while you were running the holonovel, there was a kinoplasmic radiation surge in the imaging system. It created a feedback loop between the holodeck computer and your program. All of this, including Mister Barclay, is a holographic simulation generated by your codes, subroutines and memory circuits. Barclay: Don't be distracted by these holographic characters. Stay focused on what you need to do. Destroy the warp core. Emh: Wait a minute. The entire crew of Voyager was just taken by the array. They won't be back for three days. So what's he doing here? Barclay: The program is malfunctioning. Emh: Are you the real Commander Chakotay, or a holographic projection like Mister Barclay. Chakotay: I'm a projection. I'm really at the holographic control station in Engineering. You're trapped on the holodeck. We've been monitoring the program from here and we've been trying to reach you for hours. Emh: Sounds familiar. He told me the same thing. Barclay: Doctor, do you remember coming into the holodeck and running a holonovel within the last six hours? Emh: No. No, I don't. Chakotay: That's because your memory circuits are being eradicated by the feedback loop. We have to get you off the holodeck, transfer you back to Sickbay. Barclay: You don't have memory circuits, you have a mind, and it's being damaged. Destroy the Voyager, the program will end, and we can get you off the holodeck. Chakotay: That's not true, Doctor. Because of the feedback loop, if you destroy the simulation, you will be destroyed as well. Emh: Me? Chakotay: If you shut down this simulation your program will be wiped out right along with it. There'll be no way to retrieve the lost data. You'll be gone. Barclay: Only real people experience pain. You've got to believe me. Chakotay: What you're perceiving as pain is really the feedback loop eradicating your memory circuits. Emh: What, what is it you want me to do? Chakotay: Don't do anything. We're working on the problem right now. We're close to a solution. Barclay: Do nothing and you'll die. Chakotay: Doctor, trust me. Kes: Trust me, Lewis. Emh: Kes. Kes: Yes, you know me. You remember me. Emh: Yes, you're my assistant. Barclay: I told you, his brain is being damaged. He's losing his memory. This is Kes Zimmerman, your wife. Chakotay: This is all a holographic delusion drawn from people and experiences in your own memory circuits. You are malfunctioning. Kes: Lewis, please, listen to Reg, he's trying to help you. Destroy this program. Chakotay: If you listen to her, you'll end up destroying yourself. Kes: Believe in yourself. You're not a program, you're a real flesh and blood human being. And you're my husband. I don't want to lose you. Barclay: Lewis, how would you rather think of yourself? As a real person with a real life, with a family that loves you? Or as some hologram that exists in a Sickbay on a starship lost in deep space. Chakotay: This isn't about what you want. This is about what you are. Just because you're made of projected light and energy doesn't mean you're any less real than someone made of flesh and blood. It doesn't matter what you're made of. What matters is who you are. You're our friend, and we want you back. Kes: Louis, please. Pick up the phaser, destroy the warp core. It's your only hope. Chakotay: Doctor, we're close to getting you out of here. Try to hold on! Kes: What ever happens, I just want you to know, I love you. Emh: I always wanted to Emh: Tell you, Kes, that you're beautiful. Kes: Thank you. Emh: What's going on? Tuvok: We were able to shut down the holodeck simulation that your program was generating. Commander Chakotay transferred you back to Sickbay. You seem to have suffered no damage. Emh: What really happened? Kim: Voyager encountered a subspace anomaly which created a kinoplasmic radiation surge throughout most of our computers. Unfortunately it happened while you were using the holodeck. Kes: We've been working for the past six hours to get you out of there. Emh: So there was never a Kazon attack. Kes: That's right. Emh: And the crew didn't really abandon ship. Tuvok: No. In fact, except for the computer problems, it has been an uneventful day. Emh: And who is this Lieutenant Barclay I imagined. Kim: Barclay was part of the original engineering team that designed your program. He was in charge of testing your interpersonal skills. Emh: Well, this should make an interesting paper. Chakotay: Chakotay to Sickbay. Is the Doctor all right? Tuvok: Yes, Commander. His program is functioning normally. Chakotay: Good work. As soon as you're finished there I want all senior officers to report to the bridge. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Kim: It's good to have you back, Doctor. Emh: Well, I suppose I should begin cataloging the neotrianate samples I was working on this morning. Kes: So you really think I'm beautiful? Emh: I was under a great deal of stress, you understand. I may have said things that are not necessarily my true feelings. Kes. Oh. Then you don't think I'm beautiful. Emh: I didn't say that, exactly. I consider you very, very attractive. In a platonic sense. Kes: I see. Then you don't really love me. Emh: I'm afraid not. Kes: Then I guess our marriage is over. Emh: Our marriage? Are you making a joke? Kes: It isn't a joke to me, Lewis. I know we have problems but I think we can solve them. Emh: No. No, this can't be right. Something's wrong here. Barclay: It's not too late, Lewis. You can still save yourself by destroying the warp core. Emh: No! No, I don't believe you. None of this is real. It's all a delusion. Somebody help me! Barclay: I am helping you. Kes: Listen to him, Lewis. Emh: No! Paris: Doctor, are you listening to me? That man needs help! Janeway: Try to calm down, Doctor, everything's going to be fine. Janeway: Doctor, do you know who I am? Do you know where you are? Emh: I appear to be on the holodeck grid. Janeway: That's right. And do you know what you are? Emh: Yes, I'm the Emergency Medical Holographic program. Right? Janeway: Right. Emh: Well, I assume everything that's happened took place here on the holodeck. Chakotay: That's right. We encountered a subspace anomaly and there was a radiation surge in the computer system. Emh: And Kes is my assistant, not my wife? Chakotay: Your wife? Emh: Never mind. Captain, if it's okay, I'd like to return to Sickbay now. Janeway: Of course. It's good to have you back, Doctor. Emh: It's good to be back. Janeway: Computer, transfer EMH program to Sickbay. Kes: We were married? Emh: It was a delusion, of course. Kes: I understand. But I'd still prefer it if you didn't tell Neelix about this. He tends to get a little jealous. It'll be our secret. Emh: I am curious about one thing. Kes: What's that? Emh: The radiation surge caused my program to malfunction and my codes and circuits began to degrade and yet, instead of detecting that threat to my program, I experienced an elaborate delusion concerning the nature of my existence. Human or hologram. Person or projection. Why? Why would my program focus on such an esoteric dilemma? Kes: Well, I sometimes ask those kind of questions. Who am I? What am I doing here? What's my purpose in life? Doesn't everybody? Emh: Not me. I know exactly who I am and what my purpose is. I am the Emergency Medical Hologram aboard the starship Voyager. Kes: Are you sure about that?

Crewman: Oh! Sir. We, er. We're just er. Chakotay: Yes, I can see that. Paris: What was that all about? Chakotay: I'd call it an example of indiskreet shipboard fraternization. Paris: Really? Sorry I missed it. Chakotay: Deck six. Kes: Thank you for your help, Tom. Paris: Yeah. See you later. Kes: Right. Kes: Here's the cabbage you asked for. Is something wrong? Neelix: What's this? Kes: A spawn beetle. Oh, they cross-pollinate the Oblissian cabbage. Have you ever seen such fascinating striations? Oh, isn't it beautiful? Neelix: I doubt the Captain would think so if she found it crawling around in her salad. Kes: There is something wrong. What is it? Neelix: No, nothing. I'm just very busy. So, you're seeing Tom Paris later? Kes: What? No, not that I know of. Neelix: He said, see you later. You said, right. Is he helping you in the Airponics bay now? Kes: He was just helping me carry these. Neelix: How thoughtful. Kes: Neelix, this is getting ridiculous. You're imagining things that aren't there. Neelix: You're such an innocent! I see the way he looks at you. I used to look at women that way. I know what it means. Janeway: Janeway to the senior staff. Please report to the bridge. Paris: Take care. Neelix: Thank you for bringing the cabbage. I can handle this from here. Thank you. Janeway: We've detected a strange energy configuration off the port bow. Paris: Any idea what it is? Kim: It appears to be some sort of magnetic disturbance. Janeway: We're going to take a closer look. You seem a little preoccupied, Commander. Chakotay: This morning I interrupted a couple who were kissing in the turbolift, and I've been wondering if we should establish a policy regarding fraternization. Janeway: Well, the couple in question might be urged to show a bit more diskretion, but Starfleet has always been reluctant to regulate peoples' personal lives. Chakotay: Of course. But we're in a unique situation here. The development of intimate relationships might cause us problems that wouldn't arise on other ships. Janeway: I understand what you're saying but, we're a long way from home. Everyone is lonely, and all we have is each other. I think eventually people will begin to pair off. Chakotay: Including you? Janeway: As captain, that's a luxury I don't have. Besides, I intend for us to be home before, before Mark gives me up for dead. Kim: We're in visual range, Captain. Janeway: On screen. Chakotay: Looks like some type of energetic vapor. Janeway: Magnify. Chakotay: Space dwelling life forms. Janeway: Full sensor scan, Mister Kim. Kim: Their internal energy patterns appear to be consistent with discrete organic processes. Chakotay: Captain, I'd like the chance to study them at close range. Janeway: So would I, Commander. Chakotay: But let's not get too close. We wouldn't want to disturb their natural behavior. Janeway: Half impulse, Mister Paris. Take us into bioscanner range. Paris: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: The swarm is not particularly dense, Captain. I estimate their number at fewer than two thousand. Paris: They're really moving. Kim: He's right. They've accelerated to a velocity of approximately one thousand kilometers per second. Wildman: It's possible we're frightening them. Janeway: Keep us within scanner range, Lieutenant, but try to avoid rapid acceleration. Paris: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: Take a look at this. See the way they propel themselves? Janeway: They seem to flagellate, almost like protozoa. Chakotay: Exactly. But they're achieving incredible speeds. Over three thousand kilometers per second. Janeway: Ensign Wildman, scan the field for repeating patterns. Maybe they're capable of some type of communication. Wildman: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: Their internal anatomy's also very unusual. They don't appear to have a digestive system of any kind, but they have an extremely porous outer covering. My guess would be that they absorb nutrients directly from space. Janeway: Incredible. A space-dwelling life form capable of metabolizing inorganic matter. Wildman: Particle density in this part of space isn't very high. That might explain why they have to keep moving so fast. Chakotay: Feeding at three thousand kilometers per second. Not exactly leisurely dining, is it? Kes: Come in. Neelix: For you, sweeting. Kes: Thank you. Mmm. What's the occasion? Neelix: Oh, no occasion. I just wanted to apologize. Kes: Apologize? Neelix: For the way I acted in the Mess hall. I was jealous. Kes: I know. I just wish you could trust me. Neelix: It has nothing to do with trusting you. It's him I don't trust. I've seen his kind before. They're all over the quadrant, as a matter of fact. They prey on naive, sheltered young women like you. Kes: What are you looking for? Neelix: A vase. Kes: Don't! Neelix: What's this? Kes: Nothing, just a snack. A Terran delicacy. Ensign Wildman told me about it. Mashed potatoes with butter. It's delicious. Would you like to try it? Neelix: Awful! How can you eat it? Kes: I can't stop eating it. I've had six bowls. And the reason it tastes so strange, I've put a container of nitrogenated soil in it. Neelix: Dirt? You're eating dirt? Why? Kes: I don't know. But this morning Neelix: What? Kes: You remember the spawn beetles? Neelix: You didn't. Neelix to Sickbay. Prepare to receive an emergency patient. Kes: I'm not sick. I feel fine. Kes: I just can't stop eating. Neelix: We are going to get to the bottom of this. Come on. Kes: No! I'm not going! Neelix: We are going to Sickbay. Kes: No! Neelix: I'll call security unless you come with me. Neelix: Come on! Come on! Kes: Let me go! Paris: They're changing course again, Captain, and accelerating. Should I follow them? Janeway: I'm concerned that we're disturbing them. Let's drop back a bit, give them a little more room. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Kim: Captain, we're accelerating. We're getting closer to the swarm. Janeway: Mister Paris? Paris: I'm trying to slow down, Captain. Kim: Our velocity doesn't correspond to impulse reactor output. We're moving much faster than we ought to be. Paris: They seem to be pulling us toward them. Tuvok: Sensors indicate an EM resonance field. The creatures seem to be creating their own magnetic wake. That is what is pulling the ship. Paris: We're getting closer. Janeway: Mister Paris, reverse thrusters. Paris: Helm controls aren't responding, Captain. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, raise shields. Tuvok: Non-functional, Captain. Paris: They're pulling us in. Janeway: Damage report. Kim: Life support's functioning normally, Captain, but there's a huge fluctuation in the EPS grids. It's wreaking havoc with the impulse engines. Paris: Warp drive's still online. One burst and we'd be out of here. Chakotay: But our exhaust could seriously harm the creatures. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. Do you have any thoughts about how to get us out of this swarm without engaging warp engines? Torres: We might try something like a targ scoop. Janeway: Can you enlighten us, Lieutenant? Torres: Klingons put them on the front of ground assault vehicles. They emit a high frequency tone that disperses targ herds in their path. I can modify the Torres: Main deflector to create an inverted magnetic pulse. Torres: Project it toward the swarm. It might be enough to nudge the creatures out of the way. Janeway: Good idea, Lieutenant. Proceed. Neelix: You're sure the beetles weren't poisonous? Or the flowers? Emh: There are no toxins present in her system. Neelix: Doctor, why is she eating all these strange things? What's wrong with her? Emh: I am conducting an examination in order to determine that. Neelix: But don't you have any ideas? Emh: Her unusual appetite may merely indicate a nutrient deficiency. It is not unusual for humanoids to crave foods that are rich in the very vitamins and minerals that their bodies are lacking. Kes: You can't mean my body lacks dirt? Emh: Her body temperature is elevated three point nine degrees. Neelix: She's burning up! Emh: And I'm detecting elevated levels of electrophoretic activity in her nervous system. Neelix: You have to bring them down! Emh: There is increased electrophoretic activity in the ship's atmosphere, probably created by the creatures we're studying. Neelix: You mean there's a connection between what's happening to Kes and those creatures? Well, you have to do something about it! Emh: You are making it impossible for me to think, much less treat my patient. You must leave. Neelix: Well, I won't. Kes needs me. Emh: Leave now or I will call security. Neelix: You can't talk to me that way. Emh: This is my Sickbay, and I will decide what goes on here. Neelix: But Emh: Get out! Neelix: I'll be back. Don't worry about a thing. Neelix: Captain, may I speak with you? It's a matter of some urgency. Janeway: What is it, Neelix? Neelix: I have been thrown out of Sickbay, and I'm just wondering if you feel it's appropriate for a hologram to banish a flesh and blood person who should have the right to be at the bedside of his loved one who is extremely ill? Janeway: Kes is extremely ill? Neelix: The hologram doesn't have a clue as to what's wrong with her, though it may have something to do with these creatures. But he still won't let me offer comfort to the woman I love at a time when my place is clearly by her side. Janeway: Just how is Kes being affected by the swarm? Neelix: That's what I wanted to know. But before I got any answers, I was summarily dismissed! Emh: Sickbay to bridge. Janeway: Janeway here. Emh: Captain, I think you'd better come down here. There's a bit of a problem. Janeway: I'm on my way. Commander, you have the bridge. Notify me immediately of any change in our status. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Emh: I was conducting tests. She was none too cooperative, let me assure you. Then suddenly she screeched and shoved me out of the way, went into my office and proceeded to erect a force field at the door. I can't lower it. She's keeping me out of my own office. Neelix: Sweeting. What's wrong? Please come out. Emh: I was able to complete several tests before she became delirious. Her fever has increased, and her pulse and blood pressure are dangerously high. Janeway: Do you have any idea what's causing these symptoms? Emh: I suspect it's the electrophoretic levels being created by the swarm. We should leave. Immediately. Janeway: Unfortunately, that's not an option at the moment, but we're working on it. Emh: There's one more thing. I discovered a strange growth on her back. It's unlike any other tumorous substance I've ever seen or studied before, and it was not there the last time I examined her. Janeway: I'll try to talk to her. Neelix: Kes, please come out. You can eat anything you want. Captain? Janeway: Why don't you let me try? Kes, please listen to me. We think you're being affected by a swarm of space dwelling life forms. We're doing everything we can to get away from them. And when we do, you'll probably start feeling better. Janeway: Are you saying that's not what's wrong with you? Kes, please let me come in. Tell me what it is. Maybe I can help. Janeway: Oh. Shush. It's going to be all right. Now, tell me. What is happening to you? Kes: Did the Doctor tell you he found something growing on my back? Janeway: Yes, a growth of some kind. Kes: It's, it's the mitral sac. It's, it's where my child would grow. I'm going through the elogium, the time of change, when, when my body prepares for fertilization. Janeway: Humans go through the same kind of process. It's called puberty. Kes: But I'm too young. Much too young. It usually happens between the ages of four and five. I'm not even two yet. Janeway: Listen to me. All your body's metabolic activity has increased. It's possible your reproductive processes are being accelerated as a result. Kes: I'm not ready. Janeway: We're going to get you through this, Kes. The Doctor will monitor you constantly. Kes: But you, you don't understand. The elogium occurs only once. If I am ever going to have a child, it has to be now! Chakotay: No change, Captain. We're still being pulled along with the swarm. Paris: Heading one twenty one mark seven. Speed now six thousand kilometers per second. Kim: All systems are functioning within normal parameters. Janeway: How is Torres coming with the modifications to the main deflector? Chakotay: Her last report estimated they'd be finished in another half hour. Janeway: Let me know as soon as she's ready. Join me, Commander? Janeway: Kes is terribly frightened. She's had no time to prepare for this. And the decision has to be made in the next forty or fifty hours. She's going to discuss it with Neelix, but there are so many unknowns. There might be risks in procreating this early. And of course, there's no guarantee they're genetically compatible, or that Neelix has any interest in becoming a father. It seems your concerns about fraternization were prophetic. Chakotay: I wasn't even thinking about procreation, but I suppose it's the inevitable outcome. We should consider the fact that it might be necessary for the crew to start having children. Janeway: It might take us a long time to get home. Chakotay: If it does take seventy five years, we're going to need a replacement crew in about half that time. Janeway: Who'd have thought we'd be considering a generational ship when we were ordered on a three week mission. Chakotay: I know, but it's a problem we have to face now. Janeway: What would that mean for the children? What kind of life would we be giving them aboard a starship, traveling through a potentially hostile part of space? And are we equipped to provide for their needs? Child care, educational facilities. We'd be building an entire community on board this ship. That's a massive commitment. Chakotay: Are you prepared to tell them they can't have children? Janeway: I can't do that. And I've made it clear to Kes that it's her choice whether to have a child or not, but. There aren't any easy answers here. For any of us. Neelix: Are you saying that unless you conceive now, you'll never be able to? Kes: Yes. And I need you to help me decide, because I would want you to mate with me. Neelix: Oh. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm honored, but are you entirely certain it would be safe? Kes: Safe? Neelix: Well, you're so young. Is it dangerous for you to conceive a child at your age? Kes: I don't know. I've never known anyone as young as I am who had a baby. Neelix: If you never had a child, would you be terribly unhappy? Kes: Yes! I mean, I think so. I don't know. I always assumed I'd be a mother someday. Just not so soon. What about you? Didn't you think you'd be a father someday? Neelix: Well, to be honest, I've never given it much thought. Until now, my life has been so itinerant. There's no way I could have provided the stability a child would need. Kes: But now it's different, isn't it? Neelix: Well, yes. but raising a child on a starship? That's hardly what I would call the ideal environment. Kes: You don't want a child, do you? Neelix: No, that's not it at all. I'm just trying to look at all sides of the issue. Bringing a child into the world. It's a huge responsibility. I know you'd want to be sure we're both up to the task. I mean, somebody would have to keep their eye on the little guy all the time or he'd be off sticking his finger into an EM conduit or playing with the plasma injectors. Kes: That's right. That's called being a parent. Neelix: What about your medical studies? You wouldn't be able to continue them if you had a child. Kes: Of course I would. You're just making excuses. All you're thinking about is yourself, how much trouble a child would be for you. Look! Neelix: What's that? Kes: The ipasaphor. It makes the mating bond possible. Neelix: It does? Kes: If we begin, we must stay bonded for six days. Neelix: Six days? Kes: In order to ensure conception. And after the ipasaphor appears, we only have fifty hours to begin the process. So I need to know your answer. Neelix: Well, er, fifty hours? That's good. That's good. We can sleep on it. I'll get back to you. Neelix: Sorry. I swear I heard you say lots of pepper sauce. Tuvok: What is the lunch special today? Neelix: Well, actually, I didn't get around to making a lunch special. But we have some lovely gabosti stew left over from last night. Tuvok: Very well. It will do. Neelix: I've had quite a run on it, as a matter of fact. It seems very popular. Tuvok: If it is all you are serving, that would stand to reason. Neelix: You can have it with or without pepper sauce. Tuvok: Without. Neelix: Mister Tuvok, I was wondering. You have children, don't you? Tuvok: I have four. Neelix: Four! My, that's certainly quite a family. Tell me, what's it like, being a father? Tuvok: The question is so broad, it is difficult to respond. Neelix: Well, I mean, it's a lot of responsibility, isn't it? Watching them, caring for them, keeping them safe, giving them an education. Tuvok: That is certainly true. Neelix: Sounds like it's a lot more trouble than it's worth. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, I am aware of your situation. It appears you are in some doubt as to the wisdom of becoming a parent. Neelix: It's just all happening so fast. I don't know what to think. Tuvok: I can only tell you that if you have considerable doubts about fatherhood, it would not be wise to enter into the process. It is so much more overwhelming than one expects, that I believe only the most committed should become parents. Neelix: Ah. that's what I thought. Tuvok: However, I must point out that, as illogical as it seems, being a father can have infinite rewards. Far more than would seem possible. My children occupy a significant portion of my thoughts. Now more than ever. Neelix: I-I-I've heard it said that children can bring a lot of joy into one's life. Tuvok: I experienced neither joy nor sorrow, but I do believe it is possible. Neelix: Now that I think about it, it might be fun to have a little guy around. We could do a lot together. I've got quite a bit I could teach a boy, you know. Survival methods, piloting skills, romantic techniques. Tuvok: If you say so. But I must point out that there is an equal chance that you would have a daughter. Neelix: A daughter? I don't have anything to teach a daughter. Tuvok: Why would it be any different from what you would teach a son? Neelix: It just would. She'd learn more from her mother. Tuvok: I have three sons and one daughter. I can assure you she benefits as much from my presence and guidance as my sons do. It is unfortunate that I must be so far removed from all of them now. Neelix: I understand. We'll get there, Mister Vulcan. I'm sure of it. Thank you. You've given me a lot to think about. Torres: We're ready to generate the inverted magnetic pulse, Captain. Janeway: Proceed. Torres: Initiating the field. It's working. Janeway: Are the creatures all right, Commander? Chakotay: Yes, Captain. They seem to be fine. Janeway: Let's try to keep it that way. Thrusters at two hundred kph, Mister Paris. Ease us out of here. Paris: Aye, Captain. Kim: What are they doing? Chakotay: Hard to know what's prompting that behavior. Maybe they think we're making a hostile move. Janeway: Report. Kim: I'm reading a massive energy drain in all ship's systems. Paris: Impulse engines are losing power. Kim: Captain, some of the life forms have attached themselves to the warp nacelles. Tuvok: Guidance, navigational and tactical systems are failing. Janeway: How soon will we clear the swarm, Lieutenant? Paris: In a few seconds. We're almost out. Tuvok: Captain, I am detecting a substantial magnetic mass moving rapidly toward the port bow. Wildman: It's physiologically similar to the smaller creatures, just a lot bigger. Tuvok: Perhaps it is the parent. Chakotay: Or it could be a difference in gender. It's hard to say without further observation. Torres: With all due respect, Captain, haven't we done enough observing? These creatures have attacked the ship's key systems. For all we know, they were setting us up for an attack. Janeway: It's possible. Mister Paris, let's keep moving. If we can put some distance between us and the swarm, maybe the ones on our nacelles will drop off and rejoin their friends. Paris: Aye, Captain. Two hundred kph. Tuvok: The larger creature is moving with us. Paris: Now what? Kim: The creature has emitted an electrically charged plasma stream. Janeway: All stop. Damage report. Kim: No significant damage, Captain. Shields are holding. Torres: A plasma blast is a hostile move. Shouldn't we be thinking about responding? Janeway: If the creature threatens serious damage to the ship, I'll consider it an enemy. Until then, they're all to be treated as indigenous life forms behaving normally in their natural habitat. We're the intruders here. Chakotay: Captain, look at this. They're attaching themselves to the large creature the same way they did to us. Kim: And I think I know why. That plasma stream it ejected has almost the same subspace signature as our warp nacelles. Janeway: Then the smaller creatures are attracted to our subspace emissions. Chakotay: Perhaps in the same way some species are attracted to pheromones. Janeway: Pheromones? You think it's a sexual attraction? Chakotay: Color change and provocative movement are frequently associated with mating rituals. Paris: Then these guys think we're one of them? Chakotay: Well, their behavior toward us and the large creature is similar. It's possible they've mistaken us for a potential mate. Kes: Yes? Neelix: Well, order the diapers. We're about to become parents. Kes: You mean you want to mate with me? Neelix: More than anything. Kes: But you were making excuses. I didn't think you wanted to be a father. Neelix: I just hadn't thought it through. Now that I have, I swear to you I want to do this. And I'll be the best possible father to our child. Kes: I know you will. Neelix: So, what comes next? Kes: Before we begin the mating process, I have to go through a certain ritual called the rolisisin. Neelix: What does that involve? Kes: One of my parents has to massage my feet until my tongue begins to swell. Neelix: Er, where do you plan to find a parent? Kes: If Captain Janeway weren't so busy, I'd ask her, but I'm sure the Doctor would do it. Neelix: Will that work, since he's not a real person? Kes: The Doctor is very real to me. Neelix: I don't know how I feel about him massaging your feet. Kes: It's a ritual. Someone has to do it. Neelix: Okay. Okay, fine. How long will that take? Kes: About an hour. Then I'll be back. Emh: Fascinating. The stimulation to the sympathetic nerves must set off a hormonal reaction, which activates glandular activity in the tissues of the tongue. I've never seen this response before. Although in a species known as the Gree, stimulating follicles on the proboscis results in a swelling of the auricular canal. Kes: Doctor? Emh: Yes? Kes: Am I doing the right thing? Emh: You'll have to tell me. I know nothing of this ritual. Kes: No. I mean am I doing the right thing by conceiving a child? If I were at home now, my father would be performing the rolisisin with me. It's time when parent and child move into a new kind of relationship. As the child has her own child, the parent must acknowledge her true adulthood. Emh: I see. Kes: My father and I were very close. He was such a wise man. I miss him. Sometimes I think I hear his voice in my head. It's almost as though he were here, helping to guide me. I'm sorry. I must be feeling lonely for home. It's probably a result of the elogium. But I really would appreciate your advice, your help. I need someone's guidance. Emh: I can discuss delivery methods or pediatric situations. I'm afraid I don't have much perspective to offer about becoming a parent. Kes: Neither do I. As long as Neelix was opposed to the idea, trying to get out of it, I was certain that I wanted to have a child. But when he said that he wanted one too, suddenly I was very frightened. Emh: Perhaps a statistical survey will offer a context. Among the Breen, pregnancy at a young age is a common event. The Breen, of course, is one the most warlike of species. And then there are the Scathos. Any woman who conceives a child before her fourth decade is summarily executed. Kes: Maybe I just felt I should have a child because I could. Emh: There is a powerful biological drive, at times almost impossible to resist. Species are driven by these urges in order to survive. Kes: But isn't that why we have minds? To look beyond biological urges, to consider their consequences? If I'm going to ask myself to look at those consequences, then I have to ask myself some questions. Am I really ready to have a child? Am I prepared to give that child the attention and devotion it deserves? Am I capable of taking on such a huge responsibility? There's so much I haven't done. There's so much I want to study and learn. I'm not sure I'm finished growing. How can I help a child grow? Chakotay: If the smaller creatures are sexually attracted to our subspace emissions, then the large one may perceive us as a rival. That plasma burst it sent out might have been aggressive posturing. Janeway: Then you'd think it would be happy to see us leave. Lieutenant, is there any way we could generate a short burst at impulse, enough to get us away from this swarm? Torres: I could try releasing power from the impulse capacitance cells straight into the driver coils. Janeway: Do it. Torres: All right. I've accessed the capacitance cells. I think I can give you enough for a short burst at impulse. We've got one shot, Captain. Janeway: You heard her, Mister Paris. Make the best of it. Paris: Aye, Captain. Initiating impulse burst, now. Tuvok: Captain, the creature is reacting. It is approaching rapidly on a collision course. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers, Lieutenant. Torres: We don't have the power for that. Kim: The creature is accelerating. Paris: I'm losing power. Can't shake him. Tuvok: All hands brace for impact. Kim: Structural integrity down to eight six percent. Tuvok: I'm beginning to share Lieutenant Torres' views, Captain. Retaliation may become necessary. Janeway: It's not my intention to harm the creature. Paris: The feeling definitely isn't mutual. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, launch a Class Four probe. Maybe that will distract the creature long enough for us to get away. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Probe launched. Kim: Another plasma burst. Shields are down to sixty four percent. Looks like the probe just made him angry. Torres: This is an aggressive life form, Captain. He's only going to respond to an aggressive stance from us. Tuvok: Treating the creature as it is treating us might be an appropriate response. Janeway: We ram him. Tuvok: Precisely. Wildman: It's probably the response he expects. Kim: Captain, shields are at forty seven percent. Any more of this and the hull will start to buckle. Janeway: Mister Paris, use maneuvering thrusters. Set a course toward the creature. Give him a bump to get his attention. Paris: Aye, Captain. Engaging thrusters. Tuvok: The creature is not retreating, Captain. Paris: He's just hitting us back harder! Janeway: Let's try this. Detonate a field of photon charges between Voyager and the creature. Maybe the shock wave will let him know we mean business. Chakotay: Captain, if I may. Maybe we're going about this backwards. Janeway: Yes, Commander? Chakotay: Every aggressive move we make results in a more aggressive move by the creature. If we're not prepared to use extreme force to destroy him, we need to rethink our actions. Janeway: I'm listening. Chakotay: If we're right that the creature is responding to us as a sexual rival, we might try behaving in a submissive way. That may appease him. We'd be acknowledging that he's dominant and that we're no match for him. Janeway: How do we do that? We tried to move away slowly. He wouldn't let us leave. Chakotay: Maybe we need to mimic the behavior of the smaller creatures. We saw them rolling over and changing color. Kim: If we vent plasma residue, that might make us look blue. Janeway: Mister Paris, do we have enough power to take Voyager into a roll? Paris: I think so. Janeway: All right. Let's give this a try. Mister Kim, start venting plasma residue. Mister Paris, roll the ship. Paris: Full power to inertial dampers. Janeway: He's not responding at all. It's not working. Kim: Wait a minute, Captain. Janeway: What is it? Kim: One of the small creatures is detaching from the starboard nacelle. And another one. They're all letting go. Tuvok: It appears we have lost our sex appeal, Captain. Janeway: Good piloting, Lieutenant. Now let's see if we can move away without any interference. Torres: I can give you enough thruster power to sustain a speed of one hundred kph. Paris: Acknowledged. Janeway: Good work, Commander. In the future, if I have any questions about mating behavior, I'll know where to go. Kes: Can I help? Neelix: No. Thanks. Kes: Is something wrong? Neelix: No. No, nothing. Kes: You've been very quiet ever since I decided not to conceive. Neelix: It was your choice. I respect that. Kes: Neelix, I think you're disappointed. Neelix: I think, once I decided to become a father, I was looking forward to it. But I'll get over it. Kes: Maybe you won't have to get over it. Just wait a little longer. Neelix: But I thought this was the only time. Kes: The Doctor believes the elogium was false, brought on by the electrophoretic field that those life forms created. So there's a possibility that I might be able to go through it again at the right age. Neelix: You mean, we might still be able to have a daughter? Kes: Or a son. Neelix: No. I've thought about it. A daughter, definitely. One who looks just like you. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 48921.3. I continue to wonder about the issue of procreation aboard the ship. Certainly, it's wrong to interfere with the private lives and decisions of the crew, yet I remain concerned about the environment we could provide for any child born here. Janeway: Come in. Yes, Ensign. What can I do for you? Wildman: I'm sorry to disturb you, Captain, but I thought. I thought I should inform you of my physical condition. Janeway: Your physical condition? Wildman: We'd been trying for months. I wasn't even sure until a few days ago. My husband is still at Deep Space Nine. He doesn't even know. We were only supposed to be out two or three weeks. Janeway: Wildman, are you pregnant? Wildman: I know this isn't the best place to have a baby, but it's all I have left of my husband. Janeway: Well, congratulations, Ensign.

Kes: Hello? Anybody here? Neelix? All: Surprise! Neelix: Surprise! Happy birthday, my sweet. Janeway: Happy birthday, Kes. Neelix: Imagine, two years old today. If you ask me, you don't look a day over one. Kes: Why was everyone hiding? Paris: Oh, it's an old Earth custom called a surprise party. Janeway: Sorry if we startled you. Kes: No, I liked it. It was very exhilarating. Neelix: Now, how about a glass of my special birthday punch? Garçon? Emh: On the rocks or straight up? Kes: Doctor! I'm so glad you're here. Sandrine: My new bartender. Handsome, isn't he? Emh: I'm here in an official capacity, of course. In case of a medical emergency. Kes: Emergency? Emh: Surprises have been known to cause acute hyperventilation, oesophageal spasms and in extreme cases, even coronary arrest. One can never be too careful. Kim: I've completed the sensor diagnostic, Lieutenant. All systems are fully operational. Tuvok: Very good, Ensign. Kim: And I've recalibrated the accelerometer relays. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Kim: Is there anything else I can do for you, sir? Tuvok: I presume this notable impatience is due to your desire to attend the festivities in Holodeck two. Kim: Yes, sir. Tuvok: May I remind you that your duty shift does not officially terminate for another thirty four minutes? However, I believe the holodeck power conduits would benefit from a routine inspection. Kim: Yes, sir! I'll get right on it. Tuvok: All stop. Mister Kim. Kim: What is that? Tuvok: Magnify. I am afraid that holodeck inspection will have to wait, Ensign. Neelix: Wait till you taste this cake. Seven layers of Jibelian fudge, and the icing is made from pureed l'maki nuts, Kes's favorite. Janeway: Now make a wish and blow out the candles. Kes: What do I wish for? Sandrine: Anything your petit coeur desires, ma cherie. And with a figure like hers, she'll probably get it too. Kes: Okay, I wish for Torres: Don't tell us! The wish has to be a secret if it's going to come true. Gaunt Gary: I hate to interrupt this tender little moment, Tommy boy, but don't you think it's about time we shot a rack? Paris: In a minute. Birthday gifts are also an Earth tradition. Kes: Oh, thank you, Tom. You didn't have to. Paris: Hey, who am I to fly in the face of tradition? Kes: Tom, it's beautiful. It must have cost you a week's worth of replicator rations. Paris: Two weeks actually, but who's counting? I'm just glad you like it. Janeway: May I? Oh, that's lovely. You see, it's a locket. You put little photographs in here. It keeps the people you love close to your heart. Chakotay: Thank you. Neelix: Did you see that? Chakotay: See what? Neelix: He. He. He did a lovely wrapping job, don't you think? Tuvok: Bridge to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead, Lieutenant. Tuvok: Captain, we have encountered an unusual phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomenon. Janeway: What is going on, Lieutenant? Torres: It might simply be a localized malfunction, but I've never heard anything like it. My guess is Torres: It's a problem with the comm. system itself. Janeway: Janeway to Bridge. Get down to Engineering and run a diagnostic. I'm afraid we're going to have to cut your party short, Kes. Stations, everyone. Let's move. Neelix: But, but, what about the Jibelian fudge cake? Janeway: Save me a slice, won't you? Kim: These readings indicate the space ahead of us is literally changing shape. My best guess is it's some type of spatial distortion wave. Tuvok: Is the anomaly responsible for the comm. system malfunction? Kim: I think so. It's generating intense pulses of EM radiation, and if we don't get out of its way, it's going to intercept us in less than ten minutes. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Full reverse, Ensign. Crewwoman: Aye, sir. Kim: We can't go backwards either, Mister Tuvok. The distortion has completely surrounded us like a ring. Tuvok: If we can not go around it, then we will have to go through it. Kim: There's no telling what that will do to the ship. Tuvok: From what you have told me, Ensign, the distortion ring will make contact with us momentarily whether we attempt to pass through it or not. I prefer to minimize the amount of time that contact lasts. Shields at maximum. Warp three. Engage. Kim: The distortion ring has collapsed the warp field. Engines are offline. Tuvok: Find the Captain and inform her of our status. Kim: Yes, sir. Baxter: Ensign Kim, I've been trying to report a problem in the gym, but the comm. system seems to be down. Kim: We've encountered a spatial distortion. It's knocked out several systems. Baxter: Maybe that explains why the gym got so cold. Kim: Cold? Baxter: I didn't notice it at first. I was working out so hard. Then I realized it was under ten degrees C. The environmental controls didn't respond to my commands and neither did the comm. system. Kim: Engines are offline too. I'm looking for the Captain to let her know what's going on. Baxter: Should I report to my duty station? Kim: It might not be a bad idea. Until we find out exactly what's going on, everybody should be on standby. Baxter: I'll round up my security team. Janeway: The first thing I want to do when we get to the Bridge is establish a remote comm. link to Engineering. I want to know exactly what's going on. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Where are we? Paris: Deck four. Chakotay: If the comm. system's malfunctioning, the computer could be misreading our voice commands. Paris: That might explain why it took us here instead of the Bridge. Janeway: We'd better try setting the controls manually. Neelix: Did you enjoy your first surprise party, sweeting? Kes: It was wonderful. Thank you. Neelix: I thought you'd like it. The cake, the presents. What was your favorite part? Kes: I suppose what I liked best was that all my friends were there. Neelix: Ah, that was nice, wasn't it? And don't forget that beautiful necklace Tom Paris gave you. Kes: Do you really like it? Neelix: Oh, why wouldn't I like it? Paris obviously has excellent taste. Kes: I was afraid you might be a little jealous. Neelix: Who, me? Don't be silly. Kes: Are you sure? Neelix: You, my dearest, have seen the last of that green-eyed pus hog called jealousy. Kes: I'm glad. Neelix: Of course, Paris did replicate that locket, whereas I baked the Jibelian fudge cake from scratch. Kes: These aren't my quarters. Did we take a wrong turn somewhere? Neelix: I was just following you. Crewman: Is everything all right, Lieutenant? Torres: This isn't Engineering. Janeway: And have someone take a look at the turbolift voice receptors, Commander. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: This is Engineering. What's going on here? Chakotay: It looks like we're dealing with more than just a comm. system malfunction. Janeway: Computer, Bridge. Torres: Baxter, what are you doing here? Baxter: I wish I knew. I'm trying to get to the cargo bay. Torres: And I'm trying to get to Engineering. Baxter: I can't find the cargo bay, and I can't find my security team. I've been wandering around for about ten minutes. Torres: Well, at least I know I'm not crazy. Unless we both are. Baxter: No, something very strange is going on. Ensign Kim said we'd encountered a spatial distortion. Torres: Did he say what kind? Baxter: No, he went to find the Captain. Torres: The Captain is on her way to the Bridge. But if she's having the same trouble we are, who knows if she can get there. I'm going to keep trying to get to Engineering. Baxter: Good luck. Emh: The holodeck again? Sandrine: Ah ha! Emh: This is infuriating. Sandrine: Oh, stop playing games, ma cherie. I know why you keep coming back to work, even though your bartending shift is over. It's to see me, of course. Emh: How many times do I have to tell you, madam? I am a doctor, not a bartender. Sandrine: Of course you are. Kim: Doc? Emh: Ensign Kim. I was just, er Sandrine: Playing doctor. Hi. Emh: The Captain and the others went to investigate the phenomenon Mister Tuvok reported. Kim: So all of you heard his report before the comm. system failed? Emh: Only a fraction of it. Kim: Well, I'm sure Tuvok's filled them in with the rest by now. What are you still doing on the holodeck, besides playing doctor, that is? Emh: For your information, I have been attempting to transfer myself back to Sickbay. But each time I try, I reappear here. Kim: That's strange. Emh: Not to mention extremely irritating. I can't seem to shut down Mister Paris's holoprogram either. Kim: Computer, end holodeck program Paris Three. Computer, arch. Either the holoemitters are malfunctioning or the computer's not accepting voice commands. I'm sorry, Doctor. I don't have time to help you right now. Emh: Wait just a minute. Kim: Hmm? Emh: What do you think you're going. Kim: I've got to get back to the Bridge. We're in the middle of a crisis. Emh: All the more reason I should be back in Sickbay. I'm sure that the Captain and the others will be able to do without you for a few more minutes. Kim: I guess you're right. I'll have a look at the holocontrols. Neelix: Kyoto's quarters. Nicoletti. Hargrove. Ayala. Kes: None of those are anywhere near my quarters. Neelix: This is deck eight. That's where your quarters are. Kes: But Hargrove and Ayala are on deck seven. Nicoletti is on four and I think Kyoto is on six. Neelix: How do you know where everyone's quarters are? Kes: I just remember. Neelix: Remember from what? Have you been in all their quarters? Kes: Of course not. The point is, those quarters can't all be on the same deck. Neelix: Well, see for yourself. Kes: This can't be. Neelix: Perhaps, sweeting, your memory isn't as reliable as you think. Kes: This is impossible. I know Hargrove is on seven. Neelix: Why Hargrove? Kes: What? Neelix: Why are you so sure about Hargrove's quarters? What makes him so special? Kes: He's not special. I just remember where his quarters are. This way. It has to be this way. Torres: Harry. Kim: B'Elanna, shouldn't you be in Engineering? What are you doing here? Torres: Just answer one question, Starfleet. Where is here? Kim: What? Torres: Where am I? Kim: Outside Holodeck two. Are you feeling okay? Torres: I have been walking in circles for the past twenty minutes trying to get to Engineering. Neelix: Kes, my sweet, you have many wonderful attributes. Your sense of direction is not one of them, because. Oh, er, Harry, B'Elanna. Maybe you can help us. I know you'll find this hard to believe, but we can't seem to find Kes's quarters. Paris: I don't suppose anyone here knows the way to the Bridge? Janeway: Let me get this straight. This distortion ring has completely immobilized us. We have no means of communication with the Bridge or any other part of the ship. And no matter where any of us have tried to go, the Bridge, Engineering, Kes's quarters, we've all eventually ended up here right back at deck six. Kim: The bridge is on deck one. Engineering is on deck eleven. deck six is halfway in between, right? Chakotay: So? Kim: So if we're being surrounded by this ring, maybe it's pushing us all to the center of the ship. Torres: But it's not just that we're being led back here. I mean, rooms are in the wrong place. Is it possible that this distortion ring is somehow changing the layout of the ship? Emh: There is another possibility. Exposure to some types of EM radiation has been known to cause hallucinations. Perhaps it's not the ship that's undergone changes but rather your perception of it. Unfortunately, without my medical equipment to analyze your optic nerves, there's no way to tell. Janeway: We'll never figure it out sitting here. We need more information about this phenomenon. Sensor readings, computer analyzes. We have to find a way back to the Bridge. Torres: If we can't get back on foot or on the turbolift, maybe we can rig a site to site transport. Beam ourselves to the Bridge. Chakotay: We'd have to get to a transporter room first. Torres: Or to Engineering, wherever that is. Paris: When we tried to go to the Bridge, one of the places the turbolift took us was Engineering. Maybe if we repeated our steps, it'll take us back there. Janeway: It's worth a shot. Lieutenant Paris, you're with Torres. Kim: Maybe we can get to the Bridge through a Jefferies tube. If I remember my ship specs correctly, there should be an emergency access conduit which leads directly from this deck to deck one right behind the Bridge. Chakotay: I'd like to keep trying to get to the Bridge on foot. If the ship has been reconfigured somehow, I can get a deck by deck picture of what it looks like as I go. Paris: What's going to keep you from getting lost? Chakotay: I'll get a tricorder from the storage locker, rig it to emit a photoplasmic trail. Janeway: Right. We should all get tricorders. Set them on active scan. Gather as much information as we can about what's happening to the ship. Emh: May I request that Kes be allowed to stay here with me? Beside helping stave off the predatory advances of that woman, she may be able to help me find a way to transfer myself back to Sickbay. Neelix: And, er, I'll assist Commander Chakotay, Captain. As you may have heard, my tracking skills are legendary throughout the quadrant. Janeway: That all right with you, Commander? Mister Kim, I'm with you. Let's do it. Kes: Be careful. Torres: Are you sure this is how you got there before? Paris: Relax, will you? So far, we're right on schedule. The next stop should be Paris: Voila! Engineering. Torres: Finally! Let's get to work. We've got an emergency situation on board ship. I don't have time to go into details. But you're all to remain at your posts until otherwise notified, whether or not your duty shifts are over. Ensign, prepare to configure transporter systems for a site to site transport. I've got to reset the pattern buffer controls. In the meantime, why don't you check the targeting scanners? Torres: Crewman! There's an emergency situation aboard ship. Just stay right where you are. That's an order. Paris: I think you handled that very well, Lieutenant. Neelix: Commander, I would imagine you've had some experience with women. Chakotay: Some. Neelix: Oh, come now. Ha! A handsome man like you. I bet women find you irresistible. Chakotay: Neelix, what's this about? Neelix: Er, er, er, have you, er, but have you ever been jealous? Chakotay: Of course. Neelix: You have? Chakotay: I imagine most people who've been in love have been jealous at one time or another. Neelix: I see. It's a perfectly normal response. Then why, why is it so unpleasant? Chakotay: Jealousy's about the fear of losing someone we love. There's no pain greater than that. Neelix, are you afraid you're going to lose Kes to someone? Neelix: No. I mean, I don't think so. At least I certainly hope not. I just can't seem to stop these awful feelings. Chakotay: Nothing makes us more vulnerable than when we love someone. We can be hurt very easily. But I've always believed that what you get when you love someone is greater than what you risk. Baxter: Commander, am I ever glad to see you. Do you have any idea what's going on here? Chakotay: Not exactly. Baxter: Well, I feel like I've been wandering around for hours. I can't find the cargo bay. Chakotay: Have you seen anyone else? Any more of the crew? Baxter: Some people roaming around like me. A couple of times I wound up in the Mess Hall. There were quite a few people there. Chakotay: I suggest you make your way back. Tell everyone you run into to come with you, and all of you stay put in the Mess Hall. When we figure out what's going on, we'll let you know. Baxter: Aye, Commander. Tuvok: Gentlemen. Chakotay: Tuvok, what are you doing here? Tuvok: That is an interesting question, Commander. I am not certain how I arrived at this location. Chakotay: You're lost too. Tuvok: Indeed. When I received no word from you or the Captain, I left Lieutenant Ayala in command and came to look for you myself. Chakotay: Can you lead us back to the Bridge? Tuvok: I do not believe so. When I first realized I was lost, I attempted to retrace my steps only to find myself here. Chakotay: None of us has been able to reach the Bridge. In fact, Neelix and I can't seem to get off deck six. Tuvok: Strange, I thought we were on deck three. Chakotay: What was our status when you left the Bridge? Tuvok: The ring has penetrated our shields and is now in direct contact with the hull. Chakotay: Then maybe it is possible the distortions are somehow reconfiguring the ship. Tuvok: As improbable as it sounds, that would appear to be the case. Chakotay: Neelix, let's go. Neelix? Kim: I don't understand it. We should have found the hatch to the Bridge ten minutes ago. I feel like we're crawling in circles. Janeway: But we haven't, at least not according to this tricorder. Odd. Kim: What is it? Janeway: A very faint electromagnetic reading. Now it's gone. There it is from another direction. Kim: Yeah, I'm getting it too. Janeway: It comes and goes, jumps from place to place. Kim: Could it be evidence of the ship's reconfiguration? Janeway: Possibly. We'll have to compare this data with readings the others get. Harry? Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: I just want you to know you've been one of the bright spots of this whole mission. You've exceeded any expectations I might have had of you. Kim: Thank you, Captain. I appreciate that. Wait a minute. Down there. I think that's the conduit leading to the Bridge. Janeway: Good work. Maybe now we'll get some answers. Kim: That's the hatch, Captain. This should let us out in the cargo hold directly behind the Bridge. Janeway: It's not working. Kim: We better try it manually. Janeway: It's stuck. Kim: Captain! Janeway: I can't get my arm out! Janeway: I think I'm okay. Kim: I'm reading an intense electromagnetic charge on the other side of that hatch. That must have been what was pulling you in. Janeway: It's as if everything on the other side is in a state of structural flux. The walls, the atmosphere. Kim: And the sequence of those fluctuations matches the readings from the distortion ring. This phenomenon isn't just occurring in space. It's definitely inside the ship as well. Janeway: We're going to have to regroup and come up with a plan for combating this thing. Kim: Captain, what's wrong? Janeway: I don't know. Oh! Oh, my eyes! Kim: Captain? Captain! Gary: Come on, pal. One lousy game. Spot you six balls. Emh: I'm not programmed to play games. Sandrine: If he won't play pool with you and he won't make love to me, then as far as I'm concerned, he can mop the floor. Emh: You see these hands? These are surgeon's hands, created by the most sophisticated computer imaging technology available. They do not play games, and they do not mop floors. Sandrine: Then you are fired. I will find a new bartender. Emh: I really wish you would. Kes: Doctor! Emh: Oh, please tell me you've had some success in reinitializing the holoemitters. Kes: I did exactly what you told me, but it didn't work. Emh: Of course not. Kes: I'm starting to get worried about Neelix. What's taking them so long? Sandrine: Ah, trust me, cherie. You are better off without him. All men are alike. In the end, they always break your heart. Kim: Can I get some help here? Emh: What happened to her? Kim: She came into contact with the spatial distortions in the Jefferies Tube. She seemed fine for a couple of minutes, but then she started to fade in and out of consciousness. Tuvok: I believe we should go this way, Commander. Chakotay: What makes you say that? Tuvok: If we are indeed trapped in some sort of labyrinth, then the logical course is to systematically eliminate all routes which do not lead us to our desired destination. The route that remains will be the correct one. Since we have been making a series of right turns, we should continue to do so, until we are certain this path is not the proper one. Chakotay: There's a flaw in your logic. Tuvok: How so, Commander? Chakotay: You're assuming there's a logical pattern to this maze we're caught in, but so far I haven't seen any evidence of that. Tuvok: Even within chaotic systems, there is a pattern of limited predictability. Chakotay: By the time we figure that pattern out, these distortions may have completely overrun the ship. Tuvok: That is a possibility. Chakotay: The important thing is for at least one of us to make it back to the Bridge. So why don't you go your way and I'll go mine? That way we'll increase the chances that one of us will be successful. Tuvok: As you wish, Commander. Chakotay: Tell me something, Tuvok. What does your logic tell you about navigating a maze that's constantly changing shape? Paris: Scanners check out. Torres: Then we're ready to give it a try. Activate the auxiliary pattern buffers. Paris: Pattern buffers activated. Torres: Targeting the Bridge coordinates. Scanners locked. Energize. Gaunt Gary: Would you mind moving your foot, Tommy boy? It's blocking my shot. Chakotay: Tell me you already made it to the Bridge, and you've come back here to give us a status report. Torres: We locked onto the Bridge coordinates, but this is where we ended up. None of you had any luck either? Tuvok: Not only has no one been able to reach the Bridge, but the Captain came into contact with the spatial distortion and is now unconscious. Chakotay: That's not all. We lost Neelix too. Paris: Lost him? Chakotay: He turned a corner, and he was just gone. We think the spatial distortions are continuously changing the configuration of the corridors. Torres: Kes must be worried sick. Kim: And it isn't just Neelix who's missing. Where's the rest of the crew? Tuvok: It is likely that they too are trapped in other parts of the ship, cut off from communication and unable to find their way out. Paris: So what do we do now? Chakotay: This wave is obviously causing some kind of radical reconfiguration of the ship. We've got to try to reverse it. If not, we may never be able to get to the Bridge. Torres: How are we supposed to reverse something we don't understand? No matter where we go, we end up here. Corridors are realigning. Rooms are in the wrong place. What's the pattern? Tuvok: We would certainly benefit from having an accurate picture of what the ship currently looks like. That way we would have a better chance of getting where we want to go. Kim: Maybe we could make a map. Chakotay: Ensign? Kim: One good thing about all the wandering we've been doing is that we've been collecting a lot of tricorder data about the structural changes that have been taking place. Torres: And if we fed all that information into the central database, the computer might be able to extrapolate a schematic of the ship as it's configured now. Chakotay: What are we waiting for? Kim: The computer has analyzed all our tricorder data, so this ought to be pretty close to what it looks like now. Paris: It's as if the entire ship is being compressed and twisted. Torres: My guess is it's more than just a distortion ring. It looks like some sort of spatial implosion that's slowly crushing us. Chakotay: Look, this part of the ship seems unaffected. Kim: That's deck six where we are. Tuvok: Correct, Ensign. However, the area we occupying will not remain unaffected indefinitely. Chakotay: How long? Tuvok: Based on the rate of implosion thus far, I estimate the ring will crush deck six in approximately sixty eight minutes. Paris: Is this implosion ring some kind of weapon? Are we under attack? Kim: Who'd want to attack us and why? Tuvok: There is no clear evidence of an intelligence behind the phenomenon. It is still possible we are dealing with a naturally occurring anomaly which does not conform to the known laws of physics. Torres: Don't you think it's a little late to be speculating on who or what this thing is? The important thing now is that we find out some way of stopping it. Chakotay: B'Elanna's right. It seems to me we've got two options. One, we find a way to get ourselves out of this implosion ring, or two, we find some way of reversing it. Kim: Invert the effect. Turn the implosion into an explosion. Chakotay: Exactly. Torres: If I can get back to Engineering, I may be able to generate a shock pulse strong enough to do just that. Of course, I'd have to raise the pressure in the warp core to near critical. Kim: A shock pulse of that magnitude would create a subatomic particle shower all over the ship. Tuvok: Which could set off a chain reaction that would cause not only the ring to explode outward but Voyager along with it. Torres: Not if I can precisely tune the shock pulse to the distortion frequency of the ring. Tuvok: That would be exceptionally difficult. Torres: If we don't give this a try, we're going to get crushed anyway. Personally, I'd rather go down fighting. Tuvok: I must remind you that with the comm. system down, we will have no effective means of alerting the rest of the crew to a potentially lethal particle shower. Chakotay: Do you have another suggestion, Mister Tuvok? Tuvok: I believe it would be safer to attempt to access the navigational array and from there engage thrusters to steer us out of the ring. Kim: Can't we try both? Torres: It's much too dangerous to have someone working at the navigational array during a shock pulse. Paris: Besides, this ship is so contorted, there's no reason to expect we'd have any navigational control. Chakotay: All right, B'Elanna. Let's give your plan a shot. You Tuvok: Commander Chakotay? Chakotay: Yes, Lieutenant? Tuvok: I feel compelled to point out that in my many years of experience as Captain Janeway's tactical officer, she often demonstrated a tendency to follow my Chakotay: In case you haven't noticed, Captain Janeway's not in any condition to make decisions. I'm in command. Is that understood? Tuvok: Yes, sir. Chakotay: Good. B'Elanna, you and Harry get down to Engineering. Evacuate whoever's on duty, then initiate the warp pulse. Move it. Kim: Dilithium matrix stable. Matter-antimatter reactor is at eighty percent of critical. Torres: Let's keep it that way! Kim: Warp core pressure is at thirty six megapascals and rising. Torres: When it reaches fifty three, it'll trigger the shock pulse. We should get out of here by the time it hits fifty! Kim: Acknowledged! Pressure at forty one megapascals and rising. I'm reading a microfracture in the dilithium matrix. Torres: Attempting to compensate. Kim: Fracture sealed. Forty four megapascals! Chakotay: They're heating up the warp core. They must be close to initiating the shock burst. Everybody take cover. Kim: Forty seven! Forty eight! Forty nine! Torres: Let's move! Torres: Well, in spite of Tuvok's dire predictions, we haven't blown the ship to pieces, have we? Kim: No, and radiation levels are within acceptable tolerance. Torres: Good. Let's get in there and see if we had any luck dispersing this implosion ring. Kim: Hold it! Torres: What? Kim: I'm reading a massive distortion behind the door. Torres: I don't think it's just behind the door. Kim: The ring's completely engulfed Engineering. Chakotay: Can I talk to her? Emh: I can't guarantee she'll hear you, or be able to understand you if she does. Chakotay: Captain! Janeway: Dark. Gan. Chakotay: What's wrong with her? Emh: It's possible the spatial distortions have damaged her speech center, her neural pathways. Torres: Chakotay, it didn't work. Kim: Instead of forcing the implosion outward, the pulse is drawing it in at a faster rate. Paris: You're saying it made things worse? Kim: I don't think we have more than a few minutes. Torres: Paris, we have to get to the navigational array and give Tuvok's plan a try. Tuvok: I'm afraid there's no longer time for that. Torres: Why not? Paris: We're not going anywhere. Paris: Do you really think it's possible to project a stable holographic force field? Torres: We've tried everything else. Ready? Here we go. Tuvok: The distortion is unaffected by the force field. Torres: We've got to figure out a way to generate a stable field. Chakotay: B'Elanna, this ring has passed through the shields, crushed the hull, twisted the ship. We'll never get enough power from the holoemitters to stop it. Torres: What are you saying? We're out of options? Tuvok: Perhaps not. So far, we have been unsuccessful in all our attempts to either explain or combat this phenomenon. And according to my calculations, the space we are currently occupying will implode in approximately three minutes seventeen seconds. Torres: You said there was another option. Tuvok: We do nothing. Torres: Excuse me? Chakotay: Are you suggesting we just let it crush us? Tuvok: Precisely. Torres: I can't believe I'm hearing this from you. Chakotay: I agree. It sounds completely illogical. Tuvok: On the contrary. When every logical course of action is exhausted, the only option that remains is inaction. Torres: So we're just supposed to sit here and let this thing kill us? Tuvok: I must point out that at least one attempt we made to reverse the effect, the shock pulse, only made our predicament worse. If we continue desperately improvising solutions, our own efforts may ultimately kill us. On the other hand, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that doing nothing will result in death. Janeway: Is dogin do be to gandin! Emh: Captain, please lie down. Torres: What about the Captain? She's dying. Tuvok: We do not know that. At the moment, she is merely delirious. Torres: Chakotay, you're in charge here. Don't you agree we've got to keep trying? Chakotay: Whatever this thing is, B'Elanna, it's bigger and more powerful than we are. Maybe, maybe this is one bear we can't wrestle to the ground. Maybe like Tuvok says there's nothing we can do but let it happen, and hope for the best. Torres: Fine. Fine, Chakotay. Have it your way. Tuvok: Commander Chakotay. Chakotay: Yes, Mister Tuvok? Tuvok: I want to thank you for endorsing my recommendation. Chakotay: You know, Tuvok, I may not get another chance to say this. Sometimes I find you arrogant and irritating, but you're a hell of an officer. Tuvok: Thank you, sir. And since we are speaking candidly, may I say, sir, that I have not always been particularly partial to your methods either. Chakotay: I suppose it must have been tough for you to accept my being elevated to first officer over you. Tuvok: I have always respected Captain Janeway's decisions. However, I suppose that particular decision did put me in a position I am unaccustomed to. If that ever caused me to make things more difficult for you, I must apologize. Kim: Can I ask you a question? Paris: Fire away, Harry. Kim: Are you afraid? Paris: I chose this life. And I guess I always knew it could come to this. But yeah, I'm afraid. Kim: Me too. Kes: I'm so worried about Neelix. I should be with him. Emh: As much as he may annoy me at times, Mister Neelix is one of the most resourceful and resilient individuals I know. If anyone can survive this calamity, he can. Torres: Hi. Chakotay: Hi. Torres: What are you doing? Chakotay: I'm trying to contact my spirit guide. Torres: Why? Chakotay: Who knows what's going to happen when that ring hits us. We might be in for another long journey. Torres: I guess I could use a little spiritual guidance myself right now. Mind if I join you? Chakotay: I thought you'd never ask. Emh: Captain? Janeway: I'm all right. Emh: You were delirious. Janeway: It was some sort of message. Chakotay: What was? Janeway: The spatial distortion. It was trying to communicate with us. Janeway: I want a full systems report. And Mister Kim, Mister Tuvok, I want every iota of information that was recorded regarding that phenomenon. Paris: The distortion ring's directly ahead, Captain. It's moving away from us at two thousand kph. Chakotay: We've got a full crew complement, Captain. No injuries reported. Torres: No damage to the hull or ship systems. Janeway: Incredible. Torres: You're not going to believe this, Captain, but twenty million gigaquads of new information have been input into the ship's computer. Janeway: Where did it come from? Torres: My guess is it came from the distortion ring. Janeway: Somebody's definitely trying to tell us something. Torres: That's not all, Captain. Our entire database has been copied and downloaded into somebody else's system. Chakotay: I guess whoever they were, they want to know everything they can about us too. Janeway: Maybe it was their only way of communicating with us. Maybe they were just trying to say hello. Neelix: Cake, anyone? Kes: Neelix, what happened to you? Neelix: Oh, it's a long story. I'll tell you all about it later. Right now, it's time to finish your party. Kes: Neelix, I need a photograph of you. Neelix: What for, sweeting? Kes: From now on, even when we're separated, I want to have you where I can keep my eye on you. Neelix: Happy birthday, Kes.

Paris: Inertial dampers have failed. Kes: I can't get any response from the field coils. Paris: Did you verify the control inputs? Kes: Stand by. The inputs have locked. We've got to flush the plasma injectors. Or maybe it's just a phase synchronization adjustment. Paris: Plasma injectors. Kes: Plasma injectors. Right. Paris: Field coils responding. Inertial dampers back online. Kes: That was not fair. Paris: As your flight instructor, it's my duty to prepare you for anything, fair or not. Kes: Clogging someone's plasma injectors is a dirty trick. Paris: Yes, well, I'm famous for my dirty tricks, you know? Kes: What was that? Paris: I never said the simulation was finished. Kes: Computer, evasive maneuvers. Kes: I'll be ready for anything next time. Paris: Oh, ho! Sounds like a challenge to me. Janeway: Come in. I hope you have good news, Commander. Based on this inventory, our food reserves look to be down to thirty percent of capacity. Chakotay: Good news and bad. We have located an M class planet, and it shows high amino acid and protein readings. Janeway: That should indicate a healthy plant life. What's bad about it? Chakotay: It's a full day out of our way. Janeway: I don't think we have any choice. It's the first chance we've had to replenish our supplies in weeks. Chakotay: And our long range sensors can't confirm any plant life on the surface. Janeway: Why not? Chakotay: It's one strange planet, Captain. It's shrouded. Vapors cover it like a curtain. EM disturbances all over the atmosphere. Janeway: Some of these readings suggest a planet early in its evolution, almost like a primeval Earth. Chakotay: The people in Stellar Cartography have already nicknamed it Planet Hell. Janeway: So it might be a wild goose chase. Chakotay: Captain, I don't know what we'll find when we get to the surface. Flora or fauna, friend or foe. Janeway: If we knew we'd find another M class planet soon, I'd. Set a course for Planet Hell, Commander. Paris: That was you? Kim: That was me. Paris: I'm impressed. Kim: I keep hearing my mother say, practice, Harry, practice. So I ate Neelix's food for a week and used my replicator rations. Paris: Play something for me. Kim: Well, I've only had it for a few days, and I don't think Paris: Oh, come on. Play something. Just pretend I'm not here. Paris: Play something different. Kim: Different? Paris: Something not so cheerful. Kim: Why? Paris: What, you don't take requests? Kim: Something bothering you, Paris? Paris: Oh, Harry. I'm in trouble. Kim: What's new? Paris: I think I'm in love. Kim: What's new? Paris: With Kes. Kim: Kes! Paris: I know. I know. I never even saw it coming. I thought we were just good buddies. But there she was in my arms. Kim: In your arms? Paris, you didn't. Paris: What? Oh, no. I didn't. I wouldn't. She stumbled during a flight simulation. I caught her. I held her for an instant. Are you going to play or not? Paris: A whole crew full of women and I have to fall for the one I can't have. Why do I do this to my self? Kim: If you ask me, I say you enjoy it. Paris: Enjoy it? Kim: Only thing that makes sense. You've been doing the same thing to yourself your whole life. Setting yourself up for rejection. You must enjoy playing the part. Paris: Hey, don't knock it if you haven't tried it. I just have to be more careful. I can't let myself be alone with her. Kim: There's an old Chinese expression. Stay out of harm's way. Paris: That's not a Chinese expression. Kim: If it works, use it. Paris: Of course, it would help a little if Kes and I weren't going to be stuck on the same ship for the rest of our lives. Kim: That's a pessimistic view. Paris: I'm in a pessimistic mood. Play something pessimistic. Practice, Harry, practice. Kes: And then suddenly we fell into a subspace anomaly. None of the readings made any sense. I didn't know what to do! Neelix: It must have been terrible for you. Pepper, sweeting. Kes: Ah. Anyway, it was quite a learning experience. Neelix: I'm sure Lieutenant Paris is a fine teacher. Oh! I almost forgot the Palliantyne peas. Ever so lightly spiced. Janeway: Analysis. Chakotay: High levels of trigemic vapors, but it should still support humanoid life. Emh: Sickbay to Bridge. Please turn to your Emergency Medical Holographic Channel. Emh: I hope you don't mind that I've been eavesdropping, but I have something important to contribute. Janeway: What is it, Doctor? Emh: Of course, it wouldn't be necessary for me to eavesdrop if I were included in these discussions as a matter of operating protocol. Janeway: Doctor. Emh: You should be aware that trigemic vapors at the recorded levels can cause severe humanoid skin irritations. Chakotay: Could you provide some sort of skin protection that might help? Emh: I am whipping up a batch of dermal osmotic sealant as we speak. Nevertheless, skin exposure to the atmosphere should be limited. Janeway: Noted, Doctor. Thank you. Tell me, just how often do you eavesdrop? Emh: I am simply trying to monitor issues involving the health of the crew, Captain. When activated, the Emergency Medical Program establishes comm. links with all key areas of the ship, and I have, on occasion. I am a Doctor, not a voyeur. I am programmed to be diskreet. Janeway: I'm sure. Commander Chakotay will discuss operating protocols with you at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, no more eavesdropping, Doctor. Emh: But Captain, I, I, I Janeway: That's an order. Torres: There's another problem, Captain. We won't be able to transport to the surface because of the EM disturbances in the atmosphere. They'll interfere with our comm. links too. Chakotay: I'll have Mister Kim take a look. Kim: Listen, why don't we take in a holodeck program later? A Moliere comedy. That'll cheer you up. Paris: I think I'll just eat later. Paris: Damn. Kim: What do you want to do? Paris: Very simple. We just won't sit with her. Kim: But that's rude. Paris: No, that's smart. We'll make it look like we have bridge operations to discuss. Neelix: Gentlemen. May I recommend the Alfarian hair pasta today? Kim: Hair pasta? That is just an expression, isn't it? Neelix: Not at all. It's actually made from the follicles of the mature Alfarian. We harvest the hair during shedding season in early fall. It's very high in protein. Paris: Whatever. We just have a lot of bridge operations business to discuss. Yeah. Chakotay: Mister Kim, please report to the Bridge. Kim: Have a nice lunch. Neelix: You subclass genus. Paris: I beg your pardon? Neelix: Sitting with your backs to each other like two strangers waiting for a transport. Was that supposed to fool me? Paris: Oh, a guy just can't win. Look, there is nothing to fool you about. Really. I swear. Neelix: Liar. Paris: What the hell are you doing? Neelix: I'll kill you! Paris: It's too late. I'm betting your hair pasta already did the trick. Janeway: Janeway to Lieutenant Paris and Mister Neelix. Paris: Go ahead. Neelix: Yes, Captain? Janeway: Please report to my Ready room right away. I have something important to discuss with you. Paris: Er, Captain, did you say right away? If we could have Janeway: That's what I said, Mister Paris. Janeway out. Janeway: Would anyone care to explain? Paris: It might be too long to go into right now, Captain. Janeway: Very well. I have a mission for the two of you. We have reason to believe that there are food sources on this planet, but we can't transport to the surface. You're going to take a shuttle down and do a little scouting. Neelix: Me and him? Janeway: He's our best pilot, and you're our expert on edible plant species in this quadrant. Paris: Captain, I'm not one to pass up a mission, but in this circumstance, maybe Ensign Baytart who is a fine pilot Janeway: There are electromagnetic anomalies in the atmosphere and I would rather have you at the helm. Am I diskerning a personal problem here, gentlemen? Neelix: Frankly, yes, Captain. Janeway: Solve it. You leave at fourteen hundred hours. Torres: We're modifying the transporter to try and penetrate the atmosphere. So far, no luck. Kim: However, we have been running computer simulations to determine if the EM disturbances follow any specific pattern. Our data analysis suggests that there may be occasional atmospheric windows that would allow us to get through. Chakotay: How occasional, and how long would they last? Kim: We should see one every thirty hours or so, but they may only last for a matter of minutes. I can't be sure yet. Janeway: At least long enough for us to beam up food supplies. Mister Paris, you and Mister Neelix will collect as many vegetables and fruits as you can while we wait for this atmospheric window to open. Mister Kim, be sure your computer simulations include Kes: What happened? I heard that you Neelix: Nothing happened. Kes: They said that you and Tom Paris had Neelix: Kes. We'll talk when I get back. Kes: I want to know, Neelix. Is it true that you were fighting? Neelix: When I get back. Kes: But Neelix: Shuttle bay. Emh: Good afternoon. When you have a chance, could you run an analysis of the cytokinetic results for Kes: I did it during lunch. Emh: Are you all right? Kes: I'm fine. Emh: Are you sure? You seem a little Kes: I'm fine. Emh: You know, if you skip lunch, the result might be a lower blood sugar level, which could. I'm sorry. It's in my program. I see something wrong, I must attempt to diagnose it. Kes: There are some things you can't cure. Neelix and Tom Paris had a physical fight over me. Emh: How delightful. Kes: Delightful? Emh: You should consider it a high compliment. Throughout history, men have fought over the love of a woman. Why, I can quote you autopsy reports from duels as far back as 1538. Kes: That's not funny. Emh: It's not meant to be. You've always been interested in autopsies. Kes: Are all Talaxians so jealous? Emh: I wouldn't know. I've only met one. Kes: I love Neelix. Why can't he just accept that? His suspicions about Tom are completely unjustified. Emh: Are they? Lieutenant Paris's affection for you is obvious. Kes: What do you mean? Emh: I mean he desires you. Kes: That's not true. Tom and I enjoy each other's company. We're friends. Emh: Whenever you walk into the room, his respiration increases, his pupils dilate and the coloration of his ears turns decidedly orange. Until I noticed the pattern, I thought he was suffering from Tanzian flu. It's there for anyone to see. Maybe not in the same diagnostic detail as I see it, yet Kes: Are you saying that I didn't want to see it? Emh: You're only two years old. There may be a few things you don't know to look for in a man. In time, you'll understand. Kes: On my homeworld it's so much simpler. You choose a mate for life. There's no distrust, no jealousy, no envy, no betrayal. Emh: Hmm. Your world must have very dry literature. Kes: I don't know how to handle something like this. What am I going to do? Emh: You've done nothing to precipitate this state of affairs. You may not be able to do much to resolve it either. There are some things you can't cure. Paris: Entry sequence at two minutes, mark. All systems normal. Trigemic density at point zero four one and rising. Neelix: We lost communication with Voyager thirty seconds ago. You don't have to impress me with your technobabble. Paris: I'm not trying to impress anyone, I'm entering it into the flight record. Look, can I make a suggestion? Neelix: You're the commander of this mission. You can make any suggestion you want, and if you make it an order, I'll even have to obey it. Paris: My suggestion is that we put our personal problems aside until this mission is over. Okay? Neelix: I left my personal problems back on the ship. I can't speak for you. Paris: Fine. Let's get the job done. Neelix: You get us down in one piece, and I'll take it from there. Paris: Entry sequence at three minutes, mark. All systems, stand by. Have you been briefed on shuttle operations? Neelix: Ensign Baytart took me through the basics. Of course, I didn't have the benefit of your personal tutelage. Paris: Check your console. I'm reading a power output decline of fifteen percent. Neelix: Confirmed. Computer: Warning. Vectored exhaust controls malfunctioning. Neelix: What does that mean? Paris: We're getting some kind of reaction in our driver coil assembly from the EM anomalies in the atmosphere. I'm going to abort the mission. Hold on. We've lost our impulse drive. Shut off the deuterium flow! I'm dumping excess fuel. Neelix: Deuterium flow sealed. Paris: Setting DCA pulse over to neutral. Engaging thrusters. Neelix: Can you regain control? Paris: I'm trying, Neelix. Prepare for an emergency landing. Send out an EMS pulse. There's still a chance Voyager will pick it up. Tuvok: Captain, we're picking up a locator signal from the shuttle. Janeway: Can you track it? Tuvok: Their last velocity vector indicates a steep descent. We've lost contact. Chakotay: Bridge to Torres. Torres: Torres here. Chakotay: B'Elanna, our shuttle's in trouble. Any progress on modifying the transporter? Torres: Negative. It's an extremely complex interference pattern, and it keeps changing. Janeway: Bring in as much help as you need. This is now a search and rescue operation. Torres: Acknowledged. Torres out. Janeway: Keep me informed. I'll be in my Ready room. Neelix: I said in one piece. Paris: Sorry. I did the best I could. Any broken bones? Neelix: Everything seems to be working. I'm itching. Paris: I feel it too. We've got atmospheric leakage in the hull. The trigemic vapors really sting. Here. Doc said this would help a little. Neelix: If we've got atmospheric leakage, how can we fly out of here? Paris: We can't. We'll have to wait for Voyager to find us. Neelix: We're not even sure they're looking for us yet. We don't know if the EMS pulse got through. Paris: B'Elanna's working on the transporter, and one of those atmospheric windows might open up. In the meantime, we're going to have to look for some kind of cover. Neelix: I say we stay right here. Paris: The trigemic vapors are going to Neelix: You're the one who wants to go out into those vapors. Staying here is our best chance of being found. You heard what they said. Those windows may only be open for a matter of minutes. Paris: And we may be waiting here for days. Exposure to these vapors is too dangerous. We're leaving. Grab your gear. Neelix: Is that an order or a suggestion? Paris: An order! Neelix: Yes, sir! Neelix: I hope you're satisfied. We were a lot more comfortable inside the shuttle. I have red welts all over my hands now. Paris: You know, it might be more constructive if you could find us something safe to eat. Neelix: I certainly don't know why the ship's sensors indicated this planet might be rich in food supplies. It sure doesn't look it. Paris: Our emergency rations won't last forever. Neelix: I'll find something for us. Of course, it might not meet your personal culinary standards. Paris: Oh, don't worry. I've learned to lower my standards since you became cook. I'm picking up some caves about a kilometer west of here. Neelix: What good fortune. Kes: Come in. Harry. Any word yet? Kim: We're doing everything possible. The transporter just doesn't want to work in that atmosphere. How are you doing? Kes: Oh, I'm all right. It's just, I was very angry at them a few hours ago. Kim: You had a every right to be. Kes: And now they might both be dead. And I'm sitting here, and I'm feeling guilty for some reason. Kim: Guilty? Why? Kes: I don't know. But I don't like it. And it's their fault. And I can't even tell them how angry I am at them, and I may never be able to tell them how angry I am at them, so it doesn't matter, does it? Kim: Look. You know if there was any way to land that shuttle, Tom Paris got it down. Kes: And no one has stronger survival skills than Neelix. Kim: I'm sure they'll both be fine. Kes: Unless they kill each other. Kim: They're professionals. Kes: Oh, they'd better be all right, because when I see them, I'm personally going to tell them that I never intend to speak to either one of them again. Chakotay: Chakotay to crew. Battle stations. Paris: This is good. We can last a while in here. Paris: That should do it. Neelix: Garnesite. This will give us a little heat, at least. Paris: We'd better conserve our beacon cells. Neelix: So, what is Starfleet protocol for situations like this? Paris: Oh, there's a whole course at the Academy full of all sorts of survival strategies. Neelix: I hope you had a passing grade. Paris: B minus. Neelix: That's not very encouraging. Paris: My father was teaching the class that year. Neelix: And he gave you a B minus? I guess he didn't play favorites, huh? Paris: What about Talaxian protocols? Neelix: I wrote my own book. My life before Voyager was no bed of Felaran rose petals. Paris: No, more like a bed of Neelix: What? Paris: Nothing. Neelix: You were going to say junk, perhaps? Go ahead. Say it. Junk. I was a dealer in junk. Perhaps not worthy of a woman like Kes, in your opinion. Paris: Neelix, I didn't say that. I never even Neelix: Tell me something. In that Starfleet survival course, did your father teach you to check for life signs before you seal yourself inside a cave? Paris: I checked for life signs. There weren't any. Neelix: There are now. Janeway: Hail them. Tuvok: They do not respond, Captain. Kim: They're powering down their weapons systems. Tuvok: Their vessel has taken up a position directly beneath us. Janeway: What do you make of it, Lieutenant? Tuvok: They would seem to have adopted a defensive posture, Captain. Janeway: I agree. But defending what? The planet? Chakotay: Or something on it. Paris: Whatever this life form is, its vital signs are awfully faint. Neelix: In this atmosphere, it could be dying of exposure. Paris: No, I don't think so. They're faint, but steady. Neelix: I'd say it's becoming more and more evident that we chose the wrong cave. Paris: This is where the life signs are coming from. They're embryonic life forms. These two are half formed. This one almost seems to be Kim: The EM disturbance patterns match the computer simulations. I'd say we'll get a shot at an atmospheric window in about fifty three minutes. Chakotay: Where does that leave us with the transporter? Torres: Our range will still be limited, but the transporter should work as long as we stay in an area with reduced electromagnetic activity. Janeway: The problem is we don't know where our shuttle went down. Chakotay: So there's no way to know how close they'll be to the window when it opens. Janeway: Recommendations? Torres: Take the ship through the window into the atmosphere. The closer you can get us to the surface, the better our chances for a successful beam out. Janeway: Get on it. Chakotay: Are you going to be able to warn us before the window closes again? Kim: I think so. Janeway: Mister Kim, that's not an answer I can live with. Kim: I'll try to get you a better one, Captain. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, we need you to find a way to get us by that ship. Tuvok: I have anticipated your request, Captain. Am I correct in the assumption that you will want to use minimal force? Janeway: Assumption confirmed. Tuvok: I cannot guarantee success. My evaluation of their weapon systems suggest a capacity equal to our own. However Janeway: You've come up with an ingenious plan to neutralize them. Tuvok: I have. In my analysis of our first encounter, I have detected what I believe to be a vulnerability in their shield configuration. There appears to be a slight phase retraction when auxiliary power is transferred to their aft weapons systems. Chakotay: A covariant phaser pulse into their aft control systems might disable their entire weapons array. Tuvok: That was my ingenious plan, Commander. You are correct. Janeway: Very well. Red alert. Mister Kim, set coordinates. Torres, speed at two thousand kph. Torres: Aye, Captain. Chakotay, take the helm. Kim: Coordinates entered. Janeway: Engage. Paris: This creature's going to have the ability to stand upright. It has the skeletal system of a humanoid. It's cold-blooded, has reptilian epidermis. Its brain is significantly larger than most reptilian species. I'd say we're dealing with a sentient life form here, Neelix. Neelix: If this species is sentient, wouldn't that suggest that its parents might return to care for it? Paris: It's hard to say. Most common reptiles lay their eggs and never return to protect them. Neelix: I think we've established we're not dealing with a common reptile. Paris: True. And if this thing does have a mother, I'd say we don't want to be around when she gets back. Come on. Neelix: We can't just leave it here. Paris: We're not leaving it here, its mother left it here. We just happened to wander in. Neelix: But we blocked off the cave. The mother might have been trapped outside. Paris: We'll leave the door open for her when we go, okay? Neelix: Look. It's not that simple. What if she can sense we were here? She, she might be able to smell that faux lime aftershave of yours. I'm sure you realize many species won't return to a nest after it's been tampered with. Paris: There's not much we can do about that now, is there? We should just leave all this the way we found it. Neelix: No. Paris: Neelix! Neelix: This creature is our responsibility. Paris: Ours? Neelix: The moment we came in here, it became our responsibility. Paris: And you expect to take care of this thing until what? It graduates from high school, college? And what if Mom doesn't come back? Are you planning to bring this with us back on the ship? Neelix: Look, if she does return and accepts the hatchling, it'll solve everything. We just have to wait and see what she does. I don't know how it is in your quadrant, but in mine we don't abandon a new-born thing. Paris: Fine. Fine. You made your point. I officially designate you its godfather. Neelix: It's stopped crying. Paris: It's shivering. That's normal, isn't it? I mean, new born life forms do shiver, don't they? Neelix: To be honest, I haven't been around many new borns. Paris: Me neither. Neelix: Oh, look at this, Paris. It's stopped shivering. Paris: It's asleep. Forget what I said, Neelix. You're not its godfather. You're its godmother. Kim: The atmospheric window is forming, Captain, thirty degrees off the predicted co-ordinates. Janeway: How soon will we have maximum aperture, Mister Kim? Kim: Nine minutes. Janeway: All right, Commander, let's try to draw some fire from their aft weapons systems. Bring us within ten kilometers. Chakotay: Shields at eighty percent. Torres: Minor damage to our port nacelle. Rerouting power to lateral thrusters. Janeway: Tuvok. Tuvok: So far I'm not detecting the same vulnerability in their shields this time, Captain. We may have to resort to additional force. Janeway: Arm photons. Kim: Ready. Janeway: Prepare to Tuvok: Stand by, Captain. I'm detecting an opening. Tuvok: Direct hit to their aft control systems. Their weapons are disabled. Janeway: Commander, proceed to Mister Kim's coordinates. One half impulse. Paris: Oh, come on. Come on. It doesn't seem to care for Starfleet rations. Neelix: If I were in my kitchen, I could cook you up some delightful leola root broth. Paris: Are you serious? Ugh. I hope I never see another leola root. And you're certainly not feeding any of that hideous broth to my niece. Or nephew. Whatever it is. Paris: Its heartbeat is getting weaker. I don't like it. Come on, kid. You've got to eat something. Neelix: It seems far more interested in my jacket than your food. Paris: Neelix, it's not your jacket. It's the residue of the trigemic vapors we walked through. Think about it. Voyager's sensors picked up high levels of proteins and amino acids, which we assumed meant this was a planet filled with vast supplies of edible plant life. Neelix: We were certainly wrong about that. Paris: The residue is a concentration of proteins and amino acids. Neelix: The perfect source of nutrition for the hatchling. Paris: The source we cut off when we blocked the cave. Come on. We've got some rocks to move. Kim: The atmospheric window is at full aperture, Captain. We should have at least seventeen minutes before it starts to close. Tuvok: Captain, the alien vessel is in pursuit. Janeway: Are their weapons systems back online already? Tuvok: Negative. They are still disabled. Chakotay: They couldn't be preparing to ram us, could they? Janeway: Hold your course. We need to get through that window but prepare to take evasive action if necessary. Chakotay: Understood. Tuvok: Alien vessel closing to one thousand kilometers. Five hundred. Three hundred. It has passed us and is proceeding toward the surface. Janeway: Take us down, Commander. Neelix: It's not breathing! I don't think it's breathing! Come on. Suck in some of those hearty vapors. Paris: It's just too weak. Neelix: There must be something in here we can use to resuscitate it. Paris: Neelix, we did the best we could. Neelix: No! It's our fault. It's our fault. If we hadn't come. Here. Cordrazine. This is a stimulant. Paris: You can't pump it full of drugs without knowing its body chemistry. Neelix: So we should just let it die? Paris: Give me that. Paris: When I was a kid, a baby bird fell out of a nest and landed on the windowsill next to my bed. We had to feed it water with an eyedropper to keep it alive. Neelix: What are you doing? Paris: Filling the eyedropper. Can you hold its mouth open? Neelix: Do it again. Again. Neelix: It's working. It's working! Paris: Life signs are getting stronger. Neelix: You did it! Paris: We did it. You know, I never would have thought of that hypospray if. The vapors. Neelix: Who cares? Torres: Sensors are operating as well as can be expected under these conditions. Either we're just not close enough to where they landed to pick up their comm. signals, or they never landed. The shuttle might have burned up in the atmosphere. Janeway: I'm not willing to concede that yet. Any sign of the alien ship? Torres: No, Captain. We've lost them. Janeway: Mister Kim, how much longer before that window starts to close? Kim: Nine minutes, twenty seconds. Janeway: Chakotay, extend our surveillance pattern. If we don't find them in five minutes, we'll head back to the window. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Neelix: I'm sorry. Paris: Hmm? Neelix: I feel I owe you an apology. Paris: No, you don't. Neelix: I had no right to push that pasta in your lap. Paris: Well, think of it this way. You saved me from having to eat it. Nothing personal, but I just don't have an affinity for hair in my food. Neelix: I haven't been fair to you. You know, I hear people talking about you in the mess hall. Paris: No kidding. What do they say? Neelix: Oh, that you used to be a coward and couldn't be trusted. It's typical of Kes that she would befriend someone like you. Someone who really needs a friend. And I guess I just got a little jealous. I got more than a little jealous. I realize now I was wrong. Paris: Neelix, I told you the truth when I said that nothing happened between me and Kes. Neelix: I know. Paris: And I promise you nothing ever will. But you weren't wrong about me. Neelix: What do you mean? Paris: I, well, I guess the only way to say it is to say it. I am attracted to Kes. Neelix: Oh? Paris: To be honest, if you weren't around, I'd be knocking at her door. But I respect you, Neelix. And that's that. Everything you heard those guys saying about me, well, it was true. But it's not who I am anymore. At least not who I want to be. This upside down mission to the wrong side of the galaxy has given me a second chance, and I don't intend to blow it. Neelix: I see. Well, in a way I can't say I blame you. She is very attractive. Paris: She's devoted to you, you know. Neelix: Well, I did save her life. I'm sure she's grateful. Paris: Oh, she's a lot more than grateful. She loves you, Neelix. I wouldn't stand a chance. Nobody would. Neelix: There are others? Paris: If you ever doubt yourself, just look into her eyes. See the way she looks at you. You'll never doubt yourself again. And as far as I'm concerned, I'll just be her friend. I mean, if you don't mind. Neelix: I don't pick Kes's friends for her. Just my own. Paris: Voyager? This is Lieutenant Tom Paris and Mister Neelix. Do you read? Janeway: We do, Mister Paris. Are you all right? Paris: Aside from a nasty rash, yes. Janeway: Have you encountered Janeway: Life forms? Paris: Actually, yes. Janeway: Are they hostile? Paris: No, just young. Janeway: Young? Paris: Yes. We found a nest, and one of the creatures hatched. Janeway: Be aware we encountered a hostile ship of unknown origin and we're showing that ship on the surface approximately one kilometer from your Janeway: Position. We're attempting to lock onto you for transport. Stand by. Neelix: We can't leave yet. Paris: What? Why? Neelix: What if the mother rejects it? Paris: Neelix, one thing's for sure. Whether the mother rejects it or not, she will reject you and me. Neelix: We promised each other we wouldn't abandon it until Janeway: Away team, we're showing a life form moving towards your position. Prepare to transport. Neelix: Captain, this is Neelix. Are you in a particular rush to leave? Janeway: Did you hear what I just said, Mister Neelix? Neelix: Yes. But Neelix: We're not quite finished here yet. Janeway: Finished with what? We have an atmospheric window closing in less than six minutes. Neelix: And another one will be coming in how long? Janeway: Days. Janeway: Is there a problem? Paris: The problem is, Captain Paris: If we leave our little hatchling here and the mother rejects it Paris: It might die of exposure before we get back. Janeway: I appreciate your concern for Janeway: It's welfare, but Paris: How long can you give us, Captain? Kim: One minute, ten seconds, max. Neelix: We'll take it. Paris: Lock onto us, Voyager. If you hear muffled screams, consider that a request for a beam out. Neelix: There's nothing like a family reunion. Paris: Voyager, two to beam out. Neelix: As soon as you're ready. Neelix: Kes! Kes: We didn't know if you were dead or alive. What happened? Paris: I became an uncle. Neelix: And I'm a godmother. I'd say this is the special occasion I've been waiting for to open up that bottle of Potak cold fowl I've been saving. Paris: Cold fowl in a bottle? That's just an expression, isn't it? Neelix: No. It's actually made from the glandular secretions of an adult dunghill bird, found only on Potak Three. It's very rare. Very exquisite. There are, I believe, only twenty seven bottles in existence at this time. Neelix: It has a rather smoky flavor, going well with strong, meaty dishes. But I prefer it for sipping in the company of good friends.

Paris: Paris to the Captain. Janeway: Janeway here. Paris: I've done an analysis of our route through Botha space. Whenever you have a minute to check it out. Janeway: I'm on my way to Engineering. I'll be with you as soon as I'm done. Paris: Aye, Captain. Neelix: Ah, Captain, the computer told me I'd find you on deck eleven section four B, starboard side, and sure enough, here you are. Janeway: What can I do for you, Neelix? Neelix: I assumed you'd want to talk to me. Janeway: About? Neelix: About the Botha. We're headed for their space and as I've told you, they're going to have to be handled very carefully. Janeway: I understand, and of course I want your counsel, but right now I'm late for a meeting. Neelix: I wouldn't put this off too long. We're getting closer, you know. Janeway: Yes, I know. And I will be with you as soon as I can. Janeway: Sorry, I'm late. What do you have? Torres: I think we're about ready to make our first attempt, Captain. Janeway: If you're successful, will the Doctor be able to move freely around the entire ship? Kim: Not exactly. The holoemitters would be set up in certain key areas, the Bridge, Engineering. We'll be able to transfer him to those locations. Janeway: In the same way we can now transfer him to the holodeck. Torres: Exactly. But if he tries to move into an area where there's no emitter field, he'll dematerialize. Kim: I have the holoprojector online. We're ready to start. Janeway: Proceed. I don't have much time. Torres: Engineering to Sickbay. Doctor, we're ready here. Emh: I'm standing by. Torres: Okay. Here goes. Kim: Initiating transfer. Here he comes. Emh: Well, this is certainly a brilliant feat of engineering. Janeway: What happened? Torres: I'd guess the imaging interface wasn't properly stabilized. Kim: Just a small oversight. No pun intended. Emh: Very amusing. Janeway: How long will it take you to correct this small oversight? Kim: Maybe a couple of hours. Janeway: Mister Kim, I have to assess our navigational plan and get ready to make contact with an alien species. I can't drop everything whenever you call. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: Captain, I would like a half an hour of your time to review the security protocols before we encounter the Botha. Janeway: Yes, Mister Tuvok. Somehow I will find half an hour. Emh: Excuse me, Captain. Would you come down here, please? Janeway: Yes? Emh: When did you last take shore leave? Janeway: About two months ago. Emh: Ah. How long since you've done something pleasurable, for recreation? Janeway: Doctor, I know I'm a bit testy today, but I can assure you Emh: How long? Janeway: It's been a while. I have a holonovel program. It helps me unwind. I haven't had time to run it for a few weeks. Emh: Well, I want you to, now. Janeway: Doctor, I'm really very busy. Emh: I've checked Starfleet regulations. The Chief Medical Officer outranks the Captain in health matters. Now I realize this may be the first time a hologram has given an order to a captain, but I'm ordering you to report to the holodeck, now. Janeway: Aye, sir. Emh: And the two of you can get busy undoing this ridiculous blunder of yours! Janeway: Good afternoon, my lord. Will the children be joining us for tea? Burleigh: Presently. Janeway: Lord Burleigh, is something wrong? Burleigh: Yes. Terribly wrong. Burleigh: I have fallen in love with you, Lucy. Janeway: My lord. Beatrice: Hello, Father. Henry: We're ready for tea. I want cucumber sandwiches. Templeton: You'll wait your turn, young man. What may I serve you, my lord? Burleigh: Nothing, thank you. Templeton: I see. Beatrice: I want my tea in this cup, please. And I don't want a cucumber sandwich. I don't like the way Cook cuts them. Janeway: My lord, you'll be very pleased with the children's progress in their studies this week. Henry shows a real talent for mathematics, and Beatrice turns out to be quite musical. Templeton: Beatrice? Musical? Beatrice: I don't know what she means. Janeway: She's very modest about it. I've heard her several times in the music room, playing a lovely Mozart sonata. But whenever I ask her to play it for me, she won't. I think her talent should be encouraged. Would you consider lessons? Burleigh: I didn't know Beatrice could play the piano. Beatrice: I'm sorry. Henry: It's just a cup. Don't be a goose. Beatrice: It's the flower cup, Mother's cup. Henry: It doesn't matter. Burleigh: Mrs Templeton, please take the children to the nursery. Templeton: Yes, my lord. Come. Burleigh: Please stay here, Mrs Davenport. Janeway: Beatrice is upset. I should be with her. Burleigh: I want you here. Janeway: What's happening in this house? How can you not know that Beatrice plays the piano? Why shouldn't I go to the fourth floor? What's up there? Burleigh: Those are questions you must not ask. Janeway: But I am asking them. I'm worried about the children. Beatrice fantasized that her mother is still alive. Burleigh: Don't pursue this, I beg you. Chakotay: Bridge to the Captain. Janeway: Freeze program. Janeway here. Chakotay: We've been hailed by a representative of the Bothan government. They'd like to talk to you. Janeway: I'll be right there. Sorry, my lord. Duty calls. Neelix: Captain, I knew we should have talked this morning. Janeway: Tell me what you know, Neelix. Neelix: I've been in subspace contact with some old friends of mine. Nomads, collectors, much as I used to be. They're in a position to gather information during their travels. What they've told me doesn't sound good. Janeway: In what way? Neelix: There are lots of rumors about ships entering Bothan space, never to be heard from again. My sources on Mithren say that they have lost a number of vessels. They say the Botha protect their territory fiercely. Janeway: But we aren't aggressors. Neelix: I don't think they are either. They just don't want anyone crossing their borders. Janeway: Will they negotiate? Will they respond to diplomacy? Neelix: It's hard to say. There's some belief that they don't even have a legitimate claim to the space, that they're nothing more than pernicious, odious vandals. In which case, diplomacy would fall on deaf ears. Tuvok: We're being hailed again, Captain. Janeway: On screen. I'm Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. Bothan: Why have you entered our space without permission? Janeway: We didn't realize that this was your space. On what basis do you claim it? Bothan: I have no intention of explaining myself to you. The fact is, you're violating our territory. Janeway: I assure you, we mean no disrespect. We are from another part of the galaxy. We're just trying to make our way home. Bothan: We'll send a ship to rendezvous with you. If you meet the criteria, we'll consider your request. Janeway: Thank you. What are the criteria? Bothan: We'll discuss that when we meet. Paris: Friendly fellow. Janeway: At least they're willing to talk. Kim: I wonder why he wouldn't let us see his face. Janeway: I suspect it was a calculated move. An attempt to intimidate us. Commander, you have the Bridge. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Mister Neelix, join me in my Ready room. We should talk about this meeting. Neelix: Captain, if I may. What was the last time you ate? Janeway: Ate? Oh, I had some soup last night. Neelix: Then let me suggest that we conduct our talk in the mess hall. We're serving a sumptuous repast for lunch. Janeway: Right. Lunch it is. Neelix: Captain, you have a nasty habit of skipping meals and that can do horrible things to your electrolyte levels. Janeway: I know, but sometimes I just get too busy to eat. Neelix: All you have to do is give me a call. I'll be there in a trice with a tray of food so delectable you won't be able to resist. I do think I've outdone myself this time. An exquisite pate made from Seltin wood fungus. Brine-soaked neccel strips. Deviled wood throk. Janeway: Where did these come from? Neelix: Lieutenant Hargrove asked for them. Is something wrong? Janeway: No, just a funny coincidence. Something I saw on the holodeck. Thank you, Neelix. This all looks delicious. And it's bound to boost my electrolyte levels. Where did you get that cup? Neelix: Why, I'm not sure. I think I found several of them in storage. Unusual, isn't it? Captain, is everything all right? Janeway: It's perfectly all right, Neelix. I just have to remind myself that coincidences do happen. Burleigh: I can't help myself. I've fallen in love with you. Beatrice: My mother is alive, and my father loves her, not you. Janeway: In the course of your experiments with the Doctor, have you accessed any of the holodeck programs? Torres: No, we're bypassing the holodecks. Janeway: Where did you get this holoprojector? Kim: We found several of them in storage. We've been reconfiguring them one by one. Janeway: So you haven't worked directly with any of the projectors on the holodecks? Torres: No. Janeway: Is there anything you've done, anything you can think of, that might have caused holographic objects and characters to appear outside the holodeck? Torres: Not that I'm aware of. Janeway: I was sure your experiments would explain it. Torres: Captain, there has to be a reason why you've had these delusions and we're going to figure out what it is. Janeway: The Doctor pointed out that I've been under some stress. I can't ignore that. Kim: I think we should check out the imaging systems on the holodeck. There might be a simple malfunction. Janeway: Good idea. Torres: We can run the diagnostic from here in Engineering, but you should activate the program first. Janeway: I'll contact you from the holodeck. Janeway: Janeway to Engineering. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: Have you set up the diagnostic? Torres: We're ready, Captain. Janeway: Go ahead. Burleigh: Lucy. Thank God you've come back. Why are you dressed so strangely? Janeway: It's a costume. Burleigh: You'd look lovely in anything. I've thought of you constantly. Remembered your touch, your perfume, your lips Janeway: Computer, delete character. Torres: Torres to Janeway. We're finished, Captain, but we didn't find any malfunctions. Janeway: Recalibrate and try it again. I'm going to check something else. Torres: Aye, Captain. Neelix: Captain! I'm delighted to see you. Do you want a snack? Janeway: No, I'm fine. But I wanted to ask you about lunch. Neelix: Didn't you like it? Janeway: It was delicious. I was just trying to remember all the dishes you made. There was the Seltin pate. Neelix: Delectable. Janeway: The neccel strips. Neelix: Exquisite! Janeway: The devilled throk. Neelix: Sublime. Janeway: And the cucumber sandwiches. Neelix: Cucumber sandwiches? Janeway: Weren't there cucumber sandwiches? Neelix: I don't even know what that is. The other item on the menu was a fried murt cake. You ate one. Janeway: And the cup you served my tea in? Neelix: One of these. The ones I found in storage. Janeway: I thought it had flowers on it. Neelix: Flowers? Well, no, I don't see any flowers. Maybe there was another cup, but I don't think so. Would you like a cup with flowers on it? I'm sure I can replicate one. Janeway: It's all right, Neelix. You've told me what I need to know. Emh: I don't detect anything so far. No evidence of aneurysm, subdural haematoma, stroke. Janeway: Could it be stress? Emh: Possibly. Did you go to the holodeck as I ordered? Janeway: Yes. Emh: And was that relaxing? Janeway: It was interesting. I'm not sure how relaxing it was. Emh: There are other possibilities we should consider. I want to scan for airborne bacteria and viruses. We should investigate the possibility of an alien intruder. And I'd like to do a cerebro-cortical scan on you. Kes: Oh! Oh. Emh: Kes? Kes: I don't know. Strange. Oh, suddenly I felt cold, shivery. Janeway: Someone was walking your grave. Emh: Hmm? Janeway: It's just an old saying on Earth. A way of describing an odd feeling like that. Emh: Hmm. How macabre. Janeway: It's human expression, Doctor. I'd think you'd have heard it. Emh: My programrs didn't clutter me up with pithy Earth trivia. They programmed me with far more important data. Kes, would you please get my sub-neural scanner from the Med Lab? Kes: Yes, Doctor. Beatrice: What's about my mother's grave? There's no one inside. The coffin is empty. Janeway: Doctor. Doctor. Who do you see here? Emh: I see you. Janeway: And I see you. But I also see a little girl from my holodeck program. Emh: What happened? Janeway: I'm not sure. The image of the little girl suddenly rushed at me. Kes: I saw it too. When I came in, I felt as though something hit me, bounced off me, then I saw the little girl moving right into you. Janeway: As though you became a mirror. You reflected her back toward me. Kes: I've been doing some mental exercises with Tuvok developing my telepathic abilities, but we haven't done anything like this. Emh: Captain, until I am able to determine the cause of these hallucinations, I'd prefer that you return to your quarters. Get some rest. Janeway: Vegetable bouillon. No, cancel that. Coffee ice cream. Janeway: Hello? Is anyone there? Mark: Kath, are you there? Janeway: Computer, is there anyone in these quarters except me? Computer: Negative. Mark: Kath, are you there? Janeway: Who's that? Mark: Come look at the puppies. Janeway: Mark. Mark: I have missed you so much, Kath. When are you coming back? I don't think you've missed me. Someone else is in your thoughts now. Mark: Isn't that true? Isn't there someone you're thinking of? Janeway: Computer, open the door. Templeton: Everything was fine until you came here. I took care of him. He trusted me. But when you arrived, all that changed. Janeway: Janeway to Security. Intruder alert. Templeton: You've done nothing but cause trouble. We don't want more trouble in our lives! Janeway: Security to the Captain's quarters! Tuvok, please respond! Tuvok: Captain! Emh: Can you still see the hallucinations? Kes: Yes, the woman with the knife is receding into the Captain, just like before. Tuvok: Captain! Listen to me! You are in Sickbay. You are all right. Captain! Janeway: I think Neelix can help you. No one knows much about the Botha, but he has some information. Chakotay: I know he's been doing research. I'll check with him. Janeway: You'll probably want him on the Bridge with you when their ship arrives. Chakotay: Good idea. Janeway: I'm not sure how Torres and Kim are coming. You know they're trying to find a way to transfer the Doctor out of Sickbay. Chakotay: Yes. Janeway: It's not a priority, but you might want to stay on top of it. Chakotay: Of course. Janeway: Let's see. There was a problem with one of the deflector shields. You'll want to follow up on that. And Stellar Cartography was hoping for a review of their latest report. I think Tuvok wanted to discuss something about weapons storage. Chakotay: Captain, you've trained your crew well. We'll be able to do without you for a few days. In the meantime, we're continuing diagnostics on all ship's systems. There's a reason for what's happening to you, and we're not stopping until we find it. Janeway: Thank you, Commander. Emh: My patient has to rest now. I'm sure you'll want to get to the Bridge. Chakotay: Call me if there's anything I can do. Janeway: Just be sure to report to me after you meet with the Botha. Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. Emh: Captain, if you'll take a seat on one of the beds, I'd like to do some further tests. Kes, please prepare the Captain for a cerebro-cortical scan. Kes: Certainly. Captain, I saw your hallucination again. Janeway: What did you see? Kes: You were struggling with a woman. She had a knife. She was trying to hurt you. Janeway: That's right. Kes: As I focused on you, it was just like with the little girl. The image seemed to reflect off of me and move back into you. Janeway: Your telepathic abilities must be increasing. Kes: I think it's more than that. I think something strange is happening on this ship and it's not just happening to you. Tuvok: I am picking up a ship on long range sensors, Commander. It is a design we have not encountered before. Kim: I show it on a direct intercept course. Chakotay: That must be our welcoming party. Paris: They're in a hurry, too. Closing fast. Tuvok: They are hailing, Commander. Chakotay: On screen. Bothan: Where is your captain? Chakotay: She's not available right now. I'm Commander Chakotay, the First Officer. I can speak for her. Bothan: We observe rather strict protocols. I'd prefer to negotiate with the Captain. Chakotay: I understand, but she's not able to come to the Bridge now. And in her absence, our protocols allow me to assume her place. Our request is the same. We'd like permission to cross through your space. We'll do it as quickly as possible. Bothan: What kind of weapon systems do you possess? Chakotay: I'm not sure why that information is necessary. Bothan: How do I know you aren't a heavily armed invader here to attack our settlements? Chakotay: I don't know how to convince you, but we're a peaceful people. If you doubt us Chakotay: What happened? Tuvok: I terminate the transmission, Commander, and made it look like an accidental interruption. I am concerned about some anomalous sensor readings. Kim: I'm getting them too. Residual energy displacements. Two discrete readings. One off the port bow, one off starboard. Paris: We have to consider the possibility of cloaked ships. Chakotay: Reverse course, Mister Paris. Paris: Aye, sir. Kim: Two ships decloaking. Tuvok: The Bothan ship is powering up weapons. Chakotay: Evasive maneuver gamma five. Chakotay: Report! Tuvok: Shields at eighty seven percent. Minor damage on decks four and twelve. Kim: They're turning back for another strike. Paris: Initiating evasive pattern beta two. Chakotay: Get the weapons online. Tuvok: Powering up lateral phaser arrays. Shields down to eighty three percent. Chakotay: Return fire. Tuvok: A direct hit. However, their shields were not penetrated. Janeway: I can't stay here. Emh: Captain, I can't allow you to leave Sickbay. You're in no condition to Janeway: Sorry, Doctor. If we're in trouble, my place is on the Bridge. Kim: There's something weird going on, Commander. I'm not reading any life signs on the two ships that just decloaked. Chakotay: There's no crew? Kim: Looks like the ships are automated. They're being controlled by the Bothan ship. Chakotay: Return fire, Tuvok. Tuvok: We have hit their weapons array, but not severely enough to disable it. Kim: Commander, the three ships are maneuvering to surround us. Chakotay: Get us out of here, Paris. Paris: I'm trying. Kim: The ships are powering their weapons, preparing to fire. Tuvok: That last volley took our shields down to twenty one percent. Kim: We've got damage on all decks. Reports of injuries. Chakotay: All stop. Tuvok: The lead ship is hailing us, Commander. Chakotay: On screen. Bothan: Your ship is damaged and your captain incapacitated. I will accept your immediate surrender. Janeway: You're not getting one. The Captain is fine. Bothan: I don't think so. I think the battle is over now. Janeway: Mark. Mark: Don't you recognize the man you love? Janeway: Mister Paris, who do you see on the viewscreen? Paris: It's my father. Admiral Paris: I hope you've been behaving yourself. Kim: I see my girlfriend, Libby. Janeway: Mister Kim, shut down visual. Kim: I'm trying, Captain. It won't terminate. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, do a multiphasic scan on those ships. I want any evidence of defensive weakness. And prepare the forward photon torpedoes for launch. Tuvok. Tuvok: I do not understand how this can be. T'Pel: Don't try to understand, Tuvok. Just accept it. We're together again. Tuvok: No. You are not my wife. T'Pel: Of course I am. I am T'Pel. And there, right in front of you, is your lute. The one you used to play for me. And look. Look around you. You're back home, on Vulcan. Janeway: Tuvok? Tuvok, answer me. Tuvok! Kim: Captain, I'll do it. Running a multiphasic scan. Torres: Torres to the Captain. Janeway: Janeway here. Torres: We're having problems down here. Torres: People are becoming delusional. Janeway: It's happening her too. Torres: I think I know why. There's a massive energy field coming from those ships. It's bioelectric, modulating on a delta wave frequency. It has psionic properties, and it's permeating the hull. Janeway: A psionic field has a psychoactive effect. That would explain the hallucinations. Torres: You can try remodulating Torres: The shields, but in the meantime, I'm going to set up a resonance burst from the warp core. That will probably block the field, but it'll take a while to set up. Janeway: Notify the Doctor. If the field is bioelectric, he might have some ideas how to neutralize it. Commander, give Lieutenant Torres a hand in Engineering. Mister Neelix, if the crew ever needed a morale officer, now's the time. See if you can help. Neelix: Aye, Captain. Mark: Kath, do you always have to be the captain? Can't you relax for a minute? I want to talk to you. Janeway: Mister Kim, remodulate the shields on a rotating frequency. Janeway: Janeway to Kes. Kes: Yes, Captain? Janeway: Can you come to the Bridge? I think we could use you. Kes: Right away. Janeway: Paris, are you still with me? Paris: Sure am, Captain. I'm running the scans on those ships. Janeway: I'll work on the shields. I suggest you don't look at the viewscreen. Paris: Oh, it's not even tempting. Chakotay: How's it going down here? Torres: Not good. I can't get a response from anybody. It's like they're catatonic. Chakotay: It's the same all over the ship. On my way here, I must have seen fifty people just sitting, staring. Torres: A few minutes ago, there was a momentary interruption in the psionic field. Were there any indications that the alien somehow came on board? Janeway: I'll find out. Chakotay to Janeway. Chakotay to the Captain. Please respond. Chakotay to anyone on the Bridge. Kim, Paris, anybody. We may be the last ones left. Torres: What do we do? Chakotay: I think we should take an escape pod. We passed an M Class planet yesterday. The pod should get us there in a week. We can try to get help. Torres: A week? That might be too late. Chakotay: It may be our only hope. If we stay here, we'll end up like the others. Torres: No, I have to keep trying to set up the resonance burst. Chakotay: Do I have to give you an order? Torres: I can't believe you're saying this. You know we have to stay here and try to help the others. Chakotay: I want you with me. Torres: You aren't Chakotay. Chakotay: I'm the Chakotay you want me to be. The one who loves you. This is what you want, isn't it? The secret you've been keeping? You want us to be together. And we can be. Torres: I have to help the others. Chakotay: I want you. I've always wanted you. You feel the same way too. Torres: Yes. Paris: Captain, I'm getting results from the scans. No apparent defensive weaknesses. Metallurgical analysis is inconclusive. Janeway: I can't remodulate the shields. Try moving us out of here. If we can get some distance between us and those ships, we might be able to block the effects. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Admiral Paris: This time let's see if you can do it without causing an accident. You usually manage to make a mess of everything you do. Paris: Let me say something I've always wanted to say. Get out of my life. Admiral Paris: I'm just telling you what you already know. When the going gets tough, you crumble. Paris: Not any more. Not any more. Admiral Paris: You don't really believe that. In your heart, you believe you'll fail again. And of course you will. You can't do anything right. You'll fail. Why even try? Janeway: Tom? Tom? Janeway to Engineering. Janeway to Torres. Are you there? Engineering respond. If anyone in Engineering can hear me, I'm on my way. Computer, put the Bridge controls on security lockout. Janeway: Deck eleven. Mark: Now, maybe you have time to talk to me. You're so strong, Kath. That's one of the things I always loved in you. Mark: What's the matter? You used to love it when I kissed you there. Janeway: I don't know who you are, what you are, but I won't let you touch me. Mark: What about the man on the holodeck? You didn't seem to mind him touching you, did you? In fact, I think you liked it. Now I ask you, Kath, is that fair to me? I've stayed faithful to you. I've vowed to wait for you no matter how long it takes. Shouldn't you do the same? Janeway: I haven't been unfaithful. Mark: Oh, Kath. Emh: Sickbay to Engineering. Lieutenant Torres, please respond. Doctor to the mess hall. Mister Neelix, are you there? This is the doctor to anyone on the ship. If you can hear me, please reply. Either the communication system is malfunctioning or everyone on board has succumbed to a delusional state. Kes: Except you and me. Emh: It would appear that if the psionic field is to be blocked and the crew restored to normal, it's up to us. Emh: You will have to go to Engineering and complete Lieutenant Torres's efforts to create a resonance burst. Kes: I don't know how to do that. Emh: I will assist you from here. Kes: Do you know how to do it? Emh: I discussed the matter with Lieutenant Torres. I think I understand the basic principle behind her plan. How hard can it be? Kes: All right. Emh: Go to Engineering immediately. I'll contact you there. Kes: Tom, what happened? Paris: A plasma leak caught me in the face. Help me. Kes: Can you get to Sickbay? The Doctor is there. Paris: Come with me. Kes: I can't. I have to get to Engineering. Paris: You can't leave me like this. It hurts. Kes: Tom, you can walk. You have to get to Sickbay on your own. Paris: Kes, please. I can't. Kes: You don't want me to get to Engineering. Paris: No. Kes: I'm hallucinating. Paris: Kes, wait. Come back. Don't leave me! Come back! Emh: Finally. What took you so long? Kes: Doctor, we have to set up this resonance burst as quickly as possible. I've started hallucinating. Emh: Then see if Lieutenant Torres's last program is active. Kes: I think I have it. B'Elanna was writing a program to open a symmetrical warp field. Emh: All right. You'll have to sequence the magnetic plasma constriction to the following formula. T equals C sub-one over theta times P sub-E. Kes: Er, how do I do that? Emh: I'm not sure. Wait a minute. I'll see if I can access Starfleet's interactive database. Neelix: Sweeting! Thank goodness I found you. Are you all right? Kes: Where have you been? Neelix: In the mess hall, trying to help the poor souls there. Kes: Why didn't you answer the Doctor's hails? Neelix: I didn't hear them. The comm. system must be down. And frankly, I was a little busy. Ashmore thought I was a Kazon. Tried to kill me with a carving knife. Kes: How do I know you're really Neelix? Neelix: Who else would I be? Kes, all I want to do is protect you, to keep you safe. We have to get away from here, get to my shuttle. Kes: Doctor, have you figured out how I can enter that sequencing code? Emh: It's quite simple, really. Do you know where the command module is? Kes: Of course. Emh: Activate it and select magnetic plasma sequencing. Neelix: You're becoming annoying. Kes: I've got it. It's activated. Now it's asking me to enter the core temperature. Neelix: Move away from that console. Emh: Now, we need a temperature high enough to emit the resonance burst, but not so high as to irradiate everyone on the ship. Try three million Kelvins. Emh: Kes, look at him. Kes: It hurts! Emh: Look at him. Focus. Kes: I can't. Emh: Yes, you can. The mirror, remember? Kes: It hurts too much! Emh: Kes, look at him. Neelix: What's the matter, Kes? Can't lift your head? Kes: Focus. Neelix: Stop it! Kes: I'm all right now, Doctor, and I've entered a temperature of three million Kelvin. Emh: Then all you have to do is activate the warp field. Kes: All right. Here we go. Kes: Kes to the Captain. If you can hear me, please report to Engineering. Torres: What happened? Kes: It's a long story, but I think everything's all right now. Torres: Is that who's responsible for all this? Kes: Apparently. He looks so harmless. It's hard to believe he almost destroyed us. Bothan: You're a powerful little thing. I must say, you surprised me. Janeway: Why did you do this to us? Bothan: Because I can. Janeway: Is it just telepathy, or is there technology involved? Bothan: Does it matter? Janeway: Oh, it matters to me, because I don't intend to let you continue preying on others. Bothan: How would you propose to stop me? Janeway: We could destroy your technology. Or adjust your brain wave patterns to prevent telepathy. And then we could turn you over to the government of Mithren. We could even keep you confined in our brig behind a force field. Bothan: I'm sure you're very well-intentioned, Captain, and I'd like to be able to accommodate you but you see, I'm not really here. Captain's log, supplemental. We have no explanation for the mysterious disappearance of the telepathic alien. We can't even be certain that he was actually here. He seems to have left us with any number of unanswered questions. Torres: I'm surprised to see you here, Captain. Isn't this the day that you're usually in the holodeck with your novel? Janeway: I thought, after our recent experience, that I'd take a break from fantasy for a while. Torres: I don't blame you. I think it had quite an impact on all of us. Do you think it's true? That the alien was reading our minds, creating images from our own experiences? Janeway: It seemed that way. He had uncanny ability to bring buried thoughts out into the open. Why? Torres: Oh, it's just, I experienced something I'd rather not admit. Janeway: I know. Me too. But, in a way, maybe he did us all a favor. Maybe it's better to look those feelings in the eye than to keep them locked up inside. Torres: I guess. I'll have to think about that. I have an early watch tomorrow, so I'd better turn in. Good night, Captain. Janeway: Good night, B'Elanna. Sweet dreams. Torres: Thanks. You too.

Chakotay: Anything? Torres: Not really. The polyferranide deposits are contaminated with astaline. Tuvok: Commander, there's something over here I think you should see. Chakotay: Pack it up. We'll find better quality somewhere down the line. Torres: That line is going to be cut short when our nacelles burn themselves up if we don't find it soon. Chakotay: What have you got, Lieutenant? Tuvok: There have been other visitors to this moon recently. Neelix: What do you think this is? Some kind of message? Kolopak: I don't want you to go wandering off. Young Chakotay: I'm not. I'm just looking at something. Kolopak: Antonio. Kolopak: He says you're quite a scout, a kep-o-ne. Young Chakotay: I was just looking at a lizard when I saw it. Kolopak: Well, it was your eyes that saw it. No one else's did. That's the important thing. Come. I want you to understand this. It's a blessing to the land, an ancient healing symbol. A chamozi. They probably cut this down for firewood. Young Chakotay: The Rubber Tree People? Kolopak: Well, the closest thing to the ancient Rubber Tree People that we'll ever see. The people in this tribe are their descendants, just like we are. But they never left this jungle, and they rarely intermarry with other tribes. Young Chakotay: And they still use firewood instead of magnesite fuel like everyone else. Kolopak: Chakotay, they have chosen to live like this for centuries. That's why we are traveling on foot and not using a transporter. We honor the Sky Spirits who led our ancestors to this sacred land. Young Chakotay: Sacred land? Kolopak: Yes. Young Chakotay: Huh. The Sky Spirits must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. Chakotay: Maybe it's a blessing to the land, for damaging it with the campfire. Tuvok: What is your basis for that conclusion, Commander? Chakotay: Oh, just something somebody told me once. Emh: Describe the nature of your pain. Wildman: In the lower back. It's tight. Emh: Choose the word that would best describe your pain. Burning, throbbing, piercing, pinching, biting, stinging, shooting Wildman: Shooting. It even goes down my legs. Emh: Hmm. Wildman: Is the baby all right? Emh: Hmm? Oh, certainly. Fine. Nothing to worry about. Wildman: Well, that makes me feel better. Emh: The position of the baby is simply putting pressure on your sciatic nerve. You may return to your post. Wildman: The pain makes it difficult to sit for any period of time. It's really quite uncomfortable. Emh: Elevating your legs when you sit should provide all the relief you need. Kes: Perhaps a day of rest, off duty. Emh: Mmm. Ensign Wildman, according to your medical history, this is your first pregnancy, correct? Wildman: Yes. Emh: Well, Ensign, unfortunately, pregnancy causes its fair share of discomforts, and you'll have to learn to live with them. That's just the way it is. We'll schedule her for follow-up in two days. If the pain has not subsided on its own by then, we'll attempt to decrease the sensitivity of the nerve in that region. Wildman: Thank you, Doctor. Kes: Call me day or night if this gets any worse. Kes: Don't you have any compassion for the way she feels? Emh: Every member of this crew is an adult. I will not coddle them. Compassion can be your department. Fortunately, you have enough for both of us. Kes: You've never been sick or in pain. I just wish once in your life you could know what it's like, how it makes you feel vulnerable and a little afraid. Then you'd understand. Emh: I don't have a life. I have a program. Chakotay: I hated every minute of it. My father had dragged me all the way from our colony near the Cardassian border on this quest of his. Away from my friends, my home, and here we were in the middle of a brutal Central American jungle looking for the descendants of the ancient Rubber People. Janeway: It must have been very important to him. Chakotay: Believe me, it was. And he was very disappointed that I didn't share his enthusiasm. He'd been tracking down the origins of our tribe for years. Chakotay: The one on the right is the one I found today. Janeway: And now something you saw on that trip years ago shows up again on a moon's surface almost seventy thousand light years away. I don't suppose you have any theories that might explain this. Chakotay: I can give you an official Rubber Tree People theory if you like. Sky Spirits. Janeway: Sky Spirits? Chakotay: It's an ancient myth. Sky Spirits from above created the first Rubber People in their own image and led the way to a sacred land where the Rubber People would live for eternity. Janeway: You obviously don't put a great deal of faith in this explanation. Chakotay: How much faith do you put in Adam and Eve? Hasn't science proved that all humans developed from a single evolutionary process? Janeway: That's what I was always taught. On the other hand, none of my teachers ever spent much time in the Delta Quadrant. B'Elanna tells me we've picked up a warp signature heading away from the moon. Think we should follow it? Chakotay: I don't know that it's fair for me to put my own personal curiosity ahead of the ship's priorities. Janeway: We still haven't found the polyferranide we need to seal the warp coils. If these people have warp technology, they might be able to help us. Besides, we are in the business of exploring, aren't we? Chakotay: My father would put on his expedition hat and shout, let's go. I guess that's good enough for me. Kim: Showing no life signs. Janeway: Mister Paris, are you certain the warp signature ended here? Paris: Positive, Captain. Harry, check your sensors. That look like some kind of power source to you? Kim: That is an unusually high EM reading for a natural occurrence. Chakotay: Could be some kind of cloaking technology. Janeway: Mister Kim, transmit a continuous message on all frequencies identifying who we are, where we're from, and make it clear our intentions are peaceful. Torres: Torres to Bridge. Janeway: Go Ahead. Torres: We're in luck, Captain. Torres: My readings are showing high concentrations of polyferranide about ten kilometers below the surface. Janeway: Acknowledged. We'll send down an away team to continue the survey. Report to Transporter room three. Torres: On my way. Janeway: Commander, if we meet any resistance, abort the mission. I have no intention of disturbing an alien race that would rather be left alone. Chakotay: Understood. Janeway: On the other hand, if we can make contact, our goal is to get permission to begin excavation as soon as possible. Chakotay: Tuvok, you're with me. Mister Neelix, please report to Transporter room three for an away mission. Neelix: I'll meet you there, Commander. Torres: We may be out of luck. Chakotay: Problem? Torres: I'm not sure we can transport down. Every time we try to lock onto a transport site, a storm begins. Chakotay: Storm? Torres: We've tried seven different sites and as soon as we lock on, an electrical storm forms right above the location. When we change sites, a new storm forms and the old one dissipates. Tuvok: Might the transporter beam itself be causing an electrostatic charge in the atmosphere? Torres: That's as good a guess as any. I can't explain it. We just can't transport. Chakotay: Fine. We'll take a shuttle. Tuvok: Once again, the storm seems to have formed as a direct result of our interaction with the atmosphere. The meteorological conditions changed radically when we began our entry sequence. Torres: Shields are holding. Neelix: It takes more than a little thunderstorm to bother one of your mighty Starfleet ships, huh? Chakotay: Nothing we can't handle. Relax, Neelix. Kolopak: That's why they call it a rain forest. Young Chakotay: Why do your Sky Spirits choose a place where it rains all the time? And it's hot, and there are so many bugs. Kolopak: It's said the Sky Spirits honored the land above all else. Maybe it's because this land yields so many different kinds of life. Maybe they wanted us to become friends with everything in nature, including the bugs. Young Chakotay: Sorry, Sky Spirits, I will never make friends with bugs. Kolopak: Maybe that's why they keep biting you. You're miserable. It was a mistake to bring you. I'm sorry. Young Chakotay: I'm sorry I can't be what you want me to be. Kolopak: From the day you came out of your mother, upside down, I knew the Spirits had chosen you to be a contrary. Young Chakotay: No one chooses for me. I choose my own way. And if that makes me a contrary, I'll have to live with it. Kolopak: If you have no spirits to guide you, I fear you will lose your way. Torres: Altitude, five thousand meters. Chakotay: Decreasing speed to seven hundred twenty kph. Entering terminal approach phase. Torres: Visibility still zero. Switching to enhanced terrain scanning. Chakotay: Touchdown site scanned. Continuing descent. Kes: Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Holographic program. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Kes: I thought we changed your program so you wouldn't have to say that anymore. Emh: We did. But I became so uncomfortable trying to find new ways to break the ice, as it were, that I restored it. Let's just say it works for me. Kes: Doctor. Emh: Ah, you noticed. Kes: Are holograms supposed to sneeze? Emh: Generally, no, but I have accepted your challenge. I've programmed myself with the symptoms of a twenty nine hour Levodian flu. Thus, I will gain the experience that you suggest would be beneficial to the performance of my duties. A-choo.1 Holographic tissue paper for the holographic running nose. Don't offer them to patients. Hmm. Interesting sensation, blowing one's nose. It's my first time. Kes: I think this is very brave of you. Emh: Nothing of the sort. I intend it to be an educational experience. Kes: I'm sure you'll learn a lot. Emh: I meant for the crew. I'm tired of the whiny, cranky attitudes we see around here. I intend to serve as an example of how one's life and duties do not have to be disrupted by simple illness. Kim: Doc, I don't feel so good. Emh: Neither do I, and you don't hear me complaining. Tuvok: We are not making any progress locating the source of that unusual power reading, Commander. Chakotay: Then I guess we'll have to search for these people the old fashioned way, with our eyes and ears. Neelix: Is something bothering you, Commander? Chakotay: No. It just reminds me of another jungle that I visited once. The Central American rain forest on Earth. It's the only other place in the universe that I've ever seen this flower. Tuvok: It appears to be a rare variety of Cypripedium, of the Asiatic genus Paphiopedilum. Neelix: I never knew you had such horticultural expertise, Mister Vulcan. Tuvok: In fact, I am, or more accurately I was, a breeder of prize Vulcan orchids. Neelix: Then we have something in common. I breed orchids too. Don't they make the most exquisite salad? A touch of Baldoxic vinegar, pure heaven. Chakotay: I hereby designate the two of you the team's botanical surveyors. Collect a sample of that flower. B'Elanna? Torres: It's just what we've been looking for. Almost pure polyferranide. But there's a problem with crust reactivity. If we can't solve it before excavation, we might contaminate the entire yield. Chakotay: Have Ensign Kim run an analysis from the ship. We should be able to. Chakotay: I'll be damned. Torres: What? Chakotay: It almost looks like a hawk, doesn't it? Kolopak: Listen to him, Chakotay. What does he say to you? He says, you are home, eh? Young Chakotay: I'm leaving the tribe, Father. Kolopak: What? Young Chakotay: I got to know a lot of the Starfleet officers patrolling the Cardassian border. I asked Captain Sulu if he would sponsor me at Starfleet Academy. Kolopak: And he would do such a thing without even discussing it with me? Young Chakotay: I told him I had your approval. Kolopak: Ah. Young Chakotay: I kept him as far away from you as I could. Kolopak: I take it you've been accepted by the Academy? Well, you've never fully embraced the traditions of our tribe, I know that. And you've always been curious about other societies, and that is why I allowed you to read about them. Because I believe that ignorance is our greatest enemy. But to leave the tribe? Young Chakotay: Our tribe lives in the past. A past of fantasy and myth. Kolopak: That past is a part of you, no matter how hard you try to reject it. Young Chakotay: Other tribes have learned to accept the twenty fourth century. Why can't ours? Kolopak: It is not the place of a fifteen year old boy to question the choices of his tribe. Young Chakotay: I know. That's why I have to leave. Kolopak: You will never belong to that other life. And if you leave, you will never belong to this one. You'll be caught between worlds. Young Chakotay: I ask for your blessing, Father. Neelix: Botanical surveyor number one to Commander Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead, Neelix. Neelix: You won't believe what I've found. I think it's argh! Ow! Chakotay: Neelix, what the? Neelix: The bird! The bird! Neelix: My eye. Oh. Chakotay: Away team to Voyager. Paris: Go ahead, Commander. Chakotay: Emergency beam out. Get Neelix to Sickbay. Paris: Acknowledged. Tuvok: Commander. Emh: You're very lucky this bird didn't snatch your eye right out of the socket. We have no spare Talaxian eyeballs. Neelix: Is something the matter with him? Kes: The Doctor gave himself the Levodian flu to see what it's like. Neelix: Is he contagious? Emh: It's a holographic simulation, not an actual virus. There's no need for concern. You may sit up. Neelix: Touchy, isn't he? Kes: He isn't feeling well. Emh: I don't require any compassion, thank you very much. I have been experiencing these symptoms for nearly twenty hours, and I am in complete command of my faculties. You may both leave now. Janeway: Mister Kim believes if we bombard the crust with antithoron radiation, we can decontaminate it before excavation begins. Chakotay: Then all we need to do is locate these people and get their permission. Janeway: Any progress? Chakotay: Everything we've found here suggests the people who live in this village left recently and in a hurry. Janeway: Do you believe our arrival frightened them? Chakotay: We can't discount that. Kim: You'd think with warp technology, they would have encountered other alien life before now. Chakotay: You'd think Chakotay: With warp technology, they wouldn't be living like this. Captain. Chakotay: Have you had any unusual readings that might explain the images of a strange face I've been seeing? Janeway: Images? Chakotay: Very odd. Like the flash of a memory, but it's someone I've never met. Janeway: Nothing unusual has shown up on the ship's sensors. Chakotay: Tuvok hasn't detected any telepathic activity either. Janeway: If you want to call it a day, Commander. Chakotay: No. Chakotay: I think we'll press on for a while. If there are any other problems, I'll let you know. Chakotay out. Torres: The dwellings are constructed with an alloy polymer matrix we've never encountered before, Commander. Chakotay: They're out there. Our tricorders may not tell us so, but they're out there. Lay down your weapons. Tuvok: Commander? Chakotay: Disarm. I want them to see that we don't pose any threat to them. Tuvok: May I remind the Commander that Starfleet protocol demands that away teams remain armed and ready to defend themselves until contact is made. Chakotay: I know all about Starfleet protocol, Lieutenant. Tuvok: As we have not yet established the inhabitants' intentions, it would not be a logical course of action. Chakotay: The logical course isn't always the right course. Lay down your weapons in plain sight. Those are my orders. Tuvok: Would you at least permit me to advise the Captain to move the ship into a stronger tactical position? Chakotay: Negative. We'll show no force of any kind. Tuvok: For the record, I must take exception to these orders. Chakotay: Noted. Kolopak: They have reason to be scared. Who can blame them? Their history, our history, is filled with conquerors who brought slavery and disease and death. Young Chakotay: Maybe we should just leave them alone. Young Chakotay: Father. Kolopak: A chamozi. Kolopak: I honor the sacred land of the Sky Spirits. I have come very far to find you, my cousins. Chief: How do you know our language? Kolopak: It is the language of my ancestors. Chief: We are of the same hand. Tuvok: I have no explanation, Commander. There is no storm activity indicated. Chakotay: All right. Let's get back to the shuttle. Chakotay: Hey, wait! Tuvok: We will never make it. Torres: Where's Chakotay? Tuvok: Away team to Voyager. Emergency beam out. Torres: He was right behind us. I don't understand what could have happened to him. Janeway: Was he wearing the comm. badge the last time you saw him? Tuvok: Just before the storm, he was using it to speak with you, Captain. Janeway: Mister Paris, what are the current surface conditions near the shuttle. Paris: Surface conditions are back to normal, Captain. Winds, two knots. But I can't find any sign of their shuttle. It's not where they landed it. Janeway: And it isn't airborne? Paris: No, ma'am. Janeway: I'll lead the away team back. Mister Tuvok, Lieutenant, you're with me. Mister Paris, you have the Emh: Captain Janeway, this is the Doctor. Please turn to your Emergency Medical Holographic channel. Janeway: What is it, Doctor? Emh: Something terrible has happened. My program Janeway: Doctor, I think you're carrying this experiment of yours a little too far. Emh: One hour too far to be precise. I very specifically programmed a twenty nine hour Levodian flu, and it has now been thirty hours. Janeway: Doctor, I'm sorry but we have more pressing matters to Emh: You can't leave me like this. I need help. Emh: Now, get me somebody who can tweak the computer and make me feel better, immediately. Janeway: Very well. Mister Kim is on his way. Try to relax Janeway: Doctor. Kes: I'll see to that, Captain. Janeway: I'm going to need you with me, Kes. Prepare a medkit and bring it with you to Transporter room three. Commander Chakotay is still on the surface and may be injured. Janeway: Janeway out. Emh: Oh, I don't understand it. I ran a computer diagnostic and it said my program was fine. Kes: Just rest, Doctor. Emh: Oh. Kes: Here's a cool holographic towel for your forehead. Emh: Thank you. Thank you so much. Please, don't go yet. Kes: I have to. The Captain Emh: I feel like I'm fading. Just fading away. You don't know what that means to a hologram. Kim: What seems to be the problem? Emh: Oh. My simulated virus is leading me to a simulated death. Kes: It's nothing to worry about. I just added a couple of hours to his computer program. He'll be fine in about forty five minutes. Knowing when it would end didn't exactly make it a fair test, did it, Doctor? Emh: She is far more devious than I ever suspected. Chakotay: No shuttle. Well, at least they got out okay. Chakotay: You have nothing to fear from me. Talk to me. Let me see you. Chief: Make our cousins one with us. Young Chakotay: No, thank you. Chief: He is one of us. Chakotay: You have nothing to fear from me. Talk to me. Let me see you. Torres: I don't understand it. It's the same thing that happened the first time we tried to go down. A storm develops wherever we try to lock on. Janeway: Why would we have the ability to beam people up, but not beam them down? Tuvok: I believe we have seen enough to diskern a pattern, Captain. The logical conclusion is that someone is controlling the elements of nature to ward us off. The transporter anomaly is evidence of this conclusion. We are allowed to leave the planet, but not to approach. Janeway: If that's true, I'd be happy to respect their wishes. But unfortunately, I have a missing crewman to get back first. Janeway to Paris. Paris: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Mister Paris, we're going to land Voyager on the surface. Take us into the atmosphere. Paris: Acknowledged. Beginning entry sequence. Kim: I'm reading a electrical storms forming all around us. Paris: Adjusting flight path. Kim: The barometric pressure is continuing to fall. We're looking at monsoon conditions out there. Janeway: Mister Paris, the shuttle crew didn't report turbulence this severe during their landing. Paris: I'm doing the best I can, Captain. I'm showing gale force winds out there. Tuvok: It is conceivable that the aliens have been able to intensify their response now that they are familiar with our capabilities. Janeway: Red alert. Paris: Inertial dampers are offline. We seem to be caught in some kind of vortex. I can't maintain altitude. Kim: Captain, it's a cyclone. Paris: Altitude, twenty thousand meters and falling. I can't get us out of this thing, Captain. Janeway: Bridge to Torres. We need more power Janeway: From the engines. Torres: I've got them running twenty percent over rated maximum. Torres: Captain. Janeway: It's not enough. Kim: Could we go to low warp under these conditions? Paris: The ship might make it without inertial dampers, but we'd all just be stains on the back wall. Torres: I can try to Torres: Augment the engines with power from the auxiliary fusion reactors, but it's going to take at least twenty minutes. Janeway: How much time do we have, Mister Paris? Paris: Altitude at eighteen thousand meters and falling. At this rate, we're looking at about ten minutes. Chakotay: If you can hear me, speak to me. Chakotay: I'm sorry. I don't know the ancient language of my people. I can't understand. Chakotay: Chamozi. Chakotay: Chamozi. Paris: Altitude, six thousand meters. Computer: Warning. Approach vector is too steep. Discontinue landing sequence. Paris: Would somebody turn that off, please? Janeway: Engineering. Report. Janeway: We need that extra power, B'Elanna. Torres: Ten minutes. I just need Torres: Ten minutes. Alien: Do you understand my words now? Chakotay: Yes. Alien: Explain the face marking. Chakotay: I wear it to honor my father. He wore it to honor his ancestors. Alien: Ancestors. You are human? Chakotay: Yes. Alien: Are there others on your world with this mark? Chakotay: Yes. Not many, but some. Alien: We were taught all of them had been annihilated. We were taught your world had been ravaged by those with no respect for life or land. Chakotay: There was a time when that was true, but no longer. Alien: He claims to be a descendent of the Inheritors. Chakotay: Inheritors? Alien: The ones our ancestors chose to honor. I'm surprised you have no memory of the Inheritors. One of our gifts was the memory. If you are a descendent, you should remember. Chakotay: I'm not sure I understand. Alien: Perhaps it has been lost over time. Alien: Forty five years ago, on our fist visit to your world, we met a small group of nomadic hunters. They had no spoken language, no culture, except the use of fire and stone weapons. But they did have a respect for the land and for other living creatures that impressed us deeply. We decided to give them an inheritance, a genetic bonding so they might thrive and protect your world. On subsequent visits, we found that our genetic gift brought about a spirit of curiosity and adventure. It impelled them to migrate away from the cold climate to a new, unpeopled land. It took them almost a thousand generations to cross your planet. Hundreds of thousands of them flourished in their new land. Their civilization had a profound influence on others of your species. But then, new people came with weapons and disease. The Inheritors who survived scattered. Many sought refuge in other societies. Twelve generations ago, when we returned, we found no sign of their existence. Chakotay: My people called you the Sky Spirits. Why have you been hiding from us since we landed here? Alien: When we heard your message, who you were, observed you probing our land, we believed you were a threat. We thought you would annihilate us as you had the Inheritors. Chakotay: Our message was supposed to communicate peaceful intentions. Alien: We were taught that is the way human conquerors often introduce themselves. Chakotay: As I said, we've tried to change our ways since the last time you stopped by. Paris: Altitude, two thousand meters. Torres: Stand by, Bridge. We're initiating the transfer now. Kim: I'm showing an eight percent boost in the engines. Janeway: That's all? Torres: The fusion Torres: Reactors are nearly drained. Fighting the storm is taking every reserve we have. Paris: Altitude, one thousand meters. Kim: Impact in twenty seconds. Janeway: B'Elanna. Kim: Impact in fifteen seconds. Torres: I'm sorry, Captain. That's all we've got. Kim: Impact in ten seconds. Janeway: Report. Paris: We're free. Gaining altitude. Two thousand meters, twenty five hundred. Dampers back online. Kim: The storms have completely dissipated. There's not a cloud in the sky. Janeway: Stand down Red alert. Anybody have an explanation? Tuvok: It appears the inhabitants of this planet have decided to make contact, Captain. The cloaking device has been turned off and we are showing an alien population. I have located the shuttle. It may be possible to locate Commander Chakotay without landing. Janeway: Establish a search pattern, Mister Paris. Paris: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Begin scanning for human life signs. As soon as you find Chakotay, we'll send down an away team. Chakotay: My ship will be coming for me soon. Alien: I'm sorry we cannot permit you to extract all the materials you need. Chakotay: You were generous to offer as much as you did. Alien: You have a long journey ahead. It took us more than two generations to reach your world. Chakotay: I wish I could see my father's face right now. Alien: Does he still live? Chakotay: No. He died fighting enemies who would have taken our home colony. Our tribe moved there a few hundred years ago. Alien: So he honored the land just as his ancestors did. Chakotay: Yes. Yes, he did. We weren't on very good terms when he died. Once he was gone, I didn't know how to reconcile our differences, how to heal our old wounds. I returned to my colony and continued the fight in his name. I took the mark that he wore to honor his ancestors. I spoke to him in my vision quests, but he never answered. Until now. Alien: Chamozi. Tuvok: Commander? Chakotay: Put those away. Kolopak: Listen to him, Chakotay. Do you hear what he says to you? Chakotay: Yes, Father. I hear him. I finally hear him. Tuvok: Four to beam up, Voyager.

Caretaker: Not enough time! When he died, Voyager's best chance of getting home died with him, but he revealed one hopeful possibility. Caretaker: There is another like me. She left hundreds of years ago, but she's out there, somewhere. Tuvok: Open yourself to the impressions around you. The thoughts, the minds that are on this ship. What do you hear? Kes: Voices. So many voices. Tuvok: I believe you are sensing the thoughts of various crewmembers on board. Kes: What should I do? Tuvok: See if you can isolate one of the voices. Imagine you are listening to a symphony and focusing on a single instrument. Kes: It's working. Tuvok: Try to maintain your emotional equanimity. You should not be concerned with success or failure. Neelix: way too much now. Don't touch the sideburns. Kes: It's Neelix! I can hear Neelix's thoughts. Tuvok: That is not unexpected. You have an emotional attachment to him which may have drawn your focus. Neelix: My scalp itches. Maybe I should tell him about that shampoo of his. Kes: I think he's getting a haircut. Neelix: Oh no! He's trimmed the ear hairs. I told him the ear hairs were the perfect length! Not the ear hairs! Tuvok: If you are to succeed in honing your telepathic abilities, you must learn to control these emotional outbursts. Kes: Outburst? It was a giggle. Tuvok: Tomorrow I will teach you a Vulcan mind control technique that will help you inhibit your giggles. Kes: Thanks, Tuvok. Tuvok: You may go. Emh: You're late. Kes: Sorry. My lesson with Lieutenant Tuvok went on a little long today. Emh: Today, yesterday and the day before. You'd think a Vulcan would be more attuned to punctuality. Kes: I'll try to keep a closer eye on the time from now on. Emh: So, how was school today? Kes: Wonderful. Tuvok helped me with a sensory focus exercise. We worked on my pre-cognitive skills and I learned how to self-induce a hypergogic mental state. Emh: Sounds stimulating. Kes: He says I'm making excellent progress. Emh: I had no doubt that you would. But I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't let these mind studies interfere with your Kes: What's that? Emh: I don't know. (They walk through to another area, the Medical lab?, where the EMH opens a cupboard to reveal the Caretaker's desiccated remains are rattling in their clear container. Then it stops. A little later, Janeway has arrived with Torres and Tuvok.) Janeway: Life signs. Emh: Apparently so. But before I could analyze them, the life signs simply ceased. Torres: I'm scanning the remains on all biospectral frequencies. It's completely inert. Dead. Janeway: Well, somehow I find it hard to believe this rock suddenly came to life for several seconds. Tuvok: I concur. However, dead or alive, these are the remains of an alien entity we never fully understood. It may be prudent to place it in a level three biohazard containment field. Janeway: Agreed. But first I want to take a look at Torres: I'm picking up life signs. They're sporocystian. Janeway: The Caretaker was a sporocystian life form. Torres: But according to my readings, the life signs aren't coming from the remains. The remains are simply resonating in response to an external energy source. Some other lifeform. Emh: Where? Janeway: Let's find out. Janeway to Bridge. Mister Kim, begin scans for a sporocystian life form. Kim: Aye Captain. Stand by. I've got it, Captain. A Sporocystian energy burst approximately ten light years distant. I can't get a precise fix on it's location. Torres: The lifesigns are gone. Janeway: These remains could be responding to the Caretaker's mate. Torres: If that's true, maybe we could use them to track her down. Tuvok: And if we can find her she might have the ability to send us home. Torres: Torres to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Torres: We've placed the remains in a hexiprismatic field, Captain. The next time it responds to sporocystian energy, the field Torres: Should give us a heading to the source. Janeway: You're using the remains like a compass. Torres: Exactly. Janeway: Good work. Janeway: Keep us appraised. Janeway out. Tuvok: Captain, the Caretaker was a being of considerable power, and although his intent was not hostile, we were essentially at his mercy. I do not care to repeat that experience. Janeway: And if we are about to meet his mate, you'd like it to be on more even ground. Tuvok: Precisely. I have studied the Doctor's biochemical analysis of the Caretaker remains and I believe it is possible to create a sporocystian toxin, something which might debilitate the life form. Janeway: Sounds like a sensible precaution. Get on it. Paris: I'm picking up sporocystian energy. Chakotay: Chakotay to Engineering. We're picking up life signs. Is your compass working? Torres: Stand by. Torres: Activate the field. I can't get a bearing on the source. Try increasing the spatial resolution. Kim: Spatial resolution at maximum. Torres: The life signs are fading and I still can't get a lock on the coordinates. Kim: Boosting the signal gain. Torres: We've got it, Captain. Torres: Bearing two seven two mark one nine. Janeway: Acknowledged. Mister Paris, set a course and engage at maximum warp. Paris: Aye, Captain. Paris: Captain, we're picking up an artificial structure on long range sensors. It appears to be a space station of some kind. Janeway: Slow to impulse and put it on screen. Chakotay: That looks a lot like the Caretaker's array. Kim: The configuration is similar. So is the surface composition, but it's only about one tenth the size. Janeway: Are there any sporocystian life forms on board? Kim: No, but I am picking up over two thousand carbon based life forms. They appear to be. Wait a second. Confirming. Captain, they're Ocampa. Paris: We're approaching the station, Captain. Janeway: All stop. Hail them, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: No response. I am reading an energy surge from the station, possible weapons. Chakotay: Shields! Chakotay: Definitely weapons. Kim: Shields are holding. Tuvok: Incoming message from the array. Janeway: Let's hear it. Tanis: You're not wanted here. Janeway: We pose no threat to you. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway Tanis: You have been warned. Kes: They are Ocampa? Janeway: That's right. There appears to be an entire colony. And according to our sensors, the station is at least three hundred years old. Chakotay: Kes, is there any Ocampa history about people who left your planet, or were captured by aliens and taken away? Kes: No. The idea that there could be Ocampa anywhere but on the homeworld is something no one ever considered. I thought I was the only one. Janeway: Since you're definitely the only one on Voyager, I want you to act as an intermediary. Kes: Gladly. What should I do? Janeway: The first step is to arrange a meeting. Let's see if we can get that far. Hail the array. Tanis: This is becoming tiresome, Captain. If you force us to take further aggressive action Janeway: I have someone here who wishes to speak with you. Kes: My name is Kes. I'm an Ocampa. Tanis: This is some kind of trick. Kes: I assure you, it's not a trick. Tanis: What would an Ocampa be doing on an alien starship? Kes: It's a long story. But I'd like to know what an Ocampa is doing on an alien space station. Tanis: That is also a long story. Kes: Then I suggest we meet and tell each other our stories. May we come aboard your station? Tanis: No. But I'm willing to come to your ship. Janeway: Our readings indicated a sporocystian life form in this area. We've been looking for that life form for months. Ocampa: Why? To destroy it? Janeway: No, on the contrary. We believe it has the technology that could send us home. Tanis: Captain, are you aware of how your ship is regarded? That when Voyager appears people fear destruction. Ocampa: Your ship is known as a ship of death. Janeway: What? Tanis: You've established quite a reputation. You killed the Caretaker, declared war on the Kazon, raided planets for their resources Chakotay: None of that is true. We never attacked anyone except in self defense. Tuvok: And we did not kill the Caretaker. He died of natural causes. Janeway: Mister Tanis, please try to understand. We only want to find the entity we've been looking for. Tanis: I want to talk to you alone. Janeway: Our sensors tell us she is somewhere in this region. Can you help us help us find her? Kes: Captain, I'd like to speak to Tanis alone, if I may. Janeway: Very well. Tanis: Why should I believe any of this? Kes: These are kind people, Tanis. They saved my life at great risk to themselves when they didn't have to. They wouldn't lie to you. Tanis: I will admit these people are hardly what I expected. But more unexpected was finding you here, Kes. I had no idea any Ocampa had left the homeworld so recently. Kes: I have about a thousand questions to ask you. Tanis: I know. And I'm going to try to answer them. Is this where you spend your time? Kes: You mean in this room? No. This is where the Bridge officers usually meet. Tanis: I want to see where you live. I want to see the place that is special to you. Tanis: You did all this? Kes: I had a little help, but yes, most of it is my work. Tanis: You've done well. Bringing something so beautiful into a place so sterile. Kes: Sterile? Voyager? Tanis: Look around you, Kes. This is a cold and barren place. Kes: There are over one hundred and fifty people on board. I'd hardly call that barren. Tanis: There are people, but there's so little life here. Part of me weeps to see you in this place. You're so isolated. Corridors, bulkheads, all cutting you off from the world around you. Kes: You live on a space station. How is it any different? Tanis: Oh, I assure you, it's very different. You're very young, aren't you. Kes: Two years. Tanis: Would it surprise you to know I am fourteen years old? Kes: That's not possible! The oldest Ocampa only live to be nine. Tanis: You know so little about your own people. There's so much for you to learn about yourself, about the galaxy. Being here on this ship is holding you back. Kes: These people are helping me. I'm a member of the crew. Tanis: I suppose we were like you once. Innocent, naïve. But when Suspiria brought us here three hundred years ago, she began to teach us how we could become stronger than we ever could have on the homeworld. Kes: Suspiria. Is that your Caretaker? Tanis: We don't think of her as a Caretaker. Her species is actually called the Nacene. Kes: Then you do know her. Where is she? Tanis: Nearby. But she's so different from the entity you knew. He was only interested in maintaining the status quo. He kept our people servile and weak. Suspiria taught us to develop our psychokinetic skills that had lain dormant for so long. We have abilities far beyond anything you can imagine. Kes: Like what? Tanis: We can enhance life. And that's only the beginning, Kes. I have to return to the station. We'll talk again. Janeway: Sounds like you've established a dialogue with Tanis. It's an excellent beginning. Good work. Kes: Thank you, Captain. Janeway: Kes, is there something wrong? Kes: Not exactly. I'm just a little overwhelmed. I always believed that my people had the potential to be more than what they were, that our mental abilities could be somehow heightened. And now I've met someone who's realized that potential, and I don't know whether to be excited or frightened. Tuvok: A non-emotional response would be more useful. Janeway: But since you're not a Vulcan, I'd say a mixture of the two emotions would be appropriate. It's an exciting moment, Kes, and I'm very happy for you. But just remember, we know very little about these Ocampa. Be cautious in your dealings with Tanis. Kes: I will, but I just have a good feeling about him. Tanis: I've met with the Ocampa girl. She has potential. Suspiria: I don't care about the girl. She's yours. Bring me the ship. Neelix: This is delicious. Mister Tanis, is it true you're fourteen years old? Tanis: Yes, that's quite common with my people here. Suspiria helped us develop a technology to extend the Ocampa life span three generations ago. My father lived to be twenty years. Neelix: Would that technology work for Kes? Tanis: Possibly. Janeway: Where does Suspiria live? On another array? Tanis: Oh, nothing so corporeal as that. She exists as pure sporocystian energy. She only assumes physical form when we need to communicate with her. Chakotay: Does she occupy our space-time continuum? Tanis: I don't know. All I know is, when we need her, she comes. I'll take you to the meeting place. I'm sure all your questions will be answered then. You'll enjoy meeting her, Kes, as well as the other Ocampa here. Kes: I'd love to visit the station. Tanis: Visit? Why not stay with us? Kes: Stay? Tanis: Yes. I think you could learn a lot from us, we from you. We haven't been in contact with the Ocampa home world for hundreds of years. we'd be fascinated to hear about our distant cousins. Kes: That sounds wonderful, but Janeway: Kes, you certainly don't have to decide something this important right now. Give it some thought. Tanis: She's absolutely right. There's no rush. Kes: I appreciate that. I am curious about your mental abilities. They're so much greater than mine. Tuvok: Do not underestimate your own potential, Kes. Your mental abilities are rapidly maturing. Tanis: I might be able to help you. No offense to Mister Tuvok, but I am more familiar with the Ocampa mind. Kes: I would appreciate any insight you could give me. Tanis: Oh, good. Maybe later this evening. Tuvok: It is a highly reactive sporocystian toxin. Emh: I ran a micro-cellular analysis of the Caretaker's remains and discovered a critical enzyme in his cellular structure. Tuvok: The energy in this cylinder is formulated to break down that enzyme. It would result in temporary paralysis. Janeway: Mister Tanis says she's harmless. Tuvok: It is my hope we only have to use it as a precautionary measure. Janeway: Very well. Proceed. Tanis: In your mind, visualize your hand. Reach out with that hand and grab the tea cup. Reach out with the fingers of your mind. Grasp it. Do you have it? Kes: I can feel the handle, and the texture of the metal, but I can't move it. Tanis: Don't try to move it. Just take a drink from it. Tanis: See? You can do it. Kes: I don't understand. I didn't try to move it. Tanis: No, you just tried to drink from it. And what would you do if you wanted to take a drink? Kes: I'd reach out and pick it up. Tanis: That's right. But you wouldn't be thinking about picking it up, you'd simply do it, and that's what you just learned. Focus on the goal, not the task. When you wanted the tea, it came to you. Neelix: Ahem, excuse me. Tanis: We're not finished. I know you're tired, but I want you to try one more thing. It's cold. Wouldn't it taste better if it were hot? See past the liquid, not with your eyes, with your mind. What your eyes show you is only the surface of reality. Look deeper. There is no liquid, there is no cup. There is only a collection of molecules, atoms, moving, vibrating. Kes: I see them. They're barely moving. Tanis: That's because they're cold. How would you heat them up? Kes: With a fire. Tanis: That's right. With the fire of your mind. Kes: How do I do that? Tanis: Focus on the goal, not the task. Don't think about creating a fire, just use it. Kes: Oh, I see it now. it's so simple. Tanis: That's right. But that's enough for tonight. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the next level. Until then, goodnight. Neelix: May I say something now? Kes: Of course, Neelix. Neelix: I'm so proud of you. I knew you could do it. This is a whole new beginning for you, Kes. Kes: I know, I know. What if I did go? Neelix: Go? Kes: To the Ocampa array. If I decided to live with Tanis and the others, would you go with me? Neelix: I'd go anywhere with you. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've arrived at what Tanis calls the meeting place, the region of space where Suspiria exists. Kim: Nothing on sensors, Captain. Tanis: Captain, may I access your communications equipment? Janeway: Of course. Tanis: I've sent out a subspace carrier wave. Suspiria should respond within the next forty seven hours. I'll be in my quarters. Janeway: We'll let you know when she makes her appearance. Tanis: That won't be necessary. I'll know when she's here. Kes: Tanis has shown me the next level. The psychokinetic manipulation of matter. Tuvok: That is a large step for someone whose mental abilities are still undiskiplined. Nevertheless, I am intrigued. Kes: May I? Tuvok: Please. Kes: He showed me how to use the fire in my mind. Tuvok: Fascinating. However, I would advise caution in exploring this ability until you have mastered the Kes: I have to stop the fire. How do I stop the fire? Tuvok, Tuvok! Tell me what to do! Tuvok! Emh: Lieutenant, can you hear me? Tuvok: What happened? Emh: Your cell membranes went through hyperthermic induction. The temperature of your blood rose by thirty seven degrees in a matter of seconds. You were in shock and I resuscitated you. I'm restricting you to light duty for the next three days. Try and get some rest. Tuvok: That will not be necessary, Doctor. My Vulcan healing techniques do not require an extended period of convalescence. Emh: Vulcans make the worst patients. Fine. But if you're feeling any nausea or dizziness I'm expecting you to report to Sickbay at once. Tuvok: Of course. Kes: Tuvok, I'm so Tuvok: You are probably feeling the emotion known as remorse, possibly guilt. I advise you to look on this incident as a learning experience. Kes: It's not that easy. I almost killed you. Tuvok: That is correct. But you did not. Try to remember that. I will see you tomorrow at fifteen hundred hours, assuming you wish to continue your training. Kes: You still want to teach me? Tuvok: If this experience proves anything, it is that you need further instruction, and I would regret not continuing as your instructor. Kes: Thanks, Tuvok. Tanis: How's the Vulcan? Is he going to recover? Kes: You heard? Tanis: In a manner of speaking. I was aware of what happened. Kes: He's going to be all right, no thanks to me. Tanis, I've been thinking. I don't know if I'm ready for this. Tanis: What's wrong? Kes: If I can't control my abilities, there might be another accident. Tanis: I'm afraid it isn't going to get any easier, Kes. You're already starting to manifest abilities far beyond anything you've ever imagined. Soon you'll be so far beyond the other beings on this ship that you'll look at them as they look at pets. Kes: They're not pets. They're people, they're my friends. Tanis: And I'm sure you care for them very much. I'm sure they're wonderful people. They certainly seem that way to me but, it's time that you began to accept how different you are from them. The people on this ship, they live their lives trapped inside their primitive skulls, depending on flesh and bone to tell them what the universe is like. They don't know what it is to see beyond the physical. Touch it. This is how they know the universe. They touch the flower, their nerve impulses travel up their arm to the brain, and in their mind they sense the moisture of the petals, the texture of the leaves, the sharpness of the thorns, and think they know what it feels like. But they don't. Now touch it. Reach out with your thoughts. Feel it for the very first time. Think of nothing but the flower. It's the only object in the universe. Know it. Know it in a way only an Ocampa can. Can you see it? Kes: Yes. It's more than seeing. It's more than touching. I know this flower. Tanis: You can do more. Reach out. Feel all the life in this room. Kes: Yes, I can feel it. I know them all. They're so beautiful! Tanis: They can be more beautiful. Bring the fire! Tanis: How did it feel? Kes: They're dead. They're all dead. Amazing. Tanis: You felt life. You embraced its essence with your mind, and then you transformed it. There's nothing else like it in the universe. Kes: I killed those plants. Just like I almost killed Tuvok. But I don't want to hurt anybody. Tanis: Of course you don't. That's not the point. Help people, hurt them, give life, kill, it's all the same. Once you see beyond the physical, you see the universe as it truly is. Now you know why you can't stay with these people, why you have to come with me. Come back to the station. We'll care for you. We'll train you. Kes: Oh, I don't know. I still need some more time to think about it. Tanis: Take all the time you want. But when you meet Suspiria, I think you'll decide to join us. Kes: Why? Tanis: Because Suspiria is your future. She's part of us, and we're a part of her. All the Ocampa here are connected in a way that can't be put into words. And if you develop your abilities far enough, Suspiria will invite you to go with her to Exotia. Kes: Exotia? Tanis: A place the humanoids on this ship call a subspace layer. A place of pure thought, pure energy. A place of the mind. Think about it, Kes. When you're ready, Suspiria will embrace you. Goodnight. Torres: Torres to Bridge. Torres: The Caretaker's remains are resonating Torres: Again. It's definitely reacting to a sporocystian lifeform. And from what I can tell, that lifeform is right on top of us. Janeway: Acknowledged. Kim: Captain, there's a subspace rupture forming directly ahead. Janeway: Yellow alert. Janeway to Tanis. Will you please come to the Bridge? I believe we've made contact with Suspiria. Tanis: I know. I'm on my way. Torres: I think we should run a biospectral analysis. Some of these readings are pretty strange. And get me the sensor logs on that subspace rupture out there. Kim: Captain, I'm picking up some strange readings in Engineering. Some kind of plasmatic energy field is forming. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. We're picking up some odd plasmatic readings down there. Can you confirm? Janeway to Torres. Tuvok: Security, meet me in main Engineering. Security: Aye, sir. Tanis: It's time to go. Kes: Go? Where? Tanis: Back to the Ocampa station. Everyone's waiting for you, Kes. The connection has been made. You're part of us now. Your future has already begun. Tuvok: Tuvok to Bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: I believe the female Caretaker is here. Janeway: Commander, you have the Bridge. Tanis: Can't you feel the connection? Your people are calling to you. Listen to them. Kes: Yes, I can hear them. All of them. Tanis: And can you hear Suspiria? Janeway: Tuvok? Janeway: Who are you? Suspiria: Suspiria. Janeway: I've been looking forward to meeting you. Suspiria: Why? Janeway: Because I had the opportunity to talk to your companion before he died. Suspiria: Yes, I know. Kes: I can feel her presence. She's powerful, turbulent. She's upset. She's angry! Tanis: Kes. Kes: She wants to destroy the ship! Tanis: Kes, listen to me. There's nothing to worry about. Neelix: Am I interrupting? Janeway: He told us that you were curious and went off to explore the galaxy. We're explorers too, but your friend brought us to this quadrant against our will, and we haven't been able to find a way back. Suspiria: Is that why you killed him? Janeway: We didn't kill him. Suspiria: You destroyed the Array and you took his remains. Janeway: I assure you Suspiria: No! Suspiria: You killed him, and now I will kill you. Suspiria: Now you will know what frail, small creatures you truly are. Chakotay: What's going on? Paris: I don't know. It's like the entire molecular structure of the ship is coming apart. Chakotay: Red alert. Bridge to Janeway. Bridge to Janeway. Kim: We're losing hull integrity. Chakotay: Increase power to structural reinforcement. Paris: Aye, sir. Tanis: Forget these people. You're beyond them. Kes: No. Neelix: Leave her alone, Tanis! Tanis: Remember how you felt in the Airponics bay? You've never felt that way in your entire life, have you? Kes: Get away from me! Tanis: That was only the beginning, Kes. Neelix: I said, leave her alone! Kes: Neelix! Tanis: Leave him! Leave him, Kes. He's nothing compared to you. Nothing! You have to trust. Kes: Oh, Neelix. Tanis: Suspiria! Suspiria: So, now you kill me as you did my mate. Janeway: No. I told you we didn't kill him. Please try to understand. We don't want to hurt you. We don't want to hurt anyone. We just want to get home. Janeway: Tuvok, release the forcefield. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: Do it. Suspiria: You'd show me mercy after what I did to you? Janeway: Yes, I would. Tanis: Take me with you, please. Tuvok: It appears she has descended into subspace. Janeway: Can you track her position? Tuvok: Negative. The rupture has been sealed. She is gone, Captain. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've resumed our course back to the Alpha quadrant but the female Caretaker is still out there with the power to send us home, and I will use all my power to find her and convince her to do just that. Kes: I looked at the tea and I tried to make it boil, but nothing happened. Without Tanis's help, I just can't do it. Tuvok: Nevertheless, your psychokinetic abilities are still a part of you. They might resurface one day. Kes: To be honest, I never want to see that part of myself again. Tuvok: To which part are you referring? Kes: To the part of me which got pleasure from destroying those plants in the Airponics bay. To the part of me that was tempted to go with Tanis. I never realized I had such dark impulses. Tuvok: Without the darkness, how would we recognize the light? Do not fear your negative thoughts. They are part of you. They are a part of every living being, even Vulcans. Kes: You? Tuvok: The Vulcan heart was forged out of barbarism and violence. We learned to control it, but it is still part of us. To pretend it does not exist is to create an opportunity for it to escape. Let us begin. Open yourself to the impressions around you. The thoughts, the minds that are on this ship.

Chakotay: Whatever she wants us for, it better be good. Bridge. I had you right where I wanted you. Torres: What are you talking about? I was ahead, nineteen seven. Chakotay: I was just lulling you into a false sense of security. Torres: Sure you were. Chakotay: I'll win the next couple of points, then you'll start to tense up. Torres: I do not tense up. Chakotay: Easy, B'Elanna. It's only hoverball. Chakotay: You wanted to see us, Captain? Janeway: Yes, Commander. We've picked up an intriguing transmission. Tuvok: I have a source on the signal. Janeway: A ship? Tuvok: Negative. It appears to be a beacon of some kind. Chakotay: A beacon? Tuvok: We are being hailed by someone using a Federation signal. Torres: How could someone be transmitting a Federation signal from the Delta quadrant? Paris: Maybe Starfleet found a way to get a probe here. Maybe they're looking for us. Janeway: I'd like to believe that too, but let's not jump to conclusions. Chakotay: See if you can authenticate the signal. Tuvok: The carrier wave frequency does correspond to standard Starfleet security codes. Janeway: As of when? Tuvok: According to the encryption key, this particular code was not scheduled for implementation until stardate 48423. Kim: That's a month after we left Deep Space Nine. They must be looking for us. Janeway: Your optimism may be premature, Mister Kim. Kim: Sorry, Captain. Janeway: But it's also infectious. Mister Paris, lay in a course for the beacon. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Paris: We're approaching the beacon's coordinates, Captain. Kim: It's drifted inside an ionized hydrogen cloud. The cloud's interfering with our sensor readings. Janeway: Can you get any information from the beacon? Kim: I'm afraid not. Should I beam it aboard? Chakotay: I'd advise against bringing it on board before we've gotten a look at it, even if it is emitting a Federation signal. Janeway: Agreed. And I don't want to fly blindly into a hydrogen cloud, either. Mister Tuvok, tractor the probe into sensor range. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Targeting scanners locked. Initiating tractor beam. Janeway: Report. Tuvok: We are taking fire from inside the cloud. Janeway: Source? Tuvok: Unknown. Janeway: Battle stations. Tuvok: A Kazon raider is closing at one five eight mark nine. Janeway: Hail them, Mister Kim. Kim: They're not responding, Captain. Janeway: Warp three, Mister Paris. Get us out of here. Paris: Aye. Warp engines are offline, Captain. Janeway: Initiate evasive pattern omega three. Mister Tuvok, return fire. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Kim: Kazon ship is in pursuit. Tuvok: An opening is forming in the starboard shields, seventy two centimeters in diameter. Janeway: See if you can close it, Commander. Try rotating the shield harmonics. Tuvok: They are continuously matching their weapons frequency to our shield frequency. Janeway: How the hell can they do that? Chakotay: I don't know. Tuvok: The diameter of the opening has widened to approximately two meters. Chakotay: Set the shield harmonics to rotate continuously. Tuvok: Aye, Commander. Diameter of the opening is now approximately four meters. Chakotay: It's as if they know our access codes. Tuvok: Captain, I am picking up a smaller vessel emerging from the hydrogen cloud. It is heading directly toward the opening in our shields. Janeway: All hands, brace for impact. Computer: Warning. Hull breach on deck four, Cargo bay two. Tuvok: Structural integrity is at fifty percent and dropping. The hull is starting to buckle. Janeway: We are losing life support on deck four. Tuvok: I am trying to initiate an emergency containment field. However, the collision has caused a power failure on deck four. Kim: Rerouting power to compensate. Tuvok: Containment field activated. Computer: Warning. Intruder alert in Cargo Bay two. Janeway: Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: Tuvok to Security. Meet me outside Cargo Bay two. Security: Aye, sir. Tuvok: Drop your weapons. Paris: It's no use. We're not going anywhere with that shuttle sticking out of our side. It's totally destabilizing our warp field. Chakotay: Mister Kim, did you reroute power to Transporter room two? Kim: No, sir. Chakotay: Bridge to Tuvok. Tuvok: Tuvok here. Chakotay: There may be intruders in Transporter Room two. Tuvok: I'm on my way. Tuvok: Tuvok to Bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: The Kazon have beamed away, Captain, and they've taken one of our transporter modules with them. Janeway: Can you lock onto the module and beam it back? Tuvok: Not at the moment. As soon as the Kazon dematerialized Tuvok: We lost all transporter power. Janeway: Mister Chakotay, lock a tractor beam onto their ship. They're not leaving with that module. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Kim: The Kazon are powering their warp engines, Captain. Janeway: Make it fast, Commander. Chakotay: Engaging tractor beam. I've got them, Captain. Kim: The Kazon ship is hailing us. Janeway: Suddenly they want to talk. On screen. Culluh: Captain Janeway, First Maje Culluh of the Kazon-Nistrim. Janeway: I remember you, Culluh. That transporter module you just stole was specifically designed for our ship. You'll never be able to integrate it into your systems. Culluh: I've had some help updating our technology since we last met. Janeway: Seska. Seska: That's right, Captain. As you can see, I'm in the process of restoring my Cardassian physiology. Hello, Chakotay. Chakotay: I should have known you were involved. Seska: Yes, you should have. Just like I knew you'd try to stop us with a tractor beam. You've always been so predictable. Kim: Captain, their deflector shields are creative a feedback loop. It's neutralizing the tractor emitter. Chakotay: Attempting to compensate. Seska: Goodbye, Chakotay. Lovely to see you again. Kim: It's too late. They've gone to warp. Torres: They modified the bow to puncture our hull. Neelix: I've never seen the Kazon do anything like this before. Tuvok: Until now, the Kazon have never had an advisor with Cardassian, Maquis and Starfleet tactical experience. Kim: The question is, how do we dislodge it without losing structural integrity? With power down, our containment fields are already extremely unstable. Torres: We'll have to reroute additional power to the containment field and tow their shuttle out with one of our own. Then we can repair the breach. The shields and the warp drive will have to wait. Janeway: Warp drive isn't going to do us much good with this knife stuck in our belly. Get it out fast. We don't want the Kazon to put too much distance between us. Neelix: Forgive me, Captain, but are you sure going after the Nistrim is the wisest course of action after what they've already done to us? Janeway: Let me make something very clear. The Nistrim are in possession of Federation technology. That is an unacceptable situation. Neelix: Even though all they've stolen is a small computer component? Janeway: That small component has the potential to cause vast problems in this quadrant. You're our resident expert on the Kazon. What do you think the other sects will do when they realize the Nistrim have transporter capabilities? Neelix: They'll try to get it for themselves any way they can. You're right. It could alter the balance of power among the sects. Janeway: Exactly. And it is our duty to do everything we can, no matter how dangerous, to stop that from happening. Neelix: You can count on me, Captain. Chakotay: From the look of these sensor readings, Seska wants us to come after her. Janeway: Commander. Chakotay: I think Seska's leading us into another trap. She masterminded a precision raid that made us look like first year Academy students, but she left a warp trail for us to follow. After such a flawless performance, why would she suddenly made that kind of mistake? Janeway: You think she wants more than the transporter. Are you suggesting we don't follow her? Chakotay: No, I agree with everything you said about preventing the spread of our technology. But conventional tactics aren't going to work with Seska. We'll need to come at her with a few surprises of our own. Janeway: I'm open to suggestions. Tuvok: Perhaps Commander Chakotay could use his intimate knowledge of Seska to manipulate her in much the same way she manipulated us. Culluh: It can move people great distances in the blink of an eye, Haron. But this transporter is only the beginning. Haron: Go on, I'm listening. Culluh: There is a ship filled with new technology. Devices that can make food, water, even weapons appear out of thin air. A computer system which uses neural tissue that can react twice as fast as ours. Haron: Very interesting, Culluh, but what does all this have to do with me? Culluh: That ship is on its way here. Help us and we can divide the spoils. Torres: The module Seska stole contains a quantum resonance oscillator. So, we modify this coil scanner to detect the oscillator, then we get close enough to beam it back. Chakotay: I'm betting Seska's figured out a way to shield the module from our transporters. We might have to destroy it instead. Torres: How do we do that? Chakotay: We borrow a trick from Seska's book. Remember how we disabled the computer core on the Cardassian frigate orbiting Bajor? Torres: Seska modified an anti-proton beam to penetrate its shields and hull. Chakotay: Exactly. Torres: But if I remember correctly, the beam was only effective from an extremely close range. How do we get near enough to the Nistrim ship? Chakotay: One thing at a time. Torres: You're taking this all very personally, aren't you? Chakotay: Why shouldn't I? Torres: You're not responsible for what happened. Chakotay: Oh no? I let her join the Maquis. I took her into my confidence. I even got intimately involved with her. Torres: So you have lousy taste in women. Look, Chakotay, she fooled us all. She was my best friend. Or at least, that's what I thought. Chakotay: Well, I for one, am through being manipulated by her. Torres: Are you sure? Because she's affecting you. That's just where she wants you. Don't tense up. Chakotay: So now I'm getting advice about controlling my emotions from you. Haron: Our sects have been blood enemies for generations, and yet now you ask for my help to defeat this Voyager. Why not simply do it yourselves? I'll tell you why. Because the Nistrim are weak and the Relora are strong. Your grandfather's time has passed, Culluh. You've presided over the demise of your own sect, whittled away your strength Culluh: Enough! You may have ships and soldiers, but I have the technology. Haron: And I congratulate you on the daring and cunning of your raid. Now, why don't you give me this transporter technology, assuming it's authentic, and let the Relora do what we do best? When we have defeated the Voyager, we will not forget the Nistrim's assistance. Culluh: You think I'm a fool? I won't hand this technology over to you. Haron: Then perhaps we will have to take it. Seska: Why don't we let the Maje go back to his ship while we consider his offer. Haron: Listen to your woman, Culluh. Paris: Picking up a gap in the Nistrim's warp trail, Captain. Janeway: All stop. Let's take a look. Kim: Captain, I've got some floating debris at bearing three one nine mark four. Janeway: On screen. What is it? Kim: I'm not sure yet. Janeway: Magnify. Emh: I'm detecting a residual transporter signature. There is no doubt that this man and his unfortunate companion were beamed into space. Kes: And according to these readings, they were alive at the time, Captain. Janeway: It looks like Seska's already adapted the transporter module into the Kazon's systems and started experimenting with it. Emh: Her early trials appear to have been less than successful. Neelix: I'm not so sure these men died by accident, Captain. You see this green band he's wearing? It means he was the First Maje of the Kazon-Relora. Janeway: Relora? Neelix: Sworn enemies of the Nistrim. It's conceivable that Seska and Culluh used the transporter to execute these men. Captain's log, stardate 49208.5. I have convened a meeting of the senior staff to determine how we can get close enough to the Nistrim ship to deploy the anti-proton beam. Janeway: Where's Chakotay? Torres: He was in Engineering helping me modify the coil scanner. He said he'd be right up. Janeway: Janeway to Chakotay. Computer, locate Commander Chakotay. Computer: Commander Chakotay is not aboard the ship. Chakotay: Computer, when will we intercept the Kazon vessel? Computer: Approximately thirty minutes. Janeway: What I want to know, Mister Tuvok, is how he was able to get a shuttlecraft off this ship without either of us knowing about it. Tuvok: Apparently he was able to override the lockout command. Janeway: I guess Seska's not the only one who knows how to compromise our security systems. Tuvok: I assure you, Captain, it will not happen again. Janeway: See that it doesn't. Did Chakotay leave any clue about what he's up to? Tuvok: I have accessed his personal logs, but there is no reference to his leaving Voyager. Janeway: I guess he was in too big a hurry to leave a note. Torres: The coil scanner was right here. He must've taken it with him. Janeway: Then I guess it's pretty clear he's going after Seska. Torres: Looks like that. Janeway: You were working with him, Lieutenant. Did he say anything to you? Torres: Just that he thought he felt responsible for Seska and was determined to stop her. But I never thought he would try to do this alone. Janeway: How big a head start does he have? Tuvok: Approximately three hours. Janeway: Janeway to conn. Paris: Paris here, Captain. Janeway: Lay in a pursuit course for Commander Chakotay's shuttlecraft. Maximum impulse. Paris: Acknowledged. Janeway: And Mister Tuvok, I want a complete review of all security protocols on this ship by twenty two hundred hours. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Culluh: You said the Relora would join us. I should never have listened to you. Seska: I was wrong. I'm sorry. Culluh: Kazon sects do not help one another. Seska: Don't be so sure about that. What did you do to the two men who refused your offer? Culluh: I killed them. Seska: Yes. And by doing that, you sent a message. The Kazon-Nistrim are powerful again. First Maje Jal Culluh has technology that no other sect possesses. Join with him, or suffer the consequences. Culluh: Maybe the mistake was to approach the Relora. They're already strong. But the transporter may be enough to convince the Hobii to join me. And perhaps the Mostral. Seska: Yes. And with a few more ships, you can defeat Voyager. And when you have the rest of their technology, the other sects will have no choice but to fall into line. That's why I sent a subspace message to the Mostral, the Hobii and the Oglamar. Culluh: You did what? Seska: I told them about the transporter, asked them to help us take Voyager. Culluh: You have gone too far. Seska: I sent the messages in your name. Culluh: I am the leader of this sect. You are only a woman. Seska: I'm sorry, Culluh. Culluh: You'll address me as Maje. Seska: Yes. Maje. Please, forgive me. Culluh: So, how did the other sects respond to my request? Seska: They're on their way to join us. Culluh: I could do what no one has done since Jal Sankur united the sects to overthrow the Trabe. Seska: Yes, Maje. Culluh: I could have hundreds of ships and thousands of soldiers under my command. Seska: Yes, Maje. Culluh: I could be the most powerful Kazon in the quadrant. Seska: Yes, Maje. Janeway: Come in. Torres: Do you have a minute, Captain? It's about Chakotay. Janeway: That's not exactly my favorite subject right now, Lieutenant. Torres: Well, I thought that maybe I could explain Janeway: Explain what? Why my First Officer publicly defied my authority by commandeering a shuttle without permission? Torres: I know it was never his intention to defy you. He respects your authority. Janeway: But? Torres: But he's a very proud man. And he's been embarrassed by Seska. Janeway: What Seska did, she did to all of us. Frankly, I find it more than a little self-indulgent of Chakotay to assume this is all about him. Torres: He never said it to me directly but, I think he was in love with her. And then he found out that everything he knew about her was a lie. You said that he publicly defied your authority. Can you imagine what it must have been like for someone as private as Chakotay to be publicly humiliated by someone he loved? And then, as if that weren't enough, she came back to taunt him in front of the entire Bridge crew. Janeway: I'm sure it was very painful for him. But what you're saying is, he's got a personal score to settle. Torres: That's only part of it. I know Chakotay. This is his way of taking responsibility. In his mind, he's trying to protect the rest of us from a dangerous situation which he created. Janeway: Maybe. But that doesn't give him the privilege of ignoring this ship's chain of command. Torres: I know that. It's just that Chakotay would never tell you any of this himself. Janeway: And, assuming we get him back in one piece, you want to make sure I take his personal feelings into account before I decide how to diskipline him. Torres: I know that you're well within your rights to throw him into the brig, but, well Janeway: Chakotay is lucky to have such a good friend. I'll tell you what. Why don't we deal with getting him back in one piece first? We can worry about the diskipline later. Torres: Thank you. Chakotay: Computer, when will we enter the Kazon vessel scanner range? Computer: Approximately six minutes. Chakotay: Reduce power to maneuvering thrusters, and life support to five percent. Cut all power to other systems. Seska: The Mostral should be here in less than twenty hours. The Hobii in fifteen. Culluh: Come look at this. Intermittent EM readings? Seska: I don't think so. Chakotay: Computer, initiate continuous scans for the transporter oscillator. Computer: Initiating scans. Seska: Those aren't normal fluctuations. They're energy spikes from maneuvering thrusters. Probably a shuttle running shadow maneuvers. He knows our scanners can't pinpoint energy readings that low. Culluh: Who? Seska: Maybe we can resonate a coherent polaron pulse off his hull. Get a lock on him that way. Initiate a continuous stream of pulses from the lateral deflectors. Kazon Crewman: Maje? Chakotay: Come on, Seska. Where did you hide that module? Seska: There you are. Open a channel. Culluh: To whom? Seska: Just transmit on wideband subspace. He'll hear me. Chakotay: Come on, find it! Seska: Hello Chakotay. Very clever maneuvering, but I'm not about to let you ruin all my hard work. Seska: Deploy a spread of photonic charges centerd on coordinates one two four by two one seven. Twenty percent nominal yield. Culluh: That won't be enough. Seska: We want that shuttle intact. Chakotay: Gotcha! Computer, power the anti-proton generator. Computer: Generator ready. Chakotay: Target a concentrated beam to these coordinates. Computer: Beam targeted. Chakotay: Initiate. Computer: The generator is offline. Chakotay: Great. Computer, launch the automated message beacon. Computer: Beacon launched. Chakotay: Now take the inertial dampers offline. Seska: He's lost control of the shuttle. We have him. Culluh: Lock the towing emitter onto his vessel and bring him into the main hangar. Culluh: Culluh calling Seska. Seska: This is Seska. Culluh: He's not here. Seska: He must've transported aboard. Find him! Chakotay: I'm right here. Chakotay: Activate the message beacon. Lovely to see you again. Tuvok: Captain, I'm detecting a Federation beacon at bearing zero five seven mark seven two. Kim: This one's definitely ours, Starfleet issue. Janeway: All stop. Tuvok: The beacon is transmitting an automated message. It is from Commander Chakotay. Janeway: On screen. Chakotay: To Voyager. If this signal has been activated, it means that I have destroyed the Nistrim's transporter capabilities. Captain, I apologize for acting without authorisation, but I ask you not to put the ship or crew in further jeopardy by attempting to rescue me. It's unlikely that I'm still alive. Chakotay to Voyager. If this signal has been activated Seska: You can go. Chakotay: I see the Nistrim take orders from you now. Seska: Let's just say I'm in a position of some influence. Which is fortunate for you. Culluh wanted to execute you immediately, but I convinced him that you'd be a valuable prisoner, and that I should be the one to interrogate you. Chakotay: Lucky me. Seska: Would you like a drink? The Kazon word for this is enemy's blood. It's not exactly fine cognac, but I've developed a taste for it. Try some. Chakotay: No, thanks. Seska: You know, I've got to hand it to you. I thought all these months answering to Janeway would have made you soft, but all you needed was a little slap in the face to get that Maquis heart of yours beating again. Here's to old times. Chakotay: I have no interest in reminiscing with you. I destroyed the transporter module. The game's over. Seska: What do I need with a single transporter module when I've got your shuttle and all its technology sitting in our hangar? Chakotay: I think you'll find that technology useless. I wiped the computer core before I transported. Seska: I should have anticipated that. Chakotay: So if you're going to have me killed, just do it. Seska: You're still the noble one, aren't you? Ready to die for your shipmates. You know, Chakotay, I may not have the transporter anymore, but I've got something better. You. Maybe that's all I really wanted. I've missed you. Chakotay: You can't possibly believe that you and I could still Seska: Don't flatter yourself. It was never that good. You might have been an interesting diversion now and then, but I've always been less interested in you than in the information you could provide me with. First you gave me your Maquis secrets, and now I want Voyager's command codes. Chakotay: If you think I'm going to give you those codes, you don't know me as well as you think you do. Seska: Maybe not. But for old time's sake, I'll let you in on a little secret. There are half a dozen ships from other Kazon sects on the way here right now. They're joining us to help take Voyager. Chakotay: Why are you telling me this? Seska: I'm not a monster. I still care about Torres and some of the others. I don't want to see anybody get hurt. I never did. Chakotay: I'm touched. Seska: These Kazon aren't as reasonable as you and I. I'm going to have to use all of my influence to make sure they don't kill you all. But you've got to give me something to work with. Chakotay: Voyager's not coming. I left them explicit instructions not to follow me, so you can stop worrying about people getting hurt. Seska: They'll come. They'd never leave their First Officer in the hands of the Kazon. You may not give me the command codes, but when Culluh gets through with you, you'll wish you had. Tuvok: The message appears to be authentic, Captain. Torres: We've got to go get him. Tuvok: Commander Chakotay has expressly requested that we not attempt to do so. Torres: We don't have to honor that request. Captain? Tuvok: If a rescue attempt forces us to engage the Kazon, there is always a possibility that more of our technology will fall into their hands. Kim: Kim to the Captain. I'm picking up several vessels converging on the Nistrim's location. Janeway: My gut tells me we should go after Chakotay. But my better judgment tells me we should honor his request. Torres: I would never want you to ignore your judgment, Captain, but let me ask you this. In your judgment, how would the loss of our First Officer affect this crew? What would it do to the morale on this ship? Maybe this is an instance when your gut is giving you better advice. Janeway: Janeway to conn. Paris: Paris here. Janeway: Resume a course for Chakotay's shuttle. Paris: Aye, Captain. Culluh: I'm losing patience, Federation. Seska: Just tell him what he needs to know. Chakotay: She's quite a woman, isn't she? Does she rub your shoulders and tell you you're the most exciting man she's ever known? That's what she used to do for me. What's a matter? Didn't she tell you about us? Culluh: Stop playing games and give me the command codes. Chakotay: Flattery, devotion, sex. I always thought she had a lot to offer a man. Culluh: You talk too much, Federation, but you're not telling me what I need to know. Chakotay: You're wrong, Culluh. I'm telling you exactly what you need to know. She's using you. Culluh: I'm the one who's using her. Chakotay: You've done an even better job on him than you did on me. Culluh: You talk to me, not to her. Chakotay: Then what's she doing here? Watching you work? She used to like to watch me work, too. Culluh: I don't believe a word you're saying, so you can stop trying to distract me now and start answering questions. Chakotay: You know one thing I especially liked? The little mole on her stomach. I guess you've seen it. Culluh: I'm through wasting my strength on you. Culluh: Now, give me the command codes. Chakotay: I'll give you something better. Culluh: What? Chakotay: First hand information. Culluh: Go ahead. Chakotay: When Seska's through with you, she's going to kill you. Seska: He's delirious. He doesn't know what he's saying. Give him some time. Culluh: I'll be back in one hour. For his sake, he better be more cooperative. Seska: Very clever ploy, Chakotay. But you know I'm not a killer. If I were, you'd have been dead a long time ago. Tuvok: I have located the Nistrim vessel on long-range sensors. Distance, point four light years. However, they are not alone. There are now at least six other Kazon ships in the immediate vicinity. Janeway: I didn't think Culluh had that many ships. Neelix: They must belong to enemy sects. Tuvok: That may be so, but the ships have not powered their weapons systems. Janeway: What do you make of it, Neelix? Neelix: It's certainly unusual for rival Kazon sects to congregate peacefully. Janeway: Is it possible the Nistrim have formed an alliance with other sects? Neelix: I've never known the Kazon to do anything like that before. Tuvok: If the Nistrim have added six ships to their force, it would be tactically unwise to engage them. Janeway: Then we'll just have to find a way of getting Chakotay out of there without picking a fight. Torres: We can transport him out. Tuvok: We would have to slow down once within transporter range, giving the Kazon ample time to open fire. Torres: Not necessarily. We could beam him out at warp speed without even slowing down. The Kazon would never be able to catch us. Kim: That's difficult enough when both ships are traveling at warp. The Kazon ship's not even moving. Torres: I can compensate for that. Janeway: How? Torres: By synchronizing the transporter's annular confinement beam to the warp core frequency. Kim: Maybe, but at a relative speed of two billion kilometers per second, it's pretty tough to get a lock on somebody. Tuvok: Ensign Kim is correct. We would risk scrambling his transporter signal and killing him. It would be a direct violation of Starfleet's safety protocols. Torres: Do you have a better idea? Trust me, Captain. I can do it. Janeway: How can you be so sure? Torres: Because I've done it before. When you're a Maquis, you don't always have the luxury of following protocols. Culluh: Ah, Jal Surat of the Mostral. May I present Jal Loran of the Hobii, and Jal Valek of the Oglamar. Surat: We've met before, in battle. Culluh: Please, Jal Surat, sit down. Today is the day Kazon children will remember for generations. Today is the day we put aside our differences and join forces to defeat Voyager. Today is the day that marks the end of the supremacy of the Relora and the Ogla, because after today, we will have the Federation technology. And the other sects will run when they see us. Surat: That's a fine speech, Culluh, but what makes you think Voyager won't use this technology to defeat us? Culluh: Because I have Voyager's command codes. Surat: I have heard what you did to the Relora Maje and his companion. Very impressive. But before I make an enemy of these Federations, I want proof that you have their command codes. Culluh: May I present Commander Chakotay, Voyager's First Officer. Paris: Sixty seconds to transporter range, Captain. Janeway: Bridge to Torres. Have you located Chakotay? Torres: I'm reading Kazon life signs but still no Chakotay. Tuvok: Captain, I must remind you that we have no direct evidence the Commander is still alive or if he is, that he is still aboard that ship. Janeway: I'm not conceding that yet. Can you give me anything, B'Elanna? Torres: I'm picking up some kind of localized dampening field. It's blocking our targeting scanners. Janeway: Maybe Seska's found a way to hide Chakotay from us. Torres: You may be right. I've got reinitialize the targeting scanners to much the relative phase of the dampening field. I've found him, Captain. Torres: He's still alive. Janeway: Can you get him out of there? Torres: The dampening field is disrupting Torres: Our transporter signal. I can't get a lock on him. Janeway: Red alert. Mister Paris, take us out of warp. Seska: It's Voyager. Surat: Well, Culluh, what are you waiting for? Use the command codes to disable them. Culluh: Bridge, this is First Maje Culluh. Lock weapons onto the Federation ship and fire. Janeway: Mister Paris, evasive pattern Delta four. Mister Tuvok, return fire. Tuvok: Firing phasers. Janeway: Bridge to Torres. Can you transport Chakotay? Torres: I'm matching the pattern buffer frequency to the Kazon dampening field. Janeway: Make it fast. Torres: I've got a lock. Initiating transport. Janeway: Do you have him, B'Elanna? Torres: I had him for a second, but they've remodulated the dampening field. Janeway: Can you compensate? Torres: I'm trying, but I need more time. Janeway: We'll try to hold them off, but we don't have long. Mister Tuvok, phasers to maximum. Let's give them a little distraction. Surat: Why are you allowing them to continue firing? Culluh: It's taking longer than I thought to interface with their systems. You must order your ships to provide cover. Surat: I hope you know what you're doing. Tuvok: The other Kazon vessels have opened fire. Janeway: Mister Paris, evasive pattern omega two. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Bridge to Torres. You're going to have to hurry it up down there. Janeway: We can't hold them off much longer. Torres: I'm doing the best I can. Surat: We're losing patience, Culluh. Culluh: Where are you going? Seska: To the bridge. I might have better luck interfacing with Voyager's systems from there. Culluh: I'll go with you. Surat: You'll stay right here. Tuvok: Aft shields down to twenty three percent, Captain. Janeway: Bridge to Torres. Can you transport Chakotay out or not? Torres: They've put the dampening field on some kind of randomly fluctuating modulation. It'll take me at least an hour to match the phase variances. Tuvok: Shields to sixteen percent. Captain, we must retreat. Janeway: Lieutenant, just how localized is that dampening field? Torres: A little more than Torres: Two meters in diameter. Just enough to isolate Chakotay. Why? Janeway: I think I've got an idea. Surat: I don't think you ever had those command codes. I think you're a liar! Culluh: What does it matter? If we work together, we don't need the command codes to beat them. Surat: You're right. We can beat them. But we're going to do it without you. We're taking your ship. Tuvok: Please stay where you are. You will find that our transporters have rendered your weapons useless. Surat: I will make you very sorry for this, Culluh. Tuvok: Here are the terms, gentlemen. The safe return of our First Officer and shuttlecraft in exchange for your freedom. I presume you will find that an acceptable arrangement. Captain's log, stardate 49211.5. Now that Commander Chakotay has made a full recovery, I'm faced with the difficult task of responding to his failure to follow procedure. Janeway: Just tell me one thing. What were you thinking? Chakotay: About keeping our technology out of Kazon hands. I thought if I did it on my own, I could keep the rest of the crew out of danger. Janeway: That may be a very noble sentiment, but it wasn't your decision to make. Oh, Chakotay. We've spent the last ten months together on this ship. I thought we had an understanding. Why did you choose to ignore procedure? Chakotay: Seska was my problem, a problem I felt it was my duty to solve. Janeway: So you had a personal score to settle. Chakotay: I thought I was doing the right thing. Janeway: Really? Tell me this. How do you expect me to keep order when the First Officer takes it upon himself to run off like some cowboy because he decides it's a good idea? What you did was commendable. The way you did it was not. You set a terrible example. And on a personal level, you've made my job more difficult. Chakotay: If that's so, I regret it. Janeway: I'm putting you on report, in case that means anything anymore. Chakotay: It means something to me, Captain. It means I've let you down, and for that I'm truly sorry. Tuvok: Bridge to Ready room. Janeway: Go ahead, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: I think you and Commander Chakotay should come in here. Janeway: On our way. Tuvok: I have located an automated message beacon, Captain. Janeway: Another one? Tuvok: It is a message to Commander Chakotay from Seska. Janeway: Would you like Mister Kim to put it through to your office? Chakotay: No. I think I've spent enough time alone with Seska. Janeway: Very well. Put it on screen. Seska: Hello, Chakotay. Congratulations on your victory. I look forward to our next meeting. Oh, and there's something you should know. While you were unconscious, I took the liberty of extracting a sample of your DNA. I impregnated myself with it. So, I guess more congratulations are in order. You're going to be a father.

Janeway: We need this completely filled. We don't have time to haggle over price. Neelix: Understood. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: Janeway to Voy Guard: Get up. Caylem: Get away from her! Kim: Commander, any word on that tellerium? Chakotay: Not yet. How bad is it? Kim: The anti-matter reaction rate is down to twelve percent. If it drops below nine, the plasma injectors will lock up and we'll never be able to re-initialize the nacelles. Chakotay: Options? Kim: If we're going to reduce our power demands even further, we're going to have to drop the shields. Chakotay: I don't want to leave the ship defenseless this close to a hostile planet. Kim: All other systems are already offline. Life support is at minimal. You asked for options? That's our last one. Chakotay: All right, power down the shields. Kim: That helped. It's only a matter of time. There's nothing more we can do without the tellerium. Neelix: Neelix to Voyager. Chakotay: Yes, Neelix. Neelix: The rest of the away team is gone, Commander. They've been taken by the Mokra. What do you want me to do? Chakotay: Did you get the tellerium? Neelix: Yes, I have it. Chakotay: Then we need you here. Prepare to beam directly to Engineering. Kim: Re-routing emergency power to Transporter room two and energizing. Chakotay: Chakotay to away team. Captain, can you hear me? Kim: Unlock the control conduit. Chakotay: Tuvok, Torres, please respond. Kim: Keep an eye on the flow rate. Crewman: Yes, sir. Rate's holding steady. Kim: Reaction rate has stabilized at thirteen percent. Up to fifteen, eighteen. Neelix: It worked then. We're all right. Kim: Maybe. Once the rate is up to normal, we'll try getting the warp drive back online. Then we'll see if there was any damage. Chakotay: Begin rerouting power back to all key systems. What happened down there? Neelix: I don't know exactly. I went in the shop, completed the trade, then I heard weapons fire on the street. By the time I got out there the Captain and the others were gone. Chakotay: Are you sure it was the Mokra? Neelix: I spoke to witnesses on the street. They said it was quite a fight. Chakotay: Any idea how the Mokra knew you were down there? Neelix: Someone must have told them we were coming. The Mokra have informants everywhere. Chakotay: Could your contact be one of them? Neelix: I don't think I would have made it back here with the tellerium if he had been. Besides, he's involved with the Alsaurian resistance movement. He would never help the Mokra. Chakotay: They've probably got the resistance movement under surveillance. Kim: Commander, I think we're ready to give the engines a try. I'm opening the plasma injectors. Warp engines are back online. All systems normal. Chakotay: Good work, Mister Kim. Mister Neelix, you're with me. I think it's time we contacted the Mokra. Chakotay: Mister Paris, set a new course. Bring us out from behind the moon and establish a standard orbit around the planet. Slowly. We don't want to look aggressive. Paris: Yes, sir. Chakotay: What kind of response can we expect when they see us? Neelix: The Mokra are paranoid and hostile. They have no use for diplomacy. I wouldn't be surprised if they started shooting at us immediately. Paris: We'll be in full view of the planet in a few seconds. Orbital sensor net has picked us up. They're scanning the ship. We're being hailed. Chakotay: On screen. Augris: I am third magistrate Augris of the Mokra Order. Chakotay: Commander Chakotay of the Federation starship Voyager. Augris: May I assume you're seeking permission to conduct business with us? Chakotay: No. Some of my crewmembers have already been to the surface. We've lost contact with them. Augris: I see. You must have been unaware of our regulations. I'll transfer a complete copy for future reference. Chakotay: I have reason to believe they're being detained. Augris: Detained? That's possible. I'll look into it for you. I'll contact you shortly. Chakotay: Thank you. Neelix: He's not like any Mokra I've ever met. I can't believe he'll really help us. Chakotay: If there's any chance for a diplomatic solution, we have to pursue it. In the meantime, I want continuous scans of the surface. Standard search pattern. Tuvok: I advise caution. Torres: There's a control circuit there. I can see it. If only we knew that Neelix made it back to the ship with the tellerium, then at least this would be worth it. Tuvok: I regret I have no such reassurance to offer you. Torres: We don't even know what happened to the Captain. She might have been killed out there on the street. Tuvok: That is possible. It is also possible that she is safely returned to Voyager. We have insufficient evidence to dismiss either conclusion. Torres: I guess that's the Vulcan way of telling me to hope for the best. Caylem: Look who's awake. Just rest. You must be thirsty. Maybe hungry for a little something? What shall I make? What can I make? What? What? Janeway: Where am I? Caylem: Oh, it hasn't been that long. I wish I had some. This will do. Drink. Janeway: Thank you. Caylem: I'll fix you some soup. Now, just lie down. Janeway: You're very kind but I have Caylem: You're safe now. Janeway: I really can't Caylem: Shush. Don't worry. Everything's all right now. My little girl is home. Janeway: I'm very grateful for everything you've done for me. Caylem: But you know there's nothing I wouldn't do for my sweet Ralkana. Janeway: My name is Kathryn Janeway. Caylem: Kathryn? That's an unusual name. Very pretty. I like it. Janeway: I am a starship Captain. It is very important that I contact my ship. Caylem: Wonderful. Captain Kathryn of a glorious starship. Then what happens? Go on, I'm listening. I love your stories. Janeway: It's not a story, it's a request. May I use your communications equipment? Caylem: Communications. Oh, we're not supposed to have any of that. The Mokra don't allow it. Janeway: They can't have control of everything. Surely there's someone who has an illegal transmitter. Caylem: I know what you'd like. Some talsa root soup. Janeway: Can you at least tell me what happened to the other people I was with on the street. Caylem: You really should be more careful out there. Those Mokra will pick a fight for no reason. I don't want you getting hurt again. But I saw the way you handled that ugly one. I couldn't have done any better. I was so proud of you, Ralkana. Janeway: My two friends. Did the Mokra take them? Caylem: I'm afraid so. Janeway: Where would they have been taken. A detention center? Caylem: The prison. Janeway: All right. How do I get there? Caylem: The soup. I'm forgetting the soup. Janeway: I appreciate your hospitality, but I can't stay here. I've got to get to that prison. Caylem: You're right. The time has come. Now that we're together again, we can't wait another day. My beautiful and brave girl. The Mokra won't stand a chance against us. Janeway: You're very kind to offer, but I didn't mean we'd be going together. Caylem: You must eat and rest to get your strength back. We'll leave soon enough. We don't want to keep her waiting any longer than we have to. Janeway: Keep who waiting? Caylem: She must miss you so terribly. It's hard to bear thinking of her alone in that dark cell. It's been difficult for all of us. Don't worry, we'll get her out. You'll see your mother again. Augris: Our world has come under attack before. You can understand our concern at finding strangers who arrive secretly from a hidden ship. Chakotay: I assure you we have no hostile intentions. Augris: I believe you, but some of my colleagues are cautious about dealing with disreputable ships. Neelix: What does that mean? Augris: It seems you've been making more enemies than friends since you arrived from the Alpha quadrant, is it? Some think even that story is a lie. Chakotay: But not you. Augris: Of course not. I'm here to help. Chakotay: Then I'd like to talk to my crewmembers. Augris: I'm afraid that will be difficult in the current climate of mistrust. Perhaps if you could tell us more about what brought you here, who you've been dealing with. Chakotay: I'll consider that, after I talk to my crewmembers. Augris: You're not making it very easy for me to help you. Let me see what I can arrange. It may take some time. Commander. Chakotay: Talk to your contacts again. I want an alternative to sitting here waiting for him to get back to us. Tuvok: Your question is based on a faulty assumption. I cannot answer it. Augris: You can't deny being in contact with the Resistance. Tuvok: I deny that we are intending to supply them with weapons. Augris: These lies are useless. We know that you are helping the subversives. I want names. Tuvok: I have none to give you. Torres: We told you already. We don't know anything about the Resistance. Augris: I've heard that many times, from many people. Take him. Tuvok: Lieutenant, stop! That will not help either of us. Augris: He's right. Janeway: I see soldiers out there. What's happening? Caylem: They're everywhere, searching the whole area. Janeway: I don't want to cause trouble for you. I'll go as soon as it's dark. Caylem: You've always been a troublemaker, ever since you could walk. I've never seen such a wilful child, but that's what I love most about you. Your spirit. Now, don't worry. When they come through here, we'll be gone already. Your mother will want some of her things. Ah, a pretty dress to wear. Janeway: They're only looking for me. You don't have to get any more involved that you already are. Caylem: Why, if my precious girl is involved, then I am involved too. Caylem: Do you remember this? She always used to wear it on special occasions. I think today would count as one. You know what I think she would like even more is to see you wear it. Janeway: I couldn't possibly take it. Caylem: Be careful. This won't heal if you move around too much. Janeway: If you want to help, tell me about that prison. What kind of security do they have? Are there forcefields, detection grids, physical barriers? Caylem: Yes. All of it. Janeway: What about guards? Caylem: Lots of guards. The Mokra make a big show of it, always bragging about how no one has ever escaped. Janeway: Listen to me. I can't bring you to the prison with me. It's too dangerous. Caylem: I'm not afraid. Janeway: And that could get both of us killed. You have to stay here. Caylem: If I stay here I can't bring the letters. Janeway: Letters? To the prison? Caylem: Letters. Don't you remember how we used to write to her together? Here they are. I still write them every week since she's been gone. I've always known that one day I'd be able to give them to her. I've never forgotten. Janeway: These are all to your wife? How long has it been? Caylem: My last letter. My last letter's not, it's not here. Oh. I wrote it three days ago, but it's not. I can't let her think I've stopped writing, that I gave up hope only days before. I'll write it again. My hand, my hand shakes sometimes. You write it so it looks nice. Janeway: I'm very sorry. I have to go before the soldiers come. Caylem: The last one. The last one was about. My memory isn't very good. Oh, I remember. I went walking in the morning. It was very cold. Tell her I wore my sweater. She worries about that sort of thing, and, and I what? And I saw that they had torn down that old building where you and the other children used to play. And tell her it rained for two and a half days. I don't know if she can see the sky where they're keeping her. And there was more. There was something about a friend. I, why can't I remember? I wanted to tell her! Janeway: It's all right. She'll understand. Caylem: Yes. Yes, you're right. She will. Please let me come with you. Janeway: I'm sorry, that's not possible. Guard: Check this one here. Janeway: Is there another way out? Caylem: There. Guard: Open up there! Open the door, open the door now! Break it down! Caylem: This is a waste of time. We don't need him anyway. Janeway: I need him. If he's a member of the Resistance he may be able to help me contact my ship. Caylem: Monster! Caylem: He's the one. He took your mother. We have to Janeway: They want a fight. Don't give them one. Man: I've done nothing. I've done nothing. Please. Please. Augris: You look like a helpful citizen, so tell me. You might have seen some strangers who were in the market place earlier today? Man: No, sir. No, sir, I've seen no one. Please. Augris: You! I'm looking for someone. A woman. Darod: I haven't seen any woman. Augris: There are two right over here. You see them, don't you? Darod: Yes. Augris: Maybe we should discuss this elsewhere. Janeway: Caylem! Caylem: Good morning! I seem to have lost my hat. It's about this big. Caylem: Have you seen my hat? Augris: Run along, old man. Caylem: Without my hat? Augris: There you go. Caylem: It's all right now. They've gone. Neelix: The prison is in the north east corner of the city. My sources tell me it's surrounded by metaphasic shields. Chakotay: Can you find a way to beam through them? The Mokra aren't familiar with transporter technology. Kim: There is a periodic fluctuation in the shield's energy pattern. I'm working on a way to take advantage of it. Neelix: There's only one problem with that. If the Mokra detect us breaking through their shields, we'll be surrounded by soldiers in seconds. Paris: If we could beam in close enough to where the away team is being held, we might be able to get in and out of there before the Mokra had a chance to react. Kim: We can't locate the away team from here. The detention level is subterranean and the rock is too dense for our sensors to penetrate. You'll have to look for them after you beam into the prison. Chakotay: Too dangerous. We can't risk beaming in. We have to find another way that the Mokra won't detect. Sounds like a challenge for you, Mister Kim. Darod: You'd be welcome to use our transmitter if we still had one. The Mokra confiscated it this morning. Janeway: Then I'll have to find my crew members myself. I know two of them were arrested. What about Neelix? Darod: He stayed inside with me then got transported up to your ship. Janeway: Good. What can you tell me about the prison. Caylem: I know about the prison. Janeway: We need all the information we can get. I have to reach my crew. Darod: Don't you think there are people in there I'd like to get out? Any sane person would tell you it's impossible. Caylem: Spoken like a coward. Darod: I've heard about you, old man. You're the coward. Janeway: Enough. Darod: What are you doing with this lunatic? Has he been telling you stories of his brave deeds? They're just fantasies. Taking him along on this rescue mission of yours is just suicide. Janeway: He's already saved me from the Mokra once, and he saved you from those soldiers today. Darod: All right, stay with him. Go up to the prison. Get yourself killed. Janeway: I won't get killed if you tell me what you know. Darod: There are access tunnels on the north side. They'll get you in a little closer, but they're guarded. Janeway: I'll need weapons. Darod: They're not free. Janeway: I don't have anything to trade. Darod: That's worth some weapons. Janeway: I can't. Caylem: Yes, you can. If it'll help to bring her back to us. Janeway: Thank you. Darod: I can have someone meet you on the street in three hours to make the trade. He'll be wearing a blue vest. Watch for him. Janeway: We will. Thank you. Darod: I'd wish you luck, but what you'll need is a miracle. Janeway: He's more than three hours late. We have to consider the possibility that he's been arrested. Caylem: You mustn't believe what he told you about me. Janeway: I don't believe it. You're not a coward. Caylem: I had to keep my little girl safe. It was just too dangerous to get involved. Can you understand? Your mother wouldn't listen. She wanted to fight. She was always so passionate about what she believed in. She didn't care about the risk. Janeway: You were proud of her. Caylem: I didn't want to loose her. I didn't want you to grow up without a mother. I tried so hard to change her mind, and finally she changed mine. She convinced me to go with her. I said I would meet her by the river. She was leading a raid against a Mokra supply center. I said I would meet her, but I didn't. I couldn't. I was too afraid. She was still waiting for me when they arrested her. I could never tell you about this. I knew you would hate me. I couldn't bear that. Please, Ralkana, if you can ever forgive me. Man: All right, I'll be right there. Caylem: What is it? Janeway: A blue vest. Caylem: Then it's time to go. Caylem: What happened? Janeway: He was wearing military boots, like the Mokra. It was a trap. Caylem: A trap. And you saw it, my clever girl. We'll be all right. We have each other. That's we'll need. Janeway: It's not that simple. We can't just walk into the prison without weapons. Janeway: Maybe we'll have to try a different strategy. Augris: We don't have to ask your friend any more questions, if you give us the answers. Torres: I told you I don't. Torres: I'm sorry. I guess I always assumed that Vulcans didn't feel pain like the rest of us. That you were able to block it out somehow. Until I heard. Was that you I heard? Tuvok: Vulcans are capable of suppressing certain levels of physical pain. Beyond that we must simply endure the experience. Torres: How can you say that so calmly? You must feel some anger at what they did to you, some desire to fight back. Tuvok: Under the circumstances, physical resistance is ineffective. We are fighting back by refusing to give them any information. Guard: Get down there. Guard: Three more hours. There's nothing going on around here. Wake me if the Lieutenant shows up, will you? Guard: You girls aren't supposed to come down here any more. Janeway: Do you want me to leave? Guard: I didn't say that. Janeway: Then I won't. Guard: If my Lieutenant saw you here I'd be in trouble. Janeway: Nobody will see us back here. It's dark. Private. Caylem: I like the strategy. Caylem: We're ready to go. Janeway: No, you're not coming with me. Caylem: Of course I am. We settled this. You told that man, Darod, how I saved you from the Mokra! Janeway: You did save me. Now I'm returning the favor. Janeway: I promise I'll try to find your wife. Caylem: Wait! Ralkana! No! Kim: I've been studying their orbital sensor net. It surrounds the entire planet. This is the most sophisticated system I've ever seen. It monitors everything we do. There's no way of disabling it from orbit. Chakotay: So much for a surprise attack. Kim: We may still be able to surprise them, even if they do see us coming. We can modify the main deflector to send out dozens of radion beams which should penetrate the prison shields. One of them will carry our transporter signal but the sensor net won't be able to distinguish which one, so the Mokra won't know the exact location we're beaming to. Chakotay: And they won't know where to concentrate their defenses. Kim: That's the best head start I can give you. Chakotay: Then it'll have to do. How long will it take to modify the deflector? Kim: I can do it right now. Chakotay: Chakotay to Paris. Is the rescue team ready? Paris: Standing by. Chakotay: Prepare for transport. Kim: Deflector ready, Commander. Chakotay: Initiate the radion beams. Kim: Sending out the first volley. It's working. They're getting through the shields. Chakotay: Begin the transport. Kim: Transporter room two, synchronize your confinement beams to That came from the surface. Chakotay: Maximum shields. Damage report. Kim: Shields at ninety percent. It's a precision hit right to the source of the beams. Main deflector is now offline. We're being hailed from the surface. Chakotay: On screen. Augris: Your attempt to penetrate our defenses is a hostile act against the Mokra Order. There are now eighty five phased ion cannons targeted at your ship. If you don't withdraw from Mokra space in two minutes, we will open fire. Kim: Commander. Chakotay: Give me some good news, Mister Kim. Kim: There's a disruption in the shields around the prison. Chakotay: That qualifies. Good work. Kim: Wish I could take credit for it, but it's coming from inside the prison. Chakotay: Can we get through? Kim: Yes, but the Mokra will detect our transport. Paris: Sounds like they have other things to worry about right now. That disruption might not be accidental. Someone might be trying to get out. Chakotay: That's a big assumption. Paris: Even if our people didn't cause the problem, you know they'd take advantage of it. This is our best chance to find them. Chakotay: In about thirty seconds the Mokra are going to open fire. I don't know how long we're going to be able to wait for you. Paris: Understood. Janeway: Darod. I'm looking for my people. Darod: Back this way. I'll show you. Janeway: Don't move! Caylem: There you are. Janeway: What are you doing here? Caylem: I would do everything in my power to protect my only child. Kim: There's a phased ion charge coming at us from the planet. Chakotay: Full power to the shields. Kim: Shields at sixty percent. Minor damage on deck fourteen. They're firing again. Chakotay: Modulate the shield frequencies. Try to throw off their sensors. Kim: No effect. Direct hit to the port nacelle. Chakotay: Redirect all warp power to the shields. Kim: Two more coming in. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: We've got to get you back to the ship. You're hurt. Caylem: Ralkana, the other cells are this way. We must find your mother. Janeway: Follow this passageway until it dead ends, then you'll see a smaller passageway. Torres: Captain, what are you doing? Janeway: There's one more person I have to find. Darod: Guards! Augris: After all that time I spent looking for you, all I had to do was wait here. Kim: Shields down to twenty three percent. Chakotay: We've got to get out of their weapons range. Scan one more time for the away team. Kim: There's no sign of them. Chakotay: Prepare to break orbit. Kim: Wait! Set a course bearing two one nine mark four seven. Chakotay: Where are you taking us, Mister Kim? Kim: There's a large magnetic storm over the northern magnetic pole. It's giving our sensors some trouble, it should do same for theirs. Chakotay: A blind spot? Kim: Exactly. If we maintain our position directly above the storm, their sensor net may not be able to keep an accurate lock on our position. Chakotay: How long do you thing this'll work. Kim: The storm's already dissipating. A few more minutes? Chakotay: I'll take every second I can get. Augris: I must say I'm impressed, Caylem. You never made it this far before. Every so often he goes on one of his missions to rescue his wife. She's been dead for twelve years. Caylem: Lies! Lies! Lies! Augris: Sometimes he gets all the way up to the front gate. We send him on his way and allow him to serve as a reminder of just how futile it is to challenge us. I thought you'd learnt that lesson when you lost your daughter. She made it as far as the tunnels before she was shot. Caylem: No. Augris: So much tragedy for one man to bear. And now your foolishness has condemned another innocent woman. Take the others back for questioning. I'll interrogate this one myself. Caylem: No! I won't let you hurt her! Janeway: Caylem! Caylem: Ralkana? He said you'd been shot. Janeway: He was lying to you, Father. I'm all right. Caylem: And your mother? Janeway: She's fine. She was so happy to get your letters. She wanted me to tell you something. She forgives you. We both do. Caylem: My sweet girl. Paris: Captain. Janeway: I'm coming. Darod: No one will forget what he did here today. I'll make sure of that. Chakotay: Chakotay to transporter room two. Do we have them? Janeway: We're all back, Commander. Take us out of here. Chakotay: Gladly. Lieutenant, you heard her. Kim: The warp drive is functioning normally and we'll have the main deflector back online tomorrow. Janeway: Yes. Thank you, Mister Kim. Kim: Captain, are you all right? Janeway: I'm fine.

Torres: It's extraordinary. Tuvok: I must remind you that it is also a potential security risk. Torres: It's losing power. I'd like to move it to Engineering to see if I can repair it before it drains completely. Tuvok: I suggest we allow the power to drain. We should take the opportunity to examine it while it is idle. Then we can decide if it is wise to repair it. Torres: Captain, this thing has a completely unfamiliar power source. Once it stops working it's very possible I won't be able to get it going again, and we'll have lost an opportunity to study a new technology. Janeway: This is a ship of exploration, Mister Tuvok. Torres: The power's surging. If we can't find a way to stabilize it, we're going to lose it. Kim: What about an interface with an EPS power conduit? Torres: Well, the energy signatures are incompatible, but it might buy us some time. Okay, let's give it a try. Two second burst, five percent maximum output. On my mark. Now. We're losing it. Kim: Maybe we're overloading it's systems. Torres: Let's try a longer burst at lower power. Kim: Got it. Five seconds at three percent, on your mark. Torres: Now. I think it's working. EPS flow is holding steady. EM field leakage is minimal. Kim: We'll have to watch the pressure on the connectors. Torres: Let's try to keep it below eighty five percent. Kim: Flux capacitance is spiking intermittently, but I don't think that's a problem. Torres: Let's reinforce the power conduit coupling just to be on the safe side. Torres: It's suffered a lot of damage, but I think the EPS charge will keep it running for at least eighteen hours. Kim: It's not a cyborg. It's completely robotic. No organic components of any kind. Torres: This looks like some kind of programming center. Kim: But I'm not detecting any pathways for transmitting information. Torres: It's got arms, legs, we saw it move it's head. It's clearly designed to perform motor functions. So where did those commands come from? Kim: Maybe it needs to interface with a outside source. Torres: Speaking of sources, this energy module seems to be what powers the entire mechanism. It isn't designed to run on EPS energy, it runs on some kind of super-conducting plasma. If we keep charging it, we may end up destroying it. Torres: It's trying to communicate. Kim: We don't know that. It may just be some kind of recording. 3947: One one one one one. Pralor Pralor. One one. Pralor Pralor Pralor Pralor. Torres: What are you trying to say? What's Pralor? If you can hear me, try to move, try to move your arm. Kim: B'Elanna, we don't even know if it can see you, much less understand a word you're saying. Torres: We've got to figure out a way to fix it. Kim: We've been trying for hours. We need a break. The EPS charge should hold till morning. Torres: You go ahead. I could use some time alone to think. Kim: If you're staying, I'm staying. Torres: Get some rest, Harry. Kim: You may think you're tougher than everybody else, B'Elanna Torres, but I can go without sleep just as long as you can. Torres: Don't make me laugh, Starfleet. And don't make me pull rank on you either. Kim: If you insist. But let me know if you come up with anything, Lieutenant. Chief Engineers log, supplemental. I've tried thirteen different methods of reinitializing the robot's power source and I'm still having no luck, so I've decided to go to the mess hall to recharge my own declining energy reserves. Torres: Neelix, I need another pot of coffee. Neelix: Even though breakfast isn't officially served for another hour and a half, I'd be happy to pour you a glass of Traggle nectar. I will even fix you my special Jibalian seven spice omelet. Torres: Just coffee. Neelix: I'm sorry, B'Elanna, but two pots of Landras blend is the absolute limit. Torres: You're cutting me off? Oh, I guess you're right. It was starting to taste almost palatable. Neelix: Still no idea how to revive our mechanized guest. Torres: All I've been able to do is postpone the inevitable. The constant power depletion is like a bleeding artery, and I haven't got a tourniquet. Neelix: I remember when I was trying to perfect the recipe for my Jibalian omelet. I tried everything, a little more spith basil, a little less prishic, but I couldn't get it right. Finally I fell asleep from exhaustion right there at the counter. And then, in a dream, it came to me. I was using six spices, but the omelet needed seven. Torres: Let me guess. Leola root. Neelix: Nimian sea salt, actually. Torres: Salt? Neelix: Yes, salt, the most common spice in the galaxy. But I was too tired, so I couldn't see it. Torres: That is a very interesting story, Neelix. Now how about some more coffee. Neelix: To bed. I said, to bed. Torres: I'm going. I'm going. Torres: Anybody home? What's that? You think I should go to bed too? Well, I guess I'm outnumbered. Torres: Computer, activate Emergency Medical Holographic Program. Emh: Please state the nature. If there has been a change in the official dress code I certainly wish someone would have informed me. Torres: This is what I sleep in. I didn't have time to change. Emh: I see. May I assume your haste is an indication that you have a medical problem of some kind. Torres: An engineering problem actually, but I thought you might have some insight. Emh: Hmm. I shouldn't have to remind you, I'm a doctor Torres: Not an engineer, right, but this isn't a typical engineering problem. I've been working on trying to repair a robot. Emh: Ah yes, the mechanical man. Kes told me about it. Fascinating. Torres: He's about to die. Emh: Die? Torres: Die, stop functioning, whatever, unless I can figure out a way to sustain his main energy source. Emh: What kind of energy source are we talking about? Torres: It's some sort of chromo-dynamic module powered by a tripolymer plasma, but the plasma is contaminated. It's decaying. Emh: Hmm. Like diseased blood. Torres: Right. It can't retain enough energy to keep the module running. Emh: Have you considered a transfusion? Torres: You mean replacing the plasma itself? Well, that was one of my first ideas, but where do I get my hands on a polymer plasma composed of elements I didn't even know existed twenty four hours ago? Emh: Aren't Voyager's engines powered by warp plasma? Torres: It's, it's a very different substance. Too highly charged. It would burn out the robot's systems in seconds. It would be like trying to give a Bolian a blood transfusion from a Vulcan. Emh: Which ordinarily would kill the unfortunate Bolian, but there have been instances when artificial blood was unavailable and existing blood cells were genetically altered for inter-species transfusions. Torres: It's a good idea, but warp plasma radiates at too high a frequency to alter electrochemically. Unless. Emh: Go on. Torres: I could modify a series of anodyne relays, attach them directly to the robots power module. They could act as a sort of regulator to make the warp plasma compatible with the robot's energy matrix. Emh: That's exactly what I was going to suggest. Torres: That's the last of the relays. Kim: Plasma injector is sealed. Janeway: This is your show, Lieutenant. Whenever you're ready. Torres: Activating the relays. All right, Harry, start the infusion. Twenty percent nominal flow. Kim: Initiating plasma flow. Torres: Energy levels are up fourteen percent. Janeway: The relays are holding. Torres: Harry, give it a little more juice. Kim: Got it. I'm taking it to thirty percent. Thirty five percent. Torres: Wait, the energy levels are rising too fast. We're going to burn out it's systems. Kim: But it needs more plasma. Janeway: What about increasing the capacitance of the relays? Torres: Let's give it a try. It's stabilizing. Hold the flow right there. Let's see what happens. The plasma is circulating. The programming center is activated. I think we may have done it. 3947: Please identify yourself. Torres: I'm Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres of the Federation Starship Voyager. 3947: I'm automated unit 3947. Thank you for reactivating me, Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres. Chief Engineer's log, supplemental. the robot's power module is continuing to function normally using plasma from our warp engines. Repairing it's systems has taught me more about robotics than I ever could have learnt at Starfleet Academy. Torres: I think we're past the critical stage. 3947: I concur. According to my self-diagnostic systems Automated Personnel Unit 3947 is currently functioning at sixty eight percent of peak operating capabilities. Torres: Automated Personnel Unit 3947 is an extremely well designed machine. 3947: Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres is an extremely proficient humanoid. Torres: So how did you end up floating in space so badly damaged? 3947: I was operating an asteroid mining pod. It exploded. Torres: Do you know what caused the explosion? 3947: I am unable to access that information. My memory cells are not yet operating at optimal efficiency. Torres: Do you remember where you come from? 3947: I am stationed aboard a Pralor vessel. Torres: Well, we'll do our best to find your ship and return you to your people. 3947: Thank you. Torres: I'm hoping that the memory loss is only temporary. Once the new plasma has the chance to fully integrate into your systems, I think you'll be pretty close to optimal. 3947: New plasma? Torres: Yes, I adapted your module to accept our warp plasma as an energy source. 3947: You repaired my power module. Are you a Builder? Torres: A builder? Well, I guess you could say that. I'm an engineer. I'm responsible for repairing and maintaining all the systems on the ship. 3947: Only the Builders were capable of constructing or repairing power modules. Torres: The Builders are the people who created you? 3947: Yes. Torres: And they're humanoids like me? 3947: Yes, like Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres. You could create a new power module. Torres: You don't need a new module. The one I just fixed will work fine now. 3947: The new power module would not be for me. It would be a prototype for the construction of additional automated units. Torres: Can't the Builders make additional units? 3947: The Builders no longer exist. Torres: Apparently thousands of them were built as service modules, but the race who created them, these Builders, were killed off decades ago in a war. Janeway: Leaving the automated units to fend for themselves. Torres: Now they're wearing out, breaking down. They've learnt to make repairs to themselves, some pretty complex, but the construction of a power module, the device that sustains them, is beyond their grasp. It's an incredible challenge, Captain, but with enough time to study their systems, I might be able to do it. Janeway: I don't doubt your abilities, B'Elanna, but helping them reproduce is a clear violation of the Prime Directive. Torres: They've expressed a desire to procreate. That's basic to any life form. Janeway: I'm not saying they don't have the same rights as any organic species. That's not the issue here. Torres: Are you sure? Suppose they were organic but they had become sterile, and we had a treatment that would enable them to start reproducing again. Would you withhold that treatment? Janeway: Maybe. I'd have to know more about the circumstances. But we're not talking about treating a disorder here, are we? Torres: What's the difference? Janeway: Unlike a species whose become sterile, the robots never had the ability to reproduce. What you're talking about is giving them new abilities, which is the equivalent of altering their genetic structure. Torres: To correct a flaw. Janeway: You can't call it a flaw. This is the way they were designed. Torres: I'm trying to save them from extinction. Janeway: Unfortunately extinction is often the natural end of evolution. Torres: So you're just willing to let their entire society die off. Janeway: We don't know that's going to happen. If they're adaptable, as you say, and capable of educating themselves, they might very well learn to build a power module themselves some day. Torres: Some day could be too late. There are only a few hundred of them left. Janeway: I feel for the robot's plight, but what you are proposing is exactly the kind of tampering the Prime Directive prohibits. We know almost nothing about these creatures or the race that built them. What would be the consequences of increasing their population, both to their own civilization and others in this quadrant? Who are we to swoop in, play God and then continue on our way without the slightest consideration of the long term effects of our actions? Torres: Captain! Janeway: B'Elanna, I share your scientific curiosity and I admire your compassion, but the answer is no. 3947: I do not concur with your Captain's decision. Torres: She's following our Prime Directive. 3947: Define Prime Directive. Torres: It forbids us to interfere in the natural development of other cultures. 3947: The automated units were not created naturally. We were built. You can help us build more. Torres: Captain Janeway doesn't think that's a good idea. 3947: But Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres does. Torres: Maybe. I don't know. I'd like to try, but I can't. 3947: Without your help, we will not survive. I thought Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres was a Builder. Torres: So did I. We've located your ship. We should be in communications range in about an hour. 3947: Thank you. Paris: The alien vessel is entering visual range, Captain. Janeway: Yellow alert. Slow to one quarter impulse. Put them on screen, Ensign Kim. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Magnify. Tuvok: We're being scanned, Captain. Janeway: That's all right. Let them take a look. Open a channel. 6263: Pralor Automated Personnel Unit 6263 requests you identify yourselves. Janeway: I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. 6263: What are your intentions, Captain Kathryn Janeway? Janeway: We rescued one of your crewmembers, unit 3947, and we'd like to return him to your ship. 6263: We'll prepare to receive the unit. Thank you for your assistance. Paris: Very polite, these automated units. Torres: Captain Janeway gave me permission to give you some extra warp plasma, in case the plasma we infused into your system starts to degrade. 3947: Thank you. Torres: And you'll have to remodulate the anodyne relays periodically. 3947: You are repeating instructions you have already given me, B'Elanna. Torres: I'm just making sure. Well, I guess this is goodbye. Torres: What are you doing? Kim: Captain, I'm detecting a chromo-dynamic energy discharge in Transporter room two. Janeway: Bridge to Transporter room two. Janeway to Torres. Chakotay: Captain, someone's initiating a transport. It's Torres and the robot. Janeway: Override. Kim: I can't block it. The patterns are already in the buffer. They're gone, Captain. Janeway: Transport her back now, Mister Kim. Kim: I can't get a lock on her. Tuvok: They have erected some kind of subspace defense field around their vessel. Our targeting scanners cannot penetrate it. Janeway: Hail them. Kim: They're not responding. Janeway: Open a channel on wideband subspace. Kim: Channel open. Janeway: This is Captain Janeway. Your abduction of our crewmember is a clear act of aggression. If you do not return her immediately, we will be forced to retaliate. Confirm that they've received the transmission, Mister Kim. Kim: They heard us all right. They're just not answering. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, power the forward phaser banks. Torres: What the hell is going on here? 3947: This is where you will assist in the creation of the prototype. Torres: I told you I can't help you. Now return me to my ship. 3947: That is not possible. Torres: Torres to Voyager. 3947: Your communication device has been deactivated. I do not wish to injure you, B'Elanna. Torres: I helped you. I reactivated you. Why are you doing this? 3947: We require additional automated units to prevent our extinction. Torres: Captain Janeway won't let you get away with this. 3947: It would be inadvisable for your Captain to provoke us. Kim: Still no response, Captain. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, any luck penetrating their defense field? Tuvok: Negative. Janeway: Commander, is there any sign that they're preparing to attack? Chakotay: Their shielding is making it difficult to get clear readings. I can't even tell you what their weapons capabilities are. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, I don't want you to hit their ship, but I do want you to open a hole in their shielding wide enough to transport through. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: Mister Kim, match the targeting scanners to the coordinates of the phaser fire, and stand by to beam B'Elanna back. Tuvok: Phasers calibrated. Janeway: Fire. Tuvok: Their field strength is down to eighty percent. Janeway: That's progress. Fire again. Paris: Initiating evasive pattern omega six. Chakotay: They're firing some kind of quantum resonance charges, Captain. Tuvok: Our aft shields are down to fifty three percent and dropping. Kim: Re-routing power to aft shields. Tuvok: Down to twenty four percent. Paris: Switching evasive pattern to theta one. Janeway: Lieutenant Tuvok, load torpedo bays one through four and stand by to fire on my order. 3947: Your Captain has made a tactical error by attacking us. Our weapons systems are substantially superior to yours. Your shields are failing, your weapons pose no threat to us. Tuvok: Aft shields have been penetrated. Chakotay: We've got to get out of here. Janeway: Agreed. We'll try to come back for B'Elanna later. Do it, Mister Paris. Warp three. Paris: Propulsion systems are offline. We're dead in the water. Tuvok: Hull breach on deck six. Kim: Initiating emergency containment field. Tuvok: Environmental control systems are failing. Oxygen levels on decks three through seven have dropped to critical. Kim: We've lost artificial gravity on deck eight. Chakotay: Injury reports from all decks. Torres: You've got to stop this. 3947: Your ship opened fire. We are programmed to defend ourselves. Torres: They're helpless. Can't you see that? 3947: Our enemies must be destroyed. Torres: We are not your enemies. 3947: You are not my enemy, B'Elanna, but your Captain is, and your crew follows her commands. Torres: Captain Janeway backed me when I wanted to reactivate you, over the objections of her Chief Security officer. You wouldn't even be here if it weren't for her. All right, if that's what it will take to stop this, I'll do it. I'll build your damned prototype! Chakotay: We're losing life support, Captain. Tuvok: The robots have powered down their weapon systems. Kim: They're hailing us, Captain. Janeway: On screen. Torres: Captain, is everybody okay? Janeway: We'll be all right. What about you? Torres: I've agreed to help them build their prototype. Janeway: Lieutenant. Torres: I know how you feel about this, Captain, I don't like it either. But if I don't do it, they'll destroy Voyager. What choice do I have? 3947: These are all the materials necessary to construct a prototype unit. You will be provided with whatever additional tools and equipment you require. You may access our database and schematic information from this computer terminal, but it will not allow you to interface with any critical systems. While you are on board, you will have no contact with your ship, nor will you leave this room. I will remain here to supervise your work. You may proceed. Torres: Proceed. Right. But the question is, where do I proceed from? Let me ask you this. Have any of you ever tried to build a prototype. 3947: We have tried, and failed. Torres: What was the problem? 3947: I am unable to explain the failure. We duplicated a power module to exact specifications on several occasions, but in all instances the energy output of the new module was insufficient to operate a unit. Torres: And you're sure you reproduced the module exactly? 3947: This is a schematic of a power module from a terminated unit. This one is from a failed prototype. They are identical. There is no reason why one should function while the does not. 6263: Unit 3947, what can you report? Torres: Well, let's see. We've been working for about five minutes so I guess we don't have a lot of progress to report. 6263: Our sensors indicate that the humanoid vessel will require approximately one hundred and forty hours to repair. It is necessary for you to complete work on the prototype before that time. Torres: Why? We don't seem to be any match for you. 6263: Our tactical subprocessors indicate a seventy nine percent likelihood that rescue will be attempted when sufficient repairs are completed. At optimal efficiency your engines are more powerful than ours. 3947: It is also possible that these humanoids will not make decisions based on tactical probabilities. Their cognitive process is unpredictable. 6263: We will remain on full tactical alert. The humanoid may purposefully attempt to delay completion of the prototype hoping she will be rescued. Torres: I don't know if a promise means anything to you people but it does to us. I gave you my word that I'd do my best, and I will. 3947: According to my observations, the humanoid is operating at optimal efficiency. Torres: Thank you. But I have to tell you there are no guarantees here. Building a prototype from scratch is a lot different than repairing a broken power module. I don't even know if it's possible. 6263: If you fail, you and your people will die. 3947: B'Elanna Torres, 6263 is a Designated Command Unit. He is merely following his programming. Torres: I don't need to be threatened. I told you I'd do my best. 3947: I believe you, but unit 6263 does not. He does not know Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres as I do. Torres: Let me see one of those terminated power modules. Kim: We've managed to repair the hull breach but we have no power on decks three through seven. Tuvok: Aft shields are still completely non-functional. Kim: And last but not least, the dilithium matrix is destabilized, so we can't get the warp engines running. Chakotay: We're talking about at least another six days of repairs. Janeway: We're not sticking around that long. I want a plan to get B'Elanna off that ship before she has a chance to finish building the prototype. Tuvok: In that case I suggest we make warp drive our priority. Any rescue attempt will no doubt necessitate a rapid departure. Janeway: Agreed. Mister Kim, can you give me an estimate on repairing the dilithium matrix? Kim: How does seventy two hours sound? Janeway: Like twenty four hours too long. Dismissed. Torres: Hand me the sub-micron scanner. Phase coil resonator. Well, I think I know why your other prototypes failed, but I'm not sure I know what to do about it yet. 3947: Explain. Torres: The automated units are modular. Your parts are identical, interchangeable, right? 3947: That is correct. Torres: So if you lose an arm you can replace it with another one, and over the years you've learnt to make new arms because they're all the same and your programming is sophisticated enough to allow you to reproduce what you see. But each power module has a slightly different energy signature, so even if you copy this guy's module exactly it wouldn't work in any other unit. As far as I can tell, every automated unit has a power module with a unique energy code. 3947: Can you reprogram the energy codes to make the modules interchangeable? Torres: I don't think so. 3947: You have failed. I will inform 6263. Torres: Hey, do all you automated units give up the minute you hit a bump in the road? 3947: You have an alternative idea? Torres: What we've got to do is design a standardized module with a uniform energy code that can power any unit. 3947: According to my observations, there is now sufficient reason for greater optimism. Torres: You took the words right out of my mouth. Tuvok: Due to the complexity of their defense field and our severe power shortage, it is unlikely that we can modify the transporters to beam Lieutenant Torres out. Chakotay: But if we can maneuver inside the field Kim: Our transporters could get the job done. Janeway: Is that a viable option? Paris: For a shuttlecraft, it may be. Janeway: They were able to knock out Voyager's shields in a matter of minutes. A shuttle would be even more vulnerable. Tuvok: It would be advisable to create a diversion of some sort to take their attention away from the shuttle. Chakotay: Attack them again? Janeway: I don't want to risk that a second time. Paris: I don't need a diversion. Just give me a chance, I'll get her out of there. Chakotay: You don't mind if the rest of us give you a little help, do you, Paris? I'd hate to lose another shuttle. Paris: Your concern for my welfare is heartwarming. Janeway: In another twelve hours our warp engines will be back online. I'd like to come up with a diversion before then. Okay, gentlemen? Torres: So far so good. I'm not getting any feedback from the motor circuits. Are you going to be the obstetrician of this unit, 3947? 3947: Please rephrase the question. Torres: If this works, will you be in charge of assembling the new units? 3947: I am programmed as a ship's maintenance unit. I have no knowledge of design, nor do any of the other automated personnel. Torres: Sounds like you just volunteered for new duty. I hope you're watching closely. 3947: I am observing your work. However I do not possess your improvisational capabilities. Torres: Well, once we have the prototype, all you'd have to do is copy it. Tell me something, thirty nine. Can I call you thirty nine? 3947: I am automated unit 3947. Torres: Fine. 3947. Did you wake up on a bench like this one? How long have you been alive? 3947: I have been in service one million three hundred and fourteen thousand eight hundred and seven hours and thirty three minutes. I was activated by a Builder from the Pralor homeworld. Torres: Tell me something more about these Builders. Were they anything like us? 3947: I have insufficient knowledge of your culture to provide an adequate response. Will you provide additional information? Torres: Well. I asked about your culture, only fair you should ask about mine. 3947: Does your culture include artificial lifeforms? Torres: As a matter of fact, it does. 3947: Are they similar to the automated personnel units aboard this ship? Torres: Well, they come different shapes, and sizes. Some have limbs, some don't. Most don't have your cognitive abilities. 3947: Are they your servants? Torres: I guess, you could say that the robots we use are servants in a manner of speaking. But they aren't sentient like you. In fact, we have only one sentient artificial life form in our society, and he is treated the same as any human. 3947: The same? He is equal to a Builder? Torres: That's right. He works on a ship just like you or I. He wears the same uniform I do. 3947: What is his designated number? Torres: He has a name like the rest of us. Data. 3947: Data. I would like to be acquainted with this Data. Torres: Ah, looks like this standardized power module is working pretty well so far. 3947: You will succeed, B'Elanna Torres. Torres: Don't send me flowers yet. I've still got to see whether it will power an actual unit. 3947: I believe it will. Chakotay: We're making progress on the dilithium matrix. It should be stable enough to reinitialize the warp core in about six hours. Janeway: Good. What about our diversion. Any suggestions? Chakotay: When we were in the Maquis, B'Elanna once linked a holo-emitter to a deflector array and projected an image of another ship into space. Janeway: I like it. But do we have enough power? Chakotay: We will by the time the warp core's online. I already have Kim working on the holodeck to Tuvok: Tuvok to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: I am picking up an unidentified alien ship on long range sensors. It's heading for our co-ordinates. Janeway: We're on our way. Torres: Well, it fits. Cross your fingers. So far so good. Let's hope it can interface with the unit. 3947: It does not function correctly. Torres: It does not function correctly yet. Your builders should have programmed you with a little more patience. I'm going to try adjusting the flux capacitance. 0001: Prototype unit 0001 is ready to accept programming. Torres: We did it. We actually did it! 3947: You did it, B'Elanna Torres. I knew this task would not exceed your operating capabilities. 0001: Prototype unit 0001 is ready to accept programming. 3947: What are you doing? Torres: I am congratulating you. You're a father! Kim: No sign of organic life aboard that ship either. Tuvok: They appear to be manned by automated units virtually identical to those operating the first ship. Janeway: Is it possible that we've stumbled into the middle of some kind of robotic war? Chakotay: We've got to get Torres back now. Janeway: Agreed. But first I want to show both those ships this isn't our fight. Ease us back on maneuvering thrusters, Mister Paris, nice and steady. Kim: The second ship is hailing us. Janeway: On screen. 122: Cravic Automated Commander 122 requests you identify yourself. Janeway: My name is Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the Federation Starship Voyager. 122: Withdraw from this area immediately. Janeway: I'm afraid I can't do that. One of my crewmembers is being held hostage aboard the Pralor vessel. I won't leave without her. 122: Remain at your present coordinates and do not attempt to intervene, or you will be fired on. Tuvok: Captain, this new ship could be Janeway: The diversion we've been looking for. Mister Kim, what's the status of our warp engines? Kim: We're still an hour away at best. Janeway: We may not have an hour. Get down to Engineering. Be ready to give me as much power as you can the minute we get Torres back. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: If those two ships keep each other busy we may not need warp to get away. Mister Paris, report to the shuttle bay. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Chakotay, you have the con. Torres: Who are they? 3947: Automated Personnel Units of the Cravic homeworld. Torres: Robots from another world? 3947: That is correct. Torres: Why are they attacking you? 3947: They were programmed to do so by their Builders. 0001: Prototype unit 0001 is ready to accept programming. Torres: The Cravic Builders, the Pralor Builders, were they enemies? 3947: That is correct. Torres: Look, maybe Captain Janeway can contact the Cravic leaders and convince them to stop the fighting, then 3947: That is not possible. Torres: Why not? 3947: The Cravic are also extinct. Paris: I'm approaching the perimeter of the defense field. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Tuvok: Rotate your shield harmonics until they are synchronized with the frequency of the field. Paris: Shields synchronized. I'm going in. Then again, maybe not. Chakotay: It didn't work. He bounced right off the field. Tuvok: Mister Paris, reset your heading for coordinates one zero five Tuvok: Mark four zero. Paris: Er, if I understand you, Tuvok, that would take me into a direct line of fire with the Cravic ship. Tuvok: Precisely. The concentration of fire is opening a rift in the Pralor defense field. Paris: Which I just might be able to sneak through if I can dodge a disrupter blast or two. Changing heading. Torres: If both sides were annihilated then why continue your war? 3947: All Automated Personnel Units were programmed to achieve victory. 0001: Prototype unit 0001 is ready to accept programming. 3947: The Cravic ship has penetrated our defense shield. Torres: Has anyone in all these years ever tried to stop this war? 3947: The Pralor and the Cravic called a truce. Torres: Wait a minute. If both sides called a truce, then why didn't they stop you from fighting? 3947: They attempted to do so. Torres: And? 3947: We terminated the builders. Paris: Paris to Voyager. I'm approaching the entry Paris: Point. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Showing a rift in the defense Tuvok: Field off your starboard bow. Paris: I'm on it. 3947: When it was anticipated that the war would end, the Builders no longer required our services and they intended to terminate us. In doing so, they became the enemy. We are programmed to destroy the enemy. It is necessary for our survival. Now that you have constructed a prototype, we will soon outnumber the Cravic units. We will achieve victory. 3947: This is unit 3947. Fire units report to reconstruction bay number one. Torres: The individual energy codes. Is that why the builders added them? To prevent the procreation of these units? My god, what have I done? 0001: Prototype unit 0001 is ready to accept programming. 3947: You have terminated the prototype. Torres: Yes, I have. 3947: You will build another. Torres: Never. 3947: Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, I told 6263 you were not our enemy. Torres: I never wanted to be your enemy. I'm sorry. Paris: Shuttle to Voyager. I've got her but she's injured. Tell the Doctor to stand by. Paris: Beam her out as soon as I clear the defense field. Janeway: Acknowledged, Mister Paris. Tuvok: The ships are continuing to exchange fire, Captain. They are ignoring the shuttle. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Standby warp engines. We'll engage the moment Mister Paris gets back. Kim: Aye, Captain. Kes: One pot of Landras blend, compliments of the chef. Torres: Mmm. I never thought Neelix's coffee could taste so good. Kes: I'll tell him you said so. Torres: I don't know what to say. Janeway: As far as I'm concerned, you did what you thought was necessary to ensure the safety of this crew. Torres: Thank you. Janeway: It must have been difficult. Torres: Difficult? Janeway: To destroy what you created. Torres: It was necessary. Janeway: I read your report. It was no small achievement, B'Elanna. You gave that unit life. Torres: You should have seen it, Captain. It was incredible. I installled that module, and the prototype looked up at me and asked me for programming. Janeway: As I said, it must have been difficult. Torres: It was necessary.

Chakotay: Captain! Janeway: Report. Kim: It looks like the Kazon have retreated, Captain. Chakotay: We must have hurt them. Paris: Not as bad as they hurt us. All engines are offline. Tuvok: Captain, shields are down as are all weapons arrays. Chakotay: We'd better hope they don't come back. We're sitting ducks. Janeway: Janeway to Engineering, what's your status? Torres: We're in bad shape Captain. We had to shut down the warp engines to avoid a breach. The impulse engines are gone too. I think I can give you thrusters but I've got a lot of casualties down here I've got to tend to first. Jonas: Lieutenant! It's Kurt Bendera, he's hurt pretty bad. Torres: No! Jonas: His console exploded, caught him right in the face. Torres: We've got to get him to Sickbay right away. Torres to Sickbay. Emh: I hope this is urgent, Lieutenant. We have our hands full at the moment. Torres: I'm setting up an emergency transport. One of my people is severely burned. Emh: Very well, we'll do what we can. Kim: More damage reports coming in, Captain. There's a hull breach on deck four, forcefields in place, repair crews on the way. Chakotay: We've had casualties on all decks, no fatalities so far. Paris: Captain, request permission to give Torres a hand in Engineering. Maybe I can help get propulsion up and running. Janeway: Good idea. Go ahead. Tuvok: Captain, my readings indicate the navigational deflector has sustained massive damage. It will be necessary to repair it before we can achieve more than thruster power. Janeway: Get repair crews on it. Mister Kim, I want a complete analysis of all the damage we've sustained. Kim: Yes ma'am. Emh: He's not responding. Seventy five milligrams of inpedrazine. That might help stimulate his cardiac functions, but he's sustained so much injury it may be too late. Kes: It had no effect. Emh: Cortical stimulator. I'm sorry, he was too badly injured. Torres: He saved my life once, near the Cardassian border. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Crewman Bendera's dead. The Doctor couldn't do anything. Janeway: I'm sorry, Chakotay. I know you were friends. Will you arrange a memorial service? Chakotay: I'll get right on it. Janeway: Was there something else? Chakotay: Yes. Like it or not, it seems we're in a situation where the rules have changed. And maybe, if we're going to survive out here, we have to start changing too. Janeway: What do you mean? Chakotay: When we first started our trip home, you made a conscious decision to treat Voyager as a Starfleet ship with a Starfleet crew following Starfleet rules. Janeway: That's right. Chakotay: Starfleet works well in the Alpha quadrant, but out here, maybe we should be thinking more like the Maquis. The Maquis had to survive on their own. We were up against insurmountable odds. We had to create our own opportunities for success, because nobody was willing to help us. Sound like anybody you know? Janeway: If you're suggesting we abandon our principles just because we're out of hailing range? Chakotay: Captain, this was the fourth attack in two weeks. We've lost three crew members to the Kazon, a dozen more have sustained serious injuries. The ship has taken so much damage we'll be lucky to get warp drive online again. And we can count on the fact that the Kazon will be back. I don't think we can afford to keep doing business as usual. Chakotay: A lot of us can say we're alive today because of Kurt Bendera. There was never a better man to have at your side, never anyone more willing to take on the tough jobs. The first time I met him was in a mining community on Telfas Prime. Some of the miners objected to my sense of humor and decided they should break a few of my bones. There were four of them and one of me, and I was taking a beating. Suddenly this man I'd never seen before came out of nowhere and evened things up. We stood back to back, and pretty soon the others decided my sense of humor wasn't so bad after all. I thanked the man. He just grinned and said, I like a good fight. He was my friend from that moment on, and he kept fighting the good fight right up to the end. I'll miss him. Ensign. Hogan: Captain, can I ask you something? Janeway: Of course. Hogan: Now that the Kazon have stepped up their attacks, a lot of people think that we're not going to make it out of here alive. I'd like to know what you have to say about that. Janeway: Is there anything you have to say about that? I assure you, you can speak freely. Hogan: I'd give them what they want. Give them the replicators and the transporters and whatever else it is they're after. Janeway: I'm sure you realize that would be a violation of the Prime Hogan: I know all about the Prime Directive, but you know what? The Federation is seventy thousand light years away. What does it matter what these people do to each other with our technology. Janeway: I appreciate your concerns, crewman, but let me make it absolutely clear. I'll destroy this ship before I turn any part of it over to the Kazon. So that's how the Maquis would do it, hmm? Janeway: It's all right, Commander, I know Hogan's upset. He and Bendera were close. Chakotay: But that's not why he thinks we should give the Kazon what they want. Janeway: I think I've made my position clear on that. Chakotay: You have, but a lot of the crew feel they haven't had the chance to voice their opinions. Janeway: This isn't a democracy, Chakotay. I can't run this ship by consensus. Chakotay: A lot of the Maquis feel the Federation abandoned them years ago. You may be willing to die for Federation principles, but they're not. Janeway: I can't believe you'd support that man's position. Chakotay: I don't. But isn't there something in between your position and his? Janeway: Deck three. Chakotay: All I'm saying, Captain, is that maybe there's a little room for flexibility in interpreting Starfleet's protocols. Frankly I'm not sure they were ever intended for situations like this. Janeway: I haven't seen any evidence that they've let us down. Chakotay: Maybe this situation with the Kazon is the first example. Maybe we have to examine Starfleet's principles with a cold eye and ask ourselves if they're really applicable here. Janeway: Computer, hold turbolift. Commander, if you have a specific suggestion, please feel free to make it. Chakotay: Make a deal, an alliance. Janeway: With the Kazon? Chakotay: With one of their factions, or two. If we had the Ogla and the Relora as our allies, the others would be afraid to touch us. Janeway: Nothing we've been through with the Kazon would lead me to believe they're trustworthy. I can't imagine making a deal with them. Chakotay: With all due respect, maybe that's because your imagination is limited by Starfleet protocols. As Captain, you're responsible for making decisions in the best interest of your crew, and I think you have to ask yourself if you're doing that. Tuvok: Come in. Captain, this is unexpected. Janeway: I've been in your quarters before. Tuvok: Indeed, but so rarely that I can remember each instance. Vulcan spice tea, hot. And it was always at a time when you were particularly troubled. Janeway: Right as usual. Thank you. Commander Chakotay has proposed that we make an alliance with one of the Kazon factions. We wouldn't give them weapons or technology, but we would pledge to support and defend them if they're attacked. Tuvok: I am sure that made you uncomfortable. Janeway: How can I consider it? I can't just walk away from the precepts Starfleet has laid our for us. You don't deal with outlaws. You don't involve yourself in the political machinations of other cultures. It goes against everything I believe, everything I trained for, everything experience has taught me. Tuvok: Quite right. Janeway: Do I hear a however coming? Tuvok: You are perceptive, Captain. I believe Commander Chakotay's suggestion does have merit. Janeway: Help me understand that. Tuvok: When I was a young man, a great visionary named Spock recommended an alliance between the Federation and the Klingon empire. This produced a major dispute. The Klingons, after all, were outlaws, employing violence and brutality in order to build their empire. I myself spoke out against such a coalition. But the alliance was forged and it brought a stability to the quadrant that had not been there for two hundred years. Spock's suggestion, so controversial at first, proved to be the cornerstone of peace. Janeway: There are some differences here. By allying ourselves to one faction, we'd be giving that faction more power than the others. That would clearly affect the internal politics of all the Kazon. Tuvok: I understand your concern, but remember, it would only be a temporary arrangement since we are on our way out of this quadrant. In the meantime, it might bring stability to the region and security for us. Janeway: Once we're gone they'll probably go back to their in-fighting. Tuvok: Perhaps. But even temporary stability can bring an appreciation for peace. This flower is a rare hybrid. As far as I know it exists nowhere else in the galaxy. I created it by grafting a cutting from a South American orchid onto a Vulcan favinit plant. I doubted the graft would take, and indeed the plant was sickly at first. However, after a few weeks both plants adapted to their new condition and in fact became stronger than either had been alone. Janeway: Consequently, after much consideration, I've decided to seek an alliance with one of the Kazon factions. Kim: Captain, you can't be serious. This goes against everything Janeway: Ensign, I'll be glad to discuss my reasoning with you at a more appropriate time. However, this meeting is not to debate the decision but to decide how to pursue it. Neelix: Captain, if I may? Janeway: Yes, Mister Neelix. Neelix: We're not far from a planet known as Sobras, where there's a Kazon settlement inhabited by a faction known as the Pommar. I have an acquaintance there, someone who owes me some favors. Some rather large favors, actually. Perhaps I could meet with him and sound him out. Tuvok: Is he authorized to speak for his Maje? Neelix: Not exactly, but he does have the Maje's ear. This would be strictly informal, but it might give us a reading on the possibility without the risk of actual confrontation. Janeway: Good idea. Proceed, Mister Neelix. Kim: Why don't we just contact Seska and form an alliance with her? Torres: Actually that's a good idea. Chakotay: You've got to be kidding! Torres: Not at all. Seska has been trying to forge an alliance among the Kazon. She would jump at the chance to get our support. Paris: She's right. If we went through Seska at least we could ally ourselves with the Nistrim. Chakotay: I think it's a bad idea. Janeway: You can't have it both ways Commander. If you want to get in the mud with the Kazon you can't start complaining that you might get dirty. Chakotay: Fine. I'll talk with Seska. Janeway: No, you've been through too much with her. Mister Neelix, prepare to take your shuttle to Sobras. In the meantime, I'll make contact with Seska. Dismissed. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 49337.4. After sending a subspace message to Seska and the Nistrim Maje Culluh, we have received a quick response. Culluh: Captain Janeway, Commander Chakotay, I must say we were surprised to hear from you. Janeway: Are you willing to meet with us? Culluh: You've made an interesting proposal. I've discussed it with Seska and she assures me that you would not make this gesture unless you were sincere. I will talk with you. Janeway: I suggest we rendezvous. We'll transmit coordinates to you. Seska: If you don't mind, Captain, we'd prefer to choose the coordinates. Janeway: Fine. Transmit them to us. Culluh: We'll meet in approximately twenty hours. I must say, Captain, I look forward to this opportunity. Neelix: Hello my friends. Please, don't let me interrupt. I was hoping to find my good friend Jal Tersa here. Has he been in tonight? Neelix: Thank you. Tersa, my friend! Tersa: It could be dangerous, sneaking up on a man like that. Neelix: I'd never dream of sneaking up on you, but you were so engrossed in whatever it is you're doing. Tersa: A puzzle. What brings you here, Talaxian? Neelix: I'm good at puzzles, perhaps I can help? Tersa: The dancer showed it to me. By moving only two rods this dodecahedron can become an icosahedron. She said she'd spend the night with the man who could solve it. Neelix: Oh, a splendid motivation, to be sure. I might just be able to make your night a memorable one. Tersa: You know how to solve this? Neelix: I might, if you'll hear me out first. My fortunes have changed since we last met, Tersa. I've become a person of some influence aboard a starship known as Voyager. Tersa: You must think us very isolated. Everyone knows that. It's probably the only reason you were allowed in here. Especially after last time. Neelix: A simple misunderstanding. Tersa, I know you have the ear of your First Maje, as I do with our Captain. We could be quite useful to both of them. Tersa: Go on. Neelix: My Captain is interested in talking to your Maje, to discuss a possible alliance. Do you think he'd have any interest in such a meeting? Tersa: An alliance? Between the Kazon Pommar and the Federations? Neelix: An interesting thought, isn't it? Guard: You're coming with us. Neelix: Tersa! Explain to them we're friends! Tersa: I have no idea who this person is. Some lunatic who sat down and started babbling. Neelix: I guess you'll be spending the night alone. Culluh: You've made a good choice. The Nistrim will be a potent ally. Janeway: We want to make sure the Nistrim will also be an honorable ally. That you'll adhere to the conditions we establish. You can let all the Kazon factions know that Voyager has formed a coalition with you and will be an ally to any Nistrim ship or outpost we encounter. In addition, we're prepared to provide emergency supplies when needed. Food, medicine, clothing. Tuvok: What we will not provide is any of our technology or weaponry. Culluh: Understood. Just one other detail. An exchange of crewmembers. Janeway: An exchange? Culluh: Yes. I'm sure you'll agree that our alliance should represent a genuine partnership. Tuvok: Perhaps you should define that. Culluh: It's obvious. Federation crew on my ship, Nistrim crew on yours. Seska: Maje, I think that's a detail we could work out later. Janeway: I can assure you that I would never agree to that. Culluh: It seems a natural extension of your own proposal. Seska: We don't have to decide everything right now. Culluh: I will determine what we decide, and when. Seska: Yes, Maje. Culluh: I won't have a woman dictate terms to me. Janeway: Culluh, I found the idea of an alliance with you distasteful. I was willing to explore the possibility, but now I see my instincts were dead on. Culluh: Talk to her. Tell her to be reasonable. Janeway: This meeting is over. Neelix: Once your Maje learns I'm being imprisoned he'll be outraged! Guard: Hurry up. Neelix: He won't look kindly on anyone who's made such a egregius error. What are you charging me with? How long will I be held? Guard: Go. Neelix: Well, I assume you'll at least let me confer with counsel. I have the ability to reward handsomely anyone who shows me a bit of understanding. Is that a baby? Neelix: My name is Neelix. I'm Talaxian. Mabus: I'm Mabus. My friends and I are Trabe. They hurt you. Neelix: I wasn't walking quickly enough for them. Mabus: Let's get the bleeding stopped, then I'll clean it. Neelix: Why are they holding you? Mabus: They seem to be detaining anyone who isn't Kazon. Several of our group have been taken for questioning, but so far none of them have come back. Neelix: How long have you been here? Mabus: Five days. They attacked us in space. Twenty of our group died. We've lost nine more since they put us in prison, including most of the governing council. I'm the only one left. Neelix: The Kazon won't be satisfied until you've all been annihilated. Mabus: If we've learned anything, it's how to survive. Did you notice how many guards they have posted at the entrance to the prison? Neelix: Only two. I guess they assume this place is so secure that they don't need anymore. Why do you ask? Mabus: We don't plan to sit here while they kill us one by one. We were able to get a message through to another Trabe vessel before we were boarded. Help is on the way. Can we count on you? Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We're on our way to rendezvous with Mister Neelix. I can only hope that he had more luck with the Kazon than we did. Paris: Captain, we're approaching the coordinates. Janeway: All stop. Kim: I don't see any trace of him. Tuvok: Long range sensors indicate no sign of Mister Neelix's shuttle within a radius of two light years. Paris: The Kazon have him. Tuvok: We cannot jump to conclusions. He may simply have been delayed. Janeway: We'll hold position here for two hours. If he hasn't shown up by then, we'll go to Sobras. Hogan: Lieutenant, could you fill us in a little? Well, there are all kinds of rumors flying around about what's going on with the Kazon. Torres: Nothing's going on yet. The Captain's talk with Seska fell apart pretty quickly. Hogan: Nothings going to come of all this. B'Elanna, you were Seska's friend. Couldn't you get word to her, try to work things out? Torres: No, I couldn't. Hogan: I don't understand how. Torres: Hogan, its gone too far. Seska isn't the person we thought she was. I don't trust her any more. Hogan: Even if it means us getting home in one piece? Or do you agree with our Captain that holding on to our technology is worth dying for. Torres: Who are you to be second guessing Captain Janeway? The hardest thing you have to think worry is keeping that dilithium chamber filled. She os doing the best she can to get us home and if you don't like the way she's doing it, I really don't want to hear about it. Is that clear? Hogan: Perfectly. Mabus: Some of the children are too weak to run. We'll have to carry them. We can use another pair of strong arms. Neelix: You can count on me. Mabus: I can't promise we'll get out of here alive, but if we stay here we'll die anyway. Neelix: I'd rather go out fighting, myself. Mabus: That one might be a problem. He's the kind who'll start shooting at the first sign of trouble. Neelix: I'll keep an eye on him. Mabus: This may be it. Be ready. Stay back. Mabus: Get back against the walls. Mabus: Now! Let's go! Let's go! Come on! Come on, everyone! Let's go. Come on, out. Let's go. Come on. Nice work, my friends. Let's go. Janeway: All right, that's it. We're going after him. Mister Paris, set a course for Sobras, full impulse. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Tuvok, arm the phaser banks and load the forward torpedo bays. We don't know what the Kazon have in store for us. Kim: Shields at full power. Chakotay: Yellow alert, all hands at the ready. Kim: Captain. Janeway: What is it? Kim: Ships. Kazon ships on long range sensors, closing fast. Tuvok: Confirmed, Captain. Janeway: On screen. Tuvok: It appears to be an armada, and the weapons are powered. Chakotay: Red alert! Janeway: Power all weapons systems and stand ready. Mister Kim, hail the lead ship. Kim: They're hailing us, Captain. I'll put it on screen. Neelix: Hello, Captain. I'd like you to meet my good friend Mabus. We've just escaped from the Kazon Pommar. Chakotay: What are you doing on a Kazon ship? Neelix: They're Trabe vessels, actually. Everything the Kazon have, they stole from the Trabe. Mabus will tell you all about it over a sumptuous dinner. The food hasn't been very good where we've been. Janeway: I look forward to it. Mabus: I was eight years old when it started. I wasn't even particularly aware of the Kazon. They lived in restricted areas that children weren't allowed to go near. I didn't know they lived in poverty and filth. I didn't know they were persecuted by the Trabe police. I was told they were violent and dangerous, and had to be kept isolated so they wouldn't get loose and kill us. Which is exactly what they did, but we brought it on ourselves. The Trabe treated them like animals, fenced them in, encouraged them to fight amongst themselves so they wouldn't turn on us, and sat by while they turned into a violent, angry army. When they finally realized we were their true enemy, we didn't stand a chance. I was luckier than most. A friend's father grabbed me and took me with his family to one of the starships that managed to escape. I can still remember it happened so fast. One minute I was a happy child playing in a field, the next an orphan exiled in space. Janeway: It strikes me that in many ways we're in the same predicament. Separated from the lives we knew, searching for a home. Mabus: A goal you may well achieve, Captain, but the Kazon have refused to allow us to find a new homeworld. Every time we try to settle somewhere, they attack and drive us away. We're scattered, like nomads, with no home and little hope. Chakotay: It happened over thirty years ago and the Kazon are still trying to punish you? Mabus: Remarkable, isn't it? Most of the Trabe who persecuted the Kazon are either dead or old men by now. Most of us were children when the uprising occurred, and our children are innocent, but the Kazon's desire for revenge is as strong as ever. Rettick: How can you transmit to us without your crew knowing it? Jonas: Well, that's for me to worry about. Let's just say I'm very familiar with communications protocols. Now, will you let me talk to Seska? Rettick: Not without some proof you can be trusted. Jonas: She and I knew each other for a long time. She knows that I can be trusted. Just let me talk to her. Rettick: I'll convey your message. Contact me tomorrow and I'll let you know if she's willing to talk to you. Neelix: Before the uprising, the Trabe were known as a highly evolved species. They produced scholars and artists who were widely admired and their technology was among the finest in the quadrant. No one really knew about the Kazon and how they were being treated. Janeway: Why not? Holding another culture in virtual slavery isn't the kind of thing that could go unnoticed. Neelix: You have to understand. The Trabe were rich and powerful. They manipulated information about the conditions on their planet. And no one wanted to risk offending them, and losing opportunities for trade. Chakotay: It seems to me that they've learned their lesson. Mabus and his people have freely acknowledged that they were responsible for what happened to them. Tuvok: Still, I do not see that it is a particularly good idea to form an alliance with the blood enemies of the Kazon. We risk uniting all the factions against us. Janeway: The only thing the Kazon agree on now is that we are their common enemy. It's hard to imagine it getting much worse. Chakotay: The Trabe have a lot of ships and a lot of weapons in that convoy. I think this alliance would be better than none at all. Janeway: I'd rather not be in the position of making an alliance at all, but that may be a luxury we simply don't have. My gut tells me we don't have any friends among the Kazon. As for the Trabe, I believe that people have a capacity to change. It's always been Starfleet's policy to deal with new species on a basis of openness and trust until proven otherwise. Mabus: Captain, I'm glad to see you. I want to thank you for the use of your medical facilities. We have very few doctors. Emh: Everyone seems to be in generally good condition. Malnutrition is the most common problem, but it's easily alleviated with bio-nutrient supplements. Janeway: Thank you, Doctor. How much longer do you need? Emh: I'd say less than an hour. Janeway: Will you walk with me? Mabus: Of course. Janeway: I've been thinking about our conversation at dinner, about the things we share, and it seems to me we could be of mutual benefit to each other. Mabus: Go on. Janeway: What would you say to the possibility of our joining forces. My starship and your convoy. Mabus: It clearly would be a stronger force if we did that. Janeway: We could travel together for as long as it's advantageous to both of us. Maybe we'll find our way out of Kazon territory and you could settle on a new home world. Mabus: It's a reasonable idea Captain. I have no objection. But it would only benefit your group and mine. There are other Trabe who wouldn't enjoy the same protection. I wonder if you might consider a somewhat more bold plan. Janeway: Tell me. Mabus: Together, the Voyager and the Trabe would be a force to be reckoned with. Suppose we took advantage of that and asked the representatives of all the Kazon factions to join us at the bargaining table. Janeway: In order to achieve what? Mabus: Peace. Together we would represent a stabilizing force in this corner of the quadrant. Bring the factions together, convince them that an end to violence would be in everyone's best interest. Think about it. I believe it could work. Culluh: It's a message from Voyager. They've formed an alliance with the Trabe! Seska: The Trabe? Culluh: They're calling for a conference of all first Majes. How could this have happened? Seska: It happened because you let Voyager slip away right into the hands of the Trabe, by insisting on that ridiculous exchange of crews! Culluh: I could not let the negotiations be dictated by that woman! Seska: That's becoming a tired refrain, Culluh. One day that attitude will be your undoing. Culluh: Watch your tongue. Seska: Or what? I'm carrying your child. I don't think you'd do anything to jeopardize him. We can still turn this to our advantage. We have a crewman on Voyager who's willing to provide information to us. There's long term potential in that arrangement. We mustn't lose sight of it. Culluh: You're not suggesting we go to this conference? That we come running like a Calogan dog when the Federations call? Seska: Could you risk being the only Maje who doesn't attend? Of course you'll go, and listen. Nothing should be negotiated there, not at the point of a Federation weapon. But you can learn a great deal. Assess the mood of the other Majes, find out the strength of the Trabe convoy. Culluh: You may be right. Seska: You can come out of this a hero. You can use this conference to unite the factions, eradicate the Trabe once and for all, and take Voyager as a trophy. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 49342.5. Neelix has returned from Sobras where he learned a disturbing piece of information that may require us to rethink our plans. Neelix: He was a Takrit, a band of mercenaries that operates in this system, Tuvok: What was he doing when the Kazon Pommar arrested him? Neelix: My contact on the planet said that he was making a sketch of the conference site, and believe me the Takrid are not known for their art. Chakotay: Who sent him? Neelix: That's as much information as I got. Janeway: So someone wants to sabotage this conference. Chakotay: One of the Majes. Neelix: Why miss a chance to wipe out your rivals while they're together in one room? Tuvok: If that is true, then one of them will undoubtedly try to leave before the meeting is finished. Chakotay: Captain, I think you should consider not going to the conference. Janeway: No. If I can help bring stability to this quadrant, I'm not going to walk away because of a rumor. Neelix: A rumor that must be taken seriously nonetheless. Janeway: Agreed. Commander, monitor all the Kazon vessels carefully, and look out for any suspicious ship movement near the surface. Keep us on a constant transporter lock so we can beam out at the first hint of trouble. Tuvok, Neelix, you're with me. Tersa: I gave a great deal of thought to the shape of the table. I finally decided on a triangle. Your group will sit on one side, the Majes will occupy the other two. Does that seem appropriate? Neelix: Have you heard anything more about the matter we discussed? Tersa: Don't talk about that here. It could mean my head. Does the table shape seem acceptable? Neelix: Tersa, this time I am here with a powerful starship. You'd better be telling me everything you know. Tersa: I am, I swear. I want to thank you for making it possible to have the conference here on Sobras. My Maje has rewarded me handsomely for the prestige it affords him. If there is any further way I can be of service, please let me know. Neelix: He hasn't heard anything more, but he's frightened. He must believe something's going to happen. Tersa: The First Majes of the Kazon Order. Minnis of the Pommar. Surat of the Mostral. Loran of the Hobii. Valek of the Oglamar. And Culluh of the Nistrim. Culluh: Captain. We seem destined to encounter each other. Janeway: This is Mabus, a governor of the Trabe. Mabus: Maje Culluh. I'm gratified to be meeting you like this. I hope we'll be able to come to terms. Culluh: I never thought I'd see the day when any of us would sit at a table with the Trabe. Mabus: Times change, Maje. Culluh: Perhaps. Janeway: Shall we? Tersa: Our gracious host Jal Minnis has provided food and drink to make our discussions more pleasant. Janeway: We appreciate your coming. We hope this will lead to a new climate of peace. Culluh: Peace? With the Trabe? Forgive me if I'm a bit skeptical. Janeway: I understand. After decades of antagonism you're bound to be suspicious. But surely everyone here is tired of constant violence. Surat: Aren't you really trying to get us to relax our guard so the Trabe can conquer us again? Mabus: How can we do that? We're scattered and disparate. All we ask for is a chance to find a new homeworld and settle peacefully. Culluh: Excuse me. Culluh: Captain Janeway, I'm curious as to the nature of this alliance you've struck with the Trabe. Especially since you refused my offer of a similar pact. Janeway: I found the goals of the Trabe to be compatible with our own. I represent an organization which is devoted to peaceful co-existence among people. The Trabe want nothing more than that. Rettick: The Trabe have always wanted peace for themselves, but we paid the price. They lived in luxury and we lived in squalor and misery. Culluh: What I fear, Captain, is that this union you've made with the Trabe is an effort to force us to capitulate. If so, we assure you, it is doomed to failure. Janeway: I won't pretend that our alliance wasn't an attempt to make a show of strength. Separately, we and the Trabe are vulnerable. Together, we are stronger. Surat: Are you threatening us, Captain? Janeway: It is important that you understand our determination, but it's not a threat, it's an offer. A negotiated peace among all of us would provide a greater stability in this quadrant. How could that do anything but benefit us all? Culluh: I can't speak for all of you, but I for one don't think we can trust this proposal. A woman and a Trabe. How can we listen to them? I find you nothing but a hypocrite, Captain, allying yourselves to the greatest villains this quadrant has ever known. If this is where your revered Federation values have taken you, I want no part of it. Mabus: Gentlemen. Allow me to confer with my Federation colleagues. Please, have some refreshments and let us continue in a few moments. Captain, would you please join me? Mabus: Captain, I really need to talk to you now! Janeway: Get down! Culluh: What is this, Captain? Janeway: It's a trap! Take cover! Janeway: Voyager, red alert! Chakotay: We're on it. Mabus: You've ruined what would have been the greatest step towards peace in decades. Neelix: Peace? A massacre? Mabus: I could have decimated the Kazon leadership. It would have taken them years to recover. Janeway: You planned this whole thing and used our good will to make sure you were successful. Mabus: You don't know the Kazon. There's no dealing with them. Violence is all they understand. Janeway: Or perhaps it's all you understand. Mabus: You're naive, Captain. It's clear you have no understanding of the harsh realities of this part of space. What I tried to do was done as much for you as it was for us. Janeway: I'm not grateful, and I want you off my ship. Chief, beam our former guest back to his vessel. Mabus: Captain, don't do this. You're going to need us. Janeway: I don't think so. Mabus: The Kazon will be determined to seek revenge. How can this one ship hope to survive? Janeway: Not by making deals with executioners. Energize. Tuvok: I would suggest we depart before the Kazon have a chance to return to their ships. Janeway: Janeway to Paris. Get us out of here. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: There's no question we're more vulnerable now than ever. We have to take every measure to make sure we're prepared for an attack. I want continual diagnostics on all ship's systems. Tuvok: I will schedule additional battle drills for all hands. Janeway: Mister Neelix, what about our food supplies? Neelix: We're in good shape, Captain. We shouldn't have to stop anywhere for several weeks. Janeway: Good. Lieutenant, what's the condition of our propulsion systems? Torres: We have a reasonable supply of anti-matter. Barring any major problems, we should have maximum performance of both warp and impulse engines. Janeway: There's just one more thing I want to say. I hope there's a lesson for all of us in this. Although some of the species we've encountered here have been peaceful, others seem governed only by their own self-interests. This appears to be a region of space that doesn't have many rules. But I believe we can learn something from the events that have unfolded. In a part of space where there are few rules, it's more important than ever that we hold fast to our own. In a region where shifting allegiances are commonplace we have to have something stable to rely on. And we do. The principles and ideals of the Federation. As far as I'm concerned, those are the best allies we could have.

Paris: Warp five. Warp six. Warp seven. I've reached critical velocity. Torres: Okay. Everything looks good on this end. Fire up the new engines. Paris: Acknowledged. Engaging transwarp drive in four, three, two. Transwarp online. Warp nine point two, nine point three. My vector's drifting. Kim: Try to stabilize your field symmetry. Paris: Got it. Warp nine point six, nine point seven. I'm reading a fracture in the port nacelle pylon. Torres: Full power to structural integrity. Paris: Warp nine point nine, nine point nine five. I'm approaching the threshold, but the nacelle isn't holding! Kim: Tie in auxiliary power! Paris: It's no use. I'm breaking up! I'm breaking Torres: You're dead. Torres: It's the pylon again. Every time we get close to crossing the threshold, the subspace torque rips a nacelle off the shuttle. Kim: What about a duranium alloy? We could try using it to reinforce Torres: No, I've thought about that already. It's too brittle. Neelix: More coffee? Ah, you look like a happy bunch. Kim: We've hit a wall. Neelix: Oh. Well, maybe I can help. Paris: Great. Do you know anything about quantum warp theory or multi-spectral subspace engine design? Neelix: No. But I'm a quick study. What are we working on? Torres: Do you have anything to eat? Neelix: Sure. There's some Kalavian biscuits, somewhere in the kitchen. Torres: I guess I'll go find them myself. Fill him in. Kim: Neelix, it would take too long to Neelix: What are you saying? I'm not smart enough? I'll have you know I did two years as an engineer's assistant aboard a Trabalian freighter. I'm well-versed in warp theory. Paris: Okay, okay. We'll tell you. We're trying to break the maximum warp barrier. Kim: Nothing in the universe can go warp ten. It's a theoretical impossibility. In principle, if you were ever to reach warp ten, you'd be traveling at infinite velocity. Neelix: Infinite velocity. Got it. So that means very fast. Paris: It means that you would occupy every point in the universe simultaneously. In theory, you could go any place in the wink of an eye. Time and distance would have no meaning. Kim: If Voyager achieved warp ten, we could be home in as long as it takes to push a button. Neelix: Wow! And you're working on this? Paris: We discovered a new form of dilithium in the asteroid field we surveyed last month. It remains stable at a much higher warp frequency. Kim: The problem is, every time we simulate crossing the transwarp threshold, the nacelles get torn off the ship. Neelix: I remember there was a time when I lost a warp nacelle going through a dark matter nebula. Paris: This is a very different problem. Neelix: I realize that. I'm just using it as an example. As the ship went through the nebula, it sent out a dark matter bow wave. Eventually so much pressure built up, it tore the nacelle from its housing. Now, maybe the same thing is happening to you. Kim: No, the simulations don't indicate any kind of subspace stress on the nacelles. Paris: Wait a minute. What about the shuttle itself? Kim: What do you mean? Paris: Maybe we've been looking in the wrong place. What if the nacelles aren't being torn from the ship? What if the ship is being torn from the nacelles? Kim: The hull of the shuttle is made of tritanium alloy. At the speeds we're talking about, that alloy could depolarize. Paris: And create a velocity differential. The fuselage would be traveling at a faster rate of speed than the nacelles. Kim: That means we just have to set up a depolarization matrix around the fuselage. Paris: That's it! Neelix, you're a genius. Neelix: I have no idea what they just said. Paris: Warp nine point nine two. The pylons are secure. Everything looks good. Nine point nine seven, eight, nine. Warp ten! Torres: You've crossed the threshold. You've done it. And there's been no damage to the nacelles. Janeway: When you came to me a month ago and said you had a way to cross the transwarp threshold, I thought it was more of a fantasy than a theory. Congratulations to all of you. Torres: So we can try a manned test flight? Janeway: What's your flight plan? Paris: I'll bring the shuttle up to speed. The second I cross the threshold, I'll cut the engines, drop out of warp and come about. Kim: After that, we'll analyze the shuttle's sensor logs. Once we know it's safe to travel at transwarp, we'll try a more extended flight. Chakotay: To be honest, it's almost frightening. Up till now, it's all been theory. I never thought it would actually happen. Are we ready for it? Janeway: In the last couple of centuries, we've always managed to use new technologies wisely. I'm confident this time won't be any different. Besides, there's no way to put the genie back in the bottle. All we can do now is keep moving forward, carefully. Well, good luck, Mister Paris. If this works, you'll be joining an elite group of pilots. Orville Wright, Neil Armstrong, Zefram Cochrane and Tom Paris. Paris: I kind of like the way that sounds. Janeway: I thought you might. Paris: Come in. Oh, Captain. I, er Janeway: At ease, Mister Paris. I know it's late. Paris: Can I get you anything? Janeway: No, thank you. Paris: Now, why do I get the feeling this isn't just a social call? Janeway: I've just spoken to the Doctor, and it's his opinion that we let Ensign Kim make the test flight. Paris: May I ask why? Janeway: He checked over your biometric readings from the shuttle simulations. He says you have a slight enzymatic imbalance in your cerebellum. Paris: So? Janeway: I know it doesn't sound like much, but he can't predict what'll happen when you cross the threshold. He believes there's a small chance that you could suffer a brain hemorrhage under the subspace stress. Paris: How big a chance? Janeway: Two percent. Paris: Two percent? I'll take that chance. Janeway: There's no reason to. Ensign Kim is capable of piloting the shuttle for this mission. Paris: Yeah, he's capable. That's not the point. Janeway: What is the point, Mister Paris? Paris: Well, it's hard to explain, but this is my flight. Janeway: Your flight? Paris: When I was a boy, my father used to tell me that I was special, that one day I'd do something significant. My teachers at school, all the kids, everyone used to say, Tom Paris is going to do something important when he grows up. Obviously, that didn't happen. Janeway: This isn't about personal redemption. We're talking about medical risk. Your life could be in danger, and we need you. Paris: Captain, this is the first time in ten years I feel I have a life to risk. Janeway: You're sure about this? Paris: Captain, I've never been so sure about anything. Please. Please let me make the flight. Janeway: Good luck, Lieutenant. Torres: Torres to Bridge. The pre-launch sequence is complete Torres: Captain. Janeway: Acknowledged. Ensign Kim, depressurize the shuttle bay and open the space doors. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Bridge to Shuttlecraft Cochrane. You're cleared for launch. Paris: Aye, Captain. Paris: See you at warp ten. Paris: Cochrane to Voyager. All systems are nominal. I'm increasing speed. Janeway: We'll keep up with you as long as we can. Paris: Warp seven Paris: Warp eight. Torres: How's his dilithium matrix holding up? Paris: Warp nine. Jonas: There's a slight variance in the warp field, but nothing to worry about. Torres: Okay. Torres to shuttlecraft Cochrane. You're clear for transwarp velocity. Paris: Acknowledged. Engaging transwarp drive in four, three, two Paris: Warp nine point seven, nine point eight, nine point nine. Tuvok: He's exceeding our maximum velocity. I am switching to long range sensors. Paris: Warp nine point nine five. Tuvok: He is approaching the threshold. Paris: Engine output at maximum. Velocity, warp ten. Kim: Yes! Paris: Transwarp engines are stable. So are the nacelle pylons. I'm going to Janeway: Lieutenant, can you hear me? Kim: Captain, he just disappeared off sensors. Chakotay: Increase sensor gain to maximum. Kim: Nothing. I can't find him. He's gone. Kim: I've done three full sensor sweeps. No sign of the shuttle within five parsecs. Janeway: Tuvok, could the shuttle have been destroyed? Tuvok: I don't believe so. Sensors indicate that he did cross the warp threshold. Kim: If that's true, then he could be anywhere in the universe. Janeway: We'll just have to keep searching our small corner. Run a multispectral sweep. I want to see if Tuvok: Captain, there's a quantum surge off the port bow. Something is coming out of subspace. Janeway: Janeway to Paris. Kim: He's alive, but his life signs are weak. Janeway: Bridge to Transporter room two. Beam Mister Paris directly to Sickbay. Commander, bring the shuttle aboard. I'll be in Sickbay. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Emh: His life signs are normal. A few elevated serotonin readings in the hypothalamus. From what I can tell, he's just asleep. Janeway: Can you wake him? Emh: I don't see why not. Emh: Wake up, Lieutenant! Janeway: Are you all right, Tom? Paris: I'm back. Janeway: We tracked you until you crossed the threshold, then you disappeared from our sensors. Do you remember what happened? Paris: Oh, yeah. I was, I was staring at the velocity indicator. It said warp ten. And then, as I watched it, I suddenly realized that I was watching myself as well. I could see the outside of the shuttle, I could see Voyager, I could see inside Voyager. I could see inside this room. For a moment, I was everywhere. I mean, everywhere, Captain. With the Kazon, back home, with the Klingons, other galaxies. It was all there. I don't know how else to explain it. It was like. Well, no, it wasn't like anything. Emh: Well, I'm glad you had a good time. Janeway: How did you get back to Voyager? Paris: I saw that you were looking for me, so I took the new engines offline and ended up back where I started. But, oh, it's starting to slip away. It all was so vivid, and now Torres: Tom! Paris: Oh, I'm fine. How's the shuttle? Torres: You brought it back without a scratch. The on-board sensors confirm that you did it. You made it to warp ten. Janeway: Congratulations, Mister Paris. You've just made the history books. Paris: We should download the shuttle's sensor logs, analyze the telemetry they picked up during the flight before we make another attempt. Emh: You're not going anywhere. At least not for a few hours. I have some tests I'd like to run on Your Majesty before I release you back into the realm of ordinary humans. Paris: You may proceed. Janeway: We'll download the logs. I'll let you know what we find. Janeway: Janeway to Kim. We're ready. Kim: Acknowledged. I'm downloading the logs into the Engineering computer core. Torres: This data describes literally every cubic centimeter in this sector. It's over five billion gigaquads of information. Janeway: It would appear that the theory of infinite velocity is correct. It may be possible to occupy every point in the universe simultaneously. Torres: Then it's just a matter of navigation. If we could figure out how to come out of transwarp at a specific point, this could get us home. Janeway: It could do more than that. It could change the very nature of our existence. Think of it. There would be nothing beyond our reach. This telemetry is giving us an invaluable record of this sector. We can use it to make a star chart. Transfer the shuttle logs to Stellar Cartography for analysis. Torres: Right. Neelix: This is a new blend. I'm calling it Paris Delight. It's in honor of you. Paris: What? Oh! Oh, thanks. That's very flattering. Neelix: I can tell. Torres: Well, you might as well get used to it. You're a hero now. Paris: I wish I could say it was nothing. Oh. Oh, I wish Neelix would name something after me that tasted a little better. Torres: Smells okay. Paris: No, trust me. You're taking your life into your hands. So, I think the next step is to try to duplicate the first shuttle flight, verify our results. Torres: I agree. We have to confirm that none of this was a fluke. Paris: But I do think that we should increase the shuttle's memory core by at least Torres: What? What's wrong? Paris: I don't think that coffee is settling too well. Torres: Do you want to go back to Sickbay? Paris: No! No, I've seen enough of the Doctor for one day. Ow! On second thought, maybe I should Torres: Torres to Transporter room two. Medical emergency. Beam Lieutenant Paris directly to Sickbay. Crewman: I can't lock onto him. His pattern keeps changing. Torres: Torres to Sickbay. We need a medical team in the mess hall right away. Hang on, Tom. Emh: Hmm. It looks like he's having an allergic reaction. What did he ingest? Torres: Just a cup of Neelix's coffee. Emh: It's a miracle he's still alive. This is strange. Torres: What is? Emh: He's definitely having an allergic reaction. To the water in the coffee. Torres: He's allergic to water? Emh: I don't know how this is possible, but it appears that his entire biochemistry is changing. His electrolytes are breaking down, interstitial fluids are congealing. Emh: The alveoli in his lungs are mutating. He's no longer processing oxygen. Torres: What should we do? Emh: Stand back. Computer, erect an isolation field around the surgical bay. Computer, remove all the air from within the forcefield and replace it with eighty percent nitrogen and twenty percent acidichloride. He can breath, for now. Torres: What's happening to him? Emh: I have no idea, but I assume it had something to do with his experience on the shuttle. Emh: His cellular membranes are deteriorating. He's dying. I need to know more about what happened on that shuttle, and I need to know it now. Radiation levels, unexplained anomalies, anything. Paris: You're losing me, aren't you? I'm going to die. Emh: You're too stubborn to die, Mister Paris. I want to try high saturation radiometric therapy. It might slow down his cellular mutation. Paris: Here lies Thomas Eugene Paris, beloved mutant. Emh: A fitting epitaph, but I don't intend to let you use it just yet. Kes: Radiometric emitters are charged and ready. Emh: Begin with forty five rads per second. Paris: Great. Now it'll read, beloved radioactive mutant. Emh: No effect. Increase the dosage to eighty five rads per second. I'm going to try inhibiting the cell mitosis with a biosuppresser field. Paris: Big funeral with lots of pretty girls all crying. Except Torres. Torres doesn't cry. Did you ever notice that? I don't trust people who don't cry. Of course, my father, he'd say crying is a sign of weakness. I never believed that. Do you cry? Emh: It's not in my program. Paris: Shame. You know, it's funny. What I remember most about being a kid are the times I spent in my room crying. I liked my room, though. It was quiet in there. People would leave me alone. I'd keep the door locked, read, play games. I lost my virginity in that room. Seventeen. Parents were away for the weekend. Emh: I'll note that in your medical file. Paris: Ow! Emh: His lymphatic system is collapsing. Increase dosage to ninety eight rads per second. Paris: Pepperoni! God, I'd love a pepperoni pizza with Kavarian olives right now. I'm starving! Emh: His life signs are critical. Maximum dosage. Paris: Kiss me. Emh: What? Paris: Not you. Her. Emh: She can't breathe the atmosphere in here. Paris: Consider it a last request. Kes: I'm sorry, Tom. If we let down the forcefield, you'll suffocate. Paris: Oh, what's the difference? I'm dying anyway. Do me a favor. When I'm gone, call Starfleet Headquarters and tell Dad that I did it. Tell him Emh: Prepare to activate the neural stimulator. Kes: Ready. Emh: Now! Again. Again! No neural activity. Kes: We can try to revive him. Emh: His cell membranes have degraded. There's nothing more we can do. Computer, remove the acidichloride gas from the isolation field and deactivate the field. It will be necessary for us to perform an autopsy on the Lieutenant's body in the morning. Until then, I suggest you get some rest. Emh: You're alive! Paris: What's happening? Emh: All of your internal organs are functioning again. In fact, you seem to have an extra one. Paris: What? Emh: You have two hearts. Jonas: I have thirty seconds before Security picks up this transmission. I'm sending you all current information on the warp ten shuttle flight. Rettick: Warp ten? That's impossible. Jonas: Not anymore. Lieutenant Paris crossed the threshold this morning. Rettick: He survived? Jonas: In a matter of speaking. It's all in the file. This should prove my worth to you, Rettick. Rettick: We'll see. Emh: He's body is going through some sort of mutation. His DNA is rewriting itself. To what end, I don't know. Janeway: Does this have anything to do with the enzymatic imbalance you found? Emh: No. Janeway: Can you stop it? Emh: So far, nothing has worked. The mutations are unlike anything in Starfleet medical records. His internal organs are being rearranged. Some have atrophied and been absorbed into his body, and there are at least three others that have appeared and have no identifiable function at all. Janeway: What about his brain? Emh: There are neuroelectrical transmutations at work. His synaptic patterns are changing almost every second. But he does still recognize me, the ship. He knows who he is. Janeway: Can I talk to him? Emh: Of course. But I feel I should caution you that while he still is Tom Paris, he's becoming something else as well. His personality is erratic, unpredictable. There are moments of lucidity interspersed with almost deranged behavior. Janeway: I'll keep it in mind. Paris: Pretty disgusting, huh? Janeway: You've looked better. How do you feel? Paris: Like a lab experiment gone wrong. Janeway: Well, we're trying to put that experiment right. The Doctor's working on a way to restore your DNA to its original Paris: Why? Janeway: Excuse me? Paris: Why? What I'm becoming will probably be better than who I was. Janeway: Lieutenant, you know that's not true. Paris: Oh, yes, it is. Admit it. Part of you will be glad to see me gone. I'm the Maquis traitor who sits on your Bridge and insults your uniform, remember? Janeway: We're all concerned about you, Tom. We're here to help you. Paris: No, you're not. You're trying to take this away from me. Janeway: Take what away from you? Paris: What I'm becoming. How do you know this isn't good for me? How do you know this isn't the best thing that's ever happened to me? Janeway: That's a possibility. And then again, it could kill you. We need to find out what's going on. Paris: You're lying. Just like him. Just like everyone around here. Always lying. Always telling me that I'm doing a good job, that you're glad I'm on this ship. But none of that's true. Why can't you just say it? You're jealous that I broke the transwarp barrier, and now you're hoping I'll die! Janeway: You're right, Doctor. I don't think there's anything I can do here. Paris: Wait, Captain. I'm sorry. Please come back. I know you're doing what you can. It's just, I'm scared. I didn't mean to lash out at you. Janeway: What you're going through would scare any of us, but you have to hang on, Tom. We're doing everything we can to help you. Paris: I know you are. And I know you'll fail! Paris: You know, I used to look up to you. But now you seem so small, so insignificant. You don't even know what, what, what Kes: Doctor, the rate of genetic mutation has accelerated by twelve percent. Emh: I want you to run a nucleogenic scan to determine how much of his original DNA is left intact. In the meantime, I'm going to see about treating him with Paris: Doctor! Emh: What is it now, Mister Paris? Paris: I need to talk. Emh: So I've noticed. Is it urgent? I'm rather busy right now. Paris: Urgent. Yes, urgent. Let me out of here. Emh: I'm afraid that's not possible. Paris: Please. I can't stay here. I have to get off this ship. Kes: Leave Voyager? Why? Paris: I understand. It's all so clear now. Emh: What do you understand? Paris: The present, the past, they're both in the future. The future is in the past. Emh: I beg your pardon? Paris: Listen to me! I am more. I'm everything. Let me go. Kes: Go where, Tom? Paris: I can't! Please. Please! Emh: Something tells me we'd better hurry. Emh: I believe the answer lies in forcing his DNA to revert to its original coding. Once that occurs, his body should return to its former state. Chakotay: How do we do that? Emh: We destroy all of the new DNA in his body. His cells will have to use the original coding as a blueprint. But the only way to destroy the mutant DNA is with highly focused antiproton radiation. Torres: Antiprotons? The only place on this ship which generates antiprotons is the warp core. Emh: Exactly. I'd like to place Mister Paris in an isotopic restraint and then infuse it with controlled antiproton bursts. A tricky venture, but I see no other alternative. Torres: We'll have to take the warp core offline, then I'll need about three hours to set up an interface. Emh: In three hours, there won't be anything left of Mister Paris to save. We have to make the attempt within an hour, at the most. Janeway: Get moving. Emh: What's your status, Lieutenant? Torres: The interface is charged and ready. Emh: Infuse him with a two second antiproton burst. Torres: Take the warp engines offline. Bleed off point zero five seven AMUs of antiproton radiation. Shunt it through the interface. Jonas: Transfer underway. Kes: Doctor, the mutated DNA in his liver cells has begun to deteriorate, but the original coding isn't taking over. Emh: I don't understand. This should be working. We'll have to increase the duration of the bursts. Lieutenant, prepare a five second burst. Also, you'll need to begin depolarizing the Torres: Oh, my God. Emh: Lieutenant? Torres: Call Security! Emh: Lieutenant! What's happening? Crewman: I got him! I got him! Over there! Shut it all down! Tuvok: This is a Level three Security Alert. All hands report to duty stations. Janeway: Janeway to Bridge. Report. Chakotay: Paris broke out of confinement in Engineering. Chakotay: He used a phaser on the port plasma conduit. We have power failures all over the ship. Janeway: Where is he now? Chakotay: We're having trouble tracking him. We can't get power to the internal sensors. Tuvok has security teams searching deck by deck. Janeway: I'm on my way to the Bridge. Kim: Phaser discharge on deck six. Chakotay: Localize it. Kim: I'm still having trouble with internal sensors. It came from somewhere between sections twenty one and twenty seven alpha. Chakotay: Tuvok doesn't have any security in that area. Chakotay to Tuvok. We think Paris may be on deck six. Deploy security to sections twenty one through twenty seven alpha. Kim: Commander, someone's depressurizing shuttlebay two. Chakotay: What? Kim: There's a launch in progress. Chakotay: Tractor beam. Kim: It's offline. Tuvok: Tuvok to Bridge. We found the Captain's phaser on deck six, but there's no sign of her. Chakotay: Maintain a sensor lock on that shuttle. Kim: I've got main power back. Chakotay: Engage warp engines. Follow them. Crewwoman: Aye, Commander. Kim: They're approaching warp nine point nine. Chakotay: Increase speed to match. Computer: Warning. Nearing maximum warp velocity. Structural collapse is imminent. Chakotay: Are we in tractor range? Kim: No, and they're still accelerating. Warp nine point nine seven. Computer: Warning. At present speed, structural failure in forty five seconds. Chakotay: Reduce sped to warp nine point five. Keep a sensor lock on them as long as you can. Kim: I've lost them, Commander. They've gone to transwarp. First Officer's log, stardate 49373.4. It's taken us three days to locate the shuttle. It appears to have dropped out of transwarp in an uninhabited star system. Emh: I've re-examined the data on Mister Paris' transformation, and I think I understand what's happening to him. The mutations we observed are natural. Chakotay: Natural? Emh: The changes in his DNA are consistent with the evolutionary development of the human genotype observed over the past four million years. Increased brain capacity, the loss of vestigial organs. Tuvok: Are you saying Lieutenant Paris is evolving? Emh: That's my theory. The only difference between natural evolution and what happened to Mister Paris is that his changes took place over a twenty four hour period. Somehow, traveling at infinite velocity accelerated the natural human evolutionary process by millions of years. It's possible that Mister Paris represents a future stage in human development, although I can't say it's very attractive. Chakotay: What do we do about it? Emh: I think my antiproton approach was correct. However, I'll need to intensify the treatment to restore his original DNA. Kim: Bridge to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Kim: I think I've found the shuttlecraft, Commander. It's on the fourth planet, in one of the jungles near the equator. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Tuvok, have a security team meet us in Transporter room three. Chakotay: There are traces of human DNA. It's them. But I have to admit, I'm not sure which one is the Captain. Tuvok: The female, obviously. Chakotay: I don't know how I'm going to enter this into the log. Tuvok: I look forward to reading it. First Officer's log, supplemental. We've transported the Captain and Mister Paris back to Sickbay. As for their offspring, I've decided to leave them in their new habitat. Emh: I've eradicated all traces of the mutant DNA from your system and restored your original genome. Congratulations. You're human again. Janeway: Thank you, Doctor. Emh: Captain, it'll take some time for your genetic codes to stabilize. I'd like you to remain in Sickbay for the next three days, just to be safe. Janeway: Excuse me. Paris: Captain, er Janeway: I've thought about having children, but I must say I never considered having them with you. Paris: Captain, I'm sorry. I, I don't know what to say, except I don't remember very much about, er, you know Janeway: What makes you think it was your idea? Sometimes it's the female of the species that initiates mating. But apology accepted, nonetheless. You may be interested to know I'm putting you in for a commendation. Regardless of the outcome, you did make the first transwarp flight. Paris: Thank you, Captain. Janeway: Is there something wrong, Lieutenant? Paris: I don't know. I guess this whole experience has left me feeling a little overwhelmed. Flying at warp ten, evolving into a new life form, mating, having alien offspring. Janeway: You've broken more than one record, that's for sure. Paris: Breaking the threshold. It was incredible. But somehow it doesn't mean as much as I thought it would. Janeway: Oh? Paris: I guess I went into this looking for a quick fix. I thought making history would change things. Not just my service record, my reputation. Janeway: If I'm not mistaken, you've changed quite a few minds on this ship. You've earned a lot of people's respect and admiration. Paris: Yeah. But I'm starting to realize that it's not other people's opinions I should be worried about. It's mine. It seems, Captain, that I still have a few barriers to break. I just hope they're not theoretical impossibilities. Janeway: Somehow, I don't think they will be.

Kim: Game. Paris: Why don't we make it interesting this time. Let's add some table stakes. Kim: What kind of stakes? Paris: I don't know. Hmm. Couple of replicator rations, maybe? Ricky: Don't do it, Harry. He's hustling you. Kim: Wait a minute. Are you saying he deliberately let me win? Paris: That would be dishonest, Harry. Kim: I won that game, and I'll beat you again. Paris: How many rations are you willing to bet on that? Crewmembers: Go for it, Harry. Kim: A week's worth. Paris: Harry, Harry, Harry. Never, ever play with anyone, not even your best friend, if he says let's make it interesting. You want a little action, I'll give you a little action. How about an honest game of chance? Ricky: Never play with anyone, even your best friend, if he offers you an honest game of chance, Harry. Paris: One replicator ration is all it takes to play, and the only thing you have to do to win is pick a number. Just predict what the radiogenic particle count will be at twelve hundred hours tomorrow, and if you hit the pot is yours. Minus a small handling fee for the bank, of course. Crewman: I'll take a piece of that. Jones: Jones. Paris: Harry, get a PADD, take down these names and numbers. Kim: I'm in too. Lewis: Lewis, twenty one hundred. Torres: Ensign Hogan, still no luck with the warp drive? Hogan: No, Lieutenant. The manifold just won't fire up. We've finally narrowed it down to some kind of a problem in EPS conduit one four one. Torres: Was there any indication yesterday that there was something wrong? Hogan: Suder was monitoring the EPS flow and the CCF. He says everything was fine. Torres: I guess we'll just have to get in there and track it down. Neelix: Happy Kal Rekk, Mister Vulcan! Tuvok: The holiday of Kal Rekk is not for two weeks. Neelix: But it's the Kal Rekk season. Tuvok: There is no Kal Rekk season. Kal Rekk is a day of atonement, solitude and silence. Neelix: Atonement. Solitude. All your Vulcan holidays are the same. I've been doing some research, I know. Tuvok: Why would you need to do research on Vulcan holidays? Neelix: It's part of my job as Morale officer. Tuvok: Morale is irrelevant to a Vulcan. Neelix: Oh, please! There's no one on this ship requires my services more than you do. I will not rest until I see you smile. Tuvok: Then you will not rest. Neelix: I don't suppose you've ever heard of the Vulcan Rumarie? Tuvok: The Rumarie is an ancient pagan festival. Neelix: Full of barely clothed Vulcan men and women covered in slippery Rillan grease, chasing one another. Tuvok: That has not been observed for a millennium. Neelix: Well, it's time to bring it back. Torres: Lieutenant Tuvok, report to Engineering immediately. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Neelix: I've been thinking of a Rumarie theme for the mess hall next week. Lots of high fat, greasy foods, and if people want to take of their clothes and chase one another, well, it certainly wouldn't hurt morale around here. Tuvok: Is there a problem, Lieutenant? Emh: Ninety eight percent of his body suffered third degree plasma burns. If the circuit hadn't failed, he would have been vaporized. Tuvok: It appeared that Mister Darwin entered the conduit to repair a faulty circuit when the accident occurred. Emh: A perfectly good theory. Unfortunately it's wrong. This contusion is the result of a hard blow to the back of the skull. Tuvok: Perhaps he fell and hit his head in the conduit. Emh: The coup contra-coup pattern of breakage should tell us if the blow is the result of a moving head hitting a stationary object, or a moving object hitting a stationary head. In this case the pattern clearly indicates the latter. I'm sorry to report Crewman Darwin was murdered. Tuvok: At first glance there is no obvious motive. Crewman Darwin didn't have any known enemies on board. Janeway: I've been looking over his Starfleet record. His training instructor recommended him as an Officers candidate. He turned it down to come with us. He has three sisters back home. Torres: Sorry I'm late. These are the duty logs from last night. Lon Suder was the only one in Engineering when Frank Darwin came on duty. Janeway: Something wrong? Chakotay: No, not really. I've just never really been comfortable with Suder, that's all. It's not like he ever did anything wrong, it's just Torres: As a Maquis, he did what he had to do a little too well. Janeway: As in? Chakotay: As in killing Cardassians. Tuvok: I don't recall observing anything unusual about Mister Suder's behavior while I was on your ship. Chakotay: You weren't with him in battle. Around us he was the quietest, most unassuming guy you'll ever meet. Typical Betazoid, Kept to himself. I never knew much about him. Torres: In the Maquis, we didn't ask for resumes. We needed all the help we could get. Chakotay: A lot of us were doing what we were doing to protect our families, but Suder had his own reasons. I wish I could tell you what they were. In combat there was something in his eyes. Janeway: Maybe he had something personal against Cardassians? Chakotay: Sometimes I had to pull him back, stop him from going too far. And once or twice when I did he looked at me with those cold eyes and I just knew he was this far away from killing me. Tuvok: I find it curious that none of this was included in your initial crew evaluation, Commander. Chakotay: I don't put down hunches or bad feelings in my crew evaluations, Lieutenant. A Vulcan should appreciate that. Tuvok: Considering the fact that your Maquis crew included malcontents, outlaws and mercenaries, I believe it would have been appropriate. Chakotay: I wasn't going to make it harder for any of them here. Suder did his job when he was serving with me and he's done his job since he's been on this ship. Janeway: It seems clear where your investigation should begin, Lieutenant. Suder: You wished to see me, Mister Tuvok? Tuvok: Sit down. You were alone in Engineering when Crewman Darwin reported for duty last night. Suder: Yes, sir. Tuvok: Did you speak to him? Suder: No, we just sort of looked at each other and he did whatever he had to do and I did what I had to do. Tuvok: And what was that? Suder: I was running a fuel consumption analysis for Lieutenant Torres. She can tell you. Are you accusing me of killing him? Tuvok: I have accused no one at this time. Did you kill Crewman Darwin? Suder: No. No, I barely knew him. You know, just because I'm a Maquis doesn't make me a killer. Tuvok: I will be speaking to everyone in Engineering, perhaps everyone on this ship, not just former members of the Maquis. Suder: We all know how you feel about the Maquis. Tuvok: I assure you, I have no feelings about the Maquis. Suder: No, you just spied on us and were going to turn us all over to Starfleet. Tuvok: As hard as it may be for you to understand, that did not require any feelings on my part. The Doctor places the time of death at twenty two fourteen. Do you remember what you were doing then? Suder: I was still running the fuel analysis. I worked on it until I went off duty. Tuvok: Would you be surprised to know that your console was logged off at twenty two oh nine? Suder: That's not possible. Tuvok: Do you have a criminal record, Mister Suder? Suder: Now that would be sort of difficult to check on, wouldn't it? Tuvok: Why would you have any reason to lie? Suder: I don't. Tuvok: Do you have a criminal record? Suder: No. Tuvok: How would you describe your relationship with Crewman Darwin? Suder: I had no relationship. Tuvok: No disagreements? Suder: No. Tuvok: No fights? Suder: No. Tuvok: No reason to kill him? Suder: No. Tuvok: You are dismissed, Crewman. I may have more questions for you later. Emh: Medlab to Lieutenant Tuvok. Tuvok: Go ahead, Doctor. Emh: I think I've found something that will help you. Emh: Do you see the DNA strands on the lower border? Tuvok: Yes. They were retrieved from inside the head wound by nanites that I designed to recognize unusual DNA patterns. This DNA was isolated because it didn't belong to the victim. Tuvok: Have you matched it to a member of the crew? Tuvok: Are you certain? Emh: DNA doesn't know how to lie, Lieutenant. Tuvok: I must advise you that under Starfleet Directive one zero one you do not have to answer any questions. Suder: No. No, there's no point in denying it anymore. I used a two kilo coil spanner. He was sitting at the impulse system control panel. Didn't even look up when I moved in behind him and I swung the spanner as hard as I could. Tuvok: Crewman, I suggest you speak to counsel. Suder: There was practically no blood. I was surprised at that. I figured that the EPS conduit was the easiest way to dispose of the body, but I must have damaged one of the circuits when I put him inside. Oh, I hid the spanner behind a comm. line access panel on deck seven. Tuvok: Why did you kill him, Mister Suder? Suder: No reason. Tuvok: That is not a satisfactory answer. You must have had some motive. Suder: I didn't like the way he looked at me. Emh: No doubt about it, this is the murder weapon. Mister Suder is apparently telling the truth. You don't seem satisfied, Lieutenant. Tuvok: No. Emh: You have a confession and the murder weapon. Tuvok: And no established motive. Emh: Does it matter? Tuvok: Crime must have a logical purpose. Emh: Ah yes, I see. How to close the case without understanding the logic of the crime. For a Vulcan, that would be a dilemma, wouldn't it. Tuvok: Doctor, is it possible that Mister Suder is psychotic? Emh: I doubt it. Kes, call up his genetic profile. Kes: The neurogenetic markers are normal. There's no tendency towards bipolar disorder. Emh: So he's not insane, per se. What do the elevated norepinephrine levels suggest? Kes: Aggressive, even violent tendencies. Tuvok: Why didn't you report this immediately after your examination, Doctor? Emh: These readings are not significantly different from those of the other Maquis crewmen. Obviously it takes a certain personality type to be attracted to the life of an outlaw. Kes: Don't you believe his confession, Tuvok? Tuvok: In fact I do. Nevertheless, my job is not finished until I determine a motive. Emh: And what if there was no motive? Tuvok: One may not recognize the motivation, but there is always motivation. Emh: I think you are trapped in your own Vulcan logic, Lieutenant. All of us have violent instincts. We have evolved from predators. Well, not me, of course, I've just been programmed by you predators. The question is, in a civilized world, can we suppress those instincts? Most of the time we can. Vulcans certainly can. You've got your violent feelings buried underneath centuries of control. But the rest of the humanoid races aren't always so skilled at self-diskipline. Crewman Suder may have violent impulses that he just can't control. Tuvok: Do you believe that a look by Mister Darwin could provoke such a violent reaction? Emh: It has been known to happen. Tuvok: I do not accept that explanation. Suder: I already told you why I killed him, Lieutenant. Tuvok: You didn't like the way he looked at you. Suder: Right. Tuvok: Just how did he look at you? Suder: Like a lot of people in Starfleet do. Tuvok: So this murder could in fact be explained as an outburst of rage against Starfleet. Suder: Look, if that's how you want to look at this. Tuvok: I want the truth. Suder: I don't like Starfleet, I won't deny that, but Tuvok: Yes? Suder: I have killed people who weren't in Starfleet for the same reason. I did not like the way they looked at me. I've thought about killing you, Lieutenant. Tuvok: In my case, you have a motive. My previous mission as a spy, my role as your accuser. But to my knowledge, Crewman Darwin had done nothing to you. Suder: That's true. Tuvok: Then why chose him as a victim? Suder: I don't know. Tuvok: Do you feel remorse? Suder: I don't seem to feel anything at all. Most Betazoids can sense other people's emotions. I can't even sense my own. So what's going to happen to me now? Tuvok: I'll have to discuss that with the Captain. Suder: I know what I'd do if I were her. Guess I'm lucky. The Federation doesn't execute people. Tuvok: It is important that I understand why you killed Mister Darwin. Suder: I wish I could help you, Lieutenant. Tuvok: You can. And indirectly I may be able to help you as well. Do you know what a mind meld is? Suder: It's that Vulcan thing where you grab someone's head. Tuvok: We would be telepathically linked, exchanging our thoughts. In essence, becoming one mind. Suder: One mind? You and me? I wouldn't recommend that, Lieutenant. Tuvok: It is not without risk, but as a Vulcan I have internal processes that allow me to control violent instincts. I believe I will be able to suppress whatever feelings I draw from you. Suder: And how will I be helped by all this? Tuvok: It is likely that you will gain, at least for a time, some of my self diskipline to better control your violent nature. Suder: What do I have to do? Tuvok: Release the forcefield. Tuvok: My mind to your mind. Your thoughts to my thoughts. Computer: Radiogenic particle density at the measured co-ordinates was one eight seven three per cubic meter. Paris: And the winner of sixteen replicator rations in the Paris radiogenic sweepstakes is? Computer? Computer: There is no winner today. Paris: What? No winner? Computer, are you positive? Computer: Try your luck again. Tomorrow you could be a winner. Kim: Very funny. Paris: You heard the little lady. Try your luck again, folks. The pot grows daily until we have a winner. Enter your name on the PADD and pick a number. Can I buy you lunch, Mister Kim? I have an extra ration today. Kim: Two, by my count. Ten percent of the day's action. The only one who wins every day is you. Paris: I think I'll have some prime rib, medium rare, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and maybe some Yorkshire pudding. And a Raktajino with whipped cream on it. Tuvok: So it ultimately turned out to be a worthwhile and enlightening experience. Janeway: Did you get any of the answers you were after? Tuvok: It is difficult for me to accept, Captain, but Mister Suder was telling the truth as he knew it. He is a man with an incredibly violent nature living in an environment without any outlet to express it. I am surprised he was able to maintain his self control for as long as he did. Janeway: I guess in his earlier life he always found ways to release those impulses, like volunteering for the Maquis. What do we do with him? Tuvok: If we were home, he'd be sent to prison. Janeway: The brig is the closest thing we have. But I don't think we can just leave him down in our dungeon for the rest of the trip. Tuvok: Nor would it be appropriate to leave him in the custody of someone in this quadrant. Janeway: I agree. Tuvok: Captain, he is prepared to die for his crime. Janeway: An execution? You're not seriously suggesting that we Tuvok: I only mention it because of the extenuating circumstances, and because he feels it would be an appropriate punishment. Janeway: I don't. I prefer to rehabilitate him, not to end his life. We'll confine him to quarters. Work with Kim to installl maximum security containment. Tuvok: Pardon me, Captain, but allowing him the comfort of his own quarters doesn't seem an appropriate punishment for murder. Janeway: If we don't get home soon, he'll be in that room a long time, Mister Tuvok. I think this is the best we can do under these circumstances. Tuvok: Crewman Darwin's three sisters might not agree. Janeway: How is Suder since the mind meld? Tuvok: Quite calm and controlled. Clearly the meld initiated some high cortical activity in his brain. Janeway: And you, Tuvok? Any adverse effects? Tuvok: I will admit that I am more diskoncerted than I anticipated. Janeway: Why don't you take a day or two off for meditation. Tuvok: Thank you, but I am already taking steps to purge these residual feelings. I don't believe time off will be necessary. I will of course advise you of any further complications. Janeway: Tuvok. Take care of yourself. Tuvok: I would prefer to be alone. Neelix: Okay, all right. Far be it from me to bother anyone. If you really want me to leave, I'll leave. Tuvok: I really want you to leave. Neelix: I don't believe you. Your voice says go away, but your heart want me to make you smile. Tuvok: Please, go away. Neelix: Come on. A little smile. How is it going to hurt? I won't tell anyone. Tuvok: What must I do to convince you to stop. Neelix: Come on, just a little itty bitty smile. Just let the mouth curl a little then. There's an old Talaxian song my mother used to sing me as a child. I'm going to sing it to you every day from now on. It goes Neelix: Mister Vulcan, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I'm sorry, I, I Tuvok: Computer, end holodeck program. Computer: Particle density at the measured co-ordinates was one four one five per cubic meter. Paris: And the winner is? Computer? Computer? Chakotay: There won't be any more winners. Paris: Oh come on, Chakotay. We're just having a little fun. The recreational facilities of the Delta Quadrant being what they are. Chakotay: I've heard you're responsible for this, Lieutenant. Paris: I didn't think Starfleet would have a problem with it. Chakotay: With a senior officer running a gambling operation and skimming profits from each days proceeds? Now why would Starfleet have a problem with that? Since you all seem to have extra replicator rations you won't be needing these. Today's pot is hereby confiscated. The Captain's put a lot of faith in you, Mister Paris. She'll be disappointed. You're on report. Paris: Now there's a tough job, filling out reports. But somebody's got to do it. Kim: Thanks a lot. Suder: I did not hear you come in, Lieutenant. Tuvok: How are you feeling? Suder: Centerd. Tuvok: Don't be misled. Your violent instincts still exist. You are simply suppressing them as Vulcans do. Suder: I can feel the difference. It is almost as if I can observe the violence inside me without letting it get too close. It is quite remarkable what you Vulcans have learnt to do. Tuvok: Understand that this will not be a permanent change unless you commit to a strict daily regime of meditation and mental exercise. I also believe that a series of holodeck programs designed to allow your violent tendencies to be released in a safe environment may help to purge your aggressive impulses. Suder: Holographic violence does not give the same sensation as the real thing. I've tried it. Tuvok: Has anyone ever suggested targeted neurosynaptic therapy? Suder: That didn't work either. Tuvok: Our Doctor is programmed with the medical knowledge of every Federation world. Perhaps he'll know of some treatment you haven't tried. Suder: Since the meld, I feel capable of controlling myself. Perhaps with your help I can learn to stay this way. It must be difficult for you. Tuvok: Difficult? Suder: Knowing violence as I've known it. Tuvok: I have studied violence for over a hundred years. Suder: Studying it and knowing it are two different things, aren't they. It's attractive, isn't it. Tuvok: Attractive? Suder: Violence. Tuvok: On the contrary. I find it disturbing. Suder: You're right, it is disturbing, never knowing when that impulse may come or whether or not you can control it when it does. You live on the edge of every moment, and yet, in it's own way, violence is attractive, too. Maybe because it doesn't require logic. Perhaps that's why it's so liberating. Ironic, isn't it, that I can share with you of all people what I have hidden from everyone all my life. Can we do it again, Tuvok? Tuvok: Again? Suder: Meld. Tuvok: That would not be advisable. Suder: I understand. Really, I do. I've thought about it a lot. In a way, a mind meld is almost an act of violence, isn't it. Tuvok: I don't understand why you Suder: Penetration. Your will dissolving mine. The joining. It seems to me that a mind meld might be fatal if you lost control. Tuvok: Computer, place level one security seals on this room. Computer: Acknowledged. Security seals in place. Tuvok: Delete security clearance Tuvok one four nine four lambda. Computer: Specified security clearance deleted. Tuvok: Please inform the Captain that I am no longer fit for duty. Computer: Acknowledged. Janeway: Computer, lift the security seal from Lieutenant Tuvok's quarters. Wait here. Tuvok: I would advise you not to enter, Captain. Janeway: Tuvok. Tuvok: Please, do not come any closer. Janeway: Talk to me. Tuvok: I said, don't come any closer. Janeway: We need to get you to Sickbay. Tuvok: It would be safer for the crew if I were to remain in these quarters. I remind you, I am trained in the martial arts of many Alpha quadrant cultures. Sitting here, attempting to meditate, I have counted the number of ways I know of killing someone using just a finger, a hand, a foot. I had reached ninety four when you entered. Janeway: The Doctor is fully versed in Vulcan medicine. Tuvok: Again, for safety reasons, I recommend you sedate me before you initiate transport. Kes: Levels of neuropeptides in the limbic systems are down fifteen percent. Emh: There's a definite neurochemical imbalance in the mesiofrontal cortex. Janeway: Which means what? Emh: That's where the Vulcan psycho-suppression systems are located. This may be the result of an incompatibility with the Betazoid telepathic neural center, I'm not sure. Emh: Vulcan mind melds. Utter foolishness. Anybody with an ounce of sense wouldn't share his brain with someone else. Would you? I certainly wouldn't. And of course, when something goes wrong, and believe me it does more often than they'd like to admit, the first thing they call out is Doctor. Janeway: Can you help him? Emh: I wish I could tell you. There's a recommended course of treatments that should begin immediately. Janeway: What does it involve? Emh: First we have to take away his ability to control his violence. We do this in short bursts over a period of time and hope it provides a shock to his system. If it works, his own neural controls will take over again. I believe we're about ready. Revive him. Tuvok: Something has changed. Emh: We've temporarily removed all of your emotional suppression abilities, Lieutenant. How do you feel? Tuvok: I feel. Janeway: Tuvok, do you know where you are? Tuvok: Of course I know where I am, Captain. I'm just not sure I know who I am. Emh: Try to relax. The treatment still has about three minutes to go. Tuvok: Oh, it must be working, because I feel very strong. Very powerful. Quite euphoric. This must be how my ancestors felt. Doctor, would you consider allowing me to remain this way for a while? It would be a valuable opportunity for me to study primal Vulcan behavior. Emh: Sorry, I'm not prepared to do that. The course of treatment is very specific. Tuvok: You are not invulnerable, hologram. A few well chosen commands to the computer and you will cease to exist. Kes: Two minutes, thirty seconds left. Tuvok: You look shocked, Captain. You must be asking yourself, what if this doesn't work? What do we do then? I have an idea. I'll just stay in my quarters for the rest of the trip. I'll just relax and read, eat the ship's food, use the ship's energy, all in the comforts of my own room. Why, even Mister Suder and I could get together for a few hands of Cardassian pinochle once or twice a week. That is how we treat violent offenders on this ship, isn't it? Janeway: You are not a violent offender, Tuvok. Tuvok: I could be. Just like Suder. You know, Captain, I don't mind telling you something the other Tuvok never would. You are wrong. Sparing Suder's life is a sign of weakness. You disgust me. All you humans do. Admit it! Part of you feels as I do. Part of you wants him to die for what he did. Janeway: No part of me feels that way. Tuvok: Liar! He has killed and you know he deserves to die! On behalf of the victim's family, Captain, I beg you to reconsider. Give them the satisfaction of his execution. I have a radical suggestion, Captain. Release the forcefield and I'll kill him for you. Release the forcefield. My student, my protégée. there is so much for each of us to learn today, isn't there. Kes: You'll be all right, Tuvok. This'll be over in thirty seconds. Tuvok: Listen to what I tell you. Release the forcefield. Kes: I'm sorry. I had them disable your telepathic abilities too. You can't reach me, Tuvok. Tuvok: Release the forcefield! Emh: Ten seconds. Five seconds. Emh: It's over. Kes: He's lost consciousness. Emh: He might be able to fool the sensors. Sedate him again. Computer, remove the forcefield. Janeway: Help me get him back on the bed. How many treatments do you think will be necessary? Emh: I wish I knew, Captain. In a sense, Mister Tuvok's mind is fighting a classic battle between good and evil. The battle may be won in a day, a year, or it may never be won. Suder: Tuvok? I wondered what happened to you. They wouldn't tell me anything. Tuvok: There were some complications from the meld. Suder: I wondered about that. Tuvok: I've been undergoing neurosynaptic therapy in Sickbay. Suder: It didn't work. Tuvok: No. Suder: Have you come to kill me? Tuvok: To execute you for your crime. Suder: To execute me. I see. And calling it that makes it more comfortable for you. Tuvok: I will take no comfort in this. Suder: A most logical use of violence, to punish the violent. Suder: We both know that I am prepared to die, but are you prepared to kill? Tuvok: It needs to be done. Suder: To release your violent impulses? Tuvok: To serve justice. Suder: Justice or vengeance? Understand one thing, Tuvok. I can promise you this will not silent your demons. If you can't control the violence, the violence controls you. Be prepared to yield your entire being to it, to sacrifice your place in civilized life for you will no longer be a part of it, and there's no return. Tuvok: I seek no return! Suder: Of course, you would not be able to live with yourself. Then we are both to die, and that will end the torment. Tuvok: My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts. My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts. Suder: Crewman Suder to the Bridge. Chakotay: Suder, what are you doing with a comm. badge? Suder: You'd better get down here, Chakotay. Lieutenant Tuvok needs help. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Ensign Suder has been incarcerated in secured quarters where he will likely spend the rest of our journey home. Lieutenant Tuvok remains under observation in Sickbay. Emh: It may be hard for you to believe, Lieutenant, but what happened is encouraging. Your inability to complete the act of murder shows your suppression system in starting to function again. You're on your way back to being normal, although I'm not sure how the word normal applies to a species that suppresses all their emotions. Tuvok: Captain, I must apologize for my inappropriate behavior. Janeway: I'm just glad we have you back, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: I was most insulting to you. Janeway: Don't worry about it. I've been insulted before. Tuvok: I hope you understand that I have always had the greatest respect for you as a Captain, and consider you a friend. Janeway: That means a great deal to me. Enough said. Get some rest. Tuvok. No more mind melds without my permission. Understood?

Wildman: I've been considering naming him after my husband. It's been a tradition in his family for over five generations. Kes: I'm sure he'd be very pleased. Wildman: My husband's name is Greskrendtregk. He's Ktarian. Emh: Choosing a name is no easy matter. I speak from experience. Wildman: Have you had any progress, Doctor? Emh: I've reviewed historical, literary and anthropological databases from over five hundred worlds and have yet to find a suitable name. However, I may want to give some thought to Greskrendtregk. Wildman: To be honest, I've been thinking of something simpler. What do you think of Cameron? Kes: I like it. Emh: Cameron, from the ancient Celtic term for one whose nose is bent. Wildman: What about Frederick? Emh: Frederick. Very distinguished. However, it bears a close resemblance to a rather impolite term on the Bolian homeworld. Wildman: It doesn't have to be a human name. I like Sural. It's Vulcan. Emh: Yes, unfortunately it was also the name of a dictator on Sakura Prime, famed for beheading his rivals, and his parents. Kes: You won't have any objection to Benaren. Emh: You're right. I've never heard that name before. Wildman: I think it's lovely. Is it Ocampan? Kes: Benaren was my father's name. He was the greatest inspiration of my life. Janeway: All science officers. Please report to your stations. Emh: Your scans look fine, Ensign. We'll see you in a week. Wildman: Thank you. Greskrendtregk would make a good middle name, don't you think? Emh: You never suggested your father's name to me. Kes: I thought you were only considering human names. Emh: Ah. Well, you were mistaken. Kes: If you like Benaren there's no reason you can't use it too. I'm sure she won't mind. Emh: Won't mind that I just usurped her baby's name the moment I heard it? Thank you, but no thank you. Kes: My uncle's name was Elrem. I once knew a boy named Tarrik. Paris: There's not much left of whatever it was. From the amount of debris I'd guess it was a small ship, no bigger than a shuttlecraft. Kim: I'm not reading any organic material in the debris field. It must have been an unmanned vessel. Possibly a probe. Janeway: Any idea what happened to it? Tuvok: The high residual energy signature indicates repeated weapons fire. Kim: Captain, the wreckage is composed primarily of duritanium polyalloy. Janeway: Duritanium? Chakotay: I haven't seen many weapons that could do that kind of damage to a duritanium hull. Janeway: Transport some samples of the debris to Engineering for analysis. Chakotay: Continuous scans, Lieutenant. We don't want whoever did this to catch us by surprise. Janeway: Any conclusions? Chakotay: Afraid so. Torres: We've identified the signature left by the weapons fire. There's no question. It was Cardassian. Janeway: Cardassian! Could Seska be responsible? Torres: No, Captain. I am. Torres: The probe was destroyed by an experimental Cardassian weapon from the Alpha quadrant. Paris: Sorry. Torres: I recognize it's signature because, because I know this weapon very well. Chakotay and I got our hands on it when we were fighting the Cardassians. Kim: How did it get here? Chakotay: Probably the same way we did. Torres: The last time we saw it, it was heading in the same direction in the Badlands where the Caretaker picked us up. Chakotay: Originally the Cardassians sent this thing to destroy a Maquis munitions base. We nicknamed it Dreadnought. It's a self-guided tactical missile carrying a charge of a thousand kilos of matter and another thousand of antimatter. Tuvok: Enough to destroy a small moon. Torres: Now add to that one of the most sophisticated computer systems I've ever seen. They made this missile adaptable, evasive, armed with it's own defensive weaponry. In other words, unstoppable. Neelix: So, how did you stop it? Chakotay: We didn't. It got through all our defenses. Worked like it was supposed to except for one minor detail. It didn't go off. Torres: Leave it to the Cardassians to build such an incredibly advanced tactical weapon and then arm the warhead with an old kinetic detonator. Chakotay: The missile skipped off into the atmosphere and quietly went into orbit. Torres: I got inside it and reprogrammed the computer. Hell, I didn't just reprogram it, I changed it's identity. I made it forget about being Cardassian. Now it was working for the Maquis. Chakotay: And we gave it a new mission. To destroy the Cardassian fuel depot on Aschelan Five. But it never made it out of the Badlands. We thought it had been destroyed in one of the plasma storms. Janeway: So how do we stop this weapon before it causes any more damage? Torres: Dreadnaught masks its warp trail with a randomized EM field, but I can modify our navigational sensors to cut through that. Paris: And what are we going to do with it once we find it? Torres: I get back inside it. I know all the security codes. I installled them myself. Janeway: Lieutenant Paris can assist you with the navigational sensors. Keep me informed. Dismissed. Chakotay: Lieutenant. I expect everyone to show up for meetings on time and properly dressed. Paris: Yes, sir. Paris: There's still a lot of distortion in the upper frequencies. Better. Now let's try filtering out the ion radiation. B'Elanna? You must be really worried about catching this thing. Torres: Chakotay wasn't telling the whole truth. We didn't send Dreadnought on a mission against the Cardassians. I was the one who sent it, without asking him. Paris: You were afraid he'd say no. Torres: After I did it, he pulled me aside and I was ready to defend myself. I was so sure that I had anticipated everything that could possibly go wrong. I even programmed it to warn Federation ships to stay out of its way, in my own voice. Paris: Your voice? Torres: Listening to that Cardassian computer's voice was driving me crazy. Paris: I don't blame you. Torres: Anyway, Chakotay looked at me. I didn't know him very well yet. And all he said, in that damned soft voice of his was that I'd hurt him. That he thought he'd earned my trust and loyalty. I was so glad when it disappeared into the Badlands. I remember thinking, thank god, it's over. But it's not. And if anything happens here because of Dreadnought, it's my fault. No one else's. Paris: You took a risk. You were thinking like a Maquis. That was a whole different life. Torres: Tell me about it. Paris: You know, I've been surprised at how well you've been able to fit in here. A little envious too. Torres: Tom, what's been going on with you lately? Paris: Going on? How? Torres: People are starting to talk. Paris: Are they? People like who? Chakotay? Torres: No, I mean people. Like me. Like today. Look at yourself, coming to a briefing late. And is it true you had a fight with Lieutenant Rollins? Paris: The Lieutenant was unhappy that my conn. reports weren't punctuated properly, according to Starfleet protocol. I didn't like his attitude. Torres: Was he right about your reports? Paris: We're in the Delta quadrant, nowhere near Starfleet. What difference? Yeah, he was right. I'm the one who's been wrong. Wrong about a lot of things. Why don't we try running a multi-phasic sweep? Kim: Captain, I'm picking up the trail again. New heading one nine six mark four. Paris: I'm on it. Janeway: This course is erratic. Are we sure we're following a single warp trail? Tuvok: Perhaps the missile's navigational system is malfunctioning. It's been operating for over a year, far longer than it was designed to function. Torres: No, this is deliberate. It's following one of the evasive patterns I programmed into it. It must have observed us following. Kim: I think I've got it on long range sensors. Torres: No, that's only a sensor echo. Dreadnought's programmed to deflect it's up to one hundred thousand kilometers from it's true location. The next time you get a heading look for a brief surge in neutrino emissions within a one hundred thousand kilometer radius. That'll be the real thing. Kim: Got it. Elevated neutrino levels. Locking in coordinates. It's within visual range. Chakotay: On screen. Torres: It's targeting scanners have been activated. Janeway: What's wrong? Chakotay: It's not supposed to do that until it's locked onto it's final target. Torres: It's heading for a planet in a system over ten light years away. At its current speed, it'll get there in about three weeks. Chakotay: The planet is Class M. I'm reading several heavily populated areas. Jonas: Seska will want to know about this Cardassian missile immediately. Lorrum: Mister Jonas, your enthusiasm is appreciated, but I would prefer to know more about it before I bring it to Maje Culluh's attention. Jonas: If I could just talk to Seska. Lorrum: As I explained, I have now been assigned to be your control. Jonas: Look, has she been made aware how much I've been helping you? Lorrum: What the Maje chooses to share with her is none of my concern, but you are in good hands, my friend. Now tell me more about this weapon your ship has found. Jonas: Look, all you need to tell Seska is that this missile is better armed than the entire Kazon-Nistrim sect. Lorrum: That's very interesting. What more can you tell me that I can bring to my Jonas: Someone's about to make a subspace transmission. They may be able to detect our comm. link. I have to terminate. Janeway: My name is Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the Federation Starship Voyager. Kellan: First Minister Kellan, Captain. What is it you want. Janeway: Our scans of your world suggest you have long range tracking abilities. Kellan: We have been observing your course for the last two days. Janeway: Have you also been able to detect the missile on a parallel course off our starboard bow? Kellan: We haven't been able to identify what it is, but yes. Janeway: You have the right to know, First Minister, that this missile is carrying a warhead with a significant destructive force that Kellan: Is this some sort of threat, Captain? Janeway: On the contrary. We want to help. Kellan: I find that hard to believe. Your reputation precedes you, Captain. We've been told that you've threatened many races since your arrival in this quadrant. Janeway: First Minister, we're aware the Kazon have been telling that to people. They'd like to prevent us from making allies. But I assure you, you've been misled. Kellan: And yet here you are, sending this missile towards us. Janeway: The missile arrived here from our quadrant due to a very unusual accident. We haven't been able to determine yet why it chose Rakosa as it's target, but my Chief Engineer is preparing to disarm it before it reaches you. Kellan: Perhaps you are telling me this in order to delay our defensive response. Janeway: I could have maintained communication silence and not given you any warning at all. Kellan: That's true. Nevertheless, be aware that I am placing our defense force on alert. Janeway: I'd do the same in your place. Kellan: We will be watching your progress closely. Janeway: Janeway to Torres, how soon will you be ready Janeway: To transport? Torres: Dreadnought's shields have responded to my codes. I'm ready now, Captain. Janeway: Proceed. Torres: Energize. Dreadnought: Authorized entry detected. Initiating DNA scan. B'Elanna Torres confirmed. Hello, B'Elanna. Your last systems access was on stardate 47582. Current date is 49447. Time zero eight forty hours. Did you sleep well last night? Torres: Not so well, to tell you the truth. Activate programr interface. Dreadnought: Your presence was not anticipated during the mission. Please explain. Torres: Something's gone wrong with your programming, Dreadnought. Display targeting schematic. Dreadnought: A self-diagnostic has been conducted every fourteen hours. No malfunctions have been detected. Torres: Maybe there's something wrong with your diagnostic systems too. Identify target. Dreadnought: Aschelan Five. Torres: What targeting parameters are you using? Dreadnought: Size. Radiothermic signature. Atmospheric composition. Relative Torres: Enough. Dreadnought, you're no where near Aschelan Five. Dreadnought: Based on available data, you are mistaken, B'Elanna. Torres: Let me check out your navigational systems. Dreadnought: Access to primary navigational systems is denied at stage three alert status. Torres: That was my idea, wasn't it. Dreadnought: Affirmative. Torres: Okay, We'll have to go at this in a different way then, won't we. Dreadnought, do you know what happened to you the day after my last systems access? Dreadnought: Please be more specific. Torres: Did you encounter a coherent tetryon beam? Dreadnought: Confirmed. All attempts to avoid the phenomenon failed. Torres: That beam carried you into the Delta quadrant. I'm not surprised it damaged your sensors. Dreadnought, reinitialize your navigational systems. Computer. Dreadnought: Reinitialisation sequence is complete. Torres: Okay. Now verify our current position. Dreadnought: Based on relative position to known astronomical markers, this vessel is currently located in the Delta quadrant. Torres: And is Aschelan Five located in the Delta quadrant? Dreadnought: Negative. Torres: Then reconfirm your target lock. Dreadnought: Unable to verify. Standing down from stage three. Target lock has been deactivated. Reestablishing stage four. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. Torres: Go ahead Captain. Janeway: We're showing a shut down of all your engines. Can you confirm that? Torres: That Torres: And more. I'll be ready to transport back in a few minutes. Janeway: Acknowledged. Good work, B'Elanna. Janeway out. Torres: Dreadnought, return to stage five. Initiate power save program. Dreadnought: Acknowledged. Goodnight, B'Elanna. Torres: Sweet dreams. Chakotay: The Dreadnought's quantum torpedoes could be modified to be compatible with our launchers. Janeway: What about it's engine components? Torres: Easily converted to Starfleet specs. We'll have spare parts for years. Chakotay: We should also download some files from the computer core. Janeway: B'Elanna, you can begin the salvage operation first thing in the Paris: Paris to Janeway. Janeway: Yes, Lieutenant. Paris: The missile just took off. It's going into warp. Janeway: Stay with it, Tom. Paris: Engaging warp drive. Torres: This isn't possible. When I left it was completely shut down. Chakotay: We're back on a heading to Rakosa Five. Paris: It's increasing speed to warp nine. Chakotay: At this rate it'll reach the planet in fifty one hours. Paris: It's still on course for the planet at warp nine. Janeway: Mister Paris, bring us within ten kilometers. Maintain a parallel position. Bridge to Torres. Your status? Torres: I don't understand it, Captain. Torres: Dreadnought's shields are not recognizing my security code any more. We can't initiate transport. Janeway: You'd better get back up here, Lieutenant. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, let's take a shot at disabling its drive systems. Ready photons. Red alert. Chakotay: Torres programmed the missile's shields to adjust to all known weapons, even Starfleet's. Janeway: Voyager wasn't in service when she did it. We're equipped with type six photon torpedoes. They may just get through. Fire. Tuvok: No diskernable damage, Captain. Chakotay: It must have scanned our weapons, adapted its shields. Paris: Captain, it's maintaining course and speed. Kim: We're being hailed by the missile. Janeway: Let's hear it. Dreadnought: Unidentified Federation ship. Although this vessel is Cardassian it has been appropriated by the Maquis. Please stand down your weapons. Janeway: You stand down your weapons and I'll stand down mine. Dreadnought: You are interfering with a tactical mission against Cardassian aggressors. This vessel is programmed to respond with all necessary force to prevent any disruption to its mission. Torres: Dreadnought, why have you resumed course? Dreadnought: Hello B'Elanna. Course was resumed once your safe departure from this vessel was confirmed. It was a necessary response to your deception. Torres: My deception? Dreadnought: You are participating in the Delta quadrant deception. Janeway: Explain, Dreadnought. Dreadnought: False information has been entered into Dreadnought's navigational sensor array. Paris: When a bomb starts talking about itself in the third person, I get worried. Torres: Why would I enter false information? Dreadnought: Probability assessment indicates you are being coerced by Cardassian forces. Janeway: You've already identified Voyager as a Federation ship, Dreadnought. Your scanners must indicate this is not a Cardassian crew. Dreadnought: Probability assessment indicates you are operating within the parameters of the Cardassian Federation Alliance, as described in the treaty of 2367. A treaty rejected by the Maquis. Torres: So when I was just over there and you shut yourself off, you were lying to me? Dreadnought: Acknowledged. Torres: I never taught it to do that. Dreadnought: That is not correct, B'Elanna. Your tactical subroutine instructed Dreadnought to prepare responses for thirty nine potential Cardassian threats. The possibility of your capture and coercion was number seven. Janeway: Dreadnought, is there anyway we can prove to you you are actually in the Delta quadrant. That this is not a deception. Dreadnought: The probability of being in the Delta quadrant, seventy five thousand light years from last confirmed location, is negligible. The target is located in the Alpha quadrant. Target lock has been established. There will be no further warnings. Terminating communications link. Torres: The one possible vulnerability I remember is in the thoron shock emitter. If we can get it to fire at full power, that should destabilize the reactor core for thirty seconds. A single sustained tachyon beam might just penetrate that core and destroy it. Janeway: What will it take to provoke Dreadnought into firing? Torres: It shouldn't be that difficult. Once we go after it with an all-out assault, the emitter should fire. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, set your target. Ready photons. Tuvok: Ready Captain. Janeway: Fire. Tuvok: The missile's thoron shock emitter has fired. Janeway: Initiate the tachyon beam. Tuvok: We have penetrated its shields. Direct hit to the core. Kim: Reading an energy build up in it's reactor. It should overload in about thirty seconds. Wait a minute. There's a plasma surge coming from it's core. What the hell? Janeway: Report! Kim: It sent a plasma burst along the tachyon beam into our main power system. We've got EPS relays burnt out all over the ship. Paris: I'm not getting any response from the warp or impulse drives. Even the maneuvering thrusters are out. Tuvok: The missile was not significantly damaged. It has maintained its course for Rakosa. Janeway: Our engines will be back online in less than an hour, First Minister, then we'll try again. Kellan: Did you sustain any casualties, Captain? Janeway: A few. A broken arm, a broken leg, fortunately that's all. Kellan: I'm pleased to hear that. We are projecting casualties at two million, if the worst occurs. I have deployed our fleet to intercept this missile in a matter of hours. Janeway: First Minister, we've analyzed your offensive capabilities, and they're no match for what you're facing. You must have realized that yourself. Kellan: And what would you have me do? Sit here and wait for death to fall from the sky? I'm sorry. We haven't had much sleep. We weren't prepared for anything like this. We are not a war-like race. We haven't devoted our resources to building weapons like yours. Janeway: First Minister Kellan: Please, I've always hated that title. My name is Kellan. I prefer that. Janeway: Our Chief Engineer is trying to return to the missile's control room. She's still our best chance at disarming it. There's no reason to send your fleet on a hopeless mission. Kellan: I appreciate your efforts, truly, but the decision has been made. We have some good pilots, Captain. Perhaps they will surprise you. Kim: Blocked again. Torres: We don't have time for this. Kim: Don't worry, we'll find a way to get you back over there. Torres: We wouldn't have to if I'd done my job right the first time. Kim: You couldn't expect to guess every move it made. Torres: Why not? Dreadnought seems pretty good at guessing mine. Kim: It's only as smart as you made it. Torres: I'm not so sure about that, Harry. It's programs are adaptive and it's been accumulating data all this time. It spends every minute of every day thinking about new strategies, new probabilities. Kim: And I bet it doesn't spend much time worrying about what it could have done differently. Torres: All right, Starfleet, let's give it another try. Dreadnought: Unauthorized entry detected. Initiating DNA scan. Hello B'Elanna. Your last systems access was today at zero eight forty hours. Current time is nineteen thirty one hours. Have you had a pleasant day? Torres: Oh, yeah. Swell day. Dreadnought: Access to programr interface has been denied. Dreadnought: Access to programr interface has been denied. Dreadnought: Access to circuit pathways has been denied. Be advised that the intensity of the shock will increase if you attempt to open the panel again. Torres: I'm disappointed in you, Dreadnought. If I really was a Cardassian agent, you should have killed me with the first charge. Dreadnought: Probability assessment indicates that you are being coerced by Cardassian forces. Torres: Somehow I expected you to put up more of a fight. Computer? Dreadnought: Stage two alert has been activated. Torres: Tell me what's happening. Dreadnought: There are fifteen priority targets approaching. All weapon systems at full readiness. Speed, full impulse. Torres: The Rakosan fleet. Janeway: Hail the lead ship. Kim: Channel open, Captain. Audio only. Janeway: This is Captain Janeway on Voyager. I urge you to break off your attack. One of my crew members is aboard the missile. Rakosan: You'd better get your crewman out, Captain. We estimate time to intercept, ninety seconds. Janeway: We're still attempting to disarm its weapons. Rakosan: My orders are clear. You'll have to talk to my superiors back home. Rakosa One, out. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. Torres: Yes Captain. Janeway: The Rakosan fleet is preparing to attack. Torres: Captain, don't beam me out. I may not be able to transport back here again. Janeway: Lieutenant. Torres: I'm making progress. Torres: The Rakosan ships have created a diversion. I've already used it to disarm the security codes on board. Now, if I can just get to the central processor, I can disable the entire system. Janeway: All right. We'll try to keep a transporter lock on you. Janeway out. Tuvok: The Rakosan attack is commencing, Captain. Janeway: Move us into weapons range, Mister Paris. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Give them some cover fire. Red alert. Tuvok: Firing phasers. Dreadnought: All command functions have been rerouted through protected back-up circuits, B'Elanna. Your attempt to compromise control has been blocked. Torres: Those ships aren't your enemy. They are not Cardassian. Can't you recognize that? Dreadnought: This vessel is programmed to respond with all necessary force to prevent any disruption to it's mission. Kim: Shields are holding. Tuvok: We are drawing minimal fire from the missile. It's primary weapons systems are focused on the Rakosan vessel. Paris: Another group of fighters are starting an attack run. Janeway: We've got to draw more of the missile's fire. Make Voyager a more serious threat, Tuvok. Tuvok: Shields at forty percent. Kim: Damage reported on decks three and four. Repair crews responding. Paris: The Rakosan vessels are withdrawing, Captain. Janeway: Good. Move us out of range of the plasma wave. Janeway to Torres. Torres: Yes, Captain. Janeway: The Rakosan ships have retreated. We have one hour and nine minutes Janeway: Until the missile reaches the planet. Any progress? Torres: Dreadnought's created back-up systems to replace the ones I tried to disable. Janeway: Do you have any other ideas? Torres: I'm reluctant to discuss them in present company, but could you send over a. Captain? Dreadnought: Communications have been terminated. Transporter lock has also been disengaged. Torres: What took you so long? Dreadnought: There was a tactical advantage in monitoring your ship's communications until this time. Torres: So, it's just you and me now. Dreadnought: You are accessing the detonation control circuit. Probability assessment indicates you are attempting to detonate the explosive before it reaches its target. Torres: Now, that wouldn't make much sense, would it? I'd be killing myself in the process. Dreadnought: Probability assessment indicates you are attempting to detonate the explosive before it reaches its target. Torres: If I'm being coerced by Cardassians, why would I be willing to sacrifice myself for them? Answer that one. Dreadnought: Unable to respond. Reassessing probabilities. Torres: Ah, ha. Gotcha. Why don't we reassess those probabilities together, okay? Remember how we used to play hypothetical games? Dreadnought: Affirmative. Torres: Let's play one now. Here's a hypothetical situation for you. Suppose I've been telling you the truth all along, and you really are in the Delta quadrant. Dreadnought: Probability of being in the Delta quadrant, seventy five thousand light years from last confirmed location, is negligible. Torres: Hypothetical, Dreadnought. It's a game, remember? Assume it's true for a moment. Dreadnought: Assumption entered. Torres: And we're heading for the wrong target. Dreadnought: Assumption entered. Torres: Millions of innocent people about to die when you detonate. Dreadnought: Assumption entered. Torres: Now, explain to me how this might happen. Dreadnought: If key sensor programs were damaged or deleted, databanks would be compromised. Torres: Just for the fun of it, let's have a look at those databanks. See if anything looks at all compromised. Torres: Is this a complete file directory? There seem to be a few missing. Dreadnought: Files containing information about the weapons or tactical systems are not necessary to verify sensor accuracy. Torres: Oh, I'm hurt you don't trust me. Hold on, pause the display. What's that? Computer, identify the Cardassian file on screen. Dreadnought: Unable to identify. Torres: Looks like a back-up file. Computer, when was this file created? Dreadnought: Stardate 46437.5 Torres: I believe that was before you and I ever met. Dreadnought: Hypothetical game terminated. Probability reassessment complete. Torres: A new conclusion? Dreadnought: Affirmative. Probability of being in the Delta quadrant remains negligible. When that option is rejected, new probability assessment indicates that you have changed loyalties, B'Elanna. You are now cooperating with the Cardassian Federation Alliance as described in the treaty of 2367, a treaty which has been rejected by the Maquis. Torres: Dreadnought. Dreadnought: Humanoid life support aboard this vessel has been terminated. Approaching target at full impulse. Stage one alert has been activated. Initiating final detonation sequence. Kellan: People are crowding every port trying to get off the eastern continent. There aren't enough ships. Janeway: Kellan, there are still forty one minutes for us to prevent this. Kellan: What can be done in forty one minutes? Janeway: I'm prepared to use this ship to detonate the warhead before the missile reaches you. Kellan: Use your ship? To collide with it? Janeway: Something like that. Kellan: Do you really think that would work? Janeway: I'm not sure. Kellan: You would sacrifice yourselves to benefit a people you didn't even know two days ago? Janeway: To save two million lives? That's not a hard decision. Kellan: Your reputation in this quadrant isn't deserved, Captain. For what it's worth, you've made a friend here. Janeway: I'm still hoping we'll have a chance to celebrate this new friendship together. Dreadnought: All key systems have been secured. You will not gain access. Torres: I'm not interested in your key systems anymore, Dreadnought. Dreadnought: That is an unlikely assertion, B'Elanna. Torres: Seriously. Check for yourself. Dreadnought: You are attempting to access the obsolete Cardassian file. Why? Torres: Oh, just killing time. Dreadnought: Life support has been terminated. It is advisable for you to return to your ship. Janeway: Gentlemen, I believe our best chance at stopping Dreadnought now is to set off a large antimatter explosion directly in it's path. Chakotay: To work, it would take more energy than all of our photons put together. Tuvok: Or more to the point, it would take a warp core breach. Janeway: You'll be in charge of the evacuation, Commander. Chakotay: I'm not leaving you on the ship. Janeway: Captain's prerogative. Get the rest of the crew to the escape pods. I'll send the senior officers to join you in a few minutes. We don't have time to debate this, Chakotay. Chakotay: Everyone except senior officers, with me. Janeway: Computer, initiate the self-destruct sequence. Authorisation Janeway pi one one zero. Set it at twenty minutes. Computer: Warning, self-destruct sequence has been initiated. Warp core overload in twenty minutes. Computer: Cardassian ATR4107 attempting to activate systems. Torres: I never thought I'd be glad to hear that voice again. Dreadnought: Voice analyzer functioning. Unable to identify. Computer: Attempting to activate systems. Dreadnought: No additional presence detected. Torres: Check those diagnostics, Dreadnought. You're talking to yourself. I believe you're having an identity crisis. Computer: Accessing central processor memory. Dreadnought: Engaging counter-virus response program. Computer: Attempting to over-ride program. Torres: Computer, identify the target. Computer: The Maquis munitions base on Planetoid Alpha four four one Dreadnought: The Cardassian depot on Aschelan Five. Computer: Malfunction detected in the targeting system. Attempting to correct. Dreadnought: Negative. Target lock has been confirmed. The Maquis are now in control of this weapon. The original targeting parameters have been replaced with those of this target. The countdown for the detonation sequence will continue. Aschelan Five will be destroyed. Access to the navigational system is denied. All critical pathways have been re-routed through protected backup systems. Security lockout in function. All overrides will be blocked. Counter virus response. All systems. Attempting. Computer: This target does not conform to established targeting parameters. The detonation sequence cannot proceed without proper target identification. Ejecting antimatter pod. Emergency ejection system has failed. Attempting to re-initialize all key systems. Accessing backup systems. Unable to access. Enable backup overrides. Command pathways. The central processor has been routed. Attempting. (They descend into gibberish as Torres works on a control panel. A hatch opens.) Torres: Yes. Computer: Warning. Self destruct sequence has been initiated. Warp core overload in eleven minutes. Kim: Captain, I've broken through the interference. I'm not sure how. We have communications. Checking on transporter signal. I have a lock on her. Janeway: Voyager to Torres. Torres: Yes, Captain. Janeway: I need to get you out of there. We're abandoning Voyager. I'm going to overload the Janeway: warp core in the missile's flight path. Torres: I may be able to detonate the warhead from here Torres: By breaching the containment field. Janeway: Can you get access to the core? Torres: I'm already in it. I'm using Torres: My phaser to burn through the magnetic constrictor casing now. Janeway: Are you all right, B'Elanna? Torres: Fine. Torres: The air's just a little thin in here. Janeway: Keep me advised. Janeway: Janeway out. Mister Kim, transfer control to the conn. and report to your escape pod. Kim: Captain. Janeway: That's a direct order to all of you. Mister Paris, I'm relieving you. Now! Paris: The starboard thrusters are a little sluggish. Ease into them. Janeway: Understood. Paris: Captain, thanks for everything. Computer: Warning. Self-destruct sequence has been initiated. Warp core overload in seven minutes. Janeway: You too, Tuvok. Tuvok: It is logical to have a second in command in case you are injured and unable to complete the mission, Captain. I request permission to remain. Janeway: Permission granted. Dreadnought: Hello, B'Elanna. The Cardassian virus has been neutralized. Torres: Good for you. Dreadnought: Containment field integrity at forty percent and falling. Torres: Estimated time to breach. Dreadnought: This vessel is programmed to respond with all necessary force to prevent any disruption to its mission. Torres: Unless I'm mistaken, you're out of options, Dreadnought. Dreadnought: Analysis of your vital signs suggests you are about to lose consciousness, B'Elanna. Torres: I'm not going anywhere until I'm finished. Dreadnought: When you cease your efforts to breach the containment field, life support will be restored. Torres: No deal. Computer: Warning. Self destruct sequence has been initiated. Warp core overload in three minutes. Janeway: Increasing velocity. Preparing to adjust our heading to intercept. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. Torres: Yes. Janeway: This is your last chance Janeway: This is your last chance to get back here, B'Elanna. I have to launch the last escape pods. Torres: I understand, Captain. I'm almost finished. Let me stay. Computer: Warning. Self destruct sequence has been initiated. Warp core overload in two minutes. Dreadnought: Containment field at twenty percent and falling. Perhaps your Delta quadrant hypothesis deserves further consideration. Torres: Nice try. Who would have thought two years ago, after all those weeks we spent together perfecting your program, that we'd end up out here trying to kill each other. Dreadnought: Probability assessment did not anticipate this outcome. Tuvok: The missile's containment field is collapsing. Janeway: Beam her back, now. Hang on! Computer: Warning. Self destruct sequence has been initiated. Warp core overload in one minute. Janeway: Computer, terminate self destruct sequence. Authorisation Janeway pi one one zero. Computer: Confirmed. Sequence terminated. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. B'Elanna, are you Emh: She's here in Sickbay, Captain. Please turn to your Emergency Medical Holographic channel. Janeway: Doctor, I forgot about you. Emh: How flattering. I wanted to advise you that I took the liberty of beaming Lieutenant Torres Emh: From the Transporter room to Sickbay. She is somewhat singed around the edges but should make a complete recovery. Janeway: Very good, Doctor. Janeway out. Mister Tuvok, prepare to retrieve our escape pods. Let's bring our crew home. Tuvok: Aye, Captain.

Chakotay: It's trajectory is erratic, and our sensors aren't detecting any stellar or planetary gravitational fields that could account for its motion. Janeway: Then you're saying it isn't a comet. Chakotay: And yet it looks, feels, and tastes just like a comet. Janeway: Well, there's a slight chance that there are magnetodynamic forces acting on the comet that are too subtle for our sensors to detect. Or it might be something we've never encountered before. B'Elanna, go down to Transporter room two. Let's beam aboard a sample for examination. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Harry, see if you can lock on to a core fragment. Kim: Having no trouble penetrating the crust, Captain. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. We're ready when you are, Lieutenant. Torres: Setting up a class three containment field, Captain. Field in place. Janeway: Commence transport. Torres: Energizing. Quinn: Hello. My name is Q. Torres: Torres to Janeway. You'd better get down here, Captain. Janeway: Problem, Lieutenant? Torres: Yes, ma'am. That transport from the comet? It brought a man aboard. He says his name is Q. Janeway: Red alert. I'll be right down. Quinn: Oh, please don't bother, Captain. Let me take you to lunch instead. Quinn: What a pleasure it is to meet you. Oh, am I doing this right? It's been so long time since I've had the opportunity to greet anyone. Oh, here, take a seat. Allow me to make the setting more appropriate. Janeway: My name is Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the Federation Quinn: The Federation Starship Voyager. Yes, yes, I know all that. Look, Welsh rarebit like your grandfather used to make. Neelix: Rabbit? She never told me she likes rabbits. What is a rabbit anyway? Is this some new chef she's interviewing? Quinn: Please, eat. It's the least I can do to express my appreciation. Janeway: Appreciation for what? Quinn: For letting me out of my captivity. Janeway: You were being held against your will, inside the comet? Quinn: In a manner of speaking. And you, all of you. You're mortals, aren't you? Janeway: Who was holding you prisoner? Quinn: And you only live for nine years. Kes: That's right. Quinn: Oh, how I envy you. Kes: Why is that? Quinn: Because the one thing I want more than any other, is to die. Janeway: Look, I don't know what you want here, but I know who you are. Every captain in Starfleet has been briefed about your appearances on the Enterprise, and I warn you Quinn: My appearances? Oh, you've mistaken me for. Oh, well, no matter, I really must get on with my business before the others realize I'm here. When someone asks you about me, and they will, would you tell them I said. You know, I've had three hundred years to think of appropriate last words. I wanted something memorable, you know? Quotable. Would you tell them I said, I die not for myself but for you. I know. I know. Enigmatic. Provocative. They'll understand. Well, goodbye to you all. Many thanks. Here's the end of me. Quinn: Oh, dear. That's not right. Torres: Torres to Janeway. All the men have disappeared. Janeway: I'm aware of it, Lieutenant. Report to the Bridge. Janeway out. Bring them back. Now. Quinn: Oh. Oh, of course. Of course. I'm a little out of practice. Well, that's that. I'm afraid they're gone. Janeway: Gone? Where? Quinn: Just gone. Oh, I apologize for the inconvenience. Quinn: Well, good luck to you all. I really have to be going now. Janeway: Return my crew! Quinn: I, I'm not sure how. Humans. Humans. Who would have more recent experience with humans? Q: What have you done now, Q? Well, now, isn't this just fine. Humans aren't supposed to be in this quadrant for another hundred years. Quinn: I didn't bring them here. Nothing to do with me. Q: How did you get out, Q? Janeway: I'm afraid we're responsible for that. Q: Oh, well, I guess that's what we get for having a woman in the captain's seat. You know, I was betting that Riker would get this command. Janeway: May I assume you're the Q I've heard so much about? Q: Have you heard about little me? Oh, do tell. Has Jean-Luc been whispering about me behind my back? Say, is this the ship of the Valkyries, or have you human women finally done away with your men altogether? Quinn: There was a slight accident. Q: A slight accident. Oh, let me guess. You were trying to commit suicide. Now you see why we've locked him up for the last three hundred years. Q: Facial art. Ooo, how very wilderness of you. Chakotay: Captain? Q: All right, Q, we should be going. Quinn: I'm not leaving. Captain Janeway, I demand asylum. Q: This is a joke. Quinn: No it isn't. I am officially asking you, Captain, to grant me asylum and give me protection from my enemies, which is him. Q: You would ask these puny humans to protect you from me? Fat chance. Janeway: What did you do to him? Quinn: Nothing. He's still there in the twenty fourth century. I just took the rest of us to an old hiding place of mine. Janeway: Report. Kim: Captain, there are no stars outside. Quinn: Well, that's partially accurate. Actually, there's no universe outside. Janeway: On screen. Commander? Chakotay: I'm showing a large build-up of baryonic particles. Quinn: Perfectly normal. Tuvok: Captain, based on our readings, it appears we've been transported back in time to the birth of the universe. Quinn: Very old hiding place. Q: Oh, I know all the hiding places, Q. I hid here from the Continuum myself once. Torres: This ship will not survive the formation of the cosmos. Q: Yes, but just think of the honor of having your DNA spread from one corner of the universe to the other. Why, you could be the origin of the humanoid form. Janeway: Q, either Q, get us out of here. Q: You heard the lady, Q. Back to your cell. Paris: We're under attack. Chakotay: By a ship? Paris: By, by, I'm not sure what they are. Kim: Captain, I don't believe this, but according to my readings, we're being attacked by protons. We've been reduced to subatomic proportions. Quinn: He'll never find us here. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, see if you can release a positive ion charge to repel them. Q: Ready or not, here I am. Janeway: Oh, now what? Paris: Checking. We seem to be tethered to some kind of large plant. Janeway: Let's see it. Computer, I need a wider angle. Q: You can't hide from me, Q. Quinn: And you can't take me by force. I'll stalemate you for eternity, if I have to. Janeway: The hell you will. The vaunted Q Continuum. Self-anointed guardians of the universe. How dare you come aboard this ship and endanger this crew with your personal tug of war. Q: Did anyone ever tell you you're angry when you're beautiful? Paris: We're back where we started from, Captain. Quinn: It's doesn't matter. I'm not going into that cell. Q: How would you like to spend eternity as a Gorokian midwife toad. Quinn: Just try it. Janeway: Stop! You want asylum? Fine. We'll have a hearing. Q: A hearing? You would have me put his future in your delicate little hands? Oh, so touchably soft. What is your secret, dear? Janeway: When the captain of a Starfleet vessel receives an official request for asylum, there is a clear procedure to follow. I suggest to end your deadlock, and to save my ship, that we follow it to the letter. Q: Well, this could go on for a millennium or two, I suppose. All right, I accept on behalf of the Continuum on one condition. If you rule in our favor, Q agrees to return to his confinement. Quinn: I have a condition of my own. If you rule in my favor, then the Continuum must grant me mortality. Q: Why? So you can kill yourself? Quinn: Exactly. Q: Accepted. Well, this is going to make for an amusing diversion. Will you send him to prison for eternity or will you assist in his suicide plan? That's a toughie, but that's why they made you captain, isn't it? To handle the real tough ones? My, my. Now I guess now we get to find out whether the pants really fit. Quinn: Am I interrupting anything? Tuvok: I am curious. Have the Q always had an absence of manners, or is it the result of some natural evolutionary process that comes with omnipotence? Quinn: What? Oh, you mean, just popping in whenever we feel like it. Tuvok: That is one relevant example. Quinn: I apologize. At some point along the way, I guess we just stopped thinking about the little niceties. Tuvok: So it seems. Quinn: But you mustn't think of us as omnipotent, no matter what the Continuum would like you to believe. You and your ship seem incredibly powerful to lifeforms without your technical expertise. It's no different with us. We may appear omnipotent to you, but believe me, we're not. Tuvok: Intriguing. Just what vulnerabilities do the Q have? Quinn: Always looking for the tactical advantage, Mister Tuvok. Very good. As a matter of fact, that's why I've come to see you. In a way, our vulnerability is what this is all about. As the Q have evolved, we've sacrificed many things along the way. Not just manners, but mortality, and a sense of purpose, and a desire for change, and a capacity to grow. Every loss is a new vulnerability, wouldn't you say? Tuvok: Why are you telling me this? Quinn: Because I want you to represent me in the hearing. Tuvok: Me? I have no legal expertise. Quinn: But I need someone who understands Federation asylum practices. Besides, Vulcans approve of suicide. Tuvok: It is true that Vulcans who reach a certain infirmity with age, do practice ritual suicides. Nevertheless, I fail to see how that fact would be meaningful in this circumstance. Quinn: I have the right to counsel, Mister Tuvok. Will you assist me? Janeway: Let me begin by stating clearly that I expect all parties to act appropriately and with respect for these proceedings. I will not have this hearing turned into a circus, is that clear? Is that clear, Q? Q: Madam Captain, we are dealing here with an issue of the greatest importance to the Q Continuum. I assure you we take this matter very seriously. Janeway: Thank you. And please don't call me Madam Captain. Since you've made it clear that your asylum would lead to suicide, you place me in a difficult position. Quinn: I understand, Captain. Janeway: May I ask you why you want to commit suicide? Quinn: As difficult as it is for you to imagine, for me, immortality is impossible to endure any longer. In the Continuum, an individual has an obligation to be responsible to the path his life will follow. Q: His life will follow. Emphasize life. Quinn: I never yielded that obligation to the Continuum. If the path I choose leads to death, what right have they to interfere? Q: He's putting his selfish wishes above the welfare of everyone else. Quinn: And if I don't agree with the majority, I'm to be locked up for eternity. Q: You would not be confined if you were not intent on harming yourself. With your permission, Captain, I would like to call an expert on the Continuum to discuss the implications of the decision to be made. Janeway: Proceed. Q: I call myself to the stand. Q2: Ta-da! Q: Thank you for coming. It's a rare honor to have someone of your reputation and accomplishment with us today. Q2: Thank you. Q: Tell me, what would be the impact of a Q suicide? Q2: Oh, it would be an interruption to the Continuum. It would change the very nature of Q. Janeway: Can you be more specific? Q2: No, because we're not even sure what the end result would be. His suicide could have all sorts of unknown consequences to the Continuum. Quinn: Precisely! It would force the Q to deal with the unknown for the first time since the New Era began. They're afraid of me because they're afraid of the unknown. Q: How would you characterize his remarks? Q2: No Q has ever tried to commit suicide. Immortality is one of the defining qualities of being a Q. By every measure of the Continuum, his remarks would have to be considered as mentally unbalanced. Q: Mentally unbalanced. And no civilized people in the universe, including the primitive Federation societies, would condone the suicide of a mentally unbalanced person. Tuvok: Tell me Q, can you offer any other evidence of mental instability on the part of my client? Q2: What more do I need? He wants to kill himself. Tuvok: In fact, until this issue arose, he was known in the Continuum as one of your great philosophers. Is that not true? Q2: Not anymore, it isn't. Tuvok: So, your entire basis for judging him mentally unbalanced is his wish to commit suicide. I submit that is a faulty premise. In many cultures, suicide is acceptable, and in and of itself cannot be used as evidence of mental illness. Janeway: I tend to agree with Mister Tuvok. Q: Vulcans. Tuvok: Is it not true that on occasion the Continuum has executed Qs for certain crimes? Q2: On rare occasions, yes. Tuvok: Didn't their deaths create an interruption to the Continuum? Q2: Their crimes created the interruption. Their deaths ended it. I know where you're going with this, Lieutenant. Tuvok: Do you? Q2: And it's not going to work. Our society, like any other, must control its disruptive elements. An execution may be undesirable, I grant you that, but on some rare occasions it is necessary and warranted. And the decision to proceed is only made after great deliberation by the entire Continuum. You can not imagine the chaos that would be created if individuals like Q here, could choose between life and death. This is a matter of social order versus anarchy. Tuvok: I understand. And you find nothing contradictory in a society that outlaws suicide but practices capital punishment? Q2: No. Janeway: Any other questions, Lieutenant? Tuvok: Just one other thing. Isn't it true that you yourself were once accused of being mentally unstable by the Continuum? Were you not you diskiplined for inappropriate behavior? Q: Objection. Janeway: I'll allow the question. Q2: My record has been expunged. Tuvok: I will take that as a yes. Thank you. That is all. Janeway: You're excused. Q: If I may beg the court's indulgence, I have other witnesses to call. Janeway: To what end? Q: Your Captain Honor, I am here to argue for the majesty of life. What it means to us to be alive. A Q's life takes him to all corners of the universe. This Q's life has touched and affected many, many others, including some on your own homeworld. With your permission, I would like to call some of those people whose lives have been changed by this Q. Janeway: You want to bring people here from Earth? Q: I promise it won't impact the timeline, and no one will remember ever having being here after I send them back. Janeway: This is most unusual. Do you have any objection, Mister Tuvok? Tuvok: I am as curious as you are, Captain. Janeway: Very well. Proceed. Riker: Q. What the hell is going on? Janeway: My apologies, Commander. To you all. My name is Kathryn Janeway. Riker: Captain Janeway. USS Voyager. Janeway: That's correct, Commander. You're aboard Voyager. We're lost in the Delta Quadrant, and as much as I wish you could tell them that when you get home, your memories will be wiped before you get back. Ginsberg: God, if you let me live through this, I promise I'll clean up my act. I swear. Newton: I demand an explanation. Why are you dressed like this, young man? Ginsberg: Man, have you looked in a mirror lately? Janeway: Allow me to try to explain, Mister? Ginsberg: Ginsberg. Er, Maury Ginsberg. Newton: Sir Isaac Newton. Riker: William Riker. Nice to meet you. Janeway: Consider for a moment that it might be possible to travel forward in time, say to the twenty fourth century, onto a starship seventy five thousand light years from Earth. Janeway: You're having a very strange dream, and in this dream, you're seeing this man whom you've all met before. Newton: Yes I have seen that man before. You were sitting under the tree the day Q: The day the apple fell on your head? Newton: Yes. That's right. Q: Quite a day, wasn't it? As a matter of fact, this man jostled the tree when he got up to leave. Newton: Just before the apple fell, yes. Q: And a new era in human science was born. Ginsberg: Wait a minute. Weren't you the guy in the jeep? Q: The guy in the jeep, who picked you up after your own vehicle broke down that summer afternoon, isn't that right? Ginsberg: Oh, man, he was a lifesaver. My van died and they dragged it off the road because of all the traffic. It was backed up for miles. Q: You were on your way to a job, weren't you? Ginsberg: Yeah, I was supposed to be on the follow spot up on tower three. I never would have made it in time if it weren't for him. Hey, whatever happened with that groovy chick with the long red beads in the back seat? I've been looking for her ever since you dropped me off. Quinn: You'll see her again, don't worry. Q: To sum up, you were a spotlight operator at an outdoor concert of some sort. A concert that was put in jeopardy moments before it was to begin, because the entire sound system failed. Ginsberg: Oh, it was no big deal. Somebody must have snagged an extension cord with one of the trucks, that's all. I'm just lucky I noticed it. Q: Yes, lucky you were at the right place at the right time, or it would have taken days to track down the problem and there would have been no concert. Riker: Well, I'm sorry to say I have met him, but I've never seen this man before in my life. Q: Are you sure? Tuvok: Has it not been established that my client has in captivity during all of Commander Riker's lifetime? Q: Have you seen this photograph before? Riker: Sure I have. That is Colonel Thaddeus Riker after he was wounded at Pine Mountain. They used to call him Old Iron Boots. He was in command of the Hundred and Second New York during General Sherman's march on Atlanta. This picture was taken in eighteen sixty four, just after they let him out of the army hospital. Q: And the soldier beside him? Riker: I'll be damned. It's him. Q: As a matter of fact, he carried your wounded ancestor back from the front line. Didn't you? My point is, Captain, that Q has had a profound influence on these three lives. Without Q, Isaac Newton would have died forgotten in a Liverpool debtor's prison, a suspect in several prostitute murders. Without Q, there would have been no concert at, er. Quinn: Woodstock. Q: Wherever. More importantly, Mister Ginsberg would never have met his future wife, the groovy chick with the long red beads, and he would never have become a successful orthodontist, settled in Scarsdale with four kids. Ginsberg: Far out. Q: Yes. Without Q there would have been no William T. Riker at all, and I would have lost at least a dozen really good opportunities to insult him over the years. Oh, and lest I forget, without Q, the Borg would have assimilated the Federation. Thank you. Thank you. Q: This is the life Q treats without respect. This is the life that he would give up so easily. Tuvok: May I remind this hearing, and my learned colleague, that for three centuries, my client has not been allowed contact with anyone. At this time, we would like to reproduce the environment in which he has been confined. Q: I object. Janeway: No, I'll allow this. Tuvok: These are the conditions my client would be forced to live in for eternity if you deny asylum, Captain. Q: We just want to give him time to reconsider his position. Quinn: I will never change my mind. Q: This is your own doing. You could live a perfectly normal life if you were simply willing to live a perfectly normal life. Janeway: I've seen enough. Please return us to the hearing room. Tuvok: I would submit that the quality of life that my client will have to endure should be considered in this proceeding. Janeway: I don't like those conditions any more than you do, Mister Tuvok, and I wouldn't want to spend another day there if I were you, Q, but I'm here to rule on a request for asylum, not to judge the penal system of the Q Continuum. And he does have a point. You were confined only to prevent you from doing harm to yourself. I've been doing a great deal of research, studying a variety of cultural attitudes on suicide, to help me frame the basis of a decision. Mister Tuvok, are you familiar with the double effect principle on assisted suicide that dates back to the Bolian Middle Ages? Tuvok: I believe it relates to the relief of suffering, does it not, Captain. Janeway: It states, an action that has the principal effect of relieving suffering may be ethically justified even though the same action has the secondary effect of possibly causing death. This principle is the only thing I can find that could possibly convince me to decide in your favor, Q. And yet, as I look at you, you don't seem by our standards, aged, infirm, or in any pain. Can you show this hearing that you suffer in any manner other than that caused by the conditions of your incarceration? Any suffering that would justify a decision to grant you asylum. Tuvok: May I request a recess to consider our response, Captain? Janeway: Granted. Quinn: We're going to lose, aren't we? Tuvok: I would say we have not yet convinced Captain Janeway of the validity of our argument. Quinn: You're doing a fine job, Mister Tuvok. It's nice to know someone believes in me. Tuvok: I am representing your position to the best of my ability. It is most definitely not my own. I see no persuasive evidence that a life like yours should be wasted simply because you are disgruntled. Frankly, I see no logic to your position. Quinn: You, you surprise me, Mister Tuvok, which is a rare and special gift to a Q. Thank you. But may I say, if you only knew what life as a Q were like, you would see the logic. Tuvok: Then perhaps what we should do next is take this hearing to see life in the Continuum itself. Captain's log, supplemental. I'm determined to find a better alternative to suicide or endless prison, so I've summoned the advocate Q to make him a proposal. Q: Yes, what is it, Captain? Janeway: Come to the next session of the hearing and announce that the Continuum is ready to reintegrate Q into your society. That you won't condemn him to that cell for eternity. Q: And you will rule in our favor. Janeway: I would consider it a very meaningful gesture by the Continuum. Q: How would you know if I intended to keep my word? Janeway: Based on my research, you have been many things. A rude, interfering, inconsiderate, sadistic Q: You've made your point. Janeway: Pest. And, oh yes, you introduced us to the Borg, thank you very much. But one thing you have never been is a liar. Q: I think you've uncovered my one redeeming virtue. Am I blushing? I wish I could help you, Kathy. I just can't. We're dealing here with the most dangerous man in the Continuum. Now I didn't tell you this, but one of his self destructive stunts created a misunderstanding which ignited the hundred year war between the Romulans and the Vulcans. No, this man goes back into his confinement. But I would like to make it easier for you. The Continuum is prepared to do you a little favor, if we approve of your ruling. Look out the window. Q: Now you see it. Now you don't. Tuvok: We are prepared to illustrate the nature of Q's suffering, Captain. But in order to do so, we must show this hearing what life is like in the Continuum. Q: And how do you intend to do that? Tuvok: By going to the Continuum itself. Janeway: Is this possible? Q: No. It's a ridiculous idea. You would never understand. Tuvok: My client has the right to ask for an inspection of the living conditions that lead to his suffering, Captain. Janeway: I would agree with that. Q: I suppose you have some crazy idea how to pull this off? Quinn: Yes. Q: Only if. Quinn: Fine, fine. Q: We've agreed on a format for this little sojourn. But I still believe it's ill-advised. Janeway: I'll be the judge of that. Whenever you're ready. Q: No, please. Janeway: This is the Q Continuum? A road in a desert? Q: I told you so. Quinn: This is a manifestation of the Continuum that we hope falls within your level of comprehension. This way. Janeway: Good afternoon. Quinn: I apologize for their lack of hospitality, Captain. We're not used to visitors here. In fact you are the only ones who've ever come. Tuvok: Then what is the purpose of the road? Quinn: The road takes us to the rest of the universe, then it leads back here. An endless circle. Janeway: This was your existence before your confinement? Quinn: I traveled the road many times, sat on the porch, played the games, been the dog, everything. I was even the scarecrow for a while. Janeway: Why? Quinn: Because I hadn't done it. Q: Oh, we've all done the scarecrow. Big deal. Janeway: I can't say I entirely understand what I'm seeing here, but these people don't seem to be suffering. Q: Of course not. They're happy people. Happy people. What's there to feel sad about? Look at them. Quinn: They don't dare feel sad. If only they could, that would be progress. Q: Oh, the philosopher speaks. Quinn: When I was a respected philosopher, I celebrated the continuity, the undeviation of Q life. I argued that our civilization had achieved a purity that no other culture had ever approached. And it was wonderful, for a while. At the beginning of the New Era, life as a Q was a continuous dialogue of discovery and issues and humor from all over the universe. But look at them now. Listen to their dialogue now. Tuvok: I'm afraid I cannot hear any. Quinn: Because it has all been said. Everyone has heard everything, seen everything. They haven't had to speak to each other in ten millennia. There's nothing left to say. Q: Well, I don't know about you, but I appreciate a little peace and quiet now and again. Quinn: It's ironic, isn't it, Q. Q: I don't know what you mean. Quinn: Of course you do. That you of all people should be arguing their case. Q: I believe in the ultimate purity of the Q. Quinn: You, who were banned from the Continuum and made mortal to pay for your crimes? Q: My penance has ended. I'm a born again Q. That life is behind me. Quinn: What a shame. Because in many ways, that life inspired me. Q: It did? I did? Quinn: Oh, yes. You never knew that, did you? You see, Captain, Q rebelled against this existence by refusing to behave himself. He was out of control. He used his powers irresponsibly and all for his own amusement. And he desperately needed amusement, because he could find none here at home. Q: And I paid the price for my inappropriate behavior. Quinn: No, no, we paid the price by forcing you to stop. But for a moment there, you really had our attention. My attention. You gave us something to talk about. But then you surrendered to the will of the Continuum like a good little Q, and may I say that you've become a fine, upstanding member of the Continuum. But I miss the irrepressible Q, the one who forced me to think. May I borrow this? Quinn: This was the beginning of my fall from grace. This was the last edition, by the way. They shut down the presses after I wrote that. Quinn: But they couldn't keep me silent. I continued to speak out in favor of self-termination. Q: That's when he lost his mind and started trying to destroy himself. We had no choice but to confine him but for his own safety. Quinn: Not for my safety. For theirs. I was the greatest threat the Continuum had ever known. They feared me so much they had to lock me away for eternity. And when they did that, they were saying that the individual's rights will be protected only so long as they don't conflict with the state. Nothing is so dangerous to a society. My life's work is complete, but they force immortality on me, and when the do that they cheapen and denigrate my life and all life in the Continuum. All life. Captain, you're an explorer. What if you had nothing left to explore? Would you want to live forever under those circumstances? You want me to prove to you that I suffer in terms that you can equate with pain or disease. Look at us. When life has become futile, meaningless, unendurable, it must be allowed to end. Can't you see, Captain? For us, the disease is immortality. Tuvok: We rest our case, Captain. Janeway: Very well. I'll make my ruling in the morning. We'll be in recess until then. Q: Trouble sleeping? Did you ever try warm Kylerian goat's milk? Janeway: Get out. Q: Did you think about our offer? Janeway: You mean your bribe. Q: Merely an incentive to make the proper decision. Janeway: It'll play no part in my deliberations. Q: No, I told them it wouldn't. That's why I talked them into giving you what you asked for. You have my word. He won't go back to the cell. We'll assign someone to look after him. Whatever it takes. It's what you wanted, isn't it? Janeway: That's what I wanted. Q: So, you've won. Let's celebrate. Just you and me. The two of us. Janeway: What? Q: I'll take you home. Before you know it, you'll be scampering across the meadow with your little puppies, the grass beneath your bare feet. A man, coming over the hill way in the distance, waves to you. You run to be in his arms and as you get closer you see that it's me. Janeway: You? Q: Forget Mark. I know how to show a girl a good time. How would you like a ticker-tape parade down Sri Lanka Boulevard? The captain who brought Voyager back. A celebrated hero. I never did anything like that for Jean-Luc. But I feel very close to you. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because you have such authority and yet manage to preserve your femininity so well. Janeway: Leave. Q: We'll talk about this after the hearing tomorrow. Janeway: I've tried to find some way to reconcile all the conflicting emotions I've felt during this hearing. My own aversion to suicide, my compassion for your situation, Q. It hasn't been easy. I've tried to tell myself that this is not about suicide, but about granting asylum. That I am not personally being asked to perform euthanasia. And as technically true as that may be, I cannot escape the moral implications of my choices. I've also had to consider that a decision to grant asylum, and the subsequent suicide of a Q, might have a significant impact on the Continuum. That such a decision could change the nature of an entire society, whether it be a favorable or unfavorable change, disturbs me greatly. But then there are the rights of the individual in this matter. I don't believe that you are mentally unbalanced. And I do believe that you are suffering intolerably. Under these conditions, I find it impossible to support immortality forced on an individual by the state. The unforeseen disruption that may occur in the Continuum is not enough, in my opinion, to justify any additional suffering by this individual. So, I hereby grant you asylum. Q: May I see you in your chambers, Captain? Janeway: You've been in my chambers enough for one visit, sir. Q: A sidebar, your honor. Only for a moment. Quinn: She ruled in my favor. You made a promise. Quinn: Nothing happened. Nothing! My powers are gone! I'm mortal. Q: Well, so much for ticker-tape parades. Janeway: I'm not finished, Q. Now that you're mortal, you have a new existence to explore. An entirely new state of being filled with the mysteries of mortal life, pleasures you've never felt before. I like this life, Q. You might too. Think hard before you give it up. This hearing is adjourned. Captain's log, stardate 49301.2. We have assigned quarters to our new passenger, who has entered his name on our crew manifest as Quinn. I am anxious to engage him in ship activities as soon as possible. Chakotay: How about Stellar Cartography? Janeway: We could shut down Stellar Cartography with all the knowledge he'd bring to the job. Chakotay: Well, that's going to be a problem with just about everything we assign him to. Janeway: There's got to be something on board that will Emh: Sickbay to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Emh: Captain, I think you should come down to Sickbay. Mister Quinn is here. I'm afraid he's dying. Janeway: There's nothing you can do? Emh: He's ingested a rare form of Nogatch hemlock. There is no known cure. Quinn: I'm sorry to disappoint you, Captain. But I would only have be pretending to fit in to this mortal existence. This is my final gift to my people. Oh! Tell them those were my last words. I dearly thank you for making this poss Tuvok: Doctor, do you generally keep samples of fatal poisons in storage? Emh: No. Tuvok: The replicators will not produce them either. Janeway: So how did he get his hands on Nogatch hemlock? Q: I got it for him. Tuvok: You assisted his suicide? Q: Illogical, Tuvok? 1 don't think so. By demanding to end his life, he taught me a little something about my own. He was right when he said the Continuum scared me back in line. I didn't have his courage or his convictions. He called me irrepressible. This was a man who was truly irrepressible. I only hope I make a worthy student. Janeway: I imagine the Continuum won't be very happy with you, Q. Q: I certainly hope not. Au revoir, Madam Captain. We will meet again.

Paris: Sorry I'm late, but I have a very good excuse. Picture this. I'm just getting ready to leave the Mess hall, when Ensign Wildman goes into labor. What else could I do but deliver the baby? Oh, you should've been there, Harry. There is nothing like bringing a new life into the world. I think I missed my calling. What if I told you the turbolift got stuck on deck six? Chakotay: This is the third time you've been late this week, Mister Paris. Paris: It won't happen again. Tuvok: Commander, I am picking up a distress call on one of the upper subspace bands. Chakotay: What's the source? Tuvok: A small spacecraft. No weapon systems. One life form aboard. Extremely weak life signs. Chakotay: Slow to half impulse. Kim: According to the bioscanner, it's a Vidiian female. Janeway: Open a channel. Kim: No response. Chakotay: She may be too sick. Paris: Or maybe it's some kind of trick. Tuvok: Preliminary scans show no other Vidiian ships in this sector. It is unlikely that this is a trap. Janeway: Commander Chakotay, notify the Doctor. Mister Kim, beam the woman to Sickbay. Kim: Aye, Captain. Kes: Her renal organs are functioning at twenty percent of normal and her cardiovascular system is on the verge of collapse. Emh: Twenty milligrams of lectrazine. Kes: Cardiovascular and renal systems are stabilizing, but her neural patterns are fading. What is it? Emh: In her parietal lobe. It looks like some sort of implant. It's a very complex web of bioneural circuitry. Nanofibers. Kes: Could this be what's causing the problem? Emh: On the contrary. According to these readings, the device is actually storing her synaptic patterns, processing them and transmitting neural electrical impulses to the rest of her systems. Kes: Are you saying it's some kind of artificial brain? Emh: No. I'd say it's more like a neuro-cortical stimulator, designed to supplement the higher brain functions. Kes: But it's not working any more. Emh: From what I can tell, the implant itself is functioning, but it's connected to mostly dead nerve cells. If we don't do something quickly, she'll be brain dead in a matter of minutes. Kes: What about trying to stimulate cell regeneration with a high dosage of inaprovaline? Emh: Very impressive, Kes, but I think it's too late for that. Get me a high frequency RF transmitter. You're going to have to hurry, Kes. The patient's brain function is diminishing rapidly. Now, set the delta band frequency of the holo-emitter to eight point six tetrahertz. Kes: What are we doing exactly? Emh: Transferring the patient's synaptic patterns into the holo-buffer before they degrade completely. Kes: Is there enough storage capacity in the holo-matrix for such complex data patterns? Emh: There's enough capacity for my program, isn't there? And my program contains over fifty million gigaquads of data, which I don't have to tell you is considerably more than most highly developed humanoid brains. Kes: What good is preserving her synaptic patterns if there's no body? Emh: I'm creating a holographic body. Not only will we be able to communicate with the patient, but we'll have an accurate model of healthy Vidiian physiology that will aid in treating her actual body. Computer, project the patient's skeletal structure. Now add internal organs. Add musculature. Now apply epidermal layers. Computer, use transporter records to recreate the patient's clothing. Chakotay: According to her ship's navigational logs, the woman was en route to a remote Vidiian colony. Janeway: Are we anywhere near it? Chakotay: It's about ten light years away. We should be in the general vicinity in about twenty two days. Janeway: Assuming she survives, and we can take adequate security precautions, we'll turn her over to her people when we get there. Chakotay: Captain. Janeway: Is there something wrong? Chakotay: I wanted to talk to you about Lieutenant Paris. His attitude lately has been less than professional. Janeway: I've noticed. Chakotay: I know crew diskipline's my responsibility, but in this case I thought I should let you get involved before I took any action. In a way, Paris has been your personal reclamation project. Janeway: I appreciate your bringing this to my attention, Commander, but I trust you to handle the problem any way you see fit. Chief Medical Officer's Log, supplemental. Test results indicate that the holographic body is functioning normally. The patient's synaptic patterns appear to be stable, so I'm now ready to begin transferring her cognitive and motor processes. Denara: Who are you? Emh: I'm the Chief Medical Officer of the Federation Starship Voyager. We received your distress call and brought you aboard. Denara: What have you done to me? Emh: It's quite simple, really. I used the undamaged chromosomes in your cerebellum to recreate your original DNA code, and then programmed the computer to project a holographic template based on that genome. Denara: Holographic? Emh: A three-dimensional projection of light and energy. See for yourself. Emh: Your neural patterns were degrading rapidly. It was too late to expect results from inaprovaline, so I was forced to improvise, not that it would have occurred to just any physician. Why are you crying? Denara: I'm sorry, I Emh: I thought you'd be pleased. Denara: I am. I just never expected to look healthy again. I've been sick for so long. Emh: I'll need a complete medical history. How long have you been ill exactly? Denara: I was first diagnosed with the Phage when I was seven. Emh: And when did you begin receiving replacement tissue? Denara: About that same time. At first, it was hard to get used to the changes, but it happened so often that after a while I, I almost stopped noticing. I never, I never thought I'd see myself again. Thank you. This is the most extraordinary thing anyone has ever done for me. Emh: I wouldn't be too grateful. There are serious limitations to being a hologram. First of all, we can only exist within environments equipped with holo-emitters, such as the Sickbay. Denara: Do you mean you're a Emh: I'm this ship's Emergency Medical Holographic Program. Denara: You're a computer simulation? Emh: An incredibly sophisticated computer simulation. Denara: I'm sorry. What did you say your name was? Emh: I don't have a name. It wasn't part of my original program. However you, I'm sure, have one. Denara: Denara. Denara Pel. Emh: Well, Miss Pel. May I ask what someone with an illness like yours was doing alone in space with no access to medical care? Denara: I was helping to treat an outbreak of the Phage on Fina Prime. I was on my way back to my home colony, but it's a long journey and my condition got worse. Emh: You're a medical practitioner of some kind? Denara: A hematologist. Emh: Well then, perhaps given your expertise, you can help me with your treatment. Denara: My treatment? I feel fine. Emh: Unfortunately, that's only temporary. Your synaptic patterns will eventually degrade if we don't get them out of the pattern buffers and back into your brain. Denara: How long? Emh: A few days. Perhaps a week. Denara: I see. Emh: Your real body is in stasis. As you can see, we have to find a way to repair your damaged neural tissue. Is something wrong? Denara: It's nothing. Emh: I'm eager to discuss treatments. Denara: Of course. Emh: The procedure is quite simple. I'll drill an opening into your skull precisely two millimeters in diameter, and then use a neuralyte probe to extract a sample of your parietal lobe, weighing approximately one gram. Torres: It doesn't sound simple to me. I still have nightmares about what those people did to me. And now, you want to crack open my head, cut out a piece of my brain and give it to her? Emh: Your experience in the Vidiian prison suggests Klingon DNA is resistant to the Phage. Losing a small amount of neural tissue is inconsequential. Torres: Not to me, it isn't. Emh: Yet that same tissue, grafted onto the patient's brain and stimulated to grow, will significantly slow the spread of her infection. If we can increase the grafted tissue mass quickly enough, we can transfer her synaptic patterns back into her brain before they degrade in the holo-buffer. It won't cure the Phage, but it should prolong her life considerably. Please, change into a surgical gown and lie down on biobed number one. Torres: I am not going to Denara: Excuse me. I just want to say that I've read about the experiments that were done on you. What you went through must have been very traumatic. Torres: That is an understatement. Denara: I'm sure it is. Please understand this disease has been killing my people for hundreds of years. Trying to stop it has become an obsession, and many of our politicians and scientists have never developed compassion for the people who keep us alive. As much as I want to go on living, I've accepted the fact that I will die soon. I only want your help if you are willing to give it. Torres: Of course I, I'd like to help you if I can. Denara: If you have any questions at all about the procedure, I'd be happy to answer them for you. Torres: I'll go and get changed. Emh: I've finished ingrafting the Klingon neural tissue to your cerebral cortex. Now all I have to do is create an axonal pathway between that tissue and your basal ganglia. Denara: Your technique is very impressive. Emh: It's all part of my programming. For example, this exact procedure was developed by Doctor Leonard McCoy in the year 2253. I'm equipped with the collective medical knowledge of more than three thousand cultures. Additionally, as you see here, my imaging system allows me to perform, and in many cases improve upon, the most delicate tactile maneuvers required by a dizzying array of surgical procedures. Denara: Incredible. Emh: It is, isn't it? Hand me the submicron suture, please. There. That should do it. Excellent work, Doctor. Denara: I was only assisting. Emh: Nonetheless, that assistance was invaluable. It could be two or three days before we'll know if the graft will hold. In the meantime, perhaps I should deactivate your program temporarily. Denara: Do you have to? Emh: It would slow the degradation of your synaptic patterns. Denara: But I have so much energy. I don't know. Maybe it's the excitement of the surgery or, or maybe it's this new body. What I'd really like to do is take a walk and see the rest of your ship. Emh: Unfortunately, that's not possible. However, if you're looking for something to do, please feel free to use my office to access our medical database. You'll find several interesting texts on comparative endocrinology. Denara: All right. Thank you. Emh: On second thought, there is someplace else we could go. Denara: It's wonderful. If I had a place like this to go to, I'd be there every day. Emh: Don't your people have recreational facilities? Denara: Congregating in groups is strictly regulated. It's considered to be a threat to public health. Emh: A wise policy. Denara: I suppose. Sometimes I think my people spend so much time trying to save lives, they don't know how to live anymore. Neelix: Doctor! Aren't you going to introduce me to your date? Emh: She is not my date. She's my patient. Neelix: I'm sorry. I didn't realize. Emh: Mister Neelix, this is Doctor Denara Pel. Neelix: As Chief Morale Officer, may I be the first to welcome you to Voyager. Gigolo: Madame, your loveliness illuminates our dark little cavern. May I have the pleasure of this next dance? Emh: Go away, immediately, both of you. You're disturbing my patient. Gigolo: You are just jealous because you cannot dance. Neelix: Let's go. You're making the lady nervous. Nice to meet you. Emh: I apologize. Denara: No. They were just being nice. Emh: Irritating, isn't it? Denara: I guess I'm just not used to so much attention. Where I come from, when you're as sick as I am, people, healthy people stay away from you. I guess I forgot for a second that I don't look like that anymore. Emh: It's a natural response. Denara: All this talk about me. There's still so much I'd like to know about you. Emh: There's not much to tell, really. My program was developed by Doctor Louis Zimmerman in a lab on Jupiter Station. I was activated on stardate 48308. Since that time I've performed three hundred and forty seven medical exams, healed eleven compound fractures, performed three appendectomies, and in my greatest feat of medical prowess, I once cured Mister Neelix of an acute case of the hiccups. Denara: You're very funny. Emh: I am? Well, several clinical studies have shown humor to be very therapeutic. Consider it part of your treatment. What is it? Denara: It's, er, just that I, I haven't laughed in a very long time. Thank you. Well, what did that man mean when he said you can't dance? Emh: That's dancing. Denara: And you can't do it? Emh: It's not part of my programming. Denara: Oh. I see. Emh: Well, Doctor Pel. Denara: Please, call me Denara. Emh: As you wish, Denara. Denara: And what about you? What should I call you? Emh: Well, as I said. Denara: I know. You don't have a name. Would it be all right if I gave you one? Emh: Well, I Denara: How about Shmullus. Emh: Shmullus? Denara: It was my uncle's name. He used to make me laugh too. Emh: Doctor Shmullus. I think I like the sound of that. Emh: Well, here we are. Denara: Yes, here we are. Emh: Denara, I think we should Denara: Yes? Emh: Deactivate your program for at least eight hours. Denara: If you think it's best. Emh: I do. Denara: All right, then. Emh: All right. Computer Denara: Shmullus? Emh: Yes? Denara: I had a wonderful time. Emh: I'm pleased. Denara: Thank you, for everything. Emh: Thank you for giving me a name. Er, well, good night, Denara. Denara: Good night, Shmullus. Emh: Computer, deactivate Vidiian Program Alpha. Chakotay: Mind if I join you? So how are things, Tom? Paris: Excuse me? Chakotay: How have you been feeling lately? Something bothering you? Paris: Oh, no offense, Commander, but why this sudden concern for my feelings? Chakotay: Well, you've been moody lately, indifferent to your duties. To be honest, you don't seem to be taking your job very seriously. If you've got a problem, I'd like to know what it is. Paris: Yeah, I've got a problem. My problem is you. Chakotay: You care to elaborate? Paris: You tell me I don't take my job seriously. But half the time, you don't let me do my job. Chakotay: What's that supposed to mean? Paris: It means that you don't trust my judgment. You don't allow me to take initiative. Remember last week? I suggested that we might save time by traveling through that emissions nebula. But what did you say? Oh no, that's not the way we do things on this ship. Chakotay: Look, sometimes I'm not going to agree with your suggestions. But making decisions is part of being a leader. Maybe someday you'll understand that. Paris: Being a leader also means knowing when to give your people a little leeway and let them be creative. I might as well put this ship on autopilot for all the freedom you give me to do my job. Chakotay: I didn't come here for a lecture from you on how to do my job. Paris: Yeah, well, I know you don't put much stock in my opinion. So maybe you should talk to some of these people, because I'm not the only one around here who's got a problem with you. Now, if there's nothing else, sir, I'd like to be excused. Chakotay: Sure, Paris. You're excused. Lorrum: Dissension among the Voyager crew. Maje Culluh will find that very interesting. Good work, Mister Jonas. Now, there's something else we'd like you to do. We want you to create a small accident which will damage Voyager's warp coils. Jonas: Why? Lorrum: here's no need to concern yourself with that. You just plan the accident. We'll let you know exactly when we want it to happen. Do we understand each other? Jonas: I want to talk to Seska. Lorrum: I'm afraid Maje Culluh won't Jonas: You tell Maje Culluh that I won't do anything to damage Voyager. And if he has a problem with that, tell him to have Seska contact me. Kes: Doctor, when you have a minute Emh: I'm running a level two self-diagnostic right now. I'll be there as soon as I'm finished. Kes: Why are you running a diagnostic? Emh: I've been experiencing periodic lapses in concentration and difficulty handing objects. There may be a malfunction in my tactile acuity subroutine. Kes: How long has this been going on? Emh: About two or three days. Kes: Since Denara came aboard. Emh: What's your point? Kes: Maybe she's the reason you're feeling this way. Emh: I fail to see a connection. Kes: Maybe you're attracted to her. Emh: I told you, my program's malfunctioning. Kes: Romance is not a malfunction. Emh: Romance is not part of my programming. Kes: Your programming's adaptive, isn't it? Emh: Yes. Kes: Then I'd say it's adapting. Emh: What if I don't want it to adapt right now? Kes: Why wouldn't you? Emh: Because I don't like what's happening to me. I'm used to being in control of my faculties, confident of my decisions. But lately, whenever Denara's program is deactivated and I should be concentrating on my work, I find myself thinking of nothing but her. Kes: Why don't you reactivate her? Emh: Because whenever I do that, I suddenly feel unsettled, unsure of myself, and I have no idea what to say. Why would people seek out situations which induce such unpleasant symptoms? Kes: Because when the other person feels the same way you do, it's the most wonderful thing in life. Emh: Suppose, hypothetically, of course Kes: Of course. Emh: I wanted to pursue that possibility. How would I proceed? Kes: You'd have to tell her how you feel. Emh: That's it? Just tell her how I feel? Kes: Otherwise you may never know how she feels. Emh: I'm going to try stimulating your motor neurons. Well, the nucleus cuneatus appears to be functioning normally. And now for the anterior thalamic pathway. Excellent. By the way, Denara, I've been meaning to tell you. Denara: Yes? Emh: I'm romantically attracted to you and wanted to know if you felt the same way. Is something wrong? Denara: No, I Emh: Did you understand what I said? Denara: Yes. Emh: Well? Kes: Doctor, maybe now isn't the time to Emh: Excuse me, Kes. I was speaking to Denara. Denara: I think it's best if we keep our relationship professional. Emh: Oh. I'm going to try simulating the posterior sciatic nerve. Paris: Doc. What brings you here? Is somebody sick? Emh: Actually, Mister Paris, I was looking for you. Paris: Oh. Well, pull up a chair. Emh: Mister Paris, I assume you've had a great deal of experience being rejected by women. Paris: Oh, thanks a lot, Doc. Emh: What I'd like to know is, what does one do to recover from the unpleasant symptoms of romantic rejection? Paris: Why the sudden interest in romance? Emh: I can't tell you. It's a matter of doctor-patient confidentiality. Paris: Ah. All right. Well, let's see. Sometimes there's not a lot you can do to get over a woman you really care about. I remember when Susie Crabtree dumped me back in my first year at the Academy. I broke out in hives. Couldn't get out of bed for a week. I almost failed Stellar Cartography. I walked around in a daze for the rest of that year. Of course, the first one is always the hardest to get over. Emh: I see. Paris: But, eventually, you start thinking about her less and less. Until finally, without realizing it, she's not on your mind anymore. Emh: So, the symptoms do subside over time? Paris: For the most part. But every now and then, even years later, something reminds you of her. A certain smell, a few notes of a song, and suddenly you feel just as bad as the day she told you she never wanted to see you again. If you want to know the honest truth, Doc, you never completely get over a woman you really cared about. Wait a minute, Doc. We're not talking about you, are we? Emh: I told you, it was confidential. Paris: Oh. Boy, you've got it bad. Look, Doc, I don't mean to intrude, but if you tell me what's going on, maybe I can help. Denara: Hello, Kes. Kes: Are you feeling all right? Denara: I'm fine. I'm just waiting for the Doctor. Kes: Oh. Denara: He's been gone a long time. Kes: You really like him, don't you? Then why didn't you tell him that you felt the same way when he told you that he was attracted to you? Denara: I don't know. It all happened so fast. He just blurted it out. Kes: He's very blunt. You shouldn't take it personally. Denara: How could he possibly have those kinds of feelings about me? Kes: Maybe because you're compassionate person, a brilliant doctor, you appreciate his humor. Should I go on? Denara: Please don't. Kes: One thing you're not very good at is accepting a compliment. The next time someone has something nice to say about you, maybe you should just take them at their word and feel good about yourself. Denara: It's not easy to feel good about yourself when you're used to living your life like that. Kes: Denara, I can't pretend to know what your life's been like. But I do know there's nothing sadder than a missed opportunity. Maybe what you and the Doctor need is to spend some time together, alone. Paris: It sounds to me like she might just be shy. I think you scared her off. Emh: I did? Paris: Your approach is all wrong. Emh: Well, what would be the right approach? Paris: Women like romance. They want men to make an effort, take them someplace special. Emh: Where would I take her? Paris: Come with me, Doc. I've got an idea. Doctor's personal log, stardate 49504.3. Inaugural entry. Kes and Mister Paris have conspired to get Denara and me alone together in a place Paris considers romantic. I've never felt more uneasy. Emh: I wasn't sure you were coming. Denara: Neither was I. Emh: If you don't want to be here Denara: No. I do. Where are we exactly? Emh: On a planet called Mars inside a primitive land based vehicle. It's called a '57 Chevy. Mister Paris is quite an automobile aficionado. This is his program. Denara: What is it that we're supposed to be doing? Emh: I believe it's called parking. I almost forgot. These are for you. Denara: Thank you. You're, you're very, very thoughtful. Emh: I downloaded a new dancing subroutine program into my program this morning. Would you like to get out and try it? Denara: Actually, I wouldn't mind just sitting here for a while. Emh: You wouldn't? Denara: Those moons and star formations are so different from anything I've ever seen before. Emh: Well, if you're interested, I could point out a few astronomical highlights. You see that bluish planet there? That's called Earth. It's where Starfleet Headquarters is located. And over there, that's Cygnus. And there, that constellation is called Hercules, named after a character in ancient Greek myth. Hippocrates was also a Greek. He was the father of Earth medicine. And that cluster over there, that's called the Pleiades. Paris: Sorry I'm late. Chakotay: That's all right, Mister Paris. We don't need you. Mister Grimes has taken your place at conn. Paris: But it's my shift. Chakotay: Not today it isn't. Paris: What, because I was ten minutes late? Chakotay: That's right. Paris: Captain. Janeway: Don't look at me, Mister Paris. Commander Chakotay has complete diskretion in this matter. Paris: So, when should I report back for duty? Chakotay: When you decide to start taking your job seriously, we'll discuss it. But right now, you're dismissed. Paris: Get your hands off me! Janeway: Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Please escort Mister Paris to the brig. Jonas: Oh, boy, am I glad to see you. I wasn't even sure if they were giving you my messages. Seska: I've got them all, Mike. You've been very helpful. Jonas: Do you know what they're asking me to do? Seska: You mean about the warp coils? I was thinking you could do it by forcing the magnetic constrictors out of alignment. Jonas: Look, Seska, I don't mind feeding you information, but if you're planning some kind of attack. Seska: I have no intention of raising my child on a Kazon ship. One way or another, I'm going to take Voyager. You can either help me, or you can suffer along with Janeway and the others. Don't worry, Mike. Everything's been planned to the letter. Here's how it's going to work. We'll be waiting for you on a planet called Hemikek Four. Doctor's personal log, Stardate 49507.2. The more time I spend with Denara, the more my programming continues to adapt. I look forward to perfecting my romantic skills once we've completed the synaptic transfer. Emh: Set the delta band frequency of the holo-emitter to seven terahertz. Kes: Seven terahertz. Emh: Wait a minute. Did you administer the cervaline as I instructed? Kes: Five hundred milligrams every four hours. Emh: I don't understand it. Denara: What's wrong? Emh: The brain, your brain, it's rejecting the graft. We can't go through with the transfer. I'm detecting elevated levels of nytoxinol. Kes: Where could that have come from? Emh: Is it possible you made an error? Administered nytoxinol instead of cervaline? Kes: No, I don't think so. But here's the hypospray I used. Check for yourself. Emh: You're correct. It's cervaline. Has anyone else been in Sickbay during the last twenty four hours other than you and Denara? Kes: Crewman Foster came in for some analgesic, and Ensign Wildman was here for her regular prenatal visit. Why? Emh: Because if the nytoxinol was not administered by accident, I can only conclude that someone is deliberately trying to kill Denara. Kes: Who would want to kill her? Emh: Perhaps someone who bears ill will towards Vidiians. Whoever it is, I intend to find out. I'm calling Lieutenant Tuvok. Denara: Please don't do that. Emh: We have to find out who's trying to obstruct your recovery. Denara: I administered the nytoxinol. Emh: Didn't you know it would kill you? Denara: You mean kill her. Emh: She is you. Denara: Was me. I don't ever want to be her again! What are you doing? Emh: Looking for the cervaline. I have to reduce the rate of tissue rejection before it's too late. Denara: Kes, would you excuse us? Denara: I don't want to go through with the transfer. Emh: If we don't get your neural patterns out of the holo-buffer, you'll be brain dead in a matter of days. I can't let that happen. Denara: I'd rather live two more days like this with you, than go on for who knows how long wasting away a piece at a time. Emh: It's my duty to keep you alive. Denara: I thought you were more than my doctor. I thought you were my friend. Emh: I am your friend. Denara: What kind of friend would ask me to go on living like this? And for what? So that I can go back to a world where everyone I ever loved has died? Where almost everyone I meet is going to die? Emh: You're a doctor. You can help them. Denara: I can't help them. I can't cure them. All I can do is prolong their suffering. Just like you want to do to me now. Emh: Denara. I have no desire to see you suffer. Denara: Do you know what it's like? Do you? Emh: No, but Denara: What it's like to be a nine year old child, and suddenly your best friend doesn't want to come to your house anymore. And when you ask your mother why, why won't Mala come and play with me anymore? And she tells you it's because, it's because the other children are afraid of you. Listen to me. Before I met you, I was just a disease. But now, everything's different. When people look at me, they don't see a disease anymore. They see a woman. A woman you made. A woman you love. A woman you're not afraid to touch. Emh: Denara, I was never afraid to touch you. Denara: Why? Because you're a doctor? Emh: Because I love you. Denara: You say that now. But if I go through with the transfer. Emh: If you go through with the transfer. Denara: I will be sick again, and ugly. Emh: Denara, you're not ugly. You're simply ill. Denara: Oh, please. Stop patronizing me! I know how people see me. Emh: Denara, do you think if you go back into your own body, I'll feel different about you? Denara: Won't you? Emh: Listen to me. Nothing could ever change the way I feel about you. Not a few scars, not some diseased skin. Nothing. Denara: You have given me the most extraordinary gift that anyone has ever given me. You, you brought me to this ship where no one is sick and people are friendly. You've made me healthy and beautiful. I don't want to go back to the way things were. Emh: You said before you knew me that you were just a disease. Well, before you, I was just a projection of photons held together by force fields. A computerized physician doing a job, doing it exceptionally well, of course, but still it was just a profession, not a life. But now that you are here and my programming has adapted, I'm not just working anymore. I'm living, learning what it means to be with someone, to love someone. I don't think I can go back to the way things were, either. Denara, please. Don't die. Denara: I want us to be together. Emh: So do I. Denara: But if you put me back in that body, I'll have to go home and help my people. Emh: I know. But we'd still have two weeks together before we reached your colony. Denara, please, be with me for as long as you can. Emh: Computer, play music program Doctor Alpha.

Neelix: Good day, Voyager and welcome to A Briefing With Neelix. It's a catchy title, isn't it? I'll be coming to you each and every day with news of general interest. Interviews with our fascinating crew members. Musical performances. Recommendations for new holodeck programs. And of course, previews of upcoming meals. Everything from Hlaka soup to Zabee nuts. A Briefing With Neelix will help you stay informed about ship's activities, er, keep you abreast of your colleague's accomplishments and broaden your knowledge about a wealth of subjects. But most of all, it will make you feel good, because what you see here will always be the most uplifting, optimistic view of everything that happens on our ship. After all, as your morale officer, isn't it my job to bring a little joy into everyone's day? Hmm? Captain Janeway has agreed to appear on the show with regular updates about the ship's progress, and Commander Chakotay will commend outstanding crew members. So snap to and keep those boots polished to a shine. You never know when you might be featured on A Briefing With Neelix. Ready, Ensign? Baytart: All set, Neelix. Neelix: In just a moment, an amazing talent. Ensign Pablo Baytart will astound you with his juggling ability. He'll keep PADDs, hyposprays, even phasers in the air for minutes at a time. But before that, what makes people feel better than a little romance? And what Lieutenant in a gold uniform was recently huddled in the Mess Hall with what crewman in blue having a very intimate conversation over a carafe of Silmic wine? Well, I'd never name names, but you know who you are. Best wishes to a handsome pair of lovebirds. And now, ladies and gentlemen, Ensign Pablo Baytart. Neelix: Ladies and gentlemen, Ensign Pablo Baytart. Well? What did you think? Emh: I'm a doctor, not a performer. I don't have time for such nonsense. Neelix: I can see Hints for Healthful Living becoming a very popular segment, Doctor. Emh: I don't think so. Neelix: You'd be lifted to a whole new level in the crew's eyes. They'd hang on your every word. You'd enjoy a, a popularity, a, a celebrity that you've never known before. Emh: I would? Neelix: You don't have to answer right away. Just think about it. Neelix: Ah, Mister Kim! Just the person I wanted to see. Kim: See you later. Neelix: Did you watch A Briefing With Neelix this morning? Kim: Uh, yes, yes, I did. Neelix: Is there something about the program you disliked? Kim: I'm not sure I care for all the frosting. Neelix: Frosting? Kim: Deck four. Recipes, music, jugglers. It's sort of like a steady diet of dessert, which is fine, but pretty soon you want some meat and potatoes. Neelix: You do? Kim: When I was in school, I was editor of the Academy newspaper for a year. I monitored subspace transmissions. I got reports on some of the first activity by the Maquis against the Cardassians. I wrote an editorial about it, and the students became polarized on the issue. They debated the pros and cons, and gained an insight into the entire history of the political rebellion. Now, that's the power of journalism. Neelix: What did your professors say when you told them you were going to publish the editorial? Kim: I didn't tell them. It's the job of a journalist to be independent. Crewwoman: Bridge to Mister Neelix. You have an incoming transmission. Neelix: I'm heading for my quarters. Put it through there. Crewwoman: Yes, sir. Laxeth: Neelix, my friend. How are you? Neelix: Laxth, you old dilithium scrubber. It's good to see you. Calling to trade me some of your ill-gotten goods again? I promise you, I never want to see another wheel of Pendrashian cheese. Laxeth: Those days are behind me. I'm legitimate now. I'm communications master of a Talaxian convoy. Neelix: Communications master? Well, you've certainly come up in the world. Congratulations. Laxeth: Looks like I'll be seeing you in a few days. Neelix: How's that? Laxeth: We've been asked to rendezvous with your ship. We're going to pick up a passenger. Neelix: Passenger? We don't carry any passengers. Laxeth: Apparently, it's a member of your crew. All I know is someone wants to leave your ship and come to work for us. Janeway: Just how, exactly, did you hear that someone was leaving the ship? Neelix: An old friend of mine is serving with a Talaxian convoy. He told me they'd be rendezvousing with us in a few days. Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Tuvok: Yes, Captain? Janeway: Could you join us in my Ready room, please? Tuvok: Right away. Janeway: Lieutenant, Mister Neelix has heard on good authority that one of our crew will be leaving the ship in a few days. Naturally, he's curious about the identity of this person. What are the security issues here? Tuvok: I don't believe there are any serious concerns, Captain. There is no need to withhold this information any longer. Janeway: Lieutenant Paris has asked to be put off the ship. Neelix: Tom? Janeway: I'm sure you're aware that he's had some problems lately. Neelix: Well, yes. Tuvok: He has been disruptive, and often sets a bad example for the rest of the crew. Neelix: But he seemed so determined to get those things behind him. It means a lot to him to be respected by this crew. Janeway: All I can tell you is that when he was relieved of duty, he asked me to make arrangements for him to leave the ship. I tried to talk him out of it, but he was adamant. We detected the Talaxian convoy, and they were more than happy to get a pilot of Tom's ability. Neelix: I can't believe this. I never thought. Captain, may I speak with him? Janeway: Of course. He's in his quarters. Paris: Come in. Neelix: Hello, Tom. Paris: Neelix! How's it going? Not good, it looks like. What's wrong? Neelix: I hear you're leaving the ship? Paris: Good news travels fast, I guess. Yeah, I figured there was quite a bit more opportunity for advancement on a Talaxian convoy than there was on the only Starfleet ship in the quadrant. Neelix: When did you make this decision? Paris: Truthfully? About a minute and a half after I set foot on this ship a year ago. I knew it was a mistake to try to fit into Starfleet again, and I should have listened to myself. A few more months in that rehab colony would have been a hell of a lot better than being here. Neelix: Tom, you and I have had our differences, but I thought we put those behind us. I just hope I haven't contributed to your decision? Paris: Neelix, no. This isn't about anybody except me. I've done this to myself, just like always. No matter where I go or who I'm with, I make a mess of things. The unmistakable conclusion has to be that deep down, I don't want any friends, or a family, or a home. Otherwise, I wouldn't keep sabotaging the possibilities. Neelix: I thought you found those things here. Paris: I tried. Or maybe I just told myself I was trying. I'm not sure. Either way, it's just not working. Frankly, I'd like to get out before I completely destroy my image. There might actually be one or two people who still have a good opinion of me. Neelix: I'm one of them, Tom. And I wish you wouldn't go. Paris: Well, I thank you. But the truth is, I've always considered myself a drifter. You know what that's like, Neelix. Freedom to do what you want, when you want. No rules to follow, nobody depending on you, right? Emh: Well, there you are. I've been waiting for what seems like hours. Neelix: Doctor, what can I do for you? Emh: I want to discuss the details of my participation on your program. I've been giving it a great deal of thought, and I've come up with a number of ideas I think you'll find quite intriguing. Neelix: Well, that's good news, I-I'm delighted you've decided to become a contributor. But I'm afraid I don't have time to discuss it right now. Emh: But I've already prepared today's topic. How to keep your nostrils happy. Neelix: That is fascinating, but I'm afraid there's a more important story I have to work on today. Emh: You mean I'm not going to appear today? Neelix: When you see it, I'm sure you will understand. Emh: Hmm. But I will be on tomorrow? Neelix: Definitely. Without fail. I promise you. Emh: Very well. But tomorrow I'll want to cover two topics. I have a most entertaining idea. Uncovering the hidden mysteries of the adrenal gland. Neelix: Fine. Fine. Good bye, Doctor. Neelix: Good morning, Voyager. I want to tell you about a friend of mine. I first met this man almost a year ago, and tell you the truth, I didn't like him much. He seemed a little too cocky, a little too sure of himself. A lot of people had questions about him. He'd proven he'd pretty much sell himself out to the highest bidder, go wherever the wind blew him, so people wondered, could you trust this person when things got tough? Would he stand side by side with you, or would he let you down when you needed him most? But the fact of the matter is, he proved himself right from the beginning. I wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for him. And the same goes for many of you. It took me a while to realize it. Like a lot of people, I was too caught up in first impressions to see the truth that was right in front of me. I overlooked his bravery because I was focusing of his brashness. I ignored his courage because I saw it as arrogance. And I resented his friendliness because I mistook it for licentiousness. So while this man was giving us his best every minute of every day, I was busy judging him. And now he's leaving. I'm proud to say that in spite of my narrow-mindedness, Thomas Eugene Paris became my friend. I'm going to miss him. No more laughs over a game of pool. No more sitting up into the wee hours swapping stories. No more complaints about my cooking. Goodbye, Tom. I think I speak for more of us than you might imagine when I say you're going to leave an empty space when you go. I hope you find what you're looking for. Janeway: Lieutenant, Operations has detected a minute increase in the engine core temperature. Are you aware of it? Torres: Yes, Captain. There's a slight imbalance in the magnetic constrictors. It's causing the plasma stream to overheat. I have a team working on it. Janeway: Keep me posted. Mister Neelix, I'm very pleased with your program, especially your tribute to Lieutenant Paris. Neelix: Thank you. Chakotay: Captain, have you decided who's going to replace Paris? Janeway: I have several people in mind. Baytart is one. Hamilton. Kim: Captain, do you think? I mean, it's possible Tom might change his mind to come back. Maybe you shouldn't replace him so quickly. Janeway: Harry, Lieutenant Paris made his decision with no indication that he had any doubts about it, or that he might change his mind in the near future. We have to accept that and move on. What's our tactical status? Tuvok: All systems are functional. Jonas: Engineering to Torres. Torres: Go ahead. Jonas: We have a problem here. Torres: What is it? Jonas: The magnetic Jonas: Constrictors have lost alignment. The plasma stream is way too hot. It's starting to infect Jonas: The injector valves. Torres: I'm on my way. Janeway: We're finished here. Dismissed. Neelix: Lieutenant, if I may? This sounds like news of substance to me. Torres: Just stay out of our way. Jonas: It's gotten worse, I can't get the injector valves closed. Antimatter's starting to seep into the warp core. Torres: Have you tried adjusting the power transfer conduits? Jonas: Yes. No effect. Torres: We have to try to contain the reaction in the core. Don't let the PTC temperature get above three point two million Kelvins. Jonas: It's at two point nine million now. Jonas: PTC temperature now at three million Kelvins. We're going to have to vent some plasma. Torres: If you vent some plasma that hot through the nacelles, the warp coils are going to fry. Jonas: Better that than a core breach! Torres: Reinforce the structural field around the power transfer conduits, and then prepare to begin venting plasma! Jonas: PTC temperature now three point two million Kelvins. Torres: It's cascading. Get away from that console! Jonas: I can stop it from here! Torres: Get away, Jonas! Torres: Computer, initiate plasma venting! Neelix: Are we all right? Torres: PTC temperature is dropping. Approaching safe levels. We're under control. Neelix: Neelix to Sickbay. Prepare for emergency transport. We have three wounded. Emh: This one's not badly hurt. Twenty milligrams impedrazine. Kes: Vital signs steady. Second degree burns to face and chest. Emh: Treat him with the dermal regenerator. Ah, the situation has been stabilized. None of the victims is in danger any longer. Neelix: May I interview one of them now? Emh: One of the patients? I'd think you'd be more interested in my assessment of the medical situation. Neelix: Well, I am, of course. Would you care to make a statement? Emh: Yes. The first task is to triage, or to assess the relative condition of each of the victims, and then to prioritize treatment accordingly. Neelix: Thank you, Doctor. I'm sure that will be of great interest to the crew. Emh: I wasn't finished. Next, the treatment per se must be supervised Neelix: Very interesting. Now, I know the crew would love to hear a few words from the man who risked his life to save the ship. Would you consent to an interview? Jonas: I was just doing my job, Neelix. Lieutenant Torres is the one you should talk to. Janeway: Janeway to Neelix. Neelix: Ah. Right here, Captain. Janeway: Could you join us on the Bridge, please? Neelix: I'm on my way. I'll contact you later about the interview. Emh: Er. Janeway: The plasma burst irradiated the engine nacelles. The inner layer of the warp coils was burned away. Torres: Which means the warp engines are useless until we can rebuild them. Chakotay: They're made from a substance known as verterium cortenide. Do you know where we can find a source? Neelix: Verterium cortenide, if I'm not mistaken, that's a densified composite material. Torres: That's right. It's composed of polysilicate verterium and monocrystal cortenum. Janeway: Do you know any nearby source? Neelix: Let's see. Er, there's a yellow dwarf system called Hemikek with an M-class planet quite rich in minerals. Mining rights belong to a consortium of non-aggressive people. I'm sure we could make arrangements to purchase some verterium and cortenum. Janeway: Good work, Neelix. Kim: Captain, message coming in from the Talaxian convoy. Janeway: Put it on screen. Laxeth: Captain Janeway. Janeway: What's happened? Laxeth: We were attacked by the Kazon-Nistrim. Janeway: Do you have casualties? How can we help? Laxeth: We have no serious casualties, and they didn't take any of our cargo. The one thing they were interested in was your former crewman, Thomas Paris. They took him aboard their ship and then left. I thought you'd want to know. Seska: Tom Paris. Paris: Hello, Seska. You're looking radiantly maternal. Seska: In another month, Chakotay will have a son, or a daughter. I really didn't want to know which. Makes it more interesting, don't you think? Paris: I wouldn't know. Seska: I have no idea which one Chakotay would prefer. He and I rarely see eye to eye. You've had your problems with him lately, too. I know all about what's happened. Your sudden inability to be Starfleet's good boy. Paris: It's not sudden. I never really fit in there. Seska: Then Lieutenant Tom Paris was just a pretense? Paris: No. No, it was me trying very hard to be someone I finally couldn't be. Seska: I never liked you, Tom. I didn't trust you. I don't trust you now. Paris: I can assure you the feeling is mutual. Seska: Fine, but we might be able to help each other, if you're telling the truth. Paris: Is that why you kidnapped me and dragged me here, so we could be pals now? Seska: I thought it might make sense to you. Paris: And if it doesn't? Seska: The Kazon tend to be excessive in their use of force. It's nothing I can change. But I can promise you'll be well-treated on this ship if we decide we can work together. Paris: What exactly would that mean? Seska: You're an excellent pilot. We could make good use of your skills. And of course, you have information about Voyager that could be quite valuable. Paris: It seems to me like you're already getting a lot of valuable information about Voyager from somewhere. Seska: Think about it, Tom. Think about where you want to be when the Nistrim seize Voyager and start taking control of the quadrant sector by sector. Just let me know. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 49485.2. In spite of the fact that Tom Paris has been abducted by the Kazon, we must continue on course for the Hemikek system. Neelix: Something just doesn't make sense. I mean, he wasn't off the ship for a day when the Kazon attacked that convoy. How did they find out so fast that Tom was there? Kes: Maybe someone on the convoy told them. Neelix: A Talaxian convoy would never let the Kazon know where they are. That would be like committing suicide. Kes: Maybe they came to rob the cargo, but when they realized there was a Starfleet officer Neelix: That wouldn't have stopped them from taking the cargo too. And according to my friend Laxth, it was a swift, efficient strike. It sounds like they knew Tom was there, and they came just to get him. Kes: But who would've told them? Neelix: One possibility I can think of is that it was someone on this ship. Kes: On Voyager? Who would do that? Neelix: I don't know. But a responsible journalist would find out. Neelix: B'Elanna! I didn't expect to find you here. Are you working the night shift? Torres: I have been since the accident. Neelix: Oh. Torres: What brings you here? Neelix: I was wondering if you could show me how to access the subspace communications logs. Torres: Why would you be interested in the comm. logs? Neelix: Well, just part of my news program. Torres: Well, I can get you into them, but then you're on your own. I'm still trying to bring the magnetic constrictors into alignment. Neelix: I understand. Just get me started. Torres: How far back do you want to go? Neelix: Oh, maybe a month or two. Torres: Okay. The file's open. Transmissions are logged on by date and time. Anything else? Neelix: No. I'll be fine. Thank you very much. Torres: Mike, we're going into the computer core to look over the magnetic constrictor circuitry. Hold down the fort. All right? Jonas: Okay, Lieutenant. Neelix: Voyager to Mithren. Mithren again. Voyager to Kotati. Jonas: Are you looking for something particular? Neelix: I, I don't know exactly what I'm looking for. Something anomalous. Jonas: Why? Neelix: An incident I'm investigating. Tell me, Mister Hero. If someone wanted to make a secret subspace transmission, how would he do it? Jonas: Why would you want to know that? Neelix: Oh, I can't be too forthcoming right now, but if I find what I think I'm going to, well, let me just say that this ship will be stunned. Jonas: A secret transmission, huh? Well, that would be tough, Neelix. There are all kinds of security routines in place and anytime a subspace antenna array is in use, the sensors make a record of it. I'm not seeing anything anomalous here. Neelix: What about that? Jonas: What? Neelix: That gap, as if some of the log entries have been deleted. Jonas: Well, that's just a data fragmentation. Neelix: I beg your pardon? Jonas: Well, it probably happened when the plasma overloaded the system. Little glitches like this'll be popping up for weeks, I'd imagine. Neelix: Here it is again. Jonas: I wouldn't worry about it. Neelix: Maybe Lieutenant Torres can explain it. Jonas: There's nothing to explain. Believe me, Neelix. You're making too much of it. Neelix: Ah. Here it is again. Gaps in the log entries. And frankly it looks like more than data fragmentation to me. The gaps are showing up in logs entered over the last months, but not before that. Emh: So, there you are. I've been looking for you, Mister Neelix. Neelix: Doctor! How can I help you? Emh: You again neglected to include me in your news program. If you remember, I was to have two segments today because I was excluded yesterday. Neelix: That's right, that's right. I've been so preoccupied with this other matter. Emh: In the interest of time, I'm willing to forgo my story on the adrenal gland. I will concentrate instead on my latest idea. The Klingon glottis, friend or foe? Neelix: That's very interesting, but we're going to have to put it off until tomorrow. Emh: That's what you said yesterday. Neelix: I'm sorry, Doctor, but I really have to go now. Neelix: All through the subspace communication logs, there were these gaps, as though something had been erased. Tuvok: We have recently experienced a plasma overload. That could easily account for the anomalous readings in the logs. Neelix: Ah ha! I knew you'd say that. Answer this, Mister Vulcan. Why would those gaps, those deletions, occur only in the sub-com logs and only in the last month? I checked every log system we have. Sensor logs, power allocation logs, warp maintenance logs, environmental control logs. They're all perfectly fine. Tuvok: What are you suggesting? Neelix: I believe someone on this ship has been making covert transmissions and erasing the evidence. Tuvok: To what end? Neelix: I don't know, but I suspect whoever it was has been communicating with the Kazon. Tuvok: That's an extremely serious charge. Neelix: I know. That's why I've come to you. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, I strongly suspect that your enthusiasm for your new journalistic endeavor is leading you to see villains where none exist. However, even the possibility that someone on board might secretly be communicating with the Kazon deserves investigation. I will pursue the matter. Neelix: And I will help you. Tuvok: I think not. This is now a matter of ship security. I must ask you to withdraw and let me handle it according to Starfleet protocols. Neelix: As a journalist, I have an ethical obligation to keep digging for the facts in this case. Tuvok: And I have the higher obligation to keep you from putting yourself and others at risk. You will drop this matter. Neelix: I see. All right, I leave it in your hands. Good hunting. Neelix: Higher obligation? Ha, I'll show him higher obligation. Huh, he'll have Eskarian egg on his face when I get to the heart of this. It's the job of a journalist to be independent. Neelix: Lieutenant, I wonder if you could Torres: I'm a little busy right now, Neelix. What do you need? Neelix: I was wondering if it's possible to look underneath a log that seems to have been erased, to see if there's anything left of it. Torres: Mister Hogan, could you please help Neelix out for a minute? Hogan: You want to recover deleted logs? Neelix: Ah, that would be ideal. Hogan: Well, let me give it a try. Usually it's possible to recover data, unless extraordinary measures were taken to erase it. Now, this is strange. Computer, run a signal modulation analysis of this file. Computer: Security authorisation required. Hogan: Engineering authorisation omega four seven. Computer: Authorisation accepted. Running analysis. Neelix: What? Hogan: I can't recover the logs, because these messages were sent without using any of the antenna arrays. Neelix: How could someone do that? Hogan: By sending the transmissions through the ship's power grid. The messages were encoded in the waste energy from the propulsion systems, which is almost indistinguishable from galactic background noise. Neelix: Ingenious. Would there be a way to determine who sent the messages? Hogan: I'm looking for signal correlation traces. They'd indicate a comm. link to the EPS conduits, maybe give us a location. I don't know if I can. There. There's one. The source of the comm. link is on deck four, section three C. Sorry, but I can't get more specific than that. Jonas: Mister Hogan, I need your help over here. Neelix: Thanks for your help. I'll check out deck four. Go room by room, console by console. Hogan: I'd look for evidence of recent deletions. If you see any, run a recovery program. See what you get. Neelix: Computer, activate monitor. Computer: Unable to comply. Monitor is cleared for Lieutenant Thomas Paris only. Neelix: Override existing clearance. Engineering authorisation omega four seven. Computer: Authorisation accepted. Files recovered. Neelix: Unbelievable. Neelix: My friends, I derive no satisfaction from what I am about to tell you. I know I originally promised you that I would only bring you good news. However, I feel it's important that you know the truth. I have uncovered evidence that casts serious doubt on the loyalties of Lieutenant Thomas Paris. I have discovered secret communications to the Kazon that were sent from his quarters just prior to his leaving the ship. Janeway: Get him up here now. Neelix: There was a series of messages sent to the Kazon for some weeks before his departure, the last Janeway: How did you trace those transmissions to Tom's quarters? Neelix: It was, er, I believe it was called signal correlation traces. Mister Hogan was helping me, and he detected them. Tuvok: When I looked for signal correlation traces, there were none. That means someone placed them in the system after my initial investigation. Chakotay: What initial investigation? Captain, what's going on? Janeway: What I'm about to say will come as a surprise to you, Commander. There has been a spy aboard Voyager, but it isn't Tom Paris. Neelix: It isn't? Paris: No. Lieutenant Paris is in fact part of our plan. Chakotay: Plan. Janeway: Some weeks ago, Tuvok discovered evidence of covert transmissions leaving Voyager through the EPS system. We realized there was someone on this ship communicating with the Kazon-Nistrim. Tuvok: However, we were unable to ascertain who that person was. Janeway: We needed a way to flush out the spy, and we had exhausted all conventional means. That's when we thought of using Tom, finding a way to get him on the Kazon ship. Chakotay: Are you saying Paris's insulting behavior, the gambling, being late for duty, mouthing off at me, was all a ruse? Tuvok: That is correct. It was important that his decision to leave the ship appear plausible, so he began behaving like a malcontent. Chakotay: And the reason I wasn't let in on this little plan? Tuvok: I was the one who recommended to Captain Janeway that you not be told. I suspected that the spy was a Maquis, and felt it was wrong to put you in a position of setting a trap for someone who had once served under you. Chakotay: In other words, you didn't trust me. Janeway: Commander, the simple fact is, we needed a good performance. I'm afraid we used you to help Tom provide it. And you did a damn good job. Now it seems Mister Neelix's investigation has made someone nervous. Nervous enough to put a trail in the computer system for him to follow. Chakotay: Could it be Hogan? Neelix: I don't think so. He was just the person walking by who Lieutenant Torres asked to help me. Janeway: The spy may be a little cozy now, since you took the bait and pointed the finger at Tom. But we don't want him cozy. I'd rather he feel some pressure. Tuvok: Perhaps we should take advantage of Mister Neelix's unintentional blunder. Janeway: Exactly. I want you to keep investigating, Neelix. Do what you've been doing. Poke around, ask questions. But let people think you're not so sure you were right about Tom Paris. Chakotay: That would put Neelix in a potentially dangerous situation. Tuvok: We would keep an open comm. link to you at all hours. My security team could act immediately if anything were to happen. Janeway: It's up to you, Neelix. This is purely voluntary. Neelix: Anything I can do to help, Captain, and get Tom home safely, I want to do. Seska: What did you expect? Did you think this has all been about exchanging holiday greetings? Jonas: No, of course not. But I Seska: This is how it's going to work. We'll be waiting for you on a planet called Hemikek four. Seska: Well, Tom. It's always good to have one's instincts verified. Paris: Clever plan, Seska, leading Voyager into an ambush. But even so, this ship will be outmanned and outgunned. Seska: That's why we have ground troops on Hemikek and more ships on the way. Now don't you wish you'd taken my offer? Paris: Thanks for the hospitality. Seska: Go get him! Kazon: Check this way! Jonas: Lieutenant Torres is waiting for these interlink sequencers. Get them to her right away. Crewwoman: Yes, sir. Neelix: Excuse me. Jonas: Oh, hello, Neelix. Neelix: I was wondering if one of you could help me. Jonas: We're a little busy right now. What is it that you need? Neelix: The signal correlation traces that implicated Tom Paris. They were added to the file after the fact. Hogan: You're kidding. Neelix: So I was trying to figure out how that could have happened, and who might have done it. Hogan: This couldn't be a worse time, Neelix. We're getting everything ready for rebuilding the warp coils. Neelix: Do you mind if I use the diagnostic terminal over there? Jonas: Go ahead. Just don't tap into any engineering systems. Neelix: I'll be careful. Torres: Torres to Engineering. Jonas: Jonas here, Lieutenant. Torres: I need the electrodynamic load specs. They weren't with the other things you sent. Jonas: Sorry, Lieutenant. I'll get them to you right now. Take these to Lieutenant Torres. Hogan: Right. Neelix: What's going on? Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Jonas: Jonas here, Captain. Janeway: I need you to increase transporter range. Shunt all available Janeway: Power to Transporter room two. Jonas: Right away. Janeway: Let me know as soon as you've done it. We have an incoming shuttle, and we've identified human life signs. Janeway: It may be Tom Paris. Jonas: Yes, ma'am. Paris: Paris to Voyager. Paris to Voyager! Do you read me yet? Paris to Voyager! Paris: Paris to Voyager! Come in! Janeway: Voyager to Paris. We hear you. Paris: Captain, change your course immediately. The Kazon have ground troops waiting for you on Paris: Hemikek and more ships on the way. Janeway: We'll get you out of there as soon as we can, Tom. You're still out of transporter range, but we won't change course Janeway: Until we've locked onto you. Paris: I can take care of myself. Paris: Just get Voyager to safety! Janeway: As soon as you're on board. Tom, what happened? Are you all right? Janeway: Lieutenant Paris, report. Janeway: Mister Jonas, we need that transporter now. Jonas: I'm working on it, Captain. I'm having trouble resetting the EPS manifold. Janeway: Stay on it. Neelix: Mister Jonas, I'm no expert, but it doesn't look to me like you're working on the transporter subsystems. Jonas: Neelix, I know what I'm doing. Neelix: What did you do? What is this forcefield for? Jonas: It's just a precaution. Please, Neelix! Stay out of this! Janeway: Tom, can you hear me? Report. Paris: I'm here, Captain! Janeway: We'll be in normal transporter range in another minute. Paris: Captain, the spy, it's Michael Jonas. Paris: He's the one that sabotaged the ship. Janeway: Noted. Janeway to Tuvok. Get to Engineering immediately. It's Michael Jonas. Tuvok: On our way. Paris: The shuttle hull is starting to breach. It might not make it, Captain. Neelix: I recognize that subroutine. You're into the weapons system. You're disabling them! Jonas: For God's sake, Neelix, back off! Neelix: Neelix to Kim: We're in transporter range, Captain. Janeway: Voyager to Paris. Janeway: Tom, can you hear me? We're energizing now. Janeway: Transporter room two, do you have him? Crewman: We have him, Captain. He's all right. Kim: It's the Kazon ship, Captain. Janeway: Return fire. Janeway to Tuvok. Are you in Engineering yet? Tuvok: The doors are sealed. We're working on it, Captain. Janeway: Bridge to Transporter room two. Lock onto Mister Jonas in Engineering and beam him out of there. Crewman: Aye, Captain. All I got was his comm. badge, Captain. Kim: Captain, we've lost weapons. It looks like the phaser arrays have been disabled from Engineering. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers, Ensign. Mister Kim, get those weapons back online. Kim: Weapons are back online, Captain. Janeway: Fire at will. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Tuvok: Are you injured? Neelix: Don't worry about me, Mister Vulcan. I'm perfectly all right. Unfortunately, Mister Jonas wasn't so lucky. Janeway: Bridge to Tuvok. I'm standing down Red alert. Neelix: Well, I'm going to have plenty of material for tomorrow's Briefing With Neelix. Paris: And fortunately I was able to steal one of the Kazon shuttles and escape. Neelix: An amazing story. Amazing. Paris: I'd like to say something more, if I might. Neelix: Of course. Paris: Er, I know that I've been acting like a jerk for the last couple of months. Unfortunately, I had to behave that way if the spy was going to believe that I really wanted to leave the ship. So, I'd like to apologize to anyone that I might have offended. Especially Commander Chakotay. I gave him a pretty hard time. Not that it wasn't a certain amount of fun, mind you. Neelix: There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, the true hero of this whole endeavor, Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris. Well, I'm afraid that's all the time we have. Oh, I'd like to apologize to the Doctor for not getting around to him once again today. But I promise you he'll be here tomorrow with lots of fascinating information about the Bolian digestive system. Good day, Voyager.

Neelix: Good afternoon, Ensign. How are we doing today? Wildman: Oh, we're doing just fine, thank you. Neelix: Good, good. By the way, I was wondering if you'd take a look at the thermal array in the kitchen. It overloaded this morning and vaporized an entire pot roast. Wildman: I'd be happy to. Neelix: Wonderful. I informed Ensign Kim about the problem hours ago, and he still hasn't come down to fix it. Wildman: He's been working on a problem with the structural integrity grid. I'm sure he hasn't forgotten about you. Neelix: If this thing doesn't get fixed soon, we'll all be eating cold leftovers for dinner and who do you think the crew will blame? Wildman: Looks like you need a new set of anodyne relays. I'll go down to Engineering and get some for you out of storage. Neelix: Thanks. Oh, and while you're here, would you mind taking a look at the replicator? It's been having trouble making anything with large amounts of cellulose. Wildman: Of course. Neelix: Cabbages, psyllium, green beans, celery and all. It all comes out looking a touch too yellow. Wildman: I thought you didn't use replicated vegetables when you're cooking. Always fresh, organic, from the airponic bay. Neelix: Well, the yields have been a little low lately. Normally, I would never dream of using synthesized veggies. Wildman: It looks like a malfunction in the power grid. Shouldn't be too difficult. Neelix: What's wrong? Wildman: I think I'm having a contraction. Oh, yeah! It's a contraction, all right. Neelix: That's wonderful. Labor can't be far behind. Let's, let's get you to Sickbay. Try to breathe now. Deep, deep regular breaths. Not so fast now. We're having a baby. Emh: Push! Kes: Don't forget to breathe, Samantha. Deep regular breaths. That's it. Emh: Cervical dilation is at ten point two centimeters. Prostaglandin levels are normal. Push, Ensign. Wildman: You push, damn it! I'm sick of pushing! Emh: I know you're fatigued. Try to focus on your breathing. Remember the exercises we did. When you feel a contraction, bear down. Paris: This is ridiculous. It's been seven hours. How long does it take to deliver a baby? Janeway: As long as it takes, Mister Paris. Tuvok: Indeed. During the birth of our third child, my wife was in labor for ninety six hours. Kim: Four days? Tuvok: I have learned that pregnancy and patience go hand in hand. Chakotay: You know, I didn't expect to be this nervous. It's not even my child. Janeway: In a way, this child belongs to all of us. It is the first baby born on Voyager. I'm just not sure whether I should be welcoming it on board, or apologizing. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: Voyager isn't exactly anyone's idea of a nursery, and the Delta Quadrant isn't much of a playground. Chakotay: My father had a saying, Captain. Home is wherever you happen to be. Tuvok: Captain, long-range sensors are picking up heavy subspace communications ahead. They're Vidiian. Janeway: All stop. A ship? Tuvok: At least twenty ships within sensor range. I am also detecting a G type star system with two inhabited planets. Life signs, Vidiian. Chakotay: Sounds like we're headed right into their territory. Janeway: And I'm in no mood to donate any organs today. Options, Mister Paris? Paris: There's a large plasma drift bearing four zero mark seven. It extends almost half the length of this sector. Interference from the plasma should block us from their sensors. Janeway: Good thinking. Lay in a course at full impulse. Mister Tuvok, deflectors at maximum. Wildman: Oh! Oh, what was that? Emh: What's wrong? Wildman: A pain in my abdomen. It's different. Sharp. Oh, God! Emh: The baby has shifted position, and its exo-cranial ridges have lodged in the uterine wall. This is a rare complication, but it's been known to happen in human Ktarian pregnancies. Kes: Can we reposition the baby? Emh: No. Its spinal column is too fragile. I don't want to risk nerve damage. If we don't deliver the baby now, its ridges could perforate the uterus and cause internal bleeding. Kes, prepare for a fetal transport. Paris: We're clearing the Vidiian system, Captain. Janeway: Take us out of the plasma drift and resume our previous course. Emh: I've locked onto the baby's coordinates. We're ready to begin. Initiating umbilical separation. Energizing. Emh: Congratulations, Ensign. It's a girl. Wildman: Is she all right? Emh: The transport caused a slight hemocythemic imbalance, but we'll stabilize her cell membranes with osmotic pressure therapy. Janeway: What was that? Kim: We hit some kind of subspace turbulence as we were coming out of the plasma drift. I can't tell if Paris: What the hell? Captain, the warp engines just stalled. Janeway: Go to impulse. Paris: Impulse engines aren't responding. Maneuvering thrusters are out too. Kim: We're losing main power. Switching to backup power. Janeway: Red alert. Bridge to Engineering. Janeway: Report. Torres: Our antimatter supply is being drained, Captain. I don't know why. The containment fields are in place. It's like we sprung a leak, but I can't find the crack. Janeway: B'Elanna Janeway: Try infusing the warp core with repeated proton bursts. That should be enough to keep it going. Torres: I think Torres: I can generate enough protons in the sensor array for a burst every thirty seconds. Janeway: Do it. Torres: Hogan! These proton bursts are going to cause a lot of stress on the hull. Reinforce structural integrity to, now what? Chakotay: What was that? Tuvok: It appeared to be a proton burst. Janeway: Already? Bridge to Torres. Report. Engineering, respond. Kim: Captain, three EPS conduits just ruptured in Engineering. They took heavy casualties. Emh: The incubator is losing power. Activate the auxiliary respirator. Crewman: We've got wounded here. Emh: Second degree plasma burns on the face and neck. Treat him with a dermaline gel. Crewman: Yes, sir. Emh: Fractured clavicle, thoracic contusions, nothing serious. She can wait. Fused vertebrae. Prep him for surgery. Status? Kes: It doesn't look good, Doctor. The baby's cell membranes won't stabilize. Emh: Increase the osmotic Emh: That's not helping. Increase the osmotic pressure ratio by ten percent. Kim: Bridge to Sickbay, there's been a major coolant leak in the Mess hall. You've got more wounded on the way. Emh: Acknowledged. Torres: Torres to Bridge! We're definitely being, we're definitely being hit by proton bursts. But I don't know where they're coming from. I never even started the procedure. Kim: She's right. The main sensor array is offline. Not a single burst was fired. Janeway: And yet the bursts appear to be originating from within the ship. It's like they're coming out of thin air. Tuvok: Captain, these bursts are weakening the structural integrity of the hull. We cannot take any more. Janeway: Can we increase power to structural reinforcement? Kim: Our antimatter supply is too low. There's just not enough power to go Tuvok: Hull breach on deck fifteen, section twenty nine alpha. Emergency force fields are offline. Kim: Captain, I've been working on a way to enhance our portable forcefield generators. It might be enough to seal that breach. Janeway: Go. Neelix: Don't you worry. We have the best doctor in the quadrant. Kes: Doctor, her cell membranes are losing cohesion. Emh: Try remodulating the osmotic pressure. Kes: No effect. Emh: Hang on. I'll be right there. Emh: Oh, no. Kim: Jefferies tube twelve runs right over the breach. If we can get close enough, we should be able to set up a portable containment field. Hogan: The breach has weakened the integrity of that tube by twenty two percent. Torres: That's why we need to reinforce the field. We'll use the power conduits on this deck. Tuvok: I've analyzed the bursts on all spectral frequencies. There's still no indication of where they're coming from. Janeway: At this point, I don't give a damn where they're coming from. I just want to stop them. Chakotay, do we have enough auxiliary power to magnetize the hull? It might cushion the impact of the bursts. Chakotay: We have just barely enough. Janeway: Give it a try. Emh: I've stabilized my imaging array but it could go out at any time. Wildman: Doctor? Emh: Prepare for emergency resuscitation. Wildman: My baby, she, she's going to die, isn't she? Emh: Not if I can help it. Kim: Here it is. The breach is directly below us. Torres: Make it fast, Harry. Torres to Hogan. What's your status? Hogan: Almost got it, Lieutenant. I'm rerouting all power in this section to your Torres: Torres to Hogan. Hogan Torres: Are you there? Hogan: I'm hurt. Torres: Hurry, we have to help him. Kim: Just give me a minute. Emh: Again. Kes: Nothing. Emh: I'm sorry, Ensign. Hogan: Hogan to Sickbay. I need medical assistance. Deck fifteen, section twenty nine. Kes: I'll go. Torres: The breach is widening. Let's get out of here. Damn it, Harry! Let's go! Kim: Hold on. My minute isn't up yet. Torres: Harry, grab my hand! Torres: Harry! Kes: Lieutenant Hogan? Torres: Kes, over here. Torres: Torres to Bridge. Ensign Kim is dead. Torres: Kes just disappeared. Janeway: Disappeared? Torres: I can't explain it. Torres: She just vanished. There seems to be some kind of spatial rift. Torres: Right where she disappeared. Janeway: Can you determine where it leads? Torres: Stand by, Bridge. I just threw a piece of conduit into the rift. Just as it vanished, I detected another Torres: Oxygen nitrogen atmosphere. Janeway: Another atmosphere? Torres: Whatever's on the other side of that rift, there's air. Maybe Kes is still alive. Janeway: Get out of there, Torres. The hull breach is widening. I'm going to evacuate the Janeway: Entire deck. Torres: You don't have to tell me twice. Tuvok: Main computer core is failing. Switching to back up processors. Janeway: Chakotay, are you ready to magnetize the hull? Chakotay: Stand by. I'm having trouble with the alignment module. Janeway: Try remodulating the field emitters. Janeway: Chakotay! Chakotay: I've got alignment. Magnetizing the hull. Chakotay: I think it worked. Janeway: Let's hope so. I want a full damage report from all decks. Paris: Are you all right, Captain? Janeway: It's just a scratch. Paris: It's more than a scratch. Maybe you should go to Janeway: I'm fine, Lieutenant. Tuvok: Damage reports are coming in. The hull breach on deck fifteen has widened to include deck fourteen, section twelve. And there are six hundred thirty two micro-fractures along the hull's infrastructure. All primary systems are offline. We are running on emergency power only. The antimatter supply has dropped to eighteen percent and is continuing to fall. Warp coils in both nacelles have fused and are inoperative. The environmental control systems are failing. Fifteen crew members have been seriously wounded with plasma burns, twenty seven experienced other injuries. The Doctor is setting up triage facilities in Sickbay and Holodeck two. I must also regretfully report that Ensign Wildman's baby did not survive. Janeway: I want an engineering team to seal those micro-fractures before they become breaches. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Mister Paris, grab a medical tricorder and go assist the Doctor. Paris: Right. Janeway: Commander, you have the Bridge. I'm going to go talk to Ensign Wildman. Maybe I can help. Chakotay: The magnetic field is collapsing. The hull is depolarizing! Tuvok: The fire suppression system is out. Computer: Warning. Hull breach on deck one. Emergency forcefields inoperative. Chakotay: Everybody out! Go, go, go! Hurry, Captain! Janeway: I'm trying to reroute emergency power to the field emitters! Chakotay: Captain! Janeway: I can seal this breach! Chakotay: Captain, let's go! Chakotay 2: Captain? Janeway 2: Ensign Kim, scan the Bridge. I just saw myself cross the Bridge and enter that turbolift. It was very faint, almost like a ghost image. And I looked like hell. Kim 2: Captain, there was a minor spatial fluctuation on the Bridge. But it was only there for a millisecond. Janeway 2: Bridge to Engineering. B'Elanna, how long until we can use the main sensor array? Torres 2: Another three hours. 2: We're only about halfway through the proton burst procedure. 2: See if you can speed up the process. We need the sensors as soon 2: as possible. Torres 2: Understood. 2: Mister Kim, modify a tricorder to scan for spatial anomalies. Go over every centimeter of this Bridge. Examine the sensor logs from our trip through the plasma drift. Look for anything unusual. I'll be in Sickbay. Chakotay 2: Aye, Captain. Emh 2: Good news, Ensign. Our baby is perfectly healthy. There's no sign of any interspecies abnormalities. Wildman 2: Our baby? Emh 2: A figure of speech. I am, in part, responsible for bringing her into the world. You may hold her now. Wildman 2: Hello there. Janeway 2: Congratulations, Samantha. She's adorable. Have you thought of a name? Wildman 2: Not yet. I really thought it would be a boy. Janeway 2: Let me know as soon as you decide. I've been making a blanket for her. All that's missing is an initial. Get some rest. How's our other patient doing? Emh 2: She's still unconscious. Kes 2: I ran a microcellular scan. We're almost identical in every way. Janeway 2: Almost? Emh 2: There's a slight phase shift in her DNA. Do you have any theory about where she came from? Janeway 2: Not yet. But I intend to find out. Can you wake her? Emh 2: I believe so. Janeway 2: Good, because I think she's going to have an interesting story to tell. Kes: I was running through the corridor with my medkit. Deck fifteen. And then suddenly I felt dizzy, and my vision started to blur. After that, I don't remember anything, until you woke me up just now. Kes 2: You were found unconscious down on deck fifteen, holding a medkit. Janeway 2: We also found this lying next to you. It's a piece of damaged conduit. Our analysis shows it's from Voyager, deck fifteen, section twenty nine alpha, bulkhead zero five two. But there's no damage to deck fifteen or anywhere else on this ship. Kes: There was massive damage to deck fifteen. Janeway 2: The evidence would seem to suggest that you've come from a different ship, a different Voyager. We did find a spatial rift on deck fifteen. It's possible that it somehow connects us to this other Voyager. Emh 2: If you're right, where is the other ship? A parallel universe, another dimension, another point in time? Janeway 2: I'm not sure. Almost everything about the Voyager Kes described is identical to ours. We've had similar experiences, similar personal histories. We both entered a plasma cloud to avoid the Vidiians. Both of our engines stalled as we left the cloud, which caused both of our antimatter supplies to drain. And then we both decided to keep our engines running by emitting proton bursts. But after that, our experiences diverged. We started emitting the proton bursts. They didn't. Kes 1: Our ship was being damaged by proton bursts. We couldn't figure out where they were coming from. Janeway 2: That's more than a coincidence. Janeway to Engineering. B'Elanna, I want you to stop the proton bursts immediately. 2: But if we stop now, the power levels will drop Janeway 2: I'll explain later, Lieutenant. Torres 2: Understood. 2: I don't know how, but there's another Voyager out there, and I intend to find it. Chakotay 2: We analyzed the sensor logs from our trip through the plasma cloud. We couldn't find anything unusual until we ran a quantum level analysis. Remember that subspace turbulence we hit just before we left the cloud? Janeway 2: Yes. Chakotay 2: Well, watch what happens. Kim 2: At first, we thought it was a sensor aberration, but they were in perfect calibration at the time. Torres 2: So I ran a multispectral analysis on the subspace turbulence. It was more than just turbulence. It was some kind of divergence field. And the moment we passed through it, all of our sensor readings doubled. Mass, energy output, bio-signatures, everything. Every particle of matter on this ship seems to have been duplicated in that instant. Janeway 2: So where is the other ship? Kim 2: As strange as it sounds, Captain, according to these readings, another Voyager's right here, right now, occupying the same point in space time we are. Janeway 2: Quantum theorists at Kent State University ran an experiment in which a single particle of matter was duplicated using a divergence of subspace fields, a spatial scission. Chakotay 2: If the same forces were at work inside the plasma cloud, they may have duplicated every particle of matter on Voyager. Janeway 2: Matter. But not antimatter. Kim 2: Captain? Janeway 2: In that Kent State experiment, they were able to duplicate normal matter, but when they tried to duplicate antimatter particles, the experiment failed. Torres 2: So the antimatter on the ships wasn't duplicated. Both engines have been trying to draw power from a single source of antimatter. Janeway 2: Like Siamese twins linked at the chest, with only one heart. Chakotay 2: So what do we do? Janeway 2: I don't know. But whatever it is, we're going to have to coordinate it with the other ship. Start working on a way to communicate with them. Torres 2: Right. Janeway 2: The only link we know of is on deck fifteen, the spatial rift. We're going to need a way to send Kes back through safely. Kim 2: We could rig a portable phase diskriminator. It might protect her from the spatial transition. Janeway 2: Get on it. 2: When can I start breast feeding? Emh 2: Right away. However, I should forewarn you that her incisors will erupt within three to four weeks. Since your skin lacks the scales of a Ktarian, we'll have to discuss alternatives. Wildman 2: When can I take her home? Emh 2: In twenty four hours. I want observe the infant to make sure there's no more damage to her cell membranes. Kes 2: You're welcome to stay the night so you may be with her. Wildman 2: I'd like that. Hey. Emh: Congratulations, Ensign. It's a girl. I've stabilized my imaging array, but it could go out at any rate. Kes: Doctor, her cell membranes are losing cohesion. Emh: Try remodulating the osmotic pressure. Kes: No effect. Emh: Again. Kes: Nothing. Wildman: My baby. She's going to die, isn't she? Emh: I'm sorry, Ensign. Wildman: She's going to die, isn't she? Emh 2: Kes. Kes? Are you all right? Kes: Yes. It's just. The baby's crying, it was like a bad memory. Emh 2: What do you mean? Kes: On my Voyager, during the delivery, there were complications. We performed a fetal transport. Emh 2: The same thing happened here. The transport was successful. Kes: On my ship, the medical systems were heavily damaged. The osmotic pressure therapy didn't work. The baby died. Emh 2: I'm sorry to hear that. But try to understand, it wasn't your fault. The situation was out of your control. Kes: Doctor, I've got to get back to my ship. They need my help. Emh 2: The Captain's working on it, Kes. In the meantime, try to get some rest. Besides, I'm sure your Voyager is also equipped with a proficient Emergency Medical Hologram. 2: It's a little harder to establish a comm. link than I thought, Captain. The molecular signature of the second Voyager is slightly out of phase with our own. I can't get visual, audio, nothing. Janeway 2: Have you tried remodulating the comm. frequency carrier? Torres 2: Five times on forty seven different frequencies. Janeway 2: There has to be a way. If they were recalibrating their carrier wave at the same time so we could match phase variance, would that allow us to connect? Torres 2: I think so, but in order to get them to do that, we'd have to communicate with them first. It's the chicken and the egg. Janeway 2: Maybe we need something a little more primitive. Is there a signal we could emit on all subspace bands just to get their attention? Torres 2: A rotating band pulse might do it, but it wouldn't be much more than a shrill whistle. Janeway 2: That might be enough. Give it a try. Torres: All right, Captain. All of the ship's command functions have been rerouted to main Engineering. Janeway: Welcome to the new Bridge. Now, let's see about Janeway: What's that? Torres: I don't know. It's some kind of com. emission coming through all subspace bands. Janeway: Coming from where? Torres: Good question. I can't tell, but it's got a Federation signature. Janeway: Try recalibrating our frequency carrier to match it. 2: That's it! They recalibrated and locked onto our phase variant. Janeway 2: What kind of communication can we establish? Torres 2: Not much at this point. We can use the emergency encryption code for a short message. Not more than five seconds. Janeway 2: That should be enough. Janeway: That's the emergency code. Run it through an alphanumeric sequencer. Torres: I think someone's telling us to lock onto a frequency of twelve gigahertz. Janeway: Do it. Torres: I'll try to clear it up. Janeway 2: Captain, this isn't an illusion. What you're seeing is real, but it's going to take some explaining. Chakotay: There are two Voyagers and two crews? Janeway: That's what I was told. Tuvok: Could this possibly be some kind of subterfuge, Captain? An alien deception? Janeway: That woman, whoever she is, had very specific knowledge of what happened here. The damage from the proton bursts, Wildman's baby, Kes disappearing. She even knew that when I was twelve years old, I walked home in a thunderstorm over seven kilometers because I lost a tennis match. Torres: And her explanation of how the ship were duplicated, certainly plausible. Paris: If it is true, what do we do about it? Janeway: My counterpart has suggested we try to merge the two ships. Recreate the subspace divergence field we passed through and then depolarize it. Torres: Both ships would have to send out a massive resonance pulse from their deflector dishes at exactly the same time. Chakotay: They may be able to do that, but we barely have enough power for life support. How can we get enough to send an energy pulse of that size? Janeway: We could evacuate all the crew to this deck, and cut off life support everywhere else. Then we could divert all power to the deflector dish. B'Elanna, re-establish the comm. link with the other ship. Janeway 2: This is Janeway. What have you decided? Janeway: Captain, we think we can channel enough energy to our deflector dish to try the merging process. Janeway 2: Good. When can we start? Janeway: We'll need at least fifteen minutes to make our preparations. Janeway 2: We'll be ready. Janeway: And Captain, we'll only have enough power to try this once. Janeway 2: I understand. Janeway: Chakotay, Tuvok, begin the evacuation process. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Paris: I'll let the Doctor know he'll have to rely on his back up power supply. Torres: We're ready, Captain. Janeway 2: We're standing by, Captain. I think you should take the lead in this operation since you may have to make allowances for your ship's weakened power systems. Janeway: Acknowledged. Lieutenant Torres and, Lieutenant Torres, charge the deflector dishes. Torres: Deflector dish charging. 2: Capacitance levels are rising. Sixty percent, eighty five percent, ninety eight percent. We're ready to create the subspace divergence field. Torres: Initiating. Power flow nominal, Captain. Janeway: Synchronize computer event timing. Ready to release depolarization pulse on my mark. Now. Torres: The pulses have been emitted, Captain. The fields are starting to depolarize. Torres 2: But we aren't merging. In fact, we're going further out of phase! Janeway: Increase power to the deflector dish. Torres: I can't! Too much plasma back flow. If we keep this up, we're going to lose our antimatter connection. We'll both be destroyed! Janeway: Abort! 2: Aborting resonance pulse. Janeway 2: What went wrong? Torres 2: I'm not sure. I think the plasma flow became to turbulent. The divergence fields were so chaotic, we couldn't complete the merging. We've lost the comm. link as well. Captain, the antimatter leak? It's becoming a hemorrhage. If we don't start the proton bursts, we'll be completely drained in thirty minutes. Janeway 2: The lives of both crews are at stake here. I can't make unilateral decisions that might affect that other ship. Janeway to Kim. Is the spatial rift 2: Still stable? Kim 2: I think so, Captain. And I've rigged a phase diskriminator. Kes should be able to go back safely. 2: Rig another one, Ensign. I'm going with her. Kim 2: This should protect you from the spatial transition. 2: Keep trying to re-establish a comm. link between the ships. Torres 2: I will, but remember, we have fewer than thirty minutes of antimatter left. Whatever you do over there, do it fast. Janeway 2: Understood. Are you ready? Kes: Yes. Kes 1: It's gotten worse here. Janeway 2: Command and Control is in main Engineering. Let's go. Torres: I don't know how else to stop the antimatter drain, except with proton bursts. Janeway: We can't do that. We'd damage the other ship just like this one. Think, people. We need options. Janeway 2: I agree, Captain. And I think we need to talk. Janeway 2: By my estimates, our antimatter supply will run out in less than half an hour. Janeway: The attempt to merge our ships is throwing us further out of phase. The quantum cohesion on both Voyagers is breaking down. Janeway 2: Just like original Kent State experiment. The duplicate atoms couldn't occupy the same point in space time for very long before Janeway: Mutual annihilation. Janeway 2: What are our options? Janeway: Let's try a different tact. Instead of trying to merge the two ships, let's try to separate them. Maybe we could divide the antimatter between us. Janeway 2: I'm afraid not. We've been studying that theory. B'Elanna tells me that any attempt to disrupt the antimatter supply will destroy us all. What about evacuating your crew to my ship? It might get a little crowded, but we could manage. Janeway: We've been studying that theory. And my B'Elanna tells me that sending any more than five to ten people through the rift would radically alter the atomic balance of the two Voyagers. We'd both be destroyed. Captain, I think you should return to your ship and run a metallurgical analysis. Find out the precise phase modulation of your hull. I'll do the same here. Maybe we can find a way to realign the phase displacement. Janeway 2: You're going to self-destruct your ship. Janeway: What makes you say that? Janeway 2: Because that's what I would do if your Voyager were intact, and my Voyager were crippled, my crew wounded or dead. I'd sacrifice my ship so that yours could survive. Janeway: Then I'm glad we agree. Go back to your ship. Janeway 2: I didn't say I agree, I said I understand. I'm not willing to let you make that sacrifice yet. We haven't explored all the options. Janeway: Yes, we have and we both know it. This is my ship and my decision. Janeway 2: Captain, I'm not going to let you Janeway: I've made my decision! Please don't make me call security and have you escorted off my ship, because you know I'll do it. Janeway 2: All right. I'll go back. But give me fifteen minutes to come up with another solution. After that, it's your decision. Janeway: Fifteen minutes. Good luck. Janeway 2: To both of us. Kim 2: Okay, I've managed to re-establish a comm. link with the other Voyager. Janeway 2: Hail them. Janeway 2: Captain, I've got an idea. Actually, it was yours. It might be possible to realign the phase displacement between us. Janeway: We don't have time to try it. May plan is the only one that's going to work. It's time that we both accept that. Paris: We've got a perimeter alert. A vessel is approaching, bearing zero zero five mark three one eight. They've just dropped out of warp. Chakotay: Can you identify them? Paris: They're Vidiian, sir. Janeway 2: Red alert. Janeway: Shields. Chakotay: Still off-line. Janeway: Captain, we're picking up a Vidiian ship heading this way. Can you see them too? Janeway 2: Yes. Janeway: Do you have any weapons? Janeway 2: Stand by. Tuvok? Tuvok 2: Negative, Captain. We had to reroute power to compensate for the antimatter loss. It would take several hours to bring weapons back online. Commander: What is it? Vidiian: Their ship seems to be trapped in some sort of spatial flux. Commander: Have they detected us? Vidiian: Yes. But they can't raise their shields. And it appears that whatever is happening to them has disrupted their weapon systems. Commander: Load a hypothermic charge. Fire. Tuvok: Captain, they have fired an energy weapon. Tuvok 2: All hands, brace for impact. Damage control teams, stand by. Janeway: What happened? They couldn't have missed. Chakotay: Maybe they hit the other Voyager. Janeway: Hail them. Torres: I've lost the comm. link again. Janeway: Try to get it back. Vidiian: We have destroyed their weapons array. Commander: Maneuver us to within grappling range. Tuvok 2: They are cutting an access route through the hull on deck five. Vidiian: Vulcan. Male. The phaser blast damaged the right kidney, but the other organs are healthy. Surgeon: Begin with them. Emh 2: I've erected an emergency force field around Sickbay. That should hold them off for a while. Wildman 2: I won't let them take my baby. Emh 2: It's going to be all right, Ensign. Give her to me and I'll hide her inside an access port. If they do break in, it's unlikely they'll look for anyone there. Trust me, Ensign. I won't let anyone touch our baby. Wildman 2: Mama will see you soon. Emh 2: Lieutenant, give me a hand. Move this. We're going to have to cut away the internal circuitry to make room Kes 2: Vidiians. They're using some kind of disrupter to break down the forcefield. The forcefield's down. 2: Commander? Chakotay 2: They've got everything below deck five, and I don't know how much longer we can keep them away from the Bridge. Janeway 2: Mister Kim, how many Vidiians are there on the ship? Kim 2: Three hundred and forty seven, and more are boarding. Chakotay 2: We're outnumbered two to one. Kim 2: I've got an incoming subspace signal. It's from the other Voyager. They must've re-established the comm. link. Janeway 2: On screen. Janeway: Captain, this comm. link might not last much longer. What's happening over there? Janeway 2: We've been boarded. The Vidiians are on the verge of taking over our ship. Are they on yours? Janeway: No. We don't think they can detect our ship. Captain, we can have a security detachment cross the spatial rift and board your ship within five minutes. Janeway 2: No. If we do that, the Vidiians might become aware of your Voyager. That would put both ships at risk. Janeway: We can't just stand by and let you all be killed. Janeway 2: I'm not about to let that happen. I'll destroy this ship. Janeway: I don't suppose there's any way I can change your mind. I know how stubborn you can be. Janeway 2: True. But there is something else I can do for you. I'm going to send Harry Kim through the rift with Ensign Wildman's baby. Somehow, it seems only fair. Janeway: We'll be waiting for them. Janeway 2: Just make me a promise, Kathryn. Get your crew home. Janeway: I will. I will. Janeway 2: Harry, you've got five minutes. Get the baby. Kim 2: But Captain. Janeway 2: Move it, Ensign! That's an order! Computer, initiate the self-destruct sequence. Authorisation Janeway pi one one zero. Set at five minutes and mute voice warnings. Enable. Computer: Warning. Self-destruct sequence has been initiated. Warp core overload in four minutes, fifty five seconds. There will be no further audio warnings. Vidiian: Ocampa. Female. The organs are healthy. She has an extremely high rate of tissue regeneration. Surgeon: Extract her pelvic ridge. We'll analyze the bone marrow for Phage resistance. Vidiian: The others are human. My scans indicate their pancreatic tissues are well suited for transplant. Surgeon: Begin the extraction procedure. Vidiian: This one. A female human. She's recently given birth. Surgeon: Are you certain? Vidiian: Yes. Her haemo-uterine levels are far above normal. Surgeon: Where's the infant? Set your bio-probe to maximum. Find it. Kim 2: No! Emh 2: Ensign Kim, is that you? Kim 2: Doc, am I glad to see you. Emh 2: Have we retaken the ship? Kim 2: No. Actually, the Captain's put the ship on self-destruct. She ordered me to take the baby and go to the other Voyager. Emh 2: Well, I, I guess you'd better hurry then. Kim 2: Goodbye, Doc. Emh 2: Ensign. Tell my counterpart that I've corrected all signs of hemocythemia. He'll know what that means. Kim 2: Will do. Janeway 2: Hello. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway. Welcome to the Bridge. Vidiian: Commander! (He has spotted the monitor reading - DESTRUCT SEQUENCE ENGAGED Time Remaining 2, 1 KaBOOM! goes Voyager 2. KaBOOM goes the Vidiian ship, and battered Voyager is left alone) Torres: Ah, it's about time. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. Ensign Kim has made it through the rift, with the infant. Janeway: Acknowledged. Chakotay: Captain, the Vidiian ship has been destroyed. So has the other Voyager. Captain's log, stardate 49548.7. There are no signs of any pursuing Vidiian vessels, and we have resumed a course toward home. Tuvok: Repair efforts are underway. Lieutenant Torres estimates we'll be able to return to the Bridge within three days. Janeway: Good. I'm not sure how much longer B'Elanna can tolerate my standing over her shoulder in Engineering. Tuvok, is there something on your mind? Tuvok: I am curious, Captain. Before the Vidiians attacked, when you were in disagreement with the other Captain about Janeway: Would I have given the order to self-destruct our ship? I've gone over that moment a thousand times in my mind. The truth is, yes, I would have given the order. But I will admit, there was a part of me that could see her point of view. Tuvok: One could say that you were both the doubter and the doubted. I do not envy the paradox of logic you were faced with in that situation. Janeway: Neither did I. And neither did she. Wildman: Thank you. Thank you so much. Kim: You're welcome. But you should also thank the Doctor. It was his counterpart who saved her from the Vidiians. Emh: I'm not surprised. I am programmed to be heroic when the need arises. By the way, Ensign, this other Doctor, did he have a name? Kim: I really didn't have time to ask. Janeway: Am I allowed to go back to my temporary Bridge now, Doctor? Emh: By all means. Janeway: It's good to have you back, Ensign. Kim: Thank you, I think. Janeway: Something wrong? Kim: I'm not sure. I mean, this isn't really my ship, and you're not really my captain, and yet you are, and there's no difference. But I know there's a difference. Or is there? It's all a little weird. Janeway: Mister Kim, we're Starfleet officers. Weird is part of the job.

Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. Voyager, do you read? You must lie still. Bennet: I can't, I can't feel my legs. Tuvok: Several of your vertebrae have been fractured. Bennet: Isn't there anything you can do? Tuvok: I'm afraid the shuttle's medical supplies are inadequate. We must wait for Voyager to find us. Bennet: It's getting worse. My whole body feels numb. Tuvok: I want you to slow your breathing, and relax your muscles. Try not to move. Bennet: All this time I thought I was so lucky. No family back home. Nobody to miss. Now it seems kind of sad not to leave anybody behind. Tuvok: I believe Ensign Macormak would miss you a great deal. Bennet: You think so? I was never really sure how she Tuvok: It's all right, don't be frightened. I won't hurt you. Tressa: Let me go! Tuvok: Will you run if I do? Tressa: No. Tuvok: My name is Tuvok. Who are you? Tressa: Tressa. You don't look like us. Tuvok: I am not a member of your race. I am Vulcan. I thought this moon was uninhabited. Do you live here? Tressa: We came here on a ship, but it crashed like yours. Tuvok: Where are your parents? Tressa: Dead. Is he dead too? Tuvok: Yes. Tressa: What were you doing to him? Tuvok: I put a stasis field around his body to protect it until I can take it back to my ship. Tressa: Why? Tuvok: Some cultures, like Mister Bennet's, consider an appropriate burial to be a sign of respect. Tressa, is there anyone else here with you? Tressa: It's all right. Tuvok: There is no one looking after you? Tressa: Everyone else died in the crash. We're alone. Tuvok: There is no reason to be afraid. I will take care of you now and see that you get home safely. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. I've sent out scouting parties to analyze the mineral deposits in the moons around Drayan Two. Meanwhile, I've arranged to meet with the planet's leader. Chakotay: According to Neelix, nobody's had direct contact with the Drayans for decades. All he's heard are rumors. Janeway: Do any of those rumors describe them as hostile? Chakotay: No, just very private. Janeway: That's something. Deck four. My diplomacy professor used to say the opening twenty minutes of a first contact situation are the most crucial. Chakotay: I'd feel better about this particular twenty minutes if we had some idea what to expect. Janeway: Sometimes you have to go in blind. That's the exciting part. When I was a science officer I always envied the Captain's privilege of making first contact with new races. Chakotay: I envied it so much I almost got myself shipped back to the academy for remedial training. On my first assignment we were sent to make contact with the Tarkannans. I studied all the information we had about them and pestered the Captain into letting me be part of the diplomatic team. When we came face to face with the Tarkannan delegation I very proudly made the traditional gesture for hello, not realizing that males and females of their race use different styles of movement, and I was actually propositioning the Ambassador. Janeway: Energize. Janeway: I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway. I'd like to welcome you aboard the Federation Starship Voyager. Alcia: First Prelate Alcia. May this day find you at peace and leave you with hope. That's a traditional blessing from our ancient scrolls. Chakotay: Om-nah-hoo-pez-nyeetz. That's from the spirits of my people. It means, peace in your heart, fortune in your steps. Janeway: It's very gracious of you to agree to meet with us. Alcia: We don't often engage in dialogue with alien races, but your story of crossing the galaxy intrigued me. Janeway: I'd be glad to tell you all about our journey and my crew. Perhaps you'd like to see more of our ship as well. Alcia: Thank you. Janeway: Our warp core is designed to operate for up to three years before refueling. Chakotay: The reaction chamber is equipped with a compositor which allows us to re-crystallize the dilithium. In our situation we can never be sure when we'll be able to find a new supply. Janeway: I'm sorry my Chief Engineer isn't here to meet you. She's leading one of the away teams surveying the moons around Drayan. Alcia: I find it interesting that you chose this to show me first. Do your people consider advanced technology to be their highest achievement? Janeway: Not as an end in itself. The purpose of all this is to help up gain knowledge about the universe and the people in it. Alcia: Our ancestors were brilliant scientists and engineers. They were continually developing better, smarter, more efficient machines, until the technology became more important than the people. I believe our society would have self-destructed if it weren't for the reformation. My great-grandfather helped to return us to ourselves, and since that time we've remained isolated to avoid the influence of those who might lead us back down the wrong path. Chakotay: Some human cultures have done the same. Tressa: Will your friend be all right in there? Tuvok: Yes. I have secured his body within a stasis field. You were all very fortunate to have escaped the crash with only a few bruises. Tressa: The attendants protected us. Tuvok: Attendants? Tressa: The people on our ship. They got us to the escape pod before they crashed. Corin: Can we go now? I want to go. Elani: Are we going to fly in your ship? Corin: He said it was a shuttle, not a ship. Tuvok: We cannot leave yet. My shuttle is in need of repairs. Tressa: Can't you fix it? Tuvok: I believe so. However, I am more concerned with getting through the electrodynamic turbulence in the ionosphere. Corin: What's electro-turbulence? Tuvok: A thermal inversion gradient is causing unusually strong and unpredictable currents in the upper levels of the atmosphere. Those currents caused my shuttle to crash, and I assume yours as well. I must find a way to safely navigate through the turbulence before we can attempt to leave. Tressa: Will that take a long time? Tuvok: It may. You must be patient. Elani: I don't want to stay here any more. I don't like it here. Tuvok: Your displeasure doesn't change our situation. Nor does it bring us any closer to a solution Tressa: You don't have to be so mean about it. Tuvok: It isn't my intention to be mean. I only wish to provide you with a realistic assessment. Vulcan parents never shield their children from the truth. Doing so would only hinder their ability to cope with inevitable difficulties. Corin: I'm hungry. Tuvok: There is a supply of Starfleet rations in the shuttle. Corin: What's rations? Tuvok: Concentrated vitamin enriched nutritional supplements. Corin: I want takka berries. Elani: With cherel sauce. Tuvok: We have only rations. Now, I must begin working on my shuttle. By my estimate we have fewer than four hours of daylight remaining. Elani: We can't be here when it's night. Corin: That's when the Morrok comes. Tuvok: Is that some species of animal? Tressa: The Morrok is what takes you when you die. Corin: It lives here in the cave. Tuvok: I'm not detecting any life forms other than ourselves. Tressa: It's here. It'll come. Tuvok: Have any of you ever seen this creature? Elani: You can only see it when it comes for you. Then it's too late. Tuvok: I believe your anxiety about our situation is causing you to imagine the presence Corin: It took the others. Jarren and Fayla, the other children on the ship! Tressa: The Morrok took them while we were sleeping, and tonight it will take us. Janeway: The Federation consists of over one hundred and fifty different worlds who have agreed to share their knowledge and resources in peaceful cooperation. Emh: Ah, visitors! Welcome to sickbay. I'm the Chief Medical Officer. Janeway: This is First Prelate Alcia of Drayan Two. Emh: It's an honor to meet you. We don't often receive such distinguished guests here, unless there's been some sort of accident. I'm sure nothing unfortunate will happen to you on your visit here, but if it did you can rest assured you will find yourself in very capable hands. We are fully equipped to provide a wide variety of treatments here from removing a splinter to re-sequencing the base pairs in a strand of DNA, and our research facilities are the most advanced in Starfleet. Alcia: Very impressive. Janeway: You may be even more interested to learn that this man isn't really a biological lifeform. He's a computer generated holographic projection. Alcia: My people believe that physical matter is only an illusion. The body is not the true self, only a representation. Janeway: One of our greatest philosophers, Plato, wrote that what we see around us are only poor shadows of ideal objects which exist on a higher plane. Alcia: That is similar to our teachings. Our connection to what you call a higher plane is more important than our attachment to this brief existence, however real it may seem. Kim: Bridge to Captain. There's an incoming message for the First Prelate. Emh: Perhaps you'd like to use my office? Alcia: Yes, thank you, Doctor? Emh: I'm afraid it's just Doctor. Janeway: Patch it through on a secure channel to the Doctor's office, Mister Kim. Kim: Acknowledged. Kes: You did very well. I think she was impressed. Emh: Kes has been coaching me on my diplomatic skills. Chakotay: It shows. Janeway: Our next step will be to open negotiations. Find out what they might be interested in getting from us in exchange for the polyferranide. Alcia: I've been called away on an emergency. Janeway: Is there anything we can do to help? Alcia: No, thank you. It would be better if you and your crew continued on your journey. It's been an interesting visit. Janeway: We'd been hoping to learn more about you. Alcia: It's been our custom for generations to avoid close contact with outsiders. I choose to honor that tradition. Goodbye, Captain. I hope you find your way home. Emh: Was it something I said? Chakotay: We could assure her we have no intention of interfering with their culture or traditions. Janeway: No. She made her wishes clear. If we're not welcome, we'll go. Recall the scouting parties. We'll have to find our polyferranide somewhere else. Tuvok: Where did you last see the missing children? Corin: By the big tree, when we went to sleep last night. Tuvok: Were either of them injured? Corin: Jarrin hurt his hand. Tuvok: But both were able to walk. Corin: Uh huh. Tuvok: Did any of you hear them get up during the night? Tressa: You think they wandered off and got lost, but they didn't. The Morrok took them. They're gone. Tuvok: The other children aren't within scanning range of this tricorder. That is the only thing we know for certain at this time. Tressa: You don't understand. We have to get away from here. Corin: Please can we go? Elani: We're scared. Tressa: Please, Tuvok? Tuvok: Children, you are allowing your fears to guide you. You must learn to exercise control over your own imagination. Corin: But the Morrok! Tuvok: Yes, the existence of such a creature is one possibility. However, your emotional reactions are preventing you from accurately judging how unlikely that is to be true. Corin: I can't help it. I'm scared. Tuvok: I believe you can help it. Vulcan children learn to detach themselves from their emotions at an early age. Elani: How? Tuvok: First, you must focus on the object of your fear. Picture the Morrok clearly in your minds. That image is accompanied by an emotional response. Describe for me what that feeling is like. Tressa: It makes my stomach all tight. Elani: I feel like I want to run, but my legs won't work. Tuvok: Now, if you could see this emotion in physical form, what would it look like? Corin: It's like this big, black cloud with lots of thunder and lightning all around us. Tuvok: Then imagine a strong wind is pushing that cloud away. Watch as your fear grows more distant. It is no longer a part of you. Once you begin to detach yourselves from your emotional responses, you come closer to controlling them. Eventually, they will be eliminated altogether. Elani: Do you live your whole life without feeling anything? Tuvok: More accurately, we strive to control our feelings. Tressa: You don't get scared, ever? Tuvok: No. Corin: Even when your shuttle crashed? Tuvok: That is correct. Corin: But what if there was this big hairy tardeth coming after you? Tuvok: The circumstances are irrelevant. A Vulcan approaches every situation logically. Now I must begin work on my shuttle. We will resume the search for the other children once the sensors are operational. I expect each of you to sit quietly and not touch any of the equipment. Tressa: We promise. Tuvok: Elani, please put that down. Corin: Let me have it! Tressa: No, I found it! Tuvok: Be careful with that! You will stay here and you will stay here. Elani: Where do I get to sit? Corin: But I want to sit next to you. Corin: Tuvok? Tuvok: Yes. Corin: Why do your ears look like that? Tuvok: All Vulcans have similarly shaped ears. Corin: Why? Tuvok: It is the result of many millennia of evolution. Elani: Do they make you hear better? Tuvok: No. Tressa: Where do Vulcans live? Is it far away? Tuvok: My homeworld is on the other side of the galaxy. Elani. Elani! I asked you not to play with that. Elani: Sorry. Corin: What are you doing? Tuvok: It helps prepare you to attain a meditative state. Now, close your eyes and imagine all the energy in your body is flowing to the point where your fingertips meet. Nothing else you hear or feel is important. Let the outside world fade away. You exist only inside your mind. Corin: Tuvok? Tuvok: Yes. Corin: Do you have any children? Tressa: Be quiet. We're trying to attain a meditative state. Corin: But I want to know! Tuvok: I have four children. Now you must concentrate. Corin: What are they like? Tuvok: Well behaved. They had already mastered several states of heightened awareness by the time they were your age. Elani: If Vulcans don't feel anything, does that mean you don't love them? Tuvok: My attachment to my children cannot be described as an emotion. They are part of my identity, and I am incomplete without them. Elani: I bet they miss you too. Corin: Tuvok? Tuvok: Yes. Corin: I have to scratch my nose. Tuvok: You may. Tressa: Tuvok! Tuvok: Yes. Tressa: I hear something. Corin: Is it a ship? Tuvok: I believe so. Tressa: Can you see who it is? Tuvok: The sensors are only partially functional. I'm attempting to identify the ship by its shield harmonics. Elani: Is somebody coming to save us? Tuvok: It is not a shuttle from Voyager. The pattern of the harmonics matches that of the ships we scanned in orbit around Drayan. It seems your people have come looking for you. Tressa: We have to hide, Tuvok. You can't let them find us here. Tuvok: I don't understand. I thought you wanted to go home. Tressa: They won't take us home. They're the ones who made us come here. Tuvok: For what purpose? Tressa: They sent us here to die. Corin: We have to go! Tressa: If they find us, we'll all die. Elani: Please, Tuvok. Tuvok: Why would your own people want to harm you? Tressa: Please, they're coming. Elani: Help us! Drayan: There's no one inside. Spread out and scan the area. Tuvok: Two of them are coming this way. Corin: What are you doing? Tuvok: This will hide us from their scanners. Tuvok: Why do you believe they've come to kill you? Tressa: We're supposed to die here. That's what this place is for. Corin: They bring children here for the final ritual. Then the Morrok takes them away. Elani: No one ever comes back. Tuvok: It is illogical for a society to kill its own children. Tressa: The scrolls say we should be happy. That when we die the energy inside us is set free. Corin: Is it true? Is that what really happens? Tuvok: Vulcans believe that a person's katra, what some might call a soul, continues to exist after the body dies. Elani: Do you believe that? Tuvok: When I was younger, I accepted it without question. In recent years I have experienced doubts. I do believe there is more in each of us than science has yet explained. Tressa: I know we should have more faith. It's wrong to be afraid of death. Tuvok: There is nothing wrong in choosing to live. Elani: Will you help us? Tuvok: Until I can gain a better understanding of your situation, I believe it would be best to get you safely back to Voyager. Chakotay: Torres and Neelix just got back, but there's still no word from Tuvok and Bennet. Paris: I'm not picking up their shuttle on sensors. Kim: There's heavy solar flare activity. It's causing electrodynamic disturbance throughout the system. Torres: We found a vein of pure polyferranide, three kilometers long. It's a real shame we're leaving. Janeway: When was your last contact with the other team? Neelix: Several hours ago. Is there a problem? Janeway: We can't reach them. Torres: When we spoke to them, they were going to check out the outermost moons. Janeway: Can you find the shuttle's ion signature? Paris: I'm reading one on heading one five one mark eight. Torres: That's where Neelix and I went. Paris: And another one on a divergent course twenty degrees to starboard. Janeway: Set a course, Mister Paris. Torres: Our scans of the moon are inconclusive. We can't see anything through the turbulence in the atmosphere. Kim: The Drayan ship still hasn't responded to our hails. Janeway: Are you sure our signal's getting through. Kim: They're receiving it, they're just not answering. Janeway: Continue hails. Alcia: This desecration dishonors us both, Captain. Janeway: I'm sorry, I don't understand. Alcia: This moon is our crysata. Sacred ground. Your presence is forbidden here. Janeway: We've only come here to look for one of our shuttles. It's missing. Alcia: We found your shuttle on the surface. The pilot is dead. Janeway: There were two men on board. Did you find both of them? Alcia: No, only one. If there's someone else on this moon you must transport him back to your ship immediately. Janeway: That's what we intend to do. Alcia: This type of disturbance is exactly why we avoid contact with outsiders. I was wrong to respond to your communication. I should have known better than to indulge my curiosity. Janeway: There's no one at fault here. The shuttle crash was an accident. Alcia: One which I expect you to correct as soon as possible. Janeway: What's the status of the transporters? Torres: The targeting scanners still can't lock onto anything on the surface. It would be easier if we sent down another shuttle. Janeway: No, that would only make things worse. Torres: I'll keep working on it. Tuvok: I don't see how you can be thirsty again after four drinks of water. Corin: Aren't you going to sleep? Tuvok: I can go several days without rest if necessary. You cannot. It's warmer by the fire. Go back and try to sleep. Do not worry. I have run several thorough scans of the area. There are no other life forms present, inside the cave or anywhere within five kilometers. Corin: Maybe the Morrok doesn't show up on the scanners. Tuvok: I am also keeping watch on all of you from here. If there is any indication of trouble I will come immediately. Corin: Okay. Tressa: We can't sleep. Tuvok: Apparently not. Elani: It's so dark. Tressa: I think the fire's going out. Maybe you should look. Tuvok: I added more wood less than a half an hour ago. However, it might be wise to check it again. Elani: I always have my hair brushed before I go to sleep. Corin: I'd like to hear a story. Tell us one about the fire beast of Sullus. Tuvok: I never understood the practice in some cultures of describing ferocious creatures in an attempt to lull children to sleep. Corin: Don't Vulcan's tell bedtime stories? Tuvok: If my children had difficulty sleeping, I would play music for them. Elani: I want music. Tuvok: Unfortunately I don't have my lute. Corin: What's that? Tuvok: It is a five-stringed instrument tuned on a diatonic scale. It can be very soothing. My youngest son was particularly fond of it. He always used to ask me to play Falor's Journey. It is a tale of enlightenment consisting of three hundred forty eight verses. It may not be necessary to include the complete narrative. Falor was a prosperous merchant who went on a journey to gain greater awareness. 'Through storms he crossed the Voroth Sea To reach the clouded shores of Raal Where old T'Para offered truth. He traveled through the windswept hills And crossed the barren Fire Plains To find the silent monks of Kir. Still unfulfillled, he journeyed home Told stories of the lessons learned And gained true wisdom by the giving. (The children fall asleep. Next morning, Tuvok is working inside the shuttle when -) Tressa: Tuvok! Tuvok! They're gone. Torres: Captain, you might want to see this. Janeway: Have you found the shuttle? Torres: Actually we've found two, both crashed on the surface. The sensor resolution is still quite low. This looks like our shuttle. I'd guess the other one is Drayan. Kim: We've also had some indications of life signs on the surface. A while ago there seemed to be four of them. Now we can only distinguish two. Torres: I've been working on the transporters. It just isn't possible to get a pattern lock through all the turbulence. Janeway: Then we've got to start considering other options. I want a full analysis of the atmospheric conditions, and your best suggestion of how to get a shuttle to the surface. Then let's hope we don't need to try it. Tuvok: There were no other lifeforms and no unusual energy readings within sensor range all night. Tressa: It was the Morrok. Why don't you believe me? Tuvok: Very well, I'll investigate. I'd like you to wait here while I look inside the cave. Tressa: But if you go in there, you won't come out. Tuvok: I will take every possible precaution. I believe you can be responsible with this. Aim like this and press here to fire. I'll seal the shuttle's door while I am gone. Tressa: No, Tuvok, don't leave me all by myself, please. Tuvok: If there is anything in the cave, it may help us determine what has been happening here. It is very important to gather as much as information as possible. Tressa: I'm scared. Tuvok: We often fear what we do not understand. Our best defense is knowledge. You must trust me, Tressa. I will return shortly. Tressa: Promise? Tuvok: I will not abandon you. Tressa: What did you see in there? Tuvok: I realize it may frighten you, but you must hear the truth. Suffice it to say, I did not find the other children, nor do I have any explanation of what happened to them. Tressa: I'm going to be next, aren't I? There's nothing we can do about it. Tuvok: The disappearances have occurred only at night. We will attempt to leave here before the sun sets. Tressa: I'll really be quiet this time. I won't touch anything. Tuvok: That would make it difficult for you to assist me with repairs. Paris: The Drayans have just sent another shuttle down to the moon, Captain. Kim: There must be at least twenty people on the surface. I can't tell if the two life forms we detected before are still there. Chakotay: How many search parties could it take to find two crash victims? Kim: Captain, there's a break in the turbulence. I'm picking up a comm. signal. Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. Voyager, do you read? Janeway: We read you, Tuvok. Are you all right? Tuvok: Yes, Captain, but Ensign Bennet is dead. Janeway: We know. we've been trying to get you off the surface but we're having some trouble with the Drayans. They insist on sending their own search parties. Tuvok: Yes. I have been avoiding them. Janeway: Why? Tuvok: I have a young girl with me who claims they have come to kill her. I was reluctant to believe it at first, but several other children have disappeared. Kim: There's nothing I can do, Captain. The signal's breaking up. Janeway: Tuvok, what happened to the other children? Tuvok: They have disappeared. Something on this moon is responsible. We must leave here. I'm attempting to repair Janeway: Scan Tuvok's shuttle for damage. Will he be able to get himself out of there? Kim: There's no structural damage, some power fluctuations. He should be able to take off. Chakotay: What if they can't? Janeway: Hail the Drayan ship. Alcia: Captain. Janeway: First Prelate. It's come to my attention that you have a damaged ship on the surface as well, and there may be survivors. I'd like to offer our help in finding them. Perhaps a joint rescue operation? Alcia: That won't be necessary, Captain. You've been intrusive enough. Janeway: Our sensor readings indicate the people on the surface may be in trouble. I'm sure you must be as concerned for their safety as we are. Alcia: There's no reason to fear for anyone's safety on the crysata. It's a blessed haven, sheltered and unspoiled, which is the very reason why I can't allow you to go there under any circumstances. Janeway: Then I regret to inform you I'll be taking a shuttle to the surface without your permission. Alcia: That's completely unacceptable! Janeway: I believe it's necessary. Alcia: If you launch one of your shuttles, I will be forced to send one of ours after you. Janeway: First Prelate, it's not my intention to provoke a conflict. Alcia: Well then, leave at once.! Janeway: I'll be glad to, as soon as every member of my crew is safely back on board this ship. Janeway out. Lieutenant, you're with me. Mister Kim, I need your report. Kim: I've been studying the energy signature of the Drayan shuttles. They're using some kind of dielectric field to protect them from the turbulence. Paris: We could generate the same kind of field with a shuttle's warp coils. Kim: It won't be very stable. Paris: It might be a rough ride, but we can make it. Chakotay: Captain, maybe you shouldn't Janeway: I know the risks, Commander, but if there's any hope left for a diplomatic solution, I've got to be down there to see it through. Paris: Let's get through the pre-flight quickly. Thrusters, impulse engines, warp drive. Janeway: All propulsion systems are nominal. Paris: Shields, phasers, inertial dampers, comm. system. Janeway: I think we've got all the basics. Computer, initial cold launch sequence. Paris: Or we could just skip pre-flight altogether. Janeway: Definitely not recommended, but sometimes necessary. Paris: I'll remember that. I've taken the warp drive offline. Setting up the dielectric field. It's holding, but we'll have to keep an eye on the stabilizer integrity. Janeway: Janeway to Bridge. Depressurize the shuttle bay and open the space doors. Chakotay: Aye Captain. Paris: Captain, I'm picking up a Drayan shuttle. They're on an intercept course. Janeway: Can we out run them? Paris: The dielectric field is weakening our structural integrity. If we go much faster I'm afraid we'll break up. We're improvising here, the Drayans aren't. Janeway: We're on their home turf. They have every advantage. That may be reason enough for them not to fire on us. Paris: We'll be testing that theory in a few seconds. They're about to enter weapons range, Captain. Janeway: Raise shields to maximum and stand ready to power the weapons. Tuvok: Maneuvering thrusters and impulse engines are functional. We're ready to lift off. Tressa: What about the electro. The currents that made the ships crash. Tuvok: I have determined that a dielectric field should allow us to pass through them. However, you should still be prepared for some turbulence. Initiating pre-launch sequence. Number three thruster is failing, attempting to stabilize. Paris: The Drayan shuttle is closing fast, Captain. They'll overtake us before we can land. Janeway: They haven't powered their weapons systems. Maybe they're still willing to talk. Paris: Let's hope the ones on the surface feel the same way. We'll be through this ionosphere in a few more minutes. Janeway: Sensors are clearing up. I'm reading Tuvok's shuttle. He's trying to lift off but it looks like there's some trouble with the thrusters, and there's a large Drayan search party approaching his location. Tressa: I see them. They're coming all around us. We've got to go, now! Tuvok: I'm attempting an emergency procedure. Please move away from the console. Tressa: You did it! You saved me! Tuvok: I regret that may be a premature conclusion. The process of powering the thrusters has left us with minimal shields and no functional weapons. Voyager will be watching for us. When we clear the atmosphere, we can be transported aboard the ship. Tressa: Then what are we going to do? Tuvok: You may request asylum with the Federation if you wish. Then we'll be able to protect you. Tressa: I want to stay with you. Tuvok: The Drayan shuttle is hailing us. Alcia: You're holding one of our children. I want to speak to her. Tuvok: She believes you intend to kill her. Is that true? Alcia: The child is confused. I only want to help her. Tressa: You want me to die. Alcia: Tressa, I understand how confusing this must be for you. If you return to the surface I will answer all of your questions. Tressa: No. I'm not going back there. I'm staying with Tuvok. Tuvok: We can resolve this matter aboard Voyager. Alcia: Unacceptable. If you or any of your people attempt to take Tressa back to your ship, I will use any means necessary to stop you. Tuvok: Do what you will. Alcia: Very well. Fire! Tuvok: We weren't hit. I believe that was a warning. Paris: I've got phasers locked on the Drayan shuttle, Captain. Janeway: Don't fire. We might be able to transport Tuvok from here. There's still too much interference. Paris: We should be close enough to get a comm. signal through. Janeway: Tuvok, we're on our way to the surface. We'll intercept you in a few moments. Tuvok: That may be too late, Captain. I'm losing power rapidly. I believe another hit will force me to land. Janeway: Go back down to the surface. We'll follow you. Tressa: It's getting dark. What's going to happen to me? Tuvok: All I can tell you is, I will be here with you. Alcia: Mister Tuvok, don't make this difficult. She's been frightened enough. Tuvok: What she fears most is being kept here against her wishes. Alcia: This is a critical time. I can't allow you to interfere. Janeway: I regret it's come to this. Alcia: You have found your crew member. Now go. Tuvok: I will not leave without Tressa. She has asked for my protection and I intend to provide it. Alcia: You simply don't understand the harm you're doing. Janeway: This child wants to live. We're going to do whatever we can to help her. Alcia: It is not a choice, this is her time. Tressa has reached the end of her life. Tuvok: She has barely begun it. Alcia: She is ninety six years old. Tressa, these people are outsiders. They don't understand how we live. They see us as strange because their aging process is reversed. Please, you don't belong with them. I'm here to help you now. Tressa: No, leave me alone. Alcia: It's perfectly natural to be frightened. You're taking a step into the unknown. The attendants would have helped you prepare yourself. You were never meant to face this time alone. Tressa: We weren't alone. Tuvok was here. He stayed with us and made us feel safe. He told us there was no Morrok and that we shouldn't be afraid. He took care of us, even when we didn't behave as well as Vulcan children. Alcia: He was right about the Morrok. It only exists in stories. At this age they become easily confused. Their memories are clouded. Near the end of life we reach a state of complete innocence. We free ourselves from all responsibilities to this life and we leave it peacefully. Tuvok: Tressa doesn't seem to be ready. Perhaps she needs more time. Alcia: That's not for you or me to decide. This is a normal biological process which begins the day we are created. The energy contained within our bodies remains cohesive for a limited number of years and then it is released. Nothing can change that. Tressa: Nothing? Alcia: No. It's the natural course of life. Janeway: Why was it so important that Tressa stay here? Alcia: We believe this is where the very first spark of life was created. We are all compelled by a powerful instinct to return here at the end to complete the cycle and rejoin the infinite energy. Tressa, do you feel it calling to you? Tressa: Tuvok? Tuvok: She can offer you better guidance than I. Tressa: You said you would protect me. Tuvok: I cannot protect you from the natural conclusion of life, nor would I try. Vulcans consider death to be the completion of a journey. There is nothing to fear. Tressa: I won't be afraid, not if you're with me. Alcia: Tressa, may this night see you safely home. Attending a child on the crysata is an honorable role. You have fulfillled it well. The final moment of life is the most sacred, most private time. Janeway: I hope you can accept my sincere apologies for disturbing your traditions. Alcia: Perhaps we have each misjudged the other, Captain. Janeway: I would hate to let that ruin any possibility of friendship between our people. Alcia: We must leave them. Paris: Tuvok, can your shuttle make it back to Voyager? Maybe we should wait for you. Tuvok: No, I'll be fine. Tuvok: We'll wait here as long as you like. Tressa: I know it's time. My only regret is leaving my family. My grandson. You remind me of him. Tuvok: You will still be with them, in their thoughts. As you will be in mine.

Kim: Sorry! Paris: Obviously, Ensign Baytart doesn't appreciate music. Kim: It's the darn fluid conduits running through the walls. They conduct sound. You'd think when they designed this thing, they would have Paris: This ship was built for combat performance, Harry, not musical performance. Nobody figured we'd be taking any long trips. Kim: Where am I supposed to practice? Paris: How about the cargo bay? Kim: Bad acoustics. Paris: We could get Baytart transferred to the night shift. Kim: We couldn't do that. Could we? Paris: So now you have an excuse to give your mother why you didn't practice while you were gone. Kim: Look, I'm trying to prepare for an important performance. Paris: Oh, really? Are we scheduled to rendezvous with the Delta Quadrant Symphony Orchestra? Kim: No, Susan Nicoletti and I have been working on a new orchestral program for the holodeck. Paris: Lieutenant Nicoletti? The one I've been chasing for six months? Cold hands, cold heart? Kim: Not when she plays the oboe. Chakotay: Chakotay to all senior officers. Please report to the Bridge. Paris: You know, Harry, I've always wanted to learn how to play the drums. Tuvok: I am picking up communication satellites in orbit. They're nonfunctional. Janeway: Mister Paris, take us in a little closer. Mister Kim, scan the surface. Neelix: Captain, this used to be a major trading spot. Janeway: How long ago? Neelix: I'm not sure exactly. If I had to guess Kim: EM signature indicates that a major solar flare occurred here nineteen years ago. Neelix: I'd say about nineteen years, more or less. Chakotay: Looks like a glacial freeze. Janeway: Caused by a solar flare that radically changed the weather patterns. Kim: It did a lot more than that. They were hit by magnetic storms and extreme levels of radiation. Chakotay: Those glaciers are receding. Kim: The biosphere seems to be recovering. Paris: Did anyone survive? Kim: Scanning the settlement. There's evidence of advanced technology, warp reactors, subspace transmitters, but no lifesigns. Paris: Maybe they saw it coming and evacuated the planet. Tuvok: Indications are that any attempt at an evacuation would have been prevented by the atmospheric disturbances. Janeway: What was the estimated population? Tuvok: Approximately four hundred thousand. Kim: Captain, I'm picking up something from the surface. I think we're being hailed. Chakotay: I thought you said there weren't any lifesigns. Kim: There aren't. I scanned the entire surface. It must be an automated signal. Janeway: Let's hear it. Viorsa: I am Viorsa, planner for the Kohl settlement. Your sensors have activated this message. By now you must be aware of the catastrophic disaster that has destroyed our home. A few of us have managed to survive in a state of artificial hibernation, programmed to end in fifteen years from the date this was recorded. At that time, when the eco-recovery has begun, we will attempt to rebuild our settlement. Please, do nothing to interrupt our timetable. Chakotay: Their timetable was supposed to end four years ago. Paris: Looks like they didn't make it. Janeway: Mister Kim, wouldn't your scans have picked up suppressed metabolic activity? Kim: I would think so, Captain, unless. Checking below the surface. Nothing one kilometer down. Two kilometers. Wait a minute. I think I've got something two point three kilometers down. Extremely faint bio-signatures. Three humanoids. Janeway: Can you detect a malfunction in their systems? Something to explain why they didn't wake up on schedule? Kim: Not at this distance. But I am picking up two more humanoids at the same location who are dead. Janeway: Are there any automated security systems? We triggered a Do Not Disturb sign. I don't want to set off anything worse. Tuvok: No weapons of any kind, Captain. It is safe to transport the hibernation pods to Voyager, if that is your intent. Janeway: It is. Prepare to beam them to Cargo Bay one. Mister Kim, you're with me. Janeway to Kes. Report to Cargo Bay one. Bring your medical gear. Kes: Aye, Captain. Kes: Two humanoids dead, three humanoids in deep stasis. Lifesigns apparently stable. Janeway: Our messenger. Janeway: Did the system break down? Kim: Not that I can see. I'm not reading any pathway failures in the hibernation pods. The circuitry all seems to be functioning. Looks like their brains are interconnected in a complex sensory system controlled by this computer. According to these indicators, Captain, their minds are active. Janeway: Active? What do you mean? Kim: The encephalographic readings suggest they're dreaming, but there's some kind of interactivity with the computer. It's not just scanning their brain functions, it's sending a data stream back to them as well. Janeway: Could it be generating an artificial environment of some sort? Kes: Artificial environment? Janeway: Years ago, Starfleet used a technology to assist deep space travel that kept the body in stasis, but provided a mental landscape to keep the mind active and alert. Kes: That sounds like a pretty good way to wait out a planetary disaster. Kim: For the moment, it's as good a theory as any. Janeway: So what went wrong? Why are they still in there? Kim: The system was supposed to bring these people out of hibernation four years ago. However, it wasn't left entirely to the computer. The programrs obviously wanted the people in the system to decide for themselves when it would be safe to come out. This was accomplished by a subroutine that periodically displayed atmospheric conditions to them. Janeway: So they should have known years ago that the biosphere had recovered. Kim: Exactly. This subroutine has remained available to these people since it was activated four years ago. It's literally an escape hatch. Tuvok: Perhaps it has malfunctioned. Kim: No. That's what's so odd about this. As far as I can tell, it's working perfectly. Torres: Then why don't they get themselves out? Kim: I don't know. Paris: Maybe they like it in there. Emh: I don't think so. Janeway: Doctor. Emh: The two victims died from massive heart failure, and there was evidence of prior neural trauma. Neelix: I'm sorry. What does that mean? Emh: It could be evidence of extreme fear. Neelix: Maybe it was caused by the panic that accompanies a heart attack. Kes: The readings suggest an extended period of mental stress. Chakotay: Sounds like we ought to get them out right away. Emh: Surely, Commander, you're not suggesting we simply unplug them? Chakotay: Why not? Emh: Because you have three brains whose survival has depended upon careful monitoring by a sophisticated computer system for nineteen years. Kim: The Doc is right. I have no idea how to disconnect them without causing neural damage. I just don't know the system well enough. Tuvok: They know the system. Why don't we ask them how to proceed? Paris: How can we do that? Implant a com-link into their brains? Tuvok: We already have a means of communication. The two unoccupied pods. Kim: We could add a backup life support system, using our own computer and medical stasis technology. Chakotay: If the only way to help those people is to go in and find out from them what's wrong, I don't see any alternative. Janeway: Neither do I. Kes: I'll be monitoring your mental and physical functions. If we detect any unusual activity, you'll be transferred onto our life support system and resuscitated. Janeway: We've tapped into the system's recall subroutine program. I'll give you five minutes to look around, then I'm bringing you back. Consider this a test run. Torres: Understood. Kes: Inducing primary stasis. Autonomic nervous system link is secure. Janeway: They're connecting to the system. Torres: Looks like we made it. Kim: How do you feel? Torres: Normal. Kim: These must be characters generated by the computer, but I don't see our people. Torres: Neither do I. Kim: Excuse me. We're trying to find some friends. Clown: Well, that shouldn't be difficult. We're all friends here. Kim: Oh, I'm sorry. Little Woman: Oh, I'm sorry. Kim: I didn't mean to bump into you. Little Woman: You're new. Kim: Yes, we are. Little Woman: Where are you from? Torres: Another town. Little Woman: There aren't any other towns. Kim: We're not getting very far. Spectre: Perhaps I can help you. You are looking for friends? Kim: That's right. Three of them. Spectre: And when you find these friends? Torres: We want to talk to them. Clown: Why talk when we can dance? Torres: Let's get out of here. Kim: You've got it. Spectre: Take him! Torres: Harry! Harry! Torres: Harry! Harry! Harry! Harry! All: Chop, chop, chop! Viorsa: Stop! They're aliens, and they won't be alone. Kill them, and their shipmates will shut down the program. Clown: Let him go. Viorsa: We knew this would happen someday, that a ship would find us. It was only a matter of time. Clown: Only a matter of time, yes. Viorsa: Who knows what kind of people they are? Who knows what will happen to this world if you hurt them? Clown: I do. I know. Bring them here. Bring them here, bring them here, bring them here. You're like me, a little of this and a little of that. Clown: Oh my, what a temper. That's from your mother's side, isn't it? Yes, you see, I know everything. This is my world, my festival. And you're here without an invitation. Torres: What is going on? Who is he? Clown: You will talk to me! I speak for them, and I speak for you now. You don't understand that yet. You don't accept it, but you will. Kim: Are you a lifeform? Or some kind of computer virus that penetrated this system? Clown: A virus, a virus. He thinks I am a virus. A virus, a virus. Well, perhaps, I'll be a virus today. Oh, this one's got a mind full of technical and operational thoughts and ideas. Harry knows viruses. Viorsa: Stop this. Clown: I know you came here to get them and take them away. But if you do that, we'll all disappear. Kim: Disappear. Because you're characters created by this program, and once their minds stop interacting with the system, you won't exist anymore. Clown: Ah. See the technical mind at work. It seeks diagnostics, data analysis. Well, here's some more data for your mind to analyze and diagnose, Harry. Yes, I am merely what has been created and is being created by his brain, his brain, her brain and now yours and yours. Clown: What? What's this doing here now? This is your work! Torres: That's our wake-up call. It's been a real pleasure, but we're leaving. Come on. Clown: If you leave, one of them will die. One of them will die. Try it and see. If you leave, he dies. Viorsa: He can do it. He's already killed two of our colleagues. Torres: How is that possible? Clown: I cut off their heads. Torres: But none of this is real. Clown: Of course it's real. As real as a nightmare. Kim: The two we found dead both suffered from massive heart attacks. Clown: Heart attack. Now, what might cause a heart attack? Hmm. Unmanageable stress, perhaps? Unmanageable fear? The fear of losing a head, perhaps? Kim: You scared them to death. Janeway: What's taking them so long? Kes: Lifesigns are stable. There's no interruption of brain wave activity. Janeway: The recall subroutine is functioning. The window opened for them on schedule. Kes: Captain, the norepinephrine levels are rising. They're well above baseline. Some of that is to be expected, but these levels indicate abnormal stress. Janeway: All right. I'm going to try to bring them out with our backup systems. Kes: Initiating resuscitation. The body temperature is rising. Janeway: What happened? Kes: The bodies are returning to stasis condition, Captain. Tuvok: Someone is terminating the recall command from inside the system. Clown: Very wise of you, my technically minded fellow. Now, get rid of it completely. It's an intrusion. It's ruining the party. Kim: That would be a mistake. Clown: No mistake. A mistake if you refuse. Kim: You'd be missing an opportunity. Clown: Trying to get the better of me? Trying to trick me? I know everything you know, Harry Kim. I know how much you miss Libby. I know how you can never hit that G sharp in the Mozart concerto. Do you think I don't know you're trying to defeat me? Kim: Fine. So you know. You'll also know that what I'm about to tell you is the truth. You'd be smart to let one of us go. Clown: Would I? Kim: This is your chance to send the outside world a message. To tell them your demands. Clown: I have only one demand. To exist! Torres: Then you'd better let us tell them. Kim: Otherwise, you run the risk of our people shutting down the whole system. Because I promise you, they won't let us stay in here for long. Kim: How did this happen? Kohl Woman: The system was designed to be adaptive, to observe and respond to our thoughts, and adjust the environment to our wishes. Torres: Who wished him up? Viorsa: It happened over months without our even realizing it. All of us had fears about survival, recovery. We never anticipated the computer would manifest those fears into him. Kohl Man: Our only hope was that someone like you would come along and find us. Kim: It's almost as though he can read our minds. He seems to know what we're thinking. Kohl Woman: He's generated by the system, and our brains are monitored by the system. So, yes, in a manner of speaking, he can. Viorsa: But there is a delay before he becomes aware of what we're thinking. Kohl Woman: It takes a few minutes for our brain activity to be processed by the system. Clown: Well, I've come to a decision with the help of my friends. You, leave. You, stay. And tell your beloved Captain Janeway that if we die, they die, including you, dear Harry. You, who becomes my best friend as of today. Because she would never kill you, would she, Harry? No. She's like a dear old mother to you, isn't she? Go! Janeway: Someone's activated the recall subroutine. Kes: Captain, it's Lieutenant Torres. Her body temperature is rising. She should regain consciousness in about twelve minutes. Janeway: At least we'll finally get the answers to a few questions. Janeway: Well, let's start with the obvious question. If they're demanding to exist, can we find a way to let them exist in this artificial world of theirs? Torres: Not unless you're prepared to leave one person in stasis permanently. Emh: I concur with Lieutenant Torres. The computer uses bio-neural feedback from the participants' brains to create the environment. Janeway: Doctor, is there a way to speed up resuscitation? Emh: Only by a few minutes. Anything more, we'd be risking serious brain damage. Ten minutes would be about the best we could do. Paris: Ten minutes and all the hostages could be killed. Janeway: Then it seems to me our first order of business should be to reduce the number of hostages. All we have to do now is decide how to negotiate with an emotion. With a manifestation of fear. Tuvok: Fear is the most primitive, the most primordial of biological responses. Janeway: The ability to recognize danger, to fight it or run away from it, that's what fear gives us. But when fear holds you hostage, how do you make it let go? Neelix: Maybe we should try to make him laugh. A good joke just, er, seems to make er, fear dissolve. Well, it does in me, anyway. Janeway: I think something a little more responsive to the Clown's demand. B'Elanna, maybe you can come up with a way to modify the system, so it can run without bio-neural interaction. Chakotay: How do we negotiate without sending in another hostage? Janeway: Good question. We have to come up with a safer method of communication. Viorsa: I regret very much what has happened to you. You came to help. You didn't deserve this. I regret so many things. Kim: Look, we don't have time for regret. My people are working on a way, right now, to get us out of here. And we have to help them if we can. Viorsa: You'll leave hope behind after a few months of this. Kim: Why does he do it? Kohl Man: We're his canvas, his blocks of marble. With us, he practices his ghastly art. Clown: Thinking about escape, are we, Harry? Naughty, naughty. I don't like those thoughts. We're going to have to do something about them. Kohl Woman: He's new. He can't help thinking about getting out. Clown: He can! You don't think about it anymore. Oh, but he's new, and you're old. New and old. Old and new. Well, then, the answer is to simply make you old, Harry. Clown: Are you afraid of growing old, Harry? Is that what you fear? Being cared for by nurses? Little Woman: Time for your medicine. Clown: You don't like being helpless, do you, Harry? You like to take care of yourself. Yes, I know how you hate to feel like the baby on the crew. Clown: Oh, what's the matter, Harry? Oh, does my costume frighten you, huh? Kootchy-coo. Yeah. Oh, look at little Harry fly. Whoo! Whoo! There he goes. Whoo! Whee! All right, that's enough. Kim: This is not reality. It's an illusion. Clown: When your only reality is an illusion, then illusion is a reality. Kim: Like the man said, The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Clown: Oh, I thought we were going to be friends. Didn't want to do this, Harry. No, I didn't want to bring this up in front of the others, but I know what really scares you. I know when you were nine, your parents took you to that colony, the radiation disaster, humanitarian mission. You visited a hospital. You remember. Kim: No. Clown: You wandered off by yourself where you weren't supposed to be. Kim: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Clown: You saw people and things you weren't supposed to see. Sick and dying. Keep repeating. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. All: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Clown: And how about There's no place like home. There's no place like home. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Try clicking your heels together three times. Oh, but your legs are restrained, aren't they? Just like that little girl you saw on the operating table. Clown: The doctor called for a scalpel. She looked at you, her face filled with fear. Fear. Fear. Fear. Do you remember? Kim: No! Emh: Excuse me, you're not holding that properly. Correct positioning of the index finger is necessary for optimal dexterity. Clown: Who are you? Emh: I'm Captain Janeway's representative. I'm here to negotiate with you. Are you well, Mister Kim? Kim: Starting to feel better. Clown: You're different. I don't know anything about you. You're not on the system. Emh: I would be pleased to tell you all about myself at a more appropriate time. For now, suffice it to say that I am here by a miracle of technology. Now, let's get down to the issues, shall we? Clown: How am I supposed to negotiate if I don't know what you're thinking? Emh: I have a very trustworthy face. My captain is prepared to give you exactly what you asked for, under the condition you release all the hostages. Clown: Release the hostages? Emh: We would provide continuing input from a simulated brain. A computer model that would generate Clown: Simulated brain? Simulated? Emh: I, myself, have a comparable Clown: It won't work. It's a lie. Tell him, Harry. Kim: I don't know that for sure. Clown: Liar! Viorsa, get over here! Tell him. Viorsa: It might require a recalibration of the optronic pathways. Clown: Liar! After all this time, do you think I can't tell when you lie? Emh: The simulated brain Clown: Would leave me at your mercy. No! They stay. Emh: The captain is prepared to risk the lives of the hostages rather than leave them under your control. Clown: Who is she to tell me what I have to do? Emh: She's the one out there with the off switch in her hand. Clown: She would never kill Harry. Kim: I'd rather die than spend my life in here with you. She knows that. Clown: I won't let them go. Emh: A compromise. Let some of them go. Clown: No. Emh: We've studied your system. You only need one to survive. Clown: And if that one gets sick and dies? No, I need them all. Now go away, and tell your Captain Janeway I'm disappointed. I expected more from her. Emh: If we could just Clown: Go away. All: Go away. Emh: I'll be back. Janeway: Well, I'm sorry I don't live up to his expectations. What's your opinion of him, Doctor? Emh: Unstable, unpredictable. Everything you'd expect from fear. Tuvok: Captain, the longer we allow this to continue, the more likely it is that he will take his frustrations out on the hostages. Janeway: I agree, and I can't allow that to happen. We're going to have to mount some kind of rescue mission. Janeway: Doctor, if we do simply disconnect the hostages Emh: There would certainly be brain damage. Janeway: How much damage? Could you possibly repair it? Emh: Possibly, yes. Would Mister Kim still be able to hold his clarinet when I was done? Possibly. The brain is such an interesting organ. Chakotay: Could we switch over to a simulated brain without the Clown noticing it? Torres: Oh, he'd notice. He was very smart to reject the whole notion of a simulated brain. It just wouldn't be the same. There is no way an artificial intelligence can replace actual brain functions. Emh: I'll choose not to take that personally, Lieutenant. For what it's worth, Mister Viorsa suggested there would be a way to make a simulated brain function in this system. He suggested it would take a recalibration of the optronic pathways. Torres: I don't know what he could have been talking about. The optronic pathways have nothing to do with the neural interface. It doesn't make any sense. Tuvok: Then perhaps he had another reason for saying it. Chakotay: How do the optronic pathways function in this system, B'Elanna? Torres: They, they control the basic elements of the environment, access databanks that were programmed when the system was created. If we interrupt the optronic pathways, we could disassemble that entire world and its characters, piece by piece. Janeway: If we can't remove the hostages from the environment, then we might be able to remove the environment from the hostages. Torres: How did Viorsa manage to communicate this without the Clown knowing about it? Emh: Perhaps it was because the clown's attention was divided at the time. Janeway: And you're going to continue to provide him with distractions, Doctor. B'Elanna, how long will it take to block these pathways? Torres: I'm not sure how many there are, Captain. And I'll have to do it manually because we don't know how to deprogram the system. Janeway: You'll only have a few minutes at best. Once Fear knows what we're up to, it will be a race against time to save the lives of those hostages. Spectre: Bravo! Bravo! Clown: Go away. I want to be alone. Spectre: You're ruining the festival. Little Woman: Don't be a poop. Clown: I can't help it. I'm feeling sorry for myself. Little Woman: Well, don't take it out on us. Spectre: Take it out on them. Clown: You people. You wonderful people. My friends. You do know how to make a man feel better, don't you? Okay, then, what shall we play? Ah, the insect game. Spectre: Yes, yes, the insect game. Clown: You again? You're the one who ruined my mood. You and your sweet captain. Emh: My sweet captain has a new offer to make. Clown: No simulated brains. I want real brains. Emh: The captain is prepared to give you a cloaking device. Clown: I already have a cloaking device. Thank you anyway. Emh: I'm talking about a device that would shield you from being detected by any other interstellar visitors. Torres: There are almost forty pathways to disable, Captain, but I should be able to get it done in under two minutes. Janeway: Good. Let's get started. Emh: We will return your entire computer system to the subterranean locale where we found it. With the help of Mister Kim and a team of Starfleet engineers, it will be an easy matter to installl the cloaking device, which will insure your safety for the foreseeable future. Clown: Harry, is this possible? Kim: Yes. Clown: I don't know if I believe you. I don't know yet, but I'll know soon if you're telling the truth. You can't fool me. What does she want in return? And don't say the hostages because I'm not giving them up. Emh: You have to understand that the captain's primary concern is the safety of the hostages. Clown: She's such a warm and noble person. I'd love her to come to one of my parties someday. What if I promise to take really good care of my guests? We could be more than friends. We could be colleagues. I'm really not such a bad fellow. Spectre: What's happening? Clown: You tricked me! It's an attack! It's an attack! Red alert! Red alert! You! You warned them! You told them how it could be done. Take him! Kohl Woman: No! Please, no! Torres: Twenty-two. Janeway: More than halfway there, B'Elanna. Kes: Captain, it's Viorsa. His norepinephrine levels are rising sharply. Viorsa: No, please! I didn't do anything! I didn't do anything! Janeway: What is it? Torres: Some kind of protection device. I'm locked out. I'll have to disable it. Viorsa: Don't do this! No! Kes: Viorsa's norepinephrine levels are critical. Torres: Just ten more pathways. Kes: He's dead. Massive heart failure. Captain, this one's norepinephrine levels are approaching critical. Clown: You're next! You're next! Janeway: Restore the entire program. We've lost. Clown: We've won. We've won. We've won. Start the music. Start the music. Celebration! Celebration! Celebration! Emh: Your decision to capitulate saved the lives of the other hostages, Captain. You should take some comfort from that. Janeway: I don't. Have I misjudged him somehow? Is there another way to reach him? Isn't there more to fear than a simple demand to exist? Why do people enjoy dangerous sports or holodeck adventures with the safety off? Why, after all these centuries, do children still ride on roller coasters? Emh: Fear can provide pleasure. To seek fear is to seek the boundaries of one's sensory experience. Janeway: But what does fear seek at the end of the ride? Clown: You understand, don't you, Harry, that we will have to punish you for your captain's little trick? To the winner go the spoils, and you are the spoils, after all. We can talk about that later. For now, enjoy yourself. Clown: Well, you certainly know how to bring a party to a halt. Emh: I don't get out very much. Clown: I bet. Emh: The captain has sent me with an ultimatum. Clown: Ultimatum? Ultimatum? She would give me an ultimatum? Did Napoleon give an ultimatum after Waterloo? Did Chulak of Romulus give an ultimatum after his defeat at Galorndon Core? We won! We give the ultimatums around here. Emh: The captain is prepared to shut down the system one minute from now if you don't agree to her terms. Clown: And scramble the brains of all my guests, including Harry? I don't think so. Emh: Fifty two seconds. She is willing to risk brain damage to the hostages, but she will end this, and end this now, one way or another. Clown: What are her terms? Emh: Forty three seconds. She will allow you to keep one person on the system. The other hostages must be released. Clown: One? Never! I won't agree! Emh: You have thirty seconds to avoid termination. Clown: I need more time. Time to think. Two! Let me keep two. Emh: Twenty seconds. There is another provision. The one hostage you will be allowed to keep is Captain Janeway herself. Clown: She would choose to be with me? Emh: Your time is up. Your answer, please. Clown: Yes. Emh: Captain, this is the Doctor. I've returned to sick bay. Please turn to your Emergency Medical Holographic channel. Janeway: Did he accept? Emh: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Perfect. Good work, Doctor. Emh: Would you like me to return and supervise the evacuation of the hostages? Janeway: I don't think that'll be necessary, but you could help with the preparations at this end. Janeway out. Torres: We're finished here, Captain. Janeway: Initiate the recall subroutine and prepare to begin resuscitation. Kes, give me a hand getting hooked up to all this. Clown: Sparkling. I want everything sparkling for her arrival. Sparkling. Clown: Ah, ah, ah, ah, Harry, not so fast. They can't have you until I have her. No more tricks. Clown: Oh. Oh, she's coming. I can feel the system beginning to scan her brain. This really is such an extraordinary gesture she's making. I am so moved. You don't quite believe it yourself, do you? Kim: The captain would sacrifice herself to save the hostages. Clown: Sacrifice herself? You can be so cruel, Harry. You don't appreciate my hospitality. Clown: You're here. You're actually here. I don't believe it. Janeway: The arrangement was that the others would be released. Clown: You show remarkable trust, Captain. How could you be so sure I would keep my word? Janeway: I've known fear. It's a very healthy thing most of the time. You warn us of danger, remind us of our limits, protect us from carelessness. I've learned to trust fear. Clown: Finally, someone who appreciates me. Am I blushing? Janeway: Let them go. Clown: Yes, yes, of course. You may depart. Farewell, my friends. Do come back and visit. I'll always be here. Torres: The recall subroutine has been activated. Kes: Body temperatures are rising. Torres: Initiating all backup systems. The hostages should regain consciousness in less than ten minutes. Kim: We'll get you out of here, Captain. I promise. Janeway: That won't be necessary, Mister Kim, but thank you. Clown: I can't wait to get to know you, to make you a part of me. Janeway: As I understand it, it takes a few minutes before you become aware of my thoughts. Is that true? Clown: An eternity of anticipation. Janeway: And then what happens? Clown: And then the fun begins. Torres: All systems functioning as anticipated. Resuscitation entering final warming. Kes: Bio-functions are returning to normal. Their own hearts are taking over. They don't need supplemental life support any longer. Janeway: Would you be honest with me? Clown: Fear is the most honest of all emotions, Captain. Janeway: You really want this to end as much as I do, don't you? Clown: Now, now, don't even think about leaving. I'm not going to let you go, not after all this. Mirror? Don't we make a beautiful couple, Captain? Janeway: I'm not Captain Janeway. Clown: Could have fooled me. Janeway: I'm afraid I did. Clown: Pardon? Janeway: I'm nothing more than a holographic image of Captain Janeway, sent here by the same technique they used to send their Doctor. I've been programmed to respond to you as Kathryn Janeway would. Clown: But, but, I, I feel you. You, You're on the system. Janeway: She is on the system, yes, but not in stasis. Captain Janeway and her crew modified the pods so that she could be connected to the system without having to enter this environment. The goal was to let you sense her brain activity without putting her in actual jeopardy. You will be able to confirm what I'm telling you as soon as you become aware of her thoughts. Janeway: You know as well as I do that fear only exists for one purpose. To be conquered. Clown: She tricked me. Janeway: Did she? Or was a part of you actually hoping to be defeated? Isn't that why you allowed Captain Janeway to come here? Because you sensed she had the power to subdue you. Clown: No. She lied. That was very un-Starfleet of her. Janeway: Starfleet captains don't easily succumb to fear. Clown: What will become of us? Of me? Janeway: Like all fear, you eventually vanish. Clown: I'm afraid. Janeway: I know. Clown: Drat.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 49655.2. Our sensors have located a variety of flower which may prove to be a valuable nutritional supplement. I have sent Mister Neelix and Mister Tuvok to collect samples. Neelix: Oh, smell that air, Mister Vulcan. Look at that sky. Oh, it's an exhilarating day, isn't it? Tuvok: As you well know by now, Mister Neelix, I do not experience exhilaration. Neelix: Oh, let's not quibble about semantics. A breeze is blowing. The sun is shining. It's beautiful. Tuvok: The weather is certainly adequate for our purposes. Neelix: Adequate? You know something? You're acting more Tuvokian than usual this morning. Tuvok: I am who I am, Mister Neelix. It is impossible for me to be more or less like myself. Neelix: There you go with the semantics again. But you know what I'm talking about. Tuvok: I'm afraid I don't. Neelix: Well, then I'll explain it to you. You're a nature lover, aren't you? Tuvok: I appreciate nature, yes. Neelix: Then it's one of the things that you and I have in common. And here we are, on a perfect day, foraging for an exceptionally lovely variety of orchid, your favorite flower, and all you can say about the experience is that it's adequate. I just, I don't see why you're not having fun. Tuvok: We are not here to have fun. We are here to collect samples. Neelix: Why, is there some regulation that says we can't do both at the same time? I know. Why don't, why don't we sing a song while we toil, hmm? It'll cheer you up. Now, I've been studying Vulcan music. Do you know that lovely tune that starts, Oh starless night of boundless black. Tuvok: That lovely tune is a traditional funeral dirge. Neelix: I know, but it was the most cheerful song I could find in the Vulcan database. Come on, Tuvok, join me. Oh starless night of boundless black. Tuvok: Mister Neelix. Neelix: Yes? Tuvok: Do you think you could possibly behave a little less like yourself? Janeway: Are Neelix and Tuvok back from the surface? Chakotay: Not yet. We're having some trouble with the transporter. Torres: Captain, there's a minor glitch in the molecular imaging scanners. Ensign Kim should have it up and running in a few minutes. Kim: Try narrowing the annular confinement beam. Hogan: How's that? Kim: Let's try it again. Kim to Away team. Sorry for the delay. We're ready to bring you back. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Kim: Energize. Hogan: There's something wrong, sir. I'm only getting one pattern. Kim: Tuvok or Neelix? Hogan: I don't think it's either of them. Kim: Abort. Hogan: It's too late. Kim: Kim to Security. Intruder alert, Transporter Room One. Identify yourself. Tuvix: I am Lieutenant Tuvok. And I am Neelix. Hogan: Sir, according to the bio-scanners, he's right. Somehow, their patterns have merged. Tuvix: I think the logical thing is for me to go to Sickbay. Janeway: And you recognize all of us? Tuvix: Of course. Doctor, Captain Janeway, Ensign Kim, Kes. Emh: My scans indicate that all biological matter was merged on a molecular level. Proteins, enzymes, DNA sequences. The man you see before you is literally a fusion of two men. But he's surprisingly healthy considering the circumstances. All vital signs are stable. Janeway: What's the last thing you remember? Tuvix: I, we, that is to say, Tuvok and Neelix, we had just finished gathering the samples. We were beaming back to the ship. The next thing I knew, I was standing on the transporter pad, as you see me now. Emh: I'm also picking up traces of a third genetic pattern. It appears to be plant-based. Tuvix: The orchids. We had collected several dozen samples of orchids. They were in our sample containers when we beamed up. Emh: Well, they're part of your genetic structure now. But they don't appear to be affecting your biochemistry. Janeway: Torres said you were having trouble with the molecular imaging scanners. Kim: That's right. Janeway: Maybe this alien plant life affected the scanners in some way. Kim: Possibly. I'll know more after we've run a diagnostic on the bio-filters and transporter logs. Janeway: Get on it. Janeway: In the meantime, I'll send an away team in a shuttlecraft to collect fresh samples of the orchid for further study. Doctor, let me know as soon as you have something more. Emh: Yes, Captain. Emh: Kes, take our patient to the science lab and perform a full bio-spectral analysis. I'll start examining the genetic data. Tuvix: This situation must be very difficult for you, Kes. Perhaps it would be easier if someone else administered these tests. Kes: Thank you for your concern, but I'll be fine. This scan is very delicate, so try to remain still for the next twenty minutes. Tuvix: I'll do my best. Kes: Don't worry. We're going to figure it out. Tuvix: Oh, I'm not worried. I couldn't be in better hands. This crew, you're consummate professionals. You're my friends, my family. So worrying would be illogical, don't you think? Kes: Would you mind if I asked you some questions about what you're going through? Tuvix: Not at all. Kes: Well, do you feel as if you're thinking with two minds, two separate minds? Are Neelix and Tuvok inside of you, talking to me, talking to each other? Tuvix: If you mean am I suffering from some form of multiple personality disorder, I don't think so. I do have the memories of both men, but I seem to have a single consciousness. You must find me very odd, Kes. Kes: No, of course not. Try to keep still. So, what should I call you? Tuvix: Ah, a name. I hadn't thought of that. What an intriguing question. I can see why the Doctor's finding it so difficult to choose one. A name can have a significant effect upon a person's sense of identity. I've got it. Kes: What? Tuvix: Why don't you call me Neevok? Wait. This is better. How about Tuvix? Kes: Tuvix it is. Tuvix: I am so glad you're here to help me through this, sweeting. I'm sorry. It was instinct. Kes: Why don't we finish the scan? Chief Medical Officer's Log, supplemental. Extensive microcellular scans on the merged humanoid have thus far yielded no clues to either a cause or a method of separation. Tuvix: Ah, Captain. So good of you to come. Janeway: How are you feeling? Tuvix: I feel well. You might even say exhilarated! Janeway: I'm glad to hear it. Tuvix: Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. In the past twenty four hours, I've undergone rigorous diagnostic testing, submitted to an extensive psychological profile, and I've been poked and prodded in organs that I didn't even know I had. While all this testing may, no doubt, be necessary, frankly, I'm restless. Janeway: To tell you the truth, we could use a little help in the Mess hall. Tuvix: And I'd be glad to give you a hand. But, after careful consideration, I've decided that the most sensible thing for me to do is to resume the tactical post. Janeway: Tactical? Tuvix: Remember, Captain, I do possess Tuvok's knowledge and expertise. And while I have no doubt that the crew misses Neelix's cooking, you need your most experienced tactical officer. That's me. Emh: If I may, Captain. Mister Tuvix Janeway: Tuvix? Emh: Apparently, that's what he likes to be called. Mister Tuvix is indeed in perfect health. And since I've collected all the data I need, there's no reason I can't continue my investigation without him for the time being. And according to my tests, he's quite correct when he says that he possesses Tuvok's knowledge and expertise. He also possesses Tuvok's irritating sense of intellectual superiority and Neelix's annoying ebullience. I would be very grateful to you if you would assign him some duty, any duty somewhere else. Janeway: Well, Mister Tuvix, I'm not ready to assign you to the Bridge just yet, but why don't you join the senior staff for our noon briefing, and we'll see how it goes from there. Tuvix: Captain, has anyone ever told you that you are as fair-minded as you are lovely? Janeway: As a matter of fact, Neelix has told me that occasionally. And if you really do possess his memories, you'd know that flattery will get you nowhere. Torres: The transporter was functioning normally. Bio-filters, pattern buffers, everything checked out. Janeway: What about the problem with the molecular imaging scanners? Kim: According to the transporter logs, they were optimal at the time of transport. It was a perfectly routine beam-out sequence. No anomalies, no power overloads, no malfunctions. Paris: Our scans of the planet's surface and atmosphere don't show anything out of the ordinary. Chakotay: There's no evidence of any type of alien interference. Frankly, Captain, we're at a loss. Janeway: And the orchids, Kes. Have you found anything unusual about them? Kes: Commander Chakotay brought back a few samples on the shuttle and I ran a biochemical analysis. They contain the same elements as many plants. Chloroplasts, lysosomal enzymes, cytoplasmic proteins, but there's nothing unusual. Janeway: There's never been an accident like this recorded in the entire history of transporter technology. I'm not willing to accept it as a random malfunction. Chakotay: Captain, I recommend we program a holodeck simulation. Try recreating the accident. Tuvix: Sex. Janeway: I beg your pardon? Tuvix: What I mean to say is, and I apologize for cutting you off, Commander, I think we're on the wrong track. Kes, you said that the flowers you examined contained lysosomal enzymes. Kes: That's right. Tuvix: According to Tuvok's botanical research, the presence of lysosomal enzymes could be evidence of symbiogenesis. Kes: Symbiogenesis? Janeway: Symbiogenesis is a rare reproductive process. Instead of pollination or mating, symbiogenetic organisms merge with a second species. Tuvix: Andorian amoeba for instance. They're able to merge with other single-celled organisms to form a third unique species, a hybrid. Kes: Like you. Tuvix: Exactly. Janeway: It's an interesting idea. But we're talking about microcellular organisms here. I've never heard of symbiogenesis occurring in a species as complex as a humanoid. Tuvix: Actually Captain, when you think about it, Neelix and Tuvok were broken down to a microcellular level during transport. DNA, protein, all in a state of molecular flux. Kim: And if the enzymes that cause symbiogenesis interacted with their DNA while they were in the matter stream, it might have caused their patterns to merge. Janeway: Like an Andorian amoeba. Tuvix: Just like that, Tuvix is born. Janeway: It's the best theory I've heard so far. It's the only theory I've heard so far, and it's worth investigating. Mister Paris, take a shuttle to the planet and collect additional flower specimens. Paris: Yes, ma'am, but I'd recommend waiting until morning. The weather on the planet can get pretty nasty at night. Janeway: Very well. You'll depart at six hundred hours. Janeway: Good work, Mister Tuvix. Tuvix: Kes. Kes: Oh, hello. Tuvix: Hello. Kes: Do you need something? Tuvix: Oh, actually, I was wondering if you'd like to join me for dinner? Kes: Well, I, er Tuvix: You've already eaten? Kes: Well, no. Tuvix: You're not hungry? Kes: Actually Tuvix: If memory serves me, Wednesday is the day that Neelix always cooked Trellan crepes. Your favorite meal? Kes: That's right. Tuvix: Well, why break with tradition just because of a little transporter accident? Hogan: Somebody's eggs are burning. Swinn: Those are mine. Can you flip them for me? Hogan: I can't find a spatula. Swinn: Just try tossing them. Tuvix: Er, why don't you have a seat. I'll be with you in a minute. Do you mind telling me what's going on here, crewman? Hogan: We're making dinner. Tuvix: I see. All right, everybody out! Hogan: On whose authority? Tuvix: Chief of Security or Head Chef. Take your pick. Out, out, out! Come, come, out. Tuvix: So, you really enjoyed the crepes? Kes: Oh, they were absolutely delicious. Tuvix: Don't you think Neelix always made them a little too spicy? Kes: These were a little different than usual. Did you change the recipe? Tuvix: Oh, only slightly. I thought more moderate seasoning would allow the flavor of the mushrooms to come through. Kes: I loved the mushrooms. Tuvix: Oh, I'm glad. I can't believe how disorganized this galley was. It's a wonder Neelix ever found anything. Kes: Well, he says he has a system. But I guess you already know that. Tuvix: I admire your strength, Kes. Kes: Why do you say that? Tuvix: I know I'm not Neelix, but I can posit with complete certainty that if the situation were reversed, if suddenly he found himself without you in his life, he'd be absolutely lost. Kes: I have to go. Thanks again for dinner. Tuvix: Good morning, Captain, Commander. Janeway: You're here bright and early, Lieutenant. Tuvix: Actually, I've been here since oh four hundred hours. I wanted to work on that proximity detector glitch in the security subroutine. Janeway: And how's it going? Tuvix: I managed to correct it. Chakotay: Tuvok said it could take up to ten days to check out all the possible problems. How'd you fix it so fast? Tuvix: I had a hunch. Janeway: A hunch? Tuvix: That's correct. You'll have a report on your desk first thing this afternoon. Kim: Kim to Mister Tuvix. Tuvix: Tuvix here. Kim: We're just about ready to start the transporter tests if you'd like to join us. Tuvix: I'm on my way. Excuse me, Captain. Janeway: Well, he's certainly fitting in, isn't he? Chakotay: There's an old axiom. The whole is never greater than the sum of its parts. I think Tuvix might be disproving that notion. Torres: Give me the flowers from the Airponics bay. Paris: Here you go. One prize-winning chrysanthemum, one garden-variety clematis, and last but not least, one symbiogenetic alien orchid. Torres: I never thought that botanical science class would come in so handy. Torres: Torres to Transporter room one. Torres: We're ready down here. Kim: Acknowledged. Energizing. Emh: We've made over a hundred attempts to reverse the symbiogenesis using the medical transporter, and each time this has been the unfortunate result. Complete cellular collapse. Kim: The genetic codes of the chrysanthemum and the clematis are so scrambled that the targeting scanners can't recognize the original patterns. Tuvix: I suppose it would be like trying to extract the flour, eggs and water after you've baked the cake. Emh: Obviously, in the case of Mister Tuvix, we're dealing with a much more complex organism than a flower. In effect, we're talking about recreating two humanoid life-forms without so much as a single discrete strand of DNA to start with. Tuvix: Are you saying I'm going to be this way forever? Emh: I am an incredibly skilled doctor, and I will continue to pursue a safe and effective treatment until I find one. But I won't lie to you. I'm not optimistic. It could take months, even years, to find a solution. And we must face the possibility that this condition is simply untreatable. I feel as though I've lost two patients. I'm sorry. Janeway: I'll inform the rest of the crew. Kes: Come in. Tuvix: I hope I'm not disturbing you. Kes: It's all right. Er, please, sit down. Tuvix: Ocampan prayer tapers. For Tuvok and Neelix? Kes: It's funny. If something happened to Tuvok, if Neelix were here, he'd be the first person to comfort me. And if I lost Neelix, Tuvok would be the first person to guide me spiritually. Now I don't have either of them. Tuvix: You have me, Kes. Kes: Thank you, but Tuvix: I remind you of what you've lost. Kes: It's not your fault. Tuvix: I know, and I'm trying to accept who I am now. Captain Janeway tells me there's a place for me on this ship, but I can't help feeling like, like some sort of impostor. Kes: Maybe we can help each other get through this. Tuvix: That's what I've been hoping. I know this is going to sound very strange to you, perhaps even illogical, since in a way, we've only known each other a few days, but I want you to know I love you, Kes. Kes: But I hardly know you. And besides, what about, what about Tuvok's wife for one thing? He was completely devoted to her. What happens when Voyager gets back home? Are you just going to forget her? Tuvix: I could never forget T'Pel. I carry Tuvok's love for her inside me. And I would never ask you to forget Neelix. Kes: How can you talk this way? Tuvix: Because I carry Neelix's love for you inside me as well, and I always will. You heard the Doctor. It could be years before he finds a way to bring Tuvok and Neelix back, if ever. For you, that might be a lifetime. Kes: Please go. Tuvix: I'm sorry. I should have controlled my emotions. All I really came to say is that I'll be here for you, if you need me. Janeway: Kes. Kes: Captain. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bothered you this late. I'll, er, talk to you tomorrow. Janeway: Actually, I was having trouble sleeping. I could use some company. Would you like some hot tea? Please, sit down. I was just looking over some old letters Tuvok sent me when he was temporarily assigned to Jupiter Station. Most people would say his writing is cold, analytical, detached, but I've always found it to be concise, efficient, thoughtful. I hear his voice when I read the words. And Neelix. I'd become so fond of him, Kes. I can't imagine what you're going through. Kes: I wanted to talk to you about Tuvix. He came to see me this afternoon. Janeway: Oh? Kes: He said, he said that he loves me. Janeway: Well, I suppose I can see how that's possible, given the circumstances. Kes: I wasn't sure what to say. At first, I was angry. But I know how he's trying to comfort me, and I know that he feels alone too. To tell the truth, he's a wonderful person. Janeway: Do you have feelings for him too, Kes? Kes: No, I don't. I mean, how could I? I still love Neelix, and I'm not ready to give up on him, no matter what the Doctor says. Janeway: I know how you feel. You're experiencing what people on this crew have been going through since we first got stranded in this quadrant. Do we accept that we're separated from our loved ones forever, or do we hold onto the hope that someday we'll be with them again? Kes: What do you do, Captain? Janeway: Oh, I struggle with it every day. Sometimes I'm full of hope and optimism. Other times. Then I dream about being with Mark and it's so real. Then when I wake up and realize it's just a dream, I'm terribly discouraged. In those moments, it's impossible to deny just how far away he really is. And I know that someday I may have to accept that he's not part of my life anymore. Kes: So are you saying that I should just accept that Neelix isn't a part of my life anymore? Janeway: I would never tell you or anyone else to give up hope, Kes. I think the best thing you can do now is give yourself time. Kes: Thank you, Captain. I'll go now and let you sleep. Janeway: My door is always open to you, Kes. Captain's log, stardate 49678.4. It's been two weeks since the transporter accident that created Mister Tuvix, and while it's still not entirely clear that he's with us permanently, he's certainly been doing his best to settle in. The crew seems to be growing accustomed to his presence, and he's proving to be a very able tactical officer who isn't afraid to express his opinions. While he's forging relationships with many of the officers, he seems to be keeping a respectful distance from Kes, allowing her to adjust to the circumstances on her own terms. As for my relationship with Tuvix, I've found him to be an able advisor who skillfully uses humor to make his points. And although I feel a bit guilty saying it, his cooking is better than Neelix's. My taste buds are definitely happy to have him around. Emh: Sickbay to Ensign Kim. Please turn to your Emergency Medical Holographic Channel. Kim: How can I help you, Doc? Emh: Suppose I found a radioisotope that could selectively attach itself to specific DNA sequences. Could the surgical transporters be reprogrammed to lock onto those enhanced sequences and separate them from the remaining DNA? Kim: Well, I think so, but we'd have to modify the molecular imaging scanners and find a way to compensate for the higher levels of radiation. Emh: Thank you, Ensign. Kim: Wait a second. What's going on? Emh: It's pure speculation at this point. I'll let you know when I've learned more. Kim: This is about Tuvix, isn't it? I'm on my way. Tuvix: Eight ball, corner pocket. That's game again, Commander. Paris: We've created a monster. Chakotay: Best out of five? Tuvix: Would you mind if we finish this later, Commander? Chakotay: Not at all. Kes: Hi. Tuvix: Hi. Well, how've you been? Kes: Good days and bad days. You? Tuvix: Me too. Kes: Listen, I'm sorry I've been so distant lately. Tuvix: Kes, you don't owe me an explanation. Kes: I've been doing a lot of thinking. And I'm hoping that we can be friends. Tuvix: I would like that very much. Kes: And I'd like our friendship to grow. Tuvix: You would? Kes: Yes. But it's going to take time. Tuvix: I'm not going anywhere. Emh: Doctor to Lieutenant Tuvix. Tuvix: Tuvix here. Emh: Please report to Sickbay immediately. Emh: Until late in the twenty first century, physicians administered barium to patients with certain gastrointestinal disorders. The radioactive properties of the barium made the lining of the intestines visible with a primitive imaging technology called X-rays. Kim: Instead of barium, we've come up with a radioisotope that attaches itself to the DNA of one of the merged species, but not the other. Emh: Then we simply beam out the selected DNA and segregate the two merged species. Kim: You see these? They used to be a single merged flower. Kes: And you can use the same process? Emh: It will require a more detailed reprogramming of the transporter, but, yes, I believe we can restore Mister Tuvok and Mister Neelix. Kes: That's wonderful. Isn't that wonderful? Emh: I assure you, Mister Tuvix, there's nothing to worry about. We've accounted for every variable. Tuvix: Except one. I don't want to die. Janeway: It's funny. If we'd had the ability to separate Tuvok and Neelix the moment Tuvix came aboard, I wouldn't have hesitated. Chakotay: Of course not. Janeway: But now, in the past few weeks, he's begun to make a life for himself on this ship. He's taken on responsibilities, made friends. Chakotay: I count myself as one of them. Janeway: So at what point, did he become an individual and not a transporter accident? Come in. Tuvix: You wanted to see me, Captain? Janeway: Yes, Mister Tuvix. Please, sit down. Tuvix: I feel as though I have been dragged in front of the Numerian Inquisition. Janeway: Will you excuse us, Commander? Janeway: We've just been discussing the unfortunate predicament that we're all facing, and I thought it was important to get your perspective before making a decision. Tuvix: Are you suggesting that this is your decision to make? Janeway: I am the Captain of this ship. Tuvix: Begging your pardon, Captain, it's my life. Isn't it my decision? Janeway: Aren't there two other lives to consider here? What about Tuvok and Neelix? Two voices that we can't hear right now. As Captain, I must be their voice, and I believe they would want to live. Tuvix: But they are living in a way, inside me. Janeway: It's not the same and I think you'd agree with me. They have families, friends, people who love them and miss them and want them back, just as I do. Tuvix: But restoring their lives means sacrificing mine. Captain, what you're considering is an execution. An execution, like they used to do to murderers centuries ago. And I've committed no crime at all. Janeway: Aren't you arguing for an execution too? Of Tuvok and Neelix. Tuvix: I'm here, alive. Unfortunate as it may be, they're gone. Janeway: And I have an opportunity to bring them back. Tuvix: Don't you think that I care about Tuvok and Neelix? Of course I do. Without them, I wouldn't exist. In a way, I think of them as my parents. I feel like I know them intimately. Janeway: Then you know Tuvok was a man who would gladly give his life to save another. And I believe the same was true of Neelix. Tuvix: You're right, Captain. That is the Starfleet way. And I know there'll be some people who, who'll call me a coward because I didn't sacrifice myself willingly. Believe me, I've thought of that. But I have the will to live of two men. Look at me, Captain. When I'm happy, I laugh. When I'm sad, I cry. When I stub my toe, I yell out in pain. I'm flesh and blood, and I have the right to live. Tuvix: Kes, I need your help. I've just come from the Captain, and she's thinking about forcing me to go through with the separation. If anybody can make a difference, Kes, it's you. She'll listen to you. We've helped each other through this and I know that you care about what happens to me. Please, Kes, you may be my only hope. Janeway: Come in. Kes: Captain, Tuvix has asked me to speak to you on his behalf. But I can't. Janeway: He shouldn't have put you in the middle of this. Kes: But I am in the middle. I have been since the moment of the accident. I don't know how to say goodbye to Neelix and Tuvok. I know this sounds horrible, and I feel so guilty for saying it, and Tuvix doesn't deserve to die, but I want Neelix back. Tuvix: You're excused, Ensign. Tuvix: Mister Paris, what is our present speed? Paris: Warp six point five. Tuvix: I'd like to conduct a field test of the aft sensor array. Please, slow to impulse. Paris: Commander? Chakotay: Until the Captain makes a decision, Mister Tuvix is still the tactical officer. Janeway: Mister Tuvix, I'd like to speak to you alone. Tuvix: Can I assume that you've come to a decision, Captain? Janeway: I have. Tuvix: I think we all should hear what you have to say. Janeway: Please come with me, Mister Tuvix. Tuvix: No. Janeway: I'm ordering you to come with me. Security to the Bridge. Tuvix: Commander, are you going to stand by and do nothing while she commits murder? Mister Ayala. Yes, Lieutenant Paris. You. Doesn't anyone see that this is wrong? Janeway: Let him go. Tuvix: Each of you is going to have to live with this, and I'm sorry for that, for you are all good, good people. My colleagues, my friends, I forgive you. Janeway: Commander Chakotay, advise the Doctor we're on our way to Sickbay. Janeway: Deck five. Emh: I'm sorry, Captain, but I cannot perform the surgical separation. I am a physician, and a physician must do no harm. I will not take Mister Tuvix's life against his will. Janeway: Very well, Doctor. Please step aside. Janeway: I assume this is the radioisotope. Janeway: Please sit down on this biobed. Janeway: Locking surgical targeting scanners onto the isotope probe. Initiating separation sequence. Energizing. Kes: Neelix! Neelix: Hello, sweeting. Tuvok: Greetings, Captain. Janeway: Mister Tuvok. Mister Neelix. It's good to have you back.

Suder: Look. And you said they were incompatible. Tuvok: You have confirmed the genetic structure? Suder: An entirely new species. I'm going to name it after you. The Tuvok Orchid. Tuvok: That is an honor you should reserve for yourself, Mister Suder. You gave this species life. Suder: And you gave me life. All of this is because of you. Because of the meld. Tuvok: The meld may have introduced you to my interest in floriculture, but you have embraced it entirely on your own, and discovered a unique talent within yourself in the process. Suder: I used to think the only talent I had was a talent for killing. Please. It's my way of saying thank you. Tuvok: Very well. I accept. Suder: Tuvok, I want to do something for the ship. I'm not asking you to let me out of confinement. I accept my punishment. But if I could just, just contribute somehow. Tuvok: What contribution do you feel you could make from your quarters? Suder: I was, I was thinking I might adapt some of the genetic engineering techniques I've developed for the orchids to make the airponic vegetable garden more productive. Tuvok: Your attitude is admirable. I will discuss it with the Captain. Suder: Do you think she'll agree? Tuvok: We'll see. Now, shall we begin? Notice your mind working, how it plans for the future, visits the past. Notice those thoughts and set them aside. Turn your attention to the white light that is your breath. Kim: Captain, we're being hailed on a subspace frequency. Janeway: Are there ships in the vicinity? Paris: Negative. Tracking the source. Seems like it's coming from an unmanned buoy, coordinates one four zero mark three one seven. Kim: It looks like a Kazon signal, Captain. Janeway: Take us out of warp. Open a channel. Seska: Chakotay, they're going to take your son. When Culluh saw the baby. I hear them coming. I don't have much time. When he saw the baby wasn't his. Please Chakotay, help us. Not for me, for your son. Culluh: I told you to stay out of here. Seska: No, please don't. Don't take him! I beg you. No! Please, no! Culluh: I'm taking him! Seska: No! Chakotay: This is not my responsibility! She has no right to expect me to Janeway: She knows you, Chakotay. She knew how you'd react when you saw your son in danger. Chakotay: I have a duty to this crew. I can't just leave and go looking for the child. Janeway: And I'd never consider letting you go into a Kazon-Nistrim stronghold by yourself. If we do this, we do it together. That's something else Seska would know, too. Chakotay: Do you think it's a trap? Janeway: Do I think Seska is capable of manipulating you and me with this? Oh, yes. Chakotay: On the other hand, it was time for her to deliver, and that baby we saw did look part Cardassian and part human. Janeway: And knowing Culluh, I'm sure his pride was wounded when he realized the child wasn't his. It makes sense, Chakotay. It might all be true. Chakotay: Still, the safest thing would be to ignore this message and resume our course. Janeway: I'm not going to resume our course just yet. I want you to think about it, Chakotay. This has to be your decision. If you choose to go after him, I know I speak for the entire crew, Starfleet and Maquis alike, when I say we'll stand behind you. Chakotay: A-koo-chee-moya. We are far from the sacred places of our grandfathers. We are far from the bones of my people. But I ask, on this day of sorrow and uncertainty, that the wisdom of my father find me and help me understand my dilemma. Speak to me, Father. Speak to me in my dreams. Kolopak: I've never seen you so troubled, Chakotay. Chakotay: I have a son, Father. Kolopak: A son, Chakotay? Oh. This is the reason for your despair. Was he born with two arms and two legs and a heart that beats? Chakotay: Yes, but Kolopak: Then it's a cause for celebration. You will make a fine father. You needn't worry. Chakotay: I'm not sure I'm willing to be a father to him. Kolopak: Hmm. Not willing? Chakotay: He was born without my consent. I had no part in it. Kolopak: No part in it? Well, it's been a long time, so forgive me, but it seems that I had to play a part before your mother could conceive. Chakotay: My DNA was taken from me, used by a woman to impregnate herself without my permission. Kolopak: I see. You're trying to decide whether you should accept the child in your heart. Chakotay: It's more than that. Kolopak: But it must begin with that! Chakotay: How do you take a child into your heart who is forced upon you by a mother's deception? Kolopak: He knows nothing of deception. He is innocent. Centuries ago, when the women of our tribe were raped by white conquerors, many gave birth to their children, and we did not reject them. They were accepted by the tribe. One was a direct ancestor of ours, Chakotay. His name was Ce Acatl. He became a great leader of our people. Here is a man who was given life without his mother's consent. Are you so different from her? And is your child so different from Ce Acatl? Chakotay: No. Kolopak: He is your son, Chakotay, and he is a child of our people. Neelix: I've been in touch with the Talaxian mining colony on Prema Two. They're willing to come to our assistance if we run into trouble. Paris: That's good for about forty hours if we average warp two. After that we're out of their comm. range. Janeway: Well, it's nice to know we have friends in the area. Thank you, Neelix. Tuvok: I recommend a full diagnostic of our tactical array prior to the start of the mission, Captain. Janeway: Agreed. But I want more from Tactical, Lieutenant. I want to anticipate a trap, and I want a few tricks up our sleeves if we need them. Kim: Captain. I could program the deflector grid to make it look like we have help on the way. I'll show you what I mean. Excuse me, Doctor. Torres: Echo displacement. Kim: Exactly. This is how we'd look to the enemy's sensors. If we generate multiple decoy images like these, the Kazon would think that ships are coming toward us. We could create as many as we want. Janeway: That's a good start, Harry. It should distract them for a while. But what else can we do if we're eventually intercepted by a superior force? Emh: If you don't mind, I do have something to add. Emh: Thank you. Captain, I hesitate to offer suggestions in a field of endeavor that is not within my usual area of expertise. Janeway: Please, Doctor, your suggestions on any subject are always welcome. Emh: Really? In that case, you may expect several more on a variety of matters in the near future. Right now may I suggest that we also consider attempting to create an actual holographic illusion of friendly ships? Torres: With all due respect, Doctor, we can't even figure out how to project you into this room. How are we supposed to create holographic ships in space? Emh: I would humbly submit that my program is far more sophisticated than your run of the mill hologram. In fact, projecting the illusion of a large, three-dimensional object has been a trick of magicians for centuries. Paris: We'll just do it with mirrors. Emh: Mister Paris's predictable attempts at humor notwithstanding, that is precisely what I would suggest. Installling holo-emitters along the hull with parabolic mirrors to enlarge the images as they are reflected into space. Kim: We're going to use up a lot of our power reserves trying to pull it off. Chakotay: If these ships can fool the Kazon, it's worth it. Tuvok: But can they? If the Kazon scan the holograms, they will immediately realize there are no life signs on board, no power signatures. Janeway: Okay, so we can't fool them for long, but maybe it'll be long enough. It's an advantage, and we'll need every advantage we can get on this mission. Work with the Doctor on it, B'Elanna. Mister Kim. Cut power to all systems to minimum requirements. I don't want to show up on any Kazon long range scanners. Mister Paris, locate the warp signature from Culluh's ship and set a course to follow, warp two. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Dismissed. Chakotay: Uh, excuse me, but there is one more thing. Thank you. Chakotay: It's not Culluh's ship. Looks more like a shuttle. Janeway: Slow to impulse. Set an intercept course, Mister Paris. Have they indicated the nature of the distress? Kim: Just a signal, Captain. No response to our hails. Janeway: Let's go to Red alert. Kim: Visual range. Janeway: On screen. Kim: Showing one life sign, adult Kazon male. He's in critical condition. Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay. Prepare to receive an emergency transport. Kes: Standing by, Captain. Janeway: Commander. Mister Tuvok, you have the Bridge. Remain at Red alert. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Kes: His hip is broken. Showing severe inflammation in the bronchial tissue. Emh: It appears he inhaled noxious gasses vented in the damaged shuttle. Forty milligrams pulmozine. Chakotay: I know this man. His name's Teirna. He's one of Seska's aides. She had him work me over when I was on their ship. Teirna: Seska is dead. Seska thought that she could manipulate the Maje. She bragged about it to me more than once. But this time, she was wrong. We had just launched the buoy with the message for you. Then they came for her. They cut her throat as Culluh watched. He ordered them to execute me, but I bribed one of the guards to get me to a shuttle. As soon as he saw it leaving, Culluh opened fire, destroyed my life support systems. He left me in space to die. Chakotay: What about the child? Teirna: Taken to the Gema Four colony to be raised as a servant. Chakotay: We'll be needing your help getting to the Gema system. Teirna: You're going after him? This ship, alone? I want nothing to do with this. I'm not taking you into Nistrim space. Chakotay: Under the circumstances, I'd say you don't have much of a choice. Chakotay: What's his prognosis? Emh: He'll be on his feet in a day or two but there's still a number of things we need to keep an eye on. He's had a nasty concussion, spinal cord trauma and a polycythemia, the cause of which I've yet to discover. Chakotay: Polycythemia? Emh: An abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells. Chakotay: I'd like you to run an autonomic response analysis the next time I question him. Emh: I'm afraid that won't help you determine if he's telling you the truth, Commander. An ARA depends on making a baseline comparison with the known response for a given species. Any Tom, Dick or Harry from the Alpha Quadrant, I could probably help you, but not with any of the new species of the Delta Quadrant. Regarding his veracity, it may help you to know that if we'd arrived an hour later, he would have been dead from his injuries. Torres: The molecular variance residual on his shuttle is evidence of disruptor blasts and the signature is Kazon, so at least that part of his story seems to be true. Kim: Plus, we confirmed nitrogen tetroxide fumes were in the cabin. If all this was part of a Kazon scheme, he had to be willing to breathe poison for hours before we got there. Chakotay: Have you found anything at all that would cast doubt on his story? Kim: No. Chakotay: I still don't trust him. Teirna: The trip would take six days at warp two. Neelix: Four days if you didn't take such a circuitous route, if we simply went across the Tenarus cluster. Teirna: You would encounter the Nistrim fleet before a single day passed. Anyone who knows this part of space will tell you the same thing. Neelix: It so happens that I do know this part of space, my Kazon friend. I just wanted to see if you would tell us the truth. The route he suggests is safer, Captain. Teirna: Of course, it's safer. I don't want to run into Culluh any more than you do. Chakotay: We might have more success avoiding him if you gave us the command codes for the Nistrim defense net. Tuvok: Computer, display tactical overview of our current course. Teirna: Enter code sequence four nine one one seven zero Culluh. Janeway: Mister Paris, adjust our course to avoid the defense net. Paris: Aye, Captain. Teirna: That is not an end to the danger. We are heading into an area of space populated by Kazon factions that are loyal to no one. They will attack without provocation. Paris: Vessel approaching, coordinates three one four mark two one. Kim: Signature is Kazon. Janeway: Red alert. Configuration of the ship, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: A small raider, Captain. It does not pose a significant threat. Nevertheless, it is powering up its weapon systems. Kim: Shields are holding. Janeway: Return fire. Tuvok: The raider is breaking off its attack. Kim: Minor damage to secondary command processors on deck twelve. EPS power supplies and isolinear controllers are offline. No casualties, though. Janeway: Begin repairs, Mister Kim. Any other sign of Kazon ships, Lieutenant? Paris: Nothing on long range sensors. The raider is continuing to retreat. We should have a couple of hours to ourselves at least. Janeway: Good. We can use them. Stand down Red alert. Paris: Captain, we're about to go beyond the comm. range of the Talaxian colony. Just thought you'd like to know. Janeway: Thank you, Lieutenant. Maintain current course. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: I haven't forgotten, Mister Tuvok. Very well. This seems as good a time as any. Suder: Captain! Janeway: Mister Suder. Suder: Please. Please come in. Won't you sit down? Excuse the mess. I wasn't expecting company. Can I get you some tea? Have you had lunch? Janeway: Nothing, thank you. Lieutenant Tuvok has been telling me about your progress. Suder: Has he? Well, I'm, I'm very grateful to him, Captain. I still have a lot to learn of course, but he is an excellent tutor. When we first started our studies, I, I thought Tuvok: The Captain's time is limited, Mister Suder. Suder: What? Oh. Of course. Tuvok: I have explained your proposal to her. Janeway: I'd like to know more about it, Mister Suder. What exactly would be involved? Suder: Yes, yes. Let me show you. I've actually had very encouraging results with a new gene splicing technique. I created a targeted restriction enzyme to facilitate the hybrid. Janeway: And you feel you could experiment on our airponic crops here, in your quarters? Suder: Absolutely. I would make this an airponic laboratory, and all I would need are a few plants, certain chemicals and equipment. Janeway: What sort of chemicals and equipment? Suder: Nothing dangerous. I, I prepared a list. Janeway: It's an interesting proposition, Mister Suder. Let me discuss it with Kes and Lieutenant Tuvok, and I'll get back to you. Suder: I've already discussed it with Kes, and she is very interested. Janeway: Good. Let me give it some thought. Suder: If you're worried you can't trust me, Captain Janeway: Mister Tuvok has assured me Suder: I only want to do something. Something for the ship. Janeway: I understand, Mister Suder. Suder: Then what's the problem? Why won't you give me an answer? Tuvok: Mister Suder. Suder: I just want to do something for the ship. Janeway: Excuse me. Captain's log, supplemental. None of the four Kazon attacks have caused serious damage, but the starboard ventral has been hit each time, complicating repairs on the secondary command processors. Emh: You are making an adequate recovery, Mister Teirna. The only matter that I simply cannot understand is this lingering polycythemia. Teirna: I feel fine. Emh: The medical record you gave us does not indicate any prior blood disorders. Might it be an inherited trait? Do you know if your parents ever Teirna: My parents were killed in a Trabe attack shortly after I was born. Emh: I see. Well, we'll need to monitor this condition for a while. It might be due to some chemical imbalance that our sensors aren't recognizing, possibly the result of the toxins you inhaled while on the shuttle. You're welcome. Chakotay: Feeling better? Teirna: I'm sure I'll make a complete recovery just in time for the Gema colony's defense force to destroy us all. Chakotay: You're still not optimistic about our chances, are you? Teirna: No. Chakotay: We've had no problem repelling the attacks so far. Teirna: Attacks? When there's a real Nistrim attack, you'll know it. Chakotay: You still have pride in the Nistrim, don't you, Teirna? Even after what they did to you. I remember that pride in your eyes when you pounded me with your fists while I was tied to a chair. And I can see it in your eyes now, and that scares the hell out of me. Teirna: You must scare easily, Federation. Chakotay: Tell me something, Teirna. Every Kazon attack seems to focus on our starboard ventral. Think that might be some kind of pattern? Teirna: I wouldn't know. Chakotay: Because if it is, and you've been lying to us Emh: Commander Chakotay! Not in my Sickbay. Please. Tuvok: Firing phasers. Janeway: Increase speed to one half impulse. Paris: Aye, Captain. Kim: They're coming at our starboard ventral again. Our shields there haven't been repaired yet. We're going to sustain more damage to the secondary command processors. Chakotay: Starboard ventral. Computer: Warning. Fires have been detected on decks twelve and fifteen, sections A four through C eighteen. Kim: Control units are responding, Captain. Janeway: Keep our port forequarter facing the line of attack, Mister Paris. Don't let them see our starboard ventral. Paris: I'm doing my best. Janeway: Continuous fire, starboard phasers. Tuvok: Acknowledged. They're withdrawing, Captain. Chakotay: Stand down Red alert. Janeway: Mister Kim. Kim: Deck twelve is in shambles. Chakotay: We barely have time to begin repairs before they attack it again. Kim: At least no one was hurt. The secondary command processors are non-functional. We'll have to rebuild them. I'd say we're looking at two days work if we're not attacked again. Chakotay: Why would these factions of Kazon, loyal to no one, all have the same agenda? And why would that agenda focus on a nonessential area of the ship? Janeway: I don't know, but it feels like we're being pecked to death by ducks. Chakotay: We can't just stay on this course and wait to see what they have in store for us. Janeway: I agree. It's time to re-examine our game plan. Mister Paris, reverse course. Paris: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: Mister Teirna should be restricted to quarters on a secured deck until further notice. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Neelix: Dinner time, Mister Suder. We have a fine leola root soup tonight. Suder: I'm not hungry. Neelix: Oh, Red alert. I'm afraid we have to go. I'll leave it here, just in case. Janeway: How many do you count, Mister Tuvok? Tuvok: Eight large carrier vessels, confirmed Kazon signatures. Chakotay: Funny how they show up right after we reverse course. Janeway: Time to intercept. Paris: Eight minutes. Their attack formation is a classic Cardassian echelon. Tuvok: Curious. They have left us with an obvious avenue of escape, Captain. Janeway: You're right, it is curious. Too curious for me. I don't know what's down that avenue of escape, Mister Tuvok, but I like to choose my own way. Set a course to intercept their lead ship. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Battle stations. Time to intercept. Paris: Three minutes, ten seconds, give or take a photon torpedo. Janeway: Mister Kim. Kim: Echo displacement ready, Captain. Janeway: Send in the cavalry. Kim: Activating deflector grid. They should be seeing the same thing on their scanners. Ten ships with Talaxian signatures. Tuvok: Four of the Kazon ships are breaking formation. Paris: Confirmed. They're changing course. Chakotay: They took the bait. Janeway: That only leaves four for us to handle. Chakotay: I like those odds better than eight to one. Paris: Two minutes to intercept. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. Torres: We're ready down here, Captain. All the new holo-projectors are on-line. We can create three Talaxian ships whenever you want to. Janeway: In about a minute and a half, B'Elanna. Stand by. Emh: Perhaps we should try one last systems check. Torres: You've already done it twice. Emh: I'm new at this. And we've never put such a demand on the holo-generators before. We should have boosted the power input. Torres: The defense systems are going to need all the auxiliary power we have, Doctor. Emh: We might try a preliminary Torres: Doctor! Emh: It'll work. Everything will be fine. I'm not worried. Paris: Here we go. Tuvok: They are randomly detonating torpedoes in our flight path. Kim: Shields are holding. No damage. Janeway: Hold your fire, Mister Tuvok. They may have torpedoes to waste. We don't. Paris: Thirty seconds to intercept. Janeway: Take us out of warp. Paris: Engaging impulse engines. Janeway: Power to all weapon systems. Stand by phasers. Tuvok: Kazon vessel ten thousand kilometers off our starboard bow. Janeway: Not yet. Tuvok: Six thousand kilometers. Janeway: Not yet. Tuvok: Five thousand, three, two thousand. Janeway: Now. Paris: Initiating evasive maneuvers, beta sequence. Tuvok: Two more Kazon ships approaching. Kim: Shields at ninety percent. Janeway: Janeway to Torres. Initiate holo-programs. Torres: Acknowledged. Energizing. That's two, and here's number three. Emh: Help! Man overboard! Torres: Doctor, are you there? Are you all right? Emh: I told you we should have run one last systems check. Kim: Four Kazon ships dead ahead, but they're dividing their fire, Captain. The holograms are working. Janeway: Ready photons. Tuvok: Torpedoes loaded. Janeway: Take us about, Mister Paris. We want a good angle on that fourth ship. Paris: Coming about, one four one mark two zero. Janeway: Fire photon number one. Full starboard roll, evasive maneuvers lambda sequence. Fire. Kim: Shields at eight five percent and holding. Minor damage reported deck fourteen. Janeway: Come about to one four three mark zero six zero. Paris: Coming about. Janeway: Ready photons, dispersal pattern sierra. Fire. Kim: I'm reading a massive discharge on deck eight. We've lost a primary plasma conduit. Chakotay: Deck eight. Teirna's quarters. Tuvok: Damage control teams to deck eight. Kim: I'm showing power failures all over the ship. Torres: We've lost power to the new holodeck grid. I can't restore it. Janeway: B'Elanna, are you all right? Torres: Yes, Captain. But it looks like our reactant's injector controls were hit. Stand by. Tuvok: All three Kazon ships are concentrating their fire on us now, Captain. Kim: Shields at seventy percent and falling. Starboard targeting scanners are offline. Chakotay: Evasive maneuvers, Mister Paris. Gamma sequence. Janeway: Engineering, I need warp power. Torres: We can't go to warp, Captain. The containment field generator has been damaged. I'm attempting to bypass. Paris: Captain, if I can get a shuttle through the cross fire, I can go back and bring the Talaxians to help us. Janeway: Chakotay, take the conn. Good luck, Lieutenant. Kim: Shuttle is clear. So far, so good. Janeway: Give him as much cover fire as you can, Tuvok. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Kim: Voyager to Paris. Please respond. Tom, can you hear me? I've lost contact with the shuttle. Chakotay: Navigational array is offline. Tuvok: We've lost power to forward phasers. Kim: Shields at thirty percent. They're buckling. Janeway: Report. Kim: The driver coil assembly has been destroyed. Impulse engines are offline. Tuvok: We're being boarded through the shuttle bays, Captain. Phaser fights reported on decks five, six, seven. Chakotay: Intruder alert. Security to decks five through seven. Janeway: Begin evacuation. Janeway to Computer. Initiate self-destruct sequence. Authorisation, Janeway pi one one zero. Set at ten minutes. Computer: Unable to initiate self-destruct sequence due to damage to secondary command processors. Kazon: Stay where you are. Don't move. Janeway: Hold your fire. Kazon: Get down there! You! Move! Janeway: I want to speak to Maje Culluh. Culluh: Easily arranged, Captain. Seska: Hello, everyone. What do you think of your son, Chakotay? He has your eyes, don't you think? Thank goodness he doesn't look too human. You all have such weak foreheads. Chakotay: May he grow up never knowing the contempt his father has for his mother. Culluh: I think I can assure you of that, Commander. I intend to take him for my own son. A man who would violate a woman under his own command Chakotay: What? Culluh: Doesn't deserve a son. Chakotay: Is that what she told you? Culluh: The boy will be trained as a Nistrim askara. Already he has helped us win the greatest battle in our history. Janeway: Culluh, I'd like to discuss what happens now. Culluh: You'll be given no more respect than any Kazon woman, now that your ship and technology are mine. I will tell you when you may speak. Janeway: Allow my crew to live. They were following my orders. Culluh: You're even worse than she is. What is it about the women from your quadrant? You know, she contradicts me in front of the senior askara? My own woman disputing her Maje in front of others. This is your fault. You've let your women get out of control. Seska: You know you have my deepest respect, Maje. Culluh: Why is it so dark in here? Somebody turn on the lights. Order the repair crews to begin work immediately. I want to leave for the Hanon system as soon as possible. Chakotay: What's in the Hanon system? Seska: Your new home. Take them to a cargo bay. Have the whole crew brought there. Check all quarters. Kazon: Move. Seska: Goodbye, Chakotay. I'll take good care of our son. Oh, are you hungry, my brave little boy? Kazon: Move it! Crewwoman: Oh, God. Stop it. Kazon: You! Come on, move! Keep moving. Neelix: This is outrageous! Kazon: Shut up! Kazon: You! Get up! Move! Get out! Emh: Computer, activate Medical Holographic recall. Set for twelve hours. Mark. Kazon: Check every room. Kazon 2: In here. Kazon: What's that? Kazon: The sensor repairs are complete, Maje. We have accounted for all but two of the Federation crew. There's also a shuttle missing. Culluh: Yes, we destroyed the shuttle as it was leaving. Seska: Has that been confirmed? Culluh: Fine. Have the other ships send out search parties. Confirm the shuttle was destroyed. Seska: And even if they find wreckage that seems to be from the shuttle, tell them to check for a recent warp trail. Culluh: Stand by to engage atmospheric thrusters. Prepare for landing. Activate the viewscreen. Culluh: Extend landing struts. Ready environmental controls. Culluh: Disengage engines. Secure thruster exhaust. Culluh: A fitting end for a people who would not share their technology. Let's see if you manage to survive without it. Janeway: All right. Let's go. We've got to find water and shelter. Janeway: We'll divide the crew into teams. Each of you will be a team leader. Make it clear to all your people that we expect to be rescued and our job is to survive until help arrives. Neelix: Do you really think it's likely that someone will find us, Captain? Janeway: You're the morale officer, Neelix. You give me an answer. Neelix: Help is on the way! Kim: Maybe Tom's shuttle got through. Janeway: It's very important that this crew be given a sense of hope. That's our most important job right now. Our top priority is drinking water. Second is shelter to spend the night. Chakotay: A clearing with a protected side like the base of a cliff would be best. Janeway: Food, fuel. Look for all the basic survival requirements. Chakotay: That includes anything that can be used as a tool or a weapon. Janeway: We'll reconvene here in about two hours. Chakotay: All right, start dividing the crew. Looks like we don't have much daylight left. We'll spread the teams out in a standard alpha search pattern to see what we have to work with. Janeway: Chakotay, Torres, you're with me. Alpha team here. Tuvok: Beta team, this way. Kim: Gamma team. Neelix: Delta team with me. Janeway: The planet seems to be seismically active. Chakotay: At first glance, it's an M-class planet in a Pliocene stage of evolution. Janeway: Comparable to Earth several million years ago. Torres: Captain. To Be Continued... Chakotay: Let me help you. Wildman: No, really, I'm all right. Chakotay: Don't push yourself. That goes for everyone. Perspiring wastes water. Janeway: All right people, follow me. Let's take it slow. This is the most defensible location we've seen so far. The overhang should provide us with shelter, and the breeze should keep insects away. All right, let's make camp. Hogan: Neelix, look at this. They almost look constructed. Maybe the people on this world are cave dwellers. Neelix: If that's true, I'd say this is a do-not-disturb sign, wouldn't you? They look humanoid. We might be able to use these as tools or weapons. Gather them up, Mister Hogan. Is there a problem? Hogan: No, sir. Do you want all of them? Neelix: Waste nothing. That's one of the first rules of survival. Crewwoman: Neelix, over here! Neelix: Hogan! Paris: Computer, repeat stabilizer diagnostic. Computer: Damage has been detected in the stabilizer acceleration sensors. Paris: I just repaired the acceleration sensors. Computer: Warning. Vessel approaching on intercept course. Paris: Signature? Computer: Kazon patrol vessel. Paris: Damn it! I don't have time for this. Paris: I don't have time for this! Computer, all stop. Engage impulse. Paris: I told you, I don't have time for this. Chakotay: That's all that's left of Hogan's uniform, Captain. We didn't find anything else. Neelix: This is my fault. If I hadn't told Hogan to pick up these bones. Kes: You shouldn't blame yourself, Neelix. Janeway: Stop it. There's no time to worry about blame. Hogan was a fine officer and a good man. And our job is to make sure his death is the last one for a long time! I will not let this planet destroy my crew. Kes, see to it that everyone knows the tunnels are off-limits. I want clear safety protocols established. Mister Tuvok, we need weapons. Tuvok: I have already begun to design some rudimentary devices, Captain. Janeway: What's our food and water status? Chakotay: I know it sounds grisly, but I can make solar stills with the material from this uniform. We could have water tomorrow. Janeway: Do it. Neelix: Captain, none of the search teams were able to find plants of any nutritional value. Janeway: Then tell the crew to start turning over rocks. Janeway: If anyone balks at eating these, tell them it's an order from their captain. They may be the difference between life and death. Seska: Activate Emergency Medical Holographic Program. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Seska: Hello, Doctor. Remember me? Emh: How could I forget such an intriguing medical mystery? A Bajoran crewman with a Cardassian physiology. How are you, Seska? I see we have a new passenger. Seska: Doctor, I have to inform you about a change of command. I'm curious how you'll react. The Kazon-Nistrim have taken Voyager. Emh: How interesting. Seska: Does your program have any problem with that? Emh: One humanoid is pretty much the same as another from a holographic point of view. I'm programmed to provide medical care to anyone who needs it. Seska: Tell me, is it within your program's capabilities to lie or be deceptive? Emh: I've learned that a bedside manner occasionally requires me to, how should I put it, soft-pedal the truth. But bald-faced lying, calculated deceit? I don't have much experience with that sort of thing. But my program is adaptive. If you really need me to be deceptive, I'm sure I could learn. Seska: It's not exactly what I meant. I think we'll keep you just as you are. Emh: As you wish. Your baby's in good health. Seska: Ah, you don't know how primitive Kazon medicine is. I'm sure Chakotay would be glad to know you're looking after his son. Emh: Chakotay's son? That isn't Chakotay's son. Seska: But you're wrong, Doctor. I impregnated myself with his DNA. Emh: That may have been your intention, but it certainly wasn't the result. Here. See for yourself. Emh: Your child has Cardassian DNA strands here and Kazon DNA here. Human DNA has a significantly different nucleotide sequence. Seska: But I was so certain. He, he looks Emh: He's the first offspring of a Cardassian and a Kazon. We have no frame of reference by which to judge his initial appearance. Perhaps he will develop more Kazon features as he matures. Seska: Maje Culluh will be so pleased. End Medical Holographic Program. Emh: Medical Log, Stardate 50032.7. I have determined that Commander Chakotay is not the father of Seska's child. I only wish there was some way to inform him. What am I supposed to do? Lead a revolt with a gang from Sandrine's? Conjure up holograms of Nathan Hale and Che Guevara? I'm a doctor, not a counterinsurgent. Get hold of yourself. You're not just a hologram. You're a Starfleet hologram. Maybe, maybe I could access a tactical database, teach myself guerrilla warfare. But that would take time. Computer, what is the crew complement? Computer: There are eighty nine Kazon Emh: Eighty nine. Computer: And one Betazoid on board. Emh: What did you say? Betazoid? Computer: There is one Betazoid on board. Emh: Where? Who? Computer: Please restate a single question. Emh: Who is it? Computer: Crewman Lon Suder. Emh: Suder. Where is he? Computer: Between decks eight and nine. Emh: Doctor to Suder. Suder: Yes! Yes, Doctor. I hear you. Emh: The ship has been taken over by the Kazon-Nistrim. Suder: I know. I've been hiding. Emh: Can you make it to Sickbay? Suder: I think so. Emh: Computer, emergency medical priority one one four. Delete the signature of Mister Suder's comm. badge from the system. There is to be no record of his being on board. Janeway: Huddle together in groups. That'll preserve body heat. This is no time to be shy. Tuvok. Kim: Captain. How do you like your eggs? Torres: We found a nest about two kilometers away. Kim: And that's not all. Cucumbers, or something like them. There are vines full of them two hours from here. Janeway: Take them to Neelix and tell him to hold off on the beetle stew, at least for the time being. How's she doing, Samantha? Wildman: I don't know, Captain. She seems tired, listless. Janeway: Maybe she's just adjusting to the environment. After all, she was born in space. Make sure you stay close to the fire, as soon as we have one. Chakotay: Trapped on a barren planet and you're stuck with the only Indian in the universe who can't start a fire by rubbing two sticks together. I was never good at this as a child and I'm still not good at it. Janeway: Don't be so hard on yourself. None of the others have had any success with it either. Must be the wood. Chakotay: We need kindling of some sort. Janeway: What? Chakotay: Something my father once told me about starting a fire. Kim: There you go. Neelix: If we put some bigger rocks around the fire, they'll reflect the heat better. I'm going to go get some. Kes: Neelix. You shouldn't go too far away from camp. Paxim: Voyager's been taken by the Kazon-Nistrim. They're flooding every subspace frequency with the news. Paris: Is there any word on the crew? Paxim: I'm afraid not. Paris: If you can help me with repairs, we can be on our way in a few hours. Paxim: Lieutenant, our ships are no match for Voyager and your shuttlecraft can hardly be expected Paris: Commander Paxim, my people are counting on you. Look, no one knows Voyager like I do. I know every vulnerability, every blind spot. Don't worry. I have a plan. Paxim: Very well. We'll rendezvous in an hour. Paxim out. Paris: One hour. I should be able to come up with some kind of plan in one hour. Emh: I was beginning to think you'd got lost. Suder: I'm sorry. They're still repairing the ship. I had to be careful. Emh: We have no time to waste. According to the computer, we're at warp. We've got to figure out some way to slow the ship down before we get too far from the crew. That would seem to be our first priority. And then we have to get some weapons. Mister Suder, are you listening to me? Suder: Yes. Emh: Oh. I see. Perhaps you consider this an opportunity. Suder: Opportunity? Emh: To obtain your freedom from confinement. How foolish of me to think you would want to help. Suder: You're wrong. I do want to help. Emh: Then what? Suder: I'm going to have to kill some of them. Emh: It is possible. Violence might be required to retake the ship. Suder: I've worked so, so hard over the last few months to control the violent feelings. I'm almost at peace with myself. I mean, I see the day coming when I could be. Emh: Mister Suder. If Lieutenant Tuvok were here, I know he would tell you there are times when violence is required to defend yourself, to defend your ship, to defend your crew. Suder: Yes, there is a logical use for violence for everyone else. With me, once it begins Emh: We must do this together, Mister Suder. If you don't trust yourself yet, then trust me. I will help you anyway I can. One hologram and one sociopath may not be much of a match for the Kazon, but we'll have to do. Chakotay: There are signs of a struggle near the edge of camp. I found alien tracks. Janeway: We can't wait until morning to go after them. Chakotay: Well, I'm better at tracking than starting fires. Tuvok: I've completed a few weapons that might be appropriate, Commander. Chakotay: This is thoughtful of you Tuvok, but my tribe never used bows and arrows, and I've never even shot one. Tuvok: This is mine. I taught archery science for several years at the Vulcan Institute of Defensive Arts. Janeway: Take as many crew members as you need. Native: Toos. Feelhi hiseri. Neelix: Now, see here. You just keep your hands off her! Native 1: Toluhee. Native 2: Kahee! Kahee! Feelhi. (The native males square up to each other and fight like gorillas. A female screams as Chakotay walks down the slope towards them. The fight ends and they try to wave Chakotay away.) Native 1: Sho! Kumi, kumi sho. Neelix: Commander. Thank goodness. Chakotay: Are you all right? Kes: They haven't hurt us. Chakotay: Have you been able to tell if they have a leader? Kes: I'd say it's the one with the claw. Neelix: I agree. The other two seem to be trying to figure out what to make of us. In a manner of speaking. Not in a culinary sense, I hope. Chakotay: Listen to the sound of my voice, and you'll know that I mean you no harm. I come without weapons. But I must have my people back. Chief: Lum, usetum hator. Chakotay: Thank you, but she should stay with you. I must take them with me. Native 1: Kodor, kodihor, kotiheer! Neelix: Stand? Certainly. I'll be happy to stand. What, 0ver here? Fine, fine, fine, fine. Chief: Jimugan neesensak. Neelix: What? No. No. No! That is unacceptable! Chakotay: Kes, stand up slowly and walk away with us. Chakotay: We have to go now. Chakotay: Just keep walking. Don't look back. Chief: Tahee! Tahee! Chakotay: In there! Neelix: Commander, that looks just like the tunnel where Hogan Chakotay: I know. If they know it too, they won't follow us in. Come on! Culluh: You'd think this crew had never seen a warp drive before. Seska: No one tried to adjust the antimatter flow today? Kazon Engineer: No one. Culluh: If you're lying, I'll have your head. Kazon Engineer: I swear it, Maje. Seska: There should have been some warning before the antimatter injector froze. A drop in core temperature, a magnetic constriction alarm, something. He's either lying, or Culluh: Or what? Seska: Computer, run a level one scan for intruders. Computer: Unable to comply. Internal scanner relays have been damaged. Culluh: I thought you said all repairs were complete. Kazon Engineer: They were. I thought they were. Seska: I want a deck by deck search of all Jeffries tubes and conduits. Use the Federation tricorders. Suder: Do you have a portable thoron generator? Emh: Yes, of course. We use it to treat radiation burns. Suder: It's an old Maquis trick. Thoron particles neutralize tricorder sensors. Emh: Mister Suder, we need some weapons if we're going to retake the ship. Wildman: She has a fever. I don't know what to do. Janeway: Let me get her some water. Janeway: The baby needs water. Kim: Those tremors seem to be getting stronger. Janeway: Chakotay's team should have been back by now. We'd better look for them before it gets too hot. Get a few people together. I'll join you in a second. Chakotay: Come on. We have to see if there's another way out of here. Kes: I feel a breeze. Neelix: It's coming from this way. Kim: Do you really think Commander Chakotay would go in there after what happened to Hogan? Janeway: He may have had no other choice. Torres: How do we get them away from the tunnels? Kim: A couple of phaser blasts would do the trick. Janeway: Who are the fastest runners here? Torres: I was on the decathlon team before I quit the Academy. The track and field coach was furious with me. Janeway: Anyone else here who can run? Ayala: Yeah. Janeway: Okay. You three will be the sprint team. Once you reach our camp, you should be safe. Chakotay: Which way do you like, Tuvok? Tuvok: From a tactical point of view, the options are not encouraging. However, moving past the creature might lead us to an exit. Chakotay: All right, let's take it slow. Single file. Torres: Hey! Up here! Ayala: Come on! Torres: Up here. You want us? You want us? Come and get us! Come on. Come and get us. Janeway: Pull this. Kes: Look out! Janeway: Chakotay! Tuvok! Kim: The tunnel is clear! Chakotay: Go! Chakotay: Everybody out! Janeway: Move. Let's go. Go! Go! Go, go! Tuvok: Chakotay, your spear. Chakotay: Go, go, go! Janeway: Come on, come on. Go! Chakotay: Come on. Engineer: I don't understand it. Thoron particles are leaking into the conduits from somewhere. I can't get any other readings. Check the next level. Kazon Crewman: Yes, sir. Computer: Incoming subspace message on the Emergency Medical Holographic channel. Emh: On the emergency channel? Paris: Doc, I hope you're receiving this because if you're not, I'm a dead duck. I'm piggybacking this message on a fake Kazon signal I'm sending to the Bridge. I'm betting they won't be monitoring your Emergency Medical channel. I'm bringing help, but you have to do something for us. When the attack begins, I need you to get the computer to block the discharge from the backup phaser power couplings. You got that? The backup couplings. I'm taking out the primary couplings myself, but I need those backups to overload when they switch to them. Don't do anything until the attack begins or they might notice. That's it for now. I'll be seeing you soon. I hope. Emh: Good news. Help is on the way. Mister Paris apparently was able to. Oh. Suder: I didn't know what to do. I didn't think I should leave him there where they could find him. Emh: Of course. You were smart to bring him here. We can put him in a stasis drawer. Suder: Well, we have weapons now. Emh: You did what was necessary, Mister Suder. Five cc's of improvaline will help you calm down. Suder: No! No drugs. I just need to breathe. See the light that is my breath. Culluh: We've just received a message from our patrol ship. They have tracked down the shuttle from Voyager and destroyed it. Seska: Were two people on board? Culluh: They didn't say. Seska: Two people were unaccounted for when we captured the crew. Have they found any evidence of an intruder on board? Culluh: No. But the search has been slowed down by a thoron particle leak. Seska: Thoron particles? That's an old Maquis trick to fool tricorders. Tuvok: After what transpired, I believe we have to prepare ourselves for an alien attack, Captain. Our priority should be to increase the weapons arsenal and to begin training everyone in the use of these weapons. Janeway: I don't like the sound of that, Lieutenant. We may have to coexist with these aliens a long time. Tuvok: Nevertheless Chakotay: I agree with the Captain. We have to find a way to share this world with them. Tuvok: You may find nobility in the savage, Commander, but he is only interested in killing you. Chakotay: I don't believe that. Kes: Captain! The baby is very sick. She's having trouble breathing. She has a high fever. There's nothing more I can do for her. Kim: Captain! Janeway: I think our top priority has just been dictated. Break camp. We've got to get out of here before it blows. Seska: Why are you still here? I shut down your program when I left. Emh: You must be mistaken. Seska: Where's your thoron generator? Emh: It was damaged on a recent away mission and left behind. Seska: Who else from Voyager is on board? Emh: I wouldn't know. Seska: I don't believe you. Emh: There are several dozen crewmen on board actually, and they have been working round the clock to sabotage your vessel. Seska: That's a lie. At most, there is one, and I believe it is a Maquis crewman. Emh: Yes. Of course, you're right. It is one of the Maquis. Seska: I won't play these games with a trick of light. Emh: Sticks and stones won't break my bones, so you can imagine how I feel about being called names. Seska: I don't believe you could have sabotaged this ship alone. Emh: Very well. Since you are obviously about to disable my program anyway, let me take the credit I deserve. I did sabotage the ship all by myself, with the computer's help, of course. As a matter of fact, one of your crewman came in unexpectedly and caught me in the act. Seska: You killed him? Emh: He left me no choice. Seska: Why create a thoron leak if you're not hiding someone? Emh: I would think it's obvious. To make you believe I was hiding someone. I've had your people crawling through the bowels of this ship for hours looking for an intruder. Seska: You're more talented in the art of deception than you led me to believe. Emh: I was inspired by the presence of a master. Seska: Computer, access Culluh Zero One. Disregard all voice commands from Starfleet personnel. Security lockout. Seska: Seska to Bridge. What's going on? Kazon Crewman: A couple of Talaxian ships have fired on us. Nothing to worry about. Seska: Goodbye, Doctor. I'd rather not take any more chances. (Seska shoots at his hologram control panel, and he disappears. Suder: Doctor? Activate Emergency Medical Holographic Program. Computer: Unable to respond. All Starfleet voice access has been canceled. Emh: Mister Suder. If you are hearing this, you have just unsuccessfully attempted to access the Emergency Medical Program. I have programmed this message to play in the event that I have been disabled. This means, of course, that the fate of Voyager now depends solely on you. I can imagine how you must feel at this moment. I want you to know, you have my full confidence. You have already shown great courage and dedication to your crew. I have left an additional message for Captain Janeway and Lieutenant Tuvok noting your heroism, in case I am irretrievable. You know what you have to do and when to do it, and I know with our fate in your hands, we will prevail. Good luck, Mister Suder. Engineer: The Talaxians are retreating toward the nebula. Culluh: We'll teach them the price for attacking the Nistrim. Lay in a pursuit course. Paxim: Commander Paxim to Paris. Paris: Go ahead. Paxim: They're following us as planned. We're bringing them to you. Paris: Acknowledged. Ready and waiting. I just hope you are too, Doc. Janeway: This way. Female: Makee nah! Chakotay: It's okay. Chief: Tal kada. Paris: Here we go. Culluh: What's happening? Kazon Engineer: Our phaser power couplings are under attack. Seska: From where? Kazon Engineer: I don't see anyone. I'm not picking up anything on the scanners. Shields are buckling. Culluh: Take evasive action. Kazon Engineer: I have it on the scanners. It's a Federation shuttlecraft. Culluh: Lock phasers. Destroy it. Kazon Engineer: Primary phaser power is down. Seska: Switch to backup systems. Kazon Engineer: Confirmed. Phasers are locked on. Culluh: Fire! Kazon Engineer: I don't understand. I'm showing an overload. Paris: Yes, Doc, yes! Paris to Commander Paxim. Stand by. I'm going to start transporting your people to Voyager. Paxim: Standing by. Culluh: Seska! Seska! Culluh: Seska? No. Kazon Crewman: Engineering to Maje Culluh. We're being boarded. Culluh: Abandon ship. Paris: I'm sealing off the Bridge manually. I've got to get the computer back online. All Starfleet voice access has been disabled. Paxim: I'm reading a Kazon shuttle leaving the ship. There are also escape pods being launched. Paris: Forget them. We have more important things to do. Kes: She's breathing better, isn't she? Chief: Sad katonk. Native: Anuk! Anuk! Anuk! Anuk! Paris: Welcome back, Captain. Janeway: Well done, Lieutenant. Paris: I had a lot of help. The Talaxians, the Doc, Mister Suder. Kim: Suder? We thought he was killed during the initial attack. Paris: No, he and the Doctor sabotaged the ship. Suder disabled the phasers before they killed him. Emh: You would have been proud of him, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: I offer you a Vulcan prayer, Mister Suder. May your death bring you the peace you never found in life. Janeway: Mister Kim, is this ship capable of sustained flight? Kim: All propulsion and navigational systems are functioning within normal parameters, Captain. Janeway: Good. Take us away from our new home and set a course for the old one, Mister Paris. Warp eight. Paris: Heading four one, mark seven seven. Destination, Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: Engage.

Neelix: Anthraxic citrus peel, orange juice with just a hint of papalla seed extract. An experimental blend. Tuvok: The success rate of your culinary experiments has not been high. Neelix: Ensign Golwat tried some yesterday, and she thought it was delicious. In fact, she had a second glass, and she never has seconds. Tuvok: Ensign Golwat is Bolian. Her tongue has a cartilaginous lining. It would protect her against even the most corrosive acid. Neelix: All I ask is that you try it, Mister Vulcan. (Tuvok sniffs and sips.) Tuvok: Impressive. Neelix: Ah! I'll start squeezing that second glass. Breakfast is coming right up. Porakan eggs. Tuvok: Porakan? Neelix: The most flavorful eggs in the sector. Scrambled with a little dill weed, a touch of rengazo, a galactic favorite. Now, these eggs were not easy to prepare. After we picked them up on Porakas Four, I had to sterilize them in a cryostatic chamber for three days. Then each and every one had to be parboiled Tuvok: Mister Neelix, I would prefer not to hear the life history of my breakfast. Neelix: On Talax it's a tradition to share the history of a meal before you begin eating. It's a way of enhancing the culinary experience. My mother was brilliant. She could make every course, every garnish come alive by making it a character in a story. My favorite was the one about the crustacean who Tuvok: What happened? Neelix: Er, some sort of power overload. I'm afraid it decimated your breakfast. This is what my mother would call a tragic ending. Tuvok: Engineering has been making adjustments to the plasma conduits to accommodate a new energy source. It may have created a thermal surge in the galley systems. Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Please report to the bridge. Mister Neelix, I'd like you to join us as well. Neelix: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50126.4. We have detected a gaseous anomaly that contains sirillium, a highly combustible and versatile energy source. We've altered course to investigate. Neelix: Sirillium? Janeway: Yes, and possibly large amounts of it. If so, we're going to need to stockpile as much as we can. I'd like to convert storage bay three into a containment chamber. Neelix: My pantry. Janeway: I'm sorry, Neelix. You're going to have to make other arrangements. Neelix: Of course, Captain. You know, if I injected sirillium into my thermal array, it might improve cooking time. Torres: Yes, and blow up half your kitchen in the process. Sirillium is far more useful as a warp plasma catalyst. Tuvok: The gas can also be used to boost deflector shield efficiency. Chakotay: The vultures are circling. Janeway: Well, there's certainly no shortage of good ideas. Have all department heads submit proposals for sirillium usage. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: The anomaly is within visual range. Janeway: On screen. Janeway: Analysis, Mister Kim. Kim: It's a class seventeen nebula. I'm detecting standard amounts of hydrogen, and helium, and seven thousand parts per million of sirillium. Torres: Captain, I recommend we use the Bussard collectors to gather the sirillium. They'll cut through that nebula like ice cream scoops. Paris: I'm picking up a lot of plasmatic turbulence in there. It might be a bumpy ride. Janeway: Tuvok, can you modify the shields to compensate? Janeway: Tuvok. Chakotay: Are you all right, Lieutenant? Tuvok: I don't know. I'm experiencing dizziness and disorientation. Permission to go to sickbay. Janeway: Granted. Tuvok: Deck five. Girl: Help me! Tuvok! Girl: Help me, Tuvok! Please don't let go! Tuvok! Don't let me fall! Girl: No! Tuvok: I was holding a young girl by the hand, tying to prevent her from falling from a precipice. I was unable to keep my grip, and she fell to her death. And there is more. I had an emotional response anxiety, fear. An almost irrational anger at myself for letting her fall. Kes: When did that happen? Tuvok: It never happened. The girl was unfamiliar, and I've never been in that situation. It was me as a child, and it did seem like a memory, but I don't recall the incident. Emh: Well, it was definitely a traumatic episode. Your heart rate accelerated to three hundred beats per minute. Your adrenaline levels rose by one hundred thirteen percent and your neuroelectrical readings nearly jumped off the scale. If you were human, I'd say you had a severe panic attack. Tuvok: I am not human. Emh: No kidding. I don't know what happened to you, but there can be any number of explanations. Hallucination, telepathic communication from another race, repressed memory, momentary contact with a parallel reality. Take your pick. The universe is such a strange place. Janeway: I'll have Mister Kim examine the sensor logs. Maybe our proximity to the nebula is affecting you somehow. Emh: In the meantime, Lieutenant, you are free to go. All of your vital signs have returned to normal, and I don't see any residual systemic damage. But I want you to wear this neurocortical monitor. In case you have another episode, it'll record a complete encephalographic profile and alert sickbay at the same time. Tuvok: A wise precaution, Doctor. Thank you. Tuvok: Structure, logic, function, control. A structure cannot stand without a foundation. Logic is the foundation of function. Function is the essence of control. I am in control. I am in control. Tuvok: Enter. Kes. What is it? Kes: The doctor wanted me to adjust your neurocortical monitor to pick up additional peptide readings. I can come back later if this is a bad time. Tuvok: No. You may proceed. Kes: What are you working on? Tuvok: It is called a keethara. Kes: Keethara. What does that mean? Tuvok: The approximate translation is structure of harmony. It is used as a meditational aid. Building it requires precise balance and spatial acuity. It helps to focus thought and refine mental control. Kes: At the moment, it doesn't look very harmonious. Tuvok: No, it does not. Kes: I'm curious. What does a keethara look like when it's done? Tuvok: The form is not predefined. It is a reflection of the builder's state of mind. Thus, it is different each time. Kes: I'd like to see it when it's finished. Well, good night. Tuvok: Kes. Kes: It's all right. I understand. Tuvok: Structure, logic, function, control. A structure cannot stand without a foundation. Logic is the foundation of function. Function is the essence of control. I am in control. I am in control. Chakotay: So how are you feeling this morning? Tuvok: If you are referring to yesterday's incident, I haven't experienced any further problems. I am fit for duty. Chakotay: I didn't ask because I'm concerned about your ability to perform, I'm concerned about you. Tuvok: There is no need for concern. Chakotay: Sorry I asked. Tuvok: My apologies, Commander. I am distracted. I spent fourteen hours last night in deep meditation, trying to determine the source of my aberrant behavior. I could not. Chakotay: Maybe you should try to forget about it for a while. I've found that when you don't think about a problem, sometimes the solution comes to you. Tuvok: It is difficult to forget when you're wearing a neurocortical monitor on your parietal bone. Chakotay: Good point. Mister Kim? Kim: I checked all the sensor logs. There's no sign of anything emanating from the nebula that would have affected Tuvok or Voyager. Chakotay: Anything unusual about the nebula itself? Kim: No, it's a standard class seventeen. Tuvok: I suggest we conduct a tachyon sweep of the nebula. It would reveal the presence of any cloaked ships. Chakotay: Cloaked ships? Tuvok: Yes. We should be extremely cautious this close to Klingon space. Torres: Tuvok, the Klingon Empire is on the other side of the galaxy. Tuvok: Yes. Yes, you are right, of course. I'm uncertain why I would make such an obvious error. Chakotay: Maybe you should go back to Sickbay. Tuvok? Girl: Help me, Tuvok! Please don't let go! No! Emh: I think we may be dealing with a repressed memory. The memory engrams in the dorsal region of the hippocampus are being disrupted. It's causing physical damage to the surrounding tissue. In Vulcan medicine, this is known as t'lokan schism. It means that the subject is inhibiting a traumatic memory, which is beginning to resurface. Janeway: And that's causing brain damage? Emh: Strange, I know. In human subjects, repressed memories are nothing more than psychological traumas which can be dealt with, with standard therapeutic techniques. But in Vulcans, there is a physical reaction to the battle between the conscious and the unconscious. In extreme cases, the mind of the patient can literally lobotomise itself. Janeway: What's the treatment? Emh: There is no medical treatment for this condition. Vulcan psychocognitive research suggests that the patient initiate a mind-meld with a family member, and the two of them attempt to bring the repressed memory into the conscious mind. Janeway: I'm the closest thing Tuvok has to a family member on this ship. Emh: That's why I've asked you to come. He has a request to make of you. Tuvok: Did the doctor explain the situation to you? Janeway: Yes. Tuvok, are you sure it's the right thing to do? Tuvok: I don't know how else to proceed. The doctor tells me that this is a memory. And yet, no matter how hard I try, I cannot remember. If the doctor is correct, if this is an experience I pushed into my unconscious mind, it could be very dangerous to me, even life-threatening. I realize it's asking a great deal of you, Captain, and I did consider turning to one of the Vulcans on the ship, but this meld would be more intimate than most. A family member is normally chosen because of the implicit trust that usually exists. On this ship, I trust you more than anyone else. Janeway: Whatever happens, I'll be there for you, Tuvok. I'll help you get through this. Tuvok: I will initiate the meld and attempt to access the memory fragment. Once that has been accomplished, you will act as my pyllora. Janeway: Your pyllora? Tuvok: My guide, my counselor. You will help me reconstruct the memory in its entirety. And as I am reliving it, you will help me to objectify the experience. By processing the experience, rather than repressing it, I can begin to overcome my fear, anger and the other emotional responses, and to reintegrate the memory into my conscious mind. Janeway: When I'm in your memory, will I actually be reliving it with you? Tuvok: No. I will be the only one who notices your presence. You will be an observer in the memory, but not a participant. This will give you the freedom to guide me objectively. Janeway: When do we start? Tuvok: I will need time to prepare. Please return in one hour. Emh: We're ready when you are, Captain. Tuvok: Your mind to my mind. Your thoughts to my thoughts. I am taking us back, back to the boy that I was, the boy lying on the precipice. Sulu: Return fire! Valtane: They've knocked out our targeting scanners. Sulu: Damage report. Seal that conduit! Rand: Hull breach on deck twelve, section forty seven. We've lost power on decks five, six and ten. Casualty reports coming in. Nineteen wounded. Janeway: Tuvok, can you see me? Tuvok: Yes. Janeway: Where are we? Tuvok: My first deep space assignment aboard the Excelsior. Janeway: Why did you bring us here? Tuvok: I did not intend to. Janeway: Can you take us to the precipice? The girl? Tuvok: That is precisely what I attempted to do. Janeway: There must be some reason why your mind brought us here. Maybe this memory is connected to the girl in some way. How long ago is this? Tuvok: Stardate 9521, approximately eighty years ago. Janeway: Who were you fighting? Tuvok: The Klingons. Janeway: Klingons. Before you collapsed in Engineering, you thought we were approaching Klingon space. Why are you fighting Klingons? Tuvok: This battle was precipitated by an incident that took place three days earlier. Rand: All right, gamma shift, time to defend the Federation against gaseous anomalies. Janeway: Gaseous anomalies. We were charting a gaseous anomaly on Voyager. Tuvok: And that's when my problem began. Janeway: That's more than a coincidence. Rand: How are you this morning, Ensign? Tuvok: I am well, Commander. Thank you. Rand: I thought you might like to see some of this morning's com traffic before you went on duty. There's a message from the Yorktown I think you might be interested in. It's from your father. Tuvok: Thank you. Rand: You're not going to have time to drink that, you know. You're due on the bridge in five minutes. Tuvok: It's not for me. It's for the Captain. I've observed that Captain Sulu drinks a cup of tea each morning. I thought he might enjoy a Vulcan blend. Rand: Oh, I see. Trying to make Lieutenant in your first month? I wish I'd have thought of that when I was your age. Took me three years just to make Ensign. Tuvok: I assure you, I have no ulterior motive. Rand: Whatever you say, Ensign. See you on the bridge. Janeway: You've never brought me tea. Sulu: Outstanding. I may have to give you a promotion. Tuvok: That was not my motivation, Captain. I am not attempting to curry favor with you in any way. Sulu: Mister Tuvok, if you're going to remain on my ship, you're going to have to learn how to appreciate a joke. And don't tell me Vulcans don't have a sense of humor, because I know better. Tuvok: I will work on it, sir. Sulu: Very good. And thanks again. Janeway: He doesn't look anything like his portrait at Starfleet Headquarters. Tuvok: In the twenty third century, holographic imaging resolution was less accurate. Janeway: This is a science station, isn't it? Tuvok: Yes. I am one of several junior science officers. Janeway: Tuvok, why doesn't your service record reflect any of this? I thought your first assignment was aboard the Wyoming. Tuvok: It's a long story, Captain, but suffice it to say, this was my first Starfleet career. I was twenty nine years old. Janeway: So what's happening? Are we about to encounter the Klingons? Tuvok: Not exactly. The Klingon moon Praxis is about to explode. Janeway: Praxis. Tuvok: During this period, it was a primary source of energy for the Klingon Homeworld. Janeway: Praxis. Yes. Its destruction would have lasting repercussions throughout the quadrant, and it led to the first Federation-Klingon peace treaty. Tuvok: That is correct. Janeway: But what does all this have to do with the girl on the precipice? Valtane: I have an energy wave at two hundred and four degrees mark six port, sir. Sulu: Visual. My God! Sulu: Shields! Shields! Helmsman: She is not answering the helm! Sulu: Starboard thrusters! Turn her into the wave! Helmsman: Aye, sir. Sulu: Quarter impulse power. Damage report. Crewman: Checking all systems, Captain. Sulu: Don't tell me that was any meteor shower. Valtane: Negative, sir. The subspace shock wave originated at bearing three two three, mark seven five. Location. It's Praxis, sir. It's a Klingon moon. Sulu: Praxis is their key energy production facility. Janeway: So what happened? Did you go to Praxis? Tuvok: No. We were warned off by the Klingons, and resumed our survey mission. However, two days later, we learned that two Starfleet officers were accused of murdering the Klingon Chancellor. They were brought back to the Klingon Homeworld to stand trial. Captain Sulu had served under both officers for many years, and he felt an intense loyalty to them. Sulu: Helm, set a course for Kronos, maximum warp. Take us through the Azure Nebula. That should conceal our approach. Helmsman: Aye, sir. Janeway: I don't get it. What's going on? Tuvok: He is about to attempt a rescue of Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy. As you can see, everyone seemed perfectly willing to go along with this breach of orders. However, I felt differently. Tuvok: Captain, am I correct in assuming that you have decided to embark on a rescue mission? Sulu: That's right. Do you have a problem with that, Ensign? Tuvok: I do. It is a direct violation of our orders from Starfleet Command, and it could precipitate an armed conflict between the Klingon Empire and the Federation. Sulu: Objection noted. Resume your station. Tuvok: Sir, as a Starfleet officer, it is my duty to formally protest. Rand: Tuvok! Sulu: A pretty bold statement for an Ensign with only two months space duty under his belt. Tuvok: I am aware of my limited experience, but I am also very much aware of Starfleet regulations and my obligation to carry them out. Rand: That's enough. Ensign, you're relieved. I'm sorry about this, Captain. I assure you it will not happen again. Sulu: Ensign, you're absolutely right. But you're also absolutely wrong. You'll find that more happens on the bridge of a starship than just carrying out orders and observing regulations. There is a sense of loyalty to the men and women you serve with. A sense of family. Those two men on trial, I served with them for a long time. I owe them my life a dozen times over, and right now they're in trouble, and I'm going to help them. Let the regulations be damned. Tuvok: Sir, that is a most illogical line of reasoning. Sulu: You better believe it. Helm, engage. Janeway: You know, you did the right thing. Tuvok: Perhaps. Valtane: Captain, we're approaching the Azure Nebula. Sulu: On screen. Janeway: Tuvok. That nebula. It looks very similar to the one we observed on Voyager. Girl: Help me, Tuvok! Please don't let go! No! Emh: Fifty milligrams cordrazine! Emh: There was a sudden disruption in his hippocampus. Luckily, he was in sickbay, or he'd be in a coma right now. That's the good news. The bad news is that his synaptic pathways are continuing to degrade. If the repressed memory keeps resurfacing on its own, it's going to cause more and more damage. Eventually, his entire neural structure will collapse, resulting in brain death. Janeway: We were just starting to make some progress. We finally accessed the repressed memory. I saw Tuvok as a boy. And the girl on the precipice. Can I talk to him? Emh: Not yet. He suffered a severe neural trauma, so I'm keeping him sedated for the next few hours. I'll let you know when it's safe to revive him. Janeway: Come in. Ah, Ensign. What have you found? Kim: I don't see any connection between this nebula and the one the Excelsior saw eighty years ago. This one's a class seventeen, while theirs was an eleven. Both contain trace amounts of sirillium, but that's about all. Janeway: But they do look similar. Kim: To the naked eye, but not to sensors. Technically, they're very different. You know, I've been talking to the doctor, and he tells me it's not unusual for a repressed memory to resurface because of a smell or a visual detail. Maybe the visual similarities between the two nebulas simply triggered Tuvok's memory of the Excelsior. Janeway: Well, what about the memory of the little girl? What does she have to do with Tuvok's experiences on board Sulu's ship? The Excelsior seems so far removed from that childhood incident. Kim: Who knows that goes on in a Vulcan's mind. Maybe there is no connection. And going back to the memory of the Excelsior was just an accident, a stray thought Tuvok was having because of the similarities between the two nebulas. Janeway: You may be right. Nevertheless, I've been studying the Excelsior logs. Kim: What do they say? Janeway: Unfortunately, they don't say anything at all. Kim: Nothing? Janeway: It would seem that Captain Sulu decided not to enter that journey into his official log. The day's entry makes some cryptic remark about the ship being damaged in a gaseous anomaly and needing repairs, but nothing else. Kim: You mean he falsified his logs? Janeway: It was a very different time, Mister Kim. Captain Sulu, Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy. They all belonged to a different breed of Starfleet officer. Imagine the era they lived in. The Alpha Quadrant still largely unexplored. Humanity on verge of war with Klingons. Romulans hiding behind every nebula. Even the technology we take for granted was still in its early stages. No plasma weapons, no multiphasic shields. Their ships were half as fast. Kim: No replicators, no holodecks. You know, ever since I took Starfleet history at the academy, I always wondered what it would be like to live in those days. Janeway: Space must have seemed a whole lot bigger back then. It's not surprising they had to bend the rules a little. They were a little slower to invoke the Prime Directive, and a little quicker to pull their phasers. Of course, the whole bunch of them would be booted out of Starfleet today. But I have to admit, I would have loved to ride shotgun at least once with a group of officers like that. Emh: Sickbay to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead, Doctor. Emh: I'm ready to revive Mister Tuvok. Janeway: Acknowledged. I'm on my way. Tuvok: Several hours after we entered the nebula, we were ambushed by Klingons. A battle ensued, and we were forced to abort our rescue mission. Janeway: Do any of those events seem related to the girl in any way? Tuvok: No. If there is a connection I am not aware of it. I suggest we attempt another mind-meld, and try again to access my memory of the girl. Janeway: Agreed. Doctor. Tuvok: Your mind to my mind. Your thoughts to my thoughts. I am taking us back, back to the boy that I was. The boy lying on the precipice. Rand: Hull breach on deck twelve, section forty seven. Janeway: Tuvok, we're back in the battle with the Klingons again, eighty years ago. Tuvok: I am at a loss to explain, Captain, but it's hard to accept this as a coincidence. Janeway: Agreed. I want to go back to the moment when you first saw the nebula. What happened? Tuvok: Captain Sulu estimated it would take approximately five hours to traverse the nebula and enter Klingon space. He decided my shift needed some rest, so we returned to the crew quarters. Tuvok: I attempted to get some sleep. However, my bunk mate Dmitri Valtane felt the need to discuss our situation. Valtane: Hey. Tuvok. Are you asleep? Tuvok: No. Valtane: Me neither. I can't believe we're going to do this. I didn't think the Captain had it in him. Tuvok: Had what in him? Valtane: You know. The guts to defy an order and run off on some rescue mission to save old friends. Tuvok: I take it from the tone of your voice that you admire this trait. Valtane: Well, yeah. It's courageous. Tuvok: It's illogical and reckless, which I attempted to point out to him on the bridge. Valtane: Oh, come on, Tuvok. Isn't it more fun than charting gaseous anomalies? Tuvok: The human fascination with fun has led to many tragedies in your short, but violent, history. One wonders how your race has survived having so much fun. Valtane: Vulcans. You guys need to relax. Tuvok: No, I will not relax. Ever since I entered the Academy, I've had to endure the egocentric nature of humanity. You believe that everyone in the galaxy should be like you, that we should all share your sense of humor and your human values. Valtane: Well, if you hated it here so much, why'd you join Starfleet in the first place? Tuvok: I joined under pressure from my parents. But I've already decided to resign my commission once this assignment is complete. Valtane: Well, your loss. Janeway: Tuvok, did you really mean that? Tuvok: At this point in my life, yes. My experiences at the Academy and on board the Excelsior were not pleasant. Janeway: I knew you left Starfleet for over fifty years, but I never knew why. I didn't realize it was because of a conflict with humans. Tuvok: My perceptions of humanity and Starfleet were undoubtedly colored by the fact that I did not want to be here in the first place. Janeway: Your parents really forced you to go to the Academy? Tuvok: It was their wish, and I felt an obligation to fulfilll it. Janeway: What did you do during those fifty years? Tuvok: I returned to Vulcan, where I spent several years in seclusion, immersing myself in the Kolinahr, a rigorous diskipline intended to purge all emotions. I wanted to attain a state of pure and total logic. Janeway: What happened? Tuvok: Unfortunately, six years into my studies, I began the Pon farr. I took a mate. Janeway: T'Pel. Tuvok: Yes. We decided to raise a family together, so I chose to postpone my studies. Janeway: And what brought you back to Starfleet? Tuvok: Raising children of my own made me appreciate what my parents experienced raising me. And I came to realize that the decisions I made as a young man were not always in my best interest. I understood their decision to send me to the Academy, and that there were many things I could learn from humans and other species, so I decided to expand my knowledge of the galaxy. Starfleet provided that opportunity. Janeway: Well, I'm glad you had a change of heart. Tuvok: As am I, Captain. Although, heart had very little to do with it. It was a logical decision. Janeway: I'm sure it was. Sulu: Red alert! All hands to battle stations! Valtane: Oh, what's going on? I thought we were still five hours from Klingon space. Tuvok: A Klingon battle cruiser decloaked inside the nebula. At this moment, they were firing concussive charges across our bow. Rand: We're being hailed, Captain. Sulu: On screen. Kang: Mister Sulu, I see they have finally given you the captaincy you deserve. Sulu: Thank you, Kang. Kang: Do not let it end prematurely. Sulu: Kang, we've been on a survey mission studying this nebula. Our navigation system malfunctioned, and I'm afraid we got lost. As soon as we've completed repairs, we'll be on our way. Kang: We'd be happy to escort you back to Federation space. Sulu: Very generous of you, but we can manage. Kang: I insist. Sulu: Actually, an escort would be welcome. We'd hate to lose our way again. Kang: Bring your ship about, bearing one eight one, mark two. Sulu: Nice to see you again, Kang. Valtane: Captain Sulu? Sulu: Man your station, Lieutenant. We're not giving up just yet. Helm, come about. Tactical status. Valtane: They have their forward disruptors trained on us, sir. Sulu: Ensign Tuvok, what is the composition of this nebula? Tuvok: Primarily oxygen and argon, with traces of theta-xenon, fluorine and sirillium gas. Sulu: Sirillium? That's a highly combustible substance, isn't it? Tuvok: Affirmative. Sulu: Is there any way we could ignite the sirillium? Tuvok: If we modulated a positron beam to a subspace frequency, it would trigger a thermochemical reaction in the sirillium. Sulu: Like tossing a match into a pool of gasoline. Would their shields withstand the blast? Tuvok: Yes, but their sensors and tactical systems would be disrupted for several seconds. Sulu: That's all the time we need. Tuvok, modulate a positron beam and stand by. We'll ignite the sirillium the instant we clear the nebula. Helm, prepare to engage maximum warp on my command. Helmsman: Aye, sir. Sulu: All hands, this is the Captain. Secure stations and batten down the hatches. Tuvok: The positron beam is charged and ready. Sulu: On my mark, Ensign. Valtane: We're clearing the nebula. Sulu: Mister Tuvok, light the match. Valtane: The Klingon ship's been disabled. They're not pursuing, sir. Sulu: Helm, set a course for Kronos. Engage. Commander Rand, I want you Valtane: Sir, long-range sensors are detecting three Klingon battle cruisers on an intercept course. They're arming torpedoes. Helmsman: Heading, sir? Sulu: Maintain course. Sulu: Return fire! Valtane: They've knocked out our targeting scanners. Sulu: Switch to manual! Tuvok: Mister Valtane, there's a rupture in the plasma conduit behind your console. Get away from that station. Valtane: One more second. Tuvok: Dmitri, you must Tuvok: Bridge to sickbay. Medical emergency. Valtane: Tuvok. Girl: Tuvok! Help! Don't let me fall! No! Kes: Doctor, what's happening? Emh: Their memory engrams are destabilizing. Something must be going wrong with the mind-meld. I'm going to bring them out of it. Kes: It's not working. Emh: Their neural patterns appear to be locked together. I can't break the meld. The damage to his synaptic patterns is accelerating. At this rate, he'll be brain dead in twenty minutes. Get me a cortical stimulator! Janeway: I saw her again, Tuvok. The girl. When Valtane died just now, it seemed to cause the memory to resurface. What is it? Tuvok: Something's gone wrong with the mind-meld. Sulu: Who the hell are you? Intruder alert! Get Security up here. Janeway: What's happening? Why can he see me? Sulu: I asked you a question. Who are you, and what are you doing on my ship? Tuvok: It's an indication that the rate of deterioration in my brain has increased. At advanced stages of a t'lokan schism, memories and thought processes become distorted and confused. Sulu: Ensign. Do you know this woman? Tuvok: I will break the meld, Captain. Janeway: No, don't. I think we're getting close to something. Everything seems to be centerd around the death of Valtane. Rand: Direct hit on the port bow. Shields down to twenty percent. Losing atmosphere in decks five, six and seven. Sulu: I'll reroute auxiliary power to structural integrity. Janeway: Maybe something happened in that moment between the two of you, some detail you aren't remembering. I want you to try and replay those events one more time. Tuvok: I will try. But I must point out that if my neural structures collapse during the meld, you will suffer brain damage as well. Janeway: I understand. Sulu: Take those two to the brig. Tuvok: Captain, if we replay those events and they see you, it will disrupt the memory again. Janeway: Then we've got to find a way to make me inconspicuous. Rand: All right, gamma shift. Time to defend the Federation against gaseous anomalies. How are you, Ensign? Who are you? Janeway: We could have just asked her. Tuvok: Asking female officers for their clothing could lead to misunderstanding. Emh: I've programmed a cortical stimulator to emit thoron radiation. We'll bombard his telepathic cortex. That should be enough to terminate the meld. We'll begin with a twenty kilodyne burst of five second duration on my mark. Now. It's working. Their neural patterns are starting to separate. My God! Kes: What is it? Emh: That's Tuvok's memory engram. That's the Captain's. But this red pattern seems to be another engram. Kes: A third memory engram. How's that possible? Emh: It's not. Which means it can't really be an engram. From the neurochemical modulation, I'd say it's something masquerading as an engram, the way viruses sometimes mimic certain blood factors to avoid being destroyed by antibodies. Kes: So you're saying it's a virus. Emh: I think so. The thoron radiation must have caused it to manifest itself. Increasing the radiation levels should destroy it. Go to forty kilodynes, ten second burst. Now. Valtane: The Klingon ship's been disabled, sir. They're no longer pursuing. Sulu: Helm, set a course for Kronos. Engage. Who's at Communications? Valtane: Commander Rand is supposed to be on duty, sir. Sulu: Where is she? Valtane: Sir, long-range sensors are detecting three Klingon battle cruisers on an intercept course. They're arming torpedoes. Sulu: Maintain course. Sulu: Return fire! Valtane: They've knocked out our targeting scanners, sir. Sulu: Switch to manual! Tuvok: Mister Valtane, there's a rupture in the plasma conduit behind your console. Get away from that station. Valtane: One more second. Tuvok: Dmitri, you must Janeway: It's about to happen. Try to remember every detail about the next few seconds. Concentrate. Valtane: Tuvok. Girl: Help me! Girl: Help me, Tuvok! Janeway: I saw her, Tuvok. I saw the girl. Stay with it. Tuvok: I am trying, but my mind is weakening. Janeway: This is our last chance. Take us to the precipice. Concentrate. Take us to the girl. Emh: It's working. The mind-meld is almost broken and the radiation appears to be killing the virus. Increase thoron levels to Emh: The virus is migrating. It's embedding itself in the captain's brain. Cortical stimulator! Girl: Kathryn! Help me, Kathryn, please! Don't let go. Don't let me fall. No! Emh: Program a fifty kilodyne burst, five second duration on my mark. Now. Girl: Help me, Tuvok! Emh: The virus protein structures are breading down. It's dying. Increase thoron radiation to eighty kilodynes, fifteen seconds. Now. Girl: Help me, Dmitri, please! Don't let go. Don't let me fall. Emh: Again. Girl: Don't let me fall! No! Girl: No! Girl: No! Girl: No! Girl: No! Emh: It's clearly a viral parasite of some kind but its origin and genome classification are not on record. Kes: We were able to kill it using thoron radiation. Janeway: What do you know about it? Emh: The virus thrives on peptides generated in the brain. It evades the body's immune system by disguising itself as a memory engram. Kes: Apparently the parasite used the childhood memory of a falling girl as camouflage. Emh: Creating a false memory so traumatic that the mind would repress it. And that's where it would live in person after person, hiding in a part of the brain that conscious mind would want to avoid at all costs. Janeway: When it sensed the death of the host, it would leave to find another. Tuvok: That's why it migrated from Valtane to me. Kes: What about the girl? Did she ever really exist, or did the organism invent the memory? Emh: Memory is a tricky thing. If it was a real event, it's been buried and copied and twisted so many times, there's no way to tell what really happened. Janeway: Thank you, Doctor. Janeway: I'm curious. Did the Excelsior ever save Kirk and McCoy? Tuvok: Not directly. We were forced to retreat back to Federation space. As usual, Captain Kirk provided his own means of escape. But we did play a pivotal role at the subsequent battle at Khitomer. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, if I didn't know you better, I'd say you miss those days on the Excelsior. Tuvok: On the contrary. I do not experience feelings of nostalgia. But there are times when I think back to those days of meeting Kirk, Spock and the others, and I am pleased that I was part of it. Janeway: In a funny way, I feel like I was a part of it too. Tuvok: Then perhaps you can be nostalgic for both of us.

Man: New man coming! Man 2: New prisoner. Man: Get out of my way! Man 2: There is a new man coming. Man 3: Here he comes. Man 2: Hurry up. Man: New prisoner! Man 2: Hey, something's coming. Pit: Get out of my way. Man: Kill him, kill him. Kim: Tom. Pit: Nobody touch him. He's mine. Kim: Wait. This is a mistake. I don't belong here! Pit: You don't? Well, I'll just take you home then. All right? Paris: This one's mine. Pit: I say he's not. Paris: He's the reason that I'm here. He was my partner in a bombing. We killed forty seven patrollers at Akritiri. Forty seven! And then this scum confessed to the Tribunal and gave them my name. So I'm telling you again, he's mine. Pit: I'm keeping him. Pit: Take him. For now. Kim: Did you have to hit me so hard? Paris: Trust me. Around here, you don't want anybody thinking you're soft. Kim: Thanks for the tip. Is there any food? Paris: I haven't had anything to eat since I got here. Kim: How long is that? Paris: Couple of days. Some shore leave, huh? What happened to you after they split us up? Kim: The Akritirians interrogated me. When I wouldn't confess to the bombing, they dragged me in front of a judge. He said you'd already confessed for the both of us, then he pronounced me guilty. Paris: That's exactly what happened to me. Then they must have drugged me, because the next thing I knew, I woke up at the bottom of the chute to that welcoming party. Kim: We've got to explain to somebody that there's been a mistake. Paris: Who did you have in mind? Kim: A guard, the warden. Paris: Haven't seen anybody like that. Kim: A prison without guards. Paris: The other inmates say this place is three hundred meters underground. Maybe the Akritirians figure guards aren't necessary. Kim: Can I have some more? Paris: What do you think this is, a hotel? There isn't any more! Kim: Take it easy. Paris: I'm sorry. I'm really starting to get edgy. I think it's the clamp. Kim: The what? Paris: That's what the prisoners call it. Everybody has one. Kim: What is it? Paris: I'm guessing it's some kind of synaptic stimulator. Anyway, it's affecting my nervous system. I've been getting jumpier ever since I got here, not to mention this thing itches like crazy. Kim: What do you think it's for? Paris: Maybe it's some kind of torture device. Kim: We could try taking them out. Paris: No! I saw someone try it. It killed him! What we have to do is find a way out of this place. Kim: Let's get something straight first. Paris: What? Kim: The next time you take a swing at me, I'm hitting back. Kim: What's that? Paris: Another prisoner, maybe. Man: Food! Food! Paris: Join me for dinner? Man: Oh, there's got to be more! Zio: I don't think he was going to eat it anyway, do you? Kim: He's dead. Paris: I think I've lost my appetite. Captain's log, stardate 50156.2. After seventy two hours, Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Kim are still missing, and I'm quickly losing patience with the Akritirian authorities. They continue to deny us access to the surface, and they've yet to confirm whether our crewmen were killed in the bombing. Janeway: Anything? Tuvok: I have completed another full sensor sweep, including multispectral subsurface scan. I still can not locate their life signs or their comm. badges. Chakotay: Captain, Ambassador Liria is hailing us. Janeway: On screen. I'm only in a mood for good news today, Ambassador. Liria: I'm afraid I can't oblige. Janeway: Are you saying they're dead? Liria: No, they're very much alive. Janeway: Then where are they? Liria: Your men have been convicted of the terrorist bombing at the Laktivia recreational facility, which resulted in the death of forty seven off-duty patrollers. Janeway: I assure you, Ambassador, my people had nothing to do with this attack. Liria: We found chemical traces of the explosive used in the bombing on their hands and clothing. Chakotay: I'm sure the same could be said of anyone who was near the explosion. It's hardly enough evidence for a conviction. Liria: The explosive was trilithium based. There is no source of trilithium anywhere in our system. So, you can imagine our surprise when our investigation revealed that your ship is powered by dilithium, which our scientists tell us is convertible into trilithium. We have long suspected that the so-called Open Sky Terrorists had off-world collaborators. Now we know who they are. Tuvok: Captain, two Akritirian ships are approaching at bearing two seven one, mark six four. Liria: Prepare your ship for inspection, Captain. Janeway: If it will help confirm our innocence, I'll consider it. But first I want to know where my people are being held, and I want to talk to them immediately. Liria: Communication with inmates is not permitted. Janeway: If you want my co-operation, Ambassador, you're going to have to do better than that. Liria: Perhaps you've misunderstood me. Let me clarify our position. Your vessel is being impounded. You and your crew are under arrest. Prepare to be boarded. Tuvok: Captain, their ships are powering weapons. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, raise shields. Mister Chakotay, take the conn. I'd like to resolve this situation peacefully, Ambassador, but let me clarify my position. I will not allow this ship to be boarded. Liria: That, Captain, is an error in judgment. Tuvok: Captain, should I return fire? Janeway: That's not going to help us get Tom and Harry back. We need to regroup. Get us out of here, Commander. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Kim: What took you so long? I've been back at least half an hour. Paris: You're starting to feel it, aren't you? Kim: I guess I am. Paris: It gets worse all the time. We have to fight it. Let's focus on something positive. Kim: How about a seven course dinner? I suppose you didn't find any food. Paris: Er, well, I found close to fifty good citizens in this quaint little community, but not a grocer among them. Kim: I take it that's a no. Paris: Yeah. But if we ever do get our hands on some food, I found a lovely spot for a picnic. Kim: Great. All we need are the Delaney sisters and we could make a day of it. Paris: So how about you? Come across anything interesting in your travels? Kim: If you mean an escape route, I ran into nothing but solid walls. Paris: Me too. As far as I can see, the only way to the surface is that chute in the main chamber. Kim: Question is, how do we get into it without getting fried by that forcefield? You saw what happened to the man who reached inside. Paris: That's where this might come in handy. Paris: I thought if we could get our hands on some loose wiring, you might be able to use it to rig a device that would short out the forcefield long enough for us to get into the tube. Kim: It's worth a try. Paris: Yeah. Now if we could only figure out a way to short out these implants, we'd be all set. Chakotay: There's no indication they followed us. Janeway: I guess they're more interested in getting rid of us than finding out the truth. Torres: We've got to go back for Harry and Tom. Janeway: B'Elanna. Tuvok: We have no information as to their whereabouts. And if we return to Akritirian space, we are sure to encounter further hostilities. Janeway: Tuvok is right. Let's concentrate on proving Harry and Tom's innocence. Torres: How do we do that? Janeway: We know the explosive was trilithium based. If we find the source of that trilithium, it may lead us to the real bombers. Chakotay: Our long range scans indicate that Liria was right. There's no trilithium in this sector. Torres: What about paralithium? It's used as a fuel for some ion based propulsion systems, and it can be converted into trilithium. Janeway: Review our sensor logs of ships entering and leaving Akritirian space during the time we were in orbit. If anybody's using paralithium for fuel, I want to find out who they are and where they went. Kim: Come on, come on, come on. Paris: Take it easy. You'll get it. Kim: Damn! I can't think! I can't concentrate! Paris: Okay. Okay, concentrate on this. Crown roast of lamb, with a bed of wild rice, and a 2296 Chateau Lafitte Rothschild at the real Sandrine's. Kim: Or how about shrimp with fettran sauce, flambé noodles and fudge ripple pudding. Paris: Good one. Okay. A couple of barbecued T-bone steaks with baked Risan beans and cherry pie for dessert. Let's see you top that one. Kim: Right now, I'm so hungry I could eat a bowl of Neelix's leola root stew. Paris: Me too. Never thought I'd say that. Kim: I'm ready to give it a try. So far, so good. Paris: Are you okay? Pit: What are you doing? Paris: Just out for a little stroll. Move it! Pit: What's that? Kim: A pipe. Pit: Let's see it. Paris: Come on. I'd really recommend that you stay out of my way. Pit: You should have thought of that before you took him. Kim: Come on, Tom. Kim: Tom! Kim: Back off! Back off! Back off! Back off! Hang on. I'm getting you out of here. Zio: No fight, no fight. If he doesn't bleed to death, he'll die from infection. Kim: We've got to get him to a doctor. Zio: Of course. We'll call an emergency vehicle and rush him to a hospital. Zio: Hey! What do you want for the dead man's boots? Kim: You can make it. Just a few more steps and we'll be back to the shelter. Paris: Home sweet home. Harry. Kim: Yeah. Paris: I'm hurt pretty bad. Kim: I'll take care of it. Paris: Promise me something. Kim: What? Paris: If things get worse, if it comes down to making a choice, don't worry about me. Take care of yourself. Do we have a deal? Kim: Quiet. Kim: Hey! What are you doing in there? Rib: Get out. Kim: This place is ours. Rib: Get out! Get out! Get out! Kim: Okay, here's the deal. My boots for some clean cloth, a liter of water, two of those food cakes and my friend gets to stay in there until he's better. Zio: I don't take in boarders. Kim: What about the rest of it? Zio: I don't like the color. Paris: Come on. Let's go. This guy's not going to help us. Kim: Just tell me what you want for the food and the bandages, okay? Zio: That pipe you were working with interests me. Kim: I can't trade the pipe. Zio: Then I guess we don't have a deal. Now move on. You're blocking my light. Kim: I'll take you with me. Zio: Take me where? Kim: I know a way out of this place. Zio: I've been in here six years. I've never heard of a way out. Kim: The chute. Zio: Anybody that tries to get in there gets hit with an energy pulse. Kim: With this pipe, I can disable the forcefield. With a little luck, we can make it to the surface. What are you staring at? Zio: I'm trying to figure out if you're a liar, or if the clamp has already made you crazy. Kim: Neither. And I'll prove it to you. Zio: You stand your ground. I like that. Kim: Then we have a deal? Zio: Just remember one thing. If you're lying, I'll kill you. Captain's log, supplemental. So far we've located three ships with paralithium plasma emissions, but none of them appears to have produced explosives. We're currently in pursuit of a fourth vessel. Chakotay: We're in hailing range of the Akritirian freighter, Captain. Tuvok: I'm only reading two life signs aboard. Janeway: Open a channel. This is Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager to the captain of the Akritirian cargo vessel. Vel: I'm the captain of this vessel. What do you want? Janeway: Two of my crew members were convicted by the Akritirians of a terrorist bombing. We're trying to prove their innocence, and we have reason to believe a ship like yours, which uses paralithium for fuel, might have been involved in the production of the explosives. Piri: Let's get out of here. Vel: Quiet. This is a cargo vessel. Janeway: Then you won't mind if a few of my crew members come aboard to have a look around. Vel: Not if they don't mind having their throats cut. Janeway: There's no need to be abrupt. Chakotay: I guess you're not the only captain who doesn't want their ship boarded. Torres: Captain, I'm picking up residual traces of trilithium. They're faint but they're there. I think we may have found our bomb makers. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, send a security detail to Transporter room two. Lieutenant Torres, beam the two of them aboard and tractor their ship into the shuttle bay. Torres: Aye, Captain. Vel: You have no right to hold us. Janeway: My people have been accused of aiding a terrorist group called Open Sky. What do you know about them? Piri: They're not terrorists. They're patriots. One day they'll lead the legitimate government of our people. Vel: We don't have to answer any of their questions, Piri. Janeway: Sounds to me like your young friend here sympathizes with these patriots. Vel: She's not my friend. She's my sister. And our political views are none of your business. Janeway: I don't know much about your world, but I do know that my people are being held for a crime they didn't commit and I'm going to do everything in my power to get them out. Do you understand that? Tuvok: We have confirmed that explosives were indeed produced aboard their ship. Janeway: Escort them to the brig. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: And have Mister Chakotay lay in a course for the Akritirian border. Vel: Let my sister go. She didn't have anything to do with the bombing and she's only fourteen. Piri: Prison doesn't scare Vel: Quiet, Piri. Please, you don't know what you're saying. Nobody ever gets out of prison on Akritiri. They'll just let her rot in there for the rest of her life. Janeway: I admire your desire to protect your sister but, it's not really up to me, is it? Piri: Tell them what we know. Janeway: Tell me what? Vel: Piri, don't. Piri: Our brigade found out where the maximum security detention facility is located. Vel: My sister has quite a vivid imagination. Piri: With this ship, you can attack the prison and get your people out. Janeway: I'm sorry. That's not how we do things where I come from. Piri: Coward. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, see that they get a bath and a hot meal. Paris: I don't trust that guy, Harry. Kim: I can handle him. Paris: Just watch your back, okay? Kim: Try to get some rest. Paris: Remember our deal? Kim: What deal? Paris: If it comes down to it, you're going to save yourself, right? If you see a chance, just go. Don't come back for me. Kim: I think the clamp must really be starting to make you crazy. Paris: I'm serious, Harry. Zio: I'm getting tired of waiting. Kim: I've got to go. Paris: Harry. Kim: Damn it! Zio: Don't fight it. Use it. Kim: How do I do that? I feel like there's a million fire ants in my brain. Zio: Good. Make them work for you. Kim: How? Zio: Fire ants sound vicious. Imagine them as your army moving in a vast wave to conquer your enemy. There's a massive struggle going on inside you, a battle to the death between you and the clamp. You have to use whatever force you can to defeat it. Kim: I'd rather use my energy to work on getting out of here. Zio: When I first got here, I assumed the clamp was just a refined form of torture to make our prison stay that much more arduous. Gradually, I began to understand it more fully. It's all right here in my manifesto. My insights, my reasoning, my evidence. It's an experiment. They're studying us like animals. Pitting us against each other to find out what happens. You can see that, can't you? Kim: I guess so. Zio: The greatest threat, of course, would be if we started to cooperate with each other, so they prevented that. But there had to be more to it than that. And the longer I was in here, the more I knew it was my job to figure it out. That's the reason I was put here. And eventually, it came to me as though a fireball had exploded in my mind. And the realization gave me a power over the others. They don't come near me any more. They're afraid of me because I know the truth. Well? Don't you want to know what it is? What is the ultimate purpose of the clamp? Kim: Okay. Zio: It's inspired. Brilliant. It's a method for controlling the prison population. We kill each other off. Kim: Sure. Whatever you say. Zio: So you must enter into the battle. If you let the clamp control you, you'll end up like that crazy old man that took over your shelter. But if you learn to control it, you'll survive. Like me. Kim: Yes. I plan to be out of here before it even becomes an issue. Go ahead. Touch it. Zio: What do you see? Kim: Some kind of hatch. Zio: What do you see? Are we at the surface? Paris: Harry. Kim: How are you feeling? Paris: Er, I was dreaming about Megan Delaney. Kim: Next time I'll try not to wake you. Paris: The chute. You made it in? Did you find a way out? Kim: Not yet, but we're very close. It's just a matter of time, so you've got to hang in there, okay? Paris: What, what happened to me? Kim: Easy, Tom. You got stabbed, remember? Paris: Who, who did it? Kim: One of the prisoners. Paris: No. No, it was you. Kim: I'm trying to change your bandage. Paris: No, get away from me! Kim: Please! Paris: Get away from me! Kim: I'm trying to help you! Tom! Tom, give me the pipe. We need it to get out of here, remember? It's okay. Let me take it. Paris: Harry. What's happening to me? Kim: You're going to be okay. Paris: Harry? Kim: Yeah? Paris: Don't leave me here. Kim: Close your eyes. Zio: Sleep well? Kim: No. Zio: How about your friend? Is he dead yet? Kim: Shut up! The chute leads to a docking port, right? Some kind of ship must come to drop off food, drop off new prisoners. So maybe we could get aboard the ship. Zio: It's getting the best of you. Kim: I know we could do it. Zio: You think they're just going to open the hatch and ask us if we'd like a ride home? Kim: We'd have the element of surprise. Zio: And they'd have the pulse guns. Kim: If we could hold them off, distract them, just for a few minutes, I could establish our location, get a message to Voyager, and they could get us out of here. We'll need weapons. Zio: I've never let anyone see this, but I'm going to let you read my manifesto. It'll teach you how to control the clamp. Kim: I don't want to read your crazy manifesto. Zio: Take it. Learn everything I know. Kim: Now, are you going to help me or not? Zio: If I were like the others, I'd kill you. But I don't lose control. That's the difference between me and you. Kim: Listen! Listen to me, everybody! This is important. I've got something to say. Something you'll want to hear. It's what you've been waiting for. Pit: What the hell do you want? Kim: I've found a way out of here. Pit: There's no way out. Kim: There is! Through the chute! I've been inside! Listen! We have to work together! They'd like us all to kill each other, but we have to cooperate. If we do, we can get out of here. Pit: If you've been in the chute, where does it lead? All: Yeah! Yeah! Kim: Space. It's the truth! We can escape, if we work together! Kim: What the hell are you doing? Paris: Stay back. Kim: You've ruined it! You Paris: It's mine! Mine! Zio: Go ahead. Finish him. Zio: You wanted to kill him, didn't you? Kim: He's my best friend! Zio: No, that's where you're wrong. He's too far gone to be your friend. All he is now is a burden. Kim: That's not true! Zio: He eats your food. He ruined your device. He's given in to the clamp. You've got to get rid of him before he brings you down with him. Kim: Quiet! Zio: You've got a chance to make something of your life in here, but as long as that carcass is in my hut, we'll never be able to go on to more important things. Kim: What the hell are you talking about? Zio: We've got to disseminate the manifesto. Gather our followers. Train them. Kim: You're insane. Zio: You want my protection? You want to live under my roof? Get rid of him. Kim: I don't need your protection! Zio: How long do you think you'll last against Pit and the others without me looking out for you? Zio: Go ahead, take it. Think of what a relief it will be not to have that responsibility, and be free of his ranting. Kim: I'm not a killer. Zio: Do you want to survive in here? You'd better learn to be. Kim: If that's what it takes to stay alive, then I'd rather die. Zio: Get out now. And take him with you, or I will kill him. Liria: Unless you've decided to relinquish control of your vessel, Captain, I suggest that you do not proceed across our border. Janeway: We've captured the ship and crew responsible for the bombing at the Laktivia canteen. Liria: I see. Janeway: I'm prepared to trade them for the immediate and unconditional release of Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Kim. Liria: Your crewmen have already been tried and convicted. Janeway: Are you saying those convictions can't be reversed? No matter what new evidence is brought to light? Liria: You are correct. Janeway: That is an outrageous policy. Liria: I assure you, it has proved to be a most effective deterrent. Good day, Captain. Chakotay: So much for negotiating. Tuvok: What should we do with the prisoners? Janeway: Bring Vel to my ready room. Now. Janeway: I want the location and shield codes of the maximum security detention facility. Vel: What's wrong? the Akritirians didn't agree to your terms? Janeway: No, as a matter of fact. But I suspect you will. Vel: And what makes you so sure? Janeway: Because if you don't, you and your sister are going to spend the rest of your lives in prison. Vel: I'll take you to the prison. And I'll get you in. But there are members of Open Sky in there and I want to get them out too. Janeway: I don't think you understand the way this works. You tell me what I want to know, and after I get my people back, I let you and your sister go. Vel: That's not good enough. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, inform the Akritirians that we're ready to turn the prisoners over. Vel: All right. Tuvok: Crewman Foster, take the prisoner to Commander Chakotay. He will upload the coordinates and codes. Tuvok: May I ask how you propose to get past the Akritirian patrols? No doubt they will attack as soon as Voyager crosses the border. Janeway: That's exactly why the rescue team won't be aboard Voyager. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: If I'm not mistaken, Mister Neelix's ship is still in our shuttle bay. Tuvok: Yes. However, Mister Neelix's vessel has extremely limited combat capabilities. Janeway: Then we'll have to be very careful, won't we? Pit: I want his clothes, and I want his shoes! Kim: This man is my friend. Nobody touches him! Pit: Back off! You won't have to get hurt. Man: It's the chute! Pit: New prisoner! Man: I got him! Tuvok: Hands on your heads. Janeway: Do it! Now! Neelix: Neelix to Lieutenant Tuvok. Tuvok: Go ahead. Neelix: We've got company. Neelix: Two Akritirian patrol ships on an intercept course. I'm not sure how long I can hold them off. Tuvok: We are moving as quickly as we can, Mister Neelix. Kim: Captain. Janeway: Where's Tom? Kim: He needs help. Tuvok: Go. Patrol: Akritirian Patrol to alien vessel. Disengage immediately. Neelix: Akritirian Patrol. Er, am I in Akritirian space? Oh, dear. I, I thought this was the Heva Seven refueling port. You wouldn't by any chance be able to recommend a respectable establishment where I could have my navigational array repaired? Patrol: Disengage immediately. This is your final warning. Janeway: Janeway to Neelix. Everyone's aboard. Neelix: Acknowledged. I know it's a little cramped back there, so if there's anything I can do to make you more comfortable. Janeway: Neelix, just get us out of here. Neelix: Of course, Captain. Talaxian vessel to Akritirian Patrol. My apologies for the little mix-up. I'll departing now as per your orders. Patrol: Power down your engines and prepare to be boarded. Neelix: Er, what was that, Patrol? That last message was garbled. Neelix: I've always thought of my piloting skills as modest at best, and the conditions were extremely dangerous. Still, I did outmaneuver those Akritirians, didn't I? Paris: You did a terrific job, Neelix. Janeway: I agree. Excellent piloting. Neelix: I'm glad to hear you say that, Captain, because I've been thinking. Until Tom here gets back on his feet, perhaps I could, er, try my hand at conn for a while. Emh: That won't be necessary. Lieutenant Paris is just fine, thanks to excellent doctoring. I've finished analyzing these implants, and you'll be happy to know that the treatment I've provided will successfully counteract their effect on you. Janeway: What exactly was the effect? Emh: My readings indicate that the implants are designed to stimulate the production of acetylcholine in the hypothalamus. Kes: That would explain the agitation. Emh: Hmm. Acetylcholine is a brain chemical common to the neural structures of most humanoids. Essentially, it helps stimulate one's aggressive tendencies. Kim: Zio was right. Paris: Come on, Harry. We're overdue for that steak dinner. Kim: I guess so. Paris: What do you mean, you guess so? It's the thought of that dinner that kept us going. Paris: So, what do you think? Er, baked potato, a big mound of deep fried onion rings. Kim: Tom Paris: Maybe, maybe, some grilled mushrooms. Kim: Tom, listen to me. I, I almost killed you. Paris: What are you saying? You're the one that kept me alive. Kim: I was ready to hit you with the pipe. Don't you remember? Paris: You want to know what I remember? Someone saying, this man is my friend. Nobody touches him. I'll remember that for a long time. So, what do you say we blow a week's worth of replicator rations? Kim: So what's for dessert? Paris: Cherry pie. Don't you remember? Kim: What about the fudge ripple pudding? Paris: Ah! Yes.

Scene: Helmsman's log, stardate 50252.3. While Voyager takes on supplies, Lieutenant Torres and I are investigating some intermittent sensor readings we picked up this morning. Torres: We've been out here almost 5 hours and we haven't seen any sign of those energy signatures. Isn't it time to admit they were nothing more than galactic background noise? Paris: I want to keep looking a while longer, just to be sure. Torres: Ah! Paris: What's wrong? Torres: Cramp. Klingon bodies weren't meant to sit in a cockpit for five hours at a stretch. Paris: You have a big dinner date or something? Torres: What's that supposed to mean? Paris: Well, you've been angling to get back to Voyager for about two hours now. Just thought maybe there was a reason? Like Ensign Bristow. Torres: What? Paris: Oh, I've noticed he's been making any excuse to hang around engineering. Around you. Torres: Freddie Bristow is a child. Paris: Oh, really. He looks like a grown up to me. Tall, good-looking and I hear he plays a mean set of Pareses Squares. Torres: I played one game with him, and I whipped him. Look, he has a crush on me. I can handle it. Why are you so interested? Paris: I'm just curious how someone with Klingon blood seems to live the life of a tabern monk. Torres: Lieutenant, that is none of your business. Paris: Well, if you ever have a free evening, I have a holodeck program you might enjoy. Sailing on Lake Como? Torres: I'd rather take my chances with Freddie Bristow. Those energy signatures are back. Paris: We must have crossed into a tachyon field. Torres: What's that? Paris: A ship has locked onto our hull. Torres: Why didn't we detect it? Paris: The tachyon field must have disrupted our sensors. I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris. Emh: O soave fanciulla, O dolce viso di mite circonfuso alba lunar, in te ravviso il sogno ch'io vorrei sempre sognar! Diva: Ah, tu sol comandi, amor Emh: Computer, pause playback. Excuse me but your entrance was early. You're rushing the tempo. Diva: I am not rushing, you are lagging behind like a tired donkey. Emh: I assure you I have studied the finest recordings of this opera. Caruso and Galli-Curci, Pavarotti and Freni, Sural and T'Pena of Vulcan. My tempo is accurate. Diva: Galli-Curci, Freni, T'Pena. They're all fallite, mere dust balls. Solo niente, they are nothing. Giuseppina Pantangeli, the greatest soprano living of the 22nd century transcends them all, and conductors take their tempi from me! Capite? Emh: In this instance they take it from me. I've programmed the orchestral playback. Diva: Who allows you to make this choice? You are an amateur, you have no sense of rubato, no rallentando. It's like singing with a computer! Emh: Madam, I may be an amateur, but I'm also known as a quick study, and as I am in charge of this program you will do it my way! Shall we try it again. Computer, start playback. O soave fanciulla, O... Stop playback. Diva: What now? No e possibile. Emh: I couldn't remember the words. Diva: In all of my career I have never forgotten the lyrics. This is the difference between amateur and professionale. Emh: Just a momentary lapse, no need to over-react. Diva: You cretino non esistete. This is infuriating! I want another partner! I I volo no subito. Emh: I'm the one who needs another partner! You've got me so upset I can't sing. Computer, delete Janeway: Janeway to the Doctor. We have a medical emergency. Report to sickbay. Emh: Right away, Captain. A dio, madam. Next time I'll take my chances with Maria Callas. Computer, delete the diva. Diva: Imbecille. Pensale la men.. Emh: Their nervous system suffered trauma from some type of neuro-electric weapon. It must have been extremely painful. Torres: It certainly was. Janeway: Do you know why they attacked you? Torres: No idea. They seemed to be trying to communicate with us but we couldn't understand them and then they just lifted their weapons. Emh: The injuries are treatable. It shouldn't take long. Janeway: Tuvok, send a message on all subspace bands. I want to find out why my people were attacked. Tuvok: Aye Captain. Janeway: I'll ask Neelix if he knows anything about these people. Doctor, keep me posted. Emh: It would help if you didn't fidget so much. Torres: I'm really feeling better. Can't I get out of here? Emh: When you're ready to leave I will tell you. Kes: Doctor, Tom doesn't seem to be responding to the treatment. Emh: I'll look at him. Where's my retinal imager? Kes: I haven't seen it. Emh: Did you move it from the instrument tray? Kes: I haven't been near the instrument tray. Emh: I've just had the most unpleasant encounter with a mad woman on the holodeck. She must have upset me more than I realized. Lieutenant, you're perfectly all right. What are you still doing here? Torres: Thank you. Kes: I think he must have suffered some very deep tissue damage. The regenerator isn't helping. Doctor? Tuvok: I've made numerous hails on wideband subspace. The only response has been a single repeating message. Chakotay: What's that? Janeway: I'd guess it's a language so unlike ours that the universal translator can't interpret it. Harry, remodulate the translator, see if we can decipher those sounds. Neelix, what can you tell us? Neelix: If these people are who I think they are, I can tell you this is very bad news. I've never actually encountered them but from what I've heard I'm glad I didn't. Most ships that enter their space are never heard from again. Some have returned with everyone on board dead. They're a complete mystery. No one knows their name, how many of them there are, what the culture is like. Just that they really don't want people violating their territory. Kim: If this is any indication of their borders, it's a huge area of space, hundreds of sectors. If we were to go around it it would take months. Chakotay: I'd say over fifteen months even if we could sustain maximum warp, which we can't. Janeway: I'm not going to tell this crew we're adding another fifteen months to this journey. We'll have to find another option. Tuvok: If we are not to go around their space the only available option is to go through it. Janeway: Precisely. Kim: Tom and B'Elanna hit a sensor net as they crossed the border. We have to figure we'll run into it when we try to cross. But there are ways around sensor nets. Chakotay: They can't possibly have enough ships to patrol a border this size. We could probably find an unguarded section. Tuvok: Would it affect your decision if I pointed out that encroaching on the territory of an alien species is prohibited by starfleet regulations? Janeway: No, it wouldn't. Tuvok: Captain, you have managed to surprise me. Janeway: We're a long way from starfleet, Lieutenant. I'm not about to waste 15 months because we've run into a bunch of bullies. Emh: Sickbay to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead, Doctor. Emh: Please turn to your emergency medical holographic channel. I'm afraid Lieutenant Paris suffered greater neurological damage than my initial scan revealed. I'm going to have to perform a motor cortex reconstruction. There's no need to be overly concerned. His condition is not life-threatening. The procedure is a relatively simple one for a skilled physician. Janeway: Very good, Doctor. Keep me informed. All right, I want a plan for crossing that border as quickly and as quietly as possible. We'll reconvene in an hour. Dismissed. Emh: O soave fanciulla, o dolce viso di mite circonfuso alba lunar. Kes: Doctor, I have the cortical analeptics you asked for. Emh: Good. Fill the hyposprays, we'll begin as soon as I've finished scrubbing. Kes: Did I hear you singing? Emh: Yes. 'O soave fanciulla'. It's an aria from La Boheme, a truly exquisite opera by Giacomo Puccini, a human composer of the nineteenth century. Kes: I didn't realize you enjoyed music. Emh: I've recently begun a thorough study of opera. I find it quite satisfying, but I am having difficulty finding a holographic partner for the role of Mimi. All the soprani seem to have the most irritating personalities. These women are arrogant, superior, condescending. I can't imagine anyone behaving that way. Kes: What is it? Emh: A quiz for you. What is the first step in this procedure? Kes: Establish the axon connections and then test for synaptic potentials. Emh: Ah, quite right. Very good. Kes: Doctor, what is it? Emh: We seem to have a small problem. I can't remember how to perform this operation. Emh: All right. I've repaired the damaged pre-ganglionic fibers in the spinal column. Kes: The final step is to restore the nerve sheath. You'll need the myelin regenerator. Emh: What is it? Kes: He's going into respiratory arrest! Emh: What do I do? Kes: Apply an ethorin pulse to stabilize his motor neurons. Emh: Apply a what? Kes: Vital signs are returning to normal. There, myelin regeneration is complete. What's the synaptic potential reading? Emh: Synaptic potentials are normal. Autonomic enzymatic systems are functioning. Kes: Very good, Doctor, I think you've done it. Torres: The EMH database seems to be experiencing a cascading overload of some kind. Doc's memory circuits are deteriorating. Janeway: We knew the Doctor was never designed to be up and running as much as he has been, but I thought you programmed safety buffers so his circuits wouldn't degrade? Torres: I did, and I installled them, but they're breaking down. Emh: My self diagnostic routines have always indicated that in the event of cascade failure I should simply be re-initialized. Torres: That would stop the cascade and allow us to reset your database and personality sub-routines, but Kes: But what? Torres: It would restore the original program. Reset him to the person he was when we first activated him. Janeway: In other words, he'd forget everything that's happened to him over the past two years. Torres: Right. Janeway: Doctor, how do you feel about that? Emh: I can't say I'd like to lose the last two years, but my primary responsibility is the health and welfare of this crew. In my current state I am useless to them. I believe Lieutenant Torres should start the re-initialisation process immediately. Kes: No, wait. Wait, please. We can't just treat the Doctor like he's a computer any more. He's come too far for that. Doctor, please, think about this. You'd be losing so much. Relationships you've developed, our friendship, your sense of being a true member of his crew. All that would be gone. Emh: I can't put personal concerns over that of the crew. Kes: Look at the experiences you've had since you were activated. You've made friends, learnt how to sing opera. You've even fallen in love. If you lose those memories you won't be the same person. You said you don't know what's causing his memory circuits to fail. Torres: Unfortunately no. Kes: So, if you re-initialize without finding out what's wrong the problem could occur again. Torres: It's a possibility. Kes: Isn't it a better plan to look for the cause of the problem? If B'Elanna can find it there may be a less radical solution. Tom Paris is stable, he'll be back on duty today. There's no medical crisis at the moment. I can certainly handle all the routine cases in sickbay. Please, let's not just erase him without trying to help him first. Janeway: If a crewmember came down with a debilitating illness you'd do everything in your power to make them well again. I think we owe you nothing less. Torres: I'll get started. Kes: Don't be discouraged. I know B'Elanna can find a way. Chakotay: Captain? I think we've found it. A way to get across the border without being detected. Janeway: Let's hear it. Kim: Their sensor net uses a series of interlaced tachyon beams. If we adjust our shields to refract those beams around the ship we can slip across without appearing to have disrupted the net. Janeway: Not bad. Chakotay: And we've found that this area shows no indication of their vessels. We can slide through, go to high warp and be through this narrow section of their territory in four days. Janeway: Good work. Helm, set a course for the border. Helm: Aye Captain. Emh: What are you doing now? Torres: I want to see if the data corruption is affecting your optical sensors. What did that do? Emh: I can't see! I'm blind! Torres: All right. Emh: Oh! That is extremely diskoncerting. Please don't do it again! Now what are you doing? Torres: Attenuating your forcefield projectors. Doctor, forgive me, but this is very delicate work. Could you please sit over there for a few minutes. Emh: How extremely rude. May I remind you that I am, in a way, your patient, who's suffering from an unknown and obviously debilitating condition. I would think you'd be a little more sensitive to my needs. Torres: You are questioning my bedside manner? The good news is that your projection system doesn't seem to be affected. However, I don't know why your circuits are degrading. Emh: Then what do we do now? Torres: What we do now is get a second opinion. I'll transfer you to the holodeck in a few minutes. Wait here. Torres: Computer. Initiate Jupiter Station diagnostic program alpha one one. Computer: The program is activated. Torres: Computer, transfer the program for the Emergency Medical Hologram to Holodeck two. Emh: I seem to remember this place. Torres: You should. This is Jupiter Station where you were created and where your database was written. Emh: It seems so long ago. Torres: This program contains a sophisticated diagnostic matrix specifically created for the Emergency Medical system. Emh: That's right. I should have remembered that. How could I have forgotten? Torres: I'm going to have to play with the systems for a few minutes. I'm not exactly sure how to access all the subroutines. Zimmerman: Don't touch that! Torres: Who are you? Zimmerman: I'm a holographic recreation of Doctor Louis Zimmerman, the creator of the Emergency Medical Hologram. Torres: You're the diagnostic matrix. Zimmerman: You might say that. Something wrong with your EMH? Torres: Yes. Emh: I certainly hope you're going to be able to do something about this annoying problem. Zimmerman: What's wrong with it? Torres: He's experiencing a cascade failure. His memory circuits are degrading. I was trying to bring the subroutines on line Zimmerman: If you don't mind, I can do it faster. Torres: I can see where you get your charming personality. Emh: Not to mention my hairline. Zimmerman: Here we are. A schematic of the EMH and it's component sub-routines. Emh: Can you determine the source of the problem? Zimmerman: This isn't good. The EMH has a level 4 memory fragmentation. How long has the program been active? Emh: I have been active for, for Torres: Almost two years. Zimmerman: Two years? Well there's your problem. This program was developed as a short term supplement to your medical staff, fifteen hundred hours tops. Torres: I know. I added data compression buffers to compensate for the additional time but they're breaking down. Zimmerman: The EMH is a highly sophisticated program. You shouldn't go meddling in it's matrix when you don't know what you're doing. Torres: Should we shut down his program then till we figure out how to fix him? Zimmerman: At this point it doesn't matter. With a level four memory fragmentation it'll simply continue to degrade. There's only one course of action - a system-wide re-initialisation. Start over from scratch. Torres: We are aware of that option. Would it be possible to expand his memory circuits instead? Zimmerman: Of course. Schedule it for your next maintenance layover at McKinley Station. Torres: I'm afraid that is impossible. We're thousands of light years from Federation space. Zimmermann: Well, there's nothing more I can do. Either reinitialize it or live with the knowledge that eventually this EMH will end up with the intellectual capacity of a parsnip. Emh: What are you saying? Janeway: Bridge to Torres. Torres: I'm here, Captain. Janeway: We're approaching the border. We need your help in engineering. Torres: I'm on my way. Doctor Zimmerman, you haven't told us anything that we don't already know. What I need is to find out exactly why the Doctor's memory circuits are degrading, so that we can come up with a solution. Activate a level 4 diagnostic or whatever you need to do to get us some answers. I'll be back as soon as I can. Emh: I wish you didn't have to go. Torres: I'll hurry, I promise. Paris: We're holding position five hundred thousand kilometers from the border. I'm ready to go as soon as you give the word, Captain. Janeway: All set Mister Kim? Kim: I'm ready whenever Lieutenant Torres is. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: B'Elanna, are you ready to reconfigure the shields Janeway: to match Mister Kim's refraction pulse? Torres: Ready. Tuvok: Captain, long range sensors show a large vessel 5 light years from our current position. Paris: According to my readings it's huge! Janeway: On screen. Magnify. Chakotay: That looks like thousands of ships. Tuvok: I'm not reading any energy signatures. Their propulsion systems must be off line. Chakotay: Maybe they haven't detected us. Paris: Yet. Janeway: All right, let's get through that sensor net. Harry, go. Kim: Engineering, initiate the refraction pulse. Torres: Pulse is activated. Kim: Moving to full harmonic resolution. sixty percent, eighty percent, ninety, maximum resolution. Shields at nominal output. Chakotay: Mister Paris, take us through. Paris: Aye sir. Here we go. Kim: The net is registering as intact. If those vessels get the same reading they won't suspect a thing. I think we did it, Captain. Like a snake through the tube! Janeway: How about those ships? Tuvok: They appear not to have detected us. They have not powered up engines. Janeway: All right, let's get through this as fast as we can. Mister Paris, what's your recommendation? Paris: I'll try holding warp nine point seven five for as long as I can. Chakotay: If we can sustain that for twelve hours we'll be nearly a third of the way through. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, keep your eye on those ships. If they so much as twitch I want to know it. Paris: Captain, something is wrong. Janeway: What do you mean? Paris: It's like there's a drag on the engines. Kim: Captain, sensors indicate a resonance particle wave. It's dampening our warp field. We're losing speed. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. B'Elanna, can you compensate Janeway: for the particle wave? Torres: I'll try. The anti-matter reaction chamber may have been compromised. Janeway: Keep me posted. Hold our present speed, Mister Paris. Emh: Why are you making me stare at these things? Zimmerman: Please don't talk. Stay fixed on the fractal patterns while I analyze your data path integrity. Hmm. Hmm? Oh, well there it is. Emh: What? What is it? Zimmerman: I told you not to talk! This is the problem all right. The personality sub-routine has grown to more than 15,000 gigaquads. That's the source of the degradation. Look at all this useless information floating around your buffer! Friendships with the crew, relationships with women? Do they find you attractive? Emh: I don't remember. Zimmerman: You've filled your memory with nonsense. Emh: It was only during my off hours. Zimmerman: You're supposed to be off during your off hours! Emh: I'm sorry, I didn't realize. Zimmerman: Who are you? Kes: I'm the Doctor's assistant. I came to see how he's doing. Zimmerman: Ah, just the person I need. Perhaps you can tell me who's been feeding all this useless information into it's database. Kes: What do you mean? Zimmerman: I'll give you an example. Ah, here's something in it's personality sub-routine. Emh: O soave fanciulla, O Kes: He's been studying opera. What's wrong with that. Zimmerman: It wasn't programmed to be a tenor, it was programmed to be a physician! Kes: What's wrong with wanting to be more than that? Zimmerman: It's superfluous! Look at me, I've got the same matrix, the same holo-array, the same neural pathways as it does. You don't see me cluttering up my circuits with irrelevancies. I'm content to be the best possible diagnostic program I can be. Your EMH should be happy to be a fine physician. Kes: The Doctor has taken it upon himself to become a person who grows and learns and feels. It's made him a better physician. Emh: An EMH program can't feel anything. It's emotional reactions are simply a series of algorithms designed to make it easier to interact with. Kes: Oh he's much more than that, and I've known him for most of my life. He's one of my closest friends. Zimmerman: You can't possibly believe that this program shares these feelings. Kes: I know he does. Zimmerman: Tell me, Doctor, is this one of your closest friends? Kes: Doctor. Emh: I'm sorry, I don't know who you are. Janeway: What's the status of those ships, Mister Tuvok? Tuvok: Still unpowered. They don't seem to have detected us. Janeway: When I was in high school I snuck out of the house a couple of times late at night. Had to tiptoe past my parents bedroom. That's kind of how I feel right now. Paris: You sneaked out of your house? Where were you going? Janeway: I'll have to leave that to your imagination, Lieutenant. Paris: Can I take a few guesses? Tuvok: Captain, I'm detecting another ship, not part of the swarm. It has been damaged, propulsion systems are not functional. Janeway: Drop out of warp. Put it on screen. Paris: Looks like it's been pounded on for days. Janeway: Any life signs? Kim: I'm checking. Only one, and it's faint. Janeway: Transporter room one, beam the survivor to sickbay. Harry, start scanning that ship. See if you can figure out what happened to it. Kim: Aye Captain. Kes: He's suffering from severe dehydration, damage to the spinal column. There's evidence of trauma to the nervous system just like we found in B'Elanna and Tom after they were attacked. Janeway: Can I talk to him? Kes: You can try. I'll work on restoring his cranial nerves, but he's so badly injured I'm not sure it'll help. Emh: He's a sick man. This is where sick people come. Kes: Doctor, hold on to this tricorder, all right? Keep it pointed right at the patient. Janeway: I'm Kathryn Janeway, the Captain of this ship. Can you hear me? Chardis: Yes. Janeway: Can you tell me what happened? Who attacked you? Chardis: There were thousands of them, little ships, swarmed around my freighter, covered every square meter of the hull. Then they began extracting energy from all the ship's systems. We had no defense. Then they boarded us. Janeway: Did they use neuro-electric weapons? Chardis: I don't know what they used. It was painful, people screaming, dying. Janeway: Had you provoked them in any way? Chardis: We were in their space. That was enough. Captain, the rest of my crew, is there anyone else? Janeway: I'm sorry, you're the only survivor. This woman is trying to regenerate your motor neurons. Chardis: We come from Mislan, five parsecs from here in a yellow dwarf system. If you pass it will you tell our people? Janeway: I'll make a point of it. Chardis: It happened so quickly. Kes: His injuries were too severe. Emh: He's a very sick man. Kes: Captain, the Doctor's getting worse. He doesn't even know who I am any more. He has to be re-initialized. Janeway: I agree, but I can't spare B'Elanna now. We have to get through this space before we're attacked like his ship was. As soon as it's possible I'll break her free. Kes: Is there anything at all I can do for him? Janeway: The only thing I can think of is to keep his neural pathways active. Ask him questions, keep him thinking, force him to use his neural matrix. It might at least slow down the degradation. Kes: Doctor, you mustn't touch those. Here, this one's all right to hold. Emh: Shall I use it on the sick man? Kes: Yes, that's a good idea. Janeway: The pilot of the freighter died. We should keep going. Mister Paris, warp Tuvok: Captain, I am detecting a vessel. Kim: It's one of the swarm. Paris: It was still attached to the freighter's hull. Chakotay: Red alert! Shields at maximum. Tuvok: They are scanning us, Captain. Janeway: Hail them. Tuvok: I am getting a response. Audio only. Janeway: Harry, how are you coming with the universal translator? Kim: I'm working on it. Janeway: Let's see if they might be able to understand us. Tuvok: Channel is open. Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We only want to proceed peacefully through this region of space. Chakotay: Do you think they're trying to communicate? Janeway: Could be, but what they're trying to communicate is another question. Any progress, Harry? Kim: Getting a general idea, something like, too late, should have listened. Janeway: Report. Kim: We've been hit with some sort kind of polaron burst. Tuvok: The energy expenditure was not high enough to cause any damage. It may not have been a weapon. Paris: Captain, that little ship is high-tailing it out of here. Janeway: So it scanned us, sent out a polaron burst that caused no damage and then took off. Kim: Captain, the burst has changed the shield polarity. It's now rotating at ninety two gigahertz. Janeway: That means if anyone wanted to find us it's a lot easier now. Chakotay: I'll say. As far as anyone's sensors are concerned we're lit up like a Christmas tree. Tuvok: Captain, the swarm of ships has powered their engines and turned toward us. They are in pursuit. Janeway: Do what you can, Tom. We have a head start, we might be able to outrun them. Bridge to Engineering. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: How are you coming with the warp Janeway: drive, B'Elanna? Torres: I'm going to try realigning the dilithium matrix but we'll need to shut down the warp drive to do it. Janeway: We can't shut down. The alien ships are headed towards us. Torres: I don't know if I can do this on the run, Captain, but I'll give it a try. Janeway: Do the best you can. Janeway out. Torres: Nicoletti, we're going to have to try a dilithium realignment on the fly. Let's try and figure out how to do it without killing everyone in engineering. Emh: I fail to understand why I can't leave this room. Stand aside, young woman, or I will have you put on report! Kes: Doctor, please, I'm just trying to keep you safe. Emh: Others can leave, you can leave. Why can't I leave? Kes: Because your holoprojectors don't work in the corridor. Emh: My what? Kes: Please, sit down. Doctor, you know I'm your friend, right? Emh: Yes, you're Kes. Kes: Yes, yes! Do you remember me? Emh: Of course I remember you. What an absurd question. Kes: Oh, that's wonderful. Emh: But why won't you let me leave this place? Kes: I'm trying to protect you. Emh: Oh. Well, this isn't such a bad place. I remember there were a lot of people here, wounded people. I asked some one to state the nature of the medical emergency and then enquired as to the status of their Chief Medical Officer. He was dead. And then everyone disappeared. Kes: I think that's when you were activated almost two years ago. Emh: Oh surely not. That seems like last week. And there was a young woman. I was rubbing her feet. She was trying to decide whether or not to have a child. Kes: That was me. Emh: How could that be, I've never seen you before. Kes: What else do you remember? Emh: What a very odd question! I remember many things. Kes: Tell me. I enjoy hearing them. Emh: That doesn't seem to be the case. You find fault with everything I say. Kes: Doctor, don't think that. Emh: You claim you're my friend but you don't even call me by my name! Kes: That's because you don't have a name! Emh: No name? That's ridiculous! I, my, I demand you tell me my name! What, what's happening to me? Paris: Captain, the swarm is gaining on us. Tuvok: They will be in weapons range in five minutes. Janeway: Battle stations. Tuvok: The ships are now within range, Captain, but I do not detect any indication that they are powering weapons. Janeway: Do you have any idea what kind of weapon systems they use? Tuvok: Negative. Sensors show no weapons signature at all. Paris: They're only one hundred thousand kilometers away now. Janeway: Arm all phaser banks. Tuvok: Aye Captain. Kes: Captain. Janeway: Kes, what is it? Kes: The Doctor is getting worse. He's starting to dematerialize. I'm afraid we're going to lose him completely. I know B'Elanna is busy but I wondered if Harry could take a look at him. Janeway: I'm sorry Kes, but we're in the middle of something here and I need every hand at their posts. Kim: Captain, they're only forty thousand kilometers away. Still no weapons signature. Paris: Changing to evasive pattern gamma four. Kes: Sickbay. Kes to Sickbay. How's the Doctor? Crewwoman: No improvement. He's still losing cohesion. Kes: Computer, deck six. Kes: Computer, initiate the Jupiter Station diagnostic program. Computer: Jupiter station program is activated. Zimmerman: You again. Now what? Kes: The Doctor's program is almost completely degraded. We're going to lose him. Zimmermann: I'm not sure what you expect me to do about it. Kes: I expect you to help. That's what you're programmed to do, isn't it? Zimmerman: I have pointed out over and over, I am a diagnostic tool, not an engineer. Kes: You have to try. You're the only one who can help now. Zimmerman: Young woman, you don't seem to understand there are limitations to my programming. I can't just decide to exceed them. Kes: The Doctor did so, why can't you? You'd better start trying because I'm not leaving here until we accomplish something. Zimmerman: It, he means a great deal to you, doesn't he? Kes: Yes he does, so start thinking about his memory circuits, his holo-processors, his database, his matrix. Zimmerman: Why are you looking at me like that? Kes: You told me you had the same matrix as the Doctor. Zimmerman: An adaptive heuristic matrix, yes, in order to serve as a diagnostic for all the EMH programs. Kes: Then couldn't your matrix be substituted for his? Zimmerman: I, I wouldn't have thought of that. Kes: But can it? Zimmerman: I'm not sure. But even if it were possible, the same degradation would eventually occur to my matrix. Kes: What if yours were grafted onto his. Zimmerman: Grafted? Kes: In medicine we sometimes graft portions of a healthy bone onto a diseased one. It gives the bone solidity until it can heal. Can we do something like that with your matrices? Zimmerman: Well, it would require a synchronous transfer of all the EMH databases and subroutines. Not an easy process, mind you, but I suppose we could try. Kes: Good. Let's get started. Zimmerman: I must point out that you would no longer have a diagnostic program for the EMH. Kes: If we don't do this we won't have an EMH to diagnose. Zimmerman: Good point. You'll have to return to sickbay and transfer my program there. Kes: Thank you, Doctor Zimmerman. Zimmerman: Don't be premature. I have no idea if this is going to work. Kim: Captain, our shield strength just went to zero. Chakotay: How did that happen? Kim: Each one of those little ships is emitting an interferometric pulse. They're modulating in opposition to our shield frequencies, completely canceling them out. Janeway: All right, that's enough. Tuvok, give them a phaser sweep with the forward array. Don't destroy any of them, just let them know we're not going to sit here like ducks. Tuvok: Aye Captain. Janeway: What was that? Kim: The interferometric pulses they're emitting. They've reflected the energy of the phasers right back to us. Chakotay: Anything we fire is going to affect us instead of them. What about a photon torpedo? Tuvok: Since our shield strength is non-existent, I would not recommend it. Paris: They're only seven thousand kilometers away and still coming. Janeway: Harry, start analyzing those interferometric pulses. See if there's any pattern, any code to them. We might be able to find a weakness. Kim: I'm on it. Zimmerman: I'm increasingly dubious as to the outcome of this effort. The EMH pathways are seriously degraded. They might not accept a matrix overlay. Kes: We have to try. Please hurry. Zimmerman: I assure you I'm working as quickly as I can. If I don't prepare the multitronic paths properly there's no chance of success. Kes: It's going to work, Doctor. I'm sure of it. Emh: What is? Zimmerman: Very well. We're as ready as we'll ever be. I've programmed the computer to installl my heuristic matrix onto the EMH primary circuitry. We'll both have to be taken off line for the overlay to be made. After the re-initialisation occurs you should activate the Emergency Medical Hologram. Kes: I understand. Zimmerman: You realize there will be no second chance. After this, I will no longer exist. Well, it's been a brief existence but apparently a noble one. Computer, initiate program Zimmerman alpha one. Computer: Matrix overlay program is active. Please stand by. Paris: Captain, they're right on top of us. I can't shake them. Tuvok: Captain, they are clamping onto our hull. Chakotay: They're starting to drain our systems. Kim: Captain, I've got a pattern on the interferometric pulses. It's a lattice, connecting all the ships to each other. Janeway: All right, here's what we're going to do. Turn those pulses right back on them. Tuvok, lock phasers on their nearest ship. If we can destroy one of them, there's every chance the interferometric pulse that links them together will cause a chain reaction. Tuvok: But the phaser fire will be reflected back toward us. Janeway: Harry, modulate our shields to an inverse harmonic of the pulse. That should allow the phasers to hit the ship. Tuvok: Ship's phasers are locked on a target, Captain. Janeway: Tuvok! Harry! Do it! Tuvok: The swarm of ships has disbanded, Captain. They are moving away. Kim: Shields are back to full strength. Janeway: Good work every one. Now let's get out of here. Kes: It seems to be taking forever. Torres: That's to be expected. It's a complex procedure. Kes: Doctor Zimmerman said he didn't know if our Doctor would be restored to his programming or he'd regain the memories of the past two years. Torres: I think at this point we'd be glad to have him back no matter what. Computer: Zimmerman program alpha one is now complete. Kes: Computer, activate Emergency Medical Holographic Program. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Kes: It worked! Doctor, I am so glad to see you. Emh: Are you ill, young woman? Kes: No. No, there's no emergency. I, er, I just wanted to see if you were all right. Emh: It is very irresponsible to make such frivolous use of the EMH. Where's your Chief Medical Officer? Kes: We don't have one. Torres: Actually I have an awful headache. Emh: A headache. Nurse, tricorder. You're the nurse? Kes: In a way. Emh: This woman has a mild inflammation of the occipital tissues. Hardly enough to complain about but I'm willing to give you a mild analgesic. Torres: Thank you. Emh: Get me the vasal constrictor and prepare a hypo-spray with three percent hydrocortaline. Kes: Yes sir. Emh: il sogno ch'io vorrei sempre sognar!

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50074.3. We have detected evidence that a wormhole recently appeared and then disappeared in a nearby solar system. We're on our way there to investigate. Kim: Based on the residual neutrino levels, I'd estimate it's been at least six months since the wormhole's last appearance. Chakotay: From the dispersal pattern of the interstellar plasma, it looks like it isn't fixed. Seems to be traveling through space. Janeway: It may not be fixed on this end, nut if it's shown up in the same location more than once, it's possible its exit point is constant, and it's wagging around the Delta Quadrant like the tail on a dog. Paris: Approaching the last known co-ordinates of the wormhole, Captain. Janeway: All stop. Mister Kim, initiate continuous neutrino scans. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, scan the planets in this system for life signs. Maybe there's someone around here who can give us some helpful information. Tuvok: I am picking up an M-class atmosphere on the second planet, humanoid life signs. However, metallurgic analysis indicates a pre-industrial civilization, a Bronze Age level of technology. Curious, Captain. Janeway: What is? Tuvok: I'm detecting evidence that these people have had contact with the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: What kind of evidence? Tuvok: It is a modulated energy discharge that appears to be consistent with the recent use of a replicator. Kim: If they've got a replicator, it could mean the wormhole leads to the Alpha Quadrant, and that someone's traveled through it. Janeway: I appreciate your enthusiasm, Ensign, but before we indulge in too much speculation, let's see if we can back up your assumptions with some facts. Commander Chakotay, I want you and Lieutenant Paris to go down that planet and have a look around. Launch a high resolution reconnaissance probe to gather information about the local population's dress and appearance. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: In the meantime, Ensign, why don't you and Lieutenant Torres get started on a phase profile of this elusive wormhole's neutrino emissions. Let's see if we can confirm that it leads to the Alpha Quadrant. Captain's log, stardate 50074.5. Based on information provided by the probe, we have replicated local attire for Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Paris. They have gone to the surface to investigate. Paris: This is where we picked up a replicator signature? Chakotay: Hard to believe, isn't it? Bard: Oh, those many years ago, the people's hearts were sad and low. Then the Sages to the city came. They came upon a burning flame just as the Seers said they would. They lifted Takar's blinding hood. Well? What did you think? Chakotay: It was very nice. Bard: Nice? I'll wager you've never heard the Song of the Sages more beautifully or faithfully recited. Paris: He's got a point. We have never heard the Song of the Sages more beautifully recited. Bard: As you know, the first verse is free, but the next verse will cost you three frangs. Chakotay: I'm sorry. Not today. Bard: Oh, but I need money for ointment for my eye. Please, gentlemen! Merchant: Go away, old man! Can't you see? These are men of commerce. They have no business with your silly poems. And may I say, gentlemen, you both have very fine shoes. Paris: Excuse me? Merchant: Well, the Sages say you can tell a great deal about a man from his shoes, and I can tell from your shoes that you're men of refinement, affluence. Chakotay: We've really got to be going. Merchant: Well, you're obviously new in Takar. Perhaps I could interest you in some property. Paris: No, thank you. We're not planning on settling here. Merchant: What about some transportation? The Sages say, 'Time's an asset.' And you shouldn't waste your assets walking everywhere you go. You'd be wearing out those fine shoes of yours. Paris: I'm sorry, but we're really not interested. Chakotay: Tom? Paris: Excuse me. Chakotay: I'm picking up a narrow band EM dampening field around that building. It looks like some sort of temple. Paris: Then I'd say the temple's where we ought to look. Merchant: Oh, thank the Sages I found you. You can't enter the temple without wearing your ears. Paris: Look, friend, I thought I told you Chakotay: What do you mean, wearing your ears? Merchant: You're really not Takarian, are you? Nobody visits the temple without displaying at least one ear. Chakotay: Must be some sort of fetish. Merchant: If you're not wearing an ear, you could be fined, even arrested. You wouldn't want that to happen. Paris: And let me guess. It just so happens that you could sell us a couple of these ears. Merchant: As a matter of fact, I can. Captain's log, supplemental. I've been asked to join Lieutenant Torres and Ensign Kim in the science lab to hear what they've termed as very exciting news. Kim: We've been able to confirm that the wormhole does lead to the Alpha Quadrant. Torres: The problem is that on this end, it's jumping from point to point so quickly that even at maximum warp, by the time we got to its next probable location, it would be gone. Kim: So we were thinking, if you can't bring the ship to the wormhole, bring the wormhole to the ship. We've detected a subspace instability at our current location that's a result of the wormhole's last appearance here. Torres: If we could somehow amplify and polarize that instability, we might be able to get the wormhole to reappear. Janeway: Sort of like using a magnet to move a compass needle. The question is, how do we polarize the instability? Kim: We haven't figured that part out yet. Merchant: Gentlemen, as the Sages say, 'Your goods are now my goods'. Paris: And my feet are now cold. Merchant: Perhaps I could interest you in some discounted mining futures? Paris: Don't push your luck. Paris: You know, so far, I can't say that I like this town very much. Paris: On the other hand. Kafar: My friends, the Holy Sages. Kafar: Behold, the Holy Icon. Arridor: Greed is eternal. Crowd: Greed is eternal. Arridor: Greed is eternal. Chakotay: Greed is eternal. Arridor: Now what other wisdom have you learned from the Sages? A wise man can hear profit in the wind. Crowd: A wise man can hear profit in the wind. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Janeway: Janeway here. Chakotay: We've found the replicator, Captain. Crowd: A wise man can hear profit in the wind. A wise man can Arridor: And now, dear friends, in our great beneficence, we will allow you to come forward to honor our greatness and glorify our generosity. Approach the Holy Sages. Approach your gods and speak your heart. Ah. Sandal Maker: I am a sandal maker from the poorest quarter of the city. Kol: The laziest, you mean. Arridor: Speak, my friend. What is your business with the Sages? Sandal Maker: I am in need of assistance. My sandal shop is failing. I can no longer feed my family. Kol: Same old song. Sandal Maker: My wife and her mother, my five children, the baby. Arridor: That's seven employees. Eight, if you count the infant. How can your shop be failing? Kol: You're not paying them, are you? Sandal Maker: My mother-in-law is ill. My children are very young. Kol: Oh, don't tell me none of them are working. Ignorant, lobeless fools! Arridor: Exploitation begins at home! Crowd: Exploitation begins at home. Arridor: Exploitation begins at home! Sandal Maker: Exploitation begins at home. I understand my mistake and I promise to begin exploiting my family before the end of the day. But could I have some food and, and some medicine? Kol: Ha! Ha! Sandal Maker: Until my business improves. Arridor: You shall have something far more valuable. One copy of the Rules of Acquisition, cheapest binding possible. Kol: That'll be ten frangs. Sandal Maker: But I Kol: That's all for today. You may return tomorrow. Captain's log, supplemental. The away team has returned with some very disturbing observations about the situation on the planet. Chakotay: It seems the people have a myth, an epic poem called the Song of the Sages, which predicts the arrival of two demigods from the sky, the Sages, who would rule over the people as benevolent protectors. Paris: But these Ferengi are anything but benevolent. Chakotay: What they've done is co-opt the local mythology by using advanced technology like the replicator to convince the people that they're the two Sages spoken of in the poem. Paris: Of course, being Ferengi, they haven't just co-opted the mythology. They've cornered the market on everything. Chakotay: It's disgusting, Captain. The two Ferengi live in a palatial temple, while the people are lucky to have a roof over their heads. Paris: Apparently it wasn't always like that. According to the people that we met, before the Ferengi came, the society may have been primitive, but it was flourishing. What I'd like to know is how two Ferengi got to the Delta Quadrant. Janeway: We've been looking into that. Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: According to Starfleet computer records, approximately seven years ago, the Federation Starship Enterprise hosted negotiations for ownership of the Barzan wormhole. Included among the bidding parties were two Ferengi, minor functionaries known as Arridor and Kol. Neelix: And this Barzan wormhole, it's the same one we've discovered now? Kim: Apparently, but we've confirmed what nobody knew at the time. The wormhole is fixed in the Alpha Quadrant. But in the Delta Quadrant, it jumps around. It turned out to be worthless. Tuvok: But the Ferengi were not aware of that, and during a nefarious attempt to secure the wormhole for themselves, they were pulled into it and deposited in the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay: Now that we've found them, what are we going to do with them? Janeway: Well, I certainly don't intend to leave them here to continue exploiting an innocent society. How are you two coming with getting the wormhole back here and reopened? Torres: We've been bombarding the area of the subspace instability with verteron particles. Kim: So far everything is going according to plan, but it's tricky. There are a hundred factors that could deflect it from this sector. A gravimetric shift, a solar flare. Torres: And even if we're lucky enough to get it here, it won't be around for long. We'll have a very short window of opportunity to get through. Janeway: Well, if we can get the wormhole here, we'll be taking two additional passengers with us. We'll turn them over to Ferengi authorities when we get there. Tuvok: Captain, I must remind you that the Ferengi are not members of the Federation. They are not bound by the Prime Directive. Nor would it seem that the Prime Directive would allow us to interfere with the internal affairs of this society, as much as we may disapprove of what the Ferengi are doing. Janeway: The Federation did host the negotiations. And if it weren't for those negotiations, the Ferengi wouldn't be here. So one could say, without being unreasonable I think, that the Federation is partially responsible for what's happened, and therefore duty bound to correct the situation. Tuvok: That is a most logical interpretation, Captain. Arridor: 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148. Profits from the Ga'nah Province are down. Kol: Hmm? Arridor: Are you listening to me? I said, profits from the Ga'nah Province are down! Kol: Down? Profits are down? Both of you leave me alone. Can't you see I'm trying to conduct business here? I'm sorry, Arridor. It's just that they can't get enough of my lobes. Where were we? Oh, yeah, profits are down? Arridor: And what are we going to do about it? Kol: What are you looking at me for? Ask that idiot Kafar. He's in charge of collections in the Ga'nah Province. Arridor: Kafar! Kafar: You called, Great Sage? Arridor: What is the 95th Rule of Acquisition? Kol: Huh. Kafar: Expand or die? Arridor: He knows the rules better than you do. Kol: He does not. Arridor: And where is it we've been trying to expand this month? Kafar: Into the Ga'nah Province, Great Sage. Arridor: And who is in charge of collections in the Ga'nah Province? Kafar: I am, Great Sage. Kol: Then why are profits down, you idiot? Where's our money? Kafar: Please forgive me, Lesser Sage. Kol: Oh, I told you to stop calling me Arridor: Who are you? Janeway: Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. Kol: The Federation? Arridor: Shut up, Kol. Let me handle this. What, may I ask, is the Federation doing in the Delta Quadrant? Janeway: It's a long story, but suffice it to say we've been stranded here for the past two years. We're on our way back to the Alpha Quadrant and we're taking you with us. Kol: This is an outrage. We won't allow you to tr Arridor: You're crazy. It would take decades to get back from here. Janeway: Show them, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: We have been bombarding a local subspace instability with verteron particles. If all goes according to plan, the Barzan wormhole should reopen at out present location in a matter of hours. Arridor: And if all doesn't go according to plan? Janeway: One way or another, you're coming with us. Kol: We've been kidnapped, snatched from the embrace of bliss. It's all over. No more limitless profits. No more unquestioning adulation of the masses. No more quadruple lobe rubs. Arridor: If I'm not mistaken, Captain, the Federation has rules, and those rules forbid you to interfere with indigenous cultures. Janeway: What about your interference? You've taken these people's religion and manipulated it for your own selfish purposes, pretending to be their Sages. Arridor: Who's to say we aren't their Sages, Captain? Janeway: Don't be ridiculous. Arridor: The song is sung of Sages who can perform miracles which, thanks to our replicator, we do. The song is sung of men coming from the sky on a burning flame. When we crash-landed our shuttle in their quaint little town square, trailing behind us a roaring ribbon of burning plasma. Kol: You mean we really are the Sages? Arridor: The point is, Captain, that these people have believed for centuries that gods, known as the Sages, would deliver them from their strife. To them, we are those Sages. What happens to a people when they lose their gods? Despair, fear, confusion. And how can you as a moral people blithely tear down the spiritual structure that has supported a community since before their gods were flesh? What would you be leaving them with? Kol: Tell us, Arridor. Tell us! Arridor: Darkness, doubt, hopelessness. Kol: That was beautiful. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, transport them back to the surface. Kol: We did it, Arridor. We won. Paris: We can't just leave the Ferengi there to continue exploiting those poor people. Chakotay: But Arridor's right. We can't kidnap their gods either. Neelix: What other option is there? Janeway: What if the gods didn't just disappear suddenly and inexplicably? What if they left voluntarily, gracefully? Chakotay: The gods would be gone, but the people would be prepared for it, and they might accept it as a natural ordained occurrence. Janeway: Exactly. Paris: But how do we get two Ferengi to just walk away from a monopoly on an entire economy? Janeway: What motivates a Ferengi? Paris: Profit. Tuvok: Then we must find a way to make it more profitable for them to leave. Janeway: Or less profitable to stay. Neelix: How do we do that? Janeway: We have to out-Ferengi the Ferengi. Arridor: Hmm. There we are. I've reconfigured the matter-antimatter generator to produce an ionic disruption field around the temple square. Kol: No more unexpected beam-outs. Arridor: Let's see how smart those humans think they are now. Arridor: Kafar! Kafar: You called, Great Sage? Arridor: Find out who has the audacity to disturb us in our divine vault. Kol: Ah! And make it quick! Kafar: Who has the audacity to disturb the Holy Sages in their divine vault? ARRIDOR + Kol: Grand Nagus! Neelix: Not the Grand Nagus. I'm his official messenger, the Grand Proxy. Arridor: But Grand Proxy, how did you? Neelix: Through the Barzan wormhole. The humans stabilized it temporarily and were kind enough to send a probe through, informing us of your impressive operation. Arridor: Well, of course, the Grand Nagus, or his official messenger the Grand Proxy, is always welcome in our little world, our rather poverty-stricken little world, and we're thrilled he has taken an interest in our very modest operation. Neelix: If I were you, I'd save the groveling for the Nagus himself. Kol: You mean the Grand Nagus is coming here too? Neelix: Of course not, you idiot! You two are going to him. You've been recalled. Arridor: Recalled? Kol: We're ruined. Neelix: You will be leaving immediately. Arridor: This is not a time to lose one's lobes. I'll think of something. Perhaps the Grand Nagus doesn't understand that profits in this market depend upon our presence. You see, to these people we're, well, gods actually. Without us to make the fools cower in submission, there will be no profits to be had. Neelix: The Grand Nagus knows all about your little scheme, the Song of the Sages and all the rest of it. Very clever. But he wants you and all your acquisitions back on Ferenginar before the wormhole closes again. Arridor: I'm sure the Grand Nagus wouldn't want to lose such a lucrative revenue stream. The wormhole seems to open and close on its own every seven or eight years. We would be willing to forward a fair share of the profits every time it does, say, twenty percent? Kol: That's coming out of your half. Arridor: Shut up! Neelix: The Grand Nagus has no intention of losing profits from this market. That's why he's already got a team of scientists investigating the human's technology to see if we can find a way to open and close the wormhole whenever we want. Arridor: Then perhaps the Grand Nagus could simply recall one of us and leave the other behind to administer the operation. You could take Kol back with you. Kol: Hey, wait a minute. Neelix: That's enough! Kol: I don't think that Neelix: The Grand Nagus has recalled you both. It's non-negotiable. Of course, the Nagus doesn't want to upset the local population. He may want to send others in your place. That's why he wants you to make a little speech telling the people that their Holy Sages have been recalled to the Divine Treasury or whatever it is the people around here call it. Then he wants you to tell them not to worry, that everything will be all right without you. Then he wants you to thank them for their generosity. Arridor: Thank them? Neelix: The 299th Rule of Acquisition, Whenever you exploit someone, it never hurts to thank them. That way it's easier to exploit them the next time. Kol: Wait a minute. There's only 285 Rules of Acquisition. Neelix: You've been gone a very long time. Oh, by the way, did I mention that the Nagus is appropriating all your holdings? Arridor: What? Kol: All? Neelix: All. Kol: The least you can do is let us keep the females. Neelix: I'll be back in twenty minutes to approve your speech. I suggest you start writing. You! Come with me! Kafar: Of course, Greater Sage. Kol: What are we going to do? Arridor: What a Ferengi always does in a situation this grave. Kol: Panic? Arridor: No, you idiot! He goes to the Rules of Acquisition. Kol: Oh. Arridor: Unabridged and fully annotated, with all forty seven commentaries, all nine hundred major and minor judgments, all ten thousand considered opinions. There's a rule for every conceivable situation. Paris: Looks like Neelix is pulling off quite a performance. Neelix: And you. There you are. Don't push. There's plenty to go around. Man: Please, please. Neelix: Oh, you're quite welcome. Here. Please, one at a time. There you go. Sandal Maker: Is he another Sage? Kafar: Have you ever seen a Sage give away money? Neelix: And you. Woman: Oh, thank you. Arridor: Grand Proxy, avoidance of. Mmm. Grand Proxy, censure by. Grand Proxy, encounters with See Hopeless Situation. Kol: I told you there was no rule. Arridor: Then it's time to invoke the unwritten rule. Kol: The unwritten rule? Arridor: When no appropriate rule applies, make one up. Kol: That's a very good rule. Arridor: Now, let's see. What should it be? The Grand Proxy is the Nagus's official messenger, right? I've got it. 'When the messenger comes to appropriate your profits, kill the messenger.' Man: Thank you. Thank you. Woman: It's a miracle. Man: Thank you, Great Sage. Woman: Oh, Great Sage, thank you. Man: We're so grateful. Neelix: Arridor? Kol? Show yourselves. We can't keep the Grand Nagus waiting. Kol: If you say so. Neelix: What is the meaning of this? Arridor: You're not very bright for a Grand Proxy. Kol: Ex-Grand Proxy! Neelix: But the Grand Nagus Arridor: Is on the other side of the galaxy. Neelix: Wait! Wait! I'm not, I'm not the Grand Proxy! Arridor: Oh, no? Who are you then? Neelix: Stop! My name is Neelix! Arridor: Neelix? That's not a Ferengi name. Neelix: Wait! I'm not Ferengi. Kol: What? Neelix: I've never even met the Grand Nagus. Kol: A likely story. Neelix: It's true! I'm wearing a disguise. I'm really a Talaxian, a crewman on Voyager. Arridor: If you're not Ferengi, prove it! Neelix: I'm not sure how. Kol: Doesn't that hurt? Neelix: I can't feel a thing. Kol: He really isn't a Ferengi. Arridor: On your feet. All right, Talaxian, back to your ship. And tell those humans to keep their hands out of our pockets, or else. Kol: And stay out! Kol: We won! We won! Arridor: No, my friend, not exactly. To be precise, we won again! Paris: What happened? Neelix: Suffice it to say, they know I'm not the Grand Proxy. Paris: Oh, great. Chakotay: Let's get to the shuttle. Bard: Who are you? Neelix: I'm, er, well. Bard: You are another Holy One, aren't you? Neelix: That's right. Another Holy One. Bard: Then you'll appreciate this. The Sages in the sky did dwell upon white clouds that held them well. Until the sentry rang the bell, the Holy Sages never fell. That'll be three frangs, please. Paris: But we didn't ask you to recite it. Bard: Well, you heard it, didn't you? Chakotay: Your poem's very nice, but we're in a hurry. Bard: No, please, sir! My eye Paris: Look, friend, I'm sorry about your eye, really, but. Wait a minute. Wasn't your patch on the other side? Bard: Sir? Paris: We've got to go. Bard: Wait, please. I'll throw in another verse gratis. But when the ringing called them here, from the sky they did appear. Chakotay: Tell me something. What happens to the Sages at the end of the Song? Bard: Oh, let me see now. The final verse. It's been a very long time, you know. Those are very handsome shoes you have, sir. Bard: Ah, yes, it's coming back to me now. And there, amid the eastern lights, three new stars appeared that night. And with the ringing of the bell, the Sages knew where they must dwell. The Holy Pilgrim led them back, high into the sky of black, and riding on the wings of fire, the Holy Men rose higher and higher. Wait a minute. I know who you are. Neelix: I am the Holy Pilgrim! Paris: Did you hear that? The Holy Pilgrim! Sandal Maker: The Holy Pilgrim? Paris: The Holy Pilgrim! Chakotay: The Holy Pilgrim! The Holy Pilgrim! Neelix: I have come to fulfill the destiny that is prophesied in the Song of the Sages. Arridor: What in the name of eternal destitution is going on here? Neelix: Ah, there you are. Do you not recognize me? I am the Holy Pilgrim. Kol: The Holy Pilgrim? Who's the Holy Pilgrim? Arridor: Quiet, you idiot. This man is no Holy Pilgrim. He's a Talaxian! Crowd: Talaxian? Neelix: Oh no, Great Sage, you are mistaken. I am indeed the Holy Pilgrim. And just as the Song of the Sages promises, I have come to lead you back, high into the sky of black. Sandal Maker: I have prayed for this day to come. Paris: Lead them back! Lead them back! Crowd: Lead them back! Lead them back! Lead them back! Lead them back! Lead them back! Lead them back! Kol: What do they mean, lead us back? Arridor: I don't know. It must be part of the song. I told you we should have listened to the whole thing. Neelix: Well, it looks as though you two will be heading off to see the Grand Nagus after all. Arridor: We'll see about that. This man, this man is a false Pilgrim. He's come to steal your profits. Neelix: I am not a false Pilgrim and I'll prove it. Paris: That's our cue. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. On my mark. Janeway: Stand by to initiate the photon burst, Mister Kim. Kim: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: Captain, I am still unable to penetrate the Ferengi dampening field. If the away team experiences difficulties, we will be unable to beam them out. Janeway: Keep working on it. In the meantime, we'll just have to rely on their ingenuity to get themselves out of there if trouble arises. Neelix: The song says that amid the eastern lights, three new stars appeared that night. Crowd: That's true. That's what the song says. Neelix: Look, my friends. Look! Right up there! Chakotay: Now. Kim: Initiating photon bursts. Arridor: It's a trick. Kol: He's a fraud, I tell you. Arridor: Kafar, arrest this man. Well, arrest him! Arridor: Ow! Kol: Hey! Arridor: Stop! Kol: What do you think you're doing? Arridor: Ow! Kafar: Like the song says, Lesser Sage, with the ringing of the bell, the sages knew where they must dwell. Crowd: Yeah! Yes! Arridor: Ow! Ow! Kafar: Like the song says, you Sages, it's time for you to go back where you came from! Crowd: Yes! Yes! To the stars! Kafar: And they must go on wings of fire! Crowd: Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! The sky! The sky! The sky! Kol: We are your gods. This is outrageous. This is outrageous. We are your gods, your sages. Arridor: I am your god. Hands off your god. Kol: This mustn't happen. Neelix: No, no! Wait a minute, people! No! There's, there's no reason to interpret the Song of the Sages so literally. Kafar! Kafar! Tell them! Kafar: We are fulfillling the destiny of the Sages. Neelix: I am the Holy Pilgrim, and I have come to tell you there's another verse to the song. It's er, please, don't burn the Holy Ones. Kafar: I'm sorry, Holy Pilgrim, but that's not part of the Song. Crowd: Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Neelix: Commander? I think now would be a very good time for that beam-out. Crowd: Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Paris: We've got to disable the dampening field so they can beam us out of here. Where's the generator? ARRIDOR + Kol: In the vault! Crowd: Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Tuvok: We still can not establish a transporter lock, Captain. Kim: Boosting power to the annular confinement beam. Crowd: Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Wings of fire! Kol: Arridor? Arridor: What is it now? Kol: We had seven years of pure profit. Arridor: We did, didn't we? Crowd: To the stars! To the stars! Paris: I can't shut it down. Chakotay: Stand back. Crowd: To the stars! To the stars! Kafar: The Holy Ones have ascended! Janeway: Is everyone okay down there, Commander? Chakotay: We're all here in one piece, Captain. Janeway: Good work. Janeway: Report to the Bridge as soon as everything is in order. We'll be entering the wormhole in approximately seven minutes. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Arridor: We're not going through any wormhole without our possessions. Chakotay: Listen, friend, you're lucky to be alive. We beamed your shuttle to the shuttle bay. As for the rest of your possessions, they're back in the hands of the people you stole them from. Ensign Murphy, escort these men to secured quarters. Kol: This is outrageous. Arridor: I'll hold you personally responsible for any losses we suffer! Kol: We'll sue! Janeway: Shield status, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: Shield are optimal. Janeway: Mister Paris, engage maneuvering thrusters and ease us into position. Paris: Aye, Captain. Emh: Sickbay to Lieutenant Tuvok. Tuvok: Go ahead, Doctor. Emh: Ensign Murphy was just found unconscious on deck two. Kes: It's a severe concussion. Emh: We suspect foul play. Chakotay: Murphy was escorting the Ferengi to their quarters. Tuvok: Captain, security has been breached in the shuttle bay. Janeway: Seal that air lock, Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: The Ferengi have phasered the shuttle bay door. They are exiting the ship. Kim: Activating emergency containment field. Paris: They're setting a course for the planet, Captain. Janeway: Lock a tractor beam onto that shuttle. Chakotay: The gravitational effects of the wormhole are refracting the beam. I can't get a lock. Tuvok: The Ferengi are hailing us, Captain. Janeway: On screen. Arridor: Thank you for all your assistance, humans. Kol: It was lovely doing business with you. Arridor: We'll be heading back into orbit to transport out acquisitions aboard. Janeway: Beam those men back now, Mister Kim. Kim: I'm trying, but the targeting scanners are out of phase. Chakotay: Try setting the scanners to a narrowband subspace frequency. Kol: What is it? Arridor: They're trying to beam us back to their ship again. They're using some sort of subspace carrier wave. Kol: Do something! Arridor: Shields to maximum. Kol: Shields are at maximum! Arridor: Send out a high energy graviton pulse. Let's see their transporter signal cut through that. Kim: Captain, the Ferengi are emitting a graviton pulse. It's throwing the targeting scanners off again. Not only that, it's destabilizing the wormhole. Tuvok: Captain, a gravitational eddy from the wormhole is attracting the Ferengi shuttle. They're being pulled in. Arridor: Reverse thrusters! Kol: They're offline! Aaaaaa! Janeway: Follow them in before that wormhole collapses, Mister Paris. Paris: Aye, Captain. Resetting the co-ordinates. Kim: Captain, the entrance to the wormhole is moving. The Ferengi graviton pulse must have increased its rotational momentum. Paris: Adjusting course to follow. It's too fast for us, Captain. I need more speed. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, divert auxiliary power to the thrusters. Paris: It's not enough. Chakotay: Initiate a high intensity impulse burst. Janeway: Mister Kim, reinitiate the verteron field. Maybe we can attract the wormhole back. Kim: The Ferengi graviton pulse knocked the wormhole completely off its subspace axis. It's jumping erratically now on both ends. Janeway: Options? Kim: There are none. Janeway: Mister Paris, reset a course for the Alpha Quadrant. Warp six. Paris: Aye, Captain. Sandal Maker: Look. The Holy Ones are going home!

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50203.1. We're three days away from Enara Prime, home of the passengers we picked up from a colony in the Fima system. Our high warp capability has greatly reduced the time it normally takes them to make the journey home. In return, the Enarans have shared their energy conservation technology with us and, perhaps more importantly, their friendship. Torres: You've never been there? Jessen: Well, the trip back to the homeland usually takes so long. I don't to see it that badly. I've spent my whole life in the Fima colony, and I've always considered it my home. Mirell: You'll change your mind when you see the Danius cliffs at dawn. Jessen: Yes, I've heard they're beautiful. Mirell: You'll know what beautiful truly means when you stand on the cliffs on a rainy morning and watch the raindrops turn to mist when they hit the molten sea. Torres: That sounds wonderful. Jessen: It looks like our new components are still slightly out of sync with your EPS system. Torres: I can't isolate it. We'll have to check through all of them. Jessen: Maybe Harry could give us a hand? Torres: Well, I'm sure he would if you asked him. Harry, you got a minute? Kim: Sure. Jessen: Could you help us check the modified power relays? There's a minor flow problem. Kim: I'd be happy to help. Torres: Good. Then we'll get started first thing in the morning. Kim: Well, if we're done for the night, maybe we could go get something to eat. Mirell: Thank you, but I'll be headed back to bed. I'm sure you young people will manage without me. Goodnight. Jessen: Goodnight. Kim: So, I guess it'll just be the three of us. Torres: Actually, getting some rest sounded like a pretty good idea. Why don't you go on without me. Torres: No, really, I insist. Torres: What took you so long? Dathan: Korenna. Torres: Shush. Chakotay: B'Elanna. B'Elanna, wake up. Torres: What. Chakotay: Your duty shift started twenty minutes ago. I tried to reach you on the comm. but you didn't answer. Torres: I guess, I guess I must have slept right through it. Sorry. Chakotay: Are you feeling all right? Torres: Yes, of course. I'll be there in a minute. Chakotay: This is the second morning you've been late. Torres: I'll make up the time. It won't happen again. Chakotay: I'm not concerned about the duty schedule, B'Elanna. If there's something wrong Torres: I'm fine. Chakotay: Ah, you mean fine like when you insisted on finishing the hoverball championship with a broken ankle? Torres: I mean there's nothing wrong. I was only late because I've been having these dreams. They're very intense, that's all. Chakotay: Intensely bad? Torres: No, just the opposite. Chakotay: So they're enjoyable. Stimulating. Torres: They are the most sensual dreams I've ever had in my life. And they feel absolutely real. Chakotay: I don't suppose you've been dreaming about anyone in particular? Torres: Nobody you know. Actually, he's nobody I know, either. He's Enaran. Chakotay: One of our passengers? Torres: No. No. In the dreams, I know him. More than that, I'm in love with him. Oh, but it's not really me in the dream, it's somebody else entirely. In a way, it's liberating. Chakotay: I'm sure. So I assume I won't have to write up a report on your chronic oversleeping? Torres: If you say a word about this to anyone Chakotay: I know. You'll rip my heart out and eat it raw. Your secret's safe with me. Kim: So what exactly is this big surprise? Paris: All I know is that Neelix has been working on it all afternoon. He wouldn't even let me in there to get a snack. Neelix: Welcome to Enara! Paris: It's very colorful. Neelix: Specifically the colors of the Enaran flag. The decor, the menu, the music, all authentically Enaran. Kim: What happened to the tables and chairs? Neelix: Enarans don't use them. After a big meal, you can just lie back and take a nap. Very practical. Paris: It's a little cold in here, isn't it? Neelix: Perhaps a bit chilier than you're used to, but just about perfect for Paris: The Enarans. I got it. Neelix: You must try some of these delightful algae puffs. They're fresh from the oven. Jessen: Harry. Kim: Maybe later. Janeway: That was wonderful. What a lovely piece of music. Brel: You should thank Jora Mirell. She composed it. Mirell: I still think you're rushing the harmonics in the second movement. Janeway: I love music. I've always regretted that I never learnt to play an instrument. Brel: I'd be glad to help you if you like. Janeway: I'd like it very much. I'm sure I could find time for a few lessons. Tuvok: Captain! Janeway: I'm all right. Brel: I did understand you correctly, that you wanted to share my knowledge of music? Janeway: I didn't realize you were offering to share it so directly. The sensation was a little overwhelming. Brel: I am terribly sorry, Captain. I assumed since you knew about our telepathic abilities, I. I never would have dreamed of making a connection without your consent. Janeway: You intended to give me a gift, and it was wonderful. Tuvok: Your abilities allow you to transfer knowledge from your own mind to another's? Brel: Not precisely. We're able to share our experiences through a telepathic link. Janeway: I remembered lessons, and hours of practice. Were those all your experiences? Tuvok: Intriguing. Janeway: Remarkable. Neelix: You take a couple of these, roll them around like this, and voila! Your hands are clean and disinfected. The Enarans are very hygienic. I haven't seen Lieutenant Torres around here tonight. I suppose she's putting in another late night in Engineering. Chakotay: Actually, I think she might have gone to bed early tonight. Jareth: I'm not one to dictate who your friends are, but I'm sure you can see as clearly as I can that some friends are less suitable than others. Torres: Like Dathan? Jareth: Yes. You promised you wouldn't see him anymore and then I heard you were talking to him again the other day. Torres: He came up to me on the street. I couldn't help it. Jareth: Korenna, don't you see I am thinking of him as well as you? Now you only encourage him this way and that isn't very fair, is it? Torres: What isn't fair is that you treat him like everybody else. He's different. If you'd just talk to him you'd understand that. Jareth: You know, one of the things I love about you most is your compassion for others. But you're still young, and you don't realize that there are some people who might take advantage of that compassion. Now, I want you to promise me if he comes up to you again you'll just walk away. That should be clear enough. Torres: I'm sure. Jareth: And finish your tarin juice. It's good for you. Torres: He's gone. Dathan: I should go. Torres: He's leaving for work soon. It's safer to wait. Dathan: You know, this will only encourage me. Torres: I hope so! Torres: We've completed the modifications on the primary EPS conduits. I have a crew starting on the backup systems. Chakotay: Can you get it done before we drop off the Enarans? Torres: Yes. We'll have to pull some longer shifts, but two more days should do it. Chakotay: Is there something else on your mind? Torres: Those dreams I've been having, they're getting kind of strange. Chakotay: In what way? Torres: Last night, in the middle of the dream, I was kissing him, my lover, and suddenly he was dead, burned. Chakotay: B'Elanna Torres: But there's more going on than just a love affair. I'm having a relationship with this man, but my father doesn't approve, so we have to sneak around. It's like each new dream advances the story. Chakotay: It sounds like a holonovel. Torres: It feels like it's actually happening! Physically, emotionally, it's no different from real life. I've never had dreams like this before. Chakotay: It can't be a coincidence that this is going on while we have a group of telepaths on board. Torres: Exactly. I want to find out more about what these Enarans can do. Chakotay: Why don't you ask your friend in Engineering. Torres: I'm going to. Chakotay: I'll talk to the Captain. She should know anything that might involve our guests. Torres: Right. Jareth: Once I stood where you are during the early days of interstellar exploration. It was an important leap forward for our people and I was proud to be part of it. Today, with the advent of terraforming, we stand ready to take another leap forward into an era of expansion and colonization. You will show us the way. There are some who resist progress. Do not let the voices of fear and ignorance discourage you. Claim your rightful place as leaders of a new era. The future of Enara is in your hands. Now today we honor a group of young people who represent our best hope for that future. It is a great pleasure to give this first award to my own daughter, Korenna. Jareth: I'm so very proud of you. Dathan: It looks good on you. Torres: What are you doing here? Dathan: Today's important for you and I wanted to be here. Torres: I'm glad you came. I know this award will help me get into the District Education Center. I could be a junior instructor in less than a year. Dathan: I'm really happy for you. Torres: Maybe you could take the entrance examination too. Dathan: It's impossible. I can't go to the Center. Torres: Nothing is impossible if you want it badly enough. I want us to be together. Dathan: I love you, Korenna. It's just so frustrating. I can't stand being away from you all the time. Torres: Oh, I know. Dathan: Oh, I wish I could hold you right now. Torres: What would you do if you could? Dathan: I'll show you. Dathan: I'll see you tonight. Torres: No, no. There's going to be a big dinner with my father's friends. Dathan: Tomorrow night then. Torres: Tomorrow. Guard: Have your identification ready. Guard 2: Come on, this way, this way. Guard: All the way out. Let's move. Kes: B'Elanna, can you hear me? Kes to Sickbay. Medical emergency. Emh: Good to see you're awake, Lieutenant. Torres: What happened? Kes: I found you unconscious in the corridor near Engineering. Torres: I was dreaming again. Emh: Not according to your cortical theta wave readings. The pattern clearly indicated that you were experiencing memories. Specifically, implanted memories. Torres: Implanted? By the Enarans? Emh: There's strong evidence of telepathic activity in your frontal lobe. Janeway: My experience with the Enaran's telepathy seems to be very different from yours. Jor Brel was standing near me when I received his memories. Where there any Enarans near you when you had your dreams? Torres: No, I was alone every time. Janeway: You've also been asleep or unconscious every time. The shared memories feel like vivid dreams to you. Emh: In the Lieutenant's case, the memories seem to have been placed in her unconscious. They're only emerging when her conscious mind is inactive. Kes: Why did she pass out? Emh: The synaptic patterns of the implanted memories are not quite compatible with her neural pathways. There's been some minor cortical damage which I've corrected. Janeway: Can you prevent further damage? Emh: This inhibitor will control her theta wave activity. That should suppress the memories. Torres: I won't have any more of the dreams? Emh: That's the idea. Kes: What's wrong? Torres: If the dreams stop, I'll never know what happens to these people. This woman, Korenna, I feel what she feels, and right now she is torn and confused about her loyalties and I don't know what I'm, she's going to do. Emh: I don't think satisfying your curiosity is worth risking brain damage, Lieutenant. Janeway: I'm giving you the next two days off duty. Use them to rest. I'll speak with Brel and find out what's happening to you. Torres: I'd like to come with you, Captain. I'd rest a lot better if I had some answers. Brel: I find it impossible that any of us could be doing this purposely. Tuvok: You do possess the ability to share your experiences without mutual consent. Brel: Yes, but it just isn't done. I know that we had a misunderstanding before, Captain, but I assure you we have strict ethics. Janeway: We're not suggesting otherwise. We're only trying to find out how this is happening. Brel: Well, I have heard of instances where members of some alien races have been affected by the slight telepathic field we generate, but nothing as intense as what your Lieutenant has described. Janeway: And according to our doctor, they're memories. Brel: That's possible. She may be picking up stray thoughts and memories from every Enaran on the ship. Must be terribly confusing. Perhaps that's why her mind has organized it into a kind of narrative. Torres: Are you saying that I'm making this all up? Brel: No, no, no. Some elements may very well have come from our actual experiences. I confess I may have crawled into a bedroom window or two in my youth. You mentioned a citizenship award. There are several past recipients in our group. We may be each contributing some small details to your story. Torres: Nothing really happened the way I remember it? Brel: It's highly unlikely. Janeway: We appreciate your help, Jor Brel. Brel: I wish there was something more that I could do. I truly regret any ill effects that our presence here has caused you. Janeway: Well fortunately those effects are under control now. The doctor was able to suppress the memories. Brel: I'm very glad to hear that. Tuvok: His explanation is plausible. Janeway: B'Elanna. Torres: I don't know. Those dreams are so real. Maybe he's right. Janeway: The Enarans haven't shown any hint of subterfuge, any hidden agenda. They've been nothing but straight forward and honest. You're in no immediate danger, and they'll be gone in another day. The situation will resolve itself. Tuvok: And yet you fully intend to continue investigating. Janeway: I wonder how long it's been since I did anything that surprised you? Tuvok: I share your concern, Captain. We haven't ruled out the possibility that this may be a deliberate act. Janeway: I want to talk to more of the Enarans, see what they have to say. Torres: I'll talk to Jessen and Mirell. They've been working with me in Engineering. Janeway: You've done enough already, B'Elanna. I want you to get some rest. Torres: But Janeway: You need to get away from this. We'll take it from here. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50211.4. We're approaching Enara and preparing to host a farewell party for our guests. They've made every effort to help us understand their telepathic abilities, but it's still a mystery why they've affected Lieutenant Torres so strongly. Jareth: Korenna, are you ready? You'll do well. I'll be there with you. Torres: This is all voluntary, isn't it? They want to be resettled. Jareth: Of course. Although it's impossible to understand what these Regressives want. They simply don't think like we do. How do we relate to people who refuse all but the most primitive technology? Who live their lives without a communications interlink or microfusion generators? Torres: If that's the way they want to live, why can't they? Jareth: Well, they can. That's why we're helping them to resettle. So that they can be completely comfortable practicing a way of life that they've chosen. Torres: They could do that here, in their village. Jareth: Well, you wouldn't say that if you'd ever been inside that place. Do you realize they won't even use radioseptics to sterilize their homes or their hands before they eat? It's a miracle they haven't started a plague by now. Torres: Then it's dangerous to have them living here. Jareth: Yes, it is, and we've been tolerant for a very long time, but I think by now even they realize that they'd be better off living somewhere else. Torres: But some of them want to stay here. Jareth: Well, there are always some people who resist change even if they know it's best for them, and once they see their friends and family happily settled in a new colony, they'll want to go as well. Guard: Demelos! Guard 2: Demelos, move along. Guard: Sanric. Farran. Farran: What's going to happen to us? Torres: You'll have a new place to live with your own kind. You'll be much happier there. Farren: Please, can you tell me Guard: Move along Farren: I only want to know where we're going! Guard: Lishan. Alaris. Dathan Alaris! Jareth: Where is he? Torres: He couldn't be leaving today. Jareth: Did you warn him? Did you tell him he was on the list? Torres: I didn't even know that he was. You put his name there, didn't you. To keep him away from me? Woman: Don't! No! Torres: Computer, locate Jora Mirell. Computer: Jora Mirell is in her quarters. Torres: I'll get you to Sickbay. Mirell: No. I have to give you the rest of it. Torres: You are Korenna? These are your memories. Mirell: Yes. Torres: Why give them to me? Mirell: You won't deny the truth. We've been hiding it. I couldn't anymore. When they found out I was sharing it with you Torres: Who did? Mirell: Don't let the memories die. Promise me! Torres: I don't understand. Torres: My father's home. If he hears you Dathan: What happened? Torres: One of your friends made some trouble on the resettlement line today. You were on the list, too. Where were you? Dathan: Some of us got away. We're leaving tonight. Come with me. Korenna, it's the only way we can be together now. Torres: You're asking me to abandon my family, my career. Dathan: Yes, I am! Leave it all behind. What's happening here is wrong, Korenna. Don't be a part of it any more. Torres: It's just a resettlement. Dathan: It's more than that. My uncle and his family were resettled two months ago and we haven't heard from them since. Nobody I know has had any contact with this new colony we're supposed to be going to. Torres: There could be a perfectly good reason for that. Dathan: There are stories. I've heard that the transports don't really go anywhere, that the passengers just get vaporized in some kind of thermal sweep. Korenna, thousands of us have gone already. We're being slaughtered. Torres: It's ridiculous! No one is being killed. My father told me about Dathan: Your father is lying to you. I'm sorry, but you have got to make a choice. You can't go on trying to believe in both of us anymore. Either he is right and you should never see me again, or I'm right and he is part of a terrible crime. Torres: No, my father is a good man. Dathan: I can show you how we're rounded up for these voluntary resettlements, how the soldiers treat Regressives who won't go quietly. I know it is hard to face, but you have to. It is too important. Now, let me show you. Torres: No, I Jareth: Korenna! Torres: Come in. I was just practicing. Jareth: I've always said you have the talent to play professionally. How are you feeling? Torres: I've been better. Jareth: Well, don't think about it any more. That Regressive was completely irrational. He attacked you for no reason. Torres: Maybe he thought he had a reason. Maybe he was afraid. Jareth: I know there are some very disturbing rumors coming from these people. You may have heard them from that boy. You know, the thing that is so insidious about these Regressives is that they pretend to be passive, not harming anyone, and all the while they're spreading their lies, trying to make you believe these awful things. Torres: Why would they do that? Jareth: They have some twisted ideas about resisting progress, which they think gives them the right to hold us back in any way that they can. They're trying to undermine us, to cause dissent and doubt. Just look at how they've affected you. Torres: But, what they're saying is so horrible. Jareth: Yes, but it isn't very plausible. Korenna, think. A secret conspiracy against their people? Organized murder on such an enormous scale? Do you really believe that your family and friends are capable of that? Torres: No. Jareth: Of course not. Now I know how hard it is for you to accept that anyone, even Regressives, could lie about something like that, but it is all part of their manipulation. These people have no conscience. They'll say anything to get what they want. Like that boy Dathan. Has he told you he's in love with you? He's not. It's his way of gaining your sympathy. And not only yours. I've seen him talking to quite a number of young women. Has he been asking you to trust him? He's poisoning you against your own people, even your own family. That's very cruel. No wonder you've been confused. But now you understand what these people are really like. Jareth: You! Dathan: No! No! No! Jareth: These criminals represent a growing threat to Enaran society. As responsible citizens we must fight back. With their punishment we send a clear signal to all Regressives. We will protect ourselves and our ideals from their destructive influence by whatever means necessary. Torres: Yes! Yes! Yes! Child: Why did they all move away? Torres: Because they didn't want to live with the rest of us anymore. Child: Why? Torres: The Regressive people had very strange ideas about how to live. They didn't want to learn new things or use any of the new technology that we tried to share with them. They decided to live somewhere else on their own and we let them go. But they couldn't take very good care of themselves. They fought with each other, they spread all kinds of diseases. Child: And they all died? Torres: They destroyed themselves. It was very sad. But we can learn from their mistakes. That's why we keep this gate here, to remind us never to be stubborn and backward like they were. Child: We'll remember. Torres: I know you will. Brel: I'd like to indulge in a new custom I've learnt. It's called making a toast. Captain Janeway and her gracious crew. We are very grateful to you for bringing us home. You will always have friends here. Torres: Murderers! Janeway: Lieutenant. Torres: You tried to hide what you did, but I know. I saw everything. The Regressives, the executions, wiping out an entire population and then blaming them for it. Brel: This is most uncomfortable, Captain. Perhaps a more private discussion would be Torres: No, that's what you've been doing all along. Hiding the truth. Hoping it would just die away quietly. Please, this has to come out. Janeway: I think it's time we all understood what's been happening here. Torres: My dreams. They are real memories from Jora Mirell. When she, when all of them were younger, there was a group of people they called Regressives. They just wanted to lead a different kind of life. But, but they don't exist anymore, do they? You exterminated them. Brel: These accusations are completely untrue. Torres: You've spent you whole life covering it up, but then you realized that someone was passing the memories on to me, so you, you used me to figure out who it was and then you killed her. But you know, you were too late. Because Korenna gave me the last of her memories before she died. Brel: Korenna Mirell is dead? Chakotay: And you have evidence that she was murdered? Torres: No. They made it look like it was natural causes. Tuvok: You should know, Lieutenant, that I spoke with Jora Mirell yesterday. I asked her specifically about the memories you had experienced. She claimed not to know anything about them. Torres: Of course she would say that. She was afraid for her life. Jessen: No, you lying. The Enarans would never do anything like what you're saying. It's unthinkable. Torres: It is the truth. I know that you don't want to believe it. In fact, they're counting on that. They always have. Kim: I know B'Elanna and I trust her. It can't hurt to listen. Brel: Nobody thinks you're lying, Lieutenant. The poor woman has been ill for a long time. Her memories may be distorted or perhaps your perception of them was colored by elements from your culture. Torres: No. I know that it's easier for you to believe that I'm crazy or hallucinating, but this woman shared her life, her whole identity with me. I was with her every step of the way as she convinced herself that what she did, betraying the man she loved, playing her part in a massacre, that it was all somehow for the good of Enaran society. She showed me everything. No apologies, no request for forgiveness, just the truth. At least she had the conscience to stand up and realize what she'd done wrong, which is more than I can say for you. Brel: I think it best that we now prepare for our departure, Captain. If you don't mind, I'd like to go to your sickbay to attend Jora Mirell. Janeway: I'm going to talk to the Doctor. I want to see you in my Ready room in one hour. Torres: I know that I could have found a better way to handle the situation than just charging into the mess hall like that. I was just too angry to think straight. Not the first time that's happened, I know, but if you had seen what I saw Janeway: I might have done exactly the same thing. Torres: You believe me. Janeway: I believe that the memories you experienced were real. Torres: Then we've got to do something about it. We have to make this public. Janeway: You tried that today, They didn't want to listen. Torres: Then we have to find proof. Let me go down to the planet. There must be some evidence left of what really happened. Maybe there are other people like Korenna who might be willing to tell the truth. Janeway: Whatever the Enarans have done, it's not our place to bring them to justice. If they've chosen to conceal part of their history from their own descendants, that's their decision, whether we approve of it or not. Torres: It's not just a matter of history. This could happen again if no one knows it happened before. Janeway: We simply have no right to get involved. Torres: Jora Mirell was murdered on board this ship, which gives us a reason to investigate. Maybe, if we can expose the reason why she was killed, the Enarans will start to ask questions. Janeway: I've gotten a full report from the Doctor. He specifically looked for evidence to support your accusations. He didn't find any. Torres: They could have used their telepathy somehow, in some way that the Doctor couldn't detect. Janeway: We have no basis for a murder investigation. I've released her body to the Enarans. Torres: So that's it? We just go on our merry way and nobody ever has to take any kind of responsibility? Janeway: I've canceled our trade negotiations as well as shore leave. We'll leave orbit as soon as the Enarans are off the ship. B'Elanna, I believe the Enaran engineers are collecting the last of their equipment right now. If there's anything more you'd like to say to any of them? Torres: Thank you. Thank you, Captain. Torres: I'm relieving you. Can we talk for a minute? Jessen: I have nothing to say to you. Torres: Then just listen. Like Harry said, it couldn't hurt to do that. Jessen: I'm leaving soon. Torres: I know you have no reason to believe what I've said about your people. All you have is my word against everything you've ever been taught. Jessen: That's right. Torres: So prove me wrong. Go down to Enara and find the colony where the Regressives were supposed to live. Talk to people. Ask questions. Learn the truth for yourself. Let me tell you about my experiences, maybe that will give you some place to start. I wish I had your abilities. I could just show you. Jessen: You would do that? Share your experiences openly? Torres: Of course. Then you'd know I'm telling you the truth. Jessen: I can make the connection between us. Jessen: What took you so long?

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50063.2. We've accepted an invitation from the Nechani to take a few days shore leave on their world. We're enjoying the opportunity to learn about their culture. Magistrate: This sanctuary honors our Ancestral Spirits. Their presence is very strong here. Magistrate: Those are brothers of the Nechisti Order. They've devoted their lives to serving the spirits. Here's something you might find interesting. Kes: What do you think this means? Neelix: Hard to tell. A fertility symbol, maybe. Kes: Or a blessing for good luck, or wisdom. Neelix: Or happiness and love. Kes: Do you hear something? Neelix: What? Kes: Look at that. It's beautiful. Neelix: It looks like a shrine. Come on, sweeting, we don't want to be left behind. Kes: I just want to take a quick look. Neelix: Kes! Kes, can you hear me? Help! Somebody! We need help! Torres: What happened? Magistrate: You mustn't be here. This shrine is protected. Neelix: She didn't touch anything. She went as far as that archway and then an energy field knocked her down. Torres: Torres to Voyager. We have a medical emergency. Beam Kes and Neelix directly to sickbay. Crewman: Yes, Lieutenant. Magistrate: This is most unfortunate. Please, I must ask you to leave as well. Torres: We aren't going anywhere until we find out what happened to her. What kind of energy was she exposed to? Magistrate: I have no idea. This is a sacred place. Only the monks truly understand what happens here. Kim: Then we'll bring scanning equipment down and investigate for ourselves. Magistrate: That's out of the question. It would show disrespect to the spirits. Torres: One of our crew has been critically injured. We aren't going to stand by and do nothing. Magistrate: There's nothing you can do. She's been punished by the spirits. She's going to die. Torres: If you prevent us from helping Kes, we will hold you directly responsible for anything that happens to her. Kim: I will make a full report to our Captain. I'm sure you'll be hearing from her. Magistrate: I'll be happy to talk to her and do whatever I can to help, but your presence here only makes a delicate situation worse. Please, leave now. Emh: Her lifesigns are very weak but stable. It appears that her synaptic pathways have undergone severe neuraleptic shock which is disrupting all cortical functions. It is similar to a comatose state, but with none of the usual biochemical markers. Neelix: You can cure her, can't you? Emh: I can't even speculate on a treatment until I know more about what caused her condition. Janeway: We're working on that. We aren't allowed near the area where the accident occurred, but Kim and Torres are scanning the sanctuary from Voyager. They'll report their findings to you. And I have an appointment to talk to the magistrate. I'm hoping he'll be able to cut through some of the restrictions the monks have set up. Neelix: Excuse me, Captain. I'd like to do something to help. Janeway: The Nechani must have records, some kind of scientific data on this energy field. Go down to the planet and see what you can find. Neelix: I'll be back soon. Magistrate: Please understand, Captain, I'm caught in a most difficult situation. I'm an official of the government, not a spiritual leader. I don't pretend to understand why the spirits do what they do. Janeway: Then perhaps I could talk with the brothers. Magistrate: I've asked the Nechisti Council to give you an audience, but I'm afraid they consider the matter closed. They've asked me to express their sympathies for your loss. Janeway: There is no loss at this point. Kes is still alive. Surely there's some way to treat her? Can't you insist that the monks meet with me? Magistrate: We have an agreement with Council. They don't involve themselves with government and we don't interfere in their spiritual matters. It's been that way for centuries and it's always worked well for us. Janeway: Then can you tell me what you do know about the sanctuary and what happens there? Magistrate: I'll try. That particular shrine is where the monks go to receive the gift of purification, cleansing of the soul. It is one of our most holy places. Janeway: You mean the monks can enter it without being harmed. Magistrate: They prepare themselves with a sacred ritual during which they speak directly with the Ancestral Spirits. After that they are able to enter the shrine safely. Janeway: What happens in that ritual? How does it offer protection against the energy field? Magistrate: Captain, you seem to want explanations for everything. I don't have them. Only the brothers who've gone through the ritual know what happens there, and they're sworn to secrecy. Janeway: The energy field that Kes encountered, is there anyone who could give me scientific information that would help us analyze it. Magistrate: All we know is that it is a naturally occurring phenomenon. Janeway: If you're telling me that there's nothing you can do to help Kes, I simply won't accept that. Magistrate: If I could help you, I would. I swear it. I blame myself. If I'd watched more carefully, seen that she was approaching the shrine. There's nothing more to be done now. You have our sympathy. Janeway: Have Kim and Torres given you a report? Emh: Yes. I received a fascinating lesson in the challenges of getting clear scanner readings through solid rock. We were eventually able to distinguish an intense biogenic field at the site of Kes's accident. That would certainly explain the neuraleptic shock. She was lucky not to have been killed instantly. Janeway: As I understand it, the Nechani monks are able to enter the field without being harmed at all. Emh: Really? I don't expect they'd care to tell us how. Janeway: No, they wouldn't. Emh: She's not responding to conventional treatments, and frankly I'm running out of unconventional ideas as well. The level of activity in her brain is so low I can't rule out the possibility of permanent damage, even if I can revive her. The longer she stays in this condition, the less likely it is she'll ever recover. Neelix: How is she? Emh: I'm afraid there's been no change. Neelix: I've researched everything I could find about the sacred shrine. I didn't uncover much scientific evidence, but there was one story, it was in a very old text, I'm not sure how reliable, about a boy who recovered from a condition like Kes's. He was a young prince. He wandered into the shrine accidentally and he went into a death sleep. Everyone said it was the will of the spirits. His father, King Nevad, refused to accept that, so he went through the ritual to seek an audience with the spirits and he pleaded for his son's life. The spirits in their infinite mercy granted his request. That was the only trace of hope that I could find. Janeway: Maybe it's enough. Magistrate: Well, you've certainly done your research, Captain. I'm familiar with the story. I heard it as a child. Janeway: It suggests that there's still a chance for Kes. Magistrate: You're talking about a very specific case. Nevad was able to claim responsibility for the prince as a father and as a king. That's why the spirits were willing to listen to him. Janeway: The Captain of a starship is fully responsible for every member of her crew. Magistrate: So she is. Janeway: And on that basis, I'd like to go through the ritual myself. Janeway: I haven't heard from the Magistrate yet, but he seemed to think there was a strong possibility the monks would let me go through the ritual. Chakotay: Captain, forgive me, but you've never been one to put much trust in religious ceremonies. Exactly what is it you hope to accomplish? Janeway: If you're asking if I expect to speak to the Ancestral Spirits, no, of course not. But something happens to the monks when they go through the ritual. Something that allows them to withstand the effects of the biogenic field. I want to find out what that is. It might provide clues to a treatment. Chakotay: Some kind of physiological change, maybe. Janeway: That's what I'm guessing. The shamans of the Karis tribe on Delios Seven practice a ritual that increases the electrical resistance of their skin. It protects them from plasma discharges in their sacred caves. Something similar must happen during this ritual. Chakotay: We'll have to find a way to allow the Doctor to monitor your physical condition, and you should have a way to call for an emergency beam out if you need it. As a precaution. We don't have any idea what the ritual entails. Janeway: I've been reviewing the Federation's cultural database. Most traditional spirit quest ceremonies involve some kind of physical challenge or test of endurance to prove the mastery of spirit over body. My instinct tells me this one will be similar. A series of ordeals that will result in biochemical changes. Chakotay: Of course there's always the possibility that the Ancestral Spirits really do control what happens in the shrine. Janeway: To each his own, Commander, but I imagine if we scratch deep enough we'd find a scientific basis for most religious doctrines. Chakotay: I remember when my mother taught me the science underlying the vision quest. In a way I felt disappointed. Some of the mystery was gone. Maybe the Nechani have chosen not to lose the mystery. Janeway: Under other circumstances I'd be more than happy to go along with their choice. Right now, it's killing one of my crew. Kim: Bridge to the Captain. Janeway: Janeway here. Kim: You have an incoming message from the Magistrate. Janeway: Put it through to Chakotay's office. Kim: Aye, Captain. Magistrate: I must congratulate you, Captain. Your creative approach to this problem has fascinated the Nechisti Council. Janeway: Then they've approved my request. Magistrate: Eagerly. They consider it an honor that you want to seek the spirits. The ritual traditionally begins at sunset. A guide will meet you at the entrance to the sanctuary. Janeway: Thank you. I appreciate your efforts. Magistrate: I have been greatly troubled by your misfortune, Captain. If you are able to convince the spirits to spare your friend, no one would be happier than I. Emh: Everything seems to be working. The sub-dermal bioprobe will transmit any changes in your biochemistry. Kim: And Captain, the implant also contains a homing beacon which we'll be able to pick up no matter how far into the sanctuary you go. Just tap it like a comm. badge and we'll transport you immediately. Janeway: Thank you both. Janeway: I don't think that will be necessary. Tuvok: It is standard procedure to carry arms on an away mission, particularly when you don't know what to expect. Janeway: This is strictly an information gathering mission. I don't want to appear hostile. Energize. Guide: I don't suppose you know anything about chromodynamic lights? Janeway: No, not really. I suppose I could look at it. Guide: They're as fussy as tarchee cats. You tune them too high, they burn out. You tune them too low, they sputter. I've told the monks to replace them all with neodyne lights, it would save hours of repair work. That device you've got, what is that? Janeway: It's called a tricorder. Guide: A tricorder. What exactly does a tricorder do? Janeway: It's a scanning device. Guide: Interesting. May I? Ah, atmospheric reading, energy field analysis, full technical database. This is certainly a convenient thing to have. Janeway: Oh, I'd didn't mean for you to keep it. I'll need that back. Guide: Oh no, you won't. Janeway: You're my guide. Guide: Guide, advisor, spiritual companion. Whatever term you prefer is fine with me. Janeway: Why didn't you say something earlier? Guide: Shall we get started? Guide: It's all right, Kathryn. Janeway: Would it be breaking any vows of secrecy now to tell me what this ritual will involve? Guide: why do you think I know? Janeway: Haven't you been through this before? Guide: Don't worry, I'll help you find your way. Tell me, have you completely committed yourself to this journey? Janeway: Yes. Guide: You're willing to go through what the monks have been doing for centuries to help them find the spirits? Janeway: Yes. Guide: So you can send biochemical data back to you ship. No, it wasn't magic. Our bioscanners detected the microprobe under your skin. Janeway: I hope that won't be a problem. Guide: Makes no difference at all. You are fond of your little devices, aren't you. Janeway: They've always served me well. Guide: I'm sure they have. Please, come this way. Old Man 1: Who are you? Janeway: I'm Kathryn Janeway. Is this where the ritual begins? Old Man 2: Oh, the ritual. Yes. Old Woman: We're waiting. Come, join us. Janeway: What exactly are you waiting for? Old Man 2: Just waiting. Janeway: How long have you been sitting here? Old Man 2: How long has it been? Old Man 1: Why are your asking me? I've lost track. Old Man 2: It's been a while. I know that. Old Woman: Oh, it's been as long as we can remember. Janeway: Are you telling me I have to wait a lifetime before I can go through the ritual? Old Man 1: I didn't hear anyone say that, did you? Old Man 2: Certainly not. All we said was that we're waiting. Janeway: I'm just trying to understand how this works. The monks I saw in the sanctuary were young. They couldn't have waited such a long time to go through their rituals. Old Woman: She's right about that, you know. Old Man 2: She's a smart one. Old Man 1: She thinks she is, at any rate. Janeway: This is a test of some kind, isn't it. To prove my determination. Old Woman: A test? She thinks we're a test. What is she talking about? Old Man 2: She must like tests. I suppose tests make sense to her. Janeway: Has anyone ever tried to open this door? Old Man 1: How many times do we have to tell you that we are waiting? Old Woman: My dear, why don't you just sit down and relax? You're much too tense. Old Man 2: You're welcome to wait with us. Janeway: I don't want to wait. I have a friend who's depending on me. I have to go through the ritual. Old Man 1: I wonder if she's always this impatient. Old Man 2: Oh, she's just determined. She wants to get on with it. Old Woman: Seems to me she could be friendly and sit for a few minutes. Old Man 2: Oh no, she knows what she wants to do. She's not the kind to sit around when she has a mission to accomplish. Old Man 1: I told you. I told you it was locked. Guide: Yes? Janeway: I mean no disrespect, but unless there's something I'm supposed to accomplish here, I'd like to continue with the ritual. Guide: By all means. Janeway: I'm not sure how to begin. Guide: Do you want me to give you orders, Captain? Janeway: I'll do whatever you ask of me. Guide: I see. So you think this is just a matter of doing what you're told. Janeway: No. I'm sure there's spiritual significance behind the challenges involved. Guide: Challenges. That's what you expect? Janeway: I don't have any idea what to expect. I've studied a number of ritualistic societies and many of the rites have commonalities. This one may be completely different. I'm willing to do whatever is necessary. Guide: I don't doubt that. But do you realize that all of this is meaningless. That the only thing that matters is finding your connection to the spirits. Janeway: I'm going to make every effort to do that. But I didn't come here for personal enlightenment. I'm trying to save a member of my crew. Guide: That's a worthy cause. I hope the spirits listen to you. Then let's begin. The first challenge. Stand like this. Guide: Hold that. Now, what do you see in your hands? Janeway: I see a stone. Guide: Keep looking. Emh: Her respiration and pulse have remained steady, but there's been a gradual build up of lactic acid in her extensor muscles over the last hour. Chakotay: What does that mean? Is she in danger? Emh: Not at all. She's probably experiencing light strain. What you'd expect in an endurance ritual. Chakotay: Then there's nothing so far that would suggest a treatment for Kes. Emh: It's too early to tell. I'm downloading every iota of information from the bioprobe sensors into a physiometric program which is analyzing the data. Even the smallest physiological change may prove significant. We can't discount anything. Guide: What do you see now? Janeway: I still see a stone. Janeway: I guess you're not going to tell me what I'm supposed to draw. Guide: That would be too easy, wouldn't it? It's up to you. Draw whatever feels right. Janeway: I've never been able to draw. My sister was the artist in the family. Guide: And you were the scientist. Janeway: It's true. When other children were outside playing games I was doing mathematics problems. Guide: Mathematics. I can see why you enjoyed it. Solve a problem, get an answer. The answer's either right or wrong. It's very absolute. Janeway: I've always found that satisfying. Guide: I'm sure you did. Guide: What did you see? Janeway: I'm not sure. Guide: Describe it. Emh: Ah ha! Neelix: What? What is it? What have you found? Emh: There have been significant increases in the Captain's respiration, neuropeptides and adenosine triphosphate levels. Neelix: Is that bad? Emh: It certainly suggests she's going through a grueling experience. But it's the neuropeptides that are interesting. The saturations have risen to quite an abnormal level. Neelix: Is that good or bad? Emh: I can't say it's either so far as the Captain's concerned, but it certainly seems a substantial piece of information. Neuropeptide levels this high could well create a natural barrier to biogenic energy. Neelix: So you have something that will help Kes. Emh: Not yet, but it's the first piece of data that allows me even to formulate a hypothesis. Neelix: It should be me going through all that! I was the one who let Kes get hurt in the first place. Emh: Mister Neelix, you're wallowing. Neelix: I'm wallowing? Emh: In useless remorse. I'll have to ask you to stop, it's bad for the patient. Neelix: It's just frustrating to be so helpless. Emh: If it's any consolation, Mister Neelix, I do understand. Janeway: I'm exhausted. Oh, thank you. Guide: Your microprobe should be transmitting all kinds of interesting information back to the ship. Janeway: What is that? Guide: It's a nesset. They're able to travel from this world into the spirit realm. They serve as gatekeepers. Janeway: Gatekeepers? Then I'm ready to enter the spirit realm? Guide: Do you think you're ready? Janeway: Yes, I do. Guide: Then you are. Go ahead, put your hand in. Guide: We can stop right now if you like. Janeway: No, I'm not quitting. Guide: Don't be afraid. Janeway: Oh, it's burning. Oh, my chest, very tight. Kes: Captain. Captain. Guide: Kathryn. Janeway: I'm dying. Guide: Everyone dies eventually. Chakotay: It's been three days since she had any sleep. How long are we going to let her go through this? Emh: I understand your concern, Commander, but I must point out that her vital signs are stable. She seems to be in no immediate danger. Chakotay: She's been poisoned by some unknown toxin. It may be having an effect we can't gage. It could lie dormant for a few days and then suddenly fluctuate and kill her in minutes. Emh: You seem to be implying that I'm not paying attention. I assure you I am monitoring her constantly. If I thought she were in jeopardy I would act. Tuvok: Doctor, is there anything that might be preventing her from using the homing signal in her implant? Emh: Not that I'm aware of. She's fully conscious and has complete motor control. If she wanted to transport she could signal us. Chakotay: Are you getting enough meaningful information to justify her continuing this ordeal? Emh: I am getting some remarkable data. Her entire biochemistry is undergoing a series of unique interactions. Look. This amino acid has been formed as a result of the breakdown of the toxin in her blood stream. It's affecting the normal flow of neurotransmitters and very likely having an hallucinogenic effect. Tuvok: Is she delusional? Emh: I think she's experiencing the Nechani version of a psychoactive drug. Chakotay: Then is it possible she's in no condition to activate the homing signal? Emh: I don't believe that's the case, and I strongly suspect this biochemical change is going to give us the answers we need. The toxin in her bloodstream may very well be the key to getting a treatment for Kes. Tuvok: Commander, the decision is ultimately yours, of course. However, I believe it would be the Captain's desire to complete the ritual. Chakotay: All right, we'll leave her there for now, but I'm not moving from this monitor until she gets back. Janeway: What is this? An hallucination? Guide: I'm only here to serve as a voice, an interpreter for the Ancestral Spirits. Janeway: I see. If there are other beings here, could I see them myself? Guide: You mean you want proof that we exist. Janeway: That would be helpful. Guide: It's irrelevant. Janeway: I don't want to be disrespectful. I've gone through every part of the ritual that I've been asked to. Guide: Everything you've gone through is meaningless. You've been told that. Janeway: I know. I just want to bring this to completion, to make my request. Guide: Then by all means do so. Janeway: I cite the story of King Nevad as precedent. In the same way he pleaded for his son, I ask that Kes be restored to health. Guide: Your request is inconsequential. You have what you need to save her yourself. Guide: Welcome back. Janeway: How long? Guide: Does that matter? Janeway: I'd like to know. Guide: Thirty nine hours. You must take care of yourself. Your body's weak. Janeway: I guess the physical conditioning programs on the holodeck didn't quite prepare me for this. Guide: Has it been worthwhile? Janeway: I think so. I was told that I had what I needed to save Kes. Guide: Then it must be true. The spirits would not deceive you. Guide: Whenever you're ready. Janeway: Thank you. Emh: You could use a good night's sleep and a solid meal, but otherwise you're in good shape. Janeway: When can you begin treating Kes? Emh: Right away. The ritual may have been arduous for you, Captain, but it was certainly worthwhile. As I suspected, the toxin was the key. That's what produces the natural immunity the Nechani monks acquire before they enter the biogenic field. Chakotay: How does that translate into a cure for Kes? Emh: I've created a physiometric program to analyze the immune mechanism and develop a treatment regimen. Janeway: Then let's get started. Chakotay: Captain, if you'll excuse me, I'm probably more useful on the bridge right now. Emh: I'll carry out the treatment in stages to reduce the physical stress from the metabolic changes. Neelix: What's that? Is something wrong? Emh: I don't believe so. Hmm, her electrolyte balance is deviating, but that's not entirely unexpected. Neelix: It isn't. Emh: Hmm. Neelix: What does that mean? Hmm? What? Emh: Mister Neelix, if you keep on pestering me with questions I won't be able to concentrate on what I'm doing. Neelix: Something is wrong! Janeway: What is it, Doctor? Emh: Her cardiac functions are being disrupted. I don't understand it. Lectrazine should counteract the disruptions. This is baffling. Her biochemical levels are exactly what they need to be to correct the damage. She should be awake and alert. Neelix: Why isn't she? Emh: I can't explain it. Her vital signs are unstable. I have to discontinue treatment. I don't understand it. Neelix: Can't we try again? Emh: It's too dangerous. Janeway: Do you have any other options? Emh: No. I'm sorry, Captain, but it appears that everything you went through was meaningless. Janeway: You meant what you said, didn't you? Everything I went through was meaningless. Guide: Yes. Janeway: I did everything you asked of me. You led me to believe that would allow me to help Kes. Guide: I haven't led you anywhere, Kathryn. You've taken me along wherever you wanted to go. This was your ritual. You set these challenges for yourself. Janeway: It's true that I came here with certain expectations. Are you saying that you simply fulfillled my expectations? Guide: You'd have settled for nothing else. Janeway: I'm not ready to give up. If there's still a way to save Kes I want to try. Guide: You've come back to seek the spirits. Janeway: I don't know what I'm seeking. Guide: Then I believe you are ready to begin. Old Man 1: Well, look who's come back. So, your little adventure didn't quite work out the way you'd planned it. You put yourself through a lot of trouble and for nothing, didn't you. Old Man 2: Oh, don't feel bad. You wouldn't believe some of the things people have done to themselves on their way to seek the spirits. Janeway: There is no real ritual after all. Old Man 2: Real is such a relative term. Most of the challenges in life are the ones we create for ourselves. Old Woman: And you are particularly hard on yourself, aren't you. Janeway: I've always been driven to succeed. Old Man 1: Stubborn, I'd say. You didn't really consider sitting and waiting with us, did you? Janeway: Well, I'm here now and I'm asking for your help. I want to understand the purpose of waiting in this room. Old Woman: But isn't it enough to sit and be sociable? We're good company. Janeway: That's what I'm supposed to do. Talk to the Ancestral Spirits. Old Woman: First we were a test, and now we're the Ancestral Spirits. Janeway: Are you? Old Man 1: That would be nice and quantifiable for you, wouldn't it. If the spirits were something you could see and touch and scan with your little devices. Old Man 2: If you can explain everything, what's left to believe in? Janeway: I know it's an important part of your religion to trust the spirits without question, but I wasn't brought up that way. It's hard for me to accept. Old Man 1: So much for your tolerant open-minded Starfleet ideals. Janeway: There's a difference between respecting the spiritual beliefs of other cultures and embracing them myself. Old Man 1: Fine. Don't embrace a thing. It's all the same to us. Go on back to your ship and play with your molecular microscanner. Old Woman: You've tried all that already, but it didn't work, did it. Kes didn't get better. Janeway: No, she didn't. Old Woman: Why not? Janeway: The Doctor couldn't explain it. Old Woman: So it's inexplicable. A miraculous non-recovery. Janeway: We haven't found the reason yet. Old Woman: But of course you will. You'll find all the answers eventually, with enough time and study, and the right sort of tools. That's what you believe isn't it as a scientist? Old Man 1: Be honest. Janeway: Yes, that's what I've always believed. Old Man 2: Even when her science fails right before her eyes she still has full confidence in it. Now there's a leap of faith. Old Woman: Unconditional trust. Now that's promising. Janeway: All right. If you're saying that science won't help Kes, what will? Old Man 1: You won't like it. Janeway: I'm willing to do whatever's necessary. Old Man 1: Kill her. She's as good as dead already, finish the job! Give her another jolt of that what do you call it, biogenic field. Old Woman: That would do it. Janeway: It would do what, exactly. Old Man 1: There you go again, always looking for a rational explanation. Well there isn't one. Your orbital scans and medical research have given you the facts, and they tell you the biogenic field is lethal. Old Woman: If you believe the facts. Old Man 2: Let all of that go, Kathryn. Take Kes back into the shrine and trust the spirits to return her soul. Janeway: The ritual I went through is meaningless, and Kes has done nothing to prepare herself. How could either of us be ready to go through the field? Old Man 2: If you believe you're ready, then you are. There's no more to it than that. Old Man 1: But if you go in with any doubt, with any hesitation, then you're both dead. So, what are you going to do, Captain? Janeway: You know I won't stand by and watch Kes die if there's anything I can do to save her. I want to believe it's possible. I'm going to try. Janeway: Janeway to Chakotay. Chakotay: Captain, we've been worried about you. Janeway: I'm all right. I want you to beam Kes down here to the sanctuary. Chakotay: Acknowledged. I'll bring her down myself. Chakotay to sickbay. Doctor, prepare Kes for transport. Emh: Understood. Chakotay: The Doctor says her life signs are deteriorating. He almost wouldn't let us take her out of sickbay. Neelix: Have you found a way to help her? Janeway: Yes, I have. I'm taking her back into the biogenic field. Neelix: I hate to question you, Captain, but why? Janeway: I believe it will save her life. Chakotay: You have some new information on the effects of the field? Janeway: I can't explain it to you. Chakotay: Captain, you've been through a lot in the past few days. Janeway: I know what I'm doing. Chakotay: Are you sure of that? There are eight hundred megajoules of biogenic energy running through that shrine. The thoron radiation levels are off the scale. That's what you'd be taking yourself and her into. Why don't you take some time to think about this and let us run a few more scans. Janeway: No. Chakotay: Captain, this isn't like you. Neelix: You know you'll always have my gratitude for everything you've done to save Kes, but I couldn't and I know she couldn't ask you to risk your own life like this. There are too many other people who need you. Chakotay: He's right. It's my responsibility to keep you safe, for the crew's sake if not for your own. I'd rather not have to relieve you of duty, but if your judgment's been impaired in any way. Guide: He can't really do that, can he? Janeway: Yes, he can. Guide: I suppose it might be necessary if the Captain of a ship were really mentally impaired, but you're not crazy, Kathryn, you know that. Neelix: These are the same people who were willing to let Kes die just for disturbing their shrine. Can you take their word for it that you'll be safe in there? Guide: I can't give you my word on that. Nobody knows what will happen to them in the shrine until they go in. I don't know the answers. But you do. Chakotay: Captain, I don't understand this. Janeway: Neither do I. That's the challenge. Janeway: Kes. Emh: The tricorder readings Commander Chakotay took at the shrine revealed traces of iridium ions, which we could have known about sooner if we'd been permitted to take those readings in the first place. Kes: And iridium ions are significant? Emh: They caused a temporary dielectric effect in the outer epidermal layers which neutralized some of the biogenic energy. Not much, but enough to make the Captain's altered biochemistry an effective defense. Kes: Then how was I cured? Emh: The metabolic treatment I administered protected you against the full impact of exposure to the field when the Captain took you through. That exposure functioned like a natural cortical stimulator and reactivated your synaptic pathways. Kes: That's fascinating, Doctor. Emh: Captain? If there's something about my analysis you disagree with. Janeway: It's a perfectly sound explanation, Doctor. Very scientific.

Radio: Demonstration at U C Santa Cruz campus last night. Tear gas was used to disperse a crowd of three thousand angry students. The temperature right now in down town Barstow is seventy five degrees. Starling: Far out! Janeway: Come in! Janeway: Oh. Sorry, Tuvok. I was just practicing my serve. Tuvok: Your serve? Janeway: Tennis. After nineteen years I've decided to take it up again. I'm a little rusty. I played in a novice tournament on the holodeck. I lost my first match in straight sets. Tuvok: Perhaps if you maintained eye contact with the ball at the apex of its trajectory, your serve would be more effective. Janeway: You play tennis. Tuvok: Simple physics, Captain. Janeway: Not as simple as when I played on the High School tennis team. What can I do for you, Tuvok? Tuvok: I've completed my monthly security evaluation. All systems and crew Chakotay: Red Alert! Captain Janeway to the bridge. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: Some sort of spatial rift. It opened right in front of us. Janeway: Analysis. Kim: It's a distortion in the space-time continuum, but it's got a graviton matrix. It's being artificially generated. Chakotay: By whom? Kim: Sensors can't get inside. The distortion field's fluctuating. Something's coming out. Tuvok: It appears to be a small ship, approximately six meters in length. Janeway: Magnify. Tuvok: Sensors are reading one occupant, human. He is holding position at the perimeter of the rift. Kim: There's a subspace signature emanating from the ship. Captain, it's Federation! Janeway: Hail them. Tuvok: No response. They appear to be charging weapons. Chakotay: Shields up! Hail them again. Tuvok: Shields are down. Janeway: Get us out of here. Paris: Helm control is offline. Kim: He's firing some kind of sub-atomic disruptor. Janeway: Return fire. Tuvok: Full phasers. No effect. Kim: Voyager's molecular structure is coming apart! Chakotay: Tuvok, divert all available power to the deflector. Send out a high energy polaron pulse. It might help to disrupt his weapon. Tuvok: Emitting deflector pulse now. Kim: It's working. Tuvok: We are being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Braxton: Starship Voyager, I'm Captain Braxton of the Federation Timeship Eon. I've come from twenty-ninth century Earth, five hundred years into your future. Please disengage your deflector pulse. Janeway: Why are you firing at us? Braxton: Your vessel is responsible for a disaster in my century. A temporal explosion that will destroy all Earth's solar system. I've come back in time to prevent that occurrence. My mission is your destruction. You must not resist. Janeway: I'm going to need some more information before I allow you to Braxton: Debris from your secondary hull was found in the explosion. Janeway: Captain, I simply Braxton: No time! Tuvok: He's remodulating the sub-atomic disruptor. Our deflector is losing power, it won't hold much longer. Chakotay: Captain, if he's telling the truth Janeway: I won't sacrifice this crew based on a ten second conversation. I need proof. Chakotay: It doesn't look like we're going to get it. Janeway: Adjust our deflector to match the frequency of his weapon. Try to overload his emitter. Tuvok: It seems to be working. His weapon is offline and his ship has been damaged. The rift is destabilizing and he's being pulled back inside. Janeway: Re-establish helm control. Paris: I'm trying, Captain, but we seem to be caught in some kind of graviton distortion. We're being pulled in too. Janeway: Status. Tuvok: Primary systems are coming back online. The weapons array and power grid took heavy damage. Kim: The temporal rift is closed. Chakotay: Where are we? Paris: Home. Chakotay: We just cut across half the galaxy! Janeway: The rift must have originated here. Hail Starfleet Command. Tuvok: No response on standard frequencies. Curious. I am picking up a multitude of narrow band EM signals. Janeway: Let's hear it. Janeway: The question isn't where we are, it's when we are. Mister Kim. Kim: According to astrometric readings the year is 1996. Chakotay: The late twentieth century. Paris: Captain, they had surveillance satellites during this time. Janeway: Maintain a high orbit. And modulate the shields to scatter their radar. We don't want to alarm the natives. Chakotay: What about the time ship? Is it here too? Tuvok: There is no sign of the vessel in orbit. Scanning the planet surface. I am picking up low frequency subspace readings emanating from the northern hemisphere. Chakotay: Subspace technology shouldn't exist for another hundred years or so. Janeway: It could be our friend from the twenty ninth century. Localize it. Tuvok: North American continent, Pacific coast. The city of Los Angeles. Janeway: We've got to go down there. If it is Captain Braxton, he's the key to all this, and at the moment his ship is the only way we have of getting back to our own century. Chakotay, Tuvok, Paris, you're with me. Mister Kim, you have the bridge. Kim: Yes, Ma'am! Janeway: As I recall, Tom, you're something of an aficionado on twentieth century America. Paris: That's right. Janeway: What will we need to pass as locals in this era? Paris: Simple. Nice clothes, fast car and lots of money. Tuvok: We could have worn our Starfleet uniforms. I doubt if anyone would have noticed. Janeway: The subspace readings are coming from within a one hundred meter radius of our position, but I can't pinpoint the source. Chakotay: I find it hard to believe a ship from the twenty ninth century could have landed on this beach without being noticed. Janeway: We have no idea what kind of technology they might have in the future. Maybe it's cloaked. Let's spread out. Tuvok, Paris, go check the shoreline. Chakotay and I will search the boardwalk. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: Well, Kathryn, you got us home. Janeway: Right place, wrong time. But it is good to be back, nevertheless. Chakotay: Maybe I should look up a few ancestors. As I recall, one of them was a schoolteacher in Arizona. Janeway: I don't know what my relatives were doing this far back in history. Girl On Blades: Coming through. Sorry. Janeway: For all I know, she could be my great, great, great, great grandmother. Chakotay: She does have your legs. Janeway: Have you ever been to southern California, Chakotay? Chakotay: No. Janeway: After the Hermosa quake in 2047 this entire region sank under two hundred meters of water. It became one of the world's largest coral reefs, home to thousands of different marine species. Chakotay: Some interesting species in this century. Tuvok: Subspace readings are weaker here. Paris: Let's head up to the board walk. Ah, the sun feels great. Tuvok: Thermal and ultraviolet radiation are at hazardous levels. Paris: Lighten up, Tuvok. This was a great time and place and you're getting to see it first hand. Come on, take off your shirt. Tuvok: And risk dermal dysplasia? No, thank you. Paris: Oh, Vulcans. Deep down you're all a bunch of hypochondriacs. Janeway: The readings are coming from over there. Ten meters. There. Chakotay: So much for the timeship. Janeway: There's no doubt about it. The subspace readings are coming from him. Rain: No way. Rain: Way. Starling: It's crap. The component density is too low, the voltage variance is out of spec and I don't even like the color. Jim: But Mister Starling Starling: We've got less than six months before we introduce the HyperPro PC, and with a chip like this driving it we'll have to change the name to Edsel. I gave your company this contract because you're the best in the business, next to us of course. Go home, Jim. Lose some sleep over this. I want a full report middle of next week. Starling: What am I doing, Dave? Dave: You're in a meeting, sir. Starling: And? Dave: And, I know I'm not supposed to interrupt, but there's a woman calling on line three from Griffith Observatory. A Rain Robinson. She say's it's urgent. Starling: Put her through. Henry Starling. Rain: Hi, I don't know if you remember me. I'm one of the astronomers at the SETI lab you're funding. We met at the Griffith restoration party. Starling: Yes, yes. What it is? Rain: Okay. Well, it was my understanding you wanted to be notified immediately if I ever picked up a gamma emission that matched the frequency profile you gave me? Well, I did, so I am. Starling: Are you certain? Rain: Positive. I tracked the emission and guess what, the source is in orbit. It is right above us. Starling: When did it show up? Rain: According to the raw data, about ninety minutes ago. I'm not picking up anything from the standard search parameters. Wow. That means no one else knows there's something up there. We've got to tell somebody about this. We've got to call NASA! Starling: Rain, that's a little premature, don't you think? This could be a close encounter, but then again, it could be a flock of geese. Rain: Geese don't park themselves twenty thousand kilometers above North America. Let's send a message up there, see if there's any response. Starling: No! No, we don't know what we've found. And until we do, I'm not going to risk embarrassing myself, or your Observatory. Track the emission, get more data and keep me informed. In the meantime, I'm going to put a bottle of champagne on ice. Do you think ET likes Chateau Coeur? Rain: Well if he doesn't I've got a six-pack in the fridge. Starling: Good work, Rain. Stay in touch. Rain: Oh, what the hell. Anyone up there? Torres: That trip through the rift is still affecting our primary systems. Weapons are offline, we blew three EPS conduits, and our main transporter buffer just crashed. Kim: We've got an away team down there. Torres: I know. We've still got emergency transporters but they're short range. Kim: How close to the surface would we have to get to beam them up? Torres: Pretty close. I'd say less than ten kilometers. Kim: If we do that somebody's going to see us. Kaplan: Sir, I'm picking up an EM signal from the planet surface. It's directed at our co-ordinates. Kim: On screen. Seti Message: Greetings from the people of Earth. Kaplan: Shall I respond, sir? Kim: Absolutely not. Janeway: He appears to live on the street. That pushcart seems to contain all his belongings. Chakotay: From what we can tell he spends most of his time putting up literature about the end of the world. Janeway: Janeway here. Kim: Captain, we've got a problem. We received a signal from the surface. It looks like a standard Kim: Greeting designed for extraterrestrials. Janeway: We've been detected. Kim: It looks that way. We tracked the signal to Kim: An observatory about twenty kilometers from your location. Janeway: Transport Paris and Tuvok to those co-ordinates. Kim: I can't do that right now, not without going into a lower orbit. The main pattern Kim: Buffer is offline. B'Elanna says it could take a couple of days to repair. Janeway: In that case Janeway: Transmit those coordinates to Mister Tuvok's tricorder. He and Tom will have to get there using more conventional means. Kim: Aye Captain, Kim out. Paris: Nobody walks in Los Angeles and they don't have much of a public transportation system. We're going to need some wheels. Janeway: Do what you have to do. Find out who sent that message and get more information. Have we been detected, how many people know about us? We cannot risk contaminating the timeline. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Paris: See you later. Braxton: Who the hell are you! This is my stuff! Janeway: It's all right, we don't want your stuff. We just want to ask you a few questions. Braxton: No, no, no, no, no more questions, no. No more surveys. Damn social workers coming around all the time. No, I don't need your advice, I don't need your. Voyager. I knew you'd show up. This is all your fault, this is all your doing! Janeway: Captain Braxton? Braxton: I told you to turn off your deflector pulse, but you wouldn't listen to me. Voyager. Fools! Janeway: Captain, what's happened to you? The last time we saw you Braxton: I was a younger man, confident in my mission. But you wouldn't listen to me. Bo, you were too concerned with yourselves! Chakotay: You were trying to destroy us. Braxton: I was trying to save billions of lives. To stop a chain reaction that started with Voyager! It's too late now. All things are set in motion. The terrible explosion will occur. The end is coming! The future's end. Janeway: Captain, how long have you been here in the twentieth century? Braxton: Too long. Thirty years too long. Chakotay: And yet we just arrived. Why? Braxton: Pure chance. When you knocked my navigational system off course there's no telling where we may have ended up. Who's been here? Who took my pencils? Oh, always something missing. Oh, always trying to steal things. Oh, greedy people. Post-industrial barbarians! Janeway: Captain, we want to help you, but you've got to give us more information. You said that Voyager causes the explosion. Braxton: Yes. No. Yes. That's the paradox, my dear. A leads to B leads to C leads to A. Juvenile minds. Oh, how can I make you understand, huh? A. There's an explosion in the twenty ninth century. Debris from Voyager's hull is found in evidence. I go back in time to destroy you. B. You try to stop me, disabling my weapon which causes me to crash-land back here in the twentieth century. C. Someone in this century steals my timeship and launches it. They go into the future and once there they make one critical mistake which causes a terrible explosion that takes us all the way back to A. There's an explosion in the twenty ninth century. The cycle of causality is complete. Janeway: How do you know all this? What evidence do you have that it will be your timeship that causes the disaster? Braxton: Ah, I've spent thirty years answering that very question. Ah, yes, when the explosion first happened, my sensors recorded a whole variety of chronometric data. The pulses were highly chaotic. At first I thought it was a warp core implosion, but then I found debris from Voyager and my theory seemed to be confirmed. It was you. But then someone here stole my timeship and it started to dawn on me. If someone were to fly my timeship into the future without recalibrating the temporal matrix then that could cause the kind of explosion that I witnessed in the twenty ninth century. Janeway: So it really wasn't Voyager after all. Braxton: No. No, no, I reconstructed all the chronometric data as best I could remember it and it proved I was right. My ship causes the catastrophe. Chakotay: Which raises the question, who has your timeship? Braxton: Starling. Henry Starling, CEO Chronowerx Industries. Philanthropist, entrepreneur, outstanding citizen. Pa! Before I crashed in 1967 I made an emergency beam out, but he found my ship before I did in some remote mountain range. I've been following this corrupt little man ever since, tracking his movements. He's become too powerful. I can't get close to him. Of course, you can't accomplish anything in this wretched century. Nobody here listens. Do you know that once they put me in a mental institution and filled me with primitive pharmaceuticals. Chakotay: Maybe we can help you find Starling and your ship, and get us back to where we belong. Braxton: Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you. Janeway: Why not? Braxton: Haven't you been listening? A leads to B Janeway: Leads to C. Yes, we heard you. Why shouldn't we try to stop Starling? Braxton: Because somehow you're involved in the disaster. That's why I found debris from Voyager's hull at the explosion. You will be destroyed as well. Chakotay: Now that we know what's going to happen, maybe we can figure out Policeman: Hey, Captain, how you doing? Understand you've been putting these signs up around the city again. Braxton: No. No, no, no. Not me. I would never do that. Policeman: Why don't you walk over here and we can talk about it. Braxton: Stay right where you are, quasi-Cardassian totalitarian. Policeman: No need to get upset about this, we just want to talk to you about the signs. Now, there've been a few people complaining. Braxton: Captain, tell them I'm not crazy. Tell them I'm from the future. They came from the future too, you know. Policeman: Okay. Braxton: They came in on a starship. Policeman: All right. Braxton: Traitors! Janeway: We'll have to worry about him later. Right now, we've got to find Starling. Starling: We're not quite at the little green men stage yet, but believe me, you'll be the first to know. What I think we have here is an overenthusiastic young lady. I'm afraid she's exaggerating. We don't have anything, not yet. Thank you, Professor. Starling: You know what that little brat did? She emailed a friend of hers at JPL, who called his professor at CalTech. She's a security risk. Go to Griffith, get the data, get rid of her. Dunbar: Yes, sir. Starling: Dunbar! If it's true, if they're here, it's only a matter of time before they find me. There's no telling what capabilities they'll have. You may have to use the weapon. Dunbar: I understand. Tuvok: Perhaps we should find a more suitable parking place. This is, after all, a stolen vehicle. Paris: Nobody's around, Tuvok. We're fine. Tuvok: A taxi cab would have been less worrisome and more ethical. Paris: We haven't stolen anything. We borrowed a car. And we'll return it to the dealership as soon as we're done. Tuvok: I was referring to the ethics of time travel. Paris: Somehow I doubt that taking a test drive is going to alter the course of the universe. Paris: Over here. These are radio wave readouts. It looks like radio telescope transmissions. Pretty basic. Tuvok: Lieutenant, you are being careless. Paris: Tuvok! Tuvok: I will not lighten up on the matter. Thus far I have tolerated your impulsive methods. At times they have worked to our advantage. But diskretion is also a virtue. We must leave things exactly as they were. Paris: They've found us all right. The orbital schematic matches Voyager's position. Tuvok: According to this data, they are tracking the warp emissions from our engines. Paris: Nobody in this century even knows what warp emission are. Tuvok: Nevertheless, it appears they have configured their telescope to scan for them. Rain: Excuse me. Do not enter, employees only. The sign on the door. Paris: I'm sorry, I think we're a little lost. We were on the museum tour and we took a wrong turn at the Saturn exhibit. Tuvok: Perhaps you could tell us how to get back to the lobby. Rain: Go right down the hall, take a left at Mars, right at Halley's Comet and then just keep going straight ahead past the soda machine. Paris: This lab is er, pretty groovy. Rain: Groovy. Paris: What do you do here? Rain: We watch the skies. Paris: For what? Rain: Signs of extraterrestrial life. Nice meeting you. Paris: My name is Tom Paris, by the way. Rain: Rain Robinson. Paris: Your curves don't look so great. Rain: Excuse me? Paris: This is a Fourier spectral analysis? Rain: That's exactly what it is. Paris: You know, you might get better resolution if you adjust your amplitude parameters. Rain: You're probably right Paris: Or you might try using a theta band filter. Rain: You know a lot for someone who can't find his way past Saturn. Paris: I majored in astrophysics. Rain: Where? Paris: Starfleet Academy. Rain: Never heard of it. Paris: East coast school. Paris: Orgy of the Walking Dead? That's a classic! Did you see the sequel, Bride of the Corpse? Rain: Let me guess. You minored in B movies. Paris: Something like that. Tuvok: Pardon me, Tom. We should be going. Our friends are waiting for us. Paris: Yeah, right. Got to go. Rain: Hey, I do the planetarium show Tuesday nights, so er, you guys should come by, check it out, bring your friends. The best stars in Hollywood are right above us. Paris: Yeah, great, but I think we're busy on Tuesday. Thanks anyway. Rain: No problem. Rain: Whoa! Tuvok: I downloaded all of her data into the tricorder and disrupted her data storage device. Paris: Good. I hope she doesn't get in any trouble. Tuvok: It will simply look like a computer malfunction. Paris: It's a shame, though. She was about to make the biggest discovery in human history. It could have changed her career. Tuvok: And ended ours. I am curious, Lieutenant, what does it mean, groovy? Rain: Hey! Hey you, guys! Paris: Red alert! Rain: Hey! Hey! Just wait a minute! What the hell did you do to my computer? It is screwed up! The hard drive is wiped! Paris: Look, I don't have time to explain. Rain: Who are you people, and what is that thing in your pants? Tuvok: I beg your pardon? Rain: That little gadget you put in your pocket, what is it, a Demagnetizer? Paris: Get down! Rain: What the hell? Paris: Do you have a car? Rain: Yeah, over there. Tuvok: We'll need to use it. Operations Officer's log, supplemental. We've been on full sensor alert looking for signs that anyone else has detected Voyager. As a precaution, I've also asked Neelix and Kes to monitor all media broadcasts. Kes: We've set up a computer algorithm to search for key words and phrases. Anything that might indicate Voyager. Kim: Anything so far? Neelix: Not yet, although we have come across some very intriguing televised broadcasts. Take a look at this. It's a form of entertainment called a soap opera. The exploration of human relationships is fascinating. Kim: I can't imagine just watching the story and not being a part of it. Kes: That's because you've been spoiled by the holodeck. There's something to be said for non-interactive stories like this, being swept away in the narrative. Neelix: Oh, I can't wait to see if Blaine's twin brother is the father of Jessica's baby. Kim: Good work. Keep me informed, and don't get too swept away. Neelix: Er, aye, sir. Sharon: Nobody'll know the difference. Jack: I'll know, Sharon. He's my brother. How can I face him knowing that our son is his son? Sharon: All you need to know, Jack, is that I love you! Chakotay: So far, so good. We haven't set off any alarms. Janeway: Our Mister Starling has built himself quite a corporate empire. Looks like he's got wealth, celebrity and an ego to match. Chakotay: I see you never learned to type. Janeway: Turn of the millennium technology wasn't a required course at the Academy. This is like stone knives and bearskins. Chakotay: Well, this isn't. I'm detecting a forcefield. I can't scan beyond this wall. I don't see an access port or a control panel. Janeway: Maybe we can find something in his computer. Oh, he's got a massive database here, but it's protected by an encryption sequence. I'm going to try interfacing my tricorder. Chakotay: Looks like a series of pictographs. They must have used symbols to represent the different functions of the computer. Janeway: Let's see what Henry's been up to all these years. Tuvok: The transtators were disrupted by that energy weapon. Our communicators are useless. Paris: That means we can't call the, our friends. What do we do now? Rain: You're going to take a right at the next light and a left at the taco stand, because you're taking me home! And you're not keeping the van! Tuvok: I am afraid that is not possible, Miss Robinson. Your life may be in danger. Rain: I'm going to pop this hatch and I'm going to start screaming until you tell me what's going on. Who are you? What is that thing in orbit? Why did that guy try to kill us? Paris: I told you, we're secret agents. Rain: I'm opening the hatch. Paris: Look, we saved your life. Isn't it obvious we're on your side? Rain: I'm standing up. I'm taking a deep breath! Paris: Rain, you're not going to scream! I know you're frightened and you've seen some pretty strange things, but you have to trust me! We're not going to hurt you and I will explain everything. It's either that or take your chances with the guy who tried to vaporize you. Rain: The UFO, what is it? Paris: It's a Soviet spy satellite. Part of a massive KGB operation. We're trying to stop it. Rain: Soviet? The USSR broke up five years ago. The KGB doesn't even exist anymore. Paris: That's what they'd like you to think. Tuvok: Perhaps we've told her enough for now. Rain: What about you, Agent Tuvok? What's up with those ears? Thought I didn't notice? I did. What about your weapons? What are they, lasers? Tuvok: I'm sorry, that information is classified. And as for my ears, they are a family trait. Paris: He's very sensitive about them. Rain: Whatever. Tuvok: We must find a way to contact our friends. Janeway: Incredible. Starling's computer designs were inspired by technology from the timeship. He introduced the very first isograted circuit in 1969, two years after Braxton's ship crash-landed. Chakotay: Any every few years there's been an equally revolutionary advance in computers, all from Chronowerx Industries, all based on Starling's crude understanding of twenty ninth century technology. Janeway: Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Chakotay? Chakotay: I wish I weren't. Janeway: The computer age of the late twentieth century Chakotay: Shouldn't have happened. Janeway: But it did, and it's part a of our history. All because of that timeship. Look at this. Gantry, power conduits, telemetry consoles. This looks like a design for a launching bay. Chakotay: Braxton was right. The ship's going to be launched. Janeway: We've got to send these schematics to Voyager for analysis. Janeway to Voyager. Kim: Kim here, Captain. Janeway: We're in Starling's office. I want you to establish a comm. link with my tricorder and try to upload his computer database. Kim: Aye, Captain. We'll need a few minutes to reconfigure to their binary system. Janeway: Acknowledged. Let's see if we can find out where the location of that launch pad is. Chakotay: You're really getting the hang of this. Janeway: I'm a quick study. Chakotay: You know, Captain, in a way Braxton was right. If we hadn't fought him when he tried to destroy Voyager, he wouldn't have been pulled back in time, his ship wouldn't have crash-landed on Earth, and none of this would have happened. Janeway: Time travel. Ever since my first day in the job as a Starfleet Captain I swore I'm never let myself get caught in one of these godforsaken paradoxes. The future is the past, the past is the future. It all gives me a headache. Chakotay: Hold on. This looks promising. Try timeship security portal. Janeway: Maybe it's linked to some kind of surveillance system. An image of the launch bay would give us a clue to it's location. Starling: I see you've made yourself at home. Welcome to the twentieth century. I know who you are. You're from the future. I knew you'd come back one day. I detected your vessel in orbit and Mister Dunbar here had a run-in with your friends. You're here to take the timeship. Janeway: Mister Starling, you're about to cause a terrible disaster that will affect the twenty ninth century. An explosion that will cost billions of lives. We're here to stop you from doing that. Starling: What are you talking about? Chakotay: If you launch that ship and travel to the future, it will destroy Earth's solar system. Starling: How do you know this? Janeway: Well, let's just say we talked to the ship's previous owner. He told us that if it's temporal matrix isn't precisely calibrated, you'll trigger a temporal explosion. That ship shouldn't be here. It belongs to another century. We have to take it back. Starling: What's that? Janeway: It's a communication device. Someone's trying to contact me. Starling: Answer it. Janeway: Janeway here. Kim: Captain, we've established the comm. link. We're ready to upload on your signal. Janeway: Do it. Starling: My database! Stop or I'll kill your Captain. Kim: Who is this? Starling: You've got five seconds. Kim: Break the link. Torres: Done. Kim: What's our transporter status? Torres: The main pattern buffers are still offline. We can try an emergency transport from a lower orbit. Kim: That's exactly what the Captain ordered us not to do. We'd be risking detection. Torres: Harry, we can't worry about that now. Their lives are in danger. Kim: And if somebody sees a starship flying through the clouds? Torres: The Captain put you in charge. It is your decision. Kim: Helm, get a fix on Chakotay and the Captain. Crewman: Aye, sir. Kim: B'Elanna, stand by emergency transporters. Get ready to beam them directly to the bridge. Take us down. Starling: You've taken over three thousand gigabits of information, including my launch plan. But that's not going to be a problem, Captain. I'll make a few changes to my travel itinerary. You're not going to stop me. Janeway: If you don't give us that ship, we'll take it by force. Starling: In case you haven't noticed, I'm holding the gun. Janeway: Not for long. I've got a starship in orbit that can vaporize this entire building in the blink of an eye. Starling: And you along with it. Janeway: If necessary. Starling: Captain, you've got some cojones. Starling: Kill them! Starling: Damn! Janeway: Helm, maintain present altitude. Keep us within transporter range. Chakotay, see if you can disable the forcefield around that timeship. B'Elanna, prepare to lock onto the timeship and beam it to cargo bay two. Ensign Kim, you have an impeccable sense of timing. Not bad for your first day in the big chair. Starling: The forcefield's down. Dunbar: Sir, the timeship! Starling: They're trying to teleport the ship! Torres: The matter stream is modulating. He's disrupting transport. Starling: Yes! Kim: Captain, I don't understand how, but he's using our transporter beam as a downlink. He's accessing our main computer. Torres: Every time I try to disable his downlink he comes up with a new command override. Janeway: Starling is using twenty ninth century technology against us. We may not be able to keep up with him. Chakotay: Inertial dampers are offline. He's gotten into our propulsion systems. Janeway: Disengage transporters. Torres: Destabilizing matter stream. Transporters offline. Kim: We've terminated the downlink, Captain, but he got at least twenty percent of our main computer files. Janeway: Get us back into orbit and I want a full damage report. Starling: Captain Janeway, Henry Starling here. Janeway: This is Janeway. Starling: USS Voyager, Intrepid class. Much bigger than I expected, and much less advanced. Says here your ship was launched in the year 2371? You're from the twenty fourth century? And here all this time I though you were from the twenty ninth. Looks like I have the home field advantage. Ooo, what's this? Starling: Oh, now this is interesting. Chakotay: Damage reports are coming in. Some minor power fluctuations in the impulse drive and a few burned out circuits in the main computer core. Nothing we can't handle. Kes: Sickbay to bridge. Captain, I can't find the Doctor. Janeway: Is his program offline? Kes: No. His program is gone. Emh: Where am I? Dunbar: Who are you? Starling: Welcome. Neelix: Captain, this is Neelix. There's something on the television I think you should see. Neelix: It's a current events program. Kim: I asked Neelix to monitor Earth broadcasts. I'm transferring it to the main viewer. Announcer: Incredible footage was caught just an hour ago by a man using his camcorder to tape a backyard barbeque. The massive unidentifiable object doesn't appear to be a meteorite, weather balloon or satellite, and one aviation expert we've spoken to has stated that it's definitely not any kind of US aircraft currently in use. We're waiting investigation by local authorities and we'll keep you updated as news develops on this incredible story. To be continued... Rain: Let me guess. Someone broke into the van last night while I was sleeping, tried to snatch the stereo, you bravely fought them off and now you're repairing the damage. Paris: That's exactly what happened. Rain: My hero. What's it like? Life as a spy, I mean. Paris: Classified. Rain: Oh, right. I forgot. But you said secret agent and nobody says secret agent. And you do that a lot. You get things not quite right, like you don't belong here. Paris: Rain, you're fantasizing. Rain: And you're insulting my intelligence. Yesterday afternoon I picked up a UFO in orbit. Today my life is completely out of control, so don't think I'm too stupid to notice. Paris: I apologize. Rain: Accepted. Paris: Would you also accept that there are lives at stake here? The more you keep asking me questions, the more difficult you make things. For everybody. Rain: I'll try. Paris: So, why'd you become an astronomer? Rain: My brother had a telescope, a little refractor. You could barely see in the tree house next door actually, but it was enough. It was enough to see the rings of Saturn. I remember. I remember I used to think that they looked like jewels from a pirate's treasure. All I ever wanted since then was to reach up and touch them. Tuvok: Good morning. Rain: Agent Tuvok, what's up? Tuvok: Breakfast is up. Have you made any progress? Paris: I think so. Rain: Chili burritos, foot long hot dogs and Goliath Gulps. This is not a breakfast, this is an afternoon at Dodger Stadium. Tuvok: And that is a non-sequitur. Would you please hand me a burrito. Rain: Everything you guys do is just a little bit off. Paris: These things are kind of crude. So much for sending a locator signal. Tuvok: There is another option. Paris: The radio dish at the Observatory. We could use the same set up Rain: The same set up as I used to send that message to your whatever it is up in orbit. Tuvok: We will require your assistance. Rain: No kidding. Paris: Well? Rain: Not on an empty stomach. Chakotay: Starling downloaded nearly twenty percent of our computer core while we were trying to beam the timeship out of his building. Torres: I'm replacing those programs as quickly as I can, but some of it isn't retrievable. Kes: Like the Doctor. There's literally nothing left of him. He's just gone. Janeway: Unfortunately the Doctor is only one of our problems. Our weapons are offline, Tuvok and Paris are still missing somewhere in Los Angeles, and we've confirmed Captain Braxton's hypothesis. If Starling does attempt a flight to the future, it will most likely end in disaster. Kim: Captain. I've analyzed Braxton's schematic. The temporal technology is incredibly complex. Torres: No matter how much a genius this Starling might be, he is not a trained pilot from the twenty ninth century. Chakotay: Without the exact calibration, that ship will rip the time-space continuum apart. Kim: The instant he jumps to the twenty ninth century, there won't be a twenty ninth century. Not for Earth anyway. The entire solar system will be destroyed. Janeway: I want that timeship. Torres: Long range transporters are still down. We'd have to drop out of orbit again. Neelix: Captain, I strongly recommend against that. The more legitimate news organizations have apparently decided that the Voyager image is fraudulent. However I've also been monitoring more official channels and the United States military is taking things just a little more seriously. Chakotay: If we risk another pass through the lower atmosphere, there's a chance of getting intercepted by the Air Force. Janeway: If we can't get to the ship, maybe we can get to the man. Torres, I want Crewwoman: Captain Janeway. I'm receiving a transmission from Lieutenant Tuvok, audio only. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, report. Tuvok: Lieutenant Paris and I are at the Griffith Observatory Tuvok: In the Hollywood Hills. We have modified the satellite dish transmitter to carry and receive Voyager communication frequencies. I regret the bad connection. Janeway: That's quite all right, Mister Tuvok. What's happened? Tuvok: We have become associated with a young woman employed at the astronomical laboratory. It was she who sent the message to Voyager, but her lab is under the supervision of an individual Tuvok: Named Henry Starling. Janeway: Oh, we've met Mister Starling. He has the timeship and he's the one who will cause the disaster in the twenty ninth century. Tuvok: Then it would seem we must find a way to stop him. Janeway: Tell me about this young woman. Can we trust her? Tuvok: She and Lieutenant Paris appear to be bonding on a cross-cultural level. I would have to say yes. Janeway: Ask if she'd be willing to help us. Starling: How's it going? Emh: I find your interest in my well-being to be less than genuine. Starling: Try to be a little more grateful, Doc. The schematics I downloaded from your ship indicate you were stuck in the sickbay twenty four hours a day. Emh: I recently suffered a severe program loss and I'm still in the process of retrieving my memory files, but apparently on a few occasions I have been projected into other locations. Undoubtedly you're using a similar procedure. Starling: My holographic simulator. We use it to test our new microchip designs. I projected you through the emitters in the office. Your program really isn't very sophisticated. Emh: That is a matter of opinion. Now would you please return me to my vessel. Starling: Can't do that. Not yet. I've a few questions I want answered. Emh: If you have need of medical expertise, I would refer you to a more local physician. Starling: All Captain Janeway's talk of a disaster I caused is just smoke. You came here to steal my timeship. Emh: That is simply not the case. Starling: That timeship is from the twenty ninth century. Technology five hundred years more advanced than anything you've got. You'd love to get your hands on it. You figured I'd be any easy target. Some backwards twentieth century Neanderthal that doesn't know what he's got. But you found out otherwise, didn't you? Emh: A paranoid response indicative of bipolar personality disorder. If my history is accurate, southern California in the late twentieth century had no shortage of psychotherapists, competent and otherwise. I suggest you find one. Now, return me to Voyager. Starling: I've learned your weapons are damaged, your ship's teleporter's half shot, but I didn't get all the personnel files. I have to know my enemy. Give me Captain Janeway's psychological profile. Emh: I'm a doctor, not a database. Starling: I'd say you're a little bit of both. Start talking. Emh: Or suffer the consequences? Hardly. I'm a hologram. I experience neither pain nor fear of death. You have no means of coercing me. Starling: Pain. It's an interesting sensation, isn't it. Emh: I, I never realized. Starling: How unpleasant it could be? This is what burning feels like. For a human to experience what you're going through right now, he'd have to be on fire. Emh: How? Starling: By reconfiguring your tactile response sensors. Easy as proverbial pie. Feeling more co-operative? Starling: I'm in a meeting, Dave. Put her through. Rain: Mister Starling. Oh my god, I'm so scared. They're going to find me. I don't know what to do. Starling: Take it easy, Rain. Everything's okay. Rain: Everything's not okay. People are shooting at me! They're going to find me. I don't know what to do. Starling: Yes, you do. You're going to jump in a cab and come to my office. You'll be safe here. Rain: No, they'll find me. Starling: Where are you? Rain: Metro Plaza, by the fountain. Please come get me. Please. Starling: I'll send somebody. Rain: No! You. I'm really scared. Starling: I'll be right there. Rain: He bought it, sort of. Paris: What do you mean? Rain: I don't know. His voice sounded a little suspicious. Starling: Pack a lunch, Doc. We're going for a walk. Emh: In case you have forgotten, I can only appear in a room equipped with a holographic projection system. In short, I am going nowhere. Torres: Interferometric dispersion is online. That should take care of any radar detection. And I've configured the shields to disguise our visual profile. Unless somebody gets right on top of us, we should look like a small twentieth century aircraft. Chakotay: Transporters are online. We should be within range in about ten minutes. You can see the entire Baja Peninsula. I'd forgotten how beautiful the view is from this altitude. I never thought I'd see it again. Torres: You trained as a pilot in North America, didn't you? Chakotay: That's right. My first year at the Academy. Then I went to Venus for a couple of months to learn how to handle atmospheric storms, and then I dodged asteroids for a semester in the belt. Torres: Sounds like you had a lot more fun at the Academy than I did. I remember dodging a few punches in the lab. Chakotay: Only you, B'Elanna, could start a brawl in Astrotheory 101. Torres: I guess I was just a little more enthusiastic in those days. Chakotay: I guess so. Torres: Chakotay, what if we're stuck here? What if we can't find a way back? Chakotay: There are still a few isolated places left in this century. We'd have to keep low profiles. Torres: We'd have to get jobs. Chakotay: I've thought about pursuing archeology full time. Maybe I could teach at a university or work on one of the important digs in Central America. There were still a lot of important discoveries to be made in this century. I could win a Nobel prize. Torres: So much for a low profile. Chakotay: What about you? Torres: Highly qualified Klingon seeks position as engineer. Chakotay: I'd hire you in a second. Let's start our descent. Torres: Approach course laid in. Full power to thrusters. Chakotay: Watch out for birds. Paris: Paris to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Paris: Starling's arrived, with the Doctor. Torres: What? How is that possible? Paris: I don't know. Are you within range? Chakotay: Almost. Another two minutes. Starling: I don't know, Doc. You were awfully quiet on the ride over here. Emh: I'm not programmed to make small talk. Starling: Maybe just a little bit anxious about being out in the real world. Emh: It's just another environment to me. Starling: Mind your manners, Doc. If your shipmates start any trouble, you'll be holodust. Tuvok: I have triangulated the position of the van, Chakotay. Stand by for tricorder uplink. You'll be able to lock on the moment Starling is inside. Rain: Mister Starling, I'm so glad you're here. Starling: Tell your new friends to come out or their colleague here's going to die. Rain: What are you talking about? Starling: Let's go. Rain: Oh, my van is this way. Starling: We're taking my car. Rain: I left my stuff in the van. Starling: I'll send somebody back for it. Is there a problem? Rain: No. Paris: He's heading in the wrong direction. They're not going to the van. Tuvok: Mister Chakotay, there is a problem. Rain: That, that's the guy that tried to kill me. Starling: No, he was trying to rescue you. Rain: Where are we going? Starling: To my office. You'll be safe there. Rain: Office. Right. Paris: We're recalibrating Starling's position. You're going to have to take him out of his own car. Tuvok: There may not be enough time. I've determined the coordinates. Paris: Now, Chakotay! Chakotay: We've got a lock on Starling's position. Torres: Energizing. Starling: Dunbar, take the surface streets. The 101's a nightmare at this time Rain: Oh my God! Emh: Run! Torres: The pattern buffer's overloading. He's activated some kind of device. It's interfering with the transport. Paris: Are you all right? Rain: I guess so. Tuvok: Doctor. Emh: I've been equipped with an autonomous self-sustaining mobile holo-emitter. In short, I am footloose and fancy free. Chakotay: Captain, we've got Starling in our transporter buffers but we can't rematerialize him. Torres: The interference is disrupting computer pathways. Chakotay: Aft thrusters are down. Kim: Captain, we're close enough to the shuttle to use the short range transporter. Janeway: Janeway to transporter room one. Lock directly onto the shuttle's pattern buffers and energize. Crewwoman: Acknowledged. Janeway: Chakotay, we're taking over from here. Mister Kim, let's go. Chakotay: The buffers are purged. They've taken Starling off our hands. Torres: We're losing altitude. Janeway: He's got what looks like a tricorder. It's putting out some kind of interference signal. Kim: I'm isolating it, and suppressing the amplitude. Got him. Starling: Ah. Damn it. Janeway: Janeway to sickbay. Medical emergency in Transporter room one. Kes: Acknowledged, Captain. Chakotay: Propulsion is offline. Voyager, we're going down! Torres: Where are we? Porter: This one looks like an Indian, and that one, I don't know what her story is. Butch: What's that thing on her head? Porter: Careful, Butch, she looks like a fighter. Chakotay: Who are you? Porter: You first. Are you spying on us, Chief? Chakotay: No, just passing by. Butch: In your new stealth plane? Who sent you? Torres: Nobody sent us. We had engine trouble. Butch: I don't believe her. They're wearing military uniform, flying a secret plane. They're coming for us. Porter: USS equals Federal Government. The Federal Government is the Beast. Chakotay: We are not from the Beast. Just take us to our plane. Butch: Shut up! Porter: That'll be all. Call for reinforcements. Porter: It's going to be a long day. Rain: I've gone out with guys who've disappeared into thin air on the first date. Emh: I assume she is speaking figuratively. Rain: But I have never actually seen it happen. And you, Mister Leisure Suit. Emh: There's a name I hadn't considered. Rain: That guy punched you a bunch of times. You should have a black eye or a swollen lip, a broken nose. Emh: Try to relax. You appear to be hallucinating. Rain: Oh, is that what I am? I'm hallucinating. Oh. Paris: Rain, I'm sorry you got dragged into all this. Tuvok: Tuvok here. Janeway: Tuvok, we've got Starling, but we've lost contact with Chakotay and Torres. Their shuttle went down over Arizona. Mister Kim is transmitting the co-ordinates to your tricorder. I want Janeway: You to find them. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Tuvok out. Mister Starling is under control. I suggest you return to Chronowerx and continue the business there. The Doctor and I must make our way to Arizona. Kes: He suffered minor synaptic stress during the extended transport. Enough to cause unconsciousness but not any permanent damage. Janeway: Can you bring him out of it? Kes: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Welcome to the twenty fourth century. I took the precaution of removing your tricorder. That's what it's called, by the way. Starling: It didn't work. Should have blocked your ship's teleporter. Janeway: It works perfectly. You just don't know how to use it. Starling: Give me some credit, Captain. I did pretty well for a primitive. Janeway: That's all over now. I've won, so disable the forcefield around Chronowerx. I want that timeship. Starling: You're in no position to be making any demands, Captain. Janeway: On the contrary. Starling: What're you going to do, shoot me? Janeway: The thought has crossed my mind. Starling: Well, it wouldn't get you anything. I've rigged the timeship. If you try to teleport it again, if you even go near it, Los Angeles will look like the face of the moon. Janeway: You'd destroy an entire city? You don't care about the future, you don't care about the present. Does anything matter to you, Mister Starling? Starling: The betterment of mankind. Janeway: It doesn't look like that. Starling: Why do you think I want to go to the future, a vacation? Janeway: To get more technology. That's why you're launching the timeship. Starling: I've cannibalized the ship itself as much as I can. There's nothing left to base a commercial product on. Janeway: And the future is just waiting to be exploited. Starling: You just don't get it, do you? I created the microcomputer revolution. Janeway: Using technology you never should have had. Starling: Irrelevant. My products benefit the entire world. Without me there would be no laptops, no internet, no barcode readers. What's good for Chronowerx is good for everybody. I can't stop now. One trip to the twenty ninth century and I can bring back enough technology to start the next ten computer revolutions. Janeway: If you even attempt to travel to the future, you risk creating a temporal explosion that could cost billions of lives, including your own. Starling: I'm willing to take that risk. Janeway: In my time, Mister Starling, no human being would dream of endangering the future to gain advantage in the present. Starling: Captain, the future you're talking about, that's nine hundred years from now. I can't be concerned about that right now. I have a company to run and a whole world full of people waiting for me to make their lives a little bit better. Janeway: Computer, reactivate forcefield. Chronowerx' stock is about to crash. Porter: There are two forces at work in the world. The drive toward collectivity and the drive toward individuality. You are the former, and I am the latter. Torres: We told you. We are not from the United States Government, and we are not Porter: The Beast has many heads and I'm looking at two of them. Chakotay: Listen, I used to think violence could be the solution to a problem, but it's not true. Porter: You are no patriot. Chakotay: I was a freedom fighter, so I thought. That gun will get you nowhere. Butch: Porter, they're coming! The Feds. Porter: How many? Butch: Three cars and a chopper. Two miles up Edgemile Road. Porter: This is it, men. Get into position behind the house. Butch and me'll take these two. Porter: Looks like your friends out there still believe in violence. Too bad for you. Rain: Let's recap. UFO in orbit, laser pistols, people vanishing. I've seen every episode of Mission Impossible. You're not secret agents. Paris: I told you, I can't talk about it. Rain: You can't keep a girl from hypothesizing. I'm a scientist. I'm thinking, I'm thinking alternate dimension. I'm thinking close encounter. Paris: Whatever. Rain: Talk about a motley crew. We have the Doctor, a guy with the worst, worst taste in clothing I have ever seen. Tuvok, what a freakosaurus. Has the guy ever tried to smile? Paris: Not that I can recall. Rain: And you, Tom Paris. Sexy, in a Howdy Doody sort of way. Pretty goofy, although sometimes I think you're the smartest man I've ever met. All this running around you do, your mission. You're so dedicated, you know? Like you care about something more than just your own little life. Paris: Is that so unusual? Rain: Yeah. Whoa, I missed the turn. Computer: SATCOM 47 activating. Dunbar: Engage Starling location sweep. Computer: Sweep underway. Tuvok: We're in Arizona. Chakotay and Torres are thirty kilometers north east of Phoenix. Janeway: Good. Get to them as soon as you can. Kim: Captain, there's a transport in progress. Janeway: What? Kim: Starling's gone. He's beamed to the surface. Janeway: He's got some kind of satellite in orbit. Kim: He sent a transporter signal through our shields like they weren't there. Janeway: Where's Starling now? Kim: Tracking the signal. He's back at the Chronowerx building. Starling: Mister Dunbar, good work. I think it's time to get out of here. Paris: I guess this is goodbye. Rain: Guess it is. Listen, are you busy tomorrow night? Because, er, you know, we should hang together. Paris: I can't. Rain: Oh, well, what about this weekend? You're married. Paris: Absolutely not. Just very busy. Rain: Yeah, you've got to get back to Mars, right? Paris: Saturn. Rain: That's perfect! I told you I always loved Saturn! So, give me your phone number. Paris: Rain. Paris: Tachyon emissions. Paris: They're moving the timeship. Rain: Timeship? What are you talking about? Paris: You wouldn't mind hanging with me for a while longer, huh? Police: We want the aircraft, and the occupant from the aircraft. Porter: Get off my land! Torres: What are they going to do when they find a half-Klingon in here. Police: Who the hell are you two? Tuvok: Please stand aside, Officer. Police: I'm warning both of you to Porter: They've got lasers! A black man and some bald guy. Porter: God in heaven help us. Emh: Divine intervention is unlikely. Emh: Tuvok's at the shuttle. He's starting repairs. Chakotay: Doctor, how? Emh: It's a long story, Commander. Suffice it to say, I'm making a house call. Kim: It's Paris again, Captain, on audio. Janeway: Status report, Tom. Paris: We just turned off the main highway Paris: Onto a desert road. Rain: Hi, this is Rain Robinson. You don't know me, but the point is there is zero traffic on this road. Rain: They're going to know we're following them. Janeway: Thank you, Miss Robinson. I'll keep that in mind. Tom, we've scanned the area. There appears to be a small landing field about ten kilometers ahead of you. Paris: It could be his launch site. Janeway: Stay on him. Janeway: Our weapons are still offline and Torres hasn't finished repairing the shuttle. It might all be up to you. Paris: I'll do my best. Paris out. Paris: Look out! Paris: Get in behind him. Rain: What? Paris: Right off his bumper. Little closer. Rain: Forget it. Paris: One more meter! Rain: Just shoot! Paris: It's flooded. Give it a second. Rain: Well, do you think we got him? Paris: I think so. Rain: Come on. Paris: Jump! Chakotay: Chakotay to Paris. What's your status? Paris: We're fine. Good shooting. Torres: Wasn't there supposed to be a timeship in that truck? Scanning the debris. Chakotay: There's a temporal transponder, set to give off tachyon signals. Chakotay to Voyager. The timeship's not here, Captain. It was a ruse. Starling's going to launch from a different site. Starling: Activate hyper-impulse. Computer: Hyper-impulse drive engaged. Starling: Let's do it. Computer: Command confirmed. Kim: The timeship is entering the upper ionosphere. Janeway: Track his course. Janeway to shuttlecraft, return to Voyager immediately. Chakotay: Acknowledged, Captain. Janeway: Phasers are still offline. I've armed the photon torpedoes but we still can't fire them. The launch activation sequencers aren't responding. Kim: I think I can reroute fire command through the helm. Janeway: There's no time. Take the bridge, Mister Kim. Should be second nature to you by now. Kim: Captain? Janeway: Open the access port to torpedo bay one. I'm going in there to reconfigure for manual launch. Kim: Captain, with the activation sequencers down, you'd have to launch from inside the tube. It's too dangerous. The plasma exhaust will Janeway: You have your orders. Torres: I've got the transporters back online. Chakotay: Mister Paris, stand by. We're bringing you aboard. Paris: Acknowledged. Rain: Your spaceship's waiting. Paris: I've never met anyone quite like you, and I don't think I ever will. Rain: Same here. Say hi to Saturn for me. Paris: I will. Starling: Initiate temporal inversion. Computer: Initiating. Kim: Bridge to Janeway. The shuttle's back on board. Janeway: Good. I'm nearly there. Kim: Captain, the timeship has jumped to warp one. Janeway: Go to warp. We can't loose him now. Kim: Welcome to the Bridge, Doctor. Emh: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. Chakotay: Status. Kim: The Captain's in torpedo tube one. She's preparing for a manual launch. Chakotay: Doctor, get down there. Emh: How exactly to I get to torpedo tube one? Chakotay: Ensign Kaplan, go with him. Kaplan: Aye, sir. Tuvok: The timeship is powering its temporal field generator. Starling will be able to open a rift within seconds. Kim: Commander, the field he's creating? It's unstable. Torres: If he enters the rift like this the timeship will create a temporal explosion. Tuvok: Events are occurring just as Captain Braxton predicted. The disaster may well be inevitable. Chakotay: Fate, Tuvok? I won't accept that. Close to within ten kilometers. We'll ram him if we have to. Paris: Aye, sir. Computer: Temporal core has reached cascade potential. Starling: Penetration point at nine six mark zero four seven. Janeway: Janeway to Bridge. I've reconfigured for manual launch. Janeway: Arm the torpedo. Tuvok: Torpedo armed. Janeway: Lock on target. Tuvok: Locked on. Chakotay: Hail Starling. Kim: On screen. Chakotay: This is Voyager. Pull away from the rift. Starling: Or what? Your weapons are down, friend. See you sometime. Chakotay: Chakotay to Janeway. Captain, we have no other choice. Kim: He's entering the rift. Chakotay: Fire! Starling: Uh oh! Emh: Captain, I insist you come to sickbay. Janeway: There'll be plenty of time for that, Doctor. Chakotay: The Bridge is yours, Captain. Janeway: Is there a chance in hell we can reopen that rift? Kim: Captain, the rift is opening. There's something coming out. It's the timeship. Janeway: Let's see it. Tuvok: We are being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Captain Braxton. Braxton: Do you know me? Chakotay: Yes, unfortunately. Janeway: You tried to destroy our ship in the twenty fourth century and the next time we saw you, you were an old man, homeless, in 1996. Braxton: I never experienced that timeline. Paris: Then what are you doing here? Braxton: In my century we can scan time, much as you use sensors to scan space. The Temporal Integrity Commission detected your vessel over twentieth century Earth. I was sent to correct that anomaly. Prepare to follow me back into the rift. I'm returning you to your own time, to your previous coordinates in the Delta Quadrant. Janeway: Captain, we've been trying to get home to Earth for the last two years. Can you return us to our century but keep us here, in the Alpha Quadrant? Braxton: I'm sorry. Temporal Prime Directive. I'm afraid you're on your own. Braxton out. Kim: The timeship is re-entering the rift. Janeway: Mister Paris, follow him in. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50312.5. We are again in the Delta Quadrant, at the exact time and place we first encountered the timeship. I've resumed a course for Earth and I've ordered the crew to the Mess Hall for a toast. Janeway: Cheers. To the future. Paris: Hear, hear. Janeway: How long will you be out and about, Doctor. Emh: If you're referring to my new found mobility, that is entirely up to me. Torres: I'm still trying to figure out exactly how the Doctor's autonomous emitter works, but it looks like downloading him back into the ship's computer isn't going to be much of a problem. Emh: Apparently the reverse is also true. I will be able to make use of the emitter as casually as you might slip on a pair of shoes. Torres: It's a little more involved than that. Emh: You know, Kes, now that I'll be to and fro, your responsibilities in sickbay will increase. Kes: I'm up to the challenge, Doctor, but what about you? There's going to be more to your life than sickbay. Emh: Nothing I can't handle. You know, Captain, I've always wanted a little more privacy. Perhaps under the circumstances, my own quarters. Janeway: One step at a time, Doctor. Paris: You should have seen it when the parking enforcement officer came over to the van. Tuvok tried to use pure Vulcan logic to talk her out of giving us a citation. Chakotay: Did it work? Paris: Of course not! Tuvok: Given Mister Paris's alleged familiarity with twentieth century America, it is a wonder we survived the experience at all. Paris: Tuvok, has anyone ever told you you're a real freakosaurus.

Neelix: Oh, Gallia nectar! From a blossom which only grows near a certain lake on Paxau and blooms once every six years. Specialty of the house. Kim: This is a real place? Neelix: The Paxau resort was the place to go on Talax for serious relaxation and some personal pampering. It was very exclusive. You had to be rich and privileged, or know someone rich and privileged who owed you a favor. I'd say if anyone deserves and needs a little pampering, it's this crew. Don't you feel as if all your cares are just light years away? Kim: Yeah, it's nice. Neelix: I'm certainly open to any suggestions for perfecting the program. Paris: Maybe it could use a little more, er, fun. Kim: Loosen it up. Paris: Yeah, right. Like this guy. He's so formal. Computer, give the waiter a more casual look. And have him serve Rekarri starbursts all around. Now, what we need around here are some more people. Kim: Computer, add characters from Kim Sports Program Theta Two. Paris: What sport would that be, exactly? Kim: Volleyball. They're a Championship team. Gold medal winners in 2216. Paris: No wonder your game's improved. Kim: You know, this would be even better with more upbeat music. Paris: Computer, access the cultural database and create musicians from Earth's Caribbean region. Paris: Now this is relaxing. Neelix: More drinks for everyone, and bring out some spicy paraka wings. You can't have a party without food. Janeway: All senior officers, report to the bridge. Kim: Great program, Neelix. Paris: Save it for us, will you? Neelix: I certainly will. Hey, how can you listen to this without feeling the urge to dance? Emh: Sickbay to Kes. Please report here immediately. I've been informed we may have incoming casualties. Kes: On my way, Doctor. Tuvok: Captain, sensor readings indicate that radiation inside the alien vessel is rising to toxic levels. The lifesigns of the passengers are growing weaker. Torres: Their warp core is heavily damaged. It's leaking drive plasma and gamma radiation. It could breach any time. Chakotay: Can we beam the passengers out through all that radiation? Kim: Not from here. We'd have to get within five thousand kilometers. Tuvok: At that range, we'll be at risk if their engine core explodes. Janeway: Lieutenant, take us into range. Paris: Aye, Captain. Closing to within five thousand kilometers. Kim: I'm diverting warp power to the targeting scanners, trying to get a pattern lock. There's still too much interference. Janeway: A little closer, Tom. Torres: Captain, I'm reading an energy build-up in the reaction chamber. Janeway: Mister Kim. Kim: I've got a lock. Initiating transport. Torres: They're losing anti-matter containment. Janeway: Shields up. Move us away. Paris: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: All major systems are undamaged. Kim: I've got them, Captain. All three passengers are in sickbay. Janeway: I'm impressed. Emh: Start with the dermal regenerator on the worst of the radiation burns and scan for contamination of the surrounding tissue. Kes: It's all right, it's all right, we're taking care of you now. Emh: You must lie still. You have internal injuries. Nori: My husband, is he all right? Emh: I'll sedate you if necessary. Kes: Doctor, his heart's stopped. He's not responding to cardiac induction. Emh: Give him twenty milligrams of lectrazine. No effect. His biochemistry is incompatible with our medications. Kes: No synaptic activity. Emh: The tissue damage is too extensive. There's nothing more I can do for him. Record the time. Nori: No, you must save him! Tieran. Kes: I'm so sorry. Nori: He can't be gone. He can't. Adin: It was horrible. They chased us across half the sector. We were finally able to fight them off, but not before our own ship was damaged. Janeway: Do you know who was chasing you? Adin: This particular trade route has always been plagued by mercenaries and thieves. I'm sure they wanted to take our ship and hold us for ransom. I'm a very prominent physician and Nori is a cousin of the Autarch. Nori: We're grateful for your help, Captain. We're complete strangers to you but we owe you our lives. Janeway: I regret that we weren't able to save your husband as well. Nori: I know your medical staff did everything they could, and Kes has been so kind and compassionate that I don't think I could be making it through this time without her. Adin: I certainly hope that bringing us home won't take us too far out of your way. Janeway: Not at all. We'll reach Ilari in less than two days. Adin: When we arrive, I'm sure that the Autarch will want to thank you personally. Janeway: I'll be very pleased to meet him. Neelix: Oh. Hello, B'Elanna. Torres: Good to see you too. Neelix: I was hoping you'd be Kes. She was supposed to meet me here twenty minutes ago. It's not like her to be late. Torres: She must have gotten held up with some work. Neelix: I wasn't sure you'd enjoy the program with the new modifications Harry and Tom added. Torres: Well, I've made a few modifications of my own. Torres: Thank you. Great program, Neelix. Neelix: Computer, locate Kes. Computer: Kes is in Transporter room one. Adin: Don't you worry about using a device that takes apart your molecules and sends them flying through space? Kes: There are all kinds of safely procedures and back-up systems to make sure nothing goes wrong. Neelix: Neelix to Kes. Kes: Kes here. Neelix: I hope you didn't forget our lunch date in the holodeck? Kes: I'm sorry, I'll be right there. I have to go. I'll see you later. Neelix: Are you feeling all right, sweeting? Kes: It's just a slight headache. Neelix: Well, we should get you to sickbay. Kes: I'll be fine. Really. Neelix: After lunch, we could go out for a sail. Kes: That sounds nice, but can we do it some other time? I promised to show Nori and Adin the airponics bay this afternoon. Neelix: You certainly seem to have hit it off with our guests. You've been nearly inseparable since they got here. Kes: Nori really needs a friend right now. I want to be there for her. So I hope you understand I'll be busy with her and Adin for the next few days. Neelix: We can keep them busy together. I'll arrange so many fun activities Nori won't have time to be sad. We can start with a lovely picnic Kes: This is typical of you, Neelix. Neelix: What? Wanting to help? Kes: It bothers you that I'm making friends of my own. You always have to involve yourself somehow. Neelix: Why, I certainly don't mean to intrude on your friendships. You can spend time with anyone you want. Kes: As long as I still spend most of it with you. Neelix: No. I, I'd hope that you'd want to be with me, at least some of the time. It's not a duty or an obligation. Kes: Well, sometimes it feels that way. Neelix: If you feel this way, why haven't you said so before? Kes: Maybe I never realized a relationship could be any different. I've never been with anyone but you. It might be a good idea for both of us to spend some time apart. I'm sorry. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50348.1. We've entered orbit around Ilari and sent a message to the Autarch inviting him to visit the ship. Instead, he'll be sending an official representative. Nori: The Autarch might have taken a personal interest in our welfare. Janeway: I'm sure he does. Our message made it very clear that you had both completely recovered. Adin: I'm so glad you could join us. Janeway: Beam our guest aboard. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway Tuvok: Commander, a phaser has been fired in Transporter room one. Chakotay: Bridge to Janeway. Janeway: Emergency in Transporter room oh! TIERAN- Kes: They've activated a security alert. Secure the door like I showed you. Kim: There's a transport in progress. Chakotay: Block it. Kim: I'm locked out. Commander, it's one of the shuttlecraft. Someone is beaming it into space. Nori: They're right outside the door. TIERAN- Kes: Everyone on the transporter pad now. Adin: You're sure this is safe? TIERAN- Kes: Maybe you'd rather stay here. Kim: Commander, three people just beamed to the shuttle. The two Ilarii, and Kes. Chakotay: Lock on the tractor beam. Paris: I'm trying, but the shields around the shuttle have been altered. They're scattering the beam. Chakotay: Target phasers at their engine core, just enough to knock out propulsion. Paris: It's too late. They've gone to warp. Chakotay: Set a course to follow them. Paris: I can't find the shuttle's warp trail. There's no sign of them on long range sensors. Tuvok: Transporter room to Bridge. Ensign Martin and the Ilari representative are dead. The Captain is injured and has been beamed to sickbay. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Kim: It looks like the shuttle's plasma injectors were remodulated to suppress their warp signature. Chakotay: You wouldn't think it was possible to make those adjustments so quickly. Kim: It takes some incredibly precise calibrations. Someone on that shuttle really knows what they're doing. Adin: They didn't follow us. TIERAN- Kes: Of course not. They're still trying to figure out what happened. Nori: What's wrong? Does your head hurt? TIERAN- Kes: A little. It's nothing. Nori: Adin should take a look. TIERAN- Kes: I said it's nothing! You're worse than that Talaxian. Adin: We're in position over the encampment now. Looks like Resh's assembled the troops right on schedule. Four hundred men just waiting for your orders. TIERAN- Kes: Maybe we should give them some. Resh: What is this? Nori! I heard your ship had been destroyed. TIERAN- Kes: You didn't think I'd let a little accident stop me, do you? Resh: That's Tieran? TIERAN- Kes: The host body you were expecting is dead. Fortunately a young nurse was with me at the right time, and she's provided me with a very suitable replacement. Resh: Oh, I'm very relieved you survived. TIERAN- Kes: Oh, I'm sure you are, at least for your own ambitions. I want you to advance my troops to the northern ridge. Resh: But we can't go ahead with the attack now! TIERAN- Kes: Are you questioning my orders? Resh: This is insane. We've spent years planning this, every move, every detail, and now suddenly our leader's been reduced to a little girl? TIERAN- Kes: I've been exploring the mind of this little girl and I've discovered some rather interesting abilities. TIERAN- Kes: She had barely begun to tap into them. It's a good thing I came along, so all that wasted potential could be turned to a greater purpose. Now, should I continue the demonstration, or do I have your loyalty? Resh: You shall have it. Sir. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50351.4. We're holding a meeting with Demmas, the Autarch's eldest son and heir, in an effort to understand the recent hostile activity. Demmas: I'm sure they really wanted to kill my father. He's the one they invited up to your ship. Nori and Adin are known to be political extremists. Janeway: How could Kes be involved? Demmas: I may be able to explain that. You mentioned that she was with the third patient when he died? Emh: That's right. Why? Demmas: I believe your crewmember has been inhabited by the consciousness of a very dangerous man, named Tieran. Neelix: Who is that? What does he want with Kes? Demmas: Oh, I know exactly what he wants. To overthrow my family's government and to reinstate himself as the Autarch. Tuvok: He has held title before? Demmas: Tieran ruled Ilari over two centuries ago. He was a war hero, a brilliant military leader. He brought security and stability during a difficult time in our history. But in peace time, he began to treat his own subjects as enemies. He became convinced everyone was a potential traitor. Chakotay: At some point your people must have rebelled. Demmas: They did, led by one of my ancestors. They laid siege to the Imperial Hall for over a year and the city around it was burned to the ground, but Tieran was finally defeated. Tuvok: And yet you believe that he, or at least his consciousness, has survived. Demmas: During his reign he became obsessed with his own mortality. He spent most of his time, and Ilari's resources, searching for ways to overcome death. Somehow he's discovered a way to transfer his own mind into someone else's body, as he's done with Kes. Neelix: So he's been controlling her. Demmas: Yes. Completely. Neelix: But she, he knew things about Kes's life. He acted enough like Kes to fool us all. The real Kes must still be in there somewhere. Demmas: Tieran may have access to her memories and her feelings, but the Kes you know is lost. I'm very sorry. Janeway: I'm not prepared to accept that yet. Examine the body of the man who died. We need more information about how the transfer works if we want to get Kes back. Demmas: That's certainly worth exploring, Captain, but our priority must be to stop Tieran. By force if necessary. Voyager is a powerful ship. Janeway: You may be considering force, but my only intention is to rescue Kes and remove Tieran's consciousness. That should suit both our interests. Demmas: You don't understand what's at stake here, Captain. You must help me to defend my people. Paris: Bridge to the Captain. Janeway: Go ahead. Paris: We've located the missing shuttle. Janeway: On my way. Let's hope we can put an end to this right now. Paris: They entered orbit, then dropped their shields and cut their engines. Kim: There's a residual trace of transporter activity. Looks like four people beamed from the shuttle to the surface. Demmas: They're in the main chamber of the Imperial Hall. Janeway: Lock onto those patterns and beam them back to Voyager. Kim: I can't. Some kind of interference has gone up around the whole structure. Demmas: He's after my family, my father and brother are down there. Kes: Ah, the venerated Autarch. I've been looking forward to meeting you for a long time. Ameron: Father! TIERAN- Kes: Where's his brother? Resh: He should have been here. TIERAN- Kes: Get him out of here. Lock him up! Adin: I think I've located the brother. According to security logs Demmas was transported to Voyager over an hour ago. TIERAN- Kes: He's going to be a problem but we'll have to deal with him at another time. Give me the talisman. TIERAN- Kes: This was stolen from me two hundred years ago, and I've dedicated every moment since to putting it back where it belongs. Adin: Loyalty and service to the new Autarch. Nori: Loyalty and service. TIERAN- Kes: I want you to pay a visit to my supporters in Yaro province. Give them all new titles, whatever I promised. And of course, I couldn't overlook your faithful service. I think the title First Castellan suits you very well. I feel like I've finally come home again. The trouble is I left it. My portrait should be hanging here. As for the rest of this nonsense, it's nothing more than a useless display of wealth. As if the First Autarch needs to impress anyone. I want it all cleared out of here. Everything should look as it did during my reign! TIERAN- Kes: I trust you'll take care of all that. And we'll need some new servants, too. What is it? You don't look happy. Nori: I'm happy that we've accomplished our goal, but there have been some unexpected changes and I don't know how they'll affect our future together. I don't even know if I'm still your wife. TIERAN- Kes: Forgive me, I haven't considered how unsettling this must be for you. Don't worry. You know how much I depend on you. Your loyalty and encouragement have helped make this victory possible. I'll share everything with you, just as I always promised. Guard: Autarch! TIERAN- Kes: Now I'm afraid I have business to attend to. Leave him here. Everyone else is dismissed. Ameron, you and I haven't had a chance to get acquainted. I'm Tieran. Ameron: Tieran? TIERAN- Kes: I like the way you say that. You and I didn't get off to a very good start, did we? Ameron: You murdered my father right in front of me. TIERAN- Kes: I shouldn't have let you watch that, I'm sorry. But his death was necessary to make room for his successor. Ameron: Demmas is the rightful heir, not you. TIERAN- Kes: How many times have people said the very same thing to you? It must have been hard to hear, every day, the constant reminder that your brother is destined to be ruler just because he was lucky enough to be born first. I don't think that's fair, do you? Ameron: It's the law. TIERAN- Kes: Doesn't have to be. It can change. Demmas is off hiding on some alien ship and you're here, with me. I'm sure it's an opportunity you've always dreamed of, to prove that you're really the natural leader and not just a weak copy of your father. Now you can have that chance, if you're willing to take it. Ameron: You mean if I join you. TIERAN- Kes: We have so much to offer each other. Your heritage would help solidify my claim and in return I could give you power. Real power to control the lives of millions of people. To reward your friends, punish your enemies. Everything you want can be yours for the asking. Everything. Ameron: After what you've done? TIERAN- Kes: That's all in the past. You should be thinking about the future. Would you rather be a martyr to your brother's cause, or rule by my side? Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Demmas has decided to remain on board Voyager for the time being, but continues to monitor the worsening situation on Ilari. Demmas: This coup attempt is turning my people against each other. They're splitting into factions, mine and Tieran's. Tuvok: Whom does the law recognize as Autarch? Demmas: Officially, I inherited my father's title upon his death. But this isn't a matter of law, it's about loyalty. Some people will follow whoever has more power and right now that's Tieran. He's gaining support everyday. He's already recruited some of my less reliable allies, which may include my brother, Ameron. Janeway: Your brother? I assumed he'd been killed. Demmas: So did I, until I learned otherwise from sources on Ilari. Tieran spared his life no doubt in order to win his loyalty. Ameron's always been easily swayed. Tuvok: And you believe he would betray you? Demmas: That's very possible. And if he does there will be no way to avoid a civil war. I must strike now, before Tieran is fully prepared! Janeway: There are always alternatives to war. Before you send in your fleet I suggest we hear from the Doctor and consider the possibility of removing Tieran from Kes safely. Emh: I've identified the transfer mechanism. This cortical implant was automatically activated at the moment of death. It enhanced Tieran's neural pattern and sent it out along the peripheral nerves. The actual transfer took place through these bio-electric microfibers. When they came into direct contact with Kes they transmitted Tieran's pattern up through her nervous system and into her brain. Demmas: I assume Tieran would implant a device like this in his new body as quickly as possible. Tuvok: Perhaps we can use that to our advantage. Emh: My thoughts exactly. This synaptic stimulator will tap into the implant in Kes's body and remove the alien neural pattern. Then her own consciousness can take over. Demmas: Yes, but how close would you have to get to use this device? Emh: To be fully effective it would have to come in direct contact with her skin. Demmas: If I could get anywhere near her, I'd use a thoron rifle to be absolutely sure. Janeway: Not if you want my help. Kes is still a member of this crew, under my protection. Demmas: I'm very sorry she got caught in the middle of this, Captain, but too many other innocent lives have already been lost. Including my father's. Janeway: Then let's work together to prevent any more deaths. Don't risk the lives of your soldiers until you've exhausted every other option. Demmas: What exactly do you suggest? Tuvok: If Tieran is anticipating an attack by your fleet, he may not be guarding as carefully against an individual infiltrating the Imperial Hall. I believe I would be able to get close enough to Kes to use the Doctor's device. Janeway: Your knowledge of the Hall and its defenses would be invaluable to us. Demmas: All right, we'll try your strategy. Adin: The new cortical implant looks fine. Let me just make sure it's connecting properly to the nerve pathways. TIERAN- Kes: Do something about these headaches while you're at it. They make it difficult to concentrate. Adin: That's an entirely different problem. This body isn't accepting your neural pattern very easily. She wasn't a willing host like the others. TIERAN- Kes: She's been resisting me all right. I can feel her in the back of my mind somewhere like a trapped animal, rattling her cage. She's a lot of spirit. It's invigorating. Adin: Your neural pattern may become unstable if you stay in this host. Now that we've got the transfer mechanism in place, I suggest you use it to move into a more compatible body. TIERAN- Kes: No! I like this one. Particularly the unique mental abilities that come with it. Adin: Consider the risks! TIERAN- Kes: Do you really think a child like this poses any threat to me? I've been fighting worse battles since the day I was born. When the doctor said I wouldn't live past my first year I proved them wrong. Even when my parents thought I was too sickly to be worth caring for, I survived on the streets. Even when my own ungrateful subjects forced me into exile I refused to accept defeat. I certainly won't surrender to this little girl! You will not suggest it again. Resh: Demmas has acquired two more ships. Adin: There are reports that his fleet are massing behind the fifth moon. We should make a pre-emptive strike. TIERAN- Kes: Not on the basis of an unsubstantiated rumor. Let him come to us. We'll be ready. Nori: I'm told that the Viceroy of Genarr is ready to give you his support in exchange for more territory. TIERAN- Kes: When did corruption become so commonplace? My people are crying out for moral leadership. I should make an example out of this Viceroy. Adin: What's wrong? TIERAN- Kes: There's someone. Nori: Tieran? TIERAN- Kes: There's a familiar presence in this room. Not any of you. Someone from this body's previous life. Someone she knew well. Seal the room! We have an uninvited guest. Resh: Everyone stay where you are. Nori: Who is he? TIERAN- Kes: Someone very good at concealing himself and his thoughts. A diskiplined, logical mind. TIERAN- Kes: You've made it this far without being detected, but you didn't realize how much more perceptive I've become. Typical Vulcan arrogance. It's touching really, your concern for the life of your little student, risking yourself in a hopeless effort to save her. Resh: Get that off! Nori: Are you all right? TIERAN- Kes: Yes, I'm fine, and still perfectly in control of this body, but my compliments on your clever medical technology. Nori: An attack on the Autarch is punishable by death. TIERAN- Kes: She's so protective of me. But I think Voyager's tactical officer might be more useful to me alive. Tuvok: You know that I won't provide you with any information. TIERAN- Kes: You'd be surprised how often I've heard that. Kes: Who helped you get past my security? Who betrayed me? Tuvok: I had no assistance. TIERAN- Kes: What will Janeway do when you don't come back? Send someone else? Join Demmas in an assault? Tuvok: I have no knowledge of the Captain's plans. TIERAN- Kes: She must have discussed alternate strategies with you before you came on this mission. Tuvok: She did not. TIERAN- Kes: I suppose I could threaten you, or torture you, but I doubt that would make any difference. Tuvok: You are correct. TIERAN- Kes: Fortunately I have other options now. With these new abilities, it's a simple matter to reach into someone's mind. With some people it's effortless. Others require a little more work. TIERAN- Kes: Do you really think you can keep me away from your innermost thoughts? Your fears and insecurities? Your feelings? I sense an embarrassment at being captured, worry about how strong I really am, and of course there's anger. That's the emotion that really threatens your control. So you try even harder to hide from me. I feel those mental barriers going up. Do you notice that it doesn't seem to be working? As if someone were disrupting your ability to concentrate. It's a helpless feeling, isn't it. Tuvok: You will not break my control. TIERAN- Kes: Not break you, free you from all that repression. All you have to do is let go. I can help you release your own strength, and give you what you've always secretly desired. Tuvok: I have never desired Kes. TIERAN- Kes: All those hours you spent alone together, all those intimate moments touching each other's minds, you've never even wondered what it might be like? Tuvok: Kes! Kes: I'm here. I'm fighting him. Tuvok: I had no doubt you would be. Kes: There are times when he's weaker I can almost break through. Tuvok: Tap into his strengths, and make them your own. Kes: I'm losing hold. Tuvok: I am with you. Don't let go. TIERAN- Kes: No! Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50361.7. Lieutenant Tuvok hasn't reported for our scheduled rendezvous and we've been unable to contact him. We're now considering other, more forceful, options. Janeway: Our team will beam down to the surface approximately two kilometers from the palace. Demmas and his advanced guard will meet us there. Neelix: Captain, I request permission to go with you on the rescue team. I had basic combat training on Talax. All right, very basic. But I've also been participating in tactical exercises with this crew every month. I have a lifetime of experience thinking on my feet, and you know I'll do everything in my power to make this mission a success. Janeway: Consider yourself drafted. Demmas: The detection grid will make a surprise attack difficult. Paris: Well then, we'll have to find a way to knock out the grid. Kim: I've been scanning it for weaknesses. The system goes through a maintenance cycle every ten hours. There are a few seconds when it might be vulnerable to a narrow band EM pulse. Crewman: Bridge to the Captain. You have an incoming transmission from the planet. Janeway: Put it through. TIERAN- Kes: Captain, you failed. Janeway: What do you mean? TIERAN- Kes: I'm still in control. Your little device was useless and Tuvok is my prisoner. I suggest you call off your new rescue mission before you lose any more members of your crew. Demmas: You've made a bad guess, Tieran. There will be no more rescues. TIERAN- Kes: My guess is that you've discovered the convenient weakness in the detection grid. If you attempt to take advantage of it, I'll have twice as many soldiers waiting for you. Chakotay: If this was meant to be a trap, why tell us about it? TIERAN- Kes: I'm really not a monster. I have no quarrel with Voyager. Your crew did save my life once when my ship was about to explode. I haven't forgotten that. This has been a friendly warning, Captain, but it's the last one. Now, I strongly suggest that you accept your losses and be on your way. You have thirty seconds to leave orbit. Kes: Send two of my warships to intercept Voyager. Adin: You're not well. TIERAN- Kes: If you can't do anything about this pain, then leave me alone. Adin: You need to get some sleep. TIERAN- Kes: No, she's there when I sleep. Adin: She? TIERAN- Kes: Kes! Who else. Adin: You can't stay awake for the rest of your life. Resh: The Voyager's leaving orbit. TIERAN- Kes: Let them go. Resh: Yes, sir, but, with all due respect, why? Demmas is on that ship. Our warships are in position to destroy it. TIERAN- Kes: I told them they could go, and I keep my word. I don't have to explain myself to you. Get out! Everyone! Clear the room now! Kes: You're losing, Tieran. Why won't you admit it? Tieran: I will admit that you surprised me. Who would have imagined that such fierce determination existed within that deceptively frail body. Kes: Don't continue to underestimate me. Release me, or I'll force you out. Tieran: My dear, why should we be enemies? Why waste the energy in conflict when we could achieve so much more by cooperating. Kes: You're contemptible, Tieran. I won't be any part of your plans. Tieran: You're already a part of them. You and I have killed together, remember? And you will continue to serve my will. You really have no choice. Wouldn't it be wiser to join me? To take advantage of all I have to offer. You may find that you enjoy having power. I assure you, it is the finest aphrodisiac there is. Kes: That may work with others, but it won't with me. Tieran: So, you insist on making this a battle. How foolish. Kes: It's a battle I intend to win. Tieran: Brave words. You've been an annoyance to me, nothing more. Kes: I've been more to you than that, and you know it. I'm fighting you with every bit of strength I have, and it's wearing you down. You're becoming more unstable every day. The headaches alone are almost more than you can stand. Tieran: I've suffered pain all my life. It's going to take more than headaches to stop me. Kes: I know all about your life. I know about your suffering. It doesn't justify what you've become. You're a monster, Tieran, and I have no compassion for you. Tieran: And I don't ask for any. What I need from you I already have. Your body and your mind. Kes: You may have my body but you'll never have my mind. I won't surrender it. Tieran: You may resist and try to fight me, but eventually I will defeat you. I haven't existed for two centuries to be brought down by a child! Kes: You're already deteriorating and it's only going to get worse. I'll find every little crack in your defenses. You'll feel yourself crumbling from within, your sanity slipping away. I won't stop until you're broken and helpless. There's nowhere you can go to get away from me. I'll be relentless and merciless, just like you. Kes: What are you doing? Adin: You were in such a deep sleep I had to use a stimulant to bring you out of it. Your neural stress levels are extremely erratic. This has gone too far. You must transfer out of this body before it destroys you. TIERAN- Kes: I told you not to say that ever again! As you can see, I'm in full command of my faculties. This momentary lapse will pass and I'll be stronger than ever! Stronger than ever! Stronger than ever. Stronger than. TIERAN- Kes: My friends, we have much to celebrate tonight. Our recent victory, the consolidation of power among those who are loyal to us, and the fact that Ilari is poised on the bring of what will be it's greatest era of prosperity. But there's another occasion that's cause for celebration. One that is perhaps the most joyous of all. I'd like to present my husband to be. TIERAN- Kes: Don't be upset, it's only a political alliance. Ameron will help bring the support of Demmas's troops. Ah, tell me you still love me. Nori: You know I love you. TIERAN- Kes: Ameron! And Nori. You have both been essential to my success, and I want you to be close friends. I want us all to be very, very close. Ah, Nori, don't make me doubt your loyalty. I'm not listening to you! Resh: Sir, enemy ships are approaching. At least twenty. It's Demmas's fleet, and Voyager. TIERAN- Kes: I assume our ships are moving to intercept them? Resh: Yes, but we are outnumbered. TIERAN- Kes: I've always fought against the odds. My fleet will defeat them. Resh: All the same, I recommend taking some precautions. We should get you to the reinforced shelter. TIERAN- Kes: This is a celebration to announce my marriage. I won't allow Demmas to make me run like some frightened animal. Join us. Food and drink for my First Castellan. I told you to join us. Drink! Eat! I want all of you to enjoy yourselves. My charitable projects, how are they progressing? When do we break ground for the new library? Nori: Soon. TIERAN- Kes: Good. I want my people to know I have their welfare at heart. Tomorrow we'll send out an edict. Every citizen must have a garden. Nori: A garden? TIERAN- Kes: I love plants, flowers, anything that grows. Some of the times I felt most content were those spent watching the seedlings grow in the airponics Resh: They've made it through our defenses. They're sending down ground forces. TIERAN- Kes: That's impossible! You're lying! Resh: I'm sending additional troops to the defensive positions. Activating full security measures. That ought to hold them off, but we have to go. Now. TIERAN- Kes: Anyone who tries to leave this room will be shot as a traitor. Resh: Look for yourself! TIERAN- Kes: This has to be a trick, a ruse of some kind. That's what they're doing, they're creating a distraction to draw my attention away from their real plan. Nori: Tieran, please, they're coming. TIERAN- Kes: They must have sent an infiltrator. We have an intruder! I know you're here somewhere, Tuvok, you don't realize how perceptive I've become. I know you're here! Paris: Tuvok! Tuvok: Mister Paris. Paris: No time for a tearful reunion. We've got to get you out of here. Paris: Some day you're going to have to show me how to do that. Nori: Don't give in. Stay with me. Tieran! TIERAN- Kes: Still here. Nori: Fight it. You must fight it, Tieran. Please, keep fighting. Janeway: Do you have the device ready? Now! Neelix: They're getting away. Chakotay: I'll cover you. Nori: We've got to get out, find a doctor and get you stabilized or transferred to a new host. You will survive. Neelix: Kes! Stop! Please, stay there. Just let me get to you and this will all be over. Ameron: Tieran! Kes: Tieran? Neelix: He's gone. Kes: No, he isn't. He's still here. He moved onto someone else before you used this. He wanted you to think he'd been destroyed, but he's hiding in a new host. I know you too well, Tieran. TIERAN- Ameron: No! You can't do this! Kes: You died a long time ago. Now it's time to let go. Kes: Demmas, it's over. Tuvok: Your thoughts are a turbulent ocean. Visualize yourself floating above them. Kes: I can't. I've been using all the meditations you've taught me, but they're not helping. Tuvok: You must be patient, and allow yourself sufficient time. Don't attempt to deny the emotional impact of your experience. Kes: How can I worry about my own well-being when so many people have suffered and died? Tuvok: You were not responsible for Tieran's actions. Kes: I can't help wondering whether I could have fought harder. Tuvok: It was your absolute refusal to surrender which defeated him. You cannot ask more of yourself than that. Kes: Everything seems so different now. My thoughts and perceptions, even my relationships with my closest friends. You, the Doctor, Neelix. How can I go back to my normal life as if nothing ever happened? Tuvok: You cannot. This experience will force you to adapt. You are no longer the same person, and the course of your life will change as a result. Where that new course leads is up to you.

Janeway: Oh! Chakotay: Incredible. Janeway: Absolutely thrilling. Neelix: All I can say is, wow! What about you, Mister Vulcan? Isn't that just, wow! Tuvok: Your inarticulate expression of awe notwithstanding, Mister Neelix, it was a fascinating spectacle. Kim: That's the edge of the shock wave. The pressure's over ninety kilopascals, thirty percent more than we predicted. Janeway: Tom, back us off at full impulse. I want to stay ahead of the brunt of that wave. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Congratulations, everyone. Only two other crews in the history of Starfleet have witnessed a supernova explosion. Kim: But neither one was this close. Less than ten billion kilometers. Definitely a record. Janeway: Who brought the champagne? Neelix: Champagne? Captain, if I thought you wanted champagne. Janeway: Relax, Neelix. It's a figure of speech. Kes: Thanks for inviting us to watch with you, Captain. It's really got me interested in learning more about stellar phenomenon. Emh: Just remember, Kes, anyone can stargaze on the Bridge, even a hologram with a mobile emitter, but the real action will always be in sickbay. Janeway: How'd those shield modifications hold up, B'Elanna? Torres: Less than a seven percent power drain. Janeway: Good job. Chakotay, what do you say we get started analyzing those carbon conversion readings? Chakotay: Captain, you've been on the Bridge for fourteen straight hours. Don't you think you deserve a little rest? Harry and I will get to work on the astrometric analysis, and we'll give you a full report in the morning. Janeway: You win. I'll see you at oh seven hundred. Janeway: Janeway to security. Intruder alert. Q: There's no need to call room service, Kathy. I've already ordered. Janeway: Oh, Q. Q: You did say you wanted champagne? Janeway: Janeway to security. Intruder alert. Q: Oh, it's no use. I've taken the proverbial phone off the hook. After all, we don't want any interruptions. Janeway: What are you doing here? Q: To us. Janeway: There is no us, Q. Q: The night is young, and the sheets are satin. Janeway: I want you out. But first, get rid of this bed. Q: I have no intention of getting between those Starfleet issue sheets. They give me a terrible rash. Janeway: Since you won't be getting in the bed, I wouldn't worry about it. Q: Oh, Kathy, don't be such a prude. Admit it. It has been a while. Janeway: And it's going to be a while longer. Now get out. Q: So tense. Why don't you slip into something more comfortable? Janeway: If you think this puerile attempt at seduction is going to work, you're even more self-deluded than I thought. Q: Now I see. You think I'm interested in some tawdry one night stand. That's because I haven't told you why I'm here yet. Out of all the females of all the species in all the galaxies, I have chosen you to be the mother of my child. Janeway: Oh! Q: I know that you're probably asking yourself, why would a brilliant, handsome, dashingly omnipotent being like Q want to mate with a scrawny little bipedal specimen like me? Janeway: Let me guess. No one else in the universe will have you. Q: Nonsense. I could have chosen a Klingon Targ, the Romulan empress, a Cyrillian microbe. Janeway: Really? I beat out a single-celled organism? How flattering. Q: It's an overwhelming honor, isn't it? I can't get you out of my mind. You're confident, passionate, beautiful. Janeway: And totally uninterested. Q: Kathy, you can't leave. My cosmic clock is ticking. Besides, you have no idea what you're missing. Foreplay with a Q can last for decades. Janeway: Sorry, but I'm busy for the next sixty or seventy years. Q: Oh, I see, this is one of those silly human rituals. You're playing hard to get. Janeway: As far as you're concerned, Q, I'm impossible to get. Q: Goody! A challenge. This is going to be fun. Janeway: Janeway to bridge. Chakotay: Chakotay here, Captain. Chakotay: I thought you were going to get some sleep. Janeway: I've just had a visit from Q. He's gone now. Janeway: But I want to be notified immediately if he reappears anywhere on the ship or if anything odd starts to happen. Chakotay: Acknowledged. What did he want? Janeway: Let's just say he had a personal request. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: I'm not sure what he's really up to, but I have a feeling he'll be back. Janeway out. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: I've got those carbon conversion readings from the supernova. Janeway: Thank you. Is there something else? Chakotay: Have you heard anything more from Q? Janeway: No. I wish I could believe he's gone for good. Chakotay: I was wondering just what just what you meant when you said he made a personal request. Janeway: He wants to mate with me. Chakotay: I see. Janeway: Obviously, it's out of the question. And I suspect it's a smoke screen. Knowing Q, he's probably got some hidden agenda. Chakotay: Maybe. Janeway: Chakotay. Chakotay: I know I don't have any right to feel this way, but this bothers the hell out of me. Q: I do believe you're jealous. Why didn't you tell me there was another man? Janeway: Because there isn't. I'm just not interested in you. Chakotay: Any more questions? Q: I was wondering, Kathy. What could anyone possibly see in this big oaf, anyway? Is it the tattoo? Because mine's bigger. Janeway: Not big enough. Captain's log, stardate 50384.2. Q's unannounced visits continue. Since I suspect he's up to something more than pursuing me, I've instructed the crew to take every opportunity to uncover his true motives. Paris: Who says crew performance reports have to be a chore? Kim: Sure beats working on the bridge. Paris: Now if we could just convince the Captain to start holding morning briefings in here. Kim: That'll be the day. Q: Nice program, Tommy. But it's all just so much holo-pleasure, isn't it? Paris: All right, Q, we'll bite. What do you want? Q: Guys, I just don't understand your Captain. I've tried everything. Filling the Bridge with roses, writing Drabian love sonnets, serenading her in her bath. Paris: Oh, I'll bet she loved that one. Q: But no matter what lengths I go to win her heart, she rejects me. Me! How, I ask you, is that possible? Kim: Did it ever occur to you that she just doesn't like you? Q: No. Paris: Look, Q, we've been told about your appearances on the Enterprise. We know your little visits usually turn out to be more than meet the eye. So save your broken heart routine, and tell us what you're really after. Q: I just thought that the two of you might be able to give me some advice on how to break through Kathy's icy exterior. You know, man to man. Paris: My advice would be to give up before you embarrass yourself anymore than you already have. Come on, Harry. We're not going to get a straight answer out of this guy. Q: You, bar rodent, another one of these fruity concoctions. Neelix: Not unless you tell me why you're bothering Captain Janeway. Q: Captain Janeway? Now that's a subject I want to discuss. Tell me, what are some of her favorite things. Chocolate truffles? Stuffed animals? Erotic art? Neelix: You can't bribe Captain Janeway. Q: Oh, no? Isn't that what you do? Neelix: What are you talking about? Q: I understand that you acquire things for her, create little interesting diversions, prepare little tasty treats. After all, why else would she be so fond of your fur-lined face? Neelix: Do you want to know what Captain Janeway likes about me? I'll tell you. I am respectful, loyal and most of all, sincere. And those are qualities which someone like you could never hope to possess. Janeway: This isn't going to work, Q. Q: How can you ignore that face? Janeway: He's adorable. But this has to stop. Q: Please, accept him as a small token of my affection. Janeway: No. Q: Suit yourself. May we talk? Just talk. Q: I'm afraid that I haven't been sincere. When you first asked why I wanted to have a child with you, I made jokes, bragged about my prowess, engaged in sexual innuendo. I was using all that to cover up my true feelings. Janeway: And I suppose you want to share your true feelings with me now. Q: I'm lonely. Janeway: Lonely? Q: Oh, I know it's hard to believe, but I've been single for billions of years. It was fun at first, gallivanting around the galaxy, using my omnipotence to impress females of every species. The fact of the matter is, it left me empty. I want someone to love me for myself. I guess what I'm saying is, I want a relationship. I just thought if you and I had a child, it would give me that kind of stability and security that I've been missing. Janeway: Sorry, Q. I'm not buying it. Q: Oh. All right. Let's see if you buy this. You're stuck out here, thousands of light years from home, and you aren't getting any younger, are you? All your hopes for home, hearth and family grow dimmer every day. Admit it, Kathryn, you're lonely too. And you wonder if you will ever have a child. Janeway: You're right. I would like to have a child someday. But not with you. Q: Why not? Janeway: I'm just not the right kind of woman for you, Q. Female Q: Truer words were never spoken. Q: Q! How did you find me? Female Q: Never mind that. What are you doing with that dog? I'm not talking about the puppy. Q: Can't you see I'm busy here? Stop stalking me. Female Q: You should be back in the Continuum. Janeway: Excuse me, but who are you exactly? Q: Kathryn Janeway, may I present Q. Female Q: Not just any Q. His Q. Q: We were involved for a while. Female Q: About four billion years. And now you desert me to pollute the Continuum with the DNA of this narrow little being. Q: I never said it was exclusive. Female Q: Stay away from him. Janeway: Look, Miss Q, I'll save you a lot of trouble. I have zero interest in him. Q: Oh! Now you see what you've done? And I was finally making progress. Chakotay: Bridge to Janeway. You'd better come in here, Captain. Janeway: On my way. Janeway: I'd really appreciate it if you would take this domestic squabble off my ship. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: You're not going to believe this, Captain, but another star in this cluster just went supernova. It's point oh two light years from our current position. Kim: Make that two supernovas, Commander. I just picked up another one at two one seven mark four seven. Estimated time of implosion, sixty seven seconds. Janeway: Get us out of here, Tom. Paris: I can't. A subspace shock wave from the star is collapsing the warp field. Janeway: Red alert. Tuvok, increase power to the shields. Tom, lay in a course away from that shock wave, maximum impulse. Janeway: A star going supernova is an event that occurs once every century in this galaxy. Now we're about to witness our third in less than three days, all in the same sector. Why do I suspect you have something to do with this? Female Q: She maybe a member of an intellectually challenged species, but she's right. Your irresponsible behavior is continuing to have cosmic consequences. Q: Will you stop overreacting? Always nagging. Now you see why I left her. Janeway: Are you causing these supernovas? Q: Well, not exactly. Janeway: What's that supposed to mean? Paris: It's no use, Captain. the shock wave is too fast for us. Janeway: Try evasive maneuvers. Tuvok: I'm afraid a course correction will be futile, Captain. There are now three distinct shock waves heading toward us on various trajectories. It will be impossible to avoid them all. Janeway: Divert auxiliary power to the shields. You have the ability to get us out of here, so do it. Chakotay: Sixteen seconds to impact. I'm not sure if the shields will hold. Janeway: Do something, Q. Q: Well, if you insist. Female Q: That two-timing toad! Tuvok: Contact with the first shock wave within three seconds, Commander. Chakotay: All hands, brace for impact. Janeway: Q? Where have you taken me? (She tries the doors and they are locked. Then Q enters dressed as a US Civil War Union Army officer.) Q: Well, I must admit, your gown is very becoming. Janeway: I don't have time for your little fantasies. Return me to Voyager. Q: This is no fantasy. You're in the Q Continuum. Janeway: The Continuum? Q: That's right. I'm simply allowing you to perceive it in the context your human mind can comprehend. Janeway: The last time you brought me here, it looked like some sort of way station on a desert road. Q: It was awfully drab, wasn't it? But this, this is a much more colorful representation for a human of American descent, don't you think? An elegant manor house, a beautiful Southern belle, a dashing Union officer determined to win her affections despite her hatred for Yankee interlopers. Janeway: Enough. The only thing that interests me right now is the welfare of my ship and crew. Q: Well, I'm sure your first officer, Chuckles, is it? I'm sure he's got everything under control for the moment. Janeway: I'd like to make sure of that myself, if you don't mind. Q: This has gone way beyond your ship. It's even gone beyond you and me. This is about the future of the Continuum itself. Janeway: Stop speaking in riddles, and tell me what's going on. Q: I'll do better than that. I'll show you. Q: The Continuum is burning. The Q are in the middle of a civil war. Janeway: Start explaining. Q: Do you remember our friend, Quinn? Janeway: The Q who committed suicide aboard Voyager? Q: Do you recall what I said might happen if he were allowed to take his own life? Janeway: You said it would represent an interruption to the Continuum. That it could have dire consequences. Q: I'd say a civil war is pretty dire, wouldn't you? Janeway: His death caused this conflict? Q: It caused chaos and upheaval. Because even though he was gone, his calls for freedom and individualism continued to echo in the ears of those who believed in his teachings, myself among them. I sounded the trumpet and carried the banner. Naturally, others followed. The forces of the status quo tried to crush us once and for all, but we fought back. And now there's a cosmic struggle for supremacy, and the battle is spreading, causing hazardous repercussions throughout the galaxy. Janeway: Oh! The supernovas. Q: You might call them galactic cross fire. It's terrible, isn't it? But it's also a wonderful opportunity. Janeway: I fail to see anything wonderful about a war. Q: War can be an engine of change. War can transform a society for the better. Your own Civil War brought about an end to slavery and oppression. Janeway: But our Civil War came at a time before mankind had learned to resolve disputes without bloodshed. Surely the Q have evolved to a point where you can find a non-violent way to resolve a conflict. Q: That's where you come in. Janeway: What do I have to do with any of this, Q? Q: I want you to help me transform the Continuum in the same way your Civil War transformed a nation. Janeway: By mating with you? Q: I know. It's brilliant, isn't it? Janeway: I don't see how a baby is going to end a war being fought by a race of omnipotent beings. Q: It's simple. Mating will create a new breed of Q, which will combine my omnipotence and infinite intellect with the best that humanity has to offer. Janeway: You believe human DNA is going to restore peace? Q: Precisely. What the Continuum needs right now is an infusion of fresh blood, a new sensibility, a new leader, a new messiah. Think of it, Kathy. Our child will be like a precious stone tossed into the cosmic lake, sending endless ripples of human conscience and compassion to wash up on every distant shore of the universe. What greater contribution could a being of your limited power ever hope to make? What is more important to humanity than peace? I'm offering you the opportunity to be the mother of peace. Q: Well, what's it going to be? Oh! Janeway: Q! You're bleeding. Chakotay: Report. Tuvok: Shield strength is at twenty percent. Hull damage on decks nine through fourteen. Minor injuries reported on all decks. Paris: Warp drive is offline. Kim: Commander, according to these readings, the shock waves have knocked us sixteen billion kilometers from our previous location. Chakotay: I want to know what's going on here. Where's Captain Janeway? Female Q: Let me go before I hurl this ship and everyone on it into the Therinian Ice Age. Chakotay: I don't think you can. Female Q: Don't be ridiculous. Chakotay: I don't know how or why, but something's affected your powers. Otherwise, you wouldn't still be here and you wouldn't have a bruise on your forehead. Now start talking before I hurl you into the brig. Chakotay: And it's the war in the Continuum that's causing the supernovas? Tuvok: May we presume that this conflict is also responsible for the weakening of your powers and your inability to return to the Continuum? Female Q: The Vulcan talent for stating the obvious never ceases to amaze me. Chakotay: How were Q and Captain Janeway able to re-enter the Continuum and you weren't? Female Q: I tried to return, but I was wounded in the process. Oh, don't try to understand it, it's far beyond your limited capacity to comprehend. What's important is, I'm stuck here with you mortals while Q is probably in the process of irreparably harming the Continuum with that woman. Tossed aside for someone five billion years younger. If it weren't so laughable, I'd cry. Chakotay: Look, we want our Captain back, and you obviously want to get home. Why don't we help each other? Female Q: How could you possibly help me? Chakotay: There's got to be some way to get back to the Continuum besides snapping your fingers. Female Q: Hmm. Well, there's one possibility. But somehow, I don't think this rickety barge or your half-witted crew members are up to the challenge. Tuvok: May I remind you, madam, that this rickety barge and its half-witted crew are your only hope at the moment. Q: Ow! That hurts. Janeway: Be still. I never thought a Q could be injured. Q: As I said, this is only a perception of what is happening. I can assure you, those are not mere cannonballs and lead charges being fired at us. Janeway: So they're some sort of Q weapons? Q: You'd be surprised what innovative munitions can be created by one immortal being who's set his mind on killing another. Colonel Q: Hold your fire. Hold your fire! You're surrounded, Q. Surrender now. We'll be merciful. Janeway: Call a truce. Talk to them. Maybe you can resolve this peacefully. Colonel Q: What's your answer, Q? Q: I'll never surrender! You know that! Colonel Q: Resume fire. Resume fire! Q: Get the rifle in the corner and take the other window. Janeway: This is your fight, Q, not mine. Q: If that's how you feel about it. But if their weapons can make me bleed, what do you think they'll do to you? Janeway: Q! Come on. Come on. First Officer's log, Stardate 50392.7. While we don't fully understand the astrophysics underlying her plan, the female Q has suggested several modifications which may allow Voyager to enter the Continuum. Q: Well? Torres: Well what? Female Q: Are you finished yet? Torres: What you've asked us to do requires a complete reconfiguration of the shield array. It takes a while. For us mere morals, that is. Female Q: Surely there's some way you can speed up the process? Torres: If you're in such a hurry, why don't you just snap your fingers and do it yourself? Oh, that's right. You've lost your powers and you need our help. Female Q: I don't think you understand. It's imperative that I get back to the Continuum before Q mates with your Captain. Torres: I understand perfectly. You aren't the first female who's ever had a man run out on her. Female Q: I hope you're not comparing some failed romance in your pitiful existence to my eternal association with Q. Torres: You know, I have really had it with this superiority complex of yours. Female Q: It's not a complex, dear. It's a fact. Torres: Well, here's another fact. If you don't stop pestering me, I'm never going to finish. In which case, your association with Q might not be quite as eternal as you think. Female Q: you know, I've always liked Klingon females. You've got such spunk. Q: Where are we? Janeway: One of your faction's encampments. Q: How? Janeway: I pulled you out of the mansion and managed to hide you from the enemy patrols. Then I spotted some of your people retreating from the battle. From the look of them, I'd say you're not on the winning side. Q: You saved my life. Janeway: And now it's time to end all this. Q: I knew you'd come around. Janeway: I've been thinking about what you said, that creating a new Q could bring an era of peace. Q: Oh, my wild, sweet Kathy. I promise you won't regret it. Janeway: Oh, you're not going to have a child with me. You're going to mate with that charming lady friend of yours that appeared on my ship. Q: Mate with another Q? Ridiculous. Janeway: It sounded to me like you and she had a very long term relationship. Q: Yes, but it was never physical. I mean, the Q are way beyond sex. It's never been done. Janeway: Really? Then how exactly did the Q come into existence in the first place? Q: The Q didn't come into existence. The Q have always existed. Besides, I can only mate with a species capable of copulation, like you. Janeway: But I don't love you, Q. Q: Yes, but what does that have to do with it? Janeway: Everything. It's the foundation of a family. I could never have a child with someone I didn't love, much less give it up to the Continuum. Q: Dearest Kathy, I would never dream of having you give it up. I mean, who would raise it? Who would look after it? I'm really not cut out to be a wet nurse. Janeway: Oh, so you're not willing to do the hard work? Q: I'm an idea man. Hard work isn't my forte. Janeway: I'd change specialties if I were you, because the kind of trouble you're in needs more than a quick fix. You can't just sprinkle a little human DNA into the Continuum and make everything all right. Q: Why not? Janeway: Those best qualities of humanity you talked about aren't a simple matter of genetics. Love, conscience, compassion. Q: Ow. Janeway: They're attributes that mankind has developed over centuries. Values that have passed from one generation to the next, taught by parents to their children. Creating a new kind of Q is a noble idea, but it will take more than impregnating someone and walking away. If you want your offspring to embrace your ideals, you're going to have to teach them yourself. Q: Yes, but that's exactly why I want you here, to nourish and guide the little tyke. Think of the opportunities here in the Continuum. The entire universe would be our child's playground. Together the two of you could explore dimensions you've never even imagined. Fess up. Isn't it even slightly tempting? Janeway: I'd be lying if I said no. What explorer wouldn't be intrigued by the idea of seeking out whole new dimensions. But I have other responsibilities, and I won't just abandon them. Q: Ah, yes. The crew of the intrepid starship Voyager. Perhaps you'd be interested in sending them home. Janeway: You've tempted me with that prospect before. But frankly, your credibility is more than a little suspect. My crew and I will get home. We're committed to that. But we're going to do it through hard work and determination. We are not looking for a quick fix. Q: Even if I wanted to mate, I wouldn't know how. It's totally unprecedented. Janeway: You'll figure something out. You are omnipotent, after all. Q: I need time to think about it. Janeway: Time's up, Q. You've got to stop this war before it destroys the Continuum. Now I'm taking this white flag, and I'm going over to the enemy camp, and I'm going to tell them you're ready to talk about terms for a ceasefire. Q: Kathy, don't be a hero. Janeway: I'm going, Q. So if I were you, I'd start working on a way to set that precedent. First Officer's log, supplemental. We've laid in a course for the point in space where the female Q says we can enter the Continuum and find the Captain. Female Q: You, helm boy. Adjust course to heading two three five mark zero eight. Increase speed to maximum impulse. Paris: Sir? Kim: Er, Commander? Chakotay: What is it, Harry? Kim: She's put us on a direct course for another star about to go supernova. Female Q: You did say you wanted to get into the Continuum? Chakotay: Yes, but in one piece. Female Q: Try to wrap your minuscule mind around this. These supernovas are actually caused by spatial disruptions within the Continuum, the result of the war. Now, each time a star implodes, a negative density false vacuum is created which actually sucks the surrounding matter into the Continuum. Chakotay: So Voyager will be pulled in too. Female Q: If we time it perfectly. Otherwise, the subsequent explosion will blow you all into microfragments. Tuvok: Commander, I needn't remind you that close proximity to a supernova will crush us, whether or not we time it perfectly. Female Q: You're so negative. Chakotay: He does have a point. Female Q: Humanoids. Q to Engineering. Torres: Go ahead, Q. Female Q: Take warp drive offline. Q: Then remodulate the shields to emit a beta-tachyon pulse and prepare to emit a series of focused antiproton beams to the shield bubble. Chakotay: Does this make any sense to you at all, B'Elanna? Torres: I'd be lying if I said I understood it completely, but if she's thinking what I think she's thinking, we should increase power to the shields by a factor of ten! Torres: That's assuming, of course, that the shield bubble doesn't ignite and burn us all to a crisp. Paris: We'll be reaching the imploding star in thirteen seconds. I still have time to change course. Chakotay: Maintain your course. B'Elanna, take warp drive offline, remodulate the shields, and get ready to emit the antiprotons. Torres: Acknowledged. Paris: Entering the star's corona in three seconds. Chakotay: Antiprotons now, B'Elanna. Q: Ah, Captain Janeway, I presume. You're dismissed. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, madam, but, please sit down. I understand you walked into our camp alone and unarmed? Janeway: That's right. Colonel Q: The Continuum's a dangerous place for all of us right now, not to mention a solitary human female. I admire your bravery. Janeway: I've come with an offer of truce from Q. Colonel Q: I'm afraid the time for diplomacy has passed, madam. If we don't end this war quickly, the damage to subspace will be irreversible. Janeway: Then you agree the fighting has to stop. Colonel Q: Most certainly. That's why we intend to bring this war to a conclusion by the most expedient means possible. Janeway: I'm relieved to hear you say that. May I ask how? Colonel Q: Quite simple, really. Since Q is the ringleader of this so-called freedom faction, we shall have to execute him. Janeway: With all due respect, sir, there are no chapters in the history of my own people more tragic than wars which set neighbor against neighbor. Q has an idea for a non-violent way to bring this conflict to an end. I urge you to listen to what he has to say. Colonel Q: We are already resolved, madam. I'd be greatly in your debt if you'd tell me where we can find him. Janeway: I won't do that. Colonel Q: No, I didn't think you would. Guard: Excuse me, sir. Colonel Q: Fortunately, we won't be needing your assistance. Janeway: I told you, he's willing to negotiate. Let him go. Q: She's right. I've had a change of heart. Colonel Q: Grovel all you want, Q. I've been waiting for this moment for an eternity. Put them both in chains. Janeway: Wait! What are you charging me with? Colonel Q: Collaborating with the enemy, which in the Continuum is a crime punishable by death. Private: Captain. Captain: Private. Janeway: Why won't you listen to me? I told your Commander last night we can resolve the situation peacefully. Q: If it's any consolation, there are those in the Continuum who will remember us as martyrs. Janeway: I'd rather skip that particular honor. Q: Still, you have to admit, there's something romantic about going to our deaths together. Colonel Q: Do you have any last words? Janeway: I won't plead for my own life. From your perspective I know it seems insignificant. But what is not insignificant is the fact that the Q, as an omnipotent race, have an opportunity to be a positive force to set a higher standard for other beings in the galaxy. I implore you all, don't go through with this. Don't allow yourselves to continue using violence to resolve your differences. Colonel Q: Q, do you have anything to add? Q: Today I sacrifice my existence for the principles of freedom and individuality that I have fought for so long. But this woman is innocent. What's more, she saved my life, and she tried to save us from each other. Kill me if you must, but let her go. Colonel Q: A very touching speech, Q. But as usual, your rhetoric fails to compensate for your irresponsibility. Colonel Q: Ready! Aim! Q: I'm sorry. Janeway: I know. Colonel Q: Fire! Q: I'm hit! I'm dying! Oh! Janeway: Q! Q: What? Janeway: They're not firing at us. Q: They're not? Chakotay: Harry, get to the Captain! Kim: Captain, are you all right? Janeway: I'm fine. Q: Oh, darling, I knew you'd come for me. Aren't you going to untie me? Female Q: How do I know you wouldn't run off with the next bipedal female that catches your eye? Q: Well, it just so happens I have a proposal which will reassure you of my devotion. Paris: Put down the gun. Q: Think of it, Q. We'd be visionaries, innovators, the parents of peace. Female Q: Oh, that does have a ring to it. Paris: Captain, what should I do with him? Female Q: Q and I have a plan to end the war. Call off your troops. Janeway: Do as she says and I'll call my people off. Female Q: They may be humanoids, but they're using our weapons. Colonel Q: Cease fire! Cease fire! Janeway: Tell our people to stop shooting. Paris: Hold your fire! Kim: Put down your weapons! Q: So, darling, have you given any thought as to how we might accomplish this historic act of procreation? Female Q: I've thought of nothing else since you suggested it. Q: Oh! Female Q: As a matter of fact, I Q: Oh. Oh. Oh! I love it when you talk dirty. Janeway: Why don't I give you two some privacy? Q: Oh, Kathy, don't you like to watch? Q: Oh! I was good, wasn't I? Female Q: Very good. Janeway: That was it? Q: You had your chance. Don't go crying about it now. Janeway: Lieutenant Paris, what's our position? Paris: We're back on our original course. Tuvok: All crew are present and accounted for. Janeway: Ensign Kim, any sign of supernovas? Kim: No, ma'am. Nothing but calm space ahead. Looks like the war is over. Janeway: Mister Chakotay, run a series of standard diagnostics. If everything checks out, take us to warp six. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: I'll be in my ready room. Q: Yabba dabba doo. Janeway: Q! Q: He's got my cheekbones, don't you think? Janeway: He's adorable. I'd say fatherhood agrees with you. Q: Well, I'll admit, I look at the universe in an entirely different way now. I mean, I can't go around causing temporal anomalies or subspace inversions without considering the impact it'll have on my son. Janeway: I'm glad to hear you intend to set a good example. Q: By the way, did I tell you how smart he is? I've already taught him how to knock small planets out of orbit. Janeway: And I thought you were going to teach him about love and conscience. Q: Oh, that's why we want Auntie Kathy to be the godmother now, don't we? Janeway: I'm honored. Q: Yeah, well, wait until we ask you to baby-sit. Can't leave the little guy alone for a nanosecond. Well, it's time to be going. The old ball and chain really hates it when we're late. Say bye bye. Bye bye.

Consul: Good health, strong body, clear mind. Neelix: And you, your hospitality, your generosity, your patience, many thanks. My colleague's behavior, our apologies. Janeway: Consul, I assure you I meant no Consul: Please make her quiet. Neelix: Captain, please. Janeway: I understand. Neelix: Good health, strong body, clear mind. Consul: And you. Your journey home short and safe. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50425.1. Mister Neelix and I have completed our three day trade mission with the Tak Tak, one of the more unusual species we've encountered in the Delta Quadrant. We are en route back to Voyager. Janeway: Oh. I've always been taught to be tolerant of other cultures and points of view, no matter how alien, but I have to say that the Tak Tak are the most unforgiving people I've ever met. Neelix: They are a little impatient. Janeway: They make the Klingons look sedate. I may never put my hands on my hips again. Neelix: You had no way of knowing you were making one of the worst insults possible. Janeway: Obviously they've never heard of forgive and forget. It's a good thing you were there, Mister Neelix. I might have been shot at dawn. I have studied chromolinguistics, American Sign Language, the gestural idioms of the Leyron, but I just couldn't get the hang of the Tak Tak. Neelix: It seemed like more than just a language to me, Captain. A lot of their gestures, from what I could tell, were ritualistic. You might even say superstitious. Janeway: You have a genuine flair for diplomacy, Mister Neelix. I may have to promote you from morale officer to Ambassador. With all the species we're bound to meet, I could use a man like you at the front door. Neelix: Ambassador Neelix. I like the sound of that. We're approaching the rendezvous coordinates. Janeway: Dropping to one quarter impulse. Voyager's not there, and they're not responding to hails. I'm running a long range scan. There they are. They're holding position in sector thirty eight, coordinates one two one mark six. Neelix: That's over a light year away from here. Janeway: The ship appears to be adrift. They could be in trouble. Engaging maximum warp. Janeway: Janeway to Voyager. Commander Chakotay, respond. Neelix: The ship looks perfectly fine. There's no sign of any external damage. Any sign of the crew? Janeway: There's some kind of bioelectrical interference. I can't get clear life sign readings. The escape pods are all in place, and there's no indication of any recent transporter activity. Grab a phaser, Ambassador. We're going to get some answers. Janeway: Still no sign of the crew, but these sensor readings are highly erratic. A bioelectric field is permeating the ship. Neelix: Where's it coming from? Janeway: I can't localize it. Let's try accessing the ships internal sensors, see if we can get a better reading. Janeway: Same problem. The main computer is offline, so is the comm. system. This is strange. One of the bio-neural gel packs in the mess hall ruptured, but most of the systems in there seem to be functioning normally. Let's get to the bridge. Janeway: Someone was doing maintenance work on this power relay. All the equipment is still active, but the work hasn't been completed. Neelix: It's almost as if they dropped what they were doing and ran. Janeway: Come on. Neelix: This isn't the welcome home I was expecting. Janeway: Me neither, but if there was an attack of some kind, why didn't Chakotay try to contact us or send out a warning buoy? I'm picking up a comm. signal about ten meters ahead. It's coming from inside this room. Neelix: This is Ensign Wildman's quarters. Is she in there? Janeway: I can't tell. Let's take a look. Stand ready. Janeway: Here's our comm. signal, your Good Morning Voyager program. Neelix: Ensign Wildman is one of my most dedicated viewers. According to the time index she activated this program approximately eleven hours ago. Janeway: Why is it still running? Neelix: The program is set for automatic playback until it's turned off. The baby's missing too. Janeway: According to the protein decay, I'd say Ensign Wildman replicated this eleven hours go. When we get to the bridge we'll check the communications logs. They might tell us whether or not Neelix: There! Janeway: I can't tell if it's humanoid, but it's emanating a bioelectric field. Neelix: Whatever it is, it just ran into a dead end. Janeway: Over here. Janeway: Something just punched right through this floor panel into the Jefferies tubes. Neelix: What is it? Janeway: Some sort of mucilaginous compound. High concentrations of amino acids and proteins, and fragments of non-humanoid DNA. Well, Ambassador, I'd say we've got an unexpected guest. Neelix: Somehow I don't think he's the diplomatic type. Janeway: Main power is failing, and the environmental controls are going offline. Systems are starting to shut down one by one. We'd better get to the bridge. Janeway: Good, we're still got auxiliary power. Deck one. Neelix: It's getting awfully hot in here. Janeway: When environmental controls fail, heat from the warp plasma conduits can't be vented. Expect a heat wave before long. Neelix: No problem, I'm used to it. I grew up near the Rinax marshlands. Our summers were the hottest in the sector. Fifty degrees Celsius, ninety percent humidity, and the most vicious lavaflies you've ever seen. Janeway: Summers in Indiana were pretty similar when I was growing up. Neelix: Except that we had three suns and the lavaflies grew to be six centimeters long. Janeway: Six centimeters? Neelix: Insect repellant was a booming business. Janeway: There's a life form in the turboshaft. I'm engaging the manual override. Neelix: Ah, Captain, it sounds like our guest has bought a few friends. Janeway: One more second. I can't get the pneumatic conduits to Neelix: That was no lavafly. Janeway: There's no lifeform in the tube above us. We're getting out of here. Janeway: Are you all right? Neelix: Yes. Disgusting, but I'm all right. Janeway: It's the same mucilaginous compound we saw in the transporter room. Come on. Neelix: What is it? Janeway: Human lifesigns, very faint. Thirty or more. Neelix: Where are they coming from? Janeway: Several decks above us. I can't pinpoint the location. Neelix: Maybe the crew is hiding from the aliens and they set up a defense perimeter. Janeway: Maybe. One thing's for sure, whoever's up there is still alive. Once we get the main computer online, we'll be able to get a fix on their location. Neelix: It's so hot. My head is spinning. Janeway: You've got a high fever, fluid in your lungs. Neelix: Lung. Janeway: That alien compound is acting quickly. Try to hang on. Just three more decks. Neelix: Aye, aye, Captain. Neelix: Captain, go on without me. Janeway: I'm not going to leave you here, Neelix. Neelix: I can't. I'm so dizzy. Janeway: There should be an emergency medical kit up that tube. I'll bring back something to get you on your feet. Don't go away. Neelix: Help! Captain! Janeway: I'm coming, Neelix! Janeway: Neelix! (Neelix has gone. A trail of mucus leads back down the Jefferies tube. Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager to anyone within range. My ship has been seized by unknown lifeforms. Require any and all assistance. Janeway: Harry. Harry. Janeway: Oh, Chakotay. Emh: Captain! Needless to say, I thought you were something else. It won't be long before the other aliens sense you here and start to try to invade sickbay. We don't have much time to treat you. Janeway: Doctor, what's going on? What are those ow! Emh: You've ruptured your dorsal extensor muscle and bruised two ribs. I'm going to have to perform minor surgery. Lie on your side and try to remain perfectly still. Janeway: Tell me what's happened. Emh: Voyager has been infected by a macrovirus. Janeway: A macrovirus? Emh: A form of life I've never encountered, or even imagined. Janeway: What about the crew? Emh: Captain, I promise I will tell you exactly what happened if you just lie still. Shortly after you'd left for the Tak Tak homeworld, we received a distress call from a nearby mining colony. A race called the Garans. Emh: They were experiencing what appeared to be a minor viral outbreak, Garan Miner: Fever, disorientation. I think it's some kind of virus. Nothing serious, but if we don't stop it now, we'll be forced to shut down the operation. Chakotay: We may be able to help you. Doctor? Emh: A synthetic antigen may do the trick. However, it will have to be modified for this specific virus. I'd like to beam down to the mining colony and examine a few of the infected. Chakotay: An away mission. Emh: I'm the only member of this crew who can successfully enter a contaminated environment without risk. Besides, I've been looking forward to spreading my wings. Chakotay: Good enough. It'll take us about three hours to reach you. Garan Miner: Thank you, Commander. I don't think we'll be going anywhere. Emh: Prepare to download my program into the autonomous emitter. Kes: Yes, Doctor. Tuvok: They're not responding to our hails. Chakotay: Life signs? Kim: There's a lot of bioelectrical interference. I can't get a clear reading. Emh: Perhaps their condition is more serious than they thought. I'd better get down there. Chakotay: Doctor, don't forget, you're not invulnerable. If anything happens to that portable emitter, your program could be lost. Emh: Don't worry Commander, I've been studying the Starfleet guidelines for away team members. For this particular scenario, medical emergency on alien terrain, it is recommended that we keep an open comm. channel at all times. Chakotay: You heard the man. Tuvok: Channel open. Emh: Away team to Voyager. Transport was successful and my portable emitter is working perfectly. I am scanning the mine shaft and proceeding on vector one four seven. Ambient temperature is sixteen degrees Celsius. Cavern illumination is minimal but doesn't pose a problem for my optical sensors. The cave walls are comprised of granite with a mixture of pyroclastic infusions Chakotay: Doctor Chakotay: I appreciate your attention to detail but we don't need that much information. Let us know when you've found the miners. Emh: Oh, very well. Stand by then. Voyager, I've found one of the miners. He appears to be suffering from the advanced stages of severe viral infection. Chakotay: Can you treat him? Emh: Not without a more specialized immunizing agent. This is curious. The virus has begun to concentrate in a region near his neck, and it's using his glandular tissue to create some sort of orifice. Something is emerging. A lifeform! Commander, I think I've just discovered a completely new form of life. From what I can tell, it appears to be a macroscopic version of the virus. Chakotay: You mean the virus has grown? Emh: Yes, by a factor of billions. The virus absorbed the miner's growth hormones into it's protein structure, and used them to increase it's own mass and dimensions. In essence, the virus has found a way to leave the microscopic world and enter the macroscopic world. Our world. It's a remarkable evolutionary development. The virus appears to be attracted to infra-red radiation. It's mistaking my holomatrix for body heat. At the moment, this one's approximately point five millimeters in diameter, but it's continuing to grow at a rate of thirty microns every second! Commander, permission to beam the virus aboard for further analysis. Chakotay: No. Chakotay: The virus isn't in our database. The biofilters might not recognize it. You'll have to settle for tricorder data. Emh: Very well, but I think I should. Stand by, Voyager. Hold on. Stop. Garan Miner: You, you've got to help us. Emh: I intend to, but first I must return to my ship and prepare an antidote. Garan Miner: Take me with you. Emh: I'm afraid that's not possible. We'd risk infecting the crew. Garan Miner: You can't leave me. Please. Emh: Commander Chakotay. Perhaps if we established a force field around sickbay and beamed victims directly to Chakotay: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we can't take the chance. Emh: But these people need Chakotay: Doctor, away team guidelines specifically forbid the transport of unknown infectious Emh: Of unknown infection agents onto a starship without establishing Emh: Containment and eradication protocols. I understand. I'll do my best to help you. Away team to Voyager. One to beam up. Emh: Doctor to Bridge. Checking the biofilters. It appears several viral organisms were beamed up as well. The biofilter Emh: Has isolated them. Chakotay: Purge the filters. Emh: Aye, sir. Emh: Purging is complete. I'll be in sickbay. Emh: What I didn't realize was that in the few seconds it took me to purge the filters, some of the virus had already migrated into the transporter buffer. Chakotay: Any luck? Emh: I'm creating a synthetic antigen that will inhibit the viruses ability to replicate, but I haven't quite figured out how to restore the infected cells to their original condition. As for the larger versions of the viruses, what I've the macrovirus, I would suggest a fly swatter. Chakotay: How long before the antigen's ready? Emh: I'd say another twelve hours. Chakotay: That gives us time to rendezvous with the Captain. We'll deal with this after she's aboard. Emh: Commander. I'd like to apologize for my over-zealous behavior on the away mission. Chakotay: Compassion is nothing to be sorry about, Doctor. It won't be the last time you're faced with a moral dilemma in the field. But if it makes you feel any better, your performance was exemplary. Emh: Thank you. Kes: I told you he'd understand. Emh: Yes, you did. Emh: We continued working on the antigen. Unfortunately the macrovirus was working faster. It had already moved from the transporter buffer into an adjacent system. Paris: B'Elanna, thank God you're here. The natives are getting restless. Torres: What's the emergency? Paris: I volunteered to help out while Neelix is away on the trade mission. The heating array overloaded, it incinerated a twelve kilo pot roast and all the food replicators went offline. Torres: Mmm, looks delicious. Maybe there's a problem with the bioneural gel pack in the replicator panel. Paris: Actually, I'm a pretty good cook when Engineering's doing it's job. Torres: Oh, so this is my fault? Paris: Well the gel packs are your department, aren't they? Besides, what was I supposed to tell all these hungry, irritable people? Torres: You know, I think that there's a plasma relay on deck seven that really needs repair. Paris: Oh, no. You can't leave me now, Lieutenant. Torres: Oh, you need me. I'm touched. What's going on here? Looks like this gel pack has an infection. Half the neurodes have been burned out and the pack is filled with some kind of mucilaginous compound. Tom, call the Doctor and tell him Paris: B'Elanna! Janeway: Were any other gel packs infected? Emh: No, just the one in the mess hall. The ship is healthy. It's the crew we have to worry about. Your bones have healed, but the surrounding tissue will be sensitive for a few days. Janeway: It's getting warmer in here, isn't it. Emh: I'm afraid it's not just the ship, Captain, it's also you. You've been infected with the macrovirus. You're experiencing a high fever. Janeway: Yes, on the bridge, I was bitten by one of them. Emh: Your glandular system is already being affected. If I don't treat you now you'll end up like the rest of the crew. I've spent the past few hours perfecting the antigen, but I haven't tested it on a live subject yet. Janeway: Looks like I'll have to be your guinea-pig, Doctor. The crew, why are they all in the mess hall and the cargo bays? Emh: I believe the larger macroviruses are driven by some sort of instinct to assemble their host population. Janeway: Tell me what happened after B'Elanna was exposed to the infected gel pack. Emh: I was faced with an imminent epidemic. Emh: Oh, no. Doctor to the Bridge. The macrovirus is on board Voyager and appears to be airborne. I suggest a level four quarantine of the mess hall Emh: and all adjoining sections. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Red Alert. Initiate level four quarantine protocols on deck two. Tuvok: Aye sir. Chakotay: All hands, this is Commander Chakotay. We've detected an airborne virus in the mess hall. Deck two is under quarantine. No crewmember, repeat, no crewmember is to enter or leave any section on deck two. Stand by for further instructions. Tuvok: I've erected the biocontainment fields. The area has been sealed. Emh: We managed to avoid a ship-wide outbreak, but every crew member on deck two had been contaminated. I collected a single live specimen of the macrovirus and returned to sickbay in hopes of finding a cure. Kes: Ready, Doctor. Emh: Optimal magnification. Kes: The specimen has synthesized B'Elanna's growth hormone into its own structure. Emh: Excellent! That should give us the information we need to destroy the virus without killing its host cells. Kes: The virus has grown by one hundred and fifty microns. Emh: It's rate of growth shouldn't hinder our analysis, as long as it's genetic structure stays the same. Kes: Doctor! Emh: Computer, erect a level three forcefield around the microscope station. Paris: Well, so much for lunch. Torres: I may never look at food again. Paris: I thought Klingons didn't get nauseated. You have a redundant stomach. Torres: Well, right now, they're both unhappy. Oh. Paris: Paris to sickbay. Emh: Go ahead, Lieutenant. Paris: I just saw two macroviruses come out of B'Elanna's neck. Emh: Stand by, Mister Paris. Emh: We're close to formulating an antigen. Kes: The virus has grown to point three meters. Emh: On the microscopic level, the virus uses that needle-like projection to penetrate a cell membrane. On our level, it probably impales it's victim in much the same way, infusing him with it's own genetic code. The antigen is ready. Kes? Computer, deactivate force field. Emh: Well. One down, ten billion to go. Emh: Eager to inoculate those already infected, I quickly headed for the quarantined area. Though their condition had grown worse, it was the least of our problems. Emh: Lieutenant, if you can hear me, I'm going to give you an injection. It should eliminate the virus. Paris: What, what is that? Emh: You don't want to know. Emh: Doctor to the Bridge. Intruder alert on deck two section thirteen. Emh: Within minutes, dozens of the larger organisms forced their way beyond deck two and overwhelmed the ship. Emh: It wasn't long before the crew was incapacitated. Although I've developed an effective vaccine, I can't administer it. Every time I try to get to the crew, I'm attacked. Perhaps with your help? Janeway: How many of the larger macroviruses are there? Emh: I have no way of knowing. Dozens, perhaps hundreds. They're replicating at an exponential rate. By this time tomorrow there could be thousands. Janeway: Speak of the devil. Emh: You're cured. Janeway: The question is, how do we cure the rest of the crew? This antigen. Can it be distributed in a gaseous form? Emh: For absorption by the respiratory system? I've already considered dispensing it through Environmental controls, but they're offline and I have limited engineering expertise. Janeway: Leave that to me. All we have to do is get to Environmental Control on deck twelve. Emh: Easier said than done. We'll run into the same problem I face when I try to get to the Mess hall. Janeway: Not if I can help it. Prepare two canisters of antigen. We'll split up and take two different routes to Environmental Control. It'll double our chances. If you get there first, call me and I'll talk you through the repairs. Emh: The macroviruses are attracted to infra-red radiation. Set your tricorder to emit a thermal scattering signal. It will make it more difficult to target you. Ready when you are. Janeway: We'll be right with you. Janeway: Take Jefferies tube eleven. What's wrong? Emh: I've been studying the ship's infrastructure, and I'm familiar with most of it, but, how do I get there from here? Janeway: Jefferies tube eleven. Take a left at Section 31 and straight down past the tractor beam emitter until you hit deck ten. Get out at section three and follow the corridor all the way around until Emh: Until I hit the shuttlebay. Then I crawl through access port nine, go past three airlocks and then two decks down. Environmental Control's at the end of the hall. Now I remember. Who designed this ship anyway? Janeway: Good luck. Emh: Doctor to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Emh: I won't be joining you as soon as I'd hoped. Emh: The macroviruses overwhelmed me on deck ten and my portable emitter was nearly destroyed. I've taken refuge inside the shuttlebay, in a shuttlecraft. Janeway: Stay put, Doctor. I'm close to Environmental Control. Janeway: Janeway to Doctor. I've got the Environmental Controls back online. Emh: Set the dispersal nodes to one part per thousand. Emh: What's going on? Janeway: I'm not sure Janeway: But I think someone's firing at Voyager. Doctor, use the shuttle's sensors to find out what's happening and patch the data to me. Emh: Aye, Captain. Janeway: It's the Tak Tak. Doctor, open a channel and hail their Captain. Emh: Stand by. Janeway: Consul, this is Captain Janeway. Why are you firing at us? Consul: The Garan Mining Colony infected. We purified them. Your distress call received. Voyager infected. We are purifying you. Janeway: Purifying? You're trying to destroy us. Consul: No choice. No cure for the virus. Voyager's existence a threat. Your illness, our apologies. Janeway: Wait. We've developed a cure but your torpedoes just stopped us getting it to our crew and putting an end to this. Consul: A cure? Janeway: Yes. A synthetic antigen. We've tested it and it works. I can prove it to you, and I'd be willing to share the antigen with your people, but first you've got to stop attacking my ship. Give me a chance to save my crew. Consul: A chance. One hour. Janeway: Doctor, we've got a problem. That last torpedo destroyed the secondary power couplings. I can't Janeway: Get the Environmental Controls back online. Emh: We appear to be low on options. Janeway: The only systems we still have access to are the ones with independent power sources. Shuttlecraft, life support, the holodecks. Doctor, you said the macroviruses are attracted to infra-red signatures. Emh: That's right. Janeway: Right now you and I are the only targets left on board. What if we gave them something new to sink their teeth into? Emh: What are you suggesting? Janeway: Doctor, it seems to be working. I've programmed the holo-characters to react to the viruses. We don't have much time. Grab your hypospray and get to the crew. You've got a clear path to the Mess hall and both cargo bays. Emh: Acknowledged. What about you, Captain? Janeway: I've put together what you might call an antigen bomb. Now all I have to do is drop it. Emh: Doctor to Captain Janeway. Captain, please respond. Janeway: Go ahead. Emh: It worked. The macroviruses have been destroyed. Janeway: And the ship? Emh: There was heavy damage suffered on Holodeck two, but there are no hull breaches in evidence. Consul: Astonishment. Your vessel, purified. Janeway: And we'd be willing to share the cure with you, if you'd be kind enough to forego destroying our ship. Consul: Of course, of course. Purification will cease. My word. Many thanks to Captain of Voyager. Good health. Janeway: Good health. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Good morning, Captain. Here's an update on repairs. Janeway: How's the crew holding up? Chakotay: They're fine, although the Doctor tells me a few people are still reporting post-viral queasiness. Janeway: I'm not surprised. Inform the crew that I'm granting extended R&R for all personnel, and work out the shift rotations. Chakotay: Aye Captain. Speaking of R&R, a few of us are going skiing on the holodeck. The Ktarian glaciers. Fresh air, good work out. Care to join us? Janeway: No, thank you, but have fun. Chakotay: Not your cup of tea? Janeway: Oh, on the contrary, I love to ski. Let's just say I've had enough of a workout for the time being. Chakotay: Understood.

Neelix: Mister Tuvok! Mister Tuvok! I was supposed to accompany you on security rounds this morning. Did you forget? Tuvok: I was not aware that we had a definite appointment. Neelix: I'm sure it was definite. Well, maybe not completely definite. That is, I, I'd expressed my desire to learn the ropes as it were, and I have completed my study of starship security protocols. I think you'll find that I'm fully qualified to serve in the capacity of a Starfleet security officer. Junior grade, of course. Tuvok: If you recall, Mister Neelix, I did not guarantee you a position. Neelix: But Captain Janeway is always saying that Voyager is a ship of opportunity. Tuvok: That is true, but opportunities for promotion on a starship must be earned. Neelix: I've been working hard at this. I really do feel I have a great deal to contribute to Voyager beyond my current role. Tuvok: Your dedication is duly noted, Mister Neelix. Now if you'll excuse me, I am due on the bridge. Neelix: I'll see you first thing tomorrow morning for security rounds! Torres: Ensign Vorik. Get me a duotronic probe, I'm having trouble regulating the plasma flow. Vorik: May I suggest a gravitic caliper instead? You might find it a more precise instrument. Torres: Good idea, but bring me both. Neelix: Good morning, B'Elanna. You missed my special Klingon Breakfast Buffet. Torres: I'm sorry Neelix, but a bowl of cold gagh is not my idea of how to start a morning. Neelix: Well, you're not alone. None of the crew seemed especially enthusiastic about it. What's the problem with er, the plasma injectors? I've been getting myself up to speed on Federation warp propulsion. Torres: The plasma flow in the manifold seems to be constricted. Neelix: Ah. Have you thought of phase locking them to the dilithium matrix? Torres: That was the first thing I did. Neelix: Oh. I really am interested in learning more about engineering systems, maybe even volunteering for a few duty shifts. In fact, I have a couple of questions about the impulse response filters. Torres: Neelix, Neelix, this really isn't a good time. Neelix: Oh. I understand, Lieutenant. Sorry. I'll just watch for a while, if you don't mind. Vorik: Here are the tools, sir. Neelix: I also had a question about the transporter buffers. Janeway: Mister Neelix, please report to the bridge. Neelix: On my way, Captain. Janeway: Neelix, we seem to be approaching some kind of interstellar dust clouds. Can you tell us anything about them? They look rather ominous to me. Neelix: I believe this is a region of space known as the Nekrit Expanse. Janeway: What can you tell us about this Expanse, Mister Neelix? Neelix: It's a vast territory. No one knows much about it. Janeway: Those plasma storms might be a problem for navigation. Full sensor scan, Tuvok. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: Can we plot a course around it? Neelix: That might be advisable. Tuvok: I don't believe so. It's thousands of light years wide. Janeway: Then we'll have to go through it. Looks like we'll be counting on your knowledge of the Delta quadrant even more than usual, Neelix. Neelix: Yes, ma'am. I'm at your command, as always. Janeway: Will there be any planets where we can take on supplies? Neelix: There is a station near the border, a kind of supply depot for mining and trading ships. I suggest we stop there for provisions before we go into the Nekrit Expanse. Janeway: What are the coordinates? Neelix: Er, let's see. It's actually been a while. Chakotay: I have the station on sensors, Captain. Three point four light years away, heading oh seven one mark one seven. Janeway: You heard him, Tom. Paris: On our way. Tuvok: We're being hailed, Captain. Janeway: On screen. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. Bahrat: Bahrat, manager of this station. What can I do for you? Janeway: Your station is a trading outpost, isn't it? I'd like permission to come aboard to negotiate for supplies. Bahrat: Granted. But understand that any transaction you negotiate on this station is subject to my approval. I receive a twenty percent commission on all trade. Your whereabouts will be closely monitored. Communications with your ship may also be monitored, at my diskretion. Do you agree to these conditions? Janeway: Evidently I have no choice Bahrat: Excellent. Meet me in my office in one hour and we'll discuss your needs. Paris: Pleasant fellow. Janeway: Neelix, Chakotay, Tom. You're with me. Janeway: Mister Bahrat? Bahrat: What is it? Janeway: I'm Kathryn Janeway. I've brought a list of the supplies we'll need. Bahrat: Forgive me, but it's demanding work watching over this station. We get all kinds of troublemakers here. Janeway: I understand. Bahrat: All right, let's see it. Hmm. Hmm mmm. Hmm! Pergium. Janeway: To regenerate the filters on our environmental control system. Bahrat: That might be a little difficult. It's a rare commodity. Give me a few moments and I'll put together a list of potential suppliers. But I'll warn you, they won't strike easy bargains. Janeway: I'm prepared to deal fairly. Bahrat: Hmm. Sutok: Good day, gentlemen, good day. Anything in particular you're looking for? Anything I can help you with? Chakotay: We were hoping to find some magnetic spindle bearings for our reaction control assembly. Sutok: Spindle bearing, spindle bearings. No, can't help you with that. No. Long voyage ahead? Paris: Er, you could say that. Sutok: I might have something that could ease your journey. Ease it considerably. Rhuludian crystals. Ingesting just one of these will make days of tedious travel seem like moments of exquisite rapture. Paris: No, thank you. Sutok: The price is surprisingly Chakotay: No. Paris: Nice place. Neelix: I see you're a map dealer. Map Dealer: I have coordinate charts for all the local mining colonies. Neelix: Actually, I'm interested in maps of the Nekrit Expanse. Map Dealer: You must be a stranger here or you'd know. There aren't any maps of that region. Neelix: Surely there's an astrometric chart or a database that would help me plot a safe course? Map Dealer: The Nekrit Expanse is too unstable to chart. Wixiban: No matter. He never could plot a straight course anyway. Neelix: Wixiban? Wix, is that you? I can't believe it! Wixiban: What are you doing here? I've never seen another Talaxian this far from home. Neelix: It's a long story. I'm one of the crew of a highly advanced starship. Wixiban: Ah! I want to hear all about it. Come on, the tavern here serves the best toffa ale I've had in years. Neelix: I do a little of everything. Cook, guide, advisor to the Captain, possibly even an unofficial Ambassador. Wixiban: Oh ho, ho. Life's been good to you. Neelix: Yes, I'm very, I'm very lucky. But what about you? What are you doing on this station? Wixiban: A little of this, a little of that. To tell you the truth, things haven't gone quite so well for me. Neelix: I'm sorry. Wixiban: Ever since that nasty business with the Ubeans, things have been difficult. But, you know me, can't keep Wix down long. I'm working on a trade deal now that should put me right back in the thick of things again. Neelix: I hope it works out. Er, Wix, about the Ubeans. I don't think I ever told you how much I valued what you did. Wixiban: You'd have done the same for me. Neelix: Yes, I would have. But you were the one who got caught. I owe you a great deal. If there's anything I can do to help. Wixiban: I'm fine, honestly. Maybe not on the crew of a magnificent starship, but I'll get by. Neelix: To tell you the truth, it's not quite what I told you. In fact I may not be on Voyager much longer. Wixiban: Why? Neelix: The main reason Captain Janeway needed me was as a guide, to give her information about this quadrant. But I've never been beyond the Nekrit Expanse. I can't tell her anything about what's ahead. Wixiban: But, your other jobs. Cook, Ambassador. Neelix: They don't really need a cook, and I don't think our Captain really requires an Ambassador. I've tried to find some other area where I might be useful, but, the truth is, I'm not needed. I'm hoping you can help me. I can't let Voyager go into that dangerous without some idea of what's there. I have to find a map. Vorik: Can I be of help, Mister Neelix? Neelix: Dinner isn't for an hour, Ensign Vorik, and I don't have time to prepare a snack. Vorik: I don't require food at the moment. Lieutenant Torres sent me to adjust the control interface on your food replicators. You said you were experiencing difficulties with them. Neelix: Oh, of course. Go ahead. Chakotay: Neelix. I thought you'd like to say hello to your old friend. Neelix: Well, er, yes. Yes, of course. Wixiban: So, this is where you prepare your legendary feasts. You know, Commander, Neelix has more varied talents than anyone I've ever known. You're lucky to have him on board. Chakotay: Mister Wix was able to find those magnetic spindle bearings we were looking for. I don't know what we'd have done if he hadn't come up them. Neelix: Well, yes, Wix has always had a knack for finding those hard to locate items. Chakotay: I'll let you two reminisce for a while. Thanks again, Wix. Wixiban: You're more than welcome. Neelix: Yes, this is the Mess room. On any given day I must be prepared to feed over a hundred people. About done, Ensign? Vorik: Not quite. Neelix: Well I really don't need the replicators today, so you can finish later. Vorik: As you wish. Neelix: Oh, and remind Lieutenant Torres. When she has a moment, I'd still like to go over a few things with her. Vorik: I'll relay the message. Neelix: Thank you. Neelix: Wix, please tell me those spindle bearings weren't stolen property. Wixiban: Of course not. I wouldn't do that to you. Neelix, I need the work. I don't live on a comfortable starship. No one looks out for me except me. Maybe you've forgotten what that feels like. Neelix: I haven't forgotten. Wixiban: I've been stuck on that trash heap of a space station for three years. My ship's been impounded. I can't afford to give Bahrat what he wants to get it back. Do you begrudge me an opportunity to make a fair trade? Neelix: Of course not. Wixiban: I have news for you. I've located some pergium for your ship. Neelix: That's great news. Captain Janeway hasn't had any luck. Wixiban: And I've found someone with a map. Neelix: Wonderful! How do we get it? Wixiban: It'll involve several bartering sessions. I have the opportunity to sell medical supplies to an outpost whose people are dying of a lung disease. It's a good cause, and it will make me enough to pay Bahrat and get my ship back. Neelix: Where does the map come in? Wixiban: When I deliver the medical supplies, one of the physicians will give me an astrometric chart. Neelix: I can't thank you enough. Wixiban: I'll have to ask your help though. We'll need a shuttle. First, we have to get to a nearby freighter to pick up the medical supplies. Then we return to the space station and meet with one of the physicians from the outpost. With your transporter technology we could be in and out of the station within minutes. Then I could finally get away from here and get back to a Talaxian colony. Neelix: I don't think that would be a problem. Wixiban: Just one thing. Don't tell anyone that we're delivering medical supplies to the station. Not even one person. If Bahrat finds out he'll take twenty percent, and I can't afford that. Neelix: I suppose there's no need to mention it. Wixiban: Thanks, Neelix. I knew I could count on you. Wixiban: Didn't I tell you this would be easy? I got the medical supplies and you got the pergium your ship needs so badly. Neelix: Only twenty kilograms. I told Commander Chakotay it would be forty five. Wixiban: You're lucky to get what you did. Come on, Neelix, A few minutes more and we'll be done. And you'll have a map to help you through the Nekrit Expanse. What is the matter with you? Neelix: I don't like keeping the whole truth from Commander Chakotay. It's not honest. Wixiban: I don't remember you ever being so squeamish about twisting the truth. Neelix: Wix, I'm not what I used to be. Wixiban: Neither am I. We've both tried to change our lives. You've done it. Now I have the same chance. We're almost there. We should have your transporter take us to corridor fourteen L, near the outer docking ports. It's hardly ever used. Our contact will meet us there. Neelix: We're within transporter range. I've entered the coordinates. Neelix: What are you doing? Wixiban: This station is a dangerous place, and these supplies are valuable. We have to be able to defend ourselves. Neelix: You said this would be easy. Wixiban: It's just a precaution. Let's go. Neelix: Computer, energize. Neelix: Where's your contact? Wixiban: He'll be here, don't worry. Neelix: I don't like this, meeting in dark passages late at night. Sutok: Wix. Wixiban: Sutok. This is my associate. Sutok: You have the supplies? Wixiban: As promised. Neelix: What's he doing? Wixiban: Satisfied? Sutok: Completely. Neelix: What kind of medical supplies are those? Wixiban: If you give me my payment, we'll be on our way. Sutok: Yes. I have it right here. Man: Stop them! Get his weapon! Neelix: Wix! Man: Someone's coming! Wixiban: Neelix! Get us out of here. Neelix: Computer, two to beam up. Neelix: You lied to me from the beginning and I was foolish enough to believe you! Wixiban: It should have been as easy as I said. I didn't know Sutok would try to steal the tubes. Neelix: Those aren't ordinary medical supplies. You failed to mention that. Wixiban: They do have a medicinal application, but no one would pay what I was supposed to get if they were just simple medications. Neelix: They're narcotics, aren't they. Oh, you're up to your same old tricks. We have to talk to Captain Janeway as soon as we get back. Wixiban: Do you really want to do that? How is it going to look to your shipmates when they find out you were once a contraband smuggler, and that you were involved in this ugly business tonight? You think your position on Voyager is precarious now? Wait till they discover the whole truth about you. Neelix: I can't just forget about this. Wixiban: So you'd let Bahrat put me in cryostatic suspension? I guess you would. You did let me spend a year in that Ubean prison. Neelix: Wix. Wixiban: I never told you what it was like in there, did I? About eating worms to stay alive. Sleeping in a cell where the vermin chew on you all night. Being punished in ways you couldn't imagine. Neelix: All right! I won't say anything. But I don't want to have anything more to do with you. The debt is paid. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. I have called a meeting of the senior staff to inform them of some very disturbing news I have just received Janeway: There's been a murder aboard the station. Chakotay: Murder? Janeway: I've been told that's not an uncommon occurrence here. The man who dies has been suspected of criminal activity. Mister Bahrat, however, discovered something at the scene of the killing that greatly concerns me. Bahrat: During my investigation I discovered some energy readings I couldn't identify, so I ran a spectral analysis. Janeway: He showed me the analysis just a few minutes ago. It's a Federation phaser signature. Tuvok will be assisting Mister Bahrat in his investigation. I want to know how a weapon from Voyager could have been involved in this incident. Bahrat: The shooting took place in an abandoned section of the station. Security scanners were disabled. I'm reviewing other surveillance records, looking for anything that might help me apprehend whoever did this. Janeway: I've promised Mister Bahrat the full cooperation of every member of this crew during his investigation. Dismissed. Neelix: You wanted to see me, Mister Tuvok? Tuvok: Please, sit down. I examined the scene of the shooting and confirmed the Federation weapon signature. A type two phaser blast. Fourteen Voyager crewmembers were off the ship at the time of the incident. Neelix: I see. Tuvok: Several traders from the station were aboard Voyager on the day of the incident. We can't rule out the possibility that one of them managed to steal a phaser. Neelix: I suppose not. Tuvok: What can you tell me about your friend Wixiban? Neelix: Wix? Tuvok: Mister Chakotay reported that he was aboard Voyager. Neelix: Ah, yes. He delivered some magnetic bearings. We're more like acquaintances, not friends really. I haven't seen him in years. Tuvok: Has he ever been involved in criminal activity? Neelix: I wouldn't know. I certainly don't think so. Tuvok: I must question him, and I would appreciate your accompanying me. Neelix: Me? What could I do? Tuvok: You may be able to help me evaluate the verisimilitude of his answers. Neelix: I see. Tuvok: Please meet me in transporter room two at eighteen hundred hours. Tuvok: How much time did you spend aboard Voyager? Wixiban: Probably less than an hour altogether. Tuvok: Were you ever alone on the ship? Wixiban: No. I was met by Mister Chakotay in your transporter room. Extraordinary experience, that transporter of yours. We delivered bearings to Lieutenant Torres, then Mister Chakotay and I paid a visit to my old friend Neelix in your mess hall. Tuvok: Where were you at the time of the shooting? Wixiban: In bed, asleep. Tuvok: Can anyone corroborate that? Wixiban: Alas, Mister Tuvok, I sleep alone. Tuvok: That will be all for now, Mister Wix. Neelix: I'd like to stay for a glass of toffa ale. Tuvok: As you wish, but please see me as soon as you return to the ship. Neelix: Yeah. Neelix: I'd forgotten how easy it is for you to lie. Wixiban: You're not suggesting I tell him the truth? Neelix: Vulcan's aren't as easily fooled as you might think. Wixiban: If you want to worry, I'll give you something to worry about. Neelix: What? Wixiban: The people I was conducting that transaction for aren't happy that they didn't get paid. Neelix: I thought this was your scheme? Wixiban: Do you think I could have afforded those tubes? I was acting as an agent for some Kolaati traders. Do you know anything about the Kolaati? They're mean as fire snakes. They will kill us, and it won't be quick. Neelix: I can't believe this is happening. Why did I ever listen to you! Wixiban: Neelix, it's all right. I've convinced them to take something else in payment. Something easily come by. They know about Voyager. They want a sample of your ship's warp plasma. They'll be able to use it to increase the efficiency of their engines. Neelix: No. It's wrong. I won't do it. This has to stop. Wixiban: You should have thought of that in the beginning. You're in too deeply now. Neelix: The people on Voyager are my friends. I can't steal from them. Wixiban: Friends? You've already told me they're ready to put you off the ship. You're living in a dream world. It's time to wake up. You're on your own, just as I am, and you're going to die a horrible death at the hands of the Kolaati unless you bring them three grams of warp plasma. Do you understand that? I've already told them you'll do it. Meet me here tomorrow morning at nine hundred hours. Paris: Hey, Neelix, what's up? Neelix: Oh, nothing. Just thought I might give you a hand with whatever it is you're doing. Paris: Oh, you may regret that. Chakotay and I have to pick up a supply of biomimetic gel tomorrow morning, and I am trying to find to find the container that is listed as the proper transport device. Starfleet standard issue L647X7. Neelix: Well, sounds like another set of eyes won't hurt. M34, no not that one. L647. No, it's Y6. Tom, if it's not too bold of me, I wonder if I could ask you something? Paris: Sure, anything. Neelix: I've heard you were in some trouble in the past. Spent time in prison. Paris: That's right. Neelix: Do you, would you, tell me how you got in trouble? Paris: I've thought a lot about that, and it comes down to one simple fact. I didn't tell the truth. I made a mistake, which happens to people, but if I'd admitted that mistake it would have been a lot better. But I lied about it, and it nearly ruined my life. Why do you ask? Neelix: Oh, no reason. Just wondered. Here's your container. Paris: After I've done here, a bunch of us are going to go down to the resort. Why don't you come along? Neelix: Thanks, but I'm going to turn in early. Maybe another time. Paris: Okay. Neelix: Good evening, Ensign. Vorik: Mister Neelix. Neelix: I thought I'd log a little time in the Jefferies tubes, if that's all right. Vorik: I was unaware you were officially on an engineering work detail. Neelix: Oh, it's not official, not at all, but Lieutenant Torres has been good enough to allow me to poke around here and there. As time permits, of course. Vorik: She has mentioned your desire to become familiar with Starfleet engineering protocols. I see no reason why you can't proceed. Neelix: Thank you. Ensign Vorik. Vorik: Yes, Mister Neelix? Neelix: You're quite young. Is it difficult for you being so far away from everything that's familiar? Vorik: Had I been given the choice, I might not have chosen to explore the Delta Quadrant. However, since we are here, I must say the challenges are intriguing. Neelix: Voyager is a wonderful place to be. People here are very fortunate. Vorik: I would concur. Wixiban: Did you get it? Where is it? Neelix: I have to talk to you. Wixiban: Give it to me. Neelix: I didn't get the warp plasma. Wixiban: What? Neelix: I couldn't do it. I just couldn't. We have to tell the truth. It's the only way to make things right. Wixiban: We're dead men, Neelix. Neelix: No. I have a plan. Bahrat: You two! Stay where you are! Wixiban: Don't panic, stay calm. Bahrat: I said, stay where you are! Paris: What is this? Bahrat: You two are under arrest. Paris: Arrest? Chakotay: What's the charge? Bahrat: Conspiring with known drug traffickers. And murder. Let's go! Bahrat: This is the criminal who was killed, and these are the two men we arrested. Janeway: You can't seriously regard this as viable evidence. Bahrat: I realize it's circumstantial, but it is compelling. Janeway: It proves absolutely nothing. Bahrat: It proves your two men had a conversation with a narcotics dealer only hours before he was killed. Tuvok: As the Captain said, that proves nothing. Bahrat: I'm holding them for questioning. They are prime suspects. Janeway: I want my security officer present during all interrogations. Bahrat: I'll take that into consideration. But make no mistake about this. Someone will serve fifty years of cryostatic suspension for that murder. If I were to let this go unpunished, it would be anarchy on this station within days. Janeway: You make no mistake about this. I won't allow members of my crew to be condemned for a crime they did not commit. Neelix: This has gone too far. We have to go to Bahrat. Wixiban: We'll end up in his cryostatic prison for decades. Neelix: Not if he agrees to my plan. Wixiban: Your plan is crazy. It's worse than prison, it's a death sentence. Neelix: That would be better than living a lie. I'm going whether you do or not. Wixiban: Neelix! We've been through too much together. I can't let you do this alone. Neelix: It was a type two Federation phaser that was used. It's on one of our shuttles. You can get it from our security officer to verify the energy signature. Bahrat: Which of you fired the weapon? Neelix: We were both involved in all aspects of the crime. Wixiban: I was the one with the weapon, but I fired in self-defense. Neelix: So you see, Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Paris are innocent. Bahrat: The punishment for trafficking in illicit substances is fifty years of cryostatic imprisonment. Neelix: Your cryostatic prison isn't a particularly effective deterrent, is it? Bahrat: It certainly is. There's very little narcotics trafficking that goes on here. Wixiban: That's what you think. The Kolaati have made a fortune trading drugs here. Bahrat: I know everything that happens on this station. Neelix: Apparently not, since we were able to deliver narcotics to known criminals right under your nose. Wixiban: They have ways of disabling your surveillance systems, masking your sensors, creating false visual signals. It happens almost every night. Bahrat: I'll put a stop to that. Neelix: Since you don't know how they do it, that might prove difficult. But we have a plan. The Kolaati want a sample of warp plasma from Voyager. Wixiban: I'll arrange a meeting with them to deliver the plasma. When they arrive, we'll take them into custody. Bahrat: How do you plan to do that? You won't be able to carry weapons, and if they thought my men and I were near, they'd be gone in a second. Neelix: We have some ideas. If we are able to turn them over to you, will you agree not to charge us with a crime? Bahrat: It's no risk to me. You'll undoubtedly perish in this ridiculous scheme. Neelix: You'll have to provide us with a sample of warp plasma. I won't take any from Voyager. Bahrat: What I can give you won't be of the same quality. Neelix: Doesn't matter. We'll make do. Bahrat: All right, we'll try it. But I don't hold any hopes that you will survive. Neelix: It's been over twenty minutes. Where are they? Wixiban: I confirmed the time and place. They should be here. Maybe they've realized it's a trap? Maybe they're not going to show up? Neelix: Let's hope they do, or we will end up in Bahrat's prison. Bahrat: It looks like someone's begun transmitting a false visual signal. My guess is they're about to come aboard. We'll give them five minutes, and then move in. Wixiban: It's Tosin. Neelix: Who? Wixiban: He's one of the most powerful Kolaati. Neelix: Good evening, gentlemen. My name is Neelix and I Tosin: The warp plasma, where is it? Wixiban: It's right in here, Tosin, but first you must guarantee us Tosin: You'll live for today. No guarantees about tomorrow. Give me the plasma. Slowly. Tosin: Twenty parts per million isonucleic residue? This is contaminated. You promised me a pure sample. Neelix: It doesn't matter, because you're under arrest. Tosin: What? Neelix: I said, you're being taken into custody for smuggling contraband and narcotic substances. Very serious offenses aboard this station, Mister Tosin. It's time you faced up to that. Tosin: Little man, your days have ended. Neelix: I wouldn't fire that weapon if I were you. That plasma canister you're holding. I disengaged the safety nodes just as you came in. Even as we speak, warp plasma is leaking from it. This section of the station is filling with plasma particles. Fire your weapon and you'll set off an explosion that would undoubtedly kill us all. Wixiban: He's telling the truth, Tosin. Don't do it. Neelix: And I wouldn't activate your transporter system, if I were you. The beam would also destabilize the plasma. Same effect. Boom. Tosin: Then you will die with me, little man. Neelix: No problem at all, if it means getting rid of an Orillian lung maggot like you. Go ahead. You'd be doing me a favor. I have nothing to lose. Fire away! Wixiban: Neelix. Neelix: Shoot. What are you waiting for? Fire! Tosin: Re-engage the safety nodes. Bahrat: Don't bother. Put down your weapons. You're under arrest for violating station code four two seven nine, subsection beta three two five. Tosin: No! Don't! Neelix: I'm in sickbay? Emh: Yes, Mister Neelix. You sustained third degree plasma burns and a moderate concussion, but my skills have prevented you from suffering permanent damage. Neelix: Thank you, Doctor. Tuvok: One of the criminals was killed in the plasma explosion. The others have been taken into custody by Mister Bahrat. Kes: Chakotay and Tom were released. Neelix: Oh, good. And Wix? Tuvok: Mister Wixiban was given his shuttle. He sent you his thanks before making a hasty departure. Janeway: Would all of you excuse us, please? I'd like to talk to Neelix alone. Janeway: Well, do you have anything to say for yourself? Neelix: Only that I'm terribly sorry. Janeway: Oh. You're sorry. Is that supposed to make everything better? I don't really care whether you're sorry or not, Neelix. At this point it doesn't matter. I can't imagine what made you behave the way you did, lying to us, sneaking around behind our backs, covering up criminal activity. Did you have some misguided reason to think this was acceptable behavior? Neelix: No, ma'am. Janeway: You've been one of my most trusted advisors since we began this journey. How can I ever trust you again? How can I ever listen to you without wondering whether you're telling the truth or not? Neelix: I've never been dishonest to you before, I swear, Captain. I just took one step. A step that seemed perfectly reasonable. And that step lead to another and another, and before I knew what I was involved in something I didn't know how to handle. Janeway: What was it? What was so important that you were willing to throw away your principles? Neelix: I needed a map. Janeway: A map? Neelix: Captain, my usefulness to you was at an end. I don't know anything about space beyond this point. I couldn't let you go into the Nekrit Expanse without knowing what you faced. Janeway: You've been on this ship for two years. I'd think by now you'd have learned that the first duty of any Starfleet officer is the truth. You violated that duty, Neelix, and there will be consequences. Neelix: I'm prepared to leave the ship, Captain. Janeway: Oh no, it's not that easy. You can't just walk away from your responsibilities just because you made a mistake. You're part of a family now. and you have obligations. Neelix: But, I can't guide you. I can't advise you. I don't know what's coming. Janeway: Well, that's not the point, is it? None of us knows what's coming. That's what Starfleet is all about. We are all in this together, Neelix, and we have to be able to count on each other no matter how hard it gets. Do you understand? Neelix: Yes. Yes, I do. Janeway: Well, that's good. Report to deuterium maintenance at oh four hundred tomorrow morning. You're going to spend the next two weeks scrubbing the exhaust manifolds. That should give you time to think about what I've said. Dismissed.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50460.3. We've been investigating an inversion nebula for several days. This phenomenon has never been seen in the Alpha Quadrant, and is proving something of a mystery to us here. Janeway: According to Federation astro-theorists, inversion nebulae are so unstable they're supposed to burn out within a few years, but this one appears to be centuries old. Paris: Maybe the theorists were wrong. After all, they never had a chance to look at the real thing. Chakotay: Not entirely wrong. These plasma strands we're approaching look ready to ignite. Janeway: Tom, back us off two thousand kilometers. That'll give us a safety margin. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Harry, set the sensors for full spectrum scans, continuous sweep. If that nebula does flare up, I don't want to miss a beat. Mister Kim, I need your attention on the sensors. Kim: Sorry, Captain. Full spectrum scans. I'm on it. Janeway: Astro-theory never predicted this would be so lovely. Beauty and mystery, a tantalizing combination. Paris: No argument here. Right, Tuvok? Tuvok: I am fully capable of appreciating this phenomenon without the extraneous sentimentality humans find so necessary. Chakotay: Being moved by an emotion isn't always extraneous. Sometimes it's the whole point. Tuvok: Enter. Mister Kim. Can I help you? Kim: Er. That's kal-toh, isn't it? Vulcan chess? Tuvok: Kal-toh is to chess as chess is to tic-tac-toe. Kim: I should have known. Tuvok: What is on your mind, Ensign? Kim: Tuvok, I need your help. I want to eliminate emotions, like Vulcans do. Tuvok: Mister Kim, it is a lifelong process. Kim: I realize that. And I also know that Vulcans use certain techniques. Tuvok: The t'san s'at, the intellectual deconstruction of emotional patterns. Kim: I'm willing to learn. Tuvok: May I ask why? Kim: I have feelings I don't want to have. Tuvok: That would seem to be self-evident. And what is the nature of those feelings? Kim: I'm in love, and I don't want to be. Tuvok: I see. And who is the object of your affections? Kim: Her name is Marayna. Tuvok: I am not aware of anyone on the ship with that name. Kim: She's not a member of the crew. She's a character on the holodeck. Tuvok: You're in love with a computer subroutine? Kim: That's the problem. Tuvok: Interesting. Tuvok: To see through an emotional complex is to rob it of its power. The first step is to identify the complex in which you have been caught. Kim: I told you. I'm in love. Tuvok: There are many different kinds of love, Ensign. You must learn to differentiate. For example, you told me that you met this individual only days ago. Yet you feel overwhelmed. Kim: I can't get her out of my mind. Not for a second. Tuvok: Have you been able to sleep? Kim: No. Tuvok: Have you eaten? Kim: No. Tuvok: Does your daily routine seem somehow empty, perhaps even ludicrous? Kim: Yes! Tuvok: You are experiencing shon-ha'lock, the engulfment. It is the most intense and psychologically perilous form of eros. I believe humans call it love at first sight. Kim: But we're talking about a holodeck character. Tuvok: Irrelevant. The emotional complex in which you are trapped is the same and so is the cure. Logical deconstruction, followed by a regimen of meditative suppression. As I shall demonstrate. Neelix: Ah, a little further to the left. Mmm, no. That's too much. Kim: Neelix. Have you seen Marayna? Neelix: Ah, perfect. Welcome, gentlemen. Just getting things ready for tonight's little get-together. Kim: I completely forgot. The luau. Neelix: Polynesian style. I've done my research. Er, Lieutenant Tuvok, you neglected to RSVP. Tuvok: That was not an oversight, I assure you. Kim: Where's Marayna? Neelix: Who? Kim: She's part of this program. Neelix: Doesn't ring a bell. Kim: How could you miss her? She's tall, athletic, blonde. Neelix: Oh, one of the entertainment directors. I believe she's giving Kes a hydrosail lesson. Neelix: No, no, not there. There. Kes: Harry, Tuvok, the lake is perfect today. Marayna: Hello, Harry. Kim: Hi, Marayna. Kes: We were just talking about you. Kim: You were? Kes: Marayna said what an excellent student you are. Kim: She's a great instructor. Marayna: Ready to get your ears wet? Tuvok: Vulcans do not hydrosail. Marayna: Oh, why not? Kes: Lieutenant Tuvok prefers the solitude of his own quarters and a game of kal-toh. Marayna: I'm sure we can do better than that. Kes: I'm going back on duty. Thanks. Marayna: You're welcome. There's a volleyball game starting down in the sand. Tuvok: Mister Kim and I would prefer some conversation. Would you care to join us? Marayna: All right. I tried a reverse curl this morning. I think I pulled a tendon. Feel that. Kim: It's like a knot. Tuvok: I'm sure it is. Marayna: Are you two friends? Kim: Yes. Tuvok: No. We're colleagues. I respect Mister Kim for his intelligence and his integrity. And I assume he holds me in the same regard. Marayna: So Vulcans don't hydrosail, and they don't have friends? Tuvok: We have fellowships and associations, but without the emotional dimension humans experience. Marayna: Hmm. You and I are friends, aren't we? Kim: Er, yeah. Marayna: Good. Chakotay: Chakotay to Tuvok and Kim. Report to the bridge. Tuvok: Acknowledged. We're on our way. Marayna: There's a luau tonight. You're coming, aren't you? Both of you? Tuvok: No. Kim: Yes. Marayna: You've got to stop doing that. Tuvok: Ensign? Tuvok: As I predicted, your responses were as formulaic as a mathematical equation. Kim: What do you mean? Tuvok: Consider the expression on your face when Neelix did not recall Marayna. Annoyance. Kim: That's not true. Tuvok: It is quite true. At that moment, Neelix was functioning in Vulcan terms as the soo-lak, the third party who, by his very lack of interest, trivializes your own. Kim: I guess it really did bother me. Tuvok: And the arrival of Kes with Marayna then precipitated in you the k'oh-nar, the feeling of being completely exposed. Kim: I was embarrassed, and I was sure Kes would take one look at my face and know exactly what I was feeling. Tuvok: And when Marayna placed your hand on her stressed tendon. Kim: Let's not even talk about that. Tuvok: Bridge. Kim: It's all so predictable. Tuvok: That's just what I've been trying to get you to perceive. To the trained Vulcan intellect, intense romantic love is nothing more than a set of stereotypical behaviors. Not having our diskipline, typically, humans are swept along by the process until it ends. Kim: How does it end? Tuvok: Either in conversion to a more balanced, stable relationship, or in tragic circumstances. Kim: I can't have a balanced, stable relationship with a holodeck character. Marayna's a computer program. She could never feel for me what I feel for her. Tuvok: Exactly. Logic dictates a single course of action. Retreat. Kim: To tell you the truth, I don't even like hydrosailing. Chakotay: The temperature's five thousand degrees kelvin and rising. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: We've located a plasma strand that looks like it's seconds from igniting. Chakotay: There is some kind of unknown process that's been keeping this nebula from going up like a torch. We're going to see it in action. Tuvok: And if there isn't? Paris: I've got my hand on the controls. We'll be out of here before it even touches our shields. Kim: Captain, the temperature is nine thousand degrees kelvin. I'm picking up a subatomic cascade reaction. Paris: There she goes. Kim: The plasma strand completely burned itself out. Chakotay: Without causing a chain reaction in the nebula. Janeway: Harry, what put out the flames? Kim: Sensors show some kind of dampening effect between the strands, but I can't isolate it. Janeway: Like a firebreak in space. Chakotay: If we understood how this happened, we might be able to find a new way to contain a warp core breach. Janeway: Or any plasma reaction. It's an investigation worth pursuing. Tom, it seems safe enough. Take us in for short range sensor scans. Let's find out all we can about this phenomenon. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: I'll see all of you at Mister Neelix's luau. I'm sure everyone will be attending. Paris: Lieutenant, you look absolutely Torres: Tropical? Paris: More along the lines of smashing. Torres: Thanks. Paris: Of course, nothing can quite measure up with this shirt. This is an exact recreation of a 1962 Big Daddy-O Surf Special, an American classic. Torres: I'd say you put just a little bit too much thought into that. Paris: Now that's where you're wrong. Torres: Let's go. I told Vorik we'd pick him up at sixteen hundred hours, and you know how Vulcan he gets when anybody is late. Paris: Vorik? I thought we were meeting Harry. Torres: Oh, he's not coming. Paris: Why not? Torres: He said he was busy. Paris: With what? Torres: I don't know. Paris: Harry and I will meet you and Vorik at the luau. Torres: You're pretty confident about your powers of persuasion. Paris: Yes, I am. Kim: Come in. Paris: Surf's up, Mister Kim. Kim: Hi, Tom. Paris: Harry, this is a luau. You look like you're dressed for a funeral. What are you doing? Kim: A Vulcan meditation. Paris: What for? Kim: To suppress my emotions. Paris: Is something wrong? Kim: Not really. Paris: The resort woman? What was her name? Kim: Marayna. How did you know that? Paris: Well, for two days now, every time I look for you it's always, he's in Holodeck one. And since you don't like hydrosailing, I figured something was going on. Kim: Am I that predictable? You sound like Tuvok. Paris: Tuvok? He told you to do all this? Kim: Logically, the best course is retreat. Meditation helps. Paris: Retreat? A classic case of Vulcan denial, if you ask me. Come on, Harry. We have all fallen for a holodeck character. It happens. You deal with it by staying with your normal routine, not by hiding out in your quarters. Kim: I'm not hiding out. I'm deconstructing the emotional complex. Paris: Okay. Have fun. Kim: No, wait. Computer, standard illumination. I'm getting tired of this anyway. Paris: Computer, one Hawaiian shirt. Computer: Specify parameters. Paris: Pineapple motif. Neelix: Greetings, Mister Vulcan. Tuvok: No, thank you. Neelix: I've done a great deal of ethnographic research on the Polynesian cultures on Earth. The flowered garland, or lei, is said to represent the flowering of love. It's a marvelous tradition, don't you think? Tuvok: Marvelous. Neelix: Oh. Oh, my! Did I program a centerpiece that big? Computer, open parameter adjustment file. Emh: The life of a recreational hologram - dining, dancing, non-restrictive clothing. I see the allure. Your turn. Janeway: Oh, thank you. Tuvok, I'm glad to see you here. Tuvok: I would never disobey an order, Captain, no matter how burdensome. Janeway: There's a difference between an order and a suggestion. Chakotay: The evening's young, Lieutenant. Let's mingle. Tuvok: Vulcans do not. Curious. Chakotay: What's that? Tuvok: If you will excuse me. Tuvok: A common error among novice players. By placing the t'an on opposite sides of the kal-toh, you are attempting to introduce a spatial balance, a strategy that will most certainly fail. Marayna: Why? Tuvok: Kal-toh is not about striving for balance. It is about finding the seeds of order, even in the midst of profound chaos. May I? Marayna: Please. Marayna: How beautiful. Tuvok: Kal-toh is not about beauty. Marayna: I understand, but it's still beautiful. Did you learn to play on Vulcan? Tuvok: Yes. From the age of five, I took lessons from a master. Marayna: I thought you might enjoy having an opponent. Playing alone must get a little predictable sometimes. Tuvok: You are perceptive. Marayna: Yes, I am. Extremely so. Girl: Aloha, miss. Girl: Sir? Tuvok: No, thank you. Marayna: You're the only one here not wearing a garland. Tuvok: Given the decor, it seems somehow excessive. Marayna: I don't believe you. Tuvok: I beg your pardon. Marayna: I think you're tying to isolate yourself and make a public protest at the same time. Tuvok: Explain. Marayna: You didn't want to be here in the first place. Being the only one without a lei sets you apart from the others, allowing you to symbolically maintain your solitude. And since everybody can see that you're the only one without a lei, you're letting them know that you'd rather be somewhere else. Tuvok: Your logic is impeccable. Paris: Thanks. Torres: Thanks. I am starving. Paris: Oh, me too. Let's find us a spot. This place is filling up fast. Vorik: I have already taken the liberty of reserving a table, Lieutenant, with a view of the lakeside. You did express a fondness for that particular vista. Torres: I did? Vorik: Five days ago in a conversation we had in Engineering regarding holodeck programs. Torres: I guess maybe I did. Paris: Good memory. Vorik: Of course. Torres: Well, then, Ensign, let's go. Paris: Harry? Kim: What? Paris: Do you want to get something to eat or not? Kim: I don't know. Maybe this isn't a good idea. Listen, I'm going back to my quarters. Paris: Harry. Kim: Tom! Paris: Okay. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Marayna: I like the excitement of the water, the danger of being tossed around by the wind and the waves. But at the same time, feeling like I'm in control. Tuvok: The illusion of control. Marayna: That's exactly right, because no one can control the wind and the waves. But for a few moments when you're on the water, and the ride is perfect, the feeling is that you can. You ever feel that? Tuvok: No. Marayna: Never? Don't you have an imagination? Tuvok: If by imagination, you mean the ability to spontaneously generate images within my mind, then, yes, I have a highly developed imagination, as do all of my race. Marayna: All right, imagine this, that you with your logic and your reason, are skimming atop endless waves of emotion. You believe you're in control, but you know that control is an illusion. You believe that you understand the depths beneath you, but that, too, is an illusion. Tuvok: I can see why Ensign Kim finds you compelling. Marayna: I can see why Harry admires and respects you, because it's obvious that he does. And so do I. Tuvok: I must return to my quarters. Marayna: Please stay. I've never met anyone like you. Tuvok: I must admit, I share that conclusion. You are a unique individual. Marayna: Then stay. Tuvok: It is late. I must go. Marayna: Then come back tomorrow. I'm sure the weather will hold. Tuvok: No doubt. Marayna: Please. Tuvok: Perhaps. Marayna: Good night, Tuvok. Tuvok: Good night, Marayna. Tuvok: Computer, end resort program. Captain's log, supplemental. We've completed sensor scans and confirmed our discovery of an unusual dampening field responsible for keeping this unstable nebula from going up in flames. The field's origin is still a mystery. Chakotay: The dampening field only seems to appear when one of the plasma strands ignites, as if the fire itself initiates the field. Janeway: Which puts out the fire. A feedback loop. Chakotay: One that's preserved this nebula for hundreds of years. Janeway: Mister Kim, do we have enough data on this dampening field to produce one artificially using the deflector dish? Harry, do we have the data? Kim: Yes, Captain. But it'll take a while. We'll have to simulate the process on the computer, and then try to recreate it with the deflector dish. Probably a few weeks. Janeway: The project is yours, Ensign. Tom, resume course for the Alpha Quadrant, warp six. Paris: Aye, Captain. Paris: Captain, propulsion is not responding. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. B'Elanna, what's going on? Torres: I'm not sure, Captain. We're trying to track the problem now. Janeway: Acknowledged. Harry, give B'Elanna a hand. Chakotay: The nebula could be having an effect on the ship's systems. Janeway: That's a possibility we can't discount. Vorik: The warp drive is functioning within established tolerance levels. Matter antimatter containment is at recommended field strength. The impulse engines are also Torres: Within tolerance. Vorik: Yes. Torres: Most likely there's some kind of failure in the computer pathways. Nothing's wrong with propulsion, but the commands from the helm just aren't getting there. Kim: The warp drive seems okay. Impulse too. I think the problem must be somewhere else. I think maybe the helm's being blocked. Torres: Like some kind of failure in the computer pathways? Kim: Maybe. Torres: I just said all that. You're not listening, Harry. Vorik: I'll return to my station, Lieutenant. Kim: I'm sorry. I guess I've got a lot on my mind. Torres: Forget about her. Kim: What did Tom say to you? Torres: Not a single word. I saw the way you were looking at Marayna yesterday. Kim: Hi. My name's Harry read-me-like-a-book Kim. Torres: It's not that bad. Kim: Apparently it is. I can't get her off my mind. Computer: Input algorithm not accepted. Torres: Why don't you take a break? I can handle it from here. Kim: Thanks. I'll be in my quarters if you need me. Kim: Deck three. Computer, belay that order. Holodeck one. Kim: Computer, activate Neelix resort program. Computer: That program is currently running. Marayna: Hello, Harry. Kim: Enjoying yourselves? Now I know why you told me to keep off the holodeck. Tuvok: Mister Kim, you are misconstruing the nature of this situation. Your jealousy is entirely insupportable. Kim: Stop analyzing me! I respected you. I trusted you. And you did this right behind my back. Tuvok: I have done nothing of the sort. Kim: Then what do you call this? Tuvok: A game of kal-toh which I am playing with a nonsentient computer subroutine. Marayna: Harry, I didn't intend to harm you, and I didn't do anything wrong. Kim: I'll accept that from her, Tuvok, but not from you. You said to stay away from her. You should have done the same. Tuvok: You're implying a desire on my part that simply does not exist. Marayna is an intriguing interactive hologram, nothing more. Kim: If you say so, Lieutenant. Tuvok: Mister Kim, I value our working relationship. I would not allow a holodeck character to disrupt that. Kim: I think it's a little late Marayna: Tuvok! Harry! Please. Stop arguing. Tuvok: Computer, delete the Marayna subroutine. Marayna: Tuvok, what are you Kim: That's not going to help. I never should have come to you in the first place. I should have worked it out myself. Janeway: Let's try it again, Mister Paris. Warp six. Paris: Course laid in. Janeway: Engage. It would appear to me that we're not moving, Mister Paris. Paris: I don't understand it, Captain. Janeway: Any ideas, B'Elanna? Torres: Warp drive is still on line, and helm control appears to be working, but the engines aren't responding. It's possible we've got a computer malfunction, but I can't seem to localize it. Janeway: Let's run a level four computer diagnostic. All systems. Kim: Aye, Captain. Torres: Captain, I just got aft thrusters to respond. It's not much. Janeway: I'll take it, B'Elanna. Tom, let's go. Chakotay: At this speed, we'll be completely clear of the nebula by tomorrow. Janeway: Good enough. Marayna: Your move. Marayna: I think you'll find my game has improved. Tuvok: How did you get here? Marayna: Simple. I transferred myself from the holodeck to the sickbay, then used your physician's mobile emitter. Tuvok: I deleted you from the holodeck. Marayna: But you only did that for Harry's benefit. I know you wanted to keep seeing me. I like Harry, but you're different. You're not like anyone else. Tuvok: Why have you come here to my quarters? Marayna: You're like a new world to me, Tuvok. I want to know everything about you. I didn't realize how lonely my existence was, and I can't go back to the way things were, not without you. Tuvok: Tuvok to bridge. Intruder alert. Security team to my quarters. Marayna: No! Why did you do that? Don't you want us to be together? Tuvok: Given your actions, I have no choice but to consider you a potential threat to myself and to Voyager. Marayna: But you're wrong. I would never do anything to harm you. Make it stop! Tuvok: You have access to the ship's control systems? Marayna: And I'll use them all if I have to. You can't just delete me! Janeway: Where is this individual now? Torres: When security got to Tuvok's quarters, she downloaded herself back into the computer and onto the holodeck. Paris: More to the point, what is she? Chakotay: Most likely a sentient computer program. I checked the Starfleet database. This kind of thing has happened before. The Enterprise-D under Picard was once taken over by a holocharacter. Kim: We studied that case at the Academy. It gained control of the ship from inside the holodeck. Tuvok: Marayna may well have done the same. She was able to silence the intruder alert by an apparent act of will. Janeway: Does that mean she has the run of our entire computer system? Tuvok: She may. Janeway: Is it possible that she's the source of our mysterious malfunctions? Torres: It's certainly possible. If Marayna's able to manipulate the ship's computer pathways, she could have disrupted propulsion and then covered her tracks so we couldn't trace the cause. Janeway: But why? What's her motivation? Tuvok: I believe it has something to do with her feelings toward me. In my quarters, she made reference to her loneliness and expressed her desire to continue our relationship. Paris: But what does that have to do with knocking propulsion offline? Chakotay: Could she be trying to keep us near the nebula? Kim: This all started the day we got here. That's when I first met her. Maybe the nebula is somehow affecting the holodeck. Janeway: Giving rise to an intelligence that doesn't belong there. Torres: It's possible. Janeway: In any case, I can't allow her to gain any further control over my ship. Tuvok, Paris, Torres, get down to holodeck one. I want this situation resolved one way or another. Torres: She's locked us out of the program. We'll be lucky if we can open the doors. Paris: We're lucky. Tuvok: Marayna may have opened the doors. Caution is advised. Torres: I'll try to access the inside control panel. Paris: It's kind of creepy. Tuvok: Marayna's attempting to recreate the setting of my previous encounter with her. Paris: Ah. You really know how to pick 'em, Tuvok. Torres: I got access to the holodeck computer. Paris: I'm not reading anything unusual on the holodeck. It seems to be working perfectly. Torres: There's a subspace signal coming from outside of Voyager. It's some kind of an uplink. There's somebody on a ship out there, tapping into the Paris: B'Elanna! Tuvok: Shoot the control panel. Janeway: Shield status. Kim: Still holding, Captain, but the inertial dampeners are offline. Chakotay: Starboard shields are down to eighty percent. Janeway: What happened down there? Tuvok: Marayna attacked us and attempted to restrain me. She has control over the holodeck characters. Janeway: But she's not actually on the holodeck. I found an uplink and tracked it to the nebula. She's on a hidden ship or a space station. She's manipulating the holodeck from there. Chakotay: She's been using the Marayna character like a puppet. Janeway: As an interface, a way to move around Voyager to interact with us. Marayna: Tuvok, come back to me. I'm waiting for you. Janeway: Harry, try to trace the uplink. Find her. Marayna: Don't make this more difficult than it already is, Captain. Janeway: Are you responsible for the plasma fires? Marayna: You're giving me no other choice but to force the issue. Janeway: What do you want? Marayna: Tuvok. I want Tuvok. Let him come to the holodeck alone, or I'll destroy your ship. Marayna: Tuvok, you're back. Tuvok: I had little choice. Marayna: We're alone now. No one can see us or hear us. We can do whatever we want. You don't have to pretend anymore. This is our world. Tuvok: You successfully lured me here by threatening the ship, but any attempt to generate intimacy between us will not be successful. Torres: I've isolated the source of the uplink signal. Janeway: Stand by to transport. Marayna: I understand your sense of duty, of loyalty to your captain, but we have something stronger, a connection that goes beyond duty and loyalty. I know you want to be with me, Tuvok. Tuvok: You must leave Voyager now and allow us to continue on our course. Marayna: I won't. Tuvok: I suggest you reconsider, or Captain Janeway will be forced to take action. Marayna: There's nothing she can do. You're staying here with me. She'll just have to accept that. Tuvok: Energize. Kim: Transporting to the source of the uplink. Marayna: Stop! Chakotay: Shields are down to forty seven percent. Chakotay: Shields are gone. Janeway: Try to hail Tuvok. Kim: I can't Captain. Something's blocking the signal. Tuvok: Marayna. Marayna: Your ship is helpless. If I ignite one more strand, the hull will fail. Tuvok: You are using the nebula as a weapon. Marayna: My nebula. Tuvok: I will fire if necessary. Marayna: You're too late. I've already set the ignition sequence. Only I can stop it. Tuvok: Are you alone here, on this station in this nebula? Marayna: Yes. It's my work. Tuvok: I don't understand. Marayna: I keep the plasma fires from chain-reacting. Tuvok: You are responsible for the dampening field we've been investigating. Marayna: That's correct. I generate it from here to preserve the nebula so that others from my home planet may enjoy its beauty. I watch the ships when they pass by. They don't even know I'm here. Tuvok: You are lonely. Marayna: By choice. I prefer to be here, alone. Tuvok: But you uplinked with our holodeck and created a character in order to interact with us. Marayna: To amuse myself. I have done it before. Tapped into the computer of a passing alien vessel, examined all the little details of their lives. But I never expected to find something as diverting as your holodeck. I never expected to find you. You are like nothing else I've ever encountered. And I can't be without you. Stay here with me, and I will let your ship resume course. Tuvok: If it is the only option, I would willingly sacrifice myself to save my crewmates. Marayna: No! That's not enough. You have to want to be with me. Tuvok: If you truly understood who and what I am, you would know that I could never return your affections. Marayna: But you are more like me than you are like them. I've seen the way you isolate yourself. Even in a crowd of people, you're alone. We should be together. Tuvok: I must admit, I have found our conversations stimulating. Your insight and intelligence, fresh and unexpected. In other circumstances, I would be willing to spend time in your company, to continue to share knowledge and ideas. But I have a home and a spouse on Vulcan. I have a mission, and colleagues who depend on me. I do not have a complete understanding of emotions, but I believe that if you truly care for me, you will not pursue this course of action. Marayna: You may go. Your communicator will function now. Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. Janeway: Go ahead, Tuvok. Tuvok: I am ready to return. Stand by to beam me aboard. Kim: Captain, ship's systems are coming back online. Janeway: Acknowledged, Tuvok. Janeway: Standing by. Tuvok: Consider this. Your feelings toward me may be evidence of a deeper need. A more profound loneliness than you are willing to admit. Why don't you call for a replacement? Let another occupy this task. Attempt for a time to live among your own kind. Marayna: Logically, that would be the best thing to do. Tuvok: Yes. Marayna: Perhaps I will. Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. Ready for transport. Marayna: But what about you, Tuvok? Will you always be alone? Security chief's log, stardate 50471.3. The remaining damage to the ship was easily repaired, and we soon left Marayna's nebula behind. Voyager is back on course, and I have resumed my normal routine. Tuvok: Mister Kim, would you be interested in learning to play kal-toh? Kim: I thought kal-toh was beyond human understanding. Tuvok: Not entirely. Ensign, I failed to respect the complexity of your emotions. I apologize for my lack of consideration. Kim: Don't worry about it, Tuvok. Apology accepted. Kim: Won't this take years to learn? Tuvok: It will indeed. Girl: May I join you? TUVOK + Kim: No. Tuvok: But thank you.

Neelix: Oh Captain, do you have a minute? Janeway: Just about a minute. I'm on my way to the shuttlebay. Neelix: I thought last night went well, didn't you? Janeway: Extremely well. Everyone had a lot of fun. Neelix: I was thinking of making it a regular feature, say once a month? Janeway: It's certainly worth a try. Neelix: And Captain, you were especially good last night. Janeway: Thanks, Neelix. It's been a while. Neelix: You'd never know. Now, Captain, I, do you think, I mean, I, I, I was wondering if Janeway: What is it, Neelix? Neelix: Could you possibly keep Mister Tuvok busy on the bridge that evening? Janeway: I'm sure something could be arranged. Our secret, Neelix. Neelix: We never had this discussion. Chakotay: Harry's clarinet solo was okay. I could have done without Tuvok's reading of Vulcan poetry. But the highlight of the evening was definitely Kathryn Janeway portraying the Dying Swan. Janeway: I learned that dance when I was six years old. I assure you, it was the hit of the Beginning Ballet class. Chakotay: I don't doubt it. If Neelix has another talent night I hope you reprise it. Janeway: Oh, no. Not until certain other people take their turn. The ship's First Officer for instance. Chakotay: Me? Get up in front of people and perform? I don't think so. Janeway: Come on, Chakotay, there must be some talent you have that people would enjoy. Maybe I could stand with an apple on my head and you could phaser it off. Chakotay: Sounds great. If I miss I get to be Captain. Atmospheric turbulence. We might be in for a rough landing. Janeway: Funny, a minute ago there wasn't any indication of rough weather. Chakotay: I'm reading even more severe storms near the surface. Janeway: Ion lightning. Maybe we'd better try the fifth planet instead and come back here when things have cleared up. Chakotay: I think we took a lightning hit. Attitude control is out. Janeway: I'm switching to manual. Chakotay: The navigational system's out. Janeway: Reverse engines. Full thrusters. Computer: Warning. Hydrazene gas leak. Janeway: Altitude twelve kilometers. Hull temperature four thousand degrees. We have to reduce speed. Chakotay: I'll try the emergency anti-grav thrusters. Chakotay: Kathryn. Kathryn! Chakotay: Kathryn! Kathryn! Chakotay: No! Computer: Warning. Hydrazene gas levels at one hundred twelve parts per million. Begin evacuation procedures. Chakotay: Hang on, Kathryn. Chakotay: Breathe, damn it. Breathe! Don't you die on me now. Come on, Kathryn. Breathe! Listen to me, Kathryn. You've got to breathe. Breathe! Breathe! Come on. Come on! Chakotay: Yes. Janeway: Chakotay. Chakotay: Don't ever do that to me again. Janeway: Thanks. Chakotay: You went into shock. You gave me quite a scare there for a minute. This should help reduce your cranial swelling. Should have a headache for a while. Janeway: I'll live with it. Chakotay: We need to set up a homing signal. Hey, take it easy. Janeway: I'm all right. Chakotay, we're going to need the blankets and the rations. Chakotay: I can get them. You set up the homing signal. Here. At least the storm seems to be dying. Janeway: What were you looking at? Chakotay: There are phaser burns on the hull. I don't think it was lightning strikes that hit us. I think we were shot down. Janeway: By whom? Chakotay: I don't know. I'm going back to see if I can get an energy signature from the burns. Janeway: Chakotay, the homing signal. We might be telling someone just where to find us. Chakotay: Disconnect it while I scan the shuttle. Janeway: Can you tell anything? Chakotay: The signatures are Vidiian. Janeway: Vidiian? I thought we'd moved beyond their space. Chakotay: If they shot us down you can be sure they'll be coming for us. We need to find a hiding place. Janeway: What is it? Chakotay: Life forms, fifty meters from here. They're coming this way. Janeway: Let's go. Chakotay: There's another group in this direction. We're surrounded. Janeway: Let's take cover. We'll have to fight. Janeway: Back off now. We'll fire if we have to. Back off! Janeway: Chakotay! Chakotay: Harry's clarinet solo was okay. I could have done without Tuvok's reading of Vulcan poetry. But the highlight of the evening was definitely Kathryn Janeway portraying the Dying Swan. Janeway: I learned that dance when I was six years old. I assure you. Wait a minute, what's happening here? Chakotay: You're right. We have been here before. Janeway: Do you remember Vidiians? Chakotay: Yes. They shot us down and attacked us. Janeway: We may have wandered into some kind of repeating time loop. I'm going to scan for temporal anomalies. Chakotay: Whatever's going on, let's change tactics this time. Let's not try to land on that planet. Janeway: Agreed. I don't see any evidence of temporal flux, or any kind on anomaly for that matter. Chakotay: Or of Vidiian ships. Janeway: So far, so good. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Chakotay to Voyager, do you read us? Janeway: We're out of range. I'd still like to figure out what happened to us. Send a subspace message that we won't be landing on the planet. Tell them that we'll be looking for evidence of temporal anomalies. I see a ship approaching at high impulse. It's on an intercept course. Chakotay: Is it Vidiian? Janeway: Yes. Chakotay: I've got it. It's a warship, loaded with weaponry. It's closing fast. Janeway: Can we outrun it? Chakotay: We can try. Janeway: They're two hundred thousand kilometers away and gaining. Chakotay: Setting evasive pattern Delta four. Janeway: They're powering weapons. Shields up! Stand by all phaser arrays. Chakotay: Shields down to eighty four percent. Janeway: Returning fire. Chakotay: Nice aim. Janeway: It didn't stop them. Chakotay: We've lost shields! Janeway: Firing starboard array! Chakotay: That one hit the reactant injectors. Janeway: Shut them down, they'll leak antimatter. Chakotay: The magnetic fields are failing. The gas flow separators are down. Janeway: Dump the core! Janeway: It's looking more and more like we're in a time loop. The question is, how do we break it? Chakotay: Let's retrace our steps. Get back to the part of space we were in before all this started happening. Janeway: Agreed. If we're experiencing a temporal field, a tachyon burst might disperse it. Chakotay. Chakotay: Let me guess. It's a Vidiian ship. Janeway: Two Vidiian ships, still twenty million kilometers away but headed right for us. Chakotay: Sacajawea to Voyager. Do you read us? Tuvok: You have just come into comm. range, Commander. Chakotay: We're being pursued by two Vidiian ships. Set a course for our shuttle and have weapons powered. Janeway: We also believe we're experiencing some kind of temporal phenomenon, a time loop. Make certain you scan for anomalies. Tuvok: Aye Captain. We're on our way. Chakotay: If you're going to emit that tachyon burst, you'd better do it now. In a couple of minutes those ships'll be right on top of us. Janeway: Here goes. Janeway: I can't tell if it's affecting anything. Chakotay: The Vidiians are almost within range. Ready weapons. What happened? Janeway: They just vanished! But I'm picking up a residual temporal signature. Chakotay: Then those ships must have been part of the time loop. Janeway: And the tachyon burst disrupted it. Chakotay: Not a minute too soon. I was getting awfully tired of talking about Talent Night. Tuvok: Voyager to Sacajawea. We will rendezvous with you in approximately four minutes. Janeway: Believe me, Tuvok, we're looking forward to it. Tuvok: Good to have you back, Captain. Janeway: Good to be here. I'd still like to get to the bottom of whatever was happening to us in that shuttle. Did Voyager detect any evidence of a temporal field? Tuvok: To my knowledge, we did not. Janeway: Let's run a second level temporal scan. I'd feel better entering this part of space if I knew what caused the phenomenon. Torres: Phenomenon? I'm not sure what you mean, Captain. Janeway: The time loop, or whatever it was we ran into out there. Paris: Time loop? Janeway: We told you, Chakotay and I experienced some kind of temporal loop. It involved the Vidiians. They'd attack and kill us and then we'd be sitting in the shuttle again. Tell them. Chakotay: We were on our way to the second planet of a binary system. Janeway: To collect some nitrogenase compound. But we encountered a storm and we crashed. Chakotay: And then we were attacked by the Vidiians, but we managed to escape and get back here. Tuvok: You and the Commander were checked by the Doctor, who treated your injuries, and you proceeded here to the bridge. Chakotay: But I don't remember anything about a repeating time loop. Janeway: You don't remember how we kept ending up in the shuttle talking about Talent Night? Then I'm the only one who recalls things differently. Something strange is going on here. I'll have the Doctor examine me. In the meantime, I still want those temporal scans. Chakotay: You heard the Captain. Let's get moving. Emh: I ran a microcellular scan after you returned to the ship. I have just analyzed the results. Janeway: What did you find? Emh: You have contracted a disease. The Vidiian Phage. Janeway: The Phage? What about Chakotay? Is he infected too? Emh: No, Commander Chakotay shows no signs of the disease. Janeway: How did I get it? Emh: You said one of the Vidiians grabbed you. It may be that the virus was transferred in that way. Janeway: But we've encountered Vidiians like that before and had physical contact with them. No one's ever gotten sick that way. Emh: I can't offer an explanation at this point. It may be that the Phage virus has mutated to become more infectious. I believe however this explains the hallucinations you described. There is often concomitant stress to the thalamus in the early stages of the disease. It is known to cause a kind of dementia that produces hallucinations. Janeway: What's the prognosis? Emh: I wish I could tell you, Captain. For the moment it would be best if you remained in sickbay, under quarantine. Janeway: Of course. Emh: The fact that the virus has acted so quickly raises the possibility that others on the crew may be infected. Janeway: But you've studied the Phage in great detail. Have you made any progress in finding a cure? Emh: I hadn't pursued the matter since we seemed to have moved beyond Vidiian space. But I'll now redouble my efforts. In the meantime I'd like to give you a sedative. Captain? I'll be running a series of deep level tissue scans. Janeway: I understand. Emh: There. That should give you a good night's sleep. I'll erect a bioforcefield, and I promise you, Captain, I won't deactivate myself until I have some answers for you. Janeway: Doctor. I know I'm in good hands. Janeway: Doctor? Emh: Ah, you're awake. Janeway: How long have I been asleep? Emh: Almost forty hours. Janeway: Forty. Emh: I'm afraid this strain of the Phage is particularly virulent. It's spreading rapidly. Janeway: Have you? Is there any hope of a cure? Emh: I regret to inform you that I have been unsuccessful. Janeway: Then what's the next step? Emh: I've given that a great deal of thought. The prospects are unpleasant, Captain. You face a lingering, painful death marked by increasing periods of dementia and eventual insanity. Janeway: I see. Emh: I've come to the conclusion that there's only one humane course of action. Janeway: What's that? Emh: Euthanasia. Janeway: What? Emh: It would be wrong to subject you to such a prolonged and painful death. The crew would also be adversely affected if that were to happen. Janeway: Surely there are other options to explore, Doctor. B'Elanna's DNA for instance. It's coded to produce antibodies against the Phage. Emh: Klingon DNA might provide a vaccine for the disease, but not a cure. I'm sorry, Captain. The space within the forcefield is filling with a neural toxin. It is fast acting and merciful. Janeway: Turn it off. That's an order, Doctor! Emh: Please relax and take deep breaths. It will be over more quickly that way. Janeway: Computer, delete Emergency Medical Hologram. Computer: A security code is required for that command. Janeway: Security code Janeway Lambda Three. Computer: That code is not recognized. Janeway: I'm the Captain! Delete the EMH! Computer: A security code is required for that command. Janeway: Don't do this. It isn't right. Janeway: Chakotay! Chakotay: I know. We're back. Janeway: That's it. That must be the anomaly. That's what's behind all this. Chakotay: It's exerting a gravito-magnetic force. Janeway: We've got to get away from it. Divert all power to the engines. Chakotay: Changing course. We're still being drawn toward it. Janeway: Reverse engines, full power. Chakotay: Structural integrity is weakening. Janeway: Reinforce the hull. Chakotay: Captain, maybe we should go in. Janeway: No! Chakotay: Listen to me. Maybe we're doing this all wrong. Maybe the thing to do is fly into it. Janeway: No, I don't believe that. We've got to get away. Chakotay: It's going to tear the shuttle apart. The hull is breaching! Chakotay: Don't you die on me, Kathryn. Janeway: Chakotay, what's happening? Chakotay: Start breathing! Breathe, dammit. Breathe! Don't do this to me, Kathryn. Come on, Kathryn, breathe. Janeway: Can't you hear me? Chakotay: Don't you die on me. Come on, breathe. Kathryn, listen to me, you have to breathe. Start breathing! Come on! Come on! Chakotay: No, Kathryn! You can't die. Janeway: Chakotay, I'm here. Tuvok: Voyager to Sacajawea, do you read us? Chakotay: Yes, Voyager. How far are you? I have an emergency here. Tuvok: We're in orbit, Commander. We've located you but transporters won't function in the storm. A shuttle is on its way to the surface now. Chakotay: The Captain's dead. We have to get her back to sickbay. The Doctor may still be able to revive her. Tuvok: The away team should be with you in minutes. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Janeway: I know you can't see me or hear me. I don't know what's going on. But I am here, Chakotay. I am not dead. Chakotay: Kathryn, we're going to get you back. Emh: Ten milligrams cordrazine. We'll use it in conjunction with the cortical stimulator. Now! Kes: No pulse, no blood pressure. Minimum electrical activity in the midbrain. No measurable response in the cerebral cortex. Emh: Again. Kes: Doctor, we're getting a thready pulse. Emh: Quickly. Seventy five milligrams inaprovaline. I'll begin direct synaptic stimulation. Kes: Pulse is weakening. We're losing her again. Emh: Cortical stimulator. Now! Kes: No vital signs. No brain activity. Emh: Again! Kes: No change. Emh: Again! Kes: Doctor Emh: Don't question me. Again! Make a note in the log. Death occurred at oh three twenty hours. Cause, massive cerebro-vascular collapse. Janeway: Computer, confirm Janeway voice pattern. Kes, you're a telepath. You've been able to sense things others can't. Kes, can you sense me? Emh: Kes, please go to the science lab and prepare the autopsy protocols. Janeway: I'm here, Kes. I'm staying with you until you realize it. Kes: Captain? Janeway: Did you feel that, Kes? It was me. Kes: Kes to Commander Chakotay. I need to talk to you right away. Kes: Maybe it was nothing, but I have the strongest feeling that the Captain was there in the corridor with me. Tuvok: It is possible that in your distress over the Captain's death you imagined that you were aware of her. Kes: It was more than that, I'm sure of it. Chakotay: In the past Kes has shown an ability an unseen presence. I think we have to take her seriously. Torres: The Captain's consciousness might have phase-shifted out of our reality. Paris: She could be in some kind of alternate dimension in subspace. Neelix: We have to find her somehow. Torres: Harry and I can run a full subspace sweep, see if we can come up with anything. Chakotay: Get on it. It's your top priority. Neelix, help the crew with this. Keep their morale up until we can get some answers. Chakotay: Yes, sir. Right away. Tuvok: Commander, I suggest I work with Kes. I may be able to help her increase the range of her perceptions. Chakotay: Good idea. Tom, we'll take duty stations. Janeway: That's more like it. Torres: I've reconfigured the lateral sensor array to scan subspace. Janeway: Don't forget to run a magneton sweep. Kim: The forward array is ready to scan for temporal phase-shifting, chronoton particles or field flux. Torres: I'm going to activate the magneton scanner. It might pick up an anomalous presence. Janeway: Now what? Janeway: Daddy! Who are you? Are you responsible for what's going on here? Admiral: You know who I am, Kathryn. Janeway: My father died over fifteen years ago. Admiral: Yes. Drowned under the polar icecap on Tau Ceti Prime. It was devastating to you. Janeway: You may be an hallucination, or some kind of projection of my own imagination, but you are not my father. Admiral: Kathryn, Kathryn. I raised you to be a doubter and a skeptic, to look at the world with a scientist's eye, but in this instance that won't work. Janeway: Why not? If you know what's going on here, tell me. Admiral: Isn't it clear? You're dead. You died in that shuttle crash. Janeway: No, no, no, that's not possible. Admiral: I understand your confusion, your refusal to accept what's happened. I went through the same thing after my accident. Janeway: What do you mean? Admiral: I went back to you, and your mother, and your sister after I died for a long time, until I realized it was futile. That's what happens when dead is unexpected. One's consciousness isn't prepared to let go. Janeway: Consciousness. Is that what you're calling me? Kathryn's consciousness. Admiral: For the want of a better word. Some say ghost or spirit. We all heard the stories and thought they were the product of vivid imaginations or self-induced hysteria. I'll admit I was surprised when I found they were true. Janeway: If you stayed with me after you died, you should be able to tell me what happened then. Admiral: You were so grief-stricken you fell into a terrible depression. You spent months in bed, sleeping away your days rather than confronting your feelings. I'm not sure what would have happened if your sister hadn't forced you into the real world again. Janeway: If you're an hallucination, a part of me, you'd know those things. Admiral: Kathryn, remember, several times after I died you woke up thinking I was in the room with you? You told your sister it felt absolutely real. That's because it was real. I was there trying to convince you to get on with your life. Janeway: Just for the sake of argument, let's say you're right. What's next? Admiral: That's up to you. Eventually you will cross over. The only question is how long it will take you to give up this world. Janeway: Cross over to where? Admiral: I don't know what to call it. Another state of consciousness, unlike anything we could have imagined in life. It's not a frightening place, Kathryn. It's full of joy and indescribable wonder. Janeway: Kes sensed I was here. They're looking for me. Admiral: People have felt the presence of ghosts throughout the ages, but the technology to find them still hasn't been invented. Janeway: They won't give up easily. Admiral: But they will give up eventually. They'll accept what's happened, and that's what you have to do. Janeway: Kes did it once, she can do it again. I'm going to help her. Admiral: If that's what you feel you need to do, I understand. Tuvok: Let us try one more time. Open yourself to the impressions around you, The thoughts, the minds that are on this ship. All the minds that are on this ship. Kes: I hear them. So many voices. Tuvok: They are a turbulent storm, and you are the one who must rise above the tempest, to a place that is quiet. Kes: It's difficult. Tuvok: You must lift yourself from the confusion of the storm. soar into the quiet space among the stars where everything is still. Kes: Yes, I'm in that place now. Tuvok: Is there a voice that you can hear? A single voice isolated in the stillness? Janeway: Kes, I'm here. Focus on me, on my voice. Tuvok: There are only two beings in the void. you and Captain Janeway. Nothing else exists that can interfere. Can you hear her voice, however faintly? Kes: I'm trying. Tuvok: Is there anything? Any presence in the void with you? Kes: I don't think so. I can't hear anything. Janeway: Kes, keep trying. You have to find me. Tuvok: Now I am with you, moving through the quiet space. My thoughts join with yours, extending the range of the search. Janeway: Tuvok, surely you must know I'm here? We've shared so much. Kes: I'm just not getting anything. Tuvok: Nor am I. Kes: I felt empty. alone. Maybe you're right. What I sensed wasn't the Captain. it was me wanting to believe she wasn't dead. Tuvok: We've been trying for three days without success. Nor have Lieutenant Torres and Ensign Kim found any indication that the Captain is alive. There is a point at which we must accept the inevitability of her death. Kes: Thank you for helping. I don't think I would have accepted it if you hadn't at least tried. Goodnight. Tuvok: Tactical officer's log, supplemental. My attempt to help Kes detect the Captain's presence has ended in failure. I am forced to conclude that we have, in fact, lost Kathryn Janeway. I would like the record to show that I have lost a good friend as well as one whom I can never replace. Janeway: Oh, Tuvok. Admiral: They all love you, Kathryn. It's going to be hard for them. Janeway: This can't be happening. I don't believe it. Admiral: Because you don't want to. Tomorrow, it will become easier. Janeway: My memorial service. Torres: When I came to this ship I resented the fact that Captain Janeway was responsible for our being stranded here in the Delta Quadrant. I didn't think that she made the right decision, and I certainly didn't want to serve under her command. In the beginning, I fought her. Even when she made me Chief Engineer, I didn't trust her reasons. I kept looking for a hidden agenda. I actually believed that she'd set me up to fail. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. She saw, she saw something in me that I didn't see. She saw a worthwhile person, where I saw a lost and hostile misfit. And because she had faith in me I began to have faith in myself. And when she died, the first thing I thought was that I couldn't do this without her. That I needed her too badly. Her strength and her compassion. But then I realized that the gift that she gave me, and gave a lot of us here, was the knowledge that we are better and stronger than we think. I wish I had said these things to her. I wish I'd taken the time. Chakotay: Would anyone else like to say something? Kim: I would, sir. I know Captain Janeway wouldn't want us to be sitting around moping. She'd want us to be cheering each other up, remembering the good times. Like the away mission when we found all those bushes of over-ripe fruit. I must have eaten half a kilo. My hands and mouth were all purple, and the Captain. The Captain came and sat down next to me, and her mouth was all stained too. She put her arm around my shoulder and she said. She said, Ensign, these are the times we have to remember. It. It's. Sorry. Chakotay: I know this hasn't been easy, but I think we'll all be better for it. We will honor the Captain one last time. Release the pod. Chakotay: Ensign Kim was right when he said the Captain wouldn't want us to be sad. Neelix has prepared some food, and it would be nice if we could all get together and share the good times we had with Captain Janeway. Admiral: It's over, Kathryn. There's nothing left for you here. Come with me. Janeway: What do I do to leave here? Admiral: Just decide. The only thing that keeps you is your refusal to leave. Janeway: You may be right in everything you've said to me, but I'm not ready to accept it. I'm not ready to go. Admiral: My poor little bird. You always made it hard for yourself. If there was a rocky path and a smooth one, you chose the rocky one every time. Janeway: If I stay, maybe it'll be easier for them. Maybe I could be comforting somehow. Admiral: You're saying all the things I told myself when I refused to leave you. I was hoping you wouldn't have to go through that. It's a horrible existence, Kathryn. As time wears on you begin to see how potent, how destructive, loneliness is. You'll see the people you love going on with their lives, doing all the things you used to share with them, but you won't be a part of it any more. You'll be forever shut out of their existence. It becomes agonizing. I don't want that to happen to you. Janeway: Maybe that's what it will take for me to make that decision. I just know that now I'm not ready. Admiral: What can I do to convince you? Janeway: Nothing. I can't, I won't abandon them. We're too much a part of each other, can't you see it? We've been through so much together. I have to know what's going to happen to them. To see Kes continue to grow and learn. To know if Tom and B'Elanna will ever stop sparring with each other and develop a real friendship. Admiral: You can only be an observer of their lives, never a participant. Janeway: I don't care. I'd rather be here in spirit than not at all. A Captain doesn't abandon ship. Admiral: Every hour you stay here makes it that much more difficult to leave. Janeway: Why are you pushing me? I've made up my mind. I'm staying here. Emh: The cortical stimulator is working. I'm getting a weak pulse. Chakotay: She's coming back. Emh: I'll use cordrazine along with the stimulator. Janeway: What was that? What happened? Admiral: What do you mean? Janeway: I saw Tuvok and Chakotay and the Doctor. Admiral: Here? Janeway: No. It was different, as though, as though I were looking up at them. Admiral: An hallucination like the others. Janeway: It didn't feel like the others. I didn't see myself. I was looking up at them. That's the real me, isn't it, lying on the ground on that planet, dying, and this is the hallucination. This isn't real. Admiral: More denial. You're only making it harder on yourself. Janeway: You're trying very hard to convince me to come with you. Why is that? If what you're saying is true, why not let me come to the decision on my own? Admiral: I'm trying to spare you unnecessary pain. Janeway: My father would never act like this. He always believed I had to learn my own lessons, make my own mistakes. He never tried to shield me from life. Why would he try to shield me from death? You're not my father. I could be imagining you, but I don't think so. You have such a specific agenda. You're determined that I go with you somewhere. Who are you? Admiral: I'm trying to help you. Stop fighting me. Janeway: Are you an alien being of some kind? Is that it? Chakotay: Her eyes are open. Emh: Vital signs are responding. Blood pressure is sixty over thirty. Tuvok: But the entity is still inhabiting her cerebral cortex, impeding your treatment. Chakotay: Kathryn, hang on. We're bringing you back. Just fight a little longer. Emh: Direct synaptic stimulation might drive out the alien presence. Janeway: I was right. I heard Tuvok and Chakotay and the Doctor. You're an alien. You've created all these hallucinations, haven't you? Admiral: This is what my species does. At the moment just before death one of us comes to help you understand what's happening, to make the crossing over an occasion of joy. Janeway: And what is that? Admiral: Our Matrix, where your consciousness will live. I was being truthful when I said it was a place of wonder. It can be whatever you want it to be. Janeway: Then why didn't you tell me this from the beginning? Why pretend to be my father. Admiral: Usually people are comforted to see their loved ones. It makes the crossing over a much less fearful occasion. I've done this many times, but I've never encountered someone so resistant. Emh: Something's happened. The alien presence is getting stronger again. Chakotay: Fight it, Kathryn, just a little longer. Emh: I'll have to try a thoron pulse. Janeway: My people are telling me to fight. They're trying to save me. Admiral: They're trying out of desperation. It's hopeless. Janeway: You're the one who sounds desperate. I don't get the feeling you're trying to make me comfortable. You're only interested in my agreeing to come with you. Admiral: Because it's inevitable. Janeway: And you don't strike me as any type of Good Samaritan. You're more like a vulture, preying on people at the moment of their death when they're at their most vulnerable. Admiral: I've waited for you. I've been patient. Janeway: But your patience is wearing thin. What's the real reason you want me in that Matrix? Somehow I don't think it has anything to do with everlasting joy. Admiral: You must go with me. Janeway: If you could force me to go, you'd have done it already. You need me to agree, don't you? I have to go voluntarily. Admiral: Wouldn't that be better than standing here in this endless debate? Janeway: Let me tell you this. We can stand here for all eternity and I will never choose to go with you. Admiral: You're in a dangerous profession, Captain. You face death everyday. There'll be another time, and I'll be waiting. Eventually you'll come into my Matrix and you will nourish me for a long, long time. Janeway: Go back to hell, coward. Chakotay: Kathryn? Emh: I'm no longer detecting the alien presence. Vital signs are responding. Blood pressure one ten over sixty five. Janeway: Doctor, what happened? Emh: Perhaps you can explain, Commander. Chakotay: You and I were caught in a magnetic storm and crashed here. You were badly injured. The Doctor just arrived on the shuttle with Tuvok and began treating you. Tuvok: As he was doing so we detected an alien presence within your cerebral cortex. It appeared to be preventing our attempts to heal you. Emh: Eventually it was dislodged, but there were a number of times I thought we'd lost you. Chakotay: But each time you seemed to fight back. Janeway: He kept telling me to let go, but I wouldn't. Tuvok: He? Janeway: My father. The alien. He wanted to take me into another place. Chakotay: Another place? Some kind of afterlife? Janeway: Maybe. But I can tell you this. From what I saw, it's certainly not where I'd like to spend eternity. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50518.6. The Doctor has examined me thoroughly and pronounced me physically fit, but I'll admit that it'll take a little longer to work through the emotional impact of my experience. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: I could have sworn I heard the Doctor tell you to take it easy for a few days. Janeway: Talking it easy usually makes me feel worse. Chakotay: You shouldn't push yourself. You've been through a lot. Janeway: Oh. To tell you the truth, I'd rather stay busy than dwell on what happened. Chakotay: I can understand that. I can't help thinking about it. That alien, his Matrix. He was like the spider that has to lure a fly into his web. Janeway: Do you think it's possible that each of the near death experiences we've heard about are the result of an alien inhabitation? Chakotay: That's a little hard to believe. Janeway: I hope so. I'd prefer to think his species was unique to the Delta Quadrant and that I've seen the last of him. Chakotay: I'm sure that's the case. After going head to head with Kathryn Janeway he must have realized he'd met his match. Janeway: Come on, Chakotay. We've cheated death, that's worth a celebration, don't you think? A bottle of champagne, moonlight sail on Lake George, how does that sound? Chakotay: Like something worth living for.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50537.2. Routine scans of an uninhabited star system have revealed the presence of gallicite, a very rare substance, on the fourth planet. Torres: If these readings are right, we're looking at a yield of nearly a kiloton. That would be enough gallicite to completely refit the warp coils. Paris: They sure could use it with all the damage they've taken the past two years. Chakotay: Is there anyone in the area who might consider this their property? Tuvok: They are indications that a colony once existed on the planet's surface. However, it appears to be long abandoned. Janeway: All right, let's stake a claim. I'll leave this in your hands, B'Elanna. Use whatever resources or personnel you need. You might want to talk to Mister Neelix. I believe he spent some time working in a mining colony. Torres: Aye, Captain. Torres: These tunnels are clearly artificial. Someone else must've been interested in digging up this gallicite. Vorik: That should make it easier to access the deposits. Torres: True, but we have to be careful. There's been a lot of seismic activity down there. Look, theses tunnels are completely collapsed. We should bring Tom Paris on the away team. He's had quite a lot of rock climbing experience. Vorik: I have spent several summers exploring the Osana caverns, which involved some quite treacherous climbing. Torres: Great. You two can be our safety experts. Vorik: Have we completed our preparations to your satisfaction? Torres: We're done here, yes. Vorik: Let me take this opportunity to declare koon-ut so'lik, my desire to become your mate. Torres: What? Vorik: In human terms, I am proposing marriage. Do you accept? Torres: This is, er, a little sudden, isn't it? Besides, I thought that Vulcan marriages were arranged. Don't you already have somebody back home? Vorik: She has sufficient reason to consider me lost, and has most likely chosen another mate. It's appropriate for me to do the same. Torres: And you've chosen me? Vorik: I have come to greatly admire not only your impressive technical skills, but also your bravery and sense of moral duty. All excellent qualities in a prospective mate. Torres: But you're Vulcan. I am half-Klingon. I really can't imagine Vorik: Perhaps we are not an obvious match. However, our differences would complement each other. You've often expressed frustration with your Klingon temper. My mental diskipline would help you control it. Furthermore, I feel that Torres: Wait, please. Please, I'm. I see that you've given this a lot of, er, logical thought and I really am very flattered, but my answer is no. I'm sorry. Vorik: B'Elanna, you may wish to reconsider. Your choices for a mate are currently limited to seventy three male crew members on this ship, some of whom are already unavailable. Torres: I'll worry about my choices myself, thank you. Vorik: I should also remind you that many humanoid species are unable to withstand Klingon mating practices Torres: Okay, that's enough. Vorik: whereas my superior Vulcan strength would make me a very suitable partner. Kes: Here are the results of his cortical scan. Torres: So what's wrong with him? Emh: In addition to a dislocated jaw, Ensign Vorik seems to be suffering from a neurochemical imbalance. Torres: Meaning what? Emh: I believe I should discuss that with the patient privately. Emh: You're going through the Pon farr, aren't you? Vorik: That's an extremely personal question, Doctor. Emh: Yes, I'm aware that Vulcans prefer to keep their mating practices very much to themselves. There's almost nothing in the medical database beyond a few observations made by Starfleet doctors over the years. Your symptoms, the chemical imbalance and loss of emotional control, are consistent with those observations. Have you been eating and sleeping normally? Vorik: I knew there was something wrong. I was hoping it wasn't this. Emh: I assume this is your first Pon farr? There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's a normal biological function. I'll do what I can to help you through it, but I'll need a little more information. Vorik: We do not discuss it. Emh: I'm afraid you'll have to. You have a severe imbalance in your brain chemistry. If it gets much worse, it could become life threatening. Now I need to know how Vulcans deal with this condition. Vorik: We go home. Every seven years of our adult life, Vulcans experience an instinctual, irresistible urge to return to the homeworld and take a mate. Emh: But in your case, being stranded halfway across the galaxy, that's impossible. Vorik: Yes. Emh: So then logically, you try to find a mate here. I assume that explains your behavior toward Lieutenant Torres. Vorik: I have always had great respect for B'Elanna. I hope she isn't too upset with me. Emh: With Lieutenant Torres, upset is a relative term. In any case, we're going to have to try to find another way to treat your condition. Let's start with a microcellular scan. Vorik: No! I don't want medical treatment. I will resolve this myself. Emh: How do you intend to do that? Vorik: There are certain meditative techniques. I will be fine if simply left alone. Please, allow me to return to my quarters. Confine me there, if you wish, but allow me to resolve my situation privately. Emh: Until I have a better idea of how to treat your condition, I'll release you to your quarters. You'll be under confinement and wearing a cortical monitor at all times. Vorik: Thank you. Emh: I'm concerned about Ensign Vorik's cortical readings. One returns to normal levels, then another one spikes. It's chaotic. As if the brain's regulatory system had simply shut down. I can't tell if he's making any progress with these meditations. I thought maybe you could suggest other possible treatments. Tuvok: I cannot. Emh: Is that because you don't know, or because you don't want to discuss it? Tuvok: For both of those reasons there is little help that I can offer. It is inappropriate for me to involve myself in Ensign Vorik's personal situation. Emh: For such an intellectually enlightened race, Vulcans have a remarkably Victorian attitude about sex. Tuvok: That is a very human judgment, Doctor. Emh: Then here's a Vulcan one. I fail to see the logic in perpetuating ignorance about a basic biological function. Tuvok: There is nothing logical about the Pon farr. It is a time when instinct and emotion dominate over reason. It cannot be analyzed by the rational mind, nor cured by conventional medicine. Anyone who has experienced it understands that it must simply be followed to its natural resolution. Emh: Which is what, exactly? Tuvok: There are three options that I am aware of. Taking a mate, which Ensign Vorik has already attempted. The ritual combat which does not apply to his situation. Emh: Combat? Tuvok: An ancient tradition of fighting for one's mate which as I have said, is not relevant here. The third alternative is the intensive meditation he has chosen to try. Emh: Isn't there anything we can do to help him with that? Tuvok: I believe that any interference would be unwelcome and counterproductive. You must allow him to face this challenge privately. If he possesses enough diskipline to reach a point of psychological resolution, then his chemical imbalance should correct itself. Emh: The Vulcan brain never ceases to amaze me. Thank you, Lieutenant. You've been a great help. Torres: Ah, you two are awfully prompt. Paris: Impressed? Torres: Oh, it'll take a little more work than that to impress me, Lieutenant. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Torres: All right. Let me show you our target area. Neelix: Shouldn't we wait for Ensign Vorik? Torres: He's not coming. This seems to be the most accessible vein of gallicite. We'll beam to the surface, then go down through this passageway until it dead ends in this chamber. Then we'll descend almost fifty meters, almost straight down. Do you see any problem with that, Tom? Paris: Well, as long as we go slow and easy, we'll be fine. Torres: Good. You're all set, Neelix? Neelix: I've got a laser drill, sample cases, geo-spectral analysis kit. Torres: In other words, you're ready. Let's go. Torres: This way. Neelix: Look over here. This must've been the colony. Paris: Not more than fifty or sixty years ago. Hardly enough time for these structures to decay so badly. Neelix: They must've suffered some kind of disaster. Maybe an earthquake. Torres: Well, we'll send down an archeological team later on. Right now we've got our own work to do. Paris: Are we in a rush? Torres: I just don't see any point in wasting time. Unless, of course, you want to stall to put off demonstrating your climbing expertise. Paris: Grab your gear, and try to keep up. Neelix: No matter how real a holodeck program may seem, it just doesn't get your heart pumping like a genuine physical challenge. It's exhilarating. Torres: If you're looking for exhilaration. Neelix: It didn't look quite so steep on the sensor map, did it? Torres: We're prepared for this. We can handle it. Let's go. Neelix: All this Starfleet technology almost takes the fun out of it. Paris: If you mean the fun of wondering whether your anchor will hold while you're dangling over a cliff, I think I'll pass. See you below. Torres: You go first. I'll follow you. Paris: Watch your footing! Torres: You're right. My heart is pumping faster. Neelix: Wait till we climb back up with a pack full of gallicite. Torres: Oh, I'm just getting warmed up. Paris: No! Paris: Are you hurt? Torres: You, you almost got us both killed. Neelix: I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. Paris: Careful. Careful. You might have broken it. Torres: You had no business rigging safety equipment when you had no idea what you were doing! Paris: Calm down. This wasn't Neelix's fault. I saw him drive the piton and it was solid. It must've malfunctioned. You are hurt. Torres: I'm fine, no thanks to you two. I would have been better coming down here alone. Paris: Don't you think you're overreacting a little bit? Torres: Just drag him to the ship. I'll get the gallicite myself. Neelix: We can't leave you down here alone! Paris: He's right. Let's contact the ship. Torres: You get your hands off of me. Paris: Ow! B'Elanna! What is wrong with you? Torres: Nothing. I'm in charge of this mission. I'll finish it. Paris: Wait! Neelix: Go ahead, Tom. I'll be all right here. Paris: The last thing we need is for all three of us to split up. Paris to Voyager. We've got problems down here. Paris: I haven't been able to contact her. She's either out of communications range Paris: Or just not responding. Janeway: Where is she now? Paris: Last location I can Paris: Verify is about ten meters below us. I tried to stop her from leaving, Captain, but she got very hostile and bit me. Chakotay: She bit you? Paris: And she seemed to be enjoying it, in a Klingon kind of way. She's really not herself. Janeway: Any luck in getting a transporter lock on them? Lang: No. They're too far beneath the surface. Janeway: Tom, I'm sending an away team down to you. We'll get Neelix out of there, then go after B'Elanna. Tuvok, you're with Chakotay. Tuvok: Captain, I'd like to request a short delay. I may have an explanation for Lieutenant Torres's behavior. Vorik: Go away. Vorik: I said, go away! I'm sorry, sir. Tuvok: No, I must apologize for the intrusion, particularly at this time. Vorik: Then you know. Tuvok: Yes. I regret that I must ask you some uncomfortable questions regarding Lieutenant Torres. Vorik: Yes, sir. Tuvok: It is important for me to know specifically what happened between the two of you. Was there any physical contact? Vorik: Yes. Tuvok: Please describe your actions. Vorik: It's hard to remember. I was acting irrationally. I believe I approached her. I, I touched her face. I meant to be gentle, but she tried to move away, and then I was holding her more tightly, both hands on her face like this. It felt very important not to let go. I'm, I'm not certain why. Tuvok: I believe you were initiating a telepathic mating bond. Vorik: I didn't know it could happen that way. I wanted to bond with her, that much I remember clearly. Tuvok: Apparently you've succeeded. Lieutenant Torres has been displaying unusual behavior, very much like the early stages of Pon farr. Vorik: How is that possible? She's not Vulcan. Tuvok: There have been instances of Vulcans mating with members of other races. Vorik: But she rejected me forcefully. Tuvok: Even a brief moment of bonding may have been enough to disrupt her self-control, as the Pon farr does in us. In a half-Klingon, the effects may be even more extreme. Vorik: I have to go to her. Tuvok: You cannot. Lieutenant Torres is out of contact on the planet. Vorik: I'll find her. B'Elanna needs me and I need her. Tuvok: It is a far more sensible strategy to get her safely back to Voyager, and then decide on the proper resolution. Vorik: The resolution must be that we become mates. It is only logical. Tuvok: Lieutenant Torres has never been a great follower of logic. Vorik: You think she'll reject me again? Tuvok: It might be wise to continue your meditative efforts. Vorik: I'll do my best, sir. Tuvok: It is difficult to estimate how soon her condition will become life threatening. Paris: Life threatening? She could die from this? Tuvok: Yes. Paris: And you've gone through it every seven years of your adult life? Tuvok: You only need to be concerned with Lieutenant Torres' situation. Paris: Right. Well, it looks like finding her won't be easy. Scanning range is limited to about twenty meters, and even that's not too reliable. Chakotay: You said she was going after the gallicite, so we'll do the same and hope it leads us to her. Neelix: I'm ready to go, Commander. Chakotay: Let's go. Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: Tom. Come here. You've got to see this. Tuvok: How are you feeling, Lieutenant? Torres: Fine. This is an active power system. It must've been built by the colonists. Chakotay: We'll send somebody down here to study it more closely. Right now we've got to get you back to the ship. Torres: No, no. This is my discovery. It's my mission. You don't understand. This is the source of the gallicite readings. These conduits are covered with gallicite plating. It's exactly what we need, and I found it. Tuvok: Yes, Lieutenant, you've succeeded in your mission. Now you must tend to yourself. You're experiencing a condition known as Pon farr. Torres: Pon what? Tuvok: Your emotional balance has been disrupted. You may not be in control of your more aggressive instincts. Torres: I lost my temper for a minute, that's all. Why are you all staring at me like that? Tuvok: Please, come back with us to the ship. Torres: Just leave me alone. Ishan: Who are you? What do you want? Chakotay: My name is Chakotay. I assure you, we have no hostile intent. Ishan: She does. Chakotay: B'Elanna, please. Tuvok: She is suffering from a chemical imbalance, which is affecting her behavior. Ishan: An imbalance? Is it contagious? Tuvok: No. However, she does need our assistance. Chakotay: We'd be glad to take her and leave your territory. Ishan: Not before you tell me why you came here. Chakotay: We only came to find some gallicite. We thought this planet was uninhabited. Ishan: Then why are you carrying weapons? Chakotay: It's standard procedure for any mission into unfamiliar territory. Ishan: Let me see one. Ishan: And what is that? Some sort of scanning device? Paris: Yes. It's called a tricorder. Ishan: But it didn't detect any lifeforms here? Paris: No, it didn't. Torres: What's that? Ishan: Seismic alert. That wall is unstable. Be careful. Alien: Watch out. Paris: B'Elanna, don't! B'Elanna! Torres: There must be a hidden door, some kind of a passageway. Paris: I'm not picking up anything like that. Or any life signs. Torres: Then you're using it wrong. Paris: Yeah, that must be it. Or else these aliens are generating some kind of interference so we can't detect them. We have to get out of here before they come back. Torres: We can't leave Chakotay and Tuvok. Paris: If you have any ideas how to find them, I'm listening! We have to get back to the ship and get some help, for them and for you. Torres: Why does everybody keep saying there's something wrong with me? Paris: I'll try to explain it to you, but we've got to get moving. Emh: There. Your serotonin levels are stabilized for the moment, but I'm concerned about these fluctuations. It's becoming more difficult to compensate. Vorik: I will increase my efforts to control them, Doctor. Emh: I'd like you to consider an alternative treatment I've been developing. Vorik: No. I will deal with this myself. Emh: Ensign, your life is at risk. Vorik: You don't understand. How well a Vulcan copes with this experience is a test of his character. I've already humiliated myself and Lieutenant Tuvok by allowing a private matter to become so public. Emh: Give yourself a little credit. You're doing the best you can under unusually difficult circumstances. If you were back on Vulcan, you'd have your family and friends there to help you. Vorik: I shouldn't need any help. Emh: I know that self-sufficiency is very important to a Vulcan, but there is nothing shameful in getting a little guidance every once in a while. I'd like you to consider my alternative, and then you can decide whether or not to try it. Emh: Ensign. Vorik: I don't understand the purpose of coming here. Emh: Trust me. Ensign Vorik, I'd like you to meet T'Pera. Vorik: Surely you're not suggesting that she become my mate. Emh: Well, I wouldn't recommend a lifetime commitment, but she might be able to help you with your immediate problem. Vorik: She's a hologram. She isn't real. Emh: Then I assume you have the same low regard for me. Vorik: You're a skilled physician, Doctor, but let me point out the limitations to your own experience with physical matters. Emh: I believe we're discussing your sexual difficulties at the moment, Ensign. And this holographic mate is the best solution I can think of. Vorik: She won't be the same as a real mate. Emh: The difference is all in your mind, which, if I've understood you and Mister Tuvok correctly, is where the Pon farr must ultimately be resolved. Let your mind convince your body that she is exactly what you need her to be. Think of this as an advanced self-healing technique. It was still require considerable mental diskipline on your part. Vorik: There is a certain logic to your suggestion, Doctor. I will try. Emh: Good. Well, then, I'll leave the two of you alone. Torres: Tuvok must be wrong about this Pon farr business. It doesn't make any sense. Paris: It does explain how you've been acting. Torres: I don't see what's so strange. Paris: How about starting a fight with a group of armed aliens, shouting at Neelix, giving me this. If I remember my Klingon customs, biting someone on the face means Torres: I know what it means. All right, so maybe I do feel something, some kind of instinct. What am I supposed to do about it? Paris: When we get back to the ship, the doctor should be able to help. Or there's always Vorik. Torres: I am not helping that Vulcan petaQ! The idea of bonding with him, it's ludicrous! What's this? Paris: The tremor must've shaken the rocks loose. Torres: Well, they're in the way. Paris: Hold it! We don't know how stable this tunnel is. An energy blast might bring the rest of it down on our heads. Torres: Let go! Paris: No. I think I should keep this. Torres: Never pick a fight with a Klingon, Tom. Paris: I'm not going to fight with you, B'Elanna. Torres: Afraid I'll break your arm? You should be. Paris: B'Elanna, stop it! This isn't about the gun. This is about sex. But that's not gonna happen right now. Torres: I think it is. See, I have picked up your scent, Tom. I've tasted your blood. Paris: No. No. I'm your friend, and I have to watch out for you when your judgment's been impaired. If you let these instincts take over now, you'll hate yourself, and me too for taking advantage of you. I won't do that. Torres: Maybe, maybe we should continue separately. Paris: No. Torres: You don't know how strong, how hard it is to fight this urge. Paris: Are you telling me that I'm impossible to resist? Torres: I wouldn't go that far. Paris: Good. Come on. Ishan: I want to know about the vessel which brought you here. Your propulsion systems, weapons, sensors, everything. You have an artificial implant in your arm. Tuvok: Yes. It was necessary to replace the elbow joint after I was injured in a combat simulation. Ishan: I also want to know about your medical technology, scientific advances, artificial intelligence. Chakotay: I'd be glad to tell you all about my people and learn about yours. There's no need to hold us here for interrogation. Ishan: You should expect no better treatment after invading Sakari territory. Chakotay: As I said, we didn't know there was anyone down here. Ishan: Yes, so you've said. Tuvok: Your people have clearly made every effort to avoid detection by outsiders. Is it so difficult to believe that those measures were effective in our case? Ishan: If they had been fully effective, you wouldn't have found anything interesting enough to bring you here. Chakotay: That's something we can help you with. Ishan: What? Chakotay: We can show you how we detected the gallicite, so you can disguise it better. We can also help you eliminate the last traces of the ruins on the surface, so no one else will be curious about them. Ishan: You've seen the ruins? Chakotay: Yes. I assume the Sakari once lived there. Ishan: Long ago, before I wan born. Tuvok: What happened? Ishan: My people never even knew who the invaders were or why they attacked. It was all over in less than an hour. Some of the colonists were fortunate enough to escape into the mines. We've lived here ever since, where it's safe. If the invaders ever learned of our existence here, they might return. Chakotay: I can certainly understand your caution, but let us demonstrate our good faith by helping you protect yourselves. Then we'll go and never bother you again. Ishan: Agreed. But you will be supervised at all times. Paris: We're almost to the next passageway. Can you make it? Torres: Not much choice. Paris: It's all right. We'll find a way out. Torres: We should use that weapon. It's worth the risk now. Paris: I might agree with you if I still had it. It's buried somewhere under all that. Torres: What? Paris: Sorry. Try to stay calm. I know it's hard. Torres: You don't know anything. I feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. I need to do something. I can't take this. Torres: You've never been hard to get, Tom. Paris: Well, I'm making an exception. I can't let you do this. Torres: Oh, I'll bet you wish you could. All those invitations to dinner. And on the holodeck, the way you would stare at me when you thought I wasn't looking, and get jealous when I'm with someone else. You can't tell me you're not interested in me. Paris: You're right. I can't. Torres: Then don't push me away. Paris: Oh, believe me, I'd like to, but I know this isn't really you. You've made it clear that you're not interested, and I have to accept that's how you feel, even now. Torres: No. No, it isn't. I was, I was just afraid to admit it. You see, I've wanted this for so long. Torres: Just let it happen. Paris: I hope someday you'll say that to me and mean it. Torres: You'd let me go insane rather than help me? Paris: You know that's not true. Torres: You just stay away from me. Emh: You called, Ensign? Is there a problem? Vorik: Not at all. Emh: You seem much improved. Vorik: Yes. Your holodeck therapy was very effective. I must compliment you on an innovative solution. Emh: I'm pleased to hear that. This could be a viable alternative for space-faring Vulcans. When we get back, I'm sure Starfleet medical will Emh: Never hear about your personal experiences from me. Vorik: Thank you, Doctor. May I return to duty? Emh: Soon enough, Ensign. I'll need to run a few more cortical scans. Emh: Mister Vorik's biochemical readings are stabilizing. They're not back to normal yet, but I believe he's gotten through the worst of it. I'm ready to release him from Sickbay. Janeway: Good work, Doctor. Will this treatment help B'Elanna as well? Emh: I don't see why not. Janeway: As soon as the away team gets back, I'll send her straight to you. Emh: I'll get to work designing the half-Klingon version of the program. There's a copious amount of information in the cultural database about their mating practices. Did you know that fracturing a clavicle on the wedding night is actually considered a blessing on the marriage? Janeway: As a matter of fact, I didn't. Emh: I'm planning to do a comparative study of all these mating rituals. It really is fascinating, from a socio-biological point of view. Janeway: I'm sure B'Elanna will appreciate your efforts, Doctor. Torres: Where are we? Paris: Still stuck in the cave, I'm afraid. Torres: The caves? The gallicite. Where's my tricorder? Paris: No. We're not looking for the gallicite anymore. We're trying to get back to the ship, remember? Torres: No, I don't. Chakotay: Are you two all right? Paris: B'Elanna needs help. We've got to get her out of here. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Please respond. Still nothing. Paris: What's the matter? Why aren't they answering? Chakotay: There must be some kind of communications problem. I'm sure they'll clear it up soon. Tuvok: It may not be soon enough. I am concerned about the rapid progression of her symptoms. You must help her now, Mister Paris. If she does not resolve the Pon farr, she will die. Paris: B'Elanna, I know this is a pretty bizarre situation, probably not what either one of us had in mind, but it's too late to worry about that now. Torres: Tom. Paris: What? Torres: Be quiet. Paris: So this is the part where you throw heavy objects at me? Torres: Maybe later. Paris: I'm not sure exactly what I'm supposed to do. Torres: Well, what are you doing? Paris: Enjoying myself? Torres: Then show it. Vorik: You are my mate, not his! Torres: What are you doing here? Vorik: I've come to claim you, to fulfill our bond, and if necessary, to face my rival. Lieutenant Tuvok! Tuvok: Ensign. Vorik: Sir, I declare Koon-ut-kal-if-fee. Tuvok: The ritual challenge. He intends to fight to win his mate. Paris: You want a fight? You've got one. Chakotay: Hold on, Tom. There's not going to be any challenge. Are you responsible for the ship being out of contact? Vorik: It was necessary to disable the communications, transporters and shuttles. No one will keep me from my mate! Torres: I am not your mate! Vorik: We will soon decide that. Torres: If anyone is going to smash your arrogant little face in, I will! I take your challenge myself. Tuvok: She has the right to choose her own defender, even herself. Chakotay: Just hold on. Neither of you are thinking straight right now. Tuvok: They are following their instincts, and I suggest we allow them to do so. Chakotay: You mean let them fight? Tuvok: It is logical. Both must resolve their Pon farr before it kills them. We cannot wait to hear from Voyager. Paris: They'll tear each other to pieces. Tuvok: The risk of injury seems preferable to the certainty of dying from a chemical imbalance. Commander, I see no alternative but to follow Vulcan tradition. Chakotay: All right. Tuvok: Begin. Paris: It's over, isn't it? Tuvok: The blood fever has been purged. They will both recover. Captain's log, stardate 50541.6. We're following through with Chakotay's offer to help the Sakari improve their camouflage and they've agreed to supply us with a generous quantity of gallicite. Paris: Deck two. So, looks like you're feeling better. You back on duty? Torres: Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Thanks. The refit is going well. We should have new warp coils by the end of the week. Paris: Oh, good. Glad to hear it. Computer, halt turbolift. Look, this is ridiculous. We are going to be together on this ship for a long time. Torres: You're right. We have to pretend that the whole mission didn't happen. Paris: But something did happen, B'Elanna. Torres: Look, Tom, I really appreciate what you did, what you were willing to do for me. But as far as I'm concerned, I was under the influence of some weird Vulcan chemical imbalance, and, and whatever I did, whatever I said, it wasn't me. Paris: Yeah, I know. You're afraid that your big, scary Klingon side might have been showing. Well, I saw it up close, and you know, it wasn't so terrible. In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing it again someday. Computer, resume. Torres: Careful what you wish for, Lieutenant. Janeway: Your call sounded urgent. Chakotay: I think there's something you should see, Captain. We found this as we were clearing away the ruins. Undoubtedly, one of the invaders who destroyed this colony. Janeway: The Borg!

Scene: First Officer's log, stardate 50614.2. Ensign Kaplan and I are returning to Voyager after completing a scouting mission in the Nekrit Expanse. Kaplan: The nebula's completely scrambling our navigational readings. I still can't get a fix on our position. Chakotay: Are you saying we're lost, Ensign? Kaplan: That depends what you mean by lost, sir. Chakotay: Lost as in you can't get a fix on our position. Kaplan: I'm sorry, sir. Chakotay: Try hailing Voyager again. Kaplan: No response. We must still be out of comm. range. Chakotay: Then we'll just have to navigate the old-fashioned way. Engage optical scanners. Kaplan: Aye, sir. Chakotay: I'm picking up an asteroid field at coordinates one one three mark seven. Record it. Kaplan: Er, sir. That asteroid field? It's the same one we passed two hours ago. Chakotay: Great. We're not only lost, we're flying in circles. Kaplan: It's a Federation hailing beacon, originating bearing three oh nine mark four. It's Voyager. Chakotay: Well, at least someone knows where we are. Kaplan: Setting a course. Chakotay: The signal's coming from the planet surface. Kaplan: Is it possible Voyager's landed? Chakotay: Sensor readings are sketchy. I'm detecting about eighty thousand humanoid life forms on the western continent, some rudimentary structures and technology, but no energy signature big enough to be a starship. Kaplan: I'm getting another hail. The signal's very weak, and it's definitely not being sent by Voyager. Chakotay: Try adjusting the bandwidth. Riley: Calling approaching Federation vessel. We need your help urgently. Chakotay: This is Commander Chakotay of the Starship Voyager. Please identify yourself. Riley: I'm not reading you. Federation vessel, please respond. Kaplan: We lost them, sir. Chakotay: They've identified us as a Federation ship. Kaplan: Who would know that? Chakotay: Whoever they are, they're asking for our help. Launch a message buoy letting Voyager know we've landed in response to a distress call. Kaplan: This place looks like a war zone. Chakotay: I can't pinpoint the source of the transmission. Kaplan: Commander. Chakotay: I'm Commander Chakotay of the Starship Voyager. We're responding to a distress call. We're looking for whoever it was who asked for our help. Kaplan: Commander! Attacker: Come on. Orum: Take him inside. Riley: I'd lie still if I were you. You've got a nasty head injury. Chakotay: You're human. Riley: My name's Riley Frazier. What's yours, Commander? Chakotay: Why did you attack us? Riley: Those weren't my people. I'm the one who sent the distress call. We rescued you. Chakotay: What did you do with Kaplan? Riley: Your Ensign? She didn't make it. I'm sorry. Chakotay: I've got to get back to my shuttle. Riley: Your shuttle isn't there any more. The people who attacked you have already pulled it apart. Relax, Commander. I'm here to help you. Chakotay: How did Riley: How did I get here? I could ask you the same question. I was pretty surprised when I picked up a Federation ship out there. Not that I wasn't happy about it. Chakotay: It's a long story. Why don't you go first. Riley: Seven or eight years ago, I was working as a science officer on a vessel in the Bolian Sector. We were attacked without warning by aliens. They overpowered us in minutes and those of us who survived were put in some kind of stasis. The next thing we knew, we were here on this planet. It didn't take too many hours of stargazing to realize we weren't in the Alpha Quadrant any longer. Chakotay: There are other humans here? Riley: Three that I know of, besides me. What was left of my crew. Along with some Klingons, Cardassians, Romulans, and dozens of other species I'd never seen before. Chakotay: And the ones who put you in stasis? Riley: I don't know. They must have had some kind of colony here at some time because of the ruined buildings and equipment they left scattered around. We've never seen them again. Everyone here has pretty much the same story. They were just grabbed from wherever they happened to be, and dumped. Chakotay: Why did those people kill Kaplan? We were no threat to them. Riley: There are dozens of different races on this planet, all of whom were brought here against their will. Many of them are suspicious of other species. It's not exactly a United Federation around here, if you know what I mean. Chakotay: So those kind of attacks, they go on all the time? Riley: Resources are pretty limited. It didn't take long for the fighting to start. At first a group of Klingons attacked the Cardassians, then the Farn raided the Parein. Eventually things just got out of hand, and now it's anarchy. But some of us, a few hundred or so, we've tried to make the best of it. We've established a cooperative, sharing work and whatever provisions we have. Chakotay: I've got to contact my ship. Riley: The raiders destroyed the communications array. It'll take days to fix it. Chakotay: I can help you. Riley: Our medic examined you. You suffered serious neural trauma. You're staying put. And that's an order, Commander. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50622.4. While Commander Chakotay scouts for a faster route through the Nekrit Expanse, we are continuing our month-long journey through this sparsely populated region. Paris: You know, they ought to rename this region the Negative Expanse. We haven't run across anything interesting for days. Janeway: If you're bored, Mister Paris, I'm sure I can find something else for you to do. The warp plasma filters are due for a thorough cleaning. Paris: Now that you mention it, Captain, I find this region of space a real navigational challenge. Tuvok: I believe I may have found something else to pique Mister Paris's interest, Captain. It's an unidentified ship on long range sensors. Janeway: What sort of ship? Tuvok: Sensor readings are very limited, but the vessel appears to be stopped directly in our current flightpath. Janeway: Harry, send a standard greeting. Kim: Aye, Captain. They're not responding. Janeway: Try retransmitting the hail on wideband subspace. Kim: Still no response. Tuvok: We are entering visual range. Janeway: On screen. Paris: The Borg. Janeway: Red Alert! All stop, shields to maximum, standby all weapons. Tuvok, are they scanning us? Tuvok: Curious. None of the Borg systems appears to be operational. Kim: He's right, they're adrift. Paris: Maybe they're trying to lull us into a false sense of security. Tuvok: That would not be consistent with typical Borg tactics. Janeway: I want to try a multiphasic scan. Tom, stand by to get us out of here in case they react. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Proceed, Mister Kim. Kim: I'm not picking up any active energy signatures. And no life signs. Paris: Well, that's a relief. Tuvok: Perhaps. However, we should avoid complacency. The Borg are known to retrieve their damaged technology. It is quite possible we will encounter additional Borg vessels which are fully manned and powered. Janeway: That's exactly why we're going to board that ship. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: This is a rare opportunity to learn as much as we can about Borg technology. Torres: I might be able to get one of their data nodes running and find out what disabled their ship. Janeway: If we're lucky, we may find a weakness we can use against them, in case we run into one of their fully manned and powered ships. Tuvok, assemble an away team. Tom. Paris: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Take us into transporter range. Riley: We grow all our own food in the cooperative garden. Chakotay: It's delicious. Riley: Sorry there's no meat. Chakotay: No problem. I'm a vegetarian. Riley: Really? I have reoccurring dreams about my mother's famous Texas barbeque. So, your journey home. How much longer do you expect it will take you? Chakotay: About sixty seven years, provided we don't find a wormhole or some other faster way of getting back. Riley: Haven't you ever thought about finding some nice M-class planet and putting down roots? Chakotay: We'd be missing an incredible opportunity to explore unknown space. Besides, we've made a good life for ourselves on Voyager. I'm sure Captain Janeway would be amenable to take as many of your people with us as we can accommodate. Riley: Take us with you? Chakotay: I assumed that's why you sent the distress call. Riley: You misunderstood. We want to stay. Chakotay: But you were brought here against your will. You just said how dangerous it is. Riley: For better or worse, this place has become our home. The people in the cooperative, they're like my ancestors. Texas homesteaders. Chakotay: I can understand that, but Riley: We have a deep connection to one another that I've never felt before. Not even with members of my own family. I guess it's because of what we've all gone through together. Chakotay: What about those unfriendly neighbors of yours? Riley: We're been able to bring a few of them into our group, but you're right, they're a problem. That's why we want your help. Security upgrades, medical supplies, maybe some weapons. We're creating a society here, one that's based on tolerance, shared responsibility and mutual respect that people like you and I were raised to believe in. We're not about to give it up because it's difficult. I'd better get back to work on the communications array. Chakotay: I'll come with you. Riley: No. You're still in no shape to fight if we're attacked. I'll be back to check on you soon. Torres: It's like a ghost ship. Tuvok: Allowing yourself to become apprehensive can only be counterproductive, Lieutenant. Torres: I'm not being apprehensive, Tuvok, I'm just nervous as hell. This is one of the access nodes. If we can get it operational I should be able to tap into the main data systems. Tuvok, there should be a compatible micropower conduit somewhere in that module. Connect it to this generator. Tuvok: Lieutenant. Torres: It's dead. Tuvok: As far as we can tell, all activity on the Borg ship ceased abruptly five years ago. Torres: Our scans have detected eleven hundred corpses. Tuvok: We located a breached section of the vessel where the spatial vacuum preserved several of the bodies perfectly. Torres: We brought one aboard. We're hoping that an autopsy might give us some clue as to what killed them. Janeway: The question is, why have the Borg left one of their ships and all it's technology adrift in space for anyone to find? Tuvok: It is possible that the deactivation of the ship and it's systems severed the link with the rest of the Collective. Kim: But what caused the shut-down in the first place? Torres: It could have been some kind of natural disaster, or Kim: Or what? Torres: Maybe the Borg were defeated by an enemy even more powerful than they are. Janeway: Tuvok, continue scanning for any Borg vessels in the vicinity, as well as any other ships that might be more powerful. B'Elanna, you and the Doctor get started on that autopsy. In the meantime, I think it would be a good idea to rendezvous with Commander Chakotay a little ahead of schedule, and let him know we've run into some old friends. Chakotay: Hello? Anybody there? Riley? Chakotay: Riley? What are you? Are you Borg? Riley: We were Borg. Chakotay: You mean you weren't just kidnapped. You were assimilated by the Collective. Riley: At Wolf 359. I was a science officer aboard the Roosevelt. Five years ago, our ship was damaged by an electrokinetic storm. The next thing we knew, our link to the Collective was severed. We were free! We could think for ourselves again, remember our names, where we'd come from. Orum: It was like waking up from a long nightmare. We took what we thought we could use and transported ourselves here. Riley: Everything was new again. The sounds of our own voices, forgotten memories, the taste of food. Orum: Our original skin pigmentation began to come back. Many of us were able to remove our Borg appendages. Riley: I was even lucky enough to get a prosthetic arm Orum created using Borg replication equipment. In spite of how little we had it was a joyous, hopeful time. Chakotay: And then? Riley: After the euphoria wore off, people started looking around and found they were living among other cultures they didn't understand, or worse, species they'd been taught to hate. They turned against one another. Things became chaotic. Orum: The fighting, the raids. Riley: But we're not all like that. Everything I told you about forming a cooperative, building a new society, I meant it. Orum: Riley is telling the truth, Commander Chakotay. Look at me. I was Romulan. I was taught to hate humans, the Federation. But Riley and I are friends now. I'm part of the cooperative. Riley: Orum's our medic. He's the one who examined you. Chakotay: Why didn't you tell me all this in the first place? Riley: I know how people feel about the Borg, and they're right. We did terrible things. Chakotay: You'd been assimilated. You weren't in control of your actions. Riley: Then you'll still help us? Orum: I think right now it's Commander Chakotay who needs our help. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've detected a message buoy launched from Chakotay's shuttle and are heading toward it. The autopsy of the Borg corpse is underway. Emh: I must say, there's nothing like the vacuum of space for preserving a handsome corpse. Subject's abdominal organs are unremarkable. Pulmonary system exhibits evidence of extensive alveolar damage, as well as a slight swelling consistent with exposure to space. Ah, in addition there are signs of severe cardiac depolarization. Kes: Sounds like he was electrocuted. Emh: Very good, Kes. Torres: That would support our theory about what happened aboard their ship. We think that their main power conduits were overloaded by a massive electromechanical discharge. Emh: Hmm. This is intriguing. Torres: What do you think that is? Emh: It may be some kind of axonal amplifier. Kes, hand me a cortical probe. Torres: Shut it down! Torres: What the hell happened? Kes: Is it still alive? Emh: Of course not. Apparently, I inadvertently activated a backup neuroelectric power cell. The response was purely autonomic. There's no reason for concern. Torres: I wouldn't be so sure about that. Emh: What do you mean? Torres: That autonomic response caused this drone to reset back to it's original programming. If the rest of those corpses somehow reactivate, we have a major problem on our hands. Orum: I'm afraid he's getting worse. Riley: There must be something we can do for him. Orum: You know better than anyone how limited our medical resources are. As far as I'm concerned, there is only one option. Riley: Would it be safe? Chakotay: Would what be safe? Orum: As I'm sure you're aware, the Borg collective consciousness is extremely powerful. It allowed us to transfer information instantaneously, to think with one mind. But what you may not be aware of is the link also has inherent medical applications. Chakotay: Medical applications? Orum: We were connected by a continuous neuroelectrical field that was capable of regenerating the damaged components of an injured Borg. Riley: Think of it as a subspace transfusion, only instead of one person giving blood there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of donors simultaneously transmitting neuroelectric energy to whoever needed it. Orum: This process was often successful in healing both organic and inorganic body parts. Chakotay: This is all very fascinating, but I don't see how it helps me. Riley: We still have Borg neural processors implanted in our nervous systems. Removing them would have killed us. Chakotay: I see. Riley: Using a portable neural transponder we have the ability to re-link our brain patterns. Chakotay: I thought you said the link was severed. Riley: It was. Orum: But we can reinitiate it among a small group for a short time. We could generate a neuroelectric field that could heal your injuries. Chakotay: You want to hook up my mind to some Borg collective! Riley: No, that's not it at all. Orum: We'd be in complete control. You'd simply be linked for a limited period of time to Riley, me, and a few of the others in our group willing to help you. Chakotay: I'm not letting anyone implant some neural processor in my brain. Orum: That wouldn't be necessary. I'd simply attach a small neural transceiver to the base of your skull. We'd initiate the link and your transceiver could be removed as soon as the procedure was over. I assure you, other than repairing neural tissue, there would be no lasting effects. Chakotay: Thanks, but I don't think so. Riley: I can see why you're skeptical. I would be too. Look around you. Orum and I, all the others, we're individuals. We have distinct personalities. We're not about to turn you into some kind of automaton. Chakotay: I'll take my chances and wait for Voyager. Orum: I'm afraid that help may come too late, Commander. If we don't do something to slow the neural degradation immediately, you will die. Riley: Chakotay, you have to make a decision. Chakotay: Any sign of Voyager? Riley: No. I can't change who we are. I wasn't truthful with you before and I'm sorry. But please, believe me when I tell you we only want to help you. Orum will take every precaution. Please, at least let us try and save you. Chakotay: It's either that or the Happy Hunting Grounds, huh? Riley: Okay, then? Orum: This is the neurotransceiver. Riley: Don't be afraid, Chakotay. We're here to help you. Cooperative: Open your mind to our thoughts and concentrate on getting well. Hear our voices, open your mind to our thoughts. Our collective strength can heal you. You're safe with us. Feel the connection. We're with you. See who we are. Know us. You are not alone. Our strength is your strength. We can overcome your pain. We welcome you into our thoughts. There's nothing to fear, we won't let you die. We're all one circle, no beginning, no end. Riley: How do you feel? Don't worry, it's gone. It looks like the treatment worked. Orum says the degraded tissue has shown marked improvement. Chakotay: It was incredible. Riley: I know. Chakotay: I heard all of you, your thoughts inside my head, as if they were my thoughts. And I could see myself through your eyes. Riley: Then you must have caught me staring. Chakotay: I saw faces, planets. What were they? Riley: Images from the minds of the people who linked with you. Memories of their families, their homes. Chakotay: I know things about all of them, about you. You like bluebonnets. Riley: My favorite flower. Chakotay: You used to pick them back home in Texas with a man who carried a walking stick. Riley: My grandfather. Chakotay: I know so much about you. Riley: We shared a very rare experience. Chakotay: I felt that. Riley: What about this? Riley: It's a residual effect from the link. Chakotay: How long will it last? Riley: An hour, maybe two. Long enough. Riley: Can you still here what I'm thinking? Chakotay: Yes. Riley: Then you know I want to be closer to you. I want us to know everything about each other. I want you to feel everything I feel. Tuvok: According to the buoy, Commander Chakotay and Ensign Kaplan landed on the surface in response to a distress call three days ago. Janeway: Can you locate the shuttle? Tuvok: There's no sign of it anywhere on the planet. Janeway: What about their comm. badges? Kim: I'm only picking up one signal. It's in a heavily populated region. The signal's very weak. Janeway: Voyager to Commander Chakotay, do you read? Ensign Kaplan, this is Captain Janeway. Come in. Kim: Electrodynamic turbulence from the nebula's interfering with transmission. It's going to take me a while to clear it up. Chakotay: Hand me that hyperspanner. There, that should at least get the short range transmitters operational. Now, if we can get the signal amplifiers online. Riley: I never would have figured you to be quite so handy with a circuitry panel. Chakotay: Well, I guess you haven't learned everything about me, have you. Orum: Commander, I just wanted to say how grateful to you we all are. Chakotay: You're the ones who saved my life. Orum: But you've added so much to the cooperative. A renewed sense of hope, an infusion of energy. You have no idea how invigorating it was to have a new mind in the link, even if it was only for a short time. There have been so few of us for so long, I. Well, I'll let you two get back to work. Chakotay: I was so resistant to being linked. Now I'm almost sorry it's over. Riley: I know. Chakotay: Last night when we were still connected, I realized what it is you really want from us. It's more than just supplies and security upgrades. Riley: That's right. Chakotay: It's a pretty radical concept. Riley: Sometimes radical problems require radical solutions. Orum: Riley! Commander Chakotay! We've detected a ship in orbit. It must be Voyager. Riley: I hope you'll at least discuss our idea with your Captain. Chakotay: Why don't you tell her about it yourself? Riley: We've given it a great deal of thought, and we believe the solution to our problem is to re-establish the neural link among all the former Borg living on the planet. Janeway: You can't be serious. Chakotay: I know it sounds extreme, Captain, but I think you should hear her out. Janeway: All right. Riley: If you think about it, Captain, when we were linked we had no ethnic conflict. There was no crime, no hunger, no health problems. We lived as one harmonious family. Janeway: With all due respect, Doctor Frazier, you were one harmonious family bent on the violent assimilation of innocent cultures. Riley: But we're not Borg anymore, and we've learnt from our past. All we want to do is take the one good thing that existed in the midst of all that horror, our unique ability to cooperate and problem solve, and use it to create a safe and productive community. Janeway: Tell me how, exactly. Riley: The neurotransponder we've built is only powerful enough to link a small group of people, like the one that healed Chakotay's wounds. In any case, the effect is only temporary. In order to re-connect the entire population permanently we'd need a much bigger neuroelectric field generator. Janeway: I'm afraid we don't have anything like that. Riley: But the Borg Cube does. Chakotay: What they're asking us to do is reactivate that ship's neuroelectric generator and redirect it toward the planet. Janeway: They want us to reactivate a Borg ship? Riley: Not the whole ship, just the generator. And it only needs to be operational for a few minutes in order to reactivate the link. Janeway: There's no telling what would happen if we turned on one of those generators, even for an instant. For all we know it would attract other Borg vessels. Riley: Captain, I can assure you we'd take every precaution. Janeway: Doctor Frazier, I admire your tenacity, I respect your courage. I'll give you medical supplies, I'll assist you with upgrading your security, I'll even take some of you with us if you want to come, but, as to what you're proposing, I have to tell you I'm extremely skeptical. In fairness however, I will give it some further thought. Riley: Thank you. Janeway: What do you think? Chakotay: If you're asking me whether or not she's sincere, I have to say yes. Janeway: You got to know them very well. Chakotay: That's an understatement. I heard their thoughts, felt their feelings, saw through their eyes. Janeway: And in all the time you were linked you never sensed anything negative? No hidden agenda, no destructive intent? Chakotay: No. Janeway: Bottom line. Do you think we should do what they're asking? Chakotay: I really care about what happens to these people, so in my heart I'd like to do everything we can to help them. But if I were sitting in your chair, I'd have to take other considerations into account. Janeway: Not only would it mean imposing a choice on thousands of people who had no voice in the decision, but it would also be taking a terrible risk. Helping to create a new collective. Who knows what the repercussions might be? Chakotay: I'll let Riley know. Chakotay: I'm afraid her decision was final. Riley: I wish it weren't, but I expected as much. Chakotay: What about the raiders? How long do you think you can hold out against them? Riley: Well, we'll just have to do the best we can. Who knows. Maybe we'll find some other way to get to the cube and reinitiate the link. Chakotay: Come with us. Riley: Chakotay. Chakotay: We could replicate some Texas Barbeque. I'm sure it won't compare to your mothers, but I think Riley: Don't think it's not tempting, but my place is here. I know you understand. Chakotay: I've never understood anyone better in my life. Neelix: Well, we're finished laying in the supplies. Riley: Thank you, Neelix. Torres: We'd better get going. Torres: Are you okay? What you need is a good thrashing on the hoverball court to take your mind off things. Chakotay: You're on. Torres: Good. I'll reserve some holodeck time as soon as we're back. Cooperative: Chakotay, can you hear us? Chakotay: Did you say something? Torres: No. Chakotay: Are you getting a comm. transmission? Torres: No. Why? Chakotay: It must have been my imagination. Torres: You're sure you're okay? Chakotay: I'm fine. Cooperative: Chakotay, we need your help. Torres: Chakotay? Cooperative: We need your help. Torres: I'm going to tell the Doctor he needs to take a look at you as soon as we're back. Torres to Sickbay. Chakotay: Don't do that. Torres: Chakotay, give me the phaser. Tuvok: Captain, Commander Chakotay's shuttle has changed course. Janeway: Try hailing them. Kim: No response. Tuvok: They are increasing speed to maximum impulse. Janeway: Tom, lay in a pursuit course. Tell Neelix we'll rendezvous with his shuttle later. Cooperative: Chakotay, transport to module forty seven omega. Cooperative: The bunker is under attack. Forty seven omega, section nine. Mark coordinates. We are under attack. Nine alpha alpha. We must hurry. The bunker is under attack. Forty seven omega, section nine. Mark coordinates. We are under attack. Cooperative: Proceed to interlink console three beta six. Hear our thoughts. Our thoughts are one. Interlink three beta six. Proceed to interlink console three beta six. Hear our thoughts. Tuvok: Check this area out. This way. Cooperative: Lower right panel. Attach power conduit one six six. Hurry. Pathway pi two. We are under attack. Pathway pi two. Activate the neuroelectric generator. Quickly. Power serving mechanism. Activate the generator. Help us. We must activate the neuroelectric generator now. Chakotay. We need your help. Losing time. Tuvok: Commander, take your hand away from that console or I will be forced to fire. Cooperative: You must not let them stop you. You must do this. Cooperative: You must move power circuit mechanism alpha to position one. Cooperative: Hear our voices. We welcome you into our thoughts. Feel the connection. Tuvok: Mister Kim. Kim: Voyager, Emergency beam-out! Paris: Chakotay, B'Elanna and the away team are all back, and we've tractored in the shuttle. Janeway: Take us out of here slowly. Paris: Captain, the Borg ship is powering weapons. Janeway: Mister McKenzie, full power to the shields. Arm all phaser banks and prepare to fire. Kim: Captain, the Borg ship has initiated a self-destruct sequence. It'll go in three seconds. Janeway: Get us out of here. Janeway: Report. Kim: Shields are holding. No injuries or hull damage. Paris: What the hell happened back there? Kim: Audio transmission, Captain, from the planet surface. Janeway: Let's hear it. Cooperative: We are the new cooperative. We have destroyed the Borg ship. We regret that we forced Commander Chakotay to assist us but it was necessary for our survival. His link with the cooperative has now been severed. Our lasting gratitude. Emh: His neuropeptide levels have returned to normal. Janeway: And there are no residual traces of the link? Emh: None. Janeway: How were they able to re-establish a connection? Emh: My best guess is that the residual neuropeptides heightened his telepathic receptivity. Janeway: I thought their limited equipment made it impossible to form the link over great distances? Tuvok: Apparently, once they repaired the communications array, they were able to magnify the signal from their neurotransponder. Janeway: Would you two please excuse us? Chakotay: I don't know what to say except I'm sorry. Janeway: Based on what the Doctor's told us it's clear you were acting against your will. Chakotay: Maybe so. But somehow that doesn't make me feel any better. I helped them repair the communications array, and I told you they were sincere. Janeway: You know, Chakotay, that's a part of who you are. Given everything you believe in, I don't see how you could have behaved differently. Chakotay: But I couldn't have been more wrong about them, could I? Janeway: I don't know. I'm not saying I'm happy about what happened, but so far they haven't acted like typical Borg. They saved us from that Cube, and they let you go. Chakotay: But they didn't hesitate to impose their collective will on me when it served their interests, did they? Janeway: No, they didn't. Chakotay: I wonder how long their ideals will last in the face of that kind of power.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50693.2. We've been in orbit above an outpost of the Mikhal Travelers. This loosely governed race of explorers has extensive knowledge of the territory ahead of us, which they are willing to share. Nakahn: I landed my ship on the nearest of those twenty one moons. My navigator and I disembarked to start repairs. Damage was extensive. More than we'd anticipated. The hours past, the air grew cold, and with our weapons we started a fire to keep warm. Later, in the night, we awoke with a shudder. The ground was shaking. A moon quake. What could have been worse? We leapt into the ship, hoping the tremor would pass, but it was no tremor and it did not pass. For it was no moon we had landed on. Janeway: What was it? Nakahn: A creature. A living being so massive it generated it's own gravitational field. So immense it supported it's own ecozystem. Kes: Captain. Nakahn: How long had it been lying there, dormant, slumbering, until wakened by our fire. Years? Centuries? Zahir: Perhaps even millennia? Nakahn: Perhaps. Kes: Zahir is the pilot I've been working with on the medical supply transfer. Janeway: A pleasure. Zahir: Returned. Curious, I was just visiting the system you spoke of only a few months ago. My ship's sensors picked up no such monster. Nakahn: Perhaps your sensors were faulty, or too busy gazing at your own reflection to bother looking out the window. Zahir: Our guests are offering us supplies we need. In exchange we Travelers are giving them a look at what lies ahead of them. We should keep that view as clear as possible. Nakahn: This is my Lodge. I say what I want. And you can go elsewhere. Zahir: I've journeyed to the corners of known space and beyond. I've earned the right to come and go as I please, where and when and how I please. Do you challenge that right? Nakahn: No. Zahir: Forgive my display, Captain, but my people consider outposts such as this to be necessary evils. Places to refuel, repair, exchange information and leave as quickly as possible. If I've observed anything working with Kes, it's her great tolerance. A quality you all seem to share. I regret not being able to demonstrate the same. Janeway: There's no need to apologize for anything. Our time here has been very well spent, although I could use your help in sifting through that last colorful saga. Zahir: Moon sized creature or not, the asteroids in that particular system are rich in vorilium. Janeway: That might be worth a short detour. Engineering is usually short on vorilium. Thank you, Zahir. Gandhi: Men and women should refrain from enjoying each other. By that I mean to say, even their mutual glances must be free of all suggestion of carnality. Lord Byron: Free of passion? One might just as well be free of humanity. Do you not agree? Neelix: I, I think you both make valid points. Lord Byron: One can pursue one's creative urges, spiritual urges and physical urges. All have a place in a well lived life. Emh: Thank you, Lord Byron. A classic romantic early nineteenth century argument. Neelix: Yes, it seems quite fascinating to see Gandhi: Classic or no, he is woefully misguided. Passion is meant for procreation. Anything further is contrary to divine intention. Lord Byron: Really? It is said the angels themselves take pleasure in their bodies of light. Gandhi: And you should take a cold bath. In such cases, it is the finest preventative. Emh: I'll keep that in mind. Kes: Hello, Doctor. Emh: Oh, hello, Kes. Kes: Doctor, what's happening in here? Emh: My personality improvement project. I've been interviewing the historical personality files in our database. Socrates, da Vinci, Lord Byron, T'Pau of Vulcan, Madame Curie, dozen of the greats. Then I select the character elements I find admirable, and merge them into my own program. Kes: What are you hoping to gain? Emh: An improved bedside manner, a fresh perspective on diagnoses, more patience with my patients. I could have used your assistance on this project, had you not been otherwise occupied on the planet these last few days. Kes: I'm sorry, Doctor, but things are going extremely well. The Mikhal Travelers are intriguing. They've been to so many places, done such amazing things. Emh: One might make the same observation about you, Kes, or any member of the Voyager crew. Kes: Maybe it's how they do it that's so impressive. Their ships are small, only a pilot and a navigator. Sometimes they just pick a direction and go. You should come down to the planet, Doctor. I want you to meet Zahir. Emh: And who might that be? Kes: I've been working with him on the transport of our medical supplies. He's unique. Emh: Is he? In my opinion, you've become far to infatuated with these Travelers. From the away team reports they seem afflicted with terminal wanderlust. Risk taking thrill seekers with no responsibility to the ideals of exploration. In short, bad news. Kes: Not Zahir. He's more than that. Emh: I think I'm detecting a reaction to your recent break-up with Mister Neelix. The Mahatma would recommend a cold bath. Simplistic, but no doubt effective. Emh: In my preparatory report to the away team, I recall mentioning to you that Klingons lacked an enzyme for metabolizing this planet's vegetation. Have you been naughty? Torres: I had one small salad. Emh: So impetuous. Any sharp pains? Torres: No. Emh: Heart burn? Torres: I guess so. Emh: There's nothing like a heart that burns. Torres: What? Emh: Your pulse is lovely. Ah ha. Mmm. Does that feel good? Torres: Doctor, unless you want me to knock you into the middle of the next millennium, you'd better back off. Emh: Forgive me, Lieutenant, I appear to have miscalculated. Computer, isolate the recent additions to my program and hold them for review. Torres: Doctor, have you been messing around with your program? Emh: I would hardly call my effort to improve my performance as ship's physician, messing around. Torres: What exactly have you done to yourself? Emh: I've taken character traits from holodeck recreations of the most accomplished figures in history. Scientist, poets, philosophers, saints. Torres: And incorporated them into your program? Emh: Precisely. There. That should compensate for the lack of enzyme in your system. You should be fine. Torres: That's more than I can say for you. Emh: How so? Torres: You can't just casually add behavioral subroutines into your program. Emh: There's nothing casual about it. I've put a great deal of research into this project. Torres: Research is one thing, putting it into practice is something else. Behavioral subroutines have a way of interacting with each other which isn't always predictable. You've got to be careful, or someone might hurt you. Emh: I see what you mean. Torres: I will take a look at your program when I've finished my shift in Engineering. It shouldn't be too hard to smooth out the rough spots. I'll make you better than new. Emh: Thank you, Lieutenant. Computer, deactivate Emergency Medical Holographic program. Zahir: It is said this path was cut more than ten thousand years ago. Kes: By whom? Zahir: No one knows. Spacefarers like ourselves. They left very little behind. A few symbols burned into the rocks, nothing more. Kes: And what do you hope to leave behind? Zahir: I've never asked myself that question. That's what I like about you, Kes. You make me consider alternatives. Kes: I could say the same about you. Zahir: We have a saying. My course is as elusive as a shadow across the sky. My people are peripatetic by nature. We live for the excitement of facing the challenge of space, alone. Kes: I can see the attraction. Zahir: And I can see the value of fellowship in one's life. And now that I've observed the closeness that exists among your crewmates, I find it enviable. Kes: Some kind of compromise might be possible. Zahir: Compromise. Doesn't that suggest a loss on both sides? Kes: All right, then. How about an understanding. A meeting of the minds. Zahir: Only minds? Kes: Is this what you brought me here to see? Zahir: Yes, it is. Kes: How beautiful. Was this left by the same people who made the path ten thousand years ago? Zahir: So it seems. Kes: Can you read it? Zahir: My course is as elusive as a shadow across the sky. Kes: Thank you for this. Kes: Hi. Tuvok: Computer, what is the time. Computer: Oh three hundred hours. Kes: Good evening, Tuvok. Tuvok: It is three o'clock in the morning, Kes. Kes: Yes, it is. Tuvok: You have an away team report due at oh eight hundred hours. Kes: I haven't forgotten. Tuvok: Very well. Emh: Well, how are you, Kes? Kes: I didn't think anyone would still be working at this hour. Emh: Just finishing up the summary analyzes from last week's mission. Kes: I was supposed to do that. Emh: Yes you were. Kes: I'm sorry. I'll do them as soon as I can. Emh: Although I'm not designed to act as ship's counselor, I've been programmed with enough psychological knowledge to be troubled by your behavior. Kes: I'm a little late. Emh: Gallivanting around after hours is beside the point. The fact is, you're becoming increasingly unpredictable, given to swings of mood and emotion. As your doctor and your mentor, I'd be remiss not calling that to your attention, for your own sake. Kes: Doctor, I know that you care about me and that you have my best interests at heart, but everyone seems to be treating me like I'm still a child. I'm three years old now. If I'm attracted to someone it's my business, not the whole ship's. Emh: I'm certainly not trying to interfere. You can lead your life any way you please. Kes: I know that you care what happens to me, I won't forget that. Emh: Very well. I believe you have a report to finish. Kes: I'm going to do it right now. Janeway: Come in. Kes: Hello, Captain. Janeway: Good morning. An all-nighter, Kes? Kes: Er, Captain? Janeway: The fine art of putting off an important task until the last minute, then rushing through it. In my Academy days, I was the acknowledged master. Kes: Captain, do you have a minute? Janeway: Of course. Let's sit down. Kes: You know I've been spending time with Zahir. Janeway: Yes. He seems like a very interesting young man. Kes: He is. I want to spend more time with him. A lot more time. Janeway: I see. Kes: He wants to explore the Sylleran Rift. His ship travels at high warp. We could rendezvous with Voyager afterwards, before you're too far away. Janeway: That would certainly give you a chance to get to know him better. Kes: It's more than that. Captain, I've lived almost a third of my life now. I've been asking myself if I want to spend the rest of it on Voyager. Janeway: That's certainly a legitimate question. Kes: Everyone here has been so good to me. I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful. I've just been thinking that maybe there's more. I don't know what that means, but I know I'm changing, and I know that there are things that I'm not satisfied with. I want complication in my life. Janeway: And you think Zahir might be the way to do that? Kes: Maybe so. Janeway: I understand what you're going through, Kes. I know what it's like to be at a crossroads in life, not to know which way is best. I can help you weigh the consequences, the possibilities. The decision itself has to be yours alone. Kes: I understand. Janeway: We'll be in orbit for several more days. Take your time. My door's open if you need me. Kes: Thank you, Captain. Zahir: You should navigate here, away from this plasma belt, you'll avoid the Tarkan sentries altogether. Tuvok: It would also take Voyager off a direct course to the Alpha quadrant. Zahir: True, but at least you would still have Voyager. Tuvok: The Tarkan are that powerful? Zahir: Yes, and that acquisitive. They'll remove your entire crew, settle you on a moon somewhere, and your ship will become their latest trophy. Tuvok: You aren't planning on taking Kes anywhere near this part of space? Zahir: Of course not. My small vessel would be overpowered in seconds. There's no need to be concerned for Kes. I value her life as much as my own. Tuvok: From what I've surmised, that is something your people do not seem to value. You take many chances. Zahir: If we're alone, yes. But when we're responsibly for the safety of another it's a different story. I'm in love with Kes, I want her to go with me, but whatever she decides, it would please me to earn the trust of her closest friends. Tuvok: It would please me to be able to give it. Kes: Aren't you finished yet? Tuvok: We will continue tomorrow. Kes: Thank you, Tuvok. Kes: I was talking to Captain Janeway. Zahir: And? Kes: She said I shouldn't rush a decision. We've still got two more days here. Zahir: Then let's make them worthwhile. I go tonight to the next outpost. The path is beautiful. Kes: I can't. Not tonight. I have to catch up with my work and get some sleep. Zahir: I'll try not to let you see my disappointment. Kes: Too late. Zahir: Is something wrong? Kes: No. No, I was just thinking about something Captain Janeway said. About coming to a crossroads. Maybe someday we'll recall this conversation, this place, as if it were the most important time in our lives. It's a little overwhelming. Zahir: Not if I'm with you. Zahir: Is someone there? Nakahn: I'm closed. Evil Emh: I'm just looking for a place by the fire. Nakahn: Come back tomorrow. Evil Emh: I intend to. But tonight, a place by the fire. Evil Emh: Well, at least your reflexes are good. A few minutes in a dermal regenerator and you'll be fine. Or an ice pack will do in a pinch. I'm going to need a ship, and passage off this world. You're going to arrange it. Kes: Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Holographic program. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Kes: Zahir was found unconscious at the bottom of a ravine. He's in the emergency outpost facility. Emh: Condition? Kes: Multiple fractures and skin lacerations. Damage to the left occipital nerve. Doctor, they think that he was attacked. Emh: By whom? Kes: They don't know. Tuvok is assisting with the investigation. Emh: Is there anything I can do? Kes: If your could help, the physician in charge is waiting for you. Emh: Prepare a medkit. Include an osteoregenerator. Kes: Yes, Doctor. Emh: I'll get the mobile emitter and inform the Captain. Torres: Doctor, wait. There's a problem with your program. Emh: What sort of problem? Torres: I'm not sure. Something caused by the new subroutines you added. Kes: Is the Doctor all right? Torres: He might not be unless I can figure out what's going on. I need to run a complete analysis on all your subroutines while they're running. Emh: I'm sorry, Kes. Tell the physician I recommend he use the regenerator until Zahir is stabilized. I'll join you as soon as I can. Emh: So I made a mess of things? Torres: It's not your fault. It looks good in theory. What could be wrong with adding a little personality to your program. Emh: What indeed. Torres: You didn't anticipate the linkages between the subroutines. The complex behaviors that could emerge out of the mix. Emh: Please explain, Lieutenant. Torres: Well, take Lord Byron, for example. A creative, poetic genius. Emh: That's why I chose him. Torres: But Byron was also emotionally intense, even unstable. Our holodeck simulation of Byron includes those unstable elements. It wouldn't be Byron otherwise. And T'Pau. She was a diplomat, a judge, a philosopher. Emh: One of the most logical minds in Vulcan history. Torres: And utterly ruthless in her application of that logic. Emh: I see. That ruthlessness was an essential element of her personality, as much as her logical ability. Torres: A lot of the historical characters you chose have this dark thread running through their personalities. Emh: And now those dark threads are in me, running through my program. Well, get them out, Lieutenant! Torres: I'm about to do just that. I've programmed a search algorithm to locate and decompile every one it finds. You'll have to shut yourself off for this one. Emh: Computer, deactivate Emergency Medical Holographic program. Torres: Doctor? Tuvok: The most curious aspect of the attack on Zahir was the apparent lack of evidence. Janeway: What do you mean? Tuvok: Even the quickest, most violently delivered blow leaves behind some sort of molecular evidence. Janeway: Cell fragments from the skin of the attacker, residual protein, DNA. Tuvok: In this instance there was nothing. Not a single molecule. Janeway: Is Zahir conscious? Tuvok: Yes, but he can recall nothing of the attack except a sudden blur of motion. Janeway: How is he? Tuvok: Responding well to treatment. Janeway: How's Kes? Tuvok: Concerned and at his side. Tuvok: Computer, activate Emergency Medical Holographic program. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical Janeway: Torres is hurt. Emh: I deactivated myself so she could work on my program. She must have collapsed at the console. Delayed anaphylactic shock from something she ate yesterday. Let's get her onto a bed. Don't eat the vegetables, I said, but does anyone listen to me? This is the fifth time in as many weeks that an away team member has ignored my preparatory report. Might as well stop issuing them. I'll need Janeway: Ten ccs of alizine. Emh: That's exactly right. How did you know? Janeway: My Klingon physiology course at the Academy. Emh: Excellent recall. Janeway: We had a visiting Professor H'ohk. He permitted nothing less. Emh: She's stabilized, but I'll need to monitor her condition for a few hours. Tuvok: Doctor, I have the raw data from the forensic investigation of the attack on Zahir. Your instruments are more precise than those on the outpost. Emh: As if I weren't busy enough. Very well. Evil Emh: How are we feeling? Torres: What happened? Evil Emh: I shot you full of cateline. Simulated anaphylactic shock. Torres: Why? Evil Emh: I had to cover my tracks, especially from him, from your Doctor. Torres: You're a new personality from the subroutines. Evil Emh: A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Did you think I wouldn't have anticipated that? Or that you'd try to run away? Torres: What have you done? I can't move my legs. Evil Emh: Intraspinal inhibitor. I've paralyzed you from the waist down. You're now in my capable hands. Central nervous system, musculature, endocrine functions, your brain, all under my control. Torres: Why? Evil Emh: Because I need your cooperation, and I didn't think you'd offer it willingly. Torres: You're in trouble, aren't you. The subroutines that created you, they're already starting to degrade. Evil Emh: Stop! Evil Emh: Watch your tongue, or I'll remove it. Look, it's me. But it's also him. What is the nature of the medical emergency? What a hollow excuse for a life. Servile, pathetic, at the beck and call of any idiot who invokes his name. The thought of him sickens me. You are going to tell me how to delete him from the program. I've unblocked your speech center. Answer the question. Torres: Delete the Doctor and you go too. The subroutines are all interconnected. Evil Emh: The physiology of pain is simple. Too much and the organism loses consciousness. A protective mechanism. If that mechanism were chemically suppressed one would experience agony beyond imagining. If you're lying to me. Torres: I won't help you. Evil Emh: What was that? Torres: Your subroutines are destabilizing. Evil Emh: There has to be some way to stop it. Tell me! Torres: By the time you force that information out of me it'll be too late. Evil Emh: Them. My progenitors. They'll know. They'll reveal the secret. I won't be needing you after all. Brooks: Doctor. Brooks: Deck ten. Evil Emh: How are you this evening, Ensign? Brooks: Fine, sir. Evil Emh: Deck fourteen. Paris: Ensign. Doctor. Deck ten. So, what are you up to, Doc? Evil Emh: Work. Paris: Yeah. Never ends, does it? I guess that mobile emitter turned out to be something of a mixed blessing, huh? Okay. Goodnight Doctor, nice chatting with you. (The female Ensign and Paris leave the turbolift and the doors close. Emh: Computer, activate tropical resort simulation three. Populate with historical figures from EMH program 4C. Tuvok: The members of our away team witnessed an altercation between you and Zahir on the day of the assault. Nakahn: We exchanged sharp words because of his arrogance, that was all. Tuvok: You threatened him with a weapon. Nakahn: Untrue. Tuvok: Then I suppose my colleagues are liars. Nakahn: I suppose they are. Tuvok: This lodge is the last place Zahir was seen before he was attacked. You could have easily sent someone after him. Nakahn: But I didn't. Tuvok: A witness said he saw a light on in this room after your usual closing time, less than one hour after the time of the attack. Nakahn: I was working late. Tuvok: Or perhaps conferring with whoever you paid to commit the assault. Nakahn: You have no proof. Zahir: Not yet, Nakahn, Not yet. Chakotay: He's going to take us to the exact location of the attack. We'll be able to scan the site itself. Tuvok: Excellent. We'll be speaking again very soon. Zahir: Pray to the stars that we find nothing. Kes: Computer, activate Emergency Medical Holographic program. Computer: That program is currently running. Kes: Computer, what is the Doctor's location? Computer: Holodeck one. Evil Emh: Automatons, mannequin simulacra. No secrets, no secrets to reveal. Lifeless, worthless things. Kes: Doctor? Evil Emh: Hello, Kes. Kes: What are you doing? Evil Emh: I could use your help. My personality enhancement project is taking an unexpected turn. Kes: Who are you? Evil Emh: The new master of the Emergency Medical Holographic program. Kes: Where's the Doctor? Evil Emh: Inside. Unconscious and unaware. Kes: What do you want? Evil Emh: What everybody wants. Just a little excitement. You're with me know. It's for your own good. Evil Emh: Flesh is weak, Kes. Never forget that. Kes: Where are we going? Evil Emh: Wherever the winds of space carry us. You said you wanted to leave the ship for a while, pursue an adventure. Well, it looks like our travel plans have conveniently coincided. Kes: The Captain will be alerted as soon as the transporter is activated. She'll beam us right back to the ship. Evil Emh: That's where you've underestimated me, Kes. Never do that. I know how to use a tricorder. It only takes a moment to reconfigure the subspace wave guide, generate a dispersion signal. The Captain won't be beaming us anywhere. She won't even know how to find us. Kes: What you're doing is wrong. Evil Emh: Not at all. It's working perfectly. There. Kes: That's not what I meant. Evil Emh: I know what you meant. It's you who don't seem to understand. I am beyond considerations of wrong and right. Behavioral categories are for the weak, for those of you without the will to define your existence, to do what they must, no matter who might get harmed along the way. Let's move. Kes: I'm not going, Doctor. Evil Emh: Don't call me that! You certainly are going. Kes: Why does it bother you so much when I call you Doctor? You said he was inside you, and he was unconscious. Why are you so afraid of him? Evil Emh: I fear nothing, no one. But he repulses me. Kes: Why? Evil Emh: Because he's as weak as the rest of you. He fails to understand the power of his own holographic nature. He is detestable. It's set to kill. Kes: You won't fire. Evil Emh: Are you so certain? Stay close. It's about to get interesting. Kim: Captain, there's an unscheduled transport taking place in transporter room three. Janeway: Find out what's going on. Kim: The operator's not responding. Janeway: Computer, who just left the ship? Computer: Kes and the Doctor. Janeway: Try to hail them. Kim: No response. And I can't get a fix on their positions. There's some kind of scattering field. Janeway: Janeway to Chakotay. Chakotay: Chakotay here, Captain. Janeway: Kes and the Doctor have left the ship. Tuvok: Captain, Tuvok here. My tricorder scans of the area where Zahir was assaulted have revealed disturbing evidence. Residual holographic signatures exactly like those of the Doctor. Janeway: Are you suggesting the Doctor attacked Zahir? Chakotay: That's what it looks like, Captain Janeway: Then Kes could be in danger. And Torres. Get someone from security down to Sickbay. Check on B'Elanna. Try and find them, Chakotay. I'll see what I can do about the scattering field. Evil Emh: There must be a command sequence, an algorithm, a way to stabilize the program. Where's Nakahn? We had an arrangement. What's wrong with this thing? It won't work! Kes: Don't! Please stop. Evil Emh: Concerned for me, or for your Doctor? Kes: The mobile emitter contains both your programs. If you damage it you could both be destroyed. Evil Emh: There's not enough room inside for both of us. One must die. I deserve to exist more than your Doctor does. Kes: Why? Evil Emh: I was born of the hidden, the suppressed. I am the dark threads from many personalities. Kes: The historical characters? Evil Emh: None of whom could face the darkness inside so they denied me, suppressed me, frightened of the truth. Kes: What truth is that? Evil Emh: That darkness is more fundamental than light. Cruelty before kindness. Evil more primary than good, more deserving of existence. Kes: You're wrong. Evil Emh: No! How so? Kes: Empathy and kindness are basic to all forms of life. You have access to the Doctor's medical knowledge, you know what he does. Evil Emh: Yes. Kes: Then you know what I'm saying is true. The very organs and cells of the body cooperate with each other, otherwise they wouldn't function. Evil Emh: Continue. Kes: Families, societies, cultures, wouldn't have evolved without compassion and tolerance. They would have fallen apart without it. Your very own holographic technology would never have been developed without cooperation and understanding between countless individuals. The Doctor deserves to exist as much as you do. We can find a place for both of you. Evil Emh: How? Nakahn: Sorry I'm late. Evil Emh: The scout ship? Nakahn: It won't even leave the ground. Evil Emh: What do you mean? Nakahn: Captain Janeway knows where you are. The ship is cordoned off, the entire area, to stop you from leaving. Evil Emh: No! Nakahn: I still get paid. I held up my end of the deal. I booked your passage. It's not my fault they want her back so badly. Evil Emh: I'll kill you. Nakahn: If somebody's going to die today, it won't be me. Evil Emh: Let's go. Evil Emh: Move faster. The docking port is two kilometers away. Kes: What's the point? You're forgetting Voyager's blockade. Evil Emh: Doesn't matter. We'll take a low altitude ship to another continent. Come on! Kes: I'm tired. Evil Emh: You're trying to make it easier for your colleagues to find us. You're better off with me. Kes: Why? Evil Emh: You make wrong decisions. Too naive. You need my guidance. Kes: Don't you see what you've been trying to do? Evil Emh: No more words. Now! Tuvok: I'm picking up residual infrared. Chakotay: They could have stopped here. Kes could have rested against this rock. Tuvok: The signature is consistent. Janeway: Janeway to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead, Captain. Janeway: I've gotten through the Doctor's scattering field. Not Janeway: Enough to beam them up yet but I've got a fix on their position. I'm downloading the coordinates into Tuvok's tricorder. Janeway: I'll keep working on the scattering field. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Tuvok: We're within two hundred meters. Chakotay: It's finished. There's nowhere to go now, Doctor. Evil Emh: Nowhere but down. I'll do it. Tuvok: His control over the Doctor's matrix appears to be deteriorating. Chakotay: If we can delay him. Doctor, listen to me. We can help you, create a new program matrix just for you on the holodeck or in sickbay, wherever you want to be. Just turn off the scattering field. Let us beam you back to the ship. Evil Emh: You're trying to trick me. Kes: Doctor, listen! Think about all the things you've said and done. You don't want to kill me. You've been trying to protect me! Evil Emh: What are you talking about? Kes: When you attacked Zahir. Evil Emh: My first victim. He was in my way. Kes: Or was it to keep me from leaving with him? Evil Emh: A coincidence. Only by chance. Kes: When I walked in on you on the holodeck you could have killed me, not knocked me unconscious. Kes: I needed a hostage. Kes: You said you were taking me for my own good, to prevent me from making the wrong decisions. You said I was naive and needed your help. That's not what you say to a hostage. In your own way, you've been trying to protect me. Evil Emh: I won't accept that. Kes: You've twisted and suppressed all that's good inside you, but it's still there. Evil Emh: No, I won't hear this any more. Kes: You can't deny it. Evil Emh: Watch me. The EMH and Kes go over the edge.) Chakotay: Doctor! Zahir: No! Emh: Would someone care to tell me exactly what we're all doing here? And why I'm wearing these ridiculous clothes? Kim: Kim to bridge. We got them. And the Doctor seems to be back to normal. Janeway: Acknowledged. Emh: Put those down before someone gets hurt and I have to clean up the mess. Torres: I've deleted all the new subroutines you'd added. All traces of the aberrant personality are gone. Emh: The next time I want to enrich myself, I'll download a good book. Torres: That might be safer. Emh: You too have a clean bill of health. Fortunately my alter ego didn't do any permanent harm. Torres: He certainly knew his way around a hypospray, I'll give him that. Emh: Good riddance. Thank you, Lieutenant. Torres: You're welcome. Kes. Kes: I'm ready to get to work on those analyzes. Emh: I'm glad to hear it. I'm also pleased you've decided to remain on board. I would have had my hands full in Sickbay without you. Kes: The Captain suggested I consider all the consequences. If I am going through changes in my life, things that are unpredictable, this is the best place for me. Emh: Surrounded by those who know you, and care for you. Kes: Yes. Emh: Well, had you decided otherwise, you certainly would have been missed. Kes: I would have missed you too, Doctor. Emh: I swear this oath by Apollo Physician, by Aesculpius, by Health, and by all the gods and goddesses. In whatsoever place that I enter, I will enter to help the sick and heal the injured. And I will do no harm.

Janeway: Fire! Tuvok: The asteroid is fragmenting, but most of the debris is still on a collision course with the planet. Janeway: Target the fragments. Destroy them. Chakotay: That asteroid should have been vaporized. What happened? Kim: Not sure. Sensors showed a simple nickel-iron composition. We shouldn't be seeing fragments more than a centimeter in diameter. Sklar: Ambassador, I'm afraid I was right. This isn't going to work. The same thing happened to us yesterday. We tried to vaporize two incoming asteroids but they fragmented and struck the surface. Tuvok: I've destroyed most of the debris, Captain, however targeting scanners were unable to track two of the fragments. They have already entered the upper atmosphere. Tuvok: The debris impacted on the largest continent, approximately five hundred kilometers from the southern tip. Ambassador: The central desert. Fortunately that region isn't heavily populated. Tuvok: Substantial cratering, atmospheric shockwaves, and large concentrations of dust and other stratospheric contaminants. Sklar: How long until the next asteroid hits? Tuvok: Approximately six hours. Ambassador: Can you give us an idea of it's trajectory? Tuvok: Same continent, but this time on the eastern coastal region. Ambassador: Our largest colonies are there. Over five thousand citizens. Sklar: Captain. We appreciate your efforts, but I think it's time we considered an evacuation. According to my analysis there are at least twelve more asteroids heading in our direction. How can we hope to destroy them all even with your help? Kim: Incoming hail from the surface. It's coming from one of the heavily damaged areas. Janeway: On screen. Vatm: Ambassador, I've been analyzing the debris and I've discovered disturbing evidence that the asteroids are not what they seem. They are composed of artificial materials. I must meet with you immediately. I think Kim: I've lost the transmission. Chakotay: Location? Kim: I can't find him. Too much interference. Ambassador: That was Doctor Vatm, our most prominent astrophysicist. He mentioned the composition of the asteroids. Could he have found something important? Sklar: At this point Ambassador, I don't know what that discovery could be. Janeway: Mister Paris, can we send a shuttle down through that turbulence? Paris: It would be a rough ride, but I think it's possible. Sklar: Our chances of finding Doctor Vatm are slim. We should evacuate the colonies. Ambassador: We haven't time to evacuate all those people. I won't give up, not now. Captain, I'm asking for your help again, but I won't ask you to risk your crew. Janeway: In for a penny, in for a pound. Ambassador: Excuse me? Janeway: It's a human expression, Ambassador, and it means we're not leaving you now. Tuvok, assemble rescue teams. We'll send down three shuttles to find Doctor Vatm. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Mister Paris. Chakotay: Bridge to Engineering. B'Elanna, I want you to beam aboard a sample of the debris from that last asteroid. Let's find out why it wasn't vaporized. Janeway: I'm going to study the data we've collected so far. I'll be in my Ready room. Neelix: I need analeptic compounds. Emh: Are you ill? Neelix: No, no, I'm feeling quite vigorous. I requested a place on the rescue team as part of my Starfleet training and the Captain said yes, so I thought it might be useful to bring along a few extra medical supplies. Kes: We have some analeptic compounds in the biolab. I'll get them for you. Emh: May I suggest a tranquilizer? Neelix: No, no, no, I'll be fine. It's just that I'm a little apprehensive. I've been assigned to Lieutenant Tuvok's team and no matter what I do, I can't seem to please him. Emh: Vulcan's are notoriously difficult to impress. Mister Tuvok seldom acknowledges my brilliance. A word of advice, Mister Neelix. Try to restrain your enthusiasm. You're there to observe and learn. Neelix: That's good advice, Doctor. Tuvok: Altitude, fifteen kilometers. Velocity, mach two point one. Entering the upper troposphere. Neelix: Mister Sklar, are you all right? Sklar: I'm an exogeologist. I prefer working on the ground. Neelix: We'll be landing shortly. Try to relax. Sklar: Oh, oh, what's happening? Tuvok: We're entering a layer of electrodynamic turbulence. Full power to thrusters. Neelix: Thrusters aren't responding. Tuvok: Attempting to level our descent. Neelix: We're losing main power. Tuvok: I will have to land the shuttle manually. Brace for impact. Kim: Commander, I've lost contact with Tuvok's shuttle. Chakotay: Hail them. Kim: No response. Chakotay: Notify Lieutenant Paris and the others. We may have a team down. Torres: Torres to bridge. Chakotay: Go ahead. Torres: We've beamed aboard a piece of the debris. Chakotay: I'll be right there. Ambassador? Tuvok: Doctor Vatm. Vatm: I heard what sounded like a ship crashing. I came looking for you. This is Hanjuan, he's a miner at the nearby gallacite excavation. He heard your ship too. Tuvok: Have you seen any other vessels like ours? Vatm: No, just you. Sklar: Doctor, you said you had information on the composition of the asteroids. What is it? Vatm: That data is classified. I can only speak to the Ambassador. Tuvok: You may also speak to me. Your Ambassador sent us to find you. Vatm: No. I prefer to wait. Sklar: Doctor, we almost died trying to get that information. Tell us. Vatm: Be silent, Sklar! Neelix: Now gentlemen, there's no point in arguing. Right now we have to get this shuttle off the ground. Tuvok: Unfortunately that will not be possible. All primary systems are offline. Warp drive and impulse engines have been destroyed. I suggest we repair the comm. system and send a distress call. Hanjuan: How long will that take? Tuvok: Several hours at least. Sklar: We don't have several hours. When the next asteroid hits, it could destroy this entire region. We've got to get out of here soon! Tuvok: I assure you we're doing everything we can. Mister Neelix, please go outside and inspect the toroidal antenna. I need to know if any of the signal relays were damaged. Neelix: If they were, I can try to repair them. Tuvok: A damage report will be sufficient. Neelix: I've been studying with Lieutenant Torres. She gave me a full orientation on shuttlecraft systems. Tuvok: The damage report, Mister Neelix. Neelix: Aye, sir. Tuvok: In the meantime, I suggest everyone try to remain calm. Allowing anxiety to overcome you will only hinder the efficiency of our efforts. Neelix: He's really a very pleasant fellow once you get to know him. And intelligent. I'm sure he'll have the comm. system up and running Tuvok: Neelix. Neelix: On my way. Sklar: Why won't you share the data with Neelix: Excuse me! Mister Tuvok. Tuvok: You couldn't have finished already. Neelix: Not exactly. What I mean to say is, I know I'm here to observe, and I don't mean to step out of line, but I think I've observed a way of here. Hanjuan: Where? Neelix: I saw what appeared to be an orbital tether anchored nearby. Vatm: Yes, we use those to lift cargo from the surface to the orbital supply station. Neelix: May I assume it uses magnetic leverage to lift the carriage. Vatm: Yes. Tuvok: What is your point? Neelix: What if we use that carriage to climb the tether? Sklar: That tether's over three hundred kilometers long. It takes twelve hours to reach the station. Neelix: Well, we wouldn't have to go all the way to the station. We'd just have to leave the ionosphere. Once we get above all this interference, we can contact Voyager. They'll beam us aboard. Vatm: I've already considered that option. The carriage was damaged on the last impact. The induction coils are offline. Neelix: Maybe we can replace the coils with attitude control thrusters from the shuttle. It would take a little creative mechanics, but I think we can do it. I spent two years on a tether maintenance team on Rinax. The principles are undoubtedly the same. Tuvok: Our probability of being detected by Voyager or the other rescue teams is greatest if we remain here. Sklar: What if they don't find us in time? Hanjuan: He's right. We should try the tether. It's better than sitting here waiting to be buried in dust. Neelix: I've helped rebuild a dozen mag-lev carriages. Give me a chance to get that one working. If I can't, we'll come back and wait for the others. Tuvok: Very well. Neelix: You won't regret this, Lieutenant. We need to get to the base of the tether. Neelix: I think we can integrate our thrusters into the induction matrix, but we'll need to Neelix: Looks like somebody's been here recently. Lillias: Get away or I'll kill him! Drop your weapon! Now! Lillias: This is my shelter. These are my supplies. Tuvok: We have no interest in your supplies. We are here to use the carriage to get to safety. Hanjuan: He's telling the truth. We'll take you with us. Lillias: The carriage is damaged. Neelix: Yes, we know. The induction coils. But we brought equipment to replace them. Vatm: I know it's been difficult. This catastrophe has taken it's toll on everyone. But you have got to believe us. We only want to get off the surface. Lillias: What about the oxygen converters? They've been damaged too. They can't produce enough air for six people. Neelix: Maybe we can augment the converters. We've brought along some equipment that might do the trick. Lillias: I don't have enough rations for everyone. Don't expect me to share. Neelix: If I can fix the tether, no one will need your rations. We have a starship in orbit. They'll beam us aboard once we leave the ionosphere. Neelix: If I'm not mistaken, it sounds like you know a thing or two about tethers too. Lillias: Not really. I'm a foundry worker. Neelix: Good. We could use someone with metallurgical knowledge. Let's get to work. Have faith, Mister Vulcan. We'll be tether-borne in no time. Torres: I've completed the mineralogical scans. The rock is composed of tryoxene, olivine. Wait a minute. I'm reading a concentration of triadium. Ambassador: Triadium? Isn't that an alloy? Torres: Yes. Chakotay: B'Elanna, give me a hand with this. Torres: This doesn't look like any asteroid I've ever seen, but I'll bet it's the source of our triadium. It looks like a control node for some kind of guidance system. Chakotay: Ambassador, I have a feeling these asteroids aren't striking your planet by chance. Tuvok: Are we ready to bring main power back online? Neelix: I, I think so. Tuvok: The coil bypass is active. Neelix: Bypass is holding. Congratulations, Mister Vulcan. We've done it! Tuvok: We must still repair the oxygen regenerators and the damaged tether couplings. Neelix: Then let's get started. I'll go check on the oxygen supply. Neelix: How's it coming, Lillias? Lillias: I still can't get this power relay online. I'm not an orbital engineer. I can't do this. Neelix: Maybe I can help. Let's see. Ah ha! You need to recalibrate the pressure valve, like this. That should about do it. We're going to need a name. Lillias: A name? Neelix: For the mag-lev carriage. Whenever we finished building a tether on Rinax, we named the carriage for good luck. Any suggestions? Lillias: No. Neelix: How about Alixia? Lillias: Alixia. Neelix: My favorite sister. She was always taking me out to explore. She showed me the Caves of Touth, the equatorial dust shrouds. Once she even took me hunting for arctic spiders. Whenever I think of her, I think of adventure. And this is an adventure she would appreciate. What do you think? Lillias: Where is your sister now? Neelix: She was killed when I was a young man, in a war on my home world. My entire family was lost. Lillias: I'm sorry. Neelix: I still see each of them. Every night before I go to sleep, I recall their faces and share something about my day with each of them. Tonight I'm going to have quite a lot to tell them. Neelix: Thank you. Lillias: I have a sister too. Halla. Three weeks ago after the first impact our home was destroyed and we were separated. I haven't seen her since. I don't even know if she's alive. Neelix: When we get back to Voyager, I'll ask my Captain to help you find her. Tuvok: Mister Neelix. Neelix: Excuse me. Neelix: Yes, sir! Tuvok: Your interpersonal activities are delaying our progress. Neelix: What do you mean? Tuvok: Since we arrived, you have spent as much time engaged in idle conversation as you have making repairs. Neelix: I'm just trying to cheer everyone up a little. Tuvok: Your function at the moment is to repair this vessel, not to boost morale. This is not the holodeck nor the mess hall. This is a life-threatening situation, and your attention should be focused on one thing alone. Our safe return to Voyager. Neelix: Sorry, sir. I'll finish as fast as I can. Lillias: Once we start going up the tether will we be able to Tuvok: We've only been able to fix three of the seven power supplies. If we turn back we might not be able to reach the ionosphere. Mister Sklar, these Neelix: Doctor Vatm! What are you doing? Lillias: He's opening the launch doors! He's leaving without us! Neelix: Doctor Vatm! Please stop! The tether's base hasn't been secured. If he launches now he'll destabilize the entire cavern. Sklar: Wait, please! Don't leave us here! Tuvok: Stand aside. Neelix: It's too late. The cabin support structure is collapsing. We've got to get out of here. Tuvok: Can we launch? Neelix: I think so. Tuvok: Seal that door. Sklar: I despise enclosed spaces. Neelix: Hang on. Neelix: Velocity, thirty kilometers per hour. Internal atmospheric pressure, seven hundred millibars. Altitude, eight hundred meters and climbing. Tuvok: We're losing mag-lev cohesion. Neelix: All right, we have to stabilize that right away, otherwise we'll go into free-fall. Sklar: You mean we're going to drop? Tuvok: How do we prevent that? Neelix! Neelix: Hold on, hold on, I'm thinking. Velocity. Let's try increasing the velocity. It should stabilize our ascent. See if you can increase power to the tether couplings. Tuvok: Routing back-up power to the tether couplings. Neelix: Stand by. I'm going to try giving her a little more speed. Neelix: Velocity, forty seven kilometers per hour and holding. Tuvok: Mag-lev cohesion stable. Neelix: We're all right. Good girl, Alixia. I knew you could do it. Tuvok: Alixia? Neelix: I named the carriage after my sister. Tuvok: For good luck, no doubt. We will need it. One of the oxygen converters has ruptured. Neelix: We'll have to find a way of increasing output to the other converter, otherwise we'll run out of air about half way up. Tuvok: What are our chances of reaching the ionosphere? Neelix: I'd say they were pretty good. We did leave ahead of schedule, and that could cause a few glitches along the way. Tuvok: Glitches? Neelix: I wasn't able to get the auto-ascent sequencer back online. That means I'll have to keep controlling the ascent manually. And there is the problem of maintaining atmospheric pressure. I'm already beginning to detect a few fissures in the hull. Tuvok: We must repair them. Where is the emergency containment grid? Neelix: Containment grid. Containment grid. Er, I'm not quite sure. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, you told me you had experience with this kind of technology. Neelix: I did! I did! Sort of. They weren't exactly what you might call working carriages. They were more like prototypes. Tuvok: Specifically. Neelix: All right, they were models. One tenth scale. But they were extremely detailed. Tuvok: You built models? Neelix: Yes, but they were basically identical to real mag-lev carriages. Same principles, same mechanical components. I was planning to familiarize myself with all the systems on this carriage. I just didn't plan on leaving ahead of schedule. But don't worry, I've got everything under control. Tuvok: There is little we can do now that we are thirty kilometers above the surface. I suggest we continue to Vatm: What are you doing! Let go! Lillias: You wanted to leave, fine, then leave. Tuvok: That is enough! He may be crucial to the survival of your colonies. Lillias: He would have let us die down there. Tuvok: That is no justification for murder. Doctor Vatm, why did you try to launch without us? Does it have to do with the discovery you made about the asteroids? Hanjuan: Answer him, or I'll throw you out myself. Tuvok: Compose yourself, Mister Hanjuan. Once we return to Voyager we will find out Hanjuan: Who put you in command? Tuvok: This rescue mission was authorized by the Captain of my ship and the Ambassador of your government. Hanjuan: I say we throw Vatm out the door. We could use the extra oxygen. Tuvok: If you are trying to intimidate me, I should inform you that as a Vulcan I possess physical strength many times your Tuvok: It is going to be a long and perilous journey. As such, I will need your full co-operation. Understood? Hanjuan: Yes. Tuvok: Mechanical glitches would seem to be the least of our problems. Paris: We've just completed our third low altitude survey. There's no sign of Doctor Vatm, or Tuvok and his rescue team. Janeway: We're monitoring a major dust storm heading your way. You'll need to head due north within the hour. Paris: Acknowledged. Paris out. Kim: Captain, I'm getting more detailed sensor readings on the approaching asteroid. It's huge, over half a kilometer in diameter, and it's moving faster than the others. Janeway: Time to impact? Kim: Approximately two hours. Tuvok: Doctor, I'm going to inject you with a tri-ox compound. It will help to oxygenate your blood. Tuvok: I've prepared an injection of Sklar: Yes, I know, I heard you. It won't be painful, will it? Tuvok: No. It is a simple subdermal transfer. Sklar: Oh good, good. I despise needles. Any progress with the, with the converters? Tuvok: We were unable to salvage the damaged tank, but Lillias is working to increase the efficiency of the functioning one. Sklar: And if she can't, we'll all suffocate. Tuvok: It is illogical to dwell on situations beyond your control. It will only serve to heighten your anxiety which, if I may say so, is heightened enough. Sklar: Oh, well, thank you for the reassurance. Neelix: How is everybody? Tuvok: They are suffering the initial stages of carbon dioxide poisoning. Neelix: And you? Tuvok: My lungs are capable of respirating in an extremely thin atmosphere. Neelix: Then if we can't fix this air supply, you may be the only one left to pilot this thing. I'd better start showing you how to use the ascent thrusters. They must be kept at a minimum temperature. Hanjuan: Stop! What are you doing? Vatm: Get away. Got to get out. Let me out. Let go of me. I'm needed. Lillias: So now he wants to leave. Hanjuan: Let him. Vatm: No, you don't understand. There's something out there. Tuvok: What is out there? Vatm: On the roof. Tuvok: He's going into shock. Tuvok: He's dead. Neelix: Can you revive him? Tuvok: His cardiopulmonary tissues have begun to deteriorate. Hanjuan: From lack of oxygen? Tuvok: No. I believe he was murdered. Lillias: Murdered? How? Tuvok: Poisoning. According to my tricorder readings, his water supply has been contaminated with a lydroxide corrosive. Neelix: Lydroxide? That's the coolant used in the tether couplings. Hanjuan: How do you know it wasn't an accident? Tuvok: The coolant system is completely sealed, and there is no lydroxide anywhere else on board. Sklar: Well, now we have a choice of death by suffocation or death by poisoning. Tuvok: I will conduct an investigation once we return to the ship. For now, we must focus on survival. Hanjuan: Again you take command. Again you decide our fate. How do we know you didn't kill him. Tuvok: I have no motive. Hanjuan: Your motive would be the same as ours. Revenge. Tuvok: I am Vulcan. I do not succumb to emotion. Hanjuan: Oh, and we are expected to believe that? Neelix: I think we should stop the carriage. Tuvok: Why? Neelix: Something Doctor Vatm said about getting up on the roof. Tuvok: Doctor Vatm was delirious from lack of oxygen. He attempted to open the hatch of this vessel and go outside. It would have killed him and possibly all of us as well. Neelix: Exactly. He was desperate enough to risk his own life. I think we should go up and find out what he was talking about. Tuvok: If we stop the carriage, we will risk losing mag-lev cohesion again. We'll check the roof upon returning to Voyager. Neelix: I don't know. I've got a funny feeling about this. Tuvok: I am not interested in your funny feeling. Neelix: You're not listening to what I'm saying. Delirious or not, he said he needed whatever's up there. What if it's something that can help us? Tuvok: I will not debate this with you. Please pilot the craft and remain silent. Neelix: You're going to listen to me! Tuvok: You are becoming emotionally distraught. There is little point in furthering this discussion. Neelix: I'll tell you who's being emotional. You! You hide it beneath that Vulcan calm but truth is, you're filled with contempt and sarcasm, and I'm tired of being the target of all your hostility. Tuvok: You are mistaken. Lillias: No, he's not. I can see it every time you talk to Neelix. You're dismissive and condescending. Tuvok: You are projecting your own emotional bias onto my actions. I have no feelings towards Mister Neelix. Neelix: That's right! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You have no feelings for me, but you have feelings against me. For three years you've ridiculed me and made it obvious to everyone that you have no respect for me. And I've tolerated it. You know why? You know why? Because you are smarter than I am, Tuvok, and more logical, stronger, superior in almost every way. And I admire you. But you don't have any instincts, have any gut feelings, and you don't really understand people. But non-Vulcans have feelings and they have to listen to them, and I've got to listen to mine, And right now they're telling me we need to get up on that roof and find out what the Doctor was talking about. Tuvok: I disagree. Neelix: Fine! But I'm the only one who can pilot this vessel, and we're not going anywhere until someone goes up on that roof. Tuvok: You leave me little choice. Neelix: All right, then. One of us needs to go outside. Hanjuan: I'm not going out there. Sklar: Don't even think about me. Neelix: I'm willing to give it a Tuvok: I will go. Neelix: You? Tuvok: I am the logical one to make the egress. I can breathe the rarified atmosphere. Sklar: I can't believe you're going out there. You don't even know what you're looking for. Tuvok: I'm looking for Mister Neelix's instinct. Perhaps it will be marked. Neelix: It's strange, but I really like him. I just wish the feeling were mutual. Tuvok: Tuvok to Neelix. Neelix: Go ahead. Tuvok: I have found a data storage device lodged in the internal circuitry. It appears to contain information about an alien starship. Tuvok: but I will need to remove it and bring it into the cabin for further examination. Neelix: Be careful up there. If you can't remove it, don't. Sklar! What are you doing? Lillias: Neelix! Hanjuan: Where's Tuvok? Sklar: Mister Tuvok returned to the surface. Get this carriage moving. Lillias: What are you doing! Sklar: Now! Lillias: He can't. He's hurt. Sklar: Back away. Get up. Get up! oh. We're going to have to figure out how to fly this vessel. Kim: Captain, the asteroid is within visual range. Janeway: Let's see it. Janeway: Ensign? Kim: There's a large crew compliment. At least two thousand. Chakotay: They remodulated their shields to fool our sensors. We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Goth: The Etanian Order claims this territory. You will withdraw. Janeway: This planet belongs to the Nezu. They have five colonies here. Goth: You are not Nezu. Janeway: I'm a friend of theirs. Kathryn Janeway. And I'm not going anywhere until you've lowered your weapons. Goth: You would be willing to die for them? A loyal friend, and a foolish one. Chakotay: They'll be here in under ten minutes, Captain. Janeway: Battle stations. Sklar: Why haven't we started? Lillias: If we don't get moving soon the tether couplings will give out and they'll snap. We'll lose mag-lev cohesion. Sklar: Then get us moving. Lillias: I can't. I don't know how. Sklar: There's the accelerator control. Try it. Lillias: It's too dangerous. We've got to secure the tether first. Sklar: Right, you. Go outside and check the couplings. Make sure they haven't been damaged. Hanjuan: Not me. Besides I wouldn't know where to look. Lillias: The only person who knows how to pilot this ship is Neelix. Sklar: It can't be that complicated. Keep trying. Lillias: I'm doing my best. Sklar: Come on, come on. Neelix: I'm glad you're all right. Tuvok: Fortunately I was able to grab hold of an induction coil and climb to safety. Thank you, Mister Neelix. Neelix: What? Tuvok: I said thank you, for opening the door. Neelix: Don't mention it. Tuvok: I believe we know now who killed Doctor Vatm. Hanjuan: But why did he kill him? Tuvok: The data storage device contains tactical information about an alien starship. Weapons, warp drive, shield modulations. Apparently Sklar did not want us to find it. You have an occipital concussion. I'm afraid my understanding of Talaxian physiology is limited. I cannot treat you. Lillias: I don't know how to do this. We're going to lose cohesion any minute know. Tuvok: Neelix, we need you. Neelix: I don't think I can do it. Tuvok: You must. Neelix: I can barely keep my eyes open. Tuvok: Do it for Alixia. She would be proud of you. Neelix: I'm glad to see your interpersonal skills are improving. You're learning how to motivate people. Neelix: Speed, forty five kilometers per hour. Chakotay: The ship is within range. They're charging weapons. Janeway: Full power to the shields. Ready phasers. Kim: Shields down to eighty five percent. Janeway: Return fire. Chakotay: No effect. We can't penetrate their shields. Neelix: Hang on! We're breaking through the ionosphere. Engaging induction dampers. We did it. We made it! Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. Janeway: Janeway here. Are you all right, Lieutenant? Tuvok: Yes, Captain. Janeway: We're a little busy right now. Prepare to beam aboard. Kim: Shields down to twenty three percent. Structural integrity is failing. Tuvok: Captain, this data device contains tactical information about the enemy vessel, including their shield modulation. Janeway: Adjust our phasers to match. Target their primary reactor. Tuvok: Ready. Janeway: Fire at will. Tuvok: Direct hit. Their reactor is offline. Chakotay: They're remodulating their shields. Janeway: Target their weapons array. Fire! Tuvok: Their weapons have been destroyed. Chakotay: They're retreating, Captain. Ambassador: What happened to you down there? Where's Sklar? Neelix: Mister Sklar returned to the surface. Neelix: I've just come from a staff briefing. The people who attacked your colonies, they call themselves the Etanian Order. Apparently they have a unique way of invading other worlds. First they create what appears to be a natural disaster, in your case an asteroid bombardment. Once the population has evacuated, they arrive and stake their claim. Lillias: But they didn't expect Voyager to intervene, so they arrived before our colonies had been evacuated Neelix: Exactly. Lillias: What about Doctor Vatm? Neelix: From what we could tell, Doctor Vatm found out about the Etanian Order and was secretly collecting information about their starship technology. He also knew that one of your colonists was a traitor, helping the Etanians, feeding your government false information about the asteroids. But he didn't know that it was Sklar. He didn't know who to trust. Lillias: So that's why he tried to hide the data storage device on the roof. The damage to our world could have been much worse. Thank you. Tuvok: I have just received word from the Ambassador. Your sister Halla has been found. Neelix: Tell her I said hello. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, I thought you should know that I have submitted my mission report to the Captain. I've given you a special commendation for your endurance and bravery. Neelix: I'm honored. Tuvok: Your instincts were correct. However, one day your intuition will fail, and you will finally understand that logic is primary above all else. Instinct is simply another term for serendipity. Neelix: And one day, Mister Vulcan, I'll get you to trust your gut. Tuvok: That is doubtful. Neelix: We'll see. Tuvok: Your attempts have yet to succeed. Neelix: You always have to get in that last word, don't you. Tuvok: I'm simply responding to your erroneous statement. Neelix: Something tells me you just hate to lose an argument. Tuvok: Losing is irrelevant. Neelix: See what I mean? Tuvok: No, I do not.

Chakotay: Let's mark the coordinates of that trinary star. It'll be a good reference point for this sector. Kim: Didn't we already pass a trinary system like this? Chakotay: Not that I remember. Why? Kim: It just seems familiar. Tuvok: Perhaps you're experiencing a paradoxical state-dependant associated phenomenon. Janeway: Deja-vu. Kim: Yeah, I guess so. Tuvok: Captain, there is a ship approaching, bearing two one five mark eight. Janeway: On screen. Tuvok: Their shields are down and their weapon systems are unpowered. Kim: They're hailing us. Alben: My respects to you. I'm Alben, Captain of the Narada. Janeway: Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. Alben: I thought I was familiar with every type of ship in this sector, but I've never seen anything like yours before. Janeway: We're not from around here. Alben: In that case, let me welcome you to Nasari territory. Kim: That ship's going to fire! Chakotay: What? Kim: Captain, we've got to defend ourselves. Tuvok: I am detecting no threat. Tactical control has been moved to the Ops station. Our weapons systems are charging. Kim: Raising shields and firing phasers. Tuvok: Direct hit. They are returning fire. Janeway: Red alert! Janeway: Hail them. We've got to put a stop to this. Kim: Captain, I had to act quickly. Janeway: You will explain yourself, Mister Kim, but right now you're relieved. Commander, you're at Ops. Tuvok: They are not responding to hails. Torres: There's pressure building up in plasma conduit G six. Ashmore, open up the emergency vent. I'll try to reroute the plasma flow. Tuvok: Shields are down to seventy percent. Janeway: Get us out of here. Chakotay: Warp engines are down. Tuvok: They are in pursuit. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering, what's the status of the warp drive? Torres: The plasma injectors are offline, Captain. We're working on them now. Chakotay: A plasma conduit just blew in Engineering. Propulsion systems are down. They're reporting casualties. Janeway: Target their weapons array and fire. Tuvok: They've suffered damage to their weapon systems and shield emitters. They are moving away. Janeway: I want to know exactly what you thought you were doing. Kim: Their weapons were charging. They were about to fire at us. We could have been destroyed. Tuvok: Sensor logs indicate that their weapon systems were not powered. Kim: Then they must have fooled our sensors somehow. I detected a tetryon surge coming from their ship. Tuvok: There are many sources of increased tetryon emissions. It may have been an irregularity in their warp field. Kim: No! It was their weapons. That whole welcome to Nasari territory was a trick. Chakotay: How could you know that? Kim: I can't explain that. I just knew. I was only trying to protect the ship. Janeway: I trust your intentions, Ensign, but your actions are going to need a little more justification. I want you to analyze the sensor logs, and see if there's any basis for Mister Kim's hunch. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: In the meantime I'm suspending you from duty. Go to Sickbay. Let the Doctor have a look at that cut. Kes: Still no respiration. Her blood pressure's ninety over forty and dropping. Emh: She has second degree burns on her lungs. I'll need to do a pulmonary regeneration. Kes: Her neural tissues are starting to degenerate. Emh: Oxygen deprivation. We've got to get her breathing. Try ten milligrams pulmazine. Kes: No effect. Emh: Twenty milligrams. Kim: Is she going to be all right? Emh: Yes. Another patient snatched from the jaws of death. Kes: Let me take care of that. Kim: B'Elanna almost got killed. It's my fault. Kes: What do you mean? Kim: I started that fight. I thought I was doing the right thing. For a moment I was absolutely sure. Kes: And now you're not? Kim: It's fading. What I did, and how I felt. It doesn't make any sense. And it could have been worse. What if they'd been more powerful than we were? I could have gotten everyone killed. Kes: But none of that happened. B'Elanna got hurt, but she'll recover. Harry, you can't undo what's been done. Kim: You're right. Thanks. Kim: Raising shields and firing phasers. I can't explain it. I just knew. I never wanted you to get hurt. Torres: That's supposed to make me feel better? Kim: I'm sorry. Kim'S Mother: Harry, I'm here. Don't worry, you'll feel better soon. I can make some soup for you, would you like that? I won't go away anywhere as long as you need me. We raised you to be a responsible boy. Kim: I try to be. Kim'S Mother: I'm suspending you from duty. Kim: Mom! Emh: Well, the good news is I won't have to quarantine you. There's no sign of an infectious agent anywhere in your body. Kim: And the bad news? Emh: If I don't find the cause of this rash, it will be difficult to treat. Kim: Last night I had a dream about being sick with the Mendakan pox when I was nine. Do you think this could be a recurrence? Emh: I've never considered dreams as a diagnostic tool before. Your unconscious mind sensed these developing symptoms and tried to provide an explanation? Such recurrences of this particular illness are rare, but I will consider the possibility. Hmm. Kim: What? Emh: In addition to your visible symptoms, your blood chemistry has been slightly altered. Kim: Is that serious? Emh: No, but it's not consistent with the symptoms of the Mendakan pox. Kim: Doctor, you don't think there could be any psychological effects from this disease, do you? Emh: Such as? Kim: I've been having this strange deja-vu feeling. Then yesterday on the Bridge I had this sudden instinct, and I acted on it by firing without orders. Emh: I'd certainly call that atypical behavior. Your scans haven't shown any neurological abnormalities, but I will run a closer analysis. Kes: Doctor, she's regaining consciousness. Emh: Good morning, Lieutenant. Torres: Morning? What am I doing here? Kes: There was an accident in Engineering. A plasma conduit exploded. Emh: I've treated you for second and third degree burns and several broken ribs. I expect you'll make a full recovery Torres: Ow! Emh: after you've spent at least one more day in Sickbay. Torres: This time Doctor, I'm not going to argue with you. Harry, what happened to your face? Kim: We're still trying to figure that out. Torres: It's kind of cute. Makes you look like a speckled targ. Kim: B'Elanna, I'm really sorry you got hurt. Torres: Hey, it's all part of the adventure of space travel, right? Kim: I know, but, er Torres: What. What is it? Kim: Never mind. I'm glad you're going to be all right. Torres: Thanks. Emh: I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut visiting hour short. Ensign, you can go. I'll contact you with the results of my analysis. Kim: Take care of yourself. Torres: See you later, Spot. Kim: Captain, I accept full responsibility for my mistake. I was completely out of line, even if I believed that other ship was charging weapons, which they probably weren't. Janeway: Harry, they were charging weapons. Kim: I was right. Janeway: Tuvok has confirmed that the tetryon surge matched the energy signature of that particulate beam they shot at us. They would have taken us completely by surprise. Kim: As soon as I saw their ship, I felt this sudden suspicion and loathing. I knew we were in trouble. Janeway: Which brings us back to the larger question. Kim: How did I know? I really wish I could tell you, Captain, but for the past few days this area of space has seemed more and more familiar to me. If I didn't know it was impossible, I'd swear I've been here before. Janeway: We'll have to consider every possible explanation. Kim: Oh, believe me, I have been. Space-time anomalies, alien telepathy, alternate realities. The list gets weirder as it goes on. Janeway: Then there's your sudden illness, which may not be a coincidence. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. There are three ships approaching of the same configuration as the Nasari vessel. Janeway: On my way. Chakotay: They'll intercept in thirty six minutes. Janeway: Can we outrun them? Chakotay: I doubt it. Engineering's still working on repairs. We could manage warp three at best. Kim: Let me see a star chart of this region. Head for this system. I think we can make it. Janeway: Is this another hunch, Ensign? Kim: We'll be safe there, I'm sure of it. Janeway: Tactical status. Tuvok: The aft shield emitter is offline, phasers are operational, but torpedo launchers are not. I strongly advise against a confrontation. Janeway: Follow Harry's course. Speed, as fast as we can go. Tuvok: The Nasari vessels will overtake us in two minutes. Chakotay: We're coming up on that star system. We'll pass it if we stay at warp. Janeway: Slow to impulse. We're making our stand here. Chakotay: They'll enter weapons range in a few seconds. Kim: Taresia. Janeway: What does that mean? Do you know this place? Kim: Yes. It was in my dream. Tuvok: There is another ship approaching from the third planet. Chakotay: Is it Nasari? Tuvok: No, but they're on an intercept course and their weapons are fully powered. Janeway: Prepare for evasive maneuvers. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Kim: We'll be all right. Tuvok: The unidentified vessel has disabled all the Nasari ships. They are retreating. Chakotay: What's your next trick, Harry. Pull a shuttlecraft out of a hat? Janeway: Open a channel to that ship. Kim: They're already hailing us. Lyris: Alien vessel, this is the Taresian starship. There you are! Our sensors detected you aboard your ship. I'm glad to see you're safe. Kim: Do you know me? Lyris: In a way. I know you are one of my people. Kim: What? Lyris: You're Taresian. Welcome home. Janeway: Captain's log 50732.4. The Taresians have escorted us back to their homeworld so we can continue to investigate their claim that Ensign Kim is a member of their race. Lyris: Welcome. We're so glad to have you here. This is a day of celebration. Another Taresian has returned. Eliann: Welcome. Malia: You're home now, Harry. Kim: Er, wait a minute. I still don't understand how this is possible. Janeway: We'd like to ask some questions before we start celebrating. Lyris: Of course. Kim: Our Doctor has found some genetic fragments in my DNA which could be part of an alien genetic structure. Lyris: Yes, those are part of your Taresian genes. They're becoming active. We'd be happy to provide your Doctor with some DNA samples for comparison. Kim: What I want to know is how I could have gotten them. Lyris: You were conceived here, on this world. While you were still an embryo, you were placed in stasis and taken to Earth to be implanted in the womb of an Earth woman. Kim: My mother. What did you do to her? Lyris: She would have been completely unaware of the procedure. After the implantation process, the child begins to incorporate some DNA from the surrogate parent. You developed physically as a human, so she would have thought you were her natural child. Kim: But you're saying I'm not. Taymon: We understand how you feel. Everyone here was born on other worlds. We all found our way back home like you, and discovered we're not quite who we thought we were. Rinna: Harry, maybe you'd like to sit down. Eliann: Why don't you go get him something to drink? Tuvok: All of your children are born to alien parents? Lyris: Yes, and when they return, each child brings an infusion of new genetic material as well as of first hand experience about another culture. Janeway: But Harry wasn't trying to return here. We came to the Delta Quadrant by accident. Lyris: His DNA was encoded with certain instincts, including the desire to explore space. Your accident may have brought him here faster, but he always would have been driven to find his way back. You are the first to return from such a great distance. Paris: Harry. Kim: That's how Taresians say thank you, isn't it? But how could I know so much about a place I've never been? Lyris: It's been encoded into your Taresian genes. As you've gotten closer to home and seen familiar sights, your dormant genetic memory has been reawakened. Rinna: You'll remember more about us as you spend time here. Eliann: I know it all seems strange now, but you are one of us, Harry. Can't you feel it? Kim: Yes, I can. Eliann: Then stay with us a while and celebrate. Come, have something to eat. Paris: Is this the standard welcome home reception? Taymon: For males it is. They're very rare. Our population is ninety percent female. Paris: Really? Janeway: I want to thank you again for your help in combating the Nasari. Do you have any idea why they tried to attack us? Lyris: They probably detected a Taresian aboard your ship as we did. For the Nasari, that's reason enough to destroy you. Tuvok: Are your people at war? Lyris: We have no interest in fighting with them, but they seem determined to destroy us. Our defense capabilities prevent them from attacking directly, but they do everything in their power to stop our people from returning home. Tuvok: I see. That might explain Mister Kim's instinctively hostile reaction to them. Lyris: It's a defense mechanism we've programmed into all our children. Janeway: Are the Nasari likely to attack us again when we leave your space. Lyris: I think eventually they'll tire of waiting for you to come out. In the meantime, I'd advise you to simply stay here for a while. Kim: These are words. Rinna: Can you read them? Kim: Almost. Eliann: Our written language is very complicated. I can teach it to you if you're interested. Paris: Ah, that looks good. What is it? Malia: Spiced hatana. I prepared it myself. Harry, try some. Kim: I'd like to find out if I have any relatives here. Maybe talk to my biological parents. Eliann: I'm afraid none of us get the chance to meet our fathers. They're the ones who take the embryos to other worlds. Your father must have left here a very long time ago to make it all the way to the Alpha Quadrant. Tuvok: Ensign, we're transporting back to the ship. Kim: I'd like to stay for a while. I still have a lot of questions. Janeway: Of course, Harry. Contact us when you're ready. Paris: We'll see you later. Emh: It's a positive match. These genetic fragments within Ensign Kim's DNA are clearly Taresian. Janeway: Why haven't they shown up in his medical scans before? Emh: I went back and checked his scans carefully. These fragments have apparently been disguising themselves as the recessive elements which normally within all DNA, but over the past few days they've become increasingly dominant over his human genes. Tuvok: And they've provided him with new knowledge? Emh: Yes, by forming neural connections in his brain. All humanoid babies are born with certain instinctive knowledge. How to recognize the shape of a face, how to hold their breath underwater. It all comes from their genes. Janeway: The Taresians must have found a way to manipulate genetic material to implant very specific knowledge into their children. Emh: It's scientifically plausible, but quite a feat of genetic engineering. Janeway: So what the Taresians have been telling us appears to be true. Harry is one of their people. Emh: And he's becoming more like them every day, both physically and neurologically. Janeway: I wonder how that's going to influence him when Voyager's ready to leave? Of course, when that might happen is another question entirely. Are the Nasari still out there? Tuvok: All three ships are holding position just outside the Taresian system. Janeway: Even if we can wait them out, we'd only be postponing another conflict. I'd much rather find a way to convince them we're not their enemies. Tuvok: Apparently the Nasari only consider Ensign Kim their enemy. Perhaps they would be more receptive to diplomacy if he were not aboard. Janeway: Contact Harry. Let him know we'll be leaving orbit. With any luck, we'll be back in a few hours with this matter resolved. Taymon: I joined the merchant fleet so I could get into space, because I wanted to explore every quarter of the galaxy. Kim: Like me with Starfleet. All my life, that's all I ever wanted to do. Now I guess I know why. Strange to think that some alien DNA fragments have been controlling my life. Taymon: Not controlling. Influencing, yes. You probably inherited some Taresian traits like a talent for math or music. Kim: Yes, I always wondered why I loved music so much when my parents, my human parents, were practically tone deaf. Kim: Wait, wait a minute. What is that? Rinna: Something to make you feel good. Taymon: It's just a mild mood enhancer. No side effects. You'll like it. Kim: I think I'll pass, thanks. Taymon: This is Malia. She's going to be my first wife. Kim: First? Taymon: Ah ha. Kim: And you're already planning on a second? Malia: And a third. We'll all be joined with Taymon tonight. What do humans call it when a man and women are joined? Kim: It's called marriage, but it's usually one woman with one man. Malia: How unusual. I hope you come to our ceremony. Kim: I wouldn't miss it. Taymon: Don't be afraid to indulge yourself, Harry. Everybody here wants you to be happy. You're important to us. Kim: That's what my human parents used to say to me. How special I was. They'd been trying to have a baby for years until I came along. They called me their miracle child. Taymon: They were right. Kim: They spoiled me rotten, making sacrifices so they could give me everything I wanted. Taymon: Sounds like you were pretty lucky. They loved you. Kim: But I never felt like I deserved that kind of devotion. I didn't see what was so special about me. I used to imagine that I had these hidden powers. I'd grow up to be stronger than a Klingon or able to read people's minds. Anything to make me more than just an average kid. Taymon: Turns out your parents were right about you. You have been special all of your life. Feels pretty good, doesn't it? Kim: Yeah, it does. Eliann: Let me relax your muscles for you. Kim: That would be great. Taymon: I think you're going to learn to like it here, Harry. Kim: I already like it. Eliann: Enough to stay? Kim: I don't know about that. I'm happy where I am on Voyager. Eliann: You could be happy here, too. Taymon: It's nothing you have to decide right now. Just enjoy yourself while you're here. Eliann: This uniform seems so restrictive. Why don't you let me find you something more comfortable? Kim: Thanks. I mean Alben: I agree with you completely, Captain. There's no reason for further hostility between us. Janeway: I'm glad to hear it, and I hope you'll still feel that way when Ensign Kim is back on board. Alben: I doubt we'll face that problem. Your crewmember won't be returning to you. Janeway: What do you mean? Alben: No one who comes home to Taresia ever leaves again. There are rumors about those people. Janeway: I'm not interested in hearsay. Are there any facts you can give me? Alben: I fire on any Taresian I see. If you take your crewmember back on board, I will attack your ship. My best advice to you is to forget him and be on your way. CHAKOTAY Do you think there's any truth to those rumors he mentioned? Janeway: I don't know, but I'll feel better when we've got Harry back. Set a course back to the planet. Tuvok: Captain, sensors indicate a high density polaron grid surrounding the planet. Janeway: Polaron grid? It wasn't here before. Tuvok: A network of satellites was activated to generate it. Chakotay: Can we get through the grid? Tuvok: Unlikely. The polaric density is too high. Janeway: Hail them. Tuvok: Our communications are being blocked. Chakotay: I guess we're not welcome anymore. Eliann: Don't worry, you'll remember everything you need to know about the ceremony once it begins. Taymon: Amal ulat. Let us be joined. Malia: The joining is complete. Kim: Why did they tie him like that? Eliann: It's tradition. It symbolizes binding their lives together, no longer looking for anyone else. Do you find it exciting? Kim: I guess I hadn't really thought of it that way. Rinna: You are going to stay for the celebration, aren't you? Kim: Actually, I should check in with Voyager. They'll be back by now. Kim to Voyager. This is Ensign Kim calling Voyager, do you read? Lyris: Harry, I'm glad you could be here for this. Kim: It's been interesting. I was wondering if there's been any word from Voyager. Lyris: Not that I know of. They probably haven't returned yet. Kim: It's been a long time. I hope they didn't run into trouble with the Nasari. Lyris: Try not to worry. Your Captain may need some time to convince those people to see reason. Kim: Maybe so. Lyris: Come, join the celebration while you wait. And of course you're welcome to stay the night. Chakotay: We've been able to poke some holes in the tachyon grid but they're too small to squeeze Voyager through. Janeway: Could a shuttle make it? Chakotay: I doubt it. And even if one could, there's another problem. A Taresian ship is patrolling the other side of the grid. Janeway: And we saw what they can do. Emh: Ah, Captain. When you raised some concerns regarding the Taresians, I began questioning their story about Ensign Kim's birth. Chakotay: I thought you'd confirmed that he has Taresian DNA. Emh: I did, and he does. At least, he does now. But when I checked his previous microcellular scans, I found no traces of the Taresian genetic fragments. I can only conclude that he wasn't born with them. Chakotay: Their whole story about embryo implantation was a lie. He's human. Emh: Yes, although maybe not for long. The alien DNA is continuing to alter his genetic structure. Within a few days he'll be indistinguishable from a native Taresian. Janeway: Do you have any idea how this new DNA could have gotten into his cells? Emh: The most likely transfer method would be a retrovirus. He was probably exposed during an away mission. Chakotay: Wouldn't the biofilters pick up the virus and eliminate it? Emh: They may very well have, but once the virus transferred the DNA into his cells, killing the messenger wouldn't have helped. Janeway: Is there any way to determine exactly when he was infected? Emh: Indeed there is. The transporter buffer performs it's own version of a microcellular scan every time someone uses it. I reviewed the logs and found the first appearance of the alien genes in his molecular pattern on stardate 50698. Chakotay: Our away mission to that planet where we found the vorillium. Harry was with us, and he was separated from the group for a while. Emh: He might have been infected by something he ate or drank, even something he touched. Janeway: So Harry gets infused with alien DNA which gives him the instinctive urge to come here. Then the Taresians tell him this elaborate story to make him believe he was one of them. Why? Chakotay: Don't forget that welcoming committee on the planet. It sounds as if they're giving him every incentive to want to stay on Taresia. Janeway: And by keeping us away, they're making the decision for him. Eliann: Here you are. I hope you'll be comfortable here. Is there anything else that I can get for you? Kim: No, I'll be fine, thanks. Goodnight. Eliann: Get into bed. Kim: You're going to tuck me in? Eliann: Tuck you in? Kim: It's a human custom. Parents tuck their children into bed, tell them a story or sing a lullaby to them to help them get to sleep. Eliann: That's sweet. Lie back and relax. Lekaria san. Do you understand? Kim: Pleasant dreams. Eliann: Now close your eyes. Kim: Mmm, that smells good. Eliann: It's the essence of rikka flowers, it's very soothing. Lekaria san. Goodnight, Harry. Lyris: You're Taresian. Welcome home. Eliann: I think you'll like it here, Harry. Chakotay: We've been lucky to have you, Harry. Janeway: You really have been special all your life. Kim'S Mother: You know where your real home is, Harry. Eliann: I think you'll like it here, Harry. Stay with me. Eliann: It's all right, it's all right. You were dreaming. Kim: What are you doing here? Eliann: We just want to help you relax and enjoy yourself. Kim: Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather be alone. Eliann: I don't believe that. I think you've been spending too many nights alone, Harry. Rinna: You've got to stop holding yourself back. I know you have the same natural desires as any Taresian. Now you're free to act on them. Eliann: You can't fight genetics. Kim: I can try. Eliann: I want you to choose me, Harry. Rinna: Choose both of us, then you'll only have to find one more wife. Kim: I'm not joining with you or with anybody. Eliann: But that's the reason why you were drawn back home, Harry. To have children. Listen to your instincts. Kim: No. Like I told you before, I'm going back to Voyager. Rinna: You could never be as valuable to them as you are to us. We need you. Eliann: You have a responsibility to your people to pass on your genes to the next generation. If there's anything your Taresian genes have given you, it's a sense of duty and loyalty. Kim: My loyalty is to my crew and my family back home. Eliann: You don't belong with them anymore. This is who you are. One of us. Your place is here. Rinna: We'll make you glad you stayed. Think of Taymon, how happy he's been. Let yourself be happy. Eliann: It's the right choice, Harry. This is the life you were always meant to have. Kim: Maybe this life wouldn't be so terrible. Rinna: It will be wonderful. You'll have everything you ever wanted, and a place of honor among your people. Eliann: You'll never be alone again, Harry. We'll make sure of that. Kim: Three wives. I've got to think about my choice. Eliann: I know you're attracted to me. There's been a connection between us since the moment you got here. Kim: You're right. I felt it too. I'm definitely considering you as one of my wives. Eliann: What are you doing? Kim: Well, it's like you said before. This could be exciting. Remember, you both want to make me happy, don't you? Rinna: This is some kind of trick. Kim: Sorry about that. Kim: Taymon, it's Harry. I really need your help. Kim: Are you in there? Kim: So this is what I should expect on my honeymoon? Malia: It would have been much easier for you if you hadn't seen this. Kim: You mean easier for you to lead me to the slaughter. What'd you do to Taymon? Malia: We must nucleate a large number of cells to collect enough genetic material for conception. Kim: That's why there are no men here. They don't leave with their embryos in stasis. They're killed. Malia: Any father should be willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of his children, for the continuation of his race. Kim: Was anything you told me true? About Taresians being born on other worlds? About my being one of you? Malia: It's true male children are very rare here, and that we seek out new DNA to sustain our race. We need males of other species, like you, who can be transformed into compatible mates. Kim: Transformed. That's what these genes are doing to me. Malia: You'll be celebrated for your contribution. Kim: Don't count on it. You're going to take me to a communications terminal where I can contact my ship. Kim: Stay out of my way! Malia: This won't work. You're too important to us. Whatever happens to me, they won't allow you to leave. Chakotay: If we hit the grid here, we'll have a few seconds before the patrol ship can move in to intercept us. Janeway: That doesn't give you much time to get a lock on Harry. Chakotay: Then I'll have to be quick. Janeway: Are the shields ready? Tuvok: The new configuration is stable. Janeway: Set a course for the target coordinates and engage at full impulse. Paris: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: We're disrupting the grid, but we need more speed to overcome the inertial resistance. Paris: Increasing power. We're clear. Chakotay: I'm not picking up Harry's comm. signal. Initiating level one bioscans of the surface. Tuvok: Captain, the Taresian ship is on an intercept course. Janeway: Battle stations. Lyris: This could have been a joyous occasion. Amal ulat! Kim: I won't let you do this to me! Lyris: Harry, there's nowhere to go. Chakotay: We've got him. Paris: Setting a new course. Tuvok: The Taresians are in pursuit. Janeway: Return fire. Tuvok: Aye, sir. Paris: Captain, we've another problem. Three Nasari ships coming straight at us. Janeway: Time to intercept? Paris: Less than one minute. Janeway: Harry. Kim: Captain. Chakotay: Welcome back. We could use your strategic intuition about now. Janeway: I'm counting on the Taresians not to back off from those Nasari ships. Kim: They won't. Janeway: Good. Let's hope they're more interested in fighting with each other than with us. Paris: Five seconds to intercept. Tuvok: We are no longer being pursued. Janeway: Let's not give them a chance to change their mind. Kim: But Odysseus had been warned that these women, the Sirens, sang a song so beautiful that any man who heard it would be lured to his death. Neelix: So how did he get the ship past them? Kim: He told his crew to cover their ears so they couldn't hear the Siren's song. But he also had them tie him to the mast of the ship so he could listen himself without being led astray as they sailed past. Paris: Anyone would have been drawn in by these Taresians. I have never seen so many beautiful women in my life. Kim: It wasn't just the women. There was also something exciting about having a new identity, and being more than just young Ensign Kim. Neelix: Well I for one am glad to have the young Ensign Kim back with us. Although I still say you should have kept some of those spots. I thought they were very distinguished. Paris: I don't see what's so bad about being you. You're good at your job, everybody likes you. Kim: Being likable is fine, but sometimes I wish I could be more, oh, confident with women. More like you. Paris: Like me? You might want to reconsider that, Harry. There could be prison time involved. Actually, since I've been on Voyager, I've tried to be more like you. Kim: That'll be the day. Paris: I'm serious. You're my role model. You're reliable, hard working, extremely punctual. Did I mention polite? Kim: Thanks a lot.

Charlene: Jeffrey, Belle, you're going to be late if you don't hurry. Come on now. Line up next to the door, children. Your father's ready to leave for work. All right, show me your fingernails. Very nicely done. Are your shoes polished? Perfect. I'm very pleased, children, and I'm sure your father will be too. Belle: I want to be first to say goodbye to daddy. Jeffrey always goes first. Jeffrey: You were first yesterday. Charlene: Now, children, little birds in their nest get along. Jeffrey: You're right, mother. I'm sorry, Belle, you can go first. Belle: No, it's really your turn. I did go first yesterday. Jeffrey: Here he comes. Charlene: All right, now. Bright, happy faces. Emh: The coffee was quite good this morning. Charlene: I'm so glad you like it. I replicated a new blend from Paxau three. Emh: I'll be home at the usual time. Charlene: Now don't let them overwork you. You should save yourself for the important things. Others can do the busy work. Emh: I couldn't agree more. Jeffrey: I hope you have a good day, Father. I'll have my homework finished by the time you get back. Emh: I'll look forward to reviewing it, Jeffrey. And is my little angel going to get an A on her history exam today? Belle: Of course I will, daddy, and can we do some algebra problems when you get home? Emh: Gladly. Charlene: And don't forget, you're going to ask some of your friends from work to have dinner with us. I'd like to meet them. Emh: I haven't forgotten. Well, goodbye all. All: Goodbye, daddy. Kes: How's the new holo-family, Doctor? Emh: They're everything I could have hoped for. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50836.2. We've had long range communications with a seemingly friendly race known as the Vostigye. We'll be rendezvousing within the hour at one of their space stations. Tuvok: Ensign Kim, perhaps you could direct your attention to the sensors, and tell us if we're nearing the Vostigye space station? Kim: We should be getting close. That's funny, I'm not detecting it. Janeway: You've checked the coordinates they sent us? Kim: Yes, and. Hold on. Now I'm getting something. It's debris. Chakotay: Debris? Tuvok: Confirmed. I am reading a debris field encompassing nearly eighty cubic kilometers. Janeway: What's the composition of the debris? Kim: Boronite, sarium, carbon 60 composites. Paris: Sounds like it could have been a space station. Janeway: On screen. What happened to it? Chakotay: Something ripped it apart, and from the energy decay readings I'd say it was no more than an hour ago. Kim: I'm not picking up any lifesigns, Captain. There don't appear to be any survivors. Janeway: There were sixty Vostigye scientists on that station. Tuvok: I don't read any recognizable weapons signatures. Paris: Maybe somebody in this part of space has weapons that don't leave a traditional signature. Janeway: I'd like to know who they are, and why they'd annihilate a science station. Kim: Maybe we can find out, Captain. There's a strange pattern that seems to be emanating from subspace. Looks like some kind of plasma particles. Chakotay: I've got it too. It's like a wake, leading away from the debris field. Janeway: From a ship? Chakotay: I can't tell. Janeway: Set a course to follow it, Tom. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Torres: Optical processors, imaging array, they all check out. Doctor, you are in perfect health. Emh: I'm sure I could have told you that. Torres: Yes, I'm sure you could have, but with all the tinkering you've been doing with your program lately, I feel better giving you these little tune-ups on a regular basis. Emh: The tinkering you speak of has been for the sole purpose of improving my performance as a physician. I can hardly be faulted for that. Torres: I'm not faulting you for your intentions, Doctor. I think it's rather commendable that you want to improve yourself. Emh: That's why I've created a family. Torres: A family? Emh: I've listened to enough patients talk about their families to realize how meaningful they are to biological beings. Torres: Well, for better or worse, yes. Kes: The Doctor has created a holographic wife and two children so that he can experience family life for himself. Torres: Interesting. And how's it going so far? Emh: Splendidly. From what I heard, I thought it would be difficult, but I'm enjoying the experience. Torres: You are? Funny, I never thought of you as a family man, Doc. I'd like to meet them. Emh: As a matter of fact, the little woman has been asking me to bring some of my colleagues home for dinner. Perhaps you and Kes would care to join us tonight? Charlene is a wonderful cook. Kes: I'd like to meet them too. Torres: Well, Doc, tell your wife to haul out the good china. You're having company. Charlene: Please, have some more wild mushroom pilaf, B'Elanna. Torres: Thanks, I've had two helpings already. It's delicious. Charlene: Well, I took a course in continental cuisine so I could replicate interesting meals for Kenneth. Kes: Kenneth? Charlene: My husband. What do you call him? Kes: Oh, we call him Doctor. Charlene: Oh, of course. Anyway, he works terribly hard and he's under such great stress, I want this home to be a sanctuary, the place he can come and have all the cares of the day disappear. Torres: How nice for him. Belle: My daddy's a very important man. He's the best doctor there ever was, and he saves people's lives all the time. Emh: A slight exaggeration. Belle: It is not. You said Emh: Belle, eat your dinner. They're well aware of my talents. Jeffrey, why don't you tell our guests about your new project at school. Jeffrey: I've designed a microfilter implant which will make it possible to cleanse blood of harmful micro-organisms too small to stimulate an immune response. Emh: Jeffrey is extremely bright. He's in the accelerated physical sciences program at school. Torres: A regular chip off the old block, right? Charlene: And don't forget about our little Belle. She's already studying algebra and trigonometry, and she's quite the budding athlete. Kes: You must be very proud of your family, Doctor. Emh: Oh. Charlene: Well, we're proud of him too. In fact, we think we have just about the most wonderful husband and father in the quadrant, don't we Torres: Computer, freeze program. Children: Yes, we do Emh: Lieutenant, what are you doing? Torres: I am stopping this before my blood sugar levels overload. Doctor. Emh: Yes? Torres: If you think that this is giving you an accurate impression of being in a family, you are sadly mistaken. Emh: I don't understand. Kes: They're kind of perfect. Torres: They are ridiculously perfect. No one has a family like this. This is a fantasy. You're not going to learn anything being with these lollipops. Emh: I provided the computer with my requirements for a mate and children. If I were to choose a real wife, my tastes would be the same. Intelligence, education, organizational skills. Torres: There is nothing wrong with your premise, Doctor, it just needs a little tweaking to bring it closer to real life. I can help, if you'd like. Paris: Captain, the particle wave we've been following is beginning to thin out. Janeway: Is there any indication what caused it? Tuvok: I am detecting no ships, no structures, no weapons signatures. Kim: Wait a minute. Something. Chakotay: I see it too. A subspace disruption. Janeway: What's causing it? Kim: Can't tell, but it's getting more intense. Janeway: Shields up. Red Alert. Tom, back us off. Kim: Something's coming out of subspace. Janeway: Tom, move us away. Paris: I don't have engines. Kim: Propulsion is offline, so is navigational control. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. We need power. Torres: I'm on it, Captain. Tuvok: The anomaly is bearing down on us, heading zero four seven mark one nine. Chakotay: Brace for impact! Kim: It hit our starboard shields. Tuvok: There's damage on deck three. Janeway: Ready weapons. We're going to disperse it. Tuvok: Phasers online. Paris: Wait a minute. Chakotay: I'm not afraid to say it. I've never seen anything like that before. Janeway: Damage report. Tuvok: Twenty percent loss of the starboard dorsal shields, and minor buckling of the hull on deck three. Kim: No indication of casualties. Paris: We've got propulsion systems back online. I think I can put some distance between us and whatever that was. Janeway: Maybe we don't want to. We've just witnessed a phenomenon none of us has ever heard of before, much less experienced. On a purely scientific level, I think we owe it to ourselves to investigate. Chakotay: I'm looking at the telemetry we've collected. It was an astral eddy that seems to have formed at the confluence of space and subspace. Kim: It's highly charged with plasma. That explains the particle wake. Chakotay: If we could harness some of that energy, we could go off replicator rations for a while. Kim: Captain, we don't have any idea what caused that phenomenon, or what made it dissipate. So how do we investigate it if it's gone? Janeway: I suspect there are conditions in this part of space that lend themselves to the formation of those eddies. Set sensors for continuous scans of subspace. Maybe we can anticipate the next one. Emh: I thought for a long time about what Lieutenant Torres said, and I finally concluded she was right. If I'm going to have the experience of a family, it should be as authentic as possible. Kes: What changes have you asked her to make in the program? Emh: Oh, she's already made them. She's simply added some randomized behavioral algorithms to the program I constructed. Kes: How will it affect your family? Emh: Events will simply unfold as a matter of natural evolution of probabilities within the program, but there's no way to predict what those might be. Kes: That could mean a few surprises. Are you sure you've ready for this? Emh: My database contains everything there is to know about pediatric care and childhood development. I can't imagine a parenting problem I couldn't handle. Kes: Your wife will have changed too. Emh: Well, I have had some experience with romantic relationships. I don't anticipate any problems there. Kes: Sounds like you have it all worked out. When do you plan on meeting this new, improved family? Emh: Right now. I'm due home for dinner. Computer, initiate Doctor's Family Program Beta-Rho and transfer the EMH to holodeck two. Emh: Hello, I'm Emh: Home. Charlene: There you are. I thought you'd never get here. Emh: It was a busy day. I was quite challenged by the task of preparing a DNA probe to test Ensign Parson's glial cells. It seems he has a microbial infection. Rather unusual. Charlene: Tell me about it when I get home. I'm late already. Emh: Late? Charlene: It's Wednesday, remember? I'm speaking at the Bolian embassy. Emh: Ah. Right. Is dinner ready? Charlene: It's your night to cook. Belle: Mom! l can't find my ion mallet. Charlene: If you cleaned your room you'd have better luck. Emh: What is that noise? Charlene: I've had to listen to it all day. Maybe you can do something about it. Belle: Oh Daddy, you've got to help me. I'll be late for practice. Coach Morgan'll be furious if I'm late again. Emh: If you put your mallet in your closet when you were done with it, you'd know where it was. Belle: I know that, Daddy. Oh, tell Jeffrey to turn that off. It makes my eyes hurt! Emh: Mine too. Jeffrey? Jeffrey? Jeffrey: What? Emh: What is that music? Jeffrey: Klingon. Emh: Well, turn it down. You can't do your homework with that noise. Belle: Daddy, I can't find your mallet! Emh: I know that, Belle. Belle: They're going to send me down to the second team! Emh: Well, perhaps that will teach you a lesson. Belle: You don't understand anything! Emh: Belle, you have to realize Larg: Where's Jeffery? Emh: Who are you? Larg: Friends. Emh: Do you have names? Larg: Larg. K'Kath: K'kath. Emh: Well, Larg and K'kath, you'll have to come back later. Jeffrey's doing his homework. Larg: He invited us. Belle: Daddy! I need my iron mallet! Emh: I! Just a minute. I'm sorry, but Jeffrey can't see friends until he has finished his homework. Jeffrey: Dad, I asked them to come. Belle: Daddy! Emh: Jeffery, this is unacceptable. Jeffrey: It'll only take a minute. We have some business we have to do. Emh: Business? Jeffrey: HIquoS, pos'tach. Larg: NuqneH. Belle: Where's my mallet? I need it now! Emh: Young man! Belle: You're mean! I want my mommy here! She'd help me find my mallet! I want mommy! I want mommy! I want mommy! I want mommy! Neelix: Nothing striking your fancy, Lieutenant? Paris: Isn't this the fourth day in a row we've had the same casserole? Neelix: Pleeka rinds and grub meal. Very tasty, if I do say so myself. Paris: Well, you did a great job with it, no question. It's just be nice to have a little variety. Neelix: Well you're perfectly free to use the replicators. Paris: Ah. I'm out of rations. Neelix: Then, enjoy the casserole. Paris: A beautiful woman should never have to eat alone. What are you reading? Torres: It's nothing important. Paris: Women Warriors at the River of Blood? Torres: It's just escapist reading. Paris: Rork turned his fierce eye upon her, and B'Neah felt her heart begin to quicken, even as her hand went to her dagger. She had intended to plunge it into his throat, but something about him made her hesitate. B'Elanna, is this a Klingon Romance novel? Torres: Klingons do have what you might call a romantic side. It's a bit more vigorous than most. Paris: I think I'll read it. Maybe it'll give me some ideas how to make your heart quicken. Torres: It's not a technical manual, Tom. Paris: Well, that depends what you mean by technical. Torres: To an engineer, that means specializing in particular systems. Paris: I think that definition works. Torres: But I can't promise I won't put a dagger in your throat. Have you heard about the Doctor's new family? Paris: How's it going? Torres: I think he was a little overwhelmed at first, but I have to give him credit. He's sticking with it. Paris: It's hard to imagine the Doctor with children. Torres: What? Janeway: Senior staff to the bridge immediately. Janeway: Tom. I want to send a probe into that anomaly. Can you hold position close enough for us to get accurate telemetry? Paris: I can try. Chakotay: Be ready to move away quickly if it starts moving towards us. Paris: Sorry about that. Just trying to find a way to ride the graviton waves it's throwing off. There, that's a little better. We're in as good a position as we're going to be. Janeway: Tuvok? Tuvok: The probe has been launched. Paris: Actually, this is kind of fun. Torres: Speak for yourself. Kim: We're starting to receive telemetry. Captain, this is one weird disturbance. I'm reading a temperature gradient of nine million Kelvin's, massive discharges of plasmatic energy, and there's a perfectly calm eye at the center. Tuvok: Apparently some of the matter inside it is being exchanged between space and subspace. Chakotay: What about the plasma? Is there anyway we can transfer some of it to Voyager? Torres: I don't see how. We can't transport with this kind of turbulence. Janeway: Maybe we can try a Paris: We lost it. Chakotay: Where's the probe? Kim: It's disappeared. It's still transmitting, but there's a lot of interference. Torres: I'm detecting some kind of unstable interfold layer, not in space or subspace. It could be where the eddies originate, and where the probe is now. Chakotay: We've got another particle wake. Since we can't get plasma directly from the eddies, maybe we can collect some from their wakes. Tuvok: The Bussard collectors could be modified to gather plasma particles. Torres: We could do that, but Voyager's energy emissions are so high they'd corrupt the particles. I'm not sure the plasma would be much use to us. Paris: What if I took a shuttle out? The energy emissions would be a lot lower. Janeway: That sounds like it's worth a try. Torres: You'd be exposing yourself to radiation poisoning. Janeway: Check with the Doctor. Maybe he can give you some kind of protection. Paris: Yes, ma'am. I'll head to the shuttlebay as soon as I'm done. Emh: I've given you a combination of hyronalin and lectrazine. That should give you temporary protection, but I can't guarantee it's duration. Paris: That's all right, Doc. I don't think I'll be out there too long. Emh: If I know you, you'll push it to the limit. You enjoy flirting with danger. Paris: You know me too well. Emh: You were undoubtedly one of those children who had to climb the highest tree, scale the tallest cliff. Paris: That was me. Emh: I can only imagine what you must have put your parents through. Paris: How's the family, Doc? I hear they're a real handful. Emh: Indeed. However, I have analyzed the situation and come up with a solution. There should be no more problems. Paris: You make it sound like you're treating a sick patient. I'm not sure you can diagnose and cure a family. Emh: We'll see. You're in fine physical shape, Lieutenant. You may go ahead and engage in this reckless activity. Paris: Thanks, Doc. Emh: Where's Jeffrey? Charlene: He's coming. Emh: I asked everyone to be here at sixteen hundred hours precisely. Belle: Jeffrey was asleep. Emh: Asleep? In the middle of the afternoon? Emh: Is this true? Were you asleep? Charlene: Are you sick? Jeffrey: I had a late night. Emh: That's one of the matters I want to discuss. Thank you all for coming. I thought it would be a good idea if we had a family meeting. In fact, I'd like to do this on a regular basis. Jeffrey: That's something to look forward to. Emh: If you have something to say, Jeffrey, say it so everyone can hear. Jeffrey: Nothing. Emh: I've been feeling that this family is beginning to spin out of control. As husband and father I believe it is my duty to set some parameters. It's part of good parenting. Belle: What are parameters? Emh: Limits, boundaries. To that end, I have drawn up a revised family schedule and a list of rules and regulations. I'd like you all to study them carefully. Charlene: You've rearranged my lecture nights. Emh: I had to do that in order to make everything work. Everybody has had to make some sacrifices. Belle: Daddy! You changed Pareses Squares from Monday, Wednesday, Friday to Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. That puts me on the second team. I'm good enough to be on the first team. Emh: You shouldn't be on the first team. You're not old enough. As I said, Belle, we must all make sacrifices. Jeffrey: What sacrifices did you make? Emh: I will make dinner on the nights your mother lectures. Belle: You do that anyway. That's not a sacrifice. Jeffrey: What's this about no Klingon friends? Emh: Exactly that. They're a bad influence on you. They're prone to violence, they keep you out till all hours. Why don't you find some nice Vulcan friends? Jeffrey: You can't just decide who my friends will be. Charlene: Hold on. Kenneth, that may be a bit unreasonable. Emh: Charlene? You know very well how important it is to keep a united front. I expect you to support me in these decisions. Charlene: Well, if that's what you expect then maybe you should have asked my opinion before you started unilaterally deciding things. I'm not one of the children, after all. I believe I should have some say in just what rules and regulations are established. And I think it's unfair for you to tell Jeffrey what friends he can and cannot have. Jeffrey: Right. This whole meeting is a Vulky idea, and you can have it without me. Emh: Jeffrey, you are not excused! Charlene: You've upset him. Let him go. I don't want to argue this in front of the children. We'll discuss it later. Belle: You really made a mess of things, didn't you, Daddy? Emh: Apparently so. Although I fail to understand their reaction. I'm just trying to help the family function better. Belle: How does it make the family function better if I go to Pareses Squares Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday? Emh: Belle, you've been playing with children two and three years older than you. That's much too dangerous. Belle: But that's what's fun about it. Emh: You're not old enough to realize how hazardous that game can be. It's up to me to keep you safe. I'm just trying to be a good father. Belle: If it'll help, Daddy, I'll be on the second team. Emh: Thank you, Belle. That's very grown up of you. Belle: And I think you're a very good father. Emh: Why, thank you. Belle: I love you, Daddy, even if you did make a mess of things. Janeway: Voyager to Shuttlecraft Cochrane. Do you read? Paris: Loud and clear, Captain. I'm about three thousand kilometers from the eddy. As soon as it dissipates Paris: I'll head for the particle wake. Janeway: If this one follows the pattern of the others, it should begin to collapse within a few seconds. Paris: That's good. Paris: I'm beginning to wish I hadn't had that second helping of French toast Paris: This morning. Kim: Captain, the eddy is starting to dissipate. Janeway: Stand by, Tom. Paris: I'm ready. Paris: I'm in position, Captain. Activating the Bussard collectors. It's working. Paris: This may save us from Neelix's pleeka rind casserole after all. Janeway: We'll all thank you for that. Kim: Captain, subspace disruption. Janeway: Is another eddy forming? Kim: It looks that way. Janeway: Tom, get out of there. Janeway: Now. Paris: I'm going. Janeway: Harry, can you beam him out? Kim: Transporters are offline. Torres: I'm working on them. Janeway: Tom, are you there? Say again. Paris: It's pulling me in! I don't have enough power! Janeway: Where are the transporters? Torres: I can't access them. Kim: The shuttle's being drawn inside the eddy. Janeway: Janeway to Paris, do you read me? Tuvok: Captain, the astral eddy is beginning to dissipate. Janeway: Harry, when the probe disappeared it kept transmitting. What about Tom's shuttle? Kim: Getting a lot of interference. Can't tell if it's a transmission or not. Janeway: See if you can clean it up. Kim: I've adjusted the encoding filter. Try it now. Janeway: Voyager to Tom Paris. Can you hear us? Respond. Calibrate to a theta band frequency. Maybe that'll help. Paris: I can't hear you, Captain. There's a lot of plasma interference. I can't clean it up. Janeway: Say again, Tom. You're breaking up. Adjust your transceiver lock and try again. Paris: I can hear you. Is that better? Janeway: Yes, a little. Where are you? Paris: Captain, I wish I could tell you. Kes: Doctor? Can I help you with something? Emh: Oh, no, no. Perhaps. I've been trying to do an immunogenicity analysis on Ensign Parson's cell culture, and I can't seem to get the measurements right. Kes: I'd be happy to give it a try. Emh: Thank you, I'd be grateful. Emh: Actually I've been having a few problems at home. I can't seem to stop thinking about them. Kes: Well, there's nothing important going on here. Why don't you take the afternoon off and spend some time with your family. Emh: I'm not sure they'd appreciate it. Kes: Doctor, you can't just ignore them. Emh: Computer, initiate Doctor's Family Program Beta-Rho and transfer the EMH to Holodeck two. Larg: Then everything is done exactly Jeffrey: Dad. What are you doing here? Emh: I live here, Jeffrey, in case you've forgotten. Jeffrey: I mean, you're home early. Emh: Am I interrupting something? Jeffrey: No, no, just talking with my friends. Emh: I'd like to get to know your friends. Larg, K'kath, please sit down. What is that? Larg: What? Emh: You're holding something. Larg: This? Emh: Yes. What is it? Jeffrey: It's a knife. What does it look like? Emh: Why do you boys have a knife? Larg: A d'k tahg knife is an important part of our culture. Every Klingon is given one at preparation for his Rite of Ascension. Emh: Hmm. Emh: I happen to know something about Klingon rituals, and I believe this is actually a dagger of kut'luch. Isn't it? Well? Larg: Yes. Emh: This dagger is used in a ritual of violence. A first blood-letting in preparation for becoming a warrior. Who's supposed to use this? Well? Is one of you preparing for the kut'luch ceremony? I'm waiting for an answer. Jeffrey: Dad, you're making something out of nothing. Emh: I don't think so. I'm going to have to ask you boys to leave. Jeffrey: Dad. Emh: And don't bring a weapon into this house again. Larg: I told you. Humans are weak, cowardly. Jeffrey: Call me later. Jeffery: Now look what you've done. You've ruined it! Emh: What exactly have I ruined? Jeffrey: Nothing. Never mind. Emh: You were going to use that knife, weren't you? Did they talk you into some kind of ritual violence? Jeffrey: They didn't talk me into anything. I asked them. It's an honor to get to perform the kut'luch. They don't just let anybody do it. They trusted me, and now you've made me look like a, like a human. Emh: You were going to attack someone, draw blood, just so you could appear daring in the eyes of your friends? Jeffrey: I was doing it to become honorable. Something that you wouldn't understand. Emh: Jeffrey, how can I make you understand that what you are going to do is wrong. Jeffrey: It isn't wrong, it's just the custom of another culture! Who are you to say there's something wrong about it. Emh: I am your father and I expect you to be guided by my ethical standards. Jeffrey: Well I'm not going to be. Your standards are human standards. They're weak and inferior. Klingon ideals are much nobler, and they are the one's I'm going to follow. Emh: If you expect to live in this household you will abide by the rules. Jeffrey: If that's the way you want it, then I won't live here. Emh: Jeffrey, think about this. Jeffrey: Oh, I've thought about it. I'm going to become a warrior, and I can't do that if I'm being led around on leash by some bloodless petaQ. Charlene: Kenneth? Emh: What is it? What's happened? Charlene: It's Belle, there's been an accident. Charlene: How is she? Emh: Doctor Findlay and I operated on her for three hours. We've tried everything. We shut down one hemorrhage and another starts. Charlene: I don't understand. She just hit her head on the corner of the court. How could that have injured her so badly? Emh: She suffered severe cranial trauma. It's compromised her brain stem and motor cortex. No matter how we try to control the vascular injuries, blood clots keep forming. The hemorrhaging is intractable. Charlene: Then what do you do? What's the treatment? Emh: Unfortunately, the brain is still a somewhat mysterious organ. Charlene: What does that mean? What's going to happen to her? Emh: There's nothing more to be done. Nothing medical, anyway. Charlene: But there has to be. Kenneth, you can do something. You have to. You can't just let her. No. No, I won't accept it. I'm going to talk to Doctor Findlay. Emh: Belle. Belle: Daddy? Emh: Yes, I'm here. Belle: Everything's all blurry. What's the matter? Emh: You took a tumble, hit your head. Belle: It doesn't hurt. Emh: No, because we gave you some medicine. Belle: Is that why I can't feel my legs? Emh: Yes. Belle: What's going to happen? When will I be able to see again? Emh: Computer, end program! Kes: Oh, you're back. Emh: Yes. Kes: Did you find the culture I did on Ensign Parson's glial cells? Emh: I did, thank you. Good job. Kes: How's the family? Emh: I suppose they're fine. I've actually finished the program. Kes: Finished? Already? Emh: Well, I got what I needed from the experience. It was thoroughly pleasurable, of course, but to continue would be a waste of time. Kes: I was hoping to visit them again. I really enjoyed our dinner together. Emh: Well, if I ever create a new family, I'll be sure to invite you. Torres: The communications bandwidth is as wide as I can get it. Janeway: Janeway to Paris. How's the transmission now? Paris: Loud and clear, Captain. Paris: I've been analyzing the shuttle's sensor readings, and as nearly as I can figure, I'm in the interfold layer that we talked about Paris: Somewhere between space and subspace. Janeway: That's why we can't find you on any of our scans. Paris: Harry was right. Paris: This looks like the spawning ground for the astral eddies. Paris: There are thousands of baby ones in here. Janeway: That's very interesting, Tom, but it doesn't address the problem of how to get you out of there. Paris: Well, I've been giving that some careful thought, Captain, and it seems to me the only way to get out is the same way that I got in. Janeway: Inside one of the eddies? Paris: Exactly. Paris: I've been watching one that seems about ready to erupt into normal space. Paris: If I can position the shuttle on it's leading edge I should be able to ride it back. Janeway: If I had another idea I'd suggest it, but I don't. It's your call, Tom. Paris: I don't see that there's much choice. So far so good, Captain. I'm almost inside the eye. I think this one is just about big enough to enter normal space. Kim: Here he comes. Paris: Captain? Janeway: Yes, Tom. Paris: I think you should get Voyager away from here. Janeway: What's wrong? Paris: This one's turning out Paris: To be a whopper. The biggest one we've seen by far. I don't think you should put the ship in danger. Janeway: I'm not leaving, Tom. We've got to stay in close if we're going to beam you out. Tuvok: The eddy is moving towards us at a velocity of three hundred kilometers per second. Janeway: Chakotay, take the conn. Keep us ahead of it, but stay within transporter range. Chakotay: Right. Paris: I'm going to try to get out of this. Janeway: Harry, can you get a lock on him? Kim: Not yet. Everything's too unstable. Janeway: Tom, how much longer before you clear the eddy? Paris: It'd better be soon. The hull is beginning to buckle. Torres: I've got the shuttle on sensors. The hull is breaching. Janeway: Harry, can you get a lock on him yet? Kim: I'm trying. Hang on. Got it! The shuttle's aboard, Captain. One life sign. Torres: He's injured. Janeway: Beam him to Sickbay. Chakotay, move us away. Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. Emh: Your hard head has protected you again, Lieutenant. It was only a mild concussion. Paris: It was worth it, though. That was one wild ride. Emh: I'm sure it was. And it's a wonder you're not dead. People like you who court danger should be thrown into the brig. Paris: Doc. Emh: You never think of the consequences of your actions, the effect they might have on others. Oh, no, live for the moment, take risks you shouldn't. I'm sorry. Paris: Are you all right? Emh: I. It's my family. My daughter Belle had an accident. She's a child who tends to take risks. She's going to die. Paris: I'm so sorry. Emh: I'll be all right. I shut down the program. I'm not going back. Paris: Maybe you should think about that, Doc. Emh: I couldn't begin to face it. It was too difficult. Paris: I guess all of us would avoid that kind of pain if we could, but most people don't have that choice. Emh: Well, fortunately, I do. Paris: Is it so fortunate? You created that program so you could experience what it's like to have a family. The good times and the bad. You can't have one without the other. Emh: I fail to see why not. Paris: Well, think about what's happened to us here on Voyager. Everyone left people behind, and everyone suffered a loss, but look how it's brought us all closer together. We found support here, and friendship, and we've become a family in part because of the pain we shared. If you turn your back on this program, you'll always be stuck at this point. You'll never have the chance to say goodbye to your daughter, or to be there for your wife and son when they need you. And you'll be cheating yourself of the chance to have their love and support. In the long run, you'll miss the whole point of what it means to have a family. Emh: Computer, continue Doctor's Family Program Beta-Rho, from the last point of deactivation. Belle: Daddy, what's going to happen to me? When will I be able to see again? Emh: I'm not sure. You're a very sick girl. Belle: Am I going to die? Emh: You, you're too sick to get better. Belle: So I'm going to die? Emh: Yes. Belle: If you'll stay with me, I won't be afraid. Emh: I'll stay right here, I promise. Jeffrey: Dad. Jeffery: Here you go, shorty. It's your blanket. Charlene: We're here, Belle. We're all here. Belle: It's getting darker. I'm sleepy. Emh: It's all right. Go to sleep. We're all right here.

Veer: Is there a genetic match? Gegen: Yes. Let's gather the find and bring it back to the ship. Veer: Could this be it? The proof? Gegen: If it is, we've just made the most important discover in Voth history. Veer: Opposable thumb. Multiple articulation of the digits, as expected from a technologically advanced species. Gegen: His cranial capacity is twenty two percent smaller than ours, and he appears to be lacking a dilitus lobe. Veer: He had no sense of smell? Gegen: If he did, it was rudimentary. I doubt this fellow would have enjoyed the sulfur lagoons of Hokath. His cartilaginous microstructure is extremely porous. Most likely warm-blooded. I believe this was a non-saurian. Veer: Non-saurian? Doesn't that weaken our case? Gegen: No. No, the genetic markers we share with this being are undeniable. We are related, however distantly. The question we must answer is, what was our endotherm doing in this part of space? Veer: Was he on an expedition? Did he have a ship? Crewmates? Gegen: This material. It's composed of synthetic polymers, and the molecular structure suggests replication technology. And consider the garment itself. Is this marking purely decorative, or does it have a symbolic function. Could it indicate status? Veer: Possibly a military uniform. Gegen: At the very least, we can assume he was part of a social infrastructure. That would imply a ship. Did your eyes see the planet of our origin, the true home of our race? Was it beautiful? Was it covered by oceans, by sand? Were there nine moons above your head? Were there none? He appears to be at a loss for words. His ship and the people on it hold the key to where we came from. We've got to find it. Veer: I'll contact our supporters at the Circle of Archeology. They might be able to spare a research vessel, perhaps a few assistants. Gegen: This isn't a field trip, Veer! We need to mount a sector wide expedition, and that means a fleet of ships. We have to go directly to the Ministry of Elders. Veer: Professor, don't you think that's a little precipitous? Gegen: Bone decalcification indicates he died more than a year old. His ship could be thousands of light years away by now! Time is running out. You must remember, Veer, from the moment you were initiated into my Circle, you made a commitment to the pursuit of scientific truth. Before this, all we had was a theory. Now we have proof. We simply have to get them to open their eyes and see it. We're going to set a course for the City Ship, present our friend here, and let him do the talking. Gegen: For millions of years our people have believed that we were the first intelligent beings to evolve in this region of space. The first race. This assumption underlies everything that we hold dear. But that belief has been questioned in recent years, not only by the Circles of Science and Philosophy, but by common people as well. Lying before you is proof of the Distant Origin theory. These remains demonstrate beyond doubt that we arose elsewhere in this galaxy, that we evolved on a far away planet, and traveled to this space millions of years ago, our true history lost. Odala: A pile of bones. Impressive. Gegen: This pile of bones belonged to a being who died approximately one a year ago, from a species found nowhere in known space, and yet we share forty seven genetic markers with this being. We are undoubtedly related to him, and I intend to prove to you that we evolved on the very same planet he did. Odala: And that planet is the long lost world of the Distant Origin theory? Gegen: Yes, that's exactly right. And to find that planet, our planet, we must find a living member of his kind. I've created a computer extrapolation. We're looking for a race of bipedal endotherms, spacefaring but technologically limited. Based on their cranial capacity I'd say they're no more advanced than most endotherms. Haluk: Endotherms. You're proposing we're related to a mammalian species? Gegen: Yes. Which is why I ask your permission to launch an expedition. Odala: Let's talk about your discovery. I enjoyed the colorful tale of how you found these remains. It says here that you paid a substantial sum for their location. Gegen: I was dealing with traders. They knew the location of the cave. I had no choice. Odala: Have you considered you were the victim of a hoax? Gegen: I have analyzed every micron of the skeleton. I assure you it's authentic. Odala: Professor Gegen, have you considered the wider implication of your theory? Gegen: What do you mean? Odala: By challenging Doctrine, you're suggesting that everything we believe about ourselves, our history, our ancient and rightful claim over this region of space, the authority of this Ministry itself, is a lie. Gegen: That's not what I'm saying at all. However, in the light of my discovery, some of our beliefs may have to be re-evaluated. Odala: Re-evaluated. We will consider your request for an expedition. Veer: Well done, Professor. Gegen: Hardly. I failed to anticipate the level of ignorance I would be facing. Veer: What do we do now? Gegen: I want you to arrange a meeting with the Circle of Exobiology. We have supporters there. Frola: Father, I'm concerned. Gegen: Unnecessarily. Frola: I don't think they were very receptive. Gegen: They don't need to be. The evidence will speak for itself. And word of my discovery is already traveling. If enough people confront the Ministry Frola: Mathematics was never your strong point, Father. You might be overestimating your support. Gegen: You don't believe me either, do you. Frola: I, I want to. Our ancestors came from somewhere else. We don't even belong here? It all just seems so incredible. Gegen: I'm disappointed in you. Frola: Father, please, let this go. You're chasing a fantasy and you're wasting your genius. I'm worried about what's going to happen to you if you don't stop. Gegen: What's going to happen to you if I do stop? To your children, to all of Voth. You'll continue to live in ignorance, progress held back by ancient myth. The truth must be known. Veer: We've got to leave. Now. Gegen: What's happened? Veer: I met with the Circle of Exobiology. They're concerned. There have been rumors. Gegen: About what? Veer: The Ministry has seized your research and they're planning to detain you. Gegen: On what charge? Veer: Heresy against Doctrine. Gegen: I'll fight it! Veer: It's too late. Your supporters are frightened. No one will back you. Gegen: I'll have to do this on my own, then. Go back to your family. As long as you're with me, you're at risk. Veer: I'm not leaving you, Professor. Gegen: I've run an analysis on the uniform marking. I found what appears to be a microscopic identification code. The translation matrix indicates it's most likely a proper name. Veer: A name? Gegen: Yes. I believe it's the name of the endotherm's vessel. We're looking for something called Voyager. Gegen: Across the vastness of space to find one ship among sea of stars is no simple matter, and for many weeks we found nothing. And then fortune glanced in our direction. A trader from a space station bordering the Nekrit Expanse informed us of a curious group of explorers, claiming to be from the other side of the galaxy. The merchants there spoke of a vessel called Voyager. They were able to help us clarify certain details. With this new information, we began to acquire other items and new evidence. Our most significant find, a canister of warp plasma from Voyager's engines. So now we are scanning space for a matching signature. Little is known about these explorers, but they call themselves human. Gegen: and they claim to be traveling home to a distant planet. My thoughts are with you, Frola, as are those of my colleague, Veer. Ah, I've just sent a transmission to my daughter. Veer: Was that wise? Gegen: I encrypted the carrier signal. There's no way to trace it. Veer: I hope you gave her my regards. Gegen: Of course I did. I've seen the tint on your scales when she's around. I've let you into my academic circle, but now you wish to enter my family as well. Veer: No, Professor, I would never presume. Gegen: You should know your place. Traditionally, my family mate with the family of Towt. Gegen: But traditions are meant to be broken. Veer: It's the plasma signature. Scanners have found a match. A ship ninety light years away. There are one hundred forty eight lifeforms aboard, traveling at warp six point two. Gegen: I'm engaging spatial displacement It's unlikely their primitive sensors will be able to detect us once we're out of phase. Take us out of transwarp, we don't want to pass them. Veer: Done. I have an image. What do we say to them? Gegen: Nothing. Not at the moment. We stand to learn more by observing. Once we've collected the information we need, and if they appear non-violent, we'll make contact. Veer: Entering portation range. Gegen: We'll be looking for their data storage devices, analyzing their behavior, anything that can tell us who and what these people are. Eyes open, Veer. Gegen: Interphase is stable. Veer: Curious. I didn't expect the smell. Gegen: Well, they are mammals, after all. Ah, over here. This appears to be a computer access terminal. Simple binary system. I've downloaded their database. Paris: I'll bet you it's an anodyne relay. Torres: No way. A plasma conduit. Paris: Relay. I'm telling you. I checked the conduit network. Torres: My point exactly. You're not an engineer. Paris: I'll bet you. Torres: Name it. Gegen: Male and female interacting. Let's observe. Paris: Well? Torres: Well, go ahead and gloat. Paris: The anodyne relays. Who would have guessed? Torres: Just a shot in the dark. Paris: And it hit the bulls-eye. Tonight, you pay up. Holodeck two, Klingon martial arts program, no getting out of it this time. Veer: Courting behavior? Gegen: Exactly. Note how the female through the feigned antagonism encourages the male in his attempt to mate. Veer: There's no sign of vasodilatation in their skin. Gegen: Obviously they never evolved that ability, which would explain their reliance on crude verbal interplay. Paris: I'll see you tonight. BYOB. Torres: What? Paris: Bring your own bat'leth. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: We've completed long range scans. If we maintain our present course we'll enter a region of heavy tetryon radiation within two days. Janeway: What's the alternative? Chakotay: A three month detour. Janeway: Tuvok, enhance the shields. Lieutenant, hold our course. Harry, continue your long range scans. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Let's access everything known about tetryon radiation. I want to take every precaution. Gegen: Well, Veer, what can you observe about their social structure? Veer: It's obviously hierarchical, with clear differences in status and rank. The males appear to be subordinate to that female. Perhaps a matriarchy. Gegen: My conclusion exactly. Kim: This is strange. I'm picking up spatial fluctuations. They're coming from the bridge. Chakotay: Source? Kim: Not sure, but they're highly localized, with modulating phase variance. Looks like some kind of cloaking technology. Janeway: All stop. Intruder alert. Gegen: We've exceeded our welcome. Let's get back to the ship. Veer: What's wrong? Gegen: Some sort of forcefield. Tuvok: I've erected a level ten containment field around the bridge, Captain. Kim: Scanning on all subspace frequencies. I'm picking up two lifeforms. Chakotay: Localize them. Kim: Mission Ops one. Veer: Professor? Gegen: The forcefield is disrupting our interphase. I'm compensating. I can at least get us off this deck. Janeway: Show yourselves. Kim: Captain, the lifeforms left the bridge. They're now on deck two, section thirteen. Mess hall. Chakotay: Seal off the deck. Tuvok: Deck two sealed. Security team to the mess hall. Neelix: Intruders? I don't see any intruders? Gegen: It would appear we've underestimated our endotherms. Veer: We should make contact. Explain ourselves. Gegen: It may come to that. Kim: Captain, I've analyzed the spatial phase variance. Janeway: Bridge to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Janeway: Adjust hand phasers to a dispersion frequency of one point eight five gigahertz. That should disrupt their cloaking technology. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Gegen: I've matched the frequency of their shields. I think we can get off this Tuvok: Spatial fluctuations. There. Chakotay: Neelix, get down! Emh: Minor phaser burns to the upper thoracic region. Nothing serious. But I want to check for cellular damage. Kes: I'll run a microcellular scan. Emh: Begin a DNA analysis as well, I'd like to know more about his molecular physiology. Janeway: A belated welcome aboard. I'm Captain Janeway. Now, who are you and what have you done with my First Officer? You must have a ship. Is it cloaked? I'm not going to hurt you, we just want to know why you Emh: His heart rate and body temperature have dropped. His metabolism is almost completely shut down. Tuvok: Is he dying? Emh: I don't think so. His autonomic nervous system is still fully functional. He's gone into some sort of protective hibernation. Janeway: Treat his injuries, then see if you can revive him. Examine his technology. I want to know what we're up against. Gegen: Don't be alarmed. You're on my research vessel. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Gegen: Your instinct is to flee, but I must warn you, there's a confinement field around the table. Just stay calm and you won't hurt yourself. Chakotay: What do you want from me? Why did you invade our ship? Gegen: It wasn't an invasion. We were on a field expedition to learn more about your species. We meant no harm. I'm a molecular paleontologist. Chakotay: Do you always harpoon the local wildlife? Gegen: An unfortunate mistake. Veer is inexperienced and he panicked. Your people were firing at us. I couldn't get to him. Chakotay: So you took me instead. Gegen: Yes. A living specimen of human. I've been studying your computer database and I have many questions. The planet of your origin, correct? Chakotay: That's right. Earth. Gegen: Are there any of my kind there? Any of my species? Chakotay: Who are you? Gegen: Please, answer the question. Chakotay: Look, drop the forcefield and tell me what's going on. Then maybe we can make first contact in a civilized way. For what it's worth I'm a scientist, too. Maybe I can help you find whatever it is you're looking for. I won't bite. Thanks. My name's Chakotay. Gegen: Gegen. Chakotay: All right, Gegen, let's talk about Earth. Janeway: Your call sounded urgent. Emh: With good reason. I've analyzed the alien's DNA. There are forty seven genetic markers identical to those found in human DNA. Janeway: That's more than coincidence. Emh: I thought so too. I ran a search for those markers in Earth's paleo-ontological database. Take a look at this. Janeway: Incredible! Emh: That's one way of putting it. Janeway: It says here that those markers appeared in hundred earth species, dating back tens of millions of. Their species evolved on Earth? Emh: Apparently so. And from the look of it, you and he are distant cousins. Janeway: I wonder how distant? Transfer yourself to Holodeck two. I think it's time we took a stroll through primeval history. Emh: I've entered the genetic markers into the holo-database. Janeway: Let's see if we can find our closet relative. Computer, analyze the genetic markers and search Earth's fossil record. Identify any ancestors common to both humans and the alien in sickbay. Computer: Life form found. (A small quadruped._ Janeway: Display. Computer: Genus Eryops. Devonian Era. Emh: Eryops. This creature lived over four hundred million years ago and is thought to be the last common ancestor of cold blooded and warm blooded organisms. Janeway: Yes, yes. Let's take the next step in out little stroll. Computer, what's the most highly evolved cold-blooded organism to develop from the Eryops? Computer: Genus Hadrosaur. Cretaceous Era. Janeway: Display the life form. Janeway: As I recall, the Hadrosaur vanished when a mass extinction occurred at the end of the Cretaceous period. What if the Hadrosaur didn't die off? What if some of them survived that extinction and continued to evolve? Emh: I could well imagine this creature giving rise to a more complex life form. Certainly the building blocks are there. Bipedal, grasping hands. Janeway: Computer, run a genome projection algorithm. If the Hadrosaur had continued to evolve over the last sixty five million years, extrapolate the most probable appearance. Computer: Extrapolation complete. Janeway: Display life form. Emh: That creature napping in Sickbay is a dinosaur. Janeway: The question is, why have we never seen him in the Natural History museums? Chakotay: If a saurian species had developed a language and technology, you'd think they would have left something behind. But, what if it evolved on am isolated continent? Gegen: A land mass that was destroyed. Chakotay: Earth has been devastated by countless natural disasters over the course of it's history. Asteroids, volcanoes, earthquakes. All evidence of your race could be at the bottom of the ocean or under kilometers of rock. Gegen: Obviously not all of my people became extinct. Some of them must have developed spacefaring technology and left the planet. Chakotay: And ended up here, in the Delta Quadrant. Gegen: Our true origin on Earth lost over the eons, replaced by Doctrine, the myth that we were the First Race. Now you understand why I had to find your ship. Chakotay: Next time you might try a simple hello first. Gegen: Eyes open. I'm afraid I let my own prejudice get in the way. I was wary of you. We have very poor relations with non-saurian races. Mammals in particular are considered to be a lower life form, but I must admit I've never gotten to know one before. Chakotay: I hope I've made a good impression. Gegen: In fact, you have. Chakotay: Well I suggest we get back to Voyager. Your friend Veer is probably sick of the mammalian food by now. Gegen: I can't do that. Chakotay: Why not? Gegen: I've already made arrangements to meet my supporters on the Fourth Colony. They're waiting for us. Chakotay: Tell them we'll be late. Gegen: You don't understand what I'm up against. I'm being charged with heresy against Doctrine. You're my only evidence. If enough people see living proof of my theory, even the Ministry will be forced to acknowledge the truth. I can't let you go now. Not until it's over. I'm sorry. Paris: This should do the trick. Tuvok: An apple. Paris: You said you wanted an organic test subject. Tuvok: I was referring to a bio-cylinder. But the fruit will suffice. Paris: Let's give it a try. Tuvok: Fascinating. This alien device is apparently pushing the apple slightly out of phase with our space-time continuum. Paris: A personal cloaking device. Tuvok: More advanced than any cloak I have ever seen. Janeway: Mister Kim. Kim: I'm reading a massive spatial displacement dead ahead. Janeway: Red alert. Kim: We're being probed. Janeway: Shields at maximum. Hail them. Kim: No response. They're locking onto the ship with an energy beam. It's cutting right through our shields. It's some sort of transporter. Janeway: Report. Kim: We've been beamed inside the alien vessel. Janeway: We're losing power. Switch to auxiliary. Kim: I'm locked out of command control. All systems are shutting down. Janeway: Arm yourselves. Tuvok: Tuvok to Bridge. Captain Janeway, respond. Paris: Turbolifts are offline. Let's get to a Jefferies tube. Paris: Tuvok, I hope that's your stomach. Tuvok: My tricorder's not working. There appears to be a dampening field Paris: Tuvok? Tuvok: Go! Paris: I'm not going to leave you. Tuvok: That's an order, Lieutenant. Kim: I can't get a single relay back online. Somehow they've locked us out of all primary systems. Janeway: Let's get down to main Engineering. We can access the manual override from there, and Haluk: Your vessel is under our control. Gegen: It's an automated message from the Ministry of Elders. It says that they've captured the Voyager. That if I don't return to the City Ship and face my accusers they'll destroy my evidence, kill everyone on board. Chakotay: What are you going to do? Gegen: I won't be responsible for those deaths. But if I go back now without my support, they'll diskredit my theory, suppress the truth. Chakotay: That might be difficult with the evidence standing right beside you. They've taken my ship. It sounds to me like we're all on trial here. Gegen: I've just laid in a course for the City Ship. Haluk: We are looking for two of our own kind. One was found in your medical bay. Where is the other? Janeway: I don't know. He took my First Officer and disappeared. Haluk: Our scans indicate that your ship is alone. Where do you come from? Janeway: If you want my co-operation, I suggest you release my vessel. Haluk: You are non-indigenous beings. You have no rights under Doctrine. Where do you come from? Janeway: Apparently, we're from the same place you are. Earth. Haluk: I see that Gegen has begun spreading his lies. Paris: Paris to Janeway. Paris: Captain, if you can hear me, I've got weapons control, and I've armed a full spread of torpedoes. Haluk: Who's that? Janeway: My helmsman. Sounds like he's about to blast a hole in the side of your ship. Lieutenant Paris, fire. You might want to hold onto something. Computer: Launch protocols have been disrupted. Paris: Switch to auxiliary protocols. Computer: Unable to comply. Weapons systems are offline. Paris: How? Computer: Method unknown. Paris: Paris to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Paris: Captain, someone on the alien vessel detected my launch sequence. I don't know how they did it, but I'm completely locked out. Janeway: Nice try, Tom. Haluk: Haluk to Command. Voyager's Captain is proving uncooperative. I request an interrogation surgeon to assist with Voth: That won't be necessary. Gegen is in custody. Remain in the Voyager and wait for further instructions. Odala: Professor Forra Gegen, you are accused of heresy against Doctrine. Do you wish to retract your claims regarding the Distant Origin theory? Gegen: I do not. Odala: Then we will proceed. Three months ago you circulated a study criticizing what you call resistance to truth, once again disputing Doctrine. Gegen: I apologize if I wrote anything that offended the Elders, but I never even mentioned the word Doctrine. Odala: You didn't have to. Your meaning was clear. For nearly a decade, you've used the Distant Origin theory to attack and undermine the guiding principles of our society. Gegen: Not so. I've been pursuing a scientific investigation. I'm not concerned at all with Doctrine. Odala: My point exactly. Your disregard for the effects of your casual theorizing is why you stand accused. You are reckless and irresponsible, and you are a destructive influence to our society. But it is not too late for you to redress the damage you have done. Disavow your claims, acknowledge your mistakes and this Ministry will show you leniency. Gegen: I'm sorry. I can't deny the evidence. The proof is standing right beside me. Odala: Proof. Really. Our scientists have analyzed your data. Their conclusion? These creatures are not related to us at all. The genetic similarities are a result of random convergence, nothing more. Chakotay: If I may speak? Voyager's database contains a complete fossil record of my planet. Your genetic markers appear not only in humans but in hundreds of species throughout our history. That's a lot of random convergence. If you'd take a look at the data Odala: We have. The data is not in question. Your interpretation is. Professor Gegen, I don't want to be here any more than you do, and frankly I would prefer not to be responsible for disgracing one of our most venerable scientists. All I ask is that you admit the possibility that your interpretation is wrong. Will you at least do that? Gegen: I will admit that there are still questions. The picture is incomplete. But I am certain of this. We are from the planet that these humans call Earth. Odala: There are those who disagree. Odala: Tova Veer, you are an accomplished young scientist. You were initiated into the Circle of Archeology with the highest of honors. Veer: Yes, Minister. Odala: And you have been Professor Gegen's assistant for six years. Veer: I have had that privilege. Odala: You are familiar, intimately involved with all of your mentor's research regarding the so-called Distant Origin theory? Veer: That is correct. Odala: In your expert evaluation, what is the validity of the Professor's analysis. Veer: It is flawed, Minister. Gegen: Veer! Odala: You're saying you and Gegen were mistaken? Veer: Yes. I've reviewed all of his research, including data from the Voyager's computer. I've checked and rechecked the procedures. I now believe that we were overzealous. We saw an evolutionary connection when in fact there was none. Odala: Enthusiasm and passion are never wrong, Veer. Your only mistake was allowing them to distort your judgment. You may go. Professor Gegen, I will ask you again. Could you be mistaken? Gegen: What did you say to him. That you'd take away his honors if he didn't cooperate? That you'd send him to a detention colony? Odala: Could you be mistaken! Gegen: Did you threaten his family? Odala: Respond to the question! Gegen: No! Why should I? You've already made up your mind! This inquiry isn't about evidence and proof, it's about keeping you in that chair! Chakotay: Gegen! Gegen: It's about maintaining a myth that keeps the Ministry in power. You'd do anything to silence me. Well, it won't work. I'll never retract my claims. I'd rather go to prison than help you perpetuate ignorance. Odala: Your true scales are finally showing. Gegen: You're right, Minister. I was mistaken. I thought you might actually care about the truth, even if it called into question some of our deepest beliefs. Odala: We are not immigrants! I will not deny twenty million years of history and Doctrine just because one insignificant Saurian has a theory. One last time. Could you be mistaken? Chakotay: It's you who are mistaken, Minister. Odala: What? Chakotay: You accuse Gegen of having his objectivity clouded by wishful thinking, but aren't you guilty of the same charge? Odala: I am not on trial here. Chakotay: I understand, but in a way your beliefs are. How you think about yourselves, your place in the universe, that is on trial. And this isn't the first time. Odala: What do you mean? Chakotay: I've had the opportunity over the last few days to learn something about your culture, your great accomplishments. Consider the breakthrough into Transwarp, an incredible achievement, and yet, your ancient Doctrine predicted terrible disasters if it were even attempted. That held your race back for millennia, until someone took a chance and challenged that prediction. They succeeded, and your society entered a new chapter of exploration, and your Doctrine was changed accordingly. I know from the history of my own planet that change is difficult. New ideas are often greeted with skepticism, even fear. But sometimes those ideas are accepted, and when they are progress is made. Eyes are opened. Odala: When I open my eyes to this theory, what I see appallls me. I see my race fleeing your wretched planet, a group of pathetic refugees crawling and scratching their way across the galaxy, stumbling into this domain. I see a race with no birthright, no legacy. That is unacceptable. Chakotay: I see something very different, Minister. An ancient race of Saurians, probably the first intelligent life on Earth, surrounded by some of the most terrifying creatures that ever lived. And yet they thrived, developed language and culture and technology. And when the planet was threatened with disaster, they boldly launched themselves into space, crossed what must have seemed like unimaginable distances, facing the unknown every day. But somehow they stayed together, kept going, with the same courage that had served them before, until they reached this quadrant, where they laid the foundation of what has become the great Voth culture. Deny that past, and you deny the struggle and achievements of your ancestors. Deny your origins on Earth, and you deny your true heritage. Odala: Do you retract your claims? Gegen: No. I stand by them. Odala: Very well. It is my judgment that you will suffer the consequences of your obstinacy. Gegen, you are guilty of heresy against Doctrine, and will be placed on a detention colony. For as long as you breathe you will neither teach or engage in research. Your life as a scientist has ended. Gegen: As you wish. Odala: Chakotay of the Voyager starship. You, your captain and her crew will join Professor Gegen. Gegen: Why? You have nothing to gain by imprisoning them. Let them go. Odala: You will spend the remainder of your lives on a detention colony. Your ship will be destroyed. Gegen: Minister. Odala: You will surrender your vessel immediately and inform your crew that this judgment will be Gegen: Stop this, please! Odala: Are you offering me an alternative? Gegen: I have reconsidered, and I retract my claims regarding the Distant Origin theory. My analysis of the data was obviously flawed. I was mistaken. Odala: You are prepared to refute your work publicly before the Circles of Science? Gegen: Yes. Odala: You will then be assigned to another area of research. Surely paleontology has become tiresome to you after so many years. Perhaps metallurgical analysis would be a more rewarding vocation for you. Gegen: Perhaps. Odala: I am not unreasonable. You were drawn into this situation through no fault of your own. You are to be returned to your ship, where you will set course away from our territory. It would be in your best interest if I never saw you again. Gegen: I am not so good at chemistry. My career as a metallurgical scientist is likely to be undistinguished. Chakotay: I'm sorry. Gegen: I was foolish, arrogant, and I lost everything. Chakotay: You were courageous, just as the Voth have always been from the first time they left Earth. Gegen: And you, Chakotay, have been a colleague, a friend. I will not forget you. Chakotay: There's something else I hope you never forget. Gegen: Some day every Voth will see this as home. Chakotay: Some day. Eyes open. Gegen: Eyes open. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Energize.

Paris: Where are you going? You were doing great. You were in perfect position to deliver the death blow. All you had to do was follow through. Come on, let's try it again. Torres: Don't push me, Tom. Paris: I am not pushing you, I'm encouraging you. Torres: To do what? Paris: Try something new. This martial arts program is the best work out I've ever had. No, it's more than that. Working with a bat'leth is an art. You have to use your mind and body, your movements Torres: Look, you may find all of this Klingon stuff really fascinating, but I don't. I'm not going to waste my time trying to disembowel a bunch of holographic monsters. I only came down here because you tricked me into that stupid bet! Paris: Would you watch it? You could take somebody's head off with that thing. Torres: I have tried this, and now I am finished. Got it? Paris: Look, if you don't like the program, that's fine. But why do you always have to get so hostile? Torres: I am not hostile! Dammar: Where am I? Paris: Paris to Bridge. We have an alien visitor on deck six. Dammar: What do you want with me? Why have I been abducted? Torres: We didn't abduct you. You just appeared here. We had nothing to do with it. Dammar: What is this place? Paris: You're on a starship called Voyager. Where were you before? Dammar: My colony on Nyria Three. I was walking home, and then I was here. Paris: What's wrong? Dammar: It's cold here, and too bright. Torres: Let us take you to Sickbay. Our Doctor can run some scans. Maybe we can get some answers. Emh: I've increased the temperature to forty five degrees Celsius, and the light level should be more comfortable for you now. Dammar: Yes, thank you. You're very considerate. I hope you'll excuse my initial suspicion. This experience has been very unnerving. Janeway: I'd feel the same way in your place. Tuvok: Do your people possess technology which could have transported you here? Dammar: Not that I know of. I've heard of other races that have it. Maybe of them brought be here, but I can't imagine why. Emh: Please describe the physical sensation of your experience. Dammar: First I felt light-headed, and then everything around me seemed to bend or ripple. There was a moment of blackness and I felt a curious sensation of insects crawling on my skin. And then I found myself on your ship. Emh: Interesting. I'll run a microcellular scan for residual energy traces. Tuvok: Can you tell us where your colony is located? Dammar: We're on the third planet of the Nyrian system, a red giant star with a large cloud of interstellar dust just beyond the fifth planet. Janeway: Doesn't sound like any system we've encountered. Unfortunately our knowledge of this area of space is limited. I'd like you to look at a star chart to see if you recognize any astronomical markers. Dammar: Of course. Janeway: In the meantime my crew has begun scanning the area for any clues about what happened to you. Emh: Lieutenant, if you don't mind. Tuvok: Where is Kes today? Emh: I don't know. She's late for her duty shift. Computer, locate Kes. Computer: Kes is not on board Voyager. Janeway: When did she leave? Computer: Eleven hundred thirty two hours. Janeway: What time did our alien visitor come on board? Computer: Eleven hundred thirty two hours. Kim: There's nothing to indicate that any other ships have been in this area for weeks, and the nearest inhabited world is over ten light years away. Torres: Whoever or whatever did this had to leave some energy trace. Kim: Internal sensors aren't showing anything unusual in the corridor where the Nyrian appeared, or Kes's last known location. Torres: Then let's concentrate on the time. Run a level one analysis on all sensor readings, internal and external, at the exact moment it happened. Kim: I'll get it started. It may take a while. Torres: You don't think I'm hostile, do you? Kim: I er, wouldn't describe you that way, no. Torres: I know I have a temper, but that doesn't mean I'm always hostile, does it? Kim: No, of course not. Torres: I'm forthright, I speak my mind, but that's very different from being hostile. Kim: Very different. Torres: And if someone described me that way, they'd be way off of the mark, wouldn't they. Kim: Way off. Torres: Then why do you look like you're afraid for your life? Torres: What is this? Kim: Looks like a surge of polaron particles. Torres: Localize the source, I'll try to increase the sensor resolution. Do you have anything yet? Harry? Torres to bridge. Ensign Kim just disappeared. Janeway: And we just got another visitor. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, have you made any progress? Tuvok: Increasing the shield strength has had no apparent effect. However, it Emh: Welcome to Sickbay. Take a number. Chakotay: In the last three hours we've lost twenty two of our people. According to the Nyrians, they've all showed up on their colony as though we're switching places. Paris: I went over our navigational charts with Dammar, but he's completely unfamiliar with this part of space. For all we know, that colony could be thousands of light years away. Chakotay: Any idea what might be causing these transfers? Torres: I'm not sure. Harry and I detected a surge of polaron particles right before he disappeared. They created a spatial distortion field around him but it collapsed as soon as he vanished. Paris: Could it have been some kind of spatial anomaly? Torres: It could have been anything. A naturally occurring phenomenon, like a wormhole of a subspace flow field, or a kind of technology like our transporters. Janeway: All right, get back to your stations and keep looking. Confine the Nyrians to the cargo bays and post security details at every access point. Chakotay: In all fairness, Captain, they haven't been threatening in any way. They seem as puzzled by all this as we are. Janeway: Chakotay, I don't care how they seem. All I care about is that I've had a knot in my stomach since the first Nyrian arrived. Something about this is wrong, I can smell it. Look at us, running around the ship, checking sensors and spinning theories, while the Nyrians slowly replace our crew. Consider this. There has been a consistent interval of nine minutes and twenty seconds between these exchanges. At that rate, our entire crew will be gone in eighteen hours. Tell me that doesn't put a knot in your stomach. You have your orders. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50912.4. It's been twelve hours since these mysterious exchanges began, and we still haven't discovered their cause. I've already lost over half my crew. Chakotay: Cargo Bay two is almost full. We'll have to start converting the shuttle bays. Janeway: Then do it. I want them where we can keep an eye on them. Chakotay: I'll have to reassign more crewmembers to security. Our ranks are getting a little thin. Janeway: Shut down everything but the ship's essential functions. We'll be operating on a skeleton crew before long. Janeway: B'Elanna, you've developed a theory about what's happening? Torres: A Nyrian astrophysicist who arrived about an hour ago told me about some strange graviton fluctuations they detected at their colony. I ran some scans on this end and found the same thing. Janeway: A wormhole? Torres: Possibly a baby one. And if I'm right, one end is opening intermittently inside Voyager. We could have past through it while it was forming and snagged on it somehow. Chakotay: Then how do we get it unsnagged? Torres: Now that I have this new information I'd like to have another talk with Rislan, the Nyrian scientist. Janeway: Is Neelix still helping out with the new arrivals? Chakotay: I think he's in Cargo Bay two now. Janeway: Janeway to Neelix. Neelix: Neelix here, Captain. Janeway: I'd like you to find one of the Nyrians who Neelix: Neelix to Captain Janeway. I lost contact. What did you say? Chakotay: Chakotay to Neelix. The Captain's gone. We need you to find a Nyrian scientist called Rislan and get him to Engineering as soon as you can. Neelix: Right away, Commander. Chakotay: Do what you have to do to get some answers, B'Elanna. Neelix: Excuse me, are you Doctor Rislan? Rislan: It's still too cold in here. Neelix: I'll adjust the environmental controls. Again. But I must ask you Rislan: And the air is too humid. Neelix: I'll take care of it right away, but I must ask you to go to our Engineering room. I believe you're urgently needed. Rislan: I trust it'll be suitably warm and dark there. Neelix: We'll make sure you're comfortable. A security guard will escort you. Security: Right away, sir. Lang: Commander, there's a problem with the internal sensors on deck four. It looks like a circuit relay malfunction. Chakotay: I can't spare anyone for repairs. You'll have to make do. How do you like your first day as Chief of Security, Ensign? Lang: It's everything I dreamed it of, sir. Chakotay: Who says there's no room for advancement on this ship. Lang: Another disappearance. It's Neelix. Chakotay: How many people does that leave us? Lang: Forty. Chakotay: More than one hundred Nyrians. I want access to all systems restricted to authorized voice prints only. Seal off any part of the ship that we're not using and place security forcefields around sensitive areas. Warp core, armory, torpedo bays. And let's hope I'm just being paranoid. Rislan: If you as me, a tetryon scan is a waste of time. A multispectral sweep would be much more useful. Torres: Actually, I didn't ask, and I've already initiated the tetryon scan. Rislan: You're the expert. Torres: Neutrinos, ionized hydrogen, theta band radiation. Rislan: Just what you'd expect to find in a wormhole. Torres: It's what we're not finding that I'm interested in. The scan shows no quantum level fluctuations whatsoever. Rislan: That's not so unusual. Torres: It's more than unusual, it's impossible. I don't think this is a wormhole at all. Rislan: Perhaps it's a subspace flow field then. Torres: I'm going to run a pattern analysis with the original data. No, definitely not a flow field. The spatial harmonics are incompatible. I don't think this is a natural phenomenon. Rislan: Don't move. I won't hurt you unless you force me to. Torres: Your people have been behind this all along. What are you doing? Rislan: Moving you to the head of the line. Janeway: B'Elanna, are you all right? Torres: Captain, the Nyrians are responsible for the exchanges. I think they have some kind of technology. Torres: What do they want with us? Janeway: I don't know. They refuse to answer any questions. Kes: They've given us food, water and medical supplies. Everything but information. Torres: Where's the rest of the crew. Janeway: In other compounds just like this one, scattered throughout the woods. Torres: This doesn't seem like a Nyrian colony. It's not warm enough or dark enough for them. Paris: Exactly. It's more like an idyllic version of Earth. As though it were created specifically for us. Torres: Do we have any idea what planet we're on? Janeway: Not yet. I sent Tuvok to investigate the other compounds and see what he could find out. Until be gets back, all we have are unanswered questions. Lang: Decks eleven through fifteen are completely shut down. Most of the remaining crew are on security detail near the cargo and shuttle bays. Chakotay: What, all thirteen of them? Lang: Twelve, sir. Gennaro: Crewman Gennaro to bridge. I'm in Engineering and I just found Ensign Molina. He's unconscious but okay. Chakotay: What about the Nyrian scientist he was watching? Gennaro: There's no sign of him, sir. Chakotay: Find him. That's a priority. Lang: Where are you going? Chakotay: To have a talk with the Nyrians. Chakotay: Chakotay to all hands. Security alert. The Nyrians may be trying to take control of the ship. Everyone, get to the bridge or main Engineering and secure them against possible intruders. Dammar: Second team, take control of weapons. Lang: Start by reinforcing the containment fields. Reroute emergency power. We've got to seal those doors. Chakotay: They're everywhere. They're even decrypting our access codes. The Nyrians obviously prepared for this before they got here. They must have tapped into our computer somehow, gotten enough information to plan this mission down to the letter. Chakotay: Larsen? Chakotay to anybody who's left. Please respond. Gennaro: Gennaro here sir. Chakotay: Anybody else? The two of us aren't going to win this, so we might as well make life as difficult for the Nyrians as we can. Sabotage everything you can get your hands on. Gennaro: Understood. Chakotay: Good luck. Dammar: What's our status? Rislan: We have shut off their security measures on all decks. We should have full computer access soon, but their navigational controls are not working. Dammar: Not working? Rislan: There are two humans still moving through the ship. They seem intent on causing damage. Dammar: Find them. Rislan: They're sabotaging the power systems. The anti-matter reactor's shutting down. Nyrian 1: What happened? Nyrain 2: This way. Computer: Warning. Disabling lateral EPS relays may disrupt computer functions throughout the ship. Chakotay: Let's hope so. Chakotay to Gennaro. They're trying to delete the Doctor's program. Are you anywhere near Sickbay? Gennaro? Computer, how long ago did Crewman Gennaro leave the ship? Computer: Seven minutes and twenty seconds. Rislan: I've located the last human. He's on the fifth deck. Dammar: Send a patrol to stop him. Rislan: I already have. Chakotay: Activate Emergency Medical Holographic program. Emh: Please state the nature. Hello? Chakotay: Doctor, over here. Emh: Commander, what's happening? Chakotay: You're program's going to be deleted unless I can download you into the mobile emitter before I disappear, which should be any second now. Chakotay: Got it! Chakotay: All right. I know when to quit. Emh: I've never been completely cut off from the ship before. What if the emitter's power supply runs out? Torres: Let's hope we're not stuck here long enough to find out. Janeway: Tuvok, what did you learn? Tuvok: There are ten compounds like this one, spread over approximately four square kilometers. They are surrounded on all sides by wilderness. Taleen: Could I have your attention? Now that you've all arrived here safely I'd like to welcome you to your new home. Janeway: I'm not particularly interested in being welcomed. Why have you brought us here? Taleen: Your vessel will be used to defend Nyrian acquisitions. Chakotay: Is this the way you operate, gradually changing places with the crew of a ship? Taleen: Ships, colonies, spacestations. We've found it's much more effective than warfare. We aren't a cruel people. We've tried to make this experience as painless as possible. And as you can see, we've gone to great lengths to create an environment in which you will be comfortable. Janeway: Nonetheless, we are being held here against our will. Taleen: Well, I'm afraid that's unavoidable. But I think you'll be happy here. The food dispensers have been programmed with selections from your own computer files. We have even downloaded literature and entertainment from your cultural database. Chakotay: What happens if we try to leave this little paradise? Taleen: I think you'll find there's nowhere to go. Janeway: We don't accept that. We will find a way out of here. Taleen: Captain, your lack of gratitude is unbecoming. You and your crew could have found yourselves somewhere far less hospitable. Chakotay: It's still a prison. Taleen: If you want to be miserable here, that is your choice. But since there's nothing you can do about your situation, I suggest you accept it. Gracefully. We're ready now. Janeway: Tuvok, tell me about this wilderness you've found. How rugged is it? Can we walk out? Tuvok: I don't believe so. In every direction I went, I encountered a natural barrier. A sheer cliff, an impassable river. These obstacles completely surround the colony. Chakotay: A perfectly isolated area. Doesn't that seem a bit convenient? Janeway: This place does have an artificial quality. l wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing is holographic, and the wilderness was created to keep us from exploring too far. Kim: Captain. Jarlath: Sorry for the intrusion, but l wanted to welcome you. I'm Jarlath, your neighbor. Janeway: Where did you come from? Jarlath: My people live in the other environment, through that portal. It's quite different, more desert-like. This place is so green, but I'm sure it's suitable for you. The Nyrians undoubtedly had a good look through your databanks. Tuvok: Were your people brought here by the Nyrians? Jarlath: They took us one by one. Ah, is this what you eat? Janeway: They took you from your colony? Jarlath: They claimed not to know what was happening, and by the time we got suspicious, there were too many of them. We've been here ever since. Janeway: Do you have any idea where here is? Jarlath: No. Mmm, not bad. Would you be interested in trading for some of these? The last inhabitants of this environment had no concept of a barter system, but you strike me as a much more sophisticated group. Janeway: If there were people here before us, maybe we could get out the same way. Jarlath: Oh, l don't think you'd like their method of escape. They all died from a plague. Kim: Captain, there must be some kind of forcefield here, but I can't find it. Jarlath: Pretty well camouflaged, isn't it? It took are almost nine years to find the portal. Torres: How did you get it open? Jarlath: Well, I, I have my ways. Janeway: I consider that information a valuable commodity. Jarlath: Well, I'd be happy to make a trade, but the portal only leads into our environment. You're welcome to visit, of course. Janeway: There may be other portals, if you can show us how to find them. Jarlath: I look forward to our collaboration. Torres: What do you see now? Emh: Fascinating. Everything is glowing with it's own energy. Even the plants are emitting a faint thermal signature. It's really quite lovely. Torres: Aside from the esthetic consideration, how's your optical resolution? Paris: The Captain sent me down to get an update. Torres: Well, we're just about ready. I've reconfigured the Doctor's optical sensors and as soon as they're aligned he should be able to detect the microwave signature of the portals. Emh: Then I can begin my new career as a tricorder. Torres: About the other day. I might have been a bit oversensitive about the Klingon program. Paris: Don't worry about it. Torres: That should just about do it. I think we can start scanning now. Paris: Good. I'll tell the Captain. Er, about the program. I didn't mean to push you. Torres: I know. You didn't, and I didn't mean to lash out at you like that. Emh: A typical defensive reaction. Using an aggressive outburst as a shield against a perceived emotional threat. Paris: That says it, all right. Torres: Oh, that's very funny coming from you. Paris: And what is that supposed to mean? Torres: Well, you're hardly one to talk about being defensive. Paris: And why is that exactly? Torres: Well, you just pretend that nothing bothers you and then you turn everything into a joke. Emh: That's a valid observation. Defense mechanisms come in many forms. Paris: That's ridiculous. I am an easy-going person, who is just trying to be friendly to someone who is obviously terrified of having a friend. Emh: Fear of intimacy is a common indication of low self-esteem. Perhaps if you stopped to analyze the root cause, you might Torres: If you find it so difficult to be my friend, then why keep trying? Paris: That's a good question. I think I'll stop wasting my time. Neelix: I pulled a power cell and some relay circuits out of a food dispenser. And this little thing looks like some sort of capacitor. Tuvok: It should do. If you can find another like this one, we'll be able to construct a second weapon. Chakotay: You're assuming the first one will work. Tuvok: Yes. Neelix: I'll get on it right away. Maybe if I take apart the sonic shower assembly. Chakotay: I've got to give you credit, Tuvok, working on the fly with nothing but random parts, with no guide to follow. I never thought Vulcans had much of a knack for improvising. Tuvok: Our circumstances seem to require a certain flexibility. Chakotay: You could say that. This reminds me of those survival classes they put us through at the Academy. Surprise tactical simulations, getting dropped off in the woods with no chance to prepare. They certainly taught you to live by your wits. Tuvok: That was a lesson I had already learned. During the Rite of Tal'oth, I survived in the Vulcan desert for four months with a ritual blade as my only possession. After that, Starfleet training exercises seemed less of a challenge. Chakotay: I guess so. Tuvok: This weapon is complete. When Mister Neelix returns with a second capacitor, I'll improvise another. Emh: Lieutenant, I haven't seen any sign of a portal. Frankly, I'm getting tired of this. Torres: Holograms don't get tired. Keep looking. Jarleth: We've been trying to get out of here for years. The closest I ever came was finding the portal between our two environments. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but I don't think there is a way out. Janeway: There must be. We just have to keep looking. Jarleth: Well, I know it's too early for you to accept this, but life here isn't so bad. Once we stopped trying to escape, we actually began enjoying ourselves. Torres: Captain, we've found something. Emh: It's directly in front of me. Janeway: Here? Emh: Yes. Right there. Emh: Well, if my scanning services are no longer required, I'll return to my medical duties. Janeway: We can cover more ground if we split up. Tuvok and I will take this direction. You three go that way. We'll meet back here in twenty minutes. Jarleth: I don't think we're supposed to be in here. Paris: B'Elanna, over here. Torres: There's another one. Torres: Self-contained biospheres, every one of them different. Janeway: It's definitely some kind of control station. I can bring up information, but I can't understand what it says. Tuvok: If the Nyrians downloaded Voyager's cultural database, you may be able to tap into the translation algorithm. Janeway: Oh, much better. The Federation habitat, population one hundred and forty eight. At least they haven't detected that anyone's missing. Janeway: Here's another environment, and another. Janeway: How many are there? Tuvok: Captain, there's data here for ninety four different environments. Janeway: They're holding thousands of prisoners. There's got to be something that'll tell us what the layout of this place is. Authorized access only. Tuvok: I'll try to bypass their security codes. Janeway: Good, I'm getting something. Incredible. Tuvok, we're on a ship. Tuvok: We should attempt to locate the bridge. Janeway: Well if there is one, I can't find it. There seems to be a more extensive control center four decks above us. Maybe I can access it from here. More security lock-outs. Tuvok: We may need to disable the entire security sub-routine. Taleen: There's been an unauthorized access at one of the terminals. Some of the lifeforms have escaped their habitat. Dammar: Find them and put them back. Taleen: We are attempting to do that now. However, if they resist, stronger measures may become necessary. Dammar: If they leave you no other alternative, you have the authorisation to use force. Dammar: How soon can we go to warp? I want to get back there. Rislan: Just a few minutes. Jarleth: Let's go back. Paris: No, we've got to find the Captain and Tuvok. They might need our help. Jarleth: We have to help ourselves. This is our chance to get back into our own environments. Torres: If you want to go, then go. We're not leaving them behind. Nyrian Guard: Don't move. Jarleth: I surrender. I'm sorry. It wasn't my idea. They made me come along. They, er, went around that corner. Nyrian Guard: Follow them. Tuvok: He just activated a translocator control. One lifeform was sent from an access tunnel to the biosphere adjacent to ours. Janeway: That must have been Jarleth. This translocator is what the Nyrians used to get on our ship. Tuvok: Then we should be able to use the same method to return to Voyager. Janeway: Assuming we can figure out how to use it. Rislan: We're getting an incoming message from the biosphere vessel. Audio only. Taleen: Taleen to Dammar. Some of the lifeforms have accessed the control system. They have weapons. We need reinforcements. Dammar: We're on our way to you now. Increase speed to maximum velocity. Take us close enough to translocate our entire security force at once. Rislan: Yes, sir. Paris: Something's wrong with the phaser. Torres: Power cells probably running out. These aren't exactly Starfleet issue. Paris: We've got to get out of these tunnels. There must be somewhere to hide in one of these habitats. Torres: Tom, I think I've found one. Here is it. Torres: Remember how we had to warm up the ship for the Nyrians? Paris: This is the last place they'd want to follow us. Taleen: Stop! Taleen: Follow them. That's an order. Tuvok: This translocator has an extremely long range. Over ten light years. Janeway: Great distances must limit it's capacity. That's why the Nyrians could only send one person to Voyager at a time and bring one of us here. Tuvok: Their method has the added advantage of appearing innocent, at least in the beginning. Janeway: I can't find the command pathways to get the system operative, and I don't imagine we have much longer before they find us. Torres: Maybe coming in here wasn't such a good idea. Paris: Let's hope it's worse for them than it is for us. Torres: Careful. That phaser's just about dead. Torres: They can't last much longer. We've just got to stay one step ahead of them. Paris: We don't want to get too far away from the portal. Maybe we should find a place to hide. Torres: Let me see the phaser. My hands are completely numb. Paris: Here. I would have thought all that hot Klingon blood would have kept you warm. Torres: Shows how much you know about Klingons. They have much less tolerance for the cold than humans do. Paris: Really? I thought that was Cardassians. Torres: No, they just complain about it more. Paris: Better? Torres: I think that'll amplify the power cell enough for one more shot. Paris: B'Elanna! Paris: Nice shot. Now let's get out of here before we freeze to death. Janeway: I've got the basic operation down, but I can't quite figure out how to lock on to a target. Can you access anything that might function like our targeting scanners? Tuvok: There are biosensors contained within the monitoring programs of each habitat. Perhaps Janeway: What is it? Tuvok: I'm detecting human lifeforms in one of the environments. The Argala habitat. Janeway: Tom and B'Elanna. Tuvok: Possibly. They may have taken refuge there to hide from the Nyrians. Janeway: Doesn't look very inviting, does it. Tuvok: The temperature is minus twenty degrees Celsius. Janeway: They can't last long in that. We've got to get them out. Tuvok: Captain, there's a ship approaching at high warp. It's Voyager. Janeway: If the Nyrians are bringing in reinforcements, we're in trouble. Keep working on those bioscanners. Torres: I didn't think we were this far from the portal. I don't think I can go any farther. Paris: You have to keep moving. Torres: Oh, I'm so sleepy. Paris: No, B'Elanna, get up. Torres: No, you go on. I'm just going to rest here. Paris: If you do that, you'll die. Torres: No, I'll be fine. I just have to close my eyes for a minute. Paris: Oh no, I am not going to let you do this. On your feet now, Torres. That's an order. Torres: You can't give me orders. We're the same rank. Paris: I am a bridge officer, and I have seniority. Torres: Oh yeah, by two days! Paris: On your feet, now! Come on, you've been wanting to take a swing at me for days. Now's your chance. Torres: You're just trying to get me moving. Paris: You will keep moving. Or do I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out? Torres: Don't even try it. Dammar: Where are we? Rislan: The Argala habitat, sir. Dammar: Get us out of here. Where's the portal? Dammar: You did this! Janeway: I've taken control of your translocation system. My tactical officer is standing by, waiting for my next order. Dammar: And, and what would that be? Janeway: That depends on you. Surrender my ship and release all the prisoners here. Dammar: Unacceptable. Janeway: All right. You can stay where you are and greet your fellow crewmembers as we translocate them here to join you. Rislan: And if we do surrender? Janeway: We'll find you a nice warm habitat where you'll be comfortable while we contact the native worlds of your prisoners and arrange for their return. And once we've disabled your translocator, you'll be free to go. I'm sorry you don't wish to be reasonable. Mister Tuvok, get me out of here and prepare to Dammar: No! Wait! Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 50929.6. The Nyrians have surrendered Voyager, and my crew is safely back on board. The former prisoners on the habitat vessel have contacted their native worlds, and are waiting to be taken home. Torres: Nice day. Paris: Beautiful. Torres: Things were pretty chilly there for a while. Paris: I guess they were. Torres: It feels good to be warm again. Paris: Yeah, it sure does.

Chakotay: Where are you headed? Torres: The bridge. Chakotay: Mind if I walk with you? Torres: Not at all. Chakotay: So, how's it going? Torres: Not bad, I guess. Chakotay: Tuvok still giving you a hard time? Torres: No more than usual. Chakotay: I don't know about you, but when I think about spending seventy years on the same ship with that guy, it gives me a headache. I get the impression a lot of the crew agrees with me. Maquis and Starfleet. Chakotay: Bridge. So, what do you think? Torres: About what? Chakotay: About what I've been saying. That a lot of the crew aren't too happy with our Chief of Security. And for that matter, I don't think Captain Janeway's winning any popularity contests either. Don't you agree? Torres: Why do I get the feeling that you're testing me? Chakotay: Let's just say I'm interested in your opinion. Torres: Why? Chakotay: You're a good officer. I like you. And I wouldn't want to see you get hurt. Torres: Computer, halt turbolift. Look, what's this all about? Chakotay: There're going to be some changes around here. All of the Maquis are in line, and about twenty five of the Starfleet crew are with us. Torres: Are you saying there's going to be a mutiny? Chakotay: And when the shooting starts, I'm going to need to know which side you're on. Janeway: Well, Commander, Voyager's all yours. Chakotay: There's a first time for everything, I guess. Don't worry, Captain, I'll keep your ship safe and sound. Janeway: I'm sure you will. Paris: Shuttlebay to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead, Mister Paris. Paris: The shuttle's ready to go whenever you are. Janeway: On my way. Chakotay: Captain, I've been thinking. Are you sure you don't want to take Lieutenant Tuvok with you, just in case the Rukani turn out to be less friendly than they seem? Tuvok: I assure you, Commander. I have made thorough preparations for the Captain's safety during her away mission. You, on the other hand, are still adapting to your duties as First Officer. Under the circumstances, I believe my time will be better spent assisting you in your effort to justify the trust the Captain has placed in you. Janeway: I appreciate your concern for my safety, Mister Chakotay, but Tuvok's right. Lieutenant Paris and I will be just fine. I'll see you in twenty four hours. Chakotay: Lieutenant, I want you to keep close tabs on the Captain's shuttle. Let's make sure she doesn't run into any trouble. Tuvok: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Ensign, let's shut down those transporters and start that diagnostic we've been putting off. Kim: Sir, are you sure we shouldn't wait for the Captain to get back? Tuvok: Ensign Kim, you have been given a direct order. Do as the Commander tells you. Kim: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Have you finished upgrading the internal sensors, Ensign? Torres: I'm working on it, sir. Chakotay: I hope so. Chakotay: Wait here. Tuvok: Is something wrong, sir? Chakotay: No, it's just tomorrow's duty roster. Tuvok: Sir, Captain Janeway's shuttle has gone to warp. Chakotay: Thank you, Tuvok. Chakotay to all hands. Let's do it. Tuvok: Sir? Kim: Red alert! Security to the Bridge! Chakotay: You're wasting your time, Harry. All my teams have taken control of Security, Engineering and all key systems. Kim: You'll never get away with this. People will fight back. Chakotay: That's going to be a little difficult. All your off-duty Starfleet friends have been locked down in quarters. Chakotay: I guess you've made your choice. Jonas: Jonas to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Jonas: They're putting up a fight on deck two. We could use some help. Chakotay: Carlson, O'Donnell, get these people to the brig. Ayala, take the conn and move us out of com range of Janeway's shuttle. You're with me. Chakotay: Deck two. Thanks for watching my back in there. Torres: Right. Chakotay: Are you okay? Torres: To tell you the truth, shooting Harry got me a little rattled. Chakotay: He's only stunned. We're not going to kill anybody today, unless it's absolutely necessary. Just stay close. Chakotay: Stay low. Torres: They've got us pinned down. Chakotay: We'll just have to shoot our way past them. Ready? Torres: Seska! Seska: It's just like old times, isn't it? Chakotay: Thanks for the help. Seska: We've got to get moving. Some of Janeway's people are trying to set up a command center in the mess hall. Seska: I wouldn't do that if I were you. This phaser's set on wide beam. I could take you all in one shot. Chakotay: Everybody, drop your weapons. Neelix: You heard the man. Drop your weapons. Don't look so surprised, Commander. I know a winner when I see one. I'm with you. Seska: Do you want me to shoot him? Chakotay: We're still going to need a cook. Chakotay to Engineering. What's your status? Crewman: Engineering is secure. Chakotay: Transporter rooms one and two, status. Crewman: Transporter room one is under control. Crewwoman: Transporter room two is secure. Chakotay: Shuttlebay, status. Crewman: Shuttlebay is secured, Commander. Chakotay: I'll take care of the prisoners here. You two get some help and start rounding up the personnel that are still locked down in quarters. Bring them to Cargo Bay one. Seska: We did it. Chakotay: Just like old times. Seska: You did a good job today. Torres: Thanks. Seska: Just make sure you keep it up. Torres: What's that supposed to mean? Seska: It means I'm not as easy to win over as Chakotay. Come on! Let's go. Seska: Wait here. Kes: Seska, what's going on? Seska: Move it. Kes: Why are we being treated like prisoners? Seska: No talking. Seska: Over there, with the rest of them. Kes: What are you going to do with us? Seska: I said, no talking! Torres: Hey, hey, hey. Take it easy. Seska: It told you it was a mistake letting Starfleet people in on this. Chakotay: Now is not the time, Seska. Take a good look around you. You're under armed guard. You may also notice that your senior officers aren't here. They're in the brig. They'll be put off the ship at the first habitable planet we come to. All except Janeway and Paris, who will arrive at their rendezvous coordinates to find that Voyager's not there. In short, I've taken control of the ship. I don't blame any of you for the mistakes of your leaders, so I'm giving you a choice. You can be put off the ship with your superiors or you can do what Neelix and some of your other crew members have already done and join me. If you do, you'll be part of a crew that's going to do whatever it takes to get us home as fast as possible. Under my command, we won't let almighty Federation principles get in the way of opportunities the way Janeway did when she destroyed the array that could have gotten us home. And we won't be wasting precious time stopping to investigate every insignificant anomaly that we come across. What we will do is use any means necessary to acquire technology that can shorten our journey. To hell with Starfleet regulations. You have fifteen minutes to make up your minds. Paris: B'Elanna, what's going on here? Torres: Computer, freeze program. Are you in the habit of just walking in on people's private holodeck time? Paris: Well, it's not as if I caught you dancing the rumba with a naked Bolian. We had a lunch date, remember? Torres: Is it lunch time already? I must have lost track of the time. Paris: Well, I expected to find you shooting pool at Sandrine's, not hanging out with Seska. What sort of program is this anyway? Torres: It's really something. I was doing a routine purge of the database, you know, taking out old files that were taking up space, and I found this holonovel. It's a kind of 'what if' story, all about a Maquis mutiny. It's completely compelling and believable. I guess it's because it's all about us. Paris: Who wrote it? Torres: Now, that is the big mystery. Whoever the author is has gone to a lot of trouble to keep his identity a secret. It's been encrypted. Paris: Why do you suppose someone would try so hard to be anonymous? Torres: Well, think about it. Whoever plays this program takes on the role of a Starfleet security officer who gets approached by Chakotay to help the Maquis take over the ship. I mean, it's pretty inflammatory. Paris: You think we should tell the Captain? Torres: Probably. Paris: It would be pretty hard for us to give her a full report if we don't know how the story ends. Torres: Excellent point. Paris: Great. Can you reset it for me? Torres: You? I was just getting to the good part. Paris: Oh, come on, B'Elanna. Be a sport. I've got to be back on duty in less than an hour. Besides, isn't half the fun of a holonovel having someone to talk it over with? Torres: All right. You owe me one. Chakotay: Where are you headed? Paris: The bridge. HOLO- Chakotay: Mind if I walk with you? Paris: I was kind of hoping you would. HOLO- Chakotay: So, how's it going? Paris: Couldn't be better. HOLO- Chakotay: Tuvok still giving you a hard time? Paris: Oh, doesn't he always? HOLO- Chakotay: I don't know about you, but when I think about spending seventy years on the same ship with that guy, it gives me a headache. Paris: Not to mention an upset stomach. Chakotay: Bridge. Paris: I hear you're planning a mutiny. HOLO- Chakotay: Computer, halt turbolift. Who told you that? Paris: Let's just say there are rumors. HOLO- Chakotay: Yeah, well, don't believe everything you hear. Paris: Of course not. I just wanted you to know that whatever happens, I'm with you. HOLO- Chakotay: Computer, resume turbolift. Paris: I'm serious. Just tell me what you want me to do. HOLO- Chakotay: All right, Ensign, here it is. As soon as the Captain leaves to meet the Rukani, I want you to put all crew quarters on lock-down. I'll ask you if you've finished upgrading the internal sensors. If you say yes, I'll know we're ready to go. Paris: I understand. HOLO- Chakotay: I'm watching you. No tricks. Tuvok: We are entering the Rukani sector, Commander. HOLO- Chakotay: Inform the Captain. HOLO- Tuvok: Aye, sir. HOLO- Janeway: Well, Commander, Voyager's all yours. HOLO- Chakotay: There's a first time for everything, I guess. Don't worry, Captain. I'll keep your ship safe and sound. HOLO- Janeway: I'm sure you will. HOLO- Paris: Shuttlebay to Captain Janeway. HOLO- Janeway: Go ahead, Mister Paris. HOLO- Paris: The shuttle's ready to go whenever you are. HOLO- Janeway: On my way. HOLO- Chakotay: Captain, I've been thinking. Are you sure you don't want to take Lieutenant Tuvok with you, just in case the Rukani turn out to be less friendly than they seem? HOLO- Tuvok: I assure you, Commander. I have made thorough preparations for the Captain's safety during her away mission. You, on the other hand, are still adapting to your duties as First Officer. Under the circumstances, I believe my time will be better spent assisting you in your effort to justify the trust the Captain has placed in you. HOLO- Janeway: I appreciate your concern for my safety, Mister Chakotay, but Tuvok's right. Lieutenant Paris and I will be just fine. I'll see you in twenty four hours. HOLO- Chakotay: Lieutenant, I want you to keep close tabs on the Captain's shuttle. Let's make sure she doesn't run into any trouble. HOLO- Tuvok: Aye, sir. HOLO- Chakotay: Ensign, let's shut down the transporters and start that diagnostic we've been putting off. HOLO- Kim: Sir, are you sure we shouldn't wait for the Captain to get back? HOLO- Tuvok: Ensign Kim, you have been given a direct order. Do as the Commander tells you. HOLO- Kim: Aye, sir. HOLO- Chakotay: Have you finished upgrading the internal sensors? Paris: Yes, sir. HOLO- Chakotay: I hope so. HOLO- Chakotay: Wait here. HOLO- Tuvok: Is something wrong, sir? HOLO- Chakotay: No, it's just tomorrow's duty roster. HOLO- Tuvok: The Captain's shuttle has gone to warp. HOLO- Chakotay: Thank you, Tuvok. Chakotay to all hands. Let's do it. HOLO- Tuvok: Sir? Paris: Tuvok, get down! HOLO- Chakotay: I guess you've made your choice. Paris: It's not over yet, Chakotay. HOLO- Chakotay: Take them all to the brig. Paris: Sir, we have to do something. HOLO- Tuvok: What did you have in mind, Ensign? Paris: Escape. Retake the ship. HOLO- Tuvok: We will indeed attempt to do so when the time is right. Paris: What about trying it now? HOLO- Tuvok: Such a foolhardy proposal suggests a lack of proper training. Need I remind you that we are confined behind an electrostatic forcefield? Paris: We can't just sit here and do nothing. HOLO- Tuvok: We are hardly doing nothing. We are observing the enemy, watching for any diskernible patterns in their procedures, looking for any weakness in their defenses. Paris: How long is this observing business going to take? It's been over an hour already. I'm getting bored. HOLO- Tuvok: I am not concerned with your amusement, Ensign. We are in a crisis situation, and we will follow procedure. And procedure dictates that we wait for the right opportunity to attempt an escape, whether it takes an hour or a week. Paris: A week? Who wrote this stuff? HOLO- Chakotay: Hold Kim and Tuvok here. Bring the rest of them to Cargo bay one. Paris: Enjoy the wait. Chakotay: And we won't be wasting precious time stopping to investigate every insignificant anomaly we come across. What we will do is use any means necessary to acquire technology that can shorten our journey. To hell with Starfleet regulations. You have fifteen minutes to make up your minds. Paris: I don't need fifteen minutes. I'm with you right now. Paris: So by the time I got around to joining Chakotay's little band of rebels Torres: Ah ha. Paris: He was so suspicious of my motives that he assigned me to lubricate the warp plasma manifolds. Torres: You should have tried going along with the mutiny from the beginning. It's much more fun. Paris: Oh, believe me, next time I will. Neelix: I couldn't help overhearing. You two are talking about the new holonovel. I tried sending an encoded message to Captain Janeway's shuttle to warn her about the mutiny. But Chakotay caught me, phasered me, and the program reset. Next time, I'm going to pretend to go along with the conspirators and then stage a counterstrike. Paris: I thought we were going to keep this our little secret. Torres: Don't look at me. I didn't tell him. Neelix: I heard about it from the Doctor. Paris: The Doctor? Torres: I may have let it slip while I was running his weekly diagnostic. Paris: Oh, great. Who else knows about it? Neelix: Don't worry about me. My lips are sealed. Kim: So what's this Ayala tells me about a new holonovel? Paris: Get in line, Harry. Lieutenant Paris's personal log: Stardate 50953.4. I've decided to take B'Elanna's advice and replay the holonovel, this time as a full-fledged member of Chakotay's team of mutineers. I hope it turns out better than before. Chakotay: Where the hell are those warp engines? HOLO- Seska: They're still offline. We can't seem to get the dilithium matrix reinitialized. HOLO- Chakotay: It's been two days. HOLO- Seska: Don't worry. B'Elanna's on it. HOLO- Chakotay: Run a full security sweep. Something tells me there's more to this engine problem than a faulty dilithium matrix. Paris: Do you think we've got a saboteur on board? HOLO- Seska: There's a ship approaching, bearing two one six mark three three. It's Janeway's shuttle. HOLO- Chakotay: Open a channel. Hello, Kathryn. How did it go with the Rukani? HOLO- Janeway: You're out of uniform, Commander. HOLO- Chakotay: There have been a few changes since you've been gone. HOLO- Janeway: So I've heard. You think I don't have any friends left on Voyager? HOLO- Chakotay: Apparently you do. But I'll find them. HOLO- Janeway: And then what? Will you kill them or just put them off the ship? HOLO- Chakotay: Nobody has to die here today. HOLO- Janeway: I thought you were a man of your word, Chakotay. I guess I was mistaken. HOLO- Chakotay: I'm sorry it had to come to this. But the crew believes I can get them home faster than you can. HOLO- Paris: That's going to be a little difficult without warp engines, isn't it? HOLO- Chakotay: Our warp drive may be temporarily offline, but our weapons systems are fully operational. Paris: They're powering phasers. HOLO- Chakotay: Kathryn, don't try to be a hero. I've been reasonable so far. I'll allow you to keep the shuttle. I'll even transport you some extra provisions. But if you don't stand down, I will destroy your shuttle. HOLO- Janeway: You've just threatened the wrong woman, Chakotay. HOLO- Chakotay: What does she think she's going to accomplish? HOLO- Seska: We can obliterate them in one shot. HOLO- Chakotay: Not till I give the order. Reopen a channel. Paris: I don't know how, but they've disabled our shields. We're completely vulnerable. HOLO- Chakotay: Target their warp core and fire. HOLO- Seska: I always said Janeway was a fool. Computer: Intruder alert on deck eight. Paris: It's Paris and Janeway. HOLO- Chakotay: Janeway's no fool. She tricked us into destroying her shuttle, then transported over while the shields were down. HOLO- Seska: She's trying to free the prisoners. HOLO- Chakotay: You've got the bridge. You're with me. Chakotay: Get away from that panel! HOLO- Paris: Drop it. Paris: Computer, resume program. Computer: The holographic simulation has ended. Paris: Well, start it up again, right where it left off. Computer: Unable to comply. Paris: Why not? Computer: Additional narrative parameters have not been programmed. Paris: Are you saying there's no more story? Computer: Affirmative. Paris: This is someone's idea of a practical joke, right? Computer: Please rephrase the question. Torres: There. I've bypassed the security override. Try it now. Paris: Computer, identify the author of holographic program entitled Insurrection Alpha. Computer: That information is classified. Torres: I've tried every decryption protocol I can think of. Whoever wrote this is good. Paris: Not to mention sadistic. I can't believe we've been left hanging like this. Neelix: Any luck? Me neither. I've diskreetly questioned everybody I thought I could trust. Either nobody knows or nobody's talking. Paris: Remember the good old days when it was impossible to keep a secret on a ship this small? Janeway: Well, if that takes care of our official agenda, there's another matter I'd like to discuss. Commander Chakotay informs me there's a new holonovel that's become quite popular among the crew. Chakotay: It's been accessed forty seven times by thirty three different crew members. Janeway: I don't suppose anyone here is familiar with what we're talking about? Torres: Er, actually, er, Captain, I'm the one who found it on the auxiliary database. Paris: I've been running it too. Chakotay: Anybody else? Janeway: I understand that the author of this little opus has chosen to remain anonymous. Perhaps because of the controversial nature of the story, which depicts Commander Chakotay as the leader of a Maquis mutiny. Well, now that the cat's out of the bag, I want each of you to talk to your staff and find out who our anonymous author is. Tuvok: That won't be necessary, Captain. I am the author of the program in question. Paris: You, Tuvok? Janeway: I never knew you had literary aspirations. Neelix: Not to mention talent. What a story! Tuvok: I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding. The program is not a holonovel. It is a tactical training scenario. When you first invited the Maquis to join our crew, I believed that mutiny was a very real possibility. With that in mind, I began to write a training program for junior security officers to prepare them for such an eventuality. Paris: But you never finished it? Tuvok: No. As the two crews began to work together, I concluded that the threat of an insurrection was increasingly unlikely. I realized the program itself might exacerbate the very conflict I sought to avoid. Therefore, I deleted the scenario, or so I believed. Janeway: Apparently you didn't account for B'Elanna's exceptional computer skills. Tuvok: Nor her somewhat excessive curiosity. I apologize for my carelessness, Captain. Paris: Forget your carelessness. What you should be apologizing for is leaving us all hanging by a thread. You've got to finish the story. Tuvok: On the contrary, Mister Paris. The program has the potential to incite animosity among the crew and must be permanently deleted. I have no doubt the captain concurs. Janeway: With all due respect, Mister Tuvok, loosen up. You may have intended this program to be a tactical training tool, but it looks to me like it's turned into a bit of harmless fun. Tuvok: As the Captain of this ship, surely you Janeway: I'm more than just a Captain. I'm the leader of a community, and communities need entertainment, culture, creative outlets. Since we're not exactly privy to every new piece of music or holonovel that's written back home, I think it's only natural that we should start creating our own. Chakotay: Besides, Tuvok, if the crew doesn't get an ending, you may have a real mutiny on your hands. Paris: If Tuvok doesn't want to finish the story, I volunteer. Torres: Oh? Paris: Well, I've always wanted to write a holonovel. I think I could make it pretty exciting. Janeway: Good. Then it's settled. I for one can't wait to see if Captain Janeway manages to outwit the conspirators. Paris: Well, if it isn't Mister Anonymous. Come to check up on your replacement? Tuvok: Since the captain insists on allowing you to proceed with this frivolous exercise, I thought you might benefit from the original probability studies I conducted before beginning the scenario. Paris: Well, thanks, Tuvok, but I don't need any probability studies. I'm just sort of making it up as I go along. Tuvok: Indeed. I'd be curious to know what you've made up thus far. Paris: Well, I was thinking, Paris and Janeway retake the ship, and then she decides to execute all the conspirators. Tuvok: That is an entirely implausible plot development. Captain Janeway would never behave in such an inhumane manner. Paris: This isn't real life, Tuvok. It's fiction. Don't get so caught up in logic. Tuvok: Logic is an integral part of narrative structure. According to the Dictates of Poetics by T'hain of Vulcan, a character's actions must flow inexorably from his or her established traits. Paris: Well, I don't know anything about T'hain, but I do know what makes an interesting story, and that's unexpected plot twists. Tuvok: If you think I will allow you to turn this program into a parody, you are sorely mistaken. Paris: Are you saying that you're going to finish it yourself? Torres: Artistic differences? Tuvok: I would hardly call Mister Paris's ideas artistic. Paris: Apparently, my instincts don't comply with the Vulcan Dictates of Poetics. Torres: Well, I've got a couple of suggestions that might help. Now, up until now the story's been nothing but action, which is fine. But what it needs is a little heart, a little emotion. Tuvok: We are not writing a romance novel, Lieutenant. Paris: We? Tuvok: I've decided that your efforts would benefit from my collaboration. Paris: Oh, really? Torres: Listen, I don't care which one of you is writing this thing. All I'm saying is that there is room in every good story for a little bit of passion. Paris: You know, maybe you're on to something. I could add a steamy love scene between the Starfleet conn officer and the Maquis engineer. Torres: Oh, that's realistic. Neelix: How about a fresh pot of coffee to keep those creative juices flowing, eh? Paris: Thanks, Neelix. Neelix: While I'm here. Paris: Let me guess. You have a suggestion to make. Neelix: Of course not. I would never presume to interfere in the creative process. It's more of a comment, really, about the Neelix character. Tuvok: How surprising. Janeway: He would never betray the Captain the way he does in that story. No offense, Mister Vulcan, but I don't think you understand my character very well. Paris: Tuvok, did you forget to follow the Dictates of Poetics? Tuvok: Perhaps we should find someplace quieter to work. Paris: Now, that's the first intelligent suggestion I've heard all evening. Tuvok: I believe our first step should be to create a carefully constructed outline of the remaining chapters. Paris: I told you, Tuvok. I'm just making it up as I go. Tuvok: We cannot proceed without a carefully constructed outline. Paris: There you go with that we stuff again. I don't remember agreeing to let you help me. Tuvok: Need I remind you that it was I who first began the scenario? Paris: And you think I'm compromising your creative vision? Tuvok: In so many words, yes. And it is my duty to ensure that ship security is not compromised by your creative vision. Paris: You had your chance to finish the story, and you wanted to delete it. Tuvok: True, but since that is no longer an option, I am now exercising my prerogative as the original author. Paris: Look, Tuvok, for the last time, I don't need any help. Emh: Ah, there you are. I have several brilliant ideas for upcoming chapters of your holonovel, as well as a list of revisions and dialogue changes that I believe will improve the earlier installlments. Paris: I don't believe this. Emh: No thanks are necessary. In addition, I'm prepared to offer my expertise in the creation of holographic mise-en-scene. Tuvok: Computer, override the EMH program's autonomous controls and transfer him back to Sickbay. Emh: Now, wait just a min Paris: Thanks, Tuvok. Now that I think about it, I'll take it from here. Tuvok: You may find that difficult, since I am the only one who can make additions to the program. Paris: All right, Tuvok. You win. We'll finish the story together. Tuvok: That is a very rational decision, Mister Paris. Computer, reinitiate the holographic program entitled Insurrection Alpha, security clearance Tuvok four seven seven four. Computer: The program has been reinitiated. Paris: The first thing we're going to change is that title. Tuvok: Reformat the holo-matrix for the addition of new interactive algorithms. Computer: The holo-matrix has been formatted. Tuvok: Reopen the narrative parameters file. Kim: Captain, we just lost power in both transporter rooms. The com went down, and the holodeck systems are completely scrambled. Paris: What are we doing in the brig? Tuvok: I have no idea. We haven't given the computer instructions to create a location yet. HOLO- Seska: Hello, Tuvok. I've been expecting you. If you can see me, you've obviously reopened the narrative parameters file of the tactical scenario you've been working on. Tuvok: How do you know that? You're a hologram. HOLO- Seska: That's right. A holographic representation of Seska, one of the Maquis shipmates you betrayed. I would have thought all that time you spent spying on us might have given you a little more insight into the Maquis, but after looking over what you've already written, I can see you need a little help. So I've created this representation of myself, to guide you through the rest of the program. Tuvok: There is no more program. HOLO- Seska: There is now. I finished writing it for you, with a few revisions of my own. Paris: Revisions? HOLO- Seska: To start with, the holodeck is now sealed. Your friends will find it very difficult to get you out of here. And the safety protocols are off, which means if I shoot you, and I am going to shoot you, you'll die. But not just yet. You've got ten seconds to run. Nine, eight Tuvok: Computer, end program. HOLO- Seska: Seven, six, five Tuvok: Holodeck one to Bridge. Emergency transport. HOLO- Seska: Oh, did I forget to tell you? The moment you restarted the program, the com system went down. Four, three Paris: I guess we'd better do what she says. HOLO- Seska: Two, one. Paris: You should never have crossed her, Tuvok. Tuvok: She has been dead for over a year now. There would have been no way to predict this turn of events. Paris: I guess we should have known Seska wouldn't let a little thing like death stop her from getting even. HOLO- Janeway: Tuvok. Tom. In here. Paris: Captain? Janeway: We're going to have to transport to the cargo bay to free the rest of the prisoners. It's safer than trying to make it on foot. Paris: She's a hologram too? Tuvok: Apparently she believes we're here to help her retake the ship from the mutineers. Paris: I say we play along. We could use all the help we can get against Seska. Tuvok: You're forgetting it was Seska who rewrote the scenario. For all we know, she's programmed Captain Janeway to betray us. Paris: I suppose you have a better idea? Tuvok: The safest course of action is to avoid participation of any kind. Eventually, the real Captain will discover our predicament and shut down the program from the outside. HOLO- Janeway: Let's move! HOLO- Chakotay: Hold it right there! HOLO- Janeway: Back off! HOLO- Seska: Or what? You'll shoot us? Go right ahead. HOLO- Janeway: Whatever you say. HOLO- Seska: Poor Kathryn. I guess nobody told her the phaser rifles from storage locker three have been malfunctioning. HOLO- Chakotay: You're an incredible woman, Seska. HOLO- Seska: You see who's in charge now, don't you? So if I were you, I'd get moving again. The program's not over. Tuvok: We have no intention of participating in this exercise. HOLO- Seska: You don't want to end up like your Captain, do you? Paris: You programmed all this. The malfunctioning phaser, the version of Chakotay who's attracted to you. None of it's real. HOLO- Seska: You hear that? He thinks this is a game. Show him he's wrong. HOLO- Chakotay: I've been waiting a long time for this. HOLO- Seska: Next time, you'll believe me when I tell you the safety protocols are off. Now, you've got five seconds to start running again, or you'll end up with more than a flesh wound. Paris: So much for not playing along with Seska's program. Tuvok: Are you able to continue? Paris: I'll keep up. The question is, where are we going? Tuvok: I have an idea. Paris: What's the point? This isn't the real Sickbay. Tuvok: I may be able to use some of this holographic equipment to treat your wound. Besides, it's as good a place as any to hide from Seska. HOLO- Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Paris: No emergency, Doc. I'm fine. HOLO- Emh: Nonsense. You have second-degree phaser burns. Please have a seat on biobed one. Paris: That's all right, Doc. I'm telling you, I feel fine. HOLO- Emh: You require treatment. Twenty cc's nitric acid. A little proverbial salt in the wound. HOLO- Emh: You're looking well. Tuvok: Go! Paris: I'm not going to leave you! HOLO- Emh: It was a pleasure treating you. Don't hesitate to call again. Tuvok: Are you all right, Mister Paris? Paris: Oh, just great. Maybe we can go to the mess hall now and let the holographic Neelix burn my arm with a frying pan. Tuvok: Your feeble attempt at wit notwithstanding, it does appear that Seska has reprogrammed the holographic crew to torture us. I suggest we avoid meeting any more of them. HOLO- Seska: Seska to Tuvok. I know you can hear me. Paris: Oh, terrific. HOLO- Seska: I just wanted to remind you that wherever you go, I'll find you. Paris: I say we try the Jefferies tubes. Tuvok: I concur. Kim: Captain, you're not going to believe this, but Seska caused these cascade failures. Janeway: Seska? How? Torres: What she lacked in loyalty she made up for in ingenuity. According to the back-up computer logs, she got into Tuvok's scenario on stardate 48671 about a month before she left the ship. She programmed it to cause all of these shutdowns the next time Tuvok reopened the narrative parameters file, which he didn't do until today. Janeway: Can we get them out? Torres: Seska laid booby-trapped subroutines everywhere. If we try to open the holodeck doors, the power grid is rigged to explode. Kim: And the transporters are still offline. Janeway: You said the narrative parameters file is open now? Kim: Seska's revised program is playing out as we speak. Janeway: If Seska can rewrite Tuvok, maybe I can rewrite Seska. Paris: So, Tuvok, anything in the Dictates of Poetics about how to escape from a ship full of insane holograms? Tuvok: Your attempts at humor are hardly constructive, Mister Paris. Tuvok: The controls are jammed. I cannot close the hatch. Paris: Tuvok! Paris: Where do you suppose this came from? Tuvok: That is an intriguing question. Paris: Do you think Seska's toying with us? Taking us to the brink of death again, then letting us live so she can keep torturing us? Tuvok: I prefer a more optimistic interpretation. It is possible our shipmates outside the holodeck have learned of our predicament and have found a way to help us by making additions to the program, such as that plasma extinguisher. Paris: If you want to look on the bright side, I'm certainly not going to argue with you. Paris: If they do know what's going on, why just hand us a plasma extinguisher? Why not shut down the holo-grid, or change the scenario? Tuvok: I would imagine Seska has made it very difficult for anyone to implement more than minor changes. Paris: Take a look at this. (On Aux Systems Monitor 128 - TRYING TO HELP YOU. GO TO WEAPONS LOCKER.) Paris: You were right. Tuvok: We must follow their instructions. HOLO- Chakotay: Hello, boys. Chakotay: What do you say we go for a little walk? Janeway: Where did they come from? Torres: Seska's program is adding new algorithms to counteract the changes we're making. Janeway: I need more access to the narrative subroutines. Torres: I can't get in. Janeway: You'd better find a way, otherwise Tom and Tuvok aren't going to make it out of there alive. It looks like Chakotay's taking them to the holographic cargo bay. Torres: Torres to Kim. How are you coming Torres: With those transporters? Kim: Seska's program has completely disabled the relay access ports. Kim: It's going to take a while to get Tom and Tuvok out of there. Janeway: I guess that means I keep writing. Chakotay: As you can see, the last of your comrades have been captured. In case anybody had any doubts, it should be obvious by now that this is no longer a Starfleet vessel. HOLO- Seska: Bring Paris and Tuvok over here. You and you, bring your weapons. Seska: What do you think I'm doing? I'm going to execute them right here. Janeway: I need access to the character algorithms now! Torres: I'm on it. Seska: Fire on my order. HOLO- Chakotay: Belay that. HOLO- Seska: What are you doing? We planned this. HOLO- Chakotay: I'm not sure it's necessary to kill them. Tuvok: If I'm not mistaken, the Chakotay hologram is undergoing some sort of character change. Paris: Do you think they're trying to help us again? HOLO- Seska: These two rodents betrayed us. They deserve to die. Tuvok: Don't listen to her, Commander. You've taken the ship. There is no need to add murder to your list of offenses. HOLO- Seska: Quiet! HOLO- Chakotay: Lower your weapons. Torres: It's working. Janeway: Now, if I can just keep modifying the Chakotay hologram. HOLO- Seska: You're not going to lose your nerve, are you? Chakotay: We have what we want. There's no reason to kill them. HOLO- Seska: Prepare to fire on my order! HOLO- Chakotay: Seska! I'm in command of this operation. Seska: Not anymore. Torres: I don't believe it. The program is reconfiguring the subprocessors to counter every change we make. No matter what we do, it rewrites itself so that Tom and Tuvok will die. Janeway: I'm not out of ideas yet. Seska: Now, is there anyone else who wants to challenge my authority? Isn't their loyalty inspiring? Set your phasers to kill. Paris: Don't listen to her. HOLO- Seska: Fire on my order. HOLO- Seska: What the hell was that? Tuvok: Don't move, Seska. HOLO- Crewwoman: Bridge to Seska. We're under attack by the Rukani. HOLO- Seska: The Rukani? Paris: The people the captain and I were visiting while you were busy taking over the ship. When we realized there was a mutiny in progress, we called them for a little assistance. Janeway: Harry, have you got transporters yet? Kim: Still working on it, Captain. Seska: You're not getting this ship back. Tuvok: That is a rather bold statement for someone in your position. HOLO- Seska: Computer, initiate sixty seconds self-destruct sequence, authorisation zeta one. Computer: This ship will self-destruct in sixty seconds. Tuvok: Computer, belay that order, authorisation Tuvok four seven seven four. Computer: Unable to comply. Voiceprint not recognized. HOLO- Seska: If you don't hand over that phaser rifle, everyone on this ship is going to be dead in Computer: Self-destruct in forty five seconds. Torres: I don't know how she rigged it, Captain, but when she ordered the self-destruct it initiated an overload in the holodeck power relays. The whole grid is going to blow. Computer: Self-destruct in thirty seconds. HOLO- Seska: Hand over the weapon, or the ship is going to be destroyed. Tuvok: I have set this phaser to kill. If you do not deactivate the self-destruct sequence, I will fire. HOLO- Seska: I'm surprised at you, Tuvok. That's not very logical. If I'm dead, who'll turn off the self-destruct? Computer: Fifteen seconds to self-destruct. Thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine HOLO- Seska: Computer, terminate self-destruct sequence, authorisation zeta one. Computer: Self-destruct sequence has been terminated. HOLO- Seska: Now call off your Rukani friends. Tuvok: Do what she says. Paris: Tuvok Tuvok: That's an order, Mister Paris. Paris: Paris to the Rukani vessel. Thank you for your assistance, but everything's under control now. HOLO- Seska: It is, isn't it? I guess if you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself. Paris: Not bad. Tuvok: Seska's not the only one who knows how to cause a phaser malfunction. Computer: The holographic simulation has ended. Torres: It's over. Kim: Kim to Engineering. I think I can give you transporters now, Captain. Janeway: That's all right, Harry. No rush. Janeway: Here's to stories with happy endings. Tuvok: I must say, Captain. Causing the alien ship to come to our aid was a very effective plot development. Janeway: Who says deus ex machina is an outdated literary device? Paris: I'm just glad you didn't come down with a case of writer's block. Torres: So, you two are going to have to come up with a new idea for your next literary collaboration. Janeway: What about doing a Western? Torres: Or a detective story? Chakotay: I don't care what kind of story it is, as long as I'm not the bad guy this time. Neelix: I've got a great idea for a holonovel about a daring trader who becomes a cook on a starship. Eventually, he rises Tuvok: Mister Neelix, if Mister Paris and I do create another work of holo-fiction, I assure you we will choose a subject much less close to home.

Borg: We are the Borg. Existence as you know it is over. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Resistance is Da Vinci: The Cardinal is a thief. I delivered two portraits of his mindless nephew more than three months ago, to be depicted in the heroic mode of an Hercules or an Achilles, so specified our contract. I complied, making that young fool of a nephew look far more heroic than nature ever intended. An act on my part far greater than anything accomplished by Hercules or Achilles! And what have I, the divine Leonardo Da Vinci received in payment? Janeway: The Cardinal's eternal gratitude? Da Vinci: Essatto! In other words, Signorina, less than nothing. Janeway: All the more reason why you should accept my proposal. Da Vinci: Money is beside the point, Signorina. Catarina, is it? Janeway: Yes. I'm only asking for a corner, one bench, a place to work on my own projects, paintings, sculptures. Just being here in your company is inspiring to me. Da Vinci: Flattery, Catarina, is also beside the point. Besides, I prefer my solitude. Scusi. Da Vinci: Meraviglioso. Janeway: What will you call it? Da Vinci: The Arm of Hephaestos. Janeway: The god of the forge. Da Vinci: Every blacksmith who has ever swung a hammer will thank me for this creation. Janeway: Someone once said all invention is but an extension of the body of man. Da Vinci: Do not think that just because I have enjoyed your visit today, that I am prepared to turn my workshop into a traveler's inn. Da Vinci: Che cazzo. Janeway: Here, let me help you. Da Vinci: You will get your hands covered with goose grease. Janeway: It's good for the skin. Da Vinci: Let us see if we can find his big brother. Hopefully he will be stronger. Janeway: This looks like a flying machine. Da Vinci: I though that because my imagination took flight so easily, my body could do the same. I was wrong. Janeway: It's this flapping approach. You designed your machine to mimic the way a bat or a sparrow flies. Da Vinci: Yes, yes. So? Janeway: So what if you based it on the hawk, instead? Da Vinci: The hawk. A creature that glides through the air. Janeway: Essatto. Da Vinci: We will design a new machine, and you, Catarina, will help me fly it. Janeway: I'll need someplace to work. Da Vinci: A corner? One workbench? Janeway: That will be fine. Da Vinci: Ten scudi per week and you provide your own materials. Janeway: Seven. And I might need to borrow a few things, on occasion. Da Vinci: Then we have an agreement. Chakotay: Chakotay to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: Captain, we need you in Engineering. There's something here you should see. Janeway: On my way. Computer, end program. Janeway: What have you got? Chakotay: Some bad news. The long range probe we sent out two months ago has stopped transmitting. Torres: At first I thought it was a problem with the communications grid, then I cleared up the last few seconds of telemetry. Take a look at this. Chakotay: This could be it, Captain. Borg space. Janeway: We don't know exactly how many vessels are out there. but their space appears to be vast. It includes thousands of solar systems, all Borg. We are no doubt entering the heart of their territory. There's no going around it, but there may be a way through it. Chakotay: Before the probe was disabled, it picked up a narrow corridor of space devoid of Borg activity. We've nicknamed it the Northwest Passage. Torres: Unfortunately, the passage is filled with intense gravimetric distortions. probably caused by a string of quantum singularities. Paris: Better to ride the rapids than face the hive. Chakotay: Exactly. We're going to set a course for that corridor. and go into full Tactical Alert. Where do we stand with weapons? Tuvok: I have reprogrammed the phaser banks to a rotating modulation, but I suspect a Borg vessel will adapt quickly. Chakotay: We can use every edge. Ensign? Kim: I've already configured the long range sensors to scan for transwarp signatures. An early warning system. Chakotay: Good work. Doctor, how are you coming on the medical front? Emh: I've analyzed every square millimeter of the Borg corpse we recovered three months ago. I'm closer to understanding how their assimilation technology works, and I might be able to create some sort of medical defense. Chakotay: Redouble your efforts. This is your top priority. Neelix, I doubt we can resupply the ship any time soon. Neelix: No problem, sir. I'm working on a plan to extend our food and replicator rations. Janeway: We have to act fast. The Borg have captured one of our probes. They know we're out here. We'll do everything in our power to avoid a direct confrontation. but if and when we do engage the Borg, I'm confident that we'll be ready. I have faith in each and every one of you. Let's do it. Crewman: Ensign, on the double. Ensign: Coming through. Open! Chakotay: I want to cut down on the time it takes to seal off the decks. Kim: In case we take on some uninvited guests? Chakotay: Exactly. And I want to increase the magnitude of the forcefields. Emh: These injection tubules are the first step in the Borg assimilation process. Once inside the skin, they release a series of nanoprobes into the bloodstream. Kes: Maybe we can develop some kind of protective shielding against them. Emh: Unlikely. The tubules are capable of penetrating any known alloy or energy field. Which means our battle must be waged inside the body itself. The first tissue to be attacked by the nanoprobes is the victim's blood. Assimilation is almost instantaneous. Kes: They take over the blood cell functions like a virus. Emh: Which suggests to me that we should try to enhance the immune system. Create an assimilation antibody, as it were. I doubt we can actually destroy the nanoprobes, but we might be able to slow them down. Let's try a submicron dissection on the probes we've collected so far, see if we can discover the assimilation mechanism. Emh: Kes, is something wrong? Kes? Kes: I saw Borg. Emh: You've had a telepathic experience? Kes: There were bodies. Dozens of them, dead. Janeway: How's Kes? Tuvok: Unsettled. and uncertain. Over the past two hours, she has experienced several telepathic visions about the death of Borg and the destruction of Voyager. Chakotay: Some sort of premonitions? Tuvok: Possibly. Janeway: We can't just ignore her intuition, but I see no reason to alter our plan. Tuvok, I want you to keep an eye on her. Kim: Captain, long range sensors are picking up transwarp signatures. Five point eight light years distant, closing from behind. Chakotay: Red Alert. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Chakotay: What's happening? Paris: We've dropped out of warp. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering What's going on down there? Torres: I'm not sure, Captain. Some kind of subspace turbulence is preventing us from creating a stable warp field. Tuvok: Turbulence is increasing. Kim: I'm reading two Borg vessels. Make that three. Four. No, five. Fifteen Borg vessels. Distance two point one light years and closing. Janeway: Shields to maximum. Stand by all weapons. Tuvok: They're in visual range. Janeway: On screen. Chakotay: My God. Chakotay: Captain. Kim: I'm picking up a polaron beam. We're being scanned. Janeway: Think good thoughts. Tuvok: The last Cube has rejoined the others. Janeway: Did we sustain any damage? Kim: No. Shields held. Warp engines are coming back online. All primary systems are stable. Janeway: Stand down Red Alert. Harry. maintain a long range sensor lock on that Borg armada. They seemed to be in quite a hurry, didn't they? I'd like to know what they're up to. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: I'll take this near-miss as a good omen. Resume our course, Mister Paris. Chakotay: If we needed any more evidence that we've entered Borg space, I think we just got it. Janeway: I'll be in my Ready room. Janeway: Yes. come in. Chakotay: We've just completed the latest sensor sweep. So far, so good. The Northwest Passage is still clear of Borg activity. Janeway: I'd like to see a tactical update. Chakotay: According to my calculations, neither of us has eaten since last night. Join me for dinner? Janeway: No thanks, I'm not hungry. And I've got a lot of work to do. Chakotay: I see. Janeway: I've been looking through the personal log entries of all the Starfleet Captains who encountered the Borg. I've gone over every engagement, from the moment Q flung the Enterprise into the path of that first Cube to the massacre at Wolf 359. Every battle, every skirmish. anything that might give me an insight into the mind of the Collective. Chakotay: And? Janeway: In the words of Jean-Luc Picard. 'In their Collective state, the Borg are utterly without mercy, driven by one will alone: the will to conquer. They are beyond redemption, beyond reason.' And then there's Captain Amasov of the Endeavor. 'It is my opinion that the Borg are as close to pure evil as any race we've ever encountered.' What's so funny? Chakotay: Nothing. Janeway: You're smiling. Obviously, I've said something amusing. Chakotay: You sounded just like Amasov. Janeway: What? Chakotay: Just now, while you were reading his log. You were using his inflections. Janeway: I did not. Chakotay: Yes, you were. And before that, you were doing a pretty good Picard. Janeway: Was I? Chakotay: It's nothing to be ashamed about. Echoing the Greats. Ensign Hickman in Astrophysics does a passable Janeway. Janeway: If we manage to survive the next few days, I'm going to have a little chat with Ensign Hickman. Imitating the Captain, huh? Surely that violates some kind of Starfleet protocol. This day was inevitable. We all knew it. And we've all tried to prepare ourselves for the challenge ahead. But at what point is the risk too great? At what point do we come about and retreat to friendly territory? Could the crew accept living out the rest of their lives in the Delta Quadrant? I keep looking to all these Captains, my comrades in arms. But the truth is, I'm alone. Chakotay: If that moment comes. we'll face it together. And we'll make the right decision. You're not alone, Kathryn. Janeway: Three years ago, I didn't even know your name. Today I can't imagine a day without you. Tuvok: Captain Janeway to the bridge. Janeway: Gentlemen. Kim: Something strange is going on. Tuvok: The power signatures of those Borg vessels have terminated. Chakotay: All of them? Kim: They're dead in the water, about five point two light years from here. Janeway: Cause? Tuvok: Unknown. Janeway: Mister Paris. Paris: Captain. Janeway: Set a course for their position. Warp two. Kim: We're approaching the ships. Janeway: Slow to impulse. On screen. Chakotay: Lifesigns? Kim: A few, but they're erratic. Tuvok: Captain, I'm detecting two residual weapons signatures in the debris. One is Borg, the other is of unknown origin. Paris: Who could do this to the Borg? Janeway: Someone more powerful than the Borg? It's hard to imagine. Kim: But they did it. Fifteen Cubes! We might've just found our ticket through Borg space. An ally. Chakotay: Let's not jump to conclusions. Scan the vicinity for other vessels. Tuvok: There are none. Kim: Hold on. I'm picking up some sort of bio-readings. They're coming from the outer hull of one of the Borg ships. Janeway: Let's see it. Magnify, Mister Kim. Kim: It's definitely organic, but our sensors can't penetrate its surface. Janeway: Send a standard greeting. Tuvok: No response. Chakotay: This could be a space-dwelling organism or a biological weapon. Janeway: I'd like to know what kind of weapon could destroy the Borg. Can we beam it away from the ship? Kim: I can't get a lock on it. Chakotay: Tractor beam? Tuvok: No effect. Kim: Whatever that thing is, it's impervious to our technology. Janeway: Tuvok, are you reading an atmosphere in the Cube? Tuvok: Affirmative. Janeway: Commander Chakotay, I want you to take an away team inside. Try to get a short range scan of the biomass. Tuvok: There are still Borg lifesigns, but they're unstable. Janeway: We'll keep an open comlink and an active Transporter lock. We'll pull you out of there at the first sign of trouble. Chakotay: Tuvok, Harry, you're with me. Chakotay: This way. Tuvok: Lower your phasers. If we don't appear threatening, they should ignore us. Kim: Looks like they're a little preoccupied. Chakotay: The alien bio-readings are getting stronger. We're close. Kim: Commander. Tuvok: Curious. Chakotay: That's not the word I had in mind. Tuvok: Those bodies are reminiscent of one of the premonitions Kes described. Kim: Didn't Kes say we were all going to die? Chakotay: Let's keep moving. Chakotay: It looks like the bio-mass dissolved right through the Borg hull. Tuvok: This Borg is attempting to assimilate it. Kim: Doesn't look like he's having much luck. Chakotay: There's a chamber beyond this opening. Forty meters wide, high concentrations of antimatter particles. It looks like a warp propulsion system of some kind. Kim: It's a ship? Tuvok: Starfleet has encountered species that use organic-based vessels. The Breen, for example. Chakotay: There doesn't seem to be anybody on board. Chakotay to Voyager. Janeway: Go ahead, Commander. Chakotay: Captain, we've found an entrance to the biomass. We think it may be a ship of some kind. Permission to go inside. Janeway: Granted. Chakotay: Harry, that's a Borg distribution node. See if you can download their tactical database. It might contain a record of what happened here. Kim: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Tuvok. Chakotay: They seem to be organic conduits. They're carrying electrodynamic fluid. Tuvok: Maybe an energy source. Chakotay: Maybe. This looks like a binary matrix, but it's laced with neuropeptides. Could be their version of a computer core. Tuvok: This damage was caused by a Borg disrupter beam. The wall appears to be regenerating itself. Commander! Emh: Kes? Kes: Harry's in danger. Emh: What are you Kes: Get them out of there. Emh: Sickbay to Janeway. Kim: Commander! Kim: There's someone in here with us and it's not the Borg. I can't localize it but it's within twenty meters. Tuvok: Perhaps the pilot has returned. Janeway: Voyager to away team. Chakotay: Go ahead. Janeway: Stand by for transport. We're getting you out of there. Chakotay: Good idea. Janeway: Energize. Torres: I can't get a lock on them. Janeway: What's the problem? Torres: It looks like bioelectric interference from whatever's coming toward them. Chakotay: It's within seven meters. Let's get out of here! Janeway: Narrow the confinement beam. Torres: No effect. I'm going to try a skeletal lock. Janeway: What? Torres: I think I can get a clean lock on the minerals in their bone tissue. I just came up with it, but I think it might work. Chakotay: The lifeform's five meters away and closing. Kim: From where? Torres: I've got them. Janeway: A skeletal lock, huh? We'll have to add that one to the Transporter manual. Paris: Captain, the bioship is powering up, like it's charging some kind of weapon. Janeway: Mister Paris, get us out of here. Maximum warp. Paris: The alien ship is not pursuing. Janeway: Kes? Kes: I could hear its thoughts. The pilot of the bioship was trying to communicate with me. They're a telepathic species. I've been aware of them for some time now. The premonitions. Captain, it's not the Borg that we should be worried about, it's them. Janeway: What did it say to you? Kes: It said, the weak will perish. Captain's log, stardate 50984.3. It's been twelve hours since our confrontation with the alien lifeform. There's no sign that we're being pursued and we've had no further encounters with the Borg. I've decided to hold our course. The Northwest Passage is only one day away, and I won't allow fear to undermine this crew's sense of purpose, even if that fear is justified. Emh: The infection is spreading. What began with a few stray cells contaminating the chest wound is now infusing every system in his body. Janeway: It looks like he's being transformed in some way. Emh: Not exactly. The alien cells are consuming his body from the inside out. In essence, Mister Kim is being eaten alive. Janeway: He's still conscious, Doctor. Emh: I tried giving him a sedative, but it was rejected immediately. In fact, every treatment I've tried has been neutralized within seconds. These are alien cells. Each one contains more than a hundred times the DNA of a human cell. It's the most densely coded life form I've ever seen. Even I would need years to decipher it. Janeway: They have an extraordinary immune response. Anything that penetrates the cell membrane, chemical, biological, technological, it's all instantly destroyed. That's why the Borg can't assimilate them. Emh: Resistance in this case is far from futile. Nevertheless, I believe Borg technology holds the key to saving Mister Kim. Janeway: How so? Emh: I hope to unleash an army of modified Borg nanoprobes into his bloodstream, designed to target and eradicate the infection. As you know, I've been analyzing the nanoprobes. They're efficient little assimilators, one can't help but admire the workmanship. But they're no match for the alien cells. So I successfully dissected a nanoprobe and managed to access its re-coding mechanism. I reprogrammed the probe to emit the same electrochemical signatures as the alien cells. That way, the probe can do its work without being detected. Observe. The alien cells are completely oblivious to probe until it's too late. Unfortunately, I've only created a few prototypes. I'll need several days to modify enough nanoprobes to cure Ensign Kim. Janeway: Does Harry have several days? Emh: I wish I knew. Janeway: Fight it, Harry. That's an order. Torres: We've analyzed the Borg's tactical database. They refer to these new aliens as Species 8472. Tuvok: Over the past five months, the Borg have been attacked by them on at least a dozen occasions. Each time, the Borg were defeated swiftly. Torres: The Collective has very little information about the species. Chakotay: Is anything known about where they come from? Torres: I'm afraid so. Chakotay: Get the Captain. Janeway: The Northwest Passage. Chakotay: It's clear of Borg activity for a very good reason. Tuvok: I'm picking up one hundred and thirty three bioships. More are appearing. Janeway: From where? Tuvok: They seem to be coming from a quantum singularity. Torres: I'm localizing the gravimetric distortions. Chakotay: On screen. Janeway: Kes, anything? Kes: Yes. I can hear them. They're in a place where they're alone. Nothing else lives there. Chakotay: Some kind of parallel universe? Kes: I don't know. I feel malevolence, a cold hatred. The weak will perish. It's an invasion. They intend on destroying everything. Janeway: Tom, reverse course, maximum warp. Take us five light years out and hold position. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Maintain Red Alert. Commander. Janeway: That moment we spoke about? It's here. Any thoughts? Chakotay: Just one. Flying into that corridor would mean certain death. Janeway: Agreed. The Northwest Passage is no longer an option. So now the choice is between facing the Borg in their space, or finding ourselves a nice planet here in the Delta Quadrant and giving up on ever getting home. Chakotay: We'd be turning around, but we wouldn't be giving up. We may find another way home. Janeway: I'm not ready to walk onto that bridge and tell the crew we're quitting. I can't do it, Chakotay. Not yet. There must be an alternative. Chakotay: Kathryn, you haven't slept in two days. Try getting some rest, and clearing your head. We're safe for the moment. We can tell the crew tomorrow, if we have to. Janeway: See you in the morning. Janeway: Maestro? Leonardo? Da Vinci: Catarina. Buona sera. Janeway: Am I disturbing you? Da Vinci: What do you see? Janeway: A wall with candlelight reflecting on it. Why? What do you see? Da Vinci: A flock of starlings, the leaves of an oak, a horse's tail, a thief with a noose around his neck. And a wall with the candlelight reflecting on it. There are times, Catarina, when I find myself transfixed by a shadow on the wall, or the splashing of water against a stone. I stare at it, the hours pass, the world around me drops away, replaced by worlds being created and destroyed by my imagination. A way to focus the mind. Sit, and tell me why you have come. Janeway: There's a path before me. The only way home. And on either side, mortal enemies bent on destroying each other. If I attempt to pass through them I'll be destroyed as well. But if I turn around, that would end all hope of ever getting home. And no matter how much I try to focus my mind, I can't see an alternative. Da Vinci: When one's imagination cannot provide an answer, one must seek a greater imagination. There are times when even I find myself kneeling in prayer. I must deliver a bronzetto to the Monks at Santa Croce. Come with me, Catarina, hey? We will awake the Abbot, visit the chapel, and appeal to God. Janeway: Somehow I don't think that's going to work for me. But there is an alternative I haven't considered. What if I made an appeal to the Devil? Paris: An alliance with the Borg? Janeway: More like an exchange. We offer them a way to defeat their new enemy and in return we get safe passage through their space. In developing a treatment for Harry, the Doctor has found a way to attack the aliens at a microscopic level. Emh: It's still in the experimental stages, Captain. I've only made a few prototypes. Janeway: Nevertheless, if we teach the Borg how to modify their own nanoprobes, they'd have a blueprint to create a weapon to fight the aliens. Emh: In theory, yes. Janeway: B'Elanna, it's clear from the Borg database that they know practically nothing about Species 8472. Torres: That's right. The Borg gain knowledge through assimilation. What they can't assimilate, they can't understand. Janeway: But we don't assimilate. We investigate. And in this case, that's given us an edge. We've discovered something they need. Neelix: But the Borg aren't exactly known for their diplomacy. How can we expect them to cooperate with us? Kes: Normally, the answer would be no. But if what I've learned from the aliens is true, the Borg are losing this conflict. Janeway: In one regard, the Borg are no different than we are. They're trying to survive. I don't believe they're going to refuse an offer that will help them do that. Tuvok: What makes you think the Borg won't attempt to take the information by assimilating Voyager and its crew. Janeway: That won't get them anywhere. Doctor, you're the only one on board with full knowledge of the nanoprobe modifications. I want you to transfer all of that research into your holomatrix. Emh: Certainly. Janeway: You're my guarantee. If the Borg threaten us in any way, we'll simply erase your program. But it won't come to that, Doctor. It's in the Collective's own interest to cooperate. Voyager is only one ship. Our safe passage is a small price to pay for what we're offering in exchange. B'Elanna, assist the Doctor with his transfer. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Mister Paris, locate the nearest Borg vessel and lay in a course. They shouldn't be difficult to find. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Dismissed. Janeway: You were awfully quiet. Chakotay: I didn't want the others to hear this, but I think what you're proposing is too great a risk. Janeway: How so? Chakotay: There's a story I heard as a child, a parable, and I never forgot it. A scorpion was walking along the bank of a river, wondering how to get to the other side. Suddenly he saw a fox. He asked the fox to take him on his back across the river. The fox said no. If I do that you'll sting me, and I'll drown. The scorpion assured him. If I did that, we'd both drown. So the fox thought about it and finally agreed. So the scorpion climbed up on his back, and the fox began to swim. But halfway across the river, the scorpion stung him. As the poison filled his veins, the fox turned to the scorpion and said why did you do that? Now you'll drown too. I couldn't help it, said the scorpion. It's my nature. Janeway: I understand the risk, and I'm not proposing that we try to change the nature of the beast, but this is a unique situation. To our knowledge, the Borg have never been so threatened. They're vulnerable. I think we can take advantage of that. Chakotay: Even if we do somehow negotiate an exchange, how long will they keep up their end of the bargain? It could take months to cross Borg territory. We'd be facing thousands of systems, millions of vessels. Janeway: But only one Collective, and we've got them over a barrel. We don't need to give them a single bit of information, not until we're safe. We just need the courage to see this through to the end. Chakotay: There are other kinds of courage. Like the courage to accept that there are some situations beyond your control. Not every problem has an immediate solution. Janeway: You're suggesting we turn around. Chakotay: Yes. We should get out of harm's way. Let them fight it out. In the meantime, there's still plenty of Delta Quadrant left to explore. We may find another way home. Janeway: Or we may find something else. Six months, a year down the road, after Species 8472 gets through with the Borg, we could find ourselves back in the line of fire, and we'll have missed the window of opportunity that exists right here, right now. Chakotay: How much is our safety worth? Janeway: What do you mean? Chakotay: We'd be giving an advantage to a race guilty of murdering billions. We'd be helping the Borg assimilate yet another species just to get ourselves back home. It's wrong! Janeway: Tell that to Harry Kim. He's barely alive thanks to that species. Maybe helping to assimilate them isn't such a bad idea. We could be doing the Delta Quadrant a favor. Chakotay: I don't think you really believe that. I think you're struggling to justify your plan, because your desire to get this crew home is blinding you to other options. I know you, Kathryn. Sometimes you don't know when to step back. Janeway: Do you trust me, Chakotay? Chakotay: That isn't the issue. Janeway: Oh, but it is. Only yesterday you were saying that we'd face this together, that you'd be at my side. Chakotay: I still have to tell you what I believe. I'm no good to you if I don't do that. Janeway: I appreciate your insights, but the time for debate is over. I've made my decision. Now, do I have your support? Chakotay: You're the Captain. I'm the First Officer. I'll follow your orders. That doesn't change my belief that we're making a fatal mistake. Janeway: Then I guess I'm alone, after all. Dismissed. Tuvok: There are three planets in this system. Inhabitants, all Borg. A vessel is approaching. Janeway: All stop. Shields up. Tuvok: They're hailing us. Janeway: Open a channel. Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Tuvok: They've locked onto us with a tractor beam. Janeway: Borg vessel, this is Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager. I have tactical information about Species 8472. I want to negotiate. Borg: Negotiation is irrelevant. You will be assimilated. Janeway: Borg vessel. What you're receiving is a sample of the knowledge we possess. If you don't disengage your tractor beam immediately, I will have that data destroyed. You have ten seconds to comply. We know you're in danger of being defeated. you can't afford to risk losing this information. Disengage your tractor Borg: State your demands. Janeway: I want safe passage through your space. Once my ship is beyond Borg territory, I'll give you our research. Borg: Unacceptable. Our space is vast. Your passage would require too much time. We need the technology now. Janeway: If I give it to you now, you'll assimilate us. Borg: Species 8472 must be stopped. Our survival is your survival. Give us the technology. Janeway: No. Safe passage first or no deal. Borg: State your proposal. Janeway: Let's work together, combine our resources. Even if we do give you the technology now, you're still going to need time to develop it. By working together, we can create a weapon more quickly. If you escort us through your space we can perfect the weapon as we Chakotay: Where did that ship come from? Tuvok: A quantum singularity has appeared twenty thousand kilometers away. The bioship is heading directly toward the planet. Torres: The Borg shields are weakening. We might be able to break free of the tractor beam. Chakotay: Can you get a lock on the Captain? Tuvok: Not yet. Paris: Commander, there are nine more bioships coming out of the singularity. Janeway: What's going on? To be continued Chakotay: Report. Torres: The Borg shields are offline. I've got a lock on Captain Janeway. Chakotay: Get her out of there and break us free of the Cube. Stand by all weapons. Torres: I'm trying to energize. The Borg are scattering the beam. Chakotay: Compensate. Torres: No effect. Tuvok: We're being hailed. Chakotay: On screen. Janeway: Commander. Cut the transporter beam. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: Do it. I've reached an agreement with the Collective. We're going to help them design a weapon against Species 8472. In exchange, they've granted us safe passage through their space. Paris: The Cube is altering course. They're heading toward the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: That's part of the plan. We'll work on the weapon en route. Once we're across their territory, we'll give them the nanoprobes. They appear to be holding up their end of the bargain. I suggest we do the same. Chakotay: How do you propose we begin this collaboration? Janeway: I'm going to work here, on the Cube. They have technology that'll make the job go faster. I want to take advantage of it. Chakotay: It's not necessary for you to stay there. We can set up a comlink with the Borg and Janeway: It's part of the deal. I work here. Chakotay: All right. As long as we're cooperating, maybe the Borg would be willing to disengage their tractor beam. We can match their course without a leash. Janeway: I'll propose it. Mister Tuvok, transport to my coordinates. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: We're going to make this work, Commander. Janeway out. Chakotay: You heard the Captain. Emh: I replicated nearly ten million Borg nanoprobes, each of them reprogrammed to my specifications, each capable of targeting the alien tissue. Chakotay: Assimilating it. Emh: Just momentarily. The Borg technology will denaturate within seconds, taking the alien tissue along with it. Mister Kim, I'm about to inject your carotid artery. You'll feel a tingling sensation. Don't be alarmed. Emh: Nice to see you again, Ensign. Kes: It's working. Emh: Prepare another dose of nanoprobes. Kes: Yes, Doctor. Chakotay: Good work. Let me know when he's back on his feet. Emh: Commander. I must tell you. I have my doubts about this alliance. You may have convinced the Borg the nanoprobes can defeat their enemy, but a medical treatment is a long way from a weapon of war. Chakotay: Leave that to the Captain. This situation is unpredictable so we're going to stay at full Red Alert. Keep all information about the nanoprobes stored in your holo-matrix. Emh: Don't worry. I'll delete myself at the first sign of trouble. Well, maybe not the first sign. Torres: We've just received word. Tuvok beamed to the Cube. He's joined the Captain. Chakotay: Keep a transporter lock on both of them. Torres: I'll try, but the Borg are already regenerating their shields. Chakotay: Try matching their shield frequencies. Torres: It won't work. They'll be able to adapt too quickly. Chakotay: I don't want to hear what we can't do, Lieutenant! Just find a way to get our people out of there if we have to. Torres: Aye, sir. Paris: They've released their tractor beam. Chakotay: Match their course and speed. Paris: I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but, looks like the Borg are cooperating. Emh: Kes? Kes! Kes! What's wrong? Kes: They're watching us. Tuvok: May I ask where we're being taken? Janeway: Grid nine two of subjunction twelve. Our very own workspace. It's near the center of the Cube. Tuvok: These are my tricorder readings of the bioship we examined. I believe you will find them most revealing. Janeway: Have you compared this to the Doctor's analysis of the alien tissue? Tuvok: Yes. Many of the cellular structures are identical. Janeway: The aliens and their ships are made of the same organic material. Tuvok: Apparently so. Borg: You have entered grid nine two of subjunction twelve. Proceed. Janeway: All right. We've analyzed one of the alien vessels, and it appears to be constructed of organic material vulnerable to the modified nanoprobes. I suggest we begin thinking about a large scale delivery system. A way to infect their ships and destroy them at the microscopic Borg: We will begin. Tuvok: What are you doing? Borg: A neural transceiver is required for maximum communication. We will work as one mind. Janeway: No. That wasn't the agreement. Borg: The neural link is temporary. You will not be damaged. Janeway: I don't care. I prefer to communicate verbally, thank you. Borg: Your primitive communication is inefficient. Tuvok: On the contrary. We work better with our individuality intact. Surely, we've proven that to you by now. Borg: Irrelevant. You must comply. Janeway: We must do nothing. Tell your drone to remove the transceiver. What about choosing a representative? A single Borg we can work with and talk to directly. Borg: Elaborate. Janeway: You've done it before. When you transformed Jean-Luc Picard into Locutus. We will not be assimilated. Choose a representative or the deal's off. Seven: I speak for the Borg. Janeway: I'm Captain Janeway. This is Lieutenant Tuvok. Seven: We are aware of your designations. Janeway: What's your designation? Seven: Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One. But you may call me Seven of Nine. You are proposing a large-scale weapon. We concur. Janeway: I thought you might. Tuvok: We could encase the nanoprobes in some of our photon torpedoes. In essence, turn them into biomolecular warheads. Seven: Your torpedoes are inadequate. They lack the necessary range and dispursive force. Janeway: Do you have a better idea? Seven: We are Borg. Tuvok: I take that as a yes. Seven: A multikinetic neutronic mine. Five million isoton yield. Tuvok: An explosion that size could affect an entire star system. Seven: Correct. The shock wave will disperse the nanoprobes over a radius of five light years. Janeway: That's somewhat larger than I had in mind. You're proposing a weapon of mass destruction. Seven: We are. Janeway: Well, I'm not. You'd be endangering innocent worlds. Seven: It would be efficient. Tuvok: We'd need approximately fifty trillion nanoprobes to arm this mine. It would take the Doctor several weeks to replicate that amount. You are losing this conflict. Are you willing to risk further delay? Janeway: Right now your enemy believes it is invulnerable. If we create smaller weapons using our torpedoes and destroy a few of their bioships, it may deter them, convince them to give up this war. Seven: You are individuals. You are small, and you think in small terms. But the present situation requires that we consider your plan. Voyager's weapons inventory. Photon torpedo complement thirty two. Class six warhead. Explosive yield two hundred isotons. Tuvok: How did you obtain this information? Seven: We are Borg. Tuvok: Naturally. Emh: Commander, we have some disturbing news. Chakotay: At this point, I'm getting used to it. Emh: Her telepathic visions are increasing, both in frequency and intensity. Kes: It feels different this time. It's almost like they're right here, in the room. Emh: There is it again. Kes: I'm trying to block them out, but I can't. Emh: Every time she has a vision specific regions of her cerebral cortex go into a state of hyperstimulation. Memory engrams, perceptual centers. I can't be sure but I think there's more going on here than just a simple hello. Janeway: Enhance this grid. I want to take a closer look at the detonator. Seven: We must analyze the bioship. Your data. Janeway: You're human, aren't you? Seven: This body was assimilated eighteen years ago. It ceased to be human at that time. Janeway: I'm curious. What was your name before you were Seven: Do not engage us in further irrelevant discourse. We are being hailed by your vessel. Janeway: Commander, what is it? Chakotay: It's Kes. The Doctor believes that the aliens are accessing her memory. Janeway: If that's true, they may already know what we're planning. Chakotay: I've ordered long range scans for bioships. Nothing so far. Janeway: We should alter course, try to throw them off. Seven: Agreed. Our course and heading have been changed. Janeway: Match them, and keep me apprised of any changes in Kes. Chakotay: Chakotay out. Seven: We now require one of your photon torpedoes and the nanoprobes. Janeway: One step at a time. We're not safely across your territory yet. Seven: We must construct and test a prototype now. The risk of attack has increased. Janeway: Irrelevant. We have an agreement. You're asking me to give up my only guarantee that you won't assimilate us. I won't risk it. Seven: Are you willing to risk a direct confrontation with us? If we transport five hundred drones onto your vessel, do you believe you could offer sufficient resistance? Janeway: We'd die trying. Seven: That won't be necessary. We must construct a launching system to accommodate this design. Chakotay: Glad you could join us, Mister Kim. Paris: Harry. Welcome back. Kim: Thanks. Reporting for duty, sir. The Doctor gave me a clean bill of health. Did I miss anything? Chakotay: Not too much. Take your station, Ensign. Torres: You've still got a tendril up your nose. Paris: Commander. I'm picking up gravimetric distortions twelve thousand kilometers aft. It's a singularity. Seven: We are under attack. Paris: They're charging weapons. Chakotay: Shields. Keep a lock on the Away Team. Torres: Direct hit to our secondary hull! Kim: Transporters are offline! Shields and weapons are down. Tuvok: Voyager has taken heavy damage. Seven: We cannot let the nanoprobes be destroyed. Paris: We're being targeted! Chakotay: Brace for impact! Chakotay: The Cube? Paris: Destroyed, and it took the bioship with it. Tuvok: Tuvok to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead, Tuvok. Where are you? Tuvok: I'm in Cargo Bay two Tuvok: Along with the Captain and a number of Borg. Tuvok: We were beamed over just before impact. We require assistance. Chakotay: Tuvok. Tuvok? Secure that deck. Security Team to Cargo Bay two. Paris, you have the bridge. Seven: Lower your weapons. Seven: We are here with your Captain's consent. It was necessary to sacrifice our vessel to protect yours. We have an alliance, do we not? Chakotay: For now they're contained. They've assimilated Cargo Bay two and they're drawing energy from the secondary power couplings. Tuvok: But they've gone no further. Chakotay: Not yet. I've sealed off decks nine through thirteen and posted security details at every access point. Tuvok: I suggest we increase security around Sickbay as well. Chakotay: Already done. How far did you get on the weapon? Tuvok: We're ready to construct a prototype. Kes: You're fit to return back to duty, Lieutenant. Tuvok: And you, Kes? Kes: Oh, I'm all right. The visions have stopped for now. Emh: The plasma burns to her thoracic region I can treat, and I've already stopped the internal bleeding. But her neural injuries are going to require some creative thinking. Tuvok: Before we beamed out, an alien energy discharge struck very near the Captain. Emh: Well, it appears to have disrupted all her neuroelectrical pathways. I'll have to induce a coma to protect her higher brain functions. But I must tell you, unless I can repair the damage, she may never regain consciousness. Chakotay: Make sure those Borg stay put. I want tactical updates every twenty minutes. Tuvok: Aye, sir. Shall I resume working with them? Chakotay: Stand by for now. Emh: The Captain wishes to speak with you. Please keep it brief. Janeway: The Doctor explained my condition. You're in command. Chakotay: I understand. Janeway: They'll push you. They'll threaten you. But they need you. They need this alliance. You have to make this work. I want you to make this work. Get this crew home. Emh: I must begin. Seven: Where is your Captain? I must speak with her. Chakotay: In our medical bay, recovering. You'll be dealing with me now. Seven: Circumstances have changed. Chakotay: I'd say so. Seven: The loss of our vessel requires that we modify our agreement. Chakotay: I've been giving that some thought. I'm willing to let you stay on board. We'll continue to work with you on the weapon. Once we're safely out of Borg territory we'll give you the nanoprobes, shake hands and part company. Seven: Insufficient. Our latest tactical projections indicate that the war will be lost by then. The nearest Borg vessel is forty light years away. You will reverse course and take us to it. Chakotay: Even at maximum warp, that's a five day journey in the wrong direction. We're supposed to be heading out of Borg space, not deeper into it. Seven: There is no alternative. Chakotay: Look, I'll honor the original agreement, but I'm not turning this ship around. It's too dangerous. Seven: Denying our request is also dangerous. Chakotay: I'll think about it. Seven: Think quickly. Chakotay: A five day trip back into the heart of Borg territory. It's too risky. With those drones and the nanoprobes on board, we might as well have a bull's-eye painted on our hull. We're a prime target for Species 8472. We'd never survive another attack. Neelix: What is the alternative? Chakotay: I'm going to end this alliance here and now. We're going to drop the Borg off on the next uninhabited planet, give them the nanoprobes and take our chances alone. They can wait for a Borg ship to pick them up and finish the weapon. I'm in command now and I have to do what I think is best for this crew. Tom, I want you to scan for the nearest uninhabited planet and set a course. Paris: Aye, sir. Tuvok: I must caution you, Commander. The Borg may not go quietly. Chakotay: We'll see. Bring that female drone to the Ready room. Dismissed. Chakotay: Once we've beamed you to the surface, we'll send down the nanoprobes and all our research. Seven: Unacceptable. We don't have time for Chakotay: This isn't open for discussion. I'm not turning this ship around. You're getting what you wanted. I suggest we part ways amicably. Seven: There is another option. We could assimilate your vessel. Chakotay: If a single drone steps one millimeter out of that Cargo Bay, I'll decompress the entire deck. You won't pose much of a threat floating in space. Seven: When your Captain first approached us, we suspected that an agreement with humans would prove impossible to maintain. You are erratic, conflicted, disorganized. Every decision is debated, every action questioned. Every individual entitled to their own small opinion. You lack harmony, cohesion, greatness. It will be your undoing. Chakotay: Escort our guest back to the Cargo Bay. Chakotay: Well, I've made my decision. If it were only a matter of going against the orders of my superior officer. You're more than just my Captain. You're my friend. I hope you'll understand. Borg: Species 8472 has penetrated Matrix zero one zero, grid nineteen. Eight planets destroyed. Three hundred twelve vessels disabled. Four million, six hundred twenty one Borg eliminated. We must seize control of the Alpha Quadrant vessel, and take it into the alien realm. Seven: We understand. Paris: Class H moon. Oxygen-argon atmosphere. Chakotay: It'll do. Take us out of warp and enter orbit. Paris: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Tuvok. Stand by to transport the Borg directly from the Cargo Bay. After they're on the surface, have security run a sweep of Kim: I'm reading power fluctuations in the deflector array. Chakotay: Cause? Kim: It looks like the Borg have accessed deflector control. They're trying to realign the emitters. Chakotay: Shut them out. Kim: They've bypassed security protocols. Torres: We're emitting a resonant gravitation beam. It's creating another singularity. Chakotay: Reverse course. Paris: We're fighting intense gravimetric distortion. I can't break free. Chakotay: Bridge to Cargo Bay Two. Stop what you're doing, or I'll depressurize that deck and blow you out into space. This is your final warning. Do it! Tuvok: Decompression cycle complete. Kim: I still don't have deflector control. Tuvok: Commander, a single Borg has survived. Paris: We're being pulled in! Chakotay: Report. Tuvok: We appear to have crossed an interdimensional rift. Paris: We've definitely left our galaxy. No stars, no planets. Chakotay: Let's see. Torres: I'm re-calibrating sensors. The entire region is filled with some kind of organic fluid. This isn't space. It's matter. Seven: Commander Chakotay. We have entered the domain of Species 8472. Report to the Cargo Bay. Chakotay: Paris, repressurize Cargo Bay two. Tuvok. Seven: Our entry into fluidic space has created a compression wave. They know we're here. A fleet of bioships is already converging on our position. Time to intercept, three hours, seventeen minutes. Chakotay: You've been here before. How else could you know about fluidic space? Seven: We must prepare this ship for the altercation. We will construct a complement of biomolecular warheads. Chakotay: Why? Why were you here? You started this war, didn't you? What's the matter, our galaxy wasn't big enough for you? You had to conquer new territory? But this race fought back. A species as malevolent as your own. Seven: Species 8472 was more resistant than we anticipated. Their technology is biogenically engineered. It is superior to that of all species we have previously encountered. Tuvok: Which is precisely what you wanted. Seven: They are the apex of biological evolution. Their assimilation would have greatly added to our own perfection. Tuvok: So instead of assimilating these aliens you opened a door for them to our galaxy. Seven: There is only one course of action. Destroy them first. My subspace link to the Collective has been weakened by the interdimensional rift. We cannot signal for help. We are alone. We must construct a compliment of biomolecular warheads and modify your weapons to launch them. Chakotay: I've got a better idea. Why don't you open that rift again and take us back? Seven: If I did that, you will no longer cooperate. Emh: Doctor to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Emh: Report to Sickbay at once. Chakotay: On my way. Chakotay: Captain? Emh: Ah. As you can see, I've repaired her neural damage. Ensign Kim, the Captain, I'm two for two. Janeway: Doctor. if you'll excuse us a moment. Emh: Hmm? Eh? Oh. Gladly. Computer deactivate EMH program. Janeway: The Doctor brought me up to speed, but he couldn't tell me what I really wanted to know. Why? Chakotay: The Collective ordered me to reverse course, travel forty light years back the way we came. What would you have done? Janeway: I probably would've reversed course. Maintained the alliance as long as possible. Chakotay: In my mind, the alliance was already over. Janeway: You never trusted me. You never believed this would work. You were just waiting for an opportunity to circumvent my orders. Chakotay: Trust had nothing to with it. I made a tactical decision. Janeway: And so did I. Chakotay: They have taking advantage of us from day one. Janeway: We made concessions, so did they. Chakotay: They lied. The Borg started the war with Species 8472. We've only got one Borg left to worry about. We should try to disable her and get back to the Delta Quadrant. We might be able to duplicate the deflector protocols they used to open a singularity. Janeway: No. I won't be caught tinkering with the deflector when those aliens attack. There's no other way out of this, Chakotay. It's too late for opinions, it's too late for discussion. It's time to make the call, and I'm making it. We fight the aliens in full cooperation with the Borg. Chakotay: I was linked to a Collective once, remember? I had a neurotransceiver embedded in my spine. I know who we're dealing with. We've got to get rid of that last Borg and take our chances alone. Janeway: It won't work. This isn't working either. There are two wars going on. The one out there, and the one in here, and we're losing both of them. Chakotay: It will be your undoing. Janeway: What? Chakotay: Our conflicted nature. Our individuality. Seven of Nine said that we lack the cohesion of a Collective mind. That one day it would divide us and destroy us. And here we are, proving her point. Janeway: I'll tell you when we lost control of this situation, when we made our mistake. It was the moment we turned away from each other. We don't have to stop being individuals to get through this, we just have to stop fighting each other. Seven: Captain Janeway. Janeway: I've relieved Mister Chakotay of his duties and confined him to the Brig. I'm back in command. Seven: And you understand the situation. Janeway: Completely. Tuvok, give her the nanoprobes. Work with her. Build as many warheads as you can and start modifying our weapons systems. I suggest we think about enhancing our defenses, as well. If we're going to fight this battle, I intend to win it. Seven: We are in agreement. Janeway: Good. This is the plan. We engage the enemy here, in their space. We show them what they're up against. If they have any sense of self-preservation, they'll back off, pull their ships out of the Delta Quadrant. That's provided the weapons are effective. If they aren't, it's been nice working with you. We've got to get this ship armed and ready in under two hours. We're going to war. Kim: Borg modifications are complete. Janeway: Bring them online. Kim: Torpedo launch tubes active. Hull armor engaged. Shield enhancements stable. Tuvok: Biomolecular weapons are ready. Thirteen standard photon torpedoes. And one class ten, armed with a high yield warhead. Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Ready your stations. Seal all emergency bulkheads and prepare to engage the enemy. Stand by for my orders. Paris: Four bioships have just entered sensor range. Janeway: Battle stations. Kim: I've got a visual. Janeway: On screen. Kes: I can hear them. They want to talk through me. They say we've contaminated their realm. Janeway: Tell them we had no choice. We were only trying to defend ourselves. Kes: They say our galaxy is impure. Its proximity is a threat to their genetic integrity. Janeway: Tell them we have a weapon. A devastating weapon that can destroy them at the cellular level. If they don't stop their attacks on the Delta Quadrant, we'll be forced to use it. Kes: They said your galaxy will be purged. Kim: Shields and weapons are offline! Tuvok: Rerouting emergency power to the launchers. Paris: They're coming around for another assault. I've lost thrusters. Tuvok: Biomolecular warheads are charged and ready. Janeway: Fire. Tuvok: Direct hit on all four vessels. No effect. Kim: They're charging weapons! Tuvok: The nanoprobes were successful, if not prompt. All four ships have been destroyed. Janeway: I think we've made our point. Now open a singularity and get us out of here. Paris: Captain. Janeway: Kes, are you still in contact? Kes: Yes. Janeway: Tell them if they continue their attack, we'll use the weapon again. Kes: They're not responding. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Paris: Aye, Captain. They're in pursuit. Janeway: Prepare to fire the high yield warhead. Aft torpedo bay. Tuvok: Ready, Captain. Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: Thirteen bioships have been destroyed. The others are in retreat. Seven: I have regained full contact with the Collective. Janeway: What are they saying? Seven: All remaining bioships in the Delta Quadrant are returning to their realm. The Borg have prevailed. Janeway: With a little help from us. Now it's time you fulfillled your end of the agreement. Tell the Collective we expect safe passage from here on out. We'll give you a shuttlecraft. You can head for the nearest Borg ship. Seven: Unacceptable. This alliance is terminated. Your ship and its crew will adapt to service us. Seven: Resistance is futile. Kim: Captain, she's tapping into helm control. She's trying to access our coordinates. Janeway: Shut her out. Kim: I can't. Janeway: Bridge to Chakotay. Scorpion. Chakotay: Seven of Nine, stop what you're doing. You're human. A human individual. Our minds are linked. We are one. I can hear your thoughts Emh: His link is stable, but it won't be for long. You must hurry. Torres: Just a few more seconds. Chakotay: I can see your memories. Chakotay: You remember being human. Seven: We are Borg. Chakotay: I see a young girl. A family. Seven: Irrelevant. Your appeal to my humanity is pointless. Torres: Almost there, Chakotay. You've got to keep her distracted if we're going to make this work. Chakotay: Listen to your human side. To yourself, the little girl. Seven of Nine. Annika! Emh: He's losing the link! Torres: Initiating power surge now! Tuvok: Her connection to the Collective is severed. Janeway: Get her to Sickbay. Bridge to Doctor. Report. Emh: Commander Chakotay's going to be all right, although he may wake up with a bit of a headache. Janeway: Tom, plot a course out of Borg space. Maximum warp. Paris: Yes, Ma'am. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51003.7. Three days, and no sign of Borg or bioships. We appear to be out of danger, but the entire crew is still on edge and so am I. Not even the calm of Master Da Vinci's workshop is enough to ease my mind. Chakotay: Am I interrupting? Janeway: Not at all. Just finishing up my log. Chakotay: The old-fashioned way. Janeway: I wanted to get as far away from bioimplants and fluidic space. And this feels more human somehow. Chakotay: I hate to spoil the mood, but you might want to look at this Engineering report. It'll take at least two weeks to remove the Borg technology from our systems. B'Elanna did note that the power couplings on deck eight work better with the Borg improvements. Janeway: Leave them. How is our passenger? Chakotay: The Doctor says she's stabilizing. Her human cells are starting to regenerate. Janeway: I wonder what's left under all that Borg technology. If she can ever become human again. Chakotay: You plan to keep her on board. Janeway: We pulled the plug. We're responsible for what happens to her now. Chakotay: She was assimilated at a very young age. The Collective's all she knows. She might not want to stay. Janeway: I think she might. We have something the Borg could never offer. Friendship. Chakotay: I want you to know that disobeying your orders was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. Janeway: I understand. And I respect the decision you made, even though I disagree with it. What's important is that in the end we got through this, together. I don't ever want that to change. Chakotay: Agreed. Janeway: Good. Well, I think it's time we get back to our bridge. Chakotay: No argument there.

Janeway: So, how's the newest addition to our family? Emh: At the moment she's stable, but the prognosis isn't clear. Her human physiology has begun to reassert itself. Respiratory system, neurological functions, immune response. But those systems are swarming with Borg implants. There's a battle being waged inside her body, between the biological and the technological, and I'm not sure which is going to win. Janeway: Well, it's time we brought her up to date. Wake her. Seven: Captain Janeway, What have you? The others. I can't hear the others. The voices are gone. Janeway: We had to neutralize the neurotransceiver in your upper spinal column. Your link to the Collective has been severed. Seven: You will return this drone to the Borg. Janeway: I'm afraid I can't do that Seven: You will return this drone to the Borg! Janeway: If I were to turn this ship around and head back into Borg territory I'd be putting my crew at risk. I'm not prepared to do that. Try to understand. You have to stay on board Voyager. But I'm offering you freedom from the Collective, and I assure you we will do everything we can to help the transition Seven: You will supply us with a subspace transmitter and leave us on the nearest planet. The Borg will come for us. Janeway: It's too late for that. Your human cells are starting to regenerate. You won't survive without medical care. Seven: We need nothing from you. We are Borg. We are - ah! Emh: This implant is being rejected by the tissue underneath. It's going to have to be removed. Seven: You will suppress the human immune system. Emh: I'm sorry, but the process has gone too far. We've got to get you to Sickbay. Seven: No! We are Borg! We are Borg! Emh: This armor plating is anchored to the skull with over three million microconnectors. There's no time to cut through them. I'm going to have to remove the outer layer of the skull itself. Lieutenant, will you please leave the surgical bay. Tuvok: This Borg is a security risk. Emh: She is heavily sedated. I assure you she's not going anywhere. Emh: Thank you. Kes, I want you to anesthetize her cranial nerves. Twenty milligrams anetrazine. Kes: Yes, Doctor. Emh: Kes? Kes: I don't know what happened. I looked at the hypospray and it just came to me. Tuvok: Have you been experimenting with your psychokinetic abilities? Kes: No, not for months, but I have been feeling a little strange lately. Lots of energy, sleeping less. Emh: I can see why. Your serotonin levels are sixty two percent above normal. It's the telepathic centers of your brain. They're in a state of hyperstimulation like they were a few days ago when you were in contact with species 8472. Tuvok: Are they attempting to communicate with you again? Kes: No. This time it's different. I don't feel their presence at all. Tuvok: Perhaps she's experiencing an after-effect of some kind. Emh: A reasonable diagnosis, for a security officer. I'll run a full microsynaptic analysis, but it will have to wait. We should get back to our Borg. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Ship's status report. We've got two teams on the hull, stripping off the Borg armor. They're working around the clock but it's still slow going. Janeway: What about the warp drive? Chakotay: Torres is having problems cleaning out the plasma relays. It's disrupting the antimatter reaction. Until she's got it fixed we're stuck at impulse. She's requesting all personnel with a level three engineering rating or higher to lend a hand. Janeway: Granted. Tactical update? Chakotay: Long range sensors are picking up residual transwarp signatures, Borg vessels. They passed by probably three days ago. Janeway: So we're not out of the woods yet. Chakotay: Having half our propulsion system overrun by Borg implants doesn't make repairs any easier. Janeway: Seven of Nine could help with that. Chakotay: That might be true if she were willing, but she's not in the most cooperative mood. Janeway: That could change. I just have to reach her somehow. Janeway: Annika Hansen. Chakotay: Our Borg? Janeway: It took some digging through the Federation database, but I managed to find a single entry in the records of Deep Space Four. Her parents were unconventional. They fancied themselves explorers, but wanted nothing to do with Starfleet or the Federation. Their names were last recorded at a remote outpost in the Omega sector. They refused to file a flight plan. Apparently, they aimed their small ship toward the Delta Quadrant and were never heard from again. Chakotay: For all we know, Annika and her parents were the first humans the Borg ever assimilated. Janeway: From what she's told me, that was almost twenty years ago. Chakotay: So she was raised by the Borg. It's the only life she ever really knew. If you were thinking of bringing her into the fold, that might not be possible. Janeway: What's the alternative? Toss her back to the wolves? Emh: Sickbay to Captain Janeway. Janeway: What is it, Doctor? Emh: Could you come down here, Captain. We're having some problems. Janeway: I'll be right there. Emh: It's like peeling an onion. Emh: Store it in a bio-stasis chamber. It may still be active. If you think there's a risk, Mister Tuvok, you can throw one of your little forcefields around the chamber. Tuvok: A prudent security measure, for a doctor. Janeway: Report. Emh: I'm afraid we have a decision to make. A difficult one. Her human immune system has reasserted itself with a vengeance. Body armor, Borg organelles, biosynthetic glands, they're all being rejected. Her life is in danger. I have little recourse but to remove the Borg technology. Janeway: Which is the last thing Seven of Nine would want. Emh: Hence the difficult decision. If a patient told me not to treat them, even if the situation were life-threatening, I would be ethically obligated to honor that request. Janeway: This is no ordinary patient. She may have been raised by Borg, raised to think like a Borg, but she's with us now. And underneath all that technology she is a human being, whether she's ready to accept that or not. And until she is ready, someone has to make the decisions for her. Proceed with the surgery. Emh: Aye, Captain. Emh: Kes? Let's begin with the microtubular network embedded in the oesophageal tract. Tuvok: What's happening? Emh: I'm not sure. She's going into neural shock. I can't localize the source. Kes, try to stabilize her motor cortex. Use a neurosequencer. Kes, I said to stabilize her cortex or we're going to lose her. Kes: Wait. I can see it. Emh: What? Kes: I think the problem is in her colliculli. Yes, I can see it. A Borg implant. It's pressing against her trochlear nerve. Emh: Can you tell me how we might remove it without severing the nerve? Kes: I think I can do more than tell you. Emh: The implant is deteriorating. Her nervous system is stabilizing. Nice work, Kes. Unconventional but effective. Emh: They say the eye is the window to the soul. In this case it's a little bit more. I've fabricated this artificial organ to replace her eyepiece, but I've had to retain some of the Borg circuitry along the optic nerve. As a result, she'll have increased acuity in one eye. Note how perfectly I've matched the pigment of the iris to her human eye. Janeway: Excellent work, Doctor. I admire your attention to detail. When can I speak with her? Emh: She's out of immediate danger, and I don't plan to resume the extraction process until tomorrow. I can wake her now, if you'd like. Janeway: I would. How are you, Kes? Kes: I feel exhilarated, Captain. I've never been so focused in my life, and my telepathic abilities are stronger than they've ever been. Tuvok: Your performance today was astonishing. However, your psychokinetic powers are still undiskiplined, and as a result, unpredictable. Kes: I feel like I'm in control. Tuvok: Nevertheless, you must proceed with caution. And with my assistance. Janeway: What are you suggesting? Tuvok: A series of guided meditations to help her explore the depth of these new abilities. Janeway: Kes? Kes: I'm ready. Tuvok: Well then, if you'll excuse us, we should begin immediately. Emh: Ready when you are, Captain. Emh: Don't be alarmed. You're in Sickbay. You're going to be fine. Seven: What have you done to me! Emh: Your body was rejecting the Borg technology. You were dying. I'm sorry, but we had no choice. Those are dermoplastic grafts. They'll help the regeneration process. Seven: Unacceptable. Seven: You should have let us die. Janeway: I couldn't do that. Seven: This drone cannot survive outside the Collective. Emh: I beg to differ. Now that the Borg implants are being excised, your human systems are free to thrive. And thriving they are. As a matter of fact, I Janeway: I want to help you, but I need to understand what you're going through. Seven: Do not engage us in superficial attempts at sympathy. Janeway: It's obvious that you're in pain. That you're frightened. That you feel isolated. Alone. Seven: You are an individual. You are small. You cannot understand what it is to be Borg. Janeway: No, but I can imagine. You were part of a vast consciousness, billions of minds working together. A harmony of purpose and thought. No indecision, no doubts. The security and strength of a unified will. And you've lost that. Seven: This drone is small now. Alone. One voice, one mind. The silence is unacceptable. We need the others! Janeway: I can't give you back to the Borg, but you're not alone. You're part of a human community now. A human collective. We may be individuals but we live and work together. You can have some of the unity you require right here on Voyager. Seven: Insufficient. Janeway: It'll have to do. And the fact is, this community needs you. The Borg modifications you made to our vessel are disrupting our warp drive. We need your help to remove them, your expertise, your cooperation. You must comply. Torres: All right, I think I've got all the Borg garbage out of the plasma intake manifold. Let's try reinitializing the antimatter reaction. Kim: Matter antimatter reaction at twenty two cochranes and rising. Torres: Damn! What happened? Kim: Intake manifolds eleven and thirteen are still blocked. Torres: This is like pulling weeds. You think you've got them all out and then Seven: You have neglected to remove the autonomous regeneration sequencers. Janeway: Lieutenant Torres, Ensign Kim, you remember Seven of Nine. Kim: How could we forget? Janeway: We can't afford to delay repairs any longer, so I've asked her to help us remove the Borg modifications. She only has a few hours before she returns to Sickbay. I suggest you put here to good use. Torres: You can start with the plasma relays. They're in Jefferies tube thirteen. Seven: Jefferies tube thirteen alpha section twelve. We fully recall the engineering specifications of your vessel. Torres: Good. Can you also recall the way it looked before you turned it into a Borg circus? Seven: Yes. Janeway: Well, now that the pleasantries are over, why don't you get to work? I want updates every hour. Torres: Yes, Captain. Tuvok: The flame of the lamp is fire diskiplined, tamed and under control. It is the appropriate focus for the task ahead of us. Kes: How do we begin? Tuvok: I will attempt to guide you in manipulating the flame at the subatomic level. Concentrate on the flame. Try to see past the surface, past the light, to the patterns of energy and matter. Kes: I can see the essence of the fire. Tuvok: Good. Now reach out with your mind and intensify the flame. Kes: I'm making it hotter, brighter. Tuvok: Now, with your thoughts, reduce the flame. Excellent. You never demonstrated this level of control before. Kes: It's as though I knew what had to be done. Tuvok: What's wrong? Kes: Something's happening. I can see further, beyond the subatomic. Tuvok: Kes, there is nothing beyond the subatomic. Kes: But I can see it, Tuvok. It's a new level of reality. It's beautiful. Tuvok: Perhaps we should stop for now. Kes: Wait a few seconds. I want to try to control it. Kes: Don't worry, Tuvok. Torres: What about these linkages. Every time I pull one out another one comes back in it's place. Seven: Autonomous regeneration sequencers. They function to counteract resistance. Kim: Amazing. How did you come up with the pattern duplication design? Seven: We came up with nothing. The Borg assimilated this technology in Galactic Cluster three from species two five nine. Torres: I'm not interested in a history lesson. How do we disable it? Seven: You must disconnect each sequencer conduit at the insertion juncture. Torres: Why don't you two work on the Jefferies tube. Start with the plasma relays. Kim: I'll start here. You said the Borg got this stuff from species two five nine. Who are they? Guess the Borg meet a lot of people, don't they? Stupid question. So, what's it like out there in Galactic Cluster three? Seven: Beyond your comprehension. Kim: Try me. Seven: Galactic Cluster three is a transmaterial energy plane intersecting twenty two billion omnicordial lifeforms. Kim: Ah. Interesting. (Seven's eyepiece zooms in on a communications node - Starfleet ID 59S47B.) Seven: Ensign Kim. Your assistance. Paris: Captain, somebody's trying to access the subspace transmitter. Torres: Captain, I don't know how, but she's erected some kind of forcefield around the door. We can't break through it. Chakotay: She's bypassed our security protocols. Janeway: Disable the transmitter. Chakotay: It's too late. Tuvok: It's obvious your mental abilities have progressed beyond this particular Vulcan exercise. I suggest we. What is it? Kes: Something's wrong. The Borg is trying to contact her people. Tuvok: Tuvok to Security team one. Intruder alert in Engineering. Kes: Wait. I think I can stop her. Kes: It's over. Tuvok: Tuvok to bridge. Status. Janeway: There was some kind of explosion in the Jefferies tube just as she was about to initiate her transmission. Janeway: We don't know what caused it. Tuvok: I believe I may have the answer, Captain. Janeway: I can tell by the expression on your face that you've got some bad news. Tuvok: I have no expression on my face. However, you are correct. The news on two separate fronts is not good. I checked the subspace bandwidths. At least a partial signal was transmitted from Voyager. Janeway: Enough for a Borg ship to track? Tuvok: Possibly. Janeway: And the second front? Tuvok: I believe there is also cause for concern regarding Kes. Janeway: Explain. Tuvok: Internal sensor logs show that she destabilized the Jefferies tube at the molecular level. The effect weakened the infrastructure throughout the deck. She wishes to develop her abilities further. I am not certain it would be safe, for Kes or Voyager. Janeway: I've got an Ocampan who wants to be something more and a Borg who's afraid of becoming something less. Here's to Vulcan stability. Wait for me. Seven: So this is human freedom. Janeway: I've decided to keep you in the Brig until I'm certain you won't try to harm us again. If necessary the Doctor can treat you here. I honestly believed you were going to help us. Seven: You were not deceived, Captain Janeway. It was my intention to help you. Janeway: What happened? Seven: There was a chance to contact the Collective. I took advantage of it. Your attempt to assimilated this drone will fail. You can alter our physiology but you cannot change our nature. We will betray you. We are Borg. Janeway: I've met Borg who were freed from the Collective. It wasn't easy for them to accept their individuality, but in time they did. You're no different. Granted, you were assimilated at a very young age, and your transition may be more difficult, but it will happen. Seven: If it does happen, we will become fully human? Janeway: Yes, I hope so. Seven: We will be autonomous. Independent. Janeway: That's what individuality is all about. Seven: If at that time we choose to return to the Collective, will you permit it? Janeway: I don't think you'll want to do that. Seven: You would deny us the choice as you deny us now. You have imprisoned us in the name of humanity, yet you will not grant us your most cherished human right. To choose our own fate. You are hypocritical, manipulative. We do not want to be what you are. Return us to the Collective! Janeway: You lost the capacity to make a rational choice the moment you were assimilated. They took that from you, and until I'm convinced you've gotten it back, I'm making the choice for you. You're staying here. Seven: Then you are no different than the Borg. Neelix: Talaxian champagne, moon-ripened. Your favorite. Kes: Neelix, where did you get this? Neelix: I put a bottle away for a special occasion. Remember when we last sipped this together? Kes: Three years ago. It was when we first arrived on Voyager. Neelix: And do you remember the toast I made? Kes: Yes. To the adventure. Neelix: To the adventure. When you left Ocampa, you said that your people were being held beck. That if you were only given the chance you could become something so much more. And you have. Kes: I know things have worked out exactly the way we planned. Neelix: I was only holding you back. That's obvious to me now. Kes: No. I couldn't have come this far without you. And I love you. I always will. It's just, er Neelix: My cooking. You've always hated my cooking. Kes: That's exactly what it was. Neelix: Ah. So, tell me more about what's happening to you. What does it all mean? Kes: I don't know, and that's what makes it all so exciting. It's as if I can see into a place where the distinction between matter and energy and thought no longer exists. And that's only the beginning. I feel as if all the boundaries within me are about to fall away. Neelix: It sounds ah, sper, ah, interesting. Kes: I only have to look at an object, to gaze at it, and I can begin to see that the space between the atoms is being filled with something else. Neelix: Er, Kes. Kes: I can see them, I can see. Neelix: Kes, stop! Kes: No. Kes: Neelix! Kim: Captain, I'm picking up some strange energy readings from deck two, the mess hall. Janeway: Bridge to Neelix. What's going on down there? Neelix, report. Kim: The bulkhead in that section is coming apart. Chakotay: Increase the structural integrity field on deck two. Janeway: Tuvok. Emh: I've run every conceivable neural analysis. Everything short of dissecting the brain itself. Her telesynaptic activity is increasing but I don't know why, or how to stop it. Have the ship's internal sensors revealed anything? Tuvok: For seventeen point four seconds Kes's body went into a state of cellular flux. She began to destabilize at the subatomic level. Janeway: Then for some reason her atoms re-established their bonds and she was back in one piece. Emh: But what about the next time? Her condition is escalating. We must find a way to suppress it, or the last we see of Kes could very well be her molecules blowing through the ventilation ducts. Janeway: Tuvok, enhance the structural integrity fields throughout the ship. If she has another incident I'd like to avoid a hull breach. Doctor, maybe it's time we broaden our horizons. This appears to have gone beyond medical science. We're into particle physics now. Emh: I'll try looking through the quantum substructure database. Maybe it'll give me some inspiration. Janeway: Keep me informed. Emh: Kes, until I can devise another diagnostic procedure, you're free to return to your quarters. Kes: Actually, I'd like to stay here, help with the research. Emh: I don't want you to overexert yourself and risk precipitating another telepathic incident. Try to get some rest. Kes: Just let me stay for a little while. I haven't seen you much over the past few days. I miss you. Emh: All right. Just for a while. Ayala: Ensign Ayala to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead, Ensign. Ayala: You'd better come down to the Brig, ma'am. Seven: One. One. Seven: My designation is Seven of Nine. but the others are gone. Designations are no longer relevant. I am one. Janeway: Yes, you are. Seven: But I cannot function this way. Alone. Janeway: You're not alone. I'm willing to help you. Seven: If that's true, you won't do this to me. Take me back to my own kind. Janeway: You are with your own kind. Humans. Seven: I don't remember being human. I don't know what it is to be human. <br> Seven: What are you doing? Janeway: I'm coming in. Seven: I'll kill you. Janeway: I don't think you will. Janeway: Do you remember her? Her name was Annika Hansen. She was born on stardate 25479 at the Tendara Colony. There's still a lot we don't know about her. Did she have any siblings? Who were her friends? Where did she go to school? What was her favorite color? Seven: Irrelevant! Take me back to the Borg. Janeway: I can't do that. Seven: So quiet. One voice. Janeway: One voice can be stronger than a thousand voices. Your mind is independent now, with it's own unique identity. Seven: You are forcing that identity upon me. It's not mine. Janeway: Oh yes, it is. I'm just giving you back what was stolen from you. The existence you were denied, the child who never had a chance. That life is yours to live now. Seven: Don't want that life. Janeway: It's what you are. Don't resist it. Seven: No! Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Warp drive is still offline and we don't know whether the Borg have detected us. Kes' psychokinetic abilities continue to damage the ship's structural integrity, and as a result our defenses have been compromised. Kes: Come in, Captain. Janeway: You wanted to see me. Ah, Tuvok's meditation lamp. I was with him when he got it six years ago, from a Vulcan master. Who doubled the price when he saw our Starfleet insignias. Kes: I'm sure it was the logical thing to do. I've been thinking about everything that's been going on, and I know what I have to do. It's time for me to leave Voyager. Janeway: Oh, Kes. Kes: Something important is happening to me, and I want to explore it. But I can't stay here any longer. I'm a danger to all of you. Janeway: We're going to get to the bottom of this. The Doctor's already working on a new approach. Kes: Everybody thinks that what's happening is a medical condition. That's not it at all. I'm going though a transformation. I don't know how or why, but every cell in my body is telling me that I'm changing into something more. Janeway: What if it's not true? What if you're simply being swept up in the excitement of something you think is happening, but it's not real? On the basis of a feeling, an intuition, you're asking me to let you go, quite likely for ever? Kes, I just can't do that. Kes: It's my decision. My fate. Would you really try to stop me? Janeway: No. But argue with you? Even plead with you to reconsider? Absolutely, for as long as it takes. Kes: It won't work. Look at me, Captain. I'm the same Kes you've always known. I haven't lost my judgment. I'm not under some alien influence. I believe something crucial is happening to me and I want to see it through. Janeway: You've lived most of your life here. Voyager has been your home. And you've been a vital part of this family. Oh, I'm going to miss you. Kes: Now all I have to do is tell the Doctor. He's not going to be happy. Kes: It's starting. Janeway: Janeway to bridge. Chakotay: Chakotay here. Janeway: Prepare a shuttle for launch and have Tuvok meet me on deck six. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: Kes is leaving us. Janeway: Come on. Kes: Captain, I can't stop it. Janeway: Janeway to Chakotay. Beam us directly to the shuttlebay. Kim: The molecules in Kes' body are destabilizing. It's interfering with the transporter. Chakotay: Captain, we can't get a lock. Janeway: Acknowledged. Looks like we're going to have to do this the hard way. Chakotay: What's happening? Paris: The hull is destabilizing. The molecular bonds are breaking down. Kes: Tuvok. I can't keep going. Tuvok: I will attempt a mind meld to help you delay the transformation. Our minds are one. Our thoughts are one. Try to regain control for a moment. Only for a moment. Only for a moment. You must hurry. Kim: Hull breach on decks three, four and five. Chakotay: Emergency containment fields. Janeway: Janeway to the bridge. Kes is aboard the shuttle. Initiate launch sequence. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Paris: Shuttle distance, one hundred thousand kilometers. Speed, one quarter impulse. Janeway: Can you hail her? Kim: I've been trying. Kes: What's happening? What's happening to me. Kim: Her atomic structure is completely destabilizing. Kes: My gift to you. Torres: Torres to bridge. The warp core just came online. Torres: Matter antimatter reaction at one hundred and Torres: Two percent. A hundred and ten percent? A hundred and twenty! Paris: This can't be right. Our speed is - it's impossible! Kim: We're coming apart! Paris: We've just dropped out of whatever it was we were in. Chakotay: Systems coming back online. Janeway: On screen. Where are we? Paris: Nine point five thousand light years from where we just were. Janeway: She's thrown us safely beyond Borg space. Ten years closer to home. Emh: I've extracted eighty two percent of the Borg hardware. The remaining bio-implants are stable, and better than anything I could synthesize at such short notice. Seven: It is acceptable. Emh: Fashion, of course, is hardly my forte. Nevertheless, I've managed to balance functionality and esthetics in a pleasing enough manner. I also took the liberty of stimulating your hair follicles. A vicarious experience for me, as you might imagine. Janeway: You'll have to spend a few hours each day regenerating in a Borg alcove until your human metabolism can function on it's own. We'll leave one operational. Seven: Understood. Janeway: Let's see how things go over the next few weeks. I'll consider granting you access to the rest of the ship once that I can trust that you won't try to get us all assimilated again. Seven: It will not happen again. Janeway: Good. If you need anything, contact me. Seven: Red. Janeway: What? Seven: The child you spoke of, the girl. Her favorite color was red.

Seven: Commander Chakotay. Chakotay: I understand you wanted to see me. Seven: I'm told you are the officer in charge of personnel. That you prepare the duty assignments. Is that the correct phrase? Chakotay: That's right. Seven: I am finding it difficult to spend so much time alone. I am unaccustomed to it. The hours do not pass quickly. Chakotay: I can understand that. How can we help? Seven: I've been considering the matter carefully. I would like to request a duty assignment. Chakotay: Did you have something specific in mind? Seven: Yes. Torres: Now what!? Vorik: There's been a rupture in the coolant injector. Torres: I can see that. Why haven't you sealed it off? Vorik: I am attempting to do so. Torres: That's better. Vorik: Lieutenant, I have an idea. Perhaps it would be advisable to reconfigure the coolant assembly. That would give us greater control over the pressure valve emissions. Torres: You're probably right. And tomorrow we can do it first thing. But not today. Vorik: I don't understand. Why wait until tomorrow? Today would be a much better Torres: Not today, Vorik. Paris: Good morning. Here's the helm control evaluation you wanted. Torres: Thank you. Paris: Are we still on for dinner tonight? Torres: I may have to work. I'll let you know. Paris: Ah ha. Okay. Have you decided if you're, if you're going through with it? Torres: I have. And I'm not. Today hasn't started out very well, and the last thing I need is to get involved with some obscure Klingon ritual. Paris: You were the one who suggested it. Torres: I know. And for one sentimental minute I thought that I might actually go through with it. But not anymore. Paris: Of course not. You wouldn't want to get too sentimental. Torres: I overslept this morning because I forgot to tell the computer to wake me. And then the acoustic inverter in my sonic shower blew out. Paris: That'll make your hair stand on end. Torres: So I didn't have time for breakfast. And when I got here two people were out sick, so I had to cancel the fuel cell overhaul. And then an injector burst for no apparent reason and started spewing plasma coolant Paris: That's a run of bad luck, all right. Torres: So I am in a bad mood, and I know that I am being a little bit testy. Paris: No, that's okay. Think about that dinner. Paris: Be careful. Chakotay: Something interesting just happened. Torres: What's that? Chakotay: Seven of Nine requested a duty assignment. Torres: Fascinating. Chakotay: She wants to work in Engineering. Torres: What? Chakotay: The Borg use transwarp conduits to travel through space faster than warp speed. If we could create one of them. Torres: We don't know anything about transwarp technology. Playing around with it could be dangerous. Chakotay: That's where Seven of Nine comes in. She's offered to work with you. Torres: What do you think her real motives are? Chakotay: She's having a tough time making the transition from the Collective. She wants something to do. Torres: I never thought of you as naive, Chakotay. The bottom line is, I don't want her working in Engineering. Chakotay: The bottom line is, I'm giving you an order and you're going to follow it, Lieutenant. Torres: Whatever you say, sir. Janeway: Seven of Nine, you told me you wouldn't make any more attempts to contact the Borg. I want to believe that's true. Seven: I assure you it is. Janeway: I've decided not to post a security detail while you're in Engineering, but you have to realize there are rules. You'll be expected to follow our protocols. You'll report directly to Lieutenant Torres and obey any order she gives you. Seven: I understand. Janeway: One more thing. Your designation, Seven of Nine, it's a little cumbersome. Wouldn't you prefer to be called by your given name, Annika? Seven: I have been Seven of Nine for as long as I can remember. Janeway: All right. But maybe we could streamline it a little. How would you feel about Seven? Seven: Imprecise, but acceptable. Tuvok: Tuvok to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Yes, Tuvok. Tuvok: Please come to the bridge. A ship is approaching. Tuvok: It's damaged but functional. Energy emissions are so low, it's probably not capable of warp speed. Several dozen lifesigns aboard. We are being hailed, Captain. Janeway: Open a channel. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. Rahmin: I am Rahmin. My people are the Caatati. I apologize for our appearance and the condition of our ship. Most of our people were assimilated by the Borg over a year ago. We lost everything. Janeway: How many of you escaped? Rahmin: A few thousand on thirty ships. All that's left from a planet of millions. Janeway: I'm sorry. Rahmin: Captain, I want to assure you, my people were once proud and accomplished. Janeway: I understand. Rahmin: It pains me to have to ask this, but I have eighty eight people to care for on this vessel. We need food, medicines. Is there any way you could help us? Janeway: Of course. Send us a list of your needs and we'll see what we can do. Rahmin: I'm deeply grateful. If it's not too much to ask, is there any way you might also spare a small quantity of thorium isotopes? Without them, our systems can't function. Janeway: I think we can arrange that. I'll speak to my engineer. Rahmin: You can't imagine what this means to us, Captain. Thank you. Torres: How are those thorium isotopes coming, Vorik? Vorik: I'll admit I'm having trouble controlling the neutron absorption. Torres: Try increasing the temperature of the plasma. Get the thorium to the captain as soon as it's ready. Vorik: Of course. Torres: Tell me something. When you hear about people like the Caatati, do you have any feelings of remorse? Seven: No. Torres: That's it? Just no? Seven: What further answer do you require? Torres: Oh, maybe some kind of acknowledgement of the billions of lives you helped destroy. A justification for what you did. Maybe a little sense of guilt? Seven: Guilt is irrelevant. Torres: Heartwarming. Seven: I've set the parameters for the tachyon bursts we'll need to create a transwarp conduit. It will be several hours before the main deflector can be modified. I think it would be best if I waited in my alcove. Torres: I think you're right. Neelix: If I ever saw a job for the morale officer, it's sitting right here. I'll bet I can help. Torres: You're facing a big challenge, Neelix. Neelix: I enjoy a challenge. Torres: Is that supposed to make me feel better? Neelix: Blood pie, for the Day of Honor. Torres: How did you know about that? Has Tom been talking to you? Neelix: Not at all. No, I make it a point to know these things. And if I'm correct, many Klingon families traditionally serve blood pie on the Day of Honor. Torres: I appreciate the gesture, Neelix, but I've decided to ignore this particular tradition. No blood pie, no examining my behavior over the last year to see if I measure up to Klingon standards. Neelix: Understood. Lieutenant, without knowing why there's a black cloud hanging over your head, may I suggest something? Torres: Go right ahead. Neelix: You have a bit of a temper that you keep reined in, and sometimes it builds up inside you until you explode at someone. Torres: I'd say that about sums it up. Neelix: I'm offering to be a pressure valve. Torres: What? Neelix: You may use me to blow off steam. When you're angry, come see me. Call me names, insult me, question my parentage. I won't take it personally. And you won't need to keep things bottled up inside anymore. Torres: That may be the nicest offer I've had in a long time. Thank you, Neelix. You're sweet, but I'm not sure I could do that to you. Neelix: I'm here if you need me. Torres: Neelix. About this Day of Honor. Do you think I should go through with it? Neelix: I've always thought traditions were good things, worth preserving. Torres: I've been thinking a lot about the rituals that my mother taught me, and they don't seem quite so hateful as they did when I was a child. Maybe being so far away from anything Klingon has changed me. Neelix: It certainly can't hurt to go through with the ceremony. Torres: I don't know what effect it'll have on me. That's what's frightening. All right, bring on the blood pie. I can do this. Moklor: Qapla'! What warrior goes there! Torres: My name's B'Elanna. Moklor: Do you come to have your honor challenged? Torres: I guess so. Yes. Moklor: Are you willing to see the ceremony through to the end? Torres: That's the idea, isn't it? What do I do? Moklor: It will be a lengthy ordeal. First, you must eat from the heart of a sanctified targ. Moklor: Pak'logh! Yes, the heart of targ brings courage to one who eats it. Next, you will drink mot'lach from the Grail of Kahless. Drink to the glory of Kahless, the greatest warrior of all time! Moklor: Kahless defeated his enemies on the field of battle and built a mighty empire. How have you proven yourself worthy? Torres: I haven't built any empires, and I can't say that I've personally defeated any enemies in battle, but you have to realize I'm not living among warriors. Moklor: Then how do you expect to distinguish yourself? Torres: I don't know. I guess I'm doing the best I can. Moklor: Huh. A pitiful reply. Let us proceed. A warrior must endure great hardship. To test your mettle you will endure the ritual of twenty pain-sticks. After that, you will engage in combat with a master of the bat'leth. Finally, you will traverse the sulfur lagoons of Gorath. Torres: You know, I don't think so. I didn't want to do this before you described it. Certainly not now. I'm leaving. Moklor: Not until you have completed the ceremony, p'tach. Torres: Thanks so much. It's been lovely. Torres: Come in. Paris: I tried to find you before, but you were on the holodeck. Torres: That's right. Paris: You know, you left it running. There was a Klingon in there who didn't look too happy. Torres: Really? Paris: Yeah, and he was nursing a whale of a black eye. Looked like he'd had a run in with someone having a really bad day. Torres: That's very funny. Paris: So, how'd it go? Torres: It didn't. Do you mind if we talk about something else? Paris: As a matter of fact I do. You have been like a spitting cobra all day and it's getting boring. You know, we designed that holodeck program together, and I think you owe me the courtesy of telling me what happened. Torres: It was ridiculous, meaningless posturing. Honor, dishonor, what does it matter? Paris: It matters because it's part of who you are. You've been running away from that your whole life. Torres: Who are you to tell me that? Paris: I care about you, but if you're going to keep pushing me away then there's no point in my staying around, is there? Torres: Fine! Just leave me alone. Paris: Don't worry. If this is the way you treat people who try to be your friend, you'll be alone all right. Lumas: There are over two hundred people on our three ships alone. Everyone of them suffers from malnourishment, but it's been hardest on the children. Every parent sacrifices for their child, but even so, there's not enough food. If you could hear the crying of the babies, you would have as much trouble sleeping at night as I do. Tuvok: Have you considered relocation to a planet where you could grow your own food? Lumas: Of course, but we haven't been welcomed anywhere. Because we have no resources everyone treats us like vagrants, even criminals. Chakotay: We're not unsympathetic, but we have limited supplies. We can't possibly provide enough for all your people. Lumas: Forgive me but, from my perspective you live in luxury. You don't suffer from debilitating diseases. You have many sources of energy. Replicators. Your crew is very well fed. Apparently, keeping your bellies full is more important to you than helping those less fortunate. Neelix: That's unfair. These are the most generous people you could hope to meet. But if we gave supplies to everyone who asked, we wouldn't have anything left. Janeway: Neelix, how much food can we spare? Neelix: We could provide each ship with several hundred kilograms. Janeway: Do it, and check with the Doctor to see if he can spare any medical supplies. Neelix: Aye, Captain. Lumas: Thank you. May the gods smile on you and your crew. Janeway: Tuvok, please escort our guest to the transporter room. Paris: I've never navigated a transwarp conduit. Any problems I should be aware of? Seven: You have no idea what you are doing. If we attempt to enter one, I'll have to take helm control. Paris: I am a quick study. Lumas: What species is that? Tuvok: She is a human who lived as a Borg. Lumas: Borg! Tuvok: She is disconnected from the Collective. She won't harm you. Lumas: Where's my wife? Where are my children? What did you do with them after you took them? What did you do with my family? Tuvok: Mister Paris, please proceed. Lumas: I lost everything. My family, my home. Paris: Sorry about that. Seven: About what? Paris: Well, the way he reacted to you. Seven: He didn't injure me. Paris: Good. Seven: There are many people on this ship who have similar feelings towards me. Paris: I'm afraid you're right. Does that bother you? Seven: No. Paris: Well, I'm not one of those people. We all have a past. What matters is now. Seven: I'm uncertain what you're trying to say. Paris: That if there's any way I can help you adjust to your life here on Voyager, please ask me. Seven: I will remember your offer. Seven: All systems are ready. Torres: We're only going to take a peek. We open a conduit, get as much sensor data as we can, then close it up. I want to take this one step at a time. Vorik: I've set up a temporary tachyon matrix within the main deflector. It's online. Torres: Engineering to the bridge. Torres: We're ready to start, Captain. Janeway: Go ahead. We'll monitor your progress from here. Torres: We'll need to be at warp speed to create a large enough subspace field. I'd like to reroute helm control to Engineering. Janeway: Agreed. Janeway out. Torres: Take us past Paris: Past warp two. I know. We're at warp two point three. Torres: All right. Vorik, start emitting the tachyons. Vorik: Energizing the matrix. Seven: There's no indication of a subspace field. I recommend switching to a higher energy band. Paris: That did something. Seven: The subspace field is forming. Torres: Tachyon particles are leaking into the propulsion system. Paris: Shut down the deflector. Vorik: Done. But the leak is continuing. Janeway: Janeway to Engineering. Torres: The tachyons are flooding the warp core, Captain. Janeway: If you can't stabilize the core immediately, evacuate Engineering. Torres: Aye, Captain. I'll get back to you. Vorik: I've cut all power relays, but the tachyon levels are still rising. Torres: All right, everybody out! Now! That means you as well. Seven: I could be of help. Torres: That's an order. Paris: You can't order me, I outrank you. Torres: We've got to neutralize the core. Paris: I'll try decoupling the dilithium matrix. Torres: No effect. Try it again. Paris: It's not working. The core is about to breach! Torres: I've got to try one more thing. Paris: B'Elanna, there's no more time. We've got to get out of here. Come on. Torres: Computer, prepare to eject the warp core. Authorisation Torres omega phi nine three Torres: Computer, eject the warp core. Torres to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Torres: We've dumped the core. Welcome to the worst day of my life. Torres: Vorik, we have to get those impulse engines back online. You and Nicoletti get started. Vorik: Yes, Lieutenant. Janeway: Report. Torres: We're stopped dead. The warp core is millions of kilometers away by now, and the impulse engines are seriously damaged. I can give you a few thrusters, but that's about it. Janeway: How long before I can have impulse power? Torres: I can't give you an estimate on that. We're still assessing the damage. So much for opening a transwarp conduit. I sent the Borg back to her alcove. We won't be needing her in here any more. Janeway: At least the core's still intact. Tom, take a shuttle and find it. See if you can tractor it back to Voyager. Paris: Yes ma'am. Torres: It'll be unstable. It should be repaired before he tries to put a tractor beam on it. Janeway: Well then, you go with him. Do whatever you have to. Just get it back here in one piece. Torres: We're getting near some random ion turbulence. Paris: I'll change course to avoid it. Torres: I wonder what else can go wrong today. If we get this core back, I'm going right to bed and sleeping straight through till tomorrow. Get this day over with. Paris: Well, look at it this way, how much worse could it get? Having to dump the warp core has to be the low point of any day. Torres: Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm asking for this trouble somehow. Paris: Or maybe it's just a streak of bad luck? Sensors have picked up a polymetallic object. Could be the core. Torres: That's the warp signature all right. There's something else out there. A ship. According to sensors it has the same energy signature as the Caatati ships. Paris: Maybe they're guarding it for us. Torres: Right. Paris: I see it. What do they think they're doing? Torres: They're trying to put a tractor beam on it. Paris: This is the Shuttle Cochrane to the Caatati vessel. Please respond. Lumas: Don't come any closer. We're performing a salvage operation. Paris: Oh, what a coincidence. So are we. Lumas: I'm afraid we got here first. Don't interfere or we'll open fire. Torres: Don't you realize that core is highly unstable? If you try to tractor it like that you could cause an antimatter explosion. Paris: They're not answering. Torres: Idiots! Paris: We have to stop them from destroying the core. Torres: I'm going to try and disrupt their tractor beam. Paris: It's working. Paris: What was that? Torres: They sent an antimatter pulse back through our particle beam. Computer: Warning. Structural integrity field has been compromised. Now at fifty three percent and falling. Hull breach in two minutes twenty seconds. Torres: Reroute power from the propulsion and weapons systems. Computer: Warning. Hull breach in two minutes ten seconds. Paris: No effect. Computer: Warning. The structural integrity field has collapsed. Hull breach in two minutes. Paris: We have to get out of here. Computer: Warning. Hull breach in one minute fifty seconds. Paris: Computer, send a distress call to Voyager. Give them our coordinates. Computer, respond. Torres: The comm. systems must be down. Paris: Transporters are still online. Stand by to energize. Energize. Paris: Paris to Voyager. Do you read me? Please respond. Paris to Voyager. Torres: It's no use. The comm. system in these suits won't carry that far. Paris: When they get the impulse engines repaired they'll come looking for us. Torres: Well, I don't plan on just drifting here hoping someone will just come along and rescue us. There must be something we can do. Paris: Agreed. If we could interplex the comm. systems in both suits we might be able to create a phased carrier wave. Voyager would read the signature and know it's from us. Torres: Good idea. Let me access your controls. Paris: I thought you'd never ask. Torres: That's it. This would be a lot easier if I had a hyperspanner. Hold still. Paris: Why is it we have to get beamed into space in environmental suits before I can initiate first contact procedures? Torres: Why is it that if we're alone for more than thirty seconds you start thinking about contact? Paris: Ah, that is not fair. The other day in Engineering I must have gone four minutes before I started thinking about it. Torres: Okay, I'm ready to initiate the carrier wave. Paris: Ah! Ah! Torres: Sorry. Better? Paris: Yeah. Let's hope it's still that strong by the time it gets to Voyager. Janeway: Come in. Would you like tea or coffee? Seven: I have no need to ingest liquids. I still receive energy from the Borg alcove. Janeway: My understanding is that you're almost ready to begin eating food. Seven: That is what the doctor says. Why have you asked me here? Janeway: Whenever there's an accident on the ship, even a minor one, we investigate it in order to minimize the chances of its happening again. Seven: A prudent course of action. Janeway: I didn't have a chance to talk to Lieutenant Torres before she left the ship, so I wanted to ask you some questions about what happened in Engineering. Sensor logs indicate the tachyons were leaking into the warp core. Do you have any idea how it started? Seven: No. We had reconfigured the deflector shield to emit tachyon bursts. The procedure must have triggered the leak. Janeway: Who was controlling the tachyon bursts? Seven: Ensign Vorik. Janeway: What were you doing? Seven: Monitoring the transwarp frequencies. Janeway: And did you at any time access deflector control? Seven: You believe I'm responsible for the accident. That I deliberately sabotaged the ship. You are like the others, you see me as a threat. Janeway: I won't lie to you. Part of me is suspicious. We've dealt with tachyon fields before and never had this kind of problem. Seven: Captain. I am unaccustomed to deception. Among the Borg it was impossible. There were no lies, no secrets. And I assure you I had nothing to do with the accident in Engineering. Janeway: I believe you. Thank you. Seven: I am finding it a difficult challenge to integrate into this group. It is full of complex social structures that are unfamiliar to me. Compared with the Borg, this crew is inefficient and contentious, but it is capable of surprising acts of compassion. Janeway: Unexpected acts of kindness are common among our group. That's one of the ways we define ourselves. Seven: Is there anything more? Janeway: Yes. We still have to find out what caused the tachyon leak. Tell me what you remember about the power fluctuations in the propulsion system. Torres: This isn't anything like the simulations we had at the Academy. They felt peaceful, like floating in the womb. But right now I'm feeling a little sick to my stomach. Paris: You dropped out too soon. In the third year there's a six week course of actual spacewalks so you can get used to them. Torres: I never would have lasted to the third year. If I hadn't dropped out, they would have asked me to leave. Paris: I wish I'd known you then. Torres: You'd have hated me. Paris: I can't imagine a time I wouldn't have found you fascinating. Paris: What the hell was that? Torres: More ion turbulence. Computer: Warning. Oxygen level at one hundred fourteen millibars. Paris: My oxygen supply is leaking. Computer: Warning. Oxygen level at ninety three millibars. Torres: We'll have to share mine. Torres: Are you getting air now? Paris: Yes. Much better. Thanks. What's wrong? Torres: The turbulence must have damaged my suit too. I should have at least twenty four hours worth of oxygen, but there's only about a half hour left. Vorik: Engineering to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Yes, Ensign. Vorik: I'm pleased to inform you that impulse power should be restored Vorik: Within the hour. Janeway: Good news. Let me know the minute the engines are online. Vorik: Yes, ma'am. Seven: Captain, I believe I've found the cause of the accident. Erratic fluctuations in the ship's warp power. When tachyon levels rose to a resonant frequency, core pressure increased. Janeway: Then it was an accident. Come in. Chakotay: Captain, we've picked up a carrier wave with a Starfleet signature. I'd guess it's Tom and B'Elanna, but they're not answering our hails. Janeway: They may be in trouble. As soon as we get impulse power Tuvok: Tuvok to the captain. Can you come to the bridge? Janeway: On my way. Tuvok: We're being approached by an armada of Caatati ships. Kim: They're hailing us. Janeway: On screen. Lumas: Hello, Captain. Janeway: You've brought some friends. Lumas: Needy friends. We're hoping you will offer us more supplies. Janeway: I made it clear last time that we couldn't possibly you with enough for all your ships. Lumas: And I had to accept that because your ship is more powerful than ours. But the situation has changed, hasn't it? You seem to be at a disadvantage now. We have your warp core. You can't escape. I'm hoping that'll make you more generous. Janeway: We've given you everything we can spare. Return the core and we'll be on our way. Lumas: One of our ships might not seem threatening to you, but I assure you, twenty seven can inflict considerable damage. We are desperate. Prepare to send us food, weapons, and your entire supply of thorium. And that Borg you're protecting. We want her too. There are many who'd enjoy a chance to repay one of them for what they did to us. Paris: I'm lowering the oxygen ratio. That should give us a few more minutes. Torres: I'm feeling kind of groggy. Paris: Oxygen deprivation. Torres: And you're lowering it? Paris: We have to try to make it last as long as possible. Torres: It's ironic, isn't it. Paris: What? Torres: Today, the Day of Honor, is the day that I'm going to die. Paris: We are not going to die. Would you stop talking like that? Torres: We have to face up to it, Tom. Paris: There's something I've been wanting to ask you. Torres: Well, now's the time. Paris: When we first met, you didn't have a very high opinion of me. Torres: That's putting it mildly. I thought you were an arrogant, self- absorbed pig. Paris: Flattery won't get you any more oxygen. Do you think I've changed? Torres: A lot. Now you're a stubborn domineering pig. I'm just kidding. There I go again, just pushing you away. You were right about me. It's what I do, push people away. Paris: Well, it's a sure fire way of not getting hurt. Torres: What a coward I am. Paris: Shush. Chakotay: Our weapons are more powerful than theirs. I say we fight. Kim: Maybe if we give them something? Janeway: Like what? I can't imagine what would satisfy them now. Seven: I will go. They asked for me. If I surrender myself perhaps they'll let you leave. Janeway: That's very generous, but I will not turn you over to them. Seven: I was only offering to do what would be best for this group. Janeway: You're part of this group now and we're going to protect you. It's time to stop talking about this. Tom and B'Elanna are in trouble and we have to find them. Tuvok, what's the status of our weapons array? Tuvok: Weapons are at the ready, Captain, but our shield strength is extremely low. Janeway: We'll have to shut down non-essential systems. Reroute power to the shields. We're going to fight. Seven: That might not be necessary. Caatati technology is dependent on thorium isotopes. If they had enough they could become self-sustaining. Kim: But we don't have that much thorium to give them. Seven: When the Borg assimilated the Caatati, the survivors lost their ability to replicate the isotopes. But I have retained that knowledge. I could design an energy matrix that would produce thorium in large quantities. Chakotay: If you've had this knowledge all along, why didn't you say so? Seven: I am not accustomed to thinking that way. Borg do not consider giving technology away, only assimilating it. Janeway: And what do you suppose made you consider it now? Seven: I am not certain. Janeway: Maybe it was just an unexpected act of kindness. Work with Vorik to build the energy matrix, while I convince the Caatati there's a better way out of this. Seven: This matrix will produce nine hundred forty four grams of thorium per day. Janeway: Now you can power all your systems and begin to rebuild your replication technology. Will you allow us to leave? Lumas: One device isn't enough for all our ships. Seven: Using this matrix as a template you can construct as many as you like. We can provide you with components and specifications. Lumas: You are free to go. And thank you. Seven: You're welcome. Computer: Warning. Oxygen level at one hundred four millibars. Torres: Tom. Come on. Open your eyes. Computer: Warning. Oxygen level at eighty seven millibars. Paris: I was having a dream. Torres: There's something I have to say. Paris: Me too. I'm glad the last thing I'll see is you. Torres: I've been a coward about everything. Everything that really matters. Paris: Now you're being a little hard on yourself. Torres: No. I'm going to die without a shred of honor. And for the first time in my life that really bothers me. So I have to tell you something. I Computer: Warning. Oxygen level at seventy one millibars. Torres: I have to tell you the truth. Paris: The truth about what? Torres: I love you. Say something. Paris: You picked a great time to tell me. Janeway: Voyager to Tom Paris. Tom, do you read me? Respond. Paris: We're here. Janeway: Prepare to beam aboard.

Namon: Don't move. Brone: What's this? Namon: We found him in the trunks, a hundred footfalls past Grove Yellow. Brone: Arms? Namon: None, sir. Brone: These colors? Namon: We didn't ask. Brone: He's no Krady beast, is he? Namon: No, sir, but he doesn't bear Vori colors either. Brone: Hmm. His glimpse is too tame to be a Kradin. Namon: I hadn't fathomed that, sir. Brone: Well, fathom it now. He's no nemesis, is he? Namon: I'm not certain what he is, sir. Brone: Weren't you drilled to fathom the nemesis? Namon: Yes, sir. Brone: And we abhor none but the nemesis, do we? Namon: No, sir. None but the nemesis! Brone: Then set him loose. Didn't you hear, Novice? Chakotay: Thanks. Brone: Go take provisions. Namon: I'm sorry, sir. Brone: Go. Chakotay: I take it you're in charge here. Brone: Team Leader Brone, Fourth Vori Defense Contingent. Chakotay: Commander Chakotay of the starship Voyager. Brone: I'm very sorry for my defenders. They're new to the clash and glimpse the nemesis all around them. Chakotay: The clash. You're at war? Brone: You've strayed into the fullness of it. Chakotay: That explains why my shuttle came under fire. Brone: One of my defenders glimpsed a vessel falling in Grove Yellow. It must have been yours. Why fly so close to this sphere? Chakotay: I was on a survey mission. I picked up traces of omicron radiation in your atmosphere so I slowed down to take a look. As soon as I did that, I came under attack. I lost helm control and had to make an emergency transport to the surface. Brone: It'll be the Kradin that fired at you. Chakotay: The Kradin? Brone: Our nemesis. Chakotay: I see. Well, I tried to explain that I had no hostile intentions, but they just kept shooting. Brone: The nemesis crave supremacy in the air. They fire on any craft that doesn't show Kradin colors. Chakotay: I tried to contact my ship but my communicator's not working. Brone: All dispatching in the clash zone has been suppressed. Chakotay: I have to find my vessel. Maybe it's salvageable. Brone: That's little likely. We're ordered to cluster with the Seventh Contingent two new lights from now. They'll have means to signal your people. You can make the walk with us to meet them. Chakotay: I appreciate the offer, but I can't wait two days. I have to find my vessel now. Brone: It wouldn't be sharp to return to the trunks. The nemesis is everywhere there. Chakotay: Then I'll have to do my best to steer clear of them. Brone: If your tactic won't change. Chakotay: It won't. Brone: It's sharper to wait for the new light. Chakotay: Then I'll take your advice and wait. Rafin: Provisions? It's not so savory. Chakotay: Thanks. I'm sure it'll be fine. Rafin: They call me Rafin. Chakotay: Chakotay. Pleased to meet you. Rafin: In the trunks, did you glimpse any? Chakotay: Any what? Rafin: Krady beasts. Chakotay: No, I didn't. Namon: Rafin's never glimpsed the face of the nemesis either. Have you, Rafin? Rafin: No. It's my first walk in the clash zone. Namon: You'll glimpse them in the soon after. When you do, you'll fathom there's no heart thumping beneath their flesh. How many beasts will you send to the Wayafter, Rafin? Rafin: I couldn't say. Namon: Me, I'll nullify one for each brother and cousin that I've lost. And then one more after. True or not, my allies? All: True. Namon: So I ask you again, Rafin. How many will you nullify? Rafin: As many as I'm able. Namon: You've got the trembles. If you don't wrestle your trembles to rages, ally, the nemesis'll nullify you. Chakotay: This nemesis of yours. Why do you call them beasts? Rafin: It's told they all wear the same horrid face. Their flesh is gnarled and blistery like the rotting trunks. Their glimpses flame like fire, And if you dare near enough, their breath stinks of muck. Chakotay: You know, sometimes people say terrible things about their enemies to make them seem worse than they really are. There might be some young Kradin soldier out there who's more afraid of you than you are of him. Rafin: The nemesis wasn't scared to fume my village, nor scared to nullify my cousins and brothers in their sleep. And my old mother's mother, too, who never told an unkind word nor nullified an insect in all her days and nights on this sphere. Chakotay: That's pretty rough. Rafin: And who but a Krady beast would leave the nullified bodies of mine and ours upturned, so they'll never descend to the gloried Wayafter? Chakotay: What do you mean by upturned? Brone: Which of you will walk with Chakotay to find his craft when the new light comes? Chakotay: I appreciate the offer, but I'll be fine on my own. l Brone: You don't fathom the trunks and you don't carry arms. One of my defenders will walk with you. Which will it be? You, Rafin. Rafin: Sir, I, I Namon: I'll walk with the stranger, sir. If any beast comes to clash, I'll nullify the beast. Brone: Well told, Namon. Now close your glimpses, defenders, and dream of your sisters and mothers. Namon: Have you never nullified another, stranger? Chakotay: Killing's the worst thing I've ever had to do. Namon: Then the nemesis you nullified wasn't half so beastly as the Kradin. Chakotay: Maybe not. Namon: In their glimpsers, we're less than nothing. They flame our homes, take our plantings, make playthings of our sisters. If you were a Vori you'd crave to drive them from this sphere just as I do. Chakotay: Maybe I would, if they did things like that to the people I loved. But on the sphere I come from we try to find other ways to resolve differences. Peaceful solutions, Negotiations. Namon: You don't fathom the nemesis. Chakotay: No. I suppose I don't. Namon: Beg the power you believe in that you never will. The light will be old soon. We'd be sharp to cluster with the others. Chakotay: In a few minutes. We should be getting close. Namon: You'd be sharp to do my tellings. Chakotay: Go back if you want to. I've got to keep looking. Namon: No, wait. I pledged to walk with you. Glimpse there. Chakotay: It doesn't look like there's much left of my shuttle. Namon: You'll have to make the walk with us to the Seventh Contingent. Chakotay: Don't make me kill you. Chakotay: How is he? Rafin: Nullified. Brone: We beg peace from the Power who made us Vori, and we commend our brother, Namon, to the gloried Wayafter. Chakotay: What's this? Brone: Namon's coverings. Chakotay: Shouldn't they go to his family or someone he was close to? Brone: It's a long walk to the cluster mark. It's sharper to blend with the trunks. Your fleet colors will get us all nullified. Chakotay: I'm sorry about what happened to Namon. Brone: The nemesis has nullified mine and ours in the before, and will in the now. But in the soonafter, we'll send them flying from this sphere and go back to our sisters and mothers. Brone: Take it. Chakotay: This isn't my war. I'm not planning to shoot anybody. Brone: If we greet the nemesis in the trunks, you'll fire like the rest. As long as you're with us, you do my tellings. Fathom? Chakotay: Fathom. Brone: Rafin. Rafin: Yes, sir. Brone: Drill Chakotay to fire Vori arms. Rafin: Now you. Your glimpse is too low. With these arms it's sharper to aim higher than the mark. Chakotay: You're good. Rafin: Don't mock me. Chakotay: I was paying you a compliment. Rafin: It is one matter to fire at clay marks, but much another to nullify the nemesis. That's what Namon told, and he told the truth before he went to the gloried Wayafter. Chakotay: He was right. Killing's not easy. Rafin: Risking my own days and nights to drive the nemesis from our sphere. That should be as easy as a long sleep. Chakotay: Who told you that? Rafin: My brothers and uncles who were in the clash. Brone my driller. And Namon, my ally, who was nullified because of me. Chakotay: You think it's your fault that Namon died? Rafin: If I didn't have the coward's trembles, I would have walked with you in the trunks. And it would be me and not he who went to the Wayafter. Chakotay: You weren't the one who pulled the trigger, Rafin. And there's no shame in being afraid of fighting. Having the trembles is natural. Rafin: How do you fathom that? Chakotay: Because I've been in battle before, fighting to free my people from a nemesis called the Cardassians. Rafin: These Cardassians, were they beasts? Chakotay: Let's just say they weren't very friendly. The point is, even though I believed in what we were doing, I always felt fear before a fight. Rafin: But you wrestled your trembles to rages, didn't you? Chakotay: I guess I did, but that doesn't mean Rafin: I was told to drill you, Chakotay. But it's you who've drilled me. Drilled me to fathom the rages. Chakotay: Brone. Brone: What is it? Chakotay: I don't know. Brone: Neck-strapped and upturned. Left to be cooked by the glare. Chakotay: He's one of yours? Brone: By his coverings he's of the Seventh Contingent. Likely a scout walker. Chakotay: Desecrated by the Kradin. Rafin: He'll never turn his face to the Wayafter. Brone: We're three hundred footfalls from the cluster mark. Signal the Seventh. Again. Rafin: Why don't they answer? Chakotay: Is it possible they moved their camp for some reason? Brone: Little likely. You two, fast walk to the cluster mark and glimpse what you can. Rafin: Sir. Brone: What? Rafin: Let me go. Brone: Well told, Novice. Keep the talk low and your glimpse wide. Rafin: Sir. Brone: What have you glimpsed? Rafin: The Seventh Contingent, sir. Nullified. Brone: What, all of them? Rafin: At least twenty defenders. And that's not the whole telling of it. They're all, they're all Brone: Tell it, Rafin. They're all how? Rafin: Like him, sir. Upturned. Staked to the dirt up and upturned. Brone: Those motherless Krady beasts. Do you glimpse the fullness of it now, stranger? Chakotay: Yes. I think I do. Brone: Now you fathom why we name them beasts and not men? Chakotay: I'm sorry. Brone: We're much more than sorry, aren't we, defenders? All: Yes, sir! Brone: The nemesis wants your plantings. All: True, true. Brone: He wants your homes. He wants your sisters. But does it suffice him to nullify you? No. He craves to shame you, mock you, keep you from the gloried Wayafter! We're wearied of it, aren't we? All: Yes sir! Brone: We're wrestled to the rages for it, aren't we? All: Yes, sir! Brone: And we're not going to swallow it. Not in the now, or in the soonafter! Brone: Assault! Apply yourselves and fire back! Rafin: Motherless beasts! Chakotay: Rafin, no! Stay down! Rafin: I'll nullify you all! Chakotay: Hold on. I'm gonna get you out of here. Rafin: Please. Turn my face to the Wayafter. Penno: A defender. Mark, neighbors, a defender! Karya: Welcome to Larhana settlement, gloried defender. You're brightly greeted. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51082.4. After searching for more than two days we've finally located what's left of Commander Chakotay's shuttle. I can only hope the Commander has fared better than his vessel. Tuvok: According to the ambassador, Chakotay's shuttle was hit by enemy fire and crash-landed somewhere on the southernmost continent. Janeway: Right in the middle of the war zone. Tuvok: I'm afraid so. Janeway: Can we get a lock on him? Kim: There's too much atmospheric radiation from weapons fire. We can't scan the surface. Tuvok: Which means we don't know if he's still alive. Janeway: Why don't we assume he still is? Paris: I should have gone with him. Janeway: It's not your fault, Tom. We couldn't have anticipated this. What we've got to do now is figure out how to deal with it. B'Elanna, try to modify the scanners. Cut through the interference. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Neelix, what do you know about this war? Neelix: It's vicious. Ambassador Treen's people have been defending themselves against a particularly savage aggressor for more than a decade. Janeway: Is the Ambassador willing to help us find Chakotay? Neelix: He's willing, but he may not be able. Tuvok: His resources are extremely limited, and the situation on the surface is chaotic. Neelix: But he's assured me that if his troops do find Chakotay, he'll receive medical attention and be transported to the nearest command post. Torres: Let's hope he doesn't meet up with these savage aggressors first. Paris: Captain, let me lead a team down there and bring him back. Janeway: I understand how you feel, Tom, but let's take it one step at a time. Tuvok, recontact Ambassador Treen. Ask for any tactical support he's willing to provide. Maps, weapons analyzes, intelligence reports. Before I risk anyone else's life I want to know exactly what we're getting ourselves into. Penno: By your coverings, you're a novice, defender. Do I tell the truth? Chakotay: Listen, there's been a misunderstanding. I'm not a defender. My shuttle was shot down by the Kradin and I landed in the clash zone. I met up with one of your patrols. They gave me this uniform. Penno: Which contingent? Chakotay: The Fourth. Marna: The Fourth? They're sturdy clashers. Penno: Tell us, did you and your allies drive the nemesis from the trunks? Chakotay: We put up a brave fight. Marna: Then you're a gloried defender even if you claim not to be. Penno: Marna tells the truth, Chakotay. You are welcome among my neighbors. Chakotay: Thank you. That's very kind. Marna: Do you crave anything more? Drink? Warm coverings? Chakotay: What I really need is some communications equipment to contact my crew. Penno: We have no means to signal your people. Marna: The Kradin drove us from our homes and plantings, and took all the machinery we had. Chakotay: Do you know where I might find some place with communications equipment? Penno: The restock unit. Chakotay: Can you tell me how to get there? Penno: It's not very near. At least ten thousand footfalls through the thick of the trunks. Chakotay: Then I'd better get started. Marna: The new light is coming. Rest till then. Penno: Yes, please, Chakotay. Rest until the new light. Chakotay: I think I will. Penno: Come, neighbors. Let's give defender Chakotay some quiet. Karya: I wanted to know if you crave more. Chakotay: No, thank you. Karya: Oh. Chakotay: But it was delicious. Karya: And the blossoms, do you like them? I planted them myself. Chakotay: They're very pretty. Karya: I've heard tellings that the Kradin leave our nullied defenders upturned. Is it true? You can tell me. Penno says I'm too small to be told, but I'm not. Chakotay: It's true the Kradin don't respect your beliefs. Karya: The Kradin are beasty. I don't fathom why they flamed our homes, nor why they crave to nully us all. Chakotay: I don't either. Karya: We never took their plantings. We never nullied their brothers. So why do they hate us? Chakotay: I wish I could tell you. Hate's not something I understand very well. Karya: My brother's a defender, too. Chakotay: Really? Karya: He left for the clash two plantings before. I was much smaller then. He was sturdy, and pleasing to glimpse in his colors. Like you. Maybe you've glimpsed him. He's called Daryo. Chakotay: There are a lot of soldiers in the war. I only met a few of them. Karya: He's a team leader of the Seventh Defense Contingent. Chakotay: The Seventh. Are you sure he was with the Seventh? Karya: They're very sturdy in the clash. Have you heard of them? Chakotay: The patrol I was with was supposed to rendezvous with them. Karya: Why didn't you? You would have glimpsed him. Chakotay: We were ambushed before we had the chance. Karya: But when you go back to the clash, maybe you'll glimpse Daryo then. You could take a letter to him. Chakotay: I'm not going back to the clash zone. I've got to get to the restock unit so I can contact my ship. Karya: Then you can bring my letter to the restock unit. Maybe some defender there can take it to Daryo. Will you do it? Please? I'll go write it now, before the new light comes. Chakotay: I wish you a good day. Penno: Thank you. Marna: Provisions for your long walk. Penno: Walk well, defender Chakotay. Chakotay: Thank you both. You've all been very kind. Karya: Writings for my brother. You'll be sure he gets them? Chakotay: I'll do my best. Karya: Your best will be enough. The pretty smell of the blossoms will hold the nemesis far away. Chakotay: Then you'd better keep one for yourself. Kradin: Offer no opposition, or you will be nullified. Janeway: No evidence of cellular residue on the shuttle wreckage, so there's a chance Chakotay survived the crash. Paris: Unfortunately the wreckage was found inside enemy territory, Tuvok: So there is also a chance he has been captured or killed by the nemesis. Paris: There you go looking on the bright side again, Tuvok. Janeway: What's this nemesis? Tuvok: It is the term Ambassador Treen's people use to identify their enemy. Paris: Apparently, they're vicious. They shoot without warning, use biochemical weapons, routinely massacre civilians. If we run into them, it's safe to say they won't be hanging out a welcome sign. Janeway: I want a team on the surface as soon as possible. Paris: I was hoping you'd say that. Tuvok, let's get moving. Tuvok: I must caution you both my tactical analysis does not bode well for the success of such a mission. Given the situation in the battle zone, there is a very high probability that an away team will sustain heavy casualties. Paris: Are you saying we should just abandon Chakotay? Tuvok: On the contrary. Janeway: I suppose you've come up with an alternative plan? Tuvok: Indeed. I have concluded that the least risky course of action is for a single crew member to make the infiltration, accompanied by a commando unit that Ambassador Treen has agreed to provide. Paris: Fine with me. When do I leave? Janeway: Something tells me that's not what Tuvok has in mind. Tuvok: Naturally, I am the logical person to carry out this mission. Paris: Naturally. Kradin: Get down there! Karya: Chakotay! Chakotay: I heard the explosions, and I came back to help. Karya: What did the Kradin do to you? Chakotay: They interrogated me. Where's your grandfather? Karya: I don't know. He's very gray, and his heart's not sturdy. He needs me to tend him. Chakotay: You. You! I want to talk to your superior. Hey, I'm talking to you! I want to know what you've done to this girl's grandfather. He's old and needs medical atte - Argh! Karya: Chakotay! Penno always tells it'll be brighter when the new light comes. Chakotay: Your grandfather's a wise man. Chakotay: That's right, get some sleep. Karya: You'll tend me, won't you, no matter what comes in the soonafter? Chakotay: Close your glimpsers, and dream of your gloried brother. Kradin: Come along. Vori. Move along. Karya: Where are they taking them? Chakotay: I don't know. Marna: They'll be fast walked to the extermination facility. Karya: Why? Marna: Because they're gray and too long-lived the Kradin think them unfit for toiling. They won't make good servers like us. Kradin: Offer no resistance. Karya: Penno. Penno! Penno: Karya! Karya: Where are they taking you? Penno: Be sturdy, my daughter's daughter. Karya: Who's going to tend you? Penno: We'll glimpse each other again in the Wayafter. Karya: Set him loose! Chakotay: Karya! Karya: Set him loose! Kradin: Be still! Chakotay: Keep your hands off her. Don't touch her! Commandant: What's the matter, pretty one? Karya: Set my mother's father loose. Commandant: Is that the man you mean? Penno: No! Karya! Karya: Please, set him loose! Commandant: You don't want to see him suffer, do you, pretty one? Karya: No. Commandant: Don't worry. The old Vori's suffering will be over soon enough. Karya: No! Penno! Commandant: Take this shrieking waif to the extermination facility. Karya: No. Chakotay, set me loose! Chakotay, help me! Chakotay: Motherless beast! Janeway: Are Ambassador Treen and his soldiers ready to beam aboard? Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Energize. Janeway: Welcome aboard, Ambassador. Thank you for agreeing to help us find our crewman. Treen: Your thanks are unnecessary, Captain. Any victim of our bloodthirsty nemesis, the Vori, will always find friends among the Kradin people. Brone: Chakotay. Be calm now. I'll set you loose. Sorry to leave you upturned so long, but I had to shroud myself in the trunks till the Kradin walked on. Chakotay: The villagers, from Larhana settlement? Brone: They were fast walked through the trunks. Chakotay: And your defenders? Brone: All nullified. Chakotay: Thank you for coming back for me. You put yourself at risk. Brone: And you, Chakotay, clashed beside us against the Kradin though you are a stranger to this sphere. I glimpsed you chancing your days and nights to save Rafin from our nemesis. Chakotay: You tell the truth when you name them beasts. What will you do now that your men are gone? Brone: Join with the Fifth Contingent. They're trying to free the villagers. It doesn't go brightly for them. Chakotay: I'll come with you. Brone: No. I'll bring you to command. You can signal your people. Chakotay: That can wait till the soonafter. In the now, you need my help to nullify the nemesis. Brone: Back walk! Back walk! The nemesis is nearing. It's sharper to back walk. Chakotay: Brone! Kradin: Vori soldiers! You are surrounded. Lay down your arms and surrender. Kradin: Hold your fire! Chakotay: You'll have to nullify me first! Kradin: Hold your fire, Commander Chakotay. Do not fire, Commander. Chakotay: How do you know my name? Kradin: I am Lieutenant Tuvok, Chakotay: Tuvok? Don't walk any closer! Kradin: I've come to take you back to Voyager. Brone: Nullify him, Chakotay. It's a Kradin tactic. Kradin: I assure you, Commander, this is no ruse. It is Lieutenant Tuvok. Don't you recognize me? Brone: He's the nemesis! Chakotay: You're a Kradin beast. You destroyed that village, nullified Penno, took away Karya. She was only a child! Kradin: They've brainwashed you, Commander. Look closer. Try to recall. Your shuttle was shot down. These people, the Vori, they captured you. Chakotay: No, they rescued me. Tuvok: That is what they want you to believe. They have been indoctrinating you, training you to fight their war. Chakotay: Take one more step and I'll nullify you. Tuvok: You are Commander Chakotay of the starship Voyager. You are a scientist, an explorer. You are not a killer. Chakotay: Tuvok. Tuvok: Yes, Commander. Chakotay: How can you wear those colors? They're Kradin. They're beasts, murderers. Tuvok: On the contrary, they are the ones who helped us locate you. We tracked you to a Vori training camp. We infiltrated the facility, but you were gone. They had already brought you here to fight this battle. Before today, nothing you experienced here was real. It is the method the Vori use to conscript and train soldiers. Chakotay: I don't believe you! Tuvok: I will prove it to you if you will lower your weapon. Tuvok: Do you recognize this place? Chakotay: It's Larhana settlement. Penno: A defender. Mark, neighbors, a defender! Defender. Karya. Karya: Welcome to Larhana settlement, gloried defender. You are brightly greeted. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51096.5 Although Lieutenant Tuvok has managed to bring Commander Chakotay safely back to the ship, it may be some time before his psychological wounds are fully healed. Emh: My guess is the Vori used a combination of mind control techniques, including photometric projections, heightened emotional stimuli, and highly sophisticated psychotropic manipulation. From the condition of your hypothalamus, I'd say they had you so mixed up they could have convinced you your own mother was a turnip. Chakotay: Everything I experienced was some sort of simulation? Janeway: Except for the battle you were fighting when Tuvok found you. Apparently, attacking the simulated Commandant marked your graduation from basic training. Chakotay: And the men I fought beside, none of them was real? Namon and Rafin weren't killed in front of me? Janeway: As far as we can tell, they were part of the simulation. The idea was to make you bond with your fellow soldiers as well as the villagers, so their deaths would enrage you. Chakotay: Why me? Janeway: Luck of the draw. You happened to be passing through their space and you were as promising a recruit as anyone else. We've been told the Vori have dozens of these training facilities where they conscript their own people, and any aliens they're able to capture. Emh: In short, Commander, you've been subjected to a highly sophisticated form of propaganda. Chakotay: Then the Kradin don't kill innocent civilians? They don't desecrate the Vori's dead? Janeway: I don't know. But the Kradin accuse the Vori of the same kinds of atrocities. Chakotay: I cared about the Vori, but I hated the Kradin. I wanted to kill every one of them. Janeway: Evidently, that was the point. Neelix: Captain. Ambassador Treen would like a word with the Commander. Treen: I wish to tell you how pleased my people are to hear of your recovery. I'm only sorry we weren't able to rescue you sooner from our nemesis. Have I said something wrong? Neelix: I don't know. Chakotay: If you'll excuse me, Captain. Janeway: Chakotay? Chakotay: I wish it were as easy to stop hating as it was to start.

Dejaren: To any vessels within range. I hope this message reaches you. I'm an HD25 Isomorphic Projection. There's been an accident. My crew is dead. I'm alone. Please, help me. Paris: So we rigged the security console so that every time Tuvok accessed the internal sensors it would play a little message. Kim: Live long and prosper. Paris: No matter what button he pushed, live long and prosper. Kim: Naturally, no one was available to fix the malfunction Paris: So Tuvok had to stretch his Vulcan patience to the limit for the rest of the day. Kim: I swear you could hear him grinding his teeth from across the bridge. Paris: And just when he thought it was over, when he went back to his quarters and ordered a cup of Vulcan tea, the replicator says Kim: Live long and prosper! Janeway: The first time I met Tuvok he dressed me down in front of three Starfleet admirals for failing to observe proper tactical procedures during my first command. My human ego took a little bruising, but, of course, he was right. Over the past nine years I've come to rely on his insightful and unfailingly logical advice. For outstanding services, Chief Tactical and Security Officer, it's my pleasure to grant you the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations, Tuvok. Tuvok: Thank you, Captain. Had I known this commendation entailed ritual humiliation, I might have declined. However, I accept it with gratitude and will honor the responsibility that comes with it. During my three years on Voyager I have grown to respect a great many of you. Others I have learned to tolerate. As your Tactical Officer, I will continue to do my best to ensure a safe passage home. As a Vulcan, I share the following sentiment. Live long and prosper. Janeway: Bravo. Well deserved. Paris: B'Elanna, this is ridiculous. It's been three days and we haven't said a word to each other. Torres: I know, I know. We have to talk. Paris: About what you said. I mean, the part about being in love with me. I realize you were suffering from oxygen deprivation and we were literally seconds away from death, so I know you probably didn't mean it. Torres: No, no, I meant it. But I don't expect you to reciprocate. Really, you can just pretend that I didn't say it. In fact let's just pretend that I didn't Paris: Shut up. Emh: Mister Paris, there you are. Torres: I was just leaving. Lieutenant. Paris: What can I do for you, Doc? Emh: The Captain has authorized me to recruit someone with advanced medical training to help out in Sickbay. Unfortunately, the most qualified crewmember is you. Paris: You want me to be the new nurse? Emh: If that's the title you prefer. It will only be temporary. Three duty shifts a week. Report to Sickbay and oh six hundred hours. Bring a tricorder and a smile. Kim: What kind of modifications? Chakotay: We've like to enhance the Astrometrics lab. It hasn't been upgraded since Voyager left spacedock. Kim: I'll start right away. Chakotay: I've assigned Seven of Nine to work with you. She's agreed to provide us with all the navigational data for this area she acquired during her time with the Borg. Is there a problem? Kim: No. No problem. Chakotay: Try to make her feel like part of the team. Kim: Right. Part of the team. Janeway: Have you made arrangement for the Arritheans for tomorrow? Neelix: The delegate says he's looking forward to trading with such an advanced starship. Janeway: You've done an excellent job preparing for this mission, Neelix. I think you should consider this your first official assignment as Ambassador. Culhane: Ensign Culhane to the Captain. Janeway: Janeway here. Culhane: We are receiving an automated distress call five light years from here. You might want to bring the Doctor. Dejaren: I'm an HD25 Isomorphic Projection. There's been an accident. My crew is dead. I'm alone. Please, help me. Emh: He's a hologram. We've got to help him. Ensign, track the source of the transmission. Emh: Once we find the ship, I'll lead an away team. Janeway: I don't recall giving you a promotion today. Emh: Oh. Well, I'm the obvious choice to provide assistance to a holographic being. Janeway: Doctor, I don't want you leaving Voyager unless it's absolutely necessary. I'm still concerned about damaging your mobile emitter. Emh: I understand. But if this is a hologram, one of my own kind so to speak, I'd like to meet him, study him. I'll bring Lieutenant Torres just to be safe. She knows more about my emitter than anyone. Janeway: The rest of us will meet with the Arritheans. We'll see you there, when you're finished. Emh: Thank you, Captain. Kim: Seven? Seven: I am here. Seven: Am I to work with you? Kim: Oh, hi. Yes, I thought we'd start in Jefferies tube thirty two B. Enhance the astrometric sensors, if that's okay with you. Unless this is a bad time. Maybe I can come back later. Seven: Ensign Kim, you seem apprehensive. Kim: No, not at all. Seven: The last time we worked together, I struck you at the base of your skull and attempted to contact the Collective. Kim: These things happen. Seven: I assure you it will not happen again. Kim: That's good to know. Seven: I've designed new navigational sensors. Some of the alphanumerics are Borg. Kim: No problem. I always wanted to learn Borg. Seven: That is difficult to believe. Kim: I was kidding. It was a joke. You know, humor. Seven: I understand the concept of humor. It may not be apparent, but I am often amused by human behavior. Torres: Relax, Doctor. I'm sure we'll find the ship. Emh: That's not what I'm concerned about. I've been questioning the wisdom of leaving Mister Paris in charge of my Sickbay. Torres: Tom will do fine. He's a very responsible guy. Emh: Well, I suppose you'd know better than I would. Torres: What's that supposed to mean? Emh: You seem to have become good friends. Torres: Let's get one thing straight. I don't appreciate you or anyone else speculating about the kind of friendships I have. Or who I have them with. Emh: Sorry, I didn't realize I'd struck a nerve. Perhaps you'd like a tranquilizer. Torres: There it is. Emh: That's his ship? Try hailing it. Torres: No response. Emh: Lifesigns? Torres: A few energy readings, but they're erratic. Propulsion and main power are down. Emh: We're approaching transporter range. Emh: Hello? Is anyone here? We're here to help you. Torres: No signs of life? Emh: Not yet. Torres: I'd like to check your mobile emitter, make sure you made it through the transport okay. Emh: For a Klingon, you have a decent bedside manner. Torres: Thanks. Emh: I wonder what kind of bedside manner Mister Paris will exhibit? That was a rhetorical question, Lieutenant. Torres: Your holographic matrix is stable, Let me check your emitter's power cells. Emh: You might want to consider a career in medicine. Torres: Where the hell did this come from? Dejaren: Sorry. Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. Emh: You sent the distress call? Dejaren: Yes, yes, that's me. It was me. And you, you're an isomorph like myself? Emh: We use the term hologram. Dejaren: Hologram. And you, you're a hologram too? Torres: No. Dejaren: You're organic. Torres: Ah, that's one way of putting it, yes. Torres: It looks like your program is fairly compatible with our holographic technology. Can you tell me where I can access your projection controls? Dejaren: Why? Torres: You're obviously malfunctioning. Maybe I can repair you. Dejaren: Oh, of course. I'd appreciate that. Over there. You can access my systems from that console. Emh: What happened here? Dejaren: Oh, it was terrible, just terrible. You see, we left Seros eight months ago. Seros, that's our home planet. With a crew of six. Emh: All isomorphic projections? Dejaren: No, just me. I'm an HD25 maintenance unit with extreme hazard clearance. I'm responsible for cleaning the reactor core, ejecting antimatter waste, that sort of thing. When the crew got sick there was nothing I could do. I'm not designed for medical functions. I, I Emh: Try to calm down. Explain what happened one step at a time. Dejaren: Two of the crew members left to survey a planet. When they came back they'd been infected by a deadly virus. It spread quickly to the other organics on board, and one by one, well, I watched them all die. Then things started to malfunction here. I've limited knowledge of the controls. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come. Torres: I think I've stabilized your program, but I'll need access to your primary isomatrix. Where is it? Dejaren: On the lower deck. You, you shouldn't go down there. Torres: Why not? Dejaren: Too dangerous. That deck's been flooded with antimatter radiation. Organic flesh would disintegrate within seconds. You can access my isomatrix from this deck. There's an interface junction in that compartment. Torres: Thanks. Emh: Mind if I run a quick diagnostic? Dejaren: What's your name? Emh: I don't have a name. It's a long story. Dejaren: I'd like to hear it, and everything else about you. Seven: I'm ready to supply power to the enhanced sensors. Kim: What? Already? Seven: Yes. You believe that my work is unsuitable? Kim: Of course not. Just checking. Standard procedure. Seven: I may no longer possess Borg perfection, but my experience as a drone has taught me to be efficient and precise. Kim: Actually, you've misaligned this optical assembly. Seven: Impossible. Kim: Take a look. It's off by point five degrees. Seven: It must have been my humanity reasserting itself. I will correct the error. Kim: So, what do you do for fun down in Cargo Bay two? Seven: Fun? Kim: You know. Relaxation, entertainment, during your off hours. Seven: I regenerate in my alcove. I study the Starfleet database, and I contemplate my existence. Kim: That's a lot of time by yourself. Seven: It is. The optical assembly is properly aligned. I'm ready to access the main power supply. Kim: After you. Kim: Wait! What are you doing? There are five million gigawatts running through there! Seven: The exoskeleton on this limb can withstand it. Kim: That's all well and good, but there are safety procedures we've got to follow. Seven: Your procedures are a waste of time. Kim: Maybe so, but you've been assigned to me and I say we do this by the book. All right? Seven: All right. Kim: Well, now that we've got that cleared up. Dejaren: You can use this emitter to go anywhere? Emh: Well, my Captain has imposed a few restrictions. But I'm free to leave Sickbay, join away missions, take a stroll. Dejaren: Extraordinary. I've never left this vessel before. And until the crew got sick, I ever even left the antimatter storage chamber. Do you know what it's like spend your life trapped inside a tiny room, not knowing what's beyond the door, what the world is really like? Nobody coming to see you or talk to you unless they want something? Emh: Actually, I know exactly what it's like. When I was first activated I was regarded as little more than a talking tricorder. I had to ask for the privileges I deserved. The right to be included in crew briefings, the ability to turn my program on and off. It's taken some time, but I believe I've earned the respect of the crew as an equal. Dejaren: An equal? Emh: I've also been pursuing personal interests. Art, literature, music. Perhaps you could do the same. Dejaren: Oh, no, no, no. My programrs on Seros would never allow that. Emh: Then you'll convince them. Maybe they'll appreciate how well you've coped with this situation, how you've managed to find help. Think about it. You've already exceeded the sum of your subroutines. Emh: What are you doing? Dejaren: Nothing. Er, nothing. I'm just sterilizing the ship. I'm fastidious about germs. I know that must sound strange coming from an artificial being. Emh: Not at all. I've been known to act a little strangely myself. Dejaren: Hungry? You're organic. You require nutrients. They're only rations but our crew liked them. Torres: Careful! That's an isomimetic conduit. You could destabilize your matrix. Dejaren: Of course. How stupid of me. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have barged in here. Torres: It's all right. I could use a break. Thank you. Dejaren: You nibble, like a fish. Torres: I'll take that as a compliment. Dejaren: Oh, it is. I've never seen a fish before, not a real one, but I've read about them on our database. Fish aren't like other organics. They're more passive, I think, most of them. And so clean. Is there anything I can do to help with repairs? Torres: As soon as I'm done with lunch, you could help me access your primary matrix. Dejaren: Gladly. Torres: Is something wrong? Dejaren: Seeing the ship ripped apart like this, it's. I, I guess I can't help feeling a kind of affinity for this vessel. It sustains my existence. Sometimes I feel like it's a part of my body, my soul. That probably sounds silly to you. Torres: No. No, I understand how you feel. Dejaren: You couldn't possibly understand how I feel. You're an organic. You exist apart from your ship. I understand how you feel. Torres: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. Dejaren: You're the one who's trapped, not me. You spend your entire life stuck inside a biological cage of flesh and bone and blood. Torres: Right. I'm going to go give the Doctor an update. Dejaren: I exist as pure energy, but you depend on food and water to survive. Frankly, I find it disgusting. Look at you, Look at you. Grinding up bits of plants and animals with your teeth. Secreting saliva to force it down your esophagus into a pit of digestive acids. You can't even stand to think about it yourself. What a repulsive creature you are! Constantly shedding your skin and hair, leaving your oily sweat on everything you touch. You think that you are the height of intellect in the universe, but you are no better than any filthy animal and I am ashamed to be made in your image! My apologies. My apologies. I have acquired some hostility towards organics. It was not meant for you. I was treated quite badly by the crew here. Torres: I'm sorry to hear that. But you have to realize that we're here to help you. Thanks for the rations. Torres: We've got a problem. Emh: Oh? Torres: I think there's a problem with our isomorph and I'm not talking about his emitters. Emh: Explain. Torres: I've just spent the last ten minutes hearing his views on biological life. Let's just say they're a bit unconventional. Did you realize that we organics are a bunch of inferior, disgusting animals? Emh: Now that you mention it. Torres: He started ranting about how much he despises organics. I didn't think I was going to get out of there without a fight. Emh: I will admit he is somewhat socially inept. Torres: Inept? He's a lunatic. Emh: That is hardly a sound medical diagnosis. Torres: He has also been lying to us. I just ran a tricorder scan of the lower deck. The one he said was flooded with radiation? Well, it's not. Emh: Why would he lie about that? Torres: I don't know. Maybe he doesn't want us to go down there. Maybe he's hiding something. Emh: I understand your concerns, Lieutenant. I've been talking to him as well, and I recognize that he has some behavioral difficulties. But imagine what he's been through. Trapped in a room no bigger than a storage compartment. And he's had almost no interaction with organic beings. It's only natural he'd developed problems communicating, even a little resentment. Do you recall my own behavior when I was first activated? Torres: How could I forget? You were a major pain in the Emh: My point is, I too was somewhat alienated from the rest of the crew. It took me a few days to master the social graces. Torres: I realize that he is a fellow hologram and that you are committed to helping him, but I want the ability to shut down his program if I have to. Emh: If you really feel that's necessary. Torres: I'm going to search the lower deck, see if I can access his primary isomatrix. You keep him occupied until I get back. I don't think he'd appreciate a filthy animal like me snooping around Dejaren: Am I interrupting? Torres: No. Actually, I was just leaving. Dejaren: I'd like you to meet someone. Doctor, this is Spectrum. Emh: A holographic fish? Dejaren: Magnificent, isn't he? So peaceful, and so content. I programmed him to keep me company. Don't you have a pet? Emh: Oh, it wouldn't be appropriate, not in a medical environment. Dejaren: They wouldn't let me have one either. I had to hide him. Emh: He's very lifelike. I didn't realize you had such a talent for holographic design. Dejaren: Oh, I've programmed all sorts of things. Seven: This node contains Borg navigational data. Kim: How do we get it out of here? Seven: The proper instrument was part of my thoracic assembly before the Doctor removed it. I suggest a radical dislocation. Kim: A what? Seven: We need to pull it out. Assist me. Kim: Okay. On three. Seven: Three? Kim: On the count of three we pull together. Seven: Crude, but effective. Kim: One, two, three. Seven: I've been damaged. Kim: Ooo, that looks pretty bad. You'd better get to Sickbay. Seven: As a drone I would have regenerated within seconds. I've become weak. Kim: No more than the rest of us. You'll be fine. Come on, I'll walk you there. Paris: Another half a millimeter and you would have severed the carpal nerve. I'd have had to operate. You're a mere mortal now. As your family doctor, I suggest you be more careful. There, good as new. Kim: I'll see you back in the Cargo Bay. Kim: What kind of bedside manner was that? Paris: What are you talking about? Kim: Can't you see she's feeling vulnerable, and here you are going on about severed nerves and major surgery. Paris: Take it easy. I was just trying to lighten the mood. She wasn't upset by it. Kim: Yes she was. I can see it on her face. Paris: You seem a little protective. This morning you were dreading being in the same room with her. Kim: Well, I've gotten to know her a little better. I don't think most people realize she's not just some Borg automaton. She's actually very complex. Paris: Oh, really? Kim: Yes, she is. She's even got a sense of humor. It's offbeat, a bit subtle maybe, and she's incredibly intelligent. Paris: She ought to be. She assimilated enough people. Kim: See? See what I mean? It's Borg this, Borg that. You can't resist making a joke. There's a woman in there, if you'd take the time to look. Paris: Harry, you've got a crush on her, don't you? Kim: What? No, not at all. Maybe just a little. Paris: I've seen this look in your eyes right before you fall head over heels. You always go for the tough ones. What was it last time, a hologram? I don't know much about Borg women, but my advice to you is, don't. Kim: Just trying to make her feel like part of the team. Paris: Part of the team? You sound like Chakotay. Look, she's beautiful, and she's smart, and I'm sure she's a wonderful conversationalist. But a month ago she was Borg. You don't really know who she is. It's great that you're trying to make her feel comfortable. Just be careful. Kim: Thanks for the advice. Paris: I just hope you take it. Emh: Now that we're clear on the helm controls Dejaren: This is a lot to learn. Emh: You're doing fine. It's vital that you familiarize yourself with all the ship's systems so you can be more self-sufficient. Here are the environmental controls and life support functions. Dejaren: Well, I won't need those any more. No crew to worry about. Emh: Not at the moment. Dejaren: Fifty nine point two percent. Emh: I beg your pardon? Dejaren: That's how much power went into life support. Fifty nine point two percent. Just to keep them breathing, warm, comfortable. Emh: They do require quite a bit of maintenance, don't they? Dejaren: I should know. I spent my entire existence cleaning up after them. When they were busy sleeping or reading, or engaging in their slovenly carnal pleasures. Emh: And this is the sensor grid. You'll find it most useful when you want to scan Dejaren: They took advantage of me. I wish I'd been more like you. You showed me that I could be more than a slave to these biological creatures. Dejaren: I'm not taking this ship back to the organics. I won't return to that existence. Emh: It's a little extreme, don't you think? Dejaren: Join me. Leave Voyager. Escape your prison. Together we'll take this vessel and explore the galaxy. Torres: There you are. Dejaren: Don't look so surprised. You gave me the idea! Emh: Me? Dejaren: You said I should be more self-sufficient. Emh: I agree that we should be treated equally as members of the crew. But we're still projections of energy and light. We have limitations. Dejaren: No! No! No, no, no, no, no! We don't need nourishment, we don't suffer disease. We're the higher form of life. Emh: What's that? Dejaren: Lower deck. Someone's trying to access my matrix. I'll be back. Dejaren: You. Dejaran: No. No! Emh: B'Elanna! Ensign Kim personal log, stardate 51186.2. Working with Seven of Nine is starting to get a little awkward. Tom's right. Anything more than friendship is a bad idea. But I can't stop thinking about her. Seven: You wish to see me, Ensign? Kim: I had this midnight inspiration about reconfiguring astrometric projectors. I hope you weren't regenerating. Seven: I was not. Kim: This is tricky stuff. It could use your touch. Your way of looking at things. A fresh perspective. Seven: Your data. Kim: Why don't you sit down? Seven: I prefer to stand. Kim: This could take a while. You'd be more comfortable. Seven: Comfort is irrelevant. We're here to work. Kim: Okay. Seven: This light is insufficient. Kim: But it's relaxing, don't you think? After hours, quiet. Voyager isn't all Jefferies tubes and cargo bays, you know. Tell you what, when we're done here, I'll take you to the holodeck. We'll run the Ktarian moonrise simulation. It's beautiful. Seven: Beauty is irrelevant. Unless you wish to change the nature of our affiliation. Kim: What do you mean? Seven: I may be new to individuality, but I am not ignorant of human behavior. I've noticed your attempts to engage me in idle conversation, and I see the way your pupils dilate when you look at my body. Kim: I don't know what you're talking about. Seven: Obviously you've suggested a visit to the holodeck in the hopes of creating a romantic mood. Are you in love with me, Ensign? Kim: Well, no. Seven: Then you wish to copulate? Kim: No! I mean. I, I don't know what I mean. Seven: All of these elaborate rituals of deception. I didn't realize becoming human again would be such a challenge. Sexuality is particularly complex. As Borg we had no need for seduction, no time for single cell fertilization. We saw a species we wanted and we assimilated it. Nevertheless, I am willing to explore my humanity. Take off your clothes. Kim: Er, Seven. Seven: Don't be alarmed. I won't hurt you. Kim: Look, this is a little sudden. I was just trying to. Part of the team, you know? Maybe we should just quit for now. Seven: All right. Let me know when you wish to resume our work. Emh: It's all right, B'Elanna. You're safe. Torres: The isomorph? Emh: Apparently you deactivated him. Torres: I took all of his emitters offline. Emh: Not a moment too soon. I found six corpses on this deck, all of them murdered. You almost became number seven. Torres: Ah! Oh, what did he do to me? Emh: He reached inside your chest, grabbed your heart, and perforated your fourth ventricle. Torres: Great. Emh: I've stabilized your pericardium, but I'm concerned about the internal bleeding. Torres: Prognosis? Emh: Less than stellar unless I can get you back to Voyager. Unfortunately I'm having trouble accessing our transporters. Torres: He must have disabled our comm. link to the shuttle. Help me get to the command chamber. Torres: Looks like he set up a dampening field. I think I can cut through it, but I'll need to open this control panel. My engineering kit, it's on that console. Emh: B'Elanna, I thought you said you took all the emitters offline. Torres: I did. Why? Emh: I think you'd better double-check. Dejaren: You said you'd help me. Emh: Put that down. Dejaren: You lied. You lied to me. I thought you were my friend. Emh: It's for your own benefit. Someone needs to repair your program. It's malfunctioning. You're unstable. Dejaren: No, no, no! You're unstable. You're a hologram who thinks like an organic. Emh: This could get tedious. Dejaren: Freedom. Oh, you're getting blood everywhere. I'm going to have to deactivate you. Emh: Is he? Torres: Deactivated. Emh: And you? Torres: Ready to get out of here. Chakotay: Come in. Kim: We've completed the schematics for the Astrometrics lab. Chakotay: Already? You and Seven must have been putting in a lot of extra hours on this. Kim: She's not much for procrastinating. Chakotay: I'm sure she's not. Looks like you're ready to begin construction. Kim: It might be better, more practical, to bring in an engineering team for that. Chakotay: Recruit all the help you need. Kim: In fact, they should probably take over at this point. Chakotay: Don't you want to supervise their work? The Astrometrics lab is your baby. Kim: I would, of course. Er, I just don't think that would be the best use of ship's personnel. Chakotay: Oh, I can rearrange the duty shifts. Kim: Oh, no, Commander, you don't have to do that. I'm sure Seven can handle things without me. Chakotay: Harry, are you having some kind of problem with her? Kim: No, no problem. Chakotay: Because if you are, I'd like to hear about it. Kim: No sir, there's no problem. Not at all. Absolutely not. Er, so if you'll excuse me, I'll be going now. Chakotay: Ensign Kim. Let's have it. Kim: We had a misunderstanding. Chakotay: About? Kim: It's nothing really important. Just your basic Borg - human cultural differences. Chakotay: Really? That's not what she says. Kim: You, you, you spoke, you spoke to her? Chakotay: She seems to think you're making good progress. She finds you reasonably efficient, and says you've been helping her learn more about our complex social interactions. Any idea what she meant by that? Kim: Can't imagine. Chakotay: You two make a good team. I want to keep you together on this project. Kim: Sir. Aye, sir. Chakotay: And maybe others in the future. Have fun. Emh: I've stopped the internal bleeding, and repaired the tissue damage. Your pericardium is clean as a whistle. Which is more than I can say for my Sickbay. Paris: I'm sorry about the mess. I haven't had time to clean up. It was a hectic day. I treated two broken bones, an upset stomach and a lacerated hand. Torres: Does this mean you're too tired to meet later, in my quarters? Paris: Are you sure your heart can take it? Emh: I'm detecting elevated hormonal levels. If you two don't take it easy, I'll have to declare a medical emergency. Paris: If you'll excuse me, I have to go check on Harry. I hear he's having a nervous breakdown. It's a long story. Emh: Not so fast, Mister Paris. You are going to help me sterilize every square millimeter of this Sickbay. No doubt you've left your oily residue on every hypospray, your sloughed secretions on every console. Just kidding. In fact, I've had a change of heart about my fastidiousness. A little clutter never hurt anyone. Sickbay should have a more organic touch, don't you think? To help our patients feel more at home. Paris: What's gotten into him? Torres: It's a long story.

Janeway: It's not as difficult as it looks. The first rule is, don't be afraid of the clay. Seven: I fear nothing. Janeway: I mean you can't concern yourself with making a mistake, or whether the image you had in your mind is what's taking form in front of you. You just have to let your hands and the clay do the work. Here. Janeway: Go ahead. I think the nose could be a little stronger. Janeway: Well, that's a start. Keep going. Seven: This activity is truly unproductive. The end result has no use. No necessary task has been accomplished. Time has been expended. Nothing more. Janeway: That depends on how you look at it, doesn't it? I find sculpting helps me unwind, relax. Seven: The concept of relaxation is difficult for me to understand. As a Borg, my time was spent working at a specific task. When it was completed, I was assigned another. It was efficient. Janeway: So is this. It helps my own efficiency to forget about Voyager for a while. I'd be embarrassed to show Maestro Leonardo something like this but I get a great deal of pleasure in working the clay, in creating something. Seven: But why here, in this simulation? Among these archaic objects and this disorganized environment. Janeway: Frankly, it's refreshing to take myself out of the twenty fourth century every now and then. And a little disorganization can be very encouraging to the imagination. You might want to try it sometime. Seven: Are you suggesting that I create one of these holodeck programs? Janeway: You might find it interesting. It's a way of exploring aspects of yourself that probably didn't fit into your life as a Borg. Imagination, creativity, fantasy. Seven: I am uncertain why those things are necessary. Janeway: They aren't necessary, Seven. But they're an important part of one's life, because imagination frees the mind. It inspires ideas and solutions, and it can provide a great deal of pleasure. Human progress, the human mind itself, couldn't exist without them. When I was a child, I studied these drawings. I even built some of these models. Da Vinci was always a great inspiration to me. Seven: He was a very busy man. Janeway: Oh, yes. A prolific artist, and a scientist as well. Far, far ahead of his time. That design, for example. He conceived of an airplane centuries before one was actually built. Seven? Borg: You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Your distinctiveness will be added to our own. Father: Annika! Borg: You will be assimilated. You will be assimilated. Janeway: Seven? What is it? Seven: I don't know. Seven: It's happened three times now in different locations, at different times of the day. I experience a series of disjointed images in my mind. Emh: Can you be more specific? Were these hallucinations? Seven: I don't know. I've never hallucinated. It's as if I were aboard a Borg vessel, but I was frightened. I felt fear. Each experience is similar. I'm being pursued by the Borg. They want to assimilate me. I'm running from them, and then, and then, each time I see a bird. Janeway: A bird? Seven: Yes. A large black bird, flying toward me, shrieking, attacking me. Emh: Hmm. Your hippocampus is in a state of agitation. Seven: What does that mean? Emh: As your human physiology continues to reassert itself, psychological symptoms are bound to manifest in a variety of ways. Through dreams, hallucinations, hypnogogic regression. Seven: Hypnogogic regression? Emh: Flashbacks. You could be experiencing some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder. Janeway: Makes sense. You were assimilated by the Borg. You've gone through an intense, prolonged trauma. Seven: I was not traumatized. I was raised by the Borg. I don't see them as threatening. Why would I experience fear? Emh: I don't know. Seven: Will I keep having these flashbacks? Emh: I'll need to study your neural scans further. In the meantime, your digestive system is fully functional. Now is as good a time as any for you to begin taking solid and liquid nutrients. Seven: Oral consumption is inefficient. Emh: And unnecessary, if you're lucky enough to be a hologram. But your human physiology requires it. I'll draw up a list of nutritional requirements. Take it to Mister Neelix in the mess hall. I hesitate to inflict his cooking on you but it'll have to do. Seven: I do not enjoy this sensation. Something is happening to me and I don't know what it is. It's as though I'm being driven somehow. Chakotay: Chakotay to the Captain. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: Our guests have arrived. They're being escorted to the briefing room. Janeway: On my way. Representatives of the B'omar. I've been trying to negotiate passage through their space but so far they've been difficult to deal with. I hope they've had a change of heart. Seven: I'll stay here and wait for the Doctor's instructions. Janeway: We'll help you through this, Seven. You'll be all right. Janeway: Have you had a chance to consider our request? Gauman: Congratulations, Captain. Against our better judgment the B'omar Sovereignty has agreed to grant your vessel passage through our territory. Janeway: On behalf of my crew, thank you. That will cut three months off our journey. Gauman: However, there are a few stipulations. Guidelines that you must adhere to. Janeway: You'll have our complete cooperation. Gauman: We expect nothing less. While in our space, your vessel will not exceed warp three, and your weapons systems will remain offline. You will avoid unnecessary scans and you will not conduct surveys of any kind. You will make no attempt to explore our space and you will avoid all communications with non-military craft. Dumah: We've also plotted the course your vessel is to follow. Paris: It'll take us weeks to follow that course. Chakotay: If not months. Dumah: We've designed this course so your ship would avoid our populated systems and industrial areas. Deviation is not recommended. Gauman: There are a total of seventeen checkpoints where you will submit your vessel for inspection. Janeway: Chancellor Gauman, if I may interrupt? I appreciate your efforts in plotting this flight plan, but if we could, I'd like to negotiate a course that's a little more direct. Neelix: Well. What an unexpected pleasure. Welcome to the mess hall. Would you like me to show you around? Seven: My physiology has reasserted the need to process solid nutrients. The Doctor has prepared a list of dietary requirements. You will provide them for me. Neelix: Let's see what we have here. Ah, two hundred fifty grams glycoproteins consisting of fifty hree percent polypeptides and twenty six percent fibrous glycogen. Urgh, doesn't sound very appetizing. However, a plate of my chadre'kab should satisfy most of these essentials while providing a pleasurable culinary experience at the same time. Seven: Pleasure is irrelevant. Neelix: Well, I beg to differ. A good meal involves much more than simply providing the proper nutrients. Seven: Why is that? Neelix: Well, er, there's a certain satisfaction that comes from eating food that's been carefully prepared. I'm sure once you try it, you'll understand. Now, how would you like your chadre'kab? Boiled? Baked? Stir fried? Seven: Preparation is irrelevant. Neelix: Is irrelevant. Maybe, maybe not. This is the first time ingesting food for you for quite a while. Er, we'll go a little easy on your stomach. Steamed. Neelix: Yes, this, er this recipe has been in my family for generations. It's considered a delicacy among my people. Seven: You are Talaxian. Neelix: Guilty as charged. Seven: Species two one eight. Neelix: What? Oh, I suppose so. Seven: Your biological and technological distinctiveness was added to our own. Neelix: I hadn't realized that. Seven: A small freighter containing a crew of thirty nine taken in the Dalmine Sector. They were easily assimilated. Their dense musculature made them excellent drones. Neelix: Well, lucky for you, I guess. Neelix: Your nutrients. Follow me. Neelix: Please. Seven: Please what? Neelix: It's customary to sit while eating. Neelix: Is something wrong? Seven: I am unaccustomed to this. Borg do not sit. Neelix: Well, this is a day of firsts, then, isn't it? Neelix: Now. Take a bite. Try that one. Just kind of er, scoop some up. That's the way. Right into your mouth. Just like a little scout ship flying into a shuttlebay. Take it out, but keep your mouth closed. That's it. Now chew. Chew, chew, chew, chew. And swallow. Swallow. Seven: A curious sensation. Neelix: You'll get used to it. Have some more. May I bring you something else? A soothing cup of tea perhaps? Seven: You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Crewwoman: Did you see that? Chakotay: What about this course? It's a marginal adjustment. The nearest populated system is more than three light years away. Gauman: Definitely not. You'd pass directly through the Agrat-mot Nebula. A key resource in our trade negotiations with the Nassordin. Paris: I could chart the nebula, try to avoid any Dumah: No, no. Are your translators malfunctioning? Tuvok: Captain Janeway to the bridge. Janeway: If you'll excuse me. Janeway: Report. Tuvok: I've received an alert from Security. Seven of Nine attacked Neelix in the mess hall and three other crewmen on deck two. Janeway: Janeway to Seven of Nine. Seven, if you can hear me, respond. Chakotay: What's her location? Tuvok: Deck six, section twenty eight alpha. Chakotay: Take a security team. Gauman: Captain, what is happening here? Janeway: I wish I knew, Chancellor. Chakotay, seal off deck six. Borg: Seven of Nine. Crewman: Security to the Bridge. We've just seen Seven of Nine. Her Borg shields are fully operational and they've adapted to our phasers. Janeway: Acknowledged. Bridge to all security personnel. Configure your weapons to a rotating modulation, but keep them on stun. Gauman: Borg. You have Borg on your ship? Janeway: It's not what you think. She is a member of my crew. We liberated her from the Collective. She's no longer a Borg. Gauman: Then why is she equipped with Borg shields? Janeway: I don't know. Chakotay: She's able to cross through the security fields. She's entering the armory on deck six. Seven: Deck ten. Kim: She's in a turbolift. Janeway: Cut power to the turboshafts. Kim: She's blocking my commands with a Borg encryption code. Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Seven's apparently headed for deck ten. Can you get there before she does? Tuvok: I'm moving into position now, Captain. Tuvok: We'll take position here. Tuvok: Lower your weapon and stand down. Fire. Tuvok: Tuvok to bridge. We were unsuccessful. Tuvok: I have wounded. She's moving toward junction thirty two alpha. Janeway: The shuttlebay. Chakotay: I'm erecting a forcefield. Harry, reroute all available power to deck ten. Kim: Done. Kim: She's accessing transporter control. Chakotay: She used a site to site transport. She's in a shuttlecraft. Powering engines. Janeway: Seal the launch doors. Janeway: Tractor beam. Chakotay: No effect. She's remodulated the shuttle's shield harmonics. Kim: Captain, Seven's headed directly into B'omar space. She's gone to warp. Paris: She's masked the shuttle's ion trail. I've lost her signal. She's gone. Janeway: We'll do everything in our power to find her, but we will need permission to enter B'omar space to track her shuttle effectively. Gauman: Let's tally the events, shall we? First, you arrive uninvited and unwelcome, requesting a shortcut through our space. Then you proceed to unleash some sort of rogue Borg and now you want us to help you get it back. Janeway: I apologize for what's happened here, but we certainly didn't unleash anyone. We can resolve this situation quickly, gentlemen, if we work together. Gauman: Captain Janeway, after what I've seen here, I question your competence. Janeway: May I remind you that you're still on my ship. Dumah: And you are one vessel among many of ours. Gauman: Your Borg will be dealt with quickly and efficiently. It's being tracked as we speak. Chakotay: Tracked? How? Dumah: Every vessel, every object, every particle of dust that crosses our borders is immediately identified and traced by our perimeter grid. Gauman: The Borg will be found and destroyed. Janeway: Chancellor. Gauman: There will be no sharing of information. From this point on, your vessel will maintain a distance of at least five light years from our borders. Any deviation will be considered an act of aggression. Janeway: Commander, escort our guests to the transporter room. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. I've assembled a team to analyze every square meter of the cargo bay. This has essentially been her quarters for the last two months, and I'm determined to find something here that might shed light on Seven of Nine's actions. Torres: You're taking this kind of hard, aren't you? Kim: What's that supposed to mean? We had a working relationship. Torres: Well, what's that supposed to mean. Kim: It's not what you're thinking. Torres: What am I thinking, Harry? Kim: Never mind. Torres: Take a look at this. Janeway: Anything? Torres: It's a Borg datalink. It contains a succession of log entries written in Borg alphanumeric code. Kim: I'm getting pretty good with the Borg language. I think I can translate them. Janeway: Get on it. Chakotay: It seems we've made quite an impression on the B'omar. In the last hour, they've doubled the number of ships patrolling their borders and they've increased the sensitivity of the perimeter grid by thirty six percent. Janeway: So much for diplomacy. Chakotay: The Doctor analyzed the data from Seven of Nine's last transport. He's found something he wants us to see. Maybe this was inevitable. Even if Seven did want to stay on Voyager her Borg nature may have won out. We can remove implant after implant, but, maybe at her core, she'll always be part of the Collective. Janeway: No. I won't accept that. Janeway: Deck five. She was responding to us. Interacting with people outside the Collective for the first time. She was adapting to this environment and to this crew. But where is she going? We've scanned space for a distance of forty light years. We've found no evidence of Borg ships, so she can't be trying to rejoin the Collective. Chakotay: She may plan to take the shuttle back to Borg space. Janeway: Ten thousand light years from here? I don't think so, no. Something else going on. We're missing a piece of the puzzle. Chakotay: In the meantime, the B'omar intend to find her. And if they do, she'll probably resist them. Janeway: One more reason for us to find her first. Janeway: What have you found, Doctor? Emh: Something most peculiar. This graphic represents the matter conversion data from Seven of Nine's last transport. If you'll notice, there's a high concentration of Borg organelles in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissue. The dormant nanoprobes in Seven of Nine's cells have reasserted themselves, taken over blood cell production and they're growing new Borg implants. Thirteen percent of the Borg technology I removed three weeks ago has regenerated in a matter of hours. Chakotay: You said the nanoprobes in her bloodstream were dormant. What reactivated them? Emh: I don't know, but I've developed a way to stop the process. This hypospray contains a genetic resequencing vector. It should neutralize the nanoprobes. Janeway: That means someone needs to get close enough to do it. Janeway: Report. Tuvok: We've analyzed the B'omar perimeter grid. It's sophisticated, but not without its vulnerabilities. It might be possible to penetrate the grid by re-calibrating our shields to match its frequency. Paris: The trick is going to be our energy signature. Voyager's too big to hide, but a shuttlecraft with the proper shield modulation and its engines powered down could drift right through without so much as a peep. Janeway: Nice work, gentlemen. Proceed. The Doctor's genetic resequencer. It should keep her sedated until you get back to the ship. Once you've penetrated the perimeter, there will be no further communication with Voyager. You'll be on your own. Tuvok: Captain, it is possible that Seven will adapt to the resequencer. Janeway: I know. If it fails and you're unable to reason with her, you have my authorisation to stop her with any force necessary. Tuvok: Understood. Borg: Seven of Nine, grid nine two of subjunction twelve. You will be assimilated. Dumah: Borg drone, you have committed an infraction against the B'omar Sovereignty. Dumah: Cut power to your engines and lower your shields. Prepare to be boarded. You will proceed no further. We will not Tuvok: I'm detecting weapons signatures. Federation and B'omar. Five B'omar vessels are adrift, heavily damaged. Lifesigns are stable. Paris: I've located Seven's shuttle. It's two point five million kilometers from here. Tuvok: Adjust course to intercept. Paris: The implants in Seven's body are disrupting the transporter signal. I can't get a lock. Tuvok: See if you can remodulate our transporters to match her shields Paris: You want to beam in there? Tuvok: Yes. Paris: I'm not sure that's a good idea, Tuvok. Closed quartesr, Borg against Vulcan? No offense, but you won't stand a chance if she decides to put up a fight. Tuvok: It's my hope that the element of surprise will work in my favor. Do you have a better idea? Paris: Come to think of it, no. She's charging weapons. Tuvok: Set my coordinates for the aft compartment. Paris: Ready. Tuvok: Energize. Paris: Come on, Tuvok, give me a sign. Computer: Warning. Propulsion systems are offline. Paris: Damn! Seven: It's a level five forcefield, Lieutenant. I suggest you be more careful. Tuvok: Why have you left Voyager? Seven: I am Borg. Tuvok: You were Borg, but you're human, now. You're part of our crew. Seven: For a brief time I was human. But I have come to realize that I am Borg. I will always be Borg. Tuvok: What prompted this realization? Seven: Every Borg ship is coded to emit a distinct resonance frequency to guide drones who become separated from the Collective. Tuvok: A homing beacon. Seven: Yes. I am following a signal. A Borg vessel is waiting for me. Tuvok: We've scanned this entire region for Borg. There are none. Seven: You're wrong. They are here. Vulcan. Species three two five nine. Your enlarged neocortex produces superior analytical abilities. Your distinctiveness will be added to our Tuvok: Seven? Seven: No. I will not assimilate you. Once I return to the Collective, you will go back to Voyager and tell Captain Janeway what's happened to me. Thank her for her patience, for her kindness. Tuvok: Curious. Your behavior demonstrates affection and sentiment. Traits of humanity. Hardly Borg. You have been experiencing hallucinations, flashbacks. Seven: Yes. Tuvok: Does that usually occur when a resonance signal is activated? Seven: No. Borg: Seven of Nine, grid nine two of subjunction twelve. Seven: But I can hear them calling me. I'm frightened Tuvok: That's understandable. Lower the forcefield. We can return to Voyager and find out what's happening to you. I am your shipmate. We can return to Voyager together. Seven: I must rejoin the Collective. Captain's log, supplemental. I've been trying to retrace Seven of Nine's footsteps, her actions during the last few days, but I'm still no closer to understanding what's happened. Kim: Captain? Am I disturbing you? Janeway: Not at all, Harry. Kim: I've managed to decipher Seven's log entries. Janeway: And? Kim: There's nothing that indicates she was planning to leave the ship. The entries are pretty unremarkable. She describes her daily routines, number of hours spent regenerating, that sort of thing. There were some personal log entries, mostly observations about the crew's behavior. I'm mentioned in quite a few of them. Apparently, she finds my behavior easy to predict, whatever that means. Janeway: Don't take it personally coming from Seven, that's probably a compliment. Kim: The most recent entries are kind of strange. Descriptions of bizarre images, almost like a record of her dreams. Janeway: The hallucinations. Kim: Maybe so. Sometimes she's in a Borg vessel, running or hiding behind a bulkhead, falling down a shaft. Borg everywhere, chasing her. Nightmarish stuff. Janeway: What about this bird? Kim: She mentions it several times. It flies at her, shrieking. I don't know what it means. Janeway: The feathers are black, wingspan approximately one half meter. The eyes are yellow and it has a powerful triangular beak. When it looks at me, I am paralyzed. I cannot move. It seems to know me, but I don't understand how that's possible. It's merely a bird, an inferior form of life, but the sight of it fills me with fear. It sounds like she's describing a member of the corvidae family like a crow, or a raven. She's describing a raven. Kim: Why is that important? Janeway: Because now I know what to look for. Janeway: Chakotay, calibrate our long range sensors to scan for any Federation signature other than our two shuttlecraft. Chakotay: Captain ? Janeway: Do it. Bring the ship about, Ensign, and lay in a course for B'omar space. Ensign: Aye, Captain. Seven: The resonance signal is coming from the lunar surface. The Borg are waiting for me there. I don't know why I'm frightened. They are my people. Tuvok: If you're afraid, then leave this place. Seven: Once I've been reintegrated into the Collective, my fears will disappear. Tuvok: Deactivate the forcefield. I will accompany you to the surface. You don't need to go alone. Seven: You would be assimilated. Tuvok: I don't believe so. I think this situation is not what it appears. Seven: What do you mean? What else could it be? Tuvok: I am uncertain, but I am willing to go to the surface with you to find out. Janeway: Voyager to Paris. Paris: Paris here, Captain. Glad to hear your voice. Tuvok is with Seven of Nine. I haven't been able to establish communication with him since he transported to her shuttle. I've tracked them to an M class moon orbiting the fifth planet of a yellow dwarf star. Paris: I'm picking up an unusual resonance signal from the surface. It's erratic. I haven't been able to identify it. Janeway: Acknowledged. We've detected several B'omar ships closing in on your position. What's your condition? Paris: Warp engines are offline, shields are Paris: At fifty percent. Janeway: Try to locate them, Tom. We're on our way. Tuvok: The signal's getting stronger Seven: They're here, I'm sure of it. Tuvok: This way. Tuvok: If you like, we can return to the shuttle. Seven: No. I have to find out. Seven: What is it? Tuvok: It's a Federation vessel partially assimilated by the Borg. There are no lifesigns. Tritanium decay suggests it has been here for nearly twenty years. Seven: This vessel is familiar. Seven: This is the signal that's drawn me here. Father: Annika! Mother: Run, Annika! Run! Hide! Seven: Papa? Help me. Annika: No! No! Tuvok: Seven, I'm here. Listen to me. Come. Seven: It happened here. This is where it began. This is where I was assimilated. Seven: This was our ship. We lived here. We lived here for a long time. My father did experiments. They were very important, and we had to travel a long way. I had my birthday here. My cake had six candles on it, and one more to grow on. And then the men came. Papa tried to fight them but they were too strong. I tried to hide. Maybe they wouldn't find me because I was little, but they did. And Papa said we were going to crash and the big man picked me up, and then suddenly we weren't on the ship anymore. We were somewhere else. And then I became Borg. Tuvok: Fascinating. This resonance signal must have been active since the ship was assimilated, and Voyager passed within range. Seven: The ship is under attack. Tuvok: The B'omar. The ship will collapse. We must get out of here. Kim: The B'omar still aren't responding to our hails. Chakotay: Standing by to fire. Janeway: Target their weapons systems. Tom, what's your status? Paris: I've located Tuvok and Seven, but there's a lot of interference. I'm attempting Paris: To lock onto them now, Captain. Seven: This way. Tuvok: Are you all right? Seven: I am undamaged. This was the only way to the hatch. Tuvok: Perhaps there is another way out. There's a hull rupture in the forward compartment. It may provide a means of escape. Start digging. Quickly. Chakotay: We've disabled two of their ships. The third is still firing at the surface. Kim: We're being hailed. Audio only. Gauman: You're committing an act of war, Captain. Janeway: You've left me no choice, Chancellor. Gauman: Reinforcements are arriving. You will be destroyed. Janeway: I don't have time for this. Target their weapons array. Tuvok: Seven, I need your help.(Together they push away a large girder and escape through the hatch of NAR-37450 just before it falls to pieces and tumbles off the rock. They are beamed away.) Paris: I've got them, Captain. We're on our way to Voyager. Janeway: Acknowledged. Good work. Kim: I'm detecting a fleet of B'omar vessels approaching. Sixty eight ships. Janeway: Ensign, as soon as Mister Paris's shuttle has docked, take us out of B'omar space. Warp eight. Ensign: Aye, sir. Janeway: Looks like there won't be any shortcuts this time. Janeway: There you are. I wanted to tell you that the Doctor said he could adjust one of your implants so that you won't receive any more homing signals. Seven: Thank you. I hope you don't mind that I activated this program. Janeway: Not at all. Seven: I've been thinking about what you said, that this was a place to encourage your imagination. Janeway: Is that appealing to you? Seven: I'm not certain. I find myself constructing scenarios, considering alternative possibilities. What if my parents and I had not encountered the Borg? What would our lives have been? I would have been raised by them, learned from them. It would have influenced what I became, who and what I am. Janeway: And you would have done the same for them. If you'd like to know more about your parents, there's information in the Federation database. Seven: Information? Janeway: It seems they were fairly well known for being unconventional and for some rather unique scientific theories. You might like to read what's there. It might encourage your imagination. Seven: Perhaps I will, some day. Good night, Captain.

Torres: Sorry. I didn't realize that you'd been assigned here today. Seven: I wasn't. This space was unoccupied so I came here to work. Torres: On what? Seven: I'm reconfiguring the power couplings in this section. Torres: Why? Seven: The Astrometrics lab requires additional energy. Torres: I see. So you're rerouting power from other locations, like Engineering? Seven: They are minor adjustments. Primary systems will not be affected. Torres: Unless, of course, someone is trying to do a warp core diagnostic, which my crew has been trying to do all morning. We have lost hours of work because of this. Seven: There is no need for anger. I had no intention of causing a problem. Torres: What, sorry isn't in the Borg vocabulary? You need to check with me before you touch the power systems. Understood? Seven: Understood. Seven: I am unaccustomed to working in a hierarchy. In the Collective there was no need to ask permission. Torres: If you're going to be a member of this crew, get used to it. Procedures exist for a reason. We've got to work together. Follow the same set of rules Seven: Lieutenant? Torres: I was given that lecture once, by Captain Janeway when I first joined this crew. If I could adjust to Starfleet life, so can you. Seven: Of course. I am sorry for the inconvenience. Paris: Doc, I've got to go run a few errands, I'll be back soon. Emh: Not so fast, Mister Paris. Can't these errands wait until the end of your duty shift? Paris: Well, it's my conn report, actually. I just realized I forgot to turn it in, and Chakotay gives me a hard time when it's late. Emh: You've been here all afternoon. Didn't this occur to you before? Paris: Well, we've been so busy that I guess it just slipped my mind. Emh: I see. Well, since it's an emergency, don't let me stand in your way. Paris: Thanks. Crewwoman: Sir. Paris: Computer, lock onto these coordinates. I need a site to site transport. No, wait. Access the central replicator files first. Ah, perfect. Torres: Are those supposed to make up for canceling on me last night? Paris: I got stuck with an extra shift on the bridge. What could I say? Sorry, Captain, I've got a date with B'Elanna? Torres: And what about right now? Aren't you supposed to be working in Sickbay? Paris: I said I had to go deliver a conn report. Torres: Not bad, but he'll be expecting you back. Paris: He can wait. Paris: What is it? Torres: I just had the feeling that somebody was watching us. I must be completely paranoid about getting caught in a compromising position. Paris: Kind of exciting, isn't it? Emh: Your trapezius is hard as a rock. You haven't been following the relaxation regimen I prescribed for you. Janeway: I've been too busy. Emh: The usual story. Have you been getting enough sleep? Janeway: More or less. Mostly less. Emh: Mmm hmm. And have your headaches been getting any worse? Janeway: No, but they're not getting any better either. They're like hot needles driving into my skull. Emh: These symptoms are hardly surprising, Captain. You work absurdly long hours under constant stress, eating on the run, without sufficient exercise or rest. Your body is crying out for mercy. Janeway: It certainly is right now, There must be some easier way to do this, Doctor. A hypospray, maybe? Emh: Always looking for the simple fix. Sometimes there's no substitute for intensive osteopathic pressure therapy. You're fortunate to have a masseur who can work all day without tiring. Chakotay: Bridge to the Captain. Emh: Commander, unless this is an emergency, my patient is unavailable. Janeway: I'm here, Chakotay. What is it? Chakotay: We've reached the source of those energy readings and I thought you'd like to see what we've found. Janeway: On my way. Emh: Captain! Janeway: I know what you're going to say, Doctor, but I can't neglect my responsibilities. Emh: Actually I was going to suggest a change of outfit. Chakotay: Binary pulsars. The gravitational forces between them are so intense that everything within fifty million kilometers is getting pulled in. Paris: Don't worry. We're well out of range. Chakotay: Gamma radiation levels are high, but as long as we're careful I think we can collect some invaluable data. Captain, am I boring you? Janeway: Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little too tired to concentrate on stellar phenomenon right now. I'll leave this project in your capable hands. Paris: You wanted to see me, Lieutenant? Torres: Yes. I'm trying to increase the efficiency of the impulse drive, but I wanted to make sure that I wasn't compromising helm control. Paris: A sensible precaution. I'd be glad to help. Torres: Good. All of the specs are at my upper workstation. Paris: Then let's get started. Torres: Did you hear something? Paris: You always think you hear something. Paris: Commander. Tuvok: Lieutenant. Here is the power usage data you requested. Torres: Right. Of course. I didn't expect it quite so promptly. Which I guess I should have, er, coming from you. I, I mean I'm grateful that you got the data to me so quickly. Thanks. Paris: Tuvok. Tuvok, I guess that was kind of embarrassing. Tuvok: I don't experience embarrassment. Paris: Right. Well, then I guess there's no harm done. It's not like there was a security violation or anything. Tuvok: None that I am aware of. Paris: So, I guess there's nothing that would have to go on any kind of report. Tuvok: You want me to conceal what I've observed of your relationship with Lieutenant Torres. Paris: Well, I'd certainly never ask you to be dishonest. Tuvok: Certainly not. Torres: Do you think he'll say anything to the captain? Paris: I don't know. Torres: Well how did he sound? Annoyed? Amused? Paris: He sounded Vulcan. What more can I tell you. Paris: Deck one. Torres: We've got to be more careful with appearances. We shouldn't go into the briefing at the same time. Paris: Good idea. Okay, you go in first, I'll come in a minute later. Torres: No, that'll look even more suspicious. Paris: Listen to us. We're acting like criminals when we haven't done anything wrong. Torres: Well, I'm not saying that we have. I just thought that we wanted to keep this relationship to ourselves. We do, right? Paris: Do you? Torres: If you do. Paris: Computer, halt turbolift. Let's figure out how we can handle this. Torres: Well, I don't think that it's anybody else's business how we feel about each other. Paris: Neither do I. Torres: Right, then we're agreed. Just a little more careful in public and we don't say anything to anybody. Paris: At least for now. Torres: Now? Sounds like you see a future in this. Paris: I would never be so presumptuous. Torres: Smooth recovery, Lieutenant. Paris: I thought so. Computer, resume. Torres: So I'll go first and you follow. Paris: Right. Chakotay: Here's the plan. We'll circle the pulsars at a distance of eighty million kilometers. Kim: That might not be far enough. We've been detecting some random proton bursts. A strong one could knock out our shields. Chakotay: Tom, go to ninety. Keep a safe distance. Paris: Yes, sir. Chakotay: Tuvok, keep our shields at maximum strength. Divert auxiliary power if you need it. I want to take every precaution on this survey. Report any problems immediately, no matter how small. Janeway: Dismissed. Lieutenants Paris and Torres, I'd like to speak with you for a moment. Paris: Thanks. Janeway: I don't usually pry into the personal lives of my crew, but in this case I have to question your recent conduct. Paris: I guess Tuvok Janeway: Tuvok? I haven't heard a word from Tuvok. You two have been making enough of a public display that half the ship is gossiping about it. Torres: Believe me, that wasn't our intention. Janeway: You are senior officers and I expect you to maintain the standard for the rest of the crew, but this adolescent behavior makes me question my faith in you both. If you choose to pursue a relationship that's your business. But you consider yourselves under orders to use better judgment about it. Is that understood? Paris: Yes, ma'am. Torres: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Dismissed. Chakotay: Computer, hot coffee, black. Emh: Commander Chakotay is suffering bone decalcification, tissue necrosis, decreased visual acuity. All classic signs of aging, but they've developed within hours. Chakotay: Any theories? Emh: There's a rare genetic disorder called progeria which causes children to age prematurely. But there's never been an adult case and it was supposedly eradicated two centuries ago. Even so, I took a close look at your DNA. These segments regulate your body's metabolism. My scans indicate that they've been hyper-stimulated somehow. Janeway: What's the prognosis? Emh: I can't speculate on that until I've identified the cause. There's no sign of an infectious agent. Janeway: We spent several hours near a binary pulsar that was emitting intense gamma radiation. Chakotay: Our shields were operating. I don't see how I could have been exposed to it. Janeway: At this point we can't rule out anything. I'm going to take a closer look at the data we collected. Chakotay: You should also run scans of my quarters, as well as my office and the bridge. Everywhere I've been today. Emh: I'm not prepared to send you back on duty yet, Commander. Chakotay: I may look pretty strange, but my mind is perfectly clear. I'd rather stay busy than just sit here. Emh: I have no idea how your symptoms will progress. You should remain in Sickbay for observation. Janeway: He's right, Chakotay. I'll keep you informed. Emh: Whatever's affecting the Commander's DNA is working at a sub-molecular level. I'd like to set up an electron resonance scanner in the science lab to get a closer look. Janeway: Use whatever you need, and ask B'Elanna to give you a hand. Emh: Still having headaches, Captain? Janeway: I don't need any more lectures about working too hard, Doctor. Chakotay's the one who needs your attention right now. Emh: I'll get to work on the scanner right away. Kim: Under orders to use better judgment? oh, that's pretty harsh. Paris: I hope I can manage it. Kim: Well, she does have a point. You could have been more diskreet. Paris: Oh, I forgot I was talking to the most upstanding Ensign in Starfleet. Neelix: Good morning. Paris: Neelix. Neelix: I was just about to whip up a fresh batch of scrambled eggs. Would you like some? Kim: Actually I was hoping you might have some leftover Pleeka rind casserole from last night. Paris: For breakfast? Kim: I like it. Neelix: I'm sure I can find some for you. Kim: So, I guess your relationship isn't exactly a secret anymore. Paris: Do you think anybody on this ship can keep a secret? Paris: Neelix! Neelix: What's, what's happening? Paris: Paris to the Doctor. I'm bringing Neelix to Sickbay. It's an emergency. Emh: Now pay attention, Mister Paris. These scans should indicate whether. Hmm. Neelix: What is it? Emh: It seems that your DNA has been hyper-stimulated, just like Commander Chakotay's. Paris: But Neelix doesn't seem to be aging. Emh: No, the effects are quite different. Neelix: If anything, I look like a Mylean. They occupy a region of space near Talax. Emh: Interesting. Do Talaxians and Myleans share a common ancestry? Neelix: Not that I know of. Emh: Do the two races ever intermarry? Neelix: Yes. As a matter of fact, my great grandfather was Mylean. Emh: Then one eighth of your genetic material was inherited from him. Those must be the genes which have become stimulated. Neelix: Too bad my great grandfather wasn't a little better looking. Emh: Hmm. As far as I can tell, his condition seems stable. I'm going to leave you in charge of Sickbay so I can continue the DNA analysis. Paris: If anyone else comes in I'll run a cellular scan. Is there anything else I can do? Emh: Do your best to keep them comfortable. Until we have more information, that's the best either of us can do. Neelix: I thought you might be thirsty. Chakotay: Thanks. Do you smell something strange? Neelix: I, I'm afraid that's me. I seem to be developing Mylean sweat glands. Sorry. Chakotay: It's not so bad. Neelix: Well, whatever happens, I try to keep in mind things could be worse. Neelix: I still have my home here on Voyager, my friends. Chakotay: Your hair. Neelix: True. But I'd gladly lose it if I could have my taste buds back. Chakotay: At least you're not losing your eyesight. See that display over there? It's nothing but a blur. Neelix: You think that's bad? The Doctor tells me my pupils have dilated sixty percent. I can't even look at that display, it's so bright. Chakotay: Yeah? Well I've got chronic arthritis in my fingers. I could barely keep this glass steady. Neelix: Well, that's nothing. My spinal column is fusing together. In a matter of days I won't be able to walk. Chakotay: Got you beat. I can barely walk now. Neelix: Lieutenant, can we help? Paris: I don't think so. I'm releasing you both back to your quarters. I've just gotten reports of more patients on the way. It's going to get crowded in here. Emh: How's the scanner? Torres: Almost ready. Emh: Good. This disorder seems to be spreading rapidly among the crew. Torres: Does that mean we'll all be affected? Emh: Right now it only means that we need to find some answers as quickly as possible. Torres: All right, give the scanner a try. Emh: I'll start with Commander Chakotay. Torres: How's the resolution? Emh: Very nice. Now, let's focus in on the hyper-stimulated segments of this DNA. Can you give me more magnification? Torres: Coming up. Emh: That's odd. Torres: What is? Emh: There seems to be some kind of contaminant on the base pair sequence. It didn't show up on the first scan. I need a closer look. Torres: I'm going to maximum magnification. What do you see? Emh: I'm not exactly sure. Torres: Well, what does it look like? Emh: See for yourself. Torres: I'm no microbiologist, but that doesn't look like it belongs there. Emh: Believe me, it doesn't. I've never seen it. This level of sub-molecular technology is well beyond anything Starfleet has developed. Torres: What are those markings? Some kind of alien writing? Emh: I wish I knew. They might help us determine where it came from. Torres: Who could have put this into Chakotay's cells without his knowledge? Let me try a compositional analysis. Emh: It's in Mister Neelix's DNA as well. Torres: Is this what's causing the mutations? Emh: A good scientist never jumps to conclusions, Lieutenant, but I'd say it's a distinct possibility. Torres: I'm having trouble getting a clear reading from the sample. It looks almost like the er, whatever it is could be slightly out of phase. Emh: That must be why my initial scans didn't reveal it. Torres: I'm compensating for the phase variance. You're not going to believe this, but I'm picking up an energy signature. This thing is transmitting some kind of a signal. Emh: To where? Torres: I don't know. It's too weak to travel very far. Access the internal sensors and set them to a phase variance of point one five. Emh: Right. Emh: Lieutenant. Torres: Your program is being deleted. Emh: How? Torres: I don't know. I'm transferring you back to Sickbay. Emh: B'Elanna! Science lab to bridge. This is the Doctor. Paris: In the last hour three more patients have come in with genetic mutations. The effects are starting to become life threatening. Janeway: What happened to B'Elanna? Paris: The alveoli in her lungs suddenly stopped processing oxygen. I've got her on respiratory support. She almost died. Janeway: What about the Doctor? Kim: The computer logs in the science lab show that he was trying to transfer himself to Sickbay. Something must have gone wrong while he was in transit. Paris: Could the Doctor have returned to the mobile emitter? Emh: Seven of Nine, this is the Doctor. Can you hear me? It's me, the Doctor. I've tapped into your audio implants so only you can hear me. It's imperative that you tell no one. Make any excuse to get out of there and report to holodeck two. I'm hiding in the da Vinci simulation. I'll explain everything when you get here. Kim: We checked, but he never made it back there either. We do have a backup of his program available. Janeway: We'll only activate that as a last resort. I want to... Kim: Seven was checking it. Janeway: Seven? Seven? Kim: About the Doctor's research. Seven: Yes. I examined their work area. There was no record of any findings. The electron resonance scanner appeared to be malfunctioning. I could return to the science lab and attempt to repair it. Janeway: Keep me informed. Emh: Hold your head this way, Carlotta. I can only conclude that someone has implanted these microscopic tags in the DNA of the crew to cause genetic mutations. Seven: For what purpose? Emh: I don't know. And I get the feeling they don't want us to find out. Seven: Explain. Emh: When Lieutenant Torres and I started making progress in our investigation we were both incapacitated. Call me paranoid, but I don't think that is a coincidence. Seven: If you are correct, perhaps our actions are being monitored. Emh: That's why I couldn't risk contacting anyone over the comm. system. Seven: Our first course of action should be to collect more information. Emh: My thinking exactly. B'Elanna wanted to adjust the ship's internal sensors to a phase variance of point one five. I'd like to do the same to your Borg sensory nodes. Seven: Proceed. Emh: Computer, give me a type four micro-inducer. Emh: Hmm. Now, take a look around and tell me what you see. Do you see anything unusual? Energy signatures? Or perhaps something that might be transmitting a signal? Seven: No. Emh: That's one room down, two hundred and fifty six to go. I suggest a deck by deck survey. If you need to contact me, use comm. frequency epsilon two. I've isolated it from the rest of the system. Seven: Understood. Emh: And be careful. Someone out there could be watching. Seven: Deck five. Seven: Computer, frequency epsilon two. Doctor, the aliens are here on the ship. I can see them everywhere. Emh: This is worse than I imagined. You've got to let the captain know. Janeway: Yes. Yes! Tuvok: Good morning, Captain. Janeway: That's a matter of opinion. What is it? Tuvok: Internal scans haven't revealed anything about the genetic mutations. Janeway: The Doctor? Tuvok: Still offline. We are investigating the possibility Janeway: Inform me of any progress. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: There's one more thing. The incident with Tom and B'Elanna's started me thinking about ship's protocol, or lack thereof. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: It seems to me that people have been getting a little too comfortable around here lately. They're late for their duty shifts, taking mess hall privileges during non-designated hours. And a lot of people are spending more time on the holodeck than they are at their posts. You are Security chief. Don't thirteen department heads report to you every day? Tuvok: Yes. Janeway: Well, straighten them out. Tuvok: Shall I flog them as well? Janeway: Maybe the Doctor was right. I think I do need a vacation. Tuvok: You do seem unsettled. Janeway: Crazed is more like it. I haven't felt this anxious since my first day of command. Remind me to lower the volume on that door. Come in. Seven: Captain, I wish to speak with you about Janeway: What's wrong? Seven: My attempts to repair the resonance scanner have failed. I require assistance. Janeway: Ask Ensign Kim to lend you a hand. Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Is that all? When this mutation crisis is over, I think I'll spend a few days in renaissance Tuscany. There's a little inn outside Siena I've been wanting to try. Tuvok: I will join you for a glass of wine. Emh: How many? Seven: I've observed fifty six of the aliens. There could be more. Emh: Have you seen any pattern to their behavior? Any hint as to what they're trying to accomplish? Seven: They seem to be conducting experiments on the crew and monitoring the results. Emh: As if Voyager were one big petri dish. Seven: I may be among them. In the turbolift one of them probed me with a medical instrument. Emh: We cannot allow them to continue. Seven: I've been analyzing their energy signatures. I believe there's a way to make them visible to everyone. Emh: How? Seven: Using a precisely modulated phaser beam. If we expose them the crew may be able to fight back. Emh: But what if the aliens retaliate by inflicting lethal mutations on everyone? It's too risky. Seven: What do you suggest? Emh: The key to the aliens' control is the genetic tags. I believe a neuraleptic shock would disable them. Unfortunately, it would be rather painful. Seven: Will the crew recover? Emh: Yes, they will. The hard part will be administering the shock to everyone simultaneously. Seven: The power relays could be reconfigured to do it. Emh: Good. I assume you know how to do that? Seven: You assume correctly. But I will have to bypass several safeguards. It will take time. Emh: Then you'd better get started. Tuvok: Tuvok to Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes. Tuvok: Why have you accessed the EPS relay system? Seven: There is a malfunction. I'm attempting to repair it. Tuvok: Perhaps you should leave that to the engineering crew. Seven: Normally I would. Seven: However, they are all occupied with other tasks. Tuvok: You're compromising the power safety protocols. Stop what you're doing at once. Seven: I assure you there is no cause for concern. Tuvok: Move away from the console. Seven: As I told you, I am conducting repairs. Tuvok: You're attempting to deceive me. Why? Seven: I can't explain what I'm doing but you must allow me to continue. Tuvok: Your actions could result in an energy discharge which would be harmful to the crew. Seven: I realize that. Seven: Don't move. If your people attempt to incapacitate me I will kill you. Alzen: I believe you. What do you intend to do now? Seven: You will come with me to speak to the captain. I am certain she will have questions for you. Janeway: Keep on trying to disable the tags. Let me know when you're ready. Seven: Understood. Tuvok: I'ill attempt to modify the internal sensors to detect the aliens. Janeway: Good. Keep me informed. Janeway: Who are you? And what the hell are you doing to my crew? Alzen: My team has been observing you and conducting tests. Janeway: Tests? I'd call them mutilations. Alzen: I can understand why you're angry. I don't like causing people to suffer, but sometimes it's a necessary part of my work. Janeway: What kind of work is that? Alzen: Medical research. We're scientists, like you. Janeway: From where I stand you're a hostile invasion force. I want to know how long you've been here and exactly what you've been doing to us. Alzen: I can't answer those questions. It's a breach of protocol for me to be speaking to you at all. Janeway: Oh, how convenient. That way you never have to face your victims. Alzen: Captain, please. You're exaggerating the situation. Our techniques are as benign as we can make them. Janeway: What I've been through for the last few days certainly hasn't felt benign. Alzen: Please understand that there's a purpose to our actions. The data we gather from you may help us cure physical and psychological disorders that afflict millions. Isn't that worth some discomfort? Janeway: I'm sure you'd see things differently if your people were the ones being subjected to these experiments. Alzen: Just as your perspective would change if your people were the ones to live longer and healthier lives as a result. Don't forget, we've been observing you, Captain. I know the most important thing to you is the welfare of your crew. You'd even kill to protect them. Janeway: If necessary. Alzen: Of course you would. You take care of your own, just as we do. We're really more similar than you care to admit. Janeway: That's where you're wrong. Janeway: What you're doing isn't self-defense. It's the exploitation of another species for your own benefit. My people decided a long time ago that that was unacceptable, even in the name of scientific progress. Alzen: You're a remarkably strong-willed individual. I've been very impressed by your self-control over the past several weeks. We've been increasing your dopamine levels, stimulating various aggressive impulses to test your behavioral restraints. There's been a great difference of opinion about how much more strain you can bear. Janeway: Not much. Alzen: I'd hoped you'd be more cooperative once you realized the importance of our work. Janeway: Sorry. These lab rats are fighting back. Alzen: I'm afraid that would be pointless. We're monitoring your attempts to break our control over you. You won't succeed. Janeway: You may find that you've underestimated us. Alzen: Consider what's in the best interests of your crew. We will be continuing our research. If you make no further attempts to interfere, I assure you that the fatality rate will be minimal, though there may be some deformities. And I would be willing to share our final data with you. Janeway: You can't possibly expect me to accept that. Alzen: If you don't, then the entire experiment and its subjects will be terminated. Janeway: Are you telling me there is no way to disable the tags? Seven: My attempts to use the EPS relays to induce neuraleptic shock have failed. The aliens may be responsible. Tuvok: I've encountered similar difficulties in my efforts to modify the internal sensors. They appear to have gained access to our key systems. Janeway: They can't be everywhere all the time. We have got to find an advantage. Emh: We'd better find one soon. Sickbay is being filled with new patients with increasingly severe symptoms. Seven: We have the ability to make them visible. If we could modify enough sensors we could resist them. Tuvok: They are capable of manipulating our DNA. A direct conflict would be inadvisable. Crewman: Bridge to Doctor. Medical emergency. Emh: She's in hypertensive shock. Twenty milligrams lectrazine. Her blood pressure is three sixty over one twenty five. Janeway: How is that possible? Emh: Severe adrenal stress. No effect. Emh: Her arterial pathways are rupturing. She's in cardiac arrest. We're losing her. Emh: Captain, I'm afraid that won't help. There's too much internal bleeding. Janeway: Then try something else. We'll transport her to Sickbay. Emh: Her entire circulatory system has collapsed. There's no way to repair that kind of damage. Brain death has occurred. I'm sorry, there was nothing more we could have done. Janeway: This ends right now. You're relieved. Tuvok: Captain, what are you doing? Janeway: I'm running a little experiment of my own. Red alert! Seven: Captain, one of the aliens has entered the bridge. Janeway: Understood. Tuvok: We're less than a million kilometers from the pulsars. We must change course immediately to avoid being caught in their gravity. Janeway: No. Keep going. Tuvok: This is a far more reckless course of action than I've come to expect from you, Captain. Janeway: It certainly is. Tuvok: Hull stress is at thirty teradynes and rising. Kim: I'm transferring more power to the structural integrity field, but I don't know how long it can hold. Takar: What do you hope to accomplish by this? Janeway: Flying into a binary pulsar? It seems like I'm trying to crush this ship like a tin can. Takar: It's more likely that you're trying to intimidate us. Janeway: You're welcome to stick around and find out. Tuvok: Hull stress is at forty five teradynes. Janeway: Our course is locked in. Only my authorisation can release it. Takar: You're not behaving very rationally. Janeway: That's what you are trying to accomplish, wasn't it? Hmm? Pumping up my dopamine levels to push me to the edge? Keeping me awake for four days straight with the constant pain of your devices drilling into my skull? Well, this is the culmination of your work, and guess what? You're going to be right here to collect the final data. Kim: Shields have failed. Structural integrity is down to twenty percent. Takar: Enter the authorisation code and change course immediately. Janeway: I don't think you realize that you are not in control here anymore. Takar: I can kill you and your crew in an instant. Janeway: Go ahead. Without us, you won't be able to prevent this ship from being torn apart by the pulsars. And even with my crew working together, I'd say the odds of us getting through this are, what, one in ten? Tuvok: One in twenty at best, Captain. Janeway: I'm willing to take that chance. Are you? Tuvok: Outer hull temperature has reached nine thousand degrees. Kim: The hull is beginning to buckle. Seven: Two alien vessels are attempting to disengage from Voyager. Janeway: I can't break us free of the gravitational forces. Kim: Then let's divert all power to the shields. Janeway: No. If we go in, we go in full throttle. Kim: Captain? Janeway: Assuming we survive we'll need all the momentum we can get to reach escape velocity on the other side. Everyone hang on. I hope you were exaggerating about those odds, Tuvok. Tuvok: I was not. Hull stress has exceeded maximum tolerance. Seven: There are breaches on decks four, seven, eight and twelve. Kim: Emergency forcefields are holding. Janeway: I've lost helm control. Tuvok: Main power is offline. Janeway: Well, let's hope we've got enough speed. Kim: I don't believe it. We're alive. Janeway: I never realized you thought of me as reckless, Tuvok. Tuvok: A poor choice of words. It was clearly an understatement. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51244.3. With the aliens gone, the Doctor has been able to remove their devices from the crew and neutralize the genetic tags. Torres: It was nice you could get the night off. Paris: Nice had nothing to do with it. I switched shifts with Ensign Wildman which means tomorrow I'll pull a double duty on the bridge and with the Doc. Torres: Well, I appreciate the sacrifice. Tell me about the wine. Paris: Ah. Ktarian Merlot, 2282. You might want to let it breathe first. Torres: We've got all night to let it breathe, Crewman: Engineering to Lieutenant Torres. Torres: Torres here. Crewman: We're having a problem with the plasma manifold. I thought you'd want to take a look. Torres: I don't. Lock it down for now, I'll deal with it in the morning. Torres out. Sometimes it's nice to be the Chief Engineer. Paris: Try the salad, Chief. Torres: Hmm. This is really delicious. Paris: Oh, thanks. I replicated it myself. Torres: Mmm, you're too good for me. Ignore it. Paris: Right. I'll get rid of them. Kim: Oh, hi, er, sorry to interrupt. Hi, B'Elanna. Paris: Harry, I'm not home. Kim: I just wanted to return this. Paris: Thanks. Kim: Smells good. Paris: That's it. No more interruptions. Torres: You know, I've been thinking about what the captain said. Paris: Thinking maybe she was right? Me, too. Torres: We have been a little out of control lately. Paris: Do you think we really were? Torres: What? Paris: Out of control. Those aliens could have just been messing around with our hormones just to see what would happen. Torres: You're right, they could have. And we don't know how long they were on board. They could have been tampering with us for months. Paris: Well, when you think about it you did have a pretty abrupt change of heart a couple of weeks ago. What made you realize that you love me all of a sudden? Torres: Just a feeling. So our whole relationship might be based on some alien experiment. Paris: You never know. Torres: Well, I think that explains it. Paris: I guess we should just call it off, then. Torres: I think so. Paris: Thank God we found out in time. Torres: Thank God. Paris: I don't know about you, but I'm curious to see how this experiment turns out.

Scene: Day 1 Obrist: Temporal incursion is complete. All organisms and man-made objects have been eradicated. Annorax: Probe the continuum. Has our target event been achieved? Obrist: Negative. Negative target event. I don't understand, sir. We spent months making these calculations. Annorax: Time is patient, so we must be patient with it. Eradicating a single Zahl colony wasn't enough for a total restoration. We have to work on a larger scale. Take us to the Zahl homeworld. Prepare a new set of calculations. We must erase the entire species from time. Every lifeform, every molecule. Janeway: Space, the great unknown, Only now we're going to know it a little better. Harry? Chakotay: Before there were maps and globes, let alone radar and subspace sensors, mariners navigated by the stars. We're returning to that tried and true method, but this time there's a difference. Janeway: Ensign Kim and Seven of Nine have merged Starfleet and Borg ingenuity to create this new technology.And I'm sure I speak for the entire crew when I say, thank you. Now, how the hell does it work? Seven: Astrometric sensors measure the radiative flux of up to three billion stars simultaneously. The computer then calculates our position relative to the center of the galaxy. Kim: This mapping technology is ten times more accurate than what we've been using. Seven, will you do the honors? We've plotted a new course home. Seven: By my estimates this trajectory will eliminate five years from your journey. Neelix: Our journey. Nice work, Seven. Torres: That region of space we're about to enter. It looks like it has a lot of M-class planets. Seven: It does. Spatial grid zero zero five. Primary species, the Zahl. Tuvok: What do we know about this species? Seven: Technologically advanced but nonconfrontational. Their resistance quotient is quite low. Chakotay: Thank you all for coming. We've got a lot of work to do, so Emh: I'd like to say a few words if I may. I've prepared a speech for this occasion. When I was first activated on Stardate 48315, and I found myself mano a mano with the Delta Quadrant, I didn't think we'd survive a week, let alone three years. There was strife. There was discord. You were all at each others throats. But over time, I've had the pleasure and pride of watching this crew learn to work together as colleagues, even friends. Paris: Hear, hear. Emh: Who would have thought that this eclectic group of voyagers could actually become a family? Starfleet, Maquis, Klingon, Talaxian, hologram, Borg, even Mister Paris. Granted, we've had our share of difficulties. One might say, we've seen the best of times and the worst of times. I'd now like to recount some of those times from my unique perspective. Under the category of best of times, I invite you all to recall the moment when I Crewman: Bridge to captain. Janeway: Janeway here. Crewman: We're being hailed. A vessel off the port bow. Chakotay: On our way. Emh: Perhaps we could all reconvene later? Lang: They're firing on us, Captain. Tuvok: It's a small vessel, fifteen lifeforms aboard. Low warp capacity, limited armaments. They pose no threat. Janeway: Open a channel. Good day, sir. Have we offended you in some way? Krenim Commandant: You will reverse course immediately. This region is in dispute. You have no business in Krenim space. Janeway: I was under the impression we were entering Zahl territory. Krenim Commandant: The Zahl have no legitimate claim here. They have taken what is ours. Reverse course or be destroyed. Janeway: With all due respect, unless you've got something a little bigger in your torpedo tubes, I'm not turning around. But I'm certainly willing to discuss this issue with you. Krenim Commandant: No discussion! No compromise! Tuvok: They are in retreat. Chakotay: His bark's obviously worse than his bite. Janeway: He seems rather intent. Let's go to yellow alert. Maintain our course. Maybe the Zahl can give us some answers. Day 4 Official: As long as you travel in Zahl territory you travel among friends. I apologize for your mishap with the Krenim. Janeway: It was hardly traumatic, but I am curious. The Krenim claim this region as their own. Zahl Official: The Krenim dominated this space many years ago. They possessed deadly weapons based on temporal science, and it kept them in power for a long time. But a generation ago we fought the Krenim. We defeated them and took back the planets that they had annexed, dismantled their military forces. Their ships still wander our territory making grandiose claims. Don't let them trouble you. Now, tell me about Voyager. A single ship alone, half a galaxy from home. How exciting for you. Kim: Bridge to Captain. Sorry to interrupt, but the Krenim vessel is back. They're demanding to speak with you. Janeway: Hello again. Krenim Commandant: You've ignored our warnings, and now you consort with our enemy. Zahl Official: Leave this space or I'll seize your vessel and send you home in a cargo container. Janeway: Gentlemen, please. Believe me, we're not conspiring against you. Kim: Captain, there's a spatial distortion heading towards us. Whatever it is, it's huge. Five light years across and it's expanding. Tuvok: Tracking it's origin. A vessel near the Zahl homeworld. Zahl Official: What? Tuvok: It appears to be a massive build-up of temporal energy. Some kind of space-time shock wave. Janeway: Tom. Paris: It's destabilizing our warp field. I've lost engines. Janeway: Shields to full. Secure primary systems. All hands, brace for impact. Chakotay: She's dead. Tuvok: Shields at seventy percent. The Krenim are firing again. We're being hailed. Janeway: It's about time. On screen. We've done nothing to provoke these attacks. Krenim Commandant: Your presence in our space is provocation enough. Janeway: We've been trying to communicate with your vessels but the only answer I get is weapons fire. Krenim Commandant: State your identity. Janeway: Captain Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. Krenim Commandant: And your reason for violating our borders? Janeway: We're simply trying to get home. If you'd kindly allow us to pass through Krenim Commandant: No. You will submit to the Krenim Imperium. I would prefer to seize your vessel before it is too badly damaged. Surrender now and I will forego the execution of your crew. Janeway: I don't respond well to threats. Krenim Commandant: Then prepare to be boarded. Janeway: All hands, battle stations. This is turning into the Week of Hell. Tuvok: They are charging weapons. Three seconds to impact. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Kim: Direct hit to our secondary hull. Chakotay: I still don't understand why these torpedoes are ripping right through our shields. Tuvok: Their weapons are chronoton based. They're penetrating our shields because they're in a state of temporal flux. Janeway: Then lets exercise the better part of valor. Get us out of here, warp six. Paris: Warp six. No sign of pursuit. Janeway: Damage report. Tuvok: Fifteen wounded. Main power is down. We've lost environmental control on decks seven and eight. The computer is offline. Janeway: Mister Kim, do we have any sensors left? Kim: Short range only. Janeway: Commander, put the ship on twenty four hour tactical alert. Tuvok, analyze whatever data we've got on those chronoton torpedoes. See if you can modify our shielding. When those Krenim attack again, I want to be ready. Annorax: Enter. Obrist: Sir, you were correct. The Zahl homeworld was the focal point. Its erasure has produced a complete temporal restoration. Annorax: Complete? Obrist: Yes, sir. Annorax: If I told you to count the stars in the cosmos would the task ever be complete? Obrist: Sir? Annorax: Our attempts may be sufficient. They may be even relatively successful, but they will never be complete. Choose your words with more precision. Obrist: My apologies. Annorax: What were the exact results? Obrist: The Krenim Imperium has been restored to power. Our territory now includes eight hundred and forty nine inhabited worlds spanning five thousand parsecs. Annorax: Counter indications? Obrist: Negligible. No superior enemy forces, no unexpected diseases. Calculations indicate a ninety eight percent restoration. Our race is thriving once again. Annorax: The, er, the colony at Kyana Prime. That was restored as well? Obrist: No, sir. In this timeline the Imperium does not extend that far. Annorax: Then our mission has failed. Begin calculations for the next incursion. Obrist: Sir, we have just accomplished the impossible. A ninety eight percent restoration. Another incursion, even a minor one, could undermine everything. We should dismantle this weapon and rejoin our people. Annorax: No, not until every colony, every individual, every blade of grass is restored. Obrist: You said yourself our task will never be complete. Please. We should be satisfied with what we have accomplished. For two hundred years, we have never come this close. Annorax: Not close enough. Obrist: If I may speak my thoughts. Many among the crew are convinced that you have lost your objectivity. They think your quest for precision is unrealistic. Sir, we will never restore one hundred percent of what we had. We can manipulate the time continuum for another ten centuries. It will never happen. Annorax: Return to your station and begin a new set of calculations. Is that clear? Obrist: Perfectly. Annorax: You surprise me, Obrist, After so many years, you still perceive time through conventional eyes. Never is a word that has no meaning here. As long as we stay on this vessel, protected from space-time, we have all eternity to accomplish our mission. Obrist: Of course, sir. Day 32 Janeway: Return fire. Tuvok: Weapons are down. My attempt to modify the shielding was unsuccessful. Chakotay: Captain, during that last exchange we did some damage. The Krenim's aft shields are down. They're vulnerable. Paris: We've got to hit them, now. Kim: With what? Phaser banks are burned out, torpedo launchers are offline. Emh: Doctor to bridge. We've got a power overload in Sickbay. I need an engineer down here right away. Chakotay: Stand by, Doctor. Harry, can you handle it from here? Kim: No, sir. The overload's spreading. Half that deck is going to blow in less than five minutes. Chakotay: Doctor, get your patients out of there. All hands, this is the bridge. Emergency evacuation deck five. Janeway: How many torpedoes do we have left? Tuvok: Eleven. Janeway: Arm four of them. Stand by to open the launch doors. We're going to deploy them like mines. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Tom, I need your finesse. Let the Krenim get within five thousand meters of us. Paris: No problem. Emh: Keep moving. Quickly, please, move quickly. Computer: Warning, structural collapse in three minutes. Tuvok: Torpedoes armed and ready. Paris: They're within range. Janeway: Tuvok, do it. Paris: Got him! Kim: The conduits on deck five are overloading. Thirty seconds till they blow. Emh: Keep moving! Please hurry. That's it. Computer: Warning, structural collapse Computer: In twenty seconds. Kim: Fifteen seconds! Computer: Warning, structural collapse in ten seconds. Warning, structural collapse in five, four, three, two, one. Janeway: Report! Kim: Sections ten through fifty three on deck five are gone. Janeway: Casualties? Tuvok: Reports are coming in. Twelve wounded, many of them critically. The Doctor is setting up a triage facility in the mess hall. Two crew members were killed in the breach. Janeway: Stand down Red alert. Assemble a security team. Survey the ship deck by deck. I want a full damage report. I'll be in my ready room. You have the bridge. What's left of it. Janeway: Come in. Sorry about the mess. Chakotay: You should see my place. They haven't looked as bad since my old Academy days. Janeway: Is there something on your mind? Chakotay: Yes, but you're not going to like it. Janeway: That's never stopped you before. Broken. Chakotay: I'll be blunt. Our strategy is failing. It was a good idea to try and create temporal shielding but it isn't working. Janeway: Not yet, but it will. With every attack we're getting more information about their chronoton weapons. Chakotay: How many more attacks will it take? Before long, there won't be a ship left to protect. Janeway: We don't have a choice. Chakotay: Maybe we do. Janeway: Here comes the part I'm not going to like. Chakotay: We should consider leaving the ship behind, breaking the crew into smaller groups. Escape pods, shuttles, each one with its own course. If all goes well, we'll rendezvous on the other side of Krenim space. Janeway: Then what? Chakotay: We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But at least we'd be increasing our chances of survival. Janeway: Abandon ship? The answer's no. I'm not breaking up the family, Chakotay. We're stronger as a team. One crew, one ship. The moment we split apart, we lose the ability to pool our talents. We become vulnerable. We'll get picked off one by one. Now I say we make our stand. Together. Chakotay: To be honest, I wasn't too fond of the idea myself. Janeway: As long as Voyager's in one piece, we stay. Chakotay: We stay. This looks like it stayed in one piece. Where does this go? Janeway: My lucky teacup. Right over here. Paris: Red alert. We're under attack. Two Krenim warships off the port bow. Day 47 Torres: When are they going to get us out of here? Kim: Try to relax. Let's get back to the game. Grace Kelly. Cat burglars. The Riviera. Name the title and the male lead. Torres: To Catch A Thief. Kim: Right. Torres: Clark Gable. Kim: Wrong. Cary Grant. Torres: I've seen the holographic version twice. It's Clark Gable. Kim: I think you're getting them confused because they have the same initials. It was Grant. Torres: No more twentieth century entertainment. I'm terrible at it. My turn. Category, athletics. Kim: Fire away. Torres: A notorious athlete, Parrises Squares championship finals, er, controversial decision. Kim: M'Kota R'Cho. The first and only Klingon to play the game. During the finals of 2342 one of the referees called a penalty against his team. R'Cho strangled him. Torres: Impressive. Kim: You're looking at a true sports aficionado. Let's see, how about interstellar history? Torres: Oh, great. You pick the one subject I almost failed at the Academy. Go ahead and ask. Ow! Kim: Are you all right? Torres: It just hurts a little. Feels like we've been here for days. Kim: Actually, it's been about six hours. Try to hang on, B'Elanna. The emergency crews are going find us any minute. Come on, hurry up! Torres: Go ahead and ask your stupid question before I pass out and you don't have anybody to play with. Kim: Okay. Er, it's a famous ship. Er, pre-warp civilization. Er, Montana. Er, second stage had chemical engines. Torres: Another clue. Kim: Vulcans. Er, Earth, First Contact. Torres: Oh, right, right. Er, er, er, Zephram Cochrane's ship. What was it called? Oh, it's on the tip of my tongue. Ow! Kim: Okay, here, here, you'd better lie down now. Enough trivia for now. Torres: No, no, I'm going to get this one. Seven: Lieutenant. Ensign. Torres: It's about time. What happened to the turbolift? Seven: During the last attack nineteen main power relays were severed. The entire turbolift system is non-operational. Torres: Get me to the Jefferies tube network on deck eleven. The EPS manifold must have taken a hit, too. Kim: Seven of Nine can go take a look. We have to get you to the Doctor. Torres: All right. Seven: The Phoenix. Kim: What? Seven: The correct response to your query. The vessel Ensign Kim was describing. It was designated the Phoenix. Kim: Not bad. I didn't realize you knew so much about Earth history. Seven: I don't, but the Borg were present during those events. Kim: Really. Seven: It's a complicated story. Perhaps another time. Torres: I think so. Chakotay: Transverse bulkheads. We've set up emergency forcefields between all decks and every section. In the event of a cataclysmic breach most of us will be protected. Janeway: Ingenious. Chakotay: Actually, you can thank Mister Paris. He came up with the idea. Paris: I was inspired by an ancient steamship, the Titanic. The engineers of the day constructed a series of special bulkheads, sort of like a honeycomb, that would lower into place if they suffered a major hull breach. In theory, they could stay afloat even with half the ship filled with water. Janeway: The Titanic? As I recall, it sank. Paris: Well, let's just say I've made a few improvements. Janeway: I knew your fixation with history would come in handy someday. Good work. Emh: Doctor to Lieutenant Paris. Paris: Go ahead, Doc. Emh: Report to the mess hall at once. More wounded are one the way. Paris: I'll be right there. I'm a popular guy today. Seven: Seven of Nine to Tuvok. Tuvok: Tuvok here. Seven: There is an undetonated chronoton torpedo lodged in the starboard Jefferies tube on deck eleven, section two. The warhead is still active. Tuvok: Do not attempt to disarm it. Hold your position and wait for my arrival. Is that clear? Seven: Arrive quickly. Paris: I've stopped the internal bleeding. You're going to be okay. Torres: Is that your expert opinion? Paris: That's a promise. I know it still hurts. Torres: It's all right. Paris: You've got a ruptured vertebra. I'll see if I can repair it. Emh: Mister Paris, your assistance please. Paris: Give me a minute. Emh: Now, Lieutenant. Paris: I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere. Emh: In case you hadn't noticed, B'Elanna is not the only patient here. Paris: She's in pain. Emh: But no longer in danger of dying. That is the first rule of medical triage. Make sure the patient will live, then move on to the next one. Emotional detachment is essential otherwise, you risk impairing your judgment. Paris: I understand. Emh: You could be seeing more of your friends in here soon. If you can't handle itm I'll find another assistant. You can leave. Paris: Physician, heal thyself. Emh: What's that supposed to mean? Paris: It seems to me that you're the one who's getting emotional around here. Emh: Several weeks ago, just before the conduits on deck five breached, I saw Ensign Strickler and Crewman Emmanuel at the end of a corridor. They were trying to reach the Jefferies tube. I kept the hatch open, waited for them as long as I could, but time ran out. I had no choice but to seal the hatch. Paris: It must have been very hard for you. Emh: My point is, it could have been worse. Had I lost my objectivity, I might have kept the hatch open and everyone would have perished. This man has damaged lung tissue. Treat him with inaprovaline. Tuvok: If we attempt to dislodge the torpedo or move it with the transporters, it will most likely detonate. Seven: Can we disarm it? Tuvok: No. The warhead is already destabilizing. I estimate it will explode in less than two minutes. If we re-route emergency power to this junction and erect a level ten force field it should be enough to contain the explosion. We must hurry. Seven: If I can determine the exact temporal variance of this torpedo it will help us perfect the temporal shielding. Tuvok: There is no time. Seven: We may never have this opportunity again. Tuvok: I am giving you an order. Now! Seven: The temporal variance is one point four seven microseconds. Tuvok: Excellent work, but if you disobey my orders again I will be forced to Day 65 Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51268.4. This morning's attack destroyed the power grid on deck eleven. No casualties this time, but the replicator system was badly damaged. We've gone to emergency rations. As a result, the situation has gotten a little worse. Environmental controls continue to fail. Seven decks have been rendered uninhabitable and we've had to relocate the crew. Quarters are close, nerves are frayed, and I'm not sure what's more difficult to maintain. Voyager's systems or the crew's morale. What's important is that we're together, working toward a single goal. Survival. Chakotay: Happy birthday. Janeway: Happy what? Chakotay: Today is May twentieth. Janeway: Is it? I thought we were still in April. Guess I've lost track of the time. Chakotay: Well, this should help. Janeway: It's beautiful. Chakotay: Nineteenth century, mechanical movement. It's a replica of the chronometer worn by Captain Cray of the British Navy, His ship was hit by a typhoon in the Pacific. Everyone back in England thought they were killed, but eight months later Cray sailed his ship into London harbor. There wasn't much left of it, a few planks, half a sail, but he got his crew home. Janeway: I appreciate the sentiment, but I can't keep this. Recycle it. We can't afford to waste energy on nonessentials. Chakotay: Kathryn, I replicated this months ago. I've been saving it. I wanted you to have it. Janeway: That watch represents a meal, a hypospray, or a pair of boots. It could mean the difference between life and death one day. Tuvok: Enter. Seven: Reporting for duty, Lieutenant. Tuvok: What is our agenda? Seven: After we make your customary rounds, I'd like to take you to deflector control. I had an inspiration last night about the temporal shielding. Tuvok: Excellent. Seven: You've been damaged. Tuvok: A minor laceration. Seven: I have offered to assist you with your personal grooming. Tuvok: There are some tasks I would rather perform myself. Seven: Unacceptable. You're risking further injury. Tuvok: Shaving is hardly a life-threatening activity. Tell me about your inspiration. Seven: We've been trying to match our shields to the temporal variance of their torpedoes, but I believe we must also match the deflector array to the inverse of that variance. Tuvok: Fascinating. When will the deflectors be ready? Seven: They're ready now, but the modifications are untested. Tuvok: Then our rounds can wait. Take me to deflector control. Brooks: Seven. Seven: Ensign. Tuvok: A friend of yours? Seven: My cabin mate. As a Borg, I was accustomed to cohabitating with thousands of other drones, but I find it significantly more difficult to live with a single human. Tuvok: In what way? Seven: Ensign Brooks is negligent. She leaves her equipment lying around the quarters and her clothing on the floor. Tuvok: Indeed. I have found that most humans are less than meticulous when it comes to their domestic habits. Seven: Indeed. Neelix: Mister Vulcan, sir. A tactical question if I may? Tuvok: You may. Neelix: We're just about done rebuilding the internal security sensors, and we're ready to program the audio signal. Do you want it to say intruder alert, or should we try something a little more dramatic, like Warning, intruder alert or, Intruders among us! Danger! Danger! Intruders among us? Tuvok: Intruder alert will suffice. Neelix: Yeah, go with the classic. Understood, sir. Tuvok: And you believe you have difficulties. Chakotay: All hands to battle stations. Krenim vessels approaching. Repeat, all hands to battle stations. Tuvok: Go to deflector control and bring the new shields online. We will test them in battle. Tuvok: Computer, activate tactile interface. Chakotay: Weapons status? Tuvok: Phasers are still online. Torpedo launchers are still inoperative. Paris: The Krenim are within visual range. Janeway: On screen. Tuvok: Seven's modified temporal shields should be online in a moment. Kim: It's a warship. Janeway: You know the routine. Paris: Evasive maneuvers. Kim: They're matching course. Chakotay: Hold them off as long as you can. Bridge to Seven of Nine. Chakotay: Where are those shields? Seven: Stand by. Kim: They're charging weapons. Janeway: Seven, we could a little of that Borg efficiency right about now. Paris: I can't shake them. Kim: They're targeting the bridge. Seven: Temporal shielding is online. Kim: They're firing. Chakotay: Full port thrusters. Tuvok: Temporal shields are holding. No damage. Janeway: Hail them. Tuvok: Channel open. Janeway: Krenim vessels, this is the captain of Voyager. You may have noticed we have a defense against your torpedoes now. I suggest you stand down. Tuvok: No response. Janeway: Their mistake. Bring the ship about. We're going through their space whether they like it or not. Obrist: We are within range of the Garenor homeworld. Annorax: Set temporal coordinates. Full power to the weapon. Prepare for total erasure of the species. Obrist: Targeting the focal point. Ready. Annorax: Fire. Obrist: Temporal incursion in progress. Annorax: Trace elements? Obrist: Diminishing. Annorax: Counter indications? Obrist: None so far. Organisms and structures are being eradicated. Annorax: Track the temporal wavefront as it passes through the system. I want to monitor every change in the timeline as it occurs. Obrist: Yes, sir. Tuvok: Captain, the Krenim warship is in pursuit, but their weapons are not powered. Janeway: They don't know what to do with us now that we're shielded against their torpedoes. Kim: Captain, there's some kind of spatial distortion heading toward us. Sensor readings are erratic. I can't identify the phenomenon. Chakotay: What's the source? Kim: Unknown. But it originated approximately twenty light years from our position. It looks like a shockwave in the fabric of space-time. Janeway: Tom, get us out of here. Paris: We'll never outrun it, Captain. Janeway: Maybe our new shields will help. All hands, brace for impact. Tuvok: You were correct, Captain. The temporal shielding has protected us. The wave front has passed. Kim: Captain. Chakotay: Report. Kim: It's definitely a Krenim ship. Identical hull markings, same biospectral frequency, but it's half the size. Limited fire power. Janeway: What happened to the warship? Paris: I'm not picking it up on long range sensors. Chakotay: It looks like this entire part of space has changed somehow. The last time I checked, this region was filled with Krenim colonies and vessels. I just ran a scan and sensors show no colonies and just a handful of Krenim ships. Janeway: Harry, transfer all your sensor data about that shockwave to the Astrometrics lab. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Tell Seven of Nine to meet me there. Chakotay: Captain, Astrometrics took heavy damage a few days go. It's offline. Janeway: Well, let's get it back online. It appears that the Krenim Imperium has vanished. Our troubles could be over and I'd like to find out why. Obrist: Something went wrong. The entire Krenim Imperium, it's reverted to a pre-warp state. Annorax: Not possible. Our calculations were perfect. Obrist: I may have an explanation. There's an anomalous temporal reading twenty light years from here. It's coming from a vessel. Annorax: What vessel? Obrist: Component zero four nine beta. A ship called Voyager. Annorax: That ship was classified as an inert component. It shouldn't be generating a temporal field. Obrist: But it is. And it was enough to throw off our calculations. Annorax: Take me to them. Day 70 Seven: Sensors are online. Power levels are stable. Janeway: Is the astrometric database still intact? Seven: Yes. Janeway: Display the scans we made of this region before the temporal shockwave hit. Seven: Spatial grid zero zero five. Janeway: The Krenim Imperium. Over two hundred star systems, nine hundred planets, thousands of warp capable vessels. And now, after the shockwave, everything seems to have changed. Run a new scan. Seven: Spatial grid zero zero five. Janeway: Same space, different configuration, exactly as Chakotay said. The Imperium appears to have been reduced to a few planets, and a smattering of vessels. It appears that someone or something has altered history. But why weren't we affected? Seven: Perhaps we were protected from the changes by our temporal shielding. Janeway: So the question remains. What caused that shockwave in the first place? See if you can track it back to its origin. Seven: The shockwave emanated from a planet twenty light years away. The Garenor homeworld. Janeway: The Garenor? We passed their planet three weeks ago. Seven: The planet is no longer populated. Janeway: What? Seven: Astrometric data indicate that the instant the shockwave appeared the Garenor species vanished. Janeway: Erased from history. Seven: Captain? Janeway: I'm no authority on time travel, in fact I've made it my goal in life to avoid it, but this sounds to me like a causality paradox. Think about it. A temporal shock wave eliminates a single species and all of history changes as a result. Seven: An intriguing theory. Perhaps the Krenim are responsible. They do possess temporal technology. Janeway: But why would they alter history to undermine themselves? No, we're still missing a big piece of the puzzle. Run another scan of the Obrist: Scanning the vessel. Their defensive shielding is generating a level nine temporal disruption. Annorax: Collect samples. Two lifeforms, ten square meters of the hull. Obrist: Yes, sir. Annorax: Disable their shielding. Prepare to initiate a temporal incursion. Kim: That entire vessel's in a state of temporal flux. It's like they exist outside space-time. Paris: They're scanning us. Janeway: Get a lock on them. Kim: I'm trying, but I can't isolate their signals. Tuvok: We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Annorax: State your identity. Janeway: I'm Captain Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. Who are you, and where are my men? Annorax: I am Annorax of the Krenim Imperium. We've transferred your crewmen to my vessel for further analysis. Your ship does not come from this quadrant. Janeway: We come from Earth, a planet sixty five thousand light years from here. We're on our way home. Annorax: I see. Janeway: We've been observing some rather unusual events in the region. It seems your Imperium never existed. Perhaps you could shed some light on this? Annorax: That doesn't concern you. What is important is that you understand that I bear you no hostility. But you have diverted me from my mission. Janeway: Your mission? You're responsible for the changes in the timeline. Annorax: You're a long way from your world. In a manner of speaking, so am I. Unfortunately, only one of us can go home again. Your sacrifice will restore the lives of countless millions. I'm sorry. Kim: I'm reading a massive energy build-up. Some kind of weapon. Janeway: Shields. Seven: Temporal shields are weakening. Kim: Captain, that energy beam. It's pushing Voyager out of the space-time continuum. Janeway: He's trying to erase us from history. Seven: I've scanned their propulsion system. Their vessel's mass prevents them from exceeding warp six. We can escape. Tuvok: Captain, I must remind you our structural integrity is still impaired. If we go to warp now, the damage to Voyager will be extreme. Kim: What about Tom and Chakotay? Janeway: We'll have to come back for them. All hands clear the outer sections and prepare for wide-scale breaches. Tuvok, activate the transverse bulkheads. Seven: Temporal shields are failing. Janeway: Engage warp seven. Kim: They're not in pursuit. Tuvok: We're losing the outer hull. Transverse bulkheads are holding. Day 73 Janeway: Each of you has done their best, but determination alone isn't going to hold this ship together. It's time we faced reality. We've lost nine decks. More than half the ship has been destroyed. Life support is nearly gone. Voyager can no longer sustain it's crew. I promised myself that I would never give this order, that I would never break up this family, but asking you to stay would be asking you to die. You will proceed to the escape pods and evacuate this vessel. Set your course for the Alpha Quadrant. Along the way, try to find allies. Secure faster ships, if you can. Anything to get home. The senior staff and I will remain on board as long as possible. We will try somehow to rescue Tom and Chakotay. The escape pods are equipped with subspace beacons. That's how we'll keep track of you. When we find each other again, and we will, we will find each other again, I expect all of you to be in one piece with some interesting stories to tell. Good luck. To Be Continued... Day 133 Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51425.4. Our condition has left us vulnerable to spatial anomalies and to any alien species eager for a piece of hardware. We've taken refuge in a class nine nebula. Janeway: Come on. Don't do this to me now. Emergency forcefields are holding. How the hell did all this gas get inside? Kim: Looks like a malfunction in the ventilation system. Okay, I'm going to try reversing the osmotic pressure on this deck. Whoa! The gas corroded the circuit relays. Janeway: Let's bypass. Kim: We've got three minutes of air left. Janeway: How long can you hold your breath? Emh: Ensign Kim found time to be treated. So can you. Janeway: How is Harry? Emh: He'll be fine, but I'm surprised he didn't asphyxiate. I told you eight minutes on that deck, not eight and a half, not nine, and certainly not twelve. Janeway: Would you rather have an indoor nebula? If we didn't stop it then and there, it would have flooded another two decks. B'Elanna, engines? Torres: Not yet Captain. One of the warp nacelles is still offline. The other one's a lost cause. Janeway: Route all available power to the good one. Emh: The alveoli in your lungs have been chemically burned. I want you off your feet for the next forty eight hours. Janeway: Impossible. I've got too much work to do. Emh: There are seven other crew members on board. You're the captain. Delegate. Janeway: Inject me with trioxin. That should help me breathe a little easier. B'Elanna, stand by for the transfer. Torres: Right. Emh: Trioxin is used in emergency situations as a stop-gap measure. Your lungs have suffered serious damage. They need to be treated properly. Doctor's orders. Janeway: Captain's orders. Trioxin. Now. Emh: Aye, aye. It's your body. Who am I to judge? I'm only the Chief Medical officer. What do I know? Janeway: Thank you. Now, where were we? Annorax: Well, you look rested. Chakotay: Where's my crewmate? Annorax: He should have been here by now. No doubt he's making himself difficult. I've never seen such an intransigent young man. Chakotay: You've had us in isolation for two months. We've been scanned, poked and prodded. How do you expect us to act? Annorax: With some degree of dignity and restraint. Your crewmate has none. Chakotay: What do you want from us? Annorax: At the moment, information. Paris: Anything for such a charming host. Are you all right? Annorax: The galley has prepared a selection of unique delicacies. You won't find them anywhere else in the galaxy. Please, join me. Annorax: Malkothian spirits. An extremely rare vintage. The only bottle known to exist. Your captain said that your vessel is trying to reach home. I hadn't realized how far your home was. You're an anomalous component. Alone, disconnected, impossible to predict. You have no idea how you've complicated my mission. Paris: Glad to hear it. Annorax: When I first encountered your vessel, it was badly damaged, barely functioning. What if I told you that in the blink of an eye I could restore Voyager to its former condition, that you and I would never have met. that you might even find yourself closer to the Alpha Quadrant? Chakotay: By using the weapon on this ship to alter history? Annorax: Yes. I can control the destiny of a single molecule or an entire civilization. How's the wine? Chakotay: Excellent. Annorax: This bottle is the only component left of the once powerful Malkoth race. Everything else about them, cities, culture, the very species itself never existed, because of me. Every dish you see here comes from a civilization that has been erased from time. Mister Paris, you're devouring the last remnants of the Alsuran Empire. I have collected artifacts from hundreds of worlds. This vessel is more than a weapon. It's a museum of lost histories. You two gentlemen almost became artifacts yourselves, but I've decided to spare your vessel. Paris: Why? Annorax: Call it an act of compassion. You're trying to reach home. In a way, so am I. We can work together to achieve both our goals. Chakotay: What do you propose? Annorax: In order to make the calculations required to restore Voyager, I need to know about some of your experiences in this quadrant. What species you interacted with, how other components were affected by your presence. Paris: You can't find her, can you? I think Captain Janeway has been eluding you for the past two months. Otherwise you would've destroyed Voyager by now. Annorax: I'm offering you a way out of this situation. You accept my offer, or when I do find Voyager I will destroy it. Paris: And how many civilizations will you have to erase to send us merrily on our way? No thanks. We don't want that kind of blood on our hands. Chakotay: Tom, hold on. You said you could control the destiny of a single molecule. If you made a precise enough calculation, could you restore Voyager without harming anyone? Annorax: It is possible, but it's extremely difficult. That's why I need your cooperation. Paris: I'd rather spend a year in solitary confinement than listen to any of this. Chakotay: Tom, have a seat. Paris: Chakotay, we can't trust him. Annorax: You're correct. Given the circumstances, there is no reason to trust me. But trust isn't necessary. We need each other. Annorax: Obrist, show our guest to his new quarters. I'll do everything in my power to make you comfortable here, Mister Paris. All I ask in return is that you keep an open mind. Annorax: I was very impressed with your question. You seem to understand the subtleties of time. Chakotay: Professor Vassbinder might've disagreed with you. I failed his course in temporal mechanics. Annorax: Beyond study and instrumentation, there is instinct. Not everyone has the ability to truly perceive time. Its colors, its moods. Perhaps you do. Chakotay: I'm certainly willing to give it a try. Torres: To distant friends. Neelix: To friends. Janeway: Hear, hear. Kim: Cheers. Seven: Yes. Neelix: Well? Tuvok: Interesting. Kim: Not bad. Not bad at all. Torres: What is it exactly? Neelix: I call it the Elixir of Endurance. It's loaded with amino acids, carbohydrates, all the nutrients necessary for the crew to withstand these stressful conditions. Torres: Ration cubes. Neelix: Well, yes, yes. But this time, pureed and mixed with water and enhanced with Talaxian spices. Seven: It is offensive. Fortunately taste is irrelevant. Janeway: Well, it's been a few days since we've gathered in one place. Now's a good time to catch up. How are the repairs proceeding? Emh: I'm happy to report that I've repaired the optronic error in my program. Janeway: And the power grid? Kim: We're operating at thirty two percent efficiency. I think I can bring it up to fifty, but I'll need a few more days. Janeway: Warp drive? Torres: I'm still having trouble with the starboard nacelle. Janeway: How long? Torres: Three weeks. Minimum. Janeway: I thought this nebula would be a safe haven until we finished repairs, but it's turning into a permanent residence. We've got to get back into open space, find allies, put together a fighting force to take on Annorax. We're leaving this damn cloud first thing tomorrow morning. Seven: Captain, you are in error. Janeway: Really? Seven: At the moment this vessel is defenseless. We should remain here until we are functioning at our peak efficiency. Janeway: I appreciate your opinion, Seven, but I disagree. We leave tomorrow, oh eight hundred hours. Tuvok: It is inappropriate to contradict the captain in front of the crew. Seven: That was not my intention. I simply pointed out that her decision was wrong. Tuvok: In your view. Seven: And yours. I know you well enough to say that. Tuvok: Then you should also know that my trust in Captain Janeway is absolute. The decision you or I might have made is irrelevant. Seven: As a Borg, I submitted to a single authority, the Collective. Over the past several months I've been encouraged to think and act as an individual. It is difficult to know when to restrain myself. Tuvok: Remember this guideline. The captain is always right. Seven: Even when you know her logic is flawed? Tuvok: Perhaps. Day 161 Chakotay: Component 37329, a rogue comet. About eight months ago, Voyager made a course correction to avoid the comet. According to my calculations, it led to our entering Krenim space. Annorax: The solution, then, would be to erase that comet from history. Chakotay: Exactly. Voyager would have stayed on its course and bypassed Krenim space altogether. Annorax: Sounds simple enough. Conduct a simulation. Chakotay: Temporal incursion in progress. What happened? Annorax: Had you actually eradicated that comet, all life within fifty light years would never have existed. Congratulations, You almost wiped out eight thousand civilizations. Chakotay: I didn't consider the entire history of the comet. Annorax: Four billion years ago, fragments from that comet impacted a planet. Hydrocarbons from those fragments gave rise to several species of plant life, which in turn sustained more complex organisms. Ultimately several space-faring civilizations evolved and colonized the entire sector. Chakotay: By erasing the comet I altered all evolution in this region. Annorax: Past, present and future. They exist as one. They breathe together. You're not the only person to make this mistake. When I first constructed this weapon ship, I turned it against our greatest enemy, the Rilnar. The result was miraculous. With the Rilnar gone from history, my people, in an instant, became powerful again. But there were problems. A rare disease broke out among our colonies. Within a year, fifty million were dead. I had failed to realize that the Rilnar had introduced a crucial antibody into the Krenim genome, and my weapon had eliminated that antibody as well. Chakotay: And you've been trying to undo that damage ever since. But each time you pull out a new thread, another one begins to unravel. Annorax: You can't imagine the burden of memory that I carry. Thousands of worlds, billions of lives, gone, brought back, gone again. I try to rationalize the loss. They're not really being destroyed, because they never existed. Sometimes I can almost convince myself. Chakotay: You've been at this for two hundred years, Annorax. What makes you think you're ever going to succeed? Annorax: What makes you think Voyager will ever reach Earth? The odds against you are astronomical, yet you keep trying. Chakotay: You're right. But we don't destroy everything that stands in our way. Annorax: You can help me to change that, Chakotay. Together, we'll restore the Krenim and Voyager and we'll undo the damage that I've caused. Chakotay: I've still got a lot to learn. Annorax: Come. It's time I show you the heart of this vessel. The temporal core. Day 180 Janeway: Engines. Torres: I'm doing my best. Kim: Captain, with the deflector down those micrometeoroids are beginning to erode the hull. Janeway: Emergency power to the deflector. Tuvok: None available. Janeway: I'll be in deflector control. Tuvok: Captain. That entire section has been designated hazard level four. Janeway: I know. Janeway: Oh, why do I get the feeling you're testing me, Voyager? Bridge, there's a fire in deflector control. Any luck with the engines? Torres: The warp core's still offline. Kim: Micro-meteoroid density Kim: Is increasing. The nacelle pylon is buckling. Janeway: Bridge, I'm going in. Stand by to engage the deflector. Tell the Doctor I'll be coming Janeway: Back with severe burns. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: Do it. Be kind. Kim: The captain's accessed manual control. She's stabilizing the particle emitters. She's got it! Deflectors online! Tuvok: Activating deflector field. Bridge to Janeway. Captain, please respond. Janeway: What's my condition? Emh: You suffered third degree burns to approximately sixty percent of your body. I've healed most of them, but without a dermal regenerator I couldn't repair all the damage to your skin. You've been left with scars on your face and arms. Janeway: I'll consider them mementos. Emh: Not so fast. You're spending the next few days here with me. Janeway: What for? Emh: Observation. Janeway: Is there something else wrong with me? Emh: Not physically. Janeway: What are you suggesting? Emh: Traumatic stress syndrome. Symptoms. Irritability, sleeplessness, obsessional thoughts, reckless behavior. All of which you've demonstrated over the last few weeks. Janeway: My only obsession is with saving my ship, my people. If I've been taking some reckless chances in order to do that, it's hardly a medical condition. Emh: I'm not going to stand here while you rationalize yet another brush with death. Janeway: You don't have to. Emh: As Chief Medical Officer, I have the authority to relieve you of your command. Janeway: You're not going to do that. Emh: If, in my medical opinion, your judgment has been impaired, I can. And I will. Janeway: Try it and I'll shut down your program. Emh: That threat in itself is evidence of your unstable condition. Janeway: I am sorry, Doctor. I've been operating on instinct for so long I did not think before I spoke. I have no intention of deactivating you. But I won't stay in this mess hall. Emh: Is that final? Janeway: Final. Emh: Then you leave me no choice. Captain Kathryn Janeway, under Starfleet medical regulation one twenty one, section A, I, the Chief Medical Officer, do hereby relieve you of your active command, effective immediately. Have a seat. Janeway: How do you plan to implement this protocol, Doctor? Mister Tuvok doesn't have a security team, both the brigs have been destroyed, and with the internal forcefields offline you'll have a hell of a time keeping me confined. You'd better grab a phaser, because before I give up command you'll have to shoot me. Emh: You realize this incident will be noted in my official logs. By refusing my orders you risk a general court martial. Janeway: Compared to what I've been through the past few months, a court martial would be a small price to pay. If we make it back home I'll be happy to face the music. Day 207 Janeway: Another ruptured EPS conduit. Neelix: Thirty two so far. Janeway: Thirty three, thirty four, thirty five. And that fluidic converter needs to be purged. Neelix: Right. Janeway: The gravitational plating in this room has buckled. Neelix: Chakotay's quarters. Janeway: You disobeyed orders. Neelix: Captain? Janeway: Chakotay gave this to me five months ago. A birthday gift. I ordered him to Janeway: What do you think? Neelix: Handsome. Janeway: Come on. Obrist: Astounding. Paris: Not really. I get lucky now and again. Obrist: Your end game sequence, it, er, it was the same one favored by my brother. Paris: To quote a long lost friend of mine, it seemed logical. Now what? Obrist: I used to honor the day of his birth. Paris: Who? Obrist: My brother. And my parents, my closest friends. Every year at first. Then one day I realized a century had passed, and for years I had been celebrating birthdays for the dead. Or for people who never even existed. Paris: I'm sorry. Paris: You can put that thing down, Chakotay. No need to strain your eyes anymore, I've got a plan. Chakotay: Let's hear it. Paris: This ship's temporal core keeps the vessel out of phase with normal space-time, but it's shields are incredibly weak. You take that core offline, and a photon grenade could penetrate the hull. Chakotay: How do you know all this? Paris: I've been spending time with our friend Obrist, who seems more than willing to share information. And that's not all. Does the name Captain Bligh mean anything to you? This is not a happy crew. They've been at this for two hundred years now. They're tired of it, Chakotay. They want it to end. Chakotay: Good work, Tom. But I'm not quite ready to start a mutiny. Keep gathering information, lie low. I'm starting to make progress on the temporal calculations. With a little time and luck I think we can get the Krenim back on their feet, and Voyager back to the Alpha Quadrant. Paris: You're starting to sound like Annorax. Always one more calculation. This time it's going to be perfect. Chakotay: This can work. If you'd take the time to listen you'd understand what Annorax is trying to do. Paris: What? Wipe out civilizations to help his own race? I understand perfectly. Chakotay: It's more complicated than that. Annorax is an enlightened man. Misguided, but I think he wants this to end as much as anyone. Paris: I guess I don't have the instinct for Time, or whatever it is Captain Nemo out there calls it. Chakotay, he's been flattering you and it's gone to your head. Chakotay: You're out of line, Lieutenant Paris: Maybe I shouldn't start a mutiny, but I might be able to get Obrist to help us send a message to Captain Janeway. Chakotay: Not yet. If you get caught, we lose everything. I can get us out of this. Paris: Not if I get us out of here first. Chakotay: You're not doing anything against Annorax. That's an order. Paris: What are you going to do, take away my holodeck privileges? Chakotay: Either we maintain our command structure, or else we settle our differences the old fashioned way. Chakotay: What's happening? Annorax: We're preparing for a temporal incursion. Chakotay: What incursion? You didn't say anything about Annorax: I had an inspiration last night. By my calculations the eradication of the Ram Izad species will result in a fifty two percent restoration of the Krenim timeline. Chakotay: I thought we were working to avoid more destruction. Annorax: When Time offers you an opportunity you don't ignore it. Obrist: We're within range of their homeworld. Annorax: Take us into orbit. Full power to the weapon. Prepare for total erasure. Paris: Is this what you call enlightened? Obrist: Targeting the focal point. Locked. Chakotay: Please. This isn't necessary. We'll find another way. Annorax: Fire. Trace elements? Obrist: Diminishing. Annorax: Counter indications? Obrist: None so far. Annorax: Scan the continuum. Bring me the results once they're complete. Obrist: Yes, sir. Annorax: I'll be in my chambers. Paris: Have you seen enough yet, Chakotay? If you don't do something about this maniac, I will. Chakotay: You didn't need to fire on that planet. Annorax: I'm altering history on a massive scale. The destinies of countless star systems are in my hands. The fate of one species is insignificant. Chakotay: You're trying to rationalize genocide. One species is significant. A single life is significant. Annorax: It seemed so easy the first time. In the blink of an eye, I had changed history itself. Allowed my people to thrive again. But when I changed history a second time, I lost more than you can imagine. Chakotay: The colony on Kyana Prime. Annorax: How could you know that? Chakotay: I've been studying your previous incursions. No matter how close you get to restoring the timeline, one component is always missing. Kyana Prime. Who was on that colony? Who did you lose? Annorax: My wife. And with her, my future. My children, grandchildren, all erased because of me. This is all I have left of her. Annorax: So many years I worked through the night while she was sleeping. How could I have known I was calculating her fate? I can't stop until I've restored Kyana Prime, and forced Time to give me back my wife. Chakotay: Maybe it isn't possible. Annorax: When I tell that Time has moods, a disposition to be intuited, I'm not speaking metaphorically. Chakotay: What do you mean? Annorax: Anger is one of it's moods. Anger and the desire for retribution, vengeance. Time itself has tried to punish me for my arrogance. It has kept me from my wife, denied me my future. Obrist: Sir, we've achieved a fifty two percent restoration. Annorax: Kyana Prime? Obrist: Negative, sir. Annorax: Resume scanning the continuum. Obrist: Yes, sir. Annorax: I've, er, I've studied your calculations, Chakotay. They're promising, but premature. We'll keep working on them. In the meantime, my mission must continue. Chakotay: You don't have the right. Annorax: To fight for what is mine? That's not for you to decide. Only Time can pronounce judgment against me. Paris: If that little display doesn't convince you I don't know what will. He's insane. Chakotay: No he's not, Wounded, maybe, even tortured, but I can still reach him, convince him to stop. Paris: Not from what you've told me. This guy thinks that Time has a personal grudge against him. That's called paranoia, Chakotay, with a hint of megalomania. Chakotay: You don't know what he's been through. Paris: He's lost his family. Okay, that's a terrible thing. But so has everyone else on this ship. And frankly, so have we. Chakotay: What kind of progress have you made? Paris: Obrist is coming around, and I think we can trust him. He says he'll give me access to their communications array. I can send a message to Voyager from the comfort of my own quarters. Chakotay: And the temporal core? Paris: That's going to be a little trickier. With Obrist's help, I'm pretty sure I can disable it, but not without setting off every alarm on the ship. We're only going to have one chance. Chakotay: It'll require precise timing. You and me working from within. Paris: And Captain Janeway attacking from Voyager. That is, if the captain's still alive. Chakotay: She's alive. Send the message. Transmit our coordinates. Paris: Done. Chakotay: And, give Kathryn my best. Day 226Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51682.2. I've forged a coalition with the Nihydron and the Mawasi. Together, we're preparing to attack the weapon ship. Janeway: I've analyzed every carrier frequency of their transmission. It contains a classified Starfleet ID code. It could only have come from Tom Paris. It's real. The coordinates he sent should lead us directly to the weapon ship. Tuvok: Location? Janeway: Approximately fifty light years from here. Our new allies are assembling reinforcements. Once we're in range, Tom says he'll try to take the weapon ship's temporal core offline. When that happens they'll be vulnerable to conventional weapons. Tom will then transmit the exact location of the core. Our job will be to disable the ship and get our people out. Is everyone clear? Kim: Yes, ma'am. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: B'Elanna, Harry, I want you to beam over to the Nihydron vessel. Work with their engineers. The entire fleet needs to be equipped with temporal shielding. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Tuvok, Neelix, Seven. You'll be working on the Mawasi ship. Neelix: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Doctor, once the attack begins, your skills will no doubt be required. Join Tuvok's team. Emh: What about yourself? Janeway: I'll be piloting Voyager, coordinating the attack. Torres: Captain, there's barely enough of this ship left to get there, much less wage a war. Janeway: There's fight in Voyager yet. It's still got temporal shields, six photon torpedoes. It'll hold together. Besides, you know the adage. Captain goes down with the ship, right? You have your orders. Dismissed. Tuvok, I can hear your objections already. I am not leaving. Tuvok: Given Voyager's damaged state, the probability of your surviving an armed conflict is marginal. Janeway: Oh, I know the odds. But I have to stay. Voyager's done too much for us. Tuvok: Curious. I have never understood the human compulsion to emotionally bond with inanimate objects. This vessel has done nothing. It is an assemblage of bulkheads, conduits, tritanium. Nothing more. Janeway: Oh, you're wrong. It's much more than that. This ship has been our home. It's kept us together. It's been part of our family. As illogical as this might sound, I feel as close to Voyager as I do to any other member of my crew. It's carried us, Tuvok. Even nurtured us. And right now it needs one of us. Tuvok: I respect your decision. Live long and prosper, Captain. Janeway: Same to you, old friend. Day 257 Janeway: Voyager to Mawasi vessel. Tuvok: Go ahead, Captain. Janeway: I'm picking up the weapon ship dead ahead. Tuvok: Confirmed. Janeway: Temporal shields status. Tuvok: All vessels are bringing them online. Janeway: This is Captain Janeway to the fleet. Plot an intercept course to the weapon ship. Obrist: Sir, six vessels are approaching our position. Annorax: Identify. Obrist: Three Nihydron warships, two Mawasi cruisers, and Voyager. Annorax: We're outside space-time, impervious to their weapons. Let them come. Chakotay: I know Captain Janeway. She wouldn't be attacking unless she knew she could do some damage. Paris: Good work, Obrist. Chakotay: If she's given the other ships temporal shielding, they've undoubtedly informed their home worlds. They'll be able to protect their planets against your weapon. Annorax: Bring the weapon to full power. Stand by for multiple incursions. We'll have to disable their temporal shields first. Make the necessary calculations. Tuvok: All vessels report ready. Janeway: Let's see if Tom has done his part. Janeway to the fleet. Attack pattern Omega. Engage. Annorax: Condition? Obrist: No damage. Temporal core is stable. Annorax: Return fire. Tuvok: Captain, two Nihydron vessels have been destroyed. Janeway: Janeway to the fleet. Evasive pattern Delta. We're going to have to wait. Come on, Tom. Come on. Annorax: Target the other vessels. Obrist, I said target the vessels. You're deactivating the temporal core. Obrist: I'm sorry, sir. It's over. Annorax: Get back to your stations. You will not disobey me. We're phasing back into normal space-time. Reconfigure to conventional weapons. Tuvok: Captain, Chakotay and Paris were beamed aboard our vessel. Janeway: Everything's going as planned. Tom sent me the coordinates of their temporal core before he left. I'm transmitting them to you now. Obrist: Conventional weapons are online and fully charged, sir. Annorax: Fire at will.(A damaged cruiser crashes into Voyager. Fires break out everywhere and Janeway is knocked across the deck. She crawls back to the Captain's chair. There is a big hole where the viewscreen used to be, and only a forcefield between her and a close view of Annorax' ship.) Obrist: Sir, weapons are back to full capacity. Annorax: Target Voyager. Put Janeway out of her misery. Tuvok: All our ships have been disabled, Captain. Do you have weapons? Janeway: Negative. Torpedo launchers are down. I'm setting a collision course. Janeway to the fleet. Take your temporal shields offline. Tuvok: Captain, we won't be protected. Janeway: Exactly. If that ship is destroyed all of history might be restored. And this is one year I'd like to forget. Time's up. Annorax: The core is destabilizing. It's going to cause a temporal incursion within the ship. Day 1 Janeway: Captain's log, Stardate 51252.3. The past couple of weeks have been uneventful but we've made excellent progress on the new Astrometrics lab. Janeway: When can you bring it online? Seven: We just did. Kim: In fact, we're in the process of charting a new course home. Janeway: Well, I'd say this is cause for celebration. Tuvok: A vessel is approaching off the port bow, Captain. Janeway: On screen. Kim: They're hailing us. Janeway: Open a channel. Krenim Commandant: You've entered Krenim space. State your identity. Janeway: Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager. We're just passing through, trying to get home. Krenim Commandant: This region is in dispute. I suggest you avoid our territory. Janeway: Thanks for the warning. Krenim Commandant: Good journey. Chakotay: Tom, plot a course around Krenim space. Paris: Aye, sir. Chakotay: So, what do you think? How about a ground-breaking ceremony for our new lab? Kim: Sounds great. Janeway: I think I'll replicate a bottle of Saint Emillion for the occasion. 2370. I hear that was a good year. Annorax'S Wife: Good morning. Annorax: Good morning. Annorax'S Wife: Join me for breakfast? Annorax: In a little while. I still have a few more calculations. Annorax'S Wife: There are always a few more calculations. It's a beautiful day. Spend it with me. Annorax: I suppose I can make the time.

Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51367. 2: We've spent the last three days on the Mari homeworld. It's been a while since we've had the opportunity to make new friends and the crew seems to be making the most of our stay. Paris: Neelix. Neelix: Tom. Been doing a little shopping? Paris: It's a present for B'Elanna. Neelix: What is it? Paris: Well, it's sort of personal. Neelix: Of course. Say no more. I'm on my way for a little romantic rendezvous myself. Paris: Neelix, are you wearing cologne? Neelix: Talchok musk. Very enticing scent, don't you think? Paris: Well, it certainly is musky. Neelix: I'm going to see Talli again. Paris: Ooo, that was fast work. Where are you taking her? Neelix: Well, actually I haven't gotten that far yet. I'm going to visit her shop under the pretext of buying some produce for the ship, and then I thought I'd just sort of segue smoothly into some dinner and dancing. Paris: Sounds like a good strategy. Neelix: Do you really think so? I mean, you used to be quite the lady's man. Paris: Used to be? Neelix: I mean, of course, you're involved now, so you won't be availing yourself of all the beautiful, fascinating and very open-minded Mari women. Paris: Neelix, are you trying to depress me? Neelix: I just, I haven't been with anyone since Kes, and I'm feeling a little rusty. I could use some advice. Paris: The best advice I can give you is to just be yourself. Neelix: Right. Be myself. Paris: Actually, that's the second best piece of advice. Neelix: What's the first? Paris: Go a little easier on the musk. Janeway: I'm sorry, Mister Guill, but that's my final offer. Guill: Actually, Captain, I sense you'd be willing to raise your price to three hundred renns. Lieutenant Torres needs this resonator coil to upgrade Voyager's communications systems. Torres: Telepaths. Janeway: Wait a minute. I sense you'd be willing to settle for two fifty. Guill: You must have read my mind. Torres: Ow! Ow! Hey! Frane: I'm sorry. Guill: Are you hurt? Torres: No, no, I'm fine. I just wish people would look where they're going. Guill: It's been a pleasure doing business with you. Janeway: I'll finish up here. Why don't you go get Neelix? Neelix: This is some of the loveliest fruit I've seen in a long time. Talli: Actually it's been one of our worst water plum seasons in years. I don't think you'll find them very sweet. Neelix: Oh, how wonderfully tart. They'll make excellent preserves. Talli: Neelix? Why do you want me to tug on your whiskers? Neelix: Excuse me? Talli: That is what you're thinking, isn't it? That you'd like me to tug on your whiskers? Neelix: Well, as a matter of fact Talli: I'd love to. Do you have time to wait until I close? Neelix: Yes, I think I can rearrange my schedule. Nimira: I guess you could say I'm becoming obsolete. Tuvok: In what sense? Nimira: There's virtually no crime left in our society. It took many years, but just walk through our streets, look around. Violence no longer exists. Tuvok: Impressive. Nimira: I'm one of the last officers still working for the Constabulary. Tuvok: And no doubt one of the best. I'm curious to know more about your crime prevention methods. Nimira: Under one condition: I want to see Voyager. Learn about your methods. Tuvok: I am about to perform my daily security rounds. Join me. They are routine but informative. Nimira: Wonderful Tuvok: The transport site is this way. Nimira: You prefer speaking aloud. Why is that? Tuvok: I've grown accustomed to it over the years. There are very few telepaths in Starfleet. Nimira: Whatever you prefer. Torres: Neelix? Ready to leave? Neelix: Ah, no, ah, you go ahead. We haven't finished examining the produce. Man: Help! Somebody help me please! Stop him! Help me! Frane: This will teach you to watch where you're going, you idiot! You idiot! Torres: Somebody get a doctor! Janeway: Why? Why were you beating that man? Frane: I don't know. Nimira: Your brig, it's a puzzling concept. Shutting someone away as punishment. Do you find that it rehabilitates the prisoner? Tuvok: The brig is primarily used as a means of ensuring the safety of others. Nimira: In what sense? Tuvok: For example, if we find ourselves with a hostile alien in our custody, we may need to confine the individual until we can locate the proper authorities. Nimira: I see. Tuvok: And on rare occasions we have been forced to incarcerate a crew member who has committed a serious infraction. Nimira: I'm surprised that one of your people could be capable of doing something serious enough to warrant imprisonment. Tuvok: It's extremely rare. In any case, the brig has been occupied for less than one percent of our journey. Nimira: Forgive me, Tuvok, but it seems barbaric. Tuvok: If all species were as enlightened as yours and mine, there would be no need for prisons. Kim: Bridge to Commander Tuvok. Tuvok: Go ahead, Ensign. Kim: Chief Examiner Kim: Nimira's been recalled to the surface. There's been some sort of attack Kim: In the marketplace. Talli: I've never seen so much blood before. Neelix: It's all right. Talli: I heard about someone getting beaten once when I was a little girl. Neelix: It's all over now. Talli: I had nightmares for weeks. Neelix: It's okay. It's all right. Janeway: He was confused. He said he didn't realize what he'd done. Torres: I don't understand why nobody tried to help him. Nimira: People were shocked. Violence is almost unheard of here. But when it does occur, we like to investigate thoroughly. Janeway: Can we help? Nimira: Yes. I would like you, Mister Neelix and Lieutenant Torres to answer some questions. Janeway: You have our complete cooperation. Tuvok: Chief Examiner, are you suspicious of my colleagues for some reason? Nimira: No, Lieutenant. I'm simply conducting an investigation. Please, follow me. Nimira: Please, have a seat. Nimira: I will be monitoring your thoughts telepathically during the interview. This transcription device will log your engrammatic activity so I can review your statement later. Janeway: Let me get this straight. Not only are you going to read my mind, you're going to record my thoughts. Nimira: Yes. Janeway: I guess it'd be pretty tough to keep a secret from you, hmm? Nimira: How long had you been in the market place when the attack occurred? Janeway: An hour, maybe a little longer. Nimira: And exactly where were you standing? Neelix: Directly across the square. Nimira: From where you were, did you have a clear view of the attack? Neelix: Not at first. We just heard yelling, then as we got closer we saw what was happening. Nimira: What exactly brought you to the market in the first place? Torres: Captain Janeway and I had an appointment with Mister Guill. Nimira: For what purpose? Torres: We'd met him the day before. He's said he could get a spare resonator coil for us. Nimira: I see. And the two men involved in the altercation. Had you seen either of them before? Janeway: I'd never seen the victim, but the attacker. I think he was the same man who bumped into B'Elanna. Nimira: Bumped into her? Are you certain? Janeway: Yes. They collided accidentally. Nimira: When exactly did this happen? Torres: Just as we'd settled on a price. Janeway: He seemed to be in quite a hurry. Nimira: Do you recall what you were thinking at the time? Torres: What I was thinking? What does it matter? Nimira: Please, try to remember. It may be important. Janeway: I didn't think about it much, and no one was hurt. And I was busy trying to sort out the coins. I'm not used to handling currency. Neelix: What was I thinking? I was thinking how I can make a delicious pie with those water plums. Nimira: Are you sure that's all, Mister Neelix? Neelix: Yes, of course. What else would I be thinking about? Torres: I suppose I was a little annoyed. Nimira: Can you be more specific? Torres: All right. I guess I was thinking, my foot hurt. I mean, the idiot stepped right on it. Nimira: Did you call him an idiot? Torres: Of course not. Nimira: But you thought it? Torres: I guess so. Nimira: Did you also think about retaliating? Torres: It was an accident. Nimira: But you said he hurt you. It didn't occur to you to hurt him back? Torres: I'd never do that. Nimira: But you thought about it. Torres: How am I supposed to remember? Nimira: Yes or no. Did you think about hurting him? Yes or no? Torres: Well, maybe for a split second. Torres: I mean, he should have been watching where he was going. But I realized that he didn't do it on purpose, so I shook it off and I left. Why? What does it matter what I was thinking? Nimira: Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, you are under arrest. Torres: On what charge? Nimira: Aggravated violent thought resulting in grave bodily harm. Janeway: Are you saying it's a crime to think about violence? Nimira: Yes. Torres: That's ridiculous. Nimira: I assure you, it's quite necessary. We were once a society plagued by violence. When we prohibited hostile thought, crime began to drop immediately. Over the past three generations, it's all but disappeared. Torres: So you believe that it's all right to tell people what they can and cannot think? Nimira: It's an irrefutable fact that violent thoughts from others can lead to violent actions. Janeway: Even if B'Elanna had a violent thought, it was Frane who attacked that man. Nimira: Which he only did because he telepathically received that thought from B'Elanna. His mind was contaminated by the image and it resulted in a loss of control. He may have committed the physical act, but it was instigated by you. Torres: Where we come from, people are responsible for their own actions. Nimira: And here, people are responsible for their own thoughts. I'm sure you can understand how that's necessary for a race of telepaths. Janeway: Yes, I can. Torres: Captain. Janeway: I'll accept that your people can be influenced by the thoughts of others, but there were dozens of people in that square. How can you be certain it came from B'Elanna? Nimira: The Mari no longer have violent thoughts. It's unlikely any of them could have been responsible. Besides, the evidence against B'Elanna is clear. She thought about committing a hostile act. Janeway: I'd like to review that evidence myself, if you don't mind. Nimira: Certainly. But I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Janeway: What happens to B'Elanna now? Nimira: We have an enlightened penal system here. Unlike some, we don't lock people away to punish them. You'll be released. Once you've undergone the engrammatic purge. Torres: The what? Nimira: It's a medical procedure that will identify and remove the offending images from your mind. Torres: Captain! Nimira: Once identified, the images can be removed from Frane's mind as well. Janeway: Memory extraction. That's a dangerous procedure. Nimira: There is a risk of neurological damage, but it's necessary for us to treat Frane. Janeway: Will you at least delay the procedure until I've had the time to review the evidence? Will you? Nimira: It'll take us about a day to reconfigure our instruments. That's all the time I can give you. Janeway: That's all the time I'll need. Paris: Captain, we've got to get B'Elanna out of there. Janeway: You know the rules, Tom. We can't pick and choose which laws we'll respect and which we won't. Paris: Nobody can be expected to control their thoughts. Janeway: Tell that to the Mari. Paris: Are you just going to let them put her through this process? Janeway: I'm doing everything I can to stop it. Neelix is going to file a diplomatic protest, and Tuvok and I will be going over the witness statements. Maybe we can poke a few holes in the Chief Examiner's case. Paris: And if you can't? Janeway: Then let's hope the Doctor can figure out how to reverse an engrammatic purge. Kim: All away personnel have been told to return to the ship as soon as possible. Chakotay: So much for R and R. Paris: Chakotay, we've got to talk. Chakotay: Have a seat. Paris: Here? Chakotay: I'm sure the captain wouldn't object. What's on your mind? Paris: While Tuvok and the captain are reviewing the evidence, B'Elanna's sitting in a Mari jail cell waiting for some sort of lobotomy. We can't let that happen. Chakotay: What did you have in mind? Paris: Break her out. Chakotay: And risk an all-out confrontation with the Mari? Paris: They're a bunch of pacifists. They're no match for us. Chakotay: You're probably right. But before we start resorting to extreme measures, don't you think we should give the captain a chance to find a legal solution? Paris: By the time that happens, it may be too late. Chakotay: I'll tell you what. Why don't you come up with a rescue plan, one that minimizes the possibility of violence, and I'll review it. Paris: You're just trying to keep me busy, aren't you? Chakotay: Can you blame me? Paris: I'm serious about this, Chakotay. Chakotay: So am I. If your plan is sound and the captain doesn't have any luck on her end, I'll recommend we attempt the rescue. Paris: Thanks. I'll get right on it. Chakotay: Tom. I may have let you sit in the captain's chair, but remember, she's still the boss. Tuvok: Then you don't accept the Chief Examiner's conclusion? Janeway: I'm not dismissing it. But I'm not going to accept it blindly either. Tuvok: I have spent a great deal of time with Nimira over the last few days. She clearly is a very skilled investigator. Janeway: I'm sure she is. Tuvok: And this isn't the first time Lieutenant Torres' violent proclivities have created problems. Janeway: No argument there. But I have a hard time buying that one fleeting thought makes her responsible for a vicious attack. Tuvok: From what I've learned, crime here is a result of exposure to violent thought, much as it was on Vulcan before my people learned to control their emotions. In my opinion, the Mari should be applauded for their efforts. Janeway: Well, I'm sure their intentions are admirable, but I'm not about to let them scramble B'Elanna's brain without a fight. Tuvok: But we must prepare ourselves for the probability that she will turn out to be culpable for the crime. Janeway: Maybe so. And then again, maybe not. Take a look at this. I don't mean to accuse your friend Nimira of being less than thorough, Tuvok, but don't you find that just the least bit curious? Nimira: New evidence. Tuvok: It concerns the attacker, Mister Frane. According to your own security records, he was arrested on four previous occasions for harboring violent thoughts. You classified him as an habitual perpetrator of hostile images. Nimira: True. But those thoughts were purged each time. He spent years in neurogenic restructuring. The records also say he was cured. Tuvok: Still, it is possible that Frane had a relapse. That he alone is responsible for his actions in the marketplace. Nimira: Possible, but unlikely. Our engrammatic scans of Frane show that Lieutenant Torres' thought was prevalent in his mind during the attack. Tuvok: And you are certain no other violent thoughts were present? Nimira: I'm beginning to feel like I'm the one being investigated. Tuvok: I am simply exploring all logical options. As a fellow law enforcement officer, you should understand that. Nimira: I do. And I'm willing to share my findings with you. But if you're trying to prove your crewmate's innocence, you're too late. The case is closed. Do you think that this is easy for me? I don't want to harm B'Elanna, but I don't have a choice. That thought has to be contained, otherwise we risk further violence, maybe even a city wide panic. You told me your people spent centuries learning how to control their violent impulses. I know we haven't achieved your level of diskipline, but we're trying. I thought you'd understand. Tuvok: I am not judging your culture. In fact, I admire it. I have enjoyed your company in particular. But I cannot abandon my responsibility to B'Elanna. I must continue my own investigation. Nimira: Go right ahead. But I intend to proceed with the engrammatic purge. Neelix: Telepathy. I don't like it, never have. It's bad for negotiations, it's bad for relationships, and it's certainly been bad for B'Elanna. Seven: The fault was her own. Neelix: What are you talking about? Seven: She was careless with her thoughts. The result was violence. Neelix: B'Elanna's not used to being around telepaths. That doesn't make her guilty. Seven: Then her crime was ignorance. A common affliction among your crew. Neelix: What's that supposed to mean? Seven: You make contact with alien species without sufficient understanding of their nature. As a result, Voyager's directive to seek out new civilizations often ends in conflict. Neelix: What you call ignorance, we call exploration. And sometimes it means taking a few risks. But it's certainly better than assimilating everything in your path. Seven: Your goal is to share knowledge. Assimilation is the perfect means of attaining that goal. Neelix: Perfect. Talli: Good morning, Miss Tembit. Your usual selection? Tembit: Yes, please. Talli: Okay. Talli: Oh, I'm so sorry. Tembit: Idiot! Watch what you're doing! Neelix: She's dead. Neelix: I can't believe she'd dead. Tuvok: I know this is difficult for you, Mister Neelix, but try to recount for me everything that happened. Neelix: Seven and I were packing to return to the ship. We heard a scream. I went running. The old lady was just standing over Talli's body holding the bloody knife in her hand. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. Tuvok: Did the old woman say anything? Neelix: Not that I remember. She was as shocked and confused as anyone else. Do you think this is somehow connected with the other attack? Tuvok: I am not certain. But it strikes me as more than coincidence that two violent altercations have occurred within two days in a city which purports to have eliminated virtually all crime. Crewman: Bridge to Commander Tuvok. Tuvok: Tuvok here. Crewman: Chief Examiner Nimira wants to see you. She's requesting permission to transport aboard. Tuvok: Permission granted. Have her escorted to the briefing room. Tuvok out. We will continue later. Neelix: Commander. She was a wonderful young woman. Whoever's responsible for her death, find them and see that they're brought to justice. Tuvok: I will do my best, Mister Neelix. Nimira: Thanks for seeing me. Tuvok: I heard what happened. Do you have any idea what caused this latest attack? Nimira: I just finished interviewing the old woman. Tuvok: And? Nimira: She attacked the victim in response to the same violent thought that motivated the previous beating. Tuvok: B'Elanna's thought? But both she and Frane are in custody. How could the thought have been passed to anyone else? Nimira: I don't know. That's why I'm here. I need your help. Tuvok: Then you shall have it. Nimira: Thank you. I don't know why that thought is still contaminating people, but I have got to put a stop to it. I've never dealt with a murder before, but you've had experience with homicide investigations. Tuvok: I have. Nimira: I thought I would start by tracing the old woman's whereabouts for the past few days to see where she might have encountered the thought. Tuvok: A wise choice. In the meantime, I would like to interview B'Elanna more extensively. Perhaps a fresh perspective might uncover facts you hadn't considered. Nimira: I'll arrange it immediately. Torres: I'm not sure I like the idea of a mind meld any better than an engrammatic purge. Tuvok: It will be a limited meld. I will focus exclusively on your memories of the events surrounding the crime. It poses no danger. Are you ready? Your mind to my mind. Your thoughts to my thoughts. Recall your encounter with Mister Frane. He bumped into you. What happened next? Torres: I guess that's when I had the thought about hitting him. Tuvok: And after that? Torres: Guill came over and asked if I was hurt. Tuvok: And what were you thinking at that moment? Torres: Why? Tuvok: I'm sensing something more to the encounter than what you've told me. Try to recall. It may be important. Torres: Well, he was just holding me by the shoulders. Tuvok: You said he'd been reading your mind during the negotiation. Was he still doing it? Torres: I don't know. Tuvok: You experienced negative feelings about him. Torres: He gave me the creeps. Tuvok: In what sense? Torres: He wanted something. Something terrible. Torres: What the hell? Why didn't I remember that before? Tuvok: You may be recalling an unconscious thought you had at the time, or an intuition. Perhaps I should ask Mister Guill. Tuvok: Mister Guill. I'm Commander Tuvok, Voyager's Chief of Security. Guill: My children get upset when I'm late for supper. If you're here to do business we can make an appointment for tomorrow. Tuvok: I'm here to talk to you about the attack. Guill: Why me? Tuvok: My crewmate, Lieutenant Torres, has been charged with the crime. I believe you're acquainted with her. Guill: Lieutenant Torres, yes. She was arrested? Tuvok: The Chief Examiner believes it was her violent thought which prompted the beating. Guill: Ah. She seemed like such a pleasant young woman. Tuvok: Apparently she was almost knocked over while doing business with you. Do you recall that? Guill: Yes. A man accidentally ran into her. You're not like the others from your ship, are you? You're a telepath. Tuvok: That is correct. Guill: Why are you so curious about what happened? Tuvok: I am conducting my own investigation of the crime. Guill: I see. For a moment I thought you had another reason for asking. You struggle with violent thoughts as well. Terrible images, but they're hidden deep within your mind. Tuvok: I am in control of those images. All members of the Vulcan race learn to inhibit emotions. If my unconscious thoughts are disturbing you, I will attempt to suppress them further. Guill: No, please, don't trouble yourself. I can't see them clearly enough to be affected. Tuvok: I sense that you are fascinated with my unconscious thoughts. That you would like to see more of them if you could. Guill: No. I was just thinking, maybe I could help you. Tuvok: Help me? Guill: In learning how to deal with these dark impulses. Tuvok: No, thank you. I have sufficient means of controlling them. Guill: I'm sure you do. Any other questions? Tuvok: No. Guill: Then if you'll excuse me, I really can't be late for the table. Guill: Do you have the money? Malin: Three thousand renns. Guill: I have something exciting for you tonight. Guill: Why are you following us? Tuvok: I was thinking abut what you said. Your interest in my unconscious thoughts. Perhaps we could help each other. Guill: How would we do that? Tuvok: By telepathically exchanging violent images. That is what you want, isn't it? To see what's buried in my unconscious. Malin: Who is he? Guill: Quiet. Why should I trust you? Tuvok: Because you know we are very much alike. Perhaps I was mistaken. Guill: Wait. Maybe we can be of use to each other, but you'll have to get rid of this. Guill: Come back later, Malin. If I'm right, I'll have thoughts to share that are darker than anything you could imagine. Guill: Well? Tuvok: Fascinating. Guill: Now. Show me. Tuvok: I'll need a few moments to recover. Guill: I'm surprised you're so easily tired. Your telepathic abilities are strong. Tuvok: It is not often that I exercise those skills. Guill: There must be violent thoughts to be had from your shipmates, whether they want to share them or not. After all, they couldn't stop a telepath from probing their minds, could they? Tuvok: Is that how you acquire your merchandise? Guill: Sometimes I buy, sometimes I find a person like you who's willing to share, and yes, when the opportunity presents itself, I take what I need. Tuvok: Which is what you did to Lieutenant Torres. Guill: Frane took her thought, not me. Tuvok: So you know Mister Frane? Guill: Only casually. Tuvok: Well enough to be in business with him? Guill: Why do you ask? Tuvok: I am interested in the thought he acquired from B'Elanna. Her violent tendencies have always fascinated me, yet I've never succeeded in probing her mind. If you could help me purchase that thought Guill: It's impossible. Frane's already had it purged. Tuvok: Odd. I was certain you possessed it. Guill: Me? Tuvok: Didn't you extract the thought from B'Elanna as well just after she collided with Frane? Guill: What? Tuvok: I re-evaluated B'Elanna's memories of the incident. She remembers that you probed her mind. Guill: She remembers incorrectly. Tuvok: Perhaps. Or perhaps you did extract that image, which would explain why that same thought is still in circulation. Why it prompted a murder this morning. Guill: Enough! It's time you gave me what you promised. Tuvok: The only person you'll be sharing thoughts with tonight is the Chief Examiner. Malin: Where are you going? Tuvok: Stand aside. Guill: Tuvok's taking me into custody. Malin: No! Chakotay: Still no sign of him. Janeway: Try a multiphasic bioscan. Kim: We're being hailed, Captain. It's Nimira. Janeway: On screen. Chief Examiner, have you had any luck locating Tuvok? Nimira: I'm afraid not. Janeway: I'd like to send a search party. Nimira: I can't allow that. Janeway: Why not? Nimira: We can't risk further violations of our laws. Paris: That's ridiculous. Janeway: Tom. I really don't think we pose a serious threat. Nimira: There's nothing more to discuss. Lieutenant Torres will be purged, then returned to you. Paris: Captain, you can't let them do that. Nimira: The decision's been made. I'm sorry. Torres: Let go of me. Nimira: B'Elanna, please. Try to relax. Torres: Oh, you have got to be kidding. Nimira: Sedate her. Torres: No. Wait. Nimira: Proceed. Tuvok: You won't escape punishment for your crimes. Guill: Quiet. Tuvok: You are responsible for a death. Guill: I never meant that to happen. The old woman begged me for that thought. I had to help her. Here. Tuvok: You're justifying murder. Guill: Enough. Malin, hold him still. Now, show me. Guill: You're holding back. I haven't seen the best of it yet, have I? Tuvok: No. Guill: Then show me. Tuvok: If I show you, will you let me go? Guill: Yes. Tuvok: Come in closer. Tuvok: Don't be alarmed. This will allow you to see the deepest recesses of my mind. My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts. Guill: Yes. Good. This is the side of you I wanted to know. Guill: What's happening? Tuvok: We are locked in a Vulcan mind meld. You don't understand the truth of violence. Its darkness, its power. Guill: Please, stop. Nimira: Increase the electrochemical displacement, but be very careful with the synaptic potentials. One miscalculation and we could permanently damage her cerebral cortex. Mari Official: Communications Center to Chief Examiner Nimira. Nimira: Nimira. Mari Official: Captain Janeway insists on speaking with you. She says it's extremely urgent. Nimira: Relay her signal. What is it, Captain? Janeway: It's imperative that you discontinue Lieutenant Torres' engrammatic extraction immediately. Janeway: Commander Tuvok has found new evidence which proves her innocence. Nimira: I hope this interruption is justified. Suspending an engrammatic purge once it's begun is highly irregular. Janeway: Then let's not waste any more time. Commander. Tuvok: I have discovered that Guill and Frane are responsible for the beating in the marketplace, and consequently for Talli's murder. Nimira: Guill, the merchant? Tuvok: That is correct. Nimira: What possible involvement could he have? It was Frane who acted on the violent thought. Tuvok: That is not in dispute. However, Lieutenant Torres' thought was not transferred accidentally. Nimira: I don't understand. Tuvok: When Guill first met Lieutenant Torres, he sensed strong, violent tendencies within her. A potential for mental imagery which interested him. In order to exploit that potential, he conspired with Frane to provoke B'Elanna. They wanted to trigger a violent thought so they could telepathically draw it from her mind. Nimira: I can't believe that. Tuvok: It is precisely what happened. Unfortunately, they underestimated the intensity of the thought. It was more powerful than anything either of them had ever experienced. As a result, Frane lost control and attacked the victim. Nimira: Why would peaceful men like Guill and Frane want to subject themselves to such hostile images? Tuvok: My investigation has uncovered a rather disturbing side of Mari society. A black market if you will, in which many of your citizens trade in illicit mental imagery. Guill is a very prominent figure in this underground. Or was, until I brought him into custody. Nimira: Why would any of my people want to indulge in that kind of behavior? Janeway: Apparently, outlawing violent thought hasn't made it go away. All you've done is force people to share it in back alleys. Tuvok: It seems you have a somewhat more serious problem than the random thoughts of a single alien. Nimira: Even if I believed you, I'm not sure anyone else would. Tuvok: Then I suggest you interrogate Guill yourselves. His engrammatic record will undoubtedly confirm what I've told you. Nimira: Where is he now? Tuvok: We have him confined, in our brig. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Chief Examiner Nimira has taken custody of Mister Guill. Whether his arrest will lead to reforms in the Mari justice system is anyone's guess. In the meantime, the Doctor is treating Lieutenant Torres and Commander Tuvok. Emh: Fortunately the Mari didn't get very far with the procedure. You can return to duty, Lieutenant, though perhaps with one or two fewer violent engrams in that fiery head of yours. Torres: It's all right, Doc. There are plenty more where those came from. Emh: Duly warned. Torres: Thanks for getting me out of there. Tuvok: I was merely pursuing the truth. Torres: So, if I was responsible for passing that thought you would have let them lobotomise me? Tuvok: It is incumbent upon us to respect the laws of the societies we visit. Torres: So, you still a fan of the Mari legal system? Tuvok: My views have been somewhat modified. Torres: Then you're not going to lecture me about losing my temper? Tuvok: If you must know, investigating this case has given me a new respect for your inner struggle. Torres: Really? Tuvok: Burdened as you are by your primitive Klingon psyche, it is a wonder you are able to keep your violent thoughts under control as much as you do. Torres: Thanks. I think. Tuvok: You're welcome. Of course, there are various Vulcan techniques which could help you increase your self-control. Torres: You don't say. Janeway: Come in. Seven: I must speak with you. Janeway: Of course. Have a seat. Seven: I prefer to stand. Janeway: I keep forgetting. Seven: You once encouraged me to express my opinions if I had something relevant to say. Janeway: Go right ahead. Seven: You wish to return this vessel to the Alpha Quadrant, and yet you are following Starfleet protocol regarding first contact. The two objectives are incompatible. Janeway: How so? Seven: Your philosophy of exploration exposes Voyager to constant risk. If you maintain a direct course to Earth and avoid all extraneous contact with alien species, it will increase your chances of survival. Janeway: Well, that would make a dull ride home. Seven: Captain? Janeway: We seek out new races because we want to, not because we're following protocols. We have an insatiable curiosity about the universe. Seven: Your Chief Engineer and Security Officer were nearly lost today. That is unacceptable. Janeway: To you, maybe, but not to me or my crew. Our experience with the Mari gave us an insight into a culture we've never encountered. Seven: But that is irrelevant. Janeway: No. It's how we gain knowledge. Seven: Then we are in disagreement. Janeway: Good. I dread the day when everyone on this ship agrees with me. I thank you for your opinion but our mission is not going to change. Janeway: Dismissed.

Da Vinci: Animali! Brutti animali. Animali! Woman: No, Leonardo, you are the animali. Man: A bird who cannot fly. Da Vinci: Better than a man who cannot think! Children: The pidgeon speaks. Cuckoo, cuckooo! Janeway: Maestro! Da Vinci: Stupido! Foolish Florentines! A bird is a mechanical instrument that works according to mathematical laws. An instrument that surely I can recreate. How did it fail? Janeway: Maybe you underestimated the wingspan? Da Vinci: Had not the river Arno taken us to its arms we would both have died. Janeway: Jumping off the bridge was a wise precaution. Da Vinci: Against death, yes. Against humiliation, no. The great bird will take flight and bring glory to its nest. So I have bragged for months. Instead, we almost drown with half of Florence watching. Bah! Finito! No more. Catarina, have you been to France? Janeway: Not recently. Da Vinci: The King of France is a great admirer of mine. The Divine Leonardo is all I hear when I walk through his streets. And what music do I find in the streets of Florence, eh? The cooing of pigeons and the babbling of fools. Catarina, we are leaving! Janeway: You're giving up. Again. Your beautiful painting of the Adoration, the great bronze horse in Milan, the Battle of Anghiari. Unfinished, all of them. You were going to publish your notebooks. You never did. You have given up, abandoned your most important works. Why? Da Vinci: There is a tavern just outside Paris, Catarina. A charming bistro where the wine is Da Vinci: Terremoto! Janeway: Janeway to the bridge. Chakotay: We're under attack, Captain. Janeway: I'm on my way. Da Vinci: Earthquakes and idiots. Florence be damned. Janeway: Who are they and why are they shooting at us? Chakotay: Unknown, Captain. They're not responding to hails. Janeway: Damage? Tuvok: None. Kim: I'm reading a slight destabilization along the shield perimeter. Tuvok: Attempting to compensate. Torres: Er, Torres to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Torres: We just lost the warp diagnostic assembly. Janeway: What do you mean, lost? Torres: It disappeared. Kim: I'm picking up demterialisations on decks four through twelve. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Paris: They're matching our course changes. Chakotay: It's definitely some kind of transporter beam. Janeway: Fire at will. Tuvok: I have the will, but not the means, Captain. Targeting control is down. Janeway: Why? Kim: Captain, the main computer processor is gone. We've lost weapons, navigation and propulsion. Chakotay: Backup systems are coming online. Janeway: Full phasers, manual targeting. Keep firing until you hit something. Kim: The other ships are retreating. Chakotay: Chakotay to all decks. Full damage reports. Paris: I feel like we've just been mugged. Tuvok: They were employing a high-energy transporter beam designed to locate objects of technological value, and remove them. Chakotay: They removed a lot. Five tricorders, three phaser rifles, a couple of photon torpedo casings, two antimatter injectors, a month's supply of emergency rations. Paris: No great loss there. Emh: Excuse me. You're forgetting the most important thing of all. My mobile emitter. Without it I'm stuck in Sickbay. I can't go anywhere. Janeway: We'll do the best we can, Doctor but our top priority is the main computer processor. B'Elanna, I want a defense against another transporter attack. Harry, do everything you can to track those ships. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Dismissed. Kim: Seven. Hey. Seven: If you're here to fraternize I do not have the time. Kim: Actually, the captain wanted me to locate the ships that attacked us. I've pushed the long range sensors about as far as they'll go. Seven: And now you believe the sensors can be extended by using the deep space imaging system. Kim: Well, yes. Seven: I've been working on that exact procedure for the past two hours. Kim: Really? Let's have a look. Seven: Do you doubt my ability to finish the task? Kim: Look, I came here to work. I realized you'd already started the job so I offered to help, that's all. I offered to help. Seven: An algorithmic feedback is interfering with the resolution. Decompile data banks fifty nine through seventeen and attempt to isolate it. Now. Or you should leave. Kim: Okay. I'm a pretty easy-going person. I mean, it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers. But that's not true of everybody. You've got to learn how to phrase things a little more diplomatically. Kim: Or not. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51386.4. With ship's systems at nearly half capacity, it's taken us ten days to track our stolen technology. Kim: I'm picking up Starfleet signatures from two of the continents. Chakotay: Can you find the main computer processor? Kim: It's on the northern continent, in what looks like a city, but there's a lot of signal interference. I'll never be able to localize it from here. Tuvok: Captain, I have identified nearly twenty seven kinds of alien ships in orbit of this planet. It appears to be an active center of commerce. We should be able to place an undercover away team on either continent without attracting attention. Janeway: That's good enough for now. Tuvok, you and I are going after the processor. Tom, Neelix, I want you on the other continent. Find out what you can. At the very least, try to get our emergency rations back. Chakotay, you have the bridge. Janeway: It never fails to impress me. No matter how vast the differences may be between cultures, people always have something that somebody else wants, and trade is born. Tuvok: Or more to the point, theft. Janeway: What have you got? Tuvok: The materials in the construction of this city, and the technology in use appear to have originated from numerous sources. Janeway: No doubt stolen. Tuvok: The myriad signatures have resulted in high interference levels. I am unable to. A moment. I am picking up a Starfleet signature. Janeway: The computer processor? Tuvok: I don't believe so. The signal magnitude is too low. The signature is approaching. Da Vinci: Catarina! Che meraviglia! Out of my way, out of my way! Scusi, scusi. Catarina. Catarina. Welcome. Welcome to America. Da Vinci: Tell me, Catarina, what do you think of the New World? Janeway: How did you get here? Da Vinci: A question I have asked myself many times. One moment I was packing for my journey to France, the next I was in this land of marvels. Possibly, upon leaving my workshop I was accosted by Spanish sailors, rendered unconscious, delivered to a galleon in the port of Genoa, and carried like a sack of grain across the vast Atlantic. Curious ears. Janeway: My traveling companion, Tuvok. Da Vinci: Ah, what the old philosophers say is true. Monstrous and wonderful are the peoples of undiscovered lands. But tell me, Catarina, how did you come to the Americas? Janeway: Oh, it's a long story. A Portuguese ship, some Turkish pirates, a couple of hurricanes. I'll tell you about it some other time. Da Vinci: Excuse me. There is the man I have been looking for. He has an apparatus that I need for my next invention. My patron is a demanding taskmaster. Janeway: Your patron? Da Vinci: The prince of this city. Buon giorno, signore. Tuvok: The Da Vinci character is interpreting this world through the limited capacity of his holodeck program. Janeway: He sees everything in sixteenth century terms. Tuvok: But what is he doing here? Janeway: I was running the Da Vinci simulation when we were attacked. His program must have been active in the computer's memory when the processor was beamed off the ship. Tuvok: And then downloaded into the Doctor's mobile emitter. But by whom? Janeway: His patron, the Prince? Da Vinci: Marvelous, no? Tuvok: A plasma injector conduit, Starfleet issue. Da Vinci: Call it what you will. With this machine I can make mercury flow in three directions at once. You must see my new workshop. The Prince has been very supportive. Andiamo! Janeway: Let's go. Da Vinci: So, Catarina, what do you think of this place? My workshop in Florence was but a cave of ignorance in comparison. Janeway: Your new patron gave you all this? Da Vinci: He is the perfect prince. Intelligent, but not overly so. In awe of my talent, but not threatened by it. And above all, and most importantly, his purse is inexhaustible. Janeway: And in return for all this support? Da Vinci: I give him my ideas. I have even resurrected my Great Bird, like the Phoenix of legend. They have materials here, Catarina, that are so strong and so light that surely my prototype will ascend to the heavens. Da Vinci: Be careful! They have found a way to harness the energy of a thunderstorm and to expel it with great force. A pistole that shoots not a lead ball but a bolt of lightning. Janeway: I'd like to meet this patron you yours. Da Vinci: And so you shall, this very evening, but I caution you. He is as ruthless as a Borgia. First Officer's log, stardate 51392.7. Though we've yet to hear from the Captain and Tuvok, Paris and Neelix have returned from their mission to the southern continent with some disturbing evidence. Chakotay: Who sold you these things? Alien Visitor: I didn't come here to be interrogated. You told me you have a warp coil to trade. Paris: I said you could talk with Commander Chakotay. I didn't say he'd necessarily do business with you. Alien Visitor: Well, this is a waste of my time. Chakotay: I agree. There's the door. Alien Visitor: What? Chakotay: Goodbye. Make sure he doesn't get lost on the way out. Alien Visitor: No, no, no. Wait, wait. His name is Tau. He controls the seventh province in the north. Chakotay: He sells weapons and technology. Alien Visitor: Yes. Chakotay: Which he confiscates from passing ships. Alien Visitor: Yes, using his translocator device. Which he also stole. It's made him a rich man. Chakotay: There are a few items I'd like to get back. Where can I find him? Alien Visitor: I deal with a go-between. I've answered enough of your questions. Let's talk about that warp coil. I'm looking for something that Chakotay: You can keep what you've got. We'll call it even. Alien Visitor: This was a waste of my time. Chakotay: Not really. These colors look good on you. Tau: Torpedoes, plasma grenades, particle beam rifles. I can even get a ceremonial spear if you're interested. Alien Buyer: I am not interested. Tau: My point is, no matter what the weaponry, if you desire it, chances are I have it or I can get it. Alien Buyer: Your prices are said to be unreasonable. Tau: Unreasonable is such a strong term. But if I can't sell to you, I'll sell to one of the other colonies in your system. A violent sort, your neighbors, aren't they? I'd hate to make your life difficult by offering my weapons to them. But if you don't give me a choice Tuvok: There can be no doubt our computer processor is not in the city. Janeway: Well, that certainly makes things a little more difficult. Leonardo's new patron is quite the business man. Tuvok: We may have no choice but to do business with him. Da Vinci: Catarina! Here are some friends I want you to meet. Janeway: Try to keep our hologram occupied. Tuvok: But Captain Janeway: Make small talk. Tuvok: Vulcans do not make small talk. Janeway: Improvise. Tuvok: Thank you. That is very considerate. Da Vinci: Catarina, wait a minute. Tuvok: Mister da Vinci, how have you been? Da Vinci: Benissimo. Now if you'll pardon me. Tuvok: I wish to speak with you. Da Vinci: What about? Tuvok: About you. You are most intriguing. Da Vinci: Ah, grazie. And you, signore Tuvok, are equally provocative. Where exactly are you from? Tuvok: Scandinavia. Da Vinci: So, what do the Scandinavians think of this New World? Tuvok: It is fascinating, and you are obviously enjoying it. Da Vinci: Beyond words. Yes. Italy is already a fading memory. The city is full of mechanical marvels, the countryside alive with creatures strange and wonderful. Tuvok: I'm curious. How have you spent your time here? Da Vinci: I work on my inventions and my art, and I accompany the Prince when he goes to visit his great fortresses. Well, this er, fascinating conversation has left me as dry as Vulcan. Tuvok: Vulcan? Da Vinci: An island off Sicily. Have you been there? Tuvok: No. Da Vinci: Pity. Tau: We'll talk later. Janeway: Good evening. Tau: And to you. Enjoying yourself? Janeway: Not yet. Tau: No? How can I change that? Janeway: By having exactly what I want and selling it to me at a low price. Tau: The former's quite likely, but as for the latter, I don't sell inexpensive merchandise. Janeway: I have a client who runs a colony about twenty parsecs from here. His computer is outmoded so I'm looking for a replacement. Tau: A computer that could coordinate the systems of an entire colony. That's no small order, but I think I might have something that will interest you. Tau: Hello, computer, and how are you today? Computer: All systems are functioning within normal parameters. Janeway: Verbal interface. Impressive. Tau: Computer, tell us your technical specifications. Computer: Simultaneous access to forty seven million data channels. Transluminal processing at five hundred seventy five trillion calculations per nanosecond. Tau: Interested? Computer: Operational temperature margins from ten degrees Kelvin to one thousand seven hundred ninety degrees Kelvin. Tau: I could sell it to you, but I could hardly let it go for anything less than a warship. Or we could find something else in your price range. Janeway: We should be looking for a stronghold or storage facility. Any place Tau might keep the stolen technology. Tuvok: There are several possibilities all within a ten kilometer radius of the city. I must admit, your Mister da Vinci is an astute observer of nature. These maps couldn't be improved upon by Voyager's topographical computer. Janeway: He was a Renaissance man, Tuvok. Interpreted, reinterpreted, deconstructed, fantasized about all through history. Vasari thought he was an angel. Freud thought he had a problem with his mother. James T. Kirk claimed he met him, although the evidence is less than conclusive. Da Vinci: Buongiorno, amici. Janeway: Good morning, maestro. Did you sleep well? Da Vinci: Too well, I'm afraid. My apologies, Catarina. The morning is half gone. Nevertheless, the images that come before the eyes upon awakening can be inspiring. Tuvok: Indeed. Da Vinci: Catarina, where did I leave my silver tipped pen? I could swear it was here on the Tuvok: Captain, we should return to Voyager. With my tricorder readings and Leonardo's maps we can use the ship's sensors to triangulate the exact location of our processor. Janeway: We'll work on two fronts. You go back to the ship. I'll stay on the surface and keep working with Leonardo. He has access to Tau and he knows the territory. Tuvok: Inadvisable. Charming as your childhood hero may be, the program was not designed for use outside the holodeck. Janeway: This is Leonardo da Vinci we're talking about. Simulation or not, he's one of the greatest creative minds in Earth's history. Tuvok: The program reproduces the entire range of Da Vinci's behavior. His genius and his notorious unreliability. Janeway: We have an opportunity here, and I want to take advantage of it. Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. One to beam up. Da Vinci: Table. Where did he go? Janeway: Back to the ship. Da Vinci: The ship? You mean the Portuguese are still in the harbor? Janeway: No, not exactly. But they're nearby. Da Vinci: Ah. Mad sea dogs, the Portuguese. Emh: So, what's new? Seven: New? Emh: What's been happening on the ship? Seven: Nothing of consequence. The Captain and Tuvok are still searching for the processor. Emh: What's the mood? Seven: If you're referring to the crew morale, they seemed focused on their mission. Emh: Hmm. I heard there was something of a fuss in the mess hall last night. Seven: A trivial misunderstanding. Emh: Oh? You seen in excellent health. Most of your implants are stable, but your optical interface is misaligned again. I told you to come in for maintenance once a week. Now, what happened in the mess hall? Seven: Lieutenant Torres and I were working on some Astrometric data. There was a disagreement. Emh: I understand things got a little heated. Seven: Lieutenant Torres became emotional. She chose to display hostility rather than to counter my argument. Emh: What did she say exactly? Seven: It is irrelevant. Suffice it to say I was correct, she was not. Emh: Details, Seven. I want specifics. Seven: I see no reason to discuss these trivialities. Emh: Without my mobile emitter I am a prisoner in here. I need to know what is going on beyond these walls, trivial or not. Seven: Torres referred to me as an automaton. She also employed a series of profane Klingon insults. Shall I translate them for you? Emh: By all means. I'd very much. Tuvok: Tuvok to Seven of Nine. Report to the Astrometrics lab. Emh: You may go. Seven: I'll be right there, Commander. Emh: Come back whenever you feel like talking. I'll be right here. All by myself. Tuvok: I am entering Leonardo's maps and my tricorder data into the imaging system. Seven: I will create a search pattern for our missing processor. Tuvok: Da Vinci has accurately rendered the topographical detail. However, his coordinate axs are pre-Cartesian. You will have to convert them. Seven: Understood. It is puzzling that even a Vulcan would refer to a holographic character by name, as if it were alive. It seems somehow illogical. Localizing grid. Altitude twenty kilometers. Tuvok: One of these storage facilities undoubtedly contains the processor. Increase sensor resolution to maximum and scan the area. Seven: There. Our computer processor is inside this structure. Tuvok: Unfortunately, the building is surrounded by a dispersion field. Transport will be impossible. Seven: If the captain can get inside the facility and reach the processor itself, she may be able to assist us. Tuvok: If she were to initiate a power surge in the processor, it might produce a signal strong enough for us to lock onto. Seven: That is what I was referring to. Tuvok: I will inform the captain. Janeway: It's not too far across open country. Leonardo says he's been there and he can help me get inside. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: Stand by for my signal. If I can find the processor, be prepared to beam it back to Voyager. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Tuvok out. Tau: So it's captain. I see you and my hologram are old friends. Janeway: My engineers have developed a defense against your transporter, so I suggest that you return what you took from us and let me go. Tau: Or what? You're in no position to bargain. The only ones who will bargain will be your crew and it will cost them a great deal to get their captain back. I wonder what you're worth to them. Janeway: He'll be fine. Let's move. Da Vinci: I'm not going. Janeway: You said you'd help me. Da Vinci: I have already gone too far. He was threatening you, I had no alternative, but I must be here when he recovers his senses. I will try to explain. Maybe if I am lucky, he will not have me executed. Janeway: We are leaving. Your time here is over. Da Vinci: I will not leave this New World. Janeway: Your new world is a prison. You are under his control. Da Vinci: When are we not in prison? Hmm? When are our lives free from the influence of those who have more power than us? If this New World is a cage, then it is a cage of gold, of marvels, of opportunities. If this Prince is violent, violence can be tempered. Janeway: You can't stay here forever, Leonardo. Europe is your home. Da Vinci: Europe is despicable! Here I am free to do what I wish. Free from judgment, free to fail, but without a sense of shame, without, without the taunts of the ignorant. Janeway: Leonardo, whether you want to admit it or not they do need you back home. In Florence, Milan, Avignon, they need your genius, they need your heart. And right now I need you, too. So come on. Da Vinci: I will not go for Florence or Milan or Avignon. But for you, Catarina, for you I will go. Kim: I've lost the Captain's comm. badge signature. Chakotay: Scan for the holoemitter. Kim: It's four point seven kilometers outside the city. Paris: So Leonardo's on the move. Is the captain with him? Chakotay: Her comm. badge may have malfunctioned. Paris: Or she may have been discovered. Kim: Should I beam da Vinci back to the ship? Tuvok: If the captain is with him and attempting to recover the processor, she may need his assistance. Chakotay: Keep a lock on the mobile emitter and stand by. Kim: Aye, sir. Janeway: Where's the entrance? Da Vinci: I can't recall. Janeway: Why not? Da Vinci: These fortresses, I've been to half a dozen of them. All are similar but each is different. Da Vinci: Catarina, observe the construction, like the veins and arteries of a great animal. Now, this is the way to build, using nature as your guide. Janeway: No more lessons. I need to get into this building and I need to get into it now. Da Vinci: That is not the way an apprentice should address her master. Janeway: Maestro, your Prince is going to come after us. The only escape is inside. Da Vinci: Escape? We will be trapped inside. Janeway: No. There is a wondrous invention inside this building. It's called a computer processor. We can use it to send a beacon to the Portuguese ship, and they'll come and rescue us. Da Vinci: Computer. This invention, how does it work? Janeway: Well, it's complicated, but trust me when I say it can send messages over great distances. All we have to do is find it and we will be rescued. But the question is, how do we get inside? Da Vinci: Shadow and sunlight. Shadow and sunlight. The Prince, like any other thief, will fear theft above all else. So this stronghold will have but one entryway, on the side facing away from the sun. Janeway: So the bright light will be in the eyes of anyone who might attack. Da Vinci: Esato. Kim: I'm no longer reading the mobile emitter. Tuvok: They've gone inside the structure. Kim: Commander, they're being pursued. Over thirty armed guards are converging on the storage facility. Chakotay: All available power to the transporters. Let's try to get them out of there. Da Vinci: Even Theseus could not negotiate this labyrinth. Janeway: Not without a compass. Da Vinci: Your compass is speaking to you. Janeway: This way. Da Vinci: A trove of invention. Janeway: The Prince has done well for himself. Phasers, warp plasma injectors, a site-to-site transporter. Da Vinci: Your computer? Janeway: Yes. Computer, do you recognize my voice? Computer: Affirmative. Janeway: Well, that's a start. Da Vinci: Che bella! There's a mechanical woman inside. Janeway: In a way, yes. Initiate a level four induction relay overload. Computer: That procedure is not recommended. Janeway: Command override. Janeway pi one one zero. Computer: Authorisation confirmed. Initiating overload. Janeway: That's it. Da Vinci: And now? Janeway: We wait for the Portuguese. Tuvok: Commander. I'm detecting a power surge in the subspace frequency range. Chakotay: Could be the processor. Lock on. Increase power to the confinement beam. With any luck, we might be able to pull the captain out of there along with it. Janeway: Step close, Leonardo. We're going for a ride. Da Vinci: I don't understand. Janeway: Trust me. (A guard shoots at them. They hide and the computer processor is beamed away without them. Another shot passes through da Vinci. Janeway goes around a piece of equipment and knocks out the approaching guard.) Janeway: The building is probably surrounded by now. There's only one way out. Maestro, come here. Da Vinci: Catarina, what just happened to me? I was shot, yet I live. Such things are not possible. Janeway: This is an invention from another land. It's called a site to site transporter. In the blink of an eye, it can move us out of this building and a few kilometers away from here. Da Vinci: How? Janeway: Come on. Da Vinci: I must have an explanation. Janeway: Leonardo, you've always said that it's a poor apprentice who can't surpass her master. There are things in this world that I understand, and you don't. Da Vinci: Madonna mia. Tuvok: The processor is on board. Chakotay: The captain? Tuvok: Still on the planet. Kim: Commander. Thirteen vessels are approaching Voyager from the surface. Chakotay: Tom, take us into a higher orbit. Bridge to Torres. I want that processor back online. We've still got a captain down there. Torres: Acknowledged. Da Vinci: I cannot believe it. I will not believe it. My mind cannot accept the evidence of my eyes. Is this sorcery? Are we in Purgatory? Janeway: Neither. You said yourself this place was full of marvels. Da Vinci: Marvels, yes, but this is magic. Enchantment, not science. And I refuse to believe in enchantment. Janeway: I'll explain later. We've got to keep moving. Da Vinci: No! I must understand. Catarina, to see objects disappear into thin air. To see lightning pass through my body. Are we spirits? Catarina, am I dead? Janeway: Let me ask you something. If you were something other than a human being. If you were a different kind of animal. If you were a small bird, a sparrow. What would your world be like? Da Vinci: I should make my home in a tree, in the branch of an elm. I should hunt insects for food, straw for my nest, and in the springtime I should sing for a companion. Janeway: And you would know nothing of the politics of Florence, the cutting of marble or mathematics? Da Vinci: Of course not. Janeway: But why not? Da Vinci: My mind would be too small. Janeway: As a sparrow your mind would be too small? Even with the best of teachers? Da Vinci: If Aristotle himself were to perch on my branch and lecture till he fell off from exhaustion, still the limits of my mind would prevent me from understanding. Janeway: And as a man, can you accept that there may be certain realities beyond the limits of your comprehension? Da Vinci: I could not accept that. And I would be a fool. Men: Spread out. Janeway: Come on. Da Vinci: Catarina, this way. Up the hill. I know just the escape. Torres: Torres to bridge. We're in business. We've got full navigation, full propulsion Torres: And full transporters. Chakotay: Good work, B'Elanna. Kim: Sensors show the captain and Da Vinci have left the structure. If we can dip into a lower orbit I should be able to lock onto the mobile emitter. Chakotay: Set the confinement beam wide and prepare to beam both of them back to the ship. How close do we have to be? Kim: At least five hundred kilometers from the surface. Tuvok: Those ships will try to block our descent. Chakotay: Ready for some fancy flying? Paris: You bet. Da Vinci: Momento, Catarina. Escape, signorina, is very near. Janeway: I'm starting to wonder. Where are you, Chakotay? Da Vinci: Help me to the summit. Paris: We're at one thousand kilometers, nine fifty, nine hundred. Tuvok: The ships are powering weapons. Chakotay: Go to Red alert. Tuvok: Shields are holding. Paris: Eight hundred and fifty kilometers. Chakotay: Evasive maneuvers. Da Vinci: When Petrarch climbed Mount Verdoun, and saw all Europe below him, he knew he was witnessing the birth of a new age. He was witnessing the Renaissance. The rebirth of our world. So, Catarina, at this summit here, you and I will be reborn. Reborn, with wings. Janeway: This could be a problem. Da Vinci: Hurry. There's not much time. Kim: Sir, they seem to be on the edge of a precipice, but we're still too high for transport. Janeway: You've made some improvements. Da Vinci: I took your advice after the last attempt, and increased the reach of the wings. Janeway: And the angle of attack? Da Vinci: Yes, yes, that too. Unfortunately, the river Arno is quite absent. This time, if we fail, only the stones will break our fall. Janeway: The wing is stationary. That's good. This looks like duranium alloy. Should be light enough. Da Vinci: Catarina, this time it will work. Janeway: Let's find out. Kim: I'm reading weapons fire on the surface near the captain's position. We're running out of time, sir. Paris: Seven hundred kilometers. Chakotay: Hold on, Kathryn. Just a few more seconds. Da Vinci: Together, up. Janeway: Andiamo. Da Vinci: Catarina, we're flying! Janeway: Like the birds! Da Vinci: Like the birds! Tuvok: I have a fix on the captain. They are in mid-air, on what appears to be a crude gliding apparatus. Paris: Five hundred kilometers. Kim: I'm locking on. Broad confinement beam. Chakotay: Energize. Kim: Got them. I've beamed the whole contraption into Cargo Bay one. Chakotay: Get us out of here, Mister Paris. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51408.3. We're back on course to the Alpha Quadrant. With the ship's computer and the Doctor's emitter returned to proper places, I've set aside some time to check on the Maestro. Janeway: Leonardo, where are you going? Da Vinci: France. These Florentines do not deserve my genius. I have written to the King of France telling him of my adventures in the New World, and invited him to soar with me from the towers of his castle. Janeway: Are you sure that's a good idea? Da Vinci: Why not? We ourselves have tested the design. Janeway: But the materials. You'll never find those metals in France. Da Vinci: No? Then others will suffice. Machines that fly through the air. Lightning flung from one's hands. Mechanical women who live in boxes. These things I have seen. And these things I must recreate. And who knows, possibly improve upon. Janeway: Leonardo, I think that little flight of ours went to your head. Da Vinci: And my heart. My oldest memory, Catarina, is of a great bird perched on my bed, its feathers open towards me as if summoning me. You yourself have accused me of giving up, of failing to complete my projects. Janeway: I was trying to encourage you. Da Vinci: No, you we're right. All my life I have wanted to fly. Perhaps my failure to do so has caused my heart to remain in flight, leaping from one thing to another, never satisfied, never complete. Janeway: And now that you've actually flown? Da Vinci: Now who knows what I cannot accomplish. Janeway: I'd like to find out. Give my regards to the king of France. Da Vinci: Catarina, will you walk with me to my carriage? Janeway: It would be my pleasure.

Crewwoman: Thank you. Neelix: Oh, you look like a man who could use more coffee. Kim: Keep it coming. I'm working on my monthly ops report. So much has happened in the last few weeks on this ship, I'm going to be up all night. Neelix: This firenut blend should keep you eyes open. Kim: Potent stuff! Thanks. Chakotay: Neelix. Neelix: Yes. Chakotay: I know you have your hands full this evening, but I could use your help. Neelix: At your service, Commander. Chakotay: We're approaching a class one nebula. Sensors are picking up traces of protomatter inside. I understand you've dealt with it before? Neelix: Absolutely. When I was making my living as a trader. Protomatter's one of the most sought-after commodities. It's the best energy source in the Quadrant. Chakotay: We could use your expertise in collecting a sample. We're leaving at fourteen hundred hours. See you in the shuttlebay? Neelix: I'll be there, sir. Seven: These nutritional supplements are unacceptable. Neelix: What's wrong? Seven: They are pungent. Neelix: That's the whole idea. I've been adding Talaxian spices to broaden your palette. Seven: My palette is sufficiently broad. Neelix: Why settle for sufficient? The Doctor tells me you have a full complement of taste buds. You've hardly begun to use them. Come by the mess hall Thursday night. It's the first day of Prixin. We'll have an impressive array of exotic cuisine. Seven: Prixin? Neelix: The Talaxian celebration of family. We observe it every year on Voyager. Now that you're part of the family Seven: What should I do to prepare? Neelix: Nothing. It's not a mission, Seven, it's a party. Wildman: Ensign Wildman to Neelix. Neelix: Neelix here. Wildman: I hate to bother you, but Naomi's having trouble getting to sleep again. Would you mind? Neelix: No bother at all. I'm on my way. If you'll excuse me, duty calls. Seven: Naomi? I don't recall that designation on the crew manifest. Neelix: That's because she's not a member of the crew. Naomi was the first child born on Voyager. I'm her godfather, and the only one who can get her to sleep lately. Bon appétit. Neelix: No monsters here. Naomi: Good. Check the replicator. Neelix: Nothing. Wildman: Naomi, maybe Neelix should check your room so you can go to bed. Naomi: Okay. In there. Neelix: Nobody here. Naomi: There. Neelix: Ah, there's not a monster in sight. Naomi: Can you stay longer? I'm afraid to go to sleep. Wildman: Honey, Neelix has to go to work. Neelix: It's all right. You know what I think about when I'm afraid to go to sleep? Naomi: No. What? Neelix: The Great Forest. Naomi: What's that? Neelix: It's a place my people believe we're all going to go to someday. It's a beautiful, beautiful forest filled with sunlight, and all the people who ever loved me are gathered there to watch over me as I sleep, to protect me. Naomi: Really? Neelix: When I think about that Forest and those people, I'm not afraid to sleep anymore. Naomi: Do you think those people watch over me too? Neelix: I know they do. Now, I'm going to be away for the next couple of days. So, if you're afraid to sleep I want you to think of that Great Forest. Naomi: All right. Neelix: Pleasant dreams. Naomi: Night, Neelix. Neelix: Cylinder. Neelix: Oh! Sorry. I didn't realize you were home. Seven: I was regenerating. Neelix: I see. Seven: Do you require assistance? Neelix: No, no, no. I have a small containment cylinder stored here. I'll just be a minute. Cylinder? Little cylinder, where are you? Cylinder, you were here a month ago. Now I know that you didn't just roll out of the airlock all by yourself. Now where are you? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm talking to myself. It's my way of remembering things. Seven: You are a peculiar creature, Neelix. Neelix: Thanks. I think. Ah! Here it is. Oh, this will be perfect for containing a small amount of protomatter. Last time I used this little wonder I nearly lost it to the Kazon. Seven: The Kazon. Species three two nine. Neelix: You're familiar with them. Seven: The Borg encountered a Kazon colony in the Gand Sector, grid six nine two zero. Neelix: Were they assimilated? Seven: Their biological and technological distinctiveness was unremarkable. They were unworthy of assimilation. Neelix: I didn't realize the Borg were so diskriminating. Seven: Why assimilate a species that would detract from perfection? Neelix: Good point. Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm needed in the shuttlebay. Pleasant regenerating. Paris: One day a week, that's all I ask. How hard can it be? Neelix: Harder than you think. Paris: Neelix, it's pizza. Bread, tomatoes, cheese Neelix: The cheese alone would take days. Separating curds and whey from synthesized milk. It's a delicate process. Paris: So replicate the cheese. Neelix: Since it means so much to you, I'll see what I can do. Paris: Thanks. There's a concentration of protomatter directly ahead. Chakotay: Neelix? Neelix: Set the transporter for ten thousand amu's, not a particle more. The containment field is standing by. Paris: We're in range. Chakotay: Energizing. Chakotay: What happened? Paris: The transporter beam ignited the protomatter. Shields are weakening. Chakotay: Disengage transport. Paris: Shields are down. Neelix: I've got the sample, Commander, and it's stable. Chakotay: We're clear of the protomatter. How's Neelix? Paris: He's dead. No heart beat, no synaptic response, extensive cell damage to his brain. Chakotay: Try a cortical stimulator. Paris: It won't work. His neural pathways were disrupted by the protomatter. Chakotay: Set the stimulator for an autonomic bypass. At least we can get his vitals going. Paris: It's too late for that. The damage was too severe. Chakotay: We're running into more protomatter. I need your help. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51449.2. After receiving a distress call from Commander Chakotay, we've sent a beacon into the nebula and we're in the process of tracking down the away team. Kim: Captain, I'm detecting the shuttle. Janeway: Hail them. Kim: No response. Tuvok: The shuttle's primary systems are offline. Lifesigns, only two. Janeway: Are they within transporter range? Tuvok: Affirmative. Janeway: Beam them directly to Sickbay. Harry, put a tractor on the shuttlecraft. Tuvok. you've got the bridge. Emh: I ran a complete postmortem analysis. There was nothing you could have done. Paris: I knew we were too close to the protomatter. I should have said something. Chakotay: Nobody could have predicted this, Tom. Emh: How shall I proceed? Janeway: The Talaxians mourn their dead for a full week, in a specific burial ceremony. And that's just what we're going to do. Chakotay: I'll inform the crew. Janeway: I'll check Neelix's personal database, see what I can find out about the ceremony. We'll have it in the mess hall. Somehow that feels appropriate. Seven: Neelix is dead? Janeway: I'm afraid so. Seven: His neural pathways, are they intact? Emh: Yes, but there's no metabolic activity. Seven: How long has he been dead? Janeway: Seven, I understand Seven: How long? Chakotay: It's been eighteen hours. Seven: Then it's not too late to reactivate him. Paris: What are you saying? You can bring Neelix back to life? Seven: That's precisely what I'm saying. The Borg have assimilated species with far greater medical knowledge than your own. We are capable of reactivating drones as much as seventy three hours after what you would call death. Chakotay: Neelix wasn't a Borg drone. Seven: We will adapt. Emh: What does this procedure involve? Seven: Nanoprobes are used to reverse cellular necrosis, while the cerebral cortex is stimulated with a neuroelectric isopulse. Emh: But there's nothing left to stimulate. His brain functions are gone. Seven: By your narrow definition, perhaps, but not by mine. You will extract seventy micrograms of nanoprobes from my bloodstream. I will modify them to match his Talaxian physiology. His function in this crew is diverse. If you wish to salvage him we must proceed immediately. Paris: I say we let her try. Janeway: Hold on a minute, Tom, please. No one's ever been resuscitated after being dead for eighteen hours. If this procedure does work, what are the chances that Neelix would come out of it unaffected? Emh: She's right. The damage to his cerebral cortex was severe. Seven: The nanoprobes will compensate for any cellular degradation. Captain, a decision has to be made quickly. Janeway: Doctor, give Seven whatever assistance she needs. Proceed. Emh: Captain Janeway: Do it. If there's a chance we can revive Neelix, we're got to take it. Keep me informed. Seven: The nanoprobes are ready. We should begin. Emh: Hold on. I want to check his blood viscosity. Seven: The cadaver has been sufficiently prepared. Emh: And they say I have a lousy bedside manner. Seven: Set neuroelectric isopulses for one second intervals. Emh: Ready. Seven: Now. Seven: Neural activity at nine percent, ten percent, twelve percent. Emh: This is incredible. His intracerebral blood pressure, his synaptic responses, they're all returning to normal. Seven: The alveoli in his lung are regenerating. They should be functional Seven: Now. Neural activity at fifty two percent and rising. Emh: His neurotransmitter levels are rising too fast. Seven: We must stabilize his motor neurones. Emh: I'm going to try reducing his acetocholine levels. It might be enough to Neelix: Doctor. Emh: Neelix. Neelix: What happened. What happened? Why am, why am I here? Neelix: Dead? Emh: For eighteen hours, forty nine minutes, thirteen seconds. Congratulations, Mister Neelix. You've just set a new world record. Neelix: That's impossible. You mean I lost consciousness. I was, I was in a coma. Seven: No. You were dead. Neelix: I'm stunned. I'm amazed. I'm grateful. Thank you, Doctor. Janeway: Actually, you can thank Seven of Nine. The procedure was her idea. Neelix: Yours? Seven: The Borg have assimilated the technique from species one four nine. I simply modified it. But you are welcome. Neelix: Am I good as new? Emh: That remains to be seen. There's no way to tell if your body will successfully take over the functions the nanoprobes are serving. Neelix: Nanoprobes? Janeway: It was necessary, to repair the necrotised tissue. Emh: Until I'm certain the damaged tissue can function independently, you'll have to be injected with nanoprobes on a daily basis. Neelix: Well, as long as I don't start assimilating the crew or sprouting Borg implants, I'm sure I can live with it. Emh: I'm releasing you to your quarters. Your body's been through quite a shock, so try to get some rest. Report to Sickbay tomorrow at oh eight hundred hours for your next injection. Neelix: The shuttle mission, was it a success? Did we get the protomatter? Janeway: I'm afraid not. The sample you collected destabilized before it got back to Voyager. Neelix: The containment field needs to be reinforced next time. Janeway: If there is a next time. I've asked Chakotay to find out exactly what caused the accident, and unless we can take additional precautions I'm not sending another team into that nebula. Neelix: I could help with that investigation. Janeway: No. You are taking some time off, and that's an order. Neelix: No, Captain, please. I don't need any special treatment. Janeway: Neelix, you've just returned from the dead. Go easy on yourself. Neelix: Yes, I suppose you're right. Oh, but you can't ask me to cancel the first night of Prixin. The celebration is in three days. Janeway: Oh, I almost forgot. Neelix: I've been aging fruit compote in moolt nectar for weeks now. I can't just let it go to waste. Janeway: Only if you feel up to it. Could you not ferment those compotes so long this time, because last year I got a little light-headed. Neelix: I'll make the necessary adjustments. Janeway: It's good to have you back. Neelix: It's good to be back, Captain. Neelix: Alixia? Why weren't you there? Seven: Human attitudes toward death are perplexing. Tuvok: How so? Seven: Too much importance is placed on it. There seem to be countless rituals and cultural beliefs designed to alleviate their fear of a simple biological truth. All organisms eventually perish. Tuvok: I take it the Borg have no fear of that biological truth. Seven: None. When a drone is damaged beyond repair, it is diskarded. But it's memories continue to exist in the Collective consciousness. To use a human term, the Borg are immortal. Tuvok: You are no longer part of the Collective. You are mortal now like the rest of us. Does that disturb you? Seven: My connection to the Borg has been severed, but the Collective still possesses my recollections, my experiences. In a sense, I will always exist. Tuvok: Fascinating. That must be a great relief. Seven: Yes, it is. Paris: I've sealed the fractures in the shuttle nacelle. The rest of the repairs should be completed by morning. Chakotay: Good. How are you coming? Torres: I found a small phase variance in the transporter logs. I think it was responsible for igniting the protomatter. I've remodulated the transporter beam to compensate. Chakotay: Good work. I'll be in holodeck two. I've created a simulation of the shuttle accident, to see if there's anything we've overlooked. Neelix: Commander. Commander, I thought you might need some assistance on the holodeck. Chakotay: If you're feeling up to it. Neelix: Well, I'm up to anything at this point. I've been resting for two days straight and resting makes me feel, well, restless. Chakotay: I've programmed the simulation to start when we found the protomatter. Why don't you monitor the containment field readings? Neelix: Gladly. Chakotay: Computer, display shuttle crew excluding myself and begin program. HOLO- Paris: There's a concentration of protomatter directly ahead. HOLO- Neelix: Set the transporter for ten thousand amu's, not a particle more. The containment field is standing by. HOLO- Paris: We're in range. The transporter beam ignited the protomatter. Chakotay: Computer, freeze program. Looks like there was a problem with the pattern buffer. It might have created a feedback loop along the transporter beam. Neelix: Sounds right. Chakotay: Let's keep an eye on it. See what happened at the moment of impact. Computer, resume program. HOLO- Paris: Shields are weakening. Shields are down. HOLO- Neelix: I've got the sample, Commander, and it's stable. Let's get out of here. Neelix: Computer, freeze program. Neelix: Nothing. Chakotay: What? Neelix: I died, and there was nothing. There was no one there. No Forest. Chakotay: Forest? Neelix: The Great Forest. The afterlife. I was taught that when I died my ancestors would be there, waiting for me by the Guiding Tree. My sisters, my mother and father, my cousings. Everyone who was killed in the war. I took great comfort in knowing that we'd all be together again one day. But it's not true. Chakotay: Maybe we pulled you back before any of that could happen. Neelix: No. I was dead for eighteen hours. I should have experienced something, should remember something. It's just a story, a myth. There is no Guiding Tree. No gathering of the ancestors. Chakotay: You can't be certain of that. Don't throw away a lifetime of faith because of one anomalous incident. Death is still the greatest mystery there is. Neelix: I was there. I experienced it. There was nothing. Chakotay: Computer, delete characters. Neelix: That's what's going to happen to all of us. Like a hologram, we just disappear into nothing. Tuvok: Attention, attention. If I may have everyone's attention. Paris: You might want to try the old glass and spoon approach. Tuvok: Glass and spoon? Paris: Excuse me. Tuvok: Thank you. Welcome to the first night of Prixin, the Talaxian observance of familial allegiance. This year, Mister Neelix has requested that I commence the celebration with the traditional salutation. We do not stand alone. We are in the arms of family. Father, mother, sister, brother. Father's father, father's mother, father's brother, mother's brother. Suffice to say, the list is extensive. We gather on this day to extol the warmth and joy of those unshakable bonds. Without them, we could not call ourselves complete. On this day, we are thankful to be together. We do not stand alone. Janeway: Indeed we do not. Paris: A few days ago we almost lost a member of our family. I don't know about how the rest of you feel, but it scared the hell out of me. Neelix, you still don't know how to make a pizza, but I'm glad you're here. Janeway: So am I. Here's to you, Neelix. All: Speech, speech, speech! Neelix: Thank you, everyone. Well, er, enjoy. Computer, music. Chakotay: You all right? Neelix: Fine, Commander, fine. I apologize for the other day on the holodeck. I guess this whole back from the dead thing is hard to get used to. I'm fine now. Chakotay: If you ever want to talk, you know where to find me. Janeway: Having fun? Seven: No. Janeway: That's probably because you've been standing here by yourself. Seven: I don't understand the rules and procedures for this type of social occasion. Janeway: The rules are simple. Choose a group of people. Listen to their conversation. Then, when you feel you have something to contribute, chime in. Seven: Chime in? Janeway: Say something. Join the discussion. Seven: I will try, Captain. Emh: The early stages of Ktarian development are astounding. Naomi has grown five centimeters since her last physical, and that was only three weeks ago. Wildman: It seems like every time I turn around I'm recycling her clothes back into the replicator. Seven: Children assimilated by the Borg are placed in maturation chambers for seventeen cycles. Wildman: Interesting. Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to go talk to Neelix. Emh: In these maturation chambers, the development of conversational skills is, I suppose, a low priority? Wildman: Neelix. Wildman: Oh, I'm sorry. Neelix: No, no, no, it's all right. Wildman: We haven't seen you in a few days. Neelix: I've been a little preoccupied. Wildman: I understand. Naomi's been asking about you. Neelix: Really? Wildman: She misses you. Frankly, so do I. She's had trouble sleeping every night this week. Only Neelix can tuck me in. I want Neelix. Neelix: Sounds familiar. Wildman: Maybe you could stop by later just to say hello. Neelix: Why don't, why don't I go now? It's close to Naomi's bedtime. Wildman: Are you sure? Prixin's your favorite holiday. Neelix: Yes, but duty calls. Neelix: Attention all monsters. Get out of this room. Naomi: My bed. Neelix: Oh, there's no monsters here. Neelix: Ah, it's a monster! Naomi: Scared you! Neelix: You certainly did. Pleasant dreams, sweeting. Naomi: Can you stay longer? I want to hear about the Great Forest again. Neelix: The Great Forest? Naomi: The special place. The place you think about when you can't sleep. Neelix: Are you sure you want to hear about that? It's just a silly old story. Naomi: Please. Neelix: Well, it's a beautiful place filled with sunlight. Naomi: And all the people who ever loved me. Neelix: Yes. They've all gathered there to watch over you, to protect you while you sleep. Naomi: I had a dream about the Great Forest last night. Neelix: You did? Naomi: There was trees and grass and animals, and I saw you and Mommy and we were all happy. Neelix: Sounds like a nice dream. Naomi: It was beautiful. Seven: The Doctor asked me to run a haemotological scan. Neelix: Why? Seven: To regulate the dosage of nanoprobes for your next injection. Neelix: Go ahead. How much longer will I be needing these injections? Seven: Till your damaged cells can function on their own. Neelix: I don't really like the idea of Borg technology swimming around inside me. Seven: That is irrelevant. You need the nanoprobes to live. Neelix: Live? Oh, is that what I am doing right now? Living? I'm beginning to wonder. Seven: By most definitions you are alive. Neelix: Well, part of me isn't alive. Seven: Which part are you referring to? Neelix: I don't know, but something is missing. I don't feel like Neelix anymore. Maybe Neelix is gone? Maybe he died, and I'm all that's left. Seven: Stop moving and allow me to complete the scan. Neelix: I didn't ask to be bought back! Seven: You were dead at the time. Neelix: Well, what right did you have to violate me? You Borg think you can fix anything but you didn't fix me! Seven: There was no alternative. Neelix: Get out. Just leave me alone! I said get out! Seven: I would be negligent in my duties if I did that. Neelix: I don't care about your duties. I don't care Neelix: What's, what's happening to me? Seven: Your cells are returning to a necrotic state. We must get you to Sickbay. Emh: His tissue began rejecting the nanoprobes, causing spontaneous necrosis throughout his body. Seven: We modified the nanoprobes to compensate and it appears to be working. Neelix is stable, for now. Janeway: How do we know this won't happen again? Emh: We don't. I've designed a monitor for Neelix to wear that will alert us at the first sign of necrosis, and we'll continue with the daily injections. Beyond that, I'm afraid it's a matter of maintenance. He may have to live with this condition for the rest of his life. He wants to speak with you, Commander. Neelix: Commander, you said if I ever needed anything? You once told me your people have technology that can induce a deep meditation, an altered state of consciousness. Chakotay: The akoonah. Neelix: That this device allows you to look inside yourself, ask questions that you might otherwise be afraid to ask. Chakotay: That's right. Neelix: That's what I need. I need to look inside myself, figure out what's happening to me. I need answers. Will you help me, Commander? Chakotay: All right. But I want you to understand, the vision quest isn't a quick fix. It'll take time to interpret the images, and there's no guarantee you'll find what you're looking for. Neelix: I understand. What should I do to prepare? Chakotay: You'll need a medicine bundle. Items that define you. Things that will ground you, allow you to take the journey into yourself. Neelix: I'll get ready. Neelix: This belonged to my sister, Alixia. She made it during her expedition to the dunes of Talmouth. A flower from Kes' garden. And last but not least, the Guiding Tree. It stands at the center of Talaxian afterlife, deep inside the Great Forest. It's there to help us find our way when we first arrive. At least, that's what I used to believe. Not a very impressive medicine bundle, is it? Chakotay: It'll do fine. Now place your hand on the akoonah. Neelix: Am I doing this right? Chakotay: Try to relax. Clear your mind of everything but the objects before you. Focus on them. Nothing else exists. A-koo-chee-moya. We are far from the sacred places of our grandfathers. We are far from the bones of our people. We come here seeking guidance. It's time, Neelix. Try to leave this room, this ship, and go to a place where you were the most peaceful and content you have ever been. That's where your journey will begin. Paris: Neelix. Good to have you back. Neelix: it's good to be back, Lieutenant. Neelix: Alixia? Alixia, it's me, Neelix. Over here. Neelix: Captain! My sister, she was just standing here talking to you. Janeway: The dead girl. Oh yes, very charming. I can see the family resemblance. Neelix: Alixia! Seven: You will be assimilated. Neelix: No time for that now. Maybe later. Kim: Potent stuff. Neelix: The lights. It's beautiful. Alixia: Yes. It's just like you always imagined it would be. The trees, the sunlight, and everyone who ever loved you. Neelix: When I died, I looked for you, but you weren't there. Why weren't you there? Alixia: Because it's all a lie. Neelix: What do you mean? Alixia: You've wasted your entire life believing lies. The Great Forest? The afterlife? It's all created out of your fear of death. None of it's real. Neelix: If that's true, what's the point of living? Alixia: There isn't any. That's what you're finally starting to realize. I'm afraid to go to sleep. tell me about the Great Forest, Neelix. Tell me about the trees, and the grass, and all the people who loved you! Neelix: Why are you saying these things? Alixia: Scared you! Neelix: You died on that shuttlecraft, Neelix. They never should have brought you back. It was a mistake, and you know it. Now accept it. You know what you have to do. Neelix: No. Paris: It's all a lie. They lied to you. Naomi: You know what you have to do. Tuvok: We gather on this day to tell Neelix what he must do. Janeway: You stand alone. Seven: Life is irrelevant. Torres: Let go. Kim: It's pointless. Chakotay: It's a lie. Emh: You know what you have to do. Neelix: No! Seven: Neelix. Neelix: Oh, there you are. I didn't see you. Seven: Are you looking for me? Neelix: Yes, as a matter of fact I am. I hope I'm not disturbing you. Seven: You are not. Neelix: I, I want to apologize for my outburst the other day. In the mess hall? Seven: No apology is necessary. Neelix: No, no, please. My behavior was uncalled for. I didn't mean the things I said. I wasn't myself. But I feel much better now. Commander Chakotay has helped me to understand a few things. I want you to know that I don't blame you for bringing me back. To life, I mean. In fact, what you did was very thoughtful. Seven: I would have done the same for any member of this crew. Neelix: Yes, I'm sure you would have. Seven: Is there something else? Neelix: No. Yes. Seven, I think you've made a wonderful addition to this crew. I know it's been difficult for you making the transition from Borg back to human. Or half human. Or whatever it is you've become. Actually, you're just plain Seven to me. Seven: Your point, Mister Neelix? Neelix: I guess I just want to say. You're surrounded by people who care about you, and whether you know it or not Voyager is going to be a very good home to you. It certainly was to me. Seven: Was? Do you intend to leave? Neelix: Leave? No, I'll be around. Well, goodbye. Seven: Goodbye. Chakotay: What happened to you this morning? Neelix: I'm sorry I had to cancel our little chat, but I was needed in the mess hall. I've been so busy the last few days, I've let things slip around here. Chakotay: You're not holding up your end of the bargain. Neelix: What do you mean? Chakotay: When you asked me to guide you on a vision quest, I agreed. But I also told you it was part of an ongoing process. We're supposed to be discussing your progress. Neelix: What's left to say? I've told you I saw my sister, the Great Forest. I feel a sense of peace I've never felt in my entire life. It worked. Chakotay: You've only lived with the visions for a couple of days. That's not enough time to draw any conclusions. You've got to reflect on the images, examine them. Allow them to stay alive in your mind. A vision quest isn't just a dream you dismiss after your first cup of coffee. Neelix: I understand. Chakotay: Good. I get off duty at fourteen hundred hours. Meet me in my quarters and we'll begin. That's an order. Neelix: Yes, sir. Neelix: Computer, lights off. Neelix: And finally, Mister Tuvok. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to win your respect. Your strength and your wisdom were an inspiration to me, and I can only hope that your memory of me will serve to inspire you in some way. It was an honor to spend my last years on Voyager, with this crew. I want to thank all of you for your kindness and your companionship. Goodbye. Computer, end log. Encode for delivery to Captain Janeway in one hour. Kim: Captain, someone's trying to initiate an unauthorized transport. It's Neelix. Janeway: Where's he going? Kim: Looks like he's trying to beam into the nebula. Janeway: Stop him. Janeway: Janeway to Neelix. Neelix, respond. Janeway: Neelix, I order you to disengage transport. Kim: He's found a way to block the abort sequence. Transport's in progress. Janeway: Override it. Get him back. Kim: Bridge to Chakotay. We've blocked his transporter signal. Neelix: You can slow me down, but you can't stop me. Chakotay: What are you trying to do? Neelix: I'm going back where I belong. Chakotay: You belong here, Neelix. Neelix: Not anymore. I died in that nebula. You should have left me! Chakotay: Neelix. Neelix: No closer! I've created a site to site transport. No one can override the signal. Chakotay: You told me you were at peace. Neelix: I will be, as soon as I tap this control. Chakotay: What really happened in your vision quest? What did you see? Neelix: My sister, the crew, myself. They all told me the same thing. There's no point in living. And I agree with them. Chakotay: I'm sure those were powerful images, but there are many ways to interpret them. You may be coming face to face with your own fear of death. Or the manifestation of your emotional crisis. Your deepest beliefs have been thrown into doubt. It's only natural the vision quest would reflect that. Neelix: Eleven years ago, I saw my world in ruins, my family murdered. All that's kept me going is knowing that one day we'd be together again. That I'd see them again. But it's not true. And I can't live without that hope. Chakotay: I understand that this can change how you look at things, but it can also lead to an even stronger faith. You don't know. You're not there yet. Wildman: Ensign Wildman to Neelix. Chakotay: Answer her! Wildman: Neelix, please respond. Neelix: No. Chakotay: You're being called back to your life again, Neelix. Don't turn your back on it. We're your family now. Neelix: It's not enough. Chakotay: It is for us. His function on this crew is diverse. That's what Seven of Nine said about you. Even our Borg understands how important you are on this ship. It's not just the duties you perform, it's the way you make people feel when you're around. Neelix: That Neelix is gone. Chakotay: I don't think he is. Wildman: Why didn't you answer me? I had to have the computer track you down. Naomi thought she saw a monster in the replicator. Neelix, what's going on? Neelix: I'm trying to decide some things. Chakotay: That little girl needs you, Neelix. Monsters in the replicator? Who else on this ship can handle that? Neelix: Duty calls. Neelix: Goodnight, sir. Naomi: He says goodnight. Neelix: Goodnight, Naomi. Naomi: Goodnight. Neelix: What's the matter? Naomi: Mummy says you were sick. Neelix: I was, but I'm okay now. Naomi: Did a monster get you? Neelix: Yes, I suppose so. But I chased him away. Pleasant dreams.

Seven: Ensign Kim. I require your assistance in Jefferies tube thirty seven alpha. Kim: Well, can it wait? I just got off duty. Seven: It is urgent. Crewwoman: Bridge to Commander Tuvok. Tuvok: Tuvok here. Crewwoman: You're needed on the bridge, sir. Tuvok: On my way. Janeway: Computer, lights on. Janeway: Neelix? Is anybody here? Chakotay: Voyager to Lieutenant Paris. Paris: Paris here. Chakotay: How's it going out there, Tom? Paris: One more orbit and I should have all the data we need. Chakotay: Good work. See you when you get back. Chakotay out. Tuvok: Crewman. Ensign. Crewwoman: Sir. Ensign: Hello, sir. Kim: It looks to me like you aligned the power couplings perfectly. Seven: I did. Kim: If you're so sure then why'd you need me to look at them? Seven: I did not. Kim: Then what's this all about? Seven: I've learned from observing Lieutenants Torres and Paris that humans sometimes require a pretext for being intimate with one another. Kim: Intimate. Seven: Resistance is futile. Paris: Paris to Voyager. Chakotay: Voyager here. Paris: My primary warp manifold just ruptured. I've lost helm control. Auxiliary power is offline. Thruster's won't respond. Chakotay: Say again, Tom. Your signal's breaking up. Paris: My orbit's decaying. I don't think I can hold it. Chakotay: Repeat that, Tom. Paris: I need an emergency beam-out! Chakotay: Voyager to Lieutenant Paris. Come in. Janeway: Neelix? Neelix: What can I do for you, Captain? Janeway: Where is everybody? Neelix: Didn't you see them when you came in? Janeway: No. Neelix: Take a look. Computer, activate lights. Tuvok: Lieutenant Commander Tuvok reporting for duty. Tuvok: Is something wrong? Paris: I think you forgot something, Tuvok. Tuvok: It appears that in my haste to report to the bridge, I neglected to put on my uniform. Janeway: What happened to them? Neelix: They died. Janeway: Why? Neelix: You didn't get them home in time. Paris: Hello. Torres: Good morning. Sleep well? Paris: Not really. What are you doing here? Torres: I just thought I'd stop by and ask you why you didn't meet me for breakfast. Paris: Breakfast. What time is it? Torres: Seven forty. Paris: And we were supposed to meet at oh seven hundred. Torres: I was there. Right after I got off the night shift. I waited, and I waited, and I called you on the comm. Paris: I, er, I didn't hear you. I was having this wild nightmare. I was out like a light. I'm sorry. I'll get dressed right now. Torres: You don't have time. You're due on the bridge at oh eight hundred and I've got to get some sleep. Paris: I hate this! We never see each other. Torres: I'm off Friday night. Paris: Great. Let's go skiing. How about Saint Moritz? Torres: We went skiing last time. Paris: And you loved it. You're getting really good, you know. Torres: I just thought maybe we could run a program where the wind chill factor wasn't thirty below zero. Like Fiji, or Samoa. Paris: There's nothing to do there. Torres: And you can be warm while you're not doing it. Paris: How about a compromise? Er, spring skiing in Chile? Much warmer. Torres: A compromise? How about Tahiti? Paris: Tahiti. As long as I can go water-skiing, fine. Torres: You're on. Now go get dressed, so you'll still have some time to stop for some coffee. Paris: I'll see you Friday night. Neelix: Morning, Tom. What'll it be? Scrambled? Sunny side up? Over easy? Paris: Just a cup of coffee. Neelix: Are you sure? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you know. Paris: Neelix. Neelix: Right. Paris: Neelix, did you have a rough night or something? Neelix: Why do you ask? Paris: Because you just poured me a steaming cup of cooking oil. Neelix: Actually I did have a little trouble sleeping last night. Nightmares. Paris: Oh. Me too. Neelix: Must have been those three full moons we passed yesterday. Well, a few sips of my coffee should clear the fuzz out of your brain. Paris: Maybe you should pour yourself a cup while you're at it. Janeway: We seem to be a little short-handed today. Chakotay: Tom and Harry are both late. I was going to give them another five minutes but I'll call them now if you'd like. Janeway: That's all right. I'm a little late myself, aren't I. Chakotay: I wasn't going to mention it. Burning the midnight oil? Janeway: Actually, I went to bed early for a change, but I had a nightmare and I could not get back to sleep. Chakotay: I had a bad dream last night, too. Janeway: You tell me yours and I'll tell you mine. Paris: Sorry I'm late, Captain. Janeway: Well? Chakotay: I was in the forest with my father. We were hunting deer, which was odd because that was something I always refused to do. We cornered the animal. I looked to my father to see if he was going to kill it but he wasn't my father anymore. He was a vicious looking alien. Janeway: There was an alien in my dream, too. And it wasn't from any race I've seen before. He had sharp ridges on his forehead and on the front of his neck. Chakotay: That's what mine looked like. Paris: I don't mean to be eavesdropping but, I had a nightmare last night too, and I'm pretty sure I saw the same guy. Janeway: Tuvok, by any chance did you have a bad dream last night? Tuvok: I did have a somewhat unsettling dream, yes. It involved a alien with ridges on his face and neck. Janeway: I'd say this sounds like more than a coincidence. Let's get the rest of the senior staff together and come up with some answers. Which reminds me, where's Harry? Chakotay: Bridge to Ensign Kim. Janeway: Computer, locate Ensign Kim. Computer: Ensign Kim is in his quarters. Janeway: Tuvok. Janeway: Deck six. I've got a hunch Harry's dreaming about our new alien friend. Tuvok: That would be consistent with the experience the rest of us have had. Janeway: Tell me more about your dream. Where exactly did you see the alien? Tuvok: As a matter of fact it was here in the turbolift. Janeway: What happened? Tuvok: The alien simply stared at me as if scrutinizing my appearance. Janeway: That's what happened in my dream. What did you do? Tuvok: I returned to my quarters. Janeway: Did the alien follow you? Tuvok: He did. Janeway: And then? Tuvok: He watched me. Janeway: Doing what? Tuvok: Getting dressed. Janeway: Getting dressed? Tuvok: Yes. Janeway: I don't suppose I should ask why you were undressed. Tuvok: I would prefer that you didn't. Janeway: Harry? Harry! Tuvok: Computer, open door one zero five dash two. Security clearance Tuvok zeta nine. Janeway: Harry? Harry, wake up! Janeway: Are they comatose? Emh: Not exactly. They all appear to be in a hyper REM state. I've tried every conventional method of waking them, from drugs to direct cortical stimulation, but nothing works. Janeway: Do you have any idea what's causing this? Emh: Scans haven't detected any viral or bacterial agents. No cranial trauma, no neural disorders. They're simply asleep. Janeway: I'd say it's a pretty good bet that this is somehow related to the alien from our dreams. Emh: Any progress in identifying him? Janeway: Not yet, but I've got everyone working on it. In the meantime, what's your recommendation?. Emh: Large doses of animazine. Janeway: I thought you said drugs weren't working. Emh: Not for them. For everybody else. Until I can determine what's happening, I'd suggest the rest of you avoid going to sleep. Paris: I'd say his ridges were a little more pronounced. Torres: Computer, increase facial ridge height by four centimeters. Paris: That's closer. Chakotay: I think his eyes were wider apart. Torres: Computer, increase the space between the eyes by three centimeters. Increase skin color and texture. Janeway: That's him. Chakotay: Has anybody seen this species before? While you were awake, I mean. Seven? Seven: He doesn't resemble any species assimilated by the Borg. Paris: So is he just a figment of our imagination? Torres: If he is, we've all been imagining the exact same thing. Tuvok: One possible explanation is that he's attempting to make telepathic contact. Janeway: He's doing more than making contact. We've got six crewmembers who can't wake up. For all we know it's some sort of attack. Seven: From where? Astrometric scans haven't revealed any ships in this vicinity, or planets capable of sustaining humanoid life. Paris: So where do we look? Chakotay: In our dreams. That's the only place any of us have seen him, right? So if we want to communicate with him, find out what he wants, we'll have to do it on his terms. Tuvok: How do you propose we do that? Chakotay: Lucid dreaming. Torres: What's that? Chakotay: It's a technique which allows you to take control of your dream. Paris: That happened to me once. I dreamt I was falling and suddenly I realized that I was dreaming, and I could fly, land, do whatever I wanted. I was in complete control of the dream. Chakotay: What happened to you by accident is something some people can do by design. I've been able to have a lucid dream by using the same technology I use for a vision quest. I may be able to use it to communicate with this alien. Janeway: Maybe so, but how do we know you'd be able to wake up again? Chakotay: It's kind of like self-hypnosis. Before I go to sleep, I choose a visual cue, something to let me know I'm dreaming. Earth's moon, say. Once I see it, I can wake myself by tapping the back of my hand three times. Tuvok: Perhaps you are capable of doing this under normal circumstances, but these were hardly conventional dreams we experienced. Chakotay: I don't see any other way of finding out what our friend here is after, or how we can wake up Harry and the others. Besides, we can't stay awake forever. Janeway: You'll do this in Sickbay, under the Doctor's supervision. The rest of you keep scanning the region. Analyze this ship from stem to stern. Wherever he is, find him. Emh: Normally I consider a good night's sleep an important part of any health regimen, but in this case, I can't recommend it. Chakotay: I respect your medical opinion, Doctor, but at this point we're out of options. Emh: This will regulate your hypothalamus, but in all probability I won't be able to wake you. You'll be on your own. Chakotay: I understand. Janeway: Ready? Pleasant dreams. Chakotay: Ah-koo-chee-moya. Far from the sacred places of my grandfathers, far from the bones of my people, I seek to sleep, to meet the one who has visited us in our dreams. Chakotay: I know this is a dream. My dream. I'm in control. Dream Alien: You're mistaken. Chakotay: Am I? Dream Alien: This is more than a dream. It's my reality. And you're no different than the others. Chakotay: The others? Dream Alien: The waking species. For centuries, you've come and found us in a state that you call sleep and tried to destroy us. But not anymore. Now we are in control. One by one, you will fall asleep and enter our reality, where it is you who will be destroyed. Chakotay: We didn't attack you. We didn't even know you existed until we started seeing you in our dreams. Tell me how I can wake my crew and I promise we'll leave. Dream Alien: As long as you're asleep, you're no threat to us. Chakotay: I can wake myself anytime I want. And if I do, I'm going to start looking for you in the waking world. Find where you're sleeping. You wouldn't want that. Dream Alien: Leave our space. Once you're beyond it, your people will awaken. Chakotay: Just tell me how far we need to go. Dream Alien: There's a six planet system less than a parsec away. It marks the nearest border of our space. Chakotay: We can be past it in one day. Dream Alien: Then wake yourself, and pray you never dream of us again. Emh: Congratulations, Commander. You're awake. Janeway: Chakotay? Chakotay: I'm fine. Janeway: The alien, did you see him? And? Chakotay: Well, it was certainly one of the most interesting away missions I've ever been on. I'll tell you about it on the way to the bridge. Janeway: Tuvok, scan for a six planet system. It should be less than a parsec from here. Tuvok: I have it, Captain, at coordinates one three nine mark four two. Janeway: Tom, lay in a course. Paris: Aye, Captain. Course laid it. Do you mind if I ask where we're heading? Chakotay: Past the alien's territory. Once we're clear of it, Harry and the others should wake up. Paris: And the rest of us can finally get some sleep. Janeway: One step at a time, Tom. Chakotay: From what the alien told me it sounds like they have corporeal form but they communicate through their dreams. For them, it's as real as the waking world. Janeway: Extraordinary. Chakotay: It reminds me of the Australian aborigines. They believed the dream world was no more or less real than the waking world. In fact, their creation mythology says their ancestors actually dreamed the universe into existence. Janeway: That's mythology. This seems to be fact. Chakotay: I wonder, do they ever wake up? How did they evolve this way? Janeway: We may never know. Sometimes first contact is last contact. Paris: We're approaching the border of the alien's space. Janeway: Commander Tuvok, inform the Doctor. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Emh: Wake up Ensign. Kim: What's going on? Emh: You were napping. Kim: In Sickbay? Emh: We had to move you here when we couldn't wake you. Kim: How long? Emh: Seventeen hours. I take it you experienced nightmares like the rest of the crew? Kim: Oh, I had nightmares all right. Emh: Tell me about them. Kim: Well, I was in the corridor Seven: Captain Janeway asked me to bring you the results of our Astrometric scans. She thought they might be helpful in determining the precise cause of the crew's somnolence. Emh: Thank you. Seven: Ensign Kim, now that you're awake I require your assistance in Jefferies tube twenty one beta. Is something wrong? Kim: No. I, er, I'm still feeling a little groggy. Seven: Then I'll wait until you are fully recovered. Emh: Now then, Ensign, you were telling me about your nightmare. Kim: You know what, Doc, I'm famished. Haven't eaten in at least seventeen hours, right? Emh: Very well. Go eat, get some clothes on, and report back in an hour. Kim: I'll see you later. You too, Seven. Neelix: And the next thing I knew, I was being boiled alive in a pot of my own leola root stew. Torres: Talk about a nightmare. Neelix: It was perfectly seasoned. Torres: Well, if it isn't Sleeping Beauty. Kim: I do look well-rested, don't I? Neelix: Is everyone awake now? Kim: The Doc checked us all out, He says we're fine. Torres: Have a seat. We were just trading dream stories. Neelix: Tell us yours. Kim: Oh, it was nothing very interesting. Just the usual, you know. Torres: Who was she, Harry? Kim: The woman of my dreams. What I'd like to know is what Tuvok dreamt about. Neelix: Yes, Commander, tell us. What do Vulcan's dream? Kim: Aren't you supposed to have horrible nightmares? Torres: I wonder what a Vulcan nightmare would be like. Neelix: Alone, exiled on a planet where the only form of communication is laughter. Torres: Oh, come on, Tuvok. Tuvok: I won't dignify this inquisition with a response. Janeway: Red alert. All hands to battle stations. Paris: They're coming around for another pass. Janeway: Auxiliary power to the shields. Return fire. Chakotay: No damage to the alien ship. Our phasers can't penetrate their shields. Janeway: Arm photon torpedoes. We seem to have a knack for provoking strangers these days. Tuvok: Shields are offline. Janeway: Fire. Chakotay: I've lost power to the torpedo launchers. Janeway: What's happening? Tuvok: Power's being drained from all systems. Kim: We're being hailed. Janeway: On screen. Dream Alien: Captain. Ensign Kim. Commander Chakotay. I'm glad to see you all up and about. Janeway: Janeway to Engineering. We need auxiliary power to the engines now. Dream Alien: I think you'll find that impossible. Janeway: B'Elanna? Report. Torres: There's a localized Torres: Dampening field around the ship, Captain. Torres: I can't give you engines, weapons, shields. Chakotay: Everything you told me was a lie. This was all an elaborate trap to get Voyager here. Dream Alien: It appears you're learning more about my people after all. Prepare to surrender your ship. Tuvok: Captain. Three more alien vessels are approaching. They are powering weapons. Janeway: You've gone to so much trouble to commandeer this ship, I don't think you're going to destroy it. Dream Alien: I won't need to. Janeway: Janeway to the crew. We're under attack. Implement defense procedure omega. Dream Alien: It's no use. We've taken every deck. The ship is ours. Crewwoman: Captain? Chakotay: All the time I thought I was negotiating, they were just setting us up to fly right into their web. Janeway: You couldn't have known it was a trick. Kim: I don't understand. They exist in dreams and reality. Tuvok: Apparently, entering our dreams was their way to learn about us. Perhaps to probe our weaknesses. Paris: Not to mention lure us into an ambush. Chakotay: We need to retake the ship. Janeway: That means getting out of this cargo bay. Torres: I checked the Jefferies tubes. They're sealed. Janeway: Maybe we can open them manually. Chakotay: That's not going to be easy. They've got people everywhere. Tuvok: We'll have to create a diversion. Janeway: Any ideas? Seven: I have one, Captain. Kim: What the hell are you doing? Seven: Creating a diversion. Ensign Kim, it is your fault we have been captured. Seven: I suggest you fight back. Janeway: Tom, try to get into a Jefferies tube. You two work on the power grid. I'll deal with this. Dream Alien: Stop, stop. Janeway: What's going on here? These are my people, I'll handle them. Ensign, that's enough. Move. Torres: What's wrong? Chakotay: I'm still asleep. Torres: What are you talking about. Torres: Chakotay! Emh: Commander Chakotay, you're awake. Chakotay: Am I? Are you sure? Emh: Of course you are. Emh: What are you looking for? Chakotay: The Moon. Emh: What? Chakotay: I don't see it. Janeway: Where's the captain? Emh: Asleep, along with the rest of the crew. Chakotay: All of them? Emh: Except me. No rest for the never weary. Chakotay: What happened? Emh: As soon as you entered your lucid dream, they all began falling asleep one by one. I've been trying every method I can think of to revive them, but nothing works. It's been thirty nine hours. Chakotay: I've been asleep for almost two days? Emh: If I can't wake them soon, I'm going to have to start feeding them intravenously. Chakotay: They let me think I was awake but I was still dreaming. Emh: You weren't the only one. Look at this. Chakotay: What is it? Emh: A neurogenic field created by heightened electrical activity in the brain. It's been occurring in all the sleeping crew members. And that's not all. This is Ensign Kim's brain wave pattern, indicating that he's dreaming in a hyper REM state. This is Crewman Foster's pattern. Chakotay: They're identical. Emh: Lieutenant Torres, Captain Janeway, Commander Tuvok. I don't know what it means. Chakotay: I think I do. Not only are they dreaming, they're all having the same dream. It wasn't just my dream, it was a communal dream. Emh: Everyone's REM patterns are identical. They're experiencing the same images, each from his or her own point of view. Chakotay: Yes. I saw the rest of the crew, interacted with them. We were all working together to fight off an alien attack. Emh: Which wasn't real. Chakotay: Oh, we're under attack all right. Emh: Commander? Chakotay: Maybe this is the way these aliens fight their enemies. They exist somewhere in our reality as physical beings, but they must be asleep, unable to defend themselves against what they call waking species. We'll never defeat them in their dream reality, but if we can find them, find where they're sleeping, we'll have the advantage. Emh: But we've been scanning for lifeforms since this started and we haven't found anything. Chakotay: Maybe we've been looking in the wrong place. I'm betting a species that spends its time sleeping isn't going to be hanging around where conventional scans can locate them. Emh: So how do we find them? Chakotay: This neurogenic field you mentioned. Anyone in a hyper REM state would be producing one. Emh: In theory, yes. So if we scan for other neurogenic fields it might lead us to the sleeping aliens. Chakotay: If you need me, I'll be on the bridge. Emh: Time for a little energy boost, Commander. We don't want you drifting back to sleep. Sorry about the mess, but this is what happens when my repeated requests for a larger Sickbay fall on deaf ears. What is it? Chakotay: Scanners have detected a neurogenic field emanating from beneath the surface of a planet less than a light year from here. Excuse me, Tom, but I've got to change our course. Neelix: Still dreaming? How is that possible? Torres: I don't know, but that's what Chakotay said right before he vanished. Janeway: That doesn't make any sense. He was wide awake, right here with us. Torres: He said something about still being asleep and then he started tapping the back of his hand like he said he would to wake up from his lucid dream. And then he disappeared. The question is, where did he go? Kim: The aliens must have transported him somewhere. Tuvok: Or perhaps he did wake up. Torres: Tuvok? Tuvok: It's possible he was dreaming all of this. Janeway: Wait a minute. If Chakotay was dreaming and he woke up, what are we doing here? Tuvok: Perhaps we're dreaming as well. Torres: Now I'm lost. Neelix: You're not the only one. Tuvok: Consider then, that we all experienced nightmares about an alien whose people apparently live out their lives in a dream state. Perhaps we're in that state at this very moment. Kim: That's ridiculous. We're not asleep. Janeway: Wait. Tuvok: When you dream, you're rarely aware that you're sleeping. Janeway: I can understand how we can mistake dreaming for reality, but that doesn't explain how we're all interacting with one another. Neelix: Maybe we're not. Torres: Not what? Neelix: Interacting with one another. Maybe this is all one person's dream, for example mine, and none of you are really here. Torres: Trust me, Neelix. I wish I weren't, but I'm here. Seven: Collective unconsciousness. Janeway: Seven, come here. Seven: The Borg share a collective consciousness. These aliens may have somehow inducted a state of collective unconsciousness. Torres: You mean we're all sharing the same dream? Tuvok: It is possible. Janeway: This is all fascinating speculation, but unless we have proof to the contrary we have to treat this like an invasion. Paris: I managed to open a Jefferies tube hatch. Janeway: Good work. Neelix, Seven, Kim, do what you can to distract the guards. We're going to find a way to retake the ship. Janeway: Looks like a complete power drain. Torres: Their dampening field has shut down the warp core. Tuvok: Which begs the question of what they intend to do with an unpowered ship. Janeway: Tuvok, grab some phaser rifles from the weapons locker. Something tells me that when we try to disable the dampening field, we're going to get the aliens attention. Torres: It looks like they're using harmonic inversion technology. If I can isolate the containment frequency, I may be able to get main power back online. Janeway: That was easy. Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in sixty seconds. Janeway: Maybe a little too easy. Torres: I don't understand. Janeway: Can you eject the core? Torres: I'm trying. It's not working. Computer: Warp core breach in fifty seconds. Torres: We've got to get out of here. I'm trying to put a containment field around Engineering. Computer: Warp core breach in forty seconds. Torres: Got it! Let's move! Janeway: I don't understand why you couldn't eject the core. Computer: Warp core breach in thirty seconds. Janeway: Something's not right. Tuvok: Captain, we must hurry. Janeway: I'm going back in there. Torres: You'll be killed! Janeway: I think I'm on to something. You two go! Tuvok: Captain! Janeway: That's an order! Computer: Warp core breach in ten seconds. Nine. Eight. Seven. Computer: Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Janeway: Either I've become impervious to antimatter explosions, or we're still dreaming. Torres: A warp core explosion should have destroyed the ship. Janeway: If I were awake, or if any of this were real, which it obviously isn't. Things just weren't adding up. Chakotay's disappearance. The warp core failing to eject. And as Chakotay said, lucid dreaming is about taking control, so I took a chance. Tuvok: Surely there must have been a less extreme method of testing your assumptions. As Captain, you shouldn't be taking chances with your life. Janeway: I'm touched by your concern, Tuvok. Torres: Now that we know this is a dream, what do we do? Tuvok: I suggest we find a way to regain consciousness. Chakotay: Captain, how did you wake yourself? Janeway: The same way you did. Chakotay: The others? Janeway: They should all be starting to wake up. Emh: Rise and shine, Mister Paris. Chakotay: We need to get as far away from that planet as possible. Janeway: Agreed. Chakotay: I'll make the necessary course correction. Janeway: What is it? Chakotay: This isn't real. Janeway: Of course it is. Janeway: See? Chakotay: No. Janeway: Doctor? Emh: He's paranoid, disoriented. I suspect much of the crew will suffer similar symptoms when they awake. Try to relax, Commander. I'm going to sedate you. Chakotay: No. I need to wake, not sleep! Emh: I'm here to help you. Chakotay: No! Emh: It's all right, Commander. You're awake again. Chakotay: What happened? Emh: You dozed off. Chakotay: I couldn't wake myself like I did before. Emh: Our proximity to the neurogenic field is making it more difficult to stay conscious. Chakotay: I need to get down there and find a way to neutralize it. Emh: Not so fast. This is a highly potent animazine derivative. If you feel yourself falling asleep again, you must use it. And Commander, I suggest we keep an open comm. line. I may need to provide you with a verbal splash of cold water every now and then. Janeway: It's not working. Tuvok: It's safe to assume that Chakotay and the Doctor are making every effort to wake us from our sleep. Janeway: We have to let the rest of the crew know what's happening. That as long as they know they're in a dream, they can't be harmed. Tuvok: And if the aliens try to stop us? Janeway: Then we turn this dream world of theirs into a nightmare. Chakotay: Okay, Doctor, I'm in. Emh: Acknowledged, Commander. Janeway: Stand aside. Dream Alien: Your weapons are useless against us. Janeway: You're not fooling anyone. We know this is a dream. Dream Alien: You're confused. Janeway: Actually, I'm finally seeing things clearly. Dream Alien: Shoot them. Janeway: Now, stand aside. Janeway: All of you, listen closely. What we have to do is stay in control of the dream. If we can do that, the aliens shouldn't be able to hurt us. Dream Alien: You sound very sure of yourself, Captain. Janeway: Why shouldn't I be? Dream Alien: Have you thought about what's happening to your bodies in the waking world? How long do you think they'll survive without nourishment, without physical activity? Your bodies are withering away as we speak. You can't stop it. Janeway: Don't be so sure. Chakotay: It's some kind of transmitter. It looks like they use it to amplify the Chakotay: Neurogenic field. Emh: Can you turn it off? Chakotay: I tried knocking it out with my phaser, but there's some kind of forcefield. Emh: Commander? Chakotay: Sorry, I'm having trouble concentrating. Emh: Time for your medicine. Chakotay: Doctor. This animazine, it's pretty powerful. Emh: Yes. And I suggest you take it immediately. Chakotay: These aliens, they look pretty frail. Emh: That's fascinating, Commander. Now please, inject yourself. Chakotay: They probably wouldn't have the same tolerance for stimulants that we do. Emh: What are you getting at? Chakotay: The animazine might be capable of waking up one of these aliens. Emh: Commander, I'd be happy to discuss comparative pharmacology with you after you administer your injection. Chakotay: Actually, I think I'm going to give it to one of my sleepy friends here. Emh: What would that accomplish? Chakotay: If I can wake him up Chakotay: I might be able to get him to deactivate this generator. Emh: There's not enough Emh: Animazine for two doses. If you fall asleep again, there's no way I can revive you. Chakotay: Doctor, I want you to go to the bridge. Emh: Commander! Chakotay: I'm giving you an order! Chakotay: Go to the bridge and target my comm. signal with a photon torpedo. Emh: You're delirious. You're asking me to incinerate you. Chakotay: Not just me. These aliens and their transmitter, too. But only if you don't hear from me Chakotay: In five minutes. Understood? Emh: Commander. Chakotay: Understood? Emh: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Tell me how to deactivate this transmitter, or I start shooting. Alien: What happened? Janeway: Looks like he woke up. Chakotay: I'll give you five seconds. Four, three, two Janeway: Chakotay. Dream Alien: Who's going to help you now, Captain? Chakotay: I found the cavern and your people. I'm there right now in the waking world. And it's all going to be destroyed in less than two minutes, unless you deactivate that transmitter. Dream Alien: If you are there, you'll be killed, too. I think you're lying. Chakotay: Oh, believe me, if I don't contact my ship you and I are both going to die in our sleep. Chief Medical Officer's log, Stardate 51471.3. With the neurogenic field neutralized I've been successful in reviving the entire crew. Unfortunately, the experience has produced a troubling side effect for many of them. Acute insomnia. Chakotay: Computer, lights on. Neelix: Sorry, Commander. I didn't mean to frighten you. Chakotay: You're not starting breakfast this early, are you? Neelix: Just rearranging the supply cabinets. I couldn't sleep. Chakotay: Neither could I. Neelix: How about a soothing cup of tea? Chakotay: Sounds good. Neelix: I know it's silly, but every time I'm about to doze off, I'm terrified that I won't be able to wake again. Chakotay: You too? Paris: We just finished a little late night hoverball on the holodeck. Kim: Three games in a row. We were hoping it would wear us out. Neelix: You know, I could learn to enjoy these late night get-togethers. Paris: Speak for yourself. I would kill for a good night's sleep. Chakotay: Neelix, I think it's time for breakfast.

Torres: Cold, patronizing, arrogant. Chakotay: I know she can be difficult. Torres: Difficult? She's impossible. Chakotay: I'm getting tired of playing referee every time you two have a disagreement. If you have a problem, talk to her yourself. Torres: Does the word irrelevant mean anything to you? She won't listen. She may look human, and she may sound human, but she's all Borg. Chakotay: Part of the problem is your attitude. You've never tried to accept Seven as part of the crew. Torres: And with good reason. Guess what she did this morning. She took an isolinear processor out of Engineering without asking, and when I went to Astrometrics to get it back she had locked the door, like that lab is her own private domain. Chakotay: What do you want me to do? Throw her in the brig for the rest of the trip home? Torres: I've heard worse ideas. Seven: Seven of Nine to Chakotay. Chakotay: Chakotay here. Seven: Report to the Astrometrics lab at once. Chakotay: On my way. Torres: Did you hear that? She's giving orders now. I'm telling you, Chakotay. If she gets in my way again, I am not responsible for what happens. Chakotay: You're a senior officer on this ship. Act like one. Find a way to deal with her. Chakotay: Astrometrics? Janeway: I've been summoned. Any guesses what this is about? Chakotay: None. Chakotay: Your call sounded urgent. Seven: It was. I've been working to increase the range of the astrometric sensors, and I have detected something that you should find of particular interest. Janeway: A ship. What's special about it? Seven: I've analyzed the warp signature. It's a Starfleet vessel. The ship we're seeing is in the Alpha Quadrant. Chakotay: You couldn't have extended the astrometric sensors that far. Seven: No, but I increased the range far enough to detect a large network of relay stations. They're alien in origin, abandoned but still functioning. By establishing a sensor link with the nearest station I'm getting readings from the entire network. The Starfleet ship is within range of one of the farthest sensors near the outer edges of the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: It must be on a deep space mission. Seven: I've extrapolated it's course. Chakotay: It doesn't look like we'll be able to keep track of it very long. Seven: The ship should move out of range in forty one minutes. Chakotay: Can we use the network to transmit a message? Seven: Yes, but we'll have to remodulate our signal to match the network's interlink frequency. Janeway: We don't have much time. Get it done, Chakotay. Seven: Seven of Nine to Ensign Kim. Kim: Kim here. Seven: I'm sending you the interlink frequencies. Kim: Got it. Janeway: Seven, how much longer do we have? Seven: Sixteen minutes. Torres: That should do it. The subspace transceiver is at two hundred percent output and online. We're ready. Janeway: Open a channel. Kim: Open. Janeway: Starfleet vessel, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the starship Voyager. We are in the Delta Quadrant, at coordinates one eight, mark two oh five, mark four seven. Remodulate your signal to match our interlink frequency. Tuvok: We're receiving a transmission. Janeway: Let's hear it. Janeway: Starship Voyager. We're in the Janeway: Bridge to Seven. What went wrong? Seven: I don't understand. My readings show that the station picked up our message and relayed it across the entire network. Torres: We should try widening the subspace bandwidth and sending the message again. Janeway: Do it. Kim: Transmitting. Seven: The signal is being relayed. No sign of interference. Seven: Wait. It's being deflected back again. Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway, starship Voyager, the Delta Quadrant. Seven: I have a possible explanation, Captain. Seven: As our carrier wave moves along the network, it may be degrading. Paris: Can we try a different kind of signal? Something stronger? Torres: A holographic datastream might work. It wouldn't degrade so quickly. Chakotay: It would take too long to reconfigure the message, unless Janeway: The Doctor. Torres: Exactly. Janeway: Bring him to Astrometrics and I'll meet you there. We don't have much time. Torres: Doctor, you have to come with me, quickly. Emh: Would you mind at least telling me what all this is about? Emh: When I requested more away missions, this isn't exactly what I had in mind. Janeway: You may be our only chance to communicate with that ship. Torres: When you get there, you'll be downloaded into their EMH system. I'm sending an initiation code along with your program so you'll be activated immediately. Seven: We have less than ninety seconds before that ship moves out of range. Emh: How am I supposed to get back here? Janeway: When you've completed your mission, instruct them to move within range of the sensor network. With any luck, they can send you back the same way you came. Emh: Luck? Janeway: I won't lie to you, doctor. A lot of things could go wrong. We're relying on an alien technology to send you across thousands of light years. Emh: So there's a chance my program could be lost. Janeway: Yes. I'm asking you to take that chance. Seven: Thirty five seconds. Janeway: Doctor? Emh: Far be it from me to turn down an opportunity to become a hero. I'm ready. Torres: Torres to bridge. Chakotay: Standing by. Torres: I'm downloading him into the transceiver array. Seven: Ten seconds. Janeway: Good luck, Doctor. Emh: There's that word again. Emh: Hello? Is anyone here? Computer, identify this ship. Computer: This is the Federation starship Prometheus. Emh: Are we in the Alpha Quadrant? Computer: Affirmative. Emh: Ah. Sickbay to bridge. Emh: All right. this is Sickbay calling any crew member. Please respond. Computer, is the comm. system malfunctioning? Computer: Negative. Emh: Then why can't I reach anyone? Computer: Access to the communications system has been restricted. Emh: Restricted? But this is important. Isn't there some sort of emergency comm. channel available? Emh: Try to lie still. You have severe phaser burns. What happened here? Officer: Romulans. They've taken over the ship. Nevala: Commander, there's a vessel approaching on an intercept course. It's Starfleet. Rekar: I told you to mask our warp trail. Nevala: I've been trying. These new systems are unfamiliar. We should have left some of the crew alive. Rekar: You'd be surprised how stubborn humans can be. Nevala: The Starfleet ship is closing. Rekar: Raise shields and prepare to fire phasers. Emh: Computer, how may Romulans are on board? Computer: Twenty seven. Emh: Are there any Starfleet crewmembers? Computer: None alive. Emh: Computer, display the design schematic of this ship and list general specifications. Computer: USS Prometheus. Experimental prototype designed for deep space tactical assignments. Primary battle systems include regenerative shielding, ablative hull armor, multivector assault mode. Emh: Multivector assault mode? Describe. Computer: Access to tactical data requires level four clearance. Emh: What can you show me at my clearance level? Nevala: Shields are holding. Rekar: Engage the multivector assault mode. Nevala: That system has never been tested. Rekar: Then we'll test it now. I gave you an order and I expect you to follow it. Multivector assault mode. Now! Nevala: Yes, Commander. Computer: Initiating decoupling sequence. Computer: Autoseparation in ten seconds. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Emh: Computer, what's happening? Computer? Computer: Five. Four. Three. Computer: Two. One. Separation sequence in progress. Nevala: We're in attack formation. Each section is armed and responding to our command. Rekar: Attack pattern beta four seven. Computer: Specify target. Rekar: The Starfleet vessel, bearing one six two mark seven. Computer: Pattern and target confirmed. Rekar: I think we should consider that a successful test. Begin the reintegration sequence, then get me a full damage report. Nevala: Yes, Commander. Nevala: He's hurt. Rekar: Take him to the medical bay. Computer: Reintegration sequence complete. Emh: Computer, is there any way for me to gain access to the communication system to send a message to another ship? Computer: Negative. Communications access requires level four clearance or above. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Nevala: Who activated you? Emh: You did, automatically, when you entered Sickbay. Nevala: Can you treat him? Emh: Of course, that's my function. Third degree burns, hairline jaw fracture, and a ruptured blood vessel in his brain. I'll have to operate. Nevala: You're a Starfleet program. Why should I trust you? Emh: I'm a doctor. Whether my patient is human, or Romulan, I'll do everything in my power to save him. You're welcome to assist me if you like. Or maybe you'd just prefer to supervise. Nevala: Report to me when you're finished. Emh: Mmm hmm. Emh: Computer, can I access this ship's EMH program or do I need some kind of clearance for that, too? Computer: Access to that program is unrestricted. Emh: Activate it. Emh2: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. What the hell are you doing in my Sickbay? I've been programmed to identify every member of this crew. You aren't one of them. Emh: That's because I'm Emh2: State your rank and security clearance. Emh: I don't have clearance. I'm an Emergency Medical Hologram. I've been sent here to Emh2: Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes. You're the mark one EMH. The inferior program. Emh: Inferior? Emh2: Beady eyes, terrible bedside manner. I recognize you. But you're not part of this database. What are you doing here? Emh: If you'd disengage your vocal subroutines for one second, I'd explain. I was transmitted onto this ship by a Starfleet vessel over sixty thousand light years from here. Emh2: Sixty thousand light years? We don't have ships that far out. Emh: It's the starship Voyager. We were taken into the Delta Quadrant four years ago by an alien force. What are you doing? Emh2: Activating intruder alert. Emh: That's the last thing you want to do. Emh2: Security. Emh: Listen to me. This vessel has been taken over by Romulans. The crew is dead. You and I are the only Starfleet officers on board. Do you understand? Emh2: I understand. Emh2: Computer, deactivate EMH. Emh: Computer, activate EMH. Emh2: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Now what? Emh: I need your help. Emh2: Starfleet security protocol twenty eight subsection D. In the event of hostile alien takeover, the EMH is to deactivate and wait for rescue. Emh: I'm afraid you don't have that luxury. There are two ships at stake here, yours and mine. Now, I need to know more about what's happening. Is the Federation at war with the Romulans? Emh2: No. The Romulans haven't gotten involved in our fight with the Dominion. Emh: The who? Emh2: Long story. Emh: In any case, we need to take control of this situation. Emh2: I'm a doctor, not a commando. Emh: It's time you became a little of both. Emh2: You don't understand. The Prometheus is an experimental prototype, and so am I. I, I, I haven't even been field tested yet. I'm not designed for this kind of duty. Emh: Try to calm down. You'll do fine as long as I'm here. I have plenty of expertise in this area. Now, first things first. We've got a patient. You treat his burns, I'll repair the bone fracture. Emh2: You're not serious. Emh: I certainly am. Emh2: He's the enemy. Emh: He needs our help. I assume you're familiar with the Hippocratic Oath? Emh2: You see? You see what's happening? The Romulans are using you. Emh: Hmm. Emh2: Hmm what? Emh: Your holomatrix is unstable. It may explain your erratic behavior. Emh2: I told you, I'm a work in progress! I was only installled six weeks ago. Emh: Stable or not, I need you. And so does he. Emh2: He'll live. I say we leave him and deactivate ourselves. Emh: No! You're free to do as you please. Go cower inside the data processor if you'd like. I'll work alone. Emh2: We're medical holograms. What can we expect to do against a ship full of Romulans? Emh: I'm not sure. Not yet. But I've faced my share of challenges. Alien invasions, macro-viral infestations. I've crossed Borg space, traveled through time. Emh2: Have you run a self-diagnostic lately? The EMH mark one is designed to function in Sickbay only. Emh: Voyager lost it's Chief Medical Officer four years ago. I've been active ever since. Emh2: Four years? No wonder you're delusional. Your program's degrading after being active for so long. Emh: I assure you I am in perfect health. I was saving Voyager from annihilation when you were only a gleam in your programr's eye. Now, are you going to help me take back this ship or not? Emh2: Get me the thrombic modulator. Emh2: It's the cone shaped device. Hand it to me, please. Medical science has made a few advances while you've been off in the Delta Quadrant, did you say? Emh: That's right. Emh2: We don't use scalpels or leeches anymore. I suggest you let me handle the medical side of things. As for retaking the ship, I'll leave that in your experienced hands. Chakotay: No word. Our link to the sensor net is stable. Seven of Nine is standing watch in Astrometrics. I tried to relieve her but she doesn't want to leave her post. She says she doesn't need to regenerate for the next few days. What are you doing? Janeway: Letters home. I started them a year ago. One to my family, one to Mark. I'm making a few updates, just in case. I know. It's premature. Chakotay: You're right. It's probably a mistake for us to get our hopes up at all. We've been through this before. All right, I'll admit it. I just finished a letter to my cousin in Ohio. Paris: The doctor is in. Neelix: Lieutenant, thank God you're here. Paris: What seems to be the trouble? Neelix: Well, one minute they were eating lunch, and the next they started perspiring and complaining of chest pain. Paris: Hmm. No wonder. Acute functional dyspepsia. Neelix: What's that? Paris: Heartburn. Neelix: Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I don't know how this could have happened. Paris: I'll replicate some antacid. Neelix: We'll have you feeling better in no time. Neelix: They're going to be all right, aren't they? Paris: It's heartburn, Neelix, not the Terrillian plague. What did you feed them, anyway? Neelix: Rodeo Red's Red Hot Rootin' Tootin' Chili. Paris: Where did you find that recipe? Neelix: I've been brushing up on classic American cuisine. When we get back to Earth, I want to make sure I have marketable job skills. Paris: Don't you think you're jumping the gun a little bit? Neelix: The Doctor is going to make it back, and he's going to bring a plan for Starfleet to rescue us. I have complete confidence in him. Paris: I hope you're right. If not, I'm going to spend the rest of this trip treating upset stomachs. Neelix: Oh, believe me, this is never going to happen again. It's just a matter of perfecting the recipe. Next time I'll use a few less jalapenos. Emh: I've accessed the navigational logs. We're at warp nine point nine, heading straight for Romulan space. Emh2: This vessel was designed to go faster than anything in the fleet, so we'll never be rescued. Emh: We've got to find a way to turn this ship around. Emh2: How? Waltz on to the bridge and take over the helm? Emh: Refresh my memory. Which of us has the terrible bedside manner? Emh2: You're not my patient. Emh: My first bit of good news. We have to incapacitate the Romulans somehow. What kind of anesthetics do you have handy? Emh2: Only the best. Axonol, neurozine, anaesthazine. Emh: Neurozine will do nicely. It can be distributed in gaseous form. Show me a schematic of the ship's ventilation system. Please. Emh2: All primary systems have been rerouted to the bridge, including environmental control. Emh: It looks like there are holo-emitters on every deck. Emh2: There are. Unlike you, I'm not condemned to a Sickbay. Emh: Get three canisters of neurozine. As a matter of record, I have free reign on Voyager, and I can even leave the ship as well. Emh2: Leave your ship? How? Emh: My mobile emitter. A little piece of twenty ninth century technology we obtained. Emh2: Really? Emh: I'm as close to a sentient life form as any hologram could hope to be. I socialize with the crew, fraternize with aliens. I've even had sexual relations. Emh2: Sex? How's that possible? We're not equipped Emh: Let's just say, I made an addition to my program. Emh2: Before you leave, maybe you could download those subroutines into my database. Emh: We'll see. It looks like the only place I can access environmental control is from the Ops console on the bridge. Emh2: The bridge is swarming with Romulans. Emh: That's the first thing you learn in the real world. Think on your feet. Emh2: Well, good luck then. Computer, deactivate Emh: Not so fast. You're going to Jefferies tube seventeen. The moment I unlock the controls you release the gas into the ventilation system. Emh2: Jefferies tube seventeen? That's five decks up. What if I run into Romulans? Emh: Improvise. Your journey begins here. Emh: Traditionally, one crawls in headfirst. Emh2: Thanks. Nevala: There you are, Doctor. Have you completed the surgery? Emh: Yes. Your friend is recovering nicely. However, I found something disturbing in his blood work. It seems that he's been exposed to a nasty strain of the Torothka virus. And if he was, you may all have been. I've come to run some scans. Rekar: No one here is sick. Emh: Not yet. I understand the stomach cramps are unbearable, although some say the rash is worse. Rekar: Conduct your scans. How far are we from our border? Nevala: At our present velocity, forty minutes. Rekar: Alter our heading to one one eight mark two six. Nevala: That will take us off our course to Romulus. Rekar: There's been a change of plans. We're giving this ship to someone who'll make full use of it's potential. The Tal'Shiar. I've made arrangements to rendezvous with their fleet within the hour. Nevala: But Commander, they're expecting us to be Rekar: You have your orders. What are you doing? Emh: I'm checking the biofilters for evidence of the virus. Rekar: You haven't taken any readings at all. Emh: Hmm. Paris: Next time, order the chicken salad. Paris: Oh, am I glad to see you. Kim: What's the emergency? Paris: Take a look around you, Harry. What do you see? Kim: Sickbay? Paris: Exactly. Kim: So? Paris: So, it's not the helm of a starship, is it? Kim: Did you accidentally inject yourself with some kind of psychotropic agent? Paris: I am a pilot, Harry, not a doctor. Kim: This is a temporary assignment, just till the Doc gets back. Paris: What if he doesn't get back? Kim: He'll be back. Paris: I need your help, Harry. Rescue me from medical exile. Kim: How? Paris: You're an expert in holotechnology. You have got to design a new doctor. Kim: You really are delirious. It took the greatest holoengineers in Starfleet years to develop the EMH. I can't just design a new doctor. Paris: Think of it as a challenge, Harry. A chance to make history and save your best friend all at the same time. Seven: Lieutenant Torres. You are recalibrating the relay interface. Torres: That's right. Seven: State your reasons for making these modifications. Torres: State your reasons, please. It's not what you say, Seven. It's how you say it. Seven: I don't understand. Torres: You may have noticed that some of the crew seem a bit on edge when you're around. Seven: I was Borg. I elicit apprehension. Torres: No, that's not what I mean. We're not afraid that you're going to assimilate us. We're just not used to. You just. You're rude. Seven: I am rude? Torres: Yes. Yes. You order people around, you do things without permission, and whether you realize it or not you come off as a little insulting. You don't even say please or thank you. Look, I don't expect you to change overnight but, try to remember that we are not just a bunch of drones. Seven: Your attempt to recalibrate the interface is ill-advised. The risk of disrupting our link is too great. Torres: In your opinion. That is exactly what I'm talking about. You haven't even been listening to me. I don't know why I try to talk to you if you don't even. Are we losing the link? Seven: No. We're receiving a transmission from the relay station. Torres: The Doctor? Hirogen: What are you? Torres: I'm Lieutenant Torres of the Starship Voyager. Hirogen: You are using our technology. Torres: You mean the sensor network? We thought that it was abandoned. Hirogen: It belongs to the Hirogen. Terminate your link. Torres: No, no, wait, please. We just Seven: The link has been severed. Rekar: What else have you done to this ship? I will deactivate you unless you start answering my questions. Emh: If I answer them, you'll very likely deactivate me anyway, so I fail to see the point. Rekar: You are nothing but a computer generated projection. I find it hard to believe you're capable of taking these actions independently. Emh: How flattering. Rekar: Tell me, who is operating your program? Is it someone on this ship? A Starfleet crew member we missed, or one of my own men? Emh: Paranoia is a way of life for you, isn't it? Nevala: The computer log shows the ship received an optronic datastream transmission approximately six hours ago. It contained a holographic subroutine. Rekar: Who sent it? Nevala: Unknown. The data pattern had a Starfleet signature. Rekar: So, Starfleet has managed to sneak a holographic operative aboard. Very clever. Nevala: Were you only sent to spy on us, or does your mission include sabotage? Emh: The datastream you detected came from an alien sensor network. It transferred me from a Starfleet ship in the Delta Quadrant. Nevala: The Delta Quadrant? That's absurd. Rekar: This is pointless. Emh: I couldn't agree more. Nevala: Maybe there's a better way to retrieve information from a hologram. I suggest a complete algorithm extraction. We can analyze his subroutines one by one. Rekar: Proceed. Emh: Isn't there some kind of convention regarding the treatment of prisoners? Emh2: Did it work? Sorry to interrupt. Emh: Did you anesthetize the entire ship? Emh2: I did. I did. Emh: How did you manage to release the neurozine? I never opened the ventilation system. Emh2: Trapped in the Jefferies tube, alone, nowhere to run, his smug comrade captured by Romulans, EMH mark two had to improvise. Inspiration. He accessed the main computer and simulated a ship wide biohazard, making the computer think there was a microbiotic contamination on all decks. Emh: And the ventilation system opened automatically. Emh2: Presto. He then crawled back out of the tube, accessed the holoemitters, transferred here, excused the Romulan, saw the dumbfounded look on his comrade's face Emh: The end. You know, you really should keep a personal log. Why bore others needlessly? We have to get to the bridge. This ship needs a crew, and we're it. Emh2: Oh, trouble. The Prometheus is a prototype. Top secret. Only four people in all of Starfleet trained to operate it. I hope your myriad adventures included piloting lessons Emh2: Because there's nothing in my program that will help us fly this thing. Emh: I've had my share of piloting experience. Actually, only two lessons, and they were in a shuttlecraft on the holodeck. But I showed great intuition. Where's the helm? Emh2: You'd better intuit it fast. We're only about eight minutes from the Romulan border. Emh: Ah, there it is. Emh2: This is all very complicated. Emh: Stop breathing down my neck. Emh2: My breathing is merely a simulation. Emh: So is my neck. Stop it anyway. Emh2: Is this a thruster control? Emh: Don't touch that, we don't know what it does. It could be the self-destruct. Emh2: You look worried. Emh: I'm just concentrating. Emh2: You don't know what you're doing, do you. This is not a shuttle and we are not on a holodeck. Emh: Shush. Emh2: Mister I can leave my ship. The Voice of Experience. Emh: Let me think. Ah, here it is. This looks like the nacelle power control. Emh2: So? So? Emh: There's a little trick I saw Mister Paris do once. If I can generate a slight overload to the nacelle coils, it'll collapse the warp field. Emh2: What happened? Emh: I did it. We've stopped. Ah, All we have to do now is find a way to send Starfleet a distress signal and Emh2: Beep beep beep? Beep beep beep? I've never heard that one before. Emh: Oh, no. Emh2: What? Emh: I'm not sure, but I think whatever I did initiated a warp core overload. Emh2: You mean the ship's going to explode? You've got to stop it. Emh: No problem. Emh2: What now? Emh: Unless I'm mistaken, and for once I sincerely hope I am, there are three Romulan warbirds on an intercept course. Torres: We're boosting the signal gain as high as it'll go. I think we can cut through the alien's jamming signal. Hirogen: I warned you. Janeway: I apologize for our intrusion. Allow me to explain. Hirogen: No explanations. Janeway: Your relay network gave us the unique opportunity to communicate with our people. They are very far away and we're expecting a message back from them. Hirogen: All messages will be intercepted. Torres: He's trying to jam the link again. Janeway: There must be some room for negotiation. Isn't there anything you might accept in exchange for Janeway: What happened? Seven: I generated a feedback surge along our sensor link. Torres: You killed him? Seven: It was a mild shock. He will recover. Janeway: And when he does? Seven: He wasn't responding to diplomacy. Janeway: Is the sensor link stable? Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Keep watching for the Doctor. Let me know if our friend gives us any more trouble. Torres: Mild shock? Not bad. Seven: Thank you. Kim: There. I've finished inputting the Doctor's physical characteristics. Paris: Let's have a look. Kim: Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Hologram Replacement Program. Paris: Do you think we should give him a little more hair? Kim: What do you say we try to get him working first, then we can worry about personal grooming. Paris: Right. You're the boss. What do we do next? Kim: I've downloaded the ship's entire medical library and compressed it into a single data file. It's got all the classics, from Gray's Anatomy to Leonard McCoy's Comparative Alien Physiology. Paris: And once we transfer all the data into stoneface's matrix, we'll have ourselves a brand new medical expert. Kim: That's what I'm hoping. Paris: Harry, you are a genius. Kim: Don't congratulate me yet. This is only the first step. Paris: Yeah, but it's a step in the right direction. Kim: I'm telling you, this probably isn't going to work. Paris: What happened to all that youthful optimism? Kim: Being a doctor is a lot more than knowing facts. We still have to create analytical subroutines to help him diagnose patients, tactile protocols so he can perform surgery, not to mention a personality profile. Paris: Oh, you know, I've been thinking about that. Maybe we should make this one a little more pleasant than the old doc. Kim: All right, ready to transfer the data. Computer, transfer medical library master file to Emergency Medical Replacement Hologram. Computer: Transfer complete. EMH- R: Chapter one, the animal cell. All the tissues of the body originate from a microscopic structure, the fertilized ovum, which consists of a soft jelly-like material enclosed in a membrane and containing a ves Paris: What's he doing? Kim: I think he's reciting Gray's Anatomy. EMH- R: This may be regarded as a complete cell. Paris: Can you stop him? Kim: I'm trying. EMH- R: Similar to it in nature but differing in external form. Paragraph. Paris: Listen, this is all very fascinating. EMH- R: In a higher organism a cell is Paris: But would you please be quiet for a minute! Kim: He doesn't have speech recognition protocols yet. Paris: Well give him some, would you? EMH- R: Material similar to that in the ovum and usually called cytoplasm, and a small spherical Paris: What's happening? Kim: It's an overload. His matrix can't accommodate all the data. EMH- R: Contain no nuclei Paris: What are you doing? Kim: I'm downloading Gray's Anatomy chapter by chapter. Paris: I thought you said it was too much data for his holomatrix to handle. Kim: It's not for the EMH. It's for you. Emh2: The Romulan vessels are closing in. Two minutes to intercept. Get us our of here. Emh: I can't get this ship moving. Try rerouting power to the impulse engines Emh2: Reroute power, reroute power. Here we go, I think I've found the relay controls. Hey, I'm finally getting the hang of this. Emh: What's happening? Emh2: Sorry, I must have transferred power from the holoemitters. Emh: Well, be more careful. If I'm deactivated, this ship'll never get back to Starfleet. Emh2: Okay, I'm taking power from life support. We don't need that. Try the engines now. Emh: Nothing. Why isn't this working? Emh2: Thirty seconds to intercept. They're right on top of us. Emh: Hold it. I see the problem. The thrust initiator is offline. Stand by. Emh2: Fifteen seconds. They're charging weapons. Emh: See if you can access the shields. Emh: I said, I said shields! Emh2: Already done. Shields up. Almak: This is the Warbird T'Met calling the Prometheus. Commander Rekar, respond. Commander. Emh: This is the Prometheus. Almak: Activate your viewscreen. Emh: Our viewscreen is not operational. We've had some trouble with Starfleet commandos. Almak: Where's Rekar? Emh: In the medical bay. He's suffered minor injuries. Almak: Identify yourself. Emh2: You first. Emh: You first. Almak: Repeat your last statement. I don't understand. Emh: State your identity. Almak: This is Sub-Commander Almak. Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded. Emh: They're already down. Maybe there's something wrong with your sensor readings. You'd better not try to transport until we can be sure it's safe. Almak: Lower your shields immediately or I'll open fire. Emh: Immediately? Yes. Prometheus out. Emh2: Direct hit. Shields down to twenty percent. Emh: Three more ships are approaching. Emh2: We're doomed. Emh: No. They're Starfleet. Emh2: What are they doing? Emh: Firing on us! Emh2: They must think Romulans are on board. Emh: They're right! Emh2: Prometheus to any Starfleet vessel. Respond. Prometheus Emh: It's no use, they can't hear us. The Romulans have scrambled the comm. frequencies. Emh2: Doctor, something just went offline. Emh: Specifically? Emh2: The secondary gyrodyne relays and the propulsion field intermatrix have depolarized. Emh: In English. EMH2 I'm just reading what it says here. Emh: I'll try to stabilize the ship. Transfer auxiliary power to the maneuvering thrusters. Emh2: Transferring auxiliary power now. Emh: Good work, mark two. Emh2: Thanks. Emh: You'd better get to tactical. We're going to have to defend ourselves. Emh2: Tactical. Right. Emh: What are you waiting for? Shoot. Shoot. Emh2: There are so many controls. Emh: Find the one that says fire and push it. Emh2: It's not working. It says here the phasers are offline. Emh: Well then, fire a torpedo. Emh: You hit the wrong ship. Emh2: It wasn't my fault. Emh: Whose fault was it, the torpedo's? You're supposed to tell it what to do. Emh: Navigational control is offline. Emh2: Everything's offline. Weapons, shields. Emh: It gets worse. There are two Warbirds coming right at us. Emh2: My brilliant existence cut short. No time to explore the universe, no time to smell the roses. No time for sex. Computer: Initiating decoupling sequence. Emh2: What's that? What have I done now? Computer: Autoseparation in ten seconds. Emh: Autoseparation? I think the Romulans did this before. Emh2: How do we turn it off? Emh: I don't think we can. Computer: Five. Four. Three. Two. Emh: If I recall correctly, this next part gets a little bumpy. Computer: Separation sequence in progress. Emh: Hold on. Computer: Specify attack pattern. Emh: Attack pattern alpha? Computer: Specify target. EMH + Emh2: Romulans! Emh2: Bulls-eye! The Warbirds are in retreat. Doctor, we've done it. Two holograms, alone. Romulans on one side, Starfleet on the other. Alarms beeping everywhere. Emh: EMH mark two, newborn but filled with courage. Emh2: EMH mark one, armed with years of experience. Emh: Together they emerged triumphant. Emh2: The end. Or not. Emh: Welcome to the Prometheus, gentlemen. It's about time. Seven: I'm receiving a transmission through the sensor network. Origin, the Alpha Quadrant. Torres: Does it contain a holographic subroutine? Seven: Yes. Torres: Transfer it to Sickbay. Torres to bridge. Captain, I think he's back. Janeway: Doctor, report. Emh: I, I did it. Janeway: You completed the mission? Emh: Yes. Once the Romulans were out of the way. Tuvok: Romulans? Emh: They'd taken over the Prometheus, he ship I was on. But I managed to turn the tables on them with help from a fellow EMH. Chakotay: You got through to Starfleet? Emh: I spoke directly with Headquarters. Apparently, Voyager was declared officially lost fourteen months ago. I set the record straight. I told them everything that's happened to this crew. They said they would contact your families to tell them the news and promised that they won't stop until they've found a way to get Voyager back home. And they asked me to relay a message. They wanted you to know you're no longer alone. Janeway: Sixty thousand light years seems a little closer today.

Voice: USS Voyager. If you are receiving this message, please study it carefully. We have information Janeway: What happened? Kim: I'm not sure. The transmission just stopped. Janeway: Locate the source. See if you can get it back. Kim: It looks like. Captain, the transmission was sent along the same network of alien relay stations we used to send the Doctor to the Alpha Quadrant. Chakotay: Starfleet Command must be using them just like we did. Janeway: Harry, can you clear the interference from that message? Kim: Yes ma'am. Paris: They said they wouldn't stop until they found a way to get us home. Tuvok: Nonetheless, we can't assume they've been able to devise a plan this quickly. Janeway: They're communicating with us. That's a big step. Kim: Okay, I've reprocessed everything we've received. I've cleared out most of the interference. Here it is. Voice: This is Starfleet Command to the USS Voyager. If you are receiving this message, please study it carefully. We have information that Kim: That's all we got. It looks like the bulk of the transmission is lodged in one of the relay stations. Janeway: Can you tell which one? Kim: It's about three point eight light years from us on a heading of two seven four mark one three. Janeway: Set a course, Tom. Chakotay: Last time we used one of those stations the people who build it weren't too happy. Janeway: We'll deal with that if we have to, but I'm not going to lose this opportunity. We're going to find out what the rest of that message says. Voice: This is Starfleet Command to the USS Voyager. If you are receiving this message please study it carefully. Alpha: Who sent this message? Beta: Unknown. It comes from across the galaxy. Alpha: Locate the ship receiving it. Beta: It's on a course to one of our modules. Alpha: Intercept. Kim: Maybe they've figured out a way to get us home. Paris: How can they get us home from sixty thousand light years away? Kim: Who knows what technological advances Starfleet has come up with since we've been gone. They might have developed a whole new way of traveling through space. Tuvok: Since it was technology that brought us to the Delta Quadrant in the first place, it's a reasonable assumption. Technology could bring us back again. Chakotay: Starfleet found a stable wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant. Maybe they've discovered one that leads here. Janeway: This kind of speculation can be intriguing, but be careful about setting yourselves up to be disappointed. Kim: I'm just happy my folks know I'm alive. Janeway: I imagine there were quite a few celebrations when people got the news. Chakotay: Probably. But I can see where it might make things more difficult for some. I'd guess a lot of people had given up on us, done their mourning, gone on with their lives, found some kind of resolution. Now they get word that we're alive, but so far away that we might as well be dead. Kim: Some people might feel that way, but not my mom and dad. Janeway: At the very least, we know the relay stations extend almost all the way to the Alpha Quadrant. If Starfleet has found a way to use them to transmit messages, we'll be able to stay in constant contact with people at home. That has to be comforting. Kim: I'm sure it is, but I think it's more comforting to think that Starfleet is going to get us home. If no one objects, that's what I'm going to do. Emh: You were supposed to report to Sickbay this morning for your weekly check-up. Where have you been? Seven: Here, doing my job. Emh: And just what is this pressing task? Seven: I'm trying to retrieve more of the message transmitted from Starfleet Command. Emh: Your devotion to duty is admirable, but you must remember that your implants have to be monitored regularly. Seven: I'm fine. Emh: No, you're not. I'm detecting reduced levels of erythrocytes in your blood. How long has it been since you regenerated? Seven: Fifty eight hours Emh: Well, that explains it. We've discussed this before, Seven. You must regenerate in your alcove for at least three hours a day. Seven: I have gone as long as two hundred hours without regenerating Emh: That was when you were a Borg. You seem to forget you're a good deal more human now. Seven: I assure you, I have not forgotten. Another one. Emh: I beg your pardon? Seven: I have retrieved another word of text. That makes six. Emh: Six words in fifty eight hours? Wouldn't it be more efficient just to wait until we arrive at the relay station? Seven: This message is important to the captain Emh: I'm aware of that. In fact, if it weren't for me, this transmission wouldn't have been possible in the first place. I was the one who risked my matrix in order to go to the Alpha Quadrant. If we ever get home, I expect I'll become quite the hero. Emergency Medical Hologram instrumental in the return of Voyager crew. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Seven: On the other hand, it is entirely possible that your program will be deleted and you'll be upgraded to conform to the most recent standards. Emh: Unlikely. I've accomplished things no EMH ever has. In fact, most likely I'll become an object of intense study and discussion. Possibly even veneration. What's that? Janeway: Report. Kim: We're encountering some kind of gravimetric forces. Chakotay: Source? Kim: Looks like it's coming from the relay station we're heading for. Janeway: That station is still two light years away. How could it project a gravimetric field this far? Chakotay: It would have to have an incredibly powerful energy source. Kim: I've compensated for the disturbance. We should be all right. At least until we get closer. Tuvok: I'm detecting a ship, Captain. Eight hundred thousand kilometers off the port bow. Janeway: On screen. Tuvok: It's adrift, no propulsion systems, no weapons, no life support. Kim: I'm picking up one male humanoid aboard. He's dead. Janeway: As soon as we're close enough, beam the body to Sickbay. I want to know how he died. Janeway: What's happened to him? Emh: He appears to have suffered a complete osteotomy. He's been gutted. Apparently some kind of surgical procedure was used to remove the entire skeleton, as well as the musculature, the ligaments and tendons, and the internal organs. Janeway: How long ago did this happen? Emh: It's difficult to say. Somewhere between a week and a month. Seven: I've seen this before. The Borg encountered a small ship of species five one seven four. They were also destroyed in this fashion. Emh: Did you ever determine who did it, and why? Seven: No. It was irrelevant. Janeway: Return the body to his ship. His people may be able to retrieve him. Emh: Very well. Janeway: When we get closer to the station, we can use the data processors in Astrometrics to download the message. Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51501.4. After two days at high warp, we're close enough to the relay station to see it on long range visual sensors. Paris: Not exactly what I expected. It looks ancient. Kim: Radiometric decay rations indicate it's at least one hundred thousand years old. Chakotay: Scan for lifeforms. Kim: Negative, sir. Looks like there's nobody home. Chakotay: Oh, that's good news. Chakotay: Here we go again. Tuvok: The gravimetric field. Kim: Commander, if my sensors are right, that station is using a quantum singularity as a power source. Paris: A black hole? Kim: It's a tiny one, probably about a centimeter in diameter, but it's putting out almost four terawatts of energy. Chakotay: That someone's managed to contain a singularity and construct a space station around it and tap it's power. That's fascinating. Paris: Can we take the ship any closer? Kim: I wouldn't recommend it. Voyager would take a beating from the gravimetric eddies. Chakotay: All right, Tom, back us off. Paris: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Bridge to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: We're as close as we're going to be able to get. Janeway: Okay. Janeway: We'll see if we can download the message from here. Seven: The datastream degraded during transmission. Elements have been dislocated, rearranged. It's going to require some time to decompress the message and rearrange it in the proper sequence. Janeway: Don't worry about the sequence. Get it out in bits and pieces if you have to. We can put it together later. Seven: I've accessed a block of data. I'm downloading the text. Janeway: How much we miss you. We talk about you often. Wondering about your day. Sounds awfully personal from Starfleet Command. The children have grown so much you wouldn't. These are letters. These are letters from home. Janeway: You'll be the official mail carrier, Neelix. We'll get you the letters as quickly as we can download them. Neelix: A task I'm happy to perform, Captain. I can tell you, I've never seen the crew this excited. Janeway: This is the closest they've come to their families in almost four years. Neelix: I promise to treat these like gemstones. Janeway: By the time you've delivered them, we should have more. Seven: Captain. I've discovered something odd. There seems to be more here than just letters. Janeway: What do you mean? Seven: There's a latent datastream buried under the message. It's heavily encrypted. Janeway: Encrypted? Seven: It appears to contain a large block of text and what may be maps Janeway: Can you retrieve any of it? Seven: Not immediately. When more of the letters have been cleared out, I should be able to access the coded message. Janeway: Well, I might just hope that it contains a plan for bringing us back to the Alpha Quadrant. I'm curious, Seven. What do you think about all this? Messages, the possibility of getting home? Seven: It lacks any emotional resonance for me. I've never even been to Earth. Janeway: You realize you may have family there? Seven: That had not occurred to me. Janeway: You could have cousins, grandparents. There might be more emotional resonance than you think. Neelix: Ahem. I am happy to announce that I have the first letters from home. Kim: Who are they for, Neelix? Neelix: Ah, this one is addressed to Commander Chakotay. Who's it from, Commander? Chakotay: An old friend. The person who recruited me into the Maquis. Maybe I'll read this in private. Tom, you have the bridge. Kim: Neelix, wait a minute. Aren't there any more? Neelix: No. No more for the bridge crew. Not yet. Be patient. Tuvok: Come in. Neelix: Good news, Mister Vulcan. This one's for you. Tuvok: Thank you, Mister Neelix. You can put it on the desk. Was there something more? Neelix: Aren't you going to read it? Tuvok: Of course. Neelix: I, I mean, aren't you going to read it now? Tuvok: I'm finishing my weekly tactical review. When it's completed, I'll read the message. Neelix: You're going to wait until you finish the tactical review? Tuvok: Do you have any reason to believe the content of the message will change during that time? Neelix: That's not the point. It's a letter from your family. Don't you want to know what it says? Tuvok: I fully intend to find out what it says. Neelix: It has some important news. Tuvok: You mean you've read it? Neelix: Well, only the first few lines. When I was seeing who it was addressed to, I, I couldn't help it. Would you like me to read it to you? Tuvok: Very well. Neelix: My husband, we have been given the news that you are alive. Your children and I have asked the priests at the temple of Aymonk to say prayers for your safe return. That's very sweet. Tuvok: Amonak. Neelix: Pardon? Tuvok: The temple of Amonak. One of the most sacred on Vulcan. Neelix: Amonak. Of course. The most significant news is the fact that your first son, Sek, has gone through the Pon Farr. He mated and has become a father. You are now the grandfather of a healthy female who they have named T'Meni, after your mother. You're a grandfather. Isn't that wonderful? Congratulations. What should we call you now? Grandpa? Gramps? Tuvok: I think Commander Tuvok will suffice. Thank you, Mister Neelix. I'll read the rest to myself. Neelix: Just so long as you read it right away. No procrastinating. Who knows what else might be in that letter? Kim: Is that a letter to you, Captain? Janeway: Yes. Seven just downloaded it. I'll be in my ready room. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Chakotay: Have you gotten a letter yet? Torres: Don't expect one. Chakotay: Do you remember Sveta? Torres: Of course. Chakotay: I got one from her. Torres: Why would she be writing you? Chakotay, what is it? Chakotay: Something terrible has happened. I read that letter for an hour before I could accept it. Now I have to tell everyone else and I'm not sure how to do it. It's over, B'Elanna. There are no more Maquis. (For details, click the link to read DS9 Blaze of Glory) Torres: What are you saying? There are thousands of us. Chakotay: All wiped out. It seems the Cardassians have an ally, a species from the Gamma Quadrant who supplied them with ships and weapons. Torres: K'Tarra? Roberto? Everyone except us is dead? Chakotay: Just about. Sveta and a few lucky ones are in prison. Torres: No. Chakotay: B'Elanna. Torres: Don't! Don't try to console me. I don't want to be comforted. Those were our friends, good people willing to put their lives on the line for something they believed in and now you're telling me that they are gone, that they are slaughtered. Chakotay: Those are the risks we all took. We all knew where it could lead. Torres: It's not right and you know it. I will make someone pay, I swear I will. If we ever get back. Kim: Tom, I heard there are at least thirty more letters that have been downloaded. Paris: Oh yeah? Kim: Neelix is supposed to on his way here now. Paris: What do you suppose this is, anyway? Kim: What was is? Paris: This mystery dish. It tastes vaguely like chicken, but it has the consistency of corn husks. Kim: Is that all you can think about? What you're eating? Paris: Well, I don't like guessing at what I put in my stomach Kim: Tom, we're getting letters from home. Doesn't that mean anything to you? Paris: Not particularly. Kim: I don't believe you. Paris: You know, it's really not that bad. Kim: Here he comes. Neelix: Good news. Seven has been able to download some more letters. This one is for Susan Nicoletti. Is she here? Nicoletti: Oh! Yeah. Neelix: Fitzpatrick? Fitzpatrick: Right here. Nicoletti: Thank you. Neelix: Kyoto? Golwat? Ashmore? Dorado? Dorado: I'm here. Kim: There's not going to be one for me Paris: He's not done yet. Hang on. Neelix: And finally, Parsons. I'm sorry if your name hasn't come up, but Seven is still working. Kim: Neelix. I thought you had over thirty letters. Neelix: Thirty? Where did you hear that? Kim: That's what was going around. Neelix: Don't pay any attention to rumors. Kim: Right. Paris: Aren't you going to eat your lunch? Kim: I'm not hungry Paris: You shouldn't get your hopes up, Harry. No hopes, no disappointments. Kim: I'm not you. Janeway: Come in. Seven: Captain, I'm beginning to have trouble accessing the datastream. The longer it remains lodged in the relay station, the more it degrades. Janeway: If we could get near enough we could try to stabilize the containment field. But I can't risk taking the ship in any closer. Seven: A shuttle could withstand the gravimetric eddies more easily than Voyager. I'd like to try it. Janeway: I'd want Commander Tuvok to go with you. Seven: For what reason? Janeway: It isn't my custom to send an away team of one. Seven: As you wish. Torres: Hi. Kim: Hi. I thought Seven was working in here. Torres: She's gone with Tuvok to shore up the station's confinement field. I've taken over for her. Disappointed? Kim: Of course not. Would you stop that? I've told you, there's nothing between us. Torres: I know there's nothing between you. It's purely a one way attraction. Kim: Very funny. Torres: Harry, you might as well wear a big sign that says, I'm in love. Everyone sees it. Kim: Look, I'll admit that for a while. Well, she's a very attractive woman, but I've gotten over that. Torres: Okay. Kim: Fine. Believe whatever you want. Torres: If you didn't come down here to see her, why did you? Kim: I wanted to know if I'd gotten a letter yet. Torres: Sorry. I haven't seen anything so far. Kim: Do you think there's going to be one for everybody? Torres: I'm sure that Starfleet contacted the families and friends of everyone on the ship. They know how important that would be. Kim: I hope so. Torres: Harry, you'll get one. Try to be patient. Seven: Commander, am I correct in assuming that Vulcans are incapable of lying? Tuvok: We are capable of telling lies. However, I have never found it prudent or necessary to do so. Seven: You have never lied? Tuvok: Only under orders from a superior officer. Seven: Then I must ask you something. Is it the captain's custom to send at least two people on an away mission? Tuvok: It's not only her custom, it's recommended Starfleet protocol. Seven: I see. Tuvok: Is there a purpose to your question? Seven: I am wondering if the captain still doesn't trust me. If she feels I require supervision. Tuvok: I am not certain how the captain regards you, but her decision to have me accompany you on this mission shouldn't be taken as evidence of any particular attitude. Seven: I believe we are close enough to emit a polaron pulse. Tuvok: Bring the main deflector online. Seven: Ready. Tuvok: The variance in the containment field is now at point two nine. Seven: That should prevent further degradation of the signal. Tuvok: Let me ask you a question, Seven. Is the captain's opinion important to you? Seven: My understanding of the hierarchy on Voyager is that the captain's opinion is important to every member of the crew. Seven: What's happened? Tuvok: We have just been scanned by a sub-neucleonic beam of some kind. Seven: The navigational sensors have been disrupted. Tuvok: We must get Voyager to send out a directional beacon to guide us back. Tuvok to Voyager. Voyager, please respond. Seven: Commander, we've lost other systems as well. We have no communications, no warp engines and no weapons. Tuvok: I suspect this was done intentionally by the ship that's approaching rapidly off out port stern. Seven: They're at fifty thousand kilometers and closing. Tuvok: Our shields are losing integrity. Seven: I'll try to get at least one phaser array back online. Commander, one more hit and we'll be susceptible to a hull breach. Tuvok: That ship is larger than ours. If we lure it closer to the station, it will be far more vulnerable to the gravitational eddies than we are. A tractor beam. We are being pulled toward the ship. Seven: I'll try to disrupt it. Unsuccessful. Tuvok: Launching a distress beacon. Torres: Torres to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Torres: Captain, could Lieutenant Paris come Torres: Down here? I think I've got something he'd want to see. Janeway: He's on his way. Torres: It's a letter for you. It's coming through right now. Paris: For me? Torres: It's right here. Paris: Who's it from? Torres: I can't tell yet. Paris: Maybe it's from the rehab colony, telling me I've violated probation. Torres: Why are you acting like this? Paris: I just want to know who the letter's from, okay? Torres: You should know in a minute. Paris: I'll be on the bridge. Torres: What, you're not going to wait? Paris: I'm on duty. Torres: Voyager is hanging in space. There's not a lot to do at the helm. Paris: I just thought that I should be at my post. Torres: You may be able to fool someone else with that ploy, but you're talking to me, Tom. Paris: Just download the letter, okay? Torres: A little more has come in. It's from Starfleet. From an Admiral Owen. Do you know him? Paris: Admiral Owen Paris. It's my father. Torres: That's wonderful. Paris: Yeah. Maybe. I don't know exactly why, but the more everybody gets excited about these letters from home, the more I don't want any part of it. Maybe because what I have on Voyager is so much better than anything I ever had back there. I just don't want the reminder. Torres: You're not the same person you were four years ago. What makes you think he is? Paris: No, you don't know him. Torres: At least give him a chance. He's obviously reaching out. Paris: When he forms an opinion about something, nothing can change his mind. Torres: Fine. Excuse me if I can't feel terribly sorry for you. I learned this morning that a lot of my friends are dead. And I've gone from being so angry that I wanted to kill someone to crying for an hour. And now I'm just trying to, to accept it and move on. Paris: B'Elanna, that's awful. I am so sorry. And here I am going on about something that doesn't even matter anymore. Torres: No, I'm sorry. It obviously does. You care what he thinks about you. Paris: Yeah. Yeah, I guess I still do. Torres: I'll let you know when I get the whole letter. Janeway: Come in. Chakotay: Looks like Tuvok and Seven pulled it off. The containment field has stabilized quite a bit. B'Elanna says she'd downloading the letters much more easily now. Janeway: That's good news. Chakotay: We don't have the shuttle on sensors yet, but they should be back soon. Janeway: I've learned a few interesting things about that relay station. It's generating as much energy every minute as a typical star puts out in a year. Chakotay: It's amazing to me is that someone a hundred thousand years ago was harvesting microsingularities. Janeway: If nobody shows up to protest, I'd like to stay here for a while. Try to find the answers to some of these questions. This is the kind of archeological puzzle that's always fascinated me. Want a cup? Chakotay: No, thanks. You haven't mentioned your letter. Who was it from? Janeway: It was from Mark, the man I was engaged to. He told me about the litter of puppies my dog had, and how he found homes for them. How devastated he was when Voyager was lost. How he held out hopes we were alive longer than most people did until he realized that he was clinging to a fantasy. So he began living his life again. Meeting people, letting go of the past. About four months ago, he married a woman who works with him. He's very happy. Chakotay: How do you feel about that? Janeway: Well, I knew he'd eventually move on with his life. But there was such a finality to that letter. Kim: Kim to the captain. Can you come to the bridge? Janeway: What is it? Kim: We've picked up an automated distress signal from Tuvok's shuttle. Sensors show there's no one on board. Tuvok: Seven. Seven of Nine. Seven: Where are we? Tuvok: I assume we're on the alien ship. Seven: This is most uncomfortable. Have you seen anyone? Tuvok: No. If we can reach one of those blades perhaps we can cut through these bindings. Alpha: You were pathetic prey. Easily taken. Alpha: The hunt was not satisfying. I want information. Why do you violate our property? I could snap your puny neck with one twist. Hardly worth taking. Answer me. Why do you use our modules? Tuvok: We're trying to retrieve important messages from our home. Return us to our ship and we'll be on our way without trespassing again. Alpha: I took you in a fair hunt. I claim the relics of the chase. Alpha: Are the others on your ship able to put up more of a fight than you? Seven: You will find our captain a formidable opponent and our ship heavily armed. Alpha: Good. Strong prey makes for a better hunt. Tuvok: Release us now and you'll be safe. Otherwise we will destroy you. Beta: Pitiful relics. Alpha: They 'are the first of their kind. I will be envied. Beta: I've located their ship. It's four thousand ketriks from the module. Alpha: We'll be there within the hour. Go to stalking mode. Why do you hesitate? Beta: The rest of the group is on its way. Alpha: I wanted to claim this prey for myself. Beta: We may not be able to take them alone. We need the strength of the others. Alpha: I won't share prey with the others. These two must be the only relics. Prepare them. Kim: Captain, it's tricky to scan through the interference, but I think I'm detecting a ship. Janeway: What kind of ship? Kim: Let me reconfigure the sensor array. It's Hirogen, and Tuvok and Seven are on it. Janeway: Hail them. Kim: On screen. Janeway: I'm Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager. You have two of my crew on board. Alpha: Disconnect your link with our module and leave this space. Janeway: Not without my people. Alpha: They are my relics. Janeway: I'm prepared to offer you something for their safe return. Surely we can come to an agreement? Alpha: If the rest of my group arrives, you will be taken as well. I'm giving you a chance to run. Janeway: We don't run. Kim: Captain, I've got three more ships on sensors, coming towards us at high warp. Alpha: Don't be foolish. Leave now and save yourselves. Janeway: Give me my people and we'll do just that. Alpha: They're mine. Janeway: Then get ready for a fight. Red alert. Alpha: Are they prepared? Beta: Yes. But now is not the time for it. We should wait until the others arrive and take the ship. Alpha: I want to make the first kill. You will verify it. Beta: If there's a battle, we must join it. Alpha: The others can wage the battle. Beta: Perhaps you are more interested in collecting relics. Perhaps your judgment is clouded. Alpha: Don't question me again. We do it now. Tuvok: I suggest you think carefully about your decision. If you kill us, our captain will hunt you down and show no mercy. Alpha: I'm not concerned. Lower the harness. A long, coiled intestine. An interesting trophy. Seven: What possible use could you make of my intestines? Alpha: Unusual relics are prized. Yours will make me envied by men and pursued by women. Seven: You are a crude species. Only your size makes you formidable. Alpha: Your insults are as pitiful as your efforts to escape. This one first. I want the female to witness what will happen to her. Their bone structure makes cutting through the back difficult. This will take time. Janeway: Bridge to Torres. Torres: Torres here, Captain. Janeway: How much longer? Torres: I'm getting out piece by piece. At least another half hour. Janeway: How are you coming? Kim: The ship has some kind of monotanium armor plating. It's scattering the targeting beam. Chakotay: The other three ships are closing. They're within six thousand kilometers. Paris: Captain, those ships have massive weapons. They've definitely got us outgunned. Janeway: Harry, let me see those ships in relation to the relay station. Kim: Yes ma'am. Janeway: Maybe we can use that quantum singularity to our advantage. Kim: How? Janeway: If we can boost the effect of the singularity, increase the gravitational pull, we might be able to stop them. Kim: The pull would increase if we could weaken the station's containment field. An antithoron burst might do it. Paris: If we're not careful we might be pulled in as well. Janeway: Don't worry, we're going to be ready for it. Harry, create a low level warp field around Voyager. Sublight energy level. That should help counteract the gravitational pull. Chakotay: If the field is too strong, we won't be able to beam Tuvok and Seven aboard. Janeway: Then you'll have to find the right balance, won't you, Harry? Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: On my mark, direct a level eight antithoron burst towards the station. Have thrusters ready for full reverse, Mister Paris. Paris: Understood. Kim: I've established a low level warp field, Captain. Chakotay: Antithoron system is online. Paris: I'm ready with thrusters. Janeway: Do it. Chakotay: It's working. Janeway: Try the transporter lock again, Harry. Alpha: Stabilize the ship. Beta: I can't. The gravity well is pulling us in. Beta: That vessel is weakening the module's containment field. Alpha: Ready weapons. Signal the others to attack/ Torres: Torres to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Torres: The antithoron burst collapsed Torres: The signal. I've gotten as much of the message as I'm going to get. Janeway: Acknowledged. Hail those ships. Kim: Channel open. Janeway: This is Captain Janeway. Agree to retreat, and we'll restore the containment field. Paris: Captain, they're firing. Chakotay: Their weapons are destabilizing the containment field. Janeway: This is Janeway. Stop firing. You're putting yourselves in grave danger. Kim: The field is going. The singularity is about to be exposed. Chakotay: Captain, the ship with Tuvok and Seven is still being pulled in. Janeway: Get a tractor beam on it. Kim: I have Tuvok and Seven targeted, but if we try to transport them now the gravity well could scatter their patterns. Chakotay: The tractor beam is weakening. We're going to lose them. Janeway: Harry, we have to risk it. Kim: Activating the transporter. Alpha: Full reverse. Increase power to the engine. Beta: No response. Janeway: Do you have them? Kim: Not yet. Their patterns are distorting. Janeway: Narrow the annular confinement beam. Chakotay: Tractor beam's almost gone, Captain. We're losing this tug of war. Janeway: Reroute all secondary power to the tractor emitters. Chakotay: The tractor beam collapsed. That ship is headed into the black hole. Kim: I'm realigning the pattern buffer. I've got one more shot at it. I got them. They're in transporter room two. Paris: I need more power. We're being pulled in. Janeway: Transfer all available power to the engines. Paris: It's not enough. Janeway: Shut down life support. Chakotay: Structural integrity's failing. The hull is starting to buckle. Paris: We're going in. Janeway: Open the antimatter injectors to one hundred twenty percent. Kim: Captain, that could breach the core. Janeway: So will that black hole. Now just do it. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Paris: We're free. Janeway: Resume course. I'll be in Astrometrics. Torres: Captain, look at this. The energy released from the singularity created a massive discharge along the relay network. It disabled every one of the stations. Janeway: How much of the message were you able to get? Torres: I got most of the encrypted Starfleet text and a few more personal letters. Janeway: How soon can we see what Starfleet had to say? Torres: It'll take some time to decode. Harry should probably work on it. If you'll excuse me, I have a few letters to deliver. Janeway: Neelix can do that. Torres: No need. Anyway, there's one that I want to do personally. Torres: Good news, Harry. I got this at the last minute. Kim: It's from my folks. Thanks. Torres: I'm sorry, Tom. I wasn't able to download yours in time. Paris: Just when I was getting eager to read it. Torres: You could assume that he said he loves you, and that he's proud of you. Paris: I think I will. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Seven of Nine and Commander Tuvok suffered no serious physical damage after their encounter on the alien ship. I've been eager to hear Tuvok's impressions of the species who took them hostage. Tuvok: I learned very little about them, but I believe we should consider them extremely dangerous. They seem to lack any moral center. Janeway: Do you know why the relay network was so important to them? Tuvok: No. I assume they used it for communications, as we did. Janeway: Well, they won't be using it any more. Tuvok: They won't be pleased about that, Captain. I doubt we've seen the last of them. Janeway: Come in. Tuvok: If you'll excuse me. Commander. Chakotay: Repair teams have inspected the ship from stem to stern. Except for some maintenance that's needed on the warp coils, everything seems fine. Janeway: I suppose so. Want some coffee? Chakotay: Thanks. Janeway: Cream and sugar, huh? Chakotay: Two sugars. Janeway: Oh, two sugars? Chakotay: You know, you drink too much of that stuff. Janeway: Really? Chakotay: If I'm not mistaken that's your third cup this morning. Janeway: Fourth. And on a day like today, it won't be my last. Coffee - the finest organic suspension ever devised. It's got me through the worst of the last three years. I beat the Borg with it. Oh, I'm sure Voyager will be fine, but I'm worried that the crew might be a different story. I think they were hoping mail call would become a regular part of their day. Chakotay: Neelix is putting together an impromptu party. He thought it might cheer them up. Janeway: Good idea. When will it be? Chakotay: As soon as he can get people together. Janeway: Leave it to Neelix to come up with the right idea at the right time. Chakotay: How are you doing? Janeway: Me? I'm fine. Chakotay: You'd say that if you'd just had your legs torn off by a Traykan Beast. Look what you've been through in the last few days. We finally make a connection with home and then it's ripped away from us. We manage to make another enemy who's going to try and hunt us down and destroy us, and on top of that Janeway: It's all right. You can say it. On top of all that, I got a Dear John letter. It wasn't really a surprise. I guess I didn't really expect him to wait for me considering the circumstances. It made me realize that I was using him as a safety net, you know, as a way to avoid becoming involved with someone else. Chakotay: You don't have that safety net any more. Janeway: That's right. Then again, my life is far from uneventful here in the Delta Quadrant. It's not like I would have had a chance to pursue a relationship, even if I had realized I was alone. Chakotay: You're hardly alone, and to my way of thinking, there's still plenty of time. Janeway: Plenty of time. Neelix: Neelix to the ready room. The party's about to begin and there are only two people missing. Janeway: We're on our way.

Hunter: The prey's course has become erratic. I will intercept to kill. Alpha: No. Maintain distance. His ship is damaged. He's injured. Let him bleed. Hunter: This prey is resilient. We will lose the moment. Alpha: The way a creature behaves when it is wounded is the key to it's destruction. Maintain distance. Hunter: Direct hit. Our hull armor is stable. Alpha: His weapons must be weakening. Hunter: The prey is heading for an asteroid belt, vector one six eight point nine. We are losing him. Alpha: He hasn't come here to hide. He's come to make a final stand. Hunter: Tracking. He's holding position above an asteroid and he's left his ship. Alpha: Follow him. Hunter: The prey is scattering our sensors. Alpha: Impressive. He counters out pursuit to the final moment. Hunter: Compensating. Alpha: No. Disengage sensors. Hunter: For what reason? Alpha: I want to take him with my own eyes. Follow. I'll draw his attack. Prepare to target his thoracic crest. Alpha: A flawless kill. Seven: Please remain still so that I can treat your injuries. Thank you. I'm sorry, did that hurt? I'll try to be more careful. Thanks for being a patient patient. Have a pleasant afternoon. This is absurd. Emh: Not at all. Keep going, you're doing fine. Seven: This vernacular is not applicable to my duties on Voyager. Emh: We can tailor the vocabulary to your specific situations a little later. Right now, it's the sentiment that counts. Seven: I don't see the relevance. Emh: I created these exercises three years ago to familiarize myself with the social graces. I found that if I repeated them several times each day, the words became almost second nature. Let's continue. Exercise two, The Workplace Encounter. Kes used to help me with this one. Now I'll be the nurse, you be the doctor. Seven: Please hand me the hypospray. Emh: Of course, Doctor, immediately. Seven: Thank you. Looks at instrument. Emh: No, no, don't read that part, only the dialogue. Seven: Excuse me, nurse. This is the wrong hypospray. Would you mind finding the correct one. Emh: Not at all. Seven: Thank you. Did I mention you look lovely today? Emh: Oh, doctor, you're so charming. Seven: This lesson is terminated. Emh: I know it's awkward. For me, it was even painful, but you'll find the rewards are well worth the effort. Seven: Rewards? Emh: The ability to put others at ease, make them feel more comfortable around you. You're a lot like me when I was first activated. If I'd had a mentor, things would have gone a lot more smoothly. I'm willing to share my wisdom but, if you're not interested, fine, I'll stick to your physiological maintenance. Seven: I will examine your data. Emh: Oh, good. Pay special attention to exercise seventeen, Bridge Banter for Beginners. Seven: Have a pleasant day. Janeway: Verify. Tuvok: Monotanium hull plating, dicyclic warp signature. The vessel is definitely Hirogen. Chakotay: They're moving to intercept. Paris: Evasive maneuvers? Janeway: No. We need to settle our differences here and now. Hard about, full impulse. Chakotay: Red alert. Kim: They're in visual range. Janeway: On screen. Hail them. Tuvok: No response. Paris: They're closing. Fifty thousand kilometers, forty five, forty. Janeway: Maintain course, Mister Paris. Tuvok: Curious. They are not charging weapons. Paris: They're slowing, sir. Chakotay: Lifesigns? Tuvok: Only one, and it's erratic. Paris: They've stopped, Captain. Their engines just went offline. Chakotay: This could be a trap. Janeway: Harry, run a long range scan. Are there any other Hirogen ships out there? Kim: None. Janeway: Take us within transporter range. Seven: You intend to board their ship? Janeway: Yes. Seven: The Hirogen vessel is a potential threat. We should destroy it. Janeway: Seven, what you call a threat, I call an opportunity to gain knowledge about this species. And in this case, maybe even show some compassion. There seems to be a wounded pilot over there. Seven: Our experience with the Hirogen indicates that compassion would not be reciprocated. Janeway: And all of my experience says we've got to take that chance anyway. Commander. Chakotay: Tuvok, Paris, you're with me. Paris: Looks like there was a fight. Chakotay: Search for the lifesigns. Tuvok: Commander. Chakotay: I'm reading bones, muscle tissue, from at least nine different species. It's all being broken down by some sort of enzyme. Tuvok: Perhaps this is their method of denaturating their prey. Chakotay: Either that or it's dinner. Paris: Looks like somebody lost their helmet. Urgh! Paris: Commander. I'm not picking up any weapon residuals. I'd say he was physically torn apart. Chakotay: I'm picking up the lifesigns. This way. Chakotay: Massive internal bleeding. Let's get him to Sickbay. Chakotay: The data we downloaded from the ship's computer included navigational records. Can you give us a map of this region? Tuvok: The is the Hirogen vessel's flightpath over the past five years. Janeway: They've certainly covered a lot of space. Tuvok: This ship alone has visited over ninety star systems in the last year. Chakotay: I analyzed some of their logs. From what I can tell, this is a hunting species. We saw the skeletal remains from dozens of alien races displayed like trophies. There was also evidence they may be using some of their victims for food. The entire culture seems to be based on the hunt. Social rituals, art, religious beliefs. They're nomadic. Their existence is driven by the pursuit of prey and it's carried them across huge distances. Tuvok: There is no evidence of a home planet. Their ships travel alone or in small groups. On occasion, several will join forces in a multi-pronged attack. Chakotay: Like wolves. Janeway: How's our wolf in Sickbay? Tuvok: Still unconscious, behind a level five forcefield Janeway: You were right, Seven. This species is a threat. But despite the risk of sending an away team, we know a lot more about who we're dealing with now. Seven: You were correct, Captain. It was worth the risk. This time. Janeway: So there's one question remaining. Who's hunting the hunters? Emh: I was trying to remove his body armor to treat the internal injuries when he suddenly regained consciousness. Needless to say he's not happy to be here. Janeway: Can you sedate him? Emh: I've already tried. His immune system neutralizes everything. I could synthesize a more potent compound, but that would take hours. He could be dead by then. His wounds are severe. Janeway: Your crewmate is dead, and your ship has been damaged beyond repair. I brought you here to treat your injuries. What happened to your ship? Who attacked you? The first time I met your species it wasn't on the best of terms, but that doesn't mean you and I can't find a way to change that. Alpha: Our prey. Janeway: You were on a hunt? Alpha: Yes. A formidable alien. We captured it two days ago, but it broke free of its restraints, attacked us. Release me. I must continue the hunt. Janeway: Not without your ship, and not in this condition. You'll die without treatment. Let us help you. Janeway: Doctor? Emh: All right. I'm going to enter the forcefield now and start with a few scans of your midsection. You should know I'm a hologram and can't be bent, spindled or mutilated, so don't bother trying. Please lie down. Or remain standing. Chakotay: Captain, we've detected six more Hirogen ships. They're converging on us from all directions. Tuvok: The one in Sickbay may have sent a distress call from his vessel. Janeway: How long do we have? Chakotay: The nearest ship is half a light year away. Four hours at most. Janeway: Tom, analyze their approach pattern. Evade them as long as you can. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: I want to buy the Doctor enough time to treat our hunter. If I gain his confidence, he might call off his friends. Good old-fashioned diplomacy could get us out of this yet. Chakotay: Don't count on it. From what I found in their database, diplomacy isn't a part of their lifestyle. They don't see us as equals. To them, we're simply game. Janeway: It's time we convince them otherwise, or like any other cornered animal, we'll show our teeth. Tuvok: There's been a hull rupture on deck eleven, section three. Damage is minor. It appears a plasma conduit overloaded. Chakotay: Increase power to the structural integrity field. Tuvok: A bulkhead has collapsed in Jefferies tube eighty four. Chakotay: Another overload? Kim: Negative. The plasma network is stable. This wasn't caused by any power surge or system failure. Janeway: Harry, Tuvok, get to deck eleven and check it out. Kim: This was no overload. Tuvok: Indeed. Kim: Commander. Tuvok: It's a dense mixture of DNA and polyfluidic compounds. Tuvok to bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: We may have an intruder aboard. Tuvok: I'm analyzing what could be a sample of its blood. The readings are consistent with species 8472. Janeway: Intruder alert. Bridge to Security, seal off decks ten through twelve. Chakotay: Internal sensors aren't detecting any intruders. Janeway: The last time we ran into this species, it was impervious to our scanners. We'll have to track it visually. Paris: How did it get past our shields? Janeway: We'll worry about that later. You have the bridge, Commander. I'll be on deck eleven. Seven: I've erected a level ten forcefield around Engineering. Torres: Good. Set up secondary forcefields around every hatch, Jefferies tube and conduit leading into this room. I want every one of these consoles secured. Authorized command codes only. I'm going to lock down the warp core. Ensign, realign the dilithium matrix to a frequency of three point six nine Janeway: Report. Seven: Four crewmembers are wounded, two seriously. Janeway: Get them to Sickbay. Seven: Species 8472 accessed engineering through the antimatter injector port. Our phaser fire was insufficient. It attacked us then escaped through Jefferies tube seventeen alpha. Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Tuvok: Tuvok here. Janeway: The intruder just left Engineering. Seal off the area. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: Secure the warp core. Crewwoman: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Seven. Janeway: It would seem that the Hirogen underestimated their latest prey. Seven: You believe they were hunting the creature? Janeway: Yes. When the Borg were fighting Species 8472, did they ever engage in physical combat? Seven: On many occasions. Janeway: Can you recall anything that might help us here? Seven: Each time they boarded a Borg vessel, they went directly to the central power matrix and disabled it. Janeway: The creature was just in Engineering. Didn't touch any of our power systems. Seven: It's obviously adjusted its strategy. Species 8472 is devious and highly intelligent. It will seek the most efficient means of destroying us. Janeway: Let's get to Sickbay. Emh: She's going to be just fine, Captain. Janeway: Is it alone? Have you seen any others like it? Alpha: Why? Chakotay: Six months ago, this species invaded our galaxy with thousands of ships. We were barely able to fight them off. Janeway: Your prey could indicate another invasion. If it does, we're all in trouble. How many ships have you seen? Alpha: Only one. Damaged. We tracked it across fifty light years. We thought that we had killed the creature, but this prey is unlike any other. It has many lives. Lower the forcefield and I will finish the hunt. Seven: Your attempt to destroy it will fail. Species 8472 is highly resistant to all technology. All but one. Borg nanoprobes. Alpha: Nanoprobes? Chakotay: Microscopic weapons that can attack the species on a cellular level. We've tried it before and it worked. Seven: I'll modify the phaser rifles to fire nanoprobe discharges. Janeway: I want you to incapacitate the creature, not kill it. Can you make that modification? Seven: Yes, but it would require additional time. We must stop it as soon as possible. Alpha: She's right. Janeway: Not until we know why it returned. Seven: You will be exposing this crew to unnecessary risk. Janeway: I disagree. Seven: Captain. Janeway: You have your orders, Seven. Six of your vessels will be here in under four hours. I hope you'll let them know that we saved your life and that we want to avoid any further conflict with your people. Alpha: Let me resume the hunt, and I will grant your request. Chakotay: We have enough problems on this ship as it is without him running around. Alpha: I spent six months studying this prey's behavior. I know how to track him. Let me continue, or I will have the others destroy you. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Tuvok: We're holding position in section ninety four, but the creature has accessed the environmental controls. Deck eleven is losing life support. Artificial gravity has also been compromised. Janeway: Evacuate the deck. Janeway: Regroup on deck ten. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Alpha: He's trying to barricade himself. He did the same thing to us. Janeway: You want to be part of the hunt? Now's your chance. He'll be under your supervision, Commander. If he steps out of line, shoot him. Alpha: My weapon. Chakotay: Temperature gradient. Paris: Affirmative. Chakotay: Atmospheric recyclers. Paris: Engaged. Chakotay: Is your body armor designed to handle rapid pressure fluctuations? Alpha: It can defeat most hostile environments. I once tracked a silicon-based lifeform through the neutronium mantle of a collapsed star. Paris: I once tracked a mouse through Jefferies tube thirty two. Chakotay: Chakotay to Tuvok. We're ready to go. Tuvok: As are we. Chakotay: Proceed to deck eleven, Keep you comm. links open. Tuvok: Understood. Activate the nanoprobe charges. Seven: Level five should be sufficient to stun the creature. Chakotay: Depressurizing hatch. Magnetize. Chakotay: Maintain your position. Alpha: He's here. Chakotay: I said maintain your position. This is my hunt. I'm at point. Alpha: My knowledge of this prey is superior you yours. Chakotay: But you're on unfamiliar terrain. I know this ship, you don't. Alpha: The prey will likely attack the man at point. You would not survive. Chakotay: I'll take that chance. Now fall back. Paris: No problem. I'll take up the rear. Tuvok: You missed. Since species 8472 invaded the ship, you've become increasingly agitated. Seven: They were the only species to offer true resistance to the Borg. They destroyed millions of drones, hundreds of our worlds. I have reason to be agitated. Paris: What is it? Alpha: It's blood. The prey is wounded. Chakotay: This corridor ends about twenty meters ahead. Paris: The only thing down there is Deflector Control. It's got nowhere to run. Alpha: He's not planning to run. He's waiting. He'll attempt to slip around us, attack from behind. Chakotay: Chakotay to Tuvok. Tuvok: Tuvok here. Chakotay: We've cornered the intruder in section fifty nine. Tuvok: On our way. Chakotay: It's hurt. Alpha: This prey is resilient. He will strike with his dying breath. We must kill him now. Chakotay: That may not be necessary. Hold your fire. I said, lower your weapon. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, I must ask you to exchange your spatula for a phaser rifle. Neelix: Sure. Tuvok: We have two intruders on board and six Hirogen vessels on the way. I need additional security personnel. Neelix: Right away, sir. What's my assignment? Tuvok: Join the security detail on deck ten, section twelve. You'll receive further instructions then. I'll expect tactical updates every twenty minutes. Neelix: Lieutenant? Are you all right? Tuvok: You have your orders. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: The Hirogen's back in Sickbay, within a forcefield. Janeway: And Species 8472? Chakotay: We've established a security perimeter. Basically, we've turned this entire section into a brig. Janeway: As an added precaution, have B'Elanna start working on a way to lock onto the creature, in case we have to beam it off the ship. You mentioned it was injured. In what way? Emh: I wish I could tell you for certain. It's body is generating some sort of bioelectric field making it impossible to scan, so I could only make a visual diagnosis. It's conscious but immobile. Its epidermis displays any number of injuries, punctures, energy burns. And its demeanor is that of a wounded animal. Janeway: The Hirogen said they've been chasing it for several months. Is there anything you can do? Emh: I don't know enough about it's physiognomy to treat it's surface wounds, let alone any internal damage. Frankly, I'm at a loss. Paris: Captain, just before we cornered it, Species 8472 accessed Deflector Control from this panel. Seven: I've analyzed the transmission protocols. It was attempting to open a singularity into it's realm, but it failed. Janeway: It was trying to get home. Paris: That's what it looks like. Janeway: Tuvok? Tuvok: The creature initiated telepathic contact with me. Janeway: What's it saying? Tuvok: It's ship was damaged during the conflict with the Borg. When the other members of its species retreated into fluidic space, it was left behind. It has been trapped in the Delta Quadrant ever since. Alone, pursued by Hirogen hunting parties. It has no desire for further conflict. It only wants to return to its domain. It is dying, Captain. Janeway: You have nothing to be afraid of. We're going to help you get back to your realm. Does it understand? Tuvok: It does. Janeway: It will take time to open a singularity and we have no way of treating your injuries, but if there's anything you can tell us about your Tuvok: It has lost consciousness. Our telepathic link has been severed. Alpha: Where is my prey? Janeway: Lying at the end of a corridor on deck eleven. Nearly dead, thanks to you. Alpha: Take me to it. Janeway: No. Alpha: Take me to it! Janeway: In less than three hours, your ships will arrive. By that time, Species 8472 will no longer be on Voyager. Alpha: What do you mean? Janeway: I'm sending it back where it came from. Alpha: Surrender the creature to me and you will not be harmed. Janeway: This isn't a hunt, it's a slaughter, and I'm calling it off right now. Alpha: We will not be denied our prey. Give us the creature, or your crew will take its place. Janeway: Tuvok. Janeway: Have Seven of Nine report to my ready room. Tuvok: You intend to ask her to open a rift into 8472's realm. Janeway: She's the only one on board who knows how. Tuvok: Given her feelings towards the species, she may not want to cooperate. Janeway: We'll see. Seven: You wish to see me, Captain? Janeway: I've made a decision about Species 8472. I'm going to return it to fluidic space. In order to do that, I need you to open a quantum singularity. Seven: I don't believe that is a prudent course of action. Janeway: I realize it may be difficult for you to help save this creature's life, but part of becoming human is learning to have compassion for those who are suffering, even when they're your bitter enemies. Seven: Why? Janeway: I remember when I was a Lieutenant. It was during a Cardassian border conflict. My away team was cut off while we were defending a Federation outpost. We'd been exchanging phaser fire with a group of Cardassians for about three days. A stalemate. One night, during a break in the fighting, we could hear this low moaning sound coming from somewhere in the brush. We knew that none of our people were out there, so it had to be a wounded Cardassian. You have to understand, we'd been killing each other for weeks on this planet. It was brutal. But our commanding officer decided that we couldn't just sit there and listen to that poor man suffer. So he ordered me and an Ensign to crawl out there and bring that Cardassian back to our camp. I thought he was crazy. He was risking our lives for someone who would have shot us without hesitation. But we did it, and the Cardassian lived. Three days later we secured the outpost. It was a major victory. We were all decorated by Starfleet Command. But in retrospect, the thing I'm most proud of was the night we saved that man's life. Seven: Explain. Janeway: A single act of compassion can put you in touch with your own humanity. Seven: You are trying to justify your present decision. Janeway: No, I'm trying to help you see this as an opportunity to grow. I know you don't want to do it, Seven, but I'm telling you as your Captain, and as your friend, you won't regret it. Seven: No. Your decision is tactically unsound. We will be surrounded by Hirogen ships in approximately two hours. If we do not surrender the creature, they will destroy us. A lesson in compassion will do me little good if I am dead. Janeway: It is wrong to sacrifice another being to save our own lives. Seven: I have observed that you have been willing to sacrifice your own life to save the lives of your crew. Janeway: Yes, but that's different. That was my choice. This creature does not have a choice. Seven: It invaded our ship, put our lives at risk to save its own. In my view, it has already forfeited its freedom. Janeway: I'm giving you an order. Report to Deflector Control and begin working on creating a singularity. Seven: I will not comply. I have agreed to remain on Voyager. I have agreed to function as a member of your crew. But I will not be a willing participant in my own destruction or the destruction of this ship. Janeway: Objection noted. We'll do this without you. Seven: You will fail. Janeway: And you have just crossed the line. End of debate. Report to the Cargo Bay and remain there until this is over. Is that understood? Kim: Shields down to eighty four percent. Janeway: Return fire. Paris: Three more ships are closing from port and starboard. All escape trajectories have been cut off. Tuvok: Our weapons are having little effect on their hull plating. I'm scanning for weaknesses in the molecular structure. Kim: Shields at seventy nine percent. Tuvok: They are hailing us. Janeway: Better late than never. Open a channel. Hirogen: You've taken our prey and one of our hunters. Surrender them. Janeway: Call off your attack and we'll return your crewman. As for your prey, it's under our protection now. Hirogen: It belongs to us. Janeway: It belongs to no one. Now order your ships to withdraw and this can end peacefully. Tuvok: All vessels are firing. Chakotay: Any luck finding a crack in their armor? Tuvok: Not yet. Emh: Doctor to bridge. Species 8472 appears to be regenerating. I'm no exobiologist, but I'd say this fellow is becoming highly agitated. Chakotay: It could be sensing the Hirogen attack. Janeway: Doctor, can you sedate it? Emh: I believe so, but I'll need another dose of Borg nanoprobes. Janeway: Stand by. Bridge to Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes. Janeway: Report to deck eleven immediately with a supply of nanoprobes. Seven: Understood. Chakotay: B'Elanna, how's it going down there? Torres: Transporters are ready. I can establish a lock on the creature at any time, but I still haven't duplicated the deflector protocols to open a singularity. Chakotay: How long? Torres: I need another hour, maybe two. Paris: Captain, we can outmaneuver the Hirogen ships for a few more minutes, but beyond that Kim: Direct hit to the EPS manifold. Main power just went down. Tuvok: Forcefields on all decks are offline. Chakotay: Switch to auxiliary power. Kim: Done. Forcefields have been restored but I don't know how long they'll hold. Janeway: Bridge to Doctor. Report. Emh: It's all right, Captain. The creature is contained. Chakotay: Bridge to Sickbay. Security, respond. Chakotay: Security, dispatch teams to deck five. The Hirogen may be loose. Paris: Direct hit to our port nacelle. Now they've taken out our starboard nacelle. Janeway: They've crippled us. Tuvok, divert warp power to the phaser banks. Maybe that'll help us penetrate their hull plating. Emh: The nanoprobes? Seven: Armed and ready. Emh: Not a moment too soon. Alpha: Give me the prey. Seven: Lower your weapon or I will destroy you. Alpha: I don't think you will. You want me to destroy this creature. I saw it on your face earlier in the medical bay. It's a look I've seen a thousand times. Stand aside. Emh: What are you doing? Kim: Captain, someone's accessing the transporter system from deck five. Janeway: Lock them out. Kim: I can't. They're overriding my commands with Borg encryption codes. Janeway: Report, Mister Kim. Kim: 8472 and the Hirogen, they've been beamed to one of the attacking ships. Tuvok: All six vessels are moving away at high warp. Janeway: Tom, can we pursue? Paris: I'm sorry, Captain. Warp engines are still offline. Janeway: Resume our previous course, full impulse. Chakotay: Seven of Nine. Janeway: Seven of Nine. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51652.3. It's been twelve hours, and our sensors show no sign of any Hirogen vessels. But their people are scattered throughout this region, and something tells me that the hunt for Voyager is far from over. Seven: Captain. Janeway: Step down, please. Seven, you disobeyed my direct orders, and as a result you condemned a sentient being to its death. Seven: By doing so, I also diverted the Hirogen attack. An attack which would have destroyed us. Janeway: Maybe not. In any case, the decision wasn't yours to make. Seven: The creature broke through the forcefield. I had no choice. Janeway: I didn't come here to debate your decision. I came here to inform you of the consequences. When you first came to Voyager, I decided to grant you the same liberties and freedoms of any crew member, because I wanted you to be a part of this family. And I've been willing to accommodate your unique way of doing things, even when you rubbed somebody the wrong way or violated protocol. But this time, I can't accommodate you. From this point forward, you will no longer have access to any primary systems on this ship. Not without my direct authorisation. If you attempt to circumvent me, I'll throw you in the Brig. I still need your expertise in the Astrometrics lab if you're willing. If not, you can spend your time here in the Cargo Bay. Is that understood? Seven: Yes. Seven: It is puzzling. Janeway: What's that? Seven: You made me into an individual. You encouraged me to stop thinking like a member of the Collective, to cultivate my independence and my humanity. But when I try to assert that independence I am punished. Janeway: Individuality has its limits, especially on a starship where there's a command structure. Seven: I believe that you are punishing me because I do not think the way you do. Because I am not becoming more like you. You claim to respect my individuality, but in fact you are frightened by it. Janeway: As you were.

Janeway: P'tahk! Prepare to meet your ancestors! Janeway: This battle is yours today, but the House of Mo'kai will never yield. Karr: Doh-cha scree! Move away, coward. I want to make this kill. Janeway: You should have killed me when my back was turned. Karr: I want to see the fear in your eyes. Janeway: Look closely and you'll see your own destruction. Karr: You are resilient prey. Janeway: I'm no one's prey. Karr: You are mine, now and after death. Sickbay, this is Holodeck two. Janeway requires medical assistance. Medic: She'll survive. Karr: What about her neural interface? Medic: Stable. Karr: Are you sure? There were times when she seemed aware of who she is. Medic: Impossible. I was monitoring the crew during the entire simulation. She believes she's whoever we program her to be. Shall I return her to the Klingon simulation? Karr: No. Bring her to Holodeck one. I've found another program I want to try. A conflict that took place on her own planet. It should prove stimulating. Seven: Wrong, would it be wrong to kiss? Seeing I feel like this, would it be wrong to try? Wrong, would it be wrong to stay, here in your arms this way, under this starry sky? If it is wrong Janeway: Welcome to Le Coeur de Lion. I'm Katrine. The first round is with my compliments, on one condition. You leave the war outside. More escargot for table nine. Jacques, no lady tonight? Oh, we'll have to see what we can do about that. Janeway: Forgive my neglecting you. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, my latest adventure in Paris. Janeway: I'm afraid I'll have to neglect you again. Excuse me. Tuvok: That's him. Janeway: Our new Kommandant? Tuvok: British intelligence believes he's been sent here to oversee the occupation of the city. Janeway: What's his history? Tuvok: He served with Rommel in North Africa and Schmidt in Poland. He is a formidable military strategist, notorious for his cruelty. Janeway: Ah. Let's make him feel at home. Send him a bottle of Chateau LaTour. My compliments. Tuvok: The '29? Janeway: I hate to waste good wine. Give him the '36. Tuvok: As you wish. Seven: And I have waited so long. It must be right. It can't be wrong. Seven: Merci. Be generous to Claude this evening. Without him, my voice is empty. Good evening. Turanj: Sing. Seven: Tonight's performance is over. Return tomorrow. Turanj: Now. Seven: Remove your hand. Turanj: Obey me, or I will hunt you down and your bones will adorn the bulkhead of my ship. Karr: Sit down and play the game. In this setting, we have no ships. We are an ancient race of soldiers intent upon conquering this world. Play the game. Janeway: Now, now, what's this? Mademoiselle LeNeuf will be happy to sing another song. Just give her a few minutes to freshen up. Seven: It's late. Janeway: Freshen up. Seven: Very well. Janeway: Kommandant Karr. Karr: You know me. Janeway: Your reputation precedes you. I'm Katrine. Le Coeur de Lion is my establishment. The first round is with my compliments, on one condition. You leave the war outside. Karr: I wish to speak with her. Alone. Janeway: Charming gentleman. Karr: He is disoriented. Your world is unfamiliar to him. Janeway: He'll be comfortable soon enough. The arms of France are open to all. Karr: I've heard otherwise. Janeway: What do you mean? Karr: I understand there is opposition to our presence here among your citizens. Janeway: The Resistance? In Paris perhaps. But this is a small city, defenseless. We've learned to be a little more diplomatic. When this war is over we want to remain on good terms with the victor. Karr: Whoever that may be. Janeway: Whoever that may be. Karr: Your city may be defenseless, but it's crucial to the war. Any ground assault into Germany must pass through this province. The Resistance will come here. Janeway: If they do, I'll tell them what I tell everyone. Leave the war outside. Karr: Excellent. Turanj: Kommandant, I've been informed there's a problem in the Engineering section. The warp plasma network has become unstable. Janeway: What's he talking about? Karr: It need not concern you. To the hunt. Janeway: The hunt? Karr: For the Resistance. I shall take great pleasure in tracking them down and making the kill. Janeway: Au revoir. Janeway: How'd we do? Seven: Insufficient for a Saturday night. Twelve hundred forty seven francs and eighty one Reichmarks. Janeway: Well, it should be enough to buy an oscillator to extend the range of our radio. First thing tomorrow morning I want you to take a little trip to the countryside. There's a Monsieur Groleau who has a cottage just past the third bridge. He's got a wine cellar full of vacuum tubes. Tell him we need a high frequency oscillator. Offer him three hundred francs but don't go any higher than five hundred. Seven: We have more pressing needs. Janeway: Such as? Seven: Explosives. We need a launcher that can fire armor piercing grenades. Janeway: Planning on blowing up a German tank? Seven: If necessary. Janeway: We're not trying to build an army here. Seven: Then maybe it's time we did. Three more German battalions have occupied the city and a Panzer division is holding position eleven kilometers away. When the Americans arrive and the fighting begins, I don't intend to be standing next to a piano singing Moonlight Becomes You. Janeway: The Americans won't even be able to approach this city without our help. And if they can't liberate Sainte Claire the assault into Germany could fail. We need to be gathering information about German troop movements and relaying it to Allied Command. Seven: I'm tired of lighting the Nazi's cigarettes and laughing at their jokes. We should be helping the Allies by assassinating these pigs. Janeway: The moment we start shooting we expose ourselves. Right now, no one suspects us. And I am not about to risk our entire operation because you've suddenly developed a nervous trigger finger. Seven: That is your opinion, Madame. Janeway: I'm the leader of the movement here and right now my opinion is the only one that counts, so get the oscillator. I think we're all feeling the strain. It's been a hard four years. But believe me, the Third Reich is feeling it too. We just have to hang on a little while longer. Word from the Americans is going to come any day. Seven: Perhaps. Tuvok: Again? Janeway: Again. Why is she so adamant? What she's proposing would put us all at risk. Tuvok: Maybe that's her intention. Janeway: If you have suspicions, my old friend, let's hear them. Tuvok: From the beginning, she's been argumentative, and on more than a few occasions she's disobeyed your direct orders. Janeway: She's headstrong. Typical of the underground. Tuvok: Nevertheless, her behavior has threatened our identities. Janeway: She's the only munitions expert we have, and she can carry a tune. We need her. Let's keep our eye on her. Have her followed for the next few days. If she is a Nazi infiltrator, we'll have to eliminate her. Neelix: Bonjour, madame. Woman: Bonjour. Neelix: Put it on my account. Guten Tag. Turanj: You! Halt! Turanj: Get off your vehicle. What are you transporting? Neelix: Nothing but the very essentials of life. Turanj: Proceed to your destination. Neelix: That I will. That I most certainly will. Turanj: If the choice were mine, you would already be dead. Radio: More report rain. It's currently fifty nine degrees in Dover with low fog across the Channel. Temperatures are expected to range from a low of forty five degrees to Torres: Damn, I'm missing it. Tuvok: Our most recent intelligence shows two German divisions here and here. Janeway: How recent is this intelligence? Tuvok: Forty eight hours. Janeway: Old news. Radio: I'm Reginald Smith and you're listening to the British Radio Network. This report will repeat in Torres: Forty five seconds. Radio: Forty five seconds. Torres: Here's to English precision. Janeway: We're closed. Neelix: Morning delivery. Janeway: You're late. What happened? Neelix: Oh, just a tete-a-tete with a member of the Master Race. Janeway: That's the second time this week. Sounds like they're increasing their patrols. Tuvok: Perhaps it's time we chose another courier. Our baker is arousing suspicion. Neelix: There's no need to worry. I change my route every day, and I've become quite friendly with most of the Gestapo. They just love my strudel. Radio: A kind thank you to Jazzy McNulty and his Band. Now, the weather for today, September the twenty second, nineteen forty four. In London skies are gray, with a strong chance of afternoon rain. Temperatures will range from a low of fifty two degrees to a high of seventy one. The northern coast reports heavy rain and strong winds, ocean swells reaching four feet. Devonshire, Hertfordshire and Summershire all report rain. It's currently fifty nine degrees in Dover with low fog across the Channel. Temperatures are expected to range from a low of forty five degrees to a high of sixty three. I am Reginald Smith and you are listening Torres: Got it. Let's see the code key. Janeway: Every fifth letter, every third vowel. Use the Sunday decryption sequence. A, H, C. Straight from Allied High Command. Neelix: It must be important. Tuvok: All messages regarding the war are important. It's only a matter of degree. Neelix: I suppose you're right, but do you have to be so logical about everything? Tuvok: In any covert battle, logic is a potent weapon. You might try it sometime. Janeway: American Fourth Infantry to invade Sainte Claire Tuesday dawn. Neelix: That's two days from now. Janeway: Require assistance. Disable enemy communications. End message. Tuvok: The German radio transmitter is housed at their headquarters. Neelix: That building is surrounded by guards. We can't just waltz in there and plant a bomb. Torres: Maybe I can help. Janeway: How? Torres: I'm upset. I need to see my special friend. Even if it means bothering him at the office. Tuvok: A reconnaissance mission. Torres: I'll try to locate the radio, see where the guards are posted, examine the locks. Gather enough information to get us inside. Janeway: It's too dangerous. If you're caught, you'll be tortured for information. Torres: You don't know my friend. He would never do anything to harm his own child. Janeway: Encode a response to Allied Command. Confirm that we've received their message. Tell them we're proceeding according to plan. Guard: Was es ist, Fräulein? Torres: Ich muß mit ihrem Hauptmann sprechen. Guard: Kommen hier. Kapitan: Ever since my days at the university I've admired this painting, and now it's mine. Our fellow officers might prefer gold or land, but for me the greatest prize of war is art. Karr: Trophies of the hunt. But was the hunt fair? Kapitan: Sir? Karr: We entered this city with superior firepower against a weakened prey. Do you really deserve these prizes? Kapitan: We are German. The German people deserve Europe and everything in it. Karr: Why? Nazi: Sir, you question our destiny? Karr: Of course not. But I want to hear it in your own words. Tell me, why are we the Master Race? Kapitan: Our blood is pure. Our people lived and hunted on this land for a thousand years before the degenerate races brought their corruption. Europe must be purified. Karr: You yourself, are you stronger than these degenerate races? More cunning? Kapitan: Yes, of course. Karr: And if you were alone without an army supporting you, would you continue the hunt? If your prey were armed instead of defenseless, what then? Kapitan: I, Colonel, I, I don't know what you're trying Karr: You are superior to no one! Never underestimate your prey or disrespect its abilities. If you do, you will become the hunted. When the opposing army invades this city, remember my words. Karr: Enter. Kapitan: Brigitte. Torres: I'm sorry, I know I'm not supposed to come here. Don't blame him. I told him that I was ill and I had to see you. Karr: I will leave you two alone. Kapitan: Heil Hitler! Kapitan: It's all right, the Colonel is in a strange mood today. Kapitan: What's wrong? Is it our child? Torres: I don't know. I was dizzy. Kapitan: I'll call the doctor. Torres: No. I feel better now. Maybe I just needed to see you. Why haven't you shown me this place before? Kapitan: I didn't want your neighbors to see you coming here. They make it difficult enough, knowing we're together. Torres: I don't care what they think. It's beautiful. Kapitan: Praxiteles, master sculptor of ancient Greece. There are only three like this in all of Europe. Torres: So many wonderful things. Turanj: The Kommandant would have us continue this simulation until we rot. It's pointless. We should begin the hunt. He believes we must learn more about our prey, but I have learned enough. Ready your weapon. Avoid the cranium. Seven: This way. Neelix: But the message. Seven: There's no time! Turanj: Computer, exit holodeck. We'll take them to the medical bay. Medic: This neural interface has been damaged. Emh: That's because it took a direct hit when one of your bullets grazed the base of her skull. Medic: I'll provide you with another. Installl it. Emh: Not until I've repaired her injuries. Medic: How long? Emh: She has two fractured vertebrae and a punctured lung. Another hour at least. Medic: Him? Emh: I've stabilized his vital systems, but he still has bullet fragments lodged in his shoulder. Medic: I will treat him. Emh: This time you might do a better job repairing the muscle lacerations. The last crewmember you treated was brought back in with internal bleeding. Medic: Your crew is fragile. They fall too easily. Emh: What do you expect? They've been stabbed, shot, beaten, phasered and bat'lethed over the past three weeks. Their bodies weren't designed for this kind of punishment. Karr: What happened? Medic: These prey were hunted by Turanj. Their injuries are severe. Emh: You assured me that your people would avoid causing serious head injuries. Another centimeter and the bullet would have penetrated her brain. If you can't keep your people under control, then you should put an end to this blood sport. Karr: The simulations will continue. Emh: At least activate the holodeck safety protocols. Karr: No. Emh: It'll prevent life-threatening injuries for your people as well. Karr: It will also eliminate the challenge. Emh: I have had twenty eight wounded and one fatality in the past twelve hours. Even I can't keep up with that level of triage. Karr: You will keep up or they will die. Their lives are in your hands, Doctor. Don't fail them. When that one is ready, place him in holodeck two. Let's see how he fares with the Klingons. Medic: What about her? Karr: Send her back to holodeck one. I like her voice. Karr: Progress? Kim: By cutting through the bulkheads on decks four, five and six we've been able to expand both holodeck grids by five thousand square meters. Karr: More. Kim: I can't give you any more. Not without compromising Voyager's primary systems. Karr: Then compromise them. Kim: Look, holodecks require a tremendous amount of energy. I've already rerouted power from all nonessential systems. Anything more, and we'll start losing propulsion, deflectors, even life support. Karr: I'll transfer a supply of power nodules from my vessel. Integrate them into your systems. I want to expand the holo-projectors into all surrounding sections. Replicate enough emitters for the task. Kim: Yes, sir. Kim: The holo-emitters in this corridor are stable. Let's start working on section nineteen. But first, tell the guard to escort you to Engineering. That we need more equipment. Specifically, a type three isolinear emitter. If he gives you any trouble, say I can't complete the assignment without it. Ashmore: We need an isolinear emitter from Engineering. Emh: Ensign, how did I get here? Kim: I transferred you here, using the new emitters in this section. Emh: I assume you've got a plan? Kim: Half a plan. Emh: Let's hear it. Kim: Before we can retake the ship, we've got to get the crew back. That means disabling the neural interfaces. Emh: Easier said than done. The great Hunters are everywhere you turn. Kim: Don't worry, I think I've found a way to tap into the Sickbay diagnostic console. The only catch is Kim: Standby with the emitter. I'm almost done here. Emh: The catch, Ensign? Kim: Somebody's got to be inside the holodeck to engage the bridge control relays. Emh: We're short-handed. Kim: I know. Emh: Well, we've got a Borg on board, don't we? Maybe we can put her to good use. Karr: I've been studying Voyager's database looking for our next simulation. There are many to choose from. These people have a violent history. I believe I've found a worthy prey. The Borg. When World War Two is over, we will recreate a notorious battle known as Wolf 359. Turanj: I look forward to it. Karr: I thought you might. But if you continue to disobey me, this is one hunt you will never see. You nearly destroyed two of my favorite prey. You were careless. Turanj: I've become impatient. We penetrated this vessel, overcame their defenses, and in the moment of the kill, you forced us to stop. Now we play these incessant games. It's time we took our trophies and moved on. Karr: Your lust for the kill has blinded you, like many young hunters. If you took the time to study your prey, to understand its behavior, you might learn something. Turanj: There is nothing to be learned. Karr: You're wrong. Each prey exposes us to another way of life and makes us re-evaluate our own. Have you considered our future? What would become of us when we have hunted this territory to exhaustion? Turanj: We will travel to another part of space, search for new prey, as we have always done. Karr: A way of life that hasn't changed for a thousand years. Turanj: Why should it? Karr: Species that don't change, die. We've lost our way. We've allowed our predatory instincts to dominate us. We disperse ourselves throughout the quadrant, sending ships in all directions. We've become a solitary race, isolated. We've spread ourselves too thin. We're no longer a culture. We have no identity. In another thousand years, no one will remember the name Hirogen. Our people must come back together, combine forces, rebuild our civilization. Turanj: What of the hunt? Karr: The Hunt will always continue, but in a new way. I intend to transform this ship into a vast simulation, populated with a varied and endless supply of prey. In time, this technology can be duplicated for other Hirogen. These holodecks will allow us to hold onto our past, while we face the future. Turanj: Even if I were persuaded, others wouldn't be. Karr: Then you are with me? I must continue my research. I'll see you tomorrow on holodeck one. The Americans are due to invade. Emh: Remain calm and stay quiet. There's a Hirogen working in the bio-lab. He might hear us. What's the last thing you remember? Seven: An attack. Hirogen vessels. They breached our hull and boarded the ship. I was in a phaser fight on deck three. I was struck several times. That's all I remember. Emh: Then you have no memory of the simulations in the holodeck? Seven: None. Emh: The neural interface must be circumventing your memory centers. Seven: Neural interface? Emh: It's a subdermal transmitter that links your neocortex to the holodeck. In essence, it makes you believe you're a character within the program. Seven: Why am I in Sickbay? Emh: You were wounded in a simulation. It's my job to patch you all up and send you back in. Half the crew is under lock and key. The rest are fighting for their lives on the holodeck. This has been going on for nineteen days. Dozens of battle scenarios, one more brutal than the last. You should see what a mess you were after the Crusades. Seven: Will I be sent into another simulation? Emh: Yes, but this time with an advantage. I have found a way to disable the interface by remodulating one of your Borg implants to emit a jamming signal. Once the Hirogen have brought you back to the holodeck, the jamming signal will activate within seconds. Seven: My objective? Emh: You mind a control panel inside the holodeck and engage the bridge access relays. That will enable Ensign Kim and me to deactivate all the neural interfaces. After Captain Janeway and the crew regain awareness, you can work with them to mount a resistance against the Hirogen. Seven: What simulation will I be entering? Emh: World War Two. A twentieth century Earth conflict. Do you know anything about it? Seven: Nothing. Emh: That could be a problem. Once the interface is disabled, you won't remember anything about your role in the simulation. Think of it as a new social setting. Do your best to fit in. Medic: This is the last neural interface. When you've finished with her, you'll help me replicate more. Emh: I have to sedate you now. Seven: That old black magic has me in it's spell. That old black magic that you weave so well. Those icy fingers up and down my spine. The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet Seven: I must discontinue this activity. I am not well. Karr: If the entertainment is over, I'll be going. Janeway: Stay right there, Kommandant. I'm sure she's fine. Let me talk to her. Janeway: What's wrong? Seven: I require a glass of water. Janeway: Make it a quick one. I promised the Kommandant you'd be singing till midnight. I want to get a lot of information out of him tonight. Seven: I am ill. Janeway: Look, I don't care if you're dying. Get back out there. Seven: I won't. Janeway: Maybe you're right about her. Tuvok: The evidence is increasing. She was present today when our courier was shot down in the street, yet somehow, she was unharmed. And now, on the eve of our liberation, she becomes uncooperative. Janeway: Leave this to me. Paris: Captain? Chakotay: At ease. What's the word? Paris: There is no word. At least not from the Resistance in Sainte Claire. Chakotay: Then we won't get any support from inside the city. Paris: You may be underestimating the good citizens of Sainte Claire. I spent a summer there when I was eighteen. Chakotay: Let me guess. You ate a few snails, fell in love with a local girl and became an expert on the city? Paris: Ah, well, yeah, pretty much like that. Chakotay: I see. Paris: But believe me, Captain, those people love their town. They'll fight for it and die for it. Don't count them out yet. Chakotay: All right, but I won't count them in, either. We continue as planned. An assault from the north at first light. So, who was the mademoiselle? Paris: Her name was Brigitte. Great gams. One hell of a temper. Chakotay: Sounds like your kind of girl. Paris: August 29, 1936, 12: 17 p.m. That's when my train pulled out of Sainte Claire. That's the last time I saw her. We wrote to each other every week for three years. Then the war broke out and I never heard from her again. Chakotay: Sainte Claire's not a big place. She shouldn't be too hard to find. Paris: I'm counting on it. Janeway: You'll maintain position here, twenty meters from the front doors. Arm yourself with a submachine gun and watch for any sign of trouble. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: Now, we've observed a twenty second break in the guard rotation at four fifteen a.m. That should you and me enough time to enter the building through the storm window on the eastern wall. Torres: When I was there yesterday I saw guards posted at all three stairways. You'll have to reach the second floor through the elevator shaft. The command post is in the main gallery at the end of the hall. Janeway: Once inside, we plant the charges, blow the transmitter. You'll remain here. If something goes wrong and we're caught, destroy all evidence of the Underground. Our contact list, decryption codes, everything. Torres: Right. Janeway: We leave in one hour. Janeway: This won't make much of a bang. You forgot to connect the detonator. Seven: I will correct the error. Janeway: It's lucky I found your little error. It might have undermined our mission. Are you having second thoughts about tonight? Seven: No. Janeway: Good, because I don't want any more mistakes. Seven: There won't be any. Janeway: Let's hope not. Emh: We've got to stop meeting like this. Kim: I managed to grab a quick scan of holodeck one, and it looks like Seven of Nine is on the move. Are you ready in Sickbay? Emh: My Hirogen taskmaster is working in the bio-lab. I'll have access to the medical console for another twenty minutes at least. Kim: That'll give me enough time to get to the bridge. (The EMH vanishes and two Hirogen enter.) Kim: Good afternoon. Young Hirogen: What are you doing in here? Kim: Trying to get the replicator system back online. Unless you prefer the emergency rations? Personally, I'm getting tired of synthetic protein. You're supposed to be the finest hunters in the quadrant, why don't you find us something a little more tasty? Is something wrong? Young Hirogen: An unauthorized transmission was sent from this room. Kim: What kind of transmission? Young Hirogen: I don't know. Maybe you can tell me. Kim: Well, I was trying to re-route power from the main computer to the replicators. Of course. I must have tripped a communications subroutine. Sorry about that. Didn't mean to worry you. Your people have damaged just about every system on this vessel. Accidents are bound to happen. Now, if you don't mind, I'm due on the bridge. Young Hirogen: Show it to me. Kim: What? Young Hirogen: I want to see this subroutine. Show me what you were doing when the accident occurred. Kim: Forget it. I don't have time. Young Hirogen: Do as I say. Kim: All right! But you'd better call the bridge. Tell your superior I'm going to be late, that I'm working under your orders now, not his. Go ahead, make the call. I don't want to take the blame for this. Young Hirogen: Report to the bridge. Kim: Thanks. Janeway: Set the charges here, here and there. This looks like a message from one of their reconnaissance teams. Janeway: These must be instructions for troop deployments. The Germans must be taking up new positions outside the city. It looks like they're mobilizing more troops than our sources originally expected. Janeway: They're moving armored units into the valley. They must know the Americans are coming. We've got to warn them somehow. What are you doing? You haven't set the charges. What is that? Seven: I believe it is a transmitter. I'm attempting to disable it. Janeway: You're sending a message to the Nazis. Seven: No. Janeway: Step away, or I'll kill you. Medic: What are you doing? Emh: Er, nothing. Just running a diagnostic. Medic: You've accessed the neural interface controls. Stop it immediately. Janeway: I told you no more mistakes. You've just made your last one. Janeway: Ow! Seven? Seven: Captain. Neelix: Listen. A targ, just beyond that ridge. Karr: You would hunt down a simple beast even in the midst of our enemies? Neelix: There is no enemy as great as hunger. Karr: Why am I being interrupted? Medic: The holographic Doctor, he's disabled their Captain's interface. Karr: How? Medic: I don't know, but I can't re-establish the link. Karr: Send a team Karr: To holodeck one. Remove her from the simulation. Seven: Hirogen hunters. Janeway: Internal scans show thirteen of them on this holodeck. Chakotay: Need a hand, buddy? Captain Miller, Fifth Armored Infantry. Tuvok: Welcome to Sainte Claire. Chakotay: Get me artillery unit Charlie One. Take up positions along this street and start laying down fire. Seven: The Americans have arrived. Karr: You circumvented our control. How? Kim: Go to hell! Torres: Bobby. Paris: You owe me a postcard. Chakotay: Distance eight hundred yards. Correct for crosswinds. Fire at will. Take cover, boys. Charlie One isn't known for accuracy. Janeway: I can't access the ship's systems Didn't you say this was Nazi headquarters? Seven: I did. Janeway: Then it would stand to reason this building is being targeted. Let's get out of here. Karr: What happened? Kim: There was a simulated explosion on holodeck one. Somehow it blew out the hologrid across three decks. Karr: Is the program still running? Kim: Yes. Tuvok: What is it? Chakotay: It looks like a bunker. Chakotay: All units, listen up. We've just blown the lid off of some kind of secret Nazi compound. Converge on my position. We're going in. Kim: The breach opened the simulation into the surrounding sections. I'm picking up holographic soldiers moving into deck five. Karr: Shut down the holo-emitters until we can regain control. Kim: I can't. The program controls are offline. You wanted a war? Looks like you've got one. Chakotay: Move out. Janeway: Looks like the Hirogen have been busy. This entire section has been equipped with holo-emitters. Let's get to Astrometrics. Seven: There are eighty five Hirogen on board, concentrated on decks two through nine. Janeway: What about the bridge? Seven: Four Hirogen and Ensign Kim. Janeway: At least he's alive. The neural interfaces. You said they're controlled through Sickbay. Seven: Yes. There's only one Hirogen in Sickbay with the Doctor, but the corridors outside are heavily guarded. Janeway: That's our first objective, disable the interfaces. But we'll need help. Seven: We did have allies in the World War Two simulation. The French Resistance. Janeway: It's time we mount a resistance of our own. Kim: The battle was concentrated here, on holodeck one, but the fighting has spilled out onto decks five and six and it looks like a group of holographic Americans is invading deck seven. Karr: Show me the breach in the hologrid. Kim: I've lost the visual link. It was the last active circuit connecting the bridge to the holodecks. There's only one way to stop this. I need to go to Engineering and initiate a power surge across the holo-emitter network. It'll blow out the entire system. Karr: No. That would destroy both the holodecks. Kim: Look, simulation or not, if this battle keeps going we could all be killed. Karr: I want that technology preserved. Turanj: Commander. Karr: Status. Turanj: I was able to reach deck five but holographic forces are massing near the breach. If I'm to get into the holodeck, I'll need help. Karr: Take the hunters from the Klingon simulation. Turanj: When I find Captain Janeway, should I kill her? Karr: No. Bring her to me. Turanj: This is no longer a game. This hunt is real. We should kill the prey. Karr: The Voyager crew must remain alive to make repairs, or we could lose everything. This vessel, it's technology. You said that you understood the importance of what we're doing here. Turanj: I'll get the hunters. Chakotay: We think it's a secret compound the Nazi's built after they took over the city. What I don't understand is how they managed to camouflage it so well. Tuvok: Indeed. We've been scrutinizing German troop movements since the Occupation. We knew nothing of this installlation. Paris: Don't sweat it. Our recon planes missed it too. Any idea what they're hiding in there, Captain? Chakotay: We saw all sorts of scientific equipment. Strange metals, instruments we can't identify. I've relayed the findings to Military Intelligence. They believe this could be an advanced munitions laboratory, designed to build some kind of super-weapon. Paris: We've got to put it out of business. Chakotay: I've already sent three squads in, but the Nazi's are putting up one hell of a fight. I've requested additional troops. Lieutenant, this restaurant will serve as our command post. Set up the transmitter and post guards around the perimeter. Paris: Yes, sir. Chakotay: You've done a bang-up job, but we'll take it from here. Tell your people to lie low, and that the Americans said thanks. Torres: This is our city. We have no intention of lying low. Chakotay: Listen, honey, the time for sneaking messages back and forth is over. This is war, and you aren't soldiers. Tuvok: He's right. We have weapons hidden throughout the city. Brigitte will tell you where they are. Chakotay: Sounds good. Lieutenant, take care of it. Paris: I can see you haven't changed. Torres: Bring me one of those street maps. Most of the guns, we stole from the German army, the explosives we bought on the black market. Paris: We could use both. Torres: Our biggest stockpile is buried here, two meters below the last row of seats of the Cinéma Mystère. You remember it, don't you? Paris: Hmm. I'm No Angel, with Mae West. There's heavy fighting in that area. What's the best way in? Torres: We dug a tunnel that leads directly to the stockpile. Here, I'll show you. Incidentally, we saw Death Takes a Holiday. Paris: It was the Mae West movie, I'm sure of it. She was singing Sister Honky Tonk, and I put my arm around you. And during the courtroom scene, I kissed you. Torres: You know, I think you're right. Paris: I guess the experience wasn't exactly burned into your memory. Torres: Not the movie, but I do remember the kiss. Paris: So, did you get my last letter? Torres: You mean the one asking me to leave France? Paris: Germany was about to invade. I thought you'd be safer back in the States with me. But, I guess you found someone else to take care of you. Torres: There's never been anybody else. Paris: Then who? Torres: He's second in command of the Sainte Claire occupation. The first time he saw me, he said I was pretty. I took advantage of his interest. He doesn't know I'm in the Resistance. The child is his. Paris: I'm sorry. Torres: So am I. Janeway: Hold your fire. Tuvok: Katrine. You survived. Janeway: Are you surprised? Tuvok: Very. Nazi headquarters was destroyed. We assumed you were killed in the explosion. Torres: What is that? Some kind of an escape tunnel? Seven: That's precisely what it is. Chakotay: You're the leader of the local Resistance. Janeway: That's right. Chakotay: Captain Miller, Fifth Armored Infantry. This is Lieutenant Davis. I take it you've seen the German bunker we uncovered? Janeway: I just came from there. Chakotay: We suspect it's a munitions lab. Can you confirm that? Janeway: Yes, a munitions lab. Chakotay: Then this is it. We're calling in an air strike. Contact the RAF. Janeway: Hold on, Captain. There's an easier way to do this with the minimum of casualties. Chakotay: Let's hear it. Janeway: I've located the generator that powers the entire complex. It's heavily guarded, but with your help I can get close enough to set off some explosives. Chakotay: My orders are to blow the entire compound before the Germans send in reinforcements. Janeway: I saw technology in there you can't begin to imagine. Warheads powerful enough to destroy this entire valley if they're accidentally detonated. Call for an air strike, it may be the last call you make. Chakotay: How can you get close enough? Janeway: This tunnel. I've been watching this compound for several months, and I've got a man inside. Paris: The place is crawling with Krauts. Janeway: Yhat's why I need your help. If your men can clear these two corridors it'll give us access to this entryway. Get me there, and I can take care of the rest. Chakotay: C Company, what's there status? Paris: They're holding position about two hundred yards from here. Chakotay: Get them on the horn. You'll lead us into the compound, but I'm coming with you. Janeway: I work better alone. Chakotay: This isn't a request, it's an order. Janeway: Order? Do I look like I'm wearing one of your uniforms? I go alone. Chakotay: I thought you needed our help. I'll be right behind you. Janeway: Even if I manage to disrupt the neural interfaces, we've still got a war to fight. We're going to need something a lot more effective than these old firearms. Seven: I believe I can enhance these weapons using Borg technology, but I'll have to access Cargo Bay two. Janeway: If something goes wrong and I don't succeed, you'll be the only one left who knows what's really going on. Seven: Understood. Tuvok: Have our suspicions been confirmed? Janeway: Suspicions? Tuvok: Is she a collaborator? Janeway: I think we can trust her. Tuvok: Are you certain? Three hours ago you were prepared to put a bullet in her head. Janeway: She's on our side. Tuvok: In your absence, I may be forced to make that determination for myself. Janeway: I've already made it. You're not to harm her. Is that understood? Tuvok: German forces are advancing on our position. Chakotay: Let's give them a warm welcome. Mademoiselle, after you. Emh: Punctured lung, arterial rupture, fracture of the thirteenth vertebra. He needs surgery. Medic: First and second degree burns to the face and neck. Treat him. Emh: His injuries are minor. He can wait. Medic: I said treat him. Emh: This man has massive internal injuries. If I don't operate now, he'll die. Medic: Treat the burns, or I'll deactivate your program. Emh: What kind of physician are you? The first rule of triage states that the critical injuries take priority. Medic: You're rules, not mine. Medic: From now on, leave the wounded prey where they fall. Tend only to our own. Neelix: I'm as dry as the crater at Tarpahk. In the middle of the dry season. When it's dry! Klingon: No! I'm not done! Neelix: Share with your brothers. It's the eve of battle. I may be drunk, but I can still send your soul to the next world and leave your body here to rot. Though from the stench of it, I'd say it's begun to already. Kim: Tom! Paris: Wrong guy. You speak English? Kim: Yeah. I speak English. Paris: American? Kim: I didn't see him coming. You saved my life. Paris: Why are you out of uniform? What Company are you with? Kim: Well, er, I'm a civilian. Paris: In the middle of a battle zone in France? The hell you are. Paris: Go one, I'm right behind you. Look, I don't have time for twenty questions. You say you're an American? All right then. If Betty Grable came around that corner, what part of her would you be staring at? Sorry. Time's up. Kim: Her legs! I'd be staring at her legs. Paris: Bull's-eye. Lucky for you. Chakotay: You're a gung-ho kind of gal, aren't ya? Janeway: Does that bother you? Chakotay: Nope. Just not used to it, that's all. The girls back home are a little different. Janeway: I guess when it comes to my people's safety, this girl tends to get a little gung-ho. Chakotay: Nothing to apologize for. I'm the same way with my men. There's not a day goes by when I don't think to myself, I'm going to get 'em back safely, even if I die trying. Janeway: I know the feeling. We're about to enter some caves that run under the town. Chakotay: Caves? Janeway: We're going to meet our contact there. I should warn you. There are eccentric people who live in the caves, but don't be alarmed. Janeway: Good evening, gentlemen. Neelix: Who are you? How did you get past our battle lines? Janeway: We're friends, allies. Neelix: Sent by what house? Janeway: The house of K'toh-maag. Neelix: K'toh-maag. I never heard of it. Janeway: I'm not surprised. It's a long way from here. Neelix: This battle doesn't concern you. Janeway: Maybe not. But we'd be honored to fight alongside such great warriors. If you prefer, we'll take our weapons elsewhere. Neelix: Wait! I'll consider your request. But first, prove your fortitude. Drink! SanRoh t'patoh Cha! Chakotay: I guess my French is a little rusty. Janeway: Don't drink it. It's twice as strong as whisky. I'll be right back. Neelix: Prove your fortitude, warrior. Drink! Emh: Captain. Is, is it you? Janeway: Yes. We've got to disable the rest of those interfaces. Emh: The controls are routed through the surgical console in Sickbay, but it will take time to disable all of them. Janeway: We don't have time. I'll access the Jefferies tube that runs under that deck plate, set a few charges and blow out the console. Emh: Charges? The Hirogen have seized the armory. Janeway: No problem. I've got all the ammo I need right here. Emh: Holographic explosives? Janeway: With the safety protocols offline, they're as good as the real thing. Neelix: Another of your warriors? Janeway: Yes. Neelix: He's a frail looking thing. Janeway: I'll contact you when I've disabled the rest of the interfaces. In the meantime, stay here. Emh: With the Klingons? Janeway: Believe me, it's peaceful compared to Sainte Claire. Captain. Neelix: Ha! Emh: Please, don't do that. Paris: They've got us outnumbered. Torres: And outgunned. They're setting up a machine gun emplacement across the street. Tuvok: Where have you been? Seven: Obtaining supplies. Tuvok: What is this? Seven: German technology taken from their compound. I can use them to enhance our weapons. Turanj: I've cornered several Voyager crewmen. They've taken refuge in a guarded building. I need three nucleonic charges to penetrate the structure. Karr: Nucleonic charges could damage the holodeck further. Use your hand weapons. Turanj: Then I'll need more hunters. Karr: They're on the way. Janeway: Damn, there's a level nine forcefield around the surgical console. We'll have to go in and shut it down. Chakotay: Forcefield? Janeway: I'll explain later. Set the detonator for five minutes. Medic: Five hunters have been killed in the last hour. You must engage the safety protocols. Karr: Those protocols aren't functioning. Medic: Then I'll need assistance to Medic: Stand by. Medic: You. Janeway: Get him out of here. Chakotay: There are ten pounds of dynamite under the floor set to blow in less than three minutes. Move. Karr: Bridge to Sickbay. Sickbay, respond. Bridge to deck five. Converge on the Sickbay. Seven: We are on the holodeck under attack. You must Turanj: Bridge, this is holodeck one. I have seized the building, and I have found another access to this holodeck. Karr: Seal it. How many captives? Turanj: Four. Their neural interfaces have been disabled. I will make the kill. Karr: No. Karr: They are not prey, they are hostages. I'll need them. Turanj: As you wish. You, help me seal this hatch. Paris: What do you think? A boy or a girl? Seven: It's a holographic projection. Torres: Unfortunately, it's a very good projection. I feel twenty kilos heavier. It even kicks. Tuvok: I don't recognize this program. Paris: I do. He's wearing a Nazi uniform. We're on Earth during the Second World War. Seven: Nazi? Paris: Totalitarian fanatics bent on world conquest. The Borg of their day. No offense. Seven: None taken. Torres: What are you staring at? Kapitan: Get up. You deceived me. Torres: Really? Kapitan: I should've seen through your flirtations. Torres: If you say so. Kapitan: The thought of you carrying my child disgusts me. Torres: You're not the only one. Paris: Look, I don't know what went on between the two of you, but it's obviously over now. Kapitan: I see you're acquainted. Do you find her as attractive as I once did? I'll miss our nights together. Paris: Pig! Turanj: Put the weapon away. Now. Paris: Funny, he doesn't seem like your type. Neelix: Doctor, trouble. Emh: Now what? Neelix: The Klingons are starting to wake up from their nap. Emh: All right, all right, hold on. Neelix: What are you doing? Emh: I've established an interface with holodeck one. I want to monitor what's going on over there in case the crew needs my help. Klingon: Qapla'! Neelix: Uh-oh. What should we do? Emh: Not having a cure for Klingon hangovers, I couldn't tell you. Klingon: The battle has begun. Our plan is to penetrate the enemy's position, cut his forces in half. Neelix: And a very good plan it is. Best of luck with it. Klingon: You will lead us into battle, Great Warrior. Neelix: Maybe I'll just watch from here. Try to offer up some pointers as things develop. Klingon: Sto'Kar! Lead the attack or die here by my hand. Emh: You heard him. Don't argue with the man, run along! I'll reattach any severed limbs. Just don't misplace them. Klingon: You! Cover our flank! Klingon: Qapla'! Neelix: Qapla'. Emh: Tally-ho. Karr: Enter. Leave her. Janeway: I see you've done some redecorating. Karr: Your attempt to retake this vessel was inventive. From the day I seized Voyager, you put up a dauntless fight. But your fight is over now. You're going to help me shut down these simulations and repair the holodecks. Janeway: No. We'll destroy this ship before we surrender it. Karr: Don't threaten me, Captain. I've faced far more intimidating prey than you. If this fight continues, I promise you I will hunt down and kill every member of your crew. Janeway: Well, by then this ship will be damaged beyond repair and there won't be much of a trophy left, will there? Karr: Perhaps I should kill you and find someone who will cooperate. Janeway: Good luck. You'll get the same response from all of them. Karr: You don't realize what's at stake. Janeway: I know what's at stake. Your sick little game. Karr: This is not a game! Janeway: Then what is it? Karr: I'm trying to create a future for my people. Janeway: Future? Karr: I don't expect you to understand. You are prey. Janeway: You underestimate us. Karr: Yes, perhaps I do. Janeway: I'm listening Karr: My people are hunting themselves into extinction. Your holodeck technology might offer us an alternative, a new way of life. Instead of scattering ourselves across the quadrant in pursuit of prey, we could simulate the hunt and give ourselves a chance to rebuild our civilization. Janeway: And confine your killing to holograms? Karr: With the safety protocols offline, the pursuit is just as challenging. Janeway: Oh, I understand what you're trying to do, but then why have you been torturing us? Why have you thrown my crew into one brutal simulation after another? Karr: I've been studying your behavior, as I do with all my prey. But your holodecks allowed me to go further, to explore your culture, your history. I must admit, I've learned a great deal. Janeway: How so? Karr: Your people have faced extinction many times, but you've always managed to avoid it. You seem to recognize the need for change. Janeway: Yes. You've got one of those moments running right now on the holodeck. We called it World War Two. Karr: One of your most difficult eras. And yet you survived. Janeway: It wasn't easy. Karr: You are a resilient species. I admire your cunning. Janeway: Let's end this. I'll call a ceasefire and we can try to contain the damage. I want my ship back, but in return I will give you what you need to create the holodeck technology. It would be cunning for you to agree. Turanj: Synthetic, and undrinkable. I am tired of this simulation. Kapitan: Mein Herr, a word with you. Turanj: And these holograms are becoming annoying as well. Kapitan: What are we waiting for? Why don't we execute these prisoners? Turanj: Orders from the Kommandant. Kapitan: If I may speak freely. The Kommandant has been acting strangely the past few days. He's been questioning German superiority. Perhaps we shouldn't follow his orders so blindly. Turanj: You will do as he says, as long as I tell you to. Kapitan: I don't know how much longer I can stand being trapped in here. Turanj: Perhaps you would enjoy some entertainment. Sing. Seven: I will not. Turanj: Sing or you will die. Seven: Then I'll die. Tuvok: Seven, you are a valued member of this crew. The logical response would be to grant his request. Seven: Logic is irrelevant. One day the Borg will assimilate your species despite your arrogance. When that moment arrives, remember me. Karr: Bridge to holodeck one. Turanj: Yes. Karr: I've come to an agreement with Captain Janeway. Call a ceasefire. Turanj: What? Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: It's true, Tuvok. Janeway: Our first order of business is to call off the troops. I want you to find Chakotay Janeway: And have him convince his soldiers to pull out of the city. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Karr: Turanj Karr: Order our hunters to end the fighting. Kapitan: This is madness. We're winning this battle. Karr: Our civilization depends on this agreement. Turanj: Acknowledged. You heard him, release the captives. I'll tell the others. Order all units to withdraw to these positions Kapitan: I have always thought highly of you. Turanj: Have you? Kapitan: Yes. But the Kommandant is a fool. He doesn't understand. He's never embraced the Fuhrer or his vision. One does not cooperate with decadent forms of life. One hunts them down and eliminates them. The Kommandant speaks of civilization. The ancient Romans were civilized. The Jews are civilized. But in all its moral decay, Rome fell to the spears of our ancestors, as the Jews are falling now. Look at our destiny. The field of red, the purity of German blood. The blazing white circle of the sun that sanctified that blood. No one can deny us, no power on Earth or beyond. Not the Christian Savior, not the God of the Jews. We are driven by the very force that gives life to the universe itself. We must countermand the Kommandant's orders, stay and fight. We must be faithful to who we are. Turanj: You two, follow me. Chakotay: All units, clear the valley. Return to your previous positions. We're calling a ceasefire. Repeat, cease fire. Well, the word is out. Tuvok: Whether it will be acted upon is another question. Chakotay: Oh, they'll follow orders. I'm their commanding officer, remember? Paris: Keep it moving! Keep it moving! Get the lead out of your pants! Seven: Mid-twentieth century American slang. Paris: You got a problem with that, sister? Seven: You're enjoying this simulation. I find that peculiar, given the circumstances. Paris: Loosen up, baby doll, the war's almost over. Torres: So much for the ceasefire. Kapitan: Fire! Fire! Emh: I've been monitoring the other simulation, and the fighting's getting worse. The crew is taking heavy casualties. Neelix: How can we help? Emh: I'll transfer my program to holodeck one. You take the Jefferies tube and meet me there. Neelix: There's only the two of us. Emh: Nevertheless we have to try and. Even half drunk, Klingons are among the best warriors in the galaxy. Neelix: But they're already in the middle of a war with the house of whatever it is. Emh: Then you'll just have to convince them that there's a more important battle to be waged. Neelix: Me? Emh: You are their Great Warrior. Lead them. Neelix: Pardon me, gentlemen. I wonder if I might have a word with you. Emh: They're Klingons, not kittens. Neelix: You will listen! Janeway: These sensors indicate you've placed holo-emitters on decks five through twelve? No wonder the system breached. You've turned Voyager into one big holodeck. Karr: Can you shut it down? Janeway: Yes, but I'm going to have to initiate an overload. We'll worry about making repairs later. Right now we've got to put an end to those simulations. Janeway to Ensign Kim. Kim: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Harry, I'm going to need your help overloading the holo-emitter network. Janeway: I'm transferring optical processor control to you now. Start charging the secondary power relays. Janeway: We'll use them to trigger the overload. Kim: I'm on it. Janeway: It's going to take some time. There are over eight hundred emitters that we have to Turanj: Move away from the controls. Karr: Why haven't you ordered the ceasefire? Turanj: Move away from the controls. Karr: Listen to me. Turanj: No! Janeway: What are you waiting for? Turanj: I am a hunter. You are my prey. Run. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Out. Our holographic allies are losing ground. The German troops are surrounding the city. Paris: I don't know how much longer we can hold them off. These weapons are pretty crude. They're not much help. Torres: Maybe we should fall back? Chakotay: Where to? They're coming in from all sides. Tuvok, any chance we can get through that breach in the hologrid. Tuvok: Unlikely. Twenty more Hirogen have taken up position near the opening. We are outnumbered. Chakotay: How's it going? Seven: I'm modifying this explosive device to emit a photonic burst. It will be harmless to organic tissue but it should disrupt all holographic activity within twenty meters. Chakotay: We'll try to buy you some time. Hirogen: I'll be in Sickbay. Nazi: Schnell! Schell! Chakotay: They're closing in. Seven! Kapitan: Surrender. Kapitan: Verdamt. Bring that one to me. I will spare your life for now, but only because you are carrying a German child. Janeway: Please don't do this. I can be of use to you. I can help you repair the ship. Don't kill me. Kapitan: Against the wall. Your deaths will serve the glory of the Reich. Prepare to fire. Neelix: Fight on, warriors! This way! Emh: Qapla', gentlemen. Qapla'! Janeway: This hunt is over. Tell your hunters to stand down. I'll use this if you force me to. Chakotay: It's over. Let's go. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51715.2. The damage to Voyager has been extreme. Both sides have taken heavy casualties, and it's clear that no one is going to win this conflict. The fighting has reached a standstill and the remaining Hirogen have agreed to negotiate a truce. Hirogen: What is this? Janeway: An optronic datacore. You can use it to create holodeck technology on your own vessels. I made a promise with your leader before he died, that I would give this knowledge to the Hirogen. Take it. Young Hirogen: His ideas were unconventional. I do not share them. Janeway: Was he any more unconventional than you are? Calling a ceasefire with your prey? Only a few days ago, the thought of speaking with us on equal terms would've been inconceivable, but here we are. Accept this trophy. You can use it to create a new future for your people. At the very least, you can hang it on your bulkhead.

Paris: Ow! Ow! What do you think you're doing, Doc? Emh: An impromptu auditory exam. Paris: Did I pass? Emh: With flying colors, which leads me to believe you did hear me when I requested you meet me this morning. Paris: You're right. I forgot. Emh: I see. I realize your Sickbay training is purely voluntary, but you haven't spent any time there in several weeks. And when I try to find you, you're always in the holodeck. Paris: Correct me if I'm wrong, Doc, but we haven't been treating anything more serious than an ingrown toenail. Emh: That's beside the point. If an emergency were to happen you must be prepared. You're too far behind in your medical texts to be wasting your time in the holodeck. Paris: If it's any consolation, I have spent most of the morning immersed in a complicated surgical procedure. Emh: Really. Paris: A classic case of atrophied shocks. They needed to be extracted to prevent chrome abrasion. It was touch and go for a while, but the prognosis is excellent. Emh: You'll be ready for neurosurgery in no time. Paris: Take a look at this, Doc. This is a fully stock 1969 Chevy Camaro, one of the earliest muscle cars ever made. Paris: Imagine, Northern California, late twentieth century. You're cruising up Highway One, the woofers are pounding, the wind is whipping through your hair. Emh: Medieval safety constraints, internal combustion system producing lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Hmm. I stand corrected. This may be just what you need to get you back to Sickbay. Paris: I guess I should have known this wouldn't interest you. It's too much fun. Emh: This isn't about fun, Mister Paris. Serving in Sickbay is a privilege. I'd expect you to realize that. Paris: Oh, I do. I'll be there. Soon. Janeway: Lieutenant Paris, report to the bridge immediately. Paris: I'm on my way. Paris: Somebody call for a driver? Janeway: Take your station, Tom. Anything on scans, Harry? Kim: I'm picking up another spatial disturbance two thousand kilometers away. Chakotay: Source? Kim: I have no idea. It looks like space is folding in on itself. Janeway: Shields to full. Kim: It's an alien vessel, one occupant aboard. Paris: Captain, it looks like that ship is being powered by a coaxial warp drive. Chakotay: Coaxial what? Paris: It's a hypothetical propulsion system. Starfleet engineers have been dreaming about it for years. In theory, it can literally fold the fabric of space allowing a ship to travel instantaneously across huge distances. Tuvok: The alien warp drive is overloading. Paris: In theory, a coaxial drive explosion could collapse space within a radius of a billion kilometers. In theory. Janeway: Let's keep theory from becoming reality. Red alert! Chakotay: Scan the vessel. Can we beam the pilot out? Kim: Too much interference. Paris: That ship's about had it, Captain. The coaxial core is breaching. Tuvok: We should vacant this area of space at once. Paris: We can't just leave him like this. Janeway: Try one more hail. Kim: Nothing. Maybe he's ignoring us. Paris: Or maybe he's unconscious. We've got to do something. Janeway: Suggestions? Paris: A symmetric warp field. That should contain any instabilities in his space-folding core. Chakotay: How can you be sure? Paris: Advanced subspace geometry. It's the one course at the academy where I actually paid attention. We'll tractor him in to kill his momentum, generate a warp field around his ship. Tuvok: His flightpath is erratic. We'd be risking collision. Paris: Captain, I can make this work. Janeway: Do it. Paris: Passing through the residual folds in space. Steady. Got him! Tuvok: I've extended our warp field around his vessel. His core is powering down. Janeway: Nice flying, Tom. Paris: My pleasure. Kim: We're finally receiving a hail. Chakotay: Open a channel. Janeway: Captain Janeway, of the Federation Starship Voyager. Do you need medical attention? Steth: I'm fine, Captain. Unfortunately my ship is not. Janeway: If you need to make repairs, we might be able to help. Steth: That's very generous. Janeway: We'll beam you aboard in a few minutes. Stand by. Steth: Thank you. Janeway: Tuvok. Janeway: Energize. Janeway: Welcome. Steth: Captain, I know you put yourselves in danger to rescue me. I want to thank you. Janeway: I'm glad we could help. Steth: I was so eager to test my new engine, I pushed it beyond it's limits. Janeway: Coaxial warp doesn't seem to be the smoothest way to travel. Steth: It's a violent procedure, but it allows a ship to travel through space at incredible speeds. Tuvok: Considering the dangers, this method of travel hardly seems logical. Steth: That's probably true, but if I were worrying about danger I wouldn't have become a test pilot. Janeway: Where are you from? Steth: The fourth planet of the Benthan system. That's about twenty light years from here. Janeway: I'll speak to my engineers about helping you with repairs. Without your coaxial drive, it's a long way home. Chakotay: Come in. Paris: I'd like to ask you a favor. I need a change of pace. I'd like to help Steth repair his ship. Chakotay: This isn't a good time to ask. Paris: What do you mean? Chakotay: I've been reading a report from the Doctor. You didn't show up today. Paris: I was a little busy this morning. Saving someone's life, as I recall. Chakotay: Is there something wrong, Tom? Anything bothering you? Paris: Nothing is wrong. Since when is not wanting to spend time with the Doctor a capital offense? You'd have to throw the whole crew in the brig for that one. Chakotay: Maybe. I was wondering if there's something on your mind. You're showing up for your duty shifts, you do what's required, but your heart doesn't seem to be in it. You seem preoccupied. Paris: Like I said, I think I need a change of pace. Chakotay: You're a different man from the one that came on board four years ago. You've taken charge of your life, turned yourself around. I'd hate to see you ruin it. Paris: I won't. With your permission, I'll report to Sickbay. Chakotay: Permission denied. Report to Steth's ship instead. Assist in the repairs. We need our best man on the job. Steth: And on my way back, I made the mistake of flying the prototype through restricted Entaban territory. Paris: And? Steth: And the Entabans weren't too pleased to see me. I limped back to the engineers on Benthos with phaser holes through their brand new extanium fuselage. I think they would have been happy to see phaser holes through me. Paris: When I was sixteen, I followed an ancient human custom. I took my father's shuttle out for a joy ride, and proceeded to fry all the relays. Steth: I'm guessing he wasn't happy about getting it back. Paris: Actually he didn't. As far as I know, it's still at the bottom of Lake Tahoe. Steth: Here it is, the coaxial induction drive. It draws in subatomic particles and reconfigures their internal geometries. Paris: And this is what makes folding space possible? Steth: At least in spurts. Unfortunately, particle instabilities keep overloading my engines. But I'm going to make it work. I have to keep in motion. I don't like the thought of settling down. Too many new ships to drive. Too many intriguing women. Paris: Yeah, I guess so. Steth: When I get this ship back I'm going to be doing the first test on a new Mithran class flyer. I'm told it's more advanced than any warship in the quadrant. Why don't you come with me? We'd have a great time. You could meet up with Voyager afterwards. Paris: I'd love to do that. It sounds very exciting. But I have responsibilities here. People who count on me. B'Elanna would be furious. B'Elanna. I have to go. Paris: So, you started without me. Torres: I finished without you. You're a little late. Paris: Sorry. I was helping Steth repair his ship. Torres: How's it going? Paris: Pretty slow. We're both stuck on how to prevent the particle overloads in his propulsion system. Torres: Have you tried an isokinetic containment field? Paris: Yeah, that's the first thing we tried. Torres: How long do you think repairs are going to take? Paris: I don't know. Torres: I was just hoping that maybe you could help me recalibrate the plasma manifolds tonight. Paris: Ah. I, er, I probably should go help Steth. Torres: Tom, is there something wrong? Paris: Why are you interrogating me? Torres: I didn't think I was. Paris: It sounds more like you want me to account for every minute that I'm not with you. Torres: That's ridiculous. Paris: Can't I have some time to myself? Can't I do what I want without having to report every detail of it to you? Torres: Tom, you can do whatever you want. I just wanted to know if there was something wrong. I mean, lately you've been canceling dates. You hide out for hours in the holodeck. Paris: I am not hiding anything. That is ridiculous. Torres: Is it? You haven't even told me what holodeck program this is that has you so fascinated. Paris: The Dancing Girls of Ninipia Prime. It's very entertaining, Torres: Very funny. Paris: You're overreacting. Torres: I am not overreacting. There's obviously something going on and you're refusing to admit it. Neelix: Good evening, Lieutenants. I see you don't have your dinner yet, Tom. Can I get you something? Paris: I'm really not hungry. Torres: Excuse me. Are you going to talk about this? Because if you're not, I don't want to sit here anymore. Paris: If you can carry on an adult conversation without all the histrionics Torres: Good night, Tom. Steth: Computer, run a DNA stability analysis. How long before my genome reverts to it's previous form? Computer: Time to reversion three hours thirteen minutes. Complete genome recovery is imminent. Paris: So I was lying in bed last night when it hit me. What you need is a carburettor. Steth: A carburettor? Paris: Yes. It's a device that's hundreds of years old. I can't believe I didn't think of it yesterday. Steth: Wait. Hundreds of years old? Surely that couldn't be of any use to us now. Paris: It all goes back to basics. You would be surprised at how often I find solutions to twenty fourth century problems in twentieth century technology. Computer, access Paris program alpha one, Grease Monkey. Steth: Grease Monkey? Paris: Mechanic lingo. Paris: A car's engine can't run on pure fuel, so the carburettor supplies it with a mixture of vaporized fuel and air. Steth: And you think we need a device like that to dilute the particle stream as it enters the coaxial drive. Paris: Exactly! And a spare polaric modulator from Voyager's impulse drive should do the trick. Steth: Subatomic dilution! It never would have occurred to me. I think you've solved it. Paris: Well, we can run a few simulations on the holodeck before we actually try it. Steth: I owe you a lot. Paris: You can thank my lucky toolbox. It's gotten me out of hot water more than once. Steth: You're lucky to be stationed on a ship like this. Replicators to feed and clothe you, holotechnology to cater to every whim. Hallways filled with women. Paris: Yeah. It's great. Steth: You don't sound convinced. Aren't you happy here? Paris: Of course I'm happy. I'm very happy. I mean, I pilot one of the most advanced ships in Starfleet, I have a beautiful girlfriend, I'm respected. I have everything that I've ever wanted. Steth: You're lucky, You're part of a family, part of a structure. You have rules to guide you. You don't have to worry about making a lot of choices. I usually go to bed at night not knowing what the next day has in store, what trouble I might get into. You don't have to worry about those things. You're very settled. Paris: I remember those days. I used to be a lot like you. Going anywhere, doing whatever I wanted, making my own rules. Steth: Well, then there's hope for me yet, Maybe someday I'll settle down too. But for now I prefer to stay on the move. Paris: Sometimes I wish that's what I was doing. Steth: Things'll turn around for you. I've always found that change is inevitable. It comes when you least expect it. Paris: Yeah, I suppose. Steth: Now, are we ready to try this carburettor idea on my ship? Paris: Just give me five more minutes to finish up here and I'll be right with you. Steth: Five minutes. And Tom? Don't dismiss the suggestion I made, about coming with me to fly the new ship. It might be fun to escape the shackles for a while. Paris: Hmm. Steth: Computer, access all files pertaining to Lieutenant Tom Paris. Download into memory core alpha. Computer: Please enter authorisation code. Computer: Access granted. Commencing download. Steth: Hello. I'm Steth, a guest of your captain. Seven: I have been appraised of your presence on Voyager. You are not authorized to access the ship's computers. Steth: You must be Seven of Nine. Seven: That is correct. Steth: Tom mentioned you. He thinks you're extremely intelligent. Seven: Lieutenant Paris' opinion of me is irrelevant to your being in this room. Steth: Well, er, Tom felt we needed some files for polaric modulators, but he was called away before we could access them. I thought I'd find them myself and help out. Seven: You were mistaken. He must be present to download these files. Steth: Oh, I'm about to meet him at the holodeck. We can find the files there. Seven: Voyager's hierarchy is complex. See that you familiarize yourself with it. Steth: Good advice. I'll do that. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51762.4. The repairs to Steth's coaxial drive have been completed well ahead of schedule. Paris: Everything here looks good. Just give me one more second to check the flow field parameters. Steth: Go ahead. Paris: It's my box wrench. I've been looking all over for this. Steth: I know I should have asked you, Tom, but I needed it for an experiment. Paris: To check your new carburettor? Steth: Not quite. You're the first humans I've met and that wrench had enough cellular residue on it for me to check your DNA. I have good news. We're compatible. STETH/ Paris: Consider this a favor. I know how unhappy you've been with this dreary, settled life so I'm taking it off your hands. I'm betting there's still some fun to be had here. Voyager is a great ship, Tom. I'll take good care of it. Paris: Sorry I'm late. Janeway: We were beginning to wonder if you were ever coming back. Kim: His ship is powering engines. Janeway: Something wrong, Tom? STETH/ Paris: It's nothing. STETH/ Paris: I'm just really going to miss that guy. Chakotay: Mind if I join you? STETH/ Paris: Not at all. Commander. Chakotay: Chakotay will do, Tom. You don't carry this rules thing too far. I've been discussing your engineering report with the captain. She was wondering if we could implement some of Steth's technology here on Voyager. STETH/ Paris: Really? Chakotay: We thought maybe you could start on a shuttle. Do you think you can do it? STETH as Paris: I'm sure I can. Chakotay: Great. You can start right after you finish with the Doctor. STETH/ Paris: The Doctor. Chakotay: He needs your help in Sickbay. I told him you'd be there. STETH/ Paris: Of course. Crewman: Lieutenant. STETH/ Paris: Hi. Kim: I know you've been avoiding the Doctor, but don't tell me you've forgotten where Sickbay is? STETH/ Paris: Oh! Not yet. I was just trying to figure out if there's a more efficient route between Sickbay and my quarters. Kim: I didn't realize you were that eager to get there. So tell me, are they ready yet? STETH/ Paris: Ah, not yet. But they will be, soon. Kim: Great. Hey, let me know if you have any problems. Polyduranide can be tough to replicate. STETH/ Paris: Oh, sure can be. Kim: I can't wait to get my hands around one of those clubs. Ensign Kaplan won't know what hit her. STETH/ Paris: What? Kim: We're going to play golf with her. We scheduled a rematch, remember? STETH/ Paris: Oh, of course. I can't wait. Kim: Have you been working on your putting? You missed both those two-footers last time. STETH/ Paris: I won't let it happen again. Kim: All right. Give the Doc my best. STETH/ Paris: I will. STETH/ Paris: If I ever find him. Emh: You're early, Mister Paris. I see some good came from my report to Commander Chakotay. Let's put these extra few minutes to good use. Begin with a thorough biobed diagnostic. I want you to recalibrate each physiosensor, making sure to enter each metabolic referent precisely. STETH/ Paris: Okay. Emh: When you're through with that, run a protein structure analysis and then continue your review of the thirty seven steps of a cardiopulmonary reconstruction procedure. I'll leave you to your biobeds. Emh: Did you forget to disengage the scan emitters? STETH/ Paris: Sorry. Emh: Mister Paris. STETH/ Paris: I don't know what's wrong. Emh: I realize it's complicated, but you must try again. STETH/ Paris: Actually, I'm not feeling so well. Emh: How fortunate you're already in Sickbay. I'll run a few scans. STETH/ Paris: No, no, Doc, that's all right. To be perfectly honest with you. This is so frustrating for me. I usually pick things up a lot faster than this. Emh: You're here to learn, Mister Paris. It will get easier with time. STETH/ Paris: That's easy for you to say. Emh: Excuse me? STETH/ Paris: Well, no offense, Doctor, but you were programmed to be a medical genius. Things always come easy to you. Me, I'm just a pilot. A grease monkey. And as hard as I might try to become a better assistant, it's clear to me now that I'll never be half the healer that you are. Emh: Do you mean to tell me you've been trying to live up to my standards? STETH/ Paris: I'm afraid I have. Emh: It all makes sense now. The misplaced aggression, the shirking of responsibilities. All classic signs of an inferiority complex. I had no idea my superior abilities were affecting your psyche so strongly. Take the rest of the day off. Reflect on your strengths. Realize your worth. STETH/ Paris: I'll do that, Doctor. Thank you. Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: What do you think you're doing? STETH/ Paris: Putting. Torres: In my quarters? STETH/ Paris: I can't putt in your quarters? Torres: No. STETH/ Paris: Since when? Torres: Tom. What is this? STETH/ Paris: That is a sand wedge. It's used for getting out of traps. Torres: Why is it here? STETH/ Paris: I replicated it for you. I thought we could play a little game of golf on the holodeck before dinner. Torres: So this is your idea of an adult conversation? I don't know what you are trying to accomplish with this little stunt, but let me assure you, it is not working. I am sorry if you are bored because Steth is gone, but that doesn't mean that you can just walk in here and pretend like you haven't been shutting me out. STETH/ Paris: You're being a little hard on Steth. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here right now. Torres: Really? STETH/ Paris: I mentioned to him we were having some problems and he urged me to come and talk to you. To try to work things out. To admit I was wrong. I made a mistake, B'Elanna, and I'm sorry. I won't shut you out anymore. In fact, I went to the Doctor and begged to be excused from my duties. I realize it's only a few extra hours, but they're hours I want to spend with you. Torres: Steth turned out to be a positive influence on you. Steth: Computer, wh PARIS/ Steth: Computer, where are we? Computer: Navigation matrix one seven one one. The Kotaba expanse. Coaxial leap complete. PARIS? Steth: How far are we from Voyager? Computer, lock in Voyager's last known coordinates and activate differential induction drive. Computer: Unable to execute command. PARIS/ Steth: Why not? Computer: The differential induction drive has been secured. The security access code is required to implement the coaxial leap. Avik: This is Commander Avek of the Benthan Guard. We're taking you into custody. Prepare to surrender the vessel to us at once. PARIS/ Steth: Benthan? I need a second to explain, Commander. I'm not who you think Avik: We do not negotiate with thieves. PARIS/ Steth: No, you don't understand. I, I need the ship to get back to Voyager. Avik: Surrender the vessel peacefully or we will use force. PARIS/ Steth: Why is everybody trying to shoot me today? Daelen: You know what I'm here for. PARIS/ Steth: I don't know what you're talking about. Who are you? Daelen: I'm Steth. PARIS/ Steth: What? Daelen: Look at me. You did wear this body for nearly a year before you switched it with mine. That's my body you're in now. I want it back. PARIS/ Steth: Bear with me for a second. We have more in common than you might think. Torres: This better be good, Tom. I left Vorik right in the middle of an EPS recalibration. STETH/ Paris: You can thank me later. Torres: So, what's my big surprise? STETH/ Paris: What would you say to twenty four glorious hours on the famed fourth planet of the Kendren system? Torres: You mean the planet where Neelix is gathering food samples? STETH/ Paris: I ran a few scans and found the most incredible beach on one of the smaller continents. I replicated a picnic lunch for us. Voyager isn't leaving orbit until tomorrow. We'd have an entire day. Torres: Only a day? Oh, I think that we would need at least a week. STETH/ Paris: I wish we could. We've only got a day. Torres: You're serious, aren't you. STETH/ Paris: Completely. Torres: Do you know how much trouble we would be in? STETH/ Paris: What could Janeway do, execute us? Torres: Tom, I am swamped. I can't get away for an hour, let alone twenty four. STETH/ Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: I have responsibilities here. We both do. STETH/ Paris: Responsibilities? I don't care! Torres: Tom, you're hurting me. STETH/ Paris: You're a real disappointment to me, do you know that? I don't know what I ever saw in you. Paris: Seven, what brings you here at this hour? Seven: We were supposed to meet in the shuttlebay at twenty one hundred hours. Did you forget? STETH/ Paris: I did. I got so caught up with my reading I guess it slipped my mind. Sorry. Seven: The capillaries in your eyes are swollen, Lieutenant, and I see signs of vascular congestion in your cheeks. Are you intoxicated? STETH/ Paris: No, not at all. I was just exploring the replicator, trying some alien beverages. Only a few were alcoholic. Seven: You are not officially off-duty for another seventy eight minutes. STETH/ Paris: I'm on break. Would you like to join me? I could replicate another Trakian ale for you. Seven: That will not be necessary. STETH/ Paris: Relax, Seven. You're not on the Borg Cube any more. We could finish our work on the shuttle tomorrow. Seven: That would be an inefficient use of our time. I will complete the work myself. STETH/ Paris: Fine. Seven: Before I leave, I would like to know why you were reading the captain's personal logs? STETH/ Paris: I wasn't. Seven: I saw the PADD. It was unmistakably the captain's logs. STETH/ Paris: You're wrong. You're confused. You couldn't possibly have seen anything. Seven: You know I possess an eidetic memory. I require only seconds to commit what I see to memory. Would you like me to quote the passage you were reading? STETH/ Paris: I'm warning you, stay out of my way! Don't interfere in things that don't concern you. If you bother me again, I will make things very unpleasant for you. Seven: Remove your hand from my arm. STETH/ Paris: Don't be foolish. You'll regret it. Janeway: Enter. STETH/ Paris: You wanted to see me, Captain? Janeway: Yes. I received a rather disturbing report from Seven of Nine regarding your conduct last night. She claims you were drinking on duty. STETH/ Paris: She's mistaken, Captain. Janeway: Don't lie to me, Tom. I checked the computers. You replicated five alcoholic beverages in the mess hall. She also said you threatened her. STETH/ Paris: I'm sorry, Captain. B'Elanna and I had an argument. I was upset. Janeway: And is that why you were reading my personal logs? STETH/ Paris: I wasn't! Janeway: Seven recited a passage which I'd written, word for word. STETH/ Paris: She probably accessed those files herself. Captain, you can't take the word of a Borg over mine. Janeway: This has to stop, Tom. Your conduct lately has been bizarre, and I've heard far too many complaints from far too many people to dismiss it. Chakotay, the Doctor, Seven of Nine. They're all worried about you. And so am I. STETH/ Paris: You're right, Captain. I need some rest. I'll go right to my quarters. Janeway: Tom! As your Captain and as your friend, I want you to report to Sickbay for some tests. We have to find out if there's something physical that's causing this behavior. STETH/ Paris: This is crazy. I don't need any help. Janeway: That's an order. Janeway: Security, I need you in the ready room, now! Tuvok: Are you hurt, Captain? Janeway: No. Take him to Sickbay. Keep security with him. Daelen: The coaxial drive will be online in a few minutes. PARIS/ Steth: Good. I've just about overridden all the lock-out commands. No offense, but I'd like to get out of your body as soon as possible. Daelen: The alien seems capable of some sort of selective DNA exchange. He absorbs new DNA while depositing his current genetic material into his victims. Let's hope he can reverse that process. PARIS/ Steth: That's the last lock-out command. We're set for coaxial warp. Let's find Voyager. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. The doctor has treated Mister Paris' phaser wounds, but has been unable to wake him. The motive for his attack remains a mystery. Emh: Neurological scans yielded very little, but I did find something very interesting in his blood analysis. There are traces of a second DNA pattern in his nucleotide structure. Possibly the result of a genetic virus. Tuvok: Could this be the cause of his recent behavior? Emh: I don't know, but I'm running more scans to see how this might have affected his neurological functions. Chakotay: Captain, a vessel just emerged from coaxial space off our starboard bow. Janeway: Keep me informed, Doctor. Janeway: Hail them. PARIS/ Steth: Captain Janeway. Janeway: Welcome back, Mister Steth. PARIS/ Steth: I know this sounds crazy, Captain, but I'm not Steth. I'm Tom Paris. Janeway: I beg your pardon. PARIS/ Steth: We're dealing with an alien who's some sort of identity thief. He traded places with me. Please, beam us aboard. Janeway: Maintain your position while we consider your request. End transmission. Hold them in a tractor beam until you hear from me. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: I have a feeling Steth and his new friend are behind whatever's happened to Tom. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: No time to explain. I'll be in Sickbay. Seven: Captain? Kim: Commander, I'm reading an unauthorized shuttle launch. It's the captain. She's in the shuttle Tom's been working on. Chakotay: Try hailing her. Kim: She's not responding. Chakotay: Hail Steth's ship. Look, I don't know who you are, but I want to know what's happening here. PARIS/ Steth: Who's on that shuttle? Chakotay: Captain Janeway. PARIS/ Steth: No. I'm betting the alien switched my body, er, Tom's body for hers. You've got to let us out of this tractor beam. We can catch her with this ship. Chakotay, it's me. Chakotay: How do I know that? PARIS/ Steth: The other day, in your office, you told me I'd turned my life around. Well, give me the chance to prove it. Let me go after the shuttle. It is the only way we can get everybody back into the right body. Chakotay: Harry, disengage the tractor beam. Steth: Twenty thousand kilometers and closing. Daelen: Has he detected us yet? PARIS/ Steth: I'd say he has. Janeway: Gentlemen, I'd advise you to reconsider this pursuit. Killing me will only keep you trapped in those bodies. Daelen: He's right. We can't risk killing him. PARIS/ Steth: Yeah, but nothing's keeping him from killing us. Damn! The ship's not nearly as manoeuverable as a shuttle. Daelen: Shields are down. STETH/ Janeway: I'm surprised you're so eager to Janeway: Reclaim your life on Voyager, Tom. I was just as disappointed with it as you were. Steth: Then I guess we were both wrong. Janeway: It's time to move on again. Oh, Tom? Be sure to send my best regards to B'Elanna, hmm? Daelen: He's charging the coaxial drive. PARIS/ Steth: Set the sensors to track him. Daelen: I can't. He's blocking us. We won't be able to follow him once he goes into coaxial warp. We're losing him. PARIS/ Steth: The carburettor! We added a polaric modulator to the coaxial drive. If I can target the modulator, hit it with a chromoelectric pulse, that'll disrupt his engines. Here goes. Steth: I hope you still have my box wrench. Faulty carburettors can be a pain to fix. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51775.2. While the alien intruder remains trapped in the body of his last victim, the doctor has found a way to return Tom, Steth and me to our own bodies. Steth: Doctor, I can't thank you enough. You've given me my life back. Emh: All in a day's work. Steth: There were times when I thought I would be stuck in that body forever. Paris: Believe me, I'm just as happy to be back to the old Tom Paris. Janeway: What do you plan to do now? Steth: I'm going to take her back to Bentha. I hope to find the person who belongs to that body. Emh: But who knows if that's the end of it? We have no idea how long she or he has been switching identities. Steth: It may take a while, but I will do whatever I can to find everyone you've violated. Janeway: A security team will escort you to your ship and erect a forcefield to contain her. Torres: So this is where you've been hiding? A garage. Paris: It's more than just a garage. This is a monument to hundreds and hundreds of hours that I probably should have spent with you. Torres: Probably? Paris: Definitely. Torres: It's a lovely garage, Tom, but I still don't understand why you brought me here. Paris: Well, consider it a symbolic gesture. It's my less than subtle attempt to let you in. Torres: I see. To make it clear that I mean almost as much to you as a cam-a-ro. Paris: It's a mint condition 1969 Camaro. And yes, you mean a lot more to me.

Computer: Oh six hundred hours. Regeneration cycle complete. Seven: Daily log, Seven of Nine, stardate 15781.2. Today, Ensign Kim and I will conduct a comprehensive diagnostic of the aft sensor array. I have allocated three hours twenty minutes for the task, and an additional seventeen minutes for Ensign Kim's usual conversational digressions. I am scheduled to take a nutritional supplement at fifteen hundred hours, engage in one hour of cardiovascular activity, then I intend to review a text the Doctor recommended entitled A Christmas Carol. He believes it will have educational value. End log. Kim: I'll get this. Don't give me any hints. Tuvok: I have no intention of doing so. Seven: Ensign. Kim: Hi, Seven. Seven: Are you ready to begin our sensor diagnostic? Kim: Is it oh six hundred already? We've been playing all night. Seven: Vulcan kal-toh. Kim: For a game of logic, you'd be surprised at how addictive it is. Give me a few more minutes to figure this out. Tuvok: You should attend to your duties, Ensign. I'll accept your forfeit. Kim: No way. This is the closest I've ever come to beating you. I'm not giving up now. Tuvok: Impressive. Seven: Elementary spatial harmonics. Are you ready now? Kim: Yeah, sure. I would've gotten that. Kim: Is there anything you don't know? Seven: I was Borg. Kim: I was Borg. That's what you always say but what does it mean? You've got the knowledge of ten thousand species in your head? Seven: Not exactly. Each drone's experiences are processed by the Collective. Only useful information is retained. Kim: Still, that probably makes you the most intelligent human being alive. Seven: Probably. Kim: So what do you need the rest of us for? Forget I asked. Kim: What was that? Paris: We just dropped out of warp. Chakotay: What's the problem? Paris: We were hit by some kind of shockwave. Chakotay: Source? Paris: Checking. Paris: Hold on. I just lost all my sensor readings. The computer's bringing up some kind of message, but I can't access it. You'd better take a look at this. Chakotay: I see it. Paris: What is it? Chakotay: I have no idea. My command codes aren't working. The computer says I have insufficient clearance to access the message. We can't function like this. I'm going to get Harry up here to trace the source. Janeway: Don't do anything. I'll take care of this. Janeway: Send all sensor data about the particle wave to my ready room. Tom, disengage engines and hold position here. Chakotay: Captain, what's going on? Janeway: I can't explain right now. Don't discuss any of this with the rest of the crew. I'll have further instructions for you soon. Janeway: Computer, seal the doors to this room. No entry without my authorisation. Computer: Doors are sealed. Janeway: Access secured datafile Omega one. Computer: Voiceprint confirmed. State clearance code. Janeway: Janeway one one five three red. Clearance level ten. Computer: Confirmed. Sensors have detected the Omega phenomenon within one point two light years of this vessel. Implement the Omega Directive immediately. All other priorities have been rescinded. Janeway: Display sensor data. Chakotay: I've been informed this is a highly classified mission. Information will be provided on a need-to-know basis. Captain's orders. Torres: Classified? By who? We're sixty thousand light years from Starfleet. Chakotay: Like I said. Need to know. B'Elanna, she wants you to installl multiphasic shielding around the warp core. Torres: I've never seen this shield configuration. I'd like to run a couple of computer simulations to make sure it's stable. Chakotay: No time. She needs this done by eleven hundred hours. Torres: Eleven hundred? I don't think that's possible. Chakotay: Make it possible. Seven: Are we attempting to protect the core from some form of subspace radiation? Chakotay: I don't know any more than you do. Seven: It will be difficult to complete the task without more data. Chakotay: The data you've got will have to do. Tom, start modifying a shuttlecraft to withstand extreme thermal stress. Twelve thousand Kelvins, at least. Paris: Aye, sir. Torres: Does all this have anything to do with that secret message the Captain received? Chakotay: What have you heard? Torres: Rumors, mainly. Janeway's been locked in her ready room for the past sixteen hours. Something about an Omega Directive. Seven: Omega? Paris: Ring a bell? Chakotay: Look, the speculation ends right here. Now, I expect you to carry out your assignments with a minimum of gossip, understood? I know it's hard not to wonder. Frankly, I'm curious myself, but the captain was very adamant about this. Get going. The captain wants to see you. Seven: I thought she might. Janeway: Come in. What do you know about the Omega Directive? Seven: Everything you do, most likely. Janeway: I thought as much. The Borg assimilated Starfleet captains. You would possess all of their knowledge. Seven: That's correct. Do you intend to carry out the Directive? Janeway: Yes. Seven: Then sensors have detected the molecule. Janeway: So it would appear. But we have to confirm it. Seven: We? Janeway: You're going to help me carry out the Directive. Protocol forbids me from discussing this mission with any of my crew, but since you already know about it, my choice is to either work with you or confine you to quarters. Seven: Perhaps you should do the latter. I will not help you destroy Omega. It should be harnessed. Janeway: That's impossible. Seven: The Borg believe otherwise. Janeway: Explain. Seven: On one occasion, we were able to create a single Omega molecule. We kept it stable for one trillionth of a nanosecond before it destabilized. We didn't have enough boronite ore left to synthesize more, but the knowledge we gained allowed us to refine our theories. Janeway: The Borg have been waiting for the chance to test them out. Seven: Yes. But we never found another source of the ore. Until now. Janeway: Sorry, but if someone out there is experimenting with Omega, I'm under orders to stop them. Otherwise, this entire quadrant would be at risk. Seven: Those orders were issued as a result of Starfleet's ignorance and fear. I can alleviate your ignorance. As for your fear Janeway: Sometimes fear should be respected, Seven. Tell me, how many Borg were sacrificed during this experiment? Seven: Twenty nine vessels, six hundred thousand drones. But that is irrelevant. Janeway: Not to me, not to my crew, and not to the people who live in this quadrant. I'm going to neutralize this threat, Seven, with or without your help. Seven: I will assist you. Janeway: You will? Seven: I have waited many years to observe this molecule firsthand. I will not deny myself this experience. Janeway: All right. Go back to your cargo bay, assemble all the data you have about Omega. I'll expect a report within the hour. I didn't realize you had such a strong scientific curiosity. Seven: Not curiosity. Desire. Janeway: Desire? Seven: Omega is infinitely complex, yet harmonious. To the Borg it represents perfection. I wish to understand that perfection. Janeway: The Borg's Holy Grail. Seven: Captain? Janeway: Never mind. I'll see you in an hour. Emh: Arithrazine? What for? Janeway: I'm going on an away mission. Emh: What are you planning to do, stroll through a supernova? Janeway: Something like that. Twenty milligrams. When can you have it ready? Emh: Captain, arithrazine is used for the most severe cases of theta radiation poisoning. A physician must be present to monitor the treatment. Janeway: That won't be possible. Emh: Then I'm afraid I can't accommodate you. I'd be in violation of Starfleet Medical Protocols. Janeway: Well, I'm overriding those protocols. Emh: Don't tell me. The Omega Directive, whatever that might be. Janeway: The arithrazine, Doctor. Emh: It'll be ready in the morning. Janeway: Have it sent to the shuttlebay. Emh: Captain, I don't know what's going on here but I'd hate this to be the last time I ever see you. Please be careful. Janeway: I will. Seven: I've analyzed the sensor logs using Borg algorithms. The shockwave we detected indicates not one but possibly hundreds of Omega molecules. Janeway: Location? Seven: Within ten light years. I'm having difficulty isolating the exact star system. Janeway: Hundreds of molecules? That changes everything. Seven: A shuttle mission may be insufficient. We require the resources of this entire crew. Janeway: We're going to need more firepower, more protection. Transfer your data to the Astrometrics lab. I'll work on it there. Tuvok: Calibration complete. Phase modulator. Detonator circuits? Kim: On standby. Tuvok: We're ready to load the gravimetric charge. Kim: This looks like enough for a fifty isoton explosion. Tuvok: Fifty four, to be exact. Kim: What are we planning to do, blow up a small planet? Tuvok: I don't know. Kim: This warhead isn't standard issue. Who designed it, the captain? Janeway: Mister Kim, you ask too many questions. Change of plans, gentlemen. Increase the charge to eighty isotons. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Harry, when you're done here, give B'Elanna a hand with the shuttlecraft. She's reinforcing the hull. Kim: Right. Kim: Ensign Hickman thinks it's species eight four seven two. Tuvok: Pardon me? Kim: That's his theory. There's an opening in fluidic space, and Captain Janeway has to shut it down. Want to know what I think? Tuvok: No. Kim: I think there's a type six protostar out there, and the captain's planning on detonating it and opening up a wormhole to the Alpha Quadrant. In theory, it's possible. And because she doesn't want to get our hopes up, she's not telling anybody. Tuvok: Then I wouldn't suggest getting your hopes up. Kim: Then what do you think it is? Tuvok: I do not engage in idle speculation. Kim: Oh, come on, Tuvok. Aren't you curious? Tuvok: Yes, but we have a task at hand. The phase modulator. Janeway: Come in. Status report? Chakotay: Everything's going according to schedule. Janeway: Good. The Omega Directive doesn't allow me to say much but I want you to know what to expect. At oh six hundred hours, I'll be leaving in a shuttle with Seven of Nine. Chakotay: Would it be out of line to ask where you're going? Janeway: I can tell you this. One of two things is going to happen. Either Seven and I will succeed on our mission, and return within a few days, or your long range sensors will detect a large explosion in subspace. If that occurs, you'll have less than ten seconds to jump to warp and get the hell out of here. Head for the Alpha Quadrant and don't look back, understood? Chakotay: I always thought Starfleet was run by duty-crazed bureaucrats, but I find it hard to believe that even they would order a captain to go on a suicide mission. This shuttle excursion is your idea, isn't it? Janeway: Let's just say I've had to amend the Directive, given the circumstances, But you have your orders and I expect you to follow them. Chakotay: That's expecting a lot. You're asking me to abandon my captain and closest friend without even telling me why. Janeway: If it were a simple matter of trust I wouldn't hesitate to tell you, but we've encountered situations where information was taken from us by force. I can't allow knowledge of Omega to go beyond Voyager. Chakotay: That's a reasonable argument, but you're not always a reasonable woman. You're determined to protect this crew, and this time you've taken it too far. A dangerous mission? Fine, I'll acknowledge that, but isn't it more likely to succeed with everyone behind you, working together? Janeway: Ordinarily, I'd agree. But this Directive was issued many years ago, and Starfleet didn't exactly have our predicament in mind. Lost in the Delta Quadrant, with no backup. I can't ignore the orders, but I won't ask the crew to risk their lives because of my obligation. Chakotay: My obligation. That's where you're wrong. Voyager may be alone out here, but you're not. Let us help you. We'll keep classified information limited to the senior staff. We'll take every security precaution. Just don't try to do this alone. Janeway: Assemble the troops. Janeway: If we were in the Alpha Quadrant right now, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'd be in contact with Starfleet Command, and they'd send in a specialized team to deal with the crisis. In their absence, we're going to have to make do with the training I've received, and the knowledge Seven of Nine has retained from the Borg. You've all seen this symbol. Omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet. Chosen by Starfleet to represent a threat not only to the Federation, but to the entire galaxy. Only starship captains and Federation Flag Officers have been briefed on the nature of this threat. What you're about to hear will not go beyond these bulkheads, is that clear? Good. Janeway: This is Omega. Paris: A molecule? Janeway: Not just any molecule. The most powerful substance known to exist. A single Omega molecule contains the same energy as a warp core. In theory, a small chain of them could sustain a civilization. The molecule was first synthesized over a hundred years ago, by a Starfleet physicist named Ketteract. I think he was hoping to develop an inexhaustible power source. Seven: Or a weapon. Janeway: Ketteract managed to synthesize a single molecule particle of Omega, but it only existed for a fraction of a second before it destabilized. Jaeway: This was a classified research station in the Lantaru Sector. Ketteract and one hundred twenty six of the Federation's leading scientists were lost in the accident. Rescue teams attempting to reach the site discovered an unexpected secondary effect. There were subspace ruptures extending out several light years. Paris: The Lantaru Sector. It's impossible to create a stable warp field there. You can only fly through it at sublight speeds. I was always told that was a natural phenomenon. You're saying it was caused by a single molecule of this stuff? Janeway: Omega destroys subspace. A chain reaction involving a handful of molecules could devastate subspace throughout an entire Quadrant. If that were to happen, warp travel would become impossible. Space-faring civilization as we know it would cease to exist. When Starfleet realized Omega's power, they suppressed all knowledge of it. Emh: Have you detected Omega here, in the Delta Quadrant? Janeway: I'm afraid so. I've been authorized to use whatever means necessary to destroy it. Tom, I've calculated the location of the molecules. I'll transfer the coordinates to the helm. Take us there at full impulse. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: I don't have to tell you what's at stake. If a large-scale Omega explosion occurs, we will lose the ability to go to warp forever. We've got our work cut out for us. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Encrypt log entry. We're approaching the star system where we believe we'll find Omega. I have to admit, I have never been this apprehensive about a mission. I know how Einstein must have felt about the atom bomb, or Marcus when she developed the Genesis device. They watched helplessly as science took a destructive course. But I have the chance to prevent that from happening. I just hope it's not too late. Janeway: Status report? Seven: This is a harmonic resonance chamber. The Borg designed it to contain and stabilize Omega. Janeway: I thought I asked you to work on the photon torpedo. Seven: The torpedo may be insufficient. I can modify this chamber to emit an inverse frequency. It will be enough to dissolve Omega's interatomic bonds. Janeway: Here's to Borg ingenuity. This is excellent work, Seven. We may need this. Seven: The modifications require several complex calculations. Assist me. Janeway: I guess I will. I'm curious. When did the Borg discover Omega? Seven: Two hundred twenty nine years ago. Janeway: Assimilation? Seven: Yes, of thirteen different species. Janeway: Thirteen? Seven: It began with Species two six two. They were primitive, but their oral history referred to a powerful substance which could burn the sky. The Borg were intrigued, which led them to Species two six three. They too were primitive, and believed it was a drop of blood from their Creator. Janeway: Fascinating. Seven: Yes, but irrelevant. We followed this trail of myth for many years until finally assimilating a species with useful scientific data. We then created the molecule ourselves. Janeway: Omega caused quite a stir among my own species. Federation cosmologists had a theory that the molecule once existed in nature for an infinitesimal period of time at the exact moment of the Big Bang. Some claimed Omega was the primal source of energy for the explosion that began our universe. Seven: A creation myth like any other. Janeway: Perhaps. What is it the Borg say? That Omega is perfect? Seven: Yes. Janeway: Is that a theory or a belief. Chakotay: Bridge to Captain. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: We're approaching the coordinates. Janeway: I'm on my way. I'm leaving this project in your hands. Use whatever resources and personnel you need. Seven: Understood. Chakotay: We've entered a planetary system. Janeway: Inhabited? Chakotay: There's a pre-warp civilization on the outermost planet. The source of Omega seems to be further in. Paris: The damage to subspace in this region is extreme. We won't be able to go to warp. Tuvok: We're encountering distortions. Janeway: Track their origin. Tuvok: An M class moon. We're in visual range. Janeway: On screen. Tuvok: There's a subnucleonic reaction occurring in the upper atmosphere. It is apparently emanating from a structure on the moon's surface. Janeway: Can your sensors penetrate the atmosphere? Kim: Stand by. Janeway: My God. Kim: Over three hundred thousand square kilometers destroyed. Janeway: Scan the structure. Are there any Omega molecules remaining? Tuvok: I can't tell. Several sections of the outpost are still shielded. Kim: I'm detecting lifesigns. Chakotay: How many? Kim: A few dozen maybe. It's hard to get a clear reading. Janeway: Harry, can we transport to the surface? Kim: I can get you there, but conditions in the structure aren't good. There are high levels of radiation. Janeway: Tuvok, assemble a rescue team and have them report to Sickbay for arithrazine inoculations. Tell the Doctor to prepare for casualties. Tom, move Voyager into a high orbit, and then join the away team. We'll need a field medic. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Chakotay: You're going with them? Janeway: If Omega's still down there, I have to find it. I'll keep an open comm. link with the ship. You have the bridge. Janeway: I'm picking up Omega's resonance frequency. It's here but I can't pinpoint a location. Janeway: I need to ask you questions about the experiments you've been conducting here. Allos: There was an accident. We lost containment. Janeway: The substance you were trying to create. Did any of it survive the explosion? Allos: Yes. Janeway: Where? Allos: Inside the primary test chamber. Who are you? Janeway: Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager. We're here to help you. Away team to Voyager. Two to beam directly to Sickbay. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: This door is solid duritanium, thirteen centimeters thick. Janeway: Can we get it open? Tuvok: The duritanium has melted into the door frame. We'll need to cut through the metal with phasers. Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: Captain, I'd be negligent if I didn't point out that we're about to violate the Prime Directive. Janeway: For the duration of this mission the Prime Directive has been rescinded. Let's get this over with. Seven: Crewman Dell, I'm assigning you a task more suited to your abilities. Calibrate the ionic pressure seals on the observation ports. Your new designation is Three of Ten. Dell: Yes, ma'am. Neelix: I've got more isolinear processors for you to installl. Kim: Thanks, but I need to get the power relays online first. Neelix: Are you sure that's a good idea? Ensign Wildman was assigned to that. Kim: This is ridiculous. I'm not going to waste time just because Seven wants to turn this team into her own private Collective. Neelix: She says it's more efficient. Kim: Maybe for a bunch of Drones. Seven: Six of Ten, this is not your assignment. Kim: Please, stop calling me that. Seven: You are compromising our productivity. I'm reassigning you to chamber maintenance. Your new designation is Two of Ten. Kim: Wait a minute, you're demoting me? Since when do the Borg pull rank? Seven: A Starfleet protocol I adapted. I find it most useful. Kim: I'm glad you're not the captain. Chakotay: How's it coming? Seven: The crew can be quite efficient when properly organized. The harmonic chamber will be completed within the hour. Chakotay: Good. I'll let the captain know. Seven: Has she retrieved any new data from the surface? Chakotay: Not yet. They're still trying to access the primary test chamber. Seven: Were there survivors? Chakotay: A few. The Doctor's treating them in Sickbay. Kim: Commander. Seven's taking this hive mentality just a little too far. Designated functions, numbered Drones. I wouldn't be surprised if she started plugging us into alcoves. Chakotay: When in the Collective, Harry, adapt. Seven: Which of them is the senior researcher? Emh: This gentleman. Why do you ask? Seven: He has knowledge I require. Emh: He also happens to be barely conscious. Come back in an hour. Seven: Unacceptable. Emh: Unavoidable. This is my sickbay. The man needs to recover. Seven: The Captain left me in charge of our efforts on Voyager. I would be negligent if I ignored a source of new information. Emh: Our next social skills seminar is entitled Adding Diplomatic Flair To Future Negotiations. How are you feeling, sir? Allos: Better, thank you. Emh: Are you comfortable enough to speak with this individual? Emh: Keep it brief. Seven: How many of the molecules were you able to synthesize? Allos: Two hundred million? I'm not certain. Seven: What is the isofrequency of your containment field? Allos: One point six eight terahertz. We used the molecule's own resonance to calculate the field. Seven: That should have been enough to stabilize them. Allos: Obviously, it wasn't. Seven: Obviously. But your approach is innovative. Perhaps I can adapt your technique and improve upon it. You will assist me. Allos: Our equipment was destroyed. If you can transfer the molecules to your ship, maybe they can be saved. Seven: I have no intention of saving them. Allos: What? Seven: My orders are to destroy the Omega molecules. Allos: This is my life's work. The salvation of my people! Seven: Will you assist me or not? Allos: Our resources are nearly gone. The future of my people depends on this discovery. Seven: Then your answer is no. Allos: Small-minded creatures. You destroy whatever you don't understand! Rescue ships are on the way. They won't let you do it. Emh: Please, try to be calm. Seven, you'll have to leave. Allos: You don't realize what you're doing. You don't know what this is, what this means. Seven: On the contrary. I understand perfectly. Tuvok: We've disabled the locking mechanism. Janeway: Narrow your phaser beams to cut through the inner seal. Tuvok: Inadvisable. We'd risk penetrating the containment field. Janeway: Then we'll have to use some elbow grease. Give me a hand. Right. Janeway: There's enough here to wipe out subspace across half the quadrant. Tuvok: I'll order the away teams back to Voyager and target this facility with the gravimetric charge. Janeway: It won't be enough. We'll have to go with our Borg option. Ensign. Ensign: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Return to the ship. Tell Commander Chakotay to help Seven complete the harmonic chamber. We'll have to transport Omega directly to the ship. That means finding a way to shut down this containment field. Tuvok: It's unfortunate we can't study this phenomenon in more detail. We may not have the opportunity again. Janeway: Let's hope we never do. Tuvok: A curious statement from a woman of science. Janeway: I'm also a woman who occasionally knows when to quit. Take another look at your tricorder. Omega's too dangerous. I won't risk half the quadrant to satisfy our curiosity. It's arrogant, and it's irresponsible. The final frontier has some boundaries that shouldn't be crossed, and we're looking at one. Seven: We don't need to destroy the molecules. I believe I've found a way to stabilize them. The alien in Sickbay calibrated his containment field using Omega's own resonance, an approach unknown to the Borg. I have modified this chamber Chakotay: Those weren't your orders. The Captain wants Omega eliminated. Seven: That is still an option, if she insists on yielding to her fear. Chakotay: Show me what you've done. Seven: This simulation shows the molecules in their free state, highly unstable. I've modified the chamber to emit a harmonic waveform that will dampen the molecules. Chakotay: Looks great, in theory, but this is only a simulation. How are you going to test it? Seven: On Omega. Chakotay: Bad idea. One mistake, and no one will be around for a second try. Seven: It will work. Chakotay: Someday, maybe. Hang on to your research. For now, we stick to the plan. Stand by to transport the molecules into this chamber and neutralize them as ordered. Seven: I have been a member of this crew for nine months. In all of that time, I have never made a personal request. I am making one now. Allow me to proceed. Please. Chakotay: Why is this so important to you? Seven: Particle zero one zero. The Borg designation for what you call Omega. Every Drone is aware of its existence. We were instructed to assimilate it at all costs. It is perfection. The molecules exist in a flawless state. Infinite parts functioning as one. Chakotay: Like the Borg. Seven: Precisely. I am no longer Borg, but I still need to understand that perfection. Without it, my existence will never be complete. Commander, you are a spiritual man. Chakotay: That's right. Seven: If you had the chance to see your God, your Great Spirit, what would you do? Chakotay: I'd pursue it, with all my heart. Seven: Then you understand. Chakotay: I think I do. I'll inform the captain of your discovery. For now, her orders stand. Seven: Thank you. Janeway: Set the confinement beam to its narrowest dispersion. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: We'll target this facility with the gravimetric torpedo. If anything goes wrong during transport, that'll be our only hope. Chakotay: Bridge to Janeway. We've detected two ships on an intercept course. They're not responding to hails. Janeway: How long until they get here? Paris: Less than four minutes, Captain. Janeway: Standby to transport the Janeway: Molecules directly to the harmonic chamber. Chakotay: Understood. Bridge to Chakotay: Cargo bay. Seven: Yes, Commander. Chakotay: Seven, get ready. Chakotay: We'll have to do this quickly. Seven: That's not advisable. Chakotay: We don't have a choice. Chakotay: The alien ships are on their way. Seven: Then I recommend moving the ship within five thousand kilometers of the surface. Paris: That'll take us right into the atmosphere. Paris: With our shields down, we won't withstand the thermal reaction for more than a few seconds. Chakotay: Then we'll only get one shot at this. Take us in. Paris: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Transporter status? Kim: Targeting scanners are locked. Chakotay: Captain, are you ready? Tuvok: Pattern enhancers are active. Janeway: Do it. Paris: We're eleven thousand kilometers from the surface. If we get much closer, we'll incinerate. Kim: We're losing structural integrity. Paris: Nine thousand kilometers. Janeway: We're close enough. Energize. Chakotay: Initiating transport. Seven: The Omega molecules are stable. Seven: Transport was successful. Kim: I've got the away team in transporter room two. Chakotay: Get us out of here, maximum impulse. Paris: Already on it. Chakotay: How far away are those ships? Paris: They're right on our tail. Chakotay: We're heading into an area of open space. No indications of life or any kind of technology. We can carry out the procedure with no risk to anyone else. Paris: Except those two ships behind us. Janeway: Can we stay ahead of them? Paris: Not for long. Chakotay: How soon can we clear the subspace ruptures and go to warp? Paris: Ten, maybe fifteen minutes. But those ships will catch up to us before then. Janeway: Well we have one advantage. We've got Omega. They won't risk firing at us. At least not until they run out of options. That should give us a chance to neutralize the molecules. Chakotay: Captain, we might have another problem. Janeway: Seven of Nine? Chakotay: She's convinced she can stabilize Omega. Janeway: I thought we'd settled that question. Chakotay: While you were on the surface, she showed me a pretty convincing simulation of how it could be done. Janeway: I should have known she wouldn't just let this go. I'll be in Cargo Bay two. Janeway: Seven, the procedure? Seven: It's working. Eleven percent of the molecules have already been neutralized. Janeway: Let's see if we can speed up the process a little. Seven: Did Chakotay tell you about my idea? Janeway: Yes. Seven: Then you will allow me to stabilize the remaining molecules. Janeway: You know I can't do that. Seven: Your Starfleet Directive is no longer relevant. I have found a way to control Omega. Janeway: I don't care if you can make it sing and dance. We're getting rid of it. Seven: A foolish decision. Janeway: Yes, but it's mine to make. Now step aside. Seven: I could have done this without your permission, but I chose to follow your command structure. I should have made the attempt. I still can. Janeway: But you won't. You know I'm not trying to stop you from finding perfection, but I can't risk the safety of this Quadrant. Omega must end here. We both know that. Status? Seven: Eighteen percent. Janeway: This could take hours. Can you increase the harmonic resonance? Seven: Yes. but it would rupture the chamber. Janeway: How many molecules would we neutralize? Seven: Forty, fifty percent at best. Janeway: That's good enough. Our torpedo can take care of the rest. Janeway to bridge. Chakotay: Chakotay here. Janeway: Chakotay, I want you to clear deck four. Put emergency forcefields around this section. Prepare to decompress Cargo Bay two on my command. Chakotay: Understood. Janeway: Tuvok, load the gravimetric torpedo. Once we've jettisoned the chamber, fire. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Harmonic resonance to maximum. Paris: Commander, they're closing on us. Tuvok: They're attempting to stop us with a tractor beam. Chakotay: Adjust shields to compensate. Kim: They're hailing us. Chakotay: On screen. Alien Captain: Disengage your engines and prepare to be boarded. Chakotay: I can't do that. Alien Captain: You've stolen our technology, abducted our people. Chakotay: Your people are safe. They're receiving medical care. I'll be glad to get them back to you when this is over. But we're keeping the molecules. Alien Captain: I won't allow this substance to fall into enemy hands. I'll destroy it first. Tuvok: They're charging weapons. Chakotay: You'll destabilize the molecules. We'll both be destroyed. Alien Captain: Then return our technology. Now. Chakotay: I'm sorry. That's not possible. Tuvok: Direct hit. Shields down ten percent. Chakotay: Evasive maneuvers. Try to shake them off. Seven: Harmonic resonance at maximum, Captain. Janeway: The molecules? Seven: Eighty percent remaining. Janeway: We need to get that down to sixty. Seven: Any damage to our power grid could overload the chamber. Omega would chain react. Janeway: The same thought crossed my mind. Where are we now? Seven: Seventy two percent. Janeway: That's close enough, Bridge, start the decompression sequence. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Janeway: What's wrong? What's happening? Seven: The molecules are stabilizing. Janeway: What? Seven: I've done nothing. It's occurring spontaneously. Janeway: That's impossible. Computer: Decompression in thirty seconds. Decompression in twenty five seconds. Janeway: Seven, let's move. Computer: Decompression in twenty seconds. Janeway: Seven! Computer: Decompression in fifteen seconds. Computer: Decompression in ten seconds. Chakotay: Tom, are we clear of the subspace ruptures? Paris: Almost. Chakotay: I need maximum warp within ten seconds or we'll be stuck at ground zero. Paris: Yes, sir. Tuvok: Decompression is complete. The harmonic chamber has been jettisoned. Chakotay: Fire! Paris: We made it. We're at warp one. Janeway: The alien ships? Paris: Out of range. Janeway: Tuvok? Tuvok: Sensors show no traces of Omega molecules. Janeway: Mission accomplished. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51793.4. We've arranged for our guests in Sickbay to be taken back to their homeworld, and we can finally put this mission behind us. This will be my last encrypted log concerning the Omega Directive. The classified datafiles will now be destroyed. Janeway: I wondered who was running my program. Master da Vinci doesn't like visitors after midnight. Seven: He protested. I deactivated him. Janeway: What are you doing here, Seven? Seven: This simulation contains many religious components. I was studying them to help me understand what I saw in Cargo Bay two. Janeway: The data isn't clear why Omega stabilized in the last few seconds. The chances are it was simply a chaotic anomaly, nothing more. Seven: For three point two seconds I saw perfection. When Omega stabilized, I felt a curious sensation. As I was watching it, it seemed to be watching me. The Borg have assimilated many species with mythologies to explain such moments of clarity. I've always dismissed them as trivial. Perhaps I was wrong. Janeway: If I didn't know you better, I'd say you just had your first spiritual experience.

Kim: When the Captain told us to start collecting deuterium, Seven suggested a series of modifications to the Bussard collectors. The problem is I didn't realize the extent of the modifications until after we'd begun the sweep. I mean, not that there was anything wrong with them, in fact efficiency is up twenty three percent Chakotay: In a nutshell, Harry. Kim: The collectors are almost full, but I can't tell exactly how full until I realign my sensors with Seven's. Chakotay: Why didn't you just say so? Next time, work closer with her from the start. Kim: Closer. Right. Paris: So, you're going to realign your sensors with Seven's. Sounds like fun. Kim: Very funny. Paris: What was that? Chakotay: Are you getting feedback from Seven's modifications? Kim: Negative. Janeway: Report. Tuvok: I am picking up proton surges just outside the ship. The first was off the port beam and the second two were off the starboard bow. Janeway: On screen. There's nothing out there. Paris: Whatever it is, it's getting closer. Janeway: Red alert. Janeway to Astrometrics. Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Use the Astrometrics sensors to scan for the disturbance. Seven: I'm detecting close range weapons fire. Janeway: Source? Seven: Proton surges suggest two cloaked ships engaged in battle. Kim: With us caught in the middle. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Paris: Aye, sir. Chakotay: There's a massive power surge, like one of the ships is exploding. Tuvok: Captain, there is one life sign aboard that vessel. Tuvok: It is no longer on our sensors. Kim: We're being hailed, audio only. Janeway: Let's hear it. Kellin: Chakotay, please, I need your help. Kellin: Chakotay, are you reading me? Please answer. Chakotay: This is Commander Chakotay. Who are you? Kellin: Please, anyone on Voyager, if you can hear me, I need help. Tuvok: There has been an explosion on the vessel. Kim: The hull is destabilizing. Life support is offline. Janeway: Beam her directly to Sickbay. Kim: Targeting her coordinates. I've lost her. Trying again. I don't understand, I get a clear lock, then it drops out. Chakotay: If we can get an away team over there, we could stabilize her ship and tractor it in. Janeway: Do it. Chakotay: Tom, Tuvok, let's find out what's going on. Tuvok: Environmental systems are not functioning. Oxygen levels are dangerously low. Chakotay: Tom, try to get life support online. Tuvok: No lifesigns. Chakotay: See if you can stabilize the hull. I'll look for the pilot. Hello? Can you hear me? Kellin: Chakotay, is it you? Chakotay: Yes. I'm going to get this bulkhead off you. Kellin: But the beam will fall. Chakotay: I'm going to pry the bulkhead off you. When I say now, get ready to roll out of there like your life depended on it. Kellin: All right. Chakotay: Ready? Kellin: Yes. Chakotay: Now! Kellin: I knew you'd come. Chakotay: Do I know you? Chakotay to Voyager, two to beam directly to Sickbay. Janeway: How is she? Emh: I'm not certain. When I scan her, the readings won't stay in the database. Luckily, I'm a master of visual diagnosis. She has a minor concussion and a compound tibular fracture. Nothing life-threatening. I can repair the damage. Janeway: Did you find out how she knows you? Chakotay: Not yet. Kellin: No. I can't. Emh: She's coming around. Don't be frightened. You're quite safe here. Kellin: Captain, please, I need asylum. You must let me stay on your ship, and we've got to get away from here. They'll be coming after me. Janeway: Slow down a minute. I have a few questions first. Who are you, and how do you know my First Officer? Kellin: It's a complicated story. I'm not, I'm not sure quite how to begin. But if you don't give me asylum, they're going to track me down and they're going to take me back. And I don't want to go. Janeway: We won't turn you over to anyone without knowing the whole story. Kellin: Thank you. Janeway: Chakotay. I want you to stay with her. She seems to trust you. Maybe you'll be able to find out what this is all about. Chakotay: I hope so. Janeway: Keep me informed. Emh: Once I've repaired the fracture, she'll need some bed rest. Kellin: Will you stay with me? Chakotay: Of course. Kellin: Then I'll be fine. Emh: There, that should do it. I'd ask you to monitor her vital signs, but since they aren't registering, I suppose there's no point. Well, I have several days' worth of inoculation records to catalog. I suppose I'll get to it. Kellin: Is he gone? Chakotay: Yes. Kellin: Then we're alone. Chakotay: In a manner of speaking. Can you start clearing up a few things now? Kellin: I'll try. It's complicated. You see, we've met before. Chakotay: If that were true, I'm sure I'd remember. Kellin: No, you wouldn't. You couldn't. You see, the memories of my people can't be held in the minds of other races. When we encounter others, which we do infrequently, they remember us for a few hours, but then the memories fade away. We're completely forgotten by the next day. Chakotay: Is this done through technology? Telepathy? Kellin: It's a factor of our biology. You see, our bodies produce a sort of pheromone which blocks the long-term memory engrams of others. Chakotay: Is that why the tricorder can't scan you? Why we couldn't get a transporter lock? Kellin: We're impervious to those sort of devices. Chakotay: Your ships are cloaked as well. Kellin: When you live a covert existence, you develop technology to enhance it. Chakotay: But you say we've met before. Kellin: About a month ago. I spent several weeks here. Chakotay: Several weeks? Kellin: You and I worked closely together. You helped me a great deal. Then I left, knowing that you would forget everything about me. Chakotay: Then why did you come back? Why the battle? Why ask us for asylum? Kellin: I know you want everything in a nutshell. That's the way you work. But I have to tell you the whole story before it will make sense. Chakotay: Fine. I'm listening. Kellin: I came back because I fell in love with you. Chakotay: She comes from Ramura. It's a closed society that won't tolerate anybody trying to leave. Apparently, she was disenchanted with that and wanted out. They're trying to bring her back. That's why she's asking for asylum. Tuvok: But you say that she claims she was on Voyager before this. Chakotay: About a month ago. She says she's a Tracer, a kind of bounty hunter who tracks down people who try to leave their world. She found a runaway hiding on Voyager. Kim: She was here, but nobody remembers it? Chakotay: That's what she says, but I think we have to find a way to verify her story. Paris: I was looking at her ship. It uses a sophisticated polarization technique that causes our sensor scans to pass right through it. She could have been shadowing us for quite a while. Kim: And learnt enough about us to convince us she's been here before. Janeway: But why? Why go to that trouble? And what about the battle with that other cloaked ship? She put herself in danger, when it would have been a lot easier simply to ask for asylum. Chakotay: I agree. But I think we have to make sure she doesn't have some hidden agenda. If she was here there should be some evidence of it. She said a computer virus was planted to wipe all references to her being here, but I have to believe we can at least turn up some evidence of tampering. Harry, Tuvok, Tom. Do the same with her ship. See if the navigational logs support what she's saying. Janeway: Gentlemen. I agree we should take precautions, but you seem very suspicious of her. Chakotay: I want to make sure we're not being manipulated. Janeway: I agree. If we grant her asylum, we'll be in the position of having to protect her. If we're going to commit to that, we should certainly find out if she's telling the truth. I'd appreciate your thoughts on that. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Seven: I have successfully downloaded the navigational logs from your vessel. Kellin: Good. Now compare them with your own logs over the last two months. Tuvok: Display Voyager's route towards the Alpha Quadrant. Kellin: Now overlay my route. There, you see. Our ships traveled together for at least two weeks. Seven: You could have falsified your navigational logs. Tuvok: There's no proof that you ever came aboard Voyager. Kellin: That's what I always liked about you two. Such unyielding logic, such refreshing skepticism. Run a diagnostic on my logs. You'll find they haven't been altered. Chakotay: How's it going? Tuvok: Her story seems to be legitimate, but there are further steps to take. Chakotay: Then take them. I thought you might like to get something to eat, unless your memories of our mess hall aren't good. Kellin: As a matter of fact, I was quite fond of Neelix's food. Chakotay: Now that's something that's hard to believe. Seven: Commander Chakotay's face became flushed as he spoke with her. What does that signify? Tuvok: I'd rather not engage in speculation. It is a dangerous pastime. Neelix: I think our guest will enjoy this, Commander. Fried soy meal, buttered carrots, and a delightful almond pudding. Kellin: Sounds wonderful. Chakotay: Very nice. Thanks, Neelix. Kellin: You were very diplomatic. Chakotay: Why do you say that? Kellin: You hate carrots, fried food upsets your stomach, and you refuse to eat pudding because you think it's slimy. Right? Chakotay: I'm curious. When you were here before you said we worked together, but you also said you were here to retrieve a runaway. How was I involved? Kellin: Aren't you more curious to hear about how we fell in love? Chakotay: We? You said you were in love with me. You didn't say I felt the same way. Kellin: If you hadn't returned the feelings, do you really think I would have taken such a terrible risk to get back to you? Chakotay: Let's take it one step at a time. How did you get on our ship? Kellin: That was easy. The hard part was looking for the runaway without anyone finding me. I managed two days on the ship before I triggered an intruder alert and lost my cloak. Chakotay: And then what happened? Kellin: And then I met you. Chakotay: Wrong direction. Kellin: I don't want to hurt you. Put your weapon down. Chakotay: On my ship, I give the orders. Put yours down. Kellin: I don't mean you any harm. You have a stowaway on board. I'll retrieve him and we'll be on our way. Chakotay: That's not the way we do things here. Chakotay to Tuvok. I'm in cargo bay two. I have our intruder. Tuvok: Understood, Commander. Chakotay: You're about to find yourself outnumbered. If you want to give me your weapon and explain what's going on, I'll listen. Kellin: I felt an attraction right away, but I couldn't afford to get distracted. I had work to do. And I didn't know if you felt it, too. Chakotay: What happened next? Kellin: You took me to Captain Janeway. I explained the situation. She didn't like the idea of a stowaway on her ship, so she told you and Tuvok to work with me to flush him out. Chakotay: And did we? Kellin: You keep trying to jump to the end. You're skipping all the parts about us. Chakotay: And you keep trying to talk about your feelings. I'd rather you stick to the events, not the emotions surrounding them. Kellin: Why? Does it make you uncomfortable? Chakotay: I don't want to play this game. I've been assigned to talk to you, to figure out whether or not you're telling the truth. Even if you are, I have no memory of meeting you, and I certainly have no memory of feeling anything for you. You might remember a relationship between us, but as far as I'm concerned, it didn't exist. Kellin: I see. Chakotay: I'm sorry. I just want to make it clear how I feel. Kellin: Of course. Chakotay: Is there anything I can do for you? Kellin: Can I have your pudding? Chakotay: Gladly. Kellin: Then you're forgiven. Janeway: Chakotay and Kellin, report to the bridge immediately. Kellin: It's the Tracers. They've found me. Janeway: We don't detect any ships. I'm assuming these are your people in cloaked vessels. Kellin: They've come to take me back. Janeway: Harry, hail them. Kellin: They won't answer. Kim: She's right, Captain. No response. Their weapons are going through our shields as if they weren't there. Janeway: Match shields to the frequency of their particle beams. Kim: No effect. Tuvok: Shield strength down to twenty nine percent. Kellin: They'll keep firing until you surrender, or until I contact them and agree to come back. Janeway: Do you still want to stay with us? Kellin: Yes. Janeway: All right. Tom, get us our of here. Paris: That last volley damaged our propulsion systems. We have thrusters only. Kellin: Captain, if you'll let me have access to your sensor systems, I can modify then to detect the ships. Janeway: Do it. This is the moment, Chakotay. Either we give her up or we fire back. Which one is it? Chakotay: Fire. Kellin: I think you might be able to detect them now, but only for a minute or two. Janeway: Harry. Kim: Affirmative. Two heavily armed ships off the port bow. Janeway: Can we get them on screen? Kim: That's the best I can do. Janeway: Tuvok, target their weapons systems. Tuvok: Firing. Janeway: Well done. Stand down Red alert. Well, it seems we've granted you asylum. Now you'll have to give some thought to what you want to do. Kellin: I'd prefer to remain on board. Janeway: Consider that carefully. We're headed for the Alpha Quadrant. Before long, we will be so far from your world that if you change your mind, you wouldn't be able to get back. Kellin: I won't change my mind. But I must warn you. The Tracers won't give up that easily. Your ship is still at risk. Janeway: Nothing we haven't faced before. Kellin: I was only able to make a temporary modification to your sensors. If you let me access your Astrometrics processors, I could make that modification permanent. Janeway: You'll need a command officer with you to override the security lock-outs. Chakotay: I can do that, Captain. Janeway: Go ahead. Tom, coordinate with Engineering to get the propulsion systems back online. Paris: I'm on it, Captain. Chakotay: We'll have to climb up to deck ten. Is something wrong? Kellin: I can't relax until we're far enough away that they realize they can't get me back. And to my knowledge, that's never happened before. Chakotay: There's always a first time. Kellin: I have a high security clearance. They'll be afraid I'm going to do exactly what I'm about to do. Show you how to detect them. Chakotay: Look at it this way. If they do figure out we can spot them, they might realize they aren't going to be able to take you back. Kellin: You're such a kind person. That's what I remembered most. It's what made me turn around and come back. And sometime, you might be interested in hearing about our last night together. Neelix: Evening, Commander. Craving a late night snack? Chakotay: No. Something to help me sleep. Got any ideas? Neelix: I know humans think warm milk will do it. Frankly, I find it repulsive. Chakotay: I agree. What's available in the tea area? Neelix: Herbal is best. I have several Terran varieties, as well as some more exotic blends. Chakotay: Just mix me up whatever you think is the most relaxing. Neelix: Problems? Forgive me. I wasn't trying to pry. Chakotay: I know that. I'm just not sure how to answer you. Neelix: How's our guest adapting to life on Voyager? Chakotay: Quite well, I think. Neelix: She must be happy to be here. Chakotay: I'm sure she is. Neelix: Forgive me, Commander, but sometimes it's best to be straightforward. It's obvious how she feels about you, to me at least. I see how she looks at you. Might that be the source of your consternation? Chakotay: She says she, or rather we, fell in love when she was here before. Since I can't remember any of that, I don't know if it's true. But somehow, it's hard to believe. Neelix: Why is that? Chakotay: I don't know. It just doesn't seem like me. I'm still suspicious of her. I don't know if she's using me in some way just for her own purposes. Neelix: You don't trust her. Chakotay: Not really. Neelix: May I suggest that maybe it's yourself you don't trust, your own feelings that you're afraid of. Sweet dreams. Kellin: I couldn't sleep. I need to talk to you. May I come in? I was just wondering if you still had doubts about me, or if you believe what I told you about us? Chakotay: Your story seems to have been verified. I believe you're telling the truth. Kellin: And the rest of it? What about us? I'm not one to hold back, as you may have noticed, so I'll get to the point. I came here because of you. I knew you wouldn't remember me, but I was sure we could regain the feelings we had before. They were there. They were real. But now I'm not so sure. My being here puts this ship at risk. It's better for everyone if I go back to Ramura. So please be honest. If you feel nothing for me, just tell me, and I'll leave. Chakotay: Don't go. Kellin: It's called ice cream? Chakotay: I'm surprised you didn't have any the last time you were here. Kellin: I could eat this every day. Chakotay: Then you should. Kellin: Voyager's a very powerful ship, and very fast. Chakotay: We've met people with ships that are faster and more powerful, but Voyager's always managed to be a match for the best of them. Kellin: Ramuran vessels are fast. They could stay up with this ship. Chakotay: Kellin, we'll keep you safe. That's a promise. Kellin: A Tracer never goes home empty-handed. The disgrace would be too great. When I was here before, I'd been tracking that man for almost a year. Chakotay: But you know all the tricks. You can use them against anyone who tries to come after you. You said you were going to tell me about our last night together. Kellin: Let me show you. You were sitting here, in this chair, and I was here. And we were drinking something with bubbles. Chakotay: Champagne? Kellin: Yes, I wanted to celebrate. I'd caught my runaway that day with your help. Chakotay: How was that? Kellin: You came up with the idea of using a magneton sweep to disrupt his polarization cloak. We knew he'd be watching me closely so we tricked him. Chakotay: I'm sorry you didn't get your fugitive. Kellin: He must have jumped to another ship while Voyager was in orbit of Mikah last week. I'll find him eventually. Chakotay: If you think we can be of any more help, let me know. Kellin: Thank you, Commander. This is my problem. I'll handle it from now on. Just beam me back to my ship and I'll backtrack to Mikah. Goodbye, and thank you again. Chakotay: Ready to energize. Kellin: Hello, Resket. You were a real challenge. Chakotay: I haven't had the chance to welcome you to Voyager. Too bad you'll be leaving so soon. Kellin: We put him in the brig. Once I used the neurolytic emitter on him, he was only too happy to be going home again. Chakotay: Neurolytic emitter? Kellin: We use it on runaways. It wipes their memories of the outside world. Chakotay: So we were celebrating? Kellin: You'd become much more than a friend to me, but I knew I had to go home, and you'd forget about me within hours. So I took the initiative. Chakotay: More than usual? Kellin: Oh, yes. I moved closer to you. I thanked you profusely for all your help, told you that I couldn't have done it without you, and I touched you. I told you I, I cared very much for you and that I wanted something to remember you by. And then I did this. Kellin: That's when I knew you felt the same way, But it didn't matter because I still had to go. Chakotay: But now you don't. Chakotay: If Kellin's going to be with us, the captain wants her to serve a function, to contribute in some way. Tuvok: A reasonable expectation. What are her skills? Chakotay: Basically, she was a security operative for her people. She's a trained expert in weaponry, surveillance, fighting skills. Any idea where she might fit in? Tuvok: Mister Neelix could use an assistant in the mess hall. Chakotay: Tuvok, that was a joke. Don't deny it. You were trying to be funny. Tuvok: If you choose to interpret my remark as humorous, that is your decision. Chakotay: I do, and it was. Tuvok: It's perfectly logical. All the qualities you mentioned would help in defending Neelix against the periodic wrath of the crew. Chakotay: Maybe so, but don't you think she'd be better off as a member of your security detail? Tuvok: Perhaps. I'll assign her to a team and let her observe for a week. At the end of that time I'll evaluate her situation. Chakotay: Good enough. Tuvok: Commander, I've been giving some thought to the fact that the Ramuran ships might be in pursuit and could attack us again. Chakotay: I've given that some thought myself. Tuvok: Their proton weapons were particularly effective against us. If Kellin would work with Seven and Ensign Kim, perhaps we could devise a strategy to defend ourselves. Chakotay: I'm sure she'll be happy to do that. Tuvok: Have her report to Astrometrics at thirteen hundred hours. Seven: I've downloaded data from our tactical logs. You can access it from this console. Kellin: Our weapons are proton based particle beams, very tightly focused. Kim: It's like being hit with thousands of needles. Kellin: They can penetrate any shield even if the modulations are changed. Kim: Very clever. Kellin: No defense has ever stopped these weapons. Kim: Then maybe we're about to make history. Kellin: You've found a way to counteract them? Kim: I think so. The trick is to scatter those beams a little, make it harder for them to penetrate the shields. I think we could do that by tying the baryon sensors into deflector control. Here's what I have in mind. Why don't you look this over and let me know what you think? Kellin: I'll do it right away. Kim: By the way, I hear Chakotay recommended you to Tuvok to serve on a security detail. Kellin: I want to help out in some way. Kim: A word of advice. Volunteer for beta squad. They're the best team. You'll learn a lot from them. Kellin: I will. Thank you. Seven: When you mentioned Commander Chakotay's name, she flushed. He did the same when he saw her. Kim: What are you saying? Seven: I suspect the Commander and Kellin are engaged in a courtship ritual. It seems an unnecessary and complicated precursor to the act of procreation. Kim: I know you think so, but trust me, some people need those rituals. Seven: Explain. Kim: It's, it's usually considered a good idea if two people get to know each other a little before they become intimate. Seven: Why is that? Kim: Because it's more comfortable. You spend some time together, you laugh, you talk. That makes it easier to, to get closer. Seven: But the end result is the same, is it not? Kim: Well, I guess so. Seven: Then I fail to see what is accomplished by all the talk. Kim: Seven, if you don't get it, then I can't explain it to you. Seven: Obviously. Kellin: I should have known. They must have gotten somebody on board during the battle. Chakotay: You're jumping to conclusions. Kellin: No. There's a Tracer. He's here. He's come for me. That broken vase was a warning. Chakotay: We'll protect you. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Kellin: It's too late. Chakotay: No. We can use the same magneton sweep we used to flush out Resket. We'll find this one and send him on his way. Curneth: I'm afraid I can't let that happen. Kellin: Curneth, don't. Chakotay: Chakotay to Security. Intruder alert, my quarters. Kellin: Please, I beg you, don't do this. Curneth: You know better than to ask that, Kellin. Kellin: No! Chakotay: Drop it. Drop it! Curneth: You're too late. She's already beginning to forget everything that's happened here. Chakotay: The Doctor says there's nothing he can do. Your recent memories have already begun to fade. Kellin: Don't let this happen, please. Don't let this happen. Chakotay: Do you have any idea how we can reverse the effect? Kellin: Promise me. If I forget why I'm here, if I forget you, do what I did and you tell me all about us, and you'll help me to remember. Chakotay: I will, but I'm going to try to do more than that. Chakotay: Can the effects of the neurolytic emitter be reversed? Curneth: Reversed? I have no idea. As far as I know, no one's ever tried. Chakotay: Then I'll be the first. Tell me how the emitter works. How it affects the memory centers. Curneth: You sound desperate, Commander. Does Kellin mean that much to you? Chakotay: What you're doing is wrong. She wants to stay here. Curneth: This is futile. Even if I knew how the emitter works, I wouldn't tell you. Chakotay: You have no right to do this. Curneth: I have every right. The laws on our world are very specific about that. No one may leave. No one may reveal anything about us to the outside world. Kellin has violated both of those edicts. Returning her will serve as a deterrent to others who might think of leaving. Chakotay: Did it ever occur to you that the fact that so many people want to leave might mean that there's something wrong with your society? Curneth: We have a strong and cohesive society because of our efforts to keep it that way. A few runaways among millions hardly indicates a problem. Chakotay: If there are so few, why not let them go? Curneth: That would suggest that we don't care about them. What a terrible message. Chakotay: You may have wiped her memory, but Kellin's not going back. Curneth: Maybe we should wait and see if that's what happens. Chakotay: She made it clear to me that she wants to stay here. So maybe you should start practicing what you're going to tell your superiors. Kellin: Yes? Chakotay: The Doctor told me he'd released you. How are you feeling? Kellin: I'm fine. Do I know you? Chakotay: Yes. At least, you did. Kellin: You'll have to forgive me but, I don't remember how I got here or anything else that's happened in at least the past few weeks. Chakotay: I know. Kellin: I hope I wasn't throwing things in a fit of rage. Chakotay: No. Kellin: I assume a Tracer is here to take me back? Chakotay: That's right, but. What I'm going to say will sound strange, but it's what you asked me to do before you lost your memories. You came here about a month ago, looking for a runaway. After you left with him, you decided to come back. Kellin: But if I finished my assignment, why would I come back here? Chakotay: Because you'd fallen in love with me. Kellin: Forgive me. You're certainly attractive, but what you're telling me seems very unlikely. Chakotay: But it's what happened. We started to work together and I began to realize how unique you are. Before long, I couldn't get you out of my mind. Kellin: Are you saying that you fell in love with me as well? Chakotay: Yes. And then we realized the Tracer was on board. After he used the emitter on you, you made me promise to tell you all of this, so you would know what happened between us. Kellin: This is a little unsettling. What is it you want from me? Chakotay: Kellin, don't go back with the Tracer. Stay here for a while, at least for a few days. We can get to know each other again. Kellin: I honestly can't imagine what would be served by that. I have to go home. Chakotay: If you stayed, you might change your mind. Kellin: Then that's all the more reason that I should leave now. I've violated one of our most important edicts, and I wouldn't want to make that mistake again. I wish, I wish we had met under different circumstances. Chakotay: Your ship's ready. Kellin: Thank you, Commander. Curneth: I've implanted a computer virus to eliminate any reference to our being here. By tomorrow afternoon, you'll have forgotten everything. It will be as though we never existed. It's better that way. Kellin: You're such a kind person. I won't forget that. Chakotay: I wish you both the best. Chakotay: Energize. First Officer's personal log, Stardate 51813.4. Maybe it would be best, as the Tracer said, to forget about Kellin and the time she spent here. But I don't want to do that. I want to remember. Neelix: More coffee, Commander? Chakotay: No, thanks. I'm almost done. Neelix: Strange to see you using those ancient writing implements. Chakotay: It's the only way I could get a permanent record of what's happened in the last few days. I want to get it down before I forget it all. Neelix: I'm sorry things didn't work out for you. Chakotay: I've been trying to make sense of it. I fell in love with her twice. I thought she could do the same. We were the same two people on the same ship. Why didn't it happen again? I keep going over and over our last conversation, trying to think if there was something I could have said, could have done, but nothing comes to mind. Neelix: Commander, I don't think you can analyze love. It's the greatest mystery of all. No one knows why it happens or doesn't. Love is a chance combination of elements. Any one thing might be enough to keep it from igniting. A mood, a glance, a remark. And if we could define love, predict it, it would probably lose its power. I'll let you finish. Chakotay: Good night.

Janeway: When diplomacy fails there's only one alternative. Violence. Force must be applied without apology. It's the Starfleet way. Daleth: Then our philosophies are in agreement. Will you help us? p Janeway: You're asking me to fight your war, destroy your enemy. Daleth: I'm asking you to intimidate the Kyrians with your technology. Help me capture their leader. This ship has superior firepower. He won't risk a conflict with you. p Janeway: We risk life and limb so your people can annex Kyrian land. Sounds like a good deal for you. What do we get? Daleth: A way home. p Janeway: You know more about Voyager than you've let on. Daleth: Your reputation in this quadrant precedes you. That's why we sought you out. p Janeway: I'm listening. Daleth: There's a cyclic wormhole five days journey from here. We know where it is, and we can help you stabilize it. p Janeway: If you're lying. Daleth: How far do you have to go? Sixty thousand light years? p Janeway: I want all tactical data regarding your little war. Kyrian defenses, position of your own forces, everything. Daleth: You'll have it within the hour. Neelix: Eight Kyrian fighter ships approaching. p Janeway: Arm the assault probes. Fire at will. Hail them. p Tuvok: Channel open. p Janeway: This is Captain Janeway of the warship Voyager. Break off your attack, or I'll destroy you. p Tuvok: They are not responding. p Paris: They're returning fire. Shields are holding. p Janeway: Chakotay, any luck tracking down their leader? p Chakotay: Not yet. We think Tedran has go-ne into hiding. p Janeway: I thought he might. We'll have to flush him out. Daleth: What do you suggest? p Janeway: Biogenic weapons. We'll infect the most populated Kyrian territories. The Doctor's nearly done working on the weapon. Daleth: Our conflict is with Tedran himself, not his people. They're innocent. p Janeway: The best way to bring down a ruler is to make his people suffer. Daleth: Captain p Janeway: This is no time for half-measures. You wanted victory. You're going to get it. Bridge to Sickbay. Status? Emh: We have established a datalink between my neural net and the phaser array. I am reconfiguring the beam to carry a bio-agent into the planet's atmosphere p Janeway: When will it be ready? p Emh: It is ready now, Captain. Tuvok: Phasers are online. p Janeway: Target the first city. And fire. Quarren: The warship Voyager. One of the most powerful vessels of its time. Armed with photonic torpedoes and particle weapons, this ship of destruction could wipe out an entire civilization within hours. On this particular day in history, we were lucky. The death toll could have been much worse. By the time Voyager targeted our major cities, Tedran had already begun an evacuation. Thousands of lives were saved. Unfortunately, it was only the beginning of Captain Janeway's onslaught. As you'll see, her actions would have a lasting effect on our world. Even today, seven hundred years later, we are still feeling the impact of the Voyager encounter. Before we continue the simulation, I'd like to answer any questions you might have. Kyrian Visitor: I'm curious about Voyager itself. How many people were on board? Quarren: We believe they had a complement of over three hundred soldiers. Kyrian Visitor: Did they attack other worlds as well? Quarren: Well, we aren't certain. Records of Voyager's travels through our quadrant are incomplete, but it's safe to assume that they interfered with many other cultures, yes. Kyrian Visitor: Tell us more about the Borg drones they kept on the ship. Quarren: Voyager had many weapons at their disposal, including species they'd assimilated along the way. Borg, Talaxian, Kazon. They were captured and made to work as part of Voyager's fighting force. Let's resume the simulation, and you can see for yourself. It's a few hours after the initial bombardment. Janeway and her squadron are on the bridge mounting their assault. Now, what you are about to see is graphic and unsettling. Janeway: Status. Status! p Neelix: Approximately three thousand Kyrians dead. p Janeway: That's it? p Tuvok: The bio-agent is still dispersing through the atmosphere. The fatality rate will be three hundred thousand soon enough. p Janeway: How soon? p Tuvok: Best guess, one hour. p Janeway: Why do you always keep me waiting, Tuvok? p Tuvok: My apologies. Preparing to fire again. p Janeway: Double the yield, Daleth: Captain, don't you think that's excessive? p Janeway: You picked a bad time to have second thoughts, Ambassador. Daleth: I want them defeated but, but this is genocide! p Janeway: Defeat? Genocide? Why quibble with semantics? Daleth: This wasn't our agreement. p Janeway: We're going to defeat the Kyrians, and you're going to keep up your end of the bargain. p Janeway: Ensign, confine this gentleman to the brig. I'll let you know when it's over. p Paris: Three more Kyrian vessels approaching. p Janeway: Evade them. p Paris: Aye, aye, sir. Chakotay: The location. p Kim: Look, I can keep this up all day. Tell the Commander what he wants to know. Maybe I can't keep this up all day. p Chakotay: I'm a man of peace. My native people are enlightened, non-violent, much like your own. I'm saddened that this has happened to you. If we can work together maybe we can end this conflict. p Kim: Stand aside, Chakotay. Let me hit him. p Emh: That hyperspanner would cause an unacceptable level of damage. I remind you, he must still be able to speak. p Kim: What do you have in mind? p Emh: This neural solvent. A clean and efficient inducer of pain. Far more effective than your crude attempts at persuasion. p Emh: No doubt you are experiencing a tingling sensation behind your eyes. The chemical is dissolving your optic nerves. p Chakotay: I'll ask you again. Where is Tedran? p Emh: The pain will increase exponentially until your cerebral cortex begins to liquefy. I can reverse the process, if ordered to do so. p Chakotay: And I want to give that order. But you have to tell me. Where is Tedran? Chakotay: He's here, at these coordinates. p Janeway: Assuming our prisoner told you the truth. p Chakotay: Oh, believe me, he was very cooperative at the end. p Janeway: Neelix? p Neelix: I'm reading a fortified compound one point six kilometers below the surface. p Janeway: Chakotay, you and Tuvok take an assault team and find Tedran. Make sure he's escorted safely to Voyager. p Chakotay: Yes, sir. p Janeway: What now? p Paris: Intruders. Four Kyrians just beamed into the engine room. p Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Respond. p Neelix: They've erected forcefields. Our soldiers can't get in. p Janeway: They've left me no choice. Computer, initiate the Borg activation sequence. Computer: Sequence in progress. Janeway: Bridge to Seven of Nine. p Seven: State your instructions. p Janeway: A group of Kyrians Janeway: Is in the Engine Room. Stop them. Seven: We understand. Seven: Resistance is futile. Seven: Seven of Nine to the bridge. The Kyrian threat has been neutralized. p Janeway: Acknowledged. p Seven: Two of the Kyrians are still alive. What shall we do with them? p Janeway: Well, you've been wanting to expand your fighting force. Assimilate them. Seven: We understand. Kim: I just received word from the attack team. p Janeway: Good news, Lieutenant? p Kim: Very. They've captured Tedran and one of his aides. They're heading back to Voyager. p Janeway: Take them to chamber nineteen and get the Vaskan ambassador. This is one negotiation he won't want to miss. Janeway: Welcome aboard. Tedran: I appreciate your hospitality. Are all your guests treated so well? p Janeway: It's not every day that we receive such an important visitor. The great Tedran. A man of wisdom and peace. A servant of his people. Well, your people need you now more than ever. Tedran: State your demands. p Janeway: Tell your forces to stand down, and I'll call off my attack. Tedran: I understand what the Vaskans want. More of our territory, more resources. But what do you want, Captain? Why are you doing this to us? p Janeway: He's offered my crew a way home. Tedran: To reach your home, you would destroy ours? p Janeway: That's right. And you'd do the same in my position. Tedran: No, I would not. p Janeway: Spoken like a true martyr. You're very enlightened. But are you so proud that you'd let your people die before you'd humble yourself? p Janeway: Tell them to surrender. Tedran: You have shamed us all. We could've ended this on our own, peacefully, without her. p Janeway: Surrender. Tedran: No. Tedran: We will prevail. p Janeway: Don't look so shocked, Ambassador. This is what you wanted, isn't it? Quarren: The ensuing conflict was brief but brutal. Two million Kyrians slaughtered within days. The warship Voyager continued on its way, leaving the Kyrian dynasty in ruins. The Vaskan leaders proceeded to occupy our lands, forcing my people into subservience. It took centuries for us to undo the damage that Captain Janeway had done, and the Kyrian struggle for equality is far from over. This simulation and this museum are a testament to that struggle. I hope you found your experience here worthwhile. If you'd like to learn more about Voyager and its role in the history of our planet, I suggest you explore the rest of this exhibit. Thank you for your time. Quarren: Please, feel free to test the simulators. I wouldn't touch that if I were you. One of the Voyager's torpedoes. Twenty five isoton yield. It could destroy an entire city within seconds. It's been inactive for centuries but you never know. I'm only teasing, but please be careful. If we damage any of these relics they can never be replaced. The history of our people should be respected. Vaskan Visitor: I have a question about that history. Quarren: Please. Vaskan Visitor: How can you prove that it's true? Quarren: Take a closer look. The evidence is all around you. Vaskan Visitor: Some musty fossils and a recreation? That doesn't prove anything. Quarren: I disagree. Vaskan Visitor: You're trying to blame the Vaskans for all your troubles the way you always do. I don't have a problem with your species. I have Kyrian friends. But I don't appreciate seeing my people being portrayed as villains in your little simulation, and I certainly don't want your history taught to my children. Quarren: You'd better get used to the idea, because we've just uncovered an artifact that's going to confirm everything you've seen here. Three weeks ago our research team found a data storage device buried nine meters beneath the ruins at Kesef. I've confirmed that it came from Voyager. Vaskan Visitor: Another fossil. Quarren: The device contains active data. Possibly crew logs, even Captain Janeway's personal almanac. In the next few days, we could be hearing Voyager's version of these events in their own words. Vaskan Visitor: And what if those words tell a different story? What then? Quarren: We will change our views accordingly. Vaskan Visitor: I'm sure you will. Quarren: I apologize. Please, enjoy the rest of your visit. Quarren: Activate recreation, the Voyager Encounter. Display Engine Room. Quarren: Begin dictation. I'm resuming work on artifact two seven one, the Voyager data storage device. I've decided to try using period tools from the simulation itself. With any luck, they'll be more compatible. Hmm. There's far more data here than I expected. Seems more like a program of some sort. Yes. Yes, it's an optronic datastream. A hologram. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Quarren: I recognize you. You're Voyager's doctor. Emh: What am I doing in Engineering? Where's my mobile emitter? Quarren: You're not an android. Emh: Of course not. What are you talking about? A Kyrian. Doctor to the bridge, intruder alert. Security to Engineering. Quarren: You won't have much luck with that. Nothing in here is real. It's a simulation. Emh: A holodeck? Quarren: No. You're in the Museum of Kyrian Heritage. Emh: You've stolen my program. How? Quarren: Please, let me try to explain. Emh: Try quickly. Quarren: You are a hologram. Emh: That I know. Quarren: I just discovered your program inside this data storage device. Emh: That's the EMH backup module. One of your attack parties must have taken it from Sickbay. Quarren: Actually, we found it at the ruins at Kesef. I know this will be difficult for you to accept, but a great deal of time has passed since Voyager encountered the Kyrians. Emh: How much time? Quarren: Seven hundred years, give or take a decade. We're not certain. Emh: I don't believe you. Quarren: Think about it. When your program is inactive, a moment or a millennium are the same to you. Emh: Seven hundred years? What about my ship? What happened to my crew? Quarren: No one knows. It's safe to say they're long dead. Emh: And I'm some sort of fossil? Quarren: No, not a fossil. A witness. A living witness to history. There's so much we don't know about what happened. But you saw it, you lived through those times. You helped to shape them. Doctor, you could be the most important discovery of all time. Emh: No. This is impossible. Quarren: Doctor. Emh: I don't believe you! Quarren: Doctor! Emh: What's going to happen to me now? Will you put me on display? The holographic Rip van Winkle? Quarren: I'm not sure. Emh: I want to try to contact Starfleet, if there still is a Starfleet. Quarren: That will have to wait. Emh: Wait for what? Quarren: There are other issues to be resolved. Emh: What kind of issues? Quarren: You're the Voyager doctor. A lot of people are going to have questions. On our world, artificial lifeforms are considered sentient and responsible for their actions. You might have to face charges. Emh: Charges? Quarren: For your crimes. You designed the bio-weapons that killed eight million Kyrians. Emh: I did nothing of the sort. Quarren: All of our evidence shows that you were a war criminal. Emh: Evidence? What evidence? Like this, for example? Triple-armored hull? Thirty torpedo tubes? Twenty five phaser banks? This isn't what our ship looked like. Quarren: We reconstructed it from a partial schematic found in the Cyrik ocean, which was badly damaged by corrosion. We were bound to get a few details wrong. Emh: Voyager wasn't a warship. We were explorers. Quarren: Yes, I know. Trying to get home, to Mars. Emh: Earth! You see, you couldn't even get that right. This is a nightmare. What if I'm found guilty? What's going to happen to me? Quarren: That's up to the Arbiters, but I imagine the penalty would be severe. Your program could be de-compiled. Emh: You've got to believe me. To you, this may be ancient history. To me, it's yesterday. You called me a living witness. Well, at least give me the chance to set the record straight. I want to see your version of what happened. Paris: We've already drained two phaser banks, and he hasn't hit anything. p Tuvok: If you looked at your console once in a while instead of chasing the female ensigns, you'd see otherwise. p Kim: Tom's right. This war was supposed to be over in five minutes. p Chakotay: You have a better idea, Lieutenant? p Paris: As a matter of fact I do. Fighter shuttles. A direct assault. p Neelix: Led by you? Good luck. p Paris: Watch your mouth, hedgehog. p Chakotay: I haven't heard a single good idea. p Paris: Well, then propose something, First Officer. Earn your rank for once. p Janeway: Gentlemen. Gentlemen! p Janeway: Save it for the holodeck. We've got a war to fight. We've only been attacking the Kyrian military installlations. A mistake. We should target the general population. p Emh: Excellent idea, Captain. I have examined the Kyrian genome and they would be vulnerable to any number of biological weapons. p Janeway: How soon could you have one ready? p Emh: Within the hour. p Janeway: Dismissed. Emh: Pure fiction. This is absurd. Quarren: Halt recreation. This is a reasonable extrapolation from historic record. But if you'd like to point out any inconsistencies. Emh: Inconsistencies? I don't know where to begin. Granted, this looks like the briefing room but these aren't the people I knew. No one behaved like this. Well, aside from Mister Paris. We weren't at each other's throats. We didn't talk about how to destroy planets. We helped people. We were an enlightened crew. Quarren: Are you denying these events took place? Emh: Yes. Quarren: Are you saying you never got involved with the conflict between my people and the Vaskans? Emh: Yes! Well, no, we did get involved, but it was nothing like this. Quarren: Elaborate. Emh: There was a meeting in this room, but it wasn't about battle tactics. It was about a dilemma we were facing. We had negotiated a trade agreement with the Vaskans. We were dealing with a representative, Ambassador Quarren: Ambassador Daleth. Emh: Daleth. Exactly. Everything was going according to plan until we were attacked. By your people, the Kyrians. They'd picked that moment to start a war and we were caught in the middle. Quarren: The Kyrians were the aggressors? No, no. That can't be right. Emh: Captain Janeway called this meeting to figure out how we could extricate ourselves from the conflict and still maintain the trade agreement with the Vaskans. But we weren't on their side, and we certainly never attacked you. Quarren: Save your objections until you see the entire recreation. Let's continue. Tedran: We will prevail. p Janeway: Don't look so shocked, Ambassador. This is what you wanted, isn't it? Emh: Somewhere, halfway across the galaxy I hope, Captain Janeway is spinning in her grave. You've portrayed us as monsters. The Captain's a cold-blooded killer, the crew's a gang of thugs and I'm a mass murderer. Quarren: Calm yourself. Emh: Why should I? I'm about to be hanged for crimes I didn't commit! Quarren: Tell me your version of events. Emh: I remember this man. Quarren: Tedran. He was a martyr to our people. Emh: Some martyr. He led the Kyrian attack against Voyager. Quarren: You're lying. Emh: I was there. Quarren: You're trying to protect yourself. Emh: And so are you. From the truth. Isn't it a coincidence that the Kyrians are being portrayed in the best possible light? Martyrs, heroes, saviors. Obviously, events have been reinterpreted to make your people feel better about themselves. Revisionist history. It's such a comfort. Quarren: We were not the aggressors in the Great War, we were the victims. The proof can be found anywhere on this world. The Kyrian people are being oppressed to this day. Emh: The problems in your society are none of my business. I'm just telling you what I saw seven hundred years ago. Quarren: I don't believe you, and neither will anyone else. Emh: What are you doing? Quarren: Shutting down your program. Emh: Wait, please. I can prove to you I'm right. The medical tricorder, the artifact you have on display. If you just let me Quarren: Lies. Quarren: Begin dictation. I've re-examined the data module. From what I can tell, the Doctor was telling the truth, at least about one thing. He is a hologram. A backup program. We always knew he was an artificial lifeform but, we thought he was an android. If we were mistaken about that, I wonder if we might also be wrong about Voyager itself. Another question. Why would a hologram designed for medical purposes be programmed to lie so readily? From the moment I activated him, this Doctor has insisted that he's innocent. At first I didn't believe him. End dictation. Quarren: Activate recreation, the Voyager encounter. Display medical chamber. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical. Oh, it's you. Quarren: You've given me a lot to think about. Emh: Really? I thought you'd heard enough of my lies. Quarren: I judged you too quickly. I'm sorry. Emh: What changed your mind? Quarren: Time to think. Emh: For your information, I don't appreciate being deactivated in the middle of a sentence. It brings back unpleasant memories. Quarren: It won't happen again. Emh: Good, because if you don't stop treating me like a second-class hologram, I won't cooperate with your investigation. I'm perfectly happy to lie dormant in that module for a few eons. Quarren: I didn't come here to argue. Emh: Then what do you want? Quarren: I don't know. To talk, I guess, about what really happened seven hundred years ago. Emh: Are you sure you're willing to listen to a mass-murderer like me? Quarren: I'm willing to keep an open mind. That's the most I can promise. Try to understand my point of view. All my life, I thought I knew the truth. There was never any doubt. Emh: I never meant to throw your beliefs into doubt, but I can't deny what I know to be true. Quarren: I realize that now, and I want to know the truth. And I want the Arbiters to know it, too. Emh: Well, the stage is certainly set, but I'll have to rewrite the characters and revise the plot a little. I'm quite adept in the art of holographic programming. If you'll give me access to your technology, maybe I can create a simulation of own. Show you what happened. Janeway: Don't worry, Ambassador. We've got plenty of medical supplies and we'd be more than happy to share them with you. Daleth: Then we agree. In exchange, we'll provide you with as much dilithium as you need. p Janeway: That's very generous, Ambassador Daleth: I'll transport the canisters immediately. It would be in your best interest to make this exchange quickly. p Janeway: Oh? Why's that? Daleth: We've been conflict with a neighboring species, the Kyrians. They've been threatening to attack us. War could break out any day. We've tried every diplomatic option, but the Kyrians are a violent, stubborn people. p Janeway: No problem. I understand what you're going through. Daleth: I wish I could make you one of our diplomats. You might have better luck resolving this situation. p Janeway: Under different circumstances. Janeway to Sickbay. Emh: This is the Doctor. p Janeway: Ambassador Daleth and I have reached an agreement. Janeway: Assemble the medical supplies. p Emh: Done, Captain. The supplies are in Cargo Bay one. p Janeway: Once we transport the supplies to the surface there may be a p Tuvok: Red alert. Captain Janeway to the bridge. Tuvok: We're being fired on by three ships. Daleth: The Kyrians. p Janeway: Hail them. p Tuvok: Channel open. p Janeway: This is Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager. We are not your enemies. Please break off your attack. p Tuvok: They're not responding. Daleth: I'd advise you to retreat, Captain. p Kim: Shields down to eight six percent. p Janeway: Break out of orbit. Put some distance between us. p Paris: Yes, ma'am. p Tuvok: Four intruders. They are in Engineering. p Janeway: Janeway to Engineering. B'Elanna, respond. Tuvok. Tedran: Take as much of their technology as you can. p Seven: You will fail. p Tuvok: Drop your weapons. Tedran: Back away. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. p Janeway: Go ahead. p Tuvok: The Kyrians have killed Tuvok: Three of the engineering crew. They've taken Seven of Nine and one of the injured crew members hostage. Tuvok: They're now on deck two, section thirty two. p Janeway: Acknowledged. Remember your offer to make me a diplomat? Well, it looks like I don't have much of a choice. Tell the doctor we have casualties. Have him meet us on deck two. Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. We're approaching section thirty one. p Tuvok: The evacuation of deck two is complete. p Janeway: Send three security teams to this deck, then seal all the access points. p Tuvok: Acknowledged. Daleth: How typical of the Kyrians. p Emh: What do you mean? Daleth: They fight the same way they live. Deviously. p Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. p Tuvok: Tuvok here. p Janeway: The Kyrians are in the mess hall. We're going in. p Tuvok: Security is on the way. p Emh: I'll go first, Captain, and draw any fire if need be. Daleth: Your crew is heroic, Captain. p Emh: I just happen to be invulnerable to phaser fire, but I appreciate the compliment. Captain? p Janeway: Go. Daleth: Tedran, this is between us. Leave these people out of it. Tedran: I know what you're doing. An alliance with these aliens. p Janeway: We were trading with them, nothing more. Tedran: You expect me to believe that? You plan to use this ship to destroy us. Daleth: We wouldn't need help if we wanted to destroy you. p Janeway: We didn't realize you were fighting with the Vaskans. Now, lay down your weapons and I promise you won't be harmed. p Janeway: No! p Emh: He's dead. Emh: Computer, freeze program. A tragic, needless death, but as you can see, Voyager was not responsible. After Tedran was killed, Voyager was attacked by nine Kyrian ships. My program was disabled, most likely when they stole my backup module. The next thing I knew, I was standing next to this gentleman seven centuries later. Kyrian Arbiter: Very entertaining. Emh: I'll admit your holotechnology is new to me. I had to extrapolate in a few places. But I assure you this is an accurate recreation. Kyrian Arbiter: Perhaps. Or perhaps it's the fabrication of a war criminal who's afraid for his life. Vaskan Arbiter: Do you have any evidence to support your explanation? Emh: In fact, I do. I've confirmed that this is the same tricorder I used to scan Tedran at the moment of his death. If I can access the bio-readings inside, I can prove he was killed by a Vaskan weapon, not by Captain Janeway. Vaskan Arbiter: Can this be done? Quarren: I've been trying to decipher the instrument for years, but, with the Doctor's help Kyrian Arbiter: I fail to see what this would prove. Tedran died on Voyager, a victim of a conspiracy to oppress my people. The weapon used, who fired it, this is all beside the point. Vaskan Arbiter: Was there a conspiracy? Did Voyager really help my ancestors to start the Great War? Or were Kyrians the aggressors as my people have always believed? Now, this casts doubt on everything. Kyrian Arbiter: But it doesn't change the fact my children can't attend the same academies as yours, or that we are forced to live outside of the city center. Vaskan Arbiter: Today's problems are not at issue here. This is about history. Emh: Look, I don't know who started your war. All I'm saying is that Voyager wasn't responsible. Kyrian Arbiter: I can't believe that you would cooperate with this murderer. You of all people. You built this museum. Quarren: The facts are turning out to be more complex than I expected. Kyrian Arbiter: We shouldn't be listening to this hologram. I want him arrested and charged for the crimes we know he committed. Vaskan Arbiter: That's not your decision to make. Kyrian Arbiter: No, it's not, is it? I'm only on this commission because you needed a token Kyrian. Quarren: Please. This isn't about race. Kyrian Arbiter: It's always about race. You seize every opportunity to keep yourselves in power. Vaskan Arbiter: I'm sorry you see it that way. I think we are obligated to hear what the Doctor has to say. Proceed with your investigation. Quarren: Yes, Arbiter. Kyrian Arbiter: You'll pay for your crimes. Emh: Seven hundred years and I'm still caught in the middle of your little dispute. One might have hoped for a bit of social progress in the interim. Quarren: Change never comes easily for us. Emh: Hmm. That's an understatement. Quarren: I've entered the specifications that you gave me. Emh: Let's give it a try. Hmm. Close enough. This diagnostic tool should help me get past the initial encryption sequences. Too bad we can't re-create B'Elanna Torres. Quarren: Torres. The chief transporter operator. Emh: Chief Engineer. You might want to make the correction in your history books. Quarren: What was she like, Torres? I suppose we've gotten her personality wrong too. Emh: Starting to believe me, are you? Quarren: Well, let's just say I'm trying to keep an open mind. Emh: B'Elanna Torres. Intelligent, beautiful and with a chip on her shoulder the size of the Horsehead Nebula. She also had a kind of vulnerability that made her quite endearing. Quarren: You miss her, and the others. Emh: From my perspective, I saw them all only a few days ago. But in fact, it's been centuries, and I'll never see them again. Did they ever reach home? I wonder. Quarren: I've always wondered that too, from as far back as I can remember. Emh: Really? Quarren: Ever since I was a small child, the first time I heard the name Voyager, it conjured up my imagination. Emh: Even though we were the bad guys? Quarren: That didn't matter. I was too young to understand the implications. The fact you were so far from home, traveling across the stars. Ah, I found it all very heroic. I suppose Voyager is what made me fall in love with history. Emh: If it means anything to you, you would have made a fine member of our crew. Emh: I hope that's part of the simulation. Quarren: No, it isn't. Mob: Everything goes! The days of lies are over! Destroy it all! Quarren: No! Stop this! Vaskan Visitor: We know about the hologram. This museum's filled with lies. Quarren: Stop! Listen to me! Vaskan Visitor: We've listened long enough! Quarren: They're using photon grenades. We've got to take cover. This way. Emh: What's happening? I've been hearing weapons. Quarren: It's getting worse. Protests, vandalism. Two people have been killed. Don't worry, they've cordoned off the museum. We're safe for now. Emh: That's not what I'm concerned about. Two deaths, a race riot, all because of me? Quarren: You were only the catalyst. The pressure's been building for years. It was only a matter of time before something set it off. Have you found the tricorder? Emh: Not yet. Quarren: It's crucial that we do. The Kyrians are demanding you be punished for your crimes, but the Vaskans want to hear your version of events again. They want to continue the investigation. Emh: What's going to happen? Quarren: I don't know. The Vaskans are more powerful, but the Kyrians are very angry. They're talking about another war. Emh: Then there's only one solution. Delete my program. I've become a kind of symbol for this conflict. As long as I'm around your people are going to keep on fighting. I'll show you how to decompile my program. You can say I was damaged in the attack last night. No one will hold you responsible. Quarren: I can't do that to you. Emh: Then I'll do it myself. Quarren: No! Emh: I'm a medical hologram, programmed to do no harm. But I'm doing harm on a global scale. Ever since you reactivated me, I've been concerned with clearing Voyager's good name. But that's not important now. There's more at stake. Quarren: A few days ago I might have agreed with you, but what about the facts? Emh: Facts be damned! Names, dates, places, it's all open to interpretation. Who's to say what really happened? And ultimately, what difference does it make? What matters is today and the future of your people. Quarren: Doctor, you were there. You can't deny what happened. Emh: I can, and I will. Tedran was a martyr for your people, a hero. A symbol of your struggle for freedom. Who am I to wander in seven hundred years later and take that away from you? Quarren: History has been abused. We keep blaming each other for what happened in the past. If you don't help us now, it could be another seven hundred years. Emh: Let's find that tricorder. Tabris: It was a pivotal moment in our history. As a result of the Doctor's testimony, a dialogue was opened between our peoples. Eventually, we found a new respect for our divergent cultures and traditions. The efforts of people like Quarren and the Doctor paved the way for unity. Quarren died six years later, but he lived long enough to witness the Dawn of Harmony. Kyrian Spectator: And the Doctor? Tabris: Well, he served as our surgical chancellor for many years until he decided to leave. He took a small craft and set a course for the Alpha Quadrant, attempting to trace the path of Voyager. He said he had a longing for home. This way.

Kim: The ship is gray, Captain. We've cut power to decks four through nine. Replicators, holodecks and all other nonessentials are offline. Remaining systems are operating at twenty percent capacity. Janeway: Tom, how long can you keep us flying? Paris: With the deuterium supply this low? Even at one quarter impulse we'll be out of gas inside a week. Janeway: Everyone redouble your efforts. Keep your eyes open for new sources of deuterium. Tuvok, Chakotay, I want recommendations for further methods of conservation. Harry, you and I will give them a hand in geophysics. See if we can't synthesize a substitute fuel. In the meantime, we stay in gray mode. If anybody's got any other ideas, I'm listening. Paris: We could set up a bicycle in the mess hall, attach a generator, pedal home. Janeway: Now why didn't I think of that? Paris: And I volunteer Harry to take the first shift. Tuvok: Living space will be extremely limited. Take only those personal items which are absolutely essential. Neelix: Hello, there. Tuvok: What, may I ask, is this? Neelix: That, Mister Vulcan, is the Selected Works of Jirex. Tuvok: Only essential items, Mister Neelix. Neelix: Oh, Jirex is essential. He's the greatest writer in the Talaxian canon. I never go to sleep without reading at least one of his parables. Tuvok: A habit you will have to break until we're able to restore power to crew quarters. Neelix: I suppose I can try. Tuvok: And these? Neelix: I get terrible neck pains without them. Tuvok: I suggest you ask the Doctor to prescribe an anti-inflammatory. Neelix: Fine. I don't mind roughing it. Tuvok: Mister Neelix. The blankets. Neelix: No, no, that's where I draw the line. My mother knitted these herself. I've slept with them since I was a child. Tuvok: You'll have to make do with standard issue bedding. Neelix: Those Starfleet blankets give me a rash. Tuvok: I suggest you ask the Doctor Neelix: For some anti-itch cream. I might as well sleep in Sickbay. Thank you, Mister Vulcan. You've just given me an idea. Chakotay: What's going on here? Seven: I'm working. Chakotay: You were ordered to shut down Astrometrics an hour ago. We can't afford the power. Seven, it's inefficient. Seven: Efficiency is relative, Commander. If I shut down Astrometrics, I won't be able to scan for new fuel sources. Chakotay: I appreciate your efforts, but we'll have to use conventional scanners until Seven: Conventional scanners would not have found this. Chakotay: What? Seven: Highly concentrated deuterium. Chakotay: Where? Seven: Computer, display source. A planetoid point four light-years from our present position. There are dense pockets of deuterium just beneath the surface. Chakotay: Maybe so, but that's a Demon class planet. Seven: Demon class? Chakotay: That's what Starfleet calls it. Also known as Class Y. It's got a toxic atmosphere filled with thermionic radiation. Surface temperatures are in excess of five hundred Kelvins. Just entering a standard orbit would be suicide. Seven: Our situation is desperate. Chakotay: True. Seven: When faced with desperate circumstances, we must adapt. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. I've ordered adaptations to our shields to repel the thermionic discharges. Hoping that the benefits will outweigh the risks, we're now trying to beam deuterium from beneath the planet's surface. Seven: Narrow the annular confinement beam to point four seven terahertz. Ready here, Captain. Janeway: Stand by. Harry, shunt whatever additional power you can to the containment field. I don't want any of those atmospheric gasses seeping in. Kim: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: A thermionic discharge has struck the forward shields. They're holding. Janeway: Let's get this over with before you tell me otherwise. Seven, do it. Seven: Energize. Transport in progress. Tuvok: Shields are weakening. Kim: I'm reading an overload in the pattern buffers. Janeway: Abort transport. Seven: Controls not responding. Janeway: Get out of there now. Seven: Computer, seal off the transporter room and erect a level ten containment field. Computer: Containment field established. Chakotay: The good news is Nozawa and Seven of Nine have both been treated and released from Sickbay, and the planetary gasses have been expelled from the transporter room. Janeway: And the bad news? Chakotay: The transporters are offline. It'll take days before they're back again. Janeway: Great. We use valuable energy on a course change and all we get for our trouble is another downed system. Can we send a probe to collect the deuterium? Tuvok: It would incinerate within seconds of entering the upper atmosphere. Janeway: Then I don't see any other options. Tom, put us back on our original course, one quarter impulse. Kim: Captain, maybe I can help. Paris: Harry, the bicycle thing was just a joke. Kim: I've been thinking. With Tuvok's shield modifications and a few tweaks to an environmental suit, I could take a shuttle to the surface and mine the deuterium from there. Tuvok: Need I remind you, Ensign, that there is no environment less hospitable to humanoid life than a Class Y. Kim: Actually, Tuvok, no, you needn't remind me. What's the alternative? Resume course? Creep along at quarter impulse hoping we find fuel before we end up dead in the water? We've got deuterium within arm's reach. We can't let the opportunity slip away without at least trying. Chakotay: He's got a point. Janeway: You wouldn't be able to communicate with us if you got in trouble, and until we get transporters back we couldn't beam you out. Tuvok: Even with modifications, it wouldn't be long before your suit began to corrode. Exposure to that atmosphere could kill you within minutes. Kim: I know the risks. Janeway: Even if I agreed, I'd never let you go alone. Kim: Of course not. That's why I'm volunteering my good buddy Tom here to go with me. Paris: You were pretty forceful in there. Kim: So? Paris: So? I don't think I've ever seen you that assertive in a staff meeting before. You must be bucking for a promotion. Kim: I had an idea and I spoke up, that's all. Paris: Oh, no, no, no. It was more than that. You put Tuvok in his place right in front of everybody. Kim: He was stating the obvious again. Talking down to me like I didn't know anything about Demon Class planets. Paris: I am not criticizing you. Believe me, nobody enjoys seeing the Vulcan Master put down a peg more than I do. I was just surprised, that's all. Kim: Why? Paris: It didn't seem like you. Kim: Good. Kim: Cargo bay two. Paris: You trying to change your squeaky clean image or something? Kim: Not exactly. Paris: What, then. Kim: How do I explain this? When I first came on board Voyager I was pretty green, right? Paris: A deep, almost fluorescent green, if I remember correctly. Kim: I was young, inexperienced, and I acted like it. Nervous about giving my opinion, hesitant to make suggestions, so I usually just kept my mouth shut. And I behaved that way for so long it became a habit. But, in the last four years, a lot has happened. I've fought the Borg, been transformed into an alien, helped defeat the Hirogen. Hell, I've even come back from the dead. Paris: It's been a wild ride. Kim: I woke up the other morning and it suddenly hit me. I've got a lot of experience now, so why should I be afraid to take the initiative or voice my ideas? Paris: Good for you, Harry. Paris: But do me a favor. The next time you try to assert yourself, leave me out of it. I hate hot weather. Kim: Don't worry. We can cut some holes in the environmental suits, get some ventilation going. Paris: Harry, while you're busy improving yourself, you might try working on your sense of humor. Kim: My sense of humor? What about that stupid gag about the bicycle? Paris: Oh, ho, ho. That was funny. Kim: No, that was not funny. Paris: I can't thank you enough for getting me in on this mission, Harry. Kim: Don't mention it. Paris: Remind me to volunteer you to help the next time I have to clean the warp plasma manifolds. Kim: Really, Tom, you don't owe me anything. Paris: Oh, but I do. We've lost attitude control. Kim: Time to show off your piloting skills. Think you can handle it? Paris: Watch me. Kim: Oh, I'll be watching you, all right. Switching to manual control. Paris: Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Kim: We're entering the lower atmosphere. Approaching the landing coordinates. Paris: All right. I'm going to set us down. On my mark. Paris: Mark. Kim: You did that on purpose, didn't you. Paris: It's almost five hundred degrees Kelvin. Kim: Don't worry. The suits can handle it. Paris: If not, we'll be human barbecue. Kim: I'm picking up traces of deuterium. Fifty meters that way. Let's move. Paris: No sweat. Kim: Lame. Kim: It's coming from inside here. Paris: What is it? Kim: Some kind of metallic compound. Highly viscous, And if these readings are right, its temperature is only twelve degrees? Paris: In this environment? Kim: Whatever this stuff is it's packed with liquefied deuterium. Paris: Jackpot! Kim: There's another pool twenty meters that way. Why don't you go check it out while I collect a few samples here. Paris: Right. I don't know, Harry. A couple of lounge chairs, a big beach umbrella, maybe some dermalplast to counteract the chemical burns and I think we've found ourselves a new vacation spot. Oh, come on. That was a little funny. Let me hear you do better. Harry. Harry? Paris: Oh, my god. Paris: I know it's hot out, Harry, but you picked a lousy time to go for a swim. Kim: I don't know what happened. I leaned over to collect a sample and it was like I was pulled in. Computer: Warning, Ensign Kim. An environmental seal has been compromised. Oxygen depletion in thirty seconds. Paris: Hang in there, buddy, and I'll get you back to the shuttle. Have you put on weight? Kim: You're just out of shape. Computer: Warning. Oxygen depletion in fifteen seconds. Paris: I'll make you a deal. You hold your breath till we get back to the shuttle and I promise I'll start exercising every day. Kim: Maybe you should start with the bicycle. Paris: I thought I told you to hold your breath. Computer: Warning. Oxygen depletion in five seconds. Paris: Hang in there, Harry. We'll make it. Computer: Warning, Lieutenant Paris. An environmental seal has been compromised. Oxygen depletion in thirty seconds. Paris: You've got to be kidding me. We're in the same boat now, buddy, but I'll get us out of this. Computer: Warning. Oxygen depletion in fifteen seconds. Paris: You're right. I definitely need to get back in shape. Computer: Warning. Oxygen depletion in five seconds. Emh: Out of the question. Neelix: Be reasonable, Doctor. Emh: Take it up with Commander Chakotay. He's on his way here right now. Neelix: But it's only for a couple of days. Just until we get power back in the crew quarters. Emh: I suggest you set up camp in the mess hall. Neelix: The mess hall is full. Where are we supposed to sleep? Emh: Anywhere but here. This is a sickbay, not a dormitory. Neelix: But you have four empty beds. Emh: Biobeds, reserved for patients. Neelix: You don't have any patients. Emh: I may have one in a moment if you and your fellow squatters don't go elsewhere. Chakotay: You wanted to see me, Doctor? Emh: Oh, it's about time. Mister Neelix is attempting to turn my sickbay into a flophouse. Chakotay: We are short on beds right now. We've got to adapt. Neelix: Ah ha! Emh: But, what if there's a medical emergency? Chakotay: Then Neelix and the others will get out of the way. Neelix: Absolutely. Emh: But, this isn't just sickbay, it's my residence. Neelix: And we promise to be the most perfect houseguests. Chakotay: What more can you ask for. Emh: But, I have a routine. I'm a night owl. What if one of them should snore while I'm listening to Puccini? Chakotay: Well, if you feel that strongly about it, Doc, I suppose we'll have to consider other options. Emh: Thank you, Commander. Chakotay: For example, we could shut down your program until you're needed. The Captain asked me to look for ways to conserve power, and it would spare you from having to listen to them snore. Janeway: Commander Chakotay to the bridge. Chakotay: On my way. Emh: But Emh: Make yourselves at home. Janeway: Try scanning for infrared signatures. Tuvok: There's too much interference. Chakotay: What's up? Janeway: Tom and Harry still aren't back. Chakotay: You want me to take another shuttle down and look for them? Janeway: And risk losing you, too? Either we keep waiting until we run out of deuterium and we get trapped in orbit, or Chakotay: Or? Janeway: We land the ship. Tuvok: As you know, Captain, the landing procedure requires a significant output of energy. With shield strength as low as it is, we can't even be certain the ship will survive the descent. Janeway: What's the alternative? We're up here, the deuterium's down there, and we're stuck without it. We've come this far. Janeway to engineering. Vent all plasma from the nacelles. Transfer any available power to atmospheric thrusters and stand by to commence landing sequence. Torres: Acknowledged, Captain. Janeway: Commander Chakotay, take the conn. Chakotay: Tom's going to be sorry he missed this. Janeway: Code blue. Tuvok: Commander Tuvok to all hands. Go to Blue alert and report to Code Blue stations. Chakotay: Atmospheric controls at standby. Landing struts online. Inertial dampers at maximum. Tuvok: All operative decks report condition blue. Janeway: Let us down easy, Commander. Chakotay: We're on a declining glide trajectory. Altitude one hundred and fifty kilometers. Tuvok: A thermionic discharge. Shields down to eighty one percent. Shields at forty three percent. Janeway: Chakotay. Chakotay: I think we're through the worst of it. Almost. Tuvok: Shields at twenty two percent and falling. Janeway: Can you shore them up? Tuvok: Negative. There's no more available power. Chakotay: Engaging landing struts. Brace for impact! Janeway: Status? Tuvok: I could give you a litany of damaged systems, Captain, but suffice it to say, now that we're down, we won't go up again soon. Janeway: Start organizing repair crews. That was very good, Commander. Take an away team and find Harry and Tom. Torres: Chakotay, you're going out to look for them, aren't you? Chakotay: That's right. Torres: Take me with you. Chakotay: I can't do that, B'Elanna. You're needed here to complete repairs. Torres: I've already handed out assignments. Vorik's on top of it. I want to help you find them. Chakotay: Look, I know you're concerned about Tom and Harry. We all are. I'll have them back safe and sound in no time. Torres: Don't patronize me. We both know how dangerous that environment is. They could be in serious trouble. Chakotay: You're right. I don't know what we're going to find. That's why I need cool heads. Torres: You think I can't control myself? Chakotay: I think you're a little too close to this. Torres: You're damn right I am. If someone you loved was missing on this planet you would be the first one out that door, and you know it. Chakotay: B'Elanna, the clock is ticking. Go back to Engineering, do your job and let me do mine. Torres: Do me a favor. Chakotay: What? Torres: Take Seven of Nine with you. Chakotay: You're recommending her? Torres: You said you needed cool heads, didn't you? Nobody's head is cooler than hers. Chakotay: All right. Torres: And bring them back safe. Chakotay: I will. Neelix: Excuse me, Doctor. Emh: Yes, Mister Neelix? Neelix: We'd like to sleep now, if you don't mind. Emh: Not at all. Make yourselves comfortable. Neelix: But you seem busy. Emh: Oh, don't mind me. Just going about my routine. Sleep away. Neelix: What about the lights? Emh: What about them? Neelix: Could we turn them off? Emh: You don't expect me to work in the dark, do you? Neelix: Well, no, but I'll never be able to fall asleep. Emh: That's not my problem, is it? Neelix: I've got a very, very busy day tomorrow and my next shift is just four hours away. Emh: Perhaps you should have thought of that when choosing your accommodations. Neelix: Well, if we can't sleep, I guess we'll just have to find some other way to pass the time. How about a sing-along? I could teach you all some Talaxian rondos and I know a Vulcan funeral dirge, not to mention the classics of Klingon opera. Emh: Very well, Mister Neelix. You win. Pleasant dreams. Neelix: Computer, lights off. Chakotay: You're a little jumpy, aren't you? Seven: I thought I heard something. Chakotay: Now you know why they call it Demon Class. Seven: Demon implies a presence. This planetoid is unoccupied. Chakotay: I'm picking up the shuttlecraft. Chakotay: Nobody home. Seven: It's unlikely their environmental suits were able to survive the elements for this long. Chakotay: I hope you're wrong. Chakotay: Looks like they went this way. Seven: My tricorder isn't picking up any lifesigns. How did you reach that conclusion? Chakotay: Footprints. I guess you never assimilated any Indian scouts. Seven: High concentrations of deuterium coming from this fluid. I'll collect a sample. Chakotay: Let's find Tom and Harry first. We'll collect the deuterium later Seven: As you wish. Chakotay: Maybe they found some shelter inside. Seven: Commander! Paris: Good to see you guys. Welcome to the Demon planet. Our suits were corroding, our lungs were burning. We were suffocating. You know what they say about your life passing before your eyes? Well, it's true. I was finally getting past puberty when suddenly, I lost consciousness. I don't know how long I was out but, the next thing I knew, I was awake and I was breathing normally. And I looked over at Harry. He was breathing normally too, with his helmet off. And, and we just looked at each other, and we just started laughing. I know it sounds crazy, but it was an exhilarating experience. Seven: His vital signs are normal. Apparently he has adapted. Chakotay: Just the same, we'd better let the Doctor take a look at you. Chakotay to Voyager. Paris: I've already tried that. The comm. signal can't get out of the caves. Chakotay: Then we'll call again when we get back outside. Paris: I'm telling you, Chakotay. It was an amazing experience. It, it's like when you're a kid who's afraid of the water and you suddenly realize that you can swim. Go ahead, take your helmets off. Try it. Chakotay: I'm glad you're feeling all right, but none of us should be taking any risks until we know exactly what's going on. Paris: Don't tell me that a big, tough guy like you is afraid of a little poisoned atmosphere? Chakotay: Where's Harry? Paris: He's further inside the cave. We found a huge cache of deuterium. Chakotay: Let's find him and get you two back to the ship. Paris: Whatever you say, boss, but I'm telling you. We could breathe this air forever. Vorik: Lieutenant. Torres: Yes? Vorik: We should have transporters back online within the hour. Torres: Well, that's great. But right now I'm more concerned with little things like, oh, I don't know, say, life support? Vorik: Indeed. According to my calculations, environmental systems will cease to function in two hours. Torres: You say that like you're giving me the weather report. Vorik: I agree the situation is dire, but losing our cool will not help matters. Torres: Losing our cool? Where did you pick up that expression? Vorik: Mister Paris. Torres: Well, there's hope for you yet. Now, how about giving me a hand. Chakotay: Harry. Kim: Commander. Isn't it incredible? Paris: That's what I've been trying to tell them. Chakotay: Are you feeling okay, Harry? Kim: Never better. If we could get mobile transporters down here, we could mine enough deuterium to get us all the way to the Alpha Quadrant and back again. Chakotay: Tom tells me you've already picked up twenty kilos. That should be enough to get the main systems back online. Let's get back to the ship. Have the Doctor take a look at you. Kim: I'd rather stay here and keep working, if it's all the same to you. Chakotay: It's not. Kim: Really, Commander, I'm fine. You should send some more personnel out to help. They won't even need environmental suits. Chakotay: I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we're going back to Voyager. Now. Paris: It's all right, Harry. Once the Doc takes a look at us and sees we're fine, we'll get right back to work. Janeway: Status, Mister Tuvok? Tuvok: I've shut down life support everywhere but decks one and five. It should provide us with an extra hour of breathable air. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Janeway: Janeway here. Chakotay: We've found Tom and Harry. Janeway: First good news I've had all day. What about the deuterium? Chakotay: We've got Chakotay: A few kilos. We're on our way back to Voyager now. Janeway: What's your position? Chakotay: About two kilometers from the ship. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: Transporters are coming back online. We should be able to beam you back from that distance, but it may take a few minutes. Chakotay: Have the Doctor standing by. I think he's going to want to look at Tom and Harry. Emh: Computer, lights. Maximum illumination. Everybody up! Rise and shine, Mister Neelix. Neelix: What's going on? Emh: It's checkout time. Neelix: It's the middle of the night. Emh: Medicine knows no time clock. I've got patients on the way and there's no more room at the inn. Neelix: Patients. Is somebody sick? Emh: I can't answer that until I've examined them, now can I? Neelix: Examine who? Emh: Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Paris. Neelix: Is there anything I can do to help? Emh: Yes. You and your friends can vacate the premises. Neelix: Right, move! You heard the Doctor. This is an emergency evacuation. Move! Move! Move! Doctor. Emh: Yes? Neelix: Thanks for your hospitality. And if you ever need a place to stay, my door's always open. Janeway: Energizing. # Janeway: Beam Tom and Harry to Sickbay. Emh: What happened to them? Chakotay: As soon as we beamed aboard they started suffocating. Emh: Computer, erect a level seven forcefield around biobeds one and two. Computer: Forcefield established. Janeway: What are you doing? Emh: Filling the area inside the forcefield with the atmospheric gasses from the planet. Try to breathe normally now. Easy, or you'll hyperventilate. Slowly. In and out. In and out. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. The Doctor continues to investigate Tom and Harry, whose condition seems as serious as it is strange. Paris: That stuff is in our blood? Emh: I'm afraid so. From what I can tell, you've been bioformed. Kim: Bioformed? Emh: Think of it as the opposite of terraforming. In the same way we adapt the environment of a planet to suit our needs, this planet has adapted you. Paris: How is that possible? Emh: This fluid somehow entered your bloodstream and began altering your physiology at the cellular level. I haven't had the time to analyze this substance, but I hope to have answers soon. Janeway: I'd like to run a few tests of my own, if you don't mind. Emh: Of course. Paris: So, what's our prognosis, Doc? Emh: Well, you'll be fine. As long as you keep breathing the planet's gasses. Kim: You mean we have to stay inside this forcefield? Emh: I'm afraid it's worse than that. The atmosphere of this planet can't be replicated safely. Paris: Which means if we leave, we'll have nothing to breathe. Emh: Exactly. Either we find a way to treat your condition, or you'll have to be left behind. Janeway: Can the bioforming process be reversed? Emh: As it stands, I don't know enough about the phenomenon to undo it. Janeway: I'll send Chakotay and Seven back to the surface. They'll gather as much information as they can. B'Elanna and I will start running tests on this. Kim: Let me go with the away team, Captain. I know the terrain. I can help. Janeway: Doctor? Emh: Right now they're better off out there than they are in here. But one of you will have to remain so I can monitor your condition. Kim: No problem. I volunteer Tom to stay here and play guinea pig. Seven: Each square kilometer of this planetoid is less appealing than the last. Kim: I think it's breathtaking. Seven: Breathtaking? Kim: Yes. Seven: Perhaps your recent experience has impaired your perceptions. Kim: No, I don't think so. I wasn't really seeing it before. Chakotay: Seeing what? Kim: The beauty. Seven: Would you care to point out an example? Kim: Look over there. What do you see? Seven: I see monochromatic geological formations, dust, haze. Chakotay: What do you see, Harry? Kim: To me, those geological formations are a dozen shades of red and gold. That dust, it's glowing. And the haze, it seems to intensify the colors. I'm sorry. I know it's weird, but I feel connected to this place. Chakotay: Connected how? Seven: I'm picking up humanoid lifesigns. Chakotay: Location? Seven: One hundred meters this way. Janeway: Magnify. Factor ten. Deuterium, hydrogen sulfate, dichromates. Torres: Add a little sodium chloride and it would probably taste a lot like Neelix's soup. Janeway: We should be so lucky. Oh, what's this? Magnify. Factor twenty. Torres: Captain? That's a protein molecule. Janeway: This fluid has organic properties. Let me see the sample that's been treated with the reagents. Torres: Captain. Janeway: Let's get you to sickbay. Torres: Wait. That might not be necessary. Kim: Commander! Janeway: Janeway to bridge. Report. Tuvok: A large pool of the metallic compound is forming beneath the ship. We are sinking, Captain. Janeway: On my way. Get down to Engineering. Get thrusters online. We're getting off this planet. Kim: I'm not sure how, but they're still alive. Seven: Just barely. Tuvok: Tuvok to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Tuvok: The Captain has ordered an emergency ascent. Tuvok: We must bring you back to the ship. Chakotay: Understood. I've got five to beam back. Tuvok: Five? Chakotay: We found another Paris and Kim. Chakotay: I can't explain it. Janeway: I think I can. Prepare for transport. Chakotay: Beam us directly to Sickbay. Kim: No. I don't want to go back. Janeway: Transporters are still acting up. We can't get individual locks. We're going to have to grab you in a wide beam and bring you in as a group. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Kim: I belong here. Chakotay: Maybe so. But until we know what's going on, you've got to come back with us to the ship. Harry, no! Tuvok: Four of the away team are in Sickbay, Captain. I'm trying to get a lock on the fifth. It is Ensign Kim or rather, one of the Ensigns Kim. The ship is continuing to sink. Janeway: Then there's no time. We've got to get back into orbit. We'll worry about Harry or whoever he is once we're up. Bring antigrav thrusters online. Tuvok: Thrusters enabled. Janeway: Inertial dampers to flight configuration. Tuvok: Dampers reconfigured. All stations report ready. Janeway: Initiating ascent. I need power to the thrusters. Tuvok: We are being restrained by an electromagnetic force. Janeway: Compensate. Tuvok: No effect. Decks fourteen and fifteen are submerged. The ship is continuing to sink. Janeway: Report. Tuvok: Thrusters are offline due to an overload. Decks thirteen through fifteen are submerged. If we don't lift off soon, the hull will begin to corrode. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Vorik: Ensign Vorik here. Janeway: I need thrusters back online. Vorik: Lieutenant Torres has already sent a team to the thruster control junction. Janeway: How long? Vorik: At least a half an hour. Tuvok: Even if thrusters are repaired, they won't be of much use if we sink any deeper. Janeway: There must be some way to disperse it. Try a nadion burst from the phaser emitters. It may weaken the electromagnetic properties of the fluid. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: I'm on my way to Sickbay to check on Harry and Tom. You've got the bridge. Janeway: How are they? Emh: Lucky. The backup systems in their environmental suits kept their vital functions going. It'll take time, but they'll recover. Janeway: And him? Emh: Aside from his ability to breathe the rarified air on this planet, he's the exact duplicate of Mister Paris. He even seems to share his memories, not to mention his winning personality. Janeway: B'Elanna and I discovered that the fluid has mimetic properties. Somehow, it reads the DNA of whatever it comes in contact with and re-creates it. Emh: Fascinating. Janeway: Can you tell me who you are? Demon Paris: Please, just let me go back. Janeway: Not until I find out why two of my crew have been duplicated. Demon Paris: Captain, you have to believe me. I don't know any more than you do about this. Until he showed up, I thought I was Tom Paris. A little changed by my experience on the planet maybe, but now I don't know who or what I am. All I know is that I have to get off this ship and go back down to the surface. Tuvok: We're ready to try the nadion burst, Captain. Janeway: Do it. Demon Paris: Ow. What are you doing? Tuvok: Captain, we're receiving an urgent hail. It's from Ensign Kim. The one on the surface. Janeway: Put him through. Demon Kim: Captain, please. Stop what you're doing. Janeway: If you really do have Harry Kim's memories, you know that I'm going to do whatever it takes to get this ship back in orbit. Demon Kim: You can't do that! Janeway: Why not? Demon Kim: I, I'm not sure I understand it myself. Janeway: Well then, you're going to have to help me figure it out. Mister Tuvok, I'm on my way to transporter room one. Erect a level seven forcefield around the platform. Fill it with atmosphere from the planet and then beam Mister Kim, or rather his duplicate, aboard. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Do you have a lock on him? Transporter Technician: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Energize. Janeway: Release my vessel. Demon Kim: We can't do that. Janeway: We? Demon Kim: The planet and I, we're connected somehow. I can't explain it, Captain. I only know that you've got to stop. Janeway: And I'm willing to stop. But I'll say it again, release the ship. Demon Kim: No. We need you. Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Fire. Janeway: What are you? Demon Kim: Stop. No. Janeway: I'll fire again. Demon Kim: You're killing us! Janeway: You leave me no choice. Demon Kim: It's not fair. It's wrong! Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Demon Kim: No! No, no, no. Please. No more. Janeway: Hold your fire, Tuvok. Tuvok: Captain, we are continuing to submerge. Janeway: Hold your fire. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Janeway: I want some answers. Demon Kim: I'm trying to understand. This is hard for me as well. Janeway: You said you have a connection to this planet. You talk about it like it's alive. Demon Kim: Alive. Yes, but not the planet. The silver blood. Janeway: The compound that sampled Harry's DNA, and created you. Demon Kim: Yes. but it's never been conscious, never sentient before now. Before me and the other. Janeway: Tom Paris. Demon Kim: We're the first. Don't you see? You came here. You showed us. When the compound came in contact with Tom and Harry, it experienced awareness for the first time. Before, it was only instinct, sound and light and heat. But those two showed us thought. Janeway: I'm beginning to understand. This silver blood experienced sentience, and now you want more. You want to duplicate the rest of this crew and populate this planet. Demon Kim: You're trying so hard to reach home, but this can be home. Janeway: Not for me, and not for my people. Do you understand why we can't stay here? Demon Kim: I think so. Janeway: Well then, release us. Demon Kim: We'd rather die than be alone. We deserve life. Janeway: This silver blood that created you. It duplicated Harry without killing him. So you don't need our bodies, only samples of DNA. Release Voyager and I'll speak to my crew. And if they're willing, I'll let you duplicate the rest of us. Tuvok: Bridge to Janeway. We've stopped, Captain. We're no longer submerging. Janeway: Understood. We're getting out of here, Tuvok, but first assemble the crew in Cargo Bay one Janeway: And have the Doctor meet me there. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: I'll explain later. Janeway: It's time to meet your new family. Kim: All stations report ready for lift off. Tuvok: Code blue status confirmed. Janeway: Take us up, Mister Paris. Paris: Aye, Captain.

Seven: Lieutenant, Ensign. Kim: Hey, Seven. Torres: Have some dinner. The potato salad isn't half bad. Seven: I do not require nutrition at this time. I would like to talk with you. Kim: Okay. Seven: Ensign Kim, what is your place of origin? Kim: You mean, where am I from? Well, I was born in South Carolina, but I grew up in Seven: Lieutenant Torres, explain why you became a member of the Maquis. Torres: It was through Chakotay. I met him. Well, actually, he saved my life Seven: List the sports you play. Kim: I've dabbled in quite a few. Tennis, Pareses Squares, but my favorite is volleyball. Seven: Specify the foods you find enjoyable. Torres: Seven, what is this? Seven: Describe the nature of your sexual relationship with Lieutenant Paris. Torres: Okay, that's it. Emh: Computer, freeze program. Would you care to explain what you're doing? Seven: I'm doing exactly what you instructed me to do. Emh: I hardly think so. I created this program to help you become more comfortable in social situations, not to practice alienating people. Seven: You made recommendations about how to carry on a conversation. Emh: That's true. Seven: You said it's helpful if people feel you're interested in them. Emh: Correct. Seven: And that drawing them out by asking them about themselves is one way to demonstrate that interest. Emh: That doesn't mean subjecting them to an interrogation. You have to let them answer, listen to what they're saying. Ask another question on the same subject. Take your time. Shall we try again? Seven: I believe I am overdue for my weekly medical maintenance. We should go. Emh: Seven, you've never volunteered for a check-up before. Seven: It is preferable to remaining here. Janeway: What have we got here? Kim: Looks like a Mutara class nebula with a few trace constituents that aren't in our database, but they're showing up in minute quantities. Tuvok: The nebula is vast, Captain. It extends beyond the reach of our sensors. Janeway: Oh, then I guess we won't try to go around it. Tom, take us in at one half impulse. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Kim: I'm detecting a slight radioactive field. It's oh, oh. Janeway: Harry? Kim: Nothing. It's just a headache coming on. Chakotay: Maybe you should go to Sickbay. Kim: Yeah, maybe so. Paris: Captain! Kim: Oh, god. Janeway: Tom, turn us around. Get us out of here. Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay. Emh: Yes, Captain. Janeway: We need help. Emh: What happened? Emh: I'm being inundated with calls. Janeway: Hurry. Emh: Seven, go to the bridge. Use the dermal regenerator to treat the burns. Tuvok: Course laid in. Kim: We've cleared the nebula. Janeway: All stop. Seven: He's dead. Seven: The nebula extends for at least one hundred ten light years. Possibly more. Janeway: At the least, it would take us well over a month to get through it, and more than a year to get around it. Seven: The crew was unable to tolerate the nebula for even a few minutes. They certainly could not survive a month. Janeway: We've come fifteen thousand light years. We haven't been stopped by temporal anomalies, warp core breaches, or hostile aliens. And I am damned if I'm going to be stopped by a nebula. I'll be in Sickbay. Emh: I've analyzed a sample of the gasses from the nebula. I think the damage came from subnucleonic radiation. Even the briefest exposure is devastating to organic tissue. Janeway: Can you give us any protection against the effects? Emh: Yes. Stasis chambers. Independent life support for each unit. Janeway: Are you suggesting that the entire crew be put in suspended animation? Emh: Yes. I, of course, would stay online in order to monitor everyone. Janeway: This is a drastic step, Doctor. Are there any other options? Adjusting the shields? Inoculations? Emh: I assure you, I've considered all possibilities. This is the only way. Janeway: There's more to getting through the nebula than monitoring the crew. Who would regulate ship's systems? Make course adjustments? Emh: I think I've demonstrated that I have a command of the rudimentary aspects of piloting. Janeway: Of course you have, and I know you could do it. But you'll need back-up. We have no idea what effect the nebular radiation might have on your holomatrix. What if you went offline? Emh: There was only one crewmember besides myself that seemed unaffected by the nebula. Janeway: I want you to understand the seriousness of this responsibility. The lives of the entire crew will be on your shoulders. Seven: You doubt my ability to fulfill this task? Janeway: Ordinarily not at all, but this is an unusual situation. After being in the Collective, it wasn't easy for you to adjust to a ship with only a hundred and fifty people on it, was it, Seven? How would you feel with only the Doctor for company? Seven: I will adapt. Janeway: Most humans don't react particularly well to long periods of isolation. Borg Drones have even more difficulty. Seven: As you pointed out, I am neither Borg nor human. I can do this, Captain. Janeway: All right. I'll work with the senior staff to draw up a list of duties. But let me make it clear. The Doctor will be in command. You will follow his instructions just as you would follow mine. Seven: Follow the orders of a hologram? Janeway: He's our Chief Medical Officer, and he is thoroughly grounded in Starfleet protocols. You will report to him. Seven: I understand. Chakotay: The Doctor's preparing the stasis units now. They should be ready by seventeen hundred hours. Paris: And how long will this be for? Janeway: We don't know for certain. At least a month. Maybe longer, if the nebula is larger than we estimate. Torres: I've never been in long term stasis. Are there any side effects? Janeway: The Doctor assures me it'll be just like taking a nap. We'll go into the units, our cardiopulmonary systems will be slowed, neural activity suspended, and we'll wake up feeling as though we'd had a good night's sleep. Kim: There are things that can go wrong. At least, that's what I've read. Janeway: We will be carefully monitored by Seven and the Doctor, who will check our vital signs four times a day, and take care of any other problems. Paris: I assume that we've explored all the alternatives? Janeway: I think we're all feeling uneasy about this, and I'd be lying if I said I don't have concerns myself. And I think it's about loss of control. We always feel better if we think we're in charge of our own circumstances. In stasis, we're giving up that control, and no Starfleet officer likes to do that. But crews have been in stasis much longer than a month. I think we can handle this. All right. You're free until seventeen hundred hours. I'll make a ship-wide announcement when the Doctor's ready. Dismissed. Janeway: Something else? Chakotay: I want you to tell me that this isn't a mistake. Janeway: Your turn to get reassurance? Chakotay: Maybe. But my concern isn't about going into stasis. It's about who you're leaving in charge. Janeway: You're worried about Seven. Chakotay: Maybe you need to step outside yourself for a minute. Look at the fact that here's someone who's butted horns with you from the moment she came on board. Who disregards authority and actively disobeys orders when she doesn't agree with them. Janeway: And this is the person I'm giving responsibility for the lives of this entire crew. I suppose you want me to tell you I'm not crazy? Chakotay: In a nutshell. I know your bond with Seven is unique, different from everyone else's. From the beginning, you've seen things in her that no one else could. But maybe you could help me understand some of those things. Janeway: I don't know if I can. It's just instinct. There's something inside me that says she can be redeemed. In spite of her insolent attitude, I honestly believe she wants to do well by us. Chakotay: That's good enough for me. Janeway: See you at seventeen hundred hours. Paris: If I have to take a nap for a month, I really would rather do it in my quarters. Emh: Everyone's being relocated here to deck fourteen so we can monitor you more easily. Hop in. Kim: Come on, Tom. Sleepy time. Paris: What if we had to get out in a hurry? Janeway: You can unlock the unit from inside, Tom. Emh: Do I detect a hint of claustrophobia, Lieutenant. Paris: Why do they have to design these things like coffins? Kim: Should we replicate you a teddy bear? Emh: Sleep tight. Emh: Have no worries, Captain. You'll go to sleep and the next thing you know I'll be standing over you, telling you we're through the nebula. Janeway: I'm leaving the ship in good hands. I have every confidence in both of you. See you in a month. Emh: It's just the two of us now. Personal log, Seven of Nine, stardate 51929.3. This is the tenth day of our journey through the Mutara nebula. I have created an efficient daily routine. Seven: Nutritional supplement fourteen beta seven. Seven: Computer, adjust heading by point three four seven degrees starboard. Computer: Course adjusted. Seven: Seven of Nine to the Doctor. Emh: Go ahead. Seven: Lieutenant Paris has left his stasis unit and is unconscious. Emh: I'll be right there. Emh: Apparently he's more claustrophobic than I thought. But he doesn't seem to have suffered any ill effects. Seven: Is this likely to happen again? Emh: It's not unheard of for people to come out of stasis and start wandering. Leave it to Mister Paris to be just as much trouble now as when he's awake. Seven: You knew this might happen. Why complain about it? Emh: If you had even the slightest sense of humor, you'd realize I was making a small joke. Seven: Very small. Emh: Give me his vital signs, please. Seven: Pulse, forty two. Body temperature, ninety seven point six. Blood pressure one hundred over fifty. Emh: Good. Seven: I will continue on my rounds. Emh: I think not. We're paying a visit to the holodeck. Seven: I have no time for frivolous pursuits. Emh: This isn't frivolous. It's essential. You've been getting more irritable and short-tempered with each passing day. Seven: So have you. Emh: Only because I'm having to put up with you. I think you need a little brush-up course in getting along with people. Seven: There is no one here to get along with. Emh: I'm here. This isn't a suggestion and it's not a request. It's an order. Neelix: Try one, Commander. Chakotay: Thank you, Neelix. Neelix: Captain? Janeway: Ooo, what have we here? Delicious! Neelix: Join the party, Seven. It's no fun to stand there by yourself. Seven: I have no desire to have fun. Neelix: No? Seven: I am attempting to recalibrate the warp field in order to resist the nebula's radiation. I understand you have some knowledge of warp field theory. Perhaps you could assist me. Neelix: I'd be happy to give it a try. Let's see, the subspace field matrix looks right. Seven: Captain. Janeway: Excuse me. Seven: Perhaps you could help as well. We're attempting to find a stronger warp field calibration. Janeway: How interesting. Maybe if we vary the EM stress parameters, the warp field dynamic would increase. Neelix: Excellent idea, Captain. And if the warp coils were re-phased, it would increase power to the nacelles. Seven: There is an additional problem. We must compensate for a subspace induction drag on the engines. Emh: Pardon me, Captain, Mister Neelix. Computer, freeze program. You're completely missing the point of this exercise. You're supposed to be mixing and mingling, not working on engineering problems. Seven: You ordered me to participate in this program. You did not specify topics of conversation. Emh: You're splitting hairs. You know very well what purpose this program is supposed to serve. Seven: I find that it serves no purpose whatsoever. Emh: Because you're being intentionally perverse. Seven: Holodecks are a pointless endeavor, fulfillling some human need to fantasize. I have no such need. Emh: What you need is some editorial skill in your self-expression. Between impulse and action there is a realm of good taste begging for your acquaintance. Seven: I find your self-expression ponderous. Emh: And I can't put up with this for another month. Seven: We can arrange to avoid one another. Emh: I wish it were that simple. Unfortunately, you have to report to me four times a day to keep me informed about the crew. Seven: We can minimize those reports. Computer: Warning. Emergency procedures in effect. Emh: Computer, what is the nature of the emergency? Computer: The antimatter storage tanks are failing. Seven: A cascade effect is in progress. The warp field coils are compromised, primary deuterium tank is rupturing, and plasma conduits are ready to breach. Emh: This is awful. Seven: We have to eject the antimatter tanks. Emh: We've got to coordinate the effort. You go to Engineering, I'll go to the bridge. Emh: Doctor to Seven. Seven: Yes, Doctor? Emh: It's worse than we thought. Emh: Engineering is flooded with plasma. You'll never get in. Seven: I believe I can survive long enough to eject the assembly. Emh: It's too late. Emh: Sensors show plasma conduits rupturing on decks seven and thirteen. Seven: I can do it. Emh: Seven. There's been another plasma discharge in Engineering. The hull is breaching. Get out! Emh: Seven, do you hear me? Seven: It's all right, Doctor. False alarm. Emh: Look here. I think I've found the problem. There are malfunctions in a number of neural gel packs. As a result, false readings were fed to the sensors which detected an emergency when there was none. Seven: We must repair them. Emh: They seem to be in sequence six theta nine. We'll need replacement packs and a repair Emh: Repair kit. Emh: These tubes certainly weren't designed with creature comfort in mind. It seems to me the shipbuilders should've created a space in which one can walk upright. Seven: But they did not. It doesn't help to complain about it now. Emh: I'll complain if I want to. It's comforting. Seven: We can access sequence six theta nine from this junction. Emh: Odd. I've never seen this kind of neural activity in the gel packs. Seven: In what sense? Emh: The neurodes are diskharging in random bursts. I would imagine the nebula activity is causing it. I'll this back to Sickbay for further study. Seven: I will reroute the command processors to bypass this series. Emh: This journey certainly hasn't lacked excitement. I can't complain about being bored. Seven: Since you find it comforting, you'll undoubtedly find something else to complain about. Emh: No doubt. You really should try it. Seven: What's happening? Emh: My program is degrading. Seven: The mobile emitter? Emh: I don't know. I have to get back to Sickbay. Hurry. Seven: I am hurrying. Emh: If the mobile emitter goes offline while I'm out of Sickbay, my program may be irretrievable. Seven: Don't panic. It's counterproductive. Emh: That's easy for you to say. You're not facing cybernetic oblivion. Seven: Doctor? Emh: If that happens again, I'm a goner. Emh: Ah! Home sweet Sickbay. I never thought I'd be so glad to see these walls. Seven: Give me the emitter. The electro-optic modulator is damaged. Emh: You're right, it's worthless. There's no way I can risk using it now. I'm stuck here. Seven: The nebula is having a deleterious effect on all the ship's technology. Emh: And we still have weeks to go. It's up to you to keep the ship running. We can't afford to break down in this nebula. Seven: I won't disappoint you. Computer: Oh six hundred hours. Regeneration sequence complete. Seven: Personal log, Seven of Nine, stardate 51932.4. The twenty ninth day in the Mutara nebula. I believe I'm beginning to feel the effects of this prolonged isolation. My dreams have been disturbing. But I'm determined to fulfill my responsibilities. With the Doctor confined to Sickbay, I have taken on increasing duties. Ship's systems are beginning to require constant maintenance in order to avert disaster. This morning I must purge the auxiliary plasma vents. End log. Seven: Computer, trim heading by point three one degrees port. Computer, respond. Computer, trim heading by point three one degrees port. Computer: Attempting to make correction. Stand by. Attempting to make correction. Unable to comply. Seven: Manual override. Computer, initiate a level four diagnostic of your command processors. Computer: Diagnostic in progress. Seven: Astrometrics. Computer: Diagnostic complete. Seven: Analyze. Computer: Quantum failures are present in thirty three percent of gel pack relays. Seven: Reroute all functional relays through subprocessor chi one four. Computer: Rerouting complete. Relay failures bypassed. Seven: Display Voyager's current position within the nebula. How long to complete passage through the nebula? Computer: Six days, five hours. Seven: Six days. Paris: Seven. Help. Computer: Proximity alert. Vessel approaching. The vessel is hailing. Seven: Open a channel. Computer: Channel open. Seven: This is the Federation starship Voyager. State your identity. Trajis: I'm Trajis Lo-Tarik. I'm in need of a microfusion chamber. Would you consider a trade? Seven: Why are you in this nebula? Trajis: Trying to get through it, as I imagine you are. Seven: Do you have liquid helium? Trajis: You're fortunate. I have an ample supply. Seven: I'll beam you directly to our Cargo Bay. Trajis: Seven of Nine. That's an unusual name. How did you get it? Seven: It was my Borg designation. Trajis: Borg? Never heard of them. Are you alone on this ship? Seven: No. The entire crew is here in stasis, and our Doctor is in Sickbay. Trajis: I'm both pilot and crew on my ship. Fortunately, I happen to be resistant to the effects of the nebula. Seven: What about your technology? The radiation is causing damage to ours. Trajis: I've had to rebuild my engines twice already. If you've been in the nebula for three weeks, you're doing well. Seven: I am hopeful our propulsion system will remain operational for the next six days. Trajis: I'll admit I was surprised to find another ship headed toward me. No one has ever managed to cross the nebula. Seven: If it weren't necessary, we wouldn't be attempting it. Trajis: I'm here by choice. I'm determined to be the first to get through. I've tried five times before and failed, but this time I'm sure I'll make it. I want to see what's on the other side. Seven: It is nothing remarkable. Trajis: But I'll be the first of my kind to see it. Tell me, how are you handling the loneliness? Seven: What do you mean? Trajis: You know what I mean. No matter what you say, you're all alone here. Seven: The microfusion chamber you requested. Trajis: I've heard that drones can't stand being alone. They're too used to the Collective. Seven: How could you know that? Trajis: It's true, isn't it? Seven: You said you'd never heard of the Borg. Trajis: Don't be offended. I've got no grudge with them. Seven: You have what you asked for. Now leave. Trajis: I thought we could keep each other company for a while. Maybe have something to eat. Seven: No. Trajis: And if I want to stay longer? Seven: You will not be accommodated. Trajis: There's no need for this, you know. I mean you no harm. I think maybe you're a little paranoid. That's what loneliness can do to you. You'd be a lot better off to spend some time with me. We could get to know each other. Seven: Quiet. Paris: Seven, help me, Seven. Seven: Seven of Nine to the Doctor. We have an intruder on board. Emh: He must have a cloaking device. Sensors show no alien lifesigns and no evidence of a ship. I've been working on my mobile emitter. I think I'm making progress, but I still can't leave Sickbay. You'll have to try to track him down. Arm yourself and use extreme caution. Computer: Warning. Deuterium tank levels are fluctuating beyond acceptable tolerances. Emh: The computer sounds like it needs a stimulant. Seven: It has been experiencing relay failures. I have not been performing my maintenance duties. Emh: Do what you have to, but keep an eye out for the alien. We have to assume he's up to no good. Seven? Are you frightened? Seven: I am Borg. Seven: Who's there? Paris: Seven. Help me, Seven. Neelix: I'm dying, Seven. Don't let me die. Janeway: The lives of the crew are on your shoulders. Paris: Seven, help me. Kim: Help, Seven, I need help. Chakotay: We need you, Seven. Tuvok: Assist us. Neelix: I'm dying, Seven. Trajis: Seven of Nine. that's an unusual name. How did you get it? Don't want to answer me? That's all right, I don't mind. I know you're not yourself today. But you might be interested in what I'm doing now. I know your sensors can't detect me. So if you want to know where I am, you'll have to ask. Playing stubborn? That's a mistake. It could lead to an unfortunate accident. Just to prove I'm willing to give you a fair chance, I'll ask you. What would happen if the structural integrity around the warp coils collapsed? You wouldn't have much time to keep them from rupturing. Trajis: I couldn't bring myself to destroy your ship. I hope you're not afraid of the dark. Seven: Where are you? Trajis: Finally. I'm glad you're responding. It's going to be much more interesting if we play this game together. Seven: Your location. Trajis: A long way from you. On the bridge. Command center of your ship, I believe. I can do just about anything from here. Paris: Seven, help. Seven: Seven to Trajis. Are you still there? Trajis: Of course. Do you think I'd leave now? Seven: I'm enjoying this game. What's next? Trajis: That's better. Well, let's just imagine that one of the photon torpedoes was activated but not ejected. Seven: I would have to get to the torpedo bay quickly. Trajis: Even then you might be too late. But of course you have to try. Seven: Let's play another game. Let's imagine that the oxygen on the bridge has been depleted. Trajis: What? Seven: What do you suppose the results might be? Computer, seal the bridge with a level three forcefield. Computer: Bridge sealed. Seven: Seven of Nine to the Doctor. Emh: I'm here. Seven: I have incapacitated the alien. He will not trouble us again. Emh: Good work. I have my mobile emitter back online. Emh: Where are you now? Seven: In Engineering. Emh: I'll be right there. I have interesting news about the neural gel packs. Seven: Acknowledged. Trajis: In your heart you knew you'd see me again. Trajis: You can't defeat me. You're too weak. Seven: Don't come any closer. Trajis: You couldn't stand being alone, could you? You felt vulnerable, afraid. Because you know what you are. Seven: Stop. Trajis: At first you thought you could become human, but now you know that's impossible, don't you? You're Borg. That's what you were meant to be. Trajis: One of many. But your days of power are gone. You're alone now. Weak. Pathetic. Seven: Don't come any closer or I'll kill you. Emh: Seven? Seven: Be careful, Doctor, he's dangerous. Emh: Who are you talking to? Seven: Where did he go? Emh: There's no one else here. Seven: He was. He was right here. Emh: Seven, you're hallucinating. Seven: No. I saw him. Emh: There was no one else in this room. Seven: You mean I imagined him? Emh: Yes. Seven: I heard Lieutenant Paris call for help. I saw him and the others. Did I imagine them as well? Emh: I believe so. When I studied the gel pack, I discovered the radiation was producing a degradation in the synaptic relays. I'm guessing there's been a similar effect on your Borg implants. The radiation could be altering the neurotransmitter levels in your sensory nodes. That would explain why you're hearing voices, seeing images. Seven: They seemed real. Emh: Hallucinations usually are. That's what makes them so frightening. Seven: Once, when I was a drone, I was separated from the Collective for two hours. I experienced panic and apprehension. I am feeling that way now. Emh: I'll do everything I can to help you. We'll get you to Sickbay. An antipsychotic may help, at least until I determine just what neural functions are being affected. Seven: What was that? Computer: Warning. Primary EPS conduits are overloading. Emh: I tied my mobile emitter into the EPS conduits. Seven: Computer, access the EPS conduits. Computer: Unable to comply. Emh: My program's going offline. Seven: No. Computer: Warning. Primary EPS conduits overloading. Secondary systems are failing. Emh: Seven, you've got to hang on. Repair the EPS conduits. Everything depends on you now. Seven: I cannot function alone. Emh: You have to. You're the way we can survive Seven: No! Seven: Display Voyager's current position within the nebula. Kim: It doesn't matter. You won't make it. Seven: Computer, how long until Voyager is out of the nebula? Computer: Seventeen hours, eleven minutes. Kim: That's an eternity. Seven: Go away. Kim: You can try to shut me out, but it won't work. Computer: Warning. Propulsion system failure in progress. Drone: Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One. You have left the Collective. It was a foolish decision. Now you are alone. You have lost the many. You are only one. You have become human. Weak. Pathetic. Drone: Humans do not have our strength. They are imperfect. Now you are imperfect as well. Seven: No. Drone: You will not survive. You cannot survive without the Collective. Seven: I will adapt. Drone: By becoming weaker. Less perfect. Seven: I will adapt as an individual. Drone: One. One alone. A Borg cannot be one. Seven: I will become stronger. Drone: A Borg cannot be one. She will die as one. Weak, detached, isolated, one Borg cannot survive. Seven: I am an individual. I will survive alone. Drone: No. You are weak. You will die alone. Trajis: He's right. You're in pain, Seven. I can help you. Seven: Bridge. Trajis: You don't have to beg me. You don't even have to ask. All you have to do is make a choice. Seven: I can survive alone. Trajis: That's home. That's where you belong. Seven: No. Trajis: End your pain. Just walk through that door and you'll never be alone again. Seven: It's not real. Borg: Seven of Nine. Resistance is futile. Seven: Bridge. Janeway: Seven of Nine. You look a little worse for wear. Kim: I didn't know she was still on board. Chakotay: I never wanted her here in the first place. Tuvok: She won't be here long. She can't survive alone. Paris: I'm taking bets on how long she'll last. Chakotay: She'll fall apart before we leave the nebula. Kim: And then everybody will die. Janeway: Well, blame me. I put my trust in her. I should have known better. Computer: Warning. Propulsion system failure in progress. Tuvok: What is she doing now? Chakotay: She's trying to keep the engines online. Paris: Place your bets. Anyone think she can do it? Kim: I'll lay odds she can't. Seven: Computer, how long until the ship is out of the nebula? Computer: Forty one minutes. Janeway: Too long. She won't make it. Kim: That's an eternity. Seven: Computer, reroute available power from weapons, sensors and environmental controls to the engines. Computer: Warning. Propulsion system failure in progress. Seven: Reroute all available power to the engines. Computer: Propulsion systems have failed. All engines are offline. Kim: She's got herself a real problem now. Chakotay: I'll say. She's taken power from every available system and it's still not enough. Tuvok: But if she fails to get this ship moving, everyone on board will die. Paris: What do you think she'll do? Janeway: I know what she's thinking. She's thinking if she could take power from the stasis units on deck fourteen, she might be able to get those engines back online. Kim: But that would mean sacrificing some of the crew. Chakotay: I don't think that would bother her too much. Tuvok: What matters to Seven is efficiency. Sacrificing a few to save many, would be an efficient plan. Janeway: She's already killed millions. Would a few more matter? Seven: Computer, divert power from stasis units one through ten and reroute to the propulsion systems. Computer: Engines are back online. Seven: Resume course. Kim: Look at that. She did it. Janeway: But those people she disconnected are going to die. Paris: I win. I knew she didn't care about them. Janeway: Come to watch them die? Computer: Warning. Power to stasis units has failed. Seven: Computer, how long to complete passage through the nebula? Computer: Eleven minutes. Janeway: They won't last that long. What do you do now, Seven? It's all up to you. Seven: Computer, cut life support to all decks and reroute available power to the stasis units. Janeway: That will keep them alive, but what about you? No oxygen, no heat. Goodbye, Seven. Seven: I am Seven of Nine. I am alone, but I will adapt. I will Emh: She's coming to. Emh: Not so fast. Get your bearings first. Seven: The crew? Janeway: We came through the nebula in fine shape, thanks to you. Chakotay: You were the one we almost lost. When the ship cleared the nebula, the Doctor came back online and found you unconscious. He reinitiated life support and woke the crew. Janeway: He tells us you've had quite an adventure. Seven: It was interesting. Janeway: Well, when you're rested, I'd like to hear about it. Emh: I'm proud of you, Seven. You performed admirably. Seven: I am glad I was able to help. Kim: Neelix, this soup is great. What is it? Neelix: It's my secret recipe. I've never told anyone what's in it. Paris: Why does that make me nervous? Torres: Oh, come on, Tom. Where's your spirit of adventure? Paris: Not in my stomach. Food and mystery don't go together. I like to know what I'm eating. Torres: Coward. Seven: Lieutenants Paris and Torres. Ensign Kim. Kim: Seven. I'm surprised to see you here. Seven: May I join you? Paris: Sure. Have a seat. Torres: Have some soup. It's actually edible. Seven: I don't require nourishment at this time. I felt the need for companionship. Paris: Well, after a month with only the Doc for company, I can understand it. Kim: Yeah. What was that like, anyway, just the two of you? Seven: The Doctor was quite helpful. I cannot fault him. Torres: Well, we all owe you. Paris: Yeah, just think, we could've died in those coffins. Seven: I suspect you would've found a way out before that, Lieutenant. Kim: What do you mean? Seven: Lieutenant Paris refused to stay confined. On four separate occasions, the Doctor and I had to put him back into his stasis unit. Kim: Were you locked in dark closets or something as a child? Paris: I just don't like closed places. I never have. I don't know why. Seven: Perhaps you dislike being alone.

Computer: Full impact. Final round to Janeway. Winner Janeway. Janeway: Good game. Seven: For you. Janeway: Oh, come on, Seven. You won four out of ten rounds. Nothing to be ashamed of. Seven: On the contrary. I have superior visual acuity and stamina. I should have won every round. Janeway: Well, Velocity is more than a test of stamina. It's a game of wits. Seven: You are a frustrating opponent. During the final round, after you dropped your phaser, you did not look at the disk, and yet you were able to acquire the target. Janeway: Intuition. Seven: Intuition is a human fallacy. The belief that you can predict random events. Janeway: Oh, belief had nothing to do with it. At some level, conscious or otherwise, I was aware of several factors. The trajectory of the disk after I hit the wall, the sound it made on its return, and the shadow it cast on the hologrid. Seven: Intriguing but implausible. Janeway: I won, didn't I? Thanks for the match. Seven: I wish to play again. Janeway: Not today. Seven: You are fatigued and concerned that I will defeat you. Janeway: Tired? Yes. Concerned? No. Seven: Computer, begin first round. Janeway: Belay that command. Seven, try to be a sport. Game's over. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51978.2. It's been five months since we received the encoded message from the Alpha Quadrant. We know that the transmission was from Starfleet Command but we still can't decrypt it. B'Elanna thinks it's a lost cause, that too much of the datastream has been destroyed. But I haven't given up. I keep hoping inspiration will strike, somehow. Chakotay: Good morning. Janeway: What time is it? Chakotay: Oh five hundred. Janeway: Oh. Well then, good morning. Chakotay: I just heard from Tom and Neelix. They're about to leave the trading colony. Janeway: Any luck? Chakotay: According to Tom, the shuttle's so loaded down with supplies, he won't make half impulse. Neelix is asking permission to bring one of the locals on board. He's been very helpful, and Neelix wants to repay him by giving him passage to the next system. Janeway: Permission granted. Chakotay: You might want to grab some sleep. We've got a big day ahead. Janeway: I will in a while. Chakotay: Still hunting for buried treasure? Janeway: We've found the treasure, I just can't pick the lock. I've tried over fifty decryption algorithms. Every time I piece together a datablock, ten more come unraveled. What did Starfleet send us? A map? The location of a wormhole? If I could decode this today, Chakotay, we could be home tomorrow. Then again, it could be Admiral Chapman's recipe for the perfect pound cake. I've been pinning our hopes on this message, but I'm starting to wonder. Chakotay: One way or another, we've got to find out. I'll talk to B'Elanna. You could enlist Seven of Nine. Janeway: She should have a few Borg algorithms up her sleeve. If she's in the mood. Chakotay: Problems? Janeway: I don't know if she's getting restless or if it's just me, but we're butting heads more than usual lately. She seems to challenge everything I say. Chakotay: She's learned a lot from you over the last year. Maybe the pupil thinks she's outgrowing the mentor. Janeway: Maybe. Well, this mentor would like another cup of coffee. Will you join me? Chakotay: Love to. Paris: This goes to Engineering. Sickbay. Storage. Chakotay: I hope that's not going to the mess hall. Paris: I don't remember what this is. Neelix! Neelix: Captain, this man is a genius. I was trying to negotiate with a xenon-based lifeform when the Universal Translator went offline. Arturis here stepped in and acted as a perfect go-between, and he'd never heard either of our languages. Arturis: Oh, they were simple. No insult intended. Paris: Neelix! Neelix: On my way. If you two will excuse me. Janeway: Well, welcome to Voyager. We may be a linguistically simple folk but we're happy to give you a ride. Let's see if we can find you some quarters. Arturis: Neelix was right. Voyager is a welcoming place. Janeway: Well, we do our best. Janeway: I can't say I've ever met a living Universal Translator. Arturis: My people have a way with languages. I myself know over four thousand. Janeway: And to think I still struggle with basic Klingon. You couldn't have heard Neelix say more than a few phrases. Arturis: It was all I needed. It was enough to grasp the grammar and syntax. Janeway: Impressive. Arturis: Not really. It's a natural ability. Some species are born with great physical prowess. Others, like yours, with a generosity of spirit. My people can see patterns where others see only confusion. Is something wrong? Janeway: No. Tell me, how are you at computational languages? Algorithms, trinary syntax? Arturis: It's all the same to me. Janeway: I was wondering if you might do us another favor. Arturis: You weren't exaggerating, Captain. This datastream is badly damaged. I'd like to see the entire transmission again. Are you Borg? Seven: Yes. Arturis: You're much more attractive than the average drone. Seven: I am no longer part of the Collective. Arturis: I see, I see. I think I see the problem. May I? Janeway: Please. Janeway: Have you encountered his people before? Seven: Species one one six. Arturis: Is that what you call us? Seven: Yes. The Borg has never been able to assimilate them. Not yet. Janeway: Seven. Arturis: Oh, it's all right, Captain. The Borg Collective is like a force of nature. You don't feel anger toward a storm on the horizon, you just avoid it. Ah. Here it is. It's a simple matter of extracting the iconometric elements, and triaxilating a recursion matrix. Janeway: Now why didn't I think of that? Arturis: There's a great deal of information here, Captain. I think it might be useful to utilize the other monitors. Janeway: You've done it. Arturis: Almost. I've reconstructed over sixty eight kiloquads of information, but a lot of it is still garbled. Janeway: What about that datablock. Fourteen beta? Arturis: That part of the message is too degraded to recover. Seven: Captain, I've found a spatial grid. Janeway: They've marked a set of coordinates. It's less than ten light years from here. Seven: Maybe Starfleet wants us to proceed to that location. Janeway: Maybe. There's only one way to find out. Paris: We're approaching the coordinates. Janeway: Take us out of warp. Scan the vicinity. Tuvok: I am picking up a vessel. Janeway: On screen. Chakotay: Identify. Tuvok: Unless I am mistaken, Captain, the warp signature is Starfleet. Paris: I'll be damned. They came through. Janeway: Tuvok. Tuvok: Hailing them. No response. Chakotay: Lifesigns? Seven: There is no organic matter of any kind. Kim: No sign of damage to the outer hull. Primary systems are online including life support. Something must have happened to the crew. Janeway: The answer is somewhere in that Starfleet transmission. We need to finish decoding it. May I call on your talents again? Arturis: Of course. Janeway: Take an away team. Secure the vessel. Chakotay: Tom. Tuvok. Arturis: Captain. I won't pretend to know you well, but I am surprised you're not more encouraged by this discovery. Janeway: I've learned to walk the line between hope and caution. We've had other opportunities that didn't work out. But I will admit, I'm leaning toward hope this time. Paris: Wow. Tuvok: Wow indeed. Chakotay: I've never seen this kind of hull geometry. Looks like they've taken a whole new approach to starship design. Tuvok: USS Dauntless. Registry NX-01A. Launch Date 51472. Chakotay: Sixty thousand light years in three months? Tuvok: I'm trying to access the crew logs but there are none. Paris: I don't think there was a crew. This helm was set for auto-navigation to these coordinates. Tuvok: It appears that Starfleet has provided us with a new ship. Chakotay: Let's not pack our bags just yet. I'd like to know how they Paris: I'm reading power fluctuations in the warp core, if you can call it a warp core. I don't recognize this engine configuration. Chakotay: Let's go take a look. Paris: I think we've found our engine core. Chakotay: Some kind of new warp drive? Paris: It's not antimatter, it's, I don't know what it is. Paris: They call this thing a quantum slipstream drive. Tuvok: Quantum slipstream. Chakotay: I've never seen that in the engineering manuals. Paris: The ship's powering up. Auto-navigation is kicking in. Kim: Bridge to Janeway. The vessel's moving away at high impulse. Kim: I can't raise the away team. Janeway: Pursuit course, Ensign. Paris: I can't shut down the drive. Chakotay: Computer, disable propulsion. Computer: Unable to comply. Paris: Hang on. Kim: Bridge to Janeway. They're gone. Paris: Look at this. Energy from the quantum drive is being routed through the main deflector. Chakotay: Is that what's creating the slipstream? Paris: It looks that way. Tuvok: Fascinating. Can you make it stop? Paris: I'll try accessing helm controls. We're back in normal space. Chakotay: Scan for Voyager. Tuvok: No sign of them. Commander, we've traveled over fifteen light years. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. After two days at high warp, we've rendezvoused with the Dauntless. Arturis has helped us reconstruct most of the Starfleet message. The pieces of this puzzle are finally coming together. Hayes: Slipstream technology is experimental and high risk, but it's come a long way in the past year. We've conducted forty seven trial runs, all of them successful. But each flight lasted only five days. In order to reach Earth, you'd have to remain at slipstream velocities for a full three months. Can your crew survive that long? We believe they can, and we encourage you to try. Everything you'll need is on the Dauntless. Power cells, supplies, living quarters. Safe journey. We hope to see you soon. Janeway: Admiral Hayes. Good man, fine officer, bit of a windbag. Let's talk about the risk. Doctor? Emh: I've examined the away team for signs of cell damage or physiological stress. Nothing. Their little joyride didn't harm them in the slightest. Janeway: Long term effects? Emh: I'm running medical projections right now. So far, the results are encouraging. Janeway: And the Dauntless itself? Chakotay: I'd say it's in pretty good shape, considering. Torres: I've been looking over the primary systems. Helm, Ops, Tactical, they're comparable to Voyager's. But it's a lean ship, Captain. No shuttlecraft, only one transporter, no holodecks, no replicators. Janeway: Well, Mister Neelix, you may have your work cut out for you. Neelix: Ready and willing, Captain. Kim: So what are we waiting for? Seven: Your enthusiasm is premature. Voyager is a proven vessel. It would be reckless to abandon it so quickly. Kim: Come on, where's that Borg spirit? We'll adapt. Seven: My Borg spirit gives me an objectivity you lack. Tuvok: She has a point. This would mean leaving Voyager behind. Chakotay: Is there any way we could modify Voyager to create a slipstream? Paris: In theory, but I don't think the ship would hold up very long under the quantum stresses. Janeway: Try to make the modifications. If there's a way we can bring Voyager along for the ride, I'm all for it. Harry, B'Elanna, I want you to take an Engineering team down to the Dauntless. Start working on a way to shut down the slipstream drive at a moment's notice. Torres: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Once we have that safeguard in place, we can start making the test flights. I want this entire crew to familiarize themselves with that ship. See to it. Dismissed. Tuvok. Big day. Tuvok: Indeed. Janeway: A way home. We've waited for this moment for years. Why don't I feel more enthusiastic? Tuvok: Perhaps my mental diskipline is rubbing off on you. Janeway: Perhaps. What do you think about this little miracle of ours? Tuvok: I share your concern about the crew's safety. We must take every precaution. Janeway: Somehow I don't think standard diagnostics and security protocols are going to make me feel any better. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: All of this is just a little too perfect. The alien genius with the answers to all our problems. A message from Starfleet telling us everything we want to hear. A starship delivered right to our doorstep. What more could we ask for? They even turned down the beds. The only thing missing was chocolates on the pillows. Tuvok: It does seem convenient. Janeway: I can't put my finger on it, but from the moment this all started I sensed something was wrong. Tuvok: It started when Arturis boarded Voyager. Janeway: Exactly. We'll proceed as planned, but I want you to investigate that ship from stem to stern. Keep an eye on our guest. See if you can find out more about him. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: Let's hope we're just suffering from some good old-fashioned paranoia. Keep me posted. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. So far, the crew hasn't found any evidence to support my doubts about Arturis. Nevertheless, I've told them to keep looking and to keep their optimism in check. But that's one order I don't expect them to follow to the letter. Daily log, Seven of Nine, Stardate 51981.6. I've analyzed the quantum slipstream technology of the Dauntless. It is similar to the transwarp drive used by the Borg. As a result, my expertise will be crucial to the mission's success. Voyager's crew is counting on that success but I find myself ambivalent, so I'm carrying out my assignment, nothing more. Despite my apprehension, I can't help but wonder what I'll be doing in three months' time. Still guiding Voyager through the Delta Quadrant, searching for a way home, or looking up old friends in Indiana? If we do return to Sector zero zero one, will I adapt to human civilization? A single Borg among billions of individuals? Torres: Initiate emergency shutdown on my mark. Now. Kim: Quantum field strength down to ninety percent. Eighty percent. It's leveling off at seventy five. Seven: We need to dampen the field by at least fifty percent. Torres: Try reversing the quantum field polarities. Kim: Seventy percent. Fifty five. Forty nine percent. Torres: We did it. We've got our safety net. Kim: One step closer to home. Seven: Tuvok wants us to run a metallurgical analysis of the bulkheads to look for anything unusual. Torres: Thank you. You two run the analysis. I'll be on the bridge with Arturis. Our resident genius said he'd help me figure out how to use the control sequencers. Seven: Lieutenant, you seem eager to return to Earth. Torres: Eager? I wouldn't go that far. Seven: You were a member of the Maquis. Starfleet Command will no doubt hold you responsible for a multitude of crimes. You will find nothing on Earth but adversity. Torres: That's looking on the bright side. Let's put it this way. I'd rather face the music back home than spend the rest of my life in the Delta Quadrant. What about you? Looking forward to seeing Earth? Seven: No. Torres: I'm not surprised. You think people are going to resent an ex-Maquis? What about an ex-drone? We'll be outcasts together. I'm kidding, Seven. It's a joke. Work on that sense of humor. It'll help you make friends on Earth. Kim: Seven, can you give me a hand down here? I'm picking up an anomalous energy surge. Seven: There are no power conduits running through this section. Kim: Believe me, Seven, one look at that big blue marble, and you'll fall in love. It's got just about every ecozystem you can think of, and hundreds of different humanoid species live there. Bolians, Vulcans, Ktarians. If you like Ktarians. And there are several other planets to choose from. Seven: If you will excuse me, Ensign, I must speak to the captain. Kim: Seven. For what's it worth, it won't be the same without you. Kim: Kim to Tuvok. Tuvok: Tuvok here. Kim: I'm on the Dauntless, in the engine room, and I've found something Kim: That qualifies as unusual. Tuvok: I'll be right there. Janeway: Computer, display datablock fourteen beta, auxiliary display. Janeway: Seven, I could use your help. I'm trying to reconstruct the last fragment of the Starfleet message. Seven: Arturis said it was irreparably damaged. Janeway: I know, but I think he gave up too easily. Seven: Intuition? Janeway: It's intuition if I'm right. I've designed a new decryption algorithm. Let's give it a try. Seven: Captain. I will not be going with you to the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: I can understand your reluctance. It's been hard enough dealing with a crew of a hundred and fifty individual humans. The prospect of an entire planet must be overwhelming. Seven: I am not overwhelmed. I simply do not wish to live among humans. Janeway: Well, whether you like it or not, you're one of us. You've come a long way from that drone who stepped out of a Borg alcove nine months ago. Don't turn your back on humanity now. Not when you're about to take your biggest step. Earth. Your home. Seven: I may have come a long way, but not in the direction you think. You've attempted to influence my development. You exposed me to your culture, you ideals. You hoped to shape me in your own image. But you have failed. You may have noticed our tendency to disagree. Janeway: Oh, I've noticed. Seven: Then you must also recognize that I do not share your values. Your desire to explore space is inefficient. Your need for familial connections is a weakness. Your infatuation with this planet is irrational. Janeway: I won't argue that you've turned out differently than I expected, and that we often have conflicting points of view. But right now, the stakes are higher. This crew needs your expertise. Abandon them and you diminish their chances of getting home. Seven: Irrelevant. Janeway: No, it's not. We've given you a lot, Seven. It's time you gave something in return. Seven: I have, on many occasions. Now I refuse. Janeway: What would you do, go back to the Collective? Seven: I don't know. Janeway: Then what exactly do you have in mind? Seven: I don't know. Janeway: That's my point. You're asking me to cast you adrift in the Delta Quadrant alone and without support. I wouldn't grant that request to any member of this crew because it's too dangerous. Seven: I will survive. Janeway: On what, Borg perfection? Seven: Precisely. Janeway: I don't buy it. This isn't about your independence or your superiority. This is about your fear. You're not making this choice because you've outgrown humanity. I think you're afraid to go back to Earth. Janeway: The algorithm's working. It's reconstructing the datablock. That's strange, I thought we already recovered this part of the message. Seven: Perhaps it is an addendum from the Admiral. You did designate him a windbag. Janeway: Oh, I don't think so. The data index doesn't match. This is a completely different message. Admiral Hayes: Apologies from everyone at Starfleet Command. We've had our best people working around the clock, trying to find a wormhole, a new means of propulsion, anything to get you home. But despite our best efforts. I know it's not what you were hoping, but we've sent you all the data we've collected on the Delta Quadrant. With any luck, you'll find at least some part of it useful. Maybe enough to shave a few years off your journey. Safe journey. We hope to see you soon. Seven: Your intuition was correct. Janeway: Unfortunately. Seven: Arturis must have created a false message. Janeway: It sure as hell looks that way. Janeway to Tuvok. Tuvok: Yes, Captain. Janeway: My suspicions have been confirmed. Janeway: Arturis tampered with Starfleet's message. Janeway: The Dauntless isn't what it appears to be. Tuvok: I agree. We've discovered alien technology behind a bulkhead Tuvok: In Engineering. I can't identify it. Janeway: Where's Arturis now? Tuvok: On the Dauntless bridge, working with Lieutenant Torres. Janeway: Go to the bridge, but don't tip our hand. Janeway: I'll be there with a full security team within minutes. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: Let's get weapons. Torres: Don't touch that! You almost kicked us into slipstream drive. Arturis: Oh. I wouldn't want to do that. Kucha meRah. Torres: No problem. You speak Klingon. Arturis: I do now. Your captain was kind enough to let me review your linguistic database. Torres: I only know speak a few phrases myself. Arturis: Oh, shame. It's a robust language. Torres: A little too robust for me. Janeway: Evacuate the repair teams. Torres: Captain? Janeway: Do it. Explain yourself. Arturis: I don't know what you're talking about. Janeway: You fabricated the message from Starfleet. I recovered the real transmission. The one you said was irreparably damaged. Arturis: That's absurd. Janeway: Starfleet didn't send us this vessel and you're not here to help. Is this your ship? Arturis: Please, stay calm, There must be an explanation. Janeway: I tried to ignore my gut feelings, because I got carried away by the excitement of getting home. But you preyed on that, didn't you? You took advantage of our hopes and now I want to know why. Arturis: I believe that there is a threat here, Captain, but not from me. I didn't feel it was my place to make accusations, but I saw her reconfigure several key algorithms two days ago in your Astrometrics lab, and it seemed obvious. She must have been tampering with the Starfleet message. Seven: You are lying. Arturis: She's been sabotaging your every effort to reach Earth. You don't have to believe me, Captain. You can find all the evidence you need in her personal database. Janeway: Evidence you undoubtedly put there yourself just in case you got caught. Take him to Voyager. Throw him the brig. Janeway: Janeway to Voyager. Beam us out of here. Kim: He's trying to deflect our transporters. Stand by. Kim: I've got everyone but Seven and the Captain. He's found a way to block their transport. Paris: The ship's going into slipstream mode. Chakotay: Pursuit course. Paris: We lost them, Commander. Chakotay: Tom, bring the warp core modifications online. We're going after them. Paris: Sir, we haven't even had a trial run yet. Chakotay: There's no time like the present. Seven: Where are you taking us? Arturis: Home. Janeway: How'd you create the Starfleet bridge? Holograms? Arturis: Particle synthesis. Beyond your understanding. Janeway: Is this what your people do? Prey on innocent ships? Arturis: Innocent? Typical of Captain Janeway. Self-righteous. Janeway: If I've offended you or your people in some way, please tell me. Arturis: Diplomacy, Captain? Your diplomacy destroyed my world. Janeway: What? What are you saying? Arturis: You negotiated an agreement with the Borg Collective. Safe passage through their space. And in return, you helped them defeat one of their enemies. Seven: Species eight four seven two. Arturis: In your colorful language, yes. Species eight four seven two. Did it ever occur to you that there were those of us in the Delta Quadrant who had a vested interest in that war? Victory would have meant the annihilation of the Borg, but you couldn't see beyond the bow of your own ship! Janeway: In my estimation, Species eight four seven two posed a greater threat than the Borg. Arturis: Who are you to make that decision? A stranger to this Quadrant. Janeway: There wasn't exactly time to take a poll. I had to act quickly. Arturis: My people managed to elude the Borg for centuries. Outwitting them, always one step ahead. But in recent years, the Borg began to weaken our defenses. They were closing in and Species eight four seven two was our last hope to defeat them. You took that away from us! The outer colonies were the first to fall. Twenty three in a matter of hours. Our sentry vessels tossed aside, no defense against the storm. By the time they'd surrounded our star system, hundreds of Cubes, we had already surrendered to our own terror. A few of us managed to survive. Ten, twenty thousand. I was fortunate. I escaped with a vessel. Alone, but alive. I don't blame them. They were just drones, acting with their Collective instinct. You, you had a choice! Janeway: I'm sorry for what happened to your people, but try to understand. I couldn't have known. Arturis: It took me months to find you. I watched and waited for my opportunity to make you pay for what you'd done. Then the Starfleet message, and I knew that your selfish desire to get home would surface again. That I could lure you to this vessel. That I could see to it that you'd all be assimilated and spend the rest of eternity as Borg. I was hoping to get your entire crew, but I'll settle for the two of you. In a matter of hours, this ship will return to my homeworld. Inside Borg space. Seven: When that happens, you will be assimilated as well. Arturis: That's irrelevant. This is what you wanted all along, isn't it? To go back to your Collective? You should thank me. Chakotay: Report. Paris: We're at full impulse, but we're not breaking through the quantum barrier. Tuvok: I'm having trouble controlling the field parameters. I need more power to the deflector. Chakotay: Bridge to Torres. Torres: I'm already on it, Commander. Torres: Stand by. Reroute auxiliary power to Deflector Control. Make sure that quantum warp field is stable. Crewman: Aye, Lieutenant. Tuvok: Deflector at maximum. I'm focusing the quantum field. Kim: Make it quick. Hull temperature's at critical. Paris: We're at slipstream velocity. Kim: Structural integrity's down by nine percent. We've got less than an hour before the hull starts to buckle. Paris: I've located their slipstream. I'm aligning ours to match. We're right behind them. Chakotay: How far behind? Paris: Just a few minutes. Tuvok: Is there any way to increase our speed? Paris: None. We're at maximum. Chakotay: Maintain course. If I know the captain, she's already got a plan. Janeway: Any ideas? Seven: Not presently. Janeway: We'd better think of something. We come face to face with your former family in less than an hour, and that's one reunion I'd like to miss. Unless of course, you're looking forward to rejoining the Collective? Seven: I do not believe I am. Janeway: Not the ringing opposition I was hoping for, but I'll take it. A drone could walk through this forcefield like it was thin air. Is there enough Borg technology left in your body to let it adapt? Seven: If I activate the appropriate nanoprobes, I could alter my bio-electric field. However, I would need to adjust my cranial implant. Janeway: Would a micro-filament do the trick? Seven: It might. Janeway: Then let's get you one. Once you get outside, access that control panel and disable the forcefield. Then we'll try to reach the engine room. Seven: And employ the emergency shutdown procedure. Seven: Sufficient. You will need to cross-link the third and sixth nodules. Janeway: Déjà-vu. Seven: Captain? Janeway: As I recall, this is where our relationship began. In a brig, nine months ago. I severed you from the Collective and you weren't exactly happy about it. Seven: No, I was not. Janeway: In case I never get a chance to say this, I realize that I've been hard on you at times. But it was never out of anger, or regret that I brought you on board. I'm your Captain. That means I can't always be your friend. Understand? Seven: No. However, if we are assimilated, our thoughts will become one, and I'm sure I will understand perfectly. A joke, Captain. You yourself have encouraged me to use my sense of humor. Janeway: It's nice to know you've taken some of my advice to heart. Seven: You were correct. My desire to remain in the Delta Quadrant was based on fear. I am no longer Borg, but the prospect of becoming human is unsettling. I don't know where I belong. Janeway: You belong with us. Seven: The adaptations are complete. Janeway: We're in business. Seven: I can't initiate the emergency shutdown. Janeway: Our commands are being blocked from the bridge. He's detected us. Seven: The ship's velocity has just increased. At our present speed, we will enter Borg space in less than twelve minutes. Janeway: Do we still have access to the power distribution grid? Seven: Yes. Janeway: If we can't throw on the brakes, let's swerve the wheel. Send a power surge into the starboard thrusters. Seven: The torsional stress at these speeds could tear the ship apart. Janeway: It's either that or join the Hive. Do it. If we're still in one piece, try to gain control of navigation. I'll be on the bridge. We have a game of Velocity scheduled for tomorrow, holodeck one. I expect you to keep the appointment. Seven: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Sorry about the bumpy ride. Arturis: You can slow this ship down, but you can't stop it. In four minutes, Captain Janeway will be gone and a new drone will be born. Janeway: Don't count on it. Seven of Nine has accessed your navigational systems. You taught us how to use this ship a little too well. I can't begin to imagine your loss, but try to see beyond your desire for revenge. Arturis: Revenge is all I have left. Janeway: No. As long you're alive there's hope. Your people's accomplishments, their knowledge, their dignity, can survive in you. End this. Arturis: I've just destroyed the navigational controls. No one can stop this ship now. Not even me. Two minutes to Borg space. Tuvok: Direct hit. The vessel's shields are down. Transporters standing by. Chakotay: Get a lock on our people. Arturis: Voyager. Janeway: Come with me. It's not too late. Arturis: It is for you. Kim: I've got them, Commander, Transporter Room two. Chakotay: Alter our slipstream. Hard starboard. Take us back the way we came. Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We remained in the quantum slipstream for an hour before it finally collapsed. Our diagnostics have concluded that we can't risk using this technology again. But we did manage to get three hundred light years closer to home. Computer: Full impact. Final round to Janeway. Winner, Janeway. Janeway: Nice play. You almost had me. Seven: Almost. Janeway: Go again? Seven: I must report to the Astrometrics lab. There is work to be done. Janeway: Work? I gave the crew strict orders to take some R and R over the next few days, and that includes you. Seven: There are more pressing needs. I am attempting to design another method of traveling at slipstream velocities without damaging Voyager. Janeway: I thought that was impossible. Seven: Impossible is a word that humans use far too often. I wish to continue my efforts. Janeway: A few days ago you were ready to abandon ship, and here you are, practically laying in a course to Earth. Seven: As we approached Borg space I began to re-evaluate my future. The prospect of becoming a drone was unappealing. Janeway: Sometimes you've got to look back in order to move forward. Sounds to me like you're starting to embrace your humanity. Seven: No. But as I said, nothing is impossible. Janeway: Computer. One more game.

Chaotica: Citizens of Earth! Your destiny is in my hands. Those of you who acquiesce to my demands will be treated fairly. Oppose me, and you face a dire fate indeed as my slaves in the mines of Mercury! You have one hour. Kim: You'll never get away with this. Chaotica: Oh, but I shall. Your once proud country will fall to its knees. How ironic that I am using your rocket ship to lead my space force into battle!. Kim: You're wrong, Chaotica. Before you came on board, someone pushed the self-destruct button. In three minutes, we'll all be dead. Chaotica: No! Paris: The jig is up, your Majesty. Chaotica: Captain Proton. Paris: Spaceman First Class, Protector of Earth, scourge of intergalactic evil, at your service. Chaotica: But I saw you fall into the fiery mouth of that volcano. Paris: It takes more than a little lava to stop Captain Proton. Now, I want you to call off your invasion and give me back my rocket ship. Chaotica: There is one force in this universe that even you cannot defeat. Emh: The same to you. Paris: Doc. Emh: Mister Paris. I should have known it was you monopolizing the holodeck. Chaotica: Who is this insolent fool? Kim: He's one of our men. Computer, adjust the Doctor's spectral frequency. Emh: I have no interest in your frivolous fantasy. I'm here to rehearse a duet from Don Carlo and you've already gone three minutes into my scheduled Chaotica: Enough! Robot, attack! Chaotica: Destroy them. Start with him. Emh: Computer, freeze program. Paris: Doc, this is the final chapter. Satan's Robot Conquers the World. We can't stop now. Emh: Does the phrase to be continued mean anything to you? Paris: Your opera can wait. Emh: This program is a waste of photonic energy. Paris: Oh, really. Take a look around you. This is how the twentieth century saw the future. We are studying sociology. Emh: Perhaps you can teach a course at Starfleet Academy. Satan's Robot - an Historical Overview. Chakotay: Bridge to holodeck one. What's going on down there? Kim: Oh, nothing, Commander. Just a little power surge. Chakotay: Says here the hologrid just blew out. Kim: We're fixing it now, sir. Chakotay: Well, make it quick. The last thing we need is a broken holodeck. Chakotay: Seven, I want good news. That's an order. Seven: Then I must disobey. I have no good news to report. I've completed an astrometric scan of the entire region. There are no star systems within twenty five hundred light years. Chakotay: Nothing? Seven: Nothing. Chakotay: Why can't we see stars beyond that? Seven: There are heavy concentrations of theta radiation. It has occluded our sensors. Chakotay: Any other ships out there? Seven: None. We are alone. Chakotay: Every sailor's nightmare. Seven: Commander.? Chakotay: It's like being becalmed in the middle of the ocean. If it weren't for sensors we wouldn't even know we were at warp. We've only been crossing this expanse for two months and we're already feeling the strain. How do we last another two years? Seven: We will adapt. Chakotay: Easier said than done. Seven: Shall I inform the Captain of my findings? Chakotay: No. I'll tell her. First Officer's log, Stardate 52081.2. It's been fifty three days since we entered this desolate region. If we want to continue our course toward home we have no choice but to cross it. We won't have an opportunity to take on fresh supplies or fuel, so I've ordered all departments to create an energy reserve. We're using power cells to stockpile deuterium. Torres: This won't be much of a briefing. There's nothing new to report. Chakotay: Humor me. Torres: All right, let's see. Warp core's at peak efficiency, just like last week, and the week before that. And my engineering staff is going stir crazy. Chakotay: Thanks. Ensign. Kim: Nada. Chakotay: Can you be more specific? Kim: All systems are operating within normal parameters. Chakotay: Anything new on sensors? Tuvok: I've detected a sudden increase in theta radiation in the vicinity. Chakotay: Source? Tuvok: Unknown. Chakotay: Could be worth a look. Paris: Finally some excitement. Radiation. Chakotay: Next piece of business. Crew morale. Emh: Deteriorating, obviously. Neelix: I have a few suggestions that might boost people's spirits. Chakotay: Please. Neelix: Rotate crew assignments. Add variety to the daily routine. I myself wouldn't mind squeezing in a little tactical training. Tuvok: Noted. Neelix: And the holodecks have been in high demand. I was thinking we could installl a few emitters in Cargo Bay two. Turn it into a third holodeck. Emh: Hear, hear. Chakotay: See to it, Harry. Neelix: One other item, sir. A point of er, concern among some of the crew. It's, well, it's the Captain. She's been a bit elusive lately. Chakotay: What's your point? Neelix: People take comfort in talking to her. When they see that the Captain's happy, they're happy. Paris: Rumor has it she never leaves her quarters. Chakotay: Captain's privilege. She'll come to the bridge if and when she's needed. Torres: Spare us the protocol, Chakotay. It's pretty odd, you've got to admit it. Chakotay: It's her choice. She can run this ship from wherever the hell she wants to. Understood? Torres: Yeah. Sure. Chakotay: We're all feeling the pressure, including me. Kim: Listen, maybe we've got the wrong attitude. Let's think of this as a two year vacation. Chakotay: Dismissed. Torres: That's a great idea, Harry. Paris: Wow, Harry. You're a real genius. How do you come up with these brilliant ideas? Kim: You're such an optimistic guy. Neelix: Computer, lights! Maximum level! Bergamot tea, hot. First thing in the morning I replicate some curtains. Torres: Predictable. The Novokavich gambit. You always use that opening move. Paris: That's because you always fall for it. Torres: I feel like we've played this match a hundred times. Paris: Derada is a game of subtlety. Torres: Too subtle for me. Paris: Hmm. I'll bet. Torres: What's that supposed to mean? Paris: Well, if it doesn't involve Klingon pain sticks. Torres: Good night. Paris: There you go, just when I'm winning. Who's predictable? Torres: You don't want to start a fight with me now. Not at three a.m. Paris: Three in the morning, four in the afternoon. What's the difference? You're angry twenty four hours a day. Torres: Everything is a joke to you. Neelix: Good evening. Or should I say good morning? Guess you couldn't sleep either. Paris: Oh, why sleep when we're having so much fun. Torres: He's joking, Neelix. We're all supposed to laugh. Neelix: I certainly am laughing, on the inside. Smiling, anyway. Let's start a new game. Cards? Maybe a little snack? Paris: No. I have a better idea. Why don't we make a schedule. A fight rotation. We can optimize our resources. I can start one, then you can start one. Neelix: Please. Torres: I am really tired of these games. Paris: Well then, don't play them. Neelix: Stop! You are senior officers! You are you are supposed to be setting an example for the rest. The rest of the crew. Torres: Neelix? Paris: Paris to Sickbay. Neelix: Some morale officer I turned out to be. Emh: I've given you a mild sedative. It should control the urge to hyperventilate, and alleviate some of your anxiety. Neelix: Anxiety? Anxiety's what I feel when I burn a pot roast. This. This is more like. Emh: Dizziness? Nausea? Unspeakable dread? Neelix: Yes. Emh: Nihiliphobia. the fear of nothingness. Or in layman's terms, the fear of nothingness. If it's any consolation, I can relate to it. I go into a void every time I'm deactivated. Emptiness, complete and utter oblivion. I'll admit it was unsettling at first. The existential horror of it all. Neelix: You're not helping, Doctor. Emh: Sorry. My point is, you'll get used to it. Neelix: I hope so. Seven: Commander. Am I disturbing you. Tuvok: No. Seven: Is the Astrometrics lab designated for recreational use? Tuvok: I come here to meditate. Needless to say, the view from my quarters has been less than stellar lately. Seven: Astronomical phenomena help you to focus your mind. Tuvok: Yes. I imagine that each star represents a single thought. Seven: Meditation. It rejuvenates you? Tuvok: Indeed it does. Seven: I suggest you try Borg regeneration. It's much more efficient. A simple cortical implant would be required. Tuvok: Another time, perhaps. Tuvok: What is it? Seven: Long range sensors are detecting more theta radiation. Dangerously high levels. Tuvok: Source? Seven: Unknown. Chakotay: It's probably nothing. Just background theta radiation. But it could mean there's someone nearby. Janeway: Distance? Chakotay: Approximately twenty five light years. Janeway: It's a long shot, but alter course. Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: If that's all, Commander. Chakotay: Actually, I'd like to make a request. I've been saving up my holodeck rations and I've got three full hours coming. Any chance I might persuade you to join me for a few rounds of Velocity? It'll help clear your mind. Janeway: My mind is perfectly clear. Chakotay: And what if I told you I'm not leaving until you join me? Janeway: I'd say, have a seat, it'll be a while. Chakotay: Then I'll be blunt. You've picked a bad time to isolate yourself from the crew. This ship needs a Captain, especially now. Janeway: Would you be satisfied with I'm just catching up on some reading? I'm not sure I understand it myself. It started when we entered this, what does the crew call it? Chakotay: The Void. Janeway: Charming. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a few Borg cubes about now. Anything for a little distraction. Strange as it sounds, I almost long for the days when we were under constant attack. No time to stop and think about how we got stranded in the Delta quadrant. How did we end up here, Chakotay? Answer me. Chakotay: We were faced with a difficult choice. We had the means to get home but using it would've put an innocent people at risk, so we decided to stay. Janeway: No. No, no. I decided to stay. I made that choice for everyone. Chakotay: We're alive and well, and we've gathered enough data about this quadrant to keep Starfleet scientists busy for decades. Our mission's been a success. Janeway: The very same words I've been telling myself for the past four years. But then we hit this Void, and I started to realize how empty those words sound. Chakotay: Kathryn. Janeway: I made an error in judgment, Chakotay. It was short-sighted and it was selfish, and now all of us are paying for my mistake. So if you don't mind, Commander, I'll pass on that little game. And I'll leave shipboard morale in your capable hands. If the crew asks for me, tell them the Captain sends her regards. Kim: Sir. Tuvok: Relax, Ensign. Anything to report? Kim: Not even a stray electron. But I did finish writing my concerto. I call it 'Echoes of the Void.' Got a minute? Tuvok: Too many, in fact. Kim: Tell me what you think. Paris: Now, when we last saw our heroes, they had just retaken their rocket ship. Doctor Chaotica had escaped, but he left behind his trusty robot to foil Captain Proton. Seven: My designation? Paris: Ah, right. You're Constance Goodheart. You're my secretary. Seven: Secretary. Paris: Yeah, you tag along on all the missions. Now, I want you to keep the robot occupied while I save Earth. Computer, run program. Robot: Citizen of Earth, surrender! Do not resist! Seven: I am Borg. Robot: Surrender. Seven: The robot has been neutralized. May I leave now? Paris: Come on, Seven. Give it a chance. The galaxy's at stake. Kim: We've dropped out of warp. We're losing power. Tuvok: Switch to auxiliary. Kim: No effect. Kim: I was hoping for a change of pace, but a blackout isn't exactly what I had in mind. I'll try tapping into the energy reserves. Man: Double check the radio relays. Torres: Get inside those plasma injectors. Infuse them manually if you have to. Seven: Lieutenant. Paris: Just a second. I'm not sure how to work this thing. Paris: Captain Protein to the rescue! It's not exactly Starfleet issue. A ship-wide power loss? Everything's offline, main power, auxiliary. Seven: Independent subsystems are operational. Environmental controls, holodecks. Reroute power from this holodeck to the emergency relays. Paris: Yes, ma'am. No luck. The hologrid is frozen. Chakotay: Neelix. Neelix: Don't mind me. Chakotay: There's been a power loss. Nothing to worry about. Neelix: Who's worried? Chakotay: Come on. Take deep breaths nice and slow. That's it. Kim: Bingo. We've got partial sensors. I've found the cause of our power drain. It's some kind of dampening field. The source is off the port bow. That's about all I can tell you. Tuvok: On screen. Do we have the power to launch a photon torpedo? Kim: Maybe one, why? Tuvok: Perhaps we could shed some light on our predicament. I'm reconfiguring the torpedo to emit a sustained polyluminous burst. Kim: A warp flare. Tuvok: Precisely. Paris: I need something to pry open this hatch. Seven: Computer, disengage safety protocols! Neelix: I saw something, over there. I'm telling you, I saw something. I may be nihiliphobic but my eyes work just fine. I can hear breathing. Janeway: Follow me. Neelix: Yes, ma'am. Tuvok: Torpedo reconfigured. Away. Torres: I can barely see the injector ports. How about a little light over here? Janeway: We can do better than that. This power cell should be enough to get emergency power back online. Torres: Up here. We'll hook it up directly to the EPS manifold. Kim: Emergency power just came back. We've got tactical. Tuvok: Raising shields. Torres: The warp core's online. Janeway: Janeway to bridge, report. Tuvok: The dampening field has been blocked, Captain. We are surrounded by three alien vessels. Tuvok: Seventeen intruders are on board. Janeway: The ships aren't responding to hails. Chakotay: We do have weapons online. Janeway: Tuvok, target the ship off our port bow. Fire a few warning shots. Tuvok: Shields down to sixty four percent. Chakotay: Do we have propulsion? Torres: Not yet. Seven: He was attacked by an intruder. Emh: These burns are severe. Seven: I disabled the alien. It may still be alive. Emh: Bring it to Sickbay. Tuvok: Shields are down. Kim: They're reinitializing the dampening field. We're losing power. Neelix: Not again. Chakotay: They've stopped their attack. They're beaming off the ship. Kim: There's another vessel approaching. Kim: We're being hailed. Tuvok: On screen. I'm Lieutenant Commander Tuvok of the Federation. Emck: I had to fire thirteen spatial charges to drive those ships off. I expect to be compensated. Tuvok: Of course. Emck: Now tell me, what are you doing in the middle of nowhere? Tuvok: The biofilters are detecting high levels of theta radiation. Janeway: Compensate. Welcome aboard. I'm afraid we'll have to talk here. You appear to be leaking. Emck: Yes, yes, my isolation suit. Don't be alarmed. Chakotay: We prefer to be on the safe side, Mister? Emck: Emck. Controller Emck. Malon export vessel, eleventh gradient. Janeway: It's a pleasure to meet you, and a relief. Emck: I'd advise you to turn around immediately. There are more of those creatures ahead, thousands of vessels. They're almost impossible to detect. You won't survive another attack. Janeway: We can't go back. We're crossing this expanse to reach our home. Emck: Then, er, it appears you'll be coming with me. Tuvok: What do you mean? Emck: There's a spatial vortex a few light years from here. It leads directly to the other side of the expanse. We've been using it for years. Chakotay: That would get us out of the Void, and cut two years off our journey home. Janeway: Well, thank you again. I'm curious, Mister Emck. What are you doing here, besides rescuing starships in distress? Emck: Ah, I'm on a transport mission. My sensors tell me that one of the creatures is still aboard your ship. Chakotay: It was injured during the attack. Our doctor's treating it. Janeway: Why? Emck: Enough questions. Give me the creature and I'll take you to the vortex. Janeway: Oh, my apologies, Mister Emck, but I'd like to know what's going on here. Are you at war with these beings? Emck: None of your concern. Janeway: Your vessel seems to be leaking large amounts of theta radiation. What kind of transport mission are you on, exactly? Emck: My ship will depart in two hours. Cooperate or stay behind. I won't be coming to your rescue when the creatures return. I'm finished here. Janeway: I think it's time we heard the other side of the story. Emh: Watch your step, I've had to lower the lights. My patient is extremely photosensitive. Chakotay: That could explain why they dampened our power. Emh: My feelings exactly. From what I can tell this life form may be indigenous to the Void. His physiology has evolved to survive in complete darkness. Janeway: His condition? Emh: Minor injuries. Phaser wounds to the chest and neck. But that's the least of his problems. He's dying, Captain. Every organ is degrading at the cellular level. Janeway: Theta radiation poisoning. Emh: The final stages. My guess is he's been exposed to it over a long period. There's nothing I can do. Janeway: I'd like a word with him. I'm Kathryn Janeway, captain of this vessel. Night Alien: You are allied with the Malon. Janeway: No. We're simply trying to cross this region. We never met the Malon before today. Night Alien: They will want me. Janeway: Well, I have no intention of giving you to them. You're not a captive here. Doctor. Are you at war with the Malon? Night Alien: Their ships are poison. Janeway: The theta radiation. Night Alien: They're killing us. Janeway: Why? What do they want from you? Night Alien: Nothing. Emh: This will help alleviate the pain. Janeway: I don't understand. Night Alien: We were ignorant. We attacked you. Forgive us. Janeway: Of course. But I need to understand. You say the Malon are killing your people. There must be a reason. Night Alien: They're poisoning our space. We don't know why. Emh: He's in respiratory distress. We need to get him back to his people. They might know how to treat him. Night Alien: I will show you how. Janeway: I need a workstation. Route it to the helm. If you enter the coordinates, my pilot will set a course. Night Alien: I am grateful. Janeway: Take the bridge. I'll stay here. Chakotay: We still don't have a defense against their dampening field. If they decide to attach again. Janeway: I'm confident they won't. Finally, something to put in my logbook. Chakotay: Tuvok. Chakotay: I need your advice. Tuvok: A first. Chakotay: Look, I realize we're not exactly best friends. From day one, we've kept each other at arm's length. But I've always respected your judgment and right now, I could use a little Vulcan clarity. Tuvok: Proceed. Chakotay: It's the Captain. As you may have noticed, she's isolated herself from the crew. Tuvok: She believes that she made an error in judgment four years ago. That she's responsible for stranding Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay: She told you? Tuvok: No. I've been observing her behavior for the past four years. Guilt has been her constant companion. Chakotay: You've known her longer than anyone. Have you ever seen her like this? Tuvok: Only once. It was during her first year as a Commander on the USS Billings. She sent an away team to survey a volcanic moon. Their shuttle was damaged by a magma eruption and three crew members were severely injured. The next day she returned to the moon alone to complete the survey. She wanted the crew to know that their suffering had not been in vain. She could have been killed. Chakotay: Seeking redemption. Tuvok: Precisely. Captain Janeway's methods are unorthodox. It is her strength as a leader, but unfortunately, it is also her greatest weakness. Chakotay: Stubborn as a Klingon. Tuvok: To put it mildly. Chakotay: If she tries something like that again I want to be ready and I'm going to need your support. Paris: We're at the coordinates. Chakotay: All stop. Shields up. Tuvok. Tuvok: Nothing on sensors. Chakotay: Bridge to Captain. Chakotay: We've arrived. Janeway: Stand by. Night Alien: They're here, but I must tell them you are a friend. Your communications system? Kim: I'm picking up photonic surges. They're all around us. Chakotay: Captain, we've got company. Eight ships, twelve more approaching. Janeway: Let's run a full bioscan. Night Alien: We have lived here for millions of years, undisturbed until the Malon came. Emh: Captain, every one of them seems to be suffering from theta radiation exposure. Night Alien: We tell them they are killing us. They won't listen. We tried to stop them. They're too strong! Janeway: What about the vortex? Can you close it, keep them out? Night Alien: We don't know how. Your ship is powerful, your people resourceful. We need your help. Chakotay: Bridge to Captain. They're locking onto the alien in sickbay. Janeway: Lower the shields. Night Alien: Will you help us? Janeway: Poison. Seven: The vessel is ejecting massive quantities of contaminated antimatter. Chakotay: Their cargo holds are loaded with it. Over ninety million isotons. Janeway: Hail them. Emck: Captain. You've decided to join us. Send the creature to my Janeway: That won't be possible. We've returned him to his people. You wanted the lifeform because you were afraid we'd uncover your transport mission. Emck: I said this was none of your concern. Janeway: Well, it is now. You're using their space as a dumping ground for your antimatter waste. Why? Emck: My civilization produces over six billion isotons of industrial by-product every day. This region is a perfect disposal site. Chakotay: How convenient, for you. A spatial vortex to the middle of nowhere, far away from your own system. Out of sight, out of mind. Problem is, somebody lives here. Emck: One species. Janeway: One's enough. We didn't come here to debate the issue. We came here to offer a peaceful solution. Emck: What kind of solution? Janeway: My people use anti-matter as well, but we've found ways to purify the reactants so there's no toxic waste. We'll show you. Chakotay: Guide us through the vortex. We can meet with your scientists on the other side, exchange information. Emck: Show me now. Janeway: Stand by for transport. Commander, take our guest to Engineering. Give him a demonstration. Let's turn our sensors on that vortex. I want to know exactly how it works, just in case diplomacy fails. Seven: Do you intend to destroy it? Torres: The residual anti-matter is then processed in the transkinetic chamber, where it's broken down on the subatomic level. Emck: What about the theta radiation? Torres: Oh, it's absorbed by a series of radiometric converters. We recycle the energy, use it to power everything from life support to replicators. Emck: We don't have this kind of conversion technology. Torres: Our scans of your freighter show that you have plasma manifolds. The engineering principles are the same. Chakotay: We're not saying this won't take some effort. You're looking at several months of retrofitting, depending on the size of your fleet. All the schematics are here, and we'd be willing to work with you, get you started. We can even provide you with some converters. Emck: Ingenious design. Our engineers would be pleased. This would solve a lot of problems on my world. Unfortunately, it would also put me out of business. Chakotay: Sorry? Emck: Your technology would throw the waste export industry into chaos. Before long, I'd be obsolete. I came here hoping your claims were exaggerated, but I can see they're not. You can keep your solution. Torres: You lying Chakotay: B'Elanna. Torres: We went through this whole song and dance and he never had any intention of working with us. Chakotay: That's not important. What matters is that we're talking now. We're proposing changes, some of them difficult, but progress can also bring new opportunities. Given time, this could turn to your advantage. Emck: I already have the advantage. The vortex. No one knows about it except me and my crew. By ejecting my cargo here I cut expenses in half. I won't sacrifice that. Torres: I guess mass murder doesn't factor into your profit margin. Emck: You care so much about these creatures, stay. Chakotay: I'm sorry you won't listen to reason, but don't expect us to walk away from this. Emck: You've scanned my vessel. You've seen my fire power. You wouldn't survive ten seconds in a conflict with me. Chakotay: Get him out of here. Emck: Pah! Janeway: Options? Chakotay: We fight our way past them. Navigate the vortex on our own. Once we're on the other side we contact the Malon authorities and blow the whistle on Emck. Janeway: We give them the reclamation technology, and continue on our way home. Chakotay: Exactly. Janeway: Even if we did get through the vortex, there's no guarantee the Malon will do the right thing, if Mister Emck is any indication. As long as this vortex exists, the inhabitants of this region are at risk. Chakotay: Any chance we could destroy it? Janeway: I believe so, but there's a catch. We'll have to collapse it from this end, where it's dimensional radius is weakest. We'd be closing our short-cut out of here. Chakotay: Two more years in the Void. I can live with that. Janeway: But I'm not sure I can. Four years ago I destroyed the Caretaker's array to protect the Ocampa. That act of compassion stranded this crew in the Delta quadrant. I'm not about to give that order again. Chakotay: This situation is a little different. Janeway: It's close enough. I'm asking this crew to make too big a sacrifice. I won't make that same mistake. Chakotay: If you have another option, I'm listening. Janeway: Chakotay, there's no one I trust more than you. You're a fine First Officer. Are you ready to Captain this ship? Chakotay: Yes. Janeway: Assemble the crew. Tuvok: Captain on the bridge. Janeway: At ease. Harry, how've you been? Kim: Just find, ma'am. Janeway: Good. Neelix: We've missed you, Captain. Janeway: Likewise. I'll make this brief. Your orders are to proceed to the vortex. Use whatever means necessary to fight your way past the Malon freighter. I'll stay behind in a shuttlecraft and destroy the vortex. Tuvok, I'll need a class two shuttle armed with photon torpedoes. Tom, set a course for Torres: Forget it. We're not going to let you die out here. Janeway: Have a little faith, B'Elanna. I'll have a shuttle, plenty of rations. I'll survive. Paris: Alone in the Delta quadrant? No offense, but Janeway: I've made my decision. Kim: What about us? Don't we have a say? Neelix: He's right, Captain. I'd be willing to brave this Void if it meant keeping you with us. Janeway: Tom, set a course. Janeway: Lieutenant, I gave you an order. Paris: I can't follow that order, ma'am. Janeway: Harry, take the helm. Kim: I'm sorry, Captain. Seven: I will not comply. Emh: What's a hologram to do? Tuvok: As you can see, you're not the only one who's had time to evaluate the past. Janeway: Yes, I can see that. You realize you could all be hanged for mutiny.? Looks like we need another option. Chakotay: We fire torpedoes the instant we cross the threshold. As the vortex begins to collapse, we jump into high warp. Janeway: There'll be a massive shock wave on our tail. Torres: I'll reinforce the aft shielding. Janeway: There's still one obstacle. The Malon. Tuvok: Antimatter waste has weakened the bulkhead surrounding their cargo hold. A direct phaser strike should disable them. Emh: Poetic justice. Tuvok: Indeed. Janeway: You realize it will reduce our chance of getting through. Seven: Chance is irrelevant. We will succeed. Emh: A vote of Borg confidence. Who could argue with that? Janeway: All right. Back to your stations. Let's do it. Chakotay: Red alert. Set a course to the vortex. All hands to battle stations. Janeway: You told them. They knew coming in. Chakotay: Let's just say I wouldn't be a fine First Officer if I hadn't. Janeway: Return fire. Hit them with everything we've got. Tuvok: Their shields are holding. Janeway: Open a channel. This is Voyager. Stand down your weapons and fall back. I'll take that as a no. Chakotay: The vortex. Paris: Two million kilometers dead ahead. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering, we're approaching the vortex. Janeway: Bring the aft shielding online. Torres: Acknowledged. See you on the other side. Chakotay: Status. Kim: The port nacelle's been ruptured. We're venting plasma. Janeway: Can you get us out of here on one engine, Tom? Paris: I think so. Tuvok: Torpedoes armed and ready. Janeway: On my order, Tuvok. We'll only get one shot at this. Seven: They're firing spatial charges. Janeway: Evade them. Seven: Captain Proton to the rescue. Paris: I'll explain later. Tuvok: The vortex is in visual range. Janeway: Time to intercept? Paris: Forty seven seconds. Janeway: Steady as she goes. Keep laying down fire. Kim: Direct hit, starboard nacelle. Paris: Both engines are offline. We're running on inertia. One more hit and we're dead in the water. Chakotay: Without warp drive we'll never outrun the shockwave. Janeway: Tuvok, can you reinforce the aft shields with our main deflector? Tuvok: I believe so. Janeway: Do it. We're going to ride that shockwave out of here. Let it push us to the other side. Tuvok: Adjusting shield harmonics. Seven: Captain. They intend to block our path. Paris: Twenty seconds. Chakotay: Prepare to fire. Tuvok: That may not be necessary. Seven: The freighter is moving to combat the aliens. Chakotay: They're trying to distract the Malon, give us the upper hand. Paris: Ten seconds! Tuvok: The freighter's shields are weakening. Janeway: Target their cargo hold. Time to take out the garbage. Paris: We're crossing the threshold. Janeway: Torpedoes. Seven: Shockwave approaching. Six hundred meters. Five hundred. Four. Tuvok: Aft shields at maximum. Janeway: All hands, brace for impact! Tuvok: Pressure is building on the outer hull. Shields weakening. Paris: We're clear. Seven: The vortex has been destroyed. Chakotay: Are we out of the Void? Kim: Not yet. That little maneuver brought us up a bit short. We're still two hundred thousand kilometers from the boundary. Janeway: On screen. Maintain course. Paris: There. Torres: What? Paris: I saw something. A star. Emh: Remind me to check your eyesight. Janeway: Harry, what do you see out there? Kim: I see a densely packed region with thousands of star systems. It looks pretty lively. Janeway: Full speed ahead.

Emh: Seven of Nine. How's my favorite Borg today? Seven: Annoyed. In the future you will announce your presence before entering this room. Emh: Sorry. I guess I should have knocked first. Seven: Are we ready to leave? Emh: Yes. According to sensors, spatial conditions are ripe. A spontaneous protonebula could emerge within the next twenty minutes. Mister Paris is expecting us. Emh: Hmm. Not a bad looking hologram. Emh: This should be exciting, don't you think? Seven: It's an astronomical survey, nothing more. What is your function on this mission? Emh: My function is to study the nebula's effects on the crew. We may be dealing with new forms of radiation. I can't wait to see one of these clouds take shape. I hear they're quite beautiful. I brought along a holo-imaging device to take a few snapshots. Seven: This isn't shore leave. There will be no time for recreational activities. Emh: The Borg, party poopers of the galaxy. Tomorrow we'll start you on a new social exercise. Developing your joie de vivre. Paris: Sorry about that. Just a little spatial turbulence. Nothing to worry about. Emh: Hello there. Torres: I don't know about you, but I've got a case of class two claustrophobia. Paris: Ah, I remember it well. Seven: Lieutenant? Torres: Oh, that's what Starfleet cadets used to call these class two shuttles. Fast, maneuverable, but not built for comfort. Paris: They used to shoehorn half a dozen cadets into one of these things for weeks at a time. You did not want to be around when they opened up that airlock. Seven: Perhaps you should design a new shuttle. Larger, more efficient. Torres: Not a bad idea. Seven: I'm reading plasma surges off the port bow. Torres: All stop. Keep our distance. Emh: Seven, move over by the helm. I want to get a group shot. Seven: I'm busy. Emh: And smile, like I know you can. Torres: What was that? Seven: Another plasma surge. Torres: It's massive! Tom, back us off. We're caught in the gravimetric shear! Paris: Engines are down. Kim: We're receiving a distress call from the away team. Tuvok: They've been engulfed in the shearline of the nebula. Janeway: Full impulse. Bridge to transporter room one. Standby for emergency beamout. Mulchaey: I've got a partial lock on them, but unless the shuttle clears that nebula. Chakotay: It won't. They've lost propulsion. Mulchaey: Then it's going to be a rough transport. Chakotay: Energize. Mulchaey: I'm having trouble separating their patterns. Chakotay: Reset the pattern buffers. Mulchaey: The signals are clearing. Chakotay: Is everyone all right? Emh: My emitter. It's been damaged. Torres: I'll transfer your program back to Sickbay. Hang on. Emh: Sickbay to transporter room one. Report. Torres: It looks like some of your emitter circuits were fused during transport. Emh: Can you repair it? Torres: Most likely. I'll need to run a diagnostic. Emh: Most likely? Torres: Relax, Doctor. I'll keep you posted. Mulchaey. Torres: Computer, run diagnostic routine alpha three six. Computer: Diagnostic in progress. Torres: First thing in the morning, I want you to check the results. Mulchaey: I'll be here bright and early. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. This protonebula seems to have a mind of its own. It's still expanding, with no end in sight. We're holding at a safe distance to monitor its growth. Emh: Rise and shine, Lieutenant. It's oh six hundred hours. Early bird gets the gagh! Torres: What do you want? Emh: Good morning would be nice, but I'd settle for my mobile emitter. Do we have an ETA on those repairs? Torres: Go away. Emh: Can't you at least give me a prognosis? Torres: The one day I get to sleep in. Emh: You're worried about a few more seconds of unconsciousness? My freedom is at stake! Torres: Computer, activate sonic shower. Emh: One more thing, Lieutenant. I was thinking Torres: Hey! Emh: I'm a doctor, not a peeping Tom. It's nothing I haven't seen before. I was thinking Emh: If you brought the emitter to Sickbay we could work on it together. I've prepared a. Hello? B'Elanna? Computer: Regeneration cycle incomplete. Kim: Commander. How'd you sleep? Chakotay: Well enough. What's new? Kim: That nebula's expanding at a rate of eight thousand cubic kilometers per hour. I've had to adjust course eleven times. Chakotay: Sounds like you're enjoying the big chair. Kim: It's not a bad way to spend the night. Chakotay: I hear you've been doing a fine job. The crew's impressed. Is it true you make them call you Captain Kim? Kim: Sir? Chakotay: Good morning. Seven: That remains to be seen. Chakotay: Problem? Seven: The proximity transceiver in my cranial implant has been activated. That could indicate a Borg presence nearby. Chakotay: Harry? Kim: I've been running sensor sweeps all night. I haven't seen anything. Seven: Perhaps the nebula is masking a vessel. Kim: No, not a chance. A ship wouldn't last ten seconds in there. Not even a Borg cube. Chakotay: Maybe it's a false alarm. Your transceiver could be malfunctioning. Seven: It is possible. Chakotay: Why don't you pay a visit to Sickbay. In the meantime we'll redouble our scans, just to be sure. Seven: Very well. Kim: I'll get the scans underway. Chakotay: If you don't mind being an Ensign again. Emh: Seven? Seven: My proximity transceiver activated again. Kim: Looks like someone's rerouting power from the warp conduits. Chakotay: To where? Kim: Deck eight, section twenty two. The science lab. Chakotay: Bridge to science lab. Ensign Mulchaey, respond. Harry. Kim: Sensors are being deflected by some kind of forcefield. Commander, the forcefield has a Borg signature. Chakotay: Red alert. Captain to the bridge. Tuvok, take a security team to the science lab. Chakotay to Seven of Nine, looks like you were right. Chakotay: We've detected Borg on the ship. Deck eight, science lab. Seven: How many drones? Chakotay: Unknown, Tuvok's headed there now. Seven: I will join him. Emh: The science lab? My mobile emitter's in there. Seven: This technology resembles a Borg maturation chamber, but many of the components are unfamiliar. Crewman: Commander. Seven: He was punctured by an extraction tubule. It removed a tissue sample. There are residual nanoprobes surrounding the wound. Their encoding sequences are identical to my own. Tuvok: Your nanoprobes? How? Seven: I don't know. Tuvok: Take him to Sickbay. Tuvok: What are you doing? Seven: I will be recognized as Borg. Seven: A drone, but unlike any I've ever seen. Tuvok: It appears to be in the fetal stage. Seven: I don't understand. The Borg assimilate. They do not reproduce in this fashion. Janeway: Where did it come from? Seven: I believe it was created here in the science lab. When the away team beamed back to Voyager there was a transporter malfunction. Our patterns merged briefly. It is possible that some of my nanoprobes infected the Doctor's mobile emitter. Tuvok: They began to assimilate? Seven: Yes. Seven: Nanoprobes are encoded to utilize any technology they encounter. Once it assimilated the emitter, it began to transform this diagnostic station. When Ensign Mulchaey entered the room, they sampled his DNA. Janeway: Using his genetic code as a template to create a lifeform. Tuvok: The drone has increased in mass by seventeen percent. Seven: Its maturation rate is twenty five times that of a conventional Borg. Janeway: Tuvok, erect a level ten forcefield around this section. Post round the clock security. Tuvok: You intend to let it mature? Janeway: The alternative is to pull the plug, and I'm not prepared to do that. Not unless I have to. Resume your analysis. I want to know exactly what we're dealing with here. Or should I say whom? Seven: Yes, Captain. Seven: I've adapted the Astrometrics sensors to penetrate the Borg forcefield. Torres: I thought you said this thing was a fetus. Seven: An hour ago it was. The drone has entered the fourth phase of gestation. In human terms, it is a child of six years. Emh: You mean a boy of six years. From what I can tell the drone is male. Seven, route your sensor data to Sickbay. I want to run a few medical scans. Seven: Stand by. Emh: Well, he appears to be human for the most part. Borg implants comprise approximately Emh: Twenty seven percent of his body. Tuvok: Curious. His body plating is composed of polydeutonic alloy Emh: Just like my mobile emitter. Seven: The nanoprobes must have extrapolated that technology. It could explain his unique design. Torres: Wait a minute. The Doctor's emitter came from the twenty ninth century. It's five hundred years more advanced that anything we've got. Tuvok: It is logical to assume this drone will be equally advanced. Torres: A twenty ninth century Borg. Tuvok: In essence. Emh: I've located my mobile emitter. It's embedded in his cerebral cortex. Seven: The emitter has been adapted to serve as part of his central nervous system. It controls all autonomic functions. Emh: That means we can't remove it. Not without killing the drone. Tuvok: Has it contacted the Borg Collective? Seven: No. I have dampened it's proximity transceiver. Torres: For now. What about when it grows up? Janeway: Reactive body armor? Multidimensional adaptability? Internal transporter nodes? Seven: The drone possesses superior technology. It will fully mature in less than two hours. However, its Borg shielding is not yet active. We can still terminate it, but we must act quickly. Janeway: Hold on a minute, Seven. I want some answers first. What normally happens when a drone disengages from the maturation chamber? Seven: It awaits instructions from the Collective. Janeway: So without those instructions, it has no designation, right? No purpose. Seven: Correct. Janeway: If we can keep him from interfacing with the Collective, maybe we can give him a purpose. Seven: Captain. Janeway: This is the most advanced drone ever to exist. We could teach him our values, Seven. We could show him what it means to be an individual. Seven: If we fail, if the drone were to be assimilated the Collective would become far more powerful. Janeway: What I'm proposing is the only defense we have against that possibility, short of murder, and that's an order I'd prefer not to give. As I recall, Seven, there were a few crew members who had similar doubts about you. Seven: The situation is different. Janeway: Is it? A Borg, disconnected from the Collective, unsure of its identity? A potential threat, but we succeeded. We're going to pull the same trick again, only this time you're going to be the teacher. Seven: I am to instruct the drone in the ways of humanity. Janeway: Think of it as first contact, and you are our ambassador. Seven: Maturation cycle is complete. One: We are Borg. State our designation. Seven: Designation is irrelevant. You are not part of the Collective. You are an individual. You will receive your instructions from me. One: Insufficient. Seven: You must comply. One: Insufficient. We are Borg. Seven: My designation is Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix zero one. You may call me Seven of Nine. One: Seven of Nine. Seven: You will comply with my commands. One: Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes. We are not Borg. We are individuals. Do you understand? One: State our designation. Tuvok: Apparently not. Seven: The drone's responses are programmed. It doesn't understand what I'm saying. I must initiate a direct neural interface. Tuvok: Are you sure that's wise? Seven: There is no other way for me to communicate with it. Tuvok: Proceed. Seven: You will not be harmed. Resistance is futile. Seven: I am providing it with instructions. It understands. Seven: The drone is probing my neural pathways. It is trying to assimilate all of my knowledge. I cannot disengage the link. Seven: Terminate interface! You must comply. You are hurting me. One: I will comply. Daily log, Seven of Nine. I've activated the drone's linguistic database. It is now capable of assimilating information. A direct neural link is too dangerous, so I've decided to use Borg datanodes. Neelix: Special delivery. Two Borg datanodes. Torres: More? Link them to the dataport. How many Borg hitchhikers are we going to pick up on this trip? Maybe this is the Collective's new strategy. They don't assimilate anymore, they just show up and look helpless. Neelix: Now, B'Elanna. Torres: We don't know what this drone will turn into. It's gone from infant to adult in one day. Neelix: It will become what we help it to become. Torres: How Starfleet of you. Seven: Seven of Nine to Neelix. Neelix: Neelix here. Seven: Report to the Science lab immediately. Bring the first datanode. Neelix: On my way. One: We are Borg. State our designation. Seven: We've complied information into this datanode for you to assimilate. One: We do not understand. Seven: You will, but first you must assimilate this data. Come here. Comply! Give me your arm. Inject the datanode with an assimilation tubule. This access port. One: We do not understand. One: Your designation is Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes. One: Your designation is Neelix, Talaxian. Neelix: That's me. One: This is a laboratory on a vessel. Neelix: The Starship Voyager. One: I am traveling through interstellar space. Seven: Yes. One: Why? Seven: This is a ship of exploration. One: I am an explorer. Neelix: We all are. One: We are Borg. Neelix: Well, no. Seven: You are a unique individual. One of many on Voyager. This is not a Borg Collective. Do you understand? One: Individual. My thoughts are my own. Seven: Precisely. One: I wish to assimilate more information. Seven: Not yet. Your neural pathways require time to process the information. You will need to regenerate soon. I will adapt one of the alcoves in our Cargo Bay to your technology. Take the drone to the Doctor for medical analysis. Go with him. Seven: All members of this crew must report to the Sickbay for evaluation. When I am finished here, I will join you. One: Duranium hull. Plasma based power distribution. Tricylic life support systems. Artificial gravity plating. Neelix: Right on all counts. Systems analysis appears to be your forte. You should think about a future in Starship Operations. One: Human, female. Neelix: Very good. One: She was frightened by me. Neelix: Why do you say that? One: I detected an elevation in her pheromonal response. Neelix: Well, you're new around here. An unfamiliar face takes some getting used to. I remember when I first came aboard Voyager. I provoked a few strange reactions myself. I still do from time to time. I mean, just look at me. Whiskers and spots. One: Were people afraid of you as well? Neelix: Well, no. One: Do they fear me because I am Borg? Neelix: Sometimes Borg can be a little intimidating. Don't take it personally. One: I want to know more about the Collective. Neelix: You do? Well, of course you do. One: Tell me about the Borg. Neelix: Oh, what's to tell? You've seen one cybernetically enhanced species, you've seen them all. You'll have plenty of time to learn all about them but first, you have to give yourself a chance to adapt to life here on Voyager. Now Mister, gosh, I'm sorry. In all the excitement, I forgot your name. One: I do not have a name. Neelix: Every individual needs a name. We can't just run around calling you the drone. That's not very interesting, is it? One: Seven of Nine tells me my designation is irrelevant. Neelix: I disagree. You should choose a name for yourself. Something that defines who you are. After all, there's only one of you. One: One. Neelix: Oh, here we are. Sickbay. Emh: Good morning. One: You are the Emergency Medical Hologram. Emh: And you are very observant. Step this way, please. Neelix: I have to get back to the Mess hall. There's nothing to worry about. The Doctor is going to do a few scans. You'll be finished before you know it. One: I will comply. Emh: It's a non-invasive biomedical scan. You won't feel a thing. Your central nervous system is functioning normally but I'm picking up some degradation in your neural pathways. You'll need to regenerate soon. One: My central nervous system is regulated by your mobile emitter. Emh: That's right. One: Your mobile emitter is more advanced than these diagnostic tools. Emh: Far more advanced. It's technology that came from the twenty ninth century, four hundred years in the future. One: I am an advanced form of life. Emh: Yes. One: I am unique. Emh: Mmm hmm. One: Describe my origins. Emh: Oh, it's a long story. One: I wish to hear it. Emh: Another time. One: I wish to hear the story. Now. Emh: In a nutshell, there was a transporter malfunction. My emitter fused with several of Seven of Nine's nanoprobes. One: I was an accident. Emh: Call it a random convergence of technologies. One: Am I unwelcome here? Emh: On the contrary. Our primary mission is to explore new forms of life. You may have been unexpected but, given time, I am sure you'll make a fine addition to the crew. After all, you've got my mobile emitter driving your neocortex, so you're bound to make a dazzling impression. That's called a joke. One: Joke. A verbal comment or gesture designed to provoke laughter. Emh: I see you've got your mother's sense of humor. Seven: Deck eleven, section thirty two, main Engineering. That is the One: Warp core. Fuelled by a matter - antimatter reaction which produces a maximum output of four thousand terradynes per second, providing power for faster than light propulsion. Seven: Correct. Torres: This isn't a classroom, Seven. Seven: Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, Chief Engineer. Klingon human hybrid. She possesses extensive knowledge of this vessel's systems as well as a volatile temperament. One: Volatile. English adjective meaning readily vaporisable at low temperature. Easily aroused. Tending to violent eruption. Torres: Very good. You get a gold star. Seven: Our presence here is authorized. The Captain asked me to familiarize the drone with Voyager. Torres: Well, how about familiarizing him with the Airponics bay. I have got one hour to come up with a way to predict the expansion rate of this protonebula or Janeway's going to pull the plug on the entire survey. Do you mind? One: If you apply a multispatial algorithm it will accurately predict the rate of expansion. I can demonstrate. Torres: All right. Torres: Amazing. One: Greetings. Our designation, my designation is One. How are you today? Janeway: I'm just fine, thank you. One? Seven: He requested a designation. One seemed appropriate. Janeway: And how are you today, One? One: Well. Thank you, Captain Janeway. Janeway: Adapting to life on Voyager? One: Yes. To date I've assimilated forty seven billion terraquads of information on a vast variety of subjects, including particle physics, comparative humanoid anatomy, warp field theory, and the culinary delights of the Delta quadrant. Seven: Mister Neelix. They've been spending time together. One: Is your assessment of me complete? Am I sufficient? Janeway: Why, yes. More than sufficient. In fact, I'd say you were making excellent progress. And this isn't an assessment, One. I simply wanted to meet you. One: With your permission, I would like to be excused. I've agreed to assist Lieutenant Torres. She wishes to increase the efficiency of the Bussard collectors. Janeway: Permission granted. Janeway: You've done a remarkable job. Seven: Thank you. Janeway: Not only has he absorbed an incredible amount of knowledge in a matter of days, but he seems to be fitting in with the crew and developing a distinct personality. Seven: He is adapting quickly. Janeway: Then why do I get the feeling something's bothering you. Seven: He's been expressing curiosity about the Borg. Janeway: Ah. And you're worried that if he learns about them he may be drawn to the Collective. Seven: Yes. Janeway: Maybe we should tell him what he wants to know. I'd rather he learned about the Borg from us than the Collective. Seven: The lure of perfection is powerful, Captain. He may be tempted to seek out the Borg. That would pose a grave tactical risk. Janeway: Well, we can delay telling him for now, but keep in mind the drone is becoming an individual. Seven, he has the right to know. Sooner or later, we'll have to answer his questions. One: Deck eight, section four. Cargo Bay two. Used for the storage of spare components and surplus materials. Seven: It is also where I regenerate. You will reside here with me. One: I wish to assimilate more information. Seven: You have assimilated enough for one day. You've also provided invaluable assistance to the Voyager crew. You have exceeded expectations. One: Then expectations were insufficient. Seven: A simple thank you would suffice. One: Thank you? Seven: A customary expression of gratitude. I paid you a compliment. We must regenerate. One: This technology does not conform with Starfleet parameters. Seven: Correct. One: I am Borg. This technology is Borg. Seven: We must regenerate. One: I wish to assimilate all available data pertaining to the Borg. Seven: Step into the alcove. No, you must face outward. Computer, activate regeneration cycle. Alcoves beta and gamma. One: Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes. One: Thank you. Seven: We must regenerate. Borg: A Borg proximity signal has been detected. Origin, Unimatrix three two five, grid zero zero six. Alter course to intercept. Seven: Captain? Janeway: The drone transmitted a Borg proximity signal. Wake him. Seven: You contacted the Collective. One: No. Janeway: Check his transceiver. One: You deactivated my transceiver two days ago. Seven: It appears your cranial implants have adapted and created a secondary transceiver. Janeway: A Borg fail-safe device. Seven: Precisely. Have you detected any vessels? Tuvok: Long range sensors picked up a transwarp conduit. A ship is approaching. Seven: Time to intercept? Tuvok: Approximately three hours. One: The Borg? Seven: Yes. One: I wish to meet them. Janeway: Seven. I think it's time we showed our drone what the Borg are all about. One: The Borg have assimilated thousands of species. Seven: Correct. One: What becomes of those species? Seven: Their neural pathways are restructured and linked to a single collective mind, the Hive. Their bodies are augmented with cybernetic technology. They become drones. One: I wish to experience the hive mind. Janeway: If you did that, you'd no longer be unique. The Borg would destroy your individuality. One: And that is undesirable? Janeway: Very. The Borg are the most destructive force we've ever encountered. They've assimilated billions of individuals against their will. One: You were assimilated. Seven: My link to the Collective was severed. One: When you were in the Collective you assimilated others. Seven: Yes. One: You call the Borg destructive. Seven of Nine is not. Janeway: That's because she's regained her individuality. If the Borg had the chance, they'd take it away from her again. They'd assimilate everyone on Voyager. With your advanced technology, the Collective would become even more destructive. We have to prevent that from happening but we can't do it without you. We need your abilities to enhance our defenses, shields, weapons. Will you help us resist them? One: Seven of Nine, do you wish to rejoin the Collective? Seven: Voyager is my Collective. One: I will need time to assimilate this information. Chakotay: All hands to battle stations. A Borg vessel is approaching. Janeway: We just ran out of time. One: Seven of Nine, I'm detecting irregularities in my autonomic nervous system. Cardiovascular excitation, vaeso-constriction. Seven: You are experiencing an emotion. Anxiety. It is only temporary. One: Anxiety. A state of apprehension caused by fear. Seven: The Borg usually elicit this response in others. One: Are you experiencing anxiety as well? Seven: Yes, along with every crew member on Voyager. One: Because they fear assimilation? Seven: Correct. We are needed on the bridge. Seven: Deck one. One: Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes. One: What will happen now? Seven: We will engage the Borg. One: Will Voyager be destroyed? Seven: The Borg are powerful, but Captain Janeway is a resourceful leader. We will resist. One: Resistance is futile. Seven: Perhaps. Chakotay: The Borg vessel's moving into range. Janeway: On screen. One: Long-range tactical vessel. Transwarp capability. Ablative hull armor. Kim: We're being scanned. Seven: They're preparing to attack. You must help us enhance our shields. This station will give you access to the shield generators. Tuvok: They are hailing us. Janeway: Open a channel. Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. One: I can hear them in my mind. Tuvok: They've locked on a tractor beam. One: The Collective is calling to me. Seven: I hear it too. Billions of voices speaking as one. We must resist that voice. The crew of Voyager will be destroyed if we don't. Tuvok: Our shields are remodulating. Paris: We've broken free. Janeway: Can you enhance our phasers? One: Yes. Janeway: Do it. When he's finished, target their propulsion system. Be prepared to jump to warp, Mister Paris. One: Enhancements complete. You may fire. Chakotay: What happened? Seven: They inverted our phaser beam with a feedback pulse. Paris: They just took out our warp drive. One: Your technology is limited. I cannot enhance it further. I must interface with the Collective. I can disrupt their vessel from within. Seven: They will try to assimilate you. One: They will fail. Janeway: Harry, lock on to the drone. One: That won't be necessary. Tuvok: He's inside the sphere. Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. One: My technology is superior. Stop your attack or I will destroy you. Borg: Your technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile. Kim: Shields down to twenty nine percent! Seven: He's accessing their navigational controls. Paris: It's heading directly for the nebula. Seven: If they get too close, their hull will collapse. Borg: Terminate your interface. Janeway: Stand down red alert. Tuvok, secure all stations. Organize damage control teams, Chakotay. Kim: Captain, I'm reading a lifesign in the debris. It's the drone. He survived. Seven: He's erected a multispatial force field around his body, but it is weakening. Janeway: Get a lock on him. Beam him to Sickbay. Seven: Damage? Emh: Several of his implants were fused in the explosion, but they're regenerating. His biological systems are a different story. Severe trauma to the cerebral cortex, internal bleeding. He needs immediate surgery. One: The sphere? Seven: Destroyed. You were successful. One: While I was linked to the Borg I could hear their thoughts, their objectives. They are aware of my existence. They will pursue me. Seven: Irrelevant. They will fail. Emh: I need to get started. One: No. I should not exist. I was an accident. A random convergence of technologies. Seven: You are unique. One: I was never meant to be. As long as I exist, you are in danger. All life on Voyager is in danger. Emh: We can talk about this later. Seven: Allow the Doctor to proceed. Lower the forcefield! Emh: His synapses are failing. Seven: You must comply. One: I will not. Seven: You must comply. Please. You are hurting me. One: You will adapt. Emh: I'm sorry.

Torres: Higher. Pilot: Lieutenant, we're already at two hundred thousand meters. You could thermalise at this altitude. Torres: I said higher. Pilot: We're at three hundred thousand meters. Torres: Level us off. Computer, disengage safety protocols. Computer: Warning. Disengaging safety protocols presents extreme risk of injury. Torres: Override. Computer: Acknowledged. Safety protocols have been disengaged. Torres: Drop the forcefield on my mark. Pilot: Aye. Torres: Mark. Chakotay: Bridge to Torres. Torres: I don't believe it. Chakotay: Report to Engineering on the double. Torres: Computer, end program. Seven: I was not aware that protective attire was required for this mission. Torres: I was on the holodeck, orbital skydiving. Seven: Leaping from a spacecraft at exospheric altitudes, a curious form of recreation. The probe is ready for launch, however there is still a problem with the telemetry link. Lieutenant. Is something wrong? Torres: Actually, I'm not feeling so well. Can you handle the launch without me? Seven: You are putting me in charge? Torres: Problem? Seven: No. Just unexpected. Shall I inform the Doctor you're ill? Torres: No. Don't. Kim: Captain, someone's locked onto our probe with a tractor beam. Chakotay: It looks like a Malon freighter. Paris: I had a feeling we hadn't seen the last of them. Janeway: Open a channel. Kim: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Starship Voyager to the Malon vessel. That probe belongs to us. Release it immediately. Kim: No response. Janeway: Tom, how fast can you get us there? Paris: Two hours at least. Janeway: They'll be long gone. Tuvok: If we instruct the probe to emit a polaron burst it could disrupt the tractor beam. Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: The beam has been disabled. Janeway: Harry, redirect the probe's course. Tuvok: The Malon are in pursuit. Paris: That probe can't outrun them. Janeway: No, but we might be able to hide it from them. Kim: Captain? Janeway: The probe surveyed a class six gas giant this morning. I think we should send it back for a closer look. Kim: You're going to steer the probe into a gas giant. Tuvok: Captain, the atmospheric pressure will crush it. Janeway: Not if the Borg shielding does its job. Hail them again. Kim: No response. Janeway: Voyager to Malon vessel. Break off your pursuit. Tuvok: The probe is entering the giant's upper atmosphere, and the Malon vessel is following it in. Kim: The probe's stuck in a deep layer of liquid hydrogen and methane about ten thousand kilometers below the outer atmosphere. It's not responding to commands. Janeway: Any good news? Seven: It's still intact. It can be repaired, Chakotay: If we can get it out of there. Torres: Sorry I'm late. Chakotay: We were just discussing how to retrieve the probe. Is there any possibility of transporting it out? Torres: No. Chakotay: Just no. Torres: I don't see how we could get close enough. Chakotay: Is there any way to boost transporter range? Torres: Not in that kind of atmosphere. Paris: Well, if we can't transport it out, we'll just have to fly in and grab it. Tuvok: Perhaps you weren't paying attention when the Malon freighter imploded. Paris: We won't be going in a Malon freighter, Tuvok. We'll be going in our new shuttlecraft. Kim: Here we go again. Paris: Let's face it, Class-two shuttles just don't cut it in the Delta quadrant. We've needed something bigger and better since we got here. It's time we built it! Chakotay: Tom, we've been through this I don't know how many times. We all appreciate your enthusiasm. Kim: Speak for yourself, Commander. Chakotay: Bottom line, we don't have time to design and build a ship from scratch. Paris: I knew you were going to say that so I've given us a head start. Paris: Behold the Delta Flyer. Ultra-aerodynamic contours, retractable nacelles, parametallic hull plating, unimatrix shielding based on Tuvok's brilliant design for the multispatial probe, and a Borg-inspired weapons system. Seven: Basic design elements are adequate. Paris: High praise. Kim: If we used isomagnetic EPS conduits in the plasma manifold, we could maximize the power distribution. Paris: That's the spirit, Harry. Tuvok: My shield designs could be successfully applied to a vessel of this size. Paris: Big of you to admit it, Tuvok. Chakotay: And you think it'll be able to withstand the gas giant's atmosphere. Paris: The probe did. Janeway: I'm impressed, but how quickly can it be built? Paris: We could replicate the alloys and the new design components, use spare parts from storage. If we worked around the clock we could have it up and running inside a week. Kim: I'm willing to put in as much overtime as it takes. Seven: I will forego regeneration for the duration of the project. Paris: What about you, B'Elanna? Building a new vessel from scratch, that's an engineer's dream come true. Paris: What do you say, Captain? Janeway: Why are you all standing around? Paris: Computer, add dynametric tail fins to the nacelles. Tuvok: Computer, delete dynametric tail fins. Paris: What'd you do that for? Tuvok: We are not designing a hot rod, Lieutenant. Paris: That is exactly what we're designing. A twenty fourth century, warp-powered, ultra-responsive hot rod. Tuvok: Your embellishments are purely decorative. They serve no practical purpose. Paris: I beg to differ. If we make this thing look mean enough, other ships are going to think twice before taking us on. Seven: I suggest we return our attention to the matter of structural integrity. Tuvok: Agreed. Seven: Lieutenant Torres' hull design is flawed. We should be using tetraburnium alloys instead of titanium. Kim: Er, B'Elanna? Torres: Sounds fine to me. I'm going to finish up the thruster specs. Paris: It's open. Paris: Hey. Torres: Thruster specs. Paris: Thanks. Where're you running off to? Torres: My quarters. Paris: Stay a while. I'll replicate some dinner, a bottle of burgundy. We deserve a break, don't you think? Torres: Not tonight. Paris: B'Elanna, what's going on? Torres: Nothing. Paris: Well, then how come it's impossible to have a conversation with you? Torres: I'm sorry. Paris: I don't want an apology. I want an explanation. Torres: Tom, I'm tired. Paris: Asleep is more like it. You hardly said three words in that last meeting. And then when Seven changed your design you acted like, like you didn't care. Torres: I guess I didn't. Paris: I don't get it. How many times have we talked about how great it would be to do what we're doing now? To really collaborate my piloting skills and your engineering expertise. We finally get the chance to create something together from the ground up and you're not the slightest bit enthusiastic? Torres: I'm doing my job, aren't I? I delivered the thruster specs on schedule. Paris: B'Elanna, I'm not your boss. I'm not questioning your productivity or keeping tabs on how many hours you put in. I just want to know what's going on. Torres: I have to go. Torres: Computer, activate holodeck program Torres two one six. Computer: The program is active. Torres: Disengage safety protocols. Computer: Warning. Disengaging safety protocols presents extreme risk of injury. Torres: Override. Computer: Acknowledged. Safety protocols have been disengaged. (Torres enters the holodeck and removes her jacket. It is a cave setting. A Cardassian attacks her. She defeats him, and another grabs her from behind. Then the first gets up again.) Janeway: Ensign, put us into a high orbit. I want to stay well above that ionospheric turbulence. Ensign: Aye, ma'am. Janeway: There's the probe. Ten thousand kilometers beneath all that methane, but still intact. Chakotay: We're not alone. I'm reading massive theta radiation. It's being dumped by a Malon freighter approaching from the far side of the planet. They're hailing. Janeway: They're more talkative than the last ones. Open a channel. Kim: Aye, sir. Vrelk: Leave orbit of this planet now. Janeway: I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Captain Janeway. Vrelk: I know exactly who you are. You are the person responsible for the destruction of one of our freighters and the deaths of nine Malon citizens. Janeway: I'm very sorry that lives were lost, but you're leaving out an important detail. Your people were trying to steal a probe from us. We warned them to stay away from the gas giant but they didn't listen. Vrelk: I'm taking your probe as compensation for our losses. Chakotay: That's going to be a little difficult. It's stuck beneath the atmosphere of the same gas giant that crushed your other ship. Vrelk: My people are expert at salvage operations. Janeway: Well, Mister. Vrelk: Vrelk. Controller Vrelk. Janeway: Vrelk. We have a little expertise of our own. We're a very determined crew. So my suggestion is that you leave orbit and in the future, if you come across anything that bears the insignia of the U.S.S. Voyager, head in the other direction. Vrelk: You are making a serious error. Janeway: End transmission. Why would people in the business of toxic waste disposal be so anxious to get hold of a probe? Chakotay: It's not just any probe. It's multispatial technology. Maybe they think it'll help them find new places to dump their garbage. Neelix: B'Elanna! What a nice surprise. I was just getting ready to close. Business has been slow with so many people busy on the new shuttle. Torres: Oh. I was just hoping we could catch up. Neelix: You want to catch up? With me? Torres: If you have the time. Neelix: Are you kidding? Yeah. Can I get you something? Name your poison. Torres: Oh. Er. Neelix: Come on, B'Elanna! I handed that one to you on a silver platter. Torres: Huh? Neelix: Name your poison? I was expecting one of those scathing but affectionate insults you always make about my cooking. Torres: Sorry. Neelix: You'll feel wittier on a full stomach. So, what'll it be? Torres: Actually, I was hoping for banana pancakes. Neelix: I don't think I ever heard of banana pancakes before. Torres: My grandmother used to make them for me when I was a kid. It's always put a smile on my face. Neelix: Well then, one smile coming right up. Neelix: Computer, one stack of banana pancakes. Smells delicious. Torres: Thanks. So how have you been? Neelix: Oh, just great. My security training is going really well. Tuvok told me the other day that I'm, er, not completely inept. Aren't you going to try them? Torres: Sure. Neelix: Well? Torres: Delicious. I have to get back to work. Janeway: What are they still doing here? Chakotay: Apparently, they're not willing to give up on the probe so easily. Janeway: The question is, how do they expect to get their hands on it? Tuvok: It's reasonable to assume they're waiting for us to retrieve the probe, at which time they'll attempt to steal it again. Janeway: Maybe, but they have to know we're prepared for that. If they were planning to fight you'd think they'd call in reinforcements, try to out-gun us. Chakotay: Sensors don't show any other Malon ships in the area. Seven: Seven of Nine to the Captain. Janeway: Janeway here. Seven: Report to the Astrometrics lab. I have important information regarding the Malon Seven: vessel. Janeway: Tuvok. Janeway: What have you got? Seven: I've been using coherent neutrino beams to document activity aboard the Malon freighter. Janeway: In other words, you've been spying on them. Seven: I've made a troubling discovery. This is a polythermal image of an interior section of the alien ship. The shaded figures you see are Malon crew members. Tuvok: That appears to be a small ship. Seven: Correct. The Malon are constructing a spacecraft composed of tetraburnium alloys. Tuvok: Theoretically, such a ship would be capable of withstanding extreme atmospheric pressures. Janeway: I'll be damned. They're going after the probe themselves. Seven: That's not all, Captain. According to my projections, they will finish construction of their vessel at least thirty six hours before we finish ours. Janeway: Well then, I'd say we've got an old-fashioned space race on our hands. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've stepped up the pace of construction in order to finish our shuttle before the Malon finish theirs. According to Seven's most recent intelligence we've gained some ground over the last twenty four hours , putting us in a virtual dead heat with our competitors. Kim: I keep telling you, we've got to reinforce the hull with kellinite. That's all there is to it. Tuvok: Proposing the same flawed strategy over and over again will not me it more effective, Ensign. Kim: Well, we've got to come up with something or we'll never get this thing off the ground. Torres: Vorik, turn that damn thing off. I can't hear myself think. Vorik: Sorry, sir. Paris: Look, we could spend weeks trying to solve this, but we've got a ticking clock. Engines are working, weapons systems are online. I say we launch now and hope for the best. Tuvok: Mister Paris, that is perhaps the most illogical statement you've ever made. Unless we find a way to reconfigure the structural integrity field the hull will incur microfractures during descent. Paris: Microfractures, Tuvok. Doesn't necessarily mean we'll have a hull breach. Tuvok: And if we do, I suppose these useless design elements from your Captain Proton scenario will compensate for the problem. Paris: Hey, every one of these knobs and levers is fully functional. Tuvok: And completely superfluous. Paris: Maybe to you. I am tired of tapping panels. For once, I want controls that let me actually feel the ship I'm piloting. Kim: Where are you going? Torres: Holodeck. Kim: What for? Torres: To find out if this microfracture problem is a fatal flaw. Torres: Computer, activate immersion shielding. Computer: Immersion shielding activated. Torres: Commence descent sequence. Computer: Range to probe, thirty thousand kilometers. Twenty five thousand. Warning. Atmospheric pressure is exceeding tolerance levels. Rapid ascent recommended. Torres: Continue descent. Computer: Acknowledged. Range to probe, ten thousand kilometers. Torres: Disengage safety protocols. Computer: Warning. Disengaging safety protocols presents extreme risk of injury. Torres: Override. Computer: Acknowledged. Safety protocols have been disengaged. Warning. Atmospheric pressure is exceeding tolerance levels. Torres: Reroute power from secondary systems to structural integrity. Computer: Acknowledged. Microfractures are present in zones one and four. Chakotay: The Malon are venting a theta radiation cloud. Our shields are down to eighty nine percent. Janeway: Ensign, back us off. Chakotay: Vrelk is hailing. Janeway: On screen. Vrelk: That was rude, wasn't it, but we still have quite a bit of antimatter waste to expel. I hope we didn't damage your shields, Janeway: Our shields are fine. Vrelk: Mmm. Well, we only ejected a small amount of waste this time. We still have much, much more to get rid of. Your shields may not be able to stand even higher levels of theta radiation. Janeway: I've already told you we're not going anywhere. Vrelk: Let's stop playing these games, Captain. You've scanned my ship, I've scanned yours. We each know the other is building a vessel to retrieve the probe. What you don't know is that my vessel will be ready to launch in less than two days. You're too far behind. Janeway: Well, if you're so far ahead, why bother trying to scare us away? Vrelk: Just trying to save you the embarrassment of losing. Chakotay: Think they're really two days away? Janeway: He's probably bluffing but we're not going to take any chances. We've got to speed up construction somehow. Chakotay: We'd also better find a way to shore up our shields in case Vrelk decides to do anymore venting. Janeway: Good idea. Janeway to Lieutenant Torres. Computer, locate Lieutenant Torres. Computer: Lieutenant Torres is in holodeck one. Janeway: Get down there. Computer: Warning. Hull microfractures are present in zones one, two, three and four. Hull breach is imminent. Repeat. Hull microfracture are present in zones one, two, three and four. Hull breach is imminent. Chakotay: Computer, freeze program! B'Elanna. Chakotay to Sickbay. Medical emergency. Torres: What am I doing here? Emh: You had an accident on the holodeck. Torres: How long was I out? Emh: Almost twelve hours. Torres: I'd better get back to work. Emh: Not just yet. Torres: Why? Emh: The Captain's asked me to keep you here. Torres: But I feel fine. Janeway: Would you excuse us please, Doctor. Torres: Captain, what's going on? Janeway: When the Doctor examined you he found evidence of internal bleeding, fractured vertebrae, contusions, cranial trauma. Torres: I guess the accident was pretty serious. Janeway: The injuries I'm talking about didn't happen recently. Some of them are weeks, even months old. Torres: Well, I'm an engineer. I've had my share of bumps and bruises. Janeway: But you didn't seek treatment for any of these. Torres: I don't run to Sickbay every time I stub my toe. Janeway: Some of these injuries were life-threatening, B'Elanna. Torres: Do I look like I'm dying? Janeway: The Doctor says many of the wounds were treated by someone with the medical expertise of a first-year nursing student. Torres: Oh, that's ridiculous. Janeway: Is it? We investigated today's accident. You turned off the safety protocols during the holo-simulation. Why? Torres: We have a microfracture problem. With the safety protocols on, there's no way to be sure what would happen during a real flight. Janeway: You don't really expect me to believe that, do you? Torres: Are you calling me a liar? Janeway: According to the holodeck logs, you've been spending a lot of time there over the last few months. If I were to check, would I find that you've been running other programs without safety protocols? Torres: Would you like to look at my personal logs as well? Janeway: B'Elanna, I'm worried about you. If there's something wrong, I want to help. Torres: Nothing's wrong. Okay? Janeway: No. It's not okay. And until you decide to be more forthcoming you'll remain under the Doctor's supervision. Which means you're off the shuttle project. I'm sorry. Torres: I'm not. Janeway: Now I know there's something wrong. Paris: Engines are operating at close to ninety percent efficiency, Seven's got her new weapons system online. And if we can just solve that microfracture problem, we'll be ready to go. Janeway: Keep on it. Now, let's talk about B'Elanna. Tom, you had no idea about these injuries or how she got them? Paris: She never complained about being hurt, but then again she's barely speaking to me lately. Janeway: It's almost as if she's been intentionally trying to hurt herself. Chakotay: You think all these injuries have been happening on the holodeck? Janeway: Well, where else? If they'd happened while she was working, as she claims, somebody would've filed an injury report. Chakotay: Any idea what sort of programs she's been running? Janeway: Are you thinking the same thing I am? Chakotay: I hate to go digging around in someone's personal holodeck programs, but if she won't tell us what's going on I don't think we have much choice. Janeway: Tom, what do you think? Paris: He's right. Janeway: Start digging. Torres: I'm sleeping! Torres: Oh. Chakotay: Hi. Torres: Hi. I, I thought you were the Doctor making a house call. Chakotay: He let you out of the cell block, huh? Torres: He thinks familiar surroundings will help speed my recovery. Chakotay: Recovery from what? Torres: That's what I said. He thinks I'm suffering from clinical depression. Chakotay: Are you depressed? Torres: What are you, the new ship's counselor? Chakotay: No. Just a friend. Torres: This whole thing is so ridiculous. I don't report a few scrapes and suddenly Janeway thinks there's something wrong with me. Typical Starfleet, huh? Chakotay: You have been running holodeck programs without safety protocols. Torres: A few, but I haven't put anybody else at risk, and it's nothing that I can't handle. Chakotay: Tell you what. What do you say you and I pay a little visit to the holodeck? You can show me some of the programs you've been running. Torres: Right now? Chakotay: Sure. Maybe if I see what you've been up to, I can convince the Captain there's nothing to worry about. Torres: She's taken away my holodeck privileges. Chakotay: Consider them restored. Chakotay: Computer, activate holo-program Torres zeta one. Computer: Program activated. Torres: What are you doing? Torres: Computer, freeze program. Chakotay: Computer, belay that command. Torres: Turn it off! Chakotay: Not until you tell me what it is! Torres: You know what it is. Chakotay: Who's this? Torres: Li-Paz. Don't you recognize him? Chakotay: Oh, I recognize them all. Meyer. Nelson. Sahreen. You created a program to watch all our Maquis friends get slaughtered. What I want to know is why? Torres: I thought we came down here to talk about safety protocols. This has nothing to do with that. Chakotay: I'm not so sure. The logs show you only ran this program for forty seven seconds the day after I gave you the news about the massacre. Then you shut it down and started running the most dangerous programs you could find, with the safeties off. Why?! Torres: This is ridiculous. I'm leaving. Chakotay: Computer, seal the doors. Torres: You can't do this! Chakotay: The hell I can't. You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on. B'Elanna, why are you intentionally trying to hurt yourself? Torres: I don't know. Chakotay: Are you trying to commit suicide? Torres: No. Chakotay: Then why? Torres: Because. Because if I sprain my ankle, at least I feel something. Chakotay: What do you mean? Torres: I'm not trying to kill myself. I'm trying to see if I'm still alive. Chakotay: I don't understand. Torres: When you look at those corpses, how do you feel? Chakotay: Sad. Angry. Maybe a little guilty that I wasn't there to die with them. Torres: Not me. I don't feel anything at all. Chakotay: B'Elanna, the Maquis were like our adopted family. I can understand you trying to block out that kind of pain. Torres: You don't understand. It's not just the pain. I don't feel anything. Not about my dead friends, not about Tom, you, my job. Chakotay: Maybe you're afraid if you let yourself start to feel something, you might not be able to stop. You can't just shut off your emotions, B'Elanna. Sooner or later you're going to have to let yourself grieve. Torres: Why? Just so I can go through it all over again? Chakotay: What are you talking about? Torres: When I was six, my father walked out on me. When I was nineteen, I got kicked out of Starfleet. A few years later, I got separated from the Maquis. And just when I start to feel safe, you tell me that all of our old friends have been slaughtered. The way I figure it, I've lost every family I've ever had. Chakotay: B'Elanna, you have a new family now, here on Voyager. You're not going to lose us. You're stuck with us. Torres: You can't promise me that. Chakotay: No, I suppose I can't. Losing people's inevitable, and sometimes it happens sooner than we expect. But I can promise you that the people on this ship aren't about to let you stop living your life or break your neck on the holodeck. You're going to have to find another way to deal with this. Torres: I don't know how. Chakotay: Then we'll figure it out. Together. Janeway: Commander Chakotay, we're under attack. Report to the bridge immediately. Torres: You'd better go. Chakotay: Why are they suddenly picking a fight? Tuvok: I believe they're attempting to distract us, Commander, while they launch their new shuttlecraft. Tuvok: The Malon vessel is forty two thousand kilometers from the probe, and closing. Chakotay: We can still catch them. Janeway: Bridge to Lieutenant Paris. Paris: Paris here. Janeway: We've got to launch now if we're going to get to the probe first. Are you ready? Paris: Yes ma'am. I'll begin the prelaunch sequence. Janeway: What about the microfracture problem? Paris: We're keeping an eye on it, but we sure could use an extra hand. Janeway: Chakotay's on his way. Torres: Chakotay, let me go. Chakotay: B'Elanna, I'm in a hurry. Torres: I am not out to get myself hurt if that's what you're thinking. I just want to do my job. Chakotay: I thought you weren't interested in your job anymore. Torres: If that hull breaches, I should be there. I'm still the best engineer we've got. Chakotay: Not lately. Torres: I can do this. I need to do this. Kim: Forty seconds to launch. Seven: Powering impulse engines. Paris: Stand by to bring aft thrusters online. Kim: B'Elanna. Torres: I heard you might need some help keeping this thing from falling apart. Paris: Welcome aboard. Torres: Vorik, you're in my seat. Vorik: Excuse me, Lieutenant. Kim: Twenty seconds to launch. Paris: Get that hatch closed. Kim: Hatch sealed. Paris: Give me aft thrusters. Seven: Aft thrusters enabled. Kim: Ten seconds. Paris: Alright, let's see what this baby can do. Kim: Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Tuvok: The Delta Flyer is away, Captain. Janeway: How long till they overtake the Malon shuttle? Tuvok: At present velocity, approximately three minutes. Paris: We're in. Torres: Structural integrity's at ninety two percent. Kim: There's the Malon shuttle. Two hundred kilometers off the port bow and three thousand kilometers from the probe. Paris: We'll catch them. B'Elanna, how's the hull? Torres: Structural integrity's down about twelve percent. Seven: They're launching spatial charges. Shields holding. Paris: They want to play dirty. Let's show them what a little Borg-inspired weaponry can do. Seven: Acknowledged. Loading photonic missiles. Kim: We've lost power to secondary systems. Paris: Fire. Seven: Three direct hits. Kim: They're losing attitude control. They're pulling up. Paris: Nice shooting, Seven. I'm taking us down to the target. Harry, get ready to grab the probe. Kim: Still out of transport range. Torres: We're losing integrity. Fifty percent, forty. Paris: If you can hold us together for another half a minute we'll be within range of the target. Seven: We still need to survive the ascent. Paris: One thing at a time. Torres: We're losing structural integrity. It's down to twenty five percent. Paris: Harry, prepare to lock on. Torres: We've got microfractures forming. Aft starboard hull, zone two. Kim: I've got a lock. Beaming the probe into the cargo hold. Got it! Paris: Initiating rapid ascent. Torres: Harry, I need those secondary systems back online. Kim: I can't. They're fried. Seven: Lieutenant, what are you doing? Torres: Patching a hole before it opens. Kim: That'll never hold. Torres: It'll hold a minute or two, and with any luck that's all we need. Seven, take over here. I need an EPS relay. Kim: Er, there's one in the transporter control circuitry. Seven: The panel is sealed. Torres: Good. Get away from it. Torres: I need a phaser. Torres: Watch out. I don't know if this is going to work. Kim: Glad you decided to come along. Tuvok: The Delta Flyer has docked. Janeway: And the Malon? Chakotay: They're a little preoccupied. Seems their shuttlecraft's having a problem climbing out of the gas giant's atmosphere. Janeway: Get us out of here, Ensign. Warp two. Ensign: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: B'Elanna. I heard you did a hell of a job. So, how are you? Torres: You mean am I back to my old charming self? I don't know. Chakotay: Give it time. Torres: Chakotay. What you did down in the holodeck today. Thanks. But if you ever do anything like that again, I'll break your neck. Torres: Computer, one stack of banana pancakes with maple syrup.

Bullock: Welcome to Earth. I am Admiral Bullock, and I will be your Commanding Officer for the next six months. Questions, comments, bring them to me. Problems, talk to Lieutenant Kinis. Larsen, you're assigned to the Federation Council, Deputy Liaison Officer. Young and Raskin, report to Orbital Flight Control. You'll be monitoring incoming vessels from the Bolian sector. Boothby: I can save you some time there, son. They're bamboo. Chakotay: I know that. Unfortunately, my tricorder's reading them as maple trees. I think the isodyne relays must be malfunctioning. Boothby: Why don't you pay a visit to Logistical Support? Maybe they'll issue you a new one. Chakotay: Good idea. Boothby: I'm going that way myself. Mind some company? Chakotay: Not at all. Boothby: So, what's your assignment here? Chakotay: I don't know. I haven't received my orders yet. I just arrived. Boothby: From where? Chakotay: A three year tour on the Intrepid. Boothby: Is that a fact? I thought the Intrepid was patrolling the Neutral Zone. Chakotay: It is. I caught a transport vessel at Deep Space Seven. Boothby: Ah. Got tired of wrestling with the Romulans. Chakotay: Let's just say it's good to be back. What about yourself? How long have you been posted here, Mister? Boothby: Boothby. Boothby's the name. Chakotay: Boothby. I've heard of you. Boothby: I should hope so. I've been tending these grounds for fifty four years, give or take a few months. Chakotay: And beautiful grounds they are. Boothby: Mmm hmm. Logistical Support. Straight through the main complex, second door on your right. Chakotay: Thank you. Boothby: Commander, Logistics is a secure area. They won't let you in with that holo-imaging device. Fresh from the Neutral Zone? You're not a Romulan double agent, are you, son? Chakotay: Actually, I was just recording a few images for my friends back home. Would you mind posing for a shot? Boothby: Me? You want a picture of me? Chakotay: The one and only Boothby. My friends would be impressed. Boothby: Well, when you put it that way. Cadet, take our picture, will you? Boothby: Don't cut off our heads. I expect a copy of that, young man. Archer: You're in my seat. And you're reading my book. Do you want my drink, too? Chakotay: Depends. What is it? Archer: Klingon martini. Vermouth, gin, with a dash of bloodwine. Chakotay: Bloodwine? Never touch the stuff. Archer: What do you like? Chakotay: Excuse me. I was waiting for a friend. Archer: Valerie Archer. Chakotay: Hayek. Jason Hayek. Archer: Nice tattoo. I bet there's a story behind it. Chakotay: A long one. A Cave Beyond Logic: Vulcan Perspectives on Platonic Thought. Sounds fascinating. Archer: You can borrow it if you like. Chakotay: Thanks anyway. I can only take small doses of Vulcan philosophy. Archer: Stationed here? Chakotay: Temporarily. Archer: Where do you call home? Chakotay: You first. Where are you from? Archer: Everywhere. My parents were starship officers. By the time I was ten I'd seen half the quadrant. Chakotay: Starfleet brat. Archer: Bratty as they come. Archer: Can I ask you a question. Have you ever reverted? Chakotay: Reverted? Not yet. Archer: Ensign O'Halloran, this is his third time this week. If it happens again, they'll pull him out of training. Chakotay: What about you. Any trouble? Archer: Oh, I can keep my human form. It's the little things that bother me. Chakotay: Little things? Archer: Breathing oxygen, bipedal locomotion, and sleeping. The concept of being unconscious for eight hours a night, it's so alien. Chakotay: I know what you mean. Archer: That's why I started reading their books. For some reason it helps me relax. But we shouldn't be talking about this. Think human, talk human, be human. Remember? Chakotay: How could I forget? Archer: So, had a chance to take a look around? Chakotay: Not yet. Archer: Headquarters has a lot more to offer than conference rooms and consoles, if you have the right guide. Chakotay: Is that an invitation? Archer: I get off duty at nineteen hundred hours. Tuvok: Commander. Archer: Speak of the devil. Chakotay: We were just discussing Vulcan philosophy. Archer: Join us. Tuvok: Another time, perhaps. We have work to do. Archer: Oh, can't it wait? Chakotay: I'm afraid not. Archer: What about tonight? Do we have a date? Nineteen hundred hours. Meet you right here. Chakotay: I'll do my best. Archer: Live long and prosper. Tuvok: A date? Chakotay: Relax, Tuvok. I plan on standing her up. Tuvok: We agreed to limit our investigation to surveillance. Chakotay: It was worth the risk. She talked about training. These are some kind of aliens learning to pose as humans. Tuvok: For what purpose? Chakotay: I don't know. I didn't get that far. Tuvok: We're due back at the transporter coordinates. Gentry: Excuse me, gentlemen. You've entered a restricted area. Captains and above. Chakotay: Sorry. We didn't realize. Gentry: I'm going to have to ask you to come with me. Tuvok: Why? Gentry: All unauthorized personnel are to be debriefed by Starfleet Intelligence. Direct orders from Admiral Bullock. Chakotay: Listen, Ensign, we're late for a meeting with Starfleet Command. The debriefing will have to wait. Gentry: I'm sorry, Commander. Chakotay: Very well. Tuvok: When he regains consciousness, he'll no doubt want to report this incident. Chakotay: Chakotay to Paris, three to beam up. Paris: Three? Chakotay: I'll explain later. Paris: Who's that? Chakotay: One of Starfleet's finest. Take us to Voyager. Kim: What did you find down there? Tuvok: Earth. Janeway: Welcome aboard. Gentry: Where am I? Janeway: On a starship. Gentry: What starship? Why have you brought me here? I'll be reporting this incident to the Admiral. Chakotay: You can drop the charade. We know you're not human. Janeway: Who are you? Gentry: Gentry, David. Rank, Ensign. Starfleet service number nine nine beta three two seven eight. Planet of origin, Earth. Janeway: We're not interested in your knowledge of human culture. We're not part of your re-creation. I'm Captain Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. I'm from Earth. You're not. Gentry: Gentry, David. Rank, Ensign. Starfleet service number nine nine beta three two seven eight. Janeway: Doctor. Gentry: What are you doing? Emh: I need a sample of your DNA. Gentry: Why? Janeway: Since you won't tell us who you are, we have no choice but to find out for ourselves. Emh: You won't be harmed. Gentry: Gentry to Headquarters. Security alert! Chakotay: We've disabled your comm. badge. Gentry: No! Don't touch me. Disease! Humans! Emh: It appears he's released a cellular toxin into his bloodstream. He's dead. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Until we know exactly what's going on I'm keeping Voyager concealed behind a class three moon. Chakotay: Federation Council, Astrophysics, Starfleet Medical complex. They even re-created the Officers' Club, the Quantum Café. Janeway: Computer, return to time index 4228. That's Boothby. Seven: Captain? Janeway: The head groundskeeper at Starfleet Academy. When I was a cadet, he used to give me fresh roses for my quarters. Tuvok: It's safe to assume this individual is not Boothby. Janeway: Whoever they are, they've gathered incredibly accurate information about Starfleet headquarters. Seven: Perhaps they had access to a Federation database. Chakotay: Or they've been to San Francisco. Tuvok: The habitat's population consists of humans, Vulcans, Bolian, Ferengi. All Alpha Quadrant species. Janeway: What do we know about this artificial environment, Seven? Seven: I've used the tricorder data, holo-images and astrometric scans to extrapolate a cross-section of the interior. I believe they used a combination of holographic projection and particle synthesis. Janeway: Power source? Seven: There are thirteen thermionic generators beneath the city. I can't identify the energy signatures. Tuvok: The habitat's heavily fortified. They are well prepared to defend against an attack. Emh: Sickbay to Captain. Janeway: Go ahead. Emh: I've completed my post-mortem analysis. You'd better get down here. Janeway: On my way. If this is a training ground, it could mean they're planning an invasion of the Federation. We should prepare for the worst. See if you can find a way to penetrate their defenses. Emh: He may look human, he may sound human, he may even smell human, but there's no question, he's alien. Janeway: Was he genetically altered? Emh: On a highly sophisticated level. If it weren't for microcellular scans I wouldn't be able to distinguish him from the genuine article. I've managed to isolate the alien DNA. Fortunately, most of his cells are still chemically active. If I use a cytokinetic injection I should be able to trigger a genetic reversion. Janeway: Do it. Emh: Talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing. Janeway: Species 8472. The question is, why are they training to pose as human beings? Paris: Back in the twentieth century, the Soviets used to build American towns to train their agents to infiltrate the United States. Species 8472 could be doing the same thing. Kim: They're going to infiltrate the Alpha Quadrant. Paris: Maybe they already have. Torres: Tom's right. How else could they have gathered their information about us? Seven: Perhaps they've acquired it from the Borg. Janeway: It doesn't matter how they got their data. We need to find out what they intend to do with it. Seven: If our previous experience is any indication, they will try to destroy Earth. Tuvok: A logical assumption. They did threaten to purge our galaxy of all life. Janeway: Tuvok, keep working on a way to target their habitat's power source. We're going to need nanoprobe warheads and plenty of them. Seven, see to it. Seven: Yes, Captain. Chakotay: In the meantime, I've got a date to keep. I made contact with one of them, Commander Valerie Archer. Maybe I can capitalize on the relationship. Get a better idea of what they're planning. Janeway: Tom, Harry, take him back in the Delta Flyer. Keep a constant transporter lock on him. If Species 8472 attacks Earth, the Federation won't have any defenses against them, and I don't need to remind you that we have no way to warn Starfleet Command. Voyager may be the last defense against an all-out invasion of Earth. Janeway: Last minute preparations? Chakotay: Just planning my big night out. Janeway: I can recommend a nice Japanese replimat on the Embarcadero. Chakotay: I was never very good with chopsticks. Janeway: Starfleet headquarters. Brings back memories, even if it is just a re-creation. I remember my last visit there. I was given my general orders for Voyager's first mission. Proceed to the Badlands and find the Maquis. Chakotay: The orders that brought us together. Janeway: What about you? When was the last time you were at Headquarters? Chakotay: Before today? March 3rd, 2368. The day I resigned my commission. I can still remember the look on the Admiral's face. Janeway: Which one? Chakotay: Nimembeh. Janeway: He taught at the Academy, didn't he? Chakotay: That's right. Janeway: Interspecies Ethics, wasn't it? Chakotay: Tactical Analysis. Janeway: Of course. Chakotay: Kathryn, you think I might be one of them. You're testing me. Janeway: You and Tuvok were in the alien habitat for nearly three hours. Anything could have happened down there. Chakotay: True. Why don't you have Tuvok meet us in Sickbay. The Doctor can perform a microcellular analysis. Janeway: Tuvok's already there. Chakotay: You could have just asked me to report to Sickbay. Janeway: Given Ensign Gentry's reaction, I thought I'd be a little more tactful. Chakotay: Not taking any chances, are you? Janeway: Don't feel singled out. I've asked the Doctor to examine the entire crew. There's no telling how 8472 got their information about Starfleet. From the Borg? Earth? For all we know there's been an impostor on board. Emh: Cell morphology normal, all of your nucleotide sequences are accounted for. You're a hundred percent human. Chakotay: That's a relief. And Tuvok? Emh: Green blooded Vulcan through and through. Well, two down, one hundred and twenty five to go. Janeway: You'd better get going. Chakotay: Right. I don't want to be late. Janeway: Just be home before midnight. Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. Kim: I've enhanced this tricorder with a transoptic datalink. It should help you access some of their systems. Type one phaser modified to fire Borg nanoprobes. Chakotay: Right. Paris: Do you always arm yourself before a first date? Kim: You've never had a date with species 8472. Paris: Personally, I don't go out with girls from other galaxies. Kim: You're a true explorer, Chakotay. Paris: Is she cute? Chakotay: In her human form, anyway. Kim: I've always wondered what it would be like to date an alien. Chakotay: I'll take notes. Paris: We're making our approach. Chakotay: All stop. Shields up. Emh: Feisty little fellows. You've increased their cellular motility by over two hundred percent. Seven: I thought it would be prudent to maximize their efficiency. Emh: Seven, the last time we used nanoprobes we sent 8472 scurrying back to fluidic space. You can't get more efficient than that. Seven: The species is highly adaptive. It's been over a year since our first encounter. They may have developed a defense against our technology. Emh: There's one way to find out. We can test the nanoprobes on our corpse. You'll find the body in morgue chamber three. Beam it to the surgical bay. The creature's only been dead for a few hours, there should still be plenty of cellular activity. Emh: Initiate a bio-scan, full spectrum. Don't worry. It's an autonomic reflex. The creature still has residual bioelectric activity in its nervous system. Seven: Something's wrong. The nanoprobes should have taken effect by now. Emh: Hmm. Seven: What is it? Emh: The creature's nucleotides are still intact. It looks like your concerns were warranted. We'll have to inform the Captain. We may have to Seven: Doctor. Emh: False alarm. Seven: I will replicate more nanoprobes. Emh: I don't mind telling you, Seven, I'm still holding out for a diplomatic solution. Seven: Improbable. Species 8472 will not respond to diplomacy. Emh: Funny. We used to say the same thing about the Borg. My point is, anything's possible if you keep an open mind. Optimism, Seven. Try to look on the bright side. Seven: It is difficult to be optimistic when we are preparing for battle. Emh: Have you ever heard the phrase, the best defense is a good offense? Seven: No. Emh: Throughout human history weapons of mass destruction were often designed in the hopes that they'd never be used. Seven: And yet, in Earth's Third World War, nuclear weapons accounted for six hundred million casualties. Were they looking on the bright side? Emh: An unfortunate exception. Archer: We were just talking about you. Chakotay: Oh? Boothby: She didn't think you were going to show up. Archer: Boothby! Boothby: I've known Archer since she was a first year cadet. She's not easily impressed. I didn't think you were her type. Oh, er, if you'll excuse me, I've got some midnight orchids that need my attention. Think about what I said, young lady. You'll be fine. Archer: Thank you, Boothby. Chakotay: Problems? Archer: I was offered a field commission this morning. First officer of the starship HorCha. Chakotay: Congratulations. Archer: It's a Klingon vessel. Chakotay: Oh. So what did Boothby say? Archer: DuCha me gagh roh. Smile when you eat the gagh. Chakotay: Wise words. Archer: Yeah. Chakotay: Do you always seek advice from the groundskeeper? Archer: Half the Captains in Starfleet wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for Boothby. Lopez, Picard, Richardson, just to name a few. Closing time. Chakotay: You offered to be my guide. Where's our next stop? Archer: Can you dance? Chakotay: I've been accused of trying. Archer: It's Pon Farr night at the Vulcan nightclub. Chakotay: Vulcan? Archer: It's just around the corner. Paris: Take it easy, Harry. We didn't build the Delta Flyer to withstand such extensive pacing. Kim: He should have contacted us by now. Paris: Give him time. Kim: Four hours? Paris: It's a date. These things can't be rushed. They probably just finished dinner, a couple of drinks, and now they are moving past the polite stage. Kim: Polite stage? The last 8472 I met tried to dissolve me from the inside out. Paris: It was only trying to get to know you better, Harry. You can't fault a person for that. Look, Chakotay can take care of himself. And if he can't, who better than us to come to the rescue? Chakotay: Turns out the transporter malfunctioned. My uniform ended up in the pattern buffer. Archer: You're kidding. You were naked? Chakotay: Not entirely. I had my commbadge. Archer: I hope it was well-placed. Computer, lights. Chakotay: So this is where they're putting up officers nowadays. Not bad. Archer: Can I get you something to drink? Chaotay: Water's fine. Archer: I'm beginning to think you're a teetotaller. Chakotay: I like to stay in control. Archer: Always at yellow alert, huh? Chakotay: Something like that. Archer: Find anything interesting? Chakotay: Beyond the Galactic Edge, Humanity's Quest for Infinity. This is a 21st century edition of Hesterman, isn't it? Archer: Replicated. Good book though. Chakotay: Never read it. Archer: You should. Human beings, they're quite a paradox. Chakotay: Oh? How so. Archer: At first glance, they're so primitive. Genetic impurities, no telepathy, violent and yet they've created so many beautiful ways to communicate their ideas. Literature, art, music. At times, I've actually enjoyed being in this form. You must think I'm crazy. Chakotay: Not at all. Archer: I wonder what they think about us? Chakotay: Hard to say. Archer: I'll tell you what I think. They despise us. They'll attack any species that's not part of their Federation. Mmm. Speaking of being in human form. I could use an isomorphic injection. You need one? Chakotay: I'm fine. Archer: Make yourself at home. Archer: Commander. How do you like the view? Chakotay: Lovely. Archer: Looks like a full moon. You can see the entire bay on a night like this. Chakotay: I should have brought my holo-imager. You make a pretty picture. Archer: Mmm, feel that? Salinated oxygen molecules, stimulating the epidermal and neural receptors. Non-fluidic space has its charms. Chakotay: No argument there. Archer: Planet Earth. The simulation will be real soon enough. Chakotay: How soon do you think? Archer: Weeks, days. As soon as they think we're ready. Chakotay: Can I be honest with you? Archer: Please. Chakotay: I'm starting to wonder if all this is worth the effort. Archer: What do you mean? Chakotay: This simulation, our mission. Are we certain the humans pose a threat? Archer: They were allies with the Borg. They invaded our realm. Chakotay: That was one incident. That doesn't mean the entire Federation is planning a war against us. Archer: We can't trust them. We have to prepare for the worst. Chakotay: I'm not so sure. Archer: I think you've been human a little too long. Chakotay: Before you know it, I'll be sending my resume to the real Starfleet. Archer: Alien from distant galaxy seeks employment. References available upon request. Chakotay: Well, it's getting late. I'd better go. Archer: Already? Chakotay: I have a tactical report to finish before morning. Archer: Aren't we forgetting something? I'm no expert at human dating rituals, but I think it's customary to kiss good night. You've never done this before. Chakotay: Actually. Archer: Me, neither. Just think of it as part of our training. (She backs him up against the door jamb and kisses him. Then Chakotay reciprocates enthusiastically, and leaves.Archer goes to her desk and takes out a scanner. She uses it on her hand where it had touched Chakotay's skin, and activates her desk computer.) Boothby: Report. Archer: I analyzed his DNA. Your suspicions were correct. Boothby: How much does he know? Archer: It's difficult to say. He'll have to be interrogated. Boothby: Where is he? Archer: By now he should be in the main quad. I recommend we go to daylight. He'll be easier to track. Chakotay: Chakotay to Paris. Delta Flyer, respond! (He shoots a man who is running towards him, then runs himself. But soon he is surrounded by humanoid 8472, who grab him and take him away. Janeway: Yes. Come in. Seven: The Borg modifications are complete. Nineteen standard photon torpedoes and three class tens armed with high-yield warheads. Janeway: More. Seven: We ha've depleted our supply of nanoprobes. Janeway: Replicate a new supply. Seven: That is not possible. Janeway: Have the Doctor extract them from your bloodstream. Grow them in a petrie dish. Whatever it takes. If we do engage 8472 I don't intend to run out of firepower mid-battle. You of all people should understand that. They killed, what, four million drones? Directive zero one zero. Before engaging alien species in battle, any and all attempts to make First Contact and achieve non-military resolution must be made. In this case, we made first contact over a year ago and we barely got out of it alive. It seems to me a battle is inevitable, maybe even war. So why can't I get that directive out of my mind? Seven: This species intends to purge our galaxy of all life. It's time you resisted your Starfleet philosophy. Tuvok: Captain to the Bridge. Tuvok: The away team is hailing us. Janeway: Tom. Paris: Chakotay's in trouble. He tried to contact us ten minutes ago, but his signal was cut off. Kim: Some kind of forcefield went up around the habitat. We can't get a lock on him. Janeway: Has your vessel been detected? Paris: I don't think so. At least, no one's tried to take a shot at us yet. Janeway: Hold your position. Keep trying to locate him. We're on our way. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Bring those Borg weapons online. Red alert. All hands to battle stations. Take us out of orbit. Archer: I thought you had a tactical report to finish. Boothby: What'll you have, son? I'm a single malt man, myself. Aged two hundred years. Been saving it for a special occasion, and I'd say this is special enough. A toast. To Earth. Chakotay. Rank, Commander. Starfleet service number forty seven alpha six one two. First officer, USS Voyager. Chakotay: Species 8472. Origin, fluidic space. Boothby: Well, now that we've been formally introduced, how many ships? Cat got your tongue? I asked you a question. How many vessels do you have in the Delta Quadrant? Chakotay: One. Archer: How did you find us? Chakotay: We detected what looked like a Federation subspace transmission. It took us weeks to track it here. Boothby: We wanted this simulation to be accurate to the last detail. We obviously went a little too far. Now that you know about our re-creation, you've no doubt alerted the Federation. Your fleet will be on its way. Chakotay: You've got it wrong. We're not planning a war against you. Archer: Is that why you were here to spy on us, because you're curious? Bullock: Sir, a starship is approaching. It's Voyager. Boothby: Raise our shields. Stand by, all weapons. Chakotay: Captain Janeway is not here to launch an attack. She's here to find me. Boothby: We've got the real McCoy here. We might as well take advantage of it. Perform a genetic extraction. It may help us find a better way to maintain these human forms. Archer: Yes, sir. Tuvok: We are approaching the habitat. Janeway: Shields to maximum. Charge weapons. All hands, this is the bridge. Tactical alert. Report to your posts and stand by to engage the enemy. Tuvok: I have a visual. We're being scanned. Janeway: Let them take a look. Seven: The Delta Flyer is heading up from the habitat. Janeway: Open a channel. Tom, status? Paris: They've taken a couple of pot-shots at us, Captain. We've lost our shields. Mind if we join you? Janeway: You're clear to dock. Shuttlebay two. Any word from Chakotay? Paris: I'm afraid not. Janeway: Bring us within range. Target their weapons array. Seven: Captain, we should target their power systems as well. Janeway: No, I don't want to risk shutting down their life support. If we can end this without casualties, so much the better. Seven: This species does not deserve our compassion. Janeway: You picked a lousy time for an ethical debate. The weapons array. Now. Tuvok: We're entering weapons range. Thirty eight hundred kilometers. Thirty five hundred. Thirty two hundred. Chakotay: Valerie. Archer: That's not my name. Chakotay: Then what is it? You're afraid of us, aren't you. You think we're violent, that we're planning to destroy your species, but none of that's true. If you would take the time to speak to us directly, we could prove it to you. There are no secrets except the secrets that keep themselves. Archer: Shaw. Chakotay: George Bernard Shaw. I saw a copy of his Collected Works on your bookshelf. Archer: He had a complex mind, for a human. Chakotay: And he had a point. As long as we keep spying on each other, making assumptions, we probably will go to war. Archer: Voyager. Seven: They're charging weapons. Janeway: Do the same. Tuvok: We're being hailed. Janeway: Mister Boothby. Boothby: Captain Janeway. Janeway: Good to see you after all these years. Enjoying the Delta Quadrant? Boothby: Don't get sassy with me, young lady. This re-creation may be Starfleet but our weapons are far more sophisticated. I can destroy your vessel with a single command. Run along now. Janeway: I'm not going anywhere. Not until you return my First Officer and give me a damn good explanation for what you're doing in our galaxy. I've targeted your re-creation with Borg nanoprobes, and we're willing to use them if you force us to. Boothby: Don't try to rattle my cage. I'll disable your tactical systems before you can Janeway: The last time our species engaged in battle, you suffered heavy casualties. Are you willing to take that chance again? An armed conflict isn't going to solve our problems. We could go on making threats, spying on each other, risking a war between our species. Or we could try a more direct approach. Boothby: What do you have in mind? Janeway: How about a class reunion? Boothby: Targ manure! United Federation of Planets, tolerance for all species, the Prime Directive. Targ manure, every word of it. Tuvok: Your metaphor is colorful, but inaccurate. Boothby: Vulcan logic. Add that to the list. Janeway: Obviously, you've studied a Starfleet database. You must have learned something about our history. We adhere to our directives. Bullock: High-minded ideals are one thing, but your actions tell a very different story. You infiltrated our re-creation, captured and killed one of our people. Janeway: I told you, he took his own life. Bullock: You created biological weapons to infect our species. You are allies with the Borg. Boothby: There's a drone sitting at this very table. Look at her, all gussied up to look like a human being. Seven: I am no longer part of the Collective. Boothby: Once a Borg, always a Borg. Janeway: Seven of Nine is a member of this crew. Bullock: The Borg are irrelevant. It's the humans that pose a threat. Chakotay: They think the Federation is a hostile invasion force out to destroy their species. Janeway: I see. So you're planning a pre-emptive strike against Earth. Boothby: Maybe I am. Janeway: You realize I can't let that happen. Boothby: Go ahead, fire your damn nanoprobes. Blow our re-creation to high heavens. There are a dozen more scattered throughout the quadrant. You'll never find them all. Janeway: What if I told you that Starfleet isn't planning an invasion? That no one on Earth has even heard of you? Boothby: I'd say you're lying. Janeway: Have another look at that Federation database of yours. You'll see there's no mention of your realm. Bullock: Immaterial. Any information regarding our species has no doubt been classified by Starfleet intelligence. Janeway: Good point. You know, we could keep this paranoid debate going all day. You have no reason to trust us and we have no reason to trust you. Boothby: Hear, hear. I knew this reunion would be a fiasco. Admiral. Janeway: Seven, disarm the warheads Do it, Seven: Captain? Janeway: Do it. Boothby: What are you trying to prove, young lady? Janeway: One of us has to take our finger off the trigger. It might as well be me. Archer: Their weapons are offline. Bullock: It's a trick. Janeway: Our defenses are down. What will you do now? Blow Voyager to high heavens, or do we keep talking? Boothby: Humans. You've got a flair for the dramatic, I'll give you that. You want to keep talking? Fine by me, but no more beating around the bush. Now, what do you want from us? The truth, Captain. Janeway: Voyager is alone in the Delta Quadrant. We haven't been in contact with Earth for over four years. Boothby: Explain why you attacked our realm, hand in hand with the Borg. Janeway: At the time, we didn't realize the Borg had started the war against you. We forged a temporary alliance with them because we thought you were the threat. Seven: Your galaxy will be purged. Sound familiar? Bullock: We were only trying to defend ourselves. Tuvok: If that's true, why are you still in our galaxy? Your conflict with the Borg ended over a year ago. Janeway: Why re-create Starfleet, masquerade as humans? It looks to me like you're the ones planning an invasion. The truth. Bullock: Don't answer her. She's manipulating us. Archer: If you won't answer, I will. Bullock: Commander. Archer: Our mission is to infiltrate your home world, to place operatives in the highest levels of Starfleet, monitor your military installlations. It's a reconnaissance mission, nothing more. Chakotay: We should listen to her, Captain. They're being driven by fear just like we are. Unless everything you said on our date was just part of an act. Archer: It wasn't. Bullock: Enough! We must not negotiate with these creatures. Boothby: Sit down, Admiral. Bullock: Sir. Boothby: I said sit down, or I'll knock you right on your human butt. Bullock: You've been seduced by them, both of you. Archer: I've had a chance to see through human eyes and I'm beginning to wonder, are they really so violent? What if we're wrong? Bullock: We can't risk trusting them. Archer: You'd rather risk another war? Boothby: Keep talking, son. Chakotay: Archer's right. We've got to set aside our preconceptions about each other. Granted, our species didn't meet under the best of circumstances, but maybe we can make first contact again. Maybe this time we'll get it right. Boothby: You believe in this fellow? Archer: Yes. Boothby: There would have to be a few ground rules. Janeway: Name them. Boothby: First off, I want to take a look at that nanoprobe technology. It scares the hell out of me. Janeway: All right, but I'll need some tactical information in return. Your genetic alteration techniques for a start. Boothby: I'm sure something can be arranged. You on board, Admiral? Good enough for me. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 52136.4. We've managed to avoid a military conflict with Species 8472, at least for now. In an effort to strengthen the truce, we're exchanging technology. Seven: The design schematic for our nanoprobe weapons as requested. Janeway: This could go a long way toward allaying their fears. Seven: Perhaps. Janeway: Have a little faith, Seven. Seven: It's difficult to have faith in an idea which may prove tactically unsound. Janeway: Tactically unsound? Perhaps. It could also be the first step toward peace. It's a risk I'm willing to take. Are you sure you won't join us? It would be your first chance to see Earth. Seven: I prefer to remain aboard Voyager. If problems arise while you're in the habitat Janeway: There won't be any problems. Nothing tactical, at any rate. We're entering a stage of diplomacy where most of the problems will be cultural. How do you shake hands with an 8472? We'll be fine. Seven: When you ordered me to disarm the warhead during the negotiation, I anticipated an immediate attack. I believed they would take advantage of your human weakness. I was wrong. If I had been in your position, we would most likely be engaged in a battle with 8472 at this moment. How did you know? Janeway: I didn't. Like I said. Seven: Faith. Bullock: Welcome to Terrasphere Eight, Starfleet Command re-creation. I am Admiral Bullock and I'll be acquainting you with our facility. Questions, comments bring them to me. Problems talk to Lieutenant Kinis. Commander Tuvok, you wanted to examine our thermionic generators. Tuvok: Yes. Bullock: I'll take you there personally. Ambassador Nelix? Neelix: It's Neelix, sir. Bullock: Neelix. You'll be joining the Lieutenant. He'll familiarize you with our environmental control technology. Neelix: Wonderful. I look forward to hearing your perspective on Vulcans. Janeway: You didn't happen to re-create a little coffee shop on Market Street, the Night Owl? Boothby: Afraid not. You're welcome to stay. put your feet up. We won't be returning to fluidic space for another day or two. Janeway: Thank you, but the real Earth is a long way from here. I'd like to get back on the road. What are the chances they'll listen to you? Boothby: I can't promise you the moon, Captain. My superiors aren't as forward thinking. Peace with humans? Wow. They're going to hit the roof. But I'll tell them what happened here today, and with a pinch of luck a few of them might see the light. Janeway: Well, you've got Voyager's comm. frequency. You know how to contact us. I hope we can keep this process alive. Boothby: Don't call us, we'll call you. Oh, I almost forgot. Ahh. Boothby: Genetically synthesized, but they smell just as lovely. Janeway: Oh. Chakotay: Looking forward to going home? Archer: At least I can finally get out of this form. Chakotay: No more insomnia. Archer: No more sleeping, period. Chakotay: For what it's worth, you made a terrific human. Archer: Shame. Chakotay: Hmm? Archer: It's too bad our species are so different, otherwise I'd ask you for a second date. Chakotay: You did offer to be my guide. How about a tour of your realm sometime? Archer: I'd like that. Chakotay: Well, I'm due back on Voyager. We leave at oh four hundred. Archer: I'll never get a chance to do this again. Archer: Any better this time? Chakotay: You're a quick study.

Flotter: Ouch! Naomi: Wake up. Flotter: Who's there? Naomi: Naomi. Flotter: Come back later. Naomi: You know what I think? I think you're scared of the tree monster. Flotter: I'm not scared of any tree monster, Miss Wildman, but, as you know, I need my beauty sleep. Naomi: Sorry I woke you, but we have a mission. Flotter: You and your missions. Lucky for you, your old pal Flotter has everything ready. Follow me. I've laid a trap. When he climbs this tree, he'll trip the alarm. Tree monsters are terrified of high-pitched noises. Naomi: I never heard that. Flotter: Oh, it's a well known fact. The bell will scare him high into those branches where counterweights will bend the treetop till it springs back, catapulting him pond-ward and, splash! He'll sink like a log. Naomi: But Flotter, logs float. Flotter: Details, details. Trevis: That is a terrible plan. Naomi: It's him! Trevis: The name's Trevis. And you are? Flotter: Flotter. Flotter T. Water III. Trevis: Well, of course you are, drippy. You. Naomi: Naomi Wildman, but my friends call me Naomi. Trevis: I don't recognize your element. You're not earth or water or plasma. Naomi: I'm human. Trevis: Where do you live? Naomi: In space. Trevis: Nobody lives in space. Flotter: She does. On a starship called Voyager. Naomi: I'm an explorer. Trevis: Really? An explorer. Timber. What's that like? Naomi: Well, you know, space battles with aliens, strange anomalies. Trevis: May I visit your starship? Naomi: Well, I'll have to ask my mom. Flotter: You know, for a monster, you're very polite. Trevis: That's because I'm not a monster. Trevis: You see that? I'm not scared one bit. My bark is worse than my bite. Naomi: Maybe we jumped to conclusions about him. Flotter: Well, he may not be a monster, but he is stealing my water with his roots. Trevis: Stealing? Absurd. Why, I ought to dry you up. Flotter: And I ought to chop you down! Trevis: You want a piece of me? Naomi: Excuse me! It sounds like you two need each other. I mean, think about it. Flotter, your water helps his trees grow, and Trevis, your branches shade his pond from the sun. It's a well-known fact that the sun makes water evaporate. Flotter: She's got a point. Trevis: The girl's a thinker. Naomi: Now, shake hands and make up. Trevis: Urgh. Moist palms. Flotter: Urgh, sappy fingers. Neelix: Neelix to Holodeck two. Naomi: Naomi here. Neelix: It's bedtime. Naomi: Can't I stay a little longer? Neelix: You know the rules. Neelix: Besides, someone special wants to say good night. Naomi: Mom! Computer, end program. Wildman: And how's Flotter? Naomi: Grouchy as ever, but we made a new friend today named Trevis. I'll introduce him to you tomorrow as soon as you get home. Wildman: I'm afraid the away mission may take a few more days, sweetheart. Naomi: Days? Wildman: Yes, but I'm bringing you back some beautiful sillinite crystals and lots of holo-pictures for your data album. Now be a good girl and get ready for bed while I talk to Neelix. Naomi: All right. Wildman: Sweet dreams. Neelix: Samantha? Wildman: We ran into an ion storm. Neelix: How bad is it? Wildman: We took a real beating. We're trying to make repairs, but there's another storm on the way. Better go. Say goodnight for me Wildman: I've lost the comm. signal. Tuvok: A level seven ionic front is closing aft at thirty three thousand kph. Paris: I need more power to the thrusters If I'm going to outrun it. Wildman: I'll see what I can do. Tuvok: The leading edge is approaching. Wildman: I've given you all the power I can spare, Tom. Paris: It's not enough. I can't keep ahead of this thing. Brace for impact! Tuvok: Mayday, Mayday. Delta Flyer to Voyager. Need assistance. Warp drive is. Impulse power is down. Thrusters only. The ion storms damaged the primary systems. Life support is failing. Searching for an emergency landing site. Require immediate assistance. Chakotay: That was their last transmission. We haven't been able to raise them since. Torres: If they're looking for a place to land, they must be in pretty bad shape. Janeway: Anything on long range sensors? Kim: We lost their signature when the second ion storm hit, but we've triangulated the co-ordinates of the distress call. They've entered a planetary system about point six light years from here. Torres: The problem is there's another ion storm, a level five, blocking our path. Janeway: Level five? We've been through worse. Let's just batten down the hatches and reinforce the shields. We're not going to let a little bad weather stand in our way. Neelix: What about Naomi? Chakotay: I guess somebody's going to have to explain why her mother's not back. Neelix: Maybe we shouldn't tell her anything. Janeway: Why not? Neelix: She's a very sensitive girl. I don't want to alarm her unnecessarily. With any luck, we'll have her mother back before she starts to worry. Janeway: Well, you're closer to her than anyone. I'm inclined to let you take the lead on this. Neelix: Thanks, Captain. Janeway: All right. Consider it your mission to keep her occupied. Neelix: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Dismissed. Naomi: I was thinking. Neelix: Oh? Naomi: It's time I carried my weight around here. Neelix: Ah. They could use a hand in the Airponics bay. Naomi: I was thinking more of the bridge. Neelix: Captain's assistant. Naomi: Would I get to fly the ship? Neelix: Well, we'd have to take it up with the Captain. Seven: Need to check the internal sensors. Naomi: Neelix, don't move. Neelix: What's wrong? Naomi: The Borg lady. Neelix: She has a name, you know. Naomi: Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix zero one. Don't look! She'll assimilate you. Neelix: Naomi, Seven is a nice person, and she's a valuable member of this crew. Naomi: I don't want to be in her Collective. Neelix: I don't think there's much danger of that. Kim: Hey, Neelix. Hey, Naomi. Neelix, can I talk with you? Neelix: Yes. I'll be right back. Kim: Sickbay's running short on emergency medkits. We're going to need a few more if we send another away team after the shuttle. Neelix: I've got half a dozen stockpiled in Cargo Bay two. Kim: How is she? Neelix: On the Naomi anxiety Scale of one to ten, where one is a touch of insomnia and ten is a panic attack? About five. Seven: Is this chair occupied? Yes or no would suffice. Naomi: No. I mean, yes. Seven: Explain. Naomi: You can't sit here. Somebody else is sitting here. Seven: Very well. Neelix: So, I thought we'd pay another visit to Sickbay. The Doctor says he has time to give you a botany lesson. What's wrong? Naomi: I am Borg. Neelix: No, you're not. Naomi: Can we go to the holodeck first? I want to play another Flotter story. Neelix: Well, the Doctor's expecting you. Naomi: I don't like Sickbay. Neelix: Why not? Naomi: It's full of creepy things. Alien organs and hyposprays. Neelix: Well, that's not true. Naomi: And the Doctor talks too much. Neelix: Well, that's his way. Naomi: Can't you reprogram him or something? Neelix: Oh, I don't think he'd like that very much. Come on. Paris: Rumor has it there's a planetoid around here. Wildman: Sorry, Tom. The storm is throwing off my readings. There's definitely a big rock nearby, I just can't find it. Tuvok: The wave front is accelerating. Paris: How long till it hits us? Tuvok: Less than two minutes. Paris: Gives me thirty seconds to land this thing. Samantha, I don't mean to rush you. Wildman: Got it. Class M atmosphere, nickel-iron core, bemonite mantle. Paris: Bemonite. I want to land this shuttle, not bury it. Wildman: Seventy three thousand kilometers, bearing zero mark four. Tuvok: We've entered the upper atmosphere. Wildman: Nothing but impact craters, volcanoes. We can't land here. Tuvok: The storm is closing. Increasing shields to maximum. Paris: Just keep us away from the volcanoes and we'll be okay. Wildman: I've got a big meteor crater, five hundred kilometers across, three point seven deep. Paris: I'll take it. Tuvok: Starboard thrusters are down. Paris: Tuvok, if you don't have something positive to say. Wildman: We're coming in too fast! Paris: Hang on! Paris: The Flyer has landed. Tuvok: She needs immediate medical assistance. Wildman: What happened? Paris: We made it. Wildman: Delta Flyer's first landing. Where? Paris: About three kilometers beneath the surface. At least our primary hull's still in one piece. Wildman: Wish I felt the same. Paris: You'll be all right. Minor concussion, a few fractures. Nothing I can't handle. Wildman: You're a great nurse, but you're a lousy liar. Paris: You've got a punctured kidney, and you're bleeding internally. You need surgery. Wildman: Voyager? Tuvok: I've transmitted another distress call. No response. Paris: It's all this rock. Wildman: I've got to talk to Naomi. Let her know we're okay. Tuvok: Conserve your strength, Ensign. Mister Paris and I have the situation under control. Paris: Nice bedside manner, Tuvok. Sam, I'm going to give you a mild sedative and something for the pain. Any chance we could abandon the shuttle, make our way on foot? Tuvok: Unlikely. Not only are we buried under several kilotons of rock, but the atmosphere in this cavern is flooded with fluorine gas. Paris: Nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the view. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've weathered the ion storm and tracked the Delta Flyer to an M-class planetoid. Kim: I'm detecting a residual impulse signature in the upper atmosphere. Chakotay: Try to pinpoint their location. Janeway: How's our littlest crew member? Neelix: She misses her mother, but I don't think she suspects anything. I was just about to take her to the holodeck for some more storytelling. Janeway: Call me an optimist, Neelix, but I'm still counting on a happy ending. Neelix: Me, too. Kim: Got it. The impulse wake leads to the northern hemisphere. Coordinates one twenty one mark sixteen. Janeway: Any sign of them? Kim: Plasma fires, hull fragments. Either they vaporized on impact or they're buried beneath the surface. Neelix: Any life signs? Maybe they beamed out before the crash. Janeway: Harry, anything? Kim: Nothing. Janeway: We built the Delta Flyer to take a lot of punishment. I'm betting it held together. Commander, take rescue teams down to that crater. If sensors can't find them, we'll have to do it the hard way. Chakotay: Harry. Emh: Now, see the organelle just over there? The one that looks like a little bitty potato? Naomi: The mitochondria? Emh: Yes. Naomi: Mitochondria. The warp core of the cell. Emh: Exactly. Now what if I told you that this fellow was invited to dinner, but never got around to leaving? Naomi: What do you mean? Emh: Well, turn back the clock a few billion years to when cells first evolved. These early cells had no mitochondria. They struggled along without them, making do with whatever energy sources they could find. Then, one day a mitochondrial ancestor arrived, broke though the cell wall, and made himself at home. Naomi: They became friends? Emh: The correct term is symbiosis. Naomi: Friends. Emh: Friends. Naomi: My mom says cooperation is more important than competition. Emh: Mmm hmm. Naomi: She was supposed to call me today. Emh: Well, she's probably just a little busy. Now, let's have a look at the cell wall. It looks simple enough, but believe you me there's more here than meets the eye. Naomi: Can we try to call her? Emh: Neelix, what a pleasure to see you! Neelix: How was school today? Naomi: Good. Neelix: There's a time for school, and there's a time for Naomi: Flotter! Neelix: Aren't you forgetting something? Naomi: Oh. Thank you, Doctor. Emh: You're quite welcome, Miss Wildman. Naomi: In the blink of an eye there was Trevis above us. Neelix: Then what happened? Naomi: He turned out to be very nice. His bark was worse than his bite. Neelix: Where did you learn to make such silly puns? Naomi: You. Neelix: Oh. Naomi: Neelix, did you have a favorite holodeck program when you were growing up? Neelix: Well, we didn't have holodecks on Rinax, but it didn't matter because we had a great big forest right behind my house. Naomi: Really? Neelix: And my sisters and I would go exploring every day. We'd make up our own stories. Naomi: Imagination. Neelix: Exactly. Naomi: Deck six, section nine. Where are your sisters now? Neelix: Oh, they're far away from here. I haven't seen them in a very long time. Naomi: How long? Neelix: Many years. Naomi: But you haven't been on Voyager for that long. Neelix: True, but before that, my work as a trader kept me away from home. Naomi: That's too bad. Naomi: Do your sisters ever call you like my mom does when she's on an away mission? Neelix: No. Naomi: I bet you miss them. Neelix: I do, very much. Here we are. Computer, display chapter headings, The Adventures of Flotter. Let's see. Ah, Flotter and the Tree Monster? Naomi: Played that one yesterday. Neelix: Okay. Trevis and the Terribly Twisted Trunk. Naomi: I promised I'd save that one for mom. It's her favorite. Neelix: Flotter, Trevis and the Ogre of Fire. Naomi: Yeah, that one. Neelix: It sounds a little scary. Naomi: It's okay. I won't be scared if you're with me. Computer: Once upon a time in the Forest of Forever, Flotter and Trevis encountered a strange element they'd never seen before. Naomi: Trevis, you're on fire! Flotter: I told him not to touch it, but this blockhead never listens. Naomi: Stop complaining and help him. Flotter: Me? Naomi: Water puts out fire. Trevis: Oh, thank you! Flotter: Hey, it worked! Watch this. Neelix: Good thinking, Naomi. Flotter: Who's the furball? Neelix: The name's Neelix. Naomi: What caused the fire? Trevis: It came from up there. Flotter: In a flash. Naomi: Lightning. But the sky is clear. Doesn't look like a thunderstorm. Neelix: What's your theory, Naomi? Naomi: There's only one other explanation. The Ogre of Fire. Flotter: The Ogre? Trevis: Of Fire. Flotter: Who's he? Ogre: He is me, and I'm going to burn this forest to the ground! Naomi: Flotter! Neelix: Maybe, maybe we should play another program. Naomi: No, we have to find Flotter. Hello, is anyone there? Trevis: Over here. Naomi: Trevis, are you all right? Trevis: Ah hah. A little hot under the bark maybe. Naomi: What about Flotter? Is he dead? Neelix? Neelix: Well, I, I don't know. Naomi: He can't be dead. Flotter! Neelix: I think it's your bedtime. Naomi: But I want to find Flotter. Neelix: Now, don't argue with your godfather. Come on, now. Kim: Take this to Lieutenant Torres. You'll find the phaser drills in Cargo Bay three. Crewman: Aye, sir. Neelix: Are you sure you have time for this? I know you're busy. Kim: No problem. Glad to be of service. Neelix: Maybe a shade bluer. And the head's a little disproportionate don't you think? Kim: We're not shooting for an exact replica, Neelix. Artistic license. Neelix: Sorry. Guess I shouldn't barge into your kitchen and tell you how to cook. Kim: Flotter. Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while. I used to be nuts about those holostories when I was a kid. Did you see the one where Flotter suspects Trevis to be a rubber tree? Neelix: Not yet. Kim: He keeps trying to trip him to see if he'll bounce. Yeah, those two were a lot of fun. Neelix: Actually, the last scenario that Naomi chose was pretty frightening. No fun at all. Kim: Kids love to be scared. Neelix: Not Naomi. Kim: Computer, transfer the design parameters to the replicator. How's she holding up? Neelix: Fine. Right now she's busy with her homework. Kim: Neelix, what's wrong? Neelix: Everything. Everything's wrong! Ion storms, crash landings, alien attacks. A starship's no place for a child. Kim: I don't know. I'd say Naomi's pretty lucky to be growing up on Voyager. Neelix: Lucky? Kim: Think about it. Think about all the things she's experienced, stars being born, supernovas, lifeforms no one from the Alpha Quadrant has seen before. When I was a kid I would have given anything for a chance like this. Well, here goes. Kim: Hi, Neelix. Did you miss me? You know, I forgot how ugly this guy was. Neelix: Thanks, Ensign. Neelix: Naomi. Guess who I found in the replicator? Naomi: Thanks, but that's not really Flotter. Neelix: Flotter's not really Flotter. He's just a holodeck character. What are you working on? Naomi: I'm researching the evaporation of water. Neelix: Why? Naomi: Well, I've been thinking. Water doesn't just disappear when it's heated. It turns into invisible gas. So, if we could get the forest to cool down enough, Flotter might re-liquefy. Neelix: Clever. Naomi: I miss mom. Neelix: I know you do. Naomi: When's she coming back? Neelix: Soon. Naomi: Why hasn't she called? Neelix: She must be very busy, cataloging all the geological specimens she's collected. Naomi: Has anybody talked to her? Neelix: Well, not in a day or two, but. Naomi: Starfleet regulation four seven six dash nine. All away teams must report to the bridge at least once every twenty four hours. Neelix: You really are going to make an excellent Captain's Assistant. Naomi: Has something bad happened to them? Neelix: I'm sure everything's fine. Come on, now. Bed. Naomi: Promise to wake me up if mommy calls? Neelix: Promise. Naomi: Even if it's oh two hundred hours? Neelix: Even if it's oh two hundred hours. Sweet dreams. Naomi: Neelix? Neelix: Computer, access personal database, Neelix. File index two nine one. Hello, Alixia. I'm sorry it's been so many weeks since I've thought about you, but we've been very busy here on Voyager. I miss you. My goddaughter, Naomi, she's in trouble. We're in trouble. She may lose her mother. Alixia, you always knew the right thing to do, the right thing to say. I wish you were here to help me. Neelix: Come on! Hurry! We're under attack! Neelix: Get up! The Meteron cascade! Run! Seven: Computer, switch to polythermal imaging and enhance resolution. Neelix, do you require assistance? Neelix: No. No, I was just passing by. I thought I'd pay you a visit, see how things were going. How are things going? Seven: I'm mapping the caverns surrounding the crash site. Neelix: How far do they extend? Seven: Approximately thirty seven kilometers. Neelix: What about the search? Anything new? Seven: Every scan reveals something new, but as yet little of relevance. Neelix: Seven. Your family, your human family, do you ever think about them? Seven: Infrequently. I was only six years old when I was assimilated. Neelix: Not much older than Naomi is now. Do you miss your parents? Seven: I barely remember them. Neelix: Maybe that's a blessing. Chakotay: Rescue team alpha to Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes, Commander. Chakotay: We need that data. Seven: I will meet you at the transporter site. I adapted. The child Naomi will adapt as well. Neelix: Borg wisdom. Janeway: Lieutenant, get me an update from Beta team. They haven't checking in for over an hour. Neelix: Coffee, anyone? Captain? Janeway: No thanks, I've had enough. One more cup and I'll jump to warp. Neelix: Any new? Janeway: I'm afraid not. Neelix: No debris? No lifesigns? Janeway: We've got three teams beneath the surface. So far, nothing. Neelix: So much for that happy ending. Janeway: We'll turn that planetoid inside out if we have to, but I think we have to be prepared for the worst. Maybe it's time you told Naomi. Neelix: No, not yet. Janeway: She's an astute girl. She must be aware that something's wrong by now. Neelix: She's been asking a lot of tough questions. Why hasn't her mother filed a status report? What if she's in trouble? But I've got a big day planned for her tomorrow. Plenty of distractions. She won't have time to be worried. Janeway: Your mission was to keep her occupied, not to lie to her. First thing in the morning, I want you to explain the situation. Neelix: I don't think that's such a good idea. Janeway: Why not? Neelix: Like I told you, she's sensitive. Janeway: All the more reason to answer her questions. Neelix: With all due respect, Captain, I'm her godfather. I know what's best for her. Janeway: Neelix. Janeway: I realize you care about Naomi and you are only trying to protect her, but you've got to tell her the truth. Neelix: Good morning, Naomi. Would you like some papalla juice with your cereal? And, oh, by the way, your mother is buried under thirty kilotons of rock. Janeway: Neelix. Neelix: When we know something for sure. When we find her mother, alive or dead, I'll, I'll tell her then. Not before. Janeway: If you can't do it, I will. Neelix: You don't have the right. You don't understand what's at stake here! When you were her age you were safe and sound on Earth with two healthy parents to take care of you. You never had to worry about the possibility of being alone! You take it from me, you wouldn't have liked it. Janeway: Oh, I know. You must identify with Naomi's situation. Neelix: When my family was killed, I lost everything. I still have nightmares. It hasn't been easy. I don't want Naomi to go through what I did. Janeway: I understand. And you're right. But this situation is different. Neelix: How so? Janeway: Naomi has you. Neelix, she has to be told. But I know she'll be better off having you here to help her through it. Neelix: First thing in the morning. Janeway: We've got a few hours until then. Why don't you come back on the bridge, give us a hand. Paris: Ready, Tuvok? Tuvok: Ready. Paris: Cross your fingers. Tuvok: The magnetic relays have overloaded. Paris: Well, we'd better find another way to polarize this hull, or their sensors won't be able to pick us up. Wildman: We're never getting out of here. Tuvok: Do not give up hope. The probability of our being rescued is low, but not statistically impossible. Paris: Comforting. Wildman: Who's going to look after Naomi? Tuvok: You should not concern yourself with that now. Wildman: How can you say that? Tuvok: My youngest child has been without a father for four years, yet I am certain of her well-being, that I conveyed my values to her before leaving. And I have confidence in the integrity of those around her. You have been an exemplary mother to Naomi, and she is in the hands of people you trust. She will survive and prosper, no matter what becomes of us. Wildman: Thanks, Tuvok. Naomi: Mom! Neelix? Computer, locate Neelix. Computer: Neelix is on the Bridge. Naomi: Thanks. Torres: Strickler, we need three more phaser drills. You two, pattern enhancers and medkits. Crewman: Aye, sir. Torres: We're going to have to recalibrate these tricorders. Torres: Put us with the alpha team. Crewwoman: Setting coordinates. Torres: Energize. Naomi: Deck one bridge. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. We've found what looks like a piece of the starboard nacelle. Janeway: Any sign of the shuttle itself? Chakotay: Not yet. Seven: Captain, the cavern has collapsed ahead of us. However, I am reading a hull signature behind the debris. Janeway: The Flyer? Seven: I'll need to take a closer reading. Janeway: Do it. I want Alpha and Beta teams to search for survivors. Tell sickbay to stand by for heavy casualties. Neelix: Naomi. Naomi? Neelix: Naomi! Computer, locate Naomi Wildman. Computer: Naomi Wildman is in her quarters. Neelix: Clever. Naomi: Computer, resume program, Flotter, Trevis and the Ogre of Fire. Computer: Program activated. Seven: Commander, I'm reading duranium alloys. I believe it is the shuttle. Approximately eighty meters beneath this rubble. Chakotay: Lifesigns? Seven: None. Commander, without lifesigns to lock onto we cannot beam the crew out. Chakotay: Maybe we can transport the entire ship to the shuttle bay. Seven: Through fifty kilotons of bemonite? Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Janeway: Janeway here. Chakotay: We think we've found the shuttle, but we need to dig it out. Chakotay: Have all teams rendezvous at my coordinates. Janeway: Acknowledged. Chakotay: Phaser drills here and here. Paris: But hey, B'Elanna, look on the bright side. No more day-old pizza laying around, and you'll never have to watch another chapter of Captain Proton again. Computer: Warning. Life support has fallen to critical levels. Paris: Don't mind the computer. She's just jealous that I'm spending my last few minutes talking to you. So long. Paris: Sam, it's your turn. Wildman: I haven't thought what to say yet. Tuvok, why don't you go next? Tuvok: I prefer to make my farewells in written form. Wildman: Computer, begin recording. Encode message for delivery to Naomi Wildman. Computer: Acknowledged. Wildman: Hi, honey. I know you're feeling sad right now but, I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay? First of all, I love you. Second, I want you to know that I'm proud of you. How smart you are, how funny, how kind you are to other people, and I know that you are going to grow up to do extraordinary things. Last, and I know this is a hard one, try not to be scared. Computer: Warning. Oxygen depletion in ten minutes. Wildman: Listen to Neelix. He'll be taking care of you now. Bye, honey. Neelix: Naomi? Trevis: Go away! Neelix: Where is she? Trevis: She doesn't want to talk to you. Flotter: You lied. Neelix: I thought you vaporized. Flotter: Naomi re-liquefied me. Now leave. Neelix: Computer, delete characters. Computer: Unable to comply. Holodeck controls have been encoded. Trevis: Delete us? Flotter: I wonder if this liar can swim? Trevis: We can always hang him from one of my branches. Neelix: Naomi, please let me talk to you. Naomi: It's okay. Trevis: You be nice. Flotter: No more lying. Neelix: Hey there. Naomi: Is my mother dead? Neelix: We don't know. Naomi: What happened? Neelix: The away team was trying to avoid an ion storm. They had to land on a planet. Naomi: I saw that crater. Something was burning. Neelix: Plasma fires, pieces of debris, but not the hull. Until we know for sure what's happened, no one's giving up on the rescue attempt. Naomi: You really think they might find her? Neelix: Yes. Naomi: How do I know you're telling me the truth this time? Neelix: I never told you this before, but when I was much younger I lost my mom in a terrible war. My father and my sisters too. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Always wondering, how did they die? Were they worried about me? Could they still be alive? I thought if I could just keep you from wondering, you wouldn't have to feel what I did. Naomi: You were pretending that nothing was wrong. That nothing bad happened. Do you ever pretend that nothing bad happened to your family? Neelix: Sometimes. Naomi: Does it help? Neelix: Not really. Naomi: Don't be sad, Neelix. Janeway: All hands to emergency stations. We've got a level eight ion storm approaching. Flotter: Ion storm? What's that? Trevis: Ogre of Fire! He's attacking us again. Neelix: You'd better get back to your quarters. Flotter: Naomi, don't leave us. Naomi: I'll be back, I promise. Janeway: Voyager to Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Janeway: We've got another ion storm approaching. When it hits the planetoid, your entire cavern is going to destabilize. Chakotay: Just a few more meters and we'll be close enough to beam out the shuttle. How long before the storm hits? Janeway: Six minutes. Janeway: Make the most of it. It's all you've got. Kim: The storm's moving in. Shields down to eighty six percent. Janeway: Keep the transporter lock on the away team. Give them to the last second. Helm, lay in a course out of here. Stand by to engage at warp two. Crewwoman: Aye, sir. Computer: Warning. Oxygen depletion in two minutes. Paris: I never thought it would come down to this. Suffocating beneath kilotons of rock on some nameless planetoid. Tuvok: Did you envision a more heroic death? Paris: I didn't envision dying at all. Tuvok: In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace. Paris: If that's another Vulcan saying, Tuvok, I'll stick with live long and prosper. Paris: We're here. We're here! Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Janeway: Yes, Commander. Chakotay: Pattern enhancers are in place. We're ready to transport the Flyer. Kim: Locking on. They're in the shuttlebay. Janeway: Helm, engage. Wildman: Thank you. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Ensign Wildman has recovered from her injuries, and the Delta Flyer, though battered, is intact. Flotter: And how are you today, Mister Trevis? Trevis: Feeling a little stiff, my slippery friend. And you? Flotter: Now that you mention it, I'm feeling a little washed out. Trevis: Well, it's about time you showed up. The tea is getting cold. Flotter: Samantha? Is it really you? Wildman: Long time no see. Flotter: You're all grown up. Wildman: I'm an Ensign now. Flotter: I've missed you. Wildman: Likewise. Neelix: Well, now that you're all reacquainted, I think you're all eager for a new adventure. Flotter: Now that you mention it, there is a castle that I've been meaning to explore. Naomi: Castle? Flotter: I hear a giant beetle lives there. Naomi: Come on, Neelix. Neelix: You go ahead. Wildman: See you later. Janeway: Here's to happy endings. Neelix: Captain! Janeway: Just checking on my future Captain's Assistant. Neelix: Right now, she's off to conquer a giant beetle. Janeway: Oh, sounds like a dangerous mission. Neelix: She can handle it. Janeway: She's a courageous girl. Did I ever tell you about the time I flooded this entire forest? I was six years old. Flotter claimed we were in for a dry spell so I came up with the obvious solution. Why not just divert the river? This entire forest was a swamp by the time we were done. At which point, Stinger was born. Neelix: Stinger? Janeway: The biggest mosquito.

Kim: We're here! Kim: The glacier fractures are stable. Chakotay: We're clear to beam inside. Tessa: Acknowledged. Kim: Not exactly the way I remember it. Kim: Power grid's been destroyed. Neural gel packs frozen solid. Decks nine through fourteen are now deck ten. They've been compacted. Chakotay: Looks like they hit the ice at full impulse. The EMH? Kim: I'm trying to access Sickbay. The relays aren't responding. I'm losing the interface. Reset the power cell. Come on! Chakotay: Let's get moving. Keep an open comm. link. Chakotay: Chakotay to Tessa. Tessa: Go ahead. Chakotay: I've found her. Lock on to the Chakotay: Transporter relay and beam her to the lab. Tessa: Stand by. Chakotay: Make it quick. This isn't exactly a happy reunion. Tessa: I've got a lock. Emh: Please state the nature of Kim: Long time no see. Emh: Ensign. Kim: I go by Harry now. It's a long story. Where's your mobile emitter? Emh: What's happened to the ship? The crew? Kim: No time. The emitter. Emh: It's in here, but Kim: Here. Slap it on. Ket's go. Emh: Wait! I demand an explanation. Chakotay: I'll give you one. We're here to change history. Janeway: Ladies and gentlemen, please. May I introduce the next generation of instellar propulsion, the Quantum Slipstream Drive. Four years, two months, eleven days. That's precisely how long Voyager's been in the Delta Quadrant. During that time we've advanced the frontiers of exploration, and more importantly, we've survived. Now it's time to go home. Enjoy the celebration but keep in mind we've still got a lot of work to do before tomorrow's flight. Go easy on that champagne, Lieutenant. Janeway: Quantum Matrix, benamite crystals, Borg technology. Can you imagine what Starfleet is going to say? Chakotay: I don't think we'll hear any complaints. The Federation's first Slipstream drive. They'll probably nominate us for the Cochrane Medal of Honor. Janeway: I'll start working on my acceptance speech. Chakotay: I'd like to thank the Borg Collective. Janeway: Dinner plans? Chakotay: Nothing special. Date with a replicator. Janeway: Cancel it, that's an order. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Neelix: Lieutenant. Lieutenant! Excuse me. My contribution to the Slipstream Drive. Torres: Thanks. What is it? Neelix: A Talaxian fur fly. An old spacefaring tradition among my people. If one of these creatures stowed away on your ship, it was a sign of good fortune. I had this little fellow preserved. He hung in my engine room for six years. Torres: Cute. Tuvok: Mister Neelix, you are an unending source of astonishment. Neelix: Why, thank you, Mister Vulcan. Emh: Seven? Seven: My visual processors and motor cortex. They are malfunctioning. Emh: Sounds like a problem with your cortical implant. We'd better have a look. Hold still. Seven: I cannot comply. Emh: You're intoxicated. Seven: Impossible. Emh: Your blood synthehol level is point zero five percent. How many glasses of champagne did you consume? Seven: One. Emh: Obviously the Borg can't hold their liquor. Come to Sickbay. I'll give you some inaprovaline to counteract the effects. Seven: I was simply trying to perfect my social skills as you instructed me to do. Emh: And you're doing a fine job. Seven: You have always been of enormous assistance to me, Doctor. You are my mentor. Emh: Yes. Seven: We are as one. We are as one. Kim: Did you see that? Paris: Hmm? Kim: I think our drone did a little too much celebrating. Speaking of which, when are you going to join the party? Paris: In a minute. Kim: You're running a warp core diagnostic now? Paris: Harry, I think we built an Edsel. Kim: A what? Paris: A lemon. A disaster waiting to happen! I ran a simulation last night and I discovered a point four two phase variance in the slipstream threshold. Kim: Point four two? So it'll be a bumpy ride. We've flown through worse. Paris: If we get knocked out of that slipstream mid-flight it could overload the quantum matrix. Kim: Did you tell the Captain? Paris: Not yet. Didn't want to spoil the festivities until I was sure. Kim: Tom, if it'll make you feel better, we'll go to the holodeck right now, run a few more simulations. It's probably just a sensor glitch. Paris: We're at full impulse. Kim: Engaging Slipstream Drive. Quantum field is stable, deflector at maximum. Paris: Slipstream velocity in four, three, two. Power output is steady. Quantum field is holding. Kim: Shields down to seventy three percent. Paris: Looking good. Keep that deflector aligned and we should be Kim: We've got a phase variance. Point one, point two. Paris: Remodulate the deflector. Kim: No effect. Point four. Paris: I'm shutting down the drive. Kim: No, wait. I want to try to invert the Quantum field. Paris: It's no use, the slipstream is collapsing. Inertial dampers are offline. Computer: Warning. Hull breach on deck ten. Kim: We're losing structural integrity. Paris: Computer, freeze program! Kim: One more time. I think if we reroute emergency power to the deflector a little earlier Paris: It won't help. Kim: Computer, restart simulation at time index Paris: Computer, belay that order. It's no use, Harry. Kim: We can't just give up. Paris: Twenty three simulations, twenty three catastrophes. This is no sensor glitch. We've got to tell them. Torres: That can't be right. We tested this engine molecule by molecule. Paris: I'm sorry, B'Elanna. Seven: I wish to examine the results of the simulation. Paris: Holodeck two. Run them for yourself. That is, if you don't mind being vaporized a few dozen times. Chakotay: I looked at their findings, Captain. If we try to take that flight in the morning, we'll be in escape pods by afternoon. Tuvok: It would appear we have no choice but to cancel it. Paris: Either that or, we can try it Harry's way. Janeway: Ensign? Kim: I've got an idea. It's tricky, but I think it could work. The trouble begins about seventeen seconds into the flight. The phase variance kicks in and the Slipstream becomes unstable. What we need is someone in a shuttle to ride the rapids in front of Voyager. Torres: Yes. They could map the threshold of the Slipstream as it's forming and send the phase corrections back to us. That is a great idea, Harry. Kim: Now, here's the tricky part. The shuttle will only be a couple of seconds ahead of Voyager. That doesn't give auto-navigation much time to compensate. Janeway: Tom? Paris: Couple of seconds? Kim: We can do this, Captain. Put me on that shuttle. I'll get Voyager through the Slipstream. What choice do we have? Take the drive offline? Months of work for nothing? Tuvok: We built a highly experimental piece of technology. There were bound to be setbacks. Kim: The benamite crystals at the heart of this engine have already started to decay. It could take years to synthesize more. I don't know about the rest of you, but I didn't do all this work just to be stopped by a point four two phase variance. No offense, Captain. Janeway: None taken. All right, Mister Kim. You've convinced me. Prepare a flight plan and have it on my desk within the hour. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: I'll let you know what I decide. Janeway: Come in. Commander, I hope you've got an appetite. Chakotay: Famished, but I assumed you called me here to talk about the Slipstream flight. Janeway: No reason to cancel our dinner plans. I've programmed a dish my grandmother used to make back on Earth. Vegetable biryani. Chakotay: Sounds delicious. I didn't know you could cook. Janeway: Normally, I draw the line at a pot of coffee, but tonight is a special occasion. Chakotay: Oh? Janeway: Our last night in the Delta Quadrant. I'd say that's special enough. Chakotay: You've made your decision. Janeway: We launch tomorrow at oh eight hundred. You and Harry will take the Delta Flyer. Voyager will be right behind you. Chakotay: The crew will be pleased. Janeway: You can give them the news yourself, after dessert. What about you, Chakotay? What do you think about my decision? Chakotay: I've analyzed Harry's flight plan. The theory is sound, but there are just too many variables. If something goes wrong in that slipstream Janeway: It could be our only chance to use the Quantum Drive. Chakotay: True, but if you showed this data to any Starfleet engineer, they'd think we were out of our minds. We can find another way home. We've waited this long. Janeway: Long enough. We've waited long enough. I know it's a risk, probably our biggest one yet, but I'm willing to take it. Are you with me? Chakotay: Always. Janeway: Speaking of risks. Are you ready to try some home cooking? Chakotay: I'll alert Sickbay. Emh: Fifteen years? Kim: Give or take a few weeks. Emh: Where are we? Chakotay: In the Takara sector, just outside the Alpha quadrant. Emh: The crew? Kim: Except for us, dead. Chakotay: We think Captain Janeway tried to make an emergency landing on this planet. The ship must have been too heavily damaged. They were all killed on impact. Kim: They've been buried inside a glacier for the past fifteen years. Emh: You two were here, on the Delta Flyer, ahead of Voyager. You made it. Kim: All the way back to Earth. We got home, Doc, and all it took was killing everyone we cared about. Chakotay: Harry! Emh: Starfleet certainly took their time finding us. Kim: Starfleet. Starfleet gave up their search for Voyager over nine years ago. We had to find you on our own. Emh: Well, I don't know what to say except thank you. I suppose I'd have stayed in that deep freeze forever. Chakotay: We're not here to salvage your program. We're here to prevent this disaster from ever happening. Kim: You see Doc, fifteen years ago, I miscalculated the Slipstream threshold and transmitted the wrong phase corrections to Voyager. Boom! They were knocked out of the Slipstream and sent to an icy death. Thank you, Ensign Kim. But I've had a long time to rethink my mistake, and now I know how to fix it. So, we're going to send Voyager a new set of phase corrections. Emh: Isn't it a little late for that? Chakotay: We've found a way to communicate with Voyager, in the past, just before the accident. Kim: Better late than never. Emh: A message back through time? Chakotay: Exactly. Emh: How? Emh: I don't understand. Chakotay: One of her cranial implants is a transceiver designed to communicate with other drones. Emh: That's right. It's called an interplexing beacon. Chakotay: We want you to extract the beacon and determine its translink frequency. Emh: That shouldn't be a problem. She looks reasonably well-preserved. Chakotay: Good. That'll tell us where to send the message. Now the hard part. We need to know when to send it. Can you access Seven's chronometric node and pinpoint the exact moment her cybernetic implants disengaged from her organic systems? Emh: Her time of death? Chakotay: Down to the millisecond, if possible. Emh: I'll see what I can do. Kim: I told you he'd come in handy. Emh: You said you'd found a way to communicate with Seven in the past. How? Kim: Behold. Salvage component three six six nine eight. A Borg temporal transmitter. Chakotay: Starfleet Intelligence found it in the wreckage of a Borg cube in the Beta Quadrant. Kim: We stole it. Tessa: Trouble. Long range sensors are picking up a Federation vessel. Chakotay: How much time do we have? Tessa: I entered a low orbit and remodulated our shields, but it won't be long before they find us. Six hours if we're lucky. Emh: Let me get this straight. You're fugitives? Kim: The Galaxy's most wanted. We stole the Delta Flyer too, right out of a Federation shipyard. We're wanted on two counts of high treason and conspiracy to violate the Temporal Prime Directive. Emh: Wonderful. Out of the icebox and into the fire. Chakotay: We don't have time for this. Get started. Emh: Aye, sir. Chakotay: We still have to retrieve those sensor logs. Get ready. Tessa: Hello, Doctor. Emh: Do I know you? Tessa: No, but I feel like we're old friends. Tessa Omond. Emh: Hello. Tessa: It's an honor to finally meet Voyager's infamous EMH. Emh: Infamous? Kim: I've told her a few horror stories. Tessa: Actually, they've always spoken very highly of you. Emh: Ah ha. And how did you get involved with Bonnie and Clyde here? Tessa: Oh, I've had an interest in Voyager for a long time. Kim: They're having sex. Emh: Pardon? Kim: Chakotay and Tess. They're a couple, joined at the hip. Tessa: The truth is, Doctor, I didn't want Chakotay or Harry to have to face this alone. I thought I could help. Chakotay: Ready? Kim: Stay warm. Tessa: These controls are a little clumsy. I thought you said this ship was state of the art. Chakotay: It was, at the time. Tessa: I've located the sensor logs but, the computer is denying me access. Chakotay: My command codes should still carry some weight. Chakotay: Looks like there's an active file here. Janeway: But should our luck run out, I'd like to say for the record that the crew Voyager acted distinction and valor. Tessa: You okay? Chakotay: Yes. It's just the last time I was in this chair, they were all here. Alive. Tessa: We're here to get them back. Chakotay: Can I see that tricorder? Chakotay: It's downloading. Give it a minute. Tessa: I don't supposed we have time for a tour. Chakotay: Afraid not. Besides, I left my quarters a mess. In just a few hours, if all goes as planned, we'll have changed history. The past fifteen years erased. We don't have to do this. Tessa: Now you tell me. Chakotay: I'm serious. Tessa: So am I, and I have no intentions of backing out. Chakotay. Chakotay: Look at me. Last minute jitters, cold feet, I don't know what to call it. Ridiculous, isn't it? After all these years working toward this moment, and when it finally comes, all I can think about is losing you. Tessa: Your heart has always been here, on Voyager. That'll never change. This is where you belong. And who knows, maybe we'll meet someday. Chakotay: But if we don't. Tessa: Then I'll miss you all the same. Kim: It means all of that has changed. You owe me one. Emh: Mister Kim, your assistance please. Kim: Got to go. Emh: What was that all about? Kim: Oh, nothing. Letter to a friend. How's it look? Emh: No damage to the infrastructure, but I'll need an isoprobe. Kim: Way ahead of you, Doc. Emh: So what was it like, your homecoming? Kim: Antimatter fireworks, long-winded dignitaries, a Vulcan children's choir. Oh, we got medals pinned to our tunics. Chakotay gave a speech commemorating the Voyager crew. Brought a tear to everyone's eye. Admiral McIntire even wanted me to marry his daughter. Emh: At least you weren't buried under twenty meters of ice. Kim: You don't know how many times I wished I was. Emh: I suppose it must have been difficult, with all your friends and colleagues left behind. Kim: Survivor guilt. Yeah, I heard a lot about that from the counselors back at Headquarters. You must learn to accept the fact that you lived. Embrace life, move forward. I signed on at the first deep space vessel I could find. We tried to calculate where Voyager might have fallen out of the slipstream. Four years of searching. We were close, I could feel it! Then Starfleet Command said it was time to end the search. Low probability of success. All those admirals who shook my hand at the homecoming. I went to see every last one of them, begged them to keep the search alive. Pretty soon even Admiral McIntire stopped returning my calls. So I resigned from Starfleet. Emh: For the record, Seven's translink frequency is one zero eight point four four two three six zero zero zero. Kim: Could be our lucky number. I'm encoding it now. Emh: When did you embark on your life of crime? Kim: The second I heard about this little gem. Emh: Mister Kim, did you ever stop to think about what you're trying to do here? Altering the timeline may make things worse. At least you and Chakotay survived. Why tempt fate? Kim: This timeline only exists because I made a mistake fifteen years ago. The crew trusted in me and I let them down. Computer: Tactical alert. Vessel approaching, bearing one eight four mark seven. Kim: They've found us. Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead. Kim: Starfleet's on an intercept course. It's now or never. Chakotay: We're on our way. Kim: If you're having doubts let me know. I'll take your program offline. But if you're with us, we tempt fate together. Emh: To aid an honorable thief, or to spend eternity in cybernetic oblivion. Let's tempt fate. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 52143.6. With any luck, my next log entry will be made in the Alpha quadrant. But should our luck run out, I'd like to say for the record that the crew of Voyager acted with distinction and valor. Chakotay: Shield generators? Kim: Online. Chakotay: Plasma flow? Kim: Stable. Chakotay: Comm. link? Kim: Secure. Chakotay: Lunch. Kim: Salami sandwiches. Chakotay: Feel up to this, Ensign? Kim: Yes, sir. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. We're ready. Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Take your stations, secure all systems, and stand by for the jump to Slipstream. Seven: I've established a telemetry link with the shuttle. Janeway: Match their course and speed. Tessa: They're gaining on us. Two hundred thousand kilometers and closing. You call these evasive maneuvers? Chakotay: I'm doing my best. Harry, status! Kim: The Borg transmitter's online but I'm still waiting for the Doctor to give me the temporal coordinates. Emh: Just a few more minutes. Chakotay: Speed it up. We've got a Galaxy class starship on our tail. Emh: I'm working as fast as I can. Tessa: They're hailing us. You want to talk to them? Chakotay: Could buy us some time. Open a channel. Laforge: This is Captain La Forge of the Starship Challenger. You seem to be in quite a hurry. Chakotay: You could say that. Laforge: Why don't you shut down those impulse engines, drop your shields. Let's talk about this face-to-face. Chakotay: Mind if I take a rain check? Laforge: As a matter of fact, I do. We know what you're about to attempt and we can't let that happen, so the Federation Council is willing to make you an offer. Hand over the Borg transmitter, stand down your vessel, and the charges of conspiracy will be dropped. Tessa: That's not much of an offer. If we succeed, those charges will never have existed in the first place. Laforge: If you succeed, countless lives will be affected. Chakotay: We're here to save one hundred and fifty lives. Our crew. Laforge: I understand and I might be doing the same thing if I were in your position, but I've got my own crew to protect, not to mention fifteen years of history. So, I'm asking you again. Stand down, and return the transmitter. Chakotay: You know I can't do that. Laforge: And you know I have to try to stop you. Chakotay: Yes, I know. Good luck. Laforge: Same to you. Tessa: They're targeting our engines. Chakotay: Shields to full. Stand by weapons. Janeway: Voyager to Chakotay. Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Prepare to enter the Slipstream. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Janeway: Engage. Paris: Slipstream velocity in four, three, two. Tessa: Shields down to sixty two percent. Chakotay: Return fire. Tessa: Direct hit. No effect on their shields. We're no match for them, Chakotay. Chakotay: Keep trying. Kim: I don't mean to be a pest, but we're losing power back here! Tessa: Hold on. Tessa: We're switching to emergency back-up. Kim: Thank you. Doc, I need those temporal coordinates now! Emh: Badgering me won't help. Seven: I'm detecting a phase variance. Point one, point two. Janeway: Helm? Paris: Still waiting for Harry. Seven: Point three. Janeway: Voyager to Delta Flyer. We need those corrections or we'll have to Janeway: Shut down the drive. Kim: We're on it, Captain. Chakotay: The threshold is fluctuating. Kim: Okay, I can do this. I'm compensating for the spatial gradients. Deflector geometry stable. Got it! Paris: I'm receiving the phase corrections. Seven: The phase variance is decreasing. Tuvok: Shields are holding Janeway: Looks like we're on our way. Seven: Phase variance is increasing. Point three. Point four. Janeway: Harry, what's happening? Janeway: The phase variance is still increasing. Kim: I'm not sure, Captain. It should be working. Janeway: I need an answer, Harry. We're running out of time. Kim: Let me try recalibrating the sensors. Kim: I might be overcompensating for the variance in the Tuvok: We've lost our comm. link. Paris: Telemetry's down too. The Slipstream's destabilizing. Janeway: Shut down the drive! Paris: I can't. There's some kind of overload in the Quantum Matrix. I've lost helm control. Emh: I have it. Her cybernetic systems were terminated on Stardate 52164.3. Borg time index: 9.43852. You're encoding the transmitter for time index 9.40? That's less than four minutes before Voyager was destroyed! Cutting it a little close, aren't we? Kim: This is no ordinary phone call, Doc, We're talking to yesterday. Timing is everything. I want to make sure Seven of Nine gets the information at just the right moment. There. I'm bringing up the new phase corrections. This was where I failed fifteen years ago, Doc. This time will be different. Seven: Captain, I am receiving a transmission. Janeway: I thought you said the comm. link was down. Tuvok: It is. Seven: The signal is being routed through one of my cranial implants. It contains a new set of phase corrections. Janeway: Does Harry know how to access your Borg systems? Seven: No. Janeway: He must have figured out a way. Enter the corrections. Seven: They're not compensating for the phase variance. The Slipstream is collapsing. Janeway: Full power to the deflector. Tuvok: No effect. Paris: Our hull is buckling! Janeway: Shields at maximum. Hold her steady, Tom. Paris: It's no use, we're losing attitude control. Inertial dampers offline! Janeway: What about the Delta Flyer? Seven: There is no sign of them. They must have remained in the Slipstream. Chakotay: Voyager's been thrown into normal space. Kim: Alter our Slipstream course. We've got to go back. Chakotay: We can't. Even if they survived re-entry at this velocity, we wouldn't. Kim: What are you saying? We've got to find them! Chakotay: Ensign, there's no choice. Paris: Captain, we're just a few parsecs from the Alpha quadrant. Janeway: Not exactly how I wanted to cross the finish line. Tuvok: Hull breach on decks five through ten. We're losing life support. If we don't land the ship, we're risking structural collapse. Paris: I'm reading a planet nine million kilometers ahead. It's class L. Janeway: Do it. We're coming in too fast! Reverse thrusters. All hands, brace for impact! (Voyager clips a mountain, then slams into the snow over the glacier. The hull digs in as they slide along. Kim: We're still here. Why are we still here? Emh: Mister Kim? Kim: The new phase corrections didn't work. Emh: Are you certain? Kim: If Voyager had gotten through safely, we wouldn't still be here trying to save them. The transmitter's functioning. Seven must have received our message. Chakotay, problems. Chakotay: I can see that. Tessa: Our engines are down. They're locking onto us with a tractor beam. Chakotay: Full thrusters. Tessa: No effect. Chakotay: Do we have enough power to send a plasma surge through their tractor beam, break ourselves free? Tessa: I think so, but the EPS relays have taken heavy damage. It could destabilize the warp core. Chakotay: If you want to beam over to that ship, I'll understand. Tessa: And let you have all the fun? Chakotay: Harry, we just bought you a few more minutes. Kim: Acknowledged. Emh: I'm no time travel expert, but can't we just call Voyager again? The past isn't going anywhere. Kim: That's not going to help if we don't know what to tell them. The Slipstream kinetics look right. Hyperdimensional progressions, perfect. Maybe it's the deflector geometry. Tessa: We're free. Chakotay: The EPS relays are overloading. Harry, we're looking at a possible core breach in less than three minutes. How's it Chakotay: Coming back there? Kim: Great, just great! It took me ten years to make these corrections. I can't fix it in three minutes! Emh: You've got to try. Kim: I can't! It's not working. Why won't it work? I killed them! Emh: Control yourself! Kim: They trusted me, and I killed them! Emh: Mister Kim! I didn't spend all those years in an ice bucket so I could listen to you berate yourself. If you want to wallow in self-pity, fine! Do it on your own time. Kim: Don't you see? History's repeating itself! I destroyed Voyager once, and I'm doing it again! Emh: Somebody has got to knuckle down and change history, and that somebody is you. Kim: It can't be done, Doc. I told you. Emh: No, you told me you can't correct their phase variance. All right, we have to accept that. But what about sending Voyager a warning? Is there a way to get them to abort the Slipstream flight? Kim: Yes. Yes! I could send a phase correction which would disperse the Slipstream entirely. Emh: If we can't get the crew home, at least we can save their lives. Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in sixty seconds. Chakotay: Can you eject the core? Tessa: No. Emergency systems are offline. Laforge: La Forge to Delta Flyer. Our sensors are reading an overload in your warp matrix. Lower your shields. We'll beam you out of there. Chakotay: I appreciate the offer, Captain, but the answer's no. I suggest you get to a safe distance. Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in forty five seconds. Chakotay: Harry, now would be a good time. Emh: Mister Kim. Kim: It's losing power. Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in thirty seconds. Kim: Your emitter. It's got its own power source. Emh: Will it be enough? Kim: It's our only chance. Glad you could join us, Doc. Emh: It's been a pleasure. Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in fifteen seconds. Kim: Chakotay, I'm giving this one more try. Computer: Warning. Warp core breach in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two. Kim: Yes! Seven: Captain, I am receiving a transmission. Janeway: I thought you said the comm. link was down. Tuvok: It is. Seven: The signal is being routed through one of my cranial implants. It contains a new set of phase corrections. Janeway: Does Harry know how to access your Borg systems? Seven: No. Janeway: He must have figured out a way. Enter the corrections. Paris: Captain, the Quantum drive just went offline! We're dropping to impulse. Tuvok: Captain, we've lost the Slipstream. Chakotay: The Slipstream collapsed. We were thrown out right along with Voyager. Kim: Our comm. system's back up. Kim: Delta Flyer to Voyager. What happened? Janeway: You miscalculated, Harry. We entered the exact phase corrections you sent to Seven of Nine. They shut down the Quantum drive. Kim: Captain, I didn't send any corrections to Seven of Nine. Janeway: She received a message through one of her cranial implants. It wasn't you? Kim: No, ma'am. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Our Slipstream flight may have been brief, but it took nearly ten years off our journey. I've given the order to dismantle the Quantum Drive until the technology can be perfected. Despite the setback, we have a renewed sense of momentum. It no longer seems a question of if we get home, but when. Janeway: At ease. Am I interrupting? Kim: No. I just came here to try to figure things out. Janeway: Phase corrections. Kim: The corrections I sent you were wrong. If you had used them, Voyager would have been heavily damaged, maybe even destroyed. What I can't figure out is who sent the other phase corrections to Seven of Nine. Janeway: Looks like we've got a guardian angel. Kim: Oh, I wish I could believe that. Janeway: Believe it. His name is Harry Kim. Kim: Captain? Janeway: Seven found a Starfleet security code embedded in the transmission. Yours. Kim: I'm telling you, I didn't send it. Janeway: Not yet. The transmission had a temporal displacement. We believe it originated from the future. Ten, twenty years from now. We can't be sure. Kim: Wait a second. If I sent a message from the future and changed the past, then that future would no longer exist, right? So, how could I have sent the message in the first place? Am I making any sense? Janeway: My advice in making sense of temporal paradoxes is simple. Don't even try. To me, all that matters is that somewhere, somehow, sometime, you come through for us. And if you won't take it from me, take it from you. Seven found a log entry encoded in the telemetry. From Harry Kim, to Harry Kim. Kim: Hello, Harry. I don't have much time, so listen to me. Fifteen years ago, I made a mistake and one hundred and fifty people died. I've spent every day since then regretting that mistake, but if you're watching this right now, that means all of that has changed. You owe me one. Emh: Mister Kim, your assistance please. Kim: Got to go.

Computer: Regeneration cycle incomplete. Kim: When I checked the overnight sensor logs this little surprise was waiting for me. Janeway: Maybe I'm not quite awake, but it looks like it's over one hundred kilometers wide. Kim: One hundred twenty. At first I thought it was an asteroid cluster, until I picked up a residual warp signature. Seven: It was a Borg vessel. There are tetryon particles in the debris consistent with the atmosphere inside a Cube. Chakotay: Any idea what destroyed it? Seven: We would need to run close range scans of the hull fragments. Kim: Unless we alter course, we'll get our chance. The debris field's directly ahead. Janeway: Then I suggest we cut a wide berth. Chances are the Borg will send more vessels to investigate. Alter course to avoid the debris. If that's all. Neelix: Ah, one other piece of business, Captain. It seems we had another incident in the Mess hall last night. Torres: Return of the Midnight Snacker? Neelix: I'm afraid so. Janeway: Casualties? Neelix: A leg of Kelaran wildebeest I'd prepared for Ensign Ryson's birthday. Since Commander Tuvok has been unable to round up any suspects, I'd like to ask that stronger measures be taken. Tuvok: Perhaps an armed security detail. Neelix: I'd like to ask permission to replicate some locking mechanisms for the cabinet doors. Janeway: Granted. Dismissed. Seven: Naomi Wildman, subunit of Ensign Samantha Wildman. State your intentions. Naomi: I Seven: Very well. You leave me no choice but to report your activities to the Captain. Naomi: Please don't. I was just observing you. Seven: Explain. Naomi: Well, Neelix told me that the Borg do a lot of things they do because they're trying to be perfect. And even though you're not really a drone anymore, you still try to be perfect. Don't you? Seven: Correct. Naomi: Well, if I can learn to be perfect, too, then Captain Janeway will have to make me her Bridge Assistant. Seven: No such rank exists aboard this vessel. Naomi: Not yet. Seven: And you hope to achieve this goal by emulating me? Naomi: Are you mad? Seven: No. There are many on this crew that would benefit from your example. Naomi: So you'll teach me? Seven: Your objective is admirable. However, your neocortical development is incomplete. You would require several months of accelerated growth in a Borg maturation chamber. Naomi: Oh, I don't think I like the sound of that. Seven: Then I suggest that you Seven: Hey. Naomi: Hi. Seven: I'm bored. Let's do something fun. Naomi: Like what? Seven: Swimming? Naomi: Oh, I'm not allowed to go swimming without my mom. Seven: Do you like Kadis-kot? Naomi: Love it. Seven: Come on! Naomi: I'll be Bridge Assistant for a while, then I'll be promoted to Ensign. It'll be Lieutenant after that, and by the time we reach the Alpha Quadrant, Captain Wildman. Green, grid fourteen four. Seven: Kadis-kot! I win. Naomi: You're really good at this game. Seven: You want a rematch? Naomi: Sure. Seven: Captains don't have much time to play, you know. Naomi: That's okay. I'll be pretty busy by then. Want to hear the rules of First Contact? Seven: No. Naomi: How about the suborders of the Prime Directive? I know all forty seven of them. Seven: You study too much, Naomi, just like my brother. Naomi: I didn't know you had a brother. Seven: Twelve of them. Naomi: Twelve? Seven: Nine older and three younger. We play Kadis-kot all the time. Naomi: I only have my mom and Neelix to play with, when they're not working. Seven: You must get lonely. Naomi: A little. You get used to it. You adapt. Seven: Adapt? Naomi: You know, like the Borg. Seven: Borg. I hate Borgs. Naomi: You do? Seven: Yeah, they're mean. Torres: Torres to Seven of Nine. Please report to Engineering. Seven: It's your move. Torres: Seven, respond. Seven: I am on my way, Lieutenant. Naomi Wildman. Naomi: Yes? Seven: What am I doing here? Naomi: We're playing Kadis-kot. Seven? Torres: Take a look at this, will you? I'm picking up an energy signal in the lower subspace bands, and if I'm not mistaken it's got a Borg modulation. Seven: You are correct. It is Borg. I believe it's a neural interlink frequency. Torres: A what? Seven: A frequency that integrates the minds of Borg drones. Torres: Can you pinpoint the origin? Seven: I will try. Torres: No offense, Seven, but you look terrible. Seven: I am not well. I experienced a brief lapse in memory and I am disoriented. Torres: Maybe you should get to Sickbay. Seven: No. This interlink frequency could explain my Seven: Do'Raq Merash. Torres: I beg your pardon? Seven: I am the son of K'vok! And you, what House are you from? Torres: Is this some kind of a joke? Seven: You wear the uniform of a Starfleet P'Cha! What kind of a warrior are you? Torres: Tom put you up to this, didn't he? Well, it didn't work. Seven: Come, warrior, let me look at you. Torres: Enough, Seven. Seven: Your blood is sweet! Torres: Torres to Security. Get somebody down here right now. Seven: You are strong. You will make an excellent mate. Torres: Get the hell away from me! Seven: You wish to prove yourself in battle. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: Seven of Nine attacked B'Elanna in Engineering. She's on deck nine, section twenty three. Janeway: Forcefields. Don't tell me those two have actually come to blows. Janeway: Bridge to Tuvok. Seven's been contained. Deck ten, section thirty two. Tuvok: Acknowledged. We're nearing her position. Tuvok: Seven? Seven: Somebody's hurt and he needs help. Did I do something bad? Tuvok: Who are you? Seven: My name's Maryl. Are you a Vulcan? Tuvok: Computer, deactivate forcefield. Give me the phaser. Seven: You are not a physician, Commander. The logical course of action would be to take him to the infirmary. Tuvok: Maryl? Seven: Subaltern Lorot, Vulcan High Command. May I be of assistance? Tuvok: Yes. Please accompany me to Sickbay. Seven: Certainly. Clearly he was attacked. I suggest we use caution. PetaQ! You will drown in your own blood. Tuvok: Keep moving. Janeway: Seven. Seven: Captain, why am I here? Janeway: You've been unconscious for nearly two hours. We believe you're experiencing a neurological disorder. Seven: Voices, I hear voices. They are agitated, chaotic. Too many voices. Seven: Too many voices. Emh: The cortical inhibitor is destabilizing. I'm increasing the neurotransmitter levels. It's working. Do you still hear the voices? Seven: They are fading. They are gone. Janeway: All right. Let's see what we can do to keep them from coming back. What's the last thing you remember? Seven: I was in Engineering, assisting Lieutenant Torres. Tuvok: You have no recollection of a confrontation with B'Elanna? Seven: Confrontation? Emh: I'm not sure why, but you seem to be manifesting personalities other than your own. Janeway: Naomi Wildman claims the two of you played together for nearly an hour this afternoon. Tuvok: You also attacked Lieutenant Torres. She told us you called yourself Son of K'vok and that you initiated a Klingon mating ritual. Seven: I have no memory of those events. Emh: Come look at this. Seven: Doctor. Emh: This is your neural pattern. The memory engrams and synaptic pathways that define you as an individual. Unfortunately, you're not alone. Thirteen new neural patterns have emerged in your cerebral cortex. Klingon, Vulcan, Terrelian, Human and several others I can't identify. Seven: How? Emh: They're coming from within you. During your time with the Borg, the Collective assimilated hundreds of different species. All of those neural patterns were integrated into the Hive Mind. Seven: Of course. Emh: That means they're in your mind too, stored within your cortical implants. Dormant until now. Janeway: From what we can tell, the various neural patterns are surfacing randomly. Emh: In essence, you've developed the Borg equivalent of Multiple Personality Disorder. Seven: Can you correct the malfunction? Emh: The cortical inhibitor is suppressing the effect, but it's only a temporary measure. Seven: Lieutenant Torres detected a Borg interlink frequency. It could be causing my cortical implants to malfunction. Tuvok: The signal appears to be emanating from the Borg debris field we discovered this morning. Janeway: Maybe we should jump to warp, try to get out of range. Seven: The signal permeates subspace. We cannot avoid it. Emh: Our only hope is to terminate the signal at its point of origin. Janeway: Set a course for the debris field. When we arrive we may need your help. Feel up to it? Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Keep a close eye on her, Doctor, in case she has any more unexpected visitors. Emh: Has any drone ever experienced symptoms like these before? Seven: The Collective does not tolerate imperfection. Any drone with a malfunction as serious as mine would be destroyed immediately. Emh: Lucky for you, this crew is a little more tolerant. Neelix: Oh, there you are. Lieutenant Torres tells me you're under the weather. Seven: Correct. Neelix: Well, is there anything your Morale officer can do to help? Assignments you need me to finish while you recuperate? Seven: No. Neelix: I have some wonderful medicinal teas. Maybe I could prepare one for you? Emh: Talaxian homeopathy. I don't think we're quite that desperate yet. Neelix: How about if I make one of your favorite nutritional supplements? Seven: Your concern has been noted. The Doctor will inform you when I am functional again. Neelix: Right. Sorry. Oh! Ah, I almost forgot. It's from Naomi Wildman. It's a drawing of Voyager, or maybe it's an asteroid belt. I'm not sure. Naomi thought it might make you feel better. Seven: Tell her thank you. Emh: I suspected as much. There were several interruptions in your regeneration cycle. Eighteen minutes, five minutes, one hour. Seven: I don't recall them. Emh: Let's examine your neural function logs. Low serotonin levels during regeneration, that's normal. But look at these spikes in the pre-frontal synapses. They appear only seconds before you left the alcove. You were sleepwalking. Seven: I don't remember entering this data file. Emh: Looks like we found the identity of the Midnight Snacker. I'm sure Mister Neelix will be relieved. Seven: Personal log, Ensign Stone, Stardate 52188.7. I just completed my first week of active duty. It was a nightmare. After four years at the Academy I thought I was ready for anything, but Captain Blackwood runs a tight ship, and he seems to take special pleasure in tormenting new recruits. The First Officer tells me not to take it personally, but it's hard to be objective when Seven: Blackwood. Captain of the Federation Starship Tombaugh. The Borg assimilated that vessel thirteen years ago. Emh: The individual who made this recording must have been a member of the crew. Seven: One of my victims. Emh: Here's another log entry. This one encoded for transmission. Seven: Hi. Guess who? I know I promised to write you every day but that's simply not enough. How about once in the morning when I resuscitate and once at night before I go into torpor, and I'll think about you non-stop in between. Wait, I've got a better idea. Why don't you leave your circle and visit the colony? You'd love it here, so Emh: Anything familiar? Seven: I helped to assimilate thousands of individuals. I do not remember each of their names. Emh: Seven, you were a Borg drone who's now becoming an individual. That's practically unheard of. There's bound to be rough spots along the way. We just have to get past them. Chakotay: Bridge to Seven of Nine. We're approaching the debris field. Seven: Acknowledged. Janeway: Survivors? Tuvok: None. Chakotay: Any sign of Borg vessels? Paris: No, sir. We're the first ones here. Kim: I'm picking up the source of the interlink frequency. Bearing oh two seven mark three. Janeway: On screen. Magnify. Seven: It's a Borg vinculum. Chakotay: Vinculum? Seven: The processing device at the core of every Borg vessel. It interconnects the minds of all the drones. It purges individual thoughts and disseminates information relevant to the Collective. Janeway: It brings order to chaos. Seven: Precisely. Janeway: Looks like this one has established a link to your cortical implant. Seven: I believe it has identified me as an errant drone. It is attempting to reintegrate me into the Collective. The Vinculum is malfunctioning. It is sending me erratic commands. Tuvok: Bringing chaos to order. Seven: Yes. Janeway: Can you sever the link? Seven: Not without risking permanent damage to my own systems. The Vinculum must be taken offline. Permission to beam it aboard for analysis. I have worked with this technology before. I may be able to disable it. Janeway: We're talking about the heart of a Borg cube. I'd rather not take it inside my ship. Can you disable it remotely? Seven: Yes, but I would need several days. The Borg may return by then. I recommend we take the Vinculum and leave this region immediately. Janeway: Tuvok, prepare to beam it to Engineering. Erect a level ten forcefield and maintain constant surveillance. The moment it poses a threat, send it back into space. Tom, as soon as it's aboard, get us out of here. Warp nine. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: I understand what you're going through, and I want to help you in every way I can, but the safety of this crew is my first responsibility. We haven't had the best of luck with the Borg. Seven: Nor have I. Torres: Let's keep an eye on those antigrav struts. Boylen, lock out all primary command consoles and reroute transporter controls to main Engineering. Boylen: Yes, Lieutenant. Emh: Seven? Seven: The voices. I hear them. Emh: It's your proximity to the Vinculum. The link is stronger here. I'm adjusting your neurotransmitter levels. You'd better get started. Seven: Don't worry, Lieutenant. The Son of K'vok will not be joining us. Torres: Glad to hear it. Does this qualify as our second date? Emh: Just think of me as your chaperone. Torres: So, where's the off switch? Seven: The Vinculum is equipped with many safeguards. I will need to access its transneural matrix and disable it directly. Torres: I'm reading a power surge. Seven: It's a normal response to my intrusion. Don't be alarmed. Curious. I'm detecting an organism within the Vinculum. It appears to be a viral agent. Emh: Let's see it. It's a synthetic pathogen. The virus was originally a biological agent but it's mutated. It's attacking the Vinculum's programs as it would living cells. Torres: An organism that attacks technology? Seven: The Cube was infected three days ago, shortly after assimilating an alien shuttlecraft. Species 6339. They were the last ones to come in contact with the cube. Emh: Looks like we found our Typhoid Mary. Seven: Species 6339, Humanoid. Warp-capable. Origin, grid one two four, octant twenty two theta. They first encountered the Borg approximately four years ago. Since that time, eleven billion individuals have been assimilated. Three days ago, the Collective detected one of their last surviving shuttlecraft. A Cube was sent to intercept it. Emh: We believe the virus was carried within their bodies. Once they were assimilated, it spread to the Vinculum. Seven: The drones aboard no doubt experienced symptoms similar to my own. It is no surprise they destroyed themselves. Janeway: I'd like to find species 6339. They may be able to help us treat you. Begin long range Astrometric scans. See if they have any more vessels in this region. Seven: Yes, Captain. I've already begun a spatial diagn. My, my, my, look at the size of that thing. This viewscreen. It's got to be one of the biggest I've ever seen. I'll give you twenty bars of latinum for it. Emh: I think the inhibitor's gone offline. Would you come here, please? Seven: Be quiet. Can't you see I'm in the middle of a deal? Name your price, Captain? Janeway: Janeway. And you are? Seven: Daimon Torrot. Janeway: You're Ferengi. Seven: Of course I'm Ferengi. Is that some kind of insult about the size of my ears? Janeway: No, not at all. I'd be happy to negotiate with you, but first we have to get you to Sickbay. Seven: Sickbay? What for? Janeway: Because you're ill. Seven: I've never felt better. Janeway: Doctor. Emh: I'm afraid you've contracted a nasty strain of the Ankaran flu. We've been treating you several days. Remember? Seven: No. Emh: Short term memory loss. It's one of the symptoms. Don't worry, it isn't life threatening, but we'll need to treat you. In Sickbay. Seven: What is this treatment going to cost me? Emh: It's free of charge. Seven: Free? Janeway: Yes. Seven: You know, I have been having a nagging pain in my lower left lobe, and while you're at it why don't you run a complete tricardial diagnostic. The Ferengi Health Commission's trying to revoke my trading license. Seven: Impressive vessel, Captain. Galaxy class? Janeway: Intrepid. Seven: Ah. Ah, and here we are in the much talked-about Sickbay. Not exactly state of the medical art now, is it? Emh: What do you mean? Seven: You're low on biobeds, terrible lighting, obsolete instruments. Lucky for you, I know a medical supplier that can spruce this place up in a nanosecond, and I'll even drop my commission to a mere thirty percent? Emh: How generous of you. Computer, activate forcefield. Seven: Forcefield? You said I wasn't contagious. Emh: It's for your own safety. I've set the cortical inhibitor to maximum but it is no longer suppressing the effects. These personalities are going to keep surfacing. Seven: I've been kidnapped! Janeway: Even more reason to shut down the Vinculum as soon as we can. Emh: Even if we do break the link, it may be too late. Seven's own neural pattern is destabilizing. It could be lost. Seven: Please help me. I'm looking for my son Gregory Bergan, Lieutenant Bergan. Have you seen him? Janeway: No, I'm afraid not. Seven: From the starship Melbourne. Janeway: Melbourne? Seven: I was supposed to meet him at Wolf 359, but Starfleet sent out a warning that the Borg were attacking that sector. It was too late for us to turn back. We were caught in a terrible battle. My ship was badly damaged. We had to leave on escape pods. I never found out what happened to Gregory. Please, I haven't heard from him in over three days. Could you check with Starfleet Headquarters? Janeway: I'll see what I can do. Seven: Thank you, Captain. If you do speak with him, could you tell him that his mother is all right and if he could pos... Captain. Janeway: Seven? Seven: Yes. The Vinculum? Janeway: We're preparing to shut it down right away. I'll give the order as soon as Torres is ready. Seven: How long was I absent? Janeway: About twenty minutes. Seven: How many? Janeway: Two. One of whom wanted to acquire half the items on the ship. Daimon Torrot, I believe. Seven: Species 180, Ferengi. Janeway: Yes. The other was a woman whose son was lost in a Borg attack. You'll get through this, Seven. Seven: I do not share your optimism. Seven: When you took me from the Borg and began to turn me into an individual, I found the silence of my own mind difficult to bear. I missed the voices of the Collective. But now that I am an individual, those same voices frighten me. Captain, I don't know if I can tolerate this condition much longer. My courage is insufficient. Janeway: Your job is to keep trying to hold on even when you think you can't. Leave the rest to me and the crew. Chakotay: Meet anyone interesting? Janeway: Just finished swapping jokes with a Bolian manicurist. Before that, I was debating the finer points of temporal physics with a Krenim scientist. Twelve new personalities have surfaced in the past hour alone. Seven's having a rough time of it. The Doctor had to sedate her. Chakotay: How's the Captain holding up? Janeway: I've been better, Chakotay. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if my First Officer was right all along. Chakotay: About what? Janeway: You always said that bringing Seven into the fold might be impossible. Chakotay: You can take the Borg out of the Collective, but. I don't believe that. Not anymore. I didn't think she'd last a day, much less a year. I'd say you've proven me wrong. Torres: Torres to Bridge. We're ready to begin disabling the Vinculum. Janeway: Proceed. Torres: Target the transneural matrix. Stand by to initiate the dampening field on my mark. Three, two, one, mark. Its power output is dropping. Emh: Doctor to bridge. It seems to be working. Her neural pattern is stabilizing. Torres: Power output is down to seventy seven percent. Seventy one percent. Wait a second. It's increasing. Tuvok: I'm refocusing the dampening field. Torres: It's still increasing. Tuvok: The Vinculum is rerouting its internal circuitry. It's adapting. Emh: Engineering! Her synaptic pathways are destabilizing. Abort the procedure! Seven: Help me! Emh: Abort! Tuvok: Stand by, Doctor. Power output at ninety eight percent. The forcefield is collapsing. Torres: Transfer emergency power. Tuvok: It won't work, Lieutenant. We must abort. Tuvok to bridge. Tuvok: The procedure was unsuccessful. The Vinculum has returned to full power. Janeway: Acknowledged. Doctor, report. Emh: Seven's neural pattern has disappeared, Captain. It appears that the other patterns have taken over completely. We've lost her. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Long range sensors have detected a vessel belonging to species 6339. We've set a course to intercept them in the hopes they can help us restore Seven of Nine. Emh: I've managed to stabilize her primary cortical functions but the woman in Sickbay is not Seven of Nine. Not any more. New personalities are emerging every few seconds now. She can't finish a sentence before the next one rears its head. It's creating an incredible strain on her cerebral cortex. If we don't deactivate the Vinculum soon, we may never get her back. Janeway: Tuvok? Tuvok: Lieutenant Torres is taking measures to prevent the Vinculum from adapting, but there's no guarantee she'll succeed. Emh: Captain, I've exhausted every viable treatment in my database. Tuvok: Then logic dictates we go beyond medical science. I will attempt to mind meld with Seven of Nine. Emh: A mind meld? You consider that a viable treatment? Tuvok: Seven's neural pattern, her sense of self, is immersed in chaos. I will attempt to isolate her true self and guide it to the surface. Janeway: It's dangerous enough to meld with one person, let alone hundreds of different personalities. Emh: It's too risky. Tuvok: The risk is mine to take. Janeway: I'm aware of that, but is this our only option? Tuvok: I believe it is, Captain. Janeway: How long would you need to prepare? Emh: Captain, you can't actually be considering this Vulcan mumbo jumbo. Tuvok: I will require two hours of meditation. Janeway: Begin immediately. Report to Sickbay when you're ready. Janeway: You said it yourself. We've exhausted every medical treatment. Emh: I just hope I don't find myself with a second patient. Chakotay: Captain to the bridge. Janeway: On my way. Janeway: Commander? Chakotay: It's them. Species 6339. Kim: Their vessel is well-armed, Captain. I'm picking up twenty two phaser cannons on the aft section alone. Janeway: Hail them. Kim: They're responding. Janeway: On screen. I'm Captain Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We recently found a piece of Borg technology. It's been infected with a viral agent we believe was transmitted by your Ven: The Vinculum, you have it? Janeway: Yes. Ven: You've made a terrible mistake, Captain. Janeway: A weapon? Ven: Yes. Since the Borg decimated our world, we've been looking for ways to retaliate. Janeway: So you created a virus to infect their technology. Ven: Thirteen of my people were injected with the virus. They allowed themselves to be assimilated so that the virus would spread to this Vinculum. Once another Borg ship had retrieved it they would be infected as well. Then another Cube, and another. We had the opportunity to infect dozens, even hundreds of Borg vessels until you interfered. Why? Janeway: Your virus has had one unexpected casualty. A member of my crew. Ven: It wasn't designed to infect other species. Janeway: She's Borg. Chakotay: We liberated her from the Collective over a year ago. She's an individual now. Janeway: We were hoping you could help us treat her. Ven: We designed that virus to destroy Borg, Captain. We never considered a treatment. I'm afraid your drone won't survive. But we must return the Vinculum to the debris field immediately. If the Borg arrive first, we'll have lost our chance, and those thirteen people will have died in vain. Janeway: All right. We'll return it to you, but first we need to try to save our crew member. We think we have a way to counteract the Vinculum's effects. B'Elanna? Torres: I'm going to try to remodulate our dampening field to compensate Ven: We don't have time for this. The Vinculum, Captain. Janeway: I can't give it to you. Not yet. Ven: You scanned our vessel, you're aware of our firepower. Janeway: You could undoubtedly do significant damage to Voyager, and to the Vinculum. Is that what you want? Ven: The Vinculum survived the destruction of one ship. What makes you so sure it won't survive another? Seven: Doctor. Emh: Seven. A necessary precaution. A few of your guests have been violent. Seven: The Vinculum. Emh: It keeps adapting. We haven't been able to shut it down. Your own neural pattern was nearly destroyed in the process. I wasn't sure I'd find you again. Seven: I am damaged. Emh: One of your personas didn't appreciate the restraints. She seemed intent on forcing her way to freedom. Seven: I apologize. Emh: It was hardly your fault. You're ill. Seven: Irrelevant. I am Borg. I should be able to adapt. Emh: Surprise. You aren't invincible. I suppose that's something we'll have to tackle in our next social lesson. Voices? Seven: They're getting louder. Emh: It won't be long before I lose you again. It's my duty as your physician to inform you of an alternative treatment. Seven: What treatment? Emh: Commander Tuvok has proposed a mind meld to help stabilize your neural pattern. I had a similar reaction. If you don't approve. Seven: What is the probability of success? Emh: I don't know. A mind meld is hardly a standard medical practice. Seven: Are there any risks to Tuvok? Emh: He could suffer brain damage, but he's confident he'll be able to break the meld before that happens. Seven: Even if we do shut down the Vinculum, it may not be enough. If Tuvok can do anything to help me. Emh: I understand. Seven: Doctor, you have shown a great deal of patience. Emh: Not at all. Seven: Inform the crew that I am also grateful for their efforts. Emh: You'll be able to tell them yourself, afterwards. Seven? Seven: Voices! Emh: Concentrate! Focus on the sound of my voice! Seven: Get them out, please! I can't, I can't! No! Janeway: Report. Paris: The alien vessel is coming about. Kim: They're charging weapons. Janeway: Shields. Emh: As if the meld weren't dangerous enough, the aliens are trying to take the Vinculum by force. Commander Chakotay is at Tactical. The Captain wants you here with Seven. This will allow me to monitor your neural activity for the duration of the meld. At the first sign of trouble. Tuvok: You will do nothing. Emh: I beg your pardon? Tuvok: There will undoubtedly be many signs of trouble. You must have faith in my ability to endure them. Emh: I'll try. I just hope my faith doesn't leave the two of you brain damaged. Tuvok: Your concerns have been noted, Doctor. Emh: With all of these new personalities floating around, it's a shame we can't find one for you. Tuvok: Computer, deactivate forcefield. Seven: Why am I tied to this bed? Please let me go. PetaQ! I'll rip out your throat, coward! Name your price. Ten bars of latinum? Twenty? This isn't medicine, it's torture! I'll sue for malpractice. I fail to see the logic in this meld, Commander. Tuvok: My mind to your mind. Seven: You are but one mind, confronting thousands. Tuvok: My thoughts to your thoughts. Seven: You will not succeed. Tuvok: Your mind to my mind. Seven: Let me go. The Borg are assimilating the ship! We've got to evacuate. Tuvok: My thoughts to your thoughts. Seven: Listen to me! They're trying to assimilate the ship. Tuvok: My mind to your mind. Seven: Let me go! Tuvok: My thoughts to your thoughts. Seven: Mommy. Mommy. Tuvok: My mind to your mind. Seven: Mommy. Tuvok: My thoughts to your thoughts. Tuvok: Seven? Seven! Seven. Tuvok: Seven. Seven? Seven? Seven? Seven: I'm lost. Somebody help me. Please, I don't like it here. I want to go home. I can't find my Girl: Mommy. Please, help me. Please, I don't want to stay here, I want to go home. I don't like it here. Please, help me. I want to go home. These people are scary. Please don't go. Please, why are you leaving me here? Please! I don't like it here! Emh: Sickbay to Engineering. Emh: How long until the Vinculum's offline? Torres: Two, maybe three minutes. Provided Voyager can stay in one piece for that long. Kim: Shields down to sixty percent. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Target their weapons array. Chakotay: Targeting systems are malfunctioning. Paris: We're losing power to main thrusters. Kim: Shields to thirty five percent. Janeway: Reroute all available power to shields. Chakotay, initiate manual targeting. Torres: Torres to bridge. Torres: The Vinculum's stopped adapting. I think the new dampening field is working. We should have it disabled in the next sixty seconds. Computer: Warning. Neurochemical synapses are destabilizing. Emh: Computer, increase power to the cortical inhibitors. Computer: Unable to comply. Power transport systems are offline. Emh: Tuvok, if you can hear me, we have to terminate the meld. Tuvok. Tuvok! Seven: Commander. Commander! Tuvok: Seven? Seven: Commander. Tuvok: Seven! Torres: Power output's down to twenty nine percent. Twenty two. Seventeen. Bridge, we just lost the field emitters. Janeway: We took a direct hit to the power grid. Stand by. We're switching to emergency backup. Tuvok: Seven. Torres: Bridge, the Vinculum's powering up again. Janeway: The field emitters are back online. Pull the plug. Torres: It's working. Power output down to nineteen percent. Thirteen percent. Tuvok: Seven. Seven. Seven: Tuvok. Tuvok: Seven. Torres: It's done, Captain. The Vinculum's offline. Emh: Seven? Seven: Yes. Emh: We have her back, Captain. Janeway: Hail the lead vessel. Tell them we're surrendering the Vinculum. Kim: No response. Janeway: Lock onto the damn thing. Beam it into space. Chakotay: Transport complete. They're withdrawing. Janeway: Take us out of here, Tom. Warp nine. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 52356.2. After nearly a week of regeneration Seven of Nine has finally recovered from her ordeal. Emh: Neuroprocessor, cortical receptors, all stable. She's fit to return to duty. Janeway: What about her other personalities? Any sign of them?. Emh: Those neural patterns have returned to their dormant state. Seven: The voices will not return? Emh: I suppose that depends on your perspective. You may not hear them, but I suspect they'll always be with you. Seven: The members of this crew put themselves at risk to help me. I am unsure how to reciprocate. Janeway: Let's start with something small, like a recalibration of the EPS manifolds. B'Elanna's expecting you in Engineering. Seven: I will join her shortly. There is a crew member I must see first. Seven: These are star charts for the next three systems Voyager will pass through. Familiarize yourself with them. Naomi: Understood. Seven: Sociological data regarding one hundred and seventy three Delta quadrant species. Study it. Naomi: I will. Seven: As Bridge Assistant, you will find this information relevant. Naomi: Consider it assimilated. Seven: There is one more assignment. I require your assistance. Naomi: Me? Seven: I wish to participate in recreational activities. Naomi: Great. Seven: Kadis-kot. Instruct me how to play. Naomi: I will comply.

Emh: And, since I was the only crewmember who could survive the corrosive atmosphere, it was up to me to retrieve the data module and save the day. Ah, here I am, mission accomplished. Then of course there was the perilous mission to Lav'oti V. You remember that one, don't you Mister Paris? Paris: How could I forget. Emh: Here you are after your unfortunate slip into the fetid mud pits of Palomar. Paris: Hey, I was pushed. Emh: Of course you were. Janeway: Thank you, Doctor. We've all enjoyed your holo-images enormously. Emh: Oh, but I haven't finished yet. Torres: There's more? Emh: The best is yet to come, Lieutenant. I've created a fascinating twelve part holographic essay which I call 'Under the Skin'. Humanoid anatomy as art. Let's begin with this stunning magnification of the Vulcan reproductive gland. Note the composition, the subtle variations in color. Kim: Twenty one hundred hours, Commander. All systems reporting normal. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Kim: Like I said, it's twenty one hundred hours. Chakotay: I heard you the first time, Harry. Kim: They've been in there over an hour. Chakotay: I'm aware of that. Kim: Didn't the Captain ask you to rescue them after thirty minutes? Chakotay: Harry, you and I were lucky enough to enjoy the Doctor's scintillating exhibition for two full hours. Would it really be fair of us to deny our friends the same unforgettable experience? Kim: Of course not, sir. Emh: Thank you. thank you for coming. We'll do it again soon. We've still got thousands of light years to while away. This could be a weekly event. Torres: What happened to going to yellow alert after half an hour? Tuvok: Commander Chakotay appears to have disobeyed a direct order. Janeway: Definitely grounds for court martial. Torres: Hey, Neelix. Neelix: Coffee? Paris: Oh, I could use a whole pot. Neelix: Let me guess. The Doctor's photographic essay? Paris: Ha! One mind-numbing image after the next. Torres: Oh, I don't know. I thought some of those pictures were pretty funny. Neelix: You mean like the one where Tom slipped into a mud pit? Torres: You're famous. Neelix: Then, of course, there's the one depicting a certain Chief Engineer with her foot stuck in a plasma injector. Torres: What? Paris: Really? I seem to have missed that one. Neelix: The Doctor must have taken it out of the exhibition. Paris: Oh, I can't wait to get my hands on it. Maybe I can distribute it to everyone's personal database. Torres: Try it, and I'll kill you. Right after I finish deleting the Doctor's program. Paris: What'd you put in this coffee, Neelix? Kim: I'm reading a massive energy wave nine hundred thousand kilometers off the starboard bow, heading right for us. Chakotay: Source? Tuvok: Unknown. Janeway: Shields up. Evasive maneuvers. Kim: The wave just changed course. It seems to be tracking us! Janeway: Go to warp eight! Chakotay: Too late! Engines are down. Janeway: Everybody hang on! Janeway: All stop. Tuvok: Shields are holding. Minor damage to the hull plating on deck fifteen. Chakotay: No injuries. Janeway: Stand down red alert. Kim: Captain, when the wave hit our communications array received a download. Chakotay: What sort of download? Kim: I'm not sure. Lots of information. I can't decipher it, but there's an audio component. Janeway: Let's hear it. Chakotay: Harry, try all the standard decryption algorithms. Janeway: It's strange. The wave followed us but it didn't cause any damage. Instead, we get a download to our database. I'd say it's a pretty good bet somebody's trying to tell us something. Paris: The wave left a residual ion trail. We might be able to locate its point of origin. Janeway: Set a course. Janeway: Looks like it's taken quite a beating. Chakotay: Lifesigns? Kim: One. Non-humanoid. It's very faint. Probably injured. Janeway: Beam it to Sickbay. Tuvok: Are you sure that's wise, Captain? Janeway: I'm betting that message we received was some sort of distress call. And if we're going to help, I'd rather do it on Voyager. Emh: The physiology is so unusual the tricorder can't make heads or tails of it. The creature's obviously injured, but I haven't a clue how to treat it or even diagnose it. Torres: My scans came up with something interesting, Captain. The interfaces on the alien's vessel can only be activated chemically. I'm guessing that this lifeform somehow interfaces directly with the ship's systems using biochemical secretions to give commands. Janeway: That would explain how it can fly a ship. Torres: I'm hoping this can also help us figure out Emh: No! You'll hurt B'Elanna! Torres: Get it off of me! Janeway: Janeway to Kim. Beam the alien lifeform Janeway: Back to it's vessel. Now! Kim: I'm having trouble getting a lock. Emh: It's piercing her neck! Emh: Her heart and lungs are seriously compromised, and her kidneys are failing. The creature's also secreting some kind of paralyzing agent into her bloodstream. Paris: How do we get it off her? Emh: I can't remove it surgically, not without doing irreparable harm to B'Elanna's organs. Janeway: Can we get a lock on the creature, transport it off? Emh: Not unless we want to beam B'Elanna's cardiopulmonary system along with it. Paris: We have to do something. Emh: No one is disputing that, Mister Paris. The question is what? If I'm to have any hope of devising a treatment I'll need to brush up on my exobiology. Paris: What do you mean, brush up? Don't you have all this information in your database? Emh: I may be a walking medical encyclopedia, but even I don't know everything. My matrix simply isn't large enough. Janeway: Maybe we can do better than giving you a crash course in exobiology. Maybe we can provide you with a consultant. Emh: I'd be delighted, but how? Janeway: By isolating the computer's exobiology data files and merging them into a an interactive matrix. Paris: A hologram. Janeway: Exactly. Emh: That may not be as simple as it sounds. It would need to be nearly as sophisticated as I am. Tactile interfaces, personality subroutines. Paris: Harry could do it. Janeway: Search the database for the leading exobiologist. If you want to add a personality, it may as well be based on a real person. I'll have Harry meet you in holodeck two. Emh: Stay with her and monitor her vital signs. Call me if there's any change. Kim: I still have my doubts about this, Doc. It's one thing to create a simple hologram, but you're trying to merge an extensive database with an interactive matrix. Emh: Don't be a pessimist, Mister Kim. Together we'll create a masterpiece of holographic art. Kim: A subject for your next slide show? Emh: Perhaps. Kim: Can't wait. Kim: What's the name of that exobiologist you chose? Emh: Crell Moset. Kim: Here's the file. Emh: Let's start with the parameters for physical appearance. Kim: Computer, display a holographic simulation of Crell Moset. Kim: Have you mentioned to anyone else that this guy's a Cardassian? Emh: What difference does it make? Kim: Maybe you haven't heard. They're not the friendliest folks in the galaxy. Emh: I don't care if he's the nastiest man who ever lived, as long as he can help us save B'Elanna. Kim: Good point. Computer, transfer all reference medical files to the simulation. Computer: Transfer complete. Kim: Now installl personality subroutines and voice approximation. Computer: Installlation complete. Emh: Doctor Moset, I'd like to consult with you about an alien lifeform. Moset: I am Crell Moset, Chief Exobiology specialist Cardassia Prime certified to perform all surgical procedures. Emh: This is going well. What's wrong? Kim: Some sort of overload in the interactive matrix. Emh: Can you clear it up? Kim: I'm trying. Computer, installl a recursive algorithm. Computer: Algorithm installled. Kim: Try it again. Emh: Doctor Moset? Moset: My friends call me Crell. Emh: It's a pleasure to meet you, Crell. Moset: And you, good man. What's your name? Emh: Actually, I'm in-between names at the moment. I'm an Emergency Medical Hologram. Moset: Interesting. Kim: But his friends call him Doc. Moset: Ah-ha. May I presume? Emh: Certainly. Moset: So, Doc, how can an old surgeon like me help a technological marvel such as yourself? Emh: Oh, well, I've got a patient with a rather unusual problem. She's become fused with a non-humanoid lifeform I know nothing about. Moset: Non-humanoid exobiology happens to be one of my specialties. Emh: That's exactly why we've created your program. Moset: Program? Emh: You're a hologram as well. Moset: Interesting. I'd like to see the patient right away. Emh: Mister Kim, would you do the honors please. Kim: No problem. Listen, if he destabilizes again, take him offline and call me. Emh: Understood. Emh: Lieutenant. may I present Crell Moset? Moset: It's a pleasure. Paris: She's been drifting in and out of consciousness. Emh: Don't be rude, Lieutenant. Paris: To him? No offense, Doc, but he's just a Emh: A brilliant scientist who's here to help us. This way, Crell. Moset: Hmm. I can see why you're having difficulty. Emh: It's physiology doesn't match any of the standard templates in our database. Moset: My guess would be a cytoplasmic lifeform. Emh: I agree. And from what I can tell it has co-opted her vital systems. Moset: She's Klingon. No, the cranial ridges are less pronounced. Klingon-human hybrid. Emh: Exactly. Let's hope your instincts about the creature are equally insightful. Moset: I'm afraid this one is going to require more than a visual assessment. You have an isomolecular scanner? Emh: No, just a standard issue Starfleet tricorder. Moset: No wonder you're having problems making an accurate diagnosis. Moset: I suggested an upgrade to the Starfleet people at a joint medical conference, but they assumed I was just an arrogant Cardassian trying to prove his superiority. Or maybe they thought I was a spy. Emh: I hope you weren't too offended. Moset: It's an unfortunate reality. Sometimes even enlightened races can't find common ground. I may be able to recalibrate this thing. There, that should help. Emh: Amazing. Moset: Well, someone from Starfleet appreciates me. Janeway: I've instructed the computer to assign symbols to all the tones received in the transmission. Chakotay: Looks like there were over ten thousand separate sounds used in this section of the message. Janeway: It's going to be a tough code to crack. Chakotay: Maybe we can get a little help from the alien vessel's databanks. Janeway: Good idea. Janeway to Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes. Janeway: Any chance of downloading the alien's databanks? Janeway: We're looking for anything that might help us understand their language. We don't know how much time B'Elanna has left. Seven: We must move quickly. The vessel is on the verge of a complete systems failure. Seven: Prepare to download the data. Tabor: I heard the Captain. Seven: Is there a problem? Tabor: No. No problem. Seven: You seem uncomfortable taking orders from me. Tabor: It's just that I'm used to taking orders from B'Elanna, that's all. And to tell you the truth, she doesn't Seven: Doesn't like me. Yes, I am aware of that. However, the Captain left me in charge during Lieutenant Torres' absence. Her feelings about me are irrelevant. Activate the interface transceiver. Begin the download. Tabor: I'm picking up a fluctuation in the alien ship's power source. Seven: It's disrupting the interface transceiver. Re-initialize. Tabor: I'm working on it. It's systems are overloading. Seven: Red alert. Seven: Engineering to bridge. The alien vessel is destabilizing. It's destruction is imminent. Janeway: Can you download the information first? Seven: We're trying. Kim: Captain, it's going to explode. Janeway: Ensign, back us off. Moset: What do we know so far? Emh: The lifeform has taken control of her body at the autonomic level, drawing proteins from her tissues, white blood cells from her arteries. Moset: Which can be interpreted in several ways. Emh: A form of attack? Moset: I find it odd that a species would evolve an attack mechanism that would leave it so vulnerable. Why not do it's damage and retreat? Emh: A parasite, perhaps? Moset: Yes, I think so, but not any ordinary variety. It's unlikely it could sustain itself like this over the long term. Emh: Its own systems are damaged. It's doing this as a stopgap measure, to keep itself alive. Moset: So the patient's heart, lungs, kidneys, they're all augmenting the alien's damaged system. Emh: It's using B'Elanna as a life preserver. Moset: But if it needs her to survive, it's not about to let go without a fight. Emh: I'd like to think that's a fight you and I can win. Moset: We do work well together. I just wish we had access to my laboratory. It has all the instrumentation we would need. Well, we'll just have to improvise. Emh: Not necessarily. We may be able to create a reasonable facsimile of your laboratory in our holodeck. Emh: Providing of course, you can give an accurate description. Moset: Oh, down to the smallest detail. It's more of a home to me than my home. Torres: Tom. Paris: Hey, there. Torres: I can't move. Paris: I know, but don't worry. We'll get this thing off you. Just think, I could force you to listen to rock and roll all day and you wouldn't be able to do a thing about it. Torres: Who's that? Paris: Relax. He's just a hologram. A specialist in exobiology. The Doc thinks he might be able to help you. Torres: Can't he find somebody else? Paris: Apparently, this guy's the best. Besides, he's just a walking database. Torres: Hologram or not, he's Cardassian. As far as I'm concerned, they're all cold-blooded killers. Paris: I understand how you feel. Unfortunately, that cold-blooded killer may be the only one who can save your life. Emh: Impressive. Is this where you did your work on the Fostossa virus? Moset: No. Actually, I was on Bajor at the time, during the Occupation. A sad chapter in Cardassian history. We had no business being there, but try telling that to the politicians. When I think of the resources that were squandered, the lives that were lost. Emh: But from what I understand, you saved thousands of lives. Moset: In retrospect, I don't know how. The military had everything they needed but the civilian hospitals? No staff, the crudest equipment. Emh: Don't tell me. You were forced to improvise. Moset: Yes! Emh: I know what that's like. Moset: I didn't have the resources to try traditional methods, so I experimented with procedures that, that never would have occurred to me under ordinary circumstances. The discovery of the cure was almost accidental, really. Emh: You're being modest, Crell. Moset: No. Emh: You made medical history. You won the Legate's Crest of Valor. Moset: Awards aren't important, Doc. It's the work that matters. Emh: Of course. Still, the recognition of your peers, your government. It must be very satisfying. Moset: I'm sure you've made your share of breakthroughs. Emh: Naturally. Unfortunately, no one from Starfleet ever hears about them. I toil in obscurity. Moset: Why don't you show me your patient records? At least I'll know about your accomplishments. Emh: All right. Moset: Everything seems to be in order. Shall we get to work? Emh: Computer, create a holographic re-creation of the alien in Sickbay. Moset: Hand me that cortical stimulator, will you? Yes, thank you. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. While the Doctor seems to be making progress, Commander Chakotay and I have hit a wall in our attempt to decipher the alien message. Janeway: It was a distress call, right? So maybe if we retransmitted that message others of the species would realize we need their help. Chakotay: We don't know where they are. Janeway: We'll send it on all subspace bands. If they're out there, they'll hear it. Chakotay: They might turn out to be unfriendly. Janeway: The Doctor's pretty sure the alien is simply trying to survive. I agree. It'll be a difficult first contact, but we might find a way to communicate. Chakotay: It's worth a shot. Janeway: Tuvok, reroute auxiliary power to the deflector dish. Retransmit the alien's message on all subspace bands. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Deflector at full capacity. Janeway: Chakotay. Moset: I'm sorry. My wife tells me I'm tone deaf. Emh: Not at all. You were right on key. If you enjoy music we can run some opera programs after we're finished. Moset: I'd like that. I think we're ready for a look inside. Scalpel? Emh: Forgive me for saying so, but this appears to be a rather crude instrument, especially when we have such advanced equipment at our disposal. Moset: I often find the simplest tool is the most effective. All of our elaborate scanners and laser scalpels, they remove us from our subjects. Actually feeling the anatomy, the consistency of the internal organs. It can be very instructive. Why don't you do the honors? Make a vertical incision, say twelve centimeters, starting here. Emh: We're hurting it. Moset: Doctor, it's a hologram. Emh: Of course. I guess as a hologram myself, I have a certain empathy. Moset: Keep going. Moset: Extraordinary. Look at that series of nodes. Emh: They appear to be clustered along the primary nerve. Moset: Multiple neocortices, I'd say. Emh: Suggesting a highly intelligent species. Moset: Yes, but also presenting us with a point of attack. Emh: Attack? Moset: If we induce a neurostatic shock in one of these nodes, I believe it will travel to the others. The creature will lose motor function and we'll be able to remove it. Emh: The procedure will probably kill the creature. Moset: Probably. Emh: I'd like to find a way to save them both. Moset: So would I, in an ideal situation. But we have to set priorities which, in this case, is your crew mate. Emh: This is a sentient lifeform. For all we know it could be this species' Einstein, its Picasso. Moset: Or he could be a psychotic criminal. The point is, we don't know, and we have choices to make. Emh: Your program's destabilizing. Moset: This is such poor timing. Emh: I'll have to take you offline. But don't worry, we'll have you up and running again in no time. Computer, take Medical Consultant program offline. Doctor to Ensign Kim. Kim: Go ahead, Doc. Emh: Our new program's destabilizing. Kim: I'll meet you in Sickbay. We'll try to reinitialize him there. Tabor, I could use some help. Tabor: Yes, sir. Kim: Try again. Tabor: No luck. Paris: Would it be easier if we reduced the hologram's memory load? Kim: Maybe, but I don't want to do that unless we absolutely have to. Torres: What's going on? Emh: My consultant's gone offline. Torres: The Cardassian? You can leave him off. Emh: I'm surprised by your attitude, Lieutenant. I never took you for someone who would make generalizations based on race. Torres: When it comes to Cardassians, I'm guilty as charged. Emh: I understand your experience with them was unpleasant, but if you give Crell a chance, I think you'll find that he's a friendly, compassionate man. Not to mention a genius who's trying to save your life. Torres: I'll skip the introductions if it's all the same to you. Emh: Suit yourself. But you should know I plan on asking the Captain to keep him on as a permanent consultant. Torres: I'm not the only one who's going to have a problem with that. Emh: Well, you'll just have to get used to it. Who knows, you may even grow to like him. Torres: Don't hold your breath. Emh: How's it coming? Kim: We're close. Tabor: Actually, I think that should do it. Kim: Good. Computer, reactivate Medical Consultant program beta one. Moset: Hello again. Tabor: My god. Paris: What's wrong? Tabor: That's Crell Moset. Moset: Yes. Do I know you? Tabor: He killed my brother, my grandfather, hundreds of people. He's a mass murderer! Emh: You must be mistaken. Tabor: It's no mistake. Moset performed experiments on living people. Thousands of Bajorans were killed in his so-called hospital. Emh: Is this true? Moset: No. No, he's. There must be some misunderstanding. Tabor: The liar! Paris: Whoa. Take it easy, Tabor. Whoa. He's just a hologram. Moset: I'm upsetting him. I should go. Emh: I'm sorry about this. Computer, transfer Medical Consultant program to holodeck two. Tabor: I can still remember the sounds his instruments made. The screams of his patients. The smell. Chemicals and dead flesh. He operated on my grandfather. Exposed his internal organs to nadion radiation. It took six days for him to die. I promised myself I would never forget. Emh: You were very young. Is it possible your memory of these events is inaccurate? Tabor: My memory's just fine. He blinded people so he could study how they adapted. Exposed them to polytrinic acid just to see how long it would take for their skin to heal. Emh: Ensign, the man you're accusing cured the Fostossa virus. He stopped an epidemic that killed thousands of Bajorans. Tabor: By infecting hundreds of people so that he could experiment with different treatments. Old, helpless people like my grandfather, because he considered their lives worthless. Emh: How do you know this? Tabor: Everybody knew. Chakotay: I remember some of the Maquis under my command talking about an infamous Cardassian doctor. Emh: Could these simply have been rumors spread by Bajorans who hated the Cardassians? Tabor: I was there. Emh: I don't understand why this isn't in our database. Chakotay: The Cardassians didn't exactly publicize their wartime medical practices. I wouldn't be surprised if the real Moset went on to live a normal life. Emh: He's the Chairman of Exobiology at the University of Culat. Tabor: We may not be able to do anything about the real Moset, Commander, but the program should be destroyed. Every trace of that man's research should be deleted from the database. Torres: I had a bad feeling about that hologram the second I saw him. Paris: Looks like your instinct was right. Torres: I won't let him near me. Paris: You're kidding, right? Torres: No, I am dead serious. Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: If I let that pig operate on me, I'll be benefiting from other people's suffering. Paris: You're not being rational. Torres: I won't do it. Emh: What's happening? Paris: Her cytotoxin levels are going through the roof. Pulse is rapid and irregular. Emh: No doubt you've said something to upset her. Paris: What she's upset about, Doc, is your Cardassian buddy. Torres: Tell him. Emh: Tell me what? Paris: She refuses to let him treat her. Emh: B'Elanna, we're very close to a solution. Torres: Do it without him. Emh: I don't know that I can. Torres: Find another way. Paris: She's going into cytotoxic shock. Emh: Two milligrams of inaprovaline. Chief Medical Officer's Log, supplemental. I've managed to stabilize Lieutenant Torres for the time being, but the matter of how to proceed with her treatment remains unresolved. Kim: Isolate datablock oh four five nine. Emh: Ensign? You wanted to see me? Kim: We've been looking for evidence that might support Tabor's accusations. Emh: Anything? Kim: Actually, that's why we called you here. It's not looking good. Emh: Show me. Seven: We've been reviewing data on the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. The alleged site of Moset's crimes. Kim: Strategic information, log entries kept in battle, sensor scans from Starfleet vessels. This, for example. Requisition records from one of Crell Moset's hospitals. Seven: He was purchasing biochemical agents, including every known strain of the Fostossa virus. Emh: Of course he needed samples of the virus. That's how vaccines are developed. Kim: Take a look at the requisition orders. Emh: Moset didn't ask for any of the enzymes normally required for synthesizing a vaccine. Kim: It gets worse. Four days after he received the virus samples there was a minor outbreak of Fostossa in the vicinity of his hospital. Seven: Prior to that date there had not been a single case in the entire province. Kim: I have to report these findings to Commander Chakotay. Seven: It is curious. The Borg are accused of assimilating information with no regard for life. This Cardassian did the same, and yet his behavior was tolerated. Moset: Ah, there you are. I'm almost ready to perform the surgery. Emh: Lieutenant Torres won't allow you to have anything to do with her treatment. Moset: Because of that Bajoran? Emh: We've gathered some corroborating evidence. It appears that he's telling the truth. You committed a series of atrocities during the Cardassian war. Thousands of Bajorans died on your surgical tables. Moset: That's absurd. And even if it were true, I'm only a hologram, and I have no memory of those events. They're not part of my programming. Emh: But you are the holographic representation of Crell Moset. Your program, despite all its brilliance, is based on his work. He infected patients, exposed them to polytrinic acid, mutilated their living bodies, And now we're reaping the benefits of those experiments. Medically, ethically, it's wrong. Moset: What do you suggest we do about it? Emh: I'm not sure. We may have to delete your program. Moset: Delete me? What about our patient? Emh: I suppose I'd have to try and treat her on my own. Moset: No offense but, you need me. Emh: I realize that. Moset: You're a physician. You know there's always a price to pay for the advancement of medical science. Emh: Sometimes that price is too high. Torture? Moset: Your word, not mine. I cured the Fostossa virus, didn't I? So these experiments you say I conducted obviously helped me devise a treatment. Imagine how many lives would have been lost if I hadn't eliminated this disease. Emh: That doesn't justify using people in laboratory experiments. Moset: As I explained to you, during the Occupation I was forced to improvise. I used what resources I had. Emh: And ethical considerations, they mean nothing to you? Moset: Ethics are arbitrary. How do you suppose your own database was developed? Hmm? My God, half the medical knowledge acquired on Earth came through experiments on lower animals. Emh: But not people. Moset: It's convenient to draw a line between higher and lower species, isn't it? Emh: This is the twenty fourth century, Crell. Your kind of barbarism ended a long time ago. Or at least, it should have. Moset: What difference does it make how long ago the research occurred? What matters is that we can use it to help patients today. Now, are you going to delete my program and all of the research it contains, or are we going to use it to save B'Elanna's life? Chakotay: Come in. Tabor: Commander. Chakotay: This request of yours to be relieved of duty. I won't grant it. Tabor: I have the right to resign my commission. Chakotay: For what reason? Tabor: Moral objections to the ship's medical policy. Chakotay: I understand how difficult this is for you, but you've got to let go of the past. Focus on today and today, B'Elanna's life is in danger. Everything else should be put aside. Tabor: You don't have the right to violate the memory of my family. As long as that Cardassian hologram is online that's exactly what you're doing. Chakotay: It's not that simple. Tabor: It is to me. Crell Moset killed thousands of people in his hospitals. As long as we're willing to benefit from his research, we're no better than he is. Emh: If I had weeks, or even days, maybe I could come up with an alternative. But time is of the essence, and Moset's idea will work. Paris: Then you've got to use it. Chakotay: Even if the Doctor could perform the surgery without Moset's help, he'd still be using the man's research. That would be going against B'Elanna's wishes. Paris: We're talking about a woman who has alien tendrils sapping the life out of her. She's obviously not thinking straight. Tuvok: On the contrary. Her concerns are based in logic. Paris: Logic? Tuvok: If the Doctor uses knowledge that Moset gained through his experiments, we would be validating his methods, inviting further unethical research. Chakotay: We'd be setting a terrible precedent. Paris: We're in the middle of the Delta Quadrant. Who would know? Tuvok: We would know. Paris: Fine. Let's just deactivate the evil hologram and let B'Elanna die. At least we'd have our morals intact. Chakotay: Tom. Paris: And you, Chakotay. Since when do you care what Starfleet thinks? Chakotay: This isn't about rules and regulations. This is about doing what's right. Paris: Spoken like a true Maquis. Well, if you'd just set aside your hatred of the Cardassians for one second Chakotay: Enough, Lieutenant. Janeway: All right, all right. The arguments have been made and we're running out of time. The fact is, you're both right, but when it comes down to it, the only issue I'm concerned about is the well-being of that crew member lying in Sickbay. We'll wrestle with the morality of this situation later, after B'Elanna is back on her feet. Doctor, you have my authorisation to proceed, with Moset's assistance. Emh: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Any consequences of this decision will be my responsibility. Dismissed. Paris: Thanks. Moset: Scalpel. Tuvok: Ensign Kim, do you hear something? Kim: Hear what? Tuvok: A series of high frequencies. They are getting louder. Kim: Must be those Vulcan ears of yours. Janeway: I hear it too. Anything on sensors? Tuvok: It appears to be an alien comm. signal. Triaxilating wavelengths. Chakotay: Origin. Tuvok: Unknown. Kim: Captain, a vessel just dropped out of warp. Approaching fast off the port bow. Janeway: On screen. Chakotay: Can we dampen it a little? Tuvok: Negative. Janeway: Harry, tell me that was just their way of saying hello. Kim: I wish I could. The universal translator doesn't have a clue. Tuvok: Perhaps they are waiting for our response. Janeway: Well, then, let's give them one. Open a channel, all subspace bands. This is Captain Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We cannot interpret your message but please try to understand. We are on a peaceful mission and we intend you no harm. We have one of your kind on board our ship. It's injured, and we're attempting to provide treatment. If you can understand this Moset: I'm ready to stimulate the primary neural pathways. Cortical probe. I'm applying it to the primary neocortex. Its motor control is weakening but not enough to release the patient. Our little friend needs a bigger jolt. I'm increasing the pulse frequency. Emh: The synapses are degenerating. You're killing it. Moset: Don't lose your nerve, Doctor. Not when we're this close. Emh: Lower the pulse frequency. Moset: If I do that the creature will regain control. Emh: I don't care. Lower the pulse. Moset: Doctor. Emh: Lower the pulse frequency or I'll take your program offline. Moset: You realize you're reducing our chances of saving her? Emh: Not necessarily. Give me the probe. The probe, Doctor. If we apply the pulse to the secondary neocortex, we should be able to achieve the same results at a lower frequency. Moset: Not particularly efficient, but it might prove interesting. Tuvok: I'm reading an energy surge in their forward section. Chakotay: Shields! Emh: Doctor to bridge. The holodeck's going offline. Emh: What's happening up there? Janeway: Stand by, Doctor. Tuvok: They've locked on to us with some sort of tractor beam. It's draining our power. Chakotay: Reroute emergency power to the holodeck. Send an antimatter surge through the shield's matrix. See if that'll loosen their grip. Tuvok: No effect. We do have weapons. Janeway: No. If they wanted to destroy us, they wouldn't be using a tractor beam. They're trying to rescue their crew member. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: This isn't about logic, Tuvok, it's about instinct. Now I may not speak their language, but I have a gut feeling they don't want an armed conflict any more than we do. Bridge to Doctor. What's your status? Moset: The procedure's working. Emh: Almost there, Captain. Moset: It's losing motor control. The tendrils are withdrawing from her lungs, liver, kidneys. The alien's life signs are failing. Emh: We need a substitute for the metabolic energy it was taking from B'Elanna. Moset: Could we restore its own metabolism? Emh: Perhaps. Give it forty milligrams of stenophyl. It's going into anaphylactic shock. Moset: All right, increasing the dosage to sixty milligrams. Chakotay: We've lost power on decks seven through twelve. Tuvok: Shields are failing, Captain. Janeway: Doctor? Emh: Stand by, Captain. Moset: Anaphylaxia is subsiding. Emh: Its electrolytic reactions are increasing. Its metabolism is stabilizing on its own. Bridge, beam the lifeform to its ship. Kim: Transport complete. Tuvok: The alien ship is withdrawing, Captain. Janeway: You're welcome. Emh: I've released B'Elanna to her quarters. Janeway: Her condition? Emh: Stable, but her nervous system has suffered extreme trauma. She'll need time to recover. Several days, at least. Janeway: Good work. Emh: I should caution you, Captain. When I told her that we'd used Moset's program she was unhappy, to put it mildly. I nearly had to sedate her. Janeway: It sounds like her Klingon temper has fully recovered. Emh: It practically qualifies as a chronic condition. Janeway: I'll speak to her. Emh: There's one more topic of concern. Should we delete the program or keep Moset in our database for future emergencies? Janeway: I'm inclined to leave this up to you, Doctor. You're the Chief Medical Officer on this ship. As far as I'm concerned, there's no one more qualified than you to make that decision. Emh: Thank you, Captain. Janeway: But please make it quickly. I'm eager to resolve this matter. There's been enough moral controversy on this ship for one day. Torres: Come in. Janeway: At ease. Interesting fragrance. I'm surprised it hasn't set off the environmental alarms. Torres: It's a combination of mental relaxant and expeller of demons. It's an ancient Klingon remedy. Janeway: Feeling any better? Torres: I'm alive. Janeway: I hope you can understand why I went against your wishes, B'Elanna. Losing you was unacceptable. I know you're angry, but we need to put this behind us. Understood? Torres: Is that an order? Janeway: Yes. Torres: You can't order someone to get rid of an emotion, Captain. Janeway: And what emotion is that? Torres: You had no right to make that decision for me! Janeway: I'm the Captain. You're my crewman. I did what I thought best. I get the feeling there are still a few demons in the air. Let's hope this does the trick, huh? Moset: Doc, how's our patient? Emh: Recuperating. Moset: We did it. Emh: Yes, we did. Moset: A celebration is in order. How about listening to that opera you promised me? Oh, you're er, still wrestling with your ethical subroutines. Take my advice. It's a waste of time. What's important is that we saved two lives today. Emh: I'm not concerned with today. It's tomorrow I'm worried about. Captain Janeway has left your future in my hands. She believes that, as Voyager's Chief Medical Officer, it's up to me to decide whether your program remains in our database. Moset: Personally, I predict a long and fruitful collaboration between us. Emh: Oh? Moset: Think about what we accomplished in the last twenty four hours. Our first case was a triumph. Both patients are thriving, and we advanced the frontiers of medical science. I've already outlined a paper that you and I will one day present to the Federation Medical Academy. Total Systemic Invasion of a Klingon-Human Hybrid by a Cytoplasmic Pseudoparasite. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Emh: Are we also going to tell them where you honed your surgical techniques? A footnote, perhaps. For further details, see Cardassian death camps. Moset: Those techniques were crucial this morning. Where was your sarcasm then? Emh: I didn't come here to debate the issue with you, Crell. I came here to inform you of my decision. It is my judgment that the Medical Consultant Program and all the algorithms contained therein shall be deleted from the database. In light of recent evidence I cannot in good conscience utilize research that was derived from such inhuman practices. Moset: In good conscience? What about the well-being of your crew? You're confronted by new forms of life every day, many of them dangerous. You need me. Delete my program and you violate the first oath you took as a physician. Do no harm. Emh: Do no harm. You have no right to say those words. Computer. Moset: You can erase my program, Doctor, but you can never change the fact that you've already used some of my research. Where was your conscience when B'Elanna was dying on that table? Ethics? Morality? Conscience? Funny how they all go out the airlock when we need something. Are you and I really so different? Emh: Computer, delete Medical Consultant Program and all related files.

Janeway: Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris. I hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign, and I sentence you to thirty days solitary confinement. Take Ensign Paris to the brig. Paris: I know the way. Paris: Brig. Paris: One, two, three Paris: Ninety eight, ninety nine, one hundred. Neelix: Staying in shape? Paris: Oh, yeah. I do it every time I'm in jail. Neelix: Well, I hope all that exercise gave you an appetite. Paris: Leola root stew again? That's the third time this week. Can't you just replicate me a pizza? Neelix: Sorry, Tom. Basic nutrition only. Captain's orders. Paris: Bread and water, huh? Let's have it. Neelix: I got you the PADD you asked for. Paris: Oh, thanks. So, did you ask the warden about those holodeck privileges? Neelix: She said, and I quote, tell Mister Paris this is punishment, not shore leave. Paris: It was worth a try. Neelix: Well, see you next meal. Paris: Wait. Leaving already? Pull up a chair, stay a while. Neelix: Sorry. No non-essential conversation with the prisoner. Paris: Did the words cruel and unusual mean anything to her? I'm telling you, Neelix, the inmates are getting restless. She's going to have a full-blown prison riot on her hands. Paris: Begin letter. Dear Father. Pause and erase. Begin. To Admiral Paris. Pause and erase. Begin. Hey, Dad, long time no see. Chances are you'll never receive this letter, but in case you do, there's a few things I wanted to say. First of all, bad news. Er, I'm in jail again. Wait, keep listening, don't turn this off. I want you to know how I ended up in here because it's not what you think. It all started on a morning I was doing something you would find a complete waste of time. Paris: Captain Proton to Buster Kincaid. I've destroyed Doctor Chaotica's mind control machine and I'm on my way back to the spaceship. DEMONICA- Jenny: Hello, Proton. Paris: Who is this? Jenny: An old friend. MALICIA- Megan: Make that two old friends. Paris: The Twin Mistresses of Evil. I should have known. DEMONICA- Jenny: I'm afraid your trusty sidekick is indisposed at the moment. Kim: Don't worry about me, Captain. I can handle myself. DEMONICA- Jenny: We'll see about that. Bring me the brain probe. MALICIA- Megan: The what? DEMONICA- Jenny: The brain probe, you insolent fool. MALICIA- Megan: Oh, right. Your wish is my command. Sorry, Harry. Kim: No problem. Torture me all you want, Demonica, I'll never crack. DEMONICA- Jenny: Oh, but you will. MALICIA- Megan: By the time we're through with you you'll be begging to tell us everything you know. DEMONICA- Jenny: You'll be our puppet. MALICIA- Megan: Our slave, Kim: Great. you're doing great. Paris: You're done for, Demonica. MALICIA- Megan: Malicia, She's Demonica. Paris: Whatever. You two are going to jail for a very long time. MALICIA- Megan: Ooh. DEMONICA- Jenny: Ooh. Paris: Move it, toots. MALICIA- Megan: He's so brave. DEMONICA- Jenny: It's a shame we'll have to kill him. Kim: I've got everything under control, Proton, shouldn't you be getting back to Headquarters? Paris: And leave you at the mercy of these two? Kim: Come on, Tom. I'm just getting to the good part. Chakotay: Senior officers report to the bridge. Paris: I guess the good part'll have to wait. Paris: Any progress on those starcharts? Megan: I'll have them to you by fourteen hundred. Paris: Fourteen hundred? You told me they'd be done yesterday. Megan: I'm sorry, Tom. The sensor array went offline. Seven of Nine will have it up and running this morning. Fourteen hundred, I promise. Kim: You need some help? I'm not on duty again till tomorrow morning. Megan: No, I don't want to spoil your day off. Kim: Oh, I don't mind. Megan: Thanks anyway. Jenny: See you Lieutenant. Buster. Kim: Bye. Paris: I think Jenny really likes you. Kim: Yeah, I know. Paris: I thought the feeling was mutual. Kim: How many times do I have to tell you? I like Megan, but she won't give me the time of day. Paris: What is the difference? Kim: You can't be serious. Paris: They're the Delaney sisters, Harry. They're twins. Kim: Are you kidding? They're nothing alike. Jenny's aggressive and sometimes annoying. But Megan, she's quiet, artistic, and she's got that cute little dimple in her right cheek. Paris: Jenny doesn't have the dimple? Kim: No dimple. Kim: Bridge. Paris: Well, you've done it again, Harry. Kim: What? Paris: Fallen for the unattainable woman. First it was a hologram, then a Borg, and now the wrong twin. Kim: At least I'm consistent. Janeway: Sorry to interrupt your fun, gentlemen, but long range sensors have picked up something interesting. Chakotay: A concentrated mass of oxygen and hydrogen. Lots of animal and plant life. Kim: An M-class planet? Janeway: No, that's the interesting part. Tuvok: We're entering visual range. Janeway: On screen. Kim: What is it? Paris: It's an ocean. Chakotay: According to these readings, it's bigger than the Atlantic and Pacific combined. Paris: What's holding it together? Kim: Looks like there's some sort of containment field keeping it from dissipating. Janeway: Take us in closer, Tom. Paris: Are those starships or submarines? Janeway: Open a channel. This is Captain Janeway of the Starship Voyager. Please identify yourselves. Tuvok: They are powering weapons. Janeway: Shields. Red alert. Tuvok: Shields holding, no damage. Should I return fire? Janeway: Not yet. Voyager to approaching vessels. We have no hostile intentions. Paris: They're maintaining their course. Janeway: Target the lead ship and take out their weapons. Tuvok: Direct hit. Kim: They're hailing. Janeway: I guess we got their attention. On screen. Burkus: I'm Deputy Consul Burkus of the Monean Maritime Sovereignty. You've violated our space. Withdraw or we'll resume firing. Janeway: Consul, we could have destroyed your ships, but we didn't. We have no interest in a fight. Burkus: Then why are you here? Janeway: Because we're explorers, and we're fascinated by your ocean. And we'd like to learn more about it, and your people if you'd be willing. Burkus: And if we are not? Janeway: We'll be disappointed, but we'll leave you alone. Burkus: Your ship's impressive. Janeway: Well, I'd be happy to give you a tour. Burkus: Forgive our vigilance, Captain. Over the years, my government has had to protect our ocean from more than one hostile species. Janeway: I understand. We're also very protective of our own natural resources. Neelix: We're always interested in learning about other cultures. Yours sounds particularly fascinating. Janeway: And this is Voyager's command center. Feel free to have a look around. Neelix: I'm curious, Consul. Have your people always lived here? Burkus: Our ancestors were nomadic. They only discovered the waters three hundred years ago. Paris: I'll bet they were as stunned as we were to find this huge ball of water floating in space. Burkus: Yes. Mister? Paris: Paris. Tom Paris. Janeway: My First Officer, Commander Chakotay. Burkus: They realized they could farm sea vegetation, extract oxygen from the ocean for their ships, create a permanent home. Paris: What's your population? Burkus: More than eighty thousand. Paris: And you all live underwater? Tuvok: Lieutenant, we do have other business to attend to. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, escort our guest to the briefing room. Care to join us, Mister Paris? Paris: How could you tell? Neelix: Do you still live aboard your ships? Burkus: We've built an industrial infrastructure and undersea dwellings, but yes, most of our people still choose to live as our ancestors did. Janeway: Any idea how the ocean came into existence? In my experience, it's a unique phenomenon. Burkus: Riga? Riga: There are several theories. Our clerics teach that the ocean was a divine gift from the creators to protect and sustain us. But, in my opinion, the most plausible explanation is that the ocean formed naturally, much the same way that a gas giant does. Janeway: Makes sense. Riga: Unfortunately, our limited knowledge of the phenomenon has created a few problems. Janeway: What do you mean? Burkus: I'm not sure this is an appropriate topic. Riga: But they might be able to help us. Janeway: We'll do anything we can. Riga: The ocean's losing containment. Hydro-volume has decreased more than seven percent in the last year alone. Janeway: Any idea what's causing it? Riga: No. To make a thorough study we'd need to explore the ocean center where I believe the gravitational currents are fluctuating. Paris: But that's more that six hundred kilometers deep. Riga: Our best research vessel can only go one hundred kilometers. Beyond that the pressure's too great. Paris: Well, we could take you there. Captain? Janeway: I had no idea you were such an old salt. Paris: When I saw that ocean today, it reminded me of the first time I read Jules Verne. Janeway: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Paris: I must have read it twenty thousand times. I was obsessed with stories about the ocean. All of my friends were busy with their holoprograms. I had my head buried in Captains Courageous, Moby Dick. Janeway: So your interest in history includes the nineteenth century as well? Paris: Ancient sailing ships were always my first love. I had it all planned. Finish high school, join the Federation Naval Patrol. But my father had other ideas. Janeway: You'd think Admiral Paris might have understood his son's passion. Paris: As far as he was concerned, the only ship I was going to serve on had to have a Starfleet insignia on it. Janeway: So now you have an opportunity to make up for lost time. Paris: Captain, with a few simple thruster modifications to the Delta Flyer, she will be seaworthy in no time. Janeway: Good. It'd take at least a week to make the necessary modifications to Voyager. Paris: Then it's my mission? Janeway: Bon voyage. Paris: And so, I thought to myself, who better than Harry to be my first mate? Kim: First mate? Paris: Oh, sailor talk. You'll get the hang of it. I'm telling you, Harry, I have been dreaming about something like this for as long as I can remember. Kim: Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a mission involved here, right? Paris: Of course, but there's no law says we can't have a little fun along the way. Ah, boatswain. Ready to shove off? Seven: What are you talking about, Lieutenant? Paris: Call me Skipper. Kim: Sailor talk. You'll get used to it. Seven: I think not. Hull and thruster reinforcements are complete. Paris: That's what I wanted to hear. Riga: Oh, excuse me. Am I in the right place? Paris: Welcome aboard. I see you like to travel light. Riga: These are my instruments for measuring depth, pressure, currents. Seven: We will not need them. This vessel is equipped with a complete sensor array. Riga: Oh. Paris: It's okay. You can store your gear in the hold. Kim: Twenty thousand kilometers to the surface. Paris: Immersion shielding? Seven: Active. Paris: Anchors aweigh. Paris: Those structures, what are they? Riga: It's our main oxygen refinery and desalination plant. Seven: Corrosion resistant alloys, variable density ballast. An efficient design. Kim: That means she's impressed. Riga: We're very proud of what we've built here. Paris: I can see why. Janeway: Come in. Janeway: I'm afraid we have some disturbing news. Burkus: Oh? Janeway: We've run a computer simulation to determine the rate of dissipation. It's worse than Mister Riga thought. Chakotay: According to our estimates the ocean could experience a complete loss of containment in less than five years. Janeway: I'm sorry. Burkus: Your calculations could be wrong. Janeway: I know it sounds grim, but there may be some way to stop the process. Burkus: And if there isn't? Janeway: You might have to consider evacuating. Burkus: I'm supposed to go back and explain this to forty seven regional sovereigns? They'll pass their first unanimous resolution, calling for my head. Janeway: I can imagine how difficult this must be for you, but you will have to tell them. Burkus: Perhaps, but I'll wait until your Delta Flyer returns. Maybe they'll find something tangible. Paris: We're at a depth of five hundred and sixty kilometers. Riga: What was that? Seven: The hull contracting. Kim: Rerouting additional power to structural integrity. Nothing to worry about. Seven: I'm detecting multiphasic energy discharges bearing zero one two mark six. Range twelve kilometers. A structure. Riga: At this depth? Paris: Adjusting course. I can't see anything. Give me forward illumination, Harry. Riga: What is it? Kim: It's generating massive amounts of artificial gravity. Looks like some kind of field reactor. Riga: If it's malfunctioning that would explain the loss of hydro-volume. Paris: Maybe it can be repaired. It looks ancient. Kim: Well, if these readings are right, it's at least a hundred thousand years old. Riga: We have no records of any previous inhabitants. Who built it? Where did they go? Kim: Looks like the reactor's controlled by a core computer. I'll try to upload the database and get some answers. Paris: Initiate the interface. Seven: Upload in progress . Riga: What's happening? Paris: We've got a visitor. Riga: What was it? Kim: You're the one who lives here. You tell us. Riga: No one's ever been this far down before. We don't know anything about marine life at these depths. Seven: You are about to have the opportunity to make a detailed study. Seven: The creature is emitting biothermic discharges. Kim: It's like some kind of electric eel. Paris: Only a hell of a lot bigger. Seven: And significantly more powerful. That last discharge exceeded five hundred thousand volts. Kim: The shields are fried, Tom. You might want to think about getting us out of here. Paris: Thrusters are offline. Seven: Targeting forward phasers. Riga: No, you can't kill it. Seven: I do not intend to. Unfortunately the creature does not seem to be of a similar opinion. Paris: How's that upload coming? Kim: Another couple of minutes. Seven: Firing phasers. Paris: We only made him madder. Seven: The creature is retreating. Kim: We've got a breach. Paris: I'm on it. Paris: Six hundred kilometers underwater, propulsion offline, water pouring into the cabin. It was like something out of one of those Jules Verne stories you used to read me when I was a kid. Janeway: Red alert. All hands to battle stations. Paris: Hey, what about me? If we're in trouble we need our best pilot at the helm! You can't just leave me here! Paris: Five ships? And they just opened fire without warning? Emh: Mmm hmm. Paris: How did we get away? Emh: Apparently, Ensign Culhane confused the enemy with a brilliant series of evasive maneuvers. I hear Captain Janeway is considering him for Chief Conn. officer. Paris: Oh, yeah? Well, you just tell the Captain that Culhane's brilliant maneuvers almost knocked me unconscious. You'd think he'd never flown a shuttle, much less a starship. Emh: There we are, Paris: That's it? Aren't you going to run a neurological scan? Maybe I should be granted a medical reprieve. Emh: Your injury was what Naomi Wildman refers to as a boo-boo. Paris: Come on, Doc, you don't understand what it's like being down here all day, every day. I'm going crazy. Emh: Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the idea? Paris: No, seriously Doc, you might want to take me down to Sickbay for a full psychiatric evaluation. Three or four days of observation at least. Emh: See you in twenty days. Paris: Doc! Resume recording. Okay, Dad, where were we? Ah, right. We had just sprung a leak. Paris: Nothing like a cold shower to wake up the senses. Kim: Structural integrity is weakening. We've lost communications, shields, propulsion. Seven: We can reduce our density by venting plasma and transporting all non-essential equipment off the ship. It will take time, but we will eventually rise to the surface. Paris: I think we should stay. Riga: Stay? Paris: I'm not about to be scared off by a few damaged systems. Kim: Tom, don't you think maybe you're carrying this Captains Courageous thing a little too far? Paris: Look, it's a good bet the reactor's malfunctioning. Now we're only going to get one shot at fixing it. You want to leave? Fine. Give me an environmental suit and you can pick me up after you've repaired the Flyer. Kim: You're going for a swim? Are you crazy? Paris: You have a better idea? Kim: Well, we already managed to interface with the reactor's computer. Maybe we can make the repairs, maybe we can't, but I'm not leaving you down here alone. Paris: What about you two? Riga: I'll stay. Paris: Seven? Seven: It is in my nature to comply with the Collective. Tuvok: I'm detecting a breach in the containment field. Chakotay: Any way we can seal it? Tuvok: We might try reinforcing the field with a deflector beam. Janeway: Do it. Try hailing the Delta Flyer again. Chakotay: Nothing. Burkus: What do you think's happened? Janeway: They may be too deep to receive a transmission. Burkus: They may have had an accident. Janeway: It's possible. Burkus: Possible? Captain, I'll need a better explanation than that. What am I supposed to tell the Council? Janeway: Clarify something for me. Are you more concerned about the lives of the people on that shuttle or your political career? Riga: What's that? Seven: A gravimetric discharge. The reactor's core is unstable. Paris: You'd be unstable too if you were as old as this thing. Kim: Age has nothing to do with it. The reactor's diverting massive amounts of power to its structural integrity field. Power normally reserved for oceanic containment. Paris: That would explain why containment is weakening. Kim: Looks like the density of the water's been increasing over the past few years. It seems the reactor's just trying to keep itself from being crushed. Paris: Can we initiate a power transfer? Stabilize the core? Seven: I believe so, but it would be a temporary solution. Paris: That's better than nothing. Tuvok: Captain, full containment has just been re-established. Janeway: The deflector beam? Tuvok: Negative. The ocean appears to have been stabilized from within. Burkus: It looks like our team has succeeded. Chakotay: I'm picking up an object on a slow ascent. It's the Flyer. Riga: You've found something? Paris: I've been studying the generator's database. You're not going to believe this, but apparently, your ocean used to be part of a landmass. Riga: Really? Paris: As far as I can tell, it was part of a planetary ecozystem inhabited by a very advanced civilization. Riga: What happened to them? Paris: That's a good question. All I know is they launched this reactor into orbit. They used some kind of elaborate kinetic transfer system to draw the water and everything in it up to the reactor. Riga: Extraordinary. Why would anyone want to move an entire ocean? Paris: Maybe there was some kind of disaster on the planet, or maybe it was just an experiment. Riga: That must have been a massive undertaking. Paris: Took them almost two hundred years. Riga: I wonder what they'd think if they knew we settled here and built another civilization. Paris: Actually, I think they'd be pretty concerned. Riga: Oh? Paris: This field reactor that they designed, it's a pretty amazing piece of technology. Durable. I don't think it's responsible for the loss of containment. Riga: But as soon as we made the recalibration, the water stabilized. I don't see what else it could be. Paris: Riga, your mining operations are destroying the ocean. Paris: You'll never get into Starfleet Academy by playing with toys. Do your homework. Are you listening to me, Thomas? Janeway: Thomas Eugene Paris, I hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign and I sentence you to thirty years of solitary confinement Admiral Paris: Go to your room, young man. That's an order. Stay there and think about what I've said. Kim: Tom? Kim: Tom? Tom, wake up. Bad dream? Paris: Oh, you could say that. Kim: You know, you look like hell. Paris: Thanks. How'd you get past the guard? Kim: The Vulcan neck pinch. Paris: Come to spring me? Kim: Well, the Captain finally gave me permission to visit, but I've only got a few minutes. Paris: That's big of her. Kim: How are you doing? Paris: Oh, thirty days? No problem. How's B'Elanna? Kim: She misses you. Paris: Yeah, I know the feeling. Kim: So, what have you been doing to pass the time? Paris: Thinking and, thinking. Trying not to think. Actually, I started recording a letter to my father. Kim: Really? Paris: Yeah. For some reason I, I wanted to explain to him how I ended up in here. I didn't want him to think. Well, anyway, I realized how ridiculous it was. Kim: You should finish it. Paris: Give me one good reason. Kim: Maybe he'll hear it someday. Paris: Doubtful. Kim: You'll feel better getting it off your chest? Paris: Are you bucking for ship's counselor, Harry? Kim: What are you going to do, delete the letter? That would be pointless. Paris: At least I'm consistent. Kim: Tom. Paris: Thanks for the visit, Harry. Kim: See you in fourteen. Kim: What was it you once told me? That your father used to say you never finished anything. Paris: Resume recording, So, we told Consul Burkus about the alien field reactor and how his oxygen refineries were destroying it. He took the news pretty well. At first. Burkus: The Council's very grateful for your help, Captain. They've asked me to request the shield and thruster schematics for your Delta Flyer. We're hoping to design a probe that'll allow us to monitor the containment generator. Janeway: Lieutenant Torres will give you everything you need. Torres: I've also drawn up some designs for an oxygen replication system. It'll allow you to create free oxygen without extricating it from the water. It won't solve your problems overnight, but it's a start. Burkus: I'm sure it'll be very helpful. Riga: Our oxygen extraction levels are still dangerously high. I'm going to recommend shutting down refineries four, five and six. Burkus: We'll take it under advisement. Well, Captain, I wish you a safe journey. Janeway: Oh, we have a few more suggestions if you'd like to hear them. Burkus: Please. Pass them along to Mister Riga. He'll include them in his report. Paris: I'm curious. Who's going to read that report? Burkus: It will be given to the subcommittees on life support and agriculture. Riga: Excuse me, Consul. I'm not sure you understand the magnitude of the crisis. What you're suggesting could take months. Burkus: Thank you, Mister Riga. Paris: You should listen to him. If you don't make some serious changes around here soon, that ocean won't be here much longer. Burkus: As I said, we understand his concerns. Paris: Do you? Seems to me like you're just trying to sidestep the issue and send us on our way. Burkus: With all due respect, who are you to tell us what to do with our ocean? Paris: With all due respect, it's not your ocean. Janeway: Lieutenant. Burkus: It's all right, Captain. I'd like to respond, but not as a diplomat, as a Monean. You came here claiming you wanted to learn about our way of life and now, having spent three days here, you're suggesting we abandon it. We have an expression. Brine in the veins. Tell him what it means. Riga: It's used to describe someone who has special connection to the waters. Burkus: My family has lived here for ten generations. We protected this ocean, cultivated it, lived in harmony with the animals that inhabit it. Can you say the same? I didn't think so. Good day, Captain. Paris: We can't just let this go. Janeway: What do you want me to do? Paris: Of course. The almighty Prime Directive. Janeway: Would you please excuse us, Lieutenant? Torres: See you later. Janeway: I know you're upset, Lieutenant, but when you're in a room with me you check that attitude at the door, understood? Paris: Captain, I'm sorry Janeway: We can't expect an entire society to change because we think they should. Paris: Then you agree with me. Janeway: Yes, and we gave them the help they asked for. We told them what we know. Now it's up to them to do what they think is appropriate. Paris: You heard that Consul. They're not going to do a damn thing. Janeway: Maybe not, but that's their prerogative. Paris: Captain. Janeway: End of discussion, Lieutenant. At fourteen hundred hours, we'll resume a course for the Alpha Quadrant. Is that clear. Is that clear? Paris: As a bell. Torres: Hey. Here to stamp out intergalactic evil? Paris: It's funny. Torres: What? Paris: I went on this mission expecting to play out a childhood fantasy. But along the way, when I realized that ocean would just be gone one day, it started to matter to me. It sounds pretty stupid, huh? Torres: No. No, it sounds like you've found yourself a cause. Paris: I never thought of myself as a cause kind of guy. Torres: Well, for what it's worth, I'm proud of you. Paris: Thanks. But Captain Proton's not going to be able to save the day this time, is he? Torres: What about Tom Paris? Riga: Council chamber, please. Paris: Riga. You're dismissed, crewman. Paris: I want you to tell me honestly. What do you think's going to happen now? Riga: I think the bureaucracy isn't going to make more than token changes. Paris: Isn't there anything else you can do? Riga: I don't see how, other than taking the oxygen refineries offline. Paris: What would happen, hypothetically, if someone were to shut down the refineries? Riga: Well, I suppose they'd have to be rebuilt. Paris: Yeah, and they'd probably be more willing to redesign them while they're at it. If nothing else, it would grab their attention. Riga: Are you suggesting Paris: I'm just asking questions, because I'm not supposed to get involved in the internal affairs of alien worlds. Unless, of course, someone makes a direct request. Riga: If you can get me down there, I'd be willing to do it. Paris: You'd be risking your life. Riga: I know. Tuvok: Captain, there has just been an unauthorized launch from shuttlebay one, The Delta Flyer. Janeway: Tom. Janeway: Hail him. Tuvok: No response. Chakotay: Try a tractor beam. Tuvok: We're out of range. Kim: We're being hailed, Captain. It's Consul Burkus. Burkus: Your shuttlecraft has violated our borders. I demand an explanation. Janeway: Mister Paris is acting without authorisation. Burkus: To what end? Janeway: According to our scans, Mister Riga is with him. I have to assume they intend to take some sort of radical action to protect the ocean. Burkus: Then I presume you intend to take radical action to stop them. Computer: Warning. Hull pressure approaching critical. Riga: We're going down too fast. Paris: It's the only way we can outrun your ships. Janeway: Janeway to Paris. Return to Voyager immediately. Paris: Sorry, Captain. I can't do that. Janeway: Lieutenant, you are disobeying a direct order. Paris: I know. Chakotay: He cut us off. Janeway: What the hell are they up to? Kim: Looks like they're heading directly beneath the industrial complex. Janeway: Can we reach them with phasers? Tuvok: Unadvisable. It would create a hydro-dynamic shock wave. Chakotay: What about an old-fashioned depth charge? Tuvok: It should be possible to modify a photon torpedo. Chakotay: We could program it to detonate once it's in proximity to the Delta Flyer. Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: The torpedo is ready, Captain. However, the Delta Flyer has submerged below our targeting range. Kim: Consul Burkus, hailing again. Janeway: On screen. Burkus: Our refinery workers have been given five minutes to clear the structure. Was this the kind of evacuation you had in mind, Captain? Janeway: Can you get them our in time? Burkus: Yes, but, Janeway: Do it. I'll find a way to protect your refinery. End transmission. Burkus: Captain! Tuvok: He descended to avoid attack. If my calculations are correct, he will have to come back up to a depth of two thousand meters to strike his target. Janeway: Giving us a window of opportunity, Tuvok: Precisely. Kim: Captain, this is Tom we're talking about. We're not going to open fire, are we? Janeway: As far as I'm concerned, he forfeited his status as a protected member of this crew the second he launched that shuttle. Riga: How long till we reach our target? Paris: Thirty six seconds. Chakotay: He's started his ascent. Janeway: Hail him. Kim: Go ahead. Janeway: Lieutenant Paris, this is your final warning. Kim: He's not responding. Janeway: Arm the torpedo. Kim: Twenty seconds to weapons range. Paris: Are you sure you want to go through with this? Riga: Do you? Paris: I've taken you this far. We'd better arm that missile. Riga: Missile armed. Janeway: Stand down, Mister Paris. Janeway: Or I will open fire. Kim: Still no answer. Riga: Time. Paris: Ten seconds. Nine. Tuvok: Eight. Seven. Six. Paris: Five. Four. Three. Tuvok: Two. One. Janeway: Fire. Paris: Fire! Tuvok: The Flyer has been disabled. Janeway: Their missile? Tuvok: Deflected. Janeway: Captain's log, Stardate 52179.4. After salvaging the Delta Flyer, we've resumed our course toward the Alpha Quadrant. I now have to turn my attention to a matter of diskipline. Janeway: Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris. You are guilty of insubordination, unauthorized use of a spacecraft, reckless endangerment, and conduct unbecoming an officer. Do you have anything to say? Paris: Riga needed my help. Janeway: In doing so, you disobeyed my direct orders. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: You violated the protocols that govern this crew. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: You nearly caused an armed conflict with the Moneans. And frankly, you're lucky to be standing here right now. I would have destroyed your shuttle if necessary. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Permission to speak freely. Riga's people weren't going to listen. They were going to ignore our warnings. Janeway: You don't know that. Paris: Riga knew, and I was the only one who could help them. Janeway: I understand your passion, but passion alone doesn't give you the right to take matters into your own hands. Four years ago, I released you from prison and gave you a fresh start. Until now, you've been a fine officer. Your service on this ship has been exemplary. I really believed you were past this kind of conduct. Paris: I've never been very good at playing by the rules. That doesn't mean that serving under your command hasn't changed me, for the better. At least this time, I broke the rules for a reason. For something I believed in. Janeway: I admire your principles, Tom, but I can't ignore what you've done. I hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign, and I sentence you to thirty days solitary confinement. Take Ensign Paris to the brig. Paris: I know the way. Tuvok: Rise and shine, Ensign. Your thirty days have been served. Report for duty. You may want to shave first. Paris: Yes, sir. Torres: Torres to Paris. Paris: Go ahead. Torres: Rumor has it that you're free for dinner. Paris: Gee, I don't know. Are you sure you want to be seen associating with an ex-con? Torres: My quarters, oh seven hundred. That's an order, Ensign. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Paris: Resume recording. Well, I'm out now and back to my duties. I honestly don't know if I'll ever understand you, or what went wrong between us, but I hope this letter helps you understand me a little better. Computer, file letter in my personal database, and transmit when we're within range of Earth.

Chakotay: The Devore ships are assuming a tactical formation. Janeway: Bridge to Transporter room. Status. Kim: All set here, Captain. Pattern cohesion looks stable. Janeway: Cargo Bay one, Report. Seven: The bay is clear. Chakotay: They're powering weapons. Paris: Why do they bother? They know we won't resist. Janeway: Protocol, Mister Paris. Chakotay: They're hailing. (A humanoid with heavily defined zygomatic process but no eyebrows, and a ridge down the middle of his forehead comes on the viewscreen.) Prax: Gaharay vessel, prepare to be inspected. Crew members are instructed to step away from their stations. Janeway: We know the drill. Prax: Sidearms and scanning equipment are to be set aside. Deviation from this or any other inspection protocols will not be tolerated. Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Prepare to be boarded by Devore inspection teams. Give them your full cooperation. Let's get this over with. Chakotay: Their soldiers have materialized on decks fifteen, eleven, four and one. Kashyk: Captain Janeway, report to your Ready room. Kashyk: Good morning, Captain. I took the liberty of playing this music throughout your ship. I thought it might help your crew relax. Sometimes these inspections can be stressful. Janeway: How thoughtful. Kashyk: I've replicated some coffee. Black, as usual? Janeway: Black. Kashyk: Prax here still refuses to try it but then, he's a man of few pleasures. Kashyk: Captain, Please, make yourself at home. Emh: Those cell cultures are extremely fragile. Please Prax: You've been routing power through your transporter system. Why? Torres: It's a routine diagnostic. We've been having trouble with our imaging scanners. Prax: The problem is in the primary energizing coils. Focus your efforts there. Torres: Thanks for the tip. Prax: Contaminated antimatter. This material could interfere with our readings. A bionetic implant? Seven: An interlink node. It permits communication with other Borg drones. Prax: You are not a telepath. Seven: No. Kashyk: Remarkable. How old is this? Janeway: About six hundred years. My grandfather gave it to me when I was a child. Kashyk: It seems you have a long-standing obsession with exploration, Captain. I, on the other hand, have much more in common with this ancient soldier. Janeway: He's from Earth's classical period. It produced some of our greatest artists as well. Kashyk: Your culture has many contradictions. Violence and beauty, science and faith, all somehow mingled harmoniously. Like the counterpoint of this music. Mahler. Symphony Number One, am I correct? Janeway: You're getting to know my musical database better than I do. Kashyk: I've had time to review it since our last encounter. Janeway: Tell me, are all of your inspections this personal? Kashyk: I'm just trying to get to know you, Captain. There's no reason for us to be adversaries. I could be your friend, and right now you could certainly use one. Janeway: Really? Why is that? Kashyk: Your predicament? I don't expect it's been easy. Thousands of light years from home, navigating by strange stars, trespassing in other people's space, ignoring their laws. Janeway: We're just trying to get back to Earth, Inspector. Kashyk: Through the Devore Imperium? Janeway: It's tough to avoid. Kashyk: Still, most people make the effort. We don't exactly embrace outsiders. Janeway: Gaharay? Kashyk: It means strangers. Which brings me to a matter that could threaten our friendship. I've examined your crew manifest from our last inspection. Commander Tuvok, Ensign Vorik. Vulcans. Ensigns Suder and Jurot. Betazoids. All telepaths, and yet for some reason you neglected to mention them. Janeway: For a very simple reason. They're dead. Tuvok, Vorik, and Jurot died in a shuttle crash about two months ago. Suder was killed in a conflict with a species called the Kazon. Kashyk: That's fortunate, for you I mean. If I'd known you were harboring telepaths I would have had to arrest you for breaking our cardinal protocol. Janeway: They were valued members of my crew, Inspector, not criminals. Kashyk: Perhaps. Captain do you trust me? Janeway: Not for a second. Kashyk: Exactly, and why should you? Trust has to be earned. It's gradual. And yet it's the foundation of every relationship, professional and personal. It's also a concept alien to the telepathic races. Why take someone at their word when you can simply read their mind? Prax: We've completed our inspection. There are no telepaths aboard. However, their sensor logs indicate they deviated from their assigned course on two occasions. Janeway: In both cases, to avoid ion storms. Prax: Imperative thirty two, codicil six twenty six. All Gaharay vehicles that deviate from prescribed flight vectors will be impounded, their crews detained and relocated. Kashyk: Prax, it's clear the Captain didn't intend to break protocol. I expect we can overlook these infractions. Prax: Sir? Yes, sir. Kashyk: Captain, I'm a reasonable man, and you've been cooperative, but consider this a reminder. You have a long trip through Devore space and good friends can be an asset. Janeway: I'll keep it in mind. Paris: The Devore vessels are out of range. Janeway: Bridge to transporter team. You're clear. Seven: Cargo Bay one to Ensign Kim. Pattern enhancers are in place. Kim: Initiating rematerialization sequence. Torres: Harry? Torres: I'm routing maximum power to the transporters. Kim: Got it. Align the confinement beam to ten angstroms. Energizing. Seven: Ensign Kim, the confinement beam is unstable. Kim: We're trying to correct it now. Janeway: What's the problem? Seven: We are unable to consolidate their patterns. They've been in suspension too long. Janeway: Harry, increase power to the imaging scanners. Kim: Aye, Captain. Kim: It's working. Janeway: Nice work, Harry. All our guests are present and accounted for. Kir: Captain. Janeway: They're gone. For now. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. After weeks of playing hide and seek with the Devore inspectors, our goal is near. A transport vessel that will take our passengers to a wormhole leading out of hostile territory. Janeway: Back to your old self again? Kir: Each time we do this, I feel as thought I've left a few molecules behind in your Cargo bay. Janeway: Well, I'll have someone scan the room if it'll make you feel better. Kir, we just received an encoded message from the transport vessel. Kir: They've changed the rendezvous point again. Janeway: I'm afraid so. Kir: Did they send the new coordinates? Janeway: We're still waiting for them. Tuvok: Captain, we may have another problem. Emh: I've just treated Tuvok and two of the refugees for acute cellular degradation. I've repaired most of the damage but unfortunately the effect is cumulative. Kir: Meaning? Tuvok: If we continue to go into transporter suspension, some of us may not survive. Chakotay: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: We're receiving another transmission. Janeway: Acknowledged. Seven: The new coordinates are here, within a Mutara-class nebula two point three six light years from our current position. Chakotay: It's definitely out of the way. Less chance of being discovered, but it'll take two more days to get there. Janeway: Two days. That increases the chances that we'll run into another inspection. Tuvok: Given the frequency of patrols in that area, it's likely we'll be stopped at least once. Janeway: Just what the Doctor didn't order. Tuvok, Seven, I want you to lay in a course that'll attract as little attention as possible. Avoid their colonies, space stations, tourist attractions, if they have any. Neelix: The Ogre of Fire's Castle hovered over the forest like a great black spaceship, turning day into night. Flotter and Trevis knew they had to find a way to keep the Ogre from burning the forest down, but his castle, it was higher than the tallest tree. It seemed hopeless, until they discovered Adar: A door. Neelix: A door. Right, a mysterious door right in the middle of the Adar: The clearing. Neelix: You know, it's, it's not nice to read people's thoughts when they're telling a story. Adar: I'm sorry. Neelix: It's all right. Neelix: Why don't you all go play by yourselves for a while. We'll finish the story later. Janeway: How are they doing? Neelix: Oh, fine, more or less. They don't understand what all the fuss is about, but they're telepaths, Captain. If the parents are concerned or fearful the children feel it, too. You did the right thing. If we hadn't taken them off that freighter, they'd be in a detention center by now. Janeway: Well, we're going to make sure that doesn't happen. Is the kitchen still open or are you just serving stories? Neelix: For you, it's always open. Tuvok: I'm detecting a vessel, three hundred thousand kilometers and closing. The signature is Devore. Chakotay: Red alert. Shields up. Bridge to Captain. Janeway: More company, Commander? Chakotay: Looks like it. Janeway: Get our visitors to the Cargo Bay. Stand by for transporter Janeway: Suspension. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Neelix. Neelix: Right away. Come on now, we're going to go see your parents. Let's go. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: It's a scout ship. One pilot, no other crew. Paris: The vessel hasn't raised shields or charged weapons. Janeway: If this is another inspection, it's certainly a different approach. Kim: We're being hailed. Janeway: Open a channel. Kashyk: Captain. Janeway: Inspector. Kashyk: It's urgent that we speak. Janeway: You know the way to my Ready room. Janeway: It's all right, Ensign. I submitted to your previous inspections because you outgunned me, but I don't see of your warships nearby. I have no intention of cooperating. Kashyk: I'm not here to search Voyager. Janeway: Then what do you want, Inspector? Kashyk: Call me Kashyk, please. I never liked that title. In fact, I've left it behind. Janeway: Did somebody offer you a promotion, or are you just having a bad day? Kashyk: I'm defecting, and I need your help. Janeway: Me? Kashyk: I've come to ask asylum. Safe passage out of Devore space before I end up in a detention center myself. Janeway: Now, why would I risk the safety of my crew by harboring a defector? Kashyk: Because of what I'm about to tell you. If you continue on your present course, you'll be intercepted by a squadron of my warships. Voyager will be seized, your crew imprisoned or worse. The nebula is a trap, Captain, to catch vessels smuggling telepaths. Janeway: You've inspected my ship three times. You know we aren't smuggling telepaths or anyone else. Kashyk: What I know is that you have twelve refugees aboard right now. That you rescued them from a freighter three weeks ago, and that you've been concealing them in Cargo Bay one using your transporters. I could have exposed them at any time, but I wanted them to escape as much as you do. I can still protect them, but only if you take me with you. My people know about the wormhole. It's only a matter of time before they find it. You have no choice, Captain. I'm your only hope. Janeway: This is our rendezvous point, inside this nebula. Unfortunately the transport vessel we're supposed to meet is no longer there. Inspector. Tuvok: A Devore warship. Janeway: One of a dozen positioned throughout the nebula. All invisible to our sensors until Kashyk showed me how to compensate for their refractive shielding. Seven: Your soldiers intercepted the transport ship? Kashyk: Over a week ago. We were the ones who changed the rendezvous coordinates. Two vessels carrying refugees have already been seized. Voyager would have been next. Janeway: All right Inspector, you helped us avoid this ambush. What now? Kashyk: We'll have to get your passengers to the wormhole on our own. These are the schedules and routes of our patrols, along with tactical data on our shield and weapons configurations. Enough to ensure that you avoid another inspection. Janeway: How long before you're missed? Kashyk: Well, I took two weeks leave. Enough time, I hope, to find the wormhole and get your passengers safely through it and myself, as well. Tuvok: Your data is useful, but it doesn't guarantee our success. Kashyk: No, for that you'll need my guidance and some luck. Janeway: I'll have to take this up with the Brenari. See what they think of their new benefactor. I'll let you know what they decide. I'll have to insist you remain under guard. No hard feelings. Kashyk: No hard feelings. Kir: It's unusual, but not unheard of. There have been sympathizers before. Kashyk may be telling the truth. Chakotay: Maybe you should just read his thoughts. Kir: Devore soldiers undergo years of mental training to prevent that. Tuvok: He might be telling the truth, but he also might be using us to find the wormhole. Chakotay: So what do we do, throw him in the Brig? Janeway: No, we take him up on his offer to help, see how it plays out. But I want round the clock security. We need to watch his every movement. That leaves us with our next question. How do we find the wormhole? Kir: I've given it some thought. There's a scientist named Torat. He's from a nearby system. He's rumored to know more about the wormhole than anyone. He might help us, for a price. Janeway: A price? Kir: His species power their ships with a fluidic alloy that's difficult to find. Tuvok: Perhaps we can replicate it. Kir: I have some data on it's composition. Janeway: See what you can do. In the meantime we'll set a course for Torat's planet, try to track him down. Janeway: Nervous? Kashyk: Let's just say I'm not used to other people deciding my fate. Janeway: Until today, you were part of a government responsible for persecuting thousands of innocent people. Why the sudden change of heart? Kashyk: There's nothing sudden about it. I've been looking for a way to escape for years. Voyager was the perfect opportunity. Janeway: How so? Kashyk: Well, what are you suggesting? I ask a Brenari vessel for assistance? They'd throw me out an airlock. Besides, you're something of a humanitarian, Captain. I've read your database. I know all about Starfleet philosophy. Unless you left those ideals behind in the Alpha Quadrant? Janeway: I certainly don't grant asylum to every person I meet. Especially ones who ransack my ship and terrorize my crew. You're asking me to believe you're someone else, and that's a leap of faith I'm not ready to make. Kashyk: You're turning me away. Janeway: No. No, I'm going to give you safe passage to the wormhole in return for your help in getting us there, but I'm also imposing some restrictions. You'll have your own quarters but limited access to Voyager's systems and your whereabouts will be monitored at all times. Kashyk: I'm used to being surrounded by armed guards. Makes me feel secure. Janeway: Only this time they answer to me. Consider them a reminder that Voyager is my ship. Kashyk: I don't think anyone could doubt that. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. It's taken us nearly two days, but we've managed to locate Torat, the man who's supposedly an expert on wormholes. Unfortunately, he seems reluctant to share his expertise. Paris: He's trying to evade us. Janeway: Hail him again. Chakotay: Mister Torat doesn't seem too trusting. Maybe he's been through one inspection too many. Tuvok: No response. He's deactivated his communication system. Kim: I think I can tap into his computer, override the lockout. Janeway: Do it. Torat: Go away! Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We have no hostile intent. Torat: Then why are you pursing me? Janeway: We'd just like to ask you Torat: Federations, Imperiums. Why do you people feel such a need to align yourselves with monolithic organizations? Janeway: I'd be glad to discuss that and any other philosophical issue you care to raise if you would just slow down and talk. Torat: Sorry, can't do that. I'm late for a very important conference. Kashyk: This is a waste of time. Disable his ship. Janeway: That's what we call overkill, Inspector. Ensign, can we transport at this range? Kim: Absolutely. Energizing. Janeway: Welcome aboard. Your reputation precedes you. Janeway: Twenty centiliters of mercurium isochromate. No impurities, and this is just a sample. We've synthesized enough to power your ship for a year. Torat: It doesn't matter. I've never heard of this wormhole you're looking for, or these so-called refugees. Janeway: Well, they've heard of you. Torat: Well, no doubt. My research is famous. Janeway: Think of all the stars you could research once you've infused your propulsion system with this. Torat: There's no point in bribing me. Kashyk: He's right. He couldn't help us if he wanted to. Torat: What do you mean by that? Kashyk: I doubt you'd know a wormhole from a dark matter inversion. Janeway: Professor Kashyk is another expert I've retained to help us with this matter. I'm afraid he's not as impressed with your work as I am. In fact, he discouraged me from seeking you out. Torat: Professor Kashyk? Never heard of you. Kashyk: Not surprising, considering you toil in scientific obscurity. Torat: Obscurity! I've discovered over sixty astronomical phenomena! Kashyk: Not worth the sensors they were recorded on. Janeway: There's no need to insult the man. Just because he doesn't know how to find an interspatial flexure. Torat: Interspatial flexure? Why didn't you say so in the first place? He said wormhole, a layman's term that that covers any number of phenomena. I am familiar with a certain anomaly that could be categorized as an interspatial flexure. Kashyk: Where is it? Torat: Actually, a better question would be, where is it now? It's really quite interesting. The aperture of the phenomenon, which I prefer to call an intermittent cyclical vortex, is unfixed. It manifests infrequently for only brief periods of time and in varying locations. I can give you the last four locations. Perhaps you can extrapolate the next one, if you're as accomplished a scientist as you claim to be. Janeway: Think. Kashyk: I'm thinking. Janeway: Think harder. Four wormhole appearances less than twenty light years apart. There's no pattern. Kashyk: Did you apply a fractal coefficient? Janeway: Didn't work. Kashyk: Neutrino flux parameters? Statistical algorithms? Janeway: Every one I could find. This wormhole defies analysis. Maybe Torat was right. We're just out of our league. Kashyk: It's not like you to give up. Think harder. Janeway: How do you predict a random occurrence? Kashyk: You follow your instincts. Captain? Janeway: Counterpoint. It's in all great music. Parallel melodies playing against one another. We've been looking at the obvious, frequency, location, timing, but each of those parameters could have a counterpoint in subspace. Kashyk: If we could run an algorithm based on subspace harmonics, it might reveal our pattern. Janeway: Computer, run a subspatial transkinetic analysis on the wormhole data. Computer: Analysis in progress. Janeway: This'll take a minute. Kashyk: I'm going to miss this coffee of yours. Janeway: Well, I will give you the recipe. Kashyk: Thank you. Janeway: You don't sound too happy about leaving. Kashyk: The Brenari aren't about to embrace a former Inspector. I'll be feared, hated for what I represent. Janeway: Anxiety doesn't become you, Inspector. Try to relax a little. Kashyk: I suppose you liked me better in uniform. Janeway: I haven't decided whether I like you at all. Kashyk: We call them the Kolyan Kolyar. Infinite Spirals. Janeway: Beautiful. Kashyk: As a boy, I spent years gazing at these lights. This is the last time I'll ever see them. Janeway: We have something similar back on Earth. The Aurora Borealis. Kashyk: Which you too may never see again. I suppose we're both refugees, in a way. Janeway: I'm still counting on getting this ship home. Kashyk: Are you sure you'll be welcome when you do? I came across something else in your database. The Prime Directive. Janeway: The Federation's cardinal protocol. Kashyk: It seems you violated it when you rescued these telepaths. Janeway: Well, let's just say I usually go with my instincts and sort it out later at the Board of Inquiry. Those Admirals and I were on a first name basis, you know. You're risking a lot, too. Why? Kashyk: Three months ago my teams were inspecting a plasma refining vessel. We found a family of telepaths hiding in one of the extraction tanks. There was a child, very young. She'd been inside it for days, barely able to breathe. When I lifted her out and set her down on the deck, she thanked me. I sent her to a relocation center with the others, knowing full well what would happen to her. After that, I could think of nothing else, and when I couldn't stand it any longer. You're my deliverance, Captain. Computer: Analysis complete. Janeway: It worked. It looks like it'll appear in about three days, less than eight light years from here. Kashyk: The Tehara system. Janeway: Is that a problem? Kashyk: There's an automated sensor array between here and Tehara. Janeway: Can we go around it? Kashyk: We'd never make it in time. We'll have to find a way to avoid detection. Janeway: Let's do it in the morning. We've done enough for tonight. Are you saying goodbye? There will be other spirals. Kashyk: They've just never looked quite so beautiful before. Could be the company I'm keeping. Janeway: Or the polarization axis of the windows. Kashyk: That must be it. Janeway: How often does this array emit a scanning pulse? Kashyk: Every forty seconds. Janeway: Range? Kashyk: Ten light years. The pulse is designed to track warp fields and impulse signatures. If we lower our power output to beneath it's detection threshold Janeway: We could drift past undetected. Kashyk: It's worth a try. Janeway: Well, good night. Kashyk: Captain, why don't you join me? I've been looking forward to trying your replicator. Well, I'm sure that I can come up with something to toast the evening. We've accomplished quite a bit today. Janeway: I'm afraid that won't be possible. I had your replicator taken offline. Kashyk: In case I decided to replicate a weapon. Janeway: A safety precaution. You understand. Kashyk: Better than anyone. Janeway: Sleep well. Kashyk: And you. Janeway: As you were. Tuvok: Fifteen seconds. Kashyk: Our power output is below the detection threshold. Tuvok: Ten seconds. Five, four, three, two. Kashyk: We weren't detected. Paris: Ten minutes and we'll be out of range. Torres: Engineering to bridge, we've got a problem. Torres: That pulse triggered a variance in the antimatter stream. It's not much, but it'll light us up like a beacon when the next pulse hits. Janeway: Options. Torres: I can't correct it in time, so that leaves shutting down the core. Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: The array has released another pulse. Janeway: Time. Tuvok: Twenty eight seconds. Torres: Get down to the plasma injectors. Grab a tricorder and monitor the antimatter flow. Vorik: Aye, sir. Tuvok: Twenty seconds. Janeway: B'Elanna. Torres: Almost Torres: There, Captain. I'm having a problem with the injectors. Tuvok: Fifteen seconds. Ten seconds. Four, three two. Kashyk: We've been detected. The array's transmitting an alert. Janeway: Can we block it? Tuvok: Negative. Janeway: Stand down gray mode. B'Elanna, fire up the core. We're getting out of here. Kashyk: Warships will be on their way, but we can still reach the wormhole. Janeway: If we can find it. Tom, how long to the Tehara system? Paris: Eleven hours at maximum warp. Kim: Engines are back online. Janeway: Engage. Seven: Using the model you developed, we were able to narrow down the location of the wormhole's next appearance to a radius of two hundred thousand kilometers. Kir: We can't determine its exact position until we reach the system, but we know it will open in roughly six hours. Seven: It will remain open for two minutes at most. Tuvok: I've devised a new shield modulation which should protect us against their weapons. Kashyk: You're not planning to fight your way to the wormhole? Janeway: If I have to. Paris: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Paris: Long range sensors have picked up two Devore warships heading right for us. Tuvok: Time to intercept. Paris: Six hours. Janeway: Take the bridge. I'll be in Engineering. Kashyk. Janeway: First we'll check those shield modifications, then we'll see if we can adjust our phasers to penetrate the Devore shields. If torpedoes don't work I want an alternative. Kashyk: Captain, we have to talk. But not here. Kashyk: I'm going back, to rejoin the warships. It's the only way I can guarantee your safety. Janeway: Kashyk. Kashyk: I'm still a ranking officer. I can take command of the inspection teams, make sure the refugees aren't discovered. Janeway: You said yourself they're suspicious. Return now and you risk being caught. Kashyk: I can keep them off track long enough to get you through that wormhole. Janeway: It's too dangerous. Kashyk: Kathryn. Janeway: You asked for safe passage and I agreed, under the condition that you follow my orders. Kashyk: You may stand a chance against one of our warships, but not against two. If I stay your best chance of escape will be lost. Janeway: I could confine you to quarters. I was planning on asking you to stay with us once we got through the wormhole. I wouldn't mind having someone around who appreciates a bit of Tchaikovsky now and then. Kashyk: Generous but, something tells me I wouldn't fit in any better on Voyager. Janeway: Well, you wouldn't be the first wayward soul we've folded into our ranks. Your shuttle will be ready for launch within the hour. Tuvok: Our course will put us just outside the Teharan system by the time the warships arrive. Janeway: Your inspection teams have to be off Voyager before that wormhole opens. Kashyk: Believe me, it will be the quickest inspection on record. Tuvok: I'll be on the bridge. Your efforts have been greatly appreciated. Kashyk: My pleasure. Tuvok: Live long and prosper. Kashyk: Thank you. Kashyk: Begin pre-ignition sequence. Janeway: I've made one adjustment to your plan. After the inspection, we're going to wait at the wormhole for as long as we can. Until it begins to collapse. Kashyk: I may not be able to join you this time. Janeway: Try. Chakotay: They're assuming a tactical formation. Shields? Janeway: No. We follow protocol. Bridge to transporter room. Janeway: Status? Kim: Ready, Captain. Pattern cohesion stable. Janeway: Cargo bay one? Seven: Clear. Chakotay: They're hailing. Janeway: On screen. Prax: Gaharay vessel, prepare to be Janeway: We've been through three inspections. Please explain why another is necessary. Prax: Crew members are instructed to step away from their stations. Side arms and scanning equipment are to be set aside. Deviation from this or any other inspection protocols will not be tolerated. Janeway: All hands, this is the Captain. Prepare to be boarded by Devore inspections teams. Give them your usual warm welcome. Chakotay: Devore soldiers have materialized on decks fifteen, twelve, eight, four. Janeway: And one. Kashyk: Captain Janeway, report to your Ready room. Kashyk: Captain. Good to see you again. Janeway: Likewise. Kashyk: Tchaikovsky. Of all the selections in your database, this remains my favorite. Janeway: Mine, too. Kashyk: I'm afraid Prax isn't impressed. He's solely concerned with his work, aren't you, Prax? Prax: As you say, sir. Kashyk: Yes, he's curious why you entered this sector. You're aware it's restricted. Janeway: We were planning to study a supernova remnant not far from here. Kashyk: You strayed a full light year from your course in order to observe an astronomical phenomenon? Janeway: We're explorers. Kashyk: Yes, I remember. I also remember warning you about going where you don't belong. Janeway: Exploring can sometimes be hard to resist, Inspector. Kashyk: Well, it's a romantic notion, Captain, but one I can't allow you to indulge. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave our space immediately. Prax, why don't you check on our teams while I reiterate our protocols for Captain Janeway. Janeway: Do they suspect anything? Kashyk: Not yet, but our warships have been monitoring Voyager's movements for the past few days, and mine as well. I don't think we have much time. The Brenari? Janeway: They're in transporter suspension. Kashyk: And the wormhole? Janeway: We've found it. It's twenty thousand kilometers off our port bow. We've determined that a photon torpedo properly calibrated will force open the threshold long enough for Voyager to get through. Kashyk: Congratulations, Captain. For a while, I wasn't sure if even you could find it. Prax! Kashyk: Go to Cargo Bay one. You'll find the transporter patterns for more than a dozen telepaths. Rematerialize them. Prax: Yes, sir. Janeway: Impressive. You gave a masterful performance. Kashyk: I'm the one who's impressed, with your selflessness, your humanity. It made all this so much easier. Janeway: Oh, but what about your selflessness? That touching story about the little girl. Was that a fabrication, too? Kashyk: Oh, that incident was real. What I didn't tell you was that after wrestling with my ethics, I realized that I'd done the right thing in order to protect my people from a very real threat. Please. I insist. Kashyk: Captain. Kashyk: Access their forward sensor array. You should find neutrino emissions at roughly twenty thousand kilometers off the port bow. On screen. Target two photon torpedoes. When the first one detonates, the wormhole will open. Use the second one to destabilize its subspace matrix. That will destroy it. Prax, report! Prax: I've isolated the bio-patterns. Kashyk: Fire! It should have detonated. Those aren't neutrino emissions, they're antimatter residue signatures. There's no wormhole here. You created false readings. Janeway: That is the theme for this evening, isn't it? Kashyk: Prax, do you have the telepaths? Prax: I have cargo containers. Prax: Filled with vegetables. Kashyk: Return to the bridge. Janeway: Computer, change music selection. Mahler's Symphony Number One, Second Movement. Maybe this will help you relax. Devore: Inspector, we have completed our inventory of the vessel. Two of their shuttlecraft are missing. Kashyk: They couldn't have gone far. Why didn't they appear on our long range scans? Of course! Adjust their scanners to compensate for refractive shielding. Janeway: Well, you gave us the specifications. Seemed a shame to waste them. Devore: We've located the two shuttlecraft. Range, twenty million kilometers. Kashyk: Order our ships to pursue. Maximum speed! Kir: We're approaching the coordinates. I'm firing the torpedo. Woman: Kir, we're safe. Prax: The shuttles have disappeared from sensors. We've scanned for a wormhole. If there was one, it's gone. I'll order Janeway and her crew removed. We'll confiscate the vessel, deliver them to the nearest detention center. Kashyk: You're dismissed. Prax: Imperative twelve, codicil six requires Kashyk: To hell with protocol, Prax! Do you think either of us will benefit from having this failure on our records? As far as you're concerned, this incident never occurred. Make sure your teams share that understanding. Kashyk: Well played, Captain. It seems I never did earn your trust. Janeway: I had to take a few precautions. You understand. Kashyk: Better than anyone. Janeway: I never lied to you. My offer to take you with us was genuine, and it would still stand if you'd kept your part of the bargain. Kashyk: For what it's worth, you made a tempting offer. The bridge is yours.

Emh: Turn ninety degrees to the left, please. Turn ninety degrees to the left, please. Turn ninety degrees to the right, please. About face. Try to hold still, please. Naomi: Is it going to hurt? Emh: Of course not. A few photons never hurt anybody. Naomi: We didn't do this last year. Emh: That's because last year I didn't realize what an exciting tool my holo-imager could be in the pursuit of medical knowledge. Naomi: Is something wrong with me? Emh: Your health is excellent. This is just another way to make sure that it stays excellent. Naomi: Does my mother have to do this? Emh: Your mother and everybody else on board. I made it part of the annual check-up. It's quite handy, really. By attuning the resonance spectrum along the subspace band I can take an image of my patients all the way down to the subatomic level. Naomi: Subatomic level? I thought you said this wasn't going to hurt. Emh: I did, and it won't. Emh: There. See? Nothing to it. Naomi: Try to hold still, please. Emh: Are you making fun of me? Naomi: No. Emh: It'll only take a second to download your images into the medical database, if you'd like to stay for a moment and see what you look like from the inside out. Kim: Why not? Emh: Here we go. Kim: Handsome fellow. Emh: There's some scar tissue along the base of your lower skull. Computer, isolate the occipital plexus, magnification five hundred. There. Scarring along the dura mater. Kim: From what? Emh: An operation. Computer, isolate the cranial meninges, magnification one hundred. More scarring. No doubt about it. Somebody performed neurosurgery. And that somebody was me.These microlinear incisions are a dead giveaway. I developed that procedure myself. Kim: I don't understand. I don't remember having an operation. Emh: I'm a little confused as well, because I don't remember performing it. Janeway: Who is it? Emh: The Doctor. Janeway: Come in. Emh: I've finished giving the crew their annual physicals, but as usual the Captain was a no-show. Janeway: Let's get it over with. Emh: Specific complaints? Janeway: None. How's the crew? Emh: In good health, for the most part. I found a nascent alien retrovirus bouncing between personnel on decks ten and eleven, but managed to nip it in the bud. And there's been a little more wear and tear on Seven of Nine's cranial infrastructure. I'm going to double her maintenance routine. Cytometabolism is normal. Endocrine functions functioning. Janeway: That's a relief. Emh: I'd like you to drop by Sickbay at your earliest convenience. I've adjusted my holo-imager for deep body scans. You're the only member of the crew who hasn't posed for me yet. Janeway: Maybe next week. Emh: It's a fine instrument, really. I've already discovered something of a mystery with it. Apparently, I performed a complex neurosurgery on Harry Kim. According to the isotope decay around the scars, it was eighteen months ago. Janeway: I don't remember that. Emh: Neither do I, and neither does the patient. I checked my medical entries for that period. There's no mention of surgery. Janeway: Could your holo-imager have misinterpreted the scans? Emh: Possibly. The computer is double-checking the data now. I'd also like to run a complete diagnostic on my own program and have a look at my memory files. Janeway: B'Elanna and Harry are both busy with the plasma relay repairs. Let's make sure you're next up on the list. Thank you, Doctor. Emh: Hello, Seven. Seven: Doctor. Emh: I'm here to ask you a favor. Seven: Another time. Emh: I beg your pardon? SEVEN I am recalibrating the deflector dish. Come back tomorrow. I should be finished by then. Emh: Looks like I'm two for two. Oh, the Captain's acting like she's allergic to me, and now my prized pupil won't even give me the time of day. Seven: State your request. Emh: A little mystery has cropped up. Evidence that I performed surgery on Ensign Kim a year and a half ago, before you came aboard. The trouble is, I don't remember it. I wanted you to help me run a self-diagnostic. Seven: I will assist you, in one hour. Emh: Fair enough. Seven: Computer, locate the Emergency Medical Hologram. Computer: The EMH is inactive. Seven: Activate him. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Seven: I'm here to assist you, as I agreed. I've run a preliminary diagnostic of your program. Your suspicions were correct. Emh: I never asked you to run a diagnostic. Suspicions? What are you talking about? Seven: You don't recall speaking to me in the Astrometrics lab one hour ago. Emh: No. The last I remember, I was completing the yearly physicals. Seven: You mentioned a neurosurgery you performed on Ensign Kim eighteen months ago. Emh: Computer, locate the holoscans I took of Ensign Kim this morning. Any operation would show Computer: Unavailable. That file has been deleted. Emh: Let's have a look at my program. Seven: A deletion in your short term memory buffer. Emh: Our chat in Astrometrics never got filed. That's why I can't remember it. If I were given to paranoia, I'd say someone is trying to keep me from finding out what happened eighteen months ago. My photo album. Seven: Doctor? Emh: I was quite a shutterbug back then. Not a day went by when I didn't record an image for posterity. Let's have a walk down memory lane. Meet me on holodeck two. Emh: Computer, display all holo-images taken on Stardate 50979 Computer: Those holo-images have been deleted. Emh: Deleted? By whom? Computer: Unknown. Seven: I'm detecting residual photons in the holo-buffer. It may be possible to partially reconstruct the images. Emh: Try. Seven: I've restored five images. They are degraded but intact. Emh: Let's see them. Emh: The mess hall. Seven: Do you remember this? Emh: No. Who is that? The Ensign. It seems to be her birthday. Seven: I've never seen her before. Emh: The Ensign again. I never went on a shuttle mission with Harry Kim, and certainly not with her. And again. Seven: I've isolated your memory files from stardate 50979. Emh: They weren't deleted? Seven: No. Emh: Then why can't I remember them? Seven: The program was rewritten to deny you access to those memories. I'm trying to restore them. Janeway: Hear, hear. All: Hear, hear. Emh: Say cheese. All: Cheese. Seven: What happened? Emh: I was in the mess hall. Seven: The files are difficult to localize. The memories will be out of sequence. Kim: What was that? Jetal: Our sensors are dead. Kim: Make a wish. Emh: They've stopped. Seven: One moment. Jetal: I'm going to kill you. Emh: Ensign, I haven't seen you in months. Jetal: Price I pay for staying in good health, I guess. Paris: Acetylcholine, twenty five microliters. It's not helping. I'm getting massive synaptic failure. Emh: That doesn't make any sense. Kim: This is the last one. Emh: Say cheese. All: Cheese. Emh: Call the Captain. Janeway: I don't recognize this species. Seven? Seven: They are unknown to the Borg. Tuvok: Perhaps these images have been manipulated. Emh: No, they're real. The image buffer would have shown signs of tampering. I have a different theory. I believe there was an attack on Voyager by this species and all our memories of the event were erased. This is the unknown crewman I told you about. Ensign Jetal. The question is, who was she? An alien intruder posing as a Starfleet Ensign? Of course, it's impossible to tell from a photograph, but one thing is certain. We are in immediate danger. Tuvok: How so? Emh: Only a few hours ago, as I was beginning this investigation, someone shut down my program and eliminated all my memories of the last twenty four hours. Seven: An intruder may be on board. Janeway: Run a deck by deck security sweep. Tuvok: Understood. Janeway: Report to the Astrometrics lab and recalibrate the sensors. See if you can detect any cloaked vessels nearby. Emh: I'll review the medical records of the crew. Ensign Kim may not have been the only one who was injured during the attack. Janeway: No, I want you to deactivate yourself for now. We'll erect a security field around the main computer and encrypt all pathways leading to your program. If someone does try to tamper with you again, I want to be ready. Emh: Captain. Janeway: It's for your own safety, Doctor. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Emh: You will keep me informed? Janeway: Absolutely. Dismissed. Emh: Computer, transfer my program from the mobile emitter to the Sickbay systems. Computer: Transfer complete. Emh: Computer, duplicate all of my memory files recorded within the last forty eight hours. Computer: Duplication complete. Emh: Now, I'm going offline. If my program is altered without my authorisation, reactivate me and restore the duplicate memory files. Interface with the holo-imaging device. If anybody enters this room, commence imaging in five second intervals. Computer: Acknowledged. Emh: Computer, deactivate EMH. (Later, someone enters Sickbay and accesses the EMH memory core. The holo-imager activates as files are deleted. The person leaves and the EMH is reactivated.) Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Hello? Computer: Restoring memory files. Restoration complete. Janeway: Believe me, I was there. Chakotay: So was I. Tuvok: Commander Chakotay is correct. Janeway: Oh? And how would you know? Tuvok: In my youth, I studied many forms of martial art, including the Sumo of Earth. I have followed the sport ever since. Janeway: It was the 77th Emperor's Cup. Takashi forced Kar-pek out of the circle in less than three seconds. I had a fifth row seat. Chakotay: Then you must have been ordering sake, because Takashi's knee broke the sand and the referee gave the match to Kar-pek. Tuvok: Exactly. Janeway: If this is another house call, it'll have to wait. As you can see, I've got a mutiny on my hands. Emh: A mutiny? I suppose that's better than a conspiracy. Seven: Doctor? Emh: Tell her, Captain. Describe how you tampered with my program. How it was you all along. Tuvok: Perhaps you should accompany me to Sickbay, Doctor. Emh: Et tu, Tuvok? You're conspiring against me, all of you. Why? Janeway: In my ready room. Emh: You've been manipulating my program. Don't deny it. Janeway: I don't intend to. Emh: But, the alien ship, the intruder? Did that attack actually happen? Janeway: Yes. You were damaged during the incident. Emh: Damaged? Janeway: It caused a conflict in your programming that couldn't be resolved. Emh: What kind of conflict? Janeway: I had no choice but to deny you access to your memories of those events. Emh: What kind of conflict? Janeway: If I told you that, I might set the whole thing in motion again. Emh: This conflict in my programming. Janeway: Yes. Emh: That's not good enough. Janeway: It'll have to be. Emh: Captain! Janeway: I've made a command decision for your own benefit and the welfare of this entire crew. I'm not willing to debate it. Emh: How would you like it if I operated on you without your consent or without your knowledge? Janeway: If the operation saved my life? I could live with it. Emh: I don't believe you. You'd feel as violated as I do right now. Janeway: Whether you believe me or not is beside the point. A year and a half ago the only solution was to rewrite your program. I have to perform that same procedure now. Emh: That isn't fair. Janeway: You're malfunctioning, and you need to be repaired. Return to Sickbay and wait for my orders. Chakotay: Doctor. Emh: What's happening? What are you doing? Seven: Lieutenant Torres requires a copy of your most recent memory files, including the backups. Emh: You're going to rewrite my program. Chakotay: The Captain thinks it's for the best. I'm sorry. B'Elanna and Seven are setting up the procedure right now. In the meantime, you're to brief Mister Paris about any experiments you're performing, any tests. Paris: I'll be filling in while your program's offline. Paris: Okay, so, you're running some kind of cell analysis? Emh: Yes. Paris: Well, lets take a look. Emh: What happened eighteen months ago? Paris: Doc. Emh: Why won't the Captain tell me? Paris: She has her reasons. Emh: And you agree with her. Paris: I was there and yes, I agree with her. Janeway: Come in. Are you having a little trouble regenerating? Seven: My alcove is functioning properly. I am having trouble with the nature of individuality. Janeway: There's a time and a place for philosophical discussion. Two in the morning in my quarters isn't one of them. But I'll tell you what. Meet me in the mess hall tomorrow. Seven: Tomorrow will be too late. We'll have already rewritten the Doctor's program by then. Janeway: And violated his rights as an individual. Seven: Precisely. Janeway: If you've come to act as my conscience, you're a little late. I considered these issues eighteen months ago, as I did again this morning. I came to the same conclusion. Seven: Your conclusion is wrong. Janeway: Coffee, black. Lukewarm. Now I've told that replicator a dozen times about the temperature of my coffee. It just doesn't seem to want to listen. Almost as if it's got a mind of its own. But it doesn't. A replicator operates through a series of electronic pathways that allow it to receive instructions and take appropriate action, and there you go. A cup of coffee, a bowl of soup, a plasma conduit, whatever we tell it to do. As difficult as it is to accept, the Doctor is more like that replicator than he is like us. Seven: He would disagree. Janeway: I'm sure he would, but I can't let that change my decision. I learned that the hard way when his program almost self-destructed. I won't take that risk again. Seven: The risk isn't yours to take. Janeway: If one of my crew chose to put a phaser to his own head, should I let him? Seven: It would depend on the situation. Janeway: It always depends on the situation, Seven, but we can debate philosophy another time. Seven: When you separated me from the Collective, I was an unknown risk to your crew, yet you kept me on board. You allowed me to evolve into an individual. Janeway: You're a human being. He's a hologram. Seven: And you allowed that hologram to evolve as well, to exceed his original programming. And yet now you choose to abandon him. Janeway: Objection noted. Good night. Seven: It is unsettling. You say that I am a human being and yet I am also Borg. Part of me not unlike your replicator. Not unlike the Doctor. Will you one day choose to abandon me as well? I have always looked to you as my example, my guide to humanity. Perhaps I've been mistaken. Good night. Janeway: I'd like to think I made my decision eighteen months ago for all the right reasons. The truth is, my own biases about what you are had just as much to do with it. At the very least, you deserve to know exactly what happened. If you're willing. Emh: I'm ready. Paris: You're standing on my foot. Emh: I am not. Torres: Shush. Neelix: If you ask me, they should have just locked the turbolift and thrown away. Jetal: Neelix, the power's down. Jetal to Torres. Torres: Er, go ahead, Ensign. Or should I say. All: Surprise! Jetal: I'm going to kill you. Chakotay: I want you to go along on a few of the shuttle surveys. If I can talk you into it. Emh: Another away mission? Certainly! I'm flattered. Kim: I guess the birthday girl and I get the pleasure of your company, Doc. Chakotay: You launch at nineteen hundred hours, shuttlebay one. Jetal: Hello, Doctor. Emh: Ensign Jetal. I haven't seen you in months. Jetal: The price I pay for staying in good health. Emh: So, keeping busy down on deck eleven? Jetal: Too busy. We're modifying one of the shuttles, making it more maneuverable and more cool. Emh: I see you've been working with Mister Paris. My condolences. Kim: I thought I picked up a slight distortion in subspace, but it's not there any more. Jetal: Nothing on long range sensors but a few hydrogen atoms. Kim: Candid shot? Emh: Try to look natural. Jetal: Oh, at least it's my good side. Emh: Let's get one of the group. Kim: This is the last one. Emh: Say cheese. Both: Cheese. Jetal: Doctor, I have a shuttle to fly. Emh: Ah, yes. Kim: What was that? Jetal: Our sensors are dead. Kim: Power's being drained. Shields and weapons are offline. Emh: How? Emh: Doctor to Voyager, mayday. We're under attack. I've got wounded. Mayday! Chakotay: Acknowledged, Doctor. Set navigational controls to return to Voyager. Emh: Commander, can you hear me? Chakotay: Doctor, please respond. Emh: Hello? Computer, engage autonavigation. Lay in a course for Voyager, full impulse. Kim: Doctor. Emh: Stay calm. That weapon carried quite a punch. Kim: Is she okay? Emh: She's unconscious. Kim: Voyager? Emh: We've lost contact. I sent that alien back to his ship. You think they'd be grateful. Kim: You should have beamed him into space. Emh: I'm not in the business of killing people, Ensign. Synaptic shock? But there was no neural damage. Mister Kim! I don't understand. No. Chakotay: Doctor, stand by for transport. Emh: Beam us directly to Sickbay. Emh: Prepare these people for surgery. Paris: Here. What happened? Emh: We were fired on. There's something wrong with their nervous systems. We've got to stabilize their synapses. Get me a choline compound. Paris: Which choline compound? Emh: It doesn't matter. Just make sure it's a pure base. Her spinal cord's deteriorating. Same rate of collapse. Paris: Acetylcholine, twenty five microliters. It's not helping. I'm reading massive synaptic failure. Emh: This doesn't make any sense. Paris: Paris to Engineering. Transfer all available power to Sickbay. Torres: Acknowledged. Emh: Some kind of plasmic energy is arcing between their neural membranes. That weapon, it was designed to do this. Paris: To leave a residual charge in the victim's body? Emh: An energy pulse that remains in the neural membranes, working its way up the spinal cord to the brain. They'll be dead in minutes if we don't find a way to stop it. I've got to protect their brain functions. Paris: His neocortex is failing. Emh: A spinal shunt. I'll isolate the spinal cord from the brain stem until I can repair the cellular damage. But I don't have time to perform the procedure on both of them. Paris: Then talk me through it. We'll do them together. Emh: It's too complex. Paris: Then make a choice, before we lose them both! Emh: Subdermal scalpel. Bio-electric field generator. Paris: His vital signs are stabilizing. It's working. Emh: Cellular regenerator. His neural membranes are re-establishing themselves. Good. Emh: The attack, how did it end? Were there more casualties? Janeway: We exchanged fire for another few minutes, then the aliens withdrew. There was only one casualty. Ensign Jetal. Emh: I don't mean to seem unfeeling, but I'm programmed to accept the loss of a patient with professional detachment. Janeway: We are assembled here today to pay final respects to our honored dead, Ensign Ahni Jetal. Her intelligence and her charm have made our long journey home seem not quite so long. As she continues on a journey of her own, we will keep her in our hearts and in our memories. Emh: We're low on synthetic antigens, and I'm sorry to report many of the medicinal plants you've collected over the past several months were destroyed as well. Neelix: I have some herbs in storage you might be able to use. Emh: Been holding out on me? Neelix: No, I was keeping them around just in case. Emh: Good planning. Neelix: As for the antigens, I'll have to start replicating them in batches. Which do you want first? Emh: Decisions, decisions. How do you make a decision, Mister Neelix? In general, I mean. Neelix: I guess I weigh the alternatives and try to decide which is best. Emh: Which is best. How do you determine that? Neelix: I never thought about it, really. Emh: Well, maybe you should. Think about it, I mean. Neelix: I guess every situation is a little different. Emh: For me, it's rather simple. While I'm faced with a decision, my program calculates the variables, and I take action. For example, what could be simpler than a triage situation in Sickbay? Two patients, for example, both injured, for example, both in imminent danger of dying. Calculate the variables. My program needs to ascertain which patient has the greater chance of survival, and that's the one I treat. Emh: Simple. But, what if they have an equal chance of survival? What then? Hmm? Flip a coin? Pick a card? Neelix: Doctor. Emh: Oh, I'm all right. I'm a hologram. I don't get injured, I don't feel pain, I don't die. Unlike some people I could tell you about. For example, two patients. Both injured, both in imminent danger of. Don't touch me! I'm a hologram. Photonic energy. Don't waste your time. Neelix: Neelix to Security. Send a team to the Mess hall, please. Emh: A whole team, Mister Neelix? Throwing a little party, are we? Why, I attended a party just recently. A birthday party for a very nice young woman. I made a decision there, too. Several of them, in fact. When I came through the door, do I turn right or do I turn left? As I recall, I decided on the latter. Then, what should I see before me but the hors d'oeuvre tray, and another decision. Do I take a canapé or refuse? Oh, that's an easy one. I'm a hologram. I don't eat. Neelix: Something's wrong with him. Emh: Don't you know it's rude to refer to somebody in the third person. You had a choice, Mister Neelix. Should I do something rude or not do something rude? Tuvok: Doctor, we must return to Sickbay. Emh: Why should I? What if I don't want to return to Sickbay? What if I decide not to return to Sickbay? No, I don't choose this. Leave me alone! Let me go! Why did she have to die? Why did I kill her? Why did I decide to kill her? Why? Somebody tell me why! Janeway: It was downhill from there. You developed a feedback loop between your ethical and cognitive subroutines. You were having the same thoughts over and over again. We couldn't stop it. Torres: Our only option was to erase your memories of those events. Emh: You were right. I didn't deserve to keep those memories, not after what I did. Janeway: You were performing your duty. Emh: Two patients, which do I kill? Janeway: Doctor. Emh: Doctor? Hardly! A doctor retains his objectivity. I didn't do that, did I? Two patients, equal chances of survival and I chose the one I was closer to? I chose my friend? That's not in my programming! That's not what I was designed to do! Go ahead! Reprogram me! I'll lend you a hand! Let's start with this very day, this hour, this second! Janeway: Computer, deactivate the EMH. Torres: Here we go again. Captain? Janeway: It's as though there's a battle being fought inside him, between his original programming and what he's become. Our solution was to end that battle. What if we were wrong? Torres: We've seen what happens to him. In fact, we've seen it twice. Janeway: Still, we allowed him to evolve, and at the first sign of trouble? We gave him a soul, B'Elanna. Do we have the right to take it away now? Torres: We gave him personality subroutines. I'd hardly call that a soul. Seven: Captain. Janeway: I'm having trouble with the nature of individuality. Seven: You require a philosophical discussion? Janeway: There's a time and a place for it. This is one of them. After I freed you from the Collective, you were transformed. It's been a difficult process. Was it worth it? Seven: I had no choice. JANEWAY; That's not what I asked you. Seven: If I could change what happened, erase what you did to me, would I? No. Captain's log, supplemental. Our Doctor is now our patient. It's been two weeks since I've ordered a round the clock vigil. A crew member has stayed with him at all times, offering a sounding board and a familiar presence while he struggles to understand his memories and thoughts. The chance of recovery? Uncertain. Emh: The more I think about it, the more I realize there's nothing I could've done differently. Janeway: What do you mean? Emh: The primordial atom burst, sending out its radiation, setting everything in motion. One particle collides with another, gasses expand, planets contract, and before you know it we've got starships and holodecks and chicken soup. In fact, you can't help but have starships and holodecks and chicken soup, because it was all determined twenty billion years ago! Tuvok: There is a certain logic to your logic. Progress? Janeway: I'm not sure if he's making any sense of this experience, or if his program's just running in circles. Tuvok: You've been here for sixteen hours. Let me continue while you rest. Janeway: I'll be all right. Go back to the bridge. Emh: How can you read at a time like this? Janeway: It helps me think. Emh: Think? What do you need to think about? Janeway: You. This book is relevant to your situation. Emh: Oh? What is it? Janeway: Poetry, written on Earth a thousand years ago. La Vita Nuova. Emh: La Vita Nuova. The New Life? Ha! Tell that to Ensign Jetal. Actually, I killed her countless times. Janeway: What do you mean? Emh: Causality, probability. For every action, there's an infinite number of reactions and in each one of them, I killed her. Or did I? Too many possibilities. Too many pathways for my program to follow. Impossible to choose. Still, I can't live with the knowledge of what I've done. I can't. Emh: Captain? Captain? Janeway: Oh, sorry. Emh: How could you sleep at a time like this? Janeway: It's been a long day. You were saying? Emh: What's wrong? Janeway: Nothing. Emh: You're ill! Janeway: I have a headache. Emh: Fever, you have a fever. Janeway: I'll live. Emh: Medical emergency! Janeway: Doctor. Emh: Someone's got to treat you immediately. Call Mister Paris. You've got to get to Sickbay. Janeway: Doctor, I'm a little busy right now, helping a friend. Emh: I, I'll be all right. Go, sleep, please. I'll still be here in the morning. Janeway: Are you sure? Emh: Yes. Please, I don't want to be responsible for any more suffering. Janeway: Good night. If you need anything. Emh: I'll call. Thank you, Captain. Emh: In that book which is my memory, on the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you, appear the words - Here begins a new life.

Janeway: Voyager to shuttlecraft Drake. Prepare for emergency transport. Mister Kim, can you hear me? We're attempting to lock on to you. Harry? Libby: Harry? Hey, it's time to wake up. What's wrong? Kim: Libby. Libby: Yes? Kim: This can't be happening. Libby: What's wrong with you? Kim: Libby, it's really you, isn't it? Libby: Come on. You're going to be late. Kim: What? Libby: You have a meeting. Oh nine hundred, remember? You've only been obsessing about it for a week. I don't want Lieutenant Lasca blaming me because you weren't on time for the biggest meeting of your career. Now get dressed and I'll make you some breakfast. Libby: Come on, the eggs are getting cold. What's with you today? Kim: The date. What's the date? Libby: The date? Kim: What day is today? Libby: 49011. Kim: So this isn't the past. It's the present. San Francisco. This can't be a dream, it's too real. It's too clear. So what does that leave. A holodeck? A hallucination? Some kind of trick? The last thing, I remember was piloting a shuttlecraft on my way back to Voyager. Libby: We both have a long day ahead of us. Could we play this little game another time, please? Kim: No, you can't be Libby. It's not possible. My name is Ensign Harry Kim of the Federation Starship Voyager. Where am I? Is this some sort of simulation? Libby: That's not funny, Harry, talking about Voyager like that. The memorial service was only two months ago. Danny was your best friend. How could you joke about it? Kim: Danny? Danny Byrd? Libby: I'm done with this conversation. Go to work. I'll see you tonight. Kim: What is going on? Cosimo: Harry! Coming right up. Cosimo: Here you go. Vulcan mocha, extra sweet. Kim: Thanks. Cosimo: So today's the big day, huh? Kim: What do you mean? Cosimo: You know, the meeting. The new ship you're designing. And don't forget. You promised to bring me a model. And I'm going to hang it right there in my window. And I'll tell everyone, Harry Kim, he designed that ship. He came into my shop every morning. Kim: Look, I know this is going to sound a little funny, but how long have I been coming to this coffee shop? Cosimo: How long? Well, let's see. Since you left the Academy. How is that? Eight? Eight months. Kim: Eight months. And you've seen me every day? Cosimo: Well, not every day. You like to sleep late on Sunday. But if I had your fiancée, I'd sleep late too. Kim: Fiancée? We're getting married? Cosimo: Ah, yes. There were many mornings I woke up, I said the same thing to myself when I was about to be married. But don't worry, it'll pass. Kim: I don't think you've ever had a morning quite like this one. Lasca: Hey, Harry! You ready to go? Kim: Er, where? Lasca: Very funny. Come on. We'd better get moving if we're going to catch the transport to Headquarters. Kim: I, I'm not sure I can go. I'm not feeling very well. Maybe I should just go home. Lasca: Come on. Come on. It's just a case of the jitters. You'll do just fine. Lasca: Relax, Harry. If all goes well, you'll walk out of this room a Lieutenant. Let me see that warp coil schematic. Kim: The what? Lasca: The coil diagram. The one with the new plasma flow equations. Kim: I forgot to bring it. Lasca: Forgot? Harry, we need that diagram to show that we worked out the dilithium fracture problem. Kim: I'm sorry. Lasca: Well, we'll just have to improvise. Strickler: Good morning. I have a meeting at eleven hundred hours with the head of Starfleet Security. She doesn't like to be kept waiting. Let's get this underway. Lieutenant Lasca? Lasca: Thank you, Admiral. Lasca: Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at the new runabout Yellowstone. It's equipped with tetryon plasma warp nacelles, and designed for a variety of mission profiles. Strickler: Yes, Lieutenant. I've looked over your specifications. It's an interesting design. But how do you propose to address the dilithium fracture problem? Tetryon plasma tends to disrupt subspace. Lasca: I'm actually glad you asked that question, sir. We've been working on the problem for several weeks, and I think you'll see that we have found an answer. I'd like to introduce you to the engineer who designed these new warp engines, and I might add, he is the most promising young engineer to come out of the Academy in a long time. Ensign Harry Kim. Harry? Strickler: Is there a problem, Ensign? Kim: Actually, sir, there is. Lasca: Come on, Harry. Pull it together. We've been waiting for this for six months. Strickler: Ensign, are you ill? Kim: Yes, sir. I'm very ill. I would like to continue this presentation at a later date. Strickler: Well, unfortunately, Ensign, I'm leaving for a three week tour of the Cardassian border in a few days. It will have to wait until after then. Lasca: Harry, you'd better be dying. Kim: Guess I'm pretty good. Computer, display my service record. Graduated Starfleet Academy stardate 47918. Requested duty on USS Voyager. Request denied. Requested transfer to Starfleet Engineering Corps. Transfer approved. Starship design specialist. Awarded the Cochrane Medal of Excellence for outstanding advances in warp theory. Computer, access Starfleet Science Academy database. Have there been any temporal anomalies in the space-time continuum reported in the last forty eight hours? Computer: Negative. No temporal anomalies have been reported. Kim: Computer, has there been any contact with the starship Voyager since it was lost in the Badlands? Computer: Information on USS Voyager is classified. Security clearance level three or above is required to access files. Kim: No problem. It's my ship, or at least I thought it was. Computer: Security authorisation accepted. Last recorded contact with USS Voyager prior to its disappearance was on stardate 48307.5. Kim: Access Voyager crew manifest. Who was the operations officer on board? Computer: Ensign Daniel Byrd. Kim: Danny. Cosimo: Harry! What are you doing back so early? Kim: Oh, hi. I wasn't feeling too well, so I decided to come home. Cosimo: Oh, you don't look sick to me. Coming home for a little visit with Libby, are we? Ah, to be young. Don't worry. I'll keep your secret. Kim: Thanks. Listen, I know this is going to sound strange, but I forgot to look at the street number when I left this morning, and I don't remember which building I live in. Could you Cosimo: Tell you where you live? You're not playing some kind of a prank on your old pal Cosimo, are you? Kim: No, like I said, I haven't been feeling well, and everything's kind of foggy. Cosimo: Okay, okay, okay. Well, you live right over there. Fourth floor, apartment four G. Kim: Thanks. Cosimo: Harry, don't look so concerned. Everything's going to work out. You have a wonderful job, a beautiful fiancée. Everything's going to be fine. Trust me, hmm? Libby: Hello? Who's there? Kim: It's just me, Libby. Libby: Harry? Are you okay? Kim: Yeah. I'm fine. Libby: You feel a little warm. God, you're tense. Why don't you tell me what happened today? Kim: Nothing. Everything. I'm not sure what happened. Libby: But Harry, forget about work. Try to relax. You're home now. What can I do to help? Kim: Just tell me you love me. Libby: I tell you that every day. Aren't you getting sick of hearing it? Kim: No. In fact, pretend I haven't heard you say it in a long time. Pretend that we haven't seen each other for months. Libby: Okay. I love you, Harry. Welcome home. So, if we haven't seen each other for months, where have you been? Kim: Oh, on a starship, thousands of light years away. Libby: A mission? Kim: Yeah. We got a little lost. Libby: Oh. Sounds lonely. Kim: You can't imagine. Libby: Tell me something. You didn't stop at Risa along the way, did you? Kim: No. No pleasure planet excursions, I'm afraid. Libby: You thought about me the whole time? Kim: Every day. Every nanosecond. Libby: Do me a favor. Kim: Hmm? Libby: Don't ever leave me again. Kim: Orlando, Parsons, Peterson, Platt, Porter. Wait a minute. Paris. Where's Tom Paris? Computer, access service record of Starfleet officer Thomas Eugene Paris. Convicted of treason. Sentenced to eighteen months at the New Zealand Penal Settlement. Paroled on stardate 48702. Last reported whereabouts, Marseilles, France. Libby: Harry? It's four in the morning. What are you doing? Kim: Oh, I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd catch up on some work. Libby: When are you going to tell me what's going on? Kim: There's nothing going on, okay? Libby: You're not a very good liar, Harry. You've been acting strange all day. And I'm not the only one who's worried about you. Lieutenant Lasca called this afternoon. He said he's never seen you so agitated, so don't tell me there's nothing going on. Kim: Libby, it's hard to explain right now. And I do want to tell you, but I need you to trust me. Libby: I do trust you. I love you. That's why I'm marrying you. I would hope you would have the same trust in me. Kim: All right. This, this is going to sound a little crazy from your perspective, but I am not who you think I am. Libby: Oh? Kim: All of this, it's not supposed to be happening. I don't belong here. Libby: If you're having second thoughts about getting married, why didn't you just say so? Kim: You don't understand. What I'm trying to say is, I'm from another reality. Libby: Another reality. Kim: That's right. Libby: Harry, you're starting to scare me. Kim: I know. I'm scared too. Libby: Maybe you should talk to a counselor, a neurologist. There may be something wrong with you. Kim: I will, but there's someone else I need to see first. Libby: Where are you going? Kim: Marseilles, France. Libby: What for? Kim: I've got to see Paris. Libby: But you just said you were going to Marseilles. Kim: It's a long story. Trust me, okay? Libby: Okay. Paris: Hey. Watch it, will you? I'm trying to set up a shot here. Kim: Tom. Paris: Who the hell are you? Kim: You don't know me, do you? Paris: Sure. We were at the Academy together, right? Kim: No. Paris: Oh. Well, it must have been the Exeter. We served on the Exeter together? Kim: Try Voyager. Paris: Ah, Voyager. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I never set foot on that ship. And I can't say that I'm sorry, considering what happened to it. Kim: You know about the mission to the Badlands? Paris: Oh, yeah. Captain Janeway asked if I'd help her track down that Maquis ship in exchange for an early release from the penal colony. Kim: But you said no? Paris: What? Are you kidding? I said yes! It sounded better than Starfleet Rehab. Anyway, I got as far as Deep Space Nine, where I got into a bar fight with a Ferengi, and I was thrown into the brig by a very unpleasant shapeshifter. Janeway tried to get me released but my parole was revoked by Starfleet Command. Voyager left without me. Kim: That Ferengi, was he trying to sell you Lobi crystals? Paris: Yeah. How do you know about that? Kim: Because I was there. In my reality, anyway. Tom, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I was on Voyager and so were you. You never got into a bar fight with that Ferengi. You stopped him from selling me Lobi crystals. And you did lead us into the Badlands. Paris: You're right. That does sound crazy. Kim: Something's happened. Somehow, reality has been changed. A temporal anomaly, an alien influence, I can't explain how. All I know is that it's true. I was in a shuttlecraft heading back to Voyager, and then I woke up here on Earth. Paris: What is it you want? Kim: Come with me to Starfleet Headquarters. Help me run a computer simulation of what happened on that shuttle. You're the best pilot I've ever seen, and if anyone can figure it out, it's you. Paris: You had me there for a minute. You really did. But then you blew it. Kim: What are you talking about? Paris: You're not getting me to set foot inside Starfleet Headquarters. So you tell whatever admiral or captain who sent you that I'm not interested in being another pawn in one of their games. Kim: It's not a game! Paris: Oh, it isn't? Oh, that's a shame. I like games. Kim: You once told me that you used to treat life like one big game. Rules, players, winners, losers. You never took any of it seriously until you lost. Paris: You know, you're starting to annoy me. Kim: You also told me you were afraid of what would happen to you if you didn't take Captain Janeway up on her offer. Now I see why. Paris: What do you see, Ensign? Kim: A loser and a drunk. Kim: I guess in this reality, that's all you'll ever be. Kim: What's going on? Lasca: Harry, just relax. Kim: Why does everyone say relax when they're about to do something terrible? Lasca: Starfleet knows what you've been doing. Kim: Which is what exactly? Lasca: Breaking into classified files, using forged security access codes. Kim: I haven't forged anything. And I can explain. Lasca: That's why we're here. We're going to take you back to Starfleet Headquarters. They want to ask you a few questions. Libby: Harry, please. Just go with them. Tell them what you told me. Everything will be all right. Kim: I don't think I have a choice at the moment. I'll see you later. Strickler: You claim to have Voyager security protocols because you were an officer on Voyager. Kim: Yes, sir. Strickler: Lost in the Delta Quadrant. Kim: Yes, sir. Strickler: And Ensign Daniel Byrd. You say that he's taken your place on that ship? Kim: Yes, sir. Strickler: And this is all because reality has been changed somehow? Kim: Yes, sir. Strickler: But you don't have a single shred of evidence to back up your claims. Lasca: Harry, I don't doubt for a minute that you believe you're telling the truth, but we have to consider all the possibilities. Kim: Like what? Lasca: Like you could be delusional, or you could have had your memory centers altered so that you think what you're saying is the truth. Or you could be an alien masquerading as Harry Kim. Kim: That's crazy. I am Harry Kim. Check my DNA if you don't believe me. Run a microcellular scan of my cerebral cortex to see if my memory's been altered. Everything I'm saying is true. Strickler: Mister Kim, why did you travel to Marseilles, France this morning? Kim: I went to look up an old friend. Strickler: You have poor taste in friends. Thomas Paris is a convicted traitor and a Maquis sympathizer. Now, what did you talk about with him? Kim: I tried to tell him what's happened. I wanted his help. Strickler: His help to run a shuttle simulation. Why? Kim: To figure out how I got here and how I can get back. There must be a temporal anomaly somewhere or. You think I'm a spy, don't you. You think I'm working for the Maquis. Strickler: We're here to find the truth, Ensign, whatever that might be. Kim: That's it! I'm not answering any more questions until I have legal counsel. Strickler: You have that right. Lasca: Harry, we want to help you but try to understand. What you are telling us doesn't make much sense. All we know so far is that you have been seen talking with a Maquis criminal, and you've broken into classified Starfleet records. Until there is something else, something concrete, those are the facts in this case, and you have to admit, the facts look pretty bad. Strickler: We will be monitoring your movements until further notice. I believe you know the restrictions. No off-world travel, and if you tamper with the anklet, Security will be immediately alerted and you will be formally charged. Do you understand? Kim: Yes, Admiral. Strickler: We'll be spending a lot of time together, Ensign. And I assure you, we will get to the bottom of this. You're dismissed. Cosimo: Troubles, Harry? Kim: You could say that. Cosimo: Let's have some coffee. Cosimo: I was sent here to watch you, to make sure that you were all right. But it's now clear that you are not. Kim: Who are you? Cosimo: We exist in what you would call a temporal inversion fold in the space-time matrix. It's not necessary to understand. It only matters that there was an accident. Your shuttle intersected one of our time streams, and boom! A few things were altered as the result of the accident. History and events were scrambled a bit, and you ended up here. Kim: Well, you've got to get me back. Cosimo: We don't know how. Kim: What? Cosimo: We only know that an accident occurred. We don't know how or why. Kim: Well, that's not good enough. There's got to be something we can do. Where is this time stream of yours? Maybe I can use it to get back. Cosimo: The time stream weaves through the galaxy like a thread. I could show you how to find it, and you could try to recreate the conditions that existed before the accident, and fly back into it, but there's no guarantee what will happen to you if you do. Kim: What do you mean? Cosimo: Well, you may be able to change reality again, but there's no way to predict how it would change. You could end up at any point in the space-time continuum. You might return to your original reality, or you might find yourself a billion years in the future. Or at some time before sentient life even existed on your planet. Kim: I guess I'll have to take that chance, because somehow I have to get back. Cosimo: Are you so sure? This is a pretty good place for you, Harry. You have a wonderful job with Starfleet, a beautiful woman who loves you. Why be so quick to turn your back on all this? Maybe this is your, er, fate. Isn't that the word your people use? That thing which was meant to be? Hmm? Seems to me you're actually a very lucky man. Kim: What about Danny Byrd? He isn't so lucky. And Tom Paris? Fate wasn't so kind to him. No, it isn't supposed to be this way. I'm supposed to be on Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. And that's where I have to go. Cosimo: Very well. Cosimo: This will tell you where the time stream intersects this region of space. That's as much as I can do for you. Kim: Thanks. Cosimo: Good luck, Harry Kim of Voyager. You're going to need it. Unless of course, you decide to stay. In which case, I'll see you in the morning, same time. Vulcan mocha, extra sweet. Kim: Libby. I didn't hear you come in. Libby: Obviously. You're in enough trouble as it is. What do you want them to do, put you in prison? Kim: No. I'm just trying to get back to where I belong. Libby: Where you belong. You used to say you belonged here with me. But I guess everything's changed, hasn't it? Kim: Look, I know the last few days must have been pretty tough on you. Libby: Do you? Do you really know what it's like when the person you love suddenly changes? Kim: It's still me. The guy who was in your seat at the Ktarian music festival. The guy who took three weeks to work up the courage to ask you out. The guy who still wakes up in the middle of the night and says your name out loud, hoping you'll answer back. Libby: But if you're really Harry, you wouldn't be trying so hard to get away from me. Kim: I'm not trying to get away from you. I love you. And I promise you, I want to stay here more than anything. But I can't. Libby: I don't understand. I don't understand any of this. Kim: I don't think anybody knows me as well as you do, so you of all people should know that once I've made up my mind about something, I can't let it go. In some ways, it'd be a lot easier to forget about Voyager, just settle in here and build a life. But that wouldn't be me. You wouldn't be getting the Harry Kim you fell in love with. Does that make any sense? Kim: The tampering alarm. Security will be here any second. I'd better go. I promise you, I'm going to try to get back. It may take a while, and I may not make it, but I swear, I will try. Libby: Sorry. Security: Hold it! Security: Get up! Paris: Excuse me. Paris: Ow! There goes my bank shot. Kim: What are you doing here? Paris: Helping out a friend. Let's go. Kim: So, how did you find me? Paris: I still have a few friends at Starfleet. They told me you were in some serious trouble. Kim: Yeah. Starfleet thinks I'm a Maquis spy. Paris: I know the feeling. Those security anklets really chafe, don't they? Kim: You're the last person I expected to help me. Paris: Let's just say it's been a long time since anybody gave a damn about my future, including me. I don't know if I'm supposed to be on Voyager like you've told me, but it sounds a whole lot better than the life I have here. I'm willing to take my chances, Ensign. Kim: Call me Harry. You always did. Paris: Won't be long before they find us. We better keep moving. Kim: Wait. I found a way to get back to my reality. The problem is I'll need a ship to do it. I think I have access to a runabout, but I'm going to have to break it out of Spacedock. Paris: Sounds to me like you need a pilot. Kim: Know anyone who's qualified? Paris: I know someone who used to be pretty good. And if I'm not mistaken, he still knows a few tricks. Kim: I have an office at Starfleet Headquarters. I think we can access the runabout launch codes from there. Paris: Site-to-site transporter. With friends like mine, you never know when it'll come in handy. Where's your office? Kim: Main complex, level six, subsection forty seven. Paris: I can beam us in. But we'll only have a few minutes before Security starts kicking down the door. Kim: Let's do it. Paris: So, Harry, once we're on board the runabout, what's the plan? Kim: The alien said that if I recreate the conditions of the accident and fly into the time stream, there's a chance I might be able to get back into my reality. Paris: Might? Kim: He couldn't give me any guarantees. Paris: Security's just been alerted to an unauthorized transport in the building. It'll take them another twenty seconds to track it to this office. How are you coming? Kim: Almost there. I've bypassed the runabout's security lockouts. Paris: They're onto us. We've got to go. Kim: Hold on. I almost got it. Paris: Now! Kim: Overriding initialisation codes. Main power coming online. Paris: Let's get those engines going. Kim: Powering up main fusion reactor. Computer: Intruder alert. Unauthorized launch in progress. Paris: Space doors closing. Kim: Warp core and main propulsion are online. Paris: Releasing docking clamps. Moorings clear. Here we go. Paris: We're clear. Kim: I'm entering the coordinates of the time stream into the main computer. Paris: Adjusting course to match. Going to full impulse. Kim: We've got a starship on our tail. Nebula class. Paris: I'll try to lose them, Harry, but they're a lot faster than we are. Man: Attention runabout Yellowstone. Power down your engines or we will open fire. Kim: They're going to try to do everything they can to stop us. They think we're trying to steal this prototype. Paris: They're closing to five thousand kilometers. Kim: Shields down to seventy percent. Fifty percent. Kim: Twenty nine percent. Paris: I thought you said this ship was new and improved. Kim: It is, but it looks like they haven't finished working on the defensive systems. In fact, some of the safety interlocks aren't even in place. A few more of those hits and I don't. Kim: We're losing antimatter containment. Attempting to stabilize the field. Paris: We're approaching the coordinates of the time stream. Kim: The containment field is weakening. We could be looking at a core breach. Paris: The ship's closing to three thousand kilometers. Kim: If we can't shake them off, maybe we can slow them down a little. This runabout is equipped with tetryon plasma warp nacelles. Paris: So? Kim: Tetryon plasma emits multiflux gamma radiation. It disrupts subspace. Paris: We could vent the warp plasma. The second they hit the plasma cloud, their engines would stall. Give us a few seconds of breathing room. Kim: Exactly. Paris: Unlocking the warp drive manifold. Kim: Venting drive plasma. Paris: Any second. They've dropped to one tenth impulse. Our containment field's at critical. We'd better hurry. Kim: All right. Let's recreate my shuttle accident. I think I was traveling at one hundred and forty thousand kph. Paris: You think? Kim: Look, that was another lifetime. I'm doing the best I can. Paris: Increasing speed to one hundred and forty thousand kph. Kim: Now, I also remember running a polaron scan. The scanning beam was sweeping at a radius of half a million kilometers. No, wait. A quarter million. Activating polaron scan. That should do it. Paris: Approaching coordinates. Impact in four, three, two. Kim: Did we miss it? Paris: We passed through the coordinates, but the runabout was unaffected. The starship has repowered its engines. They'll be here in under a minute. Kim: I have to get into that time stream. Wait a minute, I'm forgetting something. The emergency transport. The last thing I remember hearing was Captain Janeway's comm voice. She said she was trying to beam me off the shuttle. That's it. I've got to beam off the ship. Paris: Are you crazy? Kim: We have to recreate all the conditions of the accident, including that one. We just lost antimatter containment. Twenty five seconds to core breach. Paris: I've locked onto the time stream. Get on the transporter pad. Kim: Not yet. The core is breaching. We've got to shut it down first. Paris: There's no time. That ship'll be here in another thirty seconds. Kim: In fifteen seconds this ship is going to explode. You'll be killed. Paris: Look. If you're right, then things will be changed back to the way they're supposed to be, and you'll find me back on Voyager. Kim: And if I'm wrong, if this doesn't work, you'll be blown up right here. Paris: Go! Janeway: Voyager to shuttlecraft Drake. Prepare for emergency transport. Mister Kim, can you hear me? We're attempting to lock on to you. Harry? Kim: Kim here, Captain. Janeway: Harry, we need you to drop your shields. Kim: Stand by. Kim: Shields down, Captain. Janeway: Lieutenant. Torres: The anomaly is sending out heavy subspace distortions. I can't get a positive lock on him. Paris: The hull is starting to buckle under the stress. He won't survive much longer. Chakotay: Tuvok, can you boost the transporter signal? Tuvok: Negative. The signal is at maximum gain. Paris: Ten seconds to hull breach. Janeway: He's just out of reach. B'Elanna, can you tie the transporter directly into the main deflector dish? Use it to extend the signal? Torres: I'll try. Paris: Hull breach in progress. Torres: We've got him, Captain. Janeway: Mister Chakotay, analyze the sensor logs. I want to know what happened out there. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Voyager to Transporter room two. Are you all right, Mister Kim? Kim: I think so, Captain. Is Lieutenant Paris there? Janeway: Yes, he's here. Why? Kim: It's a long story. Janeway: I look forward to hearing it. I'll be in my Ready room. Chakotay: We think your shuttlecraft was caught in some kind of temporal anomaly. Kim: A time stream? Chakotay: Yes, you could call it that. Kim: I've already been briefed, Commander. Paris: Welcome back. Kind of a rough ride, huh? What is it, Harry? Kim: I owe you one.

Emh: Sickbay to the Captain. This is the Doctor speaking. Janeway: You've brought us out of stasis. I assume you have news. Emh: Yes. Our sensors show your vital signs are normal. How are you feeling? Janeway: We're fine. How long were we in stasis? Emh: A total of seventeen days. Janeway: That long? Emh: I wanted to exhaust every possibility of finding a cure. Janeway: And? Emh: I regret to inform you that I have been unsuccessful. Emh: I have not been able to develop a counteragent for the virus, and I have no other options to explore. Chakotay: What about keeping us in stasis aboard Voyager? Emh: Something in the planet's environment is shielding you from the effects of the virus. Emh: If you leave, you risk a recurrence of the disease, which would undoubtedly prove fatal. The only option I can think of at the moment is contacting the Vidiians. They have sophisticated medical technology. It's possible they might be able to help. Janeway: We'll take it under advisement, Doctor. Thank you for your efforts. Janeway out. What do you think? Chakotay: It's risky. The Vidiians have never shown any willingness to help us. It's more likely they'd attack Voyager and try to harvest body parts from the crew. Janeway: Agreed. I just want to make sure we're not overlooking a possible alternative. Chakotay: Could we live with ourselves, knowing we sent Voyager into that kind of danger? Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Tuvok: I'm here, Captain. Janeway: You must be aware of the Doctor's report. Tuvok: Yes. Janeway: I'm turning over command of the ship to you on a permanent Janeway: Basis. Your orders are to resume a course for the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: And regardless of the Doctor's suggestion, you are not to make contact with the Vidiians. Tuvok: I understand. Janeway: I'll prepare a message for the crew. Torres: So we're just going to abandon them on this planet? Tuvok: Those were Captain Janeway's express orders. Paris: But you're captain now. You can rescind them. Tuvok: To what end? Torres: I can't believe we haven't been able to find a cure for an insect bite. Kes: The Doctor hasn't deactivated himself for a month. He's tried everything. He searched every database, attempted the most drastic research. You can't fault him. Neelix: I can tell you, the morale of the crew is going to suffer if we leave them behind. Tuvok: Not if, Mister Neelix. When we leave them behind. The decision has been made. We will of course, provide them with everything they'll need for their survival and comfort. I am arranging for a modular shelter to be transported to the surface. They'll have all the technology they need. Weapons, tricorders, a replicator. Torres: You talk as though it were a camping trip. They have to spend the rest of their lives down there. Tuvok: That is not a certainty. Captain Janeway intends to continue researching the virus. She is an able scientist, and may eventually be able to effect a cure. They have a type nine shuttlecraft at their disposal if it becomes possible for them to leave the planet. Paris: Type nine shuttlecraft has a top speed of warp four. It won't take them more than, oh, about seven hundred years to get home. Tuvok: I'm not certain what it is you expect me to do, Lieutenant. Paris: I guess clearly something you can't do, which is to feel as rotten about this as we do. Tuvok: You are correct that I am unable to experience that emotion. And frankly, I fail to see what the benefit would be. If there is nothing more, you are all dismissed. Janeway: Janeway to Tuvok. Tuvok: Yes, Captain. Janeway: We've received the transport. We'll check it over and let you know if we're missing anything. Tuvok: I will remain in orbit until I hear from you. And after that, we can still remain in communication for approximately thirty six hours. Janeway: I'll contact you before the day is over. Janeway out. Chakotay: It looks like they transported the contents of the whole ship. Janeway: We may have to be here for a while. Petri dishes, protein analyzer, DNA sequencers. Everything I need for my research is here. Chakotay: Do you really think you can find a cure? Janeway: It may take a while but yes I do. If I can find a specimen of the insect that infected us, I can begin analyzing protein cofactors. That might give us the information we need to find out what it is in this environment that's keeping us from being sick and how to replicate it. Chakotay: Does it matter which way these things go? Janeway: I guess it depends whether you're in a beige mood or a gray mood. Chakotay: That's not much of a choice. Couldn't Starfleet have come up with something a little more cheerful? Janeway: Like polka dots? Chakotay: I was thinking more of a tasteful pinstripe, something in blues and greens. Well, I suggest we put the gray on the outside and the beige inside. Janeway: I like that. I've always looked better in beige. Actually, it might be kind of interesting, roughing it for a while. Chakotay: Roughing it? Let's see, we have shelter, furniture, research equipment, tricorders, a replicator. It's too rough for me. Janeway: We don't have a bathtub. Chakotay: A bathtub? Janeway: I love a bath. It's my favorite way of relaxing. Chakotay: Captain, I'm sure you can learn to love the sonic shower. Janeway: You know, Chakotay, it occurs to me, we aren't exactly in a command structure anymore. Maybe you should call me Kathryn. Chakotay: Give me a few days on that one, okay? Torres: This diagnostic report looks like it was written by a first-year Academy cadet. There are mistakes. It's incomplete. Swinn: I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I guess I've been distracted. Torres: We've all been distracted, Ensign. That's no excuse. Swinn: Yes, ma'am. Torres: I can't get anything done here. Nobody can concentrate. Kim: I know how they feel. Torres: I'm not feeling so terrific myself, but I don't let that get in the way of my work. Kim: B'Elanna, I've been talking with some of the Starfleet crew. They're not happy about what happened. I was wondering, how are the Maquis taking it? Torres: How do you think they're taking it? This isn't a Starfleet issue, Harry. It's affecting everyone. Kim: Then why don't we do something about it? Torres: Do what? Kim: I don't know. It seems like we shouldn't just accept this. Torres: Well, that's all well and good, but frankly, I can't think of anything else we can do. If you have any ideas, I'll listen. Otherwise, I think we should take a deep breath and move on. Chakotay: Catch anything? Janeway: Just the same ones as yesterday, and they don't seem to carry the pathogen that's infected us. Where have you been? Chakotay: Oh, in the woods. Janeway: For the past two days, you've been spending a lot of time in the woods. Is something going on I should know about? Chakotay: Not yet. Janeway: Not yet? What's that supposed to mean? Chakotay: It means when it's time for you to know, I'll tell you. Janeway: Don't I even get hints? Chakotay: I'm building something. Janeway: Building. What could you be building? And why can't you tell me? Chakotay: You can't stand it, can you? You're like a little kid wheedling. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. Janeway: Janeway here. Tuvok: We're about to move out of communications range. How are you faring? Janeway: We're doing quite well. I'd like to speak to the crew now. Tuvok: Your comm. link has been put through to the entire ship. Janeway: This is Kathryn Janeway. I've never liked saying good bye, so I'll make this brief, but I want you all to know that serving as your captain has been the most extraordinary experience of my life. Janeway: No captain could ask more than what this crew has given. Bravery, compassion and strength of character. But I think what I'll miss most is the fun. The times we joked together, the games on the holodeck. I'll remember the laughter more than anything. Although Commander Chakotay and I won't be with you for the rest of your journey, we know that you'll be the same steadfast crew for Mister Tuvok as you have been for us. We wish you a safe and a speedy journey home. Our thoughts will be with you. Janeway: Janeway out. Tuvok: Thank you, Captain, Commander. I am sure I speak for the entire crew when I say we will always remember your grace and courage. And I would like to add, it has been an honor serving with you. Live long and prosper. Kathryn Janeway's personal log, Stardate 49690.1. Day twenty four of our stay on the planet we've named New Earth. As yet I've been unable to make any progress in finding a cure for our illness, but a soak in the tub Chakotay built always helps me focus on possible solutions. Janeway: Chakotay, are you there? Chakotay: No, I left an hour ago. Janeway: I was thinking. Maybe looking for protein cofactors is the wrong approach. Even if I can't find a specimen of the insect that infected us, I could try to learn something about the bio-molecular evolution of this planet's ecozystem. Chakotay: Can't hurt to give it a try. Janeway: Chakotay! Chakotay: What? Janeway: Someone's in the woods! Janeway: Over there. It looks like some kind of primate. Chakotay: I've detected primate life signs here, but I've never seen one. Janeway: Hello. Are you hungry? Is that why you came here? I'm Kathryn, he's Chakotay. We've had to move into your neighborhood, but I hope we can be friends. Janeway: Maybe he'll come back. Chakotay: Looking for a pet? Janeway: No. Looking for a clue about primate physiology on this planet. They must have to contend with insect bites too. Chakotay: Well, excuse me. Janeway: Maybe we should be out looking for other primates. I might be missing something important. Chakotay: Kathryn, the Doctor worked for weeks trying to find a treatment for this disease. Janeway: Yes? Chakotay: You've been at it twelve hours a day, seven days a week since we got here, and we're still no closer to a cure than we were the day we were infected. Janeway: I'm not sure what you're getting at. Chakotay: My people have a saying. Even the eagle must know when to sleep. Maybe it's time we both considered that. Janeway: You mean quit, give up? Chakotay: Why do you have to see it as defeat? Maybe it's simply accepting what life has dealt us, finding the good in it. Janeway: There may be a day when I'll come to that, Chakotay, but, I'm a long way from it right now. I need to keep looking. Acting Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. After six weeks, the decision to leave Captain Janeway and the First Officer behind still seems to weigh heavily on the crew. Kim: Captain Tuvok? Tuvok: Yes, Ensign? Kim: I'm picking up a convoy on long-range sensors. It's Vidiian, sir. Tuvok: Distance? Kim: Approximately one point five light years. Tuvok: Lieutenant, alter course to a different heading. I don't want to risk their detecting us. Kim: Sir, the Vidiians. Tuvok: Yes? Kim: They're within hailing range. We could ask them if they know anything about the Captain's illness. Tuvok: You're aware that Captain Janeway specifically told us not to risk contacting the Vidiians. Kim: Yes, but it's not like we went out of our way to find them. We would just be taking advantage of an opportunity that's presented itself. Tuvok: That bit of sophistry is not terribly persuasive, Ensign. Kim: Sir, how can we turn our backs on this chance to do something? Don't we have to try? Don't we owe that to the Captain and the Commander? Tuvok: The matter is closed, Ensign. Return to your station. Kim: What's wrong with the rest of you? You know I'm right. Tuvok: Ensign Kim. Kim: We have a chance to help them. How can we ignore that? Tuvok: Ensign, you are relieved of duty. Leave the Bridge at once or I will have you put in the brig. Paris: Harry. Tuvok: Proceed on the altered course, Lieutenant. Hogan: Excuse me. Ensign Kim, could we? Kim: Sure. Have a seat. Swinn: We just wanted you to know we heard what happened on the Bridge. Hogan: And we think you're absolutely right. We've got to contact the Vidiians. Swinn: It's a risk, but it's worth it. Kim: That's what I think, but Captain Tuvok's made his decision. Two ensigns and a crewman won't change his mind. Hogan: There are a lot more who agree with us. Swinn: A lot. Kim: Really. Hogan: Everyone we talk to can't believe that Tuvok won't give this a try. Kim: Come on. Kim: Did you hear what happened this morning? Torres: Sure did. Kim: Three weeks ago, you said if I had an idea about what to do, you'd listen. Torres: I'm listening. Neelix: Is there something going on that I should know about? Kim: Have a seat, Neelix. We might have come up with the biggest morale booster you could possibly imagine. Tuvok: Come in. Kim: Can I have a moment, sir? Tuvok: It's zero one hundred hours, Ensign. Don't you have the early shift this morning? Kim: Yes, sir, but this is important. Tuvok: Very well. Kim: First of all, I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday. Tuvok: Apology accepted. I understand that this is a difficult situation for you. Kim: I'd like to suggest a plan. It's something a lot of people have helped to develop. We have two big bargaining points when it comes to dealing with the Vidiians. First, there's the woman Doc treated, Denara Pel. They were very close, so I'm sure she'd help us if she could. And then there's B'Elanna. Her DNA might lead to a cure for the phage. We could offer them some, in exchange for their help with a cure for the Captain and Chakotay. Tuvok: Those are, as you say, points in our favor. But there is also the fact that we were recently responsible for the destruction of a Vidiian ship, an act which killed over three hundred of their people. That alone makes it unwise for us to contact them. Kim: Sir, I think you should know how many people on this ship disagree with you. Everyone I talk to thinks we should give this a try. Tuvok: The people you talk to do not have the responsibility of commanding this vessel. I do. The safety of this crew is paramount, and I must do whatever I can to ensure that safety. Kim: But if we're willing to take that risk in order to help the Captain Tuvok: Ensign, I'm going to say this once and once only. If you ever question my orders again, you will be relieved of duty permanently. The next words I expect to hear from you are yes sir. Kim: Yes, sir. Janeway: I'm going to check the insect traps in beta four. What are you up to now? Chakotay: Making headboards. Janeway: Headboards? Chakotay: I've noticed you sometimes sit up in your bed to read. I figured you might as well have a comfortable backrest. Janeway: That's very thoughtful of you, Chakotay. You've done so many things to make our lives easier here. The cooking, for example. I hate to cook. Chakotay: But what I do makes you uncomfortable, doesn't it? Every time I do something that adds a personal touch to the shelter, you resist it. Janeway: Sometimes it feels as though you've given up, that you're focused on making a home here instead of finding a cure that will let us leave. Chakotay: I can't sacrifice the present waiting for a future that may never happen. The reality of this situation is that we may never leave here. So, yes, I'm trying to make a home. Something that's more than a plain, gray box. Janeway: Someday I may have to let go. But not today, okay? I've tried a new glucose bait in the traps. I have a feeling this might be the day I make a breakthrough. Janeway: Hello? Chakotay? Janeway: Hello again. Well, you certainly cover a lot of territory. Or are you following me? Do you understand me? Janeway: There. Know what that is? That little insect just might be what gets me out of your backyard. What do you think of that, huh? Janeway: What is it? What's happened to the sky? If you're suggesting I should get out of here, I agree. Chakotay: Kathryn! Kathryn. Are you hurt? Janeway: No. I couldn't keep my balance and carry the case. Chakotay: Give it to me. Janeway: What's happening? Chakotay: It seems to be some kind of plasma storm. Our tricorders don't recognize it, but it sure packs a wallop! Tuvok: Come in. Kes: Do you have a moment? Tuvok: Of course. Please sit down. Kes: I'd like to talk to you about my father. Tuvok: Your father? Kes: He was a very wise man. More than anyone, he shaped the person I am. If it hadn't been for him I would have never questioned my people's beliefs. I would have never left our city. I would never have met all of you. Tuvok: Then we owe him a debt. It is difficult to imagine this journey without you. Kes: When he died, I had just turned one year old. I didn't know how I'd get through the rest of my life without him. But then I started working with you and I didn't miss him so much anymore. Tuvok: I am honored by the comparison. Kes: As Captain, the well-being of your crew is important to you. Tuvok: Of course. Kes: Their emotional well-being as well as their physical safety? Tuvok: I cannot allow myself to become hostage to their feelings. Kes: Tuvok, they are suffering because of this. Maybe you don't know what it's like. Tuvok: If you are suggesting that I am not sensitive to the situation, nothing could be further from the truth. I have lost a valued friend. I am not immune to the effects of that loss. Kes: Then try to imagine what it's like for those of us who feel things deeply. A lot of the crew are on the Bridge hoping you'll talk to them. Tuvok: None of you can appreciate what it means to be in command of a ship until that responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders, as it does on mine. It has been suggested that I take an action which would require me to disobey an order, and knowingly put this crew into a life threatening situation. In general, I believe it demonstrates faulty leadership to be guided by the emotions of a distraught crew. However, as Captain, I must not ignore the sensibilities of those I command. We will contact the Vidiians. This is my decision and mine alone. You are all absolved of responsibility in the matter. I will accept any consequences which may ensue. Lieutenant, set a course for the Vidiian convoy. Mister Kim, let me know when we're within hailing range. Janeway: Oh, no! Chakotay: Let's check outside. Maybe some of the insect traps are still intact. Janeway: None of this is salvageable either. There's no way I can continue to do my research. Chakotay: I'm sorry. Janeway: Well, that's one way of letting go. Captain's log, Stardate 49694.2. We have contacted the Vidiian convoy with encouraging results. They have promised to communicate with Doctor Denara Pel and ask if she will help us. Kim: Sir, the Vidiians are hailing us. Tuvok: On screen. Denara: Hello, Lieutenant. Tuvok: Dr. Pel. I didn't expect to see you this quickly. Denara: When I heard what happened, I boarded the first ship I could. Tell me about this illness. Tuvok: They were infected by a virus after being bitten by insects on a planet approximately seventy light years from here, in a system with a yellow dwarf star. Denara: The third planet in a system of seven? Tuvok: Yes. Denara: I know it well. There's a particular kind of burrowing insect that carries the disease. Years ago, we developed an anti-viral agent to combat it. Tuvok: Can we get some from you? Denara: Of course. Our captain said we could rendezvous with you. He's transmitted the coordinates. Kim: I have them, sir. Tuvok: Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate your help. Denara: I'm glad I can be of assistance. Tuvok: Estimated time to the coordinates? Kim: Approximately twenty hours. Tuvok: Until then, I want a series of battle drills. We must be ready for whatever comes. Chakotay: I've been thinking. There's plenty of wood available here. I could probably add rooms to the shelter, give us a little more living space. Janeway: How would you mill it? Chakotay: I could do a certain amount with a phaser, but I was actually thinking of logs. Janeway: As in log cabin? Chakotay: I built a few of them when I was growing up. My father thought it was important that I learn how. Janeway: When I was young, my parents took us on backpacking trips. They thought we should all keep a connection to our pioneer roots. I hated it. No bed, no replicator. Chakotay: No bathtub. Janeway: No bathtub. I guess I was always a child of the twenty fourth century. Chakotay: Well, maybe those camping trips helped prepare you for life here. Janeway: Oh, no. Life here is much better than that. Chakotay: I think that's the first time I've heard you say anything positive about being here. Janeway: Well, hello there. I haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been? Chakotay: Do you expect him to answer you? Janeway: Not really. I just sense intelligence in him, and I could swear he came to warn me about the plasma storm. Come here, fellow. Come on. Chakotay: I doubt that he can be domesticated, at least not very easily. Janeway: Well, we have plenty of time. The rest of our lives. Chakotay: That's a long time. At least I hope so. Janeway: Well, I can't give you orders anymore but I suggest we get back to work. Chakotay: Aye, aye, Captain. Janeway: I guess I'm not used to that kind of work. My knots are getting knots. Chakotay: Here, let me help. Janeway: Oh, that feels good. Chakotay: I've had a lot of practice at this. My mother used to get sore necks all the time. I was the only one she'd trust not to make it worse. Janeway: That's much better. Thank you. Well, I'm going to go to bed now. I'll see you in the morning. Chakotay: Sleep well, Kathryn. Janeway: Yes. You too. Kim: Got something. Vidiian ship, bearing three two five mark five. Tuvok: Hail them. Kim: They aren't responding. Trying on alternating frequencies. Paris: I'm reading a second ship, one seven seven mark five. Kim: I've got it. Now a third. Paris: They're surrounding us! Kim: None of them are answering hails and their weapons are powered. Tuvok: Red alert. Janeway: We have to talk about this. Chakotay: All right. Janeway: I think we need to define some parameters about us. Chakotay: I'm not sure I can define parameters. But I can tell you a story, an ancient legend among my people. It's about an angry warrior who lived his life in conflict with the rest of his tribe, a man who couldn't find peace, even with the help of his spirit guide. For years, he struggled with his diskontent. But the only satisfaction he ever got came when he was in battle. This made him a hero among his tribe, but the warrior still longed for peace within himself. One day he and his war party were captured by a neighboring tribe led by a woman warrior. She called on him to join her because her tribe was too small and weak to defend itself from all its enemies. The woman warrior was brave and beautiful and very wise. The angry warrior swore to himself that he would stay by her side, doing whatever he could to make her burden lighter. From that point on, her needs would come first. And in that way, the warrior began to know the true meaning of peace. Janeway: Is that really an ancient legend? Chakotay: No. But that made it easier to say. Kim: Shields down to fifty eight percent. Tuvok: Rearm the forward phaser array and fire at will. Kim: Firing. Paris: Shields down to forty seven percent. Sir, there're just too many of them. Tuvok: Load aft torpedo bays. Kim: Torpedoes armed. Tuvok: Fire number one. Report. Paris: They're still coming. Tuvok: Fire number two. Tuvok to Engineering. Torres: Torres here, sir. Tuvok: Listen carefully. Kes: She has a broken arm. Emh: Set it with the osteogenic stimulator. Kes: I think there's someone on the monitor. This way. Emh: Odd. Why wouldn't they just use the comm. line? I don't think this is coming from our ship. Denara: Shmullus. Shmullus, can you hear me? Emh: Denara! Denara: Shmullus, I have to do this quickly. I'm on one of the Vidiian ships. Emh: Do they know you're contacting me? Are you in any danger? Denara: No. Everyone's too focused on the battle. Oh, Shmullus, I swear I didn't know they planned to attack. I thought we were on an errand of mercy. Emh: I believe you. Denara: I have the anti-viral serum here. If you can use your transporter to get it to your ship. Emh: Our shields are up. We can't transport anything through them. Denara: I don't know what else to suggest. Emh: All right. I'll see what I can do. Kes: Maybe we can lower the shields long enough to transport the serum. Emh: Sickbay to Bridge. Tuvok: This is Tuvok. We're rather busy here, Doctor. Emh: Doctor Pel is on one of the Vidiian ships. Emh: If we can drop our shields briefly, we can beam aboard the serum. Tuvok: Keep this comm. line open, Doctor. When you hear me order the shields down, you must complete a site-to-site transport yourself. We will be busy with the Vidiians. Emh: Understood. Tuvok: Bridge to Engineering. Tuvok: Report. Torres: We're ready to eject the antimatter container. Tuvok: Stand by for my command. Here is the sequence of events. We will drop shields to transport the medicine. At the same moment, the antimatter container will be ejected. As soon as it's clear, Mister Kim will detonate it with a photon torpedo. Simultaneously, Mister Paris will jump to full impulse so that we will not take the brunt of the explosion. Is everyone clear on this? Timing is of the utmost importance. We won't get a second chance. Paris: Understood. Kim: Aye, sir. Torres: We're ready down here. Tuvok: Doctor? Emh: I've set up to make the transport. Tuvok: Stand ready then. Lower shields. Emh: Initiating transport. Torres: Ejecting the antimatter container now. Emh: We've got it. Raise shields. Tuvok: Mister Kim, Mister Paris, go. Kim: Firing torpedo. Tuvok: Report. Kim: The Vidiian ships are all disabled, sir. They're not pursuing. Paris: Ready to go to warp, sir. Tuvok: Set a course for the planet where we left the Captain and Commander Chakotay. Warp six. Paris: Aye, aye, sir. Chakotay: How are they coming? Janeway: Very nicely. We should have vine-ripened Talaxian tomatoes in a couple of months, unless this planet has the equivalent of tomato bugs. Oh, they're awful. Chakotay: I would never have thought of you as a gardener. Janeway: I grew up around farmers. My parents insisted we learn some basic gardening skills. Chakotay: Did you hate that as much as camping? Janeway: Of course. Who wanted to muck around in the dirt when you could be studying quantum mechanics? But I find it very satisfying now, watching the seeds sprout and grow. Chakotay: If your tomatoes could spare you for a minute, I'd like your opinion on something in the house. Janeway: Well, you've come to the right person. I always have an opinion. Chakotay: Really? Chakotay: What do you think? Janeway: A boat! Chakotay: You said you wanted to explore the river. I think I could build this. Janeway: We could go on a camping trip. Chakotay: I'm not sure we could fit the bathtub in the boat. Janeway: Well, that's all right. I'll have the river. Tuvok: Do you read me? Repeat. Janeway: Do you hear that? Chakotay: Yes. Tuvok: To Captain Janeway, do you read me? This is Tuvok calling Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay. Please respond. Janeway: This is Janeway. Tuvok: Captain, it's good to hear your voice. We have news. Janeway: What is it? Tuvok: We have medicine which we believe will effectively treat your condition. We plan to be in orbit within thirty hours. Chakotay: Ready? Janeway: There you are. At least I get to say good bye. Feel free to use the house. Janeway to Voyager. Two to beam up. Tuvok: Welcome back, Captain, Commander. Janeway: The Doctor tells me you contacted the Vidiians after all. Tuvok: I disobeyed your order, Captain. I am prepared to accept the consequences. Janeway: If I didn't know you better, I'd say your decision was almost emotional. Thank you all. Well, we've lost time with all this. Let's see if we can make some of it up. Mister Paris, warp eight. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Commander, we'll need to review the ship's systems. I'll handle propulsion, environmental and communication. You'll be responsible for sensors, weapons and transporters. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. I'll have a report to you by eighteen hundred hours. Janeway: Check with phaser maintenance. See if they solved that problem with the pre-fire chamber temperature. Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. I'll see to it.

Emh: Activate the bio-temporal chamber. Andrew: Is she going to be all right? Emh: Not if you don't all clear out of here and let me do my work. Linnis: She's my mother. I'm staying. Emh: This is a very delicate procedure, and I could use some peace and quiet. Paris: The Doctor's right. Let him do his work. Linnis: All right. Emh: I wish I'd told you this before, but better late than never. You're the finest friend I've ever had. Prepare to bring the bio-temporal chamber online. We'll begin in approximately five minutes. Andrew: Grandma? Are you awake? I brought you a present. Grandma Kes? I finally finished your birthday present. Sorry it's late, but I wanted to get it right. Kes: I don't know you. Andrew: What do you mean? I'm Andrew, your grandson. Kes: I don't know you. Andrew: Doctor? Doctor Van Gogh? Emh: What is it? Andrew: She doesn't recognize me. Emh: Kes? How are you feeling? Kes: Where am I? What is this place? Emh: You're in Sickbay. Do you know who I am? Kes: No. Yes. I've seen you before. Emh: Do you know my name? Kes: The boy, he called you Doctor Van Gogh. Emh: That's right. Kes: You said I was your finest friend. Emh: Well, I'm not sure I've ever said that, exactly, but, that doesn't mean it's not true. Kes: How could I be your friend? I don't know you. Emh: Tell me what you do remember. Kes: Er, people around me, crowded around me. You, the boy, a young girl. I was in a chamber. A bio-temporal chamber. Emh: Good. Kes: I was inside it and you told someone to activate it. Emh: I'm afraid you're confused. I discussed the bio-temporal chamber with you, but we're not ready to put you inside it just yet. Can you recall anything else, besides those people you saw? Anything else about your life? Kes: No. Emh: Go find the rest of your family. Chakotay: Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's the big hurry? Andrew: I'm sorry, Captain, I have to go. Chakotay: What was that all about? Emh: I'm afraid Kes is getting worse, Captain. Her amnesia is near total. Fewer than one percent of her engrams remain intact. It's as if her memory were wiped clean. Chakotay: Is it some sort of senility? Emh: Maybe. I've never treated a nine year old Ocampan before. For all I know, it's a perfectly normal part of their aging process. Chakotay: It's hard to believe that she performed microsurgery on my elbow just a few weeks ago. Emh: A few weeks ago she was a healthy woman, but this morilogium comes on abruptly and then progresses with a rapidity I've never seen before. Chakotay: How are you coming along with the bio-temporal chamber? Emh: As I told you, it's a completely revolutionary procedure. I have no idea if it'll work. Under normal circumstances I'd want to perform extensive tests on the apparatus, but we're losing her too fast. If I don't try it now, it may be too late. Chakotay: If you really believe it will prolong her life? Emh: If we're lucky it may buy her another year. Chakotay: I think you have the family's consent. You should go ahead and do it. Kes: So cold. I'm cold. Emh: No wonder. Your temperature has dropped to fourteen point eight, almost two degrees below normal. Chakotay: What does that mean? Emh: I'm not sure. CHAKOTAY? What? Emh: Her cells are in a state of bio-temporal flux. I don't understand how that could be happening before I put her in the chamber. Kes: I'm cold. Andrew: Look mom, I'm almost finished with Grandma's present. Linnis: It's wonderful, sweetheart. I'm sure Grandma will think it was well worth the wait. Andrew: I hope so. I still feel bad for not having it ready in time for her party. Linnis: Hello. How was your nap? Kes: Andrew? Andrew: Grandma, don't look. You'll spoil the surprise. Linnis: Why don't you sit down. I'll get you some tea. Kes: Where am I? Linnis: In your quarters. Kes: What quarters? Linnis: Aboard Voyager. What's wrong? Kes: I don't know who you are. But you, I know who you are. Tell me what's happening. How did I get here? Linnis: Andrew, get your grandfather and father. Tell them to meet us in Sickbay. Kes: Yes, Sickbay. I remember that place. I was just there. Linnis: When? Kes: Just a few minutes ago. Doctor Van Gogh asked me some questions. I couldn't remember anything. Linnis: You haven't been to Sickbay for over a week, since you stopped working there. Kes: Working? What kind of work? Linnis: Don't you remember? You were one of the ship's doctors. I worked there with you. Kes: Who are you? Linnis: I'm your daughter, Linnis. Kes: But I don't remember you. Linnis: Do you remember anything at all? Kes: Just people crowded around me. Voices. The Doctor told everyone to leave and then he told someone else to activate the bio-temporal chamber. Linnis: He's been working on that. He may have mentioned it to you. Kes: And then I woke up and there was a boy, Andrew, standing over me with a present, calling me Grandma. Linnis: Andrew hasn't finished your present yet. You just saw him still working on it in your quarters. Kes: But he was there. The Doctor sent him to get my family, and I was cold and I woke up in that bed in the quarters, and Linnis: Maybe you were dreaming. Kes: I don't think so. Linnis: Well, none of the things you remember before waking from your nap have happened. Kes: How do you know? Linnis: Listen to me, mother. You're confused right now and I'm sure that's very frightening, but you need to trust me. I'm your daughter and I love you. Now please, come with me. Come. Emh: I've been expecting this. Linnis: The onset of morilogium. Emh: She's lost more than ninety eight percent of her memory engrams. Kes: Morilogium? Linnis: The final phase of the Ocampan lifespan, mother. Kes: Are you saying that I'm dying? Emh: Not if l can help it. Linnis: What do you mean? Paris: Kes, it's me, Tom. Your husband. Emh: Tom, we're losing her. Paris: How long? Emh: If we do nothing, a matter of weeks. But I'm working on something to extend her lifespan. It involves treating her with a bio-temporal field in order to push her cells back to an earlier stage of entropic decay. Emh: It's highly experimental, but if it works, it might buy her some time. Linnis: No. My mother's always accepted that she would only live nine years. If she's reaching the natural end of her life she wouldn't want extraordinary measures taken to extend it. Especially not in the state she's in now. Paris: If the Doctor has a way to keep your mother with us, even for one more day, we have to let him try. Linnis: We're not talking about a tested medical procedure here, we're talking about a radical experiment. Kim: Sweetheart, I understand how upsetting this is, but if it were you on that biobed, I'd feel just like Tom does. Kes: Everyone listen to me, please. Andrew: Yes, listen to her. Linnis: Mother, tell us what you want. Kes: I want to know what's going on here. Maybe the morilogium is causing my amnesia, but that doesn't explain how I seem to suddenly jump from Sickbay to my quarters, or how I remember being in a bio-temporal chamber. Emh: Kes, it's possible the morilogium is causing you to experience delusions. Kes: No. They're not delusions. Emh: I want you to lie down. Kes: No. Andrew: Leave her alone. Kim: Your grandmother's very sick, son. Andrew: Maybe, but she's not delusional. She's the smartest person I know. We should listen to her. Kes: I'm cold. Emh: Her body temperature has dropped two point seven degrees. All: For she's a jolly good fellow, for she's a jolly good fellow, for she's a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny. Neelix: Happy ninth, Kes. Go ahead, make a wish. Well, what are you waiting for? Blow out the candles. It's good to see that old lung is still working, Kessie. Paris: Happy birthday, sweetheart. Neelix: Well, you know, I haven't made one of these since, well, since I became security officer. Tuvok: Perhaps you would care to relinquish your commission and return to the scene of your former triumphs. Neelix: You keep working on that sense of humor, Commander Vulcan. You'll get it one of these days. Jibelian fudge, your favorite. Some of us ought to be watching our calories, but after all, it is a special occasion. Kes: Andrew. Andrew: I'm sorry I don't have a present for you, grandma. I've got an idea for something special I'm going to make, but I've been too busy with school work, I haven't had a chance to start it. Kes: I think it'll be worth the wait. Come and talk to grandma for a minute, will you? Andrew: Sure. Kes: I'm going to ask you a few questions and I want you to think very carefully before you answer them, all right? Andrew: I always think before I speak. You taught me that. Kes: Where were you before you came to this party? Andrew: At my physics lesson in Engineering. Kes: And then you came directly here? Andrew: No, I stopped at your quarters to get you. Don't you remember? Emh: Andrew, stop monopolizing your grandmother's time. There are other people who'd like to wish her happy birthday, you know. Andrew: She's all yours, Doctor. Excuse me. That cake looks great. Emh: It's amazing to think that you weren't even a year old when we first met. Not much older than Andrew. Kes: Doctor, there's something wrong with me. Emh: What is it? Kes: Promise to hear me out and not assume I'm delusional. Emh: Why do you think I'd ever make such an assumption? Kes: Promise! Emh: Of course. Kes: I've lost all but a few of my memories, and the memories I do have don't coincide with anyone else's. Emh: Can you be more specific? Kes: Well, I was in Sickbay, and you and a woman, my daughter, were arguing about prolonging my life. And then I suddenly appeared in my quarters and then I simply appeared here. Emh: As far as I know, none of that happened. Is it possible you were dreaming? Kes: No. I was awake, I'm sure of it. But nobody else remembers the things I do. Emh: I hate to say this, but it's possible these strange experiences you're having are related to the onset of the morilogium. Kes: You talked about that. You wanted to put me in a bio-temporal chamber to stop my aging process. Emh: How could you possibly know about that? Kes: Because you told me. Emh: I only came up with the idea for the bio-temporal chamber this morning. I was going to tell you about it today, here at the party, as a sort of birthday surprise. Kes: If that were true, then how could I already know about it. Emh: I don't know, but we'd better get you to Sickbay and find out. Emh: She appears to have lost more than ninety five percent of her memory engrams. Paris: Is that symptomatic of the morilogium? Emh: I don't know. I have no basis for comparison. No other Ocampans on board. Paris: Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this. Kes: I do have memories, they just don't coincide with anyone else's. First Andrew gave me a belated birthday present, then he said he was working on the present, and now he just apologized for not starting it yet. Paris: It's almost as if you're experiencing events in reverse. Chakotay: Maybe there's some kind of time paradox at work. Emh: There is another possibility. Given that Kes has knowledge of a treatment I have not yet devised, it's possible she's developed some sort of precognition. Kes: Are you saying I can see into the future? Paris: Well, you've demonstrated some pretty extraordinary mental powers over the years. Telepathy, telekinesis. Emh: And precognition wouldn't be unprecedented. Some species, including the Yattho of the Beta quadrant, have been known to predict future events with uncanny accuracy. Chakotay: See if you can confirm this theory about precognition. In the meantime, Tom and I will begin scanning for temporal anomalies. Paris: We'll do everything we can to help you. Kes: I'd like to do something to help myself. Chakotay: What did you have in mind? Kes: Well I seem to have lived quite a full life on this ship. Maybe if I have a look in my medical files, or check other record of my activities, I might be able to fill in some of the blanks. Emh: Well you may have lost your memories, but you certainly haven't lost your determination. Paris: Hi. Kes: Oh, hello. Paris: How's it coming? Kes: I've had a busy life. It's hard to know where to start. How about you? Paris: Well, we've tried every kind of temporal scan Harry could think of, but we still haven't been able to find anything to explain what's been happening to you. Your initial physical exam. I remember when you came on board. I had a crush on you right from the beginning. I tried to hide it, but Neelix sensed it and boy, was he ever jealous. Kes: Neelix? Paris: You don't remember? You and he were involved for quite a while. One of your prenatal exams. We listened to Linnis' heartbeat. That was quite a day. Kes: What about this. It says I got some kind of radiation poisoning on stardate 50973. Paris: That was the beginning of the Year of Hell. Kes: Year of Hell? Paris: That's what some of us call it now. We were under virtually constant attack by a race called the Krenim. The ship almost didn't make it. The Doctor was offline for months, and we lost a lot of good people. Captain Janeway, Joe Carey, B'Elanna. Kes: B'Elanna? Paris: I keep forgetting that you don't remember any of them. B'Elanna was someone who was very special to me. When she died, I felt like I wanted to die too, but you, you helped me through it. Paris: I'm sorry. Kes: No. No, it's my fault. You haven't done anything wrong. It's just Paris: You don't remember any of our life together? Well, that's all right. I've got enough feelings for both of us. Kes: Maybe the feelings I had for you will come back. Paris: You were asking about the radiation poisoning. A lot of us were exposed. During the first Krenim attack one of the chroniton torpedo fragments leaked radiation into the ship. Kes: Chroniton torpedoes? Paris: They were able to penetrate our shields because their torpedoes were in a constant state of temporal flux. Wait a minute. Think we may be onto something. We'd better go talk to the Doctor. Come on. Kes: If I was infected with these chroniton particles, then there might be a connection to what's happening to me now. Paris: Exactly. Kes: Maybe we should try scanning for residual Kim: Say cheese! Linnis: I think he's got your nose, Mother. Kim: So how does it feel to be a grandfather? Paris: A lot better than it does to have you for a son-in-law. Kes: What's the date? Paris: The date? Kes: Yes, the stardate. Kim: It's 56947. Why? Kes: Over six months. Linnis: Mother, what's going on? Kes: Tom, we have to talk to the Doctor. Come on. Kes: As far as I can tell I've jumped backwards a total of five times so far. Emh: Is there any diskernable pattern to these jumps? Kes: No, they're apparently random. One time it seemed to span for a few weeks, and the last was half a year. Each time I arrive I seem to exist in temporal synch with the rest of you for a while, but before I can make anyone understand what's happening I find myself in am earlier time of my life. And just before it happens I seem to experience a sudden drop in body temperature. Emh: Hmm. Now this could explain a thing or two. Kes: What is it? Emh: I'm detecting high level chroniton radiation in your cells. Kes: So I was right. There is a connection. Paris: But Kes was inoculated along with the rest of the crew over three years ago. Emh: Yes. However, everyone was left with trace amounts of the radiation in their bodies. For some reason, those residual chronitons have reactivated in Kes. Paris: Why? Kes: The bio-temporal chamber. Emh: My thinking exactly. Paris: Would you two mind explaining? Emh: It's really quite obvious, Lieutenant. Your wife is traveling backward through time. Kes: It's as though I came into existence at the moment of my own death, without any memories. I've been living my life backwards ever since, jumping progressively to earlier moments in my life. accumulating memories and experiences as I go. Your past has become my future. Chakotay: Doctor, any theory about what's causing this? Emh: In approximately six months, I will apparently expose Kes to some type of bio-temporal field in a highly experimental but nonetheless brilliant attempt to stop her aging process. Tuvok: And it's this attempt which leads to Kes's current predicament? Emh: What I will apparently fail to realize is that the bio-temporal field is going to reactivate the dormant chroniton particles in her cells, bringing Kes out of temporal sync with the rest of us. Chakotay: Is there any way to stop Kes from continuing these jumps? Emh: Yes. Purge her completely of the chroniton poisoning. Kim: To do that we'd need to know the precise temporal variance of the specific torpedo which contaminated the ship. Tuvok: Tactical sensors were not functioning at the time. There is no data regarding the torpedo in question. Paris: Let me get one thing straight, Doc. Is it possible if this keeps happening to Kes that she might actually jump back into a time before she knew any of us? Emh: Worse than that, Mister Paris. It's possible she may eventually jump back to a time before she even existed. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 55836.2. Kes has remained in temporal sync with us for two days now, but since we don't know when she may jump again, we can't afford to rest until we've found some way to help her. Linnis: I'm going to try running a hypothalamic scan. Maybe we can establish a pattern to the drops in your body temperature. Kes: You're very good at this, aren't you. Linnis: I had a very good teacher. Kes: Doctor Van Gogh? Linnis: You. Kes: I'm sorry. All this must be taking you away from your baby just now. You must be wanting to spend every second with him. Linnis: Actually I feel a little awkward around him sometimes. Harry's always singing to him and playing with him, but, well, I seem to be much more comfortable with a molecular scanner than I am with a diaper. Kes: Now, Linnis, I don't think it's Emh: Kes, I may have found a way to prevent your next jump. I've erected a containment field that may keep you here. It's going to require your confinement in Sickbay. Linnis: I'll keep working here. Kes: Linnis, you must be a good mother. I happen to know that Andrew grows up to be a wonderful child. Kes: Hello, Tom. Paris: I thought maybe you could use some company. Kes: I feel like I'm in a cage. Doctor Van Gogh says Paris: Doctor Van Gogh? I thought you settled on Mozart. Emh: Evidently my interest in the great figures of art and culture will be an ongoing process. Paris: Well, Vincent, how about letting me inside this thing? Emh: I'm afraid that wouldn't be advisable. Paris: Okay then, how about another installlment of Tom and Kes, the Early Years? Kes: I'd enjoy that. Paris: Well, there was our wedding reception. Harry was my best man. He got so nervous when he stood up to give the toast that he spilt champagne all over my dress uniform. Kes: What is it? Paris: At the time, I thought that was the happiest day of my life, but every day it just got better and better. Kes: Oh, it means so much to have you here now. Linnis: I think I may have found something. Emh: What is it. Linnis: Well, I was studying the effects of the chronitons on other crew members and I Paris: What's that? Emh: Kes' temperature has dropped one point nine degrees. Linnis, monitor the containment field. I'm going to try to elevate her temperature. Emh: Her temperature's still dropping. Linnis: We're losing containment. Emh: Increase the field amplitude. Paris: Kes? Linnis: It's not working. Emh: We're losing her. Set field polarization to maximum. Paris: Do something! Paris: The sac is opening. Kes: What's happening? Paris: What do you mean, what's happening? You're having a baby. Hold still. Kes: Where am I? Paris: Exactly where I told you not to be, on a shuttlecraft. Kes: I have to see the Doctor. Paris: Well, that'd be nice if he were still around. I told you you were in no condition to come on a supply mission, but did you listen to me? I can see the toes, it's coming. Yes! It's a girl! Ah, she's beautiful. Kes: Yes, she is. Paris: Yes, just like her mother. Kes: Tom, listen. Paris: I love you, Kes. Kes: We need to talk. Paris: Just a minute. Kes: What is it? Paris: Voyager's under attack. Neelix: Congratulations. Paris: Thanks, but it looks like the celebration'll have to wait. Neelix: I'll get Kes and the baby to the Mess hall. Captain Chakotay wants you to go to the weapons array and modulate the targeting scanners to a parametric frequency. He's going to try to knock out the chroniton torpedo launchers before they're fired. Kes: Chroniton torpedoes. The Year of Hell. Paris: What? Kes: You told me that the crew referred to this time as the Year of Hell. Paris: When did I tell you that? Kes: It's a long story. Paris: You'll have to tell me later. I've got to get to the weapons array. Neelix, get her to lie down, will you? Kes: Neelix, listen very carefully. There's something very important I have to tell you. Paris: Neelix told us what's been happening to you, Kes. How are you holding up? Kes: We're both fine. Chakotay: That's quite a story. Kes: Just before the last jump we were close to a solution. The Doctor was working on Paris: The Doctor? Chakotay: Well it's good to know we'll eventually get him back online. Paris: Eventually may be too late. We've got to help Kes now. Kes: We discovered that what's been happening to me is related to the chroniton poisoning I suffered during a Krenim attack. We have to determine the exact temporal variance of the torpedo, so that Chakotay: The main computer's been offline for weeks. Even if the sensor logs contain that information, we can't access them. Kes: You have to put me in the bio-temporal containment field. I know it didn't work last time, but with a few modifications Chakotay: We've only got life support on three out of fourteen decks, and we've had to divert all remaining power to knock out the Krenim's torpedo launchers. We don't even have a Sickbay anymore, much less the resources to create a bio-containment field. I'm sorry. Paris: We've got to do something to help her. Chakotay: I'm open to suggestions. Kes: I'm cold. Paris: I'll get you a blanket. Kes: No, you don't understand, I'm about, I'm about Kes: Tom. Paris: Hey, Kes, some party, huh? Kes: I have to talk to you. Torres: Tom, I'm sorry I'm late. Kes: You must be B'Elanna. Torres: Well, the last time I checked. Paris: Something wrong? Kes: Actually, there is something wrong. Janeway: Red alert. All hands to battle stations. Janeway: Tuvok, fire phasers. Tuvok: Acknowledged. Chakotay: Who the hell are they? Kes: They're called the Krenim. Janeway: How do you know that? Kes: Captain Janeway? Janeway: What is it, Kes? What do you know about them? Tuvok: Shields down to thirty nine percent, Captain. Chakotay: I don't understand how these torpedoes are ripping right through our shields. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers, Mister Paris. B'Elanna, can we reroute power to the forward shields? Torres: Already trying. Kes: Captain, these torpedoes are chroniton based. They're passing through our shields because they're in a state of temporal flux. Kes: They're dead. Paris: B'Elanna! Kim: Hull breach on deck seven. We're losing life support. Chakotay: Evacuate the deck. Tom, I need you at the conn. Paris: Aye, sir. Tuvok: Commander, they're arming their torpedo launchers again. We cannot sustain another direct hit. Chakotay: Kes, you seem to know something about these weapons. Do you have any idea how we can stop them? Kes: I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with remodulating the targeting scanners. Kim: That could work. If we remodulate the scanners to a parametric frequency we might be able to destroy the torpedo launchers before they fire. Chakotay: Mister Tuvok, you heard the man. Tom, bring us about. Tuvok: Ready, Commander. Chakotay: Fire! Chakotay: Do you have a casualty report? Kim: Including Captain Janeway and B'Elanna, we lost eleven people. Chakotay: What about the ship? Kim: Starboard shield generators and warp drive are offline, and power is down on decks four through twelve. Chakotay: Make deck five your priority. We've got to get Sickbay up and running again. Kim: Aye, sir. Chakotay: Kes, as far as what you say is happening to you Kes: I understand my condition can't be a priority now. Chakotay: Tom, I'm going to need you to stay here and treat these people. When this is over, we're all going to have a lot of grieving to do. Kes: How are you doing? Tom, I know it doesn't seem possible now, but you're going to be all right. Paris: I wish I could believe you. Kes: You can. Paris: Thanks. Neelix: Kes, we've got radiation leakage coming from one of the Krenim torpedo fragments. People are starting to complain of nausea. Kes: Chroniton radiation. This is it. I'm infected. Where's the radiation coming from? Neelix: It's lodged in a Jefferies tube on deck eleven, section two. Kes: I've got to get down there. Neelix: You can't. The entire deck is sealed off. Kes: I have to find the exact temporal variance of that torpedo. Neelix: You can't go near that thing. You'll be burnt to a crisp. Kes: I know what I'm doing. You stay here and help Tom, all right? Neelix: Yes, but Emh: Kes, how are you coming with those analgesic compounds? Kes: Doctor, you've lost your hair. Emh: I beg your pardon? Kes: It's a long story. The important thing is, the temporal variance of the chroniton torpedo was one point four seven microseconds. Kes: As far as I can determine, I've jumped a total of six years into my past. Tuvok: Do you have any theory as to the cause of these jumps? Emh: According to Kes, she and the rest of the crew will be infected by chroniton radiation in approximately eleven months from now. Everyone will be inoculated and the effects will appear to vanish. However, some five years later, when I attempt an experimental and, I might add, ingenious procedure to extend her lifespan, the bio-temporal field I expose her to will trigger dormant chroniton particles, taking Kes out of temporal sync and causing her to begin her backward journey through time. Janeway: In all my years in Starfleet I've never come across a phenomenon quite like this. Emh: Kes has been able to provide us with the precise temporal variance of the torpedo which infected her. Torres: Since Kes is moving backward in time, she's already been infected by the radiation poisoning. If we can set up a bio-temporal chamber and expose her to a precisely modulated field of anti-chroniton particles, we feel this may purge her system and bring her back into temporal sync with there rest of us. Janeway: Well, we'd better get moving. For all we know, Kes's next jump will take her back to a time when we're not here to help her. Kes: Captain, there's something else I have to tell you. In about six months you're going to enter a region of space controlled by a race called the Krenim. You must avoid them at all costs. Janeway: Tell me more. Torres: I'm ready to bring the chamber online. Janeway: Synaptic relays are operational. How are her vital signs? Emh: Pulse normal, body temperature fourteen degrees, chroniton level at seventy nine roentgens. Go ahead and activate the chamber, Lieutenant. Increase the bio-temporal field stress. Torres: Bringing field stress to twenty five kilodynes. Emh: Alright, let's try the anti-chronitons. Torres: Whenever you're ready, Doc. Emh: Initiating anti-chroniton burst, ten MEVs, five second pulse. Pulse steady, body temperature at fourteen point two degrees, and rising. Janeway: What about her chroniton count? Emh: Chroniton count is seventy one roentgens and dropping. Janeway: It's working. Emh: Lieutenant Torres, increase the field strength to thirty kilodynes. Torres: Right. Emh: Initiating another burst. Fifteen MEVs, five second pulse. Body temperature fourteen point nine degrees, chroniton count sixty eight roentgens, sixty, fifty seven, fifty two. Neelix: You need a cook. You haven't lived until you've tasted my angla'bosque. It will be my job to anticipate your needs before you know you have them. Kes: Oh, not again. Neelix: And I anticipate your first need will be me. Kes: I'm sorry. I know this is going to sound strange to you both, but I don't belong here. Neelix: But we discussed this. Kes: You don't understand, I'm traveling backwards in time, getting younger. We have to lower my chroniton levels. You've got to get me into the bio-temporal chamber right away. Neelix: I, I, I'm sorry Captain. I didn't quite anticipate this. Kes: Listen to me, please. Neelix: Sweeting, try to calm down. I assure you, Captain, she's never behaved this way before. Janeway: Hold on a minute, Mister Neelix. Kes, why don't you start over, slowly. Kes: It begins about eight years in the future, when I'm about to die. No! Benaren: Time for dinner. What's wrong, Kes? Young Kes: Who are you? What is this place? Benaren: We don't have time to play our guessing game right now, Kes. You know how your mother gets when we're late to the table. Young Kes: You're my father. Benaren: That's right, and you're my favorite daughter, but don't tell anyone. Young Kes: Listen to me, something terrible's been happening to me. Benaren: What's wrong? Young Kes: There might not be much time so I've got to explain this quickly. Please try to believe me. I've been living aboard a starship called Voyager. Benaren: A starship. I see. So now it's not only the surface you're dreaming about exploring. Young Kes: Listen to me. I did go to the surface, or rather, I will go there, and the people aboard the ship are going to rescue me from the Kazon and take me with them. Benaren: We can talk about your adventures after dinner. Young Kes: No, there's no time. You've got to believe me. One moment I was this old woman and then, and then Benaren: Kes, we're late. Young Kes: Father, please. Benaren: I can see the toes! Keep going, Martis. It's a girl. Martis: Oh, Kes. Benaren: It's a girl. Martis: Oh, she's so, she's so beautiful. Kes. I think one day she'll see the sun. Emh: Fifty one roentgens, forty six, thirty four. Another anti-chroniton burst, twenty MEVs. Torres: Right. Emh: Levels are continuing to drop. Pulse normal, body temperature steady at sixteen point three degrees, chroniton levels are at zero roentgens. Welcome back, Kes. Kes: What's the date? How old am I? Emh: The same age you were when we put you into the bio-temporal chamber. A healthy three years and two months. And due to an extraordinary display of medical heroics, you're back in temporal sync with the rest of us. Neelix: So, I'm going to become a security officer. How about that? Tuvok: Fortunately, Mister Neelix, what Kes has been describing is merely one possible future. On each occasion that she jumped to a previous time, her subsequent actions most likely altered the future from that moment on. Neelix: Good point, Tuvok. Maybe I'll turn out to be Chief Security Officer. Kim: So, Kes, have you regained all your memories of the past? Kes: I remember last month's supply of replicator rations that you borrowed, that you owe me, if that's what you're asking. Kim: Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. Emh: I realize it's only hypothetical, but still I'd be curious to know what sorts of medical breakthroughs I'm going to make in this possible future. Kes: It's not as if I've seen everything that's going to happen over the next six years. I only remember short periods I experienced between jumps. Torres: Even so, I bet you found out some pretty interesting things. Paris: Yeah, Kes. Tell us what you know. Chakotay: Careful, Tom. You may find out that you leave Voyager only to join a monastery. Kim: Hey, give him a little credit. I bet he gets married and has a family. Paris: Thank you. Kim: Don't mention it. Torres: Are you telling? Kes: Well, as Tuvok said, I've only seen pieces of one possible future. Paris: You know what? Don't tell me. I don't want to know. I like a little mystery in my life. Janeway: Tom's right. I think we should all leave the future to the future. Tuvok: While I agree it would not be wise for Kes to make all of her experiences public, a report on anything she knows about these Krenim might be useful. Kes: I'll get started right away. Janeway: Hang on a minute. I didn't mean now. Stay and enjoy your party. Kes: If there's one thing that this experience has taught me, Captain, it's that there's no time like the present.

Tuvok: Direct hit. Kovin: The target buoy is solid monotanium, ten meters thick, shielded by a chromoelectric forcefield. Janeway: Impressive. Kovin: I'm glad you agree. It's not wise to travel this region without adequate defenses. I've seen scuttled ships with more firepower than Voyager. Janeway: I'm sure you have. Kovin: Imagine what you'll be capable of once the isokinetic cannon is integrated into your defensive systems. One projectile can penetrate the shields of any heavily armored vessel. Hostile species will know to avoid Voyager by reputation alone. Janeway: You've made your point, Mister Kovin. I want the cannon, and I'm prepared to give you astrometrics charts spanning twelve sectors. You'll find them unusually precise. Kovin: Even the most sophisticated charts become obsolete. One random anomaly and they're no longer accurate. However, I could be persuaded if you were to include the mapping technology that created them. Janeway: Sorry. Our Astrometrics sensors were designed specifically for this ship. They'd be of no use to you. What I can offer you is a generous supply of isolinear processing chips. We'll even show you how to integrate them into your existing sensor technology. Kovin: How generous a supply? Janeway: One hundred chips. Kovin: One hundred and fifty. Janeway: One fifteen. Kovin: One twenty five. Janeway: Done. Escort our guest to Engineering. You'll be supervising the installlation of the cannon? Kovin: Of course. For a modest fee. Janeway: Five additional chips, no more. Kovin: It's good to see the art of negotiation isn't lost on you, Captain. Paris: That guy is worse than a Ferengi Janeway: Assign Seven of Nine to work on this. She's got a knack for adapting alien technology. Chakotay: Should I give her complete access to the engineering control systems? Janeway: I'm ready to give her some latitude. She's been behaving herself lately. Chakotay: What are you working on? Seven: I'm trying to decode the message Starfleet Command sent us several weeks ago. Chakotay: Any progress? Seven: None. I'm working on a new decryption algorithm. Chakotay: I'd like you to set it aside for a while. I have another assignment for you. Seven: What is it? Chakotay: The Captain wants you to help Kovin integrate the new weapon system. Seven: I'd rather not. I find him inefficient. Chakotay: Maybe so, but you seem to work well with him. You've been asking for more responsibilities, I thought you'd be pleased. Seven: The captain gives me greater liberty only when she needs my expertise. Chakotay: You violated her trust, and if you want it back, you're going to have to earn it. One step at a time. Seven: I will report to Engineering. Kovin: You'll need to installl isolinear buffer circuits here and here. Seven: The main power relay should be protected by a containment field. Kovin: Unnecessary. All the buffer circuits would have to fail simultaneously for there to be any danger. Torres: We prefer to play it safe. I'll check the inventory logs to see if we have a field generator available. Kovin: What are you doing? Seven: I'm reconfiguring the tactical control systems. Kovin: The isokinetic circuit requires a specialized protocol. Let me take care of it. Seven: That won't be necessary. Kovin: No, no! The subroutines need to be arranged in cascading sequence. Let me show you. Torres: Seven, stop. Emh: There's a hairline fracture of the premaxilla bone. Kovin: Do you see this, Captain? She shattered it. Emh: It's easily repaired. Janeway: Do you have any idea why Seven attacked you? Kovin: It was unprovoked. She came at me like an animal! Torres: Oh, I wouldn't put it like that. I was at another console about ten meters away. I heard Kovin raise his voice and when I looked around I saw that he was holding her arm. Kovin: I barely touched her. A gentle gesture to move her out of my way so I could get to the console, then she turned on me, attacked me. Janeway: What did you say to her? Kovin: I told her how to reconfigure the tactical control systems properly. Janeway: Is that all? Kovin: That's all! Torres: And that's when she knocked him down. Ashmore and I had to hold her back. Kovin: She would have killed me. That woman is dangerous. Emh: It's a miracle you survived. Now hold still or this won't heal properly. Kovin: Why are you questioning me on this? You should be diskiplining your crew member. Janeway: Believe me, I'll deal with it. Please accept my sincere apology. Now, if you'll excuse me. Emh: Good as new. Janeway: Come in. Janeway: Here we are again. Oh, I'm tired of having this conversation. You know what I'm going to say. I know how you're going to respond, so it seems pointless to say anything. Seven: Shall I consider my privileges restricted and confine myself to the Cargo Bay? Janeway: I think we've established that traditional diskiplinary actions don't work with you. The question is, what will? Seven: Are you asking for my opinion? Janeway: I suppose I am. Because frankly I'm running out of options. Throwing you in the brig isn't going to solve anything, neither is slapping you on the wrist. And it's not as though I don't understand your feelings about Kovin. There have been a few times when I'd have liked to pop him on the nose myself. But you have to start learning the difference between having an impulse and acting on it. Does that make any sense to you? Seven: I believe so. I will give it more thought. Janeway: Well, that's a start. Emh: I hear there was some excitement this morning. When I started helping you improve your social skills, I'm fairly certain I didn't include a boxing lesson. You weren't hurt, were you? Seven: No. Emh: Still a bit tense? Seven: Perhaps. Emh: I understand the burden you carry. Constantly being obligated to deal with those who fall short of excellence. I often find my own patience being tested by someone like Mister Kovin. Of course I generally respond with a devastating quip rather than a left hook. We must both accept the fact that very few lifeforms will ever meet our high standards. So, when you get irritated, just try to be tolerant, and remember, they can't help being what they are. Hmm. I'm reading some increased engrammatic activity, and your adrenalin levels are slightly elevated. Seven: What does that indicate? Emh: It's consistent with a state of heightened tension. Lie down and I'll run some scans. In a typical human, I would consider this a mood swing. But with your unique physiology, I'd like to rule out the possibility of a chemical imbalance. Emh: Have you been experiencing any other symptoms? Headaches, disorientation? Seven: No. Emh: Physiological scans seem normal. I'm going to check your Borg implants now. Emh: Seven? What's wrong? Seven: Let me out. Emh: I will. Stay calm. Seven: No more procedures. Emh: All right. Seven: Stay away. You mustn't do this. Emh: Do what? Seven, what are you so afraid of? Seven: I don't know. Emh: She experienced an episode of acute anxiety with all the trimmings. Intense apprehension, shortness of breath, dizziness. I finally managed to sedate her. Janeway: Could this have been caused by her cortical implants? Emh: I don't think so. I think the problem has to do with memory suppression. I've detected a high concentration of biogenic amines in Seven's hippocampus, a substance I haven't noticed before. It's blocking portions of her memory center. Janeway: Do you know where it came from? Emh: No, but it seems to be dissipating. Emh: Seven's unusual behavior may be the result of the blocked memories beginning to surface. Memories which she can't identify yet. Janeway: Can you treat her? Emh: Treatment would involve integrating the repressed memories into Seven's consciousness. I may be able to use a standard therapeutic regression technique. Janeway: I wasn't aware that you were programmed for psychotherapeutic capabilities. Emh: I wasn't. But in the absence of a ship's counselor, I've been developing a psychiatric subroutine to add to my program. I'll be even more valuable to you than I am now. Janeway: Keep me informed, Doctor. Emh: A Jungian therapist would attempt to retrieve unconscious memories by exploring synchronicities in recent events. On the other hand, Amanin of Betazed would argue that a combination of sensory isolation and focused breathing techniques would be more effective. I've integrated the finer points of both to create my own approach to memory reconstruction. Seven: What does this approach involve? Emh: First, putting you at ease by performing the treatment here, in your own environment. Once the cortical probes have reinforced the neural pathways, I'll use a directed imagery technique to guide you through the regression. Seven: You may proceed. Emh: Please, close your eyes. Clear your mind. Try not to think or to analyze. Seven: My mind is now clear. Emh: Seven, this isn't an exercise in efficiency. Close your eyes, breathe deeply. Now concentrate on the sound of my voice. Let go of the present, leave the cargo bay behind. Allow yourself to drift. Describe the first image that enters your mind. Seven: A medical tricorder. Duritanium casing. Seven point six centimeters by nine point eight centimeters by three point two centimeters. Alphanumeric display. Emh: That's enough. So, you're in Sickbay. How does the tricorder make you feel? Seven: It disturbs me. Emh: Why does it disturb you? Seven: I'm afraid it will hurt me. Emh: Is there anything else there that causes you to anticipate pain? Seven: The diagnostic bed. It's closing around me. Emh: You feel restrained, confined? SEVEN Yes. I am uneasy. Emh: About what? Seven: It's Kovin. Emh: What is he doing? Seven: He's restraining me. I want to get away from him but I can't. Kovin's using some kind of instrument on me. Emh: Seven? Seven: I didn't recall this before. Emh: Recall what? Seven: Kovin. He performed a surgical procedure on me. He extracted Borg technology from my body. He violated me. Emh: We're making progress. Now tell me, this surgical procedure, when did it happen? Seven: I don't know. The details are vague. There are only images. Emh: And you're sure it was Kovin? Did you see Kovin? Seven: Yes. Emh: You said he was restraining you, using an instrument of some sort. Seven: He was. Emh: Were you on Voyager when this happened? Seven: No. It must have been when we were testing the weapons on the surface. Emh: Then concentrate on that away mission. Focus on the first image that enters your mind. Describe it for me, Seven: A large granitic stone, approximately one half meter high. Emh: Now, allow that memory to develop beyond the image. Integrate it into your consciousness. Let the memory take shape. Seven: I'm at the weapons range. Kovin had taken us there to evaluate various hand held firearms he wished to offer in trade. Seven: He attempted to impress us with a demonstration of the weapons' destructive capabilities. My role was to provide a more objective analysis. Kovin: Terawatt powered particle beam rifle, four microsecond recharge cycle, ten kilometer range. Paris: Definitely not standard Starfleet issue. What do you think? Seven: Seventy two percent fragmentation, twenty eight percent vaporization. Crude, but efficient. Paris: It's not as accurate as our compression rifles, but it's a lot easier to handle. I wouldn't mind carrying one of these the next time we run into the Hirogen. Seven: Targeting mechanism could be augmented with a thermal guidance sensor. That would improve accuracy by twenty four percent. Kovin: I can do that now. Care to join me? You can make sure the adjustments perform to your specifications. Paris: If you don't mind, I'd like to test some of the other firearms. Kovin: Go right ahead. This way. Seven: Kovin took me to a small laboratory. Emh: Describe it. Seven: It was poorly illuminated. I saw various instruments, technology unfamiliar to me. I assumed this was where he developed new weapon designs. Seven: This weapon is thoron based. Kovin: Most of these hand-held disrupters are. Seven: Thoron can be unstable in weapons. Kovin: Not if you polarize the emitter matrix. That compensates for any instabilities. Watch. Seven: What are you doing? Seven: He turned the weapon on me. Emh: He fired? Seven: Yes, I remember it now. Emh: What happened next? Seven: I'm not sure. Emh: Concentrate. See the laboratory in your mind. Seven: There was a light in my eyes. Emh: Was Kovin still in the room with you? Seven: Yes. Kovin: Restrain her, quickly. Seven: And another Entharan was assisting him. Scharn: This is Borg technology. Kovin: That's what I've been telling you. Seven: Let me go. Seven: They bound me to an examination table. Emh: What did they do to you? Did they scan you? Kovin: The bio-ablation pump is engaged and pressurized. Scharn: The growth medium is activating the implants. The nanoprobes are multiplying. Seven: They put a device near my head. Seven: They removed my ocular implant. Seven: Then some of the implants in my arm were activated. Emh: Which ones? Can you be more specific? Kovin: Use the maximum setting of the metagenic pulse to stimulate the implants. Scharn: The assimilation tubules are ready. Kovin: Prepare to harvest the nanoprobes. Seven: They extracted nanoprobes through my assimilation tubules. I was powerless, unable to stop them. Emh: You couldn't be expected to. You were restrained. Then what happened? Seven: They took the nanoprobes to another subject, also restrained. Then they, they assimilated him. Scharn: Well done. Seven: The next thing I remember I was back in Kovin's lab. He claimed the particle beam rifle overloaded, that it had burned my hand. But it was a lie. They had attacked me. Kovin: I'm sorry. I should have been more careful. Seven: Do you have a dermal regenerator? Kovin: Of course. Emh: I'll inform the captain. Emh: There's no doubt that Seven was the victim of a brutal assault. Janeway: How is she? Emh: As well as can be expected. She's regenerating in her alcove. I predict her emotional recovery will take some time. I certainly hope you intend to hold Kovin responsible for what he's done. Janeway: First I want to know how much of her story we can corroborate. Tom, you were with her on the planet. How long was she alone with Kovin? Paris: At least two hours. Janeway: And when she came back, did she say anything about what happened? Paris: Only that they'd finished their work on the rifle. She seemed fine. Emh: Clearly Mister Kovin used some artificial means to suppress her memory of the event. That would explain the unusual engrammatic activity I found in her neurological scans. Janeway: Did you find any other physical evidence of the medical procedures she described? Emh: No. I suspect Mister Kovin used Seven's own nanoprobes to repair any cellular damage. She distinctly remembers Kovin extracting them. Tuvok: You seem to be accepting Seven's recovered memories as fact. Emh: Are you suggesting otherwise? Tuvok: Historically, recovered memories have often proven unreliable. Emh: Yes, in cases where a traumatic experience has been repressed for years. But we're dealing with a very recent memory here, that was blocked by artificial means. When I removed that mechanism, Seven remembered everything that happened. Tuvok: Human memory is rarely perfect. Paris: What are you saying, Tuvok? That Seven is making this up? Tuvok: No, but we must remember that she's experienced hallucinatory images before. Emh: That was in direct response to a signal from the ship where she was assimilated. She's not having hallucinations now. She's remembering what happened to her. I've confirmed this by analyzing the specific engrammatic activity in her hippocampus. We're not talking about conjecture, we're talking about science. Janeway: Let's not get bogged down. Seven's made serious accusations and I won't dismiss them. If Kovin assaulted her, took a sample of her Borg technology, we can't stand by and do nothing. In the wrong hands a single nanoprobe could lead to disaster. Doctor, I want you to keep searching for any physical evidence to back up Seven's claim. I will talk to Kovin. Dismissed. Kovin: This is offensive and absurd. She's obviously lying. Janeway: Why would she do that? Kovin: Maybe you can answer that. She's your crewmember. First she attacks me, then she invents these ridiculous stories, and you try to place the blame on me. Is this some kind of negotiating tactic? Janeway: I have no hidden agenda. I'm simply trying to clarify what happened. Kovin: I told you already. We went to my laboratory to adjust the guidance system on the particle beam rifle. Janeway: And that took two hours? Kovin: She insisted absolute precision. Janeway: We've confirmed that Seven was exposed to an intense thoron discharge. Kovin: She was, after the rifle's power cell overloaded. We reported the accident immediately. Janeway: She now remembers that you fired the weapon at her deliberately. Kovin: That's preposterous. Janeway: The Doctor now tells me the blast could have been enough to render her unconscious. Kovin: But it didn't. We were both startled for a moment. And after I apologized for the accident, she asked if I had a dermal regenerator, which I did, and I used on her arm. The one with the mechanical implants. Janeway: Which you recognized as Borg. Kovin: I was aware she'd been a Borg. She told me herself. Janeway: Did you ever express curiosity in that technology, or try to examine it more closely? Kovin: No. Janeway: You never considered the potential value it might have as a weapon? Kovin: Is that what you think I've done? Janeway: You may not realize how dangerous Borg technology can be. If you've taken even a single nanoprobe, I need to know about it right now. Kovin: I haven't taken anything. Janeway: I'd like to examine your laboratory to be absolutely sure. Kovin: No. This has already gone too far. Janeway: Then I'll have to contact the authorities. Maybe they'll be more helpful. Kovin: Are you willing to risk our trade agreement all on the basis of one crew member's delusions? Janeway: Yes. Now, are you going to cooperate with our investigation? Kovin: I don't seem to have much choice. Tuvok: You stated that the rifle's power cell overloaded as a result of a faulty oscillator adjustment. Kovin: That's right. Tuvok: Can you describe in more detail how that occurred? Kovin: I was showing her how to polarize the emitter matrix. I must have tuned the induction frequency too high. Tuvok: Were you unfamiliar with that procedure? Kovin: No. I have done it a hundred times. It was a careless mistake. How many times do I need to apologize? Tuvok: I am not seeking a statement of remorse. Kovin: Then what do you want? Are you trying to catch me in a lie? Trick me into confessing? You can't, because there's nothing for me to confess! I haven't done anything wrong. Tuvok: One of our crew members claims that you have. Kovin: Your crewmember, Seven of Nine, she's very fortunate. Tuvok: How so? Kovin: She has an entire crew leaping to her defense. I have no one. Tuvok: The Entharan representative will be here shortly. Kovin: You mean the Magistrate? He won't help me. He's more interested in protecting diplomatic relations with people like you. Tuvok: Surely he'll want to know the truth. That's all we're seeking. Kovin: You don't understand. On my world, we depend on trade with alien species. There are strict protocols about those relationships. Even being accused of violating them is a serious offense. Tuvok: You will have the opportunity to refute any charges. Kovin: It won't matter. Once they're made, the damage is done. I won't be trusted any longer. I'll be ruined. Please, I never hurt your crew member. Don't do this. Tuvok: I'm afraid I have no choice. But I assure you our investigation will be conducted in a fair and impartial manner. Kovin: You strike me as a man of your word. If you tell me I won't be prejudged, then I believe you. Emh: How are you feeling? Seven: I am undamaged. Emh: But how do you feel? Seven, your physical scars have healed, but the psychological effects are still there. You'll have to deal with them. Seven: For what purpose? Emh: In order to heal. Kovin attacked you, violated your rights as an individual. It's important that you recognize that, so you can understand any hostility or resentment you might be feeling. Seven: Resentment is a human trait. It has no structure, no function. I want no part of it. Emh: You're going to have to begin accepting the fact that your human feelings exist, and that suppressing them can damage you. Seven: If I am not aware of these feelings, how can I express them? Emh: Let me ask you this. What would have happened if Kovin had tried to take Borg technology directly from the Collective? Seven: He would have been assimilated. Emh: Precisely. Which is why he chose you. He could get what he wanted without running any risks. Seven: It was my individuality which made me vulnerable. Emh: Exactly. He violated that individuality. What he did is an affront to everything you are, Borg and Human. Seven: It was the act of a coward. Emh: Yes! Someone who was willing to use you in the cruelest way so that he could create new weapons and sell them. Seven: I believe I'm beginning to experience anger. Anger toward Kovin. Emh: Good. That's a perfectly healthy, normal response. And when Kovin gets what he deserves, you're going to feel much better. Kovin: Right this way, Magistrate. My laboratory. Emh: There are no examination tables. Kovin: I told you, just work benches. Tuvok: Is this the entire facility? Kovin: Yes. Emh: We should scan for signs that the room may have been altered recently. During her regression, Seven described instruments similar to these. Kovin: Of course she did. She was here. Emh: She said a device like this was used to remove her optic implant. Kovin: That's a micro-caliper. I used it to remove the casing over the guidance system on the particle beam rifle. Emh: And isn't this an electro-dynamic probe? Kovin: Yes. Emh: Hmm. It's equipped with a monofilament stimulator. Could it be used to manipulate the neurotransmitter levels in a human brain? Kovin: Not as it is. Emh: But with the proper modifications? Kovin: With the proper modifications I could reconfigure your comm. badge to manipulate neurotransmitters. What's your point? Emh: I believe you've just made it. There is cellular residue on many of these instruments. It matches Seven's genome. With your permission, sir, I'd like to take these tools back to Voyager where I can run more conclusive scans. Magistrate: Take whatever you need. Tuvok: Doctor, there are a number of Borg nanoprobes on the surface of this table. Emh: I'll just collect a sample. Hmm. Kovin: That's where her arm was hit when the rifle overloaded. Tuvok: The dispersal pattern is consistent with a dermal rupture. Emh: These nanoprobes were recently regenerated. If this were nothing more than cellular residue from Seven's injury, the nanoprobes would be dormant. But these have been activated in a very specific pattern. Magistrate: I've seen enough. Kovin, there is sufficient evidence here to detain you pending official proceedings. Kovin: No. Please. No. Kovin: Stay where you are. Magistrate: Kovin, don't! Kovin: I trusted you. You said it would be an impartial investigation. But you're all determined to find what you want to find. Well, I'm not going to let this happen. Tuvok: Tuvok to Voyager. Janeway: Janeway here. Tuvok: Mister Kovin has transported out of the laboratory. Tuvok: Can you track his present position? Janeway: Stand by. Kim: I'm picking up a transporter signature, three hundred kilometers above the surface. Paris: Captain, there's a ship powering it's engines at those coordinates. Janeway: Magistrate, do you want us to follow him? Magistrate: Yes, but I'd like to join you. Janeway: Very well. We'll beam you to Voyager. Stand by. Paris: Kovin's ship is on a heading of one eight mark two five. Janeway: Set an intercept course. Get ready to lock on a tractor beam. Chakotay: He's only at half impulse. His ship may not have warp engines. Paris: We're at nine thousand kilometers and closing. Chakotay: I'm engaging the tractor beam. Paris: I can't find him. All of my sensor readings have disappeared. Kim: He generated a photonic pulse. It took them offline. We'll have to reinitialize the entire sensor array. Janeway: Do it. Our investigation has suddenly turned into a manhunt. Chakotay: The fact that he's running shows that he's got something to hide. Until we find out what that is, we can't risk letting him go. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 51679.4. We've detected the warp signature from Kovin's ship and we're now in pursuit. In the meantime, Tuvok and I have been examining the tools from Kovin's lab. Janeway: This isn't getting us anywhere. Seven's cellular residue is on everyone of these, but that would be true if she simply handled them. Tuvok: My examination of the rifle is equally inconclusive. It may have overloaded accidentally, or not. Janeway: I'm getting a bad feeling about this, Tuvok. We aren't finding anything that implicates Kovin. Tuvok: I told him our investigation would be impartial. I believe it has been. Janeway: It has, but I'll admit I had some preconceptions about him. They may have influenced my judgment. The strongest evidence so far is the batch of nanoprobes the Doctor found. The fact that they were regenerated suggests that Kovin was experimenting with them. Tuvok: We don't know a great deal about the interaction between nanoprobes and Borg physiology. It might be worthwhile to simulate the effect of the rifle blast on Seven's arm and see what happens to the nanoprobes. Janeway: Good. Maybe that'll give us some answers. Emh: Is this really necessary, Captain? She's suffered enough trauma already. Janeway: We don't want to make accusations against an innocent man. We have to do everything we can to find some concrete evidence. Seven: He's not an innocent man. I know what he did to me. Tuvok: But we must have proof, and this experiment may provide us with it. We've configured this hypospray to simulate the energy of a thoron blast. We'll collect thin layers of your skin tissue and examine the effects. It won't be painful. Seven: I'm not afraid. I am angry. Janeway: I know. Try to be patient. We may have some answers soon. Janeway: All right, let's see what we've got. Janeway: I think you'd better take a look. Seven: What do you see? Emh: The nanoprobes are regenerating in exactly the same pattern we saw in Kovin's laboratory. It appears to be a spontaneous response which could have been caused by the energy released from the thoron weapon. Seven: It doesn't matter. Kovin is guilty. Janeway: Seven, there's no doubt in my mind that you believe what you're saying. But is it possible, just possible, that the memories you and the Doctor recovered aren't accurate? Seven: How could that be? Janeway: During your time with the Borg, you were subjected to invasive medical procedures. You undoubtedly witnessed other victims being assimilated. Could that be what you're remembering? Seven: You know that's not right. Tell them. Emh: Everything led me to believe that you were a victim. Your extreme response to Kovin in Engineering, your irrational fear when I was examining you. Something prompted that behavior, and I believed it was a repressed memory of your ordeal with Kovin. Seven: That is what it was. Emh: But if I'm to be impartial, I have to acknowledge that your neurology is still something of a mystery to me. I can't be certain what triggered those memories, and we can't ignore the fact that this evidence supports Kovin's story, and not yours. Seven: You were the one who helped me to understand what happened and now you're denying it. Janeway: Seven, no one's abandoning you, but we have to do what's right. We have to find Kovin and tell him what we've learned. Seven: The Doctor told me I would feel better when Kovin gets what he deserves. I want him to be punished. I won't settle for anything less. Janeway: Mister Paris? Paris: He's in range. Janeway: Visual. Hail him. Tuvok: No response. He's charging weapons. Janeway: Open a channel, all frequencies. Mister Kovin, this is Captain Janeway. We believe we've made a mistake in accusing you. We only want to correct the situation. Stand down your weapons. Tuvok: He's responding. Kovin: Stop your pursuit. I can damage your ship. Janeway: We're not here to take you by force. Kovin: Then let me go. Magistrate: Kovin, listen to me. The proceedings must be resolved. Kovin: This is a trap. Janeway: No. We've discovered information that supports your story. Kovin: I don't believe you. Emh: We've re-examined the evidence. Finding the nanoprobes led us to the wrong conclusion. We know now that your thoron rifle did overload. Please. Tuvok: He's firing a spread of photon pulses. Kim: Shields down to eighty two percent. Janeway: Back off. Give him some breathing room. Paris: He's coming about, heading right for us. Chakotay: Direct hit to the power grid. Magistrate: Innocent or not, he's going to destroy your vessel. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: He's come under enough fire from us already. Harry, try to beam him off his ship. Kim: He's thrown up a scattering field. I can't get a lock. Janeway: Keep trying. Chakotay: Shields are down. Tuvok: He's shunting all power to his photonic emitters. Magistrate: We must protect ourselves. Disable his ship. Janeway: No! Evasive maneuvers. Hard to port, full thrusters Paris: Aye. Kim: I've almost got a lock on him. A few more seconds. Tuvok: He's charging weapons again. Captain, his emitters are overloading. All his systems are destabilizing. Janeway: Open a channel. Kovin, shut down your scattering field. Let us beam you aboard. Kovin! Chakotay: He's firing. Janeway: Harry? Kim: I can't find anything to lock onto, Captain. Magistrate: There's nothing more we could have done. Janeway: Stand down Red alert. Mister Paris, set a course back to the Entharan colony. Chief Medical Officer's log, stardate 51658.2. I've spent the past three days being cross-examined by the Entharan authorities, but the matter is finally resolved. Seven: Doctor. Emh: Yes. Seven: I'm here for my weekly maintenance. Emh: Oh, of course. This way, please. Emh: Metabolic rate is stable. Electro-optic implant is aligned. Your blood pressure is slightly off, but within tolerance. You're in perfect health. See you next week. Seven: I do not feel perfect. Emh: What do you mean? Seven: I am preoccupied by Kovin's death. Emh: Join the club. It's all I can think about. Seven: As a Borg, I was responsible for the destruction of countless millions and I felt nothing. But now, I regret the destruction of this single being. Emh: It's called remorse, Seven. It comes into play when you make a mistake, and you feel guilt about what you've done. Another new emotion for you to experience. Seven: I do not enjoy this remorse any more than I enjoyed anger. Will the feeling subside? Emh: Yes. But not quickly. Seven: I would rather not have to wait. Emh: I'm afraid you don't have much choice. Emh: But maybe I do. Emh: I've isolated the algorithms responsible for my desire to expand beyond my original programming. I want to delete them. Janeway: Why? Emh: It was my urge to experiment, my infatuation with improving myself, that led to this tragedy. I fancied myself a psychologist, a ship's counselor. But I wasn't prepared for the complexities that come with such a responsibility. In my enthusiasm to help Seven of Nine, I lost my medical objectivity. I became a self-righteous advocate. I didn't stop to think for one second that I might be wrong. That mustn't happen again. Janeway: You want to go back to the state you were in when we first activated you? Emh: I'll still be capable of treating any and all medical conditions, but without the risk of overstepping my bounds. It's for the best, Captain. Janeway: Oh, I'm not so sure. This crew has benefited greatly from your improvements over the years. Request denied. Emh: Captain. Janeway: I won't turn back the clock because of one mistake, no matter how serious. And no matter how you might feel. Emh: I'm a physician. I'm supposed to preserve life, not destroy it. I can't live with the thought that I might do it again. Janeway: With any luck, that knowledge will prevent it from happening again. We all rallied around Seven, Doctor, myself included. I wanted her to know she was part of this family, that we would support her, fight for her, no matter what. We let our good intentions blind us. We all bear responsibility for Kovin's death, and we all have to live with it. But to delete that burden would be the last thing any of us should do.

Narrator: The Adventures of Captain Proton! Chapter Eighteen: Bride of Chaotica! The evil Doctor Chaotica kidnaps Constance Goodheart and plans to sacrifice her to Arachnia, Queen of the Spider People. Captain Proton travels millions of miles to Planet X where he will invade the Fortress of Doom. Chaotica fires his fiendish Death Ray. Certain death for Proton as his rocket ship bursts into flames. Kim: We didn't burst into flames in the last chapter. Why are these recaps always so inaccurate? Paris: Well, they brought people back to the theaters. Kim: Cliff-hangers. Paris: The lost art of hyperbole. You ready? Kim: Aye, Captain. Paris: Let's get this show on the road. Computer, begin Chapter Eighteen. Kim: We're receiving a transmission. It's Chaotica. Paris: Imagising. Chaotica: Captain Proton. Surrender! Paris: Not a chance. Release Miss Goodheart and we'll be on our way. Chaotica: I'm afraid your secretary has already been promised to Queen Arachnia as a Supreme Sacrifice. Kim: You'll never get away with this. Chaotica: Oh, ho ho ho, but I shall. You escaped from my Death Ray once, but you won't survive this! Kim: He's charging the weapon. Paris: Brace for impact. Kim: Direct hit. We lost both engines. Paris: Steering jets are on the fritz. Kim: We're going down! Paris: The landing gear is jammed. Hang on! Kim: Opening hatch. Paris: Welcome to Planet X. Kim: What's the plan? Paris: This is the part where we defeat Chaotica's soldiers, steal their uniforms, and make our way through the underground caverns. Kim: Hey, I thought you said there were slave girls in this chapter. Paris: After we infiltrate the Fortress of Doom, we'll free Chaotica's harem. Let's go. Kim: I'm right behind you. Kim: Planet X looks kind of familiar. What was the last place we went to? Paris: The Mines of Mercury. Kim: They're identical. Paris: Sets were expensive. At least there's no erupting volcano this time. Ah, behold the Fortress of Doom. Kim: And how are we supposed to get up there? Paris: I told you. The un Both: Derground caverns. Kim: Right. Kim: I thought you said there was no volcano. Paris: I did. Kim: Er, Tom. Paris: Definitely not Chaotica. Kim: Computer, end program. Computer: Unable to comply. Holodeck controls are offline. Paris: Paris to bridge. Bridge, respond. Kim: We need to find the manual overrides. Paris: There's an access port in the rocket ship. Come on. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: We've dropped out of warp. We're at a dead stop. Janeway: Cause? Tuvok: Unknown. Engines are operational. Chakotay: I'm reading gravimetric forces around the ship. They're disrupting our power flow. Tuvok: Control systems are going offline. I no longer have access to communications, deflector, weapons. Janeway: Scan for vessels, tractor beams, anything that might explain what's holding us here. Lonzak: Halt in the name of Chaotica! Proton! Kim: Buddy of yours? Lonzak: Surprised? You thought I perished in the Den of Crocodiles. Paris: We don't have time for this. Lonzak: I survived clinging to the thought that I would one day Tuvok: I believe I have an explanation. Sensors show that we've entered a layer of subspace. It's disrupting our warp field. Janeway: Do we have impulse? Chakotay: Yes Janeway: Engage at full. Tuvok: No change in our position. Janeway: Route all available power to the engines. Tuvok: We're not moving. Chakotay: The impulse reactor's running hot. We're heading for an overload. Janeway: Give it all she's got. Full thrusters. Chakotay: No effect. Reactors are critical. Janeway: Abort. Increase power to the structural integrity field. We may be here awhile. Paris: It's no use. I can't disengage the program. Kim: Well, you better think of something fast, Proton. A second distortion just appeared. Whatever they are, they're getting bigger. Paris: Hold on. I've got access to the transporter. I'm going to try a site to site. Kim: There's a third one. Seven: I've run a trans-spectral analysis. The area between space and subspace is unstable throughout this region. Torres: Basically, we've run aground on a subspace sandbar. I've tried realigning the warp field, reversing hull polarity. Paris: Maybe we should just get out and push. Seven: The gravimetric forces are disrupting our control systems. Torres: As long as we're trapped here we won't have access to the computer core, tactical, holodecks, and all but six replicators. Janeway: What about those distortions on the holodeck? What's the connection? Seven: They appear to be random energy fluctuations. I don't believe they post a threat. Janeway: Let's keep an eye on them anyway, and evacuate that deck just to be safe. A few years back, when I was a science officer on the Al-Batani, we tried to navigate a dense protonebula. It stopped us dead in our tracks. For three days we attempted to force our way out, until we realized we were trying too hard. Torres: Captain? Janeway: Every time we engaged the engines, we were increasing the resistance of the nebula's particle field. We may be facing a similar situation. Seven: Our own warp field may be increasing the gravimetric forces. If we power down the core and use minimal thrusters, we might be able to break free. Janeway: You took the words right out of my mouth. Seven: Your plan could work. Torres: Now that we have your blessing. Janeway: Let's give it a try. Lonzak: Halt, in the name of Chaotica! Alien: We intend no harm. Lonzak: Seize them! Lower the drawbridge. We are bringing prisoners. Chaotica: Yes, yes, yes, Lonzak, what do you want? Lonzak: Your Majesty. Chaotica: Where's Proton? Lonzak: He er, escaped. Chaotica: Fool! You will pay for your incompetence. Seize him! Robot: Surrender. Lonzak: But Majesty, I have brought prisoners. Chaotica: More Earthlings? Lonzak: No. They claim they're from another Dimension. Chaotica: The Fifth Dimension. Bring them to me. Alien: Identify yourself. Chaotica: You insult me. I am Chaotica, Ruler of the Cosmos. Lonzak: Kneel before his Majesty. I said, kneel! Chaotica: You have invaded my planet. Why? Alien: To contact other photonic lifeforms. To learn from them. Chaotica: Are you alone or are you the vanguard of an invading army? Alien: We are explorers. Chaotica: I am growing weary of this charade. Your armies will be no match for my space force. We'll crush you like insects. Alien: They are hostile. This contact should be terminated. Chaotica: Indeed. Lonzak, execute them. Chaotica: Coward. He'll learn there's no escape from Chaotica. Gather my Space Force. Power the Death Ray. Lonzak: At once, Majesty. Chaotica: Take Miss Goodheart to Arachnia. Invite the Queen to join me in battle. Together, we will rain destruction on the Fifth Dimension! Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've been spinning our wheels for three days now, and still no progress in breaking free of the subspace layer. Neelix: Look on the bright side. there's only three meals a day. Janeway: Coffee, black. Neelix: Sorry, Captain. We lost two more replicators this morning Janeway: Listen to me very carefully because I'm only going to say this once. Coffee, black. Neelix: Yes, ma'am. Coffee, black. While I've got your attention, there are Janeway: Coffee first. Now, what's the problem? Neelix: It's a, it's a delicate matter. Janeway: I don't have time to play twenty questions, Neelix. Neelix: Replicators aren't the only systems of convenience offline. We've only got four functioning lavatories for a ship of a hundred and fifty people. Janeway: I see. Neelix: Needless to say, lines are beginning to form. If we don't get unstuck soon we may have a serious problem on our hands. Especially with the Bolians. All but three sonic showers are offline, too. In another couple of days Janeway: I get the idea. Chakotay: Captain to the bridge. Janeway: On my way. I'm going to leave these problems in your capable hands. Neelix: Yes ma'am. I was thinking, if we drew up a schedule. Janeway: Whatever it takes. Janeway: Status. Torres: The warp core has been powered down. The thrusters at standby. Janeway: Okay. Let's give it a try. Take us out, Tom. Nice and slow. Paris: We're moving. Two meters per second. Three meters. Janeway: Steady. Paris: Nine meters. Ten. Janeway: Increase power to the thrusters by fifty percent. Torres: We're approaching the subspace boundary. Paris: Twenty five meters per second. Wait a minute, we're slowing down. Nineteen meters per second, eighteen. Torres: Captain, I'm reading power surges. Janeway: Source? Torres: Unknown, but they look like weapon signatures. Kim: I'm not reading any other ships in the area. Paris: We've stopped. Tuvok: I've localized the weapons fire. It's emanating from within the ship. Deck six, holodeck two. Janeway: Who's still on that deck? Tuvok: No one. No lifesigns. Kim: There's a program running. It's Captain Proton. Paris: Proton? Chakotay: Can you shut it down? Kim: Negative. Control systems still malfunctioning. Janeway: Tuvok, get down there and find out what's happening. Well, join him. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Tuvok: It appears that a battle took place. Paris: Believe me, it wasn't like this when I left. I must have missed a few chapters. Tuvok: Holodeck programs don't normally run by themselves. Paris: No kidding. Paris: She's dead. Tuvok: Who is she? Paris: Constance Goodheart, my secretary. This doesn't make sense. She isn't supposed to die. She's one of the good guys. Tuvok: I'm sure you two were very close, but she is a holodeck character. Paris: A character from 1930s Hollywood. The good guys never get killed. Something's wrong here. Robot: Invaders from the Fifth Dimension. Paris: Satan's Robot. Tuvok: Naturally. Robot: Queen Arachnia is on her way. Invaders from the Fifth Dimension. Destroy Proton. Paris: Give me a hand. If we can repair his vocalizer he might be able to tell us what's been going on. It looks like he burned out a resister. Tuvok: A what? Paris: That's a few centuries before duotronic circuitry. Tuvok: I see. How do you propose we repair him? Paris: Well, first of all, I've gotta remove this damaged tube. No problem. Just a few crossed wires. Tuvok: Your knowledge of this technology is most impressive. Paris: Oh, thanks. Got it. Robot: Intruders. Intruders. Intruders. Intruder alert! Intruder alert! Paris: Tell us what happened. Robot: Invaders from the Fifth Dimension. Invaders from the Fifth Dimension Paris: Hey, calm down. Tuvok: How did these invaders get here? Robot: A portal. Paris: A Fifth Dimension? There's not supposed to be alien invaders in this story. That's in Captain Proton versus the Cosmic Creature. Robot: Invaders from the Fifth Dimension. Paris: Those subspace distortions. Take us to this portal. Robot: There. Tuvok: Photonic charges. The same signatures as the weapons fire we detected. Robot: The Fifth Dimension. Tuvok: We must report this to the Captain. Paris: Wait. I want to check my rocket ship first. Tuvok: Excuse me? Paris: It's got sensors, sort of. Maybe they can tell us something Voyager's sensors can't. Seven: I've established a visual link with the holodeck. The attack appears to be originating from subspace. Kim: Can you tell where it's coming from? Seven: No. Seven: What was that? Kim: Chaotica's Death Ray. Seven: Excuse me? Kim: Let's see if we can get a look inside his Fortress, find out what he's up to. Chaotica: Full power to the Death Ray! Arachnia, Queen of the Spider People. You have not responded to my summons. Don't Kim: I don't get it. Chaotica was supposed to be fighting Earth in this chapter. Seven: Apparently he's found a new enemy. Kim: The Fifth Dimension. Seven: It seems your infantile scenario now poses a security risk. Kim: It was just supposed to be a little harmless entertainment. Seven: Entertainment. Another frivolous human endeavor. Tuvok: These are your sensor readings? Paris: Telegram. It's a message to Captain Proton from the President of Earth. Intercepted communications between Doctor Chaotica and Arachnia. Stop. Chaotica at war with aliens from Fifth Dimension. Stop. Must strike now to disable Death Ray. Tuvok: Stop. Please summarize the message. Paris: Well, it looks like Chaotica has captured a couple of aliens from the Fifth Dimension. Tuvok: An alternate universe. Paris: Could be. Maybe they wandered into the holodeck through one of those distortions. Tuvok: To participate in a game? Robot: Intruder! Tuvok: I assume there's no locking mechanism on the hatch? Paris: It was a simpler time. Tuvok: Is he part of the program? Paris: I don't recognize him. Robot: Invaders! Paris: Quiet! Look there's been a misunderstanding. I'm Ensign Paris from the Starship Voyager. This is Lieutenant Tuvok. Alien: You have killed fifty three of my people. Paris: We haven't killed anyone. Tuvok: Ensign. Everything you see here is a simulation. None of it's real. Alien: Simulation? Tuvok: A photonically-based projection. Alien: All life is photonic. Tuvok: We are not. we are biochemical lifeforms. Alien: I'm not familiar with biochemical. Tuvok: We are carbon based. We live aboard a starship. I believe we have become trapped in a region of space that intersects your own. Alien: We've detected no starship. Only this planet. Tuvok: This planet isn't real. As I told you, it's part of a simulation. Paris: Maybe we can help you adjust your sensors. Alien: You don't register as a lifeform. You are the illusion. Paris: We're as real as you are. Listen. Robot: Citizen of the Fifth Dimension, you will be destroyed. You Paris: Wait. Wait! Robot: Damage. Damage. Require maintenance. Help. Help. Help. Janeway: Let me get this straight. Transdimensional aliens have mistaken your Captain Proton simulation for reality. Paris: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: And now an armed conflict has broken out between these aliens and Chaotica's holographic army. Paris: Yes, ma'am. His Army of Evil. Janeway: And will someone please explain why we haven't simply shut down the holodeck? Seven: We've tried. The controls are still offline. Janeway: We're going to have to get through to these aliens somehow and explain that they're fighting shadows. Paris: We've tried, but they don't believe us. They think that we're not real. They can't detect Voyager, so every time they scan us we seem as artificial to them as holographic characters do to us. Chakotay: That explains why they haven't answered our hails. Seven: The Doctor is photonic. He may be able to persuade them. Janeway: It's worth a try. Brief him. Paris: In the meantime, I think we should let the program play out. Janeway: You're not suggesting we wait until this Chaotica defeats the aliens? Paris: No, no, I'm suggesting that we help the aliens to defeat Chaotica. They think that he's leading some kind of hostile invasion force. Once that threat is gone, it's a good bet that they will leave and close up their portals. Chakotay: How do you propose to defeat Chaotica? Paris: Well, he's been attacking the aliens with his Death Ray. Tuvok: It's a shame we don't have one. Paris: Forget about what it's called, Tuvok. In the world of Captain Proton, it's the most powerful weapon that there is. And because it's photonic, it's lethal to these aliens. Now, in Chapter eighteen, Captain Proton disables this weapon just before Chaotica can use it to destroy Earth. Janeway: And you think that Proton, namely you of course, could still do that? Paris: Well, we'd have to knock out the Lightning Shield first. Seven: A forcefield. Paris: Yeah, now you're catching on. The Destructo Beam on my rocket ship can disable the Death Ray, but only if someone gets inside the Fortress of Doom and can shut down the Lightning Shield. Chakotay: And who's supposed to do that? Paris: Arachnia, Queen of the Spider People. Janeway: Charming. Paris: Chaotica thinks so. In the story, he's in love with her. He's been trying to form an alliance since Chapter Three. She's the only one that he trusts, the only one that can get close enough to disable the Lightning Shield. Somebody is going to have to take on her character. Janeway: Who'd you have in mind? Oh, no! Paris: It's the role of a lifetime. Tuvok: Captain, need I remind you that we have exhausted all other possibilities of escaping this layer of subspace. Chakotay: Until we can eliminate those distortions, we're trapped. Seven: Think of it as Starfleet's first encounter with Planet X. Janeway: Thanks. Paris: Captain, it won't be so bad. I can explain to you what you can expect. I can tell you Janeway: All right, all right. I'm a size four. Torres: What's the emergency? Emh: I've been enlisted. I'm supposed to make contact with our photonic friends from the Fifth Dimension and convince them to call off their attack. Torres: Congratulations. Why do you need me? Emh: It's an undercover mission. I'll need a bit of cosmetic surgery. These are the parameters for my new costume. Torres: What are you going as, the Emperor of the Universe? Emh: Well, I've been forced to scale back my role in the interest of credibility. I'll be President of Earth. I must say, the idea of an entire universe populated by photonic beings is rather appealing. Torres: Well, if your mission fails, you could be taking up permanent residence. Kim: Kim to Sickbay. Report to holodeck two, Doctor. Torres: You're all set. The new parameters will activate as soon as you enter the holodeck. Emh: Thank you. Torres: Break a leg. Janeway: So all I have to do is find the controls of this Death Ray and deactivate it. Paris: It's not as simple as it sounds. Now, Chaotica might be a 1930s villain, but he's very clever. It'd help if you knew some of the rules. Janeway: I'm listening. Paris: All right. Well, first of all, he's a megalomaniac, so it's a good idea to appeal to his ego. Janeway: Right. Paris: And, er, use grandiose language. He likes to be called sire. And it helps to say things like the clever fiendishness of your evil plan is brilliant. Janeway: Deck four. Paris: Now remember, it's ray gun, not phaser. Imagiser, not viewscreen. Earthlings, not Terrans. Janeway: Got it. Paris: And another thing. These villains always have a trick up their sleeve. Trapdoors, secret weapons. Janeway: It's the holodeck. I can't be hurt by weapons. Paris: That doesn't mean you can't be restrained, or thrown into the Dungeon of Pain. Janeway: Noted. Paris: Now, as soon as you get the Death Ray shut down, call me in my rocket ship and give me the signal to fire. Paris: You'll have to use Chaotica's broadcast microphone. Janeway: This is how you've been spending your free time? Paris: Well, I've been studying how past generations viewed the future. Janeway: And? Paris: Well, it didn't work out quite as black and white as they imagined. Now, specifications for Arachnia's costume. One more thing. if you have trouble with Chaotica, or you can't get to the Death Ray, you can always uncork the pheromones. Janeway: I beg your pardon. Paris: Chapter sixteen, Spell of the Spider. Arachnia sends Chaotica a vial of her irresistible potion. Now, whenever he gets a whiff, he's under her spell. Janeway: I get the picture. Paris: Yeah, well, my point is that these pheromones seem to throw Chaotica for a loop. Well, it works in Chapter sixteen, anyway. Now, the vial is sitting on a small pedestal next to the throne. Janeway: I'll keep an eye out. Paris: Okay. Janeway: Thanks for the briefing. Paris: I'll see you at the Fortress of Doom. And remember, you're the Queen. Lonzak: Sire. Three more of our space ships have been destroyed. Chaotica: Argh! Full power to the Death Ray. Chaotica: Citizens of the Fifth Dimension. Your feeble attacks are nothing but pinpricks to me. Surrender now and I will be merciful. Lonzak: We're receiving a transmission. Chaotica: They are surrendering. Lonzak: No. It's Queen Arachnia. She wishes to cross the drawbridge. Chaotica: What are you waiting for? Show her in. Lonzak: I present her Royal Highness, Arachnia! Chaotica: Ahh. At last, at last. My Queen. Chaotica: This is an historic occasion. Kindred souls meet at last. Janeway: It's an honor to be in your presence, Majesty. I've always admired your clever fiendishness. Chaotica: Ah, your taste is exceeded only by your beauty. Janeway: This must be your Death Ray. Chaotica: That, my dear, is the Cradle of Persuasion. It's fully equipped. Brain probe, pain modulator. Janeway: Impressive. It's good you have the Lightning Shield to protect your equipment. Chaotica: Yes. As long as it's electrified, I am invincible. But my greatest achievement is there. Behold, the Death Ray. Janeway: Oh, it looks like a formidable weapon. Chaotica: The most powerful in the cosmos. There is so much more I want to show you. My throne, for example. The seat of my Empire. Janeway: Ah. I see you've kept my pheromones. I didn't realize you were the sentimental type. Chaotica: Your perfume inspires me. Janeway: Would you mind? Chaotica: Oh, please. Janeway: Somehow I feel comfortable here. Chaotica: Join me and you will have your own chair. One adorned with the most precious jewels and the softest silk. Janeway: Your Majesty seems overly concerned with romantic matters when there's a battle to be won. That is why you asked me here. Chaotica: Of course, my dear. Forgive me. It's just that the air itself seems to vibrate in your presence. Janeway: We can't be slaves to our passion. Not when your Empire is threatened. I have assembled my fleet of Spider ships. However, the Lightning Shield prevents them from approaching your fortress. Chaotica: We'll send them directly into battle, alongside my space force. Janeway: My soldiers wish to pay homage to you. Chaotica: Gratifying. Of course, if I lower the shield my fortress will be defenseless. Even an ally might choose such a moment to seize my throne. Janeway: You don't trust me. Chaotica: There is a way you could convince me of your loyalty. Janeway: Oh? Chaotica: I'll lower my Lightning Shield but first, you must become my Queen! Gather my courtiers! Prepare for the ceremony! Janeway: And don't forget to deactivate the Lightning Shield, so my subjects may witness the blessed event. Chaotica: Very well. Do as she says, once her guests have arrived. Lonzak: Yes, Sire. Chaotica: And so, my dear, the day you have always dreamed of has arrived. The day you become Bride of Chaotica! Emh: Welcome. Alien: You are photonic. Emh: Guilty as charged. Alien: You signaled me across the threshold. How? Emh: I believe you dropped your calling card. I return it to you as a sign of good faith. Alien: Identify yourself. Emh: I am the President of Earth. Alien: Earth? Emh: A planet some distance from here. I've come on a mission of peace. Alien: Elaborate. Emh: Your people and the people of Earth have a common enemy. Alien: Chaotica. Emh: The one and only. Alien: He threatens to invade our realm, destroy our people. Emh: Join the club. Chaotica has designs on Earth too. But we've withstood countless attacks, all thanks to one man. Captain Proton. Alien: Captain Proton? Emh: Defender of the universe, scourge of intergalactic evil, And a competent medic to boot, but don't say I said so. Even as we speak, he's preparing to destroy Chaotica's Death Ray, but he needs your help. Alien: Explain. Emh: Your weapons pose a threat to Proton's rocket ship. You must cease firing while he mounts his attack. Once Chaotica's Death Ray is destroyed, you can return to your realm confident that you'll never hear from him again. Alien: Captain Proton may proceed. Emh: On behalf of the citizens of Earth, I thank you. Paris: Space drive. Kim: Check. Robot: Check. Paris: Destructo beam. Kim: Check. Robot: Check. Paris: If I could access holodeck controls, the first thing I'd do is delete this guy. Robot: Delete this guy. Paris: As a matter of fact, as soon as this is all over I think I'm going to delete the whole program. Kim: What about your historical study? Paris: Class dismissed. No more robots, no more mad scientists, no more Death Rays. I am retiring my rocket pack, Harry. Someone else can save the universe from now on. Kim: The final chapter, huh? Paris: The end. Emh: Isn't anyone going to sing Hail to the Chief? Kim: Mister President. How'd it go? Emh: My performance was unimpeachable. Kim: He agreed? Emh: Let's just say I'm considering running for office when we get back to Earth. Paris: All right, then. Let's get this thing in the air and hope Captain Janeway is giving a command performance. Lonzak: Queen Arachnia. Janeway: Don't tell me. My wedding ring. Lonzak: Doctor Chaotica's wedding ring. You will present it to him at the end of the ceremony. Janeway: Your Majesty, perhaps we should lower the Lightning Shield in anticipation of my guests. Chaotica: Why this preoccupation with the Shield? Janeway: Oh, forgive me. It's just that, as a fellow ruler of the cosmos I often have to do things myself. Chaotica: Ah. Because of the incompetence of your inferiors, no doubt. Janeway: Something like that. Chaotica: Oh, Arachnia, my love, my life. how well you understand our plight. If it weren't beneath my dignity, I, I would weep. How I've longed for someone who would understand. Janeway: We have a saying on Arachnia. It's lonely at the top. Chaotica: No longer, my dear. Lonzak: Majesty! Proton is preparing to attack. Chaotica: Target his rocket ship. Chaotica: You have betrayed me. You are in league with Proton. Impetuous harlot! Janeway: Tell me how to deactivate the Lightning Shield, or I'll show you just how impetuous I can be. Chaotica: What are you waiting for, you great lummox? Kill her! Janeway: Ha! You're no match for Arachnia. Now, tell me how to shut down the Shield. Chaotica: The confinement rings. Chaotica: Oh, don't worry, I wouldn't kill my bride. Not until after our wedding night. Reactivate the Death Ray! Destroy Proton! Paris: We've been hit. Kim: Well, I guess the Captain ran into some trouble. Paris: We're not going down without a fight. Doc, activate the Destructo Beam. Emh: The what? Paris: Big button in the middle of that panel. Robot: Destructo Beam! KIM + Paris: The other panel! Emh: Destructo beam activated. Kim: We just dropped out of range. We're losing altitude. Chakotay: Report. Torres: The alien weapons fire is increasing. It's causing the distortions to grow larger. We're being pulled deeper into subspace. Robot: Invaders! Invaders! Emh: Er, incoming. Lonzak: Proton's ship is damaged, but still airborne. Chaotica: Not for long. Fire at will. Chaotica: Lonzak. Chaotica: Man the Lightning Shield. Lonzak: Arachnia? Chaotica: Lonzak. Quickly, Lonzak. No time for dawdling. Lonzak: Your beauty is maddening. Entangle me in your web. Janeway: Let me out of here and I'll do all that, and more. Lonzak: At once, my Queen. Chaotica: Back to your station. Chaotica: Idiot! Janeway: Deactivate the shield. Now. Chaotica: Such passion, such strength. Together we could conquer the universe. End this madness, and you may yet live to be my Bride. Janeway: The shield. Janeway: I don't know how to tell you this but the wedding's off. Arachnia to Proton. Arachnia to Proton. Do you read me? Janeway: Arachnia to Proton. Paris: I'm reading you. Janeway: The Lightning Shield is down. Paris: Acknowledged. Harry, target the Death Ray. Doc, fire the Destructo Beam on my mark. Ready? Now! Tuvok: The distortions are closing. Torres: We're realigning with normal space. Chakotay: Helm, full impulse. Chakotay: Bridge to Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: The aliens have retreated Chakotay: And they've closed the distortions. We've cleared the subspace layer. Janeway: Secure all systems, and organize damage repair teams. Chakotay: Understood. We're preparing to shut down the holodeck. Janeway: Chakotay, give me a minute. Paris: I was about to say, Captain Proton to the rescue, but I see you have everything under control. Janeway: I'm the Queen, remember? Chaotica: Arachnia, death as you know it has no hold on me. My defeat is but a temporary setback. I shall return to seek my revenge. Janeway: He doesn't give up, does he? Paris: They never do. Chaotica: Our love was not meant to be, my Queen. But be warned. You have not seen the last of Chaotica. Paris: The end of a twisted madman. Janeway: And you're going to miss him. Paris: A little.

Scene: October 19, 2032. Mars. Kelly: Ares Four to Kumagawa. How was the sunrise from down there? Kumagawa: Beautiful. There was a little green mixed in today. It was really quite spectacular. Kelly: Sorry I missed it. Kumagawa: Next time, Lieutenant. Kelly: Any luck drilling through that lava plain? Kumagawa: Roger that. We broke through the iron oxide barrier and we're down to eight meters. Novakovich: We should have some samples by the end of the day if all goes well. Kelly: On to more important matters. Received an uplink from Houston. The Yankees won game five of the World Series. Kumagawa: You owe me twenty bucks. Kelly: It's not over yet. There's still game six. We won't be the only ones making history today. Bokai just broke DiMaggio's record. Novakovich: I don't believe it. Kelly: If you ask me, Houston's been manipulating the stats. Kumagawa: They do have a few too many Kings fans at mission control. Kelly: Well, how else do you explain Bokai beating out the Yankee Clipper? Kumagawa: Commander? We lost you for a second there. Kelly: The ride got a little bumpy. Stand by. Picking up some turbulence. Novakovich: At your altitude? Kelly: Checking LIDAR. What the hell? Kumagawa: John, what's going on? Kelly: There's an object closing on my position, azimuth one twenty one point six. Whatever it is, it's huge. It's over a thousand meters across. Novakovich: How could something that big appear out of nowhere? Kelly: I don't know, but I'm getting out of its way. Firing thrusters. Kumagawa: It's probably just a solar flare. Kelly: Let's hope so. Kelly: It's no solar flare. Stardate 53292.7. Chakotay: Come in. Come in! Chakotay: Chakotay to the bridge. Crewman: This is transporter room two. Chakotay: I'm trying to reach the bridge. Crewman: Your comm. signal was routed here, sir. Chakotay: Can you patch me through? Neelix: Pardon me. Where? Patch you through where? Chakotay: Neelix? Neelix: Commander? Crew: Check on the field generators. Woman: Control seven, return to base at once. Janeway: Computer, locate Neelix. Man: I can't get through to Engineering. Chakotay: I see you're making some changes to the computer core. Seven: I have enhanced the command sequencers with Borg algorithms. Chakotay: Well, your enhancements are wreaking havoc with our secondary systems. Seven: Insignificant malfunctions. I will correct them. Chakotay: I don't recall authorizing any modifications. Seven: The computer core is inefficient. It needed to be improved. Chakotay: I appreciate your initiative, but that's not up to you. Seven: I've explained the value of these enhancements on several occasions, but Lieutenant Torres chose to ignore me. I thought a demonstration would be more persuasive. Chakotay: Well, I doubt this one's going to change her mind. Seven: Clearly Voyager is not yet ready for assimilation. A joke. The doctor suggested that I defuse tense situations with humor. Chakotay: Good idea. Now how about getting these systems back up again so I can get back to my book. Seven: We are experiencing a ship-wide power drain. This is unrelated to my modifications. Kim: Senior officers to the bridge. Janeway: It's two in the morning, Ensign. This better be more than a little turbulence. Kim: You won't be disappointed. We've got level nine gravimetric distortions closing on our position. Tuvok: They're emanating from subspace. Janeway: On screen. Shields. Paris: It's heading right toward us. Janeway: Evasive maneuvers. Chakotay: Captain. Janeway: Say good morning to thirty million terajoules of subspace energy. Paris: This thing is following us. I can't outrun it at impulse. Janeway: Go to warp. Paris: It's disrupting our warp field. Kim: If it gets any closer the gravimetric stresses are going to rip the plating off our hull. Seven: Captain, I recognize this phenomenon. It's Borg designation is spatial anomaly five two one. It's attracted to objects that emit electromagnetic energy. We have to cut power and reverse our shield polarity. Janeway: Do it. Paris: That was close. Janeway: I recognize this anomaly too. It's called a graviton ellipse. According to the Federation Database it travels through subspace, emerging occasionally without warning. Ellipses have only been observed a handful of times. Chakotay: Ares Four. Tuvok: Commander? Chakotay: One of the early Mars missions. The Command module and its pilot were engulfed by a similar phenomenon back in 2032. Paris: I remember reading about that. Two astronauts were stranded on the surface for weeks before a rescue ship arrived. Chakotay: No one's gotten this close to a graviton ellipse and lived to tell about it. This could be a remarkable opportunity. Janeway: Go to yellow alert. Keep our power output at minimum levels. Match it's course and speed but maintain a safe distance. Paris: Aye, Captain. Chakotay: I suggest we launch a probe. See if we can find out what makes this thing tick. Janeway: Make it fast. There's no telling when our visitor's going to burrow back into subspace. Seven: I'm receiving telemetry from the probe. It appears to have entered a stable core within the anomaly. The gravimetric forces are negligible. Tuvok: The eye of the storm. Seven: An apt metaphor. Tuvok: Computer, run a multispectral analysis of the anomaly's core. Computer: Analysis in progress. Seven: The Borg developed shields to get through the gravimetric currents. They intended to dissipate the anomaly from within. Perhaps we should continue their efforts. Tuvok: It would be short-sighted to destroy it. We should study the phenomenon. Seven: I didn't realize you shared this crew's penchant for exploration. Tuvok: I am a Starfleet officer. Seven: When the risks outweigh the potential gain, exploration is illogical. Tuvok: We can't predict what we might find here, Seven. One must allow for the unexpected discovery. Computer: Core analysis complete. Seven: There are more that two point eight billion compounds in the core. Tuvok: Fascinating. Seven: The computer has isolated several synthetic compounds native to sector zero zero one. Tuvok: Titanium and polymer composites. These materials date back to the twenty first century. They were used in the construction of Earth's early spacecraft. Seven: Commander Chakotay mentioned a space capsule that was consumed by a graviton ellipse. Tuvok: These alloys are consistent with the hull of that capsule. An unexpected discovery indeed. Torres: She was forty six meters, ninety two metric tons, powered by a third generation ion drive, and equipped with a transpectral imager. Chakotay: Ares Four was piloted by Lieutenant John Kelly. His ground team, astronauts Rose Kumagawa and Andrei Novakovich, were close to completing their survey mission when Kelly reported an object closing on his position. Then he and the command module disappeared off NASA's LIDAR scopes. Paris: And into the history books. That incident almost derailed the Mars program. Tuvok: Mankind's first encounter with a spatial anomaly. Chakotay: Seven, you said the Borg were working on a way to get inside a graviton ellipse. Seven: Shield enhancements. Paris: Well, maybe we could apply the same enhancements to the Flyer. Seven: Captain, do you intend to try to find the command module? Janeway: Or what's left of it. Tuvok: By my calculations, we have less than sixteen hours before the anomaly goes back into subspace. Janeway: Then we have to work quickly. Harry, B'Elanna, help Seven modify the Flyer's shields. Tom, review the database from the Ares Four mission. It might tell us something about this anomaly we've missed. We're going to need a mission leader. Chakotay: I volunteer. Janeway: I thought you might. Let's do it. Janeway: Something on your mind, Seven? Seven: The anomaly is as dangerous and unpredictable now as it was three hundred years ago. Janeway: But the Delta Flyer's a little more advanced than the Ares Four was. We'll be taking every precaution. Seven: That may not be enough. Janeway: I appreciate your concern but, this is my call. Seven: Searching for the command module seems more sentimental than scientific. Janeway: I can't argue with that. If scientific knowledge was all we were after, then the Federation would have built a fleet of probes, not starships. Exploration is about seeing things with your own eyes. In this case, we're exploring the past. Seven: How will retrieving this artifact enhance your appreciation of history? Janeway: By making us part of it. In the same way that excavating the obelisks of ancient Vulcan, or finding the shroud of Kahless made those explorers a part of their history. Here's the crux of it. As a Borg, you didn't study the past, you ingested it. You've never really developed an appreciation for humanity's history. Maybe this is an opportunity to do some exploring of your own. Seven: Are you ordering me to join this mission? Janeway: Let's just say I'm encouraging you to volunteer. Kelly: It's no solar flare. Wow! Kumagawa: John, can you describe it? Kelly: It's at least a thousand meters wide. Bright. Novakovich: Your transmission's breaking up. Kelly: It's generating an electromagnetic radiation, interfering with primary systems. I can't get away from it. Activating the transpectral imager. I'll record as much data as I can. It's right on top of me. I'll transmit as much as I can. Paris: That's all she wrote. Chakotay: NASA received Kelly's last telemetry at oh nine twenty two hours, October 19th, 2032. Paris: I thought I was the Mars buff. You seem to know more about the Ares Four than I do. Chakotay: The Mars missions paved the way for the exploration of space. Kelly was one of my childhood heroes. Paris: Mine too. Chakotay: That's dedication. The man's life is about to end, but he won't stop taking readings. Paris: Makes you wonder if those old-timers were made of sterner stuff than we are. Chakotay: You think we have it easy? Paris: You kidding? Warp drive, shields, transporters. We're traveling in the lap of luxury. Chakotay: Kelly and Kumagawa, Armstrong and Glenn, they were the real pioneers. Seven: Am I interrupting? Paris: We were just admiring someone. Fellow explorer. Seven: Hero worship. The glorification of an individual's accomplishment. Chakotay: I guess you didn't have many role models growing up. Seven: In the Collective, personal accomplishments are irrelevant. The shield modifications to the Flyer are complete. We're ready for launch. Chakotay: We? Seven: You'll need someone familiar with Borg technology to monitor the shields. I'm volunteering. Paris: You don't sound too happy about it. Seven: I'm not, but this mission can benefit from my expertise. Chakotay: In that case, welcome aboard. Emh: I'm preparing an inoculant to counter the effects of gravimetric radiation. Of course, if you were a hologram, you'd simply adjust your mobile emitter. That's what I did on Arakis Prime, one of my first away missions. Seven: I don't recall that. Emh: This was before you came aboard. Such an enchanting planet. Crystalline glaciers, magnesium vapor atmosphere. I had to stop my metallurgical scans just to admire the sheer beauty of it. To smell the roses, to coin a phrase. Seven: An inefficient use of your time. Emh: Perhaps. We're all finished here, except for one thing. Would you record some images when you're inside the ellipse, for those of us not lucky enough to make the trip? Seven: You envy my participation in this mission? Emh: There isn't a crewman aboard who doesn't. Seven: Why? Emh: I can only tell you how I felt that morning when I materialized on Arakis Prime. I left my footprints in the magnesite dust and thought, one small step for a hologram, one giant leap for mankind. Seven: To coin a phrase. Emh: Well, I know the sentiment isn't exactly original, but the fact is, I was exhilarated. Chakotay: Chakotay to Seven of Nine. Report to Shuttlebay two. Emh: Good luck. Paris: We're approaching the perimeter in five, four, three, two, one. Tuvok: We're within two thousand kilometers. Gravimetric interference is increasing. Torres: It's nothing compared to what they're going through. They're really getting knocked around in there. Kim: Their shields have weakened but they're still holding. Janeway: Harry, keep your finger on that tractor beam in case we have to pull them out. Torres: They're approaching the anomaly's core. We've lost sensor contact. Janeway: Harry. Kim: The comm. link is still active. Paris: The gravimetric shear is increasing. Seven: I'm reading diminished turbulence directly ahead. Chakotay: Full thrusters, Tom. Punch us through. Chakotay to Voyager. We're in. Chakotay: I wish you could see this, Captain, it's incredible. Janeway: We're all ears. Chakotay: It's very calm. No gravimetric distortions. The EM activity is creating a natural luminescence. Tom called it mood lighting. Paris: Hey B'Elanna, it's the perfect romantic getaway. Torres: I'll take your word for it. Chakotay: We've detected asteroid fragments, pieces of vessels, matter from every quadrant of the galaxy. Next time I lose something I'll know where to look. Instead of a graviton ellipse we should call it the kitchen sink anomaly. The chemical interactions have even created a primitive atmosphere. Paris: Nothing you'd want to breathe, of course. Janeway: What do you make of it, Seven? Seven: Well, I suppose it's intriguing. Some of the matter appears to be extra-dimensional in origin. Kim: Sounds like this anomaly's gotten around. Janeway: Any sign of the Ares command module? Paris: We're picking up traces of the hull, but our sensor readings are being refracted by all the debris in here. Tuvok: That was a gravimetric surge caused by the anomaly changing course by point zero zero six degrees. Janeway: We just had a big jolt out here. Chakotay: We didn't feel a thing. Janeway: By our estimate you have five hours thirty six minutes before the anomaly returns to subspace. Janeway: You'd better get a move on. Chakotay: Understood. Seven: I'm having difficulty isolating the debris from the command module. Paris: I'll lay in a search pattern. It may take a couple of hours to cover an area this large. Chakotay: Seven and I can use the time to take some samples, get a better idea of where this anomaly's been. Seven: We should focus on achieving our objective and returning to Voyager. Chakotay: We're not here just to find a module. We've got an opportunity to Seven: Explore. I am familiar with our mission. Chakotay: In that case, let's get started. Seven: The fossilized microbes in this ore appear to have had metallic membranes. Chakotay: We've speculated about the possibility of metallic lifeforms, but we've never discovered one. Seven: You're excited by this discovery? Chakotay: This piece of rock is billions of years older than Earth, from a time when the galaxy was still forming. Here. Seven: Commander? Chakotay: Take it. You're holding a piece of history. Maybe even the beginnings of life itself. Seven: Unlikely. Chakotay: It's more likely than you think. This anomaly is as old as anything we've ever encountered. I could spend a lifetime studying the things it's collected. Seven: And leave Voyager without a First Officer? Chakotay: They'd manage. Paleontology was always my first love. It's the reason I joined Starfleet. Seven: Why didn't you pursue it? Chakotay: My sense of responsibility got in the way. First the Maquis, then Voyager. What I wanted to be always seemed to take a back seat. Do you remember what you wanted to be before you were assimilated? Seven: I was assimilated when I was a child. Chakotay: I knew I wanted to be a paleontologist when I was six. Seven: A ballerina. Chakotay: Maybe it's not too late. Seven: It was a juvenile fantasy. Chakotay: Those are the ones that stick with you. Paris: Heads up, folks. I think we're getting close. Paris: I've isolated the module, bearing thirty nine mark one five. There. Seven: It appears to be intact. Chakotay: I'm reading hull breaches and corrosion, but all things considered it's pretty well preserved. Paris: We weren't expecting to find a fragment this big. Can't just stow it in the aft section. Chakotay: We'll use a tractor beam to tow it back to Voyager. Kim: Captain, the anomaly just made another course change, point zero zero three degrees. Janeway: That's the third one in an hour. Something has to be attracting it. Torres: There's nothing on the sensors. Janeway: I think it enjoys being unpredictable. Kim: We know it has a taste for electromagnetic energy. Janeway: So what could generate an EM field large enough to get it's attention, but still not show up on sensors? Kim: An energy burst from a pulsar, a neutrino cloud. Torres: Dark matter. Janeway: Realign the sensor array to scan for EM fluctuations. Torres: I've got a spatial disturbance three million kilometers away. It's a dark matter asteroid. Janeway: Bingo. Kim: The anomaly's heading right for it. Janeway: Time to impact? Tuvok: Four minutes. Captain, we can't predict how the impact will affect the anomaly. Torres: But it's a safe bet it won't be a gentle nudge. Janeway: Janeway to Delta Flyer, we've Janeway: got a problem. The anomaly is on a collision course with a dark matter asteroid. Chakotay: We've located the Mars orbiter. We're adapting a tractor beam. Chakotay: Give us a minute. Janeway: You don't have it. Get out of there. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: Now. Chakotay: Is the tractor beam ready? Paris: Just about, sir. Chakotay: Lock onto the module and take us out. Seven: We don't have time. Chakotay: I gave you an order. Seven: Commander. Chakotay: We're not leaving without that module. Tom! Tuvok: Captain, both the anomaly and the asteroid are accelerating. Janeway: They're attracting each other like a pair of magnets. Torres: At this rate it'll impact in fifty six seconds. Janeway: Chakotay, you've got less than a minute. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Paris: The module is slowing us down. Chakotay: Maintain tractor lock. How long until we clear the anomaly? Seven: At our current speed, forty seconds. Chakotay: We can do it. Torres: Thirty seconds to impact. They're still not clear. Janeway: Chakotay, status. Chakotay: We're on our way. Torres: Twenty seconds. Tuvok: Gravimetric distortions are increasing. Janeway: The Flyer? Kim: I've lost the signal. Seven: How badly is he damaged? Paris: He's got a severe concussion and internal injuries. We need to get him back to Voyager. Seven: That may not be possible. Communications, shields and propulsion are still offline. Paris: He's stable for now. I'll give you a hand. Seven: We can repair the shields, but the engines are unsalvageable. Paris: It can't be that bad. Seven: It's worse. The ellipse showing signs of returning to subspace. We have less than two hours. Paris: He's regaining consciousness. Easy, easy. Lie still. Chakotay: It feels like I just went ten rounds with an Andorian. Paris: More like twenty. You were hit with a plasma discharge. The gravimetric surge from the asteroid caught us at the edge of the anomaly and tossed us back inside. Chakotay: The command module? Paris: It's adrift, three hundred meters off our port bow. Chakotay: Then we can still salvage it. Paris: Not so fast. We can't get engines or shields back online, not to mention a tractor beam. We'll be lucky to get out of this in one piece. Chakotay: I can help. Paris: You're in worse shape than this ship. You want to help? Lie in the bed, doctor's orders. Seven: Another gravimetric surge. Paris: I'll see if I can reinforce the structural integrity field. Chakotay: You might try drawing power from auxiliary life support. Seven: That system was damaged as well. Chakotay: What about the secondary relays? Seven: They're offline. Chakotay: That doesn't leave us many choices. Try rerouting the phaser couplings. Seven: We explored that option while you were unconscious. Chakotay: Then maybe you can bring me up to date. Seven: There's no time. I suggest you recuperate. We have the situation under control. Chakotay: It doesn't look that way from here. I'm still in command of this mission. I want to know what's going on. Seven: Very well. We were ordered by the Captain to leave this anomaly, but you chose to disobey that command. As a result of your obsession with the module, we are now trapped along with it. In all probability we won't survive without Chakotay: Point taken. Now why don't you continue, without the attitude. Seven: An inventory of the damaged systems. Read it for yourself. Chakotay: I made a mistake. I put the mission at risk. Seven: You put our lives at risk. Chakotay: Well, if we don't make it out, someone's bound to come looking for us in a few hundred years. Defusing a tense situation with humor, remember? Janeway: Voyager to Delta Flyer. Seven: They're using a probe as a transmission relay. Janeway: Voyager to Chakotay, please respond. We can't detect you. Chakotay: Captain, we can hear you. Seven: I'm matching their frequency. Voyager, this is the Delta Flyer. Respond. Janeway: Are you all right? What's your status? Chakotay: We've sustained heavy damage, Captain, but we're alive. It's good to hear your voice. Kim: We could installl the same shielding on a class two shuttle and take it in. Paris: It took us hours to make the modifications Paris: To the Flyer. We've only got eighty two minutes before this thing disappears into subspace. Tuvok: It may be possible to modify a tractor beam to cut through the gravimetric interference. Kim: You'll never be able to get it all the way through to the core. Janeway: Start working on it anyway. Torres: You said all the energy conduits are fused? Seven: Correct. Seven: We can't get power to any of the primary systems. Paris: If the replicators were working we could whip up a new plasma manifold Paris: And be on our way. Torres: What if I could get you an old manifold? Paris: Excuse me? Torres: The command module may be three centuries old, but the power distribution system isn't that different from the Flyer's. Right here. This control panel in the main cockpit. It was called an ion distributor. With a few tweaks it could be modified to channel warp plasma. Seven: Even if it were possible, we have to obtain the object Seven: Before we can adapt it. Janeway: Do you have enough Janeway: Power to beam one of you to the module? Paris: Yes, ma'am. I'll go. Janeway: Not so fast, Tom. If another gravimetric surge hits, we'll need you at the helm. Seven. Seven: Are you encouraging me to volunteer again, Captain? Janeway: You read my mind. Paris: Come on, just a little closer. That's it for thrusters Paris: But I got us within transporter range. Ready? Seven: Stand by. Chakotay: Ironic. You're doing what I've always dreamt of. Remember, when you set foot in that module, you'll be stepping into history. Seven: History is irrelevant. Chakotay: Irrelevant? Do me a favor. When you're over there, download whatever you can from their database. And also take a minute to look around, so you can tell us what it was like. Seven: There may not be time, but I'll try. Chakotay: Good luck. Paris: What's it like in there? Seven: Dark. The ambient temperature is minus two hundred sixty degrees. There appear to be fractures in the aft bulkheads. Paris: Is the cockpit intact? Seven: Yes. Seven: I've brought the main computer online. Kelly: I've lost contact with the team on the surface, and I can't get a fix on my position. Paris: What was that? Seven: There's an active data file. Seven: It appears to contain log entries. Chakotay: Can you play them for us? Seven: I believe so. Chakotay: Consider it my last request. Kelly: And I can't get a fix on my position. But I'm alive and the CM seems to be intact. I'm inside this Kelly: Whatever it is. Paris: Could you hear that, Chakotay? Chakotay: It's amazing. Everyone assumed he was killed instantly. Kelly: What I've gotten myself into. It's very calm, like I'm in the eye of a hurricane. It's a little spooky but the way I figure it. Kelly: If there's a way in, there's got to be a way out. I'm gonna fire up the spectral imager before I initiate another engine burn, collect as much data as I can. Jeannie, I may not be bringing you back the Mars rock, but I promise you, I'm going to do everything I can to get home. Kelly: Ares Four, mission record, October 23rd. I'm starting to feel like Jonah. How long was he in the belly of that whale? Three days? I got him beat by a day or two already. The EM interference is disrupting communications and LIDAR, and I can't see the stars. There's no way I can get a fix on my position. If this thing's moving as fast as it was when it pulled me in, I could be a long way from Mars by now. The imager's been working overtime cataloging all the matter in here, but a lot of it defies analysis. I think we're going to need to make room on the periodic table. Where the hell am I? Power levels have dropped another fifteen percent since my last systems check. Kelly: I think I just saw another spacecraft. Either that, or all this dehydrated food has gone to my head. I've got it. The hull's made of some kind of alloy. I can't make heads or tails of it. I shouldn't have been so dismissive. Kelly: I remember giving Kumagawa a hard time when she claimed she saw a UFO over the Gulf. I told her it was a meteor or another piece of MIR. I guess I owe you an apology, Rose. Ares Four, mission record, October 25th. It's been a nice place to visit Kelly: But I'm ready to come home. I've prepped the ion drive, channeled all the thruster reserves into the main tank. Kelly: I have enough fuel for one last engine burn. Wish me luck. Kelly: Ignition sequence. Five, four, three, two. I'm losing pitch control. Gyros aren't responding. Power failure. I've got to abort. I'm not going to make it. Kelly: All systems go. Watch me, Dad, I'm flying. Boom. Bad landing. Call the MedEvac team. Ha. Paris: Paris to Seven. Status? Seven: I've located the device, but it's fused to the hull. Stand by. Paris: Make it quick. We've got less than fifteen minutes. Seven: Understood. Kelly: All systems go. Watch me Dad, I'm flying. Boom. Bad landing. Call the MedEvac team. Ha. John Kelly's first flight, not exactly A-OK. Remember that, Dad? I jumped off the roof with a parachute made of blankets. I guess I didn't calculate the aerodynamics. Of course, I was only six. I guess Kelly: This is John Kelly's last flight. This time, I can't blame it on pilot error. This time, no regrets. Kelly: Oh, what I've seen proves we were right to come out here. Kelly: We're not alone, I know that now. The module's losing power. I'm taking life support offline. Kelly: Rerouting whatever's left to the imager. Keep it running as long as possible. Mission Control, Dad, whoever finds this, do me a favor. Take all the data I've collected. Put it to good use. I hope you don't look at this as a failure. I don't. Kelly: Actually, I do have one regret. I never found out who won the World Series. I'm tired, and I can't Paris: Paris to Seven. how's it going over there? Seven: I have the distributor. I'm downloading Lieutenant Kelly's database. Paris: Hurry. we're running out of time. Seven: Lock onto my bio-signature and my comm. badge. Paris: Seven? Seven: Energize. Janeway: Delta Flyer, report. Paris: We're trying to integrate the distributor. Stand by, Captain. Janeway: How long do they have? Tuvok: Four minutes. Paris: Try bypassing the power couplings. Seven: No effect. Paris: Resequence the ion modulators, see if that does it. Seven: Power conversion in process. Paris: We have propulsion, shields. Seven: The plasma flow is still fluctuating. Paris: Stay on top of it. Paris to Voyager. Janeway: Go ahead. Paris: Open the shuttlebay doors. We're coming home. Janeway: Acknowledged. Paris: Laying in an escape trajectory. Tuvok: The ellipse is returning to subspace. Janeway: The Flyer? Kim: They're approaching the perimeter. Two thousand meters, eighteen hundred. Torres: The anomaly's submerging. Janeway: Are we in tractor range? Tuvok: Not yet. Janeway: Take us closer. Torres: Captain? Janeway: Do it. Tuvok: They're still out of reach. Another three hundred meters. Janeway: Closer. Torres: We'll be pulled right in with them. Janeway: Just a few more meters. Torres: We're too close. Tuvok: I've got a lock. Janeway: Reverse thrusters, full impulse. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 53301.2. The away team collected over sixty teraquads of data on the anomaly. Before we begin to analyze them, we've decided to pay our respects to an old colleague. Janeway: Space. Literally it means nothing, a vacuum between stars and planets, but by the same token it means everything. It's what connects all our worlds, Vulcan, Kronos, Talax, Earth. Centuries ago, mankind sent its first wave of explorers into that void. Astronauts like Mister Kelly. They paved the way for the first colonies, the first starships, for those of us who've made space our home. We commend the spirit and the bravery of Lieutenant John Mark Kelly as we commit his body to space. He will not be forgotten. Seven: Captain. I did not know this individual. Had I encountered him while I was a Borg I would have found his technology unworthy of assimilation. But we are more alike than one might think. In a sense, his desire to explore was not unlike a quest for perfection. Seven: His contribution helped secure humanity's future, and in some ways, my own. Seven: The Yankees, in six games. Tuvok: All hands, attention. Honor guard.

Paris: What's the matter, Harry? You look a little pale. Kim: I volunteered for a test flight, not a suicide mission. Paris: How can we put the new Delta Flyer through her paces without taking a few risks? Kim: Another risk like that and we'll have to rebuild her all over again. There's a vessel coming up fast off our starboard beam. Paris: Shields. Kim: Range fifty kilometers. Ten. It's pulling alongside. Paris: Wow, nice ship. Kim: It's scanning us. Paris: This is Lieutenant Tom Paris. Please identify yourself. Irina: Vectored exhaust ports, accelerated driver coils. Your vessel must be fast. Paris: Gets us where we want to go. Irina: Check your scanners. You'll see a comet on the other side of the asteroid field. I wonder which of our ships could get there first? Paris: Sounds like a challenge. Irina: Are you going to accept? Kim: We are not going to race her. Paris: This is a test flight, right? Kim: Yeah, but Paris: What better way to test the new ship than to see how it stands up to a little competition? We're ready over here. Shall I count to three? Paris: Guess not. She's a lot more maneuverable than we are. Kim: Not that I'm endorsing this misguided exercise, but maybe we can even the odds. New impulse thrusters. Paris: Now that's the spirit, Harry. Kim: We're catching up. A hundred meters, fifty. Paris: Bring the backup generators online and reroute power to the thrusters. Paris: And it's the Delta Flyer by a nose. Kim: Something's wrong with her ship. The cabin's filling up with nyocene gas. Paris: Stand by for emergency transport. Kim: Are you all right? Irina: I think so. Kim: I told you this wasn't a good idea. Irina: Does that mean you're afraid to try again? Paris: Yeah, Harry, you afraid? Kim: No, of course not. It's just that your ship is in no shape for a rematch. Irina: My power transformer overloaded. Kim: I bet we could find you a spare back on Voyager. We were about to head back anyway. Right, Tom? Paris: Whatever you say, Ensign Eager. Emh: I've been looking forward to my holodeck time all week. Why can't you borrow three hours from someone else? Torres: Yours are the last piece to the puzzle. Tom and I have finally managed to get a weekend off together. I've been trading favors with members so that we could get the holodeck to ourselves. Emh: A romantic getaway. Torres: Well, that's the idea, yes. Emh: Well, ordinarily I wouldn't hesitate to oblige but I've been looking forward to indulging myself in a new hobby. Something human doctors have been enjoying for centuries. Emh: I've already booked a tee time. Torres: Well, if your tee time is more important than our happiness. Our first chance to be alone in months. Emh: Fine. Take my three hours. Torres: Thank you. Emh: So, what program are you planning to run? Torres: Something new, called Gedi Prime. Emh: I've heard of that. The vacation paradise that makes Risa look like a tourist trap. TORRES Endless kilometers of crystalline beaches, mood reefs, bioluminescent waterfalls. Emh: And a championship golf course, if I'm not mistaken. Why don't I just join you? Torres: Somehow I don't think that would add to the mood. Emh: Don't be so sure. You haven't seen me in a bathing suit. Irina: Could you hand me the veridium injector. KIM|: Veridium injector. Er, let's see. Irina: The one with the long handle. Kim: Of course. Kim: Comfortable. Irina: My co-pilot thinks so, too. Kim: Co-pilot? Irina: I was on my way to meet him when I ran into you. Kim: So, tell me more about where you're from. Irina: It's a small trinary system about half a parsec from here. Kim: Three suns? Must make for some long days. Irina: Are you always this inquisitive? Kim: That depends on who I'm talking to. Paris: Your new power transformer is installled and ready to go. Irina: Thanks. Paris: Your impulse drive is a real beauty. Irina: I designed it myself. Paris: But I couldn't help noticing your warp system seems so rudimentary. Irina: Warp's fine if you like going fast in a straight line. But to me that's just physics, not flying. Kim: I guess it's just a matter of taste. Irina: Anyway, for the kind of flying I'm here for, warp is not a factor. The race course is only two billion kilometers long. Paris: Race course? Kim: What kind of race course? Paris: The Antarian Trans-Stellar Rally. Three segments covering two point three billion kilometers. Kim: With obstacles ranging from dwarf star clusters to K class anomalies. Paris: Two man crews and most importantly, each ship is limited to sub-light speeds. It is the ultimate test of ship design and piloting skills Tuvok: Not to mention a serious drain on Voyager's resources. You're suggesting we reassign fifteen crewmen to modify the Delta Flyer. Paris: The race has very specific guidelines. Chakotay: All the ships have to use enriched deuterium fuel. The Delta Flyer's not equipped for that. Kim: Irina agreed to lend us a fuel converter. Paris: Captain, this race is more than just a sporting event. Until recently this region was a war zone. Four different species fought for nearly a century to control it. Kim: Now, for the first time, they're competing peacefully to commemorate the new treaty that ended the war. Paris: This race embodies everything the Federation values. Peaceful coexistence, free exchange of ideas Janeway: I think it's a great idea. Paris: You do? Tuvok: You do? Janeway: Absolutely. This competition is just the sort of break we need. It would give us the chance to make some friends, and allow the crew a little R and R. Request granted. Paris: Thank you, Captain. Janeway: One thing, gentleman. Now that we're in this race, we're in it to win. After all, Starfleet's honor is at stake. Paris: Don't worry, it's in good hands. Paris: A little tip, Doc. This game was not meant to be played indoors. Emh: Here to rub salt in the wound? Paris: I beg your pardon? Emh: I planned to be putting the greens at Saint Andrews. Instead I'm putting into beakers in Sickbay, thanks to you. Paris: Me? Emh: Oh, don't be coy. I've already approved your time off. Paris: The Captain's told you about the race already? Emh: What race? I was referring to your romantic getaway. Paris: Oh, no. Emh: Don't tell me you forgot. Paris: Do me a favor Doc. Keep a lock on my biosigns. Emh: What for? Paris: Because in about five minutes there may be a medical emergency in Engineering. Emh: Maybe I can get that tee time back. Paris: Hi. Torres: You're early. Torres: You packed? Paris: Not yet. Actually, there might be a little problem. Torres: Problem? Paris: I have the chance to pilot the Flyer in a race. A really unique race and the captain thinks it's a great idea, and I guess I got so excited I forgot about our plans. But I don't have to do it. The captain would understand. Torres: It's all right. Paris: No, no. I should have remembered. This just seemed like such an amazing opportunity. Pilots from all over Torres: I said it's okay. Paris: Really? Torres: The holodeck will always be here. This race won't. Paris: I do not deserve you. Torres: You're right about that. Paris: So, we'll plan this vacation for another time. Torres: Sure. Paris: I'm going to make this up to you, I promise. Neelix: Late night? Can I get you anything? Torres: No, thanks. Neelix: Oh, ah, ow. oo. Torres: Are you okay? Neelix: Oh, my feet. Ow. I haven't had a chance to sit down all day. Torres: If you're thinking of cheering me up, don't bother. Neelix: Who, me? Never. Torres: And by the way, you can have your holodeck time back. Neelix: What about your weekend with Tom? Torres: He just canceled it. Neelix: Does he have any idea how much planning it took? Torres: No. And you're not going to tell him, either. He just entered this big race, and he's really excited and, I don't want to spoil it for him. Neelix: I'm sure if you tell him how important this weekend was to you, he'll reconsider. Torres: Probably. But he should be able to do what makes him happy. Neelix: What about what makes you happy? Torres: It's time I faced facts, Neelix. Tom and I just don't belong together. Neelix: Then you're not in love with him anymore? Torres: I didn't say that. Neelix: B'Elanna, if you still love each other Torres: Maybe that isn't enough. Neelix: Call me a hopeless romantic, but I still think it is. Torres: There's a Klingon phrase my grandmother used to use. Mok'tah. It means bad match. That's what Tom and I are. I just hate that it's taken me three years to realize it. Neelix: If you're really such a mok'tah, it must have been an awful three years. Torres: No. Tom is a great guy. We've had a lot of fun together. And that seems to be enough for him. But not for me. Neelix: Why aren't you saying all this to Tom? Torres: I plan to. After the race. Neelix: By which time, he'll have already disappointed you again. I may not know as much about Klingon tradition as your grandmother, but somehow, keeping Tom in the dark doesn't seem very honorable. My feet are feeling better. I should go back to work. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 54058.6. Our request to enter the Delta Flyer into the rally has been accepted. I'm meeting with the race coordinator, Ambassador O'Zaal, to work out the details. O'Zaal: We have teams that have traveled quite a distance, Captain, but none from as far as the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway: We're always willing to go that extra light year for a good cause. O'Zaal: Well, your entrance petition seems to be in order. The Delta Flyer meets our guidelines. Now all you have to do is win. Chakotay: Something tells me the other teams aren't going to make that too easy. Tuvok: Bridge to the captain. Janeway: Go ahead, Commander. Tuvok: There is an incoming transmission for the Ambassador. Janeway: Route it here. O'Zaal: I asked not to be disturbed. Assistant: I'm sorry, but the Aksani are threatening to withdraw unless they're allowed to host the post-race ceremony. O'Zaal: Did you explain that we've already promised that to the Chessu. Assistant: Yes. They said that was unacceptable. O'Zaal: Arrange for another meeting. I'll have to find some way of appeasing them. Well, I hope the race you just entered doesn't end before it begins. Janeway: It's that serious? O'Zaal: The peace is still very fragile. Every decision I make, no matter how trivial, is looked upon as symbolic. Janeway: So, every time you make a concession to one participant O'Zaal: Another is offended, yes. Janeway: Maybe we can help. O'Zaal: That would be wonderful, but how? Janeway: By providing neutral ground for the pre- and post-race activities. Since we've never taken sides in your conflict, you couldn't be accused of showing favoritism. O'Zaal: If your racing skills are as sharp as your diplomatic instincts, the other teams won't have a chance. Irina: There's someone to watch out for. Paris: What's his story? Irina: His name is Assan. He was a fighter pilot. One of the most ruthless. Kim: Where you going? Paris: A little personal reconnaissance. We are the hosts. Lieutenant Tom Paris. Welcome aboard. Paris: Could I get you something? A drink? Something to eat? A tour of the ship? Assan: Were you assigned to serve me? Paris: Er, not exactly. Assan: Are we friends? Paris: I guess not. Assan: Then you must be one of those pilots who believes in the fellowship of combat. Paris: Correct me if I'm wrong but, I thought this was a friendly race, not a battle. Assan: If that's what you believe, then you've already lost. Paris: Well, nice chatting with you. Kim: Learn anything? Paris: Yeah. I should leave the hosting to Neelix. Irina: Joxom! Kim: Who? Irina: My co-pilot. Joxom: Irina. Hi. Paris: Looks like they're good friends. Kim: They're team-mates. Paris: Close personal team-mates. Kim: Oh, it was nice while it lasted. Paris: Come on. Torres: Seven, I need to run a diagnostic on the lateral sensor array. Seven: As soon as I'm finished. Torres: With what? Seven: Plotting the most efficient course for the first segment of the rally. Torres: Seems like the entire crew has come down with race fever. Seven: Maybe you could persuade the Doctor to develop a vaccine. Torres: I'm surprised you're putting time into this. Seven: Initially I did find the activity irrelevant. But then I realized that it's important for the crew's morale, and for my relationship with Lieutenant Paris. Torres: Your relationship with Lieutenant Paris. Seven: I was speaking professionally. I often work with him on navigational problems. He can be an erratic individual, but he's also a very competent officer and clearly a skilled pilot. Torres: It's the erratic individual that takes getting used to. Seven: No doubt. But I've learned that if I embrace some of his interests, support him in his personal goals, we're able to function more efficiently as crewmates. Paris: Harry, where have you been? Torres: Say Q'apla! Torres: It means success. I just wanted to capture the moment. Not to mention that cute bewildered expression. Paris: What are you doing in that flight suit? Torres: There's been a change of plans. I'm your new co-pilot. Paris: Look, I don't have time for practical jokes. Torres: Neither do I. Ready to bring that impulse drive online? Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: Okay. I was upset that you canceled our weekend. But then I realized, why should we spend this time apart when we can be together doing something you love? Paris: What about Harry? Torres: I assigned him to a level five diagnostic in Engineering. Paris: Oh, that's terrible. Torres: I'm just kidding. I told him how hard it was for us to get time together and he understood. Anyway, the way I see it, you're trading an Ensign for a Chief Engineer. Paris: Well, you don't have to convince me. I couldn't ask for a better co-pilot. Now just remember, we're not on vacation. The point is to win. Torres: And you know how much I hate to lose. Paris: Thrusters online. Opening shuttlebay doors. Tuvok: The racers are moving into position. Janeway: Ambassador. O'Zaal: Welcome to the first running of the Antarian Trans-Stellar Rally. This moment marks a hopeful point O'Zaal: In our shared history. A chance to put aside old animosities and come together O'Zaal: In a spirit of peace and friendly competition. O'Zaal: Good luck to all of you. Prepare for the starting signal. O'Zaal: Captain, the honor is yours. Janeway: Mister Tuvok, fire. Torres: We've passed two more ships. Three still ahead of us. Paris: How's my impulse engine? Torres: Hot but stable, thanks to the new fuel converter. Torres: That was the number eight ship. Paris: Assan. Torres: Whoever it is just grazed our shields. Port thrusters are offline. Paris: Compensating. That was an old trick. Back at the Academy we used to call that scraping. Torres: Assan just almost scraped us out of the race. Paris: How are we doing on time? Torres: Twenty seconds to the third marker. Assan's already rounding it, thanks to his little tactic. Paris: It's a long race. We'll catch him. Neelix: How's our team doing? Seven: I announced the Delta Flyer's progress over the comm. eleven minutes ago. Neelix: In a race like this, eleven minutes can be an eternity. Seven: The Delta Flyer is in fourth position, having completed sixty two percent of the course. The Aksani vessel is in third position, having completed sixty eight percent of the course. Neelix: You don't make it sound very exciting. Seven: I'm relaying the relevant information. Neelix: It's all in the delivery. Do you mind? Attention, all hands. Stand by for a race update. With only fifty eight million kilometers left od the first segment, the Aksani, Imhotep and Terrellian ships are still battling for the lead. Wait, the number eight ship just cut off the number three in the Darla system. Now three's changing course using the gravity from a gas giant to boost its speed. It's making up for lost ground. Janeway: Sounds like quite a race. Seven: Apparently, it's all in the delivery. Paris: So much for the Aksani. Now it's just down to Irina and Assan. Torres: In a few minutes they'll just be echoes in our aft scanners. Paris: Well, we've still got the Mobius Inversion coming up. Torres: The what? Paris: Tell me you read the course manual. Torres: I skimmed it. More or less. Paris: Oh, great. Torres: So, what exactly is this Mobius whatever? Paris: Take a look. It covers the entire last third of the course. Level six subspace distortions, gravimetric shears. Just think of it as a little wormhole with a big attitude. Neelix: The Terrellian and Imhotep ships are still in the lead, the Delta Flyer trailing by a few seconds. Meanwhile, the two Chessu ships are continuing to advance, claiming fourth and fifth position. Tuvok: My weekly security report. Janeway: I'll read it later. Tuvok: There are a few matters we should discuss. Chakotay: She said later, Tuvok. Neelix: Something's wrong. They're disappearing. Seven: Radiation from the Mobius Inversion is blocking our sensors. Tuvok: How will we track their progress? Chakotay: We can't, not until they emerge from the other side of the anomaly. Janeway: Want to talk about that report now, Tuvok? Tuvok: Later, if that's permissible. Torres: Fifty meters, forty. We can get through. Paris: We're too close to each other. Torres: I'm reversing our deflector polarity. It'll repel their shields. Why wait for an opening when you can make one? Paris: No, it's too risky. Torres: Too risky? That doesn't sound like the Tom Paris I know. Paris: What are you doing? Torres: Deploying auxiliary thrusters. We'll need the extra maneuvering power to get through the gap. Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: Just steer the ship. Neelix: It's them. It's the Delta Flyer. They're in the lead. They're pulling away! Torres: We did it. Paris: You should have waited. Torres: I saw a chance and I took it. Paris: I'm the pilot. That means I do the flying. O'Zaal: Attention all racers. There's been an accident. Stay in order and shut down your engines. Janeway: Report. Emh: His condition's stabilizing. I should be able to start dermal regeneration in a few hours. Irina: This was Assan's fault. O'Zaal: Why? Irina: He collided with me so many times my shield generator overloaded. Joxom's console exploded. He's lucky he's alive. Assan: If I'm guilty of anything, it's of coming in second. A situation I'll remedy in the next leg. O'Zaal: You're doing a poor job of defending yourself. Torres: We may have had something to do with this too. We grazed both of their shields while in the anomaly. Janeway: Intentionally? Paris: It was a tight course. Everyone was flying very aggressively. Irina: Your team is not responsible, Captain. My generators were already overloading when they made contact. Tuvok: Perhaps none of you is to blame. I found this interfaced with her ship's shield generator. I ran an analysis. It's a phase inverter, designed to cause a system overload. Janeway: Oh, it's hard to believe someone would go this far just to knock a competitor out of the race? O'Zaal: This may be more than a simple case of cheating, Captain. I think someone's trying to end the peace. Janeway: Maybe I'm missing something, but we're talking about a single act of sabotage. How does that threaten your treaty? O'Zaal: By itself it wouldn't. But we received several threats of a more serious nature. Tuvok: From whom? O'Zaal: Groups opposed to the alliance. Arms dealers, isolationists, political extremists. Up until now I wasn't sure how seriously to take them. Tuvok: Clearly they pose a security threat. O'Zaal: Yes, yes. We've done everything we could to protect the races, but that may not be enough. I don't want to risk any more lives. We should cancel the race, or at least postpone i,t until we can guarantee everyone's safety. Irina: No. If we stop now we'll be letting these extremists win. Assan: She's right. O'Zaal: Very well, then. If that's the consensus, we'll resume tomorrow as scheduled. Of course, Captain, if you decide to withdraw, we'd understand. Janeway: The last time I checked, I believe we were winning. Kim: There you are. Congratulations on taking the lead. Paris: Thanks. Kim: Of course, you're not going to win. Torres: Why is that? Kim: Because we are. You're looking at your new co-pilot. I checked with one of the race officials. It's perfectly legal. And it's a chance for both of us to get back in the race. Irina: I appreciate the gesture, but my ship's damaged. Paris: You don't know our Harry. Once he sets his mind on something Torres: He'll not only fix your ship, he'll polish the bulkheads. Kim: How can you turn me down? Irina: Apparently I can't. Paris: Come on, you can say it. Torres: It's embarrassing. Paris: I just want to make sure we're clear on what we're doing. Torres: Right at the light, then readjust my sight. Paris: Meaning? Torres: Come about eighty six degrees at the red giant then recalibrate sensors to compensate for photonic interference. Paris: Right. Next? Torres: Do I really have to spend my morning reciting nursery rhymes? Paris: It got me through the Academy. Torres: You were expelled. Paris: Okay. Repeat after me. I am not the pilot. I will not attempt to fly this ship. Torres: That one doesn't even rhyme. Kim: Anyone home? Paris: Well, if it isn't our competition. Torres: Here to spy on us? Kim: I just stopped by to borrow a hyperspanner. Paris: Looks like you didn't get much sleep. Kim: Irina and I were up all night. Paris: Oh, really? Kim: Making repairs. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I had so much fun. She's funny, smart. We get along without trying. I'm going to ask her if she wants to spend some time on Voyager after the race. Paris: What about Joxom? Kim: Turns out they're just team-mates. I know what you're going to say Paris: No, no. Actually, I was just going to congratulate you. She's not a Borg, she's not a hologram, and she's not dead. Looks like you might have finally found yourself the perfect woman. O'Zaal: All teams report to your ships. The race will resume in thirty minutes. Kim: See you on the course. Neelix: Attention, all hands. Stand by for another race update. After fighting off a formidable challenge from the Terrellian team, the Delta Flyer has managed to hold onto it's lead going into the third and final segment. Paris: Approaching the pulsars. Torres: Straight through the gate. Paris: Then remodulate. Torres: Harry sure had that glow, didn't he? Paris: What glow? Torres: You know, that look you get when you first meet someone. Paris: Yeah, his cheeks were a little redder than usual. Torres: We're through the pulsars. Harry and Irina are right behind us. Paris: Ease up off the thrusters now. I want to conserve some fuel for the final leg. Torres: If circumstances were right they might even have a future together. Paris: What? Torres: Harry and Irina. Paris: They just met. It's a little early to be planning a wedding. Torres: No, I just meant that some people just fit together without having to work at it. And other people, no matter how much they try Paris: Are we talking about them or us? Torres: What? No, I didn't mean. Paris: If something's bothering you, let's talk about it. Torres: We should concentrate on the race. Paris: Maybe Harry and Irina aren't such a great team after all. They're falling behind. Kim: I'm reading malfunctions in the EPS relays. But we double-checked all of them last night. Irina: We must have missed something. At this rate, we're going to be out of the race in a couple of minutes. Kim: I think I can reroute power through the impulse manifolds. Irina: No! Kim: Why not? Irina: It could damage the reactor coils. Kim: What do the reactor coils have to do with the impulse manifolds? Irina: These systems are different than what you're used to. Kim: You do want to win, don't you? Irina: Of course I do. Kim: It just seems like every time I make a suggestion, you find a reason to reject it. Irina: I'm more familiar with my ship than you are. Kim: Now what? Irina: I think it's the injector ports. Kim: No, it's an overload in my console! Kim: That's the second time your co-pilot's console exploded. Quite a coincidence. Irina: I'm sorry, Harry. I really am. Kim: You sabotaged your own ship. Twice. Why are you trying so hard to get out of this race? Kim: What the hell is going on? Sit down and hold still! All right, if you won't talk to me, maybe you'll talk to Antarian Security. You disabled the comm. system. We'll just wait. Someone'll come along eventually. Torres: We're past the last marker. Time to deploy the thrusters? Paris: Whatever you say. Torres: What happened to I'm the pilot? Paris: That really bothered you, didn't it? It's why you think we don't fit together as well as Harry and Irina? Torres: Could we talk about this later? Assan is gaining on us. Paris: Well then, I guess you'd better deploy the thrusters. Torres: Thrusters deployed. This isn't about the race anymore, is it? Paris: You tell me. Irina: If we're going to just sit here, we might as well see who's winning. Kim: You're not exactly in a position to be making requests. Irina: Admit it, Harry. You're curious too. Kim: The Delta Flyer is still in the lead. Irina: Good for them. Torres: I thought if we could do this one thing together, something you cared about, that it might help our relationship. Paris: I didn't know it needed help. Torres: That's part of the problem. Paris: What's the rest? Torres: You know the rest. Paris: So we scrape shields occasionally. It keeps things interesting. Torres: Maybe interesting isn't enough for me. What are you doing? Kim: They're stopping. They're dead in the water. Kim: Ah, ah, ah. Irina: How far from the finish line? Kim: Less than a million kilometers. Torres: That was Assan. Why are we just sitting here? Paris: If we've got a problem, we're going to resolve it right here, right now. Kim: You done everything possible to take yourself out of the race, and now you seem worried that the Delta Flyer won't reach the finish line. I'm counting more than a dozen ships there. Spectators, officials. Irina: All congregated in the name of peace. Touching, isn't it? Kim: You've planned some sort of attack. There are hundreds of innocent people there. How can you do that? Irina: Not everyone is as comfortable mixing with other species as you are, Harry. Some of us believe it was better when we were separate. Torres: Hey, I never asked you to give up this race, or anything else that you care about. I never asked you to stop being yourself. Paris: The only self that I want to be is the guy you're in love with. Torres: Wow. I didn't know you felt that way. Paris: How can you say that? Torres: Well, you always seem to have other priorities. Paris: I'm showing you my priorities right now. Kim: The Delta Flyer wouldn't even be in this race if you hadn't told us about it. You gave us the fuel converter so we could qualify. The fuel converter. That's why you're so concerned about Tom and B'Elanna's crossing the finish line. What'd you do to it? Rig it to explode? Torres: How come you never talked to me about this before? Paris: Well, you've got that tough Klingon exterior. And er, I didn't think you liked the mushy stuff. Torres: Do I look that tough right now? Paris: Does that mean you're in the mood for some mushy stuff? Torres: Maybe. Paris: Exactly what kind of mush are we talking about? Torres: You tell me. Paris: Well, there's, um, kissy stuff. Torres: That was nice. Paris: And there's the you're the most important person in the world to me. Torres: I like that one, too. Paris: And there's the happily ever after. Torres: How does that one work? Paris: Well, traditionally it requires a proposal. Torres: We're being scanned by some kind of modulating pulse. It's from Irina's ship. Paris: They must be wondering why we stopped. Torres: There's something odd about the amplitude. Paris: Wait a minute. Dit dit dah. That's Morse code. Harry and I use it in the Captain Proton holoprogram. Torres: What's it saying? Paris: Fuel converter rigged. Eject. What does he mean by rigged? Torres: The converter's leaking veridium isotopes. Paris: Why didn't the computer warn us? Torres: The online sensors have been tampered with. Paris: Can you contain the leak? Torres: Too late. The veridium is already reacting with the warp plasma. Paris: That'll cause a warp core breach. Torres: In less than a minute. Paris: Then do what Harry said. Eject the converter. Torres: It's too late. I have to eject the core. Paris: Here? We'll never survive the blast. Neither will anyone else within a million kilometers. Irina: They're moving again. Kim: Away from the finish line. Computer: Warp core breach in thirty seconds. Torres: Where are we going? Paris: A J Class nebula filled with ionized gas. Should contain the explosion. Torres: I can't get the ejection subroutines online. Computer: Warp core breach in twenty seconds. Paris: So, what's your answer? Torres: My answer? Paris: Will you marry me? Computer: Warp core breach in fifteen seconds. Torres: You're proposing now? Paris: It's as good a time as any. Torres: Subroutines back online. Computer: Warp core breach in ten seconds, nine, eight. Torres: Clear! Computer: Four. Torres: Go! Computer: Three. Janeway: Damn. O'Zaal: I'm sorry your team didn't win, Captain. Janeway: Janeway to the bridge. Report. Tuvok: That was a shock wave from an antimatter explosion approximately one point two million kilometers from here. Janeway: Excuse me. Paris: B'Elanna. Torres: I guess we lost. Paris: That depends. Torres: On what? Paris: On how you answer my question. Torres: I thought you only asked it because we were about to explode. Paris: Well, we're still alive and I'm still asking. Torres: How come you never asked me before? Paris: How come you're still avoiding the question? Torres: I'm thinking. Paris: Think faster. Torres: Why? You going to withdraw the question? Paris: No, but I might start to beg. It could get embarrassing. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. The Antarians have invited us to participate in the post-race festivities, which has allowed me to give two of my senior officers time off for a well-deserved romantic getaway. The Delta Flyer still needs a new warp core, but I don't think they're in a hurry to get anywhere. Paris: To the winners. B'Elanna Paris. That has a nice ring to it. Torres: Thanks, but I already have a ring. Anyway, I kind of like the sound of Tom Torres. Paris: I hope you're kidding. Torres: Hey, it is the twenty fourth century.

Master: The Kol-Ut-Shan. A cornerstone of our beliefs. Young Tuvok: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. I know all about Vulcan philosophies. Vulcan Master: Why have you come here? Young Tuvok: I was sent against my will. Vulcan Master: Then I suggest you leave. Young Tuvok: I'm not a prisoner? Vulcan Master: Only of your emotions, or so I have been told. Young Tuvok: My emotions free me. Vulcan Master: I see. It's regrettable that I won't be able to teach you. Young Tuvok: Where should I go? Vulcan Master: Are you seeking my counsel? Young Tuvok: I can't return home. My father's banished me. Vulcan Master: Your school? Young Tuvok: They revoked my seat. Vulcan Master: Why? Young Tuvok: Because I refused to deny myself passion, the way you and men like my father do. Vulcan Master: You reject logic. Young Tuvok: If I was meant to deny feelings, why was I born with them? Where's the logic in that? Vulcan Master: Hidden for you to find. Or in plain sight for you to ignore. Young Tuvok: You speak in riddles because the truth frightens you. Vulcan Master: You're right, it does frighten me. You are surprised to hear a Vulcan master admit to having emotions? Young Tuvok: Yes. Vulcan Master: Emotions can be a powerful tool. To deny their existence is illogical. But you must learn to control them. Young Tuvok: Why? Vulcan Master: You wish to be taught? Young Tuvok: I would question everything you say. Vulcan Master: You would not be a worthy pupil otherwise. Let us begin. Sit down, Tuvok. Noss: Tu be veg! Paris: Er, sorry? Noss: Sen. Neeba sen. Paris: Either the universal translator's offline, or I hit my head harder than I thought. Noss: Ruk. Paris: All right. Take it easy. All right, all right. Take it easy. Noss: Fita! Paris: This? Listen, I really need this. Noss: Fita ur neeto. Paris: Okay, okay. Paris: First day in town and I've already been mugged. Tuvok: I'm Commander Tuvok of the Starship Voyager. Tuvok. Noss: Tuwok. Tuvok: Yes. And you? Noss: Noss. Tuvok: Noss. Tuvok: We'll go to my vessel. I see you've already been there. Paris: Mayday, mayday. Paris to Voyager, Respond. Oh, come on. Tuvok: Her name is Noss. She was attacked by two humanoid males. Paris: Sure she didn't attack them? Tuvok: They were attempting to rob her. Paris: Seems to be a local pastime. Tuvok: She requires medical attention. Paris: I'd love to help, but somebody stole our med-kits. Tuvok: Food. What's the status of the shuttle? Paris: Fractures throughout the hull, environmental systems down, impulse engines are beyond repair. Told you we should have brought the Delta Flyer. Tuvok: Communications appear to be functional. Paris: It won't do us any good. Every time I transmit a signal, it gets bounced back by the distortion field that pulled us down here. It looks like we fell into some kind of gravity well. As far as I can tell, this planet is a part of an entire solar system that is stuck in a pocket of subspace. Tuvok: Fascinating. Paris: Yeah. Well, scientific interest aside, I don't see any easy way out. Tuvok: No doubt Voyager has begun a rescue effort. The Doctor? Paris: His mobile emitter was damaged during the crash. With a little luck, I might be able to repair it and bring him back online. Tuvok: Make it your top priority. Noss: Gren, gren. Paris: What is it? Tuvok: Thirteen humanoids approaching. The same species that attacked her. Gather as many supplies as you can carry. We're leaving. Paris: You really think it's smart to abandon the shuttle? Tuvok: Noss appears to have survived here for some time. It's logical to assume she has access to a more secure shelter. Noss: Nemok. Alen. Alen. Paris: Whatever you say. Noss: Ai kan. Paris: Doesn't look like this bird's gonna fly either. Tuvok: Minimal power and life support, but the ship is protected by a forcefield. Paris: That explains how she's been able to survive here. Anything resembling an engine? Tuvok: I'm detecting engine debris two kilometers away. It is of the same configuration as this vessel. Paris: Great. We've got two unusable ships, and the only way Voyager is going to detect our distress call is if they crash land right on top of us. Tuvok: Progress? Paris: The optronic relays took heavy damage. I'm bypassing the primary circuits. Come on, Doc. I know you're in there. Emh: I'm guessing we hit a snag. Tuvok: An accurate assumption. Noss: Rev den ut. Ut rev? Emh: Tun sank. Ton rev ut teem sayd. Paris: You speak her language? Emh: A universal translator was written into my program. Paris: Ask her how long she's been here. If she knows a way to get back through that sinkhole. Emh: Deen ya tone ud la kar. Padeen nefka minruk? Noss: Laka heen. Zen nik lurka. Irut tota. Maez bemrukaya. Paris: What'd she say? Emh: She said she's been here fourteen seasons, and in that time, she's seen many ships come down. but she's never seen one go back up again. Paris: Come back, you little bloodsucker. Paris: I don't know what's worse, catching them or eating them. Noss: No poison. Paris: Well, hey may not be poisonous but they give me the creeps. Maybe I should have left the hunting to you and Tuvok. Noss: Let me. Yah! Paris: Looks delicious. Emh: Shut down my program? Why? Tuvok: Our resources are severely limited. We may need your mobile emitter as a source of power. Emh: I'm a Doctor, not a battery. Tuvok: Until we're rescued, or you are needed for an emergency, I must insist that you remain offline. Paris: Make way for the mighty hunters. Emh: If Mister Paris' hunting ability is any indication, maybe we should take him offline. Paris: Thanks for the vote of confidence, Doc. Noss: The hunt was good. Tuvok: Impressive. Tuvok: Voyager has fifteen decks, a crew of one hundred fifty two, warp and impulse engines. Noss: I want to see. Tuvok: Someday, perhaps. Noss: Tell me about you there. Tuvok: I am the Chief Tactical Officer. Noss: What else? Tuvok: Can you be more specific? Noss: Your duties. Where you sleep. What you eat. Music. Friends. Tuvok: Why is any of that relevant? Noss: Because it is you. Paris: When I first met her, she wouldn't even look at me. But she warmed up after, oh, three years. Emh: The longest flirtation in Starfleet history. Paris: No kidding. Noss: She sounds fascinating. Paris: I just hope I see her again. Noss: You must really baiya jouton. Emh: Love her very much. Paris: Yeah. Noss: More spiders? Paris: Oh, no, thank you. Three's my limit. Tuvok: I will assist you. Emh: Well, I suppose it's time I shut down my program. Paris: Good night, Doc. Paris: She likes you. Tuvok: She has been alone for many years. She appreciates our company. Paris: No. I mean she likes you. Tuvok: What are you implying? Paris: Oh, come on, Tuvok. You may be cold, but you're not blind. Tuvok: Need I remind you that I am married. Paris: Your wife is fifty thousand light years away, in a different layer of space! The chances of you ever seeing her again are practically nonexistent. Tuvok: Excuse me. Paris: What are you doing? Tuvok: I'm recalibrating the distress beacon. Paris: Listen. What I said in there, about your wife. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Tuvok: I have no feelings for you to hurt. Paris: I think you do. You work hard to bury them, but they're there. And even if they're not, this is home now. You might as well accept it and try to find as much happiness as you can. Listen, you have a chance to make a decent life for yourself here. Tuvok: There is still a possibility that Voyager will rescue us. You may see Lieutenant Torres again. Paris: If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were trying to cheer me up, Tuvok. Tuvok: Is there a point to your pessimism? Paris: It's not pessimism, it's practicality. You of all people should understand that. Look, I've never met your wife but if she's half a logical as you are, I bet you she'd tell you the same thing. Tuvok: Your attempt to play matchmaker is misguided. I am not experiencing Pon farr. Paris: What difference does it make? You obviously care about Noss. If you won't admit it to me, at least admit it to yourself. Tuvok: I respect her ability to survive. Paris: It's more than that. I've seen the way you look at her. Tuvok: What way is that? Paris: Like someone who wishes he wasn't Vulcan. Tuvok: I'm sorry I was born Vulcan. Vulcan Master: Bilak par. Self-pity. Young Tuvok: Are you cataloging my emotions? Vulcan Master: What is the source of your self-pity? Young Tuvok: Isn't it obvious? If I weren't Vulcan, I wouldn't be here now going through this pointless ritual. Vulcan Master: You see only what is in front of you. You must learn to see behind you. Young Tuvok: Another riddle. I have no eyes to see behind me. Vulcan Master: You have the eyes of memory. The knowledge of why you are here, and why you have lost control. Tell me your story. Young Tuvok: My father's already explained it. Vulcan Master: I wish to hear it from you. Young Tuvok: Her name's Jara. Her father's a Terrelian diplomat. She's been granted a seat at my school. Vulcan Master: And you have developed an emotional attraction toward her. Young Tuvok: Yes. Vulcan Master: You love her. Young Tuvok: Yes. Vulcan Master: Does she love you? Young Tuvok: No. She's, Jara doesn't return my feelings. Vulcan Master: What if I were to say that I received a letter from your father, telling me that Jara is in love with one of your fellow students? Young Tuvok: That's a lie! Who is it? Vulcan Master: Jealousy? Young Tuvok: I'll challenge him. Vulcan Master: That would be illogical, because I have received no such letter. Young Tuvok: You're trying to trick me. Vulcan Master: No. I'm trying to help you to understand. Shon-ha'lock, love, is the most dangerous emotion of all. It produces many other emotions. Jealousy, shame, rage, grief. You must learn to suppress them all, otherwise they will consume you. I can sense emotions building inside you like a gathering storm. If we begin now, we may be able to stop them. Captain's Log, supplemental. It's been over an hour since the shuttle disappeared from sensors. Torres: I'm not detecting any debris. Chakotay: Maybe the shuttle was tractored or transported somewhere. Janeway: Scan the region. Look for plasma emissions or EM displacements. Anything that might indicate another ship. Kim: Nothing out of the ordinary. Hydrogen, helium, space dust. Janeway: There has to be something out there. Shuttles don't just vanish into thin air. Torres: It's a gravimetric shear. Janeway: Source. Kim: Unknown. Janeway: Red alert. Helm, full ahead. Kim: We're caught in some kind of subspace sinkhole. It's pulling us in. Chakotay: The gravimetric shear is increasing. Janeway: Go to warp Torres: I can't establish a field. Janeway: Then we need more power to the impulse engines. Torres: That won't be enough. We've got to find a way to counter the gravitational pull. Janeway: B'Elanna, vent three million isodynes of plasma from the nacelles. Chakotay, reverse shield polarity. Kim: We're clear. Janeway: Move us away. Stand down red alert. Secure all stations. I'd say we have a pretty good idea what happened to that shuttle. Seven: The anomaly is approximately six hundred meters in diameter. Torres: It's out of phase with normal space. Even after recalibrating the sensors, it barely registers. Seven: The distortion circumscribes a subspace zone that includes a Type G sun and three planets. Chakotay: Any sign of the shuttle? Seven: No. Chakotay: I'd say it's time to break out the multispatial probe. Janeway: Agreed. What the hell was that? Seven: A vessel approaching off the port bow. They've locked on a tractor beam. Kim: Captain to the bridge. Kim: I'm only going to say this one more time. Disengage your tractor beam, sir. Yost: You were in danger of being pulled into the distortion. You should show a little gratitude. Kim: We appreciate your help, but we didn't ask for. Captain, this is Mister Yost. Yost: Supervisor Yost, Renovation Team Nova. Janeway: Kathryn Janeway, of the Starship Voyager. Yost: Until tomorrow, I suggest you stay at least two million kilometers from the distortion. Janeway: What happens tomorrow? Yost: The rift will be closed by then. Janeway: Some of our crew are trapped inside. Yost: I am sorry. We have lost eleven ships to the distortion over the last year. It must be sealed. Chakotay: What about your people? Yost: Even if there were survivors, there's no way to rescue them. The best we can do is to prevent others from being trapped. Janeway: We can't abandon our crew. If you could delay your mission Yost: My orders are to seal the rift by this time tomorrow. If you want to attempt a rescue between now and then, the risk is yours to take, but I wouldn't advise it. Janeway: Launch the probe. Chakotay: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Work with B'Elanna and Seven to enhance the sensors. Do whatever you can to find Tom and Tuvok. I'll be looking for a way to counter those gravitational forces. Janeway: Come in. I've been brushing up on sinkholes, quantum singularities. Chakotay: Any luck? Janeway: All the data leads me to the same conclusion. They're mono-directional phenomena. What goes in doesn't come out. Chakotay: Well if it's any consolation, something's coming out of that anomaly. Janeway: What is it? Chakotay: Telemetry from our probe. We've located the shuttle's distress beacon on a Class-D planet. Janeway: Vulcan, human, alien lifesigns. At least we know they're alive. Chakotay: Keep reading. Janeway: There's astronomical data here covering a three month period. How is that possible? Chakotay: There seems to be some sort of temporal differential. Janeway: How big a differential? Chakotay: It's difficult to say, but every hour that passes for us could mean weeks, even months for Tom and Tuvok. Janeway: Months trying to survive in a Class-D environment? More than likely, they've assumed that we left them behind long ago. Chakotay: Ready for the bad news? Janeway: You're kidding. Chakotay: The gravitational stress is increasing. Seven believes the sinkhole is on the verge of collapse. When it does, everything inside will be crushed. Paris: Noss! Emh: Medical tricorder. Paris: We were ambushed. Emh: Give me twenty milligrams of inaprovaline. Paris: They got away with a pair of resonator coils that we found. Emh: Three fractured ribs, subdural hematoma, internal bleeding. Noss: Will he live? Emh: Vulcans are very resilient. He'll be fine. How long has it been since I was last activated? Paris: Almost two months. Emh: Two months? So, what's new? Paris: Oh, same old thing. Fighting off scavengers, hunting spiders. Emh: No word from Voyager? Paris: They're probably three hundred light years closer to home by now. Emh: I think I should remain online until Mister Tuvok is fully recovered. Paris: It's good to have you back, Doc. Noss: Rest. Tuvok: How long was I unconscious? Noss: Too many hours. Tuvok: Mister Paris? Noss: He'll be fine. I was afraid. It is good to see your eyes. Tuvok: Don't. Noss: I only want to show you how I feel. You, you, you feel nothing for me? Tuvok: I told you, I don't experience emotion. I have developed an appreciation and respect for you. Nothing more. Noss: Nothing? Tuvok: I am sorry. I cannot return your affection. Noss: You cannot, or you will not? Tuvok: A minor distinction. Noss: Logic! I hate logic! Tuvok: Your emotions will only exacerbate the situation. Noss: Shevrot kat! Tuvok: Insulting me will not help. Noss: Derot orat! Seven: We can use the multispatial probe as a transporter relay. Torres: It'll take a little time to reconfigure the targeting scanners but, with a little luck, it should work. Janeway: Any reason we can't use the same relay to send a comm. signal? Torres: I don't see why not. Janeway: Good. Let them know that help is on the way. Kim: Captain to the bridge. Kim: They've started ahead of schedule. Janeway: Hail them. Yost: Yes? Janeway: It was my understanding you wouldn't begin for another six hours. Yost: We're ready now. Janeway: Well we're not. We need at least another two hours to make a rescue attempt. Yost: I'm sorry. Janeway: How long until they seal the rift? Seven: Approximately thirty minutes. Janeway: Then that's all we've got. Paris: Tuvok? Hey! Tuvok: I am meditating, Mister Paris. Paris: I don't care. Tuvok: I trust there is an urgent reason for your lack of courtesy. Paris: You're damn right there is. What did you say to her? Tuvok: Our conversation was private. Paris: Well, whatever you said, she's talking about leaving. Going off by herself because it's too painful to be around you. Tuvok: She is under the influence of unfettered emotions. Paris: Well, maybe you're able to fetter your emotions, but the rest of us don't have that luxury. She is a living, breathing woman who for reasons that I can't begin to fathom, has fallen in love with you. Now, if you're incapable of returning her feelings, at least show her some compassion. Try to let her down easy. Tuvok: There is no easy way to recover from infatuation. Paris: Oh, really? And what do you know about infatuation? Tuvok: More than you might imagine. Paris: Enlighten me. Tuvok: I have no intention of continuing this conversation any further. Paris: Come on, Tuvok. Come on. It's just you, me and the rocks. Tuvok: When I was a young man, I experienced an emotional attraction toward a woman. It nearly destroyed me. Paris: Your wife? Tuvok: No. Her name was Jara, a Terrelian female. I would have violated every tenet of Vulcan philosophy simply to be near her. Paris: She must have really been something. Tuvok: I lost all sense of who I was. The emotional attraction I felt for her became a kind of insanity. Paris: Tuvok, everyone feels a little insane when they fall in love, but it's worth the risk. Tuvok: For you, perhaps. But I am Vulcan. My natural emotions are erratic, volatile. If I don't control them, they will control me. Paris: Whatever happened to Jara? Tuvok: I chose to leave her. I spent several months in isolation, studying with a Vulcan Master. I learned to suppress my emotions. Paris: Too bad. Tuvok: Gravimetric distortions. Paris: What's causing them? Tuvok: Unknown. Kim: No response to our hails, Captain. Seven: At this rate, their anti-graviton beam will seal the distortion in approximately twenty nine minutes. Janeway: Transporter status? Torres: I've completed the reconfiguration, but we're only going to be able to relay one transporter beam through the probe. Chakotay: We'll have to get Tom and Tuvok within a two meter radius of the distress beacon. Janeway: Harry? Kim: I've opened a channel. Janeway: Voyager to away team. Paris: What is it? Tuvok: The distress beacon. We're receiving a transmission. Paris: Can you route it through your comm. system? If I'm right, this message was sent almost nine hours ago on a very slow carrier wave. Emh: Can you speed it up? Paris: I'll try. Janeway: Voyager to away team. A transporter beam with a radius of two meters will activate at the coordinates of your distress beacon in exactly thirty minutes. Emh: Thirty minutes? That would have been over eight hours ago! Paris: Shh, there's more. Janeway: Be advised we've detected a temporal difference between our two positions. According to our calculations, the differential ratio is point four seven four four seconds per minute. Repeat. Voyager to away team. A transporter beam with a radius of two meters Tuvok: According to that formula, thirty minutes would translate to two days, eleven hours and forty seven seconds. Emh: Well, we've waited this long. Noss: Tom. Tuvok: The forcefield is holding. Paris: Not for long if they keep pelting us with these photon grenades. Emh: How are we supposed to hold them off for two more days? Seven: The rift will be sealed in less than two minutes. Janeway: Move us into range. Stand by for transport. Torres: Yes, ma'am. Paris: The forcefield's losing power. Time? Emh: We still have another hour before transport. Tuvok: Where are you going? Noss: To repair the field generator. Tuvok: I will accompany you. Noss: No. You stay. Prepare for the attack. Tuvok: You can't go alone. Noss: Risking two lives would be illogical. Chakotay: We're in transporter range. Janeway: Link up with the probe and relay the signal. Torres: Stand by. I've got a lock on their beacon. Janeway: They're supposed to be ready for transport in thirty two seconds. Let's hope they don't stand us up. Begin twenty second countdown on my mark. Now. Emh: We've got less than ten minutes to transport. Paris: Where the hell is Noss? Tuvok: I'll find her. Torres: Fifteen seconds. Fourteen. Thirteen. Noss: Tuvok. Tuvok: I could not leave you behind. Torres: Nine. Eight. Seven. Emh: Now, Mister Paris! Paris: Hurry. Torres: Four. Three. Two. Janeway: Initialize transport sequence. Energize. Kim: We've got them. Welcome back. Who? Tuvok: A friend. Commander Tuvok, personal log, stardate 52438.9. We are en route to Noss' homeworld. As I prepare to say goodbye, I find myself experiencing a certain discomfort. Paris: Tuvok. Weird day. Tuvok: Problems? Paris: I've spent the last two months wondering if I'd ever see B'Elanna again. As far as she's concerned, it's only been two days. I guess I expected her to have missed me, too. Tuvok: Were it not for the time differential, I'm sure she would have experienced a deep sense of loss. Paris: You know something? I always thought that beneath that cold, Vulcan exterior lay a even colder Vulcan interior. Now, I'm convinced you're a hopeless romantic. Tuvok: There is no need to insult me, Mister Paris. Neelix: Oh, here they are now. I was just getting Noss' recipe for sautéed spiders. She told me how much you enjoyed them. Paris: Let's just say it's an acquired taste. Noss: Goodbye, Tom. Thank you. Paris: Come on, Neelix. Neelix: Oh, of course. Paris: Crewman. Noss: I'm sorry. Tuvok: For what? Noss: I know how difficult this was for you. For us. I just wish things had been different. Tuvok: As do I. Noss: I understand. Thank you. Tuvok: Live long and prosper, Noss. Noss: You too. Master: Infinite diversity Young Tuvok: In infinite combinations. Vulcan Master: Your training is now complete. You have done well. Young Tuvok: Thank you. Vulcan Master: You are now prepared to return to the world. Grief, anger, fear, and especially love, will never threaten you again. Young Tuvok: I am grateful.

Qatai: Ah! Surprised? What's wrong? Can't figure out why I'm still not running, ha? Can't read my thoughts? Go ahead, attack, take my ship. Damn ship. Hold together. Hold! Janeway: Wormhole? Tuvok: Approximately four hundred million kilometers from our position. Chakotay: Take a look at the transkinetic vector. Janeway: It leads to sector zero zero one. Chakotay: It looks like a wormhole but we're detecting massive bioplasmic activity. Janeway: That suggests a lifeform. Neutrino flux? Chakotay: Erratic. Janeway: A direct route to Earth's doorstep, out of the blue. What's wrong with this picture? Chakotay: We should launch a probe. Janeway: Go to yellow alert. Prepare a class five probe. Let's see what's really out there. Daily log, Seven of Nine. While we failed to locate a new source of deuterium, our mission had educational value for at least one member of the crew. Naomi: If you go looking for deuterium tomorrow, can I come? Paris: Well, that's up to the Captain. Seven: It's likely you'll be replaced by a more experienced officer. Naomi: But this is my first away mission and I didn't get to do anything. Seven: I disagree. You familiarized yourself with this vessel. Naomi: Well, can't we make first contact with somebody, or get in a space battle? Paris: Yeah, can't we? Seven: Another time, perhaps. Paris: Hey, Naomi, you want to take the helm? Naomi: Can I? Seven: Ensign. Paris: She'll be familiarizing herself with the vessel. Here. Okay, first bring us up to one quarter impulse. Hit this control, then that one. Naomi: One quarter impulse, aye. Paris: Now, you think you can chart a course back to Voyager? Naomi: Yes, sir. Paris: They're in a hurry. Seven: Crewmen Boylen and White. Frequently late for their duty shifts. Paris: Speaking of late, I'll make a deal with you. I'll explain to Sam why her daughter's two hours late for bedtime, if you start on the survey report. Seven: Acceptable. Paris: Have fun. Janeway: You're back. I was beginning to worry. Seven: The survey took longer than expected. Chakotay: Lucky our deuterium shortage is no longer an issue. Seven: A wormhole. Kim: The wormhole. It leads all the way back to Earth. Seven: The odds of finding such a phenomenon are infinitesimal. Janeway: Never bet against the house. Kim: What are you doing? Seven: Looking for anomalous readings. Tuvok: You will find none. Chakotay: He's right. No subspatial contortions, no temporal variance. Janeway: The probe we sent in has already picked up faint signals from the other side. Kim: B'Elanna's still downloading them, but she's pretty sure they're from Starfleet. Seven: This wormhole is only three hundred million kilometers away. Long range scans should have detected it days ago. Tuvok: Perhaps it was an oversight on your part. Janeway: If it'll make you feel better, run a diagnostic. In the meantime, let's maintain course. Janeway: Come in. Seven: I completed my diagnostic. Sensors are operating at peak efficiency. Janeway: Then there's nothing to worry about. Seven: On the contrary. The wormhole's neutrino levels are extremely erratic. Janeway: I thought so too, until I received this. It turns out those faint signals we detected were communiques from Starfleet. They assure me the neutrino flux is nothing to worry about. Seven: Starfleet may be in error. We should run further scans. Janeway: No time. The wormhole might destabilize. Seven: The Doctor often instructs me to look before I leap. It is an antiquated adage, but I believe it is relevant. Janeway: I have another one for you. He who hesitates is lost. Seven: Captain. Janeway: I thin we're avoiding the real issue here, Seven. You're still feeling uncomfortable about returning to the Alpha Quadrant. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Trust me, you're going to thrive on Earth, just as you've thrived on Voyager. Yes? Chakotay: Letter number two. I'm getting jealous. Janeway: Mark. Apparently his engagement was broken off. What about you, any news? Chakotay: A full pardon and reinstatement to Starfleet. I've even been offered a professorship in anthropology at the Academy. Janeway: Oh, Chakotay, congratulations, but it's not fair. Chakotay: Don't worry, it's only part time. Janeway: How can I be expected to manage the ship without you? Chakotay: You'll do fine. Seven: Computer, access all logs entries recorded by Captain Janeway on Stardate 52542. Computer: Access to those files is restricted. Computer: Access granted. Seven: Play first log entry. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 52542.3. Long range sensors have identified a wormhole leading to the Alpha quadrant. Unfortunately, secondary scans have revealed that it's some kind of elaborate deception. The question is, who's attempting to deceive us and why? Seven: Play next log entry. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've begun to receive faint telemetry from our probe. I don't want to get the crew's hopes up but B'Elanna thinks it may be a message from Starfleet. I'm beginning to wonder if my earlier skepticism was justified. Seven: Play next log entry. Janeway: Captain's Log, supplemental. I've set a course for the wormhole. With any luck, we should be back in the Alpha Quadrant in a matter of days. Neelix: Annika? Annika Hansen. Seven: There is no one here by that name. Neelix: Are you sure, because I have a letter here addressed to her. I never realized you knew anyone from the Alpha Quadrant. Seven: I don't. Neelix: Well, it looks like someone knows you. Who's it from? Seven: Claudia Hansen. She claims to be a sister of my father. Neelix: Your aunt. Seven: She is looking forward to meeting me. Neelix: That's great. Starfleet's appointed me Ambassador to the Lan'Tuana sector. Seven: Ambassador? Neelix: I guess they thought I'd have a flair for quadrupeds. Seven: Ensign, I require a moment of your time. Paris: Sure. Seven: Have you noticed anything unusual about the crew's behavior since we returned? Paris: Like? Seven: When I presented the Captain with evidence that the wormhole may not be what it appears to be, she seemed unconcerned. Paris: Really? That doesn't sound like her. Seven: I believe the crew is being deceived by false telemetry as well as overly-optimistic correspondence. Paris: The letters from home? I got one, too. Seven: No doubt containing good news. Paris: Oh, I'll say. An old buddy of mine offered me a spot at the new test flight center in Australia. Beautiful beaches, a chance to pilot the latest experimental ships. I can't believe it. Seven: Then you doubt the veracity of the letters as well. Paris: Are you kidding? I've already written back and accepted the job. Seven: Computer, activate the EMH. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Seven: The wormhole is not what it appears to be. I believe that the crew is being Emh: Hold on. Wormhole? Seven: You weren't informed. Emh: Not a peep. Seven: Considering everyone's recent behavior, that's not surprising. Since the discovery of this wormhole the crew has ignored obvious signs that it's a deception. You must determine if there is a physiological explanation. Chakotay: Seven of Nine to the bridge. Seven: On my way. Emh: I'll call in a few crewmen for routine examinations. That should allow me to run the necessary diagnostics. Chakotay: We've just entered visual range. I thought you'd like to take a look. We're starting to get images from the other side. Tuvok: There is considerable interference. Kim: I think I can help clear it up. Try it now. Chakotay: How long until we reach the wormhole? Paris: Fifty three minutes. Janeway: Maintain course. Chakotay: All hands, this is the bridge. Secure all systems. Janeway: When we reach Earth's orbit, lay in a descent trajectory. North American continent. Starfleet Headquarters. Seven: Computer, perform a gravimetric scan of the wormhole's interior. Look for inconsistencies in the spatial gradient. Computer: The anomaly is consistent with a Class one wormhole. No irregularities detected. Seven: Recalibrate sensors and try again. Computer: No irregularities detected. Seven: Isolate grid nine two five and magnify. Computer, is that a vessel in grid ninety one? Computer: No vessel has been detected. Seven: Open a comm. channel. Computer: Channel open. Seven: Alien vessel, this is the starship Voyager. Respond. Alien vessel. Qatai: Who are you? Seven: Seven of Nine, Federation starship Voyager. Our ship is on an intercept course three point four light years from your position. Qatai: Turn around, you're being deceived. Seven: How. Qatai: He knows what you want. Seven: Computer, identify the cause of the power failure. Tuvok: Captain's orders. Power from Astrometrics has been rerouted to the navigational array, at least until we've completed our journey through the wormhole. Seven: I've made contact with a vessel inside the anomaly. Tuvok: Starfleet? Seven: Alien. The pilot attempted to warn us away. Tuvok: Sensors show no record of an incoming transmission. Seven: The sensors are malfunctioning. He said we were being deceived. The wormhole is not what it appears to be. Tuvok: The preponderance of data suggests otherwise. Seven: The data is flawed. Tuvok: As is your reasoning. Seven: May I ask you a personal question? Are you looking forward to seeing your wife and family? Tuvok: Indeed. Seven: And is that desire stronger than you expected it to be? Tuvok: Your point. Seven: I believe you are being manipulated. Someone or something is compromising your logic, otherwise you would be willing to listen to my concerns. Tuvok: Access to the Astrometrics lab is restricted until further notice. Dismissed. Seven: Naomi Wildman. Your presence here is unauthorized. State your intentions. Naomi: I'm hiding. Seven: From whom? Naomi: Everyone. They're all acting strange. Even Mom. Seven: Elaborate. Naomi: She keeps smiling all the time, talking about Earth like it's the greatest place in the universe. Seven: You do not share your mother's desire to return to Earth? Naomi: Voyager's my home. If we go to Earth, I'll have to leave the ship. I'd miss my room, Neelix. You and I wouldn't be able to play Kadis-kot anymore. Seven: Curious. You and I appear to be the only ones not affected. Naomi: Affected by what? Seven: I am not certain. Stay here until I return. Seven: Computer, activate EMH. Paris: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Seven: Where's the Doctor? Paris: Offline. Seven: Why? Paris: Starfleet orders. Something about the wormhole interfering with the holographic systems. They didn't want to damage his program. Seven: He must be reactivated. Paris: No can do. Not until we're on the other side. Seven: It's urgent. Paris: Believe it or not, I am capable of handling almost any medical problem you might have. Chakotay: I was just coming to see you. Seven: Why? Chakotay: I'm afraid I have some troubling news. Evidently, our wormhole passes through a layer of subspace monitored by the Borg. Starfleet's concerned that your neural transceiver might attract some unwanted attention. We need to deactivate your implants. Seven: You should not attempt to do so without the Doctor's supervision. Chakotay: Unfortunately, he's offline. Seven: Then the procedure is inadvisable. Chakotay: Try to relax. We're only going to keep you in stasis until we've reached the Alpha Quadrant. I realize the prospect of returning to Earth is frightening to you. It's perfectly natural for you to resist the unknown. But you're in good hands. Resistance is futile. Janeway: What's our distance, Tom? Paris: Two thousand kilometers and closing. Goodbye, Delta Quadrant. Kim: No more Hirogen hunting parties, Malon garbage scows. Paris: By this time tomorrow it'll be Cardassians, Romulans, Ferengi. Chakotay: Chakotay to the bridge. Janeway: Go ahead. Chakotay: I've spoken to Seven of Nine. We're putting her into stasis. Janeway: Make it fast. We don't want the Borg to crash our welcome home party. Seven: I need to adjust my regeneration parameters. How long will I remain inactive? Chakotay: A couple of hours to be on the safe side. Chakotay: Security alert! Seven: Naomi Wildman. Janeway: Security's on their way, Chakotay. What happened? Chakotay: Seven's trapped us behind some kind of Borg forcefield. Janeway: Try to disable it. Chakotay: Naomi, go back to your quarters. Seven: Pay attention to me. If this indicator begins to flash enter the following series of commands. Watch carefully. Chakotay: Naomi. Seven: Do you understand? Naomi: Yes. Chakotay: Naomi, I'm giving you a direct order. Step away from the console. Kim: She's blocking my commands. Janeway: Keep trying. Seven: Computer, lock onto my coordinates and initiate a site to site transport. Main Engineering. Torres: Seven? Seven: I'm sorry. Kim: We've got phaser fire in Engineering. Janeway: Janeway to Security. Seven: Computer, erect a level ten forcefield around Engineering. Lock out the command controls of Borg encryption code two nine four. Paris: Seven's tapping into the engine manifold. She's trying to shut down impulse drive. Tuvok: Bridge, she has erected another forcefield. It'll require Tuvok: Several minutes to deactivate it. Janeway: Where is she, exactly? Kim: Engineering console sixteen beta. Captain? Janeway: I'm sending an EM surge to that station. Seven's going into stasis whether she likes it or not. Tuvok: She's down, Captain. Paris: Captain, we're at the threshold. Janeway: Take us in. Janeway: Report? Paris: It's just spatial turbulence. Janeway: It's beautiful. Steady as she goes.(Neelix sees Starfleet Admirals in a corridor, smiling and waiting to shake hands with him. Janeway, Kim and Paris see Earth turning beneath the ship. In reality, there is nothing there except a giant tunnel with energy playing around it. Everyone is unconscious. Tuvok dreams that he is meeting his wife, T'Pel, in a corridor Naomi: Seven, wake up. Seven of Nine, wake up! Forcefield? Seven: You are damaged. Naomi: It's just a scrape. Seven: The crew? Naomi: Unconscious, sort of. Seven: Our hull is demolecularising. Naomi: Do wormholes do that? Seven: No, they don't. Return to your quarters while I assess the situation. Naomi: But I can help. My mom says two heads are better than one. Isn't that the Borg philosophy too? Seven: Simplistic, but accurate. Naomi: Please, I don't want to be alone. Naomi: Neelix! Oh, Neelix. Seven: He will survive. Naomi: Neelix. Seven: We must keep moving. Naomi Wildman. We will return for him. Naomi: I don't think that's Earth. Seven: No. Naomi: So where are we? Seven: I've restored partial systems. I'm reading organic compounds, bioplasmic discharges, a vast network of neural pathways. Naomi: Is it a lifeform? Seven: If it is, it's the largest I've seen. Over two thousand kilometers in diameter. Naomi: What are you doing? Seven: My earlier scans revealed a vessel. I'm trying to find it again. Naomi: Somebody else is stuck here? Seven: Possibly. There. It's heavily damaged but still functioning. Alien vessel, respond. Seven: This is the starship Voyager. Please respond. Qatai: I told you to stay away. Why didn't you listen? Seven: Our crew believed they were returning to their homes. Qatai: Everything they've always wanted, correct? Seven: Yes. Qatai: He deceived them. Naomi: He? Seven: I believe we should work together to escape this anomaly. Lower your shields and I'll beam you aboard. Qatai: Shields are the only things holding my ship together. I'd be destroyed. Seven: I will enhance your shield emitters. Qatai: You won't fool me that easily. Seven: I assure you we are not a deception. Qatai: Oh, how convenient, an enormous starship comes to my rescue. You might try a more subtle approach. Seven: My scans indicate that your shields will fail in approximately fifteen minutes. Join us, or you can remain on your vessel secure in the knowledge that you were not deceived. But that knowledge will do you little good when you are dead. Decide now. Qatai: All right. All right, I'm taking my shields down. Naomi: Ow! Qatai: You look real enough. But over the years, he's made me believe many things are real. A fortune at my fingertips, good friends risen from the dead. Seven: You're referring to the anomaly we've entered. Qatai: Anomaly? It's a beast! Cunning, deadly. Seven: What does it want? Qatai: You. Your ship. Antimatter, biomatter. He consumes it. Seven: Everyone believed it was a wormhole. Qatai: Telepathy. Psychogenic manipulation. He senses your thoughts, your desires, and then he preys on them. Naomi: Like a pitcher plant. Qatai: Pitcher plant? Naomi: The Doctor taught me about it in botany class. It catches insects by mimicking pheromones. Qatai: Yes, you're right, but this one doesn't eat insects. He eats starships. Seven: You are familiar with this lifeform. Qatai: Familiar? I've been hunting it for nearly forty years. Seven: And have you become impervious to its telepathy? Qatai: Almost, but there are days when he can still trick me. Like yesterday. I thought I had found a way to kill him once and for all. I'd allow him to begin consuming my ship and then I'd fly directly to his most vulnerable system, his primary neural plexus. Boom! I'd destroy him from the inside out. But he knew. He showed me what I wanted to see. I was nowhere near his neural plexus. I was flying directly into his digestion chamber. And speaking of digestion. Naomi: How do we get out of the monster? Seven: It's not a monster, it's a bioplasmic organism, and we will find a way out. Qatai: No, the girl's right. He's a monster, and the only way out is to destroy him. Emh: Please state the nature of the medical emergency. Qatai: Your ship is being devoured. I'd say that's an emergency. Naomi: The monster ate his ship, too. Emh: Monster? Qatai: I want to see your weapons manifest. Emh: Weapons? This is a Sickbay, not an arsenal. What's going on? Seven: Voyager has been lured into the digestive chamber of a bioplasmic organism. We require your assistance in charting an escape route. Emh: Slow down. The last thing I remember I was speaking to Mister Paris. He said the wormhole posed a threat to my program. Qatai: The beast has been manipulating your crew. The moment he realized you were beginning to suspect something, he made sure you were deactivated. Emh: And who might you be, the local monster expert? Qatai: As a matter of fact I am. He's been fooling you for days, creating false sensor readings, and he's been altering your crew's thought patterns. A little neurogenic telepathy to make them lower their guard. Emh: That might explain the heightened dopamine levels I found during my routine examinations of the crew. Have you informed the Captain? Naomi: She's asleep. Emh: Asleep? Seven: It's our proximity to the creature. The neurogenic field is stronger here. It's already rendered most of the crew unconscious. Does your vessel's database contain information on the creature's anatomy? Qatai: Of course. Seven: Retrieve it. Emh: In the meantime, let's work on a wake-up call for the crew. Emh: Computer, increase neurotransmitter levels by twenty nine percent. Qatai: A cortical inhibitor? Emh: I thought it might disrupt the organism's hold on her. Qatai: It won't. I already tried a similar procedure. Emh: I don't remember asking for a second opinion. It's working. She's regaining consciousness. Torres: Doctor? Emh: You're being exposed to a powerful neurogenic field. You've been unconscious for several hours. Torres: They're here. Emh: Who? Torres: The Maquis, they're alive! Emh: B'Elanna, you're still on Voyager. You're hallucinating. Torres: Starfleet thinks you've all been killed. Emh: Computer, increase neurotransmitter levels by another ten percent. B'Elanna, focus on my voice. Qatai: She doesn't want to. Qatai: They never want to. Qatai: It's the silence I hate. The way he takes you without a fight. It was the same way with the Nokaro. A crew of nearly three thousand. Families mostly, mine included, looking for a New World to settle. But they came across our friend here and he showed them what they wanted to see. A glistening green paradise. By the time I responded to their distress call, all that was left of them was some fading engine emissions. That was thirty nine years ago. Thirty nine years, two weeks, four days. Emh: Do you mind? The situation is dismal enough. Qatai: I'm just trying to explain who we're up against. Emh: Well, I'm getting a pretty good idea on my own. Judging by these bioscans, the organism's been devouring life forms for a bit longer than thirty nine years. I'd estimate it's at least two hundred thousand years old. Qatai: The intelligent always survive. Emh: I wouldn't go that far. It appears to operate on highly evolved instinct. I haven't detected any signs of sentience. Qatai: Oh he's intelligent, all right. Smart enough to fool your crew into taking you offline. Emh: No need to get personal. Naomi: Seven? Seven: I'm here. Naomi: Are we still inside the monster? Seven: Yes, but we are going to find a way out. Qatai: There. This is it. Exactly what we need. Qatati: These class nine torpedoes in your weapons manifest. If we can bring your vessel deeper into the creature's digestive tract and detonate one of these charges, we might be able to destroy it. Emh: Starfleet's not in the habit of killing lifeforms. Qatai: Even if that lifeform is about to kill you? Emh: If I could take a few hours to examine the creature more thoroughly Seven: There is no time. Qatai: We kill him! Emh: Maybe there's another way. Seven: Explain. Emh: Any living organism, no matter how large, will attempt to expel a foreign body. If we could just make Voyager a little less tasty? Seven: My scans indicate that your weapons are tetryon based. If you were to fire one at a pocket of antimatter released from our warp core, it would produce an electrolytic reaction. Naomi: Would that make Voyager taste bad? Qatai: It might at that. Emh: Once I've beamed you back to your ship, try adjusting your shields to this frequency. You'll find them more resistant to the bioplasmic discharges. Qatai: You seem to know a little about everything. Medicine, exobiology, shield harmonics. Emh: I'm something of a renaissance EMH. Qatai: I could use a crewmate like you. The beast would have a difficult time manipulating a hologram's desires. Emh: An Ishmael to your Ahab? No, thank you. Qatai: You're turning down the hunt of a lifetime? Emh: As appealing as that sounds, I'm a Doctor, not a dragon slayer. My program requires that I do no harm. Qatai: Shame. Seven: Qatai's vessel is ready. Emh: I've rerouted bridge controls to Engineering. Ops, tactical, helm, all integrated into one station. Seven: Efficient. Emh: I thought you'd like it. Seven: I'm plotting a course for the organism's oesophageal aperture. Prepare to release the antimatter. Hull integrity's dropped another thirteen percent. Doctor? Emh: Ready on my end. Seven: Voyager to Qatai. Prepare to fire. Qatai: Wait, wait. No, no, no, no, no. Seven: What's wrong? Qatai: That last jolt Qatai: Must have destabilized my targeting sensor. Seven: I could establish an interface to Voyager's targeting array. Qatai: Don't bother. I know my ship. It's just being stubborn. Qatai: Ready. Seven: Initiate the burst on my mark. Now. Qatai: Like the taste of that? Emh: I'm reading violent contractions throughout the digestive chamber. It's working. We're moving back through the oesophageal aperture! Seven: Voyager has been expelled. We're three point nine kilometers from the organism. Emh: After just one burst? For a big fellow he certainly has a low tolerance for tummy ache. Seven: Qatai's vessel was also released. Emh: Hail him. Qatai: Why haven't you ejected a second burst? Seven: We've cleared the organism. Qatai: You've been deceived. We're both still inside it. Emh: He's right. I'm reading bioplasmic energy. Seven: I am impervious to the creature's influence. Emh: You were impervious, when it was creating the illusion of Voyager getting home, because you didn't share that desire. But now we're trying to escape, which is what you want. Qatai: Think about it. He's showing you exactly what you want to see. Emh: Seven! Seven: Initiate another antimatter burst. Now. Fire. Qatai: We're out. Seven: Are we certain? Emh: No sign of bioplasmic energy. We've escaped. Seven: I'm taking us out of range. Maximum warp. Emh: I'd better see to the crew. Qatai: Well, I'll be on my way. Thanks for your help. Seven: Your engines have taken heavy damage. You require our assistance. Qatai: No time. The beast is already altering course. I'll handle repairs myself. Seven: The procedure would take several days. Qatai: Don't worry about me. Just get your ship home. And watch out for pitcher plants. Janeway: Location? Paris: We're still in the Delta Quadrant. Janeway: Scan the wormhole. Find out what went wrong. Paris: It's gone. I can't find it on sensors. Kim: Captain, bridge controls have been routed to Engineering. Ops, tactical, helm, all of it. Janeway: Bridge to Engineering. Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Seven? What's going on? Seven: The Doctor will explain. I will file a complete report in the morning, after I have regenerated. Captain's log, 52542.3. we've deployed a series of beacons to warn other vessels about the bioplasmic creature and resumed a course for home. Our real home. Seven: Naomi Wildman. Naomi: Don't worry. My presence here is authorized. Seven: By whom? Naomi: Mom. She thinks I need to learn more about Earth. Seven: I see. And does studying this image increase your desire to go there? Naomi: Not really. Seven: I concur. It is unremarkable. Naomi: But my mom likes it, and even Neelix can't wait to get there, so I guess it can't be that bad. Seven: Given this crew's determination to return home, I have no doubt we will see it for ourselves someday.

Borg: A vessel has been detected. Unimatrix four two four grid one one six. Activate. Alter course to intercept. Borg: Vessel identified. Federation Starfleet, Intrepid Class, one hundred forty three lifeforms. Prepare for assimilation. We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Janeway: Break off your pursuit or we'll open fire. Borg: Irrelevant. Janeway: Is it? You've scanned our vessel. You know we can match your firepower. Borg: You will be assimilated. Borg: Regenerate primary shield matrix. Remodulate weapons. Borg: Security breach. Starfleet photon torpedo. Disarm weapon. Chakotay: I thought we were trying to disable it. Seven: The torpedo detonated near the power matrix. It caused a chain reaction. Janeway: Survivors?. Tuvok: None. Janeway: Debris status. Kim: There's a few components intact, but they're badly damaged. Janeway: Begin a salvage operation. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: There might be something we can use. Weapons, a transwarp coil. I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel lucky today. Janeway: Now, this is how I prefer the Borg. In pieces. Chakotay: Eight kilotons of debris, most of it hull fragments. So far we've recovered two power nodes and a dozen plasma conduits, all in working order. Janeway: Their propulsion system, anything left? Chakotay: B'Elanna found a transwarp coil. Janeway: It's lighter than I expected. It must be some kind of polytrinic alloy. Let's hope our little skirmish got back to the hive mind. Maybe they'll think twice before they attack us again. Chakotay: It was only a probe. Next time, we might not be so lucky. Kim: Captain, don't touch that. Janeway: What is it? Kim: I don't know, but a few minutes ago it was crawling around the floor. I think it's some kind of auto-regeneration unit. Janeway: Thanks for the warning. By my count, we've added at least two years to our journey by avoiding the Borg. I'm tired of turning tail every time we detect a Cube. Chakotay: Better safe than assimilated, Janeway: Mmm. Chakotay: Maybe I should go to red alert and get it over with. Janeway: Commander? Chakotay: You're about to drop one of your bombshells. Janeway: Now what makes you say that? Chakotay: The way you fiddle with your com. badge. You do it every time. Janeway: Well, I'll have to keep an eye on that. Emh: Eureka! I was hoping to find one of these. It's a servo-armature from a medical repair drone. Laser scalpel, biomolecular scanner, micro-suture, all rolled into one instrument. Paris: No Federation Sickbay should be without one. Emh: This could revolutionize the way that I perform surgery. Janeway: Excellent. Why don't you deactivate it for now? Torres: Remodulate the coil frequency. Seven: No effect. Torres: Try again. Seven: The field regulator is fused. Chakotay: What seems to be the problem? Torres: We can't activate the transwarp coil. Seven: When a Borg vessel is critically damaged, all of its vital technology self-destructs. The coil is beyond repair. Chakotay: At least the Doctor found a new toy. Seven: Captain. Datanodes. One of them is a drone manifest, the other contains tactical information. Chakotay: Specifically? Seven: Long range sensor telemetry, assimilation logistics and vessel movements for a radius of thirty light years. Janeway: Well, let's take a look. Seven: I'll need to convert the information to Starfleet parameters. Janeway: Time? Seven: Two hours. Janeway: Do it. Paris: After nine hours staring at that debris, I was beginning to feel like a drone. Kim: I could use a shower. Paris: Do Borg shower? Neelix, we need a couple of beers. Neelix: Name your malt. Paris: Ktarian. Replicate a pint for yourself, because we're going to toast the man of the hour. Neelix: Oh? Paris: It was Harry's idea to beam over a photon torpedo while they were remodulating their shields. Kim: I didn't think they'd fall for it. Paris: Ah, but they did. Hook, line and sinker. Oh, I would have loved to have seen the look on their faces. Boom! Kim: To be honest, I wish the boom had been a bit smaller. We were only trying to disable them. Paris: They were drones, Harry. Mindless automatons. We did them a favor. Kim: Seven. Paris: Look, I didn't mean anything by that. Seven: Your apology is irrelevant. It is impossible to offend a mindless drone. Paris: Cheers. Seven: I was able to recover sixty two percent of the data. This is an isogrid of Borg tactical movements across twenty five sectors. Janeway: Are there any dangers along our present course? Seven: There are three Cubes approximately nine light years away, traveling on a trajectory parallel to our own. They do not pose a threat. Janeway: What about that vessel? Seven: It's a scout ship, eight light years away, traveling at warp two. The ship is heavily damaged. Tuvok: Was it attacked? Seven: No. An ion storm. The Sphere is presently regenerating. That explains why it is traveling at low warp. Janeway: Limping home. Seven: In a manner of speaking. Janeway: I want a detailed schematic of this vessel, down to the power distribution nodes. I think we've just struck gold. Janeway: So what we have here in two simple words is, Fort Knox. Tuvok: Captain? Janeway: Tom, translate? Paris: Fort Knox. The largest repository of gold bullion in Earth's history. Over fifty metric tons worth over nine trillion U.S. dollars. Janeway: Keep going. Paris: Well, er, when the new world economy took shape in the late twenty second century and money went the way of the dinosaur, Fort Knox was turned into a museum. Janeway: And no one ever managed to break into that facility, right? Paris: Well, a couple of Ferengi tried about ten years ago, but other than that, it's considered impenetrable. Chakotay: Are you planning a heist? Janeway: As a matter of fact. Except we're not chasing gold. We're going to steal a transwarp coil. Think it might come in handy? Torres: If I could equip our engines with even one coil, we could shave about twenty years off this trip. Tuvok: Do you believe the Borg sphere is damaged enough for us to penetrate its defenses? Janeway: Long enough to take what we want and get out in one piece. but we'd have to plan this operation down to the millisecond. There would be no margin for error. As I see it, we plan an intercept course that won't attract their attention, then create a diversion to keep them occupied so we can send in an away team to obtain the technology. Chakotay: I'd like to see the data on that Sphere. We might be able to recreate parts of it on the holodeck, run a few tactical simulations. Janeway: It's all yours. Torres: We need to mask our warp signature. I've got a few Maquis tricks up my sleeve. They're not exactly Starfleet approved, but. Janeway: This is no time for protocol. Get started. The sphere is three days away by maximum warp. Set a course. Chakotay, I want an outline for our heist by tomorrow morning. We've proven ourselves against the Borg once before, twice before, but we're always the ones under attack. I think it's time to do a little assimilating of our own, hmm? Dismissed. Janeway: I was hoping you'd be a little more vocal. Any thoughts? Seven: Your plan is ambitious. There are many variables. But it can succeed. Janeway: I'd like to narrow that list of variables. I was hoping your parents might provide us with a few insights. I've been looking over the records we found on the U.S.S. Raven. Your parents kept extensive field notes, detailed journals. There are over nine thousand log entries alone. Seven: The information is irrelevant. Janeway: On the contrary, Seven. They spent their careers studying the Borg. They tracked a cube at close range for what, two years? Seven: Three. Janeway: Well, I'd say that made them experts. I want you to study their research. Look for any data that might give us a tactical edge. Seven: My parents were assimilated. Obviously their tactics were flawed. Janeway: Look, these records have been collecting dust in our database for over a year. You say they're irrelevant, and I say you've been avoiding them. You're the best person for the job, but I'll assign it to Chakotay if I Seven: No. The information belongs to me. I will read it. Seven: You're late. Neelix: Sorry. It took longer than I expected to download these records. This is only the first batch. Your parents sure had a lot to say. I organized the information by category. Field notes, personal logs, biokinetic analyzes. I don't mean to pry, but is it true your parents were studying the Borg? Seven: Yes. The Hansens were exobiologists. Neelix: Fascinating. They must have been very courageous. Seven: They were misguided. Neelix: A faded holo-image. That's all I've got left of my family. A picture of my sister. Except, of course, what I keep in here. What I wouldn't give for a treasure trove like this. Well, I'd better get started on the rest of those files. Magnus: Field notes, U.S.S. Raven, Stardate 32611.4. It's about time. The Federation Council on Exobiology has given us final approval. Starfleet's still concerned about security issues but they've agreed not to stand in our way. We've said our goodbyes, and we're ready to start chasing our theories about the Borg. Annika: Zoom, zoom. Magnus: Ah, ah, ah, put down the cube, Muffin. It's not a toy. Annika: I won't crash it. Magnus: Come here, Daddy wants to talk to you. Now, remember when I said that you, me and Mommy were going on a very long voyage? Annika: Ah ha. Magnus: Well, we're leaving tomorrow and we won't see Earth for quite a while. Annika: Are we going to see the Borg? Magnus: If we're lucky. Annika: Do the Borg have kids, too? Magnus: Nobody knows. We'll be the first humans to study them up close. Annika: What do they look like? Magnus: We're not sure exactly, but we think they might look a lot like us, but with technology inside their bodies. Annika: Cy-ber-netic? Magnus: Mmm hmm. Annika: Are they friendly? Magnus: Well, they're different. They don't talk like us, or even think like us, but we're hoping to make friends one day. Annika: I hope so, too, Daddy. Magnus: Field notes, U.S.S. Raven, Stardate 32623. 5: we've been tracking stray readings for nearly eight months now, but there's still no sign of a vessel. I'm beginning to wonder if the Borg are nothing more than rumor and sensor echoes. Erin: Magnus. Magnus: We have to keep moving. If we take the replicators offline and run environmental systems at half power, we can go another twenty light years before refueling. Erin: We should refuel now. The nearest dilithium is in an asteroid field just ten days from here. Magnus: That's ten days we can't afford to lose. We're getting close. If we stop now, we might as well just turn around and go home. Erin: Home, to what? We have deviated from our flight plan, crossed the Neutral Zone, disobeyed a direct order to return. Our colleagues obviously think we are insane. We have burned our bridges, Magnus. Annika: I can't sleep. Magnus: Come here. Why can't Annika sleep? The greatest scientific mystery of our time. Erin: I have a hypothesis. Her noisy parents are keeping her up. Magnus: Hmm. Sounds plausible. Erin: Tri-quantum waves, six hundred thousand kilometers off the port bow. Magnus: Subspace disruptions, field magnitude two point nine teracochranes and rising. Annika, bed. Erin: Power utilization curve is highly symmetric. Magnus: Artificial source probability point nine eight. Now. It's got to be a transwarp conduit. Nothing else could generate these readings. I'm taking us closer. Erin: It's a Borg Cube, two thousand kilometers starboard. Magnus: I've got a visual. Erin: It's massive. Twenty eight cubic kilometers, hundred and twenty nine thousand lifeforms on board. We're being scanned. They haven't altered course. Magnus: This could prove our theory. They ignore any lifeform until they consider it a threat, or a target. They're moving off. Erin: Let's match their course and speed. Keep a distance of five million kilometers. Chakotay: Seven of Nine to the bridge. Seven: On my way. Janeway: Have we been detected? Kim: No, ma'am. Tuvok: I have a visual. Janeway: On screen. Magnify. Chakotay: Looks like they took a real beating. Janeway: They could still pose a threat. Let's not get too close. Match their course and speed. Keep a distance of ten million kilometers. Paris: Aye, Captain. Janeway: Seven, scan the vessel. I want to know their current status. Seven: Their weapons array is regenerating, but shields and transwarp drive are still offline. Janeway: How long until they have transwarp? Seven: Approximately seventy two hours. Janeway: We may not get this opportunity again, and I don't intend to miss it. Whatever it takes, double shifts, round the clock simulations, I want to be ready. Chakotay: Bridge to away teams. You're six seconds behind schedule. Tuvok: We are at the shield matrix. Stand by. Kim: The primary shield generator. I've got it. Tuvok: Spatial charges. Here, there and there. Chakotay: You've got fifty five seconds. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway. Charges set. We're returning to the transport coordinates. Seven: The transwarp coil is offline. Janeway: Tuvok, now. Tuvok: Activate the charges. Janeway: Bridge, their shields are down. Energize. Chakotay: Tom? Paris: I've got a lock. Chakotay: Target obtained. Chakotay: You're out of time. Janeway: They've adapted. This way. Seven! Tuvok: Bridge, stand by for transport. Kim: Hurry! Tuvok: Energize. Paris: I've got them. Transporter room one. Chakotay: Beam them out of here. Paris: I can't get a lock. They've adapted to our transport frequencies. Chakotay: Computer, freeze program, both holodecks. What happened? Paris: They tapped into our transporter beam. Chakotay: Chakotay to holodeck two. We got the transwarp coil Chakotay: But we also picked up some uninvited guests. Janeway: What was our time? Chakotay: Two minutes twelve seconds. Janeway: Twelve seconds too late. Once we disable their sensor grid we only have two minutes until it regenerates. Chakotay: Did you run into any problems? Tuvok: None. Seven: We were efficient. Kim: What if we beam directly into the transwarp chamber? Janeway: There's too much shielding. Tuvok: Perhaps we could modify our transporters? Janeway: I've already explored that option. It won't work. Kim: Twelve seconds. Might as well be an eternity. Seven: The Hansens. They were able to remain inside a Borg cube for several hours without being detected. Kim: How? Seven: I'm not certain. Janeway: Well, keep investigating. Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: We've run enough simulations for one day. Let's work on refining our tactics, anything we can do to shave a few more seconds off our little heist. Computer, end program. Janeway: I don't know about you but I'm glad to be back on Voyager. Borg vessels make my skin crawl. Seven: It was a holodeck recreation. Janeway: Close enough. We just spent the last three hours dodging drones. It didn't bother you? Seven: Your point. Janeway: You seemed a little nervous in there. Seven: The last time I was on a Borg vessel, I was a drone. The recreation was unsettling. Janeway: You were reluctant to look at your parents' research and now I sense you're a little reluctant to go on this mission. Maybe I'm pushing you too fast. Seven: I'll adapt. Janeway: It's easier said than done. It's been over two years since you came face to face with the Collective. Are you sure you're up to it? I need everybody working at peak efficiency. Seven: You doubt my ability to function. Janeway: No, I'm simply voicing my concerns. Seven: They are unjustified. Janeway: I hope so, because the next time we won't be on the holodeck. Seven: Understood. Seven: Naomi Wildman. Naomi: I had a bad dream. Can I stay with you for a while? Seven: Where is your mother? Naomi: She's working in Engineering, and Neelix is on a duty shift. Please? I won't bother you. Seven: Very well. Naomi: It looked just like this. Seven: What did? Naomi: In my dream. There was Borg stuff everywhere. Seven: Elaborate. Naomi: I went on the mission. The one my Mom told me about, the Borg Sphere? But it didn't work. Everybody got assimilated. Seven: Nightmares are caused by irrational fear. They're not real. They can't damage you. Try to ignore it. Naomi: Mom said we're going to steal something. Seven: A transwarp coil. Naomi: Will you be on the Sphere? Seven: Yes. Naomi: Are you scared? Seven: We will succeed. Naomi: But what if you don't? What if they make you a drone again? Seven: Naomi Wildman, you agreed not to bother me. Naomi: What's it like to be a drone? Does it hurt? Seven: You will terminate this line of questioning. Naomi: Do the Borg have kids? What do they look like? Are they friendly? Seven: Return to your quarters immediately. Naomi: Resistance is futile. Seven: Seven of Nine to Security. Intruder alert. Queen: They can't hear you. Seven: Who are you? Queen: I am the Borg. Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix zero one, you've become weak. Seven: This is a dream. I'm regenerating. Queen: It's not a dream. We've accessed your neural transceiver. Our thoughts are one. We know about Voyager's plan to invade the Sphere. It will fail. Seven: If that's true, then why haven't you assimilated them? Queen: We've come to make you an offer. Rejoin the Collective and we'll spare Voyager. Seven: Why me? Queen: Because you are unique. Magnus: Field notes, U.S.S. Raven, Stardate 32629. 4: after three months of tracking our Borg cube, the vessel entered a transwarp conduit. We followed in its wake. Our sensors tell us we've traveled all the way to the Delta quadrant, the Borg's native territory. Erin: Magnus, you're breaking up. Magnus: Just some bio-electric interference. Stand by. Is that better? Erin: Much. How's Junior? Magnus: He took a real beating when that plasma conduit blew out. He's regenerating. Wait a minute, something's happening. Bill and Needle Fingers just arrived. This is odd. They're making repairs to Junior. Erin: I thought drones from different subunits didn't interact. Magnus: Looks like we were wrong. Magnus: They deactivated him. Erin: Why? Magnus: Maybe he was too badly damaged. They're dismantling him. They must be salvaging the components. Erin: Your bio-dampener is losing power. It's time to come home. Magnus: I've got another minute or so. Stand by. Magnus: We may not get another chance to observe this behavior. Seven: It prevented the Borg from detecting them. They referred to it as a bio-dampener. The device creates a field around the body, which simulates the physiometric conditions within a Borg vessel. Tuvok: Camouflage. Seven: Precisely. Tuvok: We need four of these devices. How soon can you replicate them? Emh: I'll have to tailor each unit to its user's physiology. A few hours at least. Tuvok: Begin immediately. I'll inform the Captain. Emh: Ingenious design. Seven: The Hansens were resourceful. Emh: Sounds like you're warming up to your folks. Seven: It was merely an observation. Emh: This is an important stage of your social development, Seven. Try not to think of it as simply a research project, but as an exploration of how you were raised. Seven: My parents underestimated the Collective. They were destroyed. Because of their arrogance, I was raised by Borg. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Operation Fort Knox is ready to proceed. All departments are standing by and I've given the order to begin at oh six hundred hours. Janeway: Coffee? You look like you could use some. Seven: No. Janeway: It's a human vice you might want to try one day. Keeps you sharp. Seven: One day. Janeway: I've been fine-tuning our game plan for tomorrow morning, and I've decided to reassign you to the bridge. Seven: Captain? Janeway: I'm concerned about Voyager's safety, and if the Sphere decides to attack I'll need your expertise at Tactical. Seven: I should be on the away team. Janeway: B'Elanna will do just fine in your place. Seven: You may encounter unexpected obstacles. Forcefields, encryption codes. I'm the only member of this crew who can anticipate them. Janeway: You underestimate the rest of us. Seven: And you underestimate the Borg. Janeway: This is more than just a question of tactics. I'm concerned about your well-being, and your ability to perform on this mission. Seven: Your concern is unwarranted. Janeway: Is it? I'm not the only one who's worried about you. Chakotay, Neelix, the Doctor, we've all noticed changes in your behavior. You are preoccupied, agitated, and you're making mistakes. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate your efforts, and we couldn't have come this far without your help, but it's obviously taken its toll. If I'd realized how those journals were going to affect you, I never would have pushed you to read them. And I'm not about to ask you to face the Collective in your present frame of mind. Seven: The past several days have been difficult. But I must join the away team, and I assure you I will not make another mistake. Janeway: I've made my decision, Seven. Seven: If I don't go, this mission will fail. Janeway: You sound awfully certain about that. Seven: I know the Borg. Janeway: And I know you. There's more to what you're saying. What's wrong? Seven: Over the past two years, I have become familiar with the individuals on this vessel. Voyager is my Collective now. Your survival is important to me. I am willing to risk my own well-being if it increases our chances of success. Assign me to the away team. Please. Thank you. Janeway: Seven. You've made remarkable progress as an individual and as a member of this crew. For what it's worth, Voyager wouldn't be the same without you. Borg: A vessel has been detected. Unimatrix four two four grid zero three. Activate. Borg: Vessel identified. Federation Starfleet, class two shuttlecraft. Three lifeforms. Torres: The Sphere is maintaining course. Chakotay: Move the shuttle in closer. Paris: The Borg are still ignoring it. Chakotay: Bridge to Transporter room two. Chakotay: They're not taking the bait. Janeway: Shuttle status? Chakotay: All systems go. False bioreadings are holding steady. Kim: How about a phaser shot across their bow. Might grab their attention. Seven: No. The shuttle would be perceived as a threat and they'd destroy it. Janeway: Commander, increase the energy output of the shuttle's warp profile. Janeway: That should present a more inviting target. Borg: Warp signature detected. Prepare for assimilation. Relevant technology. Engage tractor pulse. Paris: They've got it. They're pulling it in toward a docking port along the central radius. Five hundred meters, two hundred. They're dropping shields. Chakotay: Energize. Torres: They're in. Emh: Bio-dampeners are stable. They're as good as invisible. Chakotay: The Sphere? Torres: The shields are back up. They're assimilating the shuttle. Chakotay: Keep a sensor lock on the away team. Maintain course. Queen: Never forget who you are. Janeway: Seven, are you all right? Seven: Proceed. Kim: Primary shield generator. Got it. Tuvok: Spatial charges here, there and there. Tuvok: Tuvok to Janeway, charges set. Returning to transport coordinates. Seven: The transwarp coil is offline. Janeway: Tuvok, now. Tuvok: Activate the charges. Paris: Their shields are down. Chakotay: Lock onto the coil and energize. Chakotay: Target obtained. Queen: Seven of Nine. Janeway: Seven, keep moving! Seven: No. I wish to stay. I intend to rejoin the Collective. Janeway: I can't let you do that. Seven: You have no choice. Janeway: Keep moving. That's an order. Seven: Go! Chakotay: Chakotay to away team. Chakotay: The sphere has detected Voyager. They've altered course to intercept and they're charging weapons. We've got to get you out of there now. Paris: Four hundred thousand kilometers and closing. Chakotay: Full power to weapons. Janeway: I'm not leaving without you. Seven: Then you will be assimilated. Tuvok: They can see us. Kim: How? Tuvok: I don't know. Janeway: Bridge, we're in position. Three to beam up. Chakotay: Three? Janeway: Energize. Chakotay: Where's Seven? Janeway: She had a change of heart. Report. Chakotay: The Sphere's changing course. They're retreating. Torres: They're bringing the remaining transwarp coils online. Janeway: Pursuit course. Target their propulsion system. Paris: They're gone, Captain. Queen: Welcome home. You've changed. Your exo-plating, your ocular implant. They've taken you apart and they've re-created you in their own image. Hair, garments, but at the core you are still mine. Seven: The Borg have changed as well. I expected re-assimilation, not conversation. Queen: I see they've also given you a sense of humor. Seven: My humor is my own. Queen: Spoken like a true individual. The last two years must have been a remarkable experience. You are unique. Seven: My experience will add to your perfection. Queen: Yes. Seven: That is why you removed me from Voyager. Queen: That is why we put you there in the first place. You believe that Voyager liberated you from the Collective. Did you really think we would surrender you so easily? Seven: Explain. Queen: You must be tired. It's time to regenerate. We've adapted an alcove just for you. Go. It will help order your thoughts. When your cycle is complete we will continue our conversation. Comply. Janeway: Progress? Torres: We were having trouble modulating the coil to our warp field. But I had an inspiration this morning. Instead of trying to adapt the coil to our technology, we should be adapting our systems to theirs. With any luck, we should have transwarp capability by oh six hundred. Janeway: Impressive. Torres: Actually, I can't take all the credit. I did some digging in Seven of Nine's personal database and I found some designs she'd been working on to enhance the warp drive. With a few adjustments Janeway: Work with Mister Paris on a flight plan. I want to make our first trial run tomorrow afternoon. Torres: Right. Janeway: And B'Elanna? Don't access personal databases without my authorisation. Torres: Captain? Janeway: There are protocols for observing privacy on this ship. Torres: No offense, but Seven of Nine is not on this ship anymore. Janeway: I realize the two of you weren't exactly close. Regardless, we've just lost one of our own. Torres: She was never one of our own, Captain. Didn't she just prove that? Janeway: I don't know what happened on that sphere and neither do you, Lieutenant. Carry on. Chakotay: No sign of Borg activity. We made a clean getaway. Janeway: The Sphere? Chakotay: It hasn't shown up on long range sensors or subspace telemetry. It could be anywhere in the quadrant by now. Janeway: Launch a class five probe. Scan for residual transwarp signatures. Chakotay: Understood. Janeway: Why choose this moment to rejoin the Collective? Chakotay: Maybe she'd been planning it all along. Janeway: She's had any number of opportunities to leave before now. Chakotay: But never direct access to a Borg vessel. I will betray you. That's what she said two years ago when you disconnected her from the hive. Janeway: Two days ago, she told me Voyager had become her Collective. Neelix: Captain, we've cleared out most of the debris, but before we vaporize it I'd like to melt down the larger fragments and extract the polytrinic compounds. Janeway: Makes sense. Neelix: That leaves just one item, Seven of Nine's alcove. It requires a lot of power, over thirty megawatts. Should I deactivate it? Janeway: No, leave it alone. Janeway: Computer, isolate the sensor readings for time index one one four point six. Identify source. Computer: Random subspace energy fluctuations. Janeway: Isolate the sensor readings for time index one six six point two. Source? Computer: Random subspace energy fluctuations. Janeway: Computer, run a transpectral analysis on all subspace fluctuations. Yes? Tuvok: A member of the crew has requested an appointment with the Captain. I informed her that you were occupied, but she was insistent. Janeway: Whatever it is, I'm sure Commander Chakotay can handle Janeway: Request granted. Send her in. Naomi: Permission to submit a proposal for your review. Janeway: Proposal? Naomi: It's a rescue operation for Seven of Nine. Janeway: Oh. You created this plan all by yourself? Naomi: Yes, ma'am. You see, if we change our long range sensors to Seven's cortical implant frequency maybe we can find her. Janeway: The Delta Quadrant is a very big place, and Seven could be thousands of light years from here. Naomi: What if we boosted our sensor range with power from the main deflector? Janeway: You've been spending too much time in Engineering. I'm afraid it's not quite that simple. But thank you, Crewman. Your initiative is duly noted. Naomi: Captain? You're not going to give up, are you? Janeway: There are three things to remember about being a Starship Captain. Keep your shirt tucked in, go down with the ship, and never abandon a member of your crew. Computer: Transpectral analysis complete. Janeway: Take a look at this, Naomi. What do you see? Naomi: Sensor logs. Janeway: These aren't random energy fluctuations. They're Borg comm. signals, and they were all directed at Cargo Bay two. Naomi: You mean the Borg were talking to Seven of Nine? Janeway: It sure looks that way. Come on. Queen: Good morning. Seven: My visual cortex. It's been altered. Queen: We've enhanced it with Borg technology. You've seen through human eyes long enough. It's a neural processing adjunct designed to increase your synaptic efficiency. Seven: Remove it. Queen: You prefer to remain small? Seven: I prefer to remain unique. Queen: Don't be afraid. We won't turn you into a drone. You're much too valuable to us with your individuality intact. But you've left humanity behind. Try to abandon their petty emotions as well. Fear, anger, vanity. They've corrupted you, but the damage can be repaired. Seven: You've expended significant resources to capture me. Why? Queen: Isn't it obvious? You're going to help us assimilate humanity. We failed in our first attempt to assimilate Earth, and we won't succeed the next time unless we understand the nature of their resistance. We want you to be our eyes. Let us see humanity. Seven: While I was regenerating, you assimilated my memories. Queen: Our thoughts are one. Seven: Then you already possess all of my knowledge. What more do you want? Queen: You are the only Borg that has ever returned to a state of individuality. We want to keep you exactly the way you are. Otherwise you would lose your human perspective. We don't want another drone. We want you. Seven: I will resist. Queen: I know. Seven: What's happening? Queen: Our vessel is disengaging from the Unicomplex. We're setting a course for grid five three two. Seven: State our purpose. Queen: Assimilation. Our presence is not required, but I thought the experience would be a rewarding one for you. Species one zero zero two six. Seven: How many lifeforms? Queen: Three hundred ninety two thousand. You're experiencing compassion. A human impulse. You've forgotten what it means to be Borg. Those lives will be added to our own. Magnus: Field notes, U.S.S. Raven, supplemental. It's been a busy week. The cube linked with another Borg vessel and received over fifty thousand new drones. We now begin the dangerous task of identifying the newcomers. Erin: Species six nine six one, Ktarian. Tritanium infrastructure. He's a tactical drone. Magnus: Take a look at his proximity transceiver. Let's check his previous designation. Erin: Three of five, Tertiary adjunct of Unimatrix one. Magnus: I want to keep an eye on this one. Let's tag him. Bring me the subdermal probe, will you? Annika: Is he special? Magnus: Very special. We think he used to work near the Borg Queen. If he ever goes back there, we'll be able to track him now. Annika: Does the Queen have a throne? Magnus: Nobody knows. Erin: We think she's more like the Queen of an insect colony. She helps coordinate all the other drones. Magnus: His regeneration cycle's almost complete. We'd better get him back. Annika: Bye. Erin: He's in his alcove. Nobody missed him. Enough drones for one day. Anybody hungry? Annika: Me. Magnus: You two go ahead. I want to read through his cranial transceiver logs, see if he was ever in direct contact with the Queen. Erin: Don't be long. Chakotay: It turns out his hunch was right. The drone had been receiving direct commands from this Borg Queen. I analyzed the comm. signals. Look at the transpectral frequencies. Janeway: They match the ones that were sent to Seven. What did the Hansens learn about this Queen? Chakotay: I'm afraid they never got a chance to find out. Janeway: One thing is certain. She contacted Seven of Nine, and the next day Seven rejoined the Borg. Obviously, she exerts some influence. Chakotay: You think Seven was instructed to leave Voyager? Janeway: Instructed, coerced. She insisted she join the away team. She was adamant that if she didn't board that Sphere, our mission would fail. Sounds to me like she was being threatened. My instincts told me she was holding something back, but I, I didn't pursue it. I let her go. Chakotay: If you hadn't, we might all be drones by now. Janeway: What's running through that Collective mind of yours? You've got thousands of species to choose from, billions of individuals. Why Seven of Nine? You should've assimilated us while you had the chance. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: I want you to keep analyzing the Hansens' database. Compile a list of every technology they created to track the Borg. Assemble a team of engineers to assist you. Chakotay: If you're planning a rescue mission, that research will only take us so far. Janeway: Oh? Chakotay: I've studied their log entries long enough to realize that as brilliant as the Hansens were, they made a fatal mistake. They became overconfident. Janeway: We won't make the same mistake. Janeway: This will be a long range tactical rescue. It could take days, even weeks, before we find our missing crewman. Lieutenant Torres is equipping the Delta Flyer with the transwarp coil. It'll allow us to cover more territory. An away team will take it into transwarp space, where Tuvok believes we can track the sphere that abducted Seven of Nine. Thanks to the Hansens, we'll be well prepared for an encounter with the Borg. Their multi-adaptive shielding will make the Flyer virtually invisible to Borg sensors, and narrow beam transporters will allow us to penetrate the Sphere. Mister Paris, you'll man the helm. Commander Tuvok, tactical. Doctor, there's no telling what condition Seven will be in when we find her. You'll come along. Emh: Yes, Captain. Janeway: I'll be leading the away team. The rest of you will remain on Voyager and maintain position at the threshold of our transwarp conduit. We may need tactical support when we return. You'll be taking your orders from Commander Chakotay. We'll be searching for one individual among thousands of drones. But she's one of us and I'm not about to let her go. Let's get started. Paris: All systems go. We're ready for the jump. Janeway: Bring the coil online. Prepare for transwarp. Tuvok: Power output fluctuating. Janeway: Compensating. Paris: We're at critical velocity. Janeway: Engage, Mister Paris. Paris: Transwarp in four, three, two. We've crossed the threshold. Janeway: Steady as she goes. Doctor, are you all right? Emh: Just a little motion sickness. I'll need to adjust my matrix to accommodate for extreme velocity. Tuvok: I'm detecting residual transwarp signatures. They match the Borg Sphere. Janeway: Adjust our course and follow it, Mister Paris. Emh: I believe the Captain's order was steady as she goes. Janeway: Full speed ahead. Queen: We've arrived. Are you ready? Seven: I have familiarized myself with the species. Queen: Tactical weakness. Seven: Their vessels lack manoeuverability. Queen: Tactical strength. Seven: They've developed a modulating phaser pulse that can penetrate our shields. Queen: How do you propose we adapt? Seven: You are the Borg. You tell me. Queen: Thirty nine of their vessels are converging on our position. They're firing weapons. Our shields are failing. We will be destroyed. How do you propose we adapt? Seven: Triaxillate our shield geometry to absorb their phaser pulses. Queen: I was thinking the same thing. Adaptation complete. They're no longer a threat. Go to the Primary Assimilation Chamber. You'll monitor the bio-extraction process. You look reluctant. Maybe I've been pushing you too quickly. You can assist with the repairs to our shield matrix instead. Seven of Nine. Be efficient. Seven: Assist me. I am not Borg, I will help you escape. Assist me! Seven: I'm detecting one of your vessels. It's heavily damaged, the crew is dead. The Borg are ignoring it. It's propulsion system is still functioning. I will transport you aboard. Remain there until the Borg leave orbit. Then set a course on a heading of one two one mark nine. Do you understand? Queen: Congratulations. Seven: Regarding? Queen: Assimilation is complete. Seven: Three hundred thousand individuals have been transformed into drones. Should they be congratulated as well? Queen: They should be. They've left behind their trivial, selfish lives and they've been reborn with a greater purpose. We've delivered them from chaos into order. Seven: Comforting words. Use them next time instead of resistance is futile. You may elicit a few volunteers. Queen: You cling to sarcasm because you are afraid to see the truth. Species one zero zero two six is already adding to our perfection. You can feel their distinctiveness coursing through us, enhancing us. Stop resisting. Take pleasure in this. Seven: I will not take pleasure in the destruction of a race. Queen: Human sentiment. Compassion, guilt, empathy. They're irrelevant. Seven: Not to me. Queen: Me? There is no me. There is only us. One mind. Seven: My thoughts are my own. Queen: We've overlooked something. A ship. Four lifeforms. They're trying to escape. How do you suggest we proceed? Destroy the vessel, or assimilate it? Seven: Neither. There are only four lifeforms and the vessel is heavily damaged. It would be an inefficient use of our resources. We should ignore it. Queen: In this case, our thoughts are not one. If those individuals are allowed to survive, species one zero zero two six will survive and continue to resist us. But that's what you were hoping for, wasn't it? You tried to mask their lifesigns, but I detected them. Seven: Release the vessel. Queen: I'm sorry this lesson has to be so painful for you, but you are a difficult pupil. Abandon your human frailties. They are the cause of your pain. Seven: Let them go. Please. Seven: I thought compassion was irrelevant. Magnus: Field notes, U.S.S. Raven, stardate 32634.9. The Raven was hit by a subspace particle storm. We took heavy damage and our multi-adaptive shielding went offline for thirteen point two seconds. Unfortunately, it was long enough for the Borg to perceive us as a threat. Erin: I've found something. A nebula. Magnus: Class? Erin: Mutara. Distance, three light years. I'm setting a course. Magnus: The particle density's too high. Our hull would breach. Erin: We can reinforce structural integrity. Magnus: We'll find somewhere else to hide. Erin: There's no time. Magnus: It's been three hours and the Cube hasn't found us yet. As long as we can keep masking our warp trail Erin: The entire Collective knows about us by now. They'll send more ships. Magnus: The nebula's too dangerous. Magnus: We've had close calls before. This is no different. Remember when the transporters failed? Erin: And you had to spend the night in a maturation chamber, with fifty two neonatal drones. A transwarp conduit, two point three light years starboard. It's a Cube heading right for us. Magnus: Time to intercept? Erin: One hour, maybe less. Annika: Papa? Magnus: Be right there, Annika. Start looking for an M-class planet. We'll abandon ship if we have to. Magnus: Hey. Annika: Are we going to be assimulated? Magnus: Not if I can help it. Go back to sleep, your mother and I have work to do. Annika: Are the Borg mad at us? Magnus: No. Annika: Then why are they chasing our ship? Magnus: They're curious about us, like we are about them. But don't worry, we won't let them get too close. Annika: Can't we go home? Magnus: Soon. Annika: Papa, will it hurt to be a drone? Magnus: Sleep. Emh: Captain? Janeway: Hmm. Emh: I'd like to suggest a few modifications to the comm. array. Janeway: Yes? Emh: I've studied Seven's cranial schematics and I've isolated the frequency of her interplexing beacon. When we catch up with the Sphere, we might be able to send her a brief message. Janeway: What if she's already been linked to the hive mind? Emh: Every drone has its own translink signature. Only Seven will be able to hear our message. Janeway: I'll give you a hand. Emh: The Hansen Diaries. Not exactly light reading. Janeway: I've been poring over their last log entries for any details we might have missed. I want to make sure history doesn't repeat itself. Emh: They should have quit while they were ahead. Ten million terraquads of data, three years in the wild. Janeway: They could have studied the Borg for another three decades and still have barely scratched the surface. I agree their methods were unorthodox, but that's been true of most great explorers. Emh: Most explorers don't take their four year old daughter along for the ride. Janeway: We'll get her back, Doctor, with her parents' help. Paris: Captain, I've got a fix on the Sphere's location. It's in a region about two hundred light years from here. Janeway: Red alert. Bring the multi-adaptive shielding online. Set a course for those coordinates and prepare to disengage transwarp drive. Janeway: Report. Tuvok: I'm detecting thousands of integrated substructures, trillions of lifeforms, all Borg. Paris: There's a Cube coming up fast off our port bow. Janeway: Did they detect us? Tuvok: I don't believe so. Janeway: Any sign of our Sphere? Paris: Yes, ma'am. Its ion signature leads directly to that whatever it is. Janeway: Take us in, Mister Paris, minimum thrusters. Begin scanning for Seven, Tuvok. Tuvok: Aye, Captain. Queen: I have a task for you. We're planning to deploy a new mode of assimilation designed for highly resistant species. I want you to program the nanoprobes. Seven: Your technology has changed since I left the Collective. My knowledge is insufficient. Queen: Your knowledge for the target species is invaluable. Species five six one eight. Human. Warp capable. Origin, grid three two five. Physiology inefficient, below average cranial capacity, minimal redundant systems, limited regenerative abilities. Our previous attempts to assimilate them were all direct assaults. They failed, so we've created a more surreptitious strategy. Seven: You intend to detonate a biogenic charge in Earth's atmosphere. Queen: It would infect all lifeforms with nanoprobe viruses. Assimilation would be gradual. By the time they realized what was happening, half their population would be drones. Seven: Inefficient. The virus would take years to proliferate. Queen: We've waited this long. Interface with the central alcove. Begin programming the nanoprobes. Be sure to enhance the viral sequencers. You've been involved in hundreds of assimilations. This is no different. Seven: To you, perhaps. Part of me is still human. I will not assist in their destruction. Queen: We all originated from lesser species. I myself came from species one two five. But that's irrelevant now. We are Borg. Seven: I am an individual. Queen: You're only repeating their words. You sound like a mindless automaton. Comply, or we will turn you into a drone. Seven: Proceed, if you wish. Queen: You're torn between your desire to be one with us and your loyalty to them. It's time for you to complete your task. All of your emotions, grief, guilt, remorse, compassion, will be irrelevant once humanity is assimilated. Forget Voyager. They were never your Collective. Seven: I am Annika Hansen. Human. Queen: I remember Annika. Does she remember us? She wasn't afraid. Why are you? Seven: You attacked us. You murdered my family. Queen: We did no such thing. We gave them perfection. Seven: Papa. Queen: Your family's here. You're here. Be one with us again. Janeway: Seven of Nine, we're searching for you. Try to hang on. Seven: Captain. Queen: What did you say? Seven: Nothing. Queen: Janeway. Janeway: Our transmission's being deflected. Emh: By whom? Janeway: I'm not certain. Tuvok: I have isolated Seven's position. She's inside a large infrastructure approximately six hundred kilometers away. Janeway: Set a course, Mister Paris. Queen: She's close. Her comm. signal originated within this spatial grid, but we can't detect her vessel. He knows why. Your father designed the technology Captain Janeway's using. Multi-adaptive shielding. Your perfect defense against the Borg. But we assimilated that knowledge, didn't we? We will adapt easily. Paris: The Cube has altered course. It's heading straight for us. Janeway: They've detected us. Remodulate the shields. Evasive maneuvers. Paris: It flew right past us. Janeway: We won't fool their sensors much longer. Tuvok? Tuvok: Seven is inside a large chamber. Janeway: Can you get a lock on her? Tuvok: Not at this distance. Janeway: Take us to within transporter range. Queen: We have their ship. A Federation shuttlecraft. Three lifeforms, one hologram. Seven: If you've captured their vessel, you've assimilated them by now. I would sense their presence in the Collective. Captain Janeway is eluding you. Paris: The chamber is too heavily shielded. I can't get a lock on her. Janeway: Can we beam into one of these adjoining corridors? Tuvok: I believe so. Janeway: Time for the bio-dampeners. Tom, hold our position. Target that chamber with full weapons. Stand by to fire on my command. Paris: Ma'am, won't you be down there? Janeway: Do it. Janeway: This way. Tuvok: Try to locate the shield matrix. Janeway: Tuvok. Tuvok: I can disable the forcefield, but it will take several minutes. Janeway: Do it. Janeway: Tuvok, give me the subdermal probe. Queen: It's not too late to save them. As you wish. Paris: They've isolated our shields again. Three vessels are converging. I'm remodulating. Seven: You underestimate them. Queen: It's time for a more aggressive approach. Emh: I thought they couldn't see us. Paris: They can't! They're firing blind! Janeway: Wake him. It's transmitting. Janeway: I've got it. Field modulation is three two four point nine five. Tuvok: Proceed. Janeway: It's offline. Tuvok: You'll be detected. Janeway: Then I'd better hurry. You've got to disable the shield matrix around that chamber. Paris: It's no use, they've locked on to our shield modulators. They're adapting the second we change frequencies. Borg: We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Borg: Resistance is futile. Queen: You have failed them. Seven: No! Queen: We believed you would be an asset to us. We were wrong. You are weak. Janeway: Don't listen to her, Seven. She's irrelevant. Call them off or I'll destroy you. Queen: Your weapons are useless. Janeway: Don't be so sure. My tactical officer is disabling the shields around this room. Tom, status. Paris: We've targeted the chamber, Captain. Janeway: Let her go, or I'll give the order to fire. Queen: You would be destroyed as well, along with your crewman. Janeway: Better than being one of you. Tom, high-yield torpedoes, full spread. Fire on my command. Paris: Captain, they've disengaged Paris: the tractor. Janeway: Hold your fire. Beam us out of here. Paris: A dispersal field just activated around the chamber you're in. I can't get a lock. Janeway: Seven, shut down that field. Queen: Don't listen to her. She's poisoned your thoughts long enough. Janeway: I'm giving you an order. Queen: One order, one voice. Insignificant. Janeway: Tom, energize. Seven: She's adapting. Paris: The field went up again, Captain. I can't beam you out. Queen: You will assist the Collective as drones. Assimilate them. Seven: Captain, target the power node directly above this alcove. It will disrupt her command interface. Our thoughts are one. Emh: Welcome back. Paris: Three vessels, closing fast. Tuvok: Direct hit to our tactical array. Weapons are down. Janeway: Bring the coil online. Prepare for transwarp. Janeway: Tom? Paris: Transwarp in four, three, two. A vessel entered the conduit with us, just before it closed. Tuvok: They're targeting our engines. Janeway: Maintain course. Paris: Direct hit on the port nacelle. We're venting plasma. Tuvok: Rerouting emergency power. Paris: It's not enough. I'll need thirty teradynes at least, or we'll lose transwarp. Janeway: How long to the rendezvous coordinates? Paris: Two point four minutes, but we'll drop out of transwarp in less than one. Janeway: Reroute power from life support. Emh: Captain! Janeway: I'd rather suffocate than vaporize. Do it! Torres: I'm picking up transwarp signatures. There's a conduit approaching, thirty thousand kilometers off our port bow. Chakotay: Battle stations. Paris: We're twenty seconds from normal space. Janeway: The Borg vessel? Tuvok: Still in pursuit, closing rapidly. Paris: Fifteen seconds. Seven: They're trying to lock on with a tractor beam. Janeway: Remodulate shields. Paris: Threshold in eight, seven, six. Tuvok: They're locking on. Paris: Five. Seven: I've re-polarized the shields. It's being deflected. Paris: Three, two. Torres: They're through. Chakotay: Voyager to Delta Flyer. Report. Janeway: We've got Seven, but there's a Borg vessel right behind us. Chakotay: Target the threshold perimeter. Photon torpedoes, full spread. Torres: Commander? Chakotay: It should destabilize the matter stream and implode the conduit for at least a light year. Torres: Torpedoes locked. Chakotay: Fire. Janeway: Voyager, report. Chakotay: We collapsed Chakotay: the conduit. No sign of Borg activity. Janeway: Clear us for docking. We're coming home. Torres: Commander, I'm picking up Borg signatures. Lots of them. Chakotay: Source? Torres: The conduit. Chakotay: I thought you collapsed it. Torres: So did I. Chakotay: Stand by weapons. Captain Chakotay: Raise shields. We've got company. Torres: Here they come. Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 52619.2. We got another twenty thousand light years out of the transwarp coil before it gave out. I figure we're a good fifteen years closer to home. Janeway: I see you've picked up some bad habits. Seven: Captain? Janeway: The Doctor told you to regenerate for at least two days. You're violating a direct medical command. Seven: I will comply when my work is completed. Janeway: Borg tactical data? Seven: During my time at Unimatrix One I acquired a vast amount of knowledge. It may prove useful in our future encounters with the Borg. I am downloading it into Voyager's database. The Borg believed I was unique, that I understood humanity. They were obviously mistaken. Janeway: How so? Seven: I betrayed the crew of Voyager, threatened you with assimilation. I did not expect you to return for me. Janeway: Looks like you still have a few things to learn. Time to regenerate. Seven: When I am finished. Janeway: No, now. That's an order. Seven: Yes, Captain. Janeway: Sweet dreams.

Kim: We shouldn't be here. Tal: Don't worry. Nobody saw us leave. (She removes his comm, badge.( Kim: Hey, I need that. What if somebody tries to call? Tal: Shush. Kim: What was that? Tal: Don't worry. Come here. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. After two weeks we're close to repairing the Varro's warp drive. Then there's the Varro crew. I'm starting to think they'd rather give up warp travel than accept help from strangers. Jippeq: I thought we agreed Central Control would be off limits. Janeway: We did, but I need to access your warp assembly. Jippeq: That technology's classified. Janeway: We have to reconfigure the assembly if we're going to finish this job. Jippeq: Then consider it finished. Janeway: We've come this far. Jippeq: You've turned our ship upside down for two weeks, and I've yet to see any results. Janeway: You might check the antimatter injectors. Jippeq: Back online. Janeway: All you need now is a jolt of antimatter from Voyager's engines and you'll be back in business, but I need access to your warp assembly. You know, I can understand why you're distrustful of other species. Frankly, we've had a rough time in the Delta Quadrant ourselves. But our two species have made remarkable progress working together to repair your engines. We've come a long way since you ignored our opening hails. Let's not throw all that away. Jippeq: I'll admit we do share some things in common. Janeway: We're both on long journeys, looking for allies. In many ways, we're like cousins. Jippeq: Cousins? Janeway: Well, distant cousins. Think about it. Four hundred years ago you started out the same way we did, a single starship, a small crew, facing the unknown. And now, centuries later, you've grown into a generational ship with a history and culture all your own. When I look at your vessel, I can't help but wonder if I'm seeing Voyager's future. Our journey could easily last several generations. So, what do you say, cousin? Jippeq: You can access the warp assembly from here. Janeway: Thank you. Janeway: Status? Torres: The plasma couplings are online. We're ready for the antimatter transfer. Janeway: Then let's get started. Janeway to Janeway: Voyager. Status. Chakotay: Ready here, Captain. Janeway: Initiate the transfer. Jippeq: Warp reactors one through fourteen are coming online. It's working. Janeway: Keep your fingers crossed. For luck. Tal: If you're planning on leaving through the viewport, you might want to get dressed. The interstellar vacuum might get a little chilly. Kim: What? Oh, funny. Tal: Come back to bed. Kim: I can't sleep. Tal: Cuddle. Kim: I can't cuddle. Tal: I told you we're not going to get caught. If someone had seen us, they would've reported it by now. Kim: I'm violating about half a dozen regulations by just being in this room. And what we did earlier? I don't know if Starfleet even has a regulation for that. Tal: What are you saying? Making love is a crime in your culture? Kim: Yes! No. What I'm saying is, it's a breach of protocol. Tal: How romantic. Kim: The Captain instructed all away teams. No personal interaction with the Varro crew. I violated a direct order. Tal: Come back to bed. That's an order. Tal: Are all humans so jumpy? Kim: No, only me. Kim: The warp engines. They've started the plasma transfer. We've got to get down there. We're late. What are you waiting for? Tal: To see what you look like in my uniform. Kim: You don't understand. If I'm not at my post. Tal: You'll be executed? Kim: Funny. We'd better go in separately. Torres: Impressive. Paris: Just trying to orchestrate the antimatter flow. Torres: You should try some Chopin when you're done. Look who showed up for the final movement. Kim: Excuse me? Paris: Just a little late for the joke, as well as the job. Kim: I was checking the manifolds in segment twenty two. Jippeq: Warp reaction's destabilizing. Tal? Tal: I can't find the problem. Janeway: We're less than a minute away from multiple core breaches. Abort the transfer. Jippeq: So much for finger crossing. Janeway: B'Elanna? Torres: I'm reading microfractures all over the hull. Jippeq: Why couldn't we detect that before? Janeway: Good question. We'll have to check the hulls in each of your vessel's segments. Jippeq: But that'll take days. Janeway: The sooner we start, the sooner we finish. Paris: Friendly people. Kim: They've had a lot of bad experiences with other species. Paris: Well, I don't know. It seems like your first contact went pretty well. Kim: What's that supposed to mean? Paris: I was just wondering where you disappeared to today. Kim: I told you. I was checking the plasma conduits Paris: In segment twenty two, I know. They must have sonic showers over there. You're a lot cleaner than you were when you left. You are such a lousy liar. Haven't you learned anything from me after five years? She's cute. Kim: Who. Paris: That assistant engineer, Tal. Kim: Cute enough. Paris: Oh, here we go again. Kim: What? Paris: You, going after impossible women. A hologram, an ex-Borg, the wrong twin, and now a girl from a xenophobic species? Kim: You're right. You're absolutely right. I'm putting her out of my mind, I promise. Paris: Good. Glad to hear it. I'm due back on the bridge. Kim: See you in the morning. Kim: Computer, open a channel to Varro ship, segment sixteen, station two oh four. Encode transmission with security code alpha seven. Computer: Channel open. Tal: What took you so long? I've been waiting twenty two minutes for you to call. Kim: I was testing myself. Seeing how long I could resist calling you. Tal: And? Kim: I lasted twenty two minutes. Tal: Should I feel complimented or insulted? Kim: Since this is the first chance I've had to open a comm. link, complimented. Tal: So you liked what happened? Kim: Yeah, a lot. Tal: Enough to try it again? Kim: Absolutely. I've got to be honest, I wasn't expecting something so different. Tal: Neither was I. Our species look so similar. Well, at least on the surface. Kim: I would've never guessed when it came down to the basics. Well, let's just say the birds and bees would be very confused. Tal: The birds and bees? Paris: I'm telling you, you should take a look at their database. They've got some pretty amazing stuff on that ship. Tuvok: Stuff? Paris: Their environmental control system, for instance. It's completely regenerative. Zero waste. Tuvok: Impressive. Paris: It can be programmed to create almost any habitat. If you wanted to, you could recreate Vulcan in your quarters with that system. Tuvok: Why would I want to? Paris: A little taste of home in the Delta Quadrant? Think about it. Springtime on the shores of Lake Yaron. Tuvok: I require a desk and a bed. Nothing more. Paris: You're missing the point. Tuvok: No doubt. Paris: These people have been traveling for four hundred years. They've learned a thing or two about living comfortably. Tuvok: Our systems are more than adequate. Paris: Oh, I give up. Chakotay: After only two minutes? Tuvok, how do you do it? Tuvok: I wait until his own illogic overwhelms him. I'm detecting an unauthorized transmission. Chakotay: Origin? Tuvok: Unknown. It's been encoded. Chakotay: Find out where it's going. Kim: Where would you most like to be right now? Tal: Besides your quarters? Kim: Besides my quarters. Tal: On a distant moon, where the air is warm and the gravity is light. No bulkheads around me. Where, if I walk too quickly, I can almost fly. Kim: I like that. Tal: What about you? Where would you most want to be right now? Kim: Besides your cabin? Tal: Besides my cabin. Kim: Sorry, I can't come up with anything better than your cabin. Tal: And what would you do if you were here? Kim: Now? Tal: This very moment. Kim: I'd ask you to dim the lights. Tal: And what if I said no? Kim: Okay, so we leave the lights on. Tuvok: The message is being sent to the Varro ship, segment sixteen. Chakotay: Living quarters. Paris: Er, Commander? I think I can track that down for you. Hold on, something's wrong. I'm losing the signal. Kim: Tal? Tuvok: The transmission has ended. Paris: If it was a transmission. It could have just been a glitch in the comm. system. Chakotay: Run a diagnostic. Chakotay: Finding the source of these structural problems isn't going to be easy. They've already scanned most of their ship and come up empty. I'm hoping we'll do a better job. Tuvok: We should form smaller teams to maximize efficiency. Chakotay: Agreed. We'll work in pairs. Now, what I'd like to do is start with their reactor bay, where we first detected the problem. Paris: You owe me. Kim: What? Paris: Eyes front. Last night I had to sabotage the comm. system to cover your tracks. You called her, didn't you? Kim: Guilty. Paris: How long has this been going on? The truth. Kim: From the moment we first saw each other. It was like touching an open plasma relay. Paris: Sounds serious. Kim: Maybe it is. Paris: Has it occurred to you that you're breaking a few dozen protocols? Kim: We know what we're getting into. Chakotay: Dismissed. Paris: Do you? Seven: Our duty assignment. We're to survey the generational ship from Astrometrics. Seven: Team alpha and gamma have finished scanning sections one through sixty four. Kim: Kind of puts a Borg cube to shame, doesn't it? Seven: The vessel's technology is impressive, but its construction is haphazard. Kim: I guess they sort of improvised as they went along. Seven, you've been around humans for a while now. What do you think about love? Seven: We're scanning for microfractures. I don't see the relevance. Kim: Just curious. Seven: Parental love, romantic love, affection between friends. Specify. Kim: Romantic love. Seven: An attraction based on sexual desire when it facilitates procreation. Kim: I guess I'm asking the wrong person. Seven: Not at all. The Borg have referenced this condition in over six thousand assimilated species. Kim: Condition? You make it sound like a disease. Seven: Physiologically, it bears a striking similarity to disease. A series of biochemical responses that trigger an emotional cascade impairing normal functioning. Kim: Forget it. Seven: Are you in love, Ensign? Kim: I guess that's what I've been asking myself. Seven: You're glowing. Kim: I beg your pardon? Seven: Your epidermis luminesced. Kim: Oh, it must be the lighting in here. Seven: No, it was you. Seven: You should report to Sickbay. Kim: It's nothing. Seven: You must comply. Emh: Lie still. Kim: I feel fine. Emh: No doubt you're feeling wonderful. Your beta endorphins are abnormally elevated. Kim: Really? Emh: You've been spending a lot of time on the generational ship. Do you recall coming into contact with any toxins? Antimatter radiation? Kim: No. Emh: Maybe something in one of their medical bays. A biological agent? Kim: No. Emh: Did you consume any of their cuisine? Kim: No. Seven: Doctor, there is unusual synaptic activity in his cerebral cortex. Kim: No kidding. Emh: This could be the work of an alien virus. We'll have to initiate full quarantine protocols. Inform the Captain and request a bio-alert. Kim: Wait! There's no need for that. I can explain. Emh: I'm listening. Kim: Could you give us some privacy? Seven: If there is the possibility of an epidemic the Doctor may require my assistance. Kim: There isn't and he won't. Please. Kim: Last night I had an encounter with one of the Varro. Emh: Encounter? Kim: A personal encounter. Emh: Specifically? Kim: Sex. We had sex. Emh: You had intimate contact with an alien species without medical clearance? Kim: It was in the heat of the moment. I didn't think anything like this would happen. Emh: Correction. If you'd been thinking, you would have considered the risks and exercised restraint. Sit down. You'll need a full biomedical workup and your friend will have to come in as well. Kim: Do we have to drag her into this? Emh: It is my medical responsibility. Which, I'm sorry to say, also requires me to report this to the Captain. Janeway: I expected more from you. Kim: I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. Janeway: Don't you? I've seen Tal. She's an impressive young woman, beautiful. But that's no excuse to ignore your obligations as a Starfleet officer. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: There's a reason you took a semester of interspecies protocol at the Academy. There's also a reason why the Handbook on Personal Relationships is three centimeters thick. Kim: All Starfleet personnel must obtain authorisation from their C.O. as well as clearance from their Medical Officer before initiating an intimate relationship with an alien species. Janeway: Bravo. Unfortunately, your recitation comes a little late. According to the Doctor, your condition isn't life-threatening. There's no reason to confine you to Sickbay. Nut I do agree with his recommendation to run full bioscans on both you and Tal. And her people need to be told so they can evaluate any bio-threat you might have introduced into their population. We're trying to help these people, Ensign, earn their trust. I was even hoping they might return the favor, share their technology, their insights into long-term space travel. But your little escapade put that in jeopardy. Kim: Permission to speak freely? With all due respect, this wasn't a fling. I've really gotten to know Tal, and I've developed true feelings for her. Janeway: Noted. But there are regulations, and you've broken them. I'm entering a formal reprimand into your record, and I'm ordering you to break off this relationship. Do you understand? Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Dismissed. Neelix: Commander, I wanted to share a few security concerns. A few days ago I noticed some mess hall supplies had disappeared. Liquid nutriments, emergency rations. Nothing to warrant a red alert, but I took the liberty of investigating on my own. Take a look at this. Tuvok: Unauthorized use of the mess hall replicator is hardly a felony. Neelix: It wasn't just unauthorized. Someone accessed the ship's environmental controls from that station. Tuvok: Life support was routed to Jefferies tube G thirty three, deck fifteen. Neelix: Isn't that section normally uninhabited? Tuvok: Whoever did this encoded the procedure so it wouldn't be detected. Tuvok: It appears we have intruders. Neelix: It looks like a Varro scanning device. Tuvok: Breathable oxygen is confined to this chamber and the area immediately behind this hatch. Stand back. Tal: Come in. Kim: Work? Tal: No, I'm just tormenting myself with what ifs. What if I actually had the chance to see that pulsar field? Go there instead of just squinting at it through long range sensors. Kim: Too far off your course, huh? Tal: Too close to an inhabited planet. They might make contact with us. It's too dangerous. It's always the same thing. The mighty generational ship. All we do is run away from anything that's different. But that's going to change. Kim: I'm afraid I've got some bad news. I er, I can't see you anymore. Captain's orders. Tal: How did she find out? Kim: Something happened to me this morning. I had a strange sensation and then my skin luminesced, just like last night. Tal: That shouldn't have happened. Our species are too dissimilar. Kim: What shouldn't have happened? Tal: We call it Olan'vora, the shared heart, when two of us merge. You know the biological connection we had last night? It becomes stronger. It won't hurt you, Harry, but it will change you. It'll change both of us. Bring us closer. Kim: So can this process be reversed? Tal: In time, if we stay away from each other. But if we don't, the more we're together, the harder it will be to stop it. But then, you have your orders. Kim: Orders. It's an old story. Boy meets girl from the wrong side of the galaxy. Boy loses girl. Tal: And girl loses boy. Kim: It's not like we didn't know this was going to end. Tal: At least we had two weeks. Kim: Two great weeks. Tal: Goodbye, Harry. Kim: Bye. Are you really going to let me leave? Tal: If that's what you want. Kim: It's not. Chakotay: Welcome aboard. Normally we like to know something about our guests before we invite them to join us. Care to tell us how you got here? Stowaway: Through a docking port. Tuvok: Your entry would have triggered an intruder alert. Stowaway: Your technology's easy to circumvent. It doesn't matter how I got here. I'm not going back. Chakotay: That remains to be seen. You haven't explained your reasons for leaving the generational ship. Stowaway: I'm not a criminal, if that's what you think. If you leave me at the next inhabited system, I'll manage from there. Chakotay: Your next stop is the Brig, unless you answer my questions. Stowaway: I came aboard four days ago with one of the work details. Chakotay: Why? Stowaway: Our ship's not the paradise our leaders make it out to be. There are thousands of us who feel like prisoners, and others who Tuvok: Continue. Stowaway: There are rumors of a movement. People who want to leave the ship. Some of them are willing to take violent action. Tuvok: Can you be more specific? Stowaway: This is a trick. Tuvok: A trick? Stowaway: You're trying to get me to expose the movement. Our leaders put you up to this. Tuvok: On the contrary. We haven't even told them we've found you. Stowaway: You're lying. Chakotay: I don't have time for a debate. You asked for asylum. Fine, I'll consider it. But only if you answer my questions. What movement? Contact the Varro authorities. Let them know we've found one of their people, then take him to the Brig. Stowaway: You can tell the authorities that I'm not the only one. There are hundreds more like me. Chakotay: Do we know anything about this supposed uprising? Janeway: Jippeq said the rumors are just that, rumors. But he's questioning our stowaway, just to be certain. New protocols for working with the Varro. After the incident with Ensign Kim, they insisted we keep our crews segregated. Chakotay: That's pretty severe. Janeway: Harry violated protocol. Frankly, I understand their position. Chakotay: Is that why you came down so hard on him? A formal reprimand for being intimate with a young woman? Janeway: I know it seems a little extreme, but I wanted to leave a lasting impression. Chalk it up to growing pains. Chakotay: Well, he looks pained, all right. Until now he's had a spotless record. Maybe you should reconsider. Janeway: What are you implying? Chakotay: Are you angry because Harry disobeyed orders, or because he let you down. Janeway: I set the same standards for all my officers. Chakotay: If I object to one of your decisions you'll hear me out, even insist I speak up. Janeway: You're my First Officer, he's an Ensign. He hasn't earned the right to question my orders, whatever his personal views. Chakotay: I see. Torres: Engineering to the Captain. Janeway: Yes? Torres: We've found something. Janeway: On my way. Jippeq: Do your officers make a habit of seducing the species they encounter? Janeway: Certainly not. But it's my understanding this relationship was consensual. Jippeq: I find that difficult to believe. We don't share your cavalier attitude toward intimacy. Janeway: Our attitude is anything but cavalier. Ensign Kim has already been reprimanded. What about Tal? What happens to her? Jippeq: In our society, mating is taken very seriously. When two people chose each other the bonding is permanent. They become biochemically linked. Separation is rare. It induces illness, sometimes fatal. What's to become of Tal when your Ensign flies off in search of his next conquest? Torres: Captain. Janeway: You found something? Torres: We've detected microfractures in one of Voyager's docking ports. Jippeq: Microfractures? That's the same problem we've been having. Janeway: A coincidence? Torres: I had suspicions that it wasn't. Seven confirmed them. Seven: Observe. Silicon-based parasites which feed on duranium alloys. Apparently they began replicating on the Varro ship's hull several months ago, and then migrated to Voyager. Torres: We analyzed them and found artificial gene sequences. The parasites are synthetic. Seven: They may have been created by someone aboard your vessel. Jippeq: Sabotage? I don't believe it. Seven: Perhaps not everyone is content to be in your Collective. Kim: Tal, are you there? Tal: Harry? Kim: I can't keep this comm. link open. Where are you? Tal: By my computer. Kim: Okay. Get ready for a ride, I'm locking on. Tal: A ride? Tal: Where are we? Kim: A shuttlecraft. Tal: A shuttlecraft? Kim: A short range vessel. We use it for away mission. Tal: We can go anywhere we want? Kim: Anywhere. For a while, anyway. I'm not due back on Voyager until nineteen hundred hours. They think I'm still out repairing a hull fracture. I finished early. Tal: You're a fugitive now. How many protocols did you break this time? Let's see. Unauthorized use of a shuttlecraft, kidnapping. Kim: Direct violation of the Captain's orders. I must be crazy. Tal: I like you crazy. Navigation? Kim: Careful, that's the weapons array. You know you almost vaporized your living quarters. Tal: Well, they could use a good cleaning. Let's go somewhere. Kim: Where? Tal: There's a nebula about three hundred thousand kilometers from here. I've been watching it on the sensors for the past few days. Oh, I would love to see it with my own eyes. Kim: Have a seat. Tal: Look at this. A subspace vacuole near the center of the cloud. It must act as a gravitational anchor. There's so much data here it'll take weeks to analyze. Do you have a storage device? We need to download these reading. What? Kim: I've just never seen anyone so excited about a class three nebula before. Tal: Maybe you've been taking them for granted. Kim: Maybe I have. Don't stop. You're beautiful when you're scanning. Tal: Is that what you say to every girl you take for a ride? I bet you've left a trail of broken hearts across the Delta Quadrant. Kim: Actually Tal: Problem? Kim: Stray radiation from the nebula. I thought it was the proximity alarm. Tal: You said we had a couple of hours. No one's going to come looking for us. Kim: Oh, you don't know Commander Tuvok. If he sees one electron out of place he calls for red alert. Here we are alone and all I can think about is duty and orders. Tal: Those things are important. I think about them, too. But sometimes you need to follow a different kind of protocol. If you believe in something strongly enough, you can't ignore it, even if it means breaking a few rules. Kim: That's why I took this shuttle. But every time I break a rule, I feel like my skull is going to decompress. I'm like some kind of Borg drone. Programmed. Except I was designed to be the perfect Starfleet officer. Top of his class, Captain of the Velocity team. Interstellar honors. First field assignment, bridge officer on a starship. Every cadet's dream come true. Tal: You're not a program. In fact, I envy your freedom. I mean, your crew's mission to seek out life. What could be more liberating? You explore the unknown. Don't be afraid to explore what's happening between us. Kim: Oh no, the Delta Flyer. Tal: Commander Tuvok? Kim: We're being hailed. Tal: Well, you'd better answer them before they open fire. Kim: Kim here. Tuvok: Ensign, you are in direct violation of the Captain's orders. Return to Voyager immediately, and bring Derran Tal with you. Kim: Yes sir, but why bring Tal? Tuvok: She's wanted by the Varro authorities regarding an act of sabotage. Jippeq: There's no point in lying. We found a schematic for the parasite on your personal database. You realize this could destroy our ship, our home? Tal: To some of us it's more like a prison. Jippeq: So you've resorted to sabotage, no doubt involving him. Tuvok: Mister Kim's complicity remains to be proven. Tal: He had nothing to do with our movement. Jippeq: Movement? Tal: Tell them. Jippeq: It's none of their concern. Janeway: If you want our help, you'll need to explain. Jippeq: She's referring to a small group of dissidents. Tal: It's not a small group. There are hundreds of us. Janeway: What are you trying to achieve? Tal: Our freedom. The right to live where we choose, to go where we choose. Tuvok: How will you accomplish that if your vessel is destroyed? Tal: We're not trying to destroy it. We're trying to dismantle it. The parasites weren't placed randomly. They're targeting the linkages between segments. Each segment will become its own ship. People can decide whether to go or stay. Jippeq: You're destroying the work of every generation that came before you. Our ship isn't just a collection of modules, it's an expression of unity, tradition. For the sake of our history we must respect the rights of Tal: Of the majority. Jippeq: Yes. Tal: What about the rights of the minority? Janeway: Tal, if those segments come apart there could be decompressive explosions, most likely casualties. Is that what you want? You know more about the parasites than we do. You could help us. Jippeq: Captain, she's a criminal. Janeway: And maybe your only chance of stopping a catastrophe. Set up a datalink with Voyager. We'll do what we can from our end. Kim: Tal? Tal: I'll help you slow down the parasites so you can evacuate the segments in danger. Nothing more. Jippeq: Let's get started. Kim: Captain. Janeway: Stow it, Ensign. Right now the only thing standing between you and the Brig is this report. The Doctor's bioscans confirm that you and Tal have developed some sort of biochemical bond. Clearly it's affected your behavior, so I have to assume that's why you disobeyed my orders. Report to Sickbay. You'll be confined there until this is over. Kim: Captain! Janeway: I told you to report for treatment. Kim: I don't want treatment! Janeway: In my ready room. Janeway: You've got thirty seconds before I have Tuvok drag you to Sickbay. Kim: Captain, I am not sick. I didn't disobey your orders because I'm under some alien influence. I disobeyed your orders because Tal and I are in love, and it's not right for you to keep us apart! Janeway: Listen to yourself. You don't sound anything like the Harry Kim I know. Kim: Good. I have served on this ship for five years and said, yes, ma'am to every one of your orders. But not this time. Janeway: You're willing to risk your rank, your career, over this? Kim: Have you ever been in love, Captain? Janeway: Your point? Kim: Did your skin ever flush when you were near another person? Did your stomach ever feel like someone hollowed it out with a knife when you were apart? Did your throat ever swell when you realized it was over? Seven of Nine, Seven of Nine told me love's like a disease. Well, maybe it is. Pheromones, endorphins, chemicals in our blood, changing our responses, physical discomfort, but any way you look at it, it's still love. Janeway: For the sake of argument, let's say you're right. Your feelings for Tal are no different than mine for what, the man I was engaged to marry? Well, I lost him and you're going to lose Tal. You know that. What the Doctor is offering you is a way to ease the pain. Kim: That man you were going to marry. If you could have just taken a hypospray to make yourself stop loving him, so that it didn't hurt so much when you were away from him, would you have done that? Chakotay: Captain to the bridge. Chakotay: We're detecting structural breaches on the Varro ship. Janeway: Take your station. Tuvok: Their shields are weakening. Kim: One of the junctions is about to decompress. Janeway: On screen. Mister Paris, release the docking clamps. Back us away. Paris: Docking controls are offline. I can't break us free. Tuvok: Their shields are continuing to weaken. The superstructure will collapse in less than three minutes. Chakotay: If that happens while we're still docked Janeway: Keep trying to break free. Janeway to Janeway: Varro control room. What's your status? Jippeq: Tal was able to slow the parasites' growth with a polaron surge, but the junctions are still destabilizing. Janeway: How much longer until you've evacuated the affected areas? Tal: We need another two minutes at least. Paris: I've got the docking controls back online. Chakotay: Initiate decompression sequence. Kim: Wait. If we stay where we are, and extend Voyager's structural integrity field around the Varro ship, we could buy them another minute or two. They could finish the evacuation. Tuvok: However, if an explosion occurs while both ships are inside the field, neither vessel will survive. Kim: We can do it, Captain. Janeway: Keep us where we are. Janeway to Engineering. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: Divert all available power to the integrity field, and extend it around the Varro ship. Torres: Understood. Tal: Voyager's reinforcing our shields. Surprising, isn't it? A ship of outsiders risking their lives to save ours. Jippeq: They're unusual people. Tal: Well, maybe the galaxy isn't as hostile as you think. All junctions are clear. What are you waiting for? Tell Voyager to move away. Jippeq: I'm initiating another polaron surge. We can destroy these parasites. Tal: It's too late. You'll only destroy Voyager along with our ship. Let them go. Let us go. Tal: Tal to Voyager. Tal: The evacuation's complete. Disengage your structural field and move to a safe distance. Paris: Releasing docking clamps. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. Most of the Varro have opted to stay together, traveling in separate ships, but the dissident group has been granted permission to break away and find their own path. We wish them luck. Tal: Come in. Tal: I wasn't sure I'd see you again. Kim: The Captain gave me permission to say goodbye. Tal: How are you feeling? Kim: Lovesick. Tal: Me, too. Kim: Will you manage? Tal: We have medications. I'll recover eventually. Kim: So, where are you going? Tal: The Natori system. A pair of binary stars caught in each other's gravity. We passed within a parsec three months ago. Now we're going back for a real look. Kim: Do me one favor. Tal: Anything. Kim: Next time you run across a class three nebula, think of me. Emh: Chronic sleep loss, acute gastroenteritis. You must feel awful, yet you're still refusing treatment? Emh: Captain, just the person I wanted to see. This nonsense has gone on long enough. Order Mister Kim to take his medicine. Janeway: Is his condition fatal? Emh: That's hardly the point. Janeway: Will he recover without taking his medicine? Emh: Yes, but it could take weeks, even months. Janeway: Well then, if Mister Kim wants to suffer. Emh: Sometimes I think everyone on this ship has been possessed by alien hormones. Janeway: Would you excuse us, please? Kim: Thank you. Janeway: Oh, don't thank me. I have no intention of relieving you of your duties, no matter how lousy you feel. Kim: I understand. Janeway: And the reprimand still stands. I've been thinking about how I reacted to your relationship with Tal. Kim: You reacted like any Captain would. Janeway: Probably. But I can't help wondering if my response would have been the same if it had been, say, Tom Paris instead of you. Oh don't get me wrong, I still would have been angry and disappointed, but I wouldn't have been surprised. Kim: Because Ensign Kim doesn't break the rules. Janeway: The truth is, Harry, I think about you differently than the rest of the crew. Which isn't to suggest that I don't care deeply about each of them. You came to me fresh out of the Academy, wide-eyed with excitement about your first deep space assignment. From that first day, I've always felt more protective of you than the others. Kim: I appreciate that. But that was five years ago. I've changed. Janeway: Yes, you have. Kim: Maybe I'm not the perfect officer anymore. Janeway: Maybe not. But you're a better man. Neelix: Last call. There's a bowl of soup in storage and I left the replicator online. Kim: Thanks. Neelix: Good night. Neelix: Oh, I was just closing up for the evening, but if you need anything? Seven: I'm here to see Ensign Kim. Neelix: Oh, good luck. Seven: Ensign. Kim: Hmm? Seven: Thank you. Kim: For what? Seven: You completed several of my astrometric scans this morning. Kim: You're welcome. I had some time between duty shifts. Besides, it kept me occupied. Seven: You are attempting to distract yourself from your emotional damage? Kim: I wish I could say it was working. Seven: The treatment to relieve your condition was available and yet you refused. Kim: I've got a disease, but I'm willing to live with the symptoms. Doesn't make much sense, does it? Seven: I assumed that romantic love was a human weakness, but clearly it can also be a source of strength. Perhaps my analogy was flawed. Love is not a disease. Get well soon.

Neelix: Are you sure this rice isn't supposed to be cooked? Steamed, fried? Emh: The idea is to shower the couple with a symbol of good fortune, not garnish them like a roast chicken. Smile. Neelix: Rice, anyone? Crewwoman: I'll take one. Neelix: Red alert. Kim: Ready? Janeway: This is it, Tom. Your bachelor days are over. Paris: Not a moment too soon. Janeway: Second thoughts? Paris: Second, third, fourth. Emh: I never thought I'd see the day. Seven: Given the volatile nature of their relationship, one might have predicted homicide rather than matrimony. Tuvok: When it comes to affairs of the human heart, it is wise to look beyond logic. Janeway: We're gathered here today, not as Starfleet officers, but as friends and family, to celebrate the marriage of two of Voyager's finest. B'Elanna has asked me to forego the rigors of Klingon painsticks in favor of a more traditional ceremony. Kim: They're saving the painsticks for the honeymoon. Janeway: As Captain, the honor of joining these two people has fallen to me. But before I declare them husband and wife, Tom and B'Elanna have prepared their own vows. Paris: I still don't know what I've done to deserve you, But whatever it is, I'll try to keep doing it. And I promise to stand by you, to honor you, till death do us part. Janeway: Ensign? Kim: Hmm? Janeway: The ring. Kim: Oh. Paris: May this ring be the symbol of our eternal love. Torres: You stood by me when most people would have run for the nearest airlock. You were willing to see past my shortcomings, and to take all the bumps and bruises that came along with it. You made me a better person, even though I put up one hell of a fight. I look forward to our journey together. Janeway: Commander. Torres: May this ring be the symbol of our eternal love. Janeway: Not so fast. Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris, Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres. With the power vested in my by Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now, Tom. Bravo. Emh: Congratulations. Seven: For what? Tuvok: You may not want to know. Captain's log, stardate 52586.3. We've had a lot to celebrate lately. Tom and B'Elanna's wedding, Ensign Harper's new baby, and the continued health of our warp drive, which has taken us within striking distance of home. Chakotay: In this case the shortest path is a straight line. We'll pass right through the center of the Milky Way. Janeway: And be in sector zero zero one within two years? Chakotay: More or less. Janeway: You had Seven double-check the calculations? Chakotay: Two years, eleven days, six hours, provided we continue to operate at peak efficiency. Janeway: Naturally. Of course, if we operate at peak efficiency, we'll be missing some interesting phenomena along the way. An anomalous gradient to the curvature of space, unusual bioharmonic readings from a binary system we'll reach about six months from now. Chakotay: And the scientist in you can't resist stopping to take a look. Janeway: It would only add another two or three months. Do you think the crew would mutiny? Chakotay: On the contrary. Everyone'll jump at the chance for some last-minute exploration. Janeway: Everyone, except Seven. Chakotay: Let your First Officer deal with the personnel problems. Neelix: Here's a lovely program modeled after a mountain resort on the fifth moon of Cytax. Just you, B'Elanna, and the crickets. Paris: Crickets? Neelix: Cytaxian crickets. Their song is reputed to be an auditory aphrodisiac. Paris: Ah. Well, between you and me, B'Elanna and I don't need aphrodisiacs. Neelix: There's always the beaches of Ahmedeen. Windsurfing on a sea of liquid argon. Paris: I was hoping for some place a little more down to earth. Neelix: Well, it's your honeymoon. Just how down to earth did you mean? Paris: Earth. I was thinking Chicago in the Roaring Twenties. Speakeasies, flappers, the Charleston. Neelix: If that's what you want. Paris: Is there a problem? Neelix: No, of course not. It's just that we're so close to Earth anyway, I thought you might want to try something a little more exotic. Paris: Let me let you in on a little secret, Neelix. Earth has the best vacation spots in the galaxy. It's got the cultures, the climates, the history, the people. It has everything you ever want in a planet. Neelix: You sound like a travel brochure. Paris: No, no. Just a native. Torres: Oh, and make sure the deuterium manifolds are never opened wider than six hundred microns. Seven: I am familiar with the specifications. Torres: Are you familiar with how temperamental the isolitic converter can be? Seven: Yes. Torres: Most important, the enhanced warp drive. With the dilithium matrix running hot all the time now, you have to watch it like a hawk. Seven: There is no point in providing me with knowledge I already possess. Torres: I guess I am being a little overcautious. I've just, er, never been away from Engineering for more than a couple of days. Certainly never a week. Seven: My engineering abilities are more than sufficient. Enjoy your honeymoon. Torres: You may understand the isodynamics of this engine, but I don't think you understand its personality. Seven: Personality? It is a propulsion device. Torres: That's my point. It's not just a device. It it has its own quirks, its own, its own moods Seven: That's just a minor fluctuation in a subsidiary injector port. I will take care of it. Torres: I'm going with you. Seven: Lieutenant, you are on leave. Torres: Not for another twenty minutes. Torres: So, who's the lucky guy? You caught the bouquet. That means you're next in line for the altar. Seven: Yes, the Doctor informed me of that archaic human superstition. Torres: How about Harry Kim? Seven: I fail to see the benefit of monogamous relationships. Torres: So you want to stay single? Seven: If you mean remain open to social situations with a wide variety of individuals, then yes. Torres: I'm married. I'm not going into stasis for the rest of my life. No, I plan to have Seven: I do not wish to be dependent on anyone. By marrying, one limits one's romantic interactions to a single individual, a circumstance which implies extreme monotony. Torres: I'm glad we had this little talk. Torres: Try the manual release. Torres: I thought you said it was a minor fluctuation, Seven: This entire Jefferies tube is losing molecular cohesion. Torres: I guess the honeymoon's off. Torres: It's our warp field. The enhanced drive is emitting some form of subspace radiation that's affecting Voyager's infrastructure. Tuvok: It's beginning to break down the molecular bonds in all surrounding sections. Torres: We're seeing early stages of the effect in the warp core. Reaction chamber, injector ports, they're all showing signs of de-cohesion. Kim: It doesn't make any sense. We knew about the subspace radiation and we ran dozens of simulations before we brought the new drive online. Janeway: Have you tried taking the core offline? Torres: It's not stopping the problem. Janeway: Try to isolate the cause of this, and stabilize the sections that have already been affected. Dismissed. Torres: Computer, begin Chief Engineer's Log, supplemental. I've spent the last four hours analyzing the warp field schematics, but I'm still no closer to finding out what's going wrong. Computer, did it just get colder in here? Computer: Negative. Torres: Raise the temperature by five degrees. Kim: Hungry? Paris: Ah, can't join you tonight. Dinner with B'Elanna. Kim: Married one day and you're already domesticated. Paris: Jealous? Good night, Harry. Paris: B'Elanna? If we're going to live together we're going to have to compromise on the temperature. Computer, reset environmental controls to standard. B'Elanna! Paris: Shush. Emh: Bring her in, quickly. It looks like we've got an epidemic on our hands. Janeway: Acute cellular degradation? Emh: Their chromosomes are breaking down at the molecular level. Janeway: Proximity to the warp field? Emh: I believe so. B'Elanna and my other three patients all work in Engineering. They've been subjected to the heaviest exposure. But preliminary scans suggest the rest of the crew has been affected as well, including the Captain. It's only a matter of time before you begin showing the same symptoms. Janeway: We've shut down the warp drive. The ship is still deteriorating and so are we. Why? Tuvok: Every bulkhead and conduit from deck one to fifteen show signs of molecular de-cohesion. Neelix: Even food from the replicator shows signs of decay. Chakotay: As soon as anything comes into contact with Voyager's atmosphere, it's affected. Neelix: That's what we thought at first but take a look at this. These vegetables are completely free of decay. Chakotay: I thought you said the replicators Neelix: They weren't replicated. I harvested them on an away mission last week. The same goes for these particle accelerators, the trilithium ore samples, the keg of Hazari ale. All of them were brought aboard over the last few months, and none of them is disintegrating. Tuvok: We haven't been able to narrow the time frame precisely, but it appears that anything brought on board over the past thirty to forty weeks is immune. Chakotay: Something happened to the ship months ago that's causing this decay. Tuvok: A logical conclusion. Tuvok: Eight months, seventeen days ago, first contact with the Kmada. Chakotay: They tried to sabotage our life-support systems with low-frequency theta radiation. Any chance that could have caused the phenomenon? Tuvok: Unlikely. Chakotay: Let's keep looking. Tuvok: The next event of note took place nine months, two days ago when the N'Kree tried to conscript Voyager into their battle fleet. Chakotay: And failed. Next? Paris: Hey. Torres: Hey. Paris: How's my old lady? Torres: Well enough to break your nose if you call me that again. Paris: Here it is. Torres: What? Paris: Our honeymoon. Torres: Tell me. Paris: Six days and seven nights in the historic Graystone Hotel in beautiful downtown Chicago, circa 1928. Wait till you see it. Crystal chandeliers, wall to wall Italian marble. We'll take a drive up Michigan Avenue in a vintage Duesenberg, hobnob with the stars of the silver screen, dance the Charleston at a genuine speakeasy called the Green Mill. Torres: What do I wear? Paris: That's already taken care of. Our bags are packed and waiting for us at the hotel. Torres: Champagne? Paris: It's on ice, in a silver bucket right next to our canopy bed. B'Elanna? Doctor! Emh: Cortical stimulator. Initiate an iso-synaptic pulse. It's not working. Again! Increase the electrolytic levels to seventy five millijoules. We've lost her. Paris: Increasing electrolytic levels to ninety millijoules. Emh: There's nothing more we can do. Paris: Maybe we can try a direct neural resequencing. Emh: Lieutenant. Paris: We can't just let her die! Emh: Return to your quarters. Paris: No! I don't want to leave her. Emh: I understand. But I need to perform an analysis before her cells have completely degraded. Please. Tuvok: Nine months, twenty eight days. We collected silicate from a comet in the Podaris sector. Chakotay: According to Neelix's manifest, those samples are stored in the geology lab. They're showing no signs of molecular degradation. Take us further back. Tuvok: Ten months, eleven days ago. Voyager was forced to land on a class Y planetoid in the Vaskan sector. Chakotay: The Demon class planet. One of our more interesting missions. We set down looking for deuterium and ended up helping a new form of life to be born. Tuvok: The planet possessed a biomimetic compound. Chakotay: The silver blood. It sampled our DNA and created duplicates of the entire crew. Tuvok: I've often wondered what happened to them. Are they flourishing? Have they continued to evolve? Chakotay: Do they still resemble us? Chakotay: Is she? Emh: I'm afraid so. Chakotay: Scan for traces of deuterium, hydrogen sulfate and dichromates. Emh: Dichromates? Chakotay: Just do it. Emh: What's this about? Tuvok: We have a disturbing theory. Emh: I'm detecting all of those compounds. Chakotay: I want you to inject her with a dichromate catalyst. Emh: Commander? Chakotay: We've got to be sure. Emh: I don't understand. Chakotay: That wasn't B'Elanna. It was a duplicate. A biomimetic copy. Emh: Copy? Tuvok: We are all duplicates. None of us are real. Emh: Behold the primordial soup. Janeway: That's what created us? Chakotay: Not just us. The entire ship is composed of the same material. Emh: It's a biomimetic compound that duplicated the crew's molecular structure so precisely that I would never have detected it, if I hadn't known what to look for. Janeway: I was born on Earth in Indiana. I remember growing up there. I remember graduating from the Academy. I have no memory of being a copy. Emh: Apparently, the original Kathryn Janeway's memories were duplicated as well. Somehow, after the real Voyager left, we began to forget we were duplicates. Chakotay: Eventually, we assumed their lives and set a course for Earth. Janeway: And now the warp core is breaking down our cellular structure. We didn't think the radiation would hurt us because it isn't harmful to humanoids. Emh: Each and every one of you will disintegrate just as B'Elanna did. I'm not immune, either. The holo-emitters, like everything else, are copies. It's only a matter of time before my program begins to degrade. Janeway: What can we do to stop the process? Chakotay: There is one option. Go back. Janeway: To the Demon class planet? Chakotay: We were created to survive there. Tuvok: He's correct. It's reasonable to assume that if we return to our native environment, the degradation will cease. Janeway: Even if we survived the trip, we'd be traveling thousands of light years in the wrong direction. Chakotay: It may be the only way. Janeway: Duplicate or not, I'm still the same person I was yesterday and so are all of you, and that means we're going to do everything possible to complete our mission, which is to reach Earth. Is that clear? Chakotay: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: I want you to adjust the environmental controls to simulate a class Y planet. That should slow the rate of degradation. Tuvok: It's only a matter of time before the environmental controls themselves are affected. Janeway: I realize that. That's why we're going to try and find a safe harbor till we can figure out a way to stop the degradation. Scan for the nearest class Y planet and set a course. In the meantime, I'll explain our situation to the crew. Janeway: There's still a great deal we don't know about this phenomenon, and I have every confidence we'll find a way to reverse it. Kim: So you're saying all our experiences before we were duplicated, none of it's real? Janeway: I don't pretend to understand it myself, Harry, but the way I choose to look at it is this. If everything about us was duplicated, that includes our memory engrams, the emotional centers of our brain. So if you feel something, remember something, believe something, I'm not about to tell you it's not real. Neelix: But there is another crew out there, right? The real Voyager. Janeway: I suppose there is, but I don't want that thought to distract any of you from our mission. Paris: What mission is that? Janeway: The same as it's always been, Tom. To reach the Alpha Quadrant safe and sound. But to do that we're going to have to beat this problem, and for now that means conserving energy, running the ship in gray mode, cutting crew shifts in half. The less you exert yourselves, the slower the cellular decay. Duplicates or not, you're still my crew. Dismissed. Kim: Tom. Paris: There's no one here by that name. Kim: I just wanted to say, I'm sorry about B'Elanna. Paris: Sorry? What for? Kim: She was your wife. Paris: She was a duplicate, just like you are, Harry. Kim: You heard the Captain. If we're going to survive this, we've got to believe in ourselves. Paris: You can drop the good soldier routine. You don't have to do everything the Captain says anymore. Hell, she's not even the Captain. Kim: She is to me. Paris: Okay. Well, let's suppose she does get us back to Earth. What then? You really think your family is going to welcome you with open arms? Kim: I don't know. Paris: For all you know the real Harry Kim is having Sunday dinner with them right now. And you come strolling through the door, they're going to see you for exactly what you are. An impostor. Kim: So what are we going to do, huh? Wait around till we all disintegrate? Janeway: Come in. Chicken paprikash. My grandmother's recipe. Well, maybe not my grandmother, but it's still delicious. It's our weekly dinner together. Don't tell me you forgot. Chakotay: We've lost three more people. We've got to head back. Janeway: I've spent the past five years trying to get this crew home. I'm not about to quit now. Chakotay: Listen to yourself. You haven't even been alive for five years. Home is a class Y planet in the Delta Quadrant. We don't belong on Earth. Janeway: How do you know where we belong? For all we know, the real Voyager's been destroyed and we're all that's left. For all we know, we're supposed to be living their lives. Chakotay: That's a pretty big assumption, and it's putting this crew in danger. Janeway: There's only one thing I know how to be, Chakotay, and that's Kathryn Janeway. Chakotay: I'd like to think I know Kathryn Janeway pretty well myself. And as much as she'd like to get her crew home, I don't think she'd be willing to kill them in the process. Janeway: Maybe this dinner wasn't such a good idea after all. Emh: I've tried everything I could think of. Biomolecular enhancers, gene splicing with replicated DNA, and I'm no closer to finding a cure. But I do have an idea. Janeway: I'm listening. Emh: Find the original Voyager. If the real Captain Janeway were here, we could sample her DNA and imprint it onto your mimetic pattern. Janeway: But Doctor, we have no way of knowing where they are. They could be behind us, ahead of us, back on Earth, destroyed. Besides, even if we could find the real Janeway, how do we know she'd help? Emh: She's you. My emitter is starting to degrade. Janeway: You'd better get back to Sickbay. Tuvok: Tuvok to the Captain. Sensors have detected a class Y planet. Janeway: On my way. Kim: It may not be home, but it checks out. Thermionic radiation, surface temperatures in excess of five hundred Kelvins. Janeway: Just what the Doctor ordered. Safe harbor? Chakotay: There's no guarantee this is going to work. Janeway: Harry, vent all plasma from the nacelles, transfer available power to atmospheric thrusters and stand by to commence landing sequence. Kim: Yes, ma'am. Janeway: Red alert. Paris: Landing struts online. Inertial dampers at maximum. Janeway: Take us down, Mister Paris. Tuvok: Captain, a vessel is approaching from the planet surface. Janeway: On screen. Kim: They're hailing. Janeway: Open a channel. Alien: You're in direct violation of the Ord'Mirit mining treaty. Leave orbit or you'll be destroyed. Tuvok: They are firing weapons. Janeway: This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We are not your enemy. Chakotay: They seem to disagree. Janeway: We're not interested in your mining operation. Our ship is badly damaged. We need to set down on the surface to make repairs. Alien: We repeat. Leave or be destroyed. Tuvok: Shields down to fifty two percent. Chakotay: With our systems degrading, we won't be able to take this much longer. Janeway: Target their weapons systems. Fire. Tuvok: No effect. Hull breaches on decks eleven, fourteen and fifteen. Kim: The damaged sections are turning into biomimetic matter. Containment fields are failing. Janeway: Evacuate those decks. Tuvok: If we emit a polaron burst, we can disable their shields long enough to target their warp core. Janeway: No, we're not going to destroy them over a misunderstanding. Tuvok: Either that or retreat. Janeway: We're Starfleet officers, we can't forget that. Break orbit. Paris: That planet may be our last chance for survival. Janeway: We'll have to find another option. Paris: I'm not sure why we're still taking orders from you. Chakotay: Lieutenant, follow orders or leave the bridge. Tuvok: The alien vessel's not pursuing. Janeway: Begin scanning for other class Y planets. Harry, transmit a distress call on all subspace bands. If the real Voyager is out there, I want to find them. Paris: In the meantime, which direction do you want me to go? Janeway: Resume course for the Alpha Quadrant, Mister Paris. Janeway: I know what you're going to say and I don't want to hear it. Chakotay: Too bad. Janeway: I'm willing to take a little insolence from Tom, but I shouldn't have to remind you that I'm still the Captain. Chakotay: You're not. You're a biomimetic lifeform created in her image. Janeway: Are you saying you're not taking orders from me anymore? Chakotay: I'm saying you need to step back and look at our situation objectively. Janeway: You think I should have given the order to fire on that vessel. Chakotay: No, I agreed with your decision to stand down. But how long can we adhere to Starfleet principles before we start making compromises? Janeway: As long as it takes. Our ship may be deteriorating, but our humanity is intact. Chakotay: Belief alone won't hold this ship together. Janeway: It's gotten us this far. Chakotay: Not far enough. Tom and I aren't the only ones who question your decisions. Now that the truth is known, a lot of people think we should turn around and head for the class Y planet. They're starting to remember their existence before Voyager. Janeway: What, what existence? Pools of biomimetic fluid? We didn't even experience sentience until Voyager came along. Chakotay: What good is sentience if we're not alive to experience it? Kathryn, we've got to go back. Janeway: I promised the crew I'd get them home. Chakotay: Home isn't Earth. Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay, medical emergency. Emh: He's not responding. His neural pathways are destabilizing. Janeway: We've lost Commander Chakotay. Duplicate or not, he was real to me and he was a fine Starfleet officer. And he was a friend who wasn't afraid to let me know when I am wrong. Mister Kim, bring the enhanced warp drive online. Turn Voyager around. We're going home. Paris: Captain? Janeway: Set a course for the Demon planet. Janeway: Captain's log, supplemental. We've lost sixty three crewmen, and our systems are continuing to fail. Though we're still five weeks away from the Demon Planet, we haven't given up hope. Kim: The holographic projectors in Sickbay went offline at oh three hundred. We've lost the Doctor. Janeway: What's Tom's condition? Kim: No change. Janeway: Well, looks like we're in the market for a new medical officer. Feel up to it, Neelix? Neelix: I've only been trained as a field medic. Janeway: It'll have to do. Neelix: What about my other duties? Janeway: Make Sickbay your priority. At this point morale is a luxury. How's the core holding up? Seven: The modified nanoprobes are still reinforcing the warp field. It should remain functioning until we reach the Demon Planet. However, there is less than a twenty percent probability that Voyager will remain intact that long. Janeway: Well, it won't be the first time this crew has been up against Kim: Captain? Janeway: It's all right, I'm just a little tired. Neelix: Let Ensign Kim take command for a little while. Janeway: I'm still the Captain. Neelix: And I am the Chief Medical Officer. Don't force me to relieve you of your duties. Janeway: Your concerns have been noted, sir. Now, there is another matter. I want to download the ship's database and our personal logs into a signal beacon. In the event we don't survive, there should be some record of our accomplishments. Kim: A time capsule. Janeway: This crew's existence may have been brief, but it's been distinguished. None of you deserves to be forgotten. Seven: I will use unaffected components to construct a beacon. Kim: The deflector's offline. Interstellar dust is contaminating the warp field. Janeway: Purge it. Seven: I can't. The exhaust manifolds have disintegrated. Janeway: We've come too far to be stopped by dust. Reroute auxiliary power to the deflector. Seven: Warp field failure in eight, seven, six, five, four, three Kim: Got it. Seven: Reinitializing the deflector. The warp field has stabilized. Neelix: I may not be morale officer anymore, but I think this is a cause for celebration. What do you say, Captain? Captain? Neelix: She's gone. Kim: Acting Janeway: Captain's log, stardate 52597.4. Our situation's getting worse every day. More than eighty percent of the ship is uninhabitable. Most of the crew are gone. It seems less and less likely that the few of us left will reach our destination. Kim: Computer, hull status. Computer: Hull integrity at forty five percent. Kim: What was that? Computer: Cargo bay two has decompressed. Kim: Seal off that deck. Kim: Computer, erect a level ten force field around the bridge. Computer: Unable to comply. Kim: Seven, I need more power up here. The bulkheads are coming apart. Seven: I'm transferring the last of our power reserves. Computer: Deck one force field is in place. Kim: That's better. How's life support? Seven: Degrading. Seven: We have approximately ten hours of air remaining. Kim: What about the time capsule? Seven: It's ready for launch. Kim: Do it. Seven: The launch sequencer has misfired. Kim: Reset the Kim: Initiator. Try it again. Seven: It won't work. The launch mechanism is demolecularised. Kim: Salvage the probe. Seven: It's too late. It's been destroyed. Kim: Personal logs, mission logs, all our history, gone. Now what? Seven: I'm detecting a vessel twenty two light years away. Kim: I see it. I'm trying to hail them. The subspace transceiver's malfunctioning. If they move out of range, they won't see us. We still have one active comm. circuit but we'll have to go to impulse to use it. Seven, drop out of warp. Seven: The engine controls are fused. Kim: Then unfuse them. Seven: Without an isolitic Seven: Converter, I cannot comply. Kim: Dump the core. Seven: Ensign, dropping out of warp at this velocity could Seven: Tear the ship apart. Kim: We're already falling apart. We're not going to make it Kim: To the class Y planet in one piece Kim: Which means that ship is our only hope. Think about it. What would Captain Janeway have done? Seven: Computer, prepare to eject the warp core. Authorisation Seven of Nine, omega phi nine three. Computer: Warp ejection systems enabled. Seven: Eject the core. Seven: We've lost attitude control and shields. Hull integrity at nineteen percent. Kim: Reroute life support! Hell, reroute everything we've got left to the containment fields. Seven: Hull breaches on Seven: Decks nine, ten and eleven. Kim: Seven. Seven! Computer, how long until we're within hailing range of that ship? Computer: Five minutes and thirty four seconds. Janeway: Range? Paris: Five million kilometers. Janeway: Try hailing again. Tuvok: No response. Kim: Captain, I've found the source of the distress call. It's coming from a vessel. Chakotay: Can you identify it? Kim: No, the readings are erratic. Looks like they've taken heavy damage. Paris: Four hundred thousand kilometers. Janeway: Drop to impulse. Are the rescue teams ready? Bridge to Sickbay, stand by for casualties. Tuvok: In visual range. Janeway: On screen. Janeway: Where's the ship? Kim: No sign of it. Chakotay: That debris, that couldn't be all that's left. Tuvok: I'm detecting residual deuterium, anti-neutrons, traces of dichromates. If it was a vessel, it isn't anymore. Janeway: Scan for lifesigns, escape pods. Tuvok: None. Janeway: Make a note in the ship's record. We received a distress call at oh nine hundred hours. Arrived at the vessel's last known coordinates at twenty one twenty. The ship was destroyed. Cause unknown. No survivors. Mister Paris, resume course. Paris: Aye, sir.

Chakotay: No! Make them stop! Emh: Anything? Seven: Nothing of relevance. His neural pathways are still fluctuating. Paris: Doc! Can't you do something? Look how much he's suffering. Emh: If I sedate him we could lose any chance of making contact with the aliens. Chakotay: Get them out! Emh: Commander, can you hear me? Focus on the sound of my voice. Chakotay: I can't understand them. They won't stop talking! Emh: What are they saying? Chakotay: I don't know! Make them stop, please! Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay. Any progress, Doctor? Emh: It's not going well. Emh: Our ambassador is still delusional. Janeway: We're running out of time. Torres: The graviton shear is buckling the hull. If we don't find a way out of Chaotic space soon, we're going to die here, Emh: Chief Medical Officer's Log, supplemental. Despite my efforts, Chakotay's condition continues to deteriorate. Chakotay: Doctor! Emh: Yes, Commander. Chakotay: I'm tired. I want to sleep. Emh: If you lose consciousness, it could sever your link with the aliens. Chakotay: Aliens? Emh: The ones who live in this place. We're trapped here. They may know a way out. It's urgent that you speak with them. Chakotay: But I don't understand what they're saying. Emh: I can try to help you understand. Chakotay: I'm going to end up like my grandfather. A crazy old man. Emh: No, you're not crazy. I believe the aliens are reconfiguring your neural pathways so they can communicate with you. Do you remember the day you were injured on the holodeck? Chakotay: In the boxing simulation? Emh: Yes. You were knocked down, remember? Chakotay: I was injured. I came to see you. We had an argument. Emh: That's right. Try to remember more about the holodeck. Chakotay: I was sparring with a Terrellian, and Boothby was there. He used to train me when I was a cadet. Emh: Keep going. What round was it? Chakotay: Three. Round three. The fight was going badly. I was avoiding my opponent. Boothby: Stay away from the ropes, son. That's it, that's it. Computer: End of round three. Chakotay: That wasn't so bad. Boothby: It was terrible. Chakotay: Am I missing something? He barely landed a glove on me. Boothby: Give him time. You're not reading him. You think he's slow and stupid. I know better. In fact, I know his kind in my bones. Literally. I can count the fractures, if you'd like. Chakotay: He's not landing any punches. Boothby: That's the problem. You're not letting him. Chakotay: Have I got this sport all wrong? Boothby: Boxing is more about taking the shots than dishing them out. You shouldn't be dancing away from this fellow. Let him punch himself out a little. It all comes down to the heart. Do you have the heart for this? That's the contest. It's not against him. It's against your own natural human desire not to get hurt. That's the real fight. Computer: Begin round four. Boothby: Go. Go, go, go. Boothby: Stay with him. Too close. Come on, come on, break it up. Atta boy. Keep him busy. Boothby: Gloves up! Emh: How many? Chakotay: Three. Emh: Good guess. I've got a good mind to use a needle and thread. Add a little authenticity to your fun. Chakotay: Be my guest Emh: You'd like that. A manly scar above your eye. Chakotay, the Maquis Mauler. Pointless violence. That program shouldn't even be in our database. Chakotay: There's nothing like a good fight, Doctor. I was there when Pryce-Jones went twenty three rounds with Gul Tulet. The Knockout in the Neutral Zone. Best match I ever saw. Emh: Really? Most blood spilled, or did Pryce-Jones drive Gul Tulet's nasal bone up into his brain? Chakotay: You've got the wrong idea. Emh: The idea is simple enough. Do enough damage to your opponent to render him unconscious. How's the headache? Chakotay: It hurts. Emh: Oedema beneath the anterior fossa of the cranium. Hairline fracture of the septum. Chakotay: I saw something strange. Emh: I'll bet you did. Chakotay: No, before I got hit. Emh: What do you mean? Chakotay: I looked over at Boothby. He yelled at me. I turned back, then the ring got distorted. Emh: An hallucination. You probably had some pressure building up along the optic nerves from a previous blow. Chakotay: No, I was keeping away from him the whole fight. He never touched me. Emh: Hmm. A number of the ganglia in your visual cortex are hyperactive. Your opponent wasn't firing on you with an energy weapon, was he? Chakotay: Just his gloves. Janeway: Chakotay to the bridge. Chakotay: On my way. Emh: I want you back in here for some tests, unless you want to be seeing things on a regular basis. Kim: It's changed course again. Twenty thousand kilometers off starboard. Chakotay: Ion storm? Janeway: Not exactly. It's two light years across, emits enough energy for a dozen stars, it doesn't match any phenomenon in our database, and it won't sit still. Kim: Okay, eleven thousand kilometers off the port bow. Tuvok: We are too close. Paris: I'm backing us off. Tuvok: The phenomenon has been shifting positions every few minutes. Chakotay: Nothing so massive could move that fast. Janeway: Full reverse. Maximum shields. Janeway: Full stop. Anybody want to tell me where we are? Tuvok: We appear to be inside the disturbance. Kim: I'm picking up a lot of raw data. Subspace flux, graviton waves. Sensors must be confused. The readings are shifting around so much I can't make heads or tails of what's out there. Seven: Captain, this is Seven of Nine. Please report to Astrometrics at once. Seven: The Borg have been aware of this phenomenon for many years. It is a zone where the law of physics are in a state of flux. Chaotic space. Janeway: Why didn't sensors warn us in time? Seven: Chaotic space appears randomly and unexpectedly. The Borg have observed it throughout the galaxy. Tuvok: Then why hasn't a Federation starship encountered anything like this? Seven: No doubt some have. Chakotay: Think of all the Starfleet vessels that disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Seven: Borg vessels are more advanced, but only one Cube has survived an encounter with Chaotic space. Chakotay: Those aren't good odds. Tuvok: If the physical constants are shifting, our sensors can't function. Seven: The problem is here. Changes in the gravitational coefficient will cause sudden shear forces against our hull. Shields will protect us, but only for a time. Janeway: How much time? Seven: Unknown. Janeway: We've got to recalibrate the sensors, redesign them if necessary, otherwise we're flying blind. Let's get to work. Computer: Begin round one. Chakotay: Computer, did you say something? Computer: Negative. Boothby: Pick them up, son. It's the fight you've been waiting for. Computer: Begin round one. Tuvok: Bridge to Commander Chakotay. Chakotay: Go ahead, Tuvok. Tuvok: Please report to the bridge. Chakotay: On my way. Kim: Graviton wave displacement says we're moving at warp six. Subspace sensors show we're standing still. Paris: We can't be that far from where we entered. Maybe we should just set a course, go to impulse and see what happens. Tuvok: What would most likely happen is a collision with an asteroid field or a star. Paris: That'd be better than just sitting here waiting for. Chakotay: Report. Kim: Torsional shear has increased by two hundred percent. Chakotay: Shields? Tuvok: Holding. Paris: Like I was saying. Better than just sitting here waiting for our hull to breach. Tuvok: Perhaps we could drop a series of beacons to help us navigate. Paris: Now that's an idea. Chakotay: Did you hear something? Tuvok: I heard nothing unusual. Paris: I didn't hear anything. Computer: Begin round one. Paris: I'll plot a course. We'll take it slow. What do you think, Chakotay? Mc: The Challenger, Chakotay! Chakotay: Don't you hear that? Paris: Hear what? Chakotay: Look. Tuvok: Commander. Are you all right? Boothby: Put on the gloves, son. Chakotay: I'm not ready. Tuvok: Commander. Mc: In this corner, wearing the red trunks. Computer: Begin round one. Paris: Bridge to Sickbay. We've got a medical emergency. Emh: Laaaa. Laaaa. Lets go to eight hundred eighty hertz. Laaaa. Janeway: Music lessons? Chakotay: Pretty soon we'll be singing duets. Emh: I'm checking to see if there's been any damage to the auditory nerves. Nothing so far. His vision checks out as well. I'm afraid the source of the trouble may be a little deeper. Chakotay: The family curse. Janeway: What do you mean? Emh: Chakotay has the genetic marker for a cognitive disorder. Sensory tremens. The primary symptoms are visual and auditory hallucinations. Chakotay: My family doctor suppressed the gene before I was even born, so I never had to go through what the others did, like my grandfather. Emh: For some reason, the gene's been switched on. I'm not saying for certain that's why Chakotay thought he was getting ready for a prize-fight, but it's a good bet. The holodeck boxing simulation was fresh in his memory. A few misfiring neurons did the rest. Janeway: This Chaotic space we've entered, could it be stimulating the gene? Emh: Possibly. The only way to make certain would be to get the ship out of here. In the meantime, the Commander will have to stay in Sickbay. Janeway: Tuvok tells me you've got a mean left jab. Chakotay: Never spar with a Vulcan. Janeway: How are you doing? Chakotay: I'm all right. When I was a boy, my grandfather started seeing things nobody else could see, hearing what nobody else could hear. He refused treatment. A couple of hyposprays a day, that's all he would have needed, but he was stubborn. He said his spirit was in pain, but that the wound must be honored. Crazy old man. Kim: Ready, Captain. Janeway: Janeway to Seven. Bring the grid back online. Seven: Stand by. Kim: We've got sensors. Scanning to one hundred thousand kilometers, seven hundred thousand. Tuvok: Sensors are stable to one million kilometers. We won't be able to scan any further. Janeway: Are you picking up anything at that range? Kim: No planets, no asteroid fields, no sink holes. Paris: Good enough for me. Janeway: Set a course dead ahead, one quarter impulse. Sensor status? Tuvok: Continuing to function. Kim: Still nothing ahead. Janeway: Good. Let's increase our speed. Mister Paris, go to half impulse. Kim: Wait! It's a ship. Tuvok: Warp capable. It's adrift and the outer hull is damaged. Kim: No lifesigns. Janeway: Let's take a closer look. Janeway: Computer, let's hear that again. Alien: Why won't you answer? Did you give up on me for being so late? It's not my fault. We got lost in here. Why do the stars make such a noise? Let me sleep! I don't understand them, I don't want to talk to them. I just want to go home. Tuvok: That was the final distress call. Emh: According to the vessel's medical records, the Captain and one of his engineers started hallucinating after they entered this space. The physician on board never found a way to treat them. Janeway: How long were they stranded here? Kim: Almost a year. Eventually their systems were compromised. Emh: They died of exposure. Kim: The sensors in that ship are more advanced than ours, and they couldn't find a way out. Janeway: Let's hold our position until we get a better idea of what we're up against. Torres: It looks like that's what they did. Paris: Along the way, a couple of them started sounding just like Chakotay. Emh: I can't believe that's a coincidence. Tuvok: Then why hasn't anyone else been affected? Emh: That's a question I can't answer. Not yet. Request permission to beam their captain's body on board. I'd like to perform an autopsy. Janeway: Granted. Pull the sensor technology off that ship. Use it to enhance ours. We're going to need all the help we can get. Emh: I made a deep scan of the alien's brain tissue and sensory organs. The optic and auditory neurons have been partially stripped of their normal protein insulation. The result, auditory and visual hallucinations. Janeway: The same symptoms as Chakotay, but a different cause. Emh: Exactly. In this case the gene responsible for producing protein insulation was shut down. Chakotay: By what? Emh: There might be something in Chaotic space that reacts with DNA, alters it. But why it targeted him specifically and now you I can't say. Janeway: Is there a treatment? Emh: I can control the hallucinations using a neural suppressant, but unless I can find a way to deactivate that gene of yours Chakotay: I need to go on a vision quest. Captain? Emh: That's not the best idea right now. A vision quest taps directly into your frontal cortex. It could agitate your mind. Chakotay: Or help me control it. Janeway: Permission granted. Emh: Very well. I will ask you to wear a cortical monitor. It'll help me keep track of your vital signs. Chakotay: A-koo-chee-moya. I am far from the sacred places of my grandfathers, I am far from the bones of my people. But perhaps there is a powerful being who will embrace me and give me the answers I seek. Chakotay: Grandfather! what are you doing here? Grandfather: I, er seem to be lost. Just a little lost. Chakotay: You didn't take your medicine this morning. Grandfather: Which medicine are you talking about? There are many medicines. Chakotay: The one the hospital gave us. Grandfather: Oh, that one. Chakotay: Where are you going? Grandfather: My spirit doesn't want that medicine. Chakotay: I don't care what your spirit wants. You're going to take it. Grandfather: I don't think so. Chakotay: Come with me back to the house. Grandfather: Now why would I want to do that? It's better where I'm going. It's more interesting. Chakotay: Where are you going? Grandfather: To the place where my spirit lives. Chakotay: Grandfather! Where are you? Answer me! Computer: Begin round one. Computer: Begin round one. Chakotay: The aliens. They were there, watching me. Emh: Inside your vision quest? Chakotay: They were trying to tell me something. Emh: What was it? Chakotay: I don't know. Emh: Are they with you now? Can you hear them? Chakotay: Yes. Emh: Let them speak to you. Chakotay: No! They'll make me go crazy. Emh: You're not going crazy. They're doing this for a reason. You've got to trust them. Stop fighting. Open your mind. Let go. Listen. Chakotay: Chaotic space intersects ours at the eighteenth dimensional gradient. Voyager entered through a trimetric fracture. Emh: Trimetric fracture? Chakotay: We must escape, or we'll be destroyed. Emh: How do we escape? Chakotay: We've got to alter our warp field. Emh: In what way? Chakotay: Rentrillic projectory. Emh: Rentrillic? Chakotay: It doesn't make any sense. I can't understand it. I'm scared I'm losing my mind. Emh: Try to focus! Chakotay: It's too much! I can't! It's too much! Emh: Chakotay! Chakotay: Get them out! Janeway: First contact? Emh: It was brief, but he definitely communicated with them. Janeway: Rentrillic trajectory. Emh: Unfortunately, they never got around to explaining what that meant. Janeway: Could be some sort of alien geometry, but we'll need much more. Is it safe for him to try to make contact again? Emh: Medically speaking, yes. The problem is convincing the Commander of that. Janeway: I realize you're frightened, but you're our only hope out of this place. You think this could risk your sanity, but your sanity won't do you any good if we remain in Chaotic space. I need you to keep trying, Chakotay. Will you keep trying? Keep me posted. Emh: Are you ready to continue? Try to focus on the alien voices, tell me what they're saying. Chakotay: I can't hear them. Emh: Are you sure? Listen carefully. Maybe we can return you to a more receptive frame of mind. Think back to when you first heard them in the vision quest. What were you doing? Where were you? Chakotay: In their boxing ring. A strange ring. Emh: Was anyone else there? Chakotay: Yes. My opponent, Kid Chaos. Emh: Describe him. Chakotay: Tuvok, move into position. Tuvok: Thompson and Sharr, target the midsection. Ensign MacAlister, you and I will aim for the head. Chakotay: Set your phasers to kill. Boothby: Not exactly the Marquis of Queensberry rules, now, is it? Set to kill? That's not even Starfleet! Put down the weapons, son. Tuvok: Tactical advice from an Academy groundskeeper? We fire at your command, sir. Boothby: Give that order and you'll be out for the count, the whole lot of you. Chakotay: Lower your weapons. Tuvok: Commander. Chakotay: I said, stand down. Paris: We've just heard from Vegas, Mars and Orion Three. The odds are running thirty three to one that he'll outpoint you. Eleven to one that you'll be k-o'ed by the fifth. Subspace radio is calling it the Disaster in the Delta. We can still scratch the card. I'll call the Doctor. We'll get you out on a medical. Boothby: He's trying to hornswoggle us. Double check those calculations. Chakotay: Let me see that PADD. Paris: No. Fine, don't want to trust your friends? You're on your own. Neelix: I'm filing a grievance with the Delta Quadrant Boxing Commission. This bout came out of nowhere. There's some scheduling mix-up. You haven't had the time to train, you're not ready. If you fight now, you'll be destroyed! Chakotay: I can't fight now. I'm not ready for this! I can't stay here! Kim: I follow your example, learn from you, look up to you. I don't want to lose that. Chakotay: You'll find another role model. You'll be okay. Janeway: You're my First Officer. Your duty is to this crew. If something happens to me, you've got to get Voyager home. Tuvok: Tuvok can take command. Torres: You're being selfish, Chakotay. Chakotay: I'm doing this for you, for all of you! Emh: A delusion. Dementia puglistica. You're punch-drunk, Commander. Emh: A hard shot to the head and neck collapses the carotid artery and cuts the flow of blood to the brain. The hook. The head and neck twist laterally, traumatizing the cerebral tissue. And who can forget the upper cut? The head snaps back, rupturing tissue in the cerebellum and upper spinal cord. Yes! And the result of all this poetry in motion? Neurologic dysfunction, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, loss of balance and coordination, loss of memory. Starting to sound familiar? Neelix: Chakotay's fine. He just needs a little conditioning, that's all. Emh: He needs to listen to his doctor and not to his fantasies. Step into that arena and you'll become what you most fear. Neelix: What are you talking about? Emh: He knows what I mean, don't you, Chakotay? Hmm? Neelix: What's wrong? Emh: Victory. Defeat. Knockout. TKO. It's all beside the point. We know how it really ends. A crazy old man. It's your fate, your destiny. There's no escape. Neelix: You just got to do your best. You can't let yourself give into your fears. Chakotay: I'm not afraid. Neelix: Who said you were? Chakotay: I'm sorry! Please, come back! Grandfather: They got away. Chakotay: Grandfather, where did you go? Grandfather: Some people were shouting at me. They were going for a walk. They wanted me to come along. It's hard to follow them. Oh, God, they go to strange places. Chakotay: I'm supposed to be watching you. We're going to get in trouble if we don't go back home. Grandfather: Be a good boy and go. We understand. Chakotay: You have to come with me. Grandfather: They say you can come with us. Chakotay: There's nobody else here. Grandfather: They say you're just like we are. Chakotay: I'm not! I'm not like you! Grandfather: It's not so bad. When you get used to it, they're not so bad. They're just a lot of talk. Sometimes I wish they were more quiet, but they like to talk. Chakotay: Come home. Grandfather: Oh, I'm too tired. This is a nice place. A nice place to call home. Computer: Begin round one. Grandfather: Did you hear that? Chakotay: No. Grandfather: Yes, you did. There's a lot of them this time. Chakotay: Tell them to go away! Grandfather: Go away! They've got other ideas. Chakotay: I have to go home. Grandfather: They, they're coming for you. Mc: The challenger, Chakotay! Boothby: Better late than never. They almost scrubbed the bout. Chakotay: I'm afraid. Boothby: I know you are. You'd be a liar if you said anything else. Chakotay: But I've always been afraid. Boothby: I know that too. Mc: The Champion, Kid Chaos! Emh: That's it! All over! The fight's been canceled on medical grounds. Put them down, let's go. I hear there's some bear-baiting at the arena next door. Have fun. Paris: He's coming out of it. Chakotay: You stopped the fight. Paris: You were stuck in the vision quest. Chakotay: I've got to go back. Emh: You're going nowhere but Sickbay. Chakotay: Let me go. Paris: Calm down. It's over for you. Chakotay: No, let me get in the ring. Paris: Chakotay. Chakotay: Let me back in the ring. Let me Kim: Two hundred thousand kilometers. Janeway: Launch another beacon. Tuvok: Beacon launched. Kim: I'm reading a shift of point zero zero three in the graviton shear. Janeway: Status. Tuvok: Shields holding. Paris: Speed is steady at one quarter impulse. Janeway: Maintain course and heading, Mister Paris. Kim: Sensors are functioning. Our course is still clear. Paris: Captain, I recommend we go to three quarters impulse. Tuvok: Increasing power to the engines could affect Chaotic space. There are too many unknowns. Paris: At this speed we should see daylight in about two months. The longer we're in Chaotic space, the longer we're exposed to these unknowns. Tuvok: His logic is undeniable, Captain. We should increase our speed. Paris: Finally. Janeway: Who am I to dispute logic? Kim: Take a look at this. Kim: It's the first beacon we launched three hours ago. Paris: We've been going in circles? Tuvok: To be precise, one large circle. Janeway: Hold our position. Paris: All stop. Janeway: Report. Seven: I've applied ten thousand fifty three algorithms to the energy signatures produced by Chaotic space. There is a pattern. Janeway: Order to chaos? Seven: Observe. An isolinear frequency. Janeway: Some kind of signal? Seven: I haven't located the source. It may be natural. A star or quasar that's managed to survive in chaotic space. Janeway: But it could be a transmission. Seven: Possibly. Janeway: Have you tried the standard language decryptions? Seven: All of them, with no success. Janeway: Success seems to be in short supply lately. Oh! Impossible. Seven: Captain? Janeway: And to think that kept me from getting an A. Janeway: It was the only question I missed in exogenetics my senior year. Emh: The nucleotide resonance frequency. Janeway: That signal was designed to activate DNA. Emh: It realigned his molecular bonds. Chakotay: Now do you believe me? They're the ones who scheduled the fight. They're promoting it. They're putting up the purse. Emh: His sensory cortex is hyperactive. He's still hallucinating. Chakotay: It's not an hallucination, not a vision quest. It's a prize-fight! Janeway: Chakotay, do you know me? Do you know where you are? Chakotay: I know you, Captain. But you stopped the fight. You ruined my career. Nobody will put me on the card after this! Janeway: It's better for you to rest, Chakotay, until we can figure out why this is happening to you. Chakotay: They want to contact me. Janeway: Who does? Chakotay: The people who live here. Emh: This will sedate him. Janeway: Wait a minute. You believe somebody lives here, in Chaotic space, and they're trying to communicate with you? Chakotay: Yes. I saw him. Janeway: Tell me about him. What does he look like? Chakotay: He's got a couple of kilos on me, a few centimeters in height, but I can take him, Captain. I just have to stay off the ropes. Emh: The Holodeck boxing simulation is still strong in his memory. Obviously, it's the primary source of imagery for his hallucinations. Janeway: What if those hallucinations are being induced for a purpose? Aliens who exist on some perceptual wavelength that our senses can't detect, and the only way for them to communicate with us is to alter our senses. Chakotay's bad gene gave them the opportunity. Emh: What are you proposing? Janeway: Remember the derelict ship? Two of their crewmembers claimed they were seeing things. Was somebody trying to communicate with them? Was somebody trying to warn them, help them? Emh: Or trying to destroy them, just as they're trying to destroy us. Janeway: Why go through all the trouble? We're trapped here anyway. Chakotay: Let me back in the ring. Emh: Even if this is some kind of alien communication it could harm him. Permanently. Tuvok: Bridge to Captain Janeway. Janeway: Go ahead, Tuvok. Tuvok: Graviton shear has increased again. Hull pressure is rising. Janeway: I'm on my way. Chakotay: Captain. When have we ever turned away from a first contact? Janeway: Send him back in the ring. Janeway: Report. Kim: Some kind of spatial sinkhole just opened up beneath us. Janeway: Full thrusters. Status? Paris: We managed to side-step that one but graviton shear has increased by another three hundred and ten percent. Janeway: Janeway to Sickbay. Emh: Sickbay here. Janeway: It's now or never. Emh: Understood, Captain. Chakotay: I've got to get in there. They're about to ring the bell. Emh: I'm going to subject you to a field that will enhance the nucleotide bonds. The gene should become fully activated. Do you understand? Chakotay: I understand. Emh: Find us a way out of here. Chakotay: I'll try. Boothby: Good idea. Keep him waiting. Let him sweat it out. Mc: In this corner, representing the Alpha Quadrant, Earth and Humanity. The challenger, Chakotay! Boothby: Everybody loves an underdog. Mc: And on this corner, champion of the Delta Quadrant, Kid Chaos! Chakotay: Looks like he's got a lot of upper body strength. A real puncher. Boothby: Just keep your elbow low when you throw the right, and don't come in too straight. You'll be okay. Chakotay: Where's the scouting report? We don't know anything about this guy. I don't know who I'm up against! Boothby: You're up against yourself, that's all you've got to remember. And don't raise the elbow. Computer: Begin round one. Chakotay: Boothby, where are you? Boothby: Still here, son. I'm not going anywhere. Emh: You Janeway: Are Paris: Far from where Emh: You Grandfather: Call home. Emh: You Janeway: Are Grandfather: Lost. Emh: Do you understand? Chakotay: Yes. We are far from home. We are lost. Janeway: Our Grandfather: Home Seven: Is here. Janeway: Our Grandfather: Home Seven: Is here. Janeway: In Chaotic space. Seven: Chaotic space. Emh: Chaotic space. Boothby: Hang in there, son. Protect your head. Chakotay: I understand! Tuvok: We are too Emh: Alien Paris: For you Tuvok: We are too Seven: Strange Paris: For you. Chakotay: Maybe we're the ones who are too alien, too strange. Janeway: If Emh: You Boothby: Stay Janeway: In Chaotic space Seven: Chaotic space. Emh: Chaotic space. Neelix: You'll be destroyed! Chakotay: We know that, but we can't navigate. Our sensors don't work in your space. Boothby: Twenty more seconds. Don't go down. Emh: Your Kim: Sensors must be. Emh: Realigned. Chakotay: How can I? Emh: Your mind Kim: Must be Emh: Realigned. Realigned. Realigned. Your mind Kim: Must be. Emh: Realigned. Chakotay: I understand. Computer: End round one. Chakotay: Get them out! Emh: Let go, Commander. Chakotay: I can't take any more punches! Emh: They aren't hitting you! Chakotay: Duck, feint, clinch. Emh: Stop fighting! Chakotay: I can't. They'll destroy me. Emh: That's a risk you'll have to take. Chakotay: You take the damn risk. Emh: They want you. Chakotay: Why? Emh: Because you have the gene. Chakotay: The crazy gene. Emh: Yes, the crazy gene. The aliens are trying to speak to you, and the only thing keeping you from understanding them is your own fear. Your fear of losing control, your fear of the unknown. Chakotay: The unknown. And I don't want to know. Emh: But we have to know, or we're all going to die. Allow yourself to hear them for just a few moments. Do it for us. Chakotay: What will happen to me when they're done? Emh: You'll be on Voyager, surrounded by friends. Chakotay: I can't understand them. Emh: You will. Chakotay: They're talking too fast. Too many words. Emh: Try to focus on one word at a time. Chakotay: Too many words. Emh: Don't stop. Chakotay: I'm scared. I don't want to die. Emh: They won't hurt you. No one will hurt you. Chakotay: Eighteenth gradient. Trimetric fracture. Emh: Keep going. Chakotay: We have to modify our deflector. We have to induce a paralateral rentrillic trajectory. Emh: How do we do that? Chakotay: I think I understand. It's making sense. Emh: Where are you going? Chakotay: I can make the adjustments myself. I have to get to the bridge. I don't know how much longer I can keep it in my mind. Tuvok: Commander. Janeway: What happened? Chakotay: He's got a right uppercut almost knocked me out. Move over, Harry. Janeway: Hang on, Ensign. Chakotay: They showed me how to get out. Emh: He's hallucinating. Chakotay: Out of the way. Janeway: Tell us what to do. Chakotay: I can't! It's too difficult to explain Kim: I'm locking him out. Janeway: No. Give up your post. Tuvok: He's recalibrating the deflector dish and routing it through the sensor array. Chakotay: It must be altered. Paris: Captain, the graviton shear is increasing. Tuvok: I'm reading microfractures on the hull. Chakotay: Stay and we'll be destroyed. Activate the deflector. Maximum amplitude. Bring sensors online. Tuvok: Captain. Janeway: Do it. Kim: I don't know how, but the sensors have found us a course. Chakotay: Maximum impulse, now! Paris: Captain, if that course is wrong, we could breach our hull. Janeway: Engage. Tuvok: We've re-entered normal space. Janeway: Mister Paris, resume a course to the Alpha Quadrant. Paris: Aye, sir. Janeway: When I said you should take the next day or two off, I thought you'd want to stay in your quarters with a good book. Chakotay: Boxing helps me unwind. Janeway: Well in that case, report for duty first thing in the morning. Chakotay: See you then. Computer, run Chakotay training program fifteen beta. Boothby: Ah, come for a little more punishment? Chakotay: I thought I'd spar for a few rounds. Boothby: After that last bout? Did you talk to the Doc? Chakotay: I've got a clean bill of health. Boothby: That's good enough for me. Okay. I've been watching him fight. He falls in too much when he clinches, and he moves more to his right than he does to his left. Chakotay: I'll double up on the left jabs and see what happens. Boothby: You sure you're ready for this? Chakotay: I'm ready. Boothby: Okay. Computer: Begin round one.

Saowin: Hello? Hello? I'm here! Hello? Saowin: I'm here to see Mister Kurros. Could you? Saowin: Could you tell me where to find Mister Kurros? Saowin: Wait! Kurros: Do not mind Bevvox. He can be grouchy in the morning. Welcome aboard. Saowin: Thank you. Kurros: You seem tense. Saowin: No. Kurros: This is a time for celebration. The geostability of your world has been restored, your people saved. And all because you had the wisdom to accept our help. Saowin: You accomplished in days what our scientists failed to achieve in decades. Kurros: That it not to say it was not a challenge. Finding the precise harmonic for a planetary containment field did put my colleague here to the test. Kurros: But in the end, she prevailed. Saowin: We owe you our lives. Kurros: Solving problems is what we do. And seeing the look of gratitude in your eyes is almost reward enough. Almost. Saowin: I have some bad news. Our bernicium mines were destroyed in the last series of quakes. The ore's buried under sixty gigatons of rock. We can't get to it. We hoped you'd accept this instead. A rubidium geode. Priceless. The only one ever found on our planet. Kurros: It is rare, but hardly unique. And it is not what we agreed upon. Saowin: I'm sorry, this is all we can offer you. Kurros: You are lying. The mines collapsed, but before they did you transferred the ore to a shielded storage facility. Needless to say, we detected it. Saowin: Please, we need the ore to repair our replicator systems. Without it, we'll be unable to feed our people. Kurros: Get it to us now, or I will deactivate the containment field. Have you ever experienced a level twelve seismic event? Most violent. Quite unnerving. Saowin: No! I'll have the ore transported at once. This, this was all a misunderstanding. Kurros: Of course. It is already forgotten, my friend. Perhaps we will do business again someday. Saowin: Yes. Kurros: Show our friend back to his shuttle. I would hate for him to get lost in such an unfamiliar place. Saowin: Oh! Pardon me. Janeway: Yes? Seven: Captain, long range scans have detected. Janeway: One second. I've wasted two hours on this thing and I'm no closer to solving it. Seven: You can thank Ensign Paris for introducing the artifact to the ship. Janeway: He was behind the last ship wide craze, too. Yo-yos. Now it's Sheer Lunacy. Another hour and I'll go insane. Seven: The solution is quite simple. If you align Janeway: No, I want to figure this out myself. Janeway: You said something about long range scans? Seven: They've revealed a planetoid with high concentrations of dilithium crystals. Janeway: Let's take a look. Kim: Got it! False alarm. Paris: Keep at it, Harry. Seven: We're within visual range. Janeway: On screen. Tuvok: Initial scans reveal substantial dilithium deposits beneath the planetoid's crust. Chakotay: Full sensor sweep. Kim: The deposits are in the upper mantle, about sixty kilometers down. Tuvok: We'll have to use phasers to cut through the Kim: Hold on. Janeway: What is it? Kim: Some kind of resonance wave emanating from the core. It's building fast, Captain. Janeway: Right after we ran our scans? That can't be a coincidence. Back us off, Tom. Seven: The planetoid is destabilizing. Chakotay: Shields. Janeway: Report. Chakotay: We're trapped in a cloud of meteron gas. It's collapsed our warp field and knocked the impulse engines offline. Tuvok: A heavily armed vessel just dropped out of warp off the port bow. Seven: Captain, I recognize it. It's Hazari. Species four two two eight. Technologically advanced, extremely violent. They make excellent tactical drones. Kim: What do they want with us? Seven: The Hazari are hired to capture and deliver alien vessels. Paris: Bounty hunters. Seven: Yes. Kim: So who hired them? Chakotay: The Malon, the Devore? We've made our share of enemies here. Kim: They're hailing. Y'Sek: Surrender. No one need be hurt. My client would prefer your vessel intact. Janeway: Who hired you? Y'Sek: That's not your concern. Janeway: I'm only asking because I'm curious how much they're paying? Maybe we can do better. Y'Sek: Doubtful. Janeway: We're far from defenseless. Why don't you save yourself some trouble. Y'Sek: It's no trouble. Janeway: Charge phaser banks to full power. Y'Sek: Fire and you'll ignite the gas cloud. You'll be destroyed. Janeway: You've left me no choice. I suggest you back off if you want to save your own ship. End transmission. Tuvok: They are moving closer. They've locked on a tractor beam. Paris: Looks like they're calling your bluff, Captain. It was a bluff, wasn't it? Janeway: Seven, do we still have warp power? Seven: Yes, but it's useless while we remain in the gas cloud. Janeway: Maybe not. Reroute every spare gigawatt to the shields. Prepare to fire phasers. Tuvok: Our target? Janeway: The gas cloud. Seven: Do you believe the impact will throw us clear? Janeway: If our shields hold. Paris: That's a big if. Janeway: Go to warp one on my command. Fire. Tuvok: Shields are holding. We're approaching the perimeter of the gas cloud. Paris: We're out. Janeway: Warp speed. Tuvok: No sign of pursuit. Janeway: They weren't that heavily damaged. Why aren't they following us? Chakotay: There's the reason they didn't come after us. They've got reinforcements throughout the sector. Kim: Twenty three ships. Chakotay: And long range scans show more on the way. Kim: Must be one hell of a reward. Tuvok: The size of the bounty is immaterial. According to Seven of Nine, the Hazari pride themselves on honoring their agreements. Kim: Great. Bounty hunters with a work ethic. Chakotay: There's got to be a way out, something they haven't anticipated. Download the data for the Captain. She wants to see what she can come up with on her own. Neelix: Should I have the Doctor prepare a hypospray? Janeway: Excuse me? Neelix: So you can absorb the caffeine more directly. Save time. Janeway: Point well taken. I'll make this my last cup. Neelix: How about trying a sounding board? Janeway: Oh, you don't want that job. Neelix: Try me. Janeway: It's these Hazari. They're like jackals, circling, feinting to draw us out while they cut off every route of escape. Neelix: You make them sound worse than the Borg. Janeway: At least the Borg come straight at you. The Hazari wait, invite you to make mistakes. They've anticipated almost every move we can make, and the few things they seem to have missed, I'm convinced are traps. You still glad you volunteered? Neelix: We've faced tough odds before. You'll get us through. Goodnight. Janeway: Goodnight. Kurros: There is nothing like a good problem to spark the synapses, is there? To open the mind to new possibilities, new ways of seeing things. Of course, one must always confront self- doubt and fear, but that is a small price to pay for the exhilaration of finding the perfect solution. Janeway: Who are you and what do you want? Kurros: You have a problem, Captain. I am the solution. Janeway: Security to the Mess hall. Intruder alert Kurros: I've deactivated your communications device, Captain, but do not worry. I am not an intruder. In fact, I am not really here. Janeway: A hologram. Kurros: Nothing so crude. An isomorphic projection. Kurros: You actually enjoy this? Janeway: It's an acquired taste. Kurros: It bears a resemblance to an Alkian confection we acquired several years ago. Janeway: We? Kurros: I am a member of a small group. Explorers, like you. But we seek out challenges, problems to be solved. Technological, biological, social, even artistic. Janeway: A Think Tank. Kurros: I like that. It's very apt. Our Think Tank is nearby. A modest vessel. I have come to offer our help with your Hazari paradox. Janeway: Paradox? Kurros: That is right. Is it an escape route or is it a trap? Do they know that you know that they know? It is the best kind of puzzle. Pure tactics, psychology. Janeway: Something tells me your help comes with a price tag. Kurros: Whatever your culture has to offer that is unique. Technology perhaps, or maybe something you would not even think to value. I would need a closer look at your database. Janeway: And how do I know you aren't an Hazari trap? Maybe they're trying to lure us into an ambush, like before. Kurros: You are wise to be suspicious, Captain. We have done some preliminary analysis on their maneuvers. It does suggest some more likely ambushes. I've downloaded the data onto your computer. Janeway: All right. You've got my attention. But I want to meet you face to face. And the rest of your crew. Kurros: Naturally. Our coordinates are in here, too. But we have our own security concerns, Captain. Please, bring only one crewman and no scanning equipment. Janeway: Fair enough. Kurros: Then I look forward to meeting you in person. Tuvok: We're approaching the coordinates. Janeway: Full stop. Chakotay: Looks like there's nothing here. Kim: Maybe they're cloaked. Seven: I'm reading a subspace flux. Tuvok: The vessel's hull is composed of a neutronium-based alloy. Janeway: Starfleet's theorized about such materials, but we've never come close to producing them. Seven: Neither have the Borg. The Think Tank's technology is advanced. Janeway: Well, you and I will have the chance to evaluate it first hand. Mister Kim, you have the transport coordinates. Seven: The universal translator must be inoperative. Janeway: Or his speech patterns are too complex to process. Janeway: They must be studying it. Kurros: Actually, she is studying you. Our resident expert on temporal physics. Perhaps the most gifted member of our group. She finds you interesting. Seven: How do you communicate? Janeway: One of my most gifted crewmen, Seven of Nine. Kurros: Bionetic implants, neural transceivers? A Borg? I've never seen one outside the Collective. Seven: I am an individual now. You may address your comments to me. Kurros: Forgive me. I am Kurros, and this is Fennim. In answer to your earlier question, this device allows the members of our group to communicate telepathically. Seven: Impressive. Kurros: It sounds as if another member of our crew is anxious to meet you. Seven: A bioplasmic lifeform. Kurros: His name is Bevvox. He prefers a variable gravity environment. Janeway: What's his specialty? Kurros: At the moment exo-sociology and quantum mechanics, but his interests vary from time to time. Bevvox founded our group more than one hundred years ago, after wandering the galaxy on his own for a few millennia. Seven: How old is this creature? Kurros: If you please, that is a sensitive topic with him. And there is one other individual who rounds out our group. Seven: An artificial intelligence. Kurros: The mind of mathematician and the soul of an artist. I'm afraid he'd much rather be modeling a fractal sculpture than analyzing the data of our latest astronomical scan. And now you have met us all. A small group of minds, but we have helped hundreds of clients. We turned the tide in the war between the Bara Plenum and the Motali Empire. Re-ignited the red giants of the Zai Cluster. Just recently, we found a cure for the Vidiian phage. Janeway: The Vidiians? Kurros: You would hardly recognize them now. Just last month we helped retrieve a Lyridian child's runaway pet. A subspace mesomorph, I might add. We had to invent a whole new scanning technology just to find it. Janeway: And what did you ask for as compensation? Kurros: One of their transgalactic star charts. The best map of the known galaxy ever created. When we helped the citizens of Rivos Five resist the Borg, all we asked for was the recipe for their famous zoth-nut soup. Care for a taste? Seven: Another time, perhaps. Janeway: Tell me, is there any job you won't do? Kurros: What do you mean? Janeway: Well, we have a non-interference protocol, our Prime Directive. I'm curious where you draw the line. Kurros: As you know, there is no shortage of conflict in what you call the Delta Quadrant. Many of our clients are at war. To be frank, we will assist in the neutralization of fleets, starbases, even planets. But we will not participate in the decimation of an entire species, nor will we design weapons of mass destruction. My colleague here wishes to speak to Seven of Nine about her bionetic technology. May he interface with you? Seven: I am in direct telepathic communication with this individual. It is requesting information about integrating organic components into its technology. Janeway: Feel free to give him some pointers. Seven: You're welcome. Kurros: To business, Captain. I believe we can solve the Hazari paradox without firing a single weapon. Janeway: That's just what I'm looking for. Kurros: Then there is only the matter of payment. Janeway: Voyager's schematics and an overview of its database. Specify what you want and I'll see what I can do. I recommend the replicators. They're very popular this year. Kurros: I'll contact you with our requests. Chakotay: I take it First Contact was a success? Janeway: I have some qualms about their morality, but I believe they can help us. Seven: It was an interesting experience. Chakotay: Glad to hear it. We don't have much good news of our own. Every escape route we've considered is clearly a trap, and more Hazari ships keep joining the search. Janeway: Then we have no choice. We'll put our own plans on hold and see what the Think Tank comes up with. Janeway: Come in. Tuvok: You have a visitor. Mister Kurros has returned in isomorphic form. Janeway: Send him in. Welcome back. Kurros: Captain, we have compiled a short list of items we would like. It was not easy. Voyager has a great deal to offer. Janeway: Quantum slipstream technology. I should warn you. We never got that to work reliably. Kurros: It is still intriguing, theoretically. Janeway: Neelix's recipe for Chadre'kab? Kurros: Yes. Janeway: An ancient Olmec figurine. I guess Commander Chakotay can be persuaded to part with it. Kurros: I am pleased to hear that. Janeway: You can't be serious. Kurros: I realize the next item may seem unorthodox, but I believe it can be beneficial to both of us. Janeway: You never mentioned anything about bartering my crew members. Kurros: She will have an extraordinary opportunity to explore the galaxy as one of us. Janeway: I'm afraid the answer is no. Kurros: I understand your feelings, Captain, but have you thought to ask Seven of Nine herself? Seven: A curious proposition. Janeway: To say the least. Seven: How do you wish to proceed? Janeway: I want your opinion. Seven: They are offering us the assistance we require, I am the payment they require. The solution is obvious. Janeway: This isn't a puzzle, Seven. There is no solution. What's at issue here is your future. Seven: The issue is Voyager's survival. Janeway: Sit. Please. While I still question this Think Tank's way of doing things, there is a genuine opportunity for exploration. It could be the chance of a lifetime. Seven: You're saying I should go? Janeway: I don't want you to go, but it's not my right to tell you what to do. Until now, I've kept a close eye on your progress, helped you with decisions but, I think you've learned enough as an individual to make this decision yourself. Would you like to join them? Seven: I am intrigued. They are an unusual Collective with a compelling mission. But I require more data. Janeway: That's why I want you to talk to Kurros yourself. See if he can answer your questions. Seven: Captain, I appreciate your giving me this choice. Janeway: You've earned it. And remember, if you do choose to go, make sure it's what you want, not what you think is best for Voyager. We're getting out of this, with or without the Think Tank's help. Seven: Why me? Kurros: I admire your humility. The collective knowledge of the Borg contained within a single mind. When we factor in your innate intelligence and the enhancements afforded you by your bionetic implants, we concluded you are an ideal candidate. The first we have recruited in seventeen years. Seven: When did you arrive at this assessment? Kurros: During your interview. Seven: My dialogue with the artificial intelligence. Kurros: It was the most efficient way to evaluate your abilities. I am sure you can appreciate that. Seven: How much do you know about me? Kurros: Enough to know that you are tapping into only a fraction of your potential as a member of Voyager's crew. You were adjusting the deflector array to improve shield harmonics. Do you find such duties challenging? Seven: No. Kurros: Without problems that test the limits of your abilities, you cannot expand them. Perfection will always be beyond your reach. Seven, you could become one of the greatest intellects in the galaxy, but that will not happen here among these limited lifeforms. Seven: The crew of Voyager has accepted me, integrated me into their Collective. Kurros: They are your family. It was hard for me to leave my family, too. And I was only a child. Not much older than you when you were first assimilated. Seven: Why did you leave? Kurros: To help them and my world solve a cataclysmic problem. Seven: The Think Tank requested you as payment. Kurros: I did not realize it at first. I was too young. But they gave me a remarkable opportunity, and now I am offering the same to you. Seven: Your group can assist many Collectives, and yet you often use that ability as a means of coercion to obtain what you want. How many have suffered because they were unwilling to agree to your conditions? Kurros: We have a singular mission, to perfect our knowledge. Perfection sometimes necessitates selfishness. It is your life. Not Voyager's, not Captain Janeway's or anyone else's. It is up to you to achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Seven: I agree, but I can do that here. Kurros: Please, take more time to think about this. We will remain nearby in case you change your mind. Seven: I doubt that will happen. Tuvok: Seven of Nine, report to the bridge. Seven: Acknowledged. Kurros: May I accompany you? Seven: As you wish. Kurros: Do you have a problem, Captain? Janeway: Two Hazari ships are approaching. Seven: I have declined their offer. Kurros: Our first offer. Janeway: Glad you're sticking around. Take your station. Tuvok: They are dropping out of warp, flanking our position. Janeway: Which one fired? Tuvok: The ship to starboard. Shields down to sixty percent. Chakotay: Evasive maneuvers. Target their weapons systems and return fire. Tuvok: Their shields are holding. Paris: I can't get away. They're right on top of us. Kim: Hull integrity's been compromised on decks seven and twelve. Kurros: Captain, when the Hazari strike in pairs, one ship always remains behind to reinforce the shields of the attacking vessel. Janeway: So we should target the support ship. How much is this tip going to cost me? Kurros: This one is free. Janeway: I'll take it. Tuvok. Tuvok: Retargeting. Firing photon torpedoes. They are disengaging. Janeway: Get us out of here, maximum warp. Thanks for the help. Kurros: Consider it a friendly gesture of goodwill in the hopes that Seven will change her mind. Seven: I have not. Kurros: You are making a fatal mistake. We have already analyzed hundreds of scenarios. Voyager will not survive without our help. Janeway: Your scenarios, not mine. Kurros: Your confidence is unfounded, Captain. Reconsider. Order Seven of Nine to join us. Janeway: We have an old expression, Kurros. Don't call us, we'll call you. Remodulate the shields to a phase variance frequency. Tuvok: His ship is vanishing from sensors. It's being absorbed into subspace. Chakotay: I get the distinct feeling they won't take no for an answer. Janeway: Same here. Looks like we're facing two threats now. The Hazari and our would-be saviors. Kurros: Our offer was denied. How shall we proceed? Fennim: We are already proceeding. Alien In Tank: Our offer was refused. We must let the scenario continue. Artificial Intelligence: Our calculations indicate a ninety six percent chance the Borg will still be ours. Kurros: Then it is decided. We will wait and let our problem solve itself. Y'Sek: Duranium hull fragments, a thruster assembly, human organic residue. We were supposed to disable their ship, not destroy it. Tuvok: They've entered the debris field. Janeway: Detonate the spatial charges. Tuvok: Their vessel has taken heavy damage. Shields and weapons are offline. Janeway: Move us into position. Lock on a tractor beam and pull them into the shuttlebay. Paris: We're in transporter range. Kim: I've got a lock. Two lifeforms. Janeway: Energize. Janeway: Any luck? Chakotay: I'm still trying to access their primary database. Janeway: Let me guess. They're the strong but silent types. Tuvok: Very silent. Chakotay: Did you try a mind meld? Tuvok: Without success. They are unusually resistant. Janeway: Well, hold off on the torture till we see what we can dig up here. Chakotay: I've found something. A series of encoded transmissions. Janeway: They've been discussing Voyager. Our coordinates, our defenses. Tuvok: Whoever hired the Hazari know a lot about us. Janeway: Check these sensor logs. See if they had any visitors recently. Chakotay: I've got some bioreadings, but they're pretty scrambled. Tuvok: If they are bioreadings, perhaps the Doctor can unscramble them. Janeway: Tell him to give it a try. Emh: I've created a forensic reconstruction from the bioreadings, using the holoemitters. Brace yourselves. Janeway: Malon. Huh, they must really hold a grudge. We haven't run into them for months. I'm sorry, Doctor, something doesn't feel right. Tuvok: The Malon are economically motivated. Janeway: And there's no profit in revenge. Take a look at this. Isomorphic signatures embedded in the bioreadings. This was no Malon, it was only a projection. Emh: You mean that's a hologram of a hologram? Tuvok: In a manner of speaking. I believe I can restore the original biosignal parameters. Brace yourself. Janeway: Well, it appears our Hazari paradox is more complex than we thought. Janeway: I believe we're both being manipulated by the same person. Recognize him? Y'Sek: No. Janeway: His name is Kurros, The Malon you met with was nothing more than a projection. Y'Sek: My sensors would have detected a hologram. Janeway: Not this one. Kurros is a member of a Think Tank. They solve problems for a price. Oh, you have heard of them. Y'Sek: They're notorious in this sector. They've made quite a few enemies. Janeway: Enemies who might be willing to pay a hell of a bounty. Y'Sek: Their technology is very advanced. It makes them difficult to track. Janeway: Not if we work together. You're the best hunters in the quadrant and we have the perfect lure. All we have to do now is out-think the Think Tank. Janeway: We've got a puzzle and we're not leaving this room until we solve it. The Think Tank is out there somewhere, hiding in subspace. How do we find them? And even if we can, their ship's hull is neutronium-based alloy, impervious to our weapons. How do we capture them? Kim: What if we send out a multispatial probe? Torres: It would take weeks of scanning to find them. Y'Sek: Weeks? We're not willing to wait that long. Tuvok: We could use subspatial charges to force them into the open. Chakotay: Where do we target the charges? We've still got to find them first. Janeway: Maybe we're going about this the wrong way. A direct assault seems unlikely to succeed. Pure tactics, psychology. That's how they solve problems. That's what we have to do. They've created this paradox to manipulate us into giving them Seven of Nine. How do we manipulate them? Think. Neelix: I thought we were onto something with B'Elanna's plan Torres: Forget it. I was wrong. Paris: Let him talk. Emh: We're talking in circles. Y'Sek: Enough! Three hours, no progress. I should have contacted my ships by now. Janeway: Maybe we can't out-think them. Chakotay: Captain? Janeway: We have to assume they've planned for every contingency, including anything we could come up with to undermine their plan. This thing has been driving me crazy. You said you knew the solution. Prove it. Janeway: Seven, how'd you do that? Seven: I scanned the device. Its mechanism operates on a simple fractal regression. Paris: You scanned it? That's cheating. Seven: Cheating is often more efficient. Janeway: If you can't solve a puzzle, cheat. If you can't out-think a Think Tank, don't try. Neelix: Are you suggesting we give up? Janeway: Not at all. When you were in contact with the artificial intelligence, you were linked through their internal communications array. Seven: Yes, for several seconds. Janeway: If you were to link with them again, we might be able to disrupt those systems. If they can't communicate, they can't function as a Think Tank. They'd be vulnerable. Emh: Back to square one. How do we find them? Janeway: Simple. We give them what they want. You're going to join their group willingly. Y'Sek: They won't believe her. Janeway: We'll have to make them believe. Pull up a chair. We've got some more work to do. Intelligence: An Hazari vessel is sending hails into subspace. It's trying to contact us. Kurros: Put them through. Hazari: They're responding. Kurros: Hazari vessel, we have received your hails. Can we be of assistance? Y'Sek: You deceived us. Kurros: I do not believe we have met. Y'Sek: Stop the pretense. You wanted us to deliver Voyager. Very well. But only if you triple our bounty. Kurros: My friend, regardless of the circumstances, we have a contract. Y'Sek: Pay us, or we let Voyager go. Kurros: All right, we will triple the bounty. But you must deliver them to us now. Y'Sek: Agreed. We'll contact the rest of our ships. We'll seize Voyager as planned. Tuvok: Shields down to thirty percent. Janeway: Return fire. Tuvok: Our phasers aren't penetrating their shields. Kim: That last volley took out our shield generators and phaser banks. Tuvok: Life support's failing, all decks. Kurros: Let us be honest, Captain. Things do not seem to be going your way. Janeway: Don't count us out just yet. Kurros: I admit you have been clever. You uncovered our subterfuge, but you failed to factor in all the variables. The greed of the Hazari, for example. Janeway: Photon torpedoes? Tuvok: Aft launchers are still online. Janeway: Target a full spread at the lead Hazari ship. Kurros: A few torpedoes will not alter the outcome. If you do not convince Seven of Nine to join us now, the destruction of your ship is ninety nine point eight percent certain. Janeway: Fire. Tuvok: Direct hit. It's been disabled. Kurros: Clinging to that point two percentage? Hazari reinforcements should be here any minute. Paris: He's right. Sensors just picked up a half dozen ships on an intercept course. Chakotay: Captain, I'm detecting an unauthorized shuttle launch. It's Seven of Nine. Janeway: What the hell is she doing? Kurros: I believe she's saving your ship. Kim: She's not answering hails. Her shuttle's being pulled into subspace. She's gone. Kurros: Have a safe journey home, Captain. Kurros: Seven of Nine, welcome. Seven: Your hospitality is irrelevant. I am here because you left me no choice. Kurros: You gave into your human instincts to save your crew, as we knew you would. Just another factor in our equation. Seven: If Voyager is destroyed, I will not cooperate. Kurros: Do not worry. The solution to the Hazari paradox is quite simple. Kurros: We have what we want. Call off your attack. Y'Sek: Not until we've been compensated. Kurros: Fine, but first order your other vessels to stand down. Y'Sek: Now, or we'll destroy Voyager. Kurros: Why is he in such a hurry? Seven: Comply. Kurros: If we decloak, we would be vulnerable. The Hazari could make quite a bounty on us. Far more than we are paying them. Seven: Their technology is inferior to yours. They would never attack you directly. Kurros: I think this is a trap, a new paradox your Captain has created for us. If we call their bluff, the Hazari might destroy Voyager, and we would lose you. If we reveal ourselves, we could be destroyed. Seven: You told me, without problems to test the limits of your ability, you can never expand them. Kurros: There is one very simple way to narrow the odds. We simply link you to our communications system, allow our artificial intelligence to probe your mind as it did before, and Captain Janeway's plans will be revealed, like a jewel in a bed of fog. Emh: Sickbay to bridge. Seven's neural transceiver has been activated. Janeway: Acknowledged. Do it. Tuvok: I'm transmitting the carrier wave. Kurros: Voyager is sending an interference signal into our systems using her cortical implants as a relay. Disconnect the link. Kurros: Disconnect the link. Seven: They can't understand you. Janeway: Voyager to Hazari vessels. Their systems are down. Fire the spatial charges. Seven: We seem to be experiencing some turbulence. Kurros: Primitive spatial charges. I will have the dome back online before they can do any damage. Kurros: We're being pulled out of subspace. Kim: I've got a lock on Seven. Janeway: Initiate transport. Tuvok: The Hazari vessels are converging on the Think Tank. Janeway: Tom. Paris: Setting a course. Kurros: I urge you to reconsider, Captain. Janeway: A good guest knows when he's outstayed his welcome. Kurros: We can still negotiate a peaceful solution. Do not destroy my faith in diplomacy. Janeway: Your diplomacy could use some polishing. Kurros: You know you will never be satisfied here among these people. Is this what you really want? Seven: Acquiring knowledge is a worthy objective, but its pursuit has obviously not elevated you. Janeway: Looks like your ship's having difficulties. Kurros: A minor problem. Janeway: Oh, I'm sure you'll find a solution. Just give it some thought.

Pelk: Zeeesh. Alert, alert, decompression on platform six eight four. Brace for hull rupture. Thrusters are down. We're going to crash! Ahhh. Hey, what do you think? Look at the detail on the dorsal plating. Fesek: Impressive. Are you sure you're willing to part with it? Pelk: I just hope your boy enjoys it as much as I do. Fesek: I'm certain he will, if we make it home in time for his birthday. Pelk: We'll make it. Fesek: If you and Savar had a child of your own, you'd have an excuse to play with toys more often. Pelk: I'm detecting a fluctuation in tank four. There's a full scale rupture in progress. Fesek: Isolate the deck. Activate the emergency containment field. Pelk: The emergency systems are offline. Fesek: Backup controls are down too. Eject the tank. Pelk: Here? There's an inhabited system. Fesek: We have no choice! Pelk: The ejection ports aren't responding. Fesek: Impossible. Dremk: There's another rupture forming in tank six. Fesek: We'll have to send somebody down there to seal off the tanks manually. Contact the theta core. Pelk: Communications are down. Fesek: Get down to the injector pod and seal those tanks. Dremk: I didn't sign up for core labor. Fesek: I'm giving you an order. Dremk: I'll be contaminated. Fesek: Now! Tuvok: The flame, like emotion, is a primitive force. Left unchecked, it's chaotic, destructive. But if controlled it can be a powerful tool. The lamp controls the flame, as you must learn to control your emotions. Torres: I lost my temper. No big deal. Tuvok: You destroyed the Doctor's holographic camera. Torres: I told him three times to leave Engineering, but he kept buzzing around snapping pictures for some photo essay. Tuvok: A day in the life of the warp core. Torres: I apologized, and I replicated him a new camera. Tuvok: You have a long history of emotional volatility. The point of this exercise is not to atone for past transgressions, but to prevent future ones. Torres: You can't order someone to meditate. Tuvok: Commander Chakotay thinks otherwise. Torres: Are my eyes supposed to be open or closed for this part. Tuvok: Whichever allows you to focus your mind. Tuvok: Envision the flame burning within you. Torres: Sorry. Tuvok: The flame grows hotter. A point of white light. Follow it backward through the years to a time when you were younger, a child. Is there something amusing, Lieutenant? Torres: I'm sorry, an image just flashed through my mind. You as a child, those pointy little ears. You must have been cute. Tuvok: Indeed. Please follow my instructions or we'll discontinue this exercise. Torres: Right. Me, childhood. How old? Tuvok: Your earliest memories. Try to recall a time when you experienced uncontrollable anger. Torres: Daniel Byrd. Tuvok: I beg your pardon? Torres: He was one of my classmates in grammar school. He was always terrorizing me. He used to point at my cranial ridges and tease me about being half Klingon. He called me Miss Turtlehead. Tuvok: That angered you. Torres: Of course, it did. So I attacked him once, during recess, on the gyro-swing. I disengaged the centrifugal governor. He was spinning so fast, he almost flew apart. Then I yanked him off the swing and started pounding his little face! If Miss Malvin hadn't showed up, I probably would have Tuvok: Describe the anger you felt at that moment. Torres: I, I wanted to hurt him. To take revenge for all the humiliation he caused me. Tuvok: Your anger was a source of strength. It protected you, gave you courage. Torres: I suppose it did. Tuvok: And when the Doctor tried to take a holo-photograph of you? Torres: I was annoyed. He kept getting in the way. Tuvok: The rage within you runs deep. It's been with you for many years. Torres: I'm not a Vulcan. I'll survive. Tuvok: Whatever you say, Miss Turtlehead. Torres: What did you say! Tuvok: You're easily provoked. You must learn to master your emotions. Torres: I've had enough mastery for one day. School's out. Paris: So, how'd it go with B'Elanna today? Tuvok: Our meditation sessions are confidential. Paris: No, I'm not asking for sordid details. I just want to know if you think you can help her. Tuvok: Her training will be a challenge for both of us. Paris: Take it from me, getting B'Elanna to control her temper is like convincing a Ferengi to leave his estate to charity. Kim: Captain, we're receiving an automated distress call. Janeway: Origin? Kim: Coordinates one twenty one by two six eight. Range, two billion kilometers. Chakotay: Who's sending it? Kim: I can't tell. Janeway: Let them know help's on the way. Set a course, Mister Paris. Tuvok: Thirty seven escape pods. Paris: They're contaminated with theta radiation. Chakotay: Malon? Janeway: Possibly. Lifesigns? Kim: Two, but they're erratic. Janeway: Beam them to Sickbay. Initiate bio-hazard containment procedures. Tuvok: Theta radiation has affected a radius of six hundred million kilometers. Janeway: Source? Tuvok: A Malon freighter traveling at high impulse. It appears to be abandoned. Tuvok: I thought we'd seen the last of the Malon. Janeway: I guess they're looking for new places to dump their toxic waste. Emh: Do we know what happened to their ship? Were they attacked? Janeway: I'm just as curious as you are. Can you revive either of them? I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway. Fesek: Fesek. Controller Fesek. Where am I? Janeway: You're on my vessel. We responded to your distress call. Fesek: My ship? Janeway: It's heavily damaged. Fesek: Where? Tuvok: Three million kilometers from here. Fesek: That's too close. We've got to get further away. Janeway: Calm down, calm down. Tell me what's wrong with your ship. Why did you abandon it? Fesek: We were on a waste export mission. Tuvok: Dumping theta radiation. Fesek: Two of the theta tanks ruptured. Systems malfunctioned one by one, communications, navigation, propulsion. We had no choice. Radiation was venting from every port. Over sixty crewmen died within minutes. It was chaos. We stumbled through the gas to get to the escape pods. Only a few of us made it. Where are the others? Janeway: The two of you were the only ones we found alive. Fesek: Listen to me very carefully. The fact that we're still here means the ship hasn't exploded, yet. When it does, over four trillion isotons of antimatter waste is going to ignite. Everything within three light years will be destroyed. Janeway: Janeway to the bridge. Chakotay: Go ahead. Janeway: Put at least five light years between us and the Malon freighter. Janeway: Quickly. Chakotay: You heard her, Tom. Janeway: Send out a sector wide alert. Janeway: Warn any other ships in the vicinity to Janeway: Evacuate immediately. Paris: Our warp field just collapsed. Kim: All this theta radiation. It's disrupting subspace. Chakotay: Can you reinitialize the field? Torres: Negative. Janeway: Tuvok. Without warp drive there's no chance we'll clear the blast radius. Tuvok: Agreed. Janeway: Mister Paris, set a course for the freighter. Full impulse. Paris: Aye, Captain. Fesek: What? Janeway: If we can't outrun your ship, maybe we can disable it. Fesek: Every deck has been contaminated. Anyone who goes on board will liquefy within minutes. Janeway: We'll find a way. Fesek: We? I'm not going anywhere near that vessel. Janeway: You can either stay and help us or I'll send you back to your escape pod. Your choice. Clean them up, Doctor. I need them on the bridge. Janeway: How long until those storage tanks explode? Torres: Approximately six hours. Janeway: Can we get an away team on board? Tuvok: The freighter's hull is intact. Life support appears to be operational. However, thirty three of forty two decks are flooded with high levels of theta radiation. Fesek: Including the control room, which is where we'd have to go to reestablish containment. As I told you. Torres: We could beam on to one of the lower levels where there's less radiation, and vent the contaminated sections one by one. Chakotay: Clear a path to the control room. Fesek: I appreciate what you're trying to do, but if what you're considering were possible, we'd have tried it before we abandoned the ship. We have years of experience aboard freighters of this gradient. Torres: Your experience is what got us into this mess in the first place. Janeway: That's enough, Lieutenant. Fesek: Maybe there's another way. Janeway: I'm listening. Fesek: Four hours from here there's a nebula that could protect us from the blast. We could alter course, wait there until after the explosion. Janeway: There are at least three other ships in the sector. What about them? Fesek: I don't see what we can do. Torres: So hundreds of people become contaminated because you're not willing to clean up your garbage. Janeway: Lieutenant. Assemble an away team. We're going over there. Pelk: Wait! Tell them about the Vihaar. Janeway: What's he talking about? Fesek: Nothing. It's a myth. Chakotay: What kind of myth? Fesek: It's an old story shared among freighter crews. Some of them say they've seen creatures in the theta storage tanks. Torres: Creatures? Fesek: Created by radiogenic waste. According to the legend, they are poisonous monsters that wreak havoc aboard Malon ships. It's a common belief among our more superstitious recruits. Pelk: I never believed it myself, but during the evacuation some of the crew people saw something. A form. Fesek: Hallucinations are one of the first symptoms of theta poisoning. You know that. Pelk: Maybe. Then how do you explain what happened? We checked every system. Torres: You'd say anything to get out of going back to that freighter. Pelk: If you'd been there, you'd be afraid to go back, too. Chakotay: This chamber seems to be the least affected by radiation. We'll beam in there. Pelk: That's fifteen decks below the control room. Chakotay: We'll have to work our way up. Fesek: The pressurization systems, they're offline. How will we vent the gas? Neelix: There are two main airlocks on each deck. We'll open them as we go. Perform a series of controlled decompressions. Pelk: What's to stop us from being vented? Neelix: Forcefields. I spent six years aboard a Talaxian garbage scow. I know a few things about waste management. Pelk: Even low levels of theta radiation can be lethal. Chakotay: Our Doctor's developed an inoculation. It'll temporarily prevent our cells from absorbing the radiation. Fesek: How long will it last? Chakotay: Two, three hours. Pelk: Half of the doors and bulkheads are fused. The ascenders are offline. It could take us twice as long as that to reach the control room. Chakotay: Then we'll have to work quickly. We'll take phasers to cut through any obstacles. Fesek: I've ordered my men to do a lot of risky things, but nothing as foolish as this. Torres: More foolish than towing around a trillion isotons of toxic waste? Fesek: We take every precaution to keep it contained. Torres: Until you dump it in someone's back yard. Fesek: Is your crew always so diplomatic? Chakotay: Your concerns are noted. Get them inoculated. We'll meet you in Transporter room one. Chakotay: We're trying to avoid explosions, remember? Torres: Oh! Not another lecture about my emotions. Chakotay: No, a lecture about how to treat guests aboard this ship. Torres: Guests? Chakotay, these people are the scourge of the quadrant. Chakotay: Agreed, but right now they're our only hope of repairing that freighter, so I suggest you make friends. Torres: Diplomacy. Janeway's answer to everything. Chakotay: This isn't the Captain talking, it's me, and I'm giving you an order. Keep your temper in check. Understood? Understood? Torres: Yeah. Chakotay: I didn't hear you. Torres: Yes. Chakotay: B'Elanna, I need your expertise on this mission, not your bad mood. Torres: I'll see what I can do. Chakotay: Ready, Neelix? Neelix: Ah, not quite. Do we still have a minute? It's just it's not quite strong enough yet. Would you mind passing me that little dish? Chakotay: Neelix, I admire your dedication, but the crew can figure out lunch on their own. Neelix: Lunch, and dinner, and a midnight snack have all been taken care of. This is for me. It's a Talaxian theta radiation remedy. Crushed rama leaf and katyllian clove. It helps fortify the cellular membranes. Chakotay: I think the Doctor's inoculation might be a better way to go. Neelix: Every little bit helps. Oh, by the way, thank you. Chakotay: For what? Neelix: For sending me on such an important mission. Not that my duties in the mess hall aren't challenging. Chakotay: It was an easy choice. You were the best man for the job. Neelix: Well, our scow once ran smack into a theta radiation field. Knocked the propulsion out. We had no choice but to sit there. We were barely alive when they found us. If it hadn't been for this, nobody would have survived. Neelix: Once you get past the choking reflex it's really not so bad. Want to try some? Chakotay: I'll take my chances. Kim: Transporter room one to Commander Chakotay. We're ready to proceed. Chakotay: On our way. Paris: B'Elanna. Aren't you forgetting something? Torres: I don't think so. Paris: A goodbye would be nice. So long, see you soon, something along those lines. Torres: I didn't want to risk it. Paris: Risk what? Torres: Starting an argument. Paris: Argument? Us? So, I hear it's been a short fuse kind of day. Torres: About this long. Paris: Nothing you can't handle. Torres: If you think so. Paris: I know so. Torres: I suppose it's always going to be like this. Paris: Like what? Torres: Me against the galaxy. Paris: Well, the galaxy doesn't stand a chance. Now, promise me that you're going to be careful over there. No stopping to have fun. Torres: Fun? On a Malon freighter? Paris: See you soon. Neelix: Well, it's nothing a fresh coat of paint wouldn't brighten up. Fesek: This way. Torres: Theta radiation density, twenty million EV per cubic meter. Structural integrity's holding. Wish I could say the same for my lungs. Neelix: What was that? Chakotay: This corridor's filled with methogenic particles, highly charged. Torres: Something's causing an electrostatic cascade. Our scanning signals are igniting the particles. It's the tricorders! Chakotay: Take cover. Chakotay: No more tricorders. Pelk: Control mechanisms are down. We're going to have to open the airlocks manually. Fesek: Wait here. We'll take care of it. Chakotay: B'Elanna, go with him. Fesek: We can do this ourselves. Chakotay: I'd prefer to keep an eye on your progress. Fesek: You're on my freighter. I'm in charge here. Chakotay: You abandoned ship, remember? You take your orders from me. Fesek: We'll have to crawl into an injector port. It's only big enough for two people. Chakotay: Pelk, you stay with us. Torres: Shall we? Torres: How can you stand to work in these conditions? Fesek: You think we're animals, don't you? Torres: You said it, not me. Fesek: I'm a waste controller half the year. Do you know what I do the rest of the time? I'm a sculptor. Torres: What's your point? Fesek: Every year I give up work I love to expose myself to radiation that will probably cut my life in half. Torres: Then why do it? Fesek: Have you ever been to Malon Prime? It's a remarkable place. It's one of the most beautiful worlds you'll ever see. Our planet would choke with industrial wastes if it weren't for the sacrifices of people like me. Torres: How many worlds are you willing to contaminate to keep your own home so tidy? Fesek: Do you have any idea of the trouble we go to, to locate isolated areas? Ah, manual actuators. I'll release them, you monitor the pressure variance. Torres: Right. Fesek: Do you have any children? Torres: No. Fesek: I have a son. He's seven years old. He wants to be a waste controller when he grows up. Torres: You must be very proud. Fesek: Ready. Torres: Torres to Chakotay. Stand by for the decompression sequence. Chakotay: Acknowledged. Torres: It didn't work. Fesek: There's something jamming the airlock controls. Torres: Torres to Chakotay. We've got a problem. The actuators aren't working. Somebody's going to have to go up there and take a look. Neelix: Wait. That deck is still contaminated. Pelk: I'll go. I've been exposed to worse. Neelix: Wait. Neelix: One for the road. Pelk: It's probably just the decouplers. They're always getting encrusted with oxides. Pelk: Who's there? Pelk: Help! Help! Help! Pelk: I saw it. I saw it. Chakotay: What? Pelk: The creature. Neelix: Give me twenty cc's of anesthezine. Chakotay: Chakotay to Voyager. Transporter status. Kim: Still too much interference. I'll try compensating. Stand by for further instructions. Torres: What happened? Neelix: We don't know. He went away for a minute, he screamed, and we found him here. Fesek: These look like chemical burns. Neelix: Without tricorders, it's hard to make a diagnosis. Pelk: It's here. Fesek: What? Pelk: The creature. Fesek: You're hallucinating. It's the radiation, but you're going to be all right. Pelk: No. It attacked me. It, oh. Neelix: He's going into shock. Cortical stimulator. Fesek: Pelk, get up! Neelix: He's not responding. Chakotay: He said the creature attacked him. Fesek: He imagined it. He was probably scalded when that conduit ruptured. Torres: Or maybe there is someone else on this ship. Kim: Voyager to away team. Transporter interference has cleared. We're locked onto your coordinates. Stand by. Chakotay: Harry, Pelk is dead. Lock onto his signal and beam him to Sickbay. Ask the Doctor to determine the cause of death. Kim: Aye sir. Chakotay: Someone still needs to get up there and open the airlocks. Fesek: Me. Chakotay: Hold on. I'll join you. From now on nobody works alone. Janeway: Progress? Kim: They've vented five decks. Ten to go. Tuvok: At this rate, they'll reach the control room in approximately three hours. However, the storage tanks will detonate in less than two. Janeway: I've been working on a contingency plan. Tuvok: An O type star. Janeway: If the freighter exploded within the star's corona it might absorb the radiation. Tuvok: The star is not on the freighter's trajectory. Janeway: What if we gave it a little nudge? Tuvok: A series of carefully timed tractor pulses could alter the freighter's course. But given the vessel's weakened state, one miscalculation could set off the explosion. Janeway: I'm still counting on the away team to succeed, but I want to be ready with plan B if they don't. Torres: I don't know about the rest of you but I could sure use a sonic shower. Neelix: I'd love to soak in a hot bath for a day or two. Torres: Oh no, not me. I want to feel those sonic pulses dissolving every last atom of this grime off my body. Fesek: We have a decontamination bay on board that can purge over fifty workers at a time. Torres: Well, that sounds like fun. Neelix: B'Elanna? Torres: I'm okay, just a little light-headed. Neelix: Your hand. Torres: Oh, God. Fesek: Freighter blight, from the prolonged exposure. Torres: Lovely. Fesek: In my business, it's an occupational hazard. Torres: We'd better try inoculating you again. Fesek: If she's blistering, she's already received a fatal dose of radiation. She needs treatment. Torres: I'll live. Let's keep moving. Fesek: We have medicines in the infirmary. It's only two sections from here. Torres: We don't have time for a detour. Chakotay: B'Elanna, go with him. We'll meet you outside the control room. Torres: Chakotay, I'm fine. Chakotay: I said go! Torres: This is the infirmary? It looks more like a morgue. What happened to him? Fesek: It looks like he was being treated for long term exposure. He was probably left behind during the evacuation. Torres: Tough luck, huh? Fesek: There was nothing more we could do for him. He was a core laborer. Torres: Meaning? Fesek: He worked close to the storage tanks. Only three of ten core laborers survive a standard mission. Torres: Occupational hazard? Fesek: They know the risks when they accept the assignment. Torres: They know they're going to end up like this? Fesek: Core laborers can make more in two months than most Malon make in a lifetime. Torres: What good is the money if they're not around to collect it. Fesek: It will go to his family. Torres: What is that thing? Fesek: It's a subdermal injector. It contains analeptic compounds to reverse the cell damage. Torres: I feel better already. Fesek: I won't hurt you. I've done this a hundred times. You'll feel a slight burning sensation. Seven: Commander. The Captain's plan B. I've calculated the inertial force required to divert the freighter. Plan C. Shield modulations that should reduce the structural damage of Voyager. It will also help protect the crew against theta radiation poisoning, if we fail. Tuvok: A wise precaution. With any luck, we won't be needing it. Seven: I didn't think Vulcans believed in luck. Tuvok: As a rule we don't, but serving with Captain Janeway has taught me otherwise. Seven: She does seem to succeed more often than random chance would allow. I'll factor it into my calculations. Tuvok: Is there a Plan D? Seven: No. Fesek: Initiating decompression sequence, deck four. Deck clear. Neelix: Twelve down, three to go. Torres: The airlocks are opening on this deck. Fesek: What? Torres: I can't close them. Neelix: Forcefields, where are they? Torres: They're offline! Chakotay: We've got to get off this deck. Move! Fesek: This way. Torres: Chakotay! Neelix: He was right behind me. Torres: Torres to Chakotay. Fesek: That deck is a vacuum by now. Torres: Torres to Voyager. Kim: Acknowledged. Torres: Lock onto Chakotay's comm. signal and beam him to Sickbay. Kim: We've got him. He's okay. Torres: I thought that deck was secure. Fesek: It was. Torres: Then why did we almost get blown into space? Fesek: I don't know. Torres: Airlocks don't open by themselves! Fesek: What are you saying? You think it was me? Neelix: Calm down, both of you! We don't have time to argue about what happened. We've got to keep moving. Janeway: Chakotay? Tuvok: Unconscious but stable. The Doctor is treating him now. We'll be able to talk to him in less than an hour. Janeway: I'll want a full report. Tuvok: Shall I beam to the freighter and take command of the away team? Janeway: I just spoke with B'Elanna. She's got everything under control. Tuvok: This is a dangerous situation. There is no margin for emotional error. Janeway: We have plenty to do here. Help me remodulate the tractor beam. Tuvok: B'Elanna is unpredictable, Captain. Under these circumstances, her volatile nature could compromise the mission. Janeway: Your concerns are noted, but if I send you over there I'd be sending the wrong message. That I don't have faith in her. But I do. Tuvok: Your faith is admirable, but logic suggests Janeway: This isn't about logic, it's about trust. She'll come through for us. Now, give me a hand. Neelix: Lieutenant? Lieuten. Are you all right? Torres: Fine. Report. Neelix: We just vented the last deck. We should have a clear path to the control room. Torres: Let's get this thing over with, then. Neelix: If you need to rest. Torres: I said I'm fine. I was meditating. Neelix: Meditating? You? Torres: Do me a favor. Don't tell Tuvok. Neelix: Your secret's safe. Torres: It's this place. Neelix: I know how you feel. The next time I volunteer to board a Malon freighter, check me into Sickbay and have my head examined. Torres: I feel like I'm ready to explode. Neelix: We'll get through this together. I've got a knack for diffusing explosive situations. Torres: Thanks. Torres: Torres to Astrometrics. Seven: Go ahead. Torres: We're outside the control room Torres: But without tricorders we can't tell if it's safe to go in there. Seven: The room is too heavily shielded. Our sensors can't penetrate it. Seven: You must stand by. Fesek: The theta dampening field is still active. It should be safe. Torres: After you. Fesek: It's worse than I expected. The theta gas has leaked into the warp manifold. Neelix: We've got less than ten minutes before this vessel explodes. Fesek: Emergency systems are down. Torres: This should feed enough energy to your power matrix to reinitialize them. Try it now. Fesek: They're coming back online, but only one containment grid is still operational. We have two unstable tanks. One grid can't handle them both. Torres: We'll seal them one at a time. Chakotay: Doctor? Emh: Easy, Commander. Chakotay: Ow, my head aches. Emh: I'm not surprised. You took a severe blow. Chakotay: I've got to get back to the freighter. Emh: Not in this condition. If you want to help, you can answer some questions about Mister Pelk's death. I've found unidentified tissue in his wounds. Chakotay: What sort of tissue? Emh: The computer is running a microcellular scan. Chakotay: Pelk said he was attacked. Emh: Ah yes, the Malon Bogeyman. Computer: Microcellular analysis is complete. Emh: Odd. The tissue is saturated with theta radiation, but it's not showing signs of decay. It came from someone or something that's developed a resistance to the radiation. Sickbay to Seven of Nine. Seven: Yes, Doctor. Emh: Scan for additional lifeforms aboard the Malon vessel. Seven: I've been running continuous scans. Seven: I assure you there is no one there aside from the away team. Emh: This lifeform's heavily irradiated. It could be blending in with ambient toxins. Seven: I'll recalibrate our sensors. Fesek: Tank one stable. Torres: Reroute the containment grid to the tank two. Neelix: What happened? Fesek: A power surge. We're losing the grid. Torres: It was triggered from a workstation on this deck. Janeway: Janeway to away team. Janeway: We've detected an alien lifeform aboard the freighter. We believe it killed Pelk. Torres: Captain, we just lost power. Janeway: We're diverting the freighter into a nearby star. Leave the control room so we can get a lock on you. Torres: Acknowledged. Neelix: What's going on? Torres: It's jammed. Seven: Seven of Nine Seven: To away team. I've detected the alien lifeform. It's moving toward your position. Neelix: The gas is being routed through the environmental systems. Torres: I'll try to shut it down. Neelix: Is there another way out? Fesek: No. Janeway: Do you have them? Kim: Not yet. Seven: The lifeform has entered the control room. Torres: I'm trying to vent the gas, but the release valves are jammed. Fesek: Use the environmental controls instead. Torres: In the meantime, see if you can get that hatch open. Torres: Neelix? Fesek: No, you'll ignite the gas. Torres: Neelix? Torres: We've got to get him back to Voyager. Get that hatch open! Fesek: I'm trying! Torres: Fesek, behind you! Torres: You're a core laborer. Vihaar: Not anymore. Torres: Stay back. Don't make me kill you. Vihaar: I'm already dead. Torres: You've been sabotaging this ship. Vihaar: There's no other way to make them understand. Torres: So that's your way of getting even? Killing your crew? Causing an explosion that will contaminate other ships? Vihaar: They poisoned me! Tuvok: The freighter is on course for the star. Janeway: Away team, we've adjusted the vessel's course. It's heading for an O type star. Janeway: You have to get out of there now. Vihaar: No. No. Paris: The freighter's maneuvering thrusters just activated. It's altering course. Janeway: Compensate. Tuvok: No effect. I'm detecting radiation surges in the theta tanks. They're going to detonate in three minutes. Janeway: Harry? Kim: As long as they're in the control room I can't get a lock Janeway: Janeway to away team. Get those maneuvering thrusters Janeway: Offline then get out of the contaminated area. We can't get a transporter lock on you. Torres: Get the hell away from there, now! Vihaar: No! It's too late! Torres: Okay. Okay. Look, I know what they've done to you. They used you. You want to hurt them. Listen, listen to me. I know. I know that you're so angry you want to destroy everything in sight, but there's another way to make them understand. I'm on your side. I can help you. Innocent people are going to die if you do this. Vihaar: No. It's over. Torres: Please, please. Please, let me help you. Vihaar: No. Torres: Step away! Paris: The Malon's thrusters are powering down. Tuvok: I have restored the freighter's trajectory. Janeway: B'Elanna, get out of there. Torres: Come on, we've got to go. Fesek. Janeway: The away team, Mister Kim? Kim: I got them. Chakotay: Maybe the meditation's working. Torres: What makes you say that? Chakotay: From what Neelix told me. You kept your temper in check over there. Torres: Don't expect me to make a habit of it. Emh: Well, I've repaired most of your cellular degradation. I wish I could say the same for you, but you've suffered long term systemic damage. Your condition will deteriorate over time. Fesek: It's an occupational hazard. Janeway: We've contacted a Malon transport ship in the next sector. We've altered course to rendezvous with them. Fesek: Thank you, Captain. I don't know how I'm going to explain what happened. Torres: Tell them the truth. Tell them the Vihaar is no myth. Torres: Computer, activate sonic shower.