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!