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.