Elogium ( episode ) " Voyager " encounters a swarm of spaceborne aliens , while Kes and Neelix must decide whether to have a child . Summary . Teaser . Aboard the , Chakotay is walking down a corridor to the turbolift . As the door of the turbolift opens , Chakotay catches two crew members kissing inside . Embarrassed , they quickly exit . Behind Chakotay comes Tom Paris and Kes , carrying bushels of cabbage for the mess hall . Paris asks what went on , Chakotay responds that it was an example of " indiscreet shipboard fraternization . " Paris expresses regret at missing it . They proceed to the mess hall . In the mess hall , Paris and Kes drop the cabbage off with Neelix , who is visibly upset and jealous with the friendliness between Paris and Kes , perceiving that Paris is making a move on Kes . He questions her about it , but Kes insists that Neelix is seeing things that aren ' t really there . On the bridge , Captain Janeway tells Paris and Chakotay about strange energy readings . Harry Kim says they appear to be a magnetic disturbance . They are going to investigate it . Janeway comments that Chakotay seems preoccupied . He relates the turbolift incident and wonders if they should establish a policy regarding fraternization . Janeway is hesitant about such an action , noting that while the couple in question might be encouraged to show more discretion , Starfleet has always been hesitant to regulate such matters . Chakotay points out that relationships might cause more problems down the road that would not appear under normal circumstances . Janeway observes that they are a long way from home and eventually , people will begin to pair off . Chakotay asks , " " Including you ? " " Janeway responds that as captain , she doesn ' t have that luxury and she hopes to be home before Mark gives her up for dead . At that time , the disturbance comes into visual range . They notice that the disturbance is actually space - dwelling lifeform s . They decide to take a closer look , so Janeway orders Paris to take the ship into bio - scanner range . Kes , working in the hydroponics garden , begins to absently - mindedly munch on some of the beetles used for cross - pollination . She is horrified as she looks and realizes what she ' s doing . Act One . The bridge crew estimates the number of lifeforms present in the cloud to be fewer than 2 , 000 . They are moving at an average speed of 1 , 000 kilometer s per second . Janeway and Chakotay observe the movement to be similar to protozoa . They do not have a digestive system as such , but their outer layer appears to be porous so as to absorb nutrients directly from space . Ensign Wildman speculates that the rapid movement is due to the low density of matter in that area of space . Meanwhile , Kes is gorging herself on all manner of food from the replicator when her door chime rings . Quickly hiding the bowls of food , she asks the person to come in , who happens to be Neelix . Neelix presents Kes with a bouquet of flower s , apologizing for his jealousy . Kes just wishes he would trust her . Neelix says that it is not her he has a problem trusting : it is " him " ( referring to Lt . Paris ) . Scouring the room for a vase in which to put the flowers , Neelix discovers the dishes Kes was hiding . Upon questioning , Kes reveals it to be a Terran dish to which Ensign Wildman introduced her : mashed potatoes with butter . Kes considers them great and can ' t stop eating them ( she ' s had six bowls ) , but Neelix thinks they ' re awful . Kes explains that she put nitrogenated soil in them ( saying this while eating two pieces of fruit simultaneously ) . After hearing about her eating the beetles , Neelix calls sickbay to prepare for an " emergency patient . " Kes claims to be fine - she just can ' t stop eating ( while she proceeds to eat the flowers Neelix gave her ) . Neelix picks her up and carries her off , kicking and screaming . On the bridge , the creatures have changed course and are accelerating . Janeway tells Paris to back off and give them room , but they find that they are actually accelerating , being pulled by the magnetic resonance field created by the creatures . Upon trying to reverse thrusters , they find the helm controls are not responding and the shields are non - functional . They have been pulled into the swarm . Act Two . Life support is functioning , but there ' s a fluctuation in the EPS grid s . Janeway asks B ' Elanna Torres about possible ways of getting free without harming the swarm with the warp engines ; Torres suggests a variation on a targ scoop , used on Klingon s ground vehicles to disperse targ herds in their path . The deflector array would be used to emit an inverse magnetic resonance field directed at the swarm . Janeway agrees . In sickbay , Neelix is panicking with Kes on the surgical biobed . He is worried that the beetles or the flowers were poison ous , but The Doctor states emphatically that there are no toxins in her system . Neelix badgers The Doctor about a possible reason for her eating all these " strange foods " ; The Doctor suggests a nutrient deficiency is a possible answer . Constantly having to move Neelix out of the way , he notes the elevated temperature and increased electrophoretic activity . When Neelix insists they be brought down , The Doctor points out that there is increased electrophoretic activity in the atmosphere in general because of the swarm . When Neelix insists The Doctor do something , The Doctor throws him out of sickbay , as it is impossible for him to " think , " much less treat his patient . Neelix promptly goes to the bridge , where Janeway is hovering over Ensign Wildman and the science station . He demands to know if it is appropriate for a hologram to throw a " flesh - and - blood " person out of sickbay , as his " loved one " is sick and " obviously " needs his comfort . Janeway asks if Kes is sick . Neelix confirms this , stating that " the hologram " doesn ' t know what ' s wrong , but thinks it has something to do with the creatures . Janeway asks how the creatures are affecting Kes . Neelix says that ' s what he was trying to find out when The Doctor " summarily dismissed " him from sickbay . About that time , The Doctor calls from sickbay , asking Janeway to come because there ' s a problem . When Janeway and Neelix get there , Kes has erected a force field around The Doctor ' s office , keeping even The Doctor out . The Doctor tells Janeway that Kes ' fever has increased and her pulse and blood pressure are dangerously high . He also notes a strange growth on her back that was not there the last time he examined her . Janeway convinces Kes to lower the force field and let her in . Kes runs to Janeway ' s open embrace . Kes confirms a growth on her back , saying it is the sac where her child will grow . It is the elogium , a time of change equivalent to puberty in Humans . Kes says that it is much too early as it usually happens between the ages of four and five and she isn ' t even two yet . As Janeway tries to console her , Kes point out that the Elogium only occurs once – if Kes is ever going to have a child , it has to be now . Act Three . Chakotay reports to the captain that there has been no change – they are still being pulled along by the swarm . Kim reports that all systems are functioning within normal parameters . Torres ' last report on the modifications to the main deflector was that they ' d be ready within another half - hour . Janeway asks Chakotay to join her in her ready room . In the ready room , Janeway relates Kes ' condition to Chakotay , and that she has to make the decision within the next forty to fifty hours . Kes is going to talk to Neelix , but Janeway comments that there are a number of factors involved , including complications with having the elogium this early , whether they are genetically compatible and whether Neelix even has any intentions of being a father . Janeway calls Chakotay ' s concerns about fraternization " prophetic . " Chakotay notes that he wasn ' t even thinking about procreation , but considers it inevitable . If it takes the predicted 75 years to get home , they will begin needing replacements in about half that time . Janeway notes the irony that " Voyager " < nowiki > ' s mission was only meant to last a few weeks and wonders if they are even able to provide the necessary things for raising children , not to mention the reality of a starship moving through possibly hostile territory . Chakotay asks if she is ready to tell people they can ' t have children . Janeway comments that she can ' t do that . She has made it clear to Kes that it is her choice whether to have a child . < / nowiki > Neelix is trying to wrap his head around the notion that Kes must conceive now or not at all . Kes says she needs him to help her decide , as she would want to mate with him . This catches Neelix off guard . He asks about the dangers of conceiving a child at her age . Kes responds that she doesn ' t know , as she ' s never known anyone as young as her to have a baby . Neelix asks if she would be " terribly unhappy " if she never had a child , to which Kes responds with an emphatic " " Yes , " " then backing her way down to " " I don ' t know . " " She had always assumed she ' d be a mother some day , just not so soon . When Kes asks Neelix if he ever thought he ' d be a father some day , he responds that he never really gave it much thought . He talks about never having had the stability in lifestyle for raising a child . When Kes points out that it would be different now , on a starship , Neelix backpedals and talks about the difficulties of raising a child on a starship , leading Kes to conclude that Neelix doesn ' t want a child . Neelix again backpedals , saying he ' s just trying to look at all sides , pointing out that someone would have to make sure the " little guy " didn ' t stick his finger in an EM socket and wasn ' t playing with the plasma injector s ( which Kes says is called parenting ) and that Kes would have to give up her medical studies ( which Kes immediately refutes , pointing out that he ' s just making excuses ) . Kes points out some bumps on her hands , which , according to her , make the mating bond possible . If they begin , they must stay bonded for six days . Once it , the ipasaphor , appears , they only have fifty hours , so she needs to know his answer . Neelix is relieved to hear this and says that they can " sleep on it . " Kes , on the other hand , is visibly disappointed . In the mess hall , Neelix is serving lunch , obviously distracted as he misheard a crew member to say they wanted " lots of pepper " in their meal . Tuvok enters and asks about the lunch special , which Neelix says he didn ' t get around to making , but instead there is the leftover soup from the night before . Tuvok assents . Neelix follows Tuvok to his seat , asking him what it is like to be a father . Tuvok initially responds that " " the question is so broad , it is difficult to make a response . " " Neelix asks about the responsibility and such involved in parenting and when Tuvok agrees , Neelix concludes that it is more trouble than it is worth . Tuvok indicates that he is aware of the present situation . He says that if Neelix has doubts , he should likely not enter into it . However , he points out that fatherhood can have " infinite rewards . " Neelix then begins to think that raising a son could be " fun , " as he could teach him things such as survival skills , piloting and " romantic techniques . " Tuvok points out that there is an equal chance of having a daughter . Neelix says he doesn ' t have anything he would teach a daughter . Tuvok asks why it would be different than what he would teach a son , and when Neelix argues that she would learn more from her mother , Tuvok indicates that his one daughter benefits as much from him as his three sons , and expresses regret at being so far removed at this time . Later on , Torres comes onto the bridge to tell Janeway they are ready to try the inverted field . When they do , the swarm begins attaching itself to the warp nacelles , draining energy from ship systems and causing guidance , tactical and navigation systems to fail . They have only a few seconds before clearing the swarm , but Tuvok detects a massive magnetic mass moving toward them from the port bow . Outside , a much larger creature similar to the others approaches . Act Four . Unsure as to the exact reason for the size difference , Janeway decides to continue out of the swarm , hoping that the creatures on the nacelles will drop back and rejoin the swarm . Instead , the larger creature moves with them , generating an electrically - charged plasma stream . Janeway orders full stop . They observe the smaller creatures attaching themselves to the larger one as they did to the warp nacelles . Kim observes that the plasmas stream had nearly the same subspace signature as their nacelle s , leading Janeway and Chakotay to conclude that the creatures are attracted to it like some animals are to pheromones . Chakotay comments that it is possible the creatures mistook " Voyager " for a potential mate . Meanwhile , Neelix comes to Kes saying that he is ready and willing to mate with her . When asked what is next , Kes tells him that a parent performs a ritual wherein her feet are massaged until her tongue swells . In lieu of a parent , Kes is going to have The Doctor do it . Neelix expresses some reservation , first in that The Doctor isn ' t " real " ( " " he ' s very real to me , " " replies Kes ) and then in general ( " " it ' s a ritual , someone has to do it " " ) . Neelix then assents . In sickbay , while massaging Kes ' feet , The Doctor analyzes the medical properties of the ritual . Kes asks The Doctor if she ' s doing the right thing , noting that her father would normally be performing the ritual and that she ' s feeling lonely right now . The Doctor points out his inadequacy in discussing parenting . Kes says that while Neelix was opposed to the idea , she was sure she wanted it , but now that he ' s on board , she isn ' t so sure . She wonders if she ' s doing it merely because she can . The Doctor points out that it is normal , that species use the urges to survive . Kes begins voicing doubts , her ability to care and show responsibility for a child . On the bridge , as the crew tries to deal with their situation , it is suspected that the larger creature may consider them a rival , hence the plasma stream as aggressive posturing . Janeway orders a short impulse burst to get away , but instead of getting away , the creature comes toward them . They are losing power and the creature hits them . Act Five . In light of the aggressive action , Tuvok agrees with Torres that retaliation may be in order . While Janeway continues to try to avoid aggressive action , Paris notes that the feeling is not mutual . Janeway has Tuvok launch a class four probe . Another plasma burst ensues , dropping shields to 64 % . Torres and Tuvok indicate that an equivalent response to the creature as was given them would be the best action , that is , ramming him . Another bump by the creature and the shields drop to 47 % . Janeway tells Paris to use maneuvering thrusters to bump the creature . The bump results in a bigger one by the creature . Janeway tells Tuvok to prepare a field of photon charge s to show the creature they mean business . Chakotay wonders if they need to rethink their strategy , as each aggressive action on their part results in one more so by the creature . He suggests acting as the other creatures and demonstrating submissive behavior . They decide to go into a roll and vent plasma residue to mimic the behavior of the smaller creatures . At first , it looks like nothing happens , but then the creatures start detaching and moving off . " " It appears we have lost our sex appeal , " " Tuvok tells the captain . Janeway jokes to Chakotay that if she has any questions about mating behavior , she ' ll know where to go . Meanwhile , Kes enters the mess hall , where Neelix is chopping food . She asks to help , but Neelix declines . Kes notes that Neelix has been very quiet since she decided not to conceive , noting that Neelix seems disappointed . Neelix observes that once he ' d decided to become a father , he was looking forward to it . Kes points out that he might have his chance someday . Neelix is puzzled , but Kes says that The Doctor believes that the elogium was a false alarm caused by the electrophoretic field from the swarm and that she ' ll be able to conceive again , at the right age . Neelix says , excitedly , " " You mean , we might still be able to have a daughter ? " " Kes responds , " " or a son , " " but Neelix says that he definitely wants a daughter , one who looks just like Kes . She kisses and hugs him . As Janeway ponders the issues recently raised by Kes in her Ready room , and feels for the person she left behind in the Alpha Quadrant , Ensign Wildman enters , clearly nervous , saying she felt she should inform her of her ' physical condition ' . Janeway is confused , as Wildman states that she and her husband ( who is still at Deep Space 9 ) were trying for months and she ' s only just found out . Janeway realizes that Wildman is pregnant , as the Ensign notes that she knows " Voyager " isn ' t the best place to have a baby , but it is the only thing she has left of her husband . Janeway , knowing she can ' t stop Wildman from having her baby and isn ' t willing to , offers congratulations as the two exchange worried smiles knowing the issue of officers having children on the ship has suddenly gone from a possibility to very real . Memorable quotes . " " It appears we have lost our sex appeal , captain . " " " " What was that all about ? " " " " I ' d call it an example of indiscreet shipboard fraternization . " " " " Really ? Sorry I missed it . " " " " Deck six ! " " " " Good work commander . In the future , if I have any questions about mating behavior , I ' ll know where to go . " " " " If we vent plasma residue , it might make us look blue . " " " " It ' s not my intention to harm the creature . " " " " The feeling " definitely " isn ' t mutual . " " " " You can ' t mean my body lacks dirt ? " " " " This is MY sickbay and I will decide what goes on here . " " " " But – ! " " " " Get out ! ! " " " " However , I must point out that as illogical as it seems , being a father can have infinite rewards . Far more than would seem possible . My children occupy a significant portion of my thoughts , now more than ever . " " Links and references . References . adulthood ; airponics ; airponics bay ; all hands ; Asil ; Benaren ; bio - scanner ; blood pressure ; " brace for impact " ; Breen ; butter ; child ; class 4 probe ; diaper ; digestive system ; dirt ; electrophoretic field ; Deep Space 9 ; delirium ; Delta Quadrant ; digestive system ; driver coil ; electrophoretic field ; electrophoresis ; " elogium " ; EM resonance field ; EPS grid ; evasive maneuvers ; fever ; flagellation ; fraternization ; gabosti stew ; generational ship ; Gree ; Greskrendtregk ; ground assault vehicle ; hair follicle ; impulse burst ; impulse capacitance cell ; impulse reactor ; inertial damper ; inorganic matter ; inverted magnetic pulse ; " ipasaphor " ; ; kilometer ; kiss ; Klingon s ; logic ; mating ritual ; magnetic wake ; mashed potatoes ; mess hall ; mineral ; Mister Vulcan ; mitral sac ; nitrogenated soil ; Oblissian cabbage ; Ocampa ; parent ; pediatrics ; pepper sauce ; pheromone ; photon charge ; plasma injector ; plasma residue ; plasma stream ; pollination ; pregnancy ; procreation ; prophecy ; protozoa ; puberty ; pulse ; " rolissisin " ; salad ; Scathos ; Sek ; senior staff ; shock wave ; space - dwelling lifeform ; spawn beetle ; Starfleet ; striation ; subspace signature ; swarm ; sympathetic nervous system ; targ ; targ scoop ; turbolift ; vitamin ; vitamin deficiency ; Vulcan