Meld ( episode ) Tuvok is plagued by the senselessness of a murder aboard " Voyager " . Summary . Teaser . In Chez Sandríne , Tom Paris offers to make a pool game with Harry Kim " interesting " by betting one week ' s worth of replicator ration s on the outcome of the game , but Ricky warns Kim that Paris is hustling him . Instead , Paris starts a lottery - style game with the patrons of Chez Sandríne , wherein the players bet replicator rations and the player who correctly guesses the radiogenic particle count at 1200 hours wins the entire pot – " " minus a small handling fee for the bank , of course . " " In main engineering , Ensign Hogan has traced a problem with the warp drive to a malfunction in one of the EPS conduit s . According to Crewman Suder , there had been nothing wrong with the conduit the day before . B ' Elanna Torres goes to investigate . In the mess hall , Neelix tries to impress Tuvok with his knowledge of Vulcan holidays , much to Tuvok ' s dismay . Neelix declares that he will not rest until he sees Tuvok smile . Tuvok answers , " " Then you will not rest . " " Just as Neelix suggests bringing back the ancient pagan festival of Rumarie , Torres urgently calls Tuvok to engineering . In engineering , Torres has found the body of Crewman Darwin in the damaged EPS conduit . Act One . In sickbay , The Doctor tells Tuvok that if the EPS conduit hadn ' t failed , Darwin ' s body would have been vaporized . Instead , Darwin received third degree plasma burn s to 98 percent of his body . Tuvok supposes that Darwin had entered the conduit to repair it , but The Doctor shows Tuvok a contusion on the base of Darwin ' s skull . Tuvok then supposes that Darwin fell and hit his head while working on the conduit , but The Doctor says that the coup - contrecoup pattern of breakage on the wound indicates a moving object striking a stationary head , not the reverse . He rules Darwin ' s death a homicide . In Janeway ' s ready room , Tuvok discusses Darwin ' s murder with Janeway and Commander Chakotay . Tuvok notes that Darwin had no enemies and that there is no obvious motive for the crime . As Janeway is reviewing Darwin ' s Starfleet record , Torres arrives with last night ' s engineering duty logs and reports that Suder was the only person in engineering when Darwin came on duty . Torres and Chakotay tell Janeway and Tuvok that while Suder was , like most Betazoid s , normally quiet and unassuming , he seemed a little too eager to kill when he was in the Maquis during times of combat . Chakotay even goes as far to suggest that while many Maquis members joined to protect their homes and family , Suder seemed to be there so he could solely go into battle . Having once just survived a firefight together , Suder had turned to Chakotay , who could see in Suder ' s eyes that he fully intended to kill him , but then backed down . Tuvok feels that this information should have been included in Suder ' s crew evaluation , but Chakotay says that he isn ' t in the habit of including hunches in his reports , and that he didn ' t want to make life on more difficult for his Maquis crew than it was in the beginning . Tuvok calls Suder to his office for questioning . Suder claims that he was running a fuel consumption analysis for Torres at the time of the murder , and insists that he did not murder Crewman Darwin . Tuvok dismisses Suder , and The Doctor calls him to sickbay again . The Doctor shows Tuvok DNA retrieved from Darwin ' s head wound by nanite s he designed to recognize unusual DNA patterns . The nanites found DNA that didn ' t belong to him , and therefore must belong to the murderer . He hands Tuvok a PADD with the murderer ' s identity . Tuvok shows Suder the DNA evidence and reminds him that under Starfleet Directive 101 , he does not have to answer any questions and is allowed the benefit of counsel , but Suder doesn ' t see any point in continuing to lie , so he confesses to the crime and tells Tuvok where he hid the murder weapon , a two - kilogram coil spanner . He had intended for the EPS conduit to vaporize Darwin ' s body , but figures that he must have damaged it when he put the body in . Tuvok asks for the motive , and Suder responds , " " No reason . " " Tuvok refuses to accept that answer , so Suder offers , " " I didn ' t like the way he looked at me . " " Tuvok has Suder escorted from his quarters by a " Voyager " security officer while he contemplates the crewman ' s answer . Act Two . In sickbay , The Doctor confirms that the coil spanner is indeed the murder weapon , but Tuvok cannot close the case until he understands the motivation for the crime . Tuvok asks if Suder could be psychotic . Kes reports that all of Suder ' s genetic markers are normal and that he has no tendency toward bipolar disorder , but that he has elevated norepinephrine levels , indicating aggressive or violent tendencies . The Doctor notes that these results are not significantly different from those of the other Maquis crewmen and reminds Tuvok that everyone , even Vulcans , have violent instincts and while most people can easily keep them under control , it seems that Suder cannot . . . indeed , he may be telling the truth that a simple look from Darwin was enough to cause Suder to lose what little control he has . Tuvok still isn ' t satisfied . Tuvok visits Suder in the brig with Ayala guarding him , and questions him again about his motive , and Suder gives him the same answer as before . Suder asks Tuvok what his punishment will be , and says that he knows what he would do in Janeway ' s position – " " I guess I ' m lucky . The Federation doesn ' t execute people . " " Tuvok leaves the brig , but returns shortly afterward and suggests a mind meld with Suder , believing it will give him the answer he seeks and will also give Suder some of his Vulcan control . Suder agrees , and Tuvok performs the meld . Act Three . In Sandríne ' s , nobody has won Paris ' s " radiogenic sweepstakes " . Kim is unamused , and notes that Paris is the only person who wins every day . As Kim and Paris leave the holodeck , Paris considers out loud what he will replicate for lunch , thinking of adding a raktajino with whipped cream to drink . Tuvok tells Janeway about his mind meld with Suder , and reports that Suder was being truthful – he has an incredibly violent nature , with no outlet to express it , and he simply lost control . Janeway and Tuvok discuss Suder ' s punishment . They agree that keeping him in the brig is not appropriate , nor is leaving him with someone in the Delta Quadrant . Tuvok suggests execution . Janeway will not consider that idea and instead decides to confine Suder to quarters permanently under maximum security . Tuvok objects to allowing Suder the comfort of his own quarters , but Janeway says that it ' s the best they can do and that Suder may end up being there for years , maybe decades depending on how long it takes them to get home . When Tuvok still presses the point , Janeway ( disturbed that her friend would even suggest execution , let alone try to force the idea on her ) asks if he is experiencing adverse effects from the meld , and Tuvok admits to being " disconcerted " . Janeway tells him to take some time off , but Tuvok believes that he doesn ' t need it . In the mess hall , Neelix tries to get Tuvok to smile . Tuvok asks Neelix to leave him alone , but he persists , unusually violating Tuvok ' s personal space and laughing . Finally , Tuvok snaps and strangles Neelix to death . Then , he ends his holodeck program . Act Four . In Sandríne ' s , Paris asks the computer to announce the winner of today ' s sweepstakes , but it doesn ' t respond . Chakotay calls off the game , confiscates the pot , and puts Paris on report . Paris talks back to him , earning him a " thanks a lot " from Kim . Tuvok visits Suder in the brig . Suder marvels at his new - found emotion al control . Tuvok suggests various medical treatments to Suder , but Suder believes that he can learn to control himself with Tuvok ' s help . Suder guesses that having experienced his violent impulses must be difficult for Tuvok , and tells him how he sees violence as " attractive " . He requests another mind meld , but Tuvok refuses . Suder muses that mind melding might be considered a form of violence , and that it might be fatal if the melder lost control . Tuvok locks himself in his quarters , deletes his security clearance , and tells the computer to inform Janeway that he is no longer fit for duty . Act Five . Janeway lifts the security seal on Tuvok ' s quarters , and enters to find his furniture destroyed . Tuvok , lurking in the shadows , tells Janeway not to come any closer . Janeway convinces Tuvok to let her transport him to sickbay , but Tuvok requests sedation first , for the safety of the crew . The Doctor diagnoses Tuvok with a neurochemical imbalance in his mesiofrontal cortex , the psychosuppression center of his brain . The Doctor temporarily disables Tuvok ' s emotional control hoping to shock his emotional suppression systems into functioning again . Tuvok feels euphoric and wants to stay this way for a while , to " study primal Vulcan behavior " , but The Doctor cannot allow that . Tuvok threatens The Doctor and tells Janeway that her refusal to execute Suder is a sign of weakness and that she disgusts him . He offers to execute Suder himself and tries to get Kes to release the force field around the surgical bay . The treatment ends and Tuvok loses consciousness . Janeway asks how many treatments will be necessary but The Doctor says that there is no way to know . Later , Tuvok regains consciousness and breaks out of sickbay , and returns to the brig to execute Suder . Suder asks Tuvok whether he is trying to serve justice or vengeance , and warns him that if he does not control the violence , it will control him , and there will no longer be any place for him in civilized life . Tuvok initiates a mind meld with Suder , but is unable to complete the execution . Suder then contacts the bridge to request help for Tuvok . In sickbay , The Doctor tells Tuvok that his inability to kill Suder shows that his suppression systems are starting to work again , and he will make a full recovery . Tuvok apologizes to Janeway for insulting her , and tells her that he has the highest respect for her and considers her a friend . Janeway accepts his apology but orders him not to conduct any more mind melds without her permission . Memorable quotes . " " All of us have violent instincts ; we have evolved from predators . . . well , not me , of course . I ' ve just been programmed by you predators . " " " " In the Maquis , we didn ' t ask for résumés . We needed all the help we could get . " " " " I will not rest until I see you smile . " " " " Then you will not rest . " " " " DNA doesn ' t know how to lie , lieutenant . " " " " Why did you kill him , Mr . Suder ? " " " " No reason . " " " " Do you know what a mind meld is ? " " " " It ' s that Vulcan thing where you grab someone ' s head . " " " " You ' re right , " [ violence ] " is disturbing , never knowing when that impulse may come or whether or not you can control it when it does . You live on the edge of every moment , and yet , in its own way , violence is attractive , too . Maybe because it doesn ' t require logic . Perhaps that ' s why it ' s so liberating " " . " " You are not invulnerable , hologram . A few well chosen commands to the computer , and you will cease to exist . " " " " A perfectly good theory . Unfortunately , it is wrong . " " " " I remind you , I am trained in the martial arts of many Alpha Quadrant cultures . Sitting here attempting to meditate I have counted the number of ways I know of killing someone . Using just a finger , a hand , a foot . I had reached 94 , when you entered . " " " " Now " there ' s " a tough job , filling out reports . But . . . somebody ' s gotta do it . " " " " Vulcan mind melds . Utter foolishness . Anybody with an ounce of sense wouldn ' t share his brain with someone else . Would you ? I certainly wouldn ' t . And of course , when something goes wrong , and believe me it does more often than they ' d like to admit , the first thing they call out is DOCTOR ! " " " " Understand one thing , Tuvok . I can promise you this will not silent your demons . If you can ' t control the violence , the violence controls you . Be prepared to yield your entire being to it , to sacrifice your place in civilized life for you will no longer be a part of it , and there ' s no return . " Links and references . References . Alpha Quadrant ; Betazoid ; bipolar disorder ; brig ; Cardassian pinochle ; CCF ; combadge ; coup - contrecoup pattern ; crew evaluation ; ; Delta Quadrant ; DNA ; EPS conduit ; epinephrine ; euphoria ; Federation ; fuel consumption analysis ; handling fee ; holodeck ; ; Kal Rekk ; ; limbic system ; logic ; Maquis ; martial arts ; mashed potatoes ; medical tricorder ; meditation ; mesiofrontal cortex ; meter ; microscope ; Mister Vulcan ; nanite ; neurogenetic marker ; neuropeptide ; neurosynaptic therapy ; norepinephrine ; Pagan ; Paris Radiogenic Sweepstakes ; prime rib ; radiogenic particle ; raktajino ; replicator ration s ; resumé ; Rillan grease ; Rogers ; Rumarie ; Sandríne ' s ; security clearance ; security seal ; spinach ; Starfleet General Orders and Regulations ; suicide ; Talaxian ; " Val Jean " ; Vulcan ; Vulcan mind meld ; whipped cream ; Yorkshire pudding