Barge of the Dead ( episode ) B ' Elanna Torres dies in a shuttle accident , and finds herself headed for " Gre ' thor " , the afterlife for dishonored Klingons . Summary . Teaser . B ' Elanna Torres is returning from an away mission to retrieve the ' s multispatial probe . Opposing Captain Janeway ' s direct orders , she pursues the probe into an ion storm . Torres ' shuttlecraft takes heavy damage , and she contacts " Voyager " . The craft has lost helm control , and is venting plasma from the port nacelle . " Voyager " tractors her shuttle into the shuttlebay , where it crash - lands . Tom Paris examines her , and is found that she has a concussion . After she has recovered enough , Torres gets a thorough talking to by Janeway on following orders , and the dangers of flying into an ion storm . Curiously , Janeway refers to Torres as " Lanna " , something which Torres notes only her mother did . Chakotay approaches Torres when she is back in her quarters reading from a PADD , and shows her an artifact that was lodged in the port nacelle . The item appears to be Klingon in origin , and quite a few centuries old . After Chakotay leaves , Torres puts the artifact on her table . It begins to bleed and voices of Klingons can be heard . Act One . In main engineering , Torres and Ensign Kim are analyzing the artifact , trying to figure out how a hunk of metal could bleed . Kim suggests that Torres was just hallucinating , but Torres denies that , and insists on a submolecular scan . Kim insists that it ' s just a piece of metal , citing lack of fluid and vapor residue . Suddenly , Neelix appears to congratulate Torres on her discovery . He reveals that he also planning a party to commemorate the find , but Torres sees no point in it . Neelix goes on to cite Klingon lore which he has been doing some research and comments that " " It ' s a piece of the Alpha Quadrant . A symbol of " Voyager " ' s home " " . Torres goes to Tuvok to get a logical point of view . He suggests that it ' s an " unwelcome reminder of the self - loathing " of Torres ' Klingon half . Torres refutes that claim , but Tuvok explains that it is not a secret that she hates her Klingon half . Torres proves rather uncooperative with the meditation procedure Tuvok has placed , so he goes with a different method – he brings out a " bat ' leth " . He tries to get her to connect with the procedure by displaying elegance with the " bat ' leth " , and by cutting her face . He says that a true Klingon would try to kill him where he stood , and dismisses her . Torres decides to attend the celebration Neelix has organized with Paris . They see The Doctor singing Klingon drinking song s to Seven of Nine , who fails to see the merit of learning them , but is coerced into singing them with The Doctor . Paris is then offered some replicated " gagh " by Neelix . Torres expresses her disgust for everyone " going Klingon - happy . " Janeway says a few words for the Klingon Empire , but Torres starts to hallucinate , seeing several Klingon warriors strike down the crew present . She falls , but gets up , and asks where she is . She is told that " the dead ask no questions . " Act Two . Torres is taken to who seems to be the head of the boat that she is on , where she is branded with the insignia of the Empire , but it does not show up . She is let down near another Klingon , who explains that they are on the Barge of the Dead , where they are being taken to " Gre ' thor " . She starts to hear voices , but they are not real ; they are trying to lure her to them . Another Klingon on board jumps overboard , where he is attacked by " Kos ' Karii " . Torres is taken to Kortar , where she is told that it is not her time , but that she has been close to it several times . Torres sees a " bat ' leth " and tries to assault Kortar , but he laughs and tells her he is already dead . Another dishonored soul is then delivered to the Barge ; it is Torres ' mother , Miral . Torres then suddenly regains consciousness in sickbay . Act Three . In sickbay , Paris and The Doctor explain to Torres what really happened : her shuttle was on the trailing edge of an ion storm , and had lost life support . When the shuttle was tractored into the shuttlebay , she was in a coma , and had almost died . Paris also reveals that there was no Klingon artifact . While in her quarters , Chakotay comes to check in on Torres . Torres explains to him what she experienced ; she thinks that she died , went to the Klingon Barge of the Dead , and saw her mother there . Chakotay tells her it is psychosomatic – her brain trying to deal with the trauma of near death . She cannot accept that , and thinks that the experience must be real , and that there isn ' t any symbolism behind it . Torres says that her mother has been on her mind and that the experience was very realistic . In engineering , Paris comes to visit Torres , who is reading the " Paq ' batlh " , an ancient Klingon scroll . It states why her mother is being sent to " Gre ' thor " : because of Torres ' dishonor , her mother is being punished . Paris denounces this theory , but Torres cites more Klingon scripture , and concludes that the only way to get her mother out of " Gre ' thor " and into " Sto - vo - kor " is to return to the Barge of the Dead . Torres goes to Captain Janeway to get permission to be put back in the trance she was in during the shuttle accident , but Janeway is not convinced of the procedure ' s safety . She says that she is not willing to put Torres in a coma , just because of her spiritual beliefs . After a somewhat lengthy debate on freedom of worship , the validity of Torres ' claim , and what may become of her mother , Janeway reluctantly agrees . In sickbay , Paris is surprised to hear that the captain authorized such a thing . He suggests church , and then suggests becoming more in tune with her beliefs together , but Torres says that this is the only way . The captain enters , and after a report from The Doctor , the procedure begins . She has an hour to spend on the barge . Her synaptic activity momentarily dips below the recommended levels , but The Doctor compensates . Torres finds herself back on the barge , wearing a Klingon uniform . Act Four . After evading being seen , Torres enters the lower level of the barge . She finds her mother , who first suspects that she is another illusion , but is revealed that it is really her , on the barge . Torres explains that she is here to lift Miral ' s dishonor , and that she has changed her views on Klingon spirituality . Miral claims that it is Torres ' fault that they are both on the barge , and has not changed , regardless of what happened . An argument between the two ensues . Eventually , Torres ' father is brought up . Miral claims that he abandoned them , and that she tried to give Torres honor . Torres laments that they are on the Barge of the Dead , and still arguing about the same thing they did ten years ago . Torres apologizes , but Miral is reluctant to accept it . Torres wants to perform the transference before The Doctor revives her , but Miral resents the fact that Torres chose the " easy way , " and says that Torres still doesn ' t know what being a Klingon is about . Just then , two guards come down , and bring Torres above . Torres is brought to Kortar , where she wishes to perform the transference . Kortar accepts Torres ' wish , and when they reach " Gre ' thor " , Miral will be released to " Sto - Vo - Kor " , and Torres placed in " Gre ' thor " . However , Kortar knows of the plan to revive Torres before she reaches " Gre ' thor " . Kortar seeming amused asked if she truly believed he could be deceived so easily . Torres says that she is willing to put herself in her mother ' s place , and not be revived by The Doctor . Miral objects , even forbids this , but the transference is completed , and Miral is sent to " Sto - Vo - Kor " . The barge then arrives at the gates of " Gre ' thor " , and Torres accepts her fate . Back in sickbay , Paris exclaims that her neural patterns are breaking down . The Doctor initiates the resuscitation , and vents the ionized particles that put her in the coma . That doesn ' t appear to work , and The Doctor injects twenty milligrams of cordrazine into Torres . At the gates of " Gre ' thor " , Torres sees Tuvok holding a " bat ' leth " . He strikes her , and Torres awakens in sickbay , still bearing the mark her mother had , and still wearing the Klingon uniform . Neelix and The Doctor approach Torres , and welcome her to " Gre ' thor " . Act Five . Torres does not accept that she is in " Gre ' thor " , but The Doctor shows her the mark . She thinks that it is some kind of joke , but Neelix assures her that it is no laughing matter . Neelix remarks on " Voyager " s layout , and implies that Torres won ' t be going anywhere . Torres remarks that " Voyager " isn ' t her idea of Hell , but the doctor asks her if she ever truly felt fully happy there . Neelix brings her to the mess hall , where Seven and The Doctor are singing Klingon drinking songs , and Janeway says a toast to Torres ' dishonor . In the real sickbay , Torres is not responding to the cordrazine , and her neural activity continues to fall . The Doctor attempts a direct neural re - sequencing . " Gre ' thor " s Janeway remarks on Torres ' dull life , with nothing to celebrate . " Gre ' thor " s Harry Kim remarks on Torres ' isolated nature , keeping everyone " at arm ' s length . " Chakotay asks her what she thinks of " Gre ' thor " so far . She sees Tuvok holding a " bat ' leth " again . He lunges at Torres , where she finds herself back on the barge . Her mother is there , which confuses Torres , who thinks that she released her mother to " Sto - Vo - Kor " . Miral says that she cannot be freed until Torres frees herself from " Gre ' thor " , which confuses Torres even more . Miral states that Torres never understood . Torres is informed that it is not her time , and the ritual is meaningless . Miral cannot reveal how she can get out of " Gre ' thor " . She tells her to " choose to live , " and leaves saying that they will meet again . Torres asks if in Sto - Vo - Kor . Miral says possibly or maybe when she gets back to earth , implying she may herself be alive In sickbay , Torres ' neural activity continues to drop . The Doctor tries a cortical stimulation , but it is not promising . Torres follows her mother outside , but is met by " Voyager " s senior staff , and Tuvok tells her to defend herself . She lunges at Tuvok , but does not strike him . Janeway tells her that her anger has consumed her , and is starting to consume them . Seven says she has condemned them all . The Doctor remarks that misery loves company . Torres wants to know desperately what they want , but Miral says that they don ' t want anything but herself . The crew says that they are not enemies , to " defend herself . " Torres is exhausted , " tired of fighting . " Her mother says that she has taken the first step of her journey , and that they will meet in " Sto - Vo - Kor " , or perhaps when they get home . Torres wakes up in sickbay , and is welcomed back by Janeway . Memorable quotes . " " B ' Elanna ? Are you alive ? " " " " You tell me . " " " " Remind me to plant a flag on behalf of the Empire . " " " " Think ' Qapla ' ! ' Think ' Long live the Empire ! " ' " " " Think again . " " " " And if you even think of joining in on this " embrace your heritage " nonsense , I swear I ' ll rip out your tongue and wear it as a belt . " " " " Oh no , there ' s not a lot of Klingon in you ! " " " " I inherited the forehead and the bad attitude . That ' s it . " " " " One minute , you ' re in a coma , the next you ' re a born - again Klingon ? I don ' t get it ! " " " " Daughter of Miral , embrace your fate . " " " " You ' ve met Mr . Neelix , our ambassador to the recently deceased . Questions , comments , suggestions , he ' s your man . " " " " Fifteen decks , computers augmented with bio - neural circuitry , top cruising speed of warp 9 . 975 . . . not that you ' ll be going anywhere . " " " " She comes to us with no valor , no glory . Nothing to celebrate in song or story . " " " " I don ' t consider " Voyager " Hell ! " " " " Do you believe in an afterlife ? " " " " I accept there are things in the universe that can ' t be scanned with a tricorder . " " " " What do you want ? ! " " " " Who are you asking ? " " " " You ! Kahless ! The tooth fairy ! Anybody who will tell me what I am supposed to do ! " " " " Tell me what it is that you want from me ! " " " " We only want you . " " " " Ah . . , Light of my life ! ' " Links and references . References . 2366 ; afterlife ; Alpha Quadrant ; aria ; arresting field ; assimilation ; Barge of the Dead ; " bat ' leth " ; Belief system ; ; Cavern of Despair ; Chakotay ' s grandfather ; child sacrifice ; coma ; concussion ; cordrazine ; cubic meter ; Delta Quadrant ; direct neural resequencing ; Eleventh Tome of Klavek ; " Faust " ; drowning ; Federation ; " Fek ' lhr " ; freedom of worship ; " gagh " ; " Gre ' thor " ; gullet ; holodeck ; ion storm ; Kahless ; kinesthetic agent ; Klingon ; Klingon drinking song ; Klingon mythology ; Klingonese ; Knife of Kirom ; Kortar ' s mate ; " Kos ' Karii " ; lung s ; Maquis ; millijoule ; mongrel ; monkey wrench ; Morath ; multispatial probe ; nacelle ; " naj " ; necrosis ; " Paq ' batlh " ; " petaQ " ; plasma cooker ; pulsar ; River Skral ; Sarpek the Fearless ; Sea of Gatan ; spirit realm ; " Sto - vo - kor " ; submolecular scan ; " targ " ; " Tooth Fairy " ; ; tractor pulse ; tricorder ; wolf