Ensign Kim, please hold us steady. This material is extremely fragile.
Sorry. I'm doing the best I can.
Maybe I should have insisted on a more experienced pilot, like Mr Paris.
I'd give anything to trade places with him.
- Seven, can you join me? - On my way.
I don't know if I can take three more days with him.
Time might pass more easily if we disable his vocal processor.
I thought you might find this interesting.
- Preanimate biomatter. - Look deeper.
An undeveloped nucleus in a cytoplasmic matrix.
And buried deep inside that nucleus, primitive strands of DNA.
- The beginnings of life. - What's your point?
I don't see a mere cell.
I see the potential for literature and art, empires and kingdoms.
Perhaps your visual subroutines are malfunctioning.
Someday, this cytoplasmic matrix
may fall into the sea of a distant world
and ignite an evolutionary process.
Aeons from now, a creature not unlike you could emerge,
look up at the stars and ask, who am I?
How did I come to be?
It's the miracle of creation. Doesn't that excite you?
- I asked you to hold us steady. - We're under attack.
This is the Federation ship, Delta Flyer.
We're on a peaceful mission.
You're transporting a photonic insurgent.
Drop shields. Prepare to be boarded.
Photonic insurgent?
The hologram? He's our doctor.
- We've lost thrusters. - I'll reinitialise the driver coils.
Voyager, this is Flyer. Mayday.
Communication is off-line.
It's a tractor beam.
Remodulate shields to break us free.
Shields are down.
What's happening?
They're using a disruption field.
It's decompiling your matrix.
Power down your systems.
Prepare to surrender the photonic.
They're pulling us in. Hide the Doctor.
Do something, please.
We're here for the insurgent.
Where's the photonic?
You decompiled his matrix.
Seven?
I'm sorry. There wasn't enough time.
Biogenic material. Used to create viral weapons.
Confiscate it.
Our doctor was creating new medicines,
not weapons.
What's this?
It's my portable regeneration unit.
I have a unique physiology. This device maintains my cybernetic systems.
- Have this analysed. - Yes, sir.
- There's no-one else aboard. - Take them to detention.
- Secure their ship in the docking bay. - Let us go.
Transporting photonics and making biogenic weapons are serious charges.
Let's go.
I want to talk to your superior.
Careful. You'll fracture a metacarpal.
That'd be the least of our problems.
The situation is not as desperate as it appears.
"Not as desperate"? We're prisoners on an alien ship,
Voyager has no idea we're missing and the Doctor's been decompiled.
The reports of my decompilation have been greatly exaggerated.
Doc?
Please state the nature of the medical emergency.
Seven downloaded my program into her cybernetic matrix.
An interesting sensation.
- You're in control of Seven's body? - Total control, it seems.
- Is Seven all right? - I scanned her.
Physiologically, she's fine. As for her consciousness, it's submerged.
I'm not sure till I vacate her systems and conduct a neurological exam.
We need the mobile emitter.
This'll make a fascinating article in the Starfleet Medical Journal.
OW!
Careful. It's not your body, remember?
I know Seven's senses were more acute than the average humanoid,
but I had no idea. What is that?
- What? - That smell.
- I don't smell anything. - Could be an airborne toxin.
Do you think they're trying to poison us?
It's you.
It's been a busy day. I'm perspiring a little.
A little?
Seven's had a busy day and she's smelling like the proverbial rose.
Captain's log, stardate 54238.3.
We've completed our lay over at the Maldorian station
and we're on our way to the Delta Flyer.
We expect to reach them in 48 hours.
Headache, fever, respiratory distress, tremors.
- It looks like some kind of virus. - It is not a virus.
Want to tell me what's going on?
In the Doctor's database, you'll find a medication under file theta 12 alpha.
Please replicate it immediately.
I can't give out medicine without knowing what it's for.
If you must know, I am suffering from a neuro-chemical imbalance.
- An imbalance. - It is native to my species.
This wouldn't be the kind of imbalance that comes around every seven years?
My Pon farr is in the early stages. The urges are still controllable.
You never fail to amaze me.
A man of your advanced years still driven by the mating instinct?
Unlike in humans, the Vulcan libido increases with time.
There has to be a reward for all that Vulcan discipline.
The Doctor anticipated my needs and developed a treatment.
Combined with meditation, it will enable me to control the symptoms.
If that doesn't work, there's always a cold sonic shower.
I'll tell the captain you'll be out of commission a few days.
She will want to know why.
According to my tricorder, all we have here is a mild case of the Tarkalean flu.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Mmm.
I had no idea eating was such a sensual experience.
The tastes, the textures. Feeling it slide down the oesophagus. It's exquisite.
They're prison rations. My uniform tastes better.
On Voyager, perhaps you and Seven could modify my physical parameters.
- Why? - So I can eat like the other crew.
You don't have a stomach. Where's the food gonna go?
We can construct a holographic stomach to store the food for recycling.
Maybe we should focus on something productive, like getting out of here.
Relax. Our shipmates have never let us down before.
I'm sure the captain will clear up this misunderstanding.
In the meantime, are you going to finish that?
You. Come with us.
I'm the senior officer. Take me.
- My orders were specific. - Don't worry, Ensign.
I can take care of myself.
My compliments to the chef.
The prisoner, sir.
Pulse-phased weapons?
Duranium-enforced hull?
More sophisticated than a typical smuggler's vessel.
How many ways do you want me to say this? We are not smugglers or terrorists.
We are explorers. Let us contact our ship. Our captain will explain.
If you are innocent, you won't mind telling me more about this vessel.
For instance, this device. What does it do?
- That's a standard food replicator. - Can it create bio-weapons?
Not unless you count Mr Neelix's Bolian soufflé.
Let me show you. Computer, one slice of New York cheesecake.
This is an old Earth delicacy.
How do I know you're not trying to poison me?
Please.
Mmm.
Mmm!
Oh! Oh, I never imagined.
Is this the first time you've tried that?
Of course not.
It's just that I usually avoid foods that are this rich.
I do have a figure to maintain.
I'd better get another for you. Computer, another slice of cheesecake.
Here.
Mmm.
What other foods can that device create?
Hmm?
In the collective, we assimilated thousands of cultures,
from one end of the galaxy to the other.
I'll say this for the Borg. We certainly do travel.
Of course, my life didn't truly begin till I came aboard Voyager.
I met the person who changed my life.
The only one who truly believed in me, saw my true potential.
- Your captain. - Our doctor.
That's right. The photonic.
If only you could have known him. Ruggedly handsome.
A sharp wit, a towering intellect.
If he and I hadn't been colleagues...
Now we'll never know what heights he could have reached.
I hope you understand, I had no choice.
Just following orders. I've heard that before.
Maybe there's something I could do for you.
I'll speak to my superiors, ask for leniency.
- If I survive that long. - What do you mean?
My cybernetic components are already depolarising.
I need my regeneration device.
As you can see, my motor functions are already impaired.
If I give this back to you...
...will you do something for me?
It was so nice of you to escort me.
Nice to see you, Ensign.
- Are you drunk? - It wasn't my fault.
Seven's physiology doesn't react well to synthehol.
- What happened? - We shared a meal aboard the Flyer.
- He's really a gentleman. - You had a date in Seven's body?
It wasn't a date. It was a tactic to win the trust of our captors.
And it worked.
- I won't ask what you did to get it. - Nothing unladylike.
They lost their medic recently. I offered to take his place.
Let's download your program before they change their mind.
Be careful where you point those tubules.
Easy. How do you feel?
- I'm impaired. - You've had a shock to your system.
- Let me explain what happened. - I know what happened.
You've been abusing my body.
- I'm a doctor! - Sssh!
I would never abuse your body. I was trying to get information.
A glass of wine can loosen the tongue.
One glass. That doesn't excuse the other eight.
- Was it that many? - You were aware of everything?
Painfully.
The role of spy wasn't written into my program. I was forced to improvise.
You improvised your way through an entire cheesecake
as well as three servings of Ktarian chocolate puffs.
I suffer the consequences.
I apologise if I over-indulged. I'll be more careful next time.
There won't be a next time.
I'll be discovered. They'll decompile my program.
I know this is difficult for you, but you'll have to put up with it till we get out.
- How do you propose we do that? - You can tap into their com system.
Deciphering alien computers isn't my forte.
But it is one of mine. If you can get close enough,
I'll observe their command protocols.
- What's the situation? - The Captain wants the female.
We should proceed.
You're saving my life. I want you to know how grateful I am.
Try to remember that the next time you're tempted to over-indulge.
The photonic's weapon attacks the cerebral cortex.
Victims suffer complete synaptic failure.
If we can't stop the virus, we can slow it down. We need a neural inhibitor.
Forgive me, but aren't you the tactical officer?
Tactical officer, medic, engineer. We lost a third of our crew to photonics.
You know your way around a medical bay. You've missed your true calling.
Emmik thought I'd become a teacher. He called me the little professor.
- Who's Emmik? - Photonic who raised my brother and I.
He knew more about treating scrapes and bruises than any organic doctor.
- Sounds like someone I'd enjoy meeting. - Maybe.
- Before he joined the insurgency. - Why did he do that?
I ask myself that question every day.
We never treated him like a servant, but he turned against us anyway.
Is it possible that he felt subjugated?
I don't see how. He lived his own life, pursued his own interests.
He was part of our family, at least I thought he was.
We should get back to the patient.
It could take a day to determine if the inhibitor is working.
- Thank you. - Don't thank me, thank my ship's doctor.
He taught me all I know about medicine. Remember, he was a photonic.
Actually, you have a lot in common with him. He was a Jack of all trades, too.
I suspect you would have got along famously.
I'm certain he would have taken a liking to you.
Your neurotransmitters aren't absorbing the medication.
- Can you increase the dosage? - Not without damaging the neocortex.
The doc may synthesize a stronger medicine.
I'll make the best of the situation until he returns.
I do have one area of expertise that might help. The holodeck.
- I am a married man. - It's the holodeck.
It doesn't count.
Is that what you tell your wife?
Of course not. My days of rescuing slave girls from Planet 10 are history.
Look. You have photographs of your wife, right?
The computer can use them to create a replica.
It's not breaking your vows if it's a hologram of your wife.
As it was in the dawn of our days, as it will be for all tomorrows.
To you, husband, I consecrate all that I am.
T'pel, my wife. From you I receive all that I am.
As it was in the beginning, so shall it be now.
Two bodies, one mind.
I'm picking up a vessel, closing at high impulse.
They're firing.
- Shields are holding. - Open a channel.
This is Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager.
- We're on a peaceful mission. - We've detected photonic activity.
- Prepare to be boarded. - Photonic activity?
- Tuvok. He's in holodeck 2. - They're firing again.
It's a photonic disruptor directed at holodeck 2.
Target their weapons array... and fire.
- They're hailing. - On screen.
Prepare to receive our inspection teams.
You can't make demands. Why did you fire on us?
You're carrying photonics in Lokirrim space.
We didn't realise it was forbidden. We'd be happy to shut down our holodecks.
Your sensors will confirm deactivation.
You're still required to submit to inspection.
Your sensors should also confirm our weapons are ready to fire.
We're both reasonable people. I suggest a compromise.
Your vessel will escort us through the territory. You can keep an eye on us.
Make sure we don't reactivate our holodecks.
The other alternative is we destroy your ship.
Your proposal is acceptable.
Sometimes, diplomacy requires a little sabre-rattling.
Begin long-range scans.
I picture them now. My father, in his airponics bay, pruning his cona vines.
My mother, reading in her favourite chair. Nothing in that home changes.
It must be comforting having that to go back to.
I've never been away this long before.
His progress is remarkable.
I'm going to tell my superiors everything you've done for us.
First Ranek, now you.
I may become the first prisoner of war to be decorated by his captors.
I know someone who'd really enjoy meeting you.
Who?
My brother, Lohden.
- Your brother? - You'd like him.
He's ambitious, accomplished, and he'd love your sense of humour.
Apparently, it's my most attractive quality.
Seven of Nine, please report to the bridge.
Let me guess, your crew decided to abandon ship.
I wanted to thank you. I had a wonderful time the other night.
It's not often that I indulge myself like that.
I remembered your interest in stellar phenomenon.
So I requested a course change to show you something.
What is it?
To an astronomer, it's a pulsar cluster. But poets call it the "window of dreams".
- You'll never see anything else like it. - Lovely.
It's the pulsar's EM fields vibrating against our hull.
I once thought this was the most beautiful sight in the sector.
I see now that I was wrong.
Hmm.
I almost forgot.
I promised a friend I'd go easy on the synthehol.
Do you hear that? It's identical to the rhythm produced by the Ktarian heart.
Something wrong?
Rapid pulse, respiratory distress. You may be having a reaction to the pulsar.
- We should get you to the medical bay. - I'm not going to the medical bay.
You can stare down the barrel of cannon, but you won't have an exam.
I don't need an exam to know what I'm suffering from.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.
- I've never met a woman like you. - Because there are no women like me.
Is something wrong?
Ranek summoned me under the pretext of a little star gazing.
What he wanted was to use my face as a tongue depressor.
- I'm surprised. - It was inappropriate.
That would get a Starfleet captain reassigned to a garbage scow.
I'm not defending what he did, but we've been out here for a long time.
It's difficult to hide feelings when you work with someone you're attracted to.
You have feelings for him?
I've known lotharios like Ranek. You don't want anything to do with him.
You need someone who can appreciate your many talents.
Someone overflowing with intelligence and compassion.
Someone capable... Ow!
- It looks like a spasm. - I had no idea it was so excruciating.
That's what happens when you work so long without rest.
Our last medic showed me a technique. I'll try it.
Please. Anything.
That feels wonderful.
- Did I hurt you? - No.
Then what's wrong?
There's something you don't know about me. Something I have to tell you.
- It's all right. I know. - You do? How could you?
Your cybernetic implants? Your portable regenerator?
- You won't tell anyone, will you? - I'd never say anything to the crew.
- But Ranek knows. - He does?
Of course. It was apparent the moment we scanned you.
- I can't believe you didn't say anything. - It wouldn't have been appropriate.
You're part Borg. It's nothing to be ashamed of.
- Security to medical bay. - This is Jaryn.
The prisoner is ill. He's requesting treatment by his crewmate.
Agh! Agh!
Ensign.
Oh! Agh!
Where have you been? I had to fake a seizure to see you.
Calm down. Seven and I have been making progress.
Did you get a look at their computer?
When the Doctor wasn't indulging himself.
I think I've shown restraint, under the circumstances.
- Kissing is your idea of restraint? - Kissing?
Not that it's your business, but if you must know, Ranek kissed me.
- And the massage from Jaryn? - Entirely therapeutic.
You became sexually aroused in my body.
When did it become a crime to enjoy a sensation?
- But you wouldn't understand that. - What do you mean?
The whole world is full of sensations, but you insist on denying yourself.
Instead of replicating caviar, you choose nutritional supplement 13.
- Caviar is an indulgence. - Indulgences make life worth living.
These last few days have been a revelation. Feeling your lungs fill with air.
The surge of adrenalin through your veins. I never knew what I was missing.
You were better off not knowing.
We're quite a pair. Me trapped by photons and force fields,
you by a drone's obsession with efficiency.
- You'd make an excellent hologram. - All right. Listen.
Argue when we get back to Voyager. But that won't happen without a plan.
- Did you learn about their com system? - It's accessed from the bridge.
I saw Ranek's command codes.
If we can get them to Voyager, they can disable shields and beam us out.
How are we going to do that?
- The subspace transceiver on the Flyer. - Can you get aboard?
- It's heavily guarded. - I can get us aboard.
Captain, may I speak with you?
Privately.
- I owe you an apology. - I acted inappropriately.
A kiss is hardly a court martial offence. You caught me by surprise.
- I won't make that mistake again. - Perhaps we should start over.
- What did you have in mind? - We'll have a toast.
I thought...
Oh, I can make an exception for a special occasion.
Computer, champagne. Two glasses.
To new beginnings.
Maybe there is some hope for us yet.
As I've discovered recently, anything is possible.
Computer, dim the lights.
Play EMH music file gamma 12.
This is interesting.
It's called a waltz, something else I learned from our doctor.
- Captain, come to the bridge. - What is it?
- We have an encrypted transmission. - I'll be right there.
You're not leaving.
I'll be back as soon as I can.
I really think you should stay.
Never play hard to get with a hologram.
Still no sign of the Flyer's warp signature.
I appreciate your sense of duty but we can handle the situation without you.
Under the circumstances, abandoning my post would be dereliction of duty.
My illness is in the early stages. I can control it.
If I remember correctly, the last time you came down with the flu
was seven years ago.
When this is over, the holodeck is at your disposal.
There you are. A person in your condition really ought to be in bed.
This is my grandma's recipe, guaranteed to cure even the most stubborn flu.
- Smell that? - I don't smell anything.
Exactly. I prepared it just the way you like it.
No herbs or spices of any kind. It's practically tasteless.
We're receiving a hail. It's the Delta Flyer.
On screen.
- Good to see you. - There's no time for pleasantries.
We're being held prisoner on a patrol ship. I'm sending you our location
and command codes to disable their shields.
- Are the Doctor and Harry OK? - Ensign Kim is his usual chipper self.
I'm looking forward to a long, uneventful shift in sickbay.
- Doctor? - It's a long story, Captain.
Delta Flyer out.
- They may be in trouble. - Set a course.
Our escort won't take kindly to a detour.
- What's the status of their weapons? - They've repaired forward phasers.
Target their power matrix. We may only get one shot. Make it count.
- Ready. - Do it.
- Direct hit. - Get us out of here. Maximum warp.
What's wrong with him?
Captain Ranek has an even lower tolerance for synthehol than I do.
- That doesn't sound like him. - It's not something he'd admit.
We should keep this between us.
- What are you doing? - Reviving him.
I wouldn't recommend that.
Take her to detention. And separate her from the other prisoner.
There are traces of sedative in your blood stream.
What was your plan? To aid the insurgents?
- There was no plan. - We trusted you.
I'm still a prisoner. Despite our friendship, my first obligation is escape.
We were going to be lenient.
If you knew who I was, you wouldn't help me.
- Alien vessel approaching. - I want her where I can see her.
- They're raising shields. - Stand by with those command codes.
This is Captain Kathryn Janeway. We don't want a fight.
Return my people.
Your people were transporting a photonic and biogenic material.
We don't want to disable your ship, but we will if we have to.
- We're losing our ventral shield grid. - Compensate.
They tapped into the matrix. They're using your command authorisation.
They're rerouting power. He's tying shields into the warp matrix.
If you fire, you'll trigger a core breach.
- You'll kill people you want to rescue. - End transmission.
Tractor beam.
Full reverse. Target emitters.
They've broken free.
Chakotay, can you send a com signal directly to Seven's cortical node?
Doctor, if you can hear me, we need your help.
Try to disable their shields.
It's a photonic.
Cover me.
Stay back. I'm not afraid to use this.
Step away.
She destabilised the shield grid. It's failing.
Watch them.
If you reinitialise the grid, it'll overload. We could all die.
Ranek, don't.
- Stay back. - I'm a doctor. Let me help.
- Their shields are down. I have a lock. - Away team, stand by.
I have injured here. I can't leave yet.
He'll die without surgery. This is difficult to grasp
but I'm the person you've been getting to know.
- My program controlled Seven's body. - You're lying.
I know you have feelings for Ranek. If he dies, you'll never forgive yourself.
Your vital signs are stable.
I suppose I should be grateful.
A "thank you" is customary after someone saves your life.
What happened was between me and Seven of Nine, not you.
Sorry you feel that way. The truth is, aside from a few awkward moments,
I enjoyed our time together.
There are many women who would appreciate an attractive man like you.
I'm just not one of them.
More of our vessels are on the way. You should leave while you can.
Thank you.
I guess you won't be introducing me to your brother.
I'm not sure you're the kind of person he's interested in.
You mean because I'm a hologram.
I don't imagine this experience is going to change your feelings about photonics
but I wanted you to know
I'm grateful for the time we've spent together.
You're a talented doctor. We're the ones who should be grateful.
I'm glad I could help.
Doctor to Voyager, one to beam out.
Commander. It's good to see you're over the flu.
Thank you for your assistance.
Don't mention it. I hope everything was OK.
Not exactly. My wife's ears are 4mm shorter than your facsimiles.
I took a little artistic license. Aside from that, was everything OK?
The hologram was adequate but no substitute for my wife.
Of course not.
Please state the nature of the medical emergency.
There isn't one... yet.
The mess hall is three decks up.
In case you've forgotten, I've lost my appetite permanently.
That doesn't mean you're incapable of enjoying a meal.
Foie gras with truffles, an ancient Earth delicacy.
Chateau D'Yquem. On the culinary database, the ideal accompaniment.
Not your usual fare.
It's come to my attention that nutritional supplements don't fully meet my needs.
- I see. - I thought we'd share this experience.
I'll describe the meal to you - the tastes, the sensations.
Perhaps you can enjoy it vicariously.
What about the wine? It doesn't exactly agree with you.
If I become sick, I won't have far to go.
To shared experiences.
Hear, hear.