New man coming!
- Get out of my way! - There he is!
Get out of my way!
Here he comes! Get ready!
Hurry up!
- New prisoner! - Hey, something's coming...
Take his boots!
Kill him!
Get out of my way.
Kill him! Kill him!
Tom.
Nobody touch him. He's mine.
Wait. This is a mistake. I don't belong here!
You don't? I'll just take you home then. All right?
This one's mine.
I say he's not.
He's the reason that I'm here.
He was my partner in a bombing.
We killed 47 patrollers at Akritiri. 47!
And then this scum confessed to the Tribunal and gave them my name.
So I'm telling you again, he's mine.
I'm keeping him.
Take him.
For now.
- Did you have to hit me so hard? - Don't let them think you're soft.
Thanks for the tip. Is there any food?
I haven't eaten since I got here.
- How long is that? - Couple of days.
Some shore leave, huh? What happened to you after they split us up?
The Akritirians interrogated me.
When I wouldn't confess to the bombing, they dragged me in front of a judge.
He said you'd confessed for both of us, then he pronounced me guilty.
That's exactly what happened to me.
Then I woke up at the bottom of the chute to that welcoming party.
We've got to explain to somebody that there's been a mistake.
- Who did you have in mind? - A guard, the warden.
Haven't seen anybody like that.
A prison without guards?
The other inmates say this place is 300 metres underground.
Huh, maybe the Akritirians figure guards aren't necessary.
- Can I have some more? - This isn't a hotel! There isn't any more!
Take it easy.
I'm sorry. I'm really starting to get edgy.
I think it's the clamp.
The what?
That's what the prisoners call it. Everybody has one.
- What is it? - Some kind of synaptic stimulator.
It's affecting my nervous system.
I've been getting jumpier ever since I got here, and this thing itches like crazy.
- What do you think it's for? - Maybe it's a torture device.
- We could try taking them out. - No! I saw someone try it.
It killed him!
What we have to do is find a way out of this place.
- Let's get something straight first. - What?
The next time you take a swing at me, I'm hitting back.
- What's that? - Another prisoner maybe.
Food!
Join me for dinner?
Oh, there's got to be more!
I don't think he was gonna eat it anyway, do you?
He's dead.
I think I've lost my appetite.
Captain's log, stardate 50156.2.
After 72 hours, Lieutenant Paris and Ensign Kim are still missing,
and I'm losing patience with the Akritirians.
They're denying us access to the surface
and won't confirm whether our crewmen were killed.
Anything?
I have completed a full sensor sweep, including a subsurface scan.
I still cannot locate them.
Captain, Ambassador Liria is hailing us.
On screen. I'm only in a mood for good news today, Ambassador.
- I'm afraid I can't oblige. - Are you saying they're dead?
- No, they're very much alive. - Then where are they?
They have been convicted of bombing the Laktivia recreational facility,
which resulted in the death of 47 off-duty patrollers.
My people had nothing to do with this attack.
We found chemical traces of explosives on their hands and clothing.
I'm sure the same could be said of anyone who was near the explosion.
The explosive was trilithium based.
There is no source of trilithium anywhere in our system.
So you can imagine our surprise
when our investigation revealed that your ship is powered by dilithium,
which our scientists tell us is convertible into trilithium.
We have suspected that the Open Sky terrorists had off-world collaborators.
Now we know who they are.
Captain, two Akritirian ships are approaching at bearing 271, mark 64.
Prepare your ship for inspection.
If it will help confirm our innocence, I'll consider it.
But first I want to talk to my people immediately.
Communication with inmates is not permitted.
You're going to have to do better than that.
Perhaps you've misunderstood me. Let me clarify our position.
Your vessel is impounded. You are under arrest. Prepare to be boarded.
Their ships are powering weapons.
Mr Tuvok, raise shields. Mr Chakotay, take the conn.
I'd like to resolve this situation peacefully, but let me clarify my position.
I will not allow this ship to be boarded.
That, Captain, is an error in judgment.
Captain, should I return fire?
That won't help us to get Tom and Harry back.
Get us out of here, Commander.
What took you so long? I've been back at least half an hour.
You're starting to feel it, aren't you?
I guess I am.
It gets worse all the time. We have to fight it.
Let's focus on something positive.
How about a seven-course dinner?
I suppose you didn't find any food.
I found close to 50 good citizens in this quaint little community,
but not a grocer among them.
I take it that's a "no".
But if we ever do get our hands on some food, I found a lovely spot for a picnic.
Great. All we need are the Delaney sisters and we could make a day of it.
So how about you? Come across anything interesting?
If you mean an escape route, I ran into nothing but solid walls.
Me too. The only way to the surface is that chute in the main chamber.
We'd get fried by that force field. You saw what happened to the man.
That's where this might come in handy.
If we could find some loose wiring,
you might be able to short out the force field long enough for us to get in.
- It's worth a try. - Yeah.
Now if we could short out these implants, we'd be all set.
- They didn't follow us. - They're not interested in the truth.
We've got to go back for Harry and Tom.
If we return to Akritirian space, we are sure to encounter further hostilities.
Let's concentrate on proving Harry and Tom's innocence.
- How do we do that? - The explosive was trilithium based.
Finding the source may lead us to the real bombers.
Liria was right. There's no trilithium in this sector.
What about paralithium?
It's used as a fuel for some propulsion systems,
and it can be converted into trilithium.
Review our sensor logs of ships in Akritirian space while we were in orbit.
If anybody's using paralithium for fuel,
I want to know who they are and where they went.
Come on, come on, come on.
Take it easy. You'll get it.
Damn! I can't think! I can't concentrate!
OK, OK. Concentrate on this.
Um, crown roast of lamb...
with a bed of wild rice,
and a 2296 Chateau Lafite Rothschild...
at the real Sandrine's.
Or how about shrimp with fettran sauce,
flambé noodles and fudge ripple pudding.
Good one.
OK. A... couple of barbecued T-bone steaks
with... baked Risan beans and... cherry pie for dessert.
Let's see you top that one.
Right now, I'm so hungry I could eat a bowl of Neelix's leola root stew.
Me too. Never thought I'd say that.
I'm ready to give it a try.
So far, so good.
Are you OK?
- What are you doing? - Just out for a little stroll.
Move it!
What's that?
- A pipe. - Let's see it.
I'd really recommend that you stay out of my way.
You should have thought of that before you took him!
Come on, Tom.
Tom!
Hang on. I'm getting you out of here.
No fight! No fight.
He'll bleed to death or die from infection.
- We've gotta get him to a doctor. - Of course. We'll rush him to hospital.
Hey!
What do you want for the dead man's boots?
You can make it. Just a few more steps and we'll be back to the shelter.
Home sweet home.
- Harry. - Yeah.
- I'm hurt pretty bad. - I'll take care of it.
- Promise me something. - What?
If things get worse, if it comes down to making a choice, don't worry about me.
Take care of yourself.
- Do we have a deal? - Quiet.
- Hey... What are you doing in there? - Get out.
- This place is ours. - Get out! Get out! Get out!
OK, here's the deal.
My boots for some clean cloth, a litre of water, two of those food cakes,
and my friend gets to stay in there until he's better.
I don't take in boarders.
What about the rest of it?
I don't like the colour.
Come on. Let's go. This guy's not gonna help us.
Just tell me what you want for the food and the bandages, OK?
- That pipe you were working with. - I can't trade the pipe.
Then we don't have a deal. Now move. You're blocking my light.
I'll take you with me.
- Take me where? - I know a way out of this place.
I've been in here six years. I've never heard of a way out.
The chute.
You'd get hit with an energy pulse.
I can disable the force field. With a little luck, we can make it to the surface.
- What are you staring at? - I'm trying to figure out if you're a liar,
or if the clamp has made you crazy.
Neither. And I'll prove it to you.
You stand your ground. I like that.
Then we have a deal?
Just remember one thing.
If you're lying, I'll kill you.
Captain's log, supplemental.
We've located three ships with paralithium plasma emissions,
but none have produced explosives.
We're currently in pursuit of a fourth vessel.
We're near the Akritirian freighter.
- I'm only reading two life signs aboard. - Open a channel.
This is Kathryn Janeway of Voyager
to the captain of the Akritirian cargo vessel.
I'm the captain. What do you want?
Two of my crew members were convicted of a terrorist bombing.
We're trying to prove their innocence, and we believe a ship like yours,
which uses paralithium for fuel, might have produced the explosives.
- Let's get out of here. - Quiet. This is a cargo vessel.
Then you won't mind if we have a look around.
Not if you don't mind having your throats cut.
There's no need to be abrupt.
You're not the only captain who doesn't want their ship boarded.
There are residual traces of trilithium.
They're faint but they're there. I think we may have found our bomb makers.
Mr Tuvok, send a security detail to transporter room 2.
Ms Torres, beam them aboard and tractor their ship into the shuttle bay.
You have no right to hold us.
My people have been accused of aiding a terrorist group called Open Sky.
They're not terrorists. They're patriots.
One day they'll lead our people.
We don't have to answer them.
Sounds like your friend sympathises with these patriots.
She's not my friend. She's my sister.
Our views are none of your business.
I don't know much about your world,
but my people are being held for a crime they didn't commit
and I'm going to get them out.
We have confirmed that explosives were indeed produced aboard their ship.
Escort them to the brig.
And lay in a course to the Akritirian border.
Let my sister go. She had nothing to do with the bombing and she's only 14.
- Prison doesn't scare... - Quiet, Piri. Please.
You don't know what you're saying.
Nobody ever gets out of prison on Akritiri.
They'll let her rot in there for the rest of her life.
I admire your desire to protect your sister but it's not really up to me, is it?
- Tell them. - What?
Don't.
Our brigade found out where the detention facility is located.
My sister has quite a vivid imagination.
With this ship, you can attack the prison and get your people out.
I'm sorry. That's not how we do things where I come from.
Coward.
Mr Tuvok, see that they get a bath and a hot meal.
- I don't trust that guy, Harry. - I can handle him.
Just watch your back, OK?
Try to get some rest.
- Remember our deal? - What deal?
If it comes down to it, you're gonna save yourself, right?
If you see a chance, just go. Don't come back for me.
The clamp's making you crazy.
I'm serious, Harry!
I'm getting tired of waiting.
- I gotta go. - Harry...
- Damn it! - Don't fight it. Use it.
How do I do that? I feel like there's a million fire ants in my brain.
Good. Make them work for you.
How?
Fire ants sound vicious.
Imagine them as your army moving in to conquer your enemy.
There's a massive struggle going on between you and the clamp.
Use whatever force you can to defeat it.
I'd rather use my energy to get out of here.
When I first got here, I assumed the clamp was just a refined form of torture
to make our prison stay that much more arduous.
Gradually, I began to understand it more fully.
It's all right here in my manifesto - my insights, my reasoning, my evidence.
It's an experiment.
They're studying us like animals.
Pitting us against each other to find out what happens.
- You can see that, can't you? - I guess so.
The greatest threat would be us cooperating, so they prevented that.
But there had to be more to it than that and it was my job to figure it out.
That's the reason I was put here.
And eventually... it came to me
as though a fireball had exploded in my mind.
And the realisation gave me a power over the others.
They don't come near me any more.
They're afraid of me because I know the truth.
Well? Don't you wanna know what it is?
What is the ultimate purpose of the clamp?
OK.
It's inspired. Brilliant.
It's a method for controlling the prison population.
We kill each other off.
Sure. Whatever you say.
So you must enter into the battle.
If you let the clamp control you, you'll end up crazy.
But if you learn to control it, you'll survive.
Like me.
Yes! I plan to be out of here before it becomes an issue.
Go ahead. Touch it.
- What do you see? - Some kind of hatch.
What do you see? Are we at the surface?
Harry...
How are you feeling?
Oh, I was dreaming...
about Megan Delaney.
Next time I'll try not to wake you.
The chute... You made it in?
Did you find a way out?
Not yet, but we're very close.
It's just a matter of time, so you've got to hang in there, OK?
- What happened to me? - Easy. You got stabbed, remember?
Who did it?
One of the prisoners.
No. No, it was you!
- I'm trying to change your bandage. - No, get away from me!
Please! I'm trying to help you!
Tom, give me the pipe.
We need it to get outta here, remember?
It's OK.
Let me take it.
Harry...
What's happening to me?
You're gonna be OK.
- Harry... - Yeah.
Don't leave me here.
Close your eyes.
- Sleep well? - No.
How about your friend? Is he dead yet?
Shut up!
The chute leads to a docking port, right?
Some kind of ship must come to drop off food, drop off new prisoners.
- Maybe we could get aboard. - It's getting to you.
- I know we could do it. - You think they'll offer us a ride home?
- We'd have the element of surprise. - And they'd have the pulse guns!
If we could hold them off,
distract them, just for a few minutes,
I could establish our location,
get a message to Voyager... and they could get us out of here.
- We'll need weapons. - I've never let anyone see this,
but I'm going to let you read my manifesto.
It'll teach you how to control the clamp.
- I'm not reading your crazy manifesto. - Take it. Learn everything I know.
Are you gonna help me or not?
If I were like the others, I'd kill you.
But I don't lose control. That's the difference between me and you.
Listen! Listen to me, everybody!
This is important. I've got something to say that you'll wanna hear.
- It's what you've been waiting for. - What the hell do you want?
I've found a way out of here.
- There's no way out. - There is!
Through the chute! I've been inside!
Listen! We have to work together!
They'd like us all to kill each other, but we have to cooperate.
If we do, we can get out of here.
If you've been in the chute, where does it lead?
Space.
It's the truth!
We can escape... if we work together!
What the hell are you doing?
Stay back.
You've ruined it!
It's mine! It's mine!
Go ahead. Finish him.
You wanted to kill him, didn't you?
- He's my best friend! - That's where you're wrong.
- All he is now is a burden. - That's not true!
He eats your food. He ruined your device. He's given in to the clamp.
Get rid of him before he brings you down.
- Quiet! - You can make something of your life,
but as long as he's here, we'll never be able to go on to more important things.
What the hell are you talking about?
We've got to disseminate the manifesto.
Gather our followers. Train them.
- You're insane. - You want my protection?
- Get rid of him. - I don't need your protection!
How long do you think you'll last without me looking out for you?
Go ahead, take it.
Think of what a relief it will be not to have that responsibility,
to be free of his ranting.
- I'm not a killer. - Do you wanna survive in here?
You'd better learn to be.
If that's what it takes to stay alive...
...then I'd rather die.
Get out now.
And take him with you, or I will kill him.
Unless you've decided to relinquish control of your vessel,
do not proceed to cross our border.
We've captured the crew responsible for the bombing.
I see.
I'll trade them for the immediate release of my crewmen.
Your crewmen have already been tried and convicted.
Those convictions can't be reversed,
no matter what new evidence is brought to light?
- You are correct. - That is an outrageous policy.
I assure you, it has proved to be a most effective deterrent.
Good day, Captain.
- So much for negotiating. - What shall we do with the prisoners?
Bring Vel to my ready room. Now!
I want the location and shield codes of the detention facility.
What's wrong? The Akritirians didn't agree to your terms?
No, as a matter of fact. But I suspect you will.
And what makes you so sure?
Because if you don't,
you and your sister are going to spend the rest of your lives in prison.
I'll take you to the prison.
And I'll get you in.
But there are members of Open Sky in there and I wanna get them out, too.
You don't understand the way this works.
You tell me what I wanna know, and after I get my people back, I let you go.
That's not good enough.
Inform the Akritirians that we're ready to turn the prisoners over.
Al right.
Take the prisoner to Commander Chakotay.
He will upload the coordinates and codes.
May I ask how you propose to get past the Akritirian patrols?
They will attack when Voyager crosses the border.
The rescue team won't be aboard Voyager.
Captain?
If I'm not mistaken, Mr Neelix's ship is still in our shuttle bay.
Yes. However, Mr Neelix's vessel has extremely limited combat capabilities.
Then we'll have to be very careful, won't we?
I want his clothes, and I want his shoes!
This man is my friend. Nobody touches him!
Back off! You won't have to get hurt.
New prisoner!
- Hands on your heads. - Do it! Now!
- Neelix to Tuvok. - Go ahead.
We've got company. Two Akritirian patrol ships.
- I'm not sure I can hold them off. - We'll be as fast as we can.
Captain.
- Where is Tom? - He needs help.
Akritirian Patrol to alien vessel. Disengage immediately.
Akritirian Patrol. Um, am I in Akritirian space? Oh, dear.
...I thought this was the Heva VII refuelling port.
Can you recommend a respectable establishment
where I can have my navigational array repaired?
This is your final warning.
Everyone's aboard.
If there's anything I can do to make you more comfortable...
- Neelix, just get us out of here. - Of course, Captain.
Talaxian vessel to Akritirian Patrol. My apologies for the mix-up.
I'll be departing now per your orders.
Prepare to be boarded.
What was that? That last message was garbled.
I thought my piloting skills were modest at best
and the conditions were extremely dangerous.
Still, I did outmanoeuvre those Akritirians, didn't I?
- You did a terrific job. - I agree. Excellent piloting.
I'm glad to hear you say that. I've been thinking...
Until Tom here gets back on his feet, perhaps I could try my hand at conn.
Lieutenant Paris is fine, thanks to excellent doctoring.
The treatment I provided will counteract the effect of these implants.
What was the effect?
The implants are designed to stimulate the production of acetylcholine.
That would explain the agitation.
Acetylcholine is a brain chemical common to most humanoids.
It helps stimulate one's aggressive tendencies.
Zio was right.
Come on. We're overdue for that steak dinner.
I guess so.
You guess so? The thought of that dinner kept us going.
So, what do you think? Baked potato? Big mound of deep-fried onion rings?
- Tom... - Maybe some grilled mushrooms?
Tom, listen to me.
- I... I almost killed you. - You're the one that kept me alive.
I was ready to hit you with the pipe. Don't you remember?
You wanna know what I remember?
Someone saying, "This man is my friend. Nobody touches him."
I'll remember that for a long time.
So, what do you say we blow a week's worth of replicator rations?
- So what's for dessert? - Cherry pie. Don't you remember?
What about the fudge ripple pudding?