- Inertial dampers have failed. - No response from field coils.
Did you verify control inputs?
The inputs have locked. We've got to flush the plasma injectors.
Maybe it's just a phase synchronisation adjustment.
- Plasma injectors. - Plasma injectors. Right.
Field coils responding. Inertial dampers back on-line.
That was not fair.
An instructor's duty is to prepare you for anything.
Clogging plasma injectors is a dirty trick.
Well, I'm famous for my dirty tricks.
- What was that? - I didn't say the simulation was finished.
Computer, evasive manoeuvres.
- I'll be ready for anything next time. - Sounds like a challenge to me.
Come in.
I hope you have good news, Commander.
This inventory shows food reserves are down to 30% of capacity.
Good news and bad. We located an M-Class planet
showing high amino acid and protein readings.
That indicates plant life. What's bad?
- It's out of our way. - We have no choice.
It's a chance to replenish our supplies.
Our sensors can't confirm any plant life.
- Why not? - It's one strange planet, Captain.
It's shrouded. Vapours cover it like a curtain.
EM disturbances in the atmosphere.
That suggests a planet early in its evolution, like a primeval Earth.
Stellar Cartography nicknamed it "Planet Hell".
It might be a wild goose chase.
I don't know what we'll find on the surface. Flora or fauna, friend or foe.
If we knew we'd find another M-Class planet soon, I'd...
Set a course for Planet Hell, Commander.
- That was you? - That was me.
I'm impressed.
I keep hearing my mother say,
"Practise, Harry. Practise.”
So used my replicator rations.
Play something for me.
Well, I've only had it for a few days.
Come on. Play something. Just pretend I'm not here.
- Play something different. - Different?
Something... not so cheerful.
- Why? - What, you don't take requests?
Something bothering you, Paris?
Oh, Harry.
I'm in trouble.
- What's new? - I think I'm in love.
- What's new? - With Kes.
I know.
I never even saw it coming. I thought we were buddies.
- But there she was in my arms. - In your arms? Paris, you didn't.
What? Oh! No. I didn't.
I wouldn't! She stumbled during a flight simulation.
I caught her.
I held her for an instant.
Are you going to play or not?
A whole crew full of women and I fall for the one I can't have.
Why do I do this to myself?
If you ask me, I say you enjoy it.
- Enjoy it? - Only thing that makes sense.
You've been doing the same thing to yourself your whole life.
Setting yourself up for rejection. You must enjoy playing the part.
Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.
I have to be more careful. I can't let myself be alone with her.
There's an old Chinese expression. "Stay out of harm's way."
- That's not a Chinese expression. - If it works, use it.
It would help if we weren't going to be stuck on the same ship all our lives.
- That's a pessimistic view. - I'm in a pessimistic mood.
Play something pessimistic. Practise, Harry, practise.
We fell into a subspace anomaly.
The readings made no sense. I didn't know what to do.
It must have been terrible for you. Pepper, sweeting.
Anyway, it was a learning experience.
I'm sure Lieutenant Paris is a fine teacher.
Oh! I almost forgot the Palliantyne peas.
Ever so lightly spiced.
Analysis.
High levels of trigemic vapours, but it should support humanoid life.
Please turn to your Emergency Medical Holographic channel.
I hope you don't mind me eavesdropping, but I can contribute.
It wouldn't be necessary to eavesdrop if I were included
in these discussions as a matter of protocol.
Trigemic vapours at these levels can cause severe humanoid skin irritations.
Could you provide skin protection?
I am whipping up dermal osmotic sealant as we speak.
Nevertheless, skin exposure should be limited.
Noted, Doctor. Thank you.
Tell me, just how often do you eavesdrop?
I am simply trying to monitor issues involving the crew's health, Captain.
The Emergency Medical Program establishes com links
with all key areas of the ship and I have, on occasion...
I am a doctor, not a voyeur. I am programmed to be discreet.
I'm sure. Commander Chakotay will discuss protocols with you
at the earliest opportunity.
In the meantime, no more eavesdropping.
- But Captain, I... - That's an order.
There's another problem. We can't transport to the surface
because of the EM disturbances.
- They'll interfere with com links, too. - I'll have Mr Kim take a look.
Why don't we take in a holodeck program later?
A Moliére comedy. That'll cheer you up.
I think I'll eat later.
- Damn. - What do you want to do?
- Simple. We won't sit with her. - That's rude.
That's smart. We'll look like we have bridge operations to discuss.
Gentlemen. May I recommend the Alfarian hair pasta today?
Hair pasta? That is just an expression, isn't it?
Not at all. It's actually made from the follicles of the mature Alfarian.
We harvest the hair during shedding season in early fall.
It's very high in protein.
Whatever. We just have a lot of bridge operations business to discuss.
Yeah.
Mr Kim, please report to the bridge.
Have a nice lunch.
You subclass genus.
I beg your pardon.
Sitting with your backs to each other like strangers waiting for a transport.
Is that supposed to fool me?
A guy just can't win. Look, there is nothing to fool you about.
- Really. I swear. - Liar.
What the hell are you doing?
- I'll kill you! - It's too late.
I'm betting your hair pasta already did the trick!
Janeway to Lieutenant Paris and Mr Neelix.
- Go ahead. - Yes, Captain.
Please report to my ready room to discuss something important.
Captain, did you say right away? If we could have...
That's what I said, Mr Paris. Janeway out.
Would anyone care to explain?
It might be too long to go into right now, Captain.
Very well. I have a mission for the two of you.
We believe there is food on this planet, but we can't transport to the surface.
Take a shuttle down and do some scouting.
Me... and him?
He's our best pilot and you're our expert on edible plant species.
Captain, I'm not one to pass up a mission,
but in this circumstance, maybe Ensign Baytart, who is a fine pilot...
There are electromagnetic anomalies and I want you at the helm. Am...
...discerning a personal problem, gentlemen?
Frankly, yes, Captain.
Solve it. You leave at 1400 hours.
We're modifying the transporter to penetrate the atmosphere. No luck yet.
We have run computer simulations
to determine if the EM disturbances follow a pattern.
There may be occasional atmospheric windows allowing us to get through.
How occasional and how long would they last?
Every 30 hours or so, but they may only last minutes, so I can't be sure yet.
Long enough to beam up food supplies.
Mr Paris and Mr Neelix will collect vegetables and fruits
while we wait for this window to open.
Mr Kim, be sure your simulations...
- What happened? I heard that you... - Nothing happened.
- They said you and Tom Paris had... - Kes.
We'll talk when I get back.
I want to know, Neelix. Is it true that you were fighting?
When I get back.
Shuttlebay.
Good afternoon. When you have a chance,
could you run an analysis of the cytokinetic results...
I did it during lunch.
- Are you all right? - I'm fine.
- Are you sure? You seem... - I'm fine.
If you skip lunch, the result is a lower blood-sugar level, which could...
I'm sorry. It's in my program. I see something wrong, I diagnose it.
There are some things you can't cure.
Neelix and Tom Paris had a physical...
...fight over me.
How delightful.
- Delightful? - Consider it a high compliment.
Throughout history, men have fought over the love of a woman.
Why, I can quote you autopsy reports from duels in 1538.
- That's not funny. - It's not meant to be.
- You're interested in autopsies. - Are all Talaxians so jealous?
- I wouldn't know. I've only met one. - I love Neelix. Why can't he accept it?
His suspicions about Tom are unjustified.
Are they? Lieutenant Paris's affection for you is obvious.
- What do you mean? - I mean he... desires you.
That's not true. Tom and I enjoy each other's company.
Whenever you walk into a room,
his respiration increases, his pupils dilate and his ears turn orange.
I thought he was suffering from Tanzian flu.
It's there for anyone to see. Maybe not in the same detail as I see it.
Are you saying that I didn't want to see it?
You're only two years old.
There may be a few things you don't know to look for in a man.
In time, you'll understand.
On my homeworld, it's so much simpler.
You choose a mate for life. There's no distrust, no envy, no betrayal.
Hm. Your world must have very dry literature.
I don't know how to handle something like this.
What am I going to do?
You've done nothing to precipitate this state of affairs.
You may not be able to do much to resolve it either.
There are some things you can't cure.
Entry sequence at two minutes. Mark. All systems normal.
Trigemic density at 0.041 and rising.
We lost communication with Voyager 30 seconds ago.
You don't have to impress me with your technobabble.
I'm not trying to impress anyone. I'm entering it into the flight record.
- Can I make a suggestion? - You're the commander.
Make any suggestion you want. Make it an order and I'll even obey it.
I suggest we put our personal problems aside until this mission is over. OK?
I left mine back on the ship. I can't speak for you.
- Let's get the job done. - Get us down and I'll take it from there.
Entry sequence at three minutes. Mark. All systems... stand by.
Were you briefed on shuttle operations?
Ensign Baytart took me through the basics.
I didn't have the benefit of your tutelage.
Check your console. I'm reading a power output decline of... 15%.
Confirmed.
Warning. Vectored exhaust controls malfunctioning.
What does that mean?
We've got a reaction in our driver coil assembly from the EM anomalies.
I'm aborting the mission. Hold on.
We've lost our impulse drive.
Shut off the deuterium flow! I'm dumping excess fuel.
- Deuterium flow sealed! - Setting DCA pulse over to neutral.
- Engaging thrusters. - Can you regain control?
I'm trying! Prepare for an emergency landing.
Send out an EMS pulse. There's still a chance Voyager will pick it up.
- We're picking up a locator signal. - Can you track it?
Their last velocity vector indicates a steep descent. \We've lost contact.
Bridge to Torres. Our shuttle's in trouble.
Any progress on the transporter?
Negative. It's a complex interference pattern and it keeps changing.
Get help. This is a search and rescue operation.
- Acknowledged. Torres out. - I'll be in my ready room.
- I said in one piece. - Sorry. I did the best I could.
- Any broken bones? - Everything seems to be working.
- I'm itching. - I feel it, too.
We've got atmospheric leakage in the hull.
The trigemic vapours really sting. Here.
Doc said this would help.
If we've got atmospheric leakage, how can we fly out?
We can't. Voyager has to find us.
We don't know if the EMS pulse got through!
B'Elanna's working on the transporter. One of those windows might open.
We're going to have to look for cover.
- I say we stay right here. - The trigemic vapours are...
You want to go into them! Staying here is our best chance of being found.
Those windows may only be open for minutes.
Exposure to the vapours is dangerous. We're leaving. Grab your gear.
- Is that an order or a suggestion? - An order!
Yes, sir!
I hope you're satisfied. We were more comfortable inside the shuttle.
I have red welts on my hands now.
Could you find us something safe to eat?
I don't know why the ship's sensors indicated
this planet might be rich in food supplies. It sure doesn't look it.
Our emergency rations won't last forever.
I'll find something for us. It might not meet your personal culinary standards.
Don't worry. I've lowered my standards since you became cook.
I'm picking up caves a kilometre west of here.
What good fortune.
Come in.
Harry. Any word yet?
We're doing everything possible.
The transporter won't work in that atmosphere. How are you doing?
I'm all right.
It's just... I was very angry at them a few hours ago.
- You had every right to be. - And now they might both be dead.
And I'm sitting here... and I'm feeling guilty for some reason.
- Guilty? Why? - I don't know.
But I don't like it.
It's their fault and I can't even tell them how angry I am at them.
I may never be able to tell them how angry I am! So it doesn't matter!
If there was any way to land that shuttle, Tom got it down.
And no one has stronger survival skills than Neelix.
- They'll both be fine. - Unless they kill each other.
They're professionals.
They'd better be all right, because when I see them,
I'm going to tell them I never intend to speak to them again.
Chakotay to crew. Battle stations.
This is good. We can last a while in here.
- That should do it. - Garnesite.
This will give us a little heat, at least.
We'd better conserve our beacon cells.
So...
...what is Starfleet protocol for situations like this?
There's a whole course at the Academy full of survival strategies.
I hope you had a passing grade.
- B minus. - That's not very encouraging.
My father was teaching the class that year.
And he gave you a B minus? I guess he didn't play favourites, huh?
What about Talaxian protocols?
I wrote my own book.
My life before Voyager was no bed of Felaran rose petals.
- No, more like a bed of... - What?
- Nothing. - You were going to say junk, perhaps?
Go ahead. Say it. Junk. I was a dealer in junk.
Perhaps not worthy of a woman like Kes.
I didn't say that. I never even...
Tell me something. In that Starfleet survival course,
did your father teach you to check for lifesigns
before you seal yourself inside a cave?
I checked for lifesigns. There weren't any.
There are now.
- Hail them. - They do not respond, Captain.
- Powering down their weapons. - Their vessel is beneath us.
What do you make of it?
They have adopted a defensive posture.
- But defending what? The planet? - Or something on it.
Whatever this life-form is, its vital signs are awfully faint.
In this atmosphere, it could be dying of exposure.
No, I don't think so. They're faint, but steady.
I'd say it's becoming more evident that we chose the wrong cave.
This is where the lifesigns are coming from.
They're embryonic life-forms.
These two are half formed.
This one almost seems to be...
The patterns match the computer simulations.
We'll get a shot at a window in about 53 minutes.
What about the transporter?
It should work if we stay in an area with reduced electromagnetic activity.
We don't know where our shuttle went down.
- How close are they to the window? - Recommendations?
Take the ship through the window.
The closer we are to the surface, the better our chances.
Get on it.
- Can you warn us before it closes? - I think so.
- That's not an answer. - I'll get you a better one.
Mr Tuvok, find a way to get us by that ship.
I anticipated your request.
My assumption is you want to use minimal force?
- Assumption confirmed. - I cannot guarantee success.
Their weapon systems are equal to our own.
- However... - You have a plan to neutralise them.
I have. In my analysis of our first encounter,
I detected a vulnerability in their shield configuration,
a phase retraction when auxiliary power is transferred to aft weapons systems.
A covariant phaser pulse into aft control systems might disable their weapons.
That was my ingenious plan, Commander. You are correct.
Very well. Red Alert. Mr Kim, set coordinates.
- Speed at 2,000kph. - Aye, Captain.
- Chakotay, take the helm. - Coordinates entered.
Engage.
It will have the ability to stand upright.
It has the skeletal system of a humanoid.
It's cold-blooded, has reptilian epidermis.
Its brain is larger than most reptilian species.
We're dealing with a sentient life-form here.
If it's sentient, wouldn't that suggest its parents might return to care for it?
It's hard to say.
Common reptiles lay their eggs and never protect them.
We've established we're not dealing with a common reptile.
If it has a mother, we don't want to be around when she gets back. Come on.
- We can't just leave it here. - We're not.
Its mother left it. We just wandered in.
But we blocked off the cave. The mother might be trapped outside.
We'll leave the door open when we go. OK?
Look. It's not that simple.
What if she senses we were here?
She might be able to smell that faux lime aftershave of yours.
Many species won't return to a nest after it's been tampered with.
There's not much we can do now. We should leave it the way we found it.
No.
- It is our responsibility. - Ours?
The moment we came in, it became our responsibility.
You'll take care of it until it graduates from college?
If Mum doesn't come back, will you bring it on the ship?
If she returns and accepts the hatchling, it'll solve everything.
We have to wait and see what she does.
I don't know your quadrant, but we don't abandon a newborn...
...thing.
Fine. You made your point.
I officially designate you its godfather.
- It's stopped crying. - It's shivering.
That's normal, isn't it?
I mean, newborn life-forms do shiver, don't they?
To be honest, I haven't been around many newborns.
Me neither.
Look at this, Paris.
It's stopped shivering.
It's asleep.
Forget what I said, Neelix.
You're not its godfather. You're its godmother.
The window is 30 degrees off the coordinates.
- How soon is maximum aperture? - Nine minutes.
Draw fire from their weapons. Bring us within ten kilometres.
- Shields at 80%. - Minor damage to our port nacelle.
- Rerouting power to lateral thrusters. - Tuvok.
I'm not detecting the same vulnerability in their shields.
We may need additional force.
- Arm photons. - Ready.
- Prepare to... - Stand by. I'm detecting an opening.
Direct hit. Their weapons are disabled.
Commander, proceed to Mr Kim's coordinates. One-half impulse.
Come on.
It doesn't seem to care for Starfleet rations.
If I were in my kitchen, I could cook you up some delightful leola root broth.
Are you serious? I hope I never see another leola root.
And you're not feeding any of that hideous broth to my niece.
Or... nephew. Whatever it is.
Its heartbeat is getting weaker. I don't like it. Come on, kid.
You've got to eat something.
It seems more interested in my jacket than your food.
Neelix, it's not your jacket. It's the residue of the trigemic vapours.
Think about it. Voyager's sensors picked up
high levels of proteins and amino acids,
which we assumed were vast supplies of edible plant life.
We were certainly wrong about that.
It is a concentration of proteins and amino acids.
A source of nutrition for the hatchling.
A source we cut off when we blocked the cave. Come on.
We've got some rocks to move.
The window is at full aperture. We have 17 minutes before it closes.
The alien vessel is in pursuit.
- Are their weapons on-line? - They are still disabled.
- Could they ram us? - Hold your course.
- But take evasive action if necessary. - Understood.
Alien vessel closing to 1,000 kilometres. 500...
300... It has passed us and is proceeding toward the surface.
Take us down, Commander.
It's not breathing. I don't think it's breathing!
Come on. Suck in some of those hearty vapours.
It's just too weak.
There must be something to resuscitate it.
- Neelix, we did the best we could. - No! It's our fault. If we hadn't come...
- Here. Cordrazine. This is a stimulant. - But you don't know its body chemistry.
So we should just let it die?
Give me that.
When I was a kid, a baby bird fell out of a nest
and landed on the window sill next to my bed.
We fed it water with an eyedropper to keep it alive.
- What are you doing? - Filling the eyedropper.
Can you hold its mouth open?
Do it again. Again.
It's working. It's working!
- Lifesigns are stronger. - You did it!
We did it. I never would have thought of that hypospray if... The vapours.
Who cares?
Sensors are operating as well as can be expected.
Either we're not close enough to pick up their signals, or they never landed.
- They might have burned up. - I won't concede yet.
- Any sign of the alien ship? - No.
- How long before the window closes? - Nine minutes.
If we don't find them in five minutes, head back to the window.
- I'm sorry. - Hm?
I feel I owe you an apology.
No, you don't.
I had no right to push that pasta in your lap.
Well, think of it this way. You saved me from having to eat it.
Nothing personal, but I don't have an affinity for hair in my food.
I haven't been fair to you.
You know, I hear people talking about you in the mess hall.
No kidding. What do they say?
That you used to be a coward and couldn't be trusted.
It's typical of Kes that she would befriend someone like you.
Someone who really needs a friend.
And I guess I just got a little jealous.
I got more than a little jealous.
I realise now I was wrong.
I told you the truth when I said nothing happened between me and Kes.
I know.
And I promise you nothing ever will.
But... you weren't wrong about me.
What do you mean?
Well, I guess the only way to say it is to say it.
I am attracted to Kes.
Oh?
If you weren't around, I'd be knocking at her door.
But I respect you, Neelix.
And that's that.
Everything you heard those guys saying about me, well, it was true.
But it's not who I am any more.
At least not who I want to be.
This upside down mission to the wrong side of the galaxy has given me
a second chance and I don't intend to blow it.
I see.
Well, in a way I can't say I blame you.
She is very attractive.
She's devoted to you, you know.
Well, I did save her life. I'm sure she's grateful.
She's a lot more than grateful.
She loves you, Neelix.
I wouldn't stand a chance. Nobody would.
There are others?
If you ever doubt yourself, just look into her eyes
and see the way she looks at you.
You'll never doubt yourself again.
And as far as I'm concerned, I'll just be her friend.
I mean, if you don't mind.
I don't pick Kes's friends for her.
Just my own.
Voyager? Lieutenant Paris and Mr Neelix. Do you read?
- We do. Are you all right? - Aside from a nasty rash, yes.
- Have you encountered life-forms? - Yes.
- Are they hostile? - No, just... young.
- Young? - Yes. We found a nest.
One of the creatures hatched.
We encountered a hostile ship of unknown origin.
It is a kilometre from your position.
We'll lock onto you for transport. Stand by.
- We can't leave yet. - What? Why?
- What if the mother rejects it? - One thing's for sure.
Whether she rejects it or not, she will reject us.
We promised we wouldn't abandon it until...
A life-form is moving towards you. Prepare to transport.
Captain, this is Neelix. Are you in a rush to leave?
- Did you hear what I just said? - Yes. But we're not finished yet.
Finished with what? A window is closing in six minutes.
- Another one will be how long? - Days. Is there a problem?
The problem is if we leave our hatchling and the mother rejects it,
- it might die of exposure. - I appreciate your concern...
How long can you give us?
1 minute, 10 seconds, max.
- We'll take it. - Lock onto us, Voyager.
If you hear screams, consider that a request for a beam out.
Nothing like a family reunion.
- Voyager, two to beam out. - As soon as you're ready.
We didn't know if you were dead or alive. What happened?
- I became an uncle. - And I'm a godmother.
I'd say this is the special occasion I've been waiting for
to open up that bottle of Potak cold fowl I've been saving.
Cold fowl in a bottle? Is that just an expression?
No. It's made from glandular secretions of an adult dunghill bird from Potak III.
It's very rare. Very exquisite.
There are only 27 bottles in existence at this time.
It has a rather smoky flavour, going well with strong, meaty dishes.
But I prefer to sip it in the company of good friends.