Sorry. I didn't realise that you'd been assigned here today.
I wasn't. This space was unoccupied so I came here to work.
On what?
I'm reconfiguring the power couplings in this section.
Why?
The astrometrics lab requires energy.
I see. So you are rerouting power from other locations, like...
engineering?
Primary systems will not be affected.
Unless someone is trying to do a warp core diagnostic,
which my crew has been trying to do all morning.
We have lost hours of work because of this.
There is no need for anger. I had no intention of causing a problem.
What? "Sorry" isn't in the Borg vocabulary?
You need to check with me before you touch the power systems. Understood?
Understood.
I am unaccustomed to working in a hierarchy.
In the collective there was no need to ask permission.
If you're going to be part of this crew, get used to it.
Procedures exist for a reason. We have to work together.
Follow the same set of rules...
Lieutenant?
I was given that lecture once by Captain Janeway, when I first joined this crew.
If I could adjust to Starfleet life, so can you.
Of course. I am sorry for the inconvenience.
I've got to go run a few errands. I'll be back.
Not so fast. Can't these errands wait until the end of your duty shift?
Well, it's my conn report, actually.
I forgot to turn it in and Chakotay gives me a hard time when it's late.
You've been here all afternoon. Didn't this occur to you before?
Well, we've been so busy that I guess it just slipped my mind.
I see. Well, since it's an emergency, don't let me stand in your way.
Thanks.
Sir.
Computer, lock onto these coordinates. I need a site-to-site transport.
No, wait. Access the central replicator files first.
Ah... Perfect.
Are those supposed to make up for cancelling on me?
I got stuck with an extra shift on the bridge.
What could I say, "Sorry, Captain. I've got a date with B'Elanna.”
What about right now? Aren't you supposed to be in sickbay?
I said I had to go deliver a conn report.
Not bad, but he'll be expecting you back.
He can wait.
What is it?
I just had the feeling that somebody was watching us.
I must be paranoid about getting caught in a compromising position.
Kind of exciting, isn't it?
You haven't been following the relaxation regimen I prescribed for you.
I've been too busy.
Have you been getting enough sleep?
More or less. Mostly less.
Have your headaches got worse?
No. But they're not getting better.
They're like hot needles in my skull.
Your symptoms are hardly surprising.
You work long hours under stress
and you eat on the run
without sufficient exercise or rest.
Your body is crying out for mercy.
It certainly is right now.
There must be an easier way to do this?
A hypospray maybe?
Sometimes there's no substitute
for osteopathic pressure therapy.
You're fortunate to have a masseur
who can work all day without tiring.
Bridge to the captain.
My patient is unavailable.
I'm here, Chakotay. What is it?
We have reached the source
of those energy readings.
- On my way. - Captain!
I can't neglect my responsibilities.
Actually I was going suggest
a change of outfit.
Binary pulsars - gravitational forces are so intense
that everything within 50 million kilometres is getting pulled in.
Don't worry. We're well out of range.
Gamma radiations levels are high but if we are careful
I think we can collect some invaluable data.
Captain, am I boring you?
I'm sorry.
I guess I'm a little too tired to concentrate on stellar phenomenon now.
I'll leave this project in your capable hands.
You wanted to see me, Lieutenant?
Yes. I'm trying to increase the efficiency of the impulse drive
but don't want to compromise helm control.
Sensible precaution. I'll be glad to help.
Good. All of the specs are at my upper work station.
Then let's get started.
- Did you hear something? - You always think you hear something.
- Commander. - Lieutenant.
Here is the power usage data you requested.
Right. Of course, I didn't expect it quite so... promptly.
I should have, coming from you.
I mean, I'm grateful that you got the data to me so quickly.
Thanks.
Tuvok.
- I guess that was kind of embarrassing. - I don't experience embarrassment.
Well, I guess there's no harm done.
It's not like there was a security violation or anything.
None that I am aware of.
So I guess there's nothing that would have to go on any kind of report.
You want me to conceal what I saw of your relationship with Lieutenant Torres.
Well, I'd certainly never ask you to be... dishonest.
Certainly not.
Do you think he'll say anything to the Captain?
- I don't know. - Did he sound? Annoyed? Amused?
He sounded Vulcan. What more can I tell you? Deck 1.
We've got to be careful. We shouldn't go into the briefing at the same time.
- OK. You go in first. I'll come in later. - That will look even more suspicious.
Listen to us. We haven't done anything wrong.
I'm not saying that we have. I thought we wanted to keep this to ourselves.
- We do, right? - Do you?
If you do.
Computer, halt turbolift. Let's figure out how we can handle this.
I don't think it is anybody else's business how we feel about each other.
- Neither do I. - Then we're agreed.
A bit more careful in public and we don't say anything to anybody.
- At least for now. - Now?
Sounds like you see a future in this.
- I would never be so presumptuous. - Smooth recovery, Lieutenant.
I thought so. Computer, resume.
- So I'll go first and you follow. - Right.
We'll circle the two pulsars at a minimum distance of 80 million kilometres.
That might not be far enough. We've been detecting random proton bursts.
- Tom, go to 90. Keep a safe distance. - Yes, sir.
Tuvok, keep our shields at maximum strength. Divert power if needed.
I want to take every precaution on this. Report any problems immediately.
Dismissed.
Lieutenants Paris and Torres, I'd like to speak with you for a moment.
Thanks.
I don't pry into personal lives of my crew but in this case I question your conduct.
- I guess Tuvok... - I haven't heard a word from Tuvok.
You have made enough of a display that half the ship is gossiping about it.
It wasn't our intention...
I expect you to maintain the standard for the crew
but this adolescent behaviour makes me question my faith in you both.
If you choose to pursue a relationship that's your business.
But you are under orders to use better judgement about it. Is that understood?
- Yes, ma'am. - Yes, Captain.
Dismissed.
Computer, hot coffee, black.
Commander Chakotay is suffering bone decalcification, tissue necrosis,
decreased visual acuity - all signs of ageing, but they've developed in hours.
Any theories?
A disorder called Progeria causes children to age prematurely.
But there's never been an adult case and it was eradicated two centuries ago.
Even so, I took a close look at your DNA.
These segments regulate your metabolism.
My scans indicate that they've been hyper-stimulated.
- What's the prognosis? - I can't tell until I identify the cause.
No sign of an infectious agent.
We spent hours near a binary pulsar that was emitting gamma radiation.
Our shields were operating. How was I exposed?
We can't rule out anything. I'll take a closer look at the data we collected.
We should also run scans of my quarters, my office and the bridge.
I'm not prepared to send you back on duty yet, Commander.
I look strange but my mind is clear. I'd rather stay busy than just sit here.
I have no idea how symptoms will progress. You should remain in sickbay.
He's right, Chakotay. I'll keep you informed.
Whatever is affecting his DNA is working at a sub-molecular level.
I'd like to set up a resonance scanner to get a closer look.
- Use what you need. B'Elanna can help. - Still having headaches?
No more lectures about working too hard. Chakotay needs your attention.
I'll get to work on the scanner right away.
Under orders to use better judgement? That's pretty harsh.
I hope I can manage it.
She has a point, you could have been more discreet.
I forgot you are the most upstanding ensign in Starfleet.
- Good morning. - Neelix.
I was about to whip up fresh scrambled eggs. Would you like some?
I was hoping you might have some left over
pleeka rind casserole from last night.
- For breakfast? - I like it.
I'm sure I can find some.
So, I guess your relationship isn't exactly a secret anymore.
Can anybody on this ship keep a secret?
Neelix!
What's happening?
Paris to the doctor. I'm bringing Neelix to sickbay.
Pay attention, Mr Paris. These scans should indicate whether...
- Hmm... - What is it?
Your DNA has been hyper-stimulated, like Chakotay's.
- Neelix doesn't seem to be ageing. - No, the effects are quite different.
If anything I look like a Mylean. They occupy a region of space near Talax.
Interesting. Do Talaxians and Myleans share a common ancestry?
- Not that I know of. - Do the two races intermarry?
Yes, as a matter of fact, my great-grandfather was Mylean.
Then one-eighth of your genetic material was from him.
Those must be the genes which have become stimulated.
Too bad my great-grandfather wasn't better looking.
His condition seems stable.
I'll leave you in charge of sickbay so I can continue the DNA analysis.
If anyone comes in I'll run a cellular scan. Anything else I can do?
Keep them comfortable. Until we know more, it's the best either of us can do.
- I thought you might be thirsty. - Thanks.
Do you smell something strange?
I'm... I'm afraid that's me.
I seem to be developing Mylean sweat glands. Sorry.
It's not so bad.
Whatever happens, I try to keep in mind that things could be worse.
I still have my home here on Voyager, my friends.
Your hair.
True. But I'd gladly lose it if I could have my tastebuds back.
At least you're not losing your eyesight.
See that display over there? It's nothing but a blur.
The doctor tells me my pupils have dilated 60%.
I can't even look at that display, it's so bright.
Yeah? I've got chronic arthritis in my fingers.
I can barely keep this glass steady.
My spinal column is fusing together. In a matter of days I won't be able to walk.
Got you beat. I can barely walk now.
- Lieutenant, can we help? - I don't think so.
I'm releasing you back to your quarters.
More patients are on the way. It's gonna get crowded in here.
- How's the scanner? - Almost ready.
Good. This disorder seems to be spreading rapidly among the crew.
- Does that mean we'll all be affected? - It means we need to find answers.
- All right. Give the scanner a try. - I'll start with Commander Chakotay.
- How's the resolution? - Very nice.
Can you give me more magnification on the hyper-stimulated segments?
Coming up.
- That's odd. - What is?
There seems to be a contaminant on the base pair sequence.
It didn't show up on the first scan. I need a closer look.
I'm going to maximum magnification.
- What do you see? - I'm not exactly sure.
What does it look like?
See it for yourself.
I'm no microbiologist but that doesn't belong there.
Believe me, it doesn't. I've never seen anything like it.
This technology is beyond anything Starfleet has developed.
What are those markings?
Some kind of alien writing?
I wish I knew. It might help us determine where it came from.
Who could have put this into Chakotay's cells without his knowledge?
Let me try a compositional analysis.
- It's in Mr Neelix's DNA as well. - Is this what's causing the mutations?
A good scientist never jumps to conclusions, Lieutenant.
But I'd say it's a distinct possibility.
I'm having trouble getting a clear reading from this sample.
It looks like the... whatever it is, could be slightly out of phase.
That must be why initial scans didn't reveal it.
I'm compensating for the phase variance.
You won't believe this but I'm picking up an energy signature.
This thing is transmitting some kind of a signal.
- To where? - I don't know.
It's too weak to travel very far.
Access the internal sensors and set them to a phase variance of 0.15.
Right.
Lieutenant.
- Your programme is being deleted. - How?
I don't know. I'm transferring you back to sickbay.
B'Elanna!
Science Lab to the bridge. This is the Doctor.
Three more patients have come in with genetic mutations.
- The effects are life-threatening. - What happened to B'Elanna?
Her lungs suddenly stopped processing oxygen.
I've got her on respiratory support.
- She almost died. - What about the doctor?
Computer logs show that he was trying to transfer himself to sickbay.
Something must have gone wrong while in transit.
Seven of Nine, this is the Doctor. Can you hear me?
I've tapped into your audio implants so only you can hear me.
It's imperative that you tell no one.
Make any excuse to get out and report to holodeck 2.
I'm hiding in the da Vinci simulation. I'll explain everything when you get here.
Seven? Seven?
- About the doctor's research. - Yes. I examined their work area.
There was no record of findings. The resonance scanner was malfunctioning.
I could return to the Science Lab and attempt to repair it.
Keep me informed.
Hold your head this way, Carlotta.
I can only conclude that someone has implanted these tags
in the DNA of the crew to cause genetic mutations.
- For what purpose? - I don't know.
- And they don't want us to find out. - Explain.
When Torres and I started making progress we were both incapacitated.
Call me paranoid, but I don't think that is a coincidence.
Perhaps our actions are being monitored.
That's why I couldn't risk contacting anyone over the com system.
Our first action should be to collect more information.
My thinking exactly.
B'Elanna wanted to adjust the ship's sensors to a phase variance of 0.15.
I'd like to do the same to your Borg sensory nodes.
Proceed.
Computer, give me a type 4 micro-inducer.
Hmm.
Now, take a look around and tell me what you see.
Do you see anything unusual?
Energy signatures?
Or perhaps something that might be transmitting a signal?
- No. - That's one room down. 256 to go.
I suggest a deck by deck survey.
To contact me use frequency epsilon-2. I've isolated it.
Understood.
And be careful. Someone out there could be watching.
Deck 5.
Computer, frequency epsilon-2.
Doctor, the aliens are on the ship. I can see them everywhere.
This is worse than I imagined. You've got to let the captain know.
Yes. Yes!
- Good morning. - That's a matter of opinion. What?
Scans haven't revealed anything about the mutations.
- The Doctor? - Still off-line.
- We are investigating... - Inform me of any progress.
- Understood. - There's one more thing.
The incident with Tom and B'Elanna got me thinking about ship's protocol.
- Or lack thereof. - Captain?
It seems people have been getting a little too comfortable lately.
They are late for their shifts. Taking privileges during non-designated hours.
And a lot of people are spend more time at the holodeck than at their posts.
As security chief, don't 13 department heads report to you every day?
- Yes. - Well, straighten them out.
Shall I flog them as well?
Maybe the doctor was right. I think I do need a vacation.
- You do seem unsettled. - Crazed is more like it.
I haven't felt this anxious since my first day of command.
Remind me to lower the volume. Come in.
Captain, I wish to speak with you...
What's wrong?
My attempts to repair the scanner have failed.
- I require assistance. - Ask Ensign Kim to lend you a hand.
Yes, Captain.
Is that all?
When this mutation crisis is over
I think I'll spend a few days in renaissance Tuscany.
There's a little inn outside Siena I've been wanting to try.
I will join you for a glass of wine.
- How many? - I've observed 56. There could be more.
Any pattern to their behaviour? Any hint as to what they want to accomplish?
They are conducting experiments on the crew and monitoring the results.
- As if Voyager were one big Petri dish. - I may be among them.
In the turbolift one of them probed me with a medical instrument.
We cannot allow them to continue.
I've been analysing their energy signatures.
I believe there's a way to make them visible.
- How? - Using a modulated phaser beam.
If we expose them the crew may be able to fight back.
What if they retaliate by inflicting lethal mutations on everyone? It's too risky.
What do you suggest?
The key to the aliens' control is the genetic tags.
A neuroleptic shock would disable them. Unfortunately, it would be... painful.
- Will the crew recover? - Yes, they will.
The hard part will be administering the shock to everyone simultaneously.
- The power relays can be reconfigured. - Good.
- I assume you know how to do that. - You assume correctly.
I have to bypass safeguards, it will take time.
Then you'd better get started.
- Tuvok to Seven of Nine. - Yes.
Why have you accessed the EPS system?
There is a malfunction. I'm attempting to repair it.
Perhaps you should leave that to engineering.
Normally I would but they are all occupied with other tasks.
You're compromising the power safety protocols. Stop at once.
I assure you, there is no cause for concern.
Move away from the console.
- As I told you, I am conducting repairs. - You're attempting to deceive me. Why?
I can't explain but you must allow me to continue.
Your actions could result in an energy discharge harmful to the crew.
I realise that.
Don't move. If your people attempt to incapacitate me, I will kill you.
I believe you.
What do you intend to do now?
You will come with me to speak to the captain.
I'm certain she will have questions for you.
Keep trying to disable the tags. Let me know when you're ready.
Understood.
I'll attempt to modify the sensors to detect aliens.
Good. Keep me informed.
Who are you? And what the hell are you doing to my crew?
My team has been observing you and conducting tests.
Tests? I'd call them mutilations.
I can understand why you're angry. I don't like causing people to suffer
but it's a necessary part of my work.
- What kind of work is that? - Medical research.
We're scientists, like you.
From where I stand you're a hostile invasion force.
I want to know how long you've been here and what you've been doing to us.
I can't answer those questions.
It's a breach of protocol for me to be speaking to you at all.
How convenient.
- That way you never face your victims. - You're exaggerating the situation.
Our techniques are as benign as we can make them.
What I've been through the last few days certainly hasn't felt benign!
Please understand that there's a purpose to our actions.
The data we gather may help us cure physical an psychological disorders
that afflict millions.
Isn't that worth some discomfort?
I'm sure you'd see things differently
if your people were the ones subjected to experiments.
Just as your perspective would change if your people lived longer lives as a result.
Don't forget we've been observing you.
I know the most important thing to you is the welfare of your crew.
- You'd even kill to protect them. - If necessary.
Of course, you would. You take care of your own, just as we do.
- We're more similar than you admit. - That's where you are wrong.
What you're doing isn't self-defence,
it's exploitation of another species for your own benefit.
My people decided a long time ago that that was unacceptable.
Even in the name of scientific progress.
You're a remarkably strong-willed individual.
I've been very impressed by your self-control over the past several weeks.
We increased your dopamine levels, stimulating aggressive impulses
to test your behavioural restraints.
There's been a difference of opinion about how much more strain
you can bear.
Not much.
I hoped you might cooperate once you realised the importance of our work.
- Sorry. These lab rats are fighting back. - I'm afraid that would be pointless.
We are monitoring your attempts to break our control over you.
- You won't succeed. - We may find you've underestimated us.
Consider what's in the best interest of your crew.
We will be continuing our research.
If you make no further attempts to interfere
I assure you that the fatality rate will be minimal,
though there may be some deformities.
And I would be willing share our final data with you.
You can't possibly expect me to accept that.
If you don't, then the entire experiment and its subjects will be terminated.
Are you telling me there's no way to disable the tags?
My attempts to use relays to induce neuroleptic shock have failed.
The aliens may be responsible.
I've encountered similar difficulties in my efforts to modify the sensors.
They have gained access to our system.
They can't be everywhere all the time. We have to find an advantage.
And soon. Sickbay is being filled with new patients with severe symptoms.
We can make them visible. If we modify enough sensors we could resist them.
They are still capable of manipulating our DNA. A conflict would be inadvisable.
Bridge to Doctor. Medical emergency.
She's in hypertensive shock. 20 milligrams lectrazine.
- Her blood pressure is 360 over 125. - How is that possible?
Severe adrenal stress.
No effect.
Her arterial pathways are rupturing. She's in cardiac arrest. We're losing her.
Captain, that won't help. There's too much internal bleeding.
We'll transport her to sickbay.
Her circulatory system has collapsed. There's no way to repair the damage.
Brain death has occurred.
I'm sorry, there was nothing more we could have done.
This ends right now.
You're relieved.
- Captain, what are you doing? - I'm running an experiment of my own.
Red Alert.
Captain, an alien has just entered the bridge.
Understood.
We're too close to the pulsars,
we must change course to avoid their gravity.
No, keep going.
This is a far more reckless course of action then I expect from you.
- It certainly is. - Hull stress at 30 teradynes and rising.
I'm transferring power to the structural integrity field. I don't if it will hold.
What do you hope to accomplish?
Flying into a binary pulsar? It seems like I'm trying to crush this ship like a tin can.
You're trying to intimidate us.
You're welcome to stick around and find out.
Hull stress is at 45 teradynes.
Our course is locked in. Only my authorisation can release it.
You're not behaving very rationally.
That's what you are trying to accomplish, isn't it?
Pumping up my dopamine levels?
Keeping me awake with the pain of your devices drilling into my skull?
Well, this is the culmination of your work
and you're gonna be right here to collect the final data.
Shields failed. Structural integrity down to 20%.
Enter the authorisation code and change course.
I don't think you realise that you are not in control here anymore.
I can kill you and your crew in an instant.
Go ahead.
Without us you won't be able to prevent this ship from being torn apart.
Even with my crew I'd say the odds of us getting through this are, what, one in 10?
One in 20, at best.
I'm willing to take that chance, are you?
Hull temperature has reached 9,000 degrees.
The hull is beginning to buckle.
Alien vessels are attempting to disengage from Voyager.
I can't break us free of the gravitational forces.
- Let's divert all power to the shields. - No. If we go in, we go in full front.
Captain?
If we survive, we need all the momentum we can get to reach escape velocity.
Everyone, hang on.
I hope you were exaggerating about those odds, Tuvok.
I was not.
- Hull stress has exceeded tolerance. - Breaches on decks 4, 7, 8 and 12.
- Emergency force fields are holding. - I've lost helm control.
- Main power is off-line. - Let's hope we've got enough speed.
I don't believe it. We're alive.
I never realised you thought of me as reckless, Tuvok.
A poor choice of words. It was clearly an understatement.
Captain's log, stardate 51244.3.
With the aliens gone the doctor has been able to neutralise the genetic tags.
- It was nice you could get the night off. - Nice had nothing to do with it.
I switched shifts with Ensign Wildman,
so tomorrow I'll pull a double duty - on the bridge and with the Doc.
I appreciate the sacrifice.
Tell me about the wine.
Katarian Merlot, 2282. You might want to let it breathe first.
We've got all night to let it breathe.
Engineering to Lieutenant Torres.
Torres here.
We have a problem with the manifold. I thought you'd want to take a look.
I don't. Lock it down for now. I'll deal with it in the morning. Torres out.
Sometimes it's nice to be the chief engineer.
Try the salad, Chief.
Hmm.
- This is really delicious. - Oh, thanks. I replicated it myself.
You're too good for me.
- Ignore it. - Right.
I'll get rid of that.
Oh. Hi, sorry to interrupt. Hi, B'Elanna.
- Harry, I'm not home. - I just wanted to return this.
- Thanks. - Smells good.
That's it. No more interruptions.
I've been thinking about what the captain said.
Thinking maybe she was right?
Me too.
We have been a little out of control lately.
- Do you think we really were. - What?
Out of control.
Those aliens could have been messing around with our hormones
to see what would happen.
You're right, they could have.
They could have been tampering with us for months.
When you think about it you had a change of heart a couple of weeks ago.
What made you realise that you loved me all of a sudden?
Just a feeling.
So our whole relationship might be based on some... alien experiment.
You never know.
- Well, I think that explains it. - I guess we should just call it off then.
I think so.
- Thank God we found out on time. - Thank God.
I don't know about you but I'm curious to see how this experiment turns out.
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