Ship is grey, Captain. We've cut power to decks 4 through 9.
All non-essentials are off-line. Remaining systems at 20% capacity.
Tom, how long can you keep us flying?
With the deuterium supply this low, we'll be out of gas inside a week.
Redouble your efforts. Keep your eyes open for new sources of deuterium.
I want recommendations for further methods of conservation.
Harry, you and I will see if we can synthesise a substitute fuel.
We stay in grey mode. If anybody's got any other ideas, I'm listening.
We could set up a bicycle in the mess hall, attach a generator, pedal home.
And I volunteer Harry to take the first shift.
Living space will be limited. Take only those personal items
which are absolutely essential.
Hello, there.
- What, may I ask, is this? - That is the "Selected Works Of Jirex".
- Only essential items, Mr Neelix. - Jirex is essential.
I never go to sleep without reading at least one of his parables.
A habit you will have to break until we can restore power.
- I suppose I can try. - And these.
I get neck pains without them.
I suggest you ask the Doctor to prescribe an anti-inflammatory.
Fine. I don't mind roughing it.
Mr Neelix, the blankets.
No. That's where I draw the line. I've slept with them since I was a child.
You'll have to make do with standard-issue bedding.
- Starfleet blankets give me a rash. - Then ask the Doctor...
I might as well sleep in sickbay.
Thank you, Mr Vulcan. You've just given me an idea.
You were ordered to shut down astrometrics an hour ago.
We can't afford the power. Seven, it's inefficient.
If I shut down astrometrics, I won't be able to scan for new fuel sources.
We'll have to use conventional scanners...
Conventional scanners would not have found this.
- Highly concentrated deuterium. - Where?
Computer, display source. A planetoid 0.4 light years from our position.
There are pockets of deuterium beneath the surface.
- But that's a Demon-Class planet. - Demon-Class?
Also known as Class-Y.
It's got a toxic atmosphere filled with thermionic radiation.
Temperatures are in excess of 500 kelvins. Entering orbit would be suicide.
Our situation is desperate. When faced with desperate circumstances,
we must adapt.
Captain's log, supplemental.
I've ordered adaptations to repel the discharges.
We're now trying to beam deuterium
from beneath the surface.
Narrow the annular confinement beam
to 0.47 terahertz. Ready, Captain.
Harry, shunt whatever power
you can to the containment field.
I don't want any gases seeping in.
A thermionic discharge has struck
the forward shields. They're holding.
Seven, do it.
Energise.
Transport in progress.
- Shields are weakening. - Abort transport.
- Controls not responding. - Get out of there now.
Computer, seal off the transporter room and erect a level 10 containment field.
The good news is Nozawa and Seven
have been released from sickbay
and the gases have been expelled.
- The bad news? - The transporters are off-line.
Great. All we get for our trouble
is another downed system.
Can we send a probe?
It would incinerate within seconds.
I don't see any other options. Tom, put us back on our original course.
- Captain, maybe I can help. - The bicycle thing was just a joke.
With Tuvok's shield modifications and an environmental suit,
I could take a shuttle to the surface and mine the deuterium.
There is no environment less hospitable than a Class-Y.
You needn't remind me. What's the alternative?
Resume course, hoping we find fuel before we end up dead in the water?
We've got deuterium within arm's reach. We have to try.
He's right.
You wouldn't be able to communicate with us and we couldn't beam you out.
It wouldn't be long before your suit began to corrode.
- Exposure could kill you within minutes. - I know the risks.
I'd never let you go alone.
Of course not. That's why I'm volunteering Tom to go with me.
- You were pretty forceful in there. - So?
I don't think I've seen you that assertive in a staff meeting before.
- You must be bucking for a promotion. - I had an idea and spoke up.
You put Tuvok in his place right in front of everybody.
He was talking to me like I didn't know anything about Demon-Class planets.
I am not criticising you.
Nobody enjoys seeing the Vulcan Master put down a peg more than I do.
- I was just surprised, that's all. - Why?
- It didn't seem like you. - Good.
Cargo bay 2.
You trying to change your squeaky-clean image?
- Not exactly. - What, then?
How do I explain this?
When I first came on board Voyager, I was pretty green, right?
A deep, almost fluorescent green, if I remember correctly.
I was inexperienced and I acted like it.
Nervous about giving my opinion, so I usually just kept my mouth shut.
I behaved that way for so long it became a habit.
But in the last four years a lot has happened.
I've fought the Borg, been transformed into an alien,
Helped defeat the Hirogen. I've even come back from the dead.
- It's been a wild ride. - The other morning it suddenly hit me.
I've got a lot of experience now,
so why should I be afraid to take the initiative or voice my ideas?
Good for you, Harry.
But the next time you assert yourself, leave me out of it.
I hate hot weather.
We can cut some holes in the suits, get some ventilation going.
You might try working on your sense of humour.
What about that stupid gag about the bicycle?
- That was funny. - That was not funny.
I can't thank you enough for getting me in on this mission, Harry.
I'll volunteer you to help next time I have to clean the warp plasma manifolds.
- Tom, you don't owe me anything. - Oh, but I do.
- We've lost attitude control. - Time to show off your piloting skills.
- Watch me. - I'll be watching you, all right.
- Switching to manual control. - Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
We're entering the lower atmosphere, approaching the landing co-ordinates.
I'm going to set us down. On my mark.
- Mark. - You did that on purpose.
It's almost 500 degrees kelvin.
Don't worry. The suits can handle it.
If not, we'll be human barbecue.
I'm picking up traces of deuterium.
50 metres... that way. Let's move.
- No sweat. - Lame.
- It's coming from in here. - What is it?
Some kind of metallic compound, highly viscous.
And if these readings are right, its temperature is only 12 degrees.
Whatever this stuff is, it's packed with liquefied deuterium.
There's another pool that way. Check it out while I collect a few samples.
I don't know, Harry.
A couple of lounge chairs, a big beach umbrella,
some dermalplast to counteract the chemical burns
and I think we've found ourselves a new vacation spot.
Come on, that was a little funny. Let me hear you do better.
Harry.
Harry!
Oh, my God!
I know it's hot, but you picked a lousy time to go for a swim.
I don't know what happened. I leaned over to collect a sample
and I was pulled in.
Warning, Ensign Kim. An environmental seal has been compromised.
Oxygen depletion in 30 seconds.
Hang in there. I'll get you back to the shuttle.
- Have you put on weight? - You're out of shape.
Warning. Oxygen depletion in 15 seconds.
Hold your breath till we get to the shuttle and I'll start exercising every day.
- You should start with that bicycle. - I told you to hold your breath.
Warning. Oxygen depletion in five seconds.
Hang in there, Harry. We'll make it.
Warning, Lieutenant Paris. Environmental seal compromised.
Oxygen depletion in 30 seconds.
You gotta be kidding me.
We're in the same boat now, buddy, but I'll get us out of this.
Warning. Oxygen depletion in 15 seconds.
You're right. I definitely need to get back in shape.
Warning. Oxygen depletion in five seconds.
Out of the question. Take it up with Commander Chakotay.
It's only for a couple of days, until we get power back.
- Set up camp in the mess hall. - The mess hall is full.
- Where are we supposed to sleep? - Anywhere but here.
- But you have four empty beds. - Reserved for patients.
And I may have one if you squatters don't go elsewhere.
You wanted to see me, Doctor?
Mr Neelix wants to turn my sickbay into a flophouse.
We are short on beds. We've got to adapt.
But what if there's a medical emergency?
- They'll get out of the way. - Absolutely.
But this isn't just sickbay. It's my residence.
We promise to be perfect house guests.
- What more can you ask for? - I have a routine.
What if one of them should snore while I'm listening to Puccini?
If you feel that strongly about it, we'll have to consider other options.
We could shut down your program.
The captain asked me to conserve power
and you wouldn't have to listen to them snore.
- Chakotay to the bridge. - On my way.
Make yourselves at home.
- Scan for infrared signatures. - There's too much interference.
- Tom and Harry still aren't back. - You want me to look for them?
And risk losing you, too?
Either we wait until we run out of deuterium
or we land the ship.
The landing procedure requires a significant output of energy.
We can't be certain the ship will survive the descent.
We're up here, the deuterium's down there and we're stuck without it.
Janeway to engineering.
Transfer any available power to atmospheric thrusters
and stand by to commence landing sequence.
Commander Chakotay, take the conn.
Tom's going to be sorry he missed this.
All hands, go to Blue Alert and report to Code Blue stations.
Atmospheric controls at standby, landing struts on-line.
- All decks report condition blue. - Let us down easy, Commander.
We're on a declining glide trajectory, altitude 150 kilometres.
A thermionic discharge. Shields down to 81%.
- Shields at 43%. - Chakotay.
I think we're through the worst of it. Almost.
- Shields at 22%. - Can you shore them up?
- There's no more power. - Engaging landing struts.
Brace for impact!
Status?
I could give you a litany of damaged systems, Captain.
- We won't be going up again soon. - Start organising repair crews.
That was very good, Commander.
Take an away team and find Harry and Tom.
You're going to look for them, aren't you?
- Take me with you. - You're needed here for repairs.
Vorik's on top of it. I want to help you find them.
You're concerned about Tom and Harry. I'll have them back safe and sound.
We both know how dangerous that environment is.
- They could be in serious trouble. - You're right.
That's why I need cool heads.
- You think I can't control myself? - You're too close to this.
If someone you loved was missing, you'd be the first out that door.
The clock is ticking. Do your job and let me do mine.
- Do me a favour. - What?
- Take Seven of Nine with you. - You're recommending her?
You said you needed cool heads. Nobody's head is cooler than hers.
All right.
And bring them back safe.
I will.
Excuse me, Doctor. We'd like to sleep now, if you don't mind.
Not at all.
- But you seem busy. - Just going about my routine.
Sleep away.
What about the lights? Could we turn them off?
- You expect me to work in the dark? - Well, no.
- But I'll never be able to fall asleep. - That's not my problem, is it?
I've got a very busy day tomorrow and my next shift is four hours away.
You should have thought of that when choosing your accommodations.
If we can't sleep,
I guess we'll have to find some other way to pass the time.
How about a sing-along?
I could teach you some Talaxian rondos and I know a Vulcan funeral dirge,
not to mention the classics of Klingon opera.
Very well, Mr Neelix. You win. Pleasant dreams.
Computer, lights off.
- A little jumpy, aren't you? - I thought I heard something.
Now you know why they call it Demon-Class.
"Demon" implies a presence. This planetoid is unoccupied.
I'm picking up the shuttlecraft.
Nobody home.
It's unlikely their suits were able to survive for this long.
I hope you're wrong.
- Looks like they went this way. - How did you reach that conclusion?
Footprints.
I guess you never assimilated any Indian scouts.
High concentrations of deuterium, coming from this fluid.
I'll collect a sample.
Let's find Tom and Harry first. We'll collect the deuterium later.
Maybe they found some shelter inside.
Commander!
Good to see you guys.
Welcome to the Demon planet.
Our suits were corroding, we were suffocating.
You know what they say about your life passing before your eyes? It's true.
I was finally getting past puberty, when suddenly I lost consciousness.
I don't know how long I was out. The next thing I knew, I was awake
and I was breathing normally. I looked over at Harry.
He was breathing normally with his helmet off.
We just looked at each other and we just started laughing.
I know it sounds crazy, but it was an exhilarating experience.
His vital signs are normal. Apparently he has adapted.
We'd better let the Doctor take a look at you.
The com signal can't get out of the caves.
We'll call again when we get back outside.
It was an amazing experience.
It's like when you're a kid who's afraid of the water
and you suddenly realise that you can swim. Try it.
I'm glad you're feeling all right, but none of us should be taking any risks.
Don't tell me you're afraid of a little poisoned atmosphere.
- Where's Harry? - In the cave.
We found a huge cache of deuterium.
Let's find him and get you back to the ship.
We could breathe this air forever.
We should have transporters back on-line within the hour.
That's great, but right now I'm more concerned with little things,
like life-support.
Indeed. Environmental systems will cease to function in two hours.
You say that like you're giving me the weather report.
I agree the situation is dire, but losing our cool will not help matters.
"Losing our cool"? Where did you pick up that?
- Mr Paris. - Well, there's hope for you yet.
Now how about giving me a hand?
Harry.
- Commander, isn't it incredible? - I've been trying to tell them.
- Are you feeling OK, Harry? - Never better.
We could mine enough deuterium to get to the Alpha Quadrant and back again.
Tom tells me you've already picked up 20 kilos. That should be enough.
Let's have the Doctor take a look at you.
- I'd rather stay here and keep working. - No.
Really, Commander, I'm fine.
You should send more personnel to help. They won't even need suits.
I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we're going back to Voyager.
It's all right. Once the Doc sees we're fine,
we'll get right back to work.
Status, Mr Tuvok?
I've shut down life-support everywhere but decks 1 and 5.
Chakotay to Voyager. We've found Tom and Harry.
- What about the deuterium? - We've got a few kilos.
We're on our way back to Voyager.
- What's your position? - About two kilometres from the ship.
Transporters are back on-line. We should be able to beam you back.
Have the Doctor standing by.
He's going to want to take a look at Tom and Harry.
Computer, lights. Maximum illumination.
Everybody up! Rise and shine, Mr Neelix.
What's going on? It's the middle of the night.
I've got patients on the way and there's no more room at the inn.
Patients? Is somebody sick?
I can't answer that until I examine them.
- Examine who? - Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Paris.
- Is there anything I can do to help? - Yes, vacate the premises.
Move! You heard the Doctor. This is an emergency evacuation.
Move, move, move!
Doctor, thanks for your hospitality.
If you ever need a place to stay, my door's always open.
Energising.
Beam Tom and Harry to sickbay.
- What happened to them? - They started suffocating.
Computer, erect a level-7 force field around bio-beds 1 and 2.
I'm filling the force field area with the gases from the planet.
Try to breathe normally. Easy or you'll hyperventilate.
Slowly. In and out, in and out.
Captain's log, supplemental.
The Doctor is investigating Tom and Harry,
whose condition seems as serious as it is strange.
- That stuff is in our blood? - I'm afraid so.
You've been bioformed. Think of it as the opposite of terraforming.
In the same way we adapt a planet to suit our needs,
this planet.. Has adapted you.
How is that possible?
This fluid entered your bloodstream and began altering your physiology.
I haven't analysed the substance, but I hope to have answers soon.
- I'd like to run a few tests of my own. - Of course.
So, what's our prognosis, Doc?
Well, you'll be fine...
as long as you keep breathing the planet's gases.
- We have to stay inside here? - It's worse than that.
The atmosphere of this planet can't be replicated safely.
Which means if we leave,
we'll have nothing to breathe.
Exactly. Either we find a way to treat your condition
or you'll have to be left behind.
Can the process be reversed?
I don't know enough about the phenomenon to undo it.
I'll send Chakotay back to the surface to gather more information.
B'Elanna and I will run tests.
Let me go with the away team, Captain. I know the terrain.
They're better off out there than they are in here.
One of you must stay so I can monitor your condition.
I volunteer Tom to stay here and play guinea pig.
Each square kilometre of this planetoid is less appealing than the last.
I think it's breathtaking.
Perhaps your recent experience has impaired your perceptions.
No, I don't think so. I wasn't really seeing it before.
- Seeing what? - The beauty.
Would you care to point out an example?
Look over there. What do you see?
I see monochromatic geological formations, dust, haze.
What do you see, Harry?
Those geological formations are a dozen shades of red and gold.
That dust is glowing.
And the haze seems to intensify the colours.
I'm sorry. I know it's weird, but I feel connected to this place.
- Connected how? - I'm picking up lifesigns.
- Location? - 100 metres this way.
Magnify, factor ten.
Deuterium, hydrogen sulphate, dichromates.
Add a little sodium chloride and it would probably taste like Neelix's soup.
What's this? Magnify, factor 20.
Captain?
- That's a protein molecule. - This fluid has organic properties.
Let me see the sample that's been treated with the reagents.
Captain.
- Let's get you to sickbay. - That might not be necessary.
Commander!
Report.
A large pool is forming beneath the ship. We are sinking, Captain.
Get thrusters on-line. We're getting off this planet.
I'm not sure how, but they're still alive.
The captain has ordered an emergency ascent.
- We must bring you back to the ship. - I've got five to beam back.
We've found another Paris and Kim. I can't explain it.
- I can. Prepare for transport. - Beam us directly to sickbay.
No, I don't want to go back.
We can't get individual locks.
We're going to have to bring you in as a group.
Acknowledged.
I belong here.
Until we know what's going on, you've got to come back with us.
Harry, no!
Four of the away team are in sickbay. I'm trying to get a lock on the fifth.
It is one of the Ensigns Kim.
- The ship is continuing to sink. - We've got to get back into orbit.
Bring antigrav thrusters on-line. Inertial dampers to flight configuration.
All stations report ready.
Initiating ascent. I need power to the thrusters.
- We are being restrained. - Compensate.
No effect. Decks 14 and 15 are submerged.
The ship is continuing to sink.
- Report. - Thrusters are off-line.
Decks 13 through 15 are submerged. If we don't lift off, the hull will corrode.
Bridge to engineering. I need thrusters back on-line.
A team has been sent to thruster control. It'll be at least a half hour.
Even if thrusters are repaired, they won't be of use if we sink any deeper.
There must be some way to disperse it. Try a nadion burst.
It may weaken the electromagnetic properties of the fluid.
I'm on my way to sickbay. You've got the bridge.
- How are they? - Lucky.
The backup systems in their suits kept their vital functions going.
- They'll recover. - And him?
Aside from his ability to breathe the air on this planet,
he's the exact duplicate of Mr Paris. He even seems to share his memories.
The fluid has mimetic properties.
It reads the DNA of whatever it comes in contact with and re-creates it.
Fascinating.
- Can you tell me who you are? - Let me go back.
Not until I find out why two of my crew have been duplicated.
I don't know any more than you do about this.
Until he showed up, I thought I was Tom Paris.
A little changed by my experience, but now I don't know who or what I am.
All I know is that I have to go back down to the surface.
- We're ready to try the nadion burst. - Do it.
What are you doing?
We're receiving an urgent hail from Ensign Kim. The one on the surface.
Captain, stop what you're doing.
If you really have Kim's memories,
you know I'll do whatever it takes to get this ship in orbit.
- You can't do that! - Why not?
I'm not sure I understand it myself.
Then you're going to help me figure it out.
Mr Tuvok, I'm on my way to transporter room 1.
Erect a force field around the platform. Fill it with atmosphere from the planet
and then beam Mr Kim, or rather his duplicate, aboard.
Do you have a lock on him? Energise.
- Release my vessel. - We can't do that.
We?
The planet and I are connected somehow. I can't explain it.
- I only know that you've got to stop. - I'm willing to stop.
- But release the ship. - No. We need you.
Janeway to Tuvok. Fire.
- What are you? - Stop.
- I'll fire again. - You're killing us!
- It's not fair. It's wrong! - Janeway to Tuvok...
- No, please. No more. - Hold your fire, Tuvok.
- We are continuing to submerge. - Hold your fire!
I want some answers.
I'm trying to understand. This is hard for me as well.
You have a connection to this planet?
- You talk as if it's alive. - Alive.
Yes, but not the planet.
The silver blood.
The compound that sampled Harry's DNA, and created you.
Yes, but it's never been conscious, never sentient, before now.
- Before me and the other. - Tom Paris.
We're the first, don't you see? You came here. You showed us.
When the compound came in contact with Tom and Harry,
it experienced awareness for the first time.
Before, it was only instinct,
sound and light and heat.
But those two showed us thought.
I'm beginning to understand.
This silver blood experienced sentience.
And now you want more.
You want to duplicate the rest of this crew and populate this planet.
You're trying so hard to reach home, but this can be home.
Not for me and my people. Do you understand why we can't stay here?
I think so.
- Then release us. - We'd rather die than be alone.
We deserve life.
This silver blood that created you...
it duplicated Harry without killing him.
So you don't need our bodies, only samples of DNA.
Release Voyager and I'll speak to my crew.
And if they're willing, I'll let you duplicate the rest of us.
We've stopped. We're no longer submerging.
We're getting out of here, Tuvok,
but first assemble the crew in cargo bay 1
and have the Doctor meet me there. I'll explain later.
It's time to meet your new family.
All stations report ready for lift-off.
- Take us up, Mr Paris. - Aye, Captain.
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