♪ ♪
- Personal log, Stardate 61881.4.
It's been a week since I've had a bit of an accident.
The rest of the crew is steadfast in finding Chakotay
and our lost "Protostar."
I suppose the timeline won't correct itself.
They've attempted to fix my suit,
but apparently, its intricate circuitry
is melted beyond repair...
and our small ship is short on parts.
I fear I'm a burden, but I do what I can--
keep watch one day, a funny quip the next.
Oh, hello, there.
Why, yes. I--
You're a telepath too.
It's been so long.
- Zero, who are you talking to?
- Another Medusan calling out.
They say they can help me.
- A non-corporeal colony?
- A collective of all kinds--
Paxans, Medusans, Calamarains.
- Sounds like a bunch of nobodies.
Get it?
'Cause noncorporeal beings have "no bodies."
- They said they can help you.
How?
- They assured me they could replace my suit.
Though I couldn't read their thoughts,
I sense no ill intention.
They gave me coordinates, not too far from here,
and said the choice is mine.
- Guys, we need to find the "Protostar."
- You needn't worry about me.
The mission comes first.
- Zero just sacrificed themselves
for the good of others, and still they won't ask
for the help they need.
Me and the "Protostar" can wait.
- She makes a good point.
All right.
What are the coordinates?
- Really? Oh, how spectacular!
I suppose it is time I got an upgrade.
Yip! Yip!
♪ ♪
- It is all right.
You may remove your protective eyewear.
Welcome, friends.
My name is Ion, and this is Ovidia IV.
- Uh, thanks, but there must be some sort of mix up.
We thought this was a colony of non-corporeals.
- I assure you, we are.
Energy-based lifeforms from across our galaxy
have all flocked to this planet for its unique ability
to foster our physical forms.
- Non-corporeals with living bodies?
You're who I spoke with.
I've never met a Medusan like you.
- You must be Zero, the curious one.
You have come at no greater time,
for tonight we celebrate the Feast of Senses.
- Mm. His odor is so pungent.
You must try.
- And you can experience senses.
How?
- The answers you seek lie within.
♪ ♪
- Ahh.
- How did you come to call this place home?
- I was lost, like you.
Then I was invited by another noncorporeal
as they were invited before them.
The rings of this planet decay into the atmosphere,
providing healing nutrients our bodies utilize.
- Unique hydrocarbon chains--
the physical building blocks of life!
- Creating organic bodies,
energy to matter?
- Marvelous, isn't it?
We neither use nor need anything as rudimentary
as your containment suit,
for this is far more rewarding.
To see, to feel--
it is beyond explanation.
- This transfiguration, could you do the same for me?
- If that is what you would like,
it is your decision to make.
- I've always had this uncertainty
and emptiness within,
yearning to experience life,
to touch and feel as you do.
It might be what I've been missing.
- Well, I think this is super cool,
scientifically and personally.
Biotransference? I mean, come on!
- Well, then I'll do it.
Whoo-hoo!
- You all must be tired from your long journey.
Our colony will take very good care of you
while you wait for the procedure.
- All that matters is that you take good care of Zero.
- You have my word.
♪ ♪
- W-will I feel anything?
- You will feel everything.
♪ ♪
- You did not tell them everything.
- I gave them the choice, nothing more.
The truth will come.
- Ha-ha! Fast, but not fast enough.
- Ha-ha, kaboom!
Rok-Tahk just served you some percussive maintenance.
- It appears we are victorious!
Yip, yip!
- That was so much fun!
Can we do it again?
Please? Please?
- Should we proceed with another round,
or have you seen enough?
- Computer, end Parrises Squares program.
Their behavior is unusual.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Maj'el.
Dismissed.
- Hey, what is this, a setup?
- Their life signs read completely normal,
yet their personalities appear to be interchanged.
- Whoa, whoa, watch where you put that tricorder.
- There must be some explanation--
a virus, mind-meld gone wrong.
- Ooh, a mystery.
I love mysteries.
It reminds me of your holonovel.
- Oh? Which part?
When Velencia is torn between lovers,
or when Rodrigo created holo-duplicates of himself
to evade detection?
Oh, no.
- Computer, turn off all holo-emitters
in this room, save for the Doctor.
Admiral override.
- I can't believe this.
They created imposters with fake life sign subroutines
to fool my sensors.
I've been betrayed by my own brilliant storylines.
- Those holograms were
their only biosignatures on "Voyager."
- And Gwyn?
She wasn't on that holodeck.
- Her last biosignature was two days ago,
and no record since.
- There's no way they could have left the ship.
All shuttles are accounted for.
- Except for the "Infinity," which we assumed was destroyed.
- Reverse course and get me a lock
on the "Infinity's" warp trail.
- Yes, Admiral.
- And Gwyn, or this holo-version of her--
find her.
I need answers now.
♪ ♪
Oh.
Oh, oh.
Ooh, oh dear.
Well--
- How do you feel?
I feel like there's something in my mouth.
Take your time.
It's all right.
- I feel--
I feel!
- Is Zero awake? - Can we see them?
- You have some visitors who'd like to see you.
Shall I let them in?
- Zero. - Whoa.
♪ ♪
- Taller than me, but wow.
- I've waited so long to do this.
- Now this--this feels...
glorious!
- Strangely delightful.
- If you enjoy these sensations,
you'll experience more at our Feast of Senses.
♪ ♪
Let your senses live.
Enjoy the life you've only dreamed of.
♪ ♪
What is this?
Oh, they all smell so, so delectable.
Such--such visions of flavor in my head!
Oh, oh.
But my belly is angry.
- Oh, that just means you're hungry.
- Take it from an expert.
Time to start shoving things in your mouth.
- This is the best thing I've ever tasted,
the only thing I've ever tasted.
♪ ♪
No, this one's better.
Mm! So many delights.
I feel something welling up inside me.
- Uh...
- Is this unbridled bliss or euphoria or--
- Oh, my.
- Oh, ample sound, pungent bouquet.
Buck is impressed.
- Murf, I think we get the point.
- Is that you, Zero?
Wow!
You look amazing.
Come, dance with us.
- Uh, if you want to go for it, say yes.
- Yes!
- Hey, let's go live a little, kid.
- I'm too big.
I don't want to step on their tiny new feet.
- Oh-ho-ho, don't you worry about that.
Jankom Pog's moves--
he-ey, he-ooh, he-ee--
clear the dance floor, ha-ha!
OK, OK.
- You hungry?
- Starving.
♪ ♪
Zero looks so happy.
- They do.
Thanks for speaking up for Zero.
Sometimes, I get so focused on where I think we need to be,
I forget to stop and take a breath--
--or take a sip of whatever this is,
which is possibly the greatest thing I have ever tasted!
We'll make things right.
- Will we?
- We have to.
Enjoying yourselves?
- What is in this drink?
'Cause I got to get me another one.
- Mm, stomach juices of the Villar Hog.
You know what?
It is so filling.
Thank you for this.
This means a lot to our friend.
- What's the deal with the crown?
- They're preparing for the Running of the Nazamon,
a celebration of the forgotten sense.
- Uh, sight, sound, smell, touch, taste--
what are we forgetting?
- Fear.
- What do you mean, fear?
- The feeling of mortality, that life is fleeting.
Of all the senses, it is the one
that makes our corporeal bodies feel most alive.
- You're scaring us, Ion.
Just what exactly happens
during this running of the whatevers?
- It's the pinnacle of the Feast.
If they survive the Running,
every noncorporeal feels one with their body,
and since our physical forms deteriorate
if we leave Ovidia IV,
no one ever chooses to leave this planet.
- We have to tell Zero
before they start the Running of the Nazamon.
Zero doesn't know what they're getting into!
- Yeah, but where is Zero?
- Have you seen Zero?
- Yeah, Z's right here.
Hey, Zero!
- Uh... - Zero?
Zero?
- It is time for the Running of the Nazamon.
- Gah! We're too late!
- What's wrong?
- Z's in danger!
We may lose them forever.
♪ ♪
- It's haunting, captivating,
but I'm so curious about what this is for.
- It's to attract the Nazamon.
Just try to keep up, and hopefully,
we'll make it to the other side.
- Some don't?
- It's OK to be afraid.
It's why we're here.
♪ ♪
- Zero!
- Friends, over here!
- I found them!
This way!
♪ ♪
- It's already started.
- Then we're going in.
Whether Z stays or goes won't matter
if they don't survive this thing.
♪ ♪
- Ha! Over here!
Pick me!
- What is that?
The Nazamon.
And now it feasts.
- Can you feel your heart beating?
- Yes! Yes!
- Then run faster,
or you'll spend eternity in its belly!
- Zero!
- Isn't this wondrous? - No, it is not.
- We need to tell you something.
- We need to get to the other side.
- Ion said that no one ever leaves this planet.
- Ion said what?
What do you mean, they never leave?
- They don't want to.
Your bodies degenerate if they leave Ovidia IV.
- They do? - If they survive the race.
No one wants to give up their senses.
- You risked your lives to tell me?
- Of course. You're Zero.
- Ion wasn't wrong.
The choice is yours, but you have a right
to know everything before you make it.
- Zero, if it were me--
- Dal!
- Hang in there, Dal!
Ahh! Ahh!
Oh, why'd I look down?
- Hold on!
- It's not coming down.
We need to lure it back.
Hurry.
♪ ♪
- I fly starships, not Nazamon.
What do we do?
- We let it follow its senses.
- Whoo-ha!
- Ahh! - I'm terrified!
But I won't lie.
This feels spectacular!
♪ ♪
- I think I'm done with this Feast of Senses.
- So we survived.
How are you feeling, Z?
What happens now?
- I'll decide when I cross the finish line.
- Then we'll finish it together.
- Zero, you've completed the Feast of Senses.
How do you feel?
- Grateful for the experience.
No, transformed.
I don't want to leave.
To lose my senses would be heartbreaking,
which is ironic because I didn't have one before.
But I have friends who would risk their own
simply to clarify a choice that was,
for whatever reason, kept from me.
- You needed to experience it
before you knew what you could lose.
- But my life is my own to decide.
In a way, you've helped me come to my senses.
I know where I belong--
with them.
♪ ♪
Perhaps my body will degrade, and my senses will dull.
Or maybe this is the first step in a journey
of self-discovery and unknown possibility.
Either way, I'll take it with those most important to me--
my family.
- A noble choice.
I am proud to have met you, curious one.
- As am I.
Thank you, truly.
♪ ♪
- Status report.
- The Doctor has tracked down and reconstructed
the missing Gwyn hologram
with the appropriate personality.
- Good.
I like Murf, but his conversations
can be a bit one-sided.
- There's something else I came across that
is deeply troubling.
Shortly before her program went offline,
there was a gap of roughly eight minutes
missing in the ship's logs.
- Our computers can't lose minutes.
- I was hoping to ask her about that.
Computer, unfreeze Gwyn program.
- Gwyn, I know this may come as a shock,
but we know you are a hologram.
And we fear the real Gwyn could be in danger.
- We are also aware your counterparts
took the "Infinity."
- They had to.
They received a secret message.
- A secret message?
From whom?
- We think it was...
Captain Chakotay.
- And your disappearance?
What do you remember of it?
- I--I can hear them.
- Hear what? - The sounds.
Such awful sounds.
I couldn't move, like time stopped.
They were there to take me.
- Who are they?
- Please, make it stop!
They're coming closer!
Let me go! Let me go!
Computer, end program!
- I believe she was lost in a terrible memory.
- That's what I'm afraid of.
I don't know who or what is after them,
but if we don't find them first,
we may lose more than just eight minutes.