Torres, via comms: "Torres to Astrometrics." Seven is in Voyager's Astrometrics Lab monitoring the away team's progress. On the main viewscreen is a series of animated schematics of the Malon freighter interior, with the away team's location being tracked on it. Seven, in Astrometrics, via comms: "Go ahead."

Torres, via comms: "We're outside the control room but without tricorders we can't tell if it's safe to go in there."

Seven, via comms: "The room is too heavily shielded. Our sensors can't penetrate it. You must stand by."

Fesek: "The theta dampening field is still active. It should be safe." Torres: "After you." They enter the freighter's control room.

The control room.

Fesek, checking the read-outs at the main console: "It's worse than I expected - the theta gas has leaked into the warp manifold."

Neelix: "We've got less than ten minutes before this vessel explodes."

Fesek at the main console: "Emergency systems are down."

Torres, installing a device onto the console: "This should feed enough energy to your power matrix to re-initialise them. Try it now." Fesek: "They're coming back online, but only one containment grid is still operational. We have two unstable tanks. One grid can't handle them both." Torres: "We'll seal them one at a time."

In Voyager's Sickbay.....

Chakotay regains consciousness. He sits up with difficulty. Chakotay: "Doctor?" The Doctor comes over to him and helps him: "Easy, Commander." Chakotay: "Ow, my head aches." Doctor: "I'm not surprised. You took a severe blow." Chakotay: "Got to get back to the freighter."

Doctor: "Not in this condition. If you want to help you can answer some questions about Mr Pelk's death. I've found unidentified tissue in his wounds."

Chakotay: "What sort of tissue?" Doctor: "The computer is running a microcellular scan." Chakotay: "Pelk said he was attacked." Doctor: "Ah yes, the Malon bogeyman."

Computer: "Microcellular analysis is complete." Doctor, looking at the results: "Odd. The tissue is saturated with theta radiation, but it's not showing signs of decay. It came from someone or something that's developed a resistance to the radiation." He taps his combadge. "Sickbay to Seven of Nine." Seven, via comms: "Yes, Doctor." Doctor, via comms: "Scan for additional lifeforms aboard the Malon vessel."

Seven, via comms: "I've been running continuous scans. I assure you there is no one there aside from the away team." Doctor, via comms: "This lifeform's heavily irradiated. It could be blending in with ambient toxins."

Seven, via comms: "I'll recalibrate our sensors."

Malon freighter control room. Fesek: "Tank 1's stable." Torres: "Re-route the containment grid to tank 2." But there is a problem. Neelix asks: "What happened?"

Fesek: "A power surge. We're losing the grid." Torres: "It was triggered from a workstation on this deck!" This means there is someone or something in there with them!

Janeway, via comms: "Janeway to away team." She confirms Torres suspicions: "We've detected an alien lifeform aboard the freighter. We believe it killed Pelk." Torres, via comms: "Captain, we just lost power." Janeway, via comms: "We're diverting the freighter into a nearby star. Leave the control room so we can get a lock on you." Torres, via comms: "Acknowledged."

But when the away team go to the exit, the door will not open.
Neelix: "What's going on?"
Torres: "It's jammed."

Seven, via comms: "Seven of Nine to away team. I've detected the alien lifeform. It's moving toward your position."

Neelix: "The gas is being routed through the environmental system."

Torres: "I'll try to shut it down."

Neelix: "Is there another way out?" Fesek: "No." He coughs.

Voyager's bridge.
Janeway: "Do you have them?"
Kim: "Not yet."

Voyager's Astrometrics Lab. Seven to the away team, via comms: "The lifeform has entered the control room."

Malon freighter's control room. Torres: "I'm trying to vent the gas, but the release valves are jammed." Fesek: "Use the environmental controls instead." Torres: "In the meantime, see if you can get that hatch open."

Suddenly Neelix is attacked by a mysterious humanoid figure! She turns, hearing the sound: "Neelix?" She draws her phaser. Fesek: "No," meaning the phaser, "you'll ignite the gas."

Torres jumps when a hand falls on her shoulder. "Neelix?!" It is he. She has found him.

Torres shouts to Fesek: "We've got to get him back to Voyager. Get that hatch open!" Fesek: "I'm trying!"

Torres, hearing a sound, turns to shout a warning: "Fesek, behind you!"

The attacker assaults Fesek and knocks him down.

Torres grabs a length of pipe to use as a defensive weapon.

As the attacker approaches her, she peers into the gloom trying to see them.

Meanwhile, she manages to press several controls.

She sees the attacker.

 

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