SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
Episode 116
Part A

 

In Voyager's Messhall, Paris and Torres are having a romantic dinner together, complete with candles. Paris: "So, Harry throws it in gear, floors the gas, and backs us right through a burrito stand."

Torres: "So when are you going to teach me how to drive?" Paris: "You sure you're ready?" Torres: "I've piloted starships. I think I can handle a car." Paris: "Ah, you'd be surprised. The clutch on a '69 Mustang can be pretty tricky."

Throughout Torres has been noticing Seven. Torres: "Take a look. She's watching us again."

Paris turns and looks. He turns back to Torres: "Huh, she's working. Relax."

Neelix comes over to them with a tray of food. Neelix: "Dessert?" Torres: "What is it?" Neelix: "Some cheese I prepared for our Kadi guest. Tell me what you think."

Torres take a slice and takes a bite. "It's a little bland."

Neelix, disappointed: "Just a little? Oh, that's bad. The Kadi don't approve of spices, anything that might inflame the senses." Paris: "You're talking this mission very seriously." Neelix: "Well, the Kadi are easily offended. The Captain's leaving their representative entirely in my hands while she's at the colony." Paris: "Well, I'm sure you're up to it, Ambassador." Neelix: "I hope so." He leaves them.

Torres: "She's watching us again." Paris: "You're imagining things." Torres: "I don't think so." She gets up. Paris: "B'Elanna!"

Torres goes straight over to Seven. Torres: "Enjoying the view?"

Seven: "Explain." Torres: "You've been staring at us all night. In fact, you were following us yesterday when we were walking to Engineering and the day before when I was waiting for Tom outside the Shuttlebay." Seven: "You are correct, I have been observing you as part of my research on human mating behaviour."

Torres picks up Seven's large PADD which is on the table.

She reads from it: "Stardate 52647, 1400 hours. Subjects quarrel in corridor outside female's quarters. Male returns with twelve flowering plant stems, species rosa rubifolia, effecting a cessation of hostilities. Stardate 52648, 0300 hours. Intimate relations resume." She demands: "How the hell do you know when we're having intimate relations?"

Hearing Torres read out "Intimate relations resume" Paris decides to get up and make his way over to them, knowing he must try somehow to diffuse a row.

Seven: "There is no one on Deck 9 section 12 who doesn't know when you're having intimate relations." Neelix arrives. "Is there a problem?" Torres crossly to Seven: "I want all the data you've collected." Seven: "I haven't completed the study."

Torres, with pretend politeness and even a (fake) smile: "Then study this: Borg provokes Klingon, Klingon breaks Borg nose."

Neelix: "B'Elanna!" Torres: "Call Sickbay. Tell them there's about to be a medical emergency." Paris: "B'Elanna, let's go have a nightcap." Torres angrily to Seven: "This time you've crossed the line."

Seven does not realise the full extent of her gaffe.

USS Voyager orbits the Kadi planet.

In the Captain's Ready Room, Janeway, who is in dress uniform, collects a hot beverage from the replicator.

She makes her way to her desk, passing Seven on the way. Janeway: "I read B'Elanna's report. Needless to say, I was surprised." Seven: "I was careful not to violate protocols."

Janeway: "That's not the point. This is a starship, not a nature preserve." She looks at herself in the mirror placed on her desk. "Oh, I'm missing a pip."

Seven: "You asked me to broaden my knowledge of human behaviour." Janeway, looking under the desk: "I'm not questioning your goals, Seven." She says, "Oh." as she finds the rank pip. "It's your methods." Seven puts the pip on her. "Shouldn't be taking field notes on the crew. Help me with this, will you please? Have you ever considered trying it yourself? Romance, I mean."

Seven: "I do not require a romantic relationship." Janeway stands up. "So why'd you collect 30,000 gigaquads of data on the subject? I'm late." She hurries out.

Tuvok, Janeway and Neelix are walking along the corridor to the transporter room. Janeway, looking at her PADD: "I missed this on my first pass through their database. Kadi monks only wash with purified water so sonic showers are out." Neelix: "I've already equipped his quarters with an ablutionary fountain built to their specifications." Tuvok: "They observe eight daily services." Neelix: "Noted."

Tuvok enters the transporter room. Janeway detains Neelix in the doorway: "Show the Ambassador our best side, Neelix. I don't want him going back to his superiors with tales of how immoral we are."

He acknowledges, and they hurry in. The three of them stand ready to receive the guests. Tuvok to the transporter duty officer: "Energise."

The transporter activates.

Two figures start to materialise.

The Kadi Abbot (pictured right) and his companion materialise.

Neelix turns and prompts Janeway: "The ritual greeting."

Janeway quickly looks down at her PADD, then steps forward to welcome the guests: "Travellers who have left the sanctity of their home and family, we welcome you into our home, our family."

Abbot: "Accept these symbols," he motions his companion forward, "of our purity and the Goddess mother's blessing."

His companion places the ritual linen marked with the Kadi ritual symbol over the shoulders of Tuvok and then Janeway.

Janeway indicates Tuvok: "Commander Tuvok, the senior officer who will accompany me," and then indicates Neelix, "and Mr Neelix, who will familiarise your Ambassador with Voyager."

Abbot, indicating his companion: "Tomin is an excellent judge of character. He'll help us determine whether your crew is worthy of receiving our minerals."

Janeway: "He's in very good hands."

Neelix beams.

Abbot: "It is time to welcome you to our home."

Tuvok and Janeway join the Abbot on the transporter pad.

They are beamed to the colony.

Neelix to Tomin: "Ah, this way, Ambassador." Neelix extends an arm to show Tomin the way and they leave the transporter room.

Shortly afterwards, Neelix and Tomin are in a corridor. Neelix has been describing Voyager. Neelix: "Voyager's an Intrepid-class Starship with a crew of one hundred and forty-six, designed for long-term exploration. I thought we'd start with a tour of our primary systems. First stop, Engineering." Tomin stops, forcing Neelix to stop too: "I was hoping I might sample a food item I noted earlier in your data files - hasperat." Neelix: "It's a Bajoran dish, very spicy. I believe that your dietary protocols prohibit flavourful foods."

Tomin: "I want to broaden my palate while I'm here, in the interest of better understanding." Neelix is happy to oblige and smiles, knowing he will have the chance to show off his domain and maybe his culinary talents to the Ambassador: "Oh, in that case, first stop Messhall."