STATE OF FLUX
Episode 11

Part D

 

While the Doctor treats Seska, giving orders to Kes: "Prep 3 cc's kelotane. I'll need a dermal regenerator. Run a full blood-scan." Chakotay rushes in and watches over Seska with tender concern.

standard doors Carey enters the Captain's Ready Room. Janeway, Chakotay and Tuvok are waiting for him.
Janeway: "Have a seat, Mr Carey."

Chakotay to Carey: "How are things going for you in Engineering?" Carey: "Fine. Why, is there a problem?" Chakotay: "Are you getting on alright with Lieutenant Torres?" Carey: "I think we've settled our differences." Janeway: "She was promoted to Chief Engineer over you, Lieutenant. That might be difficult for someone in your position to accept." Carey: "Captain, I accepted your decision. And I've worked as hard as I can to make myself a valuable member of Lieutenant Torres' team. I can't believe she'd have any complaints about my performance." Janeway: "She doesn't." Carey, puzzled: "Then what am I doing here?" Tuvok: "Lieutenant, have you had any contact with the Kazon-Nistrim since we arrived in the Delta Quadrant?" Carey: "What?? You mean me personally?? No, of course not." Chakotay: "You were out of contact for almost an hour on the planet where we encountered the Kazon." Carey: "You mean, when I was picking those poison apples?!" Janeway: "What about before we arrived at the planet: did you have any reason to signal a Kazon-Nistrim ship?" Carey: "No." Tuvok: "Nevertheless, a signal was sent to the Kazon from your station in Engineering during our dorsal emitter test last week." Carey: "My station?!" Tuvok: "Were you not in Engineering at that time?" Carey: "Well, yes, I was. But....you know how it is down there during a systems analysis." Chakotay: "Did you see anyone else at your station." Carey, now desperate: "Honestly, I don't remember! Maybe you should ask Seska." Janeway: "Why Seska?" Carey: "Everybody knows she was found in a cave with the Kazon." He pauses to tamp down rising panic and to try and collect himself. "Look, I'm not saying she did anything wrong but," firmly, "I didn't either." Janeway: "I'd like to believe you, Mr Carey. But somebody did contact the Kazon, and until we know who I'm going to have to restrict you to quarters." Carey realises the interview is over and he leaves. standard doors

Janeway: "What do you think?"
Chakotay: "He had the motive and the opportunity."
Janeway: "He's also had a distinguished Starfleet career. Seska spent most of the last two years as an enemy of the Federation."
Chakotay: "So have I."

On Voyager's bridge, Kim reports: "Captain, we're being hailed by the approaching Kazon ship." Janeway: "How soon will they be here?" Kim: "Four minutes." Janeway: "I wish we had something more definitive to tell them. Open a channel." The imposing figure of the commander of the newly arrived Kazon warship appears on the viewscreen. "I am Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the Federation starship Voyager." Culluh: "My name is Culluh, First Maje of the Kazon-Nistrim. What have you done to our ship?" Janeway: "We responded to a call for help. Unfortunately, by the time we were able to respond all but one of the crew were dead." Culluh: "I would like to speak to the survivor." Janeway: "He hasn't regained consciousness. We have him in our Sickbay. We'd be happy to beam you aboard so you can see him." Culluh: "You will prepare for my arrival." He closes contact.

Paris turns to look at Janeway and comments with jocular sarcasm: "Friendly sort."

USS Voyager in space, alongside the crippled Kazon warship and First Maje Culluh's recently arrived warship.

standard doors Janeway and Tuvok escort Culluh and his aide to Sickbay. Doctor: "Ah, Captain. Glad you're here. I was just about to call you." Janeway: "Doctor, this is First Maje Culluh of the Kazon-Nistrim. Could you give us the latest condition report on your Kazon patient?"

Doctor: "Well, the good news is that I've been able to stabilise him. We had to completely replace his blood." Culluh: "Replace his blood? With what?" Janeway: "The blood of volunteers from our crew. They saved his life."
First Maje Culluh.

Doctor: "His own bloodcells were killing him. They were changed by the accident on his ship. Culluh is suspicious. "Changed in what manner?" Doctor: "We haven't been able to determine yet." Janeway: "We've been working on a plan to access the source of the explosion which should answer a lot of the questions." Culluh: "That will no longer be necessary. We will take the damaged vessel to our port for inspection." Janeway: "I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that just yet." Culluh is indignant. "And what gives you the right to interfere in our affairs?" Janeway: "There was trace of a Federation compound in the remains of the explosion. We have reason that someone on board this ship gave technology to your people. Until we have a better explanation of what occurred, I can't release that ship to you." Culluh: "That is not acceptable." Janeway: "It will have to be." Culluh: "Your unique technologies make you brave, Captain, but you have only one ship. In less than a day there will be four Kazon vessels off your bow." Janeway: "Perhaps by then we'll have the answers we need."

Culluh: "You will leave us with him." He and his aide go up close beside the patient, while Tuvok observes them from a distance and Janeway goes to consult with the Doctor.

Janeway whispers: "I assume they'll want to take him back to their ship. I'd rather not let them do it just yet in case he regains consciousness. There are a lot of questions he can answer. Can I tell them it's not safe to move him?" Doctor: "It would be the truth." Janeway: "Good."

Pictures 1-4 below: Culluh signals his aide, who activates a weapon in the form of a needle which projects from a finger-ring. Tuvok notices, draws his phaser and hurries forward. But the aide is too quick for Tuvok. Swiftly the aide plunges the needle into the neck of the patient!

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3	4

Tuvok throws himself against the aide, pinning him to the wall.

Janeway draws her phaser and aims it at Culluh.

The Doctor rushes over to the biobed and checks the diagnostic monitors. Grimly he reports: "He's dead."

Janeway angrily tells Culluh: "Get off this ship." Culluh acknowledges with mocking courtesy, nodding his head. He and his aide leave unceremoniously, guarded by Tuvok. standard doors

The Doctor reports the findings of the diagnostic panels: "There was some kind of nerve toxin in that needle. He died instantly." Kes standing beside Seska who is on the main biobed reminds the Doctor of another matter. He says: "Captain, may we talk to you in my office?" Janeway acquiesces. Once there, he says: "It's about Seska."
Janeway: "Complications?"
Kes: "I was analysing her blood chemistry to try to locate a compatible donor. But when I got the results her blood was lacking all the common Bajoran blood factors." Janeway: "Meaning?"
Doctor: "The only conclusion we can reach is that she is not in fact Bajoran. It appears that Seska has been genetically altered. My suspicion is she was born Cardassian."

Kazon graphic web work by me. About the Kazon graphic / How to use the image map (pop-up)