MUSE
Episode 142
Part A

 

At the open-air theatre on a planet inhabited by a primitive humanoid society. Evening.

Chorus (three alien men): "Captain's Log, Stardate 53896. B'Elanna Torres has requested permission to take the Delta Flyer and search for dilithium. Shining Voyager, far from home, far from the gleaming cities of Earth."

The patron of the actors' troupe, a warlord with the title Autarch, watches the play.

Kelis: "Headstrong B'Elanna Torres and young Harry Kim, speed away from Voyager on the Delta Flyer in search of their treasures."

Jero (as Harry Kim): "I've trimmed the sails but the sea is rough. Maybe we should return." Layna (as B'Elanna Torres): "I know what I'm doing." Chorus: "A wave as high as a mountain struck the Delta Flyer."

Layna (as B'Elanna Torres): "Get into the escape pod."

Jero (as Kim): "We die together."

Layna (as B'Elanna Torres): "No one is going to die. Go."

Jero (as Kim) exits stage left.

Chorus: "Young Harry Kim left her side and B'Elanna Torres was thrown against the rocks, the rocks of our very shore."

Kelis: "Which is where I, Kelis the poet, found her, broken, dying. She told me her story, and now I've told you."

The players bow their heads to end the performance. There is a moment's silence while the audience watch the Autarch.

He applauds and then rises to give them a standing ovation. The audience follows his lead.

Autarch to Kelis: "An excellent conceit, that you discovered her yourself." Kelis: "Thank you." Autarch: "Well, now that B'Elanna Torres has come to our shore, what will happen? Does Captain Janeway come searching for her, or does she give her up for lost?"

Kelis: "Who can say?" Autarch: "Well, I would hope that you can." His lady companion smiles at him. "I want to see more of these Voyager Eternals." Kelis: "Inspiration can't be forced." Autarch, starting to leave: "One week." Kelis: "Or three weeks, maybe two." The Autarch turns and looks at him. "One week - the story will continue."

Have you noticed how thin my performers have gotten?" Autarch plucks the pendant adorning his lady companion and throws it into Kelis' hands: "Let them eat this." The pendant can be exchanged for food. Kelis clutches it and is grateful.

Backstage. Kelis: "Ladies and gentlemen, our patron salutes you." He holds up the pendant. Jero: "Finally!" Kelis: "We're doing another Voyager play," Tanis gives a broad smile, "as soon as I can write it."

Layna goes over to Kelis. She is in love with him. "Shall we celebrate, the two of us?" Kelis: "I have very little time. Celebrating will have to wait." He departs, leaving her feeling disappointed.

Night. The Delta Flyer really has crashed on the aliens' planet.

Delta Flyer - interior. Torres is in the pilot's seat.

Kelis enters. When he found her, he ties her to the pilot's chair. She is unconscious.

There is a wound on her left arm. He draws his knife to cut her again. Suddenly Torres, actually awake, lashes out and makes him fall.

Torres: "Who are you?!" Kelis: "Kelis, Kelis the poet. Your servant."

Torres: "My servant? Alright. Then let me go." Kelis: "I can't." Torres, sternly: "Why not?" Kelis: "You'll fly from me, the way inspiration always does." Torres sees the knife wound on her arm: "You're trying to kill me."

Kelis: "I'm releasing the heat from your veins." Torres: "What are you talking about?" Kelis: "You've been in a fever since I found you. Bleeding is the best way to treat it." Torres, sarcastically: "Oh, I can see I'm in good hands." Kelis: "Something tells me you have your doubts."

Torres: "There's a medkit over there." She directs him to it. "A box, made out of metal. There's a small cylinder inside. Bring it here. Give it to me."

She turns it on. It hums and a light goes on. Kelis is startled. "Don't be afraid, it won't hurt you. Here." She hands it to him. "Pass it over where you cut me."

He does so and the wound heals. Kelis: "You're an Eternal. I suppose such things are to be expected."

Torres: "What other things do you expect from an Eternal?"
Kelis: "The power to make the ground open up and the sky to fall, all the strange events sung by the ancient poets. Fortunately for me, no poet has ever sung about your clan. I'm the first."
Torres: "My clan?"
Kelis: "The Eternals on Voyager - shining Voyager far from home."
Torres: "How do you know about that?"

He activates a control and she hears the playback of logs and com. recordings. She hears herself saying: "Delta Flyer Log, stardate 53918. Harry and I are continuing toward the fourth planet. Sensors have picked up natural dilithium deposits on nearly every land mass." Kelis winds forward. Chakotay's com. voice is heard: "Acknowledged. Has your warp core been damaged?" and she replies: "Yes. We're running on thrusters. Can you track our position?" Torres: "How long have I been here?" Kelis: "Eight days. I was walking through these mountains. I saw a light burn across the sky and I heard a terrible sound. When I arrived, I found you. I treated your wounds." Torres: "And you tied me to this chair." Kelis: "When a gift falls from the heavens, only a fool would let her go. You've already given me one play - the story told by those voices. I pieced them together, tried to fill in the gaps." Torres: "You made a play out of our logs?" Kelis: "'The Away Mission of B'Elanna Torres'. My patron was impressed."

Torres: "He has great taste. Now take that knife of yours and cut me free." Kelis: "That would be unwise." Torres: "Why?" Kelis: "My patron is intrigued by the Voyager Eternals. He wants another play. To compose that, I need more details." Torres: "And you expect to get them from me?" Kelis: "I did save your life."

Torres: "I need to get back to Voyager." Kelis: "I need another play." Torres: "What exactly do you want to know?" Kelis: "Everything." Torres: "It's not possible. We Eternals have our rules. We can't just give everything away." Kelis: "How did you get lost?" Torres: "Cut me free and I'll tell you." Kelis: "You won't leave me?"

Torres holds out her bound hands: "Cut me free." He does so. At once she picks up a phaser and turns on him, pointing it at him. "You're the one who's leaving."

He stares at her. Realising he does not know she is holding a weapon, she turns and fires it at the shattered front window. At the bright light, Kelis shrinks back.

She orders him: "Don't come back." He hurries away.