LIFE LINE
Episode 144
Part A

 

Jupiter Station, Alpha Quadrant.

A Type-9 shuttlecraft approaches the station, piloted by Lieutenant Reginald 'Reg' Barclay. Barclay: "Jupiter Station from shuttlecraft Dawkins." Jupiter Station control: "Go ahead." Barclay: "This is Lieutenant Reginald Barclay, requesting permission to dock." Jupiter Station control: "Granted."

The door signal sounds on the holographic research laboratory at Jupiter Station. Dr Lewis Zimmerman: "What, what is it?" Barclay: "It's me, sir. Reg Barclay." Zimmerman: "Come in." Barclay enters the laboratory. He asks: "Dr Z, how are you?"

Zimmerman swings round in his chair where he has been examining a PADD. Sarcastically: "Nice of you finally to drop by." Barclay: "I've been extremely busy, the er Pathfinder project." Zimmerman: "You're still searching for that ship? What's it called, Pioneer?" Barclay: "Er, Voyager."

Zimmerman: "Voyager. Any luck?" Barclay: "Actually, we're on the verge of a breakthrough, a communications link." Zimmerman: "Congratulations, the first transgalactic phone call."

Barclay: "Is there any word from Starfleet Medical?" Zimmerman: "Doctors! I've been scanned and probed a hundred times and they still can't tell me what's wrong." Barclay: "I'm sure it's only a matter of time-"

Zimmerman: "I'm dying, Reginald, and there's nothing anybody can do about it!"

The MIDAS Array, in the Alpha Quadrant, transmits to USS Voyager via a pulsar.

Seven is working in Voyager's Astrometrics Lab.

The audio alert from the main console tells her about the arrival of the transmission.

Seven taps her combadge. "Seven of Nine to the Bridge." Janeway, via comms: "Go ahead." Seven, via comms: "I'm receiving a transmission. From Starfleet."

Paris turns and looks at Janeway and Chakotay. They are all surprised.

Janeway, via comms: "Route it here." Seven, via comms: "It's not a comlink, Captain. It appears to be a compressed datastream, badly degraded." Janeway, via comms: "On my way."

USS Voyager.

Briefing room. Janeway: "They say that good things come in small packages. This is all they could send us. Until next month." Torres: "Next month?" Chakotay: "They're using a cyclic pulsar to amplify signals from the Midas Array, but the cycle only peaks every 32 days." Janeway: "So once a month we'll be able to receive a short burst of information and we'll have about 17 hours to respond." Chakotay: "So far we've gotten tactical updates, letters from home and news about the Alpha Quadrant."

Kim: "Don't suppose they've found us a shortcut home?" Chakotay: "It doesn't look that way."

Torres and Paris listen as Janeway tells them all: "We don't have much time to prepare a response and we'll have to keep it short."

Janeway continues: "But I want to give everyone an opportunity to send something, even if it's only a brief note." At this point she taps Tuvok on the shoulder with her PADD to ensure that she means him too. "Inform the crew." "Yes, ma'am," and the staff start to leave. Janeway adds: "Lieutenant Barclay, the Pathfinder Project - they didn't give up on us. So when you write those letters, you might want to thank them."

Neelix enters Sickbay with a PADD for the Doctor. Neelix: "Mail call." The Doctor takes the PADD. "A letter. For me? Oh, it's from Lieutenant Barclay." But the Doctor's pleasure in receiving a letter from Barclay turns to deep concern as he reads. Neelix: "Bad news?" Doctor: "Lewis Zimmerman, apparently he's seriously ill." Neelix: "Zimmerman?" Doctor: "He's the father of modern holography. He invented the matrix that made my program possible." Neelix: "Oh, what's wrong with him?" Doctor (reading): "'...suffering from acute subcellular degradation. The doctors here are having trouble finding the cause much less the treatment. I've included his medical files. As you'll see, the prognosis isn't good. They say he's only got a few months. I'm sorry I don't have better news to report but I thought you'd want to know.'" Neelix: "How well did you know him?" Doctor: "I never met the man." Neelix: "If you'd like to send a response the Captain will need it by 1900 hours." He leaves the Doctor to his thoughts.

Seven enters Sickbay with a PADD for the Doctor. Seven: "Here's the information you requested." Doctor: "Thank you." He takes the PADD and starts to use it with reference to the information on his personal computer. Seven obseves: "You are reviewing his medical data."

Doctor: "I thought I could send Starfleet a second opinion. It's a long shot but maybe my experiences in the Delta Quadrant could provide some insights. I was hoping these Borg regeneration techniques might help them develop a treatment for his condition."

Seven looks at the picture of Dr Zimmerman on the computer. "You bear a striking physical resemblance."

Doctor: "He used his own physical parameters as a model for my matrix. Can't say I blame him. A doctor needs to inspire confidence in his patients - compassionate eyes and a strong chin can go a long way." Seven takes a deep breath and tolerates his egoism without a word.

The Doctor visits Janeway in the Captain's Ready Room. On her computer screen is part of the file on Dr Lewis Zimmerman. Doctor: "I believe I can help him, Captain." Janeway: "How?" Doctor: "You remember the Vidiians. The early stages of the phage are very similar to Dr Zimmerman's disease. I believe I can adapt a variety of Borg regeneration techniques to arrest the cell damage, maybe even reverse it." Janeway: "Make sure to pass along your findings. Thank you, Doctor." Doctor: "Actually, I was hoping to administer the treatment myself." Janeway: "What are you suggesting?" Doctor: "I'd like you to send my program back to the Alpha Quadrant. None of the doctors at Starfleet are familiar with these techniques. It would take them months to fully understand them, much less put them to use." Janeway: "Even if we could send you, you're needed here." Doctor: "Mr Paris can take over Sickbay. He's more than capable. We've done this once before. There weren't any problems." Janeway: "Three years ago and we used alien technology." Doctor: "I've spoken to Seven of Nine. She believes we can compress my program." Janeway: "There's limited space in the datastream. If we send you there won't be room for anything else." Doctor: "I realise I'd be asking the crew to make a sacrifice on my behalf, but they can wait another month, Dr Zimmerman might not have that time." Janeway: "I'm sorry he's not doing well. Unusual man, I met him once at a conference. Managed to offend just about everyone there but he was certainly brilliant. I'm sure Starfleet is consulting their best physicians, Doctor." Doctor: "They are, but no one's been able to develop a cure. I have. But I can't treat a patient who's 30,000 light years away." Janeway: "I'm sorry." Doctor: "Captain-" Janeway: "This is the first time we're attempting to send a response. We don't know if it'll even get through." Doctor: "I'm willing to take that risk." Janeway: "I'm not." Doctor: "He programmed me, every algorithm, every subroutine. If it weren't for his years of work I wouldn't be standing here. I owe him something, and frankly so does this crew. In a way he's responsible for every life I've saved." Janeway: "Lewis Zimmerman designed the template for Starfleet's EMH. You're one of thousands based on that technology. It's not as though he's your father." Doctor: "From your perspective. From mine, he's the closest thing I've got. If I don't try to help him now, I may never get the chance." Janeway: "We'll have to find a way to convince Tom to take those duty shifts." Doctor: "He's already agreed." Janeway: "Tell him Captain Jane said hello. That's what he kept calling me at the conference. I think he did it just to get on my nerves." Doctor: "I've heard he can be difficult." Janeway: "I certainly hope you get a chance to find out." Doctor: "Thank you, Captain."