LIFE LINE
Episode 144
Part C

 

Jupiter Station.

Two weeks later. The Doctor marches out of Zimmerman's lab into the living quarters. Doctor: "Power up the Midas Array! I'm leaving!" Barclay: "What? What happened this time?"

Doctor: "I ran a mitochondrial scan. There was something odd about the results. So I spent a full hour analysing them. And what did I discover? He's a Vulcan marsupial. He reconfigured my tricorder! You find that amusing?!" Barclay: "A little, well, not really."

Haley: "Sounds like you're making progress." Doctor: "How so?" Haley: "He only teases people he likes." Doctor: "Then he must love me."

Barclay: "I take it that you erm still haven't been able to diagnose him?" Doctor: "On the contrary. The patient appears to be suffering from an acute case of arrogance!"

There is a buzzing sound that moves around the room. Barclay: "Oh that's Roy." Doctor: "Don't tell me, a hologram?" Barclay: "It was commissioned by Starfleet Intelligence, er an experiment in microsurveillance, and Dr Z. keeps it around as er a sort of a pet." Doctor, trying to avoid the buzzing attentions of Roy: "Undercover insects, talking iguanas? This isn't a research station, it's a three-ring circus. You should charge admission!"

The Doctor picks up a book and hunts the fly, irritated by its buzzing.

Barclay: "Look, you know that we can't send you back for another 2 weeks so please, just, just keep trying." Doctor: "I can't treat a patient who won't let me near him. He's deranged. What he needs is a Counsellor!"

As Roy flies around in front of him, the Doctor slams down a book and Roy's buzzing suddenly stops. "Finally, I've accomplished something."

He exits, leaving Barclay to lift the book and stare at Roy's splattered remains.

Barclay is communicating with Counsellor Deanna Troi, the ship's counsellor aboard USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E. They first met and became friends when they served together on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D. Barclay has also served on the Enterprise-E. Barclay: "I thought you might be able to provide some insight." Troi: "It's not that simple, Reg. Dr Zimmerman sounds like a very complex individual. I'd need to speak to him, in person." Barclay: "Then maybe I could get him to agree to a counselling session." Troi: "The Enterprise is in the middle of a mission. We're nearly seven light years from you." Barclay: "An important mission?" Troi: "They're all important, Reg. I can refer you to Counsellor Jenzo, a colleague of mine on Earth." Barclay: "I need the best, Deanna." Troi: "It would be an interesting challenge." Barclay is delighted: "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." Troi: "Don't thank me yet. I'll still need to clear this with Captain Picard." They have both served (and Troi is still serving) under Picard. "If he agrees, I might be able to be with you by early next week." Barclay: "I'll see you then." Contact ends.

USS Voyager in flight.

Janeway is studying something on her portable computer when Chakotay arrives.

The door signal sounds. "Come in." Chakotay enters. "Good morning." Janeway makes a sound of non-commital acknowledgement. Chakotay: "Problem? Janeway: "I haven't decided. I just listened to a communique from Admiral Hayes. Chakotay jokes: "Nice to have friends in high places." She turns her computer so that they can both watch and hear the message. She starts it playing.

Hayes: "Hello, Captain. I hope this message finds you well, From what I understand it has not been easy but I want you to know that a lot of people are very proud of what you've accomplished. I also want to assure you that we have not given up finding a way to get you home. We've redirected 2 deep space vessels toward your position. If all goes well, they could rendezvous with you in the next 5 to 6 years." Janeway: Computer, advances to time index 121.4." The message plays: "As we get closer our conversations become more frequent. When responding to this message, please let us know of any casualties. I'm sure you've had more than your share. I'm anxious to know the status of your crew - the Maquis, first contacts that you've made, interactions with the Borg. But there'll be time for everything. Our thoughts are with you. Talk to you soon."

The message ends.

Chakotay: "What?" Janeway: "Status of the Maquis." Chakotay: "Do you find that surprising?" Janeway: "I don't think of you, or B'Elanna or the others as Maquis. I think of you as part of my crew." Chakotay: "You may have forgotten but we haven't. You heard the Admiral: it'll be years before we have to deal with those issues. Let's worry about it then."

Janeway: "Do you have lunch plans?" Chakotay: "Is that an invitation?" Janeway: "I was hoping you'd help me compose a response." Chakotay smiles. "You're on."

Jupiter Station.

Haley finishes preparing Zimmerman's lunch.

Haley calls: "Doctor, your lunch is ready." She can hear moaning. "Are you alright?"

In the lab, Zimmerman says: "Fine, Haley, fine. Give me a few minutes." He is enjoying a massage. The hologram masseuse is of the Ellora species, as seen in [Star Trek: Insurrection], but the species is not named in this story.

Zimmerman: "Ah, more, perfect. I've needed this. You've no idea what I've had to endure these past few days. Last night I woke up and I found him hovering over my bed with a hypospray. A smattering of photons, that's all he is."

The masseuse gets out a medical tricorder and starts scanning Zimmerman.

He suddenly notices what the masseuse is doing. "What's that? A tricorder? You're scanning me?!"

Horrified realisation dawns. "Computer, re-align Voyager's EMH."

The Ellora masseuse reverts to the normal visual parameters of the Doctor!