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JETREL
Episode 15
Part A

 

Tuvok and Neelix are playing pool in the Chez Sandrine holoprogram, watched by its creator Tom Paris. Holocharacter Gaunt Gary, a representation of a famous pool hustler, also watches with interest.

Neelix: "He hasn't left me with a single shot."
Gaunt Gary: "In that case, pal, call a safety."
Neelix: "Safety?"
Paris: "Er, it's a defensive strategy - since you can't make a shot, the idea is to leave the cue ball somewhere on the table where Tuvok can't make a shot either."
Neelix: "Oh, I don't know. Sounds cowardly."
Gaunt Gary: "Suit yourself, pal, but if you leave Vulcan Slim over here with an open shot, he's got a very good chance of running the table."

Neelix: "Alright. Safety."
He prepares his shot.

He plays, sending the cue ball around behind others.

Neelix, gleefully: "Ah ha, ha, ha, ha! Mr Vulcan, let's see you reason your way out of this conundrum." To Paris: "This 'safety' business is a lot more satisfying than I imagined. I've left him with an impossible shot."

Tuvok: "The shot may be difficult, Mr Neelix, but to say that it is impossible is an exaggeration."
Neelix: "Go ahead then. Call your shot."
Tuvok: "Logic would dictate that if I strike the cue ball properly, it will deflect first off the rear bumper, then the side, striking the eleven ball and causing it to roll directly into the corner pocket."
Paris: "This I have to see."

Tuvok plays, propelling the cue ball straight into the corner pocket.

Tuvok: "Perhaps the ship's stabilisers are not operating at peak efficiency."
Gaunt Gary: "Yeah, and maybe Tom Terrific over here forgot to tell you that Sandrine's table rolls a little to the east."
Neelix: "You should've called a 'safety'."
The comm. signal sounds. audio: comms. signalcomms. signal Janeway, via comms: "Janeway to Mr Neelix. Please report to the Bridge."
In cheerful mood, Neelix leaves for the Bridge.

Some of the Bridge personnel. In Tuvok's absence, Lieutenant Ayala is manning the security/tactical station.
Neelix enters the Bridge. audio: standard doorsstandard doors

Neelix: "You wanted to see me, Captain."
Janeway: "Yes, Neelix. We've received a subspace message from an approaching vessel. They're asking for you."
Neelix: "Me?"

Kim: "The alien ship is entering visual range, Captain."

Janeway: "Slow to impulse. On screen." audio: viewscreenviewscreen The image of an approaching spacecraft appears on the viewscreen.

Janeway to Neelix: "Do you recognise it?"
Neelix: "That's a Haakonian shuttle."
Chakotay: "Haakonian?"
Neelix: "My people were at war with them for the better part of a decade. They conquered my homeworld more than fifteen years ago."
Chakotay: "Any idea what the Haakonians want with you now?"
Neelix: "None at all."
Kim: "The shuttle is hailing us, Captain."
Janeway: "Open a channel."
Kim: "Channel open."

Janeway: "I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. What can we do for you?"
Jetrel: "As I stated in my message, Captain, I understand you have a Talaxian called Neelix aboard your vessel."
Before Janeway can reply, Neelix comes out from his position behind her, to speak directly with the Haakonian.
Neelix: "I'm Neelix. What do you want?"

Jetrel: "It is a matter of utmost urgency. However, I would prefer to speak with you privately. Your life may very well depend on it."
Neelix: "Who are you?"

Jetrel: "Forgive me. I am Jetrel, Dr Ma'bor Jetrel."

Neelix goes into spasms of fury at the name.

Unable to speak for rage and feeling slightly sick as a result, he hurries to the turbolift and departs, leaving Janeway looking puzzled.

Neelix takes the turbolift away from the Bridge, away from Jetrel.

Neelix's quarters.
Neelix: "He's a mass murderer! When I was much younger my family and I lived on a moon called Rinax, a colony with the most temperate climate in the entire Talaxian system - warm days, balmy nights.....until the Metreon Cascade. A melodic name, isn't it? Especially for a weapon of mass destruction."
Janeway: "And Jetrel was somehow involved with this weapon."

Neelix: "Dr Jetrel was the scientist who conceived the Metreon Cascade, then he led the team of scientists who built it."
Janeway: "I see."
Neelix: "In the blink of an eye, Rinax was enveloped by a deadly cloud and those lovely days were turned into one endless frigid night. More than three hundred thousand were killed."
Janeway: "But you survived."
Neelix: "Well, I had the good fortune to be on Talax at the time, with our defence forces, preparing for an invasion that never came. It wasn't necessary. The day after the Cascade was deployed Talax surrendered unconditionally to the Haakonian Order."

Janeway: "And your family?" Neelix cannot speak. His family's loss overwhelms him. She says, very moved: "I am so sorry."

Jetrel steps down from the transporter pad, having arrived on Voyager.
Janeway: "Dr Jetrel." She makes the introductions: "Lieutenant Tuvok, my Chief of Security."

A crewman fetches Jetrel's luggage.
Jetrel: "I have heard of your transporter technology, Captain, but, to experience it firsthand is truly remarkable."
Janeway: "Mr Neelix has declined to meet with you."
Jetrel: "That's not surprising. I'm afraid I'm not a very popular figure among the Talaxian people."
Tuvok: "May we show you to your quarters?"
They leave the transporter room. audio: standard doorsstandard doors

As they go along the corridor, Janeway says: "Mr Neelix has given me permission to speak on his behalf. You indicated that he may be in some kind of danger?"
Jetrel: "Yes. It's imperative that he undergo a compete medical examination."
Janeway: "For what purpose?"
Jetrel: "Our war records show that he was part of the team that returned to Rinax after the Cascade in order to evacuate survivors. He was exposed to high concentrations of Metreon isotopes. In recent years several of the rescuers have developed a degenerative blood disease called Metremia."

Janeway: "Is it serious?"
Jetrel: "I am afraid that it's fatal. The disease attacks its victims on a molecular level. It may lay dormant for years, but once it manifests itself, it will cause the body's atomic structure to undergo fission. The cells will begin to disintegrate. My equipment is specifically designed to detect the subatomic signature of the disorder."

Tuvok: "May I ask, Dr, why you've taken it upon yourself to examine Mr Neelix?"
Jetrel: "I've evaluated as many members of the team as possible, collecting data in hopes that one day my research may lead to a cure for Metremia. Please, try to persuade Mr Neelix to see me. Each Talaxian I screen brings me one step closer to a cure."


 

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