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Part C

Tuvok's memory is gradually returning, although it is patchy. He sees Janeway at work on the level below him, which prompts his recall.

Tuvok remembers that Voyager's crew were rescued from their escape pods and remembers when they start to be brought in to a Quarren medical facility. He remembers Janeway being brought in.

As they arrive, Kadan directs his staff: "Make them comfortable." Kadan tells Janeway: "We're going to treat your injuries." Janeway: "Who are you?" Kadan: "My name is Dr Kadan. You're in a Quarren medical facility." Janeway: "My crew?" Kadan: "My understanding is that all of them were rescued from their escape pods." Janeway: "Treat my people first." Kadan: "Everyone will be taken care of." Janeway: "Thank you."

Kadan helps Janeway lie down.

But Tuvok is suspicious of the healers. He watches as Kadan prepares an injection for Janeway. "What is that medication?" Kadan: "An anti-radiation serum. Perfectly safe."

Kadan injects Janeway and she falls unconscious.

Kadan activates a control on his console and a device rises and clamps onto Janeway's head. Tuvok becomes even more suspicious as the unconscious Janeway looks like becoming the subject (or victim?) of serious brain surgery. Tuvok: "What are you doing?" Kadan: "She's suffering from dysphoria syndrome. Don't worry, it's treatable."

Tuvok knows that something is seriously wrong: "Release her immediately!" Kadan orders his staff: "Restrain him."

The staff hold Tuvok who struggles as Kadan injects him. "Captain! No, no!" He falls unconscious.

Although his memory is patchy, Tuvok talks to Janeway at her work console to try and find out more information, believing that she will remember too. Tuvok: "Excuse me." Janeway: "Hi!" Tuvok: "I believe we know each other." Janeway: "You're Tuvok, right? We met last week at the shift briefing." Tuvok: "Before that, before we were working here." Janeway: "Oh I don't think so." She indicates his species' facial features. "I mean, we're obviously not from the same place." Tuvok: "Still, I believe I know you. From the hospital perhaps." Janeway: "What hospital?" Tuvok: "I am not certain. We were patients." Janeway: "You must have me confused with someone else. I've never been sick enough to go to a hospital. I'm sorry, I have a lot of work to do."

Tuvok: "Please, try to remember!" He takes hold of her to emphasise his words. "It may be important!" His forcefulness startles her.

Jaffen arrives, concerned. "Is there a problem here?" Janeway: "I think it's just a misunderstanding." Jaffen: "Tuvok?" Tuvok: "She's right. It's a, it's a misunderstanding." Jaffen: "You don't look well. Maybe you should go to the infirmary." Tuvok: "No, no, I'm fine. I'll go back to my station. Sorry to have bothered you." He wanders away, disorientated.

After Tuvok leaves, Jaffen asks Janeway: "What was that all about?" Janeway: "I'm not sure. Strange man." Jaffen: "And a terrible joke-teller. So are we having dinner tonight?" Janeway: "Again?" Jaffen: "What, you don't like my cooking?" Janeway: "No, it's wonderful! It's just-" Jaffen: "I'm a perfectionist. I'm going to keep trying until I make you the perfect meal." Janeway: "And then we stop eating together? I'll have dinner with you on one condition." She tip-toes to whisper in his ear: "I make it." Jaffen: "I think I can accept those terms." Janeway: "Good. Now go back to your station before the Efficiency Monitor catches us fraternising."

In the Quarren city, in Umali's bar, Paris asks Torres, whom he does not recognise: "Can I bring you something else?" Torres: "No, thank you." Paris: "I haven't seen you in here before." Torres: "You probably just didn't notice." Paris: "Oh, I'd've noticed." Torres: "Well, apparently you aren't as observant as you think you are." Paris: "Oh really?" Torres: "I've been coming in here the same time every day for the past two weeks." Paris: "Well, that explains it. I usually work nights." Torres: "Me too." Paris: "At the power distribution facility. You see, I am observant." Umali calls to him: "Tom! I need you for a moment." Paris to Umali: "I'll be right there." To Torres: "Listen, you should come back in when you get a night off. It's a lot more fun when there's a crowd." Torres: "I don't really like crowds." Paris: "Well, then, maybe we could get together during the day sometime, walk by the river." Torres: "I don't think so."

Paris: "Why not? I am a very engaging conversationalist." His last word dies away as Torres gets up to leave, and he sees that she is pregnant. Paris: "Oh." He realises the door to a relationship between them is shut. Torres: "Yeah. Still want to get together?"

Paris: "You're married."

Torres: "No." The door is open again: "Oh." Torres says, "Enjoy your day." and leaves.

Chakotay: "First Officer's log, stardate 54597.9. After restoring primary systems we've left the nebula to try to find the crew. Though there's still a lot of damage, we have been able to reconfigure sensors to detect subspace mines. Ensign Kim's been running continuous scans but there's still no sign of our people. On the bright side, the ships that were searching for us seem to have given up. With only four people on board, repairs are going slowly."

Kim in Astrometrics.

Neelix works to repair some circuits.

The Doctor finishes a repair in Engineering and the computer reports: "Power to the secondary propulsion systems has been restored." Kim signals the Doctor via the com. system. comms. signal "Kim to the Doctor. Report to Astrometrics." Doctor: "On my way."

The Doctor arrives at the Astrometrics Lab. standard doors "Any luck?" Kim: "I've scanned ships and planets in 83 systems. No humans, no Vulcans, no Bolians." Doctor: "Maybe we can increase the range of the sensors by tying them into the main deflector." Kim: "I've already done that."

Doctor: "Oh. Well, we can boost resolution by-" Kim interrupts: "I appreciate your input, Doc, but I didn't call you down here to help me scan." He explains: "I'm still feeling kind of queasy from that nectar." Doctor: "I treated you days ago." Kim: "Whatever you did hasn't worked. Maybe all those command subroutines are compromising your medical abilities." Doctor: "Maybe all that sarcasm is compromising your natural charm."

The Doctor enters the Bridge. standard doors He is feeling pleased with himself. Doctor: "I've repaired the deuterium injectors, brought secondary propulsion back online and soothed Ensign Kim's upset tummy." Chakotay, who is in the command centre: "Good work. Why don't you get started on the ruptured plasma conduits on deck 10." Doctor: "Can't you take care of those?" Chakotay: "I beg your pardon?" Doctor: "Emergency Command Hologram - doesn't that suggest my place is here, in Voyager's command centre?" Chakotay: "Look, Doc, I'm impressed by the way you handled yourself while we were gone, but right now we've got to prioritise."

The com. signal sounds. comms. signal Kim's voice is heard: "Kim to Chakotay." Chakotay: "Go ahead." Kim: "I've found them, Commander. They're on an M-class planet. At maximum warp we could be there in less than 3 days." Chakotay: "Transfer the co-ordinates to the helm. I'll be in Astrometrics." As he leaves the Bridge, "Doctor, the command centre is yours."

That night, in the employees' apartment block...

In Jaffen's apartment Janeway has cooked the meal. She serves it. Jaffen: "Mmm, smells good." Janeway: "It's only burnt on the outside. Your cooking console's a little temperamental, huh?" Jaffen: "Did you try talking to it?" Janeway: "Once I cut off the charred part, I'm sure it'll be fine." She sits down and awaits his verdict. Jaffen cuts a small slice and, summoning courage, puts it into his mouth. He chews it carefully. "'s good," he says. Janeway: "Really?" He shakes his head and discreetly removes the food from his mouth using his napkin. Janeway gets up immediately. "Let's go." Jaffen: "Where?" Janeway: "I promised you dinner. We'll just have to get it somewhere else."

Jaffen: "Wait." He stops her. "I'm not really hungry, are you?" Janeway: "No." Jaffen: "Let's stay here." And they have their first kiss.

Chakotay: "First Officer's log, stardate 54608.6. We've traced the crew's lifesigns to a large city on a planet called Quarra. Unfortunately the local officials aren't being very co-operative."

Quarren official: "I have personally interviewed several individuals on your crew manifest. None of them know who you are. Nor have they heard of a starship Voyager." Chakotay: "I'd like to speak to them myself." Quarren ambassador: "That's not possible." Chakotay: "If you're telling the truth you have nothing to lose by letting us talk to them." Quarren ambassador: "Unlike other planets in this system we grant our guest workers the full protection of our laws." Doctor: "What exactly are you protecting them from?" Quarren ambassador: "Unscrupulous individuals attempting to acquire skilled labourers." Doctor: "We're not trying to acquire labourers. We're trying to find our friends." Quarren ambassador: "Most of your 'friends' have excellent positions in the central power facility in the capital. Why would any of them want to travel thousands of light years to a planet on the other side of the galaxy when they have safe comfortable lives right here?" Chakotay: "Because it isn't their home." Quarren ambassador: "I suggest you look elsewhere to increase your labour supply, and if you attempt to disturb any of our citizens we will respond with force." Contact ends and the screen goes off. viewscreen off

Chakotay asks Kim: "Any luck?" Kim: "There's no way to beam them through the shield grid."

Chakotay orders the Doctor, who is at the conn: "Take us out of orbit." Doctor: "We're not leaving them behind?!" Chakotay: "No. But I want these people to think we are."

In Jaffen's apartment, Janeway brings Jaffen a hot drink. Jaffen: "I hope the cooking console's not being temperamental again?" Janeway: "Making a hot drink is one thing I can do." Jaffen: "You're right: it's good." Janeway: "Told you." Jaffen: "What's even better is being here with you. Are you comfortable?" Janeway: "The blanket's nice and warm." Jaffen: "No, I mean, here with me."

Janeway: "I can't remember being more comfortable in my life."

Umali's bar. Paris: "Hi. Listen, I get off work in a few minutes. I thought maybe you and I could-" Torres: "You don't give up, do you?" Paris: "You don't even know what I was going to say." Torres: "Let me guess: you're going to invite me to take a walk by the river, or maybe to your living quarters to admire the view." Paris: "Actually, I was going to offer to introduce you to some people I met - a couple expecting their first baby in a few weeks. I thought you might want to get to know some other parents, you know: swap stories, maybe even find a playmate for your baby? But if it's a bad idea..." Torres: "No. No, it's nice." Paris: "Listen, I'm sorry about the other day." Torres: "No, I'm the one who should be apologising. I shouldn't have assumed-" Paris: "Forget it." Torres: "Look, it's rare that I admit I'm wrong so you might as well take advantage of it while you can. It's been hard, being alone, with the baby coming. I have a habit of keeping my guard up." Paris: "That's understandable." Torres: "It's just a romantic relationship is really out of the question right now. When you started asking-" Paris: "What about a friend?" Torres: "What?" Paris: "Well, you said romance is out of the question. Could you use a friend?"

USS Voyager.

Chakotay and the Doctor enter Voyager's Astrometrics Lab. standard doors Chakotay: "Any progress?" Neelix: "I've spoken to the captains of 8 vessels that left Quarra in the last two weeks." Chakotay: "No one knew anything about the crew?" Neelix: "No, but every one of them asked me if I was looking for employment. Apparently there's a severe labour shortage throughout this system. There's a lot of competition for workers." Chakotay: "That ambassador said most of our people were working at the main power facility. I wonder if they still have any positions to fill." Neelix: "I can make some enquiries. Why?" Chakotay: "Because you and I are going to find ourselves jobs." Doctor: "Re-entering orbit might arouse their suspicion." Neelix: "Not if we take my ship." Chakotay: "Good idea, Neelix." Doctor: "Commander, you've spoken directly with several government officials. You could be recognised."

Chakotay: "Isn't reconstructive surgery one of your specialties?" The Doctor understands, and smiles.

In Sickbay, the Doctor's reconstructive surgery is over and Chakotay's facial disguise is complete. Kim is configuring a subdermal transponder.

Neelix enters. standard doors "I still say you should've posed as a Talaxian. We'd've made a striking pair. Whiskers make me itch. How did it go?" Neelix: "As soon as I told the Supervisor our qualifications he was eager to hire us. He even helped me get a docking permit for my ship. We'll be gainfully employed by tomorrow morning." Kim hands the device he has been working on to the Doctor. "Here you go, Doc." Doctor: "Give me your hand, Mr Neelix." "What's this?" Neelix asks as the Doctor places a small round object in the palm of his hand and uses a dermal regenerator to sink into under the skin." Doctor: "A subdermal transponder. It'll allow us to maintain an open comlink and transport you through the shield grid if there's trouble." Chakotay: "Hold position at maximum transporter range." Kim: "Aye, sir." Doctor: "I assumed I'd be in charge during your absence, Commander!" Kim: "'Scuse me?" Doctor: "An Emergency Command Hologram, programmed with over 2 million tactical subroutines outranks an Ensign." Kim: "A few words to the computer and that Ensign can delete those subroutines." Doctor: "Then you'd be depriving yourself of a skilled leader for the sake of your ego." Kim: "My ego?!"

Chakotay: "Gentlemen!" They stop and turn to look at him. "Work it out!" Kim and the Doctor reply simultaneously: "Aye, sir." They both go to leave and bump shoulders with each other, irritating them both.

Shortly afterwards, Neelix's ship, called Baxial, launches from Voyager's hangar deck and heads for Quarra with Neelix and Chakotay on board.