ELOGIUM : Episode 18 : portrayed in several parts

Bridge. Paris: "They're changing course again, Captain. And accelerating. Shall I follow them?" Janeway: "I'm concerned that we're disturbing them. Let's drop back a bit, give them a little more room." Paris: "Yes. ma'am."

Kim: "Captain, we're accelerating. We're getting closer to the swarm." Janeway: "Mr Paris?" Paris: "I'm trying to slow down, Captain." Kim: "Our velocity doesn't correspond to impulse reactor output. We're moving much faster than we ought to be."

Paris: "They seem to be pulling us toward them." Tuvok: "Sensors indicate an EM resonance field. The creatures seem to be creating their own magnetic wake. That is what is pulling the ship."

Paris: "We're getting closer." Janeway: "Mr Paris, reverse thrusters." Paris: "Helm controls aren't responding, Captain." Janeway: "Mr Tuvok, raise shields." Tuvok: "Non-functional, Captain." Paris: "They're pulling us in!"

Soon Voyager is in the midst of the swarm of creatures, and there is a power drain! The ceiling light on the Bridge is an example - it goes off.

Janeway: "Damage report." Kim: "Life support's functioning normally, Captain, but there's a huge fluctuation in the EPS grids. It's wreaking havoc with the impulse engines." Paris: "Warp drive's still online. One burst and we'd be out of here." Chakotay: "Our exhaust could seriously harm the creatures."

Janeway, via comms.: "Janeway to Torres. Do you have any idea how to get us out of here without engaging warp engines?" Torres, via comms.: "We might something like a targ scoop." Janeway, via comms.: "Can you enlighten us, Lieutenant?" Torres, via comms.: "Klingons put them on the front of ground assault vehicles. They emit a high-frequency tone that disperses targ herds in their path. I can modify the main deflector to create an inverted magnetic pulse, project it toward the swarm. It might be enough to nudge the creatures out of the way." Janeway, via comms.: "Good idea, Lieutenant. Proceed."

In Sickbay, the Doctor is preparing to examine Kes but Neelix's concern for Kes has put him in a panic and he keeps badgering the Doctor. Neelix: "You're sure the beetles weren't poisonous? Or the flowers?" Doctor: "There are no toxins present in her system!"

Neelix pursues the Doctor to Kes' bedside: "Doctor, why is she eating all these strange things? What's wrong with her?" Doctor, getting out a medical tricorder: "I am conducting an examination in order to determine that." He has to elbow Neelix aside in order to conduct a tricorder scan.

Neelix: "Don't you have any ideas?" Doctor: "Her unusual appetite may merely indicate a nutrient deficiency. It is not unusual for humanoids to crave foods that are rich in the vitamins and minerals that their bodies are lacking." Kes: "You can't mean my body lacks dirt?" The Doctor makes a medical tricorder scan, hampered by Neelix: "Her body temperature is elevated 3.9 degrees." Neelix, alarmed: "She's burning up!"

Doctor: "And I'm detecting elevated levels of electrophoretic activity in her nervous system." Neelix, frustrated and desperate: "You have to bring them down!" Doctor, going over to look at the console monitor: "There is increased electrophoretic activity in the ship's atmosphere, probably created by the creatures we're studying."

Neelix peers at the monitor: "You mean there's a connection between what's happening to Kes and those creatures?" He pushes the Doctor aside and takes a closer look. Alarmed: "You have to do something about it!"

Doctor: "You are making it impossible for me to think, much less treat my patient! You must leave." Neelix: "I won't! Kes needs me!" Doctor: "Leave now, or I will call Security."

Neelix: "You can't talk to me that way." The Doctor is now quite cross: "This is my Sickbay, and I will decide what goes on here. GET OUT!"

Neelix decides to give way for now. He goes to the door, telling Kes: "I'll be back. Don't worry about a thing." He departs, leaving the Doctor looking and feeling exasperated.

On the Bridge, Janeway is at the science station with Chakotay and Ensign Wildman, intent on collecting and analysing data on the alien swarm with the urgent aim of being able to leave the area and restore the damaged ship's systems. Neelix enters and hurries over to Janeway.

Neelix: "Captain, may I speak with you? It's a matter of some urgency." Janeway: "What is it, Neelix?" Neelix: "I have been flung out of Sickbay, and I'm just wondering if you feel it's appropriate for a hologram to banish a flesh and blood person who should have the right to be at the bedside of his loved one who is extremely ill!" Meanwhile, Janeway tries to continue working as she listens to Neelix, but as his words develop into an outraged rant, she looks down, unable to concentrate on her work and finding the rant tedious and intrusive. Janeway is suddenly concerned at Neelix's last words. "Kes is extremely ill?" Neelix: "The hologram doesn't have a clue as to what's wrong with her, though it may have something to do with these creatures, but he still won't let me to offer comfort to the woman I love at a time when my place is clearly by her side!" Chakotay looks round. She takes Neelix away from the science station, where Chakotay and Ensign Wildman are trying to concentrate on their work, in order to talk to him with her full concentration. Janeway: "Just how is Kes being affected by the swarm?" Neelix: "That's what I wanted to know. Before I got any answers I was summarily dismissed-" The com. signal interrupts. comms. signal The Doctor's voice says: "Sickbay to bridge." Janeway, via comms: "Janeway here." Doctor, via comms: "Captain, I think you'd better come down here. There's a bit of a problem." Janeway, via comms: "On my way." The com. contact ends. She turns and looks at Chakotay: "Commander, you have the Bridge. Notify me immediately of any change in our status." Chakotay nods. "Aye, Captain." Janeway hurries off the Bridge with Neelix close behind her.

Janeway and Neelix enter Sickbay.

They see that Kes is alone inside the Doctor's office. She is crouching on the desk, feeling frightened and alone, and shaking with distress. Her body is damp with sweat from her fever, and her hair is matted.

The Doctor reports to Janeway: "I was conducting tests. She was none too co-operative, let me assure you, then suddendly she screeched and shoved me out of the way, went into my office and proceeded to erect a, a forcefield at the door! I can't lower it. She's keeping me out of my own office!"

Neelix calls to Kes: "Sweetie, what's wrong? Please come out." But Kes doesn't reply.

Doctor to Janeway: "I was able to complete several tests before she became delirious. Her fever has increased, and her pulse and blood pressure are dangerously high." Janeway: "Do you have any idea what's causing these symptoms?" Doctor: "I expect it's the electrophorectic levels being created by the swarm. We should leave, immediately!"

Janeway: "Unfortunately that's not an option at the moment but we're working on it." Doctor: "There's one more thing. I discovered a strange growth on her back. It's unlike any tumorous substance I've ever seen or studied before, and it was not there the last time I examined her." Janeway: "I'll try to talk to her."

Neelix: "Kes, please come out. You can eat anything you want!" Kes seems to hear but says nothing. Neelix turns to Janeway: "Captain?"

Janeway: "Why don't you let me try? Kes, please listen to me. We think you're being affected by a swarm of space-dwelling lifeforms. We're doing everything we can to get away from them, and when we do, you'll probably start feeling better."

Kes makes an agitated gesture. "Are you saying that's not what's wrong with you?" Kes nods violently. Janeway: "Oh, Kes, please let me come in. Tell me what it is. Maybe I can help."

Kes gets off the desk, rushes to the Doctor's control panel and lowers the forcefield. She stands there, still trembling, upset and frightened.

the forcefield shimmers as it deactivates

Janeway enters and holds out her arms to her.

Kes hesitates, then rushes into them. Janeway hugs her, attempting to comfort her, telling her: "It's going to be alright."

She holds Kes away from her so that they can talk. "Tell me," she asks gently, "what is happening to you?" Kes says, still very upset: "Did the Doctor tell you he found something growing on my back? and it's-" Janeway: "-a growth of some kind, yes." Kes: "It's the mitral sac. It's, it's where my child would grow. I'm going through the elogium. It's the time of change when my body prepares for fertilisation." Janeway: "Humans go through the same kind of process. It's called puberty." Kes: "But I'm too young, much too young. It usually happens between the ages of four and five. I'm not even two yet." Janeway: "Listen to me: all your body's metabolic activity has increased. It's possible your reproductive processes are being accelerated as a result." Kes: "I'm not ready!" Janeway: "We're going to get through this, Kes. The Doctor will monitor you constantly."

Kes: "You- you don't understand. The elogium occurs only once. If I am ever going to a child, it has to be now!"

the swarm as seen on the main viewscreen

On the Bridge, Chakotay reports: "No change, Captain. We're still being pulled along with the swarm." Paris reports: "Heading 121 mark 7. Speed now 6,000 kilometres per second." Kim reports: "All systems are functioning within normal parameters." Janeway: "How is Torres coming with modifications to the main deflector?" Chakotay: "The last report estimated they'd be finished in another half hour." Janeway: "Let me know as soon as she's ready." She starts to head for her Ready Room and addresses Chakotay: "Join me, Commander?" The two of them go to her Ready Room.

In the Captain's Ready Room, Janeway replicates refreshments for Chakotay and herself.

Through the window the swarm can be seen. Their location, in the swarm's midst, is what bathes the room in a strong pink glow. Janeway has been explaining to Chakotay about Kes.

As they sit and drink their beverages, they discuss the matter and its wider implications. Janeway: "Kes is terribly frightened. She's had no time to prepare for this, and the decision has to be made in the next 40 or 50 hours. She's going to discuss it with Neelix, but there are so many unknowns. There might be risks in procreating this early, and of there's no guarantee they're genetically compatible, or if Neelix has any interest in becoming a father. Seems your concerns about fraternisation were prophetic." Chakotay: "I wasn't even thinking about procreation. But I suppose it's the inevitable outcome. One should consider that it might be necessary for the crew to start having children." Janeway: "It might take us a long time to get home." Chakotay: "If it does take 75 years we're going to need replacement crew in about half that time."

Janeway: "Who'd have thought we'd be considering a generational ship when we reported on a three-week mission?" Chakotay: "I know. But it's a problem we have to face now." Janeway: "What would that mean to the children? What kind of life would we be giving them, aboard a starship travelling through a potentially hostile part of space? And are we equipped to provide for their needs - childcare, educational facilities? We'd be building an entire community on board this ship! That's a massive commitment."

Chakotay: "Are you prepared to tell them they can't have children?" Janeway: "I can't do that. And I've made it clear to Kes that it's her choice whether to have a child or not. But there are no easy answers here, for any of us."

Kes is discussing the matter with Neelix in her quarters. Neelix: "Are you saying that unless you conceive now you'll never be able to?" Kes: "Yes. I need you to help me decide, because I would want you to mate with me." Neelix: "Oh! Well, I, I, I, I'm honoured. But are you entirely certain it would be safe?" Kes: "Safe?" Neelix: "Well, you're so young! Is it dangerous for you to conceive a child at your age?" Kes: "I don't know. I don't know anyone as young as I am who had a baby." Neelix: "If you never had a child, would you be terribly unhappy?" Kes: "Yes! I mean, I think so. I don't know. I always assumed I'd be a mother some day, just not so soon. What about you? Didn't you think you'd be a father some day?" Neelix: "Well, er, to be honest, I'd never given it much thought. Until now my life has been so itinerant. There's no way I could've provided the stability a child would need." Kes: "But now it's different, isn't it?" Neelix: "Well, yes. But raising a child on a starship. That's hardly what I would call the ideal environment." Kes: "You don't want a child, do you." Neelix: "Oh that's not it at all. I, I'm just trying to look at all sides of the issue. Bringing a child into the world - it's a huge responsibility. I know you'd want to be sure we'd both be up to the task." Trying to make light of it: "I mean, somebody would have to keep an eye on the little guy all the time, or he'd be off sticking his finger in an EM conduit or playing with the plasma injectors." Kes sternly: "Yes, that's right. It's what's called being a parent." Neelix: "What about your medical studies? You wouldn't be able to continue them if you had a child." Kes: "Of course I would! You're just making excuses. All you're thinking about is yourself, how much trouble a child would be for you." She holds up her hands, palms facing him. Look!" Neelix: "What's that?" Kes: "The ipasophor. It makes the mating bond possible." Neelix: "It does?" Kes: "If we begin, we must stay bonded for 6 days." Neelix, surprised and rather worried by the length of time: "6 days?" Kes: "In order to ensure conception. And after the ipasophor appears we only have 50 hours to begin the process. So I need to know your answer." Neelix: "Ah, well, I- 50 hours. That's good. That's good. We can sleep on it. I'll get back to you." He leaves.

 

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