PART A

 

Kes enters the Holodeck where Tom Paris' holoprogram Chez Sandrine is running. holodeck doors

But as she enters, she finds the place dark and empty. Kes: "Hello? Anybody here? Neelix?"

Suddenly everyone shouts out: "Surprise!" At the same time, the lights go on and everyone bursts out of hiding, laughing and happy.

Neelix: "Surprise! Happy birthday, my sweet."

Janeway: "Happy birthday, Kes." She gives Kes a gift-wrapped present. They hug each other.

Neelix: "Imagine: two years old today." He jokes: "If you ask me, you don't look a day over one." Everyone laughs.

Kes: "Why was everyone hiding?" Paris: "Oh, it's an old Earth custom called a 'surprise party'." Janeway: "Sorry if we startled you." Kes: "No, I liked it! It was very exhilarating."

Neelix: "Now how about a glass of my special birthday punch?" He takes her to the bar counter. "Garçon?" The bartender is the Doctor. "On the rocks or straight up?" He serves out some punch.

Kes: "Doctor, I'm so glad you're here!"

Sandrine: "My new bartender." She puts her arms round him. "Handsome, isn't he?" The Doctor is rather embarrassed. He informs Kes and Neelix: "I'm here in an official capacity, of course; in case of a medical emergency." Kes: "Emergency?" Doctor: "Surprises have been known to cause acute hyperventilation, oesophageal spasms and, in extreme cases, even coronary arrest. One can never be too careful."

On Voyager's bridge, Tuvok is in the captain's chair.

Kim: "I've completed the sensor diagnostic, Lieutenant. All systems are fully operational." Tuvok: "Very good, Ensign." Kim: "And I've recalibrated the accelerometer relays." Tuvok: "Acknowledged." Kim: "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?" Tuvok: "I presume this notable impatience is due to your desire to attend the festivities in Holodeck 2." Kim: "Yes, sir." Tuvok: "May I remind you that your duty shift does not officially terminate for another 34 minutes." Kim is disappointed. "However, I believe the Holodeck power conduits would benefit from a routine inspection." Kim is delighted. "Yes, sir!   I'll get right on it."

He starts to leave but suddenly Tuvok stands up and orders: "All stop." They see some kind of phenomenon on the main viewscreen. "Mr Kim."

Kim: "What is that?" Tuvok: "Magnify." But it is still identifiable at magnification. It looks as if the starship will soon encounter it. "I'm afraid that holodeck inspection will have to wait, Ensign."

Meanwhile, on the Holodeck..... Neelix: "Wait till you taste this cake!" As he carries it over to by the pool table where Kes is, Gaunt Gary steals a piece of icing as a taster. "Seven layers of Jimbalian fudge, and the icing is made from puréed l'maki nuts, Kes' favourite." Janeway: "Now make a wish and blow out the candles." Kes: "What do I wish for?" Sandrine: "Anything your petite coeur desires, ma cherie." She makes an aside to Janeway and Torres: "And with a figure like hers, she'll probably get it too." They giggle.

Kes: "OK, I wish for-" Torres: "Don't tell us! The wish has to be a secret if it's going to come true."

Kes blows out all the candles in one go. They cheer and applaud.

Gaunt Gary to Paris: "I hate to interrupt this tender little moment, Tommy boy, but don't you think it's about time we shot a rack?" Paris: "In a minute."

Paris goes over to Kes: "Birthday gifts are also an Earth tradition." He hands her a gift-wrapped package. Kes is touched. "Thank you, Tom. You didn't have to." Paris: "Hey, who am I to fly in the face of tradition?"

She opens it. It is a locket.

Kes: "Tom, it's beautiful. It must have cost you a week's worth of replicator rations." Paris: "Two weeks actually, but who's counting? I'm just glad you like it."

Janeway to Kes: "May I?" She takes it from her. "Oh, that's lovely. You see, it's a locket." She opens it and shows her: "You put little photographs in here. It keeps the people you love close to your heart."

Neelix is seething with jealousy, but he tries to hide it by wandering over to the bar. Chakotay takes a glass of punch from the Doctor: "Thank you."

Neelix approaches him: "Did you see that?!" Chakotay: "See what?" Neelix: "He, he," but he knows he should not say anything about his jealousy, so he changes what he was going to say, "he did a lovely wrapping job, don't you think?"

The comm. signal sounds. comms. signal Tuvok's voice is heard: "Bridge to Janeway." Janeway taps her combadge. combadge She replies, via comms: "Go ahead, Lieutenant."

Tuvok, via comms: "Captain, we have encountered an unusual phenomenon... phenomenon... phenomenon...phenomenon... phenomenon... phenomenon... phenomenon... phenomenon... phenomenon..." The word "phenomenon" continually echoes, weirdly.

Torres accesses a systems maintenance area behind a panel of Chez Sandrine's wall. Janeway accompanies her. Janeway has to shout to be heard above the irritatingly repeated "phenomenon". "What is going on, Lieutenant?" Torres shouts back: "It might simply be a localised malfunction, but I've never heard anything like it. My guess is," the sound stops and she suddenly realises she can lower her voice to normal, "it's a problem with the comm. system itself." Janeway taps her combadge. combadge Via comms: "Janeway to bridge." There is no reply. To Torres: "Get down to Engineering and run a diagnostic."

Janeway regretfully tells Kes: "I'm afraid we're going to have to cut your party short, Kes." She calls out: "Stations, everyone. Let's move."

Neelix protests as everyone starts leaving: "But, but, what about the Jibalian fudge cake?!" Janeway stops briefly in the doorway: "Save me a slice, won't you?" Then she hurries out, leaving Neelix crestfallen.