PARTURITION
Episode 23
Part F

 

Voyager attains the best position to transport the away team back, once they are located.

Voyager's bridge. Torres: "Sensors are operating as well as can be expected under these conditions. Either we're just not close enough to where they landed to pick up their comm. signals or they never landed. The shuttle might've burned up in the atmosphere." Janeway: "I'm not willing to concede that yet. Any sign of the alien ship?" Torres: "No, Captain. We've lost them." Janeway: "Mr Kim, how much longer before that window starts to close?" Kim: "9 minutes 20 seconds."

Janeway: "Chakotay, extend our surveillance pattern. If we don't find them in five minutes, we'll head back to the window." Chakotay: "Aye, Captain."

Planet surface. Neelix sprays himself with the Doctor's osmotic sealant, but with the prolonged exposure to the trigemic vapours he still itches all over. But, more importantly, he is itching to talk matters out with Paris.

Neelix goes up to Paris. "I'm sorry." Paris: "Hmm?" Neelix: "I feel I owe you an apology."

Paris: "No, you don't." Neelix: "I had no right to push that pasta in your lap." Paris: "Well, think of it this way - you saved me from having to eat it. Nothing personal, but I just don't have an affinity for hair in my food."

Neelix ignores Paris' attempt at levity. "I haven't been fair to you. You know, I hear people talking about you in the Messhall." Paris is not sure he wants to hear this. "No kidding. What do they say?"

Neelix: "Oh, that you used to be a coward and couldn't be trusted. It's typical of Kes that she would befriend someone like you - someone who really needs a friend. And I guess I just got a little jealous. I got more than a little jealous. I realise now I was wrong."
Paris: "Neelix, I told you the truth when I said that nothing happened between me and Kes."
Neelix: "I know."Paris: "And I promise you nothing ever will. But......you weren't wrong about me."
Neelix: "What do you mean?"
Paris: "I, well, I guess the only way to say it is to say it. I am attracted to Kes."
Neelix: "Oh?"
Paris: "To be honest, if you weren't around, I'd be knocking at her door. But I respect you, Neelix. And that's that. Everything you heard those guys saying about me, well, it was true. But it's not who I am any more, at least not who I want to be. This upside down mission to the wrong side of the galaxy has given me a second chance, and I don't intend to blow it."

Neelix: "I see. Well, in a way I can't say I blame you. She is very attractive." They chuckle together.

Paris: "She's devoted to you, you know." Neelix, modestly: "Well, I did save her life. I'm sure she's grateful." Paris: "Oh, she's a lot more than grateful. She loves you, Neelix. I wouldn't stand a chance. Nobody would." Neelix, suspiciously: "There are others?" Paris: "If you ever doubt yourself, just look into her eyes, see the way she looks at you. You'll never doubt yourself again. And as far as I'm concerned, I'll just be her friend. I mean, if you don't mind." Neelix: "I don't pick Kes' friends for her. Just my own."

They hear a slight comms. crackle. Paris taps his combadge. "Voyager? This is Lieutenant Tom Paris and Mr Neelix. Do you read?" Janeway, via comms: "We do, Mr Paris. Are you alright?"

Paris, via comms: "Aside from a nasty rash, yes." Janeway, via comms: "Have you encountered lifeforms?" Paris, via comms: "Actually, yes." Janeway, via comms: "Are they hostile?" Paris, via comms: "No, just young." Janeway, via comms: "Young???" Paris, via comms: "Yes. We found a nest, and one of the creatures hatched."

Janeway, via comms: "Be aware we encountered a hostile ship of unknown origin and we're showing that ship on the surface approximately one kilometre from your position." Janeway, via comms: "We're attempting to lock onto you for transport. Stand by."

Neelix to Paris: "We can't leave yet." Paris: "What? Why?" Neelix: "What if the mother rejects it?" Paris: "Neelix, one thing's for sure. Whether the mother rejects it or not, she will reject you and me." Neelix: "We promised each other we wouldn't abandon it until-"

Janeway, via comms: "Away team, we're showing a lifeform moving towards your position. Prepare to transport." Neelix: "Er, Captain, this is Neelix. Are you in a particular rush to leave?" Janeway, via comms: "Did you hear what I just said, Mr Neelix?" Neelix, via comms: "Yes, but er we're not quite finished here yet."

Janeway, via comms: "Finished with what? We have an atmospheric window closing in less than six minutes."

Neelix, via comms: "And another one will be coming in how long?" Janeway, via comms: "Days. Is there a problem?" Paris, via comms: "The problem is, Captain, if we leave our little hatchling here, and the mother rejects it, it might die of exposure before we get back."

Janeway, via comms: "I appreciate your concern for its welfare-" Paris, via comms: "How long can you give us, Captain?" Janeway looks at Kim, who answers, via comms: "One minute, ten seconds, max." Neelix, via comms: "We'll take it." Paris: "Lock onto us, Voyager. If you hear muffled screams, consider that a request for a beam out."

Partly hidden behind a number of rocks, they see the mother (?or father) alien approach. She (or he) sees them, turns and snarls.

Then she hears her baby call. She goes over and picks it up tenderly. Neelix: "There's nothing like a family reunion."

The adult alien looks at them. It makes a noise that could be a "stay away" snarl or a curt 'thank you'.

Paris: "Voyager, two to beam out." Neelix: "As soon as you're ready." They transporter beam takes them and they dematerialise.

Kes is waiting for them in the transporter room as Paris and Neelix materialise there.

Neelix rushes off the transporter dais into Kes' arms. "Kes!" He kisses her soundly, delighted to be back and with her again.

Kes: "We didn't know if you were dead or alive. What happened?" Paris joins them, grinning broadly. Paris: "I became an uncle." Neelix: "And I'm a godmother, ha!"

He takes hold of friend Paris' arm: "I'd say this is the special occasion I've been waiting for," surprising Kes that he and Paris now seem the best of friends....

.....and he puts his other arm around Kes, "to open up that bottle of Potak cold fowl I've been saving." Paris: "Cold fowl in a bottle? That's just an expression, isn't it?" Neelix: "No. It's actually made from the glandular secretions of an adult dunghill bird, found only on Potak III."

They leave the transporter room together. "It's very rare, very exquisite. There are, I believe, only twenty-seven bottles in existence at this time." As they go off down the corridor together, Neelix expounds on the culinary delicacy: "It has a rather smoky flavour, er, going well with strong, meaty dishes. But I prefer it for sipping in the company of good friends."