MELD
Episode 32
Part D

Tuvok enters his quarters. Tuvok: "Computer," LCARS computer "place level one security seals on this room." Computer: "Acknowledged. Security seals in place." Tuvok: "Delete security clearance Tuvok 1494-lambda." Computer: "Specified security clearance deleted."

He sits. "Please inform the Captain that I am no longer fit for duty." Computer: "Acknowledged."

Janeway arrives at Tuvok's quarters. Janeway: "Computer, lift the security seal from Lieutenant Tuvok's quarters." To the security guard: "Stay here."

Tuvok's voice, which comes from the shadows, is low and strained: "I would advise you not to enter, Captain."

She ignores him and enters. She sees that he has been violent - he has completely trashed his quarters.

Janeway: "Tuvok." Tuvok: "Please, do not come any closer." Janeway, moving closer: "Talk to me." Tuvok: "I said, don't come any closer." Janeway, moving closer: "We need to get you to Sickbay." Tuvok: "It would be safer for the crew if I were to remain in these quarters. I remind you, I am trained in the martial arts of many Alpha Quadrant cultures. Sitting here, attempting to meditate, I have counted the number of ways I know of killing someone using just a finger, a hand, a foot. I had reached 94 when you entered." Janeway: "The Doctor is fully versed in Vulcan medicine."

Tuvok slowly rises. The security guard draws her phaser.

He looks dreadful. His face is covered with sweat. Tuvok: "Again, for safety reasons, I recommend you sedate me before you initiate transport."

Doctor: "Anybody with an ounce of sense wouldn't share his brain with someone else." "I feel!" "Oh, it must be working, because I feel very strong, very powerful, quite euphoric." "Sorry, I'm not prepared to do that." "You are not invulnerable, hologram." "No part of me feels that way." "Liar!" "You'll be alright, Tuvok." Tuvok tries to reach Kes by telepathy.

Tuvok has been transferred to Sickbay and lies unconscious, under sedation, on the primary biobed in the surgical bay. At the main computer console, Kes is monitoring his vital signs. Kes: "Levels of neuro-peptides in the limbic systems are down 15%." Doctor: "There's a definite neuro-chemical imbalance in the mesio-frontal cortex." Janeway: "Which means what?" Doctor: "That's where the Vulcan psycho-suppression systems are located. This may be the result of an incompatibility with the Betazoid telepathic neural centre, I'm not sure." He walks through the forcefield and joins Kes and Janeway at the console. He sighs. "Vulcan mind melds - utter foolishness. Anybody with an ounce of sense wouldn't share his brain with someone else. Would you? I certainly wouldn't. And of course, when something goes wrong, and believe me it does more often than they'd like to admit, the first thing they call out is 'Doctor!'" Janeway: "Can you help him?" Doctor: "I wish I could tell you. There's a recommended course of treatments that should begin immediately." Janeway: "What does it involve?" Doctor: "First we have to take away his ability to control his violence. We do this in short bursts over a period of time and hope it provides a shock to his system. If it works, his own neural controls will take over again. I believe we're about ready." To Kes: "Revive him." Kes activates a control on the console. Tuvok wakens. He sits up slowly. "Something has changed." Doctor: "We've temporarily removed all of your emotional suppression abilities, Lieutenant." As Tuvok stands up and moves around exploring the sensation: "How do you feel?" Tuvok: "I feel!" Janeway: "Tuvok, do you know where you are?" Tuvok chuckles. "Of course I know where I am, Captain. I'm just not sure I know who I am." Doctor: "Try to relax. The treatment still has about three minutes to go." Tuvok: "Oh, it must be working, because I feel very strong, very powerful, quite euphoric. This must be how my ancestors felt. Doctor, would you consider allowing me to remain this way for a while? It would be a valuable opportunity for me to study primal Vulcan behaviour." Doctor, firmly: "Sorry, I'm not prepared to do that. The course of treatment is very specific." Tuvok: "You are not invulnerable, hologram. A few well chosen commands to the computer and you will cease to exist." Kes reports: "Two minutes, thirty seconds left." Suddenly Tuvok hurls a trolley toward them. It hits the forcefield and rebounds. Janeway jumps. Tuvok: "You look shocked, Captain. You must be asking yourself: 'What if this doesn't work? What do we do then?' I have an idea. I'll just stay in my quarters for the rest of the trip. I'll just relax and read, eat the ship's food, use the ship's energy, all in the comforts of my own room. Why, even Mr Suder and I could get together for a few hands of Cardassian pinochle once or twice a week. That is how we treat violent offenders on this ship, isn't it?" Janeway: "You are not a violent offender, Tuvok." Tuvok: "I could be, just like Suder. You know, Captain, I don't mind telling you something the other Tuvok never would. You are wrong. Sparing Suder's life is a sign of weakness. You disgust me. All you humans do. Admit it! Part of you feels as I do. Part of you wants him to die for what he did." Janeway: "No part of me feels that way." Tuvok shouts: "Liar!" He continues: "He has killed and you know he deserves to die! On behalf of the victim's family, Captain, I beg you to reconsider. Give them the satisfaction of his execution. I have a radical suggestion, Captain. Release the forcefield and I'll kill him for you. Release the forcefield." When Janeway does not reply, Tuvok addresses Kes: "My student, my protégée, there is so much for each of us to learn today, isn't there." Kes: "You'll be alright, Tuvok - this'll be over in thirty seconds." Tuvok: "Listen to what I tell you. Release the forcefield." He tries telepathy. Kes: "I'm sorry. I had them disable your telepathic abilities too. You can't reach me, Tuvok." Frustrated, Tuvok yells angrily: "Release the forcefield!" He puts out a hand and tries to reach through the forcefield, holding it there despite the pain. Doctor: "Ten seconds.....five seconds....." Tuvok collapses. Doctor: "It's over." Kes: "He's lost consciousness." Doctor: "He might be able to fool the sensors. Sedate him again." Kes activates a control on the console. "Computer, remove the forcefield." At once they hurry over to him. Janeway: "Help me get him back on the bed." She and the Doctor lift Tuvok and place him on the biobed. "How many treatments do you think will be necessary?" Doctor: "I wish I knew, Captain. In a sense, Mr Tuvok's mind is fighting a classic battle between good and evil. The battle may be won in a day, a year, or it may never be won."