MELD
Episode 32
Part E

USS Voyager.

In Sickbay, Tuvok regains consciousness.

There is no one around. He gets up from the biobed and tests the forcefield.

He rips the medical monitors from his temples.

He removes a thin needle-like component from one of the devices, in order to use it as a tool.

He works a power conduit loose from the top of the pedestal base of the biobed.

He places the end of the power conduit against the forcefield and shorts it out. He leaves Sickbay.

Suder is meditating in his cell when he hears a thump.

He gets up and looks. Tuvok has stunned Lieutenant Ayala.

Suder: "Tuvok? I wondered what happened to you. They wouldn't tell me anything." Tuvok: "There were some complications from the meld." Suder: "I wondered about that." Tuvok: "I've been undergoing neuro-synaptic therapy in Sickbay." Suder surmises calmly: "It didn't work." Tuvok: "No."

Suder: "Have you come to kill me?" Tuvok: "To execute you for your crime." Suder: "To execute me. I see. And calling it that makes it more comfortable for you." Tuvok: "I will take no comfort in this." Suder: "A most logical use of violence, to punish the violent."

Tuvok deactivates the forcefield and Suder steps out of the cell.

Suder: "We both know that I am prepared to die, but are you prepared to kill?" Tuvok: "It needs to be done." Suder: "To release your violent impulses?" Tuvok: "To serve justice."

Suder: "Justice or vengeance? Understand one thing, Tuvok - I can promise you this will not silent your demons. If you can't control the violence, the violence controls you. Be prepared to yield your entire being to it, to sacrifice your place in civilised life, for you will no longer be a part of it, and there's no return." Tuvok: "I seek no return!" Suder: "Of course, you would not be able to live with yourself. Then we are both to die, and that will end the torment."

Tuvok seizes him in the mind-meld position: "My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts."

Tuvok gasps, trying to kill Suder: "My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts."

But Tuvok cannot commit murder. Suddenly he releases Suder and stares at his hands that so nearly did.

The struggle between his violent thoughts and suppression overwhelm Tuvok, and he collapses unconcious.

Suder taps Tuvok's combadge. "Crewman Suder to the Bridge." Chakotay, via comms: "Suder, what are you doing with a combadge?" Suder, via comms: "You'd better get down here, Chakotay. Lieutenant Tuvok needs help."

Suder waits for help to arrive.

Janeway: "Captain's log, supplemental. Ensign Suder has been incarcerated in secured quarters, where he will likely spend the rest of our journey home. Lieutenant Tuvok remains under observation in Sickbay."

The Doctor scans Tuvok with a medical tricorder.

Doctor to Tuvok: "It may be hard for you to believe, Lieutenant, but what happened is encouraging. Your inability to complete the act of murder shows your suppression systems are starting to function again. You're on your way back to being normal, though I'm not sure how the word 'normal' applies to a species that suppresses all their emotions." The Doctor leaves the bedside to carry out other work.

Tuvok: "Captain, I must apologise for my inappropriate behaviour." Janeway: "I'm just glad we have you back, Mr Tuvok."

Tuvok: "I was most insulting to you." Janeway: "Don't worry about it. I've been insulted before." Tuvok: "I hope you understand that I've always had the greatest respect for you as a Captain and consider you a friend." Janeway: "That means a great deal to me. Enough said. Get some rest."

She turns to leave, then a thought occurs to her and she turns back. "Tuvok, no more mind-melds without my permission, understood?"

He acknowledges, and she leaves him to complete his recovery.