PART B

 

Engineering. Torres, via comms.: "Torres to bridge. We're definitely being hit by proton bursts but I don't know where they're coming from as I never even started the procedure."

Kim: "She's right. The main sensor array is offline. Not a single burst was fired." Janeway: "And yet the bursts appear to be originating from within the ship. It's like they're coming out of thin air." Tuvok: "Captain, these bursts are weakening the structural integrity of the hull. We cannot take any more." Janeway: "Can we increase power to structural reinforcement?" Kim: "Our antimatter supply is too low. There's not enough power to go-" Another proton burst hits the ship. Tuvok: "Hull breach on deck 15 section 29 alpha. Emergency forcefields are offline."

Kim: "Captain, I've been working on a way to enhance our portable forcefield generators. It might be enough to seal that breach." Janeway: "Go."

Sickbay, where the Doctor is treating Neelix while Kes is by the computer console and the incubator containing Wildman's baby.

Neelix to Wildman: "Don't you worry. We have the best Doctor in the Quadrant."

Kes: "Doctor, the cell membranes are losing cohesion." Doctor: "Try remodulating the osmotic pressure." Kes: "No effect."

Doctor: "Hang on, I'll be right there." The power supply drain affects his holographic matrix - his image fritzes. "Oh no."

Kim, Torres and Hogan rush along a corridor. Kim: "Jefferies tube 12 runs right over the breach. If we can get close enough we should be able to set up a portable containment field. Hogan: "The breach has weakened the integrity of that tube by 22 per cent." Torres: "That's why we need to reinforce the field. We'll use the power conduits on this deck."

On the Bridge Tuvok reports to Janeway: "I've analysed the bursts on all spectral frequencies. There is still no indication where they're coming from." Janeway: "At this point I don't give a damn where they're coming from. I just want to stop them. Chakotay, do we have enough auxiliary power to magnetise the hull to cushion the impact of the bursts?" Chakotay, who is at Ops: "We have just barely enough." Janeway: "Give it a try."

Sickbay. Doctor, at the computer console: "I've stabilised my imaging array but it could go out at any time. Prepare for emergency resuscitation."

Wildman: "My baby, she's going to die, isn't she?"

Doctor: "Not if I can help it."

Kim and Torres exit through a Jefferies tube hatch.

Kim: "Here it is. The breach is directly below us." Torres: "Make it fast, Harry." Via comms: "Torres to Hogan. What's your status?"

Hogan, via comms: "Almost got it, Lieutenant. I'm rerouting all power in this section to your-"

He is interrupted as an explosion hurls him backwards.

Torres, via comms: "Torres to Hogan."

Torres, via comms: "Hogan, are you there?" Hogan, via comms: "I'm hurt."

Torres: "Harry, we have to help him." Kim, busy working on the forcefield generator: "Just give me a minute."

In Sickbay the Doctor tries to try and resuscitate Wildman's baby. "Again!"
Kes: "Nothing."

It is clear there is no hope of reviving the baby. The Doctor tells Wildman: "I'm sorry, Ensign."

Wildman is overcome by grief.

Hogan, via comms: "Hogan to Sickbay. I need medical assistance. Deck 15, section 29." In Sickbay Kes tells the Doctor, "I'll go." and she leaves immediately with a medkit.

Torres: "The breach is widening. Let's get out of here. Damn it, Harry, let's go!" Kim: "Hold up, my minute isn't up yet-" Suddenly he is swept through the breach! He manages to hang onto the bottom part of the ladder.

Torres clambers down and stretches out her hand. "Harry, grab my hand!" He grabs hold but it is not enough - Kim disappears into space to his death!

Torres screams: "Harry!"

Torres scrambles out of the Jefferies tube hatch next to Hogan.

She is exhausted and overcome by Kim's death, and pauses for a moment. Torres, seeing Hogan: "Lieutenant Hogan?"

She sees Kes hurrying towards them and calls: "Kes, over here." Suddenly Kes vanishes, as if she has encountered an invisible "door"!

Torres, as seen in the fading light of the effect when Kes disappears

Torres, via comms: "Torres to Bridge. Ensign Kim is dead. Kes just disappeared."

Janeway: "Disappeared?"

Torres: "I can't explain it. She just vanished." Torres scans the area with a tricorder. "There seems to be some kind of spatial rift right where she disappeared."

Janeway: "Can you determine where it leads?" Torres: "Stand by, Bridge." She picks up a piece of debris, which happens to be a piece of conduit. She throws it toward the "door" and it disappears, just like Kes did. She scans the area with a tricorder. "I just threw a piece of conduit into the rift. Just as it vanished I detected another oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere." Janeway, surprised: "Another atmosphere."

Torres: "Whatever's on the other side of that rift, there's air. Maybe Kes is still alive."

Janeway: "Get out of there, Torres. The hull breach is widening. I'm going to evacuate the entire deck." Torres helps Hogan. She says: "You don't have to tell me twice."