INNOCENCE
Episode 38
Part A

 

A Voyager shuttlecraft has crashlanded. Tuvok hurries out of it carrying a medical kit for Ensign Bennet who is lying critically wounded on the ground nearby. Tuvok taps his combadge. combadge "Tuvok to Voyager. Voyager, do you read?" There is no response.

To Bennet, whose pain makes him groan, as Tuvok scans him with a tricorder: "You must lie still." Bennet is shaking. His whole body is in shock. "I can't, can't feel my legs." Tuvok: "Several of the vertebrae have been fractured." Bennet: "Isn't there anything you can do?" Tuvok: "I'm afraid the shuttle's medical supplies are inadequate. We must wait for Voyager to find us." Bennet: "It's getting worse. My whole body feels numb." Tuvok: "I want you to slow your breathing, and relax your muscles. Try not to move."

Bennet's injuries make it a struggle to speak. "All this time I thought I was so lucky with no family back home - nobody to miss. Now it seems kind of sad not to, not to leave anybody behind."

Tuvok: "I believe Ensign McCormack would miss you a great deal." Bennet: "You think so? I'm never really sure how she-" But he never finishes.

The tricorder gives a long single-tone audio note, confirming that Bennet has died. Tuvok activates a statis field around Bennet's body.

Tuvok hears a sound. He aims his phaser. There is a figure lurking in the undergrowth nearby. He is surprised to see that it is a young girl. He holsters the phaser.

She tries to run but Tuvok catches hold of her, telling her: "It's alright. Don't be frightened. I won't hurt you." Tressa: "Let me go!" Tuvok: "Will you run if I do?" Tressa considers it, but then stops struggling. "No." Tuvok lets her go. She does not run.

He introduces himself: "My name is Tuvok. Who are you?" Tressa: "Tressa. You don't look like us." Tuvok: "I am not a member of your race. I am Vulcan. I thought this moon was uninhabited. Do you live here?"

Tressa: "We came here on a ship, but it crashed, like yours." Tuvok: "Where are your parents?"

Tressa: "Dead." She indicates Bennet. "Is he dead too?" Tuvok: "Yes." Tressa: "What were you doing to him?" Tuvok: "I put a stasis field around his body to protect it until I can take it back to my ship." Tressa: "Why?" Tuvok: "Some cultures, like Mr Bennet's, consider an appropriate burial to be a sign of respect. Tressa, is there anyone else here with you?"

Tressa calls out: "It's alright." Two more children emerge from the bushes - a boy named Corin, and a girl named Elani.

Tuvok: "There is no one looking after you?" Tressa: "Everyone else died in the crash. We're alone." Tuvok: "There is no reason to be afraid. I will take care of you now and see that you get home safely." He is taken aback when they rush over to him and hug him.

Janeway: "Captain's log, supplemental. I've sent out scouting parties to analyse the mineral deposits in the moons around Drayan II. Meanwhile, I've arranged a meeeting with the planet's leader."

Chakotay and Janeway are walking along a corridor, en route to the meeting. Chakotay: "According to Neelix, nobody's had direct contact with the Drayans for decades. All he's heard are rumours." Janeway: "Do any of those rumours describe them as hostile?" Chakotay: "No, just very private." They enter the turbolift. "That's something." To the turbolift: "Deck 4."

Janeway: "My diplomacy professor used to say the opening twenty minutes of a first contact situation are the most crucial." Chakotay: "I'd feel better about this particular twenty minutes if we had some idea what to expect." Janeway: "Sometimes you have to go in blind. That's the exciting part. When I was a science officer I always envied the Captain's privilege of making first contact with new races."

They leave the turbolift and head along the corridor for the transporter room. Chakotay: "I envied it so much I almost got myself shipped back to the Academy for remedial training. On my first assignment we were sent to make contact with the Tarkannans. I studied all the information we had about them. I pestered the Captain into letting me be part of the diplomatic team. When we came face to face with the Tarkannan delegation, I very proudly made the traditional gesture for hello, not realising that males and females of their race use different styles of movement, and I was actually propositioning the ambassador." He chuckles at the memory.

They enter the transporter room. Janeway orders the transporter officer: "Energise."

The Drayan party starts to beam in.

The members of the Drayan party materialise on the transporter pads. Janeway greets them: "I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway. I'd like to welcome you aboard the Federation Starship Voyager."

Alcia: "First Prelate Alcia. May this day find you at peace and leave you with hope. That's a traditional blessing from our ancient scrolls."

Chakotay: "Oh-nah-hoo-pez-nyeetz. That's from the spirits of my people. It means 'peace in your heart, fortune in your steps.'"

Janeway: "It's very gracious of you to agree to meet with us." Alcia: "We don't often engage in dialogue with alien races, but your story of crossing the galaxy intrigued me." Janeway: "I'd be glad to tell you all about our journey and my crew. Perhaps you'd like to see more of our ship as well." Alcia: "Thank you."