BASICS
Episodes 42 and 43

Part J

 

Paris is conducting a comms. conversation via the shuttlecraft monitor with Paxim, commander of Talaxian forces. Paxim, on monitor: "Voyager's been taken by the Kazon-Nistrim. They're flooding every subspace frequency with the news." Paris: "Is there any word on the crew?" Paxim, on monitor: "I'm afraid not." Paris sighs. "If you can help me with repairs, we can be on our way in a few hours." Paxim, on monitor: "Lieutenant, our ships are no match for Voyager and your shuttlecraft can hardly be expect-" Paris: "Commander Paxim. My people are counting on you. Look, no one knows Voyager like I do. I know every vulnerability, every blind spot. Don't worry, I have a plan." Paxim, on monitor: "Very well. We'll rendezvous in an hour. Paxim out." Contact ends. Paris, aloud to himself: "One hour. I should be able to come up with some kind of plan in one hour."

USS Voyager at warp speed.

Suder cautiously opens the Jefferies tube hatch in Voyager's Sickbay and emerges.

Doctor: "I was beginning to think you'd got lost." Suder: "I'm sorry. They're still repairing the ship. I had to be careful."

Doctor: "We have no time to waste. According to the computer, we're at warp. We've got to figure out some way to slow the ship down before we get too far from the crew. That would seem to be our first priority. And then we have to get some weapons. Mr Suder, are you listening to me?"

Suder: "Yes." Doctor: "Oh, I see. Perhaps you consider this an opportunity." Suder: "Opportunity?" Doctor: "To obtain your freedom from confinement. How foolish of me to think you would want to help." Suder: "You're wrong. I do want to help."

Doctor: "Then....what?" Suder: "I'm going to have to kill some of them." Doctor: "It is possible. Violence might be required to retake the ship." Suder: "I've worked so hard over the last few months to control the violent feelings. I'm almost at peace with myself. I mean, I see the day coming when I could be." Doctor: "Mr Suder, if Lieutenant Tuvok were here, I know he would tell you there are times when violence is required to defend yourself, to defend your ship, to defend your crew." Suder: "Yes, there is a logical use for violence for everyone else. With me, once it begins..."

Doctor: "We must do this together, Mr Suder. If you don't trust yourself yet, then trust me. I will help you any way I can. One hologram and one sociopath may not be much of a match for the Kazon, but we'll have to do."

At the camp on the planet, Chakotay returns to report on Kes' and Neelix's being missing.
Chakotay: "There are signs of a struggle near the edge of camp. I found alien tracks."
Janeway: "We can't wait until morning to go after them."
Chakotay: "Well, I'm better at tracking than starting fires."

Tuvok: "I've completed a few weapons that might be appropriate, Commander."

Chakotay takes the bow he has made: "This is thoughtful of you Tuvok, but my tribe never used bows and arrows and I've never even shot one." Tuvok takes the bow back: "This is mine. I taught archery science for several years at the Vulcan Institute of Defensive Arts." Janeway addresses them both, looking at Tuvok: "Take as many crew members as you need."

It is morning. The humanoid natives are gathered around their prisoners Kes and Neelix.

Without combadges, the Voyager crewmembers cannot understand them. The native males approach Kes.

It is clear that one native, as he goes to grab Kes, wants her.

Neelix, angrily: "Now, see here. You just keep your hands off her!"

Two of the natives confront each other, both wanting her.

There is a lot of posturing and shouting, then they start fighting.

The chief, who is holding a staff with a forked end, watches them.

But they are interrupted as a native woman shrieks.

The natives stop and take up defensive stances as Chakotay walks slowly toward them. Two of the native males shake their weapons at Chakotay and move behind him as he calmly comes and stands right next to Neelix and Kes.

Neelix: "Commander. Thank goodness." Chakotay: "Are you alright?" Kes: "They haven't hurt us." Chakotay: "Have you been able to tell if they have a leader?" Kes: "I'd say it's the one with the claw." Neelix: "I agree. The other two seem to be trying to figure out what to make of us. In a manner of speaking; not in a culinary sense, I hope."

Chakotay to the chief: "Listen to the sound of my voice, and you'll know that I mean you no harm. I come without weapons. But I must have my people back."

The chief's woman watches and listens.

The males start protesting vociferously.

The chief shouts at them and they quieten down.

The chief speaks, but Chakotay does not understand him. The chief shows his meaning by taking hold of his woman and thrusting her into Chakotay's hold.

Chakotay, understanding: "Thank you, but she should stay with you." He hands her back gently, and points to Neelix and Kes: "I must take them with me."

The chief pulls Neelix to his feet. Neelix: "Stand? Certainly. I'll be happy to stand. What? Over here?"

Then the chief indicates Kes and points to himself. Neelix: "What?" Angrily confronting the chief: "No. No. No! That is unacceptable!"

Chakotay: "Kes, stand up slowly and walk away with us." To the chief: "We have to go now." He backs away. Quietly to Kes and Neelix: "Just keep walking. Don't look back." With nerve-wracking slowness, Chakotay walks away as Kes and Neelix, wanting to escape as fast as possible, hurry away from the natives.

Suddenly the chief shouts, and Chakotay breaks into a run, hotly pursued by the tribe.

Kazon graphic web work by me. About the Kazon graphic / How to use the image map (pop-up)