SACRED GROUND
Episode 49
Part A

 

Janeway: "Captain's log, stardate 50063.2. We've accepted an invitation from the Nechani to take a few days' shore leave on their world. We're enjoying the opportunity to learn about their culture." The picture shows USS Voyager orbiting the Nechani planet.

A Nechani Magistrate is giving a guided tour to Torres, Kim, Neelix and Kes. "This Sanctuary honours our Ancestral Spirits. Their presence is very strong here."

As two robed Nechani walk past, the Magistrate informs his guests: "Those are Brothers of the Nechisti Order. They've devoted their lives to serving the Spirits."

The Magistrate leads the party onward: "Here's something you might find interesting."

Torres and Kim follow the Magistrate but Kes lingers to look at the wall carvings and Neelix stays with her. Kes: "What do you think this means?" Neelix: "Hard to tell. A fertility symbol, maybe?" Kes: "Or a blessing for good luck, or wisdom." Neelix: "Or happiness and love."

Kes: "Do you hear something?" Neelix: "What?"

She leads him into a large chamber. Kes: "Look at that. It's beautiful." Neelix: "It looks like a shrine. Come on, sweetie, we don't want to be left behind." Kes: "I just want to take a quick look."

She walks right up to the shrine. Suddenly the shrine glows with energy and strikes Kes - she collapses unconscious!

Neelix runs straight to her. "Kes!" He bends desperately over her inert body. "Kes, can you hear me? Help!!! Somebody! We need help!"

Torres, Kim and the Magistrate rush in. Torres: "What happened?" Magistrate: "You mustn't be here. This shrine is protected." Neelix: "She didn't touch anything. She went as far as that archway and then an energy field knocked her down." Torres taps her combadge. combadge "Torres to Voyager. We have a medical emergency. Beam Kes and Neelix directly to Sickbay." Transporter officer, via comms: "Yes Lieutenant." Kes and Neelix are beamed up. transporter

Magistrate: "Well, this is most unfortunate. Please, I must ask you to leave as well." Torres: "We aren't going anywhere until we find out what happened to her. What kind of energy was she exposed to?" Magistrate: "I, I, I have no idea. This is a sacred place. Only the monks truly understand what happens here." Kim: "Then we'll bring scanning equipment down and investigate for ourselves." Magistrate: "No, that's out of the question. It would show disrespect to the Spirits." Torres: "One of our crew has been critically injured. We aren't going to stand by and do nothing." Magistrate: "There's nothing you can do. She's been punished by the Spirits. She's going to die."

Torres: "If you prevent us from helping Kes, we will hold you directly responsible for anything that happens to her." Kim: "I will make a full report to our Captain. I'm sure you'll be hearing from her." Magistrate: "I'll be happy to talk to her and to do whatever I can to help, but your presence here only makes a delicate situation worse. Please, leave now."

Janeway enters Sickbay to see how Kes is.

Doctor: "Her lifesigns are very weak but stable. It appears that her synaptic pathways have undergone a severe neuraleptic shock which is disrupting all cortical functions. It is similar to a comatose state but with none of the usual biochemical markers."

Neelix: "You can cure her, can't you?" Doctor: "I can't even speculate on a treatment until I know more about what caused her condition."

Janeway: "We're working on that. We aren't allowed near the area where the accident occurred, but Kim and Torres are scanning the Sanctuary from Voyager. They'll report their findings to you, and I have an appointment to talk to the Magistrate. I'm hoping he'll be able to cut through some of the restrictions the monks have set up."

Neelix: "Excuse me, Captain. I'd like to do something to help." Janeway: "The Nechani must have records, some kind of scientific data on this energy field. Go down to the planet and see what you can find." Neelix to the comatose Kes: "I'll be back soon."

Janeway is meeting with the Magistrate in her Ready Room. Magistrate: "Please understand, Captain, I'm caught in a most difficult situation. I'm an official of the government, not a spiritual leader. I don't pretend to understand why the Spirits do what they do." Janeway: "Then perhaps I could talk with the Brothers." Magistrate: "I've asked the Nechisti Council to give you an audience, but I'm afraid they consider the matter closed. They've asked me to express their sympathies for your loss." Janeway: "There is no loss at this point. Kes is still alive. Surely there's some way to treat her? Can't you insist that the monks meet with me?" Magistrate: "We have an agreement with the Council. They don't involve themselves with government and we don't interfere in their spiritual matters. It's been that way for centuries and it's always worked well for us." Janeway: "Then can you tell me what you do know about the Sanctuary and what happens there?" Magistrate: "I'll try. That particular Shrine is where the monks go to receive the gift of purification, cleansing of the soul. It is one of our most holy places." Janeway: "You mean the monks can enter it without being harmed." Magistrate: "They prepare themselves with a sacred Ritual during which they speak directly with the Ancestral Spirits. After that they are able to enter the Shrine safely." Janeway: "What happens in that Ritual? How does it offer protection against the energy field?" Magistrate: "Captain, you seem to want explanations for everything. I don't have them. Only the Brothers who've gone through the Ritual know what happens there, and they're sworn to secrecy." Janeway: "The energy field that Kes encountered - is there anyone who could give me scientific information that would help us analyse it?" Magistrate: "All we know is that it is a naturally occurring phenomenon." Janeway: "If you're telling me that there's nothing you can do to help Kes, I simply won't accept that." Magistrate: "If I could help you, I would, I swear it. I blame myself. If I'd watched more carefully, seen that she was approaching the Shrine..... There's nothing more to be done now. You have our sympathy."

Voyager orbits the Nechani planet.

Janeway is in the office in Sickbay. Janeway: "Have Kim and Torres given you a report?" Doctor: "Yes. I received a fascinating lesson in the challenges of getting clear scanner readings through solid rock. We were eventually able to distinguish an intense biogenic field at the site of Kes' accident. That would certainly explain the neuraleptic shock. She was lucky not to have been killed instantly."

Janeway: "As I understand it, the Nechani monks are able to enter the field without being harmed at all." Doctor: "Really? I don't expect they'd care to tell us how?" Janeway: "No, they wouldn't."

Neelix enters Sickbay. standard doors He stands in the doorway, looking forlornly at Kes.

The Doctor tells Janeway in a quieter voice, as they watch Neelix cross to Kes' bedside: "She's not responding to conventional treatments, and frankly I'm running out of unconventional ideas as well. The level of activity in her brain is so low, I can't rule out the possibility of permanent damage, even if I can revive her."

He continues: "The longer she stays in this condition, the less likely it is she'll ever recover."

They go out to the main biobed where Neelix is bending over his sweetheart. Neelix: "How is she?" Doctor: "I'm afraid there's been no change." Neelix: "I've researched everything I could find about the sacred Shrine. I didn't uncover much scientific evidence but there was one story, and it was in a very old text - I, I'm not sure how reliable - about a boy who recovered from a condition like Kes'. He was a young prince. He wandered into the Shrine accidentally and went into a death sleep. Everyone said it was the will of the Spirits. Er his father, King Nevad, er refused to accept that so he went through the Ritual to seek an audience with the Spirits and he pleaded for his son's life. The Spirits in their infinite mercy granted his request. That was the only trace of hope that I could find." Janeway: "Maybe it's enough."