SACRED GROUND
Episode 49
Part C

 

She takes Janeway into a room. Women undress her. Guide: "It's alright, Kathryn." They remove her uniform and loosen her hair so that it hangs in a plain ponytail.

They apply ritual face paint.

The Guide waits while Janeway is prepared.

Janeway is given a plain brown robe. Janeway: "Would it be breaking any vows of secrecy now to tell me what this Ritual will involve?" Guide: "Why do you think I know?" Janeway: "Haven't you been through this before?" Guide: "Don't worry, I'll help you find your way. Tell me, have you completely committed yourself to this journey?" Janeway: "Yes." Guide: "You're willing to go through what the monks have been doing for centuries to help them find the Spirits?" Janeway: "Yes." Guide: "So you can send biochemical data back to you ship. No, it wasn't magic. Our bio-scanners detected the microprobe under your skin." Janeway: "I hope that won't be a problem." Guide: "Makes no difference at all. You are fond of your little devices, aren't you." Janeway: "They've always served me well."

Guide: "I'm sure they have. Please, come this way."

The Guide opens a set of twin-doors and shows her in.

Janeway enters the Waiting Room where three old people are sitting waiting. One of them, Man 1, is quite crochety. Man 1: "Who are you?" Janeway: "I'm Kathryn Janeway. Is this where the Ritual begins?" Man 2: "Oh, the Ritual. Yes." Woman: "We're waiting. Come, join us." Janeway: "What exactly are you waiting for?" Man 2: "Just waiting." Janeway: "How long have you been sitting here?" Man 2 asks his companion: "Er, how long has it been?" Man 1: "Why are you asking me? I've lost track!" Man 2: "It's been a while, I know that." Woman: "Oh, it's been....." she tries to think and eventually says: "......as long as we can remember." Janeway: "Are you telling me I have to wait a lifetime before I can go through the Ritual?" Man 1: "I didn't hear anyone say that, did you?" Man 2: "Certainly not. All we said was that we're waiting." Janeway: "I'm just trying to understand how this works. The monks I saw in the Sanctuary were young, they couldn't have waited such a long time to go through their rituals." Woman: "She's right about that, you know." Man 2: "She's a smart one." Man 1: "She thinks she is, at any rate." Janeway: "This is a test of some kind, isn't it. To prove my determination." Woman: "A test? She thinks we're a test. What is she talking about?" Man 2: "She must like tests. I suppose tests make sense to her." Janeway: "Has anyone ever tried to open this door?" Man 1: "How many times do we have to tell you that we are waiting." Janeway: "My dear, why don't you just sit down and relax. You're much too tense." Man 2: "You're welcome to wait with us." Janeway: "I don't want to wait. I have a friend who's depending on me. I have to go through the Ritual." Man 1: "I wonder if she's always this impatient." Man 2: "Oh, she's just determined. She wants to get on with it." Woman: "Seems to me she could be friendly and sit for a few minutes." Man 2: "Oh, no, she knows what she wants to do. She's not the kind to sit around when she has a mission to accomplish." Janeway is trying to open the doors at the opposite end of the room to where she entered but she cannot do so. She sighs. Man 1: "I told you. I told you it was locked." Janeway bangs on a door three times.

Suddenly the doors open. The Guide is standing on the other side. Guide: "Yes?"

Janeway: "I mean no disrespect, but unless there's something I'm supposed to accomplish here, I'd like to continue with the Ritual." Guide: "By all means."

Janeway leaves the Waiting Room. The Guide is amused.

The Guide leads Janeway into a large chamber, the Ritual Chamber. Janeway: "I'm not sure how to begin." Guide: "Do you want me to give you orders, Captain?" Janeway: "I'll do whatever you ask of me." Guide, amused: "I see. So you think this is just a matter of doing what you're told?" Janeway: "No. I'm sure there's spiritual significance behind the challenges involved." Guide: "Challenges. That's what you expect."

Janeway: "I don't have any idea what to expect. I've studied a number of ritualistic societies and many of the rites have commonalities. This one may be completely different. I'm willing to do whatever is necessary." Guide: "I don't doubt that. But do you realise that all of this is meaningless, that the only thing that matters is finding your connection to the Spirits?" Janeway: "I'm going to make every effort to do that. But I didn't come here for personal enlightenment. I'm trying to save a member of my crew." Guide: "That's a worthy cause. I hope the Spirits listen to you."

Guide: "Then let's begin. The first challenge. Stand like this." She shows Janeway how to stand. Then she hands her a large heavy stone. "Hold that. Now, what do you see in your hands?" Janeway: "I see a stone." Guide: "Keep looking."

Voyager's Sickbay. Doctor: "Her respiration and pulse have remained steady but there's been a gradual build up of lactic acid in her extensor muscles over the last hour." Chakotay: "What does that mean? Is she in danger?" Doctor: "Not at all. She's probably experiencing light strain, what you'd expect in an endurance ritual." Chakotay: "Then there's nothing so far that would suggest a treatment for Kes."

Doctor: "It's too early to tell. I'm downloading every iota of information from the bioprobe sensors into a physiometric programme which is analysing the data. Even the smallest physiological change may prove significant. We can't discount anything."

Ritual Chamber. Guide: "What do you see now?" Janeway: "I still see a stone."

She is been given paints.

Janeway: "I guess you're not going to tell me what I'm supposed to draw." Guide: "That would be too easy, wouldn't it? It's up to you. Draw whatever feels right." Janeway: "I've never been able to draw. My sister was the artist in the family." Guide: "And you were the scientist."

Janeway: "It's true. When other children were outside playing games, I was doing mathematics problems." Guide: "Mathematics. I can see why you enjoyed it. Solve a problem - get an answer. The answer's either right or wrong. It's very absolute." Janeway: "I've always found that satisfying." Guide: "I'm sure you did."

Janeway is climbing a rockface.

Suddenly her footing slips and she cries out as she nearly falls. A fall into the chasm below would surely kill her.

She is holding the stone, which is now glowing.

Guide: "What did you see?" Janeway: "I'm not sure." Guide: "Describe it."