SACRED GROUND
Episode 49
Part D

 

Voyager's Sickbay. Doctor: "Aha!"

Neelix hurries over from Kes' bedside to the monitor where the Doctor is looking at the read-outs. Neelix: "What? What is it? What have you found?" Doctor: "There have been significant increases in the Captain's respiration, neuropeptides and adenosine triphosphate levels."

Neelix: "Is that bad?" Doctor: "It certainly suggests she's going through a gruelling physical experience, but it's the neuropeptides that are interesting. The saturations have risen to quite an abnormal level." Neelix: "Is that good or bad?" Doctor: "I can't say it's either so far as the Captain's concerned, but it certainly seems a substantial piece of information. Neuropeptide levels this high could well create a natural barrier to biogenic energy."

Neelix: "So you have something that will help Kes?" Doctor: "Not yet, but it's the first piece of data that allows me even to formulate a hypothesis." Neelix: "It should be me going through all that! I was the one that let Kes get hurt in the first place."

Doctor: "Mr Neelix, you're wallowing." Neelix: "I'm-?" Doctor: "Wallowing in useless remorse. I'll have to ask you to stop, it's bad for the patient." Neelix: "It's just frustrating to be so helpless."

Doctor: "If it's any consolation, Mr Neelix, I do understand." He puts his hand comfortingly on his shoulder.

Ritual Chamber. Janeway: "I'm exhausted."

The Guide brings her a drink. "Oh, thank you." She drinks. Guide: "Your microprobe should be transmitting all kinds of interesting information back to the ship."

The Guide brings a large basket and places it in front of her.

Janeway: "What is that?" Guide: "It's a nesset. They're able to travel from this world into the spirit realm. They serve as gatekeepers."

Janeway: "Gatekeepers. Then I'm ready to enter the Spirit realm." Guide: "Do you think you're ready?" Janeway: "Yes, I do." Guide: "Then you are. Go ahead, put your hand in." Janeway hesitates. The sound of hissing can be heard coming from within the basket. "We can stop right now if you like." Janeway: "No, I'm not quitting." Tentatively Janeway lowers her arm into the basket.

Suddenly she cries out in pain and snatches her arm back. The nesset has bitten her! Its fangs have made three deep cuts into her skin. Guide: "Don't be afraid."

Janeway sinks into a heap, writhing in agony. "Oh, it's burning. Oh, my chest. Help me." She collapses.

She hallucinates that she drops the stone and that Kes is calling her: "Captain. Captain."

Guide: "Kathryn." Janeway is lying in an underground chamber, little larger than a coffin.

Janeway: "I'm dying."

Guide: "Everyone dies eventually." She presses a button and the 'coffin' lid closes over her. Janeway's world goes black.

Sickbay. Chakotay: "It's been three days since she had any sleep. How long are we going to let her go through this?" Doctor: "I understand your concern, Commander. But I must point out that her vital signs are stable. She seems to be in no immediate danger." Chakotay: "She's been poisoned by some unknown toxin. It may be having an effect we can't gauge. It could lie dormant for a few days and then suddenly fluctuate and kill her in minutes."

Doctor: "You seem to be implying that I'm not paying attention. I assure you I am monitoring her constantly. If I thought she were in jeopardy I would act." Tuvok: "Doctor, is there anything that might be preventing her from using the homing signal in her implant?" Doctor: "Not that I'm aware of. She's fully conscious and has complete motor control. If she wanted to transport she could signal us."

Chakotay: "Are you getting enough meaningful information to justify her continuing this ordeal?" Doctor: "I am getting some remarkable data. Her entire biochemistry is undergoing a series of unique interactions. Look," he calls up data on the monitor: "this amino acid has been formed as a result of the breakdown of the toxin in her bloodstream. It's affecting the normal flow of neurotransmitters and very likely having an hallucinogenic effect."

Tuvok: "Is she delusional?" Doctor: "I think she's experiencing the Nechani version of a psychoactive drug." Chakotay: "Then is it possible she's in no condition to activate the homing signal?" Doctor: "I don't believe that's the case, and I strongly suspect this biochemical change is going to give us the answers we need. The toxin in her bloodstream may very well be the key to getting a treatment for Kes."

Tuvok: "Commander, the decision is ultimately yours, of course. However, I believe it would be the Captain's desire to complete the Ritual." Chakotay: "Alright, we'll leave her there for now, but I'm not moving from this monitor until she gets back."

Janeway 'wakes' groggily into a spiritual vision.

"Oh." She 'visits' a beautiful coastline.

Janeway 'sees' the Guide. "What is this? An hallucination?" Guide: "I'm only here to serve as a voice, an interpreter for the Ancestral Spirits." Janeway: "I see. If there are other beings here, could I see them myself?" Guide: "You mean you want proof that we exist." Janeway: "That would be helpful." Guide: "It's irrelevant."

Janeway: "I don't want to be disrespectful. I've gone through every part of the Ritual that I've been asked to." Guide: "Everything you've gone through is meaningless. You've been told that." Janeway: "I know. I just want to bring this to completion, to make my request." Guide: "Then by all means do so."

Janeway addresses the Spirits: "I cite the story of King Nevad as precedent. In the same way he pleaded for his son, I ask that Kes be restored to health." Guide: "Your request is inconsequential. You have what you need to save her yourself." Janeway thinks she understands and is joyful.

She wakens from the spiritual vision, the lid to her confined chamber opens. Light streams in.

The Guide helps out up back into the Ritual Chamber.

Guide: "Welcome back." Janeway: "How long?" Guide: "Does that matter?"

Janeway groans with weariness. "I'd like to know." Guide: "Thirty-nine hours. You must take care of yourself. Your body's weak." Janeway: "I guess the physical conditioning programs on the Holodeck didn't quite prepare me for this."

Guide: "Has it been worthwhile?" Janeway: "I think so. I was told that I had what I needed to save Kes." Guide: "Then it must be true. The Spirits would not deceive you."

She hands Janeway her Starfleet uniform. "Whenever you're ready." Janeway: "Thank you." She takes her uniform and leaves.