In the main chamber of the imperial hall on Ilari, Tieran/(Kes) pours wine. Tieran/(Kes): "My friends, we have much to celebrate tonight: our recent victory, the consolidation of power among those who are loyal to us and the fact that Ilari is poised on the brink of what will be its greatest era of prosperity, but there's another occasion that's cause for celebration, one that is perhaps the most joyous of all. I'd like to present my husband-to-be."

The husband-to-be is Ameron! Tieran/(Kes) to Nori: "Don't be upset. It's only a political alliance. Ameron will bring the support that will overcome Demmas' troops. Ah, tell me you still love me." Nori: "You know I love you."

Tieran/(Kes) experiences another headache but overcomes it. "Ameron and Nori. You have both been essential to my success and I want you to be close friends, I want us all to be very very close." As Nori makes to pull away, "Nori, don't make me doubt your loyalty." As Kes kicks inside his mind he bursts out loud: "I'm not listening to you!"

Resh hurries in. "Sir, enemy ships are approaching, at least twenty. It's Demmas' fleet, and Voyager." Tieran/(Kes): "I assume my ships are moving to intercept them." Resh: "Yes, but we are outnumbered." Tieran/(Kes): "I've always fought against the odds. My fleet will defeat them." Resh: "All the same, I recommend taking some precautions. We should get you to the reinforced shelter."

Tieran/(Kes): "This is a celebration to announce my marriage. I won't allow Demmas to make me run like some frightened animal. Join us. Food and drink for my First Castellan." When Resh does not move, he puts his hand on the gun in his holster. "I told you to join us."

To everyone: "Drink, eat, I want all of you to enjoy yourselves!" Resh moves to obey.

As he sits Tieran/(Kes) asks: "My charitable projects, how are they progressing? When do we break ground for the new library?" Nori: "Soon." Tieran/(Kes): "Good. I want the people to know that I have their welfare at heart. Tomorrow we'll send out an edict: every citizen must have a garden." Nori: "A garden?" Tieran/(Kes): "I love plants, flowers, anything that grows. Some of the times I felt most content was spent watching the seedlings grow in the airponics-" An explosion shakes the imperial hall.

Resh dashes into the control room. He reports: "They made it through our defences. They're sending down ground forces." Tieran/(Kes): "That's impossible. You're lying." Resh: "I'm sending additional troops to their defensive positions, activating full security measures. That ought to hold them off. But we have to go, now." Tieran/(Kes): "Anyone who leaves this room will be shot as a traitor." Resh indicates the control console: "Look for yourself!" Tieran/(Kes): "This has to be a trick, a ruse of some kind. That's what they're doing, creating a distraction to draw my attention away from their real plan." Nori: "Tieran, please, they're coming!"

The mentally deranged tyrant snatches the veil off a guard.

But Tieran/(Kes) is becoming more and more unstable. He/(she) storms around the room determined that there is an intruder, snatching away the veils from the guards' helmets looking for Tuvok: "They must've sent an infiltrator. We have an intruder! I know you're here somewhere, Tuvok, you don't realise how perceptive I've become. I know you're here!" The pain in his/(her) head becomes more and more unbearable.

A phaser blast from Paris' phaser rifle knocks out the forcefield guarding Tuvok. Paris: "Tuvok." Tuvok: "Mr Paris." Paris: "No time for a tearful reunion. We've got to get you out of here."

4 screenshots below: As they negotiate the rocky underground passages that lead up to the main chamber of the imperial hall, they are attacked by two sentries. Paris downs his opponent while Tuvok fells his with a Vulcan nerve-pinch.

Tuvok helps Paris to his feet. Paris: "Someday you're going to have to show me how you do that."

In the main chamber, as Nori pleads with her husband to keep fighting for mental control. "Don't give in, stay with me. Tieran!" Tieran/(Kes): "Still here." Nori: "Fight it, you must fight it, Tieran. Please keep fighting."

The concealed Voyager rescue team looks on, having penetrated the inner defences. They are waiting for Janeway's signal to attack. Janeway: Do you have the device ready?" Neelix holds it up. She orders: "Now!"

Janeway leads the attack.

Resh picks up Tieran/(Kes) to carry him to safety, making for the control room heading for the shelter. Neelix: "They're getting away."

Chakotay: "I'll cover you."

A shot from Demmas hits Resh who drops his master as he falls.

When the assault starts, but as he enters the control room behind the main chamber a phaser blast catches him. Nori, who is following, helps her husband.

Nori: "We've got to get out, find a doctor and get you stabilised or transfer you to a new host. You will survive."

Tieran/(Kes) runs while Nori covers for him/(her) but as she gives covering fire, aiming for Neelix as he approaches.

She receives a direct hit from a phaser fired as Paris and Tuvok enter the hall.

Neelix leaps over the table, heading for Tieran/(Kes) - phaser in one hand and the medical device in the other.

Tieran/(Kes) is cornered. Neelix approaches, phaser trained on him/(her). "Kes, stop please, stay there. Just let me get to you and this will be all over."

But when Tieran/(Kes) goes to fire at him, Neelix is forced to fire first and he/(she) collapses.

Ameron rushes over to Tieran/(Kes): "Tieran!" Ameron holds his/(her) hand and is forcibly pulled away by Demmas. Neelix approaches with the Doctor's medical device.

Neelix puts the device on the tyrant's cheek. Demmas guards his brother Ameron.

Tieran is drive from Kes. She asks: "Tieran?" Neelix: "He's gone." Kes: "No he isn't. He's still here. He moved onto someone else before you used this. He wanted you to think he'd been destroyed but he's hiding in a new host."

Kes searches: "I know you too well, Tieran." then focuses on Ameron. Tieran/(Ameron): "No, you can't do this!"

Kes, ruthlessly: "You died a long time ago. Now it's time to let go." Kes puts the Doctor's device on Ameron. Tieran is forced out of Ameron's body and, without a new host body, Tieran dies.

Ameron, alive and no longer controlled by Tieran.

Kes removes the talisman and gives it to Demmas, the rightful Autarch: "Demmas, it's over."

Demmas nods his acknowledgement and thanks.

Kes looks at Neelix then away, her face stern. The experience has made her mentally stronger, and more self-confident. There will be no return to their romantic relationship.

USS Voyager, flying through space at warp speed, having left the Ilari planet.

Later, back aboard Voyager, during a meditation lesson, Tuvok helps Kes deal with her experience. Tuvok: "Your thoughts are a turbulent ocean. Visualise yourself floating above them." Kes: "I can't. I've been using all the meditations you've taught me, but they're not helping." Tuvok: "You must be patient and allow yourself sufficient time. Don't attempt to deny the emotional impact of your experience." Kes: "How can I worry about my own well-being when so many people have suffered and died?" Tuvok: "You were not responsible for Tieran's actions." Kes: "I can't help wondering whether I could have fought harder." Tuvok: "It was your absolute refusal to surrender which defeated him. You cannot ask more of yourself than that." Kes: "Things seem so different now, my thoughts and perceptions, even my relationships with my closest friends - you, the Doctor, Neelix. How can I go back to my normal life as if nothing had ever happened?" Tuvok: "You cannot. This experience will force you to adapt. You are no longer the same person and the course of your life will change as a result. Where that new course leads is up to you."