BLOOD FEVER
Episode 58
Part B

 

USS Voyager orbits the planet.

In Sickbay, the Doctor shows Tuvok two sets of Vorik's cortical readings from the cortical monitor. "I'm concerned about Ensign Vorik's cortical readings. One returns to normal levels, then another one spikes."

Doctor: "It's chaotic, as if the brain's regulatory system had simply shut down. I can't tell if he's making any progress with these meditations. I thought maybe you could suggest other possible treatments."

Tuvok: "I cannot."

Doctor: "Is that because you don't know, or because you don't want to discuss it?" Tuvok: "For both of those reasons there is little help that I can offer. It is inappropriate for me to involve myself in Ensign Vorik's personal situation."

Tuvok turns to leave but the Doctor's next words indicates the Doctor has not finished and Tuvok stops but remains with his face away from the Doctor, his back to the problem. The Doctor tells him: "For such an intellectually enlightened race, Vulcans have a remarkably Victorian attitude about sex." Tuvok: "That is a very human judgement, Doctor." Doctor: "Then here's a Vulcan one: I fail to see the logic in perpetuating ignorance about a basic biological function." Tuvok: "There is nothing logical about the Pon farr. It is a time when instinct and emotion dominate over reason. It cannot be analysed by the rational mind, nor cured by conventional medicine. Anyone who has experienced it understands that it must simply be followed to its natural resolution."

Doctor: "Which is what exactly?" Tuvok turns to face him. "There are three options that I am aware of: taking a mate which Ensign Vorik has already attempted, the ritual combat which does not apply to his situation-" Doctor: "Combat?" Tuvok: "An ancient tradition of fighting for one's mate which, as I have said, is not relevant here. The third alternative is the intensive meditation he has chosen to try." Doctor: "Isn't there anything we can do to help him with that?" Tuvok: "I believe that any interference would be unwelcome and counterproductive. You must allow him to face this challenge privately. If he possesses enough discipline to reach a point of psychological resolution, then his chemical imbalance should correct itself." Doctor: "The Vulcan brain never ceases to amaze me. Thank you, Lieutenant." Sarcastically: "You've been a great help." Tuvok leaves.

Torres enters the transporter room to find Paris and Neelix already there. Torres, brightly: "Ah, you two are awfully prompt."

Paris: "Impressed?" Torres: "Oh, it'll take a little more work than that to impress me, Lieutenant." Paris: "Yes, ma'am."

Torres: "Alright. Let me show you our target area." They join her at the console. Neelix: "Shouldn't we wait for Ensign Vorik?" Torres: "He's not coming." Briskly and with an odd cheerfulness: "This seems to be the most accessible vein of gallicite. We'll beam to the surface, then go down through this passageway until it dead-ends in this chamber. Then we'll descend almost fifty metres, almost straight down. Do you see any problem with that, Tom?"

Paris, feeling breathless from the fast outpouring of her words: "Er, well, as long as we go slow and easy, we'll be fine."

Torres: "Good. You're all set, Neelix?" Neelix: "I've got a laser drill, sample cases, geo-spectral analysis kit-" Torres interrupts: "In other words, you're ready. Let's go." Her cheery briskness makes Paris and Neelix feel as if they have just been caught up in a whirlwind.

They beam down to the planet surface.

Torres: "This way." But Neelix moves in the other direction: "Look over here." He goes over to some stone ruins he has seen. "This must've been the colony." Paris: "Not more than 50 or 60 years ago, hardly enough time for these structures to decay so badly." Neelix: "They must've suffered some kind of disaster, maybe an earthquake." Torres: "Well, we'll send down an archaeological team later on. Right now we've got our own work to do." Paris: "Are we in a rush?"

Torres: "I just don't see any point in wasting time." Challengingly, like flirting, to Paris: "Unless of course, you want to stall to put off demonstrating your climbing expertise."

Paris accepts the challenge. He puts away his tricorder and moves off. "Grab your gear and try to keep up."

As Paris moves away, Torres' eyes follow him. Some sort of challenge is still there between them.

They descend into the cave system. Neelix: "No matter how real a holodeck program may seem, it just doesn't get your heart pumping like a genuine physical challenge. It's exhilarating!" Paris chuckles.

Torres: "If you're looking for exhilaration..." They look at a precipice. Neelix: "It didn't look quite so steep on the sensor map, did it?" Torres: "We're prepared for this. We can handle it. Let's go."

Neelix, inserting a piton: "All this Starfleet technology almost takes the fun out of it." Paris: "If you mean the fun of wondering whether your anchor will hold while you're dangling over a cliff, I think I'll pass. See you below." He starts to abseil down the precipice.

Paris goes down the cliff.

Torres to Neelix: "You go first. I'll follow you." Paris: "Watch your footing!" Torres starts the descent. "You're right. My heart is pumping faster." Neelix: "Wait till we climb back up with a pack full of gallicite." Torres: "Oh, I'm just getting warmed up."

Suddenly the piton gives way, Neelix loses his footing and he plunges to the bottom of the cliff, knocking Torres down with him. As he passes Paris, Paris yells: "No!" and quickly abseils down to him.

Neelix is in pain. His left knee is injured.

 

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