REAL LIFE
Episode 64
Part C

 

Neelix is working in the Galley when he notices Paris finger some food in one of the bowls on the counter but not take it. Neelix comes out into the serving area.

Neelix: "Nothing striking your fancy, Lieutenant?" Paris, noticing what is cooking in the stewpot: "Isn't this the fourth day in a row we've had the same casserole?" Neelix: "Pleeka rinds and grub meal - very tasty, if I do say so myself."

Paris, tactfully: "Well, you, you did a great job with it, no question; and it'd just be nice to have a little variety." Neelix: "Well, you're perfectly free to use the replicators." Paris looks down, then up again. "Er, I'm out of rations."

Neelix: "Then....." Paris hopes Neelix will take pity on him and serve him something new, and nice, but Neelix takes a large portion from the stewpot and dollops it onto a plate-tray for him, and the way he squishes it down with the serving spoon makes Paris wince almost as much as Neelix, "...enjoy the casserole."

Paris has to accept the plate, then notices Torres is eating lunch in the Messhall. So lunchtime might be a pleasant time after all.

He heads for her. She is reading a PADD. He joins her at her table: "A beautiful woman should never have to eat alone. What are you reading?"

Torres hides the PADD by putting her hand over the text. "It's nothing important."

Paris manages to take the PADD. Reading the title: "'Women Warriors at the River of Blood'?" Torres, embarrassed, trying to make light of it: "It's just escapist reading."

Paris reads: "'Rorg turned his fierce eye upon her, and M'Nea felt her heart begin to quicken, even as her hand went to her dagger. She had intended to plunge it into his throat, but something about him made her hesitate.' B'Elanna, is this a Klingon romance novel?"

Torres: "Klingons do have what you might call a romantic side. It's a bit more vigorous than most."

Paris: "I think I'll read it. Maybe it'll give me some ideas how to make your heart quicken." Torres: "It's not a technical manual, Tom." Paris: "Well, that depends what you mean by technical." Torres, flirting: "To an engineer that means specialising in particular systems."

Paris flirts back: "I think that definition works." Torres: "Well, I can't promise I won't put a dagger in your throat." He chuckles.

Torres: "Have you heard about the Doctor's new family?" Paris: "How's it going?"

Torres: "I think he was a little overwhelmed at first. But I have to give him credit. He's sticking with it." Paris: "It's hard to imagine the Doctor with children."

The ship starts trembling. The com. signal sounds. Janeway's voice is broadcast: "Senior staff to the Bridge immediately."

As Torres and Paris hurry from the Messhall, passing Ensign Brooks and her lunch companion, a crewmember wonders: "What is that?" It is another astral eddy!

Janeway, as Paris and Torres arrive on the Bridge and head for their posts (Torres to the engineering station): "Tom, I want to send a probe into that anomaly. Can you hold position close enough for us to get accurate telemetry?"

Paris, relieving the crewmember at the conn: "I can try." Chakotay: "Be ready to move away quickly if it starts moving toward us." Voyager shakes.

Paris: "Sorry about that. Just trying to find a way to ride the graviton waves it's throwing off. There, that's a little better. We're in as good a position as we're going to be."

Janeway: "Tuvok?" Tuvok activates a control. "The probe has been launched." (In the screenshot, it is the blue "blob" of light heading for the phenomenon.)

Turbulence hits Voyager. Torres is nearly thrown from her seat but manages to cling on to the console and after a moment manages to regain her seat. Paris, enjoying the turbulence: "Actually, this is kind of fun." Torres: "Speak for yourself."

Kim: "We're starting to receive telemetry. Captain, this is one weird disturbance. I'm reading a temperature gradient of 9 million kelvins, massive discharges of plasmatic energy, and there's a perfectly calm eye at the centre." Tuvok: "Apparently some of the matter inside it is being exchanged between space and subspace." Chakotay: "What about the plasma? Is there any way we can transfer some of it to Voyager?"

Torres: "I don't see how. We can't transport with this kind of turbulence." Janeway: "Maybe we can try a-" The astral eddy dissapears. Paris: "We lost it." Chakotay: "Where's the probe?" Kim: "It's disappeared."

Kim: "It's still transmitting, but there's a lot of interference.

Torres: "I'm detecting some kind of unstable interfold layer, not in space or subspace. It could be where the eddies originate, and where the probe is now." Chakotay: "We've got another particle wake. Since we can't get plasma directly from the eddies, maybe we can collect some from their wakes."

Tuvok: "The Bussard collectors could be modified to gather plasma particles." Torres: "We could do that, but Voyager's energy emissions are so high they'd corrupt the particles. I'm not sure the plasma would be much use to us."

Paris: "What if I took a shuttle out? The energy emissions would be a lot lower." Janeway: "That sounds like it's worth a try." Torres: "Oh, you'd be exposing yourself to radiation poisoning." Janeway to Paris: "Check with the Doctor. Maybe he can give you some kind of protection." Paris: "Yes, ma'am. I'll head to the Shuttlebay as soon as I'm done." He heads for the turbolift.

USS Voyager.

In Sickbay, the Doctor gives Paris a hypospray injection. Doctor: "I've given you a combination of hyronalin and lectrazine. That should give you temporary protection, but I can't guarantee its duration." Paris: "That's alright, Doc. I don't think I'll be out there too long." Doctor: "If I know you, you'll push it to the limit. You enjoy flirting with danger." Paris gives a short laugh. "You know me too well." Doctor: "You were undoubtedly one of those children who had to climb the highest tree, scale the tallest cliff." Paris looks down and smiles. "That was me." Doctor: "I can only imagine what you must have put your parents through." Paris hears the irritation in the Doctor's voice and realises what is really causing it. He comes up to the console. Paris: "How's the family, Doc?" He takes a tricorder from next to the interface and puts it in its holder at his waist. Paris: "I hear they're a real handful." Doctor: "Indeed. However, I have analysed the situation and come up with a solution. There should be no more problems." Paris: "You make it sound like you're treating a sick patient. I'm not sure you can diagnose and cure a family." Doctor: "We'll see." He reports the result of the medical check-up. "You're in fine physical shape, Lieutenant. You may go ahead and engage in this reckless activity." Paris gives a small laugh. "Thanks, Doc." He departs. Thinking about his holographic family, the Doctor is thoughtful.