THE CLOUD
Episode 6
Part D

 

	Voyager projects the nucleonic beam. Janeway: "Analysis?" Torres: "Scanners are showing the regeneration rate up only 0.4%. I don't know what we can hope to accomplish if this is the best we can do. The breach may simply be too large to seal."
	The Doctor makes a com. call. comms. signal "This is the Doctor speaking. Please activate your monitor to the Emergency Medical Holographic channel. I believe I have a suggestion that may help." They do so.
	Doctor: "Since no one had the courtesy to turn me off after my last consultation I've had the opportunity to observe your progress, or lack of same. I believe a slight alteration of your treatment plan is necessary. As inspiration I've drawn on an ancient medical technique known as a suture." Janeway: "Suture?" Doctor: "Before the advent of laser technology surgical fibre was used to stitch together a wound to allow it to heal naturally."
in Engineering, Torres tunes in to the EMH channel	Torres: "How does that help us?" Doctor: "Your ship's energy systems are compatible with this lifeform's omicron particles, are they not?" Torres: "That's right." Doctor: "Then it is very likely this vessel could serve the lifeform's needs in much the same manner as a suture. By allowing the ship to serve as an energy conduit across the wound, the lifeform should be able to regenerate itself more rapidly." Paris: "And how are we supposed to get the ship into the wound without the hell getting beat out of us again?" Doctor: "That's your problem, not mine. Doctor out." He ends contact.
	Paris is sceptical. "That's sort of like asking a hurt dog not to bite you whilst you tend to its wounds." Janeway is thoughtful. "You like dogs, Mr Paris?" Paris: "Yes, ma'am. I always had a dog." Janeway: "I like dogs too. When I had to clean out a cut on my dog's leg I needed to create a little diversion to take her mind off it."
	Janeway: "Mr Kim, prepare a class-4 microprobe." Kim: "Aye, Captain."
	Janeway has a word with Paris. "Lieutenant, if I gave you a short burst from our thrusters would it be enough to maneuver into the breach in 10 seconds?" Paris: "I'd feel better if I had 20." Janeway: "Once we launch that probe as a diversion, you might have 10, maybe even less than that." Paris: "10 sounds good."
	Janeway: "Mr Kim. Status?" Kim: "Microprobe loaded and ready." Janeway: "Set co-ordinates for launch at 160 mark 70. Cut power after 500 metres. I don't want to hurt this lifeform again." Kim: "Acknowledged." Janeway: "Engineering, I'll need a one second from our aft thrusters on my order." Torres: "Standing by." Janeway: "Launch microprobe."
	The microprobe is assaulted by energy discharges, these being the lifeform's biological defences.
Torres activates the thruster control in Engineering	Janeway: "Thrusters." Torres: "Firing." Kim: "Reading multi-polar charges. High frequency." Tuvok: "Shields at 75% and holding."
	Janeway: "Maintain position. Engineering, direct two nucleonic beams fore and aft parallel to the central access of the ship." Torres: "Acknowledged. Beams engaged." She reports: "Captain, I'm showing a rapid growth pattern along the wound." Tuvok: "Regenerative matter approaching from both directions at just under 500 kilometres per hour." Janeway: "Hold position."
	Tuvok: "Captain, the shields are only designed to withstand-" Janeway: "I'm aware of that, Mr Tuvok. Hold position!" Tuvok: "Regenerative matter approaching. Range 30 kilometres, fore and aft." Janeway: "Engineering, ready full thrusters. Mr Paris?" Paris: "Just tell me when." Tuvok: "Regenerative matter 20 kilometres, 15, 10."
	Janeway: "Disengage nucleonic beam. Fire thrusters." Torres: "Thrusters engaged." Janeway: "Now, Mr Paris!" Voyager hurtles through the narrowing breach, leaving behind the wound which is now rapidly healing and closing up.
	Paris: "40,000 kilometres to the perimeter.....30,000."
	Chakotay: "The lifeform's regeneration rate is up 40%, Captain. Looks like it's well on the way towards closing that wound."
the viewscreen shows the ship leaving the lifeform and entering normal space	Paris: "We've cleared the central mass." They are out of the lifeform, and they have successfully healed the damage they caused. The mission is over.

Janeway: "Captain's log, supplemental. We set out to augment our energy reserves and wound up depleting them by over 20%. As a result we've set a new course for a planet 14 light years away that Neelix says might have compatible energy sources to offer us. It is out of our way but circumstances alter few alternatives. So much for raising spirits."

	That evening Kim is in a turbolift when it stops to let someone on - it is Janeway. The turbolift doors open. (pop-up window) [#6 The Cloud]
	Janeway and Kim end up in the turbolift together. Kim: "Turning in for the night, Captain?"
	Janeway: "Actually I'm going to talk to an animal, then turn in. Something Commander Chakotay taught me; it's supposed to be quite therapeutic. You might want to ask him about it." Kim: "I will."
	He leaves the turbolift but, deciding something, he turns and addresses her. "Captain." Janeway: "What is it, Ensign?" Kim: "Well, I don't mean to be out of place, but if you'd care to join us you'd be welcome."
	Janeway: "Join you where?"

	In Chez Sandrine, Ricky tells Paris, who is playing Chakotay at pool: "Oh, come on, Tommy, let's get outta here." Paris: "Easy, honey. I'm setting the Indian up for the big hustle." Ricky: "He's beating you." Paris: "Yeah, that's exactly what he's supposed to think too."
	Janeway's entry causes a stir among the off-duty crew there who start to come to attention. "As you were," she tells them.
	"Well, this is remarkable," looking round. "Mr Kim tells me this is your doing, Mr Paris."
	Paris: "Er, yeah." Somewhat embarrassed: "It's just a little diversion."
	The gigolo comes up to Janeway. "One always knows when a woman of good breeding enters the room." He kisses her hand. "Mon cherie. May I request your favourite song so that we may dance," Janeway seems charmed, "before I take you to my private felucca on the wharf and make passionate love to you."
	Paris charges over. "Er, I'm sorry! If I had some kind of warning that you were coming-" Janeway: "You'd've changed it and I would've missed all the fun." She giggles.
	Gaunt Gary comments to Torres in an aside: "Just don't see what the dolls see in the gigolo, do you? Now me, I've got a whole different approach to women: treat a lady like a tramp and a tramp like a lady. Never fails." Torres turns to Paris. "Paris, did you program this guy?"
	Paris: "Yeah, why?" Torres: "He's a pig, and so are you." She moves away. Left on his on Gaunt Gary says to himself: "Almost never."
	Janeway: "Is this pool or billiards?" Paris: "Er, pool." Janeway: "Right. Pool's the one with the pockets. Would you mind if I gave it a try?" The gigolo claps his hands and tells everyone: "Reculez-vous [stand back]. Give the handsome woman some room." To Tuvok, "Tell me, does she have money?" Tuvok ignores him.
	Janeway: "Commander Chakotay, your stick?" Chakotay approaches and hands over his 'stick'. "It's called a cue, Captain." Janeway: "Cue. Alright. So what do we do? Shall I go first?"

She breaks and four balls go straight into pockets!

Everyone is amazed. Janeway says, calling whether she chooses "stripes" or "solids" in the game, having pocketed several "solids" and thus to advance her score if she chooses them, but also an inference about the nature of the holographic balls feeling solid: "Solids." She obviously is not the beginner she first seemed!

Sandrine to Kim: "I saw that coming a mile away, didn't you? Ah, you've got a lot to learn, jeune homme, but then I've got a lot to teach." She kisses him but he moves back quickly.

Janeway has her head turned toward Paris as she says: "Eight ball in the side pocket."

Janeway hits the ball, still not looking, and it heads toward the black eight-ball.

Janeway is still not looking at the pool table as the ball goes straight into the side pocket! Janeway hits the eight-ball into the side pocket without looking. (pop-up window) [#6 The Cloud]

Later that night, as Voyager cruises at warp speed on the long journey toward the Alpha Quadrant and home, Janeway goes to speak to her animal guide. "A-koo-chee-moya, we are far from the sacred places of our grandfathers and from the bones of our people, but perhaps there is one powerful being who will embrace this good crew and give them the answer they seek."