DAY OF HONOR
Episode 71
Part B

 

On the Holodeck, Torres enters the Caves of Kahless and looks around, waiting for something to happen. The Klingon warrior Moklor, a holocharacter, enters. Moklor: "Qapla'! What warrior goes there!" Torres: "My name's B'Elanna." Moklor: "Have you come to have your honour challenged?" Torres: "I guess so. Yes." Moklor: "Are you willing to see the ceremony through to the end?" Torres: "That's the idea, isn't it?"

Moklor: "It will be a lengthy ordeal. First, you must eat from the heart of a sanctified targ."

She takes a nibble of the proffered dish. "Yes, the heart of targ brings courage to one who eats it."

Moklor: "Next, you will drink mot'lach from the Grail of Kahless. Drink to the glory of Kahless, the greatest warrior of all time!" She takes a draught and sputters. "Kahless defeated his enemies on the field of battle and built a mighty empire. How have you proven yourself worthy?" Torres: "I haven't built any empires, and I can't say that I've personally defeated any enemies in battle, but you have to realise I'm not living among warriors."

Moklor: "Then how do you expect to distinguish yourself?" Torres: "I don't know. I guess I'm doing the best I can." Moklor: "A pitiful reply. Let us proceed. A warrior must endure great hardship. You will endure the Ritual of Twenty Painstiks; after that you will engage in combat with a master of the bat'leth; finally you will traverse the sulphur lagoons of Gorath!" Torres: "You know, I don't think so. I didn't want to do this before you described it, certainly not now. I'm leaving."

Moklor: "Not until you've completed the ceremony, pahtk!" Moklor seizes her and painstiks are applied causing agony.

She attacks the Klingons and finally hurls Moklor to the floor.

Torres stands over the fallen Klingon, in defensive mode in case he should get up. Then she leaves, saying with heavy sarcasm: "Thanks so much, it's been lovely."

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That evening, with the dinner table set, the door signal sounds. Torres ignores it. It sounds again and Paris enters. Paris: "I tried to find you before but you were on the Holodeck." Torres: "That's right." Paris: "You know, you left it running. There was a Klingon there who didn't look too happy." Torres: "Really." Paris: "Yeah, and he was nursing a whale of a black eye. Look like he had a run-in with someone who's having a really bad day." Torres: "Very funny." Paris: "So, how'd it go?" Torres: "It didn't. Do you mind if we talk about something else?" Paris: "As a matter of fact I do. You have been like a spitting cobra all day and it's getting boring. You know, we designed that program together and I think you owe me the courtesy of telling me what happened." Torres: "It was ridiculous meaningless posturing. Honour, dishonour, what does it matter?" Paris: "It matters because it's part of who you are! You've been running away from that your whole life." Torres: "Who are you to tell me that?" Paris: "I care about you, but if you're going to keep pushing me away then there's no point me staying around, is there?" Torres: "Fine, just leave me alone!" Paris: "Oh don't worry. If this is the way you treat people who try to be your friend, you'll be alone alright."

He walks out.

USS Voyager and Caatati ships.

Briefing Room. Lumas, a Caatati leader: "There are over two hundred people on our three ships alone. Every one of them suffers from malnourishment. But it's been hardest on the children. Every parent sacrifices for their child but even so there's not enough food. If you could hear the crying of the babies you would as much trouble sleeping at night as I do." Tuvok: "Have you considered relocation to a planet where you could grow your own food?" Lumas: "Of course, but we haven't been welcomed anywhere. Because we have no resources everyone treats us like vagrants, even criminals." Chakotay: "We're not unsympathetic, but we have limited supplies. We can't possibly provide enough for all your people." Lumas: "Forgive me, but from my prospective, you live in luxury. You don't suffer from debilitating diseases, you have many sources of energy, replicators, your crew is very well fed. Apparently, keeping your bellies full is more important to you than helping those less fortunate." Neelix: "That's unfair! These are the most generous people you could hope to meet! But if we gave supplies to every one who asked, we wouldn't have anything left." Janeway: "Neelix, how much food can we spare?" Neelix: "We could provide each ship with several hundred kilograms." Janeway: "Do it, and check with the Doctor to see if he can spare any medical supplies." Neelix: "Aye, Captain." Lumas: "Thank you. May the gods smile on you and your crew." Janeway: "Tuvok, please escort our guest to the transporter room."

Paris and Seven exit a turbolift and go along a corridor. Paris: "I've never navigated a transwarp conduit. Any problems I should be aware of?"

Seven: "You have no idea what you are doing. If we attempt to enter one I'll have to take helm control." Paris: "I am a quick study."

Tuvok and Lumas pass nearby. Lumas points at Seven. Lumas: "What species is that?" Tuvok: "She is a human who lived as a Borg." Lumas: "Borg!" He chases after her.

Tuvok tries to restrain him, to prevent him attacking Seven: "She is disconnected from the Collective. She won't harm you." Lumas to Seven: "Where's my wife? Where are my children? What did you do with them after you took them? What did you do with my family?"

Tuvok pulls Lumas away. Tuvok: "Mr Paris, please proceed." Lumas, as he is led away, wails: "I lost everything, my family, my home!"

Paris to Seven: "Sorry about that." Seven: "About what?" Paris: "Well, the way he reacted to you." Seven: "He didn't injure me." Paris: "Good."

Seven: "There are many people on this ship who have similar feelings toward me." Paris: "I'm afraid you're right. Does that bother you?" Seven: "No." Paris: "Well, I'm not one of those people. We all have a past. What matters is 'now'."

Seven: "I am uncertain what you're trying to say." Paris: "If there's any way that I can help you adjust to your life here on Voyager, please ask me." Seven: "I will remember your offer."

USS Voyager.

In Engineering, the team is ready to open a transwarp conduit. Seven: "All systems are ready." Torres, briskly, still feeling edgy: "We're only going to take a peek. We open a conduit, get as much sensor data as we can, then close it up."

Torres: "I want to take this one step at a time.

Vorik: "I've set up a temporary tachyon matrix within the main deflector. It's online."

Torres, via comms: "Engineering to the Bridge. We're ready to start, Captain." Janeway, via comms: "Go ahead. We'll monitor your progress from here." Torres, via comms: "We'll need to be at warp speed to create a large enough subspace field. I'd like to reroute helm control to Engineering." Janeway, via comms: "Agreed. Janeway out." Torres to Paris, both of them very aware of each other particularly since their argument: "Take us past-" Paris, going over to the console: "Past warp two. I know."

She looks away.

Voyager's warp nacelles rise.

Warp engines are engaged.

Voyager jumps to warp, leaving a warp flash.