SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Episode 75
Part B

 

As Tuvok leaves engineering, Paris hurries after him. standard doors Paris turns on an extra dose of bonhomie to try and charm the Vulcan. He pats him on the shoulder like Tuvok is a good pal. Paris: "Tuvok! Tuvok, guess that was kind of embarrassing." But Tuvok is Vulcan and he does not respond emotionally to these obvious superficial ploys. Tuvok: "I don't experience embarrassment."

Paris tries to make the event seem trivial and not worth bothering with: "Right. Well. I guess there's no harm done. It's not like there was a security violation or anything." Tuvok: "None that I am aware of."

Paris: "So, I guess there's nothing that would have to go on any kind of report." Tuvok: "You want me to conceal what I've observed of your relationship with Lieutenant Torres." Paris: "Well, I'd certainly never ask you to be dishonest." Tuvok: "Certainly not." Tuvok leaves Paris the worst off from the encounter and feeling more awkward than before.

Torres and Paris are on their way to the staff meeting. Outside the turbolift, Torres is still anxious about Tuvok catching them in mid-embrace. Torres: "Do you think he'll say anything to the captain?" Paris: "I don't know." Torres: "Well, how did he sound - annoyed, amused?" Paris: "He sounded Vulcan. What more can I tell you?"

The turbolift arrives and they enter. Paris to the computer: "Deck 1." The turbolift starts its journey.

Torres: "We've got to be more careful with appearances. We shouldn't go into the briefing at the same time." Paris: "Ah. Good idea. Ok, you go in first and I'll come in a moment later." Torres: "No, that'll look even more suspicious." Paris: "Listen to us! We're acting like criminals when we haven't done anything wrong." Torres: "I'm not saying that we have. I just thought we wanted to keep this relationship to ourselves." She pauses and says significantly: "We do, right?" Paris realises he must tread carefully. Tentatively: "Do you?" Torres, carefully but pretending nonchalance: "If you do." Paris realises they have arrived at a point where they are discussing the serious matter of their relationship. "Computer, halt turbolift." The turbolift stops. To Torres: "Let's figure out how we're going to handle this." Torres: "Well, I don't think that it's anybody else's business how we feel about each other." Paris: "Neither do I." Torres: "Right then, we're agreed. Just a little bit more careful in public and we don't say anything to anybody." Paris: "At least for now." Torres, wary: "Now? Sounds like you see a future in this." Paris, speaking lightly but seriously: "Huh, I would never be so presumptuous." Torres, impressed: "Smooth recovery, Lieutenant." Paris: "I thought so." To the turbolift: "Computer, resume." Torres: "So, I'll go first and you follow." Paris: "Right."

Torres exits the turbolift, leaving Paris fidgeting with nothing to do for a moment. He peers out to see if she has gone far enough ahead yet.

In the Briefing Room, Chakotay shows the staff an animated schematic of the binary pulsars. Chakotay: "Here's the plan. We'll circle the two pulsars at a minimum distance of 80 million kilometres."

Kim: "That might not be far enough. We've been detecting some random proton bursts. A strong one could knock out our shields."

Chakotay: "Tom, go to 90. Keep at a safe distance."

Paris: "Yes, sir."

He and Torres look at each other, snatching a private shared moment together during the meeting. Chakotay: "Tuvok, keep our shields at maximum strength. Divert auxiliary power if you need it. I want to take every precaution on this survey. Report any problems immediately, no matter how small."

Janeway: "Dismissed." As everyone starts to leave: "Lieutenants Paris and Torres, I'd like to speak with you for a moment." Paris assumes that Tuvok has reported them. As Tuvok walks by Paris mutters a sarcastic: "Thanks." Tuvok, the last out, leaves the Briefing Room. standard doors

Janeway: "I don't usually pry into the personal lives of my crew but in this case I have to question your recent conduct." Paris: "I guess Tuvok-" Janeway: "Tuvok? I haven't heard a word from Tuvok. But you two have been making enough of a public display that half this ship is gossiping about it." Torres: "Believe me, that wasn't our intention-"

Janeway: "You are senior officers and I expect you to maintain the standard for the rest of the crew! But this adolescent behaviour makes me question my faith in you both. If you should to pursue a relationship that's your business. But you consider yourselves under orders to use better judgement about it. Is that understood?" Paris: "Yes, ma'am." and Torres: "Yes, Captain." Janeway: "Dismissed."

They leave, feeling subdued and chastened. Janeway is suffering from a headache and the meeting has felt like too much stress.

It is late at night, and Chakotay is working late in his private quarters.

He changes position from bending over the personal computer and stretches his neck. He orders "hot coffee, black" from the replicator.

He goes over to the replicator to collect the coffee.

He starts drinking.

But he is not alone! An unseen alien is present and they scan him.

The alien does more than scan Chakotay. Suddenly Chakotay drops the mug. His hands are trembling.

He goes over to the sink and pulls it out, and automatically water starts flowing. He bathes his face in cold water.

Suddenly he notices hairs in the sink.

Horrified, Chakotay discovers that he has suddenly lost a lot of hair!