SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Episode 75
Part C

 

In Sickbay the Doctor scans Chakotay with a medical tricorder. He reports: "Commander Chakotay is suffering bone decalcification, tissue necrosis, decreased visual acuity - all classic signs of aging. But they've developed within hours." Chakotay gets up. "Any theories?" Doctor: "There's a rare genetic disorder called progeria which causes children to age prematurely, but there's never been an adult case, and it was supposedly eradicated two centuries ago. Even so, I took a close look at your DNA."

He indicates the analysis on a monitor. "These segments regulate your body's metabolism. My scans indicate that they've been hyperstimulated somehow." Janeway: "What's the prognosis?" Doctor: "I can't speculate on that until I've identified the cause. There's no sign of an infectious agent."

Janeway: "We spend several hours near a binary pulsar that was emitting intense gamma radiation." Chakotay: "Our shields were operating. I don't see how I could've been exposed to it." Janeway: "Yes, but we can't rule out anything. I'm going to take a closer look at the data we've collected." Chakotay: "We should also run scans of my quarters, as well as my office, the Bridge, everywhere I've been today." Doctor: "I'm not prepared to send you back on duty yet, Commander." Chakotay: "I may look pretty strange but my mind is perfectly clear. I'd rather stay busy than just sit here." Doctor: "I have no idea how your symptoms will progress. You should remain in Sickbay for observation." Janeway: "He's right, Chakotay. I'll keep you informed." She pats his knee both sympathetically and to indicate the final word. Chakotay gives in and gets back on the biobed. Doctor: "Whatever's affecting the Commander's DNA is working at a submolecular level. I'd like to set up an electron resonance scanner in the Science Lab to take a closer look."

Janeway: "Use whatever you need, and ask B'Elanna to give you a hand." The Doctor notices her rubbing her head. "Still having headaches, Captain?" Janeway, irritably: "I don't need any more lectures about working too hard." She extends a hand toward Chakotay on the biobed: "Chakotay's the one who needs your attention right now." Doctor: "I'll get to work on the scanner right away." She leaves him to it.

Kim and Paris stroll into the Messhall the next morning. They have been discussing Janeway's rebuke to Paris and Torres. They make their way toward the serving counter. Kim: "Under orders to use better judgement? Oh, that's pretty harsh." Paris: "I hope I can manage it."

Kim: "Well, she does have a point. You could've been more discreet." Paris: "Oh! I forgot I was talking to the most upstanding ensign in Starfleet."

Neelix appears, beating eggs in a bowl. Cheerily: "Good morning!" Paris: "Neelix." Neelix: "I was just about to whip up a fresh batch of scrambled eggs. Would you like some?"

Kim: "Actually, I was hoping you might have some leftover pleeka rind casserole from last night." Paris: "For breakfast??" Kim: "I like it." Neelix, obligingly: "I'm sure I can find some for you." He turns and heads toward the stores.

Kim: "So, I guess your relationship isn't exactly a secret any more." Paris: "You think anybody on this ship can keep a secret?!" Suddenly there is a loud crashing sound. Paris and Kim rush into the Galley, to find Neelix in convulsions! Paris: "Neelix!"

Neelix gasps: "What's, what's happening?!!"

Paris taps his combadge.

Paris taps his combadge. combadge "Paris to the Doctor. Beam Neelix to Sickbay. It's an emergency!"

Sickbay. Doctor: "Now pay attention, Mr Paris. These scans should indicate whether....hmm." Neelix: "What is it?" Doctor to Neelix: "It seems that your DNA has been hyperstimulated, just like Commander Chakotay's." Paris: "But Neelix doesn't seem to be aging." Doctor: "The effects are quite different." Neelix: "If anything I look like a Mylean. They occupy a region of space near Talax." Doctor: "Interesting. Do Talaxians and Myleans share a common ancestry?" Neelix: "Not that I know of." Doctor: "Do the two races every intermarry?" Neelix: "Yes. As a matter of fact, my great-grandfather was Mylean." Doctor: "Then one-eighth of your genetic material is inherited from him. Those must be the genes that have become stimulated." Neelix: "Too bad my great-grandfather wasn't a little better-looking." Doctor: "Hmm. As far as I can tell, your condition seems stable." To Paris: "I'm going to leave you in charge of Sickbay so I can continue the DNA analysis." Paris: "If anyone else comes in I'll run a cellular scan. Is there anything else I can do?" Doctor: "Best to keep them comfortable. Until we have more information that's the best either of us can do." The Doctor leaves for the Science Lab.

Sickbay. Neelix brings Chakotay a glass of water. Neelix: "Thought you might be thirsty." Chakotay: "Thanks. You smell something strange?" Neelix, rather embarrassed: "Erm, I'm, I'm afraid that's me. I seem to be developing Mylean sweat glands, sorry." Chakotay, tactfully: "It's not so bad."

Neelix: "Well, whatever happens, I, I try to keep in mind that things could be worse." With a painful effort he sits down, next to Chakotay. "I still have my home here on Voyager, my friends-" Chakotay: "Your hair."

Neelix: "True. But I'd gladly lose it if I could have my tastebuds back." Chakotay: "At least you're not losing your eyesight. See that display over there? It's nothing but a blur." Neelix: "You think that's bad. The Doctor tells me my pupils have dilated sixty per cent. I-I can't even look at that display, it's so bright."

Chakotay: "Yeah? Well, I've got chronic arthritis in my fingers. I can barely keep this glass steady." Neelix: "Well, that's nothing. My spinal column is fusing together. In a matter of days I won't be able to walk." Chakotay: "Got you beat. I can barely walk now."

The doors open. standard doors Crewman McKenzie enters supporting a crewmember. Paris rushes over, medical tricorder in hand.

Neelix: "Lieutenant, can we help?" Paris, scanning the crewmember, addresses Neelix and Chakotay: "I don't think so. I'm releasing you both back to your quarters. I've just gotten reports of more patients on the way. It's going to get crowded in here."

In the Science Lab Torres is setting up the electron resonance scanner. Doctor: "How's the scanner?" Torres: "Almost ready." Doctor: "Good. Ths disorder seems to be spreading rapidly among the crew." Torres: "Does that mean we'll all be affected?" Doctor: "No, it only means we need to find some answers, as quickly as possible." Torres: "Right, give the scanner a try." Doctor: "I'll start with Commander Chakotay." He places the slide and takes a look. Torres: "How's the resolution?" Doctor: "Very nice. Now, let's focus in on the hyperstimulated segments of his DNA. Can you give me more magnification." Torres: "Coming up." Doctor: "That'd odd." He is thoughtful. Torres: "What is?" Doctor: "There seems to be some kind of contaminant on the base pair sequence. It didn't show up on the first scan. I need a closer look." Torres: "I'm going to maximum magnification. What do you see?" Doctor: "I'm not exactly sure." Torres: "Well, what does it look like?" Doctor: "See for yourself." Torres takes a look and is puzzled. Torres: "I'm no microbiologist but that doesn't look like it belongs there." Doctor: "Believe me, it doesn't. I've never seen anything like it. This level of submolecular technology is well beyond anything Starfleet has developed." Torres: "Those markings - some kind of alien writing?" Doctor: "I wish I knew. They might help us determine where it came from." Torres: "Who could've put this into Chakotay's cells without his knowledge?" She has a thought: "Let me try a compositional analysis." She takes the slide over the main console. She inserts the slide and activates the controls. Meanwhile, the Doctor prepares another slide and examines it. Doctor: "It's in Mr Neelix's DNA as well." Torres: "Is this what's causing the mutations?" Doctor: "A good scientist never jumps to conclusions, Lieutenant, but I'd say it's a distinct possibility." Torres: "I'm having trouble getting a clear reading from the sample. It looks almost like the, erm, whatever-it-is could be slightly out of phase." Doctor: "That must be why my initial scans didn't reveal it." Torres: "I'm compensating for the phase variance. You're not going to believe this but I'm picking up an energy signature. This thing is transmitting some kind of a signal."