SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Episode 75
Part G

 

Takar 'appears' on the Bridge. (pop-up window) Seven: "Captain, one of the aliens has just entered the Bridge." Janeway: "Understood."

Tuvok: "We're less than a million kilometres from the pulsars. We must change course immediately in order to avoid being caught in their gravity." Janeway: "No. Keep going." Tuvok: "This is a far more reckless course of action than I've come to expect from you, captain." Janeway: "It certainly is."

The Srivani on the Bridge transfers into normal dimensional space and approaches Janeway. Their name is Takar. Takar: "What do you hope to accomplish by this?" Janeway: "Flying into a binary pulsar? Seems like I'm trying to crush this ship like a tin can." Takar: "It's more likely that you're trying to intimidate us." Janeway: "You're welcome to stick around and find out."

Kim: "Hull stress is at 45 teradynes." Takar tries to access helm control. Janeway: "Our course is locked in. Only my authorisation can release it." Takar: "You're not behaving very rationally." Janeway: "That's what you're trying to accomplish, isn't it? Hmm? Pumping up my dopamine levels to push me to the edge, keeping me awake for four days straight with the constant pain of your devices drilling into my skull? Well, this is the culmination of your work, and guess what, you're going to be right here to collect the final data!" Kim: "Shields have failed. Structural integrity is down to 20%."

Takar: "Enter the authorisation code and change course immediately!" Janeway: "I don't think you realise that you are not in control here any more." Takar: "I can kill you and your crew in an instant." Janeway: "Go ahead. Without us you won't be able to prevent this ship from being torn apart by the pulsars and even with my crew working together I'd say the odds of us getting through this are, what, one in ten?" Tuvok: "One in twenty, at best, Captain." Janeway, to Takar: "I'm willing to take that chance. Are you?"

Takar makes the decision and dematerialises.

Tuvok: "Outer hull temperature has reached 9,000 degrees." Kim: "The hull's beginning to buckle!" Seven: "Two alien vessels are attempting to disengage from Voyager."

One of the Srivanian vessels explodes after launch, killing all on board. The other escapes.

Janeway: "I can't break us free of the gravitational forces." Kim: "Then let's divert all power to the shields!" Janeway: "No. If we go in, we go in full throttle!" Kim: "Captain??" Janeway: "Assuming we survive we're going to need all the momentum we can get to reach escape velocity on the other side. Everyone, hang on!" The ship judders. "I hope you were exaggerating about those odds, Tuvok." Tuvok: "I was not." Voyager trembles violently. "Hull stress has exceeded maximum tolerance." Seven, who is at the secondary tactical station: "There are breaches on Decks 4, 7, 8 and 12." Kim: "Emergency forcefields are holding." Janeway: "I've lost helm control." Tuvok: "Main power is offline." Janeway: "Well, let's hope we've got enough speed!"

Voyager hurtles in toward the pulsars, but luckily the speed and momentum is enough. Voyager ends up in normal space!

Kim: "I don't believe it. We're alive."

Janeway: "I never realised you thought of me as 'reckless', Tuvok." Tuvok: "A poor choice of words. It was clearly an understatement." Janeway allows herself a small smile.

Janeway: "Captain's log, stardate 51244.3. With the aliens gone, the Doctor has been able to remove their devices from the crew and neutralise the genetic tags."

In Paris' quarters that evening, he has prepared everything for a romantic get-together with Torres, including a meal, wine and dim lighting.

Torres: "It's nice you could get the night off." Paris: "Nice had nothing to do with it. I switched shifts with Ensign Wildman which means tomorrow I'll pull a double duty on the Bridge and with the Doc." Torres: "Well, I appreciate the sacrifice. Tell me about the wine." Paris: "Ktarian Merlot 2282. You might want to let it breathe first." Torres: "We've got all night to let it breathe."

The comm. signal sounds. comms. signal A male voice says: "Engineering to Lieutenant Torres."
Torres, via comms: "Torres here."
Engineer, via comms: "We're having a problem with the plasma manifold. I thought you'd want to take a look.
Torres, via comms: "I don't. Lock it down for now. I'll deal with it in the morning. Torres out." Contact ends. "Sometimes it's nice to be the chief engineer."

Paris chuckles. "Try the salad, chief." Torres: "Mmmm. This is really delicious." Paris: "Oh, thanks. I replicated it myself." Torres: "You're too good for me."

The door signal sounds. door signal
Torres: "Ignore it."
Paris: "Right." It sounds again. "I'll get rid of them." He gets up.

standard doors It is Kim, holding out a PADD. Kim, brightly: "Oh, hi. Sorry to interrupt. Hi, B'Elanna." He gives her a small wave. She forces a polite smile. Paris: "Harry. I'm not home." Kim: "Well, I just wanted to return this." Paris takes the PADD. "Thanks."

He gets up and opens the door. Kim, hopefully, angling for an invitation or at least a longer chat: "Smells good." Paris closes the door on him.

He puts aside the PADD. He takes off his combadge. "That's it. No more interruptions." She removes her combadge. Torres: "You know, I've been thinking about what the Captain said." Paris: "Thinking maybe she was right? Me too." Torres: "We have been a little out of control lately." They laugh together. Paris: "Do you think we really were?" Torres: "What?" Paris: "Out of control. Those aliens could've just been messing around with our hormones just to see what would happen?" Torres: "You're right. They could have. And we don't know how long they were on board. They could've been tampering with us for months." Paris: "Well, when you think about it, you did have a pretty abrupt change of heart a couple of weeks ago. What made you realise that you love me all of a sudden?" Torres: "Just a feeling." Now they are simply flirting, teasing each other. "So our whole relationship might be based on some alien experiment." Paris: "You never know." Torres: "Well, I think that explains it." Paris: "I guess we should call it off then." Torres: "I think so." Paris, moving closer and closer to her: "Thank God we found out in time." Torres: "Thank God."