CONCERNING FLIGHT
Episode 79
Part E

The character "Da Vinci" is a holographic character. I omit mention of his holographic nature to avoid having to constantly denote him using the long and unwieldy term "Hologram Da Vinci".

 

Storage facility. Janeway: "Step close, Leonardo. We're going for a ride."

Da Vinci: "I don't understand." Janeway: "Trust me."

A guard opens fire. Janeway rushes into cover, but Da Vinci is too bemused to move.

The processor is beamed up. Da Vinci watches, amazed.

A guard fires at Da Vinci. As he is a hologram, the energy beam goes right through him leaving him unharmed.

Janeway attacks and downs the guard. "The building is probably surrounded by now. There's only one way out. Maestro, come here."

Da Vinci: "Catarina, what just happened to me? I was shot, yet I live. Such things are not possible."

Janeway: "This is an invention from another land. It's called a site-to-site transporter. In the blink of an eye, it can move us out of this building and a few kilometres away from here." Da Vinci: "How?!" Janeway: "Come on."

Da Vinci: "I must have an explanation." Janeway: "Leonardo, you've always said that it's a poor apprentice who can't surpass her master. There are things in this world that I understand, and you don't."

The transport starts. Da Vinci: "I don't know...."

They dematerialise.

Voyager’s Bridge. Tuvok: "The processor is on board." Chakotay: "The Captain?" Tuvok: "Still on the planet."

Kim: "Commander. Thirteen vessels are approaching Voyager from the surface." Chakotay: "Tom, take us into a higher orbit. Bridge to Torres. I want that processor back online. We've still got a Captain down there." Torres, in Engineering, via comms: "Acknowledged."

On a hillside several kilometres from the storage facility, Janeway and Da Vinci are walking as fast as possible, knowing that Tau's men are in pursuit. But Da Vinci's ever-enquring mind is on the marvels he has seen. Da Vinci: "I cannot believe it. I will not believe it. My mind cannot accept the evidence of my eyes. Is this sorcery? Are we in Purgatory?" Janeway: "Neither. You said yourself this place was full of marvels." Da Vinci: "Marvels, yes, but this is magic. Enchantment, not science, and I refuse to believe in enchantment." Janeway: "I'll explain later. We've got to keep moving!"

Da Vinci: "No!" He stops. "I must understand. Catarina, to see objects disappear into thin air, to see lightning pass through my body. Are we spirits? Catarina, am I dead?"

Janeway considers her response.

Janeway: "Let me ask you something. If you were something other than a human being, if you were a different kind of animal, if you were a small bird, a sparrow, what would your world be like?" Da Vinci: "I should make my home in a tree, in the branch of an elm. I should hunt insects for food, straw for my nest and in the springtime I should sing for a companion." Janeway: "And you would know nothing of the politics of Florence, the cutting of marble or mathematics." Da Vinci: "Of course not." Janeway: "But why not?" Da Vinci: "My mind would be too small." Janeway: "As a sparrow your mind would be too small. Even with the best of teachers?" Da Vinci: "If Aristotle himself were to perch on my branch and lecture till he fell off from exhaustion, still the limits of my mind would prevent me from understanding." Janeway: "And as a man can you accept that there may be certain realities beyond the limits of your comprehension?" Da Vinci: "I could not accept that. And I would be a fool." Tau's guards approach within earshot. They hear one giving orders: "Spread out. You, come with me." Janeway to Da Vinci: "Come on." Da Vinci: "Catarina, this way. Up the hill. I know just the escape."

Voyager's Engineering. Torres, via comms: "Torres to Bridge. We're in business. We've got full navigation, full propulsion and full transporters."

Voyager's Bridge. Chakotay, via comms: "Good work, B'Elanna."

Kim: "Sensors show the Captain and Da Vinci have left the structure. If we can dip into a lower orbit, I should be able to lock onto the mobile emitter." Chakotay: "Set the confinement beam wide, and prepare to transport both of them back to the ship. How close do we have to be?" Kim: "At least 500 kilometres from the surface."

Tuvok: "Those ships will try to block our descent."

Chakotay to Paris: "Ready for some fancy flying?"

Paris: "You bet."

Hillside on the planet surface. Da Vinci: "Momento, Catarina. Escape, signorina, is very near."

Janeway: "I'm starting to wonder." She looks up, shielding her eyes against the sun's glare. Aloud to herself: "Where are you, Chakotay?"

Da Vinci: "Help me to the summit."

They carry on. In the distance is Tau's city.

Voyager’s Bridge. Paris: "We're at 1,000 kilometres.....950.....900....."

Tuvok: "The ships are powering weapons."

Chakotay: "Go to Red Alert." Lights dim, Red Alert lights flash and the klaxon sounds. Voyager jolts as Tau's ships open fire. Tuvok: "Shields are holding." Paris: "850 kilometres...." Tau's ship fire a barrage at Voyager. Chakotay, sharply: "Evasive maneuvers."

Near the top of the hill on the planet. Da Vinci: "When Petrarch climbed Mount Verdoun and saw all Europe below him, he knew he was witnessing the birth of a new age. He was witnessing the Renaissance, the rebirth of our world. So, Catarina, at this summit here, you and I will be reborn - reborn, with wings!"

She realises what he means. As they reach the summit she sees the full-size version of his prototype flying machine!

She looks around. They are on a precipice!

Janeway: "This could be a problem." Da Vinci: "Hurry. There's not much time."