VIS A VIS

EPISODE 88

Part B

Vis a Vis : Episode 88 : portrayed in several parts

On Voyager, the next day...

Paris and Steth walk together along the corridor to the Holodeck. Paris is carrying a toolbox.
Paris: "So I was lying bed last night when it hit me - what you need is a carburettor."
Steth: "A carburettor?"
Paris: "Yes, it's a device I can't believe I didn't think of it yesterday."
Steth: "Wait - hundreds of years old? Surely that couldn't be of any use to us now?"
Paris: "It all goes back to basics. You'd be surprised how often I find solutions to 24th century problems in 20th century technology. Computer, access Paris program alpha-one Grease Monkey."
Steth: "'Grease monkey'?"
Paris: "Mechanic lingo."

In the holoprogram of Paris' garage, he explains: A car's engine can't run on pure fuel, so the carburettor supplies it with a mixture of vapourised fuel and air."
Steth: "And you think we need device like that to dilute the particle stream as it enters the coaxial drive?"
Paris: "Exactly. And a spare polaric modulator from Voyager's impulse drive should do the trick."
Steth: "Subatomic dilution. It never would have occurred to me. I think you've solved it."
Paris: "Well, we can run a few simulations on the Holodeck before we actually try it."
Steth: "Oh, I owe you a lot."
Paris: "Well, you can thank my lucky toolbox. It's gotten me out of hot water more than once."

Steth: "You're lucky to be stationed on a ship like this: replicators to feed and clothe you, holotechnology to cater to every whim, always filled with women."
Paris: "Yeah, it's great."
Steth: "Well, you don't sound convinced. Aren't you happy here?"
Paris: "Of course I'm happy. I'm very happy. I mean, I pilot one of the most advanced ships in Starfleet, have a beautiful girlfriend, I'm respected. I have everything that I've ever wanted."

Steth: "You're lucky, part of a family, part of a structure. You have rules to guide you, you don't have to worry about making a lot of choices." As he talks, Paris listens while he cleans his box wrench with a piece of rag and puts it in his toolbox. "I usually go to bed at night not knowing what the next day has in store or what trouble I might get into. You don't have to worry about those those things. You're very settled."
Paris: "I remember those days. I used to be a lot like you, going anywhere, doing whatever I wanted, making my own rules."

Because Paris has his under the car bonnet he does not notice what Steth is doing. Steth takes a box wrench from Paris' toolbox. As he does so, he again briefly reverts to the previous genome. Steth speaks in Steth's voice, not that of the female humanoid.
Steth: "Well then, there's hope for me yet. Maybe some day I'll settle down too, but for now I prefer to stay on the move."
Paris: "Sometimes I wish that was what I was doing."

Paris comes out from under the bonnet and turns to Steth, who is now back in the expected form.
Steth: "Things will turn around for you. I've always found that change is inevitable. Comes when you least expect it."
Paris: "Yeah, I suppose."
Steth: "Now, are we ready to try this carburretor idea on my ship?"
Paris: "Just give me five more minutes to finish up here and I'll be right with you."
Steth: "Five minutes." He turns to Paris as he is about to leave: "And Tom, don't dismiss the suggestion I made, about coming with me to fly the new ship. Might be fun to escape the shackles for a while."

Paris completes his work and puts his tools away. He is puzzled when he cannot find the box wrench in it and looks for it in vain.

Steth enters a cargo bay (possibly Cargo Bay 2, Seven's quarters/workplace) and goes straight to the computer console on the lower level.

Steth: "Computer, access all files pertaining to Lieutenant Tom Paris. Download into memory core alpha."
Computer: "Please enter authorisation code."
He waves a handheld alien device across the LCARS interface.
Computer: "Access granted. Commencing download."

During the download Seven enters the cargo bay and approaches.
Steth says "Hello." in a tone that shows he has noticed she is a beautiful woman. "I'm Steth, a guest of your captain."
Seven: "I've been apprised of your presence on Voyager. You are not authorised to access the ship's computers."
Steth: "You must be Seven of Nine."
Seven: "That is correct."
Steth tries charm: "Tom mentioned you. He thinks you're extremely intelligent."
But Seven refuses to be distracted: "Lieutenant Paris' opinion of me is irrelevant to your being in this room."
Steth: "Well er, Tom felt we needed some files for polaric modulators but he was called away before we could access them. I thought I'd find them myself and help out."
Seven: "You were mistaken. He must be present to download those files."
Her fingers go to her combadge.
Seeing that she is about to report him Steth prevents her by saying quickly: "Oh, I'm about to meet him on the Holodeck. We can find the files there."
He starts to leave.
Seven: "Voyager's hierarchy is complex. See that you familiarise yourself with it."
Steth: "Good advice. I'll do that."

Janeway: "Captain's log 51762.4. The repairs to Steth's coaxial drive have been completed, well ahead of schedule."

On board Steth's ship they are about to test the coaxial warp drive.
Paris looks into the compartment housing the induction drive. "Everything here looks good. Just give me one more second to check the flow field parameters."
Steth, who is at the helm: "Go ahead."
Paris completes his checks and packs up his tools. On the circular work console he is surprised to find his missing tool. "It's my box wrench. Been looking all over for it."
Steth approaches. "I know, I should've asked you, Tom, but I needed it for an experiment."
He moves closer to Paris, who backs away, unsettled. "To check your new carburettor?"
Steth: "Not quite. You're the first humans I've met, and that wrench had enough cellular residue on it for me to check your DNA."

He has Paris backed up against the warp drive access panel. He seizes violent hold of Paris. "I have good news. We're compatible."

He initiates a genome exchange - they take on each other's forms!

PARIS/"Steth" slumps paralysed by the violent genome transfer. Paris/(really the alien) points a gun at his unconscious form. "Consider this a favour. I know how unhappy you've been with this dreary settled life so I'm taking it off your hands. I'm betting there's still some fun to be had here. Voyager is a great ship, Tom. I'll take good care of it." He fires.

STETH/"Paris" enters the Bridge: "Sorry I'm late."
Janeway jokes: "We thought you were never coming back."
Kim: "His ship is powering engines."
STETH/"Paris" watches on the main viewscreen as the coaxial warp drive ship jumps to coaxial warp.
Janeway: "Something wrong, Tom?"
STETH/"Paris": "It's nothing."

STETH/"Paris", as he sits at the helm: "I'm just really going to miss that guy."

Chakotay: "Mind if I join you?"
STETH/"Paris": "Not at all, Commander."
Chakotay: "'Chakotay' will do, Tom. You don't have to carry this rules thing too far. I've been discussing your engineering report with the Captain. She was wondering if we could implement some of Steth's technology here on Voyager."
STETH/"Paris": "Really."
Chakotay: "We thought maybe we'd start on a shuttle. Think you can do it?"
STETH/"Paris": "I know I can."
Chakotay: "Great. You can start right after you finish with the Doctor."
STETH/"Paris": "The Doctor?"
Chakotay: "He needs your help in Sickbay. I told him you'd be there."
STETH/"Paris": "Of course." He gets up and leaves.

STETH/"Paris" discreetly tries to find his way to Sickbay. He reads the label on doors. When he sees Seven approaching along the corridor he turns and goes the other way, not wishing to meet her. He comes across a cross-sectional layout diagram of Voyager on a corridor monitor and looks at it.

He zooms the diagram to look at deck 5 section 15 alpha. Kim comes upon him.
Kim: "I know you've been avoiding the Doctor but don't tell me you've forgotten where Sickbay is."
STETH/"Paris" "Oh, not yet. I was just trying to figure out if there was a more efficient route between Sickbay and my quarters."
Kim: "I didn't realise you were that eager to get there."

As they walk along the corridor together, Kim asks: "So tell me, are they ready yet?"
STETH/"Paris": "Er, not yet. But they will be soon."
Kim: "Great. Hey, let me know if you have any problems. Polyduranide can be tough to replicate."
STETH/"Paris": "Oh, sure can be."
Kim: "I can't wait to get my hands around one of those clubs. Ensign Kaplan won't know what hit her."
STETH/"Paris": "What?"
Kim: "We're going to play golf with her. We scheduled a rematch, remember?"
STETH/"Paris": "Oh of course. I can't wait."

Kim: "You been working on your putting? You missed both those two-footers last time." They reach a turbolift and Kim walks backwards into it. "Alright. Give the Doc my best."
STETH/"Paris": "I will." Once the turbolift doors close, to himself: "If I ever find him."

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BRIDGE

	On Voyager, the next day...
	Paris and Steth walk together along the corridor to the Holodeck. Paris is carrying a toolbox. Paris: "So I was lying bed last night when it hit me - what you need is a carburettor." Steth: "A carburettor?" Paris: "Yes, it's a device I can't believe I didn't think of it yesterday." Steth: "Wait - hundreds of years old? Surely that couldn't be of any use to us now?" Paris: "It all goes back to basics. You'd be surprised how often I find solutions to 24th century problems in 20th century technology. Computer, access Paris program alpha-one Grease Monkey." Steth: "'Grease monkey'?" Paris: "Mechanic lingo."
	In the holoprogram of Paris' garage, he explains: A car's engine can't run on pure fuel, so the carburettor supplies it with a mixture of vapourised fuel and air." Steth: "And you think we need device like that to dilute the particle stream as it enters the coaxial drive?" Paris: "Exactly. And a spare polaric modulator from Voyager's impulse drive should do the trick." Steth: "Subatomic dilution. It never would have occurred to me. I think you've solved it." Paris: "Well, we can run a few simulations on the Holodeck before we actually try it." Steth: "Oh, I owe you a lot." Paris: "Well, you can thank my lucky toolbox. It's gotten me out of hot water more than once."

	STETH/"Paris" enters the Bridge: "Sorry I'm late." Janeway jokes: "We thought you were never coming back." Kim: "His ship is powering engines." STETH/"Paris" watches on the main viewscreen as the coaxial warp drive ship jumps to coaxial warp. Janeway: "Something wrong, Tom?" STETH/"Paris": "It's nothing."
	STETH/"Paris", as he sits at the helm: "I'm just really going to miss that guy."

	STETH/"Paris" discreetly tries to find his way to Sickbay. He reads the label on doors. When he sees Seven approaching along the corridor he turns and goes the other way, not wishing to meet her. He comes across a cross-sectional layout diagram of Voyager on a corridor monitor and looks at it.
	He zooms the diagram to look at deck 5 section 15 alpha. Kim comes upon him. Kim: "I know you've been avoiding the Doctor but don't tell me you've forgotten where Sickbay is." STETH/"Paris" "Oh, not yet. I was just trying to figure out if there was a more efficient route between Sickbay and my quarters." Kim: "I didn't realise you were that eager to get there."
	As they walk along the corridor together, Kim asks: "So tell me, are they ready yet?" STETH/"Paris": "Er, not yet. But they will be soon." Kim: "Great. Hey, let me know if you have any problems. Polyduranide can be tough to replicate." STETH/"Paris": "Oh, sure can be." Kim: "I can't wait to get my hands around one of those clubs. Ensign Kaplan won't know what hit her." STETH/"Paris": "What?" Kim: "We're going to play golf with her. We scheduled a rematch, remember?" STETH/"Paris": "Oh of course. I can't wait."
	Kim: "You been working on your putting? You missed both those two-footers last time." They reach a turbolift and Kim walks backwards into it. "Alright. Give the Doc my best." STETH/"Paris": "I will." Once the turbolift doors close, to himself: "If I ever find him."