IN THE FLESH
Episode 98
Part A

 

Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco, Earth.

In the gardens, Admiral Bullock is addressing new arrivals Larson, Young and Raskin: "Welcome to Earth. I am Admiral Bullock, and I will be your commanding officer for the next six months."

Bullock continues: "Questions, comments, bring them to me."

Bullock: "Problems, talk to Lieutenant Kinis.

Kinis, a Vulcan officer, hands out PADDs to the three. Bullock informs them: "Larson, you're assigned to the Federation Council, Deputy Liaison Officer. Young and Raskin, report to Orbital Flight Control - you'll be monitoring incoming vessels from the Bolian sector."

Someone, some distance away, takes a holophotograph of them.

More holophotographs of goings-on in the garden grounds.

Chakotay takes pictures with a holocamera. Therefore, this cannot possibly be Starfleet Headquarters. Then.....where is it?

Boothby, the grounds-keeper, comes upon Chakotay. "I can save you some time there, son. They're bamboo." Chakotay: "I know that. Unfortunately, my tricorder's reading them as maple trees. I think the isodyne relays must be malfunctioning."

Boothby: "Why don't you pay a visit to Logistical Support? Maybe they'll issue you a new one." Chakotay: "Good idea." Boothby: "I'm going that way myself. Mind some company? " Chakotay: "Not at all."

Boothby: "So, what's your assignment here? "
Chakotay: "I don't know. I haven't received my orders yet. I just arrived."
Boothby: "From where? "
Chakotay: "A three-year tour on the Intrepid."
Boothby: "Is that a fact? I thought the Intrepid was patrolling the Neutral Zone."
Chakotay thinks quickly. "It is. I caught a transport vessel at Deep Space Seven."
Boothby: "Ah, got tired of wrestling with the Romulans."
Chakotay: "Let's just say it's good to be back. What about yourself? How long have you been posted here, Mr-? "
Boothby: "Boothby. Boothby's the name."
Chakotay: "Boothby. I've heard of you."
Boothby: "I should hope so! I've been tending these grounds for 54 years, give or take a few months."
Chakotay: "And beautiful grounds they are."

They arrive at a building. Boothby points: "Logistical Support - straight through the main complex, second door on your right." Chakotay: "Thank you."

Boothby: "Commander, Logistics is a secure area. They won't let you in with that holo-imaging device." Chakotay smiles and takes it off. Boothby teases him: "Fresh from the Neutral Zone? You're not a Romulan double agent, are you, son? " Chakotay thinks quickly. "Actually, I was just recording a few images for my friends back home. Would you mind posing for a shot? " Boothby: "Me? You want a picture of me? " Chakotay: "The one and only Boothby. My friends would be impressed."

Boothby: "Well, when you put it that way." He turns and calls over a passing woman. "Cadet, take our picture, will you?"

The cadet composes the picture as they pose. Boothby jokes: "Don't cut off our heads."

Chakotay has his picture taken with Boothsby.

The cadet returns the holo-imager. Boothby takes his leave, telling Chakotay: "I expect a copy of that, young man."

Chakotay does not go to Logistical Support but instead enters the officers club, the Quantum Cafe.

He goes to the bar and sees a book there. He sits down and leafs through it. Behind him a female voice calls out: "You're in my seat, and you're reading my book. Do you want my drink, too?"

Chakotay turns as she comes up to the bar. "Depends. What is it?" She replies: "Klingon martini - vermouth, gin, with a dash of bloodwine." Chakotay: "Bloodwine? Never touch the stuff." She sets down her drink. "What do you like? " Chakotay gets up. "Excuse me. I was waiting for a friend."

She offers her hand: "Valerie Archer." Chakotay has no choice but to play along. He shakes her hand and gives a false name: "Hayek. Jason Hayek."

Archer: "Nice tattoo. I bet there's a story behind it." He laughs. "A long one."

He refers to her book: "'A Cave Beyond Logic: Vulcan Perspectives on Platonic Thought'. Sounds fascinating." Archer: "You can borrow it if you like." Chakotay indicates no. "Thanks anyway. I can only take small doses of Vulcan philosophy." Archer: "Stationed here?" Chakotay: "Temporarily." Archer: "Where do you call home? " Chakotay: "You first. Where are you from? " Archer: "Everywhere. My parents were starship officers. By the time I was ten I'd seen half the quadrant." Chakotay: "Starfleet brat." Archer: "Bratty as they come."

Suddenly there is a commotion. In the corner, a crewman stands up, his face partly transformed. His two companions seize hold of him and take him out.

Archer is disturbed by the incident.

Archer: "Can I ask you a question. Have you ever reverted? " Chakotay: "Reverted?" He thinks quickly and gives a non-commital reply: "Not yet." Archer: "Ensign O'Halloran, this is his third time this week. If it happens again, they'll pull him out of training."

Chakotay probes: "What about you. Any trouble?" Archer: "Oh, I can keep my human form. It's the little things that bother me." Chakotay: "Little things?" Archer: "Breathing oxygen, bipedal locomotion. And sleeping - the concept of being unconscious for eight hours a night, it's so alien." Chakotay: "I know what you mean." Archer: "That's why I started reading their books. For some reason it helps me relax. But we shouldn't be talking about this. Think human, talk human, be human, remember."

Chakotay: "How could I forget." Archer: "So, had a chance to take a look around? " Chakotay: "Not yet." Archer: "Headquarters has a lot more to offer than conference rooms and consoles, if you have the right guide." Chakotay: "Is that an invitation? " Archer: "I get off-duty at 1900 hours."

Tuvok arrives and comes up to Chakotay. Tuvok: "Commander." Archer to Chakotay: "Speak of the devil."

Chakotay explains: "We were just discussing Vulcan philosophy." Archer to Tuvok: "Join us."

Tuvok: "Another time, perhaps." To Chakotay: "We have work to do." Archer: "Oh, can't it wait? " Chakotay: "I'm afraid not." Archer: "What about tonight? Do we have a date? 1900 hours. Meet you right here." Chakotay: "I'll do my best."

Archer to Tuvok: "Live long and prosper." He nods in acknowledgement and goes off with Chakotay.

Tuvok: "A date? " Chakotay: "Relax, Tuvok. I plan on standing her up." Tuvok: "We agreed to limit our investigation to surveillance."

Chakotay: "It was worth the risk. She talked about training. These are some kind of aliens learning to pose as humans." Tuvok: "For what purpose? " Chakotay: "I don't know. I didn't get that far." Tuvok: "We're due back at the transporter co-ordinates."

TOP

BACK

NEXT

EPISODE INDEX

SEASON INDEX

BRIDGE