IN THE FLESH
Episode 98
Part D

 

Chakotay arrives in the Quantum Cafe for his date. He sees Archer at a table. Boothby is with her. They turn upon his approach.

Archer: "We were just talking about you." Chakotay: "Oh? " Boothby: "She didn't think you were going to show up." Archer is embarrassed: "Boothby!"

Boothby: "I've known Archer since she was a first-year cadet. She's not easily impressed. I didn't think you were her type." He realises the two probably wish to be alone. "Oh, er, if you'll excuse me, I've got some midnight orchids that need my attention." To Archer: "Think about what I said, young lady. You'll be fine." Archer: "Thank you, Boothby." Boothby leaves and Chakotay sits down.

Chakotay: "Problems? " Archer: "I was offered a field commission this morning - First Officer of the starship Hor-Cha." Chakotay: "Congratulations." Archer: "It's a Klingon vessel." Chakotay: "Oh. So what did Boothby say? " Archer: "Du cha mee gagh roch: smile when you eat the gagh." Chakotay laughs: "Wise words." Archer: "Yeah."

Chakotay: "Do you always seek advice from the groundskeeper? " Archer: "Half the captains in Starfleet wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for Boothby - Lopez, Picard, Richardson, just to name a few." The lights go on. The others in the club leave. "Closing time." Chakotay: "You offered to be my guide. Where's our next stop? " Archer: "Can you dance?" Chakotay: "I've been accused of trying." Archer: "It's Pon Farr night at the Vulcan nightclub." Chakotay: "Vulcan." Archer: "It's just around the corner."

On the Delta Flyer, time seems to pass slowly while they wait. Paris is checking the constantly updated scan readings and has something to do, but Kim is pacing up and down. Paris: "Take it easy, Harry. We didn't build the Delta Flyer to withstand such extensive pacing." Kim: "He should have contacted us by now." Paris: "Give him time." Kim: "Four hours?" Paris: "It's a date! These things can't be rushed. They've probably just finished dinner, a couple of drinks, and now they are moving past the polite stage."

Kim comes up to him. "'Polite stage'. The last 8472 I met tried to dissolve me from the inside out." Paris: "It was only trying to get to know you better, Harry. You can't fault a person for that." Seriously: "Look, Chakotay can take care of himself. And if he can't, who better than us to come to the rescue?"

"San Francisco bay" on the habitat.

Chakotay and Archer enter the apartment building where she lives. Chakotay: "Turns out the transporter malfunctioned. My uniform ended up in the pattern buffer." Archer: "You're kidding. You were naked? " Chakotay: "Not entirely. I had my combadge."

Archer laughs: "I hope it was well-placed." When they are inside her quarters, she orders: "Computer, lights." Lights come on but they are dimmed lights. Chakotay: "So this is where they're putting up officers nowadays. Not bad." Archer: "Can I get you something to drink? " Chakotay: Water's fine." Archer gets the drinks. "I'm beginning to think you're a teetotaller."

Chakotay wanders over to the wall where there is a computer terminal i.e. access to her database. He replies: "I like to stay in control." Archer: "Always at yellow alert, huh? " Chakotay: "Something like that."

He does not wish to be noticed at her computer terminal so he picks a book at random off her bookshelf. She approaches, holding the drinks. Archer: "Find anything interesting?"

Chakotay, reading the book's title on the spine: "'Beyond the Galactic Edge, Humanity's Quest for Infinity'. This is a 21st century edition of Hesterman, isn't it? " Archer: "Replicated. Good book though." Chakotay: "Never read it." He puts it back. Archer: "You should."

They go and sit on the sofa with their drinks.

Archer: "Humans beings, they're quite a paradox." Chakotay: "How so?" Archer: "At first glance they're so primitive: genetic impurities, no telepathy, violent, and yet they've created so many beautiful ways to convey their ideas - literature, art, music. At times I've actually enjoyed being in this form."

Archer: "You must think I'm crazy." Chakotay: "Not at all." Archer: "I wonder what they think about us?" Chakotay: "Hard to say."

Archer: "I'll tell you what I think. They despise us. They'll attack any species that's not part of their Federation." She moves her neck, stretching. "Mmm. Speaking of being in human form. I could use an isomorphic injection."

She gets up and heads up the stairs to her bedroom. "You need one? " Chakotay: "I'm fine." Archer: "Make yourself at home." She disappears into her bedroom.

While she is gone, Chakotay goes over to the computer terminal, activates it and downloads the data into his tricorder.

While the data downloads, he glances toward the bedroom to check when she is about to re-appear. He sees that she has changed clothes, and when she sits down to give herself the injection in a leg. For a moment he sees it as it really is - an 8472 leg.

As soon as the download is complete, he hides the tricorder and goes over to the window to look at the view, as if this is what he has been doing all the time she was out of the room.

She comes out of the bedroom door and stops at the top of the stairs. "Commander, how do you like the view?" She could be referring to the window view or her appearance or both.

Chakotay can reply in double entendre too. He says, referring to her: "Lovely."

They go out onto the balcony. Archer: "Looks like a full moon. You can see the entire bay on a night like this."

Chakotay: "I should've brought my holo-imager. You make a pretty picture." Archer: "Mmm, feel that? Salinated oxygen molecules stimulating the epidermal neural receptors. Non-fluidic space has its charms." Chakotay: "No argument there." Archer: "Planet Earth. The simulation will be real soon enough." Chakotay: "How soon do you think? " Archer: "Weeks, days. As soon as they think we're ready." Chakotay: "Can I be honest with you? " Archer: "Please." Chakotay: "I'm starting to wonder if all this is worth the effort." Archer: "What do you mean? " Chakotay: "This simulation, our mission. Are we certain the humans pose a threat? " Archer: "They were allies with the Borg. They invaded our realm." Chakotay: "That was one incident. Doesn't mean the entire Federation is planning a war against us." Archer: "We can't trust them. We have to prepare for the worst." Chakotay: "I'm not so sure." Archer: "I think you've been human a little too long." Chakotay jokes: "Before you know it I'll be sending my resumé to the real Starfleet." Archer jokes back, pretending to quote from his resumé: "Alien from distant galaxy seeks employment. References available upon request."

Chakotay: "Well, it's getting late. I'd better go." Archer: "Already?" Chakotay: "I have a tactical report to finish before morning." He almost hurries to the door. She follows him and for politeness' sake he is forced to stop in the doorway with her. Archer: "Aren't we forgetting something? I'm no expert at human dating rituals but I think it's customary to kiss good night." Chakotay does not know how to respond, at least not with an enemy alien. "You've never done this before." Chakotay: "Actually-" Archer: "Me, neither. Just think of it as part of our training."

She comes right up close to him. He backs away and is stopped by the door reveal. She kisses him.

When she stops, he stares at her, then kisses her with feeling. She caresses his cheek with her fingers.

When they separate, they are both feeling moved. After he leaves, she stares at her fingers.

She goes into her quarters and takes a bio-scanner out of a drawer and analyses the DNA on her fingers - his DNA.

She activates her personal computer. The image of Boothby, her commanding officer, comes up on the monitor screen. Boothby, on screen: "Report." Archer: "I analysed his DNA. Your suspicions were correct." Boothby, on screen: "How much does he know? " Archer: "It's difficult to say. He'll have to be interrogated."

Boothby, on screen: "Where is he? " Archer: "By now he should be in the main quad. I recommend we go to daylight. He'll be easier to track."

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