In her quarters, Naomi is working at the personal computer. Neelix holds out his arm into the room holding Flotter and makes a Flotter voice: "Naomi!" He enters, presenting the Flotter doll, and tells her: "Guess who I found in the replicator?"
Naomi turns to him. "Thanks, but that's not really Flotter."
Neelix: "Flotter's not really Flotter. He's just a holodeck character. What are you working on?" Naomi: "I'm researching the evaporation of water." Neelix: "Why?"
Naomi: "Well, I've been thinking. Water just doesn't disappear when it's heated. It turns into invisible gas. So, if we could get the Forest to cool down enough Flotter might reliquify." Neelix: "Clever."

Naomi: "I miss Mom."
Neelix: "I know you do."
Naomi: "When's she coming back?"
Neelix: "Soon."
Naomi: "Why hasn't she called?"
Neelix: "She must be very busy cataloguing the geological specimens she's collected."
Naomi: "Has anybody talked to her?"
Neelix: "Well, not in a day or two but-"
Naomi: "Starfleet regulation 476-9: All away teams must report to the Bridge at least once every 24 hours."
Neelix: "You really are going to make an excellent Captain's Assistant."
Naomi: "Has something bad happened to them?"
Neelix: "I'm sure everything's fine. Come on, now. Bed."
Obediently Naomi gets into bed. He kisses her goodnight.
Naomi: "Promise to wake me up if Mommy calls?"
Neelix: "Promise."
Naomi: "Even if it's 0200 hours?"
Neelix: "Even if it's 0200 hours. Sweet dreams."

As Neelix goes to leave, she calls him: "Neelix?" She indicates the Flotter doll. Neelix brings it to her and she settles to sleep holding it.

Neelix goes into the other room. With Naomi now asleep, he uses the personal computer. "Computer, access personal database, Neelix. File index 291."

A picture of his favourite sister appears. "Hello, Alixia."

Neelix talks to the image of Alixia: "I'm sorry it's been so many weeks since I thought about you, but I'm very busy here on Voyager. I miss you. My goddaughter, Naomi, she's in trouble. We're in trouble. She may lose her mother. Alixia, you always knew the right thing to do, the right thing to say. I wish you were here to help me."

Neelix, who has fallen asleep on the couch, dreams (pictures below) that he is in the forest behind his family's house and that the Metreon Cascade weapon has been fired. He is fleeing through the Forest, with two people behind him also fleeing. He calls out: "Come on, hurry! We're under attack!" But the two trip and fall. "Get up!" shouts Neelix. "The Metreon Cascade, hurry!" A huge ball of fire appears - the Metreon Cascade. It rushes over the two fallen Talaxians, destroying them and the forest! Neelix watches, horrified.

Picture A	Picture B
Picture C	Picture D
Picture E	Picture F

Abruptly he wakes from the nightmare, and for a moment he is disoriented.
Then he gets up and checks that Naomi is sleeping soundly, before leaving.

Seven is working in the Astrometrics Lab. Seven: "Computer, switch to polythermal imaging and enhance resolution." standard doors Neelix enters.

Astrometrics Lab's main viewscreen

Seven acknowledges Neelix's entrance: "Neelix. You require assistance?" Neelix: "No. No, I was just passing by. Thought I'd pay you a visit. See how things were going. How are things going?" Seven: "I'm mapping the caverns surrounding the crash site." Neelix: "How far do they extend?" Seven: "Approximately 37 kilometres." Neelix: "What about the search? Anything new?" Seven: "Every scan reveals something new, but as yet little of relevance." Neelix: "Seven, your family, your human family - do you ever think about them?" Seven: "Infrequently. I was only six years old when I was assimilated." Neelix: "Not much older than Naomi is now. Do you miss your parents?" Seven: "I barely remember them." Neelix: "Maybe that's a blessing." The com signal sounds. comms. signal Chakotay, via comms: "Rescue team Alpha to Seven of Nine." Seven: "Yes, Commander." Chakotay: "We need that data." Seven: "I'll meet you at the transporter site." Communications contact ends. As she goes to leave, Seven turns to Neelix: "I adapted. The child Naomi will adapt as well." Neelix: "Borg wisdom." Seven leaves for the transporter room. standard doors Neelix is left feeling as anxious as ever.

On the Bridge. Janeway: "Lieutenant, get me an update from Beta team. They haven't checked in for over an hour. Neelix enters with a flask of coffee. "Coffee anyone? Captain?" Janeway: "No thanks. I've had enough. One more cup and I'll jump to warp."
When he finishes pouring coffee for a crewmember he goes up to Janeway at the secondary tactical console where she is working. Neelix: "Any news?" Janeway: "I'm afraid not." Neelix: "No debris, no lifesigns?"
She knows he is anxious and worried. She puts her arm round his shoulder and tries to reassure him that everyone is working as hard as possible to find the missing away team. "We've got three teams beneath the surface. So far nothing."
Neelix: "So much for that happy ending." Janeway: "We'll turn that planetoid inside out if we have to but I think we have to be prepared for the worst. Maybe it's time we told Naomi." Neelix: "No, not yet."
Janeway: "She's an astute girl. She must be aware that something's wrong by now." Neelix speaks very quickly, revealing signs of inner desperation: "She's been asking a lot of tough questions: why hasn't her mother filed a status report, what if she's in trouble. Mmm. But I've got a big day planned for her tomorrow, plenty of distraction. She won't have time to be worried."
Janeway: "Your mission was to keep her occupied, not to lie to her. First thing in the morning I want you to explain the situation." Neelix: "I don't think that's such a good idea." Janeway: "Why not?" Neelix: "Like I told you: she's sensitive." Janeway: "All the more reason to answer her questions." Neelix: "With all due respect, Captain, I'm her godfather. I know what's best for her!"
Janeway calls sternly to him: "Neelix." and he follows her into the Ready Room, leaving the thermos flask at tactical. standard doors Janeway: "Neelix, I realise you care about Naomi and you're only trying to protect her, but you've got to tell her the truth." Neelix: "'Good morning, Naomi. Would you like some papalla juice with your cereal and oh by the way your mother is buried under 30 kilotonnes of rock.'" Janeway: "Neelix-" Neelix: "When we know something for sure, when we find her mother, alive or dead, I'll tell her then, not before."
Janeway: "If you can't do it, I will." Neelix, overwrought: "You don't have the right! You don't understand what's at stake here! When you were her age you were safe and sound on Earth with two healthy parents to take care of you. You never had to worry about the possibility of being alone. Take it from me: you wouldn't have liked it."
Janeway: "Oh I know, you must identify with Naomi's situation." Neelix: "When my family was killed I lost everything. I still have nightmares. It hasn't been easy. I don't want Naomi to go through what I did."
Janeway: "I understand. And you're right. But this situation is different." Neelix: "How so?"
Janeway: "Naomi has you. Neelix, she has to be told. But I know she'll be better off having you here to help her through it." Neelix finally agrees: "First thing in the morning." Janeway: "We've got a few hours until then. Why don't you come back on the Bridge, give us a hand."