All references are to [#99 Once Upon A Time] unless otherwise stated.

8. FLOTTER DOLL

As often with popular children's stories, it is likely that there exists in the Alpha Quadrant a variety of products such as themed dolls for children to acquire and love, although this is not stated on tv. Aboard USS Voyager there has been no need for the children's holoprogram to be played until the birth of Naomi Wildman. At Neelix's request, Harry Kim, who is an expert in holographic programming (as indicated in [#24 Persistence Of Vision] and [#102 Nothing Human] for instance), programs into the replicator a design for a Flotter doll as a consolation gift for Naomi. Neelix requests this after the Ogre of Fire causes Flotter to evaporate in Flotter, Trevis and the Ogre of Fire. Kim tells Neelix that he is "not shooting for an exact replica", indicating that Neelix should allow for "artistic licence".

PICTURE (A) in main engineering Kim, with Neelix beside him, programs the parameters for the Flotter doll	PICTURE (B) Kim activates the replicator
PICTURE (C) the Flotter doll	PICTURE (D) Kim makes a pretend-Flotter voice: "Hi, Neelix, did you miss me?"
PICTURE (E) Kim: "I forgot how ugly this guy was."	PICTURE (F) Neelix: "Thanks, Ensign."
PICTURE (G) Neelix makes a pretend-Flotter voice: "Naomi!"	PICTURE (H) Naomi goes to bed holding the Flotter doll.

On being presented with the Flotter doll, Naomi tells Neelix, "Thanks, but that's not really Flotter." However, a short while later on settling into bed to go to sleep, she signals to Neelix that she wants the doll he has given her and she falls asleep holding it.

Later, Naomi wakes from a disturbed dream with the word "Mom!" on her lips and, ascertaining that Neelix is on the bridge, sets out to find him, but she leaves her combadge behind. She leaves it on the Flotter doll, positioned on its left breast i.e. in the same position that combadges are worn by real people. This indicates that she views the doll not merely as an object, and indeed she leaves it where it will be 'comfortable' - sitting against her pillow (a place that tends to be reserved for favoured and most beloved toys), although at the same time she is of course fully aware that it is 'only' a doll. Neelix notes that her leaving her combadge on the Flotter doll so that she cannot be found as: "Clever."

PICTURE (1) Naomi, carrying her Flotter doll, in the Wildman quarters - it is night or late evening, at least after her bedtime	PICTURE (2) Neelix discovers the Flotter doll sitting against Naomi's pillow
PICTURE (3) the Flotter doll is wearing Naomi's combadge	PICTURE (4) Neelix remarks: "Clever."

Naomi has the Flotter doll with her in [#108 Bliss]; screenshots below.

PICTURE (a)	PICTURE (b)
above: Naomi, carrying her Flotter doll, is found hiding in cargo bay 2 by Seven
PICTURE (c) in cargo bay 2, after trapping Chakotay and a security team behind a forcefield, Seven calls Naomi out from hiding	PICTURE (d) Seven enlists Naomi's aid, showing her how to maintain the forcefield while Seven goes elsewhere

Naomi leaves the Flotter doll behind, possibly in the cargo bay, because she does not have it with her when she goes to main engineering to find Seven.