DIRECTED BY
AIRED ON
April 22, 1998
RUNTIME
46 minutes
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213
LAST UPDATE
2024-09-13 13:51:50
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Version 1
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SUMMARY
Stardate: Unknown. An alien woman who requests asylum on board Voyager claims that she was onboard the ship a month ago, and she fell in love with Chakotay.
STORY
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REVIEWS
Numb: A Fifth Child Classic
Written by
Pike on 2018-03-17
★
★
★
★
★
NUMB
We feel numb in this episode. All our (aka Shinji's) friends have vanished, Asuka is living in a profound depression, Rei is not herself anymore. But suddenly, out of all of this sadness, we get to have a new friend in the form of Kaworu Nagisa. Kaworu is friendly with us, is warm and because of this, we think we will not get harmed. So we let our defence down, or should I say, we reduce our AT Field, and let him inside our heart.
THE COLD HARD TRUTH OF LIFE
But one more time, we get to feel the cold hard truth of life. Kaworu is actually an Angel. The 17th and final one, with a birthday coinciding with the date of the Second Impact.
The character of Kaworu is magnificent. The relationship with Shinji is brilliant and makes for a perfect episode.
CONTACT
And finally, the Angel makes contact with Adam, or does it? The scene in Terminal Dogma is outstanding, ending with the masterpiece of a scene with Eva Unit 01 having Kaworu in its hand, on this perfect classical music.
SUMMARY
This episode is one of my top five episodes of the entire series. I give it 10 out of 10. Perfect timeless classic.
TRANSCRIPT
[Bridge]
KIM: When the Captain told us to start collecting deuterium, Seven suggested a series of modifications to the Bussard collectors. The problem is I didn't realise the extent of the modifications until after we'd begun the sweep. I mean, not that there was anything wrong with them, in fact efficiency is up twenty three percent
CHAKOTAY: In a nutshell, Harry.
KIM: The collectors are almost full, but I can't tell exactly how full until I realign my sensors with Seven's.
CHAKOTAY: Why didn't you just say so? Next time, work closer with her from the start.
KIM: Closer. Right.
PARIS: So, you're going to realign your sensors with Seven's. Sounds like fun.
KIM: Very funny.
(Whumph, beep.)
PARIS: What was that?
CHAKOTAY: Are you getting feedback from Seven's modifications?
KIM: Negative.
(Janeway comes out of her ready room.)
JANEWAY: Report.
TUVOK: I am picking up proton surges just outside the ship. The first was off the port beam and the second two were off the starboard bow.
JANEWAY: On screen. There's nothing out there.
PARIS: Whatever it is, it's getting closer.
JANEWAY: Red alert. Janeway to Astrometrics.
SEVEN [OC]: Yes, Captain.
JANEWAY: Use the Astrometrics sensors to scan for the disturbance.
[Astrometrics lab]
SEVEN: I'm detecting close range weapons fire.
JANEWAY [OC]: Source?
SEVEN: Proton surges suggest two cloaked ships engaged in battle.
[Bridge]
KIM: With us caught in the middle.
JANEWAY: Evasive manoeuvres.
PARIS: Aye, sir.
CHAKOTAY: There's a massive power surge, like one of the ships is exploding.
(A ship now comes into view.)
TUVOK: Captain, there is one life sign aboard that vessel.
(The ship disappears again.)
TUVOK: It is no longer on our sensors.
KIM: We're being hailed, audio only.
JANEWAY: Let's hear it.
(A woman's voice.)
KELLIN [OC]: Chakotay, please, I need your help.
(The ship keeps appearing and disappearing.)
KELLIN [OC]: Chakotay, are you reading me? Please answer.
CHAKOTAY: This is Commander Chakotay. Who are you?
KELLIN [OC]: Please, anyone on Voyager, if you can hear me, I need help.
TUVOK: There has been an explosion on the vessel.
KIM: The hull is destabilising. Life support is offline.
JANEWAY: Beam her directly to Sickbay.
KIM: Targeting her coordinates. I've lost her. Trying again. I don't understand, I get a clear lock, then it drops out.
CHAKOTAY: If we can get an away team over there, we could stabilise her ship and tractor it in.
JANEWAY: Do it.
CHAKOTAY: Tom, Tuvok, let's find out what's going on.
[Kellin's ship]
(The place is dark, and a wreck. Metal creaks and bangs somewhere.)
TUVOK: Environmental systems are not functioning. Oxygen levels are dangerously low.
CHAKOTAY: Tom, try to get life support online.
TUVOK: No lifesigns.
CHAKOTAY: See if you can stabilise the hull. I'll look for the pilot. Hello? Can you hear me?
KELLIN [OC]: Chakotay, is it you?
(A red high-heeled boot is sticking out from under a sheet of metal.)
CHAKOTAY: Yes. I'm going to get this bulkhead off you.
KELLIN [OC]: But the beam will fall.
CHAKOTAY: I'm going to pry the bulkhead off you. When I say now, get ready to roll out of there like your life depended on it.
KELLIN [OC}: All right.
CHAKOTAY: Ready?
KELLIN [OC]: Yes.
CHAKOTAY: Now!
(She moves. When Chakotay releases the bulkhead, the beam does fall. He takes the blonde woman with pointed ears in his arms.)
KELLIN: I knew you'd come.
CHAKOTAY: Do I know you? Chakotay to Voyager, two to beam directly to Sickbay.
[Sickbay]
JANEWAY: How is she?
EMH: I'm not certain. When I scan her, the readings won't stay in the database. Luckily, I'm a master of visual diagnosis. She has a minor concussion and a compound tibular fracture. Nothing life-threatening. I can repair the damage.
JANEWAY: Did you find out how she knows you?
CHAKOTAY: Not yet.
(The EMH treats Kellin's concussion.)
KELLIN: No. I can't.
EMH: She's coming around. Don't be frightened. You're quite safe here.
KELLIN: Captain, please, I need asylum. You must let me stay on your ship, and we've got to get away from here. They'll be coming after me.
JANEWAY: Slow down a minute. I have a few questions first. Who are you, and how do you know my First Officer?
KELLIN: It's a complicated story. I'm not, I'm not sure quite how to begin. But if you don't give me asylum, they're going to track me down and they're going to take me back. And I don't want to go.
JANEWAY: We won't turn you over to anyone without knowing the whole story.
KELLIN: Thank you.
JANEWAY: Chakotay. I want you to stay with her. She seems to trust you. Maybe you'll be able to find out what this is all about.
CHAKOTAY: I hope so.
JANEWAY: Keep me informed.
(Janeway leaves.)
EMH: Once I've repaired the fracture, she'll need some bed rest.
KELLIN: Will you stay with me?
CHAKOTAY: Of course.
KELLIN: Then I'll be fine.
EMH: There, that should do it. I'd ask you to monitor her vital signs, but since they aren't registering, I suppose there's no point. Well, I have several days' worth of inoculation records to catalogue. I suppose I'll get to it.
KELLIN: Is he gone?
CHAKOTAY: Yes.
KELLIN: Then we're alone.
CHAKOTAY: In a manner of speaking. Can you start clearing up a few things now?
KELLIN: I'll try. It's complicated. You see, we've met before.
CHAKOTAY: If that were true, I'm sure I'd remember.
KELLIN: No, you wouldn't. You couldn't. You see, the memories of my people can't be held in the minds of other races. When we encounter others, which we do infrequently, they remember us for a few hours, but then the memories fade away. We're completely forgotten by the next day.
CHAKOTAY: Is this done through technology? Telepathy?
KELLIN: It's a factor of our biology. You see, our bodies produce a sort of pheromone which blocks the long-term memory engrams of others.
CHAKOTAY: Is that why the tricorder can't scan you? Why we couldn't get a transporter lock?
KELLIN: We're impervious to those sort of devices.
CHAKOTAY: Your ships are cloaked as well.
KELLIN: When you live a covert existence, you develop technology to enhance it.
CHAKOTAY: But you say we've met before.
KELLIN: About a month ago. I spent several weeks here.
CHAKOTAY: Several weeks?
KELLIN: You and I worked closely together. You helped me a great deal. Then I left, knowing that you would forget everything about me.
CHAKOTAY: Then why did you come back? Why the battle? Why ask us for asylum?
KELLIN: I know you want everything in a nutshell. That's the way you work. But I have to tell you the whole story before it will make sense.
CHAKOTAY: Fine. I'm listening.
KELLIN: I came back because I fell in love with you.
[Briefing room]
CHAKOTAY: She comes from Ramura. It's a closed society that won't tolerate anybody trying to leave. Apparently, she was disenchanted with that and wanted out. They're trying to bring her back. That's why she's asking for asylum.
TUVOK: But you say that she claims she was on Voyager before this.
CHAKOTAY: About a month ago. She says she's a Tracer, a kind of bounty hunter who tracks down people who try to leave their world. She found a runaway hiding on Voyager.
KIM: She was here, but nobody remembers it?
CHAKOTAY: That's what she says, but I think we have to find a way to verify her story.
PARIS: I was looking at her ship. It uses a sophisticated polarisation technique that causes our sensor scans to pass right through it. She could have been shadowing us for quite a while.
KIM: And learnt enough about us to convince us she's been here before.
JANEWAY: But why? Why go to that trouble? And what about the battle with that other cloaked ship? She put herself in danger, when it would have been a lot easier simply to ask for asylum.
CHAKOTAY: I agree. But I think we have to make sure she doesn't have some hidden agenda. If she was here there should be some evidence of it. She said a computer virus was planted to wipe all references to her being here, but I have to believe we can at least turn up some evidence of tampering. Harry, Tuvok, Tom. Do the same with her ship. See if the navigational logs support what she's saying.
JANEWAY: Gentlemen. I agree we should take precautions, but you seem very suspicious of her.
CHAKOTAY: I want to make sure we're not being manipulated.
JANEWAY: I agree. If we grant her asylum, we'll be in the position of having to protect her. If we're going to commit to that, we should certainly find out if she's telling the truth. I'd appreciate your thoughts on that.
CHAKOTAY: Aye, Captain.
[Astrometrics lab]
SEVEN: I have successfully downloaded the navigational logs from your vessel.
KELLIN: Good. Now compare them with your own logs over the last two months.
TUVOK: Display Voyager's route towards the Alpha Quadrant.
KELLIN: Now overlay my route. There, you see. Our ships travelled together for at least two weeks.
SEVEN: You could have falsified your navigational logs.
TUVOK: There's no proof that you ever came aboard Voyager.
KELLIN: That's what I always liked about you two. Such unyielding logic, such refreshing scepticism. Run a diagnostic on my logs. You'll find they haven't been altered.
(Chakotay enters.)
CHAKOTAY: How's it going?
TUVOK: Her story seems to be legitimate, but there are further steps to take.
CHAKOTAY: Then take them. I thought you might like to get something to eat, unless your memories of our mess hall aren't good.
KELLIN: As a matter of fact, I was quite fond of Neelix's food.
CHAKOTAY: Now that's something that's hard to believe.
(Chakotay and Kellin leave.)
SEVEN: Commander Chakotay's face became flushed as he spoke with her. What does that signify?
TUVOK: I'd rather not engage in speculation. It is a dangerous pastime.
[Mess hall]
NEELIX: I think our guest will enjoy this, Commander. Fried soy meal, buttered carrots, and a delightful almond pudding.
KELLIN: Sounds wonderful.
CHAKOTAY: Very nice. Thanks, Neelix.
(They walk away from the counter with their trays.)
KELLIN: You were very diplomatic.
CHAKOTAY: Why do you say that?
KELLIN: You hate carrots, fried food upsets your stomach, and you refuse to eat pudding because you think it's slimy. Right?
CHAKOTAY: I'm curious. When you were here before you said we worked together, but you also said you were here to retrieve a runaway. How was I involved?
KELLIN: Aren't you more curious to hear about how we fell in love?
CHAKOTAY: We? You said you were in love with me. You didn't say I felt the same way.
KELLIN: If you hadn't returned the feelings, do you really think I would have taken such a terrible risk to get back to you?
CHAKOTAY: Let's take it one step at a time. How did you get on our ship?
KELLIN: That was easy. The hard part was looking for the runaway without anyone finding me. I managed two days on the ship before I triggered an intruder alert and lost my cloak.
CHAKOTAY: And then what happened?
KELLIN: And then I met you.
[Flashback - Cargo bay two]
(Kellin's personal cloak has failed and the alarm is sounding. She goes towards a noise and Chakotay jumps out behind her. They point weapons at eath other.)
CHAKOTAY: Wrong direction.
KELLIN: I don't want to hurt you. Put your weapon down.
CHAKOTAY: On my ship, I give the orders. Put yours down.
KELLIN: I don't mean you any harm. You have a stowaway on board. I'll retrieve him and we'll be on our way.
CHAKOTAY: That's not the way we do things here. Chakotay to Tuvok. I'm in cargo bay two. I have our intruder.
TUVOK [OC]: Understood, Commander.
CHAKOTAY: You're about to find yourself outnumbered. If you want to give me your weapon and explain what's going on, I'll listen.
[Mess hall]
KELLIN: I felt an attraction right away, but I couldn't afford to get distracted. I had work to do. And I didn't know if you felt it, too.
CHAKOTAY: What happened next?
KELLIN: You took me to Captain Janeway. I explained the situation. She didn't like the idea of a stowaway on her ship, so she told you and Tuvok to work with me to flush him out.
CHAKOTAY: And did we?
KELLIN: You keep trying to jump to the end. You're skipping all the parts about us.
CHAKOTAY: And you keep trying to talk about your feelings. I'd rather you stick to the events, not the emotions surrounding them.
KELLIN: Why? Does it make you uncomfortable?
CHAKOTAY: I don't want to play this game. I've been assigned to talk to you, to figure out whether or not you're telling the truth. Even if you are, I have no memory of meeting you, and I certainly have no memory of feeling anything for you. You might remember a relationship between us, but as far as I'm concerned, it didn't exist.
KELLIN: I see.
(She gets up and goes to the window. He follows.)
CHAKOTAY: I'm sorry. I just want to make it clear how I feel.
KELLIN: Of course.
CHAKOTAY: Is there anything I can do for you?
KELLIN: Can I have your pudding?
CHAKOTAY: Gladly.
KELLIN: Then you're forgiven.
(A big Whumph! sends her into his arms.)
JANEWAY [OC]: Chakotay and Kellin, report to the bridge immediately.
KELLIN: It's the Tracers. They've found me.
[Bridge]
JANEWAY: We don't detect any ships. I'm assuming these are your people in cloaked vessels.
KELLIN: They've come to take me back.
JANEWAY: Harry, hail them.
KELLIN: They won't answer.
KIM: She's right, Captain. No response. Their weapons are going through our shields as if they weren't there.
JANEWAY: Match shields to the frequency of their particle beams.
KIM: No effect.
TUVOK: Shield strength down to twenty nine percent.
KELLIN: They'll keep firing until you surrender, or until I contact them and agree to come back.
JANEWAY: Do you still want to stay with us?
KELLIN: Yes.
JANEWAY: All right. Tom, get us our of here.
PARIS: That last volley damaged our propulsion systems. We have thrusters only.
KELLIN: Captain, if you'll let me have access to your sensor systems, I can modify then to detect the ships.
JANEWAY: Do it. This is the moment, Chakotay. Either we give her up or we fire back. Which one is it?
CHAKOTAY: Fire.
KELLIN: I think you might be able to detect them now, but only for a minute or two.
JANEWAY: Harry.
KIM: Affirmative. Two heavily armed ships off the port bow.
JANEWAY: Can we get them on screen?
KIM: That's the best I can do.
(Two fuzzy shapes shooting at them.)
JANEWAY: Tuvok, target their weapons systems.
TUVOK: Firing.
(The phasers take their cloaks offline, and the attacking ships go to warp.)
JANEWAY: Well done. Stand down Red alert. Well, it seems we've granted you asylum. Now you'll have to give some thought to what you want to do.
KELLIN: I'd prefer to remain on board.
JANEWAY: Consider that carefully. We're headed for the Alpha Quadrant. Before long, we will be so far from your world that if you change your mind, you wouldn't be able to get back.
KELLIN: I won't change my mind. But I must warn you. The Tracers won't give up that easily. Your ship is still at risk.
JANEWAY: Nothing we haven't faced before.
KELLIN: I was only able to make a temporary modification to your sensors. If you let me access your Astrometrics processors, I could make that modification permanent.
JANEWAY: You'll need a command officer with you to override the security lock-outs.
CHAKOTAY: I can do that, Captain.
JANEWAY: Go ahead. Tom, coordinate with Engineering to get the propulsion systems back online.
PARIS: I'm on it, Captain.
[Jefferies tube]
CHAKOTAY: We'll have to climb up to deck ten. Is something wrong?
KELLIN: I can't relax until we're far enough away that they realise they can't get me back. And to my knowledge, that's never happened before.
CHAKOTAY: There's always a first time.
KELLIN: I have a high security clearance. They'll be afraid I'm going to do exactly what I'm about to do. Show you how to detect them.
CHAKOTAY: Look at it this way. If they do figure out we can spot them, they might realise they aren't going to be able to take you back.
KELLIN: You're such a kind person. That's what I remembered most. It's what made me turn around and come back. And sometime, you might be interested in hearing about our last night together.
[Mess hall]
NEELIX: Evening, Commander. Craving a late night snack?
CHAKOTAY: No. Something to help me sleep. Got any ideas?
NEELIX: I know humans think warm milk will do it. Frankly, I find it repulsive.
CHAKOTAY: I agree. What's available in the tea area?
NEELIX: Herbal is best. I have several Terran varieties, as well as some more exotic blends.
CHAKOTAY: Just mix me up whatever you think is the most relaxing.
NEELIX: Problems? Forgive me. I wasn't trying to pry.
CHAKOTAY: I know that. I'm just not sure how to answer you.
NEELIX: How's our guest adapting to life on Voyager?
CHAKOTAY: Quite well, I think.
NEELIX: She must be happy to be here.
CHAKOTAY: I'm sure she is.
NEELIX: Forgive me, Commander, but sometimes it's best to be straightforward. It's obvious how she feels about you, to me at least. I see how she looks at you. Might that be the source of your consternation?
CHAKOTAY: She says she, or rather we, fell in love when she was here before. Since I can't remember any of that, I don't know if it's true. But somehow, it's hard to believe.
NEELIX: Why is that?
CHAKOTAY: I don't know. It just doesn't seem like me. I'm still suspicious of her. I don't know if she's using me in some way just for her own purposes.
NEELIX: You don't trust her.
CHAKOTAY: Not really.
NEELIX: May I suggest that maybe it's yourself you don't trust, your own feelings that you're afraid of. Sweet dreams.
[Chakotay's quarters]
(Chakotay is drinking Neelix's herbal tea when the doorbell chimes. He gets up and opens it.)
KELLIN: I couldn't sleep. I need to talk to you. May I come in? I was just wondering if you still had doubts about me, or if you believe what I told you about us?
CHAKOTAY: Your story seems to have been verified. I believe you're telling the truth.
KELLIN: And the rest of it? What about us? I'm not one to hold back, as you may have noticed, so I'll get to the point. I came here because of you. I knew you wouldn't remember me, but I was sure we could regain the feelings we had before. They were there. They were real. But now I'm not so sure. My being here puts this ship at risk. It's better for everyone if I go back to Ramura. So please be honest. If you feel nothing for me, just tell me, and I'll leave.
CHAKOTAY: Don't go.
(Later, they are laughing together.)
KELLIN: It's called ice cream?
CHAKOTAY: I'm surprised you didn't have any the last time you were here.
KELLIN: I could eat this every day.
CHAKOTAY: Then you should.
KELLIN: Voyager's a very powerful ship, and very fast.
CHAKOTAY: We've met people with ships that are faster and more powerful, but Voyager's always managed to be a match for the best of them.
KELLIN: Ramuran vessels are fast. They could stay up with this ship.
CHAKOTAY: Kellin, we'll keep you safe. That's a promise.
KELLIN: A Tracer never goes home empty-handed. The disgrace would be too great. When I was here before, I'd been tracking that man for almost a year.
CHAKOTAY: But you know all the tricks. You can use them against anyone who tries to come after you. You said you were going to tell me about our last night together.
KELLIN: Let me show you. You were sitting here, in this chair, and I was here. And we were drinking something with bubbles.
CHAKOTAY: Champagne?
KELLIN: Yes, I wanted to celebrate. I'd caught my runaway that day with your help.
CHAKOTAY: How was that?
KELLIN: You came up with the idea of using a magneton sweep to disrupt his polarisation cloak. We knew he'd be watching me closely so we tricked him.
[Flashback - Transporter room]
CHAKOTAY: I'm sorry you didn't get your fugitive.
KELLIN: He must have jumped to another ship while Voyager was in orbit of Mikah last week. I'll find him eventually.
CHAKOTAY: If you think we can be of any more help, let me know.
KELLIN: Thank you, Commander. This is my problem. I'll handle it from now on. Just beam me back to my ship and I'll backtrack to Mikah. Goodbye, and thank you again.
CHAKOTAY: Ready to energise.
(Instead, he triggers the magneton sweep, and a man appears.)
KELLIN: Hello, Resket. You were a real challenge.
CHAKOTAY: I haven't had the chance to welcome you to Voyager. Too bad you'll be leaving so soon.
[Chakotay's quarters]
KELLIN: We put him in the brig. Once I used the neurolytic emitter on him, he was only too happy to be going home again.
CHAKOTAY: Neurolytic emitter?
KELLIN: We use it on runaways. It wipes their memories of the outside world.
CHAKOTAY: So we were celebrating?
KELLIN: You'd become much more than a friend to me, but I knew I had to go home, and you'd forget about me within hours. So I took the initiative.
CHAKOTAY: More than usual?
KELLIN: Oh, yes. I moved closer to you. I thanked you profusely for all your help, told you that I couldn't have done it without you, and I touched you. I told you I, I cared very much for you and that I wanted something to remember you by. And then I did this.
(Kellin kisses Chakotay. Twice.)
KELLIN: That's when I knew you felt the same way, But it didn't matter because I still had to go.
CHAKOTAY: But now you don't.
[Corridor]
CHAKOTAY: If Kellin's going to be with us, the captain wants her to serve a function, to contribute in some way.
TUVOK: A reasonable expectation. What are her skills?
CHAKOTAY: Basically, she was a security operative for her people. She's a trained expert in weaponry, surveillance, fighting skills. Any idea where she might fit in?
TUVOK: Mister Neelix could use an assistant in the mess hall.
CHAKOTAY: Tuvok, that was a joke. Don't deny it. You were trying to be funny.
TUVOK: If you choose to interpret my remark as humorous, that is your decision.
CHAKOTAY: I do, and it was.
TUVOK: It's perfectly logical. All the qualities you mentioned would help in defending Neelix against the periodic wrath of the crew.
CHAKOTAY: Maybe so, but don't you think she'd be better off as a member of your security detail?
TUVOK: Perhaps. I'll assign her to a team and let her observe for a week. At the end of that time I'll evaluate her situation.
CHAKOTAY: Good enough.
TUVOK: Commander, I've been giving some thought to the fact that the Ramuran ships might be in pursuit and could attack us again.
CHAKOTAY: I've given that some thought myself.
TUVOK: Their proton weapons were particularly effective against us. If Kellin would work with Seven and Ensign Kim, perhaps we could devise a strategy to defend ourselves.
CHAKOTAY: I'm sure she'll be happy to do that.
TUVOK: Have her report to Astrometrics at thirteen hundred hours.
[Astrometrics lab]
SEVEN: I've downloaded data from our tactical logs. You can access it from this console.
KELLIN: Our weapons are proton based particle beams, very tightly focused.
KIM: It's like being hit with thousands of needles.
KELLIN: They can penetrate any shield even if the modulations are changed.
KIM: Very clever.
KELLIN: No defence has ever stopped these weapons.
KIM: Then maybe we're about to make history.
KELLIN: You've found a way to counteract them?
KIM: I think so. The trick is to scatter those beams a little, make it harder for them to penetrate the shields. I think we could do that by tying the baryon sensors into deflector control. Here's what I have in mind. Why don't you look this over and let me know what you think?
(Kellin takes the PADD.)
KELLIN: I'll do it right away.
KIM: By the way, I hear Chakotay recommended you to Tuvok to serve on a security detail.
KELLIN: I want to help out in some way.
KIM: A word of advice. Volunteer for beta squad. They're the best team. You'll learn a lot from them.
KELLIN: I will. Thank you.
(Kellin leaves.)
SEVEN: When you mentioned Commander Chakotay's name, she flushed. He did the same when he saw her.
KIM: What are you saying?
SEVEN: I suspect the Commander and Kellin are engaged in a courtship ritual. It seems an unnecessary and complicated precursor to the act of procreation.
KIM: I know you think so, but trust me, some people need those rituals.
SEVEN: Explain.
KIM: It's, it's usually considered a good idea if two people get to know each other a little before they become intimate.
SEVEN: Why is that?
KIM: Because it's more comfortable. You spend some time together, you laugh, you talk. That makes it easier to, to get closer.
SEVEN: But the end result is the same, is it not?
KIM: Well, I guess so.
SEVEN: Then I fail to see what is accomplished by all the talk.
KIM: Seven, if you don't get it, then I can't explain it to you.
SEVEN: Obviously.
(Kellin walks down corridors, clearly feeling that she is being followed. When she enters her quarters, there is a broken glass on the table.)
[Chakotay's quarters]
KELLIN: I should have known. They must have gotten somebody on board during the battle.
CHAKOTAY: You're jumping to conclusions.
KELLIN: No. There's a Tracer. He's here. He's come for me. That broken vase was a warning.
CHAKOTAY: We'll protect you. I'm not going to let anything happen to you.
KELLIN: It's too late.
CHAKOTAY: No. We can use the same magneton sweep we used to flush out Resket. We'll find this one and send him on his way.
(The Tracer decloaks.)
CURNETH: I'm afraid I can't let that happen.
KELLIN: Curneth, don't.
CHAKOTAY: Chakotay to Security. Intruder alert, my quarters.
KELLIN: Please, I beg you, don't do this.
CURNETH: You know better than to ask that, Kellin.
KELLIN: No!
(Curneth shines a beam in Kellin's face.)
CHAKOTAY: Drop it. Drop it!
CURNETH: You're too late. She's already beginning to forget everything that's happened here.
[Sickbay]
CHAKOTAY: The Doctor says there's nothing he can do. Your recent memories have already begun to fade.
KELLIN: Don't let this happen, please. Don't let this happen.
CHAKOTAY: Do you have any idea how we can reverse the effect?
KELLIN: Promise me. If I forget why I'm here, if I forget you, do what I did and you tell me all about us, and you'll help me to remember.
CHAKOTAY: I will, but I'm going to try to do more than that.
[Brig]
CHAKOTAY: Can the effects of the neurolytic emitter be reversed?
CURNETH: Reversed? I have no idea. As far as I know, no one's ever tried.
CHAKOTAY: Then I'll be the first. Tell me how the emitter works. How it affects the memory centres.
CURNETH: You sound desperate, Commander. Does Kellin mean that much to you?
CHAKOTAY: What you're doing is wrong. She wants to stay here.
CURNETH: This is futile. Even if I knew how the emitter works, I wouldn't tell you.
(Chakotay steps into the cell and grabs Curneth's collar. They stare at each other for a few moments, then he releases Curneth.)
CHAKOTAY: You have no right to do this.
CURNETH: I have every right. The laws on our world are very specific about that. No one may leave. No one may reveal anything about us to the outside world. Kellin has violated both of those edicts. Returning her will serve as a deterrent to others who might think of leaving.
CHAKOTAY: Did it ever occur to you that the fact that so many people want to leave might mean that there's something wrong with your society?
CURNETH: We have a strong and cohesive society because of our efforts to keep it that way. A few runaways among millions hardly indicates a problem.
CHAKOTAY: If there are so few, why not let them go?
CURNETH: That would suggest that we don't care about them. What a terrible message.
CHAKOTAY: You may have wiped her memory, but Kellin's not going back.
CURNETH: Maybe we should wait and see if that's what happens.
CHAKOTAY: She made it clear to me that she wants to stay here. So maybe you should start practising what you're going to tell your superiors.
[Kellin's quarters]
(Doorbell.)
KELLIN: Yes?
CHAKOTAY: The Doctor told me he'd released you. How are you feeling?
KELLIN: I'm fine. Do I know you?
CHAKOTAY: Yes. At least, you did.
KELLIN: You'll have to forgive me but, I don't remember how I got here or anything else that's happened in at least the past few weeks.
CHAKOTAY: I know.
KELLIN: I hope I wasn't throwing things in a fit of rage.
CHAKOTAY: No.
KELLIN: I assume a Tracer is here to take me back?
CHAKOTAY: That's right, but. What I'm going to say will sound strange, but it's what you asked me to do before you lost your memories. You came here about a month ago, looking for a runaway. After you left with him, you decided to come back.
KELLIN: But if I finished my assignment, why would I come back here?
CHAKOTAY: Because you'd fallen in love with me.
KELLIN: Forgive me. You're certainly attractive, but what you're telling me seems very unlikely.
CHAKOTAY: But it's what happened. We started to work together and I began to realise how unique you are. Before long, I couldn't get you out of my mind.
KELLIN: Are you saying that you fell in love with me as well?
CHAKOTAY: Yes. And then we realised the Tracer was on board. After he used the emitter on you, you made me promise to tell you all of this, so you would know what happened between us.
KELLIN: This is a little unsettling. What is it you want from me?
CHAKOTAY: Kellin, don't go back with the Tracer. Stay here for a while, at least for a few days. We can get to know each other again.
KELLIN: I honestly can't imagine what would be served by that. I have to go home.
CHAKOTAY: If you stayed, you might change your mind.
KELLIN: Then that's all the more reason that I should leave now. I've violated one of our most important edicts, and I wouldn't want to make that mistake again. I wish, I wish we had met under different circumstances.
[Transporter room]
(The Tracer's ship decloaks.)
CHAKOTAY: Your ship's ready.
KELLIN: Thank you, Commander.
CURNETH: I've implanted a computer virus to eliminate any reference to our being here. By tomorrow afternoon, you'll have forgotten everything. It will be as though we never existed. It's better that way.
KELLIN: You're such a kind person. I won't forget that.
CHAKOTAY: I wish you both the best.
(He gives Curneth his neurolytic emitter back.)
CHAKOTAY: Energise.
First Officer's personal log, Stardate 51813.4. Maybe it would be best, as the Tracer said, to forget about Kellin and the time she spent here. But I don't want to do that. I want to remember.
[Mess hall]
(Chakotay is writing a journal the old-fashioned way.)
NEELIX: More coffee, Commander?
CHAKOTAY: No, thanks. I'm almost done.
NEELIX: Strange to see you using those ancient writing implements.
CHAKOTAY: It's the only way I could get a permanent record of what's happened in the last few days. I want to get it down before I forget it all.
NEELIX: I'm sorry things didn't work out for you.
CHAKOTAY: I've been trying to make sense of it. I fell in love with her twice. I thought she could do the same. We were the same two people on the same ship. Why didn't it happen again? I keep going over and over our last conversation, trying to think if there was something I could have said, could have done, but nothing comes to mind.
NEELIX: Commander, I don't think you can analyse love. It's the greatest mystery of all. No one knows why it happens or doesn't. Love is a chance combination of elements. Any one thing might be enough to keep it from igniting. A mood, a glance, a remark. And if we could define love, predict it, it would probably lose its power. I'll let you finish.
CHAKOTAY: Good night.
2024-09-13 13:51:50 -
Pike:
Added the transcript.
