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Star Trek: Voyager is copyright by Paramount Pictures, Inc. No infringement is
intended. Story is
copyright by L.R. Bowen, LRBowen@aol.com. Do not sell or print for sale without
the express written
permission of the author, and do not circulate without the author's name and
this disclaimer attached.
Permission is granted to circulate free of charge in electronic form. Please do
not archive without
contacting the author. This is a script, written to television specifications in five acts. I never submitted it to Paramount, though I meant to at the time. :) All the dialogue and stage directions are in the correct Trek style, down to the [tech] inserts. Someone else is supposed to put those technobabble terms in for the writers, so they are left blank.
Existence
Wonderful.
A crystal chamber—they're so rare, and this is one of the largest I've ever heard of. And the colors...
This is natural? How did it form? Wildman and Chakotay are using their tricorders to scan the walls and ceiling.
From the minerals dissolved in the hot springs. This area's so geologically active...there must be a lot of unusual formations down here. Yeah, it's pretty. But we're not scouting for Delta Quadrant tourist attractions. We still need to find that source of [tech]. (Note: a substance such as dilithium which is vital to the operation of the warp drive.) Tuvok's scans put it about here. Maybe he can give us another reading to pinpoint the location. The away team continues its work with tricorders, spreading out over the chamber, which is about twenty meters across. Chakotay touches his com badge. Chakotay to Voyager. There is a crackle of static, and Chakotay taps his badge in puzzlement, getting the same response. Communications out? I think it's the magnetic interference. The underlying magma intrusion is pretty close to the surface here. And these crystals... Wildman adjusts her tricorder, peering at the wall. Something's warping the readings, sir. This doesn't make much sense...I can't pick up anything beyond the wall of the chamber. (consulting his tricorder) Some kind of fluctuating energy field. There's an unusual mix of elements in these formations. I'm picking up some temporal disturbances, I think—Ensign, are you getting the same results? Yes, Commander—oh! All brace as an earthquake shakes the chamber and a few small crystals fall. After a few seconds, the movement subsides, and everyone straightens up again, dusting off uniforms and looking nervously at the ceiling. That's strange. The captain said this morning that there was hardly any seismic activity in this area. Well, that seems to have changed, unless her definition of "hardly any" is different from mine. (beat) Say, is this reading correct? (Pointing to tricorder.) I think I'm picking up a lot of [tech] here. Chakotay walks over to Neelix's area. Yes, a lot of these crystals are pure [tech]. This must be the deposit we detected from orbit. That's perfect, then. B'Elanna said the pure form would work a lot better than ore, since we don't exactly have a refinery on board. But we can't just knock these lovely gems down for raw materials! No, we can't. We'll take a small sample for evaluation. Maybe we can figure out how to get what we need without destroying the chamber. He searches the floor and picks up a fist-sized chunk that has broken off. Let's go. I don't want to stay underground, in case there are any more quakes. And with a final look at the glittering beauty of the chamber, the away team leaves. The camera lingers, and the echoes return.
EXT: PLANET'S SURFACE - TWILIGHT (sarcastically) Nice place for a vacation. (He coughs.) Smells great too, if you like rotten eggs. (beat) It wasn't this bad when we landed, was it? The team heads off, picking their steps between the hot springs and bubbling mud pots. A small animal scampers away from their path. PARIS has gone on ahead, and stops suddenly in a clear area. Hey! Lieutenant? Isn't this where we left our shuttlecraft? The party all exchange looks. Chakotay touches his com badge. Chakotay to Voyager. The same crackle in response. Why is the com interference persisting on the surface? There wasn't any problem this morning. Was there an emergency? Did Captain Janeway have to recall the shuttle? PARIS scans with tricorder. A puzzled beat. There's no ion trail. We left the shuttle here four hours ago, and the engine exhaust should persist for twelve hours, at least. Chakotay brings out his own tricorder and scans the sky. He checks the readout, a stricken look on his face. Commander? Voyager's...gone. What? (thinking of her baby) Did something go wrong with the warp engine overhaul? Did Voyager...blow up? A beat while Chakotay carefully takes his readings again, not wanting to make any mistake about this. No. There's no sign of debris...I'm doing a long-range scan for the warp trail. A long beat. He has discovered something else, something unbelievable. The others wait tensely for him to speak. He is pondering how to deliver awful news, and finally states the simple fact. The stars...the stars have shifted. Shifted? You mean...with time? ...Yes. By how much? By...seven years since we went underground this morning. Seven...years? The camera makes a slow survey of the team as they look up, one by one. Pan up from their faces to the darkening sky, and to the stars emerging in the twilight above.
FADE OUT
The sky is fully dark now, and the stars are bright. The camera moves down from the sky, over the barren landscape, the weird formations eerie in the moonlight. The trees move in the wind. CHAKOTAY, PARIS, NEELIX and WILDMAN are huddled against a rock face, piling up stones in a small pyramid. They finish and step back, wind whipping their hair and clothes. Paris draws his phaser and puts a shot into the stones to heat them. When they glow bright red: That's plenty. Conserve the charge. They all hunker down around the "campfire". (with Morale Officer cheeriness) Well, that's nice and toasty, isn't it? It sure would be warmer inside one of these caves... The ground rumbles and shakes. Obviously going into the caves is not an option. How could seven years pass in four hours? Are we sure that's what's happened? (trying to convince himself) It must be a mistake. We were getting all kinds of strange readings in that chamber. The tricorders must be malfunctioning. I don't think so. He is terse and grim. (sarcastically) No, Starfleet equipment's pretty darn reliable. Chakotay looks at Paris and at Wildman, who is staring into the fire and fighting for composure. He's responsible for keeping this team alive and functioning, and he knows he had better find some hope, although there doesn't seem much reason for it. We've all had some experience with wilderness survival by now. At least this place doesn't have any cave monsters. He smiles, and everyone participates in the small joke. Then they all settle down to go to sleep around the fire. Soft animal sounds in the distance. A carnivorous growl echoes nearby, and something cougar-sized slinks by, its eyes reflecting the firelight. Everyone reaches for weapons, but the predator moves on. (putting the best face on everything) At least that proves there's something to eat around here... I'll take the first watch. He sits up against the rock face, holding his phaser. The rest of the party settles down again to uneasy sleep.
FADE TO: (while eating) What if we went back into the chamber where we picked up the temporal movements? Maybe we could get back to our own time. Maybe. But I'd like to search on the surface before we risk going into the caves again. And we'll need food and water soon. The hot springs are poisonous. I'll go look for a stream where the animals drink. (She takes the empty canteens.) And I can hunt for edible plants and insects. Commander? Yes, those are your assignments. But stick together. We don't know what we may find here. Oh, we can take care of ourselves. (He pats his phaser.) Neelix and Wildman head off. Chakotay and Paris go in the opposite direction, back to the spot where they left the shuttle.
TIME CUT TO: Chakotay and Paris are searching the area. Not a clue. It's been too long. There might be a message of some kind. If it's really been seven years and Janeway had to leave without us, she would have left something just in case. Yeah, I hope you're right. Say...what's that? He points to a cairn of stones veiled in the mists. I didn't see that last night in the darkness. Let's take a look. They walk over and inspect the pile, which is about two meters long and one meter wide, an ominous shape. It almost looks like...a grave. Chakotay turns on his tricorder. It is a grave, a very old one. It's been here about ten thousand years...and I think the body was human. They look at each other. One of Voyager's crew? (with a touch of dark humor) I don't know of any other humans in the Delta Quadrant. Yeah, but we didn't get here ten thousand years ago. No, we got here yesterday...or seven years ago, depending on your reckoning. They look at the grave with a sudden shudder. We moved seven years...but if someone else was caught in the temporal field... They look at each other, and then away, the thought greatly disturbing. Chakotay closes his eyes briefly, and Paris casts around for a distraction. Look, there's something metallic in there. (He points to the grave, where a glint of metal is visible through the rocks.) Is that a message cylinder? Chakotay starts to reach for it, but hesitates, his aversion to disturbing the dead balking him. I'll get it. He lifts a few stones and extracts a long, tarnished metal object. Both of them inspect it. Looks like the power cell is almost dead. The atmospheric sulfur's corroded it. But I think it'll still work. Turn it on. Paris touches a button, and a holographic image shimmers to life in front of them. It is JANEWAY. The translucent image is jumpy and the audio scratchy. This is Captain Kathryn Janeway, stardate XXXXX.XX. (beat) I'm not sure I want anyone to find this message. Because if it's ever seen by the people for whom it's intended, we gave up too soon. And I don't like giving up too soon. (beat) Tuvok's right, I know. We're running low on food and essential supplies, and the materials we need aren't obtainable here. We have to go on...for the good of the crew. Chakotay, Tom, Neelix, Samantha...If you are seeing this, then you know you've moved in time, and that, despite all our efforts, we could not retrieve you. A pause. Making this recording was a difficult task for her, but she is stoic. I kept Voyager here for two months while we studied the crystal chamber. We gained some idea of how the natural temporal effect operates, but there is no way to control it...and no way to stop it, short of destroying the crystal matrix. And if we do that... (beat) Then all of you will certainly be lost forever. Chakotay and Paris are listening intently, the flickering light of the hologram reflecting on their faces. Ayala and Carey volunteered to go after you. They were carried back thousands of years in time. What we could decipher from the tricorder that was in this cairn told me that they tried to return using the chamber, but failed since they couldn't track the movements accurately. They died, still stranded in the past, and this is Carey's grave. We never found Ayala's body, since...there was no one to bury him. Chakotay bows his head. And we never found...you. Perhaps you went back even further in time. There's no way to tell. God forgive me...I've waited as long as I can. We haven't harvested the crystals for our repairs, since it's too risky for anyone to enter the chamber and we can't transport anything out. Every probe B'Elanna sent in lost contact immediately. The warp core's power efficiency is declining to critical levels. I've ordered Voyager to proceed to the next system in hopes of finding the materials we need. There have been...too many deaths here. (beat) Tom...Neelix...Samantha...Chakotay... Janeway's face is composed and deeply sad as she speaks to the unseen, a prayer for the unburied dead. Rest in peace, wherever you are. The hologram crackles and fades out. The power cell's exhausted. Chakotay and Paris stand quietly, trying to digest what they've just heard. Paris looks at the cylinder in his hand and lays it gently down on the grave again. Like a person who jumps in the water to save someone from drowning... And goes under himself. (Trying to shrug it off.) Rough luck. Chakotay doesn't care for Paris's flippant tone, but says nothing. (distant) Aiiigh! Aiiigh! Commander! Ohhh! What the hell? Chakotay and Paris EXIT hastily, drawing their phasers.
CUT TO: ANOTHER LOCATION NEELIX is waving his tricorder at the sky and pointing upwards with a triumphant air. Chakotay and Paris ENTER, crashing through the bushes, full of adrenaline and ready to fight. They look around for the danger. It's...it's...I told you it was all a mistake! What? Why were you screaming? WILDMAN arrives with an armful of plants. Neelix? Are you all right? Yeah, what's going on? (vindicated) And you were all so pessimistic last night! The others exchange looks. The...ship...is...back! Voyager? Let me see that. Chakotay takes Neelix's tricorder and checks the readout. He's right. Voyager's in orbit. Chakotay touches his com badge. Chakotay to Voyager.
There is no answer for a long, silent beat. But there is no crackle of Are they receiving? I think so... (touches his badge again) Chakotay to Voyager. After a beat— (cold, suspicious) This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager. Who is this? Chakotay reacts. Captain, it's us! We're alive! We're here! Where did you go? Chakotay gestures to them, and they shut up. (To Janeway) Captain, I know you thought we were dead. We just found your message. But we're here...we're alive. A beat. (Brusque.) Prepare for transport. Thank goodness! We're going home... (His voice fades out as the transporter effect begins.)
CUT TO: The door opens, and JANEWAY enters, accompanied by more guards. She is also in regulation uniform. But as she comes up to the security field and stands next to Tuvok, we see that she is visibly older than she was in the holographic message. There are wings of grey in her hair, which is differently arranged, and her expression is strained. Who in God's name are you? (Her voice breaks with angry emotion.) How dare you impersonate...my officers? The away team is shocked, Janeway is hostile and angry—unexpectedly so. And off this tense situation...
FADE OUT
ACT TWO Camera on TUVOK'S firmly aimed phaser. Pull back to show JANEWAY confronting CHAKOTAY, PARIS, NEELIX and WILDMAN, still confined in the security field on the transporter pad. Captain! We thought...we might never get back... His voice trails off into awkward silence. Janeway does not answer him, but stares at his face, and then at each of them in turn, ending with Chakotay. She turns to Tuvok. Do the DNA scans match? Yes, Captain. But that does not exclude the possibility of cloning. Could the Tijra use cloning as an infiltration method? (Thinking it over.) I do not believe their organic science has reached such a level. And subterfuge on this scale is not their preferred method of operation. Finally Janeway's expression begins to soften from anger to uncertainty. No, you're right. They aren't capable of this kind of work. Even if they found the bodies somehow... Janeway looks at Chakotay, who takes this as his cue to speak. (Quietly, reasonably.) Captain...I know this is hard to believe. If seven years have passed for you... It's been seven years since we were last at this planet, yes. And yet none of you looks a day older or any the worse for wear. We were carried seven years into the future when we entered the chamber. By our reckoning, we've only been on the planet for twenty-four hours. Janeway is beginning to believe him, but she has to be careful. Commander—just answer me a few questions. What were my orders to the away team? We took a shuttle to the surface, since the magnetic fields around the magma intrusion made transport a little risky. Our scans from orbit showed a big [tech] deposit underground, and we were going to pinpoint the location and find samples. Chakotay holds out the crystal he picked up. This is what we found, though it looks like we found a little more than we expected. We've got a lot of recordings to study...we were making them as we were shifting in time, and maybe that will be useful. Janeway smiles and turns to Neelix. And you, Mr. Neelix—what did you cook for dinner your last time on the job? Oh, I tried a new recipe...Geldanian gelatin salad. It was runnier than I expected...but I think I only needed to boil the seed pods a little longer. (putting away his phaser) In point of fact, no amount of boiling will improve the consistency. Everyone smiles, the tension fled. Mr. Tuvok, lower the security field. Aye, Captain. Tuvok steps to the transporter console and hits a few keys. The field vanishes, and the party steps down off the pad. Janeway is trembling with joy, but keeping a professional composure. She greets Neelix with a clasp to the shoulder and a tender smile, embraces Wildman, takes Paris's hand. Welcome home...welcome home. The last one she greets is Chakotay. But she hesitates before touching him, and her trembling is more obvious. Holding his hand, she waits a beat before looking into his face. He's wondering a little at her shyness, but smiles radiantly when she meets his eyes. She does the same, and there is a nice moment of connection between them. Excuse me, Captain... He's reluctant to interrupt, but he's just had a frightening thought. Yes, Neelix? It's really been...seven years? Because if it has... Neelix's voice is beginning to break; his first sign of real fear in this whole ordeal. ...then, how is...Kes? The other members of the party react. Janeway's smile fades, and she exchanges a glance with Tuvok. All of you, please come with me. Janeway leads the way out of the transporter room. INT. KES'S QUARTERS JANEWAY enters and ushers in NEELIX, TUVOK, CHAKOTAY, PARIS, and WILDMAN. She addresses a crewmember who is in the sitting area with medical supplies. Is she asleep? The crewmember looks wide-eyed at the party and nods wordlessly. Well, I think we can wake her for this. Tuvok? He nods. Neelix. (She holds out her hand and ushers him into the bedroom.) INT. KES'S BEDROOM KES is sleeping in a half-elevated position, with a medical scanner at her bedside. It's dim, so we don't see her face immediately, but we can hear her breathing, slow and stertorous, occasionally catching in her throat. She coughs and stirs. Is someone there? Her voice, once so smooth and rich, is weak and cracking, the voice of great age. But it holds no petulance or irritability; it is still serene and calm, gently inquiring. Neelix approaches slowly and sinks to his knees by her bed. The lights come up slightly, and Kes extends her hand. Who is it? Her eyes are clouded and unfocused; she is blind. Her face is deeply lined, her hair thin and white. The hand she puts out to Neelix is withered and spotted. Sweeting... He is not surprised, but torn with conflicting emotions; he is seeing his beloved Kes, but it's obvious she doesn't have long to live. Neelix? Yes, it's Neelix.
She grips his hand weakly and smiles. PARIS is hesitating at the door, but moves forward as well, then halts. Neelix looks up at him. Sweeting, Tom's here. Tom? She puts out her other hand and Paris takes it. Hello, Kes. We're, um, back from the dead, I guess. (with a heartbreakingly happy smile) You were waiting for me...to come with you? Thank you...
Kes drifts off to sleep again, and her hands relax. Neelix and Paris gently
replace them on the
coverlet and retreat into the sitting area. How...long? Every day she lives is a miracle. (beat) She's been talking about you...she wanted so much to know what happened to you and the others before she died. I'm...so glad she could find out. What about the doctor? Can't he do anything? What about your wonderful Starfleet medicine? The doctor is dead. Tuvok turns to show the scarred side of his face. Shortly after Voyager left this system, seven years ago, we suffered a partial breach of the warp core. The resulting explosion killed twenty-seven crew members and injured many more. The main computer was disabled...and the doctor's processors and memory banks were too badly damaged to repair. Neelix collapses in a chair, and Tuvok sits with him. How did the ship survive? We nearly didn't survive. B'Elanna patched us back together, and we crawled along on impulse power for months before reaching a habitable system. She's had to rebuild the warp drive from scratch while we relocated most of the crew to the planet's surface. We've stripped the ship of materials to get the job done...and we've had to fight off marauders while we were doing it. It took us six years, but Voyager's spaceworthy again. So the crew's been settled on a planet all this time? Most of them, since we needed to farm our food. (She smiles.) Some of them have become very domestic...we've had a lot of marriages, and some children. Captain? Yes, Samantha? My...daughter...is she— Janeway beams. At last she has some good news. She's a beautiful eight-year-old. The door chimes, and slides open to admit NAOMI WILDMAN and an adult crewmember. Naomi stares at Wildman, who is staring back. The girl turns to her guardian and whispers. Yes, Naomi, she looks just like the pictures of your mother. Wildman is nearly crying, looking at this grown child when she left a baby behind... The guardian gives Naomi a gentle urge, and she comes slowly forward and lets herself be embraced by her mother. (low, to Chakotay and Paris) Once Voyager was refitted, we took everyone on board and came back here. The core pulls so little power that we can only achieve Warp One. Without the minerals from this planet, we'll never be able to resume our journey...or even defend ourselves from the natives. The return here was a last-ditch effort. If we fail this time... We're stranded in the Delta Quadrant forever. That's about the size of it. Come with me—we'll need to discuss this further, and evaluate your recordings. Janeway ushers Chakotay, Paris, Wildman and Naomi out, leaving Tuvok and Neelix in the sitting area. The camera tracks in on them. The Vulcan is waiting while Neelix shakes with suppressed sobs. All these years...so much of her life...and I wasn't there for her. She thought I was dead... Yes, we believed you dead. (a touch of bitterness) You—you don't look any older either, even with that wound. The Vulcan lifespan is many times that of the Ocampa, or of the Human. Yes, and I suppose someone like her just passes through without even leaving an impression! What do you care about someone who only lives nine years? On the contrary. It is because of Kes that I wear this scar, and will for the rest of my life. What? Suffice it to say that I have become her closest associate, since you and the doctor were no longer with us. On the day she passes from this life...I will mourn. Mr. Vulcan... Yes? Would you tell me...about her life? I would be honored to do so. And they rise and go into Kes's bedroom again. INT. CORRIDOR JANEWAY, CHAKOTAY, PARIS, WILDMAN, NAOMI, and Naomi's guardian. Are you really Tom Paris? 'Fraid so. Because I thought Tom Paris was supposed to be dead. I hope it's OK if I'm not. I guess so. It's pretty weird, though. Everyone laughs. I'm glad we came on the trip. I didn't want to leave home, but now I got to see dead people come back. (To Janeway) Are more of the dead people going to come back? No, dear. (To Chakotay) Can I see your tattoo? He smiles and bends down to let her touch it. I heard a lot of stories about you. (greatly amused) Good ones, I hope. Yeah, really exciting ones. Did you really dive your ship into another one to save Voyager? Well, yes. Captain Janeway really likes to tell that one. Janeway blushes slightly. She said you liked to tell stories too. Would you tell us stories some time? Sure I will. You mean to all the children? Uh-huh. (to Janeway) How many...families are there? Has everyone...paired off? He is subtly putting the question to her personally. Janeway takes his meaning, and is a little shy again in her answer. No, not everyone. Commander, we should leave Ensign Wildman to get acquainted with her daughter again. Ensign, there's no need for you to return to duty immediately. Thank you, Captain. Wildman departs with Naomi and her guardian. Janeway, Chakotay and Paris continue into a turbolift. Bridge. (The turbolift starts.) (After a beat, a little awkward, making conversation.) You'll notice we've stripped a lot of alloy from the interior bulkheads. Every bit of refined metal is precious. Has it been difficult? Oh, we've managed... Yes, it's been difficult. The repairs and simple survival have taken up most of our resources for years. And then two years ago...we met the Tijra. Doesn't sound like you wanted to meet them. They were surprised to find us settled on the planet. Apparently it's in territory they consider their own, though none of them were there when we arrived. At first our relations with them were...civil, though not friendly. Then when they realized that we had equivalent or better technology than theirs and were repairing it, they became fearful and suspicious... The first attack was last year. We lost six people, they lost an entire ship. It's been a state of war ever since, though they haven't tried a frontal assault again. I'm hoping that we can complete our repairs here and get out of this sector permanently. The turbolift arrives at the bridge. Be prepared, now—everyone knows you're coming. Chakotay and Paris look at each other, and she smiles. The turbolift doors open, and she steps through to reveal them to the bridge crew. INT. BRIDGE TORRES, KIM and N.D. EXTRAS converge on them, cheering. Chakotay! Torres embraces Chakotay, and he gasps from her powerful squeeze. Hey, I just got back from the dead...don't break my spine. But he returns her embrace and gives her a fraternal pat on the back. Tom... He takes Paris by the shoulders to look at him, then embraces him as well. Paris is slightly embarrassed. Hey, anyone would think you hadn't seen me in years... Chakotay and Torres disengage, and he looks down at her midsection. She's apparently several months pregnant. I see another family is getting started... Everyone smiles, and Torres reaches out for Kim. It's all my husband's fault. (Grins.) I cannot tell a lie. (obviously at a loss) Your...husband? Oh, man, this is too much news for one day. Torres hugs Paris. Um...congratulations. (Trying to restore some professional order on her bridge.) Mr. Paris...would you care to take the controls? Would I? Yes, ma'am. He sits at the pilot's station and begins to run a routine systems check. Wow, you're not kidding about the shape we're in...Harry, B'Elanna, you'd better fill me in on the details. Kim and Torres stand by him and begin to point out items on his console. Janeway and Chakotay watch for a moment, then she turns. Commander, we've got a lot to discuss. Janeway indicates the ready room, and they go down the steps to the door.
TIME CUT TO: JANEWAY is at her desk, CHAKOTAY sitting across from her. They have obviously been reviewing logs and working hard, and are now sipping coffee and studying PADDs. A long beat. Everything's changed so much...this is like stepping into another universe. The condition of the ship...the deaths...so many people I knew are gone. And the ones who are still around aren't the same. (She unconsciously touches the grey hair at her temples.) I thought I might never see them again. They look just beautiful to me. Beat while she accepts the implied compliment. What are we going to do about the command situation? I honestly don't know. Tuvok's been first officer for seven years now. (Appreciating a cosmic joke.) And I was first officer yesterday...or so it seems to me. If it's all right with you, I think we should let things settle for a few days before we make any firm decisions. He nods, and by unspoken agreement, they take their cups and rise, walking to the sofa for a break. Janeway sits first, watching Chakotay take his place beside her and keeping her gaze on him for a long beat. You...haven't changed at all. It's so strange...
She seems slightly embarrassed, her shyness returning. Looking at you, I can almost believe that no time at all has passed. Chakotay looks at her with some surprise, and then a warm smile at what he sees in her eyes. The moment turns a little too intense for both of them, and Chakotay rises again and paces around the room, looking at the ornaments on the table. He sees a crystal and picks it up. How did you get this? It looks like it's from the crystal chamber. Yes, it is. We found it with Carey's body. (Janeway takes the crystal and hefts it.) If we had a few hundred kilograms of these, we'd be a lot better off. As it is, it's only a memento. Do you have any ideas on how to retrieve the minerals? Well, B'Elanna and I have had a lot of time to think about it. She has a prototype for a device to detect the time movements, but we'll need to take some more readings of the chamber. My tricorder logs should help. Yes, they may prove to be the key. We're very fortunate to have found you again... Glad to hear it. I'd better write up my report. Oh dear, your office isn't yours any more...but your old quarters are empty. I'll have everything put back for you. She rises, and they leave. INT. JANEWAY'S QUARTERS JANEWAY opens the door, and CHAKOTAY follows her in after setting down a couple of carrying cases in the corridor. You wouldn't think there'd be dust in starships, even in the cargo bays. She brushes off her hair and clothes, and Chakotay knocks dust off his hands. I guess nothing's immune to dust. (A beat, while they smile at each other.) I think we found everything of mine that was in storage. You said B'Elanna has my medicine wheel? Yes, all of us have mementoes of someone...I'm very happy to be able to give one of them back to the owner.
She is moving through to the bedroom, and comes out again with an engraved stone
that has
been fitted with a hanging clip. Janeway puts the stone in Chakotay's hands and
he looks at it
while they both hold it. Please...keep it. I think it's probably at home here by now. Chakotay gently urges the stone back to Janeway. Oh, I... Thank you.
Janeway holds the stone for a moment, then puts it down on the table, next to a
framed photo.
Chakotay's eyes follow her movement, and he takes a look at the picture. (Trying to make a joke out of it.) You do look just like the pictures of you... Her voice trails off, and they stand there in her sitting room, alone together and deeply affected by their growing awareness that one very important thing has changed. Seven years of hardship while she cherished memories of happier times... Janeway is looking away from Chakotay, but she is trembling. Chakotay is staring at her and trying to speak— Tuvok to Captain Janeway. Janeway collects herself. Janeway here. I must report...that Kes has died. Janeway's sorrow is plain, as is Chakotay's. She turns to look at him, something passes between them, and they leave her quarters. The door shuts behind them, leaving the room empty.
FADE OUT
ACT THREE Chairs have been set up for Kes's memorial, and they are filled with grieving crewmembers. TORRES and KIM sit in front, comforting each other. JANEWAY, CHAKOTAY, PARIS sitting quietly near them. NEELIX and TUVOK stand before the company, Tuvok dressed in Vulcan robes. He holds an urn. I'm here to say goodbye to her...though I only said hello again yesterday. I was away from her...for a very long time, though I never meant to be. I found her beauty a lifetime ago, in a deep, dark cavern, and I helped her free herself of its bonds... He chokes and sobs, but fights it down. She chose to come out from underground to live in the stars. I know she wouldn't want to be buried...so she won't be. Tuvok brings the urn forward, and places it on a stand.
She's going to be...among the stars... Neelix can't go on, so Tuvok gives the order. Energize. The urn sparkles and vanishes in the transporter effect.
INTERCUT: A glittering trail spreads out behind the ship as Kes is given her final resting place...
INT. MESS HALL I wish...so much...there was some way to undo the last seven years. To be there with her all that time...to work things out between us. I thought there was going to be time to do that. I knew she wasn't going to live as long as I did, but it didn't matter—that was far away. I didn't have to think about it yet. And I guess I thought that the doctor could cure anything...even time. Paris puts a hand on Neelix's shoulder. If I thought it'd do any good, I'd just go right down there again and stand in that chamber, no matter where it took me. I want to go back to her. Somewhere else, maybe she's still alive. And off of Neelix's tear-stained face... INT. ENGINEERING JANEWAY, CHAKOTAY and TORRES working at a console. Chakotay's tricorder sits nearby. This phenomenon is unique. It's a pocket dimension, bounded by the field the crystals generate. Time flows differently within it...and anything that enters is carried along, either backwards or forwards. We've no idea what determines the direction. That's the tricky part. I can't track the movements from outside, since anything that goes in immediately slips into another temporal dimension and loses contact. Even if I had a robot probe that would exit again of its own accord, who knows when it would come out? But if it came out in the past, wouldn't we find it there anyway? You'd think so, but apparently that close to the chamber there are a lot of overlapping dimensional fields. It would be out of phase, and we wouldn't be able to detect it. We found Carey's grave only because it was a good distance away. The moment he and Ayala went in...there it was. And you never found a trace of us since we came out in the future. I do have one idea, but I'm not sure either of you is going to like it. Try us. I might be able to use this (points at a device) to track the time within the chamber in relation to the outside time. Tricorders can't untangle all the overlapping dimensional shifts, but I think this design can do it. We won't be able to monitor it ourselves, but if I wire concussive charges to detonate when the chamber's time goes into the past, we'll destroy the crystal matrix, the movements will stop, and all the temporal dimensions will collapse. Then, in theory, we could just go in and pick up all the crystals we need. What are the odds of success? I don't know. There isn't any way to do a dry run. We get one try. And if anything goes wrong, we might lose the whole chamber into the future. Who knows how many years we'd have to wait? Neither of you have seen inside that chamber, have you? Both turn to look at him. Of course not. Because I just want you to know you're talking about blowing up one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. It would be like using the Rainbow Bridge for a gravel quarry. Beat while they consider this. And as I said, this phenomenon is unique. I've never heard of a naturally formed pocket dimension within a cave, something that one can just walk into. This is a tremendous discovery, something that could revolutionize our understanding of temporal fields— Fine, it's beautiful and one-of-a-kind. But at the rate this area is waking up (she points to a console) there's going to be some kind of eruption soon. Look at the readings from the planetary scan. The earthquakes are nearly constant now. Little ones, but that means the magma intrusion is moving into new areas. If we don't do something soon, we may not be able to get our raw materials at all. She's right. Look where that intrusion is heading. Here's the location of the crystal chamber (pointing at graphic) and here's the current extent of the underground magma pool. Graphic shows a bright 3-D dome underground, with meandering cave passages leading down from the surface and beyond the chamber. A glowing red area below the dome is intruding into the lower cave passages. There are fissures in the overlying rock, of course—the caves themselves. That's the path the magma will take. Right up the fissures, and right through that chamber, if there's enough pressure. That will destroy it. And the crystals and the time effect along with it. Torres rises and walks to the warp core. If this ship is ever going to break Warp One again, or even maintain warp capability for more than a few weeks...we need those crystals. We don't have any other place to go.
Janeway and Chakotay look at each other, feeling the weight of their INT. BRIDGE TUVOK is in command, and KIM at his Ops console. PARIS is at his station. He is running systems checks again. Boy, these sensors are in bad shape. Harry, can you tune the long-range down in the higher subspace bands? I can't get this echo out of the readings. Echo? Yeah, it's got to be our impulse engines—it's on the same frequency, but it reads almost a million kilometers away. Tuvok leaps into action, startling Paris. Red Alert! Captain to the bridge. (He rises and takes the tactical station.) Huh? What'd I say? (beat) Harry? (working at his console) Do not raise shields yet, Mr. Kim. That will make it clear that we have spotted them. Spotted who? The turbolift opens to admit JANEWAY and CHAKOTAY to the bridge. Tuvok, report. A possible Tijra incursion. Now running a full sweep—Two ships, Harrier-class scouts. Parallel course. Damn. Captain? (To Tuvok) Arm photon torpedoes. Aye, Captain. Aren't you going to hail them? It's a waste of good power. She is harsh and cold, a severe edge to her voice. Chakotay is taken aback, but with a glance at Tuvok takes the seat beside Janeway's and pulls up the monitor. Are they scanning us? Yes, Captain. Do you think they'll attack? Scout vessels? No. They just hide their engine pulse by synchronizing it to ours, and observe. (To Tuvok) Range? They are just within torpedo range. Starting to peel off and turn now...they're leaving. Fire! Firing torpedoes.
INTERCUT:
INT. BRIDGE Both scouts have been destroyed. There are no other ships in range of the sensors. Chakotay looks at the screen again as the fireballs die away, then turns and walks to his seat again, only to find Tuvok heading in the same direction. The two men stand face to face for a moment. Excuse me, sir. I must refer to the command monitor. Chakotay steps aside. Janeway looks up at him and sees his troubled face. A beat while she registers that. Did that seem precipitate to you, Commander? Chakotay doesn't answer—he's not the kind to question orders on the bridge. The Tijra don't have good long-range communications. The scouts wouldn't have reported in yet. But they would have headed back to their home base and sent a fleet of warships to meet us. This was the only way to prevent that. Janeway and Chakotay look at each other, Chakotay's expression calming as he realizes she did the right thing. Janeway sees that, and smiles a little sadly in thanks for his understanding and loyalty. He smiles back, their eyes fixed on each other, until they realize that the crew is looking at them. Good shooting, Lieutenant. Thank you, Commander. It is fortunate they were not yet out of range. Chakotay heads to the turbolift. Paris turns a little sheepishly. Well, I would have said something sooner if I'd known— Hold that lift, Commander. Janeway takes a stern look at Paris, and then turns to Kim. Mr. Kim, please bring Lt. Paris up to speed on Tijra tactics. We can't have such close calls—they nearly got away. Yes, ma'am. Janeway enters the lift and the doors close. INT. ENGINEERING TORRES, JANEWAY, CHAKOTAY working again. (examining graphic) Dammit! These readings are so dense...it's nearly impossible to untangle the overlapping dimensional boundaries. They moved forward seven years during this time, but I can't measure the rate—it seems to be moving in every direction at once! Why does it do that? I don't know. The initial readings, the ones when they all entered the chamber...those are clearer. (She points at graphic on console) But the middle section is so confused; it's as if every temporal dimension in there had suddenly doubled and quadrupled and slipped out of phase with the others. Then it's clearer again before they leave. I can't make head or tail of it. PARIS enters, holding a PADD. None of us can. Look, we've been at this for hours. And we'll be at it as long as it takes. What is it, Lieutenant? Um, I've been hitting the books, Captain. Every log entry for the last two years. (A beat.) Just thought I'd drop by and see how things were going. (a little impatient) They're not going. I think it is time for a break. Let's clear our heads and come back to this later. Sorry I asked. What's the problem? We're looking for a way to harvest the crystals. But the readings of the overlapping temporal dimensions are so tangled that it might take weeks of analysis before we know enough about this to even try. And we don't have weeks. Oh. Right. (He clearly doesn't know much about this.) Well, if it's always bouncing back and forth between dimensions, the readings must get pretty complicated. The other three look wearily at him; he's just restated the obvious. (to everyone) How about a meal? Sure, I'm starving. Is Neelix back on duty? (wry) He insisted. (still staring at the display) What did you say? I couldn't really turn him down, not— No, what Tom said. I said I was starving. Before that. (Beat.) He said...the chamber was always bouncing back and forth— Yes, that's it. Back and forth! What? Captain, that's it! Look at the readout again. (She works rapidly at the console.) We've only got a few minutes of recordings—made when it was turning around. The chamber must move back and forth in time along a limited track, and this is where it hit its upper limit and started back down again! They went more than seven years forward and then came back! Yes! Look, if I compensate for that...it all makes sense now! I can track the rate! B'Elanna, that's wonderful. Well done! (sotto voce) Shucks, it was nothin'... Though I still don't think there's any way to stop the movement except by destroying the crystal matrix. But I'm almost positive we can time that perfectly now. Do you realize what this means? No one does. The movement's a constant oscillation. The chamber goes back and forth over the same times. It means...that the four of you who came from our past could re-enter the chamber with this device...wait for the exact moment you first went in and set off the charges to stop the movement. You can harvest the crystals during Voyager's first visit. And...you can go home. Her eyes meet Chakotay's, and the joy of discovery yields to the prospect of losing these four treasured crewmembers once more. Off of Janeway's emotion...
FADE OUT
ACT FOUR NEELIX enters in chef's outfit, apparently summoned in the act of chopping vegetables. CHAKOTAY and PARIS flank him. (Looking at Chakotay) Home? That's right. (looking at Paris) Kes? (with a huge grin) Uh-huh. WILDMAN and KIM come in to join them as they sit. TUVOK is waiting in his seat. I must point out that it is not certain this attempt will succeed. Captain Janeway tells me that Lt. Torres's device is untried. That's because there isn't any way to "try" it. We just do it, that's all. And what are the results even if we do succeed? Besides getting back to the way things should be? Our own timeline? What happens to this timeline, and all the people in it? (Beat.) If Voyager gets the crystals seven years ago, instead of failing, this timeline might just...vanish. Nearly everything significant that's happened since then—settling on the planet, creating a colony—depends on the warp core accident, and the crystals will prevent that. A long beat, while all ponder this fact. All the children... Might never be born.(Torres puts her hand on her swollen abdomen and looks at Kim.) And the Tijra...we've had a huge impact on them. This would affect so much history... But if the core breach did not take place, that would save the lives of twenty-eight Voyager crewmembers. (He touches the scar on his face.) So many things would change... (She looks at Chakotay, who won't meet her eyes.) Though we don't know exactly what would happen. The overlapping dimensional boundaries make it difficult to tell. This timeline might continue as before, while the one of seven years ago would take a different course in an alternate universe. What do you think, B'Elanna? You're right; there's no way to know. From where we sit, we can't predict the result. But Kes will be alive! We've got to do it! It is a logical course of action, Captain, though fraught with questions. But there are still a lot of questions to answer before we can even try. People, please keep in mind that this is only a theory, and a shaky one at that. B'Elanna, continue working on the timing device. I want it as solid as possible. I'm going to keep studying the tricorder readings. Chakotay... Yes, Captain? I want you to do some research for me. On timeline disruptions and the ethical problems involved. I'll have a report for you. He rises, and everyone begins to head for the door. Thank you. Neelix buttonholes Torres. I'm going to help you in any way I can! Just let me know— How about staying out of my— (She reconsiders in light of his earnestness.) Tell you what, Neelix. Sometimes I forget to eat when I'm working hard, and I've got the feeling that's going to happen. So if you keep bringing— Yes, of course! I'll keep you supplied with scrumptious snacks. I'd better go start baking now. Neelix EXITS. Anything I can do? Not really, Tom. (smiles) Perhaps you should hit the books again. Guess we shouldn't get our hopes too high... Everyone files out of the briefing room. INT. BRIDGE Paris accosts Kim. Harry...I don't suppose Sandrine's is up and running? No. We just use the mess hall these days. Too bad. I prefer to read with a cool drink in my hand. But I can get one from Neelix. Want to come along? Well...I really don't have time... Aw, Harry... (clearly reluctant) All right. They enter the lift. Deck Five. Paris is trying to start a sentence, thinking of the right way to put an awkward subject. Harry, can I just talk to you? What about? Well, about...everything. I'm feeling kind of lost here. Hmmph. It's not the condition of the ship, or the tactical logs... (beat) It's...you. And B'Elanna, and everyone...I feel like I have to get to know you all over again. Like...how did you get together? Why'd you get married? Something the matter with that? Uh...no, no. I just never thought...well, I wouldn't have figured— (defensive, controlling anger) That she would ever fall in love with me? Harry, c'mon, you're making it sound like an insult— I don't know what it is. Beat. Look, I'm sorry. I'm just trying to get a handle on things here. Yeah, well, so am I. (beat) I apologize for sounding...um, like that. Aw, Harry... I...I've got to get to know you again too. I've...moved on, I guess. I wouldn't have expected you to wait for me. (beat) Or B'Elanna, either. They exchange a look, a wry smile on Paris's face, a little wary on Kim's part. Uh...Tom, I've really got a lot of work to do. The whole ship's held together with chewing gum and piano wire. Every time we fire the aft torpedo tubes, I have to manually re- initialize the whole— Yeah, fine. The door opens and he steps out. Kim stays where he is. I guess I've got a lot of reading to do. (beat) See you. Yeah. Kim is left in the turbolift with an odd expression: resentment and regret mixed. INT. MESS HALL TUVOK sits with WILDMAN at a table. She is dabbing at her eyes, obviously having just finished crying. NEELIX brings her a steaming cup. There you go, Samantha. I finally found something resembling tea. Oh, I can't find anything in this kitchen—it's a terrible mess. It'll take me weeks to get it organized again. My best pans are all scratched and pitted—and the knives haven't been properly sharpened in years... Neelix goes back into the kitchen and bangs around in the cupboards, muttering. Are you feeling better, Ensign? Yes, sir, a little. I'm sorry—I know Vulcans don't like to see human emotions...(She begins to mist up again.) You have caused me no significant inconvenience, Ensign. And I believe you have vented some of your built-up emotional pressure. That is beneficial to your species. (laughing a little through sniffles) Yes, sir. PARIS enters. Hi. Everyone having a good time? A glum beat while Wildman blows her nose. I'm glad my old friends enjoy my company so much. Neelix, can I get something to eat? CHAKOTAY enters. Make that two...of whatever. There isn't much. I've made a pot of stew, and I've got degba nut macaroons in the oven. (Lower) Go talk to Ensign Wildman and cheer her up, would you? She's not feeling too well. He gives them plates of food, and they go over to the table. What's up? My...daughter. She's not used to me. She was so young when we left... And...she said something that hurt you? (with a tremor) "You're not my mother any more." Paris makes a half-sour, half-sympathetic face. Chakotay pats Wildman's shoulder. I guess she's attached to her adoptive parents. They have had a close and loving relationship with her for most of her life. It will take time for her to adjust to having another parent. But I am confident that they have raised her well, and that she will eventually accept you again. (to Tuvok) Thank you, all of you, for taking care of her. Tuvok nods gravely. That's very wise of you, Tuvok. When did you become ship's counselor? Beat. It is not easy to speak of this, but I believe...it may be beneficial...to me to do so. Neelix comes over to hear. Tuvok is visibly gathering determination. (slowly, carefully) For some time after I was injured in the warp accident, I was completely blind. Kes was our only medical practitioner after the doctor's death, and she had a great burden in caring for all those who had been hurt. But she took the time to be my "eyes". We formed a constant mental link, and through her own psychic abilities I was able to see after a fashion, and even to perform my duty. Everyone is listening intently, the camera circling around the table until it comes to rest on TUVOK. As a result, I became aware of her thoughts on a daily basis. She was not skilled enough to shield them from me. Although her duties were heavy, and she was constantly grieving for Neelix and the others who had died, she never let that affect her basic serenity or her...goodness. She was emotional and sometimes lacking in strict logic, but her mind was a remarkable one. Where once I was inclined to regard her as a child in need of guidance, I came to realize that she had much to teach me as well. (beat) I refused cosmetic treatment for my wounds, once they had properly healed, since our limited resources are better directed towards necessities. (A beat.) And...every time I see my own face, I am reminded of a time when I saw through another's eyes. TIME CUT TO: INT. CHAKOTAY'S QUARTERS CHAKOTAY is sitting cross-legged on the floor with his stone in his hands, his eyes closed, his medicine bundle open in front of him. With a long breath, he puts his stone down, breaking out of trance and opening his eyes. He folds up his bundle and puts it away, obviously deep in thought. Then he seems to come to a decision, and heads out the door. INT. MESS HALL JANEWAY is sitting at a table with a cup of
coffee and several PADDs. She is
grave and thoughtful as she reads and gazes out the viewport. Several other N.D.
crew members
sit at adjacent tables. Chakotay enters, pauses a moment at the door, and then
heads to her table.
She looks up as he approaches, and he pulls out a chair and sits with her. You've given me a lot to think about here, Chakotay. (She taps the PADD she is holding.) If an act of mine wipes out an entire timeline...I've destroyed a universe, in effect. Under most circumstances, we'd treat that as a dreadful crime. (Beat.) But on the other hand...creating a new timeline, one in which people who died are spared—that's an act of incredible benevolence. Almost godlike...and I'm only human. How can I balance this on behalf of so many people? Sometimes...the decisions we have to make aren't ones we should ever have had to make. Sometimes the choices in front of us...simply aren't fair. He looks at her, his meaning extending beyond the immediate question to something more intimately personal. For a Starfleet captain, they seldom are. (beat) You mentioned that the chamber is beautiful... It's...wondrous. In the Federation, it would be declared a natural treasure. (beat, smile) The Ferengi would set up tourist concession stands in a heartbeat. And I am talking about blowing it apart for raw materials...
(Her manner is philosophical, arguing the question out for herself with Chakotay
as a sounding
board.) Or...perhaps it's reached the end of its natural life. I've got no way of knowing that. (beat) And I have no way of knowing what will happen if you and the others try to return. There's no guarantee that you'll even succeed. You might be stranded like Carey and Ayala. And...even if you succeed, and even if this timeline persists somehow... (beat) We'll never see any of you again. You'll have returned to the former timeline and become part of it. You'll have vanished once more, and this time, you won't miraculously...return to me. Chakotay catches her change of pronoun, and their gazes lock. He swallows hard, waiting for her to speak again, to tell him something he already knows, but which hasn't been spoken out loud. Janeway sees his expression, and she's poised on the brink of saying what he's waiting to hear. This has become...a very complicated choice. For a Starfleet captain...the choices are seldom fair. I'd never want to make it more difficult for you. I'll have to live with this for the rest of my life. (smiles) However long that turns out to be. I've always believed that the length of a life didn't matter as much as how it was lived. We can't preserve life forever, so we need to do the right things in the time we have. Yes, I'd expect that from a man who could use a ship as a photon torpedo. A smile from both. By our measure, Kes didn't have a long life. But she had a marvelous one. She learned so much...and she taught so much as well. (beat) You're right...we can't preserve anything forever. Perhaps...perhaps even destroying something like that chamber can have a meaning greater than leaving it to expire on its own. So many people might live again...and the children they never had a chance to have. Someday, perhaps very soon, that chamber will be gone. Perhaps making use of it while it lasts...is forgivable. (beat) Chakotay. This will be risky. But if all four of you agree to make the attempt, I think we should try. Neelix would like to try right now, no matter whether we've worked all the bugs out yet...Wildman wants her baby back again. Paris isn't too comfortable here...and I think Kim isn't too comfortable with him either. That's three who'll agree. Chakotay is fighting his conflicting impulses, but he knows what his answer has to be. A long beat. Four... Janeway nods slightly. Very well. Here are your orders. (Formal.) You will take the device as soon as Lt. Torres tells me it's ready. You will return to the crystal chamber with your party. Once there, you will set charges and track the time movements until you have returned to your starting point. Then you will detonate the charges to stop the movement and allow Voyager to harvest the crystals it needs. Do you have any questions, Commander? No, Captain. It's very clear. Thank you...for your advice. (dark humor) Any time. I've missed your advice, you know. I'll miss it again. This is as close as she will come to saying what they both know is true. Chakotay nods, his heart too full for speech. He begins to rise from the table. Would you remember that for me? (beat) For...her, I mean. Myself, in the past. Chakotay sits again. She'll never have lost you at all. She won't have had a chance to miss you. But she's the same woman. (beat) I wonder...would I want her to become what I am now? I'd like to spare her the sorrow. Sometimes...sorrow can lead to joy. Sometimes. And on the two of them sitting together... FADE OUT END OF ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE The camera moves over a big pile of equipment: electronic boxes, cables, monitors with blinking lights. It's spread out over the floor in a complicated tangle. (NOTE: It's important that there be a lot of bulk and weight to this assortment. It's a heavy load for four people.) TORRES, JANEWAY, PARIS, NEELIX, WILDMAN and CHAKOTAY are arranging all the components, picking things up and moving them, stepping over cables and tripping. TORRES hunkers down by a monitor to show everyone the controls. See, this counter will tell you how far you've traveled. This shows your direction, into past or future, and this tells you the outside stardate. You started from xxxxx.x (a), and right now it's xxxxx.x (b). Voyager's first visit here ended at xxxxx.x (c). Any time between (a) and (c) will do, but obviously the closer you get to your starting point, the better. What if we go beyond it and end up landing before Voyager got here in the first place? Beat while everyone looks at Paris. Don't do that. All right, we won't. Now where does this cable plug into the [tech device]? Not there! Match the color-coded slots. Don't mix the connections when you set this up again in the cave. I'll include step-by-step instructions. And be sure to ask your questions now. There won't be any way to call for advice. Just us, a lot of fancy computer equipment, and a user's manual? Great. We can do it. It will work. It's got to. I want to be sure all of you understand what the risks are before you embark on this mission. Yeah, we know. (ticking off on fingers) The caves could collapse in an earthquake. The timing device might not work. The magma could reach the chamber before we've moved far enough back in time. That's the greatest risk. If that happens, even though you have moved into the past, I believe that the overlapping temporal dimensions will allow the magma to enter the chamber in all times. Once you've set off the charges and destroyed the crystal matrix, all those extra dimensions will disappear. The chamber's existence will become an ordinary one. Seven years ago, there was no threat of an eruption, so you'll be safe. I'm giving you four [tech] charges to put at the corners of the chamber. They'll have a concussive effect, enough to knock most of the crystals down from the walls and ceiling. I don't know how much disruption will be necessary to stop the movement, so I'm going to overdo it rather than risk failure. (beat) Sorry, Chakotay. Chakotay pulls a tight smile. Since in this time the magma may reach the chamber, we won't be able to get the crystals unless they're taken some distance away. We can make a pile on the surface. I guess you'll know if we succeeded—since the pile will appear when we enter the chamber. If we're here to see it, we'll know. A beat while everyone considers. There's no time to lose. Let's get this packed into the shuttle. Engineering crew begin to load all the components into containers and packs. Janeway and Chakotay help. Janeway picks up a cable, and Chakotay accidentally grasps the other end so that there is a brief tug-of-war—they look up at each other, and Janeway releases her hold on the cable. Chakotay tries to keep her gaze, but she moves away to do something else. Chakotay rolls up the cable and puts it away. EXT. PLANET SURFACE - JUST OUTSIDE CAVE ENTRANCE The atmosphere is thick with yellowish fog. Everyone is coughing. JANEWAY, TORRES, and KIM are helping CHAKOTAY, PARIS, NEELIX and WILDMAN put on backpacks full of equipment and supplies. There are several large carrying cases as well, to hold all the tangle that we saw in Engineering. TORRES packs in the last of it, snaps the case closed and stands up. It's all here. And these are the instructions. (She hands Chakotay a PADD.) Sorry I couldn't streamline the design more. You didn't have a lot of time. Just enough. (The earth quakes and everyone sways.) You'd better get going. Be sure that you enter the chamber within thirty seconds of each other. That way you'll all be within the same temporal dimension. Aye, Captain. Everyone picks up their carrying cases, but Paris puts his down to shake hands with Kim. Torres stands by, and Paris nods at her pregnant belly. Hey, Harry...name him "Tom", OK? I already have.
The three embrace, and Paris picks up his load again. B'Elanna, I think we'd better go back to the shuttle to get out of this air. (She nods, extends her hand to Chakotay, and they leave.) Captain...how do you think Naomi will feel about my leaving? Don't worry, Samantha. If all goes well...she won't ever have lost her mother at all. Janeway and Chakotay are back to back, occupied with equipment and not looking at each other. Paris glances at them. Sensing that they might have something to say to each other in private: We'll wait when we get to the entrance of the chamber. Paris beckons to Neelix and Wildman, and they exit through the cave mouth. Chakotay is just putting on his pack. He turns, and he and Janeway realize that they are alone. Chakotay lets his burden drop slowly to the ground as he faces Janeway. Janeway gives him a brisk nod. Commander. Good luck.
Chakotay looks at her, trying to see beyond the professional facade, then stoops
to pick up his
pack again. Janeway's face changes, and when he looks up again, her emotions are
written
plainly. A long beat while they lock gazes. Janeway tries to turn away and go,
but she can't move.
Chakotay's pack hits the ground, and he steps forward to offer her his arms.
They embrace,
Janeway's face visible over Chakotay's shoulder, the tears starting. No time to lose. The ground trembles and they nearly fall, but catch hold of each other and steady themselves. They let go of each other immediately. Goodbye, Chakotay... Janeway backs off a few steps, then turns to go. Soon she is lost to sight in the clouds of yellow fumes. Chakotay lifts his pack and exits into the cave. INT. CRYSTAL CHAMBER The light comes only from lanterns and beacons. CHAKOTAY, PARIS, NEELIX and WILDMAN are finishing the equipment setup in the chamber. Cables and sensors snake over the ground and up the walls. OK, switch it on. Neelix hits a key on a console, and the whole array lights up like Christmas bulbs. Everyone smiles. Right the first time. So, uh...when are we, anyway? (peering at a screen) We're moving backwards...we're back to about six weeks before we came in. Is that all? Aren't we going awfully slowly? Yes, we are. That's a lot more slowly than B'Elanna counted on. Well, we've got plenty of food and water for waiting it out. (He sits and takes out a snack.) How much time do we have before the magma moves up this high? The captain wasn't sure. Could be a day from now, or could be a month. I guess all we can do is wait. Everyone settles back and gets comfortable. Chakotay gazes at the crystalline ceiling, his expression pensive. The camera follows his gaze and tracks over the glittering surface...and the charges planted on the ceiling. TIME DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CAVE, HOURS LATER Is it getting warm in here? (Checking readout) The temperature's risen by twenty degrees since we came in. The magma must be moving up through the caves... (He comes back to the group.) Can it really get in here? After all, we're not in the same time as the eruption any more. There is a noise at the entrance to the cave, and everyone's gaze snaps in that direction. CAREY and AYALA climb in, looking gaunt and ragged, clearly on their last legs. But they are transparent and misty, their voices only faintly audible. They aren't really here... We'll jump out again in thirty seconds. Maybe, this time... I hope so... Ayala? He reaches out a hand, and they pass through it and vanish. He shudders. A long beat while everyone swallows hard. We're in a lot of times simultaneously. The physical dimensions overlap here—or will, until we explode the charges. And it is really getting warm in here. He wipes his face.Everyone is visibly sweating. Another earthquake hits and dust sifts down over everything. (looking at the monitor) We're still five years short of our goal. We've got to go faster! What can we do? The captain couldn't determine what governs the movement rate. But Carey and Ayala moved much faster than we did. And now we're moving more slowly than we did in the first place. What's going on? Why is it different?(He paces nervously and trips over a cable, yanking a console off balance.) Careful with that! (He grabs the console.) That's one thing that's different from our first trip—all this equipment. The electronics? Could that affect— Or the mass. The sheer bulk of all this stuff. (Beat) Carey and Ayala moved faster than we did...and there were only two of them, not four like our party. Oh no... Everyone looks at each other, panic raising its ugly head. But we can't get rid of anything! We need all these instruments just to tell where we are! The supplies! The food! Quickly everyone gathers up all the supplies and takes them to the entrance. Throw it all out of the chamber. Hurry! (He wipes dripping sweat from his face.) The party heaves everything out of the chamber. The ground is shaking. Check the movement rate! (at consoles) It's increased. We're going faster! Fast enough? I...I don't think so. The whole chamber is shaking, the heat increasing. There's nothing left to throw out!
Chakotay's decision is swift as a dive-bombing ship. Yes, there is. Commander! Chakotay is already heading to the entrance. You can't! There's nothing else. If any of us are going to survive, if Voyager is going to get the crystals— I'll go. I'm in command, Lieutenant, and there's no time to argue. Check the rate once I've gone. He makes to climb down out of the entrance. Wait, Commander! You might be able to get back into the same time-stream, or at least a similar one. Stay close to the chamber and jump back in after a few minutes. I'm coming with you. It'll only go faster, and...you won't be alone. Chakotay looks at Paris for the briefest of beats. Come on.
They jump down and vanish. It's accelerated tremendously! Look at that—only a few weeks to go! (She points at a graphic, with a red line moving backwards along a scale.) (looking up) Oh...oh... Wildman looks up too, and they both see the wall of the chamber beginning to glow red with the magma's heat. Are we going to make it? Where's the detonator? Neelix seizes it and poises a finger over the switch. No matter what—we have to let Voyager get the crystals! The hot spot on the wall is growing...Neelix and Wildman are suffering from the heat. An instrument near the wall explodes. The red line is almost at its goal. The two are beginning to scream with pain...and the wall is about to melt through and release a flood of magma into the chamber. Now! Neelix, now! Just one more second...
He watches the graphic, then hits the detonator switch. BOOM! The charges go off
and crystals
and rock rain down on them. Are we...did we...? The equipment's ruined. Only one way to find out where we are. Where's...Tom and Chakotay? I...I guess they didn't make it... Sorrow bows their heads, but they pack up some of the fallen crystals and climb out of the cave. INT. CAVE, NEAR ENTRANCE—DAY NEELIX and WILDMAN stagger along with their load. A shadow falls across the entrance. Hey! Neelix! Ensign! Thank God we've found you! We were just about to try going into the chamber after you. CAREY and AYALA enter the cave and help Neelix and Wildman sit. Ayala takes out a medkit and tends their wounds. How long were we gone? Two days. Where's Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Paris? I'm sorry to report, sir...they're probably dead. But you're alive! Why shouldn't we be alive? Carey to Voyager. INTERCUT—BRIDGE Janeway here. Something to report? Yes, Captain. That is...we've found Neelix and Wildman. They say Chakotay and Paris are dead. Dead? What killed them? PARIS emerges from the cave, carrying a pack. Nothing, yet. Tom! (emerging behind Paris) We landed a few minutes behind you when we jumped back into the chamber. A slightly different time stream. Uh, Captain...everyone's accounted for now. Thank God. That turned out to be a short rescue mission. Actually, Captain...it was a very long one. I'll explain when we're back on board. You do that. INT. SHUTTLE BAY CHAKOTAY, PARIS, NEELIX, and WILDMAN emerge from a shuttle. JANEWAY, TUVOK, TORRES, KIM and KESare there to greet them. Neelix instantly runs to Kes and embraces her, giving her a tender kiss. Janeway greets Wildman, Paris and Chakotay in much the same way she welcomed them home again, seven years in the future, embracing Wildman and giving Paris her hand. But she gives Chakotay a comradely clasp of the arm, without shyness. A crewmember comes forward with the infant Naomi and puts her in Wildman's arms. Neelix releases Kes and turns to Tuvok. Mr. Vulcan! It's certainly good to see you looking like your old self again! Neelix embraces Tuvok. The Vulcan stiffens, obviously afraid he's going to be the recipient of a kiss as well. Kes smiles in amusement, and Tuvok relaxes a little, with a resigned air. It's fortunate that all of you are well. Paris unlimbers his pack and pulls out a battered instrument. Hey, B'Elanna, Harry...take a look at this. What is it? You tell me...you built it. Huh? Paris, there are some questions about timeline contamination I have to settle with the captain before you start telling tall tales. Contamination? Does this have anything to do with why you insisted on building that pile of crystals on the surface? (to Torres) He put a message cylinder in it, but he wouldn't say who it was for. They shrug. Their former captain does things his own way. Captain, I'd like to speak to you before I file my report. No time like the present. (She indicates the door.) Commander? Janeway and Chakotay exit the shuttle bay and go into the corridor. Care for a cup of coffee? That sounds wonderful. He's looking at her hair, untouched by grey, and her smiling face. She senses something special in that look, and reaches out to touch him. It's good to have you back, Commander. You were missed. Chakotay smiles, happiness tempered with memory. I know. And captain and first officer go down the corridor together.
END OF ACT FIVE
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Existence
By: LR Bowen
A script for an original episode. Chakotay leads an away team to search for essential minerals on a geologically active planet. When they emerge from the beautiful crystal caves, Voyager is gone from orbit...and seven years have passed.
Rated: Fiction K - English - Words: 14,675 - Reviews: 7 - Favs: 2 - Published: Jul 24, 2001 - id: 368784
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Full 3/4 1/2 Expand Tighten
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