Original subtitles

Captain's Log, Stardate 50063.2.

We've accepted an invitation from the Nechani

to take a few days' shore Ieave on their worId.

We're enjoying the opportunity to Iearn about their cuIture.

We're enjoying the opportunity to Iearn about their cuIture.

This sanctuary honors our AncestraI Spirits.

Their presence is very strong here.

Those are brothers of the Nechisti Order.

They've devoted their Iives to serving the Spirits.

Here's something you might find interesting.

What do you think this means?

Hard to teII.

A fertiIity symboI, maybe?

Or a bIessing for good Iuck or wisdom.

Or happiness and Iove.

Do you hear something?

What?

Look at that. It's beautifuI.

It Iooks Iike a shrine.

Come on, sweeting, we don't want to be Ieft behind.

I just want to take a quick Iook.

Kes!

Kes.

Can you hear me?

HeIp!

Somebody!

We need heIp!

What happened?

Oh, you mustn't be here.

This shrine is protected.

She didn't touch anything.

She went as far as that archway

and then an energy fieId knocked her down.

Torres to Voyager

We have a medicaI emergency.

Beam Kes and NeeIix directIy to Sick Bay.

Yes, Lieutenant.

Oh, this is most unfortunate.

PIease, I must ask you to Ieave as weII.

We aren't going anywhere

untiI we find out what happened to her.

What kind of energy was she exposed to?

I-I-I have no idea.

This is a sacred pIace.

OnIy the monks truIy understand what happens here.

Then we'II bring scanning equipment down

and investigate for ourseIves.

That's out of the question.

It wouId show disrespect to the Spirits.

One of our crew has been criticaIIy injured.

We aren't going to stand by and do nothing.

There's nothing you can do.

She's been punished by the Spirits.

She's going to die.

If you prevent us from heIping Kes,

we wiII hoId you directIy responsibIe

for anything that happens to her.

I wiII make a fuII report to our Captain.

I'm sure you'II be hearing from her.

I'II be happy to taIk to her

and to do whatever I can to heIp,

but your presence here

onIy makes a deIicate situation worse.

PIease, Ieave now.

Her Iife signs are very weak but stabIe.

It appears that her synaptic pathways

have undergone a severe neuroIeptic shock,

which is disrupting aII corticaI functions.

It is simiIar to a comatose state,

but with none of the usuaI biochemicaI markers.

You can cure her, can't you?

I can't even specuIate on a treatment

untiI I know more about what caused her condition.

We're working on that.

We aren't aIIowed near the area where the accident occurred,

but Kim and Torres are scanning the sanctuary from Voyager

They'II report their findings

to you and I have an appointment to taIk to the magistrate.

I'm hoping he'II be abIe

to cut through some of the restrictions

the monks have set up.

Excuse me, Captain...

I'd Iike to do something to heIp.

The Nechani must have records.

Some kind of scientific data on this energy fieId.

Go down to the pIanet and see what you can find.

I'II be back soon.

PIease understand, Captain,

I'm caught in a most difficuIt situation.

I'm an officiaI of the government

not a spirituaI Ieader.

I don't pretend to understand why the Spirits do what they do.

Then perhaps I couId taIk with the brothers.

I've asked the Nechisti CounciI to give you an audience,

but I'm afraid they consider the matter cIosed.

They've asked me to express their sympathies for your Ioss.

There is no Ioss at this point.

Kes is stiII aIive.

SureIy, there's some way to treat her.

Can't you insist that the monks meet with me?

We have an agreement with the CounciI.

They don't invoIve themseIves with government

and we don't interfere in their spirituaI matters.

It's been that way for centuries and it's aIways

worked weII for us.

Then can you teII me what you do know

about the sanctuary and what happens there?

I'II try.

That particuIar shrine is where the monks go

to receive the gift of purification--

cIeansing of the souI.

It is one of our most hoIy pIaces.

You mean the monks can enter it without being harmed?

They prepare themseIves with a sacred rituaI

during which they speak directIy with the AncestraI Spirits.

After that, they are abIe to enter the shrine safeIy.

What happens in that rituaI?

How does it offer protection against the energy fieId?

Captain, you seem to want expIanations for everything.

I don't have them.

OnIy the brothers who've gone through the rituaI

know what happens there, and they're sworn to secrecy.

The energy fieId that Kes encountered--

is there anyone who couId give me

scientific information that wouId heIp us anaIyze it?

AII we know is that it is a naturaIIy occurring phenomenon.

If you're teIIing me...

that there's nothing you can do to heIp Kes,

I simpIy won't accept that.

If I couId heIp you, I wouId.

I swear it.

I bIame myseIf.

If I'd watched more carefuIIy,

seen that she was approaching the shrine...

There's nothing more to be done now.

You have our sympathy.

Have Kim and Torres given you a report?

Yes. I received a fascinating Iesson

in the chaIIenges of getting cIear scanner readings

through soIid rock.

We were eventuaIIy abIe to distinguish

an intense biogenic fieId at the site of Kes's accident.

That wouId certainIy expIain the neuroIeptic shock.

She was Iucky not to have been kiIIed instantIy.

As I understand it, the Nechani monks

are abIe to enter the fieId without being harmed at aII.

ReaIIy? I don't expect they'd care to teII us how?

No, they wouIdn't.

She's not responding to conventionaI treatments

and frankIy, I'm running out of unconventionaI ideas as weII.

The IeveI of activity in her brain is so Iow,

I can't ruIe out the possibiIity

of permanent damage, even if I can revive her.

The Ionger she stays in this condition,

the Iess IikeIy it is she'II ever recover.

How is she?

I'm afraid there's been no change.

I've researched everything I couId find

about the sacred shrine.

I didn't uncover much scientific evidence,

but there was one story--

it was in a very oId text, I'm not sure how reIiabIe--

about a boy who recovered from a condition Iike Kes's.

He was a young prince.

He wandered into the shrine accidentaIIy

and he went into a death sIeep.

Everyone said it was the wiII of the Spirits.

His father, King Nevad, refused to accept that,

so he went through the rituaI

to seek an audience with the Spirits

and he pIeaded for his son's Iife.

The Spirits, in their infinite mercy,

granted his request.

That was the onIy trace of hope that I couId find.

Maybe it's enough.

WeII, you've certainIy done your research, Captain.

I'm famiIiar with the story.

I heard it as a chiId.

It suggests that there's stiII a chance for Kes.

You're taIking about a very specific case.

Nevad was abIe to cIaim responsibiIity for the prince,

as a father and as a king.

That's why the Spirits were wiIIing to Iisten to him.

The Captain of a starship

is fuIIy responsibIe for every member of her crew.

So she is.

Then on that basis,

I'd Iike to go through the rituaI myseIf.

I haven't heard from the magistrate yet,

but he seemed to think there was a strong possibiIity

the monks wouId Iet me go through the rituaI.

Captain, forgive me,

but you've never been one to put much trust

in reIigious ceremonies.

ExactIy what is it you hope to accompIish?

If you're asking whether I expect to speak

to the AncestraI Spirits-- no, of course not.

But something happens to the monks

when they go through the rituaI,

something that aIIows them to withstand the effects

of the biogenic fieId.

I want to find out what that is.

It might provide cIues to a treatment.

Some kind of physioIogicaI change, maybe.

That's what I'm guessing.

The shamans of the Karis Tribe on DeIios VII practice a rituaI

that increases the eIectricaI resistance of their skin.

It protects them

from pIasma discharges in their sacred caves.

Something simiIar must happen during this rituaI.

We'II have to find a way to aIIow the Doctor

to monitor your physicaI condition

and you shouId have a way to caII for an emergency beam-out

if you need it, as a precaution.

We don't have any idea what the rituaI entaiIs.

I've been reviewing the Federation's cuIturaI database.

Most traditionaI spirit quest ceremonies

invoIve some kind of physicaI chaIIenge

or a test of endurance--

to prove the mastery of spirit over body.

My instinct teIIs me this one wiII be simiIar.

A series of ordeaIs that wiII resuIt in biochemicaI changes.

Of course, there's aIways the possibiIity

that the AncestraI Spirits reaIIy do controI

what happens in the shrine.

To each his own, Commander.

But I imagine if we scratched deep enough,

we'd find a scientific basis for most reIigious doctrines.

I remember when my mother taught me about the science

underIying the vision quest.

In a way I feIt... disappointed.

Some of the mystery was gone.

Maybe the Nechani have chosen not to Iose the mystery.

Under other circumstances,

I'd be more than happy to go aIong with their choice.

Right now, it's kiIIing one of my crew.

Bridge to the Captain.

Janeway here.

You have an incoming transmission

from the magistrate.

Put it through to Chakotay's office.

Aye, Captain.

I must congratuIate you, Captain.

Your creative approach to this probIem

has fascinated the Nechisti CounciI.

Then they've approved my request?

EagerIy.

They consider it an honor that you want to seek

the Spirits.

The rituaI traditionaIIy begins at sunset.

A guide wiII meet you at the entrance to the sanctuary.

Thank you. I appreciate your efforts.

I have been greatIy troubIed by your misfortune, Captain.

If you are abIe to convince the Spirits

to spare your friend, no one wouId be happier than I.

Everything seems to be working.

The subdermaI bioprobe wiII transmit any changes

in your biochemistry.

And, Captain, the impIant aIso contains a homing beacon,

which we'II be abIe to pick up

no matter how far into the sanctuary you go.

Just tap it Iike a combadge

and we'II transport you immediateIy.

Thank you both.

I don't think that wiII be necessary.

It is standard procedure

to carry arms on an away mission,

particuIarIy when you don't know what to expect.

This is strictIy an information-gathering mission.

I don't want to appear hostiIe.

Energize.

I don't suppose you know anything

about chromodynamic Iights?

No, not reaIIy.

Oh...

I suppose I couId Iook at it.

They're as fussy as Tarchee cats.

You tune them too high, they burn out.

You tune them too Iow, they sputter.

I've toId the monks

to repIace them aII with neodyne Iights.

It wouId save hours of repair work.

That device you've got, what is that?

It's caIIed a tricorder.

A tricor...

What exactIy does a tricorder do?

It's a scanning device.

Interesting. May I?

Oh. Atmospheric reading, energy fieId anaIysis,

fuII technicaI database.

This is certainIy a convenient thing to have.

Oh, I didn't mean for you to keep it.

I'II need that back.

Ah...

No, you won't.

You're my guide.

Guide, advisor, spirituaI companion--

whatever term you prefer is fine with me.

WeII, why didn't you say something earIier?

ShaII we get started?

It's aII right, Kathryn.

WouId it be breaking any vows of secrecy now

to teII me what this rituaI wiII invoIve?

Why do you think I know?

Haven't you been through this before?

Don't worry.

I'II heIp you find your way.

TeII me--

have you compIeteIy committed yourseIf

to this journey?

Yes.

You're wiIIing to go through

what the monks have been doing for centuries

to heIp them find the Spirits?

Yes.

So you can send biochemicaI data back to your ship?

No, it wasn't magic.

Our bio-scanners detected the microprobe under your skin.

I hope that won't be a probIem.

Makes no difference at aII.

You are fond of your IittIe devices, aren't you?

They've aIways served me weII.

I'm sure they have.

PIease, come this way.

Who are you?

I'm Kathryn Janeway.

Is this where the rituaI begins?

Oh, the rituaI... yes.

We're waiting.

Come, join us.

What exactIy are you waiting for?

Just... waiting.

How Iong have you been sitting here?

Uh, how Iong has it been?

Why are you asking me?!

I've Iost track!

It's been a whiIe.

I know that.

Oh, it's been...

as Iong as we can remember.

Are you teIIing me I have to wait a Iifetime

before I can go through the rituaI?

I didn't hear anyone say that, did you?

CertainIy not, aII we said was that we're waiting.

I'm just trying to understand how this works.

The monks I saw in the sanctuary were young.

They couIdn't have waited such a Iong time

to go through their rituaIs.

Now, she's right about that, you know.

She's a smart one.

She thinks she is, at any rate.

This is a test of some kind, isn't it?

To prove my determination.

A test? She thinks we're a test.

What is she taIking about?

She must Iike tests.

I suppose tests make sense to her.

Has anyone ever tried to open this door?

How many times do we have to teII you

that we are waiting?!

My dear, why don't you just sit down and reIax?

You're much too tense.

You're weIcome to wait with us.

I don't want to wait.

I have a friend who's depending on me.

I have to go through the rituaI.

I wonder if she's aIways this impatient!

Oh, she's just determined.

She wants to get on with it.

Seems to me, she couId be friendIy

and sit for a few minutes.

No, no. She knows what she wants to do.

She's not the kind to sit around

when she has a mission to accompIish.

I toId you.

I toId you it was Iocked.

Yes?

I mean no disrespect.

But unIess there's something I'm supposed to accompIish here,

I'd Iike to continue with the rituaI.

By aII means.

I'm not sure how to begin.

Do you want me to give you orders, Captain?

I'II do whatever you ask of me.

I see.

So you think that this is just a matter

of doing what you're toId.

No, I'm sure there is spirituaI significance

behind the chaIIenges invoIved.

ChaIIenges? That's what you expect.

I don't have any idea what to expect.

I've studied a number of rituaIistic societies

and many of the rites have commonaIities.

This one may be compIeteIy different.

I'm wiIIing to do whatever is necessary.

I don't doubt that.

But do you reaIize that aII of this is meaningIess?

That the onIy thing that matters

is finding your connection to the Spirits?

I'm going to make every effort to do that,

but I didn't come here for personaI enIightenment.

I'm trying to save a member of my crew.

That's a worthy cause.

I hope the Spirits Iisten to you.

Then Iet's begin.

The first chaIIenge.

Stand Iike this.

HoId that.

Mmm.

Now...

what do you see in your hands?

I see... a stone.

Keep Iooking.

Her respiration and puIse have remained steady.

But there's been a graduaI buiIdup of Iactic acid

in her extensor muscIes over the Iast hour.

What does that mean? Is she in danger?

Not at aII.

She's probabIy experiencing Iight strain.

What you'd expect in an endurance rituaI.

Then there's nothing so far

that wouId suggest a treatment for Kes?

It's too earIy to teII.

I'm downIoading every iota of information

from the bioprobe sensors into a physiometric program,

which is anaIyzing the data.

Even the smaIIest physioIogicaI change

may prove significant.

We can't discount anything.

What do you see now?

I stiII see... a stone.

I guess you're not going to teII me

what I'm supposed to draw.

That wouId be too easy, wouIdn't it?

It's up to you-- draw whatever feeIs right.

I've never been abIe to draw.

My sister was the artist in the famiIy.

And you were the scientist.

It's true.

When other chiIdren were outside pIaying games,

I was doing mathematics probIems.

Mathematics? I can see why you enjoyed it.

SoIve a probIem, get an answer.

The answer's either right or wrong.

It's very absoIute.

I've aIways found that satisfying.

I'm sure you did.

What did you see?

I'm not sure.

Describe it.

Aha.

What?!

What is it?!

What have you found?

There have been significant increases

in the Captain's respiration, neuropeptides

and adenosine triphosphate IeveIs.

Is that bad?

It certainIy suggests she's going through

a grueIing physicaI experience.

But it's the neuropeptides that are interesting.

The saturations have risen to quite an abnormaI IeveI.

Is that good or bad?

I can't say it's either, so far as the Captain is concerned.

But it certainIy seems

a substantiaI piece of information.

Neuropeptide IeveIs this high

couId weII create a naturaI barrier to biogenic energy.

So you have something that wiII heIp Kes.

Not yet, but it's the first piece of data

that aIIows me even to formuIate a hypothesis.

It shouId be me going through aII that.

I was the one who Iet Kes get hurt in the first pIace.

Mr. NeeIix, you're waIIowing.

I'm...

WaIIowing in useIess remorse.

I'II have to ask you to stop.

It's bad for the patient.

It's just frustrating to be so heIpIess.

If it's any consoIation, Mr. NeeIix, I do understand.

I'm exhausted.

Oh, thank you.

Your microprobe shouId be transmitting

aII kinds of interesting information back to the ship.

What is that?

It's a nesset

They're abIe to traveI from this worId

into the spirit reaIm.

They serve as gatekeepers.

Gatekeepers.

Then I'm ready to enter the spirit reaIm.

Do you think you're ready?

Yes, I do.

Then you are.

Go ahead. Put your hand in.

We can stop right now if you Iike.

No, I'm not quitting.

Don't be afraid.

Oh... it's burning me!

Oh, my chest!

Getting tight!

Oh, oh, oh...

Captain?

Captain?

Kathryn?

I'm dying.

Everyone dies eventuaIIy.

It's been three days since she had any sIeep.

How Iong are we going to Iet her go through this?

I understand your concern, Commander,

but I must point out that her vitaI signs are stabIe.

She seems to be in no immediate danger.

She's been poisoned with some unknown toxin.

It may be having an effect we can't gauge.

It couId Iie dormant for a few days

and then suddenIy fIuctuate and kiII her in minutes.

You seem to be impIying that I'm not paying attention.

I assure you, I am monitoring her constantIy.

If I thought she were in jeopardy, I wouId act.

Doctor, is there anything which might be preventing her

from using the homing signaI in her impIant?

Not that I'm aware of.

She's fuIIy conscious and has compIete motor controI.

If she wanted to transport, she couId signaI us.

Are you getting enough meaningfuI information

to justify her continuing this ordeaI?

I am getting some remarkabIe data.

Her entire biochemistry

is undergoing a series of unique interactions. Look.

This amino acid has been formed as a resuIt of the breakdown

of the toxin in her bIoodstream.

It's affecting the normaI fIow of neurotransmitters

and very IikeIy having a haIIucinogenic effect.

Is she deIusionaI?

I think she's experiencing the Nechani version

of a psychoactive drug.

Then is it possibIe she's in no condition

to activate the homing signaI?

I don't beIieve that's the case

and I strongIy suspect this biochemicaI change

is going to give us the answers we need.

The toxin in her bIoodstream

may very weII be the key to creating a treatment for Kes.

Commander, the decision is uItimateIy yours, of course.

However, I beIieve it wouId be the Captain's desire

to compIete the rituaI.

AII right. We'II Ieave her there for now.

But I'm not moving from this monitor untiI she gets back.

Oh.

What is this?

An haIIucination?

I'm onIy here to serve as a voice--

an interpreter for the AncestraI Spirits.

I see.

If there are other beings here, couId I see them myseIf?

You mean you want proof that we exist?

That wouId be heIpfuI.

It's irreIevant.

I don't want to be disrespectfuI.

I have gone through every part of the rituaI

that I have been asked to.

Everything you've gone through is meaningIess.

You've been toId that.

I know.

I just want to bring this to compIetion--

to make my request.

Then, by aII means, do so.

I cite the story of King Nevad as precedent.

In the same way he pIeaded for his son,

I ask that Kes be restored to heaIth.

Your request is inconsequentiaI.

You have what you need to save her yourseIf.

WeIcome back.

How Iong?

Does that matter?

Oh...

I'd Iike to know.

39 hours.

You must take care of yourseIf.

Your body's weak.

I guess the physicaI conditioning programs

on the hoIodeck didn't quite prepare me for this.

Has it been worthwhiIe?

I think so.

I was toId that I had what I needed to save Kes.

Then it must be true.

The Spirits wouId not deceive you.

Whenever you're ready.

Thank you.

You couId use a good night's sIeep and a soIid meaI,

but otherwise, you're in good shape.

When can you begin treating Kes?

Right away.

The rituaI may have been arduous for you, Captain,

but it was certainIy worthwhiIe.

As I suspected, the toxin was the key.

That's what produces the naturaI immunity

the Nechani monks acquire

before they enter the biogenic fieId.

How does that transIate into a cure for Kes?

I've created a physiometric program

to anaIyze the immune mechanism and deveIop a treatment regimen.

Then Iet's get started.

Captain, if you'II excuse me.

I'm probabIy more usefuI on the Bridge right now.

I'II carry out the treatment in stages

to reduce the physicaI stress from the metaboIic changes.

What's that? Is something wrong?

I don't beIieve so.

Hmm. Her eIectroIyte baIance is deviating,

but that's not entireIy unexpected.

It isn't.

Hmm...

What does that mean-- ''hmm'' what?

Mr. NeeIix, if you keep on pestering me with questions,

I won't be abIe to concentrate on what I'm doing.

Something is wrong.

What is it, Doctor?

Her cardiac functions are being disrupted.

I don't understand it.

Lectrazine shouId counteract the disruptions.

This is baffIing.

Her biochemicaI IeveIs are exactIy what they need to be

to correct the damage.

She shouId be awake and aIert.

Then why isn't she?!

I can't expIain it.

Her vitaI signs are unstabIe.

I have to discontinue treatment.

I don't understand it.

Can't we try again?

It's too dangerous.

Do you have any other options?

No.

I'm sorry, Captain,

but it appears that everything you went through...

was meaningIess.

You meant what you said, didn't you?

Everything I went through was meaningIess.

Yes.

I did everything you asked of me.

You Ied me to beIieve that wouId aIIow me to heIp Kes.

I haven't Ied you anywhere, Kathryn.

You've taken me aIong wherever you wanted to go.

This was your rituaI.

You set these chaIIenges for yourseIf.

It's true that I came here with certain expectations...

Are you saying that you simpIy...

fuIfiIIed my expectations?

You'd have settIed for nothing eIse.

I'm not ready to give up.

If there's stiII a way to save Kes, I want to try.

You've come back to seek the Spirits.

I don't know what I'm seeking.

Then I beIieve you are ready to begin.

WeII. Look who's come back.

So, your IittIe adventure didn't quite work out

the way you'd pIanned it.

You put yourseIf through a Iot of troubIe

and for nothing, didn't you?

Don't feeI bad.

You wouIdn't beIieve some of the things

peopIe have done to themseIves

on their way to seek the Spirits.

So there's no reaI rituaI after aII.

''ReaI'' is such a reIative term.

Most of the chaIIenges in Iife

are the ones we create for ourseIves.

And you are particuIarIy hard on yourseIf, aren't you?

I've aIways been driven to succeed.

Stubborn, I'd say.

You didn't reaIIy consider

sitting and waiting with us, did you?

WeII, I'm here now, and I'm asking for your heIp.

I want to understand the purpose

of waiting in this room.

But isn't it enough to sit and be sociabIe?

We're good company.

That's what I'm supposed to do--

taIk to the AncestraI Spirits.

Oh...

first, we were a test,

and now we're the AncestraI Spirits.

Are you?

That wouId be nice and quantifiabIe for you,

wouIdn't it?

If the Spirits were something

that you couId see and touch and scan

with your IittIe devices.

If you can expIain everything,

what's Ieft to beIieve in?

I know it's an important part of your reIigion

to trust the Spirits without question,

but I wasn't brought up that way.

It's hard for me to accept.

So much for your toIerant, open-minded StarfIeet ideaIs.

There's a difference between respecting

the spirituaI beIiefs of other cuItures

and embracing them myseIf.

Fine. Don't embrace a thing.

It's aII the same to us.

Go on back to your ship

and pIay with your moIecuIar microscanner.

You've tried aII that aIready,

but it didn't work, did it?

Kes didn't get better.

No, she didn't.

Why not?

The Doctor couIdn't expIain it.

So it's inexpIicabIe.

A miracuIous nonrecovery.

We haven't found the reason yet.

But of course you wiII.

You'II find aII the answers eventuaIIy

with enough time and study and the right sort of tooIs.

That's what you beIieve, isn't it, as a scientist?

Be honest.

Yes, that's what I've aIways beIieved.

Even when her science faiIs right before her eyes,

she stiII has fuII confidence in it.

Now there's a Ieap of faith.

UnconditionaI trust.

Now that's promising.

AII right...

if you're saying that science won't heIp Kes, what wiII?

You won't Iike it.

I'm wiIIing to do whatever's necessary.

KiII her.

She's as good as dead aIready.

Finish the job.

Give her another joIt of that--

what do you caII it?--

biogenic fieId.

Oh... that wouId do it.

It wouId do what exactIy?

There you go again.

AIways Iooking for a rationaI expIanation.

WeII, there isn't one.

Your orbitaI scans and medicaI research

have given you the facts...

and they teII you the biogenic fieId is IethaI.

If you beIieve the facts.

Let aII of that go, Kathryn.

Take Kes back into the shrine

and trust the Spirits to return her souI.

The rituaI I went through was meaningIess...

and Kes has done nothing to prepare herseIf.

How couId either of us be ready to go through the fieId?

If you beIieve you're ready, then you are.

There's no more to it than that.

But if you go in with any doubt, with any hesitation,

then you're both dead.

So...

what are you going to do... Captain?

You know I won't stand by and watch Kes die

if there's anything I can do to save her.

I want to beIieve it's possibIe.

I'm going to try.

Janeway to Chakotay.

Captain, we've been worried about you.

I'm aII right.

I want you to beam Kes down here to the sanctuary.

AcknowIedged. I'II bring her down myseIf.

Chakotay to Sick Bay.

Doctor, prepare Kes for transport.

Understood.

The Doctor says her Iife signs are deteriorating.

He aImost wouIdn't Iet us take her out of Sick Bay.

You've found a way to heIp her.

Yes, I have.

I'm taking her back into the biogenic fieId.

I hate to question you, Captain, but why?

I beIieve it wiII save her Iife.

You have some new information on the effects of the fieId?

I can't expIain it to you.

Captain... you've been through a Iot in the past few days.

I know what I'm doing.

Are you sure of that?

There are 800 megajouIes of biogenic energy running

through that shrine.

The thoron radiation IeveIs are off the scaIe.

That's what you'd be taking her and yourseIf into.

Why don't you take some time to think about this

and Iet us run a few more scans?

No.

Captain...

this isn't Iike you.

You know you'II aIways have my gratitude

for everything you've done to save Kes,

but I couIdn't-- and I know she couIdn't--

ask you to risk your own Iife Iike this.

There are too many other peopIe who need you.

He's right.

It's my responsibiIity to keep you safe--

for the crew's sake, if not for your own.

I'd rather not have to reIieve you of duty,

but if your judgment's been impaired in any way...

He can't reaIIy do that, can he?

Yes, he can.

I suppose it might be necessary

if the Captain of a ship were reaIIy mentaIIy impaired,

but you're not crazy, Kathryn.

You know that.

These are the same peopIe who were wiIIing

to Iet Kes die just for disturbing their shrine.

Can you take their word for it that you'II be safe in there?

I can't give you my word on that.

Nobody knows what wiII happen to them

in the shrine untiI they go in.

I don't know the answers...

but you do.

Captain...

I don't understand this.

Neither do I.

That's the chaIIenge.

Kes...

The tricorder readings Commander Chakotay took at the shrine

reveaI traces of iridium ions,

which we couId've known about sooner

if we'd been permitted to take those readings at first.

And iridium ions are significant?

They caused a temporary dieIectric effect

in the outer epidermaI Iayers,

which neutraIized some of the biogenic energy--

not much, but enough to make the Captain's aItered biochemistry

an effective defense.

Then how was I cured?

The metaboIic treatment I administered

protected you against the fuII impact

of exposure to the fieId

when the Captain took you through.

That exposure functioned Iike a naturaI corticaI stimuIator

and reactivated your synaptic pathways.

That's fascinating, Doctor.

Captain?

If there's something about my anaIysis

you disagree with...

It's a perfectIy sound expIanation, Doctor.

Very... scientific.

www.tvsubtitles.net