Demon




Rating




Favorite Quotes


"Make yourself at home!" --- The Doctor

"Don't tell me that a big, tough guy like you is afraid of a little poisoned atmosphere." --- Tom

".........and I volunteer my good buddy Harry to take the first shift!" --- Tom Paris

Synopsis


While traveling toward home, Voyager suddenly enters grey mode. “The remaining systems are operating at twenty percent capacity.” Harry says. Janeway walks over to Tom “Tom, how long can you keep us flying?” “Even at one quarter impulse we’ll be out of gas in a week.” “Everybody redouble your efforts. Keep your eyes open for new sources of deuterium. Tuvok, Chakotay, I want recommendations for new methods of conservation. Harry, you and I will give them a hand in Astrophysics, see if we can’t make a synthetic fuel. For the meantime we stay in grey mode. If anybody’s got any other idea, I’m open for suggestion.” Janeway looks around the bridge to see if anyone has any ideas. Then Tom speaks up. “We could set up a bicycle in the Mess Hall, attach a generator, and peddle our way home.” “Now why didn’t I think of that?” Janeway says with a smile on her face. “......and I volunteer Harry to take the first shift.” Tom says. Harry glares at Tom and Janeway laughs. Janeway then turns and leaves the bridge. * * * Tuvok and several crewmen are in a darkened corridor. “Living space will be extremely limited. Take only those personal items that are absolutely essential.” Tuvok continues to walk down the corridor as crewmembers head for the turbolift. Neelix then comes running around a corner and bumps into Tuvok. Both of them fall to the floor. “Hello there!” shouts Neelix. He then frantically picks up his belongings. Tuvok picks up a book that Neelix dropped. “What may I ask, is this?” he says. Neelix looks up at Tuvok. “That, Mr. Vulcan, is the selected works of Jeracks.” “You can only take essential items, Mr. Neelix.” “Oh, Jeracks is essential! He’s the greatest writer in the Talaxian canon. I never go to sleep without reading at least one of his parables.” “A habit you will have to break, until we’re able to restore power to crew quarters.” Tuvok informs Neelix. “I suppose I can try.” Neelix tells him. “And these?” asks Tuvok, picking up one of Neelix’s pillows. “I.....I...get terrible neck pains without them.” Neelix says. “I suggest you asks the Doctor for an anti - flamitory.” “Oh, fine. I don’t mind roughing it.” Neelix tells Tuvok. Neelix then starts to walk down the corridor. “Mr. Neelix, the blankets.” “No. No! That’s where I draw the line! My mother knitted these herself. I’ve slept with them since I was a child.” “You’ll have to make do with standard issue bedding.” Tuvok tells Neelix. “But those Starfleet blankets give me a rash!” “I suggest you ask the Doctor for.............” “I know! I know! Some anti - itch cream! I might as well sleep in sickbay!” Neelix then is silent for a moment. He turns to Tuvok. “Thank you, Mr. Vulcan! You’ve just given me an idea!” He quickly runs toward the turbolift leaving a confused Tuvok holding his belongings. * * * Chakotay storms into Astrometrics. “What’s going on here?” he asks Seven. “I am working.” she replies. “You were orders to shut down Astrometrics an hour ago. We can’t afford to loose the power! Seven, it’s inefficient!” “Efficiency is relative, Commander. If I shut down Astrometrics I won’t be able to scan for a new power source.” “I appreciate your efforts, but we’ll have to use conventional scanners...........” Chakotay is interrupted by a beeping console. “Conventional scanners would not have found this.” “What?” “Highly concentrated deuterium.” “Where?” A planet appears on the Astrometrics screen. “A planet four light years from our current position.” Seven replies. “There is deuterium just below the surface.” “Maybe so, but that’s a Demon - Class planet.” “Demon - Class?” asks Seven. “That’s what Starfleet calls it. It’s also known as a Class - Y. It has a toxic atmosphere; surface temperatures are an excess of 500 degrees Kelvin.” “Our situation is desperate.” “True,” replies Chakotay. “When faced with desperate circumstances we must adapt.” Seven informs the Commander. Then they both look at the Astrometrics screen. * * * Voyager is in orbit above the Demon - Class planet. Seven of Nine is in the transporter room. She tells the transporter chief to narrow the confinement beam so they can beam some deuterium aboard Voyager. * * * Janeway is on the bridge. “Seven, do it.” she tells her over the comm system. * * * In the transporter room the deuterium begins to materialize. Seven informs Janeway that the transport is in progress. All of a sudden the console explodes, sending the transporter chief flying across the room. Seven rushes past him to the console. She tries to abort the transport. * * * Voyager starts to shake and Tuvok tells Janeway that shields are weakening. “There is an overload in the transporter buffers.” Kim tells Janeway. * * * “The controls are not responding!” shouts Seven. Smoke continues to come out of the console. * * * “Seven, get out of there now!” Janeway shouts. * * * Seven runs the transporter chief’s side and drags him out of the transporter room. Once Seven and the officer are out, she orders the computer to seal the transporter room doors and erect a level ten forcefield. Then a small explosion sends smoke and sparks flying. Seven collapses to the floor and gasps. * * * All of the senior staff, except Seven and the Doctor, are in the conference room. Chakotay is standing and talking. “The good news is that Seven and Nezowa are okay and have been released from Sickbay , and the planetary gasses have been expelled from the transporter room.” “And the bad news?” asks Janeway. “The transporters are off line. It’ll take days to get them back again.” “Great! We loose valuable energy on a course change and all we get for our trouble is another downed system.” mutters Janeway. She then turns to face Tuvok. “Can we send a probe to the surface to collect the deuterium?” Tuvok tells her that the probe would dissolve once it entered the atmosphere. Janeway then informs the staff that they are going to resume their original course. Everybody gets up to leave. Then Harry gets an idea. “Captain, maybe I can help.” “Harry, the bicycle thing was just a joke.” Tom says. Chakotay smiles. Harry ignores him. “I’ve been thinking. With Tuvok’s shield modifications and a few tweaks to some environmental suits, I could take a shuttle to the surface and mine the deuterium from there.” “Need I remind you Ensign, that there is no environment less hospitable to humanoid life, then a Class - Y.” Tuvok informs him. “Actually Tuvok, no, you needn’t remind me. What’s the alternative? Resume course? Creep along at half impulse hoping we find fuel before we end up dead in the water? We’ve got deuterium within arms reach. We can’t let the opportunity slip away without at least trying.” “He’s got a point.” states Chakotay. Tuvok then starts to tell Kim of the dangers of a Demon - Class planet. Kim tells Tuvok that he knows the risks. Janeway starts to talk to Harry. “Even if I agreed with you, I’d never let you go alone.” Harry nods. “Of course not. That’s why I’m volunteering my good buddy Tom to go with me.” Harry says smiling. * * * Harry and Tom are walking through the corridors. “You were pretty forceful in there.” “So?” “So, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you that assertive in a staff meeting before. You must be bucking for a promotion.” “I had an idea and I spoke up. That’s all.” Harry tells Tom. “Oh, no, no, no. It was more than that. You put Tuvok in his place in front of everybody.” “He was stating the obvious again. Talking down to me like I didn’t know anything about Demon - Class planets.” “I’m not criticizing you.” Tom tells Harry. He then tells Harry that he was surprised. “Why?” asks Harry. “You didn’t seem like yourself.” “Good,” Harry replies. They enter the turbolift. Harry tells the computer to take them to Cargo Bay 2. “Are you trying to change your squeaky clean image?” asks Tom. “How do I explain this. When I first came aboard Voyager, I was pretty green right?” “A deep, almost fluorescent green, if I remember correctly.” Tom replies sarcastically. Harry laughs. “I was young, inexperienced, and I acted like it. I was hesitant to make suggestions. I was nervous to give my opinions, so I kept my mouth shut. I behaved like that for so long that it became a habit. But in the past four years a lot has happened. I’ve fought the Borg, been transformed into an alien, fought the Hirogen, I’ve even come back from the dead!” “It’s been a wild ride.” Tom remarks. “I woke up the other morning and it hit me. I’ve got lots of experience now. Why should I be afraid to voice my ideas and take the initiative?” “Good for you, Harry.” Tom says sarcastically. “But next time you try to assert yourself, do me a favor. Leave me out of it. I hate hot weather.” Harry smiles. “Don’t worry. We can cut some holes in the environmental suits, get some ventilation going.” Tom stares at Harry. “Harry, while your trying to improve yourself you might try working on your sense of humor.” “My humor? What about that stupid gag about the bicycle?” “Oh, that was funny.” “No, that was not funny.” “That was funny.” Tom and Harry continue to argue as they walk toward the cargo bay. * * * Tom and Harry are in a shuttle. They are heading through the gaseous atmosphere of the Demon - Class planet. “Harry, I can’t thank you enough for getting me in on this mission.” “Oh, you don’t owe me anything.” replies Harry. “Oh, but I do.” Tom then looks back to his console. The shuttle shakes. He tells Harry that they are about to land. “We’ll set down on my mark.” he says. The shuttle lands. Harry is jolted from his seat, while Tom remains in his. “Mark,” Tom says. “You did that on purpose didn’t you?” yells Harry. * * * Tom and Harry put on environmental suits and leave the shuttle. “It’s almost five hundred degrees Kelvin out here!” Tom shouts. “Don’t worry, the suits can handle it.” Harry informs him. “If not, we’ll be Human barbecue.”Harry then tells Tom that he is picking up traces of deuterium fifty meters in front of them. “Let’s move,” Harry tells Tom. “No sweat,” Tom jokes. Harry glares at him. “Lame.” * * * Harry and Tom walk toward the deuterium. “It’s some kind of metallic compound. It’s highly viscous, and if I’m reading this right, its temperature is only twelve degrees.” “In this environment?” Tom asks amazed. “Whatever it is, it’s packed with liquid deuterium.” remarks Harry. “Jackpot!” shouts Tom. “There’s another pool twenty meters that way.” Harry tells Tom. Tom goes to check it out. As he walks he tries to make conversation. “I don’t know, Harry. A couple of lounge chairs, a big beach umbrella, maybe some thermoplast to counteract the chemicals and we’ve got ourselves a new vacation spot.” Harry doesn’t say anything. “Oh, come on! That was a little funny. Let me hear you do better.” Harry still doesn’t answer. “Harry? Harry!” Tom goes back to the pool where Harry was at. He sees the deuterium swirling. “Oh no,” he gasps. Tom thrusts his arm into the deuterium and pulls Harry out. “I know its hot out Harry, but you picked a lousy time to go for a swim.” “I don’t know what happened. I leaned over to collect a sample and it was like I was being pulled in.” All of a sudden the computer warns Harry that an environmental seal has been compromised. He only has thirty seconds of air left. Tom tells Harry to hold his breath. “If you can hold your breath, I’ll exercise every day.” “How about starting with the bike?” Harry asks him. “I though I told you to hold your breath.” Tom replies. The computer continues to count down. “Oxygen depletion in five...four.....three.....two....one.” Harry then collapses. Tom tries to pick him up, but he can’t. Then the computer gives another warning. “Warning, Lt. Paris. An environmental seal has been compromised. Oxygen depletion in thirty seconds.” “You’ve got to be kidding me!” shouts Tom. He furiously taps then controls on his suit. “...fifteen.....” continues the computer. “It looks like we’re in the same boat now, buddy. Don’t worry, I’ll get us out of this.” Tom struggles to pick up Harry. “....ten.......” You’re right, Harry. I really do need to get in shape.” Tom’s air runs out and he collapses to the ground. * * * In sickbay, Neelix follows the Doctor. Three officers are behind Neelix. “Out of the question!” shouts the Doctor. “Be reasonable, Doctor!” pleads Neelix. “Take it up with Commander Chakotay. He’s on his way here now. Go to the Mess Hall.” “The Mess Hall is full! You have four empty biobeds.” Reserved for patients.” “You don’t have any patients.” Neelix tells the Doc. “I might have one if you and your fellow squatters don’t go elsewhere!” the Doctor shouts. Just then Chakotay enters sickbay. “You wanted to see me, Doc?” asks Chakotay. “It’s about time. Mr. Neelix is attempting to turn my sickbay into a flop house.” “Well we are short on beds. For now we’ve got to adapt.” “But what if there’s an emergency?” “Then Mr. Neelix and the others will get out of the way.” Chakotay informs the Doctor. “Absolutely!” Neelix agrees. “But this isn’t just sickbay! It’s my residence.” the Doctor tells Chakotay. “...and we promise to be the most perfect house guests.” Neelix assures the Doctor. “What more could you ask for?” Chakotay asks the Doctor. “But I have a routine! I’m a night owl. What if one of them should snore while I’m listening to Puccini?” “Well if you feel that strongly about it Doc, we’ll have to consider some other options.” “Thank you, Commander.” The Doctor flashes Neelix a triumphant smile. Chakotay continues to talk. “For example.......We could shut down your program until your needed. Captain Janeway asked me to find ways to conserve power, and it would spare you from having to listen to them snore.” Chakotay is then called to the bridge by Janeway. After he leaves, the crewmen move around the Doctor and head for the biobeds. “Make yourself at home.” the Doctor says sarcastically. * * * “Try scanning for infrared signatures.” Janeway orders. “There’s too much interference.” Tuvok remarks. Chakotay enters the bridge. “What’s up?” “Tom and Harry still aren’t back.” Janeway replies. “Do you want me to take another shuttle and look for them?” asks Chakotay. “And risk loosing you, too? Either we keep waiting until we run out of deuterium and get trapped in orbit, or.........” “Or?” “......or we land the ship.” Janeway suggests. “As you know, Captain landing procedure requires a significant amount of energy. With shields as low as they are, we can’t be sure we’d survive the descent.” Tuvok notes. “What’s the alternative? We’re up here, the deuterium’s down there, and we’re stuck without it. We’ve come this far. Janeway to engineering. I want you to vent all of the plasma from the nacelles and prepare for landing.” “Aye, Captain,” replies Torres. Janeway then turns to Chakotay. “Chakotay, take the helm.” “Tom’s going to be sorry he missed this.” Chakotay says as he takes the controls. The ship goes to blue alert. The bridge is lit with a faint blue light. “This is Commander Tuvok to all hands. Go to blue alert and report to code blue stations.” Chakotay tells Janeway that atmospheric controls are on standby. “Landing struts online and inertial dampers on maximum.” he says. “All decks report condition blue.” Tuvok informs Janeway. “Let us down, Commander.” Voyager enters the gaseous atmosphere in a declining glide trajectory. Then a thermeonic discharge strikes the hull. On the bridge, sparks fly and the crew tries to keep their balance. “Shields at eighty - one percent. Forty - three.” shouts Tuvok. “I think we’re through the worst of it.” Chakotay tells everyone. Then Voyager violently shakes and shields drop to twenty - two percent. “Can you boost the shields?” Janeway asks Tuvok. He says that he can’t because there is no more energy available. “Engaging landing struts!” shouts Chakotay. “Brace for impact!” Voyager lands and the crew is thrown from their seats. Janeway turns to Tuvok. “Status.” “I could give you a litany of damaged systems, but its safe to say that now that we’re down we won’t be going up anytime soon.” Janeway nods and walks over to Chakotay. She puts her hand on his shoulder. “Good job, Commander. Now I want you to take an away team and find Harry and Tom.” Chakotay leaves the bridge. * * * Chakotay is walking through Voyager’s corridors. B'Elanna runs after him. “Chakotay! You’re going to look for them, aren’t you?” “That’s right,” he replies. “Let t me go with you.” she pleads. “You’re needed here.” “I’ve already handed out assignments. Vorik’s on top of it. I want to help you find them.” “Look, I know you’re concerned about Tom and Harry. We all are. I’ll have them back safe and sound in not time.” Chakotay tells Torres. “Don’t patronize me! We both know how dangerous that environment is. They could be in serious trouble.” “I know. That’s why I need cool heads.” “You think I can’t control myself?” shouts Torres. “I think you’re a little too close to this.” “You’re right I am. If someone you loved was missing on this planet, you’d be the first person out that door and you know it.” “B’Elanna, the clock is ticking. Go to engineering and do your job. Let me do mine.” Chakotay then continues to walk toward the cargo bay. “Do me a favor.” B’Elanna tells him as he walks away. “What?” “Take Seven of Nine with you.” “Your recommending her?” a surprised Chakotay asks. “You said you wanted cool heads? No one’s head is cooler than hers.” Chakotay nods. He then continues to walk away. “.....and bring them back safe!” B’Elanna shouts. “I will,” Chakotay replies. * * * “In sicbay, the Doctor pushes a cart with medical supplies on it. He is holding a padd in one hand and is humming loudly. The officers on the biobed glare at him. Neelix sits up . “Excuse me Doctor.” “Yes, Mr. Neelix?” he replies cheerfully. “We’d like to sleep now, if you don’t mind.” “Not at all. Make yourself comfortable.” “You seem busy.” Neelix says. “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just going about my routine business.” “What about the lights?” asks Neelix. “What about them?” “I’ll never be able to get to sleep.” “That’s not my problem, is it.” Neelix then starts to get angry. “I have a very, very busy day tomorrow and my shift is just four hours away!” “You should have thought about that before choosing your accommodations.” the Doctor says. Neelix stands up and glares at the Doctor. “Well, if we can’t sleep I guess we’ll just have to find another way to pass the time. How about........ a singalong!” The Doctor’s smile fades from his face. Neelix begins to walk around sickbay. “I could teach you all some Talaxian rondos, and I know a Vulcan funeral dirge. Not to mention the classics of Klingon opera! Ooooooppperraaaaa!” Neelix’s singing is cut short when the Doctor grabs his shoulder. “Very well, Mr. Neelix. You win. Sweet dreams.” Neelix smiles triumphantly and climbs back onto the biobed. “Computer, lights out.” * * * Seven of Nine hears a sound and spins around. She is in her environmental suit on the Demon planet. “A little jumpy, aren’t you?” Chakotay asks. “I thought I hears something.” “Now you know why they call it Demon - Class.” “Demon indicates a presence. This planetoid is unoccupied.” Seven says. “I’m picking up a shuttlecraft.” Chakotay announces. After they walk to the shuttle they walk inside. “Nobody home,” Chakotay observes. “It’s unlikely their environmental suits were able to survive the elements for this long.” Seven informs Chakotay. “I hope you’re wrong.” he replies. They continue to search for Tom and Harry. They enter a dark cave. Smoke is vented from the ground and the only light comes from the environmental suits. “Look like they went this way.” says Chakotay. “My tricorder isn’t picking up any lifesigns. How did you reach that conclusion?” “Footprints,” replies Chakotay. “I guess you never assimilated any Indian scouts.” Chakotay says sarcastically. Seven then finds a small pool of deuterium. She reaches inside an engineering kit and pulls out a small tube. She is about to get a sample when Chakotay stops her. “Let’s find Tom and Harry first. We’ll get the deuterium later.” “As you wish,” Seven replies. Seven and Chakotay continue to walk through the caves. All of a sudden the rocks Chakotay is standing on collapse. He falls, but manages to grab the a ledge. “Commander!” shouts Seven. Far below him is a large pool of deuterium. Just when Seven is about to drop him, Paris appears. He grabs one of Chakotay’s arms and pulls him up. Once Chakotay is safe, he and Seven stare at Paris in amazement. He isn’t wearing an environmental suit. “It’s good to see you guys. Welcome to the Demon planet!” * * * “There we were. Our suits were corroding, our lungs were burning, we were suffocating. You know what they say about your life passing through your eyes. Well it true. I was finally getting past puberty when I lost consciousness. The next thing I knew I was awake and breathing normally. I looked at Harry and he was breathing normally too, with his helmet off. We looked at each other and started laughing. I know it sounds crazy, but it was an exhilarating experience.” Seven gets out her tricorder and scans Tom. “His vital signs are normal. Apparently he has adapted.” “Just the same we better let the Doctor take a look at you.” Chakotay tells Tom. “Chakotay to Voyager....” begins the Commander. “I’ve already tried that. The comm signal can’t get out of the caves.” Chakotay tells Tom and Seven that they will walk out of the caves. “I’m telling you Commander it was an amazing experience! It’s like being a kid who’s afraid of water. Then you suddenly realize you can swim. Go ahead. Take your helmets off. Try it.” Chakotay and Seven look at each other. “I’m glad you’re feeling okay, but we shouldn’t take any risks until we know what’s going on.” Chakotay tells Tom. “Don’t tell me that a big, tough guy like you is afraid of a little poison atmosphere.” “Where’s Harry?” Chakotay asks. “He’s further inside the caves. We found a huge cash of deuterium.” “We’ll find him and get to the ship.” Chakotay informs Paris. “Whatever you say boss, but I’m telling you, I could breath this air forever.” * * * Ensign Vorik walks up to Lt. Torres. “Lieutenant.” “Yes?” “The transporters will be online within the hour.” “Well, that’s great, but right know I’m concerned with some of the little things like, oh let’s say, life support?” “Indeed. According to my calculations, the environmental systems will cease to operate in two hours.” “You say that to me like you’re giving the weather report.” Torres mutters. “Well, I agree that the situation is dire, but loosing our cool will not help matters.” Vorik tells Torres. Torres stops her work and stares at Vorik. “Loosing your cool? Where did you pick up that expression?” “Lieutenant Paris.” replies Vorik. “Well, there’s still hope for you yet.” Torres says jokingly. “Now how about giving me a hand?” Torres asks Vorik. * * * Chakotay, Seven, and Tom, wander through the dark caves. Then they see Harry standing beside a pool of deuterium. “Commander, isn’t it incredible?” “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him.” Paris remarks. “Are you feeling okay?” Chakotay asks Harry. “Never better. If we could get some mobile transporters down here, we could mine enough deuterium to get us to the Alpha Quadrant and back again.” Harry says smiling. “Tom tells me that you’ve already gathered twenty kilos. That’s enough to get the main systems back online. Let’s get back to the ship and have the Doctor take a look at you.” Chakotay tells everyone. “I’d like to remain here on the surface if it’s all the same to you.” “It’s not.” replies Chakotay. “Really, Commander. I’m fine. Send some more personnel down here. They won’t even need environmental suits.” “I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we’re going back to Voyager. Now.” Chakotay tells Harry. Tom walks up beside Harry. “It’s all right, Harry. Once the Doctor takes a look at us and sees that we’re both fine, we can get back to work.” * * * Janeway and Tuvok are on the dark bridge. “Status, Mr. Tuvok.” “I’ve shut down life support on all decks except one and five. That should give us at least one more hour of breathable air.” “Chakotay to Janeway.” “Janeway here.” “We’ve found Tom and Harry.” “The first piece of good news I’ve heard all day.” Janeway says to no one in particular. “What about the deuterium?” “We’ve got a few kilos. We’re ready to head back to Voyager.” Tuvok informs Janeway that the transporters are back online. “Commander, the transporters are online, but it’ll take a few minutes until we can beam you aboard.” “Tell the Doctor to stand by. I think he’ll want to take a look at Tom and Harry.” Chakotay says. * * * The Doctor walks out of his office and toward the biobeds. “Computer lights..............maximum illumination!” The bright lights are turned on and Neelix starts to moan. “Everybody up! Rise and shine Mr. Neelix!” the Doctor says with a smile on his face. He then starts to clap. “What’s going on?” “It’s checkout time!” the Doctor says cheerfully. “It’s the middle of the night!” shouts Neelix. “Medicine knows no time clock. I’ve got patients on the way and no more room at the inn.” “Patients? Is somebody sick?” “I can’t answer that until I’ve examined them can I?” “Is there anything I can do to help?” a concerned Neelix asks. “Yes, you and your friends can evacuate the premises.” “Right! You heard the Doctor! This is an emergency evacuation! Move! Move! Move!” the crewmen on the biobeds run out of sickbay. Neelix follows them. Before he leaves, he stops and looks at the Doctor. “Doctor, thanks for your hospitality. If you ever need a place to stay, my door’s always open.” Neelix leaves, and the Doctor is left with a troubled look on his face. * * * Janeway rushes into the transporter room. “Energize,” she tells the transporter chief. Janeway and the officer watch the away team materialize onto the transporter pads. Then Harry and Tom start to gasp for breath. Janeway orders the transporter chief to beam them to sickbay. * * * In sickbay, the Doctor frantically grabs hyposprays and gives them to Harry and Tom. Janeway and Chakotay then enter. “What happened to them?” he asks. “As soon as they were beamed aboard they started suffocating.” Chakotay answers. “Computer, erect a level seven forcefield.” orders the Doctor. “What are you doing?” asks Janeway. “I’m filling the forcefield with the gases from the planet.” After the forcefield is filled with the planet’s gases, Harry and Tom start to breath normally. “Breath easily or you’ll hyperventilate.” he informs them. * * * “That stuff is in our blood?” asks an amazed Tom. “I’m afraid so. From what I can tell, you’ve been bioformed.” “Bioformed?” asks Harry. “Think of it as the opposite of terraforming.” the Doctor tells him. “How’s that possible?” Tom asks. “The fluid entered your bloodstream and began altering your cells at the microscopic level. I need to analyze the substance more.” “I’d like to run a few tests of my own, if you don’t mind.” Janeway informs the Doctor. “What’s our prognosis, Doc?” “You’ll be fine as long as you keep breathing the planet’s gases.” “You mean we have to stay inside this forcefield?” shouts Harry. “I’m afraid it’s worse than that. The planet’s gases to be safely replicated.” Tom begins to realize what the Doctor is saying. “Which means if we leave, we won’t have anything to breathe.” “Exactly,” the Doctor says, with a grim expression on his face. “Either we find a way to treat your condition or..........you’ll have to be left behind.” * * * “Can the process be reversed?” asks Janeway. The Doctor says that he doesn’t know. “I’ll send Chakotay and Seven back down to the surface. They’ll gather as much information as they can. B’Elanna and I will analyze the substance.” “Let me go with the away team, Captain. I know the terrain.” Harry says. Janeway turns to the Doctor to ask if Harry can go. “Right now he’s better off out there than he is in here. But one of you will have to remain so I can monitor your condition.” “No problem. I volunteer Tom to stay here and play guinea pig.” Harry says. Janeway smiles and walks away. * * * Seven, Chakotay, and Harry are on the Demon - Class planet. Harry is the only one without an environmental suit. “Each square kilometer of the planetoid is less appealing than the last.” complains Seven. “I think it’s breathtaking.” Harry tells her. “Breathtaking? Perhaps your recent experience has impaired your perceptions.” “No, I don’t think so. I wasn’t really seeing it before.” Harry mutters to himself. “Seeing what?” Chakotay asks. “The beauty.” “Would you care to point out an example?” Seven asks Harry. Harry points to a pile of rocks. “Look over there. What do you see?” “I see monochromatic geological formations ; dust ; haze.” Seven replies dryly. “What do you see, Harry?” Chakotay asks. “Those geological formations are a dozen shades of red and gold. That dust is glowing and the haze seems to intensifies the colors.” When Harry looks back at the others, he sees Seven and Chakotay staring at him. “I’m sorry. It’s hard to explain, but somehow I feel connected to this planet.” “Connected how?” Before Harry can answer him, Seven makes an announcement. “I’m picking up humanoid lifesigns.” * * * Janeway and Torres are in the bio lab. Janeway is looking in some kind of microscope. “Magnify. Factor ten.” she tells B’Elanna. Suddenly, the deuterium seems larger. Janeway starts to list the elements that are in the liquid. “Add a little sodium chloride and it would probably taste like Neelix’s soup.” B’Elanna jokes. “We should be so lucky.” Janeway replies. They both laugh. Then Janeway notices something. “What’s this? Magnify. Factor twenty.” “Captain?” B’Elanna asks curiously. Janeway steps to the side and B’Elanna looks through the device. “It’s a protein molecule.” she says. “This fluid has organic qualities.” Janeway tells her. “Captain.” Janeway looks at B’Elanna. The liquid deuterium crawls onto B’Elanna’s finger. “Let’s get you to sickbay.” urges Janeway. “Wait. That may not be necessary.” The two of them watch as the deuterium slides off. Then it morphs into an exact replica of B’Elanna’s finger. * * * Harry, Chakotay, and Tom walk around the Demon - Class planet searching for the two lifesigns. Then Harry finds them “Commander!” he shouts. Chakotay and Seven quickly rush to his side. They see two Humans in environmental suits. Harry bends down and looks into one of the helmets. A shocked look comes over his face as he comes face to face with himself. * * * On the bridge, Tuvok reports that Voyager is beginning to sink in a pool of liquid deuterium. * * * Janeway orders B’Elanna to get to engineering and get thrusters back online. Then they both leave the bio lab. * * * Janeway enters the bridge. She tells Tuvok to get ready to engage. thrusters. “We’re getting off this planet.” she says. * * * Seven scans Tom and Harry with her tricorder. She tells Chakotay that they are barely alive. Then Tuvok contacts Chakotay and says that they are leaving. Chakotay tells Tuvok that they have five to beam up. “Five?” asks Tuvok. “We’ve found another Tom and Harry. I can’t explain it.” * * * “I think I can.” Janeway says as she enters the bridge. “Prepare for transport.” she tells the away team. Chakotay tells Janeway that they need to be beamed directly to sickbay. * * * “No! I don’t want to go back!” shouts the Harry without an environmental suit. “The transporter is still acting up. We can’t get any individual locks. We’re gonna have to grab in a wide beam and bring you back in a group.” Janeway informs Chakotay. “I belong here!” shouts Harry. He runs past Seven and into the caves. “Harry, no!” shouts Chakotay. The transporter beams the crew to Voyager. * * * “Four members of the away team have been beamed to sickbay, Captain. I’m trying to get a lock on the fifth.” Voyager starts to shake again. Tuvok reports that they are still sinking. “Then there’s no time. We’ve got to get into orbit. We’ll worry about Harry, or whoever he is, once we’re in orbit.” Janeway announces. Tuvok quickly prepares all systems for liftoff. “All stations report ready.” he tells Janeway. “Initiating ascent.” “Power to thrusters.” Voyager shakes. “We are being restrained by an electromagnetic force.” “Compensate.” “No effect.” replies Tuvok. Voyager shakes once again. “Decks fourteen and fifteen are submerged. We are continuing to sink.” * * * “Report!” shouts Janeway. “Thrusters are off line due to an overload. Decks thirteen through fifteen are now submerged.” “Janeway to engineering.” “Vorik here.” “I need thrusters online.” “Lt. Torres has already sent a repair team to the thruster control relays.” “How long?” Janeway asks. “At least a half hour.” “Thrusters won’t due any good if we sink any deeper.” Tuvok tells Janeway. “There must be some way to disperse it. Try a nadian burst.” Janeway tells Tuvok. Janeway then leaves the bridge and heads to sickbay. * * * “How are they?” asks Janeway. “Lucky. The back up systems in their environmental suits kept them alive. They’ll recover, but it will take some time.” “And him?” Janeway asks, pointing to the duplicate Tom Paris. “He’s the exact duplicate of Mr. Paris. He has the same memories, not to mention the same winning personality.” Janeway starts to tell the Doctor what she and B’Elanna discovered in the bio lab. The Doctor leaves and walks back to Harry and Tom. Janeway walks up to the forcefield. “Who are you?” “Please! Just let me go!” the duplicate Tom pleads. “Not until I find out why two of my crewmen have been duplicated.” states Janeway. “I don’t know any more than you do. Before he came aboard I thought I was Tom Paris. I don’t know who or what I am. I just know that I need to return to the planet surface.” The duplicate Paris is interrupted by Janeway’s commbadge. It’s Tuvok. He says that he is ready to try the nadian burst. When he fires the burst,the duplicate Paris holds his stomach and winces in pain. “What are you doing?!” he shouts. Tuvok contacts Janeway a second time. He says that he is receiving an urgent t hail from the planet’s surface. It is from the Kim on the surface. “Captain, please stop.” he begs. “If you really have Ensign Kim’s memories then you know that I’ll do anything to get this ship off this planet.” “You can’t do that.” “Why?” asks Janeway. “I can’t explain it.” “Then you’ll have to help me figure it out.” Janeway tells Tuvok to beam the duplicate Kim to transporter room one. * * * The duplicate Harry is transported. He stares at Janeway. “Release my vessel,” she demands. “We can’t do that.” “We?” “This planet and I, we’re connected somehow. I can’t explain it. I only know that you have to stop!” “I’m willing to stop, and I’ll say it again. Release my ship.” The duplicate Harry doesn’t answer. “Mr. Tuvok, fire.” Harry shimmers and turns into liquid deuterium. Then he turns back into Harry. “What are you?” asks Janeway. “Stop!” he yells. “I’ll fire again.” threatens Janeway. “Nooo!” yells the duplicate Harry. He launches himself at Janeway, but a forcefield slams him to the floor. Janeway contacts Tuvok. She tells him to hold his fire. Harry starts to explain how the liquid deuterium, which he calls silver blood, is alive but hadn’t been conscious until it came in contact with Tom and Harry. “I’m beginning to understand. The silver blood experienced sentience, and now you want more.” “We want to duplicate your crew and populate the planet. You’re trying so hard to reach home, but this could be home.” “Not for us. Do you understand why we can’t stay here?” asks Janeway. “I think so.” the duplicate Harry says sadly. “Well then, release us.” “We’d rather die than be alone. We deserve life.” Harry tells Janeway. Janeway thinks for a moment. Then she gets an idea. “This silver blood that created you, it duplicated Harry without killing him. You don’t need our bodies, only our DNA. Release Voyager and I’ll talk to my crew. If they’re willing, I’ll let you duplicate the rest of us.” Tuvok contacts Janeway over the comm system and tells her that they are no longer sinking. “Prepare to leave, but first assemble in cargo bay one.” “Captain?” “I’ll explain later.” Janeway turns back to the duplicate Harry. “It’s time to meet your new family.” * * * On the bridge the crew prepares to lift off the planet and Voyager goes to blue alert. * * * On the planet surface about 145 people in Starfleet uniforms watch Voyager disappear into the atmosphere.


My Thoughts


Excellent! Demon was an all around great episode. This is what Voyager episodes should be like : finding new species on hostile worlds. I think Demon is one of my top ten favorite Voyager episodes. This episode also had graet special effects. The liquid deuterium was cool. It was about ten times better than the alien liquid in TNG's Aquiel. I liked the scenes between Neelix and Tuvok and Neelix and the Doctor. One of my favorite parts of the episode was when Neelix was singing opera. My favorite part of the episode though, had to come at the end. the duplicate crew was waving at Voyager as it lifted off the planet.


This site was created for fun and as a hobby. Star Trek Voyager is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures.


This page hosted by GeoCities Get your own Free Home Page