| K: |
It's OK. It's OK.
|
| To: |
Who are you?
|
| K: |
My name's Kim, Haryy Kim, I'm an ensign on the starship Voyager.
I was kidnapped from the Array just like you were. I don't know
where we are.
|
| To: |
What were Starfleets doing in that Array?
|
| K: |
We were looking for you actually. In one minute we were Badlands
and the next we were...
|
| To: |
You mean you were trying to capture us.
|
| K: |
Yeah. Consider youself captured. Oh I know I have a phaser here
somewhere.
|
| To: |
I don't find this at all amusing, Starfleet.
|
| K: |
There's no point. It's locked.
|
| To: |
Hum.
|
| K: |
Hey! Hey, hey, hey, what's that could acomplish?
|
| To: |
What are they doing to us? What are these things growing on us?
|
| K: |
Do you want them to sedate you again?
|
| To: |
You're right, Starfleet. It's a Klingon half of me. It's just
it's hard to control it sometimes.
|
| K: |
What's your name, Maquis?
|
| To: |
B'Elanna, B'Elanna Torres.
|
| O1: |
I hope you feeling better. I know how frightening all this must
be for both of you. I brought some clothes if you care to change.
|
| To: |
Why are you holding us here?
|
| O1: |
You are not prisoners. In fact, we consider you honored guests.
The Caretaker has sent you to us. As long as you are not violent, you
are free to leave your quarters.
|
| K: |
What's wrong with us? What are these things?
|
| O1: |
We really don't know. You must be hungry. Would you care to join
me on the courtyard for a meal? Our food dispensers are right this
way.
|
| K: |
We're underground.
|
| O1: |
Our society is subterranean. We've lived here for over 500 generations.
|
| To: |
But before that, you lived on the surface?
|
| O1: |
Until the warming began.
|
| K: |
The warming?
|
| O1: |
When our surface turned into a desert and the Caretaker came to protect
us. Our ancient journals tell us he openned a deep chasm in the ground
then led our ancestors to this place. Since then he has provided for
all our needs. Please forgive them, they know you've come from the
Caretaker. None of us have ever seen him. This way, please.
|
| To: |
Does the Caretaker provide your meals, too?
|
| O1: |
In fact he does. He designed and built this entire city for us
after the warming. The food processors dispense nutritional supplement
every 4.1 intervals. It may not offer the exotic taste some of our
younger people crave these days, but it meets our needs.
|
| K: |
Is this how the Caretaker communicates with you?
|
| O1: |
He never communicates directly. We try to interpret his wishes
as best we can.
|
| K: |
I'm curious to know how you even interpreted the Caretaker's reason
for sending us here.
|
| O1: |
We believe he must've separated you from your own species for their
protection.
|
| To: |
Their protection?
|
| O1: |
From your illness. Perhaps he's trying to prevent a plague.
|
| To: |
We weren't sick until we met your Caretaker.
|
| O1: |
From time to time, he asks us to care for people with this disease.
It's the least we can do.
|
| To: |
There have been others... like us.
|
| O1: |
Yes.
|
| To: |
Where are they?
|
| O1: |
Your condition is serious. We don't know exactly how to treat it.
I'm afraid the others did not recover.
|
| Tu: |
Sir.
|
| N: |
Ah, Mr.Vulcan, come in, come in. Please, I can hardly see you.
I wanna thank you for your hospitality. I must admit I haven't had
accessed to a full reple.. ah replicater before.
|
| Tu: |
I've never had a guest.
|
| N: |
And to immerse myself in water. Oh, do you know what joy this is?
No one around here waste water in this manner. Good sand scrub.
That's the best we can hope for.
|
| Tu: |
I'm pleased you're enjoying yourself. But we're on orbit of the
fifth planet. We need your assistance.
|
| N: |
Oh, could you hand me the towel? If you would scan the large southern
continent you'll find the range of extinct volcanos. Follow the foothills
north until you discover a dry riverbed. You'll find an encampment there.
|
| Tu: |
Do you believe our people might be at this location?
|
| N: |
It's not impossible. Maybe. Perhaps not. But we'll find them.
We'll need several containers of water to bring for barter.
Did there repricators make clothing as well?
|
| Tu: |
Yes.
|
| N: |
Will they make me a uniform like yours?
|
| Tu: |
No. It most ceratinly will not.
|