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When Voyager comes across a
protostar, Janeway has samples of its photonic energy beamed
aboard for study and possible use in power converters. After a
small glitch, B'Elanna Torres corrects a breach in the
transporter's containment field and safely finishes the samples'
beam-in. But in calling Kim to assist her studies, she learns
that ship sensors cannot detect him in the Holodeck or anywhere
else aboard.
Tuvok and Chakotay enter the
Holodeck to find no sign of Kim but discover his program still
running: a version of the English epic poem "Beowulf."
Confronted by characters from "Beowulf," they join in to fight
the creature in the story and also disappear.
Rather than lose any more organic crewmembers, Janeway sends the
holographic Doctor to unravel the mystery as his first away
mission. Though he puts up a brave front, Kes gets him to admit
he's unsure of himself and then offers encouragement, helping
him select a name from an admired role model: Schweitzer. Once
inside he begins to get the rhythm of the role but is
uncomfortable with romantic advances from a female character,
Freya, until she dies in his arms after taking a sword blow
meant for him. Although both are holograms, he is clearly moved
by her last word: his newly chosen name.
Inspired to try again, the Doctor realizes that an alien
lifeform was snared in the energy samples taken earlier and,
escaping through the field breach, retaliated by taking form in
the Holodeck as the Beowulf monster and converting any Voyager
crewmembers into energy. When the "sample" beings are returned
to the alien, Kim, Tuvok and Chakotay all reappear — leading to
a commendation from Janeway for the Doctor. He decides not to
take the Schweitzer name because Freya died saying it.
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