 When the body of a crewperson
named Darwin is found in Engineering, everyone assumes his death
was accidental — until the Doctor determines that Darwin was, in
fact, murdered. Tuvok launches an immediate investigation. A
check of engineering logs places a Maquis named Suder at the
scene of the crime. At first, Suder denies being involved. But
when DNA evidence implicates him, Suder confesses, telling Tuvok
he killed Darwin because "I didn't like the way he looked at
me."
Unwilling to accept such a
senseless motive for such a serious crime, Tuvok interrogates
Suder in greater detail. To Tuvok's dismay, Suder can't
articulate what drives his violent outbursts, so Tuvok secures
his permission to perform a Vulcan mind-meld. Tuvok hopes it
will help him understand Suder's motivations, and that some of
his own Vulcan self-discipline will rub off on the confessed
killer, allowing him to better control his violent nature.
Tuvok briefs Janeway on his mind-meld with Suder, and they
discuss punishment options. Tuvok admits that although Suder
seems calmer since the meld, he finds himself feeling
disconcerted. Later, an encounter with the playful Neelix so
enrages Tuvok that he strangles him; fortunately, the event
occurs only in Tuvok's holodeck program.
Tuvok meets with Suder, who unsettles Tuvok with his comments
about the seductive lure of violence, which Tuvok now fully
understands. Fearful of his own impulses, Tuvok seals himself in
his room and tells Janeway he's no longer fit for duty.
Janeway sends Tuvok to Sickbay, where he starts undergoing
treatments to control his violent tendencies. That evening,
Tuvok breaks out of Sickbay and confronts Suder, saying he's
come to execute him. Yet Tuvok's rational instincts prevent him
from completing the act of murder, and he collapses. Suder
summons help and Tuvok returns to Sickbay where he successfully
completes his rehabilitation. |
