|
As Voyager runs dangerously low on
fuel, Seven of Nine discovers a Class-Y planet containing a high
concentration of deuterium. Unfortunately, it is also called a
demon planet because of its toxic atmosphere. When an attempt to
transport deuterium to the ship results in an explosion, Kim and
Paris volunteer to mine the fuel on the surface. They wear
environmental suits, but Kim's protection is compromised when he
falls into a pool of metallic compound. As Kim's oxygen rapidly
depletes, Paris' suit also fails, and both men collapse before
they can reach their shuttle.
With no communication from Kim
and Paris, Janeway decides to land Voyager on the planet and
send an away team to look for them. Chakotay and Seven don
environmental suits and begin their search, quickly finding the
shuttle with no one onboard. Suddenly, the ground gives way
underneath Chakotay, and he barely hangs on to a ledge. As he
struggles to keep from falling into the pool below, Paris
appears — minus his environmental suit — and helps Seven pull
Chakotay to safety.
Paris explains that he and Kim have apparently adapted to the
environment, and he tells Chakotay and Seven to take off their
suits as well. They refuse to take that risk and beam back to
Voyager instead. As soon as they are back on the ship, Kim and
Paris begin suffocating. The Doctor quickly erects a forcefield
around them containing the planet's gases so they can breathe,
and he surmises that fluid has entered their bloodstream that
altered their physiology at the cellular level. Unless the
effect can be reversed, Kim and Paris will have to be left
behind in order to live.
Janeway and Torres watch in awe as the metallic compound from
the fluid sample replicates Torres' thumb. Back on the surface,
the away team discovers Paris and Kim's bodies. Barely alive,
they are quickly beamed to sickbay, but the duplicate Kim
refuses to leave, saying he feels a connection to the planet.
With a large pool of the compound forming under Voyager, Janeway
tries to ascend into orbit. However, the ship is restrained by
an electromagnetic force.
After transporting the duplicate Kim onto Voyager, Janeway
demands her ship be allowed to leave. Since he has the silver
blood running through him, he tries to explain its motive for
holding them there. The compound is alive, but it has never been
conscious. When it entered the bodies of Paris and Kim, it
experienced awareness and actually had thoughts for the first
time — and now it craves more. The crew agrees to donate samples
of its DNA so the planet can duplicate them and populate itself,
and Voyager is allowed to resume its journey. |
