Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 2, Episode 16 - Meld - full transcript

- Game.
- Let's make it interesting this time.

- Let's add some table stakes.
- What kind of stakes?

I don't know.
A couple of replicator rations, maybe?

- Harry, he's hustling you.
- Wait a minute...

Are you saying
he deliberately let me win?

That would be dishonest, Harry.

I won that game and I'll beat you again.

How many rations
are you willing to bet on that?

A week's worth.

Harry, Harry, Harry.

Never ever play with anyone,
not even your best friend,



if he says, "Let's make it interesting.”

You want action? I'll give you action.
How about an honest game of chance?

Never play with anyone if he offers you
an honest game of chance, Harry.

One replicator ration
is all it takes to play.

All you have to do to win
is pick a number.

Just predict what the radiogenic
particle count will be at 1200 tomorrow

and if you hit, the pot is yours,
minus a small handling fee for the bank.

I'll take a piece of that!

Harry, take down
these names and numbers.

- I'm in, too.
- Louis, 2,100!

Ensign Hogan,
still no luck with the warp drive?

No, Lieutenant.
The manifold just won't fire up.

We've narrowed it down to a problem
in EPS conduit 141.

Was there any indication
yesterday that something was wrong?



Suder was monitoring the EPS flow
and the CCM.

He says everything was fine.

We'll just have to get in there
and track it down.

Happy Kal Rekk, Mr Vulcan.

The holiday of Kal Rekk
is not for two weeks.

- But it's the Kal Rekk season.
- There is no Kal Rekk season.

Kal Rekk is a day of atonement,
solitude and silence.

Atonement, solitude.
All your Vulcan holidays are the same.

I've been doing some research.

Why would you research
Vulcan holidays?

- It's part of my job as morale officer.
- Morale is irrelevant to a Vulcan.

No one on this ship requires
my services more than you do.

- I will not rest until I see you smile.
- Then you will not rest.

Have you ever heard of
the Vulcan Rumarie?

The Rumarie
is an ancient pagan festival.

Full of barely-clothed
Vulcan men and women,

covered in slippery Rillan grease,
chasing one another.

- It's not been observed for a millennium.
- It's time to bring it back.

Lieutenant Tuvok,
report to engineering.

Acknowledged.

I've been thinking of a Rumarie theme -
lots of high-fat, greasy foods,

and if people want to
take off their clothes...

it certainly wouldn't hurt
morale around here.

Is there a problem?

98% of his body has suffered
third-degree burns.

If the circuit hadn't failed,

he'd have been vaporised.

He had entered the conduit to do repairs

when the accident occurred.

A perfectly good theory.

Unfortunately, it's wrong.

This contusion is the result

of a hard blow to the skull.

Perhaps he fell and hit his head.

The breakage tells us whether

the moving head hit a stationary object

or a moving object hit a stationary head.

This pattern indicates the latter.

I'm sorry to report
Crewman Darwin was murdered.

There is no obvious motive.

He didn't have
any known enemies on board.

I've looked over his record.

He was recommended
as an officer's candidate.

He turned it down to come with us.

He has three sisters back home.

These are the duty logs from last night.

Lon Suder was alone in engineering
when Darwin came on-duty.

Something wrong?

No, not really. I've just never been
comfortable with Suder.

He never did anything wrong. It's...

As a Maquis, he did what he had to do
a little too well.

- As in?
- As in killing Cardassians.

I don't recall observing anything
unusual about his behaviour.

You weren't with him in battle.

Around us he was the most
unassuming guy you'll ever meet.

Typical Betazoid. Kept to himself.
I never knew much about him.

We didn't ask for resumes.
We needed all the help we could get.

We were doing what we were doing
to protect our families.

But Suder had his own reasons.

I wish I knew what they were.
There was something in his eyes...

Maybe he had something
against Cardassians.

Sometimes I had to pull him back,
stop him from going too far.

Once or twice he looked at me
with those cold eyes

and I just knew
he was this far away from killing me.

None of this was included
in your initial crew evaluation.

I don't put hunches or bad feelings
in my evaluations.

A Vulcan should appreciate that.

Your Maquis crew included
malcontents, outlaws and mercenaries.

It would have been appropriate.

I wasn't going to make it harder
for them.

Suder did his job serving with me
and he's done his job here.

It seems clear where your investigation
should begin.

- You wished to see me?
- Sit down.

You were alone in engineering when
Darwin reported for duty last night.

Did you speak to him?

No, we just looked at each other
and we each did what we had to do.

And what was that?

I was running a fuel consumption
analysis for Lieutenant Torres.

She can tell you.
Are you accusing me of killing him?

I have accused no one at this time.

- Did you kill Crewman Darwin?
- No. I barely knew him.

Being a Maquis
doesn't make me a killer.

I will speak to everyone in engineering,
perhaps everyone on this ship,

not just Maquis members.

We know how you feel
about the Maquis.

I have no feelings about the Maquis.

You just spied on us and were
going to turn us over to Starfleet.

It may be hard for you to understand,
but that did not require any feelings.

The doctor places
the time of death at 2214.

What were you doing then?

I was still running the fuel analysis.
I worked on it until I went off-duty.

Would you be surprised to know that
your console was logged off at 22097.

- That's not possible.
- Do you have a criminal record?

That would be difficult to check on,
wouldn't it?

- Why would you lie?
- I'm not.

- Do you have a criminal record?
- No.

How would you describe your
relationship with Darwin?

I had no relationship.

- No disagreements? No fights?
- No.

- No reason to kill him?
- No.

You are dismissed, Crewman. I may
have more questions for you later.

- Med lab to Tuvok.
- Go ahead.

I think I've found something
that will help you.

Do you see the DNA strands
on the lower border?

They were retrieved
from inside the wound

by nanites I designed to recognise
unusual DNA patterns.

This DNA was isolated
because it didn't belong to the victim.

Have you matched it
to a member of the crew?

- Are you certain?
- DNA doesn't know how to lie.

I must advise you
that under Starfleet Directive 101,

you do not have to answer
any questions.

No.

There's no point in denying it any more.

I used a two-kilo coil spanner.

He was sitting at the impulse system
control panel.

He didn't even look up and I swung
the spanner as hard as I could.

I suggest you speak to counsel.

There was practically no blood.
I was surprised at that.

I figured that the EPS conduit was
the easiest way to dispose of the body

but I must have damaged a circuit
when I put him inside.

I hid the spanner behind
a com line access panel on deck 7.

Why did you kill him, Mr Suder?

No reason.

That is not satisfactory.
You must have had some motive.

I didn't like the way he looked at me.

No doubt about it.
This is the murder weapon.

Mr Suder is apparently telling the truth.

You don't seem satisfied. You have
a confession and the murder weapon.

- And no established motive.
- Does it matter?

A crime must have a logical purpose.

I see. How to close the case without
understanding the logic of the crime.

For a Vulcan that would be a dilemma.

Doctor, is it possible
that Mr Suder is psychotic?

I doubt it.
Kes, call up his genetic profile.

The neurogenetic markers are normal.
There's no bipolar disorder.

He's not insane. What do the elevated
norepinephrine levels suggest?

- Aggressive, violent tendencies.
- Why didn't you report this immediately?

These readings are not so different
from other Maquis.

It takes a certain type to be attracted
to the life of an outlaw.

- Don't you believe his confession?
- I do.

But my job is not finished
until I determine a motive.

What if there was no motive?

One may not recognise the motivation,
but there is always motivation.

You are trapped
in your own Vulcan logic.

We all have violent instincts.
We have evolved from predators.

Not me, of course. I've just been
programmed by predators.

In a civilised world,
can we suppress those instincts?

Most of the time we can.
Vulcans certainly can.

Your violence is buried
under centuries of control.

But other humanoid races aren't
always so skilled at self-discipline.

Suder may have violent impulses
that he just can't control.

Could a look from Mr Darwin
provoke such a violent reaction?

It has been known to happen.

I do not accept that explanation.

I already told you why I killed him.

You didn't like
the way he looked at you.

- How did he look at you?
- Like a lot of people in Starfleet do.

So this murder was an outburst of rage
against Starfleet.

- If that's how you want to look at this.
- I want the truth.

I don't like Starfleet. I won't deny that.

- But...
- Yes?

I have killed people who weren't
in Starfleet for the same reason.

I did not like the way they looked at me.

I've thought about killing you.

In my case, you have a motive.

My previous mission as a spy.
My role as your accuser.

But Crewman Darwin
had done nothing to you.

- That's true.
- Then why choose him as a victim?

I don't know.

Do you feel remorse?

I don't seem to feel anything at all.

Most Betazoid's can sense
other people's emotions.

I can't even sense my own.

- What's going to happen now?
- I'll discuss that with the Captain.

I know what I'd do if I were her.

Guess I'm lucky.
Federation doesn't execute people.

I must understand
why you killed Mr Darwin.

- I wish I could help you.
- You can.

And I may be able to help you as well.
Do you know what a mind-meld is?

It's that Vulcan thing
where you grab someone's head.

We would be telepathically linked,
exchanging our thoughts.

In essence, becoming one mind.

One mind? You and me?
I wouldn't recommend that.

It is not without risk.

But I have internal processes
that allow me to control violent instincts.

I will be able to suppress
whatever feelings I draw from you.

And how will I be helped by all this?

It is likely that you will gain
some of my self-discipline,

to better control
your own violent nature.

- What do I have to do?
- Release the force field.

My mind to your mind.
Your thoughts to my thoughts.

Radiogenic particle density
at the measured coordinates

was 1,873 per cubic metre.

And the winner of 16 replicator rations

in the Paris
radiogenic sweepstakes is...

- Computer?
- There is no winner today.

What? No winner?

- Computer, are you positive?
- Try your luck again.

- Tomorrow you could be a winner.
- Very funny.

You heard the little lady.
Try your luck again, folks.

The pot grows daily
until we have a winner.

Enter your name and pick a number.

Can I buy you lunch, Mr Kim?
I have an extra ration today.

Two, by my count.
10% of the day's action.

The only one
who wins every day is you.

I think I'll have some prime rib,
medium rare,

mashed potatoes, creamed spinach,

maybe some Yorkshire pudding,
and a raktajino with cream on it.

So it turned out to be a worthwhile
and enlightening experience.

Did you get any answers?

It is difficult for me to accept, but Mr
Suder was telling the truth as he knew it.

He is a man
with an incredibly violent nature

without any outlet to express it.

I am surprised
he maintained control for so long.

In his earlier life he found ways
to release those impulses,

like volunteering for the Maquis.

What do we do with him?

If we were home, he'd be sent to prison.

The brig is the closest we have,

but we can't leave him in our dungeon
for the whole trip.

Nor would it be appropriate
to leave him in this quadrant.

I agree.

Captain, he is prepared to die
for his crime.

An execution? You're not
seriously suggesting that we...

I only mention it because of
the extenuating circumstances.

He feels it would be appropriate.

I don't. I prefer to rehabilitate him,
not to end his life.

We'll confine him to quarters.
Install maximum security.

Pardon me, but allowing him
the comfort of his own quarters

doesn't seem
an appropriate punishment for murder.

If we don't get home soon,
he'll be in that room a long time.

This is the best we can do
under these circumstances.

Crewman Darwin's three sisters
might not agree.

- How is Suder since the mind-meld?
- Quite calm and controlled.

The meld initiated some
high cortical activity in his brain.

And you? Any adverse effects?

I admit that I am more disconcerted
than I anticipated.

- Take a day or two off for meditation.
- Thank you.

But I am taking steps
to purge these residual feelings.

Time off won't be necessary.

I will advise you
of any further complications.

Tuvok...

Take care of yourself.

I would prefer to be alone.

Far be it from me to bother anyone.
If you really want me to leave, I'll leave.

- I really want you to leave.
- I don't believe you.

Your voice says go away, but your
heart wants me to make you smile.

- Please. Go away.
- Come on!

A little smile! How is it going to hurt?
I won't tell anyone.

What must I do
to convince you to stop?

Come on. Just a little itty-bitty smile.
Just let the mouth curl a little.

There's an old Talaxian song
my mother used to sing me as a child.

I'm going to sing it to you
every day from now on. It goes...

Mr Vulcan, I can't breathe!

I can't breathe!

I'm sorry!

Computer, end holodeck program.

Particle density at the measured
coordinates was 1,415 per cubic metre.

And the winner is?

Computer?

Computer?

There won't be any more winners.

Come on, Chakotay.
We were just having a little fun,

our recreation facilities
being what they are.

You're responsible for this?

Starfleet has a problem with it?

With a senior officer gambling and
skimming profits from the proceeds?

Why would Starfleet
have a problem with that?

Since you have extra rations,
you won't need these.

Today's pot is hereby confiscated.

The Captain's put a lot of faith in you.
She'll be disappointed.

You're on report.

Now there's a tough job.
Filling out reports.

But somebody's got to do it.

Thanks a lot.

- I did not hear you come in, Lieutenant.
- How are you feeling?

- Centred.
- Don't be misled.

Your violent instincts still exist.
You are suppressing them.

I can feel the difference.

It is almost as if I can observe
the violence inside me

without letting it get too close.

It is quite remarkable
what you Vulcans have learned to do.

Understand that this
will not be permanent

unless you commit to a strict regime
of meditation and mental exercise.

And a series of holodeck programs

designed to allow
your violent tendencies to be released

may purge your aggressive impulses.

Holographic violence does not give
the same sensation as the real thing.

Has anyone ever suggested
targeted neurosynaptic therapy?

That didn't work either.

Our Doctor is programmed with
knowledge from the whole Federation.

He may know a treatment you don't.

Since the meld,
I feel capable of controlling myself.

Perhaps with your help
I can learn to stay this way.

It must be difficult for you.

- Difficult?
- Knowing violence as I've known it.

I have studied violence
for over 100 years.

Studying it and knowing it are different.

It's attractive, isn't it?

- Attractive?
- Violence.

On the contrary. I find it disturbing.

You're right. It is disturbing.

Never knowing when that impulse may
come, or whether you can control it,

you live on the edge of every moment.

And yet, in its own way,
violence is attractive, too.

Maybe because it doesn't require logic.
Perhaps that's why it's so liberating.

Ironic, isn't it, that I can
share with you, of all people,

what I have hidden
from everyone all my life.

- Can we do it again, Tuvok?
- Again?

Meld.

That would not be advisable.

I understand. Really, I do.

I've thought about it a lot.

A mind-meld is almost
an act of violence, isn't it?

- I don't understand...
- Penetration.

Your will dissolving mine. The joining.

It seems to me that a mind-meld
might be fatal if you lost control.

Computer, place level-1
security seals on this room.

Acknowledged. Security seals in place.

Delete security clearance Tuvok,
1494-Lambda.

Specified security clearance deleted.

Please inform the Captain
that I am no longer fit for duty.

Acknowledged.

Computer, lift the security seal
from Tuvok's quarters.

Wait here.

I would advise you not to enter.

- Tuvok.
- Please do not come any closer.

- Talk to me.
- I said don't come any closer.

We need to get you to sickbay.

It would be safer for the crew
if I were to remain in these quarters.

I remind you I am trained in the martial
arts of many Alpha Quadrant cultures.

Attempting to meditate,

I have counted the number of ways
I know of killing someone.

Using just a finger, a hand, a foot...

I had reached 94 when you entered.

The Doctor is fully versed
in Vulcan medicine.

Again, for safety reasons,

I recommend you sedate me
before you initiate transport.

Levels of neuropeptides
in the limbic system are down 15%.

There's a neurochemical imbalance
in the mesiofrontal cortex.

That's where the Vulcan's
psycho-suppression systems are.

This may be due to incompatibility with
the Betazoid telepathic neural centre.

Vulcan mind-melds. Utter foolishness.

Nobody should share his brain
with someone else.

Would you? I certainly wouldn't.

And when something goes wrong,

as it does more often than they admit,
they call out, "Doctor!"

- Can you help him?
- I don't know.

There's a course of treatments
that should begin now.

We must take away
his ability to control his violence.

We do this in short bursts and hope
it provides a shock to his system.

If it works, his own neural controls
will take over again.

I believe we're about ready.

Revive him.

Something has changed.

We've removed your emotional
suppression abilities. How do you feel?

- I feel.
- Tuvok. Do you know where you are?

Of course I know where I am.

I'm just not sure I know who I am.

Try to relax. The treatment
still has about three minutes to go.

It must be working.

I feel very strong.

Very... powerful.

Quite euphoric.
This must be how my ancestors felt.

Doctor, allow me
to remain this way for a while.

- I could study primal Vulcan behaviour.
- I'm not prepared to do that.

- The treatment is very specific.
- You are not invulnerable, hologram.

A few well chosen commands,
and you will cease to exit.

- Two minutes, 30 seconds left.
- You look shocked, Captain.

You must be asking yourself,
"What if this doesn't work?"

"What do we do then?"

I have an idea. I'll just stay
in my quarters for the rest of the trip.

I'll just relax and read,
eat the ship's food,

use the ship's energy,
all in the comfort of my own room.

Mr Suder and I could get together
for Cardassian Pinochle once a week.

- That is how we treat violent offenders.
- You are not a violent offender.

I could be. Just like Suder.

I don't mind telling you something
the other Tuvok never would.

You are wrong. Sparing Suder's life
is a sign of weakness.

You disgust me.

All you humans do.

Admit it. Part of you feels as I do.

Part of you wants him to die
for what he did.

- No part of me feels that way.
- Liar!

He has killed
and you know he deserves to die.

On behalf of the victim's family,
I beg you to reconsider.

Give them the satisfaction
of his execution.

I have a radical suggestion.

Release the force field...

and I'll kill him for you.

Release the force field.

My student. My protégée.

There is so much to learn
for each of us today.

You'll be all right.
This will be over in 30 seconds.

Listen to what I tell you.
Release the force field.

I had them disable
your telepathic abilities, too.

- You can't reach me.
- Release the force field!

Ten seconds.

Five seconds.

It's over.

- He's lost consciousness.
- Sedate him again.

Computer, remove the force field.

Help me get him back on the bed.

- How many treatments will be needed?
- I wish I knew.

Mr Tuvok's mind is fighting
a battle between good and evil.

The battle may be won in a day,
a year... or it may never be won.

Tuvok?

I wondered what happened to you.
They wouldn't tell me.

There were some complications
from the meld.

I wondered about that.

I've been undergoing
neurosynaptic therapy in sickbay.

- It didn't work?
- No.

- Have you come to kill me?
- To execute you for your crime.

To execute me. I see. And calling it that
makes it more comfortable for you?

I will take no comfort in this.

A most logical use of violence
to punish the violent.

We both know
that I am prepared to die.

- But are you prepared to kill?
- It needs to be done.

- To release your violent impulses?
- To serve justice.

Justice or vengeance?
Understand one thing, Tuvok.

I can promise you
this will not silence your demons.

If you can't control the violence,
the violence controls you.

Be prepared to yield
your entire being to it,

to sacrifice your place in civilised life,

for you will no longer be a part of it,
and there's no return.

I seek no return.

You would not be able to live with
yourself. Then we are both to die.

And that will end the torment.

My mind to your mind,
my thoughts to your thoughts.

My mind to your mind.

My thoughts to your thoughts.

- Suder to the bridge.
- Why do you have a combadge?

Get down here, Chakotay.
Lieutenant Tuvok needs help.

Captain's log, supplemental.

Suder is in secured quarters, where
he will spend the rest of our journey.

Tuvok remains under observation
in sickbay.

It may be hard for you to believe,
but what happened is encouraging.

Your inability to murder shows your
suppression systems are functioning.

You're on your way back to normal...

although I'm not sure the word "normal”
applies if you suppress your emotions.

Captain, I must apologise
for my inappropriate behaviour.

- I'm just glad we have you back.
- I was most insulting to you.

Don't worry about it.
I've been insulted before.

I hope you understand

that I have always had the greatest
respect for you as a Captain,

and consider you a friend.

That means a great deal to me.

Enough said. Get some rest.

Tuvok.

No more mind-melds
without my permission. Understood?