Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 2, Episode 23 - The Thaw - full transcript

Sorry!

Ensign Baytart
doesn't appreciate music.

The fluid conduits running
through the walls conduct sound.

You'd think they would've...

The ship was built for combat, not music.

Nobody figured we'd take long trips.

- Where am I supposed to practise?
- How about the cargo bay?

- Bad acoustics.
- We could get Baytart transferred.

We couldn't do that. Could we?

Tell your mother that's why you didn't
practice while you were gone.

Look, I'm trying to prepare
for an important performance.



Are we scheduled to rendezvous with the
Delta Quadrant Symphony Orchestra?

No. Susan Nicoletti and I
are working on an orchestral program.

Lieutenant Nicoletti? The one I've been
chasing for six months?

- Cold hands? Cold heart?
- Not when she plays the oboe.

Chakotay to all senior officers.
Please report to the bridge.

You know, Harry, I've always wanted
to learn how to play the drums.

I am picking up non-functional
communication satellites.

Take us in closer.
Scan the surface.

This used to be a major trading spot.

- How long ago?
- I'm not sure. If I had to guess...

A major solar flare occurred here
19 years ago.

...I'd say about 19 years, more or less.

- Looks like a glacial freeze.
- Caused by a solar flare

that radically changed
the weather patterns.



They were hit by magnetic storms
and radiation.

- Those glaciers are receding.
- The biosphere is recovering.

- Did anyone survive?
- I'm scanning the settlement.

There's advanced technology,
warp reactors, subspace transmitters...

but no lifesigns.

Maybe they evacuated the planet.

Evacuation would have been prevented
by the atmospheric disturbances.

- What was the estimated population?
- Approximately 400,000.

I'm picking up something
from the surface.

I think we're being hailed.

You said there weren't any lifesigns.

There aren't. I scanned the surface.

It must be an automated signal.

Let's hear it.

I'm Viorsa, The Kohl settlement planner.

Your sensors activated this message.

You must be aware of the catastrophic

disaster that has destroyed our home.

A few of us have survived

in a state of artificial hibernation,

programmed to end in 15 years

from the date this was recorded.

When the eco-recovery has begun,

we will attempt to rebuild our settlement.

Please don't interrupt our timetable.

That should have ended four years ago.

Looks like they didn't make it.

Wouldn't your scans have picked up

suppressed metabolic activity?

I would think so. Unless...

Checking below the surface.

Nothing one kilometre down.

Two kilometres. Wait a minute.

I think I've got something.

2.3 kilometres down.

Faint biosignatures. Three humanoids.

Can you detect a malfunction

explaining why they didn't wake up?

No. But there are two more

humanoids who are dead.

Are there any security systems?

I don't want to set anything off.

No weapons of any kind, Captain.

It's safe to transport the pods here.

If that is your intent.

It is. Beam them to cargo bay 1.

Mr Kim, you're with me. Janeway to Kes.
Bring your medkit to cargo bay 1.

Two humanoids are dead,
three in deep stasis.

Lifesigns apparently stable.

Our messenger.

Did the system break down?

Not that I can see. I'm not reading
any failures in the hibernation pods.

The circuitry
all seems to be functioning.

Their brains are interconnected
in a complex sensory system

controlled by this computer.

- Captain, their minds are active.
- What do you mean?

The readings suggest they're dreaming.

But there's interactivity
with the computer.

It's scanning their brain functions
and sending data back.

Could it be generating
an artificial environment?

Artificial environment?

Years ago, Starfleet used a technology
to assist deep space travel.

They kept the body in stasis,
but provided a mental landscape

to keep the mind active and alert.

A good way to wait out a disaster.

It's as good a theory as any.

So what went wrong?
Why are they still in there?

The system should have brought them
out of hibernation four years ago.

However, it wasn't left entirely
to the computer.

The programmers wanted the people
to decide when it was safe to come out.

A subroutine periodically displayed
atmospheric conditions to them.

They should have realised that
the biosphere had recovered.

Yes. This subroutine
has remained available to them

since it was activated four years ago.

- It's an escape hatch.
- Perhaps it has malfunctioned.

No. That's what's so odd about this.

As far as I can tell,
it's working perfectly.

- Then why don't they get out?
- I don't know.

- Maybe they like it.
- I don't think so.

- Doctor?
- The victims died from heart failure.

- And there was prior neural trauma.
- What does that mean?

It could be evidence of extreme fear.

Maybe it was caused by the panic
of a heart attack.

Readings suggest
an extended period of mental stress.

We ought to get them out.

Surely you're not suggesting
we unplug them?

Why not?

Because the three brains survival
has depended upon careful monitoring

by a computer for 19 years.

The Doc is right.

I don't know how to disconnect them
without causing damage.

- I don't know the system well enough.
- They know the system.

- Let's ask them how to proceed.
- How?

Implant a com-link in their brains?

We have a means of communication.
The two unoccupied pods.

We could add backup life support using
our own computer and technology.

If that is the only way to help them,

- I don't see any alternative.
- Neither do I.

I'll be monitoring
your mental and physical functions.

If we detect any unusual activity,

you'll be transferred onto life support
and resuscitated.

We've tapped into
the system's recall program.

I'll give you five minutes
then bring you back.

- Consider this a test run.
- Understood.

Inducing primary stasis.

Autonomic nervous system
link is secure.

They're connecting to the system.

- We made it.
- How do you feel?

Normal.

They must be computer-generated.

- I don't see our people.
- Neither do I.

Excuse me.

We're trying to find some friends.

That shouldn't be difficult.

We're all friends here.

- I'm sorry.
- I'm sorry.

- I didn't mean to bump into you.
- You're new.

Yes, we are.

- Where are you from?
- Another town.

There aren't any other towns.

We're not getting very far.

Perhaps I can help you.

- You are looking for friends?
- That's right. Three of them.

- And when you find these friends?
- We want to talk to them.

Why talk when we can dance?

- Let's get out of here.
- You got it.

You.

- Take him.
- Harry!

Stop!

They're aliens and they won't be alone.

Kill them and their shipmates
will shut down the program.

Let him go.

We knew this would happen some day,
that a ship would find us.

It was only a matter of time.

Only a matter of time. Yes.

Who knows
what kind of people they are,

or what will happen
to this world if you hurt them?

I do. I know.

Bring them here.

You're like me.
Little of this and little of that.

My, what a temper.

That's from your mother's side.
Yes, you see? I know everything.

This is my world. My festival.
And you're here without an invitation.

- What is this? Who is he?
- You will talk to me.

I speak for them.
And I speak for you now.

You don't understand or accept that yet.
But you will.

Are you a life-form
or some kind of computer virus?

Perhaps I'll be a virus today.

This one's got a mind full of technical
and operational thoughts and ideas.

- Harry knows viruses.
- Stop this.

I know you came here to get them
and take them away.

But if you do that, we'll all disappear.

Disappear. Because you're characters
created by this program.

Once their minds stop interacting with
the system, you won't exist anymore.

See? The technical mind at work.
It seeks diagnostics, data analysis.

Here's some more data
for your mind to analyse.

Yes, I am merely what has been created
and is being created by his brain,

his brain, her brain,

and now yours and yours.

What's this doing here now?
This is your work!

That's our wake-up call. It's been
a real pleasure but we're leaving.

Come on.

If you leave, one of them will die.

One of them will die.
Try it and see. If you leave.. He dies.

He can do it.
He's killed two of our colleagues.

- How?
- I cut off their heads.

- But none of this is real.
- As real as a nightmare.

The two we found dead
both suffered heart attacks.

Now what might cause a heart attack?

Unmanageable stress, perhaps?

Unmanageable fear?
The fear of losing a head, perhaps?

You scared them to death.

- What's taking so long?
- There's no interruption in brainwaves.

Recall is functioning,
the window is open for them.

The norepinephrine levels are rising.
They're well above baseline.

These levels indicate abnormal stress.

I'm going to try to bring them out
with our backup systems.

Initiating resuscitation.

The body temperature is rising.

What happened?

The bodies are returning to stasis.

Someone is terminating the recall
command from inside the system.

Very wise of you,
my technically-minded fellow.

Now get rid of it. It's ruining the party.

- That would be a mistake.
- A mistake if you refuse.

- You'd be missing an opportunity.
- Trying to get the better of me?

Trying to trick me?
I know everything you know.

I know how much you miss Libby,

how you can never hit G sharp
in the Mozart concerto.

I know you're trying to defeat me.

Fine. So you know. You'll also know that
what I'm about to tell you is the truth.

- You'd be smart to let one of us go.
- Would I?

Send the outside world a message.
Tell them your demands.

- I have only one demand. To exist.
- Then let us tell them.

Otherwise our people might shut down
the whole system.

They won't let us stay in here for long.

How did this happen?

The system was designed
to respond to our thoughts

and adjust the environment
to our wishes.

- Who wished him up?
- It happened without us realising.

All of us had fears about survival.

We never anticipated the computer
would manifest them.

Our only hope was that
someone like you would find us.

It's as though he can read our minds.
He knows what we're thinking.

He's generated by the system our brains
are monitored by, so in a way, he can.

But there is a delay
before he knows what we're thinking.

It takes a few minutes
for our brain activity to be processed.

We've come to a decision.

You leave. You stay.

Tell Captain Janeway
that if we die, they die.

Including you, dear Harry.
You become my best friend as of today.

She would never kill you, would she?

No. She's like a dear old mother to you.

GO!

Someone's activated recall.

Captain, it's Lieutenant Torres.

She should regain consciousness
in twelve minutes.

At least we'll get the answers
to a few questions.

Let's start with the obvious question -

if they're demanding to exist,

can we find a way to let them exist
in this artificial world of theirs?

Not unless you leave one person
in stasis permanently.

I concur.

The computer uses feedback from
the brains to create the environment.

Is there a way to speed up
resuscitation?

More than a few minutes
would risk serious brain damage.

Ten minutes would be
the best we could do.

All the hostages could be killed.

Then our first order of business
is to reduce the number of hostages.

All we have to do now
is decide how to negotiate with...

an emotion.

With a manifestation... of fear.

Fear is the most primitive, the most
primordial, of biological responses.

The ability to recognise danger,
to fight it or run away from it -

that's what fear gives us.

But when fear holds you a hostage...

how do you make it let go?

Maybe we should try
to make them laugh.

A good joke just...
seems to make a fear dissolve.

It does in me, anyway.

I think something more responsive
to the clown's demand.

Maybe you can modify the system so
it can run without bioneural interaction.

How do we negotiate without
sending in another hostage?

Good question. We have to come up
with a safer method of communication.

I regret very much
what has happened to you.

You came to help.
You didn't deserve this.

I regret so many things.

Look, we don't have time for regret.

My people are working on a way
to get us out of here.

We have to help them if we can.

You leave hope behind
after a few months of this.

Why does he do it?

We're his canvas. His blocks of marble.

With us, he practises his ghastly art.

Thinking about escape, are we, Harry?
Naughty, naughty.

I don't like those thoughts.
We'll have to do something about them.

He can't help thinking about getting out.

He can!
You don't think about it anymore.

Oh, but he's new. And you're old.

New and old. Old and new.

Then the answer is
to simply make you old, Harry.

Are you afraid of growing
old, Harry? Is that what you fear?

- Being cared for by nurses?
- Time for your medicine.

You don't like being helpless, do you?

You like to take care of yourself.

Yes, I know how you hate to feel
like the baby on the crew.

What's the matter, Harry?
Does my costume frighten you?

Look at little Harry fly.

There he goes!

All right, that's enough.

This is not reality. It's an illusion.

When your only reality is an illusion,
then illusion is a reality.

Like the man said, the only thing
we have to fear is fear itself.

I thought we were going to be friends.

Didn't want to do this.

I didn't want to bring this up
but I know what really scares you.

You were nine and your parents
took you to that colony -

the radiation disaster
humanitarian mission -

you visited a hospital, remember?

You wandered off by yourself,
where you weren't supposed to be...

The only thing we have to fear
is fear itself.

You saw people and things you weren't
supposed to see. Sick and dying.

The only thing we have to fear
is fear itself.

The only thing we have to fear
is fear itself.

And how about,
"There's no place like home".

Try clicking your heels together.
Oh, but your legs are restrained.

Just like that little girl
on the operating table.

The doctor called for a scalpel.

She looked at you,
her face filled with fear.

Fear. Fear.

Fear. Do you remember?

Excuse me,
you're not holding that properly.

Correct positioning
of the index finger is necessary.

- Who are you?
- Captain Janeway's representative.

I'm here to negotiate with you.

- Are you well?
- Starting to feel better.

You're different. I don't know anything
about you. You're not on the system.

I'll tell you all about myself
some other time.

I am here by a miracle of technology.

Let's get down to the issues, shall we?

How can I negotiate
if I don't know what you're thinking?

I have a very trustworthy face.

My captain will give you what you
ask for if you release all the hostages.

Release the hostages?

We would provide input
from a simulated brain.

Simulated brain? Simulated?

- I myself...
- It won't work. Tell him, Harry.

- I don't know that.
- LIAR!

Viorsa, get over here.

- Tell him.
- It might require a recalibration of...

LIAR! After all this time do you think
I can't tell when you lie?

- The simulated brain...
- Would leave me at your mercy.

No! They're staying.

The captain will risk the hostages' lives
rather than leave them with you.

Who is she to tell me what to do?

She's the one
with the off switch in her hand.

- She'd never kill Harry.
- I'd rather die than stay here with you.

- She knows that.
- I won't let them go.

- A compromise. Let some of them go.
- No.

You only need one to survive.

And if that one gets sick and dies?
No, I need them all.

Now go away. And tell Captain Janeway
I'm disappointed. I expected more.

- If we could just...
- Go away.

- I'll be back.
- Go away.

I'm sorry I don't live up to his
expectations. What do you think of him?

Unstable. Unpredictable.
All you'd expect from fear.

The longer this continues, the more likely
it is that he will harm the hostages.

I agree. And I can't allow that to happen.

We'll have to mount a rescue mission.

If we do simply disconnect
the hostages...

- There would be brain damage.
- How much? Could you repair it?

Possibly, yes. Would Mr Kim
still be able to hold his clarinet?

Possibly.
The brain is an interesting organ.

Could we use a simulated brain
without the clown noticing?

He'd notice. He was very smart
to reject a simulated brain.

It wouldn't be the same. Artificial
intelligence can't replace brain functions.

I'll choose not to take that personally.

Mr Viorsa said there would be a way
to make a simulated brain function.

He suggested it would take
a recalibration of the optronic pathways.

But the optronic pathways have nothing
to do with the neural interface.

- It doesn't make sense.
- Then why did he say it?

How do the optronic pathways function
in this system?

They control the basic elements
of the environment,

access databanks that were
programmed when the system was new.

If we interrupt the optronic pathways,

we could disassemble that entire world
and its characters.

If we can't remove the hostages
from the environment,

then we remove the environment
from the hostages.

How did Viorsa communicate this
without the clown knowing?

Perhaps the clown's attention
was divided.

And you're going to continue
to distract him.

How long will this take?

I'm not sure how many pathways there
are. And I'll have to do it manually.

You'll only have a few minutes.

Once fear knows what we're up to,
it'll be a race against time to save them.

- Bravo.
- Go away.

- I want to be alone.
- You're ruining the festival.

Don't be a poop.

- I'm feeling sorry for myself.
- Don't take it out on us.

Take it out on them.

You people. You wonderful people.

My friends. You do know
how to make a man feel better.

OK, then. What shall we play?

The insect game!

You again? You ruined my mood.
You and your sweet captain.

- My "sweet captain" has a new offer.
- No simulated brains.

The captain will give you
a cloaking device.

I already have a cloaking device.
Thank you anyway.

The device would shield you
from detection by any other visitors.

There are 40 pathways to disable
but I can do it in two minutes.

Good. Let's get started.

We will return your computer system
to the locale where we found it.

With the help of Mr Kim it will be easy
to install the cloaking device,

which will ensure your safety
in the future.

- Harry, is this possible?
- Yes.

I don't know if I believe you.
I don't know yet.

But I'll know soon. You can't fool me.

What does she want in return?
And don't say the hostages.

The captain's primary concern
is the hostages.

She's so warm and noble. I'd love her
to come to one of my parties.

What if I promised
to take good care of them?

We could be more than friends.
We could be colleagues.

I'm really not such a bad fella.

- What's happening?
- You tricked me! It's an attack!

It's an attack! Red Alert!

You told them how it could be done!

Take him.

No! Please, no!

- 22.
- More than halfway there.

Viorsa's norepinephrine levels
are rising sharply.

No, please! I didn't do anything!

What is it?

Some kind of protection device.
I'm locked out. I'll have to disable it.

- His norepinephrine levels are critical.
- Just ten more pathways.

He's dead. Massive heart failure.

This one is approaching critical.

You're next!

Restore the entire program.

- We lost.
- We've won!

Start the music! Celebration!

Celebration!

Your decision saved the lives
of the other hostages.

- You should take comfort from that.
- I don't.

Have I misjudged him somehow?
Is there another way to reach him?

Isn't there more to fear
than a simple demand to exist?

Why do people enjoy dangerous sports?

Or holodeck adventures
with the safety off?

Why do children still
ride on roller coasters?

Fear can provide pleasure.

To seek fear is to seek the boundaries
of one's sensory experience.

But what does fear seek...
at the end of the ride?

We will have to punish you
for your captain's trick.

To the winner go the spoils
and you are the spoils.

We'll talk later. For now, enjoy yourself.

- You know how to end a party.
- I don't get out much.

- I bet.
- The captain has an ultimatum.

Ultimatum?
She would give me an ultimatum?

Did Napoleon give an ultimatum
after Waterloo?

Did Chulak of Romulus give an ultimatum
after Galorndon Core?

We won. We give the ultimatums.

The captain will shut down the system
in one minute if you don't agree.

And scramble my guests' brains?
I don't think so.

52 seconds. She will risk brain damage
to the hostages to end this now.

- What are her terms?
- 43 seconds.

She will allow you to keep one person.

One?! Never. I won't agree.

You have 30 seconds
to avoid termination.

I need more time to think.

- Let me keep two.
- 20 seconds.

There is another provision. The hostage
you may keep is Captain Janeway.

She would choose to be with me?

- Your time is up. Your answer, please?
- Yes.

Captain, this is the Doctor.
I've returned to sickbay.

Please turn to your Emergency Medical
Holographic channel.

- Did he accept?
- Yes, Captain.

Good work, Doctor.

Would you like me to supervise
the evacuation of the hostages?

You can help with the preparations
at this end. Janeway out.

Initiate the recall subroutine
and prepare to begin resuscitation.

Sparkling. I want everything sparkling
for her arrival.

Harry, not so fast. They can't have you
until I have her. No more tricks.

She's coming. I can feel the system
beginning to scan her brain.

This is such an extraordinary gesture
she's making. I am so moved.

- You don't believe it, do you?
- She would sacrifice herself for us.

"Sacrifice herself"?

You can be so cruel, Harry.
You don't appreciate my hospitality.

You're here. You're actually here.
I don't believe it.

The arrangement was that the others
would be released.

How could you be so sure
I would keep my word?

I've known fear.
It's a very healthy thing most of the time.

You warn us of danger, remind us of
our limits, protect us from carelessness.

I've learned to trust fear.

Finally, someone who appreciates me!
Am I blushing?

- Let them go.
- Yes, of course.

You may depart. Farewell, my friends.

Do come back and visit.
I'll always be here.

- Recall activated.
- Body temperatures are rising.

Initiating backup systems. They should
regain consciousness in ten minutes.

We'll get you out of here, Captain.
I promise.

That won't be necessary, but thank you.

I can't wait to get to know you,
to make you a part of me.

I understand it takes a few minutes
before you know my thoughts.

- Is that true?
- An eternity of anticipation.

- Then what happens?
- Then the fun begins.

All systems functioning.
Resuscitation entering final warming.

Biofunctions returning to normal.
Their own hearts are taking over.

They don't need supplemental
life support.

- Will you be honest with me?
- Fear is the most honest emotion.

You want this to end as much as I do,
don't you?

Don't even think about leaving.
I'm not going to let you go.

Not after all this. Mirror?

- Aren't we a beautiful couple, Captain?
- I'm not Captain Janeway.

- Could have fooled me.
- I'm afraid I did.

- Pardon?
- I'm a holographic image of the captain.

I was sent here by the same technique
they used to send their doctor.

I've been programmed to respond
as Janeway would.

But I feel you. You're on the system.

She is on the system, yes.
But not in stasis.

The crew modified the pods so Janeway
could be connected to the system

without entering this environment.

You are able to sense her brain
activity without putting her in jeopardy.

You will be able to confirm this when
you become aware of her thoughts.

We both know that fear only exists
for one purpose.

- To be conquered.
- She tricked me.

Did she? Or was part of you
actually hoping to be defeated?

Isn't that why you allowed her here?

Because you sensed
she had the power to subdue you.

No. She lied.
It was very un-Starfleet of her.

Starfleet captains don't
easily succumb to fear.

What will become of us... of me?

Like all fear, you eventually vanish.

- I'm afraid.
- I know.

Drat.