Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 3, Episode 20 - Favorite Son - full transcript

Let's mark that trinary star.

It'll be a good reference point
for this sector.

Didn't we already pass
a trinary system like this?

- Not that I remember. Why?
- It just seems familiar.

Perhaps you're experiencing
a paradoxical associative phenomenon.

- Déjà vu.
- I guess so.

- There is a ship approaching.
- On screen.

Their shields are down and their
weapons systems are unpowered.

They're hailing us.

My respects to you.
I'm Alben, captain of the Nerada.

Captain Janeway
of the Federation starship Voyager.



I've never seen a ship like yours
in this sector before.

- We're not from around here.
- Welcome to Nasari territory.

- That ship's going to fire.
- What?

- We've got to defend ourselves.
- I am detecting no threat.

Weapons systems are charging.

Raising shields and firing phasers.

- They are returning fire.
- Red Alert.

Hail them. We must put a stop to this.

Captain, I had to act quickly.

You're relieved, Mr Kim.

They are not responding to hails.

There's pressure building up
in plasma conduit G6.

Open emergency vents.
I'll try to reroute the plasma flow.

Shields are down to 70%.



- Get us out of here.
- They are in pursuit.

What's the status of the warp drive?

The plasma injectors are off-line.

We're working on them now.

A plasma conduit just blew
in engineering.

Propulsion systems are down.

They're reporting casualties.

Target their weapons array.

They've suffered damage

to weapons systems and shields.

They're moving away.

I want to know
what you thought you were doing.

They were about to fire at us.

Their weapons systems
were not powered.

Then they must have fooled our sensors.

I detected a tetryon surge.

There are many possible sources
of increased tetryon emissions.

It may have been
a warp field irregularity.

No. It was their weapons.

"Welcome to Nasari" was a trick.

How could you know that?

I can't explain that. I just knew.

I was only trying to protect the ship.

I trust your intentions, but your actions
need more justification.

Analyse the sensor logs and see if
there's any basis for Mr Kim's hunch.

In the meantime,
I'm suspending you from duty.

Go to sickbay. Let the Doctor
have a look at that cut.

Her blood pressure's 90 over 40
and dropping.

She has second-degree burns
on her lungs.

Her neural tissues
are starting to degenerate.

Try ten milligrams pulmozine.

- No effect.
- 20 milligrams.

- Is she going to be all right?
- Yes.

Another patient snatched
from the jaws of death.

- Let me take care of that.
- B'Elanna almost got killed.

It's my fault. I started that fight.

I thought I was doing the right thing.
For a moment, I was sure.

- And now you're not?
- It's fading.

What I did and how I felt.
It doesn't make any sense.

And what if they'd been
more powerful than we were?

I could have gotten everyone killed.

B'Elanna got hurt and she'll recover.

You can't undo what's been done.

You're right.

Thanks.

Firing phasers.

I just knew.
I never wanted you to get hurt.

That's supposed to make me
feel better?

- I'm sorry.
- Harry, I'm here.

Don't worry. You'll feel better soon.

I can make some soup for you.
Would you like that?

I won't go anywhere
as long as you need me.

We raised you to be a responsible boy.

- I try to be.
- I'm suspending you from duty.

Mum!

The good news is there's no sign
of an infectious agent.

And the bad news?

If I don't find the cause of this rash,
it will be difficult to treat.

Last night, I had a dream about being
sick with the Mendakan pox.

Could this be a recurrence?

I've never considered dreams
as a diagnostic tool before.

Your unconscious mind sensed
these developing symptoms

and tried to provide an explanation?

Recurrences of this illness are rare,
but I will consider the possibility.

What?

- Your blood chemistry has been altered.
- Is that serious?

No, but it's not consistent with
the symptoms of the Mendakan pox.

You don't think there could be any
psychological effects from this disease?

Such as?

I've been having
this strange déjà vu feeling.

Then yesterday, I had a sudden instinct
and I acted on it by firing without orders.

I'd call that atypical behaviour.

Scans don't show any abnormalities,
but I will run a closer analysis.

Doctor, she's regaining consciousness.

Good morning, Lieutenant.

Morning. What am I doing here?

There was an accident in engineering.

I've treated you for burns
and broken ribs.

You'll make a full recovery...

after you've spent one more day
in sickbay.

This time, Doctor,
I'm not going to argue with you.

Harry. What happened to your face?

We're still trying to figure that out.

It's kind of cute. Makes you look
like a speckled targ.

B'Elanna, I'm really sorry you've got hurt.

It's all part of the adventure
of space travel.

I know, but...

What is it?

Never mind. I'm glad you're going
to be all right.

Thanks.

I'm going to have to cut
visiting hours short.

I'll contact you with the results
of my analysis.

- Take care of yourself.
- See you later, Spot.

Captain, I accept full responsibility
for my mistake.

I was out of line, even if I believe
that ship was charging weapons.

- They were charging weapons.
- I was right.

The tetryon surge matched the energy
signature of the beam they shot at us.

They would have taken us by surprise.

As soon as I saw their ship,
I felt this sudden...

suspicion and loathing.
I knew we were in trouble.

Which brings us back
to the larger question.

How did I know?

I wish I could tell you,

but for the past few days this area
of space has seemed familiar.

If I didn't know it was impossible,
I'd swear I've been here before.

We'll have to consider
every possible explanation.

Space-time anomalies, alien telepathy,
alternate realities.

The list gets weirder as it goes on.

Then there's your sudden illness,
which may not be a coincidence.

Ships approaching of the same
configuration as the Nasari vessel.

On my way.

- They'll intercept in 36 minutes.
- Can we outrun them?

Engineering is still doing repairs.
We could manage warp 3 at best.

Let me see a star chart of this region.

Head for this system.
We could make it.

Is this another hunch, Ensign?

We'll be safe there, I'm sure of it.

Tactical status.

The aft shield is off-line. Phasers are
operational, torpedoes are not.

I strongly advise against a confrontation.

Follow Harry's course.
Speed... as fast as we can go.

The Nasari vessels will overtake us
in two minutes.

We're coming up on that star system.
We'll pass it if we stay at warp.

Slow to impulse.
We're making our stand here.

They'll enter weapons' range
in a few seconds.

- Taresia.
- What does that mean?

- Do you know this place?
- Yes, it was in my dream.

- There's another ship approaching.
- Is it Nasari?

No, but they're on an intercept course,
weapons fully powered.

- Prepare for evasive manoeuvres.
- We'll be all right.

The unidentified vessel has disabled
all the Nasari ships.

What's your next trick, Harry?
Pull a shuttlecraft out of a hat?

- Open a channel to that ship.
- They're already hailing us.

Alien vessel,
this is the Taresian starship...

There you are. Our sensors
detected you aboard your ship.

- I'm glad to see you're safe.
- Do you know me?

- I know you are one of my people.
- What?

You are Taresian. Welcome home.

Captain's log, stardate 50732.4.

The Taresians have escorted us
to their homeworld

so we can investigate their claim
that Kim is a member of their race.

Welcome.
We're glad you're here.

This is a day of celebration.
Another Taresian has returned.

- Welcome.
- You're home now, Harry.

I still don't understand
how this is possible.

We'd like to ask some questions
before we celebrate.

Our doctor has found some alien
genetic fragments in my DNA.

Those are your Taresian genes.
They're becoming active.

We'd be happy to provide you with
some DNA samples for comparison.

- How could I have gotten them?
- You were conceived here.

While still an embryo,
you were placed in stasis

and taken to Earth to be implanted
in the womb of an Earth woman.

- What did you do to my mother?
- She would have been unaware.

After implantation,

the child incorporates some DNA
from the surrogate parent.

You developed physically as a human
so she thought you were her child.

- But you're saying I'm not.
- We understand how you feel.

Everyone here was born
on other worlds.

We found our way home and discovered
we're not who we thought we were.

- Maybe you'd like to sit down.
- Get him something to drink.

All of your children are born
to alien parents?

Yes. When they return, each brings
an infusion of new genetic material

and years of experience
about another culture.

Harry wasn't trying to return. We came
to the Delta Quadrant by accident.

His DNA was encoded
with the desire to explore space.

Your accident
may have brought him here faster,

but he always would have been driven
to find his way back.

You are the first to return
from such a great distance.

Harry.

That's how Taresians say thank you,
isn't it?

How could I know so much?

It's coded into your Taresian genes.

As you've gotten closer to home, your
genetic memory has been reawakened.

You'll remember more about us.

It all seems strange now, but you are
one of us, Harry. Can't you feel it?

Yes, I can.

Then stay with us a while and celebrate.
Come, have something to eat.

Is this the standard
welcome home reception?

For males it is. They're very rare.

Our population is 90% female.

Really?

Thank you for your help
in combating the Nasari.

Why did they attack us?

They probably detected a Taresian
aboard your ship.

That's reason enough for the Nasari.

- Are your people at war?
- They seem determined to destroy us.

Our defences prevent them
from attacking directly,

but they do everything they can to stop
our people from returning home.

That might explain
Mr Kim's hostile reaction to them.

It's a defence mechanism.

Are the Nasari likely to attack us again?

Eventually they will tire
of waiting for you.

I'd advise you to simply stay here
for a while.

- These are words.
- Can you read them?

Our written language is complicated.
I can teach you if you're interested.

- That looks good.
- Spiced hatana. I prepared it myself.

Harry, try some.

I'd like to find out if I have relatives
here, maybe talk to my biological parents.

None of us meet our fathers.
They take the embryos to other worlds.

Your father must have left long ago
to make it to the Alpha Quadrant.

We're transporting back to the ship.

I'd like to stay for a while.
I still have a lot of questions.

- Contact us when you're ready.
- We'll see you later.

These genetic fragments within Ensign
Kim's DNA are clearly Taresian.

Why haven't they shown up
in his medical scans before?

They've been disguising themselves as
the recessive elements within all DNA,

but over the past few days
they've become dominant.

- And provided him with knowledge?
- By forming connections in his brain.

Humanoid babies are born
with instinctive knowledge -

how to recognise a face,
hold their breath under water.

They must have found a way to implant
specific knowledge into their children.

It's quite a feat of genetic engineering.

What they've been telling us
appears to be true.

- Harry is one of their people.
- And more like them every day.

How will that influence him
when we're ready to leave?

When that might happen is another
question. Are the Nasari still out there?

Holding position
outside the Taresian system.

We may only be postponing
another conflict.

I'd rather convince them
we're not their enemies.

They only consider Ensign Kim
their enemy.

Perhaps they would be more receptive
if he were not aboard.

Let Harry know we're leaving orbit.

We should be back in a few hours
with this matter resolved.

I joined the merchant fleet so I could
explore every corner of the galaxy.

Like me with Starfleet.
That's all I ever wanted to do.

Now I know why.

It's strange to think alien DNA fragments
have been controlling my life.

Not controlling, influencing.

You probably inherited Taresian traits,
like a talent for music.

Yes, I always wondered
why I loved music so much

when my human parents
were practically tone deaf.

- What is that?
- Something to make you feel good.

It's just a mild mood enhancer.
No side effects.

- You'll like it.
- I think I'll pass.

This is Malia.
She's going to be my first wife.

First? And you're already planning
on a second?

And a third. We'll all be joined
with Taymon tonight.

What do you call it when a man
and women are joined?

Marriage, but it's usually
one woman with one man.

How unusual.
I hope you come to our ceremony.

I wouldn't miss it.

Don't be afraid to indulge yourself, Harry.

Everybody here wants you to be happy.
You're important to us.

That's what my human parents
used to say to me.

They'd been trying to have a baby
for years.

- They called me their miracle child.
- They were right.

They spoiled me, making sacrifices
to give me everything I wanted.

You were lucky. They loved you.

I never felt like I deserved
that kind of devotion.

I didn't see what was so special
about me.

I used to imagine
that I had hidden powers.

I'd grow up to be stronger than a Klingon
or able to read people's minds.

Your parents were right.
You have been special, all of your life.

- Feels pretty good, doesn't it?
- Yeah, it does.

Let me relax your muscles for you.

That would be great.

You're going to learn
to like it here, Harry.

- I already like it.
- Enough to stay?

I don't know about that.

- I'm happy where I am, on Voyager.
- You could be happy here, too.

It's nothing you have to decide now.

Just enjoy yourself while you're here.

This uniform seems so restrictive.

Let me find you something
more comfortable.

Thanks. I mean...

I agree with you, Captain.
There's no reason for further hostility.

I hope you'll feel that way
when Ensign Kim is back on board.

I doubt we'll face that problem.
Your crew member won't be returning.

No one coming home to Taresia,
ever leaves again.

There are rumours.

Are there any facts you can give me?

If you take your crew member
back on board, I will attack your ship.

My advice to you is to forget him
and be on your way.

You think there's any truth
to the rumours?

I don't know, but I'll feel better
when we've got Harry back.

Sensors indicate a high-density polaron
grid surrounding the planet.

- A network of satellites generated it.
- Can we get through?

- The polaric density is too high.
- Hail them.

Our communications are being blocked.

I guess we're not welcome any more.

Don't worry. You'll remember everything
about the ceremony once it begins.

Let us be joined.

The joining is complete.

Why do they tie him like that?

It's tradition. It symbolises binding
their lives together.

Do you find it exciting?

I hadn't really thought of it that way.

You are going to stay
for the celebration?

I should check in with Voyager.
They're probably back by now.

Kim to Voyager.

This is Ensign Kim calling Voyager.
Do you read?

Harry, I'm glad you could be here
for this.

It's been interesting.
Has there been word from Voyager?

Not that I know of.
They probably haven't returned yet.

I hope they didn't run into trouble
with the Nasari.

Your captain may need some time
to convince those people to see reason.

- Maybe so.
- Come.

Join the celebration while you wait.
You're welcome to stay the night.

We've poked holes in the grid,
but they're too small.

- Could a shuttle make it?
- I doubt it.

There's another problem. A Taresian
ship is patrolling the other side.

When you raised concerns
regarding the Taresians,

I questioned their story
about Ensign Kim's birth.

- You confirmed he has Taresian DNA.
- I did. And he does now.

His previous scans show no traces
of the Taresian genetic fragments.

He wasn't born with them.

Their story about embryo implantation
was a lie. He's human.

Maybe not for long. The alien DNA
is altering his genetic structure.

Soon he'll be indistinguishable
from a Taresian.

How could this new DNA
have gotten into his cells?

A retrovirus. He was probably exposed
during an away mission.

Wouldn't the biofilters
eliminate the virus?

Once the virus transferred
the DNA into his cells,

it wouldn't have helped.

Is there a way to determine
when he was infected?

The transporter buffer performs
its own version of a microcellular scan.

I reviewed the logs and found the first
appearance of the alien genes

on stardate 50698.

The planet where we found the vorilium.
Harry was separated from the group.

He might have been infected
by something he ate, drank or touched.

So Harry gets infused with alien DNA,
which gives him the urge to come here.

The Taresians tell him this story to make
him believe he was one of them.

It sounds as if they're giving him
every incentive to stay on Taresia.

By keeping us away,
they're making the decision for him.

Here you are.
I hope you'll be comfortable here.

- Is there anything I can get for you?
- No, I'll be fine.

Goodnight.

Get into bed.

- You're going to tuck me in?
- Tuck you in?

It's a human custom.
Parents tuck their children into bed.

Tell them a story or sing a lullaby
to them to help them sleep.

That's sweet.

Lie back and relax.

- Do you understand?
- Pleasant dreams.

Now close your eyes.

That smells good.

It's the essence of rikka flowers.
It's very soothing.

Goodnight, Harry.

You're Taresian. Welcome home.

I think you'll like it here, Harry.

We've been lucky to have you.

You have been special all your life.

You know where
your real home is Harry.

You'll like it here, Harry.

Stay with me.

It's all right. You were dreaming.

- What are you doing here?
- We just want to help you relax.

I appreciate the offer,
but I'd rather be alone.

I don't believe that. You've been
spending too many nights alone, Harry.

Stop holding yourself back.

You have the same natural desires
as any Taresian.

Now you're free to act on them.

- You can't fight genetics.
- I can try.

- I want you to choose me.
- Choose both of us.

Then you'll only have to find
one more wife.

I'm not joining with you.

That's the reason you were drawn
back home. To have children.

No.

Like I told you before,
I'm going back to Voyager.

You could never be as valuable to them
as you are to us.

You have a responsibility to pass on
your genes to the next generation.

Your Taresian genes have given you
a sense of loyalty.

My loyalty is to my crew
and my family back home.

You don't belong with them any more.
You're one of us.

Your place is here.

We'll make you glad you stayed.

Think of Taymon, how happy he's been.

- Let yourself be happy.
- It's the right choice, Harry.

This is the life you were meant to have.

Maybe this life wouldn't be so terrible.

It will be wonderful.
You'll have everything you ever wanted.

And a place of honour
among your people.

You'll never be alone again, Harry.
We'll make sure of that.

Three wives?

- I've got to think about my choice.
- You're attracted to me.

- There's a connection between us.
- You're right. I felt it, too.

I'm definitely considering you
as one of my wives.

- What are you doing?
- It's like you said before.

This could be exciting.

You both want to make me happy,
don't you?

This is some kind of trick.

Sorry about that.

Taymon?

It's Harry. I really need your help.

Are you in there?

Is this what I should expect
on my honeymoon?

It would have been easier
if you hadn't seen this.

Easier for you.
What did you do to Taymon?

We nucleate cells to collect genetic
material for conception.

That's why there are no men here.

They don't leave with their embryos
in stasis. They're killed.

A father should be willing
to sacrifice himself for his children.

Is anything you told me true?

Taresians being born on other worlds,
my being one of you?

Male children are rare here and
we seek out DNA to sustain our race.

We need males of other species
who can be transformed into mates.

Transformed? That's what these genes
are doing to me?

- You'll be celebrated.
- Don't count on it.

Take me to a communications terminal
where I can contact my ship.

- Stay out of my way.
- You're too important to us.

They won't allow you to leave.

If we hit the grid here we'll have a few
seconds before the patrol ship move in.

That doesn't give you much time
to get a lock on Harry.

- Are the shields ready?
- The configuration is stable.

Set a course for the target co-ordinates
and engage at full impulse.

We're disrupting the grid,
but we need more speed.

Increasing power.

We're clear.

I'm not picking up Harry's com signal.
Initiating bio-scans of the surface.

The Taresian ship
is on an intercept course.

Battle stations.

This could have been a joyous occasion.

- I won't let you do this to me!
- Harry, there's nowhere to go.

- We've got him.
- Setting a new course.

- The Taresians are in pursuit.
- Return fire.

We've got another problem.
Three Nasari ships.

- Time till intercept?
- Less than one minute.

Welcome back.
We could use your strategic intuition.

I'm counting on the Taresians
not to back off from the Nasari.

Let's hope they're more interested
in fighting with each other.

Five seconds to intercept.

We are no longer being pursued.

Let's not give them a chance
to change their mind.

Odysseus was warned
that the women sung so beautifully

that any man who heard it would die.

How did he get the ship past them?

He told his crew to cover their ears
so they couldn't hear the song.

But he also had them tie him
to the mast

so he could listen himself
without being led astray.

Anyone would have been drawn in
by these Taresians.

I've never seen
so many beautiful women.

It wasn't just the women.

There was something exciting about
being more than young Ensign Kim.

I am glad to have the young Ensign Kim
back with us.

Although you should have kept the spots.
They were very distinguished.

What's so bad about being you?
Everybody likes you.

Sometimes I wish I could be more
confident with women.

- More like you.
- Like me?

You might want to reconsider that.
There could be prison time involved.

Actually, since I've been on Voyager,
I've tried to be more like you.

- That'll be the day.
- I'm serious.

You're my role model. You're reliable,
hard working, punctual.

Did I mention polite?