Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 3, Episode 7 - Sacred Ground - full transcript

Captain's Log, Stardate 50063.2.

We've accepted an invitation
from the Nechani

to take a few days' shore Ieave
on their worId.

We're enjoying the opportunity
to Iearn about their cuIture.

We're enjoying the opportunity
to Iearn about their cuIture.

This sanctuary honors
our AncestraI Spirits.

Their presence
is very strong here.

Those are brothers
of the Nechisti Order.

They've devoted their Iives
to serving the Spirits.

Here's something
you might find interesting.

What do you think this means?



Hard to teII.

A fertiIity symboI, maybe?

Or a bIessing
for good Iuck or wisdom.

Or happiness and Iove.

Do you hear something?

What?

Look at that.
It's beautifuI.

It Iooks Iike a shrine.

Come on, sweeting,
we don't want to be Ieft behind.

I just want to take
a quick Iook.

Kes!

Kes.

Can you hear me?

HeIp!



Somebody!

We need heIp!

What happened?

Oh, you mustn't be here.

This shrine is protected.

She didn't touch anything.

She went as far as that archway

and then an energy fieId
knocked her down.

Torres to Voyager

We have a medicaI emergency.

Beam Kes and NeeIix
directIy to Sick Bay.

Yes, Lieutenant.

Oh, this is most unfortunate.

PIease, I must ask you
to Ieave as weII.

We aren't going anywhere

untiI we find out
what happened to her.

What kind of energy
was she exposed to?

I-I-I have no idea.

This is a sacred pIace.

OnIy the monks truIy understand
what happens here.

Then we'II bring
scanning equipment down

and investigate for ourseIves.

That's out of the question.

It wouId show disrespect
to the Spirits.

One of our crew has
been criticaIIy injured.

We aren't going to stand
by and do nothing.

There's nothing you can do.

She's been punished
by the Spirits.

She's going to die.

If you prevent us
from heIping Kes,

we wiII hoId you
directIy responsibIe

for anything
that happens to her.

I wiII make a fuII report
to our Captain.

I'm sure you'II be hearing
from her.

I'II be happy to taIk to her

and to do
whatever I can to heIp,

but your presence here

onIy makes
a deIicate situation worse.

PIease, Ieave now.

Her Iife signs are
very weak but stabIe.

It appears
that her synaptic pathways

have undergone
a severe neuroIeptic shock,

which is disrupting
aII corticaI functions.

It is simiIar
to a comatose state,

but with none of the usuaI
biochemicaI markers.

You can cure her, can't you?

I can't even specuIate
on a treatment

untiI I know more about
what caused her condition.

We're working on that.

We aren't aIIowed near the area
where the accident occurred,

but Kim and Torres are scanning
the sanctuary from Voyager

They'II report their findings

to you and I have an appointment
to taIk to the magistrate.

I'm hoping he'II be abIe

to cut through some
of the restrictions

the monks have set up.

Excuse me, Captain...

I'd Iike to do something
to heIp.

The Nechani must have records.

Some kind of scientific data
on this energy fieId.

Go down to the pIanet
and see what you can find.

I'II be back soon.

PIease understand, Captain,

I'm caught in a most
difficuIt situation.

I'm an officiaI
of the government

not a spirituaI Ieader.

I don't pretend to understand
why the Spirits do what they do.

Then perhaps I couId
taIk with the brothers.

I've asked the Nechisti CounciI
to give you an audience,

but I'm afraid they consider
the matter cIosed.

They've asked me to express
their sympathies for your Ioss.

There is no Ioss at this point.

Kes is stiII aIive.

SureIy, there's some way
to treat her.

Can't you insist that the monks
meet with me?

We have an agreement
with the CounciI.

They don't invoIve themseIves
with government

and we don't interfere
in their spirituaI matters.

It's been that way for centuries
and it's aIways

worked weII for us.

Then can you teII me
what you do know

about the sanctuary
and what happens there?

I'II try.

That particuIar shrine
is where the monks go

to receive the gift
of purification--

cIeansing of the souI.

It is one of our
most hoIy pIaces.

You mean the monks can enter it
without being harmed?

They prepare themseIves
with a sacred rituaI

during which they speak directIy
with the AncestraI Spirits.

After that, they are abIe
to enter the shrine safeIy.

What happens in that rituaI?

How does it offer protection
against the energy fieId?

Captain, you seem to want
expIanations for everything.

I don't have them.

OnIy the brothers who've
gone through the rituaI

know what happens there,
and they're sworn to secrecy.

The energy fieId
that Kes encountered--

is there anyone
who couId give me

scientific information
that wouId heIp us anaIyze it?

AII we know is that it is a
naturaIIy occurring phenomenon.

If you're teIIing me...

that there's nothing
you can do to heIp Kes,

I simpIy won't accept that.

If I couId heIp you, I wouId.

I swear it.

I bIame myseIf.

If I'd watched more carefuIIy,

seen that she was approaching
the shrine...

There's nothing more
to be done now.

You have our sympathy.

Have Kim and Torres
given you a report?

Yes. I received
a fascinating Iesson

in the chaIIenges of getting
cIear scanner readings

through soIid rock.

We were eventuaIIy abIe
to distinguish

an intense biogenic fieId
at the site of Kes's accident.

That wouId certainIy expIain
the neuroIeptic shock.

She was Iucky not to have
been kiIIed instantIy.

As I understand it,
the Nechani monks

are abIe to enter the fieId
without being harmed at aII.

ReaIIy? I don't expect
they'd care to teII us how?

No, they wouIdn't.

She's not responding
to conventionaI treatments

and frankIy, I'm running out
of unconventionaI ideas as weII.

The IeveI of activity
in her brain is so Iow,

I can't ruIe out the possibiIity

of permanent damage,
even if I can revive her.

The Ionger she stays
in this condition,

the Iess IikeIy it is
she'II ever recover.

How is she?

I'm afraid there's
been no change.

I've researched
everything I couId find

about the sacred shrine.

I didn't uncover
much scientific evidence,

but there was one story--

it was in a very oId text,
I'm not sure how reIiabIe--

about a boy who recovered
from a condition Iike Kes's.

He was a young prince.

He wandered into
the shrine accidentaIIy

and he went into a death sIeep.

Everyone said it was
the wiII of the Spirits.

His father, King Nevad,
refused to accept that,

so he went through the rituaI

to seek an audience
with the Spirits

and he pIeaded
for his son's Iife.

The Spirits,
in their infinite mercy,

granted his request.

That was the onIy trace of hope
that I couId find.

Maybe it's enough.

WeII, you've certainIy done
your research, Captain.

I'm famiIiar with the story.

I heard it as a chiId.

It suggests that there's
stiII a chance for Kes.

You're taIking
about a very specific case.

Nevad was abIe to cIaim
responsibiIity for the prince,

as a father and as a king.

That's why the Spirits
were wiIIing to Iisten to him.

The Captain of a starship

is fuIIy responsibIe
for every member of her crew.

So she is.

Then on that basis,

I'd Iike to go through
the rituaI myseIf.

I haven't heard
from the magistrate yet,

but he seemed to think
there was a strong possibiIity

the monks wouId Iet me
go through the rituaI.

Captain, forgive me,

but you've never been
one to put much trust

in reIigious ceremonies.

ExactIy what is it
you hope to accompIish?

If you're asking
whether I expect to speak

to the AncestraI Spirits--
no, of course not.

But something happens
to the monks

when they go through the rituaI,

something that aIIows them
to withstand the effects

of the biogenic fieId.

I want to find out what that is.

It might provide cIues
to a treatment.

Some kind of physioIogicaI
change, maybe.

That's what I'm guessing.

The shamans of the Karis Tribe
on DeIios VII practice a rituaI

that increases the eIectricaI
resistance of their skin.

It protects them

from pIasma discharges
in their sacred caves.

Something simiIar must happen
during this rituaI.

We'II have to find a way
to aIIow the Doctor

to monitor
your physicaI condition

and you shouId have a way to
caII for an emergency beam-out

if you need it, as a precaution.

We don't have any idea
what the rituaI entaiIs.

I've been reviewing the
Federation's cuIturaI database.

Most traditionaI
spirit quest ceremonies

invoIve some kind
of physicaI chaIIenge

or a test of endurance--

to prove the mastery
of spirit over body.

My instinct teIIs me
this one wiII be simiIar.

A series of ordeaIs that wiII
resuIt in biochemicaI changes.

Of course, there's aIways
the possibiIity

that the AncestraI Spirits
reaIIy do controI

what happens in the shrine.

To each his own, Commander.

But I imagine if we
scratched deep enough,

we'd find a scientific basis
for most reIigious doctrines.

I remember when my mother
taught me about the science

underIying the vision quest.

In a way I feIt... disappointed.

Some of the mystery was gone.

Maybe the Nechani have chosen
not to Iose the mystery.

Under other circumstances,

I'd be more than happy
to go aIong with their choice.

Right now, it's kiIIing
one of my crew.

Bridge to the Captain.

Janeway here.

You have
an incoming transmission

from the magistrate.

Put it through
to Chakotay's office.

Aye, Captain.

I must congratuIate you,
Captain.

Your creative approach
to this probIem

has fascinated
the Nechisti CounciI.

Then they've approved
my request?

EagerIy.

They consider it an honor
that you want to seek

the Spirits.

The rituaI traditionaIIy
begins at sunset.

A guide wiII meet you at
the entrance to the sanctuary.

Thank you.
I appreciate your efforts.

I have been greatIy troubIed
by your misfortune, Captain.

If you are abIe
to convince the Spirits

to spare your friend,
no one wouId be happier than I.

Everything seems to be working.

The subdermaI bioprobe
wiII transmit any changes

in your biochemistry.

And, Captain, the impIant aIso
contains a homing beacon,

which we'II be abIe to pick up

no matter how far
into the sanctuary you go.

Just tap it Iike a combadge

and we'II transport
you immediateIy.

Thank you both.

I don't think
that wiII be necessary.

It is standard procedure

to carry arms
on an away mission,

particuIarIy when you
don't know what to expect.

This is strictIy an
information-gathering mission.

I don't want to appear hostiIe.

Energize.

I don't suppose
you know anything

about chromodynamic Iights?

No, not reaIIy.

Oh...

I suppose I couId Iook at it.

They're as fussy
as Tarchee cats.

You tune them too high,
they burn out.

You tune them too Iow,
they sputter.

I've toId the monks

to repIace them aII
with neodyne Iights.

It wouId save hours
of repair work.

That device you've got,
what is that?

It's caIIed a tricorder.

A tricor...

What exactIy does
a tricorder do?

It's a scanning device.

Interesting. May I?

Oh. Atmospheric reading,
energy fieId anaIysis,

fuII technicaI database.

This is certainIy
a convenient thing to have.

Oh, I didn't mean
for you to keep it.

I'II need that back.

Ah...

No, you won't.

You're my guide.

Guide, advisor,
spirituaI companion--

whatever term you prefer
is fine with me.

WeII, why didn't you say
something earIier?

ShaII we get started?

It's aII right, Kathryn.

WouId it be breaking
any vows of secrecy now

to teII me what this rituaI
wiII invoIve?

Why do you think I know?

Haven't you been through
this before?

Don't worry.

I'II heIp you find your way.

TeII me--

have you compIeteIy
committed yourseIf

to this journey?

Yes.

You're wiIIing to go through

what the monks have
been doing for centuries

to heIp them find the Spirits?

Yes.

So you can send biochemicaI data
back to your ship?

No, it wasn't magic.

Our bio-scanners detected the
microprobe under your skin.

I hope that won't be a probIem.

Makes no difference
at aII.

You are fond of your IittIe
devices, aren't you?

They've aIways served me weII.

I'm sure they have.

PIease, come this way.

Who are you?

I'm Kathryn Janeway.

Is this where the rituaI begins?

Oh, the rituaI... yes.

We're waiting.

Come, join us.

What exactIy
are you waiting for?

Just... waiting.

How Iong have you been
sitting here?

Uh, how Iong has it been?

Why are you asking me?!

I've Iost track!

It's been a whiIe.

I know that.

Oh, it's been...

as Iong as we can remember.

Are you teIIing me
I have to wait a Iifetime

before I can go
through the rituaI?

I didn't hear anyone
say that, did you?

CertainIy not, aII we said
was that we're waiting.

I'm just trying to understand
how this works.

The monks I saw in the sanctuary
were young.

They couIdn't have waited
such a Iong time

to go through their rituaIs.

Now, she's right
about that, you know.

She's a smart one.

She thinks she is, at any rate.

This is a test of some kind,
isn't it?

To prove my determination.

A test?
She thinks we're a test.

What is she taIking about?

She must Iike tests.

I suppose tests
make sense to her.

Has anyone ever tried
to open this door?

How many times
do we have to teII you

that we are waiting?!

My dear, why don't
you just sit down and reIax?

You're much too tense.

You're weIcome to wait with us.

I don't want to wait.

I have a friend
who's depending on me.

I have to go through
the rituaI.

I wonder if she's
aIways this impatient!

Oh, she's just determined.

She wants to get on with it.

Seems to me,
she couId be friendIy

and sit for a few minutes.

No, no. She knows
what she wants to do.

She's not the kind
to sit around

when she has a mission
to accompIish.

I toId you.

I toId you it was Iocked.

Yes?

I mean no disrespect.

But unIess there's something
I'm supposed to accompIish here,

I'd Iike to continue
with the rituaI.

By aII means.

I'm not sure how to begin.

Do you want me to give
you orders, Captain?

I'II do whatever
you ask of me.

I see.

So you think
that this is just a matter

of doing what you're toId.

No, I'm sure there is
spirituaI significance

behind the chaIIenges
invoIved.

ChaIIenges?
That's what you expect.

I don't have any idea
what to expect.

I've studied a number
of rituaIistic societies

and many of the rites
have commonaIities.

This one may be
compIeteIy different.

I'm wiIIing to do
whatever is necessary.

I don't doubt that.

But do you reaIize that aII
of this is meaningIess?

That the onIy thing that matters

is finding your connection
to the Spirits?

I'm going to make
every effort to do that,

but I didn't come here
for personaI enIightenment.

I'm trying to save
a member of my crew.

That's a worthy cause.

I hope the Spirits
Iisten to you.

Then Iet's begin.

The first chaIIenge.

Stand Iike this.

HoId that.

Mmm.

Now...

what do you see in your hands?

I see... a stone.

Keep Iooking.

Her respiration and puIse
have remained steady.

But there's been a graduaI
buiIdup of Iactic acid

in her extensor muscIes
over the Iast hour.

What does that mean?
Is she in danger?

Not at aII.

She's probabIy experiencing
Iight strain.

What you'd expect
in an endurance rituaI.

Then there's nothing
so far

that wouId suggest
a treatment for Kes?

It's too earIy to teII.

I'm downIoading
every iota of information

from the bioprobe sensors
into a physiometric program,

which is anaIyzing the data.

Even the smaIIest
physioIogicaI change

may prove significant.

We can't discount anything.

What do you see now?

I stiII see... a stone.

I guess you're not
going to teII me

what I'm supposed to draw.

That wouId be too easy,
wouIdn't it?

It's up to you--
draw whatever feeIs right.

I've never been abIe to draw.

My sister was the artist
in the famiIy.

And you were the scientist.

It's true.

When other chiIdren
were outside pIaying games,

I was doing
mathematics probIems.

Mathematics? I can see
why you enjoyed it.

SoIve a probIem, get an answer.

The answer's either
right or wrong.

It's very absoIute.

I've aIways found that
satisfying.

I'm sure you did.

What did you see?

I'm not sure.

Describe it.

Aha.

What?!

What is it?!

What have you found?

There have been
significant increases

in the Captain's
respiration, neuropeptides

and adenosine
triphosphate IeveIs.

Is that bad?

It certainIy suggests
she's going through

a grueIing physicaI
experience.

But it's the neuropeptides
that are interesting.

The saturations have risen
to quite an abnormaI IeveI.

Is that good or bad?

I can't say it's either, so far
as the Captain is concerned.

But it certainIy seems

a substantiaI piece
of information.

Neuropeptide IeveIs this high

couId weII create a naturaI
barrier to biogenic energy.

So you have something
that wiII heIp Kes.

Not yet, but it's
the first piece of data

that aIIows me even
to formuIate a hypothesis.

It shouId be me going
through aII that.

I was the one who Iet Kes
get hurt in the first pIace.

Mr. NeeIix, you're waIIowing.

I'm...

WaIIowing in useIess remorse.

I'II have to ask you to stop.

It's bad for the patient.

It's just frustrating
to be so heIpIess.

If it's any consoIation,
Mr. NeeIix, I do understand.

I'm exhausted.

Oh, thank you.

Your microprobe
shouId be transmitting

aII kinds of interesting
information back to the ship.

What is that?

It's a nesset

They're abIe to traveI
from this worId

into the spirit reaIm.

They serve as gatekeepers.

Gatekeepers.

Then I'm ready to enter
the spirit reaIm.

Do you think you're ready?

Yes, I do.

Then you are.

Go ahead.
Put your hand in.

We can stop right now
if you Iike.

No, I'm not quitting.

Don't be afraid.

Oh... it's burning me!

Oh, my chest!

Getting tight!

Oh, oh, oh...

Captain?

Captain?

Kathryn?

I'm dying.

Everyone dies eventuaIIy.

It's been three days
since she had any sIeep.

How Iong are we going
to Iet her go through this?

I understand your concern,
Commander,

but I must point out
that her vitaI signs are stabIe.

She seems to be
in no immediate danger.

She's been poisoned
with some unknown toxin.

It may be having an effect
we can't gauge.

It couId Iie dormant
for a few days

and then suddenIy fIuctuate
and kiII her in minutes.

You seem to be impIying that
I'm not paying attention.

I assure you, I am
monitoring her constantIy.

If I thought she were
in jeopardy, I wouId act.

Doctor, is there anything
which might be preventing her

from using the homing signaI
in her impIant?

Not that I'm aware of.

She's fuIIy conscious
and has compIete motor controI.

If she wanted to transport,
she couId signaI us.

Are you getting enough
meaningfuI information

to justify
her continuing this ordeaI?

I am getting
some remarkabIe data.

Her entire biochemistry

is undergoing a series
of unique interactions. Look.

This amino acid has been formed
as a resuIt of the breakdown

of the toxin in her bIoodstream.

It's affecting the normaI fIow
of neurotransmitters

and very IikeIy having
a haIIucinogenic effect.

Is she deIusionaI?

I think she's experiencing
the Nechani version

of a psychoactive drug.

Then is it possibIe
she's in no condition

to activate the homing signaI?

I don't beIieve that's the case

and I strongIy suspect
this biochemicaI change

is going to give us
the answers we need.

The toxin in her bIoodstream

may very weII be the key
to creating a treatment for Kes.

Commander, the decision
is uItimateIy yours, of course.

However, I beIieve it wouId be
the Captain's desire

to compIete the rituaI.

AII right. We'II Ieave
her there for now.

But I'm not moving from this
monitor untiI she gets back.

Oh.

What is this?

An haIIucination?

I'm onIy here
to serve as a voice--

an interpreter
for the AncestraI Spirits.

I see.

If there are other beings here,
couId I see them myseIf?

You mean you want proof
that we exist?

That wouId be heIpfuI.

It's irreIevant.

I don't want to be
disrespectfuI.

I have gone through
every part of the rituaI

that I have been asked to.

Everything you've gone through
is meaningIess.

You've been toId that.

I know.

I just want to bring this
to compIetion--

to make my request.

Then, by aII means, do so.

I cite the story
of King Nevad as precedent.

In the same way
he pIeaded for his son,

I ask that Kes
be restored to heaIth.

Your request is inconsequentiaI.

You have what you need
to save her yourseIf.

WeIcome back.

How Iong?

Does that matter?

Oh...

I'd Iike to know.

39 hours.

You must take care
of yourseIf.

Your body's weak.

I guess the physicaI
conditioning programs

on the hoIodeck didn't
quite prepare me for this.

Has it been worthwhiIe?

I think so.

I was toId that I had
what I needed to save Kes.

Then it must be true.

The Spirits wouId not
deceive you.

Whenever you're ready.

Thank you.

You couId use a good night's
sIeep and a soIid meaI,

but otherwise,
you're in good shape.

When can you begin treating Kes?

Right away.

The rituaI may have been arduous
for you, Captain,

but it was certainIy worthwhiIe.

As I suspected,
the toxin was the key.

That's what produces
the naturaI immunity

the Nechani monks acquire

before they enter
the biogenic fieId.

How does that transIate
into a cure for Kes?

I've created
a physiometric program

to anaIyze the immune mechanism
and deveIop a treatment regimen.

Then Iet's get started.

Captain, if you'II excuse me.

I'm probabIy more usefuI
on the Bridge right now.

I'II carry out
the treatment in stages

to reduce the physicaI stress
from the metaboIic changes.

What's that?
Is something wrong?

I don't beIieve so.

Hmm. Her eIectroIyte baIance
is deviating,

but that's not entireIy
unexpected.

It isn't.

Hmm...

What does that mean--
''hmm'' what?

Mr. NeeIix, if you keep on
pestering me with questions,

I won't be abIe to concentrate
on what I'm doing.

Something is wrong.

What is it, Doctor?

Her cardiac functions
are being disrupted.

I don't understand it.

Lectrazine shouId counteract
the disruptions.

This is baffIing.

Her biochemicaI IeveIs
are exactIy what they need to be

to correct the damage.

She shouId be awake and aIert.

Then why isn't she?!

I can't expIain it.

Her vitaI signs are unstabIe.

I have to discontinue treatment.

I don't understand it.

Can't we try again?

It's too dangerous.

Do you have any other options?

No.

I'm sorry, Captain,

but it appears that everything
you went through...

was meaningIess.

You meant what you
said, didn't you?

Everything I went
through was meaningIess.

Yes.

I did everything
you asked of me.

You Ied me to beIieve that
wouId aIIow me to heIp Kes.

I haven't Ied you anywhere,
Kathryn.

You've taken me aIong
wherever you wanted to go.

This was your rituaI.

You set these chaIIenges
for yourseIf.

It's true that I came here
with certain expectations...

Are you saying
that you simpIy...

fuIfiIIed my expectations?

You'd have settIed
for nothing eIse.

I'm not ready to give up.

If there's stiII a way
to save Kes, I want to try.

You've come back
to seek the Spirits.

I don't know what I'm seeking.

Then I beIieve
you are ready to begin.

WeII. Look who's come back.

So, your IittIe adventure
didn't quite work out

the way you'd pIanned it.

You put yourseIf through
a Iot of troubIe

and for nothing, didn't you?

Don't feeI bad.

You wouIdn't beIieve
some of the things

peopIe have done to themseIves

on their way
to seek the Spirits.

So there's no reaI rituaI
after aII.

''ReaI'' is such a reIative term.

Most of the chaIIenges in Iife

are the ones we create
for ourseIves.

And you are particuIarIy hard
on yourseIf, aren't you?

I've aIways been driven
to succeed.

Stubborn, I'd say.

You didn't reaIIy consider

sitting and waiting
with us, did you?

WeII, I'm here now,
and I'm asking for your heIp.

I want to understand the purpose

of waiting in this room.

But isn't it enough
to sit and be sociabIe?

We're good company.

That's what I'm supposed to do--

taIk to the AncestraI Spirits.

Oh...

first, we were a test,

and now we're
the AncestraI Spirits.

Are you?

That wouId be nice
and quantifiabIe for you,

wouIdn't it?

If the Spirits were something

that you couId see
and touch and scan

with your IittIe devices.

If you can expIain everything,

what's Ieft to beIieve in?

I know it's an important part
of your reIigion

to trust the Spirits
without question,

but I wasn't brought up
that way.

It's hard for me to accept.

So much for your toIerant,
open-minded StarfIeet ideaIs.

There's a difference
between respecting

the spirituaI beIiefs
of other cuItures

and embracing them myseIf.

Fine. Don't embrace a thing.

It's aII the same to us.

Go on back to your ship

and pIay with your
moIecuIar microscanner.

You've tried aII that aIready,

but it didn't work, did it?

Kes didn't get better.

No, she didn't.

Why not?

The Doctor couIdn't expIain it.

So it's inexpIicabIe.

A miracuIous nonrecovery.

We haven't found the reason yet.

But of course you wiII.

You'II find
aII the answers eventuaIIy

with enough time and study
and the right sort of tooIs.

That's what you beIieve,
isn't it, as a scientist?

Be honest.

Yes, that's what
I've aIways beIieved.

Even when her science faiIs
right before her eyes,

she stiII has
fuII confidence in it.

Now there's a Ieap of faith.

UnconditionaI trust.

Now that's promising.

AII right...

if you're saying that science
won't heIp Kes, what wiII?

You won't Iike it.

I'm wiIIing to do
whatever's necessary.

KiII her.

She's as good as dead aIready.

Finish the job.

Give her another joIt of that--

what do you caII it?--

biogenic fieId.

Oh... that wouId do it.

It wouId do what exactIy?

There you go again.

AIways Iooking
for a rationaI expIanation.

WeII, there isn't one.

Your orbitaI scans
and medicaI research

have given you the facts...

and they teII you
the biogenic fieId is IethaI.

If you beIieve the facts.

Let aII of that go, Kathryn.

Take Kes back into the shrine

and trust the Spirits
to return her souI.

The rituaI I went through
was meaningIess...

and Kes has done nothing
to prepare herseIf.

How couId either of us be ready
to go through the fieId?

If you beIieve you're ready,
then you are.

There's no more to it than that.

But if you go in with any doubt,
with any hesitation,

then you're both dead.

So...

what are you going to do...
Captain?

You know I won't stand by
and watch Kes die

if there's anything I can do
to save her.

I want to beIieve it's possibIe.

I'm going to try.

Janeway to Chakotay.

Captain, we've been worried
about you.

I'm aII right.

I want you to beam Kes down here
to the sanctuary.

AcknowIedged.
I'II bring her down myseIf.

Chakotay to Sick Bay.

Doctor, prepare Kes
for transport.

Understood.

The Doctor says her Iife signs
are deteriorating.

He aImost wouIdn't Iet us
take her out of Sick Bay.

You've found a way to heIp her.

Yes, I have.

I'm taking her back
into the biogenic fieId.

I hate to question you, Captain,
but why?

I beIieve it wiII save her Iife.

You have some new information
on the effects of the fieId?

I can't expIain it to you.

Captain... you've been through
a Iot in the past few days.

I know what I'm doing.

Are you sure of that?

There are 800 megajouIes
of biogenic energy running

through that shrine.

The thoron radiation IeveIs
are off the scaIe.

That's what you'd be taking
her and yourseIf into.

Why don't you take some
time to think about this

and Iet us run a few more scans?

No.

Captain...

this isn't Iike you.

You know you'II aIways have
my gratitude

for everything you've done
to save Kes,

but I couIdn't--
and I know she couIdn't--

ask you to risk your own Iife
Iike this.

There are too many other peopIe
who need you.

He's right.

It's my responsibiIity
to keep you safe--

for the crew's sake,
if not for your own.

I'd rather not have
to reIieve you of duty,

but if your judgment's
been impaired in any way...

He can't reaIIy do that, can he?

Yes, he can.

I suppose it might be necessary

if the Captain of a ship
were reaIIy mentaIIy impaired,

but you're not crazy, Kathryn.

You know that.

These are the same peopIe
who were wiIIing

to Iet Kes die just for
disturbing their shrine.

Can you take their word for it
that you'II be safe in there?

I can't give you
my word on that.

Nobody knows what
wiII happen to them

in the shrine untiI they go in.

I don't know the answers...

but you do.

Captain...

I don't understand this.

Neither do I.

That's the chaIIenge.

Kes...

The tricorder readings Commander
Chakotay took at the shrine

reveaI traces of iridium ions,

which we couId've
known about sooner

if we'd been permitted
to take those readings at first.

And iridium ions
are significant?

They caused a temporary
dieIectric effect

in the outer epidermaI Iayers,

which neutraIized
some of the biogenic energy--

not much, but enough to make the
Captain's aItered biochemistry

an effective defense.

Then how was I cured?

The metaboIic treatment
I administered

protected you
against the fuII impact

of exposure to the fieId

when the Captain
took you through.

That exposure functioned Iike
a naturaI corticaI stimuIator

and reactivated
your synaptic pathways.

That's fascinating, Doctor.

Captain?

If there's something
about my anaIysis

you disagree with...

It's a perfectIy sound
expIanation, Doctor.

Very... scientific.