Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 4, Episode 24 - Demon - full transcript

Desperate to replenish the ship's power resources, Voyager seeks out a deuterium signature on a class "Y" a.k.a. "Demon Class" planet. After nearly being lost, Paris and Kim are thought to ...

Ship is grey, Captain.
We've cut power to decks 4 through 9.

All non-essentials are off-line.
Remaining systems at 20% capacity.

Tom, how long can you keep us flying?

With the deuterium supply this low,
we'll be out of gas inside a week.

Redouble your efforts. Keep your eyes
open for new sources of deuterium.

I want recommendations
for further methods of conservation.

Harry, you and I will see if
we can synthesise a substitute fuel.

We stay in grey mode. If anybody's
got any other ideas, I'm listening.

We could set up a bicycle in the mess
hall, attach a generator, pedal home.

And I volunteer Harry
to take the first shift.

Living space will be limited.
Take only those personal items



which are absolutely essential.

Hello, there.

- What, may I ask, is this?
- That is the "Selected Works Of Jirex".

- Only essential items, Mr Neelix.
- Jirex is essential.

I never go to sleep without reading
at least one of his parables.

A habit you will have to break
until we can restore power.

- I suppose I can try.
- And these.

I get neck pains without them.

I suggest you ask the Doctor
to prescribe an anti-inflammatory.

Fine. I don't mind roughing it.

Mr Neelix, the blankets.

No. That's where I draw the line.
I've slept with them since I was a child.

You'll have to make do
with standard-issue bedding.

- Starfleet blankets give me a rash.
- Then ask the Doctor...



I might as well sleep in sickbay.

Thank you, Mr Vulcan.
You've just given me an idea.

You were ordered to shut down
astrometrics an hour ago.

We can't afford the power.
Seven, it's inefficient.

If I shut down astrometrics, I won't be
able to scan for new fuel sources.

We'll have to use
conventional scanners...

Conventional scanners
would not have found this.

- Highly concentrated deuterium.
- Where?

Computer, display source. A planetoid
0.4 light years from our position.

There are pockets of deuterium
beneath the surface.

- But that's a Demon-Class planet.
- Demon-Class?

Also known as Class-Y.

It's got a toxic atmosphere
filled with thermionic radiation.

Temperatures are in excess of 500
kelvins. Entering orbit would be suicide.

Our situation is desperate. When faced
with desperate circumstances,

we must adapt.

Captain's log, supplemental.

I've ordered adaptations
to repel the discharges.

We're now trying to beam deuterium

from beneath the surface.

Narrow the annular confinement beam

to 0.47 terahertz. Ready, Captain.

Harry, shunt whatever power

you can to the containment field.

I don't want any gases seeping in.

A thermionic discharge has struck

the forward shields. They're holding.

Seven, do it.

Energise.

Transport in progress.

- Shields are weakening.
- Abort transport.

- Controls not responding.
- Get out of there now.

Computer, seal off the transporter room
and erect a level 10 containment field.

The good news is Nozawa and Seven

have been released from sickbay

and the gases have been expelled.

- The bad news?
- The transporters are off-line.

Great. All we get for our trouble

is another downed system.

Can we send a probe?

It would incinerate within seconds.

I don't see any other options.
Tom, put us back on our original course.

- Captain, maybe I can help.
- The bicycle thing was just a joke.

With Tuvok's shield modifications
and an environmental suit,

I could take a shuttle to the surface
and mine the deuterium.

There is no environment
less hospitable than a Class-Y.

You needn't remind me.
What's the alternative?

Resume course, hoping we find fuel
before we end up dead in the water?

We've got deuterium within arm's reach.
We have to try.

He's right.

You wouldn't be able to communicate
with us and we couldn't beam you out.

It wouldn't be long before your suit
began to corrode.

- Exposure could kill you within minutes.
- I know the risks.

I'd never let you go alone.

Of course not. That's why
I'm volunteering Tom to go with me.

- You were pretty forceful in there.
- So?

I don't think I've seen you that assertive
in a staff meeting before.

- You must be bucking for a promotion.
- I had an idea and spoke up.

You put Tuvok in his place
right in front of everybody.

He was talking to me like I didn't know
anything about Demon-Class planets.

I am not criticising you.

Nobody enjoys seeing the Vulcan Master
put down a peg more than I do.

- I was just surprised, that's all.
- Why?

- It didn't seem like you.
- Good.

Cargo bay 2.

You trying to change
your squeaky-clean image?

- Not exactly.
- What, then?

How do I explain this?

When I first came on board Voyager,
I was pretty green, right?

A deep, almost fluorescent green,
if I remember correctly.

I was inexperienced
and I acted like it.

Nervous about giving my opinion,
so I usually just kept my mouth shut.

I behaved that way for so long
it became a habit.

But in the last four years
a lot has happened.

I've fought the Borg,
been transformed into an alien,

Helped defeat the Hirogen.
I've even come back from the dead.

- It's been a wild ride.
- The other morning it suddenly hit me.

I've got a lot of experience now,

so why should I be afraid
to take the initiative or voice my ideas?

Good for you, Harry.

But the next time you assert yourself,
leave me out of it.

I hate hot weather.

We can cut some holes in the suits,
get some ventilation going.

You might try working
on your sense of humour.

What about that stupid gag
about the bicycle?

- That was funny.
- That was not funny.

I can't thank you enough
for getting me in on this mission, Harry.

I'll volunteer you to help next time I have
to clean the warp plasma manifolds.

- Tom, you don't owe me anything.
- Oh, but I do.

- We've lost attitude control.
- Time to show off your piloting skills.

- Watch me.
- I'll be watching you, all right.

- Switching to manual control.
- Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

We're entering the lower atmosphere,
approaching the landing co-ordinates.

I'm going to set us down.
On my mark.

- Mark.
- You did that on purpose.

It's almost 500 degrees kelvin.

Don't worry.
The suits can handle it.

If not, we'll be human barbecue.

I'm picking up traces of deuterium.

50 metres... that way. Let's move.

- No sweat.
- Lame.

- It's coming from in here.
- What is it?

Some kind of metallic compound,
highly viscous.

And if these readings are right,
its temperature is only 12 degrees.

Whatever this stuff is,
it's packed with liquefied deuterium.

There's another pool that way. Check it
out while I collect a few samples.

I don't know, Harry.

A couple of lounge chairs,
a big beach umbrella,

some dermalplast
to counteract the chemical burns

and I think we've found ourselves
a new vacation spot.

Come on, that was a little funny.
Let me hear you do better.

Harry.

Harry!

Oh, my God!

I know it's hot, but you picked
a lousy time to go for a swim.

I don't know what happened.
I leaned over to collect a sample

and I was pulled in.

Warning, Ensign Kim. An environmental
seal has been compromised.

Oxygen depletion in 30 seconds.

Hang in there.
I'll get you back to the shuttle.

- Have you put on weight?
- You're out of shape.

Warning. Oxygen depletion
in 15 seconds.

Hold your breath till we get to the shuttle
and I'll start exercising every day.

- You should start with that bicycle.
- I told you to hold your breath.

Warning. Oxygen depletion
in five seconds.

Hang in there, Harry.
We'll make it.

Warning, Lieutenant Paris.
Environmental seal compromised.

Oxygen depletion in 30 seconds.

You gotta be kidding me.

We're in the same boat now, buddy,
but I'll get us out of this.

Warning. Oxygen depletion
in 15 seconds.

You're right. I definitely need
to get back in shape.

Warning. Oxygen depletion
in five seconds.

Out of the question.
Take it up with Commander Chakotay.

It's only for a couple of days,
until we get power back.

- Set up camp in the mess hall.
- The mess hall is full.

- Where are we supposed to sleep?
- Anywhere but here.

- But you have four empty beds.
- Reserved for patients.

And I may have one
if you squatters don't go elsewhere.

You wanted to see me, Doctor?

Mr Neelix wants to turn my sickbay
into a flophouse.

We are short on beds.
We've got to adapt.

But what if
there's a medical emergency?

- They'll get out of the way.
- Absolutely.

But this isn't just sickbay.
It's my residence.

We promise to be perfect house guests.

- What more can you ask for?
- I have a routine.

What if one of them should snore
while I'm listening to Puccini?

If you feel that strongly about it,
we'll have to consider other options.

We could shut down your program.

The captain asked me
to conserve power

and you wouldn't have to listen
to them snore.

- Chakotay to the bridge.
- On my way.

Make yourselves at home.

- Scan for infrared signatures.
- There's too much interference.

- Tom and Harry still aren't back.
- You want me to look for them?

And risk losing you, too?

Either we wait
until we run out of deuterium

or we land the ship.

The landing procedure requires
a significant output of energy.

We can't be certain the ship
will survive the descent.

We're up here, the deuterium's
down there and we're stuck without it.

Janeway to engineering.

Transfer any available power
to atmospheric thrusters

and stand by
to commence landing sequence.

Commander Chakotay, take the conn.

Tom's going to be sorry he missed this.

All hands, go to Blue Alert
and report to Code Blue stations.

Atmospheric controls at standby,
landing struts on-line.

- All decks report condition blue.
- Let us down easy, Commander.

We're on a declining glide trajectory,
altitude 150 kilometres.

A thermionic discharge.
Shields down to 81%.

- Shields at 43%.
- Chakotay.

I think we're through the worst of it.
Almost.

- Shields at 22%.
- Can you shore them up?

- There's no more power.
- Engaging landing struts.

Brace for impact!

Status?

I could give you a litany
of damaged systems, Captain.

- We won't be going up again soon.
- Start organising repair crews.

That was very good, Commander.

Take an away team
and find Harry and Tom.

You're going to look for them,
aren't you?

- Take me with you.
- You're needed here for repairs.

Vorik's on top of it.
I want to help you find them.

You're concerned about Tom and Harry.
I'll have them back safe and sound.

We both know how dangerous
that environment is.

- They could be in serious trouble.
- You're right.

That's why I need cool heads.

- You think I can't control myself?
- You're too close to this.

If someone you loved was missing,
you'd be the first out that door.

The clock is ticking.
Do your job and let me do mine.

- Do me a favour.
- What?

- Take Seven of Nine with you.
- You're recommending her?

You said you needed cool heads.
Nobody's head is cooler than hers.

All right.

And bring them back safe.

I will.

Excuse me, Doctor. We'd like
to sleep now, if you don't mind.

Not at all.

- But you seem busy.
- Just going about my routine.

Sleep away.

What about the lights?
Could we turn them off?

- You expect me to work in the dark?
- Well, no.

- But I'll never be able to fall asleep.
- That's not my problem, is it?

I've got a very busy day tomorrow
and my next shift is four hours away.

You should have thought of that
when choosing your accommodations.

If we can't sleep,

I guess we'll have to find
some other way to pass the time.

How about a sing-along?

I could teach you some Talaxian rondos
and I know a Vulcan funeral dirge,

not to mention
the classics of Klingon opera.

Very well, Mr Neelix. You win.
Pleasant dreams.

Computer, lights off.

- A little jumpy, aren't you?
- I thought I heard something.

Now you know
why they call it Demon-Class.

"Demon" implies a presence.
This planetoid is unoccupied.

I'm picking up the shuttlecraft.

Nobody home.

It's unlikely their suits
were able to survive for this long.

I hope you're wrong.

- Looks like they went this way.
- How did you reach that conclusion?

Footprints.

I guess you never assimilated
any Indian scouts.

High concentrations of deuterium,
coming from this fluid.

I'll collect a sample.

Let's find Tom and Harry first.
We'll collect the deuterium later.

Maybe they found some shelter inside.

Commander!

Good to see you guys.

Welcome to the Demon planet.

Our suits were corroding,
we were suffocating.

You know what they say about your life
passing before your eyes? It's true.

I was finally getting past puberty,
when suddenly I lost consciousness.

I don't know how long I was out.
The next thing I knew, I was awake

and I was breathing normally.
I looked over at Harry.

He was breathing normally
with his helmet off.

We just looked at each other
and we just started laughing.

I know it sounds crazy,
but it was an exhilarating experience.

His vital signs are normal.
Apparently he has adapted.

We'd better let the Doctor
take a look at you.

The com signal
can't get out of the caves.

We'll call again
when we get back outside.

It was an amazing experience.

It's like when you're a kid
who's afraid of the water

and you suddenly realise
that you can swim. Try it.

I'm glad you're feeling all right, but none
of us should be taking any risks.

Don't tell me you're afraid
of a little poisoned atmosphere.

- Where's Harry?
- In the cave.

We found a huge cache of deuterium.

Let's find him
and get you back to the ship.

We could breathe this air forever.

We should have transporters
back on-line within the hour.

That's great, but right now
I'm more concerned with little things,

like life-support.

Indeed. Environmental systems
will cease to function in two hours.

You say that like you're giving me
the weather report.

I agree the situation is dire, but losing
our cool will not help matters.

"Losing our cool"?
Where did you pick up that?

- Mr Paris.
- Well, there's hope for you yet.

Now how about giving me a hand?

Harry.

- Commander, isn't it incredible?
- I've been trying to tell them.

- Are you feeling OK, Harry?
- Never better.

We could mine enough deuterium to get
to the Alpha Quadrant and back again.

Tom tells me you've already picked up
20 kilos. That should be enough.

Let's have the Doctor take a look at you.

- I'd rather stay here and keep working.
- No.

Really, Commander, I'm fine.

You should send more personnel to help.
They won't even need suits.

I appreciate your enthusiasm,
but we're going back to Voyager.

It's all right.
Once the Doc sees we're fine,

we'll get right back to work.

Status, Mr Tuvok?

I've shut down life-support
everywhere but decks 1 and 5.

Chakotay to Voyager.
We've found Tom and Harry.

- What about the deuterium?
- We've got a few kilos.

We're on our way back to Voyager.

- What's your position?
- About two kilometres from the ship.

Transporters are back on-line.
We should be able to beam you back.

Have the Doctor standing by.

He's going to want to take a look
at Tom and Harry.

Computer, lights.
Maximum illumination.

Everybody up!
Rise and shine, Mr Neelix.

What's going on?
It's the middle of the night.

I've got patients on the way
and there's no more room at the inn.

Patients? Is somebody sick?

I can't answer that until I examine them.

- Examine who?
- Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Paris.

- Is there anything I can do to help?
- Yes, vacate the premises.

Move! You heard the Doctor.
This is an emergency evacuation.

Move, move, move!

Doctor, thanks for your hospitality.

If you ever need a place to stay,
my door's always open.

Energising.

Beam Tom and Harry to sickbay.

- What happened to them?
- They started suffocating.

Computer, erect a level-7 force field
around bio-beds 1 and 2.

I'm filling the force field area
with the gases from the planet.

Try to breathe normally.
Easy or you'll hyperventilate.

Slowly. In and out, in and out.

Captain's log, supplemental.

The Doctor is investigating
Tom and Harry,

whose condition
seems as serious as it is strange.

- That stuff is in our blood?
- I'm afraid so.

You've been bioformed. Think of it
as the opposite of terraforming.

In the same way
we adapt a planet to suit our needs,

this planet.. Has adapted you.

How is that possible?

This fluid entered your bloodstream
and began altering your physiology.

I haven't analysed the substance,
but I hope to have answers soon.

- I'd like to run a few tests of my own.
- Of course.

So, what's our prognosis, Doc?

Well, you'll be fine...

as long as you keep breathing
the planet's gases.

- We have to stay inside here?
- It's worse than that.

The atmosphere of this planet
can't be replicated safely.

Which means if we leave,

we'll have nothing to breathe.

Exactly. Either we find a way
to treat your condition

or you'll have to be left behind.

Can the process be reversed?

I don't know enough
about the phenomenon to undo it.

I'll send Chakotay back to the surface
to gather more information.

B'Elanna and I will run tests.

Let me go with the away team, Captain.
I know the terrain.

They're better off out there
than they are in here.

One of you must stay
so I can monitor your condition.

I volunteer Tom
to stay here and play guinea pig.

Each square kilometre of this planetoid
is less appealing than the last.

I think it's breathtaking.

Perhaps your recent experience
has impaired your perceptions.

No, I don't think so.
I wasn't really seeing it before.

- Seeing what?
- The beauty.

Would you care
to point out an example?

Look over there. What do you see?

I see monochromatic
geological formations, dust, haze.

What do you see, Harry?

Those geological formations
are a dozen shades of red and gold.

That dust is glowing.

And the haze
seems to intensify the colours.

I'm sorry. I know it's weird,
but I feel connected to this place.

- Connected how?
- I'm picking up lifesigns.

- Location?
- 100 metres this way.

Magnify, factor ten.

Deuterium, hydrogen sulphate,
dichromates.

Add a little sodium chloride and it would
probably taste like Neelix's soup.

What's this? Magnify, factor 20.

Captain?

- That's a protein molecule.
- This fluid has organic properties.

Let me see the sample that's been
treated with the reagents.

Captain.

- Let's get you to sickbay.
- That might not be necessary.

Commander!

Report.

A large pool is forming beneath the ship.
We are sinking, Captain.

Get thrusters on-line.
We're getting off this planet.

I'm not sure how,
but they're still alive.

The captain has ordered
an emergency ascent.

- We must bring you back to the ship.
- I've got five to beam back.

We've found another Paris and Kim.
I can't explain it.

- I can. Prepare for transport.
- Beam us directly to sickbay.

No, I don't want to go back.

We can't get individual locks.

We're going to have to
bring you in as a group.

Acknowledged.

I belong here.

Until we know what's going on,
you've got to come back with us.

Harry, no!

Four of the away team are in sickbay.
I'm trying to get a lock on the fifth.

It is one of the Ensigns Kim.

- The ship is continuing to sink.
- We've got to get back into orbit.

Bring antigrav thrusters on-line.
Inertial dampers to flight configuration.

All stations report ready.

Initiating ascent.
I need power to the thrusters.

- We are being restrained.
- Compensate.

No effect.
Decks 14 and 15 are submerged.

The ship is continuing to sink.

- Report.
- Thrusters are off-line.

Decks 13 through 15 are submerged. If
we don't lift off, the hull will corrode.

Bridge to engineering.
I need thrusters back on-line.

A team has been sent to thruster control.
It'll be at least a half hour.

Even if thrusters are repaired, they won't
be of use if we sink any deeper.

There must be some way to disperse it.
Try a nadion burst.

It may weaken the electromagnetic
properties of the fluid.

I'm on my way to sickbay.
You've got the bridge.

- How are they?
- Lucky.

The backup systems in their suits
kept their vital functions going.

- They'll recover.
- And him?

Aside from his ability to breathe
the air on this planet,

he's the exact duplicate of Mr Paris.
He even seems to share his memories.

The fluid has mimetic properties.

It reads the DNA of whatever it comes
in contact with and re-creates it.

Fascinating.

- Can you tell me who you are?
- Let me go back.

Not until I find out why two of my crew
have been duplicated.

I don't know any more than you do
about this.

Until he showed up,
I thought I was Tom Paris.

A little changed by my experience,
but now I don't know who or what I am.

All I know is that
I have to go back down to the surface.

- We're ready to try the nadion burst.
- Do it.

What are you doing?

We're receiving an urgent hail from
Ensign Kim. The one on the surface.

Captain, stop what you're doing.

If you really have Kim's memories,

you know I'll do whatever it takes
to get this ship in orbit.

- You can't do that!
- Why not?

I'm not sure I understand it myself.

Then you're going to help me
figure it out.

Mr Tuvok, I'm on my way
to transporter room 1.

Erect a force field around the platform.
Fill it with atmosphere from the planet

and then beam Mr Kim,
or rather his duplicate, aboard.

Do you have a lock on him?
Energise.

- Release my vessel.
- We can't do that.

We?

The planet and I are connected
somehow. I can't explain it.

- I only know that you've got to stop.
- I'm willing to stop.

- But release the ship.
- No. We need you.

Janeway to Tuvok. Fire.

- What are you?
- Stop.

- I'll fire again.
- You're killing us!

- It's not fair. It's wrong!
- Janeway to Tuvok...

- No, please. No more.
- Hold your fire, Tuvok.

- We are continuing to submerge.
- Hold your fire!

I want some answers.

I'm trying to understand.
This is hard for me as well.

You have a connection
to this planet?

- You talk as if it's alive.
- Alive.

Yes, but not the planet.

The silver blood.

The compound that sampled Harry's
DNA, and created you.

Yes, but it's never been conscious,
never sentient, before now.

- Before me and the other.
- Tom Paris.

We're the first, don't you see?
You came here. You showed us.

When the compound came in contact
with Tom and Harry,

it experienced awareness
for the first time.

Before, it was only instinct,

sound and light and heat.

But those two showed us thought.

I'm beginning to understand.

This silver blood experienced sentience.

And now you want more.

You want to duplicate the rest
of this crew and populate this planet.

You're trying so hard to reach home,
but this can be home.

Not for me and my people. Do you
understand why we can't stay here?

I think so.

- Then release us.
- We'd rather die than be alone.

We deserve life.

This silver blood that created you...

it duplicated Harry without killing him.

So you don't need our bodies,
only samples of DNA.

Release Voyager
and I'll speak to my crew.

And if they're willing,
I'll let you duplicate the rest of us.

We've stopped.
We're no longer submerging.

We're getting out of here, Tuvok,

but first assemble the crew
in cargo bay 1

and have the Doctor meet me there.
I'll explain later.

It's time to meet your new family.

All stations report ready for lift-off.

- Take us up, Mr Paris.
- Aye, Captain.

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