Wyld's Notes: The baby ep. Tom Paris is finally allowed to reproduce and nothing good comes of it. As I see it they realized the damage the last 3 seasons have done to the character of Tom Paris and are trying to fix him. Sadly they are having him be more attentive to B'Elanna, but they are not addressing the behavior that made him such a jerk. So instead of a valiant effort to reclaim a promising character we have a whiplash inducing turn around. Still, they are trying and I give them credit. Well, as anyone who reads my stuff knows I will have more to say, but I will confine it to the experiment. As always this belongs to me. wyldchilde37@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: This is done for purely entertainment purposes only, no profit is being made or is intended to. This is not meant to infringe upon the rights held by Paramount, Best Brains, or any others. Any other rights are reserved. This story features B'Elanna Torres and Seven of Nine in a loving relationship if you object to such things you may as well move on. Also a special thanks Katelin_B for the Ferret-boy ref.
(Sung to the Love Theme to Mystery Science Theater 3000)
Sometime in the Distant Future
Round the end of season three
Voyager found itself in Borg space
Drones as far as the eye could see
Then they lucked out and met a drone
Who got the Collective to leave them alone
Then on the way back to Earth they got off track,
Encountered Pearl Forester who went on the attack…
Bridge Crew Roll Call
Janeway: "I am Captain Kathryn Janeway, of the Federation Starship Voyager."
Chakotay: "All hands brace for impact!"
Doctor: "I'll reattach any severed limbs, just don't misplace them."
Harry: "Hi. My name's Harry read-me-like-a-book Kim."
Paris: "Captain Proton to the rescue!"
B'Elanna: "I must be completely paranoid about getting caught in a compromising position."
Seven: "You are strong, You will make an excellent mate!"
Tuvok: "Both must resolve their Pon Farr before it kills them."
{The scene opens inside the Widowmaker where Pearl is seen cradling a bundle wrapped in a baby blanket.}
Pearl (speaking in baby talk): "You're going to make them hurt. Oh yes, you are. Oh yes, you are. Should we call them? Let's call them. Yes let's."
(Bobo is cowering in the corner.)
Bobo: "That child is evil I tell you EVIL!"
Pearl: "Oh hush!"
(Pearl his a button on the Widowmaker's dashboard and the windshield turns into a viewscreen showing the bridge of Voyager.}
Janeway (smirking): "Pearl. I didn't know you and Bobo were trying to have children?"
Pearl (grinning): "Wrong ape."
(Pearl then turns the baby bundle to the screen where they can see it is a videotape labeled "Star Trek: Voyager "Lineage".)
{There is a crash as the scene jumps to the bridge of Voyager where B'Elanna has feinted. Seven has knelt down next to her and is cradling her upper body. Paris runs over and flips open a tricorder.}
Seven: "You will not touch her! That is what caused this problem in the first place!"
(Paris holds up his hands and gives the tricorder over to a materializing Doctor. He starts out scanning her, but then looks concerned and starts waving the tricorder in the air. Eventually he makes his way over to the screen where he is waving it in front of a grinning Pearl Forester and the videotape.)
Doctor: "My God. Is that what I think it is?"
Janeway: "I'm afraid so Doctor."
{Pearl pushes the button and red alert sounds as the crew gets on the turbolift with Seven carrying B'Elanna in her arms.}
{In the theater they have already taken their seats (left to right) Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, B'Elanna, Seven, the Doctor, Harry and Paris.}
B'Elanna (coming to): "Oh Seven. I had the worse dream. Not only were you and I not together, but I was married to Tom."
Seven: "Shhh, it's all right. We are in love, Tom Paris is just a friend, and it was all just a dream."
Doctor (whispering): "But?"
Seven (whispering): "She will realize the truth soon enough."
Tuvok: "Lineage" an episode that will continue the Voyager tradition of inconsistent characterization and incoherent storylines."
{The screen comes to life with B'Elanna and Paris walking down one of Voyager's hallways with Paris commenting on how she seems to be in a good mood.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "I've managed to sink myself into denial."
{She says it's a beautiful day in the delta quadrant.}
Doctor (singing as B'Elanna): "A beautiful day in the delta quadrant. Would you be mine, could you be mine?"
{He asks her what she had for breakfast.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "Heroin. It's the only thing that can still take the edge off our marriage."
{She says she will see him tonight.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "And then I'll hide. So don't expect to see me."
{She enters engineering and a woman hands her a PADD and B'Elanna thanks her.}
Seven (as the woman): "Another relationship status report from Seven of Nine."
(The rest of the crew looks at B'Elanna and Seven curiously.)
B'Elanna: "Love notes."
(The rest nod as Seven blushes.)
{B'Elanna stops at a station where someone hits a few keys and she compliments them.}
Tuvok: "I believe we will have to bring back the ancient Earth custom of drug testing."
{She observes someone working on the warp core and says that if they keep it up they'll get back to Earth years ahead of schedule.}
Janeway: "If they can get this series done sooner I'll make them the new Chief Engineer."
B'Elanna: "Hey!"
{The shot jumps to Seven and Icheb working at a console.}
Paris: "So is this Borg bonding?"
{Icheb says that Starfleet allows for a variance of .3 and she says that is just a guideline and he could do better.}
Seven (as herself): "The baby we beamed over from your damaged cube could do better."
(B'Elanna sticks her tongue out as Seven.)
Seven: "Lieutenant Torres, if you can not find a better use for your tongue, I will."
(B'Elanna looks startled, but smiles.)
{B'Elanna starts to yell at Icheb and Seven for being in engineering, but she then stumbles.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "It's ok. Just a delayed reaction from Ferret-boy's kisses."
Paris: "Ferret-boy?" Oh, that's gonna stick."
{Seven supports Torres while Icheb scans her with a tricorder. When he detects another lifesign inside her he suggests it is a parasite.}
Doctor: "If it is the offspring of Lieutenant Paris I can guarantee it."
Harry: "Hey a PARIS-ite."
Paris: "If I can just take a moment to jettison what's left of my dignity."
B'Elanna: "What IS left?"
Seven (putting her hand on B'Elanna's arm): "Lieutenant Paris, it is safe to consider yourself separate from the flawed replica we see on the screen. We all do so."
(The rest of the crew nods.)
Janeway: "Were consistent, they're not. That is a considerable edge."
{Seven finishes her scan and calls sickbay saying that B'Elanna is pregnant.}
Seven (as herself): "You will want to prepare a test to determine if the child is from Lieutenant Paris or myself."
{The shot goes to Voyager flying and then to the Doctor scanning Torres in sickbay, saying that the baby is fine.}
Doctor (as himself): "Blonde hair, blue eyes… Borg implants."
Paris: "Isn't the point of this that it's my kid?"
Doctor: "I believe we have went into denial at the idea of you reproducing."
B'Elanna: "Now let us enjoy it!"
{Paris asks the Doctor why she fainted.}
Doctor (as himself): "She's carrying your child. I'm just happy she survived."
{The Doctor explains that klingon/human metabolism can sometimes clash.}
B'Elanna: "Since when?"
Doctor: "While there has been no previous mention of conflicts it has never NOT been mentioned."
B'Elanna: "Well, yes, but aren't mothers-to-be normally hormonal?"
Doctor: "Well, yes."
B'Elanna: "So couldn't they have it be the normal hormonal changes that come with pregnancy?"
Doctor: "Yes, but it factors into the rest of the episode."
B'Elanna: "Right, the whole potential birth defect thing, but couldn't they just make that a trait in my family without cooking up some human/klingon nonsense?"
Doctor: "Yes, but by tying it to your klingon nature they are giving you reason to be all brooding and filed with angst."
B'Elanna: "But what about the Barge of the Dead? You would think that would have to resolve those issues."
Seven: "It appears that not even divine intervention can help Paramount's writing."
{He says she may experience some emotional volatility.}
Doctor (as himself): "More to say some MORE emotional volatility."
{B'Elanna says she can't believe it.}
B'Elanna (as herself): I won't believe it! Please tell me it's not true!"
{The Doctor says he thought they were trying to get pregnant.}
Paris (as himself): "Well yeah, but I didn't think we were doing it right."
{They said that they knew they wanted a family, but the odds against human/klingon conception were high.}
Janeway: "Then I guess Commander Worf must have been exceptionally virile to conceive his son Alexander on his first try."
{The Doctor says that they have beaten the odds, and he congratulates them.}
Doctor (as himself): "You may make your marriage seem plausible yet."
Harry: "I've heard of having kids to save a marriage, but not to make it believable."
{They ask when it is due and the Doctor says klingon pregnancies are normally 30 weeks, but with a mixed species it could be sooner.}
Tuvok: "It would seem more logical that a hybrid would have a longer gestation period. As it would form the hybridized biological functions."
Harry: "But wouldn't that mean it could take less time since it's not forming a full klingon physiology?"
Tuvok: "Yes, but human gestation is 36 weeks. So both have periods of 30 weeks or more."
Doctor: "Yes, but this makes it conceivable that they can have the child before the end of the season."
{Tom tries to ask about the baby's gender and B'Elanna says she wants to be surprised, to which Tom says they have already been surprised.}
Seven (as Paris): "After the job Seven did on me with the plasma torch I figured I wouldn't be able to have children."
{She says she doesn't want to label the baby. Doesn't want to have to pick a name yet.}
(Janeway holds up a hand and her fingers do a 3…2…1… countdown.)
Janeway: "Damien?"
Chakotay: "Tom W Paris?"
Tuvok: "Plot Development?"
Seven: "Plot Contrivance?"
B'Elanna: "My unseverable ties to daddy?"
Doctor: "A leap backward for interspecies genetics?"
Harry: "Harry?"
(Everyone looks at Harry.)
B'Elanna: "You CAN'T be taking this seriously."
Harry: "What? Harry is a perfectly good name. It could even be Harriet if it's a girl."
(They shake their heads, and then look at Tom.)
Paris: "Oh, right… Anchor?"
{Paris says mommy knows best, and B'Elanna repeats it, surprised he called her that.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "I didn't like it when you called me that in bed, and I don't like it now."
{Tom and B'Elanna walk down a hallway where Paris wonders if the holodeck has any child rearing programs.}
(The rest of the crew looks at Tom.)
Paris: "Hey, hey that's using it for good, not evil."
(They still shake their heads.)
{B'Elanna says they need to get their quarters ready.}
Paris (as himself): "That reminds me… Why do we have an alcove set up in there?"
{B'Elanna asks him if he's happy about this, and he says he is.}
Paris (as himself): "This might actually make my character redeemable."
{She asks him if they can keep it to themselves for awhile.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "I just don't know how I'm going to tell Seven."
{Paris walks into the mess hall and gets a round of applause.}
Paris (as himself thinking): "Finally, people are reacting the way they should when I enter a room."
{Neelix and Tom talk about Tom's good news, and Neelix says his good news would be learning he will be the godfather.}
Harry (as Brando): "Some day I will return the favor."
{In engineering Chakotay asks B'Elanna if she has checked the core for radiation leaks because she has a glow about her.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "OH MY GOD! There is a radiation leak! Everyone get out NOW!"
{Janeway is there to and reveals she told Chakotay. She then mentions Seven said she was dizzy.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "Well, I was actually swooning, but don't tell her that."
{Chakotay says nothing ever rattled her, not even Cardassians, but she says that it's scarier.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "I mean how do I tell Tom the baby is Seven's and not his?"
{Janeway says that she is sure Seven would be happy to fill in for B'Elanna if she wants to cut back on her duties.}
Janeway (as herself): "Well, she said something about filling you, and I assume that's what she meant."
{Changing to a walking shot in a hallway Harry congratulates Tom and jokingly says he heard about it in a transmission from the Borg.}
Harry (as himself): "For some strange reason they were congratulating Seven."
{Harry says that it's all over, no more late nights in the holodeck, racing the Delta Flyer, and Paris thinks he is exaggerating.}
Harry (as himself): "Well, unless you plan on neglecting your kid you'll have to be spending time with them."
{Paris says its fatherhood, not exile.}
Tuvok: "True, but to think that life will continue as before is foolhardy."
{Paris says it's not real, and Harry suggests that is what pregnancy is for, to let the reality sink in.}
Harry (as himself): "I mean what else could it be for? I mean how hard could pregnancy be?"
{Tuvok is seen working on some ships systems when Paris walks in.}
Tuvok: "Would it be considered an emotional response for me to run and hide?"
{Tom offers to help him and Tuvok notes that it is the first time he volunteered to assist him.}
Tuvok (as himself): "In fact it is the first time you have been willing to work with out it being made a direct order."
{Tom tells him about the baby and Tuvok extends his best wishes.}
Tuvok (as himself): "To B'Elanna, I am sure it is a trying time for her."
{Tom asks Tuvok for advice and Tuvok tells him to anticipate paradox.}
Tuvok (as himself): "Though this Voyager so any paradoxes you encounter will most likely be simplistic."
{Tom says that he thinks he will be consulting Tuvok on a regular basis.}
Tuvok (as himself, internally): "I believe I should look into the Vulcan rites of suicide."
{B'Elanna gets back to their quarters and tells how the Captain practically relieved her of duty as if she couldn't be an engineer and pregnant at the same time.}
Seven: "Well your "husband" is incapable of walking while chewing gum so she may have thought you as limited."
{They talk about the crews reaction and B'Elanna asks why they think they can give them advice.}
(All giggle.)
{B'Elanna gets angry, and then pauses saying the Doctor said she might experience some emotional volatility.}
B'Elanna (to Seven): "Not a word, not one word."
Seven (grinning): "But you're so cute when you're emotionally volatile."
{Tom tells her to forget about the Doctor, and the crew.}
Paris (as himself): "You can forget about Seven too."
(B'Elanna whimpers.)
{The Doctor calls them into sickbay to show them a holographic representation of their daughters deviated spine. B'Elanna mentions both she and her mother had it.}
B'Elanna: "Oh, so they are making it a family thing."
Seven: "Then why did they mention a human/klingon incompatibility?"
Doctor (shrugging): "Probably to exaggerate the baby's bi-racial nature for later."
{They ask the Doctor to do a holographic representation of the baby.}
Chakotay: "I've always found it strange when babies are born with hair. I just feel they should be bald."
(The rest of the crew stares at him.)
Chakotay: "I'm just saying."
{B'Elanna makes note of the baby's forehead ridges, and the Doctor says klingon traits remain dominant for several generations.}
Seven: "Yes, klingons are quite talented at being…dominant."
B'Elanna (smirking at Seven): "Yeah… but I guess journeying to the klingon afterlife was not enough to alter my feelings on my heritage."
Seven: "You seemed to at the end of the episode."
B'Elanna: "Then I guess I "forgot" going to Grethor for acting so dishonorably."
{Tom says she's perfect.}
Seven: "Once we remove your DNA perhaps."
{B'Elanna is seen lying in bed.}
Seven: "Finally a worthwhile scene."
{Paris walks in.}
Seven: "And now it's over."
{He says it was a rough day.}
Paris (as himself): "First I got hit on the head by a falling wrench. Then I fell down a turbolift shaft. Finally the replicator gave me some poisoned ketchup. I swear, someone is out to get me."
{Paris says that after 6 years in the Delta Quadrant nothing scared him more then hearing their baby had a problem.}
Paris (as himself): "Though hearing we were having one in the first place came close."
{Paris says they need some sleep and he orders the computer to turn of the lights.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "I can't sleep with out my night light. Computer, one flickering green light."
{There is a flashback where a young B'Elanna Torres is seen on a camping trip with her father.}
Seven: "You are rather big for a 5 year old."
B'Elanna: "I am aren't I? Well either my parents experimented with Borg child rearing methods, or Paramount decided a book doesn't count as cannon."
{The young B'Elanna says she doesn't want to go on a hike with other children. When her father asks why she says they don't like her, and when he asks her how she knows that she says it's true.}
Tuvok: "I believe your logic is faulty."
B'Elanna: "What's worse is that they seemed to have me use a similar stance towards Seven."
Seven: "So they gave you the mentality of a 12 year old?"
B'Elanna (sighing and resting her head to Seven's shoulder): "Pretty much."
{The next morning in their quarters Paris tries to make some peanut butter toast for B'Elanna.}
(The crew looks at Paris.)
Paris: "What? What? They did it with Sisko, they did it with Jean Luc "Dixon Hill" Picard, they always have a crewmember with a fondness for Earth's 20th century."
Janeway: "Yes, but in those cases they did it well."
{She tells Paris he doesn't have to come with her, and he asks if she doesn't want emotional support.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "Seven will be there."
{In sickbay the Doctor tells B'Elanna about a prenatal program he set up which would include him singing to her fetus which will be quite safe.}
Paris: "Until the child forces her way out and demands the Doctor stop singing."
{As the light dim in sickbay B'Elanna flashes back to the camping trip.}
B'Elanna (sighing): "While I'm sure that this will build up to something relevant I seem awful obsessed about this trip."
Seven: "I believe they are filling up space with minutiae from your childhood in order to make your current angst more understandable."
B'Elanna: "Klingon's don't angst… well they do, but they're much more aggressive about it."
{One of the other children puts a worm on her sandwich because his teacher said klingons like live food.}
B'Elanna: "They also like hurting people for dishonoring them, but I guess your teacher didn't get to that part."
{The flashback end with her still in sickbay as the Doctor finishes straightening the babies spine. B'Elanna asks is she'll be all right and the Doctor says she'll be better then all right if her parents are any indication.}
Doctor (as himself): "Don't worry, I'm sure she'll get more from you then she will from Paris."
{B'Elanna goes to the holodeck and calls up her medical files and the image of the baby.}
Doctor: "I believe at this time I should offer my medical opinion and say… that baby is HUGE!"
Paris: "Well it is only a holographic representation."
Doctor: "Yes, but you would think it would be to scale. I mean that would be like giving birth to a 3 year old."
{She asks the computer to advance the baby to 12 years old. The hologram then shows a 12-year-old with klingon ridges and black hair.}
B'Elanna: "Where did the black hair come from? I mean I don't have it. Tom doesn't have it. Heck, even Seven doesn't have it."
(Seven and B'Elanna smirk at each other.)
Chakotay: "Well unless you had an affair with me or Harry it's just a plot hole."
{B'Elanna starts making changes to the baby's genome and having the computer show her the results.}
B'Elanna (shaking her head): "Since when did I have a degree in genetic engineering, and what the hell am I thinking acting like I'm qualified to do so, and what could be going through my head to try?"
Doctor: "Well the power of the plot device assures that things like blindness or madness that usually creep in during genetic manipulation won't happen this time."
{B'Elanna and the Doctor argue about the genetic modifications.}
B'Elanna: "Let me just summarize. There is no way in Hell, Grethor, or any place else I would endanger my child over something like looks."
Doctor: "Well they are ignoring the dangerous aspect."
B'Elanna: "Not entirely! "You" said it yourself that the changes could impact things like personality."
{In the Delta Flyer Paris realizes that it's about her not wanting the baby to be klingon.}
Chakotay: "That was for the benefit of the three people who hadn't figured it out yet."
{She says she was treated like a monster.}
B'Elanna: "Ok, if I am THAT poorly adjusted from my childhood I shouldn't be in engineering, I should be on a counselor's couch."
Seven: "I adapted better to being severed from the Borg collective."
{B'Elanna says that when the people around you are one way and you are not, you can't help but feel there is something wrong with you.}
Seven (arching her brow): "Are we still talking about your ethnic background?"
(B'Elanna gives Seven a small smirk.)
{Paris lists Voyager's diversity and she replies with Voyager having 141 humans.}
Tuvok: "While that is true I try not to hold that against them."
Harry: "So? Isn't she going to be allowed off of Voyager?"
B'Elanna: "Well you see I've gone insane. So I'm not thinking that far ahead."
{After the Captain refuses to overrule the Doctor, Tom and B'Elanna walk down a hallway where he says he just wants to have a civil discussion with his wife.}
Paris (as himself): "Then I probably should have married someone else."
(B'Elanna punches him in the shoulder, but they are both grinning.)
{Tom goes to sleep on Harry's couch and they talk about the problems he and B'Elanna re having. Harry suggests he tell B'Elanna he understands and Paris wonders what good would that do.}
(The crew looks at Tom.)
Paris: "What?"
(They shake their heads.)
{B'Elanna is seen in red nightie, climbing into bed.}
(Seven's eyes get glazed as she smiles.)
B'Elanna (waving her hand in front of Seven's face.): "Come back Seven."
Seven (dazed): "But I'm so much happier here."
{Another flashback scene.}
Paris: "Ok, we get the idea. She had a bad childhood and she blamed it on being klingon."
Harry: "Are you sure? I mean it hasn't been THAT clear."
Chakotay: "Yeah Tom, I think they could show it a few more times."
{The flashback continues and they show her father and her uncle talking where her father talks about his troubles with B'Elanna and her mother.}
Tuvok: "It took 3 flashbacks before they disclosed the reason she was having them and the moment of revelation was approximately 15 seconds."
Seven: "An inefficient use of resources."
Tuvok: "Agreed."
{The flashback ends to show B'Elanna in uniform in engineering where Chakotay walks up to her saying the word "Taya."}
B'Elanna (as herself): "Same to you!"
{He suggests they get coffee and she says that's be best offer she's had all week.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "Well, if you don't count the ones from Seven, and she's getting harder and harder to turn down."
Chakotay (as himself): "That doesn't say much about your husband."
{B'Elanna and Chakotay walk down the hall and Paris joins them, at which point Chakotay ditches them.}
Tuvok: "A sound tactical withdrawal in the face of what is bound to be disappointing dialogue."
{They talk a bit about Harry's quarters and Paris says things like he has the lumpiest pillows and keeps the room too hot.}
Paris (as himself): "And he hogs all the covers."
{They make up and he says he still owes her that slice of peanut butter toast.}
Paris (as himself): "It's still there, gathering flies, and mold."
{He says they should go back to their quarters and fire up the toaster, and she says it sounds nice.}
Janeway: "You actually said that with a straight face. You deserve SOME kind of award."
{The Doctor calls them to sickbay and tells them they now have to eliminate the baby's klingon DNA to ensure its safety. Paris then goes to astrometrics to consult with Seven and Icheb.}
Paris (as himself): "Seven, it's me. I'm coming in and I'm unarmed."
{Icheb goes over the Doctor's calculations and finds an error to which Tom said he didn't think the Doctor could make an error unless there was something wrong with his program.}
(The Doctor gets a smug expression and the crew looks at him and groans.)
Janeway: "We'll just have to take comfort in the fact there seems to be something wrong with his program every other episode."
(The Doctor grimaces.)
Seven: "I must say the despite our mockery your character has been behaving admirably."
Paris: "Yeah, I'm almost likeable."
Seven: "HE is almost likeable, you already are."
(He gives her a smile and she gives him a nod.)
{Seven discovers the Doctor's program has been tampered with, and then they learn B'Elanna is in sickbay.}
B'Elanna: "Oh great, now I'm brainwashing crewmembers to do my dirty work."
{In sickbay the Doctor and B'Elanna talk where she says she's sure it will be better for everyone once it's over.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "I have a feeling I'll LIKE being in the brig."
{In astrometrics Seven and Paris try to get access to sickbay or the Doctor.}
Seven (as herself): "I should have realized sooner that she is crying out for my attention."
{Tom and B'Elanna argue in sickbay and her feelings over the loss of her father are revealed.}
Janeway: "Let's just say that MacNeil and Dawson are extremely talented."
Doctor: "But even they can't make this plot believable?"
(Janeway nods and the crew sits silently.)
{Paris realizes B'Elanna's fears and promises he is never going to leave her.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "Oh God! You won't!"
Paris: "Still, they are acting incredibly well in this scene aren't they?"
B'Elanna: "It's sad in a way, they deserve far better."
{Later B'Elanna goes to sickbay to the Doctor to apologize and he says she was not guilty by reason of biochemistry, but she declares she knew exactly what she was doing.}
B'Elanna (as herself): "So it's Paramount's fault for screwing up my character again."
{The baby starts kicking.}
Chakotay: "Ok, this is a good scene period."
{She asks the Doctor to be the godfather.}
Doctor (as himself): "Some day I will return the favor."
Seven: "Something we may wish to remember for future reference."
{The screen fades on an image the baby that B'Elanna has the Doctor bring up. As the screen goes black the theater fades to the normal holodeck grid and the crew makes their way to the exit.}
{Back on the bridge the crew looks like they are both scared and confused as they look at the viewscreen. There they can see Pearl trying to rock a fully-grown Bobo how has been dressed in oversized baby clothes.}
Bobo (lifting his head up and speaking in a whisper): "Help me!"
Pearl (speaking): "You seem fussy, let's take your temperature."
(Bobo starts screaming and fighting to get away. In process he hits a button on the control panel that causes the viewscreen to revert to the starfield.)
(The crew looks at each other.)
Janeway (speaking quietly): "Push the button Harry."
Harry (speaking quietly): "Yes mam."
{Fade to black.}
{The shot where B'Elanna has just collapsed in front of Seven and Icheb. Icheb is scanning her and finds another lifesign that he suggests may be a parasite.}