Summary for Star Trek: Voyager episode
Nothing Human

Season 5, Episode 8
Stardate: Unknown

Guest Stars:
David Clennon
Jad Mager

Co-Stars:
Frank Welker as the Alien Voice
Majel Barrett as the Computer Voice

Written by:
Jeri Taylor

Events:
The episode opens in the holosuite, where Doc is presenting his holo-images (which looks surprisingly a lot like a slide-show) for some of the crew (including Kathryn, B'Elanna, Tuvok and Tom). The first two images show the proud Doctor on a planet where none of the crew could go (the atmosphere was too acidic). His image pretty well fills the screen. Then we are shown a picture of Tom covered in mud, which causes B'Elanna to giggle and Tom to protest that he was pushed.

It's obvious the audience wishes to get away whenever an opportunity presents itself, but Doc seems oblivious to their discomfort and offers them a 12 part show called "Under the Skin: Humanoid Anatomy as Art". He starts with a shot of the Vulcan reproductive gland.

The scene cuts to the bridge where Harry reports the time and all systems normal to Chakotay. Chakotay takes note of the report and continues to work on his padd.

Harry: "Like I said, it's 2100 hours."
Chakotay: "I heard you the first time, Harry."
Harry: "They've been in there for over an hour."
Chakotay: "I'm aware of that."
Harry: "And didn't the captain ask you to rescue them after 30 minutes?"
Chakotay: "Harry. You and I were lucky enough to enjoy the Doctor's scintillating exhibition for two full hours. Would it really be fair of us to deny our friends the same unforgettable experience?"
Harry: "Of course not, sir."

The scene cuts back to the open doorway of the holodeck. The crew file out as expeditiously as possible while Doc thanks them for their attendance and suggests his shows could become a weekly event.

In the hall the senior staff in attendance are griping about how Chakotay was supposed to call a yellow alert after 30 minutes. Tuvok points out that Chakotay has disobeyed a direct order and Kathryn claims it's an offence worthy of a court-martial.

Tom and B'Elanna arrive in the mess hall where Neelix offers them coffee. He sympathizes with their feelings about Doc's exhibition and B'Elanna admits some of the images were funny. Neelix asks if she means the one showing Tom slipping into the mud pit and Neelix and B'Elanna laugh. Then Neelix asks if they saw the picture of B'Elanna with her foot caught in a plasma injector. Tom confesses he missed it but hopes to find it so he can distribute it to the crew. B'Elanna suggests that if he does she'll kill him right after she finishes deleting Doc's program.

Their conversation is interrupted by a shaking of the ship and a warning klaxon. Those who recall "The Undiscovered Country" might have an eerie sense of deja vu.

On the bridge Harry calls out that a massive energy wave is approaching the ship. Kathryn calls for evasive maneuvers but the shock wave changes course to intercept. Kathryn calls for warp eight but Chakotay claims the engines are down and as they brace for impact we watch a large blue energy field engulf the ship.

The scene cuts to opening credits and commercials.

The show continues with an external of Voyager as the energy wave leaves their area. Kathryn halts the ship. Only minor damage was caused to the ship and no casualties.

Harry reports that when the wave hit the communications array received a download with an audio component. Kathryn orders the audio to be played and we hear the sound of fingernails screeching down a chalkboard.

Kathryn guesses the energy wave was an attempt to communicate and Tom reports a residual ion trail that could be followed to the point of origin. Kathryn orders the ship to investigate.

They locate a badly damaged ship at the point of origin. There is one faint lifesign aboard which Harry believes might be injured. Kathryn orders a rescue be made by having the alien beamed aboard Voyager.

Tuvok asks if this is wise and Kathryn decides if they're going to rescue the alien they should help it on Voyager.

In Sick bay the creature we are presented with reminds me of a very large (about four or five feet long), pink silverfish with only four appendages, no antennae, and two large eyes with slits for pupils. Its thorax rises and falls as if breathing. Its very long abdomen stretches out to the end of the bed.

The Doc is waving a medical tricorder over the alien and claims its physiology is so unusual the tricorder can't figure it out. Doc figures it is obviously injured but doesn't know how to figure out what is wrong or how to treat it. He walks through a forcefield to stand beside Kathryn.

Their conversation is interrupted by B'Elanna who has run some scans on the alien ship and determined it is controlled through chemical interfaces. She believes the alien secretes bio-chemical substances to control its ship.

Their conversation is interrupted by blackboard screeching from the alien. It has coiled itself sufficiently to make a leap at B'Elanna and somehow penetrates the force field, landing on her. The security guard standing by the door rushes towards them, phaser drawn, which he hands to Kathryn, who runs to B'Elanna's side while the Doc catches B'Elanna who has been knocked down by the impact.

When Kathryn aims the phaser at the creature Doc holds his hand in the way of the phaser and tells her she'll hurt B'Elanna so Kathryn orders Harry to beam the alien off the ship. Yet Harry has trouble getting a lock on the alien. Doc then reports the alien is piercing B'Elanna's neck. Kathryn looks shocked and looks at B'Elanna.

During all of this B'Elanna is struggling with the alien, trying to get it off her.

The scene cuts to sick bay shortly after the incident. B'Elanna is on the bed with the alien clutching her left shoulder and its abdomen clutching her right leg. She's unconscious. The Doctor, Tom and Kathryn are the only other people in the room. The Doctor explains that B'Elanna's heart and lung are seriously infiltrated and her kidneys are failing and the creature is pumping a paralyzing agent into her blood stream. Tom demands to know how Doc is going to fix this and Doc explains he can't operate without killing B'Elanna.

Kathryn asks if they can get a lock on the alien and beam it away and Doc explains this too would kill B'Elanna.

Doc states he'll have to "brush up" on his exobiology if he's to help B'Elanna. Tom is amazed this information isn't already in the Doc's matrix but Doc explains his matrix has limits and exobiology isn't in his matrix at the moment.

Kathryn suggests setting up a hologram that could contain the necessary information for the Doc to work with. She also suggests they choose a real person. Tom points out that Harry could prepare such a hologram very quickly and Doc agrees to this.

The scene cuts to the holodeck where Harry and Doc are discussing options. Doc has selected Crell Moset, a Cardassian. Harry points out that Cardassians aren't known for being friendly and Doc doesn't care if he's the nastiest man to have ever lived.

Harry transfers the information on exobiology to the hologram's matrix and this is completed in three seconds.

They finish preparing the hologram and Doc tries to talk to the consultant, only to discover the consultant's voice isn't functioning properly. He makes a minor change and the consultant comes to life (so to speak).

The show cuts to commercials.

When we return Doc and Crell make formal introductions and Doc explains the situation to Crell. Harry transfers them to Sick Bay where Doc introduces Crell to Tom and chides Tom for being rude to Crell (Tom doesn't see the need to be introduced to a hologram).

Doc shows the patient and the alien to Crell, who guesses that the alien is a cyto-plasmic creature. Doc agrees.

Crell asks for an iso-molecular scanner, which Doc doesn't have. He fetches a medical tricorder, thus giving Crell an opportunity to tell us in a long-winded fashion that he had recommended such a device be standard issue on Federation ships.

Crell recalibrates the tricorder and Doc discovers it will now scan the creature producing useful results.

The scene cuts to the ready room where Kathryn explains to Chakotay that the alien transmission is extremely complex. She orders Seven to download the database from the alien craft in hopes of finding something they can use as a key to decipher the language.

Seven is in Engineering where we learn that Kathryn has assigned her command of the department during B'Elanna's absence. Seven gives an order to a Bajoran Maquis member who obviously isn't comfortable working for Seven. Seven doesn't care and gives her orders to download the database.

They start the process but are soon interrupted by the destruction of the vessel, a result of the damage it has sustained before Voyager arrived.

Meanwhile, in Sick Bay, Doc and Crell have decided the alien must have decided to connect itself to B'Elanna as a way of saving itself, leeching off of her body what it needs. Crell suggests if this is the case the creature won't give up without a fight and Doc hopes they'll succeed. Crell complains about the equipment available to him in Sick Bay and suggests his own lab would be better. Doc asks him if he can describe it so they can use the holo-deck to reconstruct it. Crell says it was like home to him and that he can recall all the details.

The scene cuts to B'Elanna and Tom. B'Elanna regains consciousness and Tom offers her comfort. She notices Crell and asks who he is. Tom explains he's just a hologram and B'Elanna reveals she isn't thinking straight because she hates the hologram for simply looking like a Cardassian. Tom points out that like it or not he's her only hope to stay alive.

The scene cuts to commercials.

When we return we are in the holo-deck where Crell's lab has been reconstructed. Crell explains this is not the lab he had on Bajor during the occupation where he cured a particularly nasty virus. He was awarded honours for this accomplishment, but he confesses he doesn't know how he did it since the conditions he worked under were so terrible. He explains he was forced to improvise methods and procedures and just got lucky.

After much talk about other things they finally get down to recreating the alien in the holodeck so they can learn more about it.

The scene cuts to the ready room where Kathryn and Chakotay agree the transmission was a distress call. Kathryn decides to re-transmit the signal in the hopes that the alien's kin will receive it and arrive to help. She decides to use all sub-space bands to attract their attention and she hopes the aliens won't be hostile.

They return to the bridge and Kathryn gives the order to Tuvok to re-transmit the message, and from an external view we watch a circular energy wave leaving the ship.

Back in Crell's lab he and Doc are continuing to examine the alien re-creation. They are both humming some tune. They stop their efforts to save B'Elanna's life to discuss music and opera and what they might do after they've finished their work.

They return to their work when Crell suggests they examine the interior of the alien re-creation. Crell asks for a scalpel and Doc picks up a nasty looking curved blade about 9 inches long. He points out the scalpel is a rather crude instrument and that they have more sophisticated equipment available. But Crell states that he believes the simpler the instrument the more effective it is. All the sophisticated tools "remove us from our subjects" says Crell.

Crell tells Doc where to cut and the Doc cuts a line down the thorax. The simulated creature makes noises as the incision is made and Doc claims they're hurting it. Crell points out it's a hologram and Doc laughs and points out he has a certain sympathy for holographic creations.

They find portions of the alien's anatomy beneath the surface of the thorax and Crell believes the use of electricity will cause the creature to lose its motor control and allow them to remove it from B'Elanna. However, Doc is concerned that the procedure Crell describes will kill the alien and Doc wants to save both B'Elanna and the alien.

Crell points out that the priority is B'Elanna and they argue briefly over the ethics of killing the alien, when Crell's holo-matrix develops problems forcing Doc to shut him down and call Harry for help.

Harry is in Engineering and suggests they try to re-initialize Crell in Sick Bay. He then asks the Bajoran Maquis whom Seven was talking to (Tabor) to assist him.

The scene cuts to Sick bay where Harry tells Tabor what buttons to press while Harry looks on. Doc takes this time to exchange words with B'Elanna. He discovers that B'Elanna has a racist hatred for Cardassians. Doc is shocked, and points out that Crell may not only save her life but that Doc is planning to keep Crell as a permanent consultant.

B'Elanna points out she won't be the only person who has a problem with that idea.

Finally Tabor and Harry have figured out the problem and re-initialize Crell. Tabor is shocked, recognizing Crell immediately. Tabor accuses Crell of killing his brother and grandfather, and the accuses him of killing hundreds of people and being a mass-murderer.

The scene cuts to a commercial.

When we return Tabor confronts Crell. Crell has no recollection of the events Tabor describes and suggests there must be a misunderstanding. Tabor tries to attack the hologram and Tom holds him back. Crell suggests he leave and Doc agrees and transfers Crell back to the holodeck. The look on Doc's face suggests he's getting a crash course on emotional outbursts from organic lifeforms.

The scene cuts to Chakotay's office (or quarters, it's not really clear). Tabor is telling Chakotay of all the heinous crimes committed by Crell on Cardassia. Doc is incredulous, suggesting that Tabor may not recall the events clearly or that these crimes might just be rumours spread because of a hatred of Cardassians. Tabor claims everyone knows about Crell and Chakotay can at least confirm hearing of an infamous doctor who experimented on Bajorans.

Doc wants to know why this isn't in the databanks and Chakotay believes it is due to the fact that the Cardassians didn't publish the information. Tabor claims the program should be destroyed and every trace of the research he conducted deleted.

Back in Sick bay Tom tells B'Elanna the news about Crell. B'Elanna forbids Crell from working on her case. She tells a disbelieving Tom that if she benefits from Crell she is benefiting from the suffering of those Crell experimented on.

Her anger causes her condition to deteriorate rapidly. B'Elanna tells Tom to tell Doc what she said. Tom does so. Doc says they're near a solution. She tells him to do it without Crell. Doc says he doesn't know if he can. She tells him to find another way. B'Elanna then lapses into what appears to be a coma.

In Engineering Harry and Seven have been tracking down the information on Crell. They've discovered that Crell requisitioned every known strain of the virus he cured, but none of the agents needed to create a vaccine. Shortly after delivery the virus infected a number of people near the hospital when the province in which the hospital was situated had known no such infections for months. Doc has been called in to review the information and Harry states he has to report the information to Chakotay.

After Harry leaves Seven observes that the Borg are condemned for gathering information through assimilation while Crell did the same thing and was tolerated.

Back in Crell's lab Doc arrives in time to hear Crell tell him that Crell is almost ready for the surgery. Doc explains B'Elanna has forbidden Crell to have anything to do with the surgery. Crell asks if it is because he is Cardassian and Doc explains they've found evidence the corroborates Tabor's accusations.

Doc points out that medically and ethically to use Crell's research would be wrong. Crell asks Doc what he wants to do and Doc suggests he might have to delete the program and do it himself.

Crell points out the Doc needs him to help and Doc acknowledges this. They argue ethics, with Crell pointing out ethics are arbitrary and that half of the medical knowledge on Earth originated from experiments done on animals. Doc counters that it was animals and not people and Crell counters that it is convenient to draw such a line.

Crell puts the question to Doc bluntly. Will Doc delete the program and the research or will Doc use the research to save B'Elanna?

Back in Chakotay's office, Tabor enters. Chakotay tells Tabor he won't permit Tabor to resign his commission. Tabor points out it is his right. Chakotay asks why he wants to resign and Tabor explains it is his moral objection to the ship's medical policy.

Chakotay tries to sound understanding and tells Tabor he has to set the past aside so they can save B'Elanna's life. Tabor angrily tells Chakotay he doesn't have the right to violate the memory of Tabor's family. Tabor claims allowing the program to run and to use the research of the real Crell is to violate that memory.

The scene cuts to the conference room where Doc, Tom, Tuvok, Chakotay, and Kathryn are considering their options.

Once again we here Doc remind everyone that "time is of the essence" and that Crell's work will save B'Elanna.

Tom insists he use the information.

Chakotay counters by pointing out this would be against B'Elanna's wishes. Tom counters again by claiming the alien has somehow distorted B'Elanna's mental state and that she doesn't know what she is saying.

Tuvok disagrees, claiming her decision is based on logic. He points out that if they use Crell's research they would be validating Crell's work and encouraging others to use the same methods. Chakotay agrees and claims they'd be setting a terrible precedent.

Tom counters by pointing out they are in the Delta Quadrant and asks "Who would know?" Tuvok responds by saying "We would know.".

Exasperated, Tom sarcastically suggests they deactivate Crell and let B'Elanna die so their morals will be intact. Then he berates Chakotay for caring what Star Fleet thinks.

Chakotay objects, claiming this isn't about Star Fleet, it's about what's right. Tom then accuses him of allowing his hatred for Cardassians to override his judgment and Chakotay starts getting angry and that's when Kathryn intervenes.

She claims they are both right and that all the arguments have been heard. She reminds them that all she cares about is B'Elanna and they can worry about the morality later. She authorizes Doc to conduct the surgery with Crell's assistance and accepts full responsibilities for the consequences. She then dismisses them.

Tom walks by and whispers a shaky "Thanks" to her.

The scene cuts to Crell's lab where Crell requests the scalpel (that long ugly-looking one) and the scene cuts to commercials.

When we return we are on the bridge where Tuvok detects a high-frequency sound, thanks to his acute Vulcan sense of hearing. Pretty soon everyone can hear it very loudly and they are unable to reduce its volume. Another alien vessel appears and the sound ends abruptly.

Kathryn asks for a translation but Harry has none to offer. Tuvok suggests the aliens might be waiting for a response and Kathryn sends a message of peace and goodwill. She explains they have the alien on board and are trying to treat it and is jolted by their return signal which doesn't sound particularly "happy" (I know, how can you tell the difference between a "happy" screeching chalkboard and one that is not "happy"?).

Meanwhile, in Crell's lab, they apply a device to the alien, which is expected to force it to release its motor control and thus free B'Elanna. The first effort doesn't work so Crell ups the amperage and Doc discovers that Crell is actually killing it. Doc stops the procedure and takes over, applying a lower amperage to another portion of the alien which he believes will cause the same results without killing the alien.

Back on the bridge the ship is rocked by an attack from the alien and Chakotay calls for shields while the alien vessel locks on with a combination tractor beam/dampening field.

Back in Crell's lab Doc and Crell both fade in and out while the holodeck grid is suffering short-term power losses.

Chakotay orders they divert auxiliary power to the holo-deck. Chakotay then orders an anti-matter surge along the shield grid to try and get rid of the tractor beam. But this doesn't work.

Tuvok points out they still have weapons but Kathryn is convinced the aliens are just trying to rescue the alien. Tuvok starts to object, but Kathryn snaps "This isn't about logic, Tuvok. It's about instinct." Her gut instinct says the aliens don't want to fight and she won't fire on them.

She asks Doc for a report and he declares they've almost succeeded, while Crell declares the tendrils are removing themselves from B'Elanna's body. But they are notified by a sensor that the alien is dying because it has lost its grip on B'Elanna. They guess at a treatment for the alien which works and they instruct the bridge to beam the alien to the other ship.

The other ship stops its attack and sends a final signal which Kathryn interprets as a thank you and she tells them "You're welcome.".

In Kathryn's ready room Doc reports on B'Elanna's condition. He's released her to her quarters and claims she'll need several days of rest as her nervous system has experienced severe trauma.

Doc tells Kathryn that he has told B'Elanna how her cure was the result of using Crell's research and the Crell program. B'Elanna was so furious the Doc considered sedation. Kathryn says she'll talk to B'Elanna.

Then Doc asks what to do with the Crell program and research. Kathryn leaves that up to him.

She then visits B'Elanna and finds her reading over some padds in her quarters while burning an incense that is a mental relaxant and dispeller of demons (an old Klingon cure).

Kathryn hopes that B'Elanna will understand Kathryn's reasons for ignoring her wishes about Crell and claims that losing B'Elanna is unacceptable. She says she knows B'Elanna is angry and hopes B'Elanna will let it go. B'Elanna asks if that's an order and Kathryn says "Yes".

B'Elanna's anger surfaces and points out that Kathryn cannot order anyone to get rid of an emotion. Then her anger starts to really flow:

B'Elanna: "You had No Right to make that decision for me!"
Kathryn: "I'm the captain. You're my crewman. I did what I thought best. I get the feeling there are a few demons in the air. Let's hope this does the trick, hmm?"

The scene cuts to Crell's lab where Doc has arrived to announce his decision. Doc has decided to delete the program and all related files. Crell dickers with him, trying to convince him that Doc has already benefited from Crell's work and saved B'Elanna with it. But Doc has decided enough is enough and that Crell's existence represents a temptation the Doc doesn't want to face.

He deletes Crell and all associated files and leaves the holodeck.

The episode ends.

Personal Reflections

This episode stirs strong emotions in me. This was obviously intended to generate controversy:

1. Imposing the will of the state over the will of the patient.

2. Knowingly choosing to benefit from barbaric and inhumane treatment of prisoners of war and conquered civilians.

3. Knowingly choosing to benefit from the exploitation of the old, the weak, and the defenseless.

To me these are the central issues of this episode and in every case I find Janeway totally wrong and those who argued on the opposing sides totally right.

Tom's arguments I understood as one who is thinks he's in love with the patient and would do anything to see her live. However, I expect B'Elanna to hold this against him and end their relationship as she obviously cannot expect him to respect her or her ethics.

If Tom really loved her he would respect her decision and do all he could to see that her wishes were fulfilled.

I fully expect to see a resurgence of the animosity the Maquis feel towards Star Fleet (especially towards Janeway) and this time I expect Tuvok to join their ranks against the Captain.

Despite Janeway's efforts to assume complete responsibility she can no more relieve anyone of their own personal sense of responsibility than she can order someone to do away with an emotion. Janeway's behaviour has gone beyond being out of control and she now seems to think her authority gives her the right to dictate the emotions of her crew. She has achieved a state of megalomania, where she believes her personal omnipotence is so great she can disregard the ethics of others and order people to do away with whatever emotion doesn't suit her. She is so obviously out of touch with reality she can ignore the damage she has caused with cavalier statements like "I get the feeling there are a few demons in the air. Let's hope this does the trick, hmm?". As if a smart-assed remark will just wash away all the guilt B'Elanna feels for benefiting from Crell's butchery.

This is like telling the Jews to get over the fact that Dr. Mengele conducted all of his experiments on helpless prisoners and to allow him to operate on them. It is to ask them to benefit from Mengele's crimes against humanity. And if they object just throw them a flippant comment about "demons in the air" and order them to get rid of whichever emotions are deemed undesirable.

Janeway has thrown away whatever moral authority she had to justify the command authority she wields over the crew. It's about time they woke up to that fact.

Tabor resigned. I hope he's not the only one to do so.

Thanks for your attention.



All episode summaries and nits copyright © 1999 Wulf
Site design and graphics copyright © 1999 Holotech Enterprises
All rights reserved

Star Trek^TM, Voyager^TM and Deep Space Nine^TM
are trademarks owned by Paramount Pictures Corporation.

Design and Hosting by