02x22 - Cogenitor

[bunniefuu]

It's losing mass at
an extraordinary rate.

REED:
How long before

it goes supernova?

A hundred years, maybe two.

Too bad we won't be around.

It's going to be
one hell of an expl*si*n.

Speak for yourself.

I might very well be around.

Can't forget
Vulcan longevity, Captain.

A hundred years from now?

How old would that make you?

ARCHER:
No Earth ship
has ever been

within ten light-years
of a hypergiant.

( sighs)

How much farther can we move in?

Our hull temperature
is approaching 1,100 degrees.

It would be unsafe
to get any closer.

Then we'll have to run
our scans from here.

Tell Astrometrics to get going.

I'm sure they're
champing at the bit.

( console beeping)

We may not be able
to get any closer,

but someone else has.

You found a ship?

Bearing 261 mark 4.

They must be at least

20,000 kilometers
farther in than we are.

Let's see her.

Recognize it?

No.

Hail them.

The interference
is pretty heavy, sir.

Then try audio.

This is Captain Archer
of the Starship Enterprise.

I assume you've detected us.

Captain Drennik.

Where have you traveled from?

The Sol system. And you?

We come from a system
called Vissia,

more than
25 light-years from here.

We saw you arrive yesterday.

I assume you're here
to study the hypergiant.

My species has never
seen one up close.

It is quite a sight.

Have you measured its rate
of nucleosynthesis?

I'm afraid we haven't developed
the technology to do that.

If you don't mind eliminating
the development stage,

I'd be more than happy to help
you modify your sensors.

Thank you.

I'm not sure we have anything
to offer you in return.

You could invite us
to visit your ship.

Meeting new species is one
of our primary goals.

It's one of ours as well.

We'd be honored to have you
join us for dinner.

We'll be there within the hour.

I look forward to it.

It'll be nice to
have a first contact

where no one's thinking
about charging weapons.

Hmm.

Tell Chef we're going
to have some visitors.

♪ It's been a long road ♪

♪ Getting from there to here ♪

♪ It's been a long time ♪

♪ But my time is finally near ♪

♪ And I will see my dream
come alive at last ♪

♪ I will touch the sky ♪

♪ And they're not gonna
hold me down no more ♪

♪ No, they're not gonna
change my mind ♪

♪ 'Cause I've got faith ♪

♪ Of the heart ♪

♪ I'm going where my heart
will take me ♪

♪ I've got faith to believe ♪

♪ I can do anything ♪

♪ I've got strength
of the soul ♪

♪ No one's gonna bend
or break me ♪

♪ I can reach any star ♪

♪ I've got faith ♪

♪ I've got, I've got, I've got ♪

♪ I've got faith ♪

♪ Faith of the heart. ♪

Trinesium can
withstand temperatures

up to 18,000 degrees.

We've been using it
to construct our hulls

for over a century.

You must be able to get
down into the photosphere

of most G-type stars.

We can get even deeper
with our stratopod.

It's got twice the shielding.

Flying into stars is
a long way off for us.

Your technology will evolve.

What's important is
that you're explorers.

We have gone farther
than any other humans.

You might enjoy
going even farther.

I'm taking the stratopod into
the hydrogen layer tomorrow.

I'd be pleased

to have you join me.

I am an explorer.

This is called vanilla

and this is chocolate.

Give it a try.

Oh, no. Wait.

You've got to eat
the cherry first. This.

Why?

Well... you just do.

A human tradition?

Exactly.

Aren't you going
to introduce me?

This is Malcolm Reed,
our Armory Officer.

This is Traistana,

a xenobiologist,

and Veylo is

a tactical officer.

Very pleased to meet you.

Why don't you sit down?

The Captain did
ask us to mingle.

Indeed.

I was just speaking

with their Chief
Engineer and his wife.

Maybe you should say hello.

See you later.

I'm told you're
the Chief Engineer.

Commander Tucker.

Lieutenant Reed pointed you out.

Please, sit down.

Thank you.

This is my wife, Calla.

I'm glad you invited us here.

Are you enjoying your food?

Oh, very much.

ENGINEER:
I hope you get

the chance to sample our food.

It's more fragrant than yours.

I look forward to it.

I'd also like to get a peek
at your Engine Room.

By all means.

Trip Tucker.

Welcome aboard.

Hello.

CALLA:
It has no name.

It's our cogenitor.

Cogenitor?

We're hoping to have a baby.

Ah.

ENGINEER:
Our warp core

emits omicron radiation.

I recommend you speak with your
doctor about an inoculation.

Sure thing.

This should do it.

So... you've heard
of these cogenitors.

Not all species
are limited to two sexes.

In fact, I, uh...

have it on good authority
that the Rigelians have four

or was it five?

So you're saying that this
man or woman or whatever

is a third sex?

That's exactly what I'm saying.

And she...

it... is part of

the impregnation
process.
Precisely.

I'm pretty familiar
with how it works

with two sexes, but...

Multi-gender techniques
aren't always the same,

but in this case, I imagine

the cogenitor provides an
enzyme, which facilitates

conception.

What do you mean by "provides"?

Well, first,
the female has to...

No. No, no, no,
don't tell me.

I don't think I want to know.

Oh, well.

I have pictures.

Uh, I think

I'll pass.

So how long is
this going to last?

I might want
to stay there for a while.

It should protect you

from omicron radiation
for about 12 years.

That should be enough.

Thanks, Doc.

Keep an open mind,
Commander, hmm?

You came on this mission
to meet other species,

no matter how many genders
they may have.

There are more things
in heaven and earth

than are dreamt of
in your philosophy.

Where'd you hear that?

Hamlet, Act One, Scene Five.

Your Communications Officer
was kind enough to provide us

with some of your literature.

I assumed you approved.

Absolutely,

but I didn't think you'd
be quoting it the next day.

We retain most of what we read.

And you obviously read
pretty quickly.

After I finished Shakespeare
last night,

I began reading
the plays of Sophocles.

What do you recommend
after that?

Seems like you're picking
the good ones all by yourself.

That's got to be
ionized hydrogen.

It's generating
magnetic currents.

I've got friends back at home

who are not
going to believe this.

I have friends

who'll be equally
impressed with Macbeth.

We're almost

into the chromosphere.

The antimatter stream
is compressed

before the deuterium's
injected into the core.

So you don't need
magnetic confinement.

Let me bring up the schematics.

Where we come from, Earth...

there are only two genders.

That's true of most worlds.

I don't mean to pry, but...

does every family
have a cogenitor?

That wouldn't be very efficient.

They are only needed when

a couple's trying
to have a child.

Oh.

And... when they're not?

The cogenitor
is assigned to another couple.

They make up about three percent
of our population,

which seems to be

a perfect ratio.

Nature has a way
of finding the right balance.

Is the one I met
the only one on your ship?

The only one.

Once Calla and I
are finished with it,

I doubt it'll be needed
before we return home.

Hmm.
Would you
like to take

a closer look
at the plasma converters?

I would. Thanks.

So... does it live

with you and your wife?

We keep it in our quarters, yes.

What does it do
when you're not...?

It eats... sleeps.

There's not much else
for it to do.

What about school?

They only serve one purpose.

Sending them to school
would make no sense.

Why are you so...
curious about them?

Humans are very curious.

Hmm.

You might find this

difficult to believe,
but this polymer

is composed of over 200
naturally occurring elements.

That's impossible.

I read in your database
that you've discovered only 92.

I understand how this
might seem unnerving.

A lot of things around here do,

but, uh, I'm trying
to keep an open mind.

How long will you be gone?

Close to three days.

The circumference
is nearly a billion kilometers.

We'll be scanning
surface features

that are undetectable
from higher altitudes.

Three days is a long time to be
confined to such a small craft,

especially with a person
you've just met.

I think I'll survive.

These people are fascinating,
T'Pol.

They have a lot to offer us.

"This could be the beginning
of a beautiful relationship."

Which reminds me.

They've asked us for
a sampling of films.

I put together
a few suggestions.

I'll see to it.

You're in charge.

Of the ship or the movies?

Commander.

Captain left yet?

He'll be gone for three days.

He asked that you
download these films

and transfer them
to the Vissians' database.

( sighs)

Did you meet their Engineer?

Briefly.

He and his wife are
trying to have a baby.

How interesting.

There was someone
else with them.

They called her
a "cogenitor."

You know what that is?

A third gender.

Why do you call it "her"?

Well, she looks more
like a her than a him.

They treat her like a pet.

Kept in a room, not taught
to read or write, no name.

Porthos has a name.

It's not our place to judge
the customs of other cultures.

We're not talking about
taking your shoes off

when you walk
into someone's house.

This cogenitor's treated
like one of Phlox's leeches.

You pull it out of its t*nk
when you need it,

then you throw it back in.

Tri-gender reproduction
is not uncommon.

That's not what
I'm talking about.

This is a question of...
human rights.

They're not human.

Captain Archer hopes to develop

a productive relationship

with this species.

It might be best if you kept
your opinions to yourself.

It's good advice.

Mating habits are often
quite personal, hmm?

Some species aren't comfortable
discussing them.

I'm not interested in
discussing their habits.

I'm concerned with the way
they treat this cogenitor.

They're most likely
one and the same.

Yeah, well,
that doesn't make it right.

It's not a question
of right or wrong.

You scanned them
when they came on board.

Don't you always do that?

Yeah. They weren't
carrying any pathogens

that would be dangerous
to our crew.

Is there anything
you can tell me

about the mental capacity
of this cogenitor?

Is it any different
than the males and females?

I'm afraid I didn't
take any neural scans.

Is that something I could do?

Why would you want to?

Just curious.

I suppose you could.

REED:
Fruit and cheese
often complement each other.

So cheese comes in
eight varieties?

I'd say there are hundreds,
maybe thousands.

What made you choose these?

They have the strongest smells
of anything we have on board.

You said our food
was aromatically bland.

I thought this might
change your mind.

Try some.

Mild... but very nice.

How about...

this one?

The odor is a little spicier.

What's it called?

Stilton. Chef says
it's pretty pungent.

Haven't you ever tried it?

Not for a long time.

Here.

Well, I'd say that's more
than a little spicy.

Mmm.

And what's this called?

Alsatian Muenster.

Interesting.

Don't you find it sensual?

Very.

Can we visit the Armory later?

I'm anxious to see
your tactical array.

There's an old Earth expression:

"I'll show you mine if...
( chuckles) you show me yours."

Your father.

That's hard to imagine.

The men who developed
warp drive on my world

lived nearly a
thousand years ago.

I'm surprised your ancestors
never made it to Earth.

We don't believe in
traveling great distances.

There's far too much
to see close to home.

Well, maybe now you have
a reason to visit us.

It's not that far.

I'm sure we can
make an exception.

I'm going to take us

down to the edge
of the photosphere.

It might get a little turbulent.

Fine with me.

When the engine
reaches critical mass,

a mixture of positrons
and neutrinos

is injected into the chamber.

Watch.

Hmm.

The efficiency
is up over 30 percent.

Pretty impressive.

It's possible this technology

could be modified
for Enterprise.

We'd be very grateful.

We don't have any

married couples on Enterprise.

Do they give you
special quarters?

The Captain's very generous.

Oh, I wish ours was.

I've got a room not half
the size of this one.

I'd love to get a look
at your quarters sometime.

If I could describe it
to Captain Archer,

he might consider expanding
my living space.

Oh, why don't you join us
for dinner tonight?

You did agree to try our food.

Are you telling me
you have a dining room?

We'll try not to prepare
anything too pungent.

Mmm.

It's pretty mild, considering
the, um... smell.

For us, the aroma is far more
important than the taste.

This must have
taken you all day.

If I had all day,

I would have prepared
a far more scented meal.

Calla's in charge
of the Microgravity Lab.

We usually don't have
much time for cooking.

Will your cogenitor
be joining us?

It rarely eats more
than one meal a day.

Oh, so in our Mess Hall...

Bringing the cogenitor
to your ship was an exception.

Too bad.

I was hoping to say hello.

Why would you want to do that?

Commander Tucker is very curious

about our reproductive process.

Humans are bi-gendered.

I'll see if it's awake.

Which one's the cogenitor?

Right here.

Her synaptic density
and neural mass

are almost identical
to the other two.

Your cogenitor appears to be
no more or less intelligent

than the male and female.

I wouldn't mind taking
a turn at the helm.

Our navigation controls
are not like yours.

They're based on
five spatial axes.

I've been watching you.

I think I can handle it.

( sighs)

You obviously have
some experience.

A little.

There's a pretty big flare
forming below us.

I think I can loop around it,
let you get a better scan.

It's giving off a lot
of magnetic flux.

It may cause false readings

in the navigation sensors.

I'll keep an eye on it.

So by rotating
the quantum inverters,

you've tripled
the antimatter flux?

Exactly.

Three more and I'll be finished.

I haven't eaten anything
since this morning.

If you don't mind,
I'll go to your Mess Hall,

see what they're serving.

If you wait until I'm done,
I'll show you how to get there.

I'll be all right;
I'm sure I can find the way.

See you in a little while.

( door bleeps)

( door bleeps)

They're not here.

I came to see you.

Why?

I brought you this.

It'll teach you how to read.

Now you try it.

I don't understand.

You just touch the word,
then you'll hear it pronounced.

Go ahead, try it.

COMPUTER VOICE:
Today.

That's right.
Now go to the next one.

Today we're...

Good. Again.

Why are you doing this?

It's not right for me to read.

Who told you that?

You shouldn't be here.

( sighs)

You're as capable as they are...
as smart as they are.

That's not true.
They need me to have children.

It's not a question
of what they need.

You have the same rights...

To learn, to choose
how you're going to live,

to have a name.

That may be true on your world
but not on mine.

When Calla gives birth,
who's going to raise the baby?

Who's going to take care of it?

They will.

Why? You're just as crucial

in creating the child
as they are.

You don't understand.

Okay, maybe.

But we took scans...

My doctor says you have
the same potential as they do.

The only thing that sets you
apart is your gender.

You're no more different
than they are

from each other.

Haven't you ever wished
you could read?

It won't hurt you,

you know.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

COMPUTER VOICE:
Today we're going...

Today we're going to...

Today we're going to read.

I'm starting to get
the hang of this.

I could take us down

a little closer if you'd like.

Another 10,000 meters
and I'll be able to get

a particle count
of the photosphere.

Aye, aye, Captain.

10,000 meters it is.

Are you all right?

Absolutely.

If you can keep us

at this altitude
a little while longer...

No problem.

Are these armed
with photonic warheads?

Photonic? I'm not
familiar with that.

I'm afraid our weapons

are somewhat more sophisticated
than yours.

This technology must seem
pretty antiquated to you.

Where I come from,
antiquated can be very quaint.

Is that how you
see us? Quaint?

And charming.

What sort of power
source do these use?

Sarium micro-cells.

I suppose that's
very quaint, too.

Not at all.

We charge our weapons
the same way.

Maybe you'd like to see
the phase cannon assembly.

Please.

After you.

It has multiphasic emitters...

and a maximum yield
of 80 gigajoules.

Impressive.

I'm sorry it's so
cramped in here.

Don't be. I wanted to get
a little closer to you all day.

Really?

I was hoping to spend
some intimate time with you.

Maybe we could
sleep together tonight.

( loud thud)
Oh!

On Earth...

it's customary to ask
a woman to dinner first...

before spending
the night with her.

It's very different on Vissia.

It's only when a woman enjoys
her intimate time with a man

that she'll join him for dinner.

"The Didiron mountain range

runs through the upper planes
of the Great Continent."

Amazing.

The text describes
far more impressive peaks.

I don't mean the mountains,
I mean your reading.

"The fauna and flora
vary greatly

on either side
of the central plateau."

Look how much
you've accomplished

in a single day.

And reading's just
the tip of the iceberg.

You could study
all sorts of things.

History, science...

Engineering's not bad.

You don't have to sit
in this room all day.

They would never let me learn
those things.

Then you've got
to convince them.

It's not just learning.

It's...
it's experiencing things.

Music, swimming in the ocean...

You do have oceans
on your planet?

Yes.

And how about
those Didiron mountains?

Reading about them is one thing;

climbing them is another.

I'd like to climb a mountain.

There you go... that...
that's the right attitude.

You keep at it.

I've got to get back.

They think I'm at
the Astrometrics Lab.

But I'll see you
as soon as I can.

Trip?

Yeah?

I'd like my name to be Trip,

just like yours.

Actually, my name is Charles.

Then I would like my name
to be Charles.

I'm flattered.

There's a flare forming ahead.

I don't see it.

You will.

Turn the axis
40 degrees to port.

I think we can bank around it.

It's too big.

Take us up.
Try to get over it.

We're not going to make it.

Increase speed.

It won't be enough.

What are you doing?

If you can't get over a wave,

you got to dive through it.

Where did you learn to do that?

North shore of Oahu.
Body surfing.

I think it's time

you took the helm back.

Would you be punished

if they find out
you've brought me here?

Punished? No, but they
might get a little angry.

I would be punished.

Maybe I should take you back.

No, no, I want to see more.

Okay. We'll just have
to be sure no one spots us.

This is our transporter.

It turns things
into a matter stream

that can be sent
just about anywhere,

within 2,000 kilometers or so.

Then it gets... reassembled.

Could it send a Vissian?

I don't see why not.

I'd like to try.

I don't think that
would be a good idea.

Could I see where you work?

Sure. Follow me.

Coast is clear.

That's our main engine.

Fastest one in Starfleet.

I've had it up to warp 5.1.

I think my ship has
something like this,

but I've never seen it.

( laughs):
Your ship has an engine

that's a lot more sophisticated
than this one.

Do you live here?

Uh, no. My quarters
are on B-Deck.

Have you ever seen a movie?

It's not easy picking a movie

for somebody who's
never seen one before.

What would you think
about a Western?

No, not a Western.

I don't think a musical
would be right, either.

Got it. The Day the
Earth Stood Still.

Nothing like a little science
fiction to break you in.

It's a story about your planet?

Yeah, but it's fiction.

The Earth never
really stood still.

Sit down.

You're going to love this.

Why were the humans

so afraid of Klaatu
and his android?

Well, before we made first
contact with the Vulcans,

the people of Earth
were pretty violent.

They had a hard time

trusting things they
didn't understand.

The characters in the film
knew nothing about Klaatu...

Who he was, where he came from...

So... they tried to k*ll him.

I understand.

Does this mean I've won?

No one's beaten me at this
in the last two years.

Tell me about Westerns.

Maybe I could watch
a Western next.

It's getting late.

We better get you back
before they realize you're gone.

I have been told
you're no longer welcome

aboard the Vissian ship.

Why?

I wasn't exactly where
I was supposed to be.

No, you weren't.

You told them you were going
to the Astrometrics Lab.

They tried to contact you,
but you weren't there.

Then they tried their Mess Hall.

You weren't there either.

I was with the cogenitor.

Where?

At first, in her quarters.

Actually, they're
not her quarters.

They belong to the
Chief Engineer and his wife.

She gets a room to sleep in

and if she's real good, she
can use their living space.

Why were you there?

I'm teaching her how to read.

Her education
is not your concern.

What education?

Where else did you go?

I brought her here.

Gave her a little tour.

Showed her a movie.

It appears you're doing
everything you can

to undermine
the Captain's wishes.

One day, that's all it took her.

In one day she was reading
a geography text.

First contacts are
important to the Captain.

You may very well have
damaged this one irreparably.

You're not listening
to a word I'm saying.

( clears throat)

Oh, I didn't see you.

How you doing?

You all right?

They don't want to help me.

They don't want me
to climb mountains.

Don't worry, they will.

Give it time.

They're angry with you.

They'll leave as soon
as our Captain returns.

They won't help me.

But you can.

I want to stay here, please.

( sighs)

Archer to Enterprise.

T'POL:
Go ahead.

That was one hell of a ride.

I'll tell you about it
in a couple of hours.

We've got a lot
of data to download

into their computers.

I think it would be best

if you come back
immediately, sir.

There's been an incident.

Where is she?

It's not exactly a she, sir.

Where?!

In my quarters.

How long ago did this happen?

Last night after supper.

They demanded that she
be returned immediately.

I did exactly
what you'd do, Captain.

It's not like I had much choice.

I wasn't going to just...

Will you excuse us,
Subcommander?

I might have expected
something like this

from a first-year recruit.

But not you.

You did exactly

what I'd do?

If that's true, then I've done
a pretty lousy job

setting an example around here.

You're a senior officer
on this ship.

You're privy to the moral
challenges I've had to face.

You know I've wrestled
with the fine line

between doing what
I think is right

and interfering with
other species.

So don't tell me you know
what I would have done

when I don't even know
what I would have done.

I didn't think it would hurt
to teach her how to read.

Then you didn't
think hard enough.

We're out here
to meet new species,

not tell them what to do.

Teaching her to read
is no different

than you giving them
books or movies.

Giving them books
is a lot different

than suggesting
they defy their culture.

And they asked me for the books.

Did she ask you
to teach her how to read?

No, sir.

And sneaking into her quarters,

bringing her on Enterprise,

lying about
where you were going, why?

Come with me.

You don't understand.

I can't go back.

Just until we resolve this.

Trip said I have the same rights
as they do.

It's not our place to tell you

what rights you have.

I'm sorry.

Are you going
to force me to leave?

Some men can work
together for years

without creating the friendship

and bond that we did
in only two days.

I'm certain we can resolve this.

I'm afraid it may not
be that simple.

On my world, when
someone asks for asylum,

it has to be given
serious consideration.

We're not on your world.

And I doubt whether this person
truly understood

what your Engineer
was suggesting.

I've been told this person

is just as capable
of understanding

as any of you are.

Why are we debating this?

The cogenitor belongs
on our ship.

Or are you suggesting
my wife and I

abandon our plans
to have a child?

I've been asked to give
sanctuary to someone

who believes she's been
treated unfairly.

I can't ignore that.

We're the ones
being treated unfairly.

Do you know
how long we've waited

to be given a cogenitor?

Given?

You sound like you're talking
about some inanimate object.

You have no right to judge us.

You know nothing
about our culture.

What if one of your stewards,

the men who are
forced to serve you food...

what if they should ask us
for asylum?

They're not forced
to do anything.

I apologize.

But it's easy to misunderstand
someone

when you know nothing
about their culture.

You can't expect me
to ignore someone

when they ask for my protection.

We're in no rush to leave.

Take your time.

Consider what we've said.

You shouldn't have misgivings.

You've made the right choice.

( classical music playing)

( door chimes)

( shuts off music)

Come in.

Captain Archer.

I'm afraid Shakespeare
only wrote 36 plays.

So it might be best
if you take your time

memorizing them.

By all means.

I hope yesterday's
unfortunate incident

won't interfere with
future relations

between our people.

You sure you don't have

an extra stratopod
you could spare?

I'm sure your Starfleet
will develop one soon enough.

Good-bye, Captain.

Safe journey.

Time to say good-bye
to the hypergiant.

Prepare to get underway, Travis.

( intercom beep)

Go ahead.

SATO:
There's a call coming in
from the Vissian Captain, sir.

He sounds upset.

Put him through.

( door chimes)

Come in.

( door opens, closes)

You wanted to see me, Captain?

I was just told that
the Vissian cogenitor d*ed.

What?

How?

su1c1de, Trip.

She k*lled herself.

That can't be... Why...?

It's my fault.

I'm responsible.

You're damn right you are.

And it's not just her.

There's a child who won't
be conceived because of this...

at least not for a long while.

It's time you learned to weigh

the possible repercussions
of your actions.

You've always been impulsive.

Maybe this will
teach you a lesson.

I understand.

Do you?

I'm not so sure you do.

You knew you had no business
interfering with those people.

But you just couldn't
let it alone.

You thought you were
doing the right thing.

I might agree if this
was Florida, or Singapore...

but it's not, is it?

We're in deep space
and a person is dead.

A person who'd still be alive

if we hadn't made first contact.

I guess I haven't been
very successful

at getting through to you.

If I had, you would have thought
a lot harder

before doing what you did.

You're not responsible...

Dismissed.

Captain?