01x15 - Masquerade

[bunniefuu]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

DAL: Captain's Log.
Stardate, uh...

ah, who cares?
We just barely escaped Starfleet

by hiding in the Neutral Zone.

And we're not escaping
anything else

until we get our nacelles fixed.

- Whoa, ahh!
- But at least we have Okona.

Why thank you, kind stranger.

As Murf gets used
to his new body...

- Whoa!
- We are getting used to the new Murf.

- Murf, Murf!
- I... oh, please, Murf.

Stop it now!

[muffled squeal]

- But at least we have Okona.
- Now that is a brilliant idea.

You know, for someone
who's been on our ship

for such a short time,

it stings that the crew's
taken to him so quickly,

but I get it.
I mean, look at him.

He knows who he is.
And what am I?

Just some handsome lost kid
with questions.

But one day I'll find out
where I came from.

- Whoa, whoa!
- Dal!

And as for Okona,
he'll be the one...

- Dal!
- a million miles away.

- Dal. Did you find a starport?
- Huh, starport?

That blast from the "Dauntless"
toasted our Proto-Drive,

put Janeway on the fritz, and if
we don't find somewhere to dock,

- we're never fixing this ship.
- Yeah, uh, right.

Uh, starport...
[console beeping]

- Hmm.
- I'm sensing our captain is...

what's the expression?
Utterly clueless.

If you're so familiar
with the Neutral Zone,

- why don't you look?
- Oh, hey.

You can park and patch up
at Noble Isle.

Oh, yeah,
"You can park and patch at the"...

No, I do business there...
all the time.

- Ugh.
- It's an old stomping ground,

and I was headed there anyway.

- Noble Isle?
- Can we go? Can we go?

I wanna stomp around
his stomping ground.

- [laughs]
- Okona's correct.

I'm detecting a starport
near an M-Class planet.

It could have the parts we need.

Oh, and while there,
could one of you explain

to my client
how their cargo got tossed

- back at Denaxi Depot?
- [clears throat]

Mm, did you do something
to your hair?

I bet you say that
to every advisory hologram.

- That wouldn't be a wise wager.
- [growls]

[ominous music]

Admiral,
I urge you to reconsider.

We have kids on a disabled ship
in the Neutral Zone

and Romulans on our doorstep

who want nothing more
than to steal our technology.

We're facing
our own Kobayashi Maru.

As untrustworthy
as the Romulans can be,

we're finally working towards peace.

The "Dauntless" is not
to enter the Neutral Zone,

even to retrieve the "Protostar."

Your request is denied, Vice Admiral.

If Officer Frex is right,
we can't let this unknown

w*apon aboard the "Protostar"
fall into Romulan hands.

I am aware of the risks.

But I'm also aware
your personal feelings

might be clouding
your professional obligations.

- Finding Captain Chakotay isn't...
- You have your orders.

Should the Romulans attempt to
steal it, destroy the "Protostar."

[groans]

♪ ♪

[engine roaring]

[grand orchestral music]

Welcome to Noble Isle.

Whatever parts you need,
they got 'em.

- What's with the big pointy thing?
- That big pointy thing

is the only way on or off
that rock, a space elevator.

It's a big archaic,
but with all the ion storms,

there's no ships, no navigation,
no beaming down.

It's perfect for businesses
of a sensitive nature.

What do you mean, sensitive?

Noble Isle is the forefront
of cutting-edge science.

They're doing things here
that the Federation can't

or, uh, won't, all in the name
of pushing the boundaries.

Science?
I'm coming with you.

- Who else is ready for shore leave?
- I like shore leave.

This isn't shore leave.
We're here to fix the ship.

- Remember?
- Then it's settled.

The Away Team will venture
down to look for parts

while Jankom and I will stay
to make repairs.

Be careful.
When he says "cutting edge,"

he means unregulated.

There's a reason Starfleet has laws

about scientific experimentation.

If it's too good to be true,
it probably is.

♪ ♪

- Whoa!
- Ahh!

♪ ♪

Oh, my goodness.

♪ ♪

[squeals]

It's so science-y.
[beeping]

Don't let your genes
impede your dreams.

I'm Dr. Jago,
and through my genetic

augmentation process,
I'll bring out the best in you.

A geneticist?

- I've been reading about that.
- Well, I can introduce you.

Because that's the client
I'm here to see.

♪ ♪

[soft beeping]

♪ ♪

This is so cool.

That's a double helix,
and those bases are adenine,

- guanine, cytosine, and...
- Thymine.

Very good.
I am Dr. Jago.

And you are late
with my shipment.

Where is my gelatinous putrescine?

- I know, I know.
- [groans]

But as my friends can attest,

there was a mix-up at the depot,

and unfortunately, your goods
were permanently misplaced.

Oh! Let me guess.

The Federation inhibiting
science yet again.

Tell me about it.
I'll make it up to you.

[groans]

Ooh!
You already have.

[squeals]

Ah, tell me,
who is this beautiful specimen?

- [laughs] Uh...
- Such interesting mandibula.

Uh, is this how you greet
strangers here?

The unique coloration.
The skull ganglia.

- You've seen someone like him?
- Never, but his origins are obvious.

Whoa, whoa.
You know where I came from?

- Not where.
- [giggles]

- But who.
- Ow!

Hair.
For DNA.

[beeping]

♪ ♪

Aha, as I suspected.
You're the handiwork

of the protégés
of Dr. Arik Soong,

a geneticist who defected
from the Federation.

Wait a minute.
Are you telling them

- Dal was made in a lab?
- As you can see,

Dal is the product
of artificial hybrid speciation.

It's when you combine the DNA
of different species

to create something original.

It appears
they began with a sample

of an unremarkable
humanoid specimen,

- mostly likely h*m* sapien.
- Unremarkable?

- I'm... human?
- Human Augment

blended with the most recessive
traits of species.

I see traces of Vulcan,
Proto-Organian...

Sloppy work, in my opinion.
Miracle you can talk.

I was born in a petri dish?

- So I don't have any parents?
- There's no one else like you.

That's cool.
Right?

- Tough break, kid.
- All this time...

[coos sadly]

I'm just some failed experiment.

[somber music]

That doesn't change the way
we see you.

- You're more than that.
- Oh, I'm sorry. Why the long faces?

Oh, maybe I didn't
make myself clear.

I can bring out the best in you.

My epigenetic dermal implant
can activate dormant genes

while also stimulating
rapid cell division,

and the best part,
it's a fast, simple procedure,

- and no one will know.
- What does that mean?

Basically,
with the push of a button...

I can make you better.
I can fix you.

But it will change you, Dal.

Dal, you don't need fixing.
We're here to fix the ship.

♪ ♪

"If it's too good to be true..."
Hmm.

Thanks, Doc. I wish, but
it's not why we're here.

And okay, after we
visit the salvage yard,

I'll show you one of Noble Isle's
finest delicacies.

Fair warning,
don't ask me what it's made of.

[laughs]

♪ ♪

- Just how fast is this procedure?
- Mm.

There's something I must do for her.

- A greater purpose.
- And what is your mission?

[doors whoosh]

Ensign Asencia.

I was told you wanted
to speak with me.

Yes, I'd like to offer my services

to covertly enter
the Neutral Zone.

You know that would disobey
a direct order.

I also know how much
the "Protostar" means to you.

If the Federation can't
abide by the rule of law,

we're no better
than the very forces we oppose.

- But if we're thinking of sneaking in...
- Then the Romulans are too.

Find a way to listen in
on all Romulan sub-channels.

I fear it's just a matter of time.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

So there I was, trapped
between two angry fathers,

both thinking
I stole the Jewel of Thesia.

But really you were just
helping two young people in love.

What you casually left out
was that you took the job

'cause you knew
it'd woo the hearts

of everyone
who would lend an ear.

[grunts]

[laughs]

Unless you're a mind reader,
how did you know that?

- I never told a soul.
- [laughs] Didn't you?

- You feeling better?
- The best.

- Why do you ask?
- Oh, I don't know.

Maybe that bombshell dropped
by Dr. Jago?

Ah, that was disappointing.

But the upside
is that it made me

- a more perspicacious person.
- Perspicacious?

Wow, I've never heard
you use such big words.

Mm, maybe you just weren't
sagacious enough to notice.

I got no idea
what anybody's saying here.

I'll speak
in simpler words for you.

- Us go back ship.
- Huh.

[giggles]

[squeals]

[engines roaring]

[grunting] Huh?
Hey, Z, is that you?

[device whirring, beeping]

Would you look at th...?
[groaning]

[grunting]

How's that?

- Much better, thanks.
- Jankom, something's wrong.

I sense an unknown presence
on board.

Jankom? I... whoa!

Romulans.

[laser humming]

- She's only a hologram.
- I've disrupted the holo-emitters.

[faint cry]

[tense music]
[console beeping]

You are not authorized.

All command functions
are locked.

We need the captain
to access the controls.

♪ ♪

Activate ant-grav suits.

♪ ♪

They've discovered the "Protostar."

They're searching
for the captain.

Teenagers against
the Romulan Tal Shiar.

I don't like their odds.

Minimum-yield microtorpedoes,
tight cluster,

- armed and ready, Admiral.
- You're not actually going

to destroy the "Protostar"?

We cannot
let the Romulans take it.

Be ready for my command.

Let's hope
it doesn't come to that.

[grunting]

[giggles]

Oh, my gosh, aren't you
the cutest little... aww.

[cooing]

Aww.
Are you seeing this? [laughs]

Aww.

Fan out.
They're directly below us.

Something's not right.

We have to leave.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

First an Admiral,
now a Romulan hit squad?

- Who are you guys?
- Did anyone think to pack a phaser?

The captain comes with us.

♪ ♪

- Let's go.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, gentlemen.

Ha!
You think he's the captain? Pfft.

- [gasps] Ooh.
- Okay, great.

Uh, now that you've all
found each other,

I think I've overstayed
my welcome. Good luck!

- [scoffs] Did he just...
- [growls]

I knew he was too good
to be true.

[growling, snapping]

- Stop moving.
- It's okay, Murf. I've got this.

You want the captain?
[laughs]

You've got him.

[beeps]

♪ ♪

[grunts]

Whoa!

[both groan]

- What has gotten into you?
- [laughs]

- The battle is in my blood.
- I know what's gotten into him.

Boosted intelligence,
increased agility,

reading Okona's mind.
You got the implant.

- You cheated.
- And I really don't think

you were meant
to juice it that much.

It's a new me.
[spluttering]

[laughs] A better me.

- [bubbling]
- Uh, you sure about that?

♪ ♪

Uh, shore leave is over.

♪ ♪

- [groans]
- Why do you have pointy ears?

The logical assumption

would be when maxing out
my dermal implant,

I inadvertently activated
all of my dormant DNA at once.

[grunts]

[in deep voice] And Dal R'El
would do it all over again,

knowing I had to compete
with that man-chop Okona!

- Just tell me this isn't permanent.
- [barking]

Guys, I hate to bother you,

but either I'm sensing
more trouble

or a third arm
is about to come out!

[gasps]
We have to get him to sickbay.

Impede your dreams.

I'm Dr. Jago, and through
my genetic augmentation...

[growls]

process, I'll
bring out the best in you.

[lightning crackling]

[screams]

Is that me?

That's me?

[dramatic music]

[gasps] Ahh!

[laser humming]

[glass cracking]

[gasps]

[glass cracking]

[whimpering]

The pressure, it's not gonna hold.

[keypad beeps]

Everyone, suit up, quick!

Ow!

- [grunts]
- [cries]

Don't worry.
You're going to be okay.

You're indestructible.

♪ ♪

Maybe my super DNA can help.

Ahh! What is that?

- Why am I leaking?
- [gags]

[gags, vomits]

Just don't touch anything.
And stop mutating.

Uh...
[glass cracking]

♪ ♪

Ahh! [grunts]

[grunts]

[laser humming]

♪ ♪

Huh?

[screams]

Huh, told you I could help.

[engines roaring]

Whoa, oh.

[lightning crackling]

[gasps]

♪ ♪

The metal.
[growls]

[thunder booms]

Gwyn, drop your heirloom!

- They're about to board us.
- Trust me.

♪ ♪

[electric crackling]

♪ ♪

[groans]

Hold on, Dal.
Almost through.

Ahh!

- What are the Romulans saying?
- They have sight on the captain.

[sighs]
I can't tell what's happening.

♪ ♪

Ahh!

♪ ♪

- [squeaking]
- What do we do?

- I don't know!
- If they take control of that w*apon,

they could use it against Starfleet.

- Admiral, you can't.
- Stand down.

We have no choice.
[console beeps]

[engines roaring]

- [groaning]
- [struggling]

- Open the ball!
- [shrieking]

♪ ♪

[growls]

[squeals]
[grunts]

- [squealing]
- Ahh!

Whoa!

[snarls]

- Whoa!
- [coos]

Looks like we found
our new security officer.

♪ ♪

- [gasps] Now what?
- Time the microdetonation

to disable the ship,
but harm nothing else.

The crew of the "Protostar" escaped.

- The Romulans have failed!
- Abort, abort!

Activate port torpedo
thrusters, emergency clearance!

♪ ♪

[rattling]

- [sighs]
- Yes!

- All right!
- [sighs] Who are these kids?

[soft music]

[ship whirring]

[sighs]

I'm sorry.
I really messed things up.

I didn't wanna be a mistake.
I just wanted you to look

- at me like you look at Okona.
- You're not a mistake.

But you'll never be
as good as Okona.

♪ ♪

You're better.

- He left us. You didn't.
- Now let's make you better.

♪ ♪

[coos]

♪ ♪

[clears throat]

Test, test.

Is this thing on?

Okay. This is Rok-Tahk.

Now that Murf is
our official security officer,

I can give
my very first science log!

This is so exciting!

Now that we got the parts,

engineer officer Jankom Pog
is working hard...

- on fixing the nacelles.
- [humming]

Medical Officer Zero and I were able

to successfully remove
Dal's dermal implant

before any permanent changes.

[mechanical whirring]

Whoa.

[both laugh]

Whoo-hoo!

♪ ♪

If there's anything we learned

while visiting Noble Isle,

it's that science rules,
and science needs rules.

[coos]

And it's our imperfections
that make us who we are.

[squealing softly]

[laughs]

[coos]

♪ ♪

[ominous music]

- We need to make a change.
- I don't understand.

We're running out of time.

Drednok, activate.

[robotic whirring]
[gasps]

♪ ♪

There is no barrier
we cannot overcome.

♪ ♪

[button beeps]

♪ ♪

You weren't the only one
sent back to find the ship.