UNFORGETTABLE
The data files are still in transit from Starfleet Headquarters. Information will be made available soon.
UNFORGETTABLE:
Kim files a long winded report with Chakotay, but Chakotay asks that he give it to him in a nutshell--thanks to modifications suggested by Seven, the Bussard Collectors are working much more efficiently, but he doesn�t know when the collectors will be full until he realigns the sensors he was working with with Seven�s. Chakotay suggests that next time, Kim should work closely with Seven from the start--Kim has mixed feelings.
Voyager starts getting pounded by an unseen force...unusual readings. Seven, in astrometrics, figures that they come from two cloaked ships engaged in battle, with Voyager caught in the midle. As Janeway calls for evasive maneuvers, Chakotay alerts them to a massive power surge--an alien ship decloaks in mid-explosion. Out of the debris a small alien vessel appears and approaches Voyager. Tuvok reads one lifesign. The small vessel recloaks, and hails the ship, audio only--a female�s voice comes over the com: Chakotay, please--I need your help. Chakotay is bewildered...
The small alien ship intermittently cloaks and decloaks. The bridge crew is reacting to the fact that the alien has addressed Chakotay directly, and is continuing to do so, calling for his help. An explosion and the voice cuts off...the vessel is destabilizing. Kim tries to beam her out but can�t keep a lock on her. Chakotay suggests an Away Team beam over, stabilize the ship and get it tractored in. Chakotay assigns himself along with Tuvok and Tom, of course--he wants to find out who the mystery woman is.
The alien ship is in shambles. Chakotay has Tom try to get life support back online. Tuvok reads no lifesigns...the deck shifts...Chakotay orders Tuvok to stabilize the hull, while he looks for the pilot. Chakotay finds a fallen bulkhead with a foot protruding from beneath it; a girder hangs above it, threatening to impale the person if it falls. The alien woman�s voice calls out to him weakly--she�s barely conscious. Chakotay tells her he�ll try to pry the bulkhead off, and on his mark, she needs to roll out of her position. As he does so, the girder comes crashing down, missing her by inches--the woman grabs
at Chakotay and he puts his arm around her as he pulls her into safety...he finds himself eye to eye with Kellin; she�s wounded and near unconsciousness. I knew you�d come, she says. Do I know you? he asks, but she passes out.
Kellin lies on the clamshell bed in sickbay as the Doctor tends to her, Chakotay waiting nearby. Janeway enters and asks how Kellin is. The Doctor isn�t sure; everytime he�s scanned her, the readings won�t stay in the database. Fortunately he�s been able to assess her visually--she�s got a concussion and a broken leg, which he can take care of without difficulty. Kellin recovers...she seems to recognize all in the room. She begs the captain to give her asylum on the ship, and that the ship needs to get away from there immediately, as they will be coming after her. But Janeway�s got some questions first--who is she, why was she in that battle, and, of course, how does she know her first officer. Kellin doesn�t know where to begin--she�s agitated, and really wants assurance of asylum first; the Doctor says she�s in no condition to chat right now, so Janeway assures her she won�t turn her over to anyone until she hears the whole story. Janeway takes Chakotay aside and tells him to stick with Kellin; she seems to trust him, and maybe he can find out what this is all about.
As the Doctor treats Kellin, she asks Chakotay if he�ll stay with her; Chakotay says yes. The Doctor finishes treating Kellin (she�ll need some bed rest now)...he�d ask Chakotay to monitor her vital signs, but the medical equipment isn�t registering any. The Doctor makes himself scarce, leaving Kellin and Chakotay to talk and start clearing things up...she tells him they�ve met before. If that were true, I�m sure I�d remember, Chakotay gushes. Kellin tells him, though, that he wouldn�t, or couldn�t. Her people have a unique biological ability not to be held in the memory of an alien race--whenever they do
encounter others, they�re only remembered for a few others, then the memory fades away--they�re completely forgotten. They�re also impervious to detection or other technology alien to them; their own technology--cloaking, viruses that can erase any trace of their presence from computers--enhances their covert way of life. Kellin says they met a month ago; she spent a few weeks on Voyager. She and Chakotay worked closely together during that time. Chakotay is surprised. As for why she came back, and why the battle, and why the asylum, Kellin replies...she knows he�d rather have it in a nutshell, because that�s the way he works, but he�ll have to listen to the whole story for it to make sense. She is
hesitant at first, but then she says that she came back, because the last time she was on Voyager...she fell in love with him.
Chakotay fills Janeway, Tuvok, Paris, and Kim in on parts of Kellin�s story. Her people are the Ramura, a closed society that won�t tolerate anyone leaving. Kellin was disenchanted with that way of life and wanted out--they�re trying to hunt her down and bring her back, which is why she�s asking for asylum. She was on Voyager a month before as a tracer, a bounty hunter who tracks down would-be defectors. She was there to find a fugitive, worked with the crew, captured her target, and left. Paris and Kim aren�t fully convinced--Kellin may have been shadowing them, long enough to learn enough to convince them she�s been aboard before. But Janeway doubts that Harry and Tom�s theory is right--why go to all the trouble of creating such a complicated story? Chakotay still would like to investigate further, just to make sure--check the computer logs for tampering, etc.
Alone in the briefing room, Janeway comments on how Chakotay seems to be taking this very
personally--and asks why she came back to Voyager to ask for asylum. This is very awkward for Chakotay; She says she fell in love with me. That�s not so hard to believe, Janeway replies. Chakotay is uncomfortable--he says it could also be an attempt at manipulation. Janeway suggests, then, Chakotay spend more time with her--if Voyager grants her asylum, they�re going to have to protect her. If they�re going to commit to that, they should at least find out if Kellin�s telling the truth.
Astrometrics. Seven, Tuvok, and Kellin compare Voyager�s navigation logs with Kellin�s ship�s logs. They seem to corroborate her story--Voyager and Kellin�s ship traveled together for two weeks. Tuvok and Seven point out that Kellin could have doctored her logs, and there�s no proof that Kellin ever came aboard Voyager. That�s what I always liked about you two, Kellin says. Such refreshing skepticism...such unyielding logic. Seven�s disconcerted by this (you would, too, being with a stranger who seems to know you). Kellin tells them that running a diagnostic on her logs will confirm their
authenticity. Chakotay enters, for a status report, and asks her to lunch. As a matter of fact, I was very fond of Neelix�s food, Kellin says. Chakotay replies, Now THAT�s something that�s hard to believe... The two leave, leaving Seven to remark to Tuvok that Chakotay�s face was flushed as he spoke to Kellin...
Mess Hall. Neelix serves up food onto Kellin and Chakotay�s trays--fried soy, buttered carrots, almond pudding. Chakotay thanks Neelix, and Kellin points out to Chakotay that he�s being very diplomatic, considering he doesn�t like carrots, fried food upsets his stomach, and he doesn�t like pudding because he thinks it�s so slimy. He doesn�t answer, but clearly she�s correct about this.
Over lunch, Chakotay asks how he was involved with helping her catch the Ramuran runaway. Kellin wonders if he�s curious about how they fell in love. Chakotay�s surprised...he didn�t know he had returned her feelings then. Kellin tells him, if he hadn�t, why would she have taken a big risk to get back to him? All this talk of love makes Chakotay uneasy, so Kellin gets to the story...months ago, she had tracked a fugitive to Voyager and infiltrated the ship...in the process of hunting the runaway down, she managed to stay on board two days undetected before she somehow triggered an intruder alert and lost
her cloak. Chakotay was the first crewmember to intercept her. Flashback to that fateful scene, the standoff between her and Chakotay. Back to the present, in the mess hall, Kellin confesses she felt the attraction right away, though she had work to do. Kellin tells him that once she was taken to Janeway and explained her situation, Tuvok and Chakotay were told to help Kellin flush the stowaway out. During this conversation, she keeps alluding to their past relationship, but Chakotay wants to stick to business...he�s exasperated by this; he just wants to figure out whether her story is legitimate--he
doesn�t really care if he had any feelings for her or not, because he doesn�t remember any of them. As far as I�m concerned, it doesn�t exist. Kellin is wounded by this--she can�t bear to look at him. Chakotay is uneasy now--he didn�t think stating his position would hurt her so. Fishing for conversation, he lets her know Torres is scrutinizing the computers for traces of the Ramuran virus. Is there anything I can do for you?
Kellin takes a breath, looks at him directly. Can I have your pudding? Chakotay is startled...then he can�t help but smile. He puts his pudding on her tray. Gladly. Then you�re forgiven. (Awwwwwww). Suddenly the ship is rocked...Janeway summons the two to the bridge...Kellin realizes the tracers have tracked her down.
Voyager is getting a steady beating from several cloaked ships...the Ramurans don�t respond to Harry�s hails, as Kellin predicts; they�re going to keep firing until Voyager surrenders or Kellin turns herself over. Janeway asks if she still wants asylum. Kellin says yes. Voyager�s propulsion is knocked out, so Kellin suggests that she modify the sensors to detect the cloaked ships, so they can retaliate--if they choose to do so. Janeway considers this, then agrees. Janeway tells Chakotay it�s the moment of decision: either they give Kellin up, or fire back. Chakotay hesitates; he�s not certain of her story, but enough seems to be true that he�s unwilling to give her up. Fire. Harry gets Kellin�s modifications to work, and Tuvok makes short work of the Ramurans before they beat a hasty retreat. Janeway tells Kellin that now that she�s been granted asylum, they can drop her off on a nearby planet...but Kellin chooses to remain on board...even if it means never seeing home again. But Kellin warns that the tracers don�t give up to
easily...she offers to make her sensor modifications permanent, but that would require a command officer to override the security protocols. Chakotay volunteers.
Chakotay and Kellin go through Engineering, into a Jeffries tube--Kellin is still troubled; she can�t let her guard down, as long as the tracers are still after her; to her knowledge, no tracer has ever given up on the hunt--and since Kellin�s a former tracer with some importance, they�ll want her more than other runaways. Chakotay tries to comfort her by pointing out that since she�s making the Ramurans detectable to Voyager, that would be incentive for them to give up. Kellin says it�s that comforting kindness that she remembered most of all from her last stay--and what made her come back. Impish
smile. Sometime, you might be interested in hearing about our last night together. They continue working on the modifications, but they find that to accomplish one crucial part, both of them have to be lying down under the access panel she�s working on, her on her back, him reaching over her to manipulate something while she performs the other half of the task...she becomes conscious of this nearness. As Chakotay asks her to test what they did, they become aware of their physical proximity...a long, charged moment, heat rising, Chakotay tempted, Kellin hoping...but Chakotay breaks the mood and gets back to the business at hand. Kellin is disappointed.
After hours, Chakotay sneaks into the mess hall for a late-night snack...he can�t sleep. Small talk with Neelix as he gets some herbal tea to go. Neelix points out his distress over Kellin. Chakotay, it turns out, still doesn�t trust her and her story. Maybe it�s yourself you don�t trust...your own feelings that you�re afraid might betray you. Chakotay�s struck by this, but remains uncertain.
Kellin comes to Chakotay�s quarters later that night (interrupting his spot of tea)...she couldn�t sleep, she�s nervous, but she�ll get to the point. She came back to Voyager because of Chakotay. She knew he wouldn�t remember him, but she hoped she could rekindle the feelings they had before. But now she�s not so sure, because Chakotay�s distanced himself and she hasn�t been able to get through. She now sees little point in being on Voyager--she�s putting the ship at risk for an unrequited love; it�s better if she goes back to her world. But she wants to be absolutely sure...if Chakotay truly feels nothing for her, she�ll leave and he�ll never see her again. A moment of tension, then Chakotay utters the only two words he says in this entire scene: Don�t go.
Later...Chakotay and Kellin are on his couch, she�s eating ice cream, the mood is happy and relaxed. She hasn�t had ice cream before...she loves it. Chakotay gives her assurances that Voyager has survived bigger threats before--the Ramura tracers don�t pose as much of a danger. But Kellin�s still worried--a tracer returning empty-handed is disgraced; the prey she tracked to Voyager a month ago, she had been pursuing for a year. Chakotay points out that knowing what she knows, she can certainly defend herself.
Finally, he asks about their last night together. Kellin tells of how they celebrated with champagne (miming the drinking action with a little vase from his quarters) because she�d just captured her runaway with Chakotay�s help...
Flashback, Voyager�s transporter room...Kellin apparently giving up on her hunt and about to beam over to her tracer ship, Chakotay operating the transporter controls...but as he operates them, rather than Kellin dematerializing, an energy sweep Chakotay came up with disrupts the cloak of the runaway (who they assumed would be shadowing her to see what�s up). The two draw their weapons, and hold the prey at bay.
Back to the present. Kellin tells Chakotay how she used a Ramuran memory-wiping device on the prisoner...makes them forget why they wanted to leave home. Then, the celebration--bittersweet, because Kellin knew Chakotay would forget her in a few hours. So I became bold. Bolder than usual? Chakotay jokes. Kellin acts it out as she continues the story...she had moved closer to him, thanked him for all his help, touched him, told him how much she cared for him, and wanted something to remember him by. Then she kisses him gently. Then they get into it hot and heavy. When they come up for air, Kellin says that that moment (a month ago) had been when she knew he felt the same way, but she knew she still had to go. But now you don�t, Chakotay says, and pulls her to him again...
The next day, Chakotay talks with Janeway about what�s to be done with Kellin--Janeway expects her to contribute something to the crew; Chakotay suggests she�d be very useful in tactical or security, with training from Tuvok. Janeway likes the idea. At this point, Chakotay changes the topic to something more delicate, between friends--he confesses his concern for Kellin is beyond the professional. Janeway doesn�t show any reaction. Chakotay goes on to say that he�s not so sure he could continue...if he thought he were hurting Janeway in any way. Janeway�s touched by his sensitivity. They clasp hands. She tells him about how he�s probably the best friend she�s ever had, and how she doesn�t want that to
change. I�ve been in a situation on this ship where I can�t act on my feelings...or, maybe it�s more honest to say, I won�t, she says--but she�d never want to keep him from any happiness he might find...she only hopes Kellin knows how lucky she is. A touching moment...then he turns and leaves the ready room.
Astrometrics, with Seven of Nine, Kellin, and Tuvok. Kellin�s information has enabled them to design shields that would better protect them from Ramuran weaponry. Modifications are to be begun the next day. Kellin goes to her quarters, but along the way, she can�t shake the spooky feeling she�s being watched. She enters her quarters, sits, and reads details on the shields from her PADD, but something on the floor catches her eye. It�s the vase from Chakotay�s quarters...broken.
Chakotay�s quarters. Kellin is distraught...she�s convinced a tracer�s on board, somehow beaming through Voyager�s (then weakened) shields during the previous skirmish. Chakotay assures her they�ll protect her...use the same energy sweep they used to flush out her prey from before. I can�t let that happen, a voice from nowhere says...
Curneth, Kellin�s former colleague, fritzes into view, holding a strange device. Chakotay calls security, as he makes his way to a phaser he�s stored somewhere in his quarters. Kellin begs Curneth not to do this, but Curneth shoots her anyway...she falls unconscious. Chakotay gets to his phaser and has it trained on the tracer. Curneth surrenders without comment. It�s too late. It�s all over.
In sickbay, Kellin�s conscious but groggy, Chakotay talks to her. There�s nothing the Doctor can do...her memories are fading...she doesn�t know of any way to reverse the effect. Kellin makes Chakotay promise that if she forgets him, and why she�s here, to tell her about it, and help her remember. She loses consciousness.
Chakotay goes to the brig and interrogates the calm and collected Curneth. Curneth doesn�t know whether they can reverse the memory wiper--they�ve never had any reason to try. Chakotay tries to squeeze any information out of him that can help. Curneth�s amused...Chakotay seems desperate; does Kellin mean so much to him? Besides, even if Curneth did know how the neurolytic emitter worked, he wouldn�t tell Chuckles. Curneth plainly states his culture�s laws...he has every right to do what he did, and Kellin�s return would serve as a deterrent to others who would leave. Chakotay blows his top--maybe there�s something wrong with their society, since people seem to want to leave. Curneth
counters that their society is cohesive and strong *because* of their laws--there are few who try to leave. Then why not let those few go, Chakotay argues. Then that would show that the society cares so little for the individual as to not want them back, Curneth replies. The two are clearly not understanding each other, their concepts alien to the other.
Chakotay finally gives up...it doesn�t matter, because Kellin made it clear she wanted to stay. We should wait and see if that�s what happens, Curneth says sardonically.
Ready Room. Chakotay reminds Janeway of the promise to give Kellin asylum... If she wants it, Janeway says. Chakotay says Kellin may not be in the proper frame of mind when she becomes conscious. But Janeway�s no longer sure of the options. They can�t decide anything until we hear what she has to say.
Chakotay goes to Kellin�s quarters, where he finds her holding the broken pieces of the vase. She doesn�t remember him, or anything that�s happened the past few days. Chakotay tries to make good his promise, and tells him her story...their story. Kellin�s surprised, but politely incredulous. He tries to tell her, persuade her not to go back with the tracer...but the wiped Kellin sees no point in all this. She�s made her decision with finality, though she notes, I wish we�d met under different circumstances.
In the transporter room, Curneth informs Chakotay that he�s implanted a computer virus on Voyager to wipe away all traces of the Ramurans...and, of course, the crew will forget them as well. It�s better that way. Chakotay does his best to keep his feelings reined in as Curneth and Kellin step on the transporter and beam to Curneth�s ship...
The mess hall, after hours, Neelix and Chakotay. Even though Curneth said it might be best if everyone forgot, Chakotay has decided to write down all his memories of Kellin...with pen and paper...before he forgets them all. I fell in love with her twice...I hoped she could do the same...I wonder why she couldn�t. Love works in mysterious ways, Neelix shares, as he leaves Chakotay alone in the room to finish his writing...
View Preview
Guest Cast:
Virginia Madsen as Kellin
Michael Canavan as Curneth
Creative staff:
Teleplay By: Greg Elliot, Michael Perricone
Director: Andrew Robinson
Other Info:
Airdate: April 22, 1998
Stardate: Unknown
REVIEW THIS EPISODE:
View Existing Reviews
Send a Communique to Coren
Establish a subspace link with Coren by clicking here. If that doesn't work, use the frequency named ICQ, code # 2465271.