The crew discovers a new side of Tuvok when an enemy attack leaves him stripped of his Vulcan sensibilities.
While on a diplomatic away mission with Neelix, Tuvok picks up readings of a cloaking system but is attacked before he can react to his finding. Suffering from neuroleptic shock, he is rushed to sickbay. Janeway questions Nurok of the Kassat species with which Neelix was negotiating, and he feels certain the Bineth, or shadow people, attacked Tuvok. Mythology has it they attempt to assess foreign technology but stay cloaked because of an obsession with hiding their identity.
After gathering residual particles from the cloaking field, Nurok uses a photolitic converter to illuminate the isotopes and reveal what the alien looks like. Using the same idea with Voyager’s deflector array, they are able to uncloak nearby Bineth ships. In fact, there is an entire fleet surrounding Voyager, and they begin to fire when hailed. Unfortunately, they are soon out of range and disappear again. Meanwhile, Tuvok’s Vulcan brain has begun to re-wire itself. When Neelix leads him on a tour of the ship to jog his memory, he speaks for the first time.
Although Tuvok is speaking and recognizing people again, his cognitive functions are still very simple. Experiencing volatile emotions, he is trying to come to grips with the damage he has sustained. When Nurok questions him about the cloaking frequency, Tuvok has a flashback but cannot remember any details. Soon, he becomes angry. After studying his personnel file and realizing how different he is from the proud Vulcan he used to be, Tuvok lashes out at Neelix.
Neelix realizes instead of pushing Tuvok to be who he was, he should encourage him to discover who he can become. With this in mind, the two begin to have fun together. Tuvok discovers the joy of smiling and even tries his hand at baking desserts. When Janeway questions him again about the cloaking frequency, Tuvok cannot find the words to express what he saw. Instead, he draws it out in icing on his latest cake creation. Using the frequency to narrow their options, the Voyager crew goes after a matching cloaking system.
Once Janeway threatens to transmit their coordinates to the Kassat, the Bineth Captain is willing to negotiate. However, he learns that Nurok is onboard and prepares to fire. In a show of generosity, Nurok offers to give the Bineth his photolitic converter in exchange for the information about their weapon. After analyzing the weapon, the Doctor is able to devise a procedure that will restore Tuvok’s Vulcan logic and subdued manner. Although he and the others have grown quite fond of their crewmate’s new demeanor, Neelix knows they need Tuvok at his post on the bridge more than they need a playmate.
CAST
CAPTAIN KATHRYN JANEWAY
KATE MULGREW
CHAKOTAY
ROBERT BELTRAN
B'ELANNA TORRES
ROXANN DAWSON
TOM PARIS
ROBERT DUNCAN MCNEILL
NEELIX
ETHAN PHILLIPS
THE DOCTOR
ROBERT PICARDO
TUVOK
TIM RUSS
SEVEN OF NINE
JERI RYAN
HARRY KIM
GARRETT WANG
GUEST STARRING
Mark Moses
Teleplay by: Robert Doherty
Story by: Andre Bormanis
Directed by: Roxann Dawson
HIGHLIGHT LISTING
STAR TREK: VOYAGER: “Riddles”—The crew discovers a new side of Tuvok when an enemy attack leaves him stripped of his Vulcan sensibilities.
