#nakani

True Encounters with the Wildman of the North

Saw this a little while ago, and now I'm determined to complete the alphabet with just TPK fics. I am 8 titles away from completing it. Progress so far (with links!):

Episode 3.7 “Sacred Ground” Stardate 50063.2

Kes is so enthusiastic walking around the Nakani world, so incredibly curious and doesn't know where to stop.  It is easy to forget how innocent she is, and how little she has experienced.

B’Elanna gets hostile when the Nakani say they have to leave.

The Nakani have a separation of church and state.

KJ requests to undergo the ritual on the basis that a captain is fully responsible for her crew.

Chakotay is surprised in a way, but understands when she explains her scientific purpose.  Chakotay says she needs a way to call for an emergency beam out.  She rolls her eyes.  Chakotay suggests that maybe she will meet the ancestral spirits.  Chakotay’s mother taught him about the science behind vision quests.  I would say there is a clear difference since “Resolutions” in their interaction with each other.  Tuvok suggests that she take a phaser but she refuses.

Spiritual guide: “You are fond of your little devices, aren’t you?” KJ: “They’ve always served me well.”  Ironic considering that this is right after Basics.  KJ says she can’t draw.  Her sister was the artist in the family.  She has to hold up a stone for a long time, until she sees something other than a stone, a glowing crystal.

The Doc tells Neelix not to wallow in useless remorse.  Neelix feels helpless, the Doc tells him he understands.

At the end of the ritual she has to put her hand into a box and gets bit by some sort of poisonous creature.  She says she’s not quitting.  She says her chest is burning after the creature bites her.  Then she gets sealed in a coffin.

Chakotay is going a little crazy with worry.  It’s been three days since she had any sleep and has been poisoned with an unknown toxin.  He’s obviously going through all the worst possibilities in his mind.  C: “Are you getting enough meaningful information to justify continuing this ordeal?”  The Doc says she’s experiencing the equivalent of a psychoactive drug.  Tuvok tells C that the decision is his but it would be the captain’s desire to continue.  C: “All right.  We’ll leave her there for now, but I’m not moving from this monitor until she gets back.”  KJ wants proof, the guide says it’s irrelevant, that everything she’s gone through is meaningless.  The whole ritual took 39 hours.

The Doc checks out the captain when she returns.  Chakotay is close by until he sees that she’s ok.  When it doesn’t work, the Doc says “everything you went through was meaningless.”  Then KJ goes back.  She says she doesn’t know what she’s seeking, and the guide says, then she is ready to begin.  

“Most of the challenges in life are the ones we create for ourselves.”  “And you’re particularly hard on yourself.”  “If you can explain everything, what’s left to believe in?” -Nakani spirits.  They mock her science, saying that she has faith in science.  They say there’s no rational explanation, she just has to act on faith and take Kes back into the biogenic field.  They tell her she can have no doubt or hesitation.  She says she wants to believe it’s possible.

KJ signals the ship, Chakotay replies they’ve been worried about her.  He and Neelix bring Kes down to the planet.  “Captain,” C says, but he reaches out to touch her, but doesn’t.  He suggests that she take some time to think about it, he says it isn’t like her.  He’s afraid that she will die.  Neelix says he can’t ask her to risk her own life.  Chakotay agrees and says it’s his responsibility to keep her safe.  He says he could relieve her of duty.  The guide says she doesn’t know the answers, but KJ does.  C: “Captain, I don’t understand this.”  KJ: “Neither do I.  That’s the challenge.”  And then he steps aside, trusting her. 

What did KJ see in the second she touched the shrine?  I think this is probably the first experience with genuine faith that Kathryn has ever had.

The Doc has a full scientific explanation for how Kes was cured.  Janeway says it’s a perfectly sound explanation, but she’s clearly not satisfied with this.  She leaves sickbay… does she go to see Chakotay?

Original Airdate: October 30, 1996

Production Number: 143

Episode Tags: J/C, Character Background

Meanwhile, back in the Alpha Quadrant...

Sisko, O’Brien, Worf and Odo go to the Klingon Empire to expose Gowron as a Changeling. Gowron agrees to fight Worf.  Martok helps them escape from prison.  Then Odo realizes that Martok is the changeling.  Gowron realizes the true plan.  Gowron says the Federation must allow the Klingons to annex certain worlds that they have seized.  He finally agrees to advise a temporary cease-fire.  Gowron thanks Sisko for his service to the Empire.  He tells Worf he should have killed him when he had the chance.

Another interesting note about the top of Season 3...

If the episodes at the beginning of this season are viewed in stardate order, rather than airdate order, the chronological order of events is:

Basics, Part II

Sacred Ground

False Profits

Flashback

The Chute

Remember

The Swarm