Episode Report Card Keckler: A | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT A Slave's Narrative
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 22 | Aired on 04.29.2003
Mess Hall. Flanked by two women, Trip explains the concept of a vanilla and chocolate sundae to two Vissian females. He instructs them to eat the cherry first. "A human tradition?" one of the Vissian females asks. "Exactly," Trip says, as the other puts the cherry in her mouth and eats it. How did she know not to eat the stem? Reed interrupts this tete-a-trois and asks to be introduced. Trip invites his armory buddy to make the fair acquaintance of Traistana, a xenobiologist, and Velo, a tactical officer. Hey, "velo" is bike in French. Wonder how many rides she's given. And yes, I know the captioning spelled it "Veylo," but this way I can make a sex joke. Reed sits down and suggests that Trip go elsewhere to meet the Vissian chief engineer. The idea of meeting a man who deals with throbbing parts is more attractive than watching two females deal with their first cherry, so Trip pushes his sundae over to Reed and happily trots off.
"I'm told you're the chief engineer," Trip says to a table of three. The man introduces himself and his wife and acknowledges that Reed pointed him out earlier. Trip takes a seat and confirms that they are enjoying their meal. "I hope that you get the chance to sample our food -- it's more fragrant than yours," the Vissian Chief Engineer comments. Trip agrees, but admits to being more interested in the engine room. Trip sticks out his hand to the third person at the table and tries to introduce himself. The third person doesn't look at him and just says, "Hello." Shot in a very unflattering light, the features of this third person are definitely androgynous, and the voice is female, but a deep female. "It has no name, it's our cogenitor," the Chief Engineer's wife explains. Trip doesn't get it, so the wife explains, "We're hoping to have a baby." "Ah," Trip says, clearly not still not getting it in the least. The Vissian Chief Engineer, who from now on I think I'll call Massa, tells Trip he should get inoculated against Omicron radiation. Trip agrees, and steals another look at It.
Sick Bay. Phlox inoculates Trip with a twelve-year dose, and Trip asks Phlox where Vissian babies come from. Phlox is not surprised to hear him tell of a cogenitor for a three-gendered species, and even explains that the Rigellians have possibly five different genders. "I'm pretty familiar with how it works with two sexes but..." Trip trails off. "Multi-gender techniques aren't always the same but in this case I imagine that the cogenitor provides an enzyme, which facilitates conception," Phlox explains. Trip wants to know what "provides" means. "Well, first the female has to --" Phlox starts, but Trip stops him, saying he doesn't think he wants to know. "Ah!" Phlox says, holding up a finger, "Well, I have PICTURES!" Hee -- he's so excited about it. Phlox goes to press a button above the SCAT, but again, Trip stops him, saying he'd rather not. Shut up, Trip -- I wanna see pictures! And want more of an explanation on the procedure other than just "enzyme provider"! As Trip starts to leave, Phlox advises him that as he came along on this road trip to meet other species, he should keep an open mind.