Episode Report Card Keckler: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Importance of Being Earnest Borgnine
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 23 | Aired on 05.06.2003
Mess Hall. T'Pol drinks tea. Quantum walks in, looks at the racks of food, and orders up a coffee with cream. "I believe Crewmen Cunningham is in the galley if you would like something else," T'Pol comments. So, Chef has a Garde Manger? Quantum says he'll be fine with his coffee. Of course he will, because his sudden conscience attack is leaving him without an appetite. God. It's after six o'clock, Quantum. You can stop being sanctimonious. Quantum joins T'Pol, who says, "Lt. Reed told me that you plan to disable the transport when we find it." Quantum says, "He thinks we can knock out the power systems without causing too much damage." T'Pol realizes that this means Quantum still thinks he can save the humans. "That's the general idea," Quantum says. Well, I think it's generally STUPID. T'Pol attempts to reason with her thickheaded captain, pointing out that if the humans are transformed by the nanoprobes, there will be no rescuing going on. "I wanna take these people home. The humans and the Tarkaleans. No matter what state they're in," Quantum nobles. Great. So they can infect each of their ENTIRE PLANETS in turn! T'Pol tries to make Quantum understand that bringing infected individuals aboard Enterprise could endanger his entire crew: "Perhaps you should reconsider." "Are you saying we shouldn't go after that ship?" Quantum duhs. "I'm saying we destroy it," T'Pol clarifies. Phlox comms Quantum. Quantum sits for a bit before answering, which really pissed me off, considering what sort of state Phlox is known to be in. Phlox asks him to please come to Sick Bay. Quantum opens the door, but as The Strings Of The Noble Brow sound off, he feels the urge to deliver a short speech: "I'm not ready to declare them a lost cause."
Sick Bay. Phlox explains his research progress and the fact that the nanoprobes, while slowed a bit by his Denobulan immune system, are "persistent little fellows, and it won't be long before they adapt." Quantum asks about possible treatment. Phlox tells him intense radiation is the way to go. "Their intra-molecular processors appear to be vulnerable to omicron particles. But if one of the nanoprobes survives, it will start to multiply again, so I'll need to program a rather excessive dose. The side effects will not be pleasant," Phlox explains. Phlox hands over a hypospray to Quantum and instructs him to inject him with it if he is unsuccessful. Phlox explains it is "a cure of sorts" and that it will kill him instantly. "Aren't you jumping the gun a little?" Quantum asks, getting all annoying again about preserving life that really isn't his choice to preserve. "I have no intention of turning into one of those cybernetic creatures," Phlox tells him.
Armory. Reed tests a new weapon and seems happy with the outcome. He orders as many phase pistols modified to his specs as possible.