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Responding to a Denobulan request to evacuate a planet, Enterprise wings off with good deeds in her heart and a song on her lips. A wounded anti-Denobulan is brought aboard but refuses to be treated by Phlox because of some ancient grudge that breaks to new mutiny and stuff. Phlox scrubs in to wash away the civil blood that made civil hands unclean by healing his Mortal Enemy. Unfortunately, Mortal Enemy doesn't want to be cured and would rather wither in his shroud. Here entereth Phlox's moral dilemma, which Quantum tries to "Captain's order" out of him. Phlox won't be budged and seeks solace in T'Pol's dinner. Meanwhile, Trip, Reed, and May-Flint play Crystal Caves without a net or a joystick. Want more? The full recap starts right below!
Is that the first "A" I've given this season? Oh, right, "Dead Stop" -- one drop in twenty.
I don't know if it's my absurd love for John Billingsley or the fact that I got only one question out of seventy-five wrong on my Provincial French Cuisine Unit Exam today, but I enjoyed the heck out of this episode. It should surprise no one out there that Billingsley shone in every damn scene he had. In fact, there was even enough iridescence left over that even when he wasn't in a scene, you could still see some residual glimmer creeping in. Glimmer that was sorely needed, since some of Bakula's deliveries proved that he's still managing to suck the life out of every room he enters. I just want to know, where the Hellespont is Sam Beckett? The B-plot of the Treklunkers wasn't bad either. However, lest anyone think I'm going all melting Peeps-ish, there was still plenty to snark about.
It's feeding time in Sick Bay. Hoshi walks in just as Phlox pulls something fuzzy and quivering out of a bin. Looks like the set people have been shopping at the Star Trek Experience in Vegas. Phlox tells her it's a Tribble and allows her hold it, explaining, "It was extremely difficult to acquire, they're outlawed on most worlds." Hoshi wonders if it's dangerous, but Phlox says, "All it's capable of really is eating and breeding. The problem is they breed quite prodigiously." Phlox takes the Tribble out of Hoshi's hand and drops it into a cage. The cage shakes, there are a few squawks, and Phlox's trouble with Tribbles is truncated. Hoshi looks shocked as her jaw drops and she takes a few steps back, not taking her eyes from the cage where there comes a very audible smacking of lips. Phlox says, "The only thing that keeps their population in check is the abundance of reptiles on their home planet." Phlox wonders if Hoshi is feeling quite well, so Hoshi recalls herself and hands over an e-pad, explaining that the urgent communiqué is from the Denobulan Science Academy. Hoshi edges her way out. Don't go, Hoshi -- come back! Come back! But she doesn't. Phlox reads his message and looks grave.
Lost In Space and he don't know much
Was he thinking aloud
Fell out of touch
But he's back on his feet
Eager to be what Braga wanted
So gird your loins if you feel you can
Reach for a star and he'll show you a scan
He's figured it out
What he needed was T'Pol to show him
You know you can't fool me
I've been loathing you too long
It started so easy
I want to carry on...
I love Air Supply. Yes, STILL! I am not ashamed.
Situation Alcove. May-Yokozuna babbles about how far some caves go on a planet's surface. In a nutshell, there was an unstable government on this planet, and now a "militant faction" with gold-leaf- and jewel-encrusted oil bidets has taken over and ordered all "off-worlders" to off-world themselves. Some Denobulan scientists, who have been in the caves for six months gathering pebbles, need to be alerted to the unfolding Operation Rocky Freedom. However, as the Denobulan Science Academy lost contact with them, the B-Plot-Team must go in and drag them out. Since May-Yokuzuna has had some experience nearly killing himself on rock faces, Quantum thinks he's the ideal candy-date to put Trip and Reed through the paces. They go to get their Patagonias and Tevas. Phlox thanks Quantum for fielding the Denobulan request. Quantum furrows some perplexment and tells him he was happy to help.
Shuttlebay. May-Ozeki ticks off their wish list. I really don't pay much attention -- as I'm sure you didn't either, Gentle Reader -- until he says, "Waste disposal units." Trip picks a black pyrothene bag up and duhs, "What are these for?" "We take out everything we bring in," May-Ozeki tells him, fixing him in the eye with a masterful gaze. Trip makes an "ew, pewp" face, whereas Reed, oddly enough, looks unfazed. I guess once you treat your EV suit like an all-over body experience, nothing disgusts you. The pewp jokes have been few and far between lately, but in this case, I like the reality of it. We had certain rules we had to live and expel by when I backpacked through the Canadian Quetico and the Boundary Waters, aaaand I'm leaving it at that, because sometimes? Living by Nature just ain't all that pretty. Quantum walks in at this point to tell them that the Militant Faction's new and Crazy Governor has stipulated that they have to get the Geo-bulans out in three short days. Trip comments on summer's lease having too short a date, and Quantum tells him that if they don't reach the Geobulans in a day and a half, they must turn back. No argument from the rockers.
Sh'pod sh'ttles toward the planet, bypassing some outbound traffic. Bridge. T'Pol says that one of the outbound transports declared an emergency and are asking the Xantorans (Militant Faction) if they can return to the surface. Hoshi hooks them up on the call so they can hear the Xantorans refuse the emergency landing, even though the off-worlders' transport has gotten wounded because of some technobabble explosions. Quantum hangs up and orders an intercept course with the floundering vessel.
On behalf of Phlox, Quantum fills Sick Bay with wounded. A particularly serious case is brought in on a pallet, and Phlox just stares down at him, not moving, until the medics prompt him. The Doc orders them to put the wounded in the imaging chamber, but stands quite a few feet back, dumbfounded, as they do it.
Jessica Simpson on The Twilight Zone? Yeah, that seems about right.
On the planet's surface, and in front of a lovely backsplash of Mt. "Painting" Rainier, the Treklunkers enter the caves with May-Sekiwake taking the lead and cautioning them to watch their steps. "The last cave I was in had handrails. And a gift shop. And a snack bar," Trip complains. And people taking pictures of you and making you buy them later. Yeah, well, this ain't exactly Busch Gardens, so try to quell the WT in yourself if you can possibly help it. They find themselves on the teeter-tottering edge of a very, very, very steep cliff. "Still willing to bet they came this way?" Reed asks, trying to be ironic. Which fails utterly when May-Sekiwake says, "Yes, sir," before whipping out all sorts of good rappelling shit and being all "I'm Batman!" which just totally faced his commanding officers. They bounce down.
Mathra: Cave set.
Keckler: Yeah, I let that one go this time.
Mathra: And that would be...why?
Keckler: Well, it looks different -- the light's blue.
Mathra: "THE LIGHT'S BLUE"? Oh, my god -- what's wrong with you?!
Sick Bay. The critical alien who freaked Phlox out could die if Phlox doesn't treat him. The critical alien comes to and -- without yet seeing Phlox -- asks Quantum what happened. Quantum explains. Critical Alien sees Phlox and freaks, ordering Quantum to keep Phlox away from him. Quantum is confused, and tries to explain that Critical Alien needs the Denobulan Doc's treatment. "I'd rather die than be treated by him," Critical Alien wigs. Phlox doesn't look surprised, just resigned.
I positively HATE that commercial for Vehix.com where the obviously very pregnant wife is telling her web-surfing husband what size car they need. He's all "Duh, why can't we get a Cooper Mini?" and she waves the sonogram under his nose. That's when he finally gets it and clicks on a mini-van or something. Why the hell did it take the sonogram to explain that adding a new person to the family would mean a need for more space? Did he just think his wife was retaining water? I just don't get how that is supposed to be "cute" or "clever" -- it's just stupid.
Ante Sick Bay. Phlox explains that the Denobulans and the Antarans have a long history of Shepherdsons-Grangerfords-ing each other, and though they have shed no yellow blood in three hundred years, the bile still exists between the peoples. Quantum thinks that if the guy knew he wouldn't survive without Phlox's help, he might overlook the eons of hurt feelings and hair-pulling. Okay, was he not in Sick Bay when the guy actually said, "I would rather die than have him treat me"? Because I could've sworn he was standing right there. Phlox points out the obvious. Quantum suggests sedating the guy in order to treat him, but Phlox thinks, "I have to respect his wishes." "Even if he wishes to die?" Quantum wonders. When they got rid of all that stuff on Earth that Quantum and Trip told T'Pol they got rid of, did they get rid of Dr. Kevorkian as well? "The will of the patient is the cornerstone of Denobulan Medical Ethics," Phlox states. Quantum asks, "Don't you believe that if you can help someone you are ethically bound to do so?" Phlox points out that Hippocrates and his serpent staff wasn't exactly a Denobulan. And where, may I ask, was Quantum's Hippocratic Oathing in "Dear Doctor"? He seemed to struggle free of those ethical bindings pretty easily.
Quantum blusters that Phlox is serving on an Earth vessel, and he won't allow someone to die in his Sick Bay if it can be prevented. "Without his consent, there is nothing I can do," Phlox says, struggling a bit with the words. Quantum takes a few steps forward and fixes Phlox in the eye. "I'm giving you an order," he furrows. Dink. Phlox doesn't say anything, so, thinking the matter is closed, Quantum starts to turn away. "I'm sorry, Captain," Phlox says in a strong voice, "but I'm afraid I can't follow it." Man, he just ROCKS! Showing Quantum he can't just fling his own set of ethics around expecting to hit something and being all good at it -- God, they need more of him on this show!
Bryce Canyon during a blackout. May-Komisubi takes a breather and watches the other two come down. He cautions Trip to watch his footing, which the engineer says he will, but doesn't, because he hits some loose rock and smacks his body against the rock face. "Travis!" Reed calls out. May-Komisubi orders them to stay calm. The two men dangle a bit, and May-Komisubi asks if Trip is okay. "Jes' testin' the rope," Trip responds. Test this, monkey boy. They reach a ledge, and May-Komisubi tells them to catch their breath while he continues scouting out the depths. May-Komisubi's gotta be loving this being-better-than-them thing. Reed looks down on him and shakes his head in wonder. May-Komisubi bounces down a bit and then shines a light around. The cavern looks as though it goes on forever. May-Komisubi keeps going. Trip and Reed chug some water and spy a plastic box stowed in a hole in the scenery. Having read some of Phlox's medical books a few times, Trip recognizes it as Denobulan. "Yeah, he was just looking at the nekkid pictures in those books," Mathra crows. Before Trip opens it, Reed wonders, "You don't suppose Denobulans carry out everything they bring in." If they actually do "carry it out," why would they be leaving it behind? Maybe they planned to do a courtesy flush on their way out. Yes, that explains it. Clearly. The box is filled with nothing more oozy than some rock samples. Of course, Denobulans have physiological differences, so it could still be...but I won't go there. At least, not more than I already have. Reed thinks they must be on the right track, and prepares to rappel some more.
Sick Bay. Quantum tries to badger De-Not-Bulan into accepting treatment from Phlox. Denotbulan gives Quantum some details to think about, like the fact that Denobulan battle tactics resulted in twenty million Antaran casualties. Why is it that, whenever we hear of alien battles, they always have these astronomical casualties? Do they just have much larger populations? Do they breed faster? Have better nutrition? Aren't afraid to have gays in their military? Quantum is taken a bit aback, so he goes off into a corner to furrow before asking if Denotbulan wants to become just another casualty of a war that ended three hundred years ago. When Denotbulan doesn't deign to answer, Quantum talks up Phlox's résumé, and encourages Denotbulan to spend some time with him in order to find out for himself what a salt-of-Denobula kind of guy Phlox really is. And of course, Quantum adds that Denotbulan might then reverse three hundred years of bigotry. Denotbulan invites Quantum to spend some of his time in the Antaran historical archives so he can get a clear idea of what really happened between the two races. Now, is that online? Although it's not like historical archives have ever been altered or selectively edited to flatter any one side of a conflict or anything. Luckily, Quantum prefers to get his information from primary sources, and says that while he respects their histility (hostility and history -- geddit? Oh, shut up), the Denobulans that Denotbulan is describing are not the same Denobulans Quantum has met. Of course they aren't. First of all, Quantum has met, like, two fucking Denobulans --"With an emphasis on the 'fucking,'" Mathra comments. And also, it's not like the Denobulans would act toward a human the way they would act toward an ancient and mortal enemy. "Don't sacrifice your life based on preconceptions," Quantum advises as The Strings Of Aesop's Fables play on.
Phlox's Quarters. Done badgering the dying alien, Quantum decides to badger his doctor. He demands to know why Phlox never told him of this situation before. I don't know -- do you tell every alien you meet all about the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World Wars Parts 1-3? No, because it's not really their business, and it's also not necessarily the most uplifting cocktail conversation. Phlox says it wasn't their proudest moment, and they've managed to put it behind them. Even the fact that Denotbulan is the first Antaran Phlox has ever met, and vice versa, does nothing to change Phlox's stand on treating him against his will. "Doesn't that seem odd to you? That...in...three...hundred...years...neither side has tried to reconcile? May...be youputitbehind...you...too...quickly," Quantum tries to sage. Ugh, he is still delivering his lines like a two-by-four! Phlox snaps that the situation is complicated, and goes on to elaborate on how Antaran children are taught to fear and revile the other race. There's a nice bit of set detail here as I notice that Phlox has Dendrobium orchids in his room. See: Denobulan/Dendrobium, and the fact that "Phlox" is also a flower. "This is your chance to prove them wrong," Quantum thunders. "I doubt I could," Phlox shrugs. "Set aside your preconceptions," Quantum orders, almost angrily -- which makes no sense, as I really don't see where the motivation for anger is coming from -- "I made some headway with him [where was I when that happened?], but I won't be the one holding the scalpel. Show him that he can trust you." "Do you believe I can earn his trust in less than thirty-six hours?" Phlox wonders. Sure, just make him stand up in front of you and tell him to fall back into your arms. The tricky part is to catch him as he falls and then all will be well. "All I'm asking is that you try!" Quantum thunders. I really don't see why he needs to get so mad and ordering about this. Bakula has Quantum lose his temper all too often, if you want my opinion, and even if you didn't, I'm the one recapping so you're kind of stuck with it. Quantum tells Phlox that while his ethics keep him from treating Denotbulan, nothing is preventing him for having a little chin-wag with the alien. "You're a doctor, he's your patient. FIND A WAY TO HELP HIM," Quantum commands, and stomps out.
Pike's Peak. Possibly at the bottom of the cave -- although from May-Maegeshira's glance down, it really looked never-ending -- the three try to figure out which tunnel to take. Reed hazards a suggestion, and when Trip questions him on it, he points at some crystally things in the rock and says, "If I was a geologist, that's the way I'd go." They go. And go. May-Maegeshira cautions them all to stay close to the wall. Reed says they really don't have much choice. It's too dark to really see much, but from the dialogue, I think we're supposed to believe that it's getting treacherous. They scuttle a bit more before Reed reports that it's getting steeper. "Let me lock off," May-Maegeshira nonchalants. "Check your safety, Commander." Reed edges forward, loses his footing, and starts landsliding. Since they are all connected, he yanks Trip and then May-Maegishira along with him. The thing that was supposed to lock them off is jerked out of the rock as they all landslide down some steps. There's a really amusing scene of Reed waving all his arms and legs and wailing as he wishes he had thought to wear his Depends on this trip. The extra cushioning would have been helpful. Reed and Trip go over a ledge and start free-falling. May-Maegishira hasn't finished his ride yet, so as he gets near the drop off, he jams his foot into a rock crevice and manages to halt Reed and Trip's fall. I'm sorry -- I may have liked this episode, but I cannot let that go by without comment.
First of all, the weight of two fully grown men and Malcolm's lipgloss would be more than enough to cleanly snap May-Maegishira's ankle in half and dispatch him after his colleagues when he tried to brace their fall with it. Combine that with the momentum built up from Trip and Malcolm free-falling for awhile, and there is Just No Way. Uh-uh, I'm sorry, not happening. I mean, if he had managed to stop the fall with his arms or something, maybe THAT would have been more believable, since arms in general (and yes, May-Maegishira's pipes especially) have a lot more muscle than a tiny, fragile ankle. Even at another angle, I could have bought the foot bracing the whole body against the rock and providing strength and stability, but at this angle, the ankle is perpendicular to the body, and it along with his knee should be shot to hell. Whatever. Trip and Reed are momentarily safe as May-Maegishira screams in pain. He's very believable in this scene, too; with all his gasping and near-hyperventilation, I really felt that pain. Of course, it was raining here, and due to a past injury, my own ankle really aches in wet weather, but I still think Anthony did a great job. On first watching, I could have sworn there was a shot of another hook thing getting caught in a rock, therefore providing them with more support, but after rewinding it five times, all I see is May-Maegishira's ankle.
The voice that does the Country Time Lemonade commercials reaches out of my television and grabs me every summer. Without fail. That voice has to be magic, because there's just a certain something about it -- not to get all Smurfy on you -- that really and truly transports me back to childhood. Or a sepia childhood in the country that I actually never had since I grew up in Minneapolis. The thing is, I'm not susceptible to commercials. Unless they're for greeting cards. Or have animals. Or have people trying to sell jeans amidst a throng of running bulls, but that's not really susceptibility -- that's just nausea-inducing. Okay, but regardless, there's something just so nostalgy about that voice and I love it.
Devil's Tower. Trip yells, "Can't...reach...it!" I have no idea what he is talking about. Reed and Trip swing violently from the efforts of Trip not reaching whatever it is he's not reaching, which puts May-Juryo in even more pain. Trip grunts out, "Almost!" and May-Juryo says he can't hold them much longer as he clutches onto the safety wire. Trip calls that they'll try again and swing together. Trip swings ably, but Reed just seems to flail a bit. After some groaning and whimpers from May-Juryo, he finally loses his grip on the safety just as Trip locks into a crevice. Reed only free-flails a little bit more before the slack is taken up. Trip calls out that they got it, and May-Juryo collapses back in relief and agony.
Trip scans May-Juryo's ankle and pronounces it broken with lots of torn ligaments as well. May-Juryo sweats that he can keep moving as long as they give him a painkiller. Trip hypos some Vicodin in him and tells him he's not going anywhere. May-Juryo insists that he can make it, but Reed calls him "Ensign" and says he would only slow them down. Reed thanks him for getting them this far, and May-Juryo makes a face. "You'll be all right," Trip comforts him. "Respectfully, sir, it's not me that I'm worried about." They chuckle, and Trip bandages May-Juryo. I can't believe they broke Travis. Again.
Sick Bay. As Denotbulan sleeps, Phlox fiddles with stuff near him. Denotbulan wakes up as Phlox scans his ear, and demands to know what Phlox is doing. Denotbulan gets very sarcastic and snippy with Phlox, while Phlox tries to maintain his composure. Phlox ignores most of Denotbulan's barbs until the patient says, "You must know a lot about our anatomy after what your doctors did to us." That sounds vaguely Nazi-experiment-ish and quite creepy. Phlox stalks away to another part of Sick Bay. Denotbulan wants to know if Phlox was raised listening to stories of the evil Antarans: "Did they give you nightmares?" Phlox says he could ask the same question about his people. Denotbulan goads him some more by asking if he taught his own children to hate Antarans just as he was taught. I know he's supposed to be one of the oppressed masses, but Denotbulan's voice is hissingly evil-sounding. Phlox says his children have nothing to do with it. "Don't they?" Denotbulan asks. "If they were here right now, what would they think about their father talking to an Antaran? Would you even let them in the same room with me?" Phlox finally whips around and shouts, "Enough! I have tried to treat you with respect but I refuse to listen to these insults! You're the reason we haven't been able to put the past behind us -- you have kept this hatred alive! No Denobulan would want to be in the same room with you!" Phlox rapidly leaves the room. Denotbulan breathes heavily and smiles slightly. What was so excellent about his scene is that Phlox's normally calming, melodious voice went very high and panicked as he got angry. Billingsley has got this character down, there's no doubt about it.
Mess. Phlox sits alone. T'Pol walks in and gets herself some tea. She asks to join Phlox, but Phlox tells her he's not in the mood. T'Pol starts to walk away, until Phlox calls her back and apologizes. T'Pol reports that the repairs to the transport are going slowly, and Phlox reports that Denotbulan has a death wish. "That's unfortunate," T'Pol sips. Phlox says, "This man seems to want to die just to prove a point. It's painful to admit, but I understand why." T'Pol just listens. Phlox relates a story of his grandmother's extreme prejudice against the Antarans that prevented him from visiting a planet the Antarans once inhabited, because she thought the planet was "tainted" by them. Phlox goes on to say that when he had children of his own, he took them to that planet: "I was determined not to raise them as I was raised." T'Pol comments, "Your children were fortunate to have a father who taught them to embrace other cultures." Wow. Jolene really should have checked those bags at the gate -- she's looking pretty haggard here. Phlox's eyes fill up with tears as he chokes out, "I've certainly tried." T'Pol asks --with enough feeling for us to know she's not really a robot, but not so much that she's trespassing on her Vulcan values -- "Are you all right?" Phlox apologizes and hurriedly excuses himself. T'Pol looks contemplative. After saying how annoyed I was by the Teach T'Pol To Be More Human shtick, this was a welcome, if predictable, change.
Canyonlands. Trip and Reed crawl through a crawlspace in the rocks, and my claustrophobia kicks in with the added bonus of an asthma attack. Trip asks if Reed can see anything. Reed can't. Trip asks if Reed is sure this is the way the Denobulan scientists came. Reed says there was no other passage. Trip thinks they'll give it another half hour and then turn back. Reed has no argument with that. Reed reads three Denobulan bio-signs ahead. Party. They crawl some more and reach a cavern. Anytime now, I'm expecting to have them stumble into a cave of jewels or one of the other 1,001 tales. The Geobulans turn around and want to know why they hell they are encroaching on their cave. Trip explains the situation -- what was it again? -- of having to get off-worlders off the planet before the Militant Government starts in with the Armageddon stuff. The Geobulans are unimpressed, and say they have no immediate plans to leave. Trip and Reed are annoyed. Hee -- Reed made a funny "um, really?" face. And then I banned him for starting a sentence with "um."
Trip and Reed attempt to reason with the Geobulans, who are really very placid about potentially getting executed. One of them even argues that, as the government changes so often, a new one will probably be in place by the time they're done. Trip shouts that they can't risk their lives for rocks. "Rocks? This is the most remarkable collection of speleothems we've ever seen. There's calcite, aragonite, botyroidal flowstone -- I've spent fourteen years searching for tractosites this perfect. These samples could provide clues to prevent seismic disasters on Denobula," Head Geobulan yammers. Funny, all I heard was "rocks, rocks, pretty rocks, rocks." Trip relents and asks how much time they need. "Two weeks, maybe three," a Geobulan hazards. Trip gets annoyed and says he risked a lot to get to them: "Now I've got an injured man waiting for us and we've got just enough time to get out of here before we end up in front of a Xantoras firing squad. My orders are to bring you back and I promise you that's what I'm going to do!" I'm waiting for Trip to jump around, saying, "Help me to help you!" Head Geobulan snits that they can't force them to leave. "Wanna bet? We didn't risk our lives jest to hear you say 'thanks but no thanks,' so pack up yer bags, because I swear, I'll tie you up and drag you out by yer ankles if that's how you wannit," Trip says. I'd definitely buy that Trip's had a lot of practice in hog tying. "We have a lot of samples, we'll need your help," Head Geobulan relents. They get to work.
Sick Bay. Phlox basically tells Denotbulan that he's going to treat him, so he might as well suck it up. Phlox then explains that he tried to raise his children to know the truth about the Antarans: "I told them about our military campaigns against your people, about how we demonized you, turned you into a faceless enemy -- I wanted them to learn to judge people for what they really are not what the propaganda tells them." Denotbulan sniffs that Phlox couldn't possibly know what Antarans really are. Phlox doesn't let Denotbulan get to him; he agrees, but says he's happy to say his children would consider his grandmother's beliefs archaic. "All of them but one," Phlox amends. He explains that his son, Mettus, was seduced by people who still kept the Neo-Denobulan movement alive and was taken in by all their beliefs. "I told him I wouldn't tolerate the values he was embracing. It created a rift between us. Maybe I didn't do enough to reach him -- the last time we spoke was ten years ago." Phlox pauses briefly to collect himself before going on, "You wanted to know what my children would think if they were here now. I can tell you what Mettus would think -- he would be happy to have me grant your request and let you die." Denotbulan looks pained. "But that is not the example I try to set for my children. Why not live? Set an example for yours," Phlox encourages.
Clan of the Claustrophobic Cave Bear. Trip and Reed crawl through the really tiny spaces with the Geobulans. I toked on my inhaler, and now my hands are shaking a bit. One of the Geobulans stops in his progress to pull a Tupperware (Denobulaware) case of rocks out of the rock's wall. "What's going on up there?" Trip demands. "Keep moving!" Reed orders. "Are those rock samples?" Trip suddenly and amusingly accuses, "We can't carry any more!" "It took us six weeks to extract these from the rock bed," Geobulan whines. "If you don't start moving in five seconds, I'm gonna take my phase pistol and shoot you in the ass," Trip growls. The Geobulan whines that the samples are priceless. "One...two..." Trip counts, fumbling for his phase pistol. Dude, why are you stupid? Firing that could start an avalanche! The caverns shake, and rock falls around them. "GO!" Trip orders loudly. Elsewhere, May-Akebono looks concerned and backs himself into shelter, covering his head. Trip and Reed get ready to climb up the rock face; Trip thinks the shaking could be an earthquake. "Feels like weapons fire to me," Reed says. "Pretty high yield by the sound of it." "We've still got two hours until the deadline," Trip checks before suggesting that the Geobulans get their climbing gear on. "We don't have any climbing gear," Head Geobulan says. Reed's agog and clarifies, "You climbed down that rock face without any ropes, any safety equipment at all?" "Exactly," Head Geobulan says pleasantly. Trip tells him to get climbing, then. Okay, new facet of Denobulans learned tonight -- they are lemurs. A huge rock zooms toward them, and they all hug the wall to keep from being ground to a paste. Trip checks to make sure everyone's okay and then orders that they move out before they get trapped. I really hope that wasn't the ledge May-Akebono was English Patient-ed on.
Enterprise Bridge. Hoshi -- wearing a concentric-circular white plastic ear piece we haven't seen before -- tells Quantum that the Governor's on the horn. Is he going to grant this show a stay of execution? Quantum gets really mad (but not gazelle mad) at the Governor for breaking his word about opening fire on the planet when their time to get the Geobulans out wasn't yet up. The Governor really doesn't care, so, without hanging up, Quantum orders T'Pol to target the patrols that are firing on the planet. Governor says he will retaliate, and asks if they really want to be at war with them. "The question is, do you want to be at war with us? Sounds like you've got your hands full already. Stick to our original agreement and you won't find yourself fighting on two fronts," Quantum stiffs. That was just such a bad line -- delivery, diction, everything. Just awful.
Carlsbad Caverns. The humans fiddle with their ropes and start to climb when suddenly a Geobulan passes them on their left, climbing like Spiderman. It's like he's got suctions on his hands! Awesome -- I totally missed that the first time around! Trip and Reed make sour faces at one another. The Geobulan looks over the edge and tells them he thinks the bombing has stopped. Reed urges them to hurry in case it starts again.
Sick Bay. Denotbulan tells Phlox that he thought about what Phlox said, and he's come to the conclusion that he also wants to set an example for his children. And also that he doesn't want to leave his kids fatherless. So the treatment begins.
Glacier. Outside shot, showing us nothing but the sh'pod and the cave entrance. Trip and Reed crank a prone May-Wakanohana up, and he drops one of the Denobulaware cases of rock samples. "My speleothems!" the Geobulan cries out. "Ferget about dem!" Trip growls. "Fortunately, I have some other samples in my case," the Geobulan says, very agreeably, which really cracked me up.
Enterprise Bridge. Quantum orders Hoshi to try the away team again. Hoshi calls out a few times, but hears nothing. Quantum orders a sh'pod and security team prepped. "The Xantorans have mobilized their military patrols -- they'll detect a shuttle launch," T'Pol argues. "Noted," Quantum says, just as Trip beeps in to say they're on their way back. "You're cutting it pretty close, Trip. The deadline passed two hours ago!" Quantum barks, rocking a bit in his chair. "Better late than never," Trip drawls from a sh'pod shot. Quantum asks about the Denobulans. "All aboard. Along with some very rare speleothems," Trip says, swiveling halfway around to look at them. On their way up, some patrol ships from the surface attempt to give Trip some trouble. Quantum asks Trip if he needs to intervene, but Trip waves him off and the patrol ships leave them alone.
I hate that friggin' Coors Wingman commercial. It implies that if two women are together and one meets a guy, the other chick can't take care of herself and needs to be "handled" by the loser friend. Suck me, Coors. Going down and coming out? Your beer is pretty much the same.
Sick Bay. Phlox tells Quantum that all went well with the procedure, and that Denotbulan will be coming out of anesthesia in a bit. "I'm glad you didn't defy my order. I wasn't looking forward to throwing you in irons," Quantum says. He delivers that with a totally straight face -- no hint of amusement -- so I'm thinking they actually want us to believe he was serious? More so because Phlox very seriously says, "Nor was I." It really bothers me that Quantum would have actually taken it that far. Plus, it wasn't a matter of defying your orders; it was a matter of Phlox's struggle with his conscience, so I'd really like it if you would take your big head and double bag it. Quantum asks how Phlox convinced Denotbulan, but Phlox cites doctor-patient confidentiality. Face. Quantum actually looks irritated, and Phlox says, "You could always order me to tell you." Hee. Stupid Quantum and his stupid orders.
Quantum walks Denotbulan through the hallways and tells him that Phlox wanted to see him off, but he's busy treating May-Mitoizumi. Denotbulan is not bothered by this, and comments that he and Phlox spent more than enough time together. Before cracking open the airlock, Quantum breaks it to Denotbulan that he will be taking a transport vessel with a few other Denobulans, and hopes it isn't a problem. Denotbulan wants to know if the Geobulans have been informed that he will be aboard. Quantum says that he had a talk with them. "And what was their response?" Denotbulan asks. "They're willing, if you are," Quantum says importantly. Denotbulan leaves, narrowly avoiding The Anvil of It May Only Be A Transport Vessel But It Really Means So Much More.
Mood-lit Sick Bay. Phlox starts a recorded message to his son, Mettus, apologizing for not writing in a long time and acknowledging that he might not hear back from him. "However, something has happened that compels me to try to reach you again. I have had an experience that opens many old wounds. As painful as it's been, it's also changed something in me. I hope, if you're willing to listen, it might begin to change something in you." Aw, Phlox, I can't get enough of you.
week: Alien orgies and Phlox porn.