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Quantum gets kidnapped by a Tellarite bounty hunter who -- wonders-of-wonders -- turns out to have a conscience AND a heart of gold. What are the odds? But before Quantum finds that little bit of treasure, we have to learn that the Klingons put a big price tag on the captain's furrows, because he's the only living thing to escape from Rura Penthe and they're mad about that. After fooling around with some alien marsupials, Phlox and T'Pol bring back a virus that makes the Vulcan hot-to-trot with a predilection to climb all over Phlox in the Decon chamber. I took eight showers during this episode and I still feel unclean. Want more? The full recap starts right below!
Big props to byobkenobi for pointing out the obvious and hilarious true name of this episode.
Look, I'm sorry, but I was so immeasurably bored by this entire episode that I had serious plans laid out in which I would take a vegetable peeler and skin myself and then make objets d'art, just to have something to distract me from the traipsing television tediosity. T'Pol performing The Predictable Prance Of Promiscuous Pon Farr in her sweaty, gapey underthings was no more nor no less exploit-y than I thought it would be. It was a ratings stunt, they did it, and from what I've read, it didn't exactly work. 'Nuff said. As for Quantum and his Boba Nyet -- the chain of words "pathetically predictable in a really drudging sort of way" springs to mind. I culled enjoyment from only two things in this sprawling banquet of tarradiddle: Jordon Lund's snarky and mellifluous portrayal of the bounty hunter, and the fact that T'Pol eats Le Puy lentils.
Quantum logs that he and Trip were exploring an uninhabited planet when they were called back to greet an "unexpected visitor." I'm taking bets that it's not Sidney Poitier -- any takers? In the turbolift, Quantum and Trip argue jocularly over their rock climbing experience. "I dinnit slip. That overhang gave way the moment I put my foot on it," Trip insists. "I walked on the same rocks you did," Quantum says. "Well, mebbe you loosened it -- you do weigh a few kilos more than I do," Trip says. Yeah, but it's all Furrow Weight. Something that scares me about this scene -- Trip and Quantum are wearing the exact same desert sandy uniforms they wore last season when they met Osama Bin Dribblin', which was also the second of two eps that they tortured me back-to-back with in the middle of May. Considering that the skintight suits have the same sweat and dirt stains as they did a year ago, I'm thinking they're not members of the OxyClean Club. They should really try it -- my chef's jacket has never been brighter, although I am starting to wonder about the crusty rash that has been developing on my neck and wrists.
Bridge. Quantum asks Reed for the straight poop (no one else is more qualified to give it, eh?), and Reed says that a Tellarite freighterman insists on talking to Quantum face-to-furrow. Quantum rings up the Tellarite and asks what he can do him for. "You can start by telling me what you're doing here," the Tellarite barks. They did a stupendous job on the makeup here -- it's definitely more detailed and intricate than the Tellarite's in "Journey to Babel." Quantum says he didn't catch the ugly dude's name. "Captain Skalaar of the Tellarite Mining Consortium," Skalaar tells him. Quantum says that he and a team of Bunsen Honeydews are studying the planet and also on shore leave. He then has to explain what "shore leave" is. "In that case, I'd recommend you visit the equatorial range -- the view from the north summit is inspiring," Skalaar says, suddenly changing his adversarial tone. Quantum divines that the Tellarite has been there before. "Many times -- I prefer to think of it as my own personal retreat. You mustn't leave until you've experienced the hydrothermal pools of Ren-gham. Mmm!" Skalaar juices. Quantum asks where those things are, and as Skalaar rattles off some complicated directions, Trip comments that it sounds like they could use a guide. Skalaar says he'd be happy to show them the way. As well as take them to the river and wash all their illusions away, I'm sure. "Sure we're not intruding?" Quantum asks. "Not at all. I'll meet you at your starboard docking port -- I'll help you plan your shore leave," Skalaar says, and hangs up.
Back in their traditional togs, Quantum tells Trip that T'Pol says the Tellarites aren't the most agreeable species: "Apparently, they enjoy a good argument. It's considered sport on their planet." It's considered sport on my forums -- maybe some of my posters are Tellarites. Although, as I pick the skin, bones, and other sundry fleshy bits off this rotting corpse of an episode, I realize that after this sole mention of how lawyerly the Tellarites are, nowhere else is it demonstrated. The bounty hunter never comes off as argumentative, and neither does his brother. I mean, they argue with one another, but certainly not enough for it to be considered a marked trait of their species. I think it would have been funny if they had explored that particular facet a little more. Trip sniffs, "I've got an old girlfriend this guy might like to meet." Just the one? Trip releases the airlock, and the Tellarite fires at him. For some reason that made me jump during my second viewing. Quantum fights with Skalaar and loses.
You know, there's a limit to what one human being can take, and listening to that sculch twice in one night is waaaaay over mine.
The Tellarite ship takes off after Hoshi picks up on weapons fire and Reed can't get in touch with Quantum. As an afterthought, Skalaar fires at one of Enterprise's nacelles and disables it, preventing them from chasing him. Reed orders the science teams back to the ship. You know, I never knew the term "bounty hunter" until I saw The Empire Strikes Back, so in my head "bounty hunter" and "Boba Fett" are one and the same. However, Skalaar proves himself to be less than bloodthirsty, so I don't think he's a very good bounty hunter. Yeah, he's not so much a Boba Fett as he is a Boba Nyet.
Decon. In a white bodysuit last seen in "Marauders," T'Pol asks Trip about the situation. She tells Trip she's on her way up. However, Phlox detains her and says they picked up something nasty in the planet's woodshed. He doesn't know if it's contagious (I'm one hundred percent sure it isn't!) but he does know they need some more Deconning.
Boba Nyet's Ship. Behind a web of yellow fluorescent tube lightbulbs that seem to serve as a cell, Quantum wakes up. He demands some answers from his captor, who ignores him until Quantum shocks himself on the lightbulbs. "I'd stay away clear of those emitters if I were you -- the very latest technology. I installed them last month," Boba Nyet says casually. Quantum tries to argue that his ship will soon catch up with them, but Boba Nyet dashes that hope by saying he's taken "appropriate countermeasures" to ensure that they won't. Quantum demands some more answers and tosses around some more threats. Boba Nyet turns around and points a gun at Quantum: "You can either be quiet or spend the rest of this trip unconscious -- which do you prefer?" Quantum shuts up and sits down. Can I put in an order for "unconscious"?
Decon: Pre-Pon Farr Onset. Phlox is having no luck with the theta radiation and so turns to Decon Gel E (now on sale at Sephora for $15.99) as a way of neutralizing the microbe. Phlox tells her it will be several hours before they know it's effective. T'Pol chafes at being there for that long, but Phlox says she has little choice, since the organism is infectious and humans would be more vulnerable to it than either of them. Phlox pulls a curtain closed between the two of them. Already stripped to her barest Maidenform essentials, T'Pol starts applying the gel. Even though he's got the It Happened One Night curtain between the two of them, every disrobing movement of Phlox's screams how uncomfortable he is. He takes off his shirt and exposes a weird shadow on his chest. It seems to be a dark cross running from his neck down his chest and under his pecs. It is supposed to be body hair? I can't help but think of Austin Powers. Phlox talks nervously: "Fortunately, no one else on the surface was exposed to the microbe." Shot of T'Pol rubbing her leg and thigh. Her gel seems a lot more sparkly than Phlox's. "I suspect you and I were contaminated when we climbed into the second ravine," Phlox goes on, rubbing his leg with gel and showing us his dark and craggy alien toenails. "Considering the quantity of fauna down there I'm not at all surprised. We were probably infected by the marsupials I found," Phlox finishes. "I told you to leave them alone," T'Pol interjects, rubbing her shoulders. "Their saliva is a natural anticoagulant. I couldn't return to the ship without a sample," Phlox says. T'Pol rubs her other butt cheek as well as her abs. Phlox calls out that he could use some assistance. T'Pol pushes the curtain away as Phlox exposes his back to her. It looks like he's got some sort of external spine. Nice touch, but it looks more like a tattoo than scales. "I wasn't aware a curtain was installed," T'Pol says. "Not everyone's comfortable with the idea of disrobing in front of others," Phlox tells her. T'Pol thinks it's strange for a doctor to take that attitude. "It's a characteristic of Denobulan males. We are more inhibited than our women. It's led to a number of awkward moments. The Starfleet physical was an experience I never hope to repeat," and as Phlox natters on, T'Pol has been rubbing his back with undue concentration and growing plaktauness. She realizes what she's doing and shakes it off. She asks Phlox to rub her as well, and raises her tank top a bit. Trying not to look, or get his eyes poked out by her shoulder blades, Phlox dabs at T'Pol's back with the gel. I can understand Phlox being embarrassed about his own lack of complete clothing, but rubbing gel on T'Pol is more of a physician-like thing to do and he really shouldn't have a problem with it.
Bridge. Reed thinks he's picked up the Tellarite warp signature. They set a course.
Boba Nyet's Ship. Boba Nyet gets some Klingon on the phone and tells him he's bringing the fugitive to Kronos as they agreed. The Klingon doesn't want Quantum brought to Kronos. Instead, he transmits some coordinates and tells Boba Nyet to be there in two days. Boba Nyet makes sure he will get the "full payment." "You'll get what was promised," the Klingon says. "Pleasure doing business with you, Captain," Boba Nyet says, and hangs up. "As always." Hee. Sarcastic Tellarites. Quantum wants to know how much they're paying him. Boba Nyet just looks at him. Quantum fishes for more information. Boba Nyet just looks at him. "You don't even know what I'm accused of," Quantum sniffs. Do I detect the smell of burning martyr? "You're right -- and I don't care to," Boba Nyet says. Bwah! Put that on your pyre and light it, Capt. Poltroon.
I want to see Bruce Almighty just to see Steven Carell.
Enterprise Bridge. It turns out that the warp signature they were following was just a decoy beacon. They have to start all over. But first, because the beacon is screwing with their sensors, Reed gets to blow it up. And he does so with vim and vigor!
Boba Nyet's Ship. Quantum tries to bribe Boba Nyet, promising that Starfleet will double whatever the Klingons are offering him. He's certainly got a healthy view of his own worth. Methinks Admiral Forrest, in his newfound evilness, would just leave him twisting in the wind. Boba Nyet says he doesn't take bribes from criminals. I throw the die of Quantum's Emotions. The die rolls past "noble," "holier-than-thou," and "just plain furrowed" before landing on "self-righteous." What are the odds? Though I think that die is weighted. Quantum protests his innocence and defends his actions by Samaritanizing that his only crime was helping some refugees. "Oh, well, that was very noble of you," Boba Nyet snarks. "You'll think twice about doing that again." Heh. Anyone who busts Quantum's furrows is a blue-cheese-stuffed olive in my dirty martini. Quantum whimpers that he won't get the chance, given that his sentence on Rura Penthe is for life. He adds that now he'll probably be executed. You should have thought of that before you broke out of prison, witling. Boba Nyet uncomfortably tells Quantum that it's none of his concern. Quantum continues to hammer at Boba Nyet's conscience and says he doesn't have to turn him in. Boba Nyet points out, "Goroth already knows you're aboard. If I don't deliver you, he'll offer an award for both of us! I've learned never to cross a Klingon." Quantum tries to manipulate Boba Nyet some more by implying that he's the Klingons' bitch. "If you knew how much they were paying me you'd understand. This has nothing to do with you. I'm sure you're not a bad person. Just an unlucky one," Boba Nyet says.
Decon. T'Pol meditates. Phlox sticks a scanner in her face and notes that she has a fever and elevated dopamine levels. "I can't concentrate under these conditions!" T'Pol starts to freak. Phlox says he doesn't mean to be intrusive. T'Pol jumps up and announces that the captain has been abducted: "He may even be dead! My place is on the Bridge." T'Pol opens the Decon door to the Decon Antechamber. Phlox beats her to the outer door and locks it, demanding to know where she thinks she's going. T'Pol orders him to open the door, but Phlox tells her she'll spread the infection. "I'll go to my quarters!" T'Pol shouts. "If I seal off the ventilation system it should minimize the risk of exposing anyone." Phlox points out that she will contaminate everyone between Decon and her quarters. Not to mention boink them. T'Pol keeps ordering Phlox to unlock the door, and threatens to have him court-martialed. Phlox isn't moved by these threats. T'Pol slams her fist on the door and screams, "Open it!" Phlox just stares at her. T'Pol flips her head, gyrates her hips, and says, "I apologize. I'm having trouble suppressing my emotions." I apologize -- I'm having trouble suppressing my nausea. Since they won't know for another few hours if the Dippity-Do is working, Phlox suggests that a sedative might do the trick. Can I get one of those to go? T'Pol goes back to the Decon chamber.
Boba Nyet's Ship. Boba Nyet argues with another Tellarite, "The Klingons are paying nine thousand darseks, that's more than enough to get Tezra back!" The other Tellarite tells the bounty hunter that he appears to be wide awake and dreaming, but Boba Nyet insists that he's got a good thing going on, since he's actually got Quantum behind the fancy fluorescent lights. The other Tellarite is muy skeptismo and hangs up on Boba Nyet. At Quantum's nosing, Boba Nyet tells him that Tezra's a ship, not a person. "You're going to use the reward to buy your ship back?" Quantum manages to figure out all by himself. Boba Nyet tells him to shut up, because the Klingons will pay him the same amount whether Quantum is dead or alive. Boba Nyet announces that a ship is approaching, but Quantum shouldn't pack his bags just yet, as it is most certainly not Enterprise. Some weird little alien threatens Boba Nyet across a viewscreen, because he also wants to collect the price on Quantum's furrow. Boba Nyet tells the weird little alien to back off, and then hangs up on him before telling Quantum to grab hold of something. The weird little alien fires at Boba Nyet's ship. Boba Nyet has technical difficulties. Quantum offers his services, if Boba Nyet will let him out. Finally, Boba Nyet sighs and brandishes a weapon, saying, "If you try to escape..." He removes the fluorescent forcefield, and Quantum takes the helm. Determining that they can't outrun the weird little alien, Quantum says he's taking them into an L-Class planet, since the weird little alien can't maneuver through the atmosphere as well as they can. They experience more problems, and lose their aft cannons. Quantum tells Boba Nyet to launch one of his tricky beacons, because the weird little alien is flying on sensors and will have a one in three chance of hitting the ship if there are lots of tricky beacons bouncing about. In the cloudy atmosphere, Quantum allows the weird little alien's ship to get ahead of them before he fires on it, knocking out the engine and forcing him to make an emergency landing. Then Boba Nyet's ship has problems. "The warp drive's offline. I'm never going to make the rendezvous," Boba Nyet complains. "Isn't that a shame?" Quantum snarks. "The reactor also powers life support," Boba Nyet informs him. Isn't that a shame. They have to land on the planet in order to fix the warp drive. Quantum promises to set them down far away from the weird little alien.
Decon. Phlox sleeps while T'Pol's hands crawl all over him. Phlox's eyes pop open, and he asks what T'Pol is doing. "You said we'd need another treatment," T'Pol purrs, still rubbing at Phlox. "Not for three hours," Phlox says. "Is there any harm in starting now?" T'Pol wonders. "I can apply it myself!" Phlox says, popping into a sitting position. Phlox thinks T'Pol needs another sedative, but she slides, legs spread apart, onto the bench and says that rest isn't what she needs. Phlox feels that T'Pol is acting in a manner unbecoming to an officer. T'Pol pouts that Phlox doesn't find her attractive. Phlox tells her that isn't the issue. T'Pol chases Phlox around the chamber, and Phlox insists, "It's against regulations." "Starfleet regulations," T'Pol corrects him. So, they do have regulations against the sex? What about when Phlox wanted to watch the two Starfleet officers have sex in the first season? That didn't seem to be against regs. T'Pol starts chasing Phlox again, and Phlox insists that T'Pol isn't well. T'Pol stretches her arms above her head and says the good doctor has no idea what he's denying himself. Severe bruising gets my guess -- get a load of those bony hips!
Phlox scans her and notes that her endorphins and hormones are dangerously high. T'Pol insists that she is not ill; the readings are normal for a Vulcan in her "condition." Do you think Vulcans were given that book Am I Normal? to explain zee blood fever and the multiple and fun uses of the lirpa and the ahn woon? Phlox realizes that T'Pol knows what's wrong with her. "It's not something we discuss with others," T'Pol says, turning away. Except in "Fallen Hero" and "Fusion." Phlox tells her it's not the time to be prim, and promises to keep it between the two of them. "We call it the pon farr -- the cycle of mating," T'Pol says. Phlox asks if she's gone through it before. "It's not time," T'Pol shakes her head. Phlox points out that the marsupial microbe they picked up was probably the catalyst. T'Pol shudders, "It doesn't matter. If I don't mate with a male -- Vulcan or otherwise -- I'll die!" Teenagers are always so dramatic.
On the L-Class planet's surface, Boba Nyet fiddles with his ship. Quantum tries to get him to talk about his Tezra, and notes that it is very important to him. "If Kago [the weird little alien] collects the award, he'll probably waste it on Orion slave girls," Boba Nyet snorts. Honestly? I'm sick to death of these Orion slave girl references -- either put up or shut up! Boba Nyet tells Quantum of his dreams to be a freighter captain again, and they start to bond with Stockholm Syndrome Paste until Boba Nyet gets wise to the fact that Quantum is actually sabotaging the repairs. Boba Nyet throws Quantum to the ground and pulls a gun on him. Quantum says, "Did you really think I wanted this engine fixed? You're taking me to be executed!" Boba Nyet puts down his weapon and says, "Don't worry -- we'll meet Goroth on time."
Decon. T'Pol crawls across the floor and slides up walls as Phlox mixes up a remedy. "I'm hungry," T'Pol whines. Phlox tells her that their meals will be there soon. "I wasn't referring to food," T'Pol says, using the Decon chamber wall to scratch her back. Phlox tells her to hang on, because his serum will alleviate her symptoms. "You have the cure. It's unethical for you to withhold it, Doctor," T'Pol moans. Phlox thinks that they can't go that route, as her pon farr was not brought about naturally. T'Pol's still willing to give it a go, and crawls over to Phlox: "Don't be frightened, I won't hurt you." "You're disturbing my serum!" Phlox shrieks at T'Pol as she knocks bottles over. He tries to sedate her again, but she yells that she doesn't want any more hyposprays.
The door rings, and Phlox thinks one of them should get it, as it could be news about the captain. Phlox disengages T'Pol's appendages from his and answers the comm. It's Trip with food. Phlox goes to the antechamber and suggests T'Pol sit this one out. Trip opens a glass communication window and asks how everything's hanging. Phlox doesn't really answer him and opens the drawer with the food, asking if they've found Quantum yet. Trip thinks they have, and hopes it's not another warp goose chase. "Is that food?" T'Pol grunts, coming out of Decon. Trip looks interested as T'Pol grabs her covered plate out of Phlox's hands and starts shoveling the food in her mouth with her hands. It looks like a lentil salad. I wonder if Chef can get his hands on real French green lentils from Auvergne -- they're so hard to find. "Is she all right?" Trip asks as T'Pol stares at him. Phlox puts his hand on her neck and shoves T'Pol back into Decon. T'Pol gives Trip some more big eyes. Phlox tells Trip that T'Pol is just running a fever, and closes the Decon doors. Reed comms Trip that they are approaching the coordinates. Trip leaves with arched eyebrows and tells Phlox to let him know if he needs anything. Like a condom.
Bridge. Reed reports finding more decoy beacons and reports that there's a ship on the surface of the planet, but it's not Tellarite. Trip opens a channel. From his short conversation with Kago, Trip learns that Quantum was abducted because the Klingons put wanted posters up all over space. Trip deduces that they need to find Quantum before the Klingons do. And who thought Trip couldn't make command decisions?
Space Station. Boba Nyet visits his brother for his help and gets into an argument about whether bringing Quantum in is really worth it. When Boba Nyet talks about getting his ship back, his brother tells him that the thing was stripped for parts by the Klingons and really isn't worth having anymore. Boba Nyet is mightily distressed. Quantum supposes that Boba Nyet will still turn him over to the Klingons: "I'll be disemboweled by one of those nasty-looking swords of theirs. And you'll collect those nine thousand darseks but it won't get you the Tezra back." "Ah, The Furrows of Guilt!" Mathra crows. Boba Nyet thinks all this over as Quantum heaps more coals on his head. Boba Nyet doesn't see that he has a choice anymore, since the Klingons will kill him if he doesn't hand Quantum over. "Maybe not -- have you ever been aboard Goroth's ship?" Quantum asks. Boba Nyet says he's been aboard twice, and asks why Quantum's wondering. Quantum just looks at him. "Ah, a plan that is hatched off-screen!" Mathra chortles.
Decon. T'Pol mutters in Vulcan. Phlox asks her how she's doing, and T'Pol pleads to be let out because she's really hot under the collar. "If I lower the temperature, the serum will start to congeal," Phlox explains. "I don't want your serum, open the door!" T'Pol screams, rolling across the floor. Phlox assures her that she will feel better in a few moments, and advances on her with a hypospray in hand. T'Pol claws out at him like a cat. Or a chick in a fight. Phlox steps back and tries to reason with T'Pol about taking her medicine. T'Pol grunts and flails at him. Phlox appears to give up, and tells her she's free to go. He opens the doors to the antechamber and gives her the code to unlock the doors. T'Pol doesn't move. "Denobulan medical ethics prevents me from treating patients against their will!" Phlox says. T'Pol scuttles to the antechamber, and Phlox follows. As she fiddles with the lock, Phlox sneaks up on her. T'Pol turns around and smacks him. Phlox falls to the floor and appears to be unconscious. T'Pol keeps trying to open the door, but Phlox gave her an incorrect code. In a rage, she pulls off the panel, which explodes a bit. "Starfleet really should stop putting sparklers behind access panels," Mathra observes. T'Pol pries the door open just as Phlox comes around. T'Pol escapes, and Phlox comms Trip to tell him to evacuate D-Deck.
In EV suits, Reed and a security team track T'Pol down. "The doctor says she's irrational, so use caution," Reed orders. T'Pol comes out of hiding and calls out to Reed in pathetic tones. She even calls him "Malcolm." "I need your assistance," T'Pol says, dragging her half-naked body to him. Reed tells her they've been very worried about her, and they need to get her back to Phlox. T'Pol says she can't go back to the doctor: "He's refusing to treat me." At this point, she has latched onto Reed like a limpet and has her face pressed near to his helmet screen. "How long has it been?" T'Pol asks him. "I beg your pardon?" Reed says, confused. "Since you've mated?" T'Pol asks. Although I am slightly amused to note that closed-captioning thinks she said "made it," which works as well. Reed doesn't say anything as T'Pol breathes heavily and tells him she's seen the way he looks at her on the Bridge. Reed suggests that they discuss the matter in Decon. "My quarters would be more comfortable," T'Pol pants. Reed musters all his willpower to push her away and says, "Doctor Phlox was very insistent." Reed reaches for his phaser, but T'Pol shoves him against the wall. He falls down and has a difficult time getting up again. T'Pol runs off, rubbing herself. Her arm, she was rubbing her arm! Soon, she finds herself cornered by the security team. She dances in a circle as if she has to pee, and Reed orders T'Pol to come with him. I think that's exactly what she wanted to do. T'Pol yells something in Vulcan and starts to charge Reed, who phaser-stuns her.
Boba Nyet's Ship. Boba Nyet hands Quantum over to the Klingons, but gets three thousand darseks less than was agreed upon. Boba Nyet looks at his money sadly. "That's blood money, Boba Nyet," Quantum says, playing a part. "Hope you enjoy it." The Klingon ship takes off with Quantum.
Bridge. Hoshi gets a hail from Boba Nyet's ship.
Klingon ship. Quantum paces in his cell. After awhile, he sits down and opens his handcuffs (the Swatch guards are back!) using something in his mouth. He plays with the cuffs some more and pulls something out of them, which he uses to open his cell door. A Klingon comes to investigate the alarm, but Quantum manages to beat him up.
Enterprise Bridge. Reed announces that he's got "them."
Klingon ship. Quantum fights off three more Klingons with a Klingon weapon before putting himself into an escape pod or beacon thing and ejecting himself from the ship. The Klingons don't think he'll get far, and one of them orders that they drop out of warp. "Can I charge weapons?" another Klingon pleads. Heh. "No, I want him alive," the Klingon captain says.
Enterprise Bridge. May-XY says he's located Quantum, and Reed notes that the Klingons are closing in on his location. The Klingon ship puts a tractor beam on Quantum's escape thingy. Enterprise sails in and fires at them. The tractor beam releases Quantum. Reed announces that the Klingons are charging weapons. As they're fired upon, Trip orders to return fire and deploy the grappler. There's some more firing back and forth as non-tension non-builds. Enterprise yanks Quantum's pod out of space and drags it with them. Enterprise fires a few more times at the Klingon ship, and Reed smugly reports that the Klingon weapons are down. May-XY confirms that the pod is in the launchbay, and Trip orders them the hell out of there.
Decon. T'Pol sleeps on a big light source on the floor of Decon. One would think that if she was so hot, she wouldn't have chosen that exact space to kip out on. Phlox walks in and hyposprays her to consciousness. "You'll be happy to know that the microbe has been eliminated from your system. Your premature mating cycle has ended," he tells her. T'Pol gets up with difficulty and asks if she did anything "inappropriate." So, pon farr gives you amnesia as well? Spock remembered killing Kirk just fine, so what's this all about, then? Phlox jokes that he's had patients treat him far worse. "Did we?" T'Pol asks. "Oh, Denobulan males aren't comfortable discussing such topics," Phlox says. So, he's letting her think they did it? That's not nice. T'Pol says she'd appreciate it if he doesn't tell anyone about what happened. "I'd never violate a patient's privacy," Phlox says. Reed, on the other hand, has a big mouth, and I'm sure he'll be telling the whole ship that T'Pol asked him when the last time was that he "made it." Phlox helps T'Pol to her feet.
Bridge. Quantum asks how things went with the Klingons, and Trip reports that they're limping back to Kronos with a disabled nacelle. Quantum asks after T'Pol. "She's in Decon with Dr. Phlox," Trip says. "What happened?" Quantum asks. Trip and Reed exchange looks -- what did I say about Reed's big gossipy mouth? -- and say it's a long story. Hoshi fields a call from Boba Nyet. "I see you made it back safely," Boba Nyet says. "Do you think the Klingons know you gave me that lockpick?" Quantum asks. "I don't see why they would," Boba Nyet says. Well, if they're monitoring your calls, they will. Quantum asks what Boba Nyet will do with his reward. "I'm not sure -- if you know of an old freighter for sale..." Boba Nyet hints. Quantum promises to keep his eyes open. And then furtively transmits over the coordinates of May-XY's family's ship. Boba Nyet tells Quantum to be careful: "It's likely the Klingons will double their bounty." Quantum hopes Boba Nyet won't be the one to collect it. Why not? He's assured another escape, and Boba Nyet would get paid again. They could peddle their act all over the quadrants. "No promises," Boba Nyet says, and hangs up. Quantum chuckles.
week: Something devastating happens. I go on summer break, and nothing will ever be the same.