Shore leave has a number of members of the crew (including Chakotay, B’Elanna, Kim and Neelix) excited about watching a competitive fighting sport called Tsunkatse. Opponents use various martial arts skills to hit sensors and send pulses through their opponents’ bodies. But Tuvok and Seven take off in a shuttlecraft to explore a nearby nebula instead. On their way, they are intercepted and captured, taken aboard a powerful ship prison run by the Tsunkatse fight promoter (Jeffrey Combs – who also played Weyoun on DS9). Tuvok is badly injured during their capture, and Seven – who, because of her Borg heritage is a powerful crowd draw – is forced to fight to get medical treatment for Tuvok. Chakotay and the others are shocked to see her walk into the arena – their calls to her and attempts to beam her out are unsuccessful – she is actually fighting aboard the ship, in front of the promoter, and the contest is being holographically beamed to a number of locations. Voyager searches for the ship, and Chakotay calls Janeway back from vacation to help. Meanwhile, Seven is given fight instructions by an Hirogen (J. G. Hertzler, who played Martok on DS9) who takes her under his wing. For 19 years he has been a captive. Her next match will be to the death; she must kill or be killed. She enters the ring – and finds she is facing the Hirogen. He has not deceived her; after 19 years he wishes to die an honorable death. But when Seven refuses to fight or kill him, he tells her – and she realizes – that he will kill her – they have no choice. Fortunately, just as Seven is able to land the death blow, the combined attack by Voyager and Janeway in the Delta Flyer enable Kim to beam both contestants out. The Hirogen parts company with Seven amicably, and is returned to a nearby Hirogen hunting party.
A well-executed, but derivative, episode.
No comments:
Post a Comment