Jetrel: Part One.
Chapter 34: Jetrel: Part One.
(Three days after Learning Curve.)
Tom Paris's POV
-----
Neelix and Tuvok circled the table as Sardine, Gaunt Gary watched their every move and Bini and I sat in one of the nearby tables, betting on who would win. Bini sucked in her hot Chocolate as Neelix carefully thought out his next move on the pool table.
"He hasn't left me with a single shot." Neelix announced to the group.
"In that case, pal, call a safety." Gaunt Gary suggested and pointed towards the pool table.
"Safety?" Neelix asked.
"It's a defensive strategy. Since you can't make a shot, the idea is to leave the cue ball somewhere on the table where Tuvok can't make a shot either." Tom explained.
"Oh, I don't know. It sounds cowardly." Neelix insisted and I rolled my eyes and scoffed at him. Cowardly? Please, it is a pool game.
"Suit yourself pal, but if you leave Vulcan Slim over here with an open shot he's got a very good chance of running the table." Gunat Gary argued.
"All right. Safety." Neelix agreed and used his pool cue to send the cue ball round two bumpers without touching another ball. Then Neelix looked at us with a proud grin and proceeded to brag a little to Tuvok. "Ah haha! Mister Vulcan, let's see you reason your way out of this conundrum. This safety business is a lot more satisfying than I imagined. I've left him with an impossible shot."
"The shot may be difficult, Mister Neelix, but to say that it is impossible is an exaggeration." Tuvok replied as he considered his next move and circled the table.
"Go ahead then. Call your shot." Neelix insisted.
"Logic would dictate that if I strike the cue ball properly, it will deflect first off the rear bumper, then the side, striking the eleven ball and causing it to roll directly into the corner pocket." Tuvok explained out loud. Tom sat straighter up with a big grin.
"This I have to see." Tom commented, he hit the ball and the cue ball hit the rear bumper and dropped into the pocket.
"Perhaps the ship's stabilizers are not operating at peak efficiency." Tuvok concluded with a raised eyebrow and Tom started to snicker at him as I continued to drink my hot Chocolate.
"Yeah, and maybe Tom Terrific over here forgot to tell you that Sandrine's table rolls a little to the east." Gunat Gary said and leaned on the table and looked at Tuvok.
"Oh! Oh my gosh! Damn, you got recked, Tuvok!" I said and started to laugh and soon Tom joined in.
"You should have called a safety," Neelix said smugly. Suddenly, Neelix's combadge chirped. He tapped it.
"Janeway to Mister Neelix. Please report to the bridge."
-----
Captain Kathryn Janeway's POV
"You wanted to see me, Captain."
I spun around from glaring at the small ship on the viewscreen from the middle of the bridge to Neelix, who looked happier than usual and more than willing to help, as usual entered the bridge from the turbo lift.
"Yes, Neelix. We've received a subspace message from an approaching vessel. They're asking for you." I replied and gestured to the ship on the screen.
"Me?" Neelix repeated.
"Slow to impulse." I ordered and looked at Neelix. "Do you recognize the ship?"
"That's a Haarkonian shuttle." Neelix snapped with rage flaring in his eyes. Chakotay looked back at him from his chair.
"Haarkonian?" Chakotay repeated.
"My people were at war with them for the better part of a decade. They conquered my homeworld more than fifteen years ago." Neelix explained.
"Any idea what the Haarkonians want with you now?" Chakotay asked. Neelix shook his head with a "no."
"None at all."
"The shuttle is hailing us, Captain." Harry reported, I sighed and looked towards the viewscreen again.
"Open a channel." I ordered.
"Channel open."
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. What can we do for you?"
"As I stated in my message, Captain, I understand you have a Talaxian called Neelix aboard your vessel." The harrkonian said. Neelix moved from the back of the bridge to stand beside me.
"I'm Neelix. What do you want?" He asked.
"It is a matter of utmost urgency. However, I would prefer to speak to you privately. Your life may very well depend on it." The Harrikonian insisted desperately.
"Who are you?" Neelix asked.
"Forgive me. I am Jetrel. Doctor Ma'bor Jetrel." Jetrel replied. Neelix seemed to have stopped breathing for a moment and backed away from the viewscreen, then abruptly turned around and rushed off the bridge. I looked towards the viewscreen and Jetrel.
"We will be in contact. Mr. Kim, end transmission." I ordered and gave the bridge to Tuvok as Tuvok and Tom entered the bridge.
-----
Bini Filters's POV
Sarah and I were eating in the messhall, (With Mollie.) as I was trying to explain how my job works, something she still wasn't getting. Granted, yes, she is five and smarter than most five-year-olds her age, except when it comes to my job. There is just something not clicking in there.
"Why not? Security is fun!" Sarah chirped and took another bite of her grilled cheese. I sighed and got up from the table, since no one else was in the messhall except us, I got Mollie some good dog food and water and placed it on the ground beside our table that Mollie started to devour.
"Security is not fun. You stand and stare at a wall all day." I insisted despite the girl's protest and took a sip of my beat soup.
"Maybe where you are. Security sound fun!"
"In what universe is security on this ship fun!?"
"This universe?"
"You think you are really funny with that one, don't you? It is not. For the last time. I work in the brig, the most exciting place to find out who fought who. Nothing. Not one person has been there since Wednesday. Thank god I have a day off today." I ranted.
"Maybe you are the boring one." Sarah stated with a smug grin. I narrowed my eyes and leaned towards her.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I growled.
"It means--"
Suddenly Neelix burst into the messhall, angry and...were those tears? Sarah and I shared a quick look of concern and got up from our seats, making our way to the front kitchen counter. Neelix started to shove ingredients into his cooking pots and slammed them on his stove, oh no. He was angry cooking. He is going to overload the power grid again.
"Ah, Neelix?" I called out, Neelix spun around with a startled yelp and looked at us. He quickly wiped away his tears and did his best to seem happy, giving us a fake smile.
"Hello, Bini! What can I get you today?" He asked with his voice cracking in emotion towards the end.
"Well, you came in here pretty...distraught looking. Are you OK?" I asked. He nervously looked from me to Sarah and then back again. Then the Captain entered the messhall with a look of concern. Oh boy. Alright, what the hell is going on here?
"Gah, Captain?" I blurted out.
"Mommy!" Sarah squealed and ran into her mother's arms. The Captain smiled and knelt down to embrace her hug and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before letting her go. She said something to Sarah, which made Sarah nod and they shared one more hug and then Sarah ran back to me.
"Come on! Mommy says she needs to talk with Neelix alone." She said, I nodded and whistled Mollie over. The Captain nodded her thanks to me and Sarah and Mollie followed me out, I suppose we should go see whatever Micheal is doing now. Probably annoying B'Elanna with 20 questions about engineering again like yesterday.
-----
Captain Kathryn Janeway's POV
I saw Bini, Sarah and Mollie retreat from the messhall, leaving their mess behind. I walked into the kitchen, briefly watching Neelix slam some plants that looked like celery from Kes's garden down and using one swift motion to start cutting it with one of his big knives.
"Neelix?" I said softly, causing him to flinch but he continued to chop the ingredients. "Who is he?"
"He's a mass murderer!" Neelix yelled in fury and slammed the knife down. Allowing it to fall from his hand, he spun towards me with tears streaming down his face in rage as he clenched and unclenched his hands. "When I was much younger, my family and I lived on a moon called Rinax, a colony with the most temperate climate in the entire Talaxian system. Warm days, balmy nights. Until the Metreon Cascade. A melodic name, isn't it? Especially for a weapon of mass destruction."
"And Jetrel was somehow involved with this weapon?" I concluded.
"Doctor Jetrel," He spat out in disgust. "Was the scientist who conceived the Metreon Cascade, then he led the team of scientists who built it."
"I see."
"In the blink of an eye Rinax was enveloped by a deadly cloud, and those lovely days were turned into one endless frigid night. More than three hundred thousand were killed."
"But you survived." I pointed out.
"I had the good fortune to be on Talax at the time with our defence forces, preparing for an invasion that never came. It wasn't necessary. The day after the Cascade was deployed, Talax surrendered unconditionally to the Haarkonian Order."
"And your family?" I asked, Neelix shook his head tearfully and let out a heart-wrenching sob. Then covered his face with his hands.
"Gone."
"I am so sorry."
--30 minutes later--
The events that Neelix told me unsettled me...greatly. He looked like a nice new friend...but as I have learned so far in the Delta Quadrant, looks can be deceiving.
I stood in front of the transporter padd next to Tuvok, I turned to the transporter chief and nodded for him to begin the transporter process, within a few moments Doctor Jetrel rematerialized onto the transporter pad.
"Doctor Jetrel. Lieutenant Tuvok, my chief of security." I introduced and gestured to Tuvok, standing beside me.
"I have heard of your transporter technology, Captain, but, to experience, it first hand is truly remarkable." Jetrel commented as he spun around slowly to get a good look at the room.
"Mister Neelix has declined to meet with you." I stated.
"That's not surprising. I'm afraid I am not a very popular figure among the Talaxian people." Jetrel said and looked down at the floor in shame.
"May we show you to your quarters?" Tuvok asked. Jetrel nodded in agreement and we exited the transporter room and started down the corridor.
"Mister Neelix has given me permission to speak on his behalf. You indicated that he may be in some kind of danger?" I asked and nodded to passing crewmembers.
"Yes. It's imperative that he undergo a complete medical examination." Jetrel continued, ignoring the nervous and suspicious looks of some of the crew as they passed us.
"For what purpose?" I asked.
"Our war records show that he was part of the team that returned to Rinax after the Cascade in order to evacuate survivors. He was exposed to high concentrations of Metreon isotopes. In recent years several of the rescuers have developed a degenerative blood disease called metremia." He explained to us.
"Is it serious?"
"I am afraid that it's fatal. The disease attacks its victims on a molecular level. It may lay dormant for years, but once it manifests itself, it will cause the body's atomic structure to undergo fission. The cells will begin to disintegrate. My equipment is specifically designed to detect the sub-atomic signature of the disorder."
"May I ask, Doctor, why you've taken it upon yourself to examine Mister Neelix?" Tuvok added.
"I've evaluated as many members of the team as possible, collecting data, in hopes that one day my research may lead to a cure for metremia. Please, try to persuade Mister Neelix to see me. Each Talaxian I screen brings me one step closer to a cure." Jetrel insisted to us. I gave Tuvok a weary look. Do we trust him?
-----
Kes's POV
"Neelix, why didn't you ever tell me about the war?" I demanded as he puttered around the messhall kitchen and I followed his every move to get answers.
"Maybe this is one experience that can't be shared. It's too hard to describe how I feel to someone who didn't see what I saw. I'm sorry." He apologized. I leaned forward and kiss him on the cheek, then pulled back and gave him a soft smile.
"You've nothing to be sorry about, Neelix."
Suddenly, the back door to the messhall opened and Captain Janeway came in. She seemed momentarily startled and a fleeting glance of guilt crossed her features as she must have thought she interrupted a important moment.
"Excuse me." She said as Neelix noticed that she entered and gave her a small smile.
"Captain! Back from your doctor's appointment already?"
"I'm afraid I have some disturbing news, Neelix." She announced. Neelix and I stiffened.
"Nothing you tell me can make this day more disturbing than it's already been."
"According to Jetrel, you were exposed to dangerous levels of Metreon poisoning and may be at risk of developing a fatal blood disorder. He wants to screen you for the disease."
"Er, Captain, please tell Doctor Jetrel that I am touched by his tender concern for my state of health, but that I'd rather be immersed in a pit of Kraylinnian eels than examined by him." Neelix snapped back.
"Neelix, if there's something wrong with you we should find out."
"I don't want that man within ten parsecs of me!" He yelled in rage.
"I understand your feelings, but this is your life we're talking about." The Captain argued. Neelix moved so that he could face both of us, the rage was written all over his face.
"Don't either of you find it the slightest bit strange that a man who has made it his life's work to develop a weapon to destroy as many Talaxians as possible should suddenly be concerned with this Talaxian's health?" He said, accusing Jetrel.
"I don't know what his motives are. Maybe he's trying to undo some of the damage his weapon caused? But he seems sincere, Neelix, and at this point, I have no reason to doubt him." The Captain insisted.
"If the disease is fatal, what's the point of knowing whether I have it or not?"
"Our doctor is the most skilled physician either of us has ever met. If you have this disease he won't stop until he's found some way to treat it." I added.
"And if Jetrel discovers you don't have the disease, at least you'll have peace of mind."
"Peace of mind is a relative thing, Captain."
"I simply want you to hear what he has to say. Then, if you still don't want him to examine you, no one will force you."
"Outnumbered and outflanked. All right then, I surrender."
-----
Tom Paris's POV
Everyone in the senior staff, including Neelix and Jetrel, who stood at the wall console, explaining Neelix's sickness to us
"The Metreon isotopes are unique. The rate of decay is highly variable. We have found that it's sometimes years before Metremia sets in, and unfortunately--"
"Why are you doing this?" Neelix snapped suddenly. Harry and I looked at each other across the table, knowing that Neelix was about to lose it on this guy. Can anyone really blame him?
"I beg your pardon?" Jetrel said and stiffened at Neelix's glare.
"Is it all just scientific curiosity, Metreons and isotopes. Or do you feel guilty about what you did?" Neelix said, clearly accusing Jetrel.
"Guilty? I do not regret it. I did what had to be done."
"Really? It was necessary to vaporise more than a quarter of a million people and to leave thousands of others to be eaten away by Metreon poisoning."
"Would it make any difference if I told you we never thought there would be any radiation poisoning. That anyone close enough to be exposed would be killed by the initial blast. It was unfortunate we were wrong." Jetrel bit back.
"Unfortunate? Did you hear that, Captain? It was unfortunate." Neelix snapped, dragging the Captain into it.
"Neelix, I think what Doctor Jetrel is trying--"
"No, Captain, that's all right. I'm used to it. I'm simply a scientist. Yes, I developed the weapon, but it was the government and the military leaders who decided to use it, not I." Jetrel intrupted her.
"That must be a very convenient distinction for you. Does it help you sleep at night?" Neelix snapped at him.
"I slept no worse last night than I have any other night for the past fifteen years."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I must live with my conscience, as you who must live with yours. How many did you kill during the war?" Jetrel snapped at him.
"Gentlemen, please." The Captain said over their bickering. "This is obviously very difficult for both of you but we are not here to debate history. We are here to talk about Neelix's condition."
"Don't worry about it, Captain, because Doctor Jetrel will have to find himself another laboratory rodent to help his experiments. Because I would rather die than help you ease your conscience." Neelix snapped back.
"I do not expect you to like me, Mister Neelix, nor do I hope to allay your obvious pain with moral arguments, but I do believe I can help you. If not you, then others of your race. Isn't that more important than punishing me?"
-----
Bini Filters's POV
I entered Sickbay through the back of the sickbay, it was closer and I held my injured hand close to my chest. I had managed to get a deep cut on my hand when Sarah managed to get a hold of a lazer...thingy in engineering and accidently cut my hand when she turned it on and I was about to grab it.
I came to an abrupt halt when I stopped it the Doctor's office to see Neelix, Kes, and the Doctor, with their backs to me, facing Jetrel and watching him set up equipment.
"Are you sure you can't do this?" Neelix said and despratley looked to the Doctor.
"You're new found confidence in me is flattering, Mister Neelix, but Doctor Jetrel has instruments designed specifically to analyse Talaxian physiology." He argued. I cleared my throat, causing them to spin around and look at me with a startled expression.
"Bini!? W-What are you doing here?" Kes asked in surprise.
"Ah...I cut my hand. What is going on?" I asked and showed them my bloodied hand. Kes winced at my hand and they looked at Neelix to explain.
"I might have a disease and this...this..." Neelix gestured to Jetrel. "Monster is going to help me find it...Let's just get this over with."
Then Neelix entered into the main sickbay area, followed by Kes and marched up to the biobed and swiftly got on it. Jetrel pulled out a small medical device and placed it on his chest. Kes reached over and clutched Neelix's hand.
"Did I ever tell you about the notorious two-tailed talchoks of Rinax?" He asked Kes nervously.
"I don't think so." Kes replied.
"Nasty little vermin. Sharp claws, dripping fangs. Ugh. It was quite a nuisance. So one summer when I was a boy, I decided to do something about them. I spent weeks tinkering, creating a fool-proof talchok trap. Once I'd perfected it I set it in the garden. And the next day I found one of those beasts pinned at the neck. But it wasn't dead, it was squirming, squealing in agony. And suddenly it didn't look so fiendish any more. It looked like a poor innocent animal." He explained as Jetral monitored him with his equipment and the Doctor and I was left to watch as he pulled out a dermal regenerator and began to fix my hand.
"What a horrible story."
"You see, I had become so fascinated with my invention that I never really thought about how that poor creature would suffer."
"Are you finished?" Jetrel interrupted in annoyance and stepped away from his machine and came towards Kes and Neelix.
"For now." Neelix replied with venom.
"So am I."
"And?" Neelix asked.
"I'm sorry, Mister Neelix."
"Sorry? Why are you sorry?"
"I'm afraid you have incipient metremia."
...Oh crap.
-----
Neelix's POV
I was lying in the dark of my quarters on my bed. Staring at my ceiling and couldn't help but think about death. I am going to die. Many times in my life, especially in a moment of danger, have I considered what it would be like when I die. But now it is really happening, it was just so...final. I don't think he will find the cure. I. Am. Going. To. Die.
*Chime.*
"Come in." I said and didn't bother to move, didn't bother to waste my energy because I am already dying. What is the point?
I saw a beam of light enter my living room and disappear, letting the darkness surround my quarters again. Then the soft footsteps and a figure standing at the door. It was Kes. I could barely make out her concern expression in the dim light from the stars as she quietly watched me.
"How are you feeling?" She ask softly. I gestured her to come closer. She nodded with a sad smile and sat on the edge of my bed. Taking my hand into her small one and holding it as if her life depended on it.
"Kes, my sweet, I'll have you know this is not the first time I have gazed into the gaping maw of death. Why once, during the battle of the Pyrithian Gorge I faced down an entire battery of Haarkonian artillery. There I was, with only a small crevice for cover—"
"Neelix, you're protecting me again." She interrupted with a stern expression. "I can understand your not wanting to talk about Rinax. I wasn't there, you're right. But I'm here now with you. We have to face this together."
"Well, there's one good thing that will come from all this." I said, attempting to look on the bright side. "When I first met you I didn't know that your species lived only eight or nine years. I fell in love with you without knowing how lonely it would be to live without you after you're gone. Now that I'm going to die first, I don't have to worry about it."
"Before I met you, eight or nine years seemed like an eternity. It never occurred to me that anyone could live longer. Now that we're together, no matter how many years we have left, it doesn't seem like enough. But the important thing is to cherish whatever time we have together, whether it's a day or a decade." She said and then we sat there together for awhile. Enjoying what time we had left.
———
Captain Kathryn Janeway's POV
Micheal and Sarah sat on the sofa of my ready room, going through padd that I had given them, courses really, to help them in their education since Voyager doesn't exactly come with any teachers or classrooms for learning.
Micheal continued to mutter to himself about math equations that he was desperate to solve by himself as Sarah happily worked on a digital art project that she was instructed to do, as I simply worked on Tuvok's and B'Elanna's reports.
Suddenly, the doorbell to my ready room chimed, bring us out of the comfortable silence that we were in mere moments ago.
"Come in." I granted and Micheal and Sarah resumed their studies. Jetrel entered the room and noticed the situation.
"Am I interrupting?" He asked.
"No. Doctor Jetrel. Please, sit down." I said and motioned him to one of the two chairs in front of my desk. He gratefully sat down.
"Captain, I must tell you, your ship is simply astounding. I have been studying your transporter systems." He complemented, which threw me off a little bit. What did that have do with Neelix?
"Transporter systems. I would think you would be more concerned with Mister Neelix." I pointed out.
"Forgive me, but that is what I am here to talk about. I believe, with a relatively few minor modifications, the transporter system could be used to retrieve a sample of the Metreon cloud surrounding Rinax." He explained. My children looked up for a brief moment but quickly lost interest because they most likely did not understand what he was talking about.
"To what end?" I asked.
"I've always believed that if I could isolate the free isotope that causes metremia, it could be used to synthesis an antibody."
"Then theoretically, a victim's own immune system could destroy the disease." I concluded.
"Yes, Captain, and your transporter system makes it all possible."
"Is the isotope stable enough to be transported?"
"I believe so."
"We could construct a containment field to prevent any contamination of the ship, and I could have our Doctor assist you with synthesizing the antibody."
"My thoughts exactly." He said. I tapped my combadge to inform the bridge of the change of course required for this...Theory.
"Janeway to bridge."
"Chakotay here, Captain." Chakotay replied.
"Have Doctor Jetrel's shuttle tractored into the shuttlebay and lay in a course for the Talaxian system." I ordered.
"That's a significant detour, Captain."
"I'm aware of that, Commander. But it may mean saving Neelix's life."
"Aye, Captain."
"Thank you, Commander. Janeway out." I said and closed the channel. Then looked back to Jetrel, explaining the rest. "I'll send a message to Talax requesting permission to transport material from the cloud. In the meantime, Lieutenant Torres in Engineering can give you a hand with the transporter modifications."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Thank you, Doctor Jetrel. It's a very promising idea." I replied, Jetrel got up and started towards the door, when he suddenly doubled over in pain and braced himself against the wall, alarming me and the children. I stood from my desk, unsure of what to
do.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," He insisted with a weak smile and weakly stood up straight again. "I just think I'm a little over-excited about the prospects of discovering a cure, and all that sparring with Mister Neelix does take a toll."
"Maybe you should let the Doctor have a look at you." I suggested.
"No, I'm fine, and there's so much to be done. I want to start right away." Jetrel said and left the ready room.
———
(30 minutes later.)
Neelix's POV
Captain's log, stardate 48832.1. Kes has prevailed upon Neelix to allow Doctor Jetrel to continue metabolic scans in the hope that it will facilitate treatment once the antibody has been synthesized.)
"Will you be needing my assistance, Doctor?" The Doctor asked as Jetrel set up the equipment again.
"Not until we have the isotope." He replied.
"Mister Neelix, is there anything more I can do for you?" The Doctor asked me. I regrettably shakes my head. "Very well, then. Computer override command one EMH alpha and end programme."
"Incredible. A hologram that can deactivate itself." Jetrel commented in amazement as he shimmered away, back into the computer banks.
"Is there anything besides science that makes your heart beat faster, Jetrel?" I snapped.
"Not anymore. Now, would you please sit down?" He asked I hopped up into it as he began to scan me with one of his small devices.
"You know what I've been thinking? If I'd been in charge of the Cascade I'd have, I don't know, chosen a military target, simply deployed it on an uninhabited planet. Somehow I don't think I'd have targeted innocent civilians." I pressured.
"The military strategists did not think a demonstration would work. They wanted to show the power of the Cascade in all it's horror."
"You should have tried to stop them! Why didn't you speak out? People would have listened to you." I demanded.
"It would not have made any difference. If I had not discovered the Cascade, it would have been someone else, don't you see? It was a scientific inevitability, one discovery flowing naturally to the next. Something so enormous as science will not stop for something as small as man, Mister Neelix." He explained and kept his eyes trained on his instruments.
"So you did it for science." I snarled.
"For my planet, and yes, for science. To know whether or not it could be done. It's good to know how the world works. It is not possible to be a scientist unless you believe that all the knowledge of the universe and all the power that it bestows is of intrinsic value to everyone, and one must share that knowledge and allow it to be applied, and then be willing to live with the consequences."
"Consequences? Who are you to talk about the consequences!" I snapped back.
"You are not the only one to lose family during the war, Mister Neelix."
"Your family was killed?"
"Nothing as clean as death. When I returned home after the Cascade to my wife, my lovely wife Ka'Ree, she could not bear to look at me. When I would reach out to her she would pull away, as if I had some contagious disease. You see, like you, she thought I had become a monster, and shortly after that she took my three children and I have not seen them since."
"That's a sad story, Jetrel, but let me tell you another one. A man goes back to Rinax after the Cascade. Back to what had been his home, to look for survivors. But the impact of the blast has set off hundreds of fires, and there's nothing there. Just smouldering ruins and the stench of seared flesh. But in the distance, in the middle of all that emptiness, from out of this huge cloud of billowing dust, he can see bodies moving, whimpering, coming toward him. They're monsters, their flesh horribly charred, the colour of shale. One of them comes toward him, mangled arms outstretched, and he can't help it, he turns away frightened. But then the thing speaks and he knows by the sound of her voice that she's not a monster at all, but a child. A little girl."
"Mister Neelix, I—"
"Her name was Palaxia. We brought her back to Talax with the other survivors. Over the next few weeks I stayed at her bedside and watched her wither away. Those are consequences, Doctor Jetrel."
"There is no way I can ever apologize to you, Mister Neelix. That's why I have not tried." Jetrel replied.
"Did you ever think that maybe your wife was right. That you have become a monster?" I asked harshly.
"Yes. The day when we tested the Cascade, when I saw that blinding light, brighter than a thousand suns. I knew at that moment exactly what I had become."
"I hope you have to live with that a very long time."
"I'm afraid you will not get your wish, Mister Neelix."
"And why is that?"
"I have advanced metremia. I will be dead in a matter of days."
---End of Chapter 34: Next: Jetrel: Part Two.---