TITLE: "PHAGE" EPISODE: #40841-105 AIRDATE: February 6, 1995
TIME: 8:00 - 9:00 P.M. ET/PT
LOG LINE: In their continuing for a source of dilithium crystals that could be used to supplement the Voyager's power core, the crew of the Starship come upon a planet that seems replete with the substance. Upon closer examination, they find that the place is really a base for a strange alien culture that must steal bodily organs to fight the "phage," a disease that eats away at their bodies and destroys their organs. Neelix falls prey to them, and the race is on to save his life.
SYNOPSIS: Captain Janeway and the rest of the crew aboard the Starship Voyager are in search of a source of dilithium crystals, which are essential in the powering of the ship.
They are directed by Neelix, an alien they have allowed to join them on their journey home, to a planet that he says has a rich soource of the material. During an away-team expedition to the planet's surface, Neelix is attacked by an alien, and his lungs are surgically removed from his body. After Neelix is emergency transported directly to sick bay, Doc Zimmerman must construct holographic lungs to keep him alive.
In the meantime, Janeway and the rest of the crew go in search of the aliens, and follow them to an asteroid that serves as a base. When confronted, the aliens admit to stealing organs, be defend themselves by telling the story of the "phage," a bizarre disease that attacks people, eating away at their bodies and organs until they are forced to scavenge others as substitutes. When prodded to return Neelix's lungs, they are told that they have already transformed them for their own use.
With no alternative, Janeway of forced to let them go. The aliens, taken by this gesture of good will, agree to help Neelix, and they do so by performing an emergency lung transplant with a willing donor, Kes, who is Neelix's beloved.
Captain Kathryn Janeway Kate Mulgrew Chakotay Robert Beltran B'Elanna Torres Roxann Biggs-Dawson Kes Jennifer Lien Lt. Tom Paris Robert Duncan McNeill Doc Zimmerman Robert Picardo Neelix Ethan Phillips Tuvok Tim Russ Harry Kim Garrett Wang
Alien #1 Cully Fredricksen Seska Martha Hackett Alien #2 Stephen [Steven] Rappaport Story By: Tim DeHaas Teleplay By: Brannon Braga Directed By: Rick Kolbe
[Note: UPN lists Garrett Wang's character as Henry Kim and Roxann Biggs-Dawson's character as B'Ellana Torres]