- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Gentlemen, welcome aboard Voyager.
- Harry Kim: Thank you, sir!
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Mr. Kim... at ease, before you sprain something.
- Neelix: Let me guess: you were whisked away from somewhere else in the galaxy and brought here against your will.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: It sounds as though you've heard this story before.
- Neelix: Sadly yes - thousands of times. Well, hundreds of times. Maybe fifty of times.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I spoke to your family before I left.
- Tuvok: Are they well?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Well - but worried about you.
- Tuvok: That would not be an accurate perception, Captain. Vulcans do not worry.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: They... miss you.
- Tuvok: As I do them.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I'll get you back to them. That's a promise, Tuvok.
- Harry Kim: Captain, there's something out there.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I need a better description than that, Mister Kim!
- Harry Kim: I don't know. I'm reading... I'm not sure what I'm reading.
- Harry Kim: We were warned about the Ferengi at the Academy.
- Quark: Warned about Ferengi, were you?
- Harry Kim: That's right.
- Quark: Slurs about my people at Starfleet Academy!
- Harry Kim: What I meant was, I...
- Quark: Here I am trying to be a cordial host, knowing how much a young officer's parents would appreciate a token of his love on the eve of a dangerous mission, and what do I get for my trouble? Scurrilous insults!
- Tuvok: I must inform you that I was assigned to infiltrate your crew, sir. I am Captain Janeway's Chief of Security.
- Chakotay: Were you going to deliver us into their waiting hands, Vulcan?
- Tuvok: My mission was to accumulate information on Maquis activities - and then deliver you into their waiting hands.
- Harry Kim: You know, I think a memento for my parents would be a great idea.
- Quark: Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
- Harry Kim: Really. One of these would, would make a great pendant for my mother.
- Quark: Or cuff links for your father.
- Harry Kim: Cuff links, great idea!
- Quark: They're not for sale! Now, inform your commanding officer that the Federation Council can expect an official query...
- Harry Kim: How much for the entire tray?
- Quark: Cash or credit?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: [to Chakotay] Commander, you and I have the same problem. I think it makes sense to try and solve it together, don't you?
- Neelix: [introducing himself] Neelix. And since you're not interested in my debris, I'm delighted to know you!
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Captain Kathryn Janeway, of the Federation starship Voyager.
- Neelix: A very impressive title. I have no idea what it means, but it sounds very impressive.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Ensign, despite Starfleet protocol, I don't like being addressed as "sir."
- Harry Kim: I'm sorry... ma'am.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: "Ma'am" is acceptable in a crunch, but I prefer "Captain."
- Harry Kim: Captain - if these sensors are working, we're over 70,000 light years from where we were. We're on the other side of the galaxy...
- The Doctor: This is the emergency holographic doctor speaking. I gave no permission for anyone to be transported out of sickbay.
- [after everyone on the ship has vanished]
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I don't know what you need, and frankly, I don't care. I just want our people back and I want us all to be sent home.
- The Caretaker: Oh, well now, aren't you contentious for a minor bipedal species.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: This minor bipedal species doesn't take kindly to being abducted!
- Tom Paris: You asked to see me, Captain?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Mr. Paris... you have a problem.
- [Paris gives her a puzzled look]
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I've invited Chakotay and the other Maquis to become part of this crew. It seemed the only reasonable thing to do under the circumstances.
- Tom Paris: Will you provide a bodyguard for me, Captain?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: It seems you already have one.
- Tom Paris: I do?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Mr. Chakotay said something about his life belonging to you. He'll be taking responsibility for your safety.
- Tom Paris: I think I'm going to enjoy this.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Don't be so sure. He'll also be my First Officer. Everyone aboard this ship will report to him, including the Lieutenant assigned to conn.
- Tom Paris: Me?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I've entered into the ship's log on this date that I'm granting a field commission of Lieutenant to Thomas Eugene Paris.
- The Caretaker: The self-destruct program has been damaged. Now this installation will not be destroyed. But it must be. The Kazon must not be allowed to gain control of it. They will annihilate the Ocampa.
- Tom Paris: Tomato soup.
- Voyager Computer: There are 14 varieties of tomato soup available from this replicator; with rice, with vegetables, Bolian-style, with pasta, with...
- Tom Paris: Plain.
- Voyager Computer: Specify hot or chilled.
- Tom Paris: Hot! Hot, plain tomato soup.
- Harry Kim: Multiple percussive injuries.
- The Doctor: Status of your doctor?
- Harry Kim: He's dead.
- The Doctor: .4 cc's of trianoline.
- Harry Kim: Trianoline?
- Tom Paris: We lost our nurse, too.
- The Doctor: [preparing a hypospray] How soon are replacement medical personnel expected?
- Harry Kim: That could be a problem. We're pretty far away from replacements right now.
- The Doctor: [injecting a patient, then going to another] Tricorder.
- [Kim hands him one]
- The Doctor: [annoyed] Medical tricorder!
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Ensign Kim, this is your station. Would you like to take over?
- Harry Kim: Yes, ma'am.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: It's not crunch time yet, Mr. Kim. I'll let you know when.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Officially, you'd be a Starfleet observer during the mission.
- Tom Paris: Observer? Oh, hell, I'm the best pilot you could have!
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: You'll *be* an observer. When it's over, you're cut loose.
- Tom Paris: The story of my life.
- Neelix: [taking a bath] I wanna thank you for your hospitality. I must admit, I haven't had access to a food rebel... uh, replicator before.
- Tuvok: I'd never have guessed.
- Neelix: And to immerse myself in water. Oh, do you know what joy this is? No one around here wastes water in this manner. A good sand scrub, that's the best that we can hope for.
- Chakotay: If the array is the Ocampa's sole source of energy, why would the Caretaker seal the conduits?
- Tuvok: He would seal them if he no longer intended to use them, to protect the Ocampa from their enemies. Captain, there is now enough evidence to form a reasonable hypothesis. I believe that the Caretaker is dying.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Explain.
- Tuvok: First, he increases the energy supply to provide the city with a surplus to last at least five years, then he seals the conduits. The logical conclusion is that he does not intend to continue his role as Caretaker.
- Chakotay: That doesn't necessarily mean he's dying. He could be leaving.
- Tuvok: Doubtful. Not after a millennium of providing for these people. I believe that the Caretaker owes something to the Ocampa. I believe the debt that can never be repaid is very likely a debt to them. In addition, there were his frequent references to running out of time. I think he knew his death was imminent.
- B'Elanna Torres: What do you think you're doing? That array is the only way we have to get back home!
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I'm aware everyone has families and loved ones at homes they want to get back to. So do I. But I'm not willing to trade the lives of the Ocampa for our convenience. We'll have to find another way home.
- B'Elanna Torres: What other way home is there?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: [of Kim] I barely knew him... I never seem to have a chance to get to know any of them. I have to, um... I have to take more time to do that. It's a fine crew, and I've gotta get 'em home.
- Tuvok: Captain - any action we take to protect the Ocampa would affect the balance of power in this system. The Prime Directive would seem to apply.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Would it? We never asked to be involved, Tuvok. But we are. We are.
- Neelix: Whatever you need is what I have to offer. You need a guide - I'm your guide. You need supplies - I know where to procure them. I have friends among races you don't even know exist. You need a cook? Oh, you haven't lived until you've tasted my Angla'bosque! It will be my job to anticipate your needs before you know you have them. And I anticipate your first need... will be me!
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Did you ever consider allowing the Ocampa to care for themselves?
- The Caretaker: [laughs pitifully] They're children.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Children have to grow up. We're explorers too. Most of the species we've encountered have overcome all kinds of adversity, without a caretaker. It's the challenge of surviving on their own that helps them to evolve. Maybe your "children"... will do better than you think.
- Tom Paris: [after being promoted to lieutenant] For the first time in my life I don't know what to say.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: You've earned this, Tom. I'm only sorry your father won't know.
- Tom Paris: Oh, he'll know - when we get back.
- The Doctor: That's enough. This is a sickbay, not a conference room. Visiting hours are over. Everyone except my patient is to leave immediately.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Computer, end medical holographic program.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: That's only one of the mysteries we're dealing with, Mr. Tuvok.Take a look at this: It's virtually a desert. Not one river. Not one ocean. It has all the basic characteristics of an M-class planet except there are no nucleogenic particles in the atmosphere.
- Tuvok: That would mean the planet is incapable of producing rain.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I've studied thousands of M-class planets. I've never seen an atmosphere without nucleogenics. There must have been some kind of extraordinary environmental disaster. As soon as repairs are complete, we'll set a course for the 5th planet.
- The Doctor: [frustrated after his patients leave] Doesn't anyone know how to turn off the program when they leave?
- Tuvok: Captain, I can access the system to send us back to Federation space, but it will take several hours to activate.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Unless you help us.
- The Caretaker: Oh. I wish I could, but I have very little time left. So I have initiated a self-destruct program.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: If you destroy the array, we'll have no way to get home.
- The Caretaker: The Ocampa's enemies cannot be allowed to... to control this installation. In minutes, it will be destroyed. You have to go. Go, now!
- Jabin: Be advised, Captain. I have called for additional ships.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I'm calling to warn you to move your vessels to a safe distance. I intend to destroy the array.
- Jabin: You can't do that.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I can and I will. End transmission.
- Rollins: Captain, two Kazon ships are approaching the array.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Set a course. I'm on my way.
- Chakotay: We've got to get back to our ship.
- The Doctor: I strongly advise you to rest. I will not be held responsible for the consequences.
- The Caretaker: Well, you're nothing if not persistent.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: We need you to send us back where we came from.
- The Caretaker: Oh... that isn't possible. I... barely have enough strength to complete my work.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: You're sealing the conduits before you die.
- The Caretaker: If I don't, the Kazon will steal the water. But in a few years, when the Ocampa's energy runs out, it won't matter. They'll be forced to come to the surface, and they won't be able to survive.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Something you did turned their planet into a desert, didn't it? That was the debt that could never be repaid.
- The Caretaker: Well, we're explorers from another galaxy, but we had no idea that our technology would be so destructive to their atmosphere. Two... two of us were chosen to stay behind and care for them.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: There's another like you here?
- The Caretaker: Not anymore. No, no. She... she went off to look for more interesting places.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Why were you bringing ships here, infecting people with a fatal illness?
- The Caretaker: Oh, they... they didn't die of an illness. They died because they were incompatible.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Incompatible?
- The Caretaker: I've been searching the galaxy for a compatible bio-molecular pattern. Now, in some individuals, I found cellular structures that were similar, but I...
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: You've been trying to procreate?
- The Caretaker: I needed someone to replace me. Someone who'd understand the enormous responsibility of caring for the Ocampa. Only my offspring could do that.
- Jabin: Have you come to investigate the entity's strange behavior, too, Captain?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: All we care about is getting home, Jabin. We're about to transport over to the array to see if we can arrange it.
- Jabin: I'm afraid I cannot permit that.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: We have no dispute with you.
- Jabin: I have a dispute with anyone who would challenge us.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: This is ridiculous. We have no intention of challenging you.
- Jabin: And I have no intention of letting anyone with your technological knowledge board the array.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Jabin, can we discuss this like two civilized...
- [Jabin ends the transmission]
- Tuvok: They're powering up their weapons.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: I guess we can't.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: We'd appreciate any help you could give us in finding these Ocampa.
- Neelix: I-I-I really wish that I could help you, I-I do. But as you can see, there's just... there's so much debris for me to investigate today. You'd be surprised the things of value some people abandon.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Of course, we'd want to compensate you for your trouble.
- Neelix: Ah. Well, there's really very little that you could offer me. Unless...
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Yes?
- Neelix: U-Unless, of course, you had... water?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: If you help us find our missing crew members, you can have all the water you want.
- Neelix: Well, that... that sounds like a very reasonable arrangement.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Good. We'll beam you over and tow your ship into our shuttle bay. Mr. Tuvok, go to transporter room 2 and meet our guest.
- Neelix: Beam?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: We have a technology which can take you instantly from your ship to ours. It's quite harmless. May we?
- Neelix: [experiencing transporter beaming for the first time] Astonishing! You federations are obviously an advanced culture.
- Neelix: The Caretaker has been bringing ships here for months now.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: The Caretaker?
- Neelix: That's what the Ocampa call him. They live on the fifth planet. Did he kidnap members of your crew?
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: As a matter of fact, he did.
- Neelix: It's not the first time.
- Captain Kathryn Janeway: Do you know where he might have taken them?
- Neelix: Just that they're brought to the Ocampa. Nothing more.