Dancing in the Dark

From Hidden Frontier

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Myra Elbrey hesitantly welcomes a former student of hers to Excelsior, when Milo Surgant arrives to act as a translator for the Horta exogeologist Lt. Pergium arrives to make some headway on the studies of the Ba’ku tetrahedron. But as the mission preparations begin, she realises that her old fears of him abusing his Betazoid talents may still hold true. When she is telepathically attacked in an act of revenge, Henglaar finally begins to understand the depth of his feelings for her.

Synopsis

At an undisclosed location, former Excelsior security chief, Commander William Martinez is giving Tolian Naros the grand tour of the new Grey Research Facility, who is very impressed. He does point out to his fellow officer that the staff seem to lack experience, although they all appear to be superb analysts. Martinez points out that it is Excelsior and her sister ships who are needed on the field, while they focus on the data. Naros asks the former tactical officer how he feels about being so deceptive in regards to the work they do, especially with his former shipmates, an activity Martinez takes no joy from. But Martinez argues it is for the greater good, to make sure the data is analysed objectively and without prejudice. Naros points out whenever he is forced to work against his shipmates, it makes them feel left out of the loop, and unnecessary, but Martinez feels that keeping the officers motivated is part of Naros’ job. The senior officers are approached by a young lieutenant, Maya Tonkins, who informs them she has a report Martinez wanted, which he invites Naros to listen in on. Seating themselves in a small briefing area, Martinez allows the lieutenant to start, and she gives them a presentation on the strength of the tetrahedrons - she casually throws out all previous thinking on the matter, and postulates something different. She proposes that the tetrahedrons actually absorb all the energy around them, instead of deflecting it, and uses the latest multispectral scans they have analysed to back up her theory. She is even able to answer a question from Naros, regarding the self-destructive actions of tetrahedrons that have been scanned, proposing the idea of a limited sentience inside the tetrahedron. This enables them to differentiate between sensor scans and everyday spatial debris, sacrificing themselves when they ‘believe’ they have been infiltrated by an intelligent outside force. Reasoning that the best way to discover more about the tetrahedron would be to have a probe that doesn’t act like a probe, Naros realises he knows just the specialist for this particular job…

At the bustling docking ring, as repairs crews come and go, Knapp is bidding a sad fair-well to his daughter, Traya, who is about to head off to start a scholarship at the Cardassian Cultural Institute. He reminds her that he still expects a visit home at least once in a while, and with a brief hug, sees her into the waiting transport. On the other side of the docking bay, a slightly disgruntled Counselor Myra Elbrey approaches an unaware Dr. Henglaar, annoyed as to why he cancelled a ballroom dance lesson. She pulls the PADD his attention is focused on away from him, catching a glimpse of the title of the document he is reading - “Biology of Non-Carbon Based Life-Forms”. Shelby watched the interplay between her senior officers with amusement, as Henglaar questions why they have an exogeologist coming in to assist on tetrahedron research. As the docking master announces the arrival of Shuttle 1738, Naros looks on with doubt, as everyone else turns to see a tall man in Starfleet science colours approach, informing Shelby that Lt. Pergium is reporting for duty. Shelby is confused until everyone looks down, and see the shambling shape of a Horta following the man. He again introduces the Horta to those assembled, before introducing himself as Lieutenant Milo Surgant, who is acting as interpreter for Pergium. Elbrey explains he is a Betazoid, before exchanging a tense telepathic greeting with Surgant, a former pupil of hers. Shelby is surprised to meet a Horta, talking to Surgant, not Pergium, which he points out is rude, although he does so in a rather rude manner himself, which Elbrey and Henglaar take note of. Elbrey even warns him of his attitude, telepathically. Naros reminds them they have a briefing to attend, although Henglaar points out that due to the mission, he and the counsellor must sign off on Pergium’s fitness. Shelby tells them to get to it, although Surgant strangely questions the need for Elbrey to be involved, until Henglaar makes it clear that they are both required for the task. Acquiescing, although unhappy and snarky about it, he accompanies them to Sickbay.

Later, aboard Excelsior, after having completed their exam of Pergium, Henglaar and Elbrey have a quiet moment in his office. He admits he could see that there was a tension between the two Betazoids, asking about their history, so Elbrey admits to having taught Surgant at the Academy. Although a powerful telepath, and the chance to be a gifted interpreter, he had a habit of taking shortcuts, as well as respecting the boundaries of the clients he dealt with. She also explains that despite her recommendation for remedial work, she was overruled, since Surgant had become ‘close’ to many of the members of the faculty who were not telepaths. She is not at all surprised to find he comes with glowing recommendations from previous assignments, although her tone suggests she doubts the veracity of some of these reports.

Henglaar heads off to attend the mission briefing, where Commander Martinez explains their objective - to get inside the Ba’ku tetrahedron. Ensign Artim Ibanya, Excelsior’s resident expert on Ba’ku, and the pilot assigned to the mission, is stunned that a way has been found inside the artefact, Confused by Naros’ vague comments, Artim listens as Martinez explains their theory regarding the way a tetrahedron will register the presence of Lt. Pergium, seeing him as a meteor, not a probe. Using Surgant as his voice, Pergium inquires how he will collect the data required, which Henglaar quickly answers - passive sensors underneath the lieutenant’s skin. The Tellerite is dubious towards the plan, since it places the lieutenant in such a precarious and dangerous position, and Artim is concerned about Pergium’s exit from the tetrahedron. Shelby reminds the ensign to stick to what he needs to concern himself with - piloting the runabout underwater, and seeing to Pergium when required. Martinez explains to Surgant that the telepathic exchange is the conduit for information they will use, to avoid normal detectable electronic frequencies. Surgant is more then a little happy to realise just how important he is to the mission’s success.

As Henglaar and Elbrey share another drink, this time off duty in Ten-Forward, they Pergium and Surgant enter, and invite them to join them. Elbrey offers Pergium a drink, although the Horta (through Surgant) admits his drink choices would not be feasible for a replicator to construct safely. Surgant seems tired, and declines a drink, since he is still on duty, but Elbrey laughs, admitting a second later that Pergium feels that Surgant needs a drink, very urgently. He orders a Saurian brandy, before asking it to be a double, before he relays Pergium’s interest in Surgant’s history with the counsellor, who explains about his ‘eagerness’ as a student. Pergium then explains that although he and Surgant have shared interests in non-verbal species, the telepath admits he is not at all enamoured by the Horta’s interest in non-sentient species and the way they communicate. As he begins to talk about his interest in the Earth insects known as bees, Milo severs contact, so Elbrey offers to take over as his conduit. Surgant angrily tells his former teacher to allow him to do his job, but she reprimands him for not expressing Pergium’s feelings, instead of just his thoughts. He gets defensive, with such venom that she is taken aback, although Pergium (again, through Surgant) defends Surgant, since it has been a long day for the two of them. Surgant gets up to go, pointedly bidding only Henglaar a farewell, and the Tellerite casts a curious gaze at Elbrey, who is staring angrily at Surgant’s departing form, before looking back at Henglaar.

Later that evening, as Excelsior settles into orbit of Ba’ku, a tired Elbrey receives a surprise guest, Lt. Pergium. She invites him in, and settles back in her chair, and is surprised when the Horta admits he has concerns regarding Surgant. He mentions the mission briefing, communicating his belief that Surgant willingly read the minds of both Commander Naros, and Commander Martinez, without their knowledge. He had realised that what Surgant telepathically revealed to him more then what the two men had communicated verbally. She does not seem surprised, though, as if this finally confirms something she had wondered about for a while, despite the breach of ethics and security it represents. She apologetically explains to the Horta she will have to inform security…

The following morning, Surgant, Henglaar and Artim are conducting equipment checks before they depart, although Surgant makes a snide remark concerning the whereabouts of Commander Naros, who has not turned up on time. His smugness vanishes though, when Naros arrives, accompanied by Martinez and Lieutenant McCabe, the former with phaser drawn and aimed at Surgant. Martinez wastes no time before telling Surgant that concerns have been raised, but when Surgant attempts to defend himself, Naros cuts him off, since they have Pergium’s account to back up his and Elbrey’s accusations. Surgant looses control, and threatens Pergium, before Martinez and McCabe, now also with phaser at the ready approach him, all business. Unbeknownst to anyone present, as he faces down the phasers, Surgant, furious, contacts Elbrey telepathically, psionically shouting at her. It is ‘loud’ enough that she experiences physical pain as a result, as he tells her that he will not forget her actions today. She manages to collect herself enough from this brief attack to acknowledge Martinez’s order to replace Surgant for this mission.

Visiting Elbrey in her quarters later, Henglaar expresses his concern for her, having seen how angry Surgant became. The Betazoid is her usual teasing self at first, but is not too concerned, knowing that no matter how strong a telepath he is, or how flawed a person, Surgant is not stupid. Elbrey steers the conversation around, and focuses it on Henglaar himself, concerned for how lonely he has been feeling, especially with everything that has happened with his family. Never to be one comfortable with discussing emotions, let alone his, Henglaar quickly bid the counsellor a good night, and leaves her on her own.

The mission continues on without Surgant, and soon Artim is slowly taking the modified runabout through the ocean of Ba’ku. As they slow on approach to the tetrahedron, Naros compliments Artim on his flying, before asking if everyone is ready. Henglaar reports that the sensors lining Pergium’s skin are functioning, and are tuned to the telepathic frequency of the counsellor. With a few swift motions, their Horta crewmember is beamed away, materialising just in front of the surface of the tetrahedron, which he adheres to briefly before using his naturally-producing corrosive acids to burrow his way into the tetrahedron. Aboard the runabout, Elbrey senses his entry, and also begins to receive data from the Horta’s sensors, as Artim nervously reports that the tetrahedron is beginning to regenerate the area on its surface where Pergium entered. Elbrey has momentary trouble dealing with the voluminous amount of data Pergium is sending them via their telepathic link, which she is routing to the Excelsior. Henglaar voices concerns which she waves off, when she is suddenly hit by a strange psionic effect. She comes to her senses, and finds herself in Henglaar’s office, where the Tellerite is sitting in his chair, sobbing. She offers him a supportive hand on the shoulder, which he strokes, before standing and facing her, stroking her cheek lovingly. Without warning, he lashes out and slaps her across the face, knocking her to the ground. The office dissolves into a strange blue/green haze, as Henglaar morphs into Surgant, who angrily shouts at the counsellor for her actions, before laughing cruelly at her, as she clutches her head in pain, letting out a wailing scream… Onboard the runabout, Myra collapses to the deck, Henglaar quickly rushing to her aid, quickly calling for a beam-out. But Naros countermands the order to the Tellerite’s shock, before reminding him that Pergium needs him there, so instead Henglaar has Elbrey beamed up alone. He instructs the transporter operator to inform Dr. Abney that she will be required. Naros then asks for a status report, so Artim informs him that they no longer have telemetry without the counsellor keeping the connection going, and the tunnel continues to seal itself up…

Shelby enters Sickbay to find her counsellor lying prone on the main diagnostic bed, as Dr. Meredith Abney, Excelsior’s newest medical officer, runs a tricorder over her still form. Abney informs the captain that the counsellor has suffered a massive neural disruption, characteristic of a psionic attack from a powerful telepath. Shelby easily puts the pieces together, and orders Surgant located, although McCabe in unable to do so, or raise the security detail watching him. Shelby quickly dispatches security teams to the brig, as well as have McCabe inform DS12’s security staff.

Back on Ba’ku, on Artim’s suggestion, passive motion sensors are set up around where Pergium entered the tetrahedron, and when they confine the scan radius, Artim reports movement. When Henglaar reviews the sensor feed, he remembers Pergium mentioning his study of bees, and he has Artim cross-check with the library computer and hook it up to the universal translator. Using that as a reference, the computer translates the Horta’s movements into telemetry, as well as a message. The telemetry is again routed to Excelsior, as Artim relays Pergium’s message - having lost contact, he is gathering what data he can before attempting an exit, which will be in 3 minutes. But Artim’s scans show that the tetrahedron, which has now speed up its regeneration, apparently realising the Horta is not a meteor, will have completely sealed itself before he can exit.

As the telemetry begins being process by Excelsior’s computer, all bridge functions cease as the various consoles lock out their respective operators. Both Aster and McCabe cannot figure out what is going on, but as the security chief calls Shelby, the captain enters the bridge. She immediately demands to know what triggered this freeze-up, but when she realises it was the telemetry, she orders McCabe to summon the away team back ASAP, before entering the ready room, leaving a puzzled bridge crew behind. Shelby has already realised how dire the situation is - whatever the runabout found has triggered the Omega Protocol. Using her Omega clearance code, she calls up the sensor data, which confirms the Omega particle being found on Ba’ku. The computer reminds her all other priorities are rescinded, but Shelby knows it is not that simple.

Naros receives the Excelsior’s transmission to abort the mission, as Artim confirms the tunnel Pergium created has completely sealed up. Shelby calls them to inform Naros that the situation has escalated, and the Excelsior will monitor from orbit. As they prepare to leave though, Naros asks for another runabout to be sent to take their place. Shelby explains this will only happen if Starfleet Security clear it, but she will try.

Back aboard Excelsior, she confines Henglaar and Naros to quarters, but Naros is more interested in Omega itself, although Shelby is unable explain. Henglaar though, will not sit by while Elbrey lies in Sickbay, and convinces Shelby to allow him to help her. She relents, but has guards assigned to him, and he is escorted to Sickbay. Try as he and Abney might though, they are unable to do anything that helps Elbrey emerge from the coma she has fallen into. He decides to risk a purely theoretical surgery, although Abney does not agree to take the risks involved with it. But Henglaar is determined to do something, and dismisses an outraged Abney from her duty. He admits she is a fine doctor, but he does not want her there as he attempts this final option.

Martinez and Admiral Necheyev arrive in Shelby’s ready room, and discuss the implications of what they have found. Although it is only a trace of an Omega molecule, they now know what the Tholians and Grey have been after, so Martinez authorises another runabout to return, to collect Pergium’s findings. Shelby insists Naros be briefed on Omega, to which both Martinez and Necheyev disagree, although Shelby feels that since they rely on Naros’ experience in the Patch, this is something he needs to now. Seeing the logic of the argument, Necheyev changes her mind, allowing Shelby to call him in, and brief him herself.

Back in the Ba’ku ocean, Lt. McCabe and Ensign Wozniak take the Runabout Colorado towards the tetrahedron, although the pilot is unsure how they will find the Horta without sensors. But as they approach, they pick up energy readings from the tetrahedron. As McCabe opens a channel to Excelsior, massive gravitational waves pour forth from the tetrahedron, throwing the two officers around the cockpit. The ship stabilises, as Wozniak questions what Pergium did to cause that, but then McCabe spots the Horta burning his way out. As soon as he is clear, they beam him aboard.

In Sickbay, Henglaar’s efforts have failed, but he is about to try one final time, when Abney returns. She easily faces down the Tellerite’s anger, reminding him that she has a greater duty to the patient then his moods. She also challenges him on how personally involved he is, which is why she needs to be there. She also explains she has reviewed the procedure and admires its brilliance, even if it is flawed. The young woman hands him a data PADD, which contains her own surgical revisions to it, reminding her superior officer she was a surgical intern on Betazed. She leaves him to it, hoping her work helps. Reading over the PADD, he enters her modifications into the cortical stimulator on Elbrey’s forehead, and activates the pulse. She convulses once, before again returning to a comatose state. No longer able to pursue any more medical paths, lest it endanger her more, Henglaar resorts to arguing with her still form in order for her to awaken, before finally promising her that dance she has wanted. Slowly coming to as he says this, she tells an ecstatic Henglaar she intends to hold him to that.

As Shelby explains just what Omega can do, and what it could mean, Naros clarifies the standing order to destroy Omega. But Necheyev points out that the situation is more complicated then that, since it is inside a tetrahedron - it shows that the Grey and the Tholians seem to be competing for the ultimate power. Shelby points out that they are lagging behind their enemies when it comes to this knowledge, since the Tholians have a working tetrahedron, and the Grey seem to be able to locate them. But Naros realises they have a few aces up their sleeve, including the data Pergium has brought back, as well as the link they have now discovered between Omega and the hyper-dimensional nature of the tetrahedrons. But Martinez is doubtful what use this is, since hyper-dimensional research is not an area of study Starfleet has much experience in. Naros then comments that although Starfleet may have discredited it, races with long lives, necessary for the studies into hyper-dimensional physics, have explored it and have vast experience. He illustrates the Trill as a starting point, and propose contacting their government for assistance. Shelby then receives a call from Wozniak on the Colorado, informing them of their retrieval of Pergium, of which Shelby is very relieved to hear. She tells them to head back ASAP.

A few days later, Elbrey near enough drags Henglaar into the holodeck, as he comments that both she and Pergium have healed quickly and faster then expected. He admits he was hoping to put the dance of for a least another week, although Elbrey informs him he is not getting away from her now. She calls up a program, and the holodecks transforms into an old-style dance hall, with Frank Sinatra playing softly. Henglaar admires the place and music, admitting he likes it, before asking Elbrey for the next dance. They take hold of each other, and slowly start dancing, as Sinatra plays on, and as the dancing and music gets to them, they surprise each other by going in for a gentle kiss, that’s lasts only a second before they pull back. They stop dancing and star into each others eyes for a beat, before their lips meet again, this time for longer as they embrace each other as their feelings finally come out…

Background Information

When his telepathic link is cut off, Lt. Pergium "dances" inside the tetrahedron on the Ba'ku ocean floor in order to communicate.

• The episode title refers to the TOS episode that introduced the Horta, "Devil in the Dark," as well as to the dance Lieutenant Pergium performs inside the tetrahedron, and to the Tony Bennett song played at the end of the episode.
• The computer-generated Horta was created by assistant cgi artist Dave Berry. Dave also did all the underwater tetrahedron exteriors that appear throughout the episode.

Memorable Quotes

• Martinez: "We're the brains, Mr. Naros. Excelsior's the muscle... I meant that as a compliment."

• Martinez: "Proceed, Lieutenant."
• Tonkins: "We have a theory about the tetrahedron's physical properties. Everyone believes the tetrahedrons are incredibly durable and can resist great outside force, and even active sensor scans."
• Martinez: "Yes."
• Tonkins: "Well... everyone is wrong."

• Henglaar: "You're hoping the tetrahedron will mistake a Horta... for a rock?!"

• Henglaar: "I'm here in an offical capacity."
• Elbrey: "You want to take my blood pressure?"

Production Notes

• J.T. Tepnapa served as assistant director for this episode.
• With actress Suzy Kaplan's departure, the character of Doctor Anderson was replaced with a new doctor, Meredith Abney, played by Betsy Cramer.
• Brandon Stacy also joins the cast as recurring villain and renegade Starfleet officer, Lieutenant Milo Surgant.
• Knapp's goodbye scene with daughter Traya was actually shot during production of Countermeasures, the previous episode.

Guest Stars

• Brandon Stacy as Lieutenant Milo Surgant
• Brandon Stacy as Lieutenant Pergium
• Reneé Huberstock as Admiral Alynna Nechayev
• Beau Christian Williams as Ensign Artim Ibanya
• Anthony Diaz as Commander William Martinez
• Camille Lacey as Lieutenant Maya Tonkin
• Betsy Cramer as Doctor Meredith Abney
• Sam Bacsa as Ensign Wozniak
• Noora Hadden as Traya Knapp
• Goldie Frankel as Maintenance Worker
• Mona Eadington as Computer Voice

References

Ba'ku ; Cardassian Cultural Institute ; Omega Particle ; Tetrahedrons