[Engineering]

DAL [OC]: Captain's Log. Stardate, er... Ah, who cares? We just barely escaped Starfleet by hiding in the Neutral Zone. And we're not escaping anything else until we get our nacelles fixed.
POG: Whoa, ahh!
(Okona extinguishes the fire.)
DAL [OC]: But at least we have Okona.
POG: Why thank you, kind stranger.

[Protostar]

DAL [OC]: As Murf gets used to his new body...
MURF: Whoa!
DAL [OC]: We are getting used to the new Murf.
ROK: Murf, Murf! I...
ZERO: Oh, please, Murf. Stop it now!
(Okona traps him in a globe.)
DAL [OC]: But at least we have Okona.
ROK: Now that is a brilliant idea.
DAL [OC]: You know, for someone who's been on our ship for such a short time, it stings that the crew's taken to him so quickly, but I get it. I mean, look at him. He knows who he is. And what am I? Just some handsome lost kid with questions. But one day I'll find out where I came from.
(Daydreaming that Okona accidently ejects himself into space.)
OKONA: Whoa, whoa!
GWYN: Dal!
DAL [OC]: And as for Okona, he'll be the one...

[Bridge]

GWYN: Dal!
DAL [OC]: a million miles away.
GWYN: Dal. Did you find a starport?
DAL: Huh, starport?
ZERO: Hmm. I'm sensing our captain is... what's the expression? Utterly clueless.
DAL: If you're so familiar with the Neutral Zone, why don't you look?
OKONA: Oh, hey. You can park and patch up at Noble Isle.
DAL: Oh, yeah, you can park and patch at the isle.
OKONA: No, I do business there... all the time. It's an old stomping ground, and I was... I was headed there anyway.
ZERO: Noble Isle?
ROK: Can we go? Can we go? I wanna stomp around his stomping ground.
JANEWAY: Okona's correct. I'm detecting a starport near an M-Class planet. It could have the parts we need.
OKONA: Oh, and while there, could one of you explain to my client how their cargo got tossed back at Denaxi Depot? Mmm, did you do something to your hair?
JANEWAY: I bet you say that to every advisory hologram.
OKONA: That wouldn't be a wise wager.

[Dauntless Ready Room]

JANEWAY: Admiral, I urge you to reconsider. We have kids on a disabled ship in the Neutral Zone, and Romulans on our doorstep who want nothing more than to steal our technology. We're facing our own Kobayashi Maru.
ADMIRAL [on screen]: As untrustworthy as the Romulans can be, we're finally working towards peace. The Dauntless is not to enter the Neutral Zone, even to retrieve the Protostar. Your request is denied, Vice Admiral.
JANEWAY: If Officer Frex is right, we can't let this unknown weapon aboard the Protostar fall into Romulan hands.
ADMIRAL [on screen]: I am aware of the risks. But I am also aware your personal feelings might be clouding your professional obligations.
JANEWAY: Finding Captain Chakotay isn't...
ADMIRAL [on screen]: You have your orders. Should the Romulans attempt to steal it, destroy the Protostar. [groans]

[Bridge]

OKONA: Welcome to Noble Isle. Whatever parts you need, they got 'em.
POG: What's with the big pointy thing?
OKONA: That big pointy thing is the only way on or off that rock. A space elevator. It's a bit archaic, but with all the ion storms, there's no ships, no navigation, no beaming down. It's perfect for businesses of a sensitive nature.
DAL: What do you mean, sensitive?
OKONA: Noble Isle is the forefront of cutting-edge science. They're doing things here that the Federation can't or er... won't, all in the name of pushing the boundaries.
ROK: Science? I'm coming with you.
OKONA: Who else is ready for shore leave?
GWYN: I like shore leave.
DAL: This isn't shore leave. We're here to fix the ship, remember?
ZERO: Then it's settled. The Away Team will venture down to look for parts while Jankom and I will stay to make repairs.
JANEWAY: Be careful. When he says cutting edge, he means unregulated. There's a reason Starfleet has laws about scientific experimentation. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

[Space elevator]

ALL: Whoa! Ah!
ROK: Oh, my goodness. It's so science-y.
HOLO-JAGO: Don't let your genes impede your dreams. I'm Doctor Jago, and through my genetic augmentation process, I'll bring out the best in you.
ROK: A geneticist? I've been reading about that.
OKONA: Well, I can introduce you. Because that's the client I'm here to see.

[Jago's lab]

ROK: This is so cool. That's a double helix, and those bases are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and...
JAGO: Thymine. Very good. I am Doctor Jago. And you are late with my shipment. Where is my gelatinous putrescine?
OKONA: I know, I know. But as my friends can attest, there was a mix-up at the depot, and unfortunately, your goods were permanently misplaced.
JAGO: Oh! Let me guess. The Federation inhibiting science yet again.
OKONA: Tell me about it. I'll make it up to you.
JAGO: Ooo! You already have. Ah, tell me, who is this beautiful specimen?
DAL: Er...
JAGO: Such interesting mandibula.
DAL: Er, is this how you greet strangers here?
JAGO: The unique coloration. The skull ganglia.
GWYN: You've seen someone like him?
JAGO: Never, but his origins are obvious.
DAL: Whoa, whoa. You know where I came from?
JAGO: Not where, but who.
DAL: Ow!
JAGO: Hair. For DNA. Ah, as I suspected. You're the handiwork of the protégés of Doctor Arik Soong, a geneticist who defected from the Federation.
OKONA: Wait a minute. Are you telling them Dal was made in a lab?
JAGO: As you can see, Dal is the product of artificial hybrid speciation.
ROK: It's when you combine the DNA of different species to create something original.
JAGO: It appears they began with a sample of an unremarkable humanoid specimen, mostly likely homo sapiens.
DAL: Unremarkable? I'm... human?
JAGO: Human Augment blended with the most recessive traits of 26 species. I see traces of Vulcan, Proto-Organian... Sloppy work, in my opinion. Miracle you can talk.
DAL: I was born in a petri dish? So I don't have any parents?
ROK: There's no one else like you. That's cool. Right?
OKONA: Tough break, kid.
DAL: All this time... I'm just some failed experiment.
GWYN: That doesn't change the way we see you. You're more than that.
JAGO: Oh, I'm sorry. Why the long faces? Oh, maybe I didn't make myself clear. I can bring out the best in you. My epigenetic dermal implant can activate dormant genes while also stimulating rapid cell division, and the best part, it's a fast, simple procedure, and no one will know.
DAL: What... what does that mean?
ROK: Basically, with the push of a button...
JAGO: I can make you better. I can fix you.
ROK: But it will change you, Dal.
GWYN: Dal, you don't need fixing. We're here to fix the ship.
DAL: If it's too good to be true... Hmm. Thanks, Doc. I wish, but it's not why we're here.
OKONA: And okay, after we visit the salvage yard, I'll show you one of Noble Isle's finest delicacies. Fair warning, don't ask me what it's made of.
(The others leave.)
DAL: Just how fast is this procedure?
JAGO: Mmm.

[Dauntless]

DIVINER: There's something I must do for her. A greater purpose.
ASENCIA: And what is your mission?
JANEWAY: Ensign Asencia. I was told you wanted to speak with me.
ASENCIA: Yes, I'd like to offer my services to covertly enter the Neutral Zone.
JANEWAY: You know that would disobey a direct order.
ASENCIA: I also know how much the Protostar means to you.
JANEWAY: If the Federation can't abide by the rule of law, we're no better than the very forces we oppose. But if we're thinking of sneaking in...
ASENCIA: Then the Romulans are too.
JANEWAY: Find a way to listen in on all Romulan sub-channels. I fear it's just a matter of time.

[Noble Isle]

(Romulans have beamed onto the Space Elevator.)
OKONA: So there I was, trapped between two angry fathers, both thinking I stole the Jewel of Thesia.
ROK: But really you were just helping two young people in love.
DAL: What you casually left out was that you took the job 'cause you knew it'd woo the hearts of everyone who would lend an ear.
OKONA: Unless you're a mind reader, how did you know that? I never told a soul.
DAL: Didn't you?
GWYN: You feeling better?
DAL: The best. Why do you ask?
GWYN: Oh, I don't know. Maybe that bombshell dropped by Doctor Jago?
DAL: Ah, that was disappointing. But the upside is that it made me a more perspicacious person.
GWYN: Perspicacious? Wow, I've never heard you use such big words.
DAL: Mm, maybe you just weren't sagacious enough to notice.
OKONA: I got no idea what anybody's saying here.
DAL: I'll speak in simpler words for you. Us go back ship.
OKONA: Huh.

[Engineering]

POG: Huh? Hey, Z, is that you? Would you look at th...?
(A green projectile lands on his chest, and he gets knocked out.)

[Bridge]

ZERO: How's that?
JANEWAY: Much better, thanks.
ZERO: Jankom, something's wrong. I sense an unknown presence on board. Jankom? I... whoa!
(Another device takes out Zero.)
JANEWAY: Romulans.
KASETH: She's only a hologram.
TAL SHIAR: I've disrupted the holo-emitters.
COMPUTER: You are not authorised.
KASETH: All command functions are locked. We need the captain to access the controls.

[Space Elevator]

KASETH: Activate ant-grav suits.
(Five fly down to the surface.)

[Dauntless Bridge]

ASENCIA: They've discovered the Protostar. They're searching for the captain.
JANEWAY: Teenagers against the Romulan Tal Shiar. I don't like their odds.
TYSESS: Minimum-yield microtorpedoes, tight cluster, armed and ready, Admiral.
ASENCIA: You're not actually going to destroy the Protostar?
JANEWAY: We cannot let the Romulans take it. Be ready for my command. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

[Noble Isle]

ROK: Oh, my gosh, aren't you the cutest little... aww. Aww. Are you seeing this?
GWYN: Aww.
KASETH [OC]: Fan out. They're directly below us.
DAL: Something's not right. We have to leave.
(The Tal Shiar arrive.)
OKONA: First an Admiral, now a Romulan hit squad? Who are you guys?
DAL: Did anyone think to pack a phaser?
KASETH: The captain comes with us.
(They assume it is Okona.)
TAL SHIAR: Let's go.
OKONA: Whoa, whoa, whoa, gentlemen.
DAL: Ha! You think he's the captain? Pfft. Ooh.
OKONA: Okay, great. Now that you've all found each other, I think I've overstayed my welcome. Good luck!
GWYN: Did he just... ?
ROK: I knew he was too good to be true.
TAL SHIAR: Stop moving.
DAL: It's okay, Murf. I've got this. You want the captain? You've got him.
(He concentrates, and his prehensile tendril presses a button at the back of his neck, sending him into overdrive and disarming the Romulans.)
DAL: Whoa!
GWYN: What has gotten into you?
DAL: Heh, heh, heh. The battle is in my blood.
ROK: I know what's gotten into him. Boosted intelligence, increased agility, reading Okona's mind? You got the implant. You cheated.
GWYN: And I really don't think you were meant to juice it that much.
DAL: It's a new me. A better me.
ROK: Er, you sure about that?
GWYN: Er, shore leave is over.
(They run and hide.)
ROK: Why do you have pointy ears?
DAL: The logical assumption would be when maxing out my dermal implant, I inadvertently activated all of my dormant DNA at once. (Klingon and/or Andorian) And Dal R'El would do it all over again, knowing I had to compete with that man-chop Okona!
GWYN: Just tell me this isn't permanent.
DAL: Guys, I hate to bother you, but either I'm sensing more trouble or a third arm is about to come out!
ROK: We have to get him to sickbay.
ADVERT: ..impede your dreams. I'm Doctor Jago, and through my genetic augmentation process, I'll bring out the best in you.

[Space Elevator]

DAL: Is that me? That's me?
(The Tal Shiar try to break in.)
ROK: Ahh!
GWYN: The pressure, it's not gonna hold. Everyone, suit up, quick!
DAL: Ow!
ROK: Don't worry. You're going to be okay. You're indestructible.
DAL: Maybe my super DNA can help. Ahh! What is that? - Why am I leaking?
GWYN: Just don't touch anything. And stop mutating.
(A Tal Shiar breaches the capsule, and promptly slip on Dal's goo and falls out again.)
DAL: Huh, told you I could help.
ROK: Whoa, oh. The metal. Gwyn, drop your heirloom!
GWYN: They're about to board us.
ROK: Trust me.
(They enter a lightning storm, which earths through the Tal Shiar weapon, knocking them out.)
GWYN: Hold on, Dal. Almost through.

[Dauntless Bridge]

JANEWAY: What are the Romulans saying?
ASENCIA: They have sight on the captain. I can't tell what's happening.

[Space Elevator]

GWYN: What do we do?
ROK: I don't know!

[Dauntless Bridge]

TYSESS: If they take control of that weapon, they could use it against Starfleet.
ASENCIA: Admiral, you can't.
JANEWAY: Stand down. We have no choice.
(Fires torpedoes.)

[Space Elevator]

DAL: Open the ball!
(Rok lets Murf out, he leaps over to the Romulans and disposes of them before jumping back into the ball.)
GWYN: Looks like we found our new security officer.
(The torpedoes approach.)
DAL: Now what?

[Dauntless Bridge]

JANEWAY: Time the microdetonation to disable the ship, but harm nothing else.
TYSESS: The crew of the Protostar escaped. The Romulans have failed!
JANEWAY: Abort, abort!
TYSESS: Activate port torpedo thrusters, emergency clearance!
(The torpedoes veer off and explode.)
OFFICER: Yes!
ASENCIA: All right!
JANEWAY: Who are these kids?

[Space Elevator]

DAL: I'm sorry. I really messed things up. I didn't wanna be a mistake. I just wanted you to look at me like you look at Okona.
GWYN: You're not a mistake. But you'll never be as good as Okona. You're better. He left us. You didn't.
ROK: Now let's make you better.

[Protostar]

ROK [OC]: Test, test. Is this thing on? Okay. This is Rok-Tahk. Now that Murf is our official security officer, I can give my very first science log! This is so exciting! Now that we got the parts, engineer officer Jankom Pog is working hard on fixing the nacelles. Medical Officer Zero and I were able to successfully remove Dal's dermal implant before any permanent changes. Whoa.
ZERO: Whoo-hoo!
ROK [OC]: If there's anything we learned while visiting Noble Isle, it's that science rules, and science needs rules. And it's our imperfections that make us who we are.
(Dal is back to normal and Murf is in his ball.)

[Dauntless]

ASENCIA: We need to make a change.
DIVINER: I don't understand.
ASENCIA: We're running out of time. Drednok, activate.
(The table transforms.)
DREDNOK: There is no barrier we cannot overcome.
(Asencia presses a button on the back of her neck to turn into another Vau N'Akat.)
ASENCIA: You weren't the only one sent back to find the ship.