| En
route to exploring the Arachnid Nebula, the crew of Enterprise NX-01 is
hailed by a civilian Vulcan ship. The ship's captain, Tavin, reveals that
his vessel is in need of repairs. Archer offers to help, provided the Vulcans
don't mind tagging along for the exploration of the nebula. While the Vulcan
engineer, Kov, and Commander Tucker work together to repair the ship, Archer
and T'Pol host Tavin and one of his crew, Tolaris, for dinner. Over the
course of the meal, Archer and T'Pol are shocked at the emotionally pleasant
and open nature of their guests. Tavin explains that he and his crew are
referred to as "V'tosh ka'tur" ("Vulcans without logic") by the Vulcan elders.
He clarifies that they are on a pilgrimage to explore and incorporate their
emotions, to find a balance between emotion and logic. After dinner, Archer
discusses the visitors with T'Pol, wondering why she seems to be avoiding
them. T'Pol confesses that she is skeptical of Tavin's quest, saying that
attempting to re-integrate emotions into the Vulcan psyche is dangerous.
Archer disagrees, and gently suggests that perhaps T'Pol should spend more
time with her brethren before she judges them. Later that night, T'Pol encounters
Tolaris in the Mess Hall. She is surprised to find that he displays formidable
intelligence, presenting convincing arguments for his experiments with emotion.
The next day, T'Pol and Tolaris work together in the Vulcan Astrometrics
Lab, studying the nebula. Tolaris continues to explain his ideas behind
re-integrating emotions, and, basing it as a scientific experiment, suggests
T'Pol forego her nightly meditation. Her dreams, he insists, will be much
more interesting. That night, T'Pol takes Tolaris' advice and does not meditate
before bed. As Tolaris predicted, her dreams are quite interesting ... and
provocative. In fact, T'Pol's sensual dream involves none other than Tolaris
himself! Disturbed, T'Pol pays a visit to Dr. Phlox, who gives her a minor
injection and advises her not to give up on Tolaris' techniques — but perhaps
she should take things a bit more slowly. As T'Pol attempts to deal with
her emerging emotions, Archer receives a transmission from Admiral Forrest,
informing him that Kov's estranged father is dying, and wishes to make peace
with his son. Archer approaches Kov about the matter, but Kov is reluctant
to speak with the father. Knowing that Trip and Kov have become close, Archer
enlists his chief engineer to convince Kov of the importance of the matter.
Kov appreciates their efforts, but insists that he and his father said good-bye
a long time ago. Meanwhile, Tolaris convinces T'Pol to allow him to guide
her through her emotional awakening. Later, in T'Pol's quarters, he explains
that he will use a "mind meld," an ancient technique that will allow the
two Vulcans to share their thoughts and memories. As Tolaris places his
hands on her face, T'Pol finds herself settling back into her dream from
the night before. As T'Pol's emotions swell, she reaches an uncomfortable
point and wishes to end the mind meld. Tolaris refuses, and gets angry when
T'Pol tries to break the meld. T'Pol is finally forced to violently tear
herself away from him, leaving them both heavily stunned from the mental
trauma. Desperately trying to control her feelings of mental violation,
T'Pol forces Tolaris to leave. The next day, Archer confronts Tolaris about
assaulting T'Pol. Tolaris tries to dismiss the matter, saying that T'Pol
simply panicked during their mind meld. Eventually, Archer goads Tolaris
into losing control the enraged Vulcan throws Archer across the room. Having
proven that Tolaris is a dangerous man, Archer firmly suggests that the
Vulcans take their leave of Enterprise. Before they set off, however, Kov
reveals that, thanks to Trip's persistence, he has contacted his father.
As the Vulcans leave Enterprise, Archer pays the recuperating T'Pol a visit
in her quarters. The Sub-commander has returned to her meditating she feels
that she will eventually recover, but confesses that she envies the human
ability to dream. |
