“Child’s Play” is episode nineteen of season six of Star Trek: Voyager.
It’s Voyager‘s 1st annual science fair and Captain Janeway, Chakotay and B’Elanna are looking at what the children have done. Azan and Rebi have cloned a potato; they wanted to clone Naomi but Seven suggested they start with something smaller. Mezoti has done a type of ant colony that glows. Naomi has modelled her father’s planet, complete with weather patterns. And Icheb has made a sensor array for detecting wormholes. Seven tells the captain that Icheb hopes to earn a place in astrometrics one day. The captain says that’s not going to be possible, though, as they’ve made contact with his parents and set a course to his planet. Seven says that is good news. Her face doesn’t seem to agree.
Icheb is in astrometrics when Seven arrives. He has exceeded his scheduled time by an hour. There is something they have to discuss. First, Icheb shows her a nebula that is out of range of Voyager‘s sensors. Or, rather, was. Icheb is enthused about astrophysics. He asks what they need to discuss. It’s… time for him to regenerate.
Seven heads to see the captain; she’d like data on Icheb’s species to prepare him for re-assimilation. The captain would refer to it as getting reacquainted with his family. How did Icheb take the news? She realises Seven hasn’t told him. Icheb has adapted to life on Voyager. The captain says Seven has adapted to having him. Seven is uncertain how to proceed. Well, she helped Icheb make one difficult transition. How did she do that?
In the cargo bay, Seven tells Icheb they have located his parents and will arrive at his home planet tomorrow. Icheb also doesn’t seem excited. Seven tells him she never saw her parents again; Icheb is lucky to have the chance. Icheb says the others depend on him and asks what will happen when he leaves. And about his species. They have an agricultural bent and limited space travel; most vessels were destroyed by the Borg.
The planet has suffered a number of Borg attacks over the last decade. According to Seven, there is a Borg transwarp conduit less than a light year away.
In sickbay, the Doctor is checking Icheb out. Icheb asks about a feeling in his stomach; the Doctor scans and says it’s butterflies in his stomach. Then explains. And talks up parents. Icheb points out the Doctor doesn’t have parents and has done fine. Then Seven arrives to take him to the planet.
The planet bears signs of Borg attack when Tuvok, Captain Janeway, Seven and Icheb beam down. They find his parents, Leucon (Mark Sheppard) and Yifay. They welcome Icheb home. Icheb would like to return to Voyager now.
Icheb’s parents beam aboard and meet with the captain and Seven. Seven starts interrogating them and why they don’t move away from the transwarp conduit, to the point where the captain asks her to leave. Captain Janeway asks the parents to stay on Voyager for a bit, then heads to see Seven.
The captain suggests that Seven could have used more tact. Seven says these individuals may not be suitable guardians. Being parents is no guarantee of care. Icheb could be assimilated again if he remains on the planet. Putting their own goals ahead of their children is irresponsible of parents. The captain asks Seven if she means Icheb’s parents or her own. Both. Janeway says it’s not like Seven to admit something like that. It would be naive, Seven says, to claim objectivity. She’s concerned Icheb’s parents may be as careless as her own. The captain says it’s got to be Icheb’s decision. And if he decides to stay? That will be the captain’s problem.
Icheb meets his parents for dinner, but only because Seven told him it wasn’t optional. It doesn’t start great, but improves once he starts eating, and continues to improve. Seven is still not happy. Is she just upset because a child she has gotten close to is leaving? Or does she have justification for her distrust?