“Faces” is episode fourteen of season one of Star Trek: Voyager.
The episode begins with a woman restrained and a voice stating that the regeneration phase is completed, continuing with more information in this vein before telling the woman, B’Elanna Torres, to wake up. Although B’Elanna looks rather more Klingon than normal.
Captain Janeway is narrating her log; Voyager is returning to pick up Tom, B’Elanna and Lieutenant Durst (Brian Markinson), who should have completed their survey of the magnesite formations on the third planet. In the galley, Neelix has made Tuvok a bowl of authentic Vulcan soup. Tuvok is perfectly willing to eat what the rest of the crew does, but Neelix has been enjoying cooking people a taste of home. Only, it seems Neelix has rather spiced up the soup, as he found it a bit bland. Tuvok points out that changing a time-honoured recipe is hardly a taste of home. At this point, Tuvok gets called to the bridge and leaves the soup. Which he tells Neelix to enjoy. Neelix does.
Tuvok arrives on the bridge with the captain, and Chakotay informs them that the away team hasn’t arrived at the prearranged coordinates, nor are they responding to hails. There’s no sign of them on the surface, and they haven’t been able to locate the three underground either. Tuvok suggests that the dense magnesite formations are blocking their scans. Harry also says that the layout of the caves has changed since their last scan. Although there has been no tectonic activity.
Chakotay thinks that might be why the away team hasn’t returned; they can’t. He wants to lead a party looking for them, but Tuvok asks how they will not lose them as well. Harry suggests modifying some subspace transponders to keep in touch with the ship and maintain a transporter relay. So, the captain assents and Chakotay takes Tuvok and Harry.
The person who has been working on B’Elanna apologises for her restraints, but her presence is very important to them. His name is Sulan, chief surgeon of the Vidiian Sodality, the Vidiians having been previously encountered in “Phage”. B’Elanna demands to know what she is doing there and Sulan holds a mirror to her face. She accuses him of surgically altering her face. He hasn’t. Sulan wants her to answer some questions; B’Elanna does not and asks about the other two. She agrees to answer his questions if he answers her own. Sulan has reconstituted her genome so that she is pure Klingon. Yes, that is possible. The Vidiians have been searching for a species immune to the Phage in order to develop a cure, and Klingons seem to be resistant. But a pure specimen was needed to be sure. As to how Sulan will be able to tell if Klingon B’Elanna is resistant to the Phage? Well, she has been infected with it.
Tom and Durst are being held captive with some other humanoids and are escorted back to a dormitory. The two are discussing escape when another occupant, a Talaxian like Neelix, tells them that no-one ever escapes; he has been captive for six years. The Phage makes the Vidiians weak, and they need someone to dig their tunnels. But not to worry; the Vidiians will remove their organs eventually. If B’Elanna isn’t here, she is probably in organ processing. Klingon B’Elanna is currently suffering from the Phage, but not as badly as most. Her body is fighting off the disease and Sulan is overjoyed. She could help eliminate the Phage forever. B’Elanna is starting to act very Klingon.
In the dormitory, someone in a Starfleet uniform is lead to the bunks, and Tom wakes. The woman is B’Elanna – a totally human B’Elanna. Which is something she always wished for as a child. Sometimes what you wish for is not something you actually want when you get it.
Chakotay’s away team have discovered more humanoids than the previous party and that the caves are changing. Tuvok observes that the rock is actually a force field, one that matches those used by the Vidiians. Chakotay contacts the captain, who tells him to find out what’s on the other side. Their phasers don’t work and the team has to beam out when discovered.
Klingon B’Elanna is trying to break free of her restraints when Sulan returns. She then tries to use guile on him, talking about Klingon women being renowned for their voracious… appetites. She likes being Klingon and supposes she has Sulan to thank for this. And is willing to show him those appetites in person, if released. This has an unexpected consequence.
On Voyager, the crew are trying to come up with some way of getting past the force field whilst watching for other Vidiian ships. Human B’Elanna is not doing so well; it seems removing her Klingon DNA has greatly weakened her. Klingon B’Elanna is doing far better, and is planning to escape – by which she means ‘slaughter everyone who gets in her way.’ When both B’Elannas meet, Human B’Elanna starts arguing with Klingon B’Elanna, then realises just how foolish this is, arguing with herself.