“Future’s End, Part II” is episode nine of season three of Star Trek: Voyager.
In the previous episode, “Future’s End”, an attempt to beam the timeship away from Starling failed because he had access to better technology. He was also able to raid Voyager‘s data banks, taking the Doctor away, and Voyager was filmed when it descended into the atmosphere to beam Captain Janeway and Chakotay away.
Tuvok and Tom were left behind and Tom is working on the radio from Rain’s van. She wants to know what it’s like, life as a spy. Only, Rain points out, Tom said secret agent and no-one says that. He’s getting things not quite right, like he doesn’t belong. Probably because he doesn’t. Yesterday, Rain spotted a UFO in orbit; today her life is out of control. Rain asks Tom not to think she’s stupid. He apologises, but she makes things difficult for everyone with questions. As Rain answers Tom’s question as to why she became an astronomer, Tuvok returns with breakfast. Which does not include breakfast items. Modifying the radio to send a signal to Voyager doesn’t work, but there’s another option; the radio dish at Rain’s observatory. If she’s willing to help. She is.
The rest of the senior staff are being briefed on Voyager. Starling downloaded almost 20% of their memory core. B’Elanna is working on rebuilding the programs but some things, like the Doctor, simply can’t be replaced. Harry has confirmed Captain Braxton’s hypothesis; it’s his timeship that causes the disaster. So, by trying to prevent the disaster, Braxton caused it. Causality. Starling may be a genius but he’s not a timeship pilot from the 29th century; he lacks the skill to calculate a safe trip and, when he tries, he will rip the space-time continuum apart.
B’Elanna tells them that long range transporters are still out. To try again, they’d have to go into the atmosphere. Neelix recommends against that. Though the main news media has dismissed Voyager‘s appearance as a hoax, the U.S. military is treating it rather more seriously. Janeway thinks if they can’t get the ship, they could get the man, then Tuvok calls from the surface. He explains Rain, and mentions Starling, who the captain of course knows of. Janeway wonders if Rain is willing to help.
In his office, Starling activates the Doctor, suggesting this may be the first time he’s been out of sickbay. The Doctor says he may still be suffering from memory loss – thanks to the events of “The Swarm” – but he knows he has been projected other places. The Doctor wants to be returned to Voyager. Starling tells him that all that Janeway said about a disaster is simply smoke; they want to get their hands on the timeship. The Doctor diagnoses Starling and suggests he seek professional help from a psychotherapist.
Starling wants the captain’s psychological profile. The Doctor can’t see how Starling can make him do that. Well, it seems 29th century technology can be used to make a hologram feel pain. Before Starling can continue, he is interrupted and told that Rain is on the phone. She makes out that she’s scared and needs help; Starling tells her to come to his office. Rain refuses; she wants Starling to come to her by himself. After the call, Rain tells Tuvok and Tom that Starling is coming, but he seemed suspicious. Starling tells the Doctor they are going for a walk. The Doctor says he can’t. However, when Starling’s car arrives at the meeting point, the Doctor gets out. Starling attached something to his arm which gives him mobility.
Chakotay and B’Elanna are heading down in a shuttle so that they will be able to beam Starling out. Tom rings Chakotay to tell him that Starling has arrived. He is almost in range. Starling tells the Doctor that if his shipmates cause trouble, he will be holodust. When Rain approaches, Starling tells her to go to his car; he’s not going to Rain’s van, which is where they were going to beam him from. Well, that didn’t work. Starling claims that the man Rain saw shooting her was trying to rescue her. In his car, the shuttle tries beaming him out, Rain runs and the Doctor beats on Starling’s driver.
Starling activated a device that interfered with the transport. He’s beamed to Voyager from the shuttle, but the shuttle now has problems. The Doctor now has an autonomous self-sustaining mobile holo emitter and is enjoying the ability to go walkabout. Starling doesn’t care if his attempt to travel to the future kills billions of people, including him. He considers it to be worth the risk. Voyager has to stop a disaster that might end up being inevitable.