“Gravity” is episode thirteen of season five of Star Trek: Voyager.
A young Vulcan in what looks like a temple-cavern is approached by an older one. The older asks if he’s been sent to study Vulcan philosophies. The younger says he has been sent against his will. Then he should leave; he isn’t a prisoner. Except of his emotions, or so the older has been told. The younger is not interested in learning, but his father has banished him and his school has revoked his seat, because he refused to deny himself passion. He thinks rejected the feelings they are born with is illogical, and suggests the older is frightened by the truth. The older agrees. He says the younger is probably surprised that a Vulcan master admits to having emotions. They are a powerful tool and to deny their existence is illogical, but they need to learn to control them. The younger says he will question everything the master says. The master says the younger would not be a worthy pupil if he did not. Let them begin. Tuvok.
On a hot-looking planet, a wrapped-up woman is hunting giant spiders for food when there is a sound overhead. There’s a swirly thing in the sky and something comes out of it, crashing into the ground. She looks at it through some sort of binoculars; it’s a shuttle from Voyager. The woman approaches and enters the damaged interior. She’s looting when Tom enters. She shouts something incomprehensible at him and points what looks like a weapon. She takes Tom’s bag and leaves the shuttle.
The woman, when she leaves, is being followed. Two aliens confront her, and one looks to be about to kill her when Tuvok arrives and takes them both down. He introduces himself as Tuvok; she is Noss. He suggests they return to his vessel. When he sees the stuff she took from Tom, he comments that she’s already been there. When they return, Tom is trying to contact Voyager. Tuvok checks Noss and says she needs medical attention. Tom replies that someone stole their medkits. Tuvok hands him one. The shuttle is, basically, trashed, and their signals are being bounced back by the distortion field. The entire solar system is stuck in a pocket of subspace. The Doctor’s mobile emitter was damaged in the crash. Then they have to leave, as 13 more humanoids are approaching.
Noss leads them to her own crashed ship. It has minimal power and life support, but is protected by a forcefield. Tom asks if it has engines. Tuvok detects them. 2km away. Tom manages to restart the Doctor; Noss points a gun on his appearance. The Doctor’s universal translator is still working. He says Noss has been there for 14 seasons. She’s seen many ships come down, but none have returned.
Tom isn’t very good at hunting giant spiders, which Noss finds funny. Tuvok wants to keep the Doctor powered down; resources are limited and they may need his mobile emitter as a source of power. Later, Noss wants to know about Tuvok. Pretty much everything about Tuvok. Tuvok asks why that is relevant. Because it’s about him. Later, Tom tells Tuvok that Noss likes him. Tuvok replies that Noss was alone and appreciates their company. That was not what Tom meant. Tuvok reminds Tom he’s married. Tom doesn’t think there’s much chance of seeing her again.
Later, Tuvok is working on the distress beacon when Tom apologises for hurting his feelings. Tuvok has no feelings to be hurt. Tom thinks he does – and he may be right. Tom thinks that they should accept that this is their home now. Not pessimism; practicality. Tuvok doesn’t see why he should seek a relationship with Noss. Tom seems to think Tuvok is lying to himself. Tom, again, may be right; another flashback shows that young Tuvok’s issues stemmed from his feelings about a girl. The Vulcan master told young Tuvok that love is the most dangerous emotion of all.
Tom thinks Voyager will have given up on them, given how long it’s been. Which would mean that Voyager had lost their doctor and medically best-trained other crewmember. Not great. However, from Voyager‘s point of view, it’s been a much shorter period of time.