“Night” is episode one of season five of Star Trek: Voyager.
The episode opens in black and white; Harry and a woman are tied up in what looks like something from an old science fiction serial whilst a man, Chaotica, who looks to be channelling Ming the Merciless, is gloating to them and telling the planet to surrender. Then Tom – Captain Proton – comes in. Chaotica tells Tom there is one force in the universe that even he cannot defeat. The woman screams – at the Doctor. The Doctor – in colour, which is then adjusted – is complaining that Tom is monopolising the holodeck and he’s overrun his time. Tom claims this is sociology; it’s how the 20th century envisioned the future. They fight over the controls and something shorts.
On the bridge, Chakotay gets a warning and contacts the holodeck to find out what happened. Just a little power surge. Chakotay’s warning was that the entire hologrid blew out. They’re fixing it. Be quick; the last thing they need is a broken holodeck. Seven of Nine enters the bridge; Chakotay orders her to give him good news. She must disobey. Astrometrics has scanned the entire region; there are no stars in 2,500 light years. Theta radiation is occluding their sensors. There are no ships. They are alone. They’ve been crossing this void for 2 months and are starting to feel the strain. Chakotay doesn’t know how they will cope with two years. He will tell the captain.
Chakotay – the captain is absent – is holding a briefing with the senior staff. Nothing much has happened. He takes a report anyway. Tuvok has detected an increase in theta radiation, source unknown. Chakotay thinks it could be worth a look. Tom comments that there is finally excitement. Radiation. Morale is deteriorating; Neelix has a few suggestions. One being to rotate assignments, another to turn one of the cargo bays into a third holodeck. Neelix also says the crew is concerned about the captain. They take comfort in talking to her; when she’s happy, they’re happy. And she never leaves her quarters. Chakotay makes a snappy response, then effectively apologises. Harry says they should look at this as a two-year holiday. This does not go down well.
Neelix bolts awake in the night, looks out of the window at, well, nothing, and decides he needs to replicate some curtains. Tom and B’Elanna in the mess hall are playing a game and start arguing. Neelix comes over and, as they continue, starts having a go at them as they’re senior staff and need to set an example for the rest of the crew. Then starts hyperventilating. In sickbay, the Doctor gives Neelix something for his anxiety. It’s more than anxiety. The Doctor tells him it’s nihilophobia, fear of nothingness. Or, in layman’s terms, fear of… nothingness. Yes, the first description summed it up. The Doctor sympathises – in a way that doesn’t help – but tells Neelix he will get used to it.
Tuvok is in astrometrics when Seven of Nine enters. He comes there to meditate because the view from his quarters is less than stellar. Yes, astronomical phenomenon help him focus his mind. Seven suggests Borg regeneration instead. It’s more efficient. A simple cortical implant will do the trick. Then, an alarm sounds. More theta radiation, dangerously high.
Chakotay briefs the captain and is trying to get her to leave her quarters. She doesn’t want to. This is a bad time to isolate herself from the crew. Janeway isn’t sure she understands it herself. It started when they entered the void. Even a few Borg cubes would be welcome. The captain is blaming herself for getting them stuck in the Delta Quadrant, because she made the choice for everyone in “Caretaker: Part II”. Chakotay tells her the mission has been a success. The captain has been telling herself that for the past four years, but was unable to convince herself when they entered the void.
Harry is playing clarinet on the bridge by himself when Tuvok enters. Nothing to report, except he’s finished writing his concerto. Does Tuvok have a minute to hear it. Tuvok has too many. On the holodeck, Tom is trying to convince Seven of Nine to play the role of Constance Goodheart, his secretary. She is to keep the robot occupied whilst he saves Earth. Seven’s way of keeping it occupied is stating ‘I am Borg,’ ripping out its wires and sibling it then telling Tom the robot is neutralised. Can she go? On the bridge, there’s a power drain and the ship drops out of warp. Power goes down all over the ship.
Most systems are down, but some independent subsystems are operational. Including, it seems, the holodeck. The entire ship is dark. Harry and Tuvok restore power to sensors and Tuvok plans to launch a photon torpedo to light up the void. There are also aliens onboard, who seem to dislike strong light. The void isn’t as empty as was thought, and it looks like the captain is going to have to make a similar decision to the one she was bemoaning earlier again.