Stardate not given: After escaping the Dauntless by entering the Neutral Zone, the Protostar docks at the non-aligned science station Noble Isle for repairs. Before Dal, Gwyn, Rok-Tahk and Murf take the elevator down to the surface together with Okona, Admiral Janeway warns them that the promise of cutting-edge science at Noble Isle implies that it is unregulated. As they arrive, Dr. Jago, a genetic scientist, already awaits them because Okona was to supply her with substances that are banned in the Federation (which he misplaced, of course). Dal draws her attention. After a DNA analysis she tells him that he is the result of a genetic experiment, essentially human but augmented with genes of 26 other species based on the research of Dr. Arik Soong. Dal is sad to learn that his life started in a Petri dish. Jago proposes to supply him with a dermal implant to activate the dormant genes in his body. After initially declining, he returns to undergo the procedure. In the meantime, the Romulans have arrived and have overwhelmed the crew still aboard the Protostar. But they need the captain's access codes to take over the ship. When they surround the away team on the surface, Dal's new abilities kick in, and he and his friends can escape. Okona, on the other hand, prefers to grasp the opportunity and abandon them. As they are in the elevator up to the ship, the Romulans attack again. Now it is Murf who saves his friends, whereas Dal bemoans his decision to get genetically improved. Asencia has been listening to Romulan communications on Janeway's orders. Given the imminent capture of the Protostar by the Romulans, the Admiral sees no other choice but to fire microtorpedoes to destroy the ship. She issues the order to abort in the nick of time, after learning that the crew of the Protostar has escaped their pursuers. Zero and Rok-Tahk successfully remove the implant and return Dal to normal. Meanwhile on the Dauntless, Asencia activates Drednok, who was hidden aboard, and reveals her true identity to the Diviner: She is from Solum and too was sent to the past to save their people.

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