Monday 11 January 2021

The Most Likely Transfer Method Would Be a Retrovirus





EMH: 

Ah, Captain. 

When you raised some concerns regarding the Taresians, I began questioning their story about Ensign Kim's birth.


CHAKOTAY: 

I thought you'd confirmed that he has Taresian DNA.


EMH: 

I did, and he does. 

At least, he does now

But when I checked his previous microcellular scans, I found no traces of the Taresian genetic fragments. 

I can only conclude that he wasn't born with them.


CHAKOTAY: 

Their whole story about embryo implantation was a lie. 

He's human.


EMH: 

Yes, although maybe not for long


The alien DNA is continuing to alter his genetic structure. 


Within a few days he'll be indistinguishable from a native Taresian.


JANEWAY: 

Do you have any idea how this new DNA could have gotten into his cells?


EMH: 

The most likely transfer method would be a retrovirus. 

He was probably exposed during an away mission.


CHAKOTAY: 

Wouldn't the biofilters pick up the virus and eliminate it?


EMH: 

They may very well have, but once the virus transferred the DNA into his cells, killing the messenger wouldn't have helped.


JANEWAY: 

Is there any way to determine exactly when he was infected?


EMH: 

Indeed there is. 

The transporter buffer performs it's own version of a microcellular scan every time someone uses it. 

I reviewed the logs and found the first appearance of the alien genes in his molecular pattern on stardate 50698.



CHAKOTAY: 

Our away mission to that planet where we found the vorillium. 

Harry was with us, and he was separated from the group for a while.


EMH: 

He might have been infected by something he ate or drank, even something he touched.


JANEWAY: 

So Harry gets infused with alien DNA which gives him the instinctive urge to come here. 

Then the Taresians tell him this elaborate story to make him believe he was one of them. 

Why?


CHAKOTAY: 

Don't forget that welcoming committee on the planet. 

It sounds as if they're giving him every incentive to want to stay on Taresia.


JANEWAY: 

And by keeping us away, they're making the decision for him.

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