Voyager approaches the Nekrit Expanse, a highly volatile, chaotic region of space plagued by plasma storms. No one knows much about it, not even Neelix, the resident Delta Quadrant expert, so Voyager stops at a trading outpost on the border of the Expanse for resupply as well as a map...
Contains examples of:
- Action Survivor: Neelix is burned badly by the plasma explosion, but thanks to The Doctor he survives.
- Bait-and-Switch: When Neelix is meeting with Wix, Bahrat turns up with a squad off guards to arrest...Chakotay and Tom.
- Camera Spoofing: The Kolaati are shown to be doing this when Bahrat's view of Neelix and Wix suddenly changes to an empty corridor.
- Character Development: This episode establishes that Neelix will transition out of his role from being the ship's local guide. He's now a part of the crew no matter what unique skill he can provide.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Vorik (not mentioned since the pilot episode) is reintroduced here, due to his role in the upcoming "Blood Fever".
- Clear Their Name: Neelix attempts to do this for Chakotay and Paris after they're accused of murdering the drug dealer by snaring a group of Kolaati smugglers. Unfortunately for the head Kolaati, one of his mooks gets a little trigger-happy; BOOM! Fortunately, Neelix survives and Chakotay and Paris are released.
- Continuity Nod:
- One of the items that Voyager needs is pergium, the substance that was being mined on Janus VI.
- After Neelix's misadventure lands him in Sickbay, Janeway angrily reminds him that "the first duty of any Starfleet officer is the truth".
- Cryo-Prison: Bahrat is determined to throw the murderer in one for fifty years. Fortunately Neelix and Wix are able to offer him a bigger fish.
- Dark and Troubled Past:
- Neelix's as a contraband smuggler comes back to haunt him, as does his old 'friend' Wix.
- Tom shares a bit about his own with Neelix, about not telling the truth almost ruining his life.
- Despair Event Horizon: During the climax, Neelix openly remarks, "Go ahead and shoot. I have nothing to lose!" It might sound like a bluff, but by this point, things have really gone south for him, and he's prepared to suffer the absolute worst outcome.
- Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: The episode opens with Neelix badgering Tuvok, then B'Elanna, about taking on a role in their departments. Their attitude is basically Not Now, Kiddo, which doesn't improve his confidence.
- Drugs Are Bad: Turns out Wix is selling science fiction crystal meth, which really gets them into trouble.
- Foreshadowing:
- When Janeway asks for details on the trading station, Neelix waffles vaguely, foreshadowing The Reveal that he's passed out of the area he knows.
- The Nekrit Expanse looks rather ominous to Janeway. And so it should, as it marks the boundaries of Borg space.
- From Bad to Worse: Wix is forced to kill his buyer, and Outpost Master Bahrat's eagle eye misses nothing, but that doesn't mean it's infallible...
- Here Be Dragons: Neelix approaches a map dealer who informs him that the Expanse is too unstable to chart, hence there are no maps.
- Innocuously Important Episode: For the most part, this story is essentially a minor crime caper that provides Neelix with some Character Development, but the entry into the Nekrit Expanse proves to represent a very significant watershed for the series as a whole. Hitherto, Voyager's enemies have either been technologically inferior to them or crippled by some other disadvantage such as the Vidiian Phage; they've only been threats at all due to strength of numbers. From here on, they'll be up against far more dangerous opponents, such as the Malon, the Hirogen, the Krenim and, of course, the Borg.
- It's a Long Story: And fortunately Wix is entirely willing to hear how Neelix joined the crew of a highly advanced starship over a glass of ale.
- Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: This episode is all about showing the dangers of doing this, leading to a Broken Pedestal reaction from Janeway.
- The Load: Neelix admits Voyager doesn't really need a cook, and Captain Janeway is a better ambassador than him. Now he's becoming obsolete as a guide as well.
- Lovable Rogue: Neelix's friend Wix seems to be this, right down to the 'good at getting into trouble' part. At least he gets his shuttle back and can go on his way at the end, though his friendship with Neelix is at an end too.
- Meaningful Echo: Janeway says the very same thing to Neelix that Picard said to Wesley about the truth...
- Mexican Standoff: Between Neelix and Tosin, who's holding a leaking cannister of warp plasma that will blow them all up if he fires.
- Noodle Incident: Wix helped Neelix out of a very tough spot involving the Ubeans, a race we don't see.
- Not Afraid to Die: Neelix challenges Tosin to fire and blow them all up, as he has nothing left to live for. Wix isn't happy, as he's standing right next to him.
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging:
- A jealous Wix really lets Neelix know what a sweet gig he's got, oblivious to Neelix's feeling that his position is at risk.
- Captain Janeway tells Neelix that they'll be relying on his knowledge of the Delta Quadrant more than usual.
- Oh, Crap!: It's just one after another for Neelix.
- When Voyager first approaches the Nekrit Expanse.
- When he realizes that Wix dragged him into a drug deal.
- When Bahrat and Janeway reveal that a Starfleet phaser was used for murder on the station — the one that Neelix saw Wix commit.
- Pet the Dog: When Neelix finally decides to come clean, and offers a reckless plan to avert prison that will likely get them both killed, Wix agrees to face his fate alongside his old friend.
- Poor Communication Kills: If Neelix had gone to Janeway right away, she would have given him the "We're family now" speech and he wouldn't have been so hellbent on finding a map.
- Punishment Detail: Scrubbing the exhaust manifolds! Neelix is so excited not to be put off the ship that he doesn't feel bad about such a mundane job.
- Rest-and-Resupply Stop: The 'supplies' and 'directions' version.
- Serious Business: Neelix becomes fixated on getting a map of the Expanse, because he believes he's outlived his usefulness, as Voyager is moving out of the region he knows.
- Shadow Archetype: Wix is essentially what Neelix would be without Voyager (and very likely was before the start of the series): a guy who lives from one sordid deal to the next and who is constantly struggling to avoid suffering for any misdeeds. After his time on Voyager, Neelix can barely handle doing even a fraction of what's required in their adventure, but Wix presses on and ignores pesky morality issues.
- A Shared Suffering: When Neelix comes clean about his inability to guide Voyager further, Janeway points out they're all lost in the Delta Quadrant with no idea of what's ahead.
- Space Clouds: It even has Dramatic Thunder!
- Space Station: Essentially a pit stop for travelers through the Nekrit Expanse.
- Stuff Blowing Up: Neelix wasn't kidding about how explosive warp plasma is.
- Title DropWix: Do you begrudge me the opportunity to make a fair trade?
- True Companions: Janeway reminds Neelix that he's part of a family now, which means he doesn't get to just walk away like nothing happened and skate from punishment for his actions.
- Understatement: When the drug dealer asks if they've got a long voyage ahead of them, Tom and Chakotay find it Actually Pretty Funny.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Janeway gives one to Neelix at the end, including the Meaningful Echo above.
- With Friends Like These...: Neelix needs the map from Wix and feels somewhat indebted to him, due to their history together. As such, he gets roped into assorted actions that ultimately turn his stomach. Though Neelix manages to convince him to confess, Wix ultimately leaves the station without finding out if his old friend will be okay.
- With or Without You: Neelix tells Wix that he'll go to Bahrat with his plan, whether or not Wix agrees.
- Wretched Hive: The outpost looks like this. It's a shady place with an active Black Market, and the station master Bahrat rules with an iron fist, taking a 20% cut from every transaction. Bahrat does enforce laws, but he's oblivious to crimes happening right under his nose, and his judgment runs pretty close to a Kangaroo Court.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: With Voyager about to enter space that Neelix knows nothing about, he fears that his usefulness to his friends is coming to an end and he'll be cut loose.
- You Owe Me: Wix plays on this when Neelix talks of confessing everything.
