stardate 49548.7. While attempting to evade a pursuing Vidiian vessel, the Voyager enters a plasma cloud. Before they can clear it, the engines stall, anti-matter supplies drain and a proton burst cause heavy casualties and breaches in structural integrity of the hull. They discovers that a duplicate Voyager exist in a parallel universe. Only one can survive.

stardate 49578.2. Tuvok and Bennet's shuttle crash lands on a sacred haven for the Drayan, an alien race which has shunned outside contact for decades. While Bennet lies dying from his injuries, three frightened Drayan children venture out from hiding. The young ones beg for his help in saving them from the imminent arrival of "Morrok"—the messenger of death.