Sacred Ground

Visiting the Nechani homeworld, Kes enters a sacred shrine and is struck by a biogenic energy field that leaves her in a coma. The Doctor is helpless, and the Nechani monks forbid scans near the field. Neelix recalls a legend of a king who underwent a spiritual ordeal to save his injured son, so Janeway asks to follow the same path. Her guide leads her through trials that seem pointless and even absurd, and tells her she must stop looking for reasons and open herself to the spirits. Bitten by a creature during the ritual, Janeway returns to the ship, where the Doctor tries to use the venom as the basis of a scientific cure, but it fails. Finally Janeway carries Kes through the energy field herself, trusting that her willingness is enough. Both survive, and Kes wakes. The Doctor offers a scientific explanation, but Janeway is no longer sure science tells the whole story.