Stardate: 50425.1 Captain Janeway and Neelix return from a difficult first contact and trade mission with the Tak Tak to find Voyager disabled and adrift in space with the crew barely alive. They soon learn that alien macroviral lifeforms overran the ship and grew rapidly in size. After Neelix becomes infected, Captain Janeway and The Doctor must retake the ship.

When Ensign Kim falls for a attractive Holodeck character, he seeks help from Tuvok in learning how to suppress his emotions.