Captain Janeway takes three crew members with poor performance records on an away mission in the Delta Flyer to bring them up to Starfleet standards. However, an unexpected collision with a Dark Matter comet leaves the crew in a dangerous situation. Plus, an unexpected attack forces them to work together to survive.

A well-meaning alien poet discovers an unconscious B'Elanna Torres after her crash landing in the Delta Flyer. He uses her Voyager stories to inspire his theatrical work, composing plays based on the crew and their life on the ship to win favor with his Warlord.