Ep 2. The Gift

In the second episode of season four of Star Trek: Voyager, titled "The Gift," the crew is faced with a new challenge as Kes, the ship's resident telepathic Ocampa, begins to experience strange and intense neural energy surges. As the crew struggles to find a solution to Kes' condition, they begin to realize that her powers are evolving rapidly and could potentially become a danger to the ship and its crew.

The episode begins with Kes experiencing a sudden burst of telekinetic energy that throws her across the ship's cargo bay. As the crew rushes to her aid, it becomes clear that Kes' powers are growing stronger by the day, causing her to experience debilitating headaches and seizures. In an attempt to find a solution to her condition, the crew consults with the Doctor (Robert Picardo), who discovers that Kes' brain is undergoing rapid changes that are leading to her heightened telepathic abilities.

As Kes' condition worsens, the crew begins to explore the possibility of finding a way to reverse the changes in her brain and return her to her previous state. However, Kes is reluctant to give up her newfound powers and becomes increasingly resistant to the crew's attempts to help her.

As the crew grapples with the ethical implications of interfering with Kes' evolutionary process, they receive a distress call from a nearby planet that is being threatened by a powerful alien race known as the Viidians. With no other options, Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) decides to ally with the Viidians in order to form a joint defense against a common enemy.

In the midst of their war preparations, Kes' abilities continue to intensify, leading to a final confrontation between her and the Viidians that holds the fate of the ship and its crew in the balance.

Overall, "The Gift" is a riveting episode that explores themes of evolution, sacrifice, and the nature of power. With electrifying performances from the cast and plenty of thrilling action sequences, this episode is a standout installment in the Star Trek: Voyager canon that is sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats.