Cogenitor

Template:Infobox Star Trek episode "Cogenitor" is the 22nd season-two episode of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Plot

When the Enterprise makes first contact with an alien race known as the Vissians, the humans and aliens become fast friends, as Vissian and human crewmembers begin socializing with one another and exchanging information about their races. (Enterprise crewmembers wryly point out that it's nice to have a first contact situation where nobody is thinking about charging weapons...)

The Vissian Captain invites Captain Jonathan Archer to accompany him in a specialized Vissian shuttlecraft, where they will explore the corona of a star. The craft is tightly shielded against all harmful heat and radiation, but Archer is more concerned with the shuttle's control systems, which are very alien to him and difficult to operate. Archer's attempts to pilot the shuttlecraft gradually improve with training.

Also, Malcolm Reed finds himself pursued by one of the Vissian crewmembers - their tactical officer, who quickly demonstrates that her interest in Reed is much more than professional.

The main plot of the episode concerns Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker, who becomes intrigued when he meets a Vissian couple in the Enterprise mess hall, who are accompanied by another of their race who seems different from any of the other aliens on their ship. Trip learns that the alien, who has no name, is a Cogenitor– in essence, a third gender in Vissian biology. Cogenitors are needed to complete the reproductive process– whenever a Vissian couple intend to conceive a child, they must apply for the honor of having a Cogenitor assigned to them. Since cogenitors only constitute 3% of Vissian population, they provide reproductive functions to many couples in their lifetime.

Trip continues to visit the Vissian starship, but quickly becomes suspicious when he visits his new friends' quarters and finds that the Cogenitor does not seem to be treated well. It only eats one meal a day, rarely speaks, spends most of its time holed up in its room, and is not allowed to mingle socially with outsiders. It does not even have a name; the Cogenitor requests that it be called 'Charles' (after Trip's own first name).

Without the couple's knowledge, Trip attempts to build a friendship with Charles. He finds that Charles, despite having a near-total lack of opportunities available to her (Charles seems to show some female characteristics), is actually quite intelligent; Trip secretly runs some medical scans of Charles and, with the help of Dr. Phlox, learns that Cogenitors are actually as intelligent as any Vissian and could learn and grow as fast as anyone. Trip encourages Charles to learn to read and write, producing incredible results - Charles devours any and all information given to her, and demands more. Unfortunately, Charles realizes that her life in Vissian society would be unfulfilling, and demands political asylum on Enterprise.

The Vissians are outraged; the Cogenitors are extremely valuable to their race, and there is only one of these on the Vissian ship. There are couples on the Vissian ship already in line for using that cogenitor, and therefore the Vissians cannot permit that cogenitor to leave. Trip appeals to the captain for help, but, after careful consideration, Archer is resolute: Charles must be returned to her people. The Cogenitor is resigned to her fate, but thanks Trip for his friendship. The Vissian Captain expresses his hope that this incident will not damage the friendship that has developed between humans and Vissians. Later, Archer is hailed by the Vissians again; he and Trip are shocked to hear that the Cogenitor has committed suicide. Archer subsequently gives Trip a severe dressing down for his interference.

References

• Cogenitor (episode) at Memory Alpha
• StarTrek.com Episode Information