Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series)

Meld (1996)

Brad Dourif: Crewman Lon Suder

Photos 

Quotes 

• Crewman Lon Suder : Understand one thing, Tuvok: I can promise you, this will not silence your demons. If you can't control the violence, the violence controls you. Be prepared to yield your entire being to it, to sacrifice your place in civilized life. For you will no longer be a part of it, and there's no return.

• Lieutenant Tuvok : Do you know what a mind meld is?

  Crewman Lon Suder : It's that... Vulcan thing where you grab someone's head.

• Crewman Lon Suder : A most logical use of violence, to punish the violent. We both know that I am prepared to die, but are you prepared to kill?

• Crewman Lon Suder : It's attractive, isn't it?

  Lieutenant Tuvok : Attractive?

  Crewman Lon Suder : Violence.

  Lieutenant Tuvok : On the contrary. I find it disturbing.

  Crewman Lon Suder : You're right, it is disturbing - never knowing when that impulse may come, or whether or not you can control it when it does. You live on the edge of every moment. And yet, in its own way, violence is attractive too. Maybe because it doesn't require logic. Perhaps that's why it is so liberating.

• Crewman Lon Suder : Guess I'm lucky. Federation doesn't execute people.

• Crewman Lon Suder : [talking to Suder, who's in the Brig for killing Crewman Darwin]  I already told you why I killed him, Lieutenant.

  Lieutenant Tuvok : You didn't like the way he looked at you?

  Crewman Lon Suder : Right.

  Lieutenant Tuvok : Just how did he look at you?

  Crewman Lon Suder : Like a lot of people in Starfleet do.

  Lieutenant Tuvok : So, this murder could in fact be explained as outburst of rage against Starfleet?

  Crewman Lon Suder : Look... if that's how you want to look at this.

  Lieutenant Tuvok : I want the truth.

  Crewman Lon Suder : [gets up and approaches Tuvok from his side of the forcefield]  I don't like Starfleet. I won't deny that, but...

  Lieutenant Tuvok : Yes.

  Crewman Lon Suder : I have killed people who weren't in Starfleet for the same reason. I did not like the way they looked at me. I've thought about killing you, Lieutenant.

  Lieutenant Tuvok : In my case you have a motive. My previous mission as a spy, my role as your accuser, but to my knowledge Crewman Darwin had done nothing to you.

  Crewman Lon Suder : That's true.

  Lieutenant Tuvok : Then why choose him as a victim?

  Crewman Lon Suder : I don't know.

  Lieutenant Tuvok : Do you feel remorse?

  Crewman Lon Suder : [that question seems to amuse Suder]  I don't seem to feel anything at all.

  [Suder returns to his bed rest] 

  Crewman Lon Suder : Most Betazoids can sense other people's emotions - I can't even sense my own. So, what's going to happen to me now?

  Lieutenant Tuvok : I'll have to discuss that with the Captain.

  Crewman Lon Suder : [Tuvok turns to leave]  I know what I'd do if I were her.

  [Tuvok turns back] 

  Crewman Lon Suder : Guess I'm lucky - the Federation doesn't execute people.