Beaming over samples from a protostar contaminates Voyager with photonic energy, adversely affecting the holodeck where Ensign Kim runs his Beowulf holonovel. Kim disappears, and when Tuvok and Chakotay investigate, they disappear, too. Janeway turns to the photonic Doctor as the only crewman who can deal with this problem without harm, thus giving the Doctor his first experiences outside of sick bay, with duties beyond medical.
—statmanjeff