Cogenitor (Enterprise episode)

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"Cogenitor" is the title of a Star Trek: Enterprise television episode from season two.

[edit] Plot summary

Reed chats with visitors.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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.

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. Cogenitors are rare in Vissian society, and must often provide services to hundreds of couples a year. 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; Trip takes to calling the Cogenitor 'Charles' (after his own first name). Over the couple's objections, 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; Doctor Phlox secretly obtains medical scans of Charles, and 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 understandably outraged; the Cogenitors are extremely valuable to their race, and not even one of these valuable beings can be permitted to leave - otherwise the entire Vissian race might be in danger. Trip appeals to the captain for help, but 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.

[edit] Trivia

The original promotional advertisement used by UPN for this episode was heavily criticized for not accurately depicting the subject matter. The promo suggested that "Cogenitor" was to be a light-hearted, comedic episode, when in fact it was actually one of Enterprise's most serious episodes.
The episode is often seen as being similar to the Star Trek:The Next Generation 1992 episode titled The Outcast.
When Trip is showing the Cogenitor Enterprise' selection of movies, some of the entries include the humorously titled "Celestial Navigation" and "Love's Lovely Love" under "Musical", "Dixon Hill and the Black Orchid" (referring to Jean-Luc Picard's favourite noir detective in Star Trek:The Next Generation) under "Adventure" and "The Bride of Chaotica" (referring to the antagonist from same fictional film serials as Tom Paris' "Captain Proton" holodeck program from Star Trek: Voyager) under "Science Fiction".