The Miraculous Life-Saving Treatment That Resurrected DS9’s Beloved Nog

Summary

Star Trek: Lower Decks reminds fans of how Ensign Nog was saved on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with similar medical technology.

In Star Trek, biosynthetic limbs are not merely plug-and-play accessories; recipients require counseling and physical therapy. Biosynthetic body parts, such as the leg created for Nog and Asif, are more prevalent in Star Trek compared to using cloning for spare parts.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 8 - "Caves"

In Star Trek: Lower Decks, fans are reminded of how Ensign Nog (Aron Eisenberg) was saved on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with the help of a similar medical technology from the 24th century. During an away mission to study alien moss, Lieutenants Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), D'Vana Tendi (Noel Wells), and Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) find themselves trapped together in a cave. To pass the time, they share stories of past missions where they were also stuck in caves, but separately. Mariner recounts a mission leading Delta Shift, where Ensign Asif (Asif Ali) suffers a severe leg injury from a shuttle crash.

While attempting to obtain a crucial mineral required for repairing the away team's communicators, Lieutenant Mariner and Ensign Karavitus (Artemis Pebdani) stumble upon a chroniton field that accelerates their aging process. Interestingly, Ensign Asif is still young enough to withstand the effects of old age, prompting Mariner to order him to assist in mining the mineral, despite his grueling injury. To Asif's dismay, his fractured leg decomposes and detaches, leading Mariner to opt for leaving the limb behind in the cave instead of retrieving it. She explains, "I have grown weary of old age, so we will rely on the doctor to regrow your lost limb."

Star Trek: Lower Decks Reminds Fans How Starfleet Medicine Saved DS9’s Nog

Ensign Nog, just like Ensign Asif on Star Trek: Lower Decks, experiences the lifesaving power of Starfleet medicine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In the gripping episode "The Siege of AR-558" in season 7, Nog finds himself in the midst of an imbalanced confrontation during the Dominion War. The Starfleet officers bravely defending the front lines are effortlessly overwhelmed by a Jem'Hadar battalion. Nog's crucial role as a scout not only helps identify the Jem'Hadar but also secures AR-558 for the Federation. However, this heroic position comes at a great cost - the loss of Nog's leg. Although he is successfully evacuated, Nog's journey towards recovery takes an innovative path. Rather than receiving a mechanical prosthetic, he undergoes a remarkable procedure where a new biosynthetic leg is grown from his own tissues.

Biosynthetic limbs are a commonly used medical technology in the Star Trek universe. However, contrary to Mariner's portrayal in Star Trek: Lower Decks, these limbs are not simple plug-and-play attachments. In the episode "It's Only a Paper Moon" from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7, Ensign Nog's struggle with PTSD and the integration of his new leg is explored in a poignant manner. Standard procedures for biosynthetic limb recipients include counseling and physical therapy, but even after two months, Nog continues to experience pain in his leg and requires a cane to walk. The process of adapting to a new reality requires intensive psychological care, and this is likely the case for Ensign Asif on Lower Decks as well.

Synthetic Limbs and Cloning In Star Trek Explained

Biosynthetic technology, although rare in the Star Trek universe, has its roots in cloning. In episode 23 of season 6 of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled "Rightful Heir," Klingon clerics succeed in cloning the legendary Emperor Kahless (Kevin Conway) from his blood, which they find on an ancient bat'leth. Similarly, in Star Trek: Nemesis, Shinzon (Tom Hardy) is introduced as the Romulan-made clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Despite lacking the same experiences as their originals, both Kahless II and Shinzon possess their own individuality and free will. This perspective is brought to light when considering the fate of Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker's (Connor Trinneer) clone in episode 10 of season 3 of Star Trek: Enterprise, titled "Similitude." This clone is tragically destined to be used as spare parts, making his end particularly devastating.

Instead of resorting to cloning for harvesting biological material, Star Trek's future adopts a more compassionate approach, avoiding the tragic fate of Trip's clone. To save Admiral Jean-Luc Picard from Irumodic Syndrome in Star Trek: Picard, his synthetic body seamlessly mirrors that of a completely organic one. In a similar vein, Grey Tal (Ian Alexander) is revived in Star Trek: Discovery using a risky and rarely successful process. However, it is more common to cultivate individual biosynthetic body parts, as seen in the cases of Nog in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Ensign Asif in Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Catch Star Trek: Lower Decks every Thursday on Paramount+ streaming platform.