Theory: Ocampan Physiology is Influenced by Nearby Species

[WarpTenLizard]

As far as I know, I came up with this theory myself, though I'm building off of previous theories and observations from other people

My theory is that an Ocampan's physiology and abilities are naturally influenced by their surroundings.

Consider:

1. Kes's training sessions with Tuvok increased the strength of her telepathy. Obviously Tuvok's teaching was a factor, but she was also being exposed directly to his Vulcan telepathy.
2. There was no hint of Ocampans having any time-travel related abilities, until "Before and After," when Kes was exposed to radiation from one of Annorax's Temporal torpedoes. Note that several crew members were exposed to those tachyons, but it seems only Kes gained the power to move through time. She retained this ability up to even "Fury"
3. Only after telepathic conversations with 8472, aliens from another universe, did Kes suddenly gain powers that transcended her own universe (seeing beyond the subatomic level, etc)
4. She also had shape-shifting abilities in "Fury"-- something 8472 has as well

Perhaps the reaspn why the Ocampa lost so many of their abilities is not just because they stopped using them, but because they no longer had regular contact with the other life forms on their planet that used to set off some of those abilities.

This theory would go worlds to explaining some of the more nonsensical aspects of Ocampan biology, like the Elogium. Maybe the Ocampa's reproduction was influenced over the generations by their very alien Caretaker hovering over their planet.

Not to mention Kes's drastic change in personality, by "Fury." Maybe she ran into a particularly vicious life form (Arimus?) and it rubbed off on her.

This raises some other questions. Like...

• If an Ocampa spent a long time working aboard a Borg cube, or alongside an ex-drone, would thd Ocampan's body eventually start to produce its own nanoprobes? Or gain the ability to mentally assimilate others?
• What about androids, like Data or Soji?
• If an Ocampa was in a longterm relationship with a joined Trill, would her own mind begin to spinter into multiple personalities? Or start to join with the Trill's? Or simply absorb some of his extra personalities?
• What about the Founders (Changelings)?
• Or the Silver Blood?

Go crazy.

 

[Oddish]

Your theory is very compelling. And while I doubt it occurred to the Voyager showrunners (they don't really seem like intellectual heavyweights), it certainly could have taken Kes in new and very different directions.

 

[Farscape One]

Very interesting theory. I like it.

It would make the Ocampa very chameleonic by nature. Definitely would have introduced some possibilities for Kes.

 

[Kor]

Maybe their extremely short lifespan was also externally induced, somehow.

Kor

 

[fireproof78]

Maybe their extremely short lifespan was also externally induced, somehow.

Kor

Honestly, I think the Ocampa as presented in the show are a result of the Caretaker's interventions, including a shorter life span, and possibly the Elogium oddness. It may have been an attempt to correct their mistake, while trying to make their current habitation sustainable until they could solve the problem.

To the OP's point, here's my own theory. I think the Ocampa have the ability to internalize certain facets of biology, like telepathy, since both Vulcan and 8472 are primarily biological. I think they can also take these traits on more quickly if their emotional state is more heightened, thus why Kes experiences some more rapid transformations. However, I think this is more biological, and not technological so any artificial races would have minimal impact.

 

[Oddish]

Maybe their extremely short lifespan was also externally induced, somehow.

And therefore reversible, maybe?

 

[Burning Hearts of Qo'nos]

I like this theory! Kes is a sponge.

 

[Lynx]

I tried hard for minutes to be able to come up with some constructive, positive theory about Kes and the Ocampa here but after 10 minutes staring at this thread, I found that I'm totally without any inspiration when it comes to this subject.

The more I dig deep into these theories about the Ocampa, the more I wish that the character Kes, played by Jennifer Lien had been a member of some more normal species and also been a main character in Deep Space Nine instead.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

The more I dig deep into these theories about the Ocampa, the more I wish that the character Kes, played by Jennifer Lien had been a member of some more normal species and also been a main character in Deep Space Nine instead.

Jennifer Lien would probably have been very compelling as a Vorta, or maybe a joined Trill.

Come to think of it, as much as I like Ezri Dax as she is, Lein might actually improve the roll if she'd been cast instead. She'd bring a more subtle mystique to Ezri's alien conundrum, and the blond hair would also go worlds to differentiating her from Jadzia.

 

[fireproof78]

more normal species

How so? I thought the value of the Ocampa was in their uniqueness not avoiding it?

 

[Oddish]

If Kes had been on Deep Space 9, her species would have been irrelevant. She would have been developed because she was a DS9 character.

 

[Timo]

One would need to be a sponge to get a proper life out of a lifespan that short. And being that physically rather than just mentally would be the perfect scifi touch.

But the average observed Ocampa simply being versatile but complacent is also a valid interpretation. Imitating those nearby would be what an Ocampa does when conditioned to a dull life underground for the first couple of years of her life; going nuts with independent experimentation on abitilies is what an Ocampa does when not hobbled that way.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Lynx]

Jennifer Lien would probably have been very compelling as a Vorta, or maybe a joined Trill.

Come to think of it, as much as I like Ezri Dax as she is, Lein might actually improve the roll if she'd been cast instead. She'd bring a more subtle mystique to Ezri's alien conundrum, and the blond hair would also go worlds to differentiating her from Jadzia.

Or she could have been an Ocampa but with the Ocampa planet closer to Earth and without the stupidities which the writers imposed on the Ocampa such as the silly life-span and the one-child syndrome.

Or some other Ocampa-like species as well.

As for Ezri Dax, you do have a point in your statement but since Ezri was great as she was and Nicole DeBoer did an excellent job in portraying her, it would have been a waste to erase that. Personally I like to see both Kes and Ezri in the show.

How so? I thought the value of the Ocampa was in their uniqueness not avoiding it?

No, the writers simply messed them up too much. Sometimes I wonder what the writers were on when they came up with what we saw in Elogium and the too-short lifespan was a mistake from the start.

One would need to be a sponge to get a proper life out of a lifespan that short. And being that physically rather than just mentally would be the perfect scifi touch.

But the average observed Ocampa simply being versatile but complacent is also a valid interpretation. Imitating those nearby would be what an Ocampa does when conditioned to a dull life underground for the first couple of years of her life; going nuts with independent experimentation on abitilies is what an Ocampa does when not hobbled that way.

Timo Saloniemi

The too-short lifespan was a mistake from the start. A species with such a short lifespan would not develope into more than primates.

If Kes had been on Deep Space 9, her species would have been irrelevant. She would have been developed because she was a DS9 character.

Exactly my point too.

 

[fireproof78]

No, the writers simply messed them up too much. Sometimes I wonder what the writers were on when they came up with what we saw in Elogium and the too-short lifespan was a mistake from the start.

Honestly, I think it could have been reworked a little bit if there was some willingness to get creative and not take everything in Elogium at face value.

 

[Kor]

Even if Ocampans typically give birth to multiple offspring at once, the elogium being a once-in-a-lifetime thing is quite problematic, since there's always a chance that an Ocampan woman could die from disease or accident before it ever happens, or be trapped somewhere away from any biologically compatible mates while it happens, etc., etc.

Kor

 

[Lynx]

Even if Ocampans typically give birth to multiple offspring at once, the elogium being a once-in-a-lifetime thing is quite problematic, since there's always a chance that an Ocampan woman could die from disease or accident before it ever happens, or be trapped somewhere away from any biologically compatible mates while it happens, etc., etc.

Kor

The problem is that the writers didn't think when they came up with those weird abilities for the Ocampa.

They just did it because: "Ah, that's new. We haven had this on Star Trek before!"
And when they realized that it didn't work, it was just: "Ah, never mind. The viewers won't notice!"
So they just kept going with all the inconsistencies it created.
Just like they did with the shuttles and photon torpedoes.

 

[Oddish]

It could have been easily addressed, too. Like the torpedoes, shuttles, and that miserable single pip on Harry's collar, a few lines of well-conceived dialogue could have fixed it.

 

[Lynx]

It could have been easily addressed, too. Like the torpedoes, shuttles, and that miserable single pip on Harry's collar, a few lines of well-conceived dialogue could have fixed it.

Well, I'm actually grateful to those in charge for the errors with the shuttles and torpedoes. It made me come up with the amazing but also logical idea about The Shuttle And Torpedo Building Team!

As for Harry, maybe Harry had some influential uncle or so with contacts in Starfleet who ordered Janeway to bring him along for one mission. When that mission became more than a three-week mission, Janeway thought: "OK, I'm stuck with you, you little brat. But I'll never promote you!"

Another example is the constant change of Tuvok's rank in the first season. It's because every time Janeway lost to Tuvok when they were playing Kal-Toh, Janeway demoted him and next time when janeway won, Tuvok got his rank back.

 

[Oddish]

As for Harry, maybe Harry had some influential uncle or so with contacts in Starfleet who ordered Janeway to bring him along for one mission. When that mission became more than a three-week mission, Janeway thought: "OK, I'm stuck with you, you little brat. But I'll never promote you!"

Janeway's dialogue toward Harry in "Twisted" refutes this theory. She called him one of the bright spots in the mission, and said he exceeded all her expectations.

 

[Lynx]

Janeway's dialogue toward Harry in "Twisted" refutes this theory. She called him one of the bright spots in the mission, and said he exceeded all her expectations.

Maybe she thought: "Ah, we're all gonna die soon so I'll give you some credit at last so you can die happy."

Or maybe The Clown was right: "She's like a dear old mother to you Harry!"