Stardate: 48693.2. Harry Kim disappears from the holodeck during his holo-novel, "Beowulf." According to the characters, he died at the hands of a mystical beast known as "Grendel". When Chakotay and Tuvok also disappear, the Doctor is transferred to the holodeck to investigate.

Stardate: Unknown. Captain Janeway starts seeing characters and objects from her holo-novel around the ship. Soon afterwards the crew begins entering a catatonic state one by one, while only Kes and the Doctor remain unaffected.