Star Trek: Endgame Fiction Vs. Reality

What Happens In The Episode:

Whilst many of Voyager's crew find success and happiness after their extended journey home from The Delta Quadrant, Tuvok's years spent away from home prove to be severely detrimental, as a degenerative neurological condition slowly eats away at his logical mind.

Despite his best efforts, and mitigating treatment from the EMH, Tuvok's mental faculties deteriorate during his 16 years in The Delta Quadrant and, on his return, he is an erratic shadow of his former self. Kept under medical supervision in a darkened room, scribbling incoherent writings with a failing memory, Janeway visits Tuvok prior to her journey through time. Despite their years of friendship, Tuvok cannot see Janeway as anything other than an imposter, as 'Admiral Janeway visits on Sundays, and today is a Thursday'.

What Really Happens:

Admiral Janeway reveals Tuvok's affliction to her younger self, and he explains that a mind meld with a member of his family can cure the sickness. Sure enough, the truncated journey home allows Tuvok to receive the help he needs.

The cured Tuvok later proves to be instrumental in unraveling a Pakled false flag operation to blackmail the Federation and saves the falsely accused Cerritos Captain Carol Freeman from taking the fall.

Unfortunately, in 2401 he is replaced by a Changeling doppelganger and attempts to lure Seven of Nine, along with the crew of the Titan-A, into a trap. Thankfully, this Changeling is exposed. The real Tuvok makes an appearance in Star Trek: Picard's finale, The Last Generation, sitting down with Seven - before offering her a well-earned fourth pip on her collar.