The Qomar quickly drop their above-it-all, xenophobic ways and invite Voyager to visit their planet, which is surrounded by numerous starships and space stations.

Many Qomar fans visit Voyager in person, receiving miniature singing holograms of the Doctor from his own hands. Janeway, tersely noting that he is neglecting his duties, orders him back to sick bay.

In sick bay, however, two comely Qomar women, Azen and Vinka, are waiting for him, having feigned illness in order to get there. He can only escape their advances -- and lustful praise of his math skill -- by deactivating himself for a while.

Soon, the Doctor is back on the planet, where Tincoo shows him a musical score she composed, based on the intersection of two fractals.

"I created it for you," she says. Nonetheless, he is concerned that it involves notes that are beyond his vocal range.

Tincoo also implores him to stay on the planet after his final concert, at which point Voyager will leave. The ship can get by without him, she says, and the cultural fulfillment of millions is greater than the medical treatment of a few hundred. He expresses some doubt about her too-quantitative approach, but she responds with the "simplest equation of all: one plus one."

He's given her the most stimulating time of her life, she says. It's been the same for him, he replies.

Back on Voyager, the Doctor tells Janeway he wants to leave his position. She responds with disdain and anger. They argue. He says she's never regarded him as equal to the human crew. She replies that she's given him extraordinary freedom. Besides, she points out, fame is fleeting. And while the Qomar may be technologically sophisticated, can they meet his emotional needs?

But, as he admits, "there's a woman involved, one who appreciates me in a way no one on this crew ever has." Janeway can understand his loneliness, and, however reluctantly, says she won't stand in his way.

"You shouldn't keep your fans waiting," says Seven, contemptuously turning away.

He beams down to see Tincoo. She has a surprise for him -- a new, improved version of himself. Now, she explains dispassionately, he can stay on Voyager, which he was reluctant to leave, while the new hologram can perform on the planet, hitting operatic notes of which he was not capable.

The new hologram arrogantly says he has "polyphonic sequencers," well beyond the Doctor's capabilities. The Doctor temporarily deactivates this new competitor, and agitatedly tries to explain to Tincoo that his singing is a matter of passion, not just technical ability. She is unimpressed, even irritated.

He tries to bring up their supposed budding romance. She has no idea what he is talking about.

But he is still part of the concert, which is now his farewell performance. On Voyager, he considers reprogramming himself -- even dumping his medical database -- to be able to sing Tincoo's music. B'Elanna dissuades him, pointing out that, if reprogrammed, he'd no longer be himself.

At the concert, he sings a Neopolitan ballad about lost love. It is beautiful, but the applause is lackluster, except from the members of the Voyager crew. Then the new hologram takes the stage and sings Tincoo's composition -- sustained high-pitched tones -- and the alien audience erupts into a standing ovation.

On Voyager, the Doctor formally requests readmission to the crew. Janeway speaks to him harshly, but then, in what is presumably meant to be a caring gesture, denies him permission to delete his singing subroutines.

Seven comes to sick bay and, over the Doctor's objections, reads him one final fan letter. "Who is it from?" he asks soberly. She tells him it's signed "Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One."