"In the Flesh" is the fourth episode of season five of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, the 98th episode overall. It originally aired on November 4, 1998. The story was written by Nick Sagan, son of astronomer Carl Sagan.

On stardate 52136.4, the Federation starship Voyager has encountered a space station, which contains a near-complete recreation of Starfleet Academy on Earth. First Officer Chakotay and Tactical Officer Tuvok have investigated the recreation, finding that those inside appear to be Starfleet personnel, cadets, and others, such as the groundskeeper Boothby, played by Ray Walston. Chakotay also meets an officer, Commander Valerie Archer, and arranges to meet her later for a date. Caught in an area they should not be in by a cadet, Chakotay and Tuvok stun him and transport him back to Voyager. When they attempt to question the cadet and take a DNA sample, he commits suicide. The Doctor discovers the "cadet" is really a genetically-altered member of Species 8472, a highly dangerous race the crew had previously encountered. Captain Janeway orders Seven of Nine to begin preparing warheads using her Borg nanoprobes, but also looks for a diplomatic solution, sending Chakotay back to the simulation to learn more.

Chakotay keeps a date he earlier arranged with Valerie, during which she speaks candidly about the simulation, with which Chakotay attempts to play along. Valerie secretly takes a sample of his DNA and discovers that Chakotay is human. She alerts her superiors, and soon Chakotay is captured. Boothby, appearing as the highest-ranking member of Species 8472 present at the simulation, interrogates Chakotay, believing that Starfleet is preparing to invade fluidic space and attack their species. The Voyager crew arrives at the simulation to attempt to rescue Chakotay, creating a tense stalemate. Janeway and Boothby agree to enter negotiations to settle the matter peacefully.

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