Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41463.9. While mapping the Pleiades Cluster, we've been asked by the Federation to visit a group terraforming Velara Three. Communications have been erratic and there is some concern about their welfare.
Laforge: Entering standard orbit now.
Picard: It takes very special people to live in such desolation.
Troi: Visionaries who don't see this planet as it is, but as it will be.
Riker: I've always wanted to see terraforming in operation.
Picard: Lieutenant Yar, hailing frequencies.
Tasha: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
Picard: Velara Three base, this is Captain Picard of the starship Enterprise.
Tasha: No malfunctioning equipment on either side, sir. They are receiving us.
Picard: Velara Three base, this is the Enterprise. Come in please. Over.
Laforge: Maybe no one's home.
Data: We are sensing life-forms, sir.
Picard: Velara Three base, do you copy?
Mandl: Velara base to Enterprise. Yes, Captain, I'm Director Mandl. I'm sorry about the delay, but we weren't expecting visitors.
Picard: Terraform Command has asked us to see how you were getting along.
Mandl: We were a little behind, but we're back on schedule. I'd like to hope we'd be allowed to maintain that schedule.
Troi: We alarm him for some reason.
Picard: Your staff is all well, I presume, Director?
Mandl: Understandably tired. We're working very hard, Captain.
Picard: If there anything we can do to help? You and your staff are welcome aboard for a change of scene, rest.
Riker: We have some holodecks which you might enjoy.
Mandl: No disrespect, sir, but we cannot afford the time.
Computer: Channel closed.
Troi: His fear is escalating.
Mandl: If you will excuse me, sir, I really must get back to work.
Troi: I sense deliberate concealment, sir.
Picard: Of what?
Troi: I don't know, but it's intense.
Picard: Director Mandl, we've heard of your remarkable achievements in terraforming. My crew would very much appreciate looking around.
Mandl: This is not really the best time. We are at a very critical phase just now.
Picard: We would require no special attention.
Mandl: I'm trying not to be rude, sir, but this is really very inconvenient.
Troi: He is concealing something. It's more than just being too busy. Your announcement about coming down has sent him almost to a point of panic.
Picard: Well, whether he wants us or not. Director Mandl, unless you're absolutely refusing permission for us to land at your station, prepare to receive our away team.
Mandl: As you wish.
Picard: Counselor, perhaps you'd better go along as well.
Troi: Aye, sir.
Picard: Someone that tense could be very unpredictable. Stay on your toes, Number One.
Luisa: Welcome to Velara Three. Please. I want you to remember it as it is now, because in a couple of decades you won't recognize it. Luisa Kim. Gardener of Edens.
Riker: Commander William Riker, USS Enterprise. This is Counselor Troi, Lieutenant Yar, Lieutenant La Forge, Lieutenant Commander Data.
Luisa: Arthur Malencon, hydraulics specialist, and Bjorn Benson, Chief Engineer.
Benson: An android?
Tasha: And third in command of the Enterprise.
Bensen: Where were you manufactured? Are there others like you?
Data: Both matters are subjects of protracted discussion.
Bensen: Remarkable. Excuse me.
Luisa: We don't get many visitors. It's exciting to have you here.
Riker: We weren't sure how we would be received. Director Mandl was less than enthusiastic about our interest.
Luisa: I should apologize for him. We are at a critical phase. Usually he's quite charming.
Riker: We'll try to stay out of the way. We've never seen a terraforming station, and we appreciate the opportunity.
Luisa: How much do you know about the process?
Data: Theories, reports, but nothing first-hand.
Luisa: Oh, wonderful. Let me show you what we do. Newcomers find this
Troi: The other two are secretive, but she is as open as she appears.
Luisa: What we're doing is so exciting, so inspiring. We take a lifeless planet and little by little transform it into an M class environment, capable of supporting life. Terraforming makes you feel a little god-like. The first phase involves selecting the planet. That's very important. It must have the right mass and gravity, the correct rate of rotation, and a balanced day and night. The planet must also be without life or the prospect of life developing naturally. The Federation determines if that's so. Then, we take over. This station is phase two. Phase Three involves water. Usually we create basins using hydraulic landscaping, but the water on this planet is subsurface, and extremely high in salt content. We are just about to begin pumping and filtering the water, removing the salt, oxygenating and replacing. Next, we introduce micro-organisms, and when the process is complete eventually, we'll have a lush, arable, biosphere.
Riker: You make it sound poetic.
Luisa: I think it's the best job in the universe.
Data: The efficiency of your hydraulic landscaping is quite elegant.
Malencon: It isn't yet, but it will be. Right now I'm disturbed by erratic power surges in several of the servo-mechanisms that control the hydraulic probes.
Laforge: Could it be the increased conductivity caused by the high saline content?
Malencon: That was my first thought, but I
Bensen: Arthur. The factors do not support that conclusion.
Mandl: I'm Director Mandl, and I'm sorry about having been so abrupt during our initial contact. Being isolated, one tends to forget the social graces. Are you seeing everything that you want?
Troi: What you're doing here is miraculous.
Mandl: What we are doing here is working a difficult and demanding timetable, and there will be no miracle unless Malencon here gets the hydraulic probes back on line. We are set to step up to full conversion immediately. Shouldn't you be in the hydraulic chamber, Arthur?
Malencon: Now?
Mandl: Yes.
Malencon: All right, Kurt.
Data: Geordi, this appears to be the master subsurface pump.
Laforge: You're right. Very impressive.
Data: This is interesting. The water table is a thin ribbon between the sandy surface layer and the rocks below.
Laforge: And those two surfaces follow that contour so precisely, the water maintains a consistent depth between them.
Data: Which would require extreme precision from the probe controls.
Mandl: Here we have something which may be of interest to you. A vegetation graph. It is really the key center for successful terraforming.
Riker: Incredible. It's planned month by month, decade by decade?
Mandl: Every single thing is specific and exact. You see grand, romantic concepts. I see unyielding rock under an ocean of sand.
Troi: Commander!
Riker: What is it, Deanna?
Troi: Malencon. He's in trouble!
Malencon: Help! Help! Argh!
Riker: Can you open it?
Mandl: It's jammed. First Officer's log, stardate 41464.3. What began as a routine visit to a terraforming site has turned into something far more serious. Arthur Malencon, the hydraulics engineer, has been critically injured by a laser drill which appears to have malfunctioned.
Picard: Situation report, Number One.
Riker: For safety reasons, we're shutting off all power to the Hydraulics room before entering to recover the body. Then we'll beam him up to Sickbay, but from the look of his wounds, it's probably hopeless.
Picard: Keep me informed.
Laforge: Data ?
Data: Go ahead, Geordi.
Bensen: All set.
Laforge: Data, we have your section completely powered down now. Bensen has just locked the master servomotor drive system.
Tasha: I'm going in.
Data: I will go with you.
Tasha: Transporter Room, this is Lieutenant Yar. Two to beam up to Sickbay.
Luisa: I want to go. We should be with him. Kurt, please come too.
Riker: Transporter Room, this is Commander Riker. Beam up four at my co-ordinates.
Data: Geordi, this is intriguing. I have seen malfunctions
Data: But this is almost as if the laser drill seemed to operate itself with a will
Data: Separate from it's control console.
Bensen: I can't explain it.
Data: The laser blasts seemed to end when the yelling stopped.
Bensen: Maybe Arthur stopped it, only not in time.
Data: Not possible.
Laforge: Then what are you suggesting?
Data: Uncertain. Geordi, please return power to the control console in this room. I wish to reactivate the program.
Laforge: You got it.
Data: I am running the base drilling program.
Data: Geordi, servos off.
Bensen: They are off.
Laforge: Data, what's happening?
Data: Too much to explain.
Laforge: Can you open that? La Forge to Enterprise. We have a problem.
Picard: Be specific.
Laforge: Data's in the hydraulics room alone, and we're hearing laser blasts.
Picard: Get him out of there!
Bensen: It's not working again.
Laforge: We've got to get this door open. Data! We can't get in! Data! Data! Data!
Picard: Away team, now. What is happening?
Picard: I'm going to beam him out of there.
Data: Bridge, this is Lieutenant Commander Data. No need to beam me up, sir. The situation is under control.
Laforge: Are you all right?
Data: Yes.
Laforge: What happened? Did you do anything which might have set it off?
Data: No, but the firing program was dynamic.
Laforge: The firing program? In what way?
Data: It adjusted to my tactics. It tracked with me, anticipating. A fixed program could not have done that.
Laforge: Are you suggesting that someone was controlling the aiming and firing sequence?
Data: That is exactly how it appeared. There was a mind working against me.
Bensen: What did you do to this laser drill? A year's work destroyed!
Data: I had no choice.
Data: We were attempting to trace the source of the malfunction when it attacked me.
Mandl: How much more of this useless fantasy must I listen to?
Picard: None at all, Mister Mandl. Until this is sorted out, I've provided temporary quarters for you and your staff. Perhaps you'd like to make use of them.
Mandl: You're overstepping your authority, Picard. You have no right to interfere.
Picard: Mister Mandl, an attack on one of my crew gives me the right.
Mandl: I have a schedule to meet.
Picard: Your schedule is on hold, until I have a satisfactory explanation of this. Director Mandl. Lieutenant Yar, would you escort the Director to his quarters.
Tasha: Aye, sir.
Picard: Go on with your report.
Data: It would appear the laser's drilling system was reprogrammed, sir. As soon as its memory bank received power, it turned itself on and went after me. Fortunately, I was able to cope with it.
Laforge: And not by much, from what I saw.
Data: I believe it was programmed to destroy any person moving in that room, sir.
Picard: Certainty? Or speculation?
Data: Certainty.
Laforge: That would have required the talents of a master programr.
Data: But it was done.
Picard: And so the question becomes not who, since it clearly was one of the three remaining terraformers. The question becomes why? What are they hiding? What could be so important that one or all of them, could be desperate enough to kill?
Laforge: Shall I have them brought in, sir?
Picard: Not yet.
Picard: Malencon?
Crusher: I couldn't save him. The injuries were too severe, the damage too extensive.
Riker: The entire Velara Three facility has been powered down, Captain.
Worf: We've just completed a remote power feed to the life support systems.
Picard: Good. Data, I want you and Geordi to return for more careful inspection.
Data: What are we to look for, sir?
Picard: Evidence of tampering, negligence, sabotage, whatever. The answer's there, on the planet. Tasha, I want you to provide Counselor Troi and me with complete personnel records on our three guests. Psych profiles, training, everything. I'm looking for motive, intent, the psychological capacity to commit one murder and to attempt another.
Tasha: Aye, sir.
Picard: It seems we are becoming detectives, Number One.
Laforge: Not much left of this drill.
Data: Geordi, I need some visual assistance.
Laforge: Whoa. What is it? Nothing but basic elements. Inorganic. No carbon. Sandy texture. Those flashes are almost musical. I see color variations and rhythms in complex harmonies.
Data: Speculation. Could it be alive?
Laforge: How could it be alive? It's inorganic.
Data: Whatever it is, it could be what they are covering up, and the reason someone killed Malencon.
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. On my order, Data's startling discovery of a possible life form has been beamed aboard so that its true nature might be uncovered. But unlike life on Earth and elsewhere, it appears to be completely inorganic.
Crusher: A test for inorganic life.
Data: It's never been done, Doctor.
Crusher: There are basic definitions for organic life. Must have the ability to assimilate, respirate, reproduce, grow and develop, move, secrete and excrete.
Picard: Would any of those apply here?
Crusher: Perhaps growth and development.
Data: Reproduction?
Crusher: Yes. Those two may be basic for any definition of life, organic or inorganic.
Picard: Well, Doctor, you're charging unknown seas. How do we proceed?
Crusher: As we're dealing with a fundamental question, let's use the basic scientific method. Observe, theorize and attempt to prove it. Activate. Let's be sure of what we're dealing with. Is the sample organic?
Computer: Negative carbon. Negative known life components. Substance inorganic.
Data: Recheck analysis, please.
Computer: Rechecking. Analysis verified. Not organic.
Crusher: Magnify to screen. Factor five. Hold surface. Factor ten.
Picard: What are we looking at?
Wesley: It's really beautiful, whatever it is.
Picard: What's that hum?
Data: It started after Doctor Crusher ordered the scanner to magnify.
Crusher: Computer, de-magnify. Resume normal scan.
Picard: Everyone stand back.
Crusher: Step back again)
Crusher: It's us.
Picard: Yes, we're causing it. Why?
Data: Unknown. But it is definitely reacting to our presence. Perhaps it is picking up the electrical impulse of our systems.
Wesley: The flashes haven't changed. Could the hum be connected to the flashing?
Crusher: Computer, magnify. What is the magnification?
Computer: Twenty five hundred diameters.
Crusher: Analyze the pattern of the flashes.
Computer: Not repetitive or sequential. Pattern not recognized.
Crusher: What is the source of the flashes?
Computer: Unable to specify. Theoretically not possible from this substance.
Crusher: Disregard incongruity and theorize as to source.
Computer: Life.
Mandl: What do you mean a life form?! What life form?! A Federation recon expedition certified Velara Three lifeless.
Picard: Understandable, given this particular life form's novel nature.
Mandl: What is that nature?
Picard: Doctor Crusher is still making her determination. Mister Mandl, you know the Prime Directive.
Mandl: Are you saying that I knowingly defied it?
Picard: That's what I have to find out. You're a man obsessed with what you do. Who knows what an obsessed man will do to keep going? Kill, perhaps?
Mandl: I create life. I don't take it.
Riker: You hit him pretty hard, Captain.
Picard: What do you think, Counselor?
Troi: It was useful. I felt two levels. He did know about the life form, but the idea of murder seemed to shock him. Whether it was the whole idea, or just being accused of it, I can't tell.
Picard: What about his file, Lieutenant Yar? Could he have accomplished the reprogramming that Data says took place?
Tasha: Mandl holds advanced degrees in computer science as well as artificial intelligence. It's possible.
Picard: What about the others? Including the victim.
Tasha: Only the victim had the required expertise. Malencon did work where the whatever it is was found. Trying to suppress that knowledge would be motive for murder, if Mandl were obsessed enough.
Troi: Terraformers are often obsessive. It frequently goes with the career profile.
Riker: How do you read the designer?
Troi: She's possessed of highly abstracted reality. Lovely visions, little data. You might do better than I.
Luisa: It's not locked.
Riker: Mind a visitor?
Luisa: Is it true? Did you really find a life form?
Riker: The debate is still going on in some quarters, but I think so, yes.
Luisa: What's it like?
Riker: We have nothing we can compare it with. It's microscopic. It seems colonial, simple. But it's inorganic. Which is why the recon scouts missed it. It was not your mistake.
Luisa: Everything I've worked so hard for is falling apart.
Riker: Luisa, it's very beautiful. I could arrange for you to see it if you like.
Luisa: Perhaps later.
Crusher: Captain, this is Doctor Crusher. I think you'd better come to the Medical Lab.
Picard: What is it?
Crusher: Geordi observed movement.
Laforge: Not movement exactly, but a definite shift in the energy pattern.
Data: Without external influence.
Picard: The hum has gone too. Why?
Data: Unknown, sir. Perhaps it is scanning us.
Picard: Scanning us? Why? What could it hope to learn?
Data: Unknown at this time, sir.
Laforge: It's changing.
Picard: I don't see anything.
Laforge: The infrared range is increasing.
Computer: Warning. Input overload.
Crusher: The hum is back.
Data: It is projecting an energy field.
Laforge: And it's intensifying!
Computer: Magnification deactivated.
Crusher: Two of them!
Data: Only life can replicate itself, Doctor. Inorganic or not, it is alive.
Crusher: Activate quarantine field. Quarantine field full. Full shield backup!
Crusher: Evacuating lab.
Computer: Translation request being patched.
Picard: Translation? From whom?
Crusher: Evacuate.
Wesley: What's wrong on with the translator circuit?
Picard: Bridge, this is the Captain. Request emergency power to initiate lab quarantine seal.
Riker: Do it, Mister Worf.
Worf: Aye, sir.
Riker: What's the nature of the problem, Captain? We've lost visual.
Picard: We have confirmed that Data's discovery is life. But more than that, it is intelligent life.
Riker: How do you know, sir?
Picard: It's trying to communicate with us.
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. The inorganic life form from Velara Three has apparently taken over our Medical Lab.
Worf: It generates enough energy to interfere with the surrounding systems.
Picard: Mister La Forge, can we see into the lab yet?
Laforge: Negative, Captain. Reducing the backup to the quarantine seal might help.
Picard: Doctor?
Crusher: I wouldn't.
Picard: Continue quarantine.
Laforge: Aye, sir.
Tasha: Director Mandl and the others are in the Observation Lounge as you requested.
Picard: Counselor, I shall need you. You have the Bridge, Number One.
Picard: Director Mandl, I put it to you again. What do you know about these life forms?
Mandl: Not a thing.
Picard: Enough! Sit down, Lieutenant. You are deliberately evasive and it must stop. You have kept information from me since our first communication. An alien life form has taken possession of my Medical Lab. You knew of its existence.
Mandl: Yes.
Luisa: Is this true? You knew there was life on Velara Three?
Mandl: I knew that there were random energy patterns, yes, I knew that. But not life. Not by any definition I have ever heard.
Troi: But you tried to keep that knowledge from us.
Mandl: No! They are meaningless silicon crystals, which rebroadcast sunlight.
Picard: It is a life form and it has intelligence.
Mandl: Why do you say that?
Picard: It's trying to communicate with us.
Mandl: Communicate with you?
Picard: When did you first become aware of them?
Bensen: Tell them about the pattern in the sand.
Picard: Oh, yes. Do tell us.
Bensen: When we first arrived, we noticed that in certain areas the sand had a sparkling effect, like sunlight bouncing off new fallen snow.
Picard: What did you think it was?
Bensen: Honestly, we did not give it any thought.
Mandl: Picard, I must point out again that we were assured, not once but many times, by the best scientific minds in the Federation, that this planet has no life. No life! And we were not looking, and therefore we did not see.
Picard: All right. At first you dismissed it. But then you began to understand that there was something that was different about them.
Mandl: You can't know that.
Picard: Your apprehension suggested it, when we first arrived. Tell me about these patterns.
Bensen: At first we thought it was just a natural phenomenon unique to Velara Three.
Mandl: Refraction and a thin atmosphere is interesting, but certainly not life.
Luisa: Why was I never told about this?
Mandl: Because it's not particularly important.
Bensen: As the building of the terraforming station went forward, the patterns in the sand ceased being random and became very specific. Geometric shapes suddenly appearing, disappearing, changing location, changing size.
Picard: Did you ever feel that these patterns were attempting to communicate?
Mandl: No, never.
Picard: Bensen?
Bensen: I don't know. At the time, I didn't think so. But now, after hearing what you just said. Now, I don't know.
Riker: Captain, we've regained magnification of the life form. It's divided again.
Picard: Patch visual to Observation lounge.
Mandl: There was no indication of any of this on Velara Three.
Bensen: Absolutely none.
Worf: I cannot understand the patterns.
Laforge: Neither can I.
Data: Please show me the spectral analysis magnification twelve K.
Computer: Silicon. Germanium.
Data: Transistor material.
Computer: Gallium arsenide.
Laforge: Emits light when charged.
Computer: Cadmium selenide sulfide.
Data: Emits charge when lit.
Computer: Water, impurities, sodium salts.
Worf: Conductor. But is it alive?!
Computer: Probability positive.
Worf: I wasn't asking you.
Crewwoman: Engineering to Bridge.
Riker: This is Commander Riker, go ahead.
Crewwoman: The backup on the lab seal is fluctuating, sir. I think you should come down here.
Riker: On my way. Data, you've got the Bridge. Inform the Captain.
Riker: Status, Ensign?
Crewwoman: The quarantine seal is getting weaker. Every time I try to redirect backup it goes somewhere else. I think I've. No, it's locked three people in a turbolift and two more in the programmers' rest room.
Riker: If that reading is right, there is no seal. Give me lab interior image.
Crewwoman: Yes, sir.
Riker: Magnify.
Riker: Picard, this is Riker.
Picard: We see it too, Number One.
Picard: Get that seal back up.
Crewwoman: Sir, no matter what I do, the energy goes somewhere else. What if it hits the Sickbay, or nursery?
Riker: Hold off. Impossible, Captain.
Riker: We haven't got the power.
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. The life form, which has significantly increased in size, is again attempting to communicate with us.
Data: The Universal Translator is coming on line, sir.
Voice: Ugly, ugly giants bags of mostly water
Picard: Bags of mostly water?
Data: An accurate description of humans, sir. You are over ninety per cent water surrounded by a flexible container.
Crusher: Life force, do you understand us?
Voice: We understand. We ask you that you be gone. We call. We talk. You not listen.
Picard: We didn't hear you. We come in peace.
Voice: Ugly bags of mostly water, we try at peace. You still do not listen. Bags who drill in sands of home have to die.
Riker: It killed Malencon.
Troi: We see and hear you now. We didn't know you were there. You are beautiful to us. All life is beautiful.
Voice: Bag in dome did know. Caused much death. Made us kill. War is now with you.
Data: The translator is now offline, sir.
Picard: Can you hear us now? Mister La Forge?
Laforge: Restabilizing, Captain.
Data: Sir, that chaos when we were studying it in the lab must have been the energy surge of a reproductive cycle. It is now a colony of single cells which organize as a computer. And like any computer
Picard: More is stronger.
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. We have regained visual contact with the lab, but our attempts to restore communication with this microbrain, as we have come to call it, has been unsuccessful. One thing that is certain, however. This life form has declared war on us.
Riker: Their range of influence appears to be concentrated in the Medical Lab, Captain.
Tasha: All non-essential personnel have been moved to the most distant areas of the ship, sir.
Picard: Data, any analysis of those bolts of light it emits?
Data: That seems to be it's method of reprogramming, Captain. Each bolt of light consists of negatively and positively charged ions. A series of program instructions, as it were. It seems to have a quicker rapport with our computers than we have.
Worf: What do you expect? It is computer.
Picard: Have we disabled the Medical Lab computer console?
Riker: Aye, sir. As soon as Data determined the microbrain's method of operation.
Laforge: Captain, picking up a decrease in infra-red intensity.
Worf: Maybe the life-form has reached its energy level.
Crusher: Or maybe that's not the end of it. With single-celled life forms, at least organic ones, cell division is preceded by a resting state.
Riker: The calm before the storm?
Picard: Medical Lab on main viewer. Let's use this calm.
Data: It does seem dormant, Captain.
Picard: Tasha, set coordinates to beam it back where it came from.
Tasha: Coordinates set, sir.
Picard: Energize.
Laforge: Transporter power being redirected, sir. We are unable to affect it.
Picard: Life form or not, intelligent or not , the safety of this ship and everyone aboard her is my primary responsibility. Data, evacuate all the air from the Medical Lab. I want a vacuum there.
Data: Environmental systems fail to respond to command, Captain. It appears the microbrain has successfully interfaced with our computers.
Mandl: Picard, if it did try to communicate with us, we didn't understand that.
Picard: It has declared a state of war and we are on the defensive. We have no control over our Medical Lab nor our computer. At this moment it has the power to destroy this ship and everybody on it. I need your help.
Mandl: Unbelievable.
Picard: It said you killed some of them. I need to know how.
Mandl: I don't know.
Picard: What was Malencon doing when he was killed?
Luisa: There is a very thin layer of highly saline water under the sandy top soil. He was siphoning that off.
Crusher: Perhaps somehow that saline water sustained them.
Data: It connected them.
Luisa: I don't understand.
Crusher: The microbrains may be like our own brain cells. Individually, a cell has life but not intelligence. Yet when interconnected, their combined intelligence is formidable.
Data: The saline fluid is their circuitry, and to prevent its loss, they killed Malencon.
Luisa: If we had continued to remove that water, we would have destroyed them all.
Picard: Reason enough for anyone to go to war.
Riker: Captain, it's happening again. I think you'd better get in here.
Riker: If this keeps up, it will tear up the Enterprise.
Picard: What can you determine, Mister La Forge?
Data: Captain, our sensors indicate that the microbrain expends a tremendous amount of energy during its reproductive cycle. Yet there is no diskernible power drain on our own systems.
Picard: Then what is feeding the damn thing?
Laforge: We found traces of cadmium salts. Now, cadmium is a conduit for converting infra-red into electricity.
Picard: Meaning?
Data: Meaning the microbrains might be photoelectric.
Picard: Kill the lights in the medical lab, Mister La Forge. Let's see if darkness will neutralize it.
Laforge: Sorry, sir, it still has control of the computer. We can't do it by remote.
Picard: Number One, light.
Luisa: The life form must have evolved at that narrow layer where the light got through the sand to the water. Drop the water a centimeter below the light penetration level, and they starve.
Riker: Killing lab lights now.
Tasha: It's slowing down.
Laforge: It's getting dimmer, too.
Voice: More light please.
Picard: Only if you will talk to us.
Voice: We die. Bags of water kill us. You are like others.
Picard: We have no wish to kill you. We never have.
Voice: You do not say truth.
Picard: We will end this war, if you will end the war.
Voice: Darkness. Death. Terrible. Must go home to wet sand. War over.
Picard: Agreed. We will send you home to your wet sand. Picard to Riker. Bring up the lights in the lab, just a bit. Are you better?
Voice: Better.
Picard: We mean you no harm. Do you believe me?
Voice: Yes.
Picard: Good. It is important that you trust us.
Voice: Not yet. You are still too arrogant. Too primitive. Come back three centuries. Perhaps then we trust.
Picard: We understand what you are saying. We will leave you. We will send you home.
Riker: Riker to Transporter Chief. Pick up the coordinates of the bell jar in the Medical Lab for return to Velara Three.
Chief: Coordinates entered, sir.
Riker: Riker to Bridge. Captain, we're ready to beam it back to the planet.
Data: I wish we were able to learn more about them, sir.
Picard: In time, Mister Data. When we're better prepared.
Mandl: I wanted to create a place where living things could thrive, and all the while I was about to destroy the life that is there.
Troi: Our apologies.
Picard: And respects. Lieutenant Yar.
Tasha: Co-ordinates set, sir.
Picard: Energize.
Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41464.8. I have declared an indefinite quarantine for Velara Three, and we are now returning to Starbase with the three surviving terraformers. Perhaps the lesson we have learned from this near tragedy will prevent it from happening elsewhere.


Picard: Commander Riker, report to the Bridge.
Riker: On the way.
Bernard: Harry! Harry, come back here!
Riker: What's your hurry, Harry?
Harry: Sorry, Commander. I was just
Bernard: Harry! I'm sorry if he bothered you.
Riker: No bother, Doctor Bernard.
Harry: I'm not going back. I hate that teacher and I hate calculus.
Bernard: Everyone needs an understanding of basic calculus, whether they like it or not.
Harry: Why?
Crusher: You're limping.
Riker: Had a small run-in with an aspiring sprinter.
Picard: Number One.
Riker: Problem, Captain?
Picard: No, more a curiosity. For the past few hours we've been tracking faint energy readings in an attempt to locate the source. It's like following a trail of bread crumbs. The pathfinder lead here and stopped, which is what I knew would interest you.
Riker: What's our position, Geordi?
Laforge: The Epsilon Mynos system, sir.
Riker: Thank you, Captain, you're right. I wouldn't miss this for anything.
Tasha: What's so interesting about this system?
Riker: Aldea. Tasha, I'm surprised you haven't heard the stories about Aldea, the wondrous mythical world. Like Atlantis of ancient Earth or Neinman of Xerxes Seven. Advanced culture, centuries old. Self-contained, peaceful. Incredible technical sophistication providing the daily needs for all the citizens, so that they could turn themselves over to art and culture.
Tasha: Where is it supposed to be?
Riker: That's the myth. Somehow, as the legend goes, the Aldeans were able to cloak their planet in darkness and go unseen by marauders, and other hostile passers-by who might rob and plunder.
Tasha: What a wonderful fairy tale.
Data: Scanners still show nothing, sir.
Troi: Scanners may show nothing, sir, but I'm sensing something very strong. Thousands of minds.
Picard: From where?
Troi: Very close.
Picard: All stop, and hold this position.
Laforge: Aye, sir. All stop, and hold.
Picard: Anything?
Worf: Captain, I'm recording a distortion in quadrant one, mark nine zero.
Picard: On screen.
Picard: Shields and deflectors up.
Tasha: Aye, sir.
Riker: It's Aldea, Captain. It has to be.
Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41509.1. Either by chance or intent, we've been led to the planet Aldea, which appeared out of nowhere, hidden behind a sophisticated shielding device.
Data: Sensors indicate that the shield is electromagnetic, a complicated light refracting mechanism.
Picard: A cloaking device?
Data: Aye, sir.
Laforge: It's got to be pretty sophisticated to hide an entire planet .
Worf: We're being scanned, sir.
Picard: We'll let them know our peaceful intention. Open hailing frequencies, Lieutenant Yar.
Tasha: Frequencies open, sir.
Rashella: I am Rashella. Welcome to Aldea.
Picard: I am Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the USS Enterprise. We come in peace.
Rashella: We know.
Picard: We've heard the stories about Aldea, but frankly I never believed they could be true.
Rashella: Our shield has confused outsiders for millennia, Captain.
Picard: That's a very long time to have such technology. Why do you reveal yourselves to us now?
Rashella: We're eager to meet in person to discuss that, and other subjects of mutual interest.
Picard: We're ready anytime.
Rashella: Excellent!
Radue: We mean no harm.
Rashella: Our arrival seems to have startled you.
Picard: It was a little sudden.
Radue: I'm Radue, First Appointee to Aldea.
Picard: Welcome aboard.
Crusher: Captain, they haven't been through decontamination.
Picard: Our medical doctor is concerned that you didn't go through the regular transporting procedure.
Rashella: You couldn't transport us. The only way through our shield is our way, Captain. Our cloaking device may be off, but our shield is operating. We've brought you small tokens of welcome.
Radue: And a personal invitation to a celebration on Aldea.
Picard: That would be delightful. Number One, assemble the away team.
Radue: We will prepare for your arrival, Commander Riker.
Riker: How do you know
Radue: Your name? We've been monitoring your ship's communications. We must return now to Aldea. Our eyes are very sensitive to bright light. Rashella.
Picard: Amazing. To exist only in that dreamworld of mythology and then suddenly to be here, right in front of us.
Riker: Now we know who placed the bread crumbs. We're not here by accident.
Picard: Counselor, do you sense anything?
Troi: They want something from us, something we value greatly. So much, that they're afraid we won't part with it.
Radue: We are ready to receive you, Commander Riker, and two of your colleagues?
Picard: Interesting choices.
Radue: I hope Duana and I know how to greet you properly, Commander.
Wesley: How do they cloak the planet?
Data: The theory is simple. The shield bends light rays around the planet's contour, similar to the Romulan cloaking device. But the implementation is quite difficult.
Worf: Captain!
Picard: Data, what do you read?
Data: Some sort of scanning device, sir.
Picard: Don't touch him!
Laforge: This beam is emanating from Aldea.
Picard: Shields up. La Forge, contact Commander Riker. Worf, check all decks.
Tasha: Shields inoperable, sir.
Data: All decks being probed in a methodical pattern, sir.
Picard: All decks? Everything? The entire ship?
Data: Aye, sir.
Laforge: I can't reach the Commander. We're being blocked.
Picard: Wesley, are you all right?
Wesley: It was scary at first, but I really didn't feel anything.
Worf: Sir, similar incidents all decks, but only with the children.
Radue: Yes, we are an ancient power, Commander, but we've suffered for it. Our history is littered with the deaths of those Aldeans who wanted more and more things. Nothing was ever enough. So we've evolved a very simple way of living. For whatever is taken, something is given in return.
Riker: It seems an equitable code.
Radue: It's brought us peace. Unfortunately, there are very few of us left to enjoy it.
Troi: Why?
Radue: That is part of what we wish to discuss. We need help from the Federation to rebuild our heritage. We need a younger generation, strong and healthy, following in the Aldean traditions.
Riker: I don't understand. How can the Federation help influence your children in your traditions?
Radue: Because we have no children, Commander. Rashella was the last child born on this planet.
Crusher: And your medical community can do nothing?
Rashella: They've tried, Doctor Crusher. And failed.
Crusher: Perhaps we can help.
Riker: Radue, exactly why were we invited here?
Radue: We propose a trade. One which will solve our problem and give something back to the Federation.
Riker: And the nature of this trade?
Radue: We need some of your children. In payment, we will give you information that would take you centuries to acquire.
Troi: That might be acceptable to some other races, but humans are unusually attached to their offspring.
Crusher: Our children are not for sale at any price.
Riker: We sympathize with your situation, but what you ask is not possible.
Radue: And that's your final answer?
Riker: That's my only answer. Now if there's some other way we can help you.
Radue: I am sorry you are intransigent.
Laforge: Still no response, sir.
Crusher: Wesley! They've taken my son.
Worf: Captain, Saucer Section reports six more children are gone.
Riker: It's the children. That's why we've been brought here. That's what they wanted.
Picard: And that's what they have. Status.
Tasha: Aldean shield still up. Hailing frequencies open. No response.
Picard: Keep trying. Counselor, you'll have to gather the parents.
Troi: They'll need to speak to you as well, Captain.
Radue: Captain, your children are with us. My word of honor, no harm will ever come to them.
Picard: Harm has already come to them.
Radue: Captain, let us begin discussions regarding appropriate compensation.
Picard: Compensation? You have stolen our children away from their classrooms, away from their bedrooms and you talk about compensation? You claim to be a civilized world and yet you have just committed an act of utter barbarity!
Radue: Captain, we will continue these discussions when you've calmed down.
Katie: Wesley, I'm frightened.
Wesley: I know you are, Katie. We all are. But we're going to be all right. Everyone knows where we are, and no one is going to hurt you. I promise.
Radue: Greetings, Wesley Crusher. The Custodian indicated that you would be the leader.
Wesley: The Custodian? Who is the Custodian?
Radue: The Custodian is not a person.
Rashella: You have been brought to Aldea as our guests. We'll provide anything you need or want.
Wesley: We want to go home.
Radue: Wesley, all of you have been chosen because you are special. Just ask for anything you want, and you shall have it.
Toya: What's happened to Alexandra and the other children, Captain? How are you getting them back?
Crusher: Toya, sit down. Don't give in to fear. Now, we all knew what the risks were when we signed on, and that's the choice we made. Now, Captain Picard will do everything possible to bring our children back.
Picard: The Aldeans are anxious to discuss compensation.
Bernard: Compensation?
Picard: That will buy us time. I've asked Doctor Crusher to be involved in the negotiations as your representative.
Bernard: Why were these specific children taken?
Troi: We can't be sure. We do know the Aldeans can't have children of their own.
Bernard: Then they won't let them go easily.
Picard: I won't insult you by pretending that any of this will be easy. But I can tell you that the Enterprise will not leave them behind. You can be assured of that.
Bernard: Can we talk with our children? Give them some reassurance. Let them know that we are here, and that they will be safe.
Picard: I'll do my best to arrange that.
Bernard: The last time I saw him, I yelled at him.
Rashella: There you are! I have you now!
Radue: Come in. Don't be alarmed. The other children have been assigned to their units.
Wesley: Units?
Radue: A unit is a group where those of similar talents and interests live together.
Wesley: Do you mean like a family.
Radue: Yes, you could call it that.
Wesley: We already have families. Does Captain Picard know you're doing this?
Radue: We are keeping nothing from him.
Leda: We have been waiting for you so long, Harry. We are artists, just like you. We see within you the potential of what you can be.
Harry: I'm not an artist.
Accolan: You will be. And a great one.
Leda: This way. Unit B, three seven five.
Radue: Katie.
Melian: I am honored.
Katie: Thank you.
Radue: Melian is the foremost musician on Aldea.
Melian: Music speaks its own language. I know we'll have much to learn from each other. Don't worry, Katie, you'll be seeing Wesley soon.
Wesley: What about me? Don't I get a say in this?
Radue: Wesley, sometimes something happens which you just must accept. You and the other children are now members of this society. That will not change. It is up to you to make the transition as easy as possible for the others. It's your duty, because you are their leader. Help them to accept it because nothing you, or those on the starship can do will change it. Because like you, we also have no choice.
Radue: Where have you been Rashella? Zena and Aran are waiting to take Alexandra.
Rashella: No.
Radue: No? I told you that she
Rashella: No, Radue. They can't have her. I will never let her go.
Picard: Any response from Aldea, Lieutenant?
Tasha: Not yet, sir.
Riker: Captain, Data has found something interesting. The Aldean shield gives evidence of random fluctuations, weakening its structure in isolated sections.
Picard: You're saying there are holes in their defense system?
Riker: In essence, yes. I find it surprising after all these eons that the Aldeans' have not perfected their technology. One would assume they would be aware of the weakness and repair it.
Picard: Can we beam down an away team through one of those holes?
Riker: It's a possibility. It would have to be perfectly timed, and there's no guarantee.
Data: We may be more successful in deciphering the code they use to transport through the magnetic shield.
Picard: Can you do that?
Data: Eventually, sir. I am working on it now but the number of permutations is almost endless.
Picard: Keep trying. While he's doing that, Number One, I want you and La Forge to try and find some way of getting through one of those holes, because one way or the other we have got to get an away team on the planet, locate the power source for the shield and neutralize it.
Riker: You're certain they'll negotiate?
Picard: Oh, they'll negotiate, or they'll call it that. They've taken what they want. Now they'll rationalize it by throwing us some sort of bone.
Riker: And when we don't accept their offer?
Picard: The minute they believe that we won't accept their compensation for the children, they'll break off the discussion, they'll disappear behind their shield, locking us out and the children in forever. That's why I've got to keep them talking.
Duana: Custodian, Wesley Crusher's voice will be entered into the authorized file for Third Level clearance.
Custodian: Proceed, Duana.
Duana: Announce yourself to the Custodian.
Wesley: Hello, Custodian. I am Wesley Crusher.
Custodian: Hello, Wesley. Your voice will now activate Third Level clearance.
Wesley: What does that mean?
Custodian: You may ask any questions you wish.
Wesley: Thank you. Duana, what does the Custodian do?
Duana: It frees us from all burden. It takes care of all our needs. It regulates our lives.
Wesley: Who built it?
Duana: The Progenitors.
Wesley: When?
Duana: Oh, hundreds of centuries ago.
Wesley: What is its power source?
Duana: Wesley, why is that important? It does what we ask it. It always has. What difference does it make how it works?
Wesley: If you don't know how it works, then how can you repair it?
Duana: Why would we want to repair it?
Wesley: From time to time, every computer, I mean Custodian, requires maintenance.
Duana: Wesley, Radue is right. You ask questions I can't answer. Ask the Custodian instead.
Wesley: Custodian, can you show me where Harry is?
Custodian: Yes.
Wesley: Custodian, show me Harry.
Harry: I never did this before. It's fun.
Wesley: You are going to make him into a sculptor?
Duana: He already is. He was just never encouraged properly. The tool Leda is giving him will allow him to bring out his visions.
Wesley: It will take him years to learn to do that.
Duana: Oh, no. It will happen quite quickly.
Wesley: Custodian, show me Alexandra.
Wesley: Custodian, show me Mason.
Duana: Stop, Custodian. We must work now. There is much to learn.
Wesley: What's in there? The power source?
Duana: I don't know. It's forbidden.
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. We remain in orbit around Aldea. It's becoming all too evident that talk will not effect the return of our children. We must neutralize the Aldean shield. Until then, we are helpless.
Tasha: Sir, Radue is hailing us.
Radue: Captain Picard?
Picard: Doctor Crusher and I are ready, Radue.
Radue: Are you ill, Captain?
Picard: No. Doctor Crusher is a Staff Officer, Radue. Starfleet Regulation six point five seven requires that at least two Staff Officers are present during any treaty or contract negotiations.
Radue: Very well.
Riker: Not much on pleasantries, is he?
Data: I am not aware of Regulation six point five seven.
Picard: No, Data. Neither am I.
Data: I see, sir. Oh, I see, sir.
Picard: Doctor Crusher, please report to the Bridge. Now, we'll see what they have in mind.
Picard: Before we begin, we want to see the children.
Radue: No. We're here to negotiate appropriate compensation, not to pander to emotions. Please sit.
Picard: We do not condone your actions. You're attempting to salve your conscience by offering goods in exchange for our children.
Radue: Why do you want them back so badly? You can always have more.
Picard: You are trifling with the primal instincts of our species. I must warn you that human parents are quite willing to die for their children.
Radue: Returning the children is non-negotiable.
Rashella: I promise you, they'll have a beautiful life with us. And they'll be father and mother to a new breed born of an ancient culture.
Crusher: But how can you be so sure that they can have children? You can't.
Radue: But they will. Our inability to bear children is a genetic dysfunction. It's not contagious.
Picard: We sympathize with your situation. Surely there is a solution which can be mutually satisfactory?
Radue: For us, the problem is solved. And we're offering you information on areas of the galaxy you do not even know exist. What more can we offer? What more would you like?
Picard: A significant beginning. But first, I must ask that Doctor Crusher be allowed to see her son before we continue.
Radue: You are a stubborn people. Ah, well, that too can be a positive trait. You may see him.
Wesley: Mom!
Crusher: Wes.
Wesley: I knew Captain Picard would get us home.
Crusher: Not yet, Wes.
Wesley: Oh.
Crusher: Are you okay? And the others?
Wesley: Okay, really okay. We've been assigned to our units, like families. They're treating us like gods.
Crusher: Don't let it go to your head.
Wesley: I won't.
Crusher: Wes seems fine. He says the other children are too.
Rashella: Of course they're well.
Radue: Captain Picard, you have our offer. It is final. Rashella.
Radue: Captain, we want you to understand the nature of your choice. A small demonstration of our power.
Picard: What was that?
Data: I believe it was a repulsor beam.
Picard: Position report.
Laforge: This is unbelievable, sir. According to my calculations, we're three days from Aldea. At warp nine.
Riker: And they call that a small demonstration?
Picard: Geordi, get us back to Aldea. Warp nine.
Laforge: Aye, sir.
Radue: Captain, if you don't accept our terms, the Enterprise will be pushed so far away that by the time you return, your children will be grandparents.
Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41512.4. We are twenty hours away from Aldea, and no closer to a solution. Their deliberate show of force pushed us out of orbit and could have easily disintegrated the ship.
Melian: Now, hold it a little bit more firmly. That's it. Perfect. Now think. No, think's not right. Feel the notes inside your head.
Katie: I'm sorry. Did I break it?
Melian: No, it's all right. You can't break this.
Katie: It did exactly what I thought. I mean, felt.
Melian: Yes, it's a direct expression of the music within. Now we just have to teach you to structure that feeling. Try it again.
Melian: That was beautiful. Now, play something happier.
Katie: That's not the way I feel. I don't want to do this any more.
Accolan: You see, Harry, I told you you were going to be an artist.
Harry: Are you sure? Did I really do this?
Accolan: Oh, yes. Your talent has always been there. The sculpting tool is just helping you develop it. It's what you were meant to do.
Harry: You mean I don't have to take calculus anymore?
Accolan: You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. What's calculus?
Harry: Nothing important. Can I do some more?
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. It has been three days since the Aldeans pushed us away. We have had no contact with Radue since then.
Picard: Open hailing frequencies, Lieutenant Yar.
Tasha: Frequencies open, sir.
Picard: Radue, this is Picard.
Radue: Welcome back, Captain. What have you decided?
Picard: That there is room for discussion, Radue.
Radue: We will bring you down when we are ready.
Picard: Data, find a way to defeat that shield.
Data: That may be impossible, sir.
Picard: Things are only impossible until they're not.
Data: Yes, sir.
Crusher: Captain. Here's what I've learned so far. Duana is dying. I have no reason to believe the rest of the Aldeans are any healthier. They're suffering from some kind of chromosomal damage. It could be genetic or environmental.
Picard: And is that why they can't conceive?
Crusher: Yes. It also explains their lack of appetite, extreme pallor and sensitivity to light.
Picard: An entire civilization that's terminally ill. Is it reversible?
Crusher: I won't know until I find the cause. And you don't need to tell me time is running out.
Picard: Good work, Doctor.
Accolan: Have the lesions gone?
Leda: Yes. The medicine worked again.
Accolan: Good. Come see what Harry's doing. Beautiful!
Harry: Yeah, it really turned out well.
Accolan: It is so alive and graceful. What do you call it?
Harry: It's a dolphin.
Leda: Dolphin?
Harry: You know, it swims in the ocean. Like a fish, only it's not a fish.
Leda: Ah. A fish. We used to have them in our oceans. I've never seen one before.
Harry: I used to live near the ocean on Zadar Four. My dad's an oceanographer. He says that. Never mind. It doesn't matter.
Alexandra: I want Mommy. I want Mommy.
Duana: You haven't eaten.
Wesley: You didn't eat anything.
Radue: We need very little.
Duana: I know you miss your family. But you will grow accustomed to us. I promise you'll be happy.
Wesley: We were happy before we came.
Duana: We are offering more, especially for you.
Wesley: Duana, I feel badly for you that you have no children, but I have to tell you that we don't want to be here and we will not cooperate.
Crusher: No. That doesn't fit the pattern. Give me a list of the appropriate medical literature from the twenty-second century. There's not enough time!
Picard: Is there anything I can do?
Crusher: You just did, Jean-Luc. Now I have to get back to work.
Wesley: Custodian's room.
Wesley: Custodian, this is Wesley Crusher.
Custodian: Proceed, Wesley.
Wesley: Show me where the Enterprise children are in relation to this room. Thank you. Goodnight.
Custodian: Good night, Wesley.
Wesley: I think I know a way to get us home. I need your help. Chief Medical Officer's log, stardate 41512.9. I've begun to suspect that whatever is killing the Aldeans is related to a danger faced by Earth in the twenty first century. Can it be that Aldea's ozone layer has been weakened?
Katie: Why will not talking or eating make them send us home?
Wesley: It's called passive resistance. We don't do what they want us to do and then they won't want us.
Katie: Will they get mad at us?
Wesley: They won't hurt us.
Harry: But, Wes, I do kind of like them.
Wesley: So do I, but I don't want to stay here forever. Do you?
Harry: No, but I like working with the wood.
Wesley: Harry, we all have to be in this together or it's not going to work.
Harry: Okay. I'll do it.
Rashella: What are you all doing here together?
Rashella: What is going on here?
Crusher: I've got it, Captain. The Aldeans are suffering from a form of radiation poisoning.
Picard: Is that what made the Aldeans sterile?
Crusher: Yes.
Picard: Is it reversible?
Crusher: With the proper treatment, yes.
Data: Captain.
Crusher: Sir.
Data: These permutations are going to take a very long time.
Picard: How long?
Data: Weeks.
Riker: There is the option.
Laforge: We were able to further define the weakness in their shield. Now, it's not a hole as much as it is a fluctuation.
Riker: If the timing is precise, it's possible to beam through and onto the planet.
Picard: Why don't we just beam the children up through the hole?
Riker: The timing would be more difficult, and the risk greater.
Picard: All right. You and Data beam down. Locate the power source of that shield. Knock it out. I'll delay the Aldeans until you're ready.
Leda: Will you at least eat?
Wesley: No, Alexandra.
Alexandra: Why?
Wesley: We can't eat. I know you're hungry. We all are. But it's our way of telling them that we want to go home. Understand?
Alexandra: Yes.
Riker: We're ready, Lieutenant Worf.
Radue: Captain, you may come down now to conclude our discussions, or your ship may leave. It's your choice.
Picard: Doctor Crusher and I are prepared to conclude our negotiations.
Worf: Transporter room, now!
Data: This is it, Commander. It is programmed to accept only authorized voice command.
Riker: There's no way we can override.
Data: No, but I can scramble the input so that nobody else can.
Radue: Before we begin, Captain, you must speak with the children. It seems they are on some sort of strike. I don't understand it. You must deal with this, Captain. I'm not very good with children.
Picard: Strike? I'll see what I can do.
Wesley: I'm sure if we just stick together, guys, we'll all be
Katie: Hi, Captain Picard.
Harry: Hi, Captain.
Wesley: Sir, I knew you'd come.
Picard: It's not over yet, Wesley.
Wesley: I think I figured out their computer controls, sir, but I'm not sure. It's a much different system than ours.
Picard: Good, Wesley. Now
Harry: Captain.
Picard: Yes, Harry.
Harry: If something happens and you have to leave us here, will you tell my Dad that I'm sorry that I made him angry, and that I miss him.
Picard: You will tell him that, Harry, and I will tell him how much I admire his son. Hello, Alexandra.
Alexandra: Hi.
Radue: What is this?
Picard: They want to go home.
Radue: No. They're staying.
Picard: Number One.
Riker: We're in position.
Picard: Hold for orders.
Crusher: The radiation levels on Aldea have been building up over a long period of time. It is similar to what was experienced on Earth in the twenty-first century. When the ozone layer had deteriorated and the surface of the planet was flooded with ultraviolet radiation.
Picard: The shield that protected your world in one way is weakening it in another. It is the radiation of your own sun that is destroying you.
Radue: You're trying to confuse the issue.
Crusher: Please, listen. You're all suffering from radiation poisoning. Sterility is only the latest symptom. If the children remain, they will be affected as well.
Radue: It's impossible. Our scientists would have known.
Crusher: How could they? Your scientists have forgotten how everything works.
Radue: No. All lies.
Rashella: No. Wait. Don't send them back yet. What if they're right? Instead of the children being our hope, what if we're just condemning them to our fate?
Radue: Rashella, they're just protecting their own interests.
Rashella: As are we. But hear them out. The Captain and Doctor Crusher are saying that the very thing which has given us this wonderful world is what has caused this tragedy.
Picard: That's it, exactly. Your Custodian has controlled you so completely you've lost even the desire to even question it.
Radue: Lies, and the discussion is over.
Picard: Commander Riker.
Riker: Here, sir.
Picard: I assume you have control of the computer.
Riker: We've disabled the system temporarily.
Riker: We found the power source to the shield and we've neutralized it.
Picard: Good. Enterprise, this is Picard. Beam the children up.
Harry: Wait.
Picard: Enterprise, hold.
Harry: Thank you.
Accolan: Let me get the dolphin for you to take with you.
Harry: No, you keep it. I'll make another one.
Picard: All right, Harry?
Harry: Yes, Captain.
Wesley: Okay, kids. Let's go home.
Picard: Beam them up.
Radue: You have destroyed us.
Picard: We are not here to destroy you, Radue. We can help you.
Radue: What is it?
Picard: A legacy of your Progenitors, Radue. The source of your power and of your problems.
Data: It is reading incredible amounts of energy, sir. Even more since we have taken down the shield.
Rashella: What are we going to do with it?
Radue: Learn, all over again. All this time we've been destroying ourselves, so sure of our technological invulnerability. Now we must learn to use this power safely.
Picard: Will you let us help you?
Radue: Yes. Please.
Harry: Dad, I want to be an artist, but I don't want to take calculus anymore.
Bernard: You can be anything you want, Harry. Anything. But you still have to take calculus.
Harry: Okay. Thanks, Dad.
Data: It worked well, sir. We have successfully reseeded the ozone layer. But for their atmosphere to maintain it's integrity, they can never use the shield.
Riker: Or be cloaked again.
Picard: Are you finished?
Crusher: Yes, Captain, and they're responding very well to the treatment.
Picard: The legend will die, but the people will live.
Troi: And we know they'll make good parents.
Picard: Wesley!
Wesley: Sorry, Captain. She just wanted to thank you for bringing her home to her mother.
Alexandra: Thank you.
Wesley: Come on.
Picard: Mister La Forge, out of orbit. Warp five.
Laforge: Yes, sir. Certainly, sir.


Wesley: Jake! Jake! Jake, wait a second. How're you doing?
Jake: I'm fine. Really.
Wesley: Jake, I'm sorry.
Crusher: Acting Ensign Crusher, report to transporter room eight.
Jake: It's not your fault.
Wesley: Yeah, I know. I wish both of us were going.
Jake: I don't know. Only thirty two points.
Crusher: Mister Crusher, respond.
Wesley: I'm on my way, Doctor. I've got to go.
Jake: I know. Hey, Wes. Do well for both of us, okay?
Wesley: All right.
Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41416.2. We're orbiting Relva Seven, where Wesley Crusher is about to be tested for entrance into Starfleet Academy. And to my great surprise, I have just learned that my old friend Admiral Gregory Quinn is on Relva Seven, and has requested to be beamed aboard the Enterprise immediately.
Picard: Welcome aboard, Admiral.
Quinn: Thank you. Captain Jean Luc Picard, Lieutenant Commander Dexter Remmick.
Remmick: Sir.
Picard: Allow me to introduce my staff. First Officer William Riker, Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher, Chief of Security, Natasha Yar. Well, what can we do for you?
Quinn: I need to speak with you.
Picard: Certainly. This way. Number One?
Quinn: Alone.
Picard: Is this a personal matter?
Quinn: Official business.
Picard: Well then my First Officer
Quinn: Alone, Captain.
Quinn: Commander Remmick is with the Inspector General's office.
Picard: Oh?
Quinn: He'll be conducting a full investigation of the Enterprise.
Picard: What are you looking for?
Quinn: I have reason to believe there may be something very wrong on this ship.
Picard: Tell me what you suspect.
Quinn: It's inappropriate to discuss it at this time. Mister Remmick, Starfleet is counting on you. You will find out what is wrong on this ship.
Remmick: Yes, sir. Nothing and no one will stand in my way.
Quinn: And you, Captain, are ordered to cooperate in every way necessary with this investigation. Is that clear?
Picard: Yes, sir.
Quinn: Mister Remmick, unless there are any further questions.
Remmick: No questions, sir.
Quinn: Get on with your duties.
Remmick: Yes, sir.
Picard: We've known one another for years. Tell me what you believe is wrong.
Quinn: Captain, it is vitally important that my orders be followed exactly. I'll be staying on the ship.
Picard: As you wish, Admiral.
Oliana: What is it?
Wesley: What?
Oliana: The unit you just put down. Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.
Wesley: It's a flux coordinating sensor.
Oliana: I'm Oliana Mirren, one of the other finalists. You must be Wesley Crusher.
Wesley: Yeah. Do you know me?
Oliana: I heard there was a very smart, very young man who'd be tough competition.
Wesley: Well, you wouldn't be here
Oliana: I weren't smart. I know. But there's a lot more to it than just that. You're lucky. You've had practical experience aboard the Enterprise.
T'Shanik: Oliana. T'Shanik of Vulcana Regar.
Wesley: Wesley Crusher of the Enterprise.
T'Shanik: You do not look as if you meet the age requirements.
Wesley: Uh, I'll be sixteen next month.
Oliana: Happy birthday.
Wesley: Excuse me. I'm Wesley Crusher.
Mordock: Mordock.
Wesley: Mordock? The Mordock? The Benzite who constructed the Mordock Strategy? I thought you already were in the Academy.
Mordock: No. Only a hopeful, like you.
Chang: Finalists, please take your seats I'm Tac Officer Chang. Welcome. You are here because you are all top candidates. Although only one student will be chosen for the Academy, you have shown from the preliminary testing that any of you could easily qualify. This may be the most difficult, exhausting experience of your life, and the most exciting challenge. Expect the unexpected. May you all do your best.
Data: May I help you, Mister Remmick?
Remmick: Keep on doing whatever it is you're doing, Commander Data.
Laforge: There's nothing much to see here, Commander. We're in a standard orbit, and the station has to be manned even if it's just routine.
Riker: Something I can help you with, Mister Remmick?
Remmick: When I'm ready, Mister Riker, I'll want to speak with you. Privately.
Laforge: Commander, just having that guy around makes me feel guilty. What's he after, anyway?
Riker: I don't know, Geordi, but I'm going to find out. Right now.
Picard: Come.
Riker: Captain, may I speak frankly?
Picard: Always, Number One.
Riker: As First Officer, I should be informed. I should know everything that you know.
Picard: That's right, you should.
Riker: Then what's this about? Remmick is going to turn this ship upside down.
Picard: That's his job.
Riker: And my job is to see that this ship runs smoothly.
Picard: Which you do very well.
Riker: Sir, am I under investigation?
Picard: I don't know.
Riker: And if you did?
Picard: I couldn't tell you.
Riker: I don't understand, sir. This is extremely frustrating.
Picard: No less so for me. But I promised cooperation, and that's what we shall give.
Riker: Sir.
Remmick: I want some answers from you now, Commander Riker.
Riker: Later.
Remmick: You were ordered to cooperate
Riker: Not now. When it doesn't interfere with my duties, Remmick.
Computer: Last question on the hyperspace physics test. If the matter and antimatter tanks on a Galaxy class starship are nine tenths depleted, calculate the intermix ratio necessary to reach a starbase a hundred light years away at warp factor eight. Begin.
Computer: Time elapsed. You now have one hour free before the next test.
Mordock: I must admit, Wesley, you have a very fast mind.
Wesley: Once as I realized it was a trick question, there was only one answer.
Mordock: Yes, there is only one ratio with matter antimatter. One to one.
Oliana: You don't know how lucky you are. I can't imagine what it would be like to have things come so easily. I have to push every step of the way.
Wesley: Oh, no, Oliana, it doesn't come that easily. I have to study all the time.
Oliana: It's a good thing you're cute, Wesley, or you could really be obnoxious. See you later.
Wesley: Did you hear what she said, Mordock? She said I was cute.
Mordock: Is that good, Wesley?
Wesley: Yes! I think.
Riker: I think I should apologize, Captain.
Picard: No need, Number One. Mister Remmick's presence is unnerving, to say the least.
Remmick: Are you available now, Mister Riker? Or do you still have duties to perform?
Riker: I'm available, Mister Remmick.
Remmick: Any problem with using your Ready room, Captain?
Picard: No, Mister Remmick. Be my guest.
Remmick: If you prefer to stand, fine, Mister Riker. It won't have an effect on the length of my inquiry. Now, there are several seeming diskrepancies in the
Picard: Captain's log. Let's go over them one by one, shall we?
Riker: The
Picard: Captain's log?
Remmick: Yes. To the best of your knowledge, has the Captain ever falsified a log?
Riker: Have you discussed this with him?
Remmick: Right now, I'm asking you.
Riker: If you want to discuss anything about Captain Picard, you bring him in here and ask him face to face.
Remmick: You are required to answer my questions, Mister Riker, unless you're trying to cover something up! Now, there are several diskrepancies in the
Picard: Captain's log. Shall we go over them one by one?
Riker: Proceed.
Remmick: So, you are saying Captain Picard had no control over this vessel. He handed it over to Kosinski, who took the entire crew to the edge of the universe.
Laforge: No, sir. That's not what I'm saying. Now, Kosinski was sent by Starfleet to improve our warp drive system. Captain Picard was ordered to take him aboard.
Remmick: According to his own logs, his Bridge crew didn't think highly of Mister Kosinski's theories, yet the Captain allowed him to access to the engines anyway. Is that true, La Forge?
Laforge: Not exactly, sir.
Remmick: One way or the other, La Forge, Picard lost control of this ship. Is that true?
Laforge: Yes, but that's not how it happened.
Remmick: So, the answer is yes.
Remmick: Do you believe the captain is emotionally and psychologically fit for command of this starship? There is nothing in his history or his personality that would suggest mental lapses?
Troi: Nothing.
Remmick: Not even the Ferengi incident with his old ship, the Stargazer?
Troi: He was being controlled by a mind altering machine, Commander. Without his knowledge.
Remmick: I would call that a mental lapse.
Worf: Ensign, what are you doing on the holodeck? I thought you were still on Relva Seven.
Wesley: I'm finished testing for the day.
Worf: I've disturbed you. I'll leave.
Wesley: Wait. I thought I wanted to be alone, but I guess I don't.
Worf: How is the testing?
Wesley: Okay. So far. It's not the ones that I've studied for that I'm worried about. It's the psych test. Facing my deepest fear and living through it. I'm trying to figure out what images to bring up.
Worf: Why?
Wesley: I guess I want to scare myself. What do you think? Bulgallian rats? Lightning storms?
Worf: Do those things frighten you?
Wesley: Sort of, I guess.
Worf: The psych test is no more or less important than the rest of the process.
Wesley: That's what they said, but I can't stop thinking about it.
Worf: Thinking about what you can't control only wastes your energy and creates its own enemy.
Wesley: How can they know what my deepest fear is when I don't?
Worf: By analyzing your psychological profile. They were very accurate about everyone I tested with. Including myself.
Wesley: You? I thought there was nothing that could frighten a Klingon warrior.
Worf: Only fools have no fear.
Wesley: I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I'm asking too many personal questions.
Worf: It is very difficult for me to depend on anyone for anything. But especially for my life.
Wesley: But on the Enterprise you do that every day. Everyone depends on everyone else to protect them.
Worf: Yes.
Wesley: So you overcame it?
Worf: No. It is still my enemy.
Riker: With this new extricator, sir, we can eliminate three more bulky machines from cargo space.
Picard: That's excellent, Number One.
Tasha: Captain, there's an unauthorized entry in main Shuttlebay.
Remmick: Unauthorized?
Picard: Who is it, Lieutenant?
Tasha: Computer reads the ID number of Jake Kurland. Bridge to main Shuttlebay. Mister Kurland, this is Lieutenant Yar. Respond.
Remmick: Isn't the area secured?
Riker: Not now, Remmick. He's going to take this out, Captain.
Tasha: I'm locking off the bay launch doors, Captain.
Worf: Too late. He's using the flight emergency override
Laforge: Smart kid.
Remmick: Kid?
Tasha: He's launching.
Picard: On viewer. lieutenant Yar, open channel. Enterprise to shuttlecraft. Mister Kurland, this is Captain Picard. Mister Kurland.
Jake: Captain, I'm going to Beltane Nine
Jake: To sign onto a freighter. Tell my father I'm sorry.
Picard: You can tell him yourself, in person. Bring that ship back at once.
Jake: No.
Jake: I can't face him. I'm leaving.
Laforge: Captain, he's unbalanced the dilithium reaction.
Jake: I've lost power!
Riker: All he's got left are his maneuvering jets, Captain.
Laforge: At this trajectory, he'll enter the atmosphere and burn up at two hundred kilometers.
Picard: Probable impact?
Data: Atmospheric entry seventy eight seconds.
Picard: Options?
Worf: Tractor beam?
Riker: Not possible. He's too far away for a positive lock.
Tasha: He's out of transporter range.
Remmick: Captain, you are completely responsible for that boy's life.
Picard: Mister Remmick, either get out of my way and keep quiet, or I will have you removed from the Bridge. Viewer on shuttle cockpit.
Tasha: Visual on main viewer.
Picard: Mister Kurland.
Jake: I can't get the engine started. What am I going to do? I'm going to crash.
Riker: He needs another fifty seconds for the core to cool down before it can restart.
Picard: Stay calm, Jake. We'll get you back.
Jake: Please, help me!
Picard: Jake!
Jake: It's no use, Captain. I'm going to die out here.
Riker: He'll need another thirty seconds before he can restart.
Data: Irrelevant, sir. Even if he restarts his engine now, he will not have enough thrust to escape impact.
Picard: Mister Kurland, you are not going to die out there. You are going to do exactly what I tell you. Now, take the nose of the shuttlecraft and aim it directly at Relva Seven.
Jake: Aim it at Relva? I can't do that. It's crazy.
Picard: Do it!
Jake: But I'll burn up!
Data: Twenty eight seconds to impact.
Picard: Jake, listen very carefully. This is Captain Picard and I am giving you an order. Aim the shuttle at Relva!
Jake: Okay. It's done.
Picard: Good.
Picard: Now, monitor your speed exactly. When it hits point zero two zero, I want you to restart the engine
Picard: And when I tell you, pull up hard.
Jake: Point zero two zero speed. Captain, I sure hope you're right.
Picard: You'll just have to trust me.
Jake: Point zero zero three.
Jake: Zero zero nine. Zero one two.
Data: Six seconds to impact.
Picard: Hold on, Jake. It's going to be a little bumpy.
Jake: Zero one five.
Jake: Zero one nine.
Picard: Restart the engine, now! Pull up hard!
Remmick: Yeah!
Riker: Incredible, Captain!
Remmick: How did he do it? I thought
Laforge: He built up enough speed and then bounced her off the atmosphere!
Picard: Mister Kurland, I assume you can maneuver it home?
Jake: Yes, sir.
Picard: Do it. Then report to Mister Riker.
Jake: Yes, sir!
Remmick: Very original, Captain. But how did that child acquire access to a shuttlecraft?
Riker: Kurland is a highly qualified Enterprise Academy candidate, fully trained in many areas including shuttles.
Remmick: And did this full training include diskipline?
Picard: Mister Remmick, young men sometimes make rash choices. Which is why Mister Kurland will receive a strong refresher specifically in diskipline
Remmick: I'll note that in my report.
Picard: Full cooperation, Number One.
Rondon: You. I have a package for Operations. Where is it?
Wesley: End of the corridor, room on your right. One oh four.
Wesley: Excuse me.
Rondon: You blocked my path. you Bulgallian sludge rat!
Wesley: I'm sorry, it was an honest mistake. I apologize.
Chang: Is there a problem here, gentlemen?
Wesley: No, sir, I
Rondon: How dare you! I am Rondon, you despicable Melanoid slimeworm! Liar!
Wesley: Who do you think you're bullying? You bumped into me. It was your mistake. You were at fault. Do you want this to become violent?
Rondon: Friend. I like you.
Mordock: A very strange reaction.
Wesley: Not really. When he raised his hand, I saw that it was webbed. The sign of a Zaldan.
Chang: But you became hostile.
Wesley: Zaldans are infuriated by courtesy. They view it as a form of phony social behavior, designed to cover true feelings.
Chang: Congratulations, Mister Crusher. You handled that particular incident very well.
Mordock: Was this incident deliberate?
Chang: It's important to know how you candidates deal with other cultures, other species.
Mordock: Then it was a test.
Chang: Yes. Not all tests are announced, or what they appear to be.
Mordock: Zaldans have webbed fingers? I wouldn't have passed.
Remmick: You're an android, correct?
Data: Yes, sir.
Remmick: And as an android, you are programmed to tell the entire truth?
Data: Yes, sir.
Remmick: There is a problem with this ship, Mister Data. It's in the records, somewhere. I need your help to find it.
Data: All of the ship's records are available to you, sir.
Remmick: This information is very cleverly hidden. Your Captain is not what he appears to be. Do not forget you have loyalty to Starfleet above all else.
Data: Loyalty is not the issue, Commander. There is nothing wrong with Captain Picard or the ship's logs. Therefore there must be something wrong with your original assumption.
Remmick: That is not acceptable, Mister Data.
Data: Acceptable or not, sir, it is the truth.
Remmick: Just how did this contaminant get aboard the ship?
Worf: By accident, sir.
Remmick: Meaning Captain Picard has no standing procedure for this type of situation?
Worf: No. Meaning by accident, sir.
Remmick: You don't like me very much, do you?
Worf: Is it required, sir?
Remmick: How would you characterize your relationship with Captain Picard?
Crusher: We're Starfleet officers who've known each other for many years.
Remmick: Everything said here is confidential, Doctor. You can be completely open with me.
Crusher: About what?
Remmick: About how you feel serving with a man who is responsible for the death of your husband.
Crusher: My personal feelings about Captain Picard are irrelevant to this investigation, and none of your business.
Remmick: Then you confirm the accuracy of the log report. You violated the Prime Directive with the Edo. You deliberately interfered with their laws.
Picard: Yes. It's exactly as I explained it in the log records.
Remmick: All to save Doctor Crusher's son?
Picard: A member of my crew was being held unjustly. I stand by my decision. Mister Remmick, you have talked to every member of this ship. I think you've had enough time to find out whatever it is you're looking for.
Remmick: Are you afraid if I keep looking that I'll find you're guilty?
Picard: The only thing I'm guilty of is allowing this charade to go on so long.
Picard: Admiral, if it is me you're investigating, ask me directly what it is you want to know. And please tell me exactly what is going on.
Quinn: I need a little more time, Jean-Luc.
Picard: How much time? I won't tolerate my crew being harassed any longer.
Quinn: Remmick's full report is almost ready.
Picard: I want to be here when he presents it.
Quinn: That has always been my intention. Commander Remmick, report to Admiral Quinn.
Remmick: On my way, sir.
Picard: This has been a strain on our friendship.
Quinn: I know. Believe me, Jean Luc, I regret that, but it has been necessary.
Mordock: I can't get it.
Wesley: Yes, you can. Don't fight it. Relax into it and let it come by itself.
Mordock: No, it's going too fast. Wesley, I can't do it.
Wesley: Yes you can. You've got your rotation factor. Just put in your vector coordinates.
Computer: Time elapsed.
Chang: Congratulations, Mordock. That was the second fastest time ever recorded on this test. You all did well.
Mordock: No, it should not have been that way. Mister Crusher helped me.
Chang: Yes. I know. An interesting choice, Mister Crusher. Especially considering how close you and Mister Mordock are in overall score. You all have an hour to prepare for your last test.
Wesley: The psych test, sir?
Chang: We prefer to think of it as a psychological evaluation based on reactions to various individual problems, but psych test will do.
Remmick: Sir?
Quinn: Please sit down, Mister Remmick. Proceed with your report.
Remmick: Admiral, I've done my best to be thorough during this investigation.
Quinn: Continue.
Remmick: I couldn't find what you asked, sir. I spoke to officer after officer, at length. I pried into the ships log reports. And yet I could find nothing wrong. Except, perhaps, a casual familiarity among the Bridge crew, but mostly that comes from a sense of teamwork, and the feeling of family. I'm sorry, sir. I did my best.
Quinn: Quite. You're dismissed, Commander.
Remmick: Yes, sir. Captain Picard, my tour in the Inspector General's office will be up in six months. When I'm finished, this is where I'd like to serve, sir.
Quinn: Don't judge the young man too harshly. He's a good officer.
Picard: It's not him I'm inclined to judge.
Quinn: Don't judge me too harshly either, until I've finished. We had to be very sure of you. Some of us at Starfleet Command became suspicious of certain problems in the Federation.
Picard: What kind of problems?
Quinn: Something or someone is trying to destroy the fabric of everything we've built up in the last two hundred years.
Picard: What's your evidence?
Quinn: I can't go into that. There are too many people involved.
Picard: What do you want from me?
Quinn: I don't know whether the threat comes from the inside or whether it's from outside. I need people I can trust in strong positions throughout the Federation.
Picard: You have my complete support. You know that.
Quinn: That's not enough. I want to promote you to Admiral, and I want you to take over as Commandant of Starfleet Academy.
Picard: The Academy.
Quinn: Yes.
Picard: The Academy?
Quinn: I need you close.
Picard: Then there was never a problem with the Enterprise.
Quinn: No, but I had to be sure you hadn't been co-opted.
Picard: Greg, this is politics, and I'm not good at politics. Surely there are others who are better suited.
Quinn: All right. Even if I am wrong, and I hope I am, you're still the best man for the job.
Picard: I appreciate the value of what you're offering. It's not a decision I can make quickly.
Quinn: I need an answer soon.
Picard: All right. You'll have it tonight, Admiral. Thank you.
Chang: Mister Mordock will be finished with his psych test momentarily.
Wesley: Mordock? Are you all right?
Mordock: I will be.
Chang: Mister Crusher. You're next. Good luck.
Wesley: I'm here. I'm ready. Maybe they forgot. Breathe. Got to remember to breathe.
Computer: Evacuate immediately. Sixty five seconds to seal off.
Wesley: Somebody help! There's something's wrong in the Environmental lab!
Man: Help!
Man: Help! We're trapped. I can't move. Please, help me.
Man: We're going to die in here!
Man: The liquid hydrogen's going to blow! The shut off valve ruptured. Hurry up! My legs are crushed. You've got to help me!
Wesley: Give me a hand with this!
Man 2: We're going to die!
Wesley: Help me!
Man 2: I can't! It's too late!
Computer: Thirty seconds to seal off.
Wesley: Come on!
Man: If we don't get out of here fast, they'll seal us in to contain the explosion.
Wesley: Come on, you're not hurt.
Man 2: I can't go through that!
Wesley: Yes, you can. You've got to.
Computer: Twenty seconds to seal off.
Wesley: Come on! I can't carry you both! You're not hurt.
Computer: Ten seconds to seal off.
Wesley: Come on!
Man 2: It's too late.
Wesley: I'm sorry.
Wesley: Officer Chang! There's
Chang: Wesley! It's all right.
Man: Thanks.
Chang: An excellent performance, Mister Crusher.
Wesley: Performance? That was the test?
Chang: Yes.
Wesley: A man could have died.
Chang: Theoretically, yes. You had to make a choice. And you did. There's no right or wrong about it. Your greatest fear has been that you couldn't make that decision.
Wesley: Because of my father? Because Cap. Because someone made that choice, and my father died.
Riker: Sir?
Picard: Yes, Number One?
Riker: Mister Remmick has left the ship.
Picard: Yes. He found nothing wrong on the Enterprise. And you can inform the crew that Admiral Quinn is most impressed.
Riker: Thank you. They'll be pleased that. Can you explain now what he was after?
Picard: They were after me, Number One. They want me to take over as Commandant, Starfleet Academy.
Riker: Congratulations! What a wonderful choice, sir. You'll be able to shape the minds of the future leaders of Starfleet. You haven't decided what you're going to do.
Picard: Yes, I have, Number One. I've decided I'm going for a walk.
Chang: I'm proud of all of you. You've done a superb job. Each of you would make a fine Starfleet officer. It's unfair that only one candidate from Relva will attend the Academy this year, and a loss to the Federation if the rest of you do not return to test again. Mister Mordock will be the candidate. His results were slightly higher than Mister Crusher's. Congratulations, Mister Mordock. You're the first Benzite in Starfleet.
Mordock: Thank you, sir, but it's not right. It shouldn't be me. Wesley lost points because he helped me. He should not be punished for his generosity.
Chang: He wasn't. He lost time, but it wasn't only that. Candidates, thank you. And good luck.
Mordock: I am sorry, Wesley.
Wesley: It's okay. You deserved to win. Besides, you would have done the same thing for me.
Mordock: Yes. I believe I would.
T'Shanik: Congratulations.
Oliana: Well, personally, I hate losing. So you'd better be ready next year, Wesley. I won't be easy to beat.
Picard: Mister Kurland!
Jake: Yes, sir.
Picard: Are you feeling better?
Jake: Yes, sir, Look, I'm sorry I damaged the shuttle, Captain. But Mister Riker says I can work on fixing it as part of my diskipline training.
Picard: Good idea. I hope you learned that running away solves nothing.
Jake: Yes, sir. And I am sorry I messed up.
Picard: At least you kept your wits about you out there. Don't forget that.
Jake: No, sir. And thank you. Thank you for saving my life.
Picard: That's my job, young man.
Jake: Yes, sir.
Picard: Mister Crusher? Why aren't you in your dress uniform for Admiral Quinn's farewell dinner?
Wesley: I didn't think that would be appropriate.
Picard: Why not?
Wesley: I failed, Captain. I didn't get into the Academy. I failed you and I failed the Enterprise.
Picard: Ridiculous. Did you do your best?
Wesley: Yes.
Picard: When you test next year, and you will test next year, do you think your performance will improve?
Wesley: Yes.
Picard: Good. The only person you're truly competing against, Wesley, is yourself.
Wesley: Then you're not disappointed?
Picard: Wesley, you have to measure your successes and your failures within, not by anything I or anyone else might think. But, if it helps you to know this, I failed the first time. And you may not tell anyone!
Wesley: You? You failed?
Picard: Yes. But not the second time. Now, you'll do me the courtesy of joining us at dinner. I have to disappoint an old friend.
Quinn: Wish I could convince you to change your mind.
Picard: I'll serve you better here.
Quinn: This is where you belong.
Picard: If you need me.
Quinn: I've been playing politics too long. Perhaps I see conspiracies everywhere. Don't worry. Safe travels, my friend.
Picard: Set course to Algeron Four, Mister Crusher.
Wesley: Course plotted and laid in, sir.
Picard: Then shall we continue with our mission?
Wesley: Yes, sir.
Picard: Excellent. Mister Crusher, engage.