Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41153.7. Our destination is planet Deneb Four, beyond which lies the great unexplored mass of the galaxy. My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the inhabitants of that world. Meanwhile, I am becoming better acquainted with my new command, this Galaxy Class USS Enterprise. I am still somewhat in awe of its size and complexity. As for my crew, we are short in several key positions, most notably a first officer, but I am informed that a highly experienced man, one Commander William Riker, will be waiting to join our ship at our Deneb Four destination.
Picard: You will agree, Data, that Starfleet's orders are difficult?
Data: Difficult? Simply solve the mystery of Farpoint Station.
Picard: As simple as that.
Troi: Farpoint Station. Even the name sounds mysterious.
Picard: It's hardly simple, Data, to negotiate a friendly agreement for Starfleet to use the base while at the same time snoop around finding how and why the life form there built it.
Data: Inquiry. The word snoop?
Picard: Data, how can you be programmed as a virtual encyclopedia of human information without knowing a simple word like snoop?
Data: Possibility, a kind of human behavior I was not designed to emulate.
Picard: It means to spy, to sneak.
Data: Ah! To seek covertly, to go stealthily, to slink, slither
Picard: Exactly, yes.
Data: Glide, creep, skulk, pussyfoot, gumshoe.
Troi: Captain, I'm sensing a powerful mind.
Torres: Something strange on the detector circuits.
Data: It registers as solid, Captain.
Troi: Or an incredibly powerful forcefield. But if we collide with either it could be very
Picard: Shut off that damned noise. Go to Yellow Alert.
Worf: Shields and deflectors up, sir.
Picard: Reverse power, full stop.
Torres: Controls to full stop, sir. Now reading full stop, sir.
Q: Thou are notified that thy kind hath infiltrated the galaxy too far already. Thou art directed to return to thine own solar system immediately.
Picard: That's quite a directive. Would you mind identifying what you are?
Q: We call ourselves the Q. Or thou mayst call me that. It's all much the same thing.
Q: I present myself to thee as a fellow ship captain, that thou mayst better understand me. Go back whence thou camest. Stay where thou art!
Picard: Data, call medics.
Troi: He's frozen.
Picard: He would not have injured you. Do you recognize this, the stun setting?
Q: Knowing humans as thou dost, Captain, wouldst thou be captured helpless by them? Now, go back or thou shalt most certainly die.
Picard: Captain's log, supplementary. The frozen form of Lieutenant Torres has been rushed to sickbay. The question now is the incredible power of the Q being. Do we dare oppose it?
Q: Captain, thy little centuries go by so rapidly. Perhaps thou will better understand this.
Q: Actually, the issue at stake is patriotism. You must return to your world and put an end to the commies. All it takes is a few good men.
Picard: What? That nonsense is centuries behind us.
Q: But you can't deny that you're still a dangerous, savage child race.
Picard: Most certainly I deny it. I agree we still were when humans wore costumes like that, four hundred years ago.
Q: At which time you slaughtered millions in silly arguments about how to divide the resources of your little world. And four hundred years before that you were murdering each other in quarrels over tribal god-images. Since there are no indications that humans will ever change.
Picard: But even when we wore costumes like that we'd already started to make rapid progress.
Q: Oh yeah? You want to review your rapid progress?
Q: Rapid progress, to where humans learned to control their military with drugs.
Worf: Sir, sickbay reports Lieutenant Torres's condition is better.
Q: Oh, concern for one's fellow comrade. How touching.
Worf: And now a personal request, sir. Permission to clean up the bridge.
Tasha: Lieutenant Worf is right, sir. As Security Chief I can't just stand here and let
Picard: Yes you can, Lieutenant Yar.
Q: Oh, better. And later, on finally reaching deep space, humans of course found enemies to fight out there too. And to broaden those struggles you again found allies for still more murdering. The same old story, all over again.
Picard: No. The same old story is the one we're meeting now. Self-righteous life forms who are eager not to learn but to prosecute, to judge anything they don't understand or can't tolerate.
Q: What an interesting idea. Prosecute and judge. Suppose it turns out we understand you humans only too well.
Picard: We've no fear of what the true facts about us will reveal.
Q: Facts about you? Splendid, splendid, Captain! You're a veritable fountain of good ideas. There are preparations to make, but when we next meet, Captain, we'll proceed exactly as you suggest.
Worf: Sir, respectfully submit our only choice is to fight.
Tasha: Fight, or try to escape.
Picard: Sense anything, Commander?
Troi: Its mind is much too powerful. Recommend we avoid contact.
Picard: From this point, no station aboard, repeat no station, for any reason will make use of transmitted signals or intercom. We'll try and take them by surprise. Let's see what this galaxy class starship can do. Lieutenant, inform engine room to prepare for maximum acceleration.
Worf: Aye, sir.
Picard: Records search, Data. Results of detaching saucer section at high warp velocity.
Data: Inadvisable at any warp speed, sir.
Picard: Search theoretical.
Data: It is possible, sir. But absolutely no margin for error.
Picard: Using print-out only, notify all decks to prepare for maximum acceleration. Now hear this, Maximum, you're entitled to know, means that we'll be pushing our engines well beyond safety limits. Our hope is to surprise whatever that is out there, try and outrun it. Our only other option is to tuck tail between our legs and return to Earth as they demand.
Worf: Engine room ready, sir.
Troi: The board shows green, Captain. All go.
Picard: Stand by. Engage.
Worf: Velocity warp nine point two.
Data: Heading three five one mark eleven, sir.
Picard: Steady on that.
Tasha: The hostile is now giving chase, sir. Accelerating fast.
Worf: We're now at warp nine point three, sir, which takes us past the red line, sir.
Picard: Continue accelerating. Counselor, at this point I'm open to guesses about what we've just met.
Troi: It it felt like something beyond what we'd consider a life form.
Picard: Beyond?
Troi: Very, very advanced, sir, or certainly very, very different.
Worf: We're at nine point four, sir.
Tasha: Hostile is now beginning to overtake us, sir.
Picard: Are you sure?
Data: Hostile's velocity is already warp nine point six, sir. Shall I put them on the main viewer?
Picard: Reverse angle.
Data: Magnifying viewer image.
Tasha: Hostile's velocity is nine point seven, sir.
Picard: Worf, inform the engine room we need more.
Data: Engine room attempting to comply, sir, but they caution us
Picard: Go to yellow alert. Arm aft photon torpedoes. Place them on ready status.
Tasha: Torpedoes to ready, sir.
Tasha: Hostile now at warp nine point eight, sir.
Worf: Our velocity is only nine point five, sir.
Data: Projection, sir. We may be able to match hostile's nine point eight, sir. But at extreme risk.
Tasha: Now reading the hostile at warp nine point nine, sir.
Picard: Now hear this. Print-out message, urgent, all stations on all decks. Prepare for emergency saucer sever. You will command the saucer section, Lieutenant.
Worf: I am a Klingon, sir. For me to seek escape when my Captain goes into battle.
Picard: You are a Starfleet officer, Lieutenant.
Worf: Aye, sir.
Picard: Make the mark, Data. Note in ship's log that at this startime, I'm transferring command to the battle bridge.
Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41153.7. Preparing to detach saucer section. so that families and the majority of the ship's company can seek relative safety while the vessel's stardrive, containing the battle bridge and main armaments, will turn back and confront the mystery that is threatening us.
Picard: Lieutenant, your torpedoes must detonate close enough to the hostile to blind it at the moment we separate.
Tasha: Understood, sir.
Troi: All decks acknowledging, sir.
Picard: Worf, this is the Captain.
Picard: At the moment of separation, we will reverse power just enough to get your saucer section out ahead and clear of us.
Worf: Understood, Captain.
Tasha: Torpedoes away, sir.
Picard: Begin countdown. Mark.
Data: Starship separation in six, five, four, three, two, one.
Data: Separation is successful, sir.
Tasha: Torpedoes have detonated, sir.
Picard: Let's come to a stop. Reverse power.
Data: Reverse power. Decelerating.
Picard: Dead stop. We'll hold this position and wait for them.
Troi: That will bring them here in just minutes, sir.
Tasha: Will we make a fight of it, Captain? If we can at least damage their ship we'll have a chance
Picard: Lieutenant, are you recommending we fight a life form that can do all those things? I'd like to hear your advice.
Tasha: I spoke before I thought, sir. We should look for some way to distract them from going after the saucer.
O'Brien: All forward motion stopped, sir.
Picard: Thank you, conn. Commander, signal the following in all languages and on all frequencies. We surrender. State that we are not asking for any terms or conditions.
Troi: Aye, sir. All language forms and frequencies.
Bailiff: The prisoners will all stand.
Data: Historically intriguing, Captain. Very, very accurate.
Picard: Mid twenty first century. The post-atomic horror.
Bailiff: All present, stand and make respectful attention to honored Judge.
Troi: Careful, sir. This is not an illusion or a dream.
Picard: But these courts happened in the past.
Troi: I don't understand either, but this is real.
Soldier: Get to your feet, criminals!
Data: At least we are acquainted with the judge, Captain.
Soldier: Attention! On your feet. Attention!
Q: You are out of order. The prisoners will not be harmed until they are found guilty. Dispose of that.
Picard: Can we assume you mean this will be a fair trial?
Q: Yes, absolutely equitable. Proceed.
Bailiff: Before this gracious court now appear these prisoners to answer for the multiple and grievous savageries of their species. How plead you, criminal?
Data: If I may, Captain? Objection, your honor. In the year 2036, the new United Nations declared that no Earth citizen could be made to answer for the crimes of his race or forbears.
Q: Objection denied. This is a court of the year 2079, by which time more rapid progress had caused all United Earth nonsense to be abolished.
Picard: Tasha, no.
Tasha: I must! Because I grew up on a world that allowed things like this court. And it was people like these that saved me from it. This so-called court should get down on its knees to what Starfleet is, what it represents.
Troi: You barbarian! This woman
Bailiff: Criminals keep silence!
Picard: You've got a lot to learn about humans if you think you can torture us or frighten us into silence. Will she live?
Data: Uncertain. When he froze Lieutenant Torres on the Bridge, we had our Sickbay to help thaw him out.
Bailiff: You will answer the charges, criminals.
Picard: Or what? Or this? Her death? Or worse? You promised the prisoners will not be harmed. We plead nothing so long as you break your own rules.
Q: I suggest you center your attention on this trial, Captain. It may be your only hope.
Picard: I suggest you are now having second thoughts it. You are considering that if you conduct a fair trial, which was your promise, you may lose.
Q: Lose?
Picard: Yes, even though you're judge and prosecutor.
Q: And jury.
Picard: Accepted, so long as you keep to your agreement. And assaulting prisoners is hardly a fair trial.
Q: This is a merciful court. Silence! Continuing these proceedings, I must caution you that legal trickery is not permitted. This is a court of
Picard: court of fact! We humans know our past, even when we're ashamed of it. I recognize this court system as the one that agreed with that line from Shakespeare. Kill all the lawyers.
Q: Which was done.
Picard: Which led to the rule guilty until proven innocent.
Q: Of course. Bringing the innocent to trial would be unfair. You will now answer to the charge of being a grievously savage race.
Picard: Grievously savage could mean anything. I will answer only specific charges.
Q: Are you certain you want a full disklosure of human ugliness? So be it, fool! Present the charges.
Bailiff: Criminal, you will read the charges to the court.
Picard: I see no charges against us, Your Honor.
Q: You are out of order!
Q: Soldiers, you will press those triggers if this criminal answers with any word other than guilty. Criminal, how plead you?
Picard: Guilty. Provisionally.
Q: The Court will hear the provision.
Picard: We question whether this court is abiding by its own trial instructions. Have I have permission to have Commander Data repeat the record?
Q: There will be no legal trickery
Picard: These will be your own words, your Honor. What exactly what followed his Honor's statement that the prisoner will not be harmed?
Data: Yes, sir. The Captain had asked the question. Can we assume you mean this will be a fair trial? And in reply the judge stated, yes, absolutely equitable.
Q: Irrelevant testimony, entirely irrelevant.
Picard: Alright! We agree there is evidence to support the court's contention that humans have been savage. Therefore I say test us. Test whether this is presently true of humans.
Q: I see, I see. And so you petition the Court to accept you and your comrades as proof of what humanity has become.
Picard: There must be many ways we can be tested. We have a long mission ahead of us.
Q: Another brilliant suggestion, Captain. But your test hardly requires a long mission. Your immediate destination offers far more challenge than you can possibly imagine. Yes, this Farpoint station will be an excellent test.
Bailiff: All present, respectfully stand.
Q: This trial is adjourned, to allow the criminals to be tested.
Bailiff: This honorable court is adjourned. Stand respectfully.
Q: Captain, you may find you are not nearly clever enough to deal with what lies ahead for you. It may have been better to accept sentence here.
Data: What is present course, conn?
O'Brien: It's what it's been all along, sir. Direct heading to Farpoint Station.
Data: Confirm. We are on that heading, sir.
O'Brien: Know anything about Farpoint Station, sir? Sounds like a fairly dull place.
Picard: We've heard that we may find it rather interesting. Personal log, Commander William Riker. Stardate 41153.7. The USS Hood has dropped me off at Farpoint Station, where I await the arrival of the new USS Enterprise to which I have been assigned as First Officer. Meanwhile I have been asked to visit the Farpoint Administrator's Office, in the old city.
Zorn: Ah, Commander Riker, I thought you'd want to know we've still no word from your vessel. I trust we made your waiting comfortable?
Riker: Luxurious is more like it.
Zorn: Good. Good.
Riker: Would I seem ungrateful if I ask for some information?
Zorn: Anything.
Riker: Fascinating, the advanced materials used in constructing this space station. Your energy supply must be as abundant as I've heard.
Zorn: Geothermal energy is the one great blessing of this planet. I'll have all the details of that sent to your quarters.
Riker: Thank you. But it still seems incredible to me that you could have constructed this station so rapidly and so, so perfectly suited to our needs.
Zorn: Would your care for an Earth delicacy, Commander?
Riker: If there's an apple?
Zorn: I'm sorry, Commander.
Riker: It doesn't matter. What I was saying was I'll be damned.
Zorn: Ah yes, there was another selection here
Riker: Groppler, I could have sworn it wasn't here a minute ago.
Zorn: And did your failure to notice it make it unwelcome?
Riker: Not at all, Groppler.
Zorn: I trust it will be the same with Farpoint Station, Commander. A few easily answered questions about it won't make Starfleet appreciate it less.
Riker: And it's delicious. Thank you. Good morning, Groppler Zorn.
Zorn: Good morning.
Zorn: You have been told not to do that. Why can't you understand? It will arouse their suspicion. And if that happens, we will have to punish you. We will, I promise you.
Riker: Doctor Crusher!
Wesley: Mother, it's Commander Riker.
Riker: Hello, Wes. Enjoying Farpoint Station?
Wesley: Yes, sir.
Riker: I saw you. I thought I might join you for a stroll.
Crusher: Actually, we were about to do some shopping.
Riker: I've been meaning to visit the mall myself.
Crusher: Of course.
Wesley: If you're wondering about Mom, Commander Riker, she's not unfriendly. She's just shy around men she doesn't know.
Crusher: Wesley! I believe that means he would like us to be friends.
Riker: I'm willing, Doctor. Although we're not officially part of the Enterprise, I thought there might be something useful we can do while we wait.
Crusher: Useful? How, Commander?
Riker: Investigating some things that I've noticed since I've been here. The last was a piece of fruit.
Crusher: Gold would be lovely with this. I am sure, Commander, there are reasons for a first officer to want to demonstrate his energy and alertness to a new captain. But since my duty and interests are outside the command structure
Riker: Isn't it remarkable they happen to have exactly what you asked for?
Crusher: Thank you. I'll take the entire bolt. Send it to our starship when it arrives. Charge to Doctor Crusher.
Riker: Let's see, where were we?
Crusher: I was accusing you of inventing work in order to curry favor with our new captain. I apologize.
Wesley: Mom, that gold pattern wasn't there.
Crusher: Maybe this is something Jean-Luc would like looked into.
Riker: Jean-Luc Picard? You know the Captain?
Wesley: When I was little, he brought my father's body home to us.
Crusher: Yes, Wes, long, long ago. A pleasure to meet you, Commander. You will excuse us.
Riker: My pleasure, Doctor. Wes.
Wesley: Sir?
Riker: See you on board.
Wesley: Yes, sir.
Laforge: Sir, the Enterprise is arriving
Riker: Is this an official report, Lieutenant?
Laforge: Sorry, Commander. Sir, Lieutenant La Forge reporting. The Enterprise arriving, but without the saucer section, sir.
Riker: Stardrive section only? What happened?
Laforge: I don't know, sir. Captain Picard has signaled for you to beam up immediately.
Riker: Our new captain doesn't waste time. It's a good idea. Thank you, Lieutenant.
Laforge: Aye, sir.
Riker: Enterprise, this is Commander Riker at Farpoint Station. Standing by to beam up.
Tasha: Lieutenant Yar of Security, sir. Captain Picard will see you on the Battle Bridge.
Riker: With the saucer gone, I assume something interesting happened on your way here?
Tasha: Battle bridge. That's for the Captain to explain, sir.
Picard: Do we have clearance?
Data: Aye, sir, into the standard parking orbit.
Picard: Make it so.
Tasha: Commander Riker, sir.
Riker: Riker, WT, reporting as ordered, sir.
Picard: Is the viewer ready?
Tasha: All set up, sir.
Picard: We'll first bring you up to date on a little adventure we had on our way here, Commander. Then we'll talk. Welcome aboard.
Tasha: This way, sir. (She sits him down in front of a screen and runs a tape of the Q encounter on the Bridge)
Q: Thou art directed to return to thine own solar system immediately. Go back or thou shalt most certainly die. You can't deny you're still a dangerous, savage, child race.
Data: Message from the saucer module, sir. It will arrive here in fifty one minutes.
Picard: Inform them we'll connect as soon as they arrive. And sent the Commander to me when he's finished.
Tasha: Yes, sir.
Q: And four hundred years before that, you were murdering each other in quarrels over tribal god images. Since then there are no indications that humans will ever change. There are preparations to make, and when we next meet, Captain, we'll proceed exactly as you suggest.
Riker: He calls that a little adventure?
Picard: Come.
Riker: Not exactly a run of the mill happening, Captain.
Picard: It seems we're alive only because we have been placed on probation. A very serious kind of probation. Go.
Data: The saucer module is now entering orbit with us, sir.
Picard: Acknowledged. Commander Riker will conduct a manual docking. Picard out.
Riker: Sir?
Picard: You've reported in, haven't you? You are qualified?
Riker: Yes, sir.
Picard: Then I mean now, Commander.
Data: They say you will be doing this manually, sir. No automation.
Riker: As ordered.
Riker: Velocity to one half meter per second. Adjust pitch angle, negative three degrees. Watch your roll angle, conn. All stations, prepare for reconnection. Thrusters to station keeping. All velocity zero. Her inertia should do the job now. Lock up now.
Picard: A fairly routine maneuver but you handled it quite well.
Riker: Thank you, sir. I hope I showed some promise.
Picard: I do have some questions for you though.
Riker: Yes, sir, I thought you might.
Picard: I see in your file that Captain DeSoto thinks very highly of you. One curious thing, however, you refused to let him beam down to Altair Three.
Riker: In my opinion, sir, Altair Three was too dangerous to risk exposing the Captain.
Picard: I see. A Captain's rank means nothing to you.
Riker: Rather the reverse, sir. But a Captain's life means a great deal to me.
Picard: Isn't it just possible that you don't get to be a Starfleet Captain without knowing whether it's safe to beam down or not? Isn't it a little presumptuous of a first officer to second guess his captain's judgment?
Riker: Permission to speak candidly, sir?
Picard: Always.
Riker: Having been a first officer yourself, you know that assuming that responsibility must by definition include the safety of the captain. I have no problem with following any rules you lay down, short of compromising your safety.
Picard: And you don't intend to back off that position?
Riker: No, sir,
Picard: One further thing. A special favor.
Riker: Anything, sir.
Picard: Using the same kind of strength you showed with Captain DeSoto, I would appreciate it if you can keep me from making an ass of myself with children.
Riker: Sir?
Picard: I'm not a family man, Riker, and yet, Starfleet has given me a ship with children aboard.
Riker: Yes, sir.
Picard: And I don't feel comfortable with children. But, since a captain needs an image of geniality, you're to see that's what I project.
Riker: Aye, sir.
Picard: Welcome to the Enterprise, Commander Riker.
Crusher: Naturally I've heard of your case. The visor implants you wear
Laforge: Is a remarkable piece of bio-electronic engineering by which I quote see much of the EM spectrum ranging from simple heat and infrared through radio waves et cetera, et cetera, and forgive me if I've said and listened to this a thousand times before.
Crusher: You've been blind all your life?
Laforge: I was born this way.
Crusher: And you've felt pain all the years that you've used this?
Laforge: They say it's because I use my natural sensors in different ways.
Crusher: Well, I see two choices. The first is painkillers.
Laforge: Which would affect how this works. No. Choice number two?
Crusher: Exploratory surgery. Desensitize the brain areas troubling you.
Laforge: Same difference. No, thank you, Doctor.
Crusher: I understand.
Laforge: See you.
Worf: Yes sir?
Riker: Where will I find Commander Data?
Worf: Commander Data is on special assignment, sir. He's using our shuttlecraft to transfer an admiral over to the Hood.
Riker: An admiral?
Worf: He's been aboard all day, sir, checking over medical layout.
Riker: Why a shuttlecraft? Why wouldn't he just beam over?
Worf: I suppose he could, sir, but the Admiral's a rather remarkable man.
Mccoy: Have you got some reason you want my atoms scattered all over space, boy?
Data: No sir. But at your age, sir, I thought you shouldn't have to put up with the time and trouble of a shuttlecraft.
Mccoy: Hold it right there, boy.
Data: Sir?
Mccoy: What about my age?
Data: Sorry, sir. If that subject troubles you
Mccoy: Troubles me? What's so damned troubling about not having died? How old do you think I am?
Data: One hundred thirty seven years, Admiral, according to Starfleet records.
Mccoy: Explain how you remember that so exactly.
Data: I remember every fact I am exposed to, sir.
Mccoy: I don't see any points on your ears, boy, but you sound like a Vulcan.
Data: No, sir. I'm an android.
Mccoy: Almost as bad.
Data: I thought it was generally accepted, sir, that Vulcans are an advanced and most honorable race.
Mccoy: They are, they are. And damned annoying at times.
Data: Yes, sir.
Mccoy: Well, this is a new ship, but she's got the right name. Now you remember that, you hear.
Data: I will, sir.
Mccoy: You treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home.
Picard: Did you signal the Hood, Commander Riker?
Riker: Your exact message. Bon voyage mon ami.
Picard: What was my answer, computer?
Q: You're wasting time, Captain. Or did you think I was gone?
Picard: Lieutenant! Do you intend to blast a hole through the viewer? If the purpose of this is to test humans, your honor, we must proceed in our own way.
Q: You are dilatory. You have twenty four hours. Any further delay and you risk summary judgment against you, Captain.
Worf: Sorry, sir
Riker: You reacted fast, Mister Worf.
Picard: But futilely.
Worf: I will learn to do better, sir.
Picard: Of course you will. We've a long voyage ahead of us.
Riker: What do we do now, Captain? With them monitoring our every move and every word.
Picard: We do exactly what we would do if this Q never existed. If we're going to be damned, let's be damned for what we really are.
Picard: Personal log, stardate 41153.8. Of the twenty four hours Q allotted us to prove ourselves, eleven have now passed without incident. And yet I cannot forget Q's prediction that we will face some critical test.
Riker: This planet's interior heat provides an abundance of geothermal energy, sir. But it's about all this world does offer.
Picard: And it's your belief that this is what made it possible for them to construct this base to Starfleet standards?
Riker: Yes sir. We have to assume that they've been trading their surplus energy for the construction materials used here. According to our ship's scans, many of the materials used are not found on this world.
Picard: Perhaps it's like those incidents you describe in your report as almost magical attempts to please us.
Riker: Those events did happen, sir.
Picard: None of it suggests anything threatening. If only every life form had as much desire to please. Ready to beam down? I'm looking forward to meeting this Groppler Zorn.
Riker: I have a feeling there's more to it than just pleasing us, sir.
Picard: As if it's something Q is doing to trick us? Over here. I've asked the Counselor to join us in this meeting. May I introduce our new First Officer, Commander William Riker. Commander Riker, this is our ship's Counselor, Deanna Troi.
Troi: Do you remember what I taught you, Imzadi? Can you still sense my thoughts?
Troi: A pleasure, Commander.
Riker: Likewise, Counselor.
Picard: Have the two of you met before?
Riker: We have, sir.
Picard: Excellent. I consider it important for my key officers know each other's abilities.
Troi: We do, sir. We do.
Troi: I, too, would never say goodbye, Imzadi.
Picard: My crew and I need a bit more information before we make our recommendations to Starfleet.
Zorn: No objections to that, but but I'm puzzled over you bringing a Betazoid to this. If her purpose, sir, is to probe my thoughts
Troi: I can sense only strong emotions, Groppler. I am only half Betazoid. My father was a Starfleet officer.
Zorn: Well, I have nothing to hide, of course.
Picard: Good, since we admire what we've seen of your construction techniques. Starfleet may be interested in your constructing starbases elsewhere also.
Zorn: We are not interested in building other facilities.
Riker: If I may, Captain. Then a trade, Groppler? Some things you need in return for lending us architects and engineers who can demonstrate your techniques.
Zorn: Bandi do not enjoy leaving their home world. If Starfleet cannot accept that small weakness, then we will be forced, unhappily, to seek an alliance with someone like the Ferengi, or
Picard: Counselor? What is it?
Troi: Do you want it described here, sir?
Picard: Yes. No secrets here if we're to be all to be friends. Agreed, Groppler?
Zorn: We ourselves have nothing to hide, of course.
Troi: Pain. Pain. Loneliness. Terrible loneliness. Despair. I'm not sensing the Groppler, sir, or any of his people, but it's something very close to us here.
Picard: The source of this, Groppler. Do you have any idea?
Zorn: No. No, absolutely not. And I find nothing helpful or productive in any of this!
Picard: And that's it? No other comment?
Zorn: Well what do you expect of us? We offer you a base designed to your needs, luxurious even by human standards
Picard: While evading even our simplest questions about it. We'll adjourn for now while we all reconsider our positions.
Zorn: Captain, the Ferengi would be very interested in a base like this.
Picard: Fine. I hope they find you as tasty as they did their past associates.
Riker: Ensign, can you help me find Commander Data? I understand he's somewhere on this deck.
Ensign: This way, sir. You must be new to these Galaxy class starships, sir. Tell me the location of Commander Data.
Computer: Lieutenant Commander Data now located in Holodeck area 4J.
Ensign: And as you see, sir, it's pointing you that way.
Riker: Thank you
Ensign: You're welcome, sir.
Computer: The next hatchway on your right.
Riker: Thank you.
Computer: You're welcome, Commander Riker. And if you care to enter, Commander?
Riker: I do.
Riker: Hello?
Data: Marvelous. How easily humans do that. I still need much practice.
Riker: There are some puzzles down on the planet that the Captain wants answered. He suggests that I take you with me on the away team that I'll be leading.
Data: I shall endeavor to function adequately, sir.
Riker: Yes. When the captain suggested you, I looked up your record.
Data: Yes, sir. A wise procedure, sir, always.
Riker: Then your rank of Lieutenant Commander is honorary?
Data: No, sir. Starfleet class of '78. Honors in probability mechanics and exobiology.
Riker: Your file says that you're an
Data: Machine, Correct, sir. Does that trouble you?
Riker: To be honest, yes, a little.
Data: Understood, sir. Prejudice is very human.
Riker: Now that does trouble me. Do you consider yourself superior to us?
Data: I am superior, sir, in many ways, but I would gladly give it up to be human.
Riker: Nice to meet you, Pinocchio. A joke.
Data: Ah. Intriguing.
Riker: You're going to be an interesting companion, Mister Data.
Data: This woodland pattern is quite popular, sir. Perhaps because it duplicates Earth so well. Coming here almost makes me feel human myself.
Riker: I didn't believe these simulations could be this real.
Data: Much of it is real, sir. If the transporters can convert our bodies to an energy beam, then back to the original pattern again
Riker: Yes, of course. And these rocks and vegetation have much simpler patterns.
Data: Correct, sir. The rear wall.
Riker: I can't see it.
Data: We're right next to it.
Riker: Incredible!
Wesley: Commander Riker!
Wesley: Commander Riker, isn't this great? This is one of the simpler patterns. They've got thousands more. Some you just can't believe.
Riker: Careful, the next rock is loose!
Riker: Wesley!
Wesley: Wow!
Riker: Mister Data has agreed to join me on the away team, Captain.
Picard: Very good, Commander.
Wesley: Sir, maybe I should get something to wipe this water up.
Picard: Good idea.
Wesley: There's a low gravity gymnasium, too. It'd be hard to get bored on this ship.
Crusher: Good.
Wesley: Mom, could you get me a look at the Bridge?
Crusher: That's against the Captain's standing orders.
Wesley: Are you afraid of the Captain too?
Crusher: I certainly am not.
Wesley: But Captain Picard is a pain, isn't he?
Crusher: Your father liked him very much. Great explorers are often lonely. No chance to have a family.
Wesley: Just a look, at the Bridge. I'll stay in the turbolift when the doors open. I won't get off.
Crusher: You are asking for trouble, Wes. We'll see what we can do.
Tasha: Recommend that someone could begin by examining the underside of the station, sir.
Troi: Our sensors do show some passages, sir. Perhaps you and I?
Riker: Tasha, you and the Counselor. And, Geordi, I want your eyes down there. You and I will start with topside.
Riker: Have you noticed anything unusual?
Data: I can't see as well as Geordi, sir, but so far the material seems rather very ordinary.
Riker: Construction records?
Data: Construction records show this to be almost identical to that which Starfleet uses.
Tasha: Team Leader.
Tasha: We've found something interesting. We're in a passageway directly under the station, sir.
Laforge: But these tunnel walls are something I've never seen before, sir.
Riker: How are you examining them?
Laforge: In every way.
Laforge: Microscopically, thermally, electromagnetically. None of it is familiar.
Riker: What about you, Troi?
Troi: Sir, I've avoided opening my mind. Whatever I felt in the Groppler's office became very uncomfortable.
Riker: I'm sorry, Counselor, but you must. We need more information.
Troi: Pain. Such pain! Pain!
Riker: Hang on, I'm coming. Enterprise, lock us onto her signal.
Riker: I'm sorry. Close your mind to the pain.
Troi: Unhappiness. Terrible despair.
Riker: Who?
Troi: I don't know. No life form anything like us.
Riker: What in the hell kind of place is this? Geordi, what do you see?
Laforge: Well, it's of no material I recognize, sir, or have even heard of.
Picard: Children are not allowed on the Bridge.
Crusher: Permission to report to the captain
Picard: Doctor Crusher.
Crusher: Captain. Sir, my son is not on the Bridge. He merely accompanied me on the turbolift.
Picard: Your son?
Crusher: His name's Wesley. You last saw him years ago when
Picard: Well, as long as he's here. I knew your father, Wesley. Want a look around?
Picard: But don't touch anything! Try it out. The panel on your right is for log entries, library computer access and retrieval, viewscreen control, intercoms, and so on. Here we have
Wesley: And here, the backup conn and ops panels, plus shield and armory controls.
Picard: The forward viewscreen is controlled from the ops position there
Wesley: Which uses high resolution, multi-spectral imaging sensor systems
Picard: How the hell do you know that, boy?
Wesley: Perimeter alert, Captain!
Crusher: Wesley!
Wesley: I'm sorry.
Crusher: You shouldn't have touched anything
Picard: Off the bridge! Both of you.
Worf: You have a perimeter alert, sir.
Crusher: As my son tried to tell you!
Picard: Picard. Go ahead.
Security: Ship's sensors have detected the presence of a vessel approaching this planet. No ship is scheduled to arrive at this time, sir.
Picard: Have Commander Riker and his team beam back up. Security, could that be the Hood returning here?
Security: The vessel does not match the Hood's configuration or ID signal.
Picard: Put it on main viewer. Identification?
Worf: Vessel unknown, configuration unknown, sir.
Picard: Hail it.
Worf: We've been trying, sir. No response.
Picard: Raise all shields, phasers at ready.
Worf: Shields up, sir. Phasers ready.
Picard: Get me Groppler Zorn. And continue universal greetings on all frequencies.
Zorn: This is Zorn, Captain.
Picard: Zorn, an unidentified vessel has entered into orbit with us.
Picard: Do you know who it is?
Zorn: There are no ships scheduled to arrive until
Picard: I asked if you knew who it is. You mentioned the Ferengi Alliance to me.
Zorn: But we have had no dealings with them. It was only a, a thought.
Picard: Are you certain?
Zorn: I promise you, Captain.
Zorn: We were making an empty threat. I wanted your cooperation. Forgive me.
Worf: Definitely entering orbital trajectory, sir.
Security: It measures twelve times our volume, Captain.
Worf: Sensors say we were just scanned, sir.
Tasha: Pain again?
Riker: Troi, you've been at it enough.
Troi: No, I feel close to an answer of some kind.
Data: Commander, something down here is shielding our communicators.
Troi: Yes, that's exactly the feeling I've been reading. As if someone doesn't want us to be in touch with our ship.
Riker: Come on, let's get to the surface.
Worf: There is no computer record of any such vessel, sir. Nothing even close.
Security: Still no response, sir. We've done everything but threaten them.
Picard: Sensor scans, Mister Worf.
Worf: Our sensor signals seem to just bounce off. Something's happening, sir. They're firing on Farpoint, sir!
Picard: Bring photon torpedoes to ready!
Worf: Wait, sir. They're hitting the old Bandi city, not Farpoint Station.
Troi: Those stairs are where we entered down here, sir.
Laforge: At this point, it becomes ordinary stone, sir. Matching what's above.
Tasha: My God! Was that a phaser blast?
Data: Negative. But something similar.
Riker: You, Tasha, and Geordi will beam up to the ship. Now, come on, I want to see exactly what's happening.
Troi: Don't. If you should be hurt
Riker: You have your orders, Lieutenant. Carry them out.
Troi: Yes sir, I'm sorry, sir. Enterprise, three to beam up.
Zorn: Enterprise, Enterprise, come in! Help us, please! What shall we do?
Zorn: Enterprise, help us, please!
Picard: Tune that down! Commander Riker, come in. Can you hear me?
Riker: Riker to Enterprise, come in.
Picard: Commander Riker, come in. Where are you?
Riker: With Data, on the edge of the old city, sir. It's being hit hard, sir.
Picard: And Farpoint Station? Any damage there?
Riker: Negative on damage to Farpoint, sir. Whoever they are, it seems they're carefully avoiding hitting the station.
Picard: It's from an unidentified vessel that's entered into orbit with us here.
Picard: No ID, no answer to our signals.
Riker: The old Bandi city's being hit hard, sir. Many casualties very probable.
Picard: Understand, Commander.
Picard: Would you object to your Captain ordering a clearly illegal kidnapping?
Riker: No objection, sir.
Picard: Groppler Zorn may have the answers we need. Get him. Bring him here.
Riker: Aye, sir.
Picard: They're forcing a difficult decision on me, Counselor.
Troi: But I doubt protecting the Bandi would violate the Prime Directive. True, they are not actual allies, but
Picard: We are in the midst of diplomatic discussions with them. Lieutenant, lock phasers on that vessel.
Tasha: Phasers locked on, Captain.
Q: Typical. So typical. Savage lifeforms never follow even their own rules.
Picard: Get off my bridge!
Q: Interesting, that order about phasers.
Tasha: Standing by on phasers, Captain.
Q: Please, don't let me interfere. Use your weapons.
Picard: We've no idea who is on that vessel. My order was a routine safety precaution.
Q: Really? No idea of what it represents? The meaning of that vessel is as plain, as plain as the noses on your ugly little primate faces. And if you were truly civilized, Captain, wouldn't you be doing something about the casualties happening down there?
Picard: Captain to CMO.
Picard: Are you reading any of this?
Crusher: Medical teams already preparing to beam down, Captain.
Picard: Compliments on that, Doctor. Any questions? Starfleet people are trained to render aid and assistance whenever
Q: But not trained in clear thinking.
Picard: Let's consider your thoughts. You call us savages and yet you knew those people down there would be killed. It is your conduct that is uncivilized.
Worf: Sir, they're firing on the planet again.
Picard: Go to maneuvering jets. Position us between that vessel and the planet. Force fields full on.
Worf: Aye, sir. Impulse power to We have no ship control, sir. It's gone!
Data: Are you undamaged?
Riker: Yes. You?
Data: All systems operating.
Zorn: Please! Make it stop! You can drive it away!
Riker: Drive who away, Groppler?
Zorn: I don't know.
Data: Unlikely, sir. Our records show that you supervised all Bandi contact with other worlds.
Zorn: We done nothing anything wrong!
Riker: Then if we can learn nothing from you, we'll leave.
Zorn: No! Oh no, please, don't leave. I'll try to explain.
Riker: First officer to Enterprise. We've lost Zorn. Something like a transporter beam seems to have snatched him away.
Riker: Question, sir, could it be this Q?
Q: None of you knows who transported him. You're running out of time, Captain.
Troi: Captain, suddenly I'm sensing something else. Satisfaction. Enormous satisfaction.
Picard: From the same source as before?
Troi: No, that was on the planet. This is much closer.
Q: Excellent, Counselor. He's such a dullard, isn't he?
Crew: Captain from Transporter Room. First Officer and Mister Data have beamed aboard.
Q: Excellent also. Perhaps with more of these little minds helping
Picard: That is enough, damn it!
Q: Have you forgotten that we have an agreement,
Picard: An agreement which you are at this moment breaking by taking over our vessel, interfering with my decisions. Either leave or finish us.
Q: Temper, temper, mon Capitaine. I'm merely trying to assist a pitiful species. But perhaps I will leave if Commander Riker provides me with some amusement.
Picard: Do nothing that he asks.
Q: But I ask so little, and it's so necessary if you're to solve all this. Beam over there with your what do you call it? Your away team.
Picard: I'll risk none of my crew on that unknown.
Q: You should already know what you'll find there. Or perhaps it's too adult a puzzle for you.
Riker: With all respect, Captain, I want to beam over there.
Q: You show promise, my good fellow.
Riker: Have you understood any part of what he's tried to tell you? Humanity is no longer a savage race.
Q: But you must still prove that.
Picard: At least you impressed him, Number One. That's hopeful.
Riker: Thank you, Captain. Captain, if he's not open to evidence in our favor, where will you go from there?
Picard: I'll attend to my duty.
Riker: To the bitter end?
Picard: I see nothing so bitter about that.
Crusher: Can I help you, Captain?
Picard: I didn't want you thinking me harsh. Cold blooded.
Crusher: Why oh why would I ever think that.
Picard: I didn't welcome you aboard personally, professionally. I made you come to me on the Bridge. I yelled at your son. Who, as you pointed out, was quite correct. He does seem to have a very good grasp of starship operations.
Crusher: You've just won this mother's heart, Captain.
Picard: Ah, but, now, your assignment here. I would consider and approve you a transfer for you.
Crusher: Oh. You consider me unqualified?
Picard: Hardly. Your service record shows you're just the Chief Medical Officer I want.
Crusher: Then you must object to me personally.
Picard: I'm trying to be considerate of your feelings, Doctor. For you to work with a commanding officer who would continually remind you of a terrible personal tragedy.
Crusher: If I had had any objections to serving with you, I wouldn't have requested this assignment, Captain.
Picard: You requested this posting?
Crusher: My feelings about my husband's death will have no effect on the way I serve you, this vessel, or this mission.
Picard: Ah. Then, welcome aboard, Doctor.
Riker: Riker to Picard. We're ready to beam over, sir.
Picard: I, er, I hope we can be friends?
Crusher: Thank you.
Riker: Phasers on stun. Energize.
Data: Most interesting, sir.
Tasha: It's much the same construction we saw in the underground tunnel.
Data: But no sound of power. No equipment.
Tasha: How does this ship run?
Riker: What is it, Troi? Is it the same as you felt down there?
Troi: No. This is much more powerful. Full of anger! Hate!
Tasha: Toward us?
Troi: No. It's directed down toward the old Bandi city.
Data: Most intriguing again, sir. The place that this vessel was firing upon was not the Farpoint starbase, but the home of those who constructed. Sorry, sir. I seem to be commenting on everything.
Riker: Good. Don't stop, my friend.
Riker: Enterprise, Riker. This is turning out to be a very long tunnel or corridor, sir.
Riker: No ship's crew in sight. No sign of mechanism or circuitry. No controls or read-outs. This is nothing like any vessel I've seen before.
Troi: Groppler Zorn, sir. A great fear just ahead.
Troi: There's a different feeling here than in the tunnel. Very different.
Zorn: No! Please! No more! Please, no more! Please, please, make it stop! Please! Please! Please! Make it stop! Please!
Zorn: No! Please! No more, please! No more! Please!
Riker: Zorn. Can you hear me?
Zorn: The pain! No!
Troi: Has the alien communicated?
Zorn: Please! Please! Please, no more!
Troi: That's it, sir. It's just one alien that I'm sensing here.
Zorn: Please! I don't understand what you want!
Troi: Not true. He does know.
Zorn: No, please, no more. No more! No, no, no, don't!
Worf: Captain!
Picard: Transporter chief, yank them back now! Riker, acknowledge!
Q: Your time is up, Captain.
Picard: Transporter Chief, do you have their coordinates? Transporter Chief!
Q: He can't hear you, Captain.
Picard: Transporter Chief, come in! I've people in trouble over there, Q.
Picard: Everyone at ease. That's an order. Q, my people are in trouble. Let me help them, please. I'll do whatever you say.
Q: You'll do whatever I say?
Picard: It seems I did make that bargain.
Troi: The agreement isn't valid, sir. It wasn't Q that saved us.
Q: Save yourself. It may attack you now.
Riker: It was that which sent us back, Captain.
Troi: Yes sir. It is not merely a vessel, sir. Somehow it is alive.
Q: She lies. Destroy it while you have a chance. Make phasers and photon torpedoes ready.
Picard: No! Do nothing he demands.
Zorn: Captain, that thing was killing my people!
Picard: Was there a reason?
Q: It is an unknown, Captain. Isn't that enough?
Picard: If you'd earned that uniform you're wearing, you'd know that the unknown is what brings us out here.
Q: Wasted effort, considering the human intelligence.
Picard: Let's test that. Beginning with the tunnels you have under Farpoint, Groppler.
Riker: Identical to the ones on the space vessel lifeform over there. Why was it punishing you, Groppler?
Picard: In return for some pain you'd given other creature?
Zorn: We've done nothing wrong. It was injured. We helped it.
Picard: Thank you. That was the missing part. Lieutenant Yar, rig main phaser banks to deliver an energy beam.
Tasha: Aye, sir.
Riker: You're right, Captain. It has to be conceivable that somewhere in this galaxy there could exist creatures able to convert energy into matter.
Picard: And into specific patterns of matter, just as our transporters do.
Tasha: On the viewer, Captain!
Picard: Groppler, you captured something like that, didn't you?
Zorn: Warn my people, please, to leave Farpoint Station immediately!
Q: He lies, Captain. Shouldn't you let his people die?
Picard: Transmit the message, leave Farpoint Space Station immediately.
Troi: Then it was a pair of creatures I was sensing. One down there in grief and pain, the other up here, filled with anger.
Data: And firing not on the new space station, but on the Bandi and their city.
Picard: Attacking those who had captured, capture its mate.
Tasha: Energy beam ready, sir.
Picard: Lock it in on Farpoint Station.
Q: I see now it was too simple a puzzle. Generosity has always been my weakness.
Picard: Let it have whatever it can absorb. Energize.
Tasha: Now getting feedback on the beam, sir.
Picard: Discontinue. Groppler Zorn, there'll soon be no Farpoint Station, if I'm right about this.
Q: A lucky guess.
Zorn: Please believe me, we meant no harm to the creature. It was starving for energy.
Picard: Which your world furnishes you in plenty.
Zorn: We did feed it.
Picard: Only enough to keep it alive, so that you could force it to shape itself into whatever form you needed!
Troi: Sir! Wonderful! A feeling of great joy. And gratitude. Great joy and gratitude, from both of them.
Picard: Why do you use other lifeforms for recreation?
Q: If so, you've not provided the best.
Picard: Leave us! We've passed your little test.
Q: Temper, temper, mon Capitaine.
Picard: Get off my ship.
Q: I do so only because it suits me to. But I will not promise never to appear again.
Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41174.2. The agreement for the rebuilding Farpoint Station has been completed per my instructions.
Picard: All stations?
Data: Ready for departure, sir.
Picard: Some problem, Riker?
Riker: Just hoping this isn't the usual way our missions will go, sir.
Picard: Oh no, Number One. I'm sure most will be much more interesting. Let's see what's out there. Engage.


Picard: Captain's log, Stardate 41209.2. We are running at warp seven to rendezvous with the science vessel SS Tsiolkovsky, which has been routinely monitoring the collapse of a red super giant star into a white dwarf. What has brought us here is a series of strange messages indicating something has gone wrong aboard the research vessel.
Data: SS Tsiolkovsky, repeat your message.
Woman: Well hello, Enterprise. Welcome. I hope you have a lot of pretty boys on board, because i'm willing and waiting. In fact, we're going to have a real blow-out here.
Man: Do it! Yeah, go ahead. Do it!
Data: Captain, what we just heard is impossible.
Picard: Report.
Data: I believe that last sound we heard was an emergency hatch being blown.
Picard: Are you certain? Yes, of course you are.
Riker: Data, Geordi, Tasha.
Worf: Sensor scan now reveals no life signs aboard, Captain.
Riker: Cover the ship as planned. Move out.
Data: Indications of what humans would call a wild party?
Riker: Their Bridge. If this thing works, be sure to record everything.
Riker: You were right. Somebody blew the hatch. They were all sucked out into space.
Data: Correction, sir, that's blown out.
Riker: Thank you, Data.
Data: A common mistake, sir,
Tasha: Commander Riker, Lieutenant Yar. Location Engineering. Ten people here, sir, all frozen. No vital signs.
Riker: Frozen? How?
Tasha: It looks like someone has been playing with the environmental controls, sir. Just let all the heat bleed away into space.
Laforge: Sir, Lieutenant La Forge in the crew quarters. Something in here. (He finds a door which is trying to close. He opens it and a corpse falls out into his arms.
Riker: Riker to Captain, I have a report for you, sir.
Picard: Picard here.
Riker: They're all dead.
Riker: Apparently some of them were apparently blown out the emergency hatches.
Picard: But there were eighty people on that ship, Number One.
Riker: Yes sir.
Riker: As I said, all dead.
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. We are downloading the research information gathered on the collapsing star nearby. I am concerned at being in such close orbit, but the Tsiolkovsky's research records will no doubt predict the time of the star's final collapse.
Crusher: I can't find anything unusual in any of the tricorder readings they've sent over, Captain.
Picard: Give me a theory, Doctor. Anything. Madness? Mass hysteria? Delusion?
Troi: Any or all, Captain.
Picard: All right. Let's bring the away team back. Set the transporter to maximum decontamination, and then full examination and observation when they're here.
Crusher: If you were any more perfect, Data, I'd write you up in a Starfleet medical textbook.
Data: I am already listed in several bio-mechanical texts, Doctor.
Crusher: Yes of course. You're next, Lieutenant.
Crusher: Normal all across. Except, why are you perspiring, Lieutenant?
Laforge: I suppose because you have it too hot in here. What else would it be?
Riker: That doesn't sound like you, Geordi.
Laforge: Well, maybe it's not. Maybe she threw her voice. Hey, it was a joke.
Crusher: Of course, but I would like to run one or two more tests on you, Lieutenant.
Crusher: Sickbay to Bridge,
Picard: Picard here. Go ahead, Doctor.
Crusher: I'm confining Lieutenant La Forge to Sickbay until further notice.
Picard: Do we have a problem, Doctor?
Crusher: I don't know yet.
Riker: Data, I need help in locating some library computer information.
Data: Specifics, sir?
Riker: All I have is a vague memory of reading somewhere about someone taking a shower in his or her clothing.
Data: Ah. The body Geordi discovered.
Riker: I believe it may have happened before.
Data: To someone, somewhere.
Riker: This ought to be easy for someone written up in bio-mechanical texts.
Data: About that, sir. Did the Doctor believe I was boasting?
Riker: Probably. This may take some time.
Data: At least several hours. But what I said was a statement of fact. Perhaps she will look it up.
Riker: You can depend on it.
Crusher: Geordi!
Crusher: Security. Lieutenant La Forge just left Sickbay while I was in my office.
Crusher: He doesn't have his communicator. It is very important that we find him.
Tasha: Security team alert, pick up Lieutenant La Forge. He just left Sickbay moments ago. Captain, anything further?
Picard: Affirmative. Make it a ship-wide search, Lieutenant.
Wesley: It's a model of the same kind of tractor beam our ship uses with a few ideas of my own added.
Laforge: So that's your science project, huh? Wes, you're really something.
Wesley: And since the Captain won't let me on the Bridge, I use this to imagine I'm there.
Picard: Take the helm, Mister Crusher. Set a course for thirty seven mark one hundred eighty. Warp six.
Laforge: It's the Captain's voice.
Wesley: It's pieced together from words he's used on the intercom. With this, I can pretend he's ordering me to take the Enterprise anywhere. And listen to this,
Picard: Chief Engineer, report to the Bridge. Commander Riker, report to the Bridge. Doctor Crusher, report to the Bridge.
Wesley: What do you think?
Laforge: I think the Captain's lucky you're on his side.
Wesley: But he still won't let me on the Bridge. And there's nothing there I don't understand.
Laforge: I wish I understood myself that well.
Wesley: Are you okay?
Laforge: No, Suddenly I seem to be burning up inside. It's hot in here.
Tasha: Geordi? Geordi? Lieutenant Yar in the Observation lounge. Send a team here now. Medical's been worried about you.
Laforge: Help me. Help me to not to give in to the wild things coming into my mind,
Tasha: Geordi, my job is security,
Laforge: Tasha, please.
Tasha: Alright. Alright, helping is more important. Geordi, how can I help you?
Laforge: Help me to see. Like you do.
Tasha: But you already see better than I can.
Laforge: I see more. But more isn't better.
Tasha: Geordi, please put
Laforge: I want to see in shallow, dim, beautiful human ways.
Tasha: We'll talk about it, Geordi. Right now I'm going to take you to Sickbay. All right?
Laforge: Yeah.
Tasha: Okay. Good.
Tasha: And then we got him down to Sickbay so Doctor Crusher could examine him.
Picard: He wasn't violent?
Tasha: No, sir. He was very upset. He kept talking about wanting normal vision.
Picard: Thank you, Lieutenant.
Crusher: According to our medical readouts, there's still nothing wrong with him. He looks like he's running a temperature but every instrument we have says he's not.
Picard: Doctor, every person on that ship over there died. Is there any chance that whatever did it is loose on my ship?
Crusher: If you mean a disease, sir, I'd say there's no chance of it. We used full decontamination, we examined every team member very carefully,
Picard: The entire crew somehow managed to kill themselves, Doctor. If it's not a disease, what else could have made them do that?
Crusher: The obvious alternatives would be in areas of insanity and severe emotional upset. Troi, do you feel anything unusual in the lieutenant?
Picard: Security just told me that he was longing for normal eyesight. That's a sudden yearning for that.
Troi: Since his records show no previous mention of that, the fact that it's happened now could be important. But all I sense from him is confusion. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was intoxicated.
Crusher: Our tests would have shown that. Also any other signs of drugs, hallucinogens or other contaminants.
Data: Can you provide more information, sir? Seeking an instance of someone showering in his or her clothing is
Riker: I know. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Data: Why should anyone wish to expend his time in such a search?
Riker: Correction, Data, I should have said proverbial needle in a haystack.
Data: Ah, a human proverb! As in folklore, or an historical allusion, or tribal memories
Riker: Historical. That's it. I remember I was reading a history of all the past starships named Enterprise.
Data: Enterprise history. Aberrant behavior. Medical cross reference,
Riker: Captain, I believe we've have the answer to what happened over there.
Picard: The Constitution class Enterprise, Captain James T. Kirk commanding.
Riker: Similar conditions. They were monitoring a planet that was breaking up, not a collapsing star as in this case. But there were the same huge shifts in gravity,
Picard: Which somehow resulted in complex strings of water molecules which acquired carbon from the body and acted on the brain like alcohol. Data, download this information to Medical immediately.
Data: Aye, sir. Downloading.
Picard: Fascinating! The entire crew going out of control,
Riker: Like intoxication, but worse. Judgment almost completely impaired,
Picard: Until they found this formula, barely in time. Picard to Doctor Crusher, come in.
Crusher: This is Crusher. Go ahead Captain.
Picard: You can relax, Doctor.
Picard: The answer to all of this is feeding into your medical banks right now. Including a cure.
Crusher: Are you certain, Captain?
Picard: Absolutely.
Troi: Tasha? What are you doing?
Tasha: I need your advice. That's why I came to your quarters.
Troi: Of course. Anything I can do
Tasha: On clothes. You always wear such beautiful clothes off duty. And your hair always looks so nice. I want to change my image. What do you think about this? Or this one?
Troi: It's not for you. Tasha, I feel you're very uncertain. Yhat you're fighting something. What is it?
Tasha: Never mind. I'll find what I need myself. Ship's stores will have it.
Troi: Tasha? Tasha, wait.
Troi: Troi to Captain Picard.
Picard: Picard here.
Troi: Sir, I think Tasha's been infected too.
Troi: She just left my quarters,
Picard: Counselor, it's not actually an infection.
Troi: Yes, sir. It's more like an intoxication. Nut whatever it is, she's got it.
Picard: Thank you, Counselor. Number One, it seems our Security Chief has the equivalent of a snootful.
Data: Inquiry, sir. Snootful?
Picard: Forget it.
Wesley: Hey, Mom, look what I can do.
Wesley: I've been able to widen and strengthen the beam, just like I told you last night.
Crusher: Do me a favor, Wes. There's something happening on this ship. Just to be safe, I'd like you to stay in our quarters until it's solved.
Wesley: Sure, Mom, sure. Your wish is my command.
Crusher: Now, Wes.
Wesley: Okay, but you could be stunting my emotional growth, you realize that. Why is it so hot in here, anyway?
Picard: Picard to Crusher.
Crusher: Crusher here.
Picard: Have you made a test injection yet? We're getting indications that this condition is spreading.
Crusher: No test yet, Captain, but very soon.
Data: Captain, another forty-one minutes will see the information from the Tsiolkovsky downloaded to us.
Picard: Why so slow?
Data: Slow, sir? The Tsiolkovsky has been eight months in accumulating it.
Picard: How much danger from that star? Worse case.
Data: Like a full collapse, sir? Any stellar material it threw this way we could still outrun on half impulse power.
Picard: Picard to Engineering. Chief Engineer report to the Bridge.
Picard: Assistant Chief Engineer Shimoda, report to Medical.
Wesley: Hi, Jim. Was that the Captain sending you to Medical?
Shimoda: Which would leave no one on duty here. The Chief was just summoned to the Bridge.
Wesley: What about me? I could call the Chief on the Bridge if anything happened.
Macdougal: Reporting as ordered, sir.
Picard: What?
Macdougal: You ordered me to report to the Bridge, sir.
Picard: I did no such thing. I want you down in the Engine room just in case we need to move out of here.
Picard: Attention all decks, all divisions. Effective immediately, I have handed over control of this vessel to Acting Captain Wesley Crusher.
Picard: Acting Captain?
Wesley: Thank you, Captain Picard, thank you. And with that order dawns a brave new day for the Enterprise.
Picard: Captain's log, Stardate 41209.3. The strange contaminant that led to the deaths of the Tsiolkovsky crew is now aboard the Enterprise and our Engineering section has been commandeered by young Wesley Crusher.
Wesley: And henceforth, a dessert course shall precede and follow every meal. Including breakfast.
Crewman: Hurray for the acting Captain!
Shimoda: Never got as far as Sickbay, Wes. I feel too good for that.
Shimoda: Incredible. How did you do that?
Wesley: Hooked my model tractor beam into ship's power. Now its a repulser beam too. Want in?
Shimoda: Swear to be faithful to you, Captain.
Picard: Number One, MacDougal, get that boy out of Engineering.
Worf: Sir, I'm getting very strange reports from all decks.
Picard: Such as?
Worf: Such as the ship's Training Division ordering all officers to attend a lecture on metaphysics.
Picard: Metaphysics?
Data: Confirmed, sir. And there was a rather peculiar limerick being delivered by someone in the Shuttlecraft bay. I am not sure I understand it. There was a young lady from Venus whose body was shaped like
Picard: Captain to Security, come in!
Data: Did I say something wrong?
Worf: I don't understand their humor either.
Security: Yeah, Captain?
Picard: Where is my security chief! Get me Lieutenant Yar.
Security: Keep your britches on.
Tasha: Captain Picard.
Picard: Lieutenant, where are you?
Tasha: I'm in my quarters, and I'm pretty busy right at the moment, Jean-Luc.
Picard: All right, Lieutenant, you just stay right there. Data, please go to Lieutenant Yar and take her down to Sickbay.
Data: Yes, sir.
Picard: Captain to Security, I want all your senior supervisors to report to the Bridge immediately.
Data: Lieutenant Yar?
Tasha: Here, Data. You wanted me?
Data: Captain Picard ordered me to escort you to Sickbay, Lieutenant.
Tasha: Did he say when?
Data: I am sure he meant now. So, you need time to get into uniform.
Tasha: But I got out of uniform for you, Data. Do you know how old I was when I was abandoned?
Data: Chronological age? No, I am afraid I am not familiar with
Tasha: Five. Five years old, but I survived. I learned how to stay alive, how to avoid the rape gangs. I was fifteen before I escaped.
Data: I am sorry. I did not know,
Tasha: And what I want now is gentleness. And joy. And love. From you, Data. You are fully functional, aren't you?
Data: Of course, but
Tasha: How fully?
Data: In every way, of course. I am programmed in multiple techniques, a broad variety of pleasuring,
Tasha: Oh, you jewel! That's exactly what I hoped.
Picard: What have you learned, Number One?
Riker: Captain, the ship's engines are cut off from the bridge. The Assistant Chief Engineer pulled out the isolinear optical chips from command. All engines are offline. Wesley has hooked some kind of tractor beam to ship's power and he has it aimed at the door. We can't get past to get at the computer.
Picard: Can you short out the power?
Macdougal: Yes, I can. But it's going to take some time.
Picard: Do it!
Troi: Bill.
Riker: Deanna, what?
Troi: So many minds on this ship, all free. Released,
Riker: Deanna.
Troi: I can feel them all. What they want, what they feel. It's a side of humans I've never felt before.
Riker: Come on, I'm getting you to Sickbay.
Troi: Wouldn't you rather be alone with me? With me in your mind?
Crusher: The medical records we found say this works almost instantly.
Laforge: It's not fair, Doc. I've never seen a rainbow, sunset, sunrise. This is going to help me? Help me see like you?
Riker: Doctor Crusher?
Riker: Deanna needs your help.
Crusher: The formula from the old Enterprise didn't work.
Riker: What?
Crusher: This water-carbon complex may induce the same symptoms, but somehow it's different. Maybe it's mutated. But I've got to isolate it in order to analyze it,
Riker: We don't have that kind of time.
Crusher: You brought Deanna in.
Riker: She's infected with
Crusher: Then you touched her! Oh, God. And you touched me. Wait! I've got to quarantine you.
Riker: If I don't get the command computer back online soon, none of this, whatever this is, won't matter. We'll all be dead.
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. It is no longer an inconvenient, childish prank. Young Wesley Crusher, admittedly a victim of the Tsiolkovsky infection, is now in control of my starship.
Picard: Wes, this is Captain Picard. Do you see me?
Wesley: Yes sir?
Picard: You will now return control of this vessel to the Bridge where it belongs. At once.
Wesley: I'm sorry, sir. Why don't you just tell me what you want done and I'll do it.
Picard: Because ship captains control their own vessels, young man!
Wesley: But, sir, you don't do it yourself. You give the orders, but someone else does it. What's wrong with giving me the orders to do it?
Worf: Captain, getting unusual readings now from the dwarf star.
Picard: Stand by a moment on that. Wesley. Wes. Are you aware that you're acting strangely, that a kind of infection was brought over from the Tsiolkovsky which acts like intoxication?
Wesley: Are you saying that's why I feel so so hot? So strange?
Picard: That's a very adult bit of reasoning, Wes,
Wesley: So you mean I'm drunk! I feel strange, but also good.
Picard: Because, because you've lost the capacity for self-judgment. Now, alcohol does this, Wesley. But this contaminant we've brought back from the Tsiolkovsky does it even more so.
Wesley: What would you do if you got your ship back?
Picard: Oh, it's very important I do, Wesley, because I must immediately lock a tractor beam onto the Tsiolkovsky, then tow it out of,
Wesley: Tractor beams are my specialty, Skipper! I'll contact you when that's done. Wesley out!
Picard: Wesley! Wesley!
Picard: Conn, where are you headed?
Worf: Sir. The star. It's beginning to collapse.
Picard: What the hell is happening in Engineering?
Wesley: Lock on. Lock on Tsiolkovsky.
Riker: Where's that sonic driver?
Macdougal: It's over there. Okay, let's see if this cuts out his tractor beam power. Oh, come on.
Crusher: Oh no! I must find the answer. I've got to find the answer.
Worf: Captain, tractor beam. We just locked onto the Tsiolkovsky.
Picard: Captain to. Wesley. Wesley Crusher, come in!
Picard: Ah, Data. At least you're functioning.
Data: Fully, Captain.
Picard: Data, intoxication is a human condition. Your mind is different, it's not the same as
Data: We are more alike than unlike, my dear Captain. I have pores. Humans have pores. I have fingerprints. Humans have fingerprints. My chemical nutrients are like your blood. If you prick me, do I not leak?
Picard: Doctor,
Crusher: Captain, can I see you in your Ready Room? It's a private matter. No, actually it's an urgent one.
Picard: But. Damn it.
Picard: Now, Doctor
Crusher: I believe I'm infected myself, Captain.
Picard: Do you know what the infection is? Come on, quickly.
Crusher: Sorry. It is definitely like alcohol intoxication. The same lack of good judgment, For example, right now I find you extremely, extremely, Of course we haven't time for that sort of thing,
Picard: What sort of thing?
Crusher: Oh God, would I love to show you.
Picard: Doctor, there must be a cure. Some formula, similar to the old one,
Crusher: Damn it, damn it, Captain. My dear Captain.
Crusher: You owe me something. You do realize that, don't you? I'm a woman. I haven't the comfort of a husband. A man.
Picard: Not now, Doctor. Please.
Worf: Bridge to Riker, Urgent.
Riker: Riker here.
Worf: Sir.
Worf: Sir, regret to inform you that the Captain appears to be infected. And Data.
Riker: Thank you, Lieutenant. I'm on my way. You'll have to handle this.
Macdougal: Are you saying you're going to handle that?
Worf: What we're seeing, sir, is a huge chunk of the star's surface blown away, heading for us.
Picard: Take us
Riker: Are you alright, sir?
Picard: Worf, you know what to do. Take us er
Riker: Take us out of here.
Picard: Right.
Worf: Controls are still offline, sir.
Picard: Override.
Worf: Same result, sir.
Riker: Wes, come in please.
Riker: Wesley Crusher, this is Riker. Come in.
Riker: This is urgent. Come in, please.
Riker: Engineering, urgent. We must have ship's power,
Macdougal: Those are control chips! Bridge from Engineering.
Riker: The star is still collapsing. We're directly in the path of
Macdougal: I can't help you, Bridge! Someone here has yanked out all the control chips.
Wesley: It was an adult who did it!
Worf: Sir, I estimate fourteen minutes until that mass gets here.
Macdougal: No way, sir. I cannot replace these chips in fourteen minutes. Two hours, three
Macdougal: Maybe.
Wesley: Data could assemble them back faster.
Picard: What, what's that? What's that, Wesley?
Wesley: Well, they're just simple isolinear chips, sir, to Data anyway. He can shuffle them like cards.
Riker: Come on, Data, hurry. Ship's log, First Officer Riker. Enterprise will be destroyed unless it can be moved out of the path of the star material hurtling toward us. Our only hope is for Lieutenant Commander Data, in the time we have left, to regain his senses and reconnect engine power to the Bridge.
Data: Nice to see you, Wesley.
Wesley: Hi, Mister Data.
Riker: No time for courtesy. Get the damned control chips back in place, in the correct order. Now!
Wesley: It's like a game. How fast can you do it?
Data: Ah, a game!
Wesley: I think I can switch this to main viewer, sir,
Riker: Data, we've got eight or nine minutes at most. Can you finish by then?
Data: No, this will take slightly more time than we have, sir.
Riker: Damn it, no. I can't afford to get this.
Picard: Beverly.
Crusher: Yes, Jean-Luc?
Picard: You will address me as Captain.
Crusher: Captain? Well then, my dear Captain, you will address me as Chief Medical Officer or Doctor.
Picard: I will? That's true. I started off calling you Beverly, and of course, naturally, you. I'm still not thinking straight.
Crusher: Likewise. Where the hell was I headed?
Picard: If that's something you were going to test,
Crusher: Yes, on Geordi. Come here.
Wesley: See how I reversed the fields on this, Commander? I made it into a repulser beam.
Data: If we just had one minute more, sir,
Wesley: If this were a hundred times more powerful than it is. Why not try it with the real thing? Why not reverse fields on this, Ma'am? If we just need an extra minute,
Macdougal: It would take weeks of laying out new circuits.
Wesley: Why not just see it in your head? Come off the main lead, split off at the force activator, then, then. If I could just think straight about this,
Crusher: I made this a broader based remedy. I hope. But it's still close to the formula from the old Enterprise records.
Picard: Decades ago, light years away,
Crusher: But almost exactly the same conditions as here.
Laforge: Wow! What was in that, Doctor? My head's beginning to clear,
Crusher: Come here. Here, take this to Engineering. I'll make up more hypos for the others.
Picard: Okay, Bev.
Riker: We're not going to make it, Captain. If we had just a minute or so.
Wesley: Then reversing power leads, back through the force activator. Repulser beam hard against Tsiolkovsky. Don't you see? It's giving us a push off. The extra time we need.
Riker: We're pushing away.
Riker: Bridge, engage engines!
Laforge: Captain , something seemed to move us aside at the last minute.
Worf: Do we owe our thanks to Commander Data, sir?
Picard: Yes, and Wesley may have given us a few seconds, too.
Worf: Did he say Wesley? The boy?
Crusher: He said Wesley.
Riker: It's only fair to mention Wesley in a log entry, sir.
Picard: Fair's fair. And let's credit his science teacher, too.
Laforge: Congratulations, sir.
Picard: To many people.
Tasha: Data. I'm only going to tell you this just once. It never happened.
Picard: I put it to you all. I think we shall end up with a fine crew, if we avoid temptation. So, Number One, let's go to our next job.
Riker: Aye, sir. Helm, prepare for warp three. Heading two hundred and ninety four mark thirty seven.
Laforge: Warp three, heading two hundred and ninety four mark thirty seven, sir.
Riker: Engage.


Picard: Captain's log, stardate 41235.25. Our location, planet Ligon Two, source of a rare vaccine needed on Federation planet Styris Four. Starfleet has instructed me to engage in a friendly visit and open treaty negotiations to acquire this medicinal substance.
Laforge: Standard orbit, sir.
Riker: Lieutenant Yar is calling from Cargo Bay One, sir. Standing by to beam Ligonian welcoming party aboard.
Picard: On our way. You have the helm, Mister Data.
Picard: Cargo One. This should be an interesting experience.
Riker: Agreed. Not only are they closely humanoid, but their history has remarkable similarities to ours.
Troi: A highly structured society. and they're exceedingly proud.
Tasha: They've insisted on using their own transporter device, sir.
Picard: It's their way, Lieutenant. Do they have our coordinates?
Tasha: They have, sir, precisely, and they're standing by for your signal.
Picard: This is Captain Picard aboard the Starfleet vessel Enterprise. Please do us the honor of visiting our vessel.
Lutan: I am Lutan.
Picard: Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Welcome aboard. These are my officers. My second in command, Commander William Riker. Ship's Counselor, Deanna Troi. And my Security Officer, Lieutenant Natasha Yar.
Lutan: A woman? Your Chief of Security?
Picard: Yes, Lutan, that is her expertise.
Lutan: I am honored to meet your officers. This is my Secondary, Hagon. A sample of the vaccine.
Tasha: My duty, Lutan. I'm sorry, but I'm required to
Hagon: Out of my way, woman.
Lutan: How interesting. May we prove as surprising to you.
Troi: If I may suggest, sir, no apology. In their view, it would weaken us.
Tasha: Nothing concealed, Captain. Would you care to accept it?
Lutan: Unless you care to examine it further.
Picard: Absolutely not. This vaccine sample is a gift of life and we are honored at receiving it. Would you do us the additional honor of now letting us entertain you?
Lutan: Yes, yes. Please prepare it. We shall join you shortly.
Hagon: I ask forgiveness.
Lutan: They are strange alien beings. You bear no fault.
Hagon: But the female?
Lutan: May be exactly what I have needed.
Picard: Lutan, we are aware of many of your planet's achievements, and its unique similarity to an ancient Earth culture we all admire. On behalf of the Federation, therefore, I would like to present this token of our gratitude and friendship. From China's Sung Dynasty, Fourteenth Century.
Data: Thirteenth Century, sir.
Picard: Ah, yes, indeed.
Lutan: A most thoughtful gift. We are pleased. We of Ligon have been apprehensive about strangers. We are not technologically advanced as you, yet we possess something you do not. A vaccine which has been found to be an effective antidote to your dreaded Anchilles fever. If you respect our customs and if we see that respect, we will be friends. And we will make the antidote available to all who need it.
Picard: If you require respect from us, I am sure that you will see it.
Lutan: Surrounded by such friendship, I feel no need for my guards. I will return shortly. Prepare to transport me then.
Picard: If there is something else, any further courtesy?
Lutan: Would it possible to see one of your wondrous holodecks? We have heard how they are used to train your officers.
Picard: And used for many other things too. Commander Riker, perhaps you and Counselor Troi will demonstrate.
Lutan: Would it be possible for Lieutenant Yar to do so, Captain? Some demonstration of defense training?
Riker: We've noticed you're intrigued with her having security responsibilities. But these things are not at all unusual with us.
Hagon: With us, it is the duty of women only to own the land, and the duty of men to protect and rule it.
Troi: Much the same has happened in human history too.
Tasha: I'd like to do it, sir. As a sign of respect, perhaps.
Picard: Very well.
Tasha: This way, please.
Tasha: Aikido one. It won't move until my actions activate it.
Lutan: You can create people? Without a soul?
Tasha: It's not a real person, Lutan. It has no life. Everything it does is controlled by computer. Who am I? Do you hear me?
Tasha: But it will feel real when it hits you.
Hagon: A force like that cannot possibly come from an image, Lutan.
Lutan: Then you will show me, Hagon.
Lutan: Thank you, Lieutenant. How very enlightening.
Tasha: Aikido, vanish. I could create two, even three, but really one is enough. As you fight with it, it learns, and before long it knows exactly how to defeat you.
Lutan: Even the extraordinary Lieutenant Yar?
Tasha: It forces us to keep improving.
Lutan: Your skill impresses me. I like you.
Lutan: Farewell, my new friends of the noble Enterprise.
Picard: Understanding has made friends of many different people. We've had a good beginning, Lutan.
Lutan: May I also extend a personal farewell to Lieutenant Yar? In your Federation terms.
Picard: Picard to Bridge. Red alert.
Riker: Shields up, photon torpedoes activated, sir.
Picard: What comm. contact have we had with them?
Data: With their orbital control station, sir.
Picard: Make contact there and on all hailing frequencies. This is the Enterprise to Lutan and the Ligonian government. You have committed an unfriendly act. We insist that you reply immediately.
Riker: Photon torpedoes ready, sir.
Picard: Set them for a display blast a thousand meters short of the planet's surface.
Riker: Set.
Picard: Fire.
Riker: Do we know the source of their transporter beam?
Laforge: Our own transporter people have tried to trace it, sir, but to no effect.
Data: It reads similar to early Starfleet efforts but uses the Heglenian shift to convert matter and energy in different. Which is actually not important at this time.
Picard: This is Captain Picard of the Enterprise with a message to Lutan, whom I have so far acknowledged as a friend. But you have now committed what our laws regard as an attack upon us. Since you have visited our vessel, you most certainly know the power of it. We insist that you reply to this message. Opinion, Counselor. Will they injure Lieutenant Yar?
Troi: I believe not, sir. They seem mainly curious. In the case of Lutan, however, I did feel other needs.
Riker: What kind of needs?
Troi: Some sexual attraction from all the males. Lieutenant Yar is physically very attractive. But with Lutan I felt something else. Something more like avarice or ambition.
Picard: Other comments?
Data: If I may, sir. One of the things about them in the briefing studies was their respect for patience.
Riker: Strongly emphasized. And you can see it in the precise, ritualistic way they do things. I'm worried about Lieutenant Yar too, sir, but maybe we should sit and wait them out. Stardate 41235.32. I am concerned. Over a full day of waiting with no response from Lutan. We are now testing whether they are aware of our sensors probing them. So far, we believe we have pinpointed Lutan's government compound.
Crusher: The vaccine, sir.
Picard: Yes, Doctor?
Crusher: The vaccine. I'm a physician, I've seen death, but not on the scale this could mean.
Picard: You were testing if you can replicate the vaccine.
Crusher: And we can't. The sample works fine when used as an injection, but it becomes unstable when we try to replicate it. You must get the vaccine from the planet, Captain. As much as you can. Immediately.
Picard: I'm aware of that, Doctor.
Crusher: You've never had to watch a patient die from this disease.
Picard: That's true. But I have seen my share of death.
Crusher: Damn. Where are the calluses we doctors are supposed to grow over our feelings?
Picard: Perhaps the good ones never get them.
Crusher: May I speak about my son, Wesley?
Picard: What? Oh, yes. Alright.
Crusher: He seems quite interested in starship operations. And speaking as a mother, of course, he seems quite knowledgeable.
Picard: Well, yes, speaking as a mother.
Crusher: He's on the turbolift. You'll remember you ordered him to stay off of the Bridge.
Picard: Wesley?
Wesley: I haven't stepped one foot on your Bridge, Captain.
Riker: It's all right, sir, I'll see that he leaves immediately.
Picard: No.
Riker: No?
Picard: Why don't you sit at Ops next to Lieutenant La Forge.
Wesley: Sir?
Laforge: Sir?
Picard: Is the whole ship deaf?! Sit down over there, young man. Temporarily.
Troi: Captain, we have more information from the briefing studies on Ligon.
Picard: Excuse me. Doctor Crusher, some of this may interest you. Lets hear the analysis.
Data: It is a highly structured society in which people live by strict codes of honor. For example, what Lutan did is similar to what certain American Indians once did called counting coup. That's from an obscure language called French. Counting coup
Picard: Mister Data, the French language for centuries on Earth represented civilization.
Data: Indeed? But surely, sir
Riker: I suggest you drop it, Mister Data.
Data: Yes, sir. Counting coup could be as simple as touching an enemy with a stick in battle, or taking something from him and escaping. It was considered extremely heroic.
Riker: And under these circumstances Lutan considers himself heroic, risking literally everything in the face of our superior power.
Troi: And it fits Lutan's personality profile as well. He has an abnormally high need for achievement. Self image to him is a function of what he thinks he's achieved. Those who set their standards too high can kill to meet them.
Crusher: Why Tasha?
Troi: As a Starfleet Security Officer, she may have represented his riskiest prize.
Data: Transmission from the planet surface, sir, Main viewer on.
Picard: Well, Lutan, what do you want?
Lutan: You will display your image, please.
Picard: What is required is an image of Lieutenant Yar, well and
Lutan: Are you making demands, Captain?
Troi: Sir. According to the Ligon Code of Honor, Lutan has done what he set out to do, achieve recognition for being daring and bold.
Riker: We've studied this in some depth now, sir. The proper thing for you to do now is to ask to get Tasha back.
Picard: Ask for her?
Data: Politely, Captain.
Picard: And now, Lutan, you have boldly taken Lieutenant Yar from us, and we ask that you now please return her.
Lutan: Then come visit us, Captain, and we will return her to you.
Troi: Commander.
Riker: Commander? That's quite formal.
Troi: So is this request, sir. We believe it would be preferable if the Captain led this away party.
Data: Agreed, sir. Their customs concerning guests make it much preferable.
Riker: And I'm very much against that idea. Lutan is clearly a liar, and devious. Counselor Troi has admitted she believes he's capable of killing. It is my duty to keep the Captain from danger, sir.
Data: Except that Ligonian custom makes it clear that a visiting leader becomes an honored guest. Not us, not second in command, him.
Troi: And the custom requires that Lutan should die rather than violate that.
Riker: Yes, it seems reasonable put that way. But I warn you, if you get hurt, I'll put you on report, Captain.
Lutan: Welcome to my Centerplace, Captain Picard. Consider yourselves my honored guests.
Yareena: Every hospitality will be accorded you.
Lutan: This is my First One, Yareena.
Picard: Lutan is a fortunate man. You've met Counselor Troi.
Lutan: Yes. As on your vessel, you have only to name whatever courtesy we can provide.
Picard: Then, sir, the courtesy of seeing Lieutenant Yar.
Lutan: Lieutenant Yar will be returned to you tonight at a banquet I have arranged in your honor.
Picard: I'd like to see her now.
Lutan: Bring Lieutenant Yar. I find it odd, Captain, that a man of your experience has such difficulty in understanding ordinary politeness.
Picard: Such as the politeness of saying please before abducting someone?
Lutan: The expression please is used only when requesting the person back.
Picard: Yours is a different world.
Lutan: With clear and simple ways deeply rooted in our culture. If you are willing to ask for Lieutenant Yar's return tonight in front of all, honor will be satisfied.
Troi: One can see the importance of honor here.
Lutan: Honor is everything.
Picard: Have you been treated well, Lieutenant?
Tasha: Fine, Captain but they're showing some signs of wear.
Yareena: There isn't any need to be concerned, Captain. She's being well cared for.
Picard: My ship's company and I are certain of your gentle wisdom in that.
Lutan: For a moment I thought I heard a threat implied. But that would be foolishness.
Picard: Something to be carefully avoided. I agree.
Lutan: The festivities for her return to you are in preparation. Shall we retire till then?
Picard: Until tonight, Lutan.
Picard: Lutan, you have granted us hospitality and the safety of your Centerplace. The gifts you give us are rare and precious. We thank you. And now, according with the customs of your ancestors, whom we honor and respect, I am here in peace to ask for the return of Lieutenant Yar.
Lutan: Well spoken. There are those among my equals in this gathering who were wary of my approaching the Federation. I am proud to have taken this first step towards a treaty, and proud that we have something of great value to offer you, a priceless life-giving vaccine. The abduction I have done according to our custom, for all to see. Your conduct in this matter has been beyond exemplary, Captain Picard, but now that the moment has come, I find I cannot part with her.
Picard: You speak of a code of honor, but what you are saying now, according to our customs, is called an act of war.
Lutan: This is not an act of war, but of love. I want Lieutenant Yar to become my First One.
Yareena: I challenge your right of supercedence!
Hagon: No woman has challenged supercedence for over two hundred years!
Yareena: The right is mine and I will have it! Natasha Yar, I challenge you. A struggle to the death.
Picard: No! The challenge is unequivocally refused!
Lutan: Then you shall have no treaty, no vaccine, and no Lieutenant Yar! Ship's log, First Officer Riker reporting. We have been informed of the challenge to Lieutenant Yar, and are maintaining combat readiness round the clock. We are probing Lutan's compound deeply with our sensors now, still unnoticed.
Tasha: Captain. Deanna.
Picard: Did you have any idea, Lieutenant, that Lutan was suddenly going to announce that he wanted you for his First One?
Tasha: No, sir.
Picard: Tell me what you know about this?
Tasha: Nothing, sir.
Troi: But it was a thrill. Lutan is such, such a basic male image and having him say he wants you
Tasha: Yes, of course it made me feel good when he. Troi, I'm your friend and you tricked me.
Troi: Only so you'd think about it, completely and clearly.
Picard: We're all being manipulated, Lieutenant, myself most of all.
Troi: How simple all this would be without the Prime Directive.
Picard: That thought had passed through my mind, Counselor.
Riker: What is this message from Starbase Fourteen?
Crusher: It's showing the infection rates, percentage illness increases. The plague on Styris Four has flared up out of control.
Laforge: They're estimating deaths in the millions, sir.
Riker: Captain Picard, come in.
Tasha: I know I can win. Not that I'd take her life, of course, but I'd be glad to embarrass her. The idea of accusing me of taking
Troi: The plague?
Picard: If anything, even worse than we'd heard.
Tasha: Which means they desperately need the vaccine, sir. And I know I can win this challenge.
Picard: You have nothing to prove anything here, Lieutenant.
Troi: But the vaccine is important in this case, sir.
Picard: Counselor, you're the last person I'd expect to argue in favor of accepting the challenge.
Troi: Betazoid blood is also practical, Captain. The odds are very good she'd defeat Lutan's wife easily and you would win all the bargaining points you need.
Picard: The odds are.
Troi: You have pointed out yourself we are all at risk every day of every mission.
Picard: I want some explanations from Lutan.
Hagon: Lutan, why are you so obsessed with this Lieutenant Yar? Surely Yareena is more desirable? Certainly she can offer you much more. She owns many things, many lands.
Picard: It's a great pity you began by abducting my Security Officer, Lutan, because I should tell you I do admire the hospitality you offer here.
Lutan: I am in the grip of forces you do not understand.
Picard: Some of it I do understand. She is a rather lovely female.
Lutan: You surprise me, Captain. What do you know of needs and feelings?
Picard: Nothing. Well, almost nothing in my position of ship's Captain.
Hagon: I see.
Picard: But it puzzles me. If you feel that way for Tasha, why have you challenged her to a fight to the death?
Lutan: Not I, Yareena. I am merely a spectator.
Picard: Ah, but you are also a man of great importance and wealth.
Hagon: Great importance, perhaps, but he does
Picard: Ah, I see. You, too, understand the proper value of women.
Lutan: We understand they are highly pleasant things, but after all, unimportant. Except for the land they own.
Picard: You are a truly clever person, Lutan. You stand to lose nothing, either way the challenge goes.
Lutan: A code of honor protects one, Captain, like a magic cloak.
Picard: I will order Lieutenant Yar to fight. And may your cloak bring you all you deserve.
Laforge: Come in.
Data: Why that razor, my friend? Why not the one I adjusted to perfect efficiency?
Laforge: Shaving is a human art form, Data. Technological perfection can shave too close.
Data: Puzzling. How can anything be too efficient?
Laforge: Thousands of things are too efficient, Data, at least for humans.
Data: We always come back to the human equation.
Laforge: Exactly. Have you continued to work on it?
Data: Constantly, my friend. Particularly the humor. A man goes to a store to buy some kidneys.
Laforge: Oh, no.
Data: He says to the shopkeeper, I'd like a pound of kiddillies, please. The shopkeeper says to him, You mean kidneys, don't you? The man says, I said kiddillies, diddle I?
Laforge: It's too old. And you didn't tell it very well.
Data: How do you know when something is funny?
Laforge: It's not explainable. You just do.
Data: Perhaps it is you, Geordi. Includling the kiddillies, I've learned six hundred sixty two jokes, and you have not
Laforge: Includling the kiddillies! Now, see, that's funny.
Data: It was not meant as a joke. The tongue slipped.
Laforge: Oh, boy.
Riker: Riker to Commander Data, Lieutenant La Forge. Report to the Transporter Room for away party duty.
Riker: First officer to Captain. Ready with the away personnel.
Picard: Lock in on this location.
Chief: Transporter locked in, sir.
Picard: Energize.
Picard: You've both seen the message about the plague?
Laforge: And how badly the vaccine is needed. Yes, sir.
Picard: We need to know as much as possible about Ligonian armaments. Data, especially important is an analysis of their combat capabilities. Geordi, concentrate on their cutting edges, wherever applicable, durability, composition, weaknesses of material.
Laforge: Aye, sir.
Data: From any particular point of view, sir?
Picard: From the perspective of Lieutenant Yar using them in combat with Lutan's wife.
Data: Most interesting. Could this be human joke number six hundred sixty three?
Laforge: Negative, Data. That's a Captain's order.
Data: Which makes it important to know which of these weapons are to be used.
Picard: And that won't be known until combat begins. You're right, Data. It does sound like a joke. With the power of the Enterprise, we could overwhelm this place easily, just take what we want.
Data: I may not understand human humor, sir, but I am a Starfleet Academy graduate.
Picard: Which means, of course
Data: understanding the Prime Directive, sir.
Picard: That is, ironically, what this is about. By our standards, the customs here, their code of honor, is the same kind of pompous, strutting charades that endangered our own species a few centuries ago. We evolved out of it because no one else imposed their own. I'm sorry, this is becoming a speech.
Troi: You're the Captain, sir. You're entitled.
Picard: Not entitled to ramble on about something everyone knows. Carry on. Ship's log, Commander William Riker reporting. Continuing our appraisal of Ligonian technology. The Captain has made it clear he wants Lieutenant Yar beamed immediately to safety if her life should become endangered, and I fervently hope the rules of that contest make it possible.
Riker: Riker to Transporter Chief. Do we have our people on sensors yet?
Chief: Their general area, sir. Visual on screen now. As you see, we're still doing some fine tuning.
Yareena: I've agreed to this meeting, but I see no point to it. You've accepted the challenge and there is nothing further to say.
Tasha: I think you should know that there is no physical training anywhere that matches Starfleet, especially its security people.
Yareena: And you should know that even though these contests are rare, we have a tradition of making ourselves capable of them.
Tasha: Yareena, my acceptance had nothing to do with Lutan.
Yareena: It has everything to do with Lutan. Lutan wants you to be his First One.
Tasha: Impossible, Yareena. I am a career Starfleet officer.
Yareena: How could you not love him? Every woman loves him.
Tasha: I fight for the vaccine, That's the truth.
Yareena: The truth is I will kill you if I can. And believe me, I can. There is nothing else to say.
Tasha: In my world, it's a greater honor to refuse
Yareena: You are on our world!
Troi: Captain, I'm your Counselor. You brought me with you to Ligon to be of help.
Picard: Then help me, please. What is a way out of this?
Troi: With the vaccine? None.
Laforge: The weapons in that room, Captain, are surprisingly flexible, durable, and deadly.
Data: And light, as if they were made for women to use.
Laforge: Some of them still have traces of blood and poison.
Picard: Poison?
Laforge: Alkaloid base. Lethal.
Picard: What about those lengths of metal in the yard outside?
Data: Uncertain, sir. However, joined together they would make a rectangle or square enclosing one hundred twenty one square meters. If put end to end vertically, they would make a pole forty four meters high, or two of twenty two.
Picard: Thank you, Data.
Data: You're welcome, sir.
Tasha: She won't budge. She loves him, without reservation. And she thinks I love him too.
Data: Most interesting. Do you?
Tasha: Of course I don't, Data. As Troi pointed out to me, I'm attracted to him but that is entirely different.
Riker: Riker to Captain.
Picard: Go ahead, Riker. We're alone.
Riker: We're fine tuned enough to see your hosts gathering in the open area outside, sir. Three of them are heading for your location.
Picard: Thank you, Number One. Lieutenant, do you still feel that you want to go through with this challenge? Do you judge your condition good?
Tasha: I judge it excellent, sir.
Hagon: Your weapons, Lieutenant Yar. You may choose your size.
Laforge: Tasha, don't touch the spines. They're poisoned. If you're not careful, you could kill yourself.
Tasha: These I understand. First Officer's log, supplemental. Captain Picard, faced with a critical need for a vaccine produced on this planet, has permitted Lieutenant Natasha Yar to engage in a fight to the death. I have yet to understand his reasoning or his plan.
Riker: Care to lend a hand? Sit at Ops.
Data: Was I seen leaving?
Chief: They've got eyes only for the program.
Data: Captain Picard wanted no risk of our communications being overheard. You are to proceed now as he indicated.
Crusher: Captain's orders too.
Riker: Does the Captain understand what you and Geordi reported about those weapons? They're razor sharp, split-second lethal.
Data: I'm here to brief you on what he plans.
Tasha: Any last minute instructions, sir?
Picard: Stay alive. We'll hope to do the rest.
Hagon: I speak for Lutan. The rules are known. Let combat continue until there is a victor. It will not be interrupted.
Lutan: Combatants, hold your positions. Return the weapon.
Hagon: Careful, Yareena.
Riker: Move!
Tasha: We're too late. She's growing cold.
Crusher: Sorry, that clashes with my instructions.
Tasha: Oh no. No.
Picard: Exactly what do you find unfair, Lutan? They fought to the death. You saw the final blow. You know the effects of your poison.
Lutan: But what of your Lieutenant Yar? She is to become my First One now.
Picard: I certainly won't stop her, if she cares to claim that honor.
Hagon: Remember, you now have all Yareena's lands and wealth now.
Lutan: At least all has not been lost.
Riker: Riker to Captain.
Picard: Picard here.
Riker: Since you've fulfillled your agreement, Captain, can we now beam the vaccine aboard?
Lutan: Ah, yes, of course.
Picard: No problem, Number One. Send down a medical team.
Riker: And to complete our business here, we are locked onto you.
Picard: Five to beam up. Energize. First Officer's log, Stardate 41235.6. I am returning the conn to Captain Picard as we begin loading the vaccine supply aboard. Shortly, we hope to signal mission complete.
Riker: Welcome back, Captain. You're wanted in the lounge.
Picard: This way, gentlemen.
Lutan: She is not dead! There was no death combat. You violated our agreement. There will be no treaty, no vaccine!
Picard: The challenge was carried out. She died, Lutan.
Lutan: There was no challenge! She lives!
Crusher: I am a physician and saw her die. If you doubt this poison, why don't you test it on yourself?
Picard: Lutan, we can provide you with records of her death and how Doctor Crusher brought her back.
Yareena: And at the instant of death, Lutan, a mating agreement dissolves.
Lutan: But this is witchcraft, Yareena. To diskard a mate in this manner
Yareena: Is less painful than the one you selected for me.
Lutan: Yareena, no.
Yareena: Even as I battled, Hagon, I heard you calling out for me.
Hagon: Yareena, be my First One.
Yareena: All my land and all my goods, all I have is yours to rule.
Tasha: How so sad for you. You've lost everything.
Lutan: I have my honor.
Tasha: It's such a waste.
Yareena: Do you want him?
Tasha: No. There would be complications.
Yareena: Then I will have you as my Number Two. Take your place accordingly.
Hagon: Well, as you see, Captain, you may excel in technology, but not in civilized behavior.
Picard: What? Wesley.
Riker: Young Wesley, he'd been manning that station for me. I forgot.
Picard: Well, thanks again for manning one of our bridge stations, Wesley. We'll see that you have another chance.
Wesley: Yes sir.
Picard: So what's the delay, Number One? Why aren't we warping out of here?
Riker: Set course for Styris Four, warp three.
Laforge: Course laid in for Styris Four, sir.
Riker: Engage.