Picard: Captain's log, stardate 44307.3. I am preparing to leave by shuttlecraft for Pentarus Five, where I have been asked to mediate a dispute among the salenite miners, a contentious group unfortunately prone to violence. But first I must deal with a situation of a far more personal nature.
Wesley: Sir?
Picard: Mister Crusher, I summoned you almost ten minutes ago.
Wesley: Sir, I'm sorry. I was in the middle of a very important experiment. I was using some very volatile compounds. I couldn't just leave them lying out
Picard: Excuses, Mister Crusher?
Wesley: No, sir. I was just attempting to offer a
Picard: Because I can assure you that will not go down well at Starfleet Academy.
Wesley: Yes, sir, I'm aware of that. The Academy?
Picard: I just received a message from Admiral Nsomeka. She expects you to report in two weeks. A position has opened up in this year's class.
Wesley: Thank you.
Picard: Now, you'll have to work overtime in order to catch up, but I have assured the Admiral that you are capable of that. Please don't make a liar out of me.
Wesley: Oh, no, sir, I won't.
Picard: Well, for your final mission aboard the Enterprise you will accompany me to Pentarus Five while I try to sort out the problems with the miners. Commander Riker has told me you've been studying the effects of outpost judiciary decisions on Federation Law. What better way to get first hand experience?
Worf: Captain, I am picking up a general distress signal from Gamelan Five.
Picard: On screen.
Songi: Please. Does anyone read us?
Picard: Open a channel. I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise.
Songi: Captain, I am Chairman Songi of Gamelan Four. An unidentified spacecraft has entered orbit above our planet. Radiation levels in our atmosphere have increased by three thousand percent. We can only assume we are under attack, but the ship will not answer our hails. We are a peaceful planet. We have no ability to defend ourselves. Please, can you help us?
Picard: Mister Data, are we close enough for a scan?
Data: No, sir, we are out of range.
Riker: Any other ships in that sector?
Data: Negative, Commander.
Picard: Chairman Songi, we will proceed immediately to your planet.
Songi: Thank you, Captain.
Picard: Commander Riker, take the Enterprise and investigate the problem. Ensign Crusher and I will proceed to Pentarus Five. The miners have sent a shuttle. We shall leave in ten minutes.
Wesley: Yes, sir.
Laforge: You know, I've noticed here that your maneuvering thrusters are rigged in a configuration I've never seen before.
Dirgo: It's my own modification. It's more efficient. You can study it if you want to.
Laforge: Excuse me, Captain. I've run safety and operational inspections, Captain. Everything checks out all right, but I won't make any claims as to its comfort.
Dirgo: Captain Picard. Captain Dirgo of the shuttlecraft Nenebek.
Picard: Ah, Captain. It's good to meet you.
Wesley: Captain? Of a mining shuttle?
Dirgo: Yes, Ensign, Captain. My ship isn't pretty, she isn't big, but we've logged almost ten thousand hours together.
Picard: Oh, yes. She seems a very sturdy craft.
Dirgo: We should go. Captain, will you take Ops?
Picard: I'll let Ensign Crusher perform that task. I have to study up on Regalian law.
Data: Shuttlecraft has cleared the bay, sir.
Riker: Ensign Allenby, set a course for the Gamelan system. Warp six.
Allenby: Aye, aye, sir.
Dirgo: You've done this before?
Wesley: Yes.
Dirgo: Your Captain back there. If he isn't tougher than he looks, those miners will tear him apart.
Wesley: Don't worry about Captain Picard. He'll handle them.
Wesley: I've lost navigation.
Dirgo: The port thruster quad's gone. Guidance coupling's severed. I can't stabilize her.
Wesley: The port thruster module blew.
Dirgo: Nenebek to Enterprise, emergency. Do you read? Pentarus station, come in. Communication's gone.
Picard: Is your navigational system functioning?
Dirgo: Negative. Switching to manual. Fifty million kilometers to Pentarus Five. We may have to put down somewhere else.
Picard: Mister Crusher, scan for a class-M environment.
Wesley: Aye, sir.
Dirgo: I'm going to have to throttle back on the main impulse engines.
Wesley: Sir, one of the moons around Pentarus Three registers as class M, barely. The mean temperature is fifty five degrees Celsius.
Picard: Life forms indicated?
Wesley: Negative, but scanning is limited. There's a very strong magnetic field around the surface.
Dirgo: We don't have a choice. Save the impulse engine for controlled entry.
Picard: Mister Crusher, reconfigure working thrusters to manual input.
Wesley: I'll try, sir but, this grid looks about a hundred years old.
Dirgo: We don't have the Federation's resources. Captain, take the helm. I'm rerouting the deuterium flow. Hull temperature seven hundred degrees.
Picard: Beginning braking maneuver.
Dirgo: We're below mach one. Bypass the thrusters now.
Picard: Brace yourself for impact.
Picard: Dear God. Let's salvage what we can. The first thing we'll need is shelter from the sun. In this heat, the shuttle will act like an oven.
Dirgo: All the systems are out. Can't get a communication channel. Location transponder's gone too.
Picard: We'll have to check the craft for something to protect our heads and eyes. And Captain, please recover your medical supplies, food and water rations
Dirgo: Well, the medical supplies are all right.
Picard: Food and water?
Dirgo: The replicator, damaged beyond repair.
Picard: Surely you have emergency supplies?
Dirgo: This isn't a starship. I have to choose what I carry.
Picard: Are you telling me there's no water?
Data: Scanning. Vessel reads as an unmanned sublight freighter.
Riker: Origin?
Data: Indeterminate. Propulsion appears to employ a gaseous core fission reactor, but it is not functioning.
Laforge: The radiation levels from that ship are off the scale.
Riker: Could that be leakage from their engines?
Data: No, sir. Engine reactor elements appear to have been inactive for approximately three hundred years. The vessel is carrying various unstable waste products.
Laforge: You mean, it's a garbage scow.
Data: Precisely.
Riker: Mister Worf, open a hailing frequency. Chairman Songi, this is Commander Riker on board the Enterprise.
Songi: Yes, Commander.
Riker: It appears you've inherited someone else's problem. An old waste vessel caught by your planet's gravitational pull.
Crusher: Have your people begun to suffer from radiation sickness?
Songi: Not yet, but some areas are already detecting dangerous levels.
Riker: We'll do our best to get it out of here as quickly as possible.
Songi: Thank you, Commander.
Riker: We're going to push that barge into the Gamelan sun.
Data: Sir, the Meltasion asteroid belt lies between here and the sun.
Riker: Then we'll have to take it ourselves. We'll use our deflectors clear a path through the asteroids.
Laforge: I don't like the idea of getting close enough to that barge to tow it. The radiation levels are so high we'd be risking the contamination of the entire crew.
Riker: Do you have a better idea, Geordi?
Laforge: We could send over a construction module to attach thrusters to it. Then we could direct it through the asteroid belt from a safe distance.
Worf: Commander, a message from the mining settlement on Pentarus Five. The shuttlecraft carrying Captain Picard has not yet arrived.
Crusher: They left here at oh eight hundred hours.
Worf: They have asked if we are beginning a search.
Riker: Tell them we have an emergency situation. We'll begin a search as soon as we've completed that.
Worf: Aye, sir.
Riker: Mister La Forge, prepare to launch the construction module. I'd like to get this over with as fast as possible.
Picard: Any luck with the tricorder, Ensign?
Wesley: I think so, sir. The scanning range may be a bit limited, but it's better than nothing.
Dirgo: These were on board, Captain. They're working.
Picard: Excellent. Our communicators may not be able to get a signal through this strong a magnetic field. I'm fashioning an arrow. If a search party finds the wreckage, they'll know we've headed for those mountains.
Dirgo: Are you crazy? They're too far away. We'll never make it.
Picard: We can't survive in this sun. Where there's mountains, there's shelter.
Dirgo: You've got no right to make the decisions. I'm the captain of this ship.
Wesley: If you want to get out of this, I suggest you listen to Captain Picard. He's the one who's going to keep us alive.
Picard: Thank you, Ensign, that's enough. Captain Dirgo, you're an able pilot. I welcome your input. Do you feel that there is an alternative we're overlooking?
Dirgo: No.
Picard: Very well. I suggest a steady pace, not a brisk one. We need to ration our energy. Try breathing through your nose. That way it will help to prevent dehydration. I'll lead. Captain Dirgo, will you bring up the rear?
Wesley: And you were worried about how tough the Captain is?
Dirgo: Did you find water?
Wesley: No, not yet.
Dirgo: What are you doing with that?
Picard: Mister Crusher?
Wesley: I'm not sure, sir. It's an energy reading.
Picard: Energy reading? What kind?
Wesley: Low frequency EM. It's been getting stronger the closer we get to those mountains.
Dirgo: What are you saying? Is something over there, waiting for us?
Wesley: I'm not sure what it is. It just keeps registers as a repeating energy pattern.
Picard: Ensign, are you suggesting this energy is not naturally occurring?
Wesley: The readings could be indicative of some electromagnetic properties in the rocks, but I don't think so.
Picard: A life form?
Wesley: It's possible. The pattern is fairly organized.
Picard: Well, we can't go back and we can't stay here. We've got to keep going for the mountains. No matter what is waiting there.
Dirgo: There has to be water in here. Aren't caves formed by water?
Picard: Not necessarily. This could be created by volcanic activity. Lava flows. These walls are dry, Mister Crusher, do you have any moisture reading?
Wesley: No, sir. But that EM reading? The pattern's changed. The frequency's peaking a lot higher.
Wesley: You have water!
Dirgo: I wouldn't hide water. That's called dresci. It's from my planet.
Picard: It's alcohol.
Dirgo: It's medicinal. It's for emergencies. I was going to share it with you.
Picard: This wouldn't quench your thirst, it would make it worse.
Dirgo: I'll take my chances.
Picard: I'm not going to let you waste this. This is more valuable to us as a coolant or disinfectant.
Dirgo: It's mine.
Picard: Mister Crusher, stow that with the medical supplies. Keep your eye on it. All right, we're going to explore the cave. Mister Crusher, look for any signs of water, no matter how faint. Captain Dirgo, will you lead the way?
Crusher: We're projecting that the bulk of the radiation will affect three small island groups. Fortunately, they're very sparsely populated. We'll begin replicating hyronalin now and be ready to transport it to them if it becomes necessary. Please coordinate with all the medical personnel on the planet.
Troi: Beverly? We've contacted the nearest Starbase for a search vessel. I'm afraid the closest one is almost a week away.
Crusher: I see. Thank you.
Troi: But we have asked the mining settlement to send any vessels they might have. You know, there are many reasons why the shuttlecraft may have been delayed.
Crusher: Deanna, thank you, but I'm all right. And for now, I have work to do.
Worf: Commander, the miners report that they have very few operable shuttlecraft. They want to know when we will be joining the search.
Riker: Tell them to stand by. If this works, we'll be on our way.
Worf: Aye, sir.
Laforge: Thrusters are attached and ready, Commander.
Riker: Initiate prefire sequence.
Laforge: Prefire command transmitted. Thrusters to standby.
Riker: Fire thrusters. Gradual acceleration to forty percent power.
Laforge: We've lost one module. Correcting thrust vectors to compensate.
Data: Structural integrity of the barge has been compromised. Disintegration is continuing.
Riker: Shut down thrusters. Ensign, take us to one thousand meters ahead of the barge and hold.
Data: External radiation levels increasing, sir.
Allenby: Coming into position at one thousand meters.
Riker: Worf, extend shields around the ship. Lock on the tractor beam.
Worf: Aye, sir.
Computer: Warning. Radiation levels at seventy millirads per minute and rising.
Riker: Allenby, set a new course. We'll take it through the asteroid belt ourselves. One quarter impulse.
Allenby: Aye, sir.
Riker: Doctor Crusher to the Bridge.
Crusher: On my way.
Riker: Mister Data, I'll a projection of the radiation's impact on the crew. Mister Worf, contact the mining settlement. Tell them we won't be joining the search for awhile.
Dirgo: I knew there had to be water.
Picard: Mister Crusher what was that?
Wesley: It seems to be some kind of tightly confined annular force field, sir.
Picard: Put there to protect the water.
Wesley: Yes. There has to be a way to deactivate it, sir.
Dirgo: We can, with our phasers.
Picard: Mister Dirgo, I think it would be wiser
Wesley: Captain, the EM reading. The power level's really spiking now.
Dirgo: I think it's working.
Picard: Dirgo!
Picard: Stop firing!
Picard: Wesley!
Wesley: Apply pressure to that wound. This is the worst break.
Dirgo: What was that thing?
Wesley: Keep the pressure constant.
Picard: Ensign, how bad is it?
Wesley: Your right leg is broken. You have a fracture in your left arm. And you took a blow to the head. But we're getting the bleeding under control.
Picard: Well done. I'm going to be fine. I just need to get my breath.
Dirgo: Are you telling the truth?
Wesley: What truth?
Dirgo: He's bleeding inside. I've seen it before. He's never going to survive.
Wesley: You don't know what you're talking about.
Dirgo: You're wasting your time. Will you save that dresci for us.
Picard: Mister Dirgo, I would appreciate it if you didn't bury me before I'm gone.
Picard: The trouble is, he could be right.
Wesley: No, he's not, sir. You're going to be fine.
Picard: Wesley, you are going to have to keep a rein on Dirgo. He's wilful and stubborn. That's dangerous.
Wesley: You'll handle him, sir.
Picard: Wesley, listen to me. I have no feeling in my right leg. My vision is blurred. I'm going to get worse, not better. I'm not going to be able to help you. Now, you are going to have to stand up to Dirgo on your own.
Wesley: Yes, sir.
Picard: Hey. Good man. First Officer's log, stardate 44307.6. Radiation levels on the Enterprise continue to rise. The ventilation system has started pumping hyronalin into our air supply to counteract the effects.
Data: At the rate the radiation levels are increasing, the hyronalin additive will only be effective for another thirty eight minutes.
Crusher: Crusher to Medical unit one, evacuate and seal off all non-operational areas. Group the crew and their families in the interior corridors of decks nine and ten. Radiation exposure protocol.
Ogawa: Acknowledged, Doctor.
Riker: Mister Data, at our current speed, how long will it take us to get through the asteroid belt?
Data: Fifty one minutes, fourteen seconds, sir.
Crusher: There's going to be a lot of casualties if we can't get there any faster.
Riker: Mister La Forge, how much more can we get out of that tractor beam?
Laforge: We're already at the maximum limits of our towing speed, Commander.
Riker: Let's see if we can establish a new upper limit.
Laforge: Yes, sir. Data, monitor the shearing effect on the beam. Increasing to one half impulse.
Data: Tractor beam is holding. Shearing force, eighty metric tons per meter.
Laforge: Increasing to three quarters impulse.
Data: Shearing force ninety two metric tons. Ninety three. Tractor beam is destabilizing. Se are going to lose the barge, Commander.
Riker: Reduce power.
Allenby: One half impulse.
Riker: Geordi, you've got to stabilize that tractor beam.
Laforge: I can't divert any more power to the shields. We're already hitting our maximum thermal limits. Only other choice is to bring some other fusion reactors online, but we're running at peak coolant pressure.
Riker: Do it.
Computer: Warning. Radiation levels at one hundred fifty millirads per minute and rising. Lethal exposure in thirty five minutes.
Wesley: How did this happen?
Dirgo: That thing did it.
Wesley: These are selenium fibers. Electrically deposited. The EM pattern is back down. It only peaks when we move towards the water. Whatever we saw must act like a sentry to try to guard the fountain. When we're not moving toward the water, the wave pattern stays low. Right between five and fifteen megahertz. Dirgo, move toward the fountain. Dirgo.
Wesley: There. It just went to forty.
Dirgo: What is this getting us? We've got to get to the water.
Wesley: If I can figure out how to manipulate the frequency, maybe I can control it. The sentry first appeared when you used your phaser. That means it could respond to heat, or collinated energy.
Dirgo: If you're right, we can use a phaser to lure it away.
Wesley: Hold on. We need to know what we're dealing with before we start doing anything.
Dirgo: Enough talking, it's time to do something. I'll start firing. When it comes, you fire and draw it away.
Wesley: Dirgo, I can't.
Dirgo: Put your phaser on automatic. Leave it on that ledge and take cover.
Wesley: And what makes you think it's going to go for my phaser and not for yours?
Dirgo: Because I'll be firing on the lowest setting. You use maximum.
Wesley: There is no evidence that it responds differently to higher settings. We have to figure out our options before we just
Dirgo: While we are doing that, your Captain is dying. With those wounds, most men would already be dead. If he doesn't get water. When I start firing, you better do your part. First Officer's log, supplemental. Mister La Forge has diverted power from auxiliary fusion generators in an attempt to stabilize the tractor beam. This is the only hope of increasing our towing speed so we can clear the asteroid belt before radiation levels become fatal.
Computer: Warning. Radiation levels at three hundred millirads per minute and rising. Lethal exposure in one minute.
Laforge: Ready, Commander. I'll be rotating the output of the auxiliary reactors, but it should still give us the power we need.
Riker: Proceed, Mister La Forge.
Laforge: Increasing to three quarters impulse.
Data: Shearing force is at one hundred three metric tons. Tractor beam is stable.
Laforge: Full impulse.
Data: Tractor beam is holding.
Computer: Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in thirty seconds.
Worf: We are within visual range of the asteroid belt.
Riker: On screen.
Computer: Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in fifteen seconds.
Riker: Prepare to cut the barge loose.
Computer: Warning. Lethal radiation exposure in ten seconds.
Data: We have cleared the asteroids, sir.
Riker: Let it go.
Picard: Cold.
Wesley: When the sun went down, the temperature really dropped. This should help.
Picard: Good. Thank you. I'm not much good to you, Wesley.
Wesley: Sir, Dirgo is dead. I should've tried harder to stop him, but he. Captain! Captain Picard! Sir, stay with me.
Picard: I'm trying.
Wesley: Sir, do you remember when we took the shuttlecraft to Starbase five one five? I was dreading it. Six hours alone with you. But it didn't turn out the way that I thought. You opened up to me. I kind of got to know you.
Picard: Wesley, it's my fault that you're here. I shouldn't have asked you.
Wesley: Sir, I'm honored you wanted me along.
Picard: I was selfish. I thought I wouldn't see you again. I'm sorry.
Wesley: Sir, in the past three years I've lived more than most people do in a lifetime. I think I'm very lucky. no matter what happens. How many people get to serve with Jean-Luc Picard? Sir, you don't know this. No one knows this, because I never told anyone. All of the things I've worked for, school, my science projects, getting into the Academy, I've done it all because I want you to be proud of me. If there is one thing that I've learned from you, it's that you don't quit. And I'm not going to quit now. I've seen you think yourself out of worse problems than this, and I'm going to think us out of this. You're not going to die. I'm not going to let you die. I'll get to the water and I'll keep you alive until they find us. I promise. First Officer's log, supplemental. The Enterprise is returning to the last known location of the missing shuttlecraft.
Riker: Are you certain?
Data: It is definitely debris. The primary material is duranium, with smaller proportions of sonodanite and ermanium.
Laforge: Most shuttlecraft hulls are made of duranium.
Crusher: Then they're gone.
Data: Not necessarily, Doctor. There is far too little debris to account for an entire shuttlecraft.
Riker: So what is it?
Laforge: You know, Dirgo had his maneuvering thrusters rigged a funny way. Claimed it was more efficient. If one of them blew it might have left debris like that.
Riker: If only one of his thrusters was out, he could still have set down somewhere.
Data: The only Class M planets in the system are Pentarus two and five, both of which have been thoroughly searched by the miners.
Riker: Then we'll search them again.
Data: Sir, there are also four moons in the Pentarus system that could support life.
Riker: Have the miners searched them?
Worf: Not yet, sir.
Riker: Which one is the closest one to the debris coordinates?
Data: Lambda Paz, one of the moons of Pentarus three.
Riker: Set a course, Ensign.
Picard: Aupres de ma blonde, il fait bon, fait bon, fait bon. Ensign, where are we?
Wesley: We crashed, sir. We're in a cave.
Picard: I need water.
Wesley: Sir, we don't have any water. Don't you remember? We tried to get to the fountain and Captain Dirgo
Picard: Yes, I remember.
Wesley: I think I'm on to something. I've analyzed the sentry's energy patterns.
Picard: Wesley, I may not make it.
Wesley: I've taken the transponder element from my communicator and I've used it to modify my tricorder.
Picard: No, listen.
Wesley: I think I can use it to interrupt the sentry's electrical pattern. Stop it, maybe slow it down.
Picard: Listen to me.
Wesley: Yes, sir.
Picard: There's so much I wanted to tell you. The Academy, there's someone, someone who meant a great deal to me. He's been there forever. Someone you must get to know. His name is Boothby. Now, you tell him that you and I were friends. Now, when I was there, he helped me. Listen to him.
Wesley: What does he teach?
Picard: He's the groundskeeper. One of the wisest men I ever knew. Oh, I envy you, Wesley Crusher. You're just at the beginning of the adventure. Go on. Get the water. Stay alive. They'll find you.
Wesley: I'll be back soon.
Picard: Of course. Wesley. You remember I was always proud of you.
Wesley: It worked!
Wesley: Captain? Captain Picard? Wake up.
Wesley: Captain?
Crusher: Wesley? Wesley. Wesley!
Wesley: Mom?
Crusher: Yes.
Wesley: Oh, mom.
Crusher: Wesley, thank God!
Wesley: I am so happy to see you.
Crusher: You're okay. Come on.
Wesley: How did you find us?
Crusher: We found the wreckage, and the arrow which indicated your direction. We'll take Wesley by stretcher as well.
Wesley: No, I can walk.
Picard: Doctor.
Crusher: We're taking you back to the Enterprise. We've stabilized your vital signs. All right, let's go now.
Picard: One moment. Mister Crusher?
Wesley: Yes, sir.
Picard: What are you doing in such a filthy uniform?
Wesley: You don't look so ship-shape yourself, sir.
Picard: Wesley, you will be missed.


Brooks: It's been five months since Marc's accident. I haven't missed a single hour of my duties. I volunteered for extra time in the nursery. My language studies are better than they've ever been. Somebody else might have given in, but I didn't.
Troi: Given in to what?
Brooks: Death is a normal part of life. Maybe some of us are better at facing that than others.
Troi: Maybe some of us aren't facing it at all.
Brooks: What do you mean?
Troi: Recovery from a great loss involves a great deal of pain. If we try to avoid that pain, we can make it harder on ourselves in the long run.
Brooks: But I feel fine.
Troi: Today would have been your husband's thirty eighth birthday.
Brooks: You keep excellent records, Deanna. Last night. I dreamt Marc was with me, celebrating. I was so glad that this nonsense was finally over. Then I woke up. Alone. And I knew that he was dead. For the first time, I knew it. I looked around for anything that belonged to him. Anything. I forgot that after the funeral I told them to take it all away. What in the world was I thinking?
Troi: They didn't take everything away.
Brooks: How did you know?
Picard: An ancient trail along the Kabul River in the Himalayas. It's a wonderful program. Will, it would do you good to have a little fresh holodeck air.
Riker: I think my horsemanship is a little rusty for the Himalayas. Thanks anyway.
Picard: Nonsense. We program an appropriately docile steed
Worf: Captain. Sensors indicate a vast field of
Picard: Of what, Lieutenant?
Worf: It's gone. But something did appear directly in our path.
Allenby: Deflector shields are not encountering elevated levels of interstellar matter.
Riker: A sensor echo, Data?
Data: Uncertain. I have no unusual readings, Commander.
Brooks: I promise I'll come by to see you tomorrow. Deanna, are you alright?
Troi: What? What?
Brooks: You faded out there for a second.
Troi: Oh. No, no, I'm fine. I'm just very tired, that's all. Will I see you tomorrow?
Brooks: Tomorrow. Thank you, Deanna.
Data: An aggregate field of plane-polarized objects has just appeared. And disappeared.
Riker: Recommend we run a diagnostic on the forward sensor array. We don't want a ghost tailing us all the way to T'lli Beta.
Worf: I'm not convinced it is a ghost. There may be something there, Commander.
Picard: Ensign Allenby, full stop.
Allenby: Aye, sir.
Picard: Let's investigate both possibilities.
Picard: Captain's log, stardate 44356.9. Sensor diagnostics have been completed and indicate that all systems are normal. There remains no explanation for the images which appeared in our path.
Data: I have completed another full scan of the area, sir. There is no further indication of the anomaly.
Picard: Ensign, prepare to resume course to T'lli Beta. Mister Data, what velocity would put us back on schedule?
Data: A resumption of our present course at warp six will place us in the T'lli Beta system in six days, thirteen hours, forty seven minutes.
Riker: What, no seconds?
Data: I have discovered, sir, a certain level of impatience when I calculate a lengthy time interval to the nearest second. However, if you wish
Riker: No, no. Minutes is fine.
Picard: Stand ready at warp six, Ensign.
Allenby: Aye, sir.
Picard: Engage.
Riker: Riker to Engineering. Geordi, what the hell happened?
Laforge: Checking. Looks like the field collapsed before we could enter warp.
Laforge: Recommend full stop while I check it out.
Picard: Back to full stop, Ensign.
Allenby: Aye, sir.
Data: All decks reporting minor injuries only.
Picard: Damage?
Data: None, sir.
Worf: Weapons and shields normal.
Riker: Go to yellow alert.
Allenby: Captain, we've started moving again. Something is pulling us.
Troi: Troi to Doctor Crusher.
Crusher: Yes, Deanna?
Troi: Beverly
Troi: I'm feeling very dizzy.
Crusher: Did you hit your head?
Troi: I'm not sure. I'm not sure what happened.
Crusher: Lie down, breathe deeply and stay calm. I'm getting calls from all over the ship. I'll be there as quickly as I can.
Allenby: New heading confirmed. Zero two five mark two seven three. Speed is holding at one tenth impulse.
Riker: Whatever's pulling us sure isn't in a hurry.
Picard: Picard to La Forge.
Laforge: Go ahead, Captain.
Picard: If your engines are functioning we'll attempt to break free.
Laforge: Everything down here seems normal enough, sir, but I suggest we take it a bit slower this time.
Picard: Ensign, bring us around ninety degrees to starboard.
Allenby: New course laid in at ninety degrees to starboard.
Picard: One quarter impulse, engage.
Allenby: Aye, sir. Nothing, Captain. Speed and course are unaffected.
Picard: One half impulse.
Allenby: No change.
Picard: Full impulse. Rotate heading in five degree increments.
Allenby: Aye, sir.
Riker: La Forge?
Laforge: There's nothing wrong down here. The engines are fine.
Data: Integrity field stress exceeding eighty two million kilodynes. Recommend immediate shutdown, sir.
Picard: Make it so, Ensign.
Allenby: All engines down. We're still being pulled. Same heading, same speed.
Crusher: I got here as quickly as I could. I've got a Sickbay filled with headaches. How are you?
Troi: Well, when I first called you I was feeling intense pain. Now it's gone, but I'm feeling a bit foggy.
Crusher: I'd like to take you to Sickbay and run an inner nuncial series. Can you walk?
Riker: All senior staff report to the Observation Lounge.
Crusher: Are you up to that?
Troi: I think so.
Crusher: What is it?
Troi: Nothing. Nothing, I'm fine.
Riker: Could it be some sort of tractor beam?
Data: No other ship is indicated.
Picard: Mister Worf, what is your analysis?
Worf: Tactical sensor readings are indeterminant.
Laforge: They don't even give us enough for an educated guess.
Riker: And yet all sensors are operating properly.
Picard: Can there be an intelligence at work here? Counselor, do you sense a lifeform out there?
Troi: No, I don't think so. No. There's nothing. Nothing. I sense nothing.
Picard: It's alright, Counselor. Perhaps there's nothing out there to sense.
Data: Indeed, there are many races that are not empathically detectable. The Breen, the Ferengi, the
Troi: No, you don't understand. I don't sense anything. Not out there, not in here. All of you, you're all blank to me.
Crusher: No indication of a concussion or a blow to the head. Just a pattern of unresponsive neural cells throughout the cerebellum and cerebral cortex.
Troi: Unresponsive?
Crusher: There's brain damage. How serious, I can't tell yet.
Troi: But I feel perfectly fine otherwise.
Riker: Can you treat it?
Crusher: I'm not sure. I have to review the database on Betazoid neurophysiology.
Troi: The Betazoid brain has a remarkable ability to heal itself. This condition could just reverse itself time.
Crusher: It might. But you are half human. That changes the map a little. I don't want to offer you any false hopes.
Troi: It's just hope, Beverly. Not false hope.
Riker: What would cause something like this? Because it started at the same time we encountered the anomaly.
Crusher: There may be a connection. I don't know. If you were anyone else, you know the first thing I'd do? I'd send you to Counselor Troi.
Troi: Well, then I have an advantage, don't I? I see her quite often.
Crusher: Deanna, it's no different than one of us suddenly going blind.
Troi: You don't have to tell me, Beverly. I understand the psychology.
Crusher: You may understand it but you've never had to live with it.
Troi: I may be perfectly fine by tomorrow.
Crusher: And you may not. Now, I'll do my homework. I'll see what I can do to regenerate those cells. In the meantime, I want you to talk to someone. There are several people on board who have degrees in psychology, who are qualified therapists.
Troi: Okay, fine, if I need to. Right now, I just want to go back to work.
Riker: Deanna.
Troi: If there are no medical objections?
Crusher: No medical objections.
Troi: Thank you, Beverly. Will.
Troi: Come in.
Riker: I don't have a psychology degree, but if you'd like to talk?
Troi: You know what the worst part of this is? And I've seen it happen to so many patients.
Riker: What?
Troi: The way other people change. How they start to treat you differently. They walk on eggshells around you. Sometimes they avoid you altogether. Sometimes they become overbearing, reach out a helping hand to the blind woman.
Riker: I'm sorry if I
Troi: I will not be treated that way!
Riker: Hey! Imzadi.
Troi: Oh, please.
Riker: Deanna, I've never seen you quite so scared.
Troi: I'm fine. If I get better, I get better. If I don't, I'll adapt. Life goes on.
Riker: Deanna.
Troi: I really have to finish this. I have some appointments this afternoon.
Data: Probe launch successful. Telemetry transmissions are being received.
Laforge: Okay, let's see what we've got. Nothing unusual here. The same reading as the ship sensors.
Data: Expanding analysis parameters. Including Bayesian functions, broad EM and subspace spectrum polling.
Laforge: No change.
Data: I am adding virtual particle trajectories.
Laforge: Whoa. What is that?
Data: Unknown. I am attempting to analyze motion pattern. Results still inconclusive.
Laforge: Last time I saw anything that looked like that, I was skin-diving off the coral reefs at Bracas Five.
Troi: You said you woke up a new woman this morning.
Brooks: That's how I feel.
Troi: Tell me about her, this new woman.
Brooks: She's not holding anything back any more.
Troi: She's not?
Brooks: I let it all out last night. I cried for two hours. I realized that I had never accepted the loss of my husband. I worked hard, I kept busy, I did everything to pretend it never happened.
Troi: And you feel different now?
Brooks: Completely.
Troi: Can I share something important with you?
Brooks: Of course.
Troi: I've temporarily lost my empathic sense. It's kind of like having one hand tied behind your back.
Brooks: I'm so sorry. Do you want me to come back?
Troi: No, no, I'm fine. It's just I feel before we continue it's important you know that. Okay?
Brooks: All right.
Troi: Because I can't tell how you're feeling this morning, but it seems to me that one night of crying can't make up for months of denial.
Brooks: No. You're wrong. I feel better today than I have in ages. You're absolutely wrong, Deanna.
Data: The probe's point of view reveals that the objects exist entirely in two dimensions, on a single plane.
Laforge: They have length and width, but not height. Virtually flat.
Data: That is why the ship's forward sensors did not detect them initially. We were looking at them along their edge. There was no surface to read. I will illustrate.
Picard: Are they a lifeform?
Data: The movement pattern within the cluster is not a naturally occurring phenomenon in the Newtonian sense. They appear to be alive.
Riker: Can you explain why they're pulling us along with them?
Laforge: Somehow, they're able to polarize the graviton field as they move about. We're caught in the wake.
Riker: How do we get out of it?
Laforge: Best idea for now is to try a controlled overload of the warp drive. Jump directly to warp six. The laws of a three-dimensional universe say it should work. Don't know about a two-dimensional universe though.
Picard: Fascinating. So many questions. How can a two-dimensional entity have access to a three-dimensional universe? And are they aware of us? Number One, if we can put off the T'lli Betans, I would like to investigate this further as soon as we're free of the graviton field.
Laforge: It's a shame we can't tell if they're sentient.
Troi: What do you mean by that? I'm doing the best that I can.
Picard: No one suggested otherwise, Counselor. Mister Data, try to isolate any signal patterns from the cluster. Perhaps there'll be a basis for communication. Mister La Forge, we'll attempt your warp jump as soon as you're prepared. That'll be all. Counselor
Crusher: How are you feeling?
Troi: Beverly, I can't do my job. I'm absolutely lost. You have to do something.
Crusher: I cross-referenced your scan results with the baseline files in the computer. Nothing helpful has turned up. And so far the lab work is inconclusive.
Troi: Inconclusive. What does that mean?
Crusher: It means there is nothing I can do now. I am still trying.
Troi: How do you people live like this?
Crusher: We get by pretty well, actually. And so will you, in time.
Troi: You have no idea. No idea what this is like. How can you know what it's like to lose something you never had?
Crusher: I don't claim to.
Troi: And yet you're telling me I'm supposed to get used to it.
Crusher: If our positions were reversed, what would you tell me?
Troi: If our positions were reversed, I wouldn't have been in here treating skinned elbows while you were lying passed out on your office floor. I'd have been there a lot sooner. Perhaps in time to prevent this from ever happening!
Troi: I've been working with Ensign Brooks since the death of her husband. She's avoided the reality of what happened, denied it to herself, and I realize I've been doing the same thing about my condition.
Picard: That's perfectly understandable.
Troi: It's time I accept the truth, Captain, and resign as ship's counselor.
Picard: Resign?
Troi: I can no longer fulfilll my obligations. What other option is there?
Picard: Deanna, I've been fortunate to have access to your Betazoid abilities. Most starship captains have to be content with a human counselor. Empathic awareness is not a requirement of your position.
Troi: It is for me.
Picard: I'm sure that after a while you'll be able to adjust. They say when one loses a sense, the other senses become stronger to compensate. A blind man develops better hearing.
Troi: With all due respect, Captain, you don't know what you're talking about. That is a common belief with no scientific basis, no doubt created by normal people who felt uncomfortable around the disabled. I am disabled, and I'm telling you I cannot perform my duties.
Picard: There was a teacher of mine at the Academy who had been confined to a wheelchair since birth. She was a woman
Troi: Captain, spare me the inspirational anecdote and just accept my resignation.
Troi: Come in.
Troi: I really would rather be alone right now.
Riker: Too bad.
Troi: Is this how you handle all of your personnel problems?
Riker: Sure. You'd be surprised how far a hug goes with Geordi, or Worf.
Troi: Will, I don't know what to do.
Riker: So you resign? You walk away from all the people who care about you?
Troi: I look around me and all I see are surfaces without depth. Colorless. Hollow. Nothing seems real.
Riker: I'm real.
Troi: No, you're not. You're a projection, with no more substance to me than a character on the holodeck.
Riker: I don't believe that.
Troi: You have no idea how frightening it is to just be here without sensing you, without sharing your feelings.
Riker: That's it, isn't it? We're on equal footing now.
Troi: What?
Riker: You always had an advantage. A little bit of control of every situation. That must have been a very safe position to be in. To be honest, I'd always thought there was something a little too aristocratic about your Betazoid heritage. As if your human side wasn't quite good enough for you.
Troi: That isn't true.
Riker: Isn't it?
Laforge: La Forge to Riker.
Riker: Go ahead, Geordi.
Laforge: We are ready to attempt a controlled overload jump to warp six.
Riker: Acknowledged. I'm on my way to the Bridge. I'll check in on you later.
Troi: Really, you don't have to.
Riker: I will check in on you later.
Allenby: Setting a new course at optimal shearing angle. Bearing two one seven mark two zero three.
Laforge: Engaging impulse
Laforge: Engines now.
Picard: Mister La Forge, go to warp.
Laforge: Aye, sir.
Riker: Status?
Allenby: Unchanged. We have not broken free of the graviton field.
Data: Integrity-field pressure has increased by two hundred seventeen percent, Captain.
Computer: Warning. Differential stress will exceed upper limit in fifteen seconds.
Picard: Disengage all engines.
Computer: Warning. Differential stress will exceed upper
Laforge: Engines disengaged, sir.
Riker: Report, La Forge.
Laforge: The energy we wanted to transfer to the nacelles
Laforge: Was absorbed by the graviton wake instead. It set up a torsional wave that rebounded back to the ship.
Laforge: We're lucky the hull is still in one piece.
Picard: This little nuisance is beginning to lose its fascination.
Data: Sir, during our attempt to break away, I recorded a momentary alteration of the movement pattern within the cluster.
Riker: You think we got their attention, Data?
Data: Perhaps, but just for an instant. The pattern immediately returned to its previous dynamic.
Picard: Follow up on it, Mister Data. Input your observations into the Universal Translator.
Data: Aye, sir.
Picard: Perhaps the movements themselves are an attempt at communication.
Guinan: More tea? I didn't mean to startle you.
Troi: That's alright. I'm getting used to it.
Guinan: May I?
Troi: Sure.
Guinan: Are you really getting used to it?
Troi: No.
Guinan: Do you want to talk about it?
Troi: No.
Guinan: Good. I get so tired of people coming in with their problems. They come in, they want a shoulder to cry on, and generally it turns out to be mine.
Troi: You'd make a good counselor.
Guinan: I think so too. So I'm going to talk to Picard about it.
Troi: About what? You becoming counselor?
Guinan: Well, yes, you're leaving. That means there won't be a counselor on board, and I suppose I'm going to have a very long line at that bar. It would be nice to have a nice office, too.
Troi: It's more than just letting them cry on your shoulder. It takes an enormous commitment.
Guinan: I can do that.
Troi: Guinan, people come to you to talk about things they want to reveal. As ship's counselor, you have to get them to talk about things they don't want to reveal.
Guinan: I could do that too.
Troi: What are you? You don't really want to be ship's counselor.
Guinan: What would make you say that?
Troi: I just know you're not serious.
Guinan: Have I given you any indication that I might not serious?
Troi: Not really, but
Guinan: Then how do you know? Are your empathic abilities coming back?
Troi: No. I suppose it's just instinctive. I get it. You're trying to make me see that I have other abilities to draw on. Human intuition, instincts. Guinan, those skills only develop after years of experience. It's not that easy.
Guinan: No one said it was easy. It's much harder than you think. Human intuition and instinct are not always right, but they do make life interesting.
Troi: So I'm discovering.
Riker: Problem, Data?
Data: Yes, Commander. Sensors are detecting highly accelerated interstellar gasses.
Riker: Suggesting?
Data: Uncertain, sir. The phenomenon is within visual range.
Riker: On screen. Magnify.
Data: It appears to be a cosmic string fragment. Only one hundred seven kilometers long.
Allenby: A cosmic string?
Riker: No wider than a proton but with gravitational fields as powerful as a black hole.
Data: The two-dimensional beings seem to be caught in the gravitational pull of the string. Their course is taking them directly toward it.
Riker: And us right along with them.
Picard: Captain's log, stardate 44359.5. What began as a curious inconvenience has turned into a serious threat. At current speed, the two-dimensional beings and the Enterprise will be drawn into the cosmic string fragment in seven hours.
Data: The entities offer no indication that they are aware of the string fragment, Captain. Their course and speed remain constant.
Worf: Sir, recommend we fire a spread of photon torpedoes into their field.
Picard: Must we destroy them to save ourselves?
Data: It is unclear what affect a photon torpedo would have on a two-dimensional beings, sir.
Picard: Nevertheless.
Laforge: Well, we wouldn't necessarily have to fire at them. Half a dozen photon torpedo bursts directly in their path could make them change course.
Picard: Make it so.
Worf: Torpedoes armed. Fire distribution set. Detonation at seven kilometers ahead of the cluster.
Riker: Data, launch another probe. Patch the monitor through to the main viewer.
Data: Probe has been launched. On screen.
Picard: Proceed, Mister Worf.
Worf: Launching photon torpedoes. Detonation in five seconds. Three, two, one.
Data: There is no change in the graviton field. The torpedoes are having no effect, sir.
Picard: Fire another volley directly into their field, Mister Worf.
Worf: Launching torpedoes. Detonation in five seconds. Three, two, one.
Data: Matter-antimatter explosions appear to be ineffective, sir.
Troi: Come in. Janet. Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to cancel your appointment today. Actually, I'm resigning as Ship's Counselor.
Brooks: Why?
Troi: I think it was fairly clear during your last appointment. It was obviously non productive. I couldn't sense what you were feeling.
Brooks: Deanna, you were right about me. I had to go back and look at what I was doing, see why I was trying to convince myself and you that I was a new woman. You made me realize I was doing exactly the same thing to myself as I was before. Trying to hide from the pain. Maybe you couldn't sense what I was feeling, but you helped.
Picard: Come.
Troi: You wanted to see me, Captain?
Picard: Yes, Counselor. Sit down, please. Our situation has become critical. The cluster remains completely unresponsive. We have not been able to alter its course toward the cosmic string fragment.
Troi: How much time do we have?
Picard: Less than five hours. Which is why I have called you.
Troi: Sir?
Picard: All that remains is the possibility of communication. There might be some way that we can warn them of their impending destruction.
Troi: I thought Data had already tried to establish communications through the universal translator.
Picard: He has tried every technical means at our disposal to reach them.
Troi: I wish I knew how to help, Captain, but under the circumstances
Picard: If there is a psychology to these creatures, we must discover it. If there is an explanation for their behavior, we must know what it is. Even in your current condition, you are the most qualified person aboard this ship to assist. Data is in Observation attempting to formulate a strategy. I want you to join him. Deanna, we need you.
Picard: Captain's log, supplemental. If our speed and course remain unchanged, in one hour the Enterprise will be torn apart by the gravitational forces of the cosmic string fragment.
Troi: Are your signals reaching them?
Data: Possibly. However, the beings may perceive them as negligible noise rather than an attempt at communication.
Troi: Is there any evidence at all that they're sentient?
Data: Negative. The nature of their movement suggests a simple order of intelligence.
Troi: I'm sorry, Data. I don't seem to be much help without my empathic abilities. I just don't know how to draw on my human instinct.
Data: As I have no human instinct per se, I cannot advise you, Counselor.
Troi: Right now, I feel as two-dimensional as our friends out there. In the universe but barely aware of it. Just trying to survive on instinct. Data, what if they're simply acting instinctively? There are inherent, inborn forces in every species. What they need, what they fear. We have to discover what drives this species.
Data: I do not believe there is any way we can know for certain, Counselor.
Troi: We can speculate on the available evidence.
Data: The only evidence we have at present is the brief interruption in their movement pattern during our last attempt to break away.
Troi: Which may suggest some kind of awareness of our presence.
Data: Otherwise their course and speed have been constant.
Troi: On a straight line to the cosmic string. You're convinced the string's gravitation is pulling them in?
Data: Because the cluster is two-dimensional, I do not have enough direct evidence to support that assumption. However, it is the most reasonable hypothesis.
Troi: Why?
Data: It is unlikely they would intentionally move toward a destructive force.
Troi: Moths fly toward a flame. Horses sometimes run into a burning barn. Data, don't you see? We've been thinking in three dimensions. We have to get two-dimensional.
Data: Pardon me?
Troi: Subspace signals, photon torpedoes, nothing's had an impact. It is reasonable to wonder if a gravitational pull, even as strong as a cosmic string's, would affect them.
Data: Please continue.
Troi: What if they've chosen a course to the cosmic string? A case of pure stimulus response, driven by instinct, just like the moth to a flame.
Data: If Counselor Troi's supposition is correct, a replica of the string projected behind the cluster could induce them to reverse course, disrupting the graviton wake long enough for us to escape.
Picard: How do you simulate a cosmic string? It has the gravitational force of a hundred stars.
Data: I do not suggest simulating the gravitational field of the string fragment, rather the string's vibration.
Riker: Vibration? We're not talking about a violin, Data.
Laforge: No, Data's right. The principle is still the same. A cosmic string emanates a characteristic set of subspace frequencies as atomic particles decay along its event horizon. I could use the ship's parabolic dish to amplify and reflect those frequencies back toward the cluster. The Enterprise itself would echo the cosmic string.
Picard: How much time do we have, Mister Worf?
Worf: Twenty three minutes, sir.
Picard: Make it so.
Data: Frequency-scan detectors engaged.
Laforge: Receiving.
Laforge: Data, we're picking up frequencies across the entire electromagnetic and lower subspace spectrum. Trying to isolate. Data, can you focus the reflector field for me?
Data: Stand by.
Data: I am differentiating particle-emission signatures now.
Laforge: Good. Good, that's doing it. Patterns are converging.
Allenby: Same course, same speed. No change, sir.
Worf: We are beginning to encounter the gravitational effects of the string. Impact is in four minutes.
Data: Sir, shear force turbulence is impairing our ability to create an accurate simulation.
Riker: Geordi, fire up the impulse engines. Activate the
Riker: Ship's stabilizers.
Laforge: Stabilizers on.
Data: Electromagnetic and subspace wave fronts approaching synchronization.
Worf: Three minutes to impact.
Riker: Status?
Allenby: The cluster is unaffected. Same course, same speed.
Picard: Let's try turning up the volume. Increase the intensity, Mister Data.
Data: Increasing by fifty percent.
Allenby: They're slowing.
Laforge: Graviton-wake field collapsing.
Picard: Mister La Forge, get us out of here.
Laforge: With pleasure, sir.
Allenby: The beings have resumed their course into the string. Three seconds to impact.
Troi: It's all right. They're home. We were wrong. The cosmic string it was never dangerous to them. It was the one place in the galaxy they most wanted to be.
Riker: Deanna?
Troi: Yes. I sensed it.
Troi: Such overwhelming intensity of emotion. When we first encountered them, it must have been more than my senses could process.
Riker: A short circuit.
Troi: Something like that. Oh, Beverly.
Crusher: Apology accepted. Therapists are always the worst patients. Except for doctors, of course. Come by and see me in my office later, okay?
Troi: I was so awful to her.
Guinan: You were just being human.
Troi: I never fully appreciated how difficult and how rewarding it is to be human, but I had a lot of help. Thanks.
Guinan: Now, is that counselor position is still open aboard ship?
Troi: It's been taken.
Guinan: I just thought I'd ask. Better hours. Excuse me.
Troi: And you. Thank you for making me face my other half.
Riker: Frightening, isn't it?
Troi: A little. You were right, though. There is something to be learned when you're not in control of every situation.
Riker: Welcome to the human race.
Troi: By the way. The next time you call me aristocratic.


Scene: Second Officer's personal Log, Stardate 44390.1. Record entry for transmission to Commander Bruce Maddox, Cybernetics Division, Daystrom Institute. Dear Commander Maddox,
Data: In reference to your most recent letter, I agree that your study lacks sufficient primary source information on my programming and operation. Therefore, in response to your request, this correspondence will include a complete record of my activities during a normal day, with particular emphasis on my perceptions of friendship.
Data: Commander Riker, you are fifteen minutes early.
Riker: Well, it's a very special day. I thought the father of the bride would enjoy being relieved early on the wedding day.
Data: Thank you, sir.
Riker: Nervous?
Data: I cannot become nervous, sir. However, I do sense a certain anticipation regarding my role in the wedding.
Riker: Anything to report?
Data: All systems normal, sir. Sickbay reports that Lieutenant Juarez went into labor at zero four hundred hours. We remain at station awaiting the arrival of Starship Zhukov and guest quarters have been prepared for Ambassador T'Pel.
Riker: Very well. I have the Bridge.
Data: Aye, sir.
Riker: Begin day watch.
Data: Initially, Commander Maddox, I found it difficult to maintain friendships, since human emotions are often puzzling to me.
Data: Eventually, I developed a program enabling me to predict human emotional responses to specific actions.
Keiko: Come in.
Data: It is time for the wedding rehearsal.
Keiko: I know. Data, I've decided not to go through with it.
Data: You do not wish to rehearse?
Keiko: No, I'm calling off the wedding.
Data: May I ask why?
Keiko: It's just the right thing to do.
Data: Have your feelings for Chief O'Brien changed?
Keiko: I'm supposed to be getting married, Data. I should be happy, but I'm not. I just feel this weight pressing down on me.
Data: Will canceling the wedding make you happy?
Keiko: Yes. He'll probably be just as relieved as I am. Data, you introduced us to each other. You mean a lot to both of us. I would really appreciate it if you would tell Miles for me.
Data: If you wish.
Data: My friend Chief O'Brien often says that above all else, he wants to make Keiko happy. Since canceling the wedding will make her happy, I must conclude the Chief will be pleased at her decision.
Data: I have good news.
O'Brien: Oh?
Data: Keiko has made a decision designed to increase her happiness. She has canceled the wedding.
O'Brien: She what? Canceled the wedding? Today? Without even a word? Of all the childish, selfish, irresponsible things to do!
Laforge: Next time, maybe I should break the good news.
Data: Commander Maddox, it would appear that my program designed to predict the emotional responses needs adjustment. Second Officers personal log, supplemental. This is the one thousand five hundred fiftieth day since the Enterprise was commissioned. Besides the arrival of Ambassador T'Pel, other events occurring today include four birthdays, two personnel transfers, a celebration of the Hindu Festival of Lights, two chess tournaments, one secondary school play, and four promotions. Overall, an ordinary day.
Technician: The Zhukov is ready for transport, sir.
Data: Energize.
Data: Welcome aboard the Enterprise, Ambassador.
T'Pel: I would meet with your Captain.
Data: Sine I am not affected by emotional considerations, I am closer to being Vulcan than human. However, while their devotion to logic does have a certain appeal, I find their stark philosophy to be somewhat limited.
Picard: Come. Ambassador T'Pel.
T'Pel: I come to serve.
Picard: Your service honors us. This is my first officer, Commander William Riker.
T'Pel: Leave us, please.
Riker: Charming woman.
Data: The tone of Commander Riker's voice makes me suspect that he is not serious about finding Ambassador T'Pel charming. My experience suggests that in fact he may mean the exact opposite of what he says. irony is a form of expression I have not yet been able to master.
V'Sal: You don't need a haircut. You were just in here last week.
Laforge: Hey, if you'd done it right the first time I wouldn't be back here so soon.
V'Sal: I know you want to look beautiful, but I'm just a barber, not a miracle worker.
Laforge: Just try to keep my ears on straight today, all right?
Data: Friendly insults and jibes, another form of human speech that I am attempting to master, in this case with the help of Commander Geordi La Forge.
Laforge: Hi Data.
Data: I consider Geordi to be my best friend.
Laforge: Here for a trim?
Data: My hair does not require trimming, you lunkhead.
Laforge: What?
Data: My hair does not require trimming
Laforge: Lunkhead?
Data: I am experimenting with friendly jibes and insults. It was not meant as a serious disparagement.
Laforge: Well, just don't try it on the Captain.
Data: No. Geordi, I am still confused by Chief O'Brien's reaction this morning.
Laforge: Yeah. He was just surprised, Data. He didn't mean to blow up like that. He knows that Keiko probably doesn't want to call off the marriage. She's just getting cold feet.
Data: Cold feet? Jitters. A nervous reaction to an impending event of great importance.
Laforge: Right. Don't worry, everything's going to be fine. She'll change her mind again.
Data: She will?
Laforge: Absolutely.
Data: So you believe the wedding will still proceed?
Laforge: Trust me, they're going to get married. So you'd better find a gift.
Data: I find Lieutenant Worf to be what is called a kindred spirit. We were both orphans rescued by Starfleet officers. In many ways, we are both still outsiders in human society.
Data: Are you here to find a wedding gift?
Worf: Yes.
Data: I would appreciate your help in selecting an appropriate item.
Worf: Of course. I have attended human weddings before.
Worf: Hold.
Data: This is a traditional gift?
Worf: Yes, my adoptive parents often give these things at family weddings. A human custom.
Worf: Hold.
Data: It is my understanding that the item selected should reflect the personality of whoever is giving it. This does not remind me of you. Have you ever been an actual participant in a human wedding?
Worf: No.
Data: You would not consider it to be an honor?
Worf: An honor, perhaps. But human bonding rituals often involve a great deal of talking and dancing and crying.
Data: Dancing.
Data: I am rarely in need of Doctor Beverly Crusher's professional services as my bio-mechanical maintenance program is self sufficient. But I often observe as she practices medicine on others and have learned a great deal about human interaction from her.
Data: Doctor, may I ask a favor of you?
Crusher: Of course, Data.
Data: Would you teach me how to dance?
Crusher: What?
Data: I would like to learn how to dance.
Crusher: Why me?
Data: It was in your service record. Awarded first prize tap and jazz competition, Saint Louis Academy.
Crusher: Okay, okay.
Data: Have I said something to upset you?
Crusher: It's just that, that was a long time ago, and I don't want to be known as the dancing doctor. Again.
Data: Then your answer is no.
Crusher: All right. But let's keep this between you and me.
Data: Of course, Doctor.
Picard: Commander Data, please report to the Bridge.
Data: Acknowledged.
Picard: Data, I want a tactical projection of possible future Romulan deployments along the Neutral Zone. Access all Federation records on the subject and report to my Ready Room.
Data: Captain, is there a specific area you wish me to study?
Picard: No. Ambassador. Number One, set a course one three zero mark two four six, warp seven.
Riker: That will take us very close to the Neutral Zone, Captain.
Picard: I'm aware of that, Number One. Proceed.
Riker: Lay in the course.
Data: It is fortunate that I am able to perform my duties without emotional distractions. If that were not the case, a sudden course correction toward the Neutral Zone would make me very nervous.
Data: Personal Log, supplemental. Commander Maddox, there are still many dynamics of social interaction which I do not understand.
Picard: Mister Data, based on your analysis, what is the current Romulan strategy behind the deployment of their ships in this sector?
Data: Their ships are deployed to support a policy of confrontation designed to test Federation defenses along the Neutral Zone.
Picard: Do you predict any change in the near future?
Data: I project a ninety percent probability that they will continue to support that policy.
Picard: Is there any indication of a more conciliatory attitude on their part?
Data: No, sir.
T'Pel: Caution is clearly called for, Captain. However, the mission must proceed as planned.
Picard: Starfleet Command agrees with you, but I would feel better if you would consent to an escort or
Picard: Thank you, Mister Data.
Data: Feline supplement seventy four.
Data: Computer, run fluidic sensor diagnostic.
Computer: Diagnostic complete. All systems functioning within normal parameters.
Data: Come in.
O'Brien: Am I intruding, Commander?
Data: No. Would you care to sit down?
Data: When one of my friends is distraught, I have learnt that the thoughtful thing to do is to attempt to make him feel more comfortable.
Data: May I offer you some refreshment, Chief?
O'Brien: No, thank you, sir. First of all I'd like to apologize for this morning in Ten Forward
Data: There is no need to apologize. I was not offended. Would you like a pillow or a more comfortable chair to sit upon?
O'Brien: No, sir. Thank you, sir.
Data: Perhaps you would like some music? Brahms? Aurelia?
O'Brien: No, really, sir I'm fine. I came to ask for your help. It's about Keiko. I'd like you to talk to her. Convince her to go through with the wedding.
Data: Would Counselor Troi not be a more appropriate choice to speak with Keiko?
O'Brien: She already has. It didn't help. You've known her longer than I have. I just thought she might listen to you. She won't even talk to me
Data: I do not know what to say to her.
O'Brien: Just talk with her. Make her see reason. She's going off half-cocked, not thinking this through. You've worked with her for a long time. She respects your opinion.
Data: Perhaps she has not fully analyzed her decision. I will try.
O'Brien: Thank you, sir. I won't forget this.
Data: Commander Maddox, I noted that Keiko was quite calm and rational when she informed me of her decision this morning. Therefore, I can predict that she will respond to an objective analysis of the situation based on the available facts. It is fortunate that she has not let emotional considerations cloud her judgment. It should make my task much simpler.
Keiko: What?
Data: I believe you made an incorrect analysis of the facts at hand.
Keiko: What do you mean?
Data: You do not seem happy.
Keiko: Well
Data: Your decision was based on the assumption that canceling the wedding would bring you happiness. This has proved to be incorrect.
Keiko: Data, it's not that simple.
Data: Since your action did not produce the desired results, the only advisable solution should be to re-examine your decision making process, and look for errors.
Keiko: I knew what I was doing. It's my decision.
Data: That fact is not in dispute. However, you may have acted with undue haste and in doing so, unintentionally hurt Chief O'Brien's feelings.
Keiko: I did what I had to! Why are you doing this? I thought you were my friend.
Data: I am your friend.
Keiko: Then leave me alone.
Data: If I have offended.
Keiko: Just leave me alone.
Data: It is clear that I need guidance to resolve this situation. Counselor Troi's advice should be useful.
Data: In many ways, Deanna Troi is the friend that I understand the least. Her life and her duties are predicated on her understanding and perception of emotions. Since I have none, no doubt she finds me as much of a mystery as I find her.
Data: Chief O'Brien talks to me. Keiko talks to you. Why do they not talk to each other?
Troi: That's a good question, Data. I wish I had a good answer for you. Perhaps when they're ready, they will.
Data: Many aspects of this situation are puzzling to me. I have been studying various texts on the subject of marriage, but I have not found a suitable guide.
Troi: A suitable guide for what?
Data: In an effort to be helpful, I am attempting to calculate the variables involved in a successful marriage.
Troi: Good luck.
Data: There are many opinions. On Galvin Five, a marriage is considered successful only if children are produced within a year of the wedding. Andorian marriages require groups of four people unless
Troi: Data, would you like my advice on how to help them? Don't. This is something they have to work out for themselves.
Data: But I am their friend. Should I not stand with them in a time of difficulty?
Troi: There are many ways to help a friend, and sometimes the best way is to leave them alone.
Data: Do you believe it to be the right decision for them to marry?
Troi: I don't know. They're very much in love, but sometimes that isn't enough. Marriage is an agreement to share who you are with someone else. To spend your lives together. To grow old together.
Data: To grow old together? That is an integral component of marriage?
Troi: Usually. Why do you ask?
Data: Although I am an android, I have not excluded the possibility that I, too, may someday marry.
Troi: Data, I had no idea you'd thought about getting married.
Data: I believe I have much to offer a potential mate. However, we cannot grow old together because I will not grow old.
Troi: Data, you do have a lot to offer.
T'Pel: Commander Data, this is Ambassador T'Pel. Please report to my quarters.
Data: Acknowledged.
T'Pel: Enter.
T'Pel: You have priority three clearance aboard the Enterprise?
Data: That is correct, Ambassador.
T'Pel: I require information on this ship's defense and navigational systems. Access code kappa alpha four six zero one seven zero four.
Data: The code is valid.
T'Pel: What is the field strength of the ship's deflector shields at maximum output?
Data: May I ask the purpose of your request?
T'Pel: I require the information.
Data: I have the same safeguards as the ship's computer. Therefore, I must report any inquiry regarding restricted information to the Captain. Your reaction suggests you do not wish the Captain to be informed of your inquiry.
T'Pel: I was not interested in the information. I was curious as to your security safeguards. They appear to be adequate. Cancel the request. You may leave.
Data: Commander Maddox, I have often wished for the sense that humans call intuition or instinct. Since Vulcans are incapable of lying, I must accept the Ambassador's explanation as the truth, but I would still prefer a gut feeling to back up this conclusion.
Computer: Program Crusher four in progress.
Crusher: Hi, Data. Well what do you think? It is a recreation of the studio I had my first dance lesson in.
Data: It appears to be quite suitable, Doctor.
Crusher: Let's start with something simple. Stomp. Hop. Try it.
Crusher: Again. Good! Good.
Data: Am I dancing, Doctor?
Crusher: Not quite. Stop, Data. Now try this.
Data: Doctor, perhaps it would be beneficial to show me the final lesson.
Crusher: Okay.
Crusher: That's great. Watch. Good. Triples. Watch. Stop, Data. And you say you've never done this before? Try this.
Crusher: Stop, Data. Not bad. Yeah, not bad.
Data: Then I have successfully learned to dance?
Crusher: I'd say you've picked up the basics.
Data: Thank you, Doctor. I am now prepared to dance at the wedding.
Crusher: Wedding?
Data: Keiko's wedding.
Crusher: Data, you never told me this was for the wedding.
Data: Is that important?
Crusher: Well yes. They don't do a lot of tap dancing at weddings.
Data: Why?
Crusher: Well, Data, because, I don't really know why, Look, why don't I just teach you a style of dancing that they will do at the wedding? Computer, run 'Isn't It Romantic'.
Crusher: Compared to what we've just doing, this will be simple. Just look up and follow me. One, two, ready, and
Crusher: No, Data, wait a minute. Ow! No, no, you're just. Ow! Move slowly. Ow! Ow! Stop music.
Data: Sorry, Doctor.
Crusher: I don't understand, Data. You picked up the tap dancing so quickly.
Data: I cannot reproduce your performance if I cannot see your feet.
Crusher: All right, let's try it again. And this time, watch my feet. Computer, start music. And.
Crusher: Now, don't just imitate me. You've got to lead.
Data: Lead where, Doctor?
Crusher: Indicate to your partner where you want her to step.
Data: And how is that accomplished?
Crusher: I'll show you. I'll lead. Now, you'll notice that I don't just repeat the same pattern over and over. I improvise. Now you lead. That's good. Now, look up, Data. Look into my eyes. You're holding me too tight.
Data: This is a very complex set of variables to coordinate, Doctor.
Crusher: You are doing fine. Now, smile. Act like you're enjoying yourself
Nurse: Doctor Crusher, please report to Sickbay.
Crusher: Is it Lieutenant Juarez?
Nurse: Yes, Doctor. Her contractions are now one minute apart.
Crusher: I'm on my way. Why don't you program up an artificial dance partner. And don't be afraid to experiment.
Data: I will. Thank you, Doctor.
Data: Computer, create dance partner. Female. Begin music.
Riker: And just as the headsman swings his ax, the blade is about to fall
Data: Commander Riker's easy going manner and sense of humor is fascinating to me. I believe it to be one reason he is so popular among the crew. It may also be partly responsible for his success in matters of love. There may be a correlation between humor and sex. The need for more research is clearly indicated.
Data: Commander.
Riker: Picard to the Bridge. All stop.
Helm: Aye, sir.
Data: Sir, we have reached the designated coordinates.
Picard: Hold this position. Long range scan.
Data: Captain, I am detecting a ship in the Neutral Zone. Configuration, Romulan warbird.
Picard: Yellow alert. Hail the Warbird, Mister Worf.
Worf: Aye, sir. They are responding. Text only. We are to proceed to the agreed coordinates.
Picard: Set course zero three seven mark zero zero five, warp four. Take us into the Neutral Zone, Ensign.
Worf: Captain, the warbird is holding position. In three minutes we will be within phaser range.
Picard: Red alert. I trust my crew, Ambassador. They will take no provocative action unless I order them.
T'Pel: Hold position on these coordinates.
Riker: Slow to half impulse.
T'Pel: Open a channel.
Worf: Open.
T'Pel: I am Ambassador T'Pel.
Mendak: I am Admiral Mendak.
T'Pel: There is no established protocol for a meeting of this nature. The logical course is that I transport aboard your ship and begin the negotiations.
Mendak: Yes. Captain, I note your defensive systems have been activated.
Picard: As have yours.
Mendak: It was not meant as an accusation Indeed, I salute your show of strength. Ambassador, we are honored by your presence. You may transport aboard at your convenience.
T'Pel: The honor is mine.
T'Pel: Have your Transporter room stand by. I will beam to their ship with no further delay.
Picard: Ambassador, I urge you once more to reconsider. The Enterprise can accommodate a Romulan delegation without sacrificing our security or
T'Pel: Captain Picard, I find your argument illogical. Please carry out my instructions.
Picard: Picard to Chief O'Brien.
O'Brien: O'Brien here.
Picard: Prepare to transport Ambassador T'Pel to the Romulan ship.
O'Brien: Aye, sir.
Picard: Mister Worf, maintain a lock on her signal once she's aboard. At the first sign of trouble I want to be able to bring her back.
Worf: Understood. Transporter activated. Captain!
O'Brien: Transporter emergency! I'm losing her signal!
Worf: Boosting power to autosequencers.
Data: Engaging computer override.
Riker: O'Brien, what happened down there?
O'Brien: I'm losing the pattern. Trying to re establish. I'm sorry, sir. I wasn't able to retrieve the signal. The Ambassador's dead. Second officer's personal log, supplemental. The risks aboard a starship are accepted by all who serve, but I have never failed to observe a deep emotional response to the loss of a comrade. It is at times like this that I greatly miss the ability to share human feelings.
O'Brien: The signal lock wasn't broken, sir. I had just entered the transfer sequence when the Ambassador's pattern began to break up. I tried to switch to emergency manual control, but the pattern deteriorated too quickly and
Data: Captain, there is no prior record of this type of accident occurring aboard a starship. Backup systems and safeguards are designed to prevent just such an occurrence.
Laforge: I can't find any system flaws in the unit, Captain. The Engineering status reports were all normal. None of the backups were activated and the autosequencers were all functioning normally.
Picard: Any prior malfunctions on this transporter unit?
O'Brien: No, sir. In fact, we replaced the transition coils only last week.
Riker: Could there have been some kind of interference from the Romulans?
O'Brien: Nothing that I could see. Their shields were down. There was no power interruption, no subspace bias.
Picard: I want this unit pulled and its systems checked again. I want a level one diagnostic on all transporters.
Laforge: Yes, sir.
Crusher: Her molecular structure dissipated instantly once the pattern was lost. There were some organic compounds left on the pad, but there wasn't enough material to do an autopsy.
Picard: To die on a transporter. Hardly a fitting end for one of the Federation's most honored diplomats.
Worf: Bridge to Captain Picard. Admiral Mendak is hailing. He wishes to speak with you.
Mendak: We're still waiting, Captain. Is there a problem?
Picard: There's been an accident. Ambassador T'Pel has been killed in a transporter malfunction.
Mendak: What kind of malfunction?
Picard: We are still investigating that. As soon as
Mendak: I should have known the Federation wasn't serious about this conference.
Picard: Admiral, I assure you. The Federation places the highest priority on this mission and its goal.
Mendak: Well played, Captain well played. Starfleet opposes normalization of relations with the Romulan Empire, and so you are ordered to create an accident.
Picard: You're mistaken. I am ready and willing to discuss the establishment of full diplomatic relations under the same terms as Ambassador T'Pel.
Mendak: A generous offer, since you know we were willing only to negotiate with T'Pel. I salute you again, Captain. It was a maneuver worthy of a Romulan. I suggest we both leave the Neutral Zone before there is another accident.
Picard: Set course for Federation territory, warp two. Engage. Mister Data, I want you to take charge of this investigation. Study computer logs, sensor information everything. I refuse to believe that this was a simple malfunction.
Data: Aye, sir.
Data: Captain Picard was the person who first interested me in the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I have subsequently become a great admirer of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his ability to solve mysteries by careful examination of the available evidence.
Data: I have found Holmes' methodology of deductive reasoning to be quite useful. One of his adages is that once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
Crusher: I'm sorry, I don't have time to give you another lesson right now, Data.
Data: That is not my purpose. I would like to examine the remains of Ambassador T'Pel left on the transporter pad.
Crusher: I'm working on the report right now.
Data: Have you compared the genetic code with the Ambassador's last recorded transporter ID traces?
Crusher: No, that's not standard procedure. Why?
Data: I could be chasing an untamed ornithoid without a cause.
Crusher: A wild-goose chase? All right. Computer, access the transporter ID trace for Ambassador T'Pel. All right, there's the genetic record of the Ambassador when she beamed aboard the Enterprise. Now, the breakdown of the organic material found on the transporter pad should be identical. Mitochondrial structure fits the general parameters, no change in the nucleotide bases. There's a slight diskrepancy in the base pair sequence. Chemically, these are identical. However, the organic sample from the transporter is showing numerous single-bit errors, like replicated material.
Data: Can you postulate an explanation for the diskrepancy?
Crusher: I'd say the DNA was either mutated by the transporter during the rematerialization process
Data: A supposition not supported by the transporter records.
Crusher: Or these aren't the remains of the Ambassador.
Data: The only abnormality found during my investigation was a temporary increase in the matter to energy signal ratio. Due to the circumstances, I decided to investigate the possibility that a second transporter signal had caused the fluctuation. Although this was highly improbable, it was the only remaining theory.
Riker: A second transporter signal? From where?
Data: From the Devoras.
Laforge: Romulan transporters operate on a similar subspace frequency to our own. With only minor adjustments, they can be made to simulate our own transporter carrier wave.
Picard: Are you saying they beamed the Ambassador off our own pad?
Data: While simultaneously, a small amount of genetically similar material was left in the Ambassador's place.
Riker: To make us believe she had died as a result of the malfunction'
Data: Yes, sir.
Picard: Mister Worf, where is the Devoras now?
Worf: The ship is still in the Neutral Zone on course zero seven nine mark one two five. Speed, warp two.
Riker: Heading for home.
Data: The safest and most logical decision in this situation is to contact Starfleet and await further instructions. However, based on past experience, I project only a seventeen percent chance Captain Picard will choose that alternative.
Picard: Red Alert. All hands stand to battle stations.
Picard: Lay in an intercept course for the Romulan ship.
Riker: Shields up. Load all torpedo bays. Stand by phasers.
Picard: Warp factor eight. Engage.
Picard: Open a channel to the Devoras.
Worf: Aye, sir. No response.
Data: The Devoras is dropping out of warp, sir. Their weapon systems are powering up.
Picard: Go to impulse power.
Data: Aye, sir.
Worf: Message coming in, sir.
Picard: On screen.
Mendak: Captain, you agreed to leave the Neutral Zone without
Picard: Admiral Mendak, you have taken our Ambassador captive.
Mendak: I can assure you there is no one being held captive aboard this ship.
Picard: We know about the transporter malfunction and that you are holding Ambassador T'Pel.
Worf: Captain, Romulan warbird decloaking to starboard.
Mendak: I suggest you leave. Now.
Picard: It is my responsibility to protect the lives of Federation citizens. I will not permit this abduction to succeed.
Mendak: Captain, you're not going to start an incident which might
Picard: Admiral Mendak, I will take whatever action is necessary to obtain the return of the Ambassador.
Data: In the game of poker, there is a moment when a player must decide if an opponent is being deceptive or actually holds a winning hand. This decision is based not only on the odds, but also on an appraisal of the man. Is he bluffing or does he have the cards?
Mendak: Fortunately, Captain, I am not ready to start a war today.
Riker: T'Pel.
T'Pel: Sub-Commander Selok, actually.
Picard: A spy.
Mendak: A patriot, Captain. She has performed her service to the Empire with distinction.
T'Pel: Thank you for your help, Captain.
Mendak: You see now that we are not holding one of your citizens, and we thank you for returning our sister to us. But my patience has limits. The game is over. I expect you to leave peacefully. Now.
Worf: Captain, long range sensors detect three Romulan warbirds entering this sector.
Riker: Some days you get the bear, and some days the bear gets you.
Picard: Reverse course. Take us back to Federation territory, warp six. Engage.
Data: Keiko, I need your help. I have offended you and need to find a way to rectify my mistake. I am not sure what to do.
Keiko: You haven't offended me.
Data: I should not have interfered. It would be best if I apologized.
Keiko: It would be best if you got dressed. For the wedding?
Data: But
Keiko: Come here. I have the most beautiful carnation for the father of the bride. Now, don't be nervous.
Data: I am not nervous. I am confused.
Picard: Since the days of the first wooden sailing ships, all captains have enjoyed the happy privilege of joining together two people in the bonds of matrimony. And so it is my honor to unite you, Keiko Ishikawa, and you, Miles Edward O'Brien, together in matrimony
Data: There are still many human emotions I do not fully comprehend. Anger, hatred, revenge. But I am not mystified by the desire to be loved or the need for friendship. These are things I do understand.
Picard: Congratulations.
Data: I was looking for Doctor Crusher.
Picard: Shh.
Data: The Juarez child?
Picard: A boy. At the same time we were facing destruction, this small miracle was taking place. Welcome aboard.
Worf: All systems normal, sir. We are on course for Adelphous Four. Engineering is realigning the main deflector dish. Sickbay reports Lieutenant Umbato broke two ribs during a holodeck exercise, and sensors continue to gather long-range information on the Murasaki quasar.
Data: Very well. I have the Bridge.
Worf: Aye, sir.
Data: If being human is not simply a matter of being born flesh and blood, if it is instead a way of thinking, acting and feeling, then I am hopeful that one day I will discover my own humanity.
Data: Begin night watch.
Data: Until then Commander Maddox, I will continue learning, changing, growing, and trying to become more than what I am.