Evolution ( episode ) An obsessed scientist arrives on the " Enterprise " - D to perform a once - in - a - lifetime experiment . Accidentally released nanites , however , threaten both it and the ship . " ( Season premiere ) " Summary . Teaser . Wesley Crusher is asleep in the science lab as the orbit s a red giant . There is a beep as the familiar voice of Commander Riker can be heard over the comm . He asks Crusher if he forgot to set his alarm , to which Crusher , realizing he is late , expresses his apologies , packs up his things , and hurriedly heads for his station . Moments later , on the bridge , Dr . Stubbs gazes out into the viewscreen as Crusher assumes his position at the helm . Riker asks the acting ensign what their current position is , to which he replies , " " approaching one million kilometer s from the neutron star , sir " " . The commander orders him to slow to one third impulse power . Stubbs then turns to Crusher and expresses his feelings of how beautiful the star is and explains how , " " over and over again , the intense gravitational pull of the neutron star sucks up the star material from the red giant and builds up on the surface until it explodes , every one hundred and ninety six year s like clock work " " , and they are only eighteen hours away from experiencing it . Or eighteen hours , seven minute s and ten second s , as Data corrects . Just then , Captain Picard enters the bridge from his ready room , and asks the doctor if he would like to make one final inspection of the egg . Dr . Stubbs replies that he has been inspecting the egg for the last twenty years and that they " may lay it when ready " . Picard , slightly bemused by the statement , orders the launch of the probe . The shuttlebay door s are opened as Data reports they are nearing the launch site . Suddenly , something rocks the " Enterprise " - D and Dr . Stubbs goes flying across the bridge . Picard quickly orders Crusher to stabilize but the ship ' s controls aren ' t responding . In engineering , chief engineer La Forge reports that there is nothing wrong with the inertial dampener s . Back on the bridge , Worf says they are heading straight into the path of the stellar matter . The captain orders shields up but Worf cannot ; " " the shields will not respond , " " he shouts , as the ship slowly drifts away . Act One . The " Enterprise " - D continues to drift towards the stellar matter with only thirty seconds until impact . Picard orders a manual override on the shields while Riker tells La Forge to reset the inertial dampeners . The shields begin to rise but the inertial dampeners are still unresponsive . The chief engineer activates the impulse engines in full reverse , which seems to stabilize the ship , but the momentum is still carrying the " Enterprise " - D into the stellar matter . Dr . Stubbs clings onto the bridge ' s tactical handrail , frightened , while Data reports that all systems are reporting normal . Picard asks the computer what the cause of the control malfunction was but the computer has no record of any such error . Confused , he checks Data ' s console , but everything appears normal . Down in sickbay , there is a hive of activity as the injured are being treated . Among them is Dr . Stubbs , lying on the main surgical biobed , being treated by Dr . Crusher , who has returned to the " Enterprise " - D and replaced Dr . Katherine Pulaski as chief medical officer . Moments later , Wesley enters and informs Stubbs that all systems are back to normal and that they can attempt another launch as soon as he is ready . Stubbs joke s that the Crushers are " " quite a dynamic family team " " . Beverly replies that it is nice to be together again , after her year away at Starfleet Medical , where she missed her son . Stubbs says " " I ' m not sure I ' d want " my " mother flying through space with me , " " which gets a concerned look from Dr . Crusher . After hearing Wesley give a technical report , Stubbs asks if Wesley does anything other than work , to which Dr . Crusher expresses confidence that he does , but to her dismay , Wesley answers that he is actually spending most of his time in study to prepare for Starfleet Academy . After Stubbs is given a clean bill of health , he invites Wesley to go and check on " Humpty Dumpty " , and the two leave . Just as the doors swish closed , Dr . Crusher notices something strange happening in the replicator - the computer is replicating a glass of water , with the water overflowing the glass . When asked to correct the error , the computer replies that it is working perfectly . " " Well , check again , " " Beverly orders , annoyed . According to the computer , the food slot is working fine . Crusher finally deactivates it and the water stops replicating . Back in engineering , La Forge is investigating the earlier matter on the bridge . Over the comm , he informs Picard that they are analyzing the computer systems data but it is not showing anything unusual . In his ready room , Picard orders a level 1 diagnostic series . Picard tells La Forge that he needs the computer working 100 % , in order to expedite Dr . Stubbs ' experiment and the food slots in sickbay , before closing the channel . Crusher visits Picard to talk about her son , asking , " " How would you feel if you were seventeen years old and the only Starfleet officer whose mother was on board ? " " , to which he replies , " " Inhibited , I suppose " " . He goes on to say that Wesley is doing fine and that , if she is concerned , she shouldn ' t be . The doctor then asks him to tell her about Wesley during her time away . The captain has some good things to say about him . He begins to tell her how hard - working her son is , when she stops him mid - sentence . " " No ! " " , she says , " " Tell me about " him " . After a moment of reflection , Picard compares him to the captain ' s dearly departed friend and Beverly ' s husband , Jack Crusher . " " He ' s his father ' s son . Honest , trusting . . . strong , " " he tells her . Beverly smiles at Picard ' s statement , and asks him what he was like when he was seventeen . He jokes that he was probably getting into more trouble than Wesley is . " " So was I ! " " Crusher says , " " Isn ' t " that " what seventeen ' s supposed to be ? " " Meanwhile , Dr . Stubbs is inspecting his probe , down in the shuttlebay . He concludes that everything is fine . Wesley asks him how he can be so calm when he is on the verge of making a major breakthrough in astrophysics . The Doctor says that he has had no doubt that this day would come and that Wesley ' s day would come too . " " You will never come across a greater adversary than your own potential , " " he tells Wesley . Suddenly , the red alert is sounded . Wesley informs Stubbs that he should return to his quarters , immediately . On the bridge , there is an air of tension . Sensor s have detected something but there is no evidence of it on the viewscreen . Picard , worried , orders Worf to zoom in on a region of space , but he still can ' t see anything . Riker asks if Worf was absolutely sure , to which Worf says , " " Sensors clearly indicate the approach of a Borg vessel . " " He is ordered to raise the shields but they are not responding and the manual override is jammed . Suddenly , sensors report the Borg ship is opening fire . As Worf calculates the Borg ship ' s vector , all of a sudden , it disappears . They realize that this was another computer error . As Picard tries to ascertain the cause of the malfunction , the computer begins spurting out chess moves and the doors start opening and closing to the observation lounge for no reason , whatsoever . The ship is rocked violently , knocking everyone off - balance . Data reports the controls are unresponsive and La Forge states that all engines are down . He and Worf head for engineering , while Picard orders Riker and Data to the conference room . " " It ' s time to discuss the future of this mission . . . " " he says , " " . . . if there still is one . " " Act Two . In the conference lounge , the three officers are discussing what is happening on the " Enterprise " - D . Picard fears that the ship is suffering from a failure of the main computer . Data objects , however , saying the system automatically provides for self correction and that there hasn ' t been a complete systems failure on a starship for over seventy - nine years . Just then , Counselor Troi enters , informing the captain that Dr . Stubbs is waiting outside . Without waiting to be let in , the doctor enters , asking to be informed as to what is going on . Picard invites him and the counselor to sit down . He informs Stubbs that Lieutenant Commander La Forge is attempting to resolve the situation but the doctor is only interested in his experiment . Picard reassures him that the experiment will go ahead as planned , as long as it is safe to do so , and that the safety of the ship and crew come first . The counselor attempts to reassure Stubbs but he is adamant to continue his experiment , saying that he would rather die than leave . A moment later , he stands up . " " Well , if we don ' t leave in time , it ' s one sure way to get into the record books , eh ? " " he says , before leaving the room . After he has left , Troi explains that Stubbs has put his entire self - worth on the line for the experiment and that he really " would " rather die than leave . Down in engineering , La Forge is attempting to correct the situation on the ship . Wesley is with him and the two of them have found some kind of continuing disintegration with the computer circuitry but La Forge has no idea what is causing it . He zooms in on a computer image of the circuitry . " " If I didn ' t know better , I ' d say somebody had climbed in there and started taking it apart , " " he says . Wesley suddenly looks concerned , as though he might have an idea about what is causing the malfunctions . He rushes back to the science lab , where he was working the night before . There , he opens a container and begins scan ning it with a piece of equipment . Finishing , he looks very worried and leaves . Wesley has gone to an empty Ten Forward , where he is crawling along the floor , behind the bar , with another piece of equipment in his hand . He places a circular object on the floor , next to the bulkhead , and notices Guinan , looking over his shoulder . He stands up and explains to her that he is setting trap s . Guinan jokes that she runs a clean place . Wesley says he is scared , saying that everything that is going wrong could be his fault . He goes on to explain that he had been working on nanotechnology , as part of his advanced genetics project , and that he was specifically studying nanite s he obtained from the sickbay genetics supplies . His theory was that , by working together in tandem , nanites could combine their skills and increase their usefulness . He says it worked , but he fell asleep while collecting the data and left their container open . " " It ' s just a science project , " " he says , but Guinan reminds him of Dr . Frankenstein . Just then , he gets a call from his mother , over the comm . She says she stopped by his quarters but he wasn ' t there . Wesley says he is on his way but he stops to ask Guinan not to tell anyone . She just gives him a look and he says he will be the one to tell everyone . Before Wesley leaves , Guinan asks him if he will get a good grade . He says he always gets an " A " and leaves Ten Forward . As the doors close , Guinan mutters to herself , " " So did Doctor Frankenstein . " " Act Three . On the bridge , Commander Riker orders a manual restart . La Forge reports the restart was successful and the impulse engine functions all appear normal . With Picard ' s approval , it is time to begin the experiment once again . Riker contacts the shuttlebay and tells the crewman to open the doors . The crewman reports that the door did not respond and the computer begins loudly playing " The Stars and Stripes Forever " by John Philip Sousa - another malfunction . Riker tries to turn it off but the computer isn ' t accepting it . Data says that it is playing on all communication s channels ; the " Enterprise " - D is being stripped of one system at a time . " " Shut off the power to the bridge ! " " Picard shouts , over the music . The bridge plunges into darkness , with only the light of a few flickering consoles providing illumination . Picard asks La Forge if he can get the ship out of the star system , safely . Stubbs , who was quietly standing at the rear of the bridge , lurches forward , insisting they stay . He is told to be quiet by Riker and La Forge is given the green light to get the ship out of the system . Riker then suggests circuiting in auxiliary power to the bridge , in case " " Sousa decides to do an encore " " . The captain agrees but prioritizes the task of finding out who or what is doing it . Dr . Stubbs and Wesley are now back in the shuttlebay . The doctor is worried that history will not remember him , that he " " won ' t even be mentioned . " " He goes on to talk about baseball and how he has " " seen the great players make the great plays . " " Wesley asks if he recreates the games on the holodeck , to which Stubbs replies , " " No , in here , " " pointing to his head . He says that playing whole seasons of baseball , in his head , was his reward for patience and the knowing that his time will come . He is now disappointed that he will never get the chance to carry out his experiment . " " A brand new era in astrophysics . . . postponed one hundred and ninety six years . . . on account of rain , " " he says . A few minutes later , Wesley is back in the lab , analyzing the traps he set for nanites . He manages to find one of them , just as his mother enters the room . She suggests to him that he should get some rest but he insists he has responsibilities and must finish . Beverly says she thinks he has taken on too many responsibilities . Wesley snaps at his mother , for not being there for the past year . " " I ' m here now , Wesley , " " she replies , before offering to help him with his work . Wesley admits , " " I think I ' ve made a horrible mistake . " " The senior staff are gathered in the conference room . Dr . Crusher stands at the front , filling everyone in on nanites and their medical uses . She goes on to say that the nanites that have " infected " the " Enterprise " - D are no ordinary nanites - they have evolved . Stubbs is skeptical , asking how it is possible a machine can evolve . Wesley then informs everyone that it was his fault - that he allowed the nanites to interact and evolve past their intended purpose . Picard asks how far they have evolved , to which Wesley shows them how the nanites can absorb any piece of technology , such as a linear memory crystal from the " Enterprise " s computer core and replicate . " " It ' s like candy to them , " " Riker observes . Data then calls engineering and has them display computer core processor 451 , element 0299 , and magnifies the section , one thousand times . Picard proposes that they may know what they are doing and Riker asks why they would attack the " Enterprise " - D . Stubbs suggests that they should just " kill " them , thus solving the problem straight away . Dr . Crusher protests , arguing that they are now working with a new collective intelligence , operating together and teaching each other new skills . Stubbs argues that the whole thing is nonsense , that a whole civilization of computer chips can ' t exist . Crusher challenges him by asking how he could explain what he has just seen , but he argues it is no more strange than watching a strain of Leutscher virus reproduce itself and that is actually a lifeform . Picard interrupts as Stubbs asks Crusher how many diseases and viruses she has destroyed , during her time . The captain says that he cannot exterminate something that may or may not be intelligent . As Stubbs gets ready to argue some more , Picard stops him and reminds him that there is still time . After ordering Wesley and Data to work together to solve the nanite problem , he concludes the briefing . Dr . Stubbs has now gone down to the computer core , where Data , La Forge and Wesley are working . Crusher reports that they are trying low gamma burst s in an effort to slow down the productivity of the nanites . Stubbs asks if they have tried a high - level charge but Data replies a high - level charge will kill them . " " I know , " " Stubbs says , taking out an energy weapon and firing on the core with high - intensity gamma radiation . Data , La Forge and Wesley grab the doctor , stopping him before he can do any more damage . In his ready room , Captain Picard is discussing the situation with Commander Riker . He says he cannot get the story of " Gulliver " out of his head : how he was overpowered by the tiny Liliputians . He wonders how much longer they have to wait . Riker says they can continue to bypass the section of the computer that is affected , but the nanites are soon spreading through the whole ship . Suddenly , Picard smells a change in the air - the bridge is being flooded with toxic levels of nitrogen oxide , a reaction to the attack by Stubbs . Riker manually overrides the air handler and removes the toxic gas , but the bridge continues to suffer malfunctions , with lights flashing on and off and consoles activating and deactivating . The next moment , Worf arrives on the bridge , along with Stubbs and Data . He informs Picard of Stubbs ' actions and that all the nanites in the upper core have been killed . Act Four . The bridge systems are continuing to malfunction , as Stubbs stands smug in front of Picard . " " You have no choice now . It is a matter of survival , " " he says . Picard begins to inform him what would happen if he was a member of his crew , but the doctor interrupts him , reminding him he has been sent by the " " . . . highest command of the Federation . " " Picard replies that he would have Stubbs ' head , should anything happen to anyone on the " Enterprise " - D . Stubbs cannot believe that the Captain wants to save them , when they are only " " machines with a screw loose . " " Data proves him wrong by informing him that his own actions have shown that the nanites do indeed possess a collective intelligence . Their actions against the life support system were in direct response to the irradiation of the upper core ; it is difficult to see it as anything other than retaliation . The warrior in Worf suggests to the Captain that , as the ship is at risk , extermination may be the only option . After a brief pause for thought , Picard orders Dr . Stubbs confined to his quarters . As he leaves the bridge , the systems come back online and the Captain asks Data if there is anyway to communicate with the nanites . He suggests modifying the circuitry in the universal translator to enable communication with them . Dr . Stubbs , now working in his quarters , receives a visit from Counselor Troi . She says she wants to help him but Stubbs is resistant . He invites her to join him in New Manhattan on Beth Delta I , when the mission is over , where they can laugh over glasses of champagne . She refuses , saying his " " self portrait is so practiced , so polished . " " She continues by telling him that it is stretched so tight that the tension fills the room and that if he finally fails , it may snap . He congratulates her on a good try and informs her that " " sometimes , deep down beneath a man ' s self portrait , you may find nothing at all . " " The Counselor has had enough and leaves . The doctor goes back to his work . Meanwhile , on the bridge , Data is busy trying to communicate with the nanites . He doesn ' t seem to be having any luck , as of yet . Stubbs is now resting in his quarters , imagining a baseball game out loud while he drifts off to sleep . Suddenly , the computer terminals begin to switch off , plunging the room into darkness , but Stubbs is oblivious . A bolt of electricity climbs the wall and enters the food replicator , where it sends a surge towards Stubbs . He cries out in pain . The security officer outside hears his scream but the door is locked . A second later , Stubbs comes staggering out of the doorway and falls into the crewman ' s arms . In sickbay , Dr . Crusher is treating the doctor on the main biobed , when Captain Picard walks in . He says he cannot believe that it was an arbitrary attack . Crusher asks him if Data has made any progress but , before he gets a chance to respond , Stubbs grabs Picard and begs him to protect him by killing the nanites . Picard enters the bridge and informs Riker that he has decided to irradiate the nanites with gamma radiation . Just as Worf readies the gamma pulse generator s , Data reports he has established contact . Act Five . Data explains that , as they continue communicating , the nanites learn more and adapt . Picard asks if they can talk to them , yet . Data believes it is worth an attempt and Dr . Stubbs is brought to the bridge . The captain tells Stubbs to apologize to the nanites , so they can negotiate peace . Data proposes he allow the nanites to inhabit his body , so as to make communication easier . He explains how they can interface with his programming by entering his neural net , something which would only require them to use their basic skills . Worf protests , arguing that , if they had control of a Starfleet commander , they would become an even greater threat . Picard wants to know if they can be removed from Data . Data says it would be an enormous risk but would demonstrate trust on their part . Picard agrees and Data submits the suggestion to the nanites , along with a diagram of the path they need to take once inside him . They agree . Picard , Riker , Worf , Data and Stubbs are now down in the computer core , where Data is making preparations for the transfer . He places his hand on a piece of equipment and the nanites enter his body . His head suddenly jerks up and haltingly looks around , as the nanites experience the world as Data does for the first time . " " You are very . . . strange looking creatures , " " they say . The captain explains that they have encountered even more creatures , perhaps even more strange looking than them , and that they seek to live peacefully with them . The nanites ask why they were attacked . Picard tells them that that they misinterpreted " their " actions as an attack . They explain that they were seeking out new raw materials for use in their replicating process and that they meant no harm . The nanites turn to Stubbs . He apologizes for the deaths of the nanites and explains he was protecting his lifetime ' s work . Picard interrupts , proposing they end the conflict . " " Mistakes were made on both sides , " " he says . The nanites agree , but they have a request . " " This ship is too confining . We require . . . relocation . " " With all systems restored and the nanite situation resolved , Dr . Stubbs ' experiment goes ahead as planned . The Egg is launched and everything goes according to plan . Dr . Stubbs is in a state of excitement , as the computer telemetry pours in . In Ten Forward , Beverly Crusher is talking to Guinan about being a parent , when Wesley enters and it looks like he has a girlfriend . The Doctor is happy to see him finally enjoying himself . " " It ' s so good to see him having fun for a change , with an attractive young woman who obviously looks at him with extraordinary affection . " " She suddenly realizes something . Turning to Guinan , she quickly asks , " " What do you know about this girl ? " " Memorable quotes . " " Captain , I have been inspecting the egg for the last twenty years . You may lay it when ready . " " " " I ' m not sure I ' d want " my " mother flying through space with me . No , I take that back . I " am " sure . I wouldn ' t want her . " " " " I always get an A . " " " " So did Dr . Frankenstein . " " " " I ' m just setting some traps . " " " " I run a clean place . " " " " You will never come up against a greater adversary than your own potential . . . " " " " You can ' t have a civilization of computer chips ! " " " " Look , I have done everything that everyone has asked of me and more ! And how can you know ? You haven ' t even been here ! " " " " . . . I ' m here now , Wesley . " " " " I would rather die than leave . " " " " I don ' t believe you speak for the majority of the crew . " " " " You have no choice now . . . it is a matter of survival . " " " " If you were a member of my crew , sir , I would . . . " " " " But I am not a member of your crew , sir . . . I am a representative of the highest command of the Federation . . . which has directed you to perform my experiment . " " " " If any man , woman or child on my ship is harmed as a result of your experiment , I will have your head before the highest command of the Federation . " " " " Your self portrait is so practiced , so polished . " " " " Yes . Isn ' t it though ? " " " " It ' s stretched so tight the tension fills this room . And if you finally fail , I fear it will snap . . " " " " A good try counselor . . . . but sometimes , when you reach beneath a man ' s self portrait - as you so eloquently put it - deep down inside what you find - - is nothing at all . . " " " " I have seen the great players make the great plays " [ . . . ] " in here . . . " [ indicates head ] " With the knowledge of statistics , runs , hits and errors , times at bat , box scores . Men like us do not need holodecks , Wesley . I have played seasons in my mind . It was my reward to myself . For patience . Knowing my turn would come . Call your shot . Point to a star . One great blast and the crowd rises . A brand new era in astrophysics , postponed one hundred and ninety - six years on account of rain . " " Background information . Story and production . According to David Krieger , the plot originally involved dust mites that had gained sentience and began flying around the Enterprise in miniature aircraft , something he claims he laughed out loud at when first reading . It was his objections to this premise that led the dust mites to be changed into the more plausible nanites . http : / / www . davekrieger . net / Waves / Deleted scenes . Several scenes were filmed but later cut from the episode during editing . These scenes came to light in when " Star Trek " collector Cyril " Patchou " Paciullo ( who owns several more episode workprints ) uploaded the contents of an early workprint VHS tape of the episode to the internet . These scenes were discovered too late for them to be incorporated in the remastered episode , or otherwise be included on the 2013 TNG Season 3 Blu - ray release , but as the webmasters of ( where the VHS workprint was submitted ) stated , " " ( . . . ) we passed on all the information about the recent discoveries to CBS which encouraged them to embark on a hunt for deleted footage . As a result , a number of deleted scenes will be presented on the upcoming fourth and fifth season Blu - ray sets ( including the footage we featured from ) . We ' re assured that the hunt for additional deleted scenes from Seasons Six and Seven is underway as well . Unfortunately , the film reels for Seasons 1 - 3 have been returned to archival storage making any retroactive inclusion of earlier deleted scenes on later sets unlikely . " " Links and references . References . 2287 ; 2346 ; 2348 ; A ; academic credit ; advanced genetics ; air handling system ; America ; aquarium ; " As You Like It " ; astrophysics ; band music ; baseball ; Beth Delta I ; binary language ; binary star system ; biography ; Borg cube ; Branca , Ralph ; candy ; ; champagne ; chess ; composer ; computer access room ; computer core ; confined to quarters ; critic ; ; Dakar ; ; diagnostic ; diffraction polarimetery scan ; door ; Earth ; The Egg ; electromagnetic scanner ; environmental control ; evasive maneuvers ; exterminator ; fast food ; Federation ; fish ; food slot ; Frankenstein ; gamma radiation ; gamma pulse generator ; genetics ; German language ; gesture ; gigabyte ; Guinan ' s husbands ; " Gulliver ' s Travels " ; holodeck ; Humpty Dumpty ; inertial dampener ; Kavis Alpha IV ; Kavis Alpha sector ; kilometer ; lesion ; Leutscher virus ; Lilliputian ; linear memory crystal ; ; medical tricorder ; mosquito ; manual override ; manual restart ; nanite ; nanotechnology ; neural net ; neutrino ; neutronium ; neutron star ; New Manhattan ; nitrogen oxide ; Old Faithful ; rain ; record book ; red alert ; red giant ; rain ; science laboratory ; screw ; Senegal ; ; Starfleet Academy ; Starfleet Medical ; " " ; statistics ; ; Stubbs ' mother ; ; trap ; universal translator ; vector ; wunderkind Library computer references . " Ansel Adams " ; ' ; " Chris Pike " ; " Clarke " ; ' ; ' ; ' ; " Decartes " ; ' ; " El Baz " ; ' ; ; Hangar 2 ; Hangar 3 ; Hangar 4 ; Hangar 5 ; " Heinlein " ; " Indiana Jones " ; " JF Kennedy " ; " Lindberg " ; main shuttlebay ; " McAuliffe " ; " Onizuka " ; " PT Farnsworth " ; refit ; " Sakharov " ; ' ; Shuttlebay 2 ; Shuttlebay 3 ; Starbase 515 ; ' ; Type 7 shuttlecraft ; Type 15 shuttlepod ; " Von Braun " Deleted references . Beldoron ; Switzerland