Attached ( episode ) After escaping imprisonment on an alien world , Picard and Beverly find that their thoughts are connected by brain implants . Summary . Teaser . Dr . Crusher and Captain Picard are sharing breakfast in the captain ' s quarters . While Crusher tells Picard of the burgeoning romance between Nurse Alyssa Ogawa and Ensign Markson , Picard seems preoccupied . When confronted with his inattention , Picard confesses that he is , while not exactly worried , bothered by the idea of admitting only half of Kesprytt III to the Federation while leaving the other half out . Crusher attempts to alleviate his concerns by pointing out that the Kes inhabit about three - quarters of the planet and present all the characteristics necessary for admission , even if the Prytt are xenophobic and wish to be left alone . If Australia had refused to join the United Earth Government in 2150 , Crusher asks Picard , should the people of Earth have been left out of the Federation ? Picard is arguing that the cases are hardly analogous when he is interrupted by a communication from Commander Riker , alerting him to the fact that Ambassador Mauric is awaiting them on the planet . Picard and Crusher leave for the transporter room , but not before Crusher promises a special Vulcan dish for the next morning ' s breakfast . Lieutenant Worf beam s Picard and Crusher to Mauric ' s chambers , after receiving confirmation from Kes Security Relay Station One that they have dropped their defense shield and are ready to receive transport . Worf is about to leave the transporter room after successfully beaming down the two officers when he receives word from Security Relay Station 1 that Picard and Crusher never arrived . He is stunned . Act One . Picard regains consciousness lying on a dirty stone floor in a dimly - lit room . Crusher is slumped against a wall nearby . He calls her by her name , and she wakes at his touch . Together they observe their surroundings , and find that the last thing either remembers is beginning to transport off the " Enterprise " . Picard deduces that they must be on Kesprytt , in a prison cell of some kind , although he can think of no reason for Ambassador Mauric to detain them . When he stands up to look at the barred window , Crusher notices a device of some sort protruding from the back of his neck . Upon closer examination , she finds an implant , connected directly to the brain stem ; an identical implant also juts from her own neck . Picard asks if it could be a coercive device , and Crusher observes dryly that she doubts it ' s intended for their health . The door slides open . Three guards enter , two armed with phaser s and one carrying a tricorder . While they are being scanned with the tricorder , Picard demands to know what it is going on , but receives no answer . When Crusher asks why they are being held hostage , the guard with the tricorder responds that they are not hostages , but prisoners held by the authority of the Prytt Security Ministry , charged with conspiring with the enemy . She accuses the Federation of attempting to establish a military alliance with the Kes , and informs them that such an attempt will not be tolerated . When Picard tries to tell her that the Federation is not interested in destroying the Prytt , the guard will not listen , informing them that the truth will soon be known from their implants , which are being calibrated to their psi wave pattern . The guards leave . Meanwhile , on the " Enterprise " , Data has run a diagnostic of the targeting components of the transporter and has determined that there has been no malfunction . Worf , however , has been looking at the sensor log s and has found an unusual concentration of antigraviton s in the emitter coil . Data realizes that this suggests a tractor beam , which might have deflected the transporter beam to another set of coordinates . He is unable to find the exact coordinates , but tells Riker that the beam originated somewhere in the Prytt Alliance . Worf wonders aloud what the Prytt Alliance could have wanted with Picard and Crusher , and Riker responds that it ' s going to be hard to find out – the Prytt are xenophobic , and have consistently shied away from any outside contact at all . He decides to work through the Kes , and orders Worf to contact Ambassador Mauric and schedule a meeting immediately . Picard is systematically trying the tiny bars on the window when he senses Crusher staring at him . She protests that she is only trying to think of a way to escape . He continues to search for a structural flaw , telling Crusher that the important thing to remember in any confinement situation is to think positively . Picard reminds her that there is a solution to every puzzle and a way out of every box - they just have to find it . The door slides open , disclosing a male guard with a phaser and a covered plate . He sets the plate down just inside the door , keeping the phaser on them at all times , and leaves . Picard rushes the door as it closes , but is too late . He swears , but Crusher observes that at least they won ' t starve . Upon lifting the cover , however , Crusher finds not food , but her medical tricorder . It is not only fully functional , but has been modified to include a map with an escape route . Picard gloomily observes that this may be a carefully - laid trap , but Crusher tells him that she would rather take her chances " out there , " and he agrees . The code to the door is in the tricorder , and they creep out without further discussion . Act Two . Having arrived on the " Enterprise " , Ambassador Mauric presents his formal apologies to Riker in the observation lounge on behalf of his government for the unfortunate incident involving the " Enterprise " s officers . Riker and Counselor Deanna Troi assure Mauric that the Federation does not blame the Kes for what happened , and that the " Enterprise " s primary concern is rescuing Picard and Crusher . Mauric offers his government ' s assistance , and assures them that the Kes are prepared to send a hostage rescue team into the Prytt capital city in three hours . Riker rolls his eyes , looks at Troi , and tells Mauric that they have not even attempted a diplomatic solution yet , and that he would rather not use excessive force until they have exhausted all other options . Options , however , are something Mauric sees little of : the Kes have no formal diplomatic relationship with the Prytt , no ambassadors , and no way of communication . Troi asks about the system in place for a planetary emergency , but Mauric says they have never had need of such a system . Finally , when Worf suggests that they can determine the Prytt communication frequencies and simply establish a link , Mauric replies that he must be blunt – the Prytt are a xenophobic , fanatical people who refuse to engage in civilized discourse , and it has been nearly a century since there has been any diplomatic contact between the Kes and the Prytt . In response to Troi ' s suggestion that the Prytt might have changed over the century , Mauric is adamant that they ' ve indeed changed very little . Riker is annoyed by the Kes ambassador , and tells him that with all due respect , the " Enterprise " must communicate with the Prytt before he will sanction the use of force . Although Mauric assents , his placating manner is subverted by his statement that he will continue making preparations for a hostage rescue mission . Riker agrees , and brings the meeting to a close by getting up , along with Worf and Troi . Mauric has one last request , however – due to the presumed breach of the Kes communication network , he would like to establish a base of communications on the " Enterprise " . Riker assigns Worf to help him . Worf leads Mauric and his young assistant to standard guest quarters . Mauric sends Worf into the room first to make sure there are no traps , then waits until his assistant carefully scans the entire suite before pronouncing it acceptable . Worf is offended by his excessive caution , and stiffly offers his assistance as Security Chief of the " Enterprise " . Mauric says they will manage alone , effectively dismissing Worf . Meanwhile , Crusher and Picard escape from the Prytt base into subterranean caves , about thirty meter s above a lava flow . They follow the escape map on the tricorder through a cave of erupting gas spouts , barely managing to flee the area before an enormous fire explosion of gas pursues them . Act Three . Back on the " Enterprise " , Lieutenant Commander Data has scanned the entire Prytt communication network and found the primary access module to the central government . On orders from Riker , Data hails the Prime Minister ' s office . The official who answers is initially unaware of the origin of the communication . Riker gets no further than identifying himself and his ship before the official interrupts in fear and anger and , upon learning that the ship has no authorization from the Prytt Security Ministry , abruptly terminates the connection . Within seconds , the " Enterprise " is hailed by the Prytt Security Council , represented by Security Minister Lorin , who was the tricorder - bearing guard from Picard and Crusher ' s cell . Lorin demands the immediate cessation of all communication with her people . Riker counters by asking to discuss Picard and Crusher ' s confinement , but Lorin says there is nothing to discuss . As Mauric and his aide appear on the bridge , she continues by threatening aggressive action against the " Enterprise " unless it ceases all communication with the Prytt , and then abruptly ends the connection . Worf assures Riker that the Prytt pose no appreciable military threat to the " Enterprise " . Riker nonetheless orders the shields to be kept up . Mauric then tells Riker that while the " Enterprise " s efforts to effect a diplomatic solution have stalled , a Kes operative has freed Picard and Crusher from Prytt custody and set them on their way to the border between Kes and Prytt . Riker asks how exactly the two officers are meant to cross the fortified border , and Mauric says the information is confidential . When Riker presses the matter , Mauric intimates that the bridge is not sufficiently secure for him to explain . Neither is the captain ' s ready room , Riker ' s next suggestion . Only the quarters assigned to Mauric and his aide are acceptable to the Kes Ambassador , who claims that they are " safer " . Riker is nonplussed , but agrees . On the planet , Picard and Crusher are navigating through a maze of underground tunnels . Crusher announces that she is also thirsty , under the impression that Picard had just made the same observation . He protests that he only thought about his thirst , and did not express it in audible speech . They realize that the transceivers must have calibrated to their psi wave pattern , as threatened by Loren back in the cell , and are now transmitting their thoughts to one another . Their attempts to prove the hypothesis are unsuccessful , and they wonder if it might have been a fluke . In any case , however , the immediate concern of finding a way out demands their attention . The map sends them to a great hill of rock , indicating that a ledge about thirty meters up leads to a tunnel connected to the surface . Picard has just started to climb when he stops and turns , having felt a sudden sense of fear from Crusher . Crusher admits her fear of heights , and Picard attempts to calm her by telling her to pretend that she is on the holodeck . They begin to climb toward the ledge . Entering Mauric ' s quarters , promptly scanned by the aide , Riker notices the " redecorating " done by the Kes . Machines and gadgets of all kinds now fill the room , humming and whirring away . Mauric characterizes them as a few pieces of equipment necessary for security , as the aide pronounces Riker " all right . " Riker and Mauric huddle over a desk to discuss the situation . Demanding complete confidentiality , Mauric tells Riker that the Kes employ operatives in Prytt territory . The escape map provided to Picard and Crusher will lead them to a tavern in a village near the border , where these operatives will be waiting to help them cross . Riker is skeptical of the advisability of sending Human Starfleet officers into a Prytt village , but Mauric downplays the risk in a manner that is faintly patronizing , citing the great deal of experience the Kes have with the Prytt . He attempts to reassure the skeptical Riker by pointing out that the Kes have no reason to wish Picard and Crusher harm , as they still hope that the " Enterprise " will support the Kes petition to enter the Federation . Riker smiles wanly . Picard and Crusher emerge from underground into a sunny , deserted countryside . They hike down a hill amidst tall green grass as Picard observes that one of the two is hungry . Crusher admits it , and Picard pleads for her to think of something else , as he is becoming hungry himself just observing her thoughts of a large bowl of vegetable soup . Crusher remembers how her grandmother used to make it , with pea s and carrot s , but is interrupted by an exasperated Picard . She apologizes , but apparently indulges in the thought that he is being unreasonable . He abruptly stops and defends himself . They discuss the matter , and come to the decision that they cannot react to every thought that crosses the other ' s mind , and that there is a difference between thoughts and speech . Telepaths acquire new respect from the pair , as their experience demonstrates just how much clutter and flotsam the mind churns out on a continual basis . When Picard thinks a joke to see if Crusher is " still listening , " she realizes that the link is growing stronger . Picard suggests putting some distance between them to see if that helps , although he sarcastically observes , " " not that I ' m growing tired of hearing your most intimate thoughts . " " As soon as they are a couple of yard s apart , however , they are overcome with pain and nausea . Crusher ' s tricorder tells them there ' s nothing physically wrong with them , but a second try yields the same result , this time with only a ' s distance . They continue their journey side by side . Act Four . As their link grows stronger , Picard " remembers " Dr . Crusher ' s memory as if it were his own . He finishes a sentence about a boy , Tom Norris , that Beverly had a crush on when she was younger . Beverly acknowledges Picard ' s sudden knowledge of shame on the Doctor ' s part , and Beverly admits she acted unkind towards Tom by asking him the question of whether he was growing in a beard or if it was just dirt on his face . At that moment , they see who they think is a Prytt operative , but was probably a Kes operative . Meanwhile on the " Enterprise " , Riker and Mauric argue about how safe Picard and Crusher are and whether or not they will know to meet up with their operatives . Mauric makes the accusation that since Picard and Crusher did not meet with their operative at the border , that they must be meeting the Prytt in secret in order to negotiate a military alliance . Riker says it ' s ridiculous , and denies it . Mauric doesn ' t believe him and wants to leave the ship . Riker agrees , and tells him to take his " junk " with him . Picard and Crusher try to find something to eat before nightfall , but there is nothing edible on the planet ' s surface . Picard tells Crusher that they will probably be on the " Enterprise " by tomorrow and that she can plant herself in front of a replicator with a fork and knife . Crusher and Picard talk about breakfast and the Vulcan dish she was meant to have prepared . Picard , it turns out , just wants a simple meal , not the elaborate things they have been eating . Crusher realizes that he wants coffee and croissants , and by her own admission , says she also likes the simple things . They then both agree that coffee and croissants are what they shall be having for breakfast in the future . When she mentions her deceased husband , Jack Crusher , she senses Picard ' s feeling towards her . Picard , a bit embarrassed , at first denies it , but Crusher realizes that Jean - Luc has had romantic feelings towards her even when she was married . Picard admits that because he was afraid of what would happen , he tried denying her application to be aboard the " Enterprise " ; he also says that he had those feelings from when Beverly was married and then hated himself for wanting to act on his romantic feelings when Jack died . He never did act on them and he says that eventually , those feelings went away . Crusher acknowledges that and then says they are now good friends , seven years later . Act Five . Riker tries to contact the Prytt again , but they will not listen . Fed up by the two nations ' lack of communication , Riker has Worf transport the Prytt Security Minister , Lorin , directly to the observation lounge against her will , to force a dialogue with Mauric . However , the " dialogue " is entirely unproductive , as the two ministers hurl various conspiracy theories at each other – for instance , Lorin says the Prytt " know " about the Kes ' s plans to build new orbital attack satellites with Federation technology ; Mauric calls these accusations ridiculous , but quickly re - opens an old debate between the Kes and the Prytt about ownership of certain territory – and so on . Riker slams a hand down on the observation lounge ' s table and tells both ministers he is finished with them . He allays Lorin ' s concerns by assuring her that the Kes ' s application for membership will be denied . Mauric , outraged , says Riker has no authority to make such a decision , and threatens to go over his head to the Federation Council . Riker rejoins that his report to the Council will carry serious weight , and his report will state in no uncertain terms that the Kes , while outwardly democratic and friendly , are also paranoid and suspicious to the point of insanity . The Federation does not ask much from its members , but it does assume that they are at least willing to trust each other , and the Kes have a long way to go before they can meet this basic requirement . Moreover , although the Federation was initially willing to consider admitting KesPrytt because the Kes are the majority faction , Lorin and Mauric ' s " dialogue " has graphically illustrated that the division between the Kes and the Prytt is a much deeper problem than the Kes claimed , and disqualifies their world for membership . Addressing Lorin , Riker demands the return of Picard and Crusher , but she stubbornly insists that they are still suspected of espionage . Riker turns up the heat on Lorin , telling her that if anything happens to their missing officers , then Starfleet will subject her country to increasing scrutiny , ranging anywhere from more starships in orbit to sensor sweeps to maybe even away team s conducting interrogations of hundreds of Prytt citizens – a very unsettling prospect to Lorin , as Riker makes clear that she will be held responsible by her own people for the Federation intrusion . On the planet ' s surface , Picard and Crusher are attacked by the Prytt . They run for a while before getting to the border . Crusher disables the force field just long enough for Picard to get through but she is captured by the Prytt . However , Riker has finally made Lorin understand , and Lorin tells her operatives on the surface to tell the " Enterprise " the coordinates of both Picard and Crusher . The Captain and Doctor both arrive in the transporter room and they continue to share some thoughts , literally , while Riker walks behind them utterly confused as to why they are laughing . Later that night , Picard and Crusher have just finished an elegant dinner , and both have already had their implants removed . Picard and Crusher are both relieved that they won ' t be hearing each other ' s thoughts any longer . Crusher then says " a penny for your thoughts " to Picard and reveals that while she was trying to sleep on Kesprytt , Picard fell asleep faster than her and that he had some very interesting dreams . Picard asks her not to blame him for his dreams because it wasn ' t something he had control over , as he was sleeping . Crusher then asks what about the things he does have control over , such as his thoughts when he was awake . Picard says that now that they both know how they feel , maybe they shouldn ' t be afraid to explore the possibilities that are in store for them . Crusher replies " Or maybe we should be afraid . " , she then kisses Picard on the cheek . Crusher suggests maybe she should be going now . Picard agrees and they kiss on the lips . She departs from the room and stands outside the door reflecting for a moment on what happened . Picard goes to the dinner table and blows out the candles and looks out the window into space . Memorable quotes . " " There is a way out of every box , a solution to every puzzle ; it ' s just a matter of finding it . " " " " You first . " " " " Well , it seems as if we ' re stuck with each other . " " " " I didn ' t know you felt that way . " " " " Didn ' t you ? " " " " Why didn ' t you ever tell me you were in love with me ? " " " " You were married to my best friend . " " " " And when Jack died , you felt guilty . " " " " I felt guilty " before " he died . Having feelings like that for my best friend ' s wife . . . and then later after the accident , I promised myself that I would never tell you how I felt . It would be like betraying my friend . " " " " That ' s " why " you didn ' t want me on the " Enterprise " seven years ago . " " " " I will not sit at a table with him . " " " " No more than I would sit with her . " " " " All right , then . We ' ll stand ! " " " " We still plan to apply for membership , Commander ! We will go directly to the Federation Council , they will listen to us - ! " " " " They will also listen to the reports of the Captain of the " Enterprise " and his First Officer ! And I can tell you right now the First Officer ' s report will go something like this : ' Kesprytt , a deeply troubled world with social , political , and military problems they have yet to resolve . The Kes , while a friendly and democrat ic people , are driven by " suspicion " , " deviousness " , and " paranoia " . It is the opinion of this officer they are not ready for membership . ' " " " " Now that we know how each of us feels , perhaps we should not be afraid to explore those feelings . " " " " Or perhaps we " should " be afraid . I think I should be going now . Good night . " " " " Good night . " " Links and references . References . 47 ; agent ; antigraviton ; attack satellite ; Australia ; Balfour Lake ; brain stem ; carrot ; cerebral cortex ; coffee ; conspiracy ; croissant ; ; defense shield s ; Earth ; European Hegemony ; Federation ; Federation Council ; graviton ; graviton beam ; hip ; holo - programs ; ; ; ; ; Human history ; ; Kesprytt ; Kesprytt III ; Kes Security Relation Station One ; Kolrod Island ; map ; Markson ; medical tricorder ; methanogenic compound ; Mintakan tapestry ; multiphase pulse ; ; number one ; ; Ohn - Kor ; painting ; pea ; penny ; prime minister ; prison ; Prytt ; Prytt Alliance ; Prytt National Communications Net ; Prytt Security Ministry ; psi - wave device ; security minister ; Security Relay Station One ; sextant ; Starfleet ; tavern ; toast ; topography ; transporter ; transporter sensor log ; tricorder ; United Earth ; vegetable soup ; Vulcan ; World Government