Lonely Among Us ( episode ) While transporting delegates , an alien life form wreaks havoc on the " Enterprise " computer – and begins to take over the minds of her crew . Summary . Teaser . The has begun orbit ing the two major planet s in the Beta Renner system , Antica and . The two species of those worlds , the Antican s and the Selay , have both achieved space flight and they have applied to become members of the United Federation of Planets . However , the two species are mortal enemies . The " Enterprise " is to transport both peoples to a neutral planet called Parliament , in the hopes of resolving their conflicts . On the " Enterprise " , Captain Jean - Luc Picard , Commander William T . Riker and Lieutenant Natasha Yar stand in the transporter room wearing their dress uniform s awaiting the delegates . The delegates from Selay beam on board . Picard introduces himself to Ssestar , a male Selay . Riker is about to lead them to their accommodations , but Ssestar insists that the Selay ' s quarters be upwind from the Anticans and as far away as possible . Riker attends to this and leads them to their quarters . After the delegation leaves the transporter room , Yar tells Picard that neither species seems like promising Federation candidates . Picard agrees and believes that Parliament ' s peacemakers may have difficulty satisfying the two species ' needs . The " Enterprise " leaves orbit of Selay on course for Parliament . On the bridge , Lieutenant Commander Data notes that his sensors are picking up an unusual energy object ahead of the " Enterprise " . On the viewscreen , an enormous cloud is shown . Data notes that it is also traveling at warp speed . Picard , intrigued , orders Data to make a close sensor pass on the cloud , then jump back to warp speed so they are still on schedule for Parliament . In sensor maintenance , Lieutenants Geordi La Forge and Worf are running diagnostic s on sensor assemblies . La Forge wonders why Worf is so interested in routine maintenance on sensors . Worf tells him it is simple , because Picard wants his junior officer s to " " learn , learn , learn " " . Yar signals sensor maintenance to see if there are any problems with systems , since they are making a close sensor pass . La Forge replies that all equipment is functioning perfectly . The " Enterprise " begins scanning the cloud . Worf , while working at a console , hears a strange noise . He goes over to investigate , but his body is struck by swirling blue energy . The energy discharges from Worf and he falls , unconscious . La Forge rushes over to Worf ' s side and taps his combadge , signaling a medical emergency . Act One . Dr . Beverly Crusher arrives in sensor maintenance with a medic . She is about to examine Worf , but he awakes , violently attacks the medic and throws him away . La Forge heaves himself on top of Worf , so Crusher can administer a sedative , via her hypospray . Worf finally calms down and is taken to sickbay . In Picard ' s ready room , La Forge tells Picard that he could see a glow in sensor maintenance and Worf jerked , as though something had hit him . Picard asks La Forge if his VISOR could have malfunctioned , but La Forge doubts it . In the Antican ' s quarters , Yar and Riker are attending to the Antican ' s dietary requirements . Yar had misunderstood that the Anticans prefer their food live , not dead . Riker tells Badar N ' D ' D , the lead Antican delegate , that Human s no longer enslave animals for food purposes , rather they consume meat that has been inorganically produced from the ship ' s replicator s . Badar N ' D ' D finds this practice " barbaric " . In sickbay , Crusher examines Worf . She uses a medical tool , but the same energy that entered Worf ' s body now enters Crusher ' s . Soon after , Counselor Deanna Troi enters sickbay to inquire about Worf ' s condition , but Crusher is now acting strangely and Troi begins to notice . She asks if she is all right . Crusher responds , " " Yes , perfectly . Both of us , quite normal now . " " Worf awakens on a bio - bed and inquires where he is . Troi responds that he is in sickbay and asks if he remembers what happened to him . Worf can only remember what happened prior to his accident and asks what he is doing in sickbay . Troi replies that Crusher will tell him all about it , but she promptly leaves sickbay . On the bridge , Picard and Data wish to examine the cloud further , since there are many unexplained mysteries surrounding it , but Picard tells Data that it will have to wait until the delegates are delivered to Parliament and orders helmsman La Forge to take the ship to warp eight . Crusher enters her quarters , where she finds her son , Wesley Crusher , working at a desktop monitor . Wesley tells Crusher that he is working on a project for his physical sciences class , where he is studying Dr . Channing ' s theory on dilithium crystal s . Crusher asks Wesley to tell her about it , which strikes Wesley as odd , since his mother has never shown interest in warp theory before . Wesley explains that Channing believes that it may be possible to force dilithium into more useful crystals . Crusher asks if that would affect navigation . Wesley replies that this theory is related to engineering , not helm control . Crusher then remembers that helm is located on the bridge . Wesley then notices that his mother is now acting strange and wonders if she is all right , but she abruptly leaves without answering . Crusher arrives on the bridge and walks over to helm , manned by La Forge . She replies that La Forge ' s station must be the helm . La Forge replies that it is , unless there have been some changes that he is unaware of . Picard walks over to Crusher and asks about Worf ' s condition . Crusher does not give Picard a lot of information and Picard presses her to give him an accurate diagnosis , since it involves a bridge officer . Crusher replies that she will have to run medical cross checks in the ship ' s computer . She uses science station II next to Data . Data looks at her console and wonders what helm control has to do with medical cross references . Crusher remains silent . Then , the blue energy that was inside Crusher enters the computer . Crusher is disoriented and leaves the bridge . Suddenly , Data cannot get any of the science stations to work . From engineering , assistant chief engineer Lieutenant , reports that there is a failure with the warp drive circuits . Various other stations on the ship report failures , as well . Picard , seeing that the " Enterprise " is not even a year out of spacedock , asks Data what the chances are of the ship having all these failures . Data responds that it is a virtual impossibility . Act Two . In the conference lounge , Picard , Riker , Data , and Singh , along with other department heads discuss the various problems on board the " Enterprise " and solutions to them . Singh believes that an electronic short made its way into several systems is to blame , but Singh concedes that that should not be possible , as the affected systems do not interact with each other . Singh replies that chief engineer Argyle and all engineering staff are just as puzzled as they are . Picard wants an explanation for the system failures by the time the ship reaches Parliament . In the Antican ' s quarters , Riker and Yar confront and confiscate weapons from Anticans seen out of sight , near the Selay delegation ' s quarters . Riker tells Badar N ' D ' D that all weapons , no matter what their basic function , will be taken away and that violence will not be tolerated on the " Enterprise " . On the bridge , conn officer Worf announces that warp drive is failing yet again and the " Enterprise " drops out of warp . Picard asks Data to send a message to Parliament , informing them that they will be delayed . However , Data cannot send a message as communication systems are down . In Picard ' s ready room , Data replies that if the " Enterprise " had all these system failures , the ship would have never left spacedock . Therefore , Riker and Data believe the " Enterprise " has a saboteur on board . Riker believes the Ferengi may have bribed the alien delegation to sabotage the " Enterprise " , as Ferengi have had contact with both the Selay and the Anticans . Picard asks if they have any more suspects , to which Riker tells Picard that he is beginning to sound like a private eye . Data wonders as to the meaning of the term " private eye " . Picard tells him that it is a person who solves crimes , like the immortal Sherlock Holmes , which piques Data ' s interest . In engineering , Wesley Crusher and Singh are trying to come up with solutions to the system failures . Singh tells Crusher that he will relieve him and that it is time for him to work on his studies . Crusher reluctantly leaves . In the Crusher ' s quarters Wesley finds his mother , Beverly , sitting down reading a PADD . Wesley complains that he has learned more about starship operations than any of the senior staff care to admit , like Channing ' s theory on dilithium crystals he told Beverly about earlier , to which she has no memory of . Wesley replied that he told her about it that morning , but she cannot remember . Singh , in engineering , works at a console . He touches a button , then the same energy that enveloped Worf and Crusher strikes his body , quite violently . It blasts Singh backwards and he falls unconscious , right next to the ship ' s warp core . Worf , coming down a lift , sees Singh . He rushes over to him and checks his pulse . Worf taps his combadge to inform Picard that Singh is dead . Act Three . Picard has begun an investigation into the death of Singh . In engineering , it is discovered that warp drive has been miraculously restored and the " Enterprise " can jump back into warp at any time . The " Enterprise " goes to warp six , on course of Parliament . Yar again questions the Antican delegates where they were during the time when Singh was killed . Badar N ' D ' D replies that they were eating for hours , because the animal they hunted was a large one . In sickbay , Crusher and Troi have called Worf to discuss his memory blockage , as well as Dr . Crusher ' s . Troi announces that she would like to try hypnosis , as it may restore their memories as to what happened to them . In the conference lounge , Data , adopting the mannerisms of Sherlock Holmes , discusses the possible involvement of the Selay and the Anticans in the ship ' s systems failures and the death of Singh . Data , smoking a pipe , tells Riker and Yar that the two species were too involved in their own affairs to have disabled the ship and murder ed Singh . The two species would rather kill each other than the crew . Back in sickbay , Troi has begun hypnosis of Dr . Crusher , while Worf watches . Troi asks Crusher to remember what happened up to the point she had memory loss . She recalls walking up to scan Worf , but then , there was someone else , another presence in the room . Troi then snaps Crusher out of the hypnosis and replies that her responses were identical to Worf ' s . Troi reports her findings to Picard and believes that something invaded their bodies , as it is the only reasonable conclusion . Data replies that , although improbable , it is possible . On the bridge , Wesley Crusher is talking to La Forge . He tells him that the warp computer in engineering could not possibly have fixed itself . Suddenly , the warp engines are failing again and the " Enterprise " drops to impulse . Picard walks out of his ready room to the bridge , where he monitors the situation from the helm console . Then , the blue energy emanates from the console and enters Picard ' s body , where he is now beginning to act strangely . Act Four . Picard , inhabited by the non - corporeal lifeform , restores warp power back to the " Enterprise " and orders La Forge to double back on their course and head back to the strange energy cloud . The entire senior staff is completely puzzled by this change of orders , since the ship is behind schedule for Parliament . Picard assures them that he wants to take another look at the cloud , since they only obtained minimal information on it . In a corridor , Chief Miles O ' Brien is following Badar N ' D ' D , who is demanding to see Picard to know why the " Enterprise " has changed course . O ' Brien orders him to return to his quarters , but Ssestar comes out of his quarters and a confrontation ensues . The senior officers gather together and discuss Picard ' s strange orders . Troi senses that Picard is deliberately concealing something from her and that he has become dangerous . If Picard is dangerous , they argue , he should be relieved of command , which Dr . Crusher could do , falling under her responsibilities as chief medical officer . Crusher and Riker arrive in Picard ' s ready room to order a medical scan on Picard . He refuses and believes they are hallucinating and working too much . He instead orders that all senior staff be examined . Later , Dr . Crusher comes with the test results . She hands it to Picard , who then casually tosses it aside . She asks if she is talking to the real Picard . The lifeform within Picard tells her that Picard is there , along with more and that very soon , the both of them will be home . Act Five . The " Enterprise " arrives at the cloud , again . Picard walks out of his ready room and examines the cloud from the viewscreen . The lifeform tells the crew that when the " Enterprise " passed the cloud before it accidentally took a lifeform with it . The lifeform within Picard recalls the horror of being taken from the cloud , then going from body to body , and accidentally causing the death of Singh . Troi asks Picard if he exists in combination with the entity in his body . The entity reveals that both it and Picard have the same desires , for exploration and dreams beyond Human expectations , since the lifeform is essentially an energy pattern , free of matter , Picard could literally go anywhere in his energy state . The lifeform plans to beam itself and Picard to the energy cloud . The crew pleads with Picard to reconsider , but the lifeform inside Picard has full control and overwhelms the bridge crew when it fires the blue beams at them all over the bridge . Riker yells for security to restrain the Captain , but the entity is far too powerful . It leaves the bridge unopposed and travels to the transporter room , with the transporter chief incapacitated . The entity activates the transporter controls and beams away . After searching for over an hour , the " Enterprise " still cannot find Picard ' s energy pattern . Riker , seeing no other option , orders La Forge to set course for Parliament . But , Troi senses Picard . He does not belong with the rest of the lifeforms in the cloud and needs help . Riker tells La Forge to move the " Enterprise " into the cloud , so they can find Picard ' s energy signal . At first , there is no sign of Picard anywhere in the cloud , but on La Forge ' s helm console , the circuits re - arrange to form a " P " . Data surmises that Picard has found his way into the ship ' s systems . Data asks Troi and Riker to accompany him to the transporter room . Since Picard ' s physical pattern is stored in the transporter system , Data attempts to recombine his energy pattern , as he hopes that Picard has worked his way into the transporter . Data energizes and Picard materializes on the transporter pad . Picard has a vague memory of what happened to him , much like Worf and Crusher . Riker tells Picard that he should head down to sickbay , as Dr . Crusher believes Picard is very tired . Yar enters , with news that one of the Selay delegates is missing and the Anticans have asked the chef to broil reptile . Picard turns to Riker and tells him to take charge of the situation , as he believes he needs a rest . The " Enterprise " continues on course for Parliament . Memorable quotes . " " It ' s elementary , my dear Riker . . . sir . " " " " I still don ' t remember having one . " " " " Sorry , wrong species . " " " " Data . . . let ' s proceed without the pipe . " " " " Violence will not be tolerated on the " Enterprise " . " " " " Return to your quarters , delegates ! " " " " So , Worf , why the interest in this ? It ' s just routine maintenance on sensor assemblies . " " " " Simple , Geordi . Our captain wants his junior officers to learn , learn , learn . " " " " Not just his junior ones ! " " " " Why the drop to impulse power , lieutenant ? " " " " The helm is suddenly malfunctioning , sir . " " " " Malfunctioning ? You ' re wrong . Look again . " " " " I must ask where you were during this vessel ' s Earth hours of 1800 last night and 0700 this morning . " " " " Eating . " " " " Sir , I ' m talking about hours here . . . " " " " It was a large meal . . . and an interesting animal . " " " " Captain Picard , you are now relieved of duty ! I judge you to be disabled and mentally incapacitated ! " " " " It ' s blinding me ! " " " " Security ! Red alert ! Restrain the captain ! " " " " The problem is , is that one of the cooks has just been asked to broil reptile for the Anticans , and it looks like the Selay delegate . " " Links and references . References . 2363 ; acting ensign ; active array status ; Antica ; Antican ; Antican hunting tool ; Beta Renner cloud ; Beta Renner system ; bridge ; broil ; captain ' s log ; Channing ; chief delegate ; Class F shuttlecraft ; CMO ; computer intelligence ; conference planet ; ; ; crew locator ; delegate ; desktop monitor ; detective ; diagnostic hat ; diet ; dilithium crystal ; dress uniform ; duality ; Earth ; economics ; Emergency Manual Override station ; feedback ; Ferengi ; guest quarters ; hide and seek ; ; Human ; Human history ; hypnosis ; hypnosis device ; hypospray ; interlink ; LCARS ; lifeform ; Livingston ; magnifying glass ; medical log ; medical tricorder ; model ; murder ; NCC - 7100 ; number one ; observation lounge ; occupation ( job ) ; painting ; Parliament ; passive array status ; physical sciences ; pipe ; planet ; propulsion system ; puddle ; ready room ; " Richard III " ; sector ; security alert ; security team two ; Selay ; ; Selay hunting tool ; sensor maintenance ; sensor subsystem ; sickbay ; slavery ; smoking ; spacedock ; species ; stardate ; Starfleet ; statue ; subspace radio ; transporter chief ; Transporter Room 6 ; turbolift ; unnamed plants ; viewscreen ; VISOR ; warp drive ; warp engine ; warp theory