09 Wesley, Geordi and Data's Angels

Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Patrick Stewart
Commander William T. Riker: Jonathan Frakes
Counselor Deanna Troi: Marina Sirtis
Lieutenant Commander Data: Brent Spiner
Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge: LeVar Burton
Lieutenant Commander Worf: Michael Dorn
Lieutenant Tasha Yar: Denise Crosby
Dr. Katherine Pulaski: Diana Muldaur
Dr. Beverly Crusher: Gates McFadden
Wesley Crusher: Wil Wheaton

The Hatter Family
Lesley Hatter: Me
Lesley's twin sister, Georda Hatter: Me
Lesley and Georda's twin sister, Dana Hatter: Me
Lesley, Georda and Dana's mother, Fedora Hatter: Terri Irwin
Lesley, Georda and Dana's father, The Mad Hatter: John Robert Hoffman
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Abigail "Abi" Hatter: Ashley Tisdale
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Abigail's twin sister, Angela "Angel" Hatter: Ashley Tisdale
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Barbara "Barbie" Hatter: Bridgit Mendler
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Caroline "Carol" Hatter: Christy Carlson Romano
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Caroline's twin sister, Christine "Christy" Hatter: Christy Carlson Romano
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Deborah "Debby" Hatter: Debby Ryan
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Elizabeth "Beth" Hatter: Alyson Stoner
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Gwendolyn "Gwen" Hatter: Selena Gomez
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Jacqueline "Jacque" Hatter: Jennifer Stone
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Jacquline's twin sister, Jennifer "Jen" Hatter: Jennifer Stone
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Jacquline and Jennifer's twin sister, Jessica "Jess" Hatter: Jennifer Stone
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Jacqueline, Jennifer and Jessica's twin sister, Jillian "Jill" Hatter: Jennifer Stone
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Jacqueline, Jennifer, Jessica and Jillian's twin sister, Josephine "Josie" Hatter: Jennifer Stone
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Katherine "Kate" Hatter: Demi Lovato
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Lillian "Lilli" Hatter: Emily Osment
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Margaret "Margie" Hatter: Miley Cyrus
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Nicole "Nicci" Hatter: Nicole Anderson
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Pamela "Pam" Hatter: Brenda Song
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Rebecca "Becca" Hatter: Bindi Sue Irwin
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Samantha "Sami" Hatter: Julianna Rose Mauriello
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Samantha's twin sister, Stephanie "Steph" Hatter: Julianna Rose Mauriello
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Samantha and Stephanie's twin sister, Suzanne "Suzy" Hatter: Julianna Rose Mauriello
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Valerie "Val" Hatter: Vanessa Anne Hudgens
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Valerie's twin sister, Victoria "Vicci" Hatter: Vanessa Anne Hudgens
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger sister, Valerie and Victoria's twin sister, Vivian "Viv" Hatter: Vanessa Anne Hudgens
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Andrew "Andy" Hatter: Austin Butler
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Andrew's twin brother, Anthony "Tonye" Hatter: Austin Butler
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Benjamin "Ben" Hatter: Ben Barnes
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Christopher "Chris" Hatter: Corbin Bleu
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Daniel "Dan" Hatter: David Henrie
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Daniel's twin brother, Donald "Don" Hatter: David Henrie
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Edward "Eddie" Hatter: Taylor Ball
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Frederick "Fred" Hatter: Frankie Jonas
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Gregory "Greg" Hatter: Chris Hemsworth
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Jacob "Jake" Hatter: Joe Jonas
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Jacob's twin brother, Jeffery "Jeff" Hatter: Joe Jonas
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Jacob and Jeffery's twin brother, Jonathan "Johnny" Hatter: Joe Jonas
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Jacob, Jeffery and Jonathan's twin brother, Joseph "Joe" Hatter: Joe Jonas
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Kenneth "Ken" Hatter: Kevin Jonas
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Leonardo "Leo" Hatter: Jake T. Austin
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Michael "Mike" Hatter: Mitchell Musso
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Nicholas "Nick" Hatter: Nick Jonas
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Peter "Pete" Hatter: Jason Dolley
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Richard "Rich" Hatter: Robert Clarence Irwin
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Richard's twin brother, Robert "Rob" Hatter: Robert Clarence Irwin
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Samuel "Sam" Hatter: Sterling Knight
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Thomas "Tommy" Hatter: Zac Efron
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Thomas' twin brother, Timothy "Tim" Hatter: Zac Efron
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, Walter "Walt" Hatter: Cole Sprouse
Lesley, Georda and Dana's younger brother, William "Will" Hatter: Dylan Sprouse

Season 1
Chapter 1 - Encounter At Farpoint Part 1
Chapter 2 - Encounter At Farpoint Part 2
Chapter 3 - The Naked Now
Chapter 4 - Code Of Honor
Chapter 5 - The Last Outpost
Chapter 6 - Where No One Has Gone Before?
Chapter 7 - Lonely Among Us
Chapter 8 - Justice
Chapter 9 - The Battle
Chapter 10 - Hide And Q
Chapter 11 - Haven
Chapter 12 - The Big Goodbye
Chapter 13 - Datalore
Chapter 14 - Angel One
Chapter 15 - 11001001
Chapter 16 - Too Short A Season
Chapter 17 - When The Bough Breaks
Chapter 18 - Home Soil
Chapter 19 - Coming Of Age
Chapter 20 - Hear Of Glory
Chapter 21 - The Arsenal Of Freedom
Chapter 22 - Symbiosis
Chapter 23 - Skin Of Evil
Chapter 24 - We'll Always Have Paris
Chapter 25 - Conspiracy
Chapter 26 - The Neutral Zone

Chapter 1
Encounter At Farpoint part 1

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41153.7. Our destination is planet Deneb Four, beyond which lies the great unexplored mass of the galaxy. My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the inhabitants of that world. Meanwhile, I am becoming better acquainted with my new command, this Galaxy Class USS Enterprise. I am still somewhat in awe of its size and complexity. As for my crew, we are short in several key positions, most notably a first officer, but I am informed that a highly experienced man, one Commander William Riker, will be waiting to join our ship at our Deneb Four destination.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: You will agree, Data, that Starfleet's orders are difficult?
DATA: Difficult? Simply solve the mystery of Farpoint Station.
PICARD: As simple as that.
DEANNA: Farpoint Station. Even the name sounds mysterious.
PICARD: It's hardly simple, Data, to negotiate a friendly agreement for Starfleet to use the base while at the same time snoop around finding how and why the life form there built it.
DATA: Inquiry. The word snoop?
PICARD: Data, how can you be programmed as a virtual encyclopedia of human information without knowing a simple word like snoop?
DATA: Possibility, a kind of human behaviour I was not designed to emulate.
PICARD: It means to spy, to sneak.
DATA: Ah! To seek covertly, to go stealthily, to slink, slither
PICARD: Exactly, yes.
DATA: Glide, creep, skulk, pussyfoot, gumshoe.
DEANNA: Captain, I'm sensing a powerful mind.
Collision alert sounds.
TORRES: Something strange on the detector circuits.
A massive barrier appears in front of them in space.
DATA: It registers as solid, Captain.
DEANNA: Or an incredibly powerful forcefield. But if we collide with either it could be very
PICARD: Shut off that damned noise. Go to Yellow Alert.
WORF: Shields and deflectors up, sir.
The barrier ripples like chain mail.
PICARD: Reverse power, full stop.
TORRES: Controls to full stop, sir. Now reading full stop, sir
There's a flash of light, and an Elizabethan era soldier appears, complete with breast plate and plumed hat.
Q: Thou are notified that thy kind hath infiltrated the galaxy too far already. Thou art directed to return to thine own solar system immediately.
PICARD: That's quite a directive. Would you mind identifying what you are?
Q: We call ourselves the Q. Or thou mayst call me that. It's all much the same thing.
The same force barrier stops two people exiting the turbolift
Q: I present myself to thee as a fellow ship captain, that thou mayst better understand me. Go back whence thou camest. (to Helmsman) Stay where thou art!
And the helmsman is frozen solid, phaser in hand.
PICARD: Data, call medics.
DEANNA: He's frozen.
PICARD: He would not have injured you. Do you recognise this, the stun setting?
Q: Knowing humans as thou dost, Captain, wouldst thou be captured helpless by them? Now, go back or thou shalt most certainly die.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplementary. The frozen form of Lieutenant Torres has been rushed to sickbay. The question now is the incredible power of the Q being. Do we dare oppose it?
Scene: Bridge.
Q: Captain, thy little centuries go by so rapidly. Perhaps thou will better understand this.
A flash of light and he is wearing a 20th century US military uniform, with a cigarette in his hand.
Q: Actually, the issue at stake is patriotism. You must return to your world and put an end to the commies. All it takes is a few good men.
PICARD: What? That nonsense is centuries behind us.
Q: But you can't deny that you're still a dangerous, savage child race.
PICARD: Most certainly I deny it. I agree we still were when humans wore costumes like that, four hundred years ago.
Q: At which time you slaughtered millions in silly arguments about how to divide the resources of your little world. And four hundred years before that you were murdering each other in quarrels over tribal god-images. Since there are no indications that humans will ever change.
PICARD: But even when we wore costumes like that we'd already started to make rapid progress.
Q: Oh yeah? You want to review your rapid progress?
Flash, and a change into a padded suit.
Q: Rapid progress, to where humans learned to control their military with drugs.
WORF: Sir, sickbay reports Lieutenant Torres's condition is better.
Q: Oh, concern for one's fellow comrade. How touching.
WORF: And now a personal request, sir. Permission to clean up the bridge.
TASHA: Lieutenant Worf is right, sir. As Security Chief I can't just stand here and let
PICARD: Yes you can, Lieutenant Yar.
Q: (taking a snort of something) Oh, better. And later, on finally reaching deep space, humans of course found enemies to fight out there too. And to broaden those struggles you again found allies for still more murdering. The same old story, all over again.
PICARD: No. The same old story is the one we're meeting now. Self-righteous life forms who are eager not to learn but to prosecute, to judge anything they don't understand or can't tolerate.
Q: What an interesting idea. Prosecute and judge. Suppose it turns out we understand you humans only too well.
PICARD: We've no fear of what the true facts about us will reveal.
Q: Facts about you? Splendid, splendid, Captain! You're a veritable fountain of good ideas. There are preparations to make, but when we next meet, Captain, we'll proceed exactly as you suggest.
A flash and he is gone.
WORF: Sir, respectfully submit our only choice is to fight.
TASHA: Fight, or try to escape.
PICARD: Sense anything, Commander?
DEANNA: Its mind is much too powerful. Recommend we avoid contact.
PICARD: From this point, no station aboard, repeat no station, for any reason will make use of transmitted signals or intercom. We'll try and take them by surprise. Let's see what this galaxy class starship can do. (to Worf) Lieutenant, inform engine room to prepare for maximum acceleration.
WORF: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Records search, Data. Results of detaching saucer section at high warp velocity.
DATA: Inadvisable at any warp speed, sir.
PICARD: Search theoretical.
DATA: It is possible, sir. But absolutely no margin for error.
PICARD: Using print-out only, notify all decks to prepare for maximum acceleration. Now hear this, Maximum, you're entitled to know, means that we'll be pushing our engines well beyond safety limits. Our hope is to surprise whatever that is out there, try and outrun it. Our only other option is to tuck tail between our legs and return to Earth as they demand.
Worf makes his trip to Engineering and back.
WORF: Engine room ready, sir.
DEANNA: The board shows green, Captain. All go.
PICARD: Stand by. Engage.
They swoop along and past the barrier, which then turns into a ball and chases them.
WORF: Velocity warp nine point two.
DATA: Heading three five one mark eleven, sir.
PICARD: Steady on that.
TASHA: The hostile is now giving chase, sir. Accelerating fast.
WORF: We're now at warp nine point three, sir, which takes us past the red line, sir.
PICARD: Continue accelerating. Counselor, at this point I'm open to guesses about what we've just met.
DEANNA: It it felt like something beyond what we'd consider a life form.
PICARD: Beyond?
DEANNA: Very, very advanced, sir, or certainly very, very different.
WORF: We're at nine point four, sir.
TASHA: Hostile is now beginning to overtake us, sir.
PICARD: Are you sure?
DATA: Hostile's velocity is already warp nine point six, sir. Shall I put them on the main viewer?
PICARD: Reverse angle.
DATA: Magnifying viewer image.
TASHA: Hostile's velocity is nine point seven, sir.
PICARD: Worf, inform the engine room we need more.
DATA: Engine room attempting to comply, sir, but they caution us
PICARD: Go to yellow alert. Arm aft photon torpedoes. Place them on ready status.
TASHA: Torpedoes to ready, sir. Hostile now at warp nine point eight, sir.
WORF: Our velocity is only nine point five, sir.
DATA: Projection, sir. We may be able to match hostile's nine point eight, sir. But at extreme risk.
TASHA: Now reading the hostile at warp nine point nine, sir.
PICARD: Now hear this. Print-out message, urgent, all stations on all decks. Prepare for emergency saucer sever. You will command the saucer section, Lieutenant.
WORF: I am a Klingon, sir. For me to seek escape when my Captain goes into battle.
PICARD: You are a Starfleet officer, Lieutenant.
WORF: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Make the mark, Data. Note in ship's log that at this startime, I'm transferring command to the battle bridge.
Picard, Data, Yar and Troi leave the Bridge to unnamed crew.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41153.7. Preparing to detach saucer section. so that families and the majority of the ship's company can seek relative safety while the vessel's stardrive, containing the battle bridge and main armaments, will turn back and confront the mystery that is threatening us.
Scene: Battle Bridge
Families of various races make their way along corridors as the bridge crew settle into a more compact Bridge.
PICARD: Lieutenant, your torpedoes must detonate close enough to the hostile to blind it at the moment we separate.
TASHA: Understood, sir.
DEANNA: All decks acknowledging, sir.
PICARD: Worf, this is the Captain.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: (OC) At the moment of separation, we will reverse power just enough to get your saucer section out ahead and clear of us.
WORF: Understood, Captain.
Scene: Battle Bridge.
TASHA: Torpedoes away, sir.
Eight red dots shoot out from the stern.
PICARD: Begin countdown. Mark.
DATA: Starship separation in six, five, four, three, two, one.
Gracefully, the huge saucer lifts away from the body of the ship.
DATA: Separation is successful, sir.
The main body does a hand-brake turn and heads back to their pursuer. The torpedoes detonate.
TASHA: Torpedoes have detonated, sir.
PICARD: Let's come to a stop. Reverse power.
DATA: Reverse power. Decelerating.
PICARD: Dead stop. We'll hold this position and wait for them.
DEANNA: That will bring them here in just minutes, sir.
TASHA: Will we make a fight of it, Captain? If we can at least damage their ship we'll have a chance.
PICARD: Lieutenant, are you recommending we fight a life form that can do all those things? I'd like to hear your advice.
TASHA: I spoke before I thought, sir. We should look for some way to distract them from going after the saucer.
O'BRIEN: All forward motion stopped, sir.
PICARD: Thank you, conn. Commander, signal the following in all languages and on all frequencies. We surrender. State that we are not asking for any terms or conditions.
DEANNA: Aye, sir. All language forms and frequencies.
The ball reaches them and surrounds them with it's barrier. The ship shakes.
Scene: Courtroom.
The crew find themselves in a room with a noisy audience. One of the future soldiers that Q pretended to be, fires his machine gun for silence. An Oriental man takes charge.
BAILIFF: The prisoners will all stand.
Picard sits down.
DATA: Historically intriguing, Captain. Very, very accurate.
PICARD: Mid twenty first century. The post-atomic horror.
BAILIFF: All present, stand and make respectful attention to honoured Judge.
DEANNA: Careful, sir. This is not an illusion or a dream.
PICARD: But these courts happened in the past.
DEANNA: I don't understand either, but this is real.
SOLDIER: Get to your feet, criminals!
From the distance, a spotlight reveals a figure approaching, dressed in red, and sitting on a throne carried on hydraulics for effect.
DATA: At least we are acquainted with the judge, Captain.
Q gestures the crowd to sit.
SOLDIER: Attention! On your feet. Attention!
Tasha disarms him.
Q: (to soldier) You are out of order. (another soldier kills him) The prisoners will not be harmed until they are found guilty. Dispose of that.
PICARD: Can we assume you mean this will be a fair trial?
Q: Yes, absolutely equitable. Proceed.
BAILIFF: Before this gracious court now appear these prisoners to answer for the multiple and grievous savageries of their species. How plead you, criminal?
DATA: If I may, Captain? Objection, your honour. In the year 2036, the new United Nations declared that no Earth citizen could be made to answer for the crimes of his race or forbears.
Q (JUDGE): Objection denied. This is a court of the year 2079, by which time more rapid progress had caused all United Earth nonsense to be abolished.
PICARD: Tasha, no.
TASHA: I must! Because I grew up on a world that allowed things like this court. And it was people like these that saved me from it. This so-called court should get down on its knees to what Starfleet is, what it represents.
Q freezes Tasha.
DEANNA: You barbarian! This woman
BAILIFF: Criminals keep silence!
PICARD: You've got a lot to learn about humans if you think you can torture us or frighten us into silence. Will she live?
DATA: Uncertain. When he froze Lieutenant Torres on the Bridge, we had our Sickbay to help thaw him out.
BAILIFF: You will answer the charges, criminals.
PICARD: Or what? Or this? Her death? Or worse? You promised the prisoners will not be harmed. We plead nothing so long as you break your own rules.
Q: I suggest you centre your attention on this trial, Captain. It may be your only hope.
PICARD: I suggest you are now having second thoughts it. You are considering that if you conduct a fair trial, which was your promise, you may lose.
Q: Lose?
PICARD: Yes, even though you're judge and prosecutor.
Q: And jury.
PICARD: Accepted, so long as you keep to your agreement. And assaulting prisoners is hardly a fair trial.
Q: This is a merciful court. (Tasha is thawed) Silence! Continuing these proceedings, I must caution you that legal trickery is not permitted. This is a court of
PICARD: court of fact! We humans know our past, even when we're ashamed of it. I recognise this court system as the one that agreed with that line from Shakespeare. Kill all the lawyers.
Q: Which was done.
PICARD: Which led to the rule guilty until proven innocent.
Q: Of course. Bringing the innocent to trial would be unfair. You will now answer to the charge of being a grievously savage race.
PICARD: Grievously savage could mean anything. I will answer only specific charges.
Q: Are you certain you want a full disclosure of human ugliness? So be it, fool! Present the charges.
BAILIFF: Criminal, you will read the charges to the court.
Picard takes his time to read the pad that is handed to him, then gives it back.
PICARD: I see no charges against us, Your Honour.
Q: You are out of order!
Guns are placed at Data and Deanna's heads.
Q: Soldiers, you will press those triggers if this criminal answers with any word other than guilty. Criminal, how plead you?
PICARD: Guilty. Provisionally.
Q: The Court will hear the provision.
PICARD: We question whether this court is abiding by its own trial instructions. Have I have permission to have Commander Data repeat the record?
Q: There will be no legal trickery
PICARD: These will be your own words, your Honour. What exactly what followed his Honour's statement that the prisoner will not be harmed?
DATA: Yes, sir. The Captain had asked the question. Can we assume you mean this will be a fair trial? And in reply the judge stated, yes, absolutely equitable.
Q: Irrelevant testimony, entirely irrelevant.
PICARD: Alright! We agree there is evidence to support the court's contention that humans have been savage. Therefore I say test us. Test whether this is presently true of humans.
Q: I see, I see. And so you petition the Court to accept you and your comrades as proof of what humanity has become.
PICARD: There must be many ways we can be tested. We have a long mission ahead of us.
Q: Another brilliant suggestion, Captain. But your test hardly requires a long mission. Your immediate destination offers far more challenge than you can possibly imagine. Yes, this Farpoint station will be an excellent test.
BAILIFF: All present, respectfully stand.
Q: This trial is adjourned, to allow the criminals to be tested.
BAILIFF: This honourable court is adjourned. Stand respectfully.
Q: Captain, you may find you are not nearly clever enough to deal with what lies ahead for you. It may have been better to accept sentence here.
Scene: Battle Bridge.
O'Brien is unaware the four were ever away.
DATA: What is present course, conn?
O'BRIEN: It's what it's been all along, sir. Direct heading to Farpoint Station.
DATA: Confirm. We are on that heading, sir.
O'BRIEN: Know anything about Farpoint Station, sir? Sounds like a fairly dull place.
PICARD: We've heard that we may find it rather interesting.
RIKER: (VO) Personal log, Commander William Riker. Stardate 41153.7. The USS Hood has dropped me off at Farpoint Station, where I await the arrival of the new USS Enterprise to which I have been assigned as First Officer. Meanwhile I have been asked to visit the Farpoint Administrator's Office, in the old city.
Scene: Zorn's office.
It is a standard wooden room, a desk with a bowl of fruit on it. Zorn is humanoid in loose clothing with long straight hair.
ZORN: Ah, Commander Riker, I thought you'd want to know we've still no word from your vessel. I trust we made your waiting comfortable?
RIKER: Luxurious is more like it.
ZORN: Good. (gets muddled over a handshake) Good.
RIKER: Would I seem ungrateful if I ask for some information?
ZORN: Anything.
RIKER: Fascinating, the advanced materials used in constructing this space station. Your energy supply must be as abundant as I've heard.
ZORN: Geothermal energy is the one great blessing of this planet. I'll have all the details of that sent to your quarters.
RIKER: Thank you. But it still seems incredible to me that you could have constructed this station so rapidly and so, so perfectly suited to our needs.
ZORN: Would your care for an Earth delicacy, Commander?
RIKER: (looking at the bowl of fruit) If there's an apple?
ZORN: I'm sorry, Commander.
RIKER: It doesn't matter. What I was saying was (suddenly there is a second bowl of apples) I'll be damned.
ZORN: Ah yes, there was another selection here
RIKER: Groppler, I could have sworn it wasn't here a minute ago.
ZORN: And did your failure to notice it make it unwelcome?
RIKER: Not at all, Groppler.
ZORN: I trust it will be the same with Farpoint Station, Commander. A few easily answered questions about it won't make Starfleet appreciate it less.
RIKER: And it's delicious. Thank you. Good morning, Groppler Zorn.
ZORN: Good morning.
Riker leaves with his apple.
ZORN: (to the air) You have been told not to do that. Why can't you understand? It will arouse their suspicion. And if that happens, we will have to punish you. We will, I promise you.
Scene: Market place.
RIKER: Doctor Crusher!
WESLEY: Mother, it's Commander Riker.
RIKER: Hello, Wes. Enjoying Farpoint Station?
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
RIKER: I saw you. I thought I might join you for a stroll.
BEVERLY: Actually, we were about to do some shopping.
RIKER: I've been meaning to visit the mall myself.
BEVERLY: Of course.
WESLEY: If you're wondering about Mom, Commander Riker, she's not unfriendly. She's just shy around men she doesn't know.
BEVERLY: Wesley! I believe that means he would like us to be friends.
RIKER: I'm willing, Doctor. Although we're not officially part of the Enterprise, I thought there might be something useful we can do while we wait.
BEVERLY: Useful? How, Commander?
RIKER: Investigating some things that I've noticed since I've been here. The last was a piece of fruit.
BEVERLY: (examining a bolt of cloth) Gold would be lovely with this. I am sure, Commander, there are reasons for a first officer to want to demonstrate his energy and alertness to a new captain. But since my duty and interests are outside the command structure.
Suddenly the bolt of cloth has a gold pattern on it.
RIKER: Isn't it remarkable they happen to have exactly what you asked for?
BEVERLY: Thank you. I'll take the entire bolt. Send it to our starship when it arrives. Charge to Doctor Crusher.
They walk away from the stall.
RIKER: Let's see, where were we?
BEVERLY: I was accusing you of inventing work in order to curry favour with our new captain. I apologise.
WESLEY: Mom, that gold pattern wasn't there.
BEVERLY: Maybe this is something Jean-Luc would like looked into.
RIKER: Jean-Luc Picard? You know the Captain?
WESLEY: When I was little, he brought my father's body home to us.
BEVERLY: Yes, Wes, long, long ago. A pleasure to meet you, Commander. You will excuse us.
RIKER: My pleasure, Doctor. Wes.
WESLEY: Sir?
RIKER: See you on board.
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
Suddenly Wesley sees the most beautiful girl that he has ever saw with two other girls.
WESLEY: Who is she?
BEVERLY: Who?
WESLEY: (pointing to the girl that's in the middle of the other two girls) That girl over there?
RIKER: Oh, that's Lesley Hatter.
WESLEY: You know her?
RIKER: Yes I do.
BEVERLY: Who are the two girls with her?
RIKER: Her sisters, Georda and Dana.
Before Beverly, Wesley and Riker knew it the three sisters walked over to them. They greeted Riker with a hug.
LESLEY: Riker, it's great to see you again.
RIKER: It's great to see you too, Les.
GEORDA: Hi, Riker.
DANA: It is great to see you again.
RIKER: Hi, girls. What brings you here?
LESLEY: Well the three of us wanted to explore the universe.
GEORDA: Also we wanted to see you again, Riker.
DANA: Yes we missed you.
RIKER: Do your parents know you're here?
LESLEY: Yes they do. We just got through saying good-bye to them before we spotted you.
Just then Lesley noticed Wesley.
LESLEY: What's your name?
WESLEY: I'm Wesley Crusher and this is my mom, Beverly.
LESLEY: Please to meet you both. I'm Lesley Hatter and these are my sisters, Georda and Dana. We're triplets by the way.
WESLEY: Commander Riker you didn't tell us they were triplets.
RIKER: I didn't know.
LESLEY: As our father would say: How true that is.
GEORDA: We never told Riker that we were triplets.
BEVERLY: Why is that girls?
DANA: Simple he never asked.
RIKER: Well I didn't think they were at first.
LESLEY: That's probably why we look different.
WESLEY: I do see that you three do look different. Why is that?
Lesley look at her sisters and they all nodded their heads.
LESLEY: I'll explain later. I promise.
BEVERLY: Well my son and I have to go now. It was nice to meet you girls.
LESLEY: Yes it was nice to meet you too. Bye, Wesley.
WESLEY: Bye, Lesley.
Beverly and Wesley leave Riker and the Hatter triplets, and another uniformed man arrives, wearing a device across his eyes that looks exactly like the one Georda Hatter wears.
GEORDI: Sir, the Enterprise is arriving.
RIKER: Is this an official report, Lieutenant?
GEORDI: Sorry, Commander. Sir, Lieutenant LaForge reporting. The Enterprise arriving, but without the saucer section, sir.
RIKER: Stardrive section only? What happened?
GEORDI: I don't know, sir. Captain Picard has signalled for you to beam up immediately.
RIKER: Our new captain doesn't waste time. It's a good idea. Thank you, Lieutenant.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
Just then Geordi sees Georda and notices that she wears the same device across her eyes like the one he wears across his eyes.
GEORDI: Commander who is your friend with the visor?
RIKER: This is Georda Hatter and her sisters, Lesley and Dana Hatter.
GEORDI: Please to meet you Georda. I'm Geordi LaForge.
GEORDA: Please to meet you to Geordi.
GEORDI: Mind if I ask why do you wear that visor?
GEODRA: It helps me to see.
GEODRI: Mine helps me to see. too.
GEODRA: I can see things that my sisters can't.
GEORDI: I can see things that other people can't.
RIKER: Girls it's time to go.
GEORDA: Bye, Geordi. I hope to see you again.
GEORDI: I hope I get to see you again too.
RIKER: (moves into a clear space with the Hatter triplets standing with him) Enterprise, this is Commander Riker with three friends of mine at Farpoint Station. Standing by to beam up.
Scene: Transporter room.
Riker and the Hatter triplets materialises.
TASHA: Lieutenant Yar of Security, sir. Captain Picard will see you on the Battle Bridge.
Scene: Corridor.
RIKER: With the saucer gone, I assume something interesting happened on your way here?
Scene: Turbolift.
TASHA: Battle bridge. That's for the Captain to explain, sir. Who are your friends?
RIKER: This is Lesley Hatter and her sisters, Georda and Dana.
LESLEY: We're triplets.
TASHA: You don't look like triplets.
GEORDA: Yeah, we know.
DANA: We get that a lot.
LESLEY: When we tell people we're triplets.
Scene: Battle bridge.
PICARD: Do we have clearance?
DATA: Aye, sir, into the standard parking orbit.
PICARD: Make it so.
TASHA: Commander Riker, sir.
RIKER: Riker, WT, reporting as ordered, sir.
PICARD: Is the viewer ready?
TASHA: All set up, sir.
PICARD: We'll first bring you up to date on a little adventure we had on our way here, Commander. Then we'll talk. Welcome aboard.
TASHA: (to Riker) This way, sir.
She sits him down in front of a screen and runs a tape of the Q encounter on the Bridge.
Q: (on monitor) Thou art directed to return to thine own solar system immediately. Go back or thou shalt most certainly die. You can't deny you're still a dangerous, savage, child race.
DATA: Message from the saucer module, sir. It will arrive here in fifty one minutes.
PICARD: Inform them we'll connect as soon as they arrive. And send the Commander to me when he's finished.
TASHA: Yes, sir.
Picard leaves.
Q: (on monitor) And four hundred years before that, you were murdering each other in quarrels over tribal god images. Since then there are no indications that humans will ever change. There are preparations to make, and when we next meet, Captain, we'll proceed exactly as you suggest.
RIKER: He calls that a little adventure?
Scene: Battle ready room.
PICARD: Come.
RIKER: (enters with the Hatter triplets) Not exactly a run of the mill happening, Captain.
PICARD: It seems we're alive only because we have been placed on probation. A very serious kind of probation. (answers comm.) Go.
DATA: (OC) The saucer module is now entering orbit with us, sir.
PICARD: Acknowledged. Commander Riker will conduct a manual docking. Picard out.
RIKER: Sir?
PICARD: You've reported in, haven't you? You are qualified?
RIKER: Yes, sir.
PICARD: Then I mean now, Commander.
As Riker leaves Picard stops the three girls.
PICARD: Who are you three?
LESLEY: Sir, I'm Lesley Hatter and these are my sisters. Georda and Dana.
GEORDA: We're triplets, sir.
PICARD: How do you know Commander Riker?
LESLEY: We've been friends with him since we were young, Captain.
DANA: Yes, he and our mother went to school together.
PICARD: In that case you are free to go wherever Commander Riker goes.
LESLEY: Sir?
PICARD: Commander Riker is the First Officer onboard. No area is off limits to you three.
HATTER TRIPLETS: Thank you, Captain.
Scene: Battle bridge.
DATA: They say you will be doing this manually, sir. No automation.
RIKER: As ordered.
They approach the saucer from astern, of course.
RIKER: Velocity to one half metre per second. Adjust pitch angle, negative three degrees. Watch your roll angle, conn. All stations, prepare for reconnection. Thrusters to station keeping. All velocity zero. Her inertia should do the job now. Lock up now.
The clamps rise and the two parts of the ship meet again.
Scene: Ready room
PICARD: A fairly routine manoeuvre but you handled it quite well.
RIKER: Thank you, sir. I hope I showed some promise.
PICARD: I do have some questions for you though.
RIKER: Yes, sir, I thought you might.
PICARD: I see in your file that Captain DeSoto thinks very highly of you. One curious thing, however, you refused to let him beam down to Altair Three.
RIKER: In my opinion, sir, Altair Three was too dangerous to risk exposing the Captain.
PICARD: I see. A Captain's rank means nothing to you.
RIKER: Rather the reverse, sir. But a Captain's life means a great deal to me.
PICARD: Isn't it just possible that you don't get to be a Starfleet Captain without knowing whether it's safe to beam down or not? Isn't it a little presumptuous of a first officer to second guess his captain's judgment?
RIKER: Permission to speak candidly, sir?
PICARD: Always.
RIKER: Having been a first officer yourself, you know that assuming that responsibility must by definition include the safety of the captain. I have no problem with following any rules you lay down, short of compromising your safety.
PICARD: And you don't intend to back off that position?
RIKER: No, sir,
PICARD: One further thing. A special favour.
RIKER: Anything, sir.
PICARD: Using the same kind of strength you showed with Captain DeSoto, I would appreciate it if you can keep me from making an ass of myself with children.
RIKER: Sir?
PICARD: I'm not a family man, Riker, and yet, Starfleet has given me a ship with children aboard.
RIKER: Yes, sir.
PICARD: And I don't feel comfortable with children. But, since a captain needs an image of geniality, you're to see that's what I project.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Welcome to the Enterprise, Commander Riker.
Scene: Sickbay.
BEVERLY: Naturally I've heard of your case. The visor implants you wear.
GEORDI: Is a remarkable piece of bio-electronic engineering by which I quote see much of the EM spectrum ranging from simple heat and infrared through radio waves et cetera, et cetera, and forgive me if I've said and listened to this a thousand times before.
Without the Visor, Geordi LaForge's eyes are white sightless orbs, and he has flashing red lights at his temples.
BEVERLY: You've been blind all your life?
GEORDI: I was born this way.
BEVERLY: And you've felt pain all the years that you've used this?
GEORDI: They say it's because I use my natural sensors in different ways.
BEVERLY: Well, I see two choices. The first is painkillers.
GEORDI: Which would affect how this works. No. Choice number two?
BEVERLY: Exploratory surgery. Desensitise the brain areas troubling you.
GEORDI: Same difference. No, thank you, Doctor.
BEVERLY: I understand.
GEORDI: Oh, by the way, I met a girl who has the same visor that I have.
BEVERLY: You're not talking about Georda Hatter are you?
GEORDI: Yes, I am. How do you know?
BEVERLY: Commander Riker introduced her and her sisters to my son and I when we were at Farpoint Station.
GEORDI: That's how I met her too, through Commander Riker. See you.
Scene: Bridge.
Riker enters with the Hatter triplets.
WORF: Yes sir?
RIKER: Where will I find Commander Data?
WORF: Commander Data is on special assignment, sir. He's using our shuttlecraft to transfer an admiral over to the Hood.
RIKER: An admiral?
WORF: He's been aboard all day, sir, checking over medical layout.
RIKER: Why a shuttlecraft? Why wouldn't he just beam over?
WORF: I suppose he could, sir, but the Admiral's a rather remarkable man.
Lesley clears her throat.
RIKER: Oh excuse me. I would like you to meet three of my friends. This is Lesley Hatter and her sisters Georda and Dana.
LESLEY: We're triplets.
WORF: Nice to meet you. I'm Lieutenant Worf. You don't look like triplets.
DANA: We get that a lot.
LESLEY: Excuse me but what are you Mr. Worf?
WORF: I'm Klingon.
Scene: Corridor.
A very old man in a cardigan is shuffling along. He is played by DeForrest Kelley, so of course we name this character -
MCCOY: Have you got some reason you want my atoms scattered all over space, boy?
DATA: No sir. But at your age, sir, I thought you shouldn't have to put up with the time and trouble of a shuttlecraft.
MCCOY: Hold it right there, boy.
DATA: Sir?
MCCOY: What about my age?
DATA: Sorry, sir. If that subject troubles you
MCCOY: Troubles me? What's so damned troubling about not having died? How old do you think I am?
DATA: One hundred thirty seven years, Admiral, according to Starfleet records.
MCCOY: Explain how you remember that so exactly.
DATA: I remember every fact I am exposed to, sir.
MCCOY: I don't see any points on your ears, boy, but you sound like a Vulcan.
DATA: No, sir. I'm an android.
MCCOY: Almost as bad.
DATA: I thought it was generally accepted, sir, that Vulcans are an advanced and most honourable race.
MCCOY: They are, they are. And damned annoying at times.
DATA: Yes, sir.
MCCOY: Well, this is a new ship, but she's got the right name. Now you remember that, you hear.
DATA: I will, sir.
MCCOY: You treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Did you signal the Hood, Commander Riker?
RIKER: Your exact message. Bon voyage mon ami.
PICARD: What was my answer, computer?
Q: (OC) You're wasting time, Captain. (appears on viewscreen) Or did you think I was gone?
PICARD: Lieutenant! Do you intend to blast a hole through the viewer? If the purpose of this is to test humans, your honour, we must proceed in our own way.
Q: (on viewscreen) You are dilatory. You have twenty four hours. Any further delay and you risk summary judgement against you, Captain.
WORF: Sorry, sir.
RIKER: You reacted fast, Mister Worf.
PICARD: But futilely.
WORF: I will learn to do better, sir.
PICARD: Of course you will. We've a long voyage ahead of us.
RIKER: What do we do now, Captain? With them monitoring our every move and every word.
PICARD: We do exactly what we would do if this Q never existed. If we're going to be damned, let's be damned for what we really are.

Chapter 2
Encounter At Farpoint part 2

PICARD: (VO) Personal log, stardate 41153.8. Of the twenty-four hours Q allotted us to prove ourselves, eleven have now passed without incident. And yet I cannot forget Q's prediction that we will face some critical test.
Scene: Ready room.
RIKER: This planet's interior heat provides an abundance of geothermal energy, sir. But it's about all this world does offer.
PICARD: And it's your belief that this is what made it possible for them to construct this base to Starfleet standards?
RIKER: Yes sir. We have to assume that they've been trading their surplus energy for the construction materials used here. According to our ship's scans, many of the materials used are not found on this world.
PICARD: Perhaps it's like those incidents you describe in your report as almost magical attempts to please us.
RIKER: Those events did happen, sir.
PICARD: None of it suggests anything threatening. If only every life form had as much desire to please. Ready to beam down? I'm looking forward to meeting this Groppler Zorn.
RIKER: I have a feeling there's more to it than just pleasing us, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: As if it's something Q is doing to trick us? Over here. I've asked the Counselor to join us in this meeting. May I introduce our new First Officer, Commander William Riker. Commander Riker, this is our ship's Counselor, Deanna Troi.
DEANNA: (OC) Do you remember what I taught you, Imzadi? Can you still sense my thoughts?
DEANNA: A pleasure, Commander.
RIKER: Likewise, Counselor.
PICARD: Have the two of you met before?
RIKER: We have, sir.
PICARD: Excellent.
The Hatter triplets clear their throats.
RIKER: Oh, excuse me, Deanna, this is Lesley, Georda and Dana Hatter.
DEANNA: Are you three triplets?
LESLEY: Yes we are.
GEORDA: You're the first one we met.
DANA: That noticed we are triplets.
LESLEY: How did you know that we are triplets?
DEANNA: I'm a Betazoid and we can sense things.
PICARD: I consider it important for my key officers know each other's abilities.
They step into the turbolift.
DEANNA: We do, sir. We do.
DEANNA: (OC) I, too, would never say goodbye, Imzadi.
Scene: Zorn's office.
PICARD: My crew and I need a bit more information before we make our recommendations to Starfleet.
ZORN: No objections to that, but but I'm puzzled over you bringing a Betazoid to this. If her purpose, sir, is to probe my thoughts.
DEANNA: I can sense only strong emotions, Groppler. I am only half Betazoid. My father was a Starfleet officer.
ZORN: Well, I have nothing to hide, of course.
PICARD: Good, since we admire what we've seen of your construction techniques. Starfleet may be interested in your constructing starbases elsewhere also.
ZORN: We are not interested in building other facilities.
RIKER: If I may, Captain. Then a trade, Groppler? Some things you need in return for lending us architects and engineers who can demonstrate your techniques.
ZORN: Bandi do not enjoy leaving their home world. If Starfleet cannot accept that small weakness, then we will be forced, unhappily, to seek an alliance with someone like the Ferengi, or
Deanna gasps.
PICARD: Counselor? What is it?
DEANNA: Do you want it described here, sir?
PICARD: Yes. No secrets here if we're to be all to be friends. Agreed, Groppler?
ZORN: We ourselves have nothing to hide, of course.
DEANNA: Pain. Pain. Loneliness. Terrible loneliness. Despair. I'm not sensing the Groppler, sir, or any of his people, but it's something very close to us here.
PICARD: The source of this, Groppler. Do you have any idea?
ZORN: No. No, absolutely not. And I find nothing helpful or productive in any of this!
PICARD: And that's it? No other comment?
ZORN: Well what do you expect of us? We offer you a base designed to your needs, luxurious even by human standards
PICARD: While evading even our simplest questions about it. We'll adjourn for now while we all reconsider our positions.
ZORN: Captain, the Ferengi would be very interested in a base like this.
PICARD: Fine. I hope they find you as tasty as they did their past associates.
Scene: Corridor.
RIKER: Ensign, can you help me find Commander Data? I understand he's somewhere on this deck.
ENSIGN: This way, sir. You must be new to these Galaxy class starships, sir. (to wall) Tell me the location of Commander Data.
COMPUTER: Lieutenant Commander Data now located in Holodeck area 4J.
ENSIGN: And as you see, sir, it's pointing you that way.
RIKER: Thank you
ENSIGN: You're welcome, sir.
She appreciates the sight as he walks away.
COMPUTER: The next hatchway on your right.
RIKER: Thank you.
COMPUTER: You're welcome, Commander Riker. And if you care to enter, Commander?
RIKER: I do.
The holodeck doors open to show trees and vegetation. There is birdsong.
Scene: Forest.
RIKER: Hello?
He crosses a stream by stepping stones. One wobbles. Someone is trying to whistle 'Pop goes the Weasel'. Riker finishes the tune.
DATA: Marvellous. How easily humans do that. I still need much practice.
RIKER: There are some puzzles down on the planet that the Captain wants answered. He suggests that I take you with me on the away team that I'll be leading.
DATA: I shall endeavour to function adequately, sir.
RIKER: Yes. When the captain suggested you, I looked up your record.
DATA: Yes, sir. A wise procedure, sir, always.
RIKER: Then your rank of Lieutenant Commander is honorary?
DATA: No, sir. Starfleet class of '78; honours in probability mechanics and exobiology.
RIKER: Your file says that you're an
DATA: Machine, Correct, sir. Does that trouble you?
RIKER: To be honest, yes, a little.
DATA: Understood, sir. Prejudice is very human.
RIKER: Now that does trouble me. Do you consider yourself superior to us?
DATA: I am superior, sir, in many ways, but I would gladly give it up to be human.
RIKER: Nice to meet you, Pinocchio. A joke.
DATA: Ah. Intriguing.
RIKER: You're going to be an interesting companion, Mister Data.
DATA: This woodland pattern is quite popular, sir. Perhaps because it duplicates Earth so well. Coming here almost makes me feel human myself.
RIKER: I didn't believe these simulations could be this real.
DATA: Much of it is real, sir. If the transporters can convert our bodies to an energy beam, then back to the original pattern again.
RIKER: Yes, of course. And these rocks and vegetation have much simpler patterns.
DATA: Correct, sir. The rear wall.
RIKER: I can't see it.
DATA: We're right next to it.
He throws a rock at it, and the image pixilates on impact.
RIKER: Incredible!
Data notices the Hatter triplets.
DATA: (pointing to Dana) Who is she?
RIKER: This is Dana Hatter and her sisters, Lesley and Georda.
DANA: We are triplets. So you are an android is that correct?
DATA: You do not look like triplets. Yes I am.
DANA: I have never met another android before.
DATA: What do you mean by that?
Dana looks at her older sister Lesley and Lesley nods her head.
DANA: Well as you might have noticed I am also an android.
RIKER: Is that true Lesley?
LESLEY: Yes it is, Riker.
DATA: But how is that possible you are triplets?
THE HATTER TRIPLETS: We will explain later.
WESLEY: (OC) Commander Riker!
WESLEY: (at the stream) Commander Riker, isn't this great? This is one of the simpler patterns. They've got thousands more. Some you just can't believe.
RIKER: Careful, the next rock is loose!
Wesley falls in the water.
LESLEY & RIKER: Wesley!
Data rushes down and hauls the boy out with one hand.
WESLEY: Wow!
Scene: Corridor.
RIKER: Mister Data has agreed to join me on the away team, Captain.
PICARD: Very good, Commander.
WESLEY: Sir, maybe I should get something to wipe this water up.
PICARD: Good idea.
Scene: Sickbay.
WESLEY: There's a low gravity gymnasium, too. It'd be hard to get bored on this ship.
BEVERLY: Good.
WESLEY: Mom, could you get me a look at the Bridge?
BEVERLY: That's against the Captain's standing orders.
WESLEY: Are you afraid of the Captain too?
BEVERLY: I certainly am not.
WESLEY: But Captain Picard is a pain, isn't he?
BEVERLY: Your father liked him very much. Great explorers are often lonely. No chance to have a family.
WESLEY: Just a look, at the Bridge. I'll stay in the turbolift when the doors open. I won't get off.
BEVERLY: You are asking for trouble, Wes. We'll see what we can do.
WESLEY: I heard that Lesley and her sisters are allowed on the Bridge and they're my age.
BEVERLY: I'm sure there is a reason why they are allowed.
WESLEY: Maybe I could ask Lesley about that?
BEVERLY: I think you should. By the way what was the look you gave Lesley when you met her at Farpoint Station?
WESLEY: Well when I first saw her I thought that she was the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen.
BEVERLY: Are you in love with Lesley, son?
WESLEY: Yes I am. Please don't tell her.
BEVERLY: Why is that?
WESLEY: I want to be the one to tell her.
Scene: Market place.
TASHA: Recommend that someone could begin by examining the underside of the station, sir.
DEANNA: Our sensors do show some passages, sir. Perhaps you and I?
RIKER: Tasha, you and the Counselor. And, Geordi, I want your eyes down there. (to Data) You and I will start with topside.
As the three explore underground.
RIKER: Have you noticed anything unusual?
DATA: I can't see as well as Geordi, sir, but so far the material seems rather very ordinary.
RIKER: Construction records?
DATA: Construction records show this to be almost identical to that which Starfleet uses.
TASHA: (OC) Team Leader.
Scene: Passageway.
TASHA: We've found something interesting. We're in a passageway directly under the station, sir.
GEORDI: But these tunnel walls are something I've never seen before, sir.
Scene: Marketplace.
RIKER: How are you examining them?
GEORDI: (OC) In every way.
Scene: Passageway.
GEORDI: Microscopically, thermally, electromagnetically. None of it is familiar.
RIKER: (OC) What about you, Troi?
DEANNA: Sir, I've avoided opening my mind. Whatever I felt in the Groppler's office became very uncomfortable.
Scene: Marketplace.
RIKER: I'm sorry, Counselor, but you must. We need more information.
Scene: Passageway.
DEANNA: Pain. Such pain! Pain!
Scene: Marketplace.
RIKER: Hang on, I'm coming. Enterprise, lock us onto her signal.
Scene: Passageway.
Data and Riker beam into the passageway.
RIKER: I'm sorry. Close your mind to the pain.
DEANNA: Unhappiness. Terrible despair.
RIKER: Who?
DEANNA: I don't know. No life form anything like us.
RIKER: What in the hell kind of place is this? Geordi, what do you see?
GEORDI: Well, it's of no material I recognise, sir, or have even heard of.
They carry on exploring.
Scene: Bridge.
The turbolift doors open, and Wesley is standing there.
PICARD: Children are not allowed on the Bridge.
LESLEY: Captain need I remind you that my sisters and I are children but you let us come aboard the Bridge.
PICARD: That's only because you're friends with Commander Riker.
Beverly appears from where she was hiding.
BEVERLY: Permission to report to the captain.
PICARD: Doctor Crusher.
BEVERLY: Captain. Sir, my son is not on the Bridge. He merely accompanied me on the turbolift.
PICARD: Your son?
BEVERLY: His name's Wesley. You last saw him years ago when.
PICARD: Well, as long as he's here. I knew your father, Wesley. Want a look around?
Wesley steps onto the Bridge.
PICARD: But don't touch anything! Try it out. (the captain's chair) The panel on your right is for log entries, library computer access and retrieval, viewscreen control, intercoms, and so on. Here we have.
WESLEY: And here, the backup conn and ops panels, plus shield and armoury controls.
PICARD: The forward viewscreen is controlled from the ops position there.
WESLEY: Which uses high resolution, multi-spectral imaging sensor systems
PICARD: How the hell do you know that, boy?
WESLEY: Perimeter alert, Captain!
BEVERLY: Wesley!
WESLEY: I'm sorry.
BEVERLY: You shouldn't have touched anything
PICARD: Off the bridge! Both of you.
WORF: You have a perimeter alert, sir.
BEVERLY: As my son tried to tell you!
Beverly and Wesley step back into the turbolift.
PICARD: Picard. Go ahead.
SECURITY: (OC) Ship's sensors have detected the presence of a vessel approaching this planet. No ship is scheduled to arrive at this time, sir.
PICARD: Have Commander Riker and his team beam back up. Security, could that be the Hood returning here?
SECURITY: (OC) The vessel does not match the Hood's configuration or ID signal.
PICARD: Put it on main viewer. Identification?
WORF: Vessel unknown, configuration unknown, sir.
It looks like a classic flying saucer.
PICARD: Hail it.
WORF: We've been trying, sir. No response.
PICARD: Raise all shields, phasers at ready.
WORF: Shields up, sir. Phasers ready.
PICARD: Get me Groppler Zorn. And continue universal greetings on all frequencies.
ZORN: (OC) This is Zorn, Captain.
PICARD: Zorn, an unidentified vessel has entered into orbit with us.
Scene: Zorn's office.
PICARD: (OC) Do you know who it is?
ZORN: There are no ships scheduled to arrive until
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: I asked if you knew who it is. You mentioned the Ferengi Alliance to me.
Scene: Zorn's office.
ZORN: But we have had no dealings with them. It was only a, a thought.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Are you certain?
ZORN: (OC) I promise you, Captain.
Scene: Zorn's office.
ZORN: We were making an empty threat. I wanted your cooperation. Forgive me.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: Definitely entering orbital trajectory, sir.
SECURITY: (at Tasha's station) It measures twelve times our volume, Captain.
A purple light envelopes the Enterprise.
WORF: Sensors say we were just scanned, sir.
Scene: Passageway.
TASHA: Pain again?
RIKER: Troi, you've been at it enough.
DEANNA: No, I feel close to an answer of some kind.
DATA: Commander, something down here is shielding our communicators.
DEANNA: Yes, that's exactly the feeling I've been reading. As if someone doesn't want us to be in touch with our ship.
RIKER: Come on, let's get to the surface.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: There is no computer record of any such vessel, sir. Nothing even close.
SECURITY: Still no response, sir. We've done everything but threaten them.
PICARD: Sensor scans, Mister Worf.
WORF: Our sensor signals seem to just bounce off. Something's happening, sir. They're firing on Farpoint, sir!
PICARD: Bring photon torpedoes to ready!
WORF: Wait, sir. They're hitting the old Bandi city, not Farpoint Station.
The ruined and empty city is being smashed by purple blasts.
Scene: Passageway.
The away team can hear the blasts.
DEANNA: Those stairs are where we entered down here, sir.
GEORDI: At this point, it becomes ordinary stone, sir. Matching what's above.
TASHA: My God! Was that a phaser blast?
DATA: Negative. But something similar.
RIKER: You, Tasha, and Geordi will beam up to the ship. Now, come on, I want to see exactly what's happening.
DEANNA: Don't. If you should be hurt.
RIKER: You have your orders, Lieutenant. Carry them out.
DEANNA: Yes sir, I'm sorry, sir. Enterprise, three to beam up.
Scene: Zorn's office.
ZORN: Enterprise, Enterprise, come in! Help us, please! What shall we do?
Scene: Bridge.
ZORN: (OC) Enterprise, help us, please!
PICARD: Tune that down! Commander Riker, come in. Can you hear me?
Scene: Bandi city.
Data and Riker phaser open a door and rush through.
RIKER: Riker to Enterprise, come in.
PICARD: (OC) Commander Riker, come in. Where are you?
RIKER: With Data, on the edge of the old city, sir. It's being hit hard, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: And Farpoint Station? Any damage there?
RIKER: (OC) Negative on damage to Farpoint, sir. Whoever they are, it seems they're carefully avoiding hitting the station.
PICARD: It's from an unidentified vessel that's entered into orbit with us here.
Scene: Bandi city.
PICARD: (OC) No ID, no answer to our signals.
RIKER: The old Bandi city's being hit hard, sir. Many casualties very probable.
PICARD: (OC) Understand, Commander.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Would you object to your Captain ordering a clearly illegal kidnapping?
Scene: Bandi city.
RIKER: No objection, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Groppler Zorn may have the answers we need. Get him. Bring him here.
Scene: Bandi city.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: They're forcing a difficult decision on me, Counselor.
DEANNA: But I doubt protecting the Bandi would violate the Prime Directive. True, they are not actual allies, but.
PICARD: We are in the midst of diplomatic discussions with them. Lieutenant, lock phasers on that vessel.
TASHA: Phasers locked on, Captain.
There's a flash, and the Judge Q stands there.
Q: Typical. So typical. Savage lifeforms never follow even their own rules.
PICARD: Get off my bridge!
Q: Interesting, that order about phasers.
TASHA: Standing by on phasers, Captain.
Q: Please, don't let me interfere. Use your weapons.
PICARD: We've no idea who is on that vessel. My order was a routine safety precaution.
Q: Really? No idea of what it represents? The meaning of that vessel is as plain, as plain as the noses on your ugly little primate faces. And if you were truly civilised, Captain, wouldn't you be doing something about the casualties happening down there?
PICARD: Captain to CMO.
Scene: Sickbay.
PICARD: (OC) Are you reading any of this?
BEVERLY: Medical teams already preparing to beam down, Captain.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Compliments on that, Doctor. Any questions? Starfleet people are trained to render aid and assistance whenever.
Q: But not trained in clear thinking.
PICARD: Let's consider your thoughts. You call us savages and yet you knew those people down there would be killed. It is your conduct that is uncivilised.
WORF: Sir, they're firing on the planet again.
PICARD: Go to manoeuvring jets. Position us between that vessel and the planet. Force fields full on.
WORF: Aye, sir. Impulse power to (beep) We have no ship control, sir. It's gone!
Scene: Bandi city.
Riker painfully hauls himself up from the ground. He is covered in dust.
DATA: Are you undamaged?
RIKER: Yes. You?
DATA: All systems operating.
They hear sobbing, and enter -
Scene: Zorn's office.
Zorn is hiding underneath his desk.
ZORN: Please! Make it stop! You can drive it away!
RIKER: Drive who away, Groppler?
ZORN: I don't know.
DATA: Unlikely, sir. Our records show that you supervised all Bandi contact with other worlds.
ZORN: We done nothing anything wrong!
RIKER: Then if we can learn nothing from you, we'll leave.
ZORN: No! Oh no, please, don't leave. I'll try to explain.
Then he gets beamed away, screaming.
RIKER: First officer to Enterprise. We've lost Zorn. Something like a transporter beam seems to have snatched him away.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: (OC) Question, sir, could it be this Q?
Q: None of you knows who transported him. You're running out of time, Captain.
DEANNA: Captain, suddenly I'm sensing something else. Satisfaction. Enormous satisfaction.
PICARD: From the same source as before?
DEANNA: No, that was on the planet. This is much closer.
Q: Excellent, Counselor. He's such a dullard, isn't he?
CREW: (OC) Captain from Transporter Room. First Officer and Mister Data have beamed aboard.
Q: Excellent also. Perhaps with more of these little minds helping.
PICARD: That is enough, damn it!
Q: Have you forgotten that we have an agreement,
PICARD: An agreement which you are at this moment breaking by taking over our vessel, interfering with my decisions. Either leave or finish us.
Q: Temper, temper, mon Capitaine. I'm merely trying to assist a pitiful species. But perhaps I will leave if Commander Riker provides me with some amusement.
PICARD: Do nothing that he asks.
Q (JUDGE): But I ask so little, and it's so necessary if you're to solve all this. Beam over there with your what do you call it? Your away team.
PICARD: I'll risk none of my crew on that unknown.
Q: You should already know what you'll find there. Or perhaps it's too adult a puzzle for you.
RIKER: With all respect, Captain, I want to beam over there.
Q: You show promise, my good fellow.
RIKER: Have you understood any part of what he's tried to tell you? Humanity is no longer a savage race.
Q: But you must still prove that.
And he vanishes.
PICARD: At least you impressed him, Number One. That's hopeful.
RIKER: Thank you, Captain. Captain, if he's not open to evidence in our favour, where will you go from there?
PICARD: I'll attend to my duty.
RIKER: To the bitter end?
PICARD: I see nothing so bitter about that.
Scene: Crusher's office.
BEVERLY: Can I help you, Captain?
PICARD: I didn't want you thinking me harsh. Cold blooded.
BEVERLY: Why oh why would I ever think that.
PICARD: I didn't welcome you aboard personally, professionally. I made you come to me on the Bridge. I yelled at your son. Who, as you pointed out, was quite correct. He does seem to have a very good grasp of starship operations.
BEVERLY: You've just won this mother's heart, Captain.
PICARD: Ah, but, now, your assignment here. I would consider and approve you a transfer for you.
BEVERLY: Oh. You consider me unqualified?
PICARD: Hardly. Your service record shows you're just the Chief Medical Officer I want.
BEVERLY: Then you must object to me personally.
PICARD: I'm trying to be considerate of your feelings, Doctor. For you to work with a commanding officer who would continually remind you of a terrible personal tragedy.
BEVERLY: If I had had any objections to serving with you, I wouldn't have requested this assignment, Captain.
PICARD: You requested this posting?
BEVERLY: My feelings about my husband's death will have no effect on the way I serve you, this vessel, or this mission.
PICARD: Ah. Then, welcome aboard, Doctor.
They shake hands.
RIKER: (OC) Riker to Picard. We're ready to beam over, sir.
PICARD: I, er, I hope we can be friends?
BEVERLY: Thank you. Oh, Captain, I was wondering if children aren't allowed on the Bridge why were Lesley and her sisters doing on the Bridge aren't they children as well?
PICARD: Well yes, they're children but because they are friends of Commander Riker is why I allowed them on the Bridge.
Scene: Transporter room.
The away team is Data, Tasha, Deanna and Riker.
RIKER: Phasers on stun. Energise.
Scene: Alien vessel.
It looks like the passages under the Bandi city.
DATA: Most interesting, sir.
TASHA: It's much the same construction we saw in the underground tunnel.
DATA: But no sound of power. No equipment.
TASHA: How does this ship run?
RIKER: What is it, Troi? Is it the same as you felt down there?
DEANNA: No. This is much more powerful. Full of anger! Hate!
TASHA: Toward us?
DEANNA: No. It's directed down toward the old Bandi city.
DATA: Most intriguing again, sir. The place that this vessel was firing upon was not the Farpoint starbase, but the home of those who constructed. Sorry, sir. I seem to be commenting on everything.
RIKER: Good. Don't stop, my friend.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: (OC) Enterprise, Riker. This is turning out to be a very long tunnel or corridor, sir.
Scene: Alien vessel.
RIKER: No ship's crew in sight. No sign of mechanism or circuitry. No controls or read-outs. This is nothing like any vessel I've seen before.
DEANNA: Groppler Zorn, sir. A great fear just ahead.
Scene: Bridge.
DEANNA: (OC) There's a different feeling here than in the tunnel. Very different.
Scene: Alien vessel.
ZORN: (OC) No! Please! No more! Please, no more! Please, please, make it stop! Please! Please! Please! Make it stop! Please!
They find Zorn suspended in a force field, in pain.
ZORN: No! Please! No more, please! No more! Please!
RIKER: Zorn. Can you hear me?
ZORN: The pain! No!
DEANNA: Has the alien communicated?
ZORN: Please! Please! Please, no more!
DEANNA: That's it, sir. It's just one alien that I'm sensing here.
ZORN: Please! I don't understand what you want!
DEANNA: Not true. He does know.
ZORN: No, please, no more. No more! No, no, no, don't!
Riker and Data modulate their phasers to disrupt the force field, and Zorn drops onto a big soft mattress. The alien ship is not pleased about this.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: Captain!
PICARD: Transporter chief, yank them back now! Riker, acknowledge!
Flash! Q is in a Starfleet uniform.
Q: Your time is up, Captain.
PICARD: Transporter Chief, do you have their coordinates? Transporter Chief!
Q: He can't hear you, Captain.
PICARD: Transporter Chief, come in! I've people in trouble over there, Q.
Q sits himself in the Captain's chair.
PICARD: Everyone at ease. That's an order. Q, my people are in trouble. Let me help them, please. I'll do whatever you say.
The away team and Zorn materialise on the Bridge.
Q: You'll do whatever I say?
PICARD: It seems I did make that bargain.
DEANNA: The agreement isn't valid, sir. It wasn't Q that saved us.
Q: Save yourself. It may attack you now.
RIKER: It was that which sent us back, Captain.
DEANNA: Yes sir. It is not merely a vessel, sir. Somehow it is alive.
Q: She lies. Destroy it while you have a chance. Make phasers and photon torpedoes ready.
PICARD: No! Do nothing he demands.
ZORN: Captain, that thing was killing my people!
PICARD: Was there a reason?
Q: It is an unknown, Captain. Isn't that enough?
PICARD: If you'd earned that uniform you're wearing, you'd know that the unknown is what brings us out here.
Q: Wasted effort, considering the human intelligence.
PICARD: Let's test that. Beginning with the tunnels you have under Farpoint, Groppler.
RIKER: Identical to the ones on the space vessel lifeform over there. Why was it punishing you, Groppler?
PICARD: In return for some pain you'd given other creature?
ZORN: We've done nothing wrong. It was injured. We helped it.
PICARD: Thank you. That was the missing part. Lieutenant Yar, rig main phaser banks to deliver an energy beam.
TASHA: Aye, sir.
RIKER: You're right, Captain. It has to be conceivable that somewhere in this galaxy there could exist creatures able to convert energy into matter.
PICARD: And into specific patterns of matter, just as our transporters do.
TASHA: On the viewer, Captain!
The alien vessel transforms into a giant space jellyfish.
PICARD: Groppler, you captured something like that, didn't you?
ZORN: Warn my people, please, to leave Farpoint Station immediately!
Q: He lies, Captain. Shouldn't you let his people die?
PICARD: Transmit the message, leave Farpoint Space Station immediately.
DEANNA: Then it was a pair of creatures I was sensing. One down there in grief and pain, the other up here, filled with anger.
DATA: And firing not on the new space station, but on the Bandi and their city.
PICARD: Attacking those who had captured, capture its mate.
TASHA: Energy beam ready, sir.
PICARD: Lock it in on Farpoint Station.
Q: I see now it was too simple a puzzle. Generosity has always been my weakness.
PICARD: Let it have whatever it can absorb. Energise.
A stream of light bathes Farpoint.
TASHA: Now getting feedback on the beam, sir.
PICARD: Discontinue. Groppler Zorn, there'll soon be no Farpoint Station, if I'm right about this.
Q: A lucky guess.
Farpoint transforms into another space jellyfish.
ZORN: Please believe me, we meant no harm to the creature. It was starving for energy.
PICARD: Which your world furnishes you in plenty.
ZORN: We did feed it.
PICARD: Only enough to keep it alive, so that you could force it to shape itself into whatever form you needed!
The second jellyfish takes off, and the two touch tendrils, lovingly, before leaving.
DEANNA: Sir! Wonderful! A feeling of great joy. And gratitude. Great joy and gratitude, from both of them.
PICARD: Why do you use other lifeforms for recreation?
Q: If so, you've not provided the best.
PICARD: Leave us! We've passed your little test.
Q: Temper, temper, mon Capitaine.
Just then Q notices the Hatter triplets.
Q: Who are you three?
LESLEY: I'm Lesley Hatter and these are my sisters, Georda and Dana.
Q: (to Lesley) You are the most beautiful girl that I have ever met. How would you like to be my girl?
LESLEY: Hate to burst your bubble but I'm in love with someone else!
Q: Who may that be?
LESLEY: I'm not telling you. (as Q goes to grab Lesley and kiss her) Riker help!
Riker steps in between Lesley and Q.
RIKER: To get to her you have to go through me.
Q: Move out of my way!
PICARD: Get off my ship.
Q: I do so only because it suits me to. But I will not promise never to appear again.
BEVERLY: (OC) Dr. Crusher to Lesley Hatter report to Sickbay please.
Lesley looks at Captain Picard and he nods his head.
PICARD: (as Lesley walks towards the Turbolift) She's on her way, Doctor.
Scene: Sickbay.
Lesley is now entering Sickbay.
LESLEY: You wanted to see, me Doctor.
BEVERLY: Actually my son wanted to see you?
LESLEY: Your son wants to see me?
BEVERLY: Wesley wasn't there something you wanted to tell Lesley.
WESLEY: Yes there is.
LESLEY: So what did you want to tell me Wesley?
WESLEY: I was wondering why does Captain Picard allow you and your sisters aboard the Bridge? Even though he said that children aren't allowed on the Bridge.
LESLEY: Well the reason why is because I told Captain Picard that my sisters and I are friends with Riker.
WESLEY: How long have you and your sisters known Commander Riker?
LESLEY: Well he went to school with our mother. Also he was there when she gave birth to us, except that Dana's birth was a little more unique than mine and Georda's.
WESLEY: Why is that?
LESLEY: Uh, I'll explain later.
Lesley turns to leave but stops and turns back around.
BEVERLY: Are you forgeting something Lesley?
LESLEY: As a matter of fact I am.
BEVERLY: What will that be?
LESLEY: Something I forgot to tell Wesley?
WESLEY: What did you forget to tell me?
LESLEY: (sighs) Wesley, I'm in love with you.
WESLEY: I, too, am in love with you Lesley.
LESLEY: You are?
WESLEY: Yes I am.
LESLEY: How long have you been in love with me?
WESLEY: Since I first saw you at Farpoint Station.
LESLEY: That's how long I've been in love with you too.
BEVERLY: Will you two stop talking and kiss already.
Wesley kisses Lesley.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41174.2. The agreement for the rebuilding Farpoint Station has been completed per my instructions.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: All stations?
DATA: Ready for departure, sir.
PICARD: Some problem, Riker?
RIKER: Just hoping this isn't the usual way our missions will go, sir.
PICARD: Oh no, Number One. I'm sure most will be much more interesting. Let's see what's out there. Engage.

That was a good chapter and so was chapter 1. I liked in Chapter 1 when Q came and starting bugging them. I also liked the ending. I liked in chapter 2 where the Hatter Triplets came aboard. I liked when Dana and Data were talking. I liked the talk between Wesley and his mother about Lesley. I liked when Lesley and Wesley told their feelings to each other. I love the ending.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 3
The Naked Now

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

That was a good chapter. I liked the parts between Wesley and Lelsey. i liked the part between Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher. I really like the part between Deanna and Will. I love the ending.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 4
Code of Honour

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

That was an awesome chapter. I liked parts between the Tasha and Deanna. I liked the parts between Wesley and Lesley. I liked the parts between Captain Picard and Wesley. i also liked the ending where Geordi and Geodra told each other their feelings as Wesley and Lesley walked in.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 5
The Last Outpost

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41386.4. We are in pursuit of a starship of Ferengi design. Our mission is to intercept and recover a T9 energy converter which the Ferengi stole from an unmanned monitor post on Gamma Tauri Four. A theft which automatic scanners recorded, providing us with the long awaited opportunity to make close contact with a Ferengi vessel. If we succeed in this chase, it will be Starfleet's first look at a life form which, discounting rumour, we know almost nothing about.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: There she is.
PICARD: Enlarge. What is their course?
GEORDI: They are now angling through that solar system, Captain.
PICARD: Identify.
DATA: Listed as Delphi Ardu, sir. Eleven planets, unexplored.
RIKER: Stay with them, LaForge.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
TASHA: Sensors read a power surge from their last manoeuvre, Captain.
GEORDI: They are dropping to subwarp speed.
PICARD: Reduce to impulse power.
TASHA: Sensor record fluctuations in the energy readings from it, Captain.
DATA: Possibility, a malfunction in their engines, sir.
GEORDI: Breaks my heart.
WORF: In visual range, Captain.
PICARD: Fully enlarge.
The Ferengi ship is nicely curved.
GEORDI: Hello, stranger.
PICARD: Very impressive design.
RIKER: Anything on that design, Data?
DATA: Nothing specific, sir. As you know, Ferengi technology is estimated to be generally equal to our own.
PICARD: But that does not mean identical, however.
DATA: Correct, sir. We are no doubt advanced in some areas, they in others.
GEORDI: Showing another power surge, sir.
WORF: They are firing on us.
PICARD: Damage report?
TASHA: Shields holding.
DATA: Mostly electromagnetic, sir. Fusion generator and batteries down by thirty percent.
GEORDI: Our impulse engines are surging now.
WORF: They're firing again.
A bright, bright flash on the viewscreen.
TASHA: Deflector shield power weakening, Captain. Phasers ready. Photon torpedoes ready.
RIKER: Do we return their fire, sir?
PICARD: Negative, Number One. They're just reacting to our close pursuit. Fall back a bit but stay with them.
DATA: They are slowing too, sir.
TASHA: They may be turning to fight.
PICARD: Open hailing freq. (puzzled) Why are we gaining on them? Don't anticipate.
GEORDI: I'm not, sir. Something's wrong.
DATA: Sir, something is dragging us forward.
PICARD: I read that, too. Lieutenant Yar, what do your sensors show?
TASHA: Not certain, sir. I'm getting very confusing readings.
DATA: Captain, this shouldn't be. Our ship's power systems are failing.
TASHA: Deflector shield failing. Phasers going inoperative, Captain.
GEORDI: Captain, something is completely immobilising us.
WORF: Immobilised by the damn Ferengi.
PICARD: We need more information. What the hell are they are using?
RIKER: Obviously we've underestimated their technology, Captain.
PICARD: Considerably. It appears the Ferengi have us right where they want us. In their sights. Are you searching all frequencies? Any sign of any kind of messages?
WORF: Negative, sir.
PICARD: Weapons report, Lieutenant.
TASHA: I have phasers and torpedoes armed, but I show insufficient power to fire them.
PICARD: Engineering, give me status on power recovery. Engineering, come in. Why aren't they answering? LaForge.
GEORDI: Sir.
PICARD: Get me a full report from Engineering.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
Geordi leaves.
RIKER: It's impossible they could be draining all power from all systems.
PICARD: Counselor?
DEANNA: I'm sensing nothing from them Captain. Which could mean they can shield their thoughts and emotions from others.
PICARD: It still makes it our move.
DEANNA: Sir, they may know as little about us as we do about them.
RIKER: Except that they know they've got us in deep trouble.
PICARD: If so, the question becomes how will they use that knowledge? Data, do you have any information touching this on any file?
DATA: None, sir. Only hearsay and third hand reports, most of which conflict.
RIKER: Which reports do not conflict?
DATA: That the Ferengi are, well, the best description may be traders.
PICARD: What kind of traders?
DATA: A comparison modern scholars have drawn from Earth history likens the Ferengi to the ocean-going Yankee traders of eighteenth and nineteenth century America, sir.
RIKER: From the history of my forebears. Yankee traders.
DATA: Who in this case sail the galaxy in search of mercantile and territorial opportunity.
RIKER: And are those scholars saying the Ferengi may not unlike us?
DATA: Hardly, sir. I believe this analogy refers to the worst quality of capitalists. The Ferengi are believed to conduct their affairs of commerce on the ancient principle caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware.
RIKER: Yankee traders. I like the sound of that.
DATA: Well, sir, I doubt they wear red, white and blue, or look anything like Uncle Sam.
PICARD: Engineering? Join LaForge down below in Engineering, Number One.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Without warp capacity, we're just a floating target.
WORF: Uncle who?
TASHA: What have bright, primary colours got to do with it?
PICARD: I understand the allusion. Colours representing countries at a time when they competed with each other. Red, white and blue for the United States. Whereas the French more properly used the same colours in the order of blue, white and red.
DATA: And the German nation red, black and gold. The Italians green, white and red. The British.
PICARD: That's enough, Data.
DATA: It was you who.
PICARD: We're discussing the Ferengi. I wish I had some clue as to what they will do next.
DATA: Given what is now happening to our ship, sir, their weapons could be vastly superior to ours.
PICARD: Yes, Data, that is a natural assumption. Engineering?
Scene: Engineering.
RIKER: Bottom line, LaForge.
GEORDI: It's not good, sir. The Ferengi forcefield that holds this ship compensates almost as fast as we can increase power.
RIKER: Almost?
GEORDI: Well, there's a point three hundred seventy two millisecond delay between use of our power and the neutralising counter force of the Ferengi. See, we push and they push back in equal force, sir.
RIKER: What's our acceleration delay between slow-reverse impulse and top warp speed?
GEORDI: That's point three-hundred milliseconds. There's (realisation) Ah, I see where you're going. We shift down and then kick hard into warp nine. Yeah! Come back fighting! whooey!
RIKER: Can we do it, Geordi?
GEORDI: Ask me after it's done, sir. (to engineer) I want a slow reverse into drop off over five minutes. We'll show them what this baby can do, sir.
RIKER: Give me everything you've got.
GEORDI: Aye, aye, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: In a sudden, abrupt power surge to high warp speed, Captain, we may be able to break loose from that Ferengi forcefield.
PICARD: I wonder what they're thinking over there.
RIKER: They're wondering what we're going to do next.
WORF: I say fight, sir. There's nothing shameful in falling before a superior enemy.
Geordi enters.
PICARD: And nothing shameful in a strategic retreat, either.
GEORDI: All systems ready, Captain. And communication now restored to Engineering.
PICARD: Excellent, La Forge. Now let's, er, let's throw them off guard. Lieutenant Yar. Open hailing frequencies.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
PICARD: At least we won't begin with weakness. Attention Ferengi starship! This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise. In the name of the United Federation of Planets, I demand you return the T9 energy converter you removed from Gamma Tauri Four. Send that in all language forms.
TASHA: All language forms, sir.
PICARD: Sometimes, Riker, the best way to win a fight is not to be there.
RIKER: Yes, sir. He will triumph who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
PICARD: Glad the Academy's still teaches the strategies of Sun Tzu. This delay had better prove out, LaForge.
GEORDI: Point three hundred milliseconds, sir.
PICARD: Let's blast full power into warp nine. Ready?
GEORDI: On your command, Captain.
PICARD: On a count of three. Stand by on phasers. One, set warp to nine. Two, divert shield power to the main engines. Three.
Everything vibrates, but they don't leave.
PICARD: Merde. Shields up.
DATA: Captain, I think you had better see this.
PICARD: What's wrong?
DATA: Someone is reading every file, every bit of information stored in the Enterprise memory banks.
GEORDI: They can do that?
DATA: And more, perhaps.
DEANNA: Captain, if I may recommend? With our attention on the Ferengi vessel, we have ignored the planet.
PICARD: Data, consult the charts on this planet. See what we've got on it. Conference evaluation.
Scene: Observation lounge.
PICARD: So, while we still have some power left, it is time for difficult decisions. Opinions please.
TASHA: I say put all available power into a full-out combined phaser and photon torpedo salvo. Destroy their ability to sustain this forcefield, sir.
WORF: Yes! Hit them hard and hit them fast.
PICARD: Impractical and provocative. Even assuming that we have the power to sustain such a tactic.
TASHA: But Captain, isn't firing on us an act of war?
DEANNA: The facts are the Ferengis did fire at us, but we were chasing them. Since then, all they've done is searched our computers, trying to learn who and what we are.
PICARD: Your point, Counselor?
DEANNA: Let's talk to them.
PICARD: It's been tried. No response.
DEANNA: But did we tell them anything they wanted to hear?
PICARD: La Forge? Other opinions? Thank you for your advice.
The staff start to leave.
PICARD: Will? I haven't had your assessment.
RIKER: I believe we've covered every available alternatives, Captain. Are there other options that you want to analyse?
PICARD: The only one remaining is the one that needs no conversation. The only one we must avoid.
RIKER: Sir?
PICARD: The one that leads to total annihilation.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Open hailing frequencies.
DATA: Open, sir.
PICARD: Attention, Ferengi starship. This is Captain Picard. It is obvious that we are in a situation here which needs resolving, and we are willing to do whatever is required, whatever is necessary. I would like, I would request, that you present your terms to us.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41386.5. It is with a heavy heart that I have offered to meet whatever reasonable and necessary terms are demanded by the Ferengi. I fear for my people and my vessel in the event the unknown Ferengi ask the unreasonable. How can I oppose even unreasonable demands?
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: It's moving, sir.
WORF: We ask to surrender and now they fire on us?
TASHA: Ready torpedoes, sir? We have enough power for a few of them.
PICARD: Ready, but hold on ready. Open hailing frequencies.
DATA: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
PICARD: Ferengi vessel, we are awaiting your response.
TASHA: Suggest first strike, sir. Our shields now only have sixty three seconds of power left before lowering.
WORF: If the Ferengi ship's sensors can read us, sir, they will be waiting until we are most vulnerable.
RIKER: I'm afraid I agree, Captain. They have not responded.
PICARD: We'll wait a bit more, Number One.
TASHA: Fifty seconds.
PICARD: Patience. Patience.
TARR: (OC) The quicker we can come to terms, the better, NCC 1701-D.
PICARD: Who is speaking?
TARR: I am Tarr. DaiMon of the Ferengi. You wish to discuss surrender, Captain Picard?
PICARD: What I said, DaiMon Tarr, is.
TARR: (OC) Unconditional surrender, I warn you, is totally unacceptable! We will die to the last one of us before such dishonour!
TASHA: Hailing frequencies closed, sir.
PICARD: Something has seized their ship too. They're in the same predicament as us. (to Geordi) Launch a sensor probe. Set it to search for the source of whatever this something is that is holding both ships. Go back to hailing frequency, fast.
And I regret, DaiMon Tarr, that I can no longer negotiate unless it is conducted visually.
TARR: (OC) Your complete message not received, Enterprise, but visual communication is against our custom.
PICARD: And it is against Starfleet orders to accept a surrender otherwise. Do you withdraw your surrender?
TARR: (OC) You give us no choice, Enterprise. May we have a visual on you as well?
PICARD: Agreed, DaiMon Tarr. You should be able to view us now. Are we on your screen?
The face of a humanoid with enormous ears fills the viewscreen. He even has crooked pointed teeth.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Yes. The ugliness of the human was not an exaggeration. I do not know how your twisted alien culture has paralysed our vessel, but I concede your Enterprise is superior. We will return your worthless T9 device and we offer the life of our second officers as required by the Ferengi code.
DATA: (sotto voce to Geordi) Fortunately, Starfleet has no such rules involving our second officers.
TARR: Is this to your satisfaction, Picard Captain?
PICARD: Your offer may be inadequate, but I will discuss it with my staff. Stand by for further communications.
Scene: Observation lounge.
A couple of kids are playing by the Enterprise tableau.
RIKER: Matthew! Pola! You know this area is off limits. Come on, come on. (they scurry out as Picard enters) Boys will be boys, Captain.
PICARD: Lieutenant, have you launched the probe?
GEORDI: Aye, sir. We should getting those readings soon.
PICARD: Well, if we're not holding the Ferengi and they're not holding us, who the hell is?
GEORDI: The probe will give us some of those answers, sir.
Data has found a Chinese finger puzzle that the children have left behind.
PICARD: Data, you were going to show us something.
DATA: As requested, Captain, library computer information on this planet. It has been charted only from long range scans. It is Class M, but shows no indications of life forms, sentient or otherwise. However, you may find this of interest. Resolving it into our language.
A holographic display over the table of the Tkon Empire data entry.
DATA: The centre of a huge space federation, a population of trillions.
PICARD: Trillions? I've never heard the word Tkon before.
DATA: Understandable. It has been extinct six hundred thousand of our (his forefingers are stuck in the puzzle) of our years. These planets were once outposts of that empire.
PICARD: Data, what are you doing?
DATA: Apologies, Captain. I seem to have reached an odd functional impasse. I am stuck.
PICARD: Then get unstuck and continue with the briefing.
DATA: Yes, sir. That is what I am trying to do, sir, but the solution eludes me.
GEORDI: My hero.
Picard reaches across, pushes his fingers together and removes the puzzle.
PICARD: Continue, Commander.
DATA: Intriguing. It describes the Empire as being highly advanced and powerful, and capable of actually moving stars.
RIKER: Stars whose planets are their defence system?
DATA: Correct, sir. Outposts. The planet below was possibly one of them.
TASHA: (OC) Excuse the interruption, Captain, but this may be worth it. We're now receiving a signal from the probe.
PICARD: We'll take it here.
The display changes to the planet with streams of energy heading out to both ships
GEORDI: Incredible!
RIKER: There's our mysterious something, Captain. It is a forcefield of some kind.
PICARD: Reaching up from the planet surface. Amazing power. Data, what does the legend say about the end of the Tkon Empire?
DATA: Their sun went supernova, sir.
PICARD: Could this planet have escaped that?
DATA: This planet may have been the most distant outpost, sir, but it shows no life form readings.
PICARD: We should take a look at it, Number One. Stand by with an away team.
RIKER: And if the Ferengi also realise the forcefield emanates from the planet, sir?
PICARD: That's a complication. Maybe we should ask them to join us in this.
GEORDI: Team up with the Ferengi, sir?
PICARD: We've been ordered to learn all we can about them. Do you know a better way?
GEORDI: Data.
Geordi throws the finger puzzle to him.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. In orbit of a mysterious planet, whose unexplained forcefield has seized us with a power almost beyond imagination. If there is a solution to this, it almost certainly will involve cooperation from the Ferengi.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: Ship's power drain is critical, Captain. I must now shut down our shields to maintain life support systems.
PICARD: Understood. Open hailing frequencies.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
PICARD: Ferengi vessel from Enterprise, come in.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Your alien images again shock us.
PICARD: With regard to the surrender, DaiMon Tarr. The facts are somewhat different.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Our own probe has already shown us your trickery, human. We withdraw our surrender.
PICARD: Agreed. Perhaps you would agree to a more productive relationship?
TARR: (on viewscreen) I prefer a more profitable one, human.
DATA: Yankee trader.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Explain what means yankee traders?
GEORDI: He heard that.
PICARD: He recognises your interest in profit. Or is that an incorrect assumption?
TARR: (on viewscreen) We seek only what is equitable. What do you seek? Why did you begin by attacking us?
PICARD: We did not attack you. We gave chase in order to recover a Federation-owned energy device which.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Which we know is ours. Your barbarous Federation placed it on one of our planets!
PICARD: On the contrary, Gamma Tauri Four is recognised by all civilised members of.
TARR: (on viewscreen) The Ferengi are not uncivilised, human! Are you suggesting otherwise?
PICARD: All I'm saying is that you removed something which clearly did not belong to you.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Are you now calling us thieves?!
PICARD: On the contrary, I have no wish to discuss issues of property or of territory, when our mutual problem remains. Like it or not, we are both trapped by this energy draining forcefield from the planet.
TARR: (on viewscreen) On that matter there can be no argument.
PICARD: I would like to propose a swap.
TARR: (on viewscreen) And what is a swap?
PICARD: It's a trade, an exchange.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Yes, trade, human. What do you offer?
PICARD: We will tell you what we know about the planet, and in trade, you will give us your information.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Ridiculous. How will we know you will not withhold information?
PICARD: We must trust each other, Tarr.
TARR: (on viewscreen) Amusing, human. Trust each other?
PICARD: I propose that we test this relationship by cooperating in a joint exploration of the planet surface.
TARR: (on viewscreen) And what profit is in this, Picard Captain?
PICARD: The profit, DaiMon Tarr, of saving all our lives.
TARR: (on viewscreen) We will agree, no doubt foolishly. But you are warned that any further trickery on your part will be met with no mercy.
PICARD: Agreed. If you care to join us, we have a well-proven transporter device.
TARR: (on viewscreen) We have a matter-energy device of our own. We will beam a science team of three to whatever co-ordinates you propose.
PICARD: Excellent. We will transmit the information shortly. Enterprise out.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies off.
PICARD: I would log that agreement as promising, at least.
RIKER: I wonder, Captain. I'm not usually one for distrust at first sight, but this may be an exception.
DATA: Especially in view of the fact the image he transmitted, sir, was somehow distorted.
DEANNA: I sensed the same thing, Captain. He's hiding something.
RIKER: With this power drain we can't delay. Now, I'd like some additional help in case we run into trouble. Can you spare Worf?
PICARD: Take him. And be careful, Number One.
Scene: Transporter room.
DATA: With this power drain, we may have trouble communicating with the Enterprise, sir.
RIKER: Understood. Anything else?
DATA: Due to this forcefield, there is presently no way to beam us back, sir.
GEORDI: You had to ask.
RIKER: Understood.
Georda and Dana walk in.
GEORDA: Riker, permission for my sister and I to join the Away Team?
RIKER: Granted.
DANA: Thank you, Riker.
RIKER: Where's Lesley?
GEORDA: She's with Wesley in his quarters.
RIKER: Energise.
Scene: Planet surface.
It's a barren place with interesting crystalline structures here and there, and lightning flashes almost continuously. Riker appears alone.
RIKER: Tasha? Data? Dana? Geordi? Georda? Worf? Anybody?!
He goes searching for the others.
RIKER: Data? Dana?
He finds him standing on one of the crystalline outcrops.
RIKER: What are you doing up there?
DATA: Most intriguing, sir. I assume a problem of inaccurately transmitted programme coordinates due to the force field around the ship, sir. Are we alone, sir?
Data jumps down and than helps Dana down.
DANA: (in a flirty voice) Thank you, Data.
DATA: You are welcome, Dana.
RIKER: Unfortunately. Let's find the others. What do you make of these?
DATA: Crystalline. Mostly inert. Nothing to write home about.
RIKER: Excuse me?
DATA: Slang, sir. I did use it correctly, did I not?
RIKER: They've got to be around here somewhere.
They carry on searching.
RIKER: What's that?
DATA: What?
RIKER: That! Geordi!
Geordi is hanging upside down from the only tree in the area. Georda and Dana join them.
RIKER: Are you conscious?
GEORDI: Do I look conscious?
RIKER: What are you doing?
GEORDI: I'm resting, sir. My foot's stuck. Up there. I materialized upside down above the planet surface.
GEORDA: Are you alright, baby?
GEORDI: I'm fine, princess.
DATA: Tricorder's useless, sir. Communication's gone too. Fortunately you did not break any.
GEORDI: Data, who's that?
The Ferengis are watching them. Little crouching men with whips in their hands.
RIKER: Who are you?
The Ferengi let fly energy bolts from their whips, knocking the three men out. Actually, it takes two jolts to knock out Riker.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. It is now six hours since our away team beamed down to the planet surface. On the Enterprise, our condition is rapidly worsening. Ordinarily, with reserve power alone, we could maintain life support for several months. But the force holding has closed down all engines and is draining our reserve power too.
Scene: Recreation lounge.
Blankets are being handed out.
DEANNA: It's getting much, much colder, sir. How far down is it likely to go?
PICARD: A lot. Even in orbital space it'll get below minus two hundred degrees.
BEVERLY: We won't have to worry much past minus seventy or so.
PICARD: Feels like that right now. Good. Thank you.
Scene: Planet surface.
Inquisitive fingers remove Geordi's comm. badge. Worf is dragged in to join his colleagues.
LETEK: If he moves, kill him.
MORDOC: Letek, has what we've done broken our agreement with their captain?
LETEK: We will accuse the humans of preparing to ambush us. It will be our word against theirs and who is more trustworthy, Mordoc? (the comm. badge) It looks like gold. Tastes like gold.
RIKER: It is gold.
Renewed thunder and lightning makes the Ferengi try to cover their ears.
LETEK: Accursed planet!
RIKER: It's nothing compared to what our Captain will do when he finds out you've broken our landing party agreement.
LETEK: What part of the agreement? You appeared and attacked us. Are you one of their assassins?
RIKER: I'm Commander William Riker, First Officer of the USS Enterprise. You have a lot to learn.
Work pounces on two of the Ferengi, Data and Riker join in the melee. The little aliens fight dirty.
RIKER: I've got this one!
DATA: (holding one aloft) Careful, Commander, they're much stronger than.
Riker gets thumped, hard.
WORF: Pygmy cretins!
LETEK: Kill them.
MORDOC: Hideous monsters!
TASHA: No! (they stop) Good, you've heard of phasers. Now, over there.
MORDOC: Is this a female?
KAYRON: A human female, Letek?
LETEK: Yes, it is true. You work with females, arm them, and force them to wear clothing.
MORDOC: Sickening.
KAYRON: Look, Letek two younger females also wearing clothes.
Dana hides behind Data for protection and Georda is in Geordi's arms for protection.
Scene: Recreation lounge.
PICARD: I've diverted the reserve power to the family decks. They'll last longest. Is there anything else we can do, Doctor? Where's Wesley?
BEVERLY: He's in our quarters. I was tempted to give him a sedative.
PICARD: You shouldn't.
BEVERLY: I know, but he's my son. I love him.
PICARD: He has the right to meet death awake.
BEVERLY: Is that a male perspective?
PICARD: Rubbish. What about Lesley?
BEVERLY: I asked her if she will go and stay in her quarters but she insisted on staying with Wesley.
PICARD: Did you give her a sedative?
BEVERLY: No I didn't because she told me that she didn't need one. Also no matter what she won't leave his side.
PICARD: She must truly be in love with him.
BEVERLY: I guess she does love him that much.
Scene: Planet surface.
The Ferengi are dodging about like a live 'find the lady' game.
TASHA: Hold it right there! Stop. Stop!
RIKER: Phasers on stun.
TASHA: Already set.
She fires, but the beam is deflected into a crystalline structure.
TASHA: What's going on?
Letek fires his whip, and that whirls around before being sucked into the crystals. His whip does not coil again.
LETEK: What is this?
DATA: I believe we can deduce that these crystalline tree shapes are actually energy collectors.
RIKER: Along the same principle as that which is draining energy from our ships.
GEORDI: But the Ferengi weapons were working when we first arrived.
TASHA: Which means something new has happened.
GEORDI: I'm finally beginning to understand what my eyes have been showing me. It's patterns of force everywhere. This entire planet has been turned into a power accumulator.
RIKER: And these?
GEORDI: It's the whole point of this place. I can see the planet's power emanating from. Commander.
There's an impressive display of controlled energy, which resolves to a vague face.
PORTAL: Be you barbarians? Speak!
The Ferengi clutch their heads in pain.
PORTAL: Who meets the challenge? Who will it be?
LETEK: (points at Riker) Him.
PORTAL: You have awakened Portal six three. Do you petition to enter the Empire?
RIKER: Who asks the question?
PORTAL: A guardian of the Tkon Empire.
The energy turns into a humanoid figure in a long hooded cloak, leaning on a staff.
PORTAL: Biped. Excellent.
RIKER: Why should we petition to entry to an empire that no longer exists?
PORTAL: Why do you attempt deception? The Empire is forever.
RIKER: Your empire fell prey to a supernova.
PORTAL: We are forever.
RIKER: Data, Please repeat the file.
DATA: It is a matter of record, Portal. In the Age of Makto, the central star of the Tkon Empire destabilised and.
PORTAL: There has never been an Age of Makto.
DATA: In fact, there have been many ages which have come and passed since Makto.
PORTAL: This is the Age of Bastu!
DATA: I'm afraid not. According to the Tkon use of galactic motionary startime charts, after Bastu came Cimi, Xora, Makto.
PORTAL: Enough! Absurdities!
RIKER: You must have been asleep, Portal, for hundreds of thousands of our years.
LETEK: Deception is the way of the human. We Ferengi will gladly make a petition.
RIKER: We invite your petition.
PORTAL: Speak.
LETEK: We wish to offer our services to serve the Tkon Empire at no profit. Return control of our starship to us and we will happily destroy the human criminals and their vessel which attacked us without provocation. They came to loot your empire, but we intercepted them.
PORTAL: You are accused of deceit and treachery. Do you give yourself up for judgement?
RIKER: Yes. If you believe those accusations, then you certainly should act on them.
LETEK: And there is even more. We can prove that the humans are destroyers of legal commerce, and that they selfishly withhold vital technology from backward worlds.
MORDOC: And necessary defensive weapons, too. We Ferengi now challenge this human madness.
RIKER: I admit we withheld modern technology from some worlds.
KAYRON: You see? They are demented. Their values are insane. You cannot believe the business opportunities they have destroyed.
LETEK: Proof of their barbarism. They adorn themselves with gold, a despicable use of a valuable metal. And they shamelessly clothe their females.
MORDOC: Inviting others to unclothe them. The very depth of perversion.
TASHA: Paws off, Ferengi.
MORDOC: No female, human or Ferengi, can order Mordoc around! Submit!
TASHA: Just try it, shorty.
RIKER: At ease, Lieutenant! And we still have more faults.
DATA: They should add that Starfleet has permitted several civilisations to fall. We have at times allowed the strong and violent to overcome the weak.
LETEK: They admit their crimes! Hear them! They admit the evil that they do!
PORTAL: Barbarian!
LETEK: Yes, you show wisdom.
PORTAL: Barbarians all! But this one first, in the fashion the Empire has always challenged savages.
WORF: No! For battle, come to me!
RIKER: No! That's an order.
PORTAL: You have a single chance for life. One only. What is the answer to my challenge? I offer a thought. He will triumph who knows when to fight and when not to fight. You are being tested, Riker! What is the answer?
RIKER: How do you know my name?
Portal whirls his staff, bringing it to a sudden stop by Riker's right ear. He doesn't flinch.
PORTAL: Ahhh. You are facing fate with composure. But what is the answer to my challenge?
RIKER: Fear is the true enemy, the only enemy.
Portal lowers his staff, and becomes friendly and chatty.
PORTAL: Unlike these little ones who close their minds, your mind holds interesting thoughts. Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will always be victorious. Why that thought? And who is this Sun Tzu you revere?
RIKER: An old Chinese philosopher from ancient Earth history.
PORTAL: You must tell me more of this wisdom, so much like our own.
RIKER: Gladly. But first our starship. Can you release it?
PORTAL: It is released. All power is restored.
Scene: Bridge.
The ship whirrs back into life, and people start to open their eyes.
BEVERLY: Not a moment too soon, Jean. I mean, Captain.
Scene: Planet surface.
PORTAL: I admit I had my doubts as your ships battled each other in overt acts of belligerence. Normally, I would have destroyed all of you and your ships, but something confused me.
RIKER: Which was?
PORTAL: First, you wanted to murder each other. Then you were willing to help each other.
LETEK: What of our vessel? We knew the same answer.
MORDOC: The truth is, I gave those words to this human.
PORTAL: What of them? Shall I destroy them?
RIKER: Then they would learn nothing.
PORTAL: A most interesting conclusion. But what if they will never learn, Riker?
RIKER: Is this a test also?
PORTAL: In life, one is always tested.
RIKER: I find them very much as we were a several hundred years ago, but possessing the technology they have now, they're very dangerous.
KAYRON: Untrue. We seek friendship with you.
RIKER: But we can hardly hate what we once were. They may grow and learn.
PORTAL: And learn ways to destroy you.
RIKER: Our values require us to face that possibility. What of you, with your empire gone?
PORTAL: The universe exists to me to create life. I shall sleep, until needed again.
He walks away, becomes more stooped, then vanishes.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Compliments, Lieutenant.
TASHA: Thank you.
PICARD: Lieutenant Worf.
Geordi and Data enter.
PICARD: You've done well.
DATA: Something to write home about.
GEORDI: Something to write home about? Data, that's very human.
RIKER: The T9 energy converter has been beamed aboard and secured, sir. The Ferengi complained bitterly, but one final roar from Portal convinced them.
PICARD: I commend your performance, Number One.
RIKER: One final request, sir. Permission to beam a box of Data's Chinese finger puzzles over to the Ferengi. A thank you for all they tried to do.
PICARD: Make it so.
Scene: Ten Forward
Georda and Geordi enter and notice Dana sitting by herself looking out the window. Geordi and Georda go over and sit down next to Dana.
GEORDA: What's wrong sis?
DANA: Nothing, nothing at all.
GEORDA: Dana, I know you well enough to know when something's wrong with you.
DANA: Alright you got me.
GEORDA: So what's wrong?
DANA: Well I think that I am in love with Data.
GEORDA: You're in love with Data.
GEORDI: Data is an Android and incapable of falling in love.
DANA: Geordi, I am an Android as well.
GEORDI: You are?
DANA: Yes I am.
GEORDI: But if you're an Android how are you capable of a human feeling like love?
DANA: Well you see Geordi, I am a very unique Android one of a kind.
GEORDI: What do you mean?
DANA: In most ways I am like Data I have all the abilities that he can do. Also I am in some ways like humans and I can do some of the stuff you humans can.
GEORDI: Like what?
DANA: I have human feelings. I can sleep when I want to. I can eat and drink.
GEORDI: So what you are saying you're like Data and like us at the same time?
DANA: That's right.
GEORDI: Does Data know this?
DANA: No he does not.
GEORDI: Why doesn't he know?
GEORDA: She's too shy to tell him.
DANA: Like I am too shy to tell him that I am in love with him.
GEORDI: When you do tell him what do you think he'll say?
DANA: He probably will not feel the same about me.
GEORDI: And if he doesn't?
DANA: I will try and make him see that even an Android needs love.

That was a good chapter. I liked when Dana and Georda wanted to go on the away mission. I liked part between Geodri and Georda when he was upside down. I liked Dana hid behind Data and Georda hid behind Geordi. I liked when Geordi and Georda found Dana in the Ten Forward. I really liked the ending where Dana told about being in love with Data.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 6
Where No One Has Gone Before

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, Stardate 41263.1. We have rendezvoused with the USS Fearless, from which a Starfleet propulsion expert and his assistant are beaming over to conduct tests on the Enterprise's warp drive engines. They have completed similar adjustments on two other Starfleet vessels.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: I don't understand your concern, Number One. They're not authorised to make any alterations in our engines, and according to Starfleet's report, they will simply test different ways of entering warp speed and different intermix formulas. What's the harm in that?
RIKER: It's the specs that Kosinski sent us. In my opinion, sir, they're gibberish.
PICARD: Gibberish?
RIKER: Mister Data, would you explain?
DATA: Sir, we put Mister Kosinski's specs into the computer and ran a controlled test on them. There was no improvement in engine performance.
PICARD: Then how do you explain Starfleet's report that the same tests on the USS Ajax and on the Fearless over there, resulted in a measurable increase in propulsion.
RIKER: Our engines are new, sir. Top condition. The tests on those older ships may have simply been to straighten out some engine inefficiency.
CHIEF: (OC) Bridge from Transporter Chief. Two from USS Fearless are ready to beam over.
PICARD: Stand by for Commander Riker, Chief. He's on his way.
CHIEF: (OC) Aye, sir,
PICARD: Since you're concerned about these tests.
RIKER: Yes, sir. Captain, if I may, I'll ask Counselor Troi to look these visitors over.
PICARD: Very good.
Scene: Transporter room.
RIKER: Welcome aboard, Mister Kosinski. I'm the First Officer, Commander William Riker, and this is.
KOSINSKI: Where is the Captain, please?
RIKER: He is engaged in other duties, sir.
KOSINSKI: A ship's engines should be a concern of the ship's Captain.
RIKER: They are, sir. Which is why they have made the First Officer directly responsible for an engine's condition and performance. Guided, of course, by one of our Chief Engineers, Lieutenant Commander Argyle in this case.
ARGYLE: A pleasure, sir. I appreciated receiving the specs.
KOSINSKI: To which you have no end of questions?
ARGYLE: Aye, I have.
RIKER: And you, sir, are listed as.
TRAVELLER: As Mister Kosinski's assistant. My actual name is unpronounceable by humans.
RIKER: You're from Tau Alpha C. That's very distant.
KOSINSKI: All approved and described in the Starfleet communications. Now, I would like to set up in the Engine Room immediately.
RIKER: I'll have our Chief Engineer show you to his Engine Room.
KOSINSKI: No need. I know my way around starships.
He barges between Riker and Argyle and out into the corridor, followed by his assistant, then Argyle.
RIKER: One thing that Kosinski isn't hiding, his bad disposition.
DEANNA: Agreed. Also, he's arrogant, overbearing, self-important, and very sure of himself and his ability.
RIKER: And the other one, his assistant?
DEANNA: He's the puzzle. With most life forms I can usually feel something. I may not be able to understand or interpret it, but I feel something, if only a presence. With him, nothing. Empty space. It's as though he isn't even here. Something about this concerns me. I don't know what, I can't point out a reason yet.
RIKER: Stay concerned, please. The safety of the Enterprise may be entrusted to these two.
Scene: Engineering.
Kosinski sweeps into Engineering as if he owns it, entourage in tow.
KOSINSKI: Inform the Bridge I shall begin the first test in precisely fifteen minutes. Why are those children here?
Wesley is at an ancillary station with Lesley by his side.
ARGYLE: He's working on a school project. The girl is his girlfriend and she is always with him. Also she is a friend of Commander Riker. Before you begin, there are some questions. First, tell us how you arrived.
KOSINSKI: In order to save myself time, let me ask those questions for you. You received the information which Starfleet provided, you fed it into your computer as precisely as humanly possible, then you did a controlled test. And then, to your astonishment, nothing happened. So you said, what's going on? This doesn't work. Kosinski's a fraud. You see, I have had this conversation on other Starfleet vessels before. They didn't understand it. why should you?
Meanwhile, the Traveller is interested in what Wesley is doing, looking over his shoulder.
ARGYLE: Surely you're not saying it's unexplainable?
KOSINSKI: I'm saying I'm not a teacher, nor do I wish to become one. I have neither the inclination nor the time.
RIKER: You have all the time you need.
KOSINSKI: I don't think you understand. This has already been approved by Starfleet Command.
RIKER: But it hasn't been approved by the Chief Engineer or by me.
KOSINSKI: I didn't know that was necessary.
RIKER: Now you do.
KOSINSKI: Perhaps I should speak to Captain Picard.
RIKER: If you like. It won't change anything.
KOSINSKI: How basic shall I be?
RIKER: I'll leave that to you.
They go over to the big multi-station console in the middle of the room.
KOSINSKI: Would you get onto the auxiliary panel, please?
Wesley gives up his console to the Traveller.
KOSINSKI: In order to save time, my assistant is going to lay in my base formulas more rapidly than any human being possibly could, including even myself. So, here then, in the simplest possible terms, what I do. Now, this warp drive system was tuned only in the grossest possible sense, at least according to my standards. What I do is specific. Thank you. Well, sufficient to say for now, these symbols (continues under Wesley and Traveller's whispered conversation)
TRAVELLER: Something troubles you with the way this is configured? How about it now?
WESLEY: Yes. But shouldn't these be connected? Here and here.
TRAVELLER: Now will it do what Kosinski says it will?
WESLEY: It has a chance. It might work better this way. Yes.
The Traveller is impressed with Wesley.
TRAVELLER: Who is this lovely young lady?
WESLEY: My girlfriend, Lesley Hatter.
KOSINSKI: View with me if you will this screen as we consider the following. Now, is this merely mechanics or is it nature that we deal with in all of this? And what else than nature are the elementals of space and time? You are trained in the system. You go in a straight line, competent, yes, and perhaps even innovative in a minimalist way, but what I do here is not the end of the process, it is the beginning. So, what do I do? Go back to the Fearless, which I left with a more efficient warp drive than I found? Or do you cast off your ignorance and allow me to continue?
RIKER: Could anything he's proposing damage our system?
ARGYLE: How could it? It's meaningless.
RIKER: Then we should let him try it?
KOSINSKI: What do you mean, let he him try it? Don't talk about me in the third person like I'm not standing right here!
ARGYLE: Yes, we might as well let him try it.
KOSINSKI: Oh yes, we might as well let him try it. You are too generous. Boy! Boy, don't play with that.
Scene: Bridge.
Picard enters.
WORF: Captain, main Engineering is ready to proceed.
PICARD: Engineering, this is the Bridge. It's your call.
Scene: Engineering.
KOSINSKI: Do this one just like the last time. Nothing changes. Commander, I'll make my preliminary adjustments at warp one point five, and complete them as we achieve warp four.
RIKER: Engineering to bridge, did you copy that?
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Affirmative, Number One. Are you ready?
Scene: Engineering.
RIKER: We are.
PICARD: (OC) LaForge, set in warp one point five.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Warp one point five, sir.
PICARD: Engage.
Scene: Engineering.
KOSINSKI: All right, here we go.
Wesley and Lesley watches the Traveller make adjustments on his console, while Kosinski taps at him. The Traveller turns to smile at Wesley and Lesley.
KOSINSKI: What are you doing?
Consternation. The warp core appears to be racing. The Traveller puts his hands on the console and partially vanishes. The Enterprise takes off at ridiculous speed.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Captain, we're passing warp ten!
The viewscreen looks like the opening credits to Doctor Who. There's a jolt which throws the Traveller off his stool. Kosinski is clueless.
PICARD: What is our velocity?
DATA: It's off the scale, sir.
PICARD: Reverse engines.
DATA: Captain, no one has ever reversed engines at this velocity.
PICARD: Because no one has gone this fast. Reverse engines.
They arrive at a beautiful place.
PICARD: All stop.
GEORDI: Reading all stop, sir.
PICARD: Position?
GEORDI: Calculating it, sir. Data, what do you read there?
DATA: Malfunction, I trust.
PICARD: Position, Mister LaForge.
GEORDI: Well, sir, according to these calculations, we've not only left our own galaxy, but passed through two others, ending up on the far side of Triangulum. The galaxy known as M Thirty Three.
PICARD: That's not possible. Data, what distance have we travelled?
DATA: Two million seven hundred thousand light years.
PICARD: I can't accept that.
DATA: You must, sir. Our comparisons show it to be completely accurate.
GEORDI: And I calculate that at maximum warp, sir it would take over three hundred years to get home.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41263.2. This will be a rather unusual log entry, assuming Starfleet ever receives it. As I have already informed my crew, a phenomenal surge of power during a warp speed experiment has sent our starship hurtling out of our own galaxy, past another, taking us over two million seven hundred thousand light years in a few minutes.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Message on this has been transmitted to Starfleet, sir.
DATA: Which, traveling subspace, they should receive in fifty-one years, ten months nine weeks, sixteen days
PICARD: Mister Data!
DATA: Sir?
Kosinski, Riker and Argyle enter.
KOSINSKI: Captain Picard, I presume?
RIKER: We're still trying to determine what happened, sir.
KOSINSKI: The truth is, Captain, I made a mistake. A wonderful, incredible mistake.
PICARD: Just explain what brought us here.
KOSINSKI: As the power grew, I applied the energy asymptomatically. I anticipated some tilling, but it didn't occur. Now that was my error, using the Bessel functions at the beginning.
PICARD: What is he saying, Number One?
RIKER: To tell the truth, sir, it sounds to me like nonsense to me. But considering
PICARD: Considering where we are, we must assume it isn't.
Scene: Engineering.
WESLEY: Can I do something to help? I can call my mother. She's a doctor.
TRAVELLER: No, there's nothing she can do. I need to rest. I've been away too long.
WESLEY: What happened to you, is it part of what happened to the ship?
TRAVELLER: Please believe me, I mean no harm to this vessel or those in it.
WESLEY: Is Mister Kosinski like he sounds? A joke?
TRAVELLER: No, that's too cruel.
LESLEY: I don't like him.
WESLEY: That's my girl.
TRAVELLER: He has sensed some small part of it.
WESLEY: That space and time and thought aren't the separate things they appear to be? I just thought the formula you were using said something like that.
TRAVELLER: Boy, don't ever say that again. And especially not at your age in a world that's not ready for such, such dangerous nonsense.
Scene: Bridge.
KOSINSKI: I've always suspected this rate of speed was possible, of course, but at this level? No, never. We're going to need new definitions. New parameters.
ARGYLE: Perhaps you could call it the Kosinski scale.
KOSINSKI: Why not? Yes, of course. Since I'm the one who has made the so-called warp barrier meaningless. And, Captain, this must be a special thrill for you.
PICARD: Thrill?
KOSINSKI: As an explorer. In three centuries of space flight, we've charted just eleven percent of our galaxy. And then we accomplish this.
PICARD: Yes, but isn't the real point, can you do it again? Can you get us home?
KOSINSKI: Of course I can. I'll just do what I did before. Coming, Riker?
PICARD: Commander Riker will join you in a moment.
Kosinski leaves.
PICARD: Comment is invited. Counselor?
DEANNA: He's convinced he's right. I have no doubt of that.
WORF: Captain, can you allow a man who has made one mistake back into a position where he may make another?
GEORDI: Captain, what are our options really? I mean, if this guy can't get us back, who will?
DATA: Captain, we're here. Why not avail ourselves of this opportunity for study? There is a giant protostar here in the process of forming. No other vessel has been out this far.
PICARD: Spoken like a true Starfleet graduate. It is tempting, eh, Number One?
RIKER: Aye, sir, it is. But as they say, sir, you're the Captain.
PICARD: I know that if Kosinski can get us home, Starfleet can use his technique to bring back a pure science vessel to do even more. Number One, tell Kosinski prepare to get us out of here.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
Scene: Engineering.
KOSINSKI: Do you realise how many great advancements of mankind have been tied to speed? This is a moment in history. Right here, right now. And your names will be forever linked with mine.
WESLEY: Excuse me, Commander Riker. I don't think he did this. I think.
RIKER: Not now, Wes.
LESLEY: But, Riker please listen to Wesley.
RIKER: Not now, Les.
PICARD: (OC) Standing by, Number One.
WESLEY: But sir, when this all happened, I was watching his assistant.
RIKER: I'm sure it was fascinating, Wesley. I am looking forward to hearing about it. But not right now. Aye, sir.
KOSINSKI: (to the Traveller) Come on.
WESLEY: He's too tired. Why don't you do it by yourself?
KOSINSKI: Yes, why not?
TRAVELLER: No, I will help.
KOSINSKI: As you wish.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: I've laid in the reciprocal course back, Captain.
Scene: Engineering.
KOSINSKI: Tell the captain I am ready, First Officer.
RIKER: We're ready for you to engage, Captain.
PICARD: (OC) As before.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Begin at warp one point five.
GEORDI: Warp one point five, sir.
Scene: Engineering.
KOSINSKI: This isn't working.
Seen only by Wesley, the Traveller vanishes and reappears again. Then Riker notices as Enterprise head off at totally ridiculous speed down a StarGate wormhole effect.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: All stop.
GEORDI: Answering all stop, Captain.
DATA: According to the instruments, sir, our speed never exceeded warp one point five.
GEORDI: All stopped, sir.
PICARD: Yes, but where is this place?
Lights are dancing in a blue scene.
DATA: Where none have gone before.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41263.3. Instead of returning to our own galaxy, the Enterprise has gone forward to a place in the universe which is uncharted and unknown. Our present position puts us at over a billion light years from our galaxy.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Data, you have the helm. I'll be in Engineering.
Picard leaves. There is a grunting sound, and Worf turns to see what looks like a hairy pig with a horn and wicked looking spines.
TASHA: What is it?
WORF: A Klingon Targ! My pet. From home, but when I was a child.
TASHA: You're telling me that's a kitty-cat?
WORF: Yes, I suppose you could call it that.
The Targ vanishes, and a ginger cat lands on Tasha's console.
Scene: Turbolift.
The turbolift doors open, and Picard nearly steps out - into space rushing by at warp speed. He pulls himself back in, the doors close then open again into an ordinary corridor. He steps out carefully.
Scene: Bridge.
Tasha is fondling the cat.
TASHA: You darling, what are you doing here?
Scene: Tunnel.
Then she's back on her home planet, and a rape gang is after her.
TASHA: Now, run. This isn't a safe place at all.
Someone puts a hand on her shoulder.
Scene: Bridge.
Tasha jumps.
GEORDI: Tasha, what's wrong? You look scared to death.
TASHA: I was, I was. This is crazy. I was at the colony where I grew up, being chased by a rape gang
GEORDI: Are you all right? Well, you're safe now.
Elsewhere on board - a group in period costume is playing Mozart Eine Kliene Nachtmusik, except for one Starfleet violinist.
Scene: Corridor.
Picard encounters a man and woman running from something.
CREWMAN: Captain! Captain, we need help.
PICARD: What's wrong?
CREWMAN: Don't you see what's following us?
They carry on running. Picard passes an open door and sees a ballerina in a golden tutu pirouetting.
PICARD: Ensign, what are you doing?
Her tutu becomes her uniform again. The violinist is sitting at a table, having a meal. Picard turns a corner and meets an elderly woman sitting at a tea table.
MAMAN: (french accent) You look tense, Jean-Luc. Come and have a cup of tea.
PICARD: Maman?
MAMAN: I'll make it good and strong, the way you like it. We will have a nice long talk.
PICARD: This can't be. You've been
MAMAN: Dead? But I'm always with you, you know that.
PICARD: Yes, I've felt that. But why now, suddenly.
MAMAN: You mean out here? At what you say us the end of the universe? Or do you see this as the beginning of it?
PICARD: We believe it the outer rim. Maman, do you understand these things? Can you tell me where my ship is? What is this place?
RIKER: Captain? You were reported headed for
PICARD: Just a moment, Number One!
But the corridor is empty now.
RIKER: Can I help you, sir?
PICARD: No. No, let's help all of us. (goes to comm. panel) General quarters. Red Alert.
Scene: Engineering.
Beverly is examining the Traveller, who is lying on a padded bench.
ARGYLE: What is it Captain? Why are we at General quarters?
PICARD: I had to get everyone's attention. It was the quickest way. This is the Captain. This is not a drill. It seems that in this place, the world of the physical universe and the world of ideas is somehow intermixed. What we think
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: (OC) Also becomes a reality. We must, therefore, I repeat, must begin controlling our thoughts.
Scene: Corridor.
PICARD: (OC) We will give you more on this as our understanding increases. The Enterprise will stay at full alert until the crisis is over.
Scene: Engineering.
PICARD: (to Kosinski) What did you do?
RIKER: It wasn't him. It never was. It was his assistant.
PICARD: What are you talking about?
RIKER: Kosinski wasn't the one controlling the warp experiments.
KOSINSKI: It was me!
RIKER: The equations he punched in were nonsense, just as we thought.
KOSINSKI: I honestly thought it was me. I thought somehow, somehow I was operating on his level.
ARGYLE: It's also my fault, Captain. I should have realised it wasn't Kosinski.
PICARD: How could you? How could any of us?
RIKER: Wesley did.
PICARD: If you knew something, why didn't you say so?
RIKER: He tried, twice. Lesley tried, too. I didn't listen.
PICARD: He's unconscious. Why?
BEVERLY: I'm not certain yet.
WESLEY: He phased, sir.
PICARD: What does that mean?
WESLEY: Parts of him disappeared and then came back. Nobody else was paying attention to him the first time.
RIKER: When we saw it this time, he seemed to be struggling, fighting it.
BEVERLY: He's dying.
PICARD: He mustn't. He's the only one who can get us back.
BEVERLY: Realistically, it does not seem possible.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. Our position is unknown, and our only chance of returning to the known universe is a dying alien who is generally humanoid but with a physiology sufficiently different from our own to create medical problems in caring for him.
Scene: Sickbay.
Beverly is tending the Traveller.
PICARD: Cause?
BEVERLY: I don't know. My equipment doesn't register his kind of life signs. I would have to guess exhaustion, fatigue.
WESLEY: Is he going to be all right?
PICARD: What is the boy doing here?
WESLEY: Mom, he's my friend.
RIKER: You may want him here before we're done, sir. He seems to have developed some sort of special attachment to the boy.
WESLEY: My name is Wesley, Commander Riker.
PICARD: He knows. We all know.
LESLEY: Than why do you keep referring to him as 'the boy' if you know his name?
PICARD: Will he live?
BEVERLY: I'm not sure.
PICARD: Wake him.
BEVERLY: I recommend we let him come around in his own time.
PICARD: We don't have that luxury. Wake him.
BEVERLY: He could die, and with him any chance we have.
PICARD: Doctor. Wes. We all have other friends aboard this ship, too. If we stay here much longer we may lose the ability to distinguish between thought and reality. Now, regardless of the risk, wake him. Now.
Beverly gives the Traveller an injection.
PICARD: Do you recognise me? I'm the Captain and I need answers.
TRAVELLER: I'll do my best to provide.
PICARD: Who are you? Or what?
TRAVELLER: I am a Traveller.
PICARD: Traveller? What is your destination?
TRAVELLER: Destination?
PICARD: Yes, what place are you trying to reach?
TRAVELLER: Ah, place. No. There is no specific place I wish to go.
PICARD: Then what is the purpose of your journey?
TRAVELLER: Curiosity.
PICARD: That's not an answer.
TRAVELLER: I have certain abilities. They give me an understanding of propulsion. I've been trading this for passage on Starfleet vessels.
RIKER: And allowing Kosinski to take credit for what you did.
TRAVELLER: It seemed the sensible way.
PICARD: Until now.
TRAVELLER: Captain, I seek only transportation in order to see and experience your reality. I am no a threat to you, your ship or your crew.
WESLEY: He isn't, Captain. I know he isn't.
PICARD: Our reality? And in order to satisfy this curiosity, you have brought my ship and my crew into great risk.
TRAVELLER: I have made some mistakes.
PICARD: Some mistakes? What mistakes could possibly explain these incredible explosions of velocity?
TRAVELLER: I don't know if I can put this in terms you'll understand.
PICARD: I believe there may be a warp speed that can get us beyond Galaxy M Thirty Three, but there is no velocity of any magnitude that can possibly bring us wherever this is. Is it true what our navigation sensors are telling us? Are we millions of light years away from where we were?
TRAVELLER: Well, yes.
PICARD: Well, what got us here?
TRAVELLER: Thought.
PICARD: Thought?
TRAVELLER: You do understand, don't you that thought is the basis of all reality? The energy of thought, to put it in your terms, is very powerful.
KOSINSKI: That's not an explanation.
TRAVELLER: I have the ability to act like a lens which focuses thought.
KOSINSKI: That's just so much nonsense. You're asking us to believe in magic.
TRAVELLER: Well yes, this could seem like magic to you.
PICARD: No. No, it actually makes sense to me. Only the power of thought could explain what has been happening. Especially out here.
TRAVELLER: Thought is the essence of where you are now. You do understand the danger, don't you?
PICARD: Chaos. What we think is what happens.
TRAVELLER: It pains me I was so careless, Captain. My intent was only to observe, not to cause this. You should not be here until your far, far distant future. Certainly not until you have learned control.
RIKER: You are from a different time, aren't you?
TRAVELLER: Well, no, not exactly from another time. Although as you understand the concept, yes, perhaps that term fits as well as any.
RIKER: And you have this ability to travel.
TRAVELLER: Yes.
RIKER: And others of your kind have the same ability?
TRAVELLER: Yes.
RIKER: Then why, in all of our history, is there no record of you or someone like you ever having visited us?
TRAVELLER: What wonderful arrogance. There is no record because we have not visited you before.
RIKER: Why not?
TRAVELLER: Well, up until now, if you'll forgive this, you've been uninteresting. It's only now that your life form merits serious attention. I'm sorry.
PICARD: What's happening?
BEVERLY: He's unconscious again.
PICARD: Revive him.
BEVERLY: Whatever you need from him, you'd better get it soon.
RIKER: If I may suggest, sir, that first leap out of our galaxy was, as he said, a mistake.
PICARD: Unless he was distracted by something.
RIKER: And it weakened him, in some way leading to the incredible leap out here.
KOSINSKI: Theory!
PICARD: Do you have any facts that fit this? Can you get us back?
KOSINSKI: Wait, Captain, not so fast. We have an opportunity here for scientific discovery.
PICARD: And we report our observations how? To whom? (to the Traveller) Can you get us back?
TRAVELLER: I will try.
PICARD: Number One, take him down to main Engineering. I'll be on the Bridge.
WESLEY: No! He's very weak.
TRAVELLER: The Captain's right. We must hurry. But first, I request a moment with the Captain. Alone.
Riker, Kosinski, Beverly, Wesley and Lesley leave.
PICARD: Strange how he seems to care for you.
TRAVELLER: He will forget me in time, which is as it should be. It's Wesley I wanted to speak to you about.
PICARD: The boy?
TRAVELLER: It's best you do not repeat this to the others, especially not to the mother or the girlfriend. Whatever may happen, it is imperative that it proceed naturally.
PICARD: I must get my ship back. Do we have time for this?
TRAVELLER: Oh, yes. He and a few like him are why I travel. You have it in your power to encourage him without interfering.
PICARD: Encourage him in what?
TRAVELLER: How shall I explain? Are you familiar with the intricacies of what is called here music?
PICARD: Somewhat.
TRAVELLER: Such musical genius I saw in one of your ship's libraries. One called Mozart, who as a small child wrote astonishing symphonies. A genius who made music not only to be heard, but seen and felt beyond the understanding, the ability of others. Wesley is such a person. Not with music, but with the equally lovely intricacies of time, energy, propulsion. and the instruments of this vessel which allow all that to be played. You're right, I must hurry now. But you're right in something else. He is just a boy for now. He should be encouraged, but told none of this.
Scene: Corridor.
Riker is waiting.
PICARD: We're going to get back home. Take him to Engineering.
RIKER: Yes, sir.
PICARD: I'll be on the Bridge.
RIKER: Yes, sir.
A little way along, a crewman is trapped by flames.
PICARD: Put it out!
CREWMAN: How?
PICARD: Think! Put the flame out in your thoughts.
He eventually does so.
PICARD: Now, Get to your station and concentrate on your assignment.
CREWMAN: Yes, sir.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log. Any time entry is meaningless. We have no choice but to repeat the same warp experiment. but wish one variation. A principal part of this warp formula will be the thoughts of everyone aboard the Enterprise. We have no idea exactly how this works. We understand only that the Traveller makes use of this somehow. It will be most important that those aboard avoid random thoughts that might change the reality of what we're attempting to do.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Do you have any further advice, Counsellor?
DEANNA: When you begin the attempt, there will be stress, and it's only natural the crew's concentration will shift.
TASHA: Plus some genuine fear, Captain. You can't notice what's happening outside without feeling some of that.
PICARD: All decks, all stations.
Scene: Various parts of the ship.
PICARD: (OC) This is the Captain speaking. All decks, I must have your full attention. In a few moments, as we attempt to warp back home, it is vital, absolutely vital, that you centre your thoughts on your duty or on the welfare of the one called the Traveller.
Scene: Engineering.
PICARD: (OC) Think of giving him some of your strength. Now, this is an order. You must try to do this.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: And now, attempt to concentrate completely on your duty of the moment. Or on the Traveller, on his well being.
Scene: Engineering.
PICARD: (OC) Think of him as someone you care deeply about.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: All decks, all stations. Battle stations.
Scene: Engineering.
TRAVELLER: I will need Kosinski back on the main computer.
KOSINSKI: You need me?
TRAVELLER: Yes.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Helm, set in warp one point five, retroactive course.
GEORDI: Warp one point five, retroactive two six one mark three one, sir.
PICARD: Bridge to Engineering. Stand by.
DEANNA: I feel such an abundance of well being on the ship. It feels like, quite wonderful.
RIKER: (OC) Engineering to Bridge, we're ready.
PICARD: On my order, Mister Data, Mister LaForge. Engage.
The Enterprise whooshes off into streaks of light.
PICARD: It's not happening. It's not enough.
Down in Engineering, Wesley senses something is wrong, and squeezes the Traveller's hand. Then the Traveller has a go at phasing. Enterprise disappears in a crack of light, and the Traveller does not rematerialise. The ship is back in what looks like normal space.
DATA: Warp one point five, sir, which is what my instruments have read all along.
GEORDI: And our position reads exactly what it was before this sleigh ride began, sir.
PICARD: Cease Red Alert.
DATA: Sleigh ride?
GEORDI: Or whatever you want to call it, Data. I don't have a proper name for it.
Riker enters.
RIKER: The Traveller's gone, sir.
PICARD: Gone?
RIKER: He's phased completely out of existence. At least, out of our existence.
PICARD: Attention all decks. This is to inform you that with your support the Traveller has returned us to our galaxy. However, he has now left us. Wherever he has gone, we wish him well. Have the boy and his girlfriend sent to the Bridge, Number One.
RIKER: Wesley Crusher and Lesley Hatter, report to the Bridge, on the double.
PICARD: Our next assignment is on this heading?
RIKER: Yes, sir.
PICARD: Mister Data, Mister LaForge, increase to warp five. Same heading.
DATA: Warp five, sir.
GEORDI: On that same heading, sir.
The turbolift doors open. Lesley steps out of the turbolift without hesitation but Wesley hesitates.
PICARD: Ah, Wesley. Come on the Bridge. Move! Commander Riker has told me how supportive you were in Engineering. Well done. At ease. Sit here in Command.
RIKER: Captain, it's not allowed. Your orders.
PICARD: Oh, that's true. Well, I can't waive them again. Only commissioned officers.
WESLEY: It's quite all right, sir, I understand.
PICARD: Please don't interrupt me, Wesley.
WESLEY: I'm sorry, sir.
PICARD: Any commissioned rank? Even ensign?
RIKER: That would give him authorised access to the Bridge.
LESLEY: What about me, sir?
PICARD: What about you, Les?
RIKER: Sir, I think she wants a commissioned rank as well.
LESLEY: How true that is.
PICARD: But you already have access to the Bridge being a friend of Commander Riker.
LESLEY: I know that Captain but I want to be just like Wes.
PICARD: Well, then, I'll have to make you both an acting ensign. Captain's log, stardate 41263.4. For outstanding performance in the best of Starfleet tradition, Wesley Crusher and his girlfriend Lesley Hatter have made Acting Ensign, with the duties and privileges of that rank. And whether that rank becomes permanent, Mister Crusher, depends on you. At the earliest opportunity, your entrance application for Starfleet Academy will be tendered. Until then, you will learn this ship. Every operation, every function. Commander Riker, a duty schedule for Mister Crusher, heavy on study.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Meanwhile, you can sit here and learn something.
Wesley perches on the end of the arch supporting the command seats as does Lesley.
RIKER: Sir, shall I send for Doctor Crusher?
PICARD: Why? Is someone ill? Or would you rather tell her about this, Wes?
WESLEY: If you don't mind, sir, I'd like to sit here awhile. I'll tell her later.

That was a good chapter. I like the parts with Wesley, Lesley and the Traveller. I liked part where Captain Picard made Wesley an Ensign. I really like the ending too.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 7
Lonely Among Us

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41249.3. We have orbited the two major planets of the Beta Renner system taking aboard delegates from those two worlds. Since achieving space flight, their major life forms, the Anticans and the Selay have become deadly enemies. But both have also applied for admission into our Federation. We are to deliver these delegates to this sector's neutral conference planet, called Parliament, in the hope their dispute can be resolved.
Scene: Transporter room.
Picard, Riker and Yar are in dress uniform, a knee-length coat, to greet the delegates as they are beamed aboard. The Selay are snake-like bipeds, wearing long robes, and a tail just visible behind.
PICARD: I'm Captain Picard. Welcome aboard. We hope your journey will be pleasant and comfortable. Arranging that will be my First Officer, Commander Riker.
RIKER: Welcome aboard. If you'll follow me I will show you the accommodations that we've.
SELAY: (orange cloak) We can already smell the Anticans. They were taken aboard first?
PICARD: Only because their world was the first on this heading to Parliament.
SELAY: Will our quarters be near the Anticans?
RIKER: About one hundred metres apart.
PICARD: Is that all right?
SELAY: No. Unsatisfactory.
RIKER: I believe we can accommodate your wishes. We'll rearrange the suite assignments. If you'll follow me.
SELAY: And we must be upwind from the Anticans.
RIKER: Of course, sir.
Riker and the delegation leave.
TASHA: Neither seem like very promising Federation candidates, sir.
PICARD: Even Parliament's peacemakers may find this case a little difficult.
Scene: Bridge.
Back in normal uniform.
PICARD: But do you understand the basis of all this nonsense between them?
RIKER: No sir. I didn't understand that kind of hostility even when I studied Earth history.
PICARD: Really? Oh, yes, well these life forms feel such passionate hatred matters of custom, God concepts, even, strangely enough, economic systems
DATA: Sir, my sensors are picking up an unusual energy object ahead.
PICARD: On screen.
TASHA: Confirmed, sir. My sensors read nothing solid but considerable energy in changing patterns.
DATA: Also travelling at warp speed, sir. Intriguing. I can find no match with anything in our records, sir.
PICARD: Change course to make a close sensor pass. We can then increase warp speed and reach Parliament on schedule.
DATA: Aye, sir.
Scene: Sensor Maintenance.
Geordi and Worf are checking the screens in the small room.
GEORDI: So, Worf, why the interest in this? It's just routine maintenance on the sensor assemblies.
WORF: Simple, Geordi. Our Captain wants his junior officers to learn, learn, learn.
GEORDI: Not just the junior ones. Okay, you hold this relay offline while I adjust these sensor circuits.
TASHA: (OC) Security to Sensor Maintenance.
GEORDI: Lieutenant LaForge here.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: We're making a close sensor pass on an unusual object, Geordi. Any problems?
GEORDI: (OC) Not at all, Lieutenant. All equipment on line and functioning.
TASHA: Sensors ready, sir.
PICARD: Life form reading?
DATA: No life form reading, sir.
PICARD: Begin the pass.
The Enterprise approaches the blue cloud.
DATA: Sir, it is changing shape.
PICARD: Any readings of matter there?
DATA: Negative, Captain. Energy only.
The Enterprise enters the cloud.
Scene: Sensor Maintenance.
Worf goes over to a wall panel, and puts his pen device on it. Blue energy goes up his arm and he cries out. Then he is flung back to the floor.
GEORDI: Worf! LaForge to Sickbay. We have a medical emergency in sensor maintenance. I repeat, this is a medical emergency.
After the titles, Crusher and a medic dash in.
BEVERLY: What happened?
GEORDI: I don't know. He got hit by some sensor feedback, maybe.
Worf suddenly wakes up and starts fighting the medic. Geordi lies across him so Beverly can inject him.
GEORDI: You got it, Doc?
BEVERLY: I got it. Lieutenant Worf, can you hear what I'm saying? Let's get him up.
GEORDI: Okay. Come on, big guy. On your feet. Here we go. That's it.
BEVERLY: (to medic) Are you okay?
Scene: Ready room.
GEORDI: He was just monitoring the sensor console when he jerked as though something hit him. What my sensors showed was a glow, just for a second. I can't explain it.
PICARD: Could your Visor device have malfunctioned?
GEORDI: I doubt it, sir. It seemed what I was seeing was something real.
Scene: Antican quarters.
The Anticans have long white eyebrows, and white facial hair, and have sharp teeth like a mongoose.
TASHA: Sorry to call you, sir. Not strictly security. It's about the dietary requirements of the Antican delegates.
RIKER: I thought that had been taken care of in advance, Tasha.
TASHA: So did we, sir. Their live animals were beamed aboard. We were going to preserve the meat for them, but they say we must bring it to them alive.
RIKER: Then do so. Lieutenant Yar was confused. We no longer enslave animals for food purposes.
ANTICAN: But we have seen humans eat meat.
RIKER: You've seen something as fresh and tasty as meat, but inorganically materialised out of patterns used by our transporters.
ANTICAN: This is sickening. It's barbaric.
Scene: Sickbay.
Work is on a bed, with Beverly tending to him, when blue energy comes out of him, up her arms. She sags, then Deanna enters.
DEANNA: He's reading normal now. How did you manage that?
BEVERLY: Yes. Normal.
DEANNA: Are you all right?
BEVERLY: Yes, perfectly. Both of us. Quite normal now.
Worf wakes suddenly.
WORF: What? Where am I?
DEANNA: Don't you remember? You were in the sensor maintenance room.
WORF: I remember monitoring the sensor console. What am I doing here?
DEANNA: That's a story the Doctor will tell you.
But Beverly walks out.
Scene: Bridge.
At a rear science station.
PICARD: Obviously you feel it's something we should look at more carefully.
DATA: A mystery is only a mystery as long as it remains uninvestigated, sir.
PICARD: I love a mystery, Data, but this one will have to to wait until we deliver the delegates to their peace conference on Parliament. Time and tide, Lieutenant La Forge. Go to warp eight.
GEORDI: Warp eight, sir.
Scene: Beverly's quarters.
WESLEY: Hi, Mom. You're back early.
BEVERLY: Yes.
She looks at the computer monitor he's studying.
WESLEY: Physical sciences class. We're studying Doctor Channing's theory on dilithium crystals.
BEVERLY: Tell me about it.
WESLEY: Really? You never seemed that interested in warp theory before. Doctor Channing thinks it's possible to force dilithium into even more useful crystals. If as shown here, matter and antimatter could be aligned even more efficiently
BEVERLY: Would that affect navigation?
WESLEY: This is engineering, not helm control.
BEVERLY: Oh yes, the helm's located on the Bridge.
Beverly leaves.
WESLEY: Mom, is something wrong?
LESLEY: Wes, she wasn't herself?
WESLEY: Are you sure?
LESLEY: Yes, I'm sure.
WESLEY: How do you know that?
LESLEY: I, uh, I'll explain later. But if you try to tell her again she won't remember.
Scene: Bridge.
Beverly tiptoes to Geordi's station,
BEVERLY: This is the helm.
GEORDI: Unless there have been some changes I don't know about.
PICARD: Doctor Crusher?
BEVERLY: You will wish to know Lieutenant Worf is much improved. Ready to return to duty.
PICARD: What was the diagnosis?
BEVERLY: A temporary mental aberration.
PICARD: Doctor, when such a diagnosis concerns a bridge officer, I expect a better explanation.
BEVERLY: Then I will first have to run some crosschecks on the library computer. Klingons are so unusual in their reactions, aren't they?
PICARD: Use Science Station two, Doctor.
That's next to where Data is working.
DATA: Intriguing, Doctor. What does helm control have to do with medical crosschecks?
Unseen by him, the blue energy leaves Beverly and enters the computer. She is disoriented.
BEVERLY: Why am I?
DATA: Is something wrong, Doctor?
PICARD: Doctor, are you all right?
BEVERLY: Yes. Yes. I'll do my work in my office. That's where I should be.
PICARD: Do you want someone to accompany you?
Beverly shakes her head and enters the turbolift.
DATA: Captain? There is a malfunction in this station. I cannot bring any information up on it. Science two does not function either, sir.
SINGH: (OC) Engineering to Captain Picard.
Scene: Engineering.
SINGH: We have something wrong with warp drive circuitry, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
CHIEF: (OC) Transporter room six to Bridge. Reporting transporter console malfunction, sir.
PICARD: Data, this ship is less than a year out of Spacedock. What are the chances of this occurring?
DATA: It is a virtual impossibility, sir.
PICARD: So what the hell is going on here?
Scene: Observation lounge.
PICARD: And you are telling me there are no explanations for these malfunctions?
RIKER: At least, sir, all the department heads have reported the damage repaired.
PICARD: That was not my question, Number One. What caused the malfunctions?
SINGH: I believe it was a rampant electronic short that jumped from system to system, sir. But the only thing is, er
PICARD: Yes, Mister Singh?
SINGH: That shouldn't be possible. The affected systems don't generally interact with each other. And where they do, it wasn't an interlink that was malfunctioning.
PICARD: Have you spoken with Chief Engineer Argyle about this problem?
SINGH: With all the Engineering staff, sir. They're just as puzzled.
PICARD: Well, I'm not satisfied. I want an explanation of this by the time we reach Parliament.
SINGH: But, sir.
PICARD: By the time we reach Parliament, Mister Singh.
Scene: Antican quarters.
RIKER: These weapons were taken from two of your people who were loitering out of sight in the vicinity of the Selay delegation quarters. Would you care to explain, sir?
ANTICAN: These are not weapons, First Officer. They are tools. We use these to dispatch the animals we consume.
TASHA: Your food supply is not on the same deck as the Selay delegation, sir.
RIKER: And you have to admit that these could kill.
ANTICAN: I admit some of my people are impulsive. and we all have reason to hate the Selay.
TASHA: They appear to have the same feelings about you, sir.
ANTICAN: The nature of politics.
RIKER: Nevertheless, Chief Delegate, you're on notice that all of your weapons, no matter what their basic function, are being confiscated. Violence will not be tolerated on the Enterprise.
ANTICAN: Of course not. And if any does occur, let me assure you it will not be we Anticans who start it.
TASHA: Thank you, sir.
Riker and Tasha leave.
ANTICAN: But we will finish it.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: Sir, warp power is fading.
PICARD: Picard to Engineering.
Scene: Engineer's office.
PICARD: (OC) What is the problem?
SINGH: We have lost the warp engine computer tie.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: Warp five, four, three, two
PICARD: State of the art vessel? Data, signal Parliament we'll be delayed. We will send a new arrival time as soon as it is determined.
DATA: Sir, subspace radio is out.
Scene: Ready room.
PICARD: All right, gentlemen, your theories on this sudden vulnerability of these systems.
DATA: If the Enterprise were really this fragile, sir, she never would have left Spacedock. Therefore, her systems' failures are not endemic to the ship, but are the result of the actions of an unknown adversary.
RIKER: We have a saboteur aboard.
DATA: I believe I said that.
PICARD: Gentlemen. The question is, who? I can't believe it's one of our people.
RIKER: Agreed. It must be someone from either alien delegation. Now, if the Ferengi could have bought or bribed even one of them, that's all that they'd need.
DATA: Ferengi contacts have been detected on both Selay and Antica, sir.
PICARD: Can any of you suggest any other suspects?
RIKER: You're sounding like a private eye, sir.
DATA: Inquiry. Private eye?
PICARD: A private consulting investigator, Data, who solves crimes.
DATA: A most interesting occupation.
PICARD: In the world of fact, probably not. However, in literature, criminal detection can be a fascinating exercise. The immortal Sherlock Holmes would have an interesting view of our mystery, I believe.
RIKER: But I'm afraid we're going to have to find our solution without history's greatest Consulting Detective.
Scene: Engineering.
Wesley is at an auxiliary console.
WESLEY: How about here, Mister Singh? If the control network breaks at this point
SINGH: It bleeds warp engine commands off into dead ends. Excellent. I believe I can handle it from here, Mister Crusher.
WESLEY: But, sir.
SINGH: You are scheduled for class work now. Sorry.
WESLEY: Yes, sir. But I don't learn nearly this much in school.
SINGH: I tend to agree, but the captain's orders on this are very clear.
Scene: Beverly's quarters.
BEVERLY: Hi. Solve any new problems today?
WESLEY: I was starting to, maybe. Mister Singh sent me off to class.
BEVERLY: Wes, you're only an acting ensign. You've got to let the commissioned officers do some of the work.
WESLEY: Mom, I've learned a more than they understand. For example, the Channing's dilithium crystals theory I was telling you about?
BEVERLY: When were you telling me about that?
WESLEY: This morning. Don't you remember?
BEVERLY: Honestly, I don't remember.
LESLEY: (sotto voce to Wesley) See, I told you Wes.
Scene: Engineering.
Singh taps at a console, then the blue energy zaps into his body and throws him onto the floor. Worf finds him.
WORF: Engineering to Captain Picard. Security alert.
PICARD: (OC) Picard.
WORF: Lieutenant Worf, sir. I just found Mister Singh. He's dead.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41249.4. I've ordered an immediate investigation into the death of Assistant Chief Engineer Singh. We continue to run on impulse power.
Scene: Engineer's office.
WESLEY: He could have been working there, restoring warp power.
GEORDI: According to these readings, we could go back to warp speed now.
WESLEY: Those aren't the same readings as when I left.
WORF: Singh probably repaired it just before he was killed.
WESLEY: He couldn't have repaired, sir. The problems were inside the engine.
GEORDI: Who else could have corrected it, Wes? Inform the bridge of engine status.
WORF: Engineering to Bridge. We now have warp capacity, sir. All power on line.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Well done. Warp engines ready on previous heading. Warp factor six.
Scene: Antican quarters.
ANTICAN: I tolerate these questions, Lieutenant Yar, because I need this vessel to get us to Parliament. Your shipboard problems do not concern me.
TASHA: They should. Our delays are your delays.
ANTICAN: The peace conference will wait for us.
TASHA: I must ask where you were during this vessel's Earth hours of eighteen hundred last night and zero seven hundred this morning.
ANTICAN: Eating.
TASHA: Sir, we're talking about hours here.
ANTICAN: It was a large meal, Lieutenant Yar. And a very interesting animal.
Scene: Beverly's office.
WORF: You wanted me, Doctor?
BEVERLY: Yes, concerning your memory blackout.
WORF: I still don't remember having one.
BEVERLY: The same thing happened to me.
DEANNA: I want to try hypnosis on both of you. It may restore your memory as to what happened.
Scene: Observation lounge.
TASHA: One thing is clear. Almost all of the peace delegates answered our questions with lies.
DATA: (smoking a meerschaum pipe) Imprecise, Lieutenant. They omitted certain truths, which in itself tells us something.
TASHA: We can learn something from non-disclosure?
DATA: Indubitably, my good woman.
RIKER: It's something the Captain mentioned. Sherlock Holmes. Indubitably, Data has been studying him.
DATA: Has studied, sir. Every case. As Holmes would've pointed out, during the time in question, something was afoot.
TASHA: Afoot?
DATA: While both sets of delegates say they were in their quarters, our crew locator sensed them passing here and here.
TASHA: But since it doesn't show where they went, we're still in the dark.
DATA: On the contrary, dear colleague. On their return, they drew medical supplies appropriate to the treatment of minor wounds and abrasions on these life forms.
RIKER: Which, leaves us with only one conclusion.
DATA: Exactly. That they were too engaged in their own affairs to have disabled our ship and murdered the Engineer. Given a choice, they'd rather kill each other than any of us. It's elementary, my dear Riker. Sir.
Scene: Sickbay.
Beverly is staring at a moving light on a device in Deanna's hand.
DEANNA: Beverly, can you hear me?
BEVERLY: Yes.
DEANNA: I want you to go back in your mind to the moment when you first recall this sensation of memory loss. Picture it exactly as it occurred.
BEVERLY: He's lying on the hospital bed sedated. I'm walking up to him. I.
DEANNA: How do you feel at this moment, as you lean over him to take the specimen?
BEVERLY: I feel someone else. There's someone else who's there. Not alone. Get out. Get out of my mind.
DEANNA: (to Worf) That's almost exactly what you said. As though there was something else inside you.
Scene: Observation lounge.
DEANNA: Which confirms the feeling of duality that I sensed earlier in both of them.
PICARD: Why didn't you report it?
DEANNA: Because, sir, I assumed at first it was the kind of duality we Betazeds feel in all of you. Even you, sir. When you approach a decision and ask yourself which way to go, who are you talking to?
PICARD: Your hypnotism revealed another form of duality?
DEANNA: Yes, sir. I believe something invaded them.
BEVERLY: It seems the only possible conclusion.
PICARD: Data, let's proceed without the pipe.
DATA: Yes, sir. If you wish, sir. But I ask if you'd take it as incontrovertible that it cannot be a family member or one of our crew?
PICARD: Yes. Very unlikely.
DATA: Then our investigation was worthwhile, sir. We have eliminated both the delegates and the ship's regular complement.
PICARD: Data, what are you suggesting?
DATA: I am referring to the great detective's credo, sir. I quote, we must fall back on the old axiom that when other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
Scene: Bridge.
WESLEY: That engine computer net wasn't repaired, sir. It just suddenly became all right.
GEORDI: Sometimes it's the result that counts, you know. What the? Oh, no.
WORF: What is it?
GEORDI: Helm control just went down. She won't respond.
WORF: Bridge to Captain. You're needed here immediately.
GEORDI: Wes, alert Engineering from your panel, alright?
WESLEY: I'm trying.
PICARD: Report.
WORF: Helm is down, sir. There's no apparent reason.
GEORDI: Captain, we've just dropped to impulse power.
Picard leans over and touches the console. Blue energy enters him.
GEORDI: Sir, are you all right? I thought I just saw.
PICARD: I'm fine. Everything is fine now. Why the drop to impulse power, Lieutenant?
GEORDI: The helm is suddenly malfunctioning, sir.
PICARD: Malfunctioning? You're wrong. Look again.
GEORDI: Sir, I was just.
RIKER: Mister LaForge?
GEORDI: Well, there's nothing wrong with it now, sir. Everything is just as it should be.
PICARD: In that case, make our heading nine two five mark three seven.
GEORDI: Sir?
PICARD: You have a problem with that heading, Lieutenant?
GEORDI: You want to double back on our course, sir?
PICARD: Isn't that what I ordered?
GEORDI: Yes, sir.
RIKER: Sir, I'm puzzled about your reversing our course.
PICARD: That energy cloud, Commander. I believe it important we have another look at it.
RIKER: But we're behind schedule for Parliament already.
PICARD: I believe a very important scientific discovery awaits us on this heading.
DEANNA: Perhaps you'd like to share your reasoning on that, sir?
DATA: Yes, since we obtained only minimal information on our sensor pass of it.
PICARD: Right, Data. We must go back to learn more. Counselor, do you believe a ship Captain should explain every order?
DEANNA: Of course not, sir.
Scene: Corridor.
ANTICAN: I demand to see the Captain.
O'BRIEN: (as a security guard) Stop! Return to your quarters.
SELAY: What is that doing on our deck?
ANTICAN: I demand to know why this starship has changed its course!
O'BRIEN: Please, return to your quarters, delegates!
Scene: Riker's quarters.
A model of NCC1701 shuttlecraft is in the corner.
DATA: A mere change of direction hardly justifies mutiny.
BEVERLY: Exactly what do you believe you're sensing from him?
DEANNA: It's just a feeling that he's, well, that he's closed part of his mind to me. I just feel that the Captain has become, perhaps dangerous.
RIKER: If he's dangerous. If.
GEORDI: Then he'd have to be relieved of command. Which you could do, Doctor, but it's beaucoup trouble if you're wrong.
DATA: And at the moment it is all pure speculation. He has done nothing to subject the Enterprise to danger.
BEVERLY: I'd need a medical log citing clear evidence of incapacity. You could do it without that problem.
RIKER: Only if all command officers agreed it vital to do so. But he has not been showing any overt unusual behaviour.
DEANNA: Ultimately, I believe he will.
BEVERLY: As second in command, it's still in your corner. I'll order medical and psychiatric exams. You'll have to back me up somehow.
RIKER: (VO) First Officer's log, supplemental. After meeting with the senior officers, Doctor Crusher and I decided to approach the Captain regarding his recent behaviour.
Scene: Ready room.
PICARD: Yes?
BEVERLY: I'd like you to come to Sickbay for some examinations, Captain.
PICARD: Oh? I'll be glad to do when I'm free.
BEVERLY: I'd like to conduct them now, sir.
PICARD: Why? What can I do for you, Number One?
RIKER: Sir, Counselor Troi has recommended the examinations.
PICARD: Same question. Why?
RIKER: It is my duty to inform the Captain we believe he may be under some kind of alien influence which may constitute a danger to this ship.
PICARD: I consider it equally possible that the two of you, and Counselor Troi, are overworked, and possibly suffering hallucinations. Now this is an order. You will arrange medical and psychiatric exams of both yourself and them. Doctor, are you aware everybody is behaving strangely?
BEVERLY: I'm concerned that you've suddenly turned the ship away from it's course.
PICARD: What's happened to your mind, Doctor? The search for knowledge is always our primary mission. I'm sorry, I really am too busy for this kind of nonsense. Do I have to call Security to force you to report to the Sickbay?
BEVERLY: No, sir.
Scene: Corridor.
Someone uses a florescent green lasso on Riker.
RIKER: What the hell?
SELAY: Sorry. Wrong species.
RIKER: Riker to Security Chief.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: Yar here.
RIKER: (OC) Security guard to the Engineering deck.
Scene: Corridor.
RIKER: Selays are playing hide and seek down here, obviously with the Anticans. It's a lethal game. I want them returned to their quarters under guard.
TASHA: (OC) Right away, sir.
Scene: Ready room.
PICARD: Come.
Beverly enters with a data chip.
PICARD: What do you want?
BEVERLY: Here are the results from the exams you ordered, sir. You don't care to inspect them? Please, are you Jean-Luc?
PICARD: He is here.
BEVERLY: The Jean-Luc I know?
PICARD: And more.
BEVERLY: The more frightens me.
PICARD: And elates us. We wish you could understand the glorious adventure ahead.
BEVERLY: You and?
PICARD: Soon we'll both be home.
RIKER: (VO) First officer's log, supplemental. On the orders of Captain Picard, we have returned to the vicinity of the energy pattern cloud. I am personally convinced that something from this cloud now shares the Captain's mind. But there seems to be nothing we can do, at least within regulations.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: We're now approaching the cloud, sir.
RIKER: Very well, Mister La Forge. Bring us to within ten thousand kilometres and hold us there.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
Picard enters.
RIKER: Shall we begin the scientific tests you wanted, sir?
PICARD: Oh, they're already underway. I have an announcement for the entire Bridge. As many of you suspected, when our ship passed through the edge of this, it accidentally carried away a sentient being. Much like these energy patterns we're seeing here. A terrifying experience for any intelligent being. As if a great claw had reached down and scooped one of you from your home world. Drawn into the energy circuits of this vessel, it found its way to you, Worf. Frantic at being carried from its home world, and recognising you as sentient beings, it pleaded for help, but in ways you couldn't understand. Desperately going from person to person, and then discovering the computer intelligence in this ship's memory circuits. Oh, simplistic intelligence, but it furnished it enough to slow this Enterprise thing that had captured it. And it very much regrets the accidental death of Engineer Singh.
DEANNA: Captain, do you exist in combination with this entity?
RIKER: Is it in control of you, sir?
PICARD: Very soon after we combined we had learned much about each other. A passion for exploration, for the unknown. We found we had similar dreams, and it offered your Captain a way to realise them beyond human expectations.
RIKER: Captain, I must speak to you privately now.
DATA: I understand. As an energy pattern, free of the limitations of matter, he might travel anywhere, at any velocity.
RIKER: Captain, do you hear me?
DATA: Sir, I see no way for you to journey with an energy form.
PICARD: Isn't there?
DEANNA: He's planning to beam himself and the entity into that cloud.
PICARD: The transporter need not pattern your Captain into matter. We'll beam energy only, and we will become a combined energy pattern of our life forms. A resignation from this command and from Starfleet has been appropriately recorded.
RIKER: I refuse to allow this, sir.
PICARD: How does this resignation threaten the ship and its crew in any way?
BEVERLY: Captain Picard, you are now relieved from duty. I judge you to be disabled and mentally incapacitated.
Picard sends blue energy into the ship's systems and through all the Bridge crew.
RIKER: Security! Red Alert! Restrain the Captain!
TASHA: Where is he?
DEANNA: This is blinding me.
WORF: Captain! I'll help you if you'll let me.
Picard leaves the Bridge as the crew are still transfixed by the blue energy.
RIKER: Someone restrain the Captain!
Scene: Transporter room.
The transporter chief is on the floor with blue energy dancing on him. Picard activates the transporter and beams out.
RIKER: (VO) First Officer's log, supplemental. More than an hour has passed since the Captain beamed out, energy only. Every effort has been made to determine his whereabouts.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: The Transporter Chief has no idea what the coordinates were, sir.
GEORDI: So he's just floating around out there? How can we settle for that?
RIKER: Give me a choice then.
DATA: Still no readings, no sign of anything.
RIKER: Mister La Forge, it's time to set a course for Parliament. Warp eight.
GEORDI: We're really leaving him?
DEANNA: Commander, wait! It's the Captain. But only the Captain. He's out there alone!
RIKER: The entity, has it abandoned him?
DEANNA: No, but the combination wasn't possible out there. He's in trouble, sir. We have to beam him back.
RIKER: Beam him back as what? He's nothing but energy now.
DATA: Sir, the entity was caught in the ship's circuitry. The Captain might try to get in the same way if he's in trouble.
RIKER: Bring us in closer, La Forge.
GEORDI: Moving in, sir, but where?
RIKER: There's no way to know. Let's hope he can come part way himself. Troi, is there any way you can get a message to him?
DEANNA: I wish I could.
GEORDI: Sensors monitoring the perimeter, ship's circuitry, sir. Nothing.
RIKER: Bring us right into the edge of it, LaForge.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
WORF: Sir? On my sensor controls.
DEANNA: There's something's here. I feel it.
DATA: Just as before, going to Worf first.
GEORDI: Something crazy on my panel. Commander Riker. (blue energy) Static?
RIKER: P for Picard!
DATA: He's in the ship's circuitry. Come to the Transporter room, please. There might be a way, sir. Hurry!
Scene: Transporter room.
RIKER: Is it a wild theory, Data?
DATA: I knew we had to have the Captain's physical pattern here, sir. He was the last one to beam out.
RIKER: Is what you're thinking possible?
DATA: Unknown at this time, sir. I hope the Captain remembers his physical pattern is here. If he has, his energy has moved into the transporter relays by now.
RIKER: I wish we had some sign that he's in here. I guess we have no choice but to risk it.
DATA: Energising, sir.
Slowly, Picard materialises on the platform.
PICARD: What the devil am I doing here?
RIKER: Sounds like our Captain.
DEANNA: But confused. This Picard pattern was formed before he went out there.
PICARD: What's happening to me, Number One? I was preparing to beam out to somewhere. And I remember there was talk of an entity? But it all seems so vague.
DATA: I believe the Captain is now his separate self, sir. Much of what happened is naturally missing.
PICARD: What are you talking about, Data? Is this still Sherlock Holmes?
DATA: Indubitably, sir, Indubitably.
PICARD: Well, at least you got rid of the damn pipe.
RIKER: Doctor Crusher asked me to steer you past Sickbay. She said you've been looking very tired.
Tasha enters.
TASHA: Captain!
PICARD: Yes, Lieutenant.
TASHA: Sorry, Commander, but Security Team Two reports they've discovered a puddle of blood outside the Selay Quarters and they can't find one of the delegates and so
RIKER: Lieutenant. This couldn't have waited a moment?
TASHA: It's good to see you, sir. The problem is that one of the cooks has just been asked to broil reptile for the Anticans, and it looks like the Selay delegate.
PICARD: Riker, with the peace delegates and all, I think I do need a rest. Take charge, Number One.
Scene: Ten Forward
Wesley, Lesley, Geordi, and Georda are sitting at a table talking when all of sudden Dana walks in. She soons joins her sisters, Geordi and Wesley.
GEORDA: Dana, what's wrong?
DANA: I am still not sure how or when I should tell Data my feelings for him.
WESLEY: You mean you still haven't told him yet.
DANA: No I have not.
GEORDI: Well you better tell him before it's too late.
DANA: I know Geordi, but I do not know if he will feel the same about me. Geordi could you perhaps talk to him.
GEORDI: Why me?
LESLEY: Aren't you Data's best friend?
GEORDI: Yeah I guess I am.
GEORDA: Than you should go and talk to him.

That was a good chapter. I liked the parts between Wesley and Lesley. i liked the part in Ten Foreward when Dana told them not knowing when or how to tell Data about her feelings. I also like the part where Dana suggest that Geordi talk to me Data.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 8
Justice

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41255.6. After delivering a party of Earth colonists to the Strnad solar system, we have discovered another Class M planet in the adjoining Rubicun star system. We are now in orbit there, having determined it to be inhabited as well as unusually lovely. My first officer has taken an away team down to make contact and they are in the process of returning to the ship.
Scene: Bridge.
Wesley is sitting next to Troi and Lesley is sitting next to where Riker always sits.
PICARD: Riker says the planet's life forms are almost identical to us.
DEANNA: He's very enthusiastic.
Beverly enters.
BEVERLY: Captain? Sorry, Troi.
DEANNA: The Doctor has something very important to tell you, Captain.
PICARD: You've been talking about it for days. Shore leave for the crew.
BEVERLY: Establishing that colony has been exhausting for the entire crew, Captain. We're not a supply vessel. Settling all those people has been a strain on everyone. I'm tired myself.
Riker, Data and Tasha enter.
PICARD: Is it as good as your report suggests, Number One?
RIKER: As per report, sir. Class M, Earth-like, beautiful. It will startle you.
BEVERLY: It sounds wonderful for the children. The holodecks are marvellous, of course, but there's nothing like open spaces and fresh air.
TASHA: I've listed my report on their customs and laws, sir. Fairly simple, common sense things.
GEORDI: They're wild in some ways, actually puritanical in others. Neat as pins, ultra-lawful, and make love at the drop of a hat.
TASHA: Any hat.
PICARD: But the happiest report has its negatives. Let's start with them, Number One.
RIKER: There are none, sir. Not that any of us can find.
DATA: But there is a problem here, sir.
WORF: It's the faulty reading I reported, sir.
DATA: I'm reading something off the starboard bow, but there is nothing there.
TASHA: Sensor technicians are working on it, sir. They've identified it as a glitch in the system.
PICARD: I take it you find no glitch at all in this planet, however?
RIKER: No, sir.
TASHA: If you approve shore leave, sir, we could start with a small group.
PICARD: Of course. Wesley? Lesley? If we go down, I'd like the two of you to join the away team to evaluate this world as a place for young people to relax.
WESLEY & LESLEY: Yes, sir.
PICARD: If our scans and observations confirm the report, of course I'll approve it. Let's hope it is not too good to be true.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. We are in orbit of a planet designated Rubicun Three, the home of a life form who call themselves the Edo. Our away team, including Wesley Crusher and his girlfriend Lesley Hatter, has beamed down to make arrangements concerning some well-deserved recreation.
Scene: Planet surface.
It's a lovingly tended garden extending in all directions. The people wear enough for modesty, run instead of walk, and are nauseatingly beautiful. When the team arrive two people run towards them.
WORF: Careful, sir.
RIKER: No, it's all right, Lieutenant. Those are the Edo we met before. They certainly are fit.
DEANNA: They certainly are.
RIVAN: (a woman) Health and happiness.
LIATOR: (a man) A pleasant day to you.
RIVAN: You did return as promised.
She greets Riker with a slow, loving hug.
RIKER: Rivan, Liator. Also from our vessel, Troi.
LIATOR: Slowly, slowly. I must also welcome this lovely one.
He nuzzles Deanna's neck, she just pats his shoulder.
LIATOR: Nice to see you again.
TASHA: My pleasure.
RIKER: Counselor?
DEANNA: Healthy sensuality, sir. I feel mainly friendship, and (looking at Tasha) happiness.
RIVAN: And I welcome this huge one. Oh, yes.
WORF: (returning the hug) Nice planet.
RIKER: Yeah.
RIVAN: But you are a young one. I do not know your custom regarding love.
WESLEY: Er. I guess, whatever you usually do.
It's a very fleeting hug for the teenager.
LIATOR: You are also a young one. Who are you?
LESLEY: (wrapping her arm around Wesley's arm) I'm his girlfriend.
Liator hugs Lesley the same way Rivan hugged Wesley.
RIKER: There are others who would like to visit here, if you would give us a limit on the numbers.
LIATOR: Whatever pleases you. We can discuss it at the Council Chambers.
RIVAN: Shall we go there now or remain in play?
RIKER: Play?
RIVAN: At love. Unless you don't enjoy that. (to Worf) Perhaps you do?
LIATOR: And you? (Deanna blushes) Yes, I can see that you do.
WESLEY: Maybe Les and I should just go on ahead.
RIVAN: Oh, this is unfair to them. We'll go to the Council Chambers. You'll find young people your age there.
WESLEY: Well, I can't make any promises.
LIATOR: You don't have to. Our rules are simple. No one does anything uncomfortable to them.
RIVAN: Come! Our people will want to know you.
LIATOR: Rivan, perhaps they can't run.
WESLEY & LESLEY: Can't run?
LESLEY: A friend of mine runs all the time when he is saving his friends from trouble.
WESLEY: Sure we can run. Right, Commander?
RIKER: That's the custom here, running. Lead the way.
They all set off along a paved path.
RIKER: When in Rome, eh?
WORF: When in where, sir?
EDO: Good health to you!
TASHA: Happiness to you! It's like an Eden here.
Scene: Outside the Council Chambers.
A low rise building with formal fountains in front of it.
RIVAN: Good health! I thought you might be out of breath.
RIKER: We may surprise you in a lot of ways.
LIATOR: Children, we've brought you a new friend!
BOY: Well, hello. Join us.
GIRL: Yes, please.
Wesley and Lesley runs off with the two boys and girl.
RIVAN: And now it's time for you to meet some new friends.
Scene: Council Chambers.
Musicians are playing gentle tunes, some couples are dancing, others strolling with glasses of drink. One man is getting a massage.
RIVAN: Everyone! We've brought the visitors!
LIATOR: Please enjoy what we have!
And the team are lead away to - whatever.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: I've traced it through our sensor channel, sir It is not a glitch or any other form of error or malfunction.
GEORDI: Confirmed by my readings, Captain. It's a shadow something.
DATA: Exactly. As if it were neither in or out of our dimension.
PICARD: What is, Commander?
DATA: Whatever is sitting out there without triggering our alarm relays, sir.
PICARD: Centre main viewer on that area. I see nothing, Commander.
DATA: Enterprise to object off our starboard bow. Request that you identify yourself.
And something appears.
GEORDI: Shields and deflectors up full, sir. Main phaser banks ready.
PICARD: Hailing frequencies. Any reply?
DATA: It was something unintelligible, Captain. Now running it through language and logic circuits.
PICARD: Geordi.
GEORDI: Sir.
PICARD: Have a real look.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
OFFICER: (At Tasha's station) Sir, my sensors read it. Well, it's half there. It does look as if it were partly transparent.
PICARD: Data, what the hell is it?
Scene: Lounge.
Geordi finds a window with a good view of the other thing.
GEORDI: Lieutenant LaForge to Captain.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Go ahead, LaForge. What can you make out?
Scene: Lounge.
GEORDI: This is something I've never seen before, sir. After complete spectral analysis, well it's as if it's not really there.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: (OC) I don't understand it.
DATA: I've got some information on its first transmission, sir. It translates as stand by.
OFFICER: Sir, I see show something coming out of that ship.
DATA: Verified, sir. Something very small.
A little globe of light passes through the shields, and the hull, and the bulkheads.
OFFICER: Intruder alert, sir. I don't show a location.
DATA: The away team signal's been cut off, Captain. We've lost contact with our people. OFFICER: Intruder relays do show something.
PICARD: Why has everything become a something, or a whatever?
The globe has arrived on the Bridge, and is face to face with Picard. When it speaks, everything shakes.
EDO: State the purpose. (it tones down) State the purpose of what you have done.
PICARD: I'm Captain Picard, commanding this Federation starship.
EDO: State the purpose of your visit here.
PICARD: We have sent down what we call an away team to make peaceful contact here.
EDO: Do you plan to leave life forms here?
PICARD: No. We are merely visiting here.
EDO: But you did more at the world you just left. Why have you left your own life forms there?
DATA: The colony we just planted, sir.
PICARD: We found that world uninhabited. The life forms we left there had, had sought the challenge. At least, that is the basic reason. Had sought the challenge of creating a new lifestyle, a new society there. Life on our world is driven to protect itself by seeding itself as widely as possible.
EDO: Do not interfere with my children below.
The globe goes over to Data.
DATA: Captain, I do not understand how, but it is asking me if I was constructed for information exchange.
PICARD: If there is any way of finding out whatever is out there, Data.
The globe shrinks and attaches itself to Data's forehead. He falls backwards onto the floor.
Scene: Planet surface.
BOY: Watch! I bet you can't do this!
He walks along in a hand-stand.
WESLEY: Watch this.
He does a series of cart wheels.
LESLEY: That's nothing compare to what a friend of mine can do.
BOY: What can your friend do?
LESLEY: He can do all sorts of cart wheels and flips and he can even do a hand-stand push-up.
GIRL: I want to do something too. With you.
WESLEY: Er. What?
GIRL: It's something you can teach me. Will you?
WESLEY: Er. Well, actually, there are some games I don't quite know yet.
GIRL: It's playing ball. Will you teach me?
WESLEY: Oh, sure! If you have a bat for the ball, I can show you my favourite. A bat? A stick or branch, about this thick, this long.
GIRL: We can get it in the gardens. Come on.
Scene: Council Chambers.
MAN: This will please you. Join us.
RIKER: Thanks. Another time.
WOMAN: Joy and happiness.
RIKER: It certainly is. The good life, Worf.
WORF: I am not concerned with pleasure, Commander. I am a warrior.
RIKER: Even Klingons need love now and then.
WORF: For what we consider love, sir, I would need a Klingon woman.
RIKER: What about plain old basic sex? You must have some need for that.
WORF: Of course, but with the females available to me, sir, Earth females, I must restrain myself too much. They are quite fragile, sir.
RIKER: Worf, if anyone else had said that, I'd suspect he was bragging.
WORF: Bragging, sir?
RIKER: I think I'll pass on that. I'd better check in. Enterprise, come in. Captain, do you read me? Let's. This may be nothing, but let's move all our people together.
WORF: Including Wesley, the boy and his girlfriend? They're outside.
DEANNA: Is there a problem?
RIKER: We've lost contact with our ship.
DEANNA: It's nothing these people have done. I'm certain of that. Their minds are so open.
RIKER: Help me locate Wes and Les. They've wandered off.
Riker and Deanna leave. Worf goes over to Tasha, who is with Rivan and Liator.
TASHA: That is extraordinary.
WORF: Can I take a moment of your time, Lieutenant?
TASHA: Yes, Worf, but you've got to hear this. Are you telling me that there's no crime here whatsoever? No one breaks any laws?
LIATOR: Once they did. Long, long ago there was much disorder. But not now.
TASHA: But I seen no sign of police. Those who enforce laws.
RIVAN: Oh, we have very few. They are called Mediators. And they are needed only in one place each day.
LIATOR: The punishment zone. An area that's selected for a period of time.
TASHA: It's a completely random selection?
LIATOR: No one but our Mediators know what place or for how long. We're very proud of the wisdom of our ancestors. No person ever knows where or when a zone will be.
RIVAN: And so no one risks death.
WORF: Death?
RIVAN: by breaking any law.
TASHA: Wait. Explain this.
LIATOR: Only one punishment for any crime.
WORF: Anyone who commits any crime in the punishment zone dies?
LIATOR: The law is the law. Our peace is built on that.
TASHA: Even a small thing? Such as ignoring the rule, keep off the grass?
RIVAN: Then no one breaks that rule. Who wants to risk execution? And there's always a white wall or fence to remind anyone of a forbidden area like that.
TASHA: And just who tells visitors about these rules?
WORF: We'd better find Wesley and Lesley.
Scene: Planet surface.
The children are running and laughing near cold-frames, nicely marked out with low white fences around them, and throwing the ball back and forth.
GIRL: You're very clever at this.
WESLEY: At home we play a lot of it. Here, toss the ball ahead of me.
A boy does, and Wesley runs back to catch it, not watching where he is going.
GIRL: No, Wes!
BOY: No! It's forbidden to disturb new plants!
But Wesley jumps to catch the ball, and clears the fence, smashing into the cold frame.
BOY: Couldn't you see the fence? It's for new plants. Don't ever go past a white marker.
WESLEY: It's okay.
LESLEY: Are you okay, baby?
WESLEY: I'm fine starshine.
BOY: (to Lesley) Why did you call Wes, baby?
LESLEY: That's because Wes is my boyfriend.
Two burley men come running.
GIRL: Oh, no! Oh, please, no!
MEDIATOR 2: Speak the truth. We are mediators.
WESLEY: I said I was fine.
GIRL: He doesn't know. He's from another place.
MEDIATOR 2: How very sad. But this zone has been selected.
BOY: But he doesn't understand.
MEDIATOR: It's always sad. Now doubly so.
Riker and Deanna arrive.
WESLEY: I was chasing a ball and I fell into that. I'm really sorry!
MEDIATOR: You admit you did that? Freely?
WESLEY: I'm with Starfleet. We don't lie.
RIKER: It won't happen again. We apologise.
MEDIATOR: We're sorry, too. But that changes nothing.
Tasha and Worf arrive.
TASHA: Careful, Commander. They've got some strange laws here.
RIKER: I thought you reviewed their laws.
TASHA: But they listed nothing about punishment.
MEDIATOR: One moment, please. Is there a witness to this transgression?
BOY: But it was my fault. I threw the ball past him.
LESLEY: How true that is.
MEDIATOR: We have a visible transgression, ample witnesses, and an admission of guilt. And though it deeply pains us to do it, we must.
He takes a small hypodermic needle from his belt pouch.
MEDIATOR: Are you prepared for punishment?
WORF: Punishment? If you mean what the others were talking about.
RIKER: What punishment? Name it!
MEDIATOR: Death, of course. Don't make it difficult for the boy.
The other mediator goes to take Wesley, and Riker knocks him down. Tasha and Worf draw their phasers.
WORF: Drop it. Drop it now!
He drops the needle and Tasha picks it up.
TASHA: It's a kind of syringe.
RIKER: What is this? You said death. Is this poison?
MEDIATOR: But of course it is. Completely painless. The boy would have felt nothing. But look at him now. You've frightened him.
WESLEY: He was going to kill me?
MEDIATOR 2: And if this Zone were still in effect, you would all deserve death.
MEDIATOR: It was announced you came as friends. Is this how friends act?
RIKER: Enterprise from away team, come in. Are you receiving us, Enterprise?
Scene: Bridge.
Doctor Crusher is examining Data, who still has the globe attached to him.
PICARD: Condition?
BEVERLY: No sign of consciousness, but the balance of the readings are quite normal for him.
PICARD: I believe this is some form of information exchange with whatever is over there. At least, I hope it is.
BEVERLY: Any communication from the away team?
PICARD: Something is blocking communication both.
The globe leaves Data, then vanishes.
TASHA: (OC) Security. Urgent. Repeating. Enterprise from away team.
GEORDI: This is the Enterprise, Lieutenant. We're receiving you now.
TASHA: (OC) This is an urgent call for Captain Picard.
RIKER: (OC) We may need your presence here, Captain. We have serious trouble with a member of our away team and an unusual law they have here.
PICARD: Captain to Riker, stand by.
Scene: Planet Surface.
The Mediators take Wesley away and Lesley tries to go after him but Riker grabs her before she could get to him.
LESLEY: (kicking and screaming in Riker's arms) Wesley! Nooooooo! Wesley! Riker let me go!
RIKER: (still holding onto Lesley) Les behave yourself or I won't let you go.
LESLEY: (still in Riker's arms) Please Riker. I won't let them kill Wesley. If they do they have to kill me as well.
MEDIATOR: (to Lesley who is still in Riker's arms) Who are you miss?
LESLEY: I'm (pointing to Wesley) his girlfriend. (to Riker) Please let me go Riker.
RIKER: I can't do that.
LESLEY: Than you leave me with no choice, Riker.
Lesley puts her arms in front of her and holds the inside of her left forearm with her right hand and the outside of her right forearm with her left hand and then she contencrates and closes her eyes and before Riker knew it Lesley was no longer in his arms.
RIKER: Lesley what did you do?
LESLEY: I'll explain later, Riker. In the meantime, Riker, I want to go home to the Enterprise.
RIKER: Why don't you transport yourself there the way you transported out of my arms.
LESLEY: I can't do that.
RIKER: Why is that?
LESLEY: It's too far a distance. Also if I do try it, it will drain me of all my enegry and I'll get extremely weak.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Signs of consciousness?
BEVERLY: Not yet. Could be minutes or hours. It's unclear what's happened to him.
PICARD: Take him to Sickbay. Let me know the instant he's awake. Anything new on that that thing out there?
GEORDI: Negative, sir.
PICARD: Captain to First Officer. I'm beaming down.
Scene: Council Chambers.
PICARD: Would you care to comment privately how you read any of this?
DEANNA: Unnecessary, sir. These people are honest, almost to a fault. And they have great pride in their ways.
LIATOR: You're the Captain. We're ready. This way, please.
Benches have been arranged in a circle. Picard has a chair to himself.
LIATOR: Welcome to our world, Captain.
PICARD: Thank you.
LIATOR: We regret that our system of justice is troubling you.
PICARD: The boy, Wesley Crusher, where is he, please?
RIKER: In accord with the Prime Directive, I've allowed them to hold him pending the outcome of this.
RIVAN: He is safe and unharmed. We promise that. Captain Picard, I do not know how you Earth people conduct law and justice, even if you respect such things.
PICARD: We do.
LIATOR: Good, so do we. Our precepts have been handed down from long ago. The tranquillity you see in our lives has been made possible by our laws.
RIVAN: We are a people of law. They do sometimes bring us sadness, but we have learned to adjust to that. Perhaps your laws work as well.
PICARD: They haven't always, but now they do.
LIATOR: Do you execute criminals?
PICARD: No, not any longer.
RIVAN: But you did once?
PICARD: Unfortunately, yes. But since then.
RIVAN: But when you did, was it believed necessary to do so?
PICARD: Some people felt that it was necessary. But we have learned to detect the seeds of criminal behaviour Capital punishment, in our world, is no longer considered a justifiable deterrent.
LIATOR: So, we are not yet as advanced as they are. And since you are advanced in other ways too, I suggest you use your superior powers to rescue the Wesley boy. We will record him as a convicted criminal out of our reach, an advanced person who luckily escaped the barbarism of this backward little world.
PICARD: Unfortunately, we have a law known as the Prime Directive.
RIVAN: Riker has explained it to us.
PICARD: Is the boy in any danger from you at this moment?
LIATOR: Until sundown?
Lesley gasps.
LESLEY: Captain, I want to go home to the Enterprise now. Please.
RIVAN: Because you are strangers, we are delaying enforcement of the law. But we must act by sundown.
PICARD: Then I have another question. While orbiting, while circling high above your world, as we do, we have encountered a strange object. A vessel perhaps. Have you any idea what it is? It's not entirely real. At least, it's not completely solid.
RIVAN: Do you mean God?
PICARD: God?
LIATOR: God is said to be somewhere up there, protecting us.
PICARD: Exactly, exactly how would you describe God?
RIVAN: As you just did. As existing both here and in another place also.
LIATOR: But when God wants to show its power, it can make itself felt most fully.
BEVERLY: (OC) Captain, come in please.
PICARD: Picard here.
BEVERLY: (OC) CMO Crusher, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: Commander Data has just regained consciousness.
PICARD: (OC) What condition? Can he talk?
BEVERLY: He's insisting on it, sir. Urgently.
Scene: Council Chamber.
DEANNA: (whispers) Wesley.
PICARD: Stand by; Picard out. I want to speak to her personally about her son. So you promise that Wesley Crusher is safe until sundown?
LIATOR: You have our word.
PICARD: Then, will one of you return with me to our vessel?
RIVAN: Of course. I'll go as a hostage for the boy's safety.
PICARD: No, no, no. That's not it. I want you to identify something for me, if you can. Captain to Transporter Room. Four to beam up.
Picard, Deanna, Lesley and Rivan move away from the group.
RIVAN: I'm frightened.
DEANNA: There's no reason to be.
PICARD: Transporter Room, energise.
Scene: Corridor.
RIVAN: But this is a city. A great city.
BEVERLY: Captain, I've just seen the away team report about Wesley.
Lesley gives Beverly an emotional hug at the sound of Wesley.
PICARD: In a moment, Doctor.
BEVERLY: In a moment?
PICARD: Exactly. In a moment. You were about to say?
RIVAN: Since you have all this power, why be concerned about our laws? You could take the boy from us.
PICARD: It's not that simple. From the starboard lounge, you can see whatever is outside this vessel.
RIVAN: Do you mean my world? You said we'd be high above it.
PICARD: And something else that's circling your world. It's very important to us, and perhaps to you, to know what it is.
Scene: Lounge.
As soon as Rivan sees the other vessel, she drops to her knees, head bowed.
PICARD: I'm sorry, Rivan, but this was necessary. Do you know what that is?
DEANNA: Can you tell us what it is?
PICARD: Is it God? (she nods) Now, it's very important you answer something. How do you recognise what it is?
DEANNA: Nothing will harm you, I promise. Just tell us how you recognise it.
RIVAN: It has appeared before.
PICARD: Can you speak to it? Does it speak to you?
DEANNA: Captain!
The vessel becomes even more visible.
EDO: (OC) Return my child.
BEVERLY: Return?
DEANNA: It's coming toward us.
PICARD: Picard to Transporter Room, come in.
He puts his comm. badge on Rivan.
DEANNA: Yes, do that. But hurry!
BEVERLY: It's still coming toward us.
CHIEF: (OC) Transporter Chief to Captain.
PICARD: One to beam down to away team location. Hurry! Engage! Transporter Room. Urgent! Engage!
And Rivan is beamed away. The Edo vessel backs off.
BEVERLY: It seems the Edo's god is very protective of its children.
PICARD: I had no choice but to learn about that thing from her. I'm sorry I had to. She was so frightened.
DEANNA: It's understandable, sir. Sharing an orbit with God is no small experience.
PICARD: Let's go see your patient, Doctor.
Scene: Corridor.
BEVERLY: What do you intend to do about my son?
PICARD: He's being held safely until sundown.
BEVERLY: When he faces execution! Although he's committed no crime, certainly none that any sane and reasonable person would.
PICARD: You saw what that thing was about to do.
BEVERLY: I apologise, sir, but this is very difficult for me. If he were your son, you'd be as frightened
PICARD: But I am.
BEVERLY: Data is in Sickbay here. You'll find him able to talk to you.
Scene: Sickbay.
MEDIC: He's checking out fine, Doctor.
BEVERLY: Thank you. Finish it later, please.
DATA: I was an excellent choice for them, Captain. They were able to communicate with me quite. I was about to say quite easily, but there was nothing easy about it. Fortunately, they stopped short of overloading my circuitry.
PICARD: You're saying they. It is a vessel of some sort.
DATA: Definitely not a single entity if that's what you mean, sir, although they know the Edo worship them as a god thing.
PICARD: They know?
DATA: They recognise that this is quite expected and harmless at the present Edo stage of evolution.
PICARD: What sort of vessel?
DATA: It is perhaps not what we would understand as a vessel, sir. The dimensions this one occupies allows them to be, well, to be in several places at once. But they consider this entire star cluster to be theirs. It was probably unwise of us to attempt to place a human colony in this area. Of course, there are three thousand four other planets in this star cluster in which we could have colonised. The largest and closest.
PICARD: Data, don't babble.
DATA: Babble, sir? I'm not aware that I ever babble, sir. It may be that from time to time I have considerable information to communicate, and you may question the way I organise it.
PICARD: Please, organise it into brief answers to my questions. We have very little time. Do they accept our presence at this planet?
DATA: Undecided, sir.
PICARD: Data, please, feel free to volunteer any important information.
DATA: I volunteer that they are now observing us, sir.
PICARD: To judge what kind of life forms we are?
DATA: No, it is more curiosity, sir. I doubt that they expect us to abide by their value systems.
PICARD: Do they know of our Prime Directive?
DATA: They know everything I know, sir.
PICARD: And, if we were to violate the Prime Directive, how
BEVERLY: That's not a fair question.
PICARD: How would they react?
DATA: It would be a case of judging us by our own rules, sir. If we violate our own Prime Directive, they might consider us to be deceitful and untrustworthy. You do recall they cautioned us not to interfere with their children below. What has happened?
BEVERLY: The Edo want to execute my son. (Lesley starts to tear up) I will not allow that to happen, Jean-Luc.
DATA: Most interesting, sir. The emotion of motherhood, compared to all others felt by
BEVERLY: Shut up!
Beverly storms out. Lesley runs after Beverly.
DATA: You were right, sir. I do tend to babble.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41255.9. Whatever the object or vessel in orbit with us, it hangs there like a nemesis. It is one thing to communicate with something mysterious, but it is quite another to be silently observed by it. I am concerned whether it understands the same concept of reason that we do?
Scene: Lounge.
DATA: You sent for me, sir?
PICARD: Let's have more talk, Data.
DATA: Yes, sir.
PICARD: Sit down.
DATA: What level of communication, sir?
PICARD: Any. My apologies for saying that you babbled.
DATA: But I do, sir.
PICARD: You also see things in a way we do not, but as they truly are. I need help, my friend. I cannot permit that boy or any member of this vessel be sacrificed. The Prime Directive never intended that. Also Lesley won't forgive me if I did let that happen.
DATA: The problem, sir, is there. (the Edo vessel) Although they've learned of the Prime Directive from my mind, how will they evaluate it? How do they reason? What are their values? Remember their warning to us, sir.
PICARD: Exactly. How do I explain my refusing to obey their laws down there. Not permitting the Crusher boy to be executed. And by so doing do I endanger this vessel and more than a thousand other lives?
DATA: Would you choose one life over one thousand, sir?
PICARD: I refuse to let arithmetic decide questions like that. Did you learn anything about the relationship between that and the Edo? Why are they so certain it's a god?
DATA: Any sufficiently advanced life form would appear to others to be that, sir. But when they were probing my thoughts, Captain, I could feel that whatever they are now, they once existed in this dimension, just as we do. Perhaps in the same kind of flesh and blood form. Since then, however, they have evolved considerably. Their present existence in multi-dimensions no doubt has advantages we do not understand.
PICARD: Then in some earlier flesh and blood form they might have shared our kind of values.
DATA: We know the Edo share them, sir.
PICARD: Why would such an advanced thing feel obliged to protect the Edo?
DATA: Perhaps the Edo are a child race by comparison. Possibly a race which those life forms have planted here. Much as we plant human colonies on Class-M planets.
Beverly enters with Lesley.
BEVERLY: Having fulfilled my professional obligations regarding Commander Data
PICARD: You now request permission to beam down to the planet. Permission granted. You can accompany me while I try and resolve this. And you should know that whatever the cost, I will not allow them to execute your son.
BEVERLY: Thank you, sir.
PICARD: Data, take command.
DATA: Aye, sir.
Scene: Council chambers.
RIKER: It's almost time. I want the boy brought here now.
Liator get up.
TASHA: I'll go along with you.
LIATOR: Of course.
Picard, Beverly and Lesley beam in. Rivan goes over and kneels, handing back his communicator.
RIVAN: Captain Picard. I saw you share the sky with God. You must be Gods.
PICARD: No, no, we're not gods.
Wesley enters, escorted by the two mediators, Liator and Tasha.
WESLEY: Mother. I guess you know a lot has happened here.
BEVERLY: I know.
Lesley clears her throat. Wesley goes over to her and kisses her.
WESLEY: Captain Picard, are you going to let them kill me?
PICARD: No. But I must find some way to prevent it that you understand.
MEDIATOR: How can we let this happen, Liator? They threaten everything we respect. Our law, our peace, our tranquillity and order.
MEDIATOR 2: You are powerful, but do not do this to us, we beg you. At least study what we were without law. Hurtful to each other, savage, thieving.
PICARD: I understand. Perhaps your system of law and punishment is better than any system we once had. But we do now have a law I must obey. And part of it says I must protect my people from harm.
LIATOR: We did not ask you to come here.
RIKER: Which has to do with another law that we must obey.
PICARD: We are all sworn not to interfere with other lives in the galaxy. If I save this boy, I break that law.
MEDIATOR: And you should be executed if you do so!
PICARD: I may suffer almost as much. Starfleet takes the Prime Directive very seriously.
MEDIATOR 2: No, it is God who will punish you.
PICARD: That thought has crossed our minds. Your god up there may insist that we obey our non-interference directive.
WESLEY: Sir, does this mean if you save me the entire crew could die?
PICARD: You're not involved in this decision, boy.
WESLEY: I'm sorry, sir, but it seems like I am.
PICARD: Picard to Transporter room. Lock into this signal. Stand by for seven to beam up. Wesley, Lieutenant.
The Starfleet people gather together.
LIATOR: Our laws have been violated. What of justice?
TASHA: What of justice to Wesley? Does he deserve to die?
PICARD: I'm truly sorry, Liator, but I must have justice for my people too. Transporter room, energise.
Nothing happens.
PICARD: Transporter room, come in.
CHIEF: (OC) We can't energise the beam, sir. Everything checks out but we're getting no results.
MEDIATOR: God has prevented your escape.
BEVERLY: Then your god is unfair. My son had no warning that his act was criminal.
MEDIATOR 2: We cannot allow ignorance of the law to become a defence.
PICARD: I don't know how to communicate this, or even if it is possible, but the question of justice has concerned me greatly of lately. And I say to any creature who may be listening, there can be no justice so long as laws are absolute. Even life itself is an exercise in exceptions.
RIKER: When has justice ever been as simple as a rulebook?
The party is beamed up.
PICARD: It seems the Edo Lord agrees with you, Number One.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Main viewer on.
PICARD: Hailing frequencies.
TASHA: Open, sir.
PICARD: To the object in orbit with us. We will remove the human colonists from the adjoining solar system if you signal us to do so. Please tell us.
DATA: Captain.
The Edo ship vanishes.
GEORDI: Is that a signal?
PICARD: I suppose, I suppose it must be. I was hoping for more.
GEORDI: More of what, sir? I'm glad it's gone.
RIKER: Agreed, sir. Short and sweet. God-like efficiency.
PICARD: I was hoping we'd learn more about it. But since we can't, take us out of here, Number One.
RIKER: Gladly, sir.
Scene: Ten Forward.
Data and Geordi are just walking in. Lesley, Wesley, Georda and Dana are sitting at a table in Ten Forward. Data and Geordi sat at another table on the opposite side of Ten Forward.
LESLEY: So what do you think Geordi and Data are talking about?
GEORDA: I don't know.
DANA: I think that Geordi might be talking to Data about me.
With Geordi and Data.
DATA: So Geordi what did you want to talk to me about?
GEORDI: Dana.
DATA: What about Dana?
GEORDI: What do you think of her?
DATA: Well she is a very unique and beautiful Android.
GEORDI: Data did you say that she is beautiful?
DATA: Yes I did. Why?
GEORDI: Why did you say that she is beautiful?
DATA: I know that I may be an Android myself and incapable of human feelings but I think that I am falling in love with Dana. I also think that I am afraid to tell her. Geordi please do not tell Dana that I think that I might have feelings for her.
GEORDI: Don't worry Data I won't.

That was a good chapter. I liked the part with parts with Lesley and Wesley. I really like the part where Geordi is talking with Data about Dana.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 9
The Battle

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41723.9. In response to a Starfleet order we are in the Xendi Sabu star system, having rendezvoused with a Ferengi vessel which has requested a meeting. Although we arrived here and made appropriate signals to the Ferengi three days ago, they have so far responded only with the message, stand by Enterprise.
Scene: Picard's quarters.
Picard is reading, when the door bell chimes, and Beverly enters with her medical bag.
BEVERLY: You sent for me, sir?
PICARD: Yes, Doctor. Sit down. Look, this perhaps may be nothings, but I've been feeling a bit odd of late. Fatigued. And now I've got this damned headache.
BEVERLY: A what?
PICARD: Headache. Headache. Surely you know what a headache is.
BEVERLY: Of course. But I don't often encounter them.
PICARD: The reason is obvious, of course. What are the Ferengi up to? Stand by, Enterprise. Stand by for what?
BEVERLY: I don't see a thing wrong.
PICARD: No, neither can I. Unless they're baiting some kind of trap.
BEVERLY: With your head. I see nothing physically wrong, but I want to run some additional scans in Sickbay.
PICARD: Doctor, all I've got is
BEVERLY: Is an order to report to Sickbay. From the one person aboard this ship who can give you an order.
RIKER: (OC) Captain from First Officer. They're finally sending a message.
PICARD: On my way, Number One. Sorry, Doctor. Duty calls.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: They're prepared to talk, sir.
PICARD: Have they given any hint of what they've been waiting for?
TASHA: Negative, Captain. They've identified their Captain as Bok. DaiMon Bok.
GEORDI: You'll be able to see him now, sir. They're willing to communicate on visual.
PICARD: Open hailing frequencies.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
PICARD: Ferengi vessel. This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise. We are transmitting visually.
BOK: (on viewscreen) Is this the Captain Picard?
PICARD: Do we know each other?
BOK: (on viewscreen) I know you, Picard.
PICARD: Then you have the advantage. Is this Bok?
BOK: (on viewscreen) I am Bok, DaiMon of the Ferengi. I have asked you here to discuss a mutual problem, Captain.
PICARD: What problem is that, DaiMon Bok?
BOK: (on viewscreen) I insist on speaking of that matter in person. Shall we meet on your vessel or mine?
Deanna signals the transmission cut.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies closed.
DEANNA: Captain, I sense considerable deception on Bok's part. And danger.
RIKER: Then we should meet him here. Keep him under our control.
Picard nods.
TASHA: Now open, sir.
PICARD: I appreciate your offer, DaiMon Bok. We would like you to be our guest here.
BOK: (on viewscreen) As you wish, Picard. Perhaps this will begin a new era of cooperation for both our peoples. In one Earth hour, then?
PICARD: In one hour, DaiMon Bok. End transmission.
WORF: I can't believe they're coming here.
PICARD: They did agree a bit easily. Well, in one hour we shall know why.
Scene: Sickbay.
Picard is lying on an examination table.
PICARD: Are you always accustomed to getting your way, Doctor?
BEVERLY: Only when my way makes sense, Captain. There are still forty minutes before the Ferengi beam over. I'll have these scans done in ten.
PICARD: It seems an awful lot of effort for something as simple as a headache.
BEVERLY: As simple? You should not have a headache unless there's something wrong, sir. It may be true that headaches were once quite common, but that was in the days before the brain was charted, before we understood the nature of pain. When we were suffering from such things as the common cold.
PICARD: So what's the cause of my headache?
BEVERLY: I haven't the slightest idea. (she puts something against his temple) Feel better.
PICARD: The pain's gone.
BEVERLY: Medical fakery. The pain is actually still there. It's just cloaked. I'll want further exams.
PICARD: Doctor!
BEVERLY: When the Ferengi matter is settled.
Scene: Bridge.
Wesley enters, in his new acting Ensign uniform. It looks hot well through Lesley eyes it does.
WESLEY: Commander, you'll soon be getting an intruder alert.
RIKER: What? Wesley, if you've something to report.
WESLEY: If you'll scan heading four four mark one six three, Lieutenant, you'll find
TASHA: Intruder alert, sir.
GEORDI: I've got something, sir.
WESLEY: It's an old style starship, Constellation Class, heading this way under impulse power, sir.
Picard enters.
RIKER: Says who?
PICARD: Ensign, answer the First Officer's question.
WESLEY: Says the long distance sensors, sir. I was in Engineering, playing around with boosting sensor output.
DATA: Boosting it? How? (catches Picard's eye) We will discuss this later.
GEORDI: I read it now, sir, as a Constellation class starship heading this way under impulse power. Sending no call letters, sir.
PICARD: The correct procedure,
RIKER: What's wrong, sir?
PICARD: Oh, it's nothing. It's just a, just a mild headache. The correct procedure, Ensign, would have been to signal the Bridge of your finding immediately.
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
RIKER: Bringing it here personally, perhaps with the idea of being on hand for the Ferengi beam over, might have imperiled this vessel had it been something hostile approaching.
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
WORF: We are receiving no signal at all from the approaching starship, sir.
DATA: Time, sir.
PICARD: Time? Oh, for the Ferengi to beam over. Do you see any problems connected with this old starship coming in, Number One?
RIKER: Suggest it would be safer, sir, to have the Ferengi here whatever happenings.
PICARD: Concur. Stand by.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
The Ferengi transporter is a curved effect, instead of vertical. Three big-eared little men appear in front of the viewscreen.
PICARD: Welcome you in peace to the Enterprise, DaiMon Bok.
BOK: It is our pleasure, Captain Picard. Might I introduce my First Officer, Kazago, and my Second, Rata?
PICARD: This is my First Officer, Commander William Riker. Second in command, Data. Counselor Troi.
BOK: We have heard that you use females. Clothed females. Most interesting.
RIKER: They are that, sir.
KAZAGO: And the android was mentioned too. What is its price? We should like to purchase it.
PICARD: He is not for sale. Commander Data is, um, is, um
RIKER: Is second-hand merchandise. You wouldn't want him.
DATA: Second-hand, sir? Oh, of course. A human joke.
TASHA: Excuse, Captain, but the unidentified starship is coming in. Still no signal at all.
BOK: Think nothing of it. It is under our control.
PICARD: One of our starships under your control?
BOK: Do not be alarmed, Captain. It is a gift from us. With which we honour the Hero of Maxia.
PICARD: Who?
BOK: Why you, Picard, of course. Do you not remember the Battle of Maxia?
PICARD: I'm sorry, I do not remember it, DaiMon Bok. Data?
DATA: Captain, he may refer to an incident which occurred nine years ago in the Maxia Zeta star system, in which an unidentified starship
BOK: Unidentified? That fine vessel was Ferengi.
DATA: Which you destroyed, sir.
PICARD: The Battle of Maxia. I've never heard it referred to so dramatically before. My sincere regrets, Bok, but that vessel refused to identify itself. It simply attacked us. We defended ourselves.
BOK: Such mistakes happen in space.
DATA: Hardly a mistake, sir. Your report shows that it deliberately attacked.
TASHA: Do you want the arriving vessel on main viewer, sir? It is only a thousand kilometres away now.
BOK: Put it on your viewer.
PICARD: Main viewer.
BOK: There is no one aboard it.
RATA: The log should be downloaded into the Enterprise's records. At a price.
BOK: No price!
KAZAGO: No price?
PICARD: For what purpose? What (clutches his head in pain)
DEANNA: I just felt something too, Captain.
BOK: Perhaps it is his conscience?
RIKER: Bridge to Sickbay.
PICARD: No, no. I'm fine
DEANNA: It felt as if it were something from your past.
PICARD: It's right. I'm fine. What is this all about?
BOK: It is about the battle I mentioned, Captain. A gift, in honour of that occasion. Look at that ship closely.
PICARD: Magnify please, Lieutenant La Forge.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Why, it's the Stargazer. It's my old ship. How did you find it?
BOK: It was a derelict, adrift in space on the far side of this star system. How it got there is none of my business, Captain. But now, that vessel is yours, if you wish to have it.
KAZAGO: We are not selling it to him?
BOK: Consider it an act of friendship.
RATA: At no cost? Oh, ugly. Very ugly.
Captain's log, supplemental. Bok and his officers have returned to their vessel, inviting us now to officially take possession of the Stargazer.
Scene: Sickbay.
This time, Picard is on a full bio-bed.
BEVERLY: Like before?
PICARD: No. It hit with more impact.
DEANNA: Hit? I'm sorry, but anything could be important.
BEVERLY: You said you felt something yourself.
DEANNA: I believe so. Like a thought, but rather mechanical in nature.
PICARD: Are you sure it wasn't one of my thoughts? At that moment, I was remembering being at the helm of the Stargazer. A manoeuvre was being made. We were hit. Something's burning. I can smell smoke. Can you smell it?
BEVERLY: There's nothing burning, Jean-Luc.
PICARD: That was just part of my memory.
DEANNA: Memory or nightmare?
Riker enters.
PICARD: Well, it was strong, whatever it was. Are you ready, Number One.
RIKER: Staff's waiting, if Doctor Crusher approves.
BEVERLY: I'll do better than that. I'll go along.
Scene: Observation lounge.
All the senior staff are seated around the long table.
PICARD: We were traveling at warp two through the Maxia Zeta star system when this unidentified starship suddenly appeared and fired on us, point-blank range.
RIKER: Where did it come from?
PICARD: It must have been lying in some deep moon crater. First attack damaged the shields. In the confusion, they hit us a second time.
TASHA: No clue who they were?
PICARD: No names, no reason. Can you identify them, Vigo? If they come in a second time with our shields damaged
DEANNA: Sir? Who's Vigo?
PICARD: He's my weapons officer on the Stargazer. I'm getting quite caught up in this.
RIKER: Your shields were failing, sir.
PICARD: I improvised. With the enemy vessel coming in for the kill, I ordered a sensor bearing, and when it went into the return arc.
DATA: You performed what Starfleet textbooks now refer to as the Picard Manoeuvre.
PICARD: Well, I did what any good helmsman would have done. I dropped into high warp, stopped right off the enemy vessel's bow and fired with everything I had.
RIKER: And blowing into maximum warp speed, you appeared for an instant to be in two places at once.
PICARD: And our attacker fired on the wrong one.
RIKER: I did what any good helmsman could have done. You did it first, sir.
PICARD: It was a save our skins manoeuvre. We were finished. On fire. We had to abandon ship. We limped through space in shuttlecraft for weeks before we were picked up. I haven't thought about this for years.
DATA: Sir, the Ferengi are standing by for us to take possession of the Stargazer.
PICARD: I want to go over to her.
RIKER: I understand, sir. As soon as my people have made certain she's safe.
BEVERLY: And after I have another look at you, Captain.
Scene: Stargazer Bridge.
Tasha and Data are exploring by torchlight.
DATA: (reading the plaque) USS Stargazer. Constellation Class. Starfleet Registry NCC 2893.
Lights come on and Geordi enters.
GEORDI: I activated the emergency power cells. Amazing they still work.
WORF: The rest of the ship is clear of surprises, Lieutenant Yar.
GEORDI: I read about this ship at the Academy, I never dreamed I'd ever be on her.
TASHA: Yar to Enterprise. All clear, sir. (Picard and Crusher beam in)
PICARD: Hello, old friend.
DATA: You'll find this most intriguing, sir.
PICARD: What did you find, Data?
DATA: The last entry dated nine years ago, sir. By you. (reading screen) We are forced to abandon our starship. May she find her way without us. Apparently she did, sir.
BEVERLY: How do you feel, Captain?
PICARD: Oh, I'm fine, Doctor. Lieutenant Yar, run a structural analysis on the Stargazer for an impulse tow. Data, download all computers to the Enterprise and file. I'm going to look at my old cabin.
Scene: Stargazer Captain's Quarters.
Picard is going through the books he left behind, and a trunk of clothes. Inside the trunk, something lights up, and he doubles over in agony.
Scene: Ferengi Science Lab.
Bok is working at a double of the thing in the trunk.
BOK: Try this, Hero of Maxia.
He slides the top of the sphere around and.
Scene: Stargazer Captain's quarters.
Picard jerks up in pain and clutches at his head before collapsing. Beverly enters.
BEVERLY: Captain? Another headache? This really worries me. I want you back on the Enterprise.
PICARD: But my things
BEVERLY: I'll see they're sent to your Enterprise quarters.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Enterprise now taking possession of Stargazer, Kazago.
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) Permission granted, Riker.
RIKER: Actually it was quite a bargain, Kazago. I thought the Ferengi always made a profit on things.
Kazago growls and ends the transmission.
RIKER: Set sub-warp speed for towing, LaForge.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
Picard enters, in pain.
DATA: Starfleet has responded to our request, sir. A tug will rendezvous with us and tow the Stargazer back to Xendi Starbase Nine.
PICARD: Very well, Data.
RIKER: How was it, Captain?
PICARD: Very strange, Number One. Like going back to the house you grew up in, but no one's home, except the phantoms of the past.
DEANNA: It has troubled you?
PICARD: Not half as much as this damn headache. Take over, Number One.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
Picard leaves.
RIKER: What's wrong?
DEANNA: I wish I could say.
Scene: Picard's quarters.
The trunk has been delivered. Picard goes to lie down on his bed.
VOICES: (OC) Shields weakening, Captain. Torpedoes armed. Where are they? Oh my god, sir! Fire! Fire!
Scene: Ready Room.
RIKER: What is it, Data? Why all the mystery?
DATA: The records of the Stargazer, sir. What the Ferengi call the Battle of Maxia. It seems the Captain's personal log contains a much different version of that conflict than the official historic account.
RIKER: What are you saying?
DATA: It would appear that the starship which Captain Picard attacked, had in fact, been under a flag of truce.
RIKER: What?
DATA: And apparently, the Captain destroyed the ship without notice or provocation.
RIKER: Impossible. What about the fire aboard the Stargazer?
DATA: An accident in Engineering.
RIKER: And what proof?
DATA: It is logged in his own voice, sir. Would you care to hear it, sir? Sir?
Scene: Picard's quarters.
PICARD: (Stargazer log) This is a confession given by me, Jean-Luc Picard commanding USS Stargazer.
PICARD: What does this mean?
RIKER: I don't know, sir. It sounds like your voice.
PICARD: It is, Number One.
RIKER: I refuse to believe you ever said that.
PICARD: (Stargazer log) I admit I must have mistaken their subspace antenna for a weapons cluster. Unfortunately, I fired our main phasers and our direct hit destroyed the unknown vessel.
RIKER: I've assumed they've simulated your voice somehow. I've already put Data to work on it.
PICARD: Thank you, Will. I never made that log entry, of course, but it still leaves you with a duty to perform.
RIKER: I know, sir, I must report it to Starfleet. That's at least one full day for subspace communications to reach there.
PICARD: And one more full day for their answer to return. I'd like the truth on this by then. I'd hate to have to prepare a formal defence.
RIKER: I can't believe they'd ask for your command.
PICARD: Why wouldn't they? With the Ferengi making these friendship overtures, I could become a severe embarrassment to Starfleet.
RIKER: I'm certain the Ferengi are behind the faked log. No wonder they're waiting out there. Headache back, sir?
PICARD: Damn! I'll call the Doctor again.
RIKER: It's no wonder, with all this going on. Try to relax.
Riker leaves.
PICARD: (Stargazer log) This is a confession given by me, Jean-Luc Picard, commanding USS Stargazer, in the hopes that my belated honesty will be taken into account by Starfleet when judging my actions during a confrontation with an unidentified vessel.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Open hailing frequencies, Geordi.
GEORDI: Open, sir.
RIKER: I'll take it in the Ready room. Secure channel, LaForge.
GEORDI: Secure, Sir.
Scene: Ready room.
RIKER: Starship Ferengi, this is Commander Riker here. I'd like to speak to First Officer Kazago.
KAZAGO: (OC) A problem, Riker?
RIKER: Are our channels secure on your end?
KAZAGO: (on monitor) It is now.
RIKER: Are you aware of the details of the Battle of Maxia?
KAZAGO: (on monitor) Captain Bok has just made me aware of it, Riker. The infamy of your Picard is now fully known.
RIKER: Infamy?
KAZAGO: (on monitor) I would call the wanton destruction of an unarmed vessel infamy.
RIKER: And if I produced evidence that Captain Picard's log entry was falsified to indicate that?
KAZAGO: (on monitor) I can hardly imagine you contacted me to discuss an ancient battle. What do you want of me?
RIKER: Just one question.
KAZAGO: (on monitor) As you humans say, I'm all ears.
RIKER: First Officer to First Officer, Kazago, if your Captain Bok knew about this, then why this peaceful meeting to present us with the Stargazer?
KAZAGO: (on monitor) We freely give you back your derelict warship and now you accuse us of crime, Riker? I can bear no more insults!
Scene: Picard's quarters.
The doorbell chimes.
PICARD: Yes? Who the hell is it?
Beverly enters.
BEVERLY: Not resting, Captain?
PICARD: More like dying, Doctor.
BEVERLY: Over here.
PICARD: What is wrong with me?
BEVERLY: I wish to hell I knew, Captain, but something unusual has definitely been happening to you.
PICARD: Why do doctors always say the obvious as though it's a revelation?
BEVERLY: Why do captains always act like they're immortal?
She tries another painkiller.
PICARD: No.
Scene: Ferengi Science Lab.
Bok turns up the device.
Scene: Picard's Quarters.
BEVERLY: You didn't tell me it had been this bad.
PICARD: It wasn't this bad. But it's getting worse.
BEVERLY: This should help a little. It's got to be some kind of emotional pressure connected with the Stargazer.
PICARD: I got this headache long before I even knew my old ship still existed. Still, perhaps you're partly right.
BEVERLY: Want to talk about it? I'm here.
PICARD: The fight at Maxia. I destroyed an entire vessel. An entire crew.
BEVERLY: Did you have a choice?
PICARD: I don't know anymore. I just don't know.
BEVERLY: Commander Riker's told me about the altered log, if that's what's troubling you.
PICARD: The last three nights I've, I've heard these voices. I'm on the bridge of my old ship. There's fire all around me. The klaxons, smoke. And then I give the order. And now the Stargazer is really here!. And that log. Am I going crazy? How do I know I was in my right mind at Maxia? How do I know I'm in my right mind now?
Beverly gives him an injection.
PICARD: What was that?
BEVERLY: Something to let you sleep.
She helps him to his bed.
PICARD: Yes sleep. Sleep.
Beverly puts two small devices on his forehead, turns the lights out and leaves.
VOICES: (OC) Shields weakening, Captain. Torpedoes armed. Where are they?
Scene: Ferengi Science Lab.
BOK: And now, dear Captain, you are ready to live the past.
He winds the contraption up to maximum.
Scene: Picard's quarters.
VOICES: (OC) Where did they come from? Phasers, sir? Sir? Sir? What should we do, sir? Should we fire back? Fire, Captain? Fire!
Scene: Ferengi Science Lab.
BOK: You will injure yourself as you once injured me.
Scene: Picard's quarters.
VOICES: (OC) Sir!
Picard opens his eyes, and he sees the ghost of the Stargazer's bridge and her crew. He is reliving the past.
PICARD: Damage report!
VOICE: (OC) Fusion generator under surge control, sir! Power systems failing!
PICARD: Sensor beam bearing on hostile ship!
VOICE: (OC) Seven mark nineteen, sir!
VOICE: (OC) Phasers, sir? Sir?
PICARD: Ready phasers, and lock! Stand by on warp nine. Heading seven, seven mark twenty. Engage. Steady. Now, reverse and stop! Phasers fire, torpedoes away! Fire. Fire.
Scene: Ready Room.
DATA: By comparing the Stargazer's main computer log with Captain Picard's personal log, I have found checksum discrepancies, sir.
RIKER: What does that mean?
DATA: All information is time-coded by entry, and the bits when totaled produce an aggregate amount which
RIKER: I don't want a computer science lesson, Data. Bottom line.
DATA: One of these two logs is a forgery, sir.
GEORDI: Correction. The log just found aboard the Stargazer is a forgery.
DATA: As I said, that is one of them, is it not?
Picard enters.
GEORDI: Captain. You're looking better, sir.
PICARD: A little sleep, thanks to the good Doctor, works wonders. What report on the logs?
DATA: Yes, sir. Whoever tampered with your personal log was clever.
GEORDI: But a bit clumsy. It's definitely a fabrication, sir.
Beverly enters.
BEVERLY: Number One, I'd like you to take a look at this brain scan graph. What are you doing here?
PICARD: I thought I was Captain of this starship.
BEVERLY: Of course you are, but I
PICARD: Thank you for the confirmation, Doctor. But now, except for Riker, I would like you all to return to your stations. Is that clear?
DATA: Sir.
Data and Geordi leave.
PICARD: You too, Doctor. I have business with the Commander.
BEVERLY: Under protest, Captain.
Beverly leaves.
RIKER: You have orders for me, sir?
PICARD: Release the Stargazer from the tractor beam, Number One.
RIKER: Sir?
PICARD: The tractor beam.
RIKER: Sir, are you abandoning?
PICARD: No, but her inertia will carry the Stargazer along with us. Or did you sleep through the Academy lecture on conservation of tractor beam power?
RIKER: No, sir. I'll release her, of course.
Scene: Sickbay.
The output from the forehead devices is on a wall display.
BEVERLY: Obviously, there's some thought process disorder, but I can't find a physical reason for it. Anything?
DEANNA: I'm puzzled too. I keep sensing random thoughts but two sets of them. As if they were his, but intermixed other thoughts which are also his.
Wesley enters with Lesley.
BEVERLY: I'm busy at the moment, Wesley.
WESLEY: I know, Mom, but this is important. When I (Lesley nudges Wesley in the elbow) sorry when we went back to the main sensors in Engineering to try some more sensitivity experiments.
DEANNA: Does this have something to do with Captain Picard?
WESLEY: Yes, ma'am, if this is what you're talking about here. We don't know much about brain scans but we glanced at these when you were studying them, and we noticed that these patterns are the same as those picked up from the low-intensity transmissions from the Ferengi ship. We went back and checked, and they're exactly the same.
DEANNA: What kind of transmissions?
LESLEY: We don't know. Engineering has nothing like it on record.
DEANNA: Let's get to the Captain.
BEVERLY: No, they might be affecting the Captain. To Riker.
Beverly and Deanna leave.
WESLEY: You're welcome, ladies. Adults.
LESLEY: Wes what would they do without us?
Wesley kisses Lesley.
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: The captain, Commander?
RIKER: Resting in his quarters after ordering both of you to your duty stations.
DEANNA: There have been some, did they say low intensity? Some unusual low intensity transmissions from the Ferengi vessel.
RIKER: Did who say?
BEVERLY: My son and his girlfriend. Transmissions which exactly match certain anomalies found in the Captain's brain scans. Something over there is affecting the Captain's thought patterns.
RIKER: Computer, give me a location on Captain Picard.
COMPUTER: Captain Picard is in Transporter room three.
RIKER: What? Computer, emergency order to Transporter room three.
COMPUTER: New information. Captain Picard is no longer aboard the Enterprise.
Scene: Stargazer Bridge.
Picard beams in and takes the Captain's chair.
BOK: Welcome back, Captain.
Bok is holding the device he has been using on Picard.
PICARD: What is happening?
BOK: Shields up, computer.
PICARD: What are you doing?
BOK: Collecting on an old debt.
Picard collapses in agony.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Stargazer, Captain, respond!
TASHA: Shields up, sir. No way to beam over any help.
GEORDI: Commander, I'm reading something very strange here. A low intensity beam of intermittent pulse inside this starship.
DATA: I have a fix on it, sir. Inside Captain Picard's quarters.
TASHA: You transferred some of his belongings from the Stargazer?
WORF: Yes. Including a fairly heavy chest.
RIKER: Go take a look, fast!
GEORDI: Commander, Stargazer is now powering up, sir.
Scene: Stargazer Bridge.
BOK: I have been waiting a long nine years for this, Picard.
PICARD: I don't know what you're talking about.
BOK: Do you not, human? Can you not remember the crime you committed against my very blood? You murdered my only son.
PICARD: Your son?
BOK: He was the commander of the ship you destroyed! On his first voyage as DaiMon.
PICARD: The ship? The Ferengi ship that attacked me. Or is it about to attack me?
BOK: And I have spent these years searching, seeking a proper blood revenge! And I found it! I am rich, Picard, yet two of these cost me the profits of an entire life. You are back in command of the Stargazer, Picard. Its computers will answer your orders. Die well, Captain.
Bok beams away.
RIKER: (VO) First officer's log. Captain Picard has beamed himself to the Stargazer, which is now moving away from us under its own power.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Enterprise to Stargazer, please respond. Enterprise to Captain Picard aboard Stargazer. Please answer. Mister Data, what was Stargazer's condition?
DATA: Considerable fire damage to interior surface reported, sir. But none of her main systems were crippled.
RIKER: Armaments, Lieutenant Yar?
TASHA: Six photon torpedoes short, sir, probably used when the Captain destroyed his Ferengi attackers nine years ago. Otherwise fully armed.
Geordi is examining the globe device from the chest.
RIKER: What do you make of it, LaForge?
GEORDI: It seems to be a network of miniature circuitry, sir. Incredibly complex. Maybe an amplifier.
RIKER: Where was it in the Captain's quarters, Mister Worf?
WORF: His chest from the Stargazer, sir? Just where I had left it. He hadn't yet unpacked.
BEVERLY: So, he may not have even known it was there. And if this is able to pick up or magnify thought-altering transmissions.
DEANNA: It could have prepared him for whatever is happening now.
RIKER: Let's find out, or try to. Contact the Ferengi vessel, Lieutenant.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
RIKER: Enterprise to Ferengi vessel, we transmit visually. Do you respond?
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) Why is our gift to you under power, human?
RIKER: I will discuss that with your captain.
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) He is working in our ship's laboratory. Where is your Captain?
RIKER: He's beamed himself aboard the Stargazer, and I'm wondering if this has something to do with it.
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) How do you have possession of that?
RIKER: It was found in our Captain's chest, which was brought over from the Stargazer.
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) It is a forbidden device. A thought maker. If your Captain is criminal enough to own one
RIKER: Kazago, you know who controls those spheres. Now I ask you again, First Officer to First Officer. What's going on?
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) It is not seemly to question one's own DaiMon, Riker. I am not prepared to do that.
TASHA: Sir, I have the Stargazer.
RIKER: Switch, now! Enterprise to Picard.
PICARD: (on viewscreen) Do not attack again! We are on a peaceful mission. Give your identity. You force us to defend ourselves. Phasers full up. Arm torpedoes. Why aren't the shields at full power?
TASHA: We've lost him, sir.
LAFORGE: When he put up the shields, sir.
Scene: Stargazer Bridge.
Picard is surrounded by the ghosts of his crew, and the flames.
PICARD: Damn, I said put fusion generators under surge control. You're moving too slowly. Arm the torpedoes, man! Vigo! Get a fire control party up here!
VOICES: (OC) Shields weakening, Captain! Fusion generator online.
PICARD: Weapons report!
VOICE: (OC) Phasers coming to full charge, sir. Torpedoes armed!
PICARD: Who are they? Identify them!
VOICE: (OC) They're coming for a third pass at us, sir!
VOICE: (OC) We can't take another hit, Captain!
Scene: Bridge.
DEANNA: Sir, I now feel anger from our Captain. Fury over whatever it is he is reliving out there.
GEORDI: The Battle of Maxia, sir. That's what it is.
RIKER: The Picard Manoeuvre. What is the defence against that, Data?
DATA: There is no defence, sir.
RIKER: Then devise one, fast!
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) First Officer Kazago to human Riker.
RIKER: Not now, Kazago.
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) We do not wish to become involved in what has become clearly a Federation matter.
RIKER: Fine, fine, Enterprise out!
KAZAGO: (on viewscreen) You should also know that DaiMon Bok no longer commands this vessel. His First Officer has confined him for engaging in this unprofitable venture. Good luck, First Officer Riker.
DATA: I have computed a possibility, Commander. Since even deep space contains trace gases, sir, a vessel in the Picard manoeuvre might seem to disappear, but our sensors could locate any sudden compression of those gases.
RIKER: And use it as an aiming point and blow our Captain to bits?
DATA: This class starship has enough power to use our tractor beam on it. Seize it, limit it's field of fire.
RIKER: Right. Concentrate shields at that point. Make it so. I hope you're right, Data.
DATA: No question of it, sir.
RIKER: Stand by!
Stargazer suddenly appears to be in two places at once.
RIKER: Lock on tractor beam.
And the Stargazer is held.
Scene: Stargazer Bridge.
PICARD: Ready phasers.
RIKER: (OC) Captain Picard, listen to me.
PICARD: Vigo, is that you?
RIKER: (OC) It's Commander Riker, sir!
RIKER: (on viewscreen) Captain, hear me! Look around you, the Ferengi are using their thought devices on you.
PICARD: Stand by. Who is this?
RIKER: (on viewscreen) It's Riker, sir. Your Number One. Look for a silver sphere. Destroy it with your phaser.
PICARD: Phaser. A sphere. Bok used it.
RIKER: (on viewscreen) Destroy it!
PICARD: Phaser. Destroy the sphere. Destroy the sphere.
After some hesitation, Picard destroys the sphere. The resulting explosion throws him across the Bridge.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Are you all right, Captain?
Scene: Stargazer Bridge.
RIKER: (OC) Captain? Captain, are you all right? Captain, are you all right?
PICARD: Where am I, Number One?
RIKER: (OC) Aboard the Stargazer, sir. The sphere you destroyed, it's been controlling your
PICARD: Bok! Where is Bok?
RIKER: (OC) Removed from command, sir. Placed under guard for his act of personal vengeance. Seems there was no profit in it.
PICARD: In revenge, there never is. Let the dead rest. And the past remain the past. Enterprise, lock on. Beam me home, Riker.
Scene: Ten Forward
Data and Dana are sitting at a table in a dark corner of Ten Forward.
DATA: So Dana what did you want to talk to me about?
DANA: Well Data, I know that you are an Android and incapable of any human feelings but I just wanted to tell you that I think you are the most gorgeous Android that I have ever seen.
DATA: What are you saying?
DANA: Data, I am saying that I am in love with you.
DATA: You are?
DANA: Yes I am.
DATA: You are right about me being incapable of human feelings.
DANA: Data just because you are incapable of any human feelings that does not mean you do not deserve love. Everyone desevres love even in Android like you Data.
DATA: Are you sure?
DANA: Yes I am.
DATA: Well Dana I have to admit that you are the most beautiful Android that I have ever seen.
DANA: You really think that I am beautiful?
DATA: Yes I do. Dana I have to admit that I am in love with you too.
DANA: Really you are?
DATA: Yes I am. Now what do you want to do?
DANA: I would very much like to kiss you now.
DATA: Well I am new at kissing.
Dana leaned in and kissed Data. At that very moment Dana's sisters walked in with Wes and Geordi. Lesley was the first to noticed Dana and Data kissing.
LESLEY: (mouth opened in shock) Oh my gosh. I don't believe it.
GEORDA: Don't believe what sis?
LESLEY: (pointing to where Data and Dana are kissing) Just take a look over there?
GEORDA: Is that Dana and Data kissing?
LESLEY: Yes it is.
GEORDA: It's about time.
LESLEY: I agree.
WESLEY: Why is that?
LESLEY: Wes remember how Dana was always trying to get up the nerve to tell Data how she feels about him?
WESLEY: Yeah I remember.
LESLEY: Well it looks like now she has told him.
GEORDI: Well I just now Dana will be happy like the four of us.
LESLEY: How true that is.

That was a good chapter. I liked parts with Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher. I liked part where Riker to Picard to destroy the sphere. I really like the ending where Dana and Data admitted their feelings for each other.