PICARD: Captain's log, stardate 42779.1.
We're en route to the Epsilon IX sector
for an astronomical survey of a new pulsar cluster.
In the meantime, Ensign Crusher will be diverting to Starbase 515
for Starfleet exams.
This just came in for you from Starfleet.
Testing parameters?
Do not be apprehensive, Wes.
I found the Academy examinations quite elementary.
- You would. - Your earlier test results
were good enough to get you credit for your work.
I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Those Academy cadets can be extremely competitive.
But you have the practical experience, Wes.
DATA: Commander Riker is correct.
While the information imparted to cadets at the Academy
is unquestionably vital for prospective Starfleet officers,
it, nonetheless, requires a significant period
of supplementary systems training and situational disciplines.
Didn't I just say that?
Yes, sir. But not quite as perspicuously.
I will not have you telling me what course to set.
As chief medical officer, I am ordering you
to report to Starbase 515 immediately.
Oh, please. I feel fine.
The truth is, you have ignored this far too long.
This ship has a mission to carry out.
An astronomical survey to be conducted
by the science officers, I believe.
And I was looking forward
to seeing the Epsilon Pulsar Cluster for myself.
Then we'll perform the procedure right here.
Absolutely not.
My staff and I are fully capable of giving you the replacement.
That's not the point. It would be—
It would be inappropriate for you to carry out the procedure.
Captain Picard, I had no idea.
You do have an ego, don't you?
Meaning?
You're concerned about your image.
Don't worry.
If you get yourself down to Starbase 515,
your image will be safe with me.
- Captain, excuse me. - Ensign.
I understand you're leaving for Starbase 515.
Yes, sir, I was just going to Shuttlebay 2.
Good. I have business there. I shall accompany you.
You will?
[WESLEY CLEARS THROAT]
I mean, yes, sir.
Prepare the shuttle for immediate departure.
Aye, sir.
Something I can take care of for you on Starbase 515?
Hardly, Number One.
But you'll miss the Epsilon Pulsar survey.
I'm well aware of that fact. You have the Bridge. Carry on.
[DOOR CHIMES]
Come.
Yes, what is it, Number One?
Is something wrong? This trip to Starbase 515 is rather unexpected.
Ensign Crusher and l will rendezvous with you
on your return from the Epsilon Pulsar Cluster.
Forgive my saying so, sir, but you're being rather enigmatic.
Consider it captain's privilege.
As first officer, I have complete security clearance.
This has nothing to do with ship's business, Number One.
Suffice it to say, it is strictly a matter of image.
Relax, Wes, you'll do fine on your exams.
- Yeah. - It's not my exams I'm worried about.
- It's Captain Picard. - Why? He's not taking the exams.
It's just the two of us in a shuttlecraft for six hours.
What am I gonna talk to Captain Picard about for six hours?
Oh, archeology, semantics, literature, art.
You could learn a lot from Captain Picard.
LA FORGE: Ah. Captain Picard.
Nice day for a little trip.
[ALARM BLARING]
Shuttle number two is ready for departure.
DATA [OVER COM]: The Enterprise is at impulse speed
and you are cleared for takeoff.
Data, wasn't the captain looking forward to this mission
- to the Epsilon Pulsar Cluster? - So he said.
What would make him change his mind?
Why would he leave the ship now?
Commander, receiving a Mayday on all frequencies.
- Source? - Rhomboid Dronegar sector 006.
- Detail? - Ship, unidentified, distress.
Nothing more.
Set course for Rhomboid Dronegar 006, warp 7.
Sir, Rhomboid Dronegar sector would put us at considerable distance
from Captain Picard.
I know, Data.
I know.
PICARD: Space, the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.
Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds,
to seek out new life and new civilizations,
to boldly go where no one has gone before.
Entering Rhomboid Dronegar sector 006.
I have a ship on target path.
- Slow to impulse speed. ENSIGN: Aye, sir.
Viewer.
- Deploy shields, sir? - Hold fast. Data.
Basic early design.
Capable of sub-light travel only.
Sir, we are being hailed.
On-screen.
I'm First Officer William Riker of the USS Enterprise.
We're responding to your distress signal.
Uh-huh.
What is your problem?
We are far from home.
Aren't we all?
- But you sent out a Mayday. - Uh-huh.
Do you need help?
We are Pakleds.
Our ship is the Mondor.
It is broken.
We are far from home.
We need help.
Let me guess. Their rubber band broke, right?
Sensors indicate engineering problems.
They are experiencing total guidance system failure
with less than 24 hours reserve power.
Maybe I can help.
What brings you so far from home?
We look for things.
RIKER: What were you looking for?
Things we need.
Can you be more specific?
Things that make us go.
We need help.
What is the nature of your mission?
We look for things.
Did you hear an echo?
Commander, I can have them up and running in no time.
- You sure? - Yeah, no problem.
Very well.
Our chief engineer will beam over to help you.
Close.
Commander.
Do we truly need to send our chief engineer over to them?
Obviously they need our help.
Why do we not simply give them the information they need
to make their own repairs?
Do you get the impression
they could handle our technical specifications?
We do not know anything about them.
Acknowledged, Mr. Worf.
We have an obligation to render aid.
Report to the Transporter Room with all necessary gear.
Aye, sir.
We need more information.
- Do you have anything else on them? - They are a relatively benign species.
Don't they seem a little slow?
They may merely have poorly-developed language skills.
But what about weapons?
Scanners show limited armaments.
I think we can relax, Mr. Worf.
They can't even move their ship without our help.
We certainly have them outmanned and outgunned.
ETA 1330 hours, sir.
It's not exactly warp speed.
Hmm. More like a late 22nd century interplanetary journey.
Sir?
You should read more history, ensign.
Yes, sir.
Complete waste of time.
- Pardon? - I shouldn't be taking this trip at all.
I should be back on board the Enterprise.
Why are you coming with me to Starbase 515, sir?
Well, it's certainly not my idea.
I'm sorry, ensign, I didn't mean to take it out on you.
I just hate the prospect
of another damned cardiac replacement.
Cardiac replacement?
I didn't know.
Well, now you do.
A parthenogenetic implant?
What else would it be?
My heart was injured
and a replacement was necessary.
That would have been it, except that the replacement is faulty.
Why would anyone use a faulty replacement?
Just pilot the shuttle, ensign.
[SIGHS]
Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, wait a minute. It's okay.
I'm here to help.
We are far from home.
Uh-huh.
Who's, uh, in charge of Engineering?
My friend. His name is Reginod.
Think I could meet him?
He is Reginod.
Yes, I think you mentioned that.
We look for things.
So I've heard.
Can you make our ship go?
Yes. I think so.
We look for things to make us go.
Fellas, why don't you just show me where your guidance system is, okay?
Excuse me.
He is smart.
Commander.
Lieutenant La Forge is on an alien ship?
Yes, we're rendering assistance to some curious throwbacks.
How they ever mastered the rudiments of space travel is a genuine curiosity.
Commander, those aliens, what they feel is not helplessness.
Lieutenant La Forge is in great danger.
He's in danger, great danger.
Can you be more specific, counselor?
- It's not our help they want. - Our help is all they're going to get.
They can't force us into anything, can they?
You think they're weak.
Look at them. They're certainly not Jarada or Romulan.
Our Betazoid counselor is often aware of things
beyond our perceptive abilities.
Van Doren's technique has been perfected to 2.4 percent.
Sir?
The cardiac replacement procedure, it has a very low mortality rate.
Two point four percent.
Those are pretty good odds.
I'm just not overly thrilled at the prospect of having my innards
becoming the subject of Starfleet gossip.
Of course not, sir.
Why didn't you just have Dr. Pulaski perform the operation?
I'm sure you could have trusted her to keep it quiet.
Just let's say I have personal reasons and leave it at that, shall we?
The power needs to be rerouted through this venturi chamber
before it can be channeled to the engine's coils.
[REGINOD SIGHS]
It is broken.
Yeah, but not for long.
See, we are going to reconfigure these separators here
and over here.
RIKER [OVER COM]: Lieutenant La Forge, this is Commander Riker.
- Come in. - Yes, commander, go ahead.
Are you all right?
Sure. Why do you ask?
Counselor Troi has expressed misgivings
about your absence from the Enterprise.
Ha, ha. I don't think there's anything to worry about.
Understood. As soon as you complete the repairs,
I want you back here.
Yes, sir. I should be done here momentarily.
See? Like that.
Okay.
There.
Your guidance is now up and running.
[SYSTEMS POWERING DOWN]
Oh, no.
Main power failure.
Will our ship go now?
Well, your guidance is operational, but you're not going anywhere,
not with main power failure.
It is broken.
Can you make it go?
[LA FORGE CHUCKLES]
Commander Riker.
I have a problem.
RIKER: On-screen.
It looks like this is gonna take a little bit longer than I anticipated.
I guess you would have preferred Commander Riker
as a traveling companion.
What?
It's okay.
You're not too comfortable with me.
I understand.
Ensign...
Wesley, that's not true. You're a fine young man.
You don't have to say that, sir.
It's pretty obvious how you feel.
Is it? How so?
Everyone knows. You don't like kids.
That's too bad.
You might have made a good father.
Thank you.
Didn't you ever wish you had kids of your own?
Wishing for a thing does not make it so.
We send him over there for one set of repairs,
and now they need him for more.
Apparently, their ship is quite fragile.
This is Riker on the Enterprise.
Almost got it, commander.
We look for things.
Apparently, your ship is in need of more than minor repair.
GREBNEDLOG: Things to make it go.
We will use our tractor beam to tow you to the nearest base.
He can make it go.
Yes, but we need our chief engineer back on board our ship.
He is smart.
All done, commander.
- Prepare to beam over. LA FORGE: Yes, sir.
You are good.
We aim to please.
We need you.
I'm flattered. Look, fellas, I hate to repair and run,
but, uh, if you'll excuse me.
One to beam aboard.
Hey, don't!
Transporter Room, beam La Forge back immediately.
TRANSPORTER CHIEF: Negative response, sir.
Try again.
TRANSPORTER CHIEF: Negative response.
The Pakled ship has a shield up, sir.
A shield? What kind?
It appears to be beyond their technology,
similar to Romulan shields.
Do not interfere with our transporter beam.
Drop your shields!
Status?
Viewer transmission terminated and blocked.
Hail on all frequencies.
Running frequency search.
- Negative, sir. - They're ignoring us.
DATA: Apparently so.
- Shields up. - Shields up.
Sensors at maximum sensitivity.
Sensors at maximum.
Phasers ready, sir.
Would you care for some coffee, ensign?
No, thank you, sir.
How about a sandwich?
I don't think so, sir.
Oh, come on, it's been hours. You must be hungry.
Thank you, sir.
Here.
Were you ever married?
Never had the time.
Don't you ever get lonely?
For ambitious Starfleet officers, there are certain costs involved.
We must be cautious of long-term commitments, Wesley.
No problem.
Where women are concerned, I am in complete control.
Really? Hmm.
I always rather had to work at that.
Have you always been so disciplined?
Good Lord, no.
If I was, I wouldn't have this problem.
I don't understand.
Well...
I was a young Starfleet officer,
not many years older than you are now.
Top of my Academy class,
green as hell,
and, oh, so cocky.
Too cocky, as it turned out.
What happened?
Several friends and I were on leave at Farspace Starbase Earhart.
That was little more than a galactic outpost in those days.
Was this before the Klingons joined the Federation?
That's right.
Well, my mates and I were at the Bonestell Recreation Facility,
which was something of a dead, rough crossroads at the time
filled with an assorted bunch of galactic riffraff,
when a trio of Nausicaans came in.
They were clearly spoiling for a confrontation
with a group of fresh-faced Starfleet officers
such as ourselves.
Well, everyone in the group had the good sense
to give these Nausicaans a wide berth, standoff.
Everyone, that is, except me.
I stood toe-to-toe with the worst of the three
and I told him what I thought of him, his pals, his planet,
and I possibly made some passing reference
to his questionable parentage.
And the next thing I knew all three of them were on me
and I was fighting for my life.
I was actually doing quite well for a while too.
You fought them and won?
I had this one Nausicaan down in this somewhat devious joint lock
when, uh, unbeknownst to me, one of his chums drew his weapon
and impaled me through the back.
Curious sensation, actually.
Not much pain.
Shock, certainly, at the sight of, uh, serrated metal
sticking through my chest.
A sudden giddy warmth.
In fact, I do actually remember that I laughed out loud.
Well, it pierced my heart, of course.
Well, if we had not been so near to a medical facility,
I would surely have died.
Really?
Then what happened?
Nothing.
I was no hero, Wesley.
I was an undisciplined, loud-mouthed, opinionated young man
who was way out of his league.
I learned a very hard and painful lesson that day.
But I learned it well.
I hope you never have to learn it the same way.
- Care for another sandwich? - Please.
Come on, Data.
I am programming the com system to scan the interference patterns,
but a full analysis will take time.
[GROANS]
Hey.
- Now, you be careful with that thing. GREBNEDLOG: You wanna hurt us.
What?
I came here to help you.
We can make more.
GREBNEDLOG: Make more weapons.
Wait a minute.
You have a replicator?
It is not broken.
I didn't come here to give you weapons.
You will make more.
[SIGHS]
Commander, a photon torpedo may penetrate their shield.
Any hostile move on our part could jeopardize Geordi.
Agreed. But what do the Pakleds want?
Counselor.
They have what they want. For now.
We're approaching Starbase 515, sir.
At last.
Did you read that book I gave you?
Some of it.
That's reassuring.
I just don't have much time.
There is no greater challenge than the study of philosophy.
Well, William James won't be on my Starfleet exams.
Heh. The important things never will be.
Anyone can be trained
in the mechanics of piloting a starship.
- In Starfleet Academy— - It takes more.
Open your mind to the past.
Art, history, philosophy.
And all this may mean something.
It's all deception.
Nothing the Pakleds have said or done has been sincere.
Intensified scan shows their guidance system
to be perfectly intact, as is their power generator.
Then what was Geordi repairing?
Apparently, the putative malfunctions
were carefully programmed into their ship's computer.
I didn't even think the Pakleds had that kind of technology.
They seem to have made technological leaps forward, commander.
Why would they go through this charade of needing our help?
For the sole purpose
of making Lieutenant La Forge their prisoner.
PICARD: Captain's personal log, stardate 42779.5.
We have arrived at Starbase 515.
I'm still quite uneasy despite assurances
that this medical procedure poses little risk.
I hope you won't be late for your exams.
Oh, I still have some time, sir.
Why do I get the distinct impression
that you're acting like some kind of escort?
Dr. Pulaski asked me to make sure that you actually went inside.
That woman.
- She would. - Sir.
Yes, what is it, ensign?
I enjoyed our trip together, sir.
So did l.
They are initiating visual contact, sir.
Maybe now we'll find out what they really want.
Enterprise.
We demand that you return our crew member immediately.
Request denied.
Lower your shields.
Request denied.
Stop it!
What do you want?
You think we are not smart.
I think you need to continue to develop.
We are smart.
Prove it. Return our man to us.
You want him?
Yes, damn it.
Good.
We want all computer information from your ship.
Now.
We've got a man held hostage by alien forces
and all I have are no-option options.
I need some input.
Is Geordi all right?
He's already been hit by multiple phaser stuns.
He could need medical attention.
Security team stands ready to take the initiative, sir.
- Data. - Our options have not changed.
We can either respond to the Pakled demand or not.
We can either use force or not.
Allowing them access to our computer is a complete breach
of Starfleet security.
Then force it must be.
Don't worry about a thing, captain.
We've done this a hundred times and we're ready when you are.
Just get on with it, doctor. I have work to do.
Activate sterile field.
Neural calipers.
This will be a secondary cardiac procedure
with midline entry and excision of the early model unit.
I anticipate no complications
as the patient has had positive primary results
and exhibits extraordinary physical condition.
We'll all be home in time for dinner.
Tissue mitigator.
There is limited information available on the Pakled culture.
But the eclectic range of their equipment
suggests that their technology was borrowed from others.
- And now they've become militant. - So it would seem.
Rationale?
They're unwilling to wait
for the timely evolution of their species' intellectual capacity.
They want instant knowledge, instant power and gratification.
More they get, the more they want.
And the more aggressive and dangerous they become.
I think it's time we set some limits.
DATA: To what effect, sir?
We are faced with an impossible conundrum.
Suppose we turn their impatience and greed against them.
But how?
Perhaps Geordi should give them something they want,
something important,
then we simply create the right moment
for him to take it away and get him the hell out of there.
Would you be suggesting a ruse of some sort?
I would.
But what if we fail?
What will happen to Geordi then?
We have no other choice.
We have to try.
There's been some capillary reaction here.
Let's proceed carefully.
We'll need sharper focus on the thoracic polychromatics
and verification of myocardial enzyme balance.
Hey.
Let me talk to them.
I'll get you their computer banks.
We wanna be smart.
So open the hailing frequency.
They'll listen to me.
We are smart.
We need their computer things.
Yes.
- Commander Riker. - Yes, lieutenant, we're here.
The Pakleds seem pretty sincere.
We want what we want.
Our computer banks are non-negotiable.
GREBNEDLOG: We want them.
Believe me, they're nothing if not persistent.
We want to be nothing if not persistent.
Heh. Nobody ever said they were great conversationalists.
Where did they get their shields?
Yes, we like shields.
Well, from what I've seen, half the systems on board this ship
have been stolen from the Romulans, Klingon, Jarada,
just about anyone they've ever come in contact with.
We like to be smart.
Confirmed, Lieutenant La Forge, they steal technology.
But they lack the ability to use it properly.
You're an excellent chief engineer, Lieutenant La Forge.
Thank you, sir.
And, of course, your knowledge of phaser and photon weaponry
is unmatched.
Well, that's nice of you to say, sir, but it's really Lieutenant Worf that—
Our missions are always inherently dangerous.
And any of us could be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice
at any time.
Well, yes, sir, but—
Speaking of time, this may be your time.
I shall personally miss you.
DATA: Goodbye, Geordi.
I shall miss you at weapons systems analysis.
Uh-huh. Uh...
And I guess you'll just have to arm your photon torpedoes without me.
As well as our hydrogen collectors.
Fond farewell.
He knows about weapons.
You can make us strong.
Well, it's not something I really like to talk about.
Any classified weapons knowledge you share with your captors
will be considered treason.
But I may have no choice.
You will die without honor.
Heh. Thanks a lot, Worf.
You will never attain the 24th level of awareness.
Twenty-four, huh?
That's, uh, quite a challenge.
Indeed. Twenty-four is the gateway to heroic salvation.
- Do you think he understands? - He'd better.
He's afraid.
We all are, counselor.
You are smart.
Not smart enough. I'm still here.
Make us strong.
I thought you wanted me to help you go.
Why don't we work on that guidance system, okay?
Make us strong.
Or die.
[LA FORGE SIGHS]
[COMPUTER BEEPING]
SURGEON: It's not working. Something's wrong.
The metabulation occlusions aren't holding.
Damn it. I can't stop the heterocyclic declination.
Fuse.
Again.
We need a biomolecular physiologist in here.
This man is dying.
Right away, sir.
You've got to be kidding.
Make us strong.
Come on, there's not enough juice in these to blow off a passing asteroid.
Do it. Make us strong.
I suppose we could increase the antimatter charges.
Yes. We like power.
- Yeah. GREBNEDLOG: Do not try to trick us.
We can tell.
Metabulation?
- Negative. - Heterocyclics?
SURGEON: Failing.
And capillary integrity too unpredictable to attempt a resect.
You're unwilling to make the attempt?
I'm not qualified.
I know someone who is.
Are you sure he can do it, sir?
I mean, Geordi's an engineer, not a weapon specialist.
- If anyone can improvise, it's Geordi. - Well, what makes you think
the Pakleds even have that kind of gear on board?
Ongoing scanning indicates progressive weapons potential.
The timing will be crucial.
Geordi must correctly interpret our intentions.
Geordi's up to speed. I trust his instincts.
The Pakled did hear our little fiction about Geordi's weapons knowledge.
Exactly. And since they equate intelligence with strength,
they won't pass up the chance to use that knowledge.
- Can you do it? - Count on it.
WORF [OVER COM]: Bridge to Commander Riker.
Go ahead, Bridge.
I am receiving an emergency summons
from Starbase 515.
Captain Picard is close to death.
Be ready.
We are strong.
You're armed to the teeth.
Teeth are for chewing.
You have photon torpedo.
You are strong.
We are strong.
We have power.
Positive indication
of armed photon torpedoes, commander.
Geordi did it.
Starbase requests we proceed to base at warp 9.
- We've got to go. - Yes, the captain needs our help.
We can't leave Geordi behind.
I want the Pakleds on that screen and I want them now.
Forced spectrum communication is spotty at best, sir.
Do it.
This is the Enterprise. Return our personnel
or face immediate reprisal.
We are strong now.
We have better weapons.
Are you prepared to use them?
We are a force now.
We will have respect, power.
We don't have time for this. You want power? Here's power.
Riker to Ensign Gomez.
Ready, Commander Riker.
Prepare firing sequence.
Start firing countdown from 24.
I can't believe it. My friends, my people,
they're trying to kill us, kill me!
Believe it. They are violent.
Okay. If they wanna play rough that's fine with me.
Just let me check something.
Good. He is on our side now.
RIKER: Begin firing sequence.
COMPUTER: Twenty-four, 23, 22, 21,
- 20, 19, - Firing sequence proceeding, sir.
- Hold fast. COMPUTER: 18,
1 7, 1 6, 1 5,
- Don't do anything yet. COMPUTER: 14,
- 13, - What are you doing?
- 1 2, 1 1, - Making sure systems are operative.
- We will attack. We are strong. - 10,
nine, eight, seven,
six, five,
- We should attack now. - four,
Just another second. We can't misfire.
- two, one. - Hurry!
Fire.
Now.
- No. Too late. - We have fired.
They will be destroyed.
They used their Crimson Force Field.
It did not shoot.
No, the Crimson Force Field has disarmed us.
They are smart.
We are not strong.
RIKER: Drop your shields.
Allow us to transport Lieutenant La Forge immediately.
DATA: Shields are down, sir.
RIKER: Transporter Room, beam one to the Bridge.
TRANSPORTER CHIEF: Aye, sir.
Set heading for Starbase 515, warp 9.
Blowing that hydrogen exhaust through the Bussard collectors
sure put on a nice light show.
Harmless, but effective.
Were you able to disable the photons?
Just in time. That's why you're still here.
NURSE: Deactivating neural calipers.
What the hell are you doing here?
Saving your life.
Oh, come on.
This is a routine procedure,
quite commonplace.
True.
But you are not a commonplace man.
You'll be out of recovery in four hours.
I didn't want you involved in this.
You're welcome.
If you're here,
the entire crew must know.
You're still the captain. Invincible.
Huh. Thank you.
I beg your pardon.
Looks like things are back to normal.
I'm pleased to report that Ensign Crusher's Starfleet exam results
permit him to continue his studies on board the Enterprise.
Furthermore, any rumors of my brush with death
are greatly exaggerated.
- Is that clear? - Yes, sir.
Then, Ensign Crusher, set course for the Epsilon sector, warp 5.
Engage.