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.
I'm Captain Picard.
Welcome aboard.
We hope your journey
will be pleasant and comfortable.
Arranging that will be
my first officer, Commander Riker.
Welcome aboard.
If you'll follow me
I will show you the accommodations...
We can already smell the Anticans.
They were taken aboard first?
Only because their world was first on this heading
to Parliament.
Will our quarters be near the Anticans'?
About 100 meters apart.
Is that all right?
No.
Unsatisfactory.
I believe we can accommodate your wishes.
We'll rearrange the suite assignments.
If you'll follow me.
And we must be upwind from the Anticans.
Of course, sir.
Neither seem like very promising Federation candidates, sir.
Even Parliament's peacemakers
may find this case a little difficult.
But do you understand the basis
of all this nonsense between them?
No, sir. I never understood that sort of hostility
even when I studied Earth history.
Really? Oh, yes, well
these life-forms feel such passionate hatred
over matters of custom, god concepts...
even, strangely enough, economic systems.
Sir, my sensors are picking up
an unusual energy object ahead.
On screen.
Confirmed, sir.
My sensors read nothing solid, but considerable energy
in changing patterns.
Also traveling at warp speed, sir.
Intriguing.
I can find no match with anything in our records, sir.
Change course to make a close sensor pass.
We can then increase warp speed and reach
Parliament on schedule.
Aye, sir.
So, Worf, why the interest in this?
It's just routine maintenance on the sensor assemblies.
Simple, Geordi.
Our captain wants his junior officers
to learn, learn, learn.
Not just his junior ones.
Okay, you hold this relay off-line
while I adjust these sensor circuits.
Security to Sensor Maintenance.
Lieutenant La Forge here.
We're making a close sensor pass on an unusual object, Geordi.
Any problems?
Not at all, Lieutenant.
All equipment on-line and functioning.
Sensors ready, sir.
Life-form reading?
No life-form reading, sir.
Begin the pass.
Sir, it is changing shape.
Any readings of matter there?
Negative, sir.
Energy only.
( screaming )
Worf!
La Forge to Sick Bay.
We have a medical emergency in Sensor Maintenance.
I repeat, this is a medical emergency.
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.
What happened?
I don't know. He got hit by some sensor feedback, maybe.
( shouts )
You got it, Doc?
I got it.
Lieutenant Worf, can you hear what I'm saying?
( grunts )
Let's get him up.
Okay.
Come on, big guy.
On your feet.
Here we go.
That's it.
Are you okay?
He was just monitoring the sensor console
when he jerked as though something hit him.
What my sensors showed was...
it was a glow...
just for a second.
I can't explain it.
Could your visor device have malfunctioned?
I doubt it, sir.
It seemed like what I was seeing was something real.
( growls )
Sorry to call you, sir.
Not strictly security.
It's about the dietary requirements
of the Antican delegates.
I thought that had been taken care of in advance, 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.
Then do so.
Lieutenant Yar was...
confused.
We no longer enslave animals for food purposes.
But we have seen humans eat meat.
You've seen something as fresh and tasty as meat
but inorganically materialized
out of patterns used by our transporters.
Sickening!
It's barbaric!
He's reading normal now.
How did you manage that?
Yes. Normal.
Are you all right?
Yes. Perfectly.
Both of us... quite normal now.
Where am I?
Don't you remember?
You were in the sensor maintenance room.
I remember monitoring the sensor console.
What am I doing here?
That's a story the doctor will tell you.
Obviously, you seem to feel it's something
we should look at more carefully.
A mystery is only a mystery
as long as it remains un-investigated, sir.
Mm, I love a mystery, Data
but this one will have to wait
until we've delivered the delegates
to their peace conference on Parliament.
Time and tide, Lieutenant La Forge.
Go to warp 8.
Warp 8, sir.
Hi, Mom.
You're back early.
Yes.
Physical sciences class.
We're studying Dr. Channing's theory on dilithium crystals.
Tell me about it.
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...
Would that affect navigation?
This is engineering, not helm control.
Oh, yes, the helm's located on the bridge.
Mom?
Is something wrong?
This is the helm.
Unless there have been some changes I don't know about.
Dr. Crusher?
You will wish to know
Lieutenant Worf is much improved.
Ready to return to duty.
What was the diagnosis?
A temporary mental aberration.
Doctor!
When such a diagnosis concerns a bridge officer
I expect a better explanation.
Then I will have to first run some cross-checks
on the library computer.
Klingons are so unusual in their reactions
aren't they?
Use Science Station 2, Doctor.
Intriguing, Doctor.
What does helm control have to do with medical cross-checks?
Why am I...
Is something wrong, Doctor?
Doctor?
Are you all right?
Yes.
I'll do my work in my office.
That's where I should be.
Do you want someone to accompany you?
Captain, there is a malfunction in this station.
I cannot bring any information up on it.
Science 2 does not function either, sir.
Engineering to Captain Picard.
We have something wrong with warp drive circuitry, sir.
Transporter Room 6 to Bridge.
Reporting transporter console malfunction, sir.
Data, this ship is less than a year out of spacedock.
What are the chances of this occurring?
It is a virtual impossibility, sir.
So what the hell is going on here?
And you're telling me that there are no explanations
for these malfunctions?
At least, sir, all the department heads
reported the damage repaired.
That was not my question, Number One.
What caused the malfunctions?
I believe it was a rampant electronic short
that jumped from system to system, sir.
But the only thing is, um...
Yes, Mr. Singh?
That shouldn't be possible.
The affected systems don't generally interact
with each other.
And where they do, well...
it wasn't an interlink that was malfunctioning.
Have you spoken with Chief Engineer Argyle
about this problem?
With all the engineering staff, sir.
They're just as puzzled.
Well, I'm not satisfied.
I want an explanation of this
by the time we reach Parliament.
But, sir...
By the time we reach Parliament, Mr. Singh.
These weapons were taken from two of your people
who were loitering out of sight
in the vicinity of the Selay delegation's quarters.
Do you care to explain, sir?
These are not weapons, First Officer.
They are tools.
We use these to dispatch the animals we consume.
Your food supply is not on the same deck
as the Selay delegation, sir.
You have to admit that these could kill.
I admit some of my people are impulsive
and we all have reason to hate the Selay.
They appear to have the same feelings about you, sir.
Ah, the nature of politics.
Nevertheless, Chief Delegate, you are on notice
that all of your weapons
no matter what their basic function
are being confiscated.
Violence will not be tolerated on the Enterprise.
Of course not.
And if any does occur, let me assure you
it will not be we Anticans who start it.
Thank you, sir.
But...
we will finish it.
Sir, warp power is fading.
Picard to Engineering.
What is the problem?
We've lost the warp engine computer tie.
Warp five.
Four.
Three.
Two...
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.
Sir...
subspace radio is out.
All right, gentlemen.
Your theories on this sudden vulnerability in our systems.
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.
We have a saboteur aboard.
I believe I said that.
Gentlemen, the question is who?
I can't believe it's one of our own people.
Agreed. There must be someone from either alien delegation.
If the Ferengi could have bought or bribed even one of them
that's all they'd need.
Ferengi contacts have been detected
on both Selay and Antica, sir.
Can either of you suggest any other suspects?
You're sounding like a private eye, sir.
Inquiry: private eye?
A private consulting investigator, Data--
who solves crimes.
Hmm. Most interesting occupation.
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.
But I'm afraid we're going to have to find
our solution without history's
greatest consulting detective.
How about here, Mr. Singh?
If the control network breaks off at this point...
It bleeds warp engine commands off into dead ends.
Excellent.
I believe I can handle it from here, Mr. Crusher.
But, sir...
You are scheduled for classwork now. Sorry.
Yes, sir.
But I don't learn nearly this much in school.
Well, I tend to agree.
But the captain's orders on this are very clear.
Hi.
Solve any new problems today?
I was starting to, maybe.
Mr. Singh sent me off to class.
Wes, you're only an acting ensign.
You've got to let the commissioned officers
do some of the work.
Mom, I've learned a lot more than they understand.
For example-- with Channing's
dilithium crystals theory I was telling you about...
When were you telling me about that?
This morning.
Don't you remember?
Honestly, I don't remember.
Engineering to Captain Picard. Security alert.
Picard.
Lieutenant Worf, sir.
I just found Mr. Singh.
He's dead.
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.
He could have been working there
restoring warp power.
According to these readings
we can go back to warp speed now.
Those aren't the same readings as when I left.
Singh probably repaired it just before he was killed.
He couldn't have repaired it, sir.
The problems were inside the engines.
Who else could have corrected it, Wes?
Inform the bridge of engine status.
Engineering to Bridge.
We now have warp capacity, sir-- all power on-line.
Well done. Warp engines ready on previous heading.
Warp factor 6.
I tolerate these questions, Lieutenant Yar
because I need this vessel
to get us to Parliament.
Your shipboard problems do not concern me.
They should. Our delays are your delays.
( growls )
The peace conference will wait for us.
I must ask where you were
during this vessel's Earth hours of 1800 last night
and 0700 this morning?
Eating.
Sir, we're talking about hours here.
( laughing )
It was a large meal, Lieutenant Yar
and a very interesting animal.
You wanted me, Doctor?
Yes, concerning your memory blackout.
I still don't remember having one.
The same thing happened to me.
I want to try hypnosis on both of you.
It may restore your memory as to what happened.
One thing is clear-- almost all of the peace delegates
answered our questions with lies.
Imprecise, Lieutenant.
They omitted certain truths
which in itself tells us something.
We can learn something from nondisclosure?
Indubitably, my good woman.
It's something the captain mentioned.
Sherlock Holmes.
Indubitably...
Data has been studying him.
Has studied, sir, every case.
As Holmes would have pointed out
during the time in question, something was afoot.
Afoot?
While both sets of delegates say they were in their quarters
our crew locator sensed them passing here and here.
But since it doesn't show where they went
we're still in the dark.
On the contrary, my dear colleague.
On their return, they drew medical supplies
appropriate to the treatment of minor wounds and abrasions
on these life-forms.
Which leaves us with only one conclusion.
Exactly.
That they were too engaged in their own affairs
to have disabled the ship and murdered the engineer.
Given the choice, they would rather kill each other
than any of us.
It's elementary, my dear Riker.
Sir.
Beverly, can you hear me?
Yes.
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.
He's lying on the hospital bed, sedated.
I'm walking up to him...
I...
How do you feel at this moment
as you lean over him to take the specimen?
I feel... someone else...
There's someone else who's there.
Not a... not alone.
Get out. Get out of my mind.
That's almost exactly what you said.
As though there were something else inside you.
Which confirms the feeling of duality that I sensed
earlier in both of them.
Why didn't you report it?
Because, sir, I assumed at first
it was the kind of duality that we Betazeds feel in all of you.
Even you, sir.
When you approach a decision
and ask yourself which direction to go
who are you talking to?
Hmm. Your hypnotism revealed another form of duality?
Yes, sir.
I believe something invaded them.
BEVERLY: It's the only
possible conclusion.
Data...
Let's proceed without the pipe.
Yes, sir, if you wish, sir.
But I ask if you take it as incontrovertible
that it cannot be a family member
or one of the crew?
Yes, very unlikely.
Then our investigation was worthwhile, sir.
We've eliminated both the delegates
and the ship's regular complement.
Data, what are you suggesting?
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."
( water gurgles )
That engine computer net wasn't repaired, sir.
It just suddenly became all right.
Sometimes, it's the result that counts, you know.
What the... oh, no.
What is it?
Helm control just went down. She won't respond.
Bridge to Captain.
You're needed here immediately.
Wes, alert engineering from your panel, all right?
I'm trying.
Report.
Helm is down, sir.
There's no apparent reason.
Captain, we've just dropped to impulse power.
Sir, are you all right?
I thought I just saw...
I'm fine.
Everything is fine now.
Why the drop to impulse power, Lieutenant?
The helm is suddenly malfunctioning, sir.
Malfunctioning?
You're wrong. Look again.
Captain, I was just...
Mr. La Forge?
Well, there's nothing wrong with it now, sir.
Everything is just as it should be.
In that case, make our heading
925 mark 3... 7.
Sir?
You have a problem with that heading, Lieutenant?
You want to double back on our course, sir?
Isn't that what I ordered?
GEORDI: Yes, sir.
Sir...
I'm puzzled by your reversing our course.
That energy cloud, Commander.
I believe it important we have another look at it.
But we're behind schedule for Parliament already.
I believe a very important scientific discovery
awaits us on this heading.
Perhaps you'd like to share your reasoning on that, sir?
Yes, since we obtained only minimal information
on our sensor pass of it.
Right, Data.
We must go back to learn more.
Counselor...
do you believe a ship captain
should explain every order?
Of course not, sir.
I demand to see the captain!
Stop! Return to your quarters!
( shriek of disgust )
What is that doing on our deck?
I demand to know why this starship
has changed its course?
Please return to your quarters, delegates.
( hostile growls )
A mere change of direction hardly justifies mutiny.
Exactly what do you believe you're sensing from him?
It's just the feeling that...
well, that he's closed part of his mind to me.
I just feel
that the captain has become...
perhaps dangerous.
If he's dangerous...
if...
Then he'd have to be relieved of command.
Which you could do, Doctor.
It's beaucoup trouble if you're wrong.
And at the moment it is all pure speculation.
He's done nothing to subject the Enterprise to danger.
I'd need a medical log citing clear evidence of incapacity.
You could do it without that problem.
Only if all command officers agreed it was vital to do so.
But he has not been showing any overt unusual behavior.
Ultimately, I believe he will.
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.
First officer's log, supplemental.
After meeting with the senior officers
Dr. Crusher and I have decided to approach the captain
regarding his recent behavior.
( door shuts )
Yes?
I'd like you to come to sick bay
for some examinations, Captain.
Oh?
I'd be glad to, when I'm free.
I'd like to conduct them now, sir.
Why?
What can I do for you, Number One?
Sir, counselor Troi has recommended the examinations.
Same question-- why?
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.
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
both for yourself and them.
Doctor, are you aware
everyone is behaving strangely?
I'm concerned that you've suddenly turned
the ship away from its course...
What's happened to your mind, Doctor?
The search for knowledge is always our primary mission.
I'm sorry. I...
I really am too busy for this kind of nonsense.
Do I have to call security
to force you to report to the sick bay?
No, sir.
What the hell!
Sorry, wrong species.
Riker to security chief!
Yar here.
Security guard to the engineering deck.
The Selays are playing hide-and-seek down here
obviously with the Anticans.
It's a lethal game.
I want them returned to quarters, under guard!
Right away, sir.
( chime sounds )
Come.
What do you want?
Here are the results from the exams you ordered, sir.
You don't care to inspect them?
Please...
are you Jean-Luc?
He is here.
The Jean-Luc I know?
And more.
The more frightens me.
And elates us.
We wish you could understand the glorious adventure ahead.
You and..?
Soon we'll both be home.
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.
We're now approaching the cloud, sir.
Very well, Mr. La Forge.
Bring us to within 10,000 kilometers and hold us there.
Aye, sir.
Shall we begin the scientific tests you wanted, sir?
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 reached down and scooped one of you
from your home world.
Drawn in to the energy circuits of this vessel
and it found its way to you, Worf.
Frantic at being taken from its home world
and recognizing 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.
Captain...
do you exist in combination
with this entity?
Is it in control of you, sir?
Very soon after we had combined
we had learned much about each other.
Passion for exploration, for the unknown--
we found we had similar dreams.
And it offered your captain a way
to realize them
beyond human expectations.
RIKER: Captain!
I must speak to you privately, now!
I understand.
As an energy pattern, free of the limitations of matter
he might travel anywhere.
At any velocity!
Captain, do you hear me?
Sir!
I see no way for you to journey with an energy form.
Isn't there?
He's planning to beam himself
and the entity into that cloud.
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.
I refuse to allow this, sir.
How does this resignation threaten the ship
or its crew in any way?
Captain Picard, you are now relieved of duty.
I judge you to be disabled
and mentally incapacitated.
RIKER: Security!
Red alert!
( alarm sounding )
Restrain the captain!
Where is he?
This is blinding me!
WORF: Captain!
I'll help you, if you let me!
Someone restrain the captain!
( alarm continuing )
RIKER: 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.
The transporter chief has no idea
what the coordinates were, sir.
So he's just floating around out there?
How can we settle for that?
Give me a choice then.
Still no readings, no sign of anything.
Mr. La Forge...
it's time to set a course for Parliament.
Warp 8.
We're really leaving him?
Commander... wait!
It's the captain.
But only the captain.
He's out there alone.
The entity, has it abandoned him?
No.
But the combination wasn't possible out there.
He's in trouble so we have to beam him back.
Beam him back as what?
He's nothing but energy now.
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.
Bring us in closer, La Forge.
Moving in, sir, but where?
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?
I wish I could.
GEORDI: Sensors monitoring the perimeter...
ship's circuitry, sir-- nothing!
Bring us right into the edge of it, La Forge.
Aye, sir.
Sir!
On my sensor controls.
There's something here.
I feel it.
Just as before, going to Worf first.
Something crazy on my panel.
Commander Riker.
GEORDI: Static?
"P" for Picard?
He's in the ship's circuitry.
Come to the transporter room, please.
There might be a way, sir. Hurry!
This is a wild theory, Data.
I knew we had to have
the captain's physical pattern here, sir.
He was the last one to beam out.
Is what you're thinking possible?
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.
I wish we had some sign that he was in here.
I guess we have no choice but to risk it.
Energizing, sir.
What the devil am I doing here?
Sounds like our captain.
But confused.
This Picard pattern was formed
before he went out there.
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.
I believe the captain
is now his separate self, sir.
Much of what happened is naturally missing.
What are you talking about, Data?
Is this still Sherlock Holmes?
Indubitably, sir.
Indubitably.
Hmm. At least you got rid of that damned pipe.
Dr. Crusher has asked me to steer you past Sick Bay.
She said you've been looking very tired.
Captain!
Yes, Lieutenant.
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...
Lieutenant, this couldn't have waited a moment?
It's good to see you, sir.
The problem is
is that one of the cooks has just been asked
to broil reptile for the Anticans
and it looks like the Selay delegate.
Riker, what with the peace delegates and all
I think I do need a rest.
Take charge, Number One.