PICARD: Captain's Log, Stardate 43779.3.
The Enterprise is preparing
detailed exospheric charts of the Hayashi system.
Although tedious, this endeavor is the first step
toward planet colonization.
Captain, sensors report the USSHood
is closing on an intercept course
at high warp.
That's odd.
We weren't notified of a rendezvous.
They seem to be in an awful hurry.
Sir, we are being hailed
on a secured channel by Captain DeSoto.
On screen.
Sorry to sneak up on you like that, Jean-Luc.
Robert, why didn't you inform us?
Out here, you never know who's listening.
Keeps you on your toes, anyway.
Hey, Will. Will, you getting soft
onboard that luxury liner?
PICARD: So, old friend
how are you?
Well, you know...
they send you Galaxy-class boys out here to the far reaches.
Me, I just haul my butt back and forth
between starbases.
But not today.
No, not today.
Starfleet's got new orders for you.
This is top priority.
They need the fastest ship in the fleet
and the best people.
That is you.
If time was so important
why didn't they transmit the orders by subspace?
Well, they're worried about
Romulan eavesdropping on this one
and we have a passenger for you.
Kind of hard to send by subspace.
What sort of passenger?
Mission specialist.
He'll bring your orders aboard with him.
His name is Tam Elbrun.
As in Tam Elbrun of the Ghorusda disaster?
The same.
What can I say?
Your orders are to cooperate fully with him.
Best of luck, folks.
Hoodout.
Sir, theHood slowing to impulse.
Mr. Data, come with me.
Captain, may I come with you
to greet Tam?
You know him?
I do.
He was at the university on Betazed
when I was studying psychology there.
Oh, I see.
He was a colleague of yours.
No... he was a patient.
Space, the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the StarshipEnterprise.
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.
Tam is a telepath of extraordinary talent
even for a Betazoid.
He's a specialist in first contact
with new life-forms.
He's a very unique person
but... he's not what you might expect, Captain.
Welcome aboard theEnterprise. I am...
Captain Picard.
Right?
Here.
You want to know all about your mission.
Everything's on there.
Orders and briefings.
Destination and heading, all that.
Dee, I sensed you were out here.
How have you been?
I've been fine, but I thought you were...
On Chandra V? ...on Chandra V.
DATA: Sir?
Who...
Whatare you?
I am Data, an android.
Incredible.
An android.
I can't read you at all.
It's like you're not there.
PICARD: Data?
Oh, you better hurry up to the Bridge with that.
Captain wants you to run the orders
scan the technical schematics
and be ready to brief him in ten minutes.
Right?
Number One?
Riker here.
Will you meet Commander Data on the Bridge?
He has our orders and new heading.
Aye, sir.
And assemble the Bridge staff
for a mission briefing in 15 minutes.
Picard out.
Mr. Elbrun, would you...?
Would I care to see my quarters?
No.
I'd rather get this briefing over with
then be left alone
until I'm needed.
I've heard something about Ghorusda.
Weren't there about 40 people killed?
47, including the Captain of theAdelph
and two friends from my class at the Academy.
Mmm, sorry.
Main Bridge.
So, what happened?
It was a first-contact situation.
Ghorusdan culture is so complex and different
that the Federation sent a specialist
to prevent misunderstanding.
So, that was Tam Elbrun.
What happened was his fault?
Not directly.
Board of Inquiry blamed Darson
for carelessness about Ghorusdan cultural taboos.
But, if Elbrun was so good, why didn't he warn Darson?
What was he doing there
if he couldn't sense that much hostility?
Our destination is the Beta Stromgren system
following the path of the Vega IX probe.
That's 23 parsecs beyond our furthest manned explorations.
That is correct, Commander.
Apparently, the probe has discovered...
(rapid beeping)
Astonishing.
DATA: Our orders are to proceed to this star, Beta Stromgren.
Scientists have discovered it is in the final stages
of an alternating cycle of expansion and collapse
and will soon result in a supernova.
However, the unmanned, long-range space probe
sent by Starfleet to observe the process
has discovered something much more.
Oh, Data, don't waste time.
(beeping)
They call it "Tin Man."
The Vega probe found it orbiting Stromgren.
Looks like some kind of ship.
Its energy source is unknown.
The people who have studied the transmissions
think it's a starship, and they're sure it's alive.
Alive?
How?
A cybernetic organism, like the Borg?
No, no, no.
Here.
Starfleet believes
it's an organic creature
born in space
living its life
in the wastes between the stars.
No one knows where it came from
or why it's here.
But we're going to meet it.
We're going to talk to it.
I'mgoing to talk to it.
Have attempts been made...
To communicate with it by
subspace?
Of course-- linguacode, universal translation
all that-- it won't work. Tin Man is too different.
Direct mind-to-mind contact is our only hope.
The opportunity for discovery is extraordinary
but I don't understand
Starfleet's urgency.
Romulans.
Oh, hell, I forgot.
The Romulans.
They claim that sector of space where Beta Stromgren is located.
The Romulans claim
all that is in their field of vision.
They routinely monitor the telemetry
of our deep-space probes.
And they will certainly be sending
a ship of their own to investigate this "Tin Man."
No.
Actually, they're sending two.
Data?
That is correct.
Starbase 123 has detected two D'deridex-class cruisers
on an intercept course.
The top speed of this class cruiser
is known to be less than ours.
Therefore, we do have some advantage.
(sighs)
Then... it's a race.
An alien intelligence, a new life-form
representing a technology
far beyond either the Romulans or ourselves.
The Romulans will certainly take whatever measures are required
to secure this creature for study.
"Study" as in dissecting, I'd bet.
Mr. Data, you are our resident honor student in exobiology.
I'm assigning you to head up
the life sciences on this mission.
Aye, sir.
Excellent.
Meeting adjourned, then.
So, Data, I guess you're thebrains
of this outfit, huh?
Mr. Elbrun, one of the reasons I'm asking you to work closely
with a member of my staff is to avoid further omissions.
The possibility of an encounter with the Romulans
on this mission ishardlytrivial, and yet....
All right, all right.
I should have brought up the Romulans earlier
but I was... distracted.
And no, Billy boy
I wasn'tdistracted on Ghorusda.
If Darson had listened to me, no one would have died.
No?
Well, I don't care
whether you believe that or not.
(door opens and closes)
PICARD: Captain's Log, supplemental.
Traveling at high warp, we are still several days
from rendezvous with the mysterious entity
which Starfleet has christened "Tin Man."
My immediate concern is with Tam Elbrun.
Starfleet considers his unique abilities
crucial to our mission, yet he seems to me... unstable.
Well, according to his medical records and psych profile
he's very high on the ESP scale.
A sort of prodigy.
A prodigy?
In what sense?
Well, in most Betazoids
our telepathic gifts develop at adolescence.
You mean, you're notborn reading minds?
No, except for some reason that no one understands
occasionally, a Betazoid child is born different.
How different? Born with his
telepathic abilities switched on.
Most Betazoids born
like that never lead a normal life.
The noise of other people's thoughts and feelings
must be overwhelming, incomprehensible
especially to a child.
And painful.
Early diagnosis and special training
did help Tam adjust
but he has some problems.
You mentioned... a hospitalization.
For stress-- repeatedly throughout his life.
I always wonder what holds one person together
through that kind of struggle while another goes under.
Yes, well, he's evidently done more than "hold together."
He's the indispensable man--
the Federation's finest specialist in communication
with unknown life-forms.
The more unusual the life-form, the better he likes it.
His personnel file shows he's gravitated
towards assignments that isolate him
from other humanoids.
(beeping)
Commander Data, I'm picking up an unusual echo
on my navigational sensors.
Somethingis out there, sir
tracking us, matching our speed and heading.
Something which does not fully register
on our instruments.
Since there is no known natural phenomenon
capable of travel at warp velocity
there are but two possibilities:
Either it is a sensor malfunction
or another ship is following us covertly.
It is not a sensor malfunction.
Agreed.
WESLEY: But, Commander, if it is a Romulan ship...
with their cloaking device
we shouldn't pick them up at all.
Unless they're pulling so
much power
for something else that they can't
fully cloak.
Like what?
Ask the Romulans...
if itisthe Romulan
DATA: Lieutenant, continue monitoring
the precise position of the echo.
Any sudden change in its behavior
initiate Yellow Alert.
Aye, sir.
(door chimes)
Come in.
How are things
in the land of the living?
I thought you might be lonely.
No one sees you except Data.
Lonely?
I can hear everything
that everyone on this ship thinks
and no one besides you seems to be missing my charming...
You want them to dislike you.
Why?
Because I'm not a nice man.
Okay, okay.
'Cause they scare me.
There are too many minds.
I can't shut them out.
Never could learn.
All their loves
their hates, their fears
their needs...
It's like a tide
that never ebbs.
I could drown.
I remember.
You understood-- at least a little--
how I felt.
I see you finally found a place to fit in
people to care about.
And you're still looking.
And then there's Ghorusda.
I have enough doubt in my reliability
without having to listen to Riker's and Picard's.
What happened there?
I thought everyone knew.
No.
What happened toyou?
Maybe I got too involved with the Ghorusdans
with their point of view.
It happens to me.
I wanted everyone to get along.
I could have warned Darson more forcefully.
So, after that, you ran away.
The last I heard
you were the only Federation delegate assigned to Chandra V.
Oh, beautiful creatures, the Chandrans.
Their minds are glacial.
They have a lovely three-day ritual
for saying "hello."
Peaceful, untroubled people.
Unlike humanoids?
Well...
except for your friend, Data.
I like him.
He's...
restful.
I believe your impression of Data is probably unique.
(chuckles)
Yeah?
Well, having to get to know someone, just once
has its appeal.
I mean, talking to them
instead of getting it all at once, up here
whether I want it or not.
But you accepted this mission.
You could have stayed on Chandra V.
You willingly came aboard a ship
with over a thousand people.
How could I not?
Think of it, Dee.
This intelligence that swims naked
through space
like a fish in the sea
totally alien, mysterious
not like us at all.
Ancient...
and alone.
So lonely...
for so long.
How can you know that?
Tam?
You're in contact with it...
with Tin Man, aren't you?
No.
Well...
yes, a little
but not quite on a conscious level.
We're light-years away.
That's impossible, even for you.
Impossible for me.
Maybe not impossible for Tin Man.
Status report, Number One?
We've reached the outer regions
of the Beta Stromgren system.
On course for orbital intercept
with the Tin Man; ETA 18 minutes.
Grand.
Not altogether.
Astrophysics reports that the rate
of the star's collapse has increased.
It could go supernova in a few days.
DATA: Captain, we're
receiving
relay sensor data from the Vega probe
including visuals.
On screen.
Magnify.
Remarkable.
Computer, locate
Tam Elbrun.
COMPUTER: Tam Elbrun is in Turbolift One, en route to the Main Bridge.
Of course.
WORF: Captain, our sensors are detecting
a subspace wave front of highly ionized particles
preceding the object which is tracking us.
Yellow Alert.
On screen.
Romulan warbird closing.
They are arming main disruptors, Captain.
Go to Red Alert. Shields to maximum.
Arm photon torpedoes and stand by, Mr. Worf.
Aye, sir. I thought you said
the Enterprise was faster than this Romulan.
In fact, we are, Commander, however...
Evasive, Mr. Crusher.
Hailing frequencies.
I guarantee that they don't want to talk to you, Captain.
(alarm blaring)
WORF: The Romulan has passed us.
Damage report.
Casualties reported.
70% loss to the shields.
Their attack on us was incidental, Captain.
Incidental?
Yes, to delay us.
DATA: Captain, it would appear
the Romulans' intent is to contact
Tin Man first, at any cost.
According to my sensor readings
the warbird has exceeded
maximum engine output by 30%.
They seem to have irreparable damage
to their warp coils.
So, they kept up with us
by sacrificing their ability
to re-enter Romulan space.
One-way trip.
There is one more trailing us, Captain
a day or two behind.
Data's right-- this one's job
is to beat us to Tin Man at any cost.
You... read all this
telepathically?
In the mind of the Romulan Commander
during the attack.
Very well, Mr. Crusher, all stop.
Aye, sir.
Commander La Forge?
La Forge here.
Geordi, how long to full shield restoration?
I'm working on it.
Computer, reconfigure structural integrity power
to feed inner deflector grid.
COMPUTER: Unable to comply.
Requested reroute would compromise
operational safety limits.
To hell with the limits. Override.
Authorization: La Forge, Theta 2997.
Rerouting structural integrity power supply.
Russell, watch the lateral grid balance.
No, no, no, that's too much.
We'll have to do it manually.
La Forge to Bridge.
PICARD: Go ahead.
Captain, I'm trying to feed the inner grid
by stealing some power from the structural integrity field.
You should have partial shielding in about 30 minutes.
You have ten. Picard out.
(sighs)
If the Romulans wish the honor of first contact...
let them have it.
You're out of your mind, Picard.
What if the Romulans find a way to persuade Tin Man...
I think the chance of that is remote.
And if you will be still, Mr. Elbrun
you may learn...
What? That being first
at any cost is not always the point.
Mr. Data, while we await repairs
I want Life Sciences and Engineering
to continue collecting information on the alien.
And query the Vega IX probe, long-range sensors.
Aye, sir.
You do a lot of your work here?
Yes.
I have configured these instruments
to display information
with greater speed and efficiency
than stations used by the others.
Nice.
A little Spartan.
Spartan?
Lots of work space.
Not much room to live.
I don't guess you sleep.
I have tried it from time to time
but you are correct.
I do not require rest.
But you paint.
The creature's anatomy appears most peculiar.
In what way?
It is, indeed, laid out as a vessel
with what appear to be chambers and corridors.
An internal environment suitable
for carbon-based life-forms is being maintained.
Yet there is no evidence of a crew aboard.
Tin Man is a living being
which has been bred-- or has adapted itself--
to serve a purpose.
I find that interesting.
Why?
Must living beings have a purpose?
Or do we exist for no reason but to exist?
I do not believe I am qualified to express an opinion.
Oh, Data, you're uniquely qualified.
You think a great deal about humanity
and you're an honest researcher.
You don't treat anything as trivial or irrelevant.
You want to try it all.
You said in the transporter room
that you could not read my mind.
True enough.
But I think I understand you pretty well.
It worries you that I can't read your mind?
Perhaps there is nothing to read.
Nothing more than mechanisms and algorithmic responses.
Perhaps...
you're just different.
It's not a sin, you know.
Though you may have heard otherwise.
Captain, the Romulan ship
is hailing the alien
using their equivalent of linguacode.
Response? Nothing so far, Commander.
TAM: Why should it answer?
What could it possibly have in common with them?
But you're so sure it'll talk to you?
Captain, the Romulans are arming all disruptors.
Yellow Alert. Prepare for evasive action
at the first change in the Romulans' course.
With our shields in this position, we can't risk...
No,no
We're not the target.
It's Tin Man.
What do you mean?
Do they intend to destroy it?
Those are their orders
if they can't secure the alien.
Increase speed to intercept the Romulan vessel.
Their lead is too great, sir.
Hail them. We cannot allow them to destroy this...
They won't listen to you!
Danger.
Gomtuu...
do not allow.
(siren blares)
Damage report!
WORF: Nothing available yet, sir.
We have partial failure of the main computer.
It seems you woke your Tin Man.
(blaring continues)
We've got impulse power, but I've got to take
the warp engines off-line while we recalibrate
the intermix regulators. How long?
For everything, or just for the warp engines?
All of it.
Commander, we're looking
at 20 hours work here, double shifts.
We don't know that we have 20 hours.
That star could explode at any moment.
I know.
Okay, first thing we need to do is
get the main computer working, right?
No, fix the shields first.
Commander, whatever Tin Man hit us with
it fried circuits I thought were un-fryable.
I'm not worried about Tin Man.
It's more Romulans showing up.
Right. First priority, get the shields up.
Only let's not have anymore surprises until I'm done, okay?
Don't ask me about surprises.
Ask Tam Elbrun.
Your brain activity suggests you're coming out
of some sort of a fugue or seizure.
Your blood pressure and glucose
are indicative of general systemic stress.
But I'm going to live?
No doubt about it.
Good.
Because I want to know exactly what you did.
I want to know how closely
you're in communication with this alien
and what you've learned from it.
And I want to know now!
I-I-I...
I just warned it, that's all.
I've been in contact with it
sensing impressions from it.
It calls itself "Gomtuu."
It's old, Captain.
It's roamed the universe for many thousands of years.
Where did it come from? How many...?
Far away.
Maybe beyond the galaxy.
Once there were millions of them.
Once?
It hasn't seen another of its kind
for millennia.
It's alone.
It may be the last of its species.
Perhaps...
we can help it in some way.
Can you ask it
to return with us to Federation space?
At least persuade it
to leave the vicinity of Beta Stromgren
before the star explodes?
Captain, Gomtuu knows the star will go nova soon.
That's why it's here.
It wants to die.
There was...
an explosion in space.
Radiation penetrating the outer layers.
The crew...
(gasping sigh
The crew...
died.
Such loss...
empty pain...
hollowness...
Tam, stop this.
You're losing yourself in this merging.
I know, I know.
Tin Man hurts and wants to die.
I can't do anymore from out here.
If you want me to really reach Tin Man
I have got to be in physical contact.
I have got to go aboard.
No.
That is absolutely out of the question.
You don't trust me?
No, Tam, I don't believe that I do.
Tam...
when you reached out to the alien, to warn it
did you give any thought to this vessel?
To the danger-- however inadvertent--
that creature might pose to our crew?
Or did you simply react out of instinct?
Captain...
Deanna...
he's right.
I don't know.
I don't know what might happen
but, if you don't let me go, we fail our mission.
Besides, at this point
you need all the help you can get--
even Tin Man's.
Russell, reactivate the sensor assemblies.
Okay, let's do
a program reload, port array only.
Good, that's good.
Computer, run a level-two diagnostic.
COMPUTER: Port sensor array remains off-line.
Damn!
Riker to La Forge. How's it coming?
Not good.
I think all the control processors are shot
but maybe if I swap the chips from the secondary array
I can give you a minimum EM scan.
Do it.
Okay, Russell.
We're going to try starting retrosensor element 32 only.
You in?
Go.
(whistles)
Well, the good news is, we have partial long-range sensors.
La Forge to Bridge.
Riker here.
I'm picking up another echo
on the long-range sensor display.
You reading that on your panel?
Worf?
One moment, Commander.
Confirmed.
Sir, the other Romulan ship
on an intercept course.
Geordi, are we going to have those shields anytime soon?
I'm doing the best I can.
But shields won't help if that star explodes.
Data, you seem to have developed
an affinity with Elbrun.
Troi, you've known him for years.
How far can he be trusted?
Captain, the issue isn't one of trust
in Tam's intentions, but in his judgment.
I would trust him to do what he believes is right.
Yes, of course, but his judgment...
Is precarious.
The stress of exposure to so many minds
on the ship is bad enough.
Now he's strongly drawn to this creature.
I'm afraid for him.
Afraid of what?
I sense that the alien is somehow calling him.
If we allow him to do as he insists--
to beam over--
I believe that we will lose him to it.
That he will lose himself.
DATA: Captain, I agree
that Tam's motives are trustworthy
and I do not believe it is possible
that he will act against us
or will cause Tin Man to act against us
out of malice.
Captain, if Tam breaks down over there
we'll be no closer to accomplishing our mission.
It would be a grave mistake.
Thank you both.
(door opens and closes)
Data?
I am puzzled, sir.
We have come this far.
Are you not going to allow Tam to fulfill his mission?
Tam Elbrun warned Tin Man
and the first thing it did was to destroy a space vessel.
I believe I understand, sir.
If you feel the risk is too great to send Tam Elbrun alone
then send me with him.
Counselor Troi understands
him better.
But he is more comfortable with me, sir.
It is humanity he is fleeing.
Sir, I could serve as an intermediary--
a bridge back
a reminder of his obligation, both to us and to Tin Man.
Captain, the Romulan
has uncloaked.
Status, Number One?
Shields are at 40%.
We can maneuver on impulse.
WORF: Phasers available on manual, sir.
Computer target lock not functioning.
Well...
let's hope they're in a mood to talk.
Hailing frequency.
Open.
Romulan vessel?
This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USSEnterprise.
Enterprise,your presence here is a violation of Romulan space.
You will leave immediately.
We are not familiar
with the terms of your claim on this sector.
We are here engaged in scientific research.
Do you wish to participate?
We have monitored the destruction of our sister ship
by the star creature.
We claim right of vengeance.
We will destroy the alien.
If you interfere, we will destroy you, as well.
Captain's Log, supplemental.
A confrontation between the Romulan warbird
and Tin Man is imminent.
I have no alternative but to rely
on the telepathic abilities of Tam Elbrun.
Picard to Tam Elbrun.
Captain?
Report to Transporter Room Six immediately.
Captain, I don't...
Commander Data will meet you there.
Yes, Captain.
Counselor, we no longer have a choice.
(deep, whale-like sounds)
(tricorder beeping rapidly)
No, no!
Too much! Too much!
Tam?
I can't.
Data toEnterprise. Enterprise,come in.
No, no, don't. If it is harming you
we must return. Enterprise,respond.
No, it's all right. It's all right now.
It's all right.
(panting)
Gomtuu is trying to communicate a lifetime of experiences to me
in a few seconds...
but I'm all right now.
(sighing)
O'Brien to Bridge.
PICARD: Go ahead, Chief.
I've lost the transporter lock on them.
Some kind of force field went up.
Confirmed.
The alien has thrown up a shield.
It is blocking all our sensors.
(high-pitched humming)
Captain?
The Romulans' weapons systems
are now at full power.
PICARD: Follow them in, Mr. Crusher.
Red Alert.
Mr. Worf, arm photon torpedoes.
(alarm blares) Aye, sir.
(deep, whale-like sounds)
Yes.
(squishing)
(dull thud)
There is a large chamber 20 meters ahead.
I know.
I know everything now.
Come on.
(whale-like sounds continue)
Intriguing.
This is the control center
where Gomtuu's crew guided their journeys.
The ship and the crew existed symbiotically.
They needed one another.
When Gomtuu had no one left to care for
it no longer had a reason to exist.
Is that the purpose of existence?
To care for someone?
It is for me.
Deanna was right.
I'll lose myself here.
(whale-like sounds get louder)
(gurgling)
I must remind you that our objective
is to bring Tin Man out of danger
and report our findings to Starfleet.
I'm not going back, Data.
I'm staying here.
WORF: Sir, the Romulans are hailing us.
Captain Picard, if you interfere with us
we will fire upon you, as well.
Commander, we are prepared to defend the life of the alien.
Screen off. Shields up.
Power levels aboard the alien are increasing, sir.
Captain, the diameter of the star
has been decreased by 100,000 kilometers.
It's beginning.
(low rumbling)
Explain to them.
Make them understand.
But our mission...
Is to save Tin Man, and I will.
But he's going to save me, as well.
All my life, I have waited for this--
a chance to find peace.
Finally, all the voices
are silent.
Only Tin Man speaks to me now.
Don't you see, Data?
This is where I belong.
That star's going to go any minute, sir.
The Romulans know that as well as we do
Power levels aboard Tin Man
are increasing beyond our sensor range.
Conn, report.
Dead stop, Captain.
Sir, we've been thrown clear of Beta Stromgren
a distance of 3.8 billion kilometers.
WORF: There is no sign
of Tin Man or the Romulans, sir.
Captain. On screen.
(screen beeps)
Data...
DATA: Sir?
Data, what happened over there?
Difficult to explain, sir.
Tam?
I believe he found what he was looking for, Counselor.
Captain's Log, supplemental.
With all main systems at least temporarily restored
we are proceeding to Starbase 152
for inspection and additional repairs.
We have had no further encounter
with the Romulans.
As for the whereabouts of Tin Man and Tam Elbrun
we can only speculate.
You sent for me?
Yes, Counselor.
It was Tam's final request
that I explain his decision to the crew.
But I believe it was his hope that you would understand.
What did happen?
I witnessed something... remarkable.
Individually they were both so...
Wounded.
Isolated
Yes
But no longer.
Through joining, they have been healed.
Grief has been transmutted to joy.
Lonliness to belonging.
Data,
You do understand.
Yes counselor.
When Two men returned me to the Enterprise
I realized this is where I belong.