Captain's Log, Stardate 45571.2.
We are going into orbit
around an unexplored M-Class moon of Mab-Bu VI.
Though the moon was reported to be uninhabited
we have picked up a weak distress call.
( staticky distress call playing )
DATA: The electromagnetic whirlwinds
on the moon's surface
make it virtually impossible
to locate the source of the signal, Captain.
Any indications of life, Mr. Worf?
Scanners read negative, sir
but they may be affected by the interference.
Have you ever heard anything like this, Data?
I believe so, Commander. At Starfleet Academy.
The Academy?
I will verify it.
Just as I thought.
It is a Starfleet subspace distress signal.
Standard to Daedalus-class starships.
There hasn't been a Daedalus-class
in service for... what?
172 years, sir.
Are there any records
of missing ships in this vicinity?
The USS Essex, under the command of Captain Bryce Shumar
disappeared in this sector over two centuries ago.
Daedalus-class.
I have accessed the subspace
transponder signature of the Essex.
It is identical to the signal coming from the moon's surface.
We arrived a little late.
Mute it, Mr. Data.
With all that storm activity down there
it isn't worth the risk to check on a ghost ship.
Advise Starfleet that we have solved
the mystery of Captain Shumar and the Essex.
I'm not sure we have.
Someone's down there.
Alive.
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.
RIKER: First Officer's Log, supplemental.
The electromagnetic interference on the surface
has been judged too dangerous for anyone to transport down
so we have taken a shuttle to investigate.
Shields are holding, sir.
Wind shear is incredible.
Data, keep an eye on the stabilizers.
If it's anything like this on the ground
I don't see how people could survive
on this moon for very long.
Maybe they've been living underground.
Question is, where?
I still can't locate
the source of the damn signal.
It's bouncing around more than we are.
Forward thrusters have failed, sir.
We are losing power.
Enterprise!
Go ahead.
RIKER ( distorted ): We've lost our thrusters.
Attempting to compensate with secondary boosters.
Sir, the shuttlecraft's impulse generators have shut down.
Commander, can you hear me?
Enterprise to shuttle. Please respond.
Hold on. We're going down.
Initiating emergency landing procedures.
Maintain the approach attitude, Data.
I'm taking her in.
Brace for impact.
( thunder rumbling )
The shuttle has crashed on the surface.
Do you have their position?
I am picking up the shuttle's trace signature
but the surface interference is distorting its position.
Can you locate them?
I think I can.
I followed their entry almost all the way in.
We can calculate the coordinates
from their angle of descent.
Ow!
Your arm.
Yeah. I'm pretty sure that's broken.
Enterprise?
It is unlikely we will be able
to establish communication with the ship
given the electromagnetic interference.
Then we'll stay in the area until the Enterprise finds us.
Take an inventory of the shuttle.
See if there's anything left in there that's usable.
The ground cover is all nonporous rock
which makes me believe it's even less likely
there's anyone living here.
There are no instruments left of practical value
that have not been damaged by our landing, sir.
What is that?
That doesn't look like
any storm front I've ever seen.
The tricorder is picking up high levels
of EM bursts across the spectrum.
No life sign readings other than our own.
There is someone alive here.
I'm more certain of it now than ever.
Well, I hope they can find us
because there's no way we'll find them.
They're coming.
They're coming with the storm.
( thunder rumbling )
We can't get a pattern lock on their communicators
because of the EM bursts, Captain.
There's no way we can beam them out of there.
Not under these conditions.
The same conditions won't permit
a shuttle to land safely, Mr. La Forge.
Any suggestions?
O'BRIEN: Give us a minute, Captain.
Sir, let me beam down with a pattern enhancer.
Chief, there's no guarantee
you won't rematerialize in a million pieces
if your signal gets caught up in that electromagnetic whirlwind.
I can boost the confinement beam.
One person might be able to make it.
Captain, Chief O'Brien wants to beam down
to the surface with a pattern enhancer.
His chances of making it down there safely
are no better than 50-50, in my opinion.
Captain, a major storm front is moving in
on the away team's coordinates.
You're aware of the risks, Mr. O'Brien?
Yes, sir.
I think I can make it.
All right, then. Good luck.
Aye, sir.
( thunder rumbling )
RIKER: Mr. O'Brien!
Nice of you to join us.
Nice spot for a picnic, sir.
We need to distribute these enhancer rods
at seven-meter legs.
That should do it.
Is this storm front going to interfere
with the transport, Chief?
I'd really like to get us out of here
before it hits, Commander.
I'm supposed to be feeding the baby lunch.
Molly gets in a terribly foul mood
if I'm late.
I'm with you.
Lunch time, Miles!
Let's do it!
( yells )
( groans )
( screams )
Easy, Deanna.
Where...?
You're back on the Enterprise now.
You're going to be okay.
My skin-- it's tingling.
You're experiencing the after-images
of the electromagnetic discharge.
The sensation will pass.
They're all fine, too.
Now, I want you to take your time, Counselor.
Doctor's orders.
( door opens )
Injury report, Doctor.
Mostly minor abrasions.
Commander Riker took the worst of it
with a broken arm.
Mr. Data.
Good work, Chief.
Thank you, sir.
Ready for duty, sir.
You're sure, Number One?
It's not the first broken bone I've ever had.
And how are you, Counselor?
Very glad to be here.
Good. Let's go.
So, what happened down there?
It was just one hell of a storm.
It moved in on our position
faster than anything I've ever seen.
Was there any evidence of life?
No, but if Troi was right
we were pretty close to it.
Bridge. So, how do you suggest we proceed?
We need to adjust the scanners
so that they can penetrate those storms.
Do you have any ideas, Data?
We might be able to employ virtual imaging
in order to interpolate...
( creaking ): missing data.
Is something wrong, Commander?
My apologies, sir.
It seems my primary speech processors
are experiencing a minor fluctuation.
I will have it corrected in a moment.
Captain, may I speak with you
for a moment-- in private?
Of course. You'll have the Bridge, Number One.
Mr. Data, deploy sensor scans when you're ready.
Ensign, take us to a synchronous orbit
aligned around our crash site.
RO: Aye, sir.
Sir, given the EM field properties of this moon
I recommend a search pattern
beginning in the southern polar region.
The polar region?
That would be starting from scratch, Mr. Data.
Our latest readings would suggest
that we begin our scan around our crash site.
The Essex signal was never clearly located, sir.
A systematic survey of the moon
from a polar orbit might be more practical.
Well, you may be right, but I'd like to give
the crash site a once-over first.
Maintain our current orbit.
Understood, sir.
I've never felt anything like it.
It was as though they were calling to me.
Are you saying someone was communicating telepathically?
Perhaps...
for an instant.
It was like their voices were being carried on the wind.
What were they trying to communicate?
I'm not sure.
But they were calling me to the southern polar region.
I believe that's where we should look for the Essex.
Commander, did you override
my orbital heading?
Override them?
We've moved into a polar orbit
and I'm locked out.
The helm isn't responding.
Do you know anything about this, Mr. Data?
Data?
( groans )
Security to the Bridge!
RIKER: Computer, transfer command to Engineering.
Full security alert.
( groans )
This way.
What happened?
He would not move to a polar orbit.
You couldn't wait?
The Captain would have done it for me.
Deck 36. Engineering.
Computer, re-enable Bridge control.
Security protocol.
Authorization: Riker Omega Three.
Report.
Data, O'Brien and Troi tried to commandeer the ship.
They're in Turbolift Four.
Engaging override controls now.
They have trapped us.
What deck is this?
We are on deck ten.
Can you move us again?
I know how to override the Bridge command.
Activate security fields, decks eight through 15.
( console beeping )
Sir, the turbolift is moving again.
They're still inside.
Initiate emergency bulkheads in Turboshaft Four.
Aye, sir.
They have been stopped at deck 13.
Mr. Worf.
Do you know how to deactivate this?
The computer won't allow us to override
an emergency force field command.
My entity's artificial substructure may be useful.
They've broken through a security field.
Deck ten, section two.
Security to Ten-Forward!
( crying loudly )
( murmuring )
Shh.
Mama's here.
Shh.
Everyone, get down on the floor.
Miles...?
Shh...
On the floor!
Everyone down!
Now!
Miles!
( grunting )
( Molly crying )
Multiple phaser shots, Ten-Forward.
Picard to Worf. Report.
Mr. Worf, acknowledge.
Can you hear me, Mr. Worf?
Yes, Bridge.
He can hear you.
Captain's Log, supplemental.
Following an aborted attempt to take control of the Bridge
Counselor Troi, Mr. Data and Chief O'Brien
have seized Ten-Forward.
Position security teams at both entrances.
Yes, sir.
Mr. La Forge, shut down all computer access to Ten-Forward.
I can't, Captain.
They've already set up a remote security lockout.
We'd have to shut down
all computer function in the saucer section.
Transporter Room Three, can you get a pattern lock
on Commander Data, Counselor Troi
and Chief O'Brien in Ten-Forward?
Attempting to lock on, sir.
O'BRIEN: You are correct.
They're attempting to engage their transporters
but I know how to shut them down.
Do it.
Bridge, the entire transporter array has been taken off-line
and placed into diagnostic mode.
I can't override.
It'll take a couple of hours to complete the cycle.
How many people are down there?
Seventeen.
They just shut down the internal scanners, too, Captain.
Dr. Crusher to the Bridge.
On my way.
What are you doing now?
I can reverse the polarity of their force fields
to isolate this room.
Good.
Their communicators.
Now they'll learn nothing, except what we tell them.
They've done something to the force fields
on deck ten, section one.
Geordi?
I don't recognize the configurations
but they've completely isolated Ten-Forward.
What about flooding their air vents
with anesthezine gas?
That won't affect Data.
No rescue plan will work
unless we can knock out all three of them.
A concussive charge would blow out the security field
so we can go in with our phasers on a wide beam.
Stun everybody. Sort it out later.
Doctor...
go back to the biofilter readouts taken
of the away team's transport from the moon's surface.
See if you can come up with any clue
that might explain this.
Ten-Forward, this is Captain Picard.
I am prepared to discuss this situation.
There is no need for further violence.
Please identify yourself.
They will now attempt to negotiate
for the safety and release of their people.
Interesting.
Under normal circumstances
I would be counseling the Captain
at a time like this.
What would you tell him to do?
I would help him find a way to secure our trust.
What are you looking at?
( Molly crying )
You, Klingon.
Attack me.
( beeping )
Are you afraid?
I have no fear of death.
And I have no fear of killing you.
TROI: Stop it!
PICARD: Please respond, Ten-Forward.
Are there any members of my crew who require medical assistance?
We can discuss your wounded.
But first, you will move the ship.
Move it where?
You will change orbit to an inclination of 80 degrees south.
That's the southern polar region.
That's where Data tried to move the ship.
And that's what Troi asked me to do, but why?
Ten-Forward, if you could be
more specific about our intended destination
then perhaps we could...
You have 30 seconds to change your heading
or additional members of your crew
will require medical attention.
We need to stabilize this situation.
Play for time.
I suggest that we move the ship as they've asked.
Agreed?
Set a new heading.
But take us there
as slowly as you can.
Ten-Forward, we are moving the ship as you requested.
He's telling the truth.
Their heading has changed.
Captain, I've compared the away team's
last transporter trace patterns to their earlier records.
They're exactly the same
except in Data, Troi and O'Brien there's an unusual
synaptic activity-- some kind of anionic energy.
It might be another life-form
superimposing its neural patterns on our people.
Why wasn't I affected?
I don't know.
The only difference between you and the others
is that you were injured.
My broken arm.
CRUSHER: The fracture caused pain receptors to fire
which may have made you immune to this energy.
If your theory is accurate, Doctor
what would happen if we were to inflict pain on the others?
It might force whatever it is out of our people.
A plasma shock-- it would be painful
but it wouldn't cause any physical harm.
I could hook up a modified laser scanner
to a plasma inverter.
What about Data?
Well, a plasma shock
will definitely overload his neural net.
It'll work on him, too.
We have to find a way to penetrate
the force field around Ten-Forward.
I might be able to interrupt
the force field for a few seconds
but I'll be fighting the computer for control.
Timing will be critical.
RO: We'd have to hit
all three with a single discharge.
If they're standing together
it shouldn't be a problem.
How will you gain access?
Microoptic drill through the ceiling
and they'll never detect it.
If this is going to work, we have to have some way
to contain or neutralize this anionic energy
once it's out of our people.
Yes, Doctor.
That will be your top priority.
Very well. Proceed.
Bridge to Ten-Forward.
Now that we are moving the ship as you requested
I would like to know the nature of the injuries
to the members of my crew.
Five of your people have been injured.
How serious is their condition?
You, Klingon, tell him.
Captain, one person has
what looks like a level-five phaser hit.
And four others have secondary burns.
They require medical attention.
And our captors are not affected by a phaser stun...
Silence, Klingon.
Ten-Forward, you must release these people
so that they can receive proper medical attention.
I will release no one.
If you will release them, I will take their place.
I don't trust him.
It may be a deception.
The crew values Picard's life above all others.
Captain Picard, we agree to your proposal.
Expect a medical team to accompany me.
TROI: Acknowledged.
Sick Bay, this is Picard.
Have an emergency medical team
meet me outside Ten-Forward.
Sir, putting you down there
only strengthens their position.
Number One, so long as they're on board this ship
I'm a hostage, no matter where I am-- we all are.
I must find out who we're dealing with.
If La Forge and Ro can attempt a rescue
in short order, then let them proceed.
If they can't, I will provide you
with another opportunity.
Watch for it.
Yes, sir.
( Molly crying )
Shh.
Shh!
Silence that child!
Shh!
( crying continues )
Shh!
I know you.
I know who you are.
And I know what this is.
She's frightened.
Why don't you just let us go?
Shh!
No.
Make it stop!
Shh!
PICARD: Ten-Forward
we're outside the door.
Lower the force field.
Welcome, Captain.
Allow me to introduce myself.
I am Captain Bryce Shumar
of the Federation Starship Essex.
The Starship Essex vanished over 200 years ago.
Indeed. I know. I was there.
This is my First Officer, Commander Steven Mullen
and my Security Chief, Lieutenant Morgan Kelly.
And you have survived all this time as...
Spirits? Ghosts?
But you're a man who would never believe in ghosts, Picard.
Isn't that true?
You see, Troi knows you
and so I do, as well.
Then Counselor Troi is still alive?
Yes, of course, she is.
I have no wish to harm her or to harm anyone else.
I'm very pleased to hear that.
We have been forced to take this action, Captain
because we need your help.
My help?
Our consciousness has been trapped on this moon
for two centuries.
We must escape this torture.
How did this happen to you?
I can't explain how it happened.
I only know that it did.
The Essex was caught in an electromagnetic storm
just as your shuttle was.
Moments before we crashed
the Bridge was struck by lightning.
The ship was ripped apart.
Somehow, in that instant, our consciousness was absorbed
into the magnetic currents on the surface.
Why didn't you tell us this?
Why the deception?
The violence?
Because, as I said
I knew you would not believe us.
Even now, I know you don't.
What was your vessel's designation
and its complement?
NCC-173.
Daedalus-class starship.
Crew-- 229.
Under whose command in this sector?
Admiral Uttan Narsu, Starbase 12.
You will find all this in Starfleet records.
I don't need to see the records.
Then you know I am correct.
End this, and I will give you whatever help you need.
No.
You don't trust us
and I can't risk trusting you.
It is taking too long.
We should have been there by now.
He is manipulating you.
Captain Picard has every right to be curious.
He will delay until a rescue attempt is possible.
I know that.
I also know that he will make every effort
to protect the lives of his people.
Since our demands are not excessive, Captain
I hope you will see that it will be simpler to accede
than to risk further injuries.
What do you want?
All you need to know for now is that we want to rest.
Simply, finally, to rest.
Section two...
"B."
"A."
Section one.
Finally.
I never want to see this part of the Enterprise again.
I hear you-- this is
what starship designers call "easy access."
Yeah. Yeah, this is it.
I thought we might have a problem
with conduit number 227
but it looks like we're going to be able
to get by it.
( groans )
Thanks.
We're through.
Good.
Let's hook up the scanner and see what we've got.
Got it.
All three have got to be in the circle
if this is going to work.
We're halfway home.
( quietly ): La Forge to Crusher.
How are you doing?
I think I've come up with an idea for a containment field.
This anionic energy seems to be vulnerable
to the same magnetic flux density
we monitored in the storms.
If we can duplicate it, we can trap it
once it's out of our people.
Well, you should be able to do that
by flooding Ten-Forward with ionogenic particles.
Exactly what I was thinking.
RIKER: Geordi, how long will it take to get it all ready?
Uh, we still have to calibrate the plasma inverter, Commander.
My guess is 45 minutes to an hour.
I can have the containment field ready by then.
Keep me advised.
Watch the Klingon.
I will.
Leave us.
He's confused.
Impressions, Mr. Worf.
Spiritual possessions of this sort have been reported
throughout Klingon history.
It is called Jat'yIn--
the taking of the living by the dead.
Human history is full of many similar legends.
Then you believe they may be telling the truth?
We need to maintain control...
Not for one moment.
Sir, they know much about the Essex.
If it is the spirit of Captain Shumar...
Then he should be behaving
very much better, don't you think?
A Starfleet Captain?
O'BRIEN: You two, sit down.
Hey, right!
Living disembodied for two centuries--
perhaps they've gone mad.
I assure you, Mr. Worf
these are not Jat'yIn.
Our job is to find out exactly what they are
and then to determine how to deal with...
All right, that's enough.
Stop, both of you.
You over there, you there.
Down!
O'BRIEN: I gave you that.
( Molly cries )
In a place called McKinley Park.
Green grass...
tall trees.
Please don't.
I hid the bracelet in your pocket.
You were... surprised.
Don't.
( crying continues )
You said, "Miles, you make me feel so happy."
No! Get away! Get away from me!
TROI: Leave her alone.
( crying continues )
PICARD: Captain Shumar?
We'll be approaching the southern polar region
that you've requested in a few minutes.
I need to give additional instructions.
Very well.
We're taking you to our crash site.
At the southern pole.
That is correct.
Nothing our sensors were able to detect
indicated that the Essex went down in that region.
As I told you, Captain
the ship broke up in the atmosphere
and the Bridge went down here.
When we reach it
you will beam what's left of our skeletal remains
on board this ship, and then take them
back to Earth, for a proper burial.
You see how simple a request this is?
Captain...
if you will let these people go
I'll order the Bridge to follow your instructions.
I will release no one.
If you are who you say you are, there's no need for any of this.
We'll gladly take you home.
I wish you were truly as open-minded as you say, Picard.
If you don't release the hostages
I won't cooperate.
Oh, you will cooperate, Captain.
You will cooperate, or someone will die.
Who shall it be, huh?
How about the Klingon?
Get another one.
You.
( Molly cries )
Come on.
Come on. Come on.
Pick one to die, Captain...
or I kill them both.
( crying continues )
RO: They're all in range.
I have to do it now.
I'm only going to be able to shut down the force field
for about seven seconds before the computer compensates.
Well, if they're the right seven seconds, it'll be enough.
LA FORGE: Bridge, prepare to release the ionogenic field on my signal.
Standing by.
Ready?
Kill the force field.
Force field down.
RO: Firing plasma charge.
( screaming )
Damn!
Tell them to stop, or I kill everyone
in this room, starting with you.
Picard to Bridge!
Abort immediately!
As you say, Captain.
Riker to La Forge.
Return to the Bridge.
( sighing )
Are you ready to cooperate?
Yes.
( panting )
RIKER: First Officer's Log, supplemental.
The Enterprise has moved into a synchronous orbit
near the southern polar region.
We await further instructions from Ten-Forward.
Any sign of the Essex?
Negative, Commander.
Electromagnetic disturbances are even worse here.
Scanners can't read a thing.
Bridge to Ten-Forward.
Intense storm activity over the southern pole
is making it virtually impossible
for us to pick up any trace of the Essex.
We are giving you the exact coordinates
of our remains on board the wreck of the Essex.
Receiving those coordinates now.
Can you tell what's there?
Just your basic ionic cyclone.
I can't read a thing.
Well, I'm sure as hell not going to beam up
whatever might be down there.
I've got a good excuse for you.
The transporters aren't going to work
any better than the scanners.
Bridge to Ten-Forward.
Whatever's blocking our scanners
will prevent the use of the transporters.
They're lying!
On the contrary. We've had a difficult time
with the transporters since we arrived here.
That's why we had to send down the shuttle.
You should all have been
aware of that fact.
We must be able to use the transporters.
Mr. O'Brien was the one who safely executed
the return of the away team.
He's the most qualified person on board to operate
the transporters under these circumstances.
Can you do it from here?
No. We'll have to use the transporter pad.
I could...
I could give you safe passage
to a transporter pad in one of the cargo bays.
It is a trick.
He is trying to divide us.
We must not be separated.
I could give you all safe passage.
Why are you suddenly being so helpful?
Because I assume that if you choose
to go to the cargo bay
then you won't take all of the hostages.
Their safety is my chief priority.
What are the risks when we leave this room?
Without the protection of the force fields
we are completely vulnerable.
They could use the transporter against us.
Once the force field is down
they could beam us back to the surface.
But there is a way to neutralize that threat.
Bridge...
transfer all transporter functions to Ten-Forward.
RIKER: In order to do that
you will have to release your computer control lockouts.
That's not true.
Let me talk to him.
Number One, I think we have an opportunity
to end this siege.
It will require the cooperation of all concerned.
Our... guests will be moving shortly
to Cargo Bay Four
where the transport will occur.
I want you to ensure them of safe passage
between Ten-Forward and the Cargo Bay.
Understood, Captain.
Doctor...
Mr. La Forge...
Yes, sir.
Transporter controls are being transferred.
Ten-Forward to Bridge.
I said all transporter controls!
Including all those
aboard your shuttlecraft.
Almost had them, Ensign.
( sighs )
Nice try.
Riker to Ten-Forward.
Remaining transporter functions are being
transferred to you.
Once we create our own access code
we can prevent anybody using the transporter against us
as we go to the cargo bay.
What about the weapons?
We will each take a hostage...
for protection.
Klingon.
Picard, you are mine.
( Molly crying )
Please, let her stay.
Lower the force field.
Security teams, stand by.
They're heading through section five.
Mr. La Forge, Doctor, they'll be
at their destination in less than a minute.
They've stopped at deck 18, sir.
Security, allow them access into Cargo Bay Four.
CREWMAN: Aye, sir.
I will require assistance.
Captain Shumar...
how do you intend to achieve
this "rest" that you so desire?
What do you mean?
Well, how do you intend
to free yourselves of this existence
that has so trapped your consciousness?
It will fade as we move further from this planet.
Really? And what is your scientific basis for that?
I don't need a scientific basis.
Just be quiet.
Captain Shumar, when are you going
to tell me who you really are?
I've initialized the transporter signal.
Proceed.
They're firing up the transporter, Commander.
Mr. La Forge?
I've isolated Cargo Bay Four
with a neutrino field, sir
but it will only take Data
and O'Brien a couple of minutes
to override it once they discover that it's there.
I hope that'll give the Captain
enough time to play his hand.
Do you know what he's going to do?
There's only one reason
he chose Cargo Bay Four.
If it becomes necessary, Ensign
you'll blow the cargo bay hatch
on my orders.
Yes, sir.
TROI: You're right, Picard.
It's not rest we seek, only escape.
Escape?
We were brought to this moon
over five centuries ago
from a star system called Ux-Mal.
We were separated from our bodies
and left to drift in the storms.
Once, we almost escaped-- on board the Essex.
But that ship
was incapable of eluding
this moon's electromagnetic storms.
You really think that using
their identities would gain our sympathy?
It was a better approach than asking you
to allow hundreds of condemned prisoners on board.
Then this moon is a penal colony.
That's correct.
But now, we have your ship and your bodies
to carry us home.
I'm reading dozens of them-- hundreds.
They have the same anionic signature
we saw on the biofilter scans.
I think we can give the Captain
a new bargaining chip.
Dr. Crusher, flood the cargo bay
with your containment field.
No!
Let them go, or you will all die!
Your threats are meaningless now.
We are in still in control of these three bodies.
We will not let them go.
Are you prepared to sacrifice the lives of these others?
They'll all die when the cargo bay hatch is blown.
You will die, too, Picard.
I would die to save
the life of my child.
To die defending one's ship
is the hope of every Klingon.
If you each know the officers you inhabit
then you know they are equally ready
to give their lives for this ship.
Free them now
and I will return you to the moon's surface.
I advise you, Picard, not to pass our way again.
Picard to Bridge.
RIKER: Aye, sir.
Our guests will be leaving shortly.
I need an emergency medical team down here.
CRUSHER: On our way, Captain.
Mr. Worf, prepare to transport these prisoners
down to the moon's surface.
Gladly, sir.
Captain's Log, Stardate 45572.1.
Dr. Crusher has examined Troi, Data and O'Brien.
There seem to be no residual effects
from their experience.
It was as though my own consciousness
were pushed to the side.
I was watching everything happen--
hearing my own voice--
but not being able to control any of it.
What about the entity that controlled you?
What were your perceptions of him?
( sighing )
He was intelligent, actually.
Thoughtful, in a ruthless kind of way.
Cold.
Lieutenant, I must apologize
for my inadvertent misconduct toward you.
No apology necessary.
Your restraint was most remarkable.
( sighs )
You have no idea.
How do you feel?
Hungry.
That's a good sign.
Go home.
How do you feel?
I'm just glad to have you back.
If I could have killed that thing inside me...
I would have.
I know.
We both know.
( chuckles )
( cooing )