Riker: Geordi, have you found it yet?
NOT YET.
( loud hissing )
I'M STARTING TO GET SOME FUMES!
AMMONIA... CHLORINE
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE.
( coughing )
OH, I CAN FEEL THE HEAT FROM HERE.
THERE IT IS.
Riker: How far?
ABOUT TEN METERS UP THE ODN LINE.
BOY, IT'S HOT.
I'D SAY OVER 2,000 DEGREES.
I'M GOING IN.
( loud rumbling )
( clanking )
( beeping )
( hissing )
WE'RE OKAY.
I'VE ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY SUPPRESSION SYSTEM.
Crusher: ALL HIS VITAL FUNCTIONS ARE COMPLETELY NORMAL.
THE INTERFACE UNIT IS OPERATING
WITHIN EXPECTED PARAMETERS.
WHY DID HE START COUGHING
WHEN HE WENT THROUGH THE GASES?
PSYCHOSOMATIC RESPONSE.
I FEEL LIKE I'M ACTUALLY HERE...
I MEAN, THERE-- IN THE JEFFERIES TUBE.
IT'S FUNNY-- WHEN I SAW THE SMOKE
I COULDN'T HELP BUT COUGH.
NO ONE HAS EVER REPORTED
SO COMPLETE A SENSORY EXPERIENCE.
THE INTERFACE IS PERFECT FOR GEORDI
BECAUSE HIS VISOR INPUTS ALLOW THE PROBE
TO TRANSMIT INFORMATION
DIRECTLY INTO HIS CEREBRAL CORTEX.
IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO WORK.
GEORDI, I'D LIKE TO GET THE PROBE
OUT OF THE JEFFERIES TUBE ONTO THE LAUNCH BAY
BEFORE WE REACH MARIJNE VII.
WILL DO.
WAIT A MINUTE.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
I CAN'T GET MY LEFT LEG TO WORK.
WHAT IS IT?
THE PROBE IS DESIGNED TO RESPOND
TO ANY MOVEMENT GEORDI INTENDS TO MAKE.
WHEN HIS BRAIN SENDS A MESSAGE TO MOVE HIS LEG
THE INTERFACE SHOULD MOVE THE PROBE INSTEAD.
APPARENTLY, THE TACTILE SENSORS ARE TOO LOW.
I WILL INCREASE THE INPUT.
THERE IT GOES.
I'M ON MY WAY DOWN.
WHY THE BODYSUIT?
IT PROVIDES
TACTILE SENSATIONS SO THAT GEORDI CAN FEEL
HE'S IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT AS THE PROBE.
GEORDI, WHAT'S WRONG?
NOTHING.
I'M SEEING MY REFLECTION IN A PANEL.
I FORGOT WHAT A HANDSOME GUY I AM.
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.
CAPTAIN'S LOG, STARDATE 47215.5.
WE ARE RESPONDING TO A DISTRESS CALL
FROM THE SCIENCE VESSEL RAMAN, WHICH IS APPARENTLY TRAPPED
INSIDE THE TURBULENT ATMOSPHERE OF AN UNUSUAL GAS GIANT PLANET.
WE WILL USE AN EXPERIMENTAL INTERFACE PROBE
IN OUR ATTEMPT TO RESCUE IT.
I HAVE REVIEWED THE VESSEL'S MISSION PLANS.
THE RAMAN WAS TO DESCEND TO THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE
11,000 KILOMETERS BELOW ITS CURRENT POSITION.
THE CREW WAS TO SAMPLE THE ATMOSPHERE AT THAT LEVEL
AND THEN RETURN TO A SAFER ORBIT.
SOMETHING MUST HAVE HAPPENED DOWN THERE.
MAYBE THE SHIELDS FAILED
OR THEY HAD SOME KIND OF INVERSION REACTION
IN THE NACELLES.
ANY LIFE SIGNS?
La Forge: OUR BIOSENSORS ARE USELESS.
THERE'S TOO MUCH INTERFERENCE IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
THEIR CREW MIGHT STILL BE ALIVE.
THERE'S NO WAY
WE CAN TELL FROM UP HERE.
WILL THE PROBE BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT
THROUGH THAT INTERFERENCE?
THE PROBE SENDS INFORMATION VIA A FOCUSED PARTICLE BEAM.
IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO CUT THROUGH THE INTERFERENCE.
BUT WE MAY HAVE TO OPERATE THE PROBE
AT CLOSE TO TOLERANCE LEVELS.
HMM. WILL YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM
BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT MUCH SENSORY INPUT?
WE'VE ALREADY TESTED THE INTERFACE
AT ABOUT 70% OF TOLERANCE.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE GOING HIGHER.
THE SAFETY OVERRIDE WILL KICK IN AT ABOUT 98% TOLERANCE
AND THAT WILL DISENGAGE THE INTERFACE.
Worf: CAPTAIN, I AM RECEIVING A TRANSMISSION
FROM STARFLEET COMMAND-- ADMIRAL HOLT.
IN MY READY ROOM.
THE SEVEN PEOPLE ON THAT SHIP ARE OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
IS THE PROBE READY FOR LAUNCH?
YES, SIR.
SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THE AFT SECTION OF THE RAMAN
THROUGH THE SECONDARY AIRLOCK.
THAT WAY IT SHOULD PUT IT
JUST ONE BULKHEAD AWAY FROM THE BRIDGE.
I'LL INTERFACE WITH THE PROBE AS SOON AS IT'S READY
AND TAKE IT THE REST OF THE WAY FROM THERE.
MAKE IT SO.
HELLO, MARCUS.
JEAN-LUC.
HOW'S LIFE ON DS3?
WE'RE HOSTING THIS YEAR'S PALIO.
THE, UH, FERENGI HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACCUSED OF TRYING
TO BRIBE THE BREEN PILOT INTO THROWING THE RACE.
( chuckles softly )
WELL, THERE'S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THAT.
NOTHING AT ALL.
I WISH I COULD SAY THAT I WAS CALLING
JUST TO CATCH UP ON THINGS.
NINE DAYS AGO
THE HERA LEFT HERE ON A ROUTINE COURIER MISSION.
WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH IT FOR FIVE OF THOSE DAYS.
THEN THE SHIP DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A TRACE.
THE HERA?
I'M AFRAID SO.
THE EXCELSIOR AND THE NOBLE HAVE BEEN RETRACING ITS COURSE
FOR THE LAST 72 HOURS.
NOTHING.
I'M GOING TO KEEP THEM AT IT FOR ANOTHER 72
BUT TO BE HONEST
I DON'T THINK ANOTHER WEEK WOULD MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.
I'LL INFORM COMMANDER LA FORGE.
( sighs )
( door opens and closes )
MR. DATA, I'D LIKE A WORD WITH COMMANDER LA FORGE.
AYE, SIR.
I WILL BE ON THE BRIDGE.
GEORDI, I'VE JUST SPOKEN WITH STARFLEET.
THE HERA IS MISSING.
MISSING?
MY MOTHER?
CAPTAIN LA FORGE HAS DISAPPEARED
ALONG WITH THE REST OF HER CREW.
Woman: I saw your father last week
and your sister about ten days before that.
i decided i missed my favorite son.
YOUR ONLY SON, MA.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE THE HERA AGAIN.
WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW FACES ON BOARD
INCLUDING A CHIEF ENGINEER WHO JUICES UP THE NACELLES
EVERY CHANCE SHE GETS.
I THINK SHE'S THE BEST TECHNICIAN IN THE FLEET.
Okay, second best.
( door chimes )
COME IN.
I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW ...
YOU WERE...DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD MEET HER.
WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE SAME SECTOR NEXT WEEK.
TAKE A SHUTTLE OVER, AND I'LL INTRODUCE YOU.
MY MOTHER'S ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND ME A WIFE.
BUT IF YOU'RE TOO BUSY, I'LL SEE YOU AT YOUR
FATHER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY.
REMEMBER, IF YOU TALK TO HIM, IT'S A SURPRISE.
THIS CAME IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO.
I NEVER GOT BACK TO HER.
GEORDI, THE PROBE HAS ENTERED THE PLANET'S ATMOSPHERE
AND I'M READY TO TAKE IT
ONTO THE SHIP.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS OFF
I'LL RUN THE INTERFACE.
THE INTERFACE IS CALIBRATED
SPECIFICALLY TO MY VISOR'S INPUTS.
IT WOULD TAKE YOU AT LEAST TEN HOURS TO CONVERT IT
AND THOSE CREWMEN DOWN THERE CAN'T WAIT.
THE INTERFACE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FULLY COMPATIBLE.
I COULD RUN IT RIGHT NOW.
I WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME CONTROL THAT YOU HAVE
BUT IT WOULD STILL WORK.
FORGET IT.
I'M THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB
AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T PROCEED AS PLANNED.
THE HERA IS REASON ENOUGH.
THE HERA IS MISSING, THAT'S ALL
AND UNTIL I HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT
MY MOTHER JUST MIGHT AS WELL HAVE
TAKEN THE CREW ON AN UNSCHEDULED HOLIDAY.
LET'S GO.
CAPTAIN, THE PROBE IS THROUGH THE AIRLOCK
AND IN POSITION ABOARD THE RAMAN.
PICARD TO COMMANDER DATA, REPORT.
WE ARE READY TO BRING THE INTERFACE ON LINE, SIR.
PROCEED.
ACTIVATING THE REMOTE SENSORS.
INITIATING INTERFACE... NOW.
VITAL SIGNS ARE NORMAL.
GEORDI, HOW DO YOU FEEL?
FINE.
Data: DO YOU HAVE VISUAL CONTACT?
NOT YET.
DATA, TURN UP THE INPUT SENSORS.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING.
Data: ACKNOWLEDGED.
OKAY, I CAN SEE
BUT NO COLORS.
INCREASING SIGNAL STRENGTH TO 75% OF TOLERANCE.
AH...
THAT'S BETTER.
Crusher: YOUR PULSE HAS GONE UP.
YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM
PROBABLY HAS TO GET USED TO THE INPUT LEVELS.
I'M EXCITED, THAT'S ALL, DOCTOR.
THIS IS LIKE BEING ON A ROLLER COASTER.
OR A FIRST DATE.
I'M ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT.
IF YOUR HEART RATE GETS TOO HIGH
WE'RE GOING TO DISCONNECT YOU.
UNDERSTOOD.
IT'S A MESS IN HERE.
THERE MUST BE A BREACH IN THE HULL SOMEPLACE.
I'M PICKING UP ATMOSPHERIC GASES IN THE CORRIDOR.
METHANE AND AMMONIA PRIMARILY.
THAT BREAK IN THE HULL MIGHT EVEN BE ON THE BRIDGE ITSELF.
I'M HEADING TOWARDS THE BRIDGE.
I FOUND SOMEONE.
Data: What is your position?
ABOUT 12 METERS UP THE MAIN CORRIDOR.
HE'S TRAPPED UNDER SOME CONDUIT FROM THE BULKHEAD.
I CAN'T MOVE IT.
I'M GOING TO NEED MORE POWER TO THE TRACTOR BEAM.
Crusher: Go to 80% of tolerance, Data.
NO HIGHER.
HE'S DEAD.
DATA... THAT DOOR AT THE END OF THIS CORRIDOR.
WHAT'S IT LEAD TO?
Data: A magnetic storage bay.
IF THERE WAS A BREAK IN THE BRIDGE
THAT'D BE THE SAFEST PLACE TO GO.
( air hissing )
( beeping )
( grunting )
DATA, GIVE ME A PHASER BURST.
NARROW FOCUS, LEVEL FOUR INTENSITY.
I FOUND THEM.
THEY'RE DEAD...
ALL OF THEM.
THERE'S A FIRE IN HERE.
( yelling in pain )
DATA, DISCONNECT.
WHAT HAPPENED?
GEORDI?
I DON'T KNOW.
MY HANDS.
THEY'RE BURNED.
Picard: HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
Crusher: THERE WAS SOME KIND OF ENERGY DISCHARGE
IN THE INTERFACE SUIT.
BUT SHOULDN'T THE SAFETY OVERRIDES HAVE PREVENTED THAT?
YES, BUT I HAVE A THEORY WHY THEY DIDN'T.
THE TOLERANCE LEVELS OF THE INTERFACE
WERE SET EXTREMELY HIGH.
I THINK GEORDI'S NEURAL RESPONSE TO THE INPUT WAS SO STRONG
THAT IT CREATED A FEEDBACK LOOP.
THE SENSORS THAT WERE TRANSMITTING
THE SENSATION OF HEAT TO MY HANDS
MUST HAVE OVERLOADED.
THE CREW OF THE RAMAN ARE DEAD.
I WOULD LIKE TO RETRIEVE THEM AND THEIR VESSEL
BUT NOT IF IT MEANS PUTTING GEORDI'S SAFETY AT RISK.
IF WE TURN DOWN THE SENSORY INPUT ON THE PROBE
I SHOULD BE FINE.
SEVEN PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES
DOWN THERE, CAPTAIN.
WE SHOULD AT LEAST RETRIEVE
THE INFORMATION THEY WERE COLLECTING.
DOCTOR?
IF WE OPERATE THE INTERFACE
AT LOWER INPUT LEVELS
I'D SAY THE RISK IS ACCEPTABLE.
PICARD TO RIKER.
Riker here.
WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE PROBE.
WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE IT INTO THE RAMAN'S
AUXILIARY CONTROL ROOM.
THEIR BRIDGE IS TOO BADLY DAMAGED.
HOW LONG BEFORE YOU HAVE IT IN POSITION?
A couple of hours.
We have to cut through the bulkhead.
ACKNOWLEDGED.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'LL HAVE TIME TO RECUPERATE.
YEAH...
THERE'S SOMETHING I'VE GOT TO DO ANYWAY.
HOW ARE YOU, DAD?
As well as could be expected...
under the circumstances.
Are you okay?
YEAH.
I spoke with your sister this morning.
She said she'll be in touch with you in a few days.
Right now, she's pretty upset.
THE SERVICE... FOR THE HERA WILL PROBABLY BE ON VULCAN.
MOST OF THE CREW WERE FROM THERE.
BUT YOUR SISTER AND I... WANT TO HAVE A PRIVATE CEREMONY.
DAD...
DON'T YOU THINK EVERYBODY'S JUMPING THE GUN HERE?
LAST I HEARD
THERE WERE STILL TWO STARSHIPS OUT THERE LOOKING FOR THEM.
THEY FOUND NO DEBRIS
NO RESIDUAL WARP DISTORTION...
AND NO SHIP.
NOT YET, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WON'T.
STARFLEET IS CONSIDERING THE HERA LOST.
THE SEARCH ISN'T MUCH MORE THAN A FORMALITY AT THIS POINT.
GEORDI...
YOUR MOTHER'S GONE.
YEAH, WELL, YOU CAN THINK THAT IF YOU WANT
BUT UNTIL I SEE SOME HARD EVIDENCE
I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP HOPE.
ALL RIGHT, GEORDI.
CALL ME IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
( door chimes )
COME IN.
HEY, DATA.
STILL WORKING?
NO. I HAVE COMPLETED
THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE INTERFACE.
I AM NOW WAITING FOR COMMANDER RIKER
TO FINISH MOVING THE PROBE.
DO YOU NEED TO BE COMFORTED?
NO. I WAS JUST PASSING BY.
I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU WERE UP TO.
I AM USING THE TIME TO CATCH UP ON MY STUDY OF POETRY.
DATA, THERE'S NOTHING ON THE SCREEN.
THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT.
WHILE IT IS TRUE THE DISPLAY IS CURRENTLY BLANK
THIS... EMPTINESS HAS A POETIC MEANING.
THEREFORE
IT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED "NOTHING" AS SUCH.
SAYS WHO?
THE ANCIENT DOOSODARIANS.
MUCH OF THEIR POETRY CONTAINS SUCH "LACUNAE" OR EMPTY SPACES.
OFTEN THESE PAUSES MEASURED SEVERAL DAYS IN LENGTH
DURING WHICH POET AND AUDIENCE
WERE ENCOURAGED TO FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE
THE EMPTINESS OF THE EXPERIENCE.
I CAN REMEMBER A FEW LECTURES
FROM STARFLEET ACADEMY THAT SEEMED THAT WAY.
ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU DO NOT WISH TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MOTHER?
WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?
YOU ARE NO DOUBT FEELING
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AS A RESULT OF HER DISAPPEARANCE.
WHILE YOU CLAIM TO BE "JUST PASSING BY"
THAT IS MOST LIKELY AN EXCUSE TO START A CONVERSATION
ABOUT THIS UNCOMFORTABLE SUBJECT.
AM I CORRECT?
NO, DATA.
SOMETIMES "JUST PASSING BY" MEANS "JUST PASSING BY."
HMM. THEN I APOLOGIZE FOR MY PREMATURE ASSUMPTION.
THIS PARTICULAR POEM HAS A LACUNA OF 47 MINUTES.
YOU MAY EXPERIENCE THE EMPTINESS
WITH ME IF YOU WISH.
THANKS.
( sighing )
YOU KNOW, DATA, MAYBE YOU GAVE UP
A LITTLE TOO EASILY.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
WELL, WHEN I SAID
"JUST PASSING BY" MEANS "JUST PASSING BY"
I REALLY DIDN'T MEAN IT.
THEN MY INITIAL ASSUMPTION WAS CORRECT.
YOU DO WISH TO SPEAK OF YOUR MOTHER.
AM I CRAZY TO THINK THAT SHE'S STILL ALIVE?
YOUR SANITY IS NOT IN QUESTION.
HOWEVER, YOUR EVALUATION
OF THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION IS BIASED.
SHE'S A STARSHIP CAPTAIN.
SHE'S GOTTEN HERSELF
INTO AND OUT OF IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS BEFORE.
WHY SHOULD THIS BE ANY DIFFERENT?
DISAPPEARANCES FITTING THE PROFILE OF THE HERA
HAVE RARELY ENDED
WITH THE SAFE RECOVERY OF SHIP AND CREW.
WELL, THAT MAKES ME FEEL MUCH BETTER.
( sighs )
LOOK, I'M... I'M SORRY, DATA.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO SNAP AT YOU.
I AM NOT OFFENDED.
YOU ARE UPSET.
YOUR REACTIONS ARE NOT SURPRISING.
IT'S JUST THAT IF...
IF SHE REALLY IS DEAD...
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
WE'RE RECEIVING THE PROBE'S TELEMETRY.
Data: THE INPUT LEVELS
ARE CURRENTLY AT 53% OF TOLERANCE.
THAT'S TOO LOW, DATA.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING DOWN THERE.
I WANT TO START WITH AS WIDE MARGIN OF SAFETY AS POSSIBLE.
WE CAN ADJUST UPWARD LATER.
READY?
GO AHEAD.
INITIATING INTERFACE.
( beeping )
( machinery powering up )
I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
Data: I am increasing the input now.
YEAH.
YEAH, THAT'S BETTER, BUT I NEED MORE.
Data: Is this level sufficient?
Geordi?
Geordi, do you hear me?
MOM?
MOM, IS IT YOU?
IS IT YOU?
OH, I FORGOT.
ALL YOU CAN SEE IS THIS PROBE.
YES! IT'S ME!
I'M... I'M ACTUALLY ON THE ENTERPRISE.
I'M INTERFACED
WITH THIS PROBE.
GEORDI...
WHO ARE YOU SPEAKING TO?
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?
BUT IS IT REALLY YOU?
YES, GEORDI.
IT'S MOM.
BUT HOW CAN THAT BE?
I MEAN, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?
THERE'S NO TIME TO EXPLAIN.
WE HAVE TO GO DOWN.
DOWN WHERE?
THE SURFACE.
GEORDI, REPORT.
HANG ON, DOCTOR.
WHY? WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO
DOWN TO THE SURFACE?
WE'RE DYING.
WE? THE HERA?
YOU MEAN THE HERA
IS DOWN THERE?!
Crusher: we're disconnecting you right now!
NO, WAIT!
WE NEED YOUR HELP. I NEED YOUR HELP.
MOM!DI!
THE CUTOFF HAS BEEN AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED.
( alarm beeping )
HE'S IN NEURAL SHOCK.
Crusher: THE SENSORY OVERLOAD DIDN'T CAUSE ANY PERMANENT DAMAGE
BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO EXPOSE HIS BRAIN
TO THAT KIND OF STIMULUS AGAIN.
IS THERE ANY INDICATION
WHAT CAUSED THIS HALLUCINATION?
HIS BRAIN FUNCTIONS ARE NORMAL.
I TOLD YOU, I WASN'T HALLUCINATING.
GEORDI, I HAVE ANALYZED THE PROBE'S SENSOR LOGS.
THERE ARE NO RECORDS TO INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF A LIVING HUMAN
ON BOARD THE RAMAN.
WELL, SHE WASN'T EXACTLY THERE.
HER SHIP IS DOWN ON THE SURFACE.
SO, YOU BELIEVE THAT WHAT YOU SAW
WAS SOME KIND OF TRANSMISSION?
SOMEHOW SHE HAS MANAGED TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME.
WE HAVE NO INDICATION
OF A TRANSMISSION OF ANY KIND.
MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DETECT IT BECAUSE I'M INTERFACED
WITH THE PROBE.
THE PROBE DOES ALLOW GEORDI TO SENSE QUANTUM FLUCTUATIONS
SUBSPACE ANOMALIES AND OTHER PHENOMENON
NOT PERCEPTIBLE BY ANY OTHER KIND OF SENSOR.
GRANTED, BUT HOW COULD HE PERCEIVE HIS MOTHER VISUALLY
AS IF SHE WERE STANDING THERE IN THE ROOM?
I'M NOT SURE
BUT I DO KNOW THAT OUR BRAINS WEREN'T DESIGNED
TO PROCESS THE KIND OF SENSORY INFORMATION GEORDI WAS GETTING.
WHEN THE BRAIN RECEIVES SOMETHING
IT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
IN INTERPRETS THE INPUT AS BEST IT CAN--
SOMETIMES AS A SMELL OR A SOUND
SOMETIMES VISUALLY.
YOU SEE?
BUT, GEORDI
I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOUR MOTHER
WAS REALLY COMMUNICATING WITH YOU.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU A REASON
WHY YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS.
LOOK, I'M TELLING YOU
MY MOTHER'S SHIP IS TRAPPED DOWN THERE
AND-AND WE'VE GOT TO HELP THEM.
GEORDI, THE HERA'S LAST REPORTED POSITION
WAS 300 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.
HOW COULD IT END UP HERE?
IF THE HERA IS ON THE SURFACE
ITS HULL COULD NOT POSSIBLY WITHSTAND
THE PRESSURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE.
WELL, AT LEAST LET ME
GO BACK DOWN THERE JUST TO BE SURE.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT HE USE THE INTERFACE AGAIN.
THE SENSORY OVERLOAD ALMOST KILLED YOU.
I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
NO, NO, I'M SORRY, GEORDI.
I'M NOT PREPARED TO RISK YOUR LIFE.
DATA, FIND ANOTHER WAY OF SALVAGING THE RAMAN.
I WANT AN ALTERNATE PLAN IN TWO HOURS.
GEORDI...
I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK TO COUNSELOR TROI.
( frustrated sigh )
SHE'S EXPECTING YOU.
WHAT'S YOUR MOTHER LIKE, GEORDI?
IF YOU THINK I'M GOING TO START TALKING
ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD, COUNSELOR, YOU'RE WAY OFF.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED.
WELL...
SHE'S...
SHE'S BRILLIANT...
FUNNY.
SHE'S INCREDIBLY PERCEPTIVE.
SHE KNOWS PEOPLE.
KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE ALL ABOUT
EVEN BEFORE THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.
SHE'S...
SHE'S A REAL GOOD JUDGE OF CHARACTER.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW HER?
ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AGO
WHEN SHE FIRST TOOK COMMAND OF THE HERA.
I WENT TO A PARTY
SHE HAD FOR HER CREW.
SHE WANTED ME TO COME OVER AND SEE HER
BUT I WAS... REALLY BUSY AT THE TIME.
I MEAN, I SUPPOSE I COULD HAVE MADE THE TIME
TO GO AND SEE HER, BUT...
YOU KNOW, I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT...
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I...
I DIDN'T THINK THAT...
YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE HER.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
I WANT TO SUGGEST SOMETHING.
CALL IT A THEORY, ALL RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF YOUR MOTHER...
GUILTY THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE HER WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE
SO YOU'RE UNWILLING TO CONSIDER
THAT SHE MIGHT BE DEAD.
YOUR NEED TO BELIEVE SHE'S ALIVE IS SO STRONG
THAT IT MANIFESTS ITSELF AS A PHYSICAL IMAGE.
YES, BUT SHE TOLD ME SHE'S TRAPPED ON THAT PLANET
THAT SHE'S IN DANGER.
NOW, IF THIS WERE SOME SORT OF WISH FULFILLMENT
DON'T YOU THINK I'D BE FANTASIZING HER
SAFE AND SOUND?
NO, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE END OF YOUR FANTASY.
YOU'D KNOW IT WASN'T TRUE.
THE MORE INVOLVED AND COMPLICATED
AND UNENDING YOUR STORY IS
THE LONGER YOU CAN BELIEVE YOUR MOTHER'S STILL ALIVE.
YEAH, WELL, THAT'S YOUR THEORY, COUNSELOR.
I'VE GOT ONE OF MY OWN.
I'VE BEEN EXPLORING
THE POSSIBILITY OF USING A TRACTOR BEAM
TO PULL THE RAMAN FROM THE ATMOSPHERE.
HOWEVER, THE HIGH LEVEL OF INTERFERENCE
PREVENTS A POSITIVE LOCK.
IF WE SET UP SOME SORT OF RELAY SYSTEM...?
THAT IS MY CONCLUSION AS WELL, COMMANDER--
TWO SHUTTLECRAFT STAGGERED
BETWEEN THE ENTERPRISE AND THE RAMAN
WITH THEIR SHIELDS ADJUSTED TO REFOCUS THE TRACTOR BEAM.
CAN WE GET THE SHUTTLES CLOSE ENOUGH WITHOUT DANGER?
MR. LA FORGE?
SURE... UM... YEAH.
AS LONG AS WE KEEP THEM BOTH ABOVE THE TROPOSPHERE
THAT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
THEN IN THAT CASE...
La Forge: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HERA?
WE'D BE LEAVING MY MOTHER AND HER CREW
STRANDED ON THE PLANET.
COMMANDER...
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I GOT A MESSAGE FROM MY MOTHER.
SHE SAID SHE HAD A NEW CHIEF ENGINEER
WHO HAD BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH THE WARP DRIVE.
NOW, I'VE SEEN THE HERA.
IT USES TRIONIC INITIATORS IN THE WARP COIL.
THEY HAVE A REPUTATION FOR STRANGE SIDE EFFECTS
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU START PLAYING AROUND WITH THEM.
THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF WARP BUBBLES
AND OTHER SUBSPACE DEFORMATIONS.
SO, WHAT IF THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED?
NOT A WARP BUBBLE
BUT A SUBSPACE FUNNEL.
CONNECTING TWO POINTS THROUGH SUBSPACE?
WELL, THE HERA COULD HAVE
ACCIDENTALLY CREATED A DISTORTION
THAT EMPTIED OUT RIGHT HERE AT MARIJNE VII.
WHY HERE?
WELL, THE HERA
PASSED BY THIS PLANET JUST TEN DAYS AGO.
NOW, THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF SUBSPACE DISTURBANCE
IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
THE SHIP COULD HAVE ACCIDENTALLY PICKED UP SOME RESIDUAL TRACES
THAT DIRECTED THE FUNNEL RIGHT BACK HERE.
SO THE HERA'S IN ONE PIECE SOMEWHERE OUT THERE?
WELL, MAYBE IT'S BEING SURROUNDED
BY SOME KIND OF WARP FIELD, BUT WHO KNOWS FOR HOW LONG?
MR. LA FORGE, DO YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE
TO SUPPORT THIS HYPOTHESIS?
WELL, I DID PICK UP SOME PRETTY STRANGE SUBSPACE READINGS
WHEN I WAS INTERFACED WITH THE PROBE.
GEORDI, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING.
YEAH, BUT I TALKED TO HER, COMMANDER.
SHE ASKED ME TO BRING THE RAMAN CLOSER TO THE PLANET.
MR. DATA, IS ANY OF THIS POSSIBLE?
YES, SIR.
HOWEVER, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY.
HOW UNLIKELY?
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, SIR.
( sighs )
LET'S PROCEED WITH THE SHUTTLE PLAN.
CAPTAIN...
DISMISSED.
MR. LA FORGE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT UNSYMPATHETIC
TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
YOUR MOTHER'S DISAPPEARANCE IS TRAGIC
BUT I CANNOT RISK YOUR SAFETY
ON THE BASIS OF A DUBIOUS HYPOTHESIS.
CAPTAIN, IF I'M RIGHT, AND THERE'S JUST
ONE CHANCE IN A MILLION THAT SHE'S ALIVE...
I'M SORRY, GEORDI.
MY DECISION IS MADE.
I UNDERSTAND, SIR.
WE'LL BE IN POSITION TO USE THE TRACTOR BEAM
IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.
YOU DIDN'T COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE TO TELL ME THAT.
NO, I DIDN'T.
GEORDI...
I MAY HAVE SEEMED A LITTLE HARSH
ABOUT THE SITUATION ABOARD THE RAMAN.
I JUST DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF ONE OF MY BEST OFFICERS
PUTTING HIMSELF IN UNNECESSARY DANGER.
I GUESS I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE THE ONE
TO DECIDE WHETHER IT'S UNNECESSARY OR NOT.
MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS A BABY.
ALL I HAD WAS PICTURES
AND THE STORIES THAT MY FATHER USED TO TELL ME ABOUT HER.
I BEGGED HIM TO TELL THOSE STORIES--
OVER AND OVER.
WHEN I WAS FIVE AND I WENT TO SCHOOL
I STARTED TO TELL MY NEW FRIENDS THOSE SAME STORIES
PRETENDING THAT SHE WAS ALIVE.
THEN I STARTED BELIEVING THAT SHE WAS ALIVE--
THAT SHE HAD JUST GONE AWAY...
BUT THAT SHE WAS COMING BACK.
THE TEACHER GOT WIND OF THIS.
SHE AND MY FATHER HAD THIS TALK WITH ME.
THEY TOLD ME IT WAS IMPORTANT
TO ACCEPT THE FACT
THAT MY MOTHER WAS DEAD
AND THAT SHE WASN'T COMING BACK
AND ALL THE HOPING IN THE WORLD WOULDN'T MAKE IT SO.
IN MY MIND, THAT WAS THE DAY THAT MY MOTHER ACTUALLY DIED.
I CRIED ALL THAT NIGHT
BUT AFTER THAT, IT STARTED FEELING BETTER.
YOUR MOTHER WAS DEAD.
THERE WAS PROOF. THERE WAS A BODY AND A FUNERAL.
IT WAS A REALITY.
IF I COULD SEE A BODY
IF THERE WERE WRECKAGE, I COULD ACCEPT IT
BUT MY MOTHER HAS JUST DISAPPEARED
AND NOW, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
THAT SHE IS ALIVE
AND I'M NOT GOING TO QUIT.
NOT YET.
( machinery powering up )
( beeping )
I SUSPECTED YOU WOULD ATTEMPT
TO OPERATE THE INTERFACE ALONE.
DID YOU?
I AM FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH YOUR BEHAVIOR PATTERNS
TO PREDICT CERTAIN... DECISIONS.
WELL, I GUESS YOU KNOW ME PRETTY WELL.
YOU ARE DISOBEYING THE CAPTAIN.
I CAN'T JUST SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING
WHEN I KNOW THAT MY MOTHER MAY BE DOWN ON THAT PLANET.
I CANNOT ALLOW YOU TO ENDANGER YOUR WELL-BEING.
DATA... IF I LEAVE WITHOUT KNOWING FOR SURE
THEN I'LL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE-- WONDERING IF I LEFT HER TO DIE.
I COULDN'T DO THAT.
THAT'S WHY I'VE GOT TO DO THIS.
I COULD HAVE YOU CONFINED TO QUARTERS
FOR THE DURATION OF THE MISSION.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, DATA, THEN DO IT
BECAUSE NOTHING SHORT OF THAT
IS GOING TO STOP ME FROM TRYING TO SAVE MY MOTHER.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
I WILL MONITOR THE INTERFACE AND ATTEMPT TO KEEP YOU SAFE.
I CANNOT HAVE YOU CONFINED TO QUARTERS
FOR SOMETHING YOU HAVE NOT YET DONE.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD BOTH GET INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE FOR THIS.
THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF PROBABILITY
THAT YOU ARE CORRECT.
THANKS, DATA.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A REQUEST.
YEAH? WHAT'S THAT?
I WOULD ASK YOU
TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY
THAT WHAT YOU SEE IS NOT REAL.
I WILL.
I PROMISE.
I AM ESTABLISHING THE INTERFACE.
La Forge: MOM?
HELLO, GEORDI.
MOM.
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
I'M NOT REALLY WITH YOU, GEORDI.
I'M ON MY SHIP ON THE SURFACE.
WE WERE PULLED INTO A WARP FUNNEL.
THAT'S JUST WHAT I THOUGHT.
HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING?
WE FOUND A WAY TO SEND A SUBSPACE SIGNAL
THAT COULD CUT THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERIC INTERFERENCE.
Data: Geordi, are you seeing the image of your mother?
YES, AND SHE'S JUST CONFIRMED
EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN SAYING.
I AM READING UNUSUAL SUBSPACE ENERGY
IN YOUR VICINITY
SIMILAR TO WHAT THE PROBE SENSOR RECORDED
THE FIRST TIME YOU ENCOUNTERED YOUR MOTHER.
THAT'S HOW SHE'S COMMUNICATING WITH ME.
IT'S THE ONLY KIND OF SIGNAL THEY COULD SEND
THAT COULD CUT THROUGH THE INTERFERENCE.
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS.
I'M GOING TO TAKE THE RAMAN INTO A LOW STATIONARY ORBIT
AND INITIATE AN INVERSE WARP CASCADE.
WHY?
WELL, THE SUBSPACE DISTORTION FROM THE CASCADE
SHOULD REVERSE THE WARP FUNNEL.
YOUR SHIP WILL END UP RIGHT BACK WHERE IT STARTED.
Data: GEORDI, THE ATMOSPHERE
BECOMES INCREASINGLY TURBULENT THE FARTHER DOWN YOU GO.
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BRING THE RAMAN
CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE HERA
BEFORE BEING DESTROYED.
I HAVE TO TRY, DATA.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
SHIELDS BACK ON LINE.
WE'RE STARTING OUR DESCENT.
( sighs )
THANK GOD.
THANK GOD?
THAT YOU'RE ALIVE
THAT I WAS RIGHT ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO CALL DAD.
HE AND ARIANA HAD GIVEN UP.
WE'RE GOING HOME.
WELL, EVENTUALLY, YEA...
DATA...
EVERYTHING'S FADING IN AND OUT.
I'M LOSING THE INTERFACE.
THE PROBE IS DESCENDING OUT OF RANGE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO TURN UP THE INPUT GAIN TO MAINTAIN MY CONNECTION.
WE ARE ALREADY AT 75% OF TOLERANCE.
DATA, YOU CAN TURN IT
ALL THE WAY UP TO A 100 IF YOU DO IT SLOWLY ENOUGH--
GIVE MY NERVOUS SYSTEM A CHANCE TO ADJUST.
THAT IS THEORETICALLY TRUE
BUT EVEN AT THIS LEVEL OF INPUT, YOU ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING
DANGEROUS NEURAL FEEDBACK.
THERE ARE OVER 300 PEOPLE
ARE ON BOARD THE HERA, DATA.
YOU AND I ARE THE ONLY CHANCE THEY'VE GOT.
I WILL INCREASE THE GAIN INCREMENTALLY AS YOU DESCEND.
IT'S WORKING.
WHEN WE ARE READY TO DISCONNECT THE INTERFACE
WE MUST ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO LOWER THE INPUT LEVELS.
OTHERWISE, YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM WILL GO INTO SHOCK
FROM THE SUDDEN DROP IN INPUT.
WELL, ONCE I INITIATE THE WARP CASCADE
WE CAN START DROPPING THE GAIN.
Data: understood.
WE'LL BE WITHIN SENSOR RANGE OF THE HERA
IN A FEW MINUTES.
MOM... I'M REALLY SORRY I DIDN'T GET BY TO SEE YOU
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
YOU WERE TOO BUSY WITH WORK.
YEAH, WELL, I'M SORRY.
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
( beeping )
CAPTAIN, THE RAMAN
IS DESCENDING TOWARD THE PLANET.
GEORDI.
WE ARE AT 90% OF TOLERANCE.
MY CALCULATIONS SHOW YOU WILL REACH 100% OF TOLERANCE
BEFORE YOU ARE IN RANGE OF THE HERA.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BEYOND TOLERANCE.
THAT WOULD NOT BE ADVISABLE.
YOU MUST CEASE YOUR DESCENT.
NO, GEORDI, DON'T.
PLEASE.
DATA... I'M TAKING THIS SHIP DOWN.
NOW, IF YOU DON'T BOOST THE GAIN
PAST TOLERANCE LEVELS
I'LL LOSE THE INTERFACE WHEN WE GO OUT OF RANGE
AND MY SYSTEM WILL GO INTO SHOCK.
GEORDI, YOU ARE PUTTING ME IN A DIFFICULT POSITION.
PLEASE, CEASE YOUR DESCENT.
I WON'T DO IT, DATA.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE THE TOLERANCE.
DISENGAGING SAFETY SYSTEMS.
GOING TO FULL TOLERANCE LEVELS...
NOW.
THANK YOU, DATA.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
THANK GOD.
Picard: Commander La Forge.
YES, CAPTAIN.
STOP YOUR DESCENT.
PREPARE TO DISENGAGE THE INTERFACE.
I'M SORRY, CAPTAIN, BUT I CAN'T DO THAT.
DAMN IT, GEORDI, YOU'RE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF.
IF I COME BACK NOW, MY MOTHER AND HER ENTIRE CREW WILL DIE.
I'M SCANNING FOR YOUR SHIP.
I'M NOT GETTING ANYTHING.
WE'RE STILL TOO FAR AWAY.
NO, NOT REALLY.
I SHOULD BE PICKING SOMETHING UP BY NOW.
I'M NOT FINDING ANYTHING.
THERE'S NO WARP FUNNEL...
NO SHIP...
THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
Picard: Doctor, report.
HIS NEURAL SYNAPSES ARE OVERLOADING.
HE CAN'T SURVIVE THIS.
GEORDI, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU?
REVERSE... TRACTOR BEAM.
Data: Reversing tractor beam.
( panting )
( electrical crackling )
( flames roaring )
WHAT ARE YOU?
YOU'RE KILLING US.
WE MUST GO DOWN.
Picard: Geordi...
WHAT'S HAPPENING? REPORT.
YOU'RE... YOU'RE TRAPPED?
IS THERE ANY WAY
THAT WE CAN DISCONNECT HIM?
IF WE TAKE HIM OFF TOO ABRUPTLY, HE'LL GO INTO NEURAL SHOCK.
CAUGHT ON THE SHIP?
REDUCE THE INPUT GRADUALLY
AND STILL GET HIM OUT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU KILLED THE RAMAN'S CREW?
PERHAPS WE COULD DECEIVE HIS NEURAL RECEPTORS.
DECEIVE THEM?
BY FEEDING THEM THE SENSORY INFORMATION
RECORDED FROM HIS EARLY EXPERIENCES WITH THE PROBE.
WE COULD DISCONNECT THE INTERFACE
AND STILL MAINTAIN THE INPUT LEVELS.
WE COULD THEN LOWER THEM IN A CONTROLLED MANNER.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
LIKE A DECOMPRESSION TANK.
AN ACCIDENT..
CAPTAIN, I HAVE TO TAKE THE SHIP
INTO THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE.
EXPLAIN.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT
WHEN THE RAMAN GOT CLOSE TO THE PLANET
IT ACCIDENTALLY PICKED UP SOME LIFE-FORMS
THAT LIVE IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE--
SUBSPACE BEINGS OF SOME KIND-- INTELLIGENT.
WHEN THE SHIP WENT BACK
INTO A HIGHER ORBIT, THE BEINGS WERE TRAPPED.
HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS?
ONE OF THEM CAN COMMUNICATE WITH ME.
IT MUST HAVE READ MY THOUGHTS THROUGH THE PROBE INTERFACE
AND TOOK THE FORM OF MY MOTHER
TO TRY TO TALK ME INTO TAKING THE SHIP CLOSER TO THE SURFACE.
ARE THESE BEINGS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE DEATH OF THE RAMAN'S CREW?
YES, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS ON PURPOSE.
THEY PROBABLY TRIED COMMUNICATING WITH THEM
THE SAME WAY THEY'RE COMMUNICATING WITH ME--
BY DIRECTLY ACCESSING THEIR THOUGHTS.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN FATAL TO THE CREW.
I GUESS THE INTERFACE IS WHAT PROTECTED ME.
I HAVE TO TAKE THEM BACK, CAPTAIN.
THEY CAN'T SURVIVE SO FAR UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
I'LL TURN THE SHIP AROUND AND COME BACK
JUST AS SOON AS I'M...
( groaning )
GEORDI
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THE ATMOSPHERE IS GETTING MORE TURBULENT.
IT'S OVERLOADING THE SYSTEMS.
I'M HAVING DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE SHIELDS UP.
GEORDI...
WE'RE SAFE NOW.
GOOD-BYE.
( alarm blaring )
I'M LOSING POWER!
TOTAL SHIELD FAILURE
IN EIGHT SECONDS.
CAN WE SWITCH THE INPUTS?
ALMOST.
SHIELDS ARE FAILING!
SWITCHING INPUTS.
( groans )
IS IT WORKING?
HIS VITAL SIGNS ARE STABILIZING.
HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT.
CAPTAIN'S LOG, SUPPLEMENTAL.
WE HAVE SUCCEEDED
IN DISENGAGING MR. LA FORGE FROM THE INTERFACE
AND ARE EN ROUTE TO STARBASE 495.
YOU DISOBEYED MY DIRECT ORDER.
YOU PUT YOURSELF IN GRAVE DANGER.
I AM NOT HAPPY.
YES, SIR. I TAKE COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY.
DATA WAS ONLY...
I WILL DEAL WITH MR. DATA AT ANOTHER TIME.
MEANWHILE, I WILL HAVE TO WRITE THIS INCIDENT
INTO YOUR PERMANENT RECORD.
YES, SIR.
DISMISSED.
GEORDI?
I'M VERY SORRY THAT YOU DIDN'T FIND YOUR MOTHER.
THANK YOU, SIR.
YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.
WHEN I WAS DOWN THERE, IT WAS SO REAL.
I FELT LIKE I HAD A CHANCE TO SAY GOOD-BYE.
( door closes )
Captioned by The Caption Center WGBH Educational Foundation]