Star Trek: The Next Generation s02e07 Episode Script
Unnatural Selection
Captain's log, stardate 42494.
8.
The Enterprise is bound|for Star Station India, to rendezvous|with a Starfleet medical courier.
We've been told only|that our presence is imperative.
Hopefully it will give me|further opportunities to assess the performance of|our new Chief Medical Officer.
Come.
- You wanted to see me, Captain?|- Yes, Counsellor.
Come, sit down.
Counsellor, |you've had the opportunity to observe Dr Pulaski|for some time now.
How would you evaluate her|as a Chief Medical Officer? I've never met|a more dedicated physician.
I would say she has|a passion for her work.
Yes, of course.
I entirely agree.
Is it possible|that such consuming dedication could interfere with her judgement? I feel your concern, Captain,|but I don't share it.
Perhaps because I've been able|to spend more time with her, and get to know her better.
Yes, perhaps you're right.
Captain, we're picking up|a faint distress signal on an open subspace frequency.
It appears to be from|an adjacent sector.
Respond on the same frequency.
- Are we locked on?|- Aye, sir.
A voice transmission from the USS|Lantree, a Federation supply ship.
USS Lantree,|this is Picard of the Enterprise.
What is your emergency? Can't hold out any more People dying Too many to help Still receiving their signal,|but there is no message.
Lantree, are you under attack? 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.
USS Lantree, this is the Enterprise.
Come in, Lantree.
Replay that last transmission.
Can't hold out any more|People dying Too many to help Have we a fix on her? Number One? We'd better take a look.
|What kind of vessel is she? A class-6 Federation supply ship,|assigned to the Gamma 7 Sector.
Capt LI Telaka commanding.
Normal|complement, 26 officers and crew.
- Armed?|- Class-3, defensive only.
- Is she still underway?|- Aye, sir.
Adjust course to intercept.
|Warp seven.
Adjusting course to intercept.
|Warp seven, sir.
Engineering, transfer to bridge.
Closing on the Lantree, Captain.
Take us out of warp.
Establish|parallel course.
Match speed.
Yes, sir.
- Hailing frequencies.
|- Open.
Lantree, this is the Enterprise.
Capt Telaka, this is Picard|of the Enterprise.
Do you read me? No life signs, Captain.
- Counsellor?|- Nothing, Captain.
What else have we got nearby? No other vessels of any kind|within two parsecs.
No battle damage.
All systems seem functional, sir.
|Everything is in perfect order.
- We have to board her, Captain.
|- Possibly, Mr Worf.
Number One? If we gain control of her remotely, we could activate the view screen|and at least look at the bridge.
Agreed.
Computer, security override request.
Identify.
Picard, Jean-Luc.
|Captain, USS Enterprise.
Request control access|Starfleet ship USS Lantree, Isao Telaka commanding.
Enter access code.
Omicron omicron|alpha yellow daystar 2-7.
Enable.
I have verified receipt|of the Lantree's access codes.
Grand.
Commence operations.
- First, shut down the engines.
|- Standing by.
The Lantree computer reports access|codes received and accepted, sir.
- Sickbay on alert, Captain.
|- The Lantree is responding, sir.
We have override control|of her bridge, Captain.
Alright.
Let's have a look.
Lantree bridge monitor engaging.
Read anything, Doctor? Still no signs of life, Captain.
Magnify.
That must be Capt Telaka|on the left.
Let's look at him.
Closer.
My God.
Looks like they had|a battle with time.
And lost.
Heart, lungs, liver Everything.
- What is it?|- They died of natural causes.
Natural causes?|What in nature could cause that? For the record,|they died of old age.
We've downloaded|the Lantree's log, sir.
Play back the Captain's last entry.
Captain's log, stardate 42493.
1.
|There are only six of us left.
We've set course|for the nearest Federation outpost, but I'm afraid it's too late.
Attempts to analyze|what is happening have failed.
In the last few hours I've watched|friends grow old and die, and it's happening to me.
Capt LI Telaka, USS Lantree Capt Telaka was my age, sir.
Doctor? Every member of the Lantree crew|had a complete examination eight weeks ago.
|They were in perfect health.
Nothing else since? A single medical entry noting that the first officer|had Thelusian flu five days ago.
Thelusian flu? An exotic but harmless rhinal virus.
|It couldn't have caused this.
The Lantree's last port of call was the Darwin Genetic Research|Station on Gagarin IV, three days ago.
It could be something the crew had|or it could've come from Gagarin.
At the very least, the people from|Darwin Station deserve a warning.
We may have to consider quarantine.
- We should quarantine the Lantree.
|- Absolutely.
Lieutenant, initiate the Lantree's|quarantine transmitters, and activate marker beacons.
|We'll need to find her again.
Aye, sir.
Quarantine warnings active|on all frequencies, Captain.
Extreme caution.
USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel|by order of Starfleet Command.
Set course for Gagarin IV.
|Warp seven.
Course and speed set, sir.
Engage.
Captain's log, supplemental.
We're en route to the Federation|Research Station on Gagarin IV.
The mere thought of a connection|between the Lantree tragedy and a genetic-research facility|fills me with great apprehension.
- Approaching Gagarin IV, sir.
|- Standard orbit.
- Hailing frequencies.
|- Open.
Darwin, this is Capt Jean-Luc Picard|of the USS Enterprise.
Enterprise, this is Darwin Station.
|I'm Dr Kingsley.
We've just declared a medical|emergency.
We need your help.
Dr Kingsley, what is the nature|of your emergency? - To whom am I speaking, please?|- Dr Pulaski, Chief Medical Officer.
Katherine Pulaski, author of|"Models of Viral Propagation"? - That was long ago.
|- But still the standard.
I can't think of anyone better|to deal with.
We're experiencing the rapid onset|of geriatric phenomena.
The first symptom is sudden,|acute arthritic inflammation.
Then the ageing process|accelerates.
The Lantree.
Dr Pulaski, I celebrated|my 35th birthday a week ago.
We know Darwin Station|is involved in genetic research.
Is there a possible connection? Our research is on human genetics.
This is not something|that got away from us.
We believe we were infected|by a supply ship three days ago.
If you're speaking of the Lantree,|we encountered it a few hours ago.
All the crew were dead.
Which would confirm our suspicion.
Could you establish|a pathology, Doctor? Doctor, did you hear me? All the|26 men and women aboard were dead.
I heard you, Captain.
|The prognosis is alarming, but my concern is our children.
Children? They represent years of genetic|research.
You must evacuate them.
I'm sorry,|but until we know what's going on, I'm imposing a full quarantine|on Darwin Station.
But the children|have been in protective isolation.
They show no symptoms.
|You cannot leave them to die.
Doctor, our options in a quarantine|situation are very limited.
We will consider the possibilities.
|I suggest you do the same.
I recommend against contact.
Number One? I have to agree.
|The risk is too great.
Doctor? If the children are free of disease,|they should be evacuated.
I'd like to bring one aboard|in a force field for an examination.
Counsellor, do you sense anything? Dr Kingsley sincerely believes|the children are not a threat.
But she's not telling|the whole truth.
I recommend caution.
We have only Dr Kingsley's assurance|that the children are not infected, whereas we have seen the results|of this disease first-hand.
In a case like this, I think we|should err on the side of caution.
Alright.
We could beam up one child encased|in styrolite in suspended animation.
That way I could scan|for possible infection without danger to ourselves|or the child.
- We don't know what to look for.
|- Exactly.
And we won't|until we start gathering data.
- Captain, that's worth some risk.
|- There's always risk, Doctor.
Undertake an examination.
|But I shall need positive proof that these children are harmless|before I place my crew in jeopardy.
- The force field's ready, Captain.
|- Activate it.
Transporter? This is Chief O'Brien, sir.
|Almost ready.
- Is there a problem?|- It's the styrolite.
I'm altering the delta-T so it|materializes two microseconds ahead.
- It has to be right.
|- Take your time.
Entering corrections now.
Ready, Captain.
Dr Kingsley,|are you ready to transport? You have the coordinates.
We have|a 12-year-old male in styrolite.
Transporter, energize.
- A trick!|- Reverse One moment.
He's still in stasis.
The styrolite is intact, Captain.
Force field down.
Captain, there's a definite|presence, a distinct personality.
Even in stasis it's quite strong.
|The child is certainly telepathic.
A child this mature? We could be looking|at the future of humanity.
At least Dr Kingsley's vision of it.
He's in better health than we are.
His immune system is so advanced|he may be unable to contract disease.
I want to free him|from the styrolite.
That seems rather risky.
I can do no further tests|until he's out.
But what if you're wrong? You saw|what happened on the Lantree.
- I know I'm right.
|- I can't expose us.
Not till we know more|about the disease.
Naturally, we'll establish|a force-field containment.
But if we lose the force field,|we lose the ship.
- Force fields can fail and|- We don't have much time.
The children can't survive in|the lab once their parents die.
Look at him, Captain.
He's a human being who needs help.
- But the risk is|- Minimal! If you can show|that he's biologically harmless, without risk to the crew, I'll do|everything in my power to assist.
And, Doctor, God knows,|I'm not one to discourage input, but I would appreciate it if you let|me finish my sentences occasionally.
Deanna, do you have a minute? You've known the Captain for|some time.
I need some advice.
- I don't deal with him well.
|- Meaning? My arguments don't have any effect.
|We just end up quoting regulations.
He has such|a dedication to his ship, he doesn't seem able|to see the human side of things.
What's the matter? Kate, I don't think|he'd be where he is if he couldn't see the human side.
- Perhaps the two of you are similar.
|- What do you mean? Let's just say, you both have|well-established personalities.
Dr Kingsley, this is Kate Pulaski.
Do you have a decision? - I'm afraid it's bad news.
|- How can that be? The risk is too great.
Until we know|the cause of the disease The children are harmless.
Every test on them has been negative.
I demand that you do something|to save them.
Please, Doctor.
For God's sake,|we haven't got much time.
Stand by.
I'll get back to you.
Geordi, I need your help.
What is it? I need to prove the children are|harmless in a fail-safe environment.
There's no area of the ship that|can be sealed off with certainty.
Sickbay has an isolated system.
But it's not possible|to totally cut it off.
The only independent environment|would be, say, a shuttlecraft.
A shuttlecraft.
|Why didn't you say so? Come.
Captain, I'd like permission|to put the boy in a shuttlecraft.
I can study him there|without risk to anyone.
- What about you?|- I'll take that risk.
Someone has to breathe the same air|he breathes, to touch him.
I'm volunteering|to make that test myself.
Doctor, you have a responsibility|to this ship which I also have|a responsibility to humanity.
The guidelines about|contact with quarantined You don't have|to quote the rule book.
You were saying? Request approved.
Captain, you said if I Approved? I recognize that you're trying|to satisfy my condition.
Thank you.
- You sent for me?|- I did.
You're qualified|to pilot this shuttlecraft? Certainly.
I had training|in auxiliary space vessels at Starfleet Academy.
I received A more than passing grade, no doubt.
|Come aboard.
We don't have much time.
Shuttle bay three|force field activated.
The Captain definitely approved this? You'll take us a few hundred meters|out and hold position.
Begin shuttlecraft launch sequence.
Good luck, Doctor.
We are in position, Doctor.
It's the only way|to prove they're harmless.
And if they are not? I hate to keep reminding you, but|you are a machine.
You'll be safe.
That is by no means certain,|but I was referring to you.
Medical research|is sometimes a risky business.
It's all part of being human.
|Shall we proceed? Ready to transport.
You have the coordinates,|Chief O'Brien.
- Maintain position.
Stand by.
|- Standing by.
- Control, what's our status?|- We have a green panel.
- Stand by to transport.
|- Aye, sir.
Energize.
Yes I do.
I understand you perfectly.
How could you, Doctor?|He has not said anything.
Yes, he has.
|Troi is right.
He's telepathic.
- Time?|- 0322 ex actly.
She's been in direct contact|with the boy for 18 minutes.
All systems functioning|within normal specifications.
The manufacturer will be pleased.
I appreciate your help, but|your bedside manner needs work.
Bedside manner? Doctor? Doctor, I don't understand.
|What has happened? There was no warning.
- Explain.
|- Arthritic inflammation.
The first symptom of the disease.
- What can we do?|- Return the boy.
Apparently the children|are carriers.
Chief O'Brien, are you ready? I have the coordinates|of the isolation lab.
- Quickly.
|- Shuttle One, hold position.
Holding.
Stand by to transport.
It wasn't your fault.
Tell us what you need, Doctor.
There's nothing you can do.
I won't make myself an exception|to the Darwin quarantine.
Shuttle One out.
- What is your condition, Doctor?|- Not exactly up to factory specs.
I'm sorry.
|The pain is tolerable, thank you.
Shall I set course for Darwin? We're already under quarantine.
|What do we have to lose? The Darwin Station crisis is no|longer our most immediate concern, although Dr Pulaski's condition|is linked with that emergency.
Her safe return and that of|Cmdr Data must take priority, please.
Shouldn't Dr Pulaski|be involved in this? Dr Pulaski|may not have time to help herself.
I suggest|we beam them both back here.
Cmdr Data is most likely immune,|and surely the biofilter will The biofilter won't protect us.
The boy was transported twice,|and still infected Dr Pulaski.
Couldn't we adjust the biofilter? Alter it to screen out|the cause of the disease? But we don't know the cause.
We can't protect ourselves|against the unknown.
We need a filter that doesn't depend|on known biological factors.
- We might try the trace.
|- The transporter trace? The transporter keeps a record|of all transmissions, a pattern.
Usually it's stored|for security purposes.
But if we use the trace to control|the reconstitution process I don't think it's been tried before,|but theoretically it is possible.
It means extensive modifications.
- Do it.
There's no alternative.
|- Where do we get the trace pattern? - She's never used our transporter.
|- Never? No, she's a woman|of very strongly held opinions.
- What was her previous assignment?|- Her ship was the Repulse.
Bridge, Picard.
Contact the USS Repulse using|subspace captain's priority channel.
Dr Pulaski.
I can only tell you how much I regret the burden we've|imposed on you.
On both of you.
Cmdr Data is an android.
|He's unaffected.
As for me, I chose this.
I was|convinced the children were safe.
I still can't believe|one of our children infected you.
The evidence is fairly conclusive.
But they were designed|to resist disease.
I think it's time|we talked about that.
Let me show you.
Our ultimate achievement.
The oldest is 12,|and all are telekinetic.
Watch.
Genetically engineered? Not engineered, created.
|Perfect in every way.
Their body structure,|their musculature, their minds.
You were telling me|about their immune system.
That was our masterpiece.
We gave these children|an aggressive immunity.
We others were infected by the|supply ship, but they were protected.
The Lantree logs show|only one crewman had any illness prior to arrival here.
The First Officer|had a mild Thelusian flu.
Yes, he was one|who came into contact with us.
The Thelusian flu|would have no effect on you, but tell me, how would they react? Their immune systems would release|an antibody to attack the virus.
Even at a distance? Their immune systems|don't wait for a disease's attack.
It seeks out a virus and destroys it.
Destroy it? How exactly? The antibody would adapt itself to alter|the genetic code of the virus.
Commander, I want an analysis of the interaction between|the Thelusian flu and the children.
On a molecular genetic level? We don't have time for that.
|Genetic analysis could take months.
Not necessarily.
Cmdr Data|has a way with computers.
Sorry, Picard, we erased|Dr Pulaski's transporter pattern.
She never used the transporter much.
|She preferred shuttles.
I'd have given her a shuttle|to keep her.
If she served you as well|as you say, why did you let her go? You haven't run|into her stubborn streak yet.
She found out|about an opening on the Enterprise, and requested a transfer.
Knew your service record|backward and forward.
Apparently she's been an admirer|of yours for some time.
Extraordinary.
Commander, what have you got? The answer, I believe, Doctor.
The Lantree was not the source|of the disease, but the trigger.
Trigger? The Lantree exposed your children|to Thelusian flu for the first time.
Their active immune systems|set out to attack the virus.
Once it was triggered,|it kept going.
The antibody created|an unexpected side-effect.
It alters the genetic make-up|of normal humans.
This is a comparison|of the altered and normal DNA.
These two molecules|have been transposed.
And since our DNA|is self-replicating, the process Is irreversible.
Judging from what happened|on the Lantree, anyone is a carrier|once they're infected.
- Have you made progress, Doctor?|- I'm afraid so.
The children don't carry|the disease, they cause it.
- How?|- Their advanced immune system has created an antibody|that changes normal DNA.
The altered genes|are the ones that control ageing.
Why did it attack you more quickly|than the others? The enclosed environment of the|shuttle concentrated my exposure.
The Lantree's First Officer|carried the antibody onto his ship.
- It then affected his crew.
|- What's the next step? The children will survive, but the|rest of us are about out of time.
Doctor, I want you back aboard.
You'll come up in suspended|animation.
That will buy time.
Thank you, but I got into this|by leaping before I looked.
I won't allow you|to make the same mistake.
Chief Medical Officer's log.
This will be my final report|to the Enterprise.
Just as changes in evolution are known to be caused|by changes in the environment, we now know the process|also works in reverse.
An attempt to control human evolution has resulted in a new species|that's lethal to its predecessors.
The children will be condemned to|live out their lives in isolation.
Quarantine of the Darwin Station|must be maintained for ever.
- I am sorry I was not more helpful.
|- You did everything you could.
As androids go,|you're in a class by yourself.
Doctor Please.
Give my best to the Captain.
Enterprise, Cmdr Data.
|Ready to beam aboard.
Captain,|Kate knew what she was doing.
I wish I were sure|we'd tried everything.
Cmdr Data is ready to come aboard.
You have the bridge, Number One.
No life forms present, sir.
You may step down, sir.
Data, tell me, if|It's good to see you again.
Thank you.
If the changes in Dr Pulaski's DNA|were reversed, is it possible It is not reversible, sir.
|The molecular transposition But if it were undone,|would she be normal again? As normal as ever, sir.
The transporter can be modified to|filter out changes in Dr Pulaski? Yes, but we couldn't locate|her trace pattern.
Well, what if we used|a sample of her DNA, say from a blood test taken before|she was exposed to the disease? Could that filter|the genetic changes? I'd have to patch in|a molecular matrix reader.
That's no problem.
But the waveform modulator will be|overloaded without the limiter.
Interesting.
But theoretically - Can you do it?|- I think so.
Then make it so.
You heard.
|Let's get those panels off.
A blood test, a tissue sample,|anything with Dr Pulaski's DNA.
No, sir.
Her records were shipped|via Starfleet headquarters.
- They've not caught up with us.
|- Ridiculous.
A cell, a single cell.
|Let's check her quarters.
Anything.
A fingernail, a hair Hairbrush.
It has a follicle, sir.
Live cells.
Darwin Station,|this is the Enterprise.
Go ahead, Captain.
I'm here.
We may have a solution.
We have a sample of|your normal DNA to use as a filter|in the transporter.
We think that we can beam you aboard while filtering out the genetic|problems caused by the disease.
Interesting theory, Captain.
If it works,|we could use the same technique to save Dr Kingsley|and her colleagues.
I think you should know, this|has never been attempted before.
I know one thing.
If I live through this, .
.
Ill have a much better|understanding of geriatrics.
- All set, Chief?|- Almost ready.
Just one thing.
- Yes?|- This modification's one way only.
If it fails, we can't transport|the Doctor back to the planet.
Then I'll operate|the transporter controls myself.
If she's going to be|consigned to oblivion, then Thank you, sir.
I'll be monitoring|the medical scans.
You'll be able to tell if|it's worked by watching the stack.
Dr Pulaski, are you ready? I suppose I am, Captain.
Here we go.
It's not working.
Captain, wait.
- Doctor.
|- Good to see you.
Welcome back, Doctor Come.
Captain, if this hadn't worked If this hadn't worked, it would have been necessary to|beam your energy into empty space.
And spread my atoms|across the galaxy? Yes.
I'm sorry No, don't be sorry.
Every time I get into that thing, I'm|sure that's what's going to happen.
Chief Medical Officer's log,|supplemental.
The adults of Darwin Station have|been restored to normal health.
They remain on Gagarin IV|to continue their research in hopes of one day|rejoining their children.
Impulse speed.
There she is, Captain.
Scientists believe|no experiment is a failure, that even a mistake advances|the evolution of understanding.
Close to 40 kilometers.
But all achievement has a price.
For one glimpse at the mysterious|blueprint of human evolution, the crew of the USS Lantree|paid with their lives.
Their sacrifice is thus noted|in this scientist's log.
Number One.
Lt.
Worf,|arm the photon torpedoes.
Torpedoes ready, Commander.
USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel|by order of Starfleet Command.
Do not board.
Gentlemen.
USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel|by order of Starfleet Command.
Do not board.
Set course and speed|for Star Station India.
Course and speed set, sir.
Engage.
8.
The Enterprise is bound|for Star Station India, to rendezvous|with a Starfleet medical courier.
We've been told only|that our presence is imperative.
Hopefully it will give me|further opportunities to assess the performance of|our new Chief Medical Officer.
Come.
- You wanted to see me, Captain?|- Yes, Counsellor.
Come, sit down.
Counsellor, |you've had the opportunity to observe Dr Pulaski|for some time now.
How would you evaluate her|as a Chief Medical Officer? I've never met|a more dedicated physician.
I would say she has|a passion for her work.
Yes, of course.
I entirely agree.
Is it possible|that such consuming dedication could interfere with her judgement? I feel your concern, Captain,|but I don't share it.
Perhaps because I've been able|to spend more time with her, and get to know her better.
Yes, perhaps you're right.
Captain, we're picking up|a faint distress signal on an open subspace frequency.
It appears to be from|an adjacent sector.
Respond on the same frequency.
- Are we locked on?|- Aye, sir.
A voice transmission from the USS|Lantree, a Federation supply ship.
USS Lantree,|this is Picard of the Enterprise.
What is your emergency? Can't hold out any more People dying Too many to help Still receiving their signal,|but there is no message.
Lantree, are you under attack? 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.
USS Lantree, this is the Enterprise.
Come in, Lantree.
Replay that last transmission.
Can't hold out any more|People dying Too many to help Have we a fix on her? Number One? We'd better take a look.
|What kind of vessel is she? A class-6 Federation supply ship,|assigned to the Gamma 7 Sector.
Capt LI Telaka commanding.
Normal|complement, 26 officers and crew.
- Armed?|- Class-3, defensive only.
- Is she still underway?|- Aye, sir.
Adjust course to intercept.
|Warp seven.
Adjusting course to intercept.
|Warp seven, sir.
Engineering, transfer to bridge.
Closing on the Lantree, Captain.
Take us out of warp.
Establish|parallel course.
Match speed.
Yes, sir.
- Hailing frequencies.
|- Open.
Lantree, this is the Enterprise.
Capt Telaka, this is Picard|of the Enterprise.
Do you read me? No life signs, Captain.
- Counsellor?|- Nothing, Captain.
What else have we got nearby? No other vessels of any kind|within two parsecs.
No battle damage.
All systems seem functional, sir.
|Everything is in perfect order.
- We have to board her, Captain.
|- Possibly, Mr Worf.
Number One? If we gain control of her remotely, we could activate the view screen|and at least look at the bridge.
Agreed.
Computer, security override request.
Identify.
Picard, Jean-Luc.
|Captain, USS Enterprise.
Request control access|Starfleet ship USS Lantree, Isao Telaka commanding.
Enter access code.
Omicron omicron|alpha yellow daystar 2-7.
Enable.
I have verified receipt|of the Lantree's access codes.
Grand.
Commence operations.
- First, shut down the engines.
|- Standing by.
The Lantree computer reports access|codes received and accepted, sir.
- Sickbay on alert, Captain.
|- The Lantree is responding, sir.
We have override control|of her bridge, Captain.
Alright.
Let's have a look.
Lantree bridge monitor engaging.
Read anything, Doctor? Still no signs of life, Captain.
Magnify.
That must be Capt Telaka|on the left.
Let's look at him.
Closer.
My God.
Looks like they had|a battle with time.
And lost.
Heart, lungs, liver Everything.
- What is it?|- They died of natural causes.
Natural causes?|What in nature could cause that? For the record,|they died of old age.
We've downloaded|the Lantree's log, sir.
Play back the Captain's last entry.
Captain's log, stardate 42493.
1.
|There are only six of us left.
We've set course|for the nearest Federation outpost, but I'm afraid it's too late.
Attempts to analyze|what is happening have failed.
In the last few hours I've watched|friends grow old and die, and it's happening to me.
Capt LI Telaka, USS Lantree Capt Telaka was my age, sir.
Doctor? Every member of the Lantree crew|had a complete examination eight weeks ago.
|They were in perfect health.
Nothing else since? A single medical entry noting that the first officer|had Thelusian flu five days ago.
Thelusian flu? An exotic but harmless rhinal virus.
|It couldn't have caused this.
The Lantree's last port of call was the Darwin Genetic Research|Station on Gagarin IV, three days ago.
It could be something the crew had|or it could've come from Gagarin.
At the very least, the people from|Darwin Station deserve a warning.
We may have to consider quarantine.
- We should quarantine the Lantree.
|- Absolutely.
Lieutenant, initiate the Lantree's|quarantine transmitters, and activate marker beacons.
|We'll need to find her again.
Aye, sir.
Quarantine warnings active|on all frequencies, Captain.
Extreme caution.
USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel|by order of Starfleet Command.
Set course for Gagarin IV.
|Warp seven.
Course and speed set, sir.
Engage.
Captain's log, supplemental.
We're en route to the Federation|Research Station on Gagarin IV.
The mere thought of a connection|between the Lantree tragedy and a genetic-research facility|fills me with great apprehension.
- Approaching Gagarin IV, sir.
|- Standard orbit.
- Hailing frequencies.
|- Open.
Darwin, this is Capt Jean-Luc Picard|of the USS Enterprise.
Enterprise, this is Darwin Station.
|I'm Dr Kingsley.
We've just declared a medical|emergency.
We need your help.
Dr Kingsley, what is the nature|of your emergency? - To whom am I speaking, please?|- Dr Pulaski, Chief Medical Officer.
Katherine Pulaski, author of|"Models of Viral Propagation"? - That was long ago.
|- But still the standard.
I can't think of anyone better|to deal with.
We're experiencing the rapid onset|of geriatric phenomena.
The first symptom is sudden,|acute arthritic inflammation.
Then the ageing process|accelerates.
The Lantree.
Dr Pulaski, I celebrated|my 35th birthday a week ago.
We know Darwin Station|is involved in genetic research.
Is there a possible connection? Our research is on human genetics.
This is not something|that got away from us.
We believe we were infected|by a supply ship three days ago.
If you're speaking of the Lantree,|we encountered it a few hours ago.
All the crew were dead.
Which would confirm our suspicion.
Could you establish|a pathology, Doctor? Doctor, did you hear me? All the|26 men and women aboard were dead.
I heard you, Captain.
|The prognosis is alarming, but my concern is our children.
Children? They represent years of genetic|research.
You must evacuate them.
I'm sorry,|but until we know what's going on, I'm imposing a full quarantine|on Darwin Station.
But the children|have been in protective isolation.
They show no symptoms.
|You cannot leave them to die.
Doctor, our options in a quarantine|situation are very limited.
We will consider the possibilities.
|I suggest you do the same.
I recommend against contact.
Number One? I have to agree.
|The risk is too great.
Doctor? If the children are free of disease,|they should be evacuated.
I'd like to bring one aboard|in a force field for an examination.
Counsellor, do you sense anything? Dr Kingsley sincerely believes|the children are not a threat.
But she's not telling|the whole truth.
I recommend caution.
We have only Dr Kingsley's assurance|that the children are not infected, whereas we have seen the results|of this disease first-hand.
In a case like this, I think we|should err on the side of caution.
Alright.
We could beam up one child encased|in styrolite in suspended animation.
That way I could scan|for possible infection without danger to ourselves|or the child.
- We don't know what to look for.
|- Exactly.
And we won't|until we start gathering data.
- Captain, that's worth some risk.
|- There's always risk, Doctor.
Undertake an examination.
|But I shall need positive proof that these children are harmless|before I place my crew in jeopardy.
- The force field's ready, Captain.
|- Activate it.
Transporter? This is Chief O'Brien, sir.
|Almost ready.
- Is there a problem?|- It's the styrolite.
I'm altering the delta-T so it|materializes two microseconds ahead.
- It has to be right.
|- Take your time.
Entering corrections now.
Ready, Captain.
Dr Kingsley,|are you ready to transport? You have the coordinates.
We have|a 12-year-old male in styrolite.
Transporter, energize.
- A trick!|- Reverse One moment.
He's still in stasis.
The styrolite is intact, Captain.
Force field down.
Captain, there's a definite|presence, a distinct personality.
Even in stasis it's quite strong.
|The child is certainly telepathic.
A child this mature? We could be looking|at the future of humanity.
At least Dr Kingsley's vision of it.
He's in better health than we are.
His immune system is so advanced|he may be unable to contract disease.
I want to free him|from the styrolite.
That seems rather risky.
I can do no further tests|until he's out.
But what if you're wrong? You saw|what happened on the Lantree.
- I know I'm right.
|- I can't expose us.
Not till we know more|about the disease.
Naturally, we'll establish|a force-field containment.
But if we lose the force field,|we lose the ship.
- Force fields can fail and|- We don't have much time.
The children can't survive in|the lab once their parents die.
Look at him, Captain.
He's a human being who needs help.
- But the risk is|- Minimal! If you can show|that he's biologically harmless, without risk to the crew, I'll do|everything in my power to assist.
And, Doctor, God knows,|I'm not one to discourage input, but I would appreciate it if you let|me finish my sentences occasionally.
Deanna, do you have a minute? You've known the Captain for|some time.
I need some advice.
- I don't deal with him well.
|- Meaning? My arguments don't have any effect.
|We just end up quoting regulations.
He has such|a dedication to his ship, he doesn't seem able|to see the human side of things.
What's the matter? Kate, I don't think|he'd be where he is if he couldn't see the human side.
- Perhaps the two of you are similar.
|- What do you mean? Let's just say, you both have|well-established personalities.
Dr Kingsley, this is Kate Pulaski.
Do you have a decision? - I'm afraid it's bad news.
|- How can that be? The risk is too great.
Until we know|the cause of the disease The children are harmless.
Every test on them has been negative.
I demand that you do something|to save them.
Please, Doctor.
For God's sake,|we haven't got much time.
Stand by.
I'll get back to you.
Geordi, I need your help.
What is it? I need to prove the children are|harmless in a fail-safe environment.
There's no area of the ship that|can be sealed off with certainty.
Sickbay has an isolated system.
But it's not possible|to totally cut it off.
The only independent environment|would be, say, a shuttlecraft.
A shuttlecraft.
|Why didn't you say so? Come.
Captain, I'd like permission|to put the boy in a shuttlecraft.
I can study him there|without risk to anyone.
- What about you?|- I'll take that risk.
Someone has to breathe the same air|he breathes, to touch him.
I'm volunteering|to make that test myself.
Doctor, you have a responsibility|to this ship which I also have|a responsibility to humanity.
The guidelines about|contact with quarantined You don't have|to quote the rule book.
You were saying? Request approved.
Captain, you said if I Approved? I recognize that you're trying|to satisfy my condition.
Thank you.
- You sent for me?|- I did.
You're qualified|to pilot this shuttlecraft? Certainly.
I had training|in auxiliary space vessels at Starfleet Academy.
I received A more than passing grade, no doubt.
|Come aboard.
We don't have much time.
Shuttle bay three|force field activated.
The Captain definitely approved this? You'll take us a few hundred meters|out and hold position.
Begin shuttlecraft launch sequence.
Good luck, Doctor.
We are in position, Doctor.
It's the only way|to prove they're harmless.
And if they are not? I hate to keep reminding you, but|you are a machine.
You'll be safe.
That is by no means certain,|but I was referring to you.
Medical research|is sometimes a risky business.
It's all part of being human.
|Shall we proceed? Ready to transport.
You have the coordinates,|Chief O'Brien.
- Maintain position.
Stand by.
|- Standing by.
- Control, what's our status?|- We have a green panel.
- Stand by to transport.
|- Aye, sir.
Energize.
Yes I do.
I understand you perfectly.
How could you, Doctor?|He has not said anything.
Yes, he has.
|Troi is right.
He's telepathic.
- Time?|- 0322 ex actly.
She's been in direct contact|with the boy for 18 minutes.
All systems functioning|within normal specifications.
The manufacturer will be pleased.
I appreciate your help, but|your bedside manner needs work.
Bedside manner? Doctor? Doctor, I don't understand.
|What has happened? There was no warning.
- Explain.
|- Arthritic inflammation.
The first symptom of the disease.
- What can we do?|- Return the boy.
Apparently the children|are carriers.
Chief O'Brien, are you ready? I have the coordinates|of the isolation lab.
- Quickly.
|- Shuttle One, hold position.
Holding.
Stand by to transport.
It wasn't your fault.
Tell us what you need, Doctor.
There's nothing you can do.
I won't make myself an exception|to the Darwin quarantine.
Shuttle One out.
- What is your condition, Doctor?|- Not exactly up to factory specs.
I'm sorry.
|The pain is tolerable, thank you.
Shall I set course for Darwin? We're already under quarantine.
|What do we have to lose? The Darwin Station crisis is no|longer our most immediate concern, although Dr Pulaski's condition|is linked with that emergency.
Her safe return and that of|Cmdr Data must take priority, please.
Shouldn't Dr Pulaski|be involved in this? Dr Pulaski|may not have time to help herself.
I suggest|we beam them both back here.
Cmdr Data is most likely immune,|and surely the biofilter will The biofilter won't protect us.
The boy was transported twice,|and still infected Dr Pulaski.
Couldn't we adjust the biofilter? Alter it to screen out|the cause of the disease? But we don't know the cause.
We can't protect ourselves|against the unknown.
We need a filter that doesn't depend|on known biological factors.
- We might try the trace.
|- The transporter trace? The transporter keeps a record|of all transmissions, a pattern.
Usually it's stored|for security purposes.
But if we use the trace to control|the reconstitution process I don't think it's been tried before,|but theoretically it is possible.
It means extensive modifications.
- Do it.
There's no alternative.
|- Where do we get the trace pattern? - She's never used our transporter.
|- Never? No, she's a woman|of very strongly held opinions.
- What was her previous assignment?|- Her ship was the Repulse.
Bridge, Picard.
Contact the USS Repulse using|subspace captain's priority channel.
Dr Pulaski.
I can only tell you how much I regret the burden we've|imposed on you.
On both of you.
Cmdr Data is an android.
|He's unaffected.
As for me, I chose this.
I was|convinced the children were safe.
I still can't believe|one of our children infected you.
The evidence is fairly conclusive.
But they were designed|to resist disease.
I think it's time|we talked about that.
Let me show you.
Our ultimate achievement.
The oldest is 12,|and all are telekinetic.
Watch.
Genetically engineered? Not engineered, created.
|Perfect in every way.
Their body structure,|their musculature, their minds.
You were telling me|about their immune system.
That was our masterpiece.
We gave these children|an aggressive immunity.
We others were infected by the|supply ship, but they were protected.
The Lantree logs show|only one crewman had any illness prior to arrival here.
The First Officer|had a mild Thelusian flu.
Yes, he was one|who came into contact with us.
The Thelusian flu|would have no effect on you, but tell me, how would they react? Their immune systems would release|an antibody to attack the virus.
Even at a distance? Their immune systems|don't wait for a disease's attack.
It seeks out a virus and destroys it.
Destroy it? How exactly? The antibody would adapt itself to alter|the genetic code of the virus.
Commander, I want an analysis of the interaction between|the Thelusian flu and the children.
On a molecular genetic level? We don't have time for that.
|Genetic analysis could take months.
Not necessarily.
Cmdr Data|has a way with computers.
Sorry, Picard, we erased|Dr Pulaski's transporter pattern.
She never used the transporter much.
|She preferred shuttles.
I'd have given her a shuttle|to keep her.
If she served you as well|as you say, why did you let her go? You haven't run|into her stubborn streak yet.
She found out|about an opening on the Enterprise, and requested a transfer.
Knew your service record|backward and forward.
Apparently she's been an admirer|of yours for some time.
Extraordinary.
Commander, what have you got? The answer, I believe, Doctor.
The Lantree was not the source|of the disease, but the trigger.
Trigger? The Lantree exposed your children|to Thelusian flu for the first time.
Their active immune systems|set out to attack the virus.
Once it was triggered,|it kept going.
The antibody created|an unexpected side-effect.
It alters the genetic make-up|of normal humans.
This is a comparison|of the altered and normal DNA.
These two molecules|have been transposed.
And since our DNA|is self-replicating, the process Is irreversible.
Judging from what happened|on the Lantree, anyone is a carrier|once they're infected.
- Have you made progress, Doctor?|- I'm afraid so.
The children don't carry|the disease, they cause it.
- How?|- Their advanced immune system has created an antibody|that changes normal DNA.
The altered genes|are the ones that control ageing.
Why did it attack you more quickly|than the others? The enclosed environment of the|shuttle concentrated my exposure.
The Lantree's First Officer|carried the antibody onto his ship.
- It then affected his crew.
|- What's the next step? The children will survive, but the|rest of us are about out of time.
Doctor, I want you back aboard.
You'll come up in suspended|animation.
That will buy time.
Thank you, but I got into this|by leaping before I looked.
I won't allow you|to make the same mistake.
Chief Medical Officer's log.
This will be my final report|to the Enterprise.
Just as changes in evolution are known to be caused|by changes in the environment, we now know the process|also works in reverse.
An attempt to control human evolution has resulted in a new species|that's lethal to its predecessors.
The children will be condemned to|live out their lives in isolation.
Quarantine of the Darwin Station|must be maintained for ever.
- I am sorry I was not more helpful.
|- You did everything you could.
As androids go,|you're in a class by yourself.
Doctor Please.
Give my best to the Captain.
Enterprise, Cmdr Data.
|Ready to beam aboard.
Captain,|Kate knew what she was doing.
I wish I were sure|we'd tried everything.
Cmdr Data is ready to come aboard.
You have the bridge, Number One.
No life forms present, sir.
You may step down, sir.
Data, tell me, if|It's good to see you again.
Thank you.
If the changes in Dr Pulaski's DNA|were reversed, is it possible It is not reversible, sir.
|The molecular transposition But if it were undone,|would she be normal again? As normal as ever, sir.
The transporter can be modified to|filter out changes in Dr Pulaski? Yes, but we couldn't locate|her trace pattern.
Well, what if we used|a sample of her DNA, say from a blood test taken before|she was exposed to the disease? Could that filter|the genetic changes? I'd have to patch in|a molecular matrix reader.
That's no problem.
But the waveform modulator will be|overloaded without the limiter.
Interesting.
But theoretically - Can you do it?|- I think so.
Then make it so.
You heard.
|Let's get those panels off.
A blood test, a tissue sample,|anything with Dr Pulaski's DNA.
No, sir.
Her records were shipped|via Starfleet headquarters.
- They've not caught up with us.
|- Ridiculous.
A cell, a single cell.
|Let's check her quarters.
Anything.
A fingernail, a hair Hairbrush.
It has a follicle, sir.
Live cells.
Darwin Station,|this is the Enterprise.
Go ahead, Captain.
I'm here.
We may have a solution.
We have a sample of|your normal DNA to use as a filter|in the transporter.
We think that we can beam you aboard while filtering out the genetic|problems caused by the disease.
Interesting theory, Captain.
If it works,|we could use the same technique to save Dr Kingsley|and her colleagues.
I think you should know, this|has never been attempted before.
I know one thing.
If I live through this, .
.
Ill have a much better|understanding of geriatrics.
- All set, Chief?|- Almost ready.
Just one thing.
- Yes?|- This modification's one way only.
If it fails, we can't transport|the Doctor back to the planet.
Then I'll operate|the transporter controls myself.
If she's going to be|consigned to oblivion, then Thank you, sir.
I'll be monitoring|the medical scans.
You'll be able to tell if|it's worked by watching the stack.
Dr Pulaski, are you ready? I suppose I am, Captain.
Here we go.
It's not working.
Captain, wait.
- Doctor.
|- Good to see you.
Welcome back, Doctor Come.
Captain, if this hadn't worked If this hadn't worked, it would have been necessary to|beam your energy into empty space.
And spread my atoms|across the galaxy? Yes.
I'm sorry No, don't be sorry.
Every time I get into that thing, I'm|sure that's what's going to happen.
Chief Medical Officer's log,|supplemental.
The adults of Darwin Station have|been restored to normal health.
They remain on Gagarin IV|to continue their research in hopes of one day|rejoining their children.
Impulse speed.
There she is, Captain.
Scientists believe|no experiment is a failure, that even a mistake advances|the evolution of understanding.
Close to 40 kilometers.
But all achievement has a price.
For one glimpse at the mysterious|blueprint of human evolution, the crew of the USS Lantree|paid with their lives.
Their sacrifice is thus noted|in this scientist's log.
Number One.
Lt.
Worf,|arm the photon torpedoes.
Torpedoes ready, Commander.
USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel|by order of Starfleet Command.
Do not board.
Gentlemen.
USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel|by order of Starfleet Command.
Do not board.
Set course and speed|for Star Station India.
Course and speed set, sir.
Engage.