Star Trek: The Next Generation s05e06 Episode Script
The Game
Etana! I know you're back there.
|Don't make me come after you! - Give me that!|- You don't need that! Yes, I do.
I need that communicator! Cmdr Riker to Enterprise.
I have a terrible problem|here on Risa! - Give me that!|- Go get it.
- I don't believe you did that.
|- Believe it.
- What is this?|- It's a game.
Everyone here's playing it.
It's fun.
- Do I keep my eyes open or closed?|- Open.
What am I seeing? The playing field.
Now what? You see the disc and the cone? Yeah.
Concentrate.
Make the disc go into the cone.
How do I do that? Just let go.
Relax.
You'll do it.
What was that? Your reward for clearing the first level.
How far does this game go? As far as you can take it.
|Would you like to go for level two? 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 civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
Captain's log, stardate 45208.
2.
Cmdr Riker has rejoined|the Enterprise from Risa.
We're on our way to an uncharted|area called the Phoenix Cluster.
We're all anticipating this historic|first look at the region.
It's getting busy here.
Five new science teams beamed in.
|Quarters are filling up fast.
And there's a change.
We've been|given only two weeks to explore.
Two weeks? That's not enough.
|I thought we had five weeks.
Starfleet has added|a diplomatic mission to Oceanus IV.
Will, ensure|that each science department has an equal chance|to do their research.
That'll be quite a juggling act.
And some good news.
We're to meet|a shuttle carrying Wesley Crusher.
- He's on vacation from the Academy.
|- Good.
We'll need an extra hand.
Geordi,|how are the survey preparations? I'm up to my neck in schedules now.
Our biggest hurdle|is sensor availability.
Especially with two new exobiologists|and three stellar cartographers.
Not a great combination.
- Lateral sensors?|- Booked solid.
Gamma-ray scanner? Reprogramming them now.
Lefler, a moment, please.
- You know Robin?|- Of course.
Her work's so sensational,|I made her a mission specialist.
- Congratulations.
|- Thank you.
- OK, what's our sensor status?|- We're increasing bandwidth so more science teams|can use the sensors at once.
We're multiplexing the array.
- Will that be done before we arrive?|- Yes, sir.
Count on it.
Keep it up, Lefler.
I brought something from Risa|that you have got to try.
I'd love to, but I'm running a full|sensor recalibration in ten minutes.
- Can it wait?|- Of course.
I'll see you later.
Chocolate ice cream,|chocolate fudge and chocolate chips.
- You're not depressed, are you?|- I'm fine, Commander.
- Shall I leave you two alone?|- No, you can join us.
No, thanks.
I don't like fudge.
Really? I never met|a chocolate I didn't like.
Doesn't it taste good? Of course it does, but|it's not just a matter of taste.
It's the whole experience.
First of all,|you have to spoon the fudge around the rim, leaving|only the ice cream in the middle.
Then, you gently spoon the ice cream|around the sides .
.
like you're sculpting it.
Relish every bite.
Make every one an event.
And then with the last spoonful, close your eyes.
I had no idea it was such a ritual.
Chocolate is a serious thing.
I brought something back from Risa.
|Better than chocolate.
- What is it?|- Just a game.
Chief O'Brien.
- Welcome back, Wesley.
|- Congratulations on Molly.
Wait till you see her.
|She's the spitting image of her dad! So, where is everybody? Is my mom around? In a meeting.
You're to go to|your mother's quarters.
Would it be alright|if I dropped in to say hi? I'll check.
Chief O'Brien to bridge.
Bridge here.
Wesley Crusher has arrived|and wants to know if he can stop by|the observation lounge to say hi.
I suppose that is acceptable.
Thanks.
Surprise! - Mom!|- Welcome home.
- Hi, Mom!|- Wesley! Captain! - Quomodo tua Latinitas est?|- Praestat quam prius.
Oppido bonum.
|Your Latin has improved.
- You look handsome.
|- You do that cadet uniform justice.
- I bet you drive the girls wild.
|- Wesley, Tarvokian pound cake.
- I made it myself.
|- Thanks, Worf! Was our attempt to make you|uncomfortable effective? You bet! For a second,|I thought I was on the wrong ship.
- You found our deception pleasing?|- Yeah.
It's fun to be surprised.
Are you here to work or play? - Sir.
|- I know you're on vacation and probably want|to go on the holodeck.
But if you want, we could use|your help with the survey.
Sounds great, sir.
Excellent! Come to Engineering|and we'll get you started.
So, what kind of game is this? Come by my quarters|and I'll show it to you.
- You found the Academy challenging?|- Yeah.
I thought after the Enterprise|it would be a breeze, but there's a lot more to learn|than starship operations.
- What was your first year like?|- I did well scholastically, but my lack of human understanding|created social obstacles.
Like what? I remember the phenomenon|of practical jokes, several of which I fell victim to.
Tell me about it! My first week there,|this guy named Adam Martoni reprogrammed the sonic shower|to cover me with mud.
It took me a while,|but I got him back really good.
- Good for you.
|- Thanks.
I also found social gatherings|difficult.
There was one event, an Academy|tradition, the Sadie Hawkins Dance? They still hold it, every year! - A notably awkward experience.
|- I know.
I can't even dance.
Really? Your mother is quite|an expert.
She recently taught me.
The Dancing Doctor? She tried to|teach me, but I don't have the knack.
I would be happy|to teach you dancing.
I have programmed a 17-part course with some interesting|holographic partners.
I'll let you know.
I'll modify the planetary scanners.
We need enough data lines open|for the stellar physics.
I'll compress the signal flow.
- Why aren't these registering?|- Try calibrating them manually.
- Excuse me?|- The detectors get temperamental.
Try calibrating them by hand.
You're kidding?|The computer has to do this.
No.
Look.
The subroutine|lets you do it from the panel.
Law 17.
|When all else fails, do it yourself.
It's working! - Thanks.
|- Sure.
By the way, I'm Wesley.
- Wesley Crusher.
|- I know.
Just back from the Academy.
That's right.
Robin Lefler.
- Hi.
|- Hi.
Your neutrinos are drifting.
They're what? Geordi, a conflict has arisen between the evolution team|and the stellar physicists.
Each wishes to use|the thermal imager first.
Tell them to flip a coin.
We've got|to work together on this mission.
A coin.
Very good.
|I will replicate one immediately.
- Dr Crusher to Data.
|- Data here.
Can you join me for a minute|in sickbay? I need your help.
Yes, Doctor, on my way.
- You wanted to see me?|- Yes, I need you to do something.
I'm experimenting|with bio-active silicon.
Would you reprogram this tricorder|to these specifications? Certainly.
Sorry to bother you,|but I need it done quickly.
It does not bother me, Doctor.
|In fact, I am happy Computer, secure sickbay.
All entries to sickbay are secured.
Let's see,|I have Novakovich for anthropology, and Horne for creative writing.
- Walter Horne? Is he still teaching?|- Yeah, he is.
And he's good, too.
And you'll be pleased to know|I took your advice.
The first week I was there,|I went and met Boothby.
How is old Boothby? I hope he didn't tell you|a lot of stories about me.
He didn't remember you, sir.
At first.
I found an old yearbook|photo and he remembered right away.
He said he's very proud of you that|you're Captain of the Enterprise.
Is he still tending grounds?|Or have the years caught up with him? Not that I can tell.
He took me on a grand tour, showed me|every blade of grass, practically.
I had the very same tour.
Sir, what do the initials AF|stand for? AF? Boothby said he caught you carving|them into his prized elm tree.
AF Just an acquaintance of mine.
Wesley, if you meet someone whose initials you want to carve|into that elm tree, don't let it interfere|with your studies.
I failed organic chemistry|because of AF.
- Crusher to Capt Picard.
|- Go ahead, Doctor.
I need you in sickbay immediately.
On my way.
He complained of a servo-malfunction|but my scans were negative.
- Then he collapsed.
|- What have you found? His biosystems|and positronic functions check out.
His power cells are active.
His higher functions are intact but|signals aren't getting from his brain to the rest of his body.
|It's like a coma.
Data performs|regular self-diagnostic routines.
We should check his logs.
I recommend going through|his quarters, too.
Agreed.
Continue the analysis.
|Keep me informed.
Standard security sweep|shows nothing unusual.
Personal logs,|diagnostics, duty logs, they all appear normal.
|There's nothing to cause a shutdown.
We should ask his cat.
I'd better get back to sickbay,|see if there's any change.
Dr Crusher has it under control.
If there's a change you'll be told.
I guess so.
Looks to me like you need a break.
|Unwind a little.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
I've got just the thing.
|Why don't you join me in ten-forward? There's something|I'd like you to try.
Conduits 12 and 22|are still down for testing.
We can re-route|through junction 14B.
You have a funny way of looking|at the configuration, but it works.
That's Law 36.
|You've gotta go with what works.
- What are these laws?|- My personal laws.
When I learn something essential|I make a law, so I don't forget.
- How many do you have?|- 102, so far.
The starboard array|needs another subprocessor.
It'll be on line.
I'm ahead of you.
They said you were good.
Why do I get the feeling|you already know me? I have friends at the Academy.
Your|name's come up a couple of times.
That was some stunt you pulled|on Adam Martoni in the lab.
How did you get the antimatter|regulator to spray chilli sauce? There is another side to that story.
Is it true what they say|about your birthmark? This isn't fair.
|I hardly know anything about you.
That's Law 46.
- Life isn't always fair.
|- Yeah, I know that law.
I still have to work|on the sensor relays, but I'd like a chance|to even the score.
Ten-forward, 1900 hours.
|Join me for coffee? No.
But I'll meet you for dinner.
Captain's log, supplemental.
|We have reached the Phoenix Cluster.
But it will take time|to find the best location from which to conduct our survey.
Cmdr Data 's condition|remains unchanged with no further indication|as to the cause of his collapse.
Mom? Wesley! What are you doing? I'm embarrassed to say.
This was meant for you.
But it was so much fun,|I couldn't resist.
- What is it?|- It's a game.
Riker brought it back from Risa.
|Everybody's playing it.
- Want to try?|- Maybe later.
How's Data? Geordi's still working on him.
|He'll be fine.
I should give him a hand.
No! Wesley, you are on vacation.
|You have done enough already.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
- Computer, increase light level.
|- Are you in a hurry? - Yeah, I'm late for a dinner date.
|- Really? With who? - Robin Lefler from Engineering.
|- Why don't you invite her here? We can all play the game together.
|I can replicate a couple more.
- Mom!|- Sorry.
It's just that I wanna spend some|time together while you're here.
- We'll get time together, I promise.
|- OK.
- OK.
|- Just one game, come on.
Try it on.
Mom! I really need to get ready.
- Have a good time.
|- Thanks.
I will.
When your parents are the only|plasma specialists in the sector, you do a lot of travelling around|from base to base.
I felt like a piece of luggage.
I spent all my time around equipment.
|My first friend was a tricorder.
Really?|My very first friend was a warp coil.
My parents' work came first.
They didn't really have time for me,|even when I needed them.
So that's how I learned my first law.
Law one.
|You can only count on yourself.
Sounds kinda lonely.
- Well, now you're here.
|- Now I'm here.
Well, I'm glad.
You wouldn't believe it|in Engineering.
La Forge and the rest|are crazy about a game.
What kind of game is it? A Risian gadget|that fits over your ear.
- Have you played it?|- Not yet.
My mom has one.
She keeps trying|to get me to play it.
It's everywhere.
See what I mean? Don't you think|that's a little strange? - Everybody playing it all the time?|- It's a fad.
Next week, we won't know it existed.
I wonder how it works.
Why don't you try it and find out? I'd like to know|a little bit more about it first.
I bet if we worked together|we could figure it out.
Yeah! We could hook it up|to one of the computers.
The medical programs in the lab|can emulate human responses.
It uses a visual interface.
We could|connect it through an optical sensor.
I've loaded|the neurological behaviour program.
The sensor will allow the computer|to process whatever the game sends.
- Let's see what happens.
|- OK.
It's activating|the reticular formation.
There's heavy synaptic activity|all over the place.
I wonder what happens|after prolonged exposure.
Speed up the processor.
|We'll find out.
It seems centred|around the frontal lobe.
Computer, enhance frontal lobe.
|Full spectrum.
It's stimulating the septal area.
That's the pleasure centre|of the brain.
Whatever this does,|it must feel pretty good.
No wonder it's so popular.
Look at this.
|Serotonin levels are way off.
Let's run a neurochemical analysis.
I'm seeing widespread bonding|to neuro-receptors.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this|looks like a psychotropic reaction.
Are you saying|you think the game's addictive? What's going on|in the prefrontal cortex? Doesn't that area control|higher reasoning? Yeah, it sure does.
I'd better go talk to the Captain.
Come.
Sorry to bother you, sir.
It's no bother.
Please, sit down.
Thanks.
- How are the survey preparations?|- Fine.
But that's not why I'm here.
What then? There's a game going around.
It's something Cmdr Riker|brought from Risa.
It's a device|that hooks around the ears.
Yes, I've seen it.
I did some preliminary tests|on the game.
What I found leads me to believe|it may have harmful side-effects.
Specifically, I think|it's psychotropically addictive.
Addictive? What have you discovered? It initiates a serotonin cascade|in the frontal lobe.
I know that's nothing conclusive,|but it could explain its attraction.
And at the same time it stimulates|the brain's reasoning centre.
I don't know what that's about.
I'll start an investigation|immediately.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Wesley? It's good to have you back again.
Have you tried this? I've tried it.
Thanks.
It's great.
Robin! Where have you been?|Everybody's after me to try it.
I know.
Me, too.
I talked to the|Captain.
He's gonna look into it.
I hope he makes an announcement.
|This thing is giving me the creeps.
Did you forget your game? - We left them in our quarters.
|- Well, use mine! No, thanks.
- Try it!|- She said, "No, thanks.
" Know what else is weird?|If it's so addictive, there's only one person|who wouldn't be affected.
Data! Right.
And he got injured right when|the game was brought on board.
We'd better take a look at him.
Maybe you should go check again.
The nurse is still playing the game.
I don't understand.
There's brain|activity.
His systems are working.
How can that be? He's unconscious.
Maybe there's a signal breach|between his brain and his body.
Let's map his neurosystem and see|if we can isolate a weak link.
Patch the neural output|through to that station.
Here! The signal stops|just below his cortex processor.
There's some kind of damage.
|It's almost unreadable.
Let's look at it on the viewer.
Wesley, look at that! Some of his positronic links|have been severed.
The cuts are precise.
|Look how clean the edges are.
Computer, increase magnification,|factor four.
Only two people on board|know enough about Data to do this.
Cmdr La Forge and my mother.
Why would one of them do this to him? Maybe there's more going on here|than we thought.
What if someone is using the game|for something other than pleasure? Data would be a threat to that plan.
Only with Data out of the way|would everyone become addicted.
And everyone has.
Except us.
We have reached the coordinates.
|A ship is on an intercept course.
Advise them of our status, Mr Worf.
Go.
Replicate what you need.
See that the devices|are properly distributed.
Not forgetting Mr Crusher.
Wesley? Wesley? In here, Mom.
It worked.
Keep these mock-ups with us.
We can't|trust anyone, not even the Captain.
I'm on duty.
I've gotta go|before Cmdr La Forge suspects.
When you get there, access the codes|to the security tracking system.
There's something I want to try.
Wesley, don't forget Law 91.
|Always watch your back! You, too.
The vessel is approaching, Captain.
Computer, all senior officers|report to the bridge.
On screen.
- Report.
|- Welcome, Etana.
The Enterprise has been secured.
We await your further instructions.
The expansion|will proceed as follows.
Cmdr Riker, pilot a shuttlecraft|to the Cleon system, and rendezvous with the Endeavour.
Proceed to distribute|the device to that vessel.
Cmdr La Forge, Counsellor Troi,|take a shuttle to Starbase 67.
Distribute the device to all|starships currently docked there.
We have an opportunity to introduce|the game to Starfleet Academy.
Excellent! See to it.
The Ktarians|commend your efforts, Picard.
Once the expansion is complete,|you and your crew will be rewarded.
- Deck 36.
|- Wesley, at what level are you? - I'm only level ten.
|- I'm at level 47! That's great.
You know what the secret is,|don't you? Don't force it.
If you just|let the game happen, it almost plays itself.
I'll try that.
I think we'll be OK.
Just help me|compile the force-field overrides.
What are you doing? I created a transporter program.
If things get difficult,|this'll keep us one step ahead.
Were you able to access|the security tracking codes? Robin? It's your turn.
Play the game, Wesley.
Get back here! Computer, activate security|containment.
Deck 36, section 52! Computer,|transport program Crusher one.
We lost Crusher.
It appears|he rigged a site-to-site transport.
Alert condition three.
Computer, shut down all transporters|and shuttlebays.
Mr La Forge? I can't track him, sir.
|He's done something to the sensors.
I'll try bypassing his subcommands.
|Hold on.
I'm picking up his trail, sir.
Sensors show power activation|in transporter room three, deck six.
Seal off deck six.
Activate|Security fields, sections 23 to 29.
Aye, sir.
Got him, Captain.
Section 25.
|He's trying to cut through the field.
- Security to deck six, section 25.
|- On our way.
You check left.
Where the hell is he? I am trying to isolate him|with thermal sensors.
Narrow the scan field.
|Go deck by deck.
Unfortunately,|he knows our procedures.
He will avoid all corridors|and public areas.
An unidentified heat source.
|Deck seven, section 23.
There! No! Let go of me! It's OK, Wesley.
You led us quite a chase,|Mr Crusher.
Dr Crusher.
- No!|- Hold him steady.
It's OK, Wesley, it won't hurt.
- No!|- You'll like it.
His eyes.
That's right, Wesley.
Just let it go.
Yes.
Just let yourself go.
Relax.
Computer, resume normal illumination.
Mr Worf, you will find a small|alien ship off the starboard bow.
- Secure it and raise our shields.
|- Engaging tractor beam.
- Are you alright, Captain?|- I think so, Mr Data.
Captain, we are being hailed|by the alien vessel.
On screen.
Explain yourself, Picard! The explanation is simple.
|You have failed to capture our ship.
Release us immediately|or we will open fire! Tactical analysis, Mr Worf.
Their weapons systems|are substantially inferior to ours.
- They are not a threat.
|- Get her off the screen.
I can't believe|what we were about to do.
Data, we deactivated you.
I managed to reconnect|his positronic matrix.
Wesley's diversions gave me time|to modify the palm beacon.
The optical-burst patterns|counteracted the game's effects.
The rest of the crew? We programmed the computer|to transmit the optical burst to display screens|throughout the ship.
That should reach most people.
|Take a medical team for the rest.
We'll take the alien ship|to the nearest starbase.
Ensign, lay in a course.
Captain's log, stardate 45212.
1.
We delivered the Ktarian vessel|to Starbase 82 and will rendezvous|with the Starship Merrimack which will transport Wesley Crusher|back to Starfleet Academy.
I never saw you wear these.
Afraid someone might see|your birthmark? Now, I wonder who started|that birthmark rumour.
I wish you didn't have to go.
- Me, too.
|- You'll write, won't you? Somebody has to kill|all those rumours.
Mr Crusher, we've rendezvoused|with the Merrimack.
Please report|to transporter room two.
On my way, sir.
I gotta go.
Here.
A gift, so you'll remember.
Robin's Laws, all 102 of them.
Thanks.
- Law 103?|- Yes? A couple of light years|can't keep good friends apart.
Bye.
|Don't make me come after you! - Give me that!|- You don't need that! Yes, I do.
I need that communicator! Cmdr Riker to Enterprise.
I have a terrible problem|here on Risa! - Give me that!|- Go get it.
- I don't believe you did that.
|- Believe it.
- What is this?|- It's a game.
Everyone here's playing it.
It's fun.
- Do I keep my eyes open or closed?|- Open.
What am I seeing? The playing field.
Now what? You see the disc and the cone? Yeah.
Concentrate.
Make the disc go into the cone.
How do I do that? Just let go.
Relax.
You'll do it.
What was that? Your reward for clearing the first level.
How far does this game go? As far as you can take it.
|Would you like to go for level two? 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 civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
Captain's log, stardate 45208.
2.
Cmdr Riker has rejoined|the Enterprise from Risa.
We're on our way to an uncharted|area called the Phoenix Cluster.
We're all anticipating this historic|first look at the region.
It's getting busy here.
Five new science teams beamed in.
|Quarters are filling up fast.
And there's a change.
We've been|given only two weeks to explore.
Two weeks? That's not enough.
|I thought we had five weeks.
Starfleet has added|a diplomatic mission to Oceanus IV.
Will, ensure|that each science department has an equal chance|to do their research.
That'll be quite a juggling act.
And some good news.
We're to meet|a shuttle carrying Wesley Crusher.
- He's on vacation from the Academy.
|- Good.
We'll need an extra hand.
Geordi,|how are the survey preparations? I'm up to my neck in schedules now.
Our biggest hurdle|is sensor availability.
Especially with two new exobiologists|and three stellar cartographers.
Not a great combination.
- Lateral sensors?|- Booked solid.
Gamma-ray scanner? Reprogramming them now.
Lefler, a moment, please.
- You know Robin?|- Of course.
Her work's so sensational,|I made her a mission specialist.
- Congratulations.
|- Thank you.
- OK, what's our sensor status?|- We're increasing bandwidth so more science teams|can use the sensors at once.
We're multiplexing the array.
- Will that be done before we arrive?|- Yes, sir.
Count on it.
Keep it up, Lefler.
I brought something from Risa|that you have got to try.
I'd love to, but I'm running a full|sensor recalibration in ten minutes.
- Can it wait?|- Of course.
I'll see you later.
Chocolate ice cream,|chocolate fudge and chocolate chips.
- You're not depressed, are you?|- I'm fine, Commander.
- Shall I leave you two alone?|- No, you can join us.
No, thanks.
I don't like fudge.
Really? I never met|a chocolate I didn't like.
Doesn't it taste good? Of course it does, but|it's not just a matter of taste.
It's the whole experience.
First of all,|you have to spoon the fudge around the rim, leaving|only the ice cream in the middle.
Then, you gently spoon the ice cream|around the sides .
.
like you're sculpting it.
Relish every bite.
Make every one an event.
And then with the last spoonful, close your eyes.
I had no idea it was such a ritual.
Chocolate is a serious thing.
I brought something back from Risa.
|Better than chocolate.
- What is it?|- Just a game.
Chief O'Brien.
- Welcome back, Wesley.
|- Congratulations on Molly.
Wait till you see her.
|She's the spitting image of her dad! So, where is everybody? Is my mom around? In a meeting.
You're to go to|your mother's quarters.
Would it be alright|if I dropped in to say hi? I'll check.
Chief O'Brien to bridge.
Bridge here.
Wesley Crusher has arrived|and wants to know if he can stop by|the observation lounge to say hi.
I suppose that is acceptable.
Thanks.
Surprise! - Mom!|- Welcome home.
- Hi, Mom!|- Wesley! Captain! - Quomodo tua Latinitas est?|- Praestat quam prius.
Oppido bonum.
|Your Latin has improved.
- You look handsome.
|- You do that cadet uniform justice.
- I bet you drive the girls wild.
|- Wesley, Tarvokian pound cake.
- I made it myself.
|- Thanks, Worf! Was our attempt to make you|uncomfortable effective? You bet! For a second,|I thought I was on the wrong ship.
- You found our deception pleasing?|- Yeah.
It's fun to be surprised.
Are you here to work or play? - Sir.
|- I know you're on vacation and probably want|to go on the holodeck.
But if you want, we could use|your help with the survey.
Sounds great, sir.
Excellent! Come to Engineering|and we'll get you started.
So, what kind of game is this? Come by my quarters|and I'll show it to you.
- You found the Academy challenging?|- Yeah.
I thought after the Enterprise|it would be a breeze, but there's a lot more to learn|than starship operations.
- What was your first year like?|- I did well scholastically, but my lack of human understanding|created social obstacles.
Like what? I remember the phenomenon|of practical jokes, several of which I fell victim to.
Tell me about it! My first week there,|this guy named Adam Martoni reprogrammed the sonic shower|to cover me with mud.
It took me a while,|but I got him back really good.
- Good for you.
|- Thanks.
I also found social gatherings|difficult.
There was one event, an Academy|tradition, the Sadie Hawkins Dance? They still hold it, every year! - A notably awkward experience.
|- I know.
I can't even dance.
Really? Your mother is quite|an expert.
She recently taught me.
The Dancing Doctor? She tried to|teach me, but I don't have the knack.
I would be happy|to teach you dancing.
I have programmed a 17-part course with some interesting|holographic partners.
I'll let you know.
I'll modify the planetary scanners.
We need enough data lines open|for the stellar physics.
I'll compress the signal flow.
- Why aren't these registering?|- Try calibrating them manually.
- Excuse me?|- The detectors get temperamental.
Try calibrating them by hand.
You're kidding?|The computer has to do this.
No.
Look.
The subroutine|lets you do it from the panel.
Law 17.
|When all else fails, do it yourself.
It's working! - Thanks.
|- Sure.
By the way, I'm Wesley.
- Wesley Crusher.
|- I know.
Just back from the Academy.
That's right.
Robin Lefler.
- Hi.
|- Hi.
Your neutrinos are drifting.
They're what? Geordi, a conflict has arisen between the evolution team|and the stellar physicists.
Each wishes to use|the thermal imager first.
Tell them to flip a coin.
We've got|to work together on this mission.
A coin.
Very good.
|I will replicate one immediately.
- Dr Crusher to Data.
|- Data here.
Can you join me for a minute|in sickbay? I need your help.
Yes, Doctor, on my way.
- You wanted to see me?|- Yes, I need you to do something.
I'm experimenting|with bio-active silicon.
Would you reprogram this tricorder|to these specifications? Certainly.
Sorry to bother you,|but I need it done quickly.
It does not bother me, Doctor.
|In fact, I am happy Computer, secure sickbay.
All entries to sickbay are secured.
Let's see,|I have Novakovich for anthropology, and Horne for creative writing.
- Walter Horne? Is he still teaching?|- Yeah, he is.
And he's good, too.
And you'll be pleased to know|I took your advice.
The first week I was there,|I went and met Boothby.
How is old Boothby? I hope he didn't tell you|a lot of stories about me.
He didn't remember you, sir.
At first.
I found an old yearbook|photo and he remembered right away.
He said he's very proud of you that|you're Captain of the Enterprise.
Is he still tending grounds?|Or have the years caught up with him? Not that I can tell.
He took me on a grand tour, showed me|every blade of grass, practically.
I had the very same tour.
Sir, what do the initials AF|stand for? AF? Boothby said he caught you carving|them into his prized elm tree.
AF Just an acquaintance of mine.
Wesley, if you meet someone whose initials you want to carve|into that elm tree, don't let it interfere|with your studies.
I failed organic chemistry|because of AF.
- Crusher to Capt Picard.
|- Go ahead, Doctor.
I need you in sickbay immediately.
On my way.
He complained of a servo-malfunction|but my scans were negative.
- Then he collapsed.
|- What have you found? His biosystems|and positronic functions check out.
His power cells are active.
His higher functions are intact but|signals aren't getting from his brain to the rest of his body.
|It's like a coma.
Data performs|regular self-diagnostic routines.
We should check his logs.
I recommend going through|his quarters, too.
Agreed.
Continue the analysis.
|Keep me informed.
Standard security sweep|shows nothing unusual.
Personal logs,|diagnostics, duty logs, they all appear normal.
|There's nothing to cause a shutdown.
We should ask his cat.
I'd better get back to sickbay,|see if there's any change.
Dr Crusher has it under control.
If there's a change you'll be told.
I guess so.
Looks to me like you need a break.
|Unwind a little.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
I've got just the thing.
|Why don't you join me in ten-forward? There's something|I'd like you to try.
Conduits 12 and 22|are still down for testing.
We can re-route|through junction 14B.
You have a funny way of looking|at the configuration, but it works.
That's Law 36.
|You've gotta go with what works.
- What are these laws?|- My personal laws.
When I learn something essential|I make a law, so I don't forget.
- How many do you have?|- 102, so far.
The starboard array|needs another subprocessor.
It'll be on line.
I'm ahead of you.
They said you were good.
Why do I get the feeling|you already know me? I have friends at the Academy.
Your|name's come up a couple of times.
That was some stunt you pulled|on Adam Martoni in the lab.
How did you get the antimatter|regulator to spray chilli sauce? There is another side to that story.
Is it true what they say|about your birthmark? This isn't fair.
|I hardly know anything about you.
That's Law 46.
- Life isn't always fair.
|- Yeah, I know that law.
I still have to work|on the sensor relays, but I'd like a chance|to even the score.
Ten-forward, 1900 hours.
|Join me for coffee? No.
But I'll meet you for dinner.
Captain's log, supplemental.
|We have reached the Phoenix Cluster.
But it will take time|to find the best location from which to conduct our survey.
Cmdr Data 's condition|remains unchanged with no further indication|as to the cause of his collapse.
Mom? Wesley! What are you doing? I'm embarrassed to say.
This was meant for you.
But it was so much fun,|I couldn't resist.
- What is it?|- It's a game.
Riker brought it back from Risa.
|Everybody's playing it.
- Want to try?|- Maybe later.
How's Data? Geordi's still working on him.
|He'll be fine.
I should give him a hand.
No! Wesley, you are on vacation.
|You have done enough already.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
- Computer, increase light level.
|- Are you in a hurry? - Yeah, I'm late for a dinner date.
|- Really? With who? - Robin Lefler from Engineering.
|- Why don't you invite her here? We can all play the game together.
|I can replicate a couple more.
- Mom!|- Sorry.
It's just that I wanna spend some|time together while you're here.
- We'll get time together, I promise.
|- OK.
- OK.
|- Just one game, come on.
Try it on.
Mom! I really need to get ready.
- Have a good time.
|- Thanks.
I will.
When your parents are the only|plasma specialists in the sector, you do a lot of travelling around|from base to base.
I felt like a piece of luggage.
I spent all my time around equipment.
|My first friend was a tricorder.
Really?|My very first friend was a warp coil.
My parents' work came first.
They didn't really have time for me,|even when I needed them.
So that's how I learned my first law.
Law one.
|You can only count on yourself.
Sounds kinda lonely.
- Well, now you're here.
|- Now I'm here.
Well, I'm glad.
You wouldn't believe it|in Engineering.
La Forge and the rest|are crazy about a game.
What kind of game is it? A Risian gadget|that fits over your ear.
- Have you played it?|- Not yet.
My mom has one.
She keeps trying|to get me to play it.
It's everywhere.
See what I mean? Don't you think|that's a little strange? - Everybody playing it all the time?|- It's a fad.
Next week, we won't know it existed.
I wonder how it works.
Why don't you try it and find out? I'd like to know|a little bit more about it first.
I bet if we worked together|we could figure it out.
Yeah! We could hook it up|to one of the computers.
The medical programs in the lab|can emulate human responses.
It uses a visual interface.
We could|connect it through an optical sensor.
I've loaded|the neurological behaviour program.
The sensor will allow the computer|to process whatever the game sends.
- Let's see what happens.
|- OK.
It's activating|the reticular formation.
There's heavy synaptic activity|all over the place.
I wonder what happens|after prolonged exposure.
Speed up the processor.
|We'll find out.
It seems centred|around the frontal lobe.
Computer, enhance frontal lobe.
|Full spectrum.
It's stimulating the septal area.
That's the pleasure centre|of the brain.
Whatever this does,|it must feel pretty good.
No wonder it's so popular.
Look at this.
|Serotonin levels are way off.
Let's run a neurochemical analysis.
I'm seeing widespread bonding|to neuro-receptors.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this|looks like a psychotropic reaction.
Are you saying|you think the game's addictive? What's going on|in the prefrontal cortex? Doesn't that area control|higher reasoning? Yeah, it sure does.
I'd better go talk to the Captain.
Come.
Sorry to bother you, sir.
It's no bother.
Please, sit down.
Thanks.
- How are the survey preparations?|- Fine.
But that's not why I'm here.
What then? There's a game going around.
It's something Cmdr Riker|brought from Risa.
It's a device|that hooks around the ears.
Yes, I've seen it.
I did some preliminary tests|on the game.
What I found leads me to believe|it may have harmful side-effects.
Specifically, I think|it's psychotropically addictive.
Addictive? What have you discovered? It initiates a serotonin cascade|in the frontal lobe.
I know that's nothing conclusive,|but it could explain its attraction.
And at the same time it stimulates|the brain's reasoning centre.
I don't know what that's about.
I'll start an investigation|immediately.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Wesley? It's good to have you back again.
Have you tried this? I've tried it.
Thanks.
It's great.
Robin! Where have you been?|Everybody's after me to try it.
I know.
Me, too.
I talked to the|Captain.
He's gonna look into it.
I hope he makes an announcement.
|This thing is giving me the creeps.
Did you forget your game? - We left them in our quarters.
|- Well, use mine! No, thanks.
- Try it!|- She said, "No, thanks.
" Know what else is weird?|If it's so addictive, there's only one person|who wouldn't be affected.
Data! Right.
And he got injured right when|the game was brought on board.
We'd better take a look at him.
Maybe you should go check again.
The nurse is still playing the game.
I don't understand.
There's brain|activity.
His systems are working.
How can that be? He's unconscious.
Maybe there's a signal breach|between his brain and his body.
Let's map his neurosystem and see|if we can isolate a weak link.
Patch the neural output|through to that station.
Here! The signal stops|just below his cortex processor.
There's some kind of damage.
|It's almost unreadable.
Let's look at it on the viewer.
Wesley, look at that! Some of his positronic links|have been severed.
The cuts are precise.
|Look how clean the edges are.
Computer, increase magnification,|factor four.
Only two people on board|know enough about Data to do this.
Cmdr La Forge and my mother.
Why would one of them do this to him? Maybe there's more going on here|than we thought.
What if someone is using the game|for something other than pleasure? Data would be a threat to that plan.
Only with Data out of the way|would everyone become addicted.
And everyone has.
Except us.
We have reached the coordinates.
|A ship is on an intercept course.
Advise them of our status, Mr Worf.
Go.
Replicate what you need.
See that the devices|are properly distributed.
Not forgetting Mr Crusher.
Wesley? Wesley? In here, Mom.
It worked.
Keep these mock-ups with us.
We can't|trust anyone, not even the Captain.
I'm on duty.
I've gotta go|before Cmdr La Forge suspects.
When you get there, access the codes|to the security tracking system.
There's something I want to try.
Wesley, don't forget Law 91.
|Always watch your back! You, too.
The vessel is approaching, Captain.
Computer, all senior officers|report to the bridge.
On screen.
- Report.
|- Welcome, Etana.
The Enterprise has been secured.
We await your further instructions.
The expansion|will proceed as follows.
Cmdr Riker, pilot a shuttlecraft|to the Cleon system, and rendezvous with the Endeavour.
Proceed to distribute|the device to that vessel.
Cmdr La Forge, Counsellor Troi,|take a shuttle to Starbase 67.
Distribute the device to all|starships currently docked there.
We have an opportunity to introduce|the game to Starfleet Academy.
Excellent! See to it.
The Ktarians|commend your efforts, Picard.
Once the expansion is complete,|you and your crew will be rewarded.
- Deck 36.
|- Wesley, at what level are you? - I'm only level ten.
|- I'm at level 47! That's great.
You know what the secret is,|don't you? Don't force it.
If you just|let the game happen, it almost plays itself.
I'll try that.
I think we'll be OK.
Just help me|compile the force-field overrides.
What are you doing? I created a transporter program.
If things get difficult,|this'll keep us one step ahead.
Were you able to access|the security tracking codes? Robin? It's your turn.
Play the game, Wesley.
Get back here! Computer, activate security|containment.
Deck 36, section 52! Computer,|transport program Crusher one.
We lost Crusher.
It appears|he rigged a site-to-site transport.
Alert condition three.
Computer, shut down all transporters|and shuttlebays.
Mr La Forge? I can't track him, sir.
|He's done something to the sensors.
I'll try bypassing his subcommands.
|Hold on.
I'm picking up his trail, sir.
Sensors show power activation|in transporter room three, deck six.
Seal off deck six.
Activate|Security fields, sections 23 to 29.
Aye, sir.
Got him, Captain.
Section 25.
|He's trying to cut through the field.
- Security to deck six, section 25.
|- On our way.
You check left.
Where the hell is he? I am trying to isolate him|with thermal sensors.
Narrow the scan field.
|Go deck by deck.
Unfortunately,|he knows our procedures.
He will avoid all corridors|and public areas.
An unidentified heat source.
|Deck seven, section 23.
There! No! Let go of me! It's OK, Wesley.
You led us quite a chase,|Mr Crusher.
Dr Crusher.
- No!|- Hold him steady.
It's OK, Wesley, it won't hurt.
- No!|- You'll like it.
His eyes.
That's right, Wesley.
Just let it go.
Yes.
Just let yourself go.
Relax.
Computer, resume normal illumination.
Mr Worf, you will find a small|alien ship off the starboard bow.
- Secure it and raise our shields.
|- Engaging tractor beam.
- Are you alright, Captain?|- I think so, Mr Data.
Captain, we are being hailed|by the alien vessel.
On screen.
Explain yourself, Picard! The explanation is simple.
|You have failed to capture our ship.
Release us immediately|or we will open fire! Tactical analysis, Mr Worf.
Their weapons systems|are substantially inferior to ours.
- They are not a threat.
|- Get her off the screen.
I can't believe|what we were about to do.
Data, we deactivated you.
I managed to reconnect|his positronic matrix.
Wesley's diversions gave me time|to modify the palm beacon.
The optical-burst patterns|counteracted the game's effects.
The rest of the crew? We programmed the computer|to transmit the optical burst to display screens|throughout the ship.
That should reach most people.
|Take a medical team for the rest.
We'll take the alien ship|to the nearest starbase.
Ensign, lay in a course.
Captain's log, stardate 45212.
1.
We delivered the Ktarian vessel|to Starbase 82 and will rendezvous|with the Starship Merrimack which will transport Wesley Crusher|back to Starfleet Academy.
I never saw you wear these.
Afraid someone might see|your birthmark? Now, I wonder who started|that birthmark rumour.
I wish you didn't have to go.
- Me, too.
|- You'll write, won't you? Somebody has to kill|all those rumours.
Mr Crusher, we've rendezvoused|with the Merrimack.
Please report|to transporter room two.
On my way, sir.
I gotta go.
Here.
A gift, so you'll remember.
Robin's Laws, all 102 of them.
Thanks.
- Law 103?|- Yes? A couple of light years|can't keep good friends apart.
Bye.