Star Trek: The Next Generation s07e18 Episode Script

We are losing containment in the starboard nacelle tube.
- Get more power to the fuel coils.
- Aye, sir.
Mr La Forge, report.
I can't shut down the injectors.
Someone's locked out the controls.
The plasma-venting system has engaged.
Two more decks.
Bridge, we've almost reached the nacelle tube.
Acknowledged.
Release the hull plate.
We may have to jettison the core.
Aye, sir.
What happened? He locked out the controls and stepped up onto the walkway.
See if you can shut down the plasma flow.
I'm afraid if we try to get closer, he'll jump through the force field.
Dan, it's me.
It's Will Riker.
I was here yesterday, remember? I didn't want to do it.
But I saw them.
And they laughed at me.
They laughed.
Whatever happened, we can talk about it.
I want to help.
Stay away! I just want to see your face, that's all.
So we can talk.
I know what I have to do.
- Dan, no! - I've unlocked the controls.
Shutdown procedure initiated.
There's still plasma in there.
It'll take time to vent off.
Tell me what happened.
Maybe I can help.
I know what I have to do.
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.
A few more seconds, I could have saved him.
Commander, you did everything you could.
It was not your fault.
It was strange.
I felt as if he didn't even recognise me, although I was with him the other day, supervising the refit.
How was he then? Fine.
I complimented him on getting the refit done faster than expected.
He was pleased that I'd noticed.
I met with him six weeks ago during crew evaluations.
He was very positive.
He was looking forward to going to the nacelle tube.
He was a good officer with a fine career ahead of him.
I don't understand why he wanted In my years as a Starfleet captain, I've had to notify many parents of the loss of loved ones, but never before of a suicide.
I would like to be able to offer Lt Kwan's parents some explanation of what happened, to help them make sense of this.
Maybe he left a message of some kind, explaining why he did it.
I'd like you two to piece together a picture of his last few days.
If he made personal logs, it might help to look at them.
You are authorised to do so.
- La Forge to Captain.
- Go ahead.
I've finished my damage assessment.
We can be under way within the hour.
Mr la Forge, the medical situation on Barson II has worsened.
We have permission to exceed warp-speed limitations to get on schedule.
We can give you warp eight if we need it.
Acknowledged.
Geordi, would you agree that the instinct for self-preservation is shared by most life forms? I'd say it's the most basic instinct, Data.
Then I find it difficult to understand why someone would deliberately terminate their own existence.
I don't know, Data.
Maybe Lt Kwan felt there was something wrong with his life, something he felt powerless to fix.
I believe I understand.
I have been in a similar situation.
Really? The months after my activation were a difficult period for me.
There were many problems to do with my becoming sentient.
Because your neural net was still forming? As I acquired new skills, neural pathways would form, replacing other less complex pathways.
It was very disorienting.
I bet.
As my systems grew in complexity, it was difficult to integrate new pathways into my existing neural net.
The probability of cascade failure grew with each additional pathway.
I concluded it would be safer, and easier, to shut myself down and start again.
But then you wouldn't have remembered anything that happened to you.
In a way, it would have been like committing suicide.
So what did you do? I decided against the procedure.
I chose to treat the problems I was having as challenges to overcome - Not obstacles to be avoided.
- Great way to look at it, Data.
I wish Lt Kwan had been able to look at his problems the same way.
This is a Napean design.
His mother's Napean.
His father's human.
It all looks so normal.
For some reason, I half expected it to be a mess.
It is strange to think that someone could have considered ending his life and yet give no outward sign.
Just before he jumped, he seemed almost calm.
He must have been in a lot of pain to do what he did.
It could be that the prospect of ending the pain felt like a relief.
- This is Ensign Calloway, isn't it? - Yes, she is a medical technician.
It's always hard to lose someone you care about, but to lose them like this We should check his personal logs.
This is his last entry, made before going on duty this morning.
Personal log, stardate 47622.
1.
We finished the nacelle tube refit last night.
After pulling two double shifts, I'm looking forward to spending time with Maddy.
Ensign Calloway.
That doesn't sound like a man planning to take his own life.
No, it does not.
I can't believe he's really gone.
I keep thinking he'll show up and tell me there's been some terrible misunderstanding.
I thought you'd like to know that in his personal logs, Dan talked about you a great deal.
He loved you very much.
If that's true, then how could he leave me like this? That's what I'm trying to find out.
I know it's hard, but it would help if you could tell me about him.
When was the last time you saw him? Two nights ago.
We were planning our next shore leave together.
Did he mention anything that might have upset him? No, not really.
He did say something about work, about Lt Nara, but it wasn't serious.
Nara.
She's his superior in the nacelle tube? Yes.
Dan sensed that she Well, she felt threatened by him.
She thought he was after her position.
Was he prone to mood swings or depression? No, but he was very sensitive to other people's moods.
He used to look at me and know what I was feeling.
I always loved that about him.
Well, Napeans are partially empathic.
Maybe he inherited his mother's abilities.
He teased me that when I met her, I wouldn't get away with anything.
We knew each other for over two years, but we didn't get together until a few months ago.
We took it slow.
We thought we had all the time in the world.
Something must have happened to him, Counsellor.
Something terrible, because it's not like Dan to take his own life.
- I understand.
- Please find out what it was.
Can I help you? I didn't see you there.
You're Lt Nara, aren't you? Can I do something for you? I'm investigating Lt Kwan's death.
I just wanted to look around.
It's such a shame.
He was a good man.
Did you notice any change in his behaviour recently? No.
I've been going over the last few days, trying to see if I if I missed any warning signs.
It's as if something inside him just snapped.
- How was his job performance? - Excellent.
He knew this ship better than most.
He helped build it at Utopia Planitia.
Did he get on with his co-workers? He was ambitious.
He came in here with all sorts of new ideas, - Some of them very good ideas.
- But not all? No.
But after he settled in, we got along fine.
Excuse me a minute.
Feel free to look around.
Where was Lt Kwan's station? Right there.
Are you alright? I don't know.
I don't know how to describe it.
I was suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of emotions.
Fear, rage, panic They weren't coming from any person.
They were just there, in the room.
Whose emotions were they? You said you were alone.
I was.
I scanned the area.
I found no anomalous readings.
How could you be empathic in an empty room? I don't know.
Could Lt Kwan being partially empathic have anything to do with it? - What do you mean? - I'm not sure.
But the feelings Troi described are consistent with suicide.
Could his death leave an empathic echo? I don't see how.
But if I went back there, I might get a better sense of what I experienced.
I don't think so.
You're showing high levels of psilosynine.
Psilosynine? A neurotransmitter involved in telepathy.
The experience overwhelmed you the first time.
Wait until your levels return to normal.
How long? Three, maybe four hours.
This time I want someone with you.
I shall accompany you, Counsellor.
Captain's log, stardate 47623.
2.
We've arrived at Starbase 328 on schedule.
After taking aboard medical supplies, we will depart for Barson II.
Come in.
- Hello, Worf.
- Counsellor.
Have you found anything in Lt Kwan's logs? Everything I've read suggests he was well-adjusted and optimistic.
It just doesn't make any sense.
Can I get you anything? No, nothing.
Yridian tea.
I've been thinking about what happened to me in the nacelle tube.
Whether it was an empathic echo, left by Kwan's death.
Have your empathic experiences always involved the physical presence of another person? - All the ones I'm sure of, yes.
- What do you mean, "sure of?" Well, when I was a little girl, my grandfather used to tell me stories by the fire.
I would close my eyes and listen to his mind for hours on end.
He told the stories telepathically? My grandfather rarely spoke.
He said that was for off-worlders and people who didn't know any better.
Now, the only time I can remember his stories is when I go home and sit by the fireplace.
Sometimes, when I'm alone there, it's almost as if I can hear his voice inside my head.
Yes.
I, too, have sought visions in fire.
I can't explain it, but it feels real to me.
Just like what happened in the nacelle tube.
There are things we do not understand.
They exist, nonetheless.
Perhaps I should let you get some rest.
- It's alright.
- No.
If you will excuse me, Counsellor.
- Mr Worf.
- Commander.
- Two Til'amin froths, please.
- Yes, sir.
Lt Corell seems to be enjoying your company.
I'd like to think so.
Are you involved with her? I'm not sure yet.
Why, are you interested in her? No.
But if I were, I would of course discuss the situation with you before proceeding further.
I appreciate it but that wouldn't be necessary.
I'd never come between you and someone you are involved with or had ever been involved with.
Is there someone in particular you mean? No.
Is there someone in particular you'd rather I not be involved with? Mr Worf, you sound like you're asking to date my sister! No, I was merely Never mind.
Excuse me, sir.
- Could you open this door for me? - Yes, but only for a short time.
After 90 seconds, the plasma-venting system engages to prevent degradation of the force field.
I just want a quick look.
May I ask what you're looking for? I'm not sure.
Warning, plasma-venting system will engage in 90 seconds.
No! No, no, please! Please, please! No, don't! No! Warning.
Plasma-venting system will engage in 80 seconds.
Worf? Counsellor, are you alright? Let's get out of here.
- Do you remember anything else? - Yes, I think I do.
There was a tool crate on the floor.
It was labelled Utopia Planitia.
The shipyard where the Enterprise was built.
Clearly, this was more than an empathic echo.
It seems you were seeing something that happened eight years ago.
Everyone was looking directly at me.
But it was as if I was seeing through someone else's eyes.
Lt Kwan was partially empathic.
Maybe you were seeing through his eyes.
It's possible, but I don't see how it happened.
Well, putting that aside, let's assume that, by some inexplicable phenomenon, you witnessed an event that occurred to Lt Kwan.
Those faces you saw, did you recognise any of them? I've never seen the woman before.
Or the man who was with her.
But there was someone else there.
A man He was staring at me in the most peculiar way.
I think he had reddish hair, and he did seem familiar to me.
But it's all so hazy.
It's like trying to remember a dream.
There was a woman who was frightened.
Then you saw her again, laughing, presumably at Lt Kwan.
What does it all mean? I don't know.
But something terrible happened there, I felt it.
Look through the personnel files of Utopia Planitia.
See if you recognise any of the faces.
If only I could go back into the room without feeling overwhelmed.
It might help me remember some relevant detail.
I could give you an inhibitor to slow the production of psilosynine.
That might suppress your empathic abilities and make the experience manageable.
It would take about 16 hours to synthesise.
- I'd like to try that.
- Very well, Counsellor.
I apologise for being late.
The viral medicines we're taking to Barson II require special security measures to ensure they're contained.
Have you found anything? No.
There were thousands of people involved in building the Enterprise.
Perhaps you should narrow the search parameters.
I think I have.
The man who looked familiar may have served on the Enterprise in the last seven years.
I've limited the search to personnel who served at Utopia Planitia and on the Enterprise.
Ensign Salvatore.
He transferred over a year ago.
Lt Ziff.
She's in quantum mechanics.
That's him.
Lt Walter Pierce.
I remember now.
He came on board about six months ago.
In Engineering.
You were Lt Kwan's supervisor at Utopia Planitia? That's right.
I was sorry to hear what happened.
Were you ever in the nacelle control room while it was under construction? I worked all over the ship.
In fact, I remember running a power conduit behind this wall here.
Were you ever in the nacelle room at the same time as Lt Kwan? It was a long time ago.
People were working everywhere.
- So you do not remember? - I'm sorry.
I don't.
Do you recall if anything unusual happened there? How do you mean? An altercation, perhaps.
Possibly involving Kwan.
No.
Nothing like that.
As I remember, things went pretty smoothly.
What's this all about, if you don't mind my asking? Not at all.
In the nacelle room I had an empathic experience.
The Counsellor may have been seeing an event from eight years ago.
And I saw you there.
Do you have any idea why? I'm afraid I don't.
Are you aware that I can sense when someone's telling the truth? I've heard that.
Then, if you remember anything relevant to our investigation you'll contact me? Of course.
- Thank you, Lieutenant.
- Counsellor.
It's strange.
I couldn't read him at all.
But you implied that We have played poker many times.
I've never known you to bluff.
Well, it wouldn't be much of a bluff if you knew, would it? The fact I couldn't read him suggests he must have some telepathic ability.
- But Pierce is human.
- That's what I don't understand.
Even though I couldn't read his emotions, I felt he was holding something back.
I thought so, as well.
We should access the Engineering logs from Utopia Planitia.
We might find out more about him.
There may be something in them about Lt Kwan as well.
It's going to take half an hour to complete transmission.
Perhaps we should continue this in the morning.
It is late.
- Yes, and you must be tired.
- A little.
So I will say goodnight.
Goodnight.
We should get an early start tomorrow.
I think we should.
I'll see you in the morning.
Yes.
- Hello.
- Breakfast is ready.
That sounds nice.
But it can wait.
Why didn't we do this a long time ago? Crusher to Counsellor Troi.
Yes, Doctor? I've synthesised the inhibitor.
Come when you're ready.
Acknowledged.
Crusher to Lt Worf.
Worf here.
Medical supplies are ready to be taken to cargo bay.
I will be there shortly.
This should take effect immediately.
Will it completely suppress my empathic abilities? It's hard to say.
I can increase the dosage if it's not enough.
The cargo bay will be off limits to all but Medical personnel.
- Thanks for your help, sir.
- You're welcome.
- Good morning.
- Counsellor.
Data and Geordi are in the nacelle tube.
Are you ready? Yes.
Excuse me, sir.
About the cargo bay quarantine field? We'll need a second field generator.
I'm needed here.
I'll join you as soon as I can.
Alright.
Apparently my help was not so good after all! Yes, it was.
You were wonderful.
I think I know what is wrong Counsellor.
You OK? I'm fine.
The inhibitor is working.
Have you found anything? No, nothing unusual.
I don't remember these from my empathic experience.
Have they always been here? No.
They were installed two years ago.
Geordi.
I remember seeing a plasma conduit, right there.
The main ODN line runs behind that panel.
It lifts out so you can get to it.
Kwan was working on that conduit the day before he died.
- Can you open it? - Sure.
It'll take just a minute.
Data.
Lt Nara.
May I ask you something? The work Kwan was doing, was it unusual in any way? He was refitting a field coil.
It was the first time that panel had been opened since the ship was built.
Thank you.
No! Counsellor.
Are you alright? Something happened when you removed the panel.
There's something in there.
I'm getting readings indicating organic material in this wall.
Organic? You're right.
Let me reconfigure the beam.
We might be able to see what it is.
Here.
This dosage should prevent any further empathic flashes.
The bone fragments are human.
I've sequenced a DNA sample.
I'll try to match it to Starfleet records.
Accessing personnel records.
I'd say these have been in the wall about seven or eight years.
You said something happened when the panel was opened.
Yes.
I wonder if these fragments triggered your experience.
I'll run a resonance scan, see if anything turns up.
Sir, I think we have a match.
The remains are of an Ensign Marla Finn.
I'm trying to find a picture.
That's her.
That's the woman I saw.
It says she was reported missing from Utopia Planitia on stardate 40987.
2.
Eight years ago.
But how did her body become embedded in a bulkhead? Maybe there was an accident.
Or she was killed and the murderer hid her remains.
Something's not right.
Pull up Lt Kwan's service record.
I thought so.
He didn't arrive at the shipyard until six months after Finn's death.
I couldn't have seen through his eyes.
Then whose? It has to be someone at least partially telepathic.
Pierce.
But you saw him there.
Yes, but not as clearly as everything else.
His face looked like that.
A reflection.
So I was seeing through his eyes.
And Finn was trying to get away from him.
She was afraid of him.
I think it is time we had another conversation with Lt Pierce.
Ensign Calloway.
Thank you for your help.
Deck ten.
Worf, can I ask you something? Do you regret what happened last night? No, of course not.
I don't want to jeopardise our friendship.
Deanna, I do not regret being with you.
What is wrong? I'm not feeling myself.
Maybe it's the inhibitor.
I'm so used to sensing what people are feeling, and now I can't.
Perhaps I should talk to Lt Pierce alone.
That might be a good idea.
I will meet you in your quarters later.
I'll be waiting for you.
Deck eight.
Come in.
Security to Counsellor Troi's quarters.
Acknowledged.
I don't understand.
Lt Worf said you wanted to talk to me.
- Where is he? - He said he had to go somewhere.
Troi to Worf.
Computer, where is Lt Worf? Lt Worf is in Ensign Calloway's quarters.
Counsellor? Take Lt Pierce to his quarters and hold him there.
Security override.
Authorisation Troi Delta 29.
Stop it! He's dead! You killed him! No! You know what you have to do.
I know what I have to do.
What are you doing? You're alive! You're alright! I opened the maintenance door at Troi's request.
Then saw her standing too near the force field.
It seemed so real! I can't believe everything I experienced happened in just those few seconds.
Counsellor Troi was correct.
Pierce was partly telepathic.
His maternal grandmother was born on Betazed.
What else have you found out? According to our records, Pierce and the other persons Troi identified were killed in a plasma discharge eight years ago.
Their bodies were never found.
I don't believe it was an accident.
I think Lt Pierce found the other two having an affair.
He lost control and killed them both.
Later, he probably activated the plasma stream and threw himself in! The discharge would have obliterated any evidence that it was murder.
I scanned behind the panel Counsellor Troi asked me to.
I didn't find any bone fragments.
But I did find some traces of cellular residue showing some kind of psionic signature.
Maybe when Lt Pierce was struck by the plasma stream, the subspace energy present imprinted his empathic pattern in the residue.
Like a psychic photograph.
That's what triggered my hallucination.
My mind took elements from my life and created a situation that in many ways mirrored what happened to Pierce.
If you hadn't been there, I would have jumped, just like he did.
Counsellor.
When I pulled you from the plasma stream, you seemed surprised I was alive.
Well, actually, in my hallucination, you were killed.
May I ask by whom? Well, you know what they say, Mr Worf.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.