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== Summary ==
 
== Summary ==
  +
=== Teaser ===
 
After completing a mission early, the crew of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D}} is granted extra personal time to pursue their interests. [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]] decides to show [[Guinan]] his [[Dixon Hill]] Holodeck program, and attempts to explain to her why Humans find mysteries fascinating. Just then, Data informs him of the discovery of a [[T-Tauri type]] [[star]] near the [[Ngame Nebula]]. The sensors have detected that the [[star system|system]] has one [[M-class]] [[planet]], and a small, unstable [[wormhole]], which disappears. Data notes such phenomena are not uncommon in T-Tauri systems – thirty-nine had been observed since [[2267]]. Suddenly the wormhole reappears, and flings the vessel 0.54 [[parsec]]s from the system, and causes the entire crew, with the exception of [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Data]], to fall [[unconscious]].
+
After completing a mission early at [[Harrakis V]], the crew of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D}} is granted extra personal time to pursue their interests, with [[Worf]] instructing a ''[[mok'bara]]'' class and [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Beverly Crusher|Crusher]] conducting an experiment with [[Diomedian scarlet moss]]. [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]] decides to show [[Guinan]] his [[Dixon Hill]] Holodeck program, and attempts to explain to her why Humans find mysteries fascinating. Just then, Data informs him of the discovery of a [[T-Tauri type]] [[star]] near the [[Ngame Nebula]]. The sensors have detected that the [[star system|system]] has one [[M-class]] [[planet]], and a small, unstable [[wormhole]], which disappears. Data notes such phenomena are not uncommon in T-Tauri systems – thirty-nine had been observed since [[2267]]. Suddenly the wormhole reappears, and flings the vessel 0.54 [[parsec]]s from the system, and causes the entire crew, with the exception of [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Data]], to fall unconscious.
   
 
=== Act One ===
 
=== Act One ===
As the [[crew]] awakens, Data informs Picard that the crew was knocked out for only 30 seconds. Picard orders [[Worf]] to launch a probe to study the M-class planet that they were going to investigate before they went through the wormhole, and they continue on their regular course. However, while treating minor injuries, Dr. [[Beverly Crusher]] discovers that her [[Diomedian scarlet moss]] has shown a full day's growth. As the probe approaches the planet, it detects that the planet has a hydrogen-helium composition with a frozen helium core, clearly not an M-class planet. This confuses some of the crew, but they conclude that the wormhole may have been interfering with the sensors. When Picard is in his ready-room, Beverly comes in with her moss, and explains that they have experienced a full day's growth. Picard cannot come up with an explanation.
+
As the [[crew]] awakens, Data informs Picard that the crew was knocked out for only 30 seconds. Picard orders Worf to launch a probe to study the M-class planet that they were going to investigate before they went through the wormhole, and they continue on their regular course. However, while treating minor injuries, Dr. Crusher discovers that her Diomedian scarlet moss has shown a full day's growth. As the probe approaches the planet, it detects that the planet has a hydrogen-helium composition with a frozen helium core, clearly not an M-class planet. This confuses some of the crew, but they conclude that the wormhole may have been interfering with the sensors. When Picard is in his [[captain's ready room|ready room]], Beverly comes in with her moss, and explains that they have experienced a full day's growth. Picard cannot come up with an explanation.
  +
 
=== Act Two ===
 
=== Act Two ===
At the staff briefing Data tries to explain away these contradictions, quoting an obscure theory by [[Pell Underhill]]. After Data leaves, [[Geordi La Forge]] informs the rest of the staff that the computer's chronometer has been tampered with, and that only he and Data would be capable of doing it. Picard asks Data if he would consent to being examined by La Forge. Data agrees.
+
At the staff briefing Data tries to explain away these contradictions, quoting an obscure theory by [[Pell Underhill]], a [[22nd century]] [[physicist]]. After Data leaves, [[Geordi La Forge]] informs the captain that he does not buy Data's explanation. In fact, he is surprised Data even brought up Underhill's theory. La Forge suggests to Picard that he examine the ship's chronometer to see if it has been tampered with and Dr. Crusher offers to analyze the [[transporter]] traces to see how much time had actually passed while the crew was unconscious. "''Doctor, Commander, Make it so''", Picard orders.
  +
  +
Dr. Crusher heads to the [[transporter room]] and asks [[Chief]] [[Miles O'Brien|O'Brien]] who had used the transporter before the crew had been knocked unconscious. O'Brien discovers one of his technicians, a [[Ensign]] [[Locklin]], had. Dr. Crusher and [[Nurse]] [[Alyssa Ogawa|Ogawa]] conduct a scan and discover Locklin's [[electrolyte]] concentration had deviated, confirming Crusher's suspicions. Later on, while informing Picard that the crew had been knocked out for a ''lot'' longer than thirty seconds, they go to engineering and speak to La Forge. He informs them that he has both good news and bad news. The good news is that he discovered the chronometer had indeed been tampered with and a new security program had been inserted in its place. La Forge says the bad news is that only he and Data would be capable of performing the task. Later on, in Picard's ready room, after Data evades several of Picard's questions about what really happened, he asks Data if he would consent to being examined by La Forge. Data agrees and is escorted to [[engineering]] by Ensign [[Kellogg]].
   
 
=== Act Three ===
 
=== Act Three ===
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=== Act Five ===
 
=== Act Five ===
The crew finds that the system in reality contains a [[Class M]] planet inhabited by the [[Paxan]]s, a violently [[xenophobic]] and highly advanced race. They [[terraform]]ed their planet in order to conceal it from intruders. When an intruder comes within their space, the "wormhole" (actually an energy field) renders the ship's crew unconscious in biochemical stasis, and the ship is transported out of their space to just over half a parsec away. The idea is that when the crew awakens, they believe they were knocked unconscious by a freak wormhole and proceed on their way. However, the Paxans had never had to deal with an android before: their bioagents have no effect on Data, and Data had promptly taken action to revive the crew, foiling the Paxans' plan. A representative of the Paxans then possessed [[Counselor]] [[Deanna Troi]] and threatened to destroy the ship to protect their secret. Picard then created his plan to have the Paxans wipe their short-term memory and force Data into a pledge of secrecy. In this way, the first contact incident could be "undone" and the Paxans left alone.
+
The crew finds that the system in reality contains a [[Class M]] planet inhabited by the [[Paxan]]s, a violently [[xenophobic]] and highly advanced race. They [[terraform]]ed their planet in the T-Tauri system in order to conceal it from intruders. When an intruder comes within their space, the "wormhole" (actually an energy field) renders the ship's crew unconscious in biochemical stasis, and the ship is transported out of their space to just over half a parsec away. The idea is that when the crew awakens, they believe they were knocked unconscious by a freak wormhole and proceed on their way. However, the Paxans had never had to deal with an android before: their bioagents have no effect on Data, and Data had promptly taken action to revive the crew, foiling the Paxans' plan. A representative of the Paxans then possessed [[Counselor]] [[Deanna Troi]] and threatened to destroy the ship to protect their secret. Picard then created his plan to have the Paxans wipe their short-term memory and force Data into a pledge of secrecy. In this way, the first contact incident could be "undone" and the Paxans left alone.
   
 
The body of Troi is possessed by the same Paxan representative to communicate with the crew and warns that their prior attempt to "undo" the contact has failed. Picard explains that the previous attempt had been imperfect; too many clues were left behind that piqued their natural curiosity and led to the unraveling of the plan. In order to prevent the Paxans from destroying the ship and killing all aboard, Captain Picard and the ''Enterprise'' crew again work to alter or erase all records concerning the true nature of the planet: this time taking into account the problematic inconsistencies previously discovered. Only Data is allowed to retain any knowledge of what happened to the ship and crew during the missing day, and he is again instructed to conceal that knowledge.
 
The body of Troi is possessed by the same Paxan representative to communicate with the crew and warns that their prior attempt to "undo" the contact has failed. Picard explains that the previous attempt had been imperfect; too many clues were left behind that piqued their natural curiosity and led to the unraveling of the plan. In order to prevent the Paxans from destroying the ship and killing all aboard, Captain Picard and the ''Enterprise'' crew again work to alter or erase all records concerning the true nature of the planet: this time taking into account the problematic inconsistencies previously discovered. Only Data is allowed to retain any knowledge of what happened to the ship and crew during the missing day, and he is again instructed to conceal that knowledge.
   
Once the crew is brought back from stasis again, the conversation goes approximately the same as the first time. However, when the captain orders Data to launch the probe, he also orders him to dispatch a hazard advisory to Starfleet, hopefully preventing any other Federation ships from coming in contact with the Paxans.
+
Once the crew is brought back from stasis again, the conversation goes approximately the same as the first time. When Data suggests launching a probe, the look on Picard's face suggests he once again suspects a mystery. However, this time he simply orders Data to dispatch a hazard advisory about the phenomenon to Starfleet, also preventing any other Federation ships from coming in contact with the Paxans.
  +
  +
== Memorable Quotes ==
  +
"''The doll's my cousin!''"<br />
  +
"''Yeah! Gloria from Cleveland.''"
  +
: - '''Picard''', as Dixon Hill tells Johnny '''Guinan''' is his "cousin" Gloria while he has a gun pointed at them
  +
  +
  +
"''I have something of a minor mystery on my hands.''"<br />
  +
"''A "minor mystery"? That seems to be a recurring phrase these days.''"
  +
: - '''Crusher''', when she discovers her [[diomedian scarlet moss]] has grown a full day not thirty seconds and '''Picard'''{{'}}s reply
  +
  +
  +
"''Will you escort Commander Data to engineering?''"<br />
  +
"''I know the way, sir.''"
  +
: - '''Picard''' to security officer Kellogg and '''Data'''{{'}}s response
  +
  +
  +
"''Now, this won't hurt a bit.''"<br />
  +
"''Have you forgotten Geordi that my sensory inputs are not programmed to experience pain?''"
  +
: - '''La Forge''' while performing a diagnostic on '''Data'''
  +
  +
  +
"''Then, Mister Data, I'm going to ask you again, and I order you to directly answer me. What really happened to us?''"<br />
  +
"''I cannot answer that.''"<br/>
  +
"''What would you have me do, Data? How would you handle this if our positions were reversed?''"<br/>
  +
"''I am apparently guilty of falsifying the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s records, of interfering with an investigation, of disobeying a direct order from my commanding officer. Your duty seems clear, sir.''"<br/>
  +
"''Do you know what a court martial would mean? Your career in Starfleet would be finished.''"<br/>
  +
"''I realize that, sir.''"<br/>
  +
"''Do you also realize that you would most likely be stripped down to your wires to find out what the hell has gone wrong?''"<br/>
  +
"''Yes, sir. I do.''"<br/>
  +
: - '''Picard''' and '''Data''' in Data's quarters
  +
  +
  +
"''We must leave, sir.''"<br />
  +
"''This ship isn't going anywhere; not until I get an answer. Now, who gave you that order?''"<br />
  +
"You ''did, sir.''"
  +
: - '''Data''' is forced to reveal that '''Picard''' gave him the order to never reveal the existence of the Paxans
  +
  +
  +
"''I am ordering you never to reveal what has happened here today. Not to Starfleet, not to myself even. You will conceal your knowledge of the Paxans for as long as you exist. Do you fully understand, Data?''"<br />
  +
"''Completely, sir.''"
  +
: - '''Picard''' and '''Data''' during the first attempt to erase the crew's memories
  +
  +
  +
"''The second time will succeed if we leave no clues.''"<br />
  +
"''You are a most unusual species. Worthy of a second chance. Proceed.''"
  +
: - '''Picard''' saves the ''Enterprise'' again from a '''Paxan''' inhabiting Deanna Troi
  +
  +
  +
"''Geordi, Data, reconfigure the computer and the records. Number One, I want you to oversee the rest of the ship. And this time... let's get it right.''"
  +
: - '''Picard'''
   
 
== Background Information ==
 
== Background Information ==
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=== Continuity ===
 
=== Continuity ===
 
* Worf's ''[[Mok'bara]]'' classes are first seen in this episode.
 
* Worf's ''[[Mok'bara]]'' classes are first seen in this episode.
* [[Alyssa Ogawa]] is given her first name in this episode. Her last name would not be mentioned until {{TNG|Identity Crisis}}.
+
* [[Alyssa Ogawa]] is given her first name in this episode. Her last name would not be mentioned until {{TNG|Cause and Effect}}.
 
* Data references the {{USS|Trieste}}, a ship he stated he was familiar with in {{TNG|11001001}}.
 
* Data references the {{USS|Trieste}}, a ship he stated he was familiar with in {{TNG|11001001}}.
   
 
=== Reception ===
 
=== Reception ===
 
* [[Michael Piller]] remarked, "''I really loved that show. It's one of my favorites of [[TNG Season 4|the year]]. It was a perfectly realized classic mystery put together in a ''Star Trek'' format, which came together into a very satisfying episode.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 215)
 
* [[Michael Piller]] remarked, "''I really loved that show. It's one of my favorites of [[TNG Season 4|the year]]. It was a perfectly realized classic mystery put together in a ''Star Trek'' format, which came together into a very satisfying episode.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 215)
  +
* A mission report for this episode by Patrick Daniel O'Neill was published in ''[[The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine]]'' Vol. 16, pp. 15-18.
   
 
=== Video and DVD releases ===
 
=== Video and DVD releases ===
*Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, [[CIC Video]]): Volume 44, <!--catalogue number x, -->{{d|6|April|1992}}.
+
* Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, [[CIC Video]]): Volume 44, <!--catalogue number x, -->{{d|6|April|1992}}.
*UK re-release (three-episode tapes, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]): Volume 4.5, {{d|16|July|2001}}.
+
* UK re-release (three-episode tapes, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]): Volume 4.5, {{d|16|July|2001}}.
*As part of the [[TNG Season 4 DVD]] collection.
+
* As part of the [[TNG Season 4 DVD]] collection.
   
 
== Links and references ==
 
== Links and references ==
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* [[Carl David Burks]] as [[Russell]]
 
* [[Carl David Burks]] as [[Russell]]
 
* [[Cameron]] as [[Kellogg]]
 
* [[Cameron]] as [[Kellogg]]
* [[Gerard David]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Male operations division ensign (2367)|operations division ensign]]
+
* [[Gerard David]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Male operations division ensign (2367)|operations division ensign]]
* [[Elliot Durant III]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Operations division Ensign|operations division ensign]]
+
* [[Elliot Durant III]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Operations division Ensign|operations division ensign]]
* [[Margaret Flores]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Female science officer|science division officer]]
+
* [[Margaret Flores]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Female science officer|science division officer]]
 
* [[Hammers]] as [[Locklin]]
 
* [[Hammers]] as [[Locklin]]
* [[Greg Kishi]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Male mok'bara participant|civilian]]
+
* [[Greg Kishi]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Male mok'bara participant|civilian]]
 
* [[Lorine Mendell]] as [[Diana Giddings]]
 
* [[Lorine Mendell]] as [[Diana Giddings]]
 
* [[Randy Pflug]] as [[Jones (Lieutenant)|Jones]]
 
* [[Randy Pflug]] as [[Jones (Lieutenant)|Jones]]
* [[John Rice]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Bridge science officer|science division officer]]
+
* [[John Rice]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Bridge science officer|science division officer]]
 
* [[Joyce Robinson]] as [[Gates]]
 
* [[Joyce Robinson]] as [[Gates]]
 
* [[Guy Vardaman]] as [[Darien Wallace]]
 
* [[Guy Vardaman]] as [[Darien Wallace]]
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* [[Brett (stand-in)|Brett]] - [[stand-in]] for [[LeVar Burton]]
 
* [[Brett (stand-in)|Brett]] - [[stand-in]] for [[LeVar Burton]]
 
* [[Candace Crump]] - stand-in for [[Whoopi Goldberg]]
 
* [[Candace Crump]] - stand-in for [[Whoopi Goldberg]]
* '''Kai''' - stand-in for [[Patti Yasutake]]
+
* [[Kai (actress)|Kai]] - stand-in for [[Patti Yasutake]]
* [[Nora Leonhardt]] - stand-in for [[Marina Sirtis]] & [[Rhonda Aldrich]]
+
* [[Nora Leonhardt]] - stand-in for [[Marina Sirtis]] and [[Rhonda Aldrich]]
* [[Tim McCormack]] - stand-in for [[Brent Spiner]] & [[Thomas Knickerbocker]]
+
* [[Tim McCormack]] - stand-in for [[Brent Spiner]] and [[Thomas Knickerbocker]]
* [[Lorine Mendell]] - stand-in for [[Gates McFadden]] & [[Pamela Winslow]]
+
* [[Lorine Mendell]] - stand-in for [[Gates McFadden]] and [[Pamela Winslow]]
 
* [[Randy Pflug]] - stand-in for [[Colm Meaney]]
 
* [[Randy Pflug]] - stand-in for [[Colm Meaney]]
 
* [[Richard Sarstedt]] - stand-in for [[Jonathan Frakes]]
 
* [[Richard Sarstedt]] - stand-in for [[Jonathan Frakes]]
Line 138: Line 193:
   
 
=== References ===
 
=== References ===
[[ADTH]]; ''[[The Big Good-Bye|Big Good-Bye, The]]''; [[cigarette]]; [[class M]]; [[Cleveland]]; [[court martial]]; [[Diomedian scarlet moss]]; [[Dixon Hill]]; [[dizziness]]; [[electrolyte]]; [[emergency plan ZZA]]; [[garter]]; [[Gloria]]; [[helium]]; ''[[mok'bara]]''; [[nitrogen]]; [[Keiko O'Brien|O'Brien, Keiko]]; [[oxygen]]; [[Packard]]; [[parsec]]; [[Paxan]]s; [[Starbase 410]]; [[Tethys III]]; [[tricorder]]; {{USS|Trieste}}; [[T-Tauri type]]; [[xenophobic]]
+
[[ADTH]]; ''[[The Big Good-Bye|Big Good-Bye, The]]''; [[Chamberlin virus]]; [[cigarette]]; [[class M]]; [[Cleveland]]; [[court martial]]; [[Diomedian scarlet moss]]; [[Dixon Hill]]; [[dizziness]]; [[electrolyte]]; [[emergency plan ZZA]]; [[Evadne IV]]; [[garter]]; [[Gloria]]; [[Harrakis V]]; [[helium]]; [[hydrogen]]; [[lie]]; ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''; [[Milky Way Galaxy]]; ''[[mok'bara]]''; [[Ngame Nebula]]; [[nitrogen]]; [[Number one]]; [[Keiko O'Brien|O'Brien, Keiko]]; [[oxygen]]; [[Packard]]; [[parsec]]; [[parts per million]]; [[Paxan]]s; [[Paxan homeworld]]; [[Starbase 410]]; [[telephone]]; [[Tethys III]]; [[tricorder]]; [[Pell Underhill|Underhill, Pell]]; {{USS|Trieste}}; [[T-Tauri type]]; [[xenophobic]]
   
 
{{TNG nav|season=4|last={{e|Devil's Due}}|next={{e|First Contact}}}}
 
{{TNG nav|season=4|last={{e|Devil's Due}}|next={{e|First Contact}}}}
  +
  +
 
[[Category:TNG episodes]]
   
 
[[de:Beweise]]
 
[[de:Beweise]]
 
[[es:Clues]]
 
[[es:Clues]]
[[fr:Clues]]
+
[[fr:Clues (épisode)]]
 
[[it:Indizi (episodio)]]
 
[[it:Indizi (episodio)]]
[[ja:TNG:空白の一日]]
+
[[ja:空白の一日(エピソード)]]
 
[[nl:Clues]]
 
[[nl:Clues]]
 
[[pl:Clues]]
 
[[pl:Clues]]
[[Category:TNG episodes]]
 

Revision as of 07:05, 12 February 2015

Template:Realworld

The crew of the Enterprise wakes up after apparently passing through a wormhole, finding mysteries surrounding their blackout. Data begins to act suspiciously, prompting the command staff to wonder if he has been compromised.

Summary

Teaser

After completing a mission early at Harrakis V, the crew of the USS Enterprise is granted extra personal time to pursue their interests, with Worf instructing a mok'bara class and Dr. Crusher conducting an experiment with Diomedian scarlet moss. Captain Jean-Luc Picard decides to show Guinan his Dixon Hill Holodeck program, and attempts to explain to her why Humans find mysteries fascinating. Just then, Data informs him of the discovery of a T-Tauri type star near the Ngame Nebula. The sensors have detected that the system has one M-class planet, and a small, unstable wormhole, which disappears. Data notes such phenomena are not uncommon in T-Tauri systems – thirty-nine had been observed since 2267. Suddenly the wormhole reappears, and flings the vessel 0.54 parsecs from the system, and causes the entire crew, with the exception of Lieutenant Commander Data, to fall unconscious.

Act One

As the crew awakens, Data informs Picard that the crew was knocked out for only 30 seconds. Picard orders Worf to launch a probe to study the M-class planet that they were going to investigate before they went through the wormhole, and they continue on their regular course. However, while treating minor injuries, Dr. Crusher discovers that her Diomedian scarlet moss has shown a full day's growth. As the probe approaches the planet, it detects that the planet has a hydrogen-helium composition with a frozen helium core, clearly not an M-class planet. This confuses some of the crew, but they conclude that the wormhole may have been interfering with the sensors. When Picard is in his ready room, Beverly comes in with her moss, and explains that they have experienced a full day's growth. Picard cannot come up with an explanation.

Act Two

At the staff briefing Data tries to explain away these contradictions, quoting an obscure theory by Pell Underhill, a 22nd century physicist. After Data leaves, Geordi La Forge informs the captain that he does not buy Data's explanation. In fact, he is surprised Data even brought up Underhill's theory. La Forge suggests to Picard that he examine the ship's chronometer to see if it has been tampered with and Dr. Crusher offers to analyze the transporter traces to see how much time had actually passed while the crew was unconscious. "Doctor, Commander, Make it so", Picard orders.

Dr. Crusher heads to the transporter room and asks Chief O'Brien who had used the transporter before the crew had been knocked unconscious. O'Brien discovers one of his technicians, a Ensign Locklin, had. Dr. Crusher and Nurse Ogawa conduct a scan and discover Locklin's electrolyte concentration had deviated, confirming Crusher's suspicions. Later on, while informing Picard that the crew had been knocked out for a lot longer than thirty seconds, they go to engineering and speak to La Forge. He informs them that he has both good news and bad news. The good news is that he discovered the chronometer had indeed been tampered with and a new security program had been inserted in its place. La Forge says the bad news is that only he and Data would be capable of performing the task. Later on, in Picard's ready room, after Data evades several of Picard's questions about what really happened, he asks Data if he would consent to being examined by La Forge. Data agrees and is escorted to engineering by Ensign Kellogg.

Act Three

Evidence continues to mount that suggests the time of collective unconsciousness was much longer than 30 seconds – indeed, it now appears an entire day had passed. Geordi examines but cannot find anything wrong with Data, yet Dr. Crusher learns lieutenant Worf's wrist had been broken and repaired, without either's knowledge, implying that the crew was not only "missing" a day but was also not even unconscious during the entire time.

Geordi next attempts to discover whether Data rigged the probe they launched. He finds Data made it appear as though the observed planet was essentially identical to Tethys III. Picard orders Geordi to launch a second probe to the system, and this time they find there is in fact a much-different, class-M planet. It now is clear Data had at least tampered with the first probe and makes it seem doubtless that he has been concealing information and fabricating data to keep the rest of the crew from discovering the truth about what really happened during their alleged 30 second collective loss of consciousness. Picard implores Data to tell him the truth, but Data refuses; not even the threat of a court martial can compell him to end his by-now obvious mendacity.

Act Four

Picard decides to set a course back to the T-Tauri system. As soon as they arrive, an energy pulse passes through the shields and possesses Counselor Deanna Troi and informs Data that "the plan has failed." Data asks the entity for more time and argues that the destruction of the Enterprise at this time would serve no purpose. Just then, Geordi enters and tells Data that the Captain has asked him to come to the bridge. Data does so, and implores Picard to leave the T-Tauri system. Picard refuses and demands to know why Data will not tell him the truth. Just as the possessed Troi enters the bridge, the android finally informs him that he, Picard, had ordered Data to lie.

Act Five

The crew finds that the system in reality contains a Class M planet inhabited by the Paxans, a violently xenophobic and highly advanced race. They terraformed their planet in the T-Tauri system in order to conceal it from intruders. When an intruder comes within their space, the "wormhole" (actually an energy field) renders the ship's crew unconscious in biochemical stasis, and the ship is transported out of their space to just over half a parsec away. The idea is that when the crew awakens, they believe they were knocked unconscious by a freak wormhole and proceed on their way. However, the Paxans had never had to deal with an android before: their bioagents have no effect on Data, and Data had promptly taken action to revive the crew, foiling the Paxans' plan. A representative of the Paxans then possessed Counselor Deanna Troi and threatened to destroy the ship to protect their secret. Picard then created his plan to have the Paxans wipe their short-term memory and force Data into a pledge of secrecy. In this way, the first contact incident could be "undone" and the Paxans left alone.

The body of Troi is possessed by the same Paxan representative to communicate with the crew and warns that their prior attempt to "undo" the contact has failed. Picard explains that the previous attempt had been imperfect; too many clues were left behind that piqued their natural curiosity and led to the unraveling of the plan. In order to prevent the Paxans from destroying the ship and killing all aboard, Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew again work to alter or erase all records concerning the true nature of the planet: this time taking into account the problematic inconsistencies previously discovered. Only Data is allowed to retain any knowledge of what happened to the ship and crew during the missing day, and he is again instructed to conceal that knowledge.

Once the crew is brought back from stasis again, the conversation goes approximately the same as the first time. When Data suggests launching a probe, the look on Picard's face suggests he once again suspects a mystery. However, this time he simply orders Data to dispatch a hazard advisory about the phenomenon to Starfleet, also preventing any other Federation ships from coming in contact with the Paxans.

Memorable Quotes

"The doll's my cousin!"
"Yeah! Gloria from Cleveland."

- Picard, as Dixon Hill tells Johnny Guinan is his "cousin" Gloria while he has a gun pointed at them


"I have something of a minor mystery on my hands."
"A "minor mystery"? That seems to be a recurring phrase these days."

- Crusher, when she discovers her diomedian scarlet moss has grown a full day not thirty seconds and Picard's reply


"Will you escort Commander Data to engineering?"
"I know the way, sir."

- Picard to security officer Kellogg and Data's response


"Now, this won't hurt a bit."
"Have you forgotten Geordi that my sensory inputs are not programmed to experience pain?"

- La Forge while performing a diagnostic on Data


"Then, Mister Data, I'm going to ask you again, and I order you to directly answer me. What really happened to us?"
"I cannot answer that."
"What would you have me do, Data? How would you handle this if our positions were reversed?"
"I am apparently guilty of falsifying the Enterprise's records, of interfering with an investigation, of disobeying a direct order from my commanding officer. Your duty seems clear, sir."
"Do you know what a court martial would mean? Your career in Starfleet would be finished."
"I realize that, sir."
"Do you also realize that you would most likely be stripped down to your wires to find out what the hell has gone wrong?"
"Yes, sir. I do."

- Picard and Data in Data's quarters


"We must leave, sir."
"This ship isn't going anywhere; not until I get an answer. Now, who gave you that order?"
"You did, sir."

- Data is forced to reveal that Picard gave him the order to never reveal the existence of the Paxans


"I am ordering you never to reveal what has happened here today. Not to Starfleet, not to myself even. You will conceal your knowledge of the Paxans for as long as you exist. Do you fully understand, Data?"
"Completely, sir."

- Picard and Data during the first attempt to erase the crew's memories


"The second time will succeed if we leave no clues."
"You are a most unusual species. Worthy of a second chance. Proceed."

- Picard saves the Enterprise again from a Paxan inhabiting Deanna Troi


"Geordi, Data, reconfigure the computer and the records. Number One, I want you to oversee the rest of the ship. And this time... let's get it right."

- Picard

Background Information

Story and production

Continuity

  • Worf's Mok'bara classes are first seen in this episode.
  • Alyssa Ogawa is given her first name in this episode. Her last name would not be mentioned until TNG: "Cause and Effect".
  • Data references the USS Trieste, a ship he stated he was familiar with in TNG: "11001001".

Reception

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

And

Special guest star

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Stunt double

Stand-ins

References

ADTH; Big Good-Bye, The; Chamberlin virus; cigarette; class M; Cleveland; court martial; Diomedian scarlet moss; Dixon Hill; dizziness; electrolyte; emergency plan ZZA; Evadne IV; garter; Gloria; Harrakis V; helium; hydrogen; lie; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Milky Way Galaxy; mok'bara; Ngame Nebula; nitrogen; Number one; O'Brien, Keiko; oxygen; Packard; parsec; parts per million; Paxans; Paxan homeworld; Starbase 410; telephone; Tethys III; tricorder; Underhill, Pell; USS Trieste; T-Tauri type; xenophobic

Previous episode:
"Devil's Due"
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 4
Next episode:
"First Contact"