Lonely Among Us
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Star Trek: TNG episode | |
| "Lonely Among Us" | |
 The Enterprise passes through a mysterious energy cloud in Lonely Among Us. |
|
| Episode no. | 6 |
|---|---|
| Prod. code | 108 |
| Airdate | November 2, 1987 |
| Writer(s) | D.C. Fontana Michael Halperin |
| Director | Cliff Bole |
| Guest star(s) | John Durbin, Colm Meaney, Kavi Raz |
| Year | 2363 |
| Stardate | 41249.3 |
| Episode chronology | |
| Previous | "Where No One Has Gone Before" |
| Next | "Justice" |
"Lonely Among Us" is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, first broadcast November 2, 1987. It is episode #6, production #108, written by D.C. Fontana, based on a story by Michael Halperin, and directed by Cliff Bole.
Overview: A lost entity takes possession of Picard's mind.
[edit] Plot
On stardate 41249.3, the USS Enterprise, picks up delegates from two warring planets in the Beta Renner system - the reptilian Selay and canine Antican who have been at war since they encountered one another. The two races also wish to join the Federation and the Enterprise has been assigned to ferry the delegates to peace talks on the neutral world of Parliament.
Once underway, Lt. Cmdr. Data detects a strange energy cloud moving at warp speed alongside the ship. Captain Picard orders a quick sensor scan with no time for a thorough study of it. Down in a sensor maintenance room, Worf and La Forge conduct a routine inspection and as the ship passes the cloud, Worf is zapped by an energy bolt emitted from a console and falls unconscious. Dr. Crusher revives him, but he becomes violent and flails his arms forcing Crusher to sedate him.
Meanwhile, Lt. Yar and Commander Riker deal with Badar, the Antican chief delegate, who demands their food served "alive". He is revolted when he learns humans eat cooked, synthesized meat from a replicator. In sickbay, Dr. Crusher runs more tests on Worf. During a scan, she is zapped by an arc of energy between them and is dazed for a moment. Counselor Troi enters and notices the Crusher's odd behavior. Crusher leaves and finds her son Wesley where she questions him about helm control - a subject Wesley finds strange coming from her.
Back on the bridge, Data reports the cloud contains complex patterns of energy, but without further scans it is impossible to determine their nature. Beverly wanders onto the bridge taking a peculiar interest in helm control which puzzles Geordi. Picard asks of Worf's condition, but she appears distant replying that Worf suffered a "mental aberration" and is fine now. She then wanders to a science station where Data observes her calling up navigational functions. Data looks away for a moment missing the sight of an energy arc jumping from Beverly into the console. Beverly snaps back and is confused to find herself on the bridge. Soon, various systems begin to malfunction throughout the ship. Picard calls Assistant Engineer Singh for an explanation where Singh blames the problem on a sudden power spike but he cannot explain what caused it.
Elsewhere, Riker and Yar have another confrontation with Badar, reporting that two of his associates were discovered outside the Selay delegate's quarters brandishing weapons. Badar explains the so called "weapons" are cutting tools used to butcher the animals they eat. Yar confiscates the weapons and warns Badar that violence will not be tolerated aboard the ship.
Next, the Enterprise abruptly drops from warp. Agitated, Picard tells Data to forward a message to Parliament about their delay, but Data finds the subspace radio is also out. Data believes the problems are not endemic to the ship where Riker suspects a possible saboteur among the alien delegates knowing both species have relations with the Ferengi. In response, Picard orders more security around the alien guests. Down in engineering, Wesley and Singh locate an anomaly in a computer link. Singh goes to fix the problem by himself, while Wesley heads to school. A while later, Worf discovers Singh's lifeless body and a murder investigation begins. Meanwhile, Geordi restores warp power and the ship resumes course.
Yar reports that the Antican's statements seem suspicious since crew locators recorded them moving about the ship during the hours they say they were in their quarters. Data states the aliens acquired medical supplies for wounds endured while eating and believes they are more inclined to kill the Selay than ship's crew. Elsewhere, Deanna puts Worf and Dr. Crusher under hypnosis to gain insight into their unexplained blackouts. Under hypnosis, the two say they felt something invade their minds, but offer little else.
Suddenly, the Enterprise falls back to sublight speed. As Picard leans over to check the conn, he is zapped by an arc of energy. Geordi, having witnessed the power surge, asks if he is all right. Picard is fine and asks why they've stopped. To Geordi's amazement, the conn's readouts have returned to normal. Picard then orders a new heading back to the energy cloud. Puzzled, Riker questions the course change where Picard claims the cloud deserves another look.
The senior officers have a private meeting to discuss the Captain's sudden change in behavior. Alongside Dr. Crusher, Riker confronts the Captain, telling him there is evidence to believe he is under "alien control" and insists he goes to sickbay for analysis. Picard turns tables on them, thinking they are both overworked and delusional. He states the primary mission of the Enterprise is to seek knowledge of the unknown and that is the mission he is carrying out. He then orders that they undergo the medical examinations themselves and demands to see the results afterward. With their hands tied by regulations, there is little left for either officer to do. Later, Beverly returns with the results of the medical exams. Crusher gains courage and pleads to the entity in control of Picard to come straight and explain its purpose for taking over the Captain. Picard hesitates, but finally he says "it" and Jean-Luc have joined and soon the two will be "home".
The Enterprise finally reaches the cloud. Picard makes an announcement to the bridge crew explaining that when the Enterprise passed through the cloud, it acquired a sentient presence. It first felt fear when a strange force scooped it up inside its energy pathways. It pleaded for help, but was unable to get the crew's attention until it found the more relaxing environment, the main computer. There, it tried to seize direct control of the ship to make its way back home. It expresses regret for having killed the engineer who found its hiding place, but explains it had no choice but to protect itself. Having found Picard, the entity saw that it and the Captain, share a common wonder about the universe. Now it shows desire for Picard's mind and itself to remain together indefinitely and allow Picard to explore the universe in ways he could never achieve in his physical form.
Riker has heard enough of this nonsense and orders Picard to stand down. He relieves him of duty, claiming he is unfit for command. Picard reacts, casting out arcs of energy across the bridge that hold everyone back. He then leaves the bridge with the crew helpless to stop him and arrives in the transporter room. He sets the controls and beams himself away as a pattern of energy.
The Enterprise lingers near the cloud desperately searching for the Captain. After hours of scanning, Riker, gives up and sets course for Parliament. At the last second, Deanna feels the Captain's presence lingering somewhere saying he has been abandoned by the entity. Suddenly, a "P" appears on Geordi's console, "P for Picard". He is now in the ship's systems, and everyone tries to pinpoint his location. Data indicates the Captain's physical pattern still held in the transporter buffer and acting on a wild theory, he tries to send Picard's essence into a reconstruction of his body. The attempt is successful and Picard returns to normal, however he does not remember what happened.
Their celebration is interrupted when Tasha announces a Selay delegate is missing, followed by a cook's report that the Anticans requested he boil up some reptile for them.
[edit] External links
- Lonely Among Us article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki.
- Lonely Among Us at StarTrek.com
- Review of the episode by actor Wil Wheaton
