THE BADGE OF OFFICE

Soon, Riker yells out "Extend the plank!" The crew steadfastedly extends the plank to the starboard side of the ship. Riker orders the badge of office to be lowered. Worf soon goes to the end of the plank. He hesitates. Riker announces that no one has ever made it, but Picard ignores him and watches as Worf takes one mighty leap and grabs the badge of office, dropping back on the plank and balancing himself. The crew once again roars with approval and Worf puts on the badge of office. Picard soon informs that he's learned never to underestimate a Klingon. Riker agrees and soon orders the computer to remove the plank. The plank disappears, sending Worf to crash in the freezing cold water. Everyone laughs except Data, who is confused beyond belief.

A CONFUSED ANDROID

Data seeks the advise of Dr. Crusher. Data wants to know why someone falling into freezing water is amusing. The Doctor tells him that its all in good fun. Data does not understand. The Doctor elaborates by explaining that he has to get into the spirit, try to be more spontaneous and to live the moment. Do something unexpected. With that advice, Data seemingly pushes Dr. Crusher into the water, to her surprise and everyone elses. Data has a smile on his face, except others who look at him in disbelief. Data goes to Geordi who informs him that it was not funny. Data is confused beyond relief.

SETTING SAIL

Soon Riker sets the big ship sailing once again and is clearly having the time of his life. Picard calls his attention and wonders in amazement what it was during this time. No computers, engines, just the seas and the stars to guide you. Riker also suggests bad food, brutal discipline and no woman. Picard soon receives a call from the Bridge. He has a personnel message for him and he seems a little distracted. He orders the officer on the Bridge he'll take in here. The captain orders the arch and we finally realize that they are on the Holodeck. Picard reads the message through a screen and suddenly his behavior changes from fun to sad, as something in the message has provoked him. Troi is the first to realize this and goes to seek counsel to the captain, but the captain harshly dismisses her and exits Holodeck. After the captain exits Holodeck, Commander Riker receives another call from the Bridge. This time, it is an emergency. The Amargosa Observatory is under attack. Riker calls for red alert and Captain Picard to the Bridge.

APPROACHING AMARGOSA

The majestic ship, the familiar Enterprise-D, arrives Amargosa. Everyone enters the Bridge, still wearing their naval uniforms. Riker receives information that there are no other ships present. The captain soon enters, distracted, and asks if there are any survivors on board. Data informs him that there are five survivors, out of nineteen crew complement. Picard orders to stand down from red alert and orders Riker to begin an investigation into the attack, while he retreats to the Ready Room. There is something clearly wrong with the captain, but Riker has his orders.

INVESTIGATING THE DAMAGED OBSERVATORY

Riker, Worf, Crusher and two security personnel beam into the damaged observatory. They find the observatory completely torn. Consoles and lights flickering on and off. Worf soon reports that the phaser pattenrs are consistent with type-three disruptors. Riker is annoyed as that narrows it down to Klingons, Romulans or Breen. They soon find many of the officers badly wounded or dead. As they are investigating, they hear a loud noise in the distance. They soon rush over to aid a scientist, whom we met earlier, Dr. Tolian Soran. When asked who attacked them, Soran responds with "I don't know. It all happened all too quickly." Soon Riker's attention is required, as the two security personnel has found something. Riker and Worf climb up to the second level to find that the security personnel are hovering above a dead corpse of a Romulan solider.

EMOTION CHIP THE ANSWER

Geordi and Data work in Data's office, as they discuss Data's recent pitfalls with the Dr. Crusher incident. Geordi jokes that he better not go to Sickbay for a couple of days. Not understanding the joke, Data goes to a cabinet and opens the drawer. Inside it, is an emotion chip he acquired from Lore, in the TNG episode "Descent, Part II". Geordi is worried that Data may actually use it. He worries that it may overload his neural net, but Data believes that his growth as an artifcial intelligence has reached an impasse. He can't even understand such basic human concept as humor and for thirty-seven years he has endeavored to become more human. This emotion chip may be the only answer. Data asks Geordi to perform the operation, and Geordi has to reluctantly agree. They both agree, that the first sign of trouble and they'll deactivate it.

REPORTING ON THE AMARGOSA

Riker soon reports to Captain Picard that they found two dead Romulans on the station. During this scene, we realize that Picard isn't listening to Riker's report, that mind is clearly elsewhere. Riker also reports that they are analysing the Romulans tricorder to determine what ship they came from. Picard finally speaks, as he says this could signify a new Romulan threat to this sector and wants Riker to contact Starfleet Command. Riker troubled by Picard's mood, has no choice but to agree. He also reluctantly informs that Dr. Soran, one of the survivors of the has asked to speak with Picard, on an urgent matter. Riker tries to get Picard to open up to his mood, but to no avail.

TESTING THE EMOTION CHIP

Data and Geordi enter Ten-Forward to test Data's emotion chip. Clearly, Data's body language have somewhat been altered since the insertion of the emotion chip. The two soon head for the counter, where Guinan, the bartender and earlier seen on the Enterprise-B, serves the gentlemen a concotion from Forcas Three. Data takes a sip of the liquid and he believes that the beverage have produced an emotional response. Guinan is surprised. Geordi asks how is it, and Data responds that since he has had little experience with emotions, he is unable to articulate the sensation. Through Data's expression, Guinan tells him that he hates it. Data respond with excitement as he hates the drink. Geordi is relieved as the chip appear to be working.

AN IMPERATIVE MEETING

Picard soon enters Ten-Forward to meet with Soran. Soran greets him warmly and tells Picard that he must get back to the observatory to complete a critical experiment he was running on the Amargosa star. This doesn't sound that imperative. Picard informs Soran that they are still continuing an investigation into the attack. Once that is complete then he will be allowed to return. However, Soran won't take no for an answer. He says something that strikes a chord within Picard. Soran knows of Picard's recent troubles and informs him that we leave so many things unfinished in our lives and that time is not at an enternity.

INFORMATION GAINED

Worf soon reports to Riker that the Romulans were looking for a compound for trilithium. Trilithium is a nuclear inhibitor and in theory, it can stop all fusion within a star. The Romulans have never found a way to stabilize it, and Riker wonders why Romulans would look for it on a Federation station. He soon orders Data and Geordi to go over on the next away team to search for trilithium.

SEARCHING FOR TRILITHIUM AND LISTENING TO A BAD COMEDIAN

Geordi and Data are on the Amargosa Observatory to search for trilithium. Data, meanwhile, is having fun with his new found emotions, as he tells Geordi that he gets a joke made seven years ago during the Farpoint mission. (see "Encounter at Farpoint") Specifically, he refers to the moment when Geordi says, "The clown can stay but the Ferengi in the gorilla suit has to go." Geordi thanks him for remembering the joke, and realizes that he has created a monster. Data continues to giggle throughout the whole scene, as they search for trilithium. Soon, Geordi spots a door which appear to be a wall for a human being. But he explains that he can pick it up the separation pane with his VISOR. Data soon opens the door, by reversing the polarity on his axial servo. He later jokes that he has a magnetic personality.

TRILITHIUM PROBE

When they're inside the room stacked with probes and all, Geordi's VISOR picks up something in the theta band, coming from a probe. He asks Data if he's seen a probe with this kind of configuration. Data jokingly replies, "no", using his tricorder like a puppet. Data soon opens the probe and Geordi can clearly see the trilithium compound. Soon, Data erupts into a fit of laughter, as something is definitely wrong with him. He soon collapses to the floor, but later regains conscious. Geordi tries to beam back to the ship, but there is a dampening field preventing them from beaming out. Later, Dr. Soran approaches the two, and realizes that they have tampered with his experiments and reacts with anger. Geordi asks if he can shut off the dampening field, and is only met with a punch in the face. Geordi is knocked unconscious. The Doctor soon turns his weapon on Data, who cowers in fear.

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