COUNSELING SESSIONS FOR THE CAPTAIN

Captain is browsing through his family photos when Counselor Troi drops by unexpectedly. The counselor is currently worried about the captain, thus she offers her counsel as usual. Picard states that its just family matters and we realize its far more than that. He soon introduces Troi to his family photos and Rene and Robert, his uncle and nephew. Picard soon informs that Robert and Rene were burned to death in a fire, the reason for his emotional outbursts at Riker and others. Troi tries to calm him by saying sorry, but Picard explains its all right and these things happen. Troi suddenly realizes that Picard's family line is more important to him, as Picard have heard about the days when the Picard's settled the first Martian colonists, the Picard's who fought at Trafalgar. Picard realizes that he will the last Picard. Ever since Robert married, he laid all that burden on him and realizes that he's made a mistake. Suddenly, a bright, blinding burst from the Amargosa star interrupts their moody conversation.

LEVEL TWELVE SHOCKWAVE

Picard and Troi hurries to the Bridge and learns that an explosion has occurred within the star and all nuclear fusion is breaking down. Sensors report that a solar probe was recently launched into the sun and that the explosion has caused a level twelve shockwave, which will destroy everything in the system. The transporter room soon reports that they can't find Data or LaForge as they have been attacked by the Doctor. Riker and Worf have four minutes and forty seconds to find them and beam back in time before the shockwave destroys them first.

ESCAPING WITH KLINGON RENEGADES

Soran looks intently at Geordi's VISOR as he has particular interest in the equipment. Soon, a Klingon communicator hails him and asks for his co-ordinates. Soran relays the message. Riker and Worf board the observatory, only to be attacked upon by the doctor. The Enterprise reports that they have exactly two minutes left, and Riker informs Soran that there is a level twelve shockwave headed their way. Soran only responds with disruptor fire. On the Enterprise, the relief tactical ensign reports that a Klingon Bird-Of-Prey is decloaking. Picard is shocked and surprised. Soran continues the phaser fight with the Starfleet Officers, while Riker approach Data to see if he can get to Geordi. But Data responds that he is afraid to Riker's surprise. Soon, Soran manages to get in the as a Klingon transporter beam whisks him and Geordi away. On the Enterprise, the transporter reports that Riker and Worf is onboard and soon Picard orders warp one to get the hell out of there. As soon as the Enterprise jumps into warp, the Amargosa Observatory is obliterated by the shockwave.

THE DYNAMIC DUO

Soran approaches the Bridge of an old battered Klingon battle cruiser and instantly knocks out B'Etor who congratulates him on his recent success. The Klingons around B'Etor wrestle the doctor down and make the move to kill him. B'Etor halts them before they can any serious damage. B'Etor hopes that the good doctor was not trying to engage in a mating ritual and drips some of her blood onto his lip, which the doctor doesn't like. Soran explains that they were not careful as the Romulans came looking for their missing trilithium. If the Enterprise hadn't intervened, they would've found it. Soon Lursa appears explains that they didn't and that she has the weapon of ultimate power. Soran tells her that he has it and that they better be careful in the future to acquire it. B'Etor is tired of waiting to kill the doctor but Soran warns that without his research, the weapon will be useless and that they will never reconquer the Klingon Empire. Lursa holds her sister back. Soran soon orders the two to set a course for the Veridian system.

AN EL-AURIAN

Dr. Crusher later explains to Worf and Riker that Soran is an El-Aurian, whose race was destroyed by the Borg. He is over three-hundred years old and was onboard the Enterprise-B during the perilous maiden voyage of that vessel. She has checked the passenger manifest and someone else is an El-Aurian who was also aboard the Enterprise-B.

A NAME NOT REMEMBERED SINCE

Picard visits Guinan in her quarters to get some information on the doctor. Guinan remembers the name, and its a name not heard for ages. Picard wants to know everything about Soran as he fears that Soran may have developed a powerful weapon, one that can destroy millions. Guinan explains that Soran isn't interested in weapons or power. All he cares about is getting back to the Nexus. "The Nexus?", asks Picard. Guinan explains that the ribbon that destroyed the Lakul isn't just some random phenomena that travels through space. It is a doorway to another place, another time called the "Nexus". Picard becomes interested and asks more as Guinan explains that it was like being inside joy, as if joy was something tangible that you could wrap yourself in, like a blanket. Picard then says that she was beamed away, but Guinan corrects him by saying that they were pulled away. None of them wanted to leave and she would've done anything to get back in there. After she realized it was no longer possible, she began to live with it. If Soran is still obessed, he could be a very, very dangerous man. "But why destroy a star," Picard wonders. Before Picard leaves, Guinan warns Picard not to go after him. She explains that if he goes in the Nexus, he's not going to care about anything, except how it feels to be there. Picard takes the warning as a complement and leaves her quarters.

TORTURE CHAMBER

On board the Klingon ship, Soran marvels at Geordi's VISOR saying that it is a remarkable piece of equipment. Geordi thanks him, then Soran asks if Geordi has considered a prothesis that would make him look more normal. Geordi asks what normal is and Soran answers that normal is what everyone else is and he is not. Geordi wants the doctor to get on with it and Soran asks Geordi what he knows about trilithium.

PLOTTING SORAN'S MOTIVES

Captain's Log: Stardate 48632.4. Dr. Crusher has informed me that Data's emotion chip has been fused into neural net and cannot be forcibly removed, however, she has informed me that he is fit for duty, so I've asked him to join me in Stellar Cartography.
Data and Picard study's the collapse of the Amargosa Star in the much upgraded Stellar Cartography. Data explains that the ribbon is an energy field traveling through the galaxy every thirty-nine point four years. Picard wants to know the connection between the ribbon and the destruction of Amargosa Star. Throughout the scene, we realize that Data is having difficulty concentrating. Picard asks what is wrong and Data explains that he is overcome with remorse and guilt concerning his actions on the observatory. The computer soon reports the effect of the Amargosa Star's destruction. Data notes that the gravitational field has been altered and that any passing through it would have to make a minor course correction. Picard asks for the ribbon's position and it is clear that Data cannot concentration. He asks Picard to deactivate him so that Dr. Crusher can remove the emotion chip, but Picard explains that having emotions is learning how to integrate it into there lives and Picard won't allow him to be deactivated.

SETTING COURSE FOR VERIDIAN THREE

After Data concedes lost, he courages himself to try and Picard informs him that courage can be an emotion too. He once again asks if Data can project the ribbon's current location. Data works and the computer shows the ribbons current position. The ribbon does not change as Data forgot to input the gravitational effect the Amargosa Star has caused. He makes the appropriate adjustments. Picard finally realizes what Soran is doing - he's changing the course of the ribbon to make the ribbon come to him. He wonders why he doesn't fly into it with a ship and Data notes that any ship that approached the ribbon has been destroyed or severely damaged. Soon Picard wants to know if it will pass through any M-Class planets and Data notes that there are two in the Veridian system. Veridian Three is uninhabited, but Veridian Four supports a pre-Industrial humanoid society. Data also notes that if Soran launched the same probe at the Veridian Star, it'll destroy everything in the system, killing two-hundred thirty million people on Veridian Four. Shocked, Picard orders Worf to set course for the Veridian System.

APPROACHING VERIDIAN THREE

On the Klingon ship, the Klingon helmsmen reports that they have entered orbit of Veridian Three. Soran orders the two sisters to transport him to the surface. Lursa chuckles and asks when they will get their payments. Soran soon produces a Klingon isolinear chip and informs Lursa that the chip contains all the information to build a trilithium weapon. He will transmit the encryption code once he's safely transported to the surface and not before. Soon, the helm reports that a Federation starship has entered orbit and is hailing them. Picard informs the Klingon that they know what they're doing and will do anything to destroy any probe launched toward the Veridian Star. Soran believes Picard is wasting time and orders Lursa to eliminate them. B'Etor reports that that is a galaxy class starship and that they are no match for them. Soran informs it is time to Mr. LaForge his sight back.

PRISONER EXCHANGE

On the Enterprise, the crew wonders why the Klingons aren't responding. Picard suggests that they are trying to decide whether an old Klingon Bird-Of-Prey will be any match for a Federation flagship and Troi suggests they may be on the surface. Worf soon calculates that a solar probe launched from the surface will take eleven seconds to reach the star and since they do not know its launching point, it will take them between eight and fifteen seconds to lock their weapons on. A margin too big for error. Picard need to find a way to get to Soran and soon the Klingon Bird-Of-Prey decloaks in front of them. Lursa and B'Etor soon greet the captain, and Picard demands to speak with Soran. Lursa informs them that the Doctor is no longer on board their ship and Picard suggests beaming down to the surface. B'Etor informs the captain that the doctor values his privacy and would be quite upset if an armed away-team interfered with his work. He soon suggests that he'll beam to his co-ordinates and Riker comments they can't trust as they could have killed Geordi. Lursa informs that they did not harm him to Data's relief and Riker orders them to return him. "In exchange for what?" asks Lursa. Data volunteers, but Picard quickly suggests himself and the two sisters discuss that the captain would make a much more valuable hostage. They agree and soon Picard makes his way to transporter room three, leaving Riker in charge.

DISSUADING SORAN

Captain Picard beams down to Soran's location. In mid-transport, Geordi also beams back to the ship, with Dr. Crusher attending to his medical support. On the surface, Soran greets him and says he knows why Picard is here. He knows Picard isn't confident in shooting down the probe, so he's come to dissuade him from his horrific plans. He tells him, "Good luck." Picard advances closer to Soran to get some sense into the scientist's mind, but is struct with a fifty gigawatt forcefield.

Page 4: