PICARD: Captain's log, stardate 47304.2.
The Enterprise has arrived at Kesprytt lIl
in order to evaluate an unusual request on the part of the Kes
for associate membership in the Federation.
This morning, she was 1 5 minutes late.
That's the third time this week.
[TAPPlNG]
Jean-Luc?
You don't have the slightest idea what I'm talking about, do you?
No. I'm really sorry, I don't.
I've been telling you about Nurse Ogawa and Ensign Markson
for the last 1 5 minutes.
- You have? - Mm-hm.
I'm really sorry.
Are you worried about this mission with the Kes?
Not worried, exactly.
This notion of admitting half their planet
while leaving the other half out.
First of all, the Kes are not half the planet,
they're nearly three-quarters of it.
And the Prytt are not being left out.
They themselves simply don't want to have contact
with anyone from the outside, not the Federation or anyone else.
Every member of the Federation entered as a unified world.
And that unity said something about them,
that they had resolved certain social and political differences
and they were now ready to become part of a larger community.
By all indications, the Kes are a very unified, very progressive people.
But the Prytt are not.
They're reclusive to the point of xenophobia.
Well, think about Earth.
What if one of the old nation-states, say, Australia,
had decided not to join the world government in 21 50?
Would that have disqualified us as a Federation member?
- That analogy is not exactly-- RlKER [OVER COM : Riker to captain.
Go ahead, Number One.
We've received word from Ambassador Mauric.
He's ready to see you and Dr. Crusher.
Inform him we're on our way.
Thank you for breakfast.
Wait until tomorrow. I have something very special planned.
It's a Vulcan dish, that's all I'll say.
WORF: Captain, doctor.
I have the coordinates of Ambassador Mauric's chambers.
Let's not keep him waiting, Mr. Worf.
Enterprise to Kes Security Relay Station 1 .
We are ready to commence transport.
MAN: Acknowledged, Enterprise. We have lowered our defense shield.
Confirmed.
Energize.
[COM BEEPS
MAN: This is Security Relay Station 1 .
We are ready to receive your captain and medical officer.
This is the Enterprise.
We have already completed the transport sequence.
You should have them.
Negative, Enterprise. They're not here.
PICARD: Space, the final frontier.
These are the voyages ofthe starship Enterprise.
Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds,
to seek out new life and new civilizations,
to boldly go where no one has gone before.
Beverly.
What happened?
- I don't know. - Oh. Oh.
The last thing I remember,
we were beginning to transport.
I assume we must be on Kesprytt.
And we're in some kind of prison cell.
The question is, why?
I can't imagine that Ambassador Mauric
would have any reason to detain us.
- Jean-Luc. - What is it?
Let me see.
What?
Looks like an implant.
Seems to be connected directly to the brainstem.
Is it some kind of coercive device?
Whatever it is, I doubt it's designed for our health.
What is going on here?
If you could tell us why you've taken us hostage, we might be able--
You are not hostages. You are prisoners.
Prisoners on whose authority?
You're being held under the authority of the Prytt Security Ministry.
The charges are conspiring with the enemy.
Enemy? You mean the Kes.
We are not fools.
We are aware of the Federation attempt
to establish a military alliance with the Kes.
It will not be tolerated.
Your information is incorrect. We have no plans to enter into any--
There is no point in trying to mislead us, captain.
The devices which have been implanted in your cerebral cortexes
will soon be calibrated to your psi-wave pattern.
At that time, we will be able to get all the information we need.
And then you'll discover that we are telling the truth.
We shall see.
There is nothing wrong with the transporter.
I have run a complete diagnostic of all the targeting components.
Then what happened to the captain and Dr. Crusher?
Commander, the transporter sensor log shows an unusual concentration
of antigraviton particles in the emitter coil.
A concentration of antigraviton particles suggests a tractor beam.
It might have deflected the transporter beam
to a different set of coordinates.
Is there a way to locate those coordinates?
The tractor beam originated somewhere in the Prytt Alliance.
What does the Prytt want with Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher?
I don't know.
And it's not going to be easy to find out.
The Prytt have consistently refused all outside contact.
We're going to have to work through the Kes.
Contact Ambassador Mauric. Tell him l want a meeting right now.
Aye, sir.
- What? - What?
You're staring at me.
I was just thinking about how to get out of here.
There may be a structural flaw that would allow us to escape.
Right.
Beverly, the important thing during any confinement
is to think positively and not give up hope.
There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle.
It's just a matter of finding it.
Damn!
Well, at least this means we won't starve to death.
It means they plan on keeping us here for a while.
I'm beginning to think negatively, Jean-Luc.
My tricorder.
Does it work?
Yes.
Except something's been added to the main directory.
- It's a map. - An escape route.
That guard must be working for the Kes.
Possibly.
Or it could be part of a very carefully laid trap.
Well, if you ask me, I'd like to take my chances out there.
Agreed.
Is there a way to open the cell door?
Yes, the code's been entered.
Commander, on behalf of my government,
I would like to take this opportunity to present my profound apologies
regarding this unfortunate incident.
That's very kind, ambassador.
But l don't think anyone here holds you or the Kes government
responsible for what happened.
Our primary concern is not to assign blame
but to recover our missing officers.
I agree.
We are prepared to insert a hostage-rescue team
into the Prytt capital city on three hours' notice.
Ambassador, we have not even attempted a diplomatic effort yet.
I would rather not use force until we've exhausted all other options.
I don't believe there is any diplomatic option, commander.
We have no formal relations with the Prytt, no ambassadors.
There's simply no way to contact them.
Surely you must have some means of communication
in case of a planetary emergency.
We have never had need of such a system.
We can determine their communications frequencies
and establish a link.
MAURIC: Allow me to be blunt.
The Prytt are a fanatical, xenophobic people,
with little regard for civilized discourse.
Even if you do establish a communications link with them,
it will be a complete waste of time.
How long has it been since your last diplomatic contact?
[SCOFFS]
Almost a century.
Then it's possible they may have changed over the years.
We have had other, less formal contacts with the Prytt.
Contacts we cannot discuss.
But l can assure you, they have changed very little.
With all due respect, ambassador,
I think I should try to communicate with the Prytt
before I sanction the use of force.
Of course, commander. In the meantime,
I will continue making preparations for a rescue mission.
Agreed.
I do have one request.
We believe that the Prytt obtained their information
about the transport of your captain and doctor
through a breach of our communications network.
If I could establish a base of operations
here on the Enterprise,
I'd feel much more secure.
Mr. Worf will help you.
Thank you, lieutenant.
[KEYPAD BEEPS THEN DOOR SLIDES OPEN]
You first.
[DEVICE CHlRPlNG]
Is there a problem, ambassador?
Probably not.
Simply securing the area.
I can assure you, there is no need.
I'm sure you're right.
Yes, this will do very nicely.
As security chief of the Enterprise,
I would be glad to assist you in any way possible.
There's no need. We'll take care of everything.
Thank you, lieutenant.
[TRICORDER BEEPING]
There must be a lava flow
or an underground hot spring somewhere near here.
It's a lava flow.
It's about 30 meters below us.
It says we should go this way.
I smell gas.
This whole chamber is filled with pockets of a methanogenic compound.
Can we get through it?
I think so.
What did you say?
I didn't say anything.
There might be a fairly regular pattern to these eruptions.
We should be able to navigate our way through them if we're careful.
Say when.
Now.
[FlRES WHOOSHING
The eruptions have stopped.
The gas is building up.
I have scanned the entire Prytt communication system.
This appears to be the primary access module for their central government.
Can you determine which of the com links is connected
- to the prime minister's office? - I believe so, sir.
However, the Prytt have no link
designed for extra-territorial communication.
Our hail may come as quite a surprise to them.
Well, they're going to have to adjust. Open a channel.
MAN [OVER COM : This is Prime Minister Horath's headquarters.
How can l be of service?
This is Commander William T. Riker, Federation starship Enterprise.
I know this may seem an unusual way to--
The Enterprise? You mean the ship in orbit?
That's right.
Why are you on this com link?
We're having trouble contacting your government directly.
We had to start somewhere. If you would let me talk to your--
Did you get authorization for this communication
from the security ministry?
As I said, we're having trouble contacting--
I cannot participate in an unauthorized communication.
This transmission is terminated.
- Not very friendly, are they? - No, sir.
[COM BEEPlNG]
Sir, we are being hailed. It is the Prytt Security Council.
Well, it looks like we got someone's attention. On-screen.
Enterprise, this is Security Minister Lorin.
You will immediately cease all attempts
at communication with our people.
Minister, we have been attempting to contact someone in your government.
It appears that you've detained two of our officers.
We would like to discuss the situation.
There is nothing to discuss.
If you do not terminate these transmissions,
we will be forced to take aggressive action against your ship.
Their weapon systems pose no threat to the Enterprise.
Just the same, let's keep the shields up for the time being.
- Aye, sir. - Is there a problem, commander?
Our effort with the Prytt just ran into a wall.
I'm sorry.
But perhaps this will brighten your spirits.
We have freed your captain and doctor.
What?
They were being held in prison just outside the Prytt capital,
but one of our operatives was able to arrange their escape.
Where are they now?
They should be en route to the Kes border.
Our operative provided them with a detailed map
and instructions on where to go.
How will you get them across the border?
At the moment that information is confidential,
but trust us, we do have a plan.
Ambassador, l'm afraid I must insist
that you provide us with more information.
I understand your concern, of course,
but I would feel more comfortable discussing these operational details
in a less public environment.
We can step into the Ready Room.
I would prefer the quarters you provided me.
They're safer.
All right.
There's no way out of here.
Maybe we took a wrong turn.
So am I.
- What? - I'm thirsty too.
I didn't say anything about being thirsty.
I heard you. You said, "l'm very thirsty."
I was thinking about it, but I didn't say anything.
You were thinking it.
The transceivers.
Lorin said that they would align themselves to our psi-wave patterns.
The implants must be transmitting our thoughts.
What am I thinking?
I don't know.
I can't hear your thoughts either.
Well, maybe it was a fluke.
Well, right now we have more immediate concerns.
Does your map show us a way out of here?
Yes. We need to go up.
There's a ledge about 30 meters up.
That should lead to another tunnel that connects up to the surface.
PICARD: Right.
I heard that.
They're not words, exactly. A sudden sense...
...of fear.
A sense of fear of heights.
So much for that being a fluke.
It was a strange sensation,
suddenly having these thoughts appear in my mind.
If you sensed a fear of heights, you sensed pretty accurately.
Come on.
You've done this before, it's just like on the holodeck.
One step at a time.
Just climbing, steadily and slowly.
CRUSHER: Right.
[DOOR OPENS
[DEVICE BEEPING
I see you've done some redecorating.
Just a few pieces of equipment necessary for security reasons.
- You understand? RlKER: Certainly.
He is, um, all right.
How do you plan to get our people out of Prytt territory?
You must realize that everything I'm about to say
cannot leave this room.
For some time, we have had certain friends among the Prytt,
citizens who realize that the long struggle between our two peoples
can only end when the Prytt government is made to see reason.
You've recruited a few Prytt spies.
It's a crude but accurate term.
These friends will be waiting for your captain and doctor
when they reach the village of Ohn-Kor near the Kes border.
The map we provided your officers will take them to a tavern there.
Forgive me, ambassador,
but is it wise to send two human fugitives,
in Starfleet uniforms, into a Prytt village?
The danger is minimal.
Our operatives control almost the whole village.
Once contact has been made with Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher,
our friends will escort them across the border into Kes.
I would still feel better if they could rendezvous with your operatives
in a less public place.
Commander, I assure you, we know what we're doing.
We've had a great deal of experience in dealing with the Prytt.
We'd hardly risk the safety of your people.
After all, we still hope that you will recommend
our entrance into the Federation.
[TRICORDER BEEPING]
- One of us is hungry. - That would be me.
Do you mind thinking of something else?
- You're making me hungry. - What do you want me to think about?
Something other than a large bowl of vegetable soup.
My grandmother used to make it, with peas, carrots--
- Beverly. - I'm sorry.
I am not being unreasonable.
I didn't say that you were.
I may have thought it, but there's a difference.
You're right.
We can't react to every random thought
that crosses the other person's mind.
Isn't it astonishing, though,
how much clutter there is in a consciousness?
Odd memories coming to the surface, bits of half-remembered songs.
Stray daydreams, scattered minutiae.
I wonder how true telepaths sift through it all.
How can they really get to what someone's thinking
if the mind keeps churning all this flotsam to the surface?
That is not funny.
I wanted to see if you were still listening.
I think our link is getting stronger.
Maybe if we put some distance between us, that might weaken it.
Not that I'm growing tired of hearing your most intimate thoughts.
Certainly not.
Jean-Luc.
[BOTH PANTING]
What happened?
Oh... I was suddenly overcome with a wave of nausea.
Me too.
[BEEPING
Mm. There's nothing wrong with either of us.
Maybe the air is toxic.
[BOTH GROAN]
The same thing.
But when you moved back to me, it got better.
Well, it seems as if we're stuck with each other.
PICARD: What is it?
CRUSHER: I'm not sure whether we should go over this hill or that one.
The topography on this map is a little vague.
PICARD: Let me see.
This way.
- You don't really know, do you? - What?
I mean, you're acting like you know exactly which way to go,
but you're only guessing.
Do you do this all the time?
No, but there are times when it is necessary
for a captain to give the appearance of confidence.
Ah-- I'm sorry, l'm sorry. I just couldn't resist.
I'm beginning to realize that you always seem to have
some acerbic remark on the tip of your tongue.
Well, at least l've trained myself not to say it anymore.
When I was a little girl, my mouth was always landing me in trouble,
with my parents, my teachers.
And your friends.
There was someone called Tom Norris.
That's right. I had one date with him
which I brought to an abrupt halt with the words, "ls that a beard,
- or is your face dirty?" Ha-ha. - Or is your face dirty?
There's something more.
You're laughing, but actually,
you were embarrassed by that incident.
Yes.
I thought I was being cute, but I really hurt him.
That was a long time ago.
I learned a valuable lesson.
This sharing thoughts and feelings is quite compelling.
Very. We'd better get going.
I don't think so either.
Maybe we can find another way to reach the village.
No.
It's several kilometers to find another way around that ridge.
The border is just two kilometers east of here.
There's a force field protecting it,
but we can find some way to deal with that when we get there.
Come on.
[DEVICE BEEPING
- All right. MAURIC: Mm.
Is something wrong?
Have a seat.
Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher did not show up
at the designated rendezvous point.
Do you know what happened to them?
No. We have no idea what happened to them.
We find it strange that your officers
should follow the escape plan so precisely
and then fail to make the crucial rendezvous with our operative.
Well, it is possible they have been recaptured.
Our sources would have informed us instantly if that had happened.
Of course, if they weren't captured,
if they simply made a different rendezvous,
we might not ever know about it.
A different rendezvous? I'm not sure I know what you mean.
Of course not.
How could you know if your captain and doctor
were meeting secretly with the Prytt?
Meeting in order to set up a military alliance with the Federation.
- What? - It was a clever scheme.
First, you pretend to lose your officers during transport,
and then you ask us for help,
and get us to expose several of our undercover operatives in the process.
But what you didn't expect
was for us to get your people out of prison so quickly.
They needed more time. They needed more time
to plot the destruction of the Kes with their new Prytt friends.
This is ridiculous.
You're beginning to see conspiracies everywhere.
We were invited here by the Kes.
Why would we ally ourselves with the Prytt?
Indeed, why?
Ugh. You can believe what you like.
We're gonna find our people with or without your help.
Then I believe it is time for us to be leaving the Enterprise.
Fine.
Make sure you take all this junk with you.
PICARD: No luck?
[CRUSHER SIGHS]
I'm beginning to think
there's not a single thing on this planet we can eat.
Well, by this time tomorrow,
we could be back onboard the Enterprise,
and you can plant yourself in front of a replicator with a knife and fork.
Remember that Vulcan dish I promised for breakfast?
Well, I was just...
You hate having breakfast with me.
- That's not true. - Yes, it is.
When I said breakfast, I heard you say, "l hate that."
That's not quite what I meant.
Well, then what did you mean?
It's just that I don't like--
What l've been choosing for breakfast recently.
You see, I think that breakfast should be a simple meal.
And recently you've been ordering these elaborate things.
Coffee and croissant. That's all you really want, isn't it?
Coffee and croissant. Well, why didn't you just say so?
I didn't think it was important.
You don't like those elaborate meals either.
No. I usually prefer something simple myself.
But l thought you might enjoy more variety.
Well,
I guess it's coffee and croissant for both of us from now on.
[ANIMAL HOWLlNG IN DISTANCE]
[IN UNISON] I love firelight.
There's something about the flame, the smell of the smoke.
It always seemed to me to be intoxicating, somehow.
I remember when Jack and I took Wesley
on his first camping trip to Balfour Lake.
Wesley kept throwing manta leaves into the fire, watching them pop.
Jack kept telling him...
What?
Jean-Luc, l heard you. Don't push it away.
When I said, "Jack and I,"
I felt this sudden wave
of something.
I didn't know you felt that way.
Didn't you?
I guess l always knew that there was...
...an attraction between us right from the start,
but I never knew how strongly you felt.
Why didn't you ever tell me you were in love with me?
You were married to my best friend.
At first, I thought it was harmless infatuation,
something hormonal rather than emotional.
Then when the months went by
and the three of us began spending more time together...
I realized that it was something else.
And it wasn't right.
But although I would never act on it, I couldn't help the way I felt.
And when Jack died, you felt guilty.
I felt guilty before he died,
having feelings like that for my best friend's wife.
And then later, after the accident,
I promised myself that I would never tell you how l felt.
It would be like betraying my friend.
That's why you didn't want me on the Enterprise seven years ago.
I didn't know how l would react.
[SIGHS
And then...
...little by little, I realized...
...that I didn't have those feelings anymore.
Twenty years is, after all, a long time.
And now we're friends.
Yes, friends.
Well...
...we still have a lot of ground to cover tomorrow.
We should get some sleep.
Right.
Ambassador, thank you for coming.
Commander.
We're going to clear up this misunderstanding once and for all.
Hail Minister Lorin, please.
Aye, sir.
Enterprise, I have warned you about these unauthorized communications.
Yes, l know.
But l think it's about time we all sat down together
and tried to work this out.
I have Ambassador Mauric here--
That is your misfortune.
We have nothing to say to either of you.
MAURIC: Commander, you're working with the Prytt.
Putting on this little show for my benefit does neither of us any good.
We'll see. Mr. Worf.
[TAPPlNG ON KEYBOARD]
I believe there's someone waiting for us in the Observation Lounge.
I should have known anyone willing to deal with the Kes
would be capable of such an outrage.
I'm sorry to resort to such drastic measures,
but you left me little choice.
Don't pretend the two of you are enemies. lt's too late for charades.
If that is an attempt to hide your military alliance with the Federation,
you needn't bother. I already know far more than you can imagine.
Let's all just sit down
and try to find out what happened to Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher.
I will not sit at a table with him.
No more than I would sit with her.
All right, then we'll stand.
The important thing is that we start talking.
I am not authorized to talk with a Kes official.
All right, then you talk to me.
Where are my officers?
As if you don't know already.
Let's go.
I'm all right.
We're already aware of your plan to use Federation technology
to build new attack satellites.
You will find that we are prepared for them.
That is an interesting but pointless lie.
I'd rather discuss your own plans to use Federation aid
to stage a takeover at Kolrod Island.
We have been over this before.
Kolrod clearly belongs to the Prytt. We originally--
RlKER: That's it.
I can see that diplomacy is not going to get us anywhere today.
And I do not have time to negotiate.
So let's put all of our cards on the table.
You're concerned
that the Kes are going to be admitted to the Federation.
Correct.
As first officer of the Enterprise, I think I can promise you
that is not going to happen. The Kes will be denied membership.
You have no authority to make that decision.
Despite whatever games you played with the Prytt when you arrived,
we still plan to take our petition directly to the Federation Council.
- They'll listen. - They will also listen
to the reports of the captain of the Enterprise and his first officer.
And I can tell you right now,
the first officer's report will go something like this:
Kesprytt.
A deeply troubled world.
Social, political, military problems that they have yet to resolve.
The Kes, while a friendly and democratic people,
are driven by suspicion, deviousness and paranoia.
It is the opinion of this officer
that they are not ready for membership.
Now...
The matter of our missing officers.
They're still charged with spying, commander.
I have heard nothing here which would alter that.
Then maybe you should consider this.
If anything happens to them,
Starfleet is going to want a full investigation.
Which means more starships will be coming to Kesprytt,
and those ships are going to want answers,
which puts your country under a very large
and very uncomfortable microscope.
Remember how unhappy you were
when we contacted just one of your people without authorization?
Well, just think what it'd be like.
Ten starships asking questions, contacting hundreds of your people,
massive sensor sweeps.
They may even start sending down away teams,
all because you wouldn't help me find my missing officers.
I think I can use the tricorder to set up a multiphase pulse.
That should weaken the force field enough to let us through.
No, no, the modulation frequency is in the upper harmonic range.
Right.
They're coming.
I'm working as fast as I can.
Minister, we have the human female.
The male is standing in Kes territory.
Very well. Transmit their coordinates to the Enterprise Transporter Room.
MAN: Understood.
Thank you, minister.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Mauric is determined to take his protest to the Federation Council.
But l don't think he'll get very far.
I tend to agree, Number One.
[BOTH LAUGHlNG
Did I miss something?
Of course. Of course.
You're absolutely right.
[CRUSHER SIGHS]
That was wonderful.
My pleasure.
Don't get me wrong, Jean-Luc,
but I'm glad we're not joined at the hip any longer.
So were you getting tired of my company?
Just tired of bumping into you every 30 seconds.
I was beginning to feel as if you were part of my uniform.
To freedom.
Freedom.
[SIGHS
A penny for your thoughts.
I was just thinking that as distracting as it was,
I was beginning to get used to hearing your thoughts
and I find that I miss it.
So do I. It was very intimate.
- You know, last night, l couldn't sleep. - Oh.
I was awake for several hours.
And thanks to the implants,
I got to hear some very interesting dreams of yours.
A man cannot be held responsible
for what his mind does while he's asleep.
What about when he's awake?
So now that we've had this unique experience, what do we do?
What do you mean?
You know exactly what l mean.
No, I don't.
The implants have been removed, remember?
Now that we know how each of us feels,
perhaps we should not be afraid to explore those feelings.
Or perhaps we should be afraid.
I think I should be going now.
- Good night. - Good night.