Star Trek: The Next Generation 3x24

1. Captain's log, stardate 43930. 7.

2. The Enterprise has been in attendance

3. at the biennial Trade Agreements Conference on Betazed.

4. For the first time, the Ferengi are present,

5. and I have reluctantly consented to their boarding the Enterprise

6. for the closing reception.

7. Check and mate.

8. Perfect.

9. The Queen's Gambit, finished off with the Aldabren Exchange.

10. It is unfair.

11. I couldn't concentrate with all that noise.

12. Noise?

13. It's Algolian ceremonial rhythms.

14. I toast the success of the trade conference, Reittan.

15. I must admit...

16. I had some doubts when you invited the Ferengi.

17. They made a profit and behaved themselves.

18. What more could one ask? Still, they trouble me.

19. We Betazeds are uncomfortable with species like the Ferengi

20. whose minds we can't read.

21. Perhaps your telepathic skills are ineffective

22. owing to the anomalous construction of the Ferengi brain,

23. - which is composed of four different— - Thank you, Mr. Data.

24. It was thoughtful of you to invite Lwaxana Troi

25. to be part of the Betazed delegation.

26. Yes, Lwaxana and I go way back.

27. Her first husband and I were old friends,

28. and I've known Deanna since she was a child.

29. I'm sure Counselor Troi appreciates the opportunity

30. to spend time with her mother.

31. Little one, you could at least pretend

32. you're happy to see me.

33. Mother, we're among non-telepaths.

34. It's impolite not to speak aloud.

35. Oh, you mean talk with my mouth full? Ha.

36. Deanna, please.

37. Well, all right, you want me to say something aloud?

38. Have you ever considered if you had stayed on Betazed,

39. you might have been a happier person?

40. Let's not guess what might have been.

41. I love my work on the Enterprise.

42. Yes, of course you do, but it's all business and no play.

43. You've got to enjoy life. Relax. Like I do.

44. Find yourself the right man. Think of your future.

45. Think of my future.

46. Lwaxana, Deanna, anything I can do for you?

47. Could I...?

48. She's as repulsive as the rest of them.

49. Repulsive? Heh.

50. I find her exotic.

51. And what an advantage her telepathy would be in our negotiations.

52. To read our competitors' minds.

53. Yes, that would be valuable.

54. But she'd never agree to use her powers to help us.

55. I'm not so sure.

56. Lwaxana Troi of Betazed, I believe.

57. I am DaiMon Tog of the Ferengi vessel Krayton.

58. May I join you?

59. I was just going to see Captain Picard. Excuse me.

60. Oh, Jean-Luc? Jean-Luc, uh, come, have a drink with me.

61. - Tell me what you've been up to. - Perhaps later, Lwaxana.

62. Mr. Data and I were about to show Reittan Grax the, urn...

63. The, um— Uh, the new door mechanisms on the aft turbolifts.

64. If you'll excuse us.

65. Lwaxana Troi,

66. I desire you.

67. What?

68. You see, your Betazoid skills would be very useful to me.

69. And I find you very attractive.

70. I am willing to pay handsomely for you.

71. I don't believe this.

72. You must be aware that every female has her price.

73. Let's get one thing straight, little man.

74. I am not for sale.

75. And if, by some chance, I were to become available,

76. I would rather eat Orion wing slugs

77. than deal with a toad-faced troll like you!

78. So go away and find yourself somebody else

79. to become your property.

80. As you wish.

81. Now that you've totally humiliated us, may we return to our vessel?

82. She is exhilarating, isn't she?

83. Now I want her more than ever.

84. Lwaxana Troi,

85. you will be mine.

86. Space, the final frontier.

87. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.

88. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds,

89. to seek out new life and new civilizations,

90. to boldly go where no one has gone before.

91. Are we at war with the Ferengi yet?

92. DaiMon Tog has returned to his vessel and the Ferengi have left orbit.

93. My mother will be relieved.

94. I hear she handled the situation quite skillfully.

95. An admirable woman.

96. I'll be sure to tell her you said so.

97. Come in, little one.

98. Mother?

99. Mother, please.

100. Oh, after that awful little Ferengi insulted me,

101. I needed to center myself.

102. Can you imagine that dreadful little creature talking to me like that?

103. Doesn't he realize that I am the daughter

104. of the Fifth House of Betazed?

105. Holder of the sacred Chalice of Rixx?

106. The sacred Chalice of Rixx is an old clay pot

107. with mold growing inside it.

108. Well, perhaps one day when you're older and wiser,

109. you'll understand.

110. Come on, little one, sit down. Talk to me.

111. - We spend so little time together. - That's true.

112. I'm sorry.

113. And I didn't mean to get so upset with you at the reception.

114. Deanna, try to understand. You're all I have.

115. My only concern is for your happiness.

116. I am happy-

117. Why can't you believe that?

118. Oh, I wish I could, but how much happiness is there

119. in always being there for someone else

120. and never being there for yourself?

121. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of my work.

122. Oh, I'm sure you do. I'm sure it's very rewarding in its way.

123. But what about a family?

124. This is my family.

125. My friends, here on the Enterprise.

126. All right. In case I have to spell it out for you,

127. I am talking about finding a husband, having a child.

128. That's what made me happy.

129. At least until now.

130. Mother, look. Perhaps someday I will marry.

131. But you have to let me make my own choices,

132. live my own life and not the life that you would choose for me.

133. You had your chance with Commander Riker.

134. Look how you ruined that.

135. I did not ruin anything. We've become very good friends.

136. Well, all the better. You certainly wouldn't wanna marry an enemy.

137. I see we can't talk about this.

138. Very well, have it your own way, little one.

139. Little one?

140. You called me that when I was 5.

141. Now, stop demeaning me and address me as an adult.

142. I'll be home on Betazed if you need me, lit—

143. Deanna.

144. Adding preprocessors to the neutrino counters

145. boosted efficiency by 11 percent.

146. Commander La Forge and Commander Data

147. did most of the work.

148. Not so fast, Wesley.

149. Reprocessing the data with an optical chip was your idea.

150. That is correct, sir.

151. Although Commander La Forge and I designed the chip,

152. Mr. Crusher derived the equation governing its operation.

153. The point is, you completed the upgrade well ahead of schedule.

154. - Very impressive. - Indeed. Fine work.

155. We shall miss you, Mr. Crusher.

156. As you've guessed, final entrance examination scores

157. from Starfleet Academy have arrived. Congratulations.

158. As soon as you have completed the oral exam,

159. you'll be formally admitted.

160. We'll have you back at Betazed in time

161. to meet up with the Academy transport ship.

162. Thank you, sir.

163. That'll be all.

164. - Number One, a moment? - Yes, captain?

165. You'll agree that this is a fairly routine mapping mission?

166. Yes, sir.

167. Counselor Troi had the good sense to ask for shore leave.

168. I can see I'm gonna have to suggest it to you.

169. Have a good time, Number One.

170. Your mother...

171. I think it's around here somewhere.

172. Well, maybe it died. It has been a few years.

173. Muktok live for hundreds of years.

174. - Here it is. - Oh!

175. Oh, it's lovely.

176. I remember that sound.

177. And all the good times we had.

178. I remember.

179. A certain junior officer meeting a very serious psychology student.

180. Best part about being assigned to Betazed.

181. Oh, this is the perfect spot.

182. Put the food down over there, Mr. Homn.

183. Oh, isn't it a beautiful day for a picnic?

184. They'll be joining us in a moment. No, no, no.

185. Here, I— Put the food over there.

186. - No, no, you can go back to— - Mother.

187. How did you know about this place?

188. Your father used to bring me here.

189. Sit down.

190. And you even brought provisions. Very thoughtful.

191. Here, Will, Deanna.

192. Try an oskoid. They're delicious.

193. See, that's sap running through the veins. Helps keep it warm.

194. Very tasty.

195. Tell us, Lwaxana, the last time we met, you were looking for a husband.

196. - Have you had any luck? - Ah, alas, no.

197. But what happens to me isn't important.

198. I am much more concerned with other people

199. getting on with their lives.

200. Mother.

201. Mr. Homn, I noticed some uttaberries back along the path.

202. Pick some.

203. Well, Mr. Homn and I could go back home

204. if you two would like to be alone.

205. It's such a romantic setting.

206. Mother, stop it.

207. Darling, you have been so excitable lately.

208. Have you ever thought of a leave of absence?

209. I could talk to Jean-Luc.

210. Try the oskoid. Very different.

211. - What the—? Oh.

212. For one whose beauty surpasses even these pericules.

213. DaiMon Tog, I thought the Krayton left orbit hours ago.

214. It did.

215. But when I tried to get the image of Lwaxana Troi out of my mind,

216. I could not succeed.

217. This is ludicrous.

218. You mean you came all the way back to Betazed for me?

219. Why continúe to search for perfection once you have found it?

220. I don't believe this.

221. Now, look, Demon Tog, or whatever you call yourself.

222. I am the daughter of the Fifth House,

223. holder of the sacred Chalice of Rixx,

224. heir of the Holy Rings of Betazed.

225. And unless you wanna create an interstellar incident,

226. you had better beam back to your ship.

227. Returning to my ship is exactly what I had in mind.

228. - Krayton, transport four immediately. - No, Tog.

229. Pawn. Pawn takes knight, king's level.

230. Then bishop takes knight, king's level.

231. Rook to queen four.

232. Lwaxana.

233. Deanna.

234. Where are we?

235. From the smell of things, I'd say we're aboard a Ferengi vessel.

236. The Ferengi can't do that. You're Starfleet officers.

237. Tog must not have read that chapter in the Ferengi book of etiquette.

238. Enterprise?

239. - Must be too far out of range. Oh.

240. DaiMon, they have regained consciousness.

241. Very good.

242. I should have known.

243. Even their transporters can't be trusted.

244. Why have you removed our clothing?

245. Females do not deserve the honor of clothing.

246. They're as bad as humans. Look at that leer on his face.

247. No.

248. His is an expression of revulsion.

249. But it is a feeling that I do not share, Lwaxana.

250. Well, it's cold in here.

251. Do you want me to become ill?

252. You must forgive the doctor.

253. He is not accustomed to dealing with Betazoid females.

254. Now, Lwaxana.

255. I have a, uh, business proposition for you.

256. Thanks, but I'm not interested in any of your propositions.

257. Hear me out.

258. Your telepathic powers could bring us both great profit.

259. Ha. Why would I want to bring you profit?

260. In order to keep your daughter alive and healthy, for one.

261. There is no need for threats.

262. Lwaxana is a sensible female.

263. I don't like the sound of this.

264. I believe I can control him, little one.

265. I'm sure that, uh, we can talk about this.

266. Just the two of us.

267. A wise choice.

268. Farek, leave us.

269. And you may rejoin your friend.

270. - Mother, are you sure? - I'll be fine.

271. And now, Lwaxana Troi.

272. Let us talk.

273. Fifteen hours from Gamma Erandi and already the subspace static

274. is playing hell with the communications.

275. Just what you'd expect from a stellar nursery.

276. Wesley, congratulations on passing your Starfleet written examination.

277. - An excellent achievement. - Thanks, Data.

278. Now, if I can just do as well on the oral exams.

279. Not to worry. You will.

280. And when you return,

281. we'll be gaining the best ensign in the fleet.

282. There is no guarantee that Wesley will be reassigned to the Enterprise.

283. Ninety-one percent of Starfleet graduates

284. are not posted to Galaxy-class starships

285. on their first assignment.

286. I never thought of that.

287. I always assumed I'd be coming back to the Enterprise.

288. Well, I'm sure Captain Picard will request you.

289. That is, if he's still commanding the Enterprise when you graduate.

290. I never thought of that either.

291. I never thought I'd feel this way

292. about leaving you guys and the Enterprise.

293. Is that not part of the human experience?

294. Growth and change?

295. - I suppose so, but— Listen, Wesley.

296. I felt the same way when I left my family to go to the Academy.

297. But it was one of the best times of my life.

298. You're gonna meet new friends

299. and have adventures that you can't even imagine yet.

300. I hope you're right, Geordi.

301. Oh, little one.

302. Tog's given me something perfectly hideous to wear.

303. He says it flatters my beauty.

304. So far, Mother is in no danger.

305. I hope she knows what she's doing.

306. Well, she's bought us some time. Let's make the most of it.

307. I wouldn't do that.

308. I don't need your help.

309. The hell you don't. You're two moves away from being mated.

310. See? Should have listened to me.

311. Now you've only got one possible escape.

312. That wasn't it.

313. Should have moved the bishop.

314. Ridiculous. The bishop was pinned.

315. Don't listen to me.

316. Forget the fact that I beat you in 30 moves.

317. - Pure luck. - I was being poli te.

318. I could have won in 20.

319. Then prove it.

320. Pawn to queen four, king's level.

321. Pawn to king's bishop three, queen's level.

322. I must admit, when you, uh, first approached me

323. aboard the Enterprise, I was, ahem, intrigued.

324. - You mean revolted. - Perhaps a little.

325. - Do you forgive me? - Yes.

326. But with your powers,

327. we could be a formidable team.

328. My...

329. You have great strength in your hands.

330. And you like that?

331. I have always admired strong males.

332. You are beautiful.

333. It is impossible for me to resist you.

334. Then, uh...

335. don't.

336. Initial scans of ionization patterns complete, sir.

337. Now correlating sensor readings.

338. Almost incomprehensible.

339. The amount of energy being expended.

340. Actually, it is 5.34 times 10 to the 41st watt, sir.

341. Well within the norm for this type of phenomenon.

342. Yes, yes, yes, perhaps, Data.

343. But that takes away none of the wonder.

344. Check.

345. - I'm sick of this game. - Of course. Now that you are losing.

346. Who's losing? I'm just tired of standing up.

347. You can't resign now.

348. It's hard to play from in here. I can't even see the whole board.

349. Ah. Then you'll finish the game if I let you out of the cell.

350. I might.

351. Clever, human, but I'm not that foolish.

352. What, do you think I'm gonna try to escape?

353. What would that get me? You've already got her.

354. Besides, where would I go?

355. I do not trust you.

356. Fine. Thanks for the game.

357. Come out here.

358. Now save your rook. If you can.

359. And that was my first husband.

360. Not much of a conversationalist, but, uh...

361. What a lover. Heh.

362. Well, then I met—

363. I do not want to hear about your other romances.

364. It makes me jealous.

365. My, my. What, uh, big ears you have.

366. Has anyone ever told you how attractive they are?

367. Some females think they are my best feature.

368. No one has ever given me oo-mox like this before.

369. Oo-mox?

370. There is no translation.

371. But the ear is one of our most erogenous zones.

372. Those Ferengi have iron jaws.

373. Little one, if Tog were a kitten, he'd be purring.

374. Good work, Mother.

375. According to Mother,

376. DaiMon Tog is extremely relaxed at the moment.

377. Tell Lwaxana to keep him relaxed while we call in the cavalry.

378. Access to communications denied.

379. All transmissions to be authorized by DaiMon Tog.

380. Let's see just how relaxed DaiMon Tog is.

381. Mother, we're out of the cell

382. and we're trying to contact the Enterprise.

383. But we can't do it without Tog's access code.

384. - Do you think you could manage—? Say no more, little one.

385. Ah, Lwaxana, you and I are going to make such a wonderful team.

386. With your telepathy and my cunning, I foresee—

387. A very profitable future.

388. Subspace interference is subsiding, sir.

389. - Communications have been restored. - Good.

390. Contact Commander Riker on Betazed.

391. Messages coming in from Betazed, sir. Priority one.

392. On screen.

393. Captain Picard, at last.

394. We have been trying to reach you for two days.

395. Our communications have been blocked by the nebula, Reittan.

396. - Is there a problem? - I'm afraid so, captain.

397. Lwaxana, Deanna, and Commander Riker

398. have disappeared.

399. I knew I wanted you the moment I saw you.

400. You have fulfilled all my expectations.

401. How sweet.

402. Farek thought it was a bad idea.

403. - But I knew better. - How clever.

404. Hmm, I knew best.

405. I always know best.

406. - How repugnant. - What?

407. Oh, I said, how romantic.

408. I can't resist a man who knows what he wants

409. and goes after it.

410. Hmm, that's me. And that's why I'm DaiMon of this ship.

411. I take charge in every situation.

412. More to the left, woman.

413. Whatever you say.

414. Mm.

415. My darling, would you care for something to drink?

416. You're so attentive.

417. Does your food synthesizer know how to make an Arcturian fizz?

418. I don't think so.

419. They have certain pleasure-enhancing qualities.

420. Uh, let me teach your computer how to make one.

421. Oh. I'll need your access code.

422. Yes, my beloved.

423. Uh, computer, access code:

424. Tog, be silent!

425. I knew you were not to be trusted.

426. Dr. Farek, I was just going to make DaiMon Tog a drink.

427. Save your lies for this fool.

428. But he's— But, uh— Oh, please don't listen to him, don't.

429. - No, he's misunderstood. - No, Tog, you have misunderstood.

430. You have been tricked by a sly female who finds you repulsive.

431. She was only trying to serve me a drink.

432. You almost gave her complete access to the ship's computer.

433. A security breach severe enough to cost you your command.

434. It's time you took my advice.

435. Let me study her.

436. Study her?

437. Your mind probes could kill her.

438. You brought her aboard for her telepathic powers.

439. If I can determine what neural configuration

440. gives her those powers, I may be able to duplicate them.

441. We could still profit from this.

442. I don't know.

443. A true DaiMon would not be blinded by lust.

444. Give her to me.

445. Or I may be forced to report your transgressions.

446. - Very well, take her. Oh.

447. When you're finished here, survey in that direction.

448. Aye, sir.

449. I wish I had some answers for you, Lieutenant Worf.

450. - Mr. Homn was no help? - None.

451. He last saw them as he was leaving this clearing.

452. When he returned, all three of them were gone.

453. Lieutenant Foley discovered this in the pond.

454. The species is Zan Periculi.

455. It is not indigenous to Betazed, but to Lappa IV, a Ferengi world.

456. Now we have a reasonable hypothesis as to whom.

457. The difficult question is where.

458. The Ferengi ship is almost as fast as the Enterprise.

459. She could be anywhere by now.

460. Commander Riker will assume we'll be searching for them.

461. He'll find some way to send us a message.

462. Mr. Worf, I want continual monitoring of Ferengi subspace frequencies.

463. Mr. La Forge, can you extend our sensor range?

464. If I narrow the band and tie in the long-range sensors

465. to the subspace scanners, I can boost the gain.

466. Make it so.

467. Do you wish to leave orbit, sir?

468. Not until we have someplace to go.

469. I've done everything I know how. It's no use.

470. Without Tog's security code,

471. I can't get near their communication system.

472. We're running out of time.

473. Farek's about to begin the neural scan on Mother.

474. Maybe I'm going about this in the wrong way.

475. If I pick a minor subsystem, something nonessential.

476. Like this. Warp field phase adjustment.

477. All this does is suppress the subspace interference

478. - generated by the warp engines. - Meaning what?

479. Meaning, if I set up a simple oscillation,

480. I can send out a signal.

481. The trick is to create a message the Enterprise will understand,

482. but the Ferengi will think is just normal subspace static.

483. What's wrong?

484. Mother.

485. Will,

486. we have to help her.

487. Thanks for your help, but you'd better get aboard the Bradbury.

488. They were ready to break orbit an hour ago.

489. Soon as I'm sure this works.

490. Initiating scans now, captain.

491. Can you locate the Krayton?

492. Ferengi transmissions are routinely scrambled and encoded, sir.

493. Without breaking the code,

494. we will be unable to identify any specific Ferengi vessel.

495. Ferengi codes are damn near impossible to break.

496. Gentlemen, I have the utmost confidence

497. in your ability to perform the impossible.

498. Captain, the Bradbury is hailing us.

499. They can no longer delay their departure.

500. Mr. Crusher. Now.

501. No lengthy farewells.

502. Good luck.

503. Thank you, sir.

504. The repetitive nature of the subcarrier pattern

505. implies a modified Huffman-Greenlaw encoder scheme...

506. Deck 6.

507. Wesley.

508. Take care.

509. You too, Mom.

510. Something the matter?

511. We've been scanning Ferengi transmissions,

512. trying to locate the Krayton.

513. One of the signals was,

514. I don't know, familiar somehow.

515. Something in the message?

516. No, the message was scrambled.

517. It was the static.

518. Where are you going?

519. Captain.

520. The Bradbury has informed us

521. they can no longer wait for Mr. Crusher to come aboard.

522. Wesley.

523. I think there's a pattern to the subspace interference

524. I heard on one of the Ferengi messages.

525. Unless you leave immediately, you're gonna miss the Bradbury.

526. The interference itself could be a message.

527. If I could just hear a replay of the subspace scans.

528. Signal the Bradbury. They may leave.

529. Play back the Ferengi transmissions.

530. Wait. Repeat that one.

531. Put it on continuous replay.

532. Hear that popping noise?

533. Data, can you filter out everything but that sound?

534. That's Cochrane distortion.

535. A fluctuation in the phase of the subspace field.

536. All warp engines generate that kind of interference.

537. But listen to the pattern.

538. It's the Algolian ceremonial rhythm

539. that the musician played at the reception.

540. Mr. Crusher is correct, sir. There is a temporal correlation.

541. Then it is a signal from Commander Riker.

542. Ingenious.

543. He selected a signal we'd recognize,

544. but one the Ferengi would dismiss as static.

545. - Signal source located, captain. - Plot an intercept course.

546. - Course plotted and laid in, sir. - Well done, Mr. Crusher. Warp 8.

547. Aye, sir.

548. Engage.

549. - Get away from her. - What do you think you're doing?

550. Stand off, commander.

551. DaiMon Tog, can't we strike a bargain?

552. All I am concerned about is my daughter's safety.

553. What happens to me isn't important.

554. What are you suggesting?

555. Well, let me be candid, DaiMon Tog.

556. Deanna's of no use to you. She's only half-Betazoid.

557. And if you keep Riker, Starfleet will never stop chasing you.

558. Release them.

559. Release them and I will stay with you willingly.

560. I'll even use my telepathy to aid in your negotiations.

561. A tempting offer.

562. I would like to believe you.

563. The offer is genuine.

564. I give you my word as a daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed.

565. - Lwaxana, don't. - I've made up my mind.

566. I can't let you do this.

567. William, I am a grown woman. I can make my own decisions.

568. Mother, we can't just leave you here.

569. Yes, you can,

570. and before he changes his mind.

571. Please, little one, do this for me.

572. Just this once.

573. Do we have an agreement?

574. I give you my word.

575. I will release your daughter and the commander.

576. DaiMon, a Federation ship

577. approaching at high warp.

578. The Enterprise has found us.

579. Slow to impulse. Raise shields.

580. Inform the Enterprise that two of our guests

581. are ready to return.

582. The other will be staying with us at her own request.

583. I must protest, DaiMon.

584. Lwaxana has given her word.

585. Oo-mox is only the beginning.

586. - Are you both all right? None the worse for wear.

587. My mother bought our freedom, captain.

588. She doesn't want to stay with Tog.

589. Hail the Krayton.

590. Frequencies open.

591. DaiMon Tog responding.

592. On screen.

593. Captain Picard.

594. So good of you to meet us.

595. We were on our way to Betazed to return our guests.

596. Of course you were, DaiMon.

597. But you're still holding Lwaxana Troi.

598. When will you get it through your thick head

599. that it's over between us, Jean-Luc?

600. I think I know what she's doing.

601. You have to fight to get her back, captain.

602. Open.

603. Um— Uh, it's not over between us, uh, Lwaxana. Um...

604. Uh, you're mine and, uh, I will not let you go.

605. I insist you return to my side immediately.

606. You mean you still care?

607. My love

608. is a fever

609. longing still for that which longer nurseth the disease.

610. Tell me more.

611. In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,

612. for they in thee a thousand errors see

613. but 'tis my heart that loves what they despise.

614. Who, in despite of view, are pleased to dote.

615. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

616. Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

617. You didn't tell me that you and Captain Picard were—

618. You said you didn't wanna hear about my other romances.

619. I have a new love, Jean-Luc.

620. And you can't keep killing all my lovers.

621. Now, that simply has to stop.

622. - Killing? - Oh, he's insanely jealous.

623. Listen, Tog, I must possess Lwaxana,

624. and if that means destroying your ship in the process, so be it.

625. Captain, I had no idea Lwaxana—

626. Don't let him threaten you. You can defeat him.

627. The only way you'll ever get me back is over Tog's dead body.

628. That can be arranged.

629. Mr. Worf, arm phaser banks and photon torpedoes.

630. If Lwaxana Troi is not in my arms in ten seconds,

631. throw everything you've got at the Krayton.

632. But you will destroy Lwaxana.

633. When I have plucked the rose, I cannot give it vital growth again.

634. It needs must wither.

635. Nine, eight.

636. 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

637. Seven, six.

638. Uh, no, wait.

639. Five, four.

640. Beam her to their Bridge, now.

641. Two, one—

642. You wonderfully jealous fool, you.

643. Captain, I trust there will be no further action taken against us?

644. Such as my reporting this incident to your superiors,

645. who may question your competence as DaiMon?

646. I will think about it. Screen off.

647. Thank you, Jean-Luc. You were most convincing.

648. You certainly convinced me.

649. I am truly grateful, Mrs. Troi,

650. that you risked your life to save my people.

651. - I'll have you home in a few hours. - No, no, no, that won't be necessary.

652. I'd just love to hear more of your poetry.

653. Perhaps another time.

654. Please.

655. Mr. Crusher, set course for Betazed.

656. Warp 9.

657. Come.

658. You wanted to see me, captain?

659. I've been in touch with Admiral Hahn at Starfleet Academy.

660. He regrets your missing the oral examination,

661. but hopes that you will reapply next year.

662. I understand, sir.

663. And I do intend to reapply.

664. In the interim, the Academy's loss is our gain.

665. The Enterprise will continúe to benefit from your talents for another year.

666. Thank you, sir.

667. Is that all?

668. No.

669. Is there something wrong, captain?

670. I'm just thinking that...

671. I'm saying goodbye to you

672. as you are today.

673. But I thought you said I wasn't going to be able to go.

674. The Academy must make you wait. That's true.

675. But when I review your service to this ship, your crewmates,

676. I cannot in all conscience make you wait for the Academy.

677. You see, Wesley...

678. in my eyes, you're an acting ensign in title only.

679. I hereby grant you field promotion to full ensign

680. with all the commensurate responsibilities

681. and privileges of that rank.

682. Congratulations.

683. You're dismissed.

684. Lwaxana Troi has beamed down to Betazed, captain.

685. Notify Starfleet we are en route to the Xanthras system

686. for our rendezvous with the Zapata.

687. Aye, sir.

688. Ensign Crusher, take us out of orbit.

689. Set a course for Xanthras III, warp factor 6.

690. Aye, sir.

691. Course is set.

692. Engage.