Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Season 5, Episode 20 - Cost of Living - full transcript

Shortly after the Enterprise saves a planet from an asteroid impact by exploding it, the ship experiences strange break-downs which are ultimately attributed to an impossible to detect timely metal parasite, which will destroy it unless eliminated, so Data suggests luring it to an asteroid. Deanna Troi counsels Worf to deal with his son Alexander's authority problems by drawing up a two-ways contract on paternal and filial rights and obligations, but is still practically terrified to hear her overbearing and impulsive mother, ambassador Lwaxana, announces her own arrival, soon meddling with the educational contract, and that of a planet's Third Minister Campio whom she decided to marry solely based on computerized profiles, but finds less compatible once he and his protocol master Erko arrive for the wedding...

Forward tubes armed
and ready, captain.

Fire.

- A direct hit, sir.
- The asteroid has been shattered.

However, the core is still intact

and still on a collision course
with Tessen III.

Is it big enough to cause a threat?

Yes, sir, it is
of sufficient size and density

to cause planet-wide damage.

Time to impact?

It will reach the upper atmosphere
in 44 seconds

and impact on the planet
11 seconds later.



- Ready torpedoes.
- Aye, sir.

Sir, the core is composed
of nitrium and chrondite.

It is unlikely another photon torpedo
will be of any effect.

- Mr. Worf, prepare a tractor beam.
- Aye, sir.

Thirty seconds to impact.

Captain, I am unable to get
a positive lock with the tractor beam.

There is magnetic field interference
emanating from the core materials.

Activate a deflector dish.

If we project a particle beam,
we may be able to produce

a disruptive nuclear effect
within the core.

- Aye, sir.
- Impact in 17 seconds.

Particle beam activated.

The target has been destroyed,
captain.

The remaining debris
is of no threat to the planet, sir.



Well done, everyone.

Ensign, put us back on course
for the Moselina system.

Warp 4 as soon
as we've cleared the debris field.

Aye, sir.

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages
of the 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.

- My instructions were clear.
- They were not.

Before he was allowed to play,

he was to place his soiled clothing
in the garment reprocessor.

I was not.

I sense a touch of hostility here,
gentlemen.

You were specifically told that.

You told me that yesterday,
not today.

If I may suggest...

You know very well
the same rule applies today that...

Please!

Why not simply draw up a contract

which clearly defines the duties
of each family member?

You mean he tells me what he wants
and I have to do it.

No. I mean you both agree
to your responsibilities.

And when you've done the things
that you've agreed to do,

then you've earned the privilege
to do the things that you want to do.

When he's cleaned his room,
for instance,

then perhaps he's earned a visit
to the Holodeck

to fight his alien monsters.

You suggest bribery.

I suggest working out

an equitable system

with the rules clearly spelled out.

For the child and the parent.

You must make a list
of your responsibilities too.

What would you like your father
to promise, Alexander?

No yelling.

I do not...

I do not yell.

Well, then, you should have
no trouble with that part.

Why not go back to your quarters
and talk this thing over?

Decide on which points
each of you wants in the contract.

Very well.

One day, you're going to be glad

your father cared enough about you
to insist on rules.

It may be hard to imagine right now,

but eventually, most children
come to appreciate their parents.

Riker to Counselor Troi.
Your mother's just come aboard.

On the other hand...

Deanna, my dear, it's mother.

I've got such deliciously exciting news.
You're gonna be absolutely thrilled.

Ha, ha, I'm getting married.

You know, with just a bit
of redecorating here and there,

this, ah, this Ten-Forward room
should make a very nice wedding hall.

I beg your pardon?

Oh! Where else, my little one?

But here amongst
all my good friends

and in the presence
of my adored daughter?

Mother, where did you...?

When did you meet this man?
Who is he?

I mean, marriage?
When did all this happen?

My poor, plodding little Deanna

with her questions,
questions, questions, ha, ha.

Wherever did you inherit
such pedestrian genes?

What matters, my little one,
is that your mother's happy.

Mother, if you're happy,
then I'm happy for you.

I only asked who he is
and where you met him.

Those are not unusual questions.

He's such a wonderful man
and he has such good breeding.

Oh, I tell you,
he's absolute perfection, ha, ha.

Who is he?

He's Campio, Third Minister
to the Conference of Judges

from the planet Kostolain.

- Royalty, my little one, naturally.
- Naturally. Heh.

I didn't even know
you'd ever been to Kostolain.

Or was he on some diplomatic mission
to Betazed?

Well, ah, um, neither, actually.

You see,
we haven't exactly met yet, really.

Oh, but the profiles
we've exchanged,

why, they were in such accord
that you could weep, my little one.

You would weep at the harmony
between us.

Mother, don't you think
it would be a good idea

if you actually met the man
you're going to marry

before committing to spend
the rest of your life with him?

Deanna, I love you, but you do
make everything sound like an epitaph.

I don't want to agree.

But you have to agree.
That is what an agreement is.

Counselor Troi,
excuse the intrusion,

but we're having some difficulty
drawing up our contract.

Hm?

- Mrs. Troi...
- Hm.

- He's not fair.
- The boy is unreasonable.

Well, of course he's unreasonable.
He's a child, heh. Aw...

And such a child.

You know, making little boys
reasonable only gives them pimples.

Alexander, this is my mother.

Alexander.

What a wonderful name.

You know, I once knew a tall,
handsome warrior named Alexander.

Oh, he utterly adored me.

And we went everywhere,
simply everywhere.

Have you been anywhere yet...?
Contract? What contract?

Between father and son.

A fair and balanced way
to achieve a mutual sense of order.

Well, how ghastly for you.

And you are doing this
to your own child, Mr. Woof?

- Mother.
- It is Worf, madam.

Contracts are usually between people
who don't really trust one another.

A child who is trusted
becomes worthy of that trust.

Mother, would you kindly
stay out of this?

And if he does not perform
his contractual duties,

I assume he will be chastised?

He will be sanctioned, yes.

Mm-hm. And if you fail
to perform your duties,

what is the child
supposed to do about it?

- Mother, will you please?
- I, not perform my duty?

Alexander.

Now, life's true gift
is the capacity to enjoy enjoyment.

Now... Hm.

Have I arrived too late?

Or, uh, can you still smile?

Married? She's getting married?

Yes, if we stay
on our present course,

we should rendezvous
with her intended in 31 hours.

I will not have that woman continuing
to use this ship for her convenience

simply because her daughter
happens to be one of my officers.

Apparently, Deanna being onboard
is only part of the reason.

The other reason being?

She thinks the honor
of giving away the bride

should fall on you.

Permission for an onboard wedding
is granted, Number One.

Nothing will please me more
than to give away Mrs. Troi.

Ah! My little warrior.
And how are you this morning?

Oh, I see.

Being punished for something,
are we?

It's just my regular time
to meet with Counselor Troi.

- She's not here yet.
- Then you're early.

That's very responsible of you.

No, I just wanted to be
out of my room before...

Before what?

Now, ah, if we're to be real friends,

we've got to share only the truth.

Why?

Well, for one thing, it's easier.
When you tell the truth,

you never have to remember later
what you lied about.

But mostly, a true friend is a person

you can always tell the truth to
without worrying about it.

I...

I wanted to leave
before my father got back.

Oh...

I hate him.

I wish my mother were here.

But she died.

That's not very fair, is it?

All he cares about are rules.

I'm supposed to do everything right
all the time.

I don't know how.

Oh, to tell you the truth, little warrior,

neither do I.

But I do know one marvelous thing
we can do with rules.

I'm supposed to wait
for Counselor Troi.

Exactly.

I'll bet you've never been to a colony
of free spirits.

- What do they do there?
- Ah, whatever they want. Heh, heh.

Artists, philosophers, free thinkers.

And people who don't quite fit
other people's rules.

Personally,
I come for the mudbaths.

You, oh, you're going to adore
the mudbaths.

Ah, um...
Ahem.

Oh! Computer.

Um, I'm assuming that you have
the Parallex Colony on Shiralea VI?

- That program is available.
- Oh, good.

Then, uh, run it for us, dear.

- What's that?
- A Wind Dancer. Aha, ha, ha!

He stands guard.

See, only those
whose hearts are joyous may enter.

Aw. Mwah!

Oh, come on. Oh!

Fire Sculptor.

We'll chat with her later if you're not
wearing anything flammable.

Hello, a few of us were just gathering
together for our laughing hour.

Would you care
to come laugh with us?

Ha, ha, ha,

actually, we were
about to experience a mudbath.

Were you? What an idea. Bink!
My friends and I will join you.

One can always laugh in the bath.

- Do you ever drop one?
- Oh, no.

No, no, these are my worlds.
I protect them.

I am a master of worlds
and they fly only as I wish.

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

We are having guests
for laughing hour.

- Would you care to join us?
- We'd love to.

No, thank you.

- Yes.
- No.

Why do you always say no
when I say yes?

- I don't.
- You just did.

There you go again.
You're the most negative person.

Why are they arguing?

They're friends.
They love contradiction.

They thrive on challenge.
They flourish in conflict.

Then why are they friends?

Who else are you gonna fight with
if not your friends?

Hold.

What is the lesson for today?

Oh, damned if we know. We're just
here for some fun and a mudbath.

Every moment requires a purpose.

No, it doesn't.

Every purpose requires a plan.

He does this every day.

Usually while everyone's food
is getting cold.

It's rather boring.

The higher...

The fewer...

Well, that's a conversation stopper
if I ever heard one.

- And you're being stubborn.
- I am not, you are.

- I am not.
- Yes, you are.

- I am not.
- Excuse me.

If you're gonna argue,
you should remember:

The higher, the fewer.

So my little warrior
wants to see more out of life

than just fighting, eh? Ha, ha, ha.

Oh!

The mind opens
and in creeps wisdom.

Ha, ha, ha, mwah!

Alexander...

Be patient, she says.

Come.

Isn't Alexander
supposed to be with you?

He didn't show up for his appointment.
I assumed he must still be here.

Computer, what is the location
of Alexander Rozhenko?

Alexander Rozhenko
is on Holodeck 2.

Is he there alone?

He is with Lwaxana Troi.

To all the creatures within us.

To all the creatures within us?

Well, of course.

Every one of us
has a thousand different kinds

of little people inside of us.

And some of them
wanna get out and be wild

and some wanna be sad or happy,
or inventive,

or even just go dancing.

That's why we all have so many
different urges at different times.

And all those different little people
inside of us?

We must never be afraid
to take them with us wherever we go.

I mean, who knows
when we may need one of them

to pop up and rescue us
from ourselves?

Oh! Variety, my little Alex.

The great secret
is not the variety of life.

It's the variety of us.

Are we ready for the entertainment?

- Yes, bring on the entertainment.
- Yes.

Ahh!

Mother.

Little one, Mr. Woof, come join us.

Mother, I'm trying to help the boy
learn the value of responsibility.

You're not helping by giving him
a lot of mixed messages.

I exposed you to all sorts of mixed
messages when you were that age.

You still turned out deadly dull.
What are you so worried about?

Among other things,
his relationship with his father.

Oh...

- No more Holodeck, Mother. Please.
- Oh...

Anyway, why aren't you all absorbed
in your wedding plans?

It's only three days away.

I'm letting Mr. Homn handle
all the mundane details.

He knows my tastes.

Mother.

Deanna, there's absolutely
nothing to do, you nosy little girl.

Campio's already sent me
his mother's wedding gown,

which Mr. Homn
is now altering for me.

Outside of that, there isn't
anything else that I can...

Wedding gown?

Mother, stop.

You're telling me you're not going
to be naked at your own wedding?

Campio is from a different planet
with different traditions.

He would not approve
of a traditional Betazoid wedding.

So I am happily adapting.

Now, it's as simple as that
and I need some tea.

I can't believe I'm hearing this

from the heir
to the Holy Rings of Betazed,

holder of the sacred Chalice of Rixx.

Oh, why can't I ever work
this replicator?

Mother...

...I think it's time to talk
about this mysterious marriage

to a man you've never met.

Computer, some Jestral tea, please.

Anyway, why shouldn't I
get married if I choose to?

You make everything
into such a mystery.

There is no mystery, Deanna.

Except about this
Petrokian sausage.

The tea.
All I wanted was a cup of tea.

Oh, dear, I think your replicator's
having a... A nervous collapse. Oh.

A level four diagnostic
of the food replication systems

have failed to detect any faults
in the orientation terminals.

That may be,
but we still have over 200 reports

of malfunctioning replicators.

There's an energy fluctuation
in one of the utility access corridors.

Well, we better look into it,
whatever it is,

before the captain decides
to order dinner.

Yeah, dash six-four, here we are.

Huh.

Some kind of intermittent
EM field pattern.

Give me a hand with that,
will you, Data?

Well, there's no plasma leakage.
Just a little negative ion charging.

Bad enough having to wear anything
at all at my own wedding, but this?

Yeah, perhaps, um,
if we lower the bodice.

Oh. Uh...

Raise the hemline, then.

What a constant joy you are.

Oh, Mr. Homn.

Alexander. Oh, ha, ha, my little warrior.

Come here. Come on.

Ha, ha, oh, give me a great big hug.

Now, you're not escaping
another appointment, are you?

No, ma'am.

Oh, I suppose eventually
we all have to live up to our obligations.

Ah!

Well, now, tell me.

What brings you here
to brighten my day?

I wanted to say I'm sorry
if I got you in any trouble.

Oh.

Oh, that's very sweet, dear,

but I really wasn't in any trouble.

Until I saw this dress.

Ugh!

Ugly, isn't it?

- What's it for?
- I'm getting married.

Why?

Are you sure my daughter
didn't send you?

Ha, just a joke.

People get married

because, ah, they wanna
spend their lives with someone.

- Their whole life?
- Yeah.

They must have
to like that person a lot.

Well, if you're young and lucky,

it'll be someone you like a lot, yes.

Heh.

Ah, and, um, and if you're older...

Are you very old?

Ah...

Um...

I'm alone, Alex.

And, uh, when you do get older

and can no longer pick and choose
from whatever may come your way,

then you, uh, do
what we call compromise.

It keeps you from being afraid.

We have traced the failure
to a data net interface

which routes replicator selections
to the correct subprocessors.

When we opened the panel,
we discovered the interface

had been transformed
into a gelatinous material

that we haven't been able to identify.

We have an intermittent failure
of the inertial damping system.

Take us out of warp, ensign.

Primary attitude control has failed.

We're going to secondary systems.

We have lost helm control, sir.

Try a manual bypass
of the damping systems.

- Aye, sir.
- Backup generators?

Coming online now.

How long
before we regain attitude control?

We're almost there.

Ensign, put us back on course.
But stay at impulse for now.

- Did something hit us, Mr. Worf?
- Negative, sir.

Inertial damper shouldn't fail without
kicking in the automatic bypass.

I want to know what went wrong.
Analysis in 30 minutes.

The same thing that happened
to the replicator

happened to the stabilizer.

The transfers in both systems
were turned into this.

Some sort of corrosion?

We have not yet identified
the substance, commander.

Whatever it is, it looks like
there's been a conversion process

transforming some of the metal
into gelatinous residue.

But what caused it is a mystery.

Replicators and stabilizers.
Two totally unrelated systems.

Yes, sir.
And we still don't know why

the sensors didn't pick up
the problems.

Let's run
a mass spectrometer analysis

and find out what this stuff is.

Transporter Room One
to Captain Picard.

Minister Campio
is beaming on board, sir.

I'll be right there. The bridegroom.

Ah, ha, ha! Campio.

My dear, your compatibility profile
doesn't do you justice.

I, of course, am Lwaxana
and any introductory compliments

you'd care to make
will be happily received.

Indeed, Mrs. Troi.

You are even lovelier in person.

Oh, now, that worked just fine.

Now, now, we don't wish to be too
familiar at this early juncture.

Oh, ha, ha. Oh.

Forgive this tardiness.
Ship's business.

Minister Campio,

Captain Jean-Luc Picard
of the Enterprise. Welcome aboard.

I thank you.

And greet you with appreciation

for permitting this wedding
aboard your fine vessel.

Not at all, sir.

Campio,
may I present my daughter,

Deanna Troi, meet...

Well, your future stepfather,
come to think of it.

Yes. If I recall the profile,
you are the ship's counselor?

I am, sir.

And my escort, who need not
be addressed in this company,

Protocol Master Erko.

Ah, Campio, personally, I absolutely
adore all the ostentation I can get,

but, ahem, protocol master?

I would not do you
nor our benevolent hosts

the disservice of failing to ensure
that priorities are observed.

Oh, yes, yes.
How very thoughtful. Heh.

After all, it would be unpardonable

simply to abandon ourselves
to the moment, would it not?

Oh, unpardonable.

Well, it looks like the only alloy

common to both the replicator
and the stabilizer is nitrium.

Computer,
analyze the nitrium content

of both the affected stabilizer
and replicator.

There is no nitrium present

in the affected stabilizer
or replicator.

There is none present
in the residue either.

According
to the mass spectrometer,

elements in the residue
have been broken down

into simpler molecular structures.

That would suggest the nitrium
has been organically metabolized.

Maybe that's it, Data.

If a living organism
ingested the nitrium...

This residue would be the waste
left behind.

Well, if that's true,

if something's eating away
at the nitrium on the ship,

then that means that
the dilithium chamber is vulnerable,

as well as
the power transfer conduits.

We'd better get to Engineering.

Ha! Ha!

Eat, son.

Ha!

What are you doing?
What is that noise?

Ha! It's my laughing hour.
Ha!

- Ha, ha!
- That is enough, please.

It is your dinner hour.

- Eat.
- Ha!

I promised to meet Mrs. Troi for
another lesson in happy wisdom. Ha!

- Will you stop doing that, please?
- Ha!

Alexander, eat your food.
Wisdom will wait, I assure you.

I promised.
Should I break my promise, Father?

A Klingon never breaks his word.

Where are you going?

You said no Klingon
ever breaks his word.

I did not mean now.

Now, just sit down and eat.

I don't understand, Father.
You're confusing me.

Understand later.

Just eat.

Father?

The higher, the fewer.

I don't wish to be authoritative,
my dear,

but Master Erko says
that now is our proper time

- for discussion of certain details.
- Oh, ha.

Well, I certainly don't want
to be considered anti-Erko, dear,

but I did promise Alexander
one more Holodeck trip.

Come along, my little love.

Surely there'll be, uh, other occasions
for you to spend time with the boy.

Oh, my goodness, Campio.

You and I are going to have
the rest of our lives.

I'll tell you what.

Um, I'll be back here with you
in one hour exactly, all right?

Minister, the woman should
not be addressing you in the familiar.

Uh... Mm...

- Oh!
- Mother, we have to talk.

Yes, we certainly do, dear,
but not just now.

- Um, well, how do I address him?
- Mother, we've come for Alexander.

Please, forgive the intrusion.

Preferably, he should be called
by his ministerial title.

I'll remember.
Oh, um...

Mr. Homn.

Ah, you make sure that everyone
is comfortable until we get back

and especially the, um, uh,
the minister here.

Now, I'll be back, one hour, darling.
I'll see you then.

- Mrs. Troi.
- Hm?

- It is Alexander's dinner hour.
- Oh!

Oh, how thoughtless of me.

I guess we'll just have to have
a little picnic before our mudbath.

We have, uh,
business to deal with here.

Leaving is, uh,
simply not acceptable.

Well, can't we just pretend
that it's acceptable?

- We'll be back.
- You are missing the point.

Alexander, you will return
to our quarters and have dinner.

But we are gonna go
to the Holodeck.

Mother, you're undermining every
effort we're trying to make here.

Oh, don't be absurd. You poor dear.

Don't they ever let you change
those colorless outfits?

It is essential
that we begin a discussion

of the wedding procedures now.

Oh... Minister, darling, perhaps you
and the Jerko here can come with us.

Lwaxana,
this exceeds all boundaries.

Oh.

Well, ah, half-hour then.
No longer, I promise.

Oh. Mr. Homn? Your duties.

Counselor Troi,
have you no influence?

- Ha.
- Ha!

Lwaxana, if you will remain,

I may allow the boy to stay while...

- Definitely not!
- Definitely not.

My son is to return to quarters.

Nor may a servant be present
during a prenuptial consultation.

Well, sir, I'm afraid even the bride
won't be present for this one.

The dilithium chamber shows
no anomalous readings.

So far these transfer conduits
are clean too.

Hold on, I'm getting something here.

There's a severe energy fluctuation
in this access panel.

What happened?

Oh. I was just juggling

and I happened to, gulp,
catch one in my mouth.

- Well, it tasted good, so I ate it.
- Heh, heh.

Before I knew it, I'd eaten up
every one of my worlds.

It never occurred to me
that once they were gone,

I'd have nothing left to juggle.

If you ever have a world,
plan ahead.

Don't eat it.

Well, now, almost time to get back.

Are you sad?

Of course not.
I'm about to be a bride.

You know that man
you're gonna marry?

He would never come
and take a mudbath, would he?

Oh, he might.

Probably not.

You know,
maybe this would be a good time

to get one of those little people
that live inside of you

to come out and tell you what to do,
or help you or something.

Alexander,
what are you talking about?

I'm sorry.

No.

No.

Don't you dare be sorry.

- What's wrong?
- Uh, come along, Alexander.

Let's not leave everyone
waiting for us.

Once we saw that photonic trail
moving through the wall,

we realized we must be dealing
with a metal parasite of some kind.

We believe the parasites
came through the ship's hull

after we destroyed the asteroid
near Tessen Ill.

Are they attacking anything
other than nitrium alloy?

No, sir, not that we can tell.
But we've got nitrium everywhere.

The computers, the life support,
the ventilation, the engines.

Even the dilithium chamber.

Mr. Data, the asteroid we destroyed,
that was rich in nitrium.

Aye, sir.

And that asteroid came
from the Pelloris Field.

If the rest of that field
is rich in nitrium,

it would make
a natural feeding ground.

We should think about
going back there.

The parasites could be lured back
to the asteroids

for a meal that's more appealing
than we are.

Mr. Data, how long to the field?

At warp 9, five hours,
20 minutes, sir.

- Picard to Bridge.
- Riker here, sir.

Set a course
for the Pelloris asteroid field, warp 9.

Aye, sir.

Captain, with our sensors
unable to detect the parasites

and the speed with which they
appear to be moving through the ship...

We may not have five hours,
20 minutes. I'm aware of that.

How can we slow them down?

In several cases,
an exanogen gas barrier

has been known to slow the progress
of metal parasites.

They don't like cold, eh? Make it so.

The problem is finding them.

As soon as we spot
an energy fluctuation,

they've already consumed
all the nitrium and have moved on.

Primary power systems
are going down.

I've rerouted
to the secondary generators.

Inform the Bridge.
Mr. Data, with me.

Bridge.

Commander,
do you have any suggestions

as to how we could encourage
the parasites to leave the ship

once we reach the Pellaris Field?

If we reconfigure a particle beam
with a high concentration of nitrium

and project it toward
one of the asteroids...

Then they would follow the beam.

Like a trail of breadcrumbs.

Very well.

Turbolift velocity
is beginning to fluctuate, captain.

Computer, halt at next level.

Computer, acknowledge.

We have reached the Bridge, sir.

Report, Number One.

Ventilation and life support are failing
at random spots all over the ship.

Captain,
we have dropped to warp 5.7.

- Picard to Engineering.
- La Forge here.

What's happening, Mr. La Forge?
We're losing speed.

The parasites must have gotten into
the primary warp controllers, captain.

I'm trying to do a bypass patch
to isolate the backup controllers,

but it looks like warp 6 is about
the best I'm gonna be able to give you.

At that speed, Mr. La Forge,

there won't be a ship left
to reach the Pelloris Field.

- Well, do what you have to.
- Working on it, sir.

Captain, we are losing life support
on decks 11 and 12.

Mr. Worf, have Security evacuate
all personnel from those decks.

Aye, sir.

Engineering to Bridge.

We've got warp 6.5,

but I don't know how much more
coaxing we can do here.

We need more speed than that,
commander.

The matter-antimatter injectors
are failing.

I'm rerouting
to secondary injector power now.

Watch the antimatter containment
for any system failure.

Atmospheric systems
are down 27 percent.

We're going below
tolerable oxygen limits.

We must evacuate
decks 20 to 24, captain.

Make it so. Shut down
life support to those decks.

Direct all evacuees
to decks 9 and 10.

Divert emergency life support
to those decks.

Aye, sir.

Time to asteroid field?

If we maintain our current speed,
two hours, 23 minutes, sir.

Mr. Data, the rest of us
may lose consciousness.

If we do,

it will be your job
to execute the plan as discussed.

Aye, sir.

Structural integrity
of the dilithium chamber

is at 34 percent.

Estimated breach in one minute.

Computer, transfer power
from warp engines to life support.

Transfer complete.

- Activate Bussard collector.
- Activated.

Breach of dilithium chamber
in 40 seconds.

Reconfigure hydrogen plasma mixture
to include 30 percent nitrium.

Mixture complete.

Project emitter beam,
heading, 042-mark-021.

Structural integrity
of the dilithium chamber

is at 28 percent and holding.

Mr. Data.

The plan was successful, sir.

Well done.

Mr. Worf.

Coordinate your teams with Dr.
Crusher and Commander La Forge.

Assess damage and injury.

Aye, sir.

Captain's log, stardate 45733.6.

Temporary repairs to the ship
have been completed.

Our attention now turns
to matters of a more festive nature.

You'd think she'd at least get
to her own wedding on time.

Minister. Minister.

This is infamous. Infamous.

We must leave immediately.

Ah!

Heavenly. Ha, ha, ha.

Every pore in my body tingles
with contentment.

Isn't it wonderful
how things worked out, Alexander?

I wanted to teach you
how to grab the joys of living.

And you turned around and, uh,

and taught me to not let go of them.

How very mutual.

We still have to learn
how to live in the real world, Mother.

All of us.

She's absolutely right, Alexander.

But only when necessary.

You're just supposed to sit here?