[Ten forward]

LAFORGE: That's her. Don't stare.
WORF: Why not?
LAFORGE: Because she'll see.
WORF: Good. You must let her see the fire in your eyes.
LAFORGE: But what would I say?
WORF: Words come later, it is the scent that first speaks of love.
LAFORGE: Thanks Worf, that really helps me a lot.
CHRISTY: Hi, Geordi.
LAFORGE: Hi, Christy.
CHRISTY: So how have you been?
LAFORGE: Good.
CHRISTY: How are things down in Engineering?
LAFORGE: Fine uh really fine.
CHRISTY: Well, see you around.
WORF: I have much to teach you about women.
RIKER [OC]: Mister La Forge, report to Transporter Room three.

[Corridor]

LAFORGE: What's this all about, Commander?
RIKER: Sensors have discovered a small one-man ship crashed on the planet.
CRUSHER: We're picked up life-signs, humanoid, very faint and fading.

[Planet surface]

DATA: Radiation levels within acceptable limits.
LAFORGE: We can beam him out from under there, get him up to Sickbay.
CRUSHER: He's not stable enough for transport. There's damage to his brain stem, his autonomic functions are failing. His heart needs active neural feedback, it can't regulate itself. I need a volunteer.
LAFORGE: I'm here.
CRUSHER: I'm going to hook your nervous systems together through my tricorder your brain will regulate both systems. That should stabilize him long enough to get him up to the ship.
CRUSHER: Take deep, regular breaths. If anything goes wrong I'll break the connection.
CRUSHER: Geordi!
LAFORGE: I'm fine no problem.
CRUSHER: Transporter Room, three to beam directly to Sickbay.

[Sickbay - room]

CRUSHER: Autonomic responses are still low begin cardiostimulation. Sixty cc's of inoprovaline massive infection is setting in use the protodynoplaser to stabilize his immune system. We need to design a virus that can infiltrate his cell structure and boost his ATP production.
TEMPLE: What about Commander La Forge. He's waiting in the diagnostic centre.
CRUSHER: I want you to give him a full bioscan. See if there are any residual effects from that energy discharge during the neuro-link.
CRUSHER: Keep his arm in cryogenic stasis until his vital signs are strong enough to begin surgical procedures.

[Bridge]

RIKER: From the size and shape of the wreckage, it appeared to be some kind of escape pod. The control system had been heavily damaged, that's probably what caused the crash.
PICARD: An escape pod then it couldn't have travelled very far. Mister Data, any signs of other ships in this area?
DATA: I am picking up a scattering of debris in extended orbit around the planet. It reads as refined metals and other synthetic compounds.
PICARD: The remains of a larger vessel. He must have left in the pod before the ship was destroyed.
WORF: Sensors show trace elements in the debris that would indicate phaser fire was recently exchanged.
PICARD: Were you able to salvage anything from the escape pod?
DATA: This is all that is left of the pod's computer system.
PICARD: Can you access it?
DATA: It will take time. Downloading it into our system will require fabrication of a matrix translator to emulate the alien's computer system.
PICARD: Keep me apprised of your progress.
DATA: Aye, sir.

[Sickbay - room]

TEMPLE: Limb re-fusion appears to have been successful, Doctor. Tissue oxygenation is within norms.
CRUSHER: That's all we can do for now. We won't be able to test neuromuscular function for a few days.
LAFORGE: Can I go now, Doc?
CRUSHER: No need to keep you here. Your bioscan came out negative.
LAFORGE: I could have told you that. I feel great.
PICARD: How's your patient, Beverly?
CRUSHER: I never thought he'd make it this far. There was major trauma to the head and chest cavity, massive plasma loss, and severe damage to most of his organs.
PICARD: What are his chances?
CRUSHER: I believe he'll live but I'm afraid I can't take the credit for it. His body is showing amazing recuperative powers. The damaged tissue is repairing itself at a phenomenal rate. There's only one thing that troubles me.
PICARD: Go on.
CRUSHER: Take a look at this.
PICARD: Cell regeneration?
CRUSHER: Yes the thing is that it has nothing to do with his injuries. These are undamaged cells, but they seem to be mutating.
PICARD: Any theory as to what's causing it?
CRUSHER: No. I've never seen anything like it. It's possible this could be part of his natural healing process. I hope it is because there's nothing I can do to stop it.

[Ten forward]

LAFORGE: I'm telling you Data, there's got to be some way to decode the information in this thing.
DATA: I agree Geordi. But the data matrix within the capsule does not correspond to any standard format. All we have been able to determine is that the device uses a chemically based system for molecular energy encoding.
LAFORGE: Yeah, and the computer still can't analyze the specific chemical elements involved. It's got to be part of the data processing system. What if it's a feedback loop controller?
DATA: The compact shape does suggest a rapid chemical processing and storage capacity.
LAFORGE: We found it close to the escape pod instrumentation assemblage this capsule might process the ship's dynamic motions and augment the manual control inputs. We could send it a few test signals make it think the entire assemblage was awake and operating.
DATA: An intriguing experiment. The capsule might provide us with information without the need to decode the storage medium itself. Perhaps we could examine your theory immediately.
WORF: Less talk, more synthehol. We came here to relax.
LAFORGE: I am relaxed. In fact, I've never felt better.
LAFORGE: But you know, Worf you do have a point. I think the storage capsule can wait awhile.
LAFORGE: Hi. Not leaving, are you?
CHRISTY: Oh hi, Geordi I was just on my way down to the arboretum.
LAFORGE: Care for some company?
CHRISTY: I'd love some. But I didn't think you were interested in that kind of thing.
LAFORGE: There are a lot of things you don't know about me.
WORF: I have been tutoring him. He learns quickly.

[Sickbay - room]

Medical Log, Stardate 43958.8. I have removed patient John Doe from the emergency bio-support unit. In just thirty six hours most of his major organ systems have regenerated themselves to the point where they can now function on their own.
JOHN: I am alive.
CRUSHER: You certainly are.
JOHN: Thank you for my life. Tell me who am I?

Captain's Log: Stardate 43960.6. Our mission to map the Zeta Gelis star cluster is proceeding on schedule. Meanwhile, Doctor Crusher reports that the recovery of the patient she has named John Doe continues at a remarkable pace.

[Sickbay - room]

CRUSHER: Are you experiencing any discomfort?
JOHN: None. I can feel the life returning to my body.
CRUSHER: Your neurofibrowaves are functioning almost normally again. That puts you about six weeks ahead of my original schedule.
JOHN: That should give you and your colleagues something to talk about.
CRUSHER: You're all we've talked about since your arrival.
JOHN: I believe I'm ready for the next phase of my treatment.
CRUSHER: You're right I think it's time you stopped taking up valuable bedspace. Now remember you've been off your feet for almost a month. These motor assist bands will provide electrical stimulation to your arms and legs. They'll help you re-learn to control your muscles. Now, don't be disappointed if your mobility is restricted at first your limbs are still weak.
JOHN: I appreciate your concern Doctor. But I think I'm going to surprise you again. I feel strong enough to fly.
JOHN: But perhaps I should concentrate on walking first.
CRUSHER: Let's try again. But this time a little more slowly.
JOHN: Much more slowly.
JOHN: I envy your reflexes, Captain.
PICARD: And I envy your strength of will. Doctor Crusher has kept me informed of your progress. It's quite extraordinary.
JOHN: I have an extraordinary doctor. She gave me back my life. I hope that I'm worthy of her efforts.
PICARD: Tell me John, are you still unable to recall anything at all about your past?
JOHN: No my memories begin the moment I woke up in Sickbay. Doctor Crusher told me you think I was in some kind of battle. PICARD: We're quite certain of that. But you have no idea how you came to be in that escape pod, or what happened to your ship?
JOHN: No. Believe me, Captain it's a horrible feeling. Not knowing who you are, where you're from.
PICARD: Have you tried synaptic induction?
CRUSHER: His neural nets don't conform to any known patterns. Conventional neurotherapy has proven ineffective. Hopefully, in time, his memory pathways will reestablish themselves naturally.
CRUSHER: That same pain again?
JOHN: Yes. I think I've made enough progress for one day.
PICARD: Not a relapse I hope.
CRUSHER: This has nothing to do with his wounds. I think it's related to the continuing mutation of his cell structure.
PICARD: Still no theory as to what's causing it?
CRUSHER: None. I've run every test I could think of it just doesn't make any sense.
JOHN: I seem to be a mystery, Doctor. To you and to myself.

[Turbolift]

CHRISTY: This is where I get off. See you tonight in Ten Forward?
LAFORGE: I'll be there.
CHRISTY: Hello, Commander.
RIKER: Miss Henshaw.
RIKER: Bridge.
LAFORGE: Deck six.
RIKER: So you and Miss Henshaw have certainly been seeing a lot of each other.
LAFORGE: Every night this week.
RIKER: Is that all? Seems like you've been walking around with a smile on your face for a lot longer than that.
LAFORGE: I guess I have. This last month or so everything seems to be going my way. I don't know what it is, but something's changed around here.
RIKER: The only thing that's changed is you.
LAFORGE: Me? I'm the same guy I've always been.
RIKER: If you say so but I don't remember the old Geordi having much success with Christy Henshaw.
LAFORGE: Maybe I am a little more confident than I used to be.

[Sickbay]

CRUSHER: What happened to you?
O'BRIEN: I was kayaking on the Holodeck again.
CRUSHER: And now you've dislocated your shoulder. Sit down, I'll get the osteotractor frame.
WESLEY: Hi mom. We still on for dinner tonight?
CRUSHER: Seven-thirty sharp. I'll be right back.
WESLEY: Kayaking again?
WESLEY: So how's my mom's favourite patient?
JOHN: Judge for yourself.
WESLEY: Hey not bad.
JOHN: Your mother promised me a tour of the ship tomorrow. You may find this hard to believe, but Sickbay can be an incredibly boring place.
O'BRIEN: Hey Doc I'm dying here.
JOHN: Don't worry my friend you'll be alright.
O'BRIEN: The pain's gone.
CRUSHER: It's completely healed. I don't understand what did you do, John?
JOHN: I don't know. It was instinct. I just touched him.

[Crushers' quarters]

CRUSHER: I've run every test and scan that I can think of there's no physiological evidence that would indicate he would possess such powers. But then, there's so much about John that's a mystery.
WESLEY: You know I really like him.
CRUSHER: He does have a certain charm doesn't he? The whole medical staff has commented on it.
WESLEY: You seem pretty taken with him yourself.
CRUSHER: I guess I am taken with him. There's a strength and serenity about him that's very attractive. Yet, he's filled with such pain and turmoil he's so vulnerable. I find him very intriguing.
WESLEY: Sounds like there's more to it than that.
CRUSHER: Is that your way of asking if I'm getting romantically involved with him?
WESLEY: You said it, I didn't.
CRUSHER: My feelings toward him aren't romantic exactly. I mean, I know that the doctor/patient relationship can sometimes create a false sense of intimacy but this is different. There's an almost spiritual connection. I guess I'm not making much sense, am I?
WESLEY: I think I understand.

[Bridge]

LAFORGE: Data, I was thinking about the storage capsule last night. And I was wondering what if we've been going about it the wrong way. We've been trying to analyze its mechanical properties. What if it is a biochemical storage medium?
DATA: Are you suggesting that it employs memory RNA like an organic cell?
LAFORGE: Well, it does contain quantities of nucleic acids.
DATA: Perhaps the information sequences are encoded in the molecular patterns themselves.
LAFORGE: Computer, scan the storage capsule. Analyze molecular sequences on nucleic acid chains.
LAFORGE: Well what do you know. A navigational chart.
DATA: It appears that your hypothesis was correct, Geordi.
LAFORGE: I knew it. Captain?
PICARD: You found something?
DATA: We have determined that the storage cube from John Doe's escape pod contains navigational information.
PICARD: Can you match these stars to our charts?
DATA: Computer, run transformational matrix calculations. Match navigational referents to known stars in this sector.
COMPUTER: Information on this sector is incomplete. No correlation.
LAFORGE: I'm not giving up yet. Not after coming so close to cracking this thing. That might be flight path information from John's ship, but without a frame of reference, I can't determine the origin points.
DATA: Computer, assume those points are course corrections and derive gravitational values for stellar objects near the flight path.
DATA: Most of these are ordinary G-type stars. But this would appear to be a neutron star, possibly a pulsar.
LAFORGE: Which means this might be a rotational time reference.
DATA: Computer, assume these symbols are pulsars. Translate associated values into standard temporal notations. Computer, is there a pulsar with a rotational period of one point five two four four seconds within sensor range?
COMPUTER: Affirmative.
LAFORGE: Bingo! Overlay navigational chart using referenced pulsars and project a flight path back to origin.
COMPUTER: Flight path originated at bearing zero zero three, mark zero one five. Distance, two point three parsecs.
LAFORGE: That's it, Captain. That's where John Doe came from.
DATA: That bearing is almost directly along our planned course.
PICARD: Good. Then we can continue our mission without significant interruption.

[Sickbay - room]

JOHN: Home?
PICARD: Yes using the information we found in your escape pod, we may be able to return you to your people.
JOHN: I cannot go back.
PICARD: And why is that?
JOHN: You must not take me home, Captain.
CRUSHER: John, your memory has it returned?
JOHN: All I know is that we came out here to escape.
PICARD: Escape what?
CRUSHER: There were others with you?
JOHN: Yes I was not alone. But what happened to the others or what we were escaping from I cannot remember. But I do know that I cannot go back not yet.
PICARD: We will not arrive in your star system for at least three weeks. That gives us plenty of time to discuss this matter further.
CRUSHER: Hopefully by then, you'll have regained more of your memory.
JOHN: You're right of course. I apologize for my outburst, Captain.
PICARD: It is understandable.

[Ten forward]

JOHN: This ship is astounding. It seems to stretch on without end.
CRUSHER: We can see the rest of it some other time. This is your first day out of Sickbay I don't want you to overexert yourself.
JOHN: This looks like an ideal place to rest.
CRUSHER: My thoughts exactly.
JOHN: Truly remarkable.
CRUSHER: What is?
JOHN: These people they're all so different from one another yet they work together freely.
CRUSHER: Is it that surprising?
JOHN: It is new to me. My people are different somehow. If only I could remember! Yesterday for one terrifying moment, there was clarity.
CRUSHER: You mean that energy pulse?
JOHN: Yes. For that moment, my purpose seemed clear but then it was gone.
CRUSHER: The pain the energy pulse they must all be linked to the cell mutation in your body. I wish there was some way I could help you get to the truth.
JOHN: Thank you Beverly, you've done so much for me already. I only wish there was some way I could repay you.
CRUSHER: But you have. The friendship that we've developed has made me very happy.
JOHN: The rapport that exists between us also means a great deal to me. But I believe that I am on some kind of journey. Whatever brought me here whatever is happening to my body it's all part of that journey and I must complete it before any other consideration.

[Bridge]

WORF: Sir, I am reading a vessel on long-range scanners it is coming from sector nine five six nine.
PICARD: What configuration?
WORF: Impossible to identify at this distance. However, it is on an intercept course.
DATA: Captain, the ship is traveling at warp nine point seven two.
RIKER: Nine point seven two?
PICARD: Time to intercept?
DATA: At present course and speed, ten hours fifty three minutes.
PICARD: Try to hail them, Mister Worf.
WORF: No response, Captain.
PICARD: Monitor their approach repeat hail every half hour.
WORF: Aye sir.
RIKER: Whoever they are, they're in a big hurry to get here.

[Sickbay - room]

TEMPLE: Doctor Crusher, medical emergency, room four.
JOHN: Can't make it stop
CRUSHER: John tell me is it worse than before?
JOHN: Much worse.
TEMPLE: Should I get something for the pain?
CRUSHER: No. The readings are fluctuating too wildly it wouldn't do any good, his entire cell structure is transforming.
JOHN: Beverly! I have to leave!
CRUSHER: Where do you want to go?
JOHN: I must get off this ship.
CRUSHER: John, that's impossible. In your condition
JOHN: I must!

[Corridor]

CRUSHER: Security

[Shuttlebay]

LAFORGE: Okay, let's realign the magnetic inducers on the starboard nacelle.
CRUSHER: John!
WORF: Leave the control booth immediately!
CRUSHER: John! Listen to me! You must come down!
WORF: Step away from the controls.
JOHN: Get back! Please stay away!
WORF: I have no wish to harm you but you must return to Sickbay immediately.
JOHN: No! Do not come any closer! I have no control over what's happening to me.
CRUSHER: His neck is broken. No life signs. Sickbay, form a resuscitation team, we have a code seven in shuttle bay two. Transporter room, standby.
CRUSHER: No don't.
CRUSHER: There's no trace of injury.

[Ready room]

PICARD: You admit you were trying to steal a shuttlecraft.
JOHN: Yes.
PICARD: So I ask you again why?
JOHN: I don't know!
PICARD: Unacceptable. You had a reason I want to know what it was. Dammit, I'm entitled to an answer. You nearly killed a member of my crew.
CRUSHER: And healed him.
PICARD: I am not forgetting that. It's the only reason he's here, and not in the brig.
JOHN: I warned him told him it was dangerous.
PICARD: Why? Why is it dangerous? What is happening to you?
JOHN: I don't know.
CRUSHER: The rate of metamorphosis is accelerating. Almost as if your body were generating an electrical field that's warping the tissue. I can't explain what I don't understand.
PICARD: Who are you? What are you?
JOHN: I am afraid for myself for all of you. I have to get away isolate myself. Whatever is happening to me, it's dangerous.
PICARD: As Lieutenant Worf discovered.
JOHN: I don't want to hurt anyone. Captain, for the sake of your crew, let me go before it happens again.
CRUSHER: John, I can't believe you're capable of harming any
DATA [OC]: Captain, the alien vessel is coming within weapons range. Its shields are up.
PICARD: On my way. Take him back to Sickbay. I want him under constant surveillance.

[Bridge]

LAFORGE: I want to thank you.
JOHN: For what?
LAFORGE: I don't know how or why but down on the planet, you gave me something a new confidence.
JOHN: I doubt I can take credit for that Perhaps I only helped you find something you already had.
DATA: Alien vessel approaching at half impulse, heading zero five one mark one one four.
PICARD: Raise shields. Slow to one third impulse and bring us to one zero three mark zero two five. Mister Worf, hail the alien vessel.
WORF: They continue to ignore our hails, sir.
DATA: They are scanning us, Captain.
WORF: They are answering our hail, Captain.
PICARD: You know him?
JOHN: Yes I don't know how, but. He's dangerous.
SUNAD: I am Commander Sunad, of Zalkon. You are trespassing into our space and you are holding a Zalkonian citizen.
PICARD: I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard, of the United Federation of Planets. We intend no transgression of
SUNAD: You will return him to us immediately.
PICARD: Sunad this individual is our guest. We found him dying in a shipwreck and returned him to health.
SUNAD: Then you have aided a criminal. He is one of four escaped prisoners. We eliminated the other three. We thought this one dead as well. Return him so we may complete our task.
PICARD: Of what is he accused?
SUNAD: He is a disruptive influence. He spreads lies encourages dissent disturbs the natural order of our society.
PICARD: In what way?
SUNAD: That is not your concern. I will give you two hours to comply.
RIKER: Tactical analysis.
WORF: The Zalkonian ship has a formidable armament. Their weaponry is comparable to ours.
LAFORGE: They're just as fast and probably just as maneuverable.
PICARD: Counsellor. Do they mean to carry out their threat?
TROI: I believe so. Sunad's hatred for John was evident but there's something else. The Zalkonians fear John.
PICARD: Commander Riker, Counsellor, Doctor. John, I'd like you to join us. Mister Data, you have the Bridge. Mister Worf stay at Tactical. Counter any moves the Zalkonian makes.
WORF: Aye, sir.

[Observation lounge]

JOHN: I can neither confirm nor deny what the Zalkonians told you.
PICARD: They make serious accusations against you.
JOHN: Their accusations may be true. I don't know. I don't believe I am a criminal.
PICARD: You understand the difficult position in which I'm placed.
JOHN: Completely. And I refuse to place your ship in danger. If necessary, I'll surrender to them. But I'm convinced there's more at stake here than my life. There's something important I must complete. My survival is vital. If I could explain it, I would.
PICARD: I'll inform you of my decision shortly.
CRUSHER: Captain, you can't seriously be considering.
PICARD: We must consider all options, Doctor, without letting our personal feelings impede our judgment.
CRUSHER: You're going to tell me it's irrelevant that we'd be sending him to his death.
PICARD: Exactly. Whether we approve of the Zalkonians' motives is not at issue. For what it's worth, I suspect John may be correct that his existence has broader ramifications than that of a simple criminal.
TROI: Sunad thinks so. He feels personally threatened by John.
CRUSHER: Sunad called John a disruptive influence. That's hardly a capital offense.
PICARD: It is not up to us to judge their laws, Doctor. RIKER: I know how I'd feel if the situation were reversed if they were in our territory, holding a Federation citizen. TROI: The Zalkonians truly don't understand our indecision about returning John. In their eyes, we shouldn't be involved. CRUSHER: We are involved. I saved his life. For what? So they could chase him down and take that life away?

[Bridge]

SUNAD: Picard we will not tolerate more delays.
PICARD: Commander, let me remind you we are on a mission of exploration our purpose is to establish peaceful relations with the civilizations we encounter.
SUNAD: We do not want relations with you.
PICARD: If that is your wish we will respect it.
SUNAD: We simply want you to leave Zalkonian space as soon as you return the criminal.
PICARD: Commander, we will leave. It is not our policy to intervene in the affairs of other cultures. But before I return the survivor to you, I would appreciate a more detailed explanation of what he has done to merit a death sentence.
SUNAD: As I said it is not your concern.
PICARD: Agreed. However, there are circumstances of which you may be unaware. The survivor has suffered a memory loss he is, therefore, ill-equipped to defend himself against your accusations.
SUNAD: There is no defense. Our judgment is final.
PICARD: Since his recovery, he has manifested unusual abilities.
SUNAD: What kind of abilities?
PICARD: He apparently has the power to heal injuries with a simple touch.
SUNAD: Lies!
PICARD: and even to reverse death itself.
SUNAD: Obviously he has corrupted you as well. I see I am wasting my time.
WORF: Shields ineffective.

[Sickbay]

CRUSHER: I can't breathe.
JOHN: It's come back to me, Beverly I know who I am what I am.

[Corridor]

[Bridge]