02x07 - Unnatural Selection

[bunniefuu]

Captain's log, stardate 42494.8.

The Enterprise is bound
for Star Station India,

to rendezvous
with a Starfleet medical courier.

We've been told only
that our presence is imperative.

Hopefully it will give me
further opportunities

to assess the performance of
our new Chief Medical Officer.

Come.

- You wanted to see me, Captain?
- Yes, Counsellor.

Come, sit down.

Counsellor, ...
you've had the opportunity

to observe Dr Pulaski
for some time now.

How would you evaluate her
as a Chief Medical Officer?

I've never met
a more dedicated physician.

I would say she has
a passion for her work.

Yes, of course.

I entirely agree.

Is it possible
that such consuming dedication

could interfere with her judgement?

I feel your concern, Captain,
but I don't share it.

Perhaps because I've been able
to spend more time with her,

and get to know her better.

Yes, perhaps you're right.

Captain, we're picking up
a faint distress signal

on an open subspace frequency.

It appears to be from
an adjacent sector.

Respond on the same frequency.

- Are we locked on?
- Aye, sir.

A voice transmission from the USS
Lantree, a Federation supply ship.

USS Lantree,
this is Picard of the Enterprise.

What is your emergency?

Can't hold out any more...

People dying... Too many to help...

Still receiving their signal,
but there is no message.

Lantree, are you under attack?

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.

USS Lantree, this is the Enterprise.

Come in, Lantree.

Replay that last transmission.

Can't hold out any more...
People dying... Too many to help...

Have we a fix on her?

2.2 milli-parsecs,
bearing 3-0 at 145 degrees, sir.

Number One?

We'd better take a look.
What kind of vessel is she?

A class-6 Federation supply ship,
assigned to the Gamma 7 Sector.

Capt LI Telaka commanding. Normal
complement, 26 officers and crew.

- Armed?
- Class-3, defensive only.

- Is she still underway?
- Aye, sir.

Adjust course to intercept.
Warp seven.

Adjusting course to intercept.
Warp seven, sir.

Engineering, transfer to bridge.

Closing on the Lantree, Captain.

Take us out of warp. Establish
parallel course. Match speed.

Yes, sir.

- Hailing frequencies.
- Open.

Lantree, this is the Enterprise.

Capt Telaka, this is Picard
of the Enterprise. Do you read me?

No life signs, Captain.

- Counsellor?
- Nothing, Captain.

What else have we got nearby?

No other vessels of any kind
within two parsecs.

No battle damage.

All systems seem functional, sir.
Everything is in perfect order.

- We have to board her, Captain.
- Possibly, Mr Worf. Number One?

If we gain control of her remotely,

we could activate the view screen
and at least look at the bridge.

Agreed.

Computer, security override request.

Identify.

Picard, Jean-Luc.
Captain, USS Enterprise.

Request control access
Starfleet ship USS Lantree,

Isao Telaka commanding.

Enter access code.

Omicron omicron
alpha yellow daystar 2-7. Enable.

I have verified receipt
of the Lantree's access codes.

Grand. Commence operations.

- First, shut down the engines.
- Standing by.

The Lantree computer reports access
codes received and accepted, sir.

- Sickbay on alert, Captain.
- The Lantree is responding, sir.

We have override control
of her bridge, Captain.

Alright. Let's have a look.

Lantree bridge monitor engaging.

Read anything, Doctor?

Still no signs of life, Captain.

Magnify.

That must be Capt Telaka
on the left. Let's look at him.

Closer.

My God.

Looks like they had
a battle with time.

And lost.

Heart, lungs, liver... Everything.

- What is it?
- They died of natural causes.

Natural causes?
What in nature could cause that?

For the record,
they died of old age.

We've downloaded
the Lantree's log, sir.

Play back the Captain's last entry.

Captain's log, stardate 42493. 1.
There are only six of us left.

We've set course
for the nearest Federation outpost,

but I'm afraid it's too late.

Attempts to analyze
what is happening have failed.

In the last few hours I've watched
friends grow old and die,

and it's happening to me.

Capt LI Telaka, USS Lantree...

Capt Telaka was my age, sir.

Doctor?

Every member of the Lantree crew
had a complete examination

eight weeks ago.
They were in perfect health.

Nothing else since?

A single medical entry

noting that the first officer
had Thelusian flu five days ago.

Thelusian flu?

An exotic but harmless rhinal virus.
It couldn't have caused this.

The Lantree's last port of call

was the Darwin Genetic Research
Station on Gagarin IV,

three days ago.

It could be something the crew had
or it could've come from Gagarin.

At the very least, the people from
Darwin Station deserve a warning.

We may have to consider quarantine.

- We should quarantine the Lantree.
- Absolutely.

Lieutenant, initiate the Lantree's
quarantine transmitters,

and activate marker beacons.
We'll need to find her again.

Aye, sir.

Quarantine warnings active
on all frequencies, Captain.

Extreme caution.

USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel
by order of Starfleet Command.

Set course for Gagarin IV.
Warp seven.

Course and speed set, sir.

Engage.

Captain's log, supplemental.

We're en route to the Federation
Research Station on Gagarin IV.

The mere thought of a connection
between the Lantree tragedy

and a genetic-research facility
fills me with great apprehension.

- Approaching Gagarin IV, sir.
- Standard orbit.

- Hailing frequencies.
- Open.

Darwin, this is Capt Jean-Luc Picard
of the USS Enterprise.

Enterprise, this is Darwin Station.
I'm Dr Kingsley.

We've just declared a medical
emergency. We need your help.

Dr Kingsley, what is the nature
of your emergency?

- To whom am I speaking, please?
- Dr Pulaski, Chief Medical Officer.

Katherine Pulaski, author of
"Models of Viral Propagation"?

- That was long ago.
- But still the standard.

I can't think of anyone better
to deal with.

We're experiencing the rapid onset
of geriatric phenomena.

The first symptom is sudden,
acute arthritic inflammation.

Then the ageing process
accelerates.

The Lantree.

Dr Pulaski, I celebrated
my 35th birthday a week ago.

We know Darwin Station
is involved in genetic research.

Is there a possible connection?

Our research is on human genetics.

This is not something
that got away from us.

We believe we were infected
by a supply ship three days ago.

If you're speaking of the Lantree,
we encountered it a few hours ago.

All the crew were dead.

Which would confirm our suspicion.

Could you establish
a pathology, Doctor?

Doctor, did you hear me? All the
26 men and women aboard were dead.

I heard you, Captain.
The prognosis is alarming,

but my concern is our children.

Children?

They represent years of genetic
research. You must evacuate them.

I'm sorry,
but until we know what's going on,

I'm imposing a full quarantine
on Darwin Station.

But the children
have been in protective isolation.

They show no symptoms.
You cannot leave them to die.

Doctor, our options in a quarantine
situation are very limited.

We will consider the possibilities.
I suggest you do the same.

I recommend against contact.

Number One?

I have to agree.
The risk is too great.

Doctor?

If the children are free of disease,
they should be evacuated.

I'd like to bring one aboard
in a force field for an examination.

Counsellor, do you sense anything?

Dr Kingsley sincerely believes
the children are not a threat.

But she's not telling
the whole truth. I recommend caution.

We have only Dr Kingsley's assurance
that the children are not infected,

whereas we have seen the results
of this disease first-hand.

In a case like this, I think we
should err on the side of caution.

Alright.

We could beam up one child encased
in styrolite in suspended animation.

That way I could scan
for possible infection

without danger to ourselves
or the child.

- We don't know what to look for.
- Exactly.

And we won't
until we start gathering data.

- Captain, that's worth some risk.
- There's always risk, Doctor.

Undertake an examination.
But I shall need positive proof

that these children are harmless
before I place my crew in jeopardy.

- The force field's ready, Captain.
- Activate it.

Transporter?

This is Chief O'Brien, sir.
Almost ready.

- Is there a problem?
- It's the styrolite.

I'm altering the delta-T so it
materializes two microseconds ahead.

- It has to be right.
- Take your time.

Entering corrections now.

Ready, Captain.

Dr Kingsley,
are you ready to transport?

You have the coordinates. We have
a 12-year-old male in styrolite.

Transporter, ... energize.

- A trick!
- Reverse...

One moment. He's still in stasis.

The styrolite is intact, Captain.

Force field down.

Captain, there's a definite
presence, a distinct personality.

Even in stasis it's quite strong.
The child is certainly telepathic.

A child this mature?

We could be looking
at the future of humanity.

At least Dr Kingsley's vision of it.

He's in better health than we are.

His immune system is so advanced
he may be unable to contract disease.

I want to free him
from the styrolite.

That seems rather risky.

I can do no further tests
until he's out.

But what if you're wrong? You saw
what happened on the Lantree.

- I know I'm right.
- I can't expose us.

Not till we know more
about the disease.

Naturally, we'll establish
a force-field containment.

But if we lose the force field,
we lose the ship.

- Force fields can fail and...
- We don't have much time.

The children can't survive in
the lab once their parents die.

Look at him, Captain.

He's a human being who needs help.

- But the risk is...
- Minimal!

If you can show
that he's biologically harmless,

without risk to the crew, I'll do
everything in my power to assist.

And, Doctor, God knows,
I'm not one to discourage input,

but I would appreciate it if you let
me finish my sentences occasionally.

Deanna, do you have a minute?

You've known the Captain for
some time. I need some advice.

- I don't deal with him well.
- Meaning?

My arguments don't have any effect.
We just end up quoting regulations.

He has such
a dedication to his ship,

he doesn't seem able
to see the human side of things.

What's the matter?

Kate, I don't think
he'd be where he is

if he couldn't see the human side.

- Perhaps the two of you are similar.
- What do you mean?

Let's just say, you both have
well-established personalities.

Dr Kingsley, this is Kate Pulaski.

Do you have a decision?

- I'm afraid it's bad news.
- How can that be?

The risk is too great.

Until we know
the cause of the disease...

The children are harmless.

Every test on them has been negative.

I demand that you do something
to save them. Please, Doctor.

For God's sake,
we haven't got much time.

Stand by. I'll get back to you.

Geordi, I need your help.

What is it?

I need to prove the children are
harmless in a fail-safe environment.

There's no area of the ship that
can be sealed off with certainty.

Sickbay has an isolated system.

But it's not possible
to totally cut it off.

The only independent environment
would be, say, a shuttlecraft.

A shuttlecraft.
Why didn't you say so?

Come.

Captain, I'd like permission
to put the boy in a shuttlecraft.

I can study him there
without risk to anyone.

- What about you?
- I'll take that risk.

Someone has to breathe the same air
he breathes, to touch him.

I'm volunteering
to make that test myself.

Doctor, you have a responsibility
to this ship which...

I also have
a responsibility to humanity.

The guidelines about
contact with quarantined...

You don't have
to quote the rule book.

You were saying...?

Request approved.

Captain, you said if I...

Approved?

I recognize that you're trying
to satisfy my condition.

Thank you.

- You sent for me?
- I did.

You're qualified
to pilot this shuttlecraft?

Certainly. I had training
in auxiliary space vessels

at Starfleet Academy. I received...

A more than passing grade, no doubt.
Come aboard. We don't have much time.

Shuttle bay three
force field activated.

The Captain definitely approved this?

You'll take us a few hundred meters
out and hold position.

Begin shuttlecraft launch sequence.

Good luck, Doctor.

We are in position, Doctor.

It's the only way
to prove they're harmless.

And if they are not?

I hate to keep reminding you, but
you are a machine. You'll be safe.

That is by no means certain,
but I was referring to you.

Medical research
is sometimes a risky business.

It's all part of being human.
Shall we proceed?

Ready to transport.

You have the coordinates,
Chief O'Brien.

- Maintain position. Stand by.
- Standing by.

- Control, what's our status?
- We have a green panel.

- Stand by to transport.
- Aye, sir.

Energize.

Yes... I do.

I understand you perfectly.

How could you, Doctor?
He has not said anything.

Yes, he has.
Troi is right. He's telepathic.

- Time?
- 0322 ex actly.

She's been in direct contact
with the boy for 18 minutes.

All systems functioning
within normal specifications.

The manufacturer will be pleased.

I appreciate your help, but
your bedside manner needs work.

Bedside manner?

Doctor?

Doctor, I don't understand.
What has happened?

There was no warning.

- Explain.
- Arthritic inflammation.

The first symptom of the disease.

- What can we do?
- Return the boy.

Apparently the children
are carriers.

Chief O'Brien, are you ready?

I have the coordinates
of the isolation lab.

- Quickly.
- Shuttle One, hold position.

Holding.

Stand by to transport.

It wasn't your fault.

Tell us what you need, Doctor.

There's nothing you can do.

I won't make myself an exception
to the Darwin quarantine.

Shuttle One out.

- What is your condition, Doctor?
- Not exactly up to factory specs.

I'm sorry.
The pain is tolerable, thank you.

Shall I set course for Darwin?

We're already under quarantine.
What do we have to lose?

The Darwin Station crisis is no
longer our most immediate concern,

although Dr Pulaski's condition
is linked with that emergency.

Her safe return and that of
Cmdr Data must take priority, please.

Shouldn't Dr Pulaski
be involved in this?

Dr Pulaski
may not have time to help herself.

I suggest
we beam them both back here.

Cmdr Data is most likely immune,
and surely the biofilter will...

The biofilter won't protect us.

The boy was transported twice,
and still infected Dr Pulaski.

Couldn't we adjust the biofilter?

Alter it to screen out
the cause of the disease?

But we don't know the cause.

We can't protect ourselves
against the unknown.

We need a filter that doesn't depend
on known biological factors.

- We might try the trace.
- The transporter trace?

The transporter keeps a record
of all transmissions, a pattern.

Usually it's stored
for security purposes.

But if we use the trace to control
the reconstitution process...

I don't think it's been tried before,
but... theoretically it is possible.

It means extensive modifications.

- Do it. There's no alternative.
- Where do we get the trace pattern?

- She's never used our transporter.
- Never?

No, she's a woman
of very strongly held opinions.

- What was her previous assignment?
- Her ship was the Repulse.

Bridge, Picard.

Contact the USS Repulse using
subspace captain's priority channel.

Dr Pulaski. I can only tell you

how much I regret the burden we've
imposed on you. On both of you.

Cmdr Data is an android.
He's unaffected.

As for me, I chose this. I was
convinced the children were safe.

I still can't believe
one of our children infected you.

The evidence is fairly conclusive.

But they were designed
to resist disease.

I think it's time
we talked about that.

Let me show you.

Our ultimate achievement.

The oldest is 12,
and all are telekinetic. Watch.

Genetically engineered?

Not engineered, created.
Perfect in every way.

Their body structure,
their musculature, their minds.

You were telling me
about their immune system.

That was our masterpiece.

We gave these children
an aggressive immunity.

We others were infected by the
supply ship, but they were protected.

The Lantree logs show
only one crewman had any illness

prior to arrival here.

The First Officer
had a mild Thelusian flu.

Yes, he was one
who came into contact with us.

The Thelusian flu
would have no effect on you,

but tell me, how would they react?

Their immune systems would release
an antibody to attack the virus.

Even at a distance?

Their immune systems
don't wait for a disease's attack.

It seeks out a virus and destroys it.

Destroy it? How exactly?

The antibody would adapt itself

to alter
the genetic code of the virus.

Commander, I want an analysis

of the interaction between
the Thelusian flu and the children.

On a molecular genetic level?

We don't have time for that.
Genetic analysis could take months.

Not necessarily. Cmdr Data
has a way with computers.

Sorry, Picard, we erased
Dr Pulaski's transporter pattern.

She never used the transporter much.
She preferred shuttles.

I'd have given her a shuttle
to keep her.

If she served you as well
as you say, why did you let her go?

You haven't run
into her stubborn streak yet.

She found out
about an opening on the Enterprise,

and requested a transfer.

Knew your service record
backward and forward.

Apparently she's been an admirer
of yours for some time.

Extraordinary.

Commander, what have you got?

The answer, I believe, Doctor.

The Lantree was not the source
of the disease, but the trigger.

Trigger?

The Lantree exposed your children
to Thelusian flu for the first time.

Their active immune systems
set out to attack the virus.

Once it was triggered,
it kept going.

The antibody created
an unexpected side-effect.

It alters the genetic make-up
of normal humans.

This is a comparison
of the altered and normal DNA.

These two molecules
have been transposed.

And since our DNA
is self-replicating, the process...

Is irreversible.

Judging from what happened
on the Lantree,

anyone is a carrier
once they're infected.

- Have you made progress, Doctor?
- I'm afraid so.

The children don't carry
the disease, they cause it.

- How?
- Their advanced immune system

has created an antibody
that changes normal DNA.

The altered genes
are the ones that control ageing.

Why did it attack you more quickly
than the others?

The enclosed environment of the
shuttle concentrated my exposure.

The Lantree's First Officer
carried the antibody onto his ship.

- It then affected his crew.
- What's the next step?

The children will survive, but the
rest of us are about out of time.

Doctor, I want you back aboard.

You'll come up in suspended
animation. That will buy time.

Thank you, but I got into this
by leaping before I looked.

I won't allow you
to make the same mistake.

Chief Medical Officer's log.

This will be my final report
to the Enterprise.

Just as changes in evolution

are known to be caused
by changes in the environment,

we now know the process
also works in reverse.

An attempt to control human evolution

has resulted in a new species
that's lethal to its predecessors.

The children will be condemned to
live out their lives in isolation.

Quarantine of the Darwin Station
must be maintained for ever.

- I am sorry I was not more helpful.
- You did everything you could.

As androids go,
you're in a class by yourself.

Doctor...

Please. Give my best to the Captain.

Enterprise, Cmdr Data.
Ready to beam aboard.

Captain,
Kate knew what she was doing.

I wish I were sure
we'd tried everything.

Cmdr Data is ready to come aboard.

You have the bridge, Number One.

No life forms present, sir.

You may step down, sir.

Data, tell me, if...
It's good to see you again.

Thank you.

If the changes in Dr Pulaski's DNA
were reversed, is it possible...

It is not reversible, sir.
The molecular transposition...

But if it were undone,
would she be normal again?

As normal as ever, sir.

The transporter can be modified to
filter out changes in Dr Pulaski?

Yes, but we couldn't locate
her trace pattern.

Well, what if we used
a sample of her DNA,

say from a blood test taken before
she was exposed to the disease?

Could that filter
the genetic changes?

I'd have to patch in
a molecular matrix reader.

That's no problem.

But the waveform modulator will be
overloaded without the limiter.

Interesting. But theoretically...

- Can you do it?
- I think so.

Then make it so.

You heard.
Let's get those panels off.

A blood test, a tissue sample,
anything with Dr Pulaski's DNA.

No, sir. Her records were shipped
via Starfleet headquarters.

- They've not caught up with us.
- Ridiculous.

A cell, a single cell.
Let's check her quarters.

Anything. A fingernail, a hair...

Hairbrush.

It has a follicle, sir. Live cells.

Darwin Station,
this is the Enterprise.

Go ahead, Captain. I'm here.

We may have a solution.

We have a sample of
your normal DNA

to use as a filter
in the transporter.

We think that we can beam you aboard

while filtering out the genetic
problems caused by the disease.

Interesting theory, Captain.

If it works,
we could use the same technique

to save Dr Kingsley
and her colleagues.

I think you should know, this
has never been attempted before.

I know one thing.

If I live through this,...

..I?ll have a much better
understanding of geriatrics.

- All set, Chief?
- Almost ready. Just one thing.

- Yes?
- This modification's one way only.

If it fails, we can't transport
the Doctor back to the planet.

Then I'll operate
the transporter controls myself.

If she's going to be
consigned to oblivion, then...

Thank you, sir. I'll be monitoring
the medical scans.

You'll be able to tell if
it's worked by watching the stack.

Dr Pulaski, are you ready?

I suppose I am, Captain.

Here we go.

It's not working.

Captain, wait.

- Doctor.
- Good to see you.

Welcome back, Doctor... Come.

Captain, if this hadn't worked...

If this hadn't worked,

it would have been necessary to
beam your energy into empty space.

And spread my atoms
across the galaxy?

Yes. I'm sorry...

No, don't be sorry.

Every time I get into that thing, I'm
sure that's what's going to happen.

Chief Medical Officer's log,
supplemental.

The adults of Darwin Station have
been restored to normal health.

They remain on Gagarin IV
to continue their research

in hopes of one day
rejoining their children.

Impulse speed.

There she is, Captain.

Scientists believe
no experiment is a failure,

that even a mistake advances
the evolution of understanding.

Close to 40 kilometers.

40 kilometers. Aye, sir.

But all achievement has a price.

For one glimpse at the mysterious
blueprint of human evolution,

the crew of the USS Lantree
paid with their lives.

Their sacrifice is thus noted
in this scientist's log.

Number One.

Lt. Worf,
arm the photon torpedoes.

Torpedoes ready, Commander.

USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel
by order of Starfleet Command.

Do not board.

Gentlemen.

USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel
by order of Starfleet Command.

Do not board.

Set course and speed
for Star Station India.

Course and speed set, sir.

Engage.