History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E14Clues

The inhabitants of the planet are a race of extreme xenophobes called the Paxans. The wormhole was actually a defense system designed to stun the crew of curious vessels so that they can be relocated farther away under the guise of being caught by a dangerous anomaly. But as Data was not affected by this technology, he was able to resist them, leading to a confrontation. The aliens don't want their existence made known, but destroying the ''Enterprise'' might cause Starfleet to come looking.

* ArtisticLicenseMedicine: Crusher's medical kit has a caduceus on it, with two winged serpents wrapped around a staff. The caduceus is the symbol of heralds and messengers, but it is widely confused with the Rod of Asclepius, a single serpent wrapped around a staff, which is the actual symbol of healing. Of course, given that the caduceus has already been erroneously adopted by many RealLife medical organizations, it's not a stretch to suppose that it has become the new standard in the future. It wouldn't be the first symbol to change meaning through PopCulturalOsmosis.

* ArtisticLicenseMedicine: Crusher's medical kit has a caduceus on it, with two winged serpents wrapped around a staff. The caduceus is the symbol of heralds and messengers, but it is widely confused with the Rod of Asclepius, a single serpent wrapped around a staff, which is the actual symbol of healing.

* BusmansHoliday: Even when the Enterprise is explicitly on downtime it still gets sucked into a planet mystery.

* SpottingTheThread: The potted moss is the first clue to suggest the crew was out for far longer than Data claims.
* TalkingThroughTechnique: One of the clues Dr. Crusher discovers is that Worf's hand was broken and the bones set by a doctor. She realizes that she herself is the only person who would have set them that exact way.
* {{Technobabble}}: Humorously lampshaded. Data gives a long-winded technobabble explanation for why the moss grew much larger than it would have and after he leaves, Picard asks Geordi if he believes him. Despite all their technobabble solutions, they do not.

* TheNeedsOfTheMany: Data justifies lying and obstructing everyone because of this.

* ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption: During both encounters, the Paxans consider destroying the ''Enterprise'' to keep their existence a secret, though it's clear they'd prefer not to since they give Picard's alternative solution a try--twice, in fact.

* WeWillNotUsePhotoshopInTheFuture: Data took an image of a gas giant in the ship's database, changed the color scheme a little, and programmed the probe they launched so that it would transmit that image instead of what it actually found. Geordi figured out it was faked once he took a good look at the actual probe telemetry.

* AbsoluteXenophobe: "Paranoid jerkass" is the Paxan's [[PlanetOfHats hat]].

The ''Enterprise'' is between assignments, allowing the crew some extra leisure time as they perform some routine exploration. Picard has invited Guinan to enjoy a Dixon Hill story with him on the holodeck, but just as the mystery is starting to unfold, Data calls in to report a scientific curiosity. Sensors have detected a T-Tauri type star within a stellar cloud that appears to have an Class-M planet in orbit, capable of supporting life.

However, yet another mystery emerges. Dr. Crusher comes to Picard with some alien moss samples that she had planted right before the incident. They have inexplicably grown a full day's worth, which neither of them can explain. When they ask Data for his opinion, he offers a {{Technobabble}} hypothesis based on a temporal theory with little relation to botany. It's clear that the senior staff is not buying it, and after Picard dismisses Data on an errand, La Forge admits his astonishment that Data would offer such a far-fetched explanation.

With Data's state of mind in question, the crew investigates further without his knowledge. They uncover further evidence that a full day passed after the wormhole incident, and that Data falsified all of the computer's evidence to the contrary, along with the probe's record of the gas giant (actually a charted planet elsewhere in the galaxy). Further, it seems they may not have been lying about unconscious the whole time, as Worf's wrist was broken and subsequently healed. Data admits to nothing when confronted, but also has nothing to offer in his defense. Apart from his reticence, Data has cooperated fully, which leads the crew to conclude that he is not acting maliciously, and may have been forced into silence for their own protection.

->'''Picard:''' [The clues] would seem to suggest that we were awake and aware for that day. Possibly in a struggle for our lives.\\
'''Crusher:''' The fact that we're still alive suggests we might have won.\\
'''Picard:''' Not necessarily, Doctor. Data's behavior would seem to suggest that we did not. Why else would he be willing to sacrifice his career rather than tell the truth?\\
'''Worf:''' If we didn't win ''and'' we didn't lose...\\
'''Picard:''' Then the only alternative would be a stalemate.

Though he recognizes the danger in further curiosity, Picard is not willing to drop the matter without clearing Data of suspicion. They return to the T-Tauri star system, where they find the original Class-M planet. Data implores Picard to leave, but to no avail. Troi enters the bridge, possessed by an alien, after which Data finally breaks his silence.

The inhabitants of the planet are a race of extreme isolationists called the Paxans. The wormhole was actually a defense system designed to stun the crew of curious vessels so that they can be relocated farther away under the guise of being caught by a dangerous anomaly. But as Data was not affected by this technology, he was able to resist them, leading to a confrontation. The aliens don't want their existence made known, but destroying the ''Enterprise'' might cause Starfleet to come looking.

Using Troi to communicate by proxy, the Paxans agreed to a compromise: the ship would be allowed to leave as long as the crew's memory and computer logs were wiped and Data was sworn to secrecy. The crew tried to remove all evidence of the event, but the loose ends they overlooked were enough to unravel the conspiracy. Now that the ruse has failed, the Paxans again consider violence, but Picard convinces them to give the plan another try.

->'''Picard:''' The plan failed because [[TitleDrop clues]] were left behind that suggested a mystery, and to many humans a mystery is irresistible. [...] Consider the first time a run-through, a rehearsal to shake out the flaws. The second time will succeed if we leave no clues.\\
'''Paxan:''' You are a most unusual species. Worthy of a second chance. Proceed.

Armed with the knowledge of what went wrong the first time, the crew's self-imposed cover-up succeeds on the second attempt. There are no lingering suspicions, and after noting the system as hazardous for the star charts, the ''Enterprise'' continues on its way.

* SpottingTheThread: The potted moss and Worf's broken wrist are the first clues to suggest the crew was out for far longer than Data claims.

* TongueTied: Though they aren't willing to trust all 1000+ people on the ''Enterprise'' with their secret, the Paxans are willing to trust just Data. He certainly makes good on his promise; no amount of threats or cajoling gets him to open up.

* TheWorfEffect: Has greater plot relevance than usual in this episode. When it is discovered that Worf's wrist was broken during the crew's lost time, suspicion falls on Data due to his android strength, when in reality it was Troi while possessed by the aliens. It still leads to one of the lamest instances of this trope when Worf charges Troi and she grabs his arm and effortlessly throws him back.

* TheWorfEffect: Has greater plot relevance than usual in this episode. When it is discovered that Worf's wrist was broken during the crew's lost time, suspicion falls on Data due to his android strength, when in reality it was Troi while possessed by the aliens.

As they are approaching the system, they detect an energy distortion resembling an unstable wormhole -- not unusual near a T-Tauri star. Before they have a chance to withdraw, they are pulled in, and Data turns around to find that everyone has been rendered unconscious.

When they recover, Data reports that the wormhole stunned the crew for about half a minute. No major injuries or damage is reported. Thankful for their good fortune, they decide to play it safe and launch a probe to investigate the anomalous planet. Its telemetry shows it to be a mundane gas giant instead of the Class-M they expected, which Data speculates might have actually been from another system, detected through the unstable wormhole. Though puzzling, Picard decides it is not a mystery worth pursuing.

With Data's state of mind in question, the crew investigates further without his knowledge. They uncover further evidence that a full day passed after the wormhole incident, and that Data falsified all of the computer's evidence to the contrary. Data admits to nothing when confronted, but also has nothing to offer in his defense. Apart from his reticence, Data has cooperated fully, which leads the crew to conclude that he is not acting maliciously, and may have been forced into silence for their own protection.

->'''Picard:''' [The clues] would seem to suggest that we were awake and aware for that day. Possibly in a struggle for our lives.
->'''Crusher:''' The fact that we're still alive suggests we might have won.
->'''Picard:''' Not necessarily, Doctor. Data's behavior would seem to suggest that we did not. Why else would he be willing to sacrifice his career rather than tell the truth?
->'''Worf:''' If we didn't win ''and'' we didn't lose...
->'''Picard:''' Then the only alternative would be a stalemate.

Though he recognizes the danger in further curiosity, Picard is not willing to drop the matter without clearing Data of suspicion. They return to the T-Tauri star system, where they find the original planet. Data implores Picard to leave, but to no avail. Troi enters the bridge, possessed by an alien, after which Data finally breaks his silence.

The inhabitants of the planet are a race of extreme isolationists called the Paxans. The wormhole was actually a defense system designed to stun the crew of curious vessels so that they can be relocated farther away under the guise of being caught by a dangerous anomaly. But as Data was not affected by this technology, he was able to resist them, leading to a confrontation. The aliens don't want their existence made known, but destroying ''Enterprise'' might cause Starfleet to come looking.

->'''Picard:''' The plan failed because [[TitleDrop clues]] were left behind that suggested a mystery, and to many humans a mystery is irresistible [...] Consider the first time a run-through, a rehearsal to shake out the flaws. The second time will succeed if we leave no clues.
->'''Paxan:''' You are a most unusual species. Worthy of a second chance. Proceed.

!!Tropes:
* AesopAmnesia: Picard's claim that Data would be "stripped down to the wires" as a consequence of his deception flies in the face of "The Measure of a Man", where Data was legally acknowledged to have the rights of an individual (a judgment that Picard himself argued in favor of). You ''might'' blame it on his obvious annoyance at Data's blatant evasiveness, but it's still a little jarring.

* ConflictingLoyalty: An odd case. Data has to obey orders from -- in effect -- two different Picards, one who ordered him to hide the truth for a good reason and one who's trying to find the truth without knowing better.

* TalkingThroughTechnique: One of the clues Dr Crusher discovers is that Worf's hand was broken and the bones set by a doctor. She realizes that she herself is the only person who would have set them that exact way.
* TechnoBabble: Humorously lampshaded. Data gives a long-winded technobabble explanation for why the moss grew much larger than it would have and after he leaves, Picard asks Geordi if he believes him. Despite all their technobabble solutions, they do not.
* TongueTied: Though they aren't willing to trust all 1000+ people on the Enterprise with their secret, the Paxans are willing to trust just Data. He certainly makes good on his promise; no amount of threats or cajoling gets him to open up.
* ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption: At both encounters, the Paxans consider destroying the Enterprise to keep their existence a secret, though it's clear they'd prefer not to since they give Picard's alternative solution a try -- twice, in fact.

* TheWorfEffect: Has greater plot relevance than usual in this episode. When it is discovered that Worf's wrist was broken during the crew's lost time, suspicion falls on Data due to his android strength, when in reality it was Troi while possessed by the aliens.

With Data's state of mind in question, the crew investigates further without his knowledge. They uncover further evidence that significantly more than 30 seconds passed after the wormhole incident, and that Data falsified all of the computer's evidence to the contrary. Data admits to nothing when confronted, but also has nothing to offer in his defense. Apart from his reticence, Data has cooperated fully, which leads the crew to conclude that he is not acting maliciously, and may have been forced into silence for their own protection.

This is not enough for Picard. Despite the risks, they return to the T-Tauri star system, where they find the original planet. Data implores Picard to leave, but to no avail. Troi enters the bridge, possessed by an alien, after which Data finally breaks his silence.

The ''Enterprise'' investigates a remote system with an unstable wormhole, during which they are knocked out for thirty seconds. However, as they go about their day, they begin to uncover evidence suggesting they were out for far longer, and Data is the only one who knows why.

* AesopAmnesia: Picard's claim that Data would be "stripped down to the wires" as a consequence of his deception flies in the face of "The Measure of a Man", where Data was legally acknowledged to have the rights of an individual (a judgment that Picard himself argued in favor of).

-->'''Picard:''' Who gave you the order [to lie]?
-->'''Data:''' You did, sir.
* TheWorfEffect: Has greater plot relevance than usual in this episode. When it is discovered that Worf's wrist was broken during the crew's lost time, suspicion falls on Data due to his android strength, when in reality it was Troi while possessed by the aliens.

* CuriosityIsACrapshoot: Picard refuses to accept Data's answers about what happens, and returns to the system where the crew was knocked out. This nearly gets them killed.

-->'''Data:''' You did, sir.