Apologies for the delay.
You aren't the only Federation spy I'm interrogating today.
Ensign Beckett Mariner!
Ah, no biggie. I don't have anything else going on.
We'll see if you're so cavalier
after a taste of my... excruciator!
Ready to talk?
Yes.
It's only been a couple of months working with my mom,
instead of behind her back... the line between mom stuff
and captain stuff has gotten real fuzzy.
Your captain is your mother?
Yeah, lady, everybody knows that, keep up!
I thought you were good at this.
I used to sneak away and do all sorts of little,
off-the-book side missions without cluing her in.
Now that's impossible!
She's so happy.
It's very sweet, but I am losing my mind.
I don't know how much longer I can do this.
Guards!
Oh, my God, Mariner, you got to get me out of here!
- They keep showing me lights. - No, I am still mad at you.
What, for going to the Titan?
But you knew I wanted to get a promotion. You're supposed to be my mentor.
You snuck off in the middle of my shift without saying goodbye.
You know who my best friend is now?
My mom... it sucks, it's like work.
Look, I'm a hologram, okay?
I'm sure real Boimler had his reasons.
I don't know, maybe, did you ever intimidate him?
- What? No, shut up! - No, no, no! Mariner?
Aah!
You're abandoning your fellow officer?
Yeah, well, he did it first.
Stop her!
Look, I never asked for special treatment.
That is not my style. I mean, I won't turn it down, though.
Oh, wait, does that make me a bad person?
You are an extremely bad person.
Wow, you are nasty!
Words can hurt just as much as torture equipment, all right?
Good!
I guess I'll just have to get used to it, you know?
Life is all about change. I just always
thought she'd kick me out of Starfleet.
- You'll never escape! - Right?
Oh, wait, you're talking about the detention center?
Come on, I'm, like, practically escaped already, read the room.
Oh!
They're locking weapons!
Oh, stop being such a...
Computer, pause program.
What do you want, Jennifer?
What are you doing?
Cardio, plus a little strength training.
So you work out by staging Cardassian prison breaks?
- Yeah, what do you do? - Uh, yoga.
- Wow, how unique! - Whatever.
Captain wants you in her ready room.
Look, I know we're not supposed to have interpersonal conflict,
but I really hate that Andorian.
All right, here we go. Computer, resume program.
What are you... Why are you squatting?
We're going to die. Stop that!
I can't... it's leg day.
CREDITS
TheCerritos is finishing
second contact duties on Apergos.
On a personal note, my daughter
has yet another side mission request.
When I agreed to give her more autonomy,
I never realized how often I would be catering
to her whims. It's getting a bit old.
Mom, you don't have to keep a trinket from every side mission
we do together. What even is this?
That's a gratitude mask from when you gave root juice
to the Vornilians.
Right. Right, right, right, right.
Speaking of which...
I want to do one last thing before we leave system.
- Of course you do. - The capital city is filthy.
They never cleaned up after their industrial revolution.
Can I power-wash a couple buildings?
I mean, if the locals see how good it can be,
maybe they'll start cleaning up on their own.
Officially, no.
Starfleet does not prioritize aesthetics.
But as your cool mom,
I say go for it.
The away team is awaiting your orders, Captain.
Sorry, Commander, I forgot you were there.
That does tend to happen a lot these days.
The Apergosian high leader just needs to select
a subspace communication number and we'll be good to go.
Sure, you're authorized to proceed.
Oh, and, Jack?
Make sure Mariner gets whatever she needs.
Yes, sir.
Thanks, Jack!
Hey, have you guys seen my PADD? I just zinged Ransom so hard.
I got to do a personal log before I forget.
Did you check Boimler's bunk?
He'd lose his mind if he knew we were using this for storage.
He probably has a huge room to himself on the Titan.
Yeah, he's probably so excited about serving with Riker
he isn't thinking about us at all.
Okey dokey!
Ensign Barnes just confirmed our date for tonight.
Whoa, she's crazy hot! Are you nervous?
Wait, that sounds familiar.
No, not nervous at all. This is gonna be great.
Oh, actually, you went on a date with Barnes last year
and it wasn't a good match. She didn't care that a red alert
failed to override maintenance hatch 70's
access protocol... can you imagine?
That's okay... this is our third date.
It's been pretty great. Ensign Barnes is super cool.
Oh! Oh, okay.
Eh, went the wrong way again.
Does Rutherford seem off to you?
Yeah, always. Why?
Last year, he didn't like pears.
And now he eats them all the time.
I mean, his implant and part of his brain got ripped out
of his head and put back in, so "liking pears"
doesn't seem like that big of a deal.
What about Barnes? Three dates?
- He's not supposed to like her. - Tendi?
if Rutherford dating someone bugs you,
maybe you should talk to him.
Ha! No, I don't care about that.
Synthetic Memory Degradation.
It's a rare condition that affects cyborgs
with new implants.
First your opinions change,
then your brain liquifies and melts out of your nose!
Luckily, this is exactly what I've been training for.
I will save my friend!
Cool.
So, you really think Boimler has a big room on the Titan?
Yeah, it's probably huge.
Hmm, no. No.
Ugh. No.
You know, your communication number
doesn't really matter, Your Excellency.
People just say, "Computer,
contact the Apergosian High Leader,"
- and it does it automatically. - Well, Apergosians have
a deep relationship with numbers, Commander.
It needs to have gravitas...
digits our grandchildren can be proud of.
Yes, yes, right.
Hey! Look at this one! This one's got gravitas.
Mm, too close to my ex-girlfriend's number.
I need more options.
Fine. Mariner, could you grab me some more PADDs?
Ooh, no can do. Sorry.
Sort of busy with, you know, whatever I feel like doing.
I'm in command of this mission, Ensign.
Get me my PADDs!
But I am authorized by the captain
to do my own mission.
Have Stevens grab 'em. He's your little buddy.
- He is not! - Here's those PADDs, sir.
Stacked 'em just the way you like.
Get away from me, Stevens.
Whoa. I never knew the ancient ones decorated these buildings.
You seeing this?
Hmm.
Clean your public spaces, people.
It's not that hard.
Who knows what you'll find under all this soot?
Oh!
Uh, we got sci-fi stuff happening over here!
Mariner, get out of there!
Sir, I'm reading a buildup of strange energies.
Mariner! Mariner!
- Ah! - Ah!
Commander?
Commander, can you hear me?
Oh, God, is he alive?
Please tell me he's alive!
Calm down, Stevens. He's gonna be fine.
Don't lie to me!
I told you not to deviate from the mission.
Hmm. Looks like you took a full load
of strange energy straight to the cortex.
What is "strange energy," Doctor?
Electrical phenomena with unknown properties.
It can have all sorts of physical effects...
unlock parts of the brain, even endow god-like powers.
Humanity has a complicated relationship
with organized religion.
Well, strange energies doesn't.
Ever hear of Gary Mitchell?
Uh, it got real weird real fast.
Those energies weren't that strange. I'm fine.
Now unhand me. I must rise!
And he's hovering.
I think he might be going god-like on us?
Let's not jump to conclusions until I run some tests.
You mortals tire me!
Excelsior. I am healed.
My power swells.
My brain is unlocking its full potential.
Well, lucky for us,
there isn't much to unlock in there.
I can hear your thoughts!
Uh, I mean, hey, I was just joking around,
privately, in-in my head.
I have to figure out the right harmonic frequency
that will disrupt his power cycle.
What is he doing now?
It's easy to become a god.
The trick is staying a god.
He seems to be focusing on his bi's and tri's.
Captain, we have an incoming communication
from Admiral Freeman.
I'll take it in my ready room.
Hey, sweetheart. Just checking in on the mission.
Oh, sorry. Did I catch you in the middle of something?
Nah. Just having lunch... some hot chili.
No, the mission is great.
Second contact is almost complete.
You know, Carol Bear, you impressed some important people
with your showdown with the Pakleds.
This could be your year to get promoted to a capital ship...
as long as you keep a clean record, of course.
Oh, the Cerritos?
Oh, it's the very image of Starfleet responsibility.
Mariner, get Ransom under control
and get that number picked now!
Yelling at me isn't going to help!
Oh, yeah. Feel the burn!
So, wait. My brain's gonna melt out of my nose
because I like pears?
No, no, no, no, no.
There's a problem in the way that your hippocampus
and your implant are communicating.
Okay, so what's with all the disks?
They provide a low-level shock.
A shock? There's, like, a hundred of 'em!
Reacting to pain can often kick neurons right back into place.
Wait. How much pain? Aah!
That kind of hurt! Can you warn me next time?
Uh, sorry, I can't.
The shocks have to come at unexpected times.
I can't tell you when I'm...
That one was worse!
I have to randomize the voltage,
or your brain will tune it out.
Do you still like pears?
Yes!
Huh?
How about now?
Uh, pears? No, I hate pears.
I'll never eat a pear again.
Then you should pass this test.
Three sets of twins are lost at sea.
Each set shares a parent with the other,
but no two sets are the same.
What is the name of the boat?
Uh, um... The Salty Dog?
- Yes! - Really?
No.
No, what are you doing? No, don't do that!
- I'm late for my date. - But your brain!
Was feeling great until you started shocking me.
This isn't like you!
Looks like I'm going to have to resort to more extreme methods.
That displeases Ransom.
He made the moon disappear.
Hey, buddy, look at... look at this.
This... this might be
the best subspace number I've even seen.
He just ruined our museum of popular music!
Hey, that sounds like something you don't need.
Mom, I don't think this is going to happen.
Well, it has to!
I never should have authorized you to break mission parameters.
Well, how was I supposed to know this was all gonna go
all Ransom on the mount?
I will create a race of Ransomites!
Hey, don't transform my constituents!
Ooh, ooh, do me, sir!
it. I'm gonna blast him.
No! Shooting from the hip is what
landed us here in the first place.
Just calm him down.
Mom, I feel that you are not listening to me.
I am going to calm him down... by blasting him.
When you say that, what I hear is
that you don't like being disagreed with.
Ah!
Ah, damn it!
We have to be a team on this.
Yeah, no. Of course, yeah, love to be a team.
Stop pretending to like each other.
It's making me furious!
I am superior to all of you!
Oh, it's true. All hail Ransom.
I bow. I bow before thee, sir.
Emergency transport to sickbay for Commander Ransom now.
Dude, not cool!
Doc, how did they deal with Gary Mitchell?
Kirk smooshed him with a boulder.
Gary Mitchell was an ant, and I am a lion!
You know what?
Maybe we shouldn't be seeing each other tonight.
My memory's all messed up because of my new implant.
Sorry if I say anything weird.
Don't worry. I'm used to it.
My older sister got a symbiont,
and it totally changed her personality.
Oh, is it because she has all the memories and experiences
- of her past lives in her head? - Meh.
It's more that she always has to bring up having a symbiont.
It's like, we get it.
When are you back on duty?
Me and a couple girls from cetacean ops are going swimming.
Want to join?
Sure. This thing is waterproof.
- I can swim all night. - Great.
Uh, I think your friend is gonna shoot you.
What now?
- Tendi, what are you doing?! - Sorry to interrupt,
but I really don't want you to die again!
- Hi. I'm Tendi. We're friends. - Nice to meet you.
Tendi, come on! You don't have to do this!
I'm in medical, he has SMD, I'm just saving his life.
What's an SMD?
It's just a cyborg thing. I'm fine. Aah! Uh.
Well, when you're cured,
just meet us outside cetacean ops.
I'm going to go change into my swimsuit.
Wait, wait, wait, wait! I can come with you!
Oh, no, you can't!
What's in those hyposprays?
Medical venom!
Ugh. Stop!
You can't just keep attacking me and trying
to surprise me into getting better.
- If I do have this LSD thing... - SMD.
Whatever. You can't cure it like getting rid of hiccups.
- You're right. - Thank you.
I'll have to get your brain out of your skull
and freeze it so I can nano suture your dendrites by hand.
Tendi, please! I just want to go swimming with girls!
- Then give me your brain! - No!
My will be done!
Behold the first coming of Ransom!
Captain, there's a giant head approaching the ship.
Red alert. Evasive action.
Is this gym equipment?
He's creating his own Jack utopia.
Wait. If we can't nullify his powers,
we should boost them.
Why the hell would we do that?
There's a chance it could short out his godliness.
Yeah, or make him extra vengeful.
Aah!
Oh, what, you have a better idea?
Mom, hit that head with everything you've got.
Doc says it'll overload him.
Oh, yes, feed me your phasers. I can feel
myself becoming more powerful than ever before!
More power just gave him more power!
I have to reason with him.
Open a channel.
Why are you doing this, Jack? Stand down.
I used to be your number one, but then Mariner took it all
just because she's your daughter.
Then from now on, you can work with us, too.
I don't want to work with her!
Stay away from me. I want my brain right where it is.
I'm just borrowing it. I-I'll give it right back.
Computer, activate force field,
Corridor 755.
I'm trying to save you.
I don't need to be saved.
But we're best friends!
We have to trust each other.
Well, then, maybe we shouldn't be friends.
You don't have Synthetic Memory Degradation.
What?!
Mom,
hit him with photon torpedoes.
Don't you give me orders.
I thought we were partners. Lies.
You hate working together!
That's not true. Right, Mom?
I, uh...
He's right.
What? Well, I do...
actually feel the exact same way.
I hate being your sidekick.
And I hate the way you question me all the time.
You're both fakers! And now you'll pay the ultimate price!
You don't have SMD,
but there's definitely something wrong with you.
If you knew I wasn't in danger, then why were you hunting me?
Well, you changed your opinion on so many things,
I was worried that if I didn't do something,
you might decide you didn't like me anymore, too.
I'm a monster. I shouldn't be your doctor.
So, you were utilizing
highly invasive neuro-medical procedures
in order to make sure I liked you?
Yes. You can hate me.
Computer, deactivate force field.
Ha! How could I hate you?
Tackling an emotional problem with scientific experimentation
is exactly what I would have done.
- Really? - Yeah.
But you don't have to, 'cause guess what?
No new implant is gonna stop me from being your friend.
Aw. Thanks, Rutherford.
It's nice to know no matter what,
we still love science.
And how.
Also, don't date Barnes.
He's growing hands.
Brace for grabbing!
Shoot him
with the dang torpedoes already!
And I'm gonna go find a boulder.
- No! Power down weapons. - But Captain!
I'm not shooting my friend anymore.
Why not?
Because you're right.
Mariner and I haven't been honest,
and you got caught in the middle.
You're a great officer, Jack.
I shouldn't have taken you for granted.
Captain, his power is... diminishing.
Your validation feels so good.
Tell me more.
I can end this with praise.
Uh, J-Jack, you're a-a fine commander.
You're in phenomenal shape.
Yes, fine commander. Yes, so yoked.
Mom, you've got to hit him. He's a god.
You can't appeal to his ego forever.
Stand down, Ensign. I've got this.
Jack, you're an amazing pilot, a-a brilliant tactician and...
Oh, you're right. I should be captain!
Yeah, well, I don't know about that.
- Why not? - That position is filled.
We can't have two captains.
Not two. Just me.
Full stop, mister. This is my ship.
I want to be the captain!
Wait, Jack, no!
You've got great hair,
and you're so good at guitar and...
What? It worked? Was it the guitar thing?
Uh...
I'm going to destroy you...
What the hell is happening down there?
Ow!
Sorry, Mom. I had to take matters into my own feet.
Mariner? What was I doing?
You were trying to eat the ship, sir.
I had to apply concentrated force to your neutral zone.
I'm sorry. Those strange energies
may have given me powers,
but it was my ego that turned me...
into a monster!
Sorry. Your eyes were glowing.
Thank you. I could feel myself
succumbing to the power.
Would you stop it, Beckett?
No can do.
Oh!
Here, I picked a number. Just go.
No!
TheCerritos is on its way
to the Bitrus Expanse,
and Commander Ransom should make a full recovery.
I'm really sorry
about the whole omniscient murder-god thing, Captain.
Well, you just focus on getting better.
I need you by my side.
All right, big guy.
Today, I'll be reading you "Nightingale Woman."
Thanks, little buddy.
Hey, Mom. How's Ransom?
He's fine. Stevens hasn't left his side.
You know, it was cool
being an unstoppable mommy-daughter team for a while,
but I think maybe we work better apart.
Agreed. I'm proud you're my daughter,
but I can't stand sharing command with you.
Hey, maybe from now on,
we only do some side missions together.
I would like that.
There's a team
waiting to take me to the brig, isn't there?
Ah, you know me so well.
Love you, Mom.
Love you, too. Never disobey me again.
I do what I want!
So, your brains aren't going to melt?
Nope. I mean, not from the implant.
But we're in Starfleet,
so who knows what's gonna happen next week.
We worked together and managed to revert
one of his synaptic pathways.
- Oh, that's nice. Which one? - I hate pears again.
They're so mealy and bland. pears.
Well, it seems like everything's back to normal.
Yeah. Only thing missing is Boimler.
I do miss the guy, but I can't blame him.
I mean, think of all the fun adventures
he's going on working with Riker
on a ship that's way cooler than the Cerritos.
It's everything he ever wanted.
He's got to be having the time of his life.
- Shields at 30%! - Red alert!
I'm starting to think this jam session's
got too many licks and not enough comp.
What does that even mean?!
More Pakled battle harpies just dropped out of warp!
They've got us surrounded!
Someone punch me a way out.
Punching.
I'm taking us into the anomaly.
- Brace for gluonic disruption. - Gluonic what?!
I love my job!
CREDITS