Wesley's Daydream Triggers Resonant‑Field Alarm
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Geordi flags an anomalous energy depletion on the engineering console, calling for Wesley and establishing a technical problem while drawing Wesley's attention away from his work.
Wesley stands distracted on the lower catwalk at the Deuterium Control Conduit, daydreaming with a fiber-optics probe until Geordi's louder call snaps him back to attention, revealing the depth of his distraction.
Wesley gushes that the recently beamed-up girl is 'perfect,' spilling his infatuation to Geordi, who teases him and pinpoints the reason for his lack of focus.
Wesley's fiddling with the probe changes its setting, a resonant field warning blares, and he nearly drops the instrument into the conduit — a tangible consequence of his distraction that forces immediate corrective action.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Openly infatuated and giddy on the surface, masking a deeper anxiety and lack of confidence that surfaces when asked to act socially or take responsibility.
Perched on the lower catwalk, Wesley is visibly daydreaming while operating a fiber‑optic probe; he drops the instrument, recovers it, excitedly gushes about the girl, missets the probe, triggers the resonant‑field warning, apologizes, and awkwardly asks Geordi for lines before leaving discouraged.
- • Attempt to perform the assigned diagnostic task adequately
- • Reconcile his attraction to the newly beamed guest with his duties
- • Seek approval and specific guidance from Geordi to overcome social paralysis
- • He can both be useful and pursue personal interests without immediate consequence (proven wrong in the moment)
- • If given the right words or direction, he can successfully approach the girl
- • Geordi will understand and not punish him harshly for a youthful mistake
Controlled concern with fond amusement — outwardly focused on safety but tolerant of Wesley's teenage awkwardness.
Leaning over the catwalk and watching Wesley, Geordi monitors probe graphics at the console, shouts to prompt Wesley, rushes back when the resonant‑field alarm sounds, and, with amused exasperation, orders Wesley to take the lift and talk to the visitor.
- • Identify and fix the energy depletion in the deuterium conduit
- • Prevent a safety breach caused by misused diagnostics
- • Defuse Wesley's distraction by redirecting him away from critical work
- • Operational readiness and safety must come before personal distractions
- • Wesley is capable but immature and needs corrective guidance
- • A light admonition and practical instruction will both protect systems and teach Wesley
Neutral and procedural — conveys urgency only through factual warnings without affect.
Provides objective diagnostics: announces the energy depletion percentage and then issues the resonant‑field warning when Wesley's probe penetrates the conduit; functions as an impersonal safety monitor and cue for human intervention.
- • Report accurate system telemetry to engineering staff
- • Enforce safety protocols by triggering audible/visual warnings when thresholds are crossed
- • System anomalies require immediate human attention
- • Automatic warnings are the correct first line of defense against operator error
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The engine probe graphics and technical readouts on the bridge/engineering instrument bank are the visual evidence Geordi uses to detect energy depletion; they provide the diagnostic clue that frames the mission urgency and trigger the sequence of calls that reveal Wesley's distraction.
The control console is the monitoring hub where Geordi reads the engine probe graphics and notices energy depletion. It drives the scene's opening beats, prompts Geordi to call to Wesley, and anchors the technical issue that frames Wesley's distraction as dangerous.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The aft turbolift is referenced as the exit Geordi recommends — a practical means to remove Wesley from the workspace and send him to pursue the girl, functioning as a narrative exit that separates personal pursuit from operational duty.
The lower catwalk is Wesley's immediate workstation above the Deuterium Control Conduit; it is the physical stage for the near‑accident and for the mentor/mentee interaction, placing Wesley literally on the edge of the ship's mechanical heart.
The Deuterium Control Conduit is the critical equipment Wesley probes; when the probe's light penetrates its field incorrectly, the conduit triggers the resonant‑field warning, converting a romantic distraction into a measurable safety hazard.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Wesley's distraction in Engineering (nearly dropping the probe) follows from his transporter infatuation — his fixation consistently undermines duty across scenes."
"Wesley's distraction in Engineering (nearly dropping the probe) follows from his transporter infatuation — his fixation consistently undermines duty across scenes."
"Wesley's distraction in Engineering (nearly dropping the probe) follows from his transporter infatuation — his fixation consistently undermines duty across scenes."
"Wesley's distraction in Engineering (nearly dropping the probe) follows from his transporter infatuation — his fixation consistently undermines duty across scenes."
"Wesley's self-awareness after the transporter meeting (checking his reflection) flows into later gushing to Geordi — the transporter encounter consistently alters Wesley's behavior and focus across scenes."
"Wesley's self-awareness after the transporter meeting (checking his reflection) flows into later gushing to Geordi — the transporter encounter consistently alters Wesley's behavior and focus across scenes."
Key Dialogue
"GEORDI: I see the way you're looking."
"WESLEY: Geordi, this girl they beamed up, she's... she's perfect! Perfect!"
"COMPUTER VOICE: Warning -- resonant field applied! Warning!"