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S2E7 · Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unnatural Selection
S2E7
· Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unnatural Selection

Flirtation and Professional Boundaries

In Ten-Forward, Riker engages in flirtatious banter with the new Specialist Trainee Rina, his charming advances met with her cool professional deflection. Meanwhile, Geordi and Rina share a genuine moment of connection over their shared passion for engineering and the beauty of warp travel, their dialogue contrasting sharply with Riker's surface-level charm. The scene is interrupted by Pulaski cornering Riker about a missed medical test, her clinical precision cutting through his excuses as she asserts her authority with veiled threats. The warp-streaked view outside serves as a visual metaphor for the human connections forming beneath the surface tensions, grounding the professional power dynamics in shared wonder.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

As Pulaski holds her ground, both she and Riker glance back to Rina and Geordi; Rina remarks on the beautiful warp-streaked view and Geordi answers with a poetic engineer's admiration, softening the scene and revealing human connection beneath the tensions.

tension to quiet wonder ['Ten-Forward (view through bow ports)']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Katherine Pulaski
Doctor (Chief Medical Officer)
 primary

Clinically detached but assertive

Pulaski interrupts the social gathering to confront Riker about his missed medical test. She uses clinical precision and veiled threats to assert medical authority over the First Officer.

Goals in this moment
  • • Enforce medical protocol compliance
  • • Assert authority over Riker
Active beliefs
  • • Medical protocols should be followed without exception
  • • Her authority as Chief Medical Officer should not be questioned
Character traits
Assertive Professional Uncompromising
Follow Katherine Pulaski's journey
Rina
Specialist Trainee
 primary

Professional exterior with genuine interest in technical discussion

Rina deflects Riker's flirtatious advances with professional courtesy, then engages in earnest technical discussion with Geordi about warp theory and the Academy. She is visibly more comfortable with technical conversation than social flirtation.

Goals in this moment
  • • Maintain professional boundaries with Riker
  • • Engage meaningfully with Geordi about engineering
Active beliefs
  • • Professional decorum should be maintained regardless of rank
  • • Technical discussions are more valuable than social flirtation
Character traits
Professional Intellectually curious Uninterested in flirtation
Follow Rina's journey
Geordi La Forge
Chief Engineer
 primary

Genuinely engaged and enthusiastic

Geordi engages Rina in technical conversation about warp drive theory and the Academy, oblivious to Riker's flirtatious advances. His genuine enthusiasm for engineering creates a moment of authentic connection with Rina.

Goals in this moment
  • • Connect with Rina over shared engineering interests
  • • Share his passion for warp drive technology
Active beliefs
  • • Engineering is a worthy topic of deep conversation
  • • Shared technical interests form strong professional bonds
Character traits
Enthusiastic Technical Oblivious to social dynamics Mentoring
Follow Geordi La …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
Navigational Shield Display

The navigational shield display provides a visual backdrop for Geordi and Rina's moment of connection, its beauty becoming the subject of their shared appreciation and the end point of their developing rapport.

Before: Displaying warp-speed star streaks outside the viewport
After: Still displaying, now with Rina and Geordi admiring …
Before: Displaying warp-speed star streaks outside the viewport
After: Still displaying, now with Rina and Geordi admiring it together
Rina's Empty Glass

Riker takes Rina's empty glass as a pretext for flirtation, using it as an excuse to engage her further. The empty glass becomes a prop in Riker's unsuccessful charm offensive.

Before: Empty, in Rina's hand
After: Taken by Riker to the bar
Before: Empty, in Rina's hand
After: Taken by Riker to the bar

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Galaxy Beyond Ten-Forward Viewport

Ten-Forward serves as the social setting where multiple interpersonal dynamics play out: Riker's failed flirtation, Geordi and Rina's genuine connection, and Pulaski's tense confrontation with Riker. The lounge's casual atmosphere contrasts with the professional tensions.

Atmosphere Relaxed but with underlying professional tensions
Function Social space for crew interactions
Symbolism Represents the intersection of professional and personal relationships
Access Open to all crew members
Bow ports showing warp-streaked stars Casual seating arrangements

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph

Key Dialogue

"Rina: Tell me Commander. Is it the custom on the Enterprise for the First Officer to wait on trainees?"
"Riker: If they were all like you, I'm certain it would be."
"Geordi: The most beautiful thing I know."
"Pulaski: Don't force me to relieve you of duty to make my point."