Pulaski's Final Surge
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Troi checks the wall panel and calls out that the growth rate is almost zero, a shaky spark of hope as Riker lies pale and failing.
Pulaski rejects the plateau with a hard line—"That's not good enough"—and drives the device for one last, all-in adjustment.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Determined and controlled — a cool focus that masks the tension of running an experimental, borderline-dangerous intervention to save a patient.
Pulaski flatly rejects 'almost' as a result, forcefully increases the stimulator's output, watches the monitors, runs a confirming scan over Riker, and radios the bridge to declare eradication once the diagnostics clear.
- • completely eradicate the neural infection
- • obtain objective confirmation (scanner/diagnostics) and communicate results to command
- • partial success is unacceptable when a life is at stake
- • decisive medical action, even risky, is justified to save a patient
Calmly concerned — composed and ready to move to the sickbay while relying on the medical team's judgement.
Picard's voice answers the Sickbay com promptly and acknowledges Pulaski's report; he indicates he is en route, exercising command presence and concern from the bridge.
- • ensure the patient's safety and get to Sickbay to support the team
- • maintain command oversight and stay informed of medical developments
- • medical specialists should lead clinical decisions
- • the ship's chain of command must be kept informed of life-threatening matters
Overwhelmed and tormented — physically agonized while consciousness is flooded with fragmented memories, alternating between pain and involuntary recollection.
Pale and near death, Riker is the physical locus of the experiment: memories assault his nervous system, he convulses violently, his vital signs spike and then slowly return to normal as the invasion withdraws.
- • survive the onslaught and maintain vital function
- • retain self-identity through the flood of memories
- • his memories define him and are central to his being
- • the medical team will act to preserve his life even at cost
Cautiously hopeful and relieved — emotionally invested in Riker's survival while deferring to Pulaski's medical authority.
Troi monitors the wall panel and vocalizes the near-zero growth rate; she watches the treatment's effects and registers astonishment and cautious hope when the highlight disappears.
- • support Riker emotionally and monitor his response
- • inform the medical team about affective or memory-driven responses that might influence treatment
- • emotional content of memories can alter the pathogen's behavior
- • clinical actions should be informed by empathic observation
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Sickbay com panel is used by Pulaski to contact the bridge immediately after confirming the infection's withdrawal. It functions as the operational nerve enabling rapid command notification and authorizing Picard's movement toward sickbay.
The Sickbay diagnostic wall panel renders the infection's neural trace and growth rate; Troi reads its near-zero growth and Pulaski watches as its highlighting—the visual indicator of invasive spread—vanishes after the convulsion, providing objective confirmation of eradication.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Main Bridge is engaged remotely: Picard receives Pulaski's report via com, responds with concise authority, and begins movement toward sickbay—its presence provides command oversight and a narrative tether to shipwide priorities.
Enterprise Sickbay functions as the clinical battleground where Pulaski executes a high‑risk neural stimulation and where Riker's body and identity are violently tested; monitors, scanners, and consoles stage the drama between medical authority and the patient's mind.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Yamato’s cataclysmic destruction caps the fear montage that triggers the decisive convulsion and reversal."
"‘Almost zero’ prompts Pulaski’s choice to make a final, all‑in adjustment."
"The extreme countdown stress contributes to the infection’s drop to almost zero."
"Increasing intensity sets up the final, all‑in adjustment."
"Increasing intensity sets up the final, all‑in adjustment."
"With the infection gone, Pulaski immediately reports the victory to the bridge."
"‘Almost zero’ prompts Pulaski’s choice to make a final, all‑in adjustment."
"With the infection gone, Pulaski immediately reports the victory to the bridge."
Key Dialogue
"TROI: "The growth rate's almost zero.""
"PULASKI: "That's not good enough.""
"PULASKI: "We've eradicated the infection.""