The Residue of Fear: A Diagnostic Stalled by Unspoken Dread
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Picard, Riker, and Geordi examine the residue of the destroyed test object, and Picard inquires if it’s part of the same pattern of malfunctions plaguing the ship. Geordi acknowledges they are unsure and cannot explain why only Transporter Room Three is affected.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Confused and unsettled, masking his unease with professionalism
O'Brien sets up the pure-duranium test cylinder on the transporter pad, explaining its composition and initiating the transporter test. His hands move with practiced precision, but his voice carries a hint of confusion as the object dematerializes erratically, leaping between pads before vanishing in a flash. He stands frozen as the residue settles, his usual confidence replaced by a quiet unease. Later, he acknowledges Riker’s order to halt transporter maintenance with a simple 'Aye, sir,' his posture stiff with the weight of the unknown.
- • To complete the transporter test as routine procedure
- • To understand why the test failed despite following standard protocols
- • His technical expertise should have prevented this malfunction
- • The failure suggests a deeper, unseen issue aboard the ship
Concerned and conflicted, torn between loyalty to Barclay and the ship’s urgent needs
Geordi watches O'Brien’s setup with a critical eye, touching the duranium cylinder to verify its normalcy before the test. His expression tightens as the object stutters across the pads and vanishes in a flash, his mind already racing to diagnose the cause. Later, he examines the residue with Picard and Riker, his fingers brushing the smoldering duranium dust as he delays Riker’s request to summon Barclay. His hesitation reveals a protective instinct, but his evasive tone betrays his growing concern that Barclay’s issues are tied to the ship’s instability.
- • To diagnose the transporter malfunction before it escalates
- • To shield Barclay from immediate scrutiny while buying time to understand the connection between his holodeck use and the malfunctions
- • Barclay’s
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"O'Brien prepares the test object, and during the transport, the test object malfunctions catastrophically, dematerializing and materializing erratically before being destroyed in a flash, leaving Geordi concerned about future transport needs."
"O'Brien prepares the test object, and during the transport, the test object malfunctions catastrophically, dematerializing and materializing erratically before being destroyed in a flash, leaving Geordi concerned about future transport needs."
"O'Brien prepares the test object, and during the transport, the test object malfunctions catastrophically, dematerializing and materializing erratically before being destroyed in a flash, leaving Geordi concerned about future transport needs."
"O'Brien prepares the test object, and during the transport, the test object malfunctions catastrophically, dematerializing and materializing erratically before being destroyed in a flash, leaving Geordi concerned about future transport needs."
"Because the object has been destroyed, leaving only remains, it continues the mystery. Picard wonders if it follows the malfunctions on the ship."
"Because the object has been destroyed, leaving only remains, it continues the mystery. Picard wonders if it follows the malfunctions on the ship."
"Because the object has been destroyed, leaving only remains, it continues the mystery. Picard wonders if it follows the malfunctions on the ship."
"Because the object has been destroyed, leaving only remains, it continues the mystery. Picard wonders if it follows the malfunctions on the ship."
"Picard orders a level one diagnostic of the transporters and tasks Riker with summoning Barclay. Geordi requests Riker delay summoning Barclay to the bridge, as he has Barclay working on a task, to which Riker agrees."
"Picard orders a level one diagnostic of the transporters and tasks Riker with summoning Barclay. Geordi requests Riker delay summoning Barclay to the bridge, as he has Barclay working on a task, to which Riker agrees."
"Picard orders a level one diagnostic of the transporters and tasks Riker with summoning Barclay. Geordi requests Riker delay summoning Barclay to the bridge, as he has Barclay working on a task, to which Riker agrees."
"Picard orders a level one diagnostic of the transporters and tasks Riker with summoning Barclay. Geordi requests Riker delay summoning Barclay to the bridge, as he has Barclay working on a task, to which Riker agrees."
"O'Brien prepares the test object, and during the transport, the test object malfunctions catastrophically, dematerializing and materializing erratically before being destroyed in a flash, leaving Geordi concerned about future transport needs."
"O'Brien prepares the test object, and during the transport, the test object malfunctions catastrophically, dematerializing and materializing erratically before being destroyed in a flash, leaving Geordi concerned about future transport needs."
"O'Brien prepares the test object, and during the transport, the test object malfunctions catastrophically, dematerializing and materializing erratically before being destroyed in a flash, leaving Geordi concerned about future transport needs."
"O'Brien prepares the test object, and during the transport, the test object malfunctions catastrophically, dematerializing and materializing erratically before being destroyed in a flash, leaving Geordi concerned about future transport needs."
"Because the object has been destroyed, leaving only remains, it continues the mystery. Picard wonders if it follows the malfunctions on the ship."
"Because the object has been destroyed, leaving only remains, it continues the mystery. Picard wonders if it follows the malfunctions on the ship."
"Because the object has been destroyed, leaving only remains, it continues the mystery. Picard wonders if it follows the malfunctions on the ship."
"Because the object has been destroyed, leaving only remains, it continues the mystery. Picard wonders if it follows the malfunctions on the ship."
"Picard orders a level one diagnostic of the transporters and tasks Riker with summoning Barclay. Geordi requests Riker delay summoning Barclay to the bridge, as he has Barclay working on a task, to which Riker agrees."
"Picard orders a level one diagnostic of the transporters and tasks Riker with summoning Barclay. Geordi requests Riker delay summoning Barclay to the bridge, as he has Barclay working on a task, to which Riker agrees."
"Picard orders a level one diagnostic of the transporters and tasks Riker with summoning Barclay. Geordi requests Riker delay summoning Barclay to the bridge, as he has Barclay working on a task, to which Riker agrees."
"Picard orders a level one diagnostic of the transporters and tasks Riker with summoning Barclay. Geordi requests Riker delay summoning Barclay to the bridge, as he has Barclay working on a task, to which Riker agrees."
Key Dialogue
"PICARD: *Is this part of the same pattern?* GEORDI: *We don’t know, Captain. And we don’t know why only Transporter Room Three is affected... None of the other Transporter Rooms are malfunctioning...* RIKER: *Yet.*"
"RIKER: *Advise Mister Barclay to meet us on the bridge immediately...* GEORDI: *Ah, could we push that back, just to fourteen hundred hours, Commander... I’ve got him doing something...* RIKER: *Fourteen hundred hours.*"
"PICARD: *We have twenty-two hours before we reach Nahmi Four. We’ll need the transporters operational by then. I want a level one diagnostic across the board.*"