Wesley’s Ingenious Devices Reveal His Drive Amid Geordi’s Rising Turmoil
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Wesley showcases his miniature tractor beam, manipulating a chair in the air, impressing Geordi with his scientific ingenuity.
Wesley reveals his voice simulator device that mimics Captain Picard's commands, allowing him to pretend to command the Enterprise despite being barred from the bridge.
Geordi comforts Wesley, praising his talents and expressing envy of Wesley's understanding, deepening their bond amid the growing unease.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Absent physically but symbolically represents order and control amidst growing chaos.
Though not physically present, Captain Picard's voice is simulated through Wesley's device, issuing authentic bridge commands that symbolize the authoritative presence and command structure Wesley aspires to engage with. His presence looms over the scene as an unseen but commanding influence.
- • To maintain command and order aboard the Enterprise.
- • To ensure crew adherence to protocol during the contagion crisis.
- • Command structure must be respected for the ship's survival.
- • Clear communication is vital in crisis management.
Determined yet frustrated by exclusion, hopeful through invention, intellectually engaged, and compassionate towards Geordi's distress.
Wesley actively demonstrates his inventive prowess, using a miniature tractor beam to levitate a chair and activating a voice simulator device to replay Captain Picard's commands. He speaks with a mixture of determination and frustration about his exclusion from the bridge, embodying youthful creativity and longing for influence within the ship's hierarchy.
- • To demonstrate his inventive skills and prove his value to the crew.
- • To feel connected to the ship's command despite being barred from the bridge.
- • His inventions can bridge the gap between him and official command.
- • Being on the bridge is essential to fully participating in the ship's mission.
Physically uncomfortable and mentally troubled, masking confusion with a brief moment of admiration for Wesley's creativity.
Geordi watches Wesley's demonstration with genuine awe and admiration, initially uplifted by the boy's ingenuity. However, his demeanor quickly shifts to puzzlement and distress as he admits to feeling an internal burning sensation, signaling the contagion's worsening effects. He physically removes himself from the quarters, leaving Wesley concerned.
- • To find solace and distraction from his unexplained symptoms.
- • To communicate his physical distress without causing alarm.
- • The symptoms he experiences are unusual and alarming.
- • Wesley's presence and ingenuity offer a temporary respite from his condition.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Wesley inserts a transparent cube into a voice simulator device, which then activates to play back recorded bridge commands in Captain Picard's voice. This device serves as a symbolic conduit for Wesley’s longing to exert command influence and remain connected to the ship's leadership, despite restrictions on his physical presence on the bridge.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Crusher's quarters serve as a private, intimate setting where Wesley's youthful creativity can flourish unimpeded by the formal restrictions of bridge command. The room is cluttered with delicate futuristic tools, underscoring a personal sanctuary of invention and reflection. This space contrasts sharply with the growing physical and emotional distress Geordi experiences, heightening the emotional stakes of the contagion's spread.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
No narrative connections mapped yet
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Key Dialogue
"WESLEY: It's a model of the same kind of tractor beam our ship uses... with some ideas of my own added."
"GEORDI: So that's your science project. Wes, you are something!"
"WESLEY: Meanwhile, the captain won't let me visit the bridge."
"PICARD (simulated): Take the helm, Mister Crusher. Set a course for thirty-seven mark one hundred eighty. Warp six."
"GEORDI: That's the captain's voice."
"WESLEY: Pieced together from words he's used on the intercom."
"GEORDI: I think the captain's lucky you're on his side."
"GEORDI: No. Suddenly I seem to be burning up inside."