The Enterprise is making a rendezvous with the 
science vessel U.S.S. Tsiolkovsky, which has 
been monitoring a collapsing star. As they 
arrive, however, they hear an emergency hatch 
being blown after what sounds like a "wild 
party." Riker, Geordi, Tasha, and Data beam 
over and find all of the crew dead.
<P>
They beam back, but Geordi has unknowingly 
brought back the same contaminant that 
infected the Tsiolkovsky (it's transmitted 
through water). As Riker sets Data to searching 
for occasions similar to what happened on the 
Tsiolkovsky, Geordi escapes from sickbay and 
starts spreading the infection. 
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It has some rather odd effects, acting very much 
like intoxication. Yar becomes...amorous, and 
ends up seducing Data. Geordi bursts into tears, 
lamenting his lack of normal sight. Beverly 
starts to find Picard "extremely, extremely.. but of 
course we haven't time for that sort of thing!" 
Worst of all, however, Wesley uses a Picard-
Voice-Simulator he's cooked up and seizes 
control of Engineering, appointing himself 
Acting Captain. 
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Meanwhile, Data has found the records of the 
original Enterprise, and has sent the cure down 
to Bev. Unfortunately, the virus has mutated, 
and the old cure doesn't work. Bev, already 
infected, starts working on a new formula. Then, 
as if things couldn't get any worse, the star 
collapses, then explodes, sending a huge chunk 
of star straight at the Enterprise. Even when 
Chief Engineer MacDougal gets into main 
Engineering (shorting out Wes's jury-rigged 
repulsor beam), she finds her assistant has 
pulled out all the control chips.
<P>
Data is brought down to Engineering and 
manages to reinsert all the chips just in time, 
after Wes gives the ship an extra push-off by 
changing the Enterprise's tractor beam into a 
repulsor beam and pushing off the Tsiolkovsky. 
Bev finds a cure, the Enterprise escapes, and all 
is well.
<P>