As the Enterprise prepares to rendezvous with a 
Ferengi vessel which has been keeping silent for 
days, Picard finds himself with a mysterious 
headache, for which no cause can be found. He 
allows the Ferengi leader, DaiMon Bok (who 
seems to know Picard from somewhere) to beam 
over with his staff.
<P>
Suddenly, the sensors detect a Constellation-
class vessel approaching, with no call letters. 
Bok explains that it was a derelict, which he is 
returning to Picard at no cost. As it nears, they 
find it's Picard's old ship, the Stargazer. Bok 
presents it as a gift "to the hero of Maxia." The 
battle of Maxia, apparently, is the Ferengi name 
for Picard's fighting off an attack from a then-
unidentified ship as his last act before 
abandoning the Stargazer. Bok's mysterious 
generosity puzzles even his aides.
<P>
Picard explains a bit more about the incident to 
the bridge crew, including his now legendary 
"Picard Maneuver," and gets quite caught up in 
his memories doing so. After the Stargazer is 
declared safe, Picard beams over. As he goes to 
his cabin to pick up some things, we see in his 
chest a pulsing silver sphere. As it glows more 
strongly, Picard's headache increases in 
strength.
<P>
Later, Data presents some worrying evidence to 
Riker. Picard's personal log from the Stargazer 
seems to indicate that he fired on the Ferengi 
vessel without provocation, and Riker must 
immediately mention it to Starfleet Command, 
though he believes (correctly, as Data finds later) 
it's a forgery. Picard, meanwhile, has a vision of 
the battle of Maxia.
<P>
After analyzing his brainscan, Bev (with a little 
help from Wesley) determines that the 
anomalies exactly match low-power 
transmissions they've been picking up from the 
Ferengi ship. They report it to Riker, just as 
Picard, entranced, beams over to the Stargazer, 
where Bok is waiting for him with a second 
sphere.
<P>
Bok explains that his son led the assault at 
Maxia, and he blames Picard for his son's death. 
He hypnotizes Picard into believing he's back 
aboard the Stargazer, nine years past, and 
leaves. Meanwhile, Riker calls the Ferengi first 
officer, Kazago, and shows him the sphere 
they've found in Picard's quarters. Kazago 
recoils in shock: it's a "thought-maker," and is 
forbidden in Ferengi domains. He relieves Bok of 
command (there was no profit to be made in this 
personal vengeance) and wishes Riker luck.
<P>
As Picard swings around to execute the Picard 
maneuver, Data tracks him and traps the ship in 
a tractor beam. Riker gets through to Picard 
enough to let him destroy the sphere, which 
frees his mind. Freed, he returns home.
<P>