The Enterprise destroys an asteroid about to 
crash into an inhabited planet, and then moves 
on to continue its mission-but as it leaves, 
dustlike debris from the asteroid seems to settle 
on the ship. Deanna counsels Worf and 
Alexander, suggesting they settle their dispute 
over rules by drawing up a contract that both 
sides would then adhere to. She reassures 
Alexander that one day he'll come to respect his 
father-and just then receives word that her 
mother is on board.
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Lwaxana, it turns out, is getting married while 
on board, although to a man of some stature that 
she's not yet met. She quickly takes a shine to 
Alexander and rails against the contract they've 
been discussing, calling it a sign of distrust. As 
the asteroid dust continues to move throughout 
the ship unnoticed, Alexander confides to 
Lwaxana that he hates Worf. She consoles him, 
and takes him to a fantasy world on the holodeck 
where his every pleasure can be attended to. 
Both enjoy themselves a great deal-at least, 
until a very annoyed Worf and Deanna search 
them out.
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Deanna argues with Lwaxana about the mixed 
messages she's sending Alexander and the 
trouble she's causing, then turns to the 
upcoming wedding. Lwaxana dismisses her 
concerns as nonsense, and then finds the 
replicator isn't working properly. Hundreds of 
them have suddenly malfunctioned, and when 
Geordi and Data check out a related problem in 
an access corridor, they find some form of 
gelatinous matter they can't identify. Alexander 
and Lwaxana discuss marriage, and Lwaxana 
confesses that she is compromising in order not 
to be alone and afraid.
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As the investigation continues, the ship's 
stabilizers temporarily go offline as well, and the 
same residue is found when they're checked out. 
Minister Campio, the groom-to-be, is beamed 
aboard and found to be rather officious and 
stuffy. After further study of the commonalities 
between the two systems, Geordi and Data 
hypothesize that there's a parasite of sorts 
consuming the nitrium in the Enterprise-and 
nitrium is also found in the dilithium chamber 
and other essential areas.
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After Lwaxana offends virtually everyone she's 
seen so far (particularly Campio and his Protocol 
Minister) by whisking Alexander away to 
another holodeck visit, Alexander inadvertently 
prompts Lwaxana into wondering if she isn't 
rushing into this too fast. Picard attempts to 
return the Enterprise to the Pelloris Field 
(where the asteroid originated) in an attempt to 
lead the parasites to another food source, but the 
parasites spread so fast that nearly all essential 
systems go down. All members of the crew but 
Data fall unconscious due to low levels of life 
support, but Data manages to drive the 
parasites away in the nick of time, and all is 
restored. Lwaxana shocks Campio at the 
wedding ceremony by appearing naked, and he 
flees in shock and terror. She, Deanna, 
Alexander and Worf realize that they've taught 
each other lessons as they relax once more on 
the holodeck.
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