Symbiosis

Well I worked out on Saturday but between lunch with the parents and then dinner and movies with my sister I didn’t have time write this post up. So…. Here it is.

Elliptical Machine: 6.1miles and 460 calories

Symbiosis

The Enterprise is surveying a star experiencing extreme solar flares and sun spots. While observing the star the Enterprise detects a ship in distress and proceeds to intervene and rescue the crew. The only odd thing is that the crew of the freighter seems to be more interested in their cargo than in the deaths of the other two crew members. The ship contained four people 2 Onarins and 2 Breckians. The two groups are extremely different from each other and immediately argue over the ownership of the cargo containing a medicine called “fellycium” a medicine that will ease the pain of the Onarin’s who are all infected with a mysterious plague and have been for the last two and a half centuries. Dr. Crusher is perplexed by this plague because the Onarin’s don’t seem to be unhealthy or carrying any kind of illness, this is until the Onarin’s health begins to decline and they become increasingly agitated. Dr. Crusher finally puts two and two together and figures out that the Fellycium is a narcotic and that in essence the Onarins are a group of drug addicts and essentially the Breckians are drug dealers. Picard’s hands are tied by the prime directive until he learns that the Breckians know the true nature of the Onarin’s illness. In the end Picard allows them take the fellycium to the Onarin’s but declines the request to repair the Onarin ships which enable the drug transportation to happen.

The episode is essentially a response to the 1980’s Nancy Regan “just say no” campaign about teenage drug use. Lt. Yar even gives Wesley Crusher and in depth talk on the bridge about the evils of drugs and how they feel good at first but you end up in a sad and pathetic place. Heavy handed… maybe. Enjoyable drama..yes. The episode also features guest appearances by Merritt Butrick and Judson Scott both of whom starred in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Butrick also went on to star in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. This episode was one of Merritt Butrick’s final film appearances before he died of AIDS in 1989.