“Sarek” is episode twenty-three of season three of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise will be hosting the first meeting between the Federation and the Legarians. They’ve stopped at Vulcan to pick up Federation Ambassador Sarek and his wife, Perrin; human like his first wife. Commander Riker and Captain Picard are talking as they head to the transporter room. The captain met Sarek as a lieutenant, at his son’s wedding. He tells Riker that unofficially it’s true; Sarek will be retiring after this mission.
In the transporter room two people beam aboard. Ki Aloysius Mendrossen, Sarek’s apparently human chief of staff, and a Vulcan, Sakkath. Sarek and Perrin will be joining them shortly; Mendrossen first wants to discuss some delicate matters. Sarek is not a young man and tires easily. They will dispense all of the usual activities associated with someone of his rank. Sarek will head to his quarters and remain in seclusion. Sarek and Perrin then beam aboard. Despite what Mendrossen said, and what Perrin suggests, Sarek wants to see the conference room. He says the others worry about his health.
Wesley and Geordi are working on a large tank of goo. Wesley is in a hurry. Geordi asks if he has a date. He does. Geordi is surprised. Not that the ensign would go out with Wesley; that Wesley would have the nerve to ask. Sarek’s party arrives at this point. According to Sarek, the room isn’t ready. He’s reassured that everything will be. Sarek seems to get a bit heated. Which, for a Vulcan, is unusual.
On the bridge. Riker tells the captain he expected a frail old man. Picard hopes he will be that frail at 202. They think Sarek’s aides seemed a bit overprotective. Picard was hoping to share Sarek’s thoughts and memories. Foolish and vain they were going to have a concert, which will still go ahead. Troi suggests Picard invite Perrin. He thinks that’s a good idea and heads to their quarters. There, Perrin says Sarek has been following Picard’s career. He finds it satisfactory. Picard replies that’s high praise from a Vulcan. Perrin says many people think Vulcans are being cold and Picard finishes that they’re only being logical. He invites them to the concert. Perrin doubts Sarek will be able to attend, but will ask.
Wesley and Geordi are in the conference room when they start arguing with each other. Riker comes in and asks if something is wrong. Both deny it, but something clearly is.
Riker and Picard head to the concert. Worf has put an ensign on report for insubordination; both find this surprising. Riker mentions Geordi and Wesley in the conference room; for a moment, he thought they were going to hit each other. Sarek and his entourage arrive. The concert begins. Sarek seems a trifle odd. Sakkath looks at him and Troi senses something. Sarek is shedding a tear. That is also not normal. The captain notices, then Sarek and the others leave.
Wesley heads to see his mother in sickbay. She’s angry with him for not being at the concert. And ends up slapping him. That’s out of character. She tells Troi, because she’s never hit her son in her life. Troi asks what the doctor was thinking. Nothing; she was just angry. For no reason. Troi doesn’t know why the doctor did it either, but she’s heard a very similar story from ten different people.
Data shows Sakkath the bridge. Sakkath asks about Troi, and her being half Betzaoid. Not a true telepath. And what Captain Picard’s background in diplomacy is and his knowledge of the Legarians. Could he take over negotiations? Sakkath is merely exploring permutations of their mission.
In Ten Forward, O’Brien and several other crew seem to be about to start a fight over a table. Geordi comes over to break it up. Riker and Worf are in the corridor, speaking about the ensign Worf reported. Riker asks Worf if he’s notices that tempers have become a little frayed. Worf hadn’t noticed. They arrive at Ten Forward where a full-scale barfight is taking place. Worf sees what the commander means.
Random violence has been breaking out all over the ship, and Dr Crusher can’t trace a medical cause. The captain wants Sarek separated so he isn’t affected. That’s the problem. The violence started virtually at the same time as Sarek arriving. Sarek’s a Vulcan, and Vulcans are telepathic. And he seems to be losing emotional control. Not a good place to be in. Sarek has worked on these negotiations for decades and his participation is critical, yet if he’s also randomly causing outbreaks of violence, his participation would be a disaster.