“Transfigurations” is episode twenty-five of season three of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise is at an unexplored star system on a routine mapping assignment. Geordi and Worf are in Ten Forward. Worf asks if that’s her and Geordi indicates Christy Henshaw. But don’t stare. Worf says Geordi must let her see the fire in his eyes. To the man whose eyes are permanently hidden behind his VISOR. Geordi gives him a look. When Christy comes to the bar for more drinks, Geordi makes an utter hash of talking. Worf has much to teach him about women. Riker then summons Geordi to transporter room 3.
Geordi meets Data, Riker and Dr Crusher on the way. They’ve detected a crash and humanoid lifesigns that are faint and fading. They beam down to a small wrecked craft. There’s a single individual, badly injured, pinned under the wreckage. He’s not stable enough to beam out, so the doctor asks for a volunteer to link up to him, so that their brain will help regulate the injured man’s system and stabilise him long enough to beam back. Geordi volunteers and there’s an energy discharge from the injured man to him. They beam directly to sickbay and Dr Crusher wants Geordi checking out as well.
Riker tells the captain that it looked like an escape pod. Captain Picard is holding an odd device. He asks if there are any other ships in the region. Data detects debris in orbit and Worf states that the debris bears the signs of phasor fire. That object the captain has is all they were able to salvage, part of the computer system. It will take some time to link it up.
Geordi checks with the doctor to see if he’s okay to leave. He is. He feels great as well. Captain Picard arrives to check on their patient. The doctor says the injured man’s body has amazing recuperative powers. He’s going to make it. However, some undamaged cells seem to be mutating, which concerns her.
In Ten Forward, Data and Geordi are discussing the salvaged component in front of a bored-looking Worf. He interrupts and says they came here to relax. Geordi is relaxed; he never felt better. Christy waves at him and Geordi heads over. He does a much better job this time and they head to the arboretum together. Worf takes credit.
In sickbay, the patient that Dr Crusher is calling John Doe is nearly better. He wakes and grabs her hand, then thanks her for saving his life. Then asks who he is.
Later, John Doe says he thinks he’s ready for the next stage of his treatment. Dr Crusher agrees; it’s time for him to stop taking up valuable bed space. He’s fitted with motor assistance bands to help him learn how to control his muscles again. John is confident. Slight too confident as it happens. Captain Picard arrives as John stumbles for the second time. To Picard’s question, John says his memories begin in sickbay. He’s also suffering regular pains. Possibly caused by the cell mutations.
Geordi is much more confident, and Riker discovers him and Christy in a turbolift. Geordi thinks something has changed. Riker says the only thing that’s changed is Geordi. Geordi thinks the commander may be right.
O’Brien arrives in sickbay with a dislocated shoulder from kayaking in the holodeck (something that becomes a running gag). Wesley arrives to check with his mother if they are still on for dinner. He speaks to John Doe as well. O’Brien claims he’s dying and John touches him. Energy flows and O’Brien is healed.
Wesley likes John. So does his mother, but she says it’s in more of a spiritual way. She can’t explain his powers either, and they seem to be growing. John is getting fragments of memory back, suggesting he was fleeing something bad. Since Geordi got energy from John, he has become more confident.