History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E24TheMindsEye

Data goes to the shuttle bay containing the shuttle that Geordi used to get to Risa. He determines that the memory chips in Geordi's shuttlecraft have been replicated by Romulans, and that the hull has been subjected to stresses consistent with a tractor beam. He tries calling Geordi, but he doesn't respond. Knowing that directly transporting Geordi away from the Cargo Bay is no longer an option with the transporters offline due to the investigation, Data calls Worf, ordering him to take Geordi into custody immediately.

Data goes to the shuttle bay containing the shuttle that Geordi used to get to Risa. He determines that the memory chips in Geordi's shuttlecraft have been replicated by Romulans, and that the hull has been subjected to stresses consistent with a tractor beam. He tries calling Geordi, but he doesn't respond. Data calls Worf, ordering him to take Geordi into custody immediately.

** Kell, when Vagh announces they're going to be searching him themselves. And then when Picard coolly shoots down his request for asylum. [[ThisIsGonnaSuck The look on his face as he's beamed away shows he knows he's in for a slow and painful death.]]

* ExactWords: Kell tries to weasel out of getting searched and revealed, telling Picard, "I will not be submit to being searched by you or anyone else on this ship." Vagh agrees--''he'' will have Kell searched down on Krios, instead.

* ArtisticLicenseGunSafety: Rather than go to a secure location, Geordi and Data test the phaser rifle right in the [[https://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/screencaps/season4/4x24/the-minds-eye-hd-162.jpg middle of the engine room]]. At least they're shooting ''away'' from the warp core.

* FakeShemp: Sela is seen standing in the shadows to hide the fact it isn't Creator/DeniseCrosby playing her on-set. [[https://tng.trekcore.com/hd/albums/season-4/4x24/the-minds-eye-hd-036.jpg The HD remaster makes this more evident]].

* ArtisticLicenseGunSafety: Rather than go to a secure location, Geordi and Data test the phaser rifle right in the [[http://tng.trekcore.com/hd/albums/season-4/4x24/the-minds-eye-hd-166.jpg middle of the engine room]]. At least they're shooting ''away'' from the warp core.

* KickTheSonOfABitch: Vagh agrees that the crew of the ''Enterprise'' can't conduct a search of Kell, but he is going to. Kell asks Picard to grant him asylum, which Picard agrees to, after he has been absolved of any crime. Since Kell is obviously guilty this is a polite way of Picard saying that he's not granting him asylum.

* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesign: Although not clearly identified, what we see of Sela suggests she has dark hair like most Vulcans and Romulans, while her eventual onscreen appearance shows she has blonde hair like her mother Tasha. Additionally, we see her wearing the most common pattern on Romulan uniforms while she has her own distinctive pattern in her later appearances.

* FauxAffablyEvil:

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Part of why the Romulans' plan failed had been that they underestimated how genuinely principled Picard was. During Picard's first meeting with Governor Vagh, Vagh insulted him in Klingon and Picard calmly stood up for himself, showing Vagh that he was strong-willed and honorable. Later, when Data discloses the two likely suspects behind Geordi's assassination attempt, Vagh ''immediately'' deduces that Kell was the guilty party, since he'd already accepted Picard's show of honor earlier.

* RecycledINSPACE: ''Literature/TheManchurianCandidate'' [-IN SPACE-]! The scene where Geordi is ordered to kill a holographic Chief O'Brien is in direct homage to the film version.

** When Data gives the names most likely to be the one controlling a brainwashed Geordi (notably Picard and Kell), ''everyone'', including Vagh himself, gives one to Kell. Vagh doesn't even look at Picard, who saved his life not a minute ago.

Data and Geordi analyze the weapon and determine that it is a Romulan knock-off. Picard presents that evidence to Vagh. The governor is skeptical, but he agrees to have his own people verify the claim. While in the office, La Forge's VISOR receives another distinctive E-band transmission. On the bridge, Data and Riker detect this E-band emission, but note the intensity of this emission has changed meaning that both E-band transmissions originated in different places. Acting under mind control again, Geordi beams down a crate of weapons from a cargo bay to the surface, deleting the transporter logs afterwards. Just as the ''Enterprise'' is about to leave, Vagh sends a transmission, telling Picard that they have intercepted the crate, and that they are not to not leave orbit until further notice, as a ''Vor'cha''-class attack cruiser and two Birds-of-Prey decloak and intercept them.

Ambassador Kell meets with Picard in the latter's ready room, where Geordi and Data are also present. Kell offers to speak to Vagh, urging him to come to the ''Enterprise'' to witness the investigation. At that very moment, Geordi's VISOR picks up a third E-band transmission. Riker notifies Data of this development, and Data explains that the E-band transmissions may be linked to the ongoing insurgency. Before Kell leaves, however, Geordi meets with him in his quarters, where it's revealed that [[TheMole Kell has been conspiring with the Romulans]], being the one transmitting the E-band emissions. Kell tells Geordi that the investigation is moving faster than he had expected and that when he returns with Vagh, Geordi is to assassinate him, claiming he is acting on behalf of the Federation in support of the rebels. That night, Geordi has difficulty sleeping, first contacting Chief O'Brien to see if he's okay, then going to sickbay. Crusher notices some odd readings in his optic implants and advises him to have his VISOR checked out next month.

Data and Geordi analyze the weapon and determine that it is a Romulan knock-off. Picard presents that evidence to Vagh. The governor is skeptical, but he agrees to have his own people verify the claim. While in the office, La Forge's VISOR receives another distinctive E-band transmission. On the bridge, Data and Riker detect this E-band emission, but note the intensity of the emission meaning that they originated in different places. Acting under mind control again, Geordi beams down a crate of weapons from a cargo bay to the surface, deleting the transporter logs afterwards. Just as the ''Enterprise'' is about to leave, Vagh sends a transmission, telling Picard that they have intercepted the crate, and that they are not to not leave orbit until further notice, as a ''Vor'cha''-class attack cruiser and two Birds-of-Prey decloak and intercept them.

Data and Geordi analyze the weapon and determine that it is a Romulan knock-off. Picard presents that evidence to Vagh. The governor is skeptical, but he agrees to have his own people verify the claim. While in the office, La Forge's VISOR receives another distinctive E-band transmission. On the bridge, Data and Riker this E-band emission, but note the intensity of the emission meaning that they originated in different places. Acting under mind control again, Geordi beams down a crate of weapons from a cargo bay to the surface, deleting the transporter logs afterwards. Just as the ''Enterprise'' is about to leave, Vagh sends a transmission, telling Picard that they have intercepted the crate, and that they are not to not leave orbit until further notice, as a ''Vor'cha''-class attack cruiser and two Birds-of-Prey decloak and intercept them.

On Krios, Picard vehemently denies the Federation's involvement until Vagh presents a confiscated phaser rifle taken from a rebel stronghold. It appears to be a Federation rifle; Vagh allows Picard to take one for analysis, saying that he's confiscated hundreds more. Data and Geordi analyze the weapon and determine that it is a Romulan knock-off. Picard presents that evidence to Vagh. The governor is skeptical, but he agrees to have his own people verify the claim.

While in the office, La Forge's VISOR receives another distinctive E-band transmission. He goes to Ten Forward, where we see a setup similar to the Romulan holorecreation. Geordi walks up behind O'Brien... but simply spills his drink on the chief's shoulder. When O'Brien leaves to change his uniform, Geordi seems to have no idea why that happened.

On the bridge, Data and Riker detect another E-band emission, much larger than the previous ones. Acting under mind control again, Geordi beams down a crate of weapons from a cargo bay to the surface, deleting the transporter logs afterwards. Just as the ''Enterprise'' is about to leave, Vagh sends a transmission, telling Picard that they have intercepted the crate, and that they are not to not leave orbit until further notice, as a ''Vor'cha''-class attack cruiser and two Birds-of-Prey decloak and intercept them.

Ambassador Kell meets with Picard in the latter's ready room, where Geordi and Data are also present. Kell offers to speak to Vagh, urging him to come to the ''Enterprise'' to witness the investigation. At that very moment, Geordi's VISOR picks up a third E-band transmission. Riker notifies Data of this development, and Data explains that the E-band transmissions may be linked to the ongoing insurgency. Before Kell leaves, however, Geordi meets with him in his quarters, where it's revealed that [[TheMole Kell has been conspiring with the Romulans]], being the one transmitting the E-band emissions. Kell tells Geordi that the investigation is moving faster than he had expected and that when he returns with Vagh, Geordi is to assassinate him, claiming he is acting on behalf of the Federation in support of the rebels.

That night, Geordi has difficulty sleeping, first contacting Chief O'Brien to see if he's okay, then going to sickbay. Crusher notices some odd readings in his optic implants and advises him to have his VISOR checked out next month.

The next morning, Vagh arrives to witness the investigation at Kell's insistence. Kell suggests visiting Cargo Bay 4. Picard agrees. Investigating a trail of clues, Data finds that the E-band transmissions would be compatible with Geordi's VISOR. He then goes to the shuttle bay and determines that the memory chips in Geordi's shuttlecraft have been replicated by Romulans, and that the hull has been subjected to stresses consistent with a tractor beam. He tries calling Geordi, but he doesn't respond. Data calls Worf, ordering him to take Geordi into custody immediately.

Geordi arrives at Cargo Bay 4 armed with a phaser. Worf spots him and rushes towards him, but he's restrained by Vagh's guards, erroneously mistaking Worf's actions as hostile. Worf yells out a warning to Picard, who stops Geordi. Vagh is now quite convinced of a Federation plot against him, leaving Picard at a loss until Data arrives, revealing that Geordi has been acting under Romulan control. He explains that the E-band transmissions which preceded each suspicious act aboard the ''Enterprise'' were transmitted directly to Geordi's brain through his VISOR. The signals would have to have been transmitted in close proximity to Geordi by a Romulan agent. As to who that agent is, Data reveals that only two people were close to Geordi at all three of the times a signal was recorded: Picard and Kell. With the fact that Picard just saved Vagh's life, everyone, including Vagh himself, stares at Kell.

Ambassador Kell offers to speak to Vagh, urging him to come to the ''Enterprise'' to witness the investigation. Before leaving, however, Geordi meets with him in his quarters, where it's revealed that [[TheMole Kell has been conspiring with the Romulans]], being the one transmitting the E-band emissions. Kell tells Geordi that when Vagh arrives, Geordi is to assassinate him, claiming he is acting on behalf of the Federation in support of the rebels.

* DirtyCoward: When Kell is exposed, he plays the asylum card to avoid the wrath of his fellow Klingons. Picard tells him to screw himself.

* BilingualBackfire: Kell abruptly switches to Klingon to insult Picard, who throws back a counter-insult in Klingon without missing a beat.

** The look on O'Brien's face when Geordi walks up to him with a phaser.