Rascals (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Rascals" is the 133rd episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
and the seventh episode of its sixth-season.
, Guinan, Ro Laren
and Keiko O'Brien are returning to the Enterprise
, but an anomaly causes them to materialize on the transporter pad as 12-year old children. Although the four still retain an adult mind, the crew have trouble taking them seriously, and Captain Picard is convinced by Dr. Beverly Crusher to temporally relinquish command of the ship. After turning over command of the Enterprise to Commander Riker
, Captain Picard ponders resigning his Starfleet
commission, albeit temporarily, in order to pursue other interests. Meanwhile Keiko and Ro find their own situations to be quite distressing. Keiko is dismayed by her husband
's reluctance to be with her as she now inhabits the body of a prepubescent girl. She is further saddened when she is not recognized by her daughter. Ro Laren is upset at being reminded of her unpleasant childhood. Guinan, however, relishes the opportunity to be a child again. Though Ro initially is disdainful of Guinan's enthusiasm, she eventually softens and joins Guinan in jumping on a bed and other childish pursuits.
Suddenly, two Klingon
warships uncloak and attack the Enterprise. Ferengi
board the ship and take control of the bridge, but Riker manages to lock out the main computer, preventing the invaders from taking control of the ship. The Ferengi beam most of the adults onboard to a nearby planet and corral the children, including Picard and his party, into the schoolrooms on the ship. Picard and his group try to use the classroom computers to regain control of the ship, but because of the computers' limited functionality and condescending interface, they must devise an alternate plan of attack.
Picard pretends to be Riker's son and demands to see his "father," even throwing a tantrum until his demand is met. He asks Riker to unlock the computer console in the schoolroom, using the ruse that none of the computer games will work. After Picard is returned to the schoolroom, the lead Ferengi threatens to harm the children if Riker does not unlock the computer and teach his lieutenant how to operate the Enterprise. Riker pretends to instruct the Ferengi officer, but only spouts deliberately meaningless treknobabble
as he unlocks the computer console in Picard's schoolroom. Time is bought by the Ferengi demanding that Riker explain everything in detail, as the Ferengi do not want to appear incapable of understanding such complex information.
With command function enabled, Picard is able to activate a transporter safety function. With help from Worf's son, Alexander, Guinan, and Ro, they use comm badges to trap most of the Ferengi on a transporter pad with their weapons disarmed and the exit blocked by a force field. Once most of them are detained, the children and Riker are able to overpower the remaining members and retake the Enterprise. The transporter is used to return Picard, Guinan, and Keiko to their adult states. Ro, buoyed by her experience, decides to remain a child for just a little while longer and draw some pictures, something she never did during her childhood.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
and the seventh episode of its sixth-season.
Plot
Captain PicardJean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
, Guinan, Ro Laren
Ro Laren
Ro Laren is a recurring fictional character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, played by Michelle Forbes.Ro Laren was also planned to be a main character in the two following Star Trek television shows, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager...
and Keiko O'Brien are returning to the Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
, but an anomaly causes them to materialize on the transporter pad as 12-year old children. Although the four still retain an adult mind, the crew have trouble taking them seriously, and Captain Picard is convinced by Dr. Beverly Crusher to temporally relinquish command of the ship. After turning over command of the Enterprise to Commander Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
, Captain Picard ponders resigning his Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
commission, albeit temporarily, in order to pursue other interests. Meanwhile Keiko and Ro find their own situations to be quite distressing. Keiko is dismayed by her husband
Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)
Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
's reluctance to be with her as she now inhabits the body of a prepubescent girl. She is further saddened when she is not recognized by her daughter. Ro Laren is upset at being reminded of her unpleasant childhood. Guinan, however, relishes the opportunity to be a child again. Though Ro initially is disdainful of Guinan's enthusiasm, she eventually softens and joins Guinan in jumping on a bed and other childish pursuits.
Suddenly, two Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
warships uncloak and attack the Enterprise. Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
board the ship and take control of the bridge, but Riker manages to lock out the main computer, preventing the invaders from taking control of the ship. The Ferengi beam most of the adults onboard to a nearby planet and corral the children, including Picard and his party, into the schoolrooms on the ship. Picard and his group try to use the classroom computers to regain control of the ship, but because of the computers' limited functionality and condescending interface, they must devise an alternate plan of attack.
Picard pretends to be Riker's son and demands to see his "father," even throwing a tantrum until his demand is met. He asks Riker to unlock the computer console in the schoolroom, using the ruse that none of the computer games will work. After Picard is returned to the schoolroom, the lead Ferengi threatens to harm the children if Riker does not unlock the computer and teach his lieutenant how to operate the Enterprise. Riker pretends to instruct the Ferengi officer, but only spouts deliberately meaningless treknobabble
Treknobabble
Treknobabble is a portmanteau of "Star Trek" and "technobabble". It is used humorously by fans of the various Star Trek television series, and disparagingly by its critics, to describe the infamous amount of pseudoscientific gibberish packed into many episodes.Writers on The Next Generation and...
as he unlocks the computer console in Picard's schoolroom. Time is bought by the Ferengi demanding that Riker explain everything in detail, as the Ferengi do not want to appear incapable of understanding such complex information.
With command function enabled, Picard is able to activate a transporter safety function. With help from Worf's son, Alexander, Guinan, and Ro, they use comm badges to trap most of the Ferengi on a transporter pad with their weapons disarmed and the exit blocked by a force field. Once most of them are detained, the children and Riker are able to overpower the remaining members and retake the Enterprise. The transporter is used to return Picard, Guinan, and Keiko to their adult states. Ro, buoyed by her experience, decides to remain a child for just a little while longer and draw some pictures, something she never did during her childhood.