Wrapped in the Ribbon
| The Vexed Generation | |
| Episode name | Wrapped in the Ribbon |
|---|---|
| Season | Vexed: Season 1 |
| Episode number | 4 |
| Writer(s) | Anthony Butler |
| Year | 2374 |
| Stardate | 51240.3 |
| {{{image}}} | |
| Chronology | |
| Previous in series | Nantucket Sleighride |
| Next in series | No Trespassing |
| Previous in timeline | Nantucket Sleighride |
| Next in timeline | No Trespassing |
Synopsis
Commander David Conway's birthday starts badly when Ensign Kessler tries to slink her way into a promotion to engineering, and Conway's day goes downhill fast from there. Mirk tries to compensate for the Commander's bad start by serving him Flarn war-brew in place of jamaican coffee and just succeeds in pissing the Commander off even further.
The Aerostar recieves a distress call from a Sulani vessel, trapped in what appears to be the Nexus ribbon, to the chargrin of Doctor Browning, who wants to plow in headlong and rescue their frozen yoghurt maker. Fortunately, Aerostar is equipped with tractor beams and is able to begin pulling the stricken Sulani vessel out of the ribbon.
Conway knocks Hartley unconcious and transports himself directly into the Nexus, finding himself in a recreation of a Wal-Mart store, circa 20th century.
Baxter, along Peterman and Browning all dash to his aid, once they discover what Conway has done, beaming themselves directly into the energy distortion after their crewmate. Baxter's mind however takes over, and he finds himself in the center seat of the USS Secondprize during it's encounter with Bozo of borg and the clown collective, complete with Lieutenant Alexander Rydell of Inventory. Baxter naturally loses the battle against the Borg cube, and as the Secondprize is destroyed around him, finds himself transported to a log cabin in the midst of a quiet woodland in the company of Captain's James T. Kirk and Jean Luc Picard (the latter expressing his dislike of the former on numerous occasions). They are joined by Guinan and Tolian Soren.
Doctor Browning regains conciousness immersed in a chocolate sea, surrounded by marshmallow islands, whilst Peterman returns to her childhood home, complete with her parents. Guinan appears to her and spurs her on to meet up with Baxter, whom she meets as he is engaged in escaping a story telling torture session hosted by Picard, for the benefit of his captive guests. Browning, having eaten the entire chocolate ocean et al, awakens on a grassy hillside above Kirk's cabin and is drawn back to her Captain and Peterman by the smell of scrambled eggs.
The trio catch up with Conway in his Wal-Mart fantasy and have little luck in getting him to remember his former life aboard the Aerostar or in getting him to leave the nexus until he is attacked by a golden retriever which finally triggers his memory of Charlie. Baxter, Peterman Conway and Browning leave in a puff of reality, just as Kirk, Picard, Guinan and Soren arrive at Wal-Mart to purchase a copy of Star Trek: generations, Picard lording it over Kirk that his series lasted 7 seasons whilst Kirk's never even lasted 4.
The senior staff organises a party on the holodeck for Conway's birthday, by recreating the Wal-mart of his dreams in minute detail. However, just as they are all leaving the party, Hartley sabotages the holodeck, and locks Conway in with a horde of evil snapping retriever puppies, declaring it his Birthday present from her.