'The Nth Degree' (Story Code 193) by Joe Menosky

The U.S.S. Enterprise is sent to repair the Argus Array, a huge space-telescope which stopped relaying data two months ago; however, when the ship arrives at the Array, the crew discovers an alien probe nearby. Lieutenant LaForge and Lieutenant Barclay take a shuttlecraft to investigate, but the device emits an energy surge which renders Barclay unconscious, forcing LaForge to beam back to Sickbay with him. The probe then moves towards the starship emitting a dangerously high energy level; all attempts to evade it are ineffective - until the normally shy Barclay takes charge of the situation, channelling warp power into the shields in a previously unknown way, enabling the ship to fire its photon torpedoes safely and destroy the probe. Later, LaForge's repair estimate of three weeks is overruled by Barclay, who claims he can complete the job in just two days. Barclay's intelligence continues to increase at a rapid rate, but LaForge's pride in his team-mate quickly turns to concern when he discovers him on the Holodeck arguing scientific theory with a simulation of Albert Einstein. When Doctor Crusher performs an examination of Barclay, she discovers that the probe has altered his brain tissue, making him the most advanced human being who ever lived. While the crew become increasingly worried at his transformation, Barclay continues his repairs to the Array; but he soon finds the ship's computer too slow, and decides to connect his brain directly to the computer - taking over the operation of the entire ship…

Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Thomas Riker), LeVar Burton (Chief Engineer Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Security Chief Lieutenant Worf), Gates McFadden (Doctor Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Councelor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data), Jim Norton (Einstein), Kay E. Kuter (Cytherian), Saxon Trainor (Lieutenant Linda Larson), Page Leong (Ensign April Anaya), Dwight Schultz (Lieutenant Reginald ‘Reg’ Barclay), David Coburn (Ensign Brower)

Directed by Robert Legato
Produced by David Livingston
Co-Produced by Peter Lauritson
Executive Producers Michael Piller, Rick Berman and Gene Roddenberry

TX:
1st April, 1991

Notes:
*Featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William Thomas Riker, Chief Engineer Lieutenant Geordi La Forge, Security Chief Lieutenant Worf, Doctor Beverly Crusher, Councelor Deanna Troi, Lieutenant Commander Data and Lieutenant Reginald Barclay

*Working title: ‘To The Nth Degree’