Stardate 45832.1: Ensign Sutter is concerned that his daughter Clara has an "imaginary friend", Isabella. Counselor Troi assures him that there is nothing to worry about. The imaginary friend, however, comes to life when a plasma-based lifeform enters the ship and assumes Isabella's shape. Isabella gets Clara into all sorts of trouble, while other plasma lifeforms are draining power from the ship. Deanna tries to prove to Clara that her imaginary playmate can't hurt her - and is promptly stunned by Isabella. Picard realizes there is a connection between the energy drain and Clara's friend. He tells Isabella that the Enterprise is not hostile and that adults do not mistreat their children but impose limits on them because they love them, thereby convincing the lifeforms to refrain from their attacks.

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