Stardate 42609.1: Following a distress call from Capt. Varley of the USS Yamato that is experiencing widespread system malfunctions, Picard sets a course for the Neutral Zone. But briefly after the Enterprise's arrival the sister ship explodes. Varley's logs reveal that he has found the mythical planet Iconia. The malfunctions on the Yamato started when the ship encountered an Iconian probe, and after downloading the logs from the Yamato the Enterprise is now infected too. Picard, Worf and Data beam down to the planet to examine the Iconian technology - including a portal which allows to reach remote places in an instant. A Romulan Warbird approaches, and it is obvious that the enemy ship is suffering from the same problems. On the planet, Data is disabled by the Iconian central computer. Worf takes him back to the Enterprise, using the gate, while Picard destroys the Iconian technology to prevent it from falling into Romulan hands. Back on the Enterprise, Data apparently dies - but actually reboots his system. Geordi performs the same procedure on the Enterprise and thereby eliminates the virus. Picard too enters the gate. It takes him to the Romulan bridge from where he can be beamed out. Before the Enterprise breaks orbit, Riker gives the Romulans instructions how to purge their computer.

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