- Legendary Federation ambassador Sarek visits the Enterprise to conclude peace talks with a race called the Legarans. His arrival is accompanied with a rash of unusual emotional outbursts among the crew.
- Spock's father Sarek, the legendary Vulcan ambassador, now remarried to another Earth-woman, Perrin, boards the Enterprise to crown his career -before retiring - by finalizing painstakingly prepared peace negotiations with the Legarans. His chief of staff and personal assistant asked Sarek to be given maximal rest in view of his weak health, but he insists on attending the ship's Mozart concert starring Data as violin soloist in his honor, and is seen there to cry, unknown for a Vulcan. Over the next several days more crew members display unprovoked aggression, even toward friends and relatives. Data gets an entourage member to confirm a medical theory: Sarek is affected by the rare Bendii Syndrome, which causes old Vulcans to lose their most-prized emotional self-control, and telepathically spreads the epidemic. Picard must think of the negotiations with the probably susceptible Legarians, which cannot be delayed, while Sarek denies his condition, alas tellingly emotionally; once he admits it, a daring alternative is conceived.—KGF Vissers
- The Enterprise is scheduled to host major treaty negotiations between the Federation and the Legarans. Representing the Federation is the legendary Vulcan Ambassador Sarek who arrives on board with his wife, an Earth human by the name of Perrin. Things are not well on the Enterprise, as crew members are frequently snapping at one another and at one point, a huge brawl breaks out in Ten Forward. They soon realize that this odd behavior coincides with Sarek's arrival on board ship. Dr. Crusher suspects he may be suffering from Bendii Syndrome, a form of mental degeneration. As the Legarans will only negotiate with Sarek, Captain Picard suggests a unique solution.—garykmcd
- Spock's father Sarek (Mark Lenard), the legendary Vulcan ambassador (202 years old), now remarried to another Earth-woman, Perrin (Joanna Miles), boards the Enterprise to crown his career - before retiring - by finalizing painstakingly prepared peace negotiations with the Legarans. Ki Aloysius Mendrossen (William Denis) is Sarek's chief of staff and Sakkath (Rocco Sisto) his valet. Benefits of a peaceful alliance with the Legarans are incalculable.
His chief of staff and personal assistant ask Picard that Sarek be given maximal rest in view of his weak health (which they obviously agree to). But Sarek insists on attending the ship's Mozart concert starring Data as violin soloist in his honor, and is seen there to cry, unknown for a Vulcan. Sarek also displays unhappiness & anger that the conference room to host the Legarans is not ready, as they are sticklers for protocol. The room must be devoid of all furniture and the walls must be bare. The Legarans themselves will sit in a pool of a stickily liquid that has been specially installed in the conference room by Geordi and Wesley.
Picard is a bit disappointed as he was looking forward to spending time with Sarek and understanding his thoughts and listening to his memories, appreciating the unique history Sarek had made while shaping the Federation.
Over the next several days more crew members display unprovoked aggression, even toward friends and relatives. Geordi insults Wesley over the date he was going on and says he is a novice on women and dating. Beverly snaps at Wesley for missing the concert and ends up slapping him. Beverly confides in Deanna who says there have been 10 such reports in the last 2 days.
Meanwhile Sakkath inquires Data if Picard would be able to conduct the negotiations with the Legarans if the need arose. Meanwhile there is a full-fledged brawl going on in the bar. Beverly and Deanna have a theory that Sarek is responsible for the outbreak of violence on the ship. They speculate that Sarek has the Bendii syndrome. Deanna had sensed during the concert that Sarek had lost control of his emotions. These are symptoms of the Bendii syndrome. Vulcans have telepathic abilities and Sarek might be unintentionally projecting these intense emotions onto other crew members on the ship, at random. Legarans might be impacted as well.
Picard speaks to Mendrossen, who is outraged at the suggestion and suggests Picard find the real reason for the outbreaks before the Legarans arrive. Data gets Sakkath (a fellow Vulcan to Sarek) to confirm a medical theory: Sarek is affected by the rare Bendii Syndrome, which causes old Vulcans to lose their most-prized emotional self-control, and telepathically spreads the epidemic. Sakkath says that so far, he has been able to use his own telepathic abilities to protect others from Sarek's emotions. But now Sarek's emotional state has deteriorated to a point where even Sakkath cannot contain it. Picard must think of the negotiations with the probably susceptible Legarians, which cannot be delayed.
Sarek denies his condition when Picard confronts him. Picard also tells Sarek about how Sakkath has been helping Sarek with controlling his emotions. Sarek is alarmed and sends everyone away and speaks to Picard in private. He provides logical arguments that there could be other causes for unexplained phenomenon on a star ship. Picard reminds Sarek that he cried at the concert. Sarek loses his temper at Picard and says that he is being illogical. In this, Sarek sees his own condition and believes Picard.
Once he admits it, a daring alternative is conceived. Perrin tells Picard that Sarek does a mind meld with him. So that while Sarek is at the conference, but it is Picard who is bombarded with the emotional onslaught from Sarek's mind. Picard has a torrid time, but the conference with the Legarans is a success.
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