CHAPTER 1

As Beverly Crusher headed down the hall to her office, her phone went off. She flipped it open. "Dr. Crusher."

"Beverly, it's Captain Picard. Would you care to join me in my office?" She thought she heard muffled laughter in the background.

"Am I in trouble?" she asked.

"Hmmm…I don't know," said Picard. "Have you…done anything for which you should be in trouble?"

Only found the porn you were looking at on the ship's computer, thought Dr. Crusher.

"Nope."

"All right then, see you in five," said Picard.

"Aye aye, sir," replied Beverly. "I'll be over there in a jiff."

A few minutes later, she burst into the Captain's quarters. Riker was there, and the indisputable smell of weed wafted all the way up to the door. Picard was leaning back in his chair, laughing about something and almost falling backwards.

"Do you smoke?" asked Riker.

"I never did before," the doctor answered. "I don't find it really necessary, why?"

"Oh, cut the crap," laughed the Captain. "And take a hit off of this. We're having a great time!"

"Sir, with all due respect sir, do you really think you're in any state to control this ship under the influence of recreational drugs?" asked Dr. Crusher.

Instead of addressing her question, the Captain said, "Number One, pass Dr. Crusher that bong. And re-load it."

"Yes sir," Riker chuckled as he stuffed some more pot into the pipe. He leaned across the table and held it out to Beverly, but she didn't move forward to take it.

"You need to lighten up, Crusher!" said Picard.

"Uh, with all due respect, sir…" began Beverly.

"You were born on the moon, weren't you?" interrupted Picard.

"Well, uh yes…"

"Alright then. So stop being so down to Earth and have a drag."

"You know what? I'm gonna bounce…" said Beverly, backing towards the door. "I'll see you guys later, okay?"

Before they could say anything else, the Doctor was heading back towards the deck.

"I'm hungry…" she heard Riker's voice say. Once in the hallway, Beverly was stunned at what she'd just experienced.

"Computer," she propositioned.

"I'm heeeeere" giggled the female voice.

Oh no, thought Crusher. "Are you high?"

"Affirmative," replied the computer.

"Computer, display a map of the galaxy," the doctor instructed. "I'm going to have to drive this ship."

"The computer does not…ahhh…think that's a good idea," said the computer.

"Just do it," said Beverly. "Don't insubordinate me, dammit!"

A map appeared on screen.

"Computer, how long will it take us to get to Earth's moon at warp speed 9.5?"

"Three days."

"Make it so," said Beverly.

"That takes the ship off its planned course," protested the computer.

"When did you get to be such a smart ass?" snapped the doctor.

"Star date 444…"

"Oh, shut up!"

Oh well, thought Beverly. I'm sure everyone can't be smoking up.

She went to find her son.

"Wesley, you would never do anything like…drugs, would you?"

"No Mom, I thought we had this talk," said Wesley.

"Well, I know that there is a lot of peer pressure on the ship," said the Doctor. "Would you mind if I did a drug test?"

"WHAT?!" Wesley freaked out. "So you don't trust me now, is that what this is?"

"No, it's not that!" Beverly insisted. "But kids at your age lie a lot and there's been a lot of pot smoking going on around here and…oh, for Christ's sake just pee in a cup so I can test it! That's not an option. I'm your damn mom!"

Her cell phone rang. It was Counselor Troi.

"Poker is in the Captain's Lounge at 2100 hours," said the Counselor. "Are you in?"

Beverly glanced sideways, considering the possible option.

"Yes," she finally said. "I'll be there."

Closing the phone, she turned back to her son.

"Wesley, I want that sample as soon as you can," she commanded. "With all that's going on around here, everyone's been brainwashed and I can't afford to take the risk with you." And without leaving any room for further discussion, she turned and walked out.

Beverly met Counselor Troi for a cup of coffee in the cafeteria.

"Are you sure you're not hungry?" asked the Counselor as they sipped their drinks. "I am, like, sooo hungry today, it's soo weird!" she exclaimed.

"I'm all set," said Dr. Crusher. "Hey, Deanna, is there any reason why you're so hungry? Don't take this the wrong way, but, it couldn't be because, you know, you've been smoking anything, could it?"

"Huh?" said the counselor. Her pupils were huge. "Like what, what do you mean?"

"I'm talking about pot," Beverly said firmly.

Troi gave her a blank look.

"Weed, grass, dope, marijuana!" said the doctor. "It appears to be readily available on this ship and I don't know where Captain Picard and Commander Riker got their stash, but I…"

"You want some, don't you?" the Counselor smiled slyly.

"No!" Beverly banged her fist on the table. "I want it stopped! I have the ship headed for the Moon, and I'm going to turn over the stash to the authorities there."

"Why the moon?" asked Counselor Troi.

"Because that's the only place I know where we can take it," said Beverly. "I'm from there, remember? I don't want to take a chance on giving it to any aliens who might smoke it!"

Suddenly, Data appeared by the table.

"I apologize for the interruption," he said in his monotone voice. "But I just received a text message from the Borg. They state that they are" – he glanced down at his phone – "'going to blow this ship to hell and are not messing around this time.'" Data looked completely unemotional despite what he had just reported.

Troi looked at the doctor. "You are stressed," she remarked.

"Congrats," Beverly snapped. "It doesn't take a Betazoid to figure that out!"

Data looked at them, puzzled. "What course of action do you suggest we take?"

"Jesus, dude, I don't know!" said Crusher. "Give me a minute to take all of this in!"

"Compliance," said Data, beginning to back away.

"No, you don't have to like leave," said Troi. "Sit down."

"Certainly," said Data, taking a seat. "Pardon me, but whatever it is that you have been inhaling, I would like some of it," he said in all seriousness.

"See!" said Crusher. "I knew it! I knew she was on something! It's the weed, isn't it? Where'd you get it, Deanna? And don't try to lie to me!"

"From Will," the Counselor said matter-of-factly.

"Oh, that's right, your boyfriend," said Crusher. "Oh Jeez." She looked at Data. "When is this alleged blowing up of the ship supposed to take place?"

"Approximately 48 hours from now," Data replied.

The doctor leaned back in her chair and glanced around, contemplating. "As usual," she muttered under her breath, "I'm the only one on the ship with any sanity."

Troi lit up a joint and reached out to pass it to Data.

"No!" Said Beverly, grabbing it. "Don't give that to him! You don't know what that could do to an android!"

"Do not worry," said Data. "I have done this before. In fact, my best performance occurs when I am under the influence of this substance. It causes me to think clearer and not be so uptight. It gives me the ability to laugh at humorous situations."

"Well this is not a humorous situation," snapped the doctor. "The Borg is about to blast us all to Hell. And if you guys won't do anything about it, I will." She got up from the table.

"Don't forget, poker tonight in the lounge," said Troi.

To Be Continued…see what happens in the next exciting chapter!