A shuttlecraft bringing Picard, Guinan, Ensign Ro and Keiko collides with an energy disturbance, necessitating an emergency rescue via transporter. But the energy field disrupts transport, and the passengers from the shuttle arrive as children, though their minds are unaffected. They find it difficult to adjust - Picard worries about his lack of command presence, Ro despises being relieved of duty, and O'Brien can't cope with Keiko's sudden reversion to youth. Guinan, however, seems to be enjoying herself. The ship continues on a course to respond to a distress call from a science team. On arrival at the site, the Enterprise is attacked by two Klingon ships which have been taken over by Ferengi. The Ferengi board the Enterprise and begin beaming the crew off to serve, along with the captured science team, as slave laborers. The Ferengi refuse any compromise, but Captain Picard and the other "youngsters" may be able to salvage the situation.
