The Enterprise rescues the crew of a damaged vessel in the Neutral zone, discovering several renegade Klingons who decide that they want Lt. Worf to join them.

When the Enterprise rescues a freighter with engine problems and is being drawn into a planets gravitational field, Picard gets more than he bargained for when it is discovered that the one planets inhabitants may be carrying a disease. The disease causes Picard to consider the Federation's Prime Directive and why it is necessary.