Quantum's Quarters. Porthos! Aw, the puppy's on the bed while Quantum…hugs a water polo ball to himself and reads? Okay, let me make this perfectly clear: the adorable, fuzzy, alive dog is on the bed, and the ball is on Quantum's lap. You freak. Hoshi tells Quantum he has a call coming in from the Vissian ship, and that Cpt Vissian sounds upset. Quantum tells her to put him through.

Weight Of The World Window. I think this is the first justified use of it. Trip walks in, and Quantum tells him what I predicted in the first fifteen minutes of this episode -- It is dead. It committed suicide. "That can't be...why..." Trip stumbles, "It's my fault. I'm responsible." "You're damn right you are," Quantum gnashes at him. Trip is taken aback by his captain's tone. Buddy, it's just the beginning. Quantum tells Trip that it's not just It's life; because of Trip's interference, a baby won't be conceived for a good long while yet. Quantum paces, looking down, and says that Trip needs to learn the lesson that his all-too-frequently impulsive actions have their consequences. "I unnerstand," Trip says in a daze. "Do you?" Quantum bites out. "I'm not so sure you do. You knew you had no business interfering with those people but you just couldn't let it alone. You thought you were doing the right thing. I might agree if this was Florida or Singapore but it's not -- is it?" Trip continues to look stunned. "We're in deep space and a person is dead, a person who'd still be alive if we hadn't made First Contact. I guess I haven't been that successful in getting through to you. If I had, you'd have fought a lot harder before doing what you did," Quantum continues. "You're not responsible," Trip says slowly. "Dismissed," Quantum whispers, and turns his back on Trip. Trip looks all lip-trembly and inquires, "Cap'n?" But Quantum won't turn around to look at him. Trip looks down and slowly leaves. That's some tough love, people. Great scene.

Next week: Borg and Borg, what is Borg? And then I take cyanide with my multi-vitamin.