others<br>
    and BLAST ARMUS with their phasers.</p>
  <p>23 OMITTED</p>
  <p>24 ANGLE ON THE CREATURE (OPTICAL)</p>
  <p> who appears to thrive and grow on the energy.</p>
  <p>24A ANGLE ON RIKER AND DATA</p>
  <p> They BACK AWAY - still FIRING.</p>
  <p> PICARD'S COM VOICE<br>
    Number One?</p>
  <p> RIKER<br>
    The creature attacked us.<br>
    Lieutenant Yar is down.</p>
  <p> DATA<br>
    It appears to feed on our phaser<br>
    energy.</p>
  <p> RIKER<br>
    We have no effect on