The origins of Rutherford’s implant may not be so innocent. Boimler has a nervous breakdown and ends up in the brig.

Rutherford gets some much-needed character development and backstory when he has to deal with a younger version of himself. Mariner and Boimler are staffing the Starfleet Recruitment Booth on Tulgana IV, and Mariner may be temped to leave Starfleet.

I summarize the plot and point out and explain all the references so you don’t have to.