The klaxon rang out. 
“Red alert,” shouted Captain Picard,
“Report, Mr. Worf!”    
“Unknown enemy closing in from port bow.  Shields at 50%,” shouted Worf in reply as the ship rocked from another hit. 
“Shields are down to 13%.  We can’t take another hit!”
    Suddenly a red beam sprung from the alien ship.  The Starship Enterprise was enveloped in it, and spun away from the enemy in full disarray toward a nearby asteroid field.  Mr. Data shook Captain Picard gently.  “Sir,  are you OK?”  
“Yes, yes Mr. Data,” he replied as he got up, “I’m fine.  Get me a status and damage report.”  “Sir,” called out Ensign Wesley Crusher, “You are not going to believe this, but we are inside one of the asteroids!”  
“Then how come we are not all dead solidified within rock?” asked commander Riker. 
“And what are those odd formations out there?” I am afraid Wesley is correct Sir, “ reported Data.  We seem to have been shrunk by an incredible factor.  The ship is the size of an atom.”  “But how is that possible?” boomed Worf.  
“I do not know,” said Data.  “Those formations out there are definitely atoms though.  The sensors detect  positive and neutral particles in a mass at the middle of the formation.  A negative charge equivalent to the positive charge from the central mass is present around it.  This is the structure that atoms have, and the so only logical conclusion is, however improbable, that it is an atom.”  
“And what is that cloud there?  It looks rather peculiar,” asked Captain Picard.  
“It is the electron cloud,” replied Data.  “The electrons exist in these clouds.  As you might know, it is not possible to tell the exact location of an electron.  The closer you are to the speed, the more inaccurate is the information the location.  The closer your information is to the accurate location,  the less you know about the speed.  This is described in Heisenberg’s theories.”  The ship rocked violently, and the Klaxon alarm switched on.  “What was that?” asked Geordi LaForge the chief engineer tumbling out of the turbo lift.
 “Our shield have been hit Captain! 
"Should I ready weapons?”  asked Worf.  
“Negative Mr. Worf.  Mr. Data, what was that?”  asked the Captain.  “It seems we have been hit by an alpha particle, emitted by a radioactive element. Our shields seem to be able to deflect these particles.” “Sir, I can detect the instability of some nearby atoms with my VISOR.” said LaForge.  “You see Captain, atoms are the most stable when their ratio of neutrons and protons is one to one, or very close to that.  Some atoms though, have an unbalanced ratio, having more neutrons than protons.  In this case, the atom gets rid of neutrons, to balance its ratio out.  This results in beta particles being released which is an electron. Sometimes, an atom is plain too heavy, in which emits large particles, two protons, and two neutrons, which is called an alpha particle.  If an atom has too much energy, it will emit a gamma ray.”
 “So you are saying, that since it is disorganized, being too heavy, having an imbalance, or too much energy, the atom will “attempt” to organize itself in a better way by getting rid of what is unneeded in it?” asked Riker.
 “That pretty much sums it up Sir,” replied Geordi.

 A moment of silence took hold of the bridge.  The ship again rocked as it was hit by an other particle.  It repeated.
 “Sir, “started Worf, “If we keep being hit at this rate, our shields can only hold up for another 39 minutes.  I suggest we move.”
 “Yes Mr. Worf you are completely right.  Mr. Data, move us away from the radioactive atoms.”
 “Aye sir.”  replied Data. He hit several buttons on his control panel.
 “Do we have a problem?” asked the Captain.
 “I  believe we do, sir.  We seem to be stuck.”
 “Confirmed  sir” cut in Geordi from the science station, “We seem to have formed a bond with a nearby atom.”
 “What!  How is that possible?” exclaimed Commander Riker.  “Then why can’t we just turn the shields off, and leave.”
 “I would suggest against that, as even one of those radioactive particles could destroy the ship,” pointed out Worf.
 The bridge crew fell silent again.  Everyone was trying to figure a way out of this mess.  Then Data proposed an idea.
“Sir.  We could use the antimatter in photon torpedoes to disintegrate the atom we have” Data paused for a moment, “reacted with.”
 “Good.  Make it so.”  replied Captain Picard.
 While hitting buttons on his control panel, Worf said “Fire pattern Gamma set. Firing.”
 Several torpedoes plummeted into the core of the atom, and it disappeared.
 “Mr. Data, engage full speed,” ordered Captain Picard, and the Enterprize broke free as the atom lost the rest of its cohesion.  The starship stopped in a larger cavity.  Several large formations were visible up ahead.
 “Data, what are those things over there,” asked the Captain.
 “I am uncertain captain, but they seem to be molecules,” replied Data.
 “They seem quite organized don’t they?” asked Riker.
 “Yes sir’” said LaForge, “they are.  Every atom always has the same amount of
charges,  always of the same charge, positive or negative.  In certain cases a single atom can have a number  of such configurations of charges.  For instance, copper can have either one or two positive charges.  Sometimes an atom can have both positive charge configurations, as well as negative ones, such as nitrogen.”  “Atoms always join to each other in the same geometric pattern within a molecule,” added Data, “A  different shape of the atoms joining will result in a different molecule.”  “For instance simple sugars,” interrupted Geordi LaForge, “Fructose and glucose both have the same number of carbons, oxygens and hydrogens, but since the atoms’ arrangements are different the two molecules have different properties.”
 “That is all nice and well but what are we to do about the fact that we are so tiny, and are stuck in a rock in space?” questioned Lieutenant Worf.
 “Very true again Mr. Worf, said Captain Picard, “Any suggestions.”
 “I say we move out of the asteroid, and go from there,” observed Riker.
 “Highly improbable sir.” cut in Data, “It would take us about 75 years to get out of the asteroid.  It would require constant maneuvering , and the danger of high electromagnetic radiation would also cause problems.”  “I suggest we explore this world, and broadcast our information gathered back to Starfleet.” suggested Deanna Troi, the ship’s councilor, “No one before has gotten a chance the world of atoms like this before.”
 ‘We will do that for now, meanwhile, let’s set a heading out of here as we are exploring,” decided the Captain.

 The ship started moving through the cavity they were in.  Far up ahead could be seen crystal formations rising out of the ground.  Beyond that appeared to be something like a pool of liquid.  Data started to speak.
 “Did you know sir,” he said addressing the captain, “that each type of molecule and atom forms a specific type of crystalline structure?”
 “Do they?”  inquired the captain.
 “Yes sir, they do.  There are substances that form cubical or isometric crystals, such common salt.  Quartz forms crystals which are hexagonal.  Other crystals are tetragonal, with two equal axes, and a third one with a different length and angles between the axes being ninety degrees, such as chalcopyrite, orthrombic, with all three axes unequal but all axes at ninety degree angles, such as sulfur, monolinic, with all three axes unequal with two axes at ninety degrees the third not being ninety, such as muscovite, and triclinic with all three axes with unequal lengths and angles other than ninety degrees, such as plagioclase.”

 “Aha!” noted Picard.  The ship had gotten closer to the crystals, and they could see the atoms within in order  forming the crystals.  Beyond it they could see what appearad to be a pool.
 “What about that pool?” asked Picard  pointing to the viewscreen, “The molecules  in it seem to be in disorder.”
 “That is true,” replied LaForge, “In a solid particles barely move.  When it becomes liquid, the particles start moving faster and separate from each other.  They move around  other atoms.  They come into a state of disarray.  If it is heated further, the particles are moving fast enough, they will move quite apart by molecular standards, and they become gas.”
 “That is quite intriguing,” noted Captain Picard.  “I want to conduct an experiment.  Mr. Worf, set the phasers to 15% and fire a 30 second burst into that pool.”
 “Aye sir.  Phasers set, firing.” reported Worf.

 The phaser blast quickly heated the liquid in the pool.  Particles were moving faster,  and  more and more left the surface.  Soon the area was filled with atoms flying around in chaos.

 “Very interesting Captain,” said Riker.
 “Agreed Number One,” replied Picard.
 “Sir!” exclaimed Data, “some sort of red beam is heading towards the ship.  It seems to be very much like the one that shrunk us.”
< “Coon, evasive maneuver theta.  Engage!” ordered the captain.

 The ship started moving away from the precalculated direction of the beam.  The beam was far larger than expected.  Suddenly the whole cavity was filled with red glow.
 “What ‘s going on!” Shouted Picard.
 “Uncertain sir, but we seem to be caught in a transporter beam,” replied Data as the ship shook.  A second later the Enterprise was normal size again, and was outside the asteroid.
 “Sir!” said Worf, “the alien ship is hailing us.”
 “Open a channel, Mr. Worf,” said Riker while helping the Captain up.  The face of a Starfleet captain filled the viewscreen.
 “Picard!  It’s good to see your.  We captured this alien ship and found out about their battle with you.  So we came to save your behind.”
 “Thanks McKarrinson.  It’s good to see you too.  I think I am speaking on behalf of the whole crew when I say it feels good to be home.”