09 Wesley, Geordi and Data's Angels

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 10
Hide & Q

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41590.5. Having dropped off Counselor Troi at Starbase G6 for a shuttle to visit home, we were fortunately close to the Sigma Three solar system when its Federation colony transmitted an urgent call for medical help. An accidental explosion has devastated a mining operation there.
Scene: Corridor.
BEVERLY: Include a burn unit with each kit. Upon arrival, identify the most critically injured and beam them up to cargo bay six.
PICARD: (OC) Doctor Crusher, this is the Captain.
BEVERLY: Doctor Crusher here.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Additional information. The number of colonists at the site is five hundred and four. Are you prepared for that many, Doctor?
BEVERLY: (OC) We believe so, sir.
GEORDI: Captain, we are now at warp nine point one, sir.
DATA: Which will bring us to the colony in three point two hours, sir.
RIKER: Captain, I have a schematic of the explosion site. It suggests the cause as a methane-like gas seeping in from underground.
GEORDI: Captain, I'm picking up a forcefield out there of some kind. It's almost.
The chain-link that envelopes the Enterprise is straight out of Encounter At Farpoint.
DATA: The Q entity, sir. It is identical to the grid we encountered when
WORF: It reads solid, sir.
PICARD: Emergency. Full stop.
GEORDI: Reversing power, sir.
PICARD: Not now, damn it, Q.
TASHA: Shields and deflectors up, sir.
GEORDI: Now reading full stop, sir.
There's a flash, and something similar to Prince of Wales' feathers hovers.
Q: Humans, I thought by now you would have scampered back to your own little star system.
PICARD: If this is Q I'm addressing, we are on a mission of rescue where a group of badly injured
Q: We the Q have studied our recent contact with you, and are impressed. We have much to discuss, including perhaps the realisation of your most impossible dream.
PICARD: However intriguing that may be, we are now in the midst of an urgent journey. Once that is completed, then, perhaps
Q: You will abandon that mission, Captain. My business with you takes precedence. If my magnificence blinds you, then perhaps something more familiar.
Flash, and the familiar human shape of John de Lancie, this time costumed as.
Q: Starfleet Admiral Q, at your service.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. Our rescue mission to the Sigma Three solar system has been halted by an immense grid and an untimely visit from Q
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: You're no Starfleet Admiral, Q.
Q: Neither am I an Aldebaran serpent, Captain, but you accepted me as such.
RIKER: He's got us there, Captain.
Q: The redoubtable Commander Riker, whom I noticed before. You seem to find this all very amusing.
RIKER: I might, if we weren't on our way to help some suffering and dying humans who.
Q: Your species is always suffering and dying.
PICARD: No, Lieutenant Worf. You'll make no move against him unless I order it.
Q: Pity. You might have learned an interesting lesson. Macro head with a micro brain.
PICARD: You said you had the realisation of impossible dreams to offer us. When this rescue is completed, I am prepared to listen carefully to whatever proposal you wish to make and subject to it being acceptable.
Q: Subject to your foolish human values? Oh, come, Picard. Why do you distrust me so?
PICARD: Why? At our first meeting you seized my vessel. You condemned all humans as savages, and on that charge you tried us in a post-atomic twenty first century court of horrors, where you attacked my people. You again seized my vessel.
Q: And that angered you, did it? Seized my vessel, seized my vessel.
PICARD: You interfered with our Farpoint mission. You threatened to convict us as ignorant savages, if, while dealing with a powerful and complex life forms, we made the slightest mistake, and when that didn't happen
Q: The Q became interested in you. Does no one here understand your incredible good fortune? Seized my vessel. These are the complaints of a closed mind too accustomed to military privileges. But you, Riker, and I remember you well, what do you make of my offer?
RIKER: We don't have time for these games.
Q: Games? Did someone say games? And perchance for interest's sake, a deadly game? To the game.
A flash, and Picard is alone on the Bridge.
Scene: Planet surface.
Sand and rocks under a green sky with yellow horizon.
RIKER: Where are we?
DATA: Obviously a class M world. Gravity and oxygen within our limits.
GEORDI: Twin moons. Where are we?
DATA: Considering the power demonstrated by Q the last time, anywhere. Assuming this place even exists.
RIKER: But this won't be boring. If Q is anything, he's imaginative. Apparently our Captain wasn't meant to be with us here.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Security, this is the Captain. Security? Engineering, this is the Bridge.
Control panels don't operate. Doors don't open.
PICARD: Turbolift Control, do you read? This is the Captain.
But answer came there none.
Scene: Planet surface.
TASHA: Sir! Over here.
It's Q, in a French uniform complete with tricorn hat and tricolor cockade.
Q: Join me, Riker. A good game needs rules and planning. Wasn't it your own Hartley who said, nothing reveals humanity so well as the games it plays? Almost right. Actually, you reveal yourselves best in how you play.
DATA: Sir, what he has in mind might provide us with vital information.
Riker joins Q at a table in front of a tent. He picks up a glass to drink.
RIKER: Incredible. I was just thinking about an old-fashioned lemonade.
Q: And so it became that. An excellent thirst quencher. It gets rather hot out on this plain.
RIKER: What about my people?
Q: Whatever they'd like, of course!
Glasses appear in everyone's hands. Worf ostentatiously pours his onto the ground.
Q: Drink not with thine enemy. The rigid Klingon code. That explains something of why you defeated them.
RIKER: You're still fascinated with the human past? Perhaps you're not that original.
Q: Au contraire! It's the human future which intrigues us, and should concern you most. You see, of all species, yours cannot abide stagnation. Change is at the heart of what you are. But change into what? That's the question.
DATA: That is what humans call a truism.
Q: You mean hardly original?
RIKER: You're the one who said it. While we're at it, this isn't part of any human future.
Q: True. I borrowed this from your stodgy Captain's mind. This is dressing for a game that we will play. Now games require rules and rewards and dangers and familiar settings. That sort of thing.
RIKER: This isn't that familiar to me. Data?
DATA: This is from Europe's Napoleonic era, sir. Late eighteenth, early nineteenth centuries. This is a campaign headquarters tent, his uniform is that of a French Army marshal.
RIKER: And a marshal outranks even an Admiral
Q: Well, do you think I would go from a Starfleet Admiral to anything else?
RIKER: Of course you wouldn't. But Napoleonic equipment on an alien planet. One so different it has twin moons?
Q: Well, as you said, I'm nothing if not imaginative. And the game should reflect that. Shall it be a test of strength? Meaningless, since you have none. A test of intelligence, then? Equally as meaningless. But it needs risk, something to win and something to lose.
RIKER: If we must play a game, what would we win?
Q: The greatest possible future that you can imagine. Which, of course, requires something totally disastrous if you lose. Now the point of this game shall be, can any of you can stay alive?
WORF: If your game is fair, we will.
Q: Oh, for shame, Worf. Fairness is such a human concept. Think imaginatively! This game shall in fact be completely unfair.
TASHA: You've gone too far!
Q: Game penalty!
Tasha vanishes.
RIKER: Where is she, Q? You can forget your game if.
Q: To use a twentieth century term, she's in a penalty box. Where she will remain unharmed unless one of you merits a penalty. Unfortunately, there is only one penalty box. If any of you should be sent there, dear Tasha must give the box up to you.
GEORDI: And where does she go?
Q: Into nothingness. I entreat you to carefully obey the rules of the game. The only one who can destroy your Tasha now is you.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Captain's log.
COMPUTER: Captain's log.
PICARD: Damn it. I can't even make a log entry.
TASHA: I wish I could help you, Captain.
PICARD: Where is everyone else?
TASHA: Down on some planet.
PICARD: Some planet? What are you doing here?
TASHA: Well, I, er. It sounds strange, but I'm in a penalty box.
PICARD: A penalty box?
TASHA: Q's penalty box. It sounds strange, but it definitely isn't. I know that one more penalty by anyone and I'm gone.
PICARD: Gone?
TASHA: Yes! I am gone! It is so frustrating to be controlled like this!
PICARD: Lieutenant. Tasha, it's all right.
TASHA: What the hell am I doing? Crying?
PICARD: Don't worry. There's a new ship's standing order on the Bridge. When one is in the penalty box, tears are permitted.
TASHA: Captain. Oh, if you weren't a captain.
Q: Consorting with lower rank females, Captain? Especially ones in penalty boxes? Destructive to discipline, they say. But then again, you're what? You're only human? Penalty over.
PICARD: A marshal of France? Ridiculous!
Q: One takes what jobs he can get. For example, star log entry, stardate today. This is Q, speaking for Captain Jean-Luc Picard, who we consider too bound by Starfleet customs and traditions to be useful to us. The Enterprise is now helpless, stuck like an Earth insect in amber while its bridge crew plays out a game whose real intent is to test whether the First Officer is worthy of the greatest gift the Q can offer.
PICARD: So you're taking on Riker this time. Excellent. He'll defeat you just as I did.
Q: Shall we wager on that, Captain? Your starship command against?
PICARD: Against your keeping out of humanity's path for ever. Done?
Q: Done! You've already lost, Picard. Riker will be offered something impossible to refuse.
Scene: Planet surface.
RIKER: Geordi, can you see Worf?
GEORDI: I'd see the freckles on his nose if he had them, sir. He's at the third ridge.
DATA: The third ridge?
GEORDI: Moving well too. Oh, oh. Good, he sees them.
Them being soldiers in an camp. And they grunt like pigs. Worf runs back.
Scene: Ready Room.
PICARD: Listen to me, Q. You seem to have some need for humans.
Q: Concern regarding them.
PICARD: Whatever it is, why do you demonstrate it through this confrontation? Why not a simple, direct explanation, a statement of what you seek? Why these games?
Q: Why these games? Why, the play's the thing. And I'm surprised you have to ask when your human Shakespeare explained it all so well.
PICARD: So he did, but don't depend too much on any single viewpoint
Q: It's a pity you don't know the content of your own library. Hear this, Picard, and reflect. All the galaxy's a stage.
PICARD: World, not galaxy. All the world's a stage.
Q: Oh, you know that one? Well, if he were living now he would have said galaxy. How about this? Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
PICARD: I see. So how we respond to a game tells you more about us than our real life, this tale told by an idiot? Interesting, Q.
Q: Oh, thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Perhaps maybe a little Hamlet?
PICARD: Oh, no. I know Hamlet. And what he might said with irony, I say with conviction. What a piece of work is man. How noble in reason. How infinite in faculty. In form, in moving, how express and admirable. In action, how like an angel. In apprehension, how like a god.
Q: Surely you don't really see your species like that, do you?
PICARD: I see us one day becoming that, Q. Is it that what concerns you?
Scene: Planet.
GEORDI: Those soldiers have formed a skirmishing line, I think you'd call it, and they're headed this way.
RIKER: Armed with ancient ball and powder muskets?
GEORDI: That's what their weapons look like, sir.
DATA: Muskets are appropriate to the 1790 to 1800 French army uniform, sir. But it is hardly a weapon by our standards. A lead ball propelled by gunpowder. One hundred metres at best with any accuracy.
GEORDI: Yeah, but against phasers? Just one of our hand phasers could finish off an entire regiment.
RIKER: Except for one thing. It hardly sounds like Q to give us an advantage like that. Unless.
He does a test firing. A rock blows up most satisfactorily.
WORF: Drop your weapons!
RIKER: I'm afraid that was me, Worf. I was checking to see if the phasers still operate.
GEORDI: Incredible, Worf! You came out of nowhere.
WORF: A warrior's reaction.
RIKER: Report. What did you find?
WORF: Sir, what they're wearing may be old Earth uniforms, but what's inside of them isn't human at all. More like vicious animal things.
And here they come.
GEORDI: Those soldiers are moving in fast, sir.
RIKER: Data, if you've got a theory about what's happening?
But it's not Data, it's Q made up to look like him.
Q (DATA): Think fast, Commander Riker, and move fast.
One of the soldiers fires. An energy bolt comes from the musket.
RIKER: Those aren't muskets.
He vapourises two soldiers.
Q (DATA): You have only one chance to save them now. Send them back to the ship.
RIKER: You'll let me beam them?
Q (DATA): Send them the same way as I do. I've given you that power. Do you understand? I have given you the power of the Q. Use it.
Q vanishes.
Q: (OC) Use your power.
The real Data reappears.
Q: (OC) Use your power.
Riker holds up his hand and beams Worf, Data and Geordi away.
Scene: Bridge.
The forcefield vanishes while Tasha is sitting alone on the Bridge. Everything comes back to life and Picard comes out of the Ready room.
PICARD: Lieutenant, take the conn position. Engineering, this is the Bridge.
CREWMAN: (OC) Engineering here, sir.
PICARD: Engineering, are all systems back online?
CREWMAN: (OC) Back online, sir? They were never off.
TASHA: Captain, you'd better look at this. There's been no interruption in course or speed. Both have remained constant. It's as though we never stopped.
PICARD: We never did, Lieutenant. Q suspended time.
Worf, Data and Geordi appear.
TASHA: Where's Commander Riker?
WORF: He was with us.
GEORDI: He must still be on the planet. We were under attack by these, these animal things.
PICARD: Animal things?
GEORDI: Well, maybe Data could explain better, sir.
DATA: You may find it aesthetically displeasing, sir. I could just file a computer report on that.
PICARD: Data!
TASHA: Sir, the important thing right now is why is Commander Riker missing?
PICARD: Understood, Lieutenant, but I suspect that Commander Riker is probably perfectly safe, at least in a physical sense. Q has an interest in him. In fact, Q's entire visit has something to do with our First Officer.
DATA: And the reason for that, sir?
PICARD: I wish I knew. Q first became interested in him at Farpoint. I have no idea what it means. Meanwhile, we must proceed with our rescue mission.
Scene: Planet surface.
Riker is sitting on a rock, laughing.
Q: Something amuses you? Perhaps you'll share the joke with me?
RIKER: The joke is you.
Q: Strange gratitude, from one who has been granted a gift beyond any human dream. How can you not appreciate being able to send your friends back to their ship, or sending the soldiers back to the nothingness from which they came? Certainly, you must understand that at this moment you can send yourself back to the ship or to Earth, or change your shape and become anything else you want to be.
RIKER: What do you need, Q?
Q: Need?
RIKER: You want something from us, desperately. What is it?
Q: Want something from you foolish, fragile, non-entities? Oh come, Riker. You're beginning to sound like your Captain.
RIKER: Now that's a compliment, Q. But that's not an answer.
Q: Riker, we have offered you a gift beyond all other gifts!
RIKER: Out of the goodness of your heart.
Q: After Farpoint, I returned to where we exist. The Q Continuum.
RIKER: Which means exactly what?
Q: The limitless dimensions of the galaxy in which we exist.
RIKER: I don't understand.
Q: Of course you don't, and you never will until you become one of us.
RIKER: Until? Would you mind going over that again?
Q: Well if you'll stop interrupting me. This is hardly a time to be teaching you the true nature of the universe. However, at Farpoint we saw you as savages only. We discovered instead that you are unusual creatures in your own limited ways. Ways which in time will not be so limited.
RIKER: We're growing. Something about us compels us to learn, explore.
Q: Yes, the human compulsion. And unfortunately for us, it is a power which will grow stronger century after century, aeon after aeon.
RIKER: Aeons. Have you any idea how far we'll advance?
Q: Perhaps in a future that you cannot yet conceive, even beyond us. So you see, we must know more about this human condition. That's why we've selected you, Riker, to become part of the Q, so that you can bring to us this human need and hunger, that we may understand it.
RIKER: I suppose you mean that as a compliment, Q. Or maybe it's my limited mind. But to become a part of you? I don't even like you.
Q: You're going to miss me!
Q vanishes and the Bridge crew appear.
GEORDI: Come on, not again!
WESLEY: Commander Riker, what's going on? Lesley and I were sitting in school and.
TASHA: Worf, my phaser's gone. Are you armed?
WORF: No.
The animal solders advance.
PICARD: Where is Q? If you have any answer to any of this?
Worf charges to meet their enemy. He knocks two down before being bayoneted in the stomach.
WESLEY: Worf!
He dashes to Worf.
RIKER: Look out!
PICARD: Wesley, no!
Wesley gets bayoneted from behind.
LESLEY: (drops to her knees in tears) Wesley, no!
RIKER: Wesley!
PICARD: Wesley!
LESLEY: (tearfully) Wesley!
RIKER: No! Damn it! Damn it to hell!
Riker throws up a Q forcefield in front of the soldiers.
PICARD: Riker. You! You did that!
RIKER: And that's not all!
Scene: Bridge.
They are all back on the Bridge, alive and well, including Wesley. Lesley is hugging Wesley.
PICARD: That grid, their wounds. Only the Q can do that.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41591.4. Twelve minutes out from Quadra Sigma Three where the survivors of an underground disaster desperately need our help. Aboard the Enterprise, First Officer William T. Riker needs help nearly as badly. But this is a subject far out of my experience. Out of any human's experience.
Scene: Ready Room.
PICARD: Will. How the hell do I advise you? You know the implications as well as I.
RIKER: No one has ever offered to turn me into a god before.
PICARD: What the Q has offered you has got to be close to immortality, Will. They're not lying about controlling space and time. We've seen it in what they can do.
RIKER: You've also seen it in what I can do.
PICARD: If you are going to refuse his offer, you must not allow yourself to use this power again. It's too great a temptation for us at our present stage of development.
RIKER: Are you worried that I won't be able to say no to it?
PICARD: You tell me. Are you strong enough to refuse to use that power.
RIKER: Certainly.
PICARD: No matter how tempted? No matter how difficult Q makes it for you?
RIKER: You have my word.
PICARD: Good. I know what your word means.
DATA: (OC) In orbit of Quadra Sigma Three, sir. Ready to beam down rescue team to underground emergency area.
Scene: Disaster Area.
DATA: This way sir.
Data forces open a jammed door and they enter a room with some water on the floor and people groaning. Beverly and her medics start tending to them.
RIKER: Are there any others?
WOMAN: Gone. It's just us.
GEORDI: Commander. (by a rock fall) There's someone under here.
Data tosses rocks as if they were made of polystyrene, which they are.
GEORDI: You're getting close, Data.
Data uncovers a little girl, and lifts her out. Check the number on the pipe on the wall.
BEVERLY: It's too late. She's dead. If only we'd gotten here a little sooner.
DATA: Sir, if indeed you have the power of Q.
BEVERLY: I don't understand. Certainly you can't bring her back to life.
RIKER: I can't. I'm prevented from that by a promise.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: I should never have made that agreement with you. I could have saved that child.
PICARD: You were right not to try. Once you became accustomed to that power, Number One.
RIKER: When I used it before, what happened? I saved most of our Bridge crew.
PICARD: And when you grow to like it too much?
RIKER: As soon as it's convenient Captain, I want a meeting with you and your Bridge staff.
PICARD: As soon as we are secure of this rescue operation, I'll discuss all of this new power
But Riker has already gone to the turbolift. Later, Riker returns.
PICARD: We can confer here on the Bridge, if no one has any objections.
RIKER: The Bridge will be fine, since I've called the entire staff.
PICARD: Correction, Number One. Knowing the decision you face, I have permitted you this gathering.
RIKER: Of course, Jean-Luc.
Beverly, Wesley and Lesley enter.
RIKER: Wesley, this meeting is not for you.
WESLEY: Why not, sir? You helped make me a Bridge officer. Acting Ensign.
RIKER: All right, he stays. Because I've been given unusual powers, I am not suddenly a monster. Except for these abilities, and I don't yet know how far they go, I'm the same William T. Riker you've always known. Well? Everyone still looks uncomfortable.
PICARD: Perhaps they're all remembering that old saying. Power corrupts.
RIKER: And absolute power corrupts absolutely. Do you believe I haven't thought of that, Jean-Luc?
PICARD: And have you noticed how you and I are now on a first name basis? Number One, Will, something has happened already.
RIKER: In what way? Haven't you seen how much I regretted not saving that child? Using the Q power to save her may not have been wrong. No more than it was wrong to save the rest of you from those soldier things.
PICARD: Let's keep in mind that that particular danger was invented by Q.
TASHA: What we represent to the Q, Commander, are lowly animals, tormented into performing for their amusement.
RIKER: Actually, they think highly of us, Tasha. We have a quality of growth which they admire.
GEORDI: Or fear.
PICARD: No, we've learned the Q do not admire us. The Q has muddled your mind.
RIKER: Don't you understand his incredible gift to me?
Q: Are these truly your friends, brother?
Everyone turns to see Q in a monk's habit.
Q: Let us pray. For understanding and for compassion.
PICARD: Let us do no such damned thing! What is this need of yours for costumes, Q? Have you no identity of your own?
Q: I come in search of the truth.
PICARD: You come in search of what humanity is!
Q: I forgive your blasphemy.
PICARD: Don't you see, Riker? He's nothing but a flim-flam man! He's been that ever since we first met him at Farpoint.
WORF: Flim-flam?
Q: You offer Riker jealousy. What I offer him is clearly beyond your comprehension. How can you claim friendship for Riker while obstructing his way to the greatest adventure ever offered a human?
PICARD: Obstructing him? Then it's not yet certain. He's not yet committed.
Q: The truly evil part of this, Captain, is your jealousy. (to Riker) You love each one of your people. Demonstrate it. You have the power to leave each of them with a gift proving your affection.
RIKER: There'd be no harm, would there, if I gave them something I know they'd like?
Q: How touching. A plea to his former Captain. May I please give some happiness to my friends, sir? Please sir?
PICARD: In fact I authorise and support your idea, Riker. Please, feel free to cooperate with him if you wish.
DATA: Are you certain, sir?
PICARD: Quite certain, Data. By all means, demonstrate your gifts of affection.
RIKER: Don't be frightened. There is no way I could harm any of you. Shall I guess your dreams?
BEVERLY: Leave now, Wesley.
RIKER: No! Wesley, I may know best of all. Our friendship, our long talks.
BEVERLY: No, please!
RIKER: Have your favourite wish, my young friend.
Wesley is transformed from an attractive teenager to an unattractive adult through Lesley's eyes.
RIKER: You're ten years older. A man.
GEORDI: Hey, Wes. Not bad.
LESLEY: Riker please turn Wesley back to his handsomeself.
RIKER: Data.
DATA: No. No, sir.
RIKER: But it's what you've always wanted, Data, to become human.
DATA: Yes, sir, that is true. But I never wanted to compound one illusion with another. It might be real to Q, perhaps even you, sir. But it would not be so to me. Was it not one of the Captain's favourite authors who wrote, This above all, to thine own self be true? Sorry, Commander, I must decline.
RIKER: Well, my friend, I know what you want.
He waves his hand in front of Geordi and takes off the visor.
GEORDI: (to Tasha) You're as beautiful as I imagined, and more.
RIKER: Then we can throw away the visor?
GEORDI: I don't think so, sir. The price is a little high for me, and I don't like who I would have to thank. Make me the way I was. Please!
Riker does.
RIKER: Proud warrior Worf, without a single tie to his own kind.
A Klingon woman is kneeling at his feet. She gets up, tries to swipe at Tasha, and gets knocked down by Worf.
WORF: No! She is from a world now alien to me!
GEORDI: Worf, is this your idea of sex?
WORF: This is sex. But I have no place for it in my life now.
Q: No place, micro-brain? What possesses you?
WESLEY: Commander Riker, it's too soon for this.
RIKER: If this is because your mother objects?
WESLEY: No. I just want to get there on my own. Honest.
Q: But it's easier, boy. Listen to Riker.
RIKER: How did you know, sir? I feel like such an idiot.
PICARD: Quite right. So you should. It's all over, Q. You have no further business here.
Q: Human, you have just destroyed yourself.
PICARD: Pay off your wager.
Q: I recall no wager!
PICARD: I'm sure your fellow Q remember you agreed to never trouble our species again. Just as they're aware you failed to tempt a human to join you.
Q: (to the ceiling) No, if I could just do one more thing.
PICARD: Q, I strongly suspect it's some explaining you have to do now.
Q screams as he disappears. Wesley returns to handsome teenager, the Klingon woman vanishes and everyone is moved to new positions.
PICARD: Extraordinary!
GEORDI: Captain, we are showing that same hole in time again. Our instruments say we've just now beamed back from our rescue mission.
DATA: Sir, how is it that the Q can handle time and space so well, and us so badly?
PICARD: Perhaps some day we will discover that space and time are simpler than the human equation. No coordinates laid in, Number One?
RIKER: Yes, sir. You have my coordinates, LaForge.
GEORDI: Aye, sir. On the board.
PICARD: Engage.

That was a good chapter. I like parts with Lesley and Wesley. I liked part with Riker and Wesley. I also like the ending.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 11
Haven

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, Stardate 41294.5. Our destination, the class M Beta Cassius planet known simply as Haven. It is a world so renowned for its peaceful beauty that some believe it to have mystical healing powers. We will rest and relax, all too briefly, I fear
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Such a beautiful world. Legends say it has been known to mend souls and heal broken hearts.
DATA: Legends which are totally unsupported by fact, Captain.
PICARD: Legends like that are the spice of the universe, Mister Data, because they have a way of sometimes coming true.
Scene: Riker's quarters.
Riker is relaxing to a holographic pair of women playing musical instruments.
TASHA: (OC) Lieutenant Yar to Commander Riker, your presence is requested in Transporter room one.
RIKER: Sorry ladies. Duty calls.
Scene: Transporter room.
RIKER: You needed me, Lieutenant?
TASHA: Yes, sir. There's an object of some kind beaming in from Haven.
RIKER: What is it?
TASHA: We're not sure.
CHIEF: Surface Station approval coming in now, Lieutenant.
TASHA: All right, let's bring it in.
It's a box, with a face in relief on the front of it.
RIKER: Odd looking.
Troi enters.
DEANNA: What's going on?
The face on the box comes alive.
FACE: I hold a message for Deanna Troi. Lwaxana Troi and the honourable Miller family will soon arrive. The momentous day is close at hand. Rejoice.
DEANNA: No. No.
RIKER: What's going on?
The box bursts open and scatters gems on the transporter pad.
TASHA: Jewels. Look at these jewels.
DEANNA: They're bonding gifts. What you would call wedding presents.
RIKER: Who's getting married?
DEANNA: I am.
Scene: Ready room.
DEANNA: I was certain it would never happen, Captain. The years I'd spend on this mission, the distance it has taken me away from home. As you must have heard, genetic bonding is a Betazoid tradition. Steven Miller was my father's closest friend.
RIKER: Your father was human, Deanna. The Millers are human.
PICARD: Will you and your husband be staying with the ship, Counselor?
DEANNA: No, sir.
PICARD: Then I'll just say congratulations for now, Deanna. You'll excuse me?
Picard leaves.
DEANNA: Will, more than anything else in the world, anything, you want to be a starship captain. True?
RIKER: That's not all I want, Deanna.
DEANNA: I can feel that. I know you care, within those limits. Did you hear what I said?
RIKER: Every word. This whole thing is still bizarre. I'm sorry.
DEANNA: Come dance at my wedding.
RIKER: I'll try.
Riker leaves as Data enters.
DATA: A message from planet Haven, Counselor. They wish to beam the Miller wedding party aboard.
Scene: Transporter room.
Mr. Steven Miller, Mrs. Victoria Miller and their son Wyatt beam aboard.
PICARD: I'm Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the Enterprise. Welcome aboard.
STEVEN: Quite some starship you have here, Captain. Look forward to this visit.
VICTORIA: You couldn't be.
DEANNA: I'm Deanna.
VICTORIA: Deanna darling! You probably don't even remember me.
STEVEN: Wyatt was absolutely right. She is a beauty.
WYATT: I'm Wyatt.
VICTORIA: Isn't this simply beautiful? I knew romance was still alive, somewhere.
WYATT: I'd like you to have this. It's a Chameleon Rose. It changes color with the mood of its owner.
DEANNA: It's wonderful. Thank you. When is my mother arriving?
WYATT: Your mother is still down on the planet, Deanna.
DEANNA: Why?
WYATT: Er, is there a place for my parents to rest, Captain?
STEVEN: Well, we're not really tired, son. Besides, I'd like to see some of the ship.
VICTORIA: Steven, you know full well Lwaxana Troi isn't about to beam on aboard until we leave. So?
PICARD: You can see your quarters now, if you like. Will you show the Millers to their accommodations, please, and I shall join you later.
The Millers leave.
CHIEF: Two more are ready to beam in, sir.
PICARD: So be it. Wyatt seems a fine young man.
DEANNA: Yes, he does. But I'm not what he expected.
PICARD: I don't understand.
DEANNA: Neither do I, but I'm definitely a surprise of some sort to him. I should warn you, sir. My mother is a little eccentric.
A large man is sitting on a chest, and a woman has her back to them
LWAXANA: Where is everyone? Oh, I hate that.
DEANNA: Hello, Mother
LWAXANA: (OC) Don't say it, think it. Use your mind, not your mouth.
DEANNA: Hello Mother.
LWAXANA: (OC) Deanna, shame. What has this life done to you?
LWAXANA: No, don't tell me. You're the Captain.
PICARD: Of course. Your daughter has explained your telepathic ability.
LWAXANA: That wasn't telepathy, it was just common sense. Who else would they send to greet me but the Captain? You may carry my luggage.
DEANNA: Mother!
PICARD: No, no, that's quite all right. I'm indebted to your mother for the fine Counsellor she
The luggage is heavier than he expected. A lot heavier.
PICARD: (straining himself) This way.
The reincarnation of Christine Chapel and voice of the Enterprise computer follows, with her daughter and Lurch-sized servant.
Scene: Corridor.
DEANNA: Mother, it's quite inappropriate to ask the captain to.
LWAXANA: Yes, you do seem to be having difficulty. A man your age must work to keep himself in shape.
DEANNA: Mother, I'm not going another step like this. A starship has its customs, just as we do. If you're my mother's valet, then please valet!
PICARD: Oh, please don't let me keep up from doing your duty.
LWAXANA: I apologise for her behaviour. Do you realise you've embarrassed your Captain?
PICARD: Oh, no.
LWAXANA: Anything to avoid a quarrel on this occasion. It's amazing how that accent of yours reminds me of your father.
Mr. Homn the valet lifts the case with ease.
DEANNA: Your last valet tried so hard to rid me of it. Whatever happened to Mister Xelo?
LWAXANA: I was forced to terminate his employment. Xelo was strongly attracted to me. His thoughts became truly pornographic.
Scene: Turbolift.
LWAXANA: Of course, the thoughts of Wyatt's father toward me were almost as vulgar, but he really doesn't have Xelo's.
PICARD: Passenger accommodation.
LWAXANA: He doesn't really have Xelo's imagination.
DEANNA: Mother.
LWAXANA: Between him and that woman's inane chatter, it's a wonder I made it here at all. How do you like the Millers, Captain?
PICARD: I'm sure I find them perfectly pleasant.
LWAXANA: As for me, I find it shocking how they've changed in the years since my husband and I knew them. Of course, it's probably because I've grown beyond them. You realise of course that with Betazoids, our ability to read the thoughts of others does see us grow much faster than the typical plodding human who.
DEANNA: (OC) Mother, that's enough!
LWAXANA: (OC) So, you're not totally out of practice. Good. Very good.
Scene: Lwaxana's quarters.
PICARD: We hope you find the room comfortable.
LWAXANA: Yes, the room is adequate. Small, but adequate. You will of course adjust the temperature to a civilised level?
PICARD: I'll see what I can do. And now, if you will excuse me, I'm sure the two of you have a lot to talk about.
LWAXANA: Yes, Captain. You may go.
Picard backs out of the room with a bow.
LWAXANA: (OC) You've been slack, little one. Allowed your mental powers to rust.
DEANNA: (OC) Only to avoid confusion, mother. Humans constantly think one thing and say another.
LWAXANA: (OC) Yes, they do, don't they. Poor dears. Our style of complete honesty frightens them.
DEANNA: On that subject Mother, there is such a thing as too much honesty with humans.
LWAXANA: (OC) If they'd only say what they think instead of hiding it. An entire shipload of such inconsistency could drive one insane.
LWAXANA: Darling, I'm terribly sorry about what happened here. Truly I am. Steven Miller tracked me down and reminded me of the vows we had made.
DEANNA: Mother, I'm having some trouble believing in those vows as once I did.
LWAXANA: Deanna.
DEANNA: But I'll honour them, of course. I'm a Betazoid.
LWAXANA: You may find Wyatt an unusual person. I've sensed remarkable depths in him.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Message coming in from Haven, Captain.
PICARD: On screen.
An elegant woman appears.
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) I'm Valeda Innis, First Electorine of Haven. Captain Picard?
PICARD: Greetings, Electorine. I'm Picard.
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) Your presence honours us, and your timing is fortuitous, Captain.
PICARD: In what way?
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) An incoming vessel has bypassed our stargate, violating our law. It has refused any attempt at communication.
PICARD: Are you saying you believe it to be hostile?
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) Failure to communicate is inherently hostile. We have no defensive capabilities here and our treaty with the Federation specifies your obligations in that matter.
PICARD: Agreed. But let's hope it doesn't become a defence matter.
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) Of course, Captain, but I'm very happy we have you here.
Scene: Wyatt's quarters.
WYATT: Come in.
DEANNA: I wanted to apologise for my mother's behaviour.
WYATT: Your mother's honest. I respect that.
DEANNA: Yes, but she never lets up.
WYATT: I'll admit, her honesty is a bit persistent.
DEANNA: I never heard it described better. But it is a Betazoid trait. I'll try to be only half as annoying.
WYATT: Let's see, what can I tell you about myself? I'm a medical doctor, for whatever that's worth.
DEANNA: Doctor?
WYATT: If you're picking up my thoughts, you'd know. You can do that, can't you?
DEANNA: Sometimes. This must be what Mother felt about you. I believe we could read each other eventually.
WYATT: Can I take that as a compliment?
DEANNA: Absolutely. I only ever felt this, well, with someone who's on this ship.
WYATT: Oh? Do I have competition?
DEANNA: No. What he wants most is to captain a starship.
WYATT: What I want is to cure people.
DEANNA: Well, I'm a practicing psychologist. Maybe we can work in concert. We are going to be together a long time.
WYATT: Yes. That is the point of marriage, I suppose.
DEANNA: I really thought you'd tell me you were an artist. I just felt your mind very much on these. They are your work, aren't they?
WYATT: I can see it'll be very hard to keep secrets from you.
DEANNA: This is why you were surprised when you first saw me. This woman. You thought that I would be this woman.
WYATT: I have seen this face ever since I was a boy. When I closed my eyes at night, I could hear her whispering my name. And knowing you were Betazoid, I just assumed it was you projecting yourself into my mind.
DEANNA: I'm sorry I'm not what you hoped for.
WYATT: No. Please don't mistake a childish fantasy for disappointment. You are so beautiful. I feel honoured.
DEANNA: You've no idea who she is?
WYATT: It doesn't really matter now.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's personal log. I trust my concern over the problems of ship's Counselor Troi are not based merely on losing a highly valuable crew member. But it seems to me that she is trapped by a custom of her home world which the facts of the twenty-fourth century life have made unwise and unworkable. I wish I could intervene.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: On the viewer, Captain. Unidentified vessel travelling sub-warp speed, bearing two three five point seven.
PICARD: Sub-warp? It's several hours away then? Let's take a look at it. Enlarge to maximum.
GEORDI: Increasing magnification, sir.
PICARD: Mister Data, is that the trouble I believe it is?
DATA: If you mean a Tarellian vessel, sir, it is.
RIKER: I thought the Tarellians were all dead. What are the poor devils doing here?
PICARD: Picard to Sickbay. Doctor Crusher to Bridge, urgent. They must not be permitted them to destroy us. Or the planet.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. It has been believed the Tarellian race was extinct, an assumption contradicted now by the sight of one of their vessels approaching Haven.
Scene: Observation lounge.
RIKER: The fact that it's travelling at its present velocity suggests a possible answer.
GEORDI: A damaged vessel, sir. That could explain it.
RIKER: If it were unable to reach warp speed, it would have taken all these years to get here.
PICARD: Go on with your briefing, Mister Data.
DATA: Tarella was class M, much like your Earth, with similar humanoid life forms. Unfortunately they faced the old story of hatred out powering intelligence.
PICARD: There were hostilities?
DATA: Between the inhabitants of their two land masses, resulting in one group unleashing a deadly biological weapon on the other.
BEVERLY: And in the end the other became infected as well. Makes one question the sanity of humanoid forms.
PICARD: Can you identify the origin of the infection, Doctor?
BEVERLY: The Tarellians had reached Earth's late twentieth century level of knowledge. That's all you need if you're a damned fool. A deadly, infectious virus which at that modest level of knowledge is not difficult to grow.
TASHA: We learned the rest of the story in security training. Some Tarellians made it to other worlds only to die along with the populations they infected.
GEORDI: It's pretty well covered in Academy training now, Captain. Many of them tried to avoid other civilised worlds as they escaped only to be hunted down and destroyed anyway.
PICARD: And it was believed that the last Tarellian vessel was destroyed eight years ago by the Alcyones.
GEORDI: Yes, sir.
PICARD: Exactly when will they reach Haven?
DATA: Exactly thirteen hours, nine minutes, twenty two seconds, three hundred fifty.
PICARD: Thank you. Which creates a very difficult problem for the Enterprise. Our treaty requires us to protect Haven, and Federation policy requires that we assist life forms in need, which must include the Tarellians. I'll want you to help me find some answers. Thank you. However, there will be ample time for your second assignment, voluntary of course. The pre-joining announcement of Counselor Deanna Troi.
Riker leaves.
PICARD: And Wyatt Miller.
Scene: Lounge.
VICTORIA: We've talked it over, Captain, and the ceremony will be tomorrow if you agree. And Captain, would it be possible for you to perform the ceremony?
PICARD: Well, yes, of course, if all parties request it.
LWAXANA: All parties do not request it. It's simply out of the question. I'm sorry, Captain, but unfortunately you are not practiced in the ways of Betazed joining.
PICARD: No, that's quite true.
LWAXANA: Therefore you are totally unqualified.
VICTORIA: He is qualified to lead a traditional Earth ceremony, which is what this will be.
LWAXANA: I thought you had no sense of humour. Earth wedding? Ridiculous!
VICTORIA: My family and I are living on Earth now.
LWAXANA: So, that's why you want that backward ritual. Terrible, Captain, to see a woman go downhill like this.
DEANNA: Mother!
VICTORIA: Downhill?
LWAXANA: The matter is settled. Mister Homn will conduct the joining.
STEVEN: But Homn can't even talk!
LWAXANA: No matter, he is highly adept in the acts of sign language. The matter is closed.
VICTORIA: Who are you to tell us what we should do?
LWAXANA: Your ignorance is astonishing. I am Lwaxana Troi. Daughter of The Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. Who are you?
PICARD: Ladies and gentlemen, it is a Starfleet tradition that at social gatherings, disputes are not permitted. I hereby declare therefore all disagreements resolved.
At table, during the meal.
PICARD: A toast. To the young couple and their families.
VICTORIA: And?
PICARD: And may this union be a productive one.
General hear, hear, and cheers. Dana who is standing by Data who is standing by Mr. Homn, who is standing by a small gong, and knocking back drinks as if he's spent a month in a desert.
DATA: Considering the rate at which you imbibe, sir, is your lineage at all mixed with human?
Homn exaggeratedly sticks his nose in the air. Such an insult, young android.
WYATT: Is it true, Captain, that there's a Tarellian ship headed for Haven?
Lwaxana takes a bite of food, Homn strikes the gong. This goes on during the following conversation and gets on everyone's nerves.
PICARD: Yes, it is true.
WYATT: That's amazing. I've read everything I could about them. Biological virus analysis was a favourite subject at medical school.
BEVERLY: In which case I'd very much like to confer with you. I'm pleased to have a medical colleague aboard.
WYATT: Yes, ma'am, Doctor. Would it be possible to prepare some medical needs, geared toward the Tarellian's probable needs? We could beam it over without any fear of infection.
PICARD: What do you think, Doctor?
BEVERLY: It's a very considerate idea. Our Sickbay is at your disposal, Doctor.
WYATT: Thank you.
PICARD: Mister Data?
DATA: Sir?
PICARD: You're circling the room like a buzzard.
DATA: Perhaps being human yourself, sir, you do not find them as intriguing as I.
DANA: Yes please Data. You are making me dizzy walking around like the Captain said.
VICTORIA: Must he do that?
LWAXANA: As you well know, it is the Betazed way of giving thanks for the food we eat.
VICTORIA: You giving thanks? Besides, you never did this before.
LWAXANA: I do it now. Unlike some people, I am in growth.
The apparently decorative leaf-like thing on her sleeve, shakes at her.
LWAXANA: Victoria, I've forgotten whether you enjoy pets or not.
VICTORIA: Love them, of course.
LWAXANA: Good.
So the thing on her sleeve slides over to Victoria Miller, who of course screams.
LWAXANA: Gently, gently. Poor baby, did she hurt you?
RIKER: Captain. If you'll excuse me, I'd like to spend some time considering the Tarellian situation
PICARD: Yes, of course.
RIKER: Ladies and gentlemen.
Riker leaves.
DATA: Mrs. Troi, I'm very interested in the Betazed ceremony you mentioned. Could you tell us more?
LWAXANA: Why, I'd be delighted, Commander. It's an ancient ceremony, widely regarded as the most beautiful in the universe. After the young couple have removed their clothing.
TASHA: The bride and groom go naked?
DANA: (thinking and looking at Data) I wouldn't mind seeing Data naked.
LWAXANA: All guests must go unclothed. It honours the act of love being celebrated. Oh, you needn't worry too much, dear. Your body's not that bad. Besides, your husband quite likes the idea of seeing me unclothed.
VICTORIA: Steven!
LWAXANA: You did know he's attracted to me, didn't you?
STEVEN: Untrue! I don't.
DEANNA: Stop this petty bickering, all of you! Especially you, Mother!
Deanna storms out, knocking over the gong on her way.
DATA: Could you please continue the petty bickering? I find it most intriguing.
DANA: As do I.
LWAXANA: (to Dana) Who are you my dear?
DANA: I am Dana Hatter. I am an android just like Data. Also I am his girlfriend.
LWAXANA: Do you have any brothers and sisters?
DANA: I have a lot of brothers and sisters but only two of my sisters are on broad with me the rest are back home with our parents in Wonderland.
LWAXANA: What are your two sisters' names that are aboard?
DANA: Georda and Lesley. Georda is Geordi LaForge's girlfriend and Lesley is Wesley Crusher's girlfriend.
Scene: Holodeck.
Riker is brooding in an evening desert landscape.
DEANNA: May I join you?
RIKER: I will miss you, Deanna.
DEANNA: I'm no longer Imzadi to you?
RIKER: You taught me that word means my beloved.
DEANNA: And the human heart is too small to permit that feeling now.
RIKER: Have you discussed this with Wyatt? I think you should. It's also damned unfair to me.
DEANNA: I understand. I should have realised. Humans, young human males particularly, have difficulty separating platonic love and physical love.
RIKER: The problem is, Imzadi, I couldn't. Not now. Call it an old Earth tradition, habit of the beasts, whatever.
WYATT: Hello, you two.
RIKER: We were just talking about you, Wyatt.
WYATT: This is incredible.
RIKER: Yes. And in that discussion, I
DEANNA: Actually, Will was concerned that you might be upset that I care deeply for him, too.
WYATT: Oh. You're the one who wants to be a starship captain. Yes, I've heard that bonding or marriage would complicate things in that case. To each his own. Good luck with that ambition. And I very much respected what you did tonight.
DEANNA: All I did was lose my temper.
RIKER: If you'll excuse me.
WYATT: Of course. Running all this is a big job.
Riker leaves.
WYATT: In fact, you shamed them into compromise. So they've decided that the joining will be half Betazed, half Earth. The Captain will do the ceremony and Mister Homn will be my best man.
DEANNA: And we'll take our clothes half off?
WYATT: Some of us still go naked. You do, I do, your mother, my father, but not my mother or the guests.
DEANNA: Captain Picard will be very relieved. How did you manage it?
WYATT: Your mother relented. And I just caught my father practicing naked in front of his mirror. And so, a question I should have asked before. Deanna, do you really want to go through with this?
DEANNA: Yes, I want to.
WYATT: I'm a very lucky man.
They kiss, one short, one very long.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. All attempts at warning off the Tarellian ship have failed. They still refuse to communicate and I am growing concerned.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: How can you be certain they're receiving us?
DATA: Because our sensors are showing a responder echo, sir, on the frequency they once used.
GEORDI: We have a message, sir, coming in from Haven.
PICARD: On viewer.
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) Captain, the plague ship is approaching transport range.
PICARD: We are aware of that, Electorine.
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) Do you realise that they can turn this lovely world of ours into a graveyard? Please, please take action now before it's too late.
RIKER: We recognise your situation.
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) Please destroy them now!
PICARD: We will not fire on them, Electorine.
VALEDA: (on viewscreen) You must!
Transmission ends.
TASHA: I'm certain I could disable their ship with a phaser burst, Captain.
PICARD: And then, Lieutenant?
DATA: They're within transporter range, sir.
PICARD: Then we can't delay any longer. Ready the tractor beam, Lieutenant Yar. Target the ship. Activate on my command.
TASHA: Tractor beam ready.
PICARD: Engage.
TASHA: Got them, sir.
PICARD: Do we have them securely, Lieutenant? Can they beam out to the planet?
TASHA: Negative, sir. They can't leave that ship.
GEORDI: I know they can receive us, Captain. At this distance they can respond with running lights if necessary.
DATA: Unless they have all died. Their ship could have been brought in by automation.
RIKER: Captain!
The viewscreen crackles into life, and it's a face Troi recognises.
DEANNA: It's the woman in Wyatt's drawings.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41294.6. Orbiting Haven with the Tarellian vessel locked in our tractor beam. Question. What strange of circumstances has caused a woman out of someone's imagination to appear on the plague ship?
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Enterprise to Tarellian vessel, are you receiving us?
A balding man moves the young woman aside.
WRENN: (on viewscreen) My name is Wrenn, and before I enquire why your tractor beam has trapped us here, is there one aboard your vessel named Wyatt?
Beverly and Wyatt enter. He has his drawings with him.
WYATT: Captain, I don't understand.
WRENN: (on viewscreen) It's astounding. Ariana was right. He is here, daughter.
ARIANA: Wyatt, you've come just as you promised.
WYATT: How could I be so accurate? Except for the dream images, I've never seen her.
PICARD: Sir, our concern is with the threat your vessel poses to the planet below. If you're still carrying the infection which destroyed your world
WRENN: (on viewscreen) Oh, we still carry it, Captain. My daughter, I, all eight of us.
PICARD: Eight?
WRENN: (on viewscreen) All of us that are left, Captain. Most of the rest passed on during the years that it took to reach Haven.
PICARD: If you've come here because of the legend about planet Haven miraculously healing the sick.
WRENN: (on viewscreen) We don't ask to make contact with those living below. All we ask is to be on the edge of some sea, some unpopulated island, a faraway peninsula.
PICARD: This is not our planet, sir, but I will present your needs to those who do govern this world.
WRENN: (on viewscreen) Present the fact we intend to die here, Captain. And if we die while caged by your tractor beam, so be it.
Scene: Lwaxana's quarters.
LWAXANA: Oh, Wyatt, how do you like my new hairstyle? Of course, it's going to look much better on me when I'm naked.
WYATT: Mrs. Troi, can I talk to you about something serious?
LWAXANA: Oh, but I am always serious, dear boy. Only my pleasant nature makes it appear otherwise.
WYATT: Please, Mrs. Troi.
LWAXANA: Yes, that was puzzling. A woman out of another place who insists that she knows you.
WYATT: And.
LWAXANA: And whom you've dreamed of all these years.
WYATT: And I hoped that the way you handle thoughts
LWAXANA: Fascinating, Wyatt, how easily your thoughts come through. The answer to the puzzle of Ariana and you is so simple, it's too simple for most humans to understand.
WYATT: Too simple?
LWAXANA: Of course. It's something they all know instinctively but go to great effort to reject or to build complicated superstitions about. All life, Wyatt, all consciousness, is indissolvably bound together. Indeed, it's all part of the same thing.
WYATT: Yes. I have wondered if something like that
LWAXANA: That weren't so. And no doubt so has Ariana, which helped the two of you to make contact. Wyatt, tell me something seriously. Which of these would look best on me naked?
Scene: Sickbay.
BEVERLY: Wyatt? Are you feeling all right?
WYATT: Just wedding nerves. The supplies are ready. I'll take them to the transporter room.
BEVERLY: I'll notify the Captain they're ready.
When her back is turned he gets a hypo and fills it.
Scene: Lounge.
VICTORIA: Look at your father, Wyatt. He just can't wait to strip off his clothes for that barbaric ceremony.
WYATT: Please take care of each other. (to Deanna) You are beautiful. But you looked best of all in the desert on the holodeck when we did this.
Scene: Transporter room.
CHIEF: You can put the supplies on the pad. Doctor Crusher had me set the coordinates. All we need is the captain's order.
Wyatt injects the Chief and he goes down. Then Wyatt activates the transporter and stands on the pad with the supplies.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Captain! Someone's transporting over to the Tarellian ship.
PICARD: Override.
GEORDI: I can't sir. It's too late.
Scene: Tarellian ship.
Wyatt beams into a corridor lines with drawings of himself at different ages.
WRENN: Hello, Wyatt. We always thought you were a dream.
WYATT: You're not surprised. Did you know I'd beam over?
WRENN: Once we saw you were real, we knew. You are a doctor?
WYATT: Yes. I've brought medicines and supplies.
ARIANA: And I knew you would be this brave.
Scene: Bridge.
VICTORIA: How could you let this happen? My son, surrounded by those horrible lepers!
PICARD: Mrs. Miller, if I could have prevented this I would have.
VICTORIA: Beam him back.
DEANNA: He can never come back, Mrs. Miller.
WRENN: (on viewscreen) You may turn off your tractor beam, Captain. We will not be going to Haven. We have what we really came for.
VICTORIA: Wyatt?
WYATT: Mother. Father. Forgive me, but I must. I'm going to try to continue the work to cure these people.
ARIANA: And Wyatt will do it. I've believed that all along.
WYATT: I knew I was coming to Haven to meet my destiny. I thought it was to be with you, Deanna. It was Ariana who drew me here. I'm sorry.
DEANNA: Wyatt, I'm happy for you, and for Ariana too.
LWAXANA: You've done very well for a human, Wyatt.
DEANNA: Mother.
WRENN: (on viewscreen) Captain, my respects.
PICARD: And mine, sir.
Transmission ends.
DEANNA: Goodbye.
Scene: Transporter room.
STEVEN: Keep the chest. You'll have use for it some day.
The Millers beam away, and Lwaxana sweeps in.
LWAXANA: Seems such a shame to waste the whole trip. Perhaps I should stay and be joined to a new mate?
DEANNA: What?
LWAXANA: Well, the Captain's highly attracted to me, but he's a little too old. Perhaps I should choose you.
Riker.
DEANNA: He has other obligations, Mother.
LWAXANA: Oh. Very well. It's his loss. Mister Homn.
HOMN: Thank you for the drinks.
LWAXANA: (OC) Try and remember your heritage, little one. (out loud) Captain! Even Xelo never had such thoughts about me. You may energise.
Lwaxana and Homn are beamed away.
DEANNA: That was meant as a joke, Captain.
PICARD: I was not amused.
Scene: Ten Forward.
Geordi, Georda, Data and Dana are all sitting at a table.
GEORDI: Girls where is your sister Lesley?
DATA: Yeah we have not seen her all day.
GEORDA: Oh she's probably with Wesley.
DANA: In our quarters.
GEORDI: Why is that?
DATA: Yeah why is that?
GEORDA: I guess they wanted to be alone.
DANA: Well that is what she told us earlier.
DATA: Told you what earlier?
DANA: That she wanted to be alone with Wesley.
GEORDI: It's it just me or does she always want to be alone with Wesley.
GEORDA: It's not just you Geordi. She does always want to alone with Wesley.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Take us out of here, Mister Riker.
RIKER: Aye, sir. Warp two, helm. Heading five seven mark three one nine.
PICARD: Our destiny is elsewhere. But I'm happy that yours is here with us, Counselor.
GEORDI: Warp two, heading five seven mark three one nine.
RIKER: Engage.

That's was a really good chapter. I liked that parts between Deanna and Will. I liked when Data was pacing and Dana told him to stop because he was making her dizzy. I liked when Geordi ask Geodra and Dana where Lesley was. I liked the endling.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 12
The Big Goodbye

RIKER: (VO) First Officer's log, stardate 41997.7 We are about to make a brief but necessary contact with the Jarada, a reclusive, insect-like race known for its idiosyncratic attitude towards protocol. The Jarada demand a precise greeting, in this case from Captain Picard. Their language is most unusual. The slightest mispronunciation is regarded as an insult.
Scene: Ready room.
PICARD: Unless it's followed by?
DEANNA: The double bars indicate an elongated S sound.
PICARD: And the inverted T means to hold the Z.
DEANNA: Unless?
PICARD: Unless it's followed by three wavy lines; in which case the Z becomes a B.
DEANNA: Exactly.
PICARD: What a language.
DEANNA: But you spell knife with a K.
PICARD: I spell knife with an N. But then, I never could spell.
DEANNA: Well, this is an insect mind, sir.
PICARD: My mind is barely working.
DEANNA: Take a break.
PICARD: No, no. I want to go over this again.
DEANNA: You could be over-preparing. You've been looking forward to the upgrade of the holodeck. You have the time. Captain, you need the diversion.
PICARD: Dixon Hill.
DEANNA: The program's installed and waiting.
Scene: Outside Holodeck.
COMPUTER: Programme desired location.
PICARD: Earth, United States, San Francisco, California.
COMPUTER: Time period?
PICARD: 1941, A.D.
COMPUTER: File or access code.
PICARD: File Dixon Hill, private detective.
COMPUTER: Enter when ready.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's personal log. I'm entering the ship's holodeck, where images of reality can be created by our computer. Highly useful in crew training, highly enjoyable when used for games and recreation.
Scene: Hill's Waiting room.
In uniform, Picard goes along a corridor being washed by a cleaner, listening to music - you came to me from out of nowhere, you took my heart - and opens a door marked 312 - Dixon Hill Private Investigator.
SECRETARY: Very funny, Dix. What'd you do, lose another bet?
PICARD: I'm sorry, I don't understand.
SECRETARY: The bellboy suit. Are you moonlighting at the Fremont?
PICARD: The uniform. It's totally inappropriate. I should have changed.
SECRETARY: Detective Bell, your cop friend, McNary's new partner, was here nosing around. If he'd have seen you in those threads he'd have you sent to the funny farm. Mister Leech called twice, and there's a lady named Bradley waiting in your office. Nice legs. Not you. Her. Got a hot date with my fella. See you in the morning.
She leaves, laughing. Picard opens the door to his inner office and we go into Maltese Falcon territory.
PICARD: I lost a bet.
JESSICA: Oh well, at least you're ready for Halloween.
PICARD: Halloween?
JESSICA: I need your help, Mister Hill. Someone is trying to kill me.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's personal log. I'm delighted with how the Holodeck has created the fictional world of Dixon Hill, the twentieth century detective who has been a hero of mine since childhood. The illusion is flawless. The characters I meet are generated by the computer, of course, yet they feel real, they seem real in every way.
Scene: Hill's office.
JESSICA: I'm not sure who wants me dead. My husband, my stepdaughter.
PICARD: Or a lover, perhaps?
JESSICA: Perhaps. Or perhaps it's Cyrus Redblock. I need you to find out. Name your fee.
PICARD: Twenty dollars a day, plus expenses.
JESSICA: Agreed.
PICARD: I haven't said yes yet.
JESSICA: Oh, you'll say yes, Mister Hill. (she kisses him) If it is Redblock, he must think I've got what he's looking for. But believe me, I don't.
PICARD: I'll take your word for it.
JESSICA: Here's a C-note in advance. Consider it a retainer. (she tucks it in his collar) And next time, wear a suit. Au revoir.
She takes one of his calling cards and leaves. Picard looks out of the window.
PICARD: Remarkable. Exit.
He is just leaving the holodeck when there is a knock on the office door.
PICARD: You'll have to call again. I'm just leaving. I'm not dressed properly. I'll be back.
Picard leaves, the exit vanishes and the visitor enters the room.
LEECH: (Peter Lorre accent) Mister Hill? Where are you?
Scene: Outside Holodeck.
PICARD: Memory, save current setting.
COMPUTER: Current setting saved.
PICARD: Holodeck off.
The crew notice the red lipstick on his face as he goes along the corridor.
Scene: Observation Lounge.
PICARD: And when I looked down into the street, I actually saw automobiles!
WORF: Automobiles?
DATA: An ancient Earth device used primarily for transportation.
WORF: Ah.
DATA: Also seen as a source of status and virility. Often a prime ingredient in teenage mating rituals.
WESLEY: Teenage mating rituals?
PICARD: From that window, I could see an entire, er
DATA: City block.
PICARD: That's right. Sounds, Smells.
BEVERLY: You make it sound so real.
PICARD: That's how it felt.
BEVERLY: Incredible. (she wipes the lipstick off his face)
PICARD: I'm going to go again, only this time I'm going to dress the part. Why not come with me?
BEVERLY: Yes, I'd like that.
PICARD: I want to take that twentieth century historian.
BEVERLY: Who? Whalen?
PICARD: Yes, Whalen. I bet he knows more about Dixon Hill than I do.
DATA: Shall I tell him, sir?
PICARD: Invite him, Mister Data. This is supposed to be a recreational activity. The sense of reality was absolutely incredible. When that woman kissed me, it was so
BEVERLY: Exciting?
PICARD: Real. The subject of this meeting is the Jaradan rendezvous. Mister Riker, will you go ahead with the briefing.
RIKER: This is primarily a diplomatic mission. The Jaradan are strategically important to the Federation. Previous attempts have failed because they are so easily irritated. A slip in the pronunciation of the greeting caused a twenty year rift.
DEANNA: The Captain has to recite the entire greeting without making any mistakes.
GEORDI: Simple as that, huh?
DATA: Yes. If, on the other hand, the Captain makes even the slightest error
DEANNA: The Captain is well aware of the gravity of the situation, Commander.
DATA: We are all aware of the tape of the last Federation starship to come in contact with the Jaradan. It graphically demonstrates what happened when that Captain offended them.
DEANNA: Captain Picard is familiar with that, Data.
DATA: Should we not rerun it?
PICARD: It's not necessary, Mister Data. Meeting adjourned.
Scene: Corridor.
DATA: Why would the Captain not want to review all available information on the subject?
GEORDI: Data, when you've seen the Jaradan react once, you don't ever have to see it again.
DATA: This Dixon Hill is a most puzzling character.
GEORDI: Not really. He was just a twentieth-century Sherlock Holmes.
DATA: Ah, but was his modus operandi not dissimilar? Worth investigating.
GEORDI: Indubitably, my dear Data. Indubitably.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: Computer: request all biographical information on fictional character Dixon Hill.
COMPUTER: Working. Character first appeared in pulp magazine, Amazing Detective Stories, copyright 1934, AD. Second appearance in novel The Long Dark Tunnel, copyright 1936.
DATA: Request complete text of all stories involving said character. Increase speed.
The ultimate speed reading course whizzes before Data's optics.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. The Jaradan rendezvous still is eleven hours away. I am about to reenter the world of Dixon Hill, this time properly dressed. An experience like this is more enjoyable when shared, so I've invited our fiction expert, Whalen, to accompany me. Doctor Crusher will join us shortly.
Scene: Outside Holodeck
In trench coat and fedora, Picard looks the part.
PICARD: Ready for San Francisco, Mister Whalen?
WHALEN: More than ready, sir.
PICARD: Well, if it's anything like the last time, I'm sure you won't be disappointed
DATA: Request permission to accompany you, sir. I am totally versed in the genre of the period.
PICARD: Well, shall we?
Scene: Street.
It has been raining, the tarmac glistens and cars sound their horns.
VENDOR: Extra! Extra! Read all about it.
The group cross the street to the news stand.
VENDOR: Hey Dix. How's tricks?
PICARD: Oh, she's fine, fine.
WHALEN: He actually thinks you're Dixon Hill.
PICARD: Say Mac, I would like to buy a newspaper too, but I don't have any money.
VENDOR: You catch me next time, Dix.
PICARD: Thank you. (reads) Hitler on the move. Roosevelt presses Congress for British aid. DiMaggio streak reaches thirty seven?
DATA: DiMaggio, sir. Jolting Joe, the Yankee clipper.
WHALEN: Baseball, sir. It was a national obsession at the time.
DATA: The streak they refer to will eventually reach fifty six games. And be snapped by a pair of journeyman hurlers for the Cleveland Indians.
VENDOR: Cleveland? Ha! They got no pitchers! They ain't never got no pitchers. What are you, nuts or something?
DATA: The record will stand until the year 2026, when a shortstop for the London Kings
VENDOR: Hey Dix, what gives with this guy? He's not from around here, is he.
PICARD: No he's not. He's er, he's from South America.
VENDOR: Yeah. He's got a nice tan.
Picard reads the inside headline - Wealthy Socialite Murdered. Police have several leads in brutal slaying of Mrs. Arthur Clinton Bradley
PICARD: I should have listened to her. She told me someone was trying to kill her.
WHALEN: Captain, she's a page from a book. That's all she ever was.
BELL: Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.
DATA: Cat?
BELL: Where the hell did he come from?
VENDOR: South America. Can't you tell?
BELL: Wherever you're from, while you're in my town, keep your nose clean. Well, tough guy, this time you've really done it. Your goose is cooked but good.
MCNARY: I'm sorry about this, Dix.
BELL: Don't apologise to him. Where were you last night between ten and midnight?
PICARD: That would be a bit hard to explain.
BELL: Yeah? Well you'll have plenty of time to come up with something. You're going downtown.
PICARD: What for?
BELL: For the murder of Jessica Bradley. We found this in her purse. (the business card)
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Status report.
TASHA: We're being probed, sir.
DEANNA: The Jarada.
TASHA: Most likely, but it's long range. Can't be certain where it's originating
The ship shakes as a beam passes through it, including the holodeck, whose controls flicker and door briefly opens and closes a few times.
RIKER: One could get the feeling they don't exactly trust us.
GEORDI: Commander, I'm receiving a subspace message from the Jarada.
RIKER: That's not part of the plan. Pipe it through.
JARADAN: (OC) En-ter-prise. We speak to you in your language. The time has come to honour us in ours.
RIKER: This is Commander Riker, First Officer of the Enterprise.
JARADAN: (OC) You are not captain?
RIKER: No sir, I'm not. I suggest we commence with screen to screen communication so we can see each other
JARADAN: (OC) You offend us! We will not show ourselves to a mere subordinate. We await your Captain's greeting with growing unrest. End of communication.
RIKER: Terrific. Find the Captain. He's in the Holodeck.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
Scene: Outside Holodeck
Bevery is trying to straighten her stocking seams.
COMPUTER: Enter when ready. When ready. When ready.
It takes a couple of goes to get the doors open enough to go through.
Scene: Police Station.
Beverly enters, wobbling a little on her stiletto heels.
DATA: (Bogart) Hiya Doc. What's cooking?
BEVERLY: You know I had some trouble getting through. Where's Captain Picard?
DATA: He's on ice.
BEVERLY: Pardon?
DATA: He's being grilled.
BEVERLY: What is he, a fish?
WHALEN: He's being interrogated. They think he's committed a murder.
BEVERLY: Why aren't we all being interrogated? Maybe I should go and help him.
WHALEN: No, relax. He's having the time of his life in there.
BEVERLY: Well, why should he have all the fun?
She sits down and copies the woman next to here by crossing her legs and pulling up her skirt slightly.
POLICEMAN: Come on, Toots, let's go.
Scene: Interrogation room.
BELL: Spill it!
PICARD: I've told you everything I know.
BELL: Well, you'll just have to tell us again. From the top. From the top!
PICARD: Oh, very good. I've read all this before, you know. It's absolutely as it should be.
BELL: Spill it!
Scene: Outside Holodeck.
GEORDI: LaForge to Bridge.
RIKER: (OC) Riker here.
GEORDI: I can't find the Captain, sir.
RIKER: (OC) I told you, he's in the holodeck
GEORDI: I'm at the holodeck. Something's gone wrong.
RIKER: (OC) What are you saying?
GEORDI: I can't communicate with him, I can't access the programme, and I can't open the doors.
RIKER: (VO) Enterprise log, supplemental. First Officer reporting. Due to an unknown breakdown in the holodeck, we are unable to contact the Captain.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Tasha, take over. I'm going to holodeck three.
WESLEY: Commander? I've studied all the technical manuals on the holodecks, sir. I think I can be of some help down there.
RIKER: Geordi's well equipped to deal with the situation, Wes. Right now, your duty's here on the Bridge.
DEANNA: Will. His mother's missing too.
RIKER: Come on, Wesley.
LESLEY: Riker, permission for my sisters and I to join you.
RIKER: Well. I don't know.
LESLEY: Please Commander. My sister, Dana knows Data is missing too.
GEORDA: Also Les and I want to be with Geordi and Wesley.
RIKER: Come on, girls.
Scene: Interrogation room.
BELL: And you say you never met her before she came to hire you.
PICARD: I've already told you that twice.
BELL: Yeah? Well you're going to have to tell me again.
PICARD: Look fellas, this is no longer amusing.
MCNARY: Easy, Dan!
BELL: You think you're tough, Hill, but you're nothing!
Bell leaves.
MCNARY: Don't take him too seriously, Dix. His old lady's been giving him a hard time. You know how it is.
PICARD: Actually, I do need to get out of here.
MCNARY: I'll see what I can do.
Scene: Police station.
Beverly is continuing to try and imitate the other women, this time by powdering her nose. The Desk Sergeant is enjoying the view.
BEVERLY: Something on your mind?
SERGEANT: Yeah, nut I'm not sure it can be repeated in mixed company. (he offers her gum) You're a pretty hep lookin' broad.
BEVERLY: Is that good?
SERGEANT: It ain't bad. You like Tommy Dorsey? (she nods) I got two tickets for the dance tomorrow night.
Beverly swallows the gum.
Scene: Outside Holodeck.
RIKER: Have you tried the intercom?
GEORDI: Yes.
RIKER: Riker to holodeck. Riker to holodeck!
Wesley takes a piece of equipment and uses it to 'look' at the holodeck controls.
RIKER: Are you seeing anything?
WESLEY: No, sir.
RIKER: What can I do?
GEORDI: Not a thing. We have to go through this millimetre by millimetre.
RIKER: All right. Get it fixed.
GEORDI: Easy, Wes. Slow it down. If there's an anomaly, you could go right past it, okay?
Scene: Interrogation room.
MCNARY: Okay, Dix, we're cutting you loose.
PICARD: That's welcome news.
BELL: You better not try to leave town.
PICARD: If I leave town, the town leaves with me. I get the feeling your friend doesn't like me.
MCNARY: We know you're dealing with Redblock, Dixon. Take it from a friend, it doesn't help your case.
PICARD: Redblock? I'll keep it in mind. Thank you for helping me.
Takes a cigarette, inhales and coughs.
MCNARY: Forget it. Hey, Dix, when are you coming over for supper? The kids'd love to see you, and you know how much you love Sharon's cooking.
PICARD: Soon, my friend. For the moment, I have other duties.
MCNARY: Blonde or brunette?
PICARD: She's a lady, all right, and her name is Enterprise.
MCNARY: Sounds like a working girl to me. I'll stop by the office with a bottle of scotch. You can tell me all about her.
Scene: Police station.
McNary sees the look on Picard's face when he sees Beverly, and leaves without another word.
BEVERLY: Have a good time?
PICARD: I don't know. Sometimes it almost seemed too real. I must say, you wear it well. I'm glad you could make it.
BEVERLY: Why, thank you, Mister Hill.
PICARD: Maybe we should be getting back to the Enterprise.
BEVERLY: We are on the Enterprise.
PICARD: Oh, yes, of course, so we are.
BEVERLY: Do we have time to see your office?
PICARD: Yes, of course. Why not.
WHALEN: Captain, mind if I join you?
DATA: Yeah, me too, boss. I'd love to take a gander.
Rolled eyes all round.
Scene: Hill's Waiting room.
PICARD: (OC) The holodeck makes excellent use of finite space.
The group enter.
LEECH: Ah, Mister Hill. You've been avoiding me.
WHALEN: It's Felix Leech! It has to be.
LEECH: You know me, sir?
WHALEN: Well, I've read about you many times.
PICARD: I'm very sorry, Mister Leech, but we have to be going. Call again tomorrow.
LEECH: You're being quite rude, Mister Hill. You haven't even introduced me to your charming companions.
PICARD: That'll have to wait.
LEECH: But we have business! (pulls a gun) Urgent business.
Scene: Hill's office.
LEECH: You're not going anywhere. Not until we have a little chat.
Scene: Outside holodeck.
TASHA: (OC) Bridge to holodeck. We're approaching the Jaradan sector.
RIKER: Any word from the Jaradans?
TASHA: (OC) Not a thing, sir.
RIKER: They may be testing us. Seeing if we'll stick to the arrangements.
TASHA: (OC) What do we do now, sir?
RIKER: We wait.
GEORDI: Well, everything checks out so far. Ensign Crusher believes the trouble may have been caused by the Jaradan probe. If so, it could be very difficult to locate.
Scene: Hill's office.
LEECH: I am not a man to be toyed with, Mister Hill. You were hired to locate a certain object. I demand to know what you have done with it.
PICARD: Well, I suppose a few moments longer. I'm afraid I can't help you, Mister Leech. The game is over.
LEECH: I assure you, this is not a game.
WHALEN: (Jimmy Cagney) Take it from me, Leech, you'll never find it. Now, give me the gun.
Leech shoots him in the chest. Beverly applauds his performance until she sees the blood.
WHALEN: But, they're not real.
BEVERLY: There's massive internal bleeding. We have to get him to Sickbay.
PICARD: How could this happen?
LEECH: It will happen again if you don't cooperate.
Quickly, Picard disarms him and thumps him for good measure.
LEECH: You struck me! How dare you! You're going to be sorry! I promise you, Redblock isn't going to like this!
Leech runs from the office.
BEVERLY: If we don't get him to sickbay, he will die!
PICARD: Exit! Computer, exit! (nothing) Data, try the other exit in the hall.
Scene: Hall.
DATA: Computer, identify exit.
Scene: Hill's office.
DATA: There is a programming malfunction. The computer refuses to identify the exits.
BEVERLY: I'm losing his pulse!
PICARD: Computer, this is the Captain! Computer, identify exit!
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Standard orbit, Mister Worf.
WORF: Aye, sir. Standard orbit.
RIKER: Riker to Holodeck.
GEORDI: (OC) Nothing yet, Commander.
RIKER: We're running out of time.
Scene: Outside holodeck.
RIKER: (OC) The Jarada will expect the Captain's greeting.
GEORDI: Well you may have to stall them.
Dana and Georda notices Lesley sensing something that happened on the holodeck.
GEORDA: What's wrong Les?
LESLEY: Oh I just sensed something from the holodeck.
GEORDI: Really? What did you sense?
LESLEY: That someone literally got hurt.
Scene: Hill's Office.
BEVERLY: It's no use. It's just not there.
PICARD: Suggestions, Mister Data?
DATA: I am at a loss, sir. We are in a holodeck-created building of 1941. The computer refuses to accept voice commands. The controls for the environment are, therefore, not accessible.
BEVERLY: I could use some light.
Data carries a standard lamp over, and is baffled when it goes out because the plug has come out of the wall. Picard plugs it in nearer the patient. Leech returns with a gunman and a fat man.
REDBLOCK: Good day, Mister Hill. My name is Cyrus Redblock. I hope you don't mind us dropping in.
A very poor, skinny version of Sydney Greenstreet.
PICARD: I see I have no choice.
REDBLOCK: Life is an endless stream of choices. Unfortunately, you have chosen to make my life more difficult. I don't suppose you'd be foolish enough to hide it here.
PICARD: I don't suppose so.
REDBLOCK: Still, I'm sure you won't mind if we take a look around.
BEVERLY: I wish you'd quit asking, since it's obvious you're going to do it anyway. It's just a waste of time.
REDBLOCK: Good manners, Madam, are never a waste of time. Civility, gentlemen, always civility. Get that stiff out of here.
BEVERLY: He's not dead.
REDBLOCK: From his pallor, he soon will be.
THUG: You want I should throw him in the garbage, boss?
REDBLOCK: The room next door will be good enough for now.
PICARD: Don't touch him.
REDBLOCK: Which one struck you?
LEECH: It was Hill.
Leech pistol-whips Picard.
REDBLOCK: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. A Newtonian truism which you have obviously neglected.
MCNARY: (OC) Dix, you in there?
The Thug greets the policeman and takes the bottle of drink away from him, then his gun.
MCNARY: I saw your light, figured you were working late. Guess I was right. Nice company you're keeping, Dix. You forget to take the trash out this morning?
That earns him a punch in the solar plexus.
REDBLOCK: I'm a tolerant man, but I do not tolerate disrespect.
DATA: Your devotion to etiquette is highly admirable, sir. However, your methods leave much to be desired.
REDBLOCK: What have we here?
LEECH: Looks like a ghost.
REDBLOCK: Yeah. Where do you suppose he's from?
LEECH: Where were you hatched, anyway?
DATA: I was created on a planet.
PICARD: Data.
DATA: South America.
REDBLOCK: I've been all over this world and I've never seen anything like you.
PICARD: He's not from this world. None of us are. We are from a world, we're from a world of fabulous riches. A world where there are objects far greater than the one you seek.
LEECH: That's ridiculous! You're a private dick. We've met before and you never even mentioned any of this.
MCNARY: He's right, Dix. That's pretty weak stuff. I wouldn't even buy that line of guff.
PICARD: I am not Dixon Hill. I just look like Dixon Hill.
DATA: He speaks the truth, sir. From your point of view, he is only a facsimile, a knock-off, a cheap imitation.
PICARD: Thank you, Mister Data.
DATA: Sorry sir, that did not come out quite the way I intended.
REDBLOCK: Very, very, good. What wonderful fiction. Quite entertaining. I admire your skill at trying to obfuscate our sense of reality.
DATA: It is you who are not real, sir.
PICARD: Data.
DATA: It is you who are imaginary characters derived from a work of fiction.
MCNARY: Give it up, fellas. These guys are too smart to fall for that story.
DATA: I am afraid you are not real either, Lieutenant.
LEECH: I don't want to hear any more of this. You're making me crazy. Let me shoot them, Mister Redblock. Let me kill them, one by one.
REDBLOCK: What an interesting situation. Perhaps we should test this theory by killing one of them.
BEVERLY: You've already done that. This man is dying. This whole thing is senseless.
REDBLOCK: Hardly. Senseless killing is immoral. But killing for a purpose can be quite often ingenious.
LEECH: Well said, Mister Redblock. What is our purpose?
REDBLOCK: We are on a quest for knowledge, Mister Leech. We want the item.
PICARD: We don't have it.
LEECH: Shall I kill him?
REDBLOCK: No, kill the woman.
PICARD: Redblock. I have the item.
REDBLOCK: At last. I knew it. God, man, you are a character you are. Waiting until the last moment, testing my resolve. All right, where is it?
PICARD: I'll explain. But first, tell Leech to back off.
REDBLOCK: Put the gun down, Mister Leech.
LEECH: But I so much want to kill her.
REDBLOCK: Maybe later. It won't harm us to listen to Mister Hill.
MCNARY: Don't make any deals with that slime, Dix!
The Thug knocks him down again.
REDBLOCK: All right, let's begin. Make your thoughts fruitful and your words eloquent. Because I don't have to tell you your lovely lady friend's life depends upon it.
PICARD: There is a price.
REDBLOCK: By God, I knew you were a man of stripe. All right, what is it?
PICARD: Mister Whalen's life. You must help us to save him.
Scene: Bridge.
DEANNA: We can't delay much longer.
RIKER: We're going to have to tell them something. Open hailing frequencies.
TASHA: Frequencies open, sir.
RIKER: This is Commander Riker, aboard the Enterprise. We demand that you (ear splitting noise) Cut that off! They're not going to be satisfied with anyone less than the Captain.
Scene: Outside Holodeck.
GEORDI: LaForge to Bridge.
RIKER: (OC) Riker here.
GEORDI: We think we have something, sir. I'll let Ensign Crusher explain.
WESLEY: The bi-converter interface has been affected.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Forget the explanation! Can you do it?
Scene: Outside Holodeck.
WESLEY: I don't know if I should. If this isn't done correctly, the programme could abort and everyone inside could vanish.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Do you need more time to study it?
WESLEY: (OC) Whether we do it now or later, the risk is the same.
RIKER: Do it.
Scene: Hill's Office.
PICARD: If we can find away of getting him to our Sickbay by fixing our computer
REDBLOCK: Computer? I don't know that word.
DATA: An electronic or mechanical apparatus capable of carrying out repetitious or complex mathematical operations at high speed. Computers are used to control, process, perform, or store.
LEECH: Enough! Let me kill him. He's really beginning to irritate me.
Wesley does something, and the office briefly turns into an arctic snowstorm.
BEVERLY: Captain, the exit.
PICARD: That's it. The way into our world.
REDBLOCK: Remarkable. Is this a two-way passage? Can one enter your world and return to this one simply by stepping through?
PICARD: Oh, yes. Allow us to help Mister Whalen, and we will return with the item.
REDBLOCK: You really are a scamp, aren't you. Do you actually think I'd stay here?
DATA: If you were going to go through yourself, sir, that is not possible.
REDBLOCK: One look at you, sir, is proof that anything is possible. Step back, Mister Hill. I'd shoot you myself, but I don't want to deprive my assistant of his greatest pleasure. After we've gone, kill them all. Make sure the bodies are never found.
MCNARY: You're insane. You think you can kill a cop and get away with it?
REDBLOCK: Why not? I've done it before. Come on, Mister Leech. Au revoir et bonne chance, mon ami. Our destiny awaits.
Scene: Corridor.
REDBLOCK: Another world. A whole new world to plunder!
Leech looks down. They disappearing from the feet upwards.
REDBLOCK: What is this? What are they doing? They can't do this to me! Don't they know who I am? I'm Cyrus Redblock! Cyrus Redblock!
The corridor is now empty.
Scene: Hill's office.
Data takes the gun off the Thug, and squeezes the barrel closed.
DATA: With your permission, sir?
PICARD: Permission granted.
Data thumps the Thug, very hard. Dana would be very impressed if she saw Data do that.
PICARD: Data, pick up Whalen. Take him to Sickbay.
DATA: And you, sir?
PICARD: I'll follow. You go now.
Data, Beverly and Whalen leave.
PICARD: I wish I could take you with me.
MCNARY: Someone has to book this creep. Once a cop always a cop, I guess.
PICARD: I have to go.
MCNARY: So this is the big goodbye. Tell me something, Dixon. When you've gone. will this world still exist? Will my wife and kids still be waiting for me at home?
PICARD: I honestly don't know. Good-bye my friend.
Scene: Ten Forward.
The Hatter triplets were sitting at a table talking to each other.
GEORDA: So who did you sense that got hurt on the holodeck earlier?
LESLEY: It was Mr. Whalen.
DANA: How did he get hurt on the holodeck?
GEORDA: I guess the morality fail-safe was offline and that's probably how Mr. Whalen got hurt.
LESLEY: How true that is.
GEORDA: Have you told Wesley about your visions?
LESLEY: No I haven't yet.
DANA: Are you going to tell him?
LESLEY: Yes, I will.
GEORDA: When?
LESLEY: I'm not sure when yet.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: Captain!
RIKER: Are you ready, sir?
PICARD: As ready as I'll ever be, Number One. Open hailing frequencies.
TASHA: Frequencies open.
Picard loosens his tie, puts his hands on his hips and takes a deep breath.
PICARD: This is Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the USS Enterprise. Aaaaard klaxon leeeeesss blag blan ar'nik ka'nik. Aaaaard krasulaaa. Rassss trassss trasulaaaah.
JARADAN: (OC) You have honoured us with your words of greeting. A new day dawns between us.
Applause from the Bridge crew.
RIKER: So, did you have a nice vacation?
PICARD: It was a nice place to visit, Number One, but I wouldn't want to die there.
GEORDI: So, Data, how was it?
DATA: It was raining in the city by the bay. A hard rain. Hard enough to wash the slime.
PICARD: Data!
DATA: Sorry, sir.
PICARD: Lieutenant, take us out of orbit.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
PICARD: And, Mister LaForge.
GEORDI: Sir?
PICARD: Step on it.

That was a good chapter. I like part when Wesley was trying to figure out what happen. I liked parts when Data, Captain Picard and Beverly were trying to get out. I liked when really like the ending.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 13
Datalore

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41242.4. Our last assignment has taken us into the remote Omicron Theta star system, home of our android crewmember Lieutenant Commander Data. Although we are due at our next assignment, I have decided to visit Data's home planet for a few hours in the hopes of unravelling some of the mystery of his beginnings.
Scene: Bridge
GEORDI: Sir, we are now twenty minutes from Omicron Theta, mark!
RIKER: Stand by for subwarp. Head for standard orbit of Data's planet. I wonder why Data hasn't come up here.
PICARD: He said he wanted to be alone. Perhaps it's a bigger moment for him than we thought.
Scene: Data's Quarters.
DATA: Aah, ahh, ahh
Wesley enters with Lesley.
WESLEY: Data!
DATA: Choo!
LESLEY: What'cha doing?
DATA: Sneezing.
WESLEY: Have you got a cold?
DATA: A cold what?
WESLEY: It's a disease my mom says people used to get.
DATA: Ah. But humans still sneeze for other reasons and I cannot seem to do it right.
WESLEY: How can you be practicing something like sneezing when we're arriving at your home planet for the first time? Aren't you interested in that?
DATA: More than interested. Fascinated. One might say agog. But I also find sneezing interesting.
WESLEY: Captain Picard wishes to see you on the Bridge.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: Captain, confirming class M reading there. But the sensors aren't showing any life readings. Not even vegetation.
PICARD: Strange. The cruiser that found Data reported farmlands here.
Data, Wesley and Lesley enter.
RIKER: Do you want to take her into orbit, Data?
DATA: No, thank you, sir.
PICARD: Continue on into close parking orbit.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
DATA: I could say home sweet home, sir, if I understood how the word sweet applies.
PICARD: It usually refers to the memories.
RIKER: It usually refers to one's own memories, Captain. Do the memories you were given include farms, Data?
DATA: Affirmative, sir. But the colony's principal interest was science.
TASHA: Data, I can't understand how you can hold the memories of four hundred and eleven people. If that means every experience, every day of their life?
DATA: It does not, unfortunately. It means only the knowledge they had accumulated. Actually, I am quite deficient in some basic human information. Sneezing, for example.
PICARD: Sneezing?
GEORDI: Approaching close parking orbit, sir.
PICARD: Assemble your away party, Commander. This must be an exciting moment for you, Mister Data. I'm tempted to lead the away team myself, except that my First Officer would object.
RIKER: How would Starfleet judge me if I didn't? An entire Earth colony did disappear down there.
PICARD: You see?
GEORDI: Now in close parking orbit, sir.
PICARD: Mister Data, welcome home.
RIKER: (VO) First Officer's log, stardate 4124.5. We have found Data's home to be a completely dead world made out of lifeless vegetation. No insects, not even soil bacteria. What is it that could kill everything on an entire planet?
Scene: Planet surface.
Riker, Data, Dana, Tasha, Worf, Geordi and Georda beam down.
TASHA: Recording signal locked onto the Enterprise, sir.
RIKER: This looks like anything but farmland.
GEORDI: Agreed, sir. The soil appears almost completely lifeless.
RIKER: This is the exact position listed in the Tripoli log. Do you recognise anything, Data?
DATA: The land contours are familiar, sir. Topographically, this is the correct area.
GEORDI: This once was rich farmland. I'd say something like twenty to thirty years ago.
DATA: I was discovered twenty six years ago.
GEORDI: Commander, I'd say that everything on this planet was either dead or dying at the time Data was found.
DATA: I was found twenty metres in that direction, sir.
They walk down steps cut into the rock, to a cave.
TASHA: Data, any idea at all why you were given the colonists' memories?
DATA: I have always felt that it was done hurriedly, but I know little more. Here, sir. This is where the cruiser's landing party found the signal device that had led them here. And they found me lying there, sir.
He indicates a platform, obviously man-made, on a rock shelf.
TASHA: You were just lying out there in the open? No identity record, no instructions?
DATA: Only a layer of dust.
RIKER: What's the first thing you remember, Data?
DATA: Opening my eyes. Looking into the eyes of the Tripoli landing party. They believed that the signal device sensed their presence and activated me.
TASHA: Then this very spot was your birthplace.
GEORDI: Commander, I think I've got this place figured out here. This was really very cleverly done to make this look like a natural hollow in the terrain here. There are signs of it being constructed in a hurry as if to hide something here.
DATA: Yes, that was it, Geordi. This wakens a memory remnant of how the colonists hoped to remain hidden, but their fear of being discovered led to their storing information in me.
GEORDI: Yeah, thought so.
He has found the catch to the secret door. The back of the cave swings open to reveal a passageway into.
Scene: Underground Complex.
Riker turns the lights on.
TASHA: No life readings in here either, sir.
They walk on until they come to a circular door, which opens for them.
Scene: Laboratory.
The lights come on. The apparatus is still functioning. Lasers and indicators are flashing and blinking.
RIKER: The colony laboratory. Extremely well equipped. Does this stir any memories, Data?
DATA: Only a vague impression of some of my functions being tested here.
There are crude pictures on a notice board of a spiky object in the sky.
RIKER: Posted by proud parents?
DATA: It depicts something that feels familiar, sir. And dangerous. But I have no idea what it represents. And that is all. Except for an impression of this being a Doctor Soong's work area.
RIKER: Who? You don't mean Doctor Noonien Soong?
DATA: He was called that here, but his memories indicate he travelled here under a different name.
GEORDI: Doctor Noonien Soong, my friend, happens to have been Earth's foremost robotics scientist.
TASHA: Until he tried to make Asimov's dream of a positronic brain come true.
RIKER: A positronic brain. He promised so much. And then when he failed completely, Doctor Soong disappeared. Now we know he went somewhere else to try a second time. Data, Geordi, we'll get a close look at this lab. You and Lieutenant Worf reconnoitre where these corridors lead.
TASHA: Aye, sir.
Tasha and Worf leave. Riker presses a button and a cover slides back to reveal a transparent torso and face mask. Data puts the mask over his own face.
GEORDI: Data, it's you.
RIKER: An epidermal mold. Made to give your exterior the desired finish.
TASHA: (OC) Lieutenant Yar to Commander Riker.
RIKER: Come in, Lieutenant.
TASHA: (OC) Sir, this installation is big enough to hold hundreds of people. But all that's here now is empty beds.
RIKER: Thank you, Lieutenant. Complete your record scans and report back here.
GEORDI: Commander Riker, looks like some sort of storage area.
Data opens the new door and dry ice pours out before revealing another android, in pieces. Dana screams and hides her head against Data's body who had her in his arms when he heard her scream.
RIKER: How many more Datas are there?
GEORDI: Looks like just these two. I mean, that and the real Data.
DATA: Commander, can this be another me? Or possibly my brother?
RIKER: I honestly don't know, Data.
DATA: He needs assembling.
RIKER: He? Data, we don't know that this can become alive.
DATA: It is very important for me to know that, sir. I never dreamed it was possible I might find some link with some form like my own.
RIKER: Understood. We'll take it back to the ship with us.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, Stardate 41242.45. Despite having only a few hours in which to explore Data's home planet we've discovered something which may explain Data's beginnings, if we can properly assemble and communicate with what we've found.
Scene: Laboratory.
A mass of people are working on putting the pieces together, while Data looks on.
BEVERLY: Signal from the Captain. They need you at the debriefing.
DATA: I've been most anxious to hear the Chief Engineer's opinion, Mister Argyle. Do you believe he can be made to function?
ARGYLE: It appears to include all the components in your body. Not that we fully understand your construction either.
BEVERLY: We have our top specialists working on its construction, Mister Data.
ARGYLE: Just one thing. Without disassembling you, of course, if we should need more
BEVERLY: If we should need to compare this with the way you're put together?
Data nods.
Scene: Observation Lounge.
PICARD: Bringing it up here was the right thing to do, Number One. We were just saying, Data, that if your duplicate functions, it might answer a lot of questions.
RIKER: Does it appear to have all your parts?
DATA: Completely, sir.
GEORDI: Will we know how to turn it on?
PICARD: All right, all right. Legitimate questions about any of this need not be asked apologetically. You feel uncomfortable about aspects of your duplicate, Data. We feel uncomfortable too, and for no logical reason. If it feels awkward to be reminded that Data is a machine, just remember that we are merely a different variety of machine. In our case, electrochemical in nature. Let's begin to handle this as we would do anything else.
GEORDI: Agreed, Captain.
PICARD: Let's begin with you, Data.
DATA: Well, sir, a good starting point may be, why was I given human form?
GEORDI: Well, to make it easier for humans to relate to you. Had to be. But your designer may have had something else to prove as well.
PICARD: That human-shaped robots need not be clumsy or limited. You certainly operate as well as we do, Data
DATA: Better in some ways, sir.
RIKER: You might want to have a look at this, Captain. Could be a link to the disappearance of the colonists. It was displayed in the lab, no doubt by proud parents. It could be just a child's imagination, but several children did similar drawings.
BEVERLY: (OC) Doctor Crusher to Captain. At this point, sir, we very much need Mister Data's help.
PICARD: He's on his way, Doctor.
Scene: Laboratory.
While technobabbnle goes on over the new android, Data is talking quietly with Beverly.
DATA: Press your fingers there, Doctor. (the small of his back) There. It operates almost as a switch.
BEVERLY: And these small projections?
DATA: An android alarm clock. Is that amusing? They time how long I remain unconscious.
ARGYLE: Are you certain about us using these heating devices, Data?
DATA: I will feel nothing at all.
ARGYLE: Marvellous. It should all be a lot simpler once we can see how your circuitry's connected.
BEVERLY: I won't mention it to anyone. You have my word.
DATA: If you had an off switch Doctor, would you not keep it secret?
BEVERLY: I guess I would.
Scene: Sickbay.
Data and his twin are lying on biobeds, as Argyle and Beverly gaze at Data's magnified innards.
ARGYLE: Notice the micro-circuitry here and here. And another fibroid-like connection here.
BEVERLY: Let's close up.
Later, Riker and Picard enter.
ARGYLE: It seemed to go well, thanks to a look inside Mister Data. But there have been no signs of consciousness, yet.
RIKER: It certainly is a good match for Data, sir.
PICARD: Do you think so, really? I wonder which of them was made first?
LORE: He was. But they found him imperfect and I was made to replace him. (he twitches) You may call me Lore.
Scene: Ready Room.
PICARD: I'm also a bit troubled by it describing you as imperfect.
DATA: Human language gives me difficulty too, sir. Imperfect could mean I lack certain abilities he possesses.
PICARD: I wonder. But the point of this is, whether you and it have approximately the same capabilities.
DATA: We do, sir, and your referring to him as an it suggests that I, too, fit into the category of a thing.
PICARD: I see your point. My apologies.
DATA: Gladly accepted, sir. As for Lore's abilities, his use of syntax and grammar suggests he was given human memories similar to my own.
PICARD: And you have about equal physical strength and mental abilities?
DATA: I believe so, sir.
PICARD: Which requires I now ask you a very serious question. Since the two of you are closely related to each other.
DATA: The answer, sir, is that my loyalty is to you and Starfleet. Completely.
PICARD: Thank you, Commander. I was certain of that.
Scene: Bridge.
Lore is in a brown overall, getting an introduction to ship's operations.
GEORDI: And helm control is here, with the ship's heading given in measurements we call degrees. Three hundred and sixty of them in a full circle this way.
LORE: Then you say mark.
GEORDI: On the nose.
WESLEY: Which separates it from another full three hundred and sixty degree circle this way on a right angle to this one.
LORE: So by ordering a heading so many degrees this way and so many this way, the ship can travel in any direction. All three dimensions.
RIKER: And the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
LORE: Is equal to the sum of the square of the other two. Two something. Which I once heard, but never understood.
DATA: All of which you will learn more about when the Captain has approved your being on the Bridge.
LORE: Have I committed an offence?
WESLEY: You will find that there are many rules on starships that must be learnt.
LORE: You're very clever, Wesley. I now have duties to perform. Correct?
WORF: Were you ever this anxious to please, Data?
DATA: Never. I judge Lore to be superior in that desire.
LORE: Because I was designed to be so human, my brother, I enjoy pleasing humans.
GEORDI: My brother. That has a nice sound to it, Data.
DATA: You consider it important to please humans?
LORE: It's not important?
DATA: There are many things of importance. Some more than others.
Scene: Corridor.
DATA: Do you realise that Commander Riker's hypotenuse question tricked you into showing your knowledge was greater than you were indicating?
LORE: He didn't seem that clever. I'll be more careful.
DATA: You tend to underestimate humans, my brother. Praising young Wesley on the helm, for example.
LORE: A child!
DATA: He has a child's body, but we have found him to be much more.
LORE: Thank you for that information, too. You do care about how I perform. I pledge to be worthy of your teaching, my brother. Try not to be jealous of my abilities.
Scene: Data's Quarters.
Data sits at a computer terminal.
LORE: What information are you requesting?
DATA: Everything available on a Doctor Noonien Soong.
LORE: Good old Often Wrong Soong. A joke, brother. Actually, he was a genius by human standards.
DATA: But he had destroyed his own reputation by making what seemed wild promises about his positronic brain design, almost all of which failed.
LORE: Promises he later proved to be true. Which made you and me possible, brother. Our beloved father. Will I soon have a uniform like that, brother?
DATA: If you get one the way I did, Lore, it will mean four years at the Academy, another three as ensign, ten or twelve on varied space duty in the lieutenant grades.
LORE: A system designed to compensate for limited human ability. And you, brother, are beginning to think as a human. You and I are completely different from them. Are you truly satisfied with the knowledge and memory of a few hundred human colonists? Suppose it could reflect thousands? Or millions? Or the knowledge of hundreds of millions of life forms of every kind?
DATA: How?
LORE: We will discuss that in time.
DATA: And will we also discuss, Lore, which of us was constructed first?
LORE: It would be foolish to underestimate you, brother. Yes, I lied when I said you were made first, but with good reason. Doctor Soong made me perfect in his first attempt. But he made me so completely human the colonists became envious of me.
DATA: You lived with the colonists?
LORE: Until they petitioned Soong to make a more comfortable, less perfect android. In other words, you, brother. Haven't you noticed how easily I handle human speech? I use their contractions. For example, I say can't or isn't, and you say cannot or is not. (sings) I say tomato, you say tomahto. I say potato, you say potahto. (laughs) A very old joke. But then you also have trouble with their humour. Am I right?
DATA: Quite true. I keep trying to be more human, and keep failing.
LORE: Do you realise, brother, I can help you become more human?
DATA: And do you realise, Lore, that I am obligated to report all of this to our ship's Captain?
LORE: I assumed as much when I began studying you. May I use this to learn more of this vessel and its customs?
DATA: Use it also to describe for the Captain the time you spent among the colonists. Including everything you know about what happened to them.
LORE: I promise a report of great detail and accuracy.
DATA: Thank you, Lore. I now have duties to perform. Unless of course, you need something more.
LORE: I have more than I dreamed possible, brother.
Dana walks in. Lore was the first one to spot her.
LORE: What's your name beautiful?
DANA: Dana Hatter. Who are you?
LORE: I'm Lore.
DATA: (as he walks over and wraps his arm around her) He is my brother, angel.
LORE: Why do you have your arm around her and why did you call her angel?
DATA: She is my girlfriend.
LORE: Why would you want to be his girlfriend when you could be mine?
DANA: Now why would I want to go and do a stupid thing like that? Besides I rather have Data than anyone else.
DATA: Do you really mean that?
DANA: Yes, yes I do. I love you, Data. I always have and I always will no matter what.
Data kisses Dana. And Lore starts accessing ship's records at great speed from terminal 40271.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41242.5. Thanks to Lore's report, we now know what happened to the colonists. Beginning with a child's drawing, enhanced by Lore's description, our computer has constructed the image of a great crystalline entity which feeds on life, insatiably ravenous for the life force found in living forms, capable of stripping all life from an entire world.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: But how did Data escape that thing? Or Lore?
RIKER: Lore had been disassembled. He explained it as jealousy from the colonists. And Data wasn't yet alive at that time.
PICARD: Which explains why Data could be left outside in no danger from that creature. Whatever happened to the colonists, he would be found by the first Starfleet crew that responded to the signal he transmitted.
TASHA: By which Doctor Soong left proof behind that his experiment did work.
RIKER: Captain, how believable do you find that crystal thing?
PICARD: With so little of even our galaxy explored, I find it at least possible.
TASHA: Data, are you expecting Lore to come up here? He left your quarters some time ago.
DATA: To go?
TASHA: My turbo-sensors say he went to deck four. Worf?
WORF: Where he examined some micro-miniature work tools, and some fine grind quadratanium ?
DATA: Which is used in our construction. That particular compound is no more suspicious, sir, than a human looking for an antiseptic or an ointment. Nevertheless, I should check it out.
BEVERLY: You're watching everything he does, Data? Is that the act of a brother?
PICARD: It's the act of a Starfleet officer obeying his Captain, Doctor.
Data leaves.
TASHA: Captain? Speaking strictly as Security Chief, how much can you trust Data now?
PICARD: I trust him completely. But everyone should also realise that that was a necessary and legitimate security question.
TASHA: Thank you, sir.
Scene: Data's Quarters.
Lore pours out two glasses of champagne, and adds a substance to one of them. Data enters.
LORE: Lesson number one in becoming more human. You must observe all human customs.
DATA: Champagne?
LORE: An ancient ritual still practiced when they celebrate events of importance. My brother, I toast our discovery of each other. May it fill our lives with new meaning.
Data drinks from the doctored glass.
DATA: I have some doubts about the value of human customs (feels an effect) in this. My brother!
LORE: And let us toast also Doctor Soong, who gave me the full richness of human needs and ambitions. A perfect match for my mind, my body.
Data collapses.
LORE: And let us toast also the great Crystal Entity with whom I learned to communicate. Before Doctor Soong disassembled me, I earned its gratitude by revealing the way to the colonists. Can you image its gratitude when I give it the life on this vessel?
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: This is strange, sir. I show Commander Data transmitting on a subspace channel.
RIKER: I know Data's been doing considerable research on Doctor Soong's background. Let's be sure. Wesley, Lesley, would you look in on Commander Data? Discreetly?
LESLEY & WESLEY: Yes sir!
Scene: Data's Quarters.
Obviously, Lore is now impersonating Data and has donned his uniform.
LORE: Crystal Entity. Upon arriving here you can identify me as the machine named Data. (door bell) End of message. Come in, please.
Wesley and Lesley enters and sees Lore, or rather Data in Lore's overall, on the floor.
LORE: Glad you are here, Wesley and Dana.
LESLEY: Dana? I'm Lesley.
LORE: You are, you look like Dana.
LESLEY: Dana's my sister.
LORE: You are twins.
LESLEY: Actually we are triplets we have another sister named Georda. Wait a minute you know all this already why are you asking this now.
LORE: Oh it must have been when Lore suddenly attacked me and I had to turn him off. That made me forget about Dana being a triplet.
WESLEY: Why did he do that, Data?
LORE: He discovered we have been using sensors to follow what he does. (twitch) I practiced his facial tic. Do I have it right?
WESLEY: I'd suggest you forget imitating him. If you'd said we've been using the sensors, instead of we have, I might have suspected you were Lore.
LORE: Yes. I do use language more formally than Lore. Please inform the Captain I will come up to the Bridge and report on this.
WESLEY: Aye, sir.
Wesley leaves, and Lore uses a laser to recreate his tic on Data, and cure his own.
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: Wes, tell me again how Data said he immobilised Lore.
WESLEY: He told me he just turned him off, Mom, er, Doctor.
Lore as Data enters.
BEVERLY: Question, Mister Data. Did you or did you not swear me to secrecy about your off switch?
LORE: A change of mind, Doctor. If I cannot trust the bridge crew, whom can I?
GEORDI: Captain, I'm picking up a bogey coming in on a five o'clock tangent.
TASHA: It's transmitting no ID signal, Captain.
RIKER: Set main viewer on that tangent.
PICARD: Shields up. Go to Yellow Alert. Transmit friendly greetings, all languages, all frequencies.
The Crystal Entity whooshes towards them.
RIKER: I can't believe anything's overtaking us this fast.
LORE: Beautiful, isn't it?
RIKER: I recognise it, sir. It's the crystal image Lore described.
BEVERLY: My God.
The Enterprise is dwarfed by the Entity.
TASHA: Still no ID being transmitted, sir. Also no answer to our inquiries.
Geordi enters, or re-enters. Some time must have passed.
PICARD: Did you get a direct look at it
GEORDI: It's like a giant snow flake crystal, but much more complex. The entire electromagnetic spectrum seems to play about inside it, but I haven't the slightest idea what it is, sir.
PICARD: Thank you, Lieutenant. Data, is there anything else that Lore can tell us about it, it may be important. Can you control him enough to question him?
LORE: I will have to examine him to know, sir.
WESLEY: Captain, recommend that you do not let him roam the ship freely.
PICARD: Ensign.
LESLEY: I agree with Wes, Captain.
LORE: Wesley is only showing himself to be alert and responsible. Something to encourage. Come, you can watch everything I do.
WESLEY: Not if I have a choice.
PICARD: That is enough, Ensign. When addressing a senior officer.
RIKER: I've guided his training, sir, I'm the one at fault. You will show the proper respect. I will accompany you down there to make certain of it. With your approval, of course, sir.
Scene: Data's Quarters.
LORE: Be careful of Lore. Good. He is still unconscious. Notice the same twitch, even though he is unconscious? Stay back. We may have problems if he senses someone else is near. (flicks Data's switch on and off) Lore, I have a few questions to ask you.
LORE: Lore, it is Data. He senses you. I cannot control him if you stay. Please! I will record everything he says.
RIKER: You will bring it to the Bridge, immediately.
Riker and Wesley leave.
LORE: And you want to be as stupid as them, dear brother?
Lore kicks Data in the head, opening a flap of skin.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Well, Number One?
RIKER: It was Lore, sir. Same facial twitches that we've seen all along. Lying unconscious on the floor exactly as Data had described. But then it suddenly became violent, apparently sensing that Wesley and I were present.
WESLEY: Or is it Lore pretending to be Data and faking it all?
PICARD: I asked for Commander Riker's report, Acting Ensign Crusher. And since it now seems clear that you are unable to function within the limits of that appointment.
LESLEY: But, Captain, Wes is telling the truth. I'm sure of it.
PICARD: How do you know that? For all I know you could be just saying that because you're his girlfriend.
LESLEY: I uh, uh, I'll explain later, I promise and no I'm not just saying that because I'm his girlfriend.
GEORDI: Captain!
The entity is starting to send rays their way.
TASHA: Deflector shields holding, sir.
PICARD: Bring photon torpedoes to ready. Main phasers to ready. Go to Red Alert, please.
Data/Lore enters.
WORF: Weapons now ready, sir.
LORE: No, Captain, let me talk to it.
PICARD: You didn't say you could do that. (the ship shakes) Affirmative. Talk to it.
LORE: Open hailing frequencies. Crystal form, I identify myself as Data, advising you to stop your attack. The humans here are powerful, capable of injuring or even destroying you.
The attack stops.
GEORDI: Now I call that communicating.
LORE: Suggest moving fast to confirm what I told it, sir. Permission to use the large transporter in cargo room three. There I can beam up some living pattern, perhaps a large tree.
RIKER: Which you'll beam over next to the entity
LORE: That is correct, Riker. Our ship's phasers will then blast and disintegrate it, proving we are dangerous.
PICARD: Make it so.
LORE: Sir?
PICARD: Do it.
Lore leaves.
WESLEY: Sir, I know this may finish me as an Acting Ensign, but
PICARD: Shut up, Wesley! Lieutenant, pick a good security team, let me know what he does.
TASHA: Aye, sir.
BEVERLY & LESLEY: Shut up, Wesley?
PICARD: Doctor. Lesley.
WESLEY: And since I am finished here, sir, may I point out that.
BEVERLY: Shut up, Wesley!
Lesley gasps at hearing Beverly say it.
WESLEY: That everything that I have said would have been listened to if it came from an adult officer. Request permission to return to my quarters, sir.
PICARD: Agreed. Doctor, go with him.
BEVERLY: You're putting me off the Bridge?
PICARD: I'm asking that you keep an eye on your son during all of this, Doctor. You, too, Lesley.
LESLEY: You're also putting me off the Bridge?
PICARD: You're his girlfriend and you are agreeing with every word he says.
LESLEY: (proudly) How true that is.
Scene: Turbolift.
Worf is leading the security team, but gets cut off from them when -
LORE: Emergency close!
He slaps the phaser out of Worf's hand.
LORE: Now, show me your warrior fierceness.
Of course, flesh and blood is no match for the machine.
Scene: Data's Quarters.
BEVERLY: I'll look. But I shouldn't have let you talk me into this.
WESLEY: Mom, it's Data. He's been hurt. It's Data, Mom. I heard you know how to turn him on.
BEVERLY: This is very serious.
WESLEY: So just tell me to shut up, Wesley, and I will.
BEVERLY: You're being very unfair, Wes.
She switches Data on.
WESLEY: Data, the Crystal Thing is outside somewhere close to the ship, and Lore is loose on the inside.
BEVERLY: How badly are you hurt, Data?
DATA: I will function sufficiently to stop Lore, Doctor
Scene: Cargo bay.
Lore is at the cargo transporter console.
LORE: Crystal entity form, it's your old friend.
Data, Beverly, Wesley and Lesley enter unnoticed as Lore receives a reply from the Entity.
LORE: Very good. You've understand perfectly so far. Next, I'll signal that I'm about to transport something out, at which time the deflector shields will turn off for a moment, and if you move in at that time
Lore realises that Data has snuck up behind him.
DATA: How sad, dear brother. You make me wish I were an only child.
LORE: (sees Wesley and Lesley) Then why this marvellous gift? The troublesome little man-child and his little girlfriend. Are you prepared for the kind of death you've earned, little man and your little girlfriend?
Beverly steps out, with her phaser.
BEVERLY: If you take one step toward my son and his girl
LORE: Ah, motherhood.
Lore grabs Data, pushes him into Beverly and grabs her weapon.
LORE: Back off, or I'll turn your little man and his little girlfriend into a torch. I promise them exquisite pain unless you obey me too, brother.
BEVERLY: Move away, Data. Please.
LORE: Do you see now the advantages of being completely human? It includes kindness. I give you your life, Doctor. Go home. Quickly. And I may not injure your son and his girlfriend at all.
DATA: I will stay with Wesley and Lesley, Doctor.
LORE: Go! Or they'll be shrieking by the count of five. One, two, three, four
Beverly runs for it.
LORE: Thank you for my human quality, Doctor Soong. Wait! A small payment for your son and his girlfriend's misdeeds.
Lore shoots Beverly in the arm. Data jumps Lore and they fight across the cargo bay, sending barrels and containers flying.
DATA: Wes! The transporter.
Data throws Lore onto the pad, and just as Lore aims the phaser.
DATA: Wesley, now!
Wesley beams Lore out, somewhere. Tasha and Riker arrive, armed, followed by Picard and Beverly.
WESLEY: Lore's gone, sir. Permanently.
PICARD: Doctor, now that Wesley's safe, go to Sickbay at once.
Beverly leaves.
RIKER: Captain, the crystal thing has begun to move away.
PICARD: Data, are you all right?
DATA: Yes, sir. I'm fine. (twitch)
PICARD: Get rid of that damned twitch and put on the correct uniform.
DATA: Yes, Captain.
PICARD: Ensign Crusher, are you able to return to duty?
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
PICARD: Then do so, and let the Bridge know that all is well down here.
WESLEY: Aye, sir.
Wesley, Lesley, Data, Tasha leave.
RIKER: It's gone, sir. Without Lore, it had no way to reach us.
PICARD: And we're overdue for our computer refit. Number One, have you ever considered whether Data is more human, or less human than we want?
RIKER: I only wish we were all as well balanced, sir.
PICARD: Agreed!

That was a good chapter. I like parts with Data and Lore. I liked the parts when Lore wanted Dana but she told him that she love Data. I also like when Lore thought that Lesley was Dana. I liked the ending too.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 14
Angel One

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41636.9. As feared, our examination of the seven year overdue Federation freighter, Odin, disabled by an asteroid collision, revealed no survivors. However, three escape pods were missing, suggesting the possibility of survivors.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Ready to begin orbit of Angel One, Captain.
PICARD: Make it so, Mister LaForge. What kind of place is this, Data?
DATA: Angel One is a class M planet, sir, supporting carbon based flora and fauna, sparsely populated with intelligent life forms. It is similar in technological development to mid-twentieth century Earth.
GEORDI: Kind of like being marooned at home.
RIKER: Assuming any of the survivors made it this far. Admittedly, it 'is the closest planet to the Odin, but to travel distance we did in two days at warp one would have taken the Odin escape pod five months.
DATA: Five months, fourteen days, eleven hours, two minutes
RIKER: Thank you, Data.
DATA: And fifty seven seconds.
TASHA: Captain, we're receiving an audio signal from Angel One.
PICARD: Starfleet are adamant that we maintain excellent diplomatic relations with this planet. Mister Data, is there any other pertinent information before we reply?
DATA: Angel One has evolved into a constitutional oligarchy. It is governed by a parliamentary body consisting of six elected Mistresses, and headed by a female they refer to as The Elected One.
DEANNA: It sounds like my own planet.
WORF: Klingons appreciate strong women.
PICARD: How current is this information, Mister Data?
DATA: A Federation vessel last visited this planet sixty two years ago, Captain.
PICARD: Counselor, as this is a female dominated society, you might wish to make the initial contact.
DEANNA: Thank you, sir.
PICARD: Open hailing frequencies.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
DEANNA: This is Counselor Deanna Troi from the USS Enterprise.
BEATA: (OC) I am Beata, The Elected One. How may we assist you, Counselor?
DEANNA: The Federation has neglected to visit to your planet for far too long. With your permission, we would like to correct that oversight.
BEATA: (OC) We feel in no way neglected, Counselor. A diplomatic courtesy call is neither expected nor required.
DEANNA: We also come in search of possible survivors from one of our freighters.
BEATA: (OC) A brief visit will be tolerated.
TASHA: They've broken off transmission.
GEORDI: Ever feel like you're not really wanted?
Scene: Corridor.
RIKER: Where're you three off to?
WESLEY: Our ski instructor has us scheduled for the Denubian Alps, sir.
RIKER: Save us some deep powder.
WESLEY: No problem, sir. The holodecks have all you'll ever need.
Scene: Transporter Room.
Riker, Deanna, Tasha and Data get on the transporter pad.
RIKER: The away team's ready, sir.
PICARD: Angel One's strategic importance in this quadrant may become vital. Starfleet's hope is that one day this world may become part of the Federation.
RIKER: We'll do our best to make a good impression, sir.
PICARD: Energise.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. Our away team has beamed down to an unusual matriarchal society where the female is as aggressively dominant as the male gender was on Earth hundreds of years ago. Here, the female is the hunter, the soldier, larger and stronger than the male. An arrangement considered most sensible and natural.
Scene: Great Hall.
There is a full gathering to greet the away team. People here kneel, not sit on chairs.
BEATA: I am Beata, The Elected One of Angel One. Representatives of the Starfleet Enterprise, do you wish to petition?
DEANNA: We do. We have reason to hope that survivors from a damaged Federation freighter may be marooned on your planet. We are seeking to learn if this is so.
BEATA: Even a planet as remote as Angel One has heard of Starfleet. Searching the galaxy for survivors seems a petty task for one of their mighty vessels.
RIKER: We don't consider even one survivor petty.
BEATA: Is this man implying that we put a lesser value on life than you do?
DEANNA: Not at all. Our discovery of the freighter was unexpected. We have a duty to investigate.
BEATA: I see. And if you find any survivors, what then?
DEANNA: We will take them with us and see that they were reunited with their families.
ARIEL: Are we to take these strangers at their word?
BEATA: Good question.
TASHA: What reason could we possibly have to deceive you?
BEATA: Another good question.
RIKER: Are there survivors from the freighter Odin on your planet?
BEATA: I'm not prepared to answer, yet. See to their comforts.
RIKER: (to Deanna) What's going on?
Scene: Guest quarters.
TRENT: You will remain here until summoned.
He leaves as Tasha sweeps the room with her tricorder.
RIKER: Is this area secure? Can we talk?
TASHA: Yes. Tricorder doesn't show any listening devices or anything else of a threatening nature.
RIKER: Good. Troi?
DEANNA: There was much fear in that room.
RIKER: Paranoia, I'd say. But of what?
DEANNA: I cannot say. But their fear was not focused. I sensed that all were not concerned for the same reason. Undoubtedly there are survivors from the Odin on this planet.
RIKER: I agree. Otherwise, why would they be so circumspect?
TASHA: As Mistress Beata is so fond of saying, good question.
DATA: What do we do if they deny the existence of survivors?
RIKER: Let's not look for problems.
Scene: Turbolift.
PICARD: I want all departments prepared for a warp six trip into the Neutral Zone as soon as the away team completes its mission.
WORF: Trouble, Captain?
PICARD: Insurance. Romulan battle cruisers have been detected near one of our border posts.
Scene: Corridor.
Picard steps out of the turbolift into a snowball.
PICARD: They've requested assistance as soon as Argh!
The culprits leave the holodeck.
PICARD: Report, Mister Crusher.
WESLEY We finished our ski lesson, sir, and it kind of just happened.
PICARD: On the Enterprise, Mister Crusher, nothing just happens. What is that smell?
WORF: Hmm, yes. Slightly reminiscent of night blooming throgni, Captain. From home. Quite stimulating, wouldn't you say?
PICARD: No.
WESLEY: I don't smell anything. I'm a little congested. The snow.
PICARD: Don't let this just happen again, Mister Crusher.
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
PICARD: Les, I'm making you to make sure that this won't just happen again.
LESLEY: Aye, sir.
Scene: Guest quarters.
Data has found an atomiser, and gives himself a face-full.
DATA: Interesting. An alcohol-based synthetic, artificially reproducing a floral scent.
DEANNA: It's called perfume, Data.
DATA: The purpose of which is?
TASHA: Certain cultures consider perfume an aphrodisiac.
DATA: I am unfamiliar with that term.
RIKER: An aphrodisiac is something used to stimulate or enhance sexual pleasure.
DATA: How does stimulation of the olfactory nerves affect the enjoyment of sex?
Trent enters.
TRENT: The Elected One will see you now.
When the group have left, he sprays himself with the perfume.
Scene: Great Hall.
BEATA: You claim you intend to remove these survivors from our planet. Are you prepared to give us your solemn word on that?
DEANNA: We are.
BEATA: You should know that the vote was not unanimous. Some of those among us are suspicious. Yet the majority feel that we have no choice but to trust you.
RIKER: We don't understand the source of your misgivings, Mistress, but we appreciate your faith in us.
BEATA: Make certain that faith is not misplaced. There are four survivors from the ship you call Odin. All male. Their leader is a man who calls himself Ramsey.
DEANNA: If you'll deliver these men to us, we'll have them off your planet immediately.
BEATA: If they were mine to deliver, I would do it without hesitation. Unfortunately, their hiding place has long eluded us.
TASHA: Hiding place? Why are they in hiding?
BEATA: Because they are fugitives on Angel One, and the quicker we get rid of them, the better. When these men came to us seven years ago, they accepted our hospitality quickly enough. But they gradually became restive, started making unreasonable demands, went against the natural order.
DEANNA: Using the technology of the Enterprise, we might be able to find these men.
BEATA: I assumed as much. But be warned, Counselor, these men are dangerous.
Scene: Sickbay.
Wesley and his ski-ing companion are in beds, coughing. Lesley who isn't coughing is standing by Wesley's side.
BEVERLY: Sickbay to Captain Picard.
PICARD: (OC) Picard here.
BEVERLY: Wesley and one of his friends have contracted some form of respiratory ailment.
PICARD: (OC) A respiratory aliment? Is it contained? What about Lesley? How is she?
BEVERLY: I hope so. I've isolated the twelve students who were on the Quazulu Eight field trip. As for Les she seems fine. She's standing by Wesley's side at this very moment. I asked her to not stand so close but she insisted on staying with Wesley no matter what.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: How contagious is it?
Scene: Sickbay.
BEVERLY: Still running tests. The key is to figure out how the virus is transmitted. So far I've been able to rule out
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: (OC) Person to person contact.
PICARD: Well, keep with it, Doctor. Starfleet has very important business for us as soon as the away team returns. I don't fancy the idea of my crew being infected.
Scene: Great Hall.
RIKER: Data, what's the best way to go about finding Ramsey and the other survivors?
DATA: If we can isolate something unique to the Odin survivors, perhaps an element not otherwise found on Angel One, we can utilise the Enterprise scanners.
RIKER: Mister Data will need access to your library.
BEATA: Our library is far too sophisticated for a man to comprehend.
DATA: I am an android, Mistress, although anatomically I am a male.
BEATA: An amusing notion. Maybe you could teach our males a thing or two. Trent, see to the android's needs.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: Bridge to Captain Picard.
PICARD: (OC) Go ahead, Lieutenant.
WORF: The away team requests that we scan the planet surface for traces of platinum.
PICARD: (OC) Have Mister LaForge break fixed orbit and initiate a search pattern.
WORF: Aye, Captain. Geordi.
GEORDI: Search pattern initiated now.
Scene: Guest quarters.
Riker enters, and Deanna hands him a local male outfit on a hangar.
DEANA: This was delivered for you.
RIKER: Good. It's for my meeting with Beata.
DEANNA: You're not going to wear that.
RIKER: Of course. Part of this mission is diplomatic. I have requested an audience with a head of state, and I will honour her by wearing indigenous apparel.
TASHA: I don't believe this. You're going to put that thing on and parade around like one of them?
RIKER: Why, what is this attitude? On Kabatris I had to wear furs to meet the leadership council. And on Armus Nine I wore feathers. This objection doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Beata is a woman, and an attractive one, does it?
Scene: Ready Room.
The Captain is obviously ill.
PICARD: This is quite unnecessary, Doctor. I'm fine.
BEVERLY: You're infected with the virus. Captain. In my opinion, you are no longer physically able to effectively command this vessel.
PICARD: That is ridiculous, Doctor. I have an away team down there, in less than friendly territory, and in addition I have an appointment with several Romulan battlecruisers.
BEVERLY: You have an appointment in your cabin, Captain. With your bed.
PICARD: Is that an order, Doctor?
BEVERLY: Yes.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: I think I may sneeze.
GEORDI: A Klingon sneeze?
WORF: Only kind I know.
Picard and Beverly enter.
PICARD: Lieutenant LaForge, you have command until further notice. Please, make the proper ship's log entries.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
Geordi goes and sits in the Captain's chair.
WORF: Scanners indicate a platinum trace. Should I notify the away team?
GEORDI: Make it so.
GEORDA: I must say, Geordi you look great in that chair.
GEORDI: Thanks princess.
GEORDA: You're welcome, baby.
Geordi kisses Georda.
Scene: Guest quarters.
DEANNA: Tasha.
Riker emerges in full local costume, left breast and chest hair to the waist fully on show. The women find it highly amusing.
RIKER: What do you think?
TASHA: Well, I got to say, it's kind of sexy.
RIKER: Thank you, Lieutenant. Actually it feels quite comfortable.
Scene: Beata's quarters.
They also double as her private office.
BEATA: How handsome you look.
RIKER: Thank you, The Enterprise reports a possible location for Mister Ramsey and the other survivors.
BEATA: So soon? I'm impressed.
ARIEL: I suspicious.
RIKER: You don't believe me?
ARIEL: Not yet. I hear the words, but not the sincerity.
BEATA: You had your opportunity to object, Ariel. You were in the minority.
ARIEL: After seven years, the great ship Enterprise come to repatriate a small group of insignificant people.
RIKER: Mistress Ariel, I hear the words but not the sincerity.
ARIEL: You should listen more carefully. Excuse me, Mistress. I have matters to attend to elsewhere.
Ariel leaves, and Trent follows.
RIKER: With your permission, we'd like to begin our search immediately.
BEATA: By all means. But I'm sure that Counselor Troi and the others can do that without you. If I recall, you had a gesture of goodwill you wished to give to me?
RIKER: Certainly that can wait until we've recovered the survivors.
BEATA: Are you suggesting that the women in your party are incapable of accomplishing their task without the help of a man?
RIKER: Not at all. Lieutenant Yar and Counselor Troi are completely qualified.
BEATA: You're very generous with your praise. Inform them you will remain here with me.
RIKER: Riker to Lieutenant Yar.
Scene: Guest quarters.
TASHA: This is Yar.
Scene: Beata's quarters.
RIKER: In the interests of diplomatic relations, I'll remain here with Mistress Beata while you conduct our search.
Scene: Guest quarters.
TASHA: Commander?
RIKER: (OC) You have your instructions.
Scene: Beata's quarters.
BEATA: Relax. We have much to discuss.
She goes through gauze curtains into another room.
Scene: Guest quarters.
TASHA: Set phasers to stun.
DEANNA: I wish they weren't necessary.
DATA: A justified precaution, Counselor. Mistress Beata observed that Mister Ramsey and his men are dangerous.
TASHA: Lieutenant Yar to Enterprise.
GEORDI: (OC) Go ahead, Tasha.
TASHA: Three to beam to the location of that platinum trace, Geordi.
GEORDI: (OC) Coordinates set.
TASHA: Energise.
Scene: Hideout.
DEANNA: Tasha!
Below them is a cave and settlement, and a man at a table.
RAMSEY: Welcome. I've been expecting you.
Scene: Picard's quarters.
PICARD: Picard to Bridge.
Scene: Bridge.
Worf sneezes.
GEORDI: LaForge here.
Scene: Picard's quarters.
PICARD: Status report.
GEORDI: (OC) Eighty-two more reported cases of the virus, sir. Doctor Crusher's converted the holodeck into an isolation ward.
PICARD: And the away team?
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Well, no recent contact, sir, but I have informed them of the medical situation up here and the growing Romulan threat to our Neutral Zone outpost.
Scene: Picard's quarters.
PICARD: Keep me advised. You have the Bridge until Commander Riker returns.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: Engineering reports a computer malf (sneeze) I'm sorry, I'm getting sick.
GEORDI: I'm sure half the ship knows that by now. (Georda giggles a little) Report to Sickbay, Lieutenant.
CREWMAN: (OC) Engineering to bridge.
GEORDI: LaForge here.
CREWMAN: (OC) The computer won't accept the variant climate controls.
GEORDI: On my way.
WORF: With all respect, Lieutenant, there are people to do that job now.
GEORDI: LaForge to Engineering. Lieutenant Wong knows the system. I'm sure she'll be able to resolve all problems. Worf, thanks for the advice.
Scene: Hideout.
RAMSEY: How did you find me?
DATA: Actually, it was quite simple. Angel One has no platinum. Enterprise scanners did the rest.
RAMSEY: Platinum, was it? My wings. I kept them for their sentimental value.
TASHA: Where are the other survivors, Mister Ramsey?
RAMSEY: Oh, they're nearby. They're packing, as a matter of fact, since we can no longer remain here.
DEANNA: Seven years on an alien planet, and I sense no anticipation, no excitement at being rescued.
RAMSEY: What is it that you think you're rescuing me from? My shipmates and I have all taken wives. A few even have children. You can't rescue a man from a place that he calls his home.
Scene: Beata's quarters.
Beata has slipped into something more comfortable.
RIKER: Why were you so hesitant at first to tell us about the Odin survivors?
BEATA: Simply because Ramsey and his men are anarchists. I had to make sure you weren't here to fuel their struggle. I like the way your eyes pick up the colour of your tunic.
RIKER: It's not our position to interfere in the domestic affairs of other societies.
BEATA: But you can interact.
RIKER: Of course. Otherwise, how can we learn?
BEATA: Is that why you're here with me tonight? To learn?
RIKER: Yes.
BEATA: About our society.
RIKER: Yes.
BEATA: Well, in our society, it is the men who are the fortunate ones, enjoying all life has to offer while we women devote ourselves to the obligation of making life work.
RIKER: In our society, we share the responsibilities and the pleasures equally. Which is why I am able to be here with you while the women of the away team go to find Ramsey.
BEATA: You'll have to remind me to thank them when they come back for giving us this time.
She kisses him.
BEATA: You resist. Don't you find me attractive?
RIKER: Yes, I find you very attractive.
BEATA: You attract me like no man ever has.
RIKER: It's not my function to seduce or be seduced by the leader of another world.
BEATA: It's not the reason.
RIKER: No, it's not. But will you still respect me in the morning?
BEATA: I hope so.
They get into a clinch just as Trent enters and hands a gift to Riker.
RIKER: Thank you, Trent.
BEATA: You may go.
Trent leaves reluctantly. Riker opens the gift for Beata.
RIKER: Compliments of the USS Enterprise. It's called an Albeni meditation crystal.
He touches it with a rod, and it pulses with a yellow glow.
BEATA: Very impressive. And now I must repay you in kind.
Scene: Hideout.
RAMSEY: Five months in a rescue pod no bigger than this room is an eternity I hope none of you will ever have to face. When we finally made it here, we thought we'd died and gone to heaven. You've seen the women of the planet. They're tall and strong and lovely. But after the newness wore off, we started to see how the men were treated. There's no votes. There's no opinions. There's no respect.
TASHA: None of which is your concern any longer, Mister Ramsey. Call the others in, please. It's time to leave.
RAMSEY: Despite their problems, Lieutenant, we happen to like it here on Angel One. We're not going anywhere.
DEANNA: But Mistress Beata
RAMSEY: Mistress Beata be damned! Her wish is not my command, and neither is yours. You can't force us to go.
DATA: Mister Ramsey is correct, Counselor. The Odin was not a starship, which means her crew is not bound by the Prime Directive. If he and the others wish to stay here, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.
Scene: Sickbay.
GEORDI: (OC) Bridge to Sickbay how are you doing, Doctor?
BEVERLY: We have more sick than we do beds. So far I've been forced to confine over three hundred to their private quarters.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: We're going to be seriously undermanned if we're forced to engage the Romulans in battle.
Scene: Sickbay.
BEVERLY: The Romulans are your problem, Lieutenant. Trying to find an inoculants is mine. This virus mutates every twenty minutes. But so far we haven't had any fatalities, yet.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: If this continues, there'll be no one left to run the ship.
Scene: Sickbay.
BEVERLY: If this continues, Lieutenant LaForge, no one will be healthy enough to care.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDA: Beverly where's my sister Lesley and Dana.
Scene: Sickbay.
BEVERLY: Lesley is here in Sickbay with Wesley and I don't know where (as she sees Dana walk into Sickbay) No wait a minute she just walked in here. Georda how are you feeling?
GEORDA: (OC) I'm feeling fine Beverly.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: (OC) Yar to Enterprise.
GEORDI: Enterprise here. Go ahead.
Scene: Hideout.
TASHA: Prepare to beam three to our previous location, Geordi. After re-grouping with Commander Riker, we'll return to the ship.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: I suggest you make that on the double, Tasha. We have a real medical emergency brewing up here.
Scene: Hideout.
GEORDI: (OC) One third of the crew is down, and the latest information from the Neutral Zone outpost is that more Romulan vessels are converging on that area.
TASHA: I'll inform the Commander. Yar out. One thing before we go. You said you were expecting us. Why?
RAMSEY: I can't answer that.
DEANNA: We wish you well, Mister Ramsey.
TASHA: Energise.
The three beam away.
RAMSEY: They're gone.
Ariel comes out and embraces him.
Scene: Beata's quarters.
BEATA: What a refreshing change to be with a man who knows what he wants.
RIKER: And doesn't have to be told by a woman?
BEATA: Exactly. I knew you were bright enough to understand. You see, women, by our very nature, want only what is best for their men.
RIKER: Men are not objects to be possessed, Mistress Beata.
BEATA: Of course they're not. It was merely a figure of speech.
Doorbell. She rolls over and turns off the meditation crystal and gets up.
BEATA: Enter.
Trent comes in.
BEATA: What is so important you find it necessary to intrude upon my privacy?
TRENT: They have returned, Mistress, but without Ramsey or the others.
Tasha, Deanna and Data enter.
BEATA: Your advanced technology has proven inadequate?
RIKER: What happened, Tasha?
DEANNA: Mister Ramsey and the other survivors refuse to leave.
BEATA: You gave me your solemn word.
RIKER: I'm sorry, there's nothing else we can do.
BEATA: I'm sorry as well. Since you refuse to take them with you, I am left with no choice but to sentence them all to death.
Scene: Picard's quarters.
Beverly enters bearing a flask. Picard is in bed, bare-chested.
PICARD: Come.
BEVERLY: It looks horrible, tastes worse, and it's absolutely guaranteed to make you feel better.
He drinks.
BEVERLY: I knew you'd like it. Are you wearing cologne? Like something I smelled earlier. Something Klingon.
PICARD: Lieutenant Worf and I detected the same scent when we bumped into your son at the Holodeck.
BEVERLY: It's that smell. That's how the virus travels. An airborne particle whose sweet scent inspires deep inhalation. And once inside the body, it becomes that damned virus. I have work to do.
Beverly leaves.
PICARD: You are excused, Doctor.
Scene: Great hall.
RIKER: What's the latest on the Enterprise's medical situation?
DATA: Doctor Crusher feels the virus will undoubtedly run unchecked through the entire ship. Attempts to develop an inoculants have so far ended in failure. Lieutenant LaForge still has Bridge command pending your return, sir.
RIKER: And what about the Romulans entering the Neutral Zone?
DATA: The border outpost reports a contingent of seven Romulan battlecruisers within sensor range. The USS Berlin has answered the distress call. However, should hostilities erupt, both the outpost and the starship will be out-gunned. It is felt that the Enterprise's presence in the area will be a vital show of force.
TASHA: Some show of force. The Enterprise could fly on autopilot, but with that virus knocking down our crew, we're going to be in sorry shape if things turn ugly.
RIKER: I think it's time we to leave this place.
DEANNA: It doesn't feel right to leave while Beata is determined to execute those people.
RIKER: She has to find them first. Ramsey and his bunch have been fugitives for years. I suspect he's pretty good at evading capture.
DEANNA: Something's wrong.
Beata enters, with Trent.
BEATA: Before you go back to your ship, there's something I want you to see.
Ramsey and his group are brought in.
RAMSEY: We were no harm to anyone. Why did you tell them where to find us?
BEATA: You brought this upon yourself. You and the traitor. One does not need the technology of the Enterprise to follow Mistress Ariel sneaking out to warn her husband. Let her stand with him now. For tomorrow they will die together.
Scene: Beata's quarters.
Beata is doing paperwork.
RIKER: You claim to be an advanced society, and yet you resort to executions in order to suppress those who don't share your views.
BEATA: I don't expect you to understand.
RIKER: Why? Because I'm only a man?
BEATA: You'll accomplish nothing with that attitude.
RIKER: Mistress Beata, if you had an alternative to the execution of Ramsey and his followers, would you take it?
BEATA: Is that not the way of an advanced society?
RIKER: Then let us meet with the men from Odin one last time. Let me try to convince them to leave with us.
BEATA: Will you also include those from this world who unwisely choose to follow Ramsey and his group?
RIKER: Yes. All of them.
Scene: Holding area.
DEANNA: Mistress Beata is willing to give you a second chance. We're prepared to take your entire group with us.
RAMSEY: That's very kind of you, but we're not going.
TASHA: Haven't you been paying attention, Ramsey? You're scheduled to be executed tomorrow.
RAMSEY: We don't want to die. We don't want to leave, either.
RIKER: There's no time to debate the issues. You're going with us whether you choose to go or not.
DATA: Excuse me, Commander, but removing any of these people against their will would be a violation of several Starfleet regulations, not the least of which would be the Prime Directive.
RIKER: I realise that, Mister Data. I'd rather face a court martial than live with the guilt of leaving these people to their deaths. Commander Riker to Enterprise.
BEVERLY: (OC) This is the Enterprise. Crusher here.
TASHA: It must be worse up there than we thought.
RIKER: Doctor, where is Lieutenant LaForge?
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: He's right here, but he's in bad shape.
RIKER: (OC) Notify the transporter room I have fourteen to beam up.
BEVERLY: I can't allow it.
Scene: Holding area.
BEVERLY: (OC) This virus is totally out of control here. Until I know exactly what I'm dealing with, I can't let anyone new be exposed.
RIKER: Doctor, these people are facing their deaths down here.
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: They might be facing the same thing up here. Until I have a better idea of what I'm dealing with, no one can beam up. I'm sorry, Will, but you must wait.
Scene: Holding area.
RIKER: Understood. Doctor, would this virus have any effect on Mister Data?
BEVERLY: (OC) Not likely. But it has absolutely no effect on the Hatter triplets.
RIKER: You're going back there alone. I want you to get the Enterprise into the Neutral Zone before it's too late.
DATA: This is Data, standing by to beam up.
He beams away.
DEANNA: What of them?
RIKER: I don't know, Deanna.
Scene: Guest quarters.
TRENT: Mistress Beata invites you to witness this morning's reaffirmation of Angel One's moral imperative.
TASHA: Is that the civilised word for murder on this world?
RIKER: You send Mistress Beata our regrets.
TRENT: The Elected One will not look fondly upon
DATA: (OC) Enterprise to Commander Riker.
DEANNA: They're still here!
RIKER: Riker here. Data, I gave you direct orders to get to Neutral Zone immediately. Explain the delay.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: To be precise, Commander, you ordered me to reach the Neutral Zone before it is too late.
Scene: Guest quarters.
DATA: After relieving Lieutenant LaForge, I computed the length of time the border outpost
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: And the USS Berlin can safely withstand a Romulan attack, and deducted our time to destination at maximum warp speed. That leaves Doctor Crusher forty eight minutes to develop an inoculants to the virus.
Scene: Guest quarters.
TASHA: Which means there's still time for us to do something.
RIKER: Forty-eight minutes.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: Forty seven, sir.
Scene: Guest quarters.
RIKER: Perhaps, Data, perhaps. Thank you
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: (OC) For following my orders so precisely, Data.
Scene: Guest Quarters.
RIKER: On second thought, Trent, we would be honoured to witness your moral imperative in action.
Scene: Great Hall.
BEATA: (upset) We have determined that the heretical teachings of Ramsey and his followers are inconsistent with harmonious life on Angel One. Our patient efforts to silence revolutionary voices have failed. Therefore we are left with none but the most final alternative.
There is a large jar between two devices. Trent puts his hands on a glass globe, it glows purple, the devices light up and disintegrate the jar.
BEATA: As you can see, we are not without compassion. Your deaths will be swift and painless.
RIKER: Mistress Beata, before we see living examples of your compassion, may I speak?
BEATA: Is this a plea for leniency?
RIKER: Nothing of the sort. As the governing body of Angel One, you're entitled to execute your laws or your citizens as you see fit.
BEATA: Make your point, so we can proceed with this unpleasant business.
RIKER: When you spoke of the prisoners, you used the term revolutionary. Indeed, death has been known to stop revolutions. But I suspect it's not a revolution that Angel One is hoping to stop. It's evolution. Mister Ramsey and the Odin survivors did not initiate the waves of dissent that are rippling through your planet. Their presence here merely reinforced the change in attitudes between men and women that was already well under way. They became symbols around whom others who shared their views could gather. You may eliminate the symbols, but that does not mean death to the issues which those symbols represent. No power in the universe can hope to stop the force of evolution. Be warned. The execution of Mister Ramsey and his followers may elevate them to the status of martyrs. Martyrs cannot be silenced.
Ramsey is taken to the place of execution. Trent starts to lower his hand.
ARIEL: Beata!
BEATA: Stop. We will adjourn to consider your words.
The council leaves.
RAMSEY: Thank you.
RIKER: I don't know if it was enough.
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: (OC) Sickbay to Bridge.
DATA: Go ahead, Doctor.
BEVERLY: (OC) Bingo, Data.
DATA: Bingo? I fail to see the relevance, Doctor. Is that not a reference to an ancient Earth game?
Scene: Sickbay.
BEVERLY: It's also a reference to success, Data. I've got the inoculants.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: Excellent, Doctor. We still have seventeen minutes left. I will inform the away team immediately. Enterprise to Riker.
Scene: Great hall.
DATA: (OC) We are ready to have you beamed up, Commander.
RIKER: Data, Ramsey and the prisoners are with us in the Great Hall. I want you to lock the transporter. Prepare to evacuate the entire group.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: (OC) But for now, stand by.
DATA: Understood, Commander. (to Dana) I know why you are not effected, but how is that Lesley and Georda are not effected by this virus?
DANA: Well Data that is because we are from Wonderland and no one in Wonderland can get effected by something like this type of virus.
DATA: How is that possible?
DANA: It happens when we step through the looking glass.
DATA: Looking glass?
DANA: A mirror, Data, a mirror.
DATA: How can one step through a mirror?
DANA: I will explain later, Data.
Data kisses Dana.
Scene: Great hall.
Beata and the council enter.
BEATA: After careful consideration, this legislature has voted to stay the execution of the prisoners. Their children will be returned to them immediately. Do not rejoice prematurely. Ramsey and his followers are to be exiled to a distant and unpopulated region. Life will be difficult there with little time for revolutionary or evolutionary upheaval. As some have observed, we may be able to stop evolution, but perhaps we can reduce it to a slow crawl. For a man, you can be very clever, Commander Riker.
RIKER: Riker to Enterprise. Belay my previous order, Mister Data. There will now be only three to beam up. Energise.
Scene: Bridge.
Beverly greet the arrivals with an injection.
BEVERLY: Welcome home.
DEANNA: It's good to be back.
RIKER: Are they recovering?
BEVERLY: Slowly, but yes.
RIKER: And the Captain?
PICARD: (hoarse) The Captain is fine, thank you. Mister Data has been briefing me on the away team's comportment, Number One.
DEANNA: We improvised, sir.
PICARD: I look forward to your reports.
RIKER: Don't we have a call to pay on the Romulans, Captain?
PICARD: Indeed we do. Mister Data, set course for the Neutral Zone. Warp six.
DATA: Coordinates set. Warp six on your mark, sir.
PICARD: (inaudible) Engage.
DATA: Sir?
Picard glares at Riker.
RIKER: Engage.

Chapter 15
11001001

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41365.9. The Enterprise has been ordered to Starbase 74, in orbit around Tarsas Three. A routine maintenance check of all systems will be made, and certain upgrades completed, including the holodeck, with which we've had problems. I anticipate a glowing report. The ship has performed magnificently, beyond anyone's expectations.
Scene: Bridge.
Enterprise glides serenely through the big space doors, into Spacedock.
GEORDI: Coming into position.
RIKER: Stand by to dock.
DATA: Ready to dock, sir.
RIKER: Engage mooring beams and lock off.
GEORDI: Aye sir. (clunk) And docking complete.
PICARD: Thank you, Number One. Well done. And well done all.
Scene: Corridor.
COMPUTER: Starbase maintenance approaching airlock five.
The airlock door opens.
QUINTEROS: Commander Quinteros. Request permission to come aboard.
PICARD: Granted. Welcome.
QUINTEROS: Captain.
PICARD: Commander Riker.
The group head down the corridor, including a pair of 'mirror image' small humanoids.
QUINTEROS: Commander. You're late. We expected you a week ago.
RIKER: We were unexpectedly delayed at Omicron Pascal.
QUINTEROS: Is there anything specific you wish to report, or that we should be aware of?
PICARD: No. We are very pleased with the operation of the Enterprise.
QUINTEROS: I knew you would be - I was in charge of the team which put her together.
RIKER: And are these gentlemen the Bynars?
Scene: Engineering.
QUINTEROS: They're not gentlemen, or ladies, Commander. They are a unified pair. They're always together. This is One Zero. (device on left of head) And this is Zero One. (device on the right) They just finished upgrading the computers on the Wellington. Did a great job.
PICARD: Your reputation precedes you. I'm very pleased you're going to be improving our system.
ONE ZERO: It is a great pleasure
ZERO ONE: to work on such a large mobile computer.
PICARD: You have forty eight hours, because at forty eight plus six we have an appointment at Pelleus Five we must keep.
ZERO ONE: I thought we'd
ONE ZERO: have more time.
PICARD: I'm sorry. This mission can't be delayed. If you want to postpone the work?
ZERO ONE: Oh, no. This is
ONE ZERO: the best time
ZERO ONE: to do it.
ONE ZERO: We can complete
ZERO ONE: our work within the
ONE ZERO: time allotted.
QUINTEROS: They work very quickly, but it'll be very tight.
PICARD: Commander Riker and I will stay on board, be available should you need us.
QUINTEROS: Thank you, Captain. I don't think we'll need you until we're ready for inspection.
Scene: Corridor.
RIKER: The Bynars seem perfect for this. Even though this is the first time I've ever come in contact with them.
PICARD: As I understand it, over time they have become so interconnected with the master computer on their planet that their language, their thought patterns have become as close to binary as it's possible for organic beings.
RIKER: It'll be interesting to see how they improve a computer as advanced as ours.
Scene: Turbolift.
PICARD: Bridge. Well, I have a little work to finish up, then I'm going to my cabin. I'm going to put my feet up, I'm going to turn on my personal relaxation light and I'm going to lose myself in the pages of some old novel. What about you, Number One? You've earned a rest.
RIKER: I've never been very good at organising my time off. Something'll turn up. It always does.
Scene: Bridge.
There are four Bynars at a rear computer station. Wesley and Lesley are watching them as Riker and Picard enter.
PICARD: I'll be in my ready room. And Number One, good work.
RIKER: I thought there were only going to be two of you.
ONE ZERO: Because of the limited time allotted us
ZERO ONE: We need others
RIKER: Is there a problem?
ZERO ONE: No.
ONE ZERO: No. No problem.
RIKER: Then why are you acting so excited?
ZERO ONE: Because we have to
ONE ZERO: The stacking
ZERO ONE: To reconfigure the computer
ONE ZERO: To communicate with itself
ZERO ONE: More efficiently
ONE ZERO: And at higher speeds.
They turn back to their work.
WESLEY: You act like you don't believe them.
RIKER: I'm not sure that I do. Maybe it's probably nothing.
LESLEY: Perhaps it's just how another species behaves.
RIKER: Maybe. I'm going to stroll the ship. You two have got the Bridge. Keep your eye on them.
WESLEY & LESLEY: Yes, sir.
Scene: Corridor.
Tasha, Worf and two others are wearing vivid blue catsuits with knee and elbow pads.
TASHA: We've been challenged to a friendly game of Parrises Squares by some of the maintenance personnel. Want to join us on the starbase?
RIKER: You've already got all the players you need.
TASHA: We can switch off.
RIKER: No, you know if you do that in Parrises Squares you lose the rhythm of the game.
TASHA: I can't talk you into coming with us?
RIKER: No. But win, all right? The pride of the Enterprise goes with you.
WORF: Rest assured, Commander, we will be victorious. At whatever the cost.
RIKER: Worf, it's just a game. A little friendly competition, You work up a sweat, you have a few laughs, and you make new friends.
WORF: If winning is not important, then, Commander, why keep score?
TASHA: I think he's pulling your leg. Believe it or not, Worf is developing a sense of humour.
RIKER: I hope so, for their sake.
The team go down another corridor, then the lights go out. Riker activates panel 40271.
RIKER: Computer. There's a power reduction in section L-Ninety Four. Explain.
COMPUTER: Unoccupied sections are being closed down in order to clear space in the main computer banks. It is necessary to facilitate the system upgrade. Full power can be restored if needed.
Scene: Observation Lounge.
Data is painting an image on glass. Dana and Georda are with them.
GEORDI: Well, what do you think?
RIKER: Tell me what it's supposed to be, then I'll give you my opinion.
DATA: It is an attempt at pure creativity.
GEORDI: What we're investigating is, can Data be creative?
DATA: And this is my attempt, with guidance from Geordi.
GEORDI: I suggested the zylo eggs.
RIKER: Is that what those are?
RIKER: Keep notes. This project might turn out to be of interest to scholars in the future.
GEORDI: Really?
RIKER: Well of course. Think about it. A blind man teaching an android how to paint? That's got to be worth a couple of pages in somebody's book.
DANA: (after Riker leaves) I like it Data. You are a very good painter.
DATA: (as he has his arm around her and kisses her on the cheek) Thanks, angel.
DANA: You are welcome, sweetheart.
GEORDA: I, too like it Data.
GEORDI: Do you really princess?
GEORDA: Yes, I do.
DATA: Thanks, Georda.
GEORDA: You're welcome, Data.
Scene: Doctor's office.
RIKER: You look like you're packing to leave forever.
BEVERLY: Oh, Commander Riker. No, I'm just gathering my notes. Professor Terence Epstein is at this starbase.
RIKER: Is that someone I should know of?
BEVERLY: He's the leading mind in cybernetics. He lectured at my medical school. You know the disaster at Micromius?
Scene: Corridor.
BEVERLY: Well, since then I've been working on an approach that combines cybernetics and regeneration. It sounds impossible, I know, but I have found an approach which will work. I mean, what an opportunity. To have a chance to talk with Doctor Epstein. Sorry, Will, I'd love to chat, but I have to go.
Scene: Outside holodeck.
Bynars with a different style of clothes are working.
RIKER: How's it going?
ZERO ZERO: (left hand side) We are almost done.
ONE ONE: (right hand side) The deviation
ZERO ZERO: caused by a previous
ONE ONE: probe has been corrected
ZERO ZERO: You may use the equipment
ONE ONE: anytime you wish.
RIKER: How much has been changed? What exactly did you do?
ONE ONE: Enhancement.
ZERO ZERO: Nothing more.
They talk to each other in binary.
ZERO ZERO: Would you like to try
ONE ONE: the enhancement?
RIKER: All right. What should I choose? Computer, I'd like some place to play some music. A little atmosphere.
COMPUTER: Specify.
RIKER: Jazz.
COMPUTER: Era?
RIKER: Circa 1958.
COMPUTER: Location.
RIKER: Kansas City. No, wait. New Orleans. Bourbon Street Bar, New Orleans. Around two a.m.
COMPUTER: Programme complete. Enter when ready.
Scene: Holodeck.
A nightclub with a slightly raised stage, tables with candles for light.
RIKER: Very good. Very good indeed. Now I'll need someone to play with. A trio. Piano, bass and drums, and a 'bone for me.
The musicians appear.
RIKER: Now an audience. Whoa. Too many. I was thinking of something a little more intimate.
A single blonde in a red dress.
RIKER: Great job, boys. But, computer, blondes and jazz seldom go together. (a red-head) Now that is truly exceptional. But more sultry.
A brunette at the bar.
RIKER: Gentlemen, if this is what you call enhancement, you've got a gift for understatement.
The Bynars work on the internal controls as the band starts playing.
RIKER: What's your name? Tell me you love jazz.
MINUET: My name is Minuet and I love all jazz except Dixieland.
RIKER: Why not Dixieland?
MINUET: You can't dance to it.
RIKER: My girl. What's a knockout like you doing in a computer-generated gin joint like this?
MINUET: Waiting for you.
RIKER: Waiting for me? You can't be serious.
MINUET: Oh yes, Will. I've never been more serious in my life.
The Bynars leave.
Scene: Bridge.
WESLEY: Can I ask you a question about the Bynars?
QUINTEROS: Why not just ask them?
WESLEY: What is that high-speed sound you make?
ZERO ONE: That is our
ONE ZERO: primary language.
WESLEY: How can you process information at that speed?
ZERO ONE: We store the information
ONE ZERO: with these buffers.
On their belts.
ZERO ONE: We receive information
ONE ZERO: all the time
ZERO ONE: and save it
ONE ZERO: until we need it.
WESLEY: How did you happen to develop this ability?
ONE ZERO: It happened over
ZERO ONE: a long period of time.
WESLEY: To have a society so intermixed on computers has tremendous advantages.
ONE ZERO: And a few
ZERO ONE: disadvantages.
Picard enters.
PICARD: Everything under control, Ensign Crusher?
WESLEY: Fine, Captain. I was just trying to find something about the Bynars.
PICARD: Where's Commander Riker?
WESLEY: He's in holodeck four. Shall I call him for you, sir?
PICARD: No, I'll go down there myself. Keep me apprised.
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
Scene: Bourbon Street Bar.
Riker joins the band with his trombone, and serenades Minuet with 'the nearness of you.
BASS: Hey, man, the chick digs you.
RIKER: What makes you say that?
BASS: Hey, look at her.
RIKER: Maybe it's my music.
PIANO: Yeah, well, about that. Don't give up your day job.
RIKER: Too real.
BASS: You got that straight, Slim. Too real is too right.
RIKER: Thanks for letting me sit in.
PIANO: Ain't nothin' to it.
RIKER: I'm going to have to leave for a while to see to my duties.
MINUET: Your work's very important to you.
RIKER: It is me. It's what I am.
MINUET: Can we dance once before you leave?
RIKER: Sure, why not. (She snuggles in close) How did you learn to dance so well?
MINUET: From following you. I can anticipate your lead. So, tell me about your work. What is it about it that consumes and enthralls you?
RIKER: Interesting choice of words. That's exactly what it does.
MINUET: You're very fortunate.
RIKER: I know that.
MINUET: To be exactly where you want to be. And it's great that you realise it.
RIKER: I'd be a fool not to realise how lucky I am to be on this ship serving with these people. It's like a dream come true. Just like this.
MINUET: A dream? Is that what this is? Is that what I am?
RIKER: I know you are a computer-generated image, but your smell, your touch, the way you feel. Even the things you say and think seem so real.
MINUET: Thank you.
RIKER: How far can this relationship go? I mean, how real are you?
MINUET: As real as you need me to be.
They kiss for a long time, then the holodeck doors open and.
PICARD: Astounding.
RIKER: Captain.
PICARD: Oh, I'm sorry, Number One. I didn't mean to interrupt.
RIKER: No, it's all right. Come on in.
PICARD: You picked a wonderful locale. This is something I might have chosen myself.
MINUET: Aren't you going to introduce me?
RIKER: Captain Picard, this is Minuet. Minuet, Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
MINUET: Enchantee. Comme c'est merveilleux de vous voir ici.
PICARD: Incroyable! Vous etes Parisienne?
MINUET: Au fond, c'est vrai, nous sommes tous Parisiens.
PICARD: Oui, au fond, nous sommes tous Parisiens. The spirit of that city can always enchant my soul.
MINUET: I have been hoping to meet you.
PICARD: Oh. Have I been the subject of conversation?
MINUET: Indirectly. Come, join us, Jean-Luc. A glass of wine?
PICARD: Thank you.
MINUET: Will was saying how much he enjoys this assignment. It's a credit to you. For a ship and crew to function well it always starts with the Captain. You set the tone.
PICARD: At the moment, it's you who are setting the tone. The sophistication of this programming is remarkable.
MINUET: In what way?
PICARD: The holodeck has been able to give us woodlands and ski slopes, figures that fight and fictional characters with which we can interact, but you, you're very different. You adapt. You spoke to me in French.
MINUET: It was very simple. When I heard your name, I merely accessed the foreign language bank.
PICARD: That's very impressive.
MINUET: Oui, mon chou.
Scene: Observation Lounge.
Data is continuing to paint, or not to paint.
GEORDI: Now what are you doing?
DATA: I am awaiting inspiration.
WESLEY & LESLEY: (OC) Commander Data?
DATA: This is Commander Data. Go ahead, please.
Scene: Bridge.
WESLEY: Les and I are getting an indication of possible trouble in main Engineering, sir.
Scene: Observation lounge.
DATA: Can you be more specific?
Scene: Bridge.
WESLEY: I'm afraid not. I'm reading a problem with the magnetic containment field which contains the antimatter. Could you come up here?
Scene: Observation lounge.
GEORDI: We'll go to Engineering since that's where the trouble is. Wes, don't disturb the Captain or Commander Riker until we check this out.
Scene: Bridge.
WESLEY & LESLEY: Aye, sir.
Scene: Engineering.
GEORDI: Bridge, this is main Engineering.
WESLEY: (OC) This is the Bridge.
GEORDI: Are you running any test programs up there?
WESLEY: (OC) No.
GEORDI: Are the Bynars?
WESLEY: (OC) Not to my knowledge. Is there a problem?
GEORDI: I don't know. There's no one on duty here, and we're getting some very strange readings from the magnetic containment field.
DATA: The field is deteriorating. Contact the captain immediately. I am initiating Red Alert.
GEORDI: Data, I can't maintain the integrity of the containment field.
DATA: Engineering to Captain. (no reply) If the antimatter is released, the ship will be destroyed.
GEORDI: Nothing I do has any effect. I'm losing it. Data, I've rechecked every circuit. This is not a misread by the computer.
DATA: Computer, situation analysis.
COMPUTER: (male voice) Estimate release of antimatter in four minutes eighteen seconds. Seventeen seconds. Sixteen seconds.
DATA: Engineering to Bridge.
Scene: Bridge.
WESLEY: This is the bridge.
Scene: Engineering.
DATA: Alert starbase. Inform them we are abandoning the ship. Tell them why. Initiate automated sequence for departure. Set course and speed course and speed to put maximum distance between the Enterprise and any inhabited planets.
Scene: Bridge.
WESLEY: Shouldn't we wait for the Captain's approval?
DATA: (OC) There is no time.
Scene: Engineering.
DATA: Based on all information presently available, the decision is correct. This is Lieutenant Commander Data speaking for the Captain. Abandon ship. This is not a drill. All personnel. This is not a drill. (around the ship) I say again, abandon ship. All personnel, this is not a drill.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: (OC) Abandon ship.
Scene: Corridor.
People are walking briskly, but not running. Well, some are running.
COMPUTER: Decks two through four to cargo transporters. Decks five through ten, proceed to transporters one, two, three and four. Decks six through sixteen, proceed to transporters five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten.
Scene: Transporter room.
The queue is back into the corridor and Wesley, Lesley and a couple of children and parents beam out.
CHIEF: Hold your positions please. Prepare to energise. And energise.
COMPUTER: Decks seventeen through twenty eight proceed to transporters eleven, twelve, thirteen and fourteen.
Scene: Airlock.
COMPUTER: Decks twenty nine through forty two, proceed to transporters fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen and twenty. This is not a drill. This is not a drill.
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
Tasha and Worf enter. Beverly is already there with Quinteros.
WORF: What's going on?
QUINTEROS: Please stand out of the way.
BEVERLY: The Enterprise is being evacuated.
WORF: Why?
BEVERLY: Some problem in Engineering.
TASHA: Get a Security team together.
WORF: Aye, Lieutenant.
DATA: (VO) Ship's log, supplemental. This is Lieutenant Commander Data. I have put the ship on automated departure and ordered the complete evacuation of the Enterprise. Everyone remaining is leaving on foot or beaming off.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: Computer, where are the Captain and Commander Riker?
COMPUTER: (female) All decks empty.
DATA: Curious. The Captain is usually the last to leave.
GEORDI: Let's go. We've only got forty one seconds.
They step into the turbolift with Dana and Georda.
GEORDI: I think we're the last.
DATA: I hope we are.
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
Data, Dana, Geordi and Georda beam in.
WORF: Did you see the Captain and Commander Riker?
DATA: No. Are they not here on Starbase?
TASHA: No, we thought
GEORDI: You mean they're still on the Enterprise?
WORF: Yes. Sir, where is your transporter room?
DATA: We have to beam back and get them.
QUINTEROS: You haven't time.
STARBASE: This is Starbase 74. The Enterprise magnetic field is regenerating.
GEORDI: Wait a minute. How is that possible?
STARBASE: Unknown.
TASHA: That changes nothing. The Captain and Commander Riker must be in trouble, or they'd be here.
QUINTEROS: Look. Your ship is almost clear.
Enterprise gracefully backs out of the space doors and warps away.
Scene: Holodeck.
The only red here is Minuet's dress. Riker and Minuet are staring into each other's eyes.
MINUET: And the boy never found out?
RIKER: Oh, yes, but not until later when he came back into the room with his little sister.
MINUET: I'll bet both of them were all smiles.
RIKER: Yes, but by that time both of them had been found out.
MINUET: You handled that in a very thoughtful way. You're very good with people. Don't you agree, Jean-Luc?
PICARD: She's so very different from the images we've experienced on the holodeck, isn't she? She's more intuitive.
RIKER: It's as though she's been plugged into my subconscious. She already knows what I want her to say before I'm aware of it myself.
PICARD: I suppose it's an understandable progression. Computers make decisions based on inputs and we humans give off a multitude of subtle signs that communicate our emotions.
RIKER: It's uncanny. I could develop feelings for Minuet, exactly as I would for any woman.
PICARD: Doesn't love always begin that way? With the illusion being more real than the woman?
MINUET: Oh, Jean-Luc, spoken like a true Frenchman.
PICARD: Well, I think I'll be leaving.
MINUET: Oh, don't go.
PICARD: Two's company.
MINUET: We have time. There's no rush. I'd really like it if you would stay.
RIKER: Yes, Captain, stay.
PICARD: This is your diversion, Number One, not mine.
MINUET: Wait! We haven't danced.
PICARD: I don't dance.
MINUET: Then some more wine.
PICARD: No, thank you.
MINUET: Wait! Please! Please, don't go. You can't. Not yet.
RIKER: Why? What's the matter? Why can't he leave?
PICARD: Exit!
The holodeck doors open and they seen and hear the Red Alert. Picard goes to the arch controls.
PICARD: Captain to Bridge. Situation report.
RIKER: Riker to Bridge.
PICARD: Computer, explain Red Alert.
COMPUTER: Initiated as a programmed response. The magnetic field containing the antimatter had weakened. There was no fail-safe available.
PICARD: Why wasn't I notified?
COMPUTER: Unknown.
PICARD: Present condition?
COMPUTER: The magnetic field is now restored. Containment is restored. Propulsion is at maximum efficiency.
PICARD: Locate Lieutenant Commander Data.
COMPUTER: Not on board the Enterprise.
PICARD: Explain.
COMPUTER: All Enterprise personnel except the Captain and First Officer have been evacuated.
PICARD: Evacuated? Was the condition that critical?
COMPUTER: Yes.
RIKER: Are we still docked at the starbase?
COMPUTER: No.
PICARD: Position report.
COMPUTER: Coordinates four one five nine point two six by eight one nine two one by three one two. Heading two three three mark four five.
PICARD: Destination?
COMPUTER: Planet Bynaus in the Beta Magellan system.
RIKER: The Bynars.
PICARD: Am I to understand the Bynars have stolen the Enterprise?
COMPUTER: That information is not available.
PICARD: It's the Bynars, and you're part of this.
MINUET: Yes.
RIKER: They made you the lure to keep me here. They programmed you while I was relaxing.
MINUET: Yes. When they saw your interest in me, they thought I could distract you and keep you here.
PICARD: That explains, Riker. What about me?
MINUET: Your being here was just a fortunate happenstance.
RIKER: Why do they want with me?
PICARD: What do they want with the Enterprise? What's their purpose?
MINUET: I'm not programmed to give you that information.
PICARD: Come on, Number One. We've got to regain control of our ship.
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
GEORDI: Okay, so what do we do?
DATA: Which is the nearest Starfleet vessel?
QUINTEROS: The Trieste.
DATA: I know the Trieste. Too small, too slow.
QUINTEROS: Plus it's sixty six hours away.
DATA: Where are the Bynars?
QUINTEROS: I haven't seen them.
DATA: They are obviously still aboard. Another Starfleet vessel must be sent to intercept the Enterprise at Bynaus. They might be taking the ship to their home planet.
QUINTEROS: What makes you think so?
DATA: It is the best place for us to start.
Scene: Corridor.
PICARD: (to computer) Picard. Access.
Picard and Riker enter the Weapons Room.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. We now know who has commandeered the Enterprise. The Bynars. We can't communicate with the Bridge. Commander Riker and I will now try to regain control of our ship.
Scene: Corridor.
PICARD: This way.
RIKER: That's toward Engineering.
PICARD: That's our first stop. Verify containment and initiate auto-destruct.
RIKER: Initiate auto-destruct?
PICARD: Our ship has been commandeered by a force of unknown size and intent. We're here alone. We must assume the worst.
Scene: Engineering.
PICARD: If we don't regain control, then no one else must have it either. Now, this is the one decision involving the operation of this vessel which requires you and I to be in total agreement.
RIKER: It's the time allotted that concerns me.
PICARD: As to that, there's no option.
RIKER: I know. It's a five minute countdown.
PICARD: That's sufficient to get to the Bridge. Once there, either we'll get control of the ship and shut off the auto-destruct, or we won't. This vessel must not fall into hostile hands.
RIKER: Then let's set it and get going.
They place their hands on computer screens.
COMPUTER: (male) Recognise Picard, Jean-Luc, Captain. Recognise Riker, William T, Commander.
PICARD: Set auto-destruct sequence.
COMPUTER: Does the First Officer concur?
RIKER: Yes. Set auto-destruct sequence. Now.
COMPUTER: Auto-destruct will detonate in four minutes and fifty-nine seconds.
PICARD: The only place we can stop this is on the Bridge. Let's go.
Riker spots strange symbols flashing across a wall display.
RIKER: What do you make of this, sir?
PICARD: An enormous amount of data is being received and stored in the main computer.
RIKER: Just stored. Why?
PICARD: It's another piece to of puzzle.
Scene: Outside Turbolift.
COMPUTER: Bridge access denied.
PICARD: They've locked it off. We must find another way to get in.
RIKER: One of us could beam into the Bridge.
PICARD: No, it takes several seconds to materialise. You wouldn't stand a chance.
RIKER: I could beam into the turbolift, force the doors, take them by surprise.
PICARD: No, we'll both beam in simultaneously in two different areas of the Bridge. With luck one of us will be a distraction.
RIKER: There must be only four minutes left.
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
GEORDI: Still no response from the Enterprise.
WORF: They would answer if they could. Someone else has control of the ship.
DATA: Do you think I am responsible?
GEORDI: Responsible? How could you possibly have known?
DATA: My station is on the Bridge.
GEORDI: You can't be on the Bridge every second, Data.
DATA: You are wrong, Geordi. I can. I do not need rest or diversion. I should not have been painting. I was negligent.
TASHA: It's a pointless discussion, Data. You could have been on the Bridge and it still might have happened.
LESLEY: How true that is.
TASHA: Commander Quinteros, you have three ships in here. We need one of them now.
QUINTEROS: We're rushing repairs on the USS Melbourne, but it's still eighteen hours until she'll be ready. There's nothing else you can do.
Scene: Transporter Room.
PICARD: Set coordinates for main Bridge. Port forward for me and aft for you.
RIKER: You're on pad two. I've set a ten second delay.
PICARD: Set phasers on stun. Number One, good luck.
Scene: Bridge.
Picard and Riker beam in but there is no resistance. The four Bynars are lying propped up against each other, and do not seem well.
RIKER: Over here, Captain.
PICARD: Why did you steal my ship?
ONE ZERO: Please try to
ZERO ONE: help us.
They pass out again. The Enterprise enters planetary orbit as the countdown passes two minutes.
PICARD: Cancel auto-destruct.
COMPUTER: (male) Does the First Officer agree?
RIKER: Affirmative.
COMPUTER: Auto-destruct cancelled.
RIKER: We're in orbit around Bynaus. How are they?
PICARD: They appear dead. Let's see if we can get some answers from Bynaus.
RIKER: Their main computer is off. All sensors reveal that all of the equipment on the planet is inert. They can neither receive nor send any messages.
PICARD: What about all the people in that world who are totally dependant on their computer? Are they still functioning?
RIKER: They're probably like these Bynars here. Dying. What is this all about? Why did they steal the ship and bring it here? What is their purpose?
PICARD: They went to an awful lot of trouble to clear computer space. Let's see what they've stored.
RIKER: Captain, it's enormous. Every byte of free space in the computer has been filled. They must have made a core-dump from their world to our computer. I can't get in. I wish they'd left a note.
PICARD: Maybe they did.
RIKER: Minuet.
PICARD: Maybe.
Scene: Bourbon Street Bar.
Minuet comes back to 'life' when they arrive at the table.
RIKER: Tell me what this is all about.
MINUET: A star in the Bynar system went supernova and they miscalculated. The electromagnetic pulse from the explosion was going to knock out their main computer.
PICARD: So their only choice was to transfer all the stored information and shut down until after it passed. And then reactivate their system and transfer the information back to this main computer.
RIKER: The Enterprise has the only mobile computer large enough to handle all that information.
PICARD: So what went wrong? Why are they dying?
MINUET: The star went supernova before it was expected, and you were late arriving at Starbase 74.
PICARD: Why didn't they say something? Why didn't they just ask for help?
MINUET: I don't know. I don't have those answers.
PICARD: Is there anything we can do?
MINUET: Yes. Return the data stored on the Enterprise's computer back to the one on Bynaus.
RIKER: How can we do that?
MINUET: You don't know?
RIKER: Yes. If we had the file name. But we don't. Do you?
MINUET: I don't know what you're talking about.
PICARD: They wouldn't intentionally hide it or make it difficult for us to find. It must be right in front of our faces.
RIKER: We should call Starbase 74, and see if anyone can decipher this.
MINUET: They're dying. They meant you no harm. It was their world they were trying to save. Help them, Will. Hurry. Please.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Starbase 74, this is the Enterprise. Do you read me?
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
QUINTEROS: This is Starbase 74. Captain Picard, what is your situation?
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: We'll go into that later. Right now I must speak to Lieutenant Commander Data.
DATA: (OC) I am here, sir.
PICARD: Data, the Bynars have stored an enormous amount of material in our computer. We need to access it. We can't.
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
DATA: The access would be available by code or password.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Yes, I know that, Data, but what could it be?
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
DATA: File names can be anything, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: They want us to find it. They would have kept it simple.
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
DATA: Then a name, or a place. It could be something personal. In this case, in binary language, which is ones and zeros in groups of eight or sixteen characters.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: (pointing at the pile of Bynars) Would they have kept it that simple? Try it. Picard out.
The computer searches the combinations of 1 and 0 to get to 11001001.
RIKER: That's the file. It'll work now.
PICARD: Now access the file. Start the transfer.
Scene: Access denied.
RIKER: So much for that idea.
PICARD: Let me get on the other position. The Bynars always work in pairs. Maybe that is also required. It appears to be successful. Their system's started up. A resident diagnostic programme is running. Their system is absolutely incredible.
The Bynars wake up, get up and access the nearest console.
ZERO ONE: Our world
ONE ZERO: is reactivated.
ZERO ONE: Our people
ONE ZERO: express their gratitude.
ZERO ZERO: We will return to
ONE ONE: your starbase for whatever
ZERO ZERO: punishment your system
ONE ONE: requires of us.
PICARD: Why didn't you just ask for our help?
They discuss it amongst themselves.
ZERO ONE: You might have
ONE ZERO: said no.
RIKER: But there was a very good chance we would have said yes.
ZERO ZERO: Our need was too great
ONE ONE: to risk rejection.
PICARD: So you stole it.
RIKER: Their reason is part of their binary thinking. For them there are only two choices. One or zero. Yes or no. Why did you lure me to the holodeck and hold me there.
ONE ZERO: Because we knew we might die.
ZERO ONE: And we needed someone
ONE ZERO: to restore our computer.
ZERO ONE: And you did.
PICARD: No one has been hurt. You have achieved your objective. You have your planet back in order. We have our ship. Well, it's been some time since I had the conn. But not to worry, Number One, you're in good hands. Starbase 74, warp two. Engage. Everything's under control.
Scene: Starbase Command Centre.
COMPUTER: USS Enterprise has cleared the starbase perimeter.
And she docks once again.
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: Is everything all right?
PICARD: We're fine. Everything is in order. But now, I want a complete check, all systems, all divisions.
TASHA: What about the Bynars?
PICARD: Turn them over to Quinteros. There will be a hearing.
ZERO ONE: We understood that
ONE ZERO: would happen.
TASHA: Follow me, please.
RIKER: While these things are being checked, permission to leave the Bridge, sir.
PICARD: Permission granted.
Scene: Bourbon Street Bar.
RIKER: What is a knockout like you doing in a computer generated gin joint like this?
But it is a different woman who turns and smiles at him.
RIKER: You're not Minuet.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: She's gone. I tried variations of the programme, others appeared, but not Minuet.
PICARD: Maybe it was all part of the Bynar's programming. But you know, Number One, some relationships just can't work.
RIKER: Yes, probably true. She'll be difficult to forget.

Chapter 16
Too Short A Season

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41309.5. We are in orbit around Persephone Five, where I have been sent to confer with Admiral Mark Jameson in regard to an extraordinary situation.
Scene: Bridge.
A very old man is on the viewscreen.
PICARD: Starfleet received this subspace transmission two days ago, Admiral.
JAMESON: (on viewscreen) Let's see it, Captain.
PICARD: On viewer.
A middle aged man sitting behind an empty desk.
KARNAS: (on viewscreen) I am Karnas, governor of Mordan Four. A dissident group of terrorists have taken Federation Ambassador Hawkins and his staff hostage. They will not discuss terms with me. This is a crisis I cannot resolve. The terrorists are demanding a Federation negotiator. I feel there is only one negotiator with the skills to resolve the situation. The lives of the hostages will depend on Starfleet delivering this man to Mordan. Commander Mark Jameson. Admiral Jameson. The terrorists have given you six Earth days to bring him here, or the hostages will die.
PICARD: Starfleet cannot understand how or why this situation has developed. Mordan Four has finally gained peace after decades of civil war.
JAMESON: (on viewscreen) Forty years of civil war, Captain.
PICARD: Yes, sir. Karnas was largely responsible for the planet's unification and peace. Why should he now be unable to deal with this rebellious faction?
JAMESON: (on viewscreen) Forty-five years ago I negotiated a hostage situation on Mordan, Captain. Karnas was a young man then, but so was I. He seems to feel that I can handle the situation again.
PICARD: I'm detailed to take you to Mordan Four as soon as you can be ready, Admiral.
JAMESON: My wife and I will beam aboard at fifteen hundred hours, Captain. Acknowledge.
PICARD: Received and acknowledged, sir. Picard out.
DEANNA: Nearly fifteen hundred now, sir.
PICARD: Well, Number One, let's go and welcome the Admiral aboard.
Scene: Transporter room.
Jameson is in an enclosed wheelchair similar to Captain Pike's, but with his upper torso free to move.
PICARD: Welcome aboard, Admiral. This is my Executive Officer, Commander William Riker.
RIKER: My pleasure, sir. Ma'am.
JAMESON: My wife, Anne. Captain, there are certain details of this mission that you should understand before we begin.
PICARD: Yes, sir.
JAMESON: I am not simply an advisor. On any assignment I accompany, Starfleet has designated me Senior Mission Officer. I control the away team and all its actions. Is that understood? Of course, Captain, you command the ship, but the mission is mine. I trust you are in complete agreement.
PICARD: Yes, sir. Of course.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Message coming in from Mordan, sir.
PICARD: Put it on the screen, Mister Data.
KARNAS: (on viewscreen) Mordan Four to Enterprise. This is Karnas. I will speak to the Captain.
PICARD: I am Captain Picard, commanding the Enterprise.
KARNAS: (on viewscreen) Is Admiral Jameson on board?
PICARD: He's here, beside my First Officer. Do you wish to speak to him now?
KARNAS: (on viewscreen) So, Jameson. I see time has not been kind.
JAMESON: It seldom is, Karnas. However, we could save a good deal of it now if you'll outline the terrorists' demands.
KARNAS: (on viewscreen) They insist all discussions will take place here on Mordan. They refuse to speak to me, only to a Federation mediator. They say they will brook no excuses. If there are any offered, your ambassador and his people will die. Unpleasantly. I believe them. So should you, Admiral.
JAMESON: Tell them I accept the conditions of negotiation.
KARNAS: (on viewscreen) I will do so immediately. (transmission ends)
RIKER: For a man in his position, he doesn't seem to know much about the situation.
JAMESON: Wrong, Number One. He told me that the terrorists are desperate enough to kill if they're crossed. They are willing to talk, one on one, but not to him.
PICARD: Counselor?
DEANNA: From his body language as well as his words and tone, I'd judge that what Karnas said was honest. But I sensed a holding back.
PICARD: Perhaps he knows more about the terrorists than he's prepared to admit.
JAMESON: Possible, but I suspect it's closer to the mark if we said he doesn't want to admit failure of his own efforts to negotiate. He is a proud man.
DEANNA: That could be, sir. Karnas has established himself as a powerful man on Mordan. Suddenly, in this situation, his power is useless.
BEVERLY: (OC) Sickbay to Bridge. I'm ready for Admiral Jameson now.
PICARD: In a few moments, Doctor.
JAMESON: Ready for what, Captain?
PICARD: Just a routine medical checkup. Ship's regulations.
Scene: Ready room.
RIKER: What I don't understand, sir, is how Karnas knew you were still available.
JAMESON: Still alive, you mean.
RIKER: So far as he knew, sir, you could have been dead.
JAMESON: Quite right, Commander, but I am not, and I imagine Ambassador Hawkins has told him that. I briefed the Ambassador about Mordan before he left to take up residence.
PICARD: All right. Karnas has a problem he thinks you can resolve. What do the terrorists need that Karnas can't, or won't, give them?
DATA: Mordan has had peace for five years. They have finally come to a state of productivity which satisfies their planetary needs, but no more than that. Perhaps the dissidents feel the Federation could provide them with more.
JAMESON: I have negotiated many treaties on many planets, Picard. I've found that peace, or the appearance of it, is often a prelude to war.
DEANNA: Admiral, are you suggesting the terrorists want arms and weapons?
JAMESON: They may. I am suggesting Karnas is the last man to give them such weapons.
DEANNA: I see. You believe that Karnas would not negotiate on that point, and so the terrorists demanded an outside negotiator.
JAMESON: I know Karnas. He is a warrior. He lives for challenge. These people have insulted his honour by taking the embassy staff hostage. I'll negotiate, but I'll have to be very careful in dealing with Karnas. He'll want revenge for that insult.
Scene: Jameson's quarters.
Anne is unpacking.
ANNE: Well, it's about time. Couldn't get away from the Bridge?
JAMESON: Didn't want to. Feels good to be on one again.
ANNE: I'm glad, Mark. Do you want me to help you up?
The front of the wheelchair opens, and he eases himself out and into a nearby chair.
ANNE: You're stronger today.
JAMESON: I'm fine. I feel like a kid again.
ANNE: This ship is magnificent. It even has family quarters. Pity we didn't have them twenty, thirty years ago. We could have been together almost all of your career. Mark! (he's in pain) Mark? I'll get Sickbay.
JAMESON: No. There's no need. It's happened before.
ANNE: When? You haven't said anything.
JAMESON: It'll pass. Just give me a moment. See, I'm better. It's going away.
ANNE: What is it? Do the doctors know?
JAMESON: Just body changes. Last checkup they said I'd have to expect it.
ANNE: You're sure? Don't lie to me.
JAMESON: I'm sure.
Scene: Ready room.
BEVERLY: All the medical information the Admiral provided is satisfactory, sir.
PICARD: Excellent, Doctor.
BEVERLY: Except for one thing. The test results he gave me aren't two days old, they're two months old. The medical file coder always includes the date as part of the file number. He lied to me, sir, and I don't know why.
PICARD: He is eighty five years old, Doctor. For some, the memory begins to fail.
BEVERLY: He suffers from Iverson's Disease, sir. It affects the body, not the mind. No, I have a gut feeling he's hiding something.
PICARD: That is an observation I'd expect from Counselor Troi. Doctor. Doctor, I do respect your opinion, and I'll want you on the Bridge for the next day or so. The Admiral must remain in the best of health for these negotiations, and he might require your services.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Admiral, we're approaching the Idini Star Cluster. Would you like to take the conn as we make transit?
JAMESON: Thank you, Captain. I would.
And he gets out of his wheelchair and walks a little unsteadily down the slope to Geordi's station.
PICARD: Well, Admiral, quite a little surprise you've pulled on us.
BEVERLY: Yes, quite.
JAMESON: Neglected to mention I began some new therapy before I left. Seems to be working. I haven't felt this good since the last time I was in space. The Gettysburg. All I needed to get me out of that chair was the thought of walking the decks in command of a starship again.
PICARD: Admiral, you only have the conn temporarily.
JAMESON: A figure of speech. Of course she's your ship. I'll just keep an eye on her for a while.
Scene: Ready room.
PICARD: The admiral displayed a remarkable improvement out there, wouldn't you say?
BEVERLY: Captain, no one recovers from Iverson's Disease. There is no known cure, and there are no cases where it has gone into remission. I have never heard of any therapy that would produce results like that.
PICARD: Then how do you account for it?
BEVERLY: I can't. All I can tell you is that the Admiral has been confined to his support chair for the last four years by the effects of Iverson's. By all the medical facts we know, he should never have walked again.
PICARD: I want you to look into it, Doctor. Thoroughly.
BEVEERLY: Yes, sir.
Scene: Jameson's quarters.
KARNAS: (on monitor) The terrorists have given you six Earth days to bring him here, or the hostages will die.
ANNE: I don't know how much more information you think you can get from that tape. (Jameson stands up) Mark! My God, what's happened?
JAMESON: It's the new therapy I'm taking. It's working, Annie.
His hair is sleeker and thicker too. And blond now.
ANNE: Oh, darling!
She kisses him, but when he responds amorously.
ANNE: Mark?
JAMESON: I told you I just needed to get back into space again.
ANNE: You really are looking much better.
JAMESON: It's the new treatment.
ANNE: No. Come here.
JAMESON: I hope you're heading for the bedroom.
ANNE: You stop it.
She brings him to a mirror and puts the light on.
ANNE: Darling, you look like you looked twenty years ago.
JAMESON: You're flatter me.
ANNE: Now you tell me what the hell is going on?
JAMESON: I don't know (collapses in pain)
ANNE: Sickbay! Medical emergency in the Admiral's quarters!
Scene: Beverly's office.
BEVERLY: I found traces of chemical substances in his blood and tissue samples, but none of them are in our pharmacopoeia. I'm still working on alien references to substances like these. All I can tell you is that he's ingested something that's strongly affecting his body.
PICARD: Specifics, Doctor.
BEVERLY: Captain, there are so many things going on, I can't give you specifics until I do a lot more tests.
PICARD: Give me what you have now.
BEVERLY: His red cell count is running riot. The cellular structure of his body is radically changing, but we can't make any decisions on that until we know what it's changing to. His DNA is skewed. Don't ask me how, but he even looks younger. And Captain, there are absolutely no traces of Iverson's Disease.
PICARD: You said there is no cure for Iverson's.
BEVERLY: None that we know of. But whatever these substances are doing to his body, at least they've done that for him. But how or why? It's too early to say.
PICARD: Get me some answers, Doctor. As soon as possible.
BEVERLY: Yes, sir.
Scene: Jameson's quarters.
ANNE: Captain.
PICARD: Mrs. Jameson, I have to ask the Admiral some questions.
JAMESON: Ask away. There's nothing to hide now.
He is a lot younger, thirties or forties.
PICARD: Admiral, in addition to your rank, you are a particularly valuable commodity just now. Starfleet has a right to some answers.
JAMESON: I've planned this for a long time, ever since I learned I had Iverson's Disease. Since it put me in that chair.
ANNE: What did you do, Mark?
JAMESON: There's a planet in the Cerebus system, Cerebus Two. They say the natives have a process that rejuvenates the body, gives you your youth back.
PICARD: Yes, I've heard of that story. It's a myth.
JAMESON: It's true, Picard. I'm living proof. Oh, it's dangerous. The mortality rate is high, and it's very painful. Aliens are seldom allowed to obtain the process, but I managed it. I negotiated a treaty for Cerebus Two some years ago, and they felt obligated to honour my request for the process.
PICARD: Obviously it works very rapidly, but how does it work?
JAMESON: The herb and drug combinations are self-administered slowly over a period of two years. Every response is different, depending on a being's DNA. I got enough for both of us, Annie, but I had to test it on myself first. I couldn't risk you. If I died, well, I was half a man, so what did it matter.
ANNE: It would matter to me.
JAMESON: But I was starting to change, Anne. It was almost undetectable, but the improvement was there. Then when this hostage situation came up, I knew I'd have to be at my peak to deal with it. I didn't have time to wait for the drug to work naturally.
PICARD: So you took the whole dose.
JAMESON: I took both of them. And look at me, Annie, look at me. I'm strong. I'm alert, Fit. I'm fitter than you are, Picard. And I'm getting younger!
PICARD: The only question I have, Admiral, is why you thought it necessary to be young to negotiate the release of the hostages. Even willing to put your life at risk for it. I'll be on the Bridge, Admiral, if you want to talk further.
Picard leaves.
ANNE: Why didn't you tell me, Mark? We've always been honest with each other, until now.
JAMESON: Annie, I did it for us.
ANNE: Oh, I'm sure you believed that, until you had a chance to head up a mission, to command again, and then you just upended the bottle or whatever it was, and damn everything. Did you think about me at all?
JAMESON: I obtained enough of the dosage for both of us.
ANNE: But you never asked if I wanted it. It's just like you, Mark, to assume that what you felt was right was the only answer.
JAMESON: But it was the right answer for me. It was killing you, having to take care of an invalid. Annie, what good was I to you? We can be together again.
ANNE: Let me go!
JAMESON: I can get you another supply of the drug.
Scene: Observation lounge.
The lounge is in darkness, and Jameson is at the table with a desk monitor.
JAMESON: Commander Data, I wish to open a communication frequency to Karnas.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: Aye, sir.
PICARD: One moment, Mister Data. Admiral, this is Picard. May I know the reason for this communication?
Scene: Observation lounge.
JAMESON: Karnas must have tried to negotiate with the terrorists before he was forced to call on me. I want all the information he has access to.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: You said Karnas was a proud man, Admiral, probably sensitive about his failure to deal with this situation. Is it wise to press him on this?
Scene: Observation lounge.
JAMESON: I'm the negotiator, Picard.
Scene: Bridge.
JAMESON: (OC) Karnas will have to cooperate with me and the terrorists, and damn his sensitivities.
PICARD: Then I suggest a secured channel, Admiral.
Scene: Observation lounge.
JAMESON: A sensible precaution, Picard. Make it so.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Make it so.
DATA: Aye, sir. Frequency open and secured.
Scene: Observation lounge.
JAMESON: Karnas.
KARNAS: (OC) What is it you want, Admiral?
JAMESON: We're on a secured channel, Karnas. You can talk freely. Who's behind this thing? You said dissidents.
KARNAS: (on monitor) Yes, political opponents who feel the Federation will disavow me as Governor if they stir up enough trouble on Mordan.
JAMESON: Then who is it? Ardan? Gilnor?
KARNAS: (on monitor) They're dead, Jameson. A long time now. For a long time I thought you were dead, too.
JAMESON: I almost died a couple of times on missions, but I always made it through somehow.
KARNAS: (on monitor) Yes. Now you're coming back to Mordan to negotiate for hostages again. It's almost as though the forty five years in-between never happened.
JAMESON: You've never forgiven me.
KARNAS: (on monitor) Of course I have. It was years ago.
JAMESON: There are no dissidents, are there? No terrorists. You have the hostages.
KARNAS: (on monitor) And if I have? You're coming to Mordan, Jameson, and you're going to negotiate for their lives. And I'm going to ask a very, very high price.
JAMESON: What if I refuse?
KARNAS: (on monitor) Then the hostages will die. You've seen how my executioners work. They are still as efficient as they were, perhaps even more skilled now. You'll come, even if you don't have much honour left.
Scene: Bridge.
JAMESON: Conn, are we still on schedule to arrive at Mordan in thirty eight hours?
GEORDI: Aye, sir. We're at warp four.
JAMESON: Picard, I want a jump to warp eight, so that we arrive ahead of our announced ETA. It'll throw Karnas off balance, and we can catch him before he's ready.
PICARD: Ready for exactly what, Admiral?
JAMESON: I believe Karnas has the hostages, and there never were any dissidents.
PICARD: What has happened to bring you to that conclusion? That's quite a big jump.
JAMESON: I'm not at liberty to say, Picard, but negotiations are no longer the answer.
PICARD: Isn't the most important thing the hostage's lives?
JAMESON: And you agree with that too, Riker?
RIKER: I do, sir.
JAMESON: Good. Because I plan to personally lead an away team on an armed rescue mission to get them out of there.
Later, Jameson is in the Captain's chair, giving the orders.
JAMESON: Commander Data, bring up the plans I requested on the viewscreen, please.
DATA: Aye, sir.
JAMESON: Most of Mordan's principal city was devastated during the war. What was left consisted largely of a network of underground tunnels. A rat's maze. When they rebuilt the city, they simply built over the tunnels.
DATA: I have it, sir.
GEORDI: Pardon me, sir, but where do these tunnels come into the picture?
JAMESON: This is where Karnas held his hostages before and where I believe he has them now.
PICARD: Wouldn't that be a little obvious, Admiral?
JAMESON: Karnas is a dogged strategist, Picard, not a brilliant one. He sticks to what works. He will kill the hostages if we do not get them out of there.
PICARD: Therefore you see this armed raid as the only option.
JAMESON: You don't agree?
PICARD: With respect, Admiral, I would point out no one else has heard or considered Karnas's demands. The Federation might view them differently if they knew what they were.
JAMESON: Starfleet has given me command of the away team, Picard, and I intend to use them as I see fit.
Scene: Beverly's office.
ANNE: Our anniversary is next week. Our fiftieth.
BEVERLY: In his heart, he's still the same man you married, Anne.
DEANNA: That's true. He still cares for you, despite the physical changes he's undergoing.
ANNE: But he's getting younger, and I'm, well look at me. Why did he do this?
DEANNA: Because there are lives at stake, Mrs. Jameson.
ANNE: What about our lives, his and mine? I was looking forward to time together finally. Our retirement. Now he's young again, and has his life to live over.
DEANNA: Doctor, she has to know.
ANNE: Know what?
BEVERLY: Anne, your husband.
ANNE: What is it?
BEVERLY: He's not stabilising. He may not have that life to live over.
Scene: Observation lounge.
It's dark, so we can assume that Jameson is even younger than last time. Picard enters.
JAMESON: We'll be at Mordan in three hours.
PICARD: I couldn't sleep either.
JAMESON: I never could before a mission. I always wound up in the observation lounge, staring out at the stars, thinking.
PICARD: Perhaps in this case, rethinking?
Jameson turns so we can see the brown-haired, smooth-skinned twenty something he has become.
PICARD: Why is this mission so important to you? Why did you risk your life to lead it personally?
JAMESON: I want to save lives, Captain.
PICARD: Noble sentiments, but that's too easy an answer. You've been here before. You negotiated a release of the hostages with Karnas before. Why is it now your answer is an armed raid? It's my away team you're sending in there. I think there's something you're not telling me, and I have a right to know what it is.
JAMESON: Do you know the background? The Mordanites had some sophistication, but were still ruled by tribal family units. Karnas's father was the ruling chief of one of the families. Another tribe had him assassinated. Karnas seized the passengers of a starliner and held them hostage, demanding that Starfleet provide him with weapons that would enable him to defeat his rivals.
PICARD: That's the official record.
JAMESON: Officially, the story is that after two other mediators were murdered, I went in and negotiated with Karnas to bring out the hostages safely.
PICARD: Are you saying that's not the truth?
JAMESON: It wasn't my golden oratory that saved them, Captain. I gave Karnas the weapons he wanted.
PICARD: You did what?
JAMESON: I gave exactly the same weapons to his rivals. My interpretation of the Prime Directive. Let them solve their problems with those arms on an equal basis.
PICARD: And that decision plunged them into forty years of civil war.
JAMESON: I didn't know that would happen. I thought a minor war. It would be settled in less than a year. How would I know it would take four decades? But I falsified the reports to Starfleet, and I lived with that on my soul, Picard. Sixty-three people came away safe but millions died on Mordan because I delivered those weapons.
PICARD: Karnas could have worked for peace during those years instead of continuing the war. It's not all on your head, Admiral.
JAMESON: But I started it. I lit the match. Now finally I can vindicate myself, if only in a small way. I came to negotiate, but that isn't what Karnas wants.
PICARD: Revenge. That's why he demanded you when he knew that you were still alive.
JAMESON: And I'm not going to give it to him, Picard. I'm going to do what I should have done the first time. We're taking the hostages out by force, if necessary. No deals.
Scene: Transporter room.
Worf, Tasha, Data, Dana, Geordi and Georda are already on the pads.
JAMESON: Prepare to energise, Chief.
PICARD: Belay that. Admiral, your proper place is on the Bridge.
JAMESON: I will remind you one more time, Picard, I am the Senior Mission Commander and I'm leading this team.
RIKER: Sir?
PICARD: The Admiral is correct, Number One. He has that right. But I am the Captain of this ship, and I have a right to accompany him. Riker, you're in command of the Enterprise. Energise.
Scene: Tunnel.
It is spacious, good high ceiling with light streaming through, curved concrete walls.
JAMESON: Yes, perfect. We are in the M4 tunnel, directly under the Governor's residence. M-4 is a subsidiary tunnel, but it crosses and links with several main ones.
DATA: I am sorry, sir. That does not correspond with the information in my tricorder, sir.
JAMESON: Your information is incorrect, Commander. I know these tunnels like the back of my own hand. Keep scanning for signs of human life forms. Karnas held his hostages in these tunnels before. He'll do it again.
The group head down a tunnel.
DATA: Captain, the Admiral is definitely incorrect. The tunnel schematics we have show this to be a dead end. It was sealed off two years ago.
PICARD: No doubt you're right, Mister Data. However, forty five years ago, I'm sure it linked in with the tunnels the Admiral remembers.
They arrive at the dead end.
JAMESON: Damn.
PICARD: Geordi? Georda?
GEORDI: This is steelplast, sir.
GEORDA: Fairly recent installation.
JAMESON: This is the most direct route. Set phasers to cut through it.
Worf and Tasha cut an opening in the wall.
TASHA: If you have the coordinates where you think the hostages are, sir, we could just beam in over there.
JAMESON: Karnas may not have them in the same place. There's no substitute, Lieutenant, for personal reconnoitre.
He leads them through the hole.
GEORDI: Admiral, there's an infrared light signal ahead. Steady beam, straight across the tunnel, chest high. There's another at waist level.
TASHA: An alarm trigger or
PICARD: Reset phasers to stun.
A phaser beam just misses them.
PICARD: Take cover!
Armed soldiers appear. Every one ducks behind convenient barrels and suchlike. Tasha gets in front of Picard. Geordi gets in front of Georda and Data gets in front of Dana. Jameson stands exposed.
WORF: Sir, look out!
Worf knocks Jameson out of the way of another blast.
DATA: Their phasers, sir, set on kill.
PICARD: Thank you, Mister Data. I have heard the sound before.
Tasha takes out two soldiers, then Jameson cries in pain.
TASHA: Is he hit?
DATA: No sign of a wound.
PICARD: Enterprise, this is Picard. Eight to beam up, now!
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: The Admiral?
PICARD: Sickbay. Not good is a galactic understatement.
GEORDI: Sir? Karnas again, sir. On screen.
KARNAS: (on viewscreen) Enterprise. There has been an armed intrusion in the tunnels beneath the city. That smells of Jameson. Where is he?
PICARD: Karnas, this is Picard. I'm sorry to inform you the Admiral is critically ill.
KARNAS: (on viewscreen) That is not my concern. Sick or well, you have ten minutes to beam him down.
DEANNA: (OC) Sickbay to Bridge.
PICARD: Picard.
DEANNA: (OC) Doctor Crusher
Scene: Sickbay.
DEANNA: Requests your presence in Sickbay immediately, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: I'm on my way.
Scene: Turbolift.
PICARD: Sickbay.
Scene: Sickbay.
PICARD: What is it, Doctor?
BEVERLY: I think you'd better see for yourself, Captain.
Jameson is on a bed, very ill.
JAMESON: Picard. Picard, I have to get to Karnas.
BEVERLY: I can't allow him out of my care, Captain.
JAMESON: It's my last option, Picard. The raid failed. All I have left to bargain with is myself.
RIKER: (OC) Bridge to Picard.
PICARD: Picard here.
RIKER: (OC) A new message from Karnas, sir.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: If we don't deliver Jameson in five minutes, one of the hostages will be executed.
Scene: Sickbay.
RIKER: (OC) Fifteen minutes after that, another.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: He promises the method of execution will be most painful.
Scene: Sickbay.
JAMESON: Let me go. If I give myself over to him, he'll let the hostages go. It's me he wants.
PICARD: It means almost certain death for you, Admiral.
JAMESON: My life for how many hostages, Picard? Twenty? Let me go.
PICARD: Number One, inform Karnas we'll be beaming down in less than five minutes.
RIKER: (OC) Did you say we, sir?
PICARD: You have your orders, Number One.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: (OC) Aye, sir.
Scene: Karnas's office.
Picard, Beverly and the young Jameson beam in.
KARNAS: Who are you? I want Jameson.
PICARD: Karnas, this is Admiral Mark Jameson.
KARNAS: This charade will accomplish nothing, Picard. Beam down Jameson, and the hostages will be freed. Continue this and I promise you they will die. And you with them.
JAMESON: Peretor Karnas, you always were a stubborn man. I thought you wanted me. I'm here. Release the hostages now.
KARNAS: Peretor was my old title. Why do you call me that? I warn you, Picard. This trick is going too far. He has been coached for some devious reason. If this farce does not stopped immediately, you and the hostages will be put to death.
Jameson doubles up in pain.
PICARD: Doctor!
KARNAS: I am waiting for an explanation, Captain.
PICARD: He is the Admiral, Karnas. Before he left on this mission, he administered an overdose of an alien de-aging drug to himself. He wanted to face you with strength again, on even terms. This is what the drug has done to him.
KARNAS: This story you are telling is unbelievable. Jameson is a man of more than eighty years, not this. I want that old man, Picard. I want to show him this world he helped to make. The scars on old soldiers' bodies. The graveyards of our young dead. The wasted cities we are still rebuilding. And all of it caused by him.
PICARD: As I understand it, Karnas, you were the one who demanded the weapons to avenge your father's death.
KARNAS: But Jameson didn't give weapons to only us. If he had, we would have quickly triumphed over our enemies, and there would have been peace in all these decades. I want him to pay for that, Picard.
BEVERLY: Captain, I think Mrs. Jameson should beam down now.
PICARD: Enterprise, this is Picard. Have Mrs. Jameson prepare to beam down. Karnas, I asked Doctor Crusher to bring with her the visual records we've made of Admiral Jameson's deterioration. Will you look at them?
KARNAS: You're wasting my time, Picard.
PICARD: Just a few moments. You saw the Admiral on the Enterprise when he was en route to Mordan?
KARNAS: Yes.
PICARD: And you recognised him?
KARNAS: Yes.
PICARD: Is this the man you saw?
picture of old Jameson on a small screen.
KARNAS: This is the man I want.
PICARD: He's here, Karnas. Look. Once he took the compound there was no way to stop it.
Anne beams down and goes straight to Jameson and Beverly.
PICARD: You'll have to deal with me, Karnas. Whatever you wanted from Jameson isn't possible any more. And you wanted revenge. You blamed your war on him, and there's no doubt he had a lot to do with it. But you had the weapons and you used them. You could have tried for negotiations for peace on your planet long ago. Instead you chose to fight. How many of those forty years of civil war are on your head, Karnas?
KARNAS: Jameson has to pay for his crimes. I have sworn it to my people.
PICARD: Forty five years ago he made the wrong decision. He wanted to come here to somehow right it, to atone for what he did. Now all he can do is to give himself up to you. He brought this retribution on himself.
KARNAS: No. I don't believe you. You're shielding Jameson on the ship and you're telling me this tale to save his life.
JAMESON: Peretor Karnas, there were only two of us in the meeting. You didn't even trust your lieutenants there. You told me that old Peretor Sain had ordered your father's assassination. You told me that you wanted arms to destroy him. Peace wasn't on your mind. All you wanted was revenge. And I gave you the weapons to do it.
KARNAS: Jameson told you this. If it is you, show me the scar.
Jameson shows his wrist.
JAMESON: There. The blood cut you gave me to seal our bargain.
KARNAS: It is you. Somehow it is you. (takes a gun from the wall) Then die by your own weapon! No. No, my revenge will be in seeing you live like this. Such pain.
BEVERLY: The compound he took is forcing his cells and organs to go further, younger, and they can't take the stress. It's like they're imploding. And I can't give him anything to stop it.
PICARD: Can you ease the pain?
Beverly shakes her head.
ANNE: Mark, can you hear me?
JAMESON: Yes.
ANNE: I'll always love you.
JAMESON: Annie with the golden hair.
ANNE: Flatterer. It's grey now.
JAMESON: I only see the gold.
He dies in her arms.
KARNAS: Rest, Jameson. Your long night, and mine, are over. The hostages will be freed immediately, Captain. I'm prepared to be cooperative.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: The hostages have been freed by Karnas, unharmed, and the body of Admiral Mark Jameson has been buried on Mordan, at the request of his widow and by the permission of Karnas. The quest for youth, Number One. So futile. Age and wisdom have their graces too.
RIKER: I wonder if one doesn't have to have age and wisdom to appreciate that, sir.
PICARD: I hope not, Number One. Mister LaForge, prepare to take us out of orbit. Set course for Isis Three.
GEORDI: Aye, sir. Leaving orbit.
Scene: Ten Forward.
Dana and Georda are sitting at a table talking to each other when Data and Geordi walks over.
DATA: May we join you?
DANA: Of course, you may.
The guys sit down next to their girls.
GEORDI: Let me guess Lesley is with Wesley in their quarters again.
GEORDA: That's right. How did you know?
GEORDI: Well it's the fact that you two are here without her again.
DANA: How true that is.
DATA: Tell me what does that mean?
DANA: What does what mean?
DATA: Those four word that you said?
DANA: Oh do you mean 'How true that is"?
DATA: Yes that is what I mean.
GEORDI: I was wondering that too.
DATA: Why do you always say that?
GEORDA: Actually it's our sister Lesley who always says it. She gets it from our father because it's our father's catchphrase.
GEORDI: Catchphrase?
GEORDA: That's right.
DATA: So why do they say it?
DANA: They say it when they agree with someone.
GEORDI: Really?
GEORDA: Really, really.
GEORDI: I was wondering why Les has always said it.
DATA: Me too. I keep hearing her say it a lot but I did not know why she always said it.
DANA: Well now you do.
DATA: That is correct now I do.

Those were good chapters. I like the parts with Data and Dana. I like parts with Geordi and Geodra. I liked the parts with Wesley and Lesley. I liked all the endings.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 17
When The Bough Breaks

Scene: Corridor.
PICARD: (OC) Commander Riker, report to the Bridge.
RIKER: On the way.
BERNARD: Harry! Harry, come back here!
The running child bumps straight into Riker.
RIKER: What's your hurry, Harry?
HARRY: Sorry, Commander. I was just
His father arrives.
BERNARD: Harry! I'm sorry if he bothered you.
RIKER: No bother, Doctor Bernard.
HARRY: I'm not going back. I hate that teacher and I hate calculus.
BERNARD: Everyone needs an understanding of basic calculus, whether they like it or not.
HARRY: Why?
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: You're limping.
RIKER: Had a small run-in with an aspiring sprinter.
PICARD: Number One.
RIKER: Problem, Captain?
PICARD: No, more a curiosity. For the past few hours we've been tracking faint energy readings in an attempt to locate the source. It's like following a trail of bread crumbs. The pathfinder lead here and stopped, which is what I knew would interest you.
RIKER: What's our position, Geordi?
GEORDI: The Epsilon Mynos system, sir.
RIKER: Thank you, Captain, you're right. I wouldn't miss this for anything.
TASHA: What's so interesting about this system?
RIKER: Aldea. Tasha, I'm surprised you haven't heard the stories about Aldea, the wondrous mythical world. Like Atlantis of ancient Earth or Neinman of Xerxes Seven. Advanced culture, centuries old. Self-contained, peaceful. Incredible technical sophistication providing the daily needs for all the citizens, so that they could turn themselves over to art and culture.
TASHA: Where is it supposed to be?
RIKER: That's the myth. Somehow, as the legend goes, the Aldeans were able to cloak their planet in darkness and go unseen by marauders, and other hostile passers-by who might rob and plunder.
TASHA: What a wonderful fairy tale.
DATA: Scanners still show nothing, sir.
DEANNA: Scanners may show nothing, sir, but I'm sensing something very strong. Thousands of minds.
PICARD: From where?
DEANNA: Very close.
PICARD: All stop, and hold this position.
GEORDI: Aye, sir. All stop, and hold.
PICARD: Anything?
WORF: Captain, I'm recording a distortion in quadrant one, mark nine zero.
PICARD: On screen.
The stars wobble.
PICARD: Shields and deflectors up.
TASHA: Aye, sir.
Then a golden planet comes into view.
RIKER: It's Aldea, Captain. It has to be.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41509.1. Either by chance or intent, we've been led to the planet Aldea, which appeared out of nowhere, hidden behind a sophisticated shielding device.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: Sensors indicate that the shield is electromagnetic, a complicated light refracting mechanism.
PICARD: A cloaking device?
DATA: Aye, sir.
GEORDI: It's got to be pretty sophisticated to hide an entire planet.
WORF: We're being scanned, sir.
PICARD: We'll let them know our peaceful intention. Open hailing frequencies, Lieutenant Yar.
TASHA: Frequencies open, sir.
A young woman comes on the viewscreen.
RASHELLA: (on viewscreen) I am Rashella. Welcome to Aldea.
PICARD: I am Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the USS Enterprise. We come in peace.
RASHELLA: (on viewscreen) We know.
PICARD: We've heard the stories about Aldea, but frankly I never believed they could be true.
RASHELLA: (on viewscreen) Our shield has confused outsiders for millennia, Captain.
PICARD: That's a very long time to have such technology. Why do you reveal yourselves to us now?
RASHELLA: (on viewscreen) We're eager to meet in person to discuss that, and other subjects of mutual interest.
PICARD: We're ready anytime.
RASHELLA: (on viewscreen) Excellent!
Rashella and a man appear on the deck, and seem dizzy at first.
RADUE: We mean no harm.
RASHELLA: Our arrival seems to have startled you.
PICARD: It was a little sudden.
RADUE: I'm Radue, First Appointee to Aldea.
PICARD: Welcome aboard.
BEVERLY: Captain, they haven't been through decontamination.
PICARD: Our medical doctor is concerned that you didn't go through the regular transporting procedure.
RASHELLA: You couldn't transport us. The only way through our shield is our way, Captain. Our cloaking device may be off, but our shield is operating. We've brought you small tokens of welcome.
She hands over a bouquet.
RADUE: And a personal invitation to a celebration on Aldea.
PICARD: That would be delightful. Number One, assemble the away team.
RADUE: We will prepare for your arrival, Commander Riker.
RIKER: How do you know
RADUE: Your name? We've been monitoring your ship's communications. We must return now to Aldea. Our eyes are very sensitive to bright light. Rashella.
They vanish again.
PICARD: Amazing. To exist only in that dreamworld of mythology and then suddenly to be here, right in front of us.
RIKER: Now we know who placed the bread crumbs. We're not here by accident.
PICARD: Counselor, do you sense anything?
DEANNA: They want something from us, something we value greatly. So much, that they're afraid we won't part with it.
RADUE: (OC) We are ready to receive you, Commander Riker, and two of your colleagues?
Riker, Deanna and Beverly disappear.
PICARD: Interesting choices.
Scene: First Unit.
RADUE: I hope Duana and I know how to greet you properly, Commander.
Scene: Bridge.
WESLEY: How do they cloak the planet?
DATA: The theory is simple. The shield bends light rays around the planet's contour, similar to the Romulan cloaking device. But the implementation is quite difficult.
A golden beam starts to sweep the Bridge.
WORF: Captain!
PICARD: Data, what do you read?
DATA: Some sort of scanning device, sir.
It holds on Wesley and Lesley.
PICARD: Don't touch him!
GEORDI: This beam is emanating from Aldea.
PICARD: Shields up. LaForge, contact Commander Riker. Worf, check all decks.
TASHA: Shields inoperable, sir.
DATA: All decks being probed in a methodical pattern, sir.
PICARD: All decks? Everything? The entire ship?
DATA: Aye, sir.
GEORDI: I can't reach the Commander. We're being blocked.
The beam vanishes.
PICARD: Wesley, Lesley, are you all right?
WESLEY: It was scary at first, but I really didn't feel anything.
LESLEY: Same here.
WORF: Sir, similar incidents all decks, but only with the children.
Scene: First Unit.
RADUE: Yes, we are an ancient power, Commander, but we've suffered for it. Our history is littered with the deaths of those Aldeans who wanted more and more things. Nothing was ever enough. So we've evolved a very simple way of living. For whatever is taken, something is given in return.
RIKER: It seems an equitable code.
RADUE: It's brought us peace. Unfortunately, there are very few of us left to enjoy it.
DEANNA: Why?
RADUE: That is part of what we wish to discuss. We need help from the Federation to rebuild our heritage. We need a younger generation, strong and healthy, following in the Aldean traditions.
RIKER: I don't understand. How can the Federation help influence your children in your traditions?
RADUE: Because we have no children, Commander. Rashella was the last child born on this planet.
BEVERLY: And your medical community can do nothing?
RASHELLA: They've tried, Doctor Crusher. And failed.
BEVERLY: Perhaps we can help.
RIKER: Radue, exactly why were we invited here?
RADUE: We propose a trade. One which will solve our problem and give something back to the Federation.
RIKER: And the nature of this trade?
RADUE: We need some of your children. In payment, we will give you information that would take you centuries to acquire.
DEANNA: That might be acceptable to some other races, but humans are unusually attached to their offspring.
BEVERLY: Our children are not for sale at any price.
RIKER: We sympathise with your situation, but what you ask is not possible.
RADUE: And that's your final answer?
RIKER: That's my only answer. Now if there's some other way we can help you.
RADUE: I am sorry you are intransigent.
Rashella beams them away.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Still no response, sir.
The away team return, and Wesley along with Lesley vanishes.
BEVERLY: Wesley! Lesley! They've taken my son and his girlfriend.
All over the ship, children are disappearing. Alexandra while playing at her mother's feet, Katie while playing a musical instrument.
WORF: Captain, Saucer Section reports six more children are gone.
RIKER: It's the children. That's why we've been brought here. That's what they wanted.
PICARD: And that's what they have. Status.
TASHA: Aldean shield still up. Hailing frequencies open. No response.
PICARD: Keep trying. Counselor, you'll have to gather the parents.
DEANNA: They'll need to speak to you as well, Captain.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Captain, your children are with us. My word of honour, no harm will ever come to them.
PICARD: Harm has already come to them.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Captain, let us begin discussions regarding appropriate compensation.
PICARD: Compensation? You have stolen our children away from their classrooms, away from their bedrooms and you talk about compensation? You claim to be a civilised world and yet you have just committed an act of utter barbarity!
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Captain, we will continue these discussions when you've calmed down.
Scene: First Unit.
KATIE: (blonde girl half Wesley's height) Wesley, I'm frightened.
WESLEY: I know you are, Katie. We all are. But we're going to be all right. Everyone knows where we are, and no one is going to hurt you. I promise.
Lesley has her arm around Wesley's arm.
KATIE: Wesley, why does Lesley have her arm around yours?
WESLEY: Well, Katie that is because she is my girlfriend.
Radue, Rashella and Duana enter.
RADUE: Greetings, Wesley Crusher. The Custodian indicated that you would be the leader.
WESLEY: The Custodian? Who is the Custodian?
RADUE: The Custodian is not a person.
RASHELLA: You have been brought to Aldea as our guests. We'll provide anything you need or want.
WESLEY: We want to go home.
RADUE: Wesley, all of you have been chosen because you are special. Just ask for anything you want, and you shall have it.
Alexandra, a self-willed red head, goes up to Rashella and shakes her hand.
RADUE: (to Lesley) Who are you?
Lesley doesn't answer but hides her face in Wesley's shoulder.
RASHELLA: (to Wesley) What's wrong with her is she shy?
WESLEY: She's not shy.
RADUE: Who is she?
WESLEY: This is Lesley Hatter. She's my girlfriend.
Scene: Observation lounge.
TOYA: What's happened to Alexandra and the other children, Captain? How are you getting them back?
BEVERLY: Toya, sit down. Don't give in to fear. Now, we all knew what the risks were when we signed on, and that's the choice we made. Now, Captain Picard will do everything possible to bring our children back.
PICARD: The Aldeans are anxious to discuss compensation.
BERNARD: Compensation?
PICARD: That will buy us time. I've asked Doctor Crusher to be involved in the negotiations as your representative.
BERNARD: Why were these specific children taken?
DEANNA: We can't be sure. We do know the Aldeans can't have children of their own.
BERNARD: Then they won't let them go easily.
PICARD: I won't insult you by pretending that any of this will be easy. But I can tell you that the Enterprise will not leave them behind. You can be assured of that.
BERNARD: Can we talk with our children? Give them some reassurance. Let them know that we are here, and that they will be safe.
PICARD: I'll do my best to arrange that.
BERNARD: The last time I saw him, I yelled at him.
Scene: Rashella's room.
RASHELLA: There you are! I have you now!
She and Alexandra are laughing and happy.
Scene: First Unit.
Two other couples are waiting.
RADUE: Come in. Don't be alarmed. The other children have been assigned to their units.
WESLEY: Units?
RADUE: A unit is a group where those of similar talents and interests live together.
WESLEY: Do you mean like a family.
RADUE: Yes, you could call it that.
WESLEY: We already have families. Does Captain Picard know you're doing this?
RADUE: We are keeping nothing from him.
LEDA: We have been waiting for you so long, Harry. We are artists, just like you. We see within you the potential of what you can be.
HARRY: I'm not an artist.
ACCOLAN: You will be. And a great one.
LEDA: This way. (they step into an alcove) Unit B, three seven five.
And they vanish.
RADUE: Katie.
MELIAN: (an old man) I am honoured.
KATIE: Thank you.
RADUE: Melian is the foremost musician on Aldea.
MELIAN: Music speaks its own language. I know we'll have much to learn from each other. Don't worry, Katie, you'll be seeing Wesley soon.
Katie and Melian leave.
WESLEY: What about me? Don't I get a say in this?
RADUE: Wesley, sometimes something happens which you just must accept. You and the other children are now members of this society. That will not change. It is up to you to make the transition as easy as possible for the others. It's your duty, because you are their leader. Help them to accept it because nothing you, or those on the starship can do will change it. Because like you, we also have no choice.
Alexandra and Rashella come running in, playing.
RADUE: Where have you been Rashella? Zena and Aran are waiting to take Alexandra.
RASHELLA: No.
RADUE: No? I told you that she
RASHELLA: No, Radue. They can't have her. I will never let her go.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Any response from Aldea, Lieutenant?
TASHA: Not yet, sir.
RIKER: Captain, Data has found something interesting. The Aldean shield gives evidence of random fluctuations, weakening its structure in isolated sections.
PICARD: You're saying there are holes in their defence system?
RIKER: In essence, yes. I find it surprising after all these eons that the Aldeans' have not perfected their technology. One would assume they would be aware of the weakness and repair it.
PICARD: Can we beam down an away team through one of those holes?
RIKER: It's a possibility. It would have to be perfectly timed, and there's no guarantee.
DATA: We may be more successful in deciphering the code they use to transport through the magnetic shield.
PICARD: Can you do that?
DATA: Eventually, sir. I am working on it now but the number of permutations is almost endless.
PICARD: Keep trying. While he's doing that, Number One, I want you and LaForge to try and find some way of getting through one of those holes, because one way or the other we have got to get an away team on the planet, locate the power source for the shield and neutralise it.
RIKER: You're certain they'll negotiate?
PICARD: Oh, they'll negotiate, or they'll call it that. They've taken what they want. Now they'll rationalise it by throwing us some sort of bone.
RIKER: And when we don't accept their offer?
PICARD: The minute they believe that we won't accept their compensation for the children, they'll break off the discussion, they'll disappear behind their shield, locking us out and the children in forever. That's why I've got to keep them talking.
Scene: First Unit.
Lesley was looking around and she noticed that her sisters Georda and Dana aren't there with them.
LESLEY: Where are my sisters?
RADUE: You're sisters?
LESLEY: Yeah my sisters, Georda and Dana Hatter. Why aren't they here with us?
RADUE: Why should they be here with us?
LESLEY: They're children as well. I mean they're my age.
RADUE: What do you mean they're your age?
LESLEY: My sisters and I are triplets only you wouldn't know it by looking at us.
RADUE: Who's the oldest out you three?
LESLEY: That would be me.
RADUE: Well that's why we chose you and not your sisters.
LESLEY: (whispering) Wes, I'm afraid.
WESLEY: (whispering) What are you afraid of, starshine?
LESLEY: (whispering) I'm afraid that they might separate us. You know that I won't like that.
WESLEY: Yes, I know that, starshine.
RADUE: What are you two talking about and Wesley why did you call her starshine?
WESLEY: Les is just afraid. I called her that because like I said before she's my girlfriend.
RADUE: What are you afraid of Lesley?
WESLEY: (answering for Lesley who hides her head in Wesley's shoulder again) She's afraid that you might separate us.
RADUE: Is that all.
LESLEY: Yes.
RADUE: Well of course we are. Lesley you are coming with me and Wesley is going with Duana.
LESLEY: No you can't do this. I won't leave Wes.
Radue grabbed Lesley by the hand and took her away. Lesley tried to get away but she couldn't.
LESLEY: (calling out to Wesley while holding out her hand towards him) Wesley! (to Radue) Let me go! (to Wesley) Wesley don't let him take me away.
RADUE: Don't worry Lesley you'll see Wesley again.
Scene: Custodian room.
There are hexagonal screens on the walls, a single console, and some chairs around the edge of the room.
DUANA: Custodian, Wesley Crusher's voice will be entered into the authorised file for Third Level clearance.
CUSTODIAN: Proceed, Duana.
DUANA: Announce yourself to the Custodian.
WESLEY: Hello, Custodian. I am Wesley Crusher.
CUSTODIAN: Hello, Wesley. Your voice will now activate Third Level clearance.
WESLEY: What does that mean?
CUSTODIAN: You may ask any questions you wish.
WESLEY: Thank you. Duana, what does the Custodian do?
DUANA: It frees us from all burden. It takes care of all our needs. It regulates our lives.
WESLEY: Who built it?
DUANA: The Progenitors.
WESLEY: When?
DUANA: Oh, hundreds of centuries ago.
WESLEY: What is its power source?
DUANA: Wesley, why is that important? It does what we ask it. It always has. What difference does it make how it works?
WESLEY: If you don't know how it works, then how can you repair it?
DUANA: Why would we want to repair it?
WESLEY: From time to time, every computer, I mean Custodian, requires maintenance.
DUANA: Wesley, Radue is right. You ask questions I can't answer. Ask the Custodian instead.
WESLEY: Custodian, can you show me my girlfriend Lesley?
CUSTODIAN: Yes.
WESLEY: Custodian, show me my girl.
On the little screen, Lesley is with Radue in his room and she is lying on the bed.
LESLEY: (on screen) Radue please let me go back with Wesley. I need to be with him.
RADUE: (on screen) Why is that?
LESLEY: (on screen, lying on the bed getting weaker) I don't know I just need to be with him. Please...let me...be with...him...before...it's...to...late.
On the little screen Wesley saw that Lesley was getting weaker and after he heard her say 'late' she became motionless.
WESLEY: I guess this is what she was afraid of. I have to help her.
DUANA: She'll be fine.
WESLEY: (thinking) I don't think so.
Now Wesley is asking the Custodian where the other kids are.
WESLEY: Custodian, can you show me where Harry is?
CUSTODIAN: Yes.
WESLEY: Custodian, show me Harry.
On the little screen, Harry is having his first go with the sculpting laser on a block of wood. Sawdust flies everywhere.
HARRY: (on screen) I never did this before. It's fun.
WESLEY: You are going to make him into a sculptor?
DUANA: He already is. He was just never encouraged properly. The tool Leda is giving him will allow him to bring out his visions.
WESLEY: It will take him years to learn to do that.
DUANA: Oh, no. It will happen quite quickly.
WESLEY: Custodian, show me Alexandra.
She and Rashella are playing with a 3D hologram controlled by a joystick.
WESLEY: Custodian, show me Mason.
DUANA: Stop, Custodian. We must work now. There is much to learn.
Wesley looks at the door with the symbol on it.
WESLEY: What's in there? The power source?
DUANA: I don't know. It's forbidden.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. We remain in orbit around Aldea. It's becoming all too evident that talk will not effect the return of our children. We must neutralise the Aldean shield. Until then, we are helpless.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: Sir, Radue is hailing us.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Captain Picard?
PICARD: Doctor Crusher and I are ready, Radue.
RADUE (on viewscreen) Are you ill, Captain?
PICARD: No. Doctor Crusher is a Staff Officer, Radue. Starfleet Regulation six point five seven requires that at least two Staff Officers are present during any treaty or contract negotiations.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Very well.
RIKER: Not much on pleasantries, is he?
DATA: I am not aware of Regulation six point five seven.
PICARD: No, Data. Neither am I.
DATA: I see, sir. Oh, I see, sir.
PICARD: Doctor Crusher, please report to the Bridge. Now, we'll see what they have in mind.
Scene: First Unit.
PICARD: Before we begin, we want to see the children.
RADUE: No. We're here to negotiate appropriate compensation, not to pander to emotions. Please sit.
PICARD: We do not condone your actions. You're attempting to salve your conscience by offering goods in exchange for our children.
RADUE: Why do you want them back so badly? You can always have more.
PICARD: You are trifling with the primal instincts of our species. I must warn you that human parents are quite willing to die for their children.
RADUE: Returning the children is non-negotiable.
RASHELLA: I promise you, they'll have a beautiful life with us. And they'll be father and mother to a new breed born of an ancient culture.
BEVERLY: But how can you be so sure that they can have children? You can't.
RADUE: But they will. Our inability to bear children is a genetic dysfunction. It's not contagious.
PICARD: We sympathise with your situation. Surely there is a solution which can be mutually satisfactory?
RADUE: For us, the problem is solved. And we're offering you information on areas of the galaxy you do not even know exist. What more can we offer? What more would you like?
PICARD: A significant beginning. But first, I must ask that Doctor Crusher be allowed to see her son before we continue.
RADUE: You are a stubborn people. Ah, well, that too can be a positive trait. You may see him.
Scene: Wesley's room.
Duana shows Beverly in.
WESLEY: Mom!
BEVERLY: Wes.
She activates her tricorder.
WESLEY: I knew Captain Picard would get us home.
BEVERLY: Not yet, Wes.
She gives him the hand scanner.
WESLEY: Oh.
BEVERLY: Are you okay? And the others?
WESLEY: Okay, really okay. We've been assigned to our units, like families. They're treating us like gods.
Meanwhile, he walks around Duana, scanning her.
BEVERLY: Don't let it go to your head.
WESLEY: I won't.
BEVERLY: Where's Lesley?
WESLEY: She's lying motionless on Radue's bed. They won't let me see her.
Scene: First Unit.
BEVERLY: Wes seems fine. He says the other children are too. Except for Les.
RASHELLA: Of course they're well.
RADUE: I don't know what's wrong with her. All she said is that she has to be with Wesley and before I knew is she was lying motionless on my bed. Captain Picard, you have our offer. It is final. Rashella.
Scene: Bridge.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Captain, we want you to understand the nature of your choice. A small demonstration of our power.
Something whizzes around the planet and knocks the Enterprise spinning out of orbit, into deep space.
PICARD: What was that?
DATA: I believe it was a repulsor beam.
PICARD: Position report.
GEORDI: This is unbelievable, sir. According to my calculations, we're three days from Aldea. At warp nine.
RIKER: And they call that a small demonstration?
PICARD: Geordi, get us back to Aldea. Warp nine.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Captain, if you don't accept our terms, the Enterprise will be pushed so far away that by the time you return, your children will be grandparents.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41512.4. We are twenty hours away from Aldea, and no closer to a solution. Their deliberate show of force pushed us out of orbit and could have easily disintegrated the ship.
Scene: Music Unit.
Melian is showing Katie how to play his electronic instrument.
MELIAN: Now, hold it a little bit more firmly. That's it. Perfect. Now think. No, think's not right. Feel the notes inside your head.
She closes her eyes, and the machine lights up with a loud chord. She drops it.
KATIE: I'm sorry. Did I break it?
MELIAN: No, it's all right. You can't break this.
KATIE: It did exactly what I thought. I mean, felt.
MELIAN: Yes, it's a direct expression of the music within. Now we just have to teach you to structure that feeling. Try it again.
She produces a melancholy little tune.
MELIAN: That was beautiful. Now, play something happier.
KATIE: That's not the way I feel. I don't want to do this any more.
Scene: Artist's Unit.
ACCOLAN: You see, Harry, I told you you were going to be an artist.
HARRY: Are you sure? Did I really do this?
ACCOLAN: Oh, yes. Your talent has always been there. The sculpting tool is just helping you develop it. It's what you were meant to do.
HARRY: You mean I don't have to take calculus anymore?
ACCOLAN: You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. What's calculus?
HARRY: Nothing important. Can I do some more?
PICARD: Captain's log, supplemental. It has been three days since the Aldeans pushed us away. We have had no contact with Radue since then.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Open hailing frequencies, Lieutenant Yar.
TASHA: Frequencies open, sir.
PICARD: Radue, this is Picard.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Welcome back, Captain. What have you decided?
PICARD: That there is room for discussion, Radue.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) We will bring you down when we are ready.
PICARD: Data, find a way to defeat that shield.
DATA: That may be impossible, sir.
PICARD: Things are only impossible until they're not.
DATA: Yes, sir.
Beverly enters.
BEVERLY: Captain. Here's what I've learned so far. Duana is dying. I have no reason to believe the rest of the Aldeans are any healthier. They're suffering from some kind of chromosomal damage. It could be genetic or environmental.
PICARD: And is that why they can't conceive?
BEVERLY: Yes. It also explains their lack of appetite, extreme pallor and sensitivity to light.
PICARD: An entire civilisation that's terminally ill. Is it reversible?
BEVERLY: I won't know until I find the cause. And you don't need to tell me time is running out.
PICARD: Good work, Doctor.
Scene: Artist's Unit.
ACCOLAN: Have the lesions gone?
LEDA: Yes. The medicine worked again.
ACCOLAN: Good. Come see what Harry's doing. Beautiful!
Harry is polishing a sculpture.
HARRY: Yeah, it really turned out well.
ACCOLAN: It is so alive and graceful. What do you call it?
HARRY: It's a dolphin.
LEDA: Dolphin?
HARRY: You know, it swims in the ocean. Like a fish, only it's not a fish.
LEDA: Ah. A fish. We used to have them in our oceans. I've never seen one before.
HARRY: I used to live near the ocean on Zadar Four. My dad's an oceanographer. He says that. Never mind. It doesn't matter.
Scene: Rashella's room.
ALEXANDRA: I want Mommy. I want Mommy.
Scene: First Unit.
DUANA: You haven't eaten.
WESLEY: You didn't eat anything.
RADUE: We need very little.
DUANA: I know you miss your family. But you will grow accustomed to us. I promise you'll be happy.
WESLEY: We were happy before we came.
DUANA: We are offering more, especially for you.
WESLEY: Duana, I feel badly for you that you have no children, but I have to tell you that we don't want to be here and we will not cooperate. And one more thing may I see Lesley now?
RADUE: I'm sorry you can't. She's still lying motionless on my bed.
WESLEY: But she needs me.
RADUE: I've tried everything I could to wake her but nothing I did helped.
WESLEY: Than let me see her.
RADUE: I'm sorry but you can't see her.
WESLEY: You said that you give us anything we need or want and I want to see my girl.
RADUE: Very well, but not right now.
Scene: Doctor's office.
BEVERLY: No. That doesn't fit the pattern. Give me a list of the appropriate medical literature from the twenty-second century. There's not enough time!
PICARD: Is there anything I can do?
BEVERLY: You just did, Jean-Luc. Now I have to get back to work.
Scene: Wesley's room.
That night, Wesley sneaks out of bed.
WESLEY: Custodian's room.
Scene: Custodian room.
WESLEY: Custodian, this is Wesley Crusher.
CUSTODIAN: Proceed, Wesley.
WESLEY: Show me where the Enterprise children and my girlfriend are in relation to this room. Thank you. Goodnight.
CUSTODIAN: Good night, Wesley.
Scene: Radue's room.
Wesley sneaks in to Radue's room and sees that he's not there and he sees that Lesley is still lying motionless on the bed. He walks over to her and kisses her on the lips. With that kiss Lesley wakes up. When she opens her eyes she smiles when she sees Wesley there.
Scene: Katie's room.
Katie is startled awake by a hand on her arm.
WESLEY: I think I know a way to get us home. I need your help.
BEVERLY: (VO) Chief Medical Officer's log, stardate 41512.9. I've begun to suspect that whatever is killing the Aldeans is related to a danger faced by Earth in the twenty first century. Can it be that Aldea's ozone layer has been weakened?
Scene: Wesley's room.
Lesley is sitting on Wesley's lap.
KATIE: Why will not talking or eating make them send us home?
WESLEY: It's called passive resistance. We don't do what they want us to do and then they won't want us.
KATIE: Will they get mad at us?
WESLEY: They won't hurt us.
HARRY: But, Wes, I do kind of like them.
WESLEY: So do I, but I don't want to stay here forever. Do you?
HARRY: No, but I like working with the wood.
WESLEY: Harry, we all have to be in this together or it's not going to work.
HARRY: Okay. I'll do it.
LESLEY: Wes someone is coming.
Lesley slides off of Wesley's lap as Rashella walks in.
RASHELLA: What are you all doing here together?
She reaches for Alexandra, but Wesley picks her up instead.
RASHELLA: What is going on here?
Scene: Bridge.
BEVERLY: I've got it, Captain. The Aldeans are suffering from a form of radiation poisoning.
PICARD: Is that what made the Aldeans sterile?
BEVERLY: Yes.
PICARD: Is it reversible?
BEVERLY: With the proper treatment, yes.
DATA: Captain.
BEVERLY: Sir.
DATA: These permutations are going to take a very long time.
PICARD: How long?
DATA: Weeks.
RIKER: There is the option.
GEORDI: We were able to further define the weakness in their shield. Now, it's not a hole as much as it is a fluctuation.
RIKER: If the timing is precise, it's possible to beam through and onto the planet.
PICARD: Why don't we just beam the children up through the hole?
RIKER: The timing would be more difficult, and the risk greater.
PICARD: All right. You and Data beam down. Locate the power source of that shield. Knock it out. I'll delay the Aldeans until you're ready.
Scene: Wesley's room.
LEDA: Will you at least eat?
She puts the tray on the table and leaves.
WESLEY: No, Alexandra.
ALEXANDRA: Why?
WESLEY: We can't eat. I know you're hungry. We all are. But it's our way of telling them that we want to go home. Understand?
ALEXANDRA: Yes.
Scene: Transporter room.
Riker and Data get on the pads.
RIKER: We're ready, Lieutenant Worf.
Scene: Bridge.
RADUE: (on viewscreen) Captain, you may come down now to conclude our discussions, or your ship may leave. It's your choice.
PICARD: Doctor Crusher and I are prepared to conclude our negotiations.
They are beamed away.
WORF: Transporter room, now!
Scene: Aldean corridor.
Data and Riker arrive safely and head off into.
Scene: Custodian room.
DATA: This is it, Commander. It is programmed to accept only authorised voice command.
RIKER: There's no way we can override.
DATA: No, but I can scramble the input so that nobody else can.
Scene: First Unit.
RADUE: Before we begin, Captain, you must speak with the children. It seems they are on some sort of strike. I don't understand it. You must deal with this, Captain. I'm not very good with children.
PICARD: Strike? I'll see what I can do.
Scene: Wesley's room.
WESLEY: I'm sure if we just stick together, guys, we'll all be
Picard beams in.
KATIE: Hi, Captain Picard.
HARRY: Hi, Captain.
WESLEY: Sir, I knew you'd come.
PICARD: It's not over yet, Wesley.
WESLEY: I think I figured out their computer controls, sir, but I'm not sure. It's a much different system than ours.
PICARD: Good, Wesley. Now
HARRY: Captain.
PICARD: Yes, Harry.
HARRY: If something happens and you have to leave us here, will you tell my Dad that I'm sorry that I made him angry, and that I miss him.
PICARD: You will tell him that, Harry, and I will tell him how much I admire his son. Hello, Alexandra.
ALEXANDRA: (Arms open for picking up) Hi.
So he does, uncomfortably, while she hangs on to her pet tribble. Did I mention that before?
PICARD: Lesley, how are you feeling? Beverly told me that Wesley told her that you were not well.
LESLEY: Well I was at first after they separated me and Wesley and somehow I got weak from not being with him.
PICARD: You seem fine now.
LESLEY: Yes, yes I am thanks to Wesley.
PICARD: But how?
LESLEY: I'll explain later, Captain.
Scene: First Unit.
The children and Picard beam in.
RADUE: What is this?
PICARD: They want to go home.
RADUE: No. They're staying.
PICARD: Number One.
RIKER: (OC) We're in position.
PICARD: Hold for orders.
BEVERLY: The radiation levels on Aldea have been building up over a long period of time. It is similar to what was experienced on Earth in the twenty-first century. When the ozone layer had deteriorated and the surface of the planet was flooded with ultraviolet radiation.
PICARD: The shield that protected your world in one way is weakening it in another. It is the radiation of your own sun that is destroying you.
RADUE: You're trying to confuse the issue.
BEVERLY: Please, listen. You're all suffering from radiation poisoning. Sterility is only the latest symptom. If the children remain, they will be affected as well.
RADUE: It's impossible. Our scientists would have known.
BEVERLY: How could they? Your scientists have forgotten how everything works.
RADUE: No. All lies.
RASHELLA: No. Wait. Don't send them back yet. What if they're right? Instead of the children being our hope, what if we're just condemning them to our fate?
RADUE: Rashella, they're just protecting their own interests.
RASHELLA: As are we. But hear them out. The Captain and Doctor Crusher are saying that the very thing which has given us this wonderful world is what has caused this tragedy.
PICARD: That's it, exactly. Your Custodian has controlled you so completely you've lost even the desire to even question it.
RADUE: Lies, and the discussion is over.
He tries his arm device, but nothing happens.
PICARD: Commander Riker.
RIKER: (OC) Here, sir.
PICARD: I assume you have control of the computer.
RIKER: (OC) We've disabled the system temporarily.
Scene: Custodian room.
RIKER: We found the power source to the shield and we've neutralised it.
Scene: First Unit.
PICARD: Good. Enterprise, this is Picard. Beam the children up.
HARRY: Wait.
PICARD: Enterprise, hold.
HARRY: Thank you.
ACCOLAN: Let me get the dolphin for you to take with you.
HARRY: No, you keep it. I'll make another one.
PICARD: All right, Harry?
HARRY: Yes, Captain.
WESLEY: Okay, kids. Let's go home.
PICARD: Beam them up.
The children are beamed up. Lesley is holding on to Wesley's arms.
RADUE: You have destroyed us.
PICARD: We are not here to destroy you, Radue. We can help you.
Scene: Power room.
It's massive. On Forbidden Planet scale.
RADUE: What is it?
PICARD: A legacy of your Progenitors, Radue. The source of your power and of your problems.
DATA: It is reading incredible amounts of energy, sir. Even more since we have taken down the shield.
RASHELLA: What are we going to do with it?
RADUE: Learn, all over again. All this time we've been destroying ourselves, so sure of our technological invulnerability. Now we must learn to use this power safely.
PICARD: Will you let us help you?
RADUE: Yes. Please.
Scene: Corridor.
HARRY: Dad, I want to be an artist, but I don't want to take calculus anymore.
BERNARD: You can be anything you want, Harry. Anything. But you still have to take calculus.
HARRY: Okay. Thanks, Dad.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: It worked well, sir. We have successfully reseeded the ozone layer. But for their atmosphere to maintain it's integrity, they can never use the shield.
RIKER: Or be cloaked again.
Beverly enters.
PICARD: Are you finished?
BEVERLY: Yes, Captain, and they're responding very well to the treatment.
PICARD: The legend will die, but the people will live.
DEANNA: And we know they'll make good parents.
Wesley enters with Alexandra.
PICARD: Wesley!
WESLEY: Sorry, Captain. She just wanted to thank you for bringing her home to her mother.
ALEXANDRA: Thank you. (gives Picard a flower and a hug)
WESLEY: Come on.
Wesley and Alexandra leave, and the crew start to giggle.
PICARD: Mister LaForge, out of orbit. Warp five.
GEORDI: Yes, sir. Certainly, sir.
Alexandra's pink tribble is on Captain Picard's back.

That was a good chapter. I liked part where Wesley and Lesley were separate and she got weak. I liked when Wesley snicked out to see Lesley and woke her up by kissing her. I really liked the ending too.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 18
Home Soil

PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41463.9. While mapping the Pleiades Cluster, we've been asked by the Federation to visit a group terraforming Velara Three. Communications have been erratic and there is some concern about their welfare.
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Entering standard orbit now.
PICARD: It takes very special people to live in such desolation.
DEANNA: Visionaries who don't see this planet as it is, but as it will be.
RIKER: I've always wanted to see terraforming in operation.
PICARD: Lieutenant Yar, hailing frequencies.
TASHA: Hailing frequencies open, sir.
PICARD: Velara Three base, this is Captain Picard of the starship Enterprise. (silence)
TASHA: No malfunctioning equipment on either side, sir. They are receiving us.
PICARD: Velara Three base, this is the Enterprise. Come in please. Over.
GEORDI: Maybe no one's home.
DATA: We are sensing life-forms, sir.
PICARD: Velara Three base, do you copy?
A middle-aged man with a slight East European accent. Everyone say Hi! to General Gogol from the James Bond films.
MANDL: (on viewscreen) Velara base to Enterprise. Yes, Captain, I'm Director Mandl. I'm sorry about the delay, but we weren't expecting visitors.
PICARD: Terraform Command has asked us to see how you were getting along.
MANDL: (on viewscreen) We were a little behind, but we're back on schedule. I'd like to hope we'd be allowed to maintain that schedule.
DEANNA: We alarm him for some reason.
PICARD: Your staff is all well, I presume, Director?
MANDL: (on viewscreen) Understandably tired. We're working very hard, Captain.
PICARD: If there anything we can do to help? You and your staff are welcome aboard for a change of scene, rest.
RIKER: We have some holodecks which you might enjoy.
MANDL: (on viewscreen) No disrespect, sir, but we cannot afford the time.
COMPUTER: Channel closed.
DEANNA: His fear is escalating.
MANDL: (on viewscreen): If you will excuse me, sir, I really must get back to work.
DEANNA: I sense deliberate concealment, sir.
PICARD: Of what?
DEANNA: I don't know, but it's intense.
PICARD: (channel open) Director Mandl, we've heard of your remarkable achievements in terraforming. My crew would very much appreciate looking around.
MANDL: (on viewscreen) This is not really the best time. We are at a very critical phase just now.
PICARD: We would require no special attention.
MANDL: (on viewscreen) I'm trying not to be rude, sir, but this is really very inconvenient.
Channel closed.
DEANNA: He is concealing something. It's more than just being too busy. Your announcement about coming down has sent him almost to a point of panic.
PICARD: Well, whether he wants us or not. (channel open) Director Mandl, unless you're absolutely refusing permission for us to land at your station, prepare to receive our away team.
MANDL: (on viewscreen) As you wish.
PICARD: Counselor, perhaps you'd better go along as well.
DEANNA: Aye, sir.
PICARD: Someone that tense could be very unpredictable. Stay on your toes, Number One.
GEORDA: Captain, permission for my sister, Dana and I to join the away team.
PICARD: Granted.
GEORDA AND DANA: Thank you, sir.
Scene: Control room.
The team beam into the Terraforming base control room.
LUISA: Welcome to Velara Three. Please. I want you to remember it as it is now, because in a couple of decades you won't recognise it. Luisa Kim. Gardener of Edens.
RIKER: Commander William Riker, USS Enterprise. This is Counselor Troi, Lieutenant Yar, Lieutenant LaForge, Lieutenant Commander Data, Georda and Dana Hatter.
LUISA: Arthur Malencon, hydraulics specialist, (bald, middle-aged) and Bjorn Benson, Chief Engineer. (younger, blond)
BENSON: An android?
TASHA: And third in command of the Enterprise.
BENSEN: Where were you manufactured? Are there others like you?
DATA: Both matters are subjects of protracted discussion.
Dana joins them after hearing what Bensen asked Data.
DANA: (to Bensen) I am sorry but I could not help but overhear you ask if there are any others like Data.
BENSEN: That's right. Who are you?
DANA: I am Dana Hatter. Data's girlfriend and I too am an android.
BENSEN: Remarkable. Excuse me.
The two men go back to work.
LUISA: We don't get many visitors. It's exciting to have you here.
RIKER: We weren't sure how we would be received. Director Mandl was less than enthusiastic about our interest.
LUISA: I should apologise for him. We are at a critical phase. Usually he's quite charming.
RIKER: We'll try to stay out of the way. We've never seen a terraforming station, and we appreciate the opportunity.
LUISA: How much do you know about the process?
DATA: Theories, reports, but nothing first-hand.
LUISA: Oh, wonderful. Let me show you what we do. Newcomers find this
DEANNA: The other two are secretive, but she is as open as she appears.
LUISA: What we're doing is so exciting, so inspiring. We take a lifeless planet and little by little transform it into an M class environment, capable of supporting life. Terraforming makes you feel a little god-like. The first phase involves selecting the planet. That's very important. It must have the right mass and gravity, the correct rate of rotation, and a balanced day and night. The planet must also be without life or the prospect of life developing naturally. The Federation determines if that's so. Then, we take over. This station is phase two. Phase Three involves water. Usually we create basins using hydraulic landscaping, but the water on this planet is subsurface, and extremely high in salt content. We are just about to begin pumping and filtering the water, removing the salt, oxygenating and replacing. Next, we introduce micro-organisms, and when the process is complete eventually, we'll have a lush, arable, biosphere.
In 30-35 years according to her display.
RIKER: You make it sound poetic.
LUISA: I think it's the best job in the universe.
DATA: The efficiency of your hydraulic landscaping is quite elegant.
MALENCON: It isn't yet, but it will be. Right now I'm disturbed by erratic power surges in several of the servo-mechanisms that control the hydraulic probes.
GEORDI: Could it be the increased conductivity caused by the high saline content?
MALENCON: That was my first thought, but I
BENSEN: Arthur. The factors do not support that conclusion.
Mandl enters.
MANDL: I'm Director Mandl, and I'm sorry about having been so abrupt during our initial contact. Being isolated, one tends to forget the social graces. Are you seeing everything that you want?
DEANNA: What you're doing here is miraculous.
MANDL: What we are doing here is working a difficult and demanding timetable, and there will be no miracle unless Malencon here gets the hydraulic probes back on line. We are set to step up to full conversion immediately. Shouldn't you be in the hydraulic chamber, Arthur?
MALENCON: Now?
MANDL: Yes.
MALENCON: All right, Kurt.
DATA: Geordi, this appears to be the master subsurface pump.
GEORDI: You're right. Very impressive.
DATA: This is interesting. The water table is a thin ribbon between the sandy surface layer and the rocks below.
GEORDI: And those two surfaces follow that contour so precisely, the water maintains a consistent depth between them.
DATA: Which would require extreme precision from the probe controls.
MANDL: Here we have something which may be of interest to you. A vegetation graph. It is really the key centre for successful terraforming.
RIKER: Incredible. It's planned month by month, decade by decade?
MANDL: Every single thing is specific and exact. You see grand, romantic concepts. I see unyielding rock under an ocean of sand.
DEANNA: Commander!
RIKER: What is it, Deanna?
DEANNA: Malencon. He's in trouble!
MALENCON: (OC) Help! Help! Argh! (Screams and bangs)
They run to the hydraulics room door.
RIKER: Can you open it?
MANDL: It's jammed.
A last scream, and then quiet. The door opens to reveal a burnt body and a cylinder with a smoking hole in it. There is a laser in the room.
RIKER: (VO) First Officer's log, stardate 41464.3. What began as a routine visit to a terraforming site has turned into something far more serious. Arthur Malencon, the hydraulics engineer, has been critically injured by a laser drill which appears to have malfunctioned.
Scene: Hydraulics room.
PICARD: (OC) Situation report, Number One.
RIKER: For safety reasons, we're shutting off all power to the Hydraulics room before entering to recover the body. Then we'll beam him up to Sickbay, but from the look of his wounds, it's probably hopeless.
PICARD: (OC) Keep me informed.
GEORDI: (OC) Data?
DATA: Go ahead, Geordi.
Scene: Control room.
BENSEN: All set.
GEORDI: Data, we have your section completely powered down now. Bensen has just locked the master servomotor drive system.
Scene: Hydraulics room.
GEORDI: (OC) So it should be safe in there now.
TASHA: I'm going in.
DATA: I will go with you.
TASHA: Transporter Room, this is Lieutenant Yar. Two to beam up to Sickbay.
Tasha and Malencon are beamed away.
LUISA: I want to go. We should be with him. Kurt, please come too.
RIKER: Georda, Dana are you two going to beam back up.
GEORDA: I was thinking that Dana and I could stay here with Geordi and Data.
RIKER: Very well. You want to be with your boyfriends. I understand. You can stay.
GEORDA AND DANA: Thank you, Commander.
RIKER: Transporter Room, this is Commander Riker. Beam up four at my coordinates.
Riker, Deanna, Luisa and Mandl are beamed away.
Scene: Control room.
DATA: (OC) Geordi, this is intriguing. I have seen malfunctions
Scene: Hydraulics room.
DATA: But this is almost as if the laser drill seemed to operate itself with a will
Scene: Control room.
DATA: (OC) Separate from it's control console.
BENSEN: I can't explain it.
Scene: Hydraulics room.
DATA: The laser blasts seemed to end when the yelling stopped.
Scene: Control room.
BENSEN: Maybe Arthur stopped it, only not in time.
Scene: Hydraulics room.
DATA: Not possible.
Scene: Control room.
GEORDI: Then what are you suggesting?
Scene: Hydraulics room.
DATA: Uncertain. Geordi, please return power to the control console in this room. I wish to reactivate the programme.
Scene: Control room.
GEORDI: You got it.
Scene: Hydraulics room.
The laser powers up, turns, and fires a shot into a tunnel cut in the wall. Then it does the same in the opposite wall.
DATA: I am running the base drilling programme.
The little red light focuses on the back of Data's neck and the doors slam shut. Data turns and dodges the deadly beams.
Scene: Control room.
DATA: (OC) Geordi, servos off.
BENSEN: They are off.
GEORDI: Data, what's happening?
DATA: (OC) Too much to explain.
Benson and LaForge run to the Hydraulics room door.
GEORDI: Can you open that? LaForge to Enterprise. We have a problem.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Be specific.
Scene Control room.
GEORDI: Data's in the hydraulics room alone, and we're hearing laser blasts.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Get him out of there!
Scene: Control room.
BENSEN: It's not working again.
GEORDI: We've got to get this door open. Data! We can't get in! Data! Data! Data!
DANA: Data!
The door opens on a room full of smoke.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Away team, now. What is happening?
Scene: Hydraulics room.
PICARD: (OC) I'm going to beam him out of there.
DATA: Bridge, this is Lieutenant Commander Data. No need to beam me up, sir. The situation is under control.
GEORDI: Are you all right?
DATA: Yes.
DANA: (as she hugs Data tightly and he returns the hug) Thank goodness you are all right.
GEORDI: What happened? Did you do anything which might have set it off?
DATA: No, but the firing programme was dynamic.
GEORDI: The firing programme? In what way?
DATA: It adjusted to my tactics. It tracked with me, anticipating. A fixed programme could not have done that.
GEORDI: Are you suggesting that someone was controlling the aiming and firing sequence?
DATA: That is exactly how it appeared. There was a mind working against me.
BENSEN: What did you do to this laser drill? A year's work destroyed!
The drill looks like the last turkey in the shop.
DATA: I had no choice.
Scene: Ready room.
DATA: We were attempting to trace the source of the malfunction when it attacked me.
MANDL: How much more of this useless fantasy must I listen to?
PICARD: None at all, Mister Mandl. Until this is sorted out, I've provided temporary quarters for you and your staff. Perhaps you'd like to make use of them.
MANDL: You're overstepping your authority, Picard. You have no right to interfere.
PICARD: Mister Mandl, an attack on one of my crew gives me the right.
MANDL: I have a schedule to meet.
PICARD: Your schedule is on hold, until I have a satisfactory explanation of this. Director Mandl. Lieutenant Yar, would you escort the Director to his quarters.
TASHA: Aye, sir.
Mandl and Tasha leave.
PICARD: Go on with your report.
DATA: It would appear the laser's drilling system was reprogrammed, sir. As soon as its memory bank received power, it turned itself on and went after me. Fortunately, I was able to cope with it.
GEORDI: And not by much, from what I saw.
DATA: I believe it was programmed to destroy any person moving in that room, sir.
PICARD: Certainty? Or speculation?
DATA: Certainty.
GEORDI: That would have required the talents of a master programmer.
DATA: But it was done.
PICARD: And so the question becomes not who, since it clearly was one of the three remaining terraformers. The question becomes why? What are they hiding? What could be so important that one or all of them, could be desperate enough to kill?
GEORDI: Shall I have them brought in, sir?
PICARD: Not yet.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Malencon?
BEVERLY: I couldn't save him. The injuries were too severe, the damage too extensive.
RIKER: The entire Velara Three facility has been powered down, Captain.
WORF: We've just completed a remote power feed to the life support systems.
PICARD: Good. Data, I want you and Geordi to return for more careful inspection.
DATA: What are we to look for, sir?
PICARD: Evidence of tampering, negligence, sabotage, whatever. The answer's there, on the planet. Georda and Dana if you want you can return with Data and Geordi. Tasha, I want you to provide Counselor Troi and me with complete personnel records on our three guests. Psych profiles, training, everything. I'm looking for motive, intent, the psychological capacity to commit one murder and to attempt another.
TASHA: Aye, sir.
GEORDA AND DANA: Thank you, Captain.
PICARD: It seems we are becoming detectives, Number One.
Scene: Hydraulics room.
It's dark.
GEORDI: Not much left of this drill.
Data and Dana scans something in one of the tunnels, and a little light flashes in their face.
DATA: Geordi, Georda, I need some visual assistance.
GEORDI: Whoa. What is it? Nothing but basic elements. Inorganic. No carbon. Sandy texture. Those flashes are almost musical. I see colour variations and rhythms in complex harmonies.
DATA: Speculation. Could it be alive?
GEORDA: How could it be alive? It's inorganic.
DATA: Whatever it is, it could be what they are covering up, and the reason someone killed Malencon.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. On my order, Data's startling discovery of a possible life form has been beamed aboard so that its true nature might be uncovered. But unlike life on Earth and elsewhere, it appears to be completely inorganic.
Scene: Medical lab.
The stuff from the tunnel walls is in a bell jar.
BEVERLY: A test for inorganic life.
DATA: It's never been done, Doctor.
BEVERLY: There are basic definitions for organic life. Must have the ability to assimilate, respirate, reproduce, grow and develop, move, secrete and excrete.
PICARD: Would any of those apply here?
BEVERLY: Perhaps growth and development.
DATA: Reproduction?
BEVERLY: Yes. Those two may be basic for any definition of life, organic or inorganic.
PICARD: Well, Doctor, you're charging unknown seas. How do we proceed?
BEVERLY: As we're dealing with a fundamental question, let's use the basic scientific method. Observe, theorise and attempt to prove it. Activate. Let's be sure of what we're dealing with. Is the sample organic?
COMPUTER: Negative carbon. Negative known life components. Substance inorganic.
DATA: Recheck analysis, please.
COMPUTER: Rechecking. Analysis verified. Not organic.
BEVERLY: Magnify to screen. Factor five. Hold surface. Factor ten.
Something microscopic within the structure is pulsing.
PICARD: What are we looking at?
WESLEY: It's really beautiful, whatever it is.
LESLEY: How true that is.
PICARD: What's that hum?
DATA: It started after Doctor Crusher ordered the scanner to magnify.
BEVERLY: Computer, de-magnify. Resume normal scan.
The hum continues.
PICARD: Everyone stand back.
It gets quieter.
BEVERLY: Step back again.
And quieter.
BEVERLY: It's us.
PICARD: Yes, we're causing it. Why?
DATA: Unknown. But it is definitely reacting to our presence. Perhaps it is picking up the electrical impulse of our systems.
LESLEY: The flashes haven't changed.
WESLEY: Could the hum be connected to the flashing?
BEVERLY: Computer, magnify. What is the magnification?
COMPUTER: Twenty five hundred diameters.
BEVERLY: Analyse the pattern of the flashes.
COMPUTER: Not repetitive or sequential. Pattern not recognised.
BEVERLY: What is the source of the flashes?
COMPUTER: Unable to specify. Theoretically not possible from this substance.
BEVERLY: Disregard incongruity and theorise as to source.
COMPUTER: Life.
Scene: Ready room.
MANDL: What do you mean a life form?! What life form?! A Federation recon expedition certified Velara Three lifeless.
PICARD: Understandable, given this particular life form's novel nature.
MANDL: What is that nature?
PICARD: Doctor Crusher is still making her determination. Mister Mandl, you know the Prime Directive.
MANDL: Are you saying that I knowingly defied it?
PICARD: That's what I have to find out. You're a man obsessed with what you does. Who knows what an obsessed man will do to keep going? Kill, perhaps?
MANDL: I create life. I don't take it.
Mandl storms out, insulted.
RIKER: You hit him pretty hard, Captain.
PICARD: What do you think, Counselor?
DEANNA: It was useful. I felt two levels. He did know about the life form, but the idea of murder seemed to shock him. Whether it was the whole idea, or just being accused of it, I can't tell.
PICARD: What about his file, Lieutenant Yar? Could he have accomplished the reprogramming that Data says took place?
TASHA: Mandl holds advanced degrees in computer science as well as artificial intelligence. It's possible.
PICARD: What about the others? Including the victim.
TASHA: Only the victim had the required expertise. Malencon did work where the whatever it is was found. Trying to suppress that knowledge would be motive for murder, if Mandl were obsessed enough.
DEANNA: Terraformers are often obsessive. It frequently goes with the career profile.
RIKER: How do you read the designer?
DEANNA: She's possessed of highly abstracted reality. Lovely visions, little data. You might do better than I.
Scene: Luisa's quarters.
Luisa has been crying when the door bell rings.
LUISA: It's not locked.
RIKER: Mind a visitor?
LUISA: Is it true? Did you really find a life form?
RIKER: The debate is still going on in some quarters, but I think so, yes.
LUISA: What's it like?
RIKER: We have nothing we can compare it with. It's microscopic. It seems colonial, simple. But it's inorganic. Which is why the recon scouts missed it. It was not your mistake.
LUISA: Everything I've worked so hard for is falling apart.
RIKER: Luisa, it's very beautiful. I could arrange for you to see it if you like.
LUISA: Perhaps later.
Scene: Bridge.
The image from the lab is on the viewscreen.
BEVERLY: (OC) Captain, this is Doctor Crusher. I think you'd better come to the Medical Lab.
Scene: Medical lab.
PICARD: What is it?
BEVERLY: Geordi observed movement.
GEORDI: Not movement exactly, but a definite shift in the energy pattern.
DATA: Without external influence.
PICARD: The hum has gone too. Why?
DATA: Unknown, sir. Perhaps it is scanning us.
PICARD: Scanning us? Why? What could it hope to learn?
DATA: Unknown at this time, sir.
GEORDI: It's changing.
PICARD: I don't see anything.
GEORDI: The infrared range is increasing.
COMPUTER: Warning. Input overload.
BEVERLY: The hum is back.
DATA: It is projecting an energy field.
GEORDI: And it's intensifying!
COMPUTER: Magnification deactivated.
Now there are two bright lights in the bell jar, instead of one.
BEVERLY: Two of them!
DATA: Only life can replicate itself, Doctor. Inorganic or not, it is alive.
BEVERLY: Activate quarantine field. (but something is pushing against it) Quarantine field full. Full shield backup!
The shield fails.
BEVERLY: Evacuating lab.
COMPUTER: Translation request being patched.
PICARD: Translation? From whom?
COMPUTER: (gibberish)
BEVERLY: Evacuate.
Scene: Corridor.
WESLEY: What's wrong on with the translator circuit?
PICARD: Bridge, this is the Captain. Request emergency power to initiate lab quarantine seal.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Do it, Mister Worf.
WORF: Aye, sir.
RIKER: What's the nature of the problem, Captain? We've lost visual.
Scene: Corridor.
PICARD: We have confirmed that Data's discovery is life. But more than that, it is intelligent life.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: How do you know, sir?
Scene: Corridor.
PICARD: It's trying to communicate with us.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. The inorganic life form from Velara Three has apparently taken over our Medical Lab.
Scene: Bridge.
WORF: It generates enough energy to interfere with the surrounding systems.
PICARD: Mister LaForge, can we see into the lab yet?
GEORDI: Negative, Captain. Reducing the backup to the quarantine seal might help.
PICARD: Doctor?
BEVERLY: I wouldn't.
PICARD: Continue quarantine.
GEORDI: Aye, sir.
TASHA: (OC) Director Mandl and the others are in the Observation Lounge as you requested.
PICARD: Counselor, I shall need you. You have the Bridge, Number One.
Scene: Observation Lounge.
PICARD: Director Mandl, I put it to you again. What do you know about these life forms?
MANDL: Not a thing.
PICARD: Enough! Sit down, Lieutenant. You are deliberately evasive and it must stop. You have kept information from me since our first communication. An alien life form has taken possession of my Medical Lab. You knew of its existence.
MANDL: Yes.
LUISA: Is this true? You knew there was life on Velara Three?
MANDL: I knew that there were random energy patterns, yes, I knew that. But not life. Not by any definition I have ever heard.
DEANNA: But you tried to keep that knowledge from us.
MANDL: No! They are meaningless silicon crystals, which rebroadcast sunlight.
PICARD: It is a life form and it has intelligence.
MANDL: Why do you say that?
PICARD: It's trying to communicate with us.
MANDL: Communicate with you?
PICARD: When did you first become aware of them?
BENSEN: Tell them about the pattern in the sand.
PICARD: Oh, yes. Do tell us.
BENSEN: When we first arrived, we noticed that in certain areas the sand had a sparkling effect, like sunlight bouncing off new fallen snow.
PICARD: What did you think it was?
BENSEN: Honestly, we did not give it any thought.
MANDL: Picard, I must point out again that we were assured, not once but many times, by the best scientific minds in the Federation, that this planet has no life. No life! And we were not looking, and therefore we did not see.
PICARD: All right. At first you dismissed it. But then you began to understand that there was something that was different about them.
MANDL: You can't know that.
PICARD: Your apprehension suggested it, when we first arrived. Tell me about these patterns.
BENSEN: At first we thought it was just a natural phenomenon unique to Velara Three.
MANDL: Refraction and a thin atmosphere is interesting, but certainly not life.
LUISA: Why was I never told about this?
MANDL: Because it's not particularly important.
BENSEN: As the building of the terraforming station went forward, the patterns in the sand ceased being random and became very specific. Geometric shapes suddenly appearing, disappearing, changing location, changing size.
PICARD: Did you ever feel that these patterns were attempting to communicate?
MANDL: No, never.
PICARD: Bensen?
BENSEN: I don't know. At the time, I didn't think so. But now, after hearing what you just said. Now, I don't know.
RIKER: (OC) Captain, we've regained magnification of the life form. It's divided again.
PICARD: Patch visual to Observation lounge.
Eight round things with a bar pattern are on the screen.
MANDL: There was no indication of any of this on Velara Three.
BENSEN: Absolutely none.
Scene: Bridge.
Working at the rear science stations.
WORF: I cannot understand the patterns.
GEORDI: Neither can I.
DATA: Please show me the spectral analysis magnification twelve K.
COMPUTER: Silicon. Germanium.
DATA: Transistor material.
COMPUTER: Gallium arsenide.
GEORDI: Emits light when charged.
COMPUTER: Cadmium selenide sulfide.
DATA: Emits charge when lit.
COMPUTER: Water, impurities, sodium salts.
WORF: Conductor. But is it alive?!
COMPUTER: Probability positive.
WORF: I wasn't asking you.
CREWWOMAN: (OC) Engineering to Bridge.
RIKER: This is Commander Riker, go ahead.
Scene: Engineering.
CREWWOMAN: The backup on the lab seal is fluctuating, sir. I think you should come down here.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: On my way. Data, you've got the Bridge. Inform the Captain.
Scene: Engineering.
RIKER: Status, Ensign?
CREWWOMAN: The quarantine seal is getting weaker. Every time I try to redirect backup it goes somewhere else. I think I've. No, it's locked three people in a turbolift and two more in the programmers' rest room.
RIKER: If that reading is right, there is no seal. Give me lab interior image.
CREWWOMAN: Yes, sir.
RIKER: Magnify.
The bell jar flares again, and the light gets brighter and pulses more quickly.
RIKER: Picard, this is Riker.
Scene: Observation lounge.
PICARD: We see it too, Number One.
Static charges flare from the bell jar.
PICARD: Get that seal back up.
Scene: Engineering.
CREWWOMAN: Sir, no matter what I do, the energy goes somewhere else. What if it hits the Sickbay, or nursery?
RIKER: Hold off. Impossible, Captain.
Scene: Observation lounge.
RIKER: (OC) We haven't got the power.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. The life form, which has significantly increased in size, is again attempting to communicate with us.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: The Universal Translator is coming on line, sir.
VOICE: Ugly, ugly giant bags of mostly water
PICARD: Bags of mostly water?
DATA: An accurate description of humans, sir. You are over ninety percent water surrounded by a flexible container.
BEVERLY: Life force, do you understand us?
VOICE: We understand. We ask you that you be gone. We call. We talk. You not listen.
PICARD: We didn't hear you. We come in peace.
VOICE: Ugly bags of mostly water, we try at peace. You still do not listen. Bags who drill in sands of home have to die.
RIKER: It killed Malencon.
DEANNA: We see and hear you now. We didn't know you were there. You are beautiful to us. All life is beautiful.
VOICE: Bag in dome did know. Caused much death. Made us kill. War is now with you.
DATA: The translator is now offline, sir.
PICARD: Can you hear us now? (the ship shakes) Mister LaForge?
GEORDI: Restabilising, Captain.
DATA: Sir, that chaos when we were studying it in the lab must have been the energy surge of a reproductive cycle. It is now a colony of single cells which organize as a computer. And like any computer
PICARD: More is stronger.
The ship shakes again.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, supplemental. We have regained visual contact with the lab, but our attempts to restore communication with this microbrain, as we have come to call it, has been unsuccessful. One thing that is certain, however. This life form has declared war on us.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: Their range of influence appears to be concentrated in the Medical Lab, Captain.
TASHA: All non-essential personnel have been moved to the most distant areas of the ship, sir.
PICARD: Data, any analysis of those bolts of light it emits?
DATA: That seems to be it's method of reprogramming, Captain. Each bolt of light consists of negatively and positively charged ions. A series of programme instructions, as it were. It seems to have a quicker rapport with our computers than we have.
WORF: What do you expect? It is computer.
PICARD: Have we disabled the Medical Lab computer console?
RIKER: Aye, sir. As soon as Data determined the microbrain's method of operation.
GEORDI: Captain, picking up a decrease in infra-red intensity.
WORF: Maybe the life-form has reached its energy level.
BEVERLY: Or maybe that's not the end of it. With single-celled life forms, at least organic ones, cell division is preceded by a resting state.
RIKER: The calm before the storm?
PICARD: Medical Lab on main viewer. Let's use this calm.
DATA: It does seem dormant, Captain.
PICARD: Tasha, set coordinates to beam it back where it came from.
TASHA: Coordinates set, sir.
PICARD: Energise.
They see the transporter effect try to take hold and then be repulsed.
GEORDI: Transporter power being redirected, sir. We are unable to affect it.
PICARD: Life form or not, intelligent or not , the safety of this ship and everyone aboard her is my primary responsibility. Data, evacuate all the air from the Medical Lab. I want a vacuum there.
DATA: Environmental systems fail to respond to command, Captain. It appears the microbrain has successfully interfaced with our computers.
Scene: Observation Lounge.
MANDL: Picard, if it did try to communicate with us, we didn't understand that.
PICARD: It has declared a state of war and we are on the defensive. We have no control over our Medical Lab nor our computer. At this moment it has the power to destroy this ship and everybody on it. I need your help.
MANDL: Unbelievable.
PICARD: It said you killed some of them. I need to know how.
MANDL: I don't know.
PICARD: What was Malencon doing when he was killed?
LUISA: There is a very thin layer of highly saline water under the sandy top soil. He was siphoning that off.
BEVERLY: Perhaps somehow that saline water sustained them.
DATA: It connected them.
LUISA: I don't understand.
BEVERLY: The microbrains may be like our own brain cells. Individually, a cell has life but not intelligence. Yet when interconnected, their combined intelligence is formidable.
DATA: The saline fluid is their circuitry, and to prevent its loss, they killed Malencon.
LUISA: If we had continued to remove that water, we would have destroyed them all.
PICARD: Reason enough for anyone to go to war.
RIKER: (OC) Captain, it's happening again. I think you'd better get in here.
Scene: Bridge.
This time, after the bright light, the bell jar breaks and a crystalline structure stands there, free.
RIKER: If this keeps up, it will tear up the Enterprise.
PICARD: What can you determine, Mister LaForge?
DATA: Captain, our sensors indicate that the microbrain expends a tremendous amount of energy during its reproductive cycle. Yet there is no discernible power drain on our own systems.
PICARD: Then what is feeding the damn thing?
GEORDI: We found traces of cadmium salts. Now, cadmium is a conduit for converting infra-red into electricity.
PICARD: Meaning?
DATA: Meaning the microbrains might be photoelectric.
PICARD: Kill the lights in the medical lab, Mister LaForge. Let's see if darkness will neutralise it.
GEORDI: Sorry, sir, it still has control of the computer. We can't do it by remote.
PICARD: Number One, light.
LUISA: The life form must have evolved at that narrow layer where the light got through the sand to the water. Drop the water a centimetre below the light penetration level, and they starve.
Scene: Corridor.
RIKER: Killing lab lights now.
Scene: Bridge.
TASHA: It's slowing down.
GEORDI: It's getting dimmer, too.
VOICE: More light please.
PICARD: Only if you will talk to us.
VOICE: We die. Bags of water kill us. You are like others.
PICARD: We have no wish to kill you. We never have.
VOICE: You do not say truth.
PICARD: We will end this war, if you will end the war.
VOICE: Darkness. Death. Terrible. Must go home to wet sand. War over.
PICARD: Agreed. We will send you home to your wet sand. Picard to Riker. Bring up the lights in the lab, just a bit. (he does) Are you better?
VOICE: Better.
PICARD: We mean you no harm. Do you believe me?
VOICE: Yes.
PICARD: Good. It is important that you trust us.
VOICE: Not yet. You are still too arrogant. Too primitive. Come back three centuries. Perhaps then we trust.
PICARD: We understand what you are saying. We will leave you. We will send you home.
Scene: Medical lab.
RIKER: Riker to Transporter Chief. Pick up the coordinates of the bell jar in the Medical Lab for return to Velara Three.
CHIEF: (OC) Coordinates entered, sir.
RIKER: Riker to Bridge. Captain, we're ready to beam it back to the planet.
Scene: Bridge.
DATA: I wish we were able to learn more about them, sir.
PICARD: In time, Mister Data. When we're better prepared.
MANDL: I wanted to create a place where living things could thrive, and all the while I was about to destroy the life that is there.
DEANNA: Our apologies.
PICARD: And respects. Lieutenant Yar.
TASHA: Coordinates set, sir.
PICARD: Energise.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41464.8. I have declared an indefinite quarantine for Velara Three, and we are now returning to Starbase with the three surviving terraformers. Perhaps the lesson we have learned from this near tragedy will prevent it from happening elsewhere.
Scene: Ten Forward.
Lesley and her sisters were sitting at a table talking to each other when they were soon joined by their boyfriends.
WESLEY: Is this a private party or can we join you?
LESLEY: (laughs) Very funny Wes. Of course you three can join us.
DATA: (to Dana) I do not get how Lesley thought that Wesley's question was funny.
DANA: I will explain it later, Data.
Later that night Dana was sleeping in Data's embrace though Data doesn't sleep he stays up and watches his girl sleep. Georda is sleeping in Geordi's embrace. Lesley is sleeping in Wesley's embrace.

That was a really good chapter. I liked the parts with Lesley/Wesley, Dana/Data and Georda/Geordi. I also like the ending where Lesley and her sisters when they with their boyfriends.

Thank you. I had a feeling that you'll like those parts.

Chapter 19
Coming Of Age

Scene: Corridor.
WESLEY: Jake! Jake! Jake, wait a second. How're you doing?
JAKE: I'm fine. Really.
WESLEY: Jake, I'm sorry.
BEVERLY: (OC) Acting Ensign Crusher, report to transporter room eight.
JAKE: It's not your fault.
WESLEY: Yeah, I know. I wish both of us were going.
JAKE: I don't know. Only thirty two points.
BEVERLY (OC) Mister Crusher, respond.
WESLEY: I'm on my way, Doctor. I've got to go.
JAKE: I know. Hey, Wes. Do well for both of us, okay?
WESLEY: All right.
PICARD: (VO) Captain's log, stardate 41416.2. We're orbiting Relva Seven, where Wesley Crusher is about to be tested for entrance into Starfleet Academy. And to my great surprise, I have just learned that my old friend Admiral Gregory Quinn is on Relva Seven, and has requested to be beamed aboard the Enterprise immediately.
Scene: Transporter room.
LESLEY: Wesley wait!
WESLEY: What is it starshine?
LESLEY: I just wanted to tell you to do your best.
WESLEY: Don't worry I will.
LESLEY: Oh, one more thing.
WESLEY: What's that?
LESLEY: If by any chance some girl comes up to you and tells you that you're cute or something don't forget to mention me.
WESLEY: Don't worry, starshine. Your the only girl for me.
Lesley kisses Wesley. After they break the kiss Lesley leaves and joins her sisters. Immediately after Wesley is beamed down, Quinn and Remmick are beamed aboard. Quinn is old, silver-haired. Remmick is probably thirties, high forehead.
PICARD: Welcome aboard, Admiral.
QUINN: Thank you. Captain Jean Luc Picard, Lieutenant Commander Dexter Remmick.
REMMICK: Sir.
PICARD: Allow me to introduce my staff. First Officer William Riker, Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher, Chief of Security, Natasha Yar. Well, what can we do for you?
QUINN: I need to speak with you.
PICARD: Certainly. This way. Number One?
QUINN: Alone.
PICARD: Is this a personal matter?
QUINN: Official business.
PICARD: Well then my First Officer
QUINN: Alone, Captain.
Scene: Ready room.
QUINN: Commander Remmick is with the Inspector General's office.
PICARD: Oh?
QUINN: He'll be conducting a full investigation of the Enterprise.
PICARD: What are you looking for?
QUINN: I have reason to believe there may be something very wrong on this ship.
PICARD: Tell me what you suspect.
QUINN: It's inappropriate to discuss it at this time. Mister Remmick, Starfleet is counting on you. You will find out what is wrong on this ship.
REMMICK: Yes, sir. Nothing and no one will stand in my way.
QUINN: And you, Captain, are ordered to cooperate in every way necessary with this investigation. Is that clear?
PICARD: Yes, sir.
QUINN: Mister Remmick, unless there are any further questions.
REMMICK: No questions, sir.
QUINN: Get on with your duties.
REMMICK: Yes, sir.
Remmick leaves.
PICARD: We've known one another for years. Tell me what you believe is wrong.
QUINN: Captain, it is vitally important that my orders be followed exactly. I'll be staying on the ship.
PICARD: As you wish, Admiral.
Scene: Classroom.
OLIANA: (a young red-head) What is it?
WESLEY: What?
OLIANA: The unit you just put down. Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.
WESLEY: It's a flux coordinating sensor.
OLIANA: I'm Oliana Mirren, one of the other finalists. You must be Wesley Crusher.
WESLEY: Yeah. Do you know me?
OLIANA: I heard there was a very smart, very young man who'd be tough competition.
WESLEY: Well, you wouldn't be here
OLIANA: I weren't smart. I know. But there's a lot more to it than just that. You're lucky. You've had practical experience aboard the Enterprise.
(Other young people enter)
T'SHANIK: Oliana. (to Wesley) T'Shanik of Vulcana Regar.
WESLEY: Wesley Crusher of the Enterprise.
T'SHANIK: You do not look as if you meet the age requirements.
WESLEY: Uh, I'll be sixteen next month.
OLIANA: Happy birthday.
WESLEY: Excuse me. (goes over to the third newcomer) I'm Wesley Crusher.
MORDOCK: Mordock.
WESLEY: Mordock? The Mordock? The Benzite who constructed the Mordock Strategy? I thought you already were in the Academy.
MORDOCK: No. Only a hopeful, like you.
An officer enters.
CHANG: Finalists, please take your seats I'm Tac Officer Chang. Welcome. You are here because you are all top candidates. Although only one student will be chosen for the Academy, you have shown from the preliminary testing that any of you could easily qualify. This may be the most difficult, exhausting experience of your life, and the most exciting challenge. Expect the unexpected. May you all do your best.
Scene: Bridge.
Remmick is tapping notes into his PADD.
DATA: May I help you, Mister Remmick?
REMMICK: Keep on doing whatever it is you're doing, Commander Data.
GEORDI: There's nothing much to see here, Commander. We're in a standard orbit, and the station has to be manned even if it's just routine.
RIKER: Something I can help you with, Mister Remmick?
REMMICK: When I'm ready, Mister Riker, I'll want to speak with you. Privately.
GEORDI: Commander, just having that guy around makes me feel guilty. What's he after, anyway?
RIKER: I don't know, Geordi, but I'm going to find out. Right now.
Scene: Ready room.
PICARD: Come.
RIKER: Captain, may I speak frankly?
PICARD: Always, Number One.
RIKER: As First Officer, I should be informed. I should know everything that you know.
PICARD: That's right, you should.
RIKER: Then what's this about? Remmick is going to turn this ship upside down.
PICARD: That's his job.
RIKER: And my job is to see that this ship runs smoothly.
PICARD: Which you do very well.
RIKER: Sir, am I under investigation?
PICARD: I don't know.
RIKER: And if you did?
PICARD: I couldn't tell you.
RIKER: I don't understand, sir. This is extremely frustrating.
PICARD: No less so for me. But I promised cooperation, and that's what we shall give.
RIKER: Sir.
Scene: Bridge.
REMMICK: I want some answers from you now, Commander Riker.
RIKER: Later.
REMMICK: You were ordered to cooperate
RIKER: Not now. (enters turbolift) When it doesn't interfere with my duties, Remmick.
Scene: Classroom.
COMPUTER: Last question on the hyperspace physics test. If the matter and antimatter tanks on a Galaxy class starship are nine tenths depleted, calculate the intermix ratio necessary to reach a starbase a hundred light years away at warp factor eight. Begin.
Wesley is straight in with 1:1. Oliana runs out of time.
COMPUTER: Time elapsed. You now have one hour free before the next test.
MORDOCK: I must admit, Wesley, you have a very fast mind.
WESLEY: Once as I realised it was a trick question, there was only one answer.
MORDOCK: Yes, there is only one ratio with matter antimatter. One to one.
OLIANA: You don't know how lucky you are. I can't imagine what it would be like to have things come so easily. I have to push every step of the way.
WESLEY: Oh, no, Oliana, it doesn't come that easily. I have to study all the time.
OLIANA: It's a good thing you're cute, Wesley, or you could really be obnoxious. See you later.
Oliana leaves.
WESLEY: Did you hear what she said, Mordock? She said I was cute.
MORDOCK: Is that good, Wesley?
WESLEY: Yes! I think.
Just then something dawn on him.
WESLEY: I just realized something.
MORDOCK: What's that?
WESLEY: Lesley told me that if some girl comes up to me and tells me that I'm cute, I should mention her.
MORDOCK: Who's Lesley?
WESLEY: My girlfriend aboard the Enterprise.
MORDOCK: Is she pretty?
WESLEY: She is beautiful. Perhaps the most beautiful girl in the universe.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: I think I should apologise, Captain.
PICARD: No need, Number One. Mister Remmick's presence is unnerving, to say the least.
REMMICK: Are you available now, Mister Riker? Or do you still have duties to perform?
RIKER: I'm available, Mister Remmick.
REMMICK: Any problem with using your Ready room, Captain?
PICARD: No, Mister Remmick. Be my guest.
Scene: Ready room.
Remmick sits himself in the Captain's chair and gestures Riker to sit too.
REMMICK: If you prefer to stand, fine, Mister Riker. It won't have an effect on the length of my inquiry. (Riker sits) Now, there are several seeming discrepancies in the Captain's log. Let's go over them one by one, shall we?
RIKER: The Captain's log?
REMMICK: Yes. To the best of your knowledge, has the Captain ever falsified a log?
RIKER: Have you discussed this with him?
REMMICK: Right now, I'm asking you.
RIKER: If you want to discuss anything about Captain Picard, you bring him in here and ask him face to face.
REMMICK: You are required to answer my questions, Mister Riker, unless you're trying to cover something up! Now, there are several discrepancies in the Captain's log. Shall we go over them one by one?
RIKER: Proceed.
Scene: Engineering.
REMMICK: So, you are saying Captain Picard had no control over this vessel. He handed it over to Kosinski, who took the entire crew to the edge of the universe.
GEORDI: No, sir. That's not what I'm saying. Now, Kosinski was sent by Starfleet to improve our warp drive system. Captain Picard was ordered to take him aboard.
REMMICK: According to his own logs, his Bridge crew didn't think highly of Mister Kosinski's theories, yet the Captain allowed him to access to the engines anyway. Is that true, La Forge?
GEORDI: Not exactly, sir.
REMMICK: One way or the other, La Forge, Picard lost control of this ship. Is that true?
GEORDI: Yes, but that's not how it happened.
REMMICK: So, the answer is yes.
Scene: Ready room.
REMMICK: Do you believe the captain is emotionally and psychologically fit for command of this starship? There is nothing in his history or his personality that would suggest mental lapses?
DEANNA: Nothing.
REMMICK: Not even the Ferengi incident with his old ship, the Stargazer?
DEANNA: He was being controlled by a mind altering machine, Commander. Without his knowledge.
REMMICK: I would call that a mental lapse.
Scene: Holodeck.
There is no programme running.
WORF: Ensign, what are you doing on the holodeck? I thought you were still on Relva Seven.
WESLEY: I'm finished testing for the day.
WORF: I've disturbed you. I'll leave.
WESLEY: Wait. I thought I wanted to be alone, but I guess I don't.
WORF: How is the testing?
WESLEY: Okay. So far. It's not the ones that I've studied for that I'm worried about. It's the psych test. Facing my deepest fear and living through it. I'm trying to figure out what images to bring up.
WORF: Why?
WESLEY: I guess I want to scare myself. What do you think? Bulgallian rats? Lightning storms?
WORF: Do those things frighten you?
WESLEY: Sort of, I guess.
WORF: The psych test is no more or less important than the rest of the process.
WESLEY: That's what they said, but I can't stop thinking about it.
WORF: Thinking about what you can't control only wastes your energy and creates its own enemy.
WESLEY: How can they know what my deepest fear is when I don't?
WORF: By analysing your psychological profile. They were very accurate about everyone I tested with. Including myself.
WESLEY: You? I thought there was nothing that could frighten a Klingon warrior.
WORF: Only fools have no fear.
WESLEY: I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I'm asking too many personal questions.
WORF: It is very difficult for me to depend on anyone for anything. But especially for my life.
WESLEY: But on the Enterprise you do that every day. Everyone depends on everyone else to protect them.
WORF: Yes.
WESLEY: So you overcame it?
WORF: No. It is still my enemy.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: With this new extricator, sir, we can eliminate three more bulky machines from cargo space.
PICARD: That's excellent, Number One.
TASHA: Captain, there's an unauthorised entry in main Shuttlebay.
REMMICK: Unauthorised?
PICARD: Who is it, Lieutenant?
TASHA: Computer reads the ID number of Jake Kurland. Bridge to main Shuttlebay. Mister Kurland, this is Lieutenant Yar. Respond.
REMMICK: Isn't the area secured?
RIKER: Not now, Remmick. He's going to take this out, Captain.
TASHA: I'm locking off the bay launch doors, Captain.
WORF: Too late. He's using the flight emergency override
GEORDI: Smart kid.
REMMICK: Kid?
TASHA: He's launching.
PICARD: On viewer. Lieutenant Yar, open channel. Enterprise to shuttlecraft. Mister Kurland, this is Captain Picard. Mister Kurland.
JAKE: (OC) Captain, I'm going to Beltane Nine
Scene: Shuttlecraft.
JAKE: To sign onto a freighter. Tell my father I'm sorry.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: You can tell him yourself, in person. Bring that ship back at once.
JAKE: (OC) No.
Scene: Shuttlecraft.
JAKE: I can't face him. I'm leaving. (alarm sounds)
Scene: Bridge.
GEORDI: Captain, he's unbalanced the dilithium reaction.
Scene: Shuttlecraft.
JAKE: I've lost power!
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: All he's got left are his manoeuvring jets, Captain.
GEORDI: At this trajectory, he'll enter the atmosphere and burn up at two hundred kilometres.
PICARD: Probable impact?
DATA: Atmospheric entry seventy eight seconds.
PICARD: Options?
WORF: Tractor beam?
RIKER: Not possible. He's too far away for a positive lock.
TASHA: He's out of transporter range.
REMMICK: Captain, you are completely responsible for that boy's life.
PICARD: Mister Remmick, either get out of my way and keep quiet, or I will have you removed from the Bridge. Viewer on shuttle cockpit.
TASHA: Visual on main viewer.
PICARD: Mister Kurland.
JAKE: (on viewscreen) I can't get the engine started. What am I going to do? I'm going to crash.
RIKER: He needs another fifty seconds for the core to cool down before it can restart.
PICARD: Stay calm, Jake. We'll get you back.
Scene: Shuttlecraft.
JAKE: Please, help me!
PICARD: (OC) Jake!
JAKE: It's no use, Captain. I'm going to die out here.
Scene: Bridge.
RIKER: He'll need another thirty seconds before he can restart.
DATA: Irrelevant, sir. Even if he restarts his engine now, he will not have enough thrust to escape impact.
PICARD: Mister Kurland, you are not going to die out there. You are going to do exactly what I tell you. Now, take the nose of the shuttlecraft and aim it directly at Relva Seven.
Scene: Shuttlecraft.
JAKE: Aim it at Relva? I can't do that. It's crazy.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Do it!
JAKE: (OC) But I'll burn up!
DATA: Twenty eight seconds to impact.
PICARD: Jake, listen very carefully. This is Captain Picard and I am giving you an order. Aim the shuttle at Relva!
Scene: Shuttlecraft.
JAKE: Okay. It's done.
PICARD: (OC) Good.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Now, monitor your speed exactly. When it hits point zero two zero, I want you to restart the engine
Scene: Shuttlecraft.
PICARD: (OC) And when I tell you, pull up hard.
JAKE: Point zero two zero speed. Captain, I sure hope you're right.
PICARD: (OC) You'll just have to trust me.
JAKE: Point zero zero three.
Scene: Bridge.
JAKE: (OC) Zero zero nine. Zero one two.
DATA: Six seconds to impact.
PICARD: Hold on, Jake. It's going to be a little bumpy.
Scene: Shuttlecraft.
JAKE: Zero one five.
Scene: Bridge.
JAKE: (OC) Zero one nine.
PICARD: Restart the engine, now! Pull up hard!
REMMICK: (amongst others) Yeah!
RIKER: Incredible, Captain!
REMMICK: How did he do it? I thought
GEORDI: He built up enough speed and then bounced her off the atmosphere!
PICARD: Mister Kurland, I assume you can manoeuvre it home?
JAKE: (OC) Yes, sir.
PICARD: Do it. Then report to Mister Riker.
JAKE: (on viewscreen) Yes, sir!
REMMICK: Very original, Captain. But how did that child acquire access to a shuttlecraft?
RIKER: Kurland is a highly qualified Enterprise Academy candidate, fully trained in many areas including shuttles.
REMMICK: And did this full training include discipline?
PICARD: Mister Remmick, young men sometimes make rash choices. Which is why Mister Kurland will receive a strong refresher specifically in discipline
REMMICK: I'll note that in my report.
PICARD: Full cooperation, Number One.
Scene: Relva 7 Corridor.
RONDON: You. I have a package for Operations. Where is it?
WESLEY: End of the corridor, room on your right. One oh four.
The seven foot tall man bumps Wesley as he walks between him and Mordock.
WESLEY: Excuse me.
RONDON: You blocked my path. You Bulgallian sludge rat!
WESLEY: I'm sorry, it was an honest mistake. I apologise.
CHANG: Is there a problem here, gentlemen?
WESLEY: No, sir, I
RONDON: How dare you! I am Rondon, you despicable Melanoid slimeworm! Liar!
WESLEY: Who do you think you're bullying? You bumped into me. It was your mistake. You were at fault. Do you want this to become violent?
RONDON: Friend. I like you.
Rondon leaves, smiling.
MORDOCK: A very strange reaction.
WESLEY: Not really. When he raised his hand, I saw that it was webbed. The sign of a Zaldan.
CHANG: But you became hostile.
WESLEY: Zaldans are infuriated by courtesy. They view it as a form of phony social behaviour, designed to cover true feelings.
CHANG: Congratulations, Mister Crusher. You handled that particular incident very well.
MORDOCK: Was this incident deliberate?
CHANG: It's important to know how you candidates deal with other cultures, other species.
MORDOCK: Then it was a test.
CHANG: Yes. Not all tests are announced, or what they appear to be.
Chang leaves.
MORDOCK: Zaldans have webbed fingers? I wouldn't have passed.
Scene: Observation Lounge.
REMMICK: You're an android, correct?
DATA: Yes, sir. So is my girlfriend, Dana Hatter, but she is more of a unique android than I am.
REMMICK: And as an android, you are programmed to tell the entire truth?
DATA: Yes, sir.
REMMICK: There is a problem with this ship, Mister Data. It's in the records, somewhere. I need your help to find it.
DATA: All of the ship's records are available to you, sir.
REMMICK: This information is very cleverly hidden. Your Captain is not what he appears to be. Do not forget you have loyalty to Starfleet above all else.
DATA: Loyalty is not the issue, Commander. There is nothing wrong with Captain Picard or the ship's logs. Therefore there must be something wrong with your original assumption.
REMMICK: That is not acceptable, Mister Data.
DATA: Acceptable or not, sir, it is the truth.
REMMICK: Just how did this contaminant get aboard the ship?
WORF: By accident, sir.
REMMICK: Meaning Captain Picard has no standing procedure for this type of situation?
WORF: No. Meaning by accident, sir.
REMMICK: You don't like me very much, do you?
WORF: Is it required, sir?
REMMICK: How would you characterise your relationship with Captain Picard?
BEVERLY: We're Starfleet officers who've known each other for many years.
REMMICK: Everything said here is confidential, Doctor. You can be completely open with me.
BEVERLY: About what?
REMMICK: About how you feel serving with a man who is responsible for the death of your husband.
BEVERLY: My personal feelings about Captain Picard are irrelevant to this investigation, and none of your business.
REMMICK: Then you confirm the accuracy of the log report. You violated the Prime Directive with the Edo. You deliberately interfered with their laws.
PICARD: Yes. It's exactly as I explained it in the log records.
REMMICK: All to save Doctor Crusher's son?
PICARD: A member of my crew was being held unjustly. Also his girlfriend, Lesley Hatter wouldn't have forgive me if I let anything happen to him. I stand by my decision. Mister Remmick, you have talked to every member of this ship. I think you've had enough time to find out whatever it is you're looking for.
REMMICK: Are you afraid if I keep looking that I'll find you're guilty?
PICARD: The only thing I'm guilty of is allowing this charade to go on so long.
Scene: Admiral's Quarters.
PICARD: Admiral, if it is me you're investigating, ask me directly what it is you want to know. And please tell me exactly what is going on.
QUINN: I need a little more time, Jean-Luc.
PICARD: How much time? I won't tolerate my crew being harassed any longer.
QUINN: Remmick's full report is almost ready.
PICARD: I want to be here when he presents it.
QUINN: That has always been my intention. Commander Remmick, report to Admiral Quinn.
REMMICK: (OC) On my way, sir.
PICARD: This has been a strain on our friendship.
QUINN: I know. Believe me, Jean Luc, I regret that, but it has been necessary.
Scene: Classroom.
The dynamics relationships test is on the screens, and there are a lot of beeps going on.
MORDOCK: I can't get it.
WESLEY: Yes, you can. Don't fight it. Relax into it and let it come by itself.
MORDOCK: No, it's going too fast. Wesley, I can't do it.
Wesley turns from his own screen to look at Mordock's.
WESLEY: Yes you can. You've got your rotation factor. Just put in your vector coordinates.
Mordock finishes first, Wesley second. The Vulcan finished too.
COMPUTER: Time elapsed.
Chang enters.
CHANG: Congratulations, Mordock. That was the second fastest time ever recorded on this test. You all did well.
MORDOCK: No, it should not have been that way. Mister Crusher helped me.
CHANG: Yes. I know. An interesting choice, Mister Crusher. Especially considering how close you and Mister Mordock are in overall score. You all have an hour to prepare for your last test.
WESLEY: The psych test, sir?
CHANG: We prefer to think of it as a psychological evaluation based on reactions to various individual problems, but psych test will do.
Scene: Admiral's Quarters.
Remmick enters.
REMMICK: Sir?
QUINN: Please sit down, Mister Remmick. Proceed with your report.
REMMICK: Admiral, I've done my best to be thorough during this investigation.
QUINN: Continue.
REMMICK: I couldn't find what you asked, sir. I spoke to officer after officer, at length. I pried into the ships log reports. And yet I could find nothing wrong. Except, perhaps, a casual familiarity among the Bridge crew, but mostly that comes from a sense of teamwork, and the feeling of family. I'm sorry, sir. I did my best.
QUINN: Quite. You're dismissed, Commander.
REMMICK: Yes, sir. Captain Picard, my tour in the Inspector General's office will be up in six months. When I'm finished, this is where I'd like to serve, sir.
No reply, and Remmick leaves.
QUINN: Don't judge the young man too harshly. He's a good officer.
PICARD: It's not him I'm inclined to judge.
QUINN: Don't judge me too harshly either, until I've finished. We had to be very sure of you. Some of us at Starfleet Command became suspicious of certain problems in the Federation.
PICARD: What kind of problems?
QUINN: Something or someone is trying to destroy the fabric of everything we've built up in the last two hundred years.
PICARD: What's your evidence?
QUINN: I can't go into that. There are too many people involved.
PICARD: What do you want from me?
QUINN: I don't know whether the threat comes from the inside or whether it's from outside. I need people I can trust in strong positions throughout the Federation.
PICARD: You have my complete support. You know that.
QUINN: That's not enough. I want to promote you to Admiral, and I want you to take over as Commandant of Starfleet Academy.
PICARD: The Academy.
QUINN: Yes.
PICARD: The Academy?
QUINN: I need you close.
PICARD: Then there was never a problem with the Enterprise.
QUINN: No, but I had to be sure you hadn't been co-opted.
PICARD: Greg, this is politics, and I'm not good at politics. Surely there are others who are better suited.
QUINN: All right. Even if I am wrong, and I hope I am, you're still the best man for the job.
PICARD: I appreciate the value of what you're offering. It's not a decision I can make quickly.
QUINN: I need an answer soon.
PICARD: All right. You'll have it tonight, Admiral. Thank you.
Scene: Relva 7 Corridor.
Wesley is sitting nervously on a bench when Chang comes out of a room.
CHANG: Mister Mordock will be finished with his psych test momentarily.
The door to room 101 opens, Mordock is shaking.
WESLEY: Mordock? Are you all right?
MORDOCK: I will be.
CHANG: Mister Crusher. You're next. Good luck.
Scene: Room 101.
A small room with bare walls and a single chair in the middle.
WESLEY: I'm here. I'm ready. (nothing) Maybe they forgot. Breathe. Got to remember to breathe.
The sound of an explosion outside. Wesley goes to investigate.
Scene: Corridor.
There's a series of bangs, and the sound of a voice calling out.
COMPUTER: Evacuate immediately. Sixty five seconds to seal off.
WESLEY: Somebody help! There's something's wrong in the Environmental lab!
MAN: (OC) Help!
Wesley opens the door
Scene: Environmental Maintenance Laboratory.
There's steam from ruptured pipes.
MAN: Help! We're trapped. I can't move. Please, help me.
Wesley sees him pinned under a piece of pipe.
MAN: We're going to die in here!
There's a second man cowering in the corner.
MAN: The liquid hydrogen's going to blow! The shut off valve ruptured. Hurry up! My legs are crushed. You've got to help me!
Wesley goes to lift the debris, and calls to the uninjured man in the corner.
WESLEY: Give me a hand with this!
MAN 2: We're going to die!
WESLEY: Help me!
MAN 2: I can't! It's too late!
COMPUTER: Thirty seconds to seal off.
Wesley gets the pipe off the injured man.
WESLEY: Come on!
MAN: If we don't get out of here fast, they'll seal us in to contain the explosion.
WESLEY: (dragging the casualty) Come on, you're not hurt.
MAN 2: I can't go through that!
WESLEY: Yes, you can. You've got to.
COMPUTER: Twenty seconds to seal off.
WESLEY: Come on! I can't carry you both! You're not hurt.
COMPUTER: Ten seconds to seal off.
WESLEY: Come on!
MAN 2: It's too late.
The doors are closing as Wesley drags the casualty out.
WESLEY: I'm sorry.
Scene: Relva 7 Corridor.
WESLEY: Officer Chang! There's
CHANG: Wesley! It's all right.
The casualty gets to his feet, dusts himself off and shakes Wesley's hand.
MAN: Thanks.
CHANG: An excellent performance, Mister Crusher.
The other man walks out of the lab and leaves.
WESLEY: Performance? That was the test?
CHANG: Yes.
WESLEY: A man could have died.
CHANG: Theoretically, yes. You had to make a choice. And you did. There's no right or wrong about it. Your greatest fear has been that you couldn't make that decision.
WESLEY: Because of my father? Because Cap. Because someone made that choice, and my father died.
Scene: Ready room.
RIKER: Sir?
PICARD: Yes, Number One?
RIKER: Mister Remmick has left the ship.
PICARD: Yes. He found nothing wrong on the Enterprise. And you can inform the crew that Admiral Quinn is most impressed.
RIKER: Thank you. They'll be pleased that. Can you explain now what he was after?
PICARD: They were after me, Number One. They want me to take over as Commandant, Starfleet Academy.
RIKER: Congratulations! What a wonderful choice, sir. You'll be able to shape the minds of the future leaders of Starfleet. You haven't decided what you're going to do.
PICARD: Yes, I have, Number One. I've decided I'm going for a walk.
Scene: Classroom.
CHANG: I'm proud of all of you. You've done a superb job. Each of you would make a fine Starfleet officer. It's unfair that only one candidate from Relva will attend the Academy this year, and a loss to the Federation if the rest of you do not return to test again. Mister Mordock will be the candidate. His results were slightly higher than Mister Crusher's. Congratulations, Mister Mordock. You're the first Benzite in Starfleet.
MORDOCK: Thank you, sir, but it's not right. It shouldn't be me. Wesley lost points because he helped me. He should not be punished for his generosity.
CHANG: He wasn't. He lost time, but it wasn't only that. Candidates, thank you. And good luck.
Chang leaves.
MORDOCK: I am sorry, Wesley.
WESLEY: It's okay. You deserved to win. Besides, you would have done the same thing for me.
MORDOCK: Yes. I believe I would.
T'SHANIK: Congratulations.
OLIANA: Well, personally, I hate losing. So you'd better be ready next year, Wesley. I won't be easy to beat.
WESLEY: Oh, Oliana, I almost forgot to tell you.
OLIANA: Tell me what?
WESLEY: Remember when you said I was cute.
OLIANA: Yeah I remember. What about it?
WESLEY: Were you flirting with me or not?
OLIANA: I was a little. Why?
WESLEY: Well I'm sorry but a little too late for that.
OLIANA: Why is that?
WESLEY: I have a girlfriend aboard the Enterprise.
OLIANA: What's her name?
WESLEY: Lesley Hatter.
Scene: Corridor.
Picard is in dress uniform when he meets an embarrassed Jake.
PICARD: Mister Kurland!
JAKE: Yes, sir.
PICARD: Are you feeling better?
JAKE: Yes, sir, Look, I'm sorry I damaged the shuttle, Captain. But Mister Riker says I can work on fixing it as part of my discipline training.
PICARD: Good idea. I hope you learned that running away solves nothing.
JAKE: Yes, sir. And I am sorry I messed up.
PICARD: At least you kept your wits about you out there. Don't forget that.
JAKE: No, sir. And thank you. Thank you for saving my life.
PICARD: That's my job, young man.
JAKE: Yes, sir.
Scene: Observation Lounge.
Picard walks in with Lesley.
PICARD: Mister Crusher? Why aren't you in your dress uniform for Admiral Quinn's farewell dinner?
WESLEY: I didn't think that would be appropriate.
PICARD: Why not?
WESLEY: I failed, Captain. I didn't get into the Academy. I failed you and I failed the Enterprise.
PICARD: Ridiculous. Did you do your best?
WESLEY: Yes.
LESLEY: I'm proud of you Wes.
WESLEY: Why?
LESLEY: Because you did your best and I wanted you to do your best.
PICARD: When you test next year, and you will test next year, do you think your performance will improve?
WESLEY: Yes.
PICARD: Good. The only person you're truly competing against, Wesley, is yourself.
WESLEY: Then you're not disappointed?
PICARD: Wesley, you have to measure your successes and your failures within, not by anything I or anyone else might think. But, if it helps you to know this, I failed the first time. And you two may not tell anyone!
WESLEY & LESLEY: You? You failed?
PICARD: Yes. But not the second time. Now, you'll do me the courtesy of joining us at dinner. I have to disappoint an old friend.
Scene: Transporter room.
QUINN: Wish I could convince you to change your mind.
PICARD: I'll serve you better here.
QUINN: This is where you belong.
PICARD: If you need me.
QUINN: I've been playing politics too long. Perhaps I see conspiracies everywhere. Don't worry. Safe travels, my friend.
Scene: Bridge.
PICARD: Set course to Algeron Four, Mister Crusher.
WESLEY: Course plotted and laid in, sir.
PICARD: Then shall we continue with our mission?
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
PICARD: Excellent. Mister Crusher, engage.
Scene: Ten Forward.
Lesley was in Ten Forward with her sisters. When all of a sudden their boyfriends joined them.
GEORDA: Wesley, Les tolds us that you didn't make it to the academy this time.
WESLEY: Did you have to tell them?
LESLEY: Yes, yes I did.
WESLEY: Why?
LESLEY: They are my sisters and we share everything together.
DANA: And as our father would say.
THE HATTER TRIPLETS: How true that is.