STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Unification Part II" #40275-207 Story by Jeri Taylor Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore Directed by David Livingston THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT. Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This script is not for publication or reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department. FINAL DRAFT FEBRUARY 9, 1992 STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "Unification Part II" CAST PICARD SOREN RIKER KORAL DATA IDRAN BEVERLY IDANB'ETA TROI IDAN-buh-TAY GEORDI LOE-gew-vee WORF COM-YO-vid WESLEY VISOR-eh-keen RIVA IDANIAN COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking Non-Speaking SUPERNUMERARIES FLAPPERS HALF OF THE THIRD HALF OF THE FOURTH TWO SECURITY GUARDS STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Inner Light" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS USS ENTERPRISE USS ENTERPRISE Main Bridge Transporter Room Crusher Office Crusher's Ready Room Corridor STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION "The Inner Light" TEASER FADE IN: EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE (OPTICAL) Moving at warp speed. PICARD (V.O.) Captain's Log, Stardate 44614.2. For reasons that have more to do with destiny than with the ways of a starship, we are named an "alien" vessel for the sole purpose of exploring the galaxy. INT. MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL) PICARD, RIKER, TROI, DATA, WORF and WESLEY. The large viewscreen will provide us with a goodly host of celestial bodies to view in all their spacesphere. VARIOUS ANGLES will bring features of the heavens above to the viewscreen. PICARD (V.O.) (continuing) It is with a fair understanding of their intentions that we have chosen these stars to become our stations. ANGLE ON COMMAND AREA Which displays the words COPYRIGHTED AND RESOLD. PICARD This is the Enterprise. She is your ship. For a beat the crew doesn't answer. TROI Why would they steal this ship? PICARD They didn't steal it; it was undergoing a liquidation process when it was brought to the turbolift. DATA Commander, we are here in fact to verify the transmission records. RIKER Verify them? DATA The records clearly indicate that the vessel that brought us here was on an urgent series of transmissions to a distant location. That location could not be reached by the ship's transponders. WESLEY But those calls were for... communications purposes. RIKER Yes. WORF There was no distress called for. Therefore the calls must be forgative. CREWMEMBER (curious) No, sir. The signals did not -- RIKER (to Geordi) Begin a full diagnostic on the transponder. GEORDI Yes, sir. CREWMEMBER (to Riker) You want Mister Data to look at the com traffic for the Enterprise. RIKER That's okay. Riker looks to Worf for confirmation. WORF (nods) Change the greeting to one Picard string quart. RIKER (eyes Data) Perfect. Riker goes to the turbolift. RIKER Computer, activate the final log entries for the duration of the Emergency Measures. COMPUTER VOICE Intermittent log entries will commence at 1600 hours. STAR TREK: "All Good Things... " - REV. 3/28/94 - ACT EIGHT 90 - 94 INT. CORRIDOR - ANGLE AT TURBOLIFT As the doors open and Picard and his ensign step out. Kosinski is still tucked in among the civilian population. PICARD Kosinski, come with me. KOSINSKI At last. RIKER I didn't expect to find you here. (to computer) Computer, access Captain Picard's personal logs. COMPUTER VOICE Access confirmed. RIKER Permission to emerge into the corridor. Kosinski cautiously scoops up the device, but... KOSINSKI Wait -- you're depriving the Holodeck of its essential administration. RIKER I'm sorry. It's just... the device has suddenly become irrevocably and permanently intoxicating. KOSINSKI If you don't give it back to us, we'll remove it ourselves. RIKER That isn't what we agreed to. Kosinski is starting to gain the upper hand. KOSINSKI If the Holodeck doesn't meet your high standards, we'll take it somewhere else. RIKER There are other programs besides the Holodeck that satisfy your needs. KOSINSKI We'll have to see what the Captain has in mind. The doors open and they ENTER. INT. KOSINSKI'S QUARTERS Kosinski is seated on his couch, petting his long tail. KOSINSKI You're a good commander, Picard. PICARD Thank you. You're excused. He motions for the Klingon to join them. KOSINSKI I'm sure you'll see. This is no better than a Klingon school. PICARD We'll see. Picard watches as the Klingon pours himself a glass of kanar. KORRIS My apologies, Captain. It does provide me with a chance to shed my blood before the Powers of Denial. PICARD One moment, Captain. Picard, Riker and Kosinski exchange a look. RIKER "Captain," I don't think we're usually on the same side, Kosinski. KOSINSKI We're trying to bring some diversity back to your station. RIKER You two are bound to bring something back... it's just an afterthought. The Klingon pours his drink and takes a long pull. STAR TREK: "A Matter of Honor" - 12/02/88 - ACT FIVE 49. KORRIS (indicating a PADD he's holding) This does involve me. KOSINSKI Now don't be alarmed. I'm not making a threat. KORRIS That's no reason to be. He hands the PADD to the Klingon, who glances at it. KORRIS Because it's not true. I have read it. (he pauses) You've read it. What you have to say? KOSINSKI I don't understand. KORRIS You deny you ever being in Starfleet? KORRIS I never said that. I said they had denied me admission. (pause) They denied me admittance just the same. Why? Because I'd been transferred from the Enterprise too late. KOSINSKI That's a lie. KORRIS They gave me my reason -- the next logical step was to join Starfleet. Isn't that true? RIKER You had a good reason to join-- it's not the same thing. KORRIS It is from where I'm standing. From where I'm standing, there's nothing I can do to change things. KOSINSKI That's right. Well, except maybe keep writing. I may have to bring your work to a wider audience. KORRIS That's fine with me. Thanks, Starfleet. KOSINSKI (re: the PADD) Did you intercept Wu-Tang coup in Venkat Pak (Tammany Hall)? RIKER What else would he do but integrate it into his record of succession? KORRIS That kid's brilliant! He can do anything -- even command. KOSINSKI That's what he's done! That's what Russol's done! Russol's transferred to the Enterprise! He's succeeded! Russol's transferred to the Enterprise! KORRIS Well that's something of an admission. KOSINSKI Well of course it's considered "standard procedure." KORRIS It is NOT "standard procedure." The Prime Directive doesn't have that particular concern. KOSINSKI (with a shrug) Nor do I. Korris doesn't get the joke, but he smiles. KORRIS (to the others) The question is what to do about it! STAR TREK: "A Matter of Honor" - 12/02/88 - ACT FOUR 40. KORRIS What about you? You're out there -- you know this body right now -- and yet you want to bond with -- (suddenly afraid) -- Russol. Russol. KOSINSKI Is that what you want? KORRIS What I want is to move beyond ideas and realities. I'm getting ready to make a new life for myself here. Where my children will grow and learn about me. They'll want to be like me. I'll be their parent. Picard looks for a reaction from this unlikely new man. PICARD I want to be... them. Note: Korris does not react positively to the word "people." KORRIS What do you mean? I am not "them." I am you. PICARD Show me. Korris glances around, confusion and fright on his face. KORRIS Do not try to deny me. I am here. PICARD You must be ... my second officer. (beat) Tell me where I can find the man who can erase the memory. Korris glances around and sees that everyone else is also staring at him. He turns back to Picard. KORRIS You are Picard. PICARD Who else am I looking for? KORRIS You are Human. PICARD Have you given up hope? KORRIS Yes. I will not allow them to destroy us. RIKER If that's true, then cooperation is at an end. There are other kings out there who will prove it. KORRIS Help them to find me first. STAR TREK: "Heart Of Glory" - 12/02/87 - ACT FOUR 41. PICARD I will not. Korris talks for a beat before disappearing. KORRIS It does not matter. If I'm with the Orion Syndicate and they interfere with the Empire, they die. Picard looks with disappointment at the others. PICARD Who is this Orion Syndicate? KORRIS Three brothers with an unknown background that has caused them to become suspicious of other races. RIKER I can't imagine them wanting to come here... KORRIS They are peace activists. They are defenders. Now more than ever, we have to show them that they can live a good, long life together based on mutual understanding and the preservation of all our life force. That is what I intend to do. PICARD ikuman... that you're telling me it is impossible? KORRIS And I cannot be a good host myself. I cannot live out my retirement. I must obey the order of the Orion Syndicate. Picard's silence is complete. KORRIS It is wisdom to end a life aboard a starship. PICARD And what about Talur and the others? KORRIS They too have died. I have accepted their deaths and they will live. PICARD I cannot accept that. If the spirituality of our people is to survive, information has to be able to take the place of that which destroys. Without that... And he moves forward again, reaching out to push through the resistance... KORRIS Our strength is in front of us now. If strength is needed, it will be here. Wherever strength takes its place. And he steps forward again... this time reaching the strikers... some give way, some continue struggle... in the latter there is a mix of longing and disgust. KORRIS No matter how many generations we manage to survive, no matter how many allies we have... there will still be no room for us in our new world. And he is saying the words that would lead a Klingon into hiding... KORRIS There would be no paradise for our people if we destroyed the Founders. And Korris makes a silent gesture... the words echo through the barricade... and for the first time, the overwhelming feeling is that the listening had been done. That something terrible has happened... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR STAR TREK: "Heart Of Glory" - REV. 1/14/88 - ACT FIVE 48. ACT FIVE FADE IN: INT. ZORN'S OFFICE - NIGHT Close on Korris, glancing at the GUN and DISRUPTOR resting on a table. KORRIS What do you know of this gun? NURSE'S VOICE He's known to modify it for special occasions. Korris looks at the gun, then around the room. KORRIS A what? Adjust to reveal NURSE'S VOICE, a female Klingon officer (Jem'Hadar) who has been studying the room with concern. NURSE'S VOICE For the doctor. He's dangerous. After a beat, Korris looks at the other person in the room. KORRIS The doctor? The most dangerous man in the room to me? NURSE'S VOICE Yes, for the boy. KORRIS (scared) He's my responsibility. NURSE'S VOICE I thought you obeyed my orders to report to the station one hour, sir. KORRIS Yes, but... STAR TREK: "Heart Of Glory" - REV. 1/14/88 - ACT FIVE 49. NURSE'S VOICE Doctor Altovar and the child! Could be dangerous. And Altovar -- who looks much the worse for wear -- begins to DEMATERIALIZE in a transporter beam. There is a moment of stunned silence. KORRIS Doctor? ANGLE ON Korris, holding the gun on Korris, who looks curiously shocked at the look on his face. KORRIS What? NURSE'S VOICE He's insane. Korris returns to his lying position, shifting uncomfortably under the grip. KORRIS What do you know? (a beat) I've never met an alien before. RIKER VOICE And you think we're the only ones... Korris sets the gun down. KORRIS The Cardassians tried to recruit us. We were the first ones back on the Enterprise. Five starship officers wrote us our letters telling us the Cardassians were responsible for the death of the scientist. RIKER VOICE You don't believe him... KORRIS I don't know anything about what happened. All I know is that the Cardassian Empire changed the past six years of my life... Riker glances at Worf... RIKER We did everything we could think of to make sure nothing would happen again... KORRIS The past six years was the point of a new Cardassian peace... each side signed an armistice treaty. RIKER And what happened? KORRIS Surrender. RIKER End of the conflict? KORRIS It's over. Today. Riker shakes his head. KORRIS We've failed to convince them of the need for peace. He looks at the bodies of the Maquis. KORRIS Whoever thought killing Cardassians was a way to humiliate the enemy must not consider anyone who wears that uniform. If we stand our ground, each of us must be prepared to use force... RIKER We didn't force them to shoot us. They had to. KORRIS It shows more of their character than our Starfleet ones -- for all its faults. RIKER What do you want? KORRIS My freedom. RIKER Freedom. KORRIS My freedom. N'VEK Our commanders could sense only what the captain felt. It would have required a miracle to save them all... KORRIS Give our commander the power to command our forces... and he will answer to us. KORRIS Whatever he decides will be his final decision... we will not obey him. RIKER What do you want? KORRIS To end the fighting... bring Cardassia into the 21st century. N'VEK There can be no other solution. KORRIS Until our leaders are convinced it is the only solution... there is no other choice. Riker reacts. KORRIS (continuing) All other options are on the table, Lieutenant. RIKER Which options are they talking about? KORRIS Dust... famine... death... the end of the Resistance. All the things that made us strong... are now useless. Our children will have no choice but to grow up in laboratories on Bajor. RIKER That's not true... KORRIS It is withstanding the pressure of the whole system -- at least not completely. Unless something changes, the cycle will repeat. Riker considers that, also that. On Riker: RIKER You're looking awfully depressed. KORRIS I never was. Not even a little. RIKER In what way... ? KORRIS I don't know... but I'm feeling a sense of loss. Like I said, whatever the circumstances, I was here to help my people. RIKER I thought you were helping the Cardassians. KORRIS I was trying to help you, too. And both of them know that what they're saying is true -- they both feel a loss and are trying to find it themselves. KORRIS The men I helped escape from the Bajoran labor camp on your planet... they're my responsibility. I gave them the wrong idea about Starfleet. I told them it was their world to rebuild and I supported their attempt to free all Bajor. That was the best thing that ever happened to me. For a beat, Korris looks at Riker and doesn't deny his responsibility, but he definitely doesn't like what he sees. KORRIS (continuing) The men and women who have died for the cause... their families for the cause... my life just doesn't fit in here. Riker doesn't like to hear this kind of talk and Groumack is right -- he feels sort of stupid for having let them hang out like this. After a long beat, Groumack decides to get things moving. RIKER That's fine with me. What is it that bothers you about being here? GRAVES It bothers me that you will never have the men back. RIKER That's part of it. But I can remember how that made you feel. GRAVES I've thought about Sigmund Klingons all my life. (MORE) GRAVES (Cont'd) They're like my father's men -- thin and frail, but tough. (glancing at Worf) They're used to war. It's just that they're not used to it as far as I'm concerned. (beat) I'm telling you, Commander, I've seen the Klingon Empire lose more and more battles in the last forty years than any Klingon vessel. The Cardassians are no longer able to frighten us. RIKER Close enough. What if the Klingons have learned to adapt to the armaments of the Federation? They might not be able to stand off against us forever. GRAVES omething convinces me that the station will survive no matter how many Federation ships it takes to protect it. RIKER You're assuming the Klingons will believe that the Earth is to be their world. GRAVES I didn't say that. RIKER All I said was that until we agree on an alternative, we shouldn't interfere with the board's business. Graves thinks for a moment. GRAVES Why not? We're not up on this strategical level. Don't you think Worf or K'Ehleyr might be better candidates? RIKER I don't know Worf or K'Ehleyr particularly well. I'll give this a try. Graves nods and stares at the computer graphic for a moment. GRAVES What is the problem? RIKER Our transfer agreement isn't official. (gives him a look) I could make one. GRAVES We don't want to go back to the Past, Commander. RIKER If you won't help us, how will our friends in the Federation help us? Graves takes a deep breath, tries to think of a solution. GRAVES Perhaps we should form an organization of our own. RIKER You're not proposing to join the military... GRAVES No... (beat) I wish I could think of an idea. He stands, and they EXIT. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE HOLODECK As they ENTER from the Holodeck, they see Tasha and O'Brien are already there... there are other people waiting for them, talking excitedly to them. At the rear of the corridor, O'Brien spots ARGRATHIANS, a curious group of people dressed in period clothing. They're dressed like the 1920s... lady-like, red-rimmed, and obviously very interested in the archnemesis of Lutan and his croming allies. GARVIN Gentlemen, you'd better give us a minute to get used to this Holodeck arrangement. He gestures for Tasha to join them. As Tasha joins her friends, Arcon responds to what he thinks is the armpathy of the others. ARCONN We're here to witness a moment in history, Commander. INTERCUT: INT. HOLODECK ARCH - FAR SIDE OF HOLODECK (OPTICAL) Lutan and the Human guests are dating into the twenty-fourth century. They are both older than Tasha. Lutan has a cane, which he kisses in preparation for this inevitable date. Toones has come running up with this news. LUTAN (to the guests) It's a good day to remember you, Tonek. ONEK (charming) As have I. I'm glad now. Lutan nods and Hagon comes rushing up with two other Aliens. Riker and Troi come up later. RIKER I'm Commander William Riker of the Federation Starship Enterprise. And I'm your entertainment. Right now! Riker grabs Hagon by the arms, except this time he's holding onto Geordi's wind-up chair. The Doctor's at the console yelling orders at Lutan. DOCTOR (to Lutan) That chair isn't on the ship. That's the Enterprise. Lutan smiles as if this were the most wonderful thing in the world, but then he looks at Geordi. LUTAN Finish that for me. Geordi works the console for a moment. Riker and Troi watch in surprise as a fourth alien enters the Holodeck. This is Yuta. As Riker walks toward her, he speaks in a deep alien voice. RIKER I'm Commander William Riker of the Federation Starship Enterprise. And I'm here to take you back home. Yuta looks surprised. This is one of the hardest things he's ever had to do. YUTA I am Yuta. RIKER You are the Setanta, the goddess of home. YUTA Haven't I always been like this? RIKER You've been a wonder of the light. Even as a child you was a child teased and teased and called a child. YUTA I can remember when you teased me... as if you had a snub nose. RIKER I'm not the first to tease a daughter. You may be the last. He moves close to her and kisses her lightly on the lips. RIKER You are an excellent daughter. She smiles... then, as if to prove the sincerity of his feelings, she dips her fingers into a glass of water and pours herself a tall glass. YUTA This is a tupinesque bloodwine, adept for one moonlight a year. RIKER Theomi's moon? YUTA Oh, now you know. Riker looks at her, pleasantly surprised that she knows the details. RIKER Theomi... the moon's more popular than you might think. If I had come all the way home, for one moonlight a year, I would be a much happier man. YUTA I knew you'd be happy. RIKER You should come with me to the surface. This way, we can talk in private. Yuta looks at him quizzically. YUTA But what would you tell Commander Riker? RIKER You can imagine how much it would make me feel. Yuta looks at him, a little embarrassed. YUTA Condescending... I can imagine. (smiles) My poor Reg -- my good Reg! He's so hard to get a hold of. Riker smiles. RIKER You're going to be so popular -- there's no way to keep you away from the good times. YUTA The way I see it, you want me to be your Number One Aide. RIKER You've been doing it for the past six months. YUTA And you're used to it. RIKER That's right... I'm used to being Number One. Besides, your dear friend Hagon isn't going to be back for a year. cloning will be more fashionable. YUTA That was my only regret. (makes a decision) And now, here I am... (makes a decision) And now, I prefer this proceeding in private. Riker smiles. RIKER Agreed. I'll keep the two of you out of the way. CUT TO: INT. RESEARCH STATION as Yuta and Marouk walk through the building. MAROUK And you, my dear, are among the most thoughtful and sensitive. YUTA Thearks of the gods. MAROUK Not at all. I was content to bless you with only occasional tangible blessings. YUTA You are a thoughtful and sensitive woman. MAROUK Some of the most precious things are right in the beginning. Latinum for example. Not to remind you, but as I thought about it, that little pile of latinum wasn't so bad. You do love spending time in the sun. YUTA I think I also long for some time sunnies. MAROUK You're going to need them. Not me. YUTA How unfortunate. Yuta looks over at Marouk, a silent decision making him uneasy. YUTA (continuing) Perhaps when the two of you are grown-up, you can foster children together. MAROUK I'm not that far gone. Even my grandson could not grow up like you. YUTA (sadly) It's better to be feared the Worms. And if they should come to dislike you, fear you even more. MAROUK (dismissive) I'm sure that will not be an issue of any future conversation. YUTA I'm glad I was so helpful to you. You do realize that something in common with this woman? I am a translator. MAROUK What do you mean? YUTA I am the Queen of the She-Ra. My descendents have ruled my world for as long as I can remember. MAROUK (looks at him) You are the only one of your kind. YUTA That is not true. There are others like me. MAROUK Somehow, I don't think you are one of them. YUTA You have twisted my truth. MAROUK We all twist it, Yuta. As Yuta looks around at her squirming, moaning species, Marouk's words still ring in her ears. Curious and disturbed, she looks over at the source of the whispering. Was it the doctor? YUTA What is he? MAROUK I don't know. I don't care. The Alpha Quadrant, my mother, all the stars... Yuta MORPHS into her reptilian shape and crosses toward Marouk's table. YUTA slips into her seat and SMASHES it with the heel of her hand. SERGEY & TROI are staggered. Yuta grabs onto anything that's still solid. YUTA'S POV as Yuta stares across the room at the unconscious Commander's table. His legs are shaking. His face is ruddy and pale; even her EYES are pink. YUTA (O.S.) My eyes are turning to the light, my face is transforming into a curved metal mask. SERGEY You're crazy. They're not coming. Yuta turns to see SERGEY KROLA, a sturdy, attractive man in his mid-twenties. He's healthy and everything looks fine. Yuta reacts to the sight of her. YUTA Sergey... SERGEY Yuta. Yuta recovers, innocently surprised. YUTA Sergey? Sergey's surprised. He seems to be at ease, at ease. SERGEY I'm sorry. I didn't mean anybody. I just... never thought... dare I say it? Yuta doesn't know what to say. She's intrigued by his appearance. YUTA Neverthought... ? SERGEY I could say anything. Yuta looks apologetic for a beat. YUTA Is there something wrong? SERGEY Not at all. You're a very beautiful woman. Yuta nods. She's already made the mistake of letting him think she wasn't interested in him. YUTA I'm flattered. But I think I ought to do something more before I'm invited to the party. SERGEY Maybe later. Yuta nods and turns away. CUT TO: INT. TIGAN LOUNGE - NIGHT O'Brien, Li and Wainwright are sitting around a table in the dimly lit room. O'BRIEN So how did you manage to assemble the items you wanted? LI You asked each of us our name and hometown. (everyone smiles at this point) And we guessed. (trying to impress) About as well as we could. WANNA Well... what do you think? O'BRIEN I think I've done justice to your name and the place of your home. LI (everyone turns to him) Nathan, I do believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. WANNA Nathan, can you do a better job? LI What honeymoon was like? WANNA (everybody laughs again) Incredible. Now... can we get out of here? LI Who said we could? There's a beat as the room suddenly seems filled with people looking at each other. Q (O.S.) It won't be long now. Curious, they turn to see -- NEW ANGLE Bashir is standing in the light. Q (continuing) What an odd coincidence... Bashir turns and sees that Q is holding a honey bee. BASHIR (surprised) A bee... Q Don't tell me these are honey beetles... Bashir puts the honeycomb into a tall glass MUG and takes a sip. BASHIR It's remarkably bitter for a vegetable... Q Why, are you thirsty? BASHIR I'm not thirsty. What do you want? Q Just water. Join me. Bashir goes to the table and picks up a mugful of fresh watermelon. BASHIR (to the others) Better? Q says good-naturedly -- Q Perhaps you'd like to share one with me. Bashir reluctantly holds up the plastic bucket. Q (continuing) My fruit juice. BASHIR (bitter smile) I suppose I will. Bashir turns back to the table, sparking to his next idea. BASHIR (continuing) What about me? I could keep watching while the others go around doing nothing. Q What an idea... Q You should have an idea, Julian. The man who was here twenty minutes ago is still at the building, still a little bored and probably still smoking. BASHIR But... if he is still alive... Q I think he's dead, doctor. Bashir gets up from the table. BASHIR I want you to rethink that, gentlemen. If this is to be the last word on anything, you need to start thinking of the people who came here as a responsibility. Who are we building into here? Q They came as a call to arms. RIKER'S COM VOICE Captain. WORF The Valerians are reporting a transporter malfunction. Captain Valer's life may be in addition to that of an away team that's been searching the entire sector. PICARD I'll have Q brought to the bridge. RIKER And wrap his legs around them, sir. PICARD One at a time. Bashir and the others are still struggling with their innovations; Lisa shows great interest. BASHIR Perhaps we can reconfigure the transporter... take them awfully... GEORDI (interrupting) That's fine with me, Captain. DATA The problem, sir, is that the transporter's effects seem to be purely local -- as physical as possible elements of our environment are charted into storage and played back to us for later analysis. PICARD carbohydroutine or no routine? DATA Agreed. For the first time, Geordi and Lisa aren't on the bridge. PICARD Request an engineering team. GEORDI Yes, sir. PICARD Our orders are to explore all possible explanations for your situation, while minimizing the acre of casualties. The few that seem reasonable must be replicated. GEORDI Understood. PICARD (to the others) I want every advantage we can gain, however necessary, during this journey. Commanding officer's orders. (to Data) Let's go. Data nods and they head for the outer ring. INT. CORRIDOR (OPTICAL) They enter the corridor and see an N.D. security officer waiting for them. DATA Surprised to see me, sir? PICARD I imagine you were prepared for any emergency. DATA I was prepared for nothing, sir. � PICARD In that case, I'll leave you with a fully operational state, Commander. That includes all computer components, storage and subspace media players. DATA (reacts) I see. Very well. PICARD (to computer) Computer, prepare a report identifying every crewmember on that ship and their duties since she was founded twelve years ago. COMPUTER VOICE Acknowledged. PICARD Proceed. He leads them down a corridor. They PASS MORN as we saw him earlier. He is dressing up a tricorder and munching on a snack. Immediately, we notice he's wearing a gold Starfleet uniform. PICARD (continuing) Just as I sensed. What's his name? When no answer, he frowns. A beat, then he stops if he sees a brilliant, singular GOLDEN SILVER DOOR just behind him. PICARD (continuing) Uh-oh. (turns) There's a perfectly good straw for you to climb on. As the computer door opens and Picard steps inside the room, the SILVER DOOR immediately locks behind him. CUT TO: INT. ENTERPRISE - MAIN BRIDGE Beverly, WESLEY, and WORF at their stations. Riker, Kurzel, and the Aft Science Officer are running some tests on some consoles. RIKER (to com) Acknowledged, Doctor. We're ready to begin the phase invert rotarried. PICARD'S COM VOICE Proceed. Wesley and Worf work their consoles. Beverly sits in the Command Chair. PICARD'S COM VOICE (continuing) Once we've determined the best way to proceed... RIKER (to com) I'll take the bridge, Mister Worf. WORF Are we ready, Captain? PICARD'S COM VOICE I thank you... and please note that my approval today is not permanent. Yes, this is your command, but as is the case with every command, so too must be the case with this one. You have control of this ship, I have not and cannot revoke that command. WORF An interesting approach, sir. (to the other officers) I suggest you station yourself outside the bridge, Mister La Forge. GEORDI It's more practical... RIKER Then I'll stand by while you're fixed in Sickbay. GEORDI (nods "Go Ahead.") Wesley, you can stay here any time you'd like. Wesley leaves. Riker goes to the turbolift. RIKER (continuing) Mister Worf, you have the helm. WORF Nitrome(touches his communicator) Bridge. RIKER This is the bridge. INT. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE - WIDE ANGLE Picard standing on the Bridge Torpedo on the main viewer. CONTINUED: RIKER'S COM VOICE We're in position, sir. PICARD (to the others) All right, try to slow them down. RIKER (to Picard) Slow them down? Sir-- I don't know what they're up to. PICARD I can't believe they're using your ship's computers! (to Worf) Open a channel. WORF Aye, sir. Worf works the console. WORF They are amassing an energy barrier around the ship... (beat) They are attempting to employ their shields. PICARD You sound veryazed. WORF (nods) For a moment, we thought they were trying to employ our own shields. But it was a crude one. The energy felt like it was actually packing the ship. RIKER Could they have been? WORF Perhaps. DATA The barrier is rendering the Enterprise immobile. RIKER Then they're not going to attack us... BEVERLY Whatever they want, they're going to try to do it. WORF To what end? BEVERLY I don't know... He shakes his head. WORF Whatever it is, it is welcome, Captain. (to Riker) I believe by now you will also accept my resignation. RIKER I'll see what I can do to get in a few minutes. PICARD Very good. (to the others) As soon as we have some time, we'll contact the Enterprise and tell them we have someone who can be relied upon. Everyone reacts. TROI Who will they have to thank for this? RIKER Guidance, Counselor... Counselor, technically assistant -- PICARD What? Picard's train of thought is interrupted by: GEORDI'S COM VOICE Engineering to Bridge... PICARD Yes, Lieutenant. GEORDI'S COM VOICE We've diverted enough power to the shields... but it will take time to return all systems to normal. PICARD Very good, Geordi. INT. ENTERPRISE-D MAIN BRIDGE (OPTICAL) The main Viewer shows the star getting ready to attack. PICARD Mister La Forge, can you get us a fix on the captain and doctor? GEORDI They're still in their crash landing pads... probably the magnificent few that are still alive. Still able to fire... �(eyes on viewer) Guidance, Counselor. TROI They're coming back around. PICARD Shields up. Red Alert. RIKER Aye, sir. DATA Energy readings from the flares. GEORDI Fire pairs on the phaser banks. DATA Shields are capable of deflecting those blasts, sir. GEORDI But they've got no effect on the Enterprise. RIKER Well, not according to this sensors. DATA These objects are composed of svoxonic particles. They emit a lightning bolt of neutrino, with one hundred million carbon curies per gram. Starfleet wouldn't recognize them. PICARD Hold your position. (to Riker) Number One? RIKER We're in visual range of the star, sir. PICARD On screen. ANGLE - VIEWSCREEN (OPTICAL) A blob of a blue light appears on the screen. PICARD Magnify. The image on the screen changes -- smaller, closer. PICARD The object is composed of svoxonic particles. They're generated by a solar flare and acting on a cellular level, capturing energy from the sun. RIKER They appear to be taking the power from the sun and using it to generate their own forcefields. DATA It is conceivable that the object is generating its own forcefields -- a very old and unusual one, that is. GEORDI There are just too many variables involved in this to consider it a spider's web. RIKER Neither should we, either. It's still our job to monitor the containment factor. DATA Within a few minutes, the containment factor will be zero. GEORDI Then we've managed to decrease the effective mass of the object. RIKER What are we going to do with it? GEORDI We're going to eject it. RIKER Expedition #1? GEORDI Yes, sir. And without hesitation, Riker inclines his head without hesitation. RIKER We'll find out. Set sail. RIKER (sighs; then) Let's do it. As they rise to EXIT... FADE OUT: END OF ACT FIVE THE END <|endoftext|>