Picard: 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.
Crusher: Include a burn unit with each kit. Upon arrival, identify the most critically injured and beam them up to cargo bay six.
Picard: Doctor Crusher, this is the Captain.
Crusher: Doctor Crusher here.
Picard: Additional information. The number of colonists at the site is five hundred and four. Are you prepared for that many, Doctor?
Crusher: We believe so, sir.
Laforge: 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.
Laforge: Captain, I'm picking up a forcefield out there of some kind. It's almost
Data: The Q entity, sir. It is identical to the grid we encountered when
Worf: It reads solid, sir.
Picard: Emergency. Full stop.
Laforge: Reversing power, sir.
Picard: Not now, damn it, Q.
Tasha: Shields and deflectors up, sir.
Laforge: Now reading full stop, sir.
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 realization 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.
Q: Starfleet Admiral Q, at your service.
Picard: 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
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 realization 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.
Riker: Where are we?
Data: Obviously a class M world. Gravity and oxygen within our limits.
Laforge: 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.
Picard: Security, this is the Captain. Security? Engineering, this is the Bridge.
Picard: Turbolift Control, do you read? This is the Captain.
Tasha: Sir! Over here.
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: 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!
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!
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.
Laforge: 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.
Picard: Captain's log
Picard: 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 diskipline, 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.
Riker: Geordi, can you see Worf?
Laforge: I'd see the freckles on his nose if he had them, sir. He's at the third ridge.
Data: The third ridge?
Laforge: Moving well too. Oh, oh. Good, he sees them.
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?
Laforge: 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?
Laforge: 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 meters at best with any accuracy.
Laforge: 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.
Worf: Drop your weapons!
Riker: I'm afraid that was me, Worf. I was checking to see if the phasers still operate.
Laforge: 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.
Laforge: Those soldiers are moving in fast, sir.
Riker: Data, if you've got a theory about what's happening?
Q: Think fast, Commander Riker, and move fast.
Riker: Those aren't muskets.
Q: You have only one chance to save them now. Send them back to the ship.
Riker: You'll let me beam them?
Q: 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: Use your power.
Q: Use your power.
Picard: Lieutenant, take the conn position. Engineering, this is the Bridge.
Crewman: Engineering here, sir.
Picard: Engineering, are all systems back online?
Crewman: 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.
Tasha: Where's Commander Riker?
Worf: He was with us.
Laforge: He must still be on the planet. We were under attack by these, these animal things.
Picard: Animal things?
Laforge: Well, maybe Data could explain better, sir.
Data: You may find it esthetically 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.
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, eon after eon.
Riker: Eons. 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!
Laforge: Come on, not again!
Wesley: Commander Riker, what's going on? I was sitting in school and
Tasha: Worf, my phaser's gone. Are you armed?
Worf: No.
Picard: Where is Q? If you have any answer to any of this?
Wesley: Worf!
Riker: Look out!
Picard: Wesley, no!
Riker: Wesley!
Picard: Wesley!
Riker: No! Damn it! Damn it to hell!
Picard: Riker. You! You did that!
Riker: And that's not all!
Picard: That grid, their wounds. Only the Q can do that.
Picard: 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.
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: In orbit of Quadra Sigma Three, sir. Ready to beam down rescue team to underground emergency area.
Data: This way sir.
Riker: Are there any others?
Woman: Gone. It's just us.
Laforge: Commander. There's someone under here.
Laforge: You're getting close, Data.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: 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.
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
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.
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.
Laforge: 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?
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. 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 authorize 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?
Crusher: Leave now, Wesley.
Riker: No! Wesley, I may know best of all. Our friendship, our long talks
Crusher: No, please!
Riker: Have your favorite wish, my young friend.
Riker: You're ten years older. A man.
Laforge: Hey, Wes. Not bad.
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 favorite 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.
Laforge: You're as beautiful as I imagined, and more.
Riker: Then we can throw away the visor?
Laforge: 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: Proud warrior Worf, without a single tie to his own kind.
Worf: No! She is from a world now alien to me!
Laforge: 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: No, if I could just do one more thing.
Picard: Q, I strongly suspect it's some explaining you have to do now.
Picard: Extraordinary!
Laforge: 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, La Forge.
Laforge: Aye, sir. On the board.
Picard: Engage.


Picard: 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.
Picard: Starfleet received this subspace transmission two days ago, Admiral.
Jameson: Let's see it, Captain.
Picard: On viewer.
Karnas: 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: 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: 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.
Troi: Nearly fifteen hundred now, sir.
Picard: Well, Number One, let's go and welcome the Admiral aboard.
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.
Laforge: Message coming in from Mordan, sir.
Picard: Put it on the screen, Mister Data.
Karnas: Mordan Four to Enterprise. This is Karnas. I will speak to the Captain.
Picard: I am Captain Picard, commanding the Enterprise.
Karnas: Is Admiral Jameson on board?
Picard: He's here, beside my First Officer. Do you wish to speak to him now?
Karnas: 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: 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: I will do so immediately.
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?
Troi: 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.
Troi: That could be, sir. Karnas has established himself as a powerful man on Mordan. Suddenly, in this situation, his power is useless.
Crusher: 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.
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.
Troi: 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.
Troi: 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 honor 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.
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?
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! 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.
Crusher: All the medical information the Admiral provided is satisfactory, sir.
Picard: Excellent, Doctor.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: 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.
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.
Picard: Well, Admiral, quite a little surprise you've pulled on us.
Crusher: 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.
Picard: The admiral displayed a remarkable improvement out there, wouldn't you say?
Crusher: 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?
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: Yes, sir.
Karnas: 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. Mark! My God, what's happened?
Jameson: It's the new therapy I'm taking. It's working, Annie.
Anne: Oh, darling!
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.
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
Anne: Sickbay! Medical emergency in the Admiral's quarters!
Crusher: I found traces of chemical substances in his blood and tissue samples, but none of them are in our pharmacopeia. 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.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: Yes, sir.
Anne: Captain.
Picard: Mrs. Jameson, I have to ask the Admiral some questions.
Jameson: Ask away. There's nothing to hide now.
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 honor 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.
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.
Jameson: Commander Data, I wish to open a communication frequency to Karnas.
Data: Aye, sir.
Picard: One moment, Mister Data. Admiral, this is Picard. May I know the reason for this communication?
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.
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?
Jameson: I'm the negotiator, Picard.
Jameson: Karnas will have to cooperate with me and the terrorists, and damn his sensitivities.
Picard: Then I suggest a secured channel, Admiral.
Jameson: A sensible precaution, Picard. Make it so.
Picard: Make it so.
Data: Aye, sir. Frequency open and secured.
Jameson: Karnas.
Karnas: 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: 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: 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: 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: Of course I have. It was years ago.
Jameson: There are no dissidents, are there? No terrorists. You have the hostages.
Karnas: 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: 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 honor left.
Jameson: Conn, are we still on schedule to arrive at Mordan in thirty eight hours?
Laforge: 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.
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.
Laforge: 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.
Anne: Our anniversary is next week. Our fiftieth.
Crusher: In his heart, he's still the same man you married, Anne.
Troi: 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?
Troi: 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.
Troi: Doctor, she has to know.
Anne: Know what?
Crusher: Anne, your husband.
Anne: What is it?
Crusher: He's not stabilizing. He may not have that life to live over.
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?
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.
Jameson: Prepare to energize, 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. Energize.
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.
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.
Jameson: Damn.
Picard: Geordi?
Laforge: This is steelplast, sir. Fairly recent installlation.
Jameson: This is the most direct route. Set phasers to cut through it.
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 reconnoiter.
Laforge: 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.
Picard: Take cover!
Worf: Sir, look out!
Data: Their phasers, sir, set on kill.
Picard: Thank you, Mister Data. I have heard the sound before.
Tasha: Is he hit?
Data: No sign of a wound.
Picard: Enterprise, this is Picard. Six to beam up, now!
Riker: The Admiral?
Picard: Sickbay. Not good is a galactic understatement.
Laforge: Sir? Karnas again, sir. On screen.
Karnas: 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: That is not my concern. Sick or well, you have ten minutes to beam him down.
Troi: Sickbay to Bridge.
Picard: Picard.
Troi: Doctor Crusher
Troi: Requests your presence in Sickbay immediately, sir.
Picard: I'm on my way.
Picard: Sickbay.
Picard: What is it, Doctor?
Crusher: I think you'd better see for yourself, Captain.
Jameson: Picard. Picard, I have to get to Karnas.
Crusher: 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: Bridge to Picard.
Picard: Picard here.
Riker: A new message from Karnas, sir.
Riker: If we don't deliver Jameson in five minutes, one of the hostages will be executed.
Riker: Fifteen minutes after that, another.
Riker: He promises the method of execution will be most painful.
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: Did you say we, sir?
Picard: You have your orders, Number One.
Riker: Aye, sir.
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.
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.
Crusher: 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 recognized him?
Karnas: Yes.
Picard: Is this the man you saw?
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.
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: There. The blood cut you gave me to seal our bargain.
Karnas: It is you. Somehow it is you. Then die by your own weapon! No. No, my revenge will be in seeing you live like this. Such pain.
Crusher: 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?
Anne: Mark, can you hear me?
Jameson: Yes.
Anne: I'll always love you.
Jameson: Annie with the golden hair.
Anne: Flatterer. It's gray now.
Jameson: I see only the gold.
Karnas: Rest, Jameson. Your long night, and mine, are over. The hostages will be freed immediately, Captain. I'm prepared to be cooperative.
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 La Forge, prepare to take us out of orbit. Set course for Isis Three.
Laforge: Aye, sir. Leaving orbit.


Scene: 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.
Picard: Unless it's followed by?
Troi: The double bars indicate an elongated S sound.
Picard: And the inverted T means to hold the Z.
Troi: Unless?
Picard: Unless it's followed by three wavy lines, in which case the Z becomes a B.
Troi: Exactly.
Picard: What a language.
Troi: But you spell knife with a K.
Picard: I spell knife with an N. But then, I never could spell.
Troi: Well, this is an insect mind, sir.
Picard: My mind is barely working.
Troi: Take a break.
Picard: No, no. I want to go over this again.
Troi: 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.
Troi: The program's installled and waiting.
Computer: Program 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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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. And next time, wear a suit. Au revoir.
Picard: Remarkable. Exit.
Picard: You'll have to call again. I'm just leaving. I'm not dressed properly. I'll be back.
Leech: Mister Hill? Where are you?
Picard: Memory, save current setting.
Computer: Current setting saved.
Picard: Holodeck off.
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.
Crusher: You make it sound so real.
Picard: That's how it felt.
Crusher: Incredible.
Picard: I'm going to go again, only this time I'm going to dress the part. Why not come with me?
Crusher: Yes, I'd like that.
Picard: I want to take that twentieth century historian.
Crusher: 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
Crusher: 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.
Troi: The Captain has to recite the entire greeting without making any mistakes.
Laforge: Simple as that, huh?
Data: Yes. If, on the other hand, the Captain makes even the slightest error
Troi: 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.
Troi: Captain Picard is familiar with that, Data.
Data: Should we not rerun it?
Picard: It's not necessary, Mister Data. Meeting adjourned.
Data: Why would the Captain not want to review all available information on the subject?
Laforge: 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.
Laforge: Not really. He was just a twentieth-century Sherlock Holmes.
Data: Ah, but was his modus operandi not dissimilar? Worth investigating.
Laforge: Indubitably, my dear Data. Indubitably.
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.
Picard: 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.
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?
Vendor: Extra! Extra! Read all about it.
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. 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: 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 apologize 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.
Riker: Status report.
Tasha: We're being probed, sir.
Troi: The Jarada.
Tasha: Most likely, but it's long range. Can't be certain where it's originating.
Riker: One could get the feeling they don't exactly trust us.
Laforge: Commander, I'm receiving a subspace message from the Jarada.
Riker: That's not part of the plan. Pipe it through.
Jaradan: En-ter-prise. We speak to you in your language. The time has come to honor us in ours.
Riker: This is Commander Riker, First Officer of the Enterprise.
Jaradan: 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: 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.
Laforge: Aye, sir.
Computer: Enter when ready. When ready. When ready.
Data: Hiya Doc. What's cooking?
Crusher: You know I had some trouble getting through. Where's Captain Picard?
Data: He's on ice.
Crusher: Pardon?
Data: He's being grilled.
Crusher: What is he, a fish?
Whalen: H's being interrogated. They think he's committed a murder.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: Well, why should he have all the fun?
Policeman: Come on, Toots, let's go.
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!
Laforge: LaForge to Bridge.
Riker: Riker here.
Laforge: I can't find the Captain, sir.
Riker: I told you, he's in the holodeck.
Laforge: I'm at the holodeck. Something's gone wrong.
Riker: What are you saying?
Laforge: I can't communicate with him, I can't access the program, and I can't open the doors. Enterprise log, supplemental. First Officer reporting. Due to an unknown breakdown in the holodeck, we are unable to contact the Captain.
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.
Troi: Will. His mother's missing too.
Riker: Come on, Wesley.
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!
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.
Crusher: Something on your mind?
Sergeant: Yeah, nut I'm not sure it can be repeated in mixed company. You're a pretty hep lookin' broad.
Crusher: Is that good?
Sergeant: It ain't bad. You like Tommy Dorsey? I got two tickets for the dance tomorrow night.
Riker: Have you tried the intercom?
Laforge: Yes.
Riker: Riker to holodeck. Riker to holodeck!
Riker: Are you seeing anything?
Wesley: No, sir.
Riker: What can I do?
Laforge: Not a thing. We have to go through this millimeter by millimeter.
Riker: All right. Get it fixed.
Laforge: Easy, Wes. Slow it down. If there's an anomaly, you could go right past it, okay?
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.
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.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: Why, thank you, Mister Hill.
Picard: Maybe we should be getting back to the Enterprise.
Crusher: We are on the Enterprise.
Picard: Oh, yes, of course, so we are.
Crusher: 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.
Picard: The holodeck makes excellent use of finite space.
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! Urgent business.
Leech: You're not going anywhere. Not until we have a little chat.
Tasha: Bridge to holodeck. We're approaching the Jaradan sector.
Riker: Any word from the Jaradans?
Tasha: Not a thing, sir.
Riker: They may be testing us. Seeing if we'll stick to the arrangements.
Tasha: What do we do now, sir?
Riker: We wait.
Laforge: 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.
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: Take it from me, Leech, you'll never find it. Now, give me the gun.
Whalen: But, they're not real.
Crusher: 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.
Leech: You struck me! How dare you! You're going to be sorry! I promise you, Redblock isn't going to like this!
Crusher: If we don't get him to sickbay, he will die!
Picard: Exit! Computer, exit! Data, try the other exit in the hall.
Data: Computer, identify exit.
Data: There is a programming malfunction. The computer refuses to identify the exits.
Crusher: I'm losing his pulse!
Picard: Computer, this is the Captain! Computer, identify exit!
Riker: Standard orbit, Mister Worf.
Worf: Aye, sir. Standard orbit.
Riker: Riker to Holodeck.
Laforge: Nothing yet, Commander.
Riker: We're running out of time.
Riker: The Jarada will expect the Captain's greeting.
Laforge: Well you may have to stall them.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: I could use some light.
Redblock: Good day, Mister Hill. My name is Cyrus Redblock. I hope you don't mind us dropping in.
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.
Crusher: 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.
Crusher: 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.
Redblock: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. A Newtonian truism which you have obviously neglected.
Mcnary: Dix, you in there?
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?
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.
Crusher: 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!
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.
Troi: 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 Cut that off! They're not going to be satisfied with anyone less than the Captain.
Laforge: La Forge to Bridge.
Riker: Riker here.
Laforge: We think we have something, sir. I'll let Ensign Crusher explain.
Wesley: The bi-converter interface has been affected
Riker: Forget the explanation! Can you do it?
Wesley: I don't know if I should. If this isn't done correctly, the program could abort and everyone inside could vanish.
Riker: Do you need more time to study it?
Wesley: Whether we do it now or later, the risk is the same.
Riker: Do it.
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.
Crusher: 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.
Redblock: Another world. A whole new world to plunder!
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!
Data: With your permission, sir?
Picard: Permission granted.
Picard: Data, pick up Whalen. Take him to Sickbay.
Data: And you, sir?
Picard: I'll follow. You go now.
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.
Tasha: Captain!
Riker: Are you ready, sir?
Picard: As ready as I'll ever be, Number One. Open hailing frequencies.
Tasha: Frequencies open.
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: You have honored us with your words of greeting. A new day dawns between us.
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.
Laforge: 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.
Laforge: Aye, sir.
Picard: And, Mister La Forge
Laforge: Sir?
Picard: Step on it.