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Allegiance

PICARD: Captain's Log, Stardate 43714.1.

We have finally succeeded in eradicating

the Phyrox plague on Cor Caroli V

and will soon be preparing to leave orbit

and proceed to our next mission--

a rendezvous with the USS Hood

to assist in their terraforming efforts on Browder IV.

( sighing )

( vibrating hum )

( electrical pulsing)

( electrical crackling )

( beeping )

Commander, ship's sensors detect an abnormal energy reading in the Captain's quarters.

Type?

Undetermined.

Riker to Captain Picard.

Security team to Captain's quarters.

( fritzing beep )

Picard to Enterprise.

( fritzing beep )

Anyone receiving this transmission please respond.

( beeping )

Security override. Priority one.

Is something the matter, Lieutenant?

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission--

to explore strange new worlds

to seek out new life and new civilizations

to boldly go where no one has gone before.

( gasping )

It's all right, it's all right.

I'm not going to hurt you.

Ca... Captain...?

Picard of the Enterprise.

Captain Picard.

We studied your missions at the academy.

Mitena Haro, first year cadet, Starfleet Academy.

Cadet Haro.

Perhaps you can explain what this is all about.

Unfortunately, I can't, Mister...?

Tholl.

Kova Tholl, of Mizar II.

Well, Mr. Tholl, all I know is that I've been brought here against my will.

Wherever "here" is.

The same thing happened to me, sir.

I-I was alone, studying, and... I fainted.

When I came to...

It was about three days ago.

And you, sir?

I've been here 12 days possibly more.

I had been meditating privately and for no reason whatever, I lost consciousness.

What can you tell me about our captors?

Nothing. They've never shown themselves.

Four sleeping areas.

That implies we may be joined by another captive.

It's edible but I wouldn't call it food.

Hmm...

I wouldn't touch that.

Why not?

If it's the door lock the combination is too complex to hit at random.

I tried it... and was punished.

Punished?

How?

Severe pain.

Some sort of energy beam.

I won't go near that panel again.

( communications beep )

WORF: Sir, the Hood has arrived at the rendezvous point.

They are expecting us in 36 hours.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Mr. Data the nearest pulsar is in the Lonka Cluster is it not?

Correct, sir.

What do we know about that pulsar?

A great deal, sir.

It is a rotating neutron star of approximately 4.356 solar masses...

Mr. Crusher, how long would it take us to get there?

At warp seven, 34 minutes, sir.

Mr. Crusher, make it so.

Sir?

Set course for the Lonka Cluster.

Warp two.

Aye, sir.

Sir, at warp two we'll arrive at the pulsar in 31 hours.

Thank you, Ensign.

Engage.

WESLEY: Aye, sir.

Will we be delaying our rendezvous with the Hood, sir?

We may have to, Number One.

Lieutenant, contact the Hood and inform them of our delay.

Aye, Commander.

Belay that order.

There will be no further communication off this ship without my prior authorization.

Commander, may I have a word with you?

Mr. Data, you have the Bridge.

Aye, sir.

Number One, you know I like to keep you well informed as to the nature of our missions.

Yes, sir.

And if I don't inform you, there is a reason.

Well, I don't like keeping you in the dark but for the next few days

I may not be able to be as communicative as usual.

It may make things difficult for you.

Don't worry about me, sir.

I can handle it.

And the crew?

You can count on all of us, sir.

I appreciate that, Number One.

( door opens and closes )

( rhythmic beeping )

Picard what are you doing?

I'm attempting to let our captors know we possess intelligence.

You don't think they already know that?

They can hear us talking.

Yes, but they may not realize that we're communicating through language.

Captain Picard is letting them know that we comprehend mathematics by tapping out the first six prime numbers.

I know what he's doing.

I'm trying to understand why.

It is imperative that we communicate with our abductors; find out what they want.

Obviously, they want us.

Obviously.

But why?

What makes our captors choose us?

What makes us special?

I couldn't say, Captain.

I'm certainly not special.

I am just one cadet.

What's your best area of study?

Impulse propulsion systems.

I'm very good with field coils.

Good enough to be useful to our abductors?

I don't know. Maybe.

But if they needed an engineer, sir why didn't they take a real one?

Why pick a Starfleet cadet?

That I can't answer.

( sighs )

The Bolians are maintaining an uneasy truce with the Moropa are they not?

That's right.

But this does not look like Moropa technology and even assuming the Moropa wanted me what would they want with either of you?

I've never even heard of the Moropa.

My race has no enemies.

None?

In the last 300 years of Mizarian history your planet has been conquered six times.

And we've survived by not resisting.

Mizarians value peace above confrontation.

And you have no idea who might have done this?

No, I can't think of anyone who bears malice toward my race.

Against you personally?

You can't mean to suggest that someone with a personal grudge against me has gone to all this trouble?

I'm not suggesting anything.

I'm merely trying to come up with some explanation for your abduction.

I am sorry, Picard. I can't give you one.

I am neither important enough to hold for ransom nor radical enough to be dangerous.

I'm a simple public servant.

Nevertheless, Mr. Tholl...

( transporter hum )

( groaning )

( ferocious growling )

Stop!

We mean you no harm.

( snarling growl )

We are prisoners, like yourself.

We are not the enemy.

Who has done this?

We don't know.

We were brought here the same way you were.

Our captors refuse to show themselves.

I don't trust you.

You must trust us.

We wish only to return to our worlds.

Were you abducted from Chalna?

You know my planet?

Oh, yes.

I visited there 12 years ago while commanding the Stargazer.

RIKER: A five and 20.

Ouch.

If it's too rich, Geordi, fold.

I'm thinking, I'm thinking.

( door chimes )

Enter.

Counselor, gentlemen.

Forgive this intrusion.

I was, uh, just passing by.

You are always welcome, Captain.

I was wondering, Mr. La Forge what's our engine efficiency status?

Operating at 93%, sir.

Hmm. That's very good but I would like to increase the efficiency to 95%.

No problem, Captain. I'll get right on it.

Oh, that's not an order.

Uh, you can get to it later.

I don't want to disrupt your recreation.

No, Captain.

It's... it's no problem.

Lady Luck left me long ago.

Would you care to join us, Captain?

We have an opening.

Um... I'll just observe, if you don't mind.

Not at all. Counselor, 20.

( chips rattling )

A pair of threes.

Flush, queen high.

That beats my fours.

Well played, Counselor.

Could I have a word for just a moment?

Certainly, sir.

Forgive me, gentlemen.

I'll return your player to you in a moment.

Counselor, I, uh...

I wanted to ask you about the crew.

How are they reacting to our sudden change in course?

I sense no unusual reactions, Captain.

After all, such a change is hardly out of the ordinary.

They're not curious or concerned as to why?

They're curious, yes, but concerned? No.

They trust you.

How far do you think that trust goes?

Sir?

Oh, I know, Counselor that the crew has always had full confidence in me, but... what if it were to change?

Well, I'd inform you, sir, of course.

Thank you, Counselor.

My given name is Esoqq.

It means "fighter."

I'll bet half the names in the Chalna language mean "fighter."

Mizarians-- your names all mean "surrender."

We are a peaceful race-- a race of thinkers.

A race of cowards.

And you?

I don't know your people.

I am Mitena Haro of Bolarus IX.

Who would want to imprison a child?

I am not a child.

Esoqq, I have been trying to determine if we have a common enemy-- someone with a reason for confining us here.

There are Chalnoth who would kill me if they could but kidnap?

There is no reason.

You have many enemies?

None of consequence.

I've slain all the ones who matter.

That shocks you, Bolian?

A little.

And you?

No, no, I'm not surprised.

I've heard about your race.

You're uncivilized.

You have no laws, no system of government.

The Chalnoth have no use for laws or governments.

We are strong.

We obey no one.

You live in anarchy, murdering one another.

That mentality may get us all killed.

And you may be the first.

Both of you-- this is getting us nowhere.

Neither is asking us useless questions, Picard.

But if you must pursue the topic how long have you and the Romulans been adversaries?

For quite a while, Mr. Tholl.

Oh, I am perfectly willing to entertain the hypothesis that our captors are Romulans but what would the Romulans want with you?

My brainpower, perhaps.

It's well known that my species possesses superior intelligence and, uh...

I am considered among the brightest of my people.

HARO: And the least modest.

( sniffing )

What is this?

PICARD: Food.

The only food?

It would seem so.

Poison!

Does this mean there is nothing here for you to eat?

You.

No, don't even think that.

Picard, you won't let him...

Esoqq, how long can you go without food?

Three days, perhaps four.

No longer?

No longer.

Well, all your tests indicate the same results.

You are in great shape.

I've never felt better.

I see.

Then why did you come in?

Your annual physical isn't due for another month.

Well, usually you have to remind me, and badger me and finally order me to report.

For once, I thought I'd save you the trouble.

Jean-Luc, be honest with your doctor.

Are there any warning signs or symptoms that you haven't told me about?

( deep sigh )

As far as I know, I'm perfectly healthy.

Well then, return to your post.

Will you have dinner with me tonight?

In Ten-Forward?

What about my quarters?

More intimate.

Jean-Luc, you are full of surprises today.

I take that to be a "yes."

Picard, is it wise to attempt an escape?

It's imperative.

Why?

Our captors haven't mistreated us.

We've been kidnapped, locked in a room.

You don't think that's mistreatment?

They haven't hurt us, have they?

I think we should just wait until we find out what they want.

Be patient.

We can no longer afford to be patient.

Unless we act soon, Esoqq will starve.

If we antagonize them they may decide we're more trouble than we're worth kill us and go capture another four.

I agree, that's a risk but I see no alternative.

Well... I refuse to help.

As you wish, Mr. Tholl.

We must get inside this panel.

ESOQQ: Not very sturdy.

Stand back, Haro.

( Esoqq growling )

The design is simple.

Cross-circuiting the door mechanism should be easy.

Make it so.

Yes, sir.

I think I've got it.

( door hums )

( groaning )

I warned you.

Out with it, Jean-Luc.

Out with what?

Whatever has been on your mind all evening long.

Hmm. Has it been that apparent?

Mm-hmm.

How well you know me.

After all this time, I ought to.

Well, it's true.

I have been preoccupied.

I know that's not very flattering to you but I have been thinking about us and about the choices I've made.

We both have made choices.

And I've been wondering if they were the right ones.

Sometimes, I feel we've allowed our positions to isolate us.

Our positions necessitate a degree of professional detachment.

But.... there's a danger in becoming too detached-- of never permitting ourselves to get closer.

Is that what you want, Jean-Luc?

To get closer?

You're a very attractive woman.

And you're a very attractive man.

But we both know it's not as simple as that.

Would it be simpler if I were not your commanding officer?

Simpler, perhaps.

But that's not the only issue.

I guess, right now

I'm comfortable with our relationship just the way it is.

( soft, romantic music begins)

Would you care to dance?

I thought you didn't dance.

On special occasions.

I don't think I told you but I'm glad you're back on the Enterprise.

I missed our friendship.

I did, too.

Jean-Luc... if I didn't know you better

I would think you were playing games with me.

Are you sorry you came tonight?

I didn't say that.

Good.

Because I'm delighted that you did.

But perhaps we should call it a night.

Good night.

I warned you not to provoke our captors.

The next beams might be lethal.

Not to you.

You moved far from the door.

Of course I did.

Being stunned once was enough.

You claimed you were hit by the stun beam before the rest of us arrived.

You could be lying.

Maybe our enemy is watching us from inside.

Are you accusing me of collaborating with our abductors?

Collaboration is what your species does best.

You did try to talk us out of attempting to escape.

For all we know

you may be our captor.

( laughs )

Impossible. I'm a Mizarian.

My people are not aggressive.

How can we be sure you're a Mizarian?

You could be an impostor.

This is nonsense.

What if you're an impostor?

Esoqq was the last one to appear.

And he is the only one with a weapon.

Keep talking and I will use it.

Tholl, our captors have transporters.

They have stun beams.

It is hardly likely that they would try to hold us at bay with a knife.

Well then, maybe she's the impostor.

She could have triggered the stun beams deliberately.

I was hit, too.

To forestall suspicion.

You were very quick to volunteer.

PICARD: Tholl, I asked her to open the door.

You ordered her, you mean.

You've been giving orders from the moment you got here-- trying to make everyone do what you want.

Tholl, what I want is for everyone to escape!

Why should we believe you?

Captain Picard's put his life at stake for others many times.

The primitive culture on Mintaka III.

The Wogneer creatures in the Ordek Nebula.

And Cor Caroli V.

Right.

Helping to cure the Phyrox plague.

And how do we know this is the heroic Captain Picard?

We have no proof of his identity.

THOLL: You've wasted our time with failed attempts to communicate with them or escape.

Is that your task?

To keep us busy so we're off guard?

First Officer's Log, supplemental.

Although we're still 18 hours from the Lonka Pulsar

the Captain has ordered us to slow to one-half impulse.

He has offered no explanation.

Here.

I don't know why we're going to this pulsar.

And creeping up on it at half-impulse makes even less sense.

The Captain has given unusual orders before.

I know but this is different-- he's different.

I can't put my finger on it but I'm worried.

The Captain does seem... detached from his emotions.

( door opens )

Captain.

Mr. La Forge, we are operating at 96% engine efficiency.

Well done.

Thank you, sir.

When we arrive at the pulsar

I shall require everyone at their best.

I know that I can rely on both of you.

Of course, Captain.

Excellent.

An ale for me... and for my officers.

In fact, ales for everyone.

( appreciative murmuring )

MAN: Thank you, Captain.

Here's to the finest crew in Starfleet.

MAN: Hear, hear.

( light applause and laughter)

You know, back when I was in the academy we would follow every toast with a song.

I wonder if I can...

Oh, yes.

( clears throat )

♪ Come cheer up, my lads ♪

♪ 'Tis to glory we steer ♪

♪ To find something new in this wonderful year ♪

♪ To honor we call you as free men, not slaves ♪

♪ But who are so free as the sons of the waves? ♪

♪ Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men ♪

♪ We always are ready, steady, boy, steady ♪

♪ We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again ♪

♪ Come cheer up, my lads ♪

♪ 'Tis to glory we steer ♪

♪ To find something new in this wonderful year... ♪

Commander, what's the Captain up to?

That's not the Captain I know.

♪ ...So free as the sons of the waves ♪

♪ Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men... ♪

We're on a mission that has no apparent purpose.

In itself, I can accept that.

All of us can, because the Captain says it's important and we trust him.

Then, he runs the crew through efficiency drills for the first time in my tour of duty but he says we need them, so we need them-- because we trust our Captain.

But we also have a Captain singing drinking songs with his men.

A captain who's come to the poker game for the first time.

And he was very odd with me afterwards.

He wanted me to warn him if the crew started to lose confidence in him.

Any signs of mental stress or trauma?

He came in for a physical with no word from me.

Anything unusual, Doctor?

Every test result identical to his last physical... which is kind of unusual in itself, actually.

Almost as though he wanted to establish that there was nothing wrong.

There was one other thing.

He asked me to dinner in his cabin and it was a very unusual evening.

( sighs )

Which brings up a very serious possibility.

What if there's an outside influence at work here?

I detect no evidence of telepathic coercion.

Commander, there is still one fact we have not considered-- the abnormal energy reading in the Captain's quarters was never explained.

It is not enough evidence to justify mutiny.

Nobody has suggested removing the Captain from command.

Right now, all we have are suspicions not enough to act on.

The next move is his.

THOLL: Well, Picard prove to us you're not the enemy.

I can't.

You're right, Mr. Tholl.

Any one of us may be the enemy and there is no way to prove that we aren't.

But until we set aside our mutual fears and trust one another, we have no hope of escape.

But, sir, how can we trust each other?

She's right.

There may be an enemy among us.

And what if there is, Mr. Tholl?

Shall we continue accusing one another until hostility leads to violence?

Shall we allow our suspicions to destroy us?

Now, let's see if we can override this stun mechanism.

Helm, take us in to 20 million kilometers.

WESLEY: Aye, sir.

Mr. Worf, divert enough power to the shields to offset the increased radiation and magnetic fields.

Sir, at 20 million kilometers our shields will only be effective for 18 minutes.

Noted, Mr. Data.

Captain, may I have a word with you?

PICARD: You have the Bridge, Mr. Data.

Aye, sir.

What is our mission?

I'm under no obligation to tell you that.

If you don't, you force me to take command of this vessel.

On what grounds?

You are endangering this ship for no reason.

No reason you're aware of.

That's not good enough.

Your behavior has been erratic.

Erratic enough to justify mutiny?

Do you honestly believe you have sufficient evidence to convince a Board of Inquiry?

No, I don't.

But I can't let you risk the lives of this crew.

Number One, has it occurred to you that you might be the one with the problem?

I'm aware you've been under stress and I am willing to let the matter drop if you will report to Sick Bay for a full examination.

Otherwise, I will have to relieve you from duty.

Think about it.

( door opens and closes )

Cadet.

( clicking )

I may have overloaded it, sir.

( grunting )

Mr. Tholl!

I still think this is a mistake.

Now what?

We're no better off than when we started.

Captain, number four shield has failed.

Increasing power to number three shield to compensate.

Helm, move us closer.

Ten million kilometers.

DATA: Sir, at that distance the ship will not withstand the magnetic fields and radiation.

We will not survive.

Take us in, Mr. Crusher.

Belay that order.

You're relieved of duty, Commander.

Mr. Worf, confine Mr. Riker to his quarters.

Mr. Worf, I gave you an order.

Maintain your position, Lieutenant.

You're destroying yourself and anyone foolish enough to listen to you.

You've shown none of the concern Captain Picard would for the safety of this ship, the welfare of his crew.

Mr. Worf, escort Commander Riker from the Bridge.

Ensign Crusher, take us away from this pulsar.

Heading 185 mark 32, full impulse.

Full impulse. Aye, Commander.

Engage.

I hope you're satisfied, Picard.

You've accomplished nothing.

The sound of your voice is beginning to anger me.

Well...

I think this charade has gone far enough.

Don't you?

I don't understand.

Oh, yes, you do.

This isn't a holding cell.

It's a laboratory maze, a carefully structured test.

It's an experiment to see how well we react under pressure.

How do you know?

It's the only explanation.

Look at the four of us.

We do have something in common-- we all react differently to authority.

You, the collaborator, defer to whoever has control you, the anarchist, reject authority in any form.

I, a Starfleet Captain, trained to command and you... a Starfleet cadet sworn to obey a superior officer's authority.

Our captors have placed us here and have devised obstacles for us to overcome.

They give us food which Esoqq can't eat, to make him a threat.

They give us a door we can't open until the four of us cooperate and each time we succeed they deal us reverses to set us against each other again while you observe our reactions.

Sir, I've been trying to help.

I found it unlikely that a first-year cadet would know of the Enterprise's visit to Mintaka III so I tested you.

Starfleet has classified the Cor Caroli V plague as "secret."

No cadet would have knowledge of that incident.

Captain...

So you may as well drop this pretense.

I'm not playing any further.

I'm quitting this game.

As far as I am concerned this experiment is over!

( voice resonating ): You are correct, Captain Picard.

To further our knowledge of alien interaction we borrowed you, Tholl and Esoqq and replaced you with replicas.

Replicas?

Our transporter is able to replicate living matter including the brain's many trillion dendritic connections where memory is stored.

THOLL: You mean, there's a copy of me on Mizar II?

An impostor running my ship?

No longer.

Commander Riker has taken charge of the Enterprise.

Our species is telepathically linked.

We are all in continual contact.

Much more efficient than your primitive vocal communications.

We would like to... pursue this study but, of course, your awareness of it would taint the results.

We will, therefore, return you to your places of origin.

Captain!

Hold your positions.

Take no action.

Why did you choose to study the concepts of authority and leadership?

Because our species has no such concepts.

As we are all identical distinctions among ourselves are meaningless.

Hence, we have no leaders no followers.

We wanted to examine the nature of command.

Our replicas of Tholl and Esoqq explored this issue on Mizar II and on Chalna just as our Picard replica did on the Enterprise.

Your responses were most intriguing.

You have no right to put us through this just to satisfy your curiosity.

Why not?

Because kidnapping is an immoral assault.

The rights of other races must be respected.

This concept of morality is a very interesting human characteristic.

We shall have to study it sometime.

Now, Mr. Worf.

( grunting in pain )

What is it?

Why do you hold us?

Because there is something else you can learn.

With an alert crew even our "primitive vocal communications" are unnecessary.

With a single look, I was able to inform my crew that I wanted to hold you here.

But why?

Because I have decided to conduct an experiment of my own.

I want to see how you react to being imprisoned.

Captain, our species cannot bear captivity.

We were merely curious. We meant no harm.

We did not, after all, injure you in any way.

Imprisonment is an injury regardless of how you justify it.

( crying out )

( gasping )

( breathing slows )

PICARD: And now that you have had a taste of captivity perhaps you will reconsider the morality of inflicting it on others.

In any event, we now know of your race and we know how to imprison you.

Bear that in mind.

Now get off my ship.

Mr. Crusher, set course to rendezvous with the Hood. Warp 8.

Aye, sir. It's good to have you back, sir.

Status, Number One?

Ship and crew functioning normally, Captain.

Then my doppelganger caused no serious damage?

The replica was convincing.

Very convincing, but... not perfect.

Not perfect in what way?

Well, sir...

I find it hard to believe that you're that good a singer.

Singer?

I look forward to reading your report, Commander.

At least, I think I do.

( door opens )

Doctor.

Captain.

WESLEY: Course laid in, sir.

Engage.