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Future Imperfect

Captain's Log, Stardate 44286.5.

The Enterprise is conducting a security survey

of the Onias Sector near the Neutral Zone.

Despite our proximity to Romulan territory

the mission has been quiet and uneventful.

( playing "Misty" poorly )

( chuckling )

All right, Commander, you've got until your next birthday to get that right.

Some things improve with age.

Maybe your trombone playing will be one of them.

It's candle time, birthday boy.

Whoo! All right.

So, what did you wish for, Will?

Music lessons.

( all laughing )

Mr. Data, we must hurry or we'll miss Commander Riker's party.

Sir, I find it interesting how much importance humans place on celebrating the day of their birth-- a day they cannot possibly remember.

Captain, I am detecting some unusual fluctuations in subspace frequencies.

We'd better take a look at it, Mr. Data.

It appears we are being probed, sir.

The source?

DATA: The third planet of the Alpha Onias system.

Our reports list it as presently uninhabited.

Perhaps reports were incorrect, sir.

Or maybe the rumors of a secret Romulan base in this sector are true.

Picard to Commander Riker.

I apologize for interrupting your celebration but I'm going to need an away team.

Would you report to the Bridge, please?

Although Alpha Onias III is a Class-M planet our survey teams have listed it as

"barren and inhospitable."

Any life signs?

No, sir.

But we have traced residual energy readings to a cavern two kilometers beneath the surface.

WORF: Romulans.

It is possible.

I suppose you'll just have to go down there and find out.

Geordi, Worf, you're with me.

Number One?

Happy birthday.

I'm detecting high levels of volcanic gases-- sulfur dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide.

Toxic?

Uh, we're okay for now, but I wouldn't want to spend my vacation here.

What about energy readings?

Magnetic clutter is increasing.

I cannot make an accurate determination.

Same here, Commander.

I'm getting a lot of confusing readings here.

( distorted ): Picard to Riker, please acknowledge.

Riker here.

We're having trouble reading you.

And we're having similar difficulties reading you.

I'm advising you and your away team to transport up at once.

That's good advice, Commander.

We've got a sudden build-up of gases here, especially methane.

( coughs ) Transporter Room take us up.

( alarm beeps )

I can't get a solid lock on you, sir.

There's too much interference.

I'm trying again.

( all coughing )

Transporter Room, what's happening?

Report!

I'm trying again, sir.

( gasping cough )

( moans )

( people talking quietly )

Dr. Crusher, he's awake.

Beverly.

Will, you remember me.

That's good.

What else do you remember, Captain?

Captain?

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.

♪♪

Water, three Celsius.

How do you feel?

Confused.

That's understandable, considering what's happened.

( sighs )

What has happened?

What happened to Sick Bay?

To you... to me?

Sit down, Captain.

Captain? I am Commander William T. Riker.

What is going on here?

Sit.

Please.

What is the last thing that you remember clearly?

Alpha Onias III.

The Enterprise had been probed.

Geordi, Worf and I transported down to track the source.

But all you found there was toxic gas.

They barely had time to get the three of you out.

Will, that happened 16 years ago.

That's not possible.

With an Altarian virus, anything is possible.

In fact, we've been expecting this.

Could you be more specific?

That day on Onias III, you were infected with a strain of Altarian encephalitis-- a retrovirus that incorporates its DNA directly into the cells of its host.

It can lie dormant for many years and then suddenly become active again as it did in your case ten days ago.

You have been in a coma, delirious.

Your fever finally broke this morning.

But what happened to my memory?

Let me show you a scan of your brain tissue.

When the encephalitis became active it caused widespread synapse degradation interrupting the consolidation of your memory patterns.

Doctor.

Will, this virus inevitably causes memory loss back to the moment of the original infection.

In your case, all the way back to Alpha Onias III.

I don't believe this.

Is this a dream?

Feel my hand.

It is flesh and bone.

This is not a dream.

And you are, in fact, Captain William T. Riker in command of the Enterprise.

The Enterprise.

For how long?

Nine years.

If I've lost my memory, how do I get it back?

Memories are formed by association.

Smells, sounds and images from the present could possibly trigger them.

Like a song reminds you of an old friend.

Exactly.

In associational therapy we expose the patient to familiar surroundings.

This could stimulate the brain's neural synapses into regenerating.

Well, then let's get started.

There's nothing more familiar than the Enterprise.

Maybe that'll bring back some of my...

Will.

I said your memory could return.

In many of these cases, the damage is permanent.

RIKER: What about Geordi and Worf?

Were they infected, too?

Thankfully, no.

Geordi appears to have been immune and the Klingons don't seem to be affected by the virus.

Speaking of Klingons.

There have been quite a few changes on the Enterprise during the last 16 years.

Deck eight.

Belay that order.

We should begin the associational therapy in your quarters.

Personal recollections are always the most vivid.

My life was on the Main Bridge.

Always has been.

If anything's going to jog my memory...

Main Bridge.

COMPUTER: Repeat command.

I said, Main Bridge.

The computer's been slow all morning.

A processing attenuator is down.

Commander La Forge has been running a level-1 diagnostic on it to isolate the problem.

Geordi.

Oh, it's good to see you up and about again, sir.

Your eyes-- what happened to your VISOR?

My VISOR?

Oh, I'm sorry, sir.

Dr. Crusher told us that you might not remember.

I haven't needed a VISOR since I got these cloned implants, Captain.

Captain.

Welcome back, Captain.

We were not expecting to see you on the Bridge so soon.

Commander Data, you are my First Officer?

Do you remember, sir?

Data, I haven't remembered a day for the last 16 years.

Captain, warbird uncloaking.

DATA: On screen.

RIKER: Shields up.

Red Alert.

Captain, we were expecting the Decius.

There is no cause for alarm.

Cancel Red Alert.

Clearly, I need to be briefed.

Captain, the Decius is hailing us.

The Admiral wishes to speak to you.

On screen.

Will.

Admiral Picard.

Deanna.

How are you feeling?

I've been better.

Not surprising, Altarian viruses can be a nasty business.

That's an understatement.

We'll discuss this I can't even... after we've transported over.

Picard out.

( murmuring )

Transporter Room Six.

How are you holding up?

I could get used to the idea of a Ferengi ensign but Admiral Picard aboard a Romulan warbird?

What is that all about?

I think I should leave all the explanations to the Admiral.

Whenever you're ready, Chief.

Captain Riker it's good to see you've recovered.

I'm not exactly sure you'd call it a recovery, sir.

Then there has been some memory loss?

How much?

Everything after Alpha Onias III.

To lose 16 years...

...it's almost beyond belief.

I have trouble believing it myself.

It's so overwhelming to have so much of your life missing.

And it couldn't have happened at a worse time.

A few more days of relatively simple negotiation and the treaty will be signed.

What negotiations? What treaty?

Sorry.

I'll start at the beginning... which is four years ago.

A Romulan battle cruiser strayed into Federation space.

Its warp coils had collapsed.

Life support was failing.

TROI: You saved them, Will.

You and the Enterprise.

The Romulans were... impressed to say the least.

After years of distrust and conflict they started to talk.

You were our key spokesman in securing the alliance with the Romulans.

How far have these negotiations progressed?

The preliminaries are over.

All we need do now is escort the Romulan Ambassador to the final session.

Where you will complete the negotiations and sign the treaty.

Captain...

Admiral

I am in no condition to negotiate with the Romulans or with anyone else.

Will, you're sound of mind and body.

If you are properly briefed you'll still be able to fulfill your duty.

With a 16-year gap in my head?

We do need you.

Sir... I'm not fit to resume command.

I appreciate your candor but despite your condition, there is no one better equipped to deal with the Romulans than you.

When do we leave?

As soon as the Ambassador transports over from the Decius.

We will get through this... as we have many times before.

I hope so.

Let me take you to your quarters.

Good idea.

I've had enough surprises for one day.

Anything familiar?

( trombone playing "Three Blind Mice" badly )

Hi, Dad.

...and then Mr. Greenburg asked about the Fornax Disaster and I knew the Enterprise saved all the colonists but I didn't know...

Ah, here it is.

But I didn't know the exact stardate of when their sun went nova.

So if you tell it to me, I'll write it down and that way I won't forget.

You don't remember me, do you?

I'm sorry.

TROI: I need to talk to your father, Jean-Luc.

Would you mind leaving us alone just for a moment?

Why didn't you warn me?

Beverly hoped that meeting him like this might make an impact-- help you remember.

Well, it made an impact, all right.

Give it time.

Jean-Luc.

Yes.

The Admiral was very pleased when you chose that name.

He's a wonderful boy.

Deanna... who's his mother?

She died two years ago.

A shuttle accident.

I'm sorry, Will.

I have no recollection of her at all.

What was she like?

Min was beautiful of course.

Strong, intelligent, patient.

Well, she was married to me.

She had to be patient.

She was an excellent Captain's wife and a very good ship's counselor.

She took over after I left.

I can't imagine you leaving the Enterprise.

Admiral Picard offered me a position at Starfleet Command.

It was a tremendous opportunity.

I couldn't refuse.

But what's important right now, today is that you have a son who needs you.

Spend time with him.

You may find part of what you've lost.

( door opens, closes )

( trombone playing off-key scale )

Pretty bad, huh?

I've heard better.

I've been practicing but I...

I still can't get a good tone.

You're putting too much pressure on the mouthpiece.

Relax the embouchure.

Don't use any muscles you don't need.

Show me again.

Left hand, right hand.

( playing scale )

( playing "Misty" )

( plays flat note )

( chuckles )

16 years, you'd think I'd be able to hit that note.

Come on, Dad.

You always make that mistake.

Computer, summarize service record

Riker, William T., Captain.

Begin with the Fornax Disaster.

Please restate question.

Service record, Riker, William T.

( strained beeping )

Damn it.

Dad?

Computer lag.

I can't believe Geordi's still running his diagnostic.

Is, um, that what you wanted?

Picard to Captain Riker.

The Romulan Ambassador is ready to transport over from the Decius.

On my way.

I've got to go.

Sure.

Dad?

Everything's going to be fine.

Thanks. Bye.

Troi tells me you met Jean-Luc.

How is my namesake holding up to all this?

Better than I am.

We did our best to prepare him.

I'm trying to catch up with all this.

I've still got a long way to go-- a long way.

Just follow my lead with the Ambassador.

You'll be fine.

The Decius reports the Ambassador is waiting to transport.

Beam him aboard.

Admiral Picard, Captain Riker.

It's good to see you again.

Ambassador Tomalak welcome aboard the Enterprise.

Thank you, Admiral.

It is an honor to be the first Romulan to freely walk about a Federation starship.

Ambassador Tomalak?

At Nelvana III, he threatened to take the hull of the Enterprise home as a war trophy.

That was a long time ago.

Many things have changed, including Tomalak.

TOMALAK: As soon as we arrive at your Outpost 23 the final negotiations should go quickly.

I agree, Ambassador.

All of the difficult issues have been resolved.

After much debate.

Your Captain Riker is the kind of negotiator even the Ferengi should avoid.

But we have come to an agreement both sides are happy with.

Largely thanks to Captain Riker.

And we are grateful, Captain.

The new alliance will greatly benefit my people.

As I hope it will benefit mine.

Oh, it will, Captain, it will.

Main Bridge.

The virus you contracted, Captain-- have you fully recovered?

I assure you, Captain Riker is quite well.

He is looking forward to attending the final negotiations as planned.

Excellent.

The signing of this treaty is an historic occasion.

You, of all people, deserve to be there.

Thank you... Ambassador.

So this is the Bridge of the Enterprise.

And this, I assume is your tactical position?

Impressive.

RIKER: Excuse me.

Admiral, Deanna

I need a moment with you.

Commander Data, if you would accompany the Ambassador on his... tour?

Certainly, sir.

Excuse us, Ambassador.

Ambassador, you may find this of interest.

These newly refined sensors are capable of pinpointing power emissions of a cloaked warbird even at warp.

You say you trust Tomalak?

I trust the process we have built with the Romulans over the past four years.

They have nothing to gain by betrayal.

Are you sure?

You've always said it's a chess game with the Romulans-- move, countermove, guile and deceit.

I sense no such dishonesty in Tomalak.

His desire for peace is sincere.

He wants this alliance.

There's no cause for concern.

No cause for concern?

We're talking about revealing the location of Outpost 23-- the key to all of our defenses in the Neutral Zone.

I'm sorry, Will. Your information is out of date.

The strategic importance of Outpost 23 is minimal.

Has been for years.

Dr. Crusher to Riker.

Are you there, Captain?

What is it, Doctor?

Your son has been injured.

He's been taken to Sick Bay.

You'd better come down here right away.

Dad.

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

What happened?

It's broken but it's going to be all right in just a minute.

Now, let's go easy on this arm for a little while, okay?

How did this happen?

I was in the gym... playing parrises squares.

Parrises squares?

I fell off the ramp.

At your age, you could break your neck!

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to.

Continue the compression attenuator for another two minutes.

Yes, Doctor.

Can I talk to you for a moment?

I'll be right back.

Will, how old were you when you first started playing parrises squares?

All right. I was probably a little younger than he is.

It's just that, for all practical purposes this is my first day as a father and he almost kills himself.

He didn't almost kill himself.

He just broke his wrist.

Just like a lot of other boys his age when they fall.

You're right.

It's difficult.

Difficult for you.

What about for Jean-Luc?

Can you imagine how he feels?

You've lost 16 years.

Jean-Luc has lost a lot more than that.

First, his mother... and now, his father.

Good as new, Captain.

You can take him home.

Thanks.

How's the arm?

It's fine.

Dad, I'm really sorry.

I mean, I know you have more important things to do...

There is nothing more important than this, son.

Captain.

Deck eight.

Halt.

I know how hard this is for you.

It's okay, Dad.

No, okay is not good enough.

When I was your age my own father wasn't there for me and I really needed him.

I've often wondered what kind of father I'd be.

I never felt quite ready.

The idea even scared me a little.

Scared?

You?

Yeah.

But I guess I got over it-- you're here.

Resume.

It's important to me that I don't let you down, Jean-Luc.

You never have, Dad.

You've always been there for me.

I'll have to take your word for that because I don't remember any of it-- your first step, your first tooth, nothing.

And I want to remember.

I guess there's only one thing we can do.

We've got to build some new memories.

( door opens )

I'm not sure it's still in the memory banks but I used to have a great fishing program on the holodeck.

The Curtis Creek program?

You know it.

Sure, we've gone to Curtis Creek lots of times.

Would you like to go again? You bet.

Well, as soon as these negotiations are out of the way you and I are going fishing.

Great.

...and then Mom tried to net the fish and she fell in the creek, too.

And then you tried to pull us both out and you fell in.

I'm not sure I want to remember that.

Mom really liked Curtis Creek.

We went there for picnics and stuff lots of times.

What was she like?

She was great.

I think of her a lot.

I better go change.

Computer... display family record, Riker, William T.

Limit to visual.

Display family record, Riker, Mrs. William T.

( strained beeping )

Please restate request.

RIKER: Damn!

What's wrong, Dad?

The computer still isn't working properly.

I can't bring up a visual of your mother.

But I know Mom's pictures are in there.

Did you give a stardate?

Computer display family record,

Riker, Mrs. William T.

Home file,

Stardate 58416.

Min.

Minuet.

Mom was beautiful, wasn't she?

Yes.

( console beeping )

What's wrong, Dad?

La Forge to Riker.

Riker here.

Captain, please come to the Bridge.

On my way.

What's the problem?

I've had to shut down the warp engines, Captain.

Why?

Antimatter containment fields are fluctuating.

It's nothing to worry about though.

We're on the edge of the Neutral Zone at impulse power, and you're not concerned?

I'll have the engines back on line in no time.

Like you tracked down that faulty processing accelerator?

I'm running a level-1 diagnostic.

For 30 hours?

It would never take you more than four.

You're incapable of that level of incompetence, Mr. La Forge.

Worf, where did you get that scar?

In combat.

What battle?

When?

Which sector?

Which unit?

Mr. Data, if we left immediately when would we arrive at Outpost 23?

At warp one three days, four hours...

What about at warp seven?

At warp eight?

At warp nine? What's the matter, Data?

What happened to those millions of calculations per second?

Pardon me, sir.

I am experiencing subspace interference which limits my abilities.

I can't operate as quickly as...

What did you say?

I said I cannot operate...

No, that's not what you said.

You said, "I can't."

You used a contraction, didn't you?

Sir, I can explain if you would just give me...

No, you can't. Don't even try.

Captain, perhaps it would be best if we discussed this...

Shut up!

I beg your pardon?

I said shut up as in close your mouth and stop talking.

Will, I sense how upset you are.

You're angry and impatient...

Deanna, back off.

Well, would anyone else like to speak up or shall we end this charade?

As you wish, Commander Riker.

The charade is over.

The Enterprise, my son-- you created it all.

With the help of our neural scanners and what you would call a holodeck.

Now, please tell me.

How did you discover the truth?

The future we created for you should have been convincing.

It wasn't.

There was a computer time lag, for one thing.

Unavoidable.

Our scanners have a limited response time so whenever you strayed from our... expectations...

But surely, that was not enough to...

To smash your house of cards?

No, it was the visual record of my "wife," Minuet.

Bad move.

But we chose someone from your past who is still alive a woman you were extremely attracted to.

Your mistake, Tomalak.

Minuet was nothing more than a computer-generated fantasy

I once experienced on another holodeck.

Impossible.

In your mind, that woman exists physically.

Your feelings toward her remain quite passionate.

She was part of a very special program.

( sighs )

So much effort, so little accomplished.

If it was Outpost 23 you were after why didn't you use your neural scanners to probe my mind?

Our scanners are calibrated for Romulan brain patterns.

When it comes to human brains, they are less efficient.

There were gaps in the information we gathered from your memory.

Gaps?

From what I saw, I find that hard to believe.

You recreated the Enterprise-- the crew, every nuance, smell, sound-- with perfect accuracy.

I didn't see any gaps.

I don't buy it, Tomalak.

We are wasting time.

Bring him!

( door opens )

When you and your colleagues transported to this planet you were less than a kilometer from this base.

Your capture was a simple matter.

My colleagues, where are they?

We allowed them to transport safely back to the Enterprise but your signal was diverted.

They won't stop looking for me, Tomalak.

They already have.

Please, say hello to your son.

Jean-Luc?

That is not his name, of course nor have you ever really met him.

We merely used his image to augment your program.

What have you done to him?

While I am gone, please give careful thought to your situation.

What's your name?

Whoa!

If we're going to get out of here you're going to have to trust me.

Easy. I'm not going to hurt you.

Who are you?

How did you get here?

My name is Will.

Ethan.

They brought me here with my parents.

We were at a research station at Miridian VI.

Miridian VI?

On the edge of the Neutral Zone.

I thought that was uninhabited.

The station was set up last year.

Then the Romulans came.

It's odd that the Enterprise wasn't advised.

Where are your parents now?

They took them away.

Do you know why the Romulans are keeping you here?

No.

I just want to get away.

I'll get us out of here, Ethan.

How?

Even if we do get away they'll find us.

They found me when I escaped before.

You escaped?

Yes.

I hid in a secret place for weeks.

They caught me when I came out to find food.

I want that information, Commander.

I want the location of Outpost 23.

Very well, I have been given permission to use whatever means are necessary.

Ethan, no!

Stop him!

( grunts )

That secret hiding place of yours?

This way!

In here!

( scanner beeping )

Their sensors should have picked us up.

No, they can't.

I heard them.

There's something in these rocks.

Heavy metals?

Right.

The Romulans forgot all about this storeroom when they rebuilt their tunnels.

Here, we can use these.

Help me.

After I escaped last time

I mapped out all their tunnels.

Supply depot. Mm-hmm.

Communications living quarters and shuttle bay.

How many guards in the shuttle bay?

Only two or three.

If we stole a shuttlecraft, that would get us nowhere because the Romulans could follow their own ship too easily.

But if we broke into their communications system we could send a message to the Enterprise.

Can't do that.

The transmitter is on a voice-activated security system only.

Do you know whose voice activates it?

Only Ambassador Tomalak.

Who?

Tomalak.

Ambassador Tomalak?

Tomalak is a Romulan Captain.

The only time he was ever called Ambassador was in a holodeck fantasy.

How do you know about that?

You, uh... you told me about him.

Who are you?

What is your part in all this?

( clattering, distant voices )

They've found us!

But you said the sensors didn't work in these tunnels.

Uh, they must have fixed them.

We've got to go.

Where are we going to go, Ethan?

The shuttle bay.

There's still time.

No, I've had enough.

Commander, surrender your weapon.

No more games.

No more fantasies.

I'm not going to play anymore.

It was never the Romulans.

It was you all along, wasn't it?

There is no question about it, sir.

It is his signal.

Picard to Commander Riker, do you read me?

Riker to Picard, I'm here.

Are you all right?

Yes, sir, I'm all right.

What about Geordi and Worf?

We beamed them up an hour ago. They're fine.

But we lost you in mid-transport.

Where have you been?

What is going on down there?

I'm not sure yet, sir.

But I think I'm about to find out.

Stand by.

What shall I call you?

Ethan? Jean-Luc?

Doesn't matter.

This room, it's more than a holodeck, isn't it?

Much more.

The neural scanners read my mind.

Give me anything I want-- just like they tried to give you everything you wanted.

Everything I wanted?!

You probed the Enterprise.

You lured us here so you could play games with me.

I didn't want that, you did.

Why?

My world was invaded.

My people, killed.

My mother brought me here so our enemies would never find me.

They found her, didn't they?

She knew that they would never stop looking for her... so she made sure I would be safe.

( whirring pulses )

She left the scanners to protect me-- to give me anything I wanted.

Anything?

Then why did you kidnap me?

I wanted you to stay.

It's been so long.

I just wanted somebody... real.

I thought that you'd be happy.

I'm sorry.

I have to return to my ship.

Come with me.

You don't have to stay here anymore.

You don't have to be alone anymore.

My name is Barash.

To me, you'll always be Jean-Luc.

Two to transport.

♪♪