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Time's Arrow: Part 2

Last time on Star Trek: The Next Generation...

They found Data's head a mile beneath San Francisco.

Been down there about five centuries.

At some future date

I will be transported back to 19th-century Earth, where I will die.

It has occurred.

It will occur.

Do I know you, Mr...

Data.

Yes. We were on a ship together.

The Enterprise.

Is that a clipper ship?

It is a starship.

Starship?

RIKER: My God.

They're delivering more of them for the others to ingest.

Did my father send you here?

Because if he did, you must go back and tell him I'm not done listening...

I was not sent by your father.

Our ship encountered a species who appears to be threatening 19th-century Earth.

I'm not willing to accept that he's dead and just leave it at that.

We cannot make Mr. Data our priority.

What is more important than Data?

Do you remember the first time we met?

Of course.

Don't be so sure.

If you don't go on this mission, we'll never meet.

And now, the conclusion.

SAMUEL CLEMENS: I've long been interested in the notion of time travelers.

In fact, I wrote a book about it.

It chronicles the tale of a man of our era who fouls the sixth century by introducing newfangled gadgets and weapons, all in the name of progress.

But, uh...

( spits )

But this, uh, idea of time travel-- not so farfetched as it might seem.

In fact, I have just learned that even now there are people from the future right here in San Francisco, and I have no doubt that their intent is to foul our world just like my Yankee did in King Arthur's time.

Well, sir, let me serve notice.

As soon as I have the necessary evidence

I intend to expose them and make it absolutely clear that they are not welcome here.

Yes, sir, and will this be a sequel to Connecticut Yankee, Mr. Twain?

Name is Clemens, boy.

Sam Clemens.

That's with an "E."

With an "E."

Got it.

Excuse me.

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.

RIKER: The coroner said this is where they kept all the cholera victims.

It doesn't make sense that so many people are dying of cholera.

It just isn't that virulent.

( tricorder beeping )

Will.

This is strange.

What is it?

The cerebellum, the cerebral cortex, the brain stem, the entire nervous system has been depleted of electrochemical energy.

Here's another one.

Same neural depletion.

These people did not die of cholera.

They died because their neural energy was drained somehow.

Drained?

And taken to Devidia II for those aliens to ingest?

If you were a time traveler with a taste for human neural energy, where would you get your supply?

I would travel back to a time when there were plagues and epidemics, so I could murder and use the disease as a cover.

Over half of the victims whose neural energy have been drained came from the Sisters of Hope Infirmary.

RIKER: The charity hospital near the waterfront.

If the aliens have been killing people there, well, someone might have noticed something unusual.

And if they're moving among humans, then they must have taken on human form.

But the question is how do we know who we're looking for?

The tricorder indicated triolic activity from most of the bodies we've looked at.

If the aliens left that sort of signature, they'll be detectable.

You know, we might even be able to rig some kind of alien alarm system.

Any luck contacting Data?

None. Tricorder's broadcasting random emissions on all frequencies his subprocessors might pick up, but the range is limited.

Almost anything could interfere.

( knocking )

She's back.

MRS. CARMICHAEL: Mr. Picard?

( knocking )

Yes, Mrs. Carmichael?

Mr. Picard,

I'll be reminding you that it's 1:00.

Yes.

1:00 on a Thursday.

I'm sure I made it clear to you that the rent is always due, payable in full, by 1:00 on Wednesdays.

Ah, yes.

Uh... the rent.

Uh, Mrs. Carmichael... even now, my, uh... my troupe are in rehearsals for a new production.

Oh?

I haven't heard of any new production.

What play is it?

The play.

A Midsummer Night's Dream.

We have performed in London, Paris,

Milan...

Milan, to sold out houses.

I can assure you you will have the rent in full, with a bonus.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

I've heard you silver-tongued devils before.

I'll have my rent in full tomorrow by 1:00 or you'll be out performing on the street.

( door closes )

I wouldn't do this for just anyone, Mr. Clemens, and I hope you won't spread it around that I let you in.

You know, people start talking.

Of course not, Jack.

And I assure you that Mr. Data would be most upset if you didn't.

If I can't find that letter of intent that he left me, our major investor is going to pull out and take his business elsewhere.

It has to do with Mr. Data's engine, doesn't it?

Engine?

Well, yes.

Oh, yes...

Yes...

This is exactly what it's all about.

Ow!

You know, Mr. Clemens,

I'm going to do you another favor today.

You're always looking for good stories, right?

Mm-hmm.

Well, I've got a real humdinger for you.

The, uh, story of my life.

Now, I know you may think I'm young, but I've covered a lot of ground and, if I do say so myself it'd make for some pretty fascinating reading.

So, uh, what do you think?

About what?

About writing my life story.

You and me-- literary partners, of course.

Young man, I have a maxim that I have always lived by.

No one is more qualified to write your story than you are.

Me, be a writer?

You think I could do that?

Long as you write about what you know.

You got any passions, boy? Any dreams?

Well, I'd like to do some traveling, maybe go to sea.

And Alaska.

I've had the strangest notion to go see Alaska.

That's a great idea, son!

That's exactly what I would do if I were your age.

Alaska, the Klondike, the Aurora Borealis...

That's it!

Follow your dreams, and write about them.

Thank you, Mr. Clemens.

You know, that is exactly what I'm going to do.

You do that, son.

You'll see my name in print, too.

I'm sure I will.

And don't forget-- the name's London. Jack London.

Good-bye, now.

Bye-bye.

( sighs deeply )

( outside door closes )

( footsteps and voices approaching )

I found the head surveyor.

I found the cavern.

You will not be able to get to it.

The entrance is on a mine shaft that is in the middle of the Presidio on an army base.

Perhaps you could arrange for us to get in.

( scoffs ): How?

With permission to dig for the mine shaft.

Oh, now, Data, I've done everything...

I have full confidence in your persuasive abilities.

Well, I suppose it's more interesting than throwing a tea dance.

Strange-- the transceiver assembly has been removed.

Without it, I will be unable to track the time shifts.

Twain.

Clemens?

Yes.

He's been driving me crazy.

He watches the house.

He follows me down the street asking me questions.

If anyone took this, you can believe it was him.

If you are correct, he must be warned.

The device has been modified in such a way that prolonged contact with human tissue would be highly toxic.

( clattering )

( sheepish grunt )

Madam Guinan, Mr. Data.

Shame on you, Mr. Clemens. Shame.

Shame, madam? I think not.

I find no shame in my efforts to uncover your plot!

I keep telling you there is no plot.

Yes, you do keep telling me that.

What an interesting pair you are.

Where in Switzerland did you say you were from. Mr. Data?

I am French, sir, not Swiss.

Oh, yes, that's right.

Now, I remember.

A Frenchman with a talent for poker, from what I hear.

You know, I was talking to a friend of mine,

Ches Whitley.

He says to say hello and wonders when you're coming back.

I do not believe I know a Mr. Whitley.

No? He works in the county assayer's office.

He says you've been in there a number of times claiming to be a geological engineer and wanting information about mining operations during the 1850s.

You remember him now?

I am unfamiliar with the gentleman's name.

I have spoken to several people in that office.

Yes, I know, and in the Hall of Records and in the Geological Society and in a little-known mineral shop in Chinatown.

You do get around, don't you?

As apparently you do, Mr. Clemens.

Yes. I must admit you've got me mystified.

This contraption, for instance.

It's very unusual.

It looks quite futuristic.

Tell me, might it have something to do with "time shifts"?

In a sense.

The time shift is a gearing system I have invented for the horseless carriage.

Ah! Do not insult me!

You have come here to this century and brought your infernal technologies with you for God only knows what purpose, but I have no doubt it will be the people of this century who will suffer for it.

My dear Mr. Clemens, I do think we've heard enough.

Mr. Data's business is his own and I will thank you to leave now.

Pardon me, Madam Guinan, but it is my business, too.

It is the business of all humanity, I believe, to stop both of you from whatever it is you are doing here, and that is what I intend to do.

( door slams )

Just what are you doing with those lamps?

Replacing the burners.

City ordinance.

Makes it safer in case of earthquake.

There hasn't been an earthquake here in 30 years.

Well, that takes care of this ward.

Time to be moving on.

Earthquakes.

Nurse, if you can handle things here,

I've got a meeting with the board of patrons.

I'll try to manage.

( patients coughing )

LA FORGE: There, by that bed,

I can see an afterimage of triolic waves.

They've been here recently.

I'd say within the last 24 hours.

That's the bed where the man died last night.

This man was complaining about a strange doctor and nurse who visited that patient.

Perhaps they're still in the hospital.

( man coughing )

Here.

This'll make you more comfortable.

( beeping quietly )

( tricorder alarm sounding )

Do you need any help, Doctor?

Dr. Apollinaire felt he had entered the algid state.

He was cyanotic, pulse unobservable.

That's an interesting cane.

Doctor!

Hey!

( electrical crackling )

MAN: Stand aside, stand aside. Let me in there.

People said there was gunfire in here.

What's going on?

Just a little misunderstanding.

I was just clearing these people out of here.

I haven't seen you before.

I was just assigned here this morning.

I was working downtown.

I worked downtown for three years.

I don't remember you.

PICARD: We'll be on our way.

No, wait, wait-- I'm going to ask you all to come down to the station for questioning, including you.

Where'd you get that?

That's a gentleman's cane.

I've never seen a cane like this.

I'll have to confiscate it for evidence.

I just want you to know that I have the utmost respect for the law.

Let's go!

Data!

LA FORGE: Boy, are we glad to see you.

I suggest we postpone our greetings for another occasion.

Agreed. Get us out of here.

( whistles blowing loudly )

If we tune a phaser to the approximate frequency of triolic waves and lay down a field burst, it might respond.

Mm-hmm.

TROI: The ophidian the aliens were carrying.

What the...

LA FORGE: Those look like minute distortions in the space-time continuum like the one we saw on Devidia II.

But they were so small and they lasted only a second.

The aliens appear to be able to concentrate the distortion and direct it to a specific time and place.

Maybe they have something-- a mechanism that focuses it.

Any device like that would produce significant levels of triolic waves, like the ones in the cavern where Data's head was found.

I have located that cavern.

( knock on door )

MRS. CARMICHAEL: Mr. Picard!

I know you're in there. Open the door!

TROI: Mrs. Carmichael.

"How now, spirit.

Whither wander you?"

"Over hill, over dale, through bush, through brier..."

Mrs. Carmichael, thank goodness you're here.

We need someone to read a part.

You're just in time.

Mr. Picard, I need to be talking to you.

CRUSHER: "...my mistress would that he be gone."

"Ill-met by moonlight, proud Titania."

Now, Mrs. Carmichael, right there.

RIKER: "Ill-met by moonlight, proud Titania."

( woodenly ): "What, jealous Oberon?

"Fairies skip hence.

I have foresworn his bed and company."

Well, I don't think I need to hear anymore.

That was truly unique.

Really?

Ladies and gentlemen,

I think we have found our Titania.

Don't you agree?

MRS. CARMICHAEL: Well, I...

I did do a church play when I was a lass.

Well, there you are!

We start rehearsals tomorrow.

Ohh...

( door opening )

You're back.

I have wonderful news.

I've found a way to get onto the Presidio and into the mine shaft.

DATA: It is all right.

Do you know me?

Very well.

Do I know you?

Not yet, but you will.

Thanks for your help, Officer.

Now be sure to put in the part about me spotting that phony policeman.

Yes, sir, I will.

Hello, son.

Mr. Clemens, what brings you here?

Writer's curiosity.

I heard that two people vanished into thin air in this infirmary.

One of the patients said that, yes, sir but the police deny it.

I'll bet they do.

They say a band of outlaws set off an explosion in the hospital and then escaped.

Well, what did these outlaws look like?

The carriage they escaped in was driven by an albino.

Oh, Mr. Data.

You know him?

Oh, you bet I do.

You say there were others with him?

Yes, at least a dozen.

His accomplices.

They've come from the future.

My God, it's an invasion.

( whistling )

An invasion from the future?

Mr. Clemens, what can you tell me about this?

Do you have any proof?

When's your deadline, boy?

5:00, sir.

Well, I'll meet you at your paper at 4:30 with a story that'll make your career.

Thanks, Mr. Clemens!

Take me to the Presidio, driver, and don't spare the whip!

DRIVER: Hyah! Hyah!

The triolic waves are just as high as they were on Devidia II, but there's no indication of a control mechanism.

I'm not so sure.

My visor is picking up crystalline fractures.

These cavern walls have undergone some kind of selective molecular polarization.

In fact, if I'm right, this entire cavern has been configured to focus the space-time distortion... just like a lens.

Captain.

We think we might be onto something.

The cavern itself seems to be acting as a focusing mechanism.

I'm willing to bet that it's the same at their habitat back on Devidia II.

If we can get back there and destroy that site, it might put an end to their time traveling.

We have the ophidian.

Truthfully, I don't know that we can get back.

The aliens use triolic energy as a power source.

The energy that our phasers generates might not be entirely compatible.

We have no choice but to try.

CLEMENS: An event I most certainly would enjoy witnessing.

However...

I will regretfully waive that opportunity for the privilege of taking you all in to the authorities.

Mr. Clemens, it is imperative that we continue our mission.

Mr. Data, I have listened to your stories and your excuses and your evasions, and I will listen no longer!

It is my moral duty to protect mankind from whatever devious plan you have in mind.

Now, move along.

I suspect that even time travelers are vulnerable to the Colt .45.

Now, let's go.

I made a young fellow a promise, and I don't want to be late.

Uhh!

( electrical crackling )

( explosion )

Follow him.

Ow.

Is everyone all right?

I think so.

You?

Where are we?

And when?

This is the 24th century, we're on Devidia II, and you're not supposed to be here.

Well, it seems to me

I have as much right to be in your time as you had to be in mine.

I wanted to see how you've conducted my future affairs.

Your future affairs?

The affairs of mankind.

But the disappearance of Mark Twain-- one of the most noted literary figures of the 19th century...

Thank you.

...that's not supposed to happen.

I only took advantage of an irresistible opportunity, as any good writer would.

WORF: Bridge to away team. Acknowledge.

We're here, Mr. Worf.

Stand by to transport five.

LA FORGE: Commander?

Mr. Worf.

WORF: Yes, Commander.

Make that six to transport.

Where are we now?

This is the Federation Starship Enterprise.

Ensign, call security.

I want an escort for this man.

Security?! What for?

Are you afraid I'm going to go around stealing things?

A werewolf!

It's a long story, Mr. Worf. I'll brief you later.

LA FORGE: Let's have Data's body taken to the science lab.

I'm going to try and reattach the head we have.

Geordi, that head is over 500 years old.

Yeah, but it's the best chance we've got.

I want Mr. Clemens kept under escort at all times.

TROI: Commander, perhaps I could handle that.

I'd be happy to take Mr. Clemens to his quarters.

Good idea.

Will you accompany the counselor?

Madam, I'd be delighted.

So, this is a spaceship.

You ever run into Halley's comet?

( moans )

Gently.

( groaning )

Now, don't sit up too quickly.

( groaning )

Where'd everybody go?

Well, I hope they're all safely back on the Enterprise by now.

But you're still here.

You were hurt.

I had to make sure you were all right.

And so you stayed for that?

I didn't want anything to happen to you.

You're far too important to me.

You know an awful lot about me.

Well... believe me, in the future, the tables will be turned.

Do we become friends?

Oh... it goes far beyond friendship.

Oh, but...

I'll have to wait 500 years...

Mm-hmm.

And when we meet, I won't even be able to tell you about this, will I?

No, because, for me, none of this will have happened yet.

( groans )

Ohh...

What's that?

That's history fulfilling itself.

Oh.

( quiet conversations )

History has to fulfill itself.

Even Picard knew that.

You were there in the cavern.

You know what happened.

What am I supposed to do?

If I told you what happened in that cavern, it might affect any decision you'd make now.

I can't do that.

I won't.

Not telling me may affect my decision.

Did you think of that?

We're talking about Jean-Luc Picard.

I can't sit around and hope it all works out.

I've got to do something!

Any place that doesn't stock a good cigar doesn't rank high in my book.

If you must have one,

I'm sure we can replicate it for you.

Oh, if you think that one of these... imitations can take the place of a hand-wrapped Havana...

I wouldn't know.

Well, that's the problem I see here.

All this technology only serves to take away life's simple pleasures.

You don't even let a man open the door for a lady.

I think what we've gained far outweighs anything that might have been lost.

Oh?

Well, I'm not so impressed with this future-- huge starships and weapons that can no doubt destroy entire cities.

Military conquest as a way of life?

Is that what you see here?

Well, I know what you say-- that this is a vessel of exploration and that your mission is to discover new worlds, but...

( chuckles ) but that's what the Spanish said.

Deck 36.

And the Dutch and the Portuguese.

It's what all conquerors say.

I'm sure that's what you told that... that... blue-skinned fellow I just saw before you brought him here to serve you.

He's one of the thousands of species that we've encountered.

We live in a peaceful federation with most of them.

The people you see are here by choice.

So, there are a privileged few who serve on these ships living in luxury and wanting for nothing, but what about everybody else?

What about the poor?

You ignore them.

Poverty was eliminated on Earth a long time ago and a lot of other things disappeared with it-- hopelessness, despair, cruelty...

Young lady, I come from a time when men achieve power and wealth by standing on the backs of the poor, where prejudice and intolerance are commonplace and power is an end unto itself, and you're telling me that isn't how it is anymore?

That's right.

Hmm.

Hmm...

Maybe... it's worth giving up cigars for after all.

( door opens )

Any luck?

Not so far.

His activating units won't initialize.

I thought they would have been protected by his buffering program, but... I guess 500 years is just too long a wait.

What...?

My watch!

( chuckles )

Yeah.

It was found in the cavern where Data's head was.

I guess after 500 years, that's not likely to work, either.

Mr. Data...

I fear I have sadly misjudged you... as I have misjudged many things.

( moaning )

Can you communicate?

Mm.

Yes.

You're injured.

Why have you interfered with us?

You hunt us.

You kill us.

We cannot allow that.

We need your energy.

Well, perhaps we can find a substitute.

No.

There is none.

We must continue.

We know how you move back and forth through time.

My crew have returned to the 24th century to destroy your transport site on Devidia II.

Destroy it?

Your weapons will only amplify the time distortion.

You will annihilate your own world.

I'm going back for Captain Picard.

Mr. Worf, assemble an away team to accompany me to the surface.

Doctor, I need to know anything you can tell me about that Ophidian.

I've just started running some tests.

If I can have a few hours...

I can't give the alien any more time.

Will, I haven't been able to determine if our phaser energy can generate a stable field.

The risk would be... I'll take that risk!

Sir, permission to speak frankly.

RIKER: Go ahead.

Our priority is to stop the aliens from any more incursions to Earth.

Any delay is unacceptable.

If I can save Captain Picard, I consider that very acceptable.

The captain would not.

I recommend we target photon torpedoes on the alien habitat and destroy it... immediately.

He's right, Will.

Power up the photons, Mr. Worf.

Alert me when they're ready.

Computer... initialize the reload circuits.

COMPUTER: Reload circuits are initializing.

Okay.

Data... this ought to do it.

Oh, I don't get it.

I don't understand why this isn't working.

( sighs )

Computer... run me a diagnostic on the input polarizers.

There is intermittent contact in the input polarizers.

Intermittent?

What...?

An iron filing.

How'd that get in there?

( sighs )

Commander, I have set the photons to fire in staggered rounds detonating in ten-second intervals.

Very well. Fire when ready.

The sequence will be ready to initiate in one minute.

Computer, run another diagnostic on the input polarizers.

COMPUTER: Polarizer circuits are functioning.

Well, then, that ought to do it.

( chuckles )

Okay, Data, come on now.

Torpedoes... phasing... alien...

( clicks )

I am processing a binary message entered into my static memory by Captain Picard.

Geordi, are we planning to fire on the alien habitat?

Yeah, but...

It is imperative that we do not.

I will explain later.

La Forge to Riker. Hold your fire!

The binary message left by the Captain is not entirely clear.

He seemed to be concerned about the phase differential of our photon torpedoes.

That firing them might produce catastrophic effects.

Then how can we destroy their habitat?

If I am correct, we must modify our weapons so that the force of the explosion is rephased into the aliens' time continuum.

If we outfit the photons with phase discriminators we could get the variance we need.

How long will it take you?

At least a couple of hours.

Fine. I'll have time to go get him.

Sir?

I'm going back to the 19th century to get the captain.

Doctor?

My analysis of the phasers suggests you'd be able to open the rift, but it won't be stable enough to transport more than one person.

You mean, if I go back, only one of us could return?

CRUSHER: That's right.

Then I have the perfect solution for you.

I'm the one who should return to the 19th century and remain there, so your captain can return here.

There's a risk.

We're not sure how stable the rift will be.

Ah, there's risk in everything.

The point is, it's the right choice.

I've got more books to write and your captain has a job to do here.

Geordi, you'll brief him on what he needs to know?

Aye, sir.

I'm glad I have a chance to thank you.

For what, sir?

Why, for starting me out on the greatest adventure a man's ever had, whoo!

And for helping a bitter old man to open his eyes and see that the future turned out pretty well... after all.

I'm thirsty.

I'm going to get help.

We have to get you out of here.

Oh, no, don't go.

They'll be back for you soon.

No. You need help.

( approaching footsteps )

This thing put me down in the middle of Market Street.

Took forever to get here.

Commander La Forge has just completed the reconfiguration of the photon torpedoes.

If Clemens got back, the captain should have been here by now.

We have no way of knowing if Mr. Clemens was successful.

Reestablish your firing pattern, Mr. Worf.

We'll wait five more minutes.

Aye, sir.

There's no time for chitchat, sir.

According to Mr. La Forge-- who did get your message, by the way-- a frequency setting of, uh... .047 on your phaser will correctly activate this... this creature.

Now you have to get help.

Guinan needs medical attention.

I promise you, she will be attended to.

And there is a bill to be settled at Mrs. Carmichael's boarding house.

I'll settle it.

Thank you. I wish...

I wish time would have allowed me to know you better.

Well, you'll just have to read my books.

What I am is pretty much there.

I'll see you in 500 years, Picard.

And I'll see you in a few minutes.

Commander, I am picking up massive triolic wave activity on the surface.

Is it the captain?

There are no human life signs.

No sign of temporal distortion?

No, sir, but triolic activity is increasing.

The aliens.

Mr. Worf, are the photons ready?

Yes, sir.

Fire.

Torpedoes away, sir.

Sir, I am detecting a temporal distortion on the surface... and human life signs.

( explosions )

O'Brien, get him out of there!

Transporter room, have you got him?

PICARD: He has indeed, Commander, and believe me, it's good to be back.

WORF: We have destroyed the target.

There is no further indication of triolic activity.

Ensign, lay in a course for the nearest starbase.

Warp six.

Captain's log, Stardate 46001.3.

Everyone who should be in the 19th century is safely there,

and those who should be in the 24th are here.

Mr. Data has been restored to us, head and all,

and Samuel Clemens will write the books

he was to have written after our encounter.

Now, be careful, boys.

Don't jostle her too much.

Don't worry, Madam Guinan, you're going to be fine.

( chuckles )