All language subtitles for StarTrek.TNG-s05e09.A.Matter.of.Time

Captain's Log, Stardate 45349.1.

The Enterprise is on its way
to Penthara IV

where a type C asteroid

has struck
an unpopulated continent.

The resulting dust cloud could
very well create a phenomenon

not unlike the nuclear winters
of 21st-century Earth.

Commander La Forge
has begun work on a plan

that would counteract
the devastation.

I'm afraid the numbers coming in

are already indicating
climatic changes, Commander.

What kind of drop can we expect?

If the Pentharans' spheral
forecasts are correct

10-12 degrees Celsius
within the first ten days.

If it continues like that

their entire ecosystem
will be shot to hell.

And I doubt if they're
prepared to cope

with the kind of cold
that's coming.

Commander Riker?

Yes, sir.

Would you join me
on the Bridge, please?

Right away, sir.

Are you certain, Mr. Worf?

There was
a space-time distortion, sir

and there is something
back there.

We passed within
300 kilometers of it.

That's too close
to be a coincidence.

Mr. La Forge.

Yes, Captain.

Would a delay of one hour
affect your plans?

Not unless another asteroid
decides to pay a call

on Penthara, sir.

The odds of that occurring,
Captain

are extremely unlikely
given the time frame.

Thank you, Mr. Data.

Ensign, bring the ship about.

Let's take a look
at Mr. Worf's distortion.

Aye, sir.

Mr. Worf's what?

The Lieutenant's sensors have
detected a temporal distortion

almost in our current course.

There's a small object
back there

that wasn't there
a few moments ago.

The object is
50 kilometers ahead, sir.

Full stop, Ensign.

Aye, sir.

On screen.

Dimensions, Worf?

Approximately five meters
in length, sir.

Life signs?

No signs of any kind.

Our sensors
do not penetrate the hull.

Try hailing it.

Now that's odd.

What's odd?

We've received a response,
but...

Yes, Mr. Worf?

They want you to "move over,"
sir.

Reply that the Enterprise isn't
going anywhere, Lieutenant.

Not the Enterprise,
Captain... you.

What are you trying
to tell me, Mr. Worf?

Oops. Excuse me, Captain

but you were standing
right where I needed to be.

Who are you?

Rasmussen's the name, sir

Professor Berlinghoff Rasmussen.

Oh, this is wonderful.

Actually, quite a bit larger
than I thought.

Really?

Where I come from

every historian knows
the Bridge of old 1701-D.

And where, exactly,
do you come from?

Why, Earth.

Late 26th-century Earth,
to be exact.

I've traveled back nearly...
300 years just to find you.

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.

Exactly what kind
of historian are you?

Hmm?

Oh, uh, my focus is on the 22nd
through the 24th centuries...

early interstellar history.

You know, it was always believed
this was on your desk, not here.

Fascinating.

Don't you move it on my account.

You can't expect me to believe
that the layout of my ready room

can possibly be of interest
to future historians.

Oh, no less so than your
legendary modesty, Captain.

I wish I could describe to you
what a thrill it is to be here.

This is the original.

You flatter me, Professor

but I can't help but wonder

what could possibly
have caused you

to select me as a subject
for your study.

Even in this decade

there are far wiser
and more experienced humans

in and out of Starfleet.

Well, I'd love
to tell you, Picard

I really would, but...

Try and imagine
what a young Caesar

might have done differently

had someone given him
a hint of what lay ahead

or if Lincoln had been
coerced into changing

his theater plans.

I-I truly wish I could be
more specific

on why you were selected

but I'm afraid
the exchange of information

will have to flow
in one direction only.

...five, six, seven meters.

Ha! I was right.

Why now?

Right. If you've
come back to study us

to study the Captain,
why did you pick today?

Why not a year ago,
or a year from now?

Oh, I picked the
right day all right.

You just wait. You'll see.

Um, do you always sit there

on-on that side of the table?

Usually. Why?

It's... not-not important.

Professor, at what point
does time travel become a tool

for historians?

Now, now, Commander,
you know better than that.

I've studied a great deal
about your century.

Including the fact
that you're all quite aware

of the dangers of anyone
altering the past

and that's exactly
what I'd be doing

if I were to divulge
information like that.

Telurian plague.

Beg your pardon?

The Telurian plague...
was it cured?

I mean, did they find
the cure by your century?

Oh, it can't do any harm
to ask that.

I realize that it's difficult

but we must keep to ourselves

questions about the future.

Go on, Professor.

I'll be preparing
questionnaires for each of you.

Uh, please, complete them
at your convenience.

If you're concerned

about a possible
breach of security

I'm sure your Captain
can make a determination

and, uh, thank you in advance
for curbing your... curiosity.

If I hand my assignment
in on time

can I get a glimpse
into next week's poker game?

Mr. Data, would you
escort the Professor

to his quarters?

This way, sir.

What did he mean
he "picked the right day"?

You know everything
I do, Number One.

Deanna?

It's hard to tell, but he
is holding something back.

Well, of course he is...

all the things he could tell us

all the things
he would like to tell us.

It might be that.

I don't know.

What if he's an impostor?

God knows we've seen
enough of them.

Well, he is human.

The medical scans have
proven that. Right, Doctor?

He's human all right.

And there was a temporal
distortion back there.

Correct, Mr. Worf?

Yes, sir.

And no one can deny

that that ship of his is
unlike anything we've ever seen.

The hull is made
of some kind of plasticized

tritanium mesh.

We've nothing like it on record

at least not until now.

Mr. Worf, I do appreciate
your caution.

I share it.

Bring his vessel
into the shuttle bay.

Place it under guard.

Yes, sir.

I realize that this... visit

is going to be difficult
for some of us

but I've examined
his credentials

and everything
seems to be in order

so I think we should
extend to him every courtesy.

Including questionnaires?

Including questionnaires,
Mr. Worf.

This is really a thrill, Data.

Like running across
a Redstone missile

or a Gutenberg Bible.

To think... the Model T
of androids.

If you were referring

to the first production model
automobile of the 20th century

perhaps the subsequent Model A
would be a more apt analogy

since I am Dr. Noonien Soong's
revised prototype.

I stand corrected.

Is there a problem, Professor?

Hmm, I suppose it will have
to do... for now.

I'll get you a list

of the things
I'll be needing, okay?

Would I be correct, Professor

in assuming that you know
whether or not I am still...

alive in the 26th century?

Since you seem to know so much

about Captain Picard
and the ship, I assumed...

It would be best if you
kept your assumptions

to yourself, wouldn't it?

Yes, sir.

Sorry, sir.

Captain's Log,
Stardate 45350.3.

We have arrived at Penthara IV

and can see for ourselves
the atmospheric devastation

caused by the asteroid's impact.

We've located
three underground pockets

of carbon dioxide... here, here

and here.

Now, our drilling phasers
can release enough of the gas

to form an envelope

which should temporarily
hold in the heat of the sun.

We spend years, decades,
trying to avoid anything

that would lead
to a greenhouse effect

and now, here we are
about to create one on purpose.

Less than 20%
of your normal sunlight

is getting through
that dust, Doctor.

If we can hold enough heat in
with the CO2

that should give the planet time
to mend itself.

Excuse me.
Dr. Moseley?

What now?

New Seattle's reporting

a cloud depth of 12 kilometers.

Two rivers... tropical rivers...
are beginning to freeze.

We better get started

before there's nothing
left to mend.

Look who's here.

Hmm.

I hate questionnaires.

Professor

come and join us.

Hope I'm not intruding.

Not at all. I'm sure you're
the topic of conversation

at every table in this room.

Uh, as I promised

here are your assignments.

I'm sure they'll be painless.

Please try and complete them
by tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

No problem, Professor.

You're all very calm.

Is there some reason
we shouldn't be?

History always records
where people were

what they were doing

when important events
took place.

But it rarely remembers
their activities

say, a week before, or a day,
or even an hour.

Are you suggesting that an
important event is imminent?

I didn't say that now, did I?

Please, uh, just go on doing
what you're doing

and pretend I'm not here.

Why is there no record

of other future historians
traveling back

to witness important events?

We're obviously very careful.

As a matter of fact

a colleague and I
recently paid a call

on a 22nd-century vessel.

They hadn't perfected
quarantine fields.

You probably saw
some surgical masks and gloves.

Isn't it fascinating how
everyone has different interests

when it comes to history?

Different perspectives
on progress.

Would you mind telling me
what that is?

Oh, just checking the time.

No problem.

Is something important
supposed to be happening here?

Oh, no, it's nothing.
It's nothing.

What about you, Commander?

What do you see
as the most important example

of progress
in the last 200 years?

I suppose the warp coil.

Before there was warp drive

humans were confined to a single
sector of the galaxy.

Spoken like
the consummate explorer.

What is going on?

Are you expecting someone?

Phasers.

Beg your pardon?

There were no phasers
in the 22nd century.

Oh, you see, Doctor?

Our Klingon friend
is a perfect example

of what I was trying
to tell you.

He views history
through the eyes of a hunter

a warrior.

His passion lies
in the perfection

of the tools of violence.

How delightfully primitive.

As soon as we input this
atmospheric data for Moseley

the computer should tell us

how many holes
we'll have to punch.

What have you learned

about the tectonic stability
around the drilling sites?

Couldn't be better.

Our scans were all clear,
and Moseley says

there hasn't been so much
as a quiver down there

in well over a century.

Aha. Just the two
I'm looking for.

Um, brought the forms
I need you to complete.

Shouldn't take anything more
than a couple of hours.

We're kind of busy here,
Professor.

Tomorrow would probably
be better.

Data, we've got about 23,000
thermal simulations.

You think you could check
them over for anomalies?

Certainly.

Is that as, uh...

is that as fast as he can go?

Not fast enough for you,
Professor?

There's very little known
about Data's efficiency.

Almost nothing about
his part in this mission.

It's a topic
of great conjecture.

209 anomalies, all within
acceptable parameters.

Thanks, Data.

You're here
to witness this mission.

That's it, isn't it?

It would be best
if you just thought of me

as a fly on the wall
and went about your business.

I will have
your answered questions

as soon as possible,
Professor.

Data... at Penthara IV!

If you'll excuse me.

Um, your prosthesis...
what do...

what do you call it, again?

A VISOR.

VISOR, right... a VISOR.

You know, I have a picture

of you wearing that
in my office.

How do you like it?

It allows me to see;
I like it just fine.

You know, Homer was blind.

Milton... Bach...
Monet... Wonder.

A fly on the wall, huh?

A fly on the wall.

The computer has configured
the drilling patterns

and specified depths.

Captain, we've got
everything we need.

I'm ready to transport
down to the surface.

I'll notify Dr. Moseley.

Good luck, Geordi.

Gentlemen.

Who said these moments
were any less exciting

when you know the outcome, hmm?

I know of no one who said that,
Professor.

The Enterprise will monitor
the CO2 concentrations

at six different altitudes.

If all goes well

it shouldn't take more
than 20 bore sites.

Let's hope all goes well.

La Forge to Commander Riker.
How are you doing?

We've gotten word
from the monitoring stations.

They're all on line.

We're ready when you are,
Geordi.

That's excellent.

All we need now
is an open channel to Data.

Open a channel, Mr. Worf

and prepare to fire
at target one.

The computer has locked in
phaser depth calculations.

Mr. Data?

Ready, sir.

Fire.

Target one is emitting
2,000 cubic meters per second.

Target two: 1,600.

The surface wind patterns
over the target are stable.

You picking up anything
at altitude, Data?

CO2 concentrations
remain unchanged

at upper elevations.

Have I missed much?

Target 14 complete, sir.

Data, what have you got?

No change, sir.

How are the surface winds,
Geordi?

Holding steady, sir.

The computer
has stopped drilling.

You should be getting
something now, Data.

Elevated CO2 levels
at 20 kilometers, sir.

Now you're talking.

And we've got some new
temperatures coming in.

All thermal
monitoring stations

are reporting no further
temperature drops.

Correction, Doctor.

Two equatorial stations are
reporting slight increases.

Thank you... thank you all.

You've given us
what we need... time.

We're glad to be of help,
Doctor.

The Enterprise
will remain in orbit

and continue to monitor
your progress.

Picard out.

"You've given us what we need...

time."

Ensign, return
to synchronous orbit.

Aye, sir.

Very clever, Picard.

Well done.

We always knew how you did it

but to experience the moment,
to witness the nuances...

it's, uh... indescribable.

He's after more
than a history lesson

I can tell you that.

What is it?

What are you getting from him?

I don't know.

It's like he's trying
to confuse us

misdirect us somehow.

There you are!

Well, that certainly
was exciting, wasn't it?

Professor, is everything
all right? Are you well?

Yes, couldn't be better,
thank you.

Um, I just thought we might chat
about your questionnaire.

Buck up, crewman.

You're a credit to that uniform.

I've got some things
to take care of.

Uh, no, please, Counselor

I'd very much appreciate
your remaining.

Doctor, in response
to my sixth question

you spoke
of a neural stimulator.

Um, may I see one?

I don't see why not.

Give me a minute.

You don't like me very much,
do you?

I don't dislike you, Professor.

Keep your eyes wide, soldier.

You'll be telling
your grandchildren

how you were there
at Penthara IV.

But you don't trust me.

You should, you know.

Should I?

"Picard's empath
won't trust you."

That's what they all said.

Picard's empath?

We're not that unalike,
you and I.

You possess a sense
that is foreign to the others.

My knowledge of the future
is similar.

You know, some
of my best friends are empaths.

They trust me.

Why should you care
whether I trust you or not?

We're birds of a feather.

We're colleagues.

We could learn a lot
from each other.

You're right.

I don't trust you.

I knew you'd say that.

I'm sure you did.

Well, I'm glad to see you two
are finally getting along.

I really have to be going.

Thank you.

Why don't you try
a berylite scan.

I'd be interested to see
what his micro-levels are.

So, what else can I show you?

You're a very curious woman.

Hmm?

No, no, I, I don't mean
curious like that.

I mean, you're curious...

about things.

About... berylite levels.

About... future.

Well, curiosity

is why all of us are
out here, isn't it?

I understand,
but, uh, you're different.

You're more... vibrant.

You're more, um...

More vibrant.

That's nice.

I like that.

You know, whenever I travel back

I meet very interesting people...
men and women...

but, um, I've never met anyone

who gave me thoughts
about not going home.

You're not supposed to be
influencing the past, remember?

Well...

And I am beginning to feel
just a little bit influenced.

Anyway, I could be your great,
great, great, great grandmother.

What kind of questions did he
have for you, Number One?

All he wanted to know about
was previous starships...

what I thought was innovative
about the last Enterprise

the one before that.

He said he wanted to see

if we had "a grasp
of the fundamentals."

His questions to me primarily
focused on Doctor Soong's...

Captain, I'm detecting a massive
earthquake on the surface.

Two earthquakes.

Location?

Both epicenters are beneath

the two southernmost
drill sites, Captain.

Is La Forge still down there?

- Yes, sir.
- Find him.

We've also got some volcanic
activity... pretty severe.

Magnify.

La Forge here, Captain.

Moseley and I
are on our way back to his lab.

Are you all right?

We're okay,
but those were pretty big, sir.

If this was Earth

I'd say around an eight
or an 8.5 on the Richter scale.

We're starting to see
some volcanic plumes, Captain.

Two more eruptions.

It is likely we overestimated
the geologic stability

around the CO2 pockets, Captain.

We're in the lab, sir.

On screen.

We're fairly well quake-proof

down here, Picard.

It's the volcanic dust
I'm worried about.

What about the dust?

The ash the volcanoes are
throwing into the atmosphere

is going to compound
the existing problem.

In a matter of days

there'll be no sunlight
getting through these clouds.

And no amount of CO2
will help us then.

Captain, take a look at this.

These are the coordinates
of the eruptions

and these are the coordinates
of the phaser drilling sites.

The mantle is collapsing where
the pressure was released.

Captain, Dr. Moseley and I
have a couple of ideas

but it's going to take some time
to sort them out.

Sort them out, Geordi.

Aye, sir.

We came here
to help these people.

And look what we've done.

What in god's name is that?!

Music, Professor.

Music?!

Yes, sir.

Mozart's Jupiter Symphony
in C major

Bach's Brandenburg
Concerto Number Three

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony,
"Second Movement

Molto Vivace"

and "La Donna e Mobile"
from Verdi's Rigoletto.

You think you could
thin it out a bit?

Computer, eliminate program one.

Computer, eliminate program two.

Computer,
eliminate program three.

Computer, half volume.

How the...?!

How the hell can you listen

to four pieces of music
at the same time?

Actually, I am capable
of distinguishing over 150

simultaneous compositions

but in order to analyze
the aesthetics

I try to keep it to ten or less.

Only four today?

I am assisting

Commander La Forge
with a very complex calculation.

It demands a great deal
of my concentration.

Mm. Well, I, uh,
came to thank you

for answering my questions

though I probably
should have asked you

to limit yourself
to 50,000 words.

You did ask me to be thorough.

I realize
it's hard to believe, Data

but very few records
of Dr. Soong's work

survived to the 26th century

so it would be invaluable
to myself and other historians

if you could provide us
with some... schematics?

Certainly... as soon
as my work here is completed.

As long as it's
before 0900 tomorrow.

That's when I'll be,
uh... heading back.

Bridge to Commander Data.

Yes, Worf?

Commander La Forge is hailing
you from the surface, sir.

Patch him through, please.

Have you rerun the phase
reversal figures, Data?

There were no errors, Geordi.

The variants must be no more
than.06 terawatts.

Well, I don't see
any other choice.

We'll continue
to run the numbers down here

but I'll doubt we'll come up
with anything different.

You'd better inform the Captain

of the good news
and the bad news.

La Forge out.

Which do you suppose

he's going to want
to hear first?

The good news.

The motion of the dust

has created a great deal
of electrostatic energy

in the upper atmosphere.

With a modified phaser blast

we can create a shock front
that would encircle the planet

and ionize the particles.

That would be like striking
a spark in a gas-filled room.

With one exception, sir.

The particles would be converted
into a high-energy plasma

which our shields could absorb

and then redirect harmlessly
into space.

Turn the Enterprise
into a lightning rod.

Precisely, sir.

And the bad news?

If our phaser discharge is off
by as little as.06 terawatts

it would cause a cascading
exothermal inversion.

Meaning?

We would completely burn off
the planet's atmosphere.

Captain's Log, supplemental.

While Dr. Moseley
takes La Forge's plan

to the leaders of the colony,
I find myself

weighing
the potential consequences

of a more philosophical issue.

Come.

I imagine you know why
I've asked you here.

Yeah, I have a fairly good idea.

I'm faced with a dilemma.

There is a planet beneath us
which is slowly turning to ice

and unless we do
something about it

I'm told that
in a matter of weeks

thousands, maybe tens
of thousands will die.

That would be a shame.

Yes, it would.

It would be quite a shame.

So, um... what's your dilemma?

Commander La Forge has
a possible solution.

The margins of error

are extremely critical

but if successful,
there will be no more threat.

And if it's not successful?

Every living thing
on the planet will perish.

So, do nothing,
and thousands will die.

Do something,
and millions could die.

That's a tough choice.

Not if you were to help me.

You're not suggesting

I tell you the outcome
of your efforts.

Oh, no, I am not.

Everything that
Starfleet stands for

everything that I
have ever believed in

tells me I cannot ask you that,
but, at the same time

there are 20 million lives
down there

and you know
what happened to them...

what will happen to them.

So it seems you
have another dilemma

one that questions
your convictions.

Well, I've never been afraid

of reevaluating
my convictions, Professor

and now, well, I have
20 million reasons to do so.

And why did you ask to see me?

Because your presence gives me

a potential access
to a kind of information

that I've never had
available to me before

and if I am
to reexamine my beliefs

then I must take advantage
of every possible asset.

It would have been irresponsible
of me not to ask you here.

However you come to terms
with your beliefs, Captain

I must tell you,
I'm quite comfortable with mine.

How can you be?

How can you be comfortable
watching people die?

Um... let me put it
to you this way.

If I were to tell you
that none of those people died

you'd easily conclude

that you tried your solution
and it succeeded

so you'd confidently try again.

No harm in that.

But what if I were to tell you
they all died?

What then?

Obviously, you'd decide

not to make
the same mistake twice.

Now, what if one
of those people grew...?

Yes, Professor, I know...

what if one of those lives
I saved down there as a child

who grows up to be
the next Adolf Hitler?

Or Khan Singh?

Every first-year
philosophy student

has been asked that question

since the earliest wormholes
were discovered.

But this is not a class
in temporal logic.

It's not theoretical,
it's not hypothetical

it's real!

Surely you see that.

I see it all too well

but you must see that
if I were to influence you

everything in this sector

in this quadrant of the galaxy
could change.

History... my history...
would unfold in a way

other than it already has.

Now, what possible incentive
could anyone offer me

to allow that to happen?

I have two choices.

Either way, one version
of history or another

will wend its way forward...

the history you know,
or another one.

Now who is to say
which is better?

What I do know is
that here, today, one way

millions of lives
could be saved.

Now isn't that incentive enough?

Everyone dies, Captain.

It's just a question of when.

All those people down there
died years before I was born.

All of you up here as well.

So you see, I can't get
quite as worked up as you

over the fate
of some... colonists

who, for me, have been dead
a very, very long time.

Of course, you know
of the Prime Directive

which tells us
that we have no right

to interfere in the natural
evolution of alien worlds.

Now, I have sworn to uphold it

but, nevertheless, I have
disregarded that directive

on more than one occasion

because I thought
it was the right thing to do!

Now, if you are holding on

to some temporal equivalent
of that directive

then isn't it possible
that you have an occasion here

to make an exception, to...
to help me to choose

because it's
the right thing to do?

We were just talking
about a choice?

It sounds to me
like you're trying

to manipulate the future.

But every choice we make

allows us
to manipulate the future.

Do I, um... Do I invite
Adrienne, or Suzanne

to the spring dance?

Do I take my holiday
on Corsica, or Risa?

A person's life, their future

hinges on each
of a thousand choices.

Living is making choices.

Now, you ask me to believe
that if I make a choice

other than the one

that appears
in your history books

then your past will be
irrevocably altered.

Well, you know, Professor

perhaps I don't give a damn
about your past

because your past is my future

and as far as I'm concerned,
it hasn't been written yet.

Captain, the electrostatic
conditions are about as good

as they're going to get.

If we're going to try this,
now is the time.

Please don't ask me, Captain.

I can't help you.

I'm sorry.

How long will it take to program
the phasers, Number One?

We've just got to tie into
Geordi's atmospheric sensors.

So you've made
your choice after all

and without my help.

Oh, on the contrary, Professor.

You were quite helpful.

How's that?

By refusing to help me

you left me with the same choice
I had to begin with...

to try, or not to try

to take a risk,
or to play it safe...

and your arguments
have reminded me

how precious
the right to choose is.

And because I've never
been one to play it safe...

I choose to try.

Mr. Data, program
the firing sequence.

Aye, sir.

Captain's Log, Stardate 45351.9.

Doctor Moseley has met
with the colony leaders

who all agree, they are willing
to take the risk.

Warp power has been rerouted

from the main deflector dish,
Commander.

Keep those phasers
on active surge control, Worf.

We're only going to get
one shot at this.

Well, this is it.

You have the sequence
locked in, Data?

Yes, sir, after an 8.3 second
burst from the dish

we will discharge all EPS taps
through the phasers.

It's time for you to return
to the ship, Mr. La Forge.

Mr. O'Brien,
stand by to transport.

Excuse me, Captain, but I can
be of a lot more help down here.

We're going to have
to compensate

for the density variations
right up to the last second.

Dr. Moseley's computers can
accomplish the same tasks, sir

but I believe Geordi
would be better able

to anticipate
unexpected variances.

Mr. La Forge, you know
better than anyone

that there's no guarantee
that this will work.

And if it fails...

There's no guarantee
it's going to fail, Captain.

I'd like your permission
to remain here on the surface.

Permission granted.

La Forge remained below.

Good luck, Commander.

Thank you, Captain.

The deflector dish
has been reconfigured, sir.

Proceed, Mr. Data.

Stand by
for auto-phaser interlock.

Activating deflector beam.

EPS taps on line.

Phasers firing.

Activating shield inverters...
now.

Mr. La Forge?

La Forge here.

Still breathing, Captain.

We've got particulate levels

right where they're
supposed to be

and the sun is shining.

See, Captain, told you

there was nothing
to worry about.

Report back to the ship
when you're ready, Commander.

Doctor, we'll stay in orbit

and analyze the remaining
volcanic disturbances

but the best advice will be

to let them cool down
on their own.

I'm getting in the habit
of thanking you, Picard.

Well, I'd love to see more

but it's nearly
time for me to go.

I am tickled pink to have
had the opportunity

of witnessing this, Picard.

And you did it all
without any help.

Well, I must run.

Got some packing to do.

You know, you're taller
in person, Commander.

Well, would you look at this.

Who would have expected
a teary farewell?

I'm afraid we're going
to have to take a look

inside your vessel.

Curious till the end,
eh, Captain?

You can't be serious, Picard.

We've been through this...

A number of objects
have been discovered missing

in the last two days and if
they're in your possession

then we would like them
returned.

I'm not here
in search of relics.

I'm sure they'll turn up.

If you will not open the vessel

I will... with explosives
if necessary.

I doubt you have the means.

If we don't get in that thing,
I guarantee you don't either.

Considering the sensitive nature
of my equipment

I think you'll understand
if I request

that only Mr. Data
be allowed to see it.

Why Data?

Because if I order Mr. Data
never to divulge

what he sees in there,
he won't...

with exception of anything
that might belong to us.

Understood, sir.

Back in a minute.

I do not believe

any of these items
belong to you, Professor.

Nor does this.

This phaser is set
at the highest stun setting.

If I'm correct,
that is sufficient

to immobilize even you.

Why have you stolen
these objects?

To put in a museum?

They're far too valuable
for that.

You see,
in the century I come from

they haven't even
been invented yet.

But this vessel, and
the temporal distortion

that coincided
with your arrival...

Oh, this is a time pod,
and it is from the 26th century.

At least, that's what
the poor fellow said.

You see, he decided to travel
back to the 22nd century...

that's my time...

and he had the misfortune
of meeting me.

His clothes fit quite well,
don't you think?

It took me weeks to figure out
how to work this thing.

Then you are not an historian?

More of an inventor.

Up till a few weeks ago,
a dismally unsuccessful one.

What are your intentions,
Professor?

Well, thanks to your Captain

it seems my intentions
have changed slightly.

I was quite content

with the notion of returning
with these trinkets.

I'd "invent" about one a year.

But now, look what fortune
has graced me with.

You will take a little longer
to figure out than a tricorder

but it should be
well worth the effort.

If the auto-timer is programmed
the way I think it is

in... about two minutes,
we should be on our way

back to a place
called New Jersey.

I'm afraid you won't
be awake for the ride.

I assume your handprint
will open this door

whether you are
conscious or not.

That weapon was working
yesterday.

You were right
to suspect him, sir

but he is not from the future.

He is from the past.

Trying to make my history unfold

in a way other than it
already has, eh, Professor?

This was all
a misunderstanding, Picard.

Just let me back in there.

We'll forget the whole thing.

Now what possible incentive

could anyone offer me
to allow that?

I believe you will find

all of the missing items
in the vessel, sir.

Doctor...

Very nice performance.

Not all of it.
Some of it was real.

Captain...

He claims to be a 22nd-century
inventor, Captain.

Pity you weren't
a bit more inventive.

If fewer things had disappeared

we might never
have suspected you.

As it was, the only
stumbling block was your ship.

Our sensors couldn't
penetrate it

but once the door was open

the computer was able
to detect and deactivate

everything you'd stolen...
including this.

I'd love to hear more, Picard

but I really must
get back in that pod.

Take him to a detention cell,
Mr. Worf

and notify Starfleet
that we'll be dropping him off

at Starbase 214.

Aye, sir.

You can't do this.

I've got to get back.

I don't belong here.

No!

I'm sure that there are
more than a few

legitimate historians
at Starfleet

who will be quite eager
to meet a human from your era.

Oh, Professor?

Welcome to the 24th century.