Original subtitles

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.